Mcnally's Chance: An Archy Mcnally Novel
Vincent Lardo
G.P. Putnam's Sons/Penguin Putnam Inc.
375 Hudson St., New York, NY 10014
0399147322 $24.95, Hardback
Bill Woodman
Reviewer
Dr. Johnson said, "The only end of writing is to enable the readers better to enjoy life or better to
endure it." It is surprising the types of books that help readers endure. One of my friends, during
his
father's recent illness and death, found solace reading all of the ingenious noir novels of Raymond
Chandler. Another writer friend endured poverty in a London bedsit by reading P.G. Wodehouse's
ten comic novels featuring Bertie Wooster and his prince among gentleman's gentlemen Jeeves.
Evelyn Waugh said that Wodehouse's delightful world will "continue to release future generations
from captivity that may be more irksome than our own." She also praised Raymond Chandler in
the
1940s as the "greatest living American novelist," for his Philip Marlowe detective novels. Readers
looking for a series of books to help them better enjoy life or just endure it with a smile could do
far
worse than the light but very entertaining adventures of Archy McNally, a mystery series
originated
by the late Lawrence Saunders and continued under the skilled Vincent Lardo.
The frivolity of the ten Archy McNally novels accounts in large part for their charm. In these
comic
narratives, one remove from realism, the trivia of daily life become transformed into the magic of
McNally's whimsical Palm Beach world. What Archy chooses to wear, what he eats and drinks,
the
places he hangs-out with his friends and sweethearts, the thoughts he has about family and
friends-all
these matters that are normally of secondary interest to the more realistic mystery become the
ritually attended details that provide for delight. In the realistic tradition, such details remain
trivial
and forgettable. But for Archy McNally a good meal at the Pelican Club or a two-mile swim in the
ocean are nearly as stimulating as the inevitable murder in Palm Beach. Archy McNally's frivolous
approach to life is a refreshing antidote to the heavy seriousness of many of today's best mystery
writers such as James Lee Burke. The grand events by which we measure life in the most serious
literature of the genre tends to overlook the nickel and dime events that are the currency for most
of
us most of the time. For McNally it is riches enough. As the old nursery rhyme suggests, "Merrily,
merrily, merrily, merrily life is but a dream." At least it is healthy to think so at times.
McNally's Chance, Lardo's latest novel in the Archy McNally series, gets off to a fast and fun start
when Sabrina Wright, best-selling author of bodice-rippers, asks Archy to find her lost daughter
and
husband. Her daughter, Gillian, has fled to Palm Beach to learn the true identity of her birth
father.
Sabrina had her out of wedlock and promised, after receiving a large sum of money from more
than
one "father," to keep the famous family name of Gillian's real father secret. Three different Palm
Beach gents confess paternity to Archy, and Sabrina turns up dead.
Through it all, the pleasure of the book is in the Worth-Avenue-a-realism of Archy's voice and
point
of view. He's as witty as Bertie Wooster, and not nearly as naive.
It is Archy's character that provides one of only two small glitches in the novel. The Archy of
Lardo's most recent novel is not as sweet as the Archy of the earlier novels. Consistently
unfaithful
to his true love Consuela "Connie" Garcia in all his adventures, Archy becomes romantically
entangled with other women because events force these situations. He is usually the one seduced,
in
mock-gallant fashion, rather than the seducer. In this latest novel, however, he becomes
somewhat
of a sexual predator. Worse, his prey is the darling of his "best friend," the addlebrained Binky
Watrous, and she lives in a trailer park. Archy is less likeable here than in the earlier novels.
There's
also a very minor subplot that returns after the main plot is resolved that threatens to take our
man
in Palm Beach away to Hollywood in the next McNally novel to investigate an eighty-year old
Los
Angeles mystery. In fact the novel ends with these dire words referring to this subplot: "To be
continued..." Let's hope that McNally stays in Palm Beach for scores of novels to come, and he
leaves LA crime to Chandler's Philip Marlowe.
The Theory Of Options: A New Theory Of The Evolution Of Human Behaviour
Sean Gould
Universal Publishers/uPUBLISH.com USA
ISBN: 1-58112-700-6, $19.95
Tony Dickinson.
Reviewer
Gould's 'Theory of Options' is put forward to bridge explanations of human behaviour to those of
human evolution. The major claim is that the human species have become motivated to maximise
their options along a 'fitness pathway'. Though supportive of Darwinian notions of structural
adaptation, Gould extends the evolutionary argument to address the ontological as well as
phylogenetic aspects of individual growth and development. We thus read here of the
evolutionary
significance and import of more culturally determined values such as may be observed in
expressions
of human love, morality an ethics.
Throughout the book's five main chapters, we read that structural complexity and larger brains
increase options (no surprises there), but so also have the development of morals and a flexible
psychology served to maximise options. Indeed, the purpose of our knowledge acquisition
processes
is to increase our options. Much is made of the idea that purposeful human behaviour is born of
the
motivation to increase one's behavioural options, but I would argue that this is not so much an
end
in itself. I would rather have seen the argument framed such that increasing one's behavioural
options supplies a SOLUTION to the problem of coping with unpredictable, uncertain future
circumstances.
Gould is quite at liberty to introduce his notion of the 'personal geodesic' as pictorial metaphor for
distinguishing ontogenetic from phylogenetic developmental/evolutionary processes, but if the
take
home message is that increasing one's options affords a greater repertoire of behaviours from
which
to select in the face of novel circumstances (and thus scaffolding increasingly larger, if not more
complex, extant adaptive behaviours), this might have been more succinctly stated. Gould's more
notable contribution here, however, is his prompting discussion re the development of human
moral
reasoning. Although one rarely considers exactly what evolutionary pressure(s) might be brought
to
forebearance by its development, Gould proposes that morality evolved as a powerful inhibitor in
the
(modern) less-reflexive human brain "to ensure that the transfer process from reflex to learning
works reliably" (p.105).
This is not, however, either a novel, or surprising claim per se, given the recent interest and
extensive literature on the topic of intelligent adaptive systems. [Unfortunately embedded in
neither
a form of Waddingtonian epigenetic landscape or even an autopoietic systems context, Gould's
reference group cited throughout the text comprises general readership volumes with no other key
paper references provided (though a 'further reading' list is appended)]. But where Gould does
provoke us, however, is with his claim that "humans enjoy maximum options when all constraints
on
behaviour are moral ones" (p. 162). The key observation here is that a flexible, though largely
inhibitory, moral psychology may be alterable at relatively high speed (in response to short-term
behavioural challenges) without compromising gross morphological characteristics, the latter held
sway under more coarse phylogenetic (Darwinian) check. For the 'successful' enculturated human
animal able to afford the luxury of pondering ethical considerations (ethics in turn existing to
resolve
a certain type of action - 'an unconstrained choice' (p.160).
Gould's thesis is not derived from empirical study, but remains worthy of wider attention than this
cursory summary might suggest. This volume provides a valuable discursive evolutionary
explanation for the emergence of moral and ethical reasoning - a topic little, if ever, offered much
space in the modern literature concerned with evolutionary psychology and adaptive intelligent
systems.
Glamorous Powers
Susan Howatch
Alfred A. Knopf
201 East 50th St., New York, NY 10022
ISBN 0394571452, Hardcover, $18.95, 403 pages
Carie Morrison
Reviewer
Susan Howatch again takes us into the dark corners of the Church of England with Glamorous
Powers, the second book in her series revolving around the Church in the early 20th century. The
first book, Glittering Images, introduced us to Jon Darrow as a religious lifeline to Charles
Ashworth when he most needed guidance. Jon was a staid Fordite monk who used his psychic
ability
to alleviate suffering in others and to assist them on their spiritual journey. Charles viewed Jon
Darrow as a man who "had it all together," the type of man Charles wanted to be. Glamorous
Powers shows us that what we see on the surface can be extremely different than what lies
beneath.
Early one morning, Jon is overcome with a vision he believes is sent from God to deliver a
startling
message: leave the Order of the Fordite monks after seventeen years of service. One simply can
not
walk out of a monastic Order; Jon must obtain permission from his superior. Unfortunately, Jon's
new superior is an acquaintance from his college years with whom he shares a mutual abhorrence,
Francis Ingram. The intellectual exchanges that take place between Jon and Francis are both
mentally stimulating and humorous, and as a reader I found the evolution of their friendship
extremely fulfilling. Ultimately, Francis decides Jon has truly been called by God to leave the
Order,
and Jon is out in the world for the first time in seventeen years.
This sprawling novel presents the many sides of Jon Darrow: the serene servant of God, the aging
60-year-old man who doesn't feel a day over 45, the failed father of two grown children, and a
man
making a second attempt at married life after a hugely botched first marriage. Susan Howatch
deftly
weaves these many faces of Jon into the story so that we see him develop into a full character, a
union of the many roles he must play. The complexity and multitude of relationships in need of
healing are such that I dare not go into too much detail here for fear of ruining a truly great romp
through the psyche of one agonized man.
Jon's psychic abilities are central to the main conflicts in the story, from how he handles his
temper
with Francis to how he comes to grips with the ministrations of his recently-deceased spiritual
advisor, the mysterious Father Darcy. Troubles begin to compound, and we watch Jon tread
down a
path that we can see from the outside is clearly a dreadful mistake. I genuinely wanted to reach
out
and throttle the man back into some sort of logic at one point in the story. The muddle in which
Jon
ultimately finds himself seems at first insurmountable; however, Jon finds a way through and
emerges with flying colors.
Susan Howatch has again furnished a truly satisfying read with Glamorous Powers. Jon Darrow is
a
feisty old coot of a character who proves that redemption and healing in any relationship is
possible
regardless of the passage of time or the depth of the wound.
The Body Knows: How To Tune In To Your Body And Improve Your Health
Caroline M. Sutherland, Medical Intuitive
Hay House, Inc.
PO Box 5100, Carlsbad, CA 92018-5100
ISBN: 1-56170-842-9, $13.95, 2001, 311 pp., 800-654-5126, www.hayhouse.com
Shannon McKelden Cave
Reviewer
I would hazard a guess that most people don't pay too much attention to what their bodies telling
them. We ignore the stomach pains, medicate the headaches, and pass off our aches and pains as
old
age. But Caroline M. Sutherland, medical intuitive, has a much different outlook.
In The Body Knows, How To Tune In To Your Body And Improve Your Health, Sutherland
shares
her discovery that "the body knows what to do to get well," and shows us the steps toward
working
with the body to bring it the health it strives for.
Beginning with the story of how she became a medical intuitive, Sutherland then moves on to
discussing four distinct body types people have, based on symptoms they manifest. After choosing
which body type you best fit, "The Body Knows" provides useful solutions for eliminating those
symptoms, including identifying food allergies, exercise and other lifestyle changes appropriate to
that body type.
A major portion of the book is devoted to candida yeast problems, food allergies, weight issues,
understanding addictions and environmental issues. I was amazed at how many common
symptoms
can be caused by something as simple as sensitivity to certain foods that can be eliminated from
the
diet, thus eradicating symptoms a person may have suffered with for many years. Case histories
are
presented as examples for every topic, including special cases involving serious illnesses and
emotional issues.
Part V gets down to the task of "Putting it All Together to Heal Your Family and Yourself."
Sutherland assures us, "The gift of intuition regarding the physical body isn't the sole domain of a
few select people -- it's available to everyone." Developing intuition about our bodies and health is
most interesting. There are simple methods of self-testing provided to learn to "hear" your body.
Sutherland also includes comprehensive methods for tuning into children and teenagers, women's
issues and the elderly.
The appendices include a basic food plan and food "families" to help eliminate allergens from the
diet, common environmental allergies, and a list of carbohydrate contents. A suggested reading
list
and self-help resources offer more information and follow up to what is learned in "The Body
Knows."
The reader can't help but listen to their body's communications after reading this terrific book.
Symptoms which have gone unexplained and largely ignored in the past, jump out at us as
messages
to be heeded. The Body Knows provides the tools to improve your health, your emotions.
The Proposal
Mary Ann Kerl
AmErica House
PO Box 151, Frederick, MD 21705-0151
ISBN 1588515052 $19.95, http://www.amazon.com
Priscilla A. Maine
Review
Crystal McCourtney never expected to be sole provider for her eight-year-old son, nor had she
expected to be a widow after only ten years of marriage. A drunk driver rearranged her life,
causing
her to refocus and rethink her expectations. Strengthened by faith, encouraged by her friends
Crystal
struggles to survive. Yet the pain of her loss is like a knotted fist of angry rage in her spirit
because,
she can never forgive the alcoholic whose irresponsible behavior cost her so much. Never.
Psychologist, Dave Alexander, never expected fatherhood to be so fulfilling, nor so difficult to
claim
rights to. But obstacles bar his path: he's not married to his daughter's mother, he courted and
wed
the wine bottle instead and by the time he found the redeeming grace of God and a sponsor in AA
his credibility as parent material was tainted considerably. Still, Dave is determined to fight for his
right to be a father to his daughter.
Crystal approaches Dr. Alexander because she needs his endorsement of her proposal for a
program
she designed to help teens develop the skills needed to cope with drugs, sex, and violence. Dave is
far more interested in getting on with his own battles and plans to point out the weakness in
Crystal's
proposal and be done with her. Both forget to remember to consult the Master's plan, until a
series
of mishaps throw them together.
When Crystal's rebellious son runs away from home, a fiery crash threatens the life of Dave's
daughter, and a face-to-face encounter with the unforgiven past, both find their faith tested and
they
are forced to reevaluate their expectations.
The Proposal is a heart-warming story, reinforcing the value of forgiveness in our lives.
Private Heat
Robert E. Bailey
M. Evans and Company, Inc.
216 East 49th Street, New York, New York 10017
ISBN 0-87131-970-5, Hard cover pgs. 301., Book price $21.95
Meredith Campbell
Reviewer
Meet Art Hardin, Private Investigator, living in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Middle-aged, rumpled,
opinionated, coming out with one-liners like " there's no such thing as struggle-free justice," he
comes complete with wife, three sons, and a dog. Retired government counterintelligence officer
for
the Defense Intelligence Service, Art is now chasing insurance fraud cases, and other small change
operations. Naturally, he's usually broke.
When confronted with a monetary offer he can't refuse, he reluctantly takes on the job of
protecting
Karen Smith, niece of an influential attorney. The niece has information about the disappearance
of
millions of dollars that her lover/ boss stashed away in offshore banks. Unfortunately, the boss is
found decaying in the trunk of his car. Making her even more vulnerable, she is having divorce
papers served on her husband, a loutish cop with a violent temper. Theirs is a love/hate
relationship,
and he is expected to explode all over his estranged wife.
Her death would keep her from giving crucial testimony regarding the missing money. What starts
out as a simple two-day body guarding case becomes complicated when crooked cops and vicious
criminals come after the girl. Also, lurking out of sight is the real danger, a villain from Art's past.
With the help of Wendy, his gutsy wife, and Ron Craig, former CIA agent, Art unsnarls this rat's
nest of evil, but not until the body count is substantial and his own life and career are
jeopardized.
Having once been himself a government agent in counterintelligence, Bailey writes out of his own
experience; thus, the prose and dialogue glitters with cop-speak. For some, not acquainted with
this
insider slang, the language can be cryptic. However, it is today's language, hip, funny, and the
reader
finds himself enjoying being "educated" into this new world. Character driven, a page turner,
Private
Heat, is the first in the Art Hardin series and Robert E. Bailey the freshest talent of the genre seen
in
years.
The Atlantis Dialogue - The Original Story of The Lost Empire
Plato, author
Aaron Shepard: Editor
Shepard Publications
Los Angeles, California
ISBN 0-938497-15-4 Paperback, 60 p. $8.00
ISBN 0-938497-16-2 E-Book, 70 p. PDF $5.00
http://www.aaronshep.com/books/Plato.html
Judy Justice
Reviewer
Stories about Atlantis have survived throughout the ages and are just as interesting today as they
must have been thousands of years ago. Although most people consider the lost civilization of
Atlantis to be nothing more than a myth, serious researchers are still trying to locate evidence of
this
ancient land. Why does the myth live on? Could it be that the concept of a society such as that
described in the myth is something we aspire to?
Plato was a great philosopher with a very strong interest in politics. He realized early on that,
rather
than seek office himself, he could do more to improve society by becoming a teacher of future
politicians. He set about to teach his philosophy on government and justice to the youth of his
day.
By telling his students stories in the form of 'Dialogues,' with characters speaking the 'parts,' Plato
vividly brought his ideas to life. So much so that even now, thousands of years later, these ancient
stories continue to interest the modern reader.
Aaron Shepard, specializes in retelling classic literature and folktales. In this e-book, he extracted
material contained in two of the dialogues that pertain to the legendary lost civilization of
Atlantis.
In his introduction Shepard noted that the Timaeus dialogue was largely taken up with Plato's
views
on the creation of the Universe so he goes on to explain: "The Atlantis Dialogue - as I've titled
this
volume - was compiled by attaching the beginning of the Timaeus to all but the introduction of the
Critias." He goes on to describe the ebook as, "a compact and unified work that presents
everything
that Plato said about Atlantis, and in the context he intended." (p.7/8)
Now instead of reading through dusty textbooks to find Plato's story of Atlantis, you can
download
an electronic edition of this classic written in 360 B.C. as translated from the original Greek by
Benjamin Jowett in 1892 (Oxford University Press Vol 2.)
There is a brief introduction by Shepard; as well, he provides a recommended reading list of
subject-related titles for readers who may want to locate other books about Atlantis. An easy
read,
The Atlantis Dialogue is an excellent introduction to classical Greek philosophy as it pertains to
Plato's views about society and it provides a good starting point for anyone wanting to learn more
about the origins of the Atlantis myth.
Frankenstein
Mary Shelley
Oxford World Classics
ISBN: 0-19-283487-8, œ2.99
Jason Millar, Reviewer
thecrystaltower@btinternet.com
Mary Shelley lives on in intellectual circles, often as the shadow of Percy Bysshe, a woman who
recognised that her own intellect was inferior to that of her Romantic husband's. Yet her most
famous work, Frankenstein, is in itself a work of paramount profundity and revolutionised writing
in
subtle ways.
The novel itself was published in 1818, shortly after the death of Mary and Percy's child, William.
The prose is archaic in places, as is to be expected, but Mary's style is unique. Frankenstein is
often
classed as a Gothic novel in the same vein as Radcliffe, Walpole and Lewis, as well as the later
Stoker. Yet her style is clinical, and her words are missing the hyperbole and hysterics that are
characteristic to the genre. Her novel does not focus on ghosts or unexplained deaths, but its
original plot sets the precedent for today's science fiction. Mary's writing excels in its descriptive
phases, and it is here that one sees the definately Gothic effect. Yet as Muriel Spark remarked in
her
criticisms of the novel, it is the language of realism - the effect only is Gothic.
Contrary to popular belief, Frankenstein is the man, not the monster, physically speaking. The
monster is never given a name. Brought up with a silver spoon in his mouth, Dr. Victor
Frankenstein
is a Swiss scientist who yearns to discover the secret of life. He succeeds, and when he does so
resolve to create a human being of magnificent stature and perfection. Yet he is blinded by
ambition,
a hunger for glory rather than achievement. He is afflicted with irresponsibility, and a recklessness
that is fatal. Frankenstein chronicles the downfall of a genius by showing how a mortal man's
ability
is exceeded by his ambition and intellect, and how dangerous it is to challenge the
fundamentals.
"Life and death appeared to me ideal bounds, which I should first break through, and pour a
torrent
of light into our dark world. A new species would bless me as its creator and source." -
Frankenstein, Chapter IV, p.54
It is a powerful morality novel, cautioning and warning against things which in themselves seem
innocent - a desire to do good, to cure disease, to give a child everything he or she needs and
wants,
a hunger for knowledge, and the ambition to put that to good use. Yet it is these very goals which
result in the almost tragic downfall of Frankenstein.
The novel's structure is clever, a Chinese box structure, narrated in sequence by Walton, the man
who hears Frankenstein's miserable story, Frankenstein himself, the monster, and then
Frankenstein
again, followed finally by Walton. Rather than become tedious and confused, it allows us to see all
facets of the characters, and it allows us to understand the abhorred monster as much as the
anguished scientist, and the beauty of this is that the last sentence is finished still wondering who
was
right and who was wrong.
This novel is deeply though provoking, and intellectually moving, but at the expense of characters.
Any feminist feeling that Mary may have picked up from the champion of woman's rights (who
was
her mother) Mary Wollstonecraft, is entirely absent. The female characters are so lifeless and two
dimensional as to be peripheral plot devices, though the male characters contrast and compliment
each other in such a way as to make the ideas explored even more poignant.
Frankenstein is a classic for a good reason. Its scope and depth give it a rare quality, vastly
superior
to any film reproduction, and it is arguably the forbear of modern science fiction. This is by no
means an easy read, but in comprehending it, one begins to realise that Mary's genius may not be
as
inferior as she believed.
Karla's Bookshelf
Luna de Miel
Laurie MacDiarmid
Cassandra Press
St. Norbert College, 100 Grant Street, De Pere, WI 54115
No ISBN, $5.00
Filled to throbbing with yearning, this book is packed with passionate poems, full of
unpredictable,
dream-like images of love and desire, sin and repentance. MacDiarmid takes the reader along on a
wild ride, on a honeymoon (luna de miel), from when the narrator discovers desire sitting next to
her
in the first poem, to her final outing in the last when she reconsiders her daughter and what the
child
might not understand of her mother's passion.
The first poem "True Love" finds the narrator awakened by longing, while "cruising/ flat-foot
over
the dead and/ cackles ." of her ordinary life. The reader meets Armand, the lover, purveyor of sin,
when he takes the narrator to a wedding in "Late Afternoon," the wedding flowers not the only
thing
deflowered finally as she refuses to become like:
Aunt Bella, "forty-eight and unfucked,"
ribboned rice bag twisted in her bloated grip.
wheezed down the church steps after us,
lips pulled apart between creamy cheeks.
From "Resurrection" through "Tucson Aphrodite" and "Down Alvernon," the narrator gains some
sort of redemption as she awakens from her journey only to discover her daughter once again.
The
discovery grounds her, and the reader is somehow redeemed as well.
MacDiarmid's poems are filled with wonderfully crafted images. She makes the reader spin and
shiver with the uncertain pleasure of lust and sin. Images, "skimming past flowered
crosses/gravestones yellow as teeth ." to "Water spoils at the curbs and oily cobblestones,/slick as
otter's backs ." and "a delicate honeymoon circle/that'll nestle, cool and small/as nibbled
kisses/against my white wrist ...," delight the reader with their freshness. MacDiarmid's poems
echo
with assonance. The poem "True Love" smacks with short "a" sounds with words like "cackle,
flat,
traffic, black, glad, and dappled."
In the poem "Late Afternoon," MacDiarmid opens with words that rely on long "o-s" (coast,
Taxco,
over, spoils, oily, stones, open, doorways) perhaps to reflect the narrator's surprise or maybe
shock
at being taken on this dreamlike journey.
The metal creaks and groans as the stones
roll away on either side,
into open mouths and black eyes,
dark doorways to muddy houses.
Sound and image combine to create the overriding theme of this small book: desire. Desire
promises
that it can take you by surprise, take you while doing the most ordinary things, take you nearly
anywhere if you trust it--and then desire takes you back, maybe sweating and choking, but
certainly
returned and forever changed. Desire is so pervasive that in the poem "Pretty Soon:"
It sparked behind their shut lids,
leaked from his fingers into her tangled hair,
skittered out into the ivy,
where sleepy wasps hustled bush to bush,
so that it sketched in the peeling eaves,
threw the palo verde into purple,
and painted the fat chickens white.
Even the morning glories turned their
tactless faces up, stupid with bliss,
expecting to be filled.
MacDiarmid, winner of the John Gilgun award for poetry in 2001 (The Mochila Review, Missouri
Western State College), is a writer of skill, humor and passion. These poems take delight in the
marriage of language and image, sin and redemption.
Karla Huston
Reviewer
David's Bookshelf
The Complete Idiot's Guide To Throwing A Great Party
Phyllis Cambria and Patty Sachs
Alpha Books
ISBN: 0-02-863974-X, $25.95, www.idiotsguides.com
If you are one of those people who takes on more than you can chew and winds up way less
organized than you would like, don't throw a party without this Idiot's Guide. Although it covers
everything an idiot needs to know, you don't have to be an idiot to make good use of it.
Right up front are some handy lists: ten questions to ask a vendor, a budget breakdown, and six
elements of a great invitation. From there, it covers every conceivable party situation, including
business functions, seasonal events, dinner parties, black tie affairs and of course, cleaning up
after your guests. (They even include tips on how to get different stains out of the
upholstery.)
And they cover every facet imaginable, from food to decorations, from guest lists to lighting, from
choosing between styles (funky or formal, for example) to how to handle the sometimes touchy
subject of alcohol.
I like interactive books that are more than just a block of text, which is why the many floating
boxes
are so welcome. "Party Pitfall" boxes warn about common mistakes party organizers can make.
"Shindig Sayings" help us understand the lingo when dealing with suppliers. "Chips and Tips" are
handy pieces of advice. "Festive Facts" are bits of party trivia, which could also be used somehow
as
a party game, I suppose.
Here is one example of a "Chips and Tips": "Add the addresses and phone numbers of thrift and
resale shops on costume party invitations." Keep in mind all these little party tips come from two
very experienced event planners.
All this good stuff continues for 248 pages until the really good stuff appears: the party planning
worksheets. Hang onto these. They can be very useful. Then comes a wine selection table
(probably
more useful for the formal parties than for the funky ones) and a calendar of U.S. holidays. So, if
you need an excuse for a party, just flip to page 269.
Chantal and I didn't need an excuse when we got married, but I sure wish we had had The
Complete
Idiot's Guide To Throwing A Great Party to help us through.
Wildflower
Carl Rafala
Great Unpublished
ISBN: 1-588-98-098-7, $15.00, www.greatunpublished.com
If you like avant guard writing and enjoy sci fi, pick up a copy of Carl Rafala's anthology
Wildflower. Each of the 11 short stories is imaginative, and no two are similar in style.
Rafala's world or should I say worlds? teems with biobots, methane clouds, electronic eyes,
space crafts, and genetic regeneration. His tales emit a darkness, a sense of hopelessness. While
his
heavy use of futuristic techno-lingo displays a fascination with humanity's future, his plots betray a
deep mistrust and desperation for where technology might be leading us.
In Wildflower, soldiers hunt down protesters, people drive creatures to extinction on planet after
planet, and it gets harder and harder to define the boundaries between humans and machines.
Each of Rafala's tales keeps readers in suspense, some with surprise endings, some with a gradual
realization of where the story is headed. Not surprisingly, Philip K. Dick is one of his influences,
because "Things are always dark and uncertain with Dick, and I love that." Unfortunately, Rafala
also keeps us in the dark about some details that could help us better follow the story.
Another strength, Rafala's fantastic imagination, becomes a weakness through excess. Like the
movie director who tries to impress with special effects, Rafala's techno-lingo overshadows some
truly enjoyable stories. Rafala is a good enough writer that he does not need to distract us with
razzle-dazzle.
Wildflower's weaknesses can be attributed to a young writer who has yet to come of age. I look
forward to his next book to seeing a Rafala confident enough to use both suspense and
techno-lingo without overusing them.
Until then, enjoy Wildflower.
David Leonhardt
Reviewer
Emily's Bookshelf
Mouse's First Valentine
Lauren Thompson
Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, NY,NY 10020
ISBN: 0-689-84724-6, $12.95
Do you recall the first time when, as a child, you gathered together red and pink paper, doilies or
lace, ribbons and other pretty frills? Then, snipping and pasting, you created your very own
valentine
for a special someone.
If your memory has faded, "Mouse's First Valentine" will re-evoke this early rite of passage, and
capture these magical moments for today's child, as she or he embarks upon this heartfelt
enterprise.
The brother and sister mouse "stars" of this picture book will scamper right into the hearts of
children and adults alike.
Consider Love: Its Moods And Many Ways.
Sandra Boynton
Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, NY, NY 10020
ISBN:0-689-84703-3, $14.95
The publisher takes a tongue-in-cheek approach in describing this book that all ages can enjoy.
Check out this jacket blurb: "From the sentimental to the soulful, this book explores, in absolutely
no depth whatsoever (yet with a number of lively and perhaps profound illustrations), the many
and
curious modes of love. Also it rhymes." Boynton's droll creature couples experience all kinds of
"amore": "There's hopeful love and love despairing. Cautious love and love that's daring." The
cautious possum lovers eye one another warily as they hang from a bough. A daring hippo
(carrying
a heart balloon, of course) leaps across a dale to reach his love. The flap also says, "Ms. Boynton
is
an internationally ignored authority on romance." In the name of love, this must stop! What better
time to begin than February 14. Forget chocolates, forget roses! Make "Consider Love" the
incredible, inedible gift for your sweetheart this year.
Love, Ruby Lavender
Deborah Wiles
Harcourt
525 B Street, San Diego, CA 92101
ISBN: 0-15-202314-3, $16.00
Nine-year-old Ruby Lavender faces a lonely, empty summer in Halleluia, Mississippi, a town of
"400
good friendly folks and a few old soreheads." Miss Eula may be "old" but she most definitely is
not
among the town's soreheads, despite being widowed a year earlier.
The quirky Miss Eula is not only Ruby's grandmother but also her best friend and co-conspirator.
(The book opens as the twosome "liberate" three chickens destined for Kentucky Fried or
potpie.)
When Miss Eula unexpectedly goes off to Hawaii to visit her son, daughter-in-law and baby
granddaughter, Ruby is left to deal with her nemesis, Melba Jane, on her own. (Both girls believe
Melba Jane possesses information damaging to Ruby. Melba Jane enjoys this "power" she holds
over
Ruby.)
The letter exchange between Miss Eula and Ruby conveys the duo's close relationship as well as
Ruby's disarming honesty and spunk:
"Your letter was exciting. I was depressed at first. I was sure you would hate Hawaii. Maybe by
now you do.
"For your information, Melba Jane is curling her hair so loopy it looks like a heap of catfish guts.
It's
very attractive. I told her so.
"Here is another picture of me. Love, your awfully lonely granddaughter, Ruby L."
Ruby and Miss Eula make for highly memorable characters: Ruby as she attempts to understand
life
and Miss Eula, who has lived life in such a way to have acquired or maintained much "joie de
vivre."
Nora's Room
Jessica Harper, author & Lindsay Harper du Pont, illustrator
HarperCollins
1350 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019
0060291362, $15.95, 1-800-242-7737
What could possibly be going on in Nora's room? It's so noisy up there that it sounds like the
London Bridge REALLY falling down, like a bunch of rhinos playing musical chairs, like a dump
truck dumping its junk. When Mom goes to investigate, she finds a sign on the door, "ENTER IF
YOU DARE!" She asks, "What's going on in there?" Mischievous daughter replies, "Oh,
nothing."
But when Mom opens the door, the mystery is humorously and surprisingly cleared up. This sister
author-illustrator team have produced a fun and funny book.
Langston Hughes: American Poet
Alice Walker
HarperCollins
1350 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019
ISBN: 0-06-021518-6, $16.95, 1-800-242-7737
HarperCollins has reissued Walker's biography of Langston Hughes, first written for children in
1974. The new edition, with bountiful, beautiful paintings, marks the 100th anniversary of
Hughes'
birth, on February 1, 1902.
As a college student, Walker had the good fortune of meeting and knowing Huges. He publisher
her
first short story in an anthology he edited, and they corresponded from time to time over the
years.
In an author's note penned for this edition, Walker characterizes Hughes: "He was a person who
loved unconditionally. He was accepting of others, patient with them, and capable of finding
humor
in the most complicated experiences of life. He was also thoughtful and humble. And very, very
wise."
Hughes' wisdom shone early. He had just graduated from high school when he wrote en
evocative,
flowing verse comparing the souls of black people to old, deep rivers that reached back to Africa.
This now familiar ode begins:
"I've known rivers: I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood
in
human veins. My soul has grown deep like the rivers."
Hughes couldn't understand his father, a stingy, bitter man with comtempt for his own people. He
had moved to Mexico shortly after Langston's birth. There he grew wealthy in money and mean in
soul.
Langston lived with this grandmother until he was 12, and then with his mother. These two
women
imbued him with a sense of both the resilient spirit and the suffering of America's blacks. These
qualities became frequent themes in Hughes' poetry.
Just as Hughes helped young people, Walker hopes to inspire today's youth with this biography of
the great American poet.
Wounded Knee
Neil Waldman
Atheneum
1230 Avenue of the Americas, NY, NY 10020
ISBN: 0-689-82559-5, $18.00
Wounded Knee is a thoughtful historical narrative of the events that led to the slaughter of native
Lakotans at Wounded Knee Creek, South Dakota, on December 29, 1890. The author describes it
as the final encounter "between two proud and warring peoples the inevitable conclusion of the
clash between two disparate nations."
One nation consisted of nomadic hunters in the northern Plains; the other of immigrants seeking
to
establish farms in the same region.
Waldman begins by describing the seven Lakota tribes at the time of Columbus' landing, and their
peaceful coexistence with European trappers and traders for some 200 years.
Then in the spring of 1841, a small contingent of covered wagons crossed Lakota lands, hoping to
reach California and Oregon. When word got back East that the settlers had arrived successfully,
a
tiny trickle of wagons through Lakota lands became a steady stream, then a raging river after gold
was found in California in 1848.
The Lakota did nothing during the early years, although the wagon trains trampled and destroyed
much prairie land. As well, diseases brought by the newcomers spread epidemics among these
people who had not developed defenses to cholera, smallpox and measles.
Armed Lakota resistance to the flow of foreigners through their territory began with warriors
attacking very small wagon trains. Eastern newpapers played up these assaults, carried out by
"bloodthirsty savages." The gulf between the two peoples widened.
U.S. leaders' almost total lack of understanding of Lakota culture contributed to mounting
frustrations and distrust on both sides.
Under a treaty, for example, Lakotans who took up farming were promised monthly allotments of
food and goods. But government officials humiliated Lakota men by making them, as "heads of
families," wait in long lines for these allotments. The Lakota considered such tasks to be women's
work. Further, by calling names alphabetically, they dishonored chiefs, wise men and elders who
expected deference.
Wounded Knee provides a serious study of Lakota-U.S. relationships in a readable and attractive
format. Waldman's realistic drawings, sprinkled through the pages, are based on early
photographs.
Although this tale is in picture book format, all ages will laugh at the silliness of this Old World
treasure. The back jacket says that Lemuel's character is based on the mythical fools of the actual
town of Chelm in ancient Poland.
"The unifying theme in all the Chelm folktales is the acknowledgement of the idea that fools are
always the other person, never ourselves," it says. Lemuel may be a fool, but the muted, dreamy
illustrations show him to be a likeable, good-natured fool. Lemuel is a fisherman who dreams of
sailing to the enchanted city that must lie just over the horizon. When he finally sets off, a huge
storm arises. Lemuel strikes his head on the mast and loses consciousness. He awakens in the
magical town, which, strangely, looks very much like his own. He even finds a house with a
woman
and boy who are the spitting image of his wife and son. But, enough of this madness; he decides
to
sail home immediately. This time he falls asleep. When Lemuel awakens the next morning, he's
quite
happy that his boat has carried him back to his own village.
It's easy to see why this story has endured for centuries. And this edition portrays it in a delightful
format.
The Emperor Lays An Egg
Brenda Z. Guiberson
Henry Holt
115 West 18th Street, NY, NY 10011
ISBN: 0-8050-6204-1, $16.95
This nonfiction saga dispenses a dose of anti-gripe medicine to anyone, of any age, who whines
about having to go out into the cold, snow, ice, frost, or biting wind.
Pity the poor parents of the emperor penguin! After mama emperor penguin lays an egg, papa
penguin scoops it up with his feet and cuddles it against his fat abdomen, under a pouch-like fold
of
skin. Mama has not eaten for six weeks, since arrival at the breeding ground. Exhausted and
hungry,
she heads out, with the other new mothers, on a four-day waddle to open sea.
Meanwhile, in the dead of a dark Antarctic winter, thousands of papa penguins shuffle around, an
egg balanced on each one's feet. To conserve heat, they soon huddle together, each standing
straight
and still. Sixty-five days later, smack dab in the middle of winter, the egg hatches. The tiny new
emperor remains nestled on his father's feet until mama penguin returns with a throat full of fish
and
squid to feed to baby.
The papas now get a long-needed break, and food! When the dads return, each penguin mother
and
father will take turns traveling to the sea, returning with up to seven pounds of seafood in his or
her
crop.
By summer, the junior penguins are ready to go it alone with their age-mates. It will be six years
until they experience their own sub-zero sacrifice of raising a baby emperor.
Emily Will
Reviewer
Dana's Bookshelf
Unsung: A History of Women in American Music
Christine Ammer
Amadeus Press
133 S. W. Second Avenue, Suite 450, Portland, OR 97204
ISBN 1-57467-061-1, $19.95, 1-800-327-5680
Its not often that one finds enlightenment in a bibliography. Bibliographies are supposed to be
where
writers demonstrate their homework, not their interpretive skills. Not so Christine Ammers
Unsung:
A History Of Women In American Music. Her bibliography is massive, stretching to 13 pages
(with
the Notes occupying another 32 pages!), and in it we find citations like this: Is there a Career for
Women Musicians cited in a 1938 issue of Metronome; and Why Not Women in Orchestras? in
Etude Music Magazine in 1952.
Today it is difficult to imagine a world in which such questions occurred. In the 199899 season of
the U.S.s most prominent orchestras, women occupied between 18 and 38 percent of the
positions.
Disproportionate to their actual populace, of course, and also to the percentage of women in
music
academies (a majority). But on the plus side this is certainly an improvement over debating
whether
they should even be there.
Nor are women musicians anonymous faces behind the music stands any more. Women
conductors
have gained national attention, albeit only a handful. Three women have been awarded the
Pulitzer
Prize for their compositionsa male-only award up till 1983. The 1999 Avery Fisher Prize went to
Sarah Chang, Pamela Frank, and Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, the first time the prize went to
women.
Author Christine Ammer goes on to site so many women-won honors there is really only two
words
to adequately describe her book and her subject: mostly massive.
More about the mostly in a bit. For now, Unsung is the 2nd edition of a classic text in the field,
first
published in 1980. The first edition became the definitive book in the field, which this 2nd edition
has considerably revised and expanded. Now embracing a full two centuries of women in
American
music, Ms. Ammer added dozens of composers and performers, including women involved in
such
byways and back streets as transcribing Native American and Cajun music, ragtime and jazz,
electronic and performance art, from the late 1800s to the present.
Ms. Ammers new material heaps plenty of factand no end of superbly sketched biographical
anecdoteon the personal lives, trials, tribulations, and successes of her subjects. Blessedly, she
runs
long on detail and short on polemic. Literally hundreds of women are conjured vividly to life out
of
such unpromising material as dusty newspaper archives, hardly-to-be-found program notes from
all
but forgotten performances, family albums and letters, reminiscences of friends and teachers, and
obituaries. In her own words,
The research process for the first edition was long and laborious. I went through all the journals,
newspaper reviews, and programs I could find from the 1790s to the present, mainly in the
Boston
and New York public libraries. None of the material was indexed or computerized, so it took
many
months to read it all. When I found particularly interesting women, such as Sophia Hewitt
(organist
for the Handel and Haydn Society in the early 1800s), I tracked down municipal records and the
like. For this second, greatly expanded edition, the clipping files I'd kept over the years, the
Internet,
and personal interviews with living artists such as composer Joan Tower, made the process much
less time-consuming but nonetheless fascinating.
Ms Ammer has an eye for the telling detail thats so piquant you are right there with the individual
as
events happen:
[Camilla] Ursos parents moved to Paris and tried to enroll her at the Conservatory there. At first
they could not even get their foot inside the door. The normal enrollment age was ten, and no girl
had ever been admitted. Finally, after nine months of delay the family could ill affordCamillas
father
could not find work in Paris and her mother had to take in sewing and washingthe Conservatory
director . . . agreed to hear her play. After this audition, the eight-year-old was admitted
immediately.
Undine Smith Moore became known mostly for her choral compositions and arrangements of
spirituals. . . . She herself said her rhythms, choice of scale structures, use of call and response,
and
general use of contrapuntal devices are among the characteristics making her music uniquely
black. .
. . I hope that everything I have written reflects my blackness. I cannot say, but I hope so.
... some outstanding work was done by three American women who studied American Indian
music.
Alice Cunningham Fletcher (18381923) did the first important work, beginning about 1882. ...
She
wrote a treatise on the songs of the Omaha Indians and articles on the music of the Sioux and
Pawnee Indians. ... Natalie Curtis Burlin (18751921) ... worked on the Indians of the Southwest,
particularly the Hopi and Zuni, beginning about 1900. She published her findings in The Indians
Book, which contained more than 200 songs of eighteen tribes.
Regrettably, the mention of American Indian brings up one of the books shortcomings: its poor
index. The term American Indian spreads all over page 167 but does not appear in the index. It
appears to be a names-and-institutions index that was compiled by the index function of a word
processor, whose limitation is that they dont catch ideas, movements, or generic subjects that
occupy multiple pages.
But back to Ms. Ammer. All this started virtually by accident. When asked about the initial idea,
Ms.
Ammer responded,
The original impetus came in the mid-1970s. I was asked to introduce an all-women's wind
quintet,
and when I went to the library to look up some background on women wind players, I found
absolutely nothing. My children were in school orchestras and bands, which included many girls. I
symphony orchestras, chamber groups, and soloists consisted almost entirely of men. So I
wondered
what had happened to all the girls in school ensembles. And why were all the works I heard in
concert, records, and on radio composed by men?
Until you pick up her book and open it at random, it is easy to overlook the vastness of the
subject.
Fortunately Ms. Ammer is as methodical as she is exacting. She does not address the subject
chronologically; music is too diverse for the timeline approach. Rather, she arrangesso to
speakher
study according to discipline. It is easier to simply quote part of the Table of Contents:
1. The First FloweringAt the Organ
2. The "Lady Violinists" and Other String Players
3. Seated at the Keyboard
4. The First "Lady Composers"
5. ApartheidThe All-Women's Orchestras
6. American Composers in European Idioms
7. Grass RootsComposers in American Idioms
8. Opera Composers and Conductors
9. Contemporary and Postmodern IdiomsAfter 1950
10. Electronic Music, Mixed Media, Film, Performance Art
11. Todays Orchestras, Conductors, and Instrumentalists
While she is proud of what American women have done, she is less sanguine about the
recognition
they receive even today:
The personnel of major American orchestras is now 25 to 35 percent women, and there are many
all- or part-women's chamber ensembles, string quartets, etc. But, the numbers are still small-three
out of a hundred prizewinners; one out of two dozen...conductors; one-fourth to one-third
women
players when conservatories graduate a majority of women. Further, in some fields such as music
education, women still are consigned to the lower ranks, such as untenured or adjunct professors
in
colleges and conservatories. Women brass players have a particularly hard time winning
acceptance;
very few have made it into the big time, and it is not for want of talent or ability. Prejudice lingers,
and for those women who have gotten a foot in the door, there is often a glass ceiling.
Unfortunately, lack of recognition is a term that can be applied to Ms. Ammers work itself. There
are, for all her exactitude, some astonishing lacunae. None of the following are even mentioned,
much less is their role in female musicology assayed: Ann Dudley, Anna Turner, Joan Doan,
Gabrielle Roth, Constance Demby; and the genres of world fusion, ambient, soundspace,
minimalism, blues, trance, techno, space jazz, electronic and acoustical space, hip-hop, punk. Ms.
Ammers focus on institutional/academic music and music long assimilated into the mainstream,
such
as ragtime and jazz, neglects almost everything that has been happening in the nonacademic
creative
sector. We must forgive her for the omission on the grounds of the books already massive
content,
and perhaps the inhibition of the publisher to add another 50 pages or so to a book already in
danger
of being priced out of the market. (At $19.95 its the bargain of the year in academic
publishing.)
In any event, nonacademic creative work surely deserves the attentions of an exacting and lucid
scholar like Ms. Ammer. Perhaps she will consider the topic for another book, or at least
extended
article. Or consider this: An all-color large-format book about all that lies behind the Hearts of
Space phenomenonwith all those exotic names, instruments, and performancesis surely a strong
coffee-table candidate once the art book publishing industry gets out of the present
doldrums.
Growing Global: A Corporate Vision Masterclass
Stan Shih
John Wiley & Sons (Asia) Pte. Ltd.
2 Clementi Loop, #02-01, Singapore 129809
ISBN 0-471-47927-6, $24.95, http://www.wiley.com
Stan Shih is the CEO of Acer, Taiwan's leading computer brand, and one of Asias most visible
brands internationally. He is famed for his quick-march yet humanitarian approach to corporate
change. In a part of the world where innovation is not particularly encouraged, his endless
reengineering of his company has been closely watched during the past decade (and inviting in the
jape that Acer is the worlds first re-re-re-re-reengineered firm).
Unlike the Standard Industrial Model of the Corporate Reflections book, this book is really a
ghost-written puff piece for the CEO. He has much praise for his company and its employees, but
there is not a single instance in the entire book where he has patted himself on the back for Acers
success. So there, Mr. Welch.
Growing Global is a rewritten series of lectures he gave at a Taiwanese university in 200001. In it
he
unveils his latest management wrinkle, the Internet Organization" or IO. The IO is based on
"virtual
dream teams", which he envisions as small, ever-mutating groups of specialists who taskget
together
as a team, accomplish a project, and when finished, move on and reassemble for a new project.
Mr.
Shih claims that this "can turn Acer into a 'higher form' of organization."
Well, maybe Acer under Mr. Shih, but most of the rest of Asia is led by of conservative,
hierarchical,
conformist, autocratic, men who also happen to be ill-interested in (a) the deluge-like advance of
technological advancement, and (b) what their own young people are thinking of all this.
Being in essence lectures to students, Mr. Shihs book reads like rather well-penned, logical, but
lusterless class notes. Sadly, in shaping his style for a student audience, one of the books
shortcomings is vast oversimplification of complex realities without the statistical or anecdotal
backup to clarify why the point can be so simplified. For example, take the statement, Many
Japanese companies take product quality to the point of perfection before releasing a product to
the
market; although they have mastered product quality, they have missed the timing, so the value
they
create is greatly compromised.
First of all, that isnt true, as any Acura or Sony owner well knows. But more worrisome, isnt this
really saying, Get to market and fix the problems later? This and a few other comments like it
remind
one why the international image of Taiwanese products was for decades quickndirty.
On the brighter side, Mr. Shih definitely has a sharp mind when it comes to grasping the Big
Picture.
Extract his analyses of the differences between U.S., European, Japanese, Southeast Asian, and
Taiwanese social and business cultures, and you would have the chapter outline for another book.
His dissection of how those five cultures approach globalization is a thumb in the eye to
anti-globalizers who monolithically interpret issues in terms of monolithic capitalism. The reality is
that capitalism is about as monolithic as a playground.
Mr. Shih elucidates the differences in corporate culture that enabled Dell, Compaq, Cisco
Systems,
IBM, Sony, and his own Acer to evolve distinctive conceptual differences about product creation
and marketing. For example, the Microsoft and Cisco models are to buy up and integrate
successful
smaller companies into their own fold. Acers approach is rather like the incubator model in which
a
very slim-and-trim parent company spins off no end of tightly focused subsidiaries that get their
job
done and dissolveagain that IO structure he talks about.
Niche is a word that crops up often in this book. It is a reality so much part-and-parcel the core of
Asian life that it is amazing more American companies dont get it. They tend to go into a country
withpardon the termboth guns blazing, lavishly spending on large-scale ad campaigns, creating
massive distribution and retailing n networks, and in general interpreting Asia as little more than
another mass-market. Problem is, Asia is 300 million people occupying 3,000 cultural niches. Can
one really apply marketing ideas to the inhabits of a valley in Northern Thailand the same way as
to a
hip young kid in Bangkok? Can one lump together the wealthy socialites of any given city with its
recent-graduate first-jobbers, both of whom shop the same cosmetics counters in the same mall
gallerias but buy very different product lines to convey very different social images.
Most Westerners dont live in Asia on the street level. Hence they dont develop a sensitivity for
how
the place works. Asia isnt a series of markets, it is a vast number of cultural courtyards. A
courtyard
is a traditional-laden common meeting groundof things or ideas, take your pickin which one side
is
bounded by the public market, another by the religious temple or mosque, a third by the political
infrastructure, and the last by customs and taboos that govern the first three and have been doing
it
from before words were written.
Mr. Shih addresses the issue of Asian nichification constantly throughout the bookalthough not
expressed in the metaphor above. His terminology is traditionalglobalization, functionality, value
creation, corporate strategy, reengineering. You can just imagine the dutiful students scribbling
their
ballpoints dry.
Which brings up a painful observation. Nearly all the text is bounded by buzzwords popular about
five years ago. The effect is rather like reading the complete technical specifications of a Ferrari
that
won the 52 Le Mans Grand Prix. There is no mention of social and political dynamics that drive
the
computer and internet development in India. Not a word about the successful data entry and
overnight software models that originated in Bangalore and created a huge market for Indian
talent
in the U.S. Linux and open-sourcing get so little attention they seem to barely exist (and worse,
arent even in the index).
There is a reason for this. Mr. Shih is an old-line industrialist, even though his product vision in
this
book happens to be internetware. His preoccupation with quality manufacturing and point of
value-addition overlook enormous social changes burbling away beneath Asias corporate-speak.
There is no mention, perhaps not even a recognition, of the major generational gaps which divide
Asia today which will turn into chasms over the next 25 years.
Mr. Acer is of the Grand Generation of major corporate and political leaders who shaped the
region
from fifty to twenty years ago. This generation carved out the great trade and industrial empires
and
set into motion the political attitudes that dominate the region today. This Old Guard is now in its
70s and 80s. Although the 25 years of a generation separates the Old Guard from their sonstodays
middle managers now coming into directorships, only one thing tends to separate them in their
value
systems: todays 40s to 60s were largely educated overseas and look to the West for models and
inspiration (indeed, as does Mr. Shih throughout the book).
But the students Mr. Shih was addressing at Chiaotung University were raised in a radically
different
atmosphere: the internet, the computer at home, and now the group games. To walk into a
Singapore or Bangkok cybercafe that caters to the tweeny generation is an unnerving experience.
The roar when you open the door is reminiscent of the scene in Tom Wolfes Bonfire of the
Vanities
in which someone opens the door of the N.Y. Stock Exchange trading floor and is hit by a great
roaring wall of sound that sounds like, well, the Masters of the Universe at work.
Thats what it is like to be around Asias tweenies and early thirtysomethings (all males, by the
way).
In their conversation, in their group gaming, in their a-political and a-corporate views of their
future,
they are not really rebellious, but they are of such a different mindset that the ideas of Mr. Shih
must
come across to them as precambrian. The younger generation has their elders figured out with a
clarity that would induce apoplexy in the older generation if only they knew of it. But they dont
know. Older Asia hasnt a clue what younger Asia is thinking. That is what is so disturbing about
thinkingno matter how well-intendedlike this from Mr. Shih:
In Asia, business diversity in the past was achieved through protectionism, the dominance of
financial conglomerates, and collusion between government and business; in the diverse business
environment of the new, freer economy, the question is: can you stay focused competitively? If
you
dont excel at what you do, how can you compete?
True enough, but there is not a single new idea in this paragraph, and unfortunately, not many
more
in the rest of the book. Tellingly, there are only two bibliographical references in lieu of a
bibliography. One of them is his own 1996 book Me Too Is Not My Style and the other is Tom
Peters and Robert Watermans 1988 largely discredited In Search Of Excellence.
The New Asian Corporation: Managing for the Future in Post-Crisis Asia
Michael Alan Hamlin
Jossey-Bass, Inc., Publishers
350 Sansome Street, San Francisco, CA 94104
ISBN: 0-787-94606-0, $38.00
Euphoria, in its exaggerated and unfounded high spirits stage, is not in complete touch with
reality.
From about 1994 through July 1997 Southeast and East Asia were about as euphoric as
economies
can get. It seemed there was no end to the market for assets in the form of cheap labor and land,
governments vying for the favors of overseas investors, and bankers from Tokyo to Paris who
were
convinced the region was brushed with a magic money wand. How easy the pedestal broke, how
messy the pieces became. The straw that broke the camels back was an obscure stock trading
opportunity in Thailand, whose unintended consequence was to blow down the entire Asian house
of economic cards.
Western critics waggled their fingers at Asian Values, defined loosely as overinvesting in
unproductive sectors like real estate, crony capitalism, family-dominated corporations with murky
balance sheets, kleptocratic political leaders who protected investors in exchange for lucrative
favors
to family members, and the psychological effects of cultures based on rigidity, hierarchy, denial,
and
consensus.
During that same year many Asian political leaders waggled their fingers back, pointing to the
World
Banks inept financial prescriptions, rampant globalization, greedy financiers, too much investment
in
too little diversity, the Wests loose morals, and, in one political leaders view, a cabal of Jewish
financiers from New York. For a year this went on, even as a handful of political leaders and
business investors tried to settle the differences and fix things. Little noticed outside of
professional
management circles was a book entitled Asia's Best: The Myth & Reality of Asia's Most
Successful
Corporations by Michael Alan Hamlin. However, inside management circles it created waves. It
was
the first book to go beyond American and Japanese models of successful companies to look at
less-noticed regional businesses.
His book shattered the myths about Asians "opaque" management ways and showed how certain
Asia's best companies could stand up there with the world's best. His examples came from
off-the-beaten-track locales: In his home-base country of the Philippines, he analyzed, among
others,
the Jollibee fast-food chain, Eastern Telecommunications Philippines, Inc., Manila Electric
Company, Megalink Inc., National Steel Corporation, Petron Corporation, Philippine Appliance
Corporation, San Miguel Corporation, and Philippine Business for Social Progress.
Hamlin dissected the common myths about Asian business and found the following: (a) Asia did
not
have a unique Asian management style suitable only for Asia; (b) that Asian companies tended to
acquire technology by buying it rather than developing it through joint venture agreements or
alliances; (c) innovation among Asian companies was awful and, "Basic research throughout Asia,
despite rapid, sustained growth over two decades is virtually nonexistent"; and (d) successful
Asian
companies are "masters of nichemanship" rather than "sprawling conglomerates." Given the
economic collapse Southeast Asia was experiencing, his conclusion was a bitter pill: "While
productivity in Asia has been rising, very little purely Asian technology has accounted for the
increase. As the region enters a new era of liberalization and intense competition, its reliance on
Western technology and low value-added exports is dangerously high. Worse, not enough
investment has been made in education and the development of research centers necessary to
support the creation of indigenous, productivity-enhancing technology. Massive public and private
investment in educational infrastructure will be required to sustain rapid growth in Southeast
Asia."
Mr. Hamlin was not alone in the gloom department, but his assessment was dramatically different
than that of the alpha-males of the guru pack Michael E. Porter, Gary Hamel, and C.K. Prahalad.
They interpreted Asias problems in terms of poor use of resource availability (including labor),
and
opportunity. Mr. Hamlin, much closer to the action, interpreted Asias problems in terms of
enhancing resourcefulness and focusing on profitability growth rather than market share
growth.
During 1998 and 1999 the business press and economists as notable as Paul Krugman stated that
unless Asia changed its business and political thinking in fundamental ways, the then-extant
recovery
would go belly-up the moment the next crisis came along. When it did, triggered by the burst of
the
dot.com bubble and sectorial recession in the USA, Asian producers yet again found themselves
facing hard times. This time they were really hard: Singapore, that bastion of meritocracy and
meticulous government planning, found it had built far too many fab-lab computer chip makers
and
far too little of the diversified electronics manufacturer that Taiwan was so good at. Japan
dithered
over its massive real-estate debt and flaky banking system (and is still doing so). Thailands top
cronies talked a great story but didnt make the substantive changes needed to charm ever-fussier
investors. Malaysia spent vast amounts of the public retirement fund to richly award a handful of
politically anointed favorite sons who also happened to be lousy businessmen.
During this same period Mr. Hamlin was analyzing events with the same astuteness he used in his
Asias Best book. He distilled his latest thinking in The New Asian Corporation. What did he come
with?
Mr. Hamlin makes a fairly good case that a New Asian Corporation has emerged as the positive
side
of the two economic crises that have hit the region. He cites three fundamental changes in Asian
social and business thinking that make this possible:
1. The diminishing importance of guanxi (connections) in such things as obtaining government
approvals of incentives, development plans, and permits. In the past guanxi were a way to shut
out
any but a few favored friends.
2. Most Asian governments now expect their domestic enterprises to get competitive or get out of
business.
3. Newly aware and therefore empowered consumers demand much more from government and
corporations than they were used to getting. When governments dismantled barriers to investment
in
key manufacturing and retail sectors, consumers no longer had to put up with high prices due to
outmoded but politically connected big-business interests.
Asia is Rising From the Ashes, as Mr. Hamlin puts it, because eleven behavioral patterns have
irrevocably changed:
1. Corporate culture is meritocratic; it puts a premium on and strategic thinking rather than
hierarchy and seniority.
2. Shareholders are becoming internationally astute and more critical.
3. Productivity is based on management expertise rather than management seniority.
4. Tenure is based on contribution, which is tantamount to a new social contract.
5. Competence has replaced affirmative action thinking in which ethnicity took priority over
knowledge and experience.
6. A younger generation with fresh ideas and international experience is rising into middle
management levels.
7. Corporate strategy now focuses on key business processes and the development of new
business
models.
8. Strategy and focus are seen as vital engines of foresight and strength.
9. A constant search for new sources of profitability requires a strategy-led view of growth rather
than the opportunistic approach of the past.
10. Markets are becoming customer-centered rather than monopoly-centered.
11. A sense of urgency and innovation crosses political and industrial boundaries.
12. Liberalization is forcing companies into new markets.
13. Businesses are identifying who their customers are and what they really want
The New Asian Corporation makes a strong case for a different style of doing business in Asia.
Mr.
Hamlin uses his many points to describe the changes that an inwardly investing company should
take
into account when creating their Asia strategies. He backs up his theories with plenty of Asian
corporate success stories that have survived the crisis and are now devising strategies and
techniques
for todays economic climate. Asian firms have suffered badly in the face of the 1997 and 2001
financial crises, globalization, and liberalization. The New Asian Corporation describes what Mr.
Hamlin believes has happened, why, and how an outsider can come to grips with it.
I Am Not This Body
Photographs by Barbara Ess
Essays by Barbara Ess, Pulitzer Prize-winner Michael Cunningham, Thurston Moore, and Guy
Armstrong
Aperture Foundation, Inc.
20 East 23rd Street, New York, NY 10010
ISBN 0-89381-936-0, $40 ($32 direct from the publishers website), www.aperture.org
The last forty years has seen photography go through a radical stylistic, technical, and theoretical
mutation. Nobody can say exactly when, but at some point capturing the world as is slipped away
from the viewfinders of contemporary photographers. They began to see themselves as
manipulators
of reality rather than recorders of it. Bye-bye went the familiar landscape, portrait, street scene, or
casual snapshot, and in came the photograph as a "directed" or "authored" or "scripted"
document.
Students of this view believed their role was not to perfect reality using camera craftsmanship, but
to
create their own version of it. The trick was to imagine scenarios of the world, then fictionalize
them
on photo film.
This isnt what anyone would have predicted when the cameraas distinct from photographybegan.
So
lets go back to the beginning.
The basic optical principles of the pinhole camera (Italian for chamber) are described in Chinese
texts as far back as the 5th century BC. Chinese philosopher Mo Ti deduced that light travels in
straight lines by observing an inverted image when light passed through a pinhole to cast an image
on the opposite side. The next mention of the camera obscura wasnt until the 10th century AD,
when one Yu Chao-Lung used model pagodas to make pinhole images on a screen.
Western philosophers took a different tack. Aristotle In the 4th century BC Aristotle commented
in
his work Problems: "Why is it that when the sun passes through quadri-laterals, as for instance in
wickerwork, it does not produce a figure rectangular in shape but circular? . . . Why is it that an
eclipse of the sun, if one looks at it through a sieve or through leaves, the rays are
crescent-shaped
where they reach the earth?
In the 10th century the Arabian physicist and mathematician Ibn Al-Haitam arranged three candles
in
a row and put a screen with a small hole between the candles and the wall. He noted that images
(a)
were formed only by means of small holes and (b) that the candle to the right made an image to
the
left on the wall. He too deduced that light travels in straight lines.
In the 1850s a Scottish scientist named Sir David Bruiser was apparently the first to make pinhole
photographs. (He also coined the term "pinhole" to describe them.) The Impressionist movement
in
France had a considerable effect on attitudes about the photograph. A traditionalist school
believed
in sharp focus and good lenses; a contrarian school of "pictorialists" emulated the atmospheric
qualities of paintings. By the 1890s commercial pinhole cameras were sold in Europe, the United
States, and Japan.
Mass production of lensed cameras and the "new realism" of the first half of the 20th century
edged
aside pinhole photography. By the 1930s it was all but forgotten. In the mid-1960s several
photographic artists in widely separated locales experimented with the pinhole technique. In 1971
Time-Life Books published The Art of Photography in the well-known Life Library of
Photography,
which included a panoramic pinhole image (at which they excel compared with everyday
cameras).
The June 1975 issue of Popular Photography published an article "Pinholes for the People", based
on a month-long project at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, in which people came into the
museum,
picked up a camera from one of the 15,000 made for the occasion, and made an exposure. The
images were developed in the museums darkroom and then displayed in the gallery. Democratic
art
if ever there was such a thing.
Pinhole cameras are so intriguing to artsy types because they have no focal length. They have
infinite
depth of field, from a fingertip in front of the pinhole all the way to infinity. The term "focal
length"
means the distance between the pinhole and the film. Pinhole cameras range from ultra wide-angle
cameras to long telephoto cameras. They excel at ultra-wide angle images because unlike
lens-produced images, pinhole ultra-wides remain rectilinear. If the film plane is flatas in Barbara
Esss photosthere will be vignetting (light fall-off at the corners), producing a circular image in the
middle that is sharp toward the center but becomes more ill-defined the further it goes outward.
The
image also may be overexposed at the center and underexposed at the corners. Barbara Ess
exploits
all these effects to produce astigmatic soft-focus smears of semi-image which, taken together,
chart
her voyage from the port of technician out into the promontories and sea lanes of aesthetic
philosophy.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, Barbara Esss photography would have us paging through
the
dictionary adjective by adjective. She is famous for her attempts to "photograph what cannot be
photographed." I Am Not This Body invites us into her imagination as she leads the way into
"ambiguous perceptual boundaries: between people, between the self and the not self, between in
here and out there." In her view, "reality... includes a perceiver, who has memories, thoughts,
desires, emotions a normal camera tends to omit.
Pinhole images in Ms. Ess's hands are soft, rounded, distant, apparitional, out of reach, intimate,
tinged with loneliness and melancholy. Reality becomes subtly-toned dreamscapes that are not so
much moments of being as visionary versions of it. Blurry and distorted, she coaxes her subjects
from hallucination and enigma. Distinction between photographer and artist is erased. All the
more
so is differentiation between the perceiver and the perceived. As she puts it:
The membrane where mind and matter meet is indefinable; it can also be ambiguous where the self
ends and the world begins. The material world comes to you via the perceptual apparatus and is
mediated through and by you. So sometimes its hard to tell the difference between what is
apparent
and what is real.
One of photography's great strengths is its ability to document life while revealing new meanings
in
it. Barbara Ess is less interested in discovering exotic new images than in fathoming the
meaningful
within the mysteries of the familiar. Her repertoire of methods is formidable: isolating,
magnifying,
staging, suspending belief and disbelief; merging the familiar with the abstract; mixing ambiguity
into
perceptual and psychological conditions. Representing reality is less relevant than making it
malleable.
Her landscapes turn common everydayness into surreal romanticism; its like Andrew Wyeth losing
his glasses just after he drops acid. One of her signature tools is an ultra-short distance between
pinhole and film. This yields up very soft foci and such severe vignetting that the image is a blurry
circle centered within a big blot of black. Such mega-vignetting transforms the image content of a
shot into to an extremely transitory eventa flash of road, a distant barn seen from a gully, her
blurred
hands seemingly washing themselves in front of a backdrop of leaves. One almost expects the
images
to vanish from the page immediately after the tenth of a second it takes for the eye to register
their
existence, so important is her message of transitoriness.
The books images are accompanied by mercifully brief textsextended captions, really. No pedant
with a pinhole and a philosophy is this lady: Her captions are a cross between mystical realism, a
dada manifesto as might be read by Laurie Anderson, a philosophy that denies philosophy, a tally
list
of the days most banal eventsall of which comprise a viewpoint disembodied from a theory. She
says
it better in the text accompanying what is arguably the definitive image in the booka picture of a
curious but dubious curly-haired girl, little finger between her lips in the quintessential gesture of
doubt by a little girl, as she is being hoovered out into the vignette of black beyond the circle of
life.
Of this she says [all-caps her own]:
"I Am Not This Body". But I am. Aching and full of longing. Take a picture of this meat, this
husk.
You dont have me. I am something that cannot be photographed, cannot be named, defined,
translated. Theres experience and thats all there is. ... But theres also all this stuff. It gets in the
way.
Ive always had trouble with stuff. Ive fought my whole life to have control over stuff, over the
appearance of stuff: my chaotic hair, learning to play the accordion, getting dressed, being on
time,
electric bills, the five ballet positions, getting money, spending money, even just putting one foot
in
front of the other. Clear the table. A place for everything and everything in its place. A battle for
order, a battle for space.
If the utter simplicity and honesty of the pinhole camera lead to this chiaroscuro of half-existing
things, who or what can one trust?
This is just the sort of cerebral angel-food cake the slick art magazines feast upon, so it is no
surprise that her work has occupied covers and inside pages of the likes of Artforum and Art in
America, to say nothing of museum and gallery catalogs. Shes had one-woman shows at the High
Museum of Art, Atlanta; Curt Marcus Gallery, New York; Faggionato Fine Arts, London; and
Fundacion la Caixa, Barcelona, and at galleries in Madrid, Los Angeles, Paris, Antwerp, Cologne,
and Washington. In 1993 the Queens Museum curated the traveling exhibition "Barbara Ess:
Photography, Installation and Books." However, none of these are as what-the-heck fun as the
title
of an anthology she edited in New York in 1983: Just Another Asshole #6.
In other words, forget the hoo-ha and look at the pictures. Theyre so good you could climb
inside.
Dana De Zoysa
Reviewer
Leann's Bookshelf
One Door Away From Heaven
Dean Koontz
Bantam Books
ISBN 0-553-80137-6 $26.96
I agonized over this review. I did not know what to say. I would hardly want to insult Dean
Koontz.
I've always loved the way that he approaches a story. His writing, the characters that he gives
birth
to, have always held a special magic all their own. Yet, until about midway through this very long
book, I could not stand it. It bored and confused me. Why did I keep reading? Humor and little
flashes of insight as to the reality hidden beneath.
It was somewhere around page 330 when I absolutely fell in love with the story. I had a good
grasp
of the characters and a strong whiff of what the story was going to reveal. I was in the flow and I
let
the rest of the book carry me along to a rather splendid conclusion. I was a bit disappointed, the
ending resonates of Oprah's best hours, but not so much so that I regretted reading the book.
At heart this is a story of innocence; Leilana Klonk and Curtis Hammond who are two children
masquerading as adults. This is a story of surprises; I must have exclaimed a loud a good five
times.
Of course, anyone in the room with me at the time was more surprised than myself but there you
have it. I will let you know this much; if you are a rather odd duck such as myself and happen to
love a good dose of humor mixed into your heaping helping of macabre then you will have to
open
this One Door Away From Heaven.
But Dean, you do need to work on the mix a bit more.
Narcissus In Chains: An Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Novel
Laurell K. Hamilton
Berkley
ISBN 0-425-18168-5 $22.95
Oh boy, this lady can write!
Her heroine, Anita Blake, could kick Buffy's butt all the way to hell and back! Buffy, being
television's idea of a vampire slayer. As for those of you without the luck to read one of her
earlier
adventures, Anita Blake deals with monsters of all sorts. Preternatural, paranormal, if it can be
called
a monster then she has come up against it. Not only does she defeat evil and creatures of occult
origins, she in fact loves a few of them. She even protects them. I admit to being excited by these
novels. I'm excited in the way that I feel after seeing Errol Flynn as Robin Hood, any grand
swashbuckler of old, even Karl Kolchak of the old Nightstalker series. I even get a thrill very
similar
to how I felt after reading my first Harlequin romance so very many years back.
This particularly juicy novel has Anita letting vampire, Master of the City, Jean-Claude back into
her
life. Richard, the werewolf king, is there as well. Anita finally consummates her mark to Richard
and
his werewolves as well as to Jean-Claude and his vampires. If that alone weren't explosive
enough,
and believe me-things get plenty hot, Anita is called in to help the city's other shapeshifters. It
seems
the dominant wereanimals are being taken, tortured and destroyed. Only Anita, with the power
she
wields as her own and shares through the marks, can succeed in saving them.
I did not want this book to end. Narcissus In Chains made for a marvelous escape. The only fault
that I found, the overdone review blurbs on the dust jacket. But perhaps that is just jealousy on
my
part.
Shock
Robin Cook
G.P. Putnam's Sons
ISBN 0-399-14600-8 $24.95
I am sorry. Shock is a perfectly acceptable read but I'd hoped for more. Nothing in it was that
surprising to me but if you take into account my lifelong status as horror fan, my not being
shocked
is understandable. Dr. Cook explores immoral medical practices that do not seem so very far from
the pale. I imagine that people are very much like the characters in Shock and I find the scenario
probably as certain as the Roswell crash and Marilyn Monroe's murder.
Shock finds two friends, Deborah and Joanna, getting together as egg donors for the Wingate
Infertility Clinic. It seems that the clinic is shelling out the big bucks in order to cultivate healthy,
intelligent women. They, being grad students, fit the bill and certainly can benefit from the money.
Besides, they are doing a great thing. Helping out infertile couples is a noble undertaking.
After time spent enjoying the fruits of their sacrifice, Joanna decides that she must know what
happened with her eggs. She persuades Deborah to come along for the ride as they both devise a
scheme to get the information. What they find is indeed horrifying but I fear, not improbable.
Leann Arndt, Reviewer
BuzzysReviews@aol.com
Roger's Bookshelf
The Quest For Global Dominance
Vijay Govindarajan and Anil K. Gupta
Jossey-Bass
ISBN 0-7879-5721-6, $27.00
If you're looking for a detailed book on globalization that has the qualities, depth, and approach of
a
college textbook, here it is. The book was written by two professors who met, and discovered a
synergy for writing, while they were students at Harvard. They've developed a style that presents
their points in a well-organized fashion, with sufficient illustration and documentation to validate
the
authors' points. The examples they use are well-known companies that have achieved global
dominance; now we know how they did it-with plenty of information and understanding between
two covers of a modern book.
The book is organized into nine chapters, each strong enough to be a stand-alone publication on
its
own. We start with Rising Up to the Global Challenge and then move into Building Global
Presence.
Appetites whetted, we now get a comprehensive case study: Lessons from Wal-Mart's
Globalization. Exploiting Global Presence comes next, followed by a chapter on Cultivating a
Global
Mindset. This is primary theme of the book; it's a mindset that enables dominance.
Chapter 6 gets into some how-to: Building a Global Knowledge Machine, sharing vital
information
and understanding across national boundaries and cultural divides. The authors then concentrate
on
the Dynamics of Global Business Teams and Changing the Rules of the Global Game. The final
chapter is Globalization in the Digital Age, keeping us right up-to-date and reminding the reader
that
this topic is real and "present" in today's organizations. A bibliography and two indices follow the
footnotes section.
The ordinary lay reader will have trouble with this book. It is an academic work. However, for
senior executives, marketing professionals, and students of globalization, this book will be a
treasure. Those involved with graduate education in business should not miss this book. It will be
valuable reading for self-growing executives engaged in executive MBA programs, giving them
solid
knowledge and insight to apply in their real world of global growth and dominance.
True Leaders
Bette Price, George Ritcheske
Dearborn
ISBN 0-7931-4826-X, $25.00
I've read a lot of books about leadership that use exemplary leaders to make the author's points.
Most turn out to be biographical anthologies. True Leaders is different.
This tightly written (read: no fluff to bulk-up the book's size) book is organized around a set of
values, which the authors found to be central to corporate success. With a focus on core values,
leaders operate differently than those who are focused on what the bottom line will look like at
the
end of the next reporting period. Their results are stronger and more sustainable in the long run.
Satisfaction levels-for them and for the people working for them-are much higher. Trust runs
deep.
True leadership is at work.
The authors interviewed 25 CEOs from both private and public sector organizations. They
confirmed that ten core values are the essence of their work: Passion is a prerequisite. See what is
not yet visible. Care enough to connect and convey. Treat learning like dirty dishes. Do what's
right
and tell the truth. Trust is a must. Recognize and build people. Trust your intuition. Risk to
respond
and grow. Respect the importance of balance. And those core values are the chapters of the
book.
In each of the chapters, the authors explain the value and its importance, illustrating and
reinforcing
the concepts through stories from the CEOs. These perspectives are woven into the fabric of each
chapter in a way that is very comfortable for the reader. The input from the CEOs brings the
values
to life, inspiring as well as educating the reader. The presentations are never "in-your-face," but fit
nicely into the pattern of the reader's experience with the book.
Just about the time you'll feel like you've completed the book and are ready to close the cover
with a
silent "thanks" to the authors, you'll discover there's more. Over thirty more pages are organized
into
appendices talking about Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), a leadership evaluation, a
one-on-one
discussion card, an attitudes and values graph, and profiles of the companies represented by the
CEOs used in the book. And, of course, there's an index. Nice package. The authors were so
impressed by SIFE, by the way, that a portion of the sales of the books is contributed to the
organization. Before even reading the book, you may want to visit www.sife.org.
You might want to get two copies of this book, one to keep on the shelf, and one to loan to
friends.
The Entrepreneurial Cat: 13 Ways To Transform Your Work Life
Mary Hessler-Key with Jazzie the Cat
Berrett-Koehler Publishers
ISBN 1-57675-064-7, $9.95
This book was a disappointment to me. It was recommended by a friend when I expressed
intrigue
with books that mixed illustrations and stories to communicate management messages (a la Who
Moved My Cheese).
The author is a PhD-level, highly experienced consultant . . . with a couple of cats. From her
biography in the book, I'd expect something strong. I'd describe the book more as "cute" or
"artsy,"
rather than having strong content.
Hessler-Key suggests that we can learn from cats, applying their behaviors to better manage our
own. Her thirteen messages are couched in short descriptive pieces from or about her cat. The
advice is succinct at the end of each of the one-page lessons. Here are the messages: Pick a
business
or career that lets you express your talents. Done only that and do it well. Constantly look for
ways
to full your customers needs. Gauge your distance, position yourself, and leap. Follow your
instincts. Clean out the old and begin again. Observe your environment closely and with
detachment.
Meander and Explore. Catnap occasionally-dream. Walk away from opportunities that don't meet
your standards. Be independent, but don't isolate yourself. Pick your priority; be relentless. Life
Balance. Find your place in the sun, relax and enjoy life.
A 14-page workbook section follows, asking a number of questions around each of the thirteen
themes. This feature could make the book a worthwhile tool for workshops, though my personal
concern is that there is not enough meat and seriousness in the book's content to inspire effective
responses without the author or a colleague serving as a facilitator.
I'm not sure that today's reader is in the same space that this book occupies. It seems to fluffy and
light to be taken seriously, even though the messages are valid. It's not up to what I'd like to see
from this author and not what I'm accustomed to seeing from Berrett-Kohler.
Beep! Beep! Competing In The Age Of The Road Runner
Chip R. Bell & Oren Harari
Warner Books
ISBN 0-446-52353-4, $23.95
The Road Runner cartoons are classic. Most of us grew up laughing out loud as Wile E. Coyote
encountered one challenge after another in his attempts to capture the Road Runner. The
scenarios
were simple. The coyote devised ways to capture lunch, never winning the competition. His tools,
all products of Acme Company, backfired on him. He caused himself a great deal of difficulty,
while
the Road Runner went on with his life, practically oblivious to the coyote's campaign.
At the start of their book, Bell and Harari note that coyotes can run 30 miles per hour and road
runners can't really fly and can only run 16 miles per hour. Wile E. Coyote has an endless arsenal
of
gadgets to trap the road runner, all provided by his single supplier, Acme. He's a master planner,
yet
continually fails . . . of his own volition. What's the problem here? Why is the Road Runner so
successful? Because he's operating under different rules. The coyote may be seen as chained to
conventional wisdom, doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. A
bureaucrat. The Road Runner is more like the agile entrepreneur, competing with a whole
different
paradigm.
The authors take this familiar cartoon and turn it into an instructive business case. Their objective
is
to help us become road runners among coyotes. In page after page, they pull lessons from the
cartoons that we probably all missed as kids, comparing the characters and their motivations and
their results. "Wile E. Coyote is preoccupied, earnest, conniving, and grim. The Road Runner is
joyful, light, and free. Wile E. does nothing but go from pursuing one meal to the next, with
perpetual frustration; the bird is gleefully living life to the fullest. The results are the same: Wile E.
somehow manages to dig himself into the hole of failure, while the Road Runner strides on,
undeterred and unaffected by life's bumps and obstacles."
Can you imagine the authors conducting their research for this book?
As we move through the book, we learn more about the comparative principles and how to
succeed
in the Age of the Road Runner. Familiar names populate the pages as we are provided with
examples of companies and people. A "Tail Feathers" feature spotlights ordinary people doing
extraordinary things-as Road Runners. The stories are inspirational, as well as educational. "Bird
Seed" sections furnish the reader with solid advice that fits the concept, but it not linked to the
two
main characters.
Descriptive summaries of Road Runner cartoon incidents are liberally sprinkled throughout the
book, keeping the reader laughing and smiling and wondering in amazement how the coyote could
keep going in this futile struggle. And therein lies the tale of this book. To survive in a Road
Runner
Age, you cannot continue to operate like a coyote. The book is filled with current wisdom, but
just
as important, it's a fun book to read. People learn more when they're laughing, so expect to gain a
lot from Beep! Beep!
Roger Herman
Reviewer
Klausner's Bookshelf
Joyride
Colleen Collins
Harlequin Temptation
$4.50, 218 pp. ISBN: 0373259670
To add sexy spice into her life Corinne McCourt decides to surprise her fianc‚ Tony Bergerson.
However the surprise is on Corrine as she catches Tony with some bimbo. Outraged, Corrine
takes
her two-week vacation from work immediately, steals Tony's Ferrari, and drives from Denver to
her
cousin Sandie's apartment in Las Vegas. Sandie welcomes Corrine, but informs her favorite
relative
that she needs to go away. Her lover pulled a bump and run with Sandie in his car on an old man's
Studebaker and she needs time to think. Corrine pretends to be Sandie over the next few days.
Vegas police detective Leo Wolfman still recovers from a bullet he took on a case that involved
his
now ex-wife. His first non-desk assignment since the injury is the Studebaker case. However,
when
he sees Corrine masquerading as Sandie, he struggles with an attraction he does not want, but
soon
love proves too powerful even for this romantic turned cynic. Corrine shares his feelings, but
wonders if he loves her or her Sandie impersonation. Joyride is a humorous contemporary
romance
that category readers will enjoy. Though the story line requires acceptance of the quirks of the
cast
especially why Sandie would potentially endanger her beloved cousin, fans will enjoy their
eccentricity. Colleen Collins has written a fun book that deserves a sequel starring a lovesick
professional wrestler.
Second Chance Proposal
C.J. Carmichael
Harlequin SuperRomance
$4.99, 296 pp. ISBN 0373710380
When his abhorrent stepfather Max Strongman decides to drill for oil on the family ranch in
Alberta,
Dylan McLean is outraged by the potential environmental harm to the McLean property. Dylan
organizes a protest, but a scuffle occurs and an innocent girl is killed. Dylan feels culpable because
he arranged the demonstration that led to the death of the teenager. Unable to cope with what
happened, Dylan leaves town with no warning just before he is to marry Cathleen Shannon. Two
years later, a rodeo injury sidelines Dylan who begins to ponder what happened on that fatal day.
He
postulates who is the killer and decides it is time to prove his innocence to Cathleen. Rather then
pine, Cathleen opened up the bed and breakfast that she once thought she would manage with
Dylan. She rejects Dylan's efforts to reenter her life, but still gives him a place to sleep, albeit her
barn. As he atones for what he did to her, their love flourishes, but Cathleen fears Dylan will just
leave again. Second Chance Proposal, the first of three consecutive months of Shannon sisters'
tales,
is an engaging romantic suspense tale that grips the readers from the start. Though some readers
will
feel sorry for Dylan as a flawed person unable to cope with the tragedy, others will dub him a
loser
especially as Cathleen is one heck of an individual, making his desertion even less tolerable. Still
C.J.
Carmichael opens her trilogy with a strong second chance at love tale that whets the appetite of
fans
anxiously awaiting the next two releases.
A Mother To His Children
K.N. Casper
Harlequin SuperRomance
$4.99, 297 pp. ISBN: 0373710410
After earning her Masters, Julie First looks forward to a career in education. She is extremely
please
to obtain the position of curriculum writer for the Coyote Springs, Texas schools. However, she
is
taken aback when her contract requires her to agree to never criticize the school board. Still, she
cannot resist this opportunity and signs the document. Julie soon begins to suspect the
administration of committing transgressions. She voices her opinion of potential wrong doing to
school board member Rolf Murdock, who blows her away as being ridiculously paranoid.
However,
Rolf reassesses things when his inquiries are treated with disrespect and antagonism. Rolf obtains
Julie's cooperation as they secretly investigate the current superintendent and the school
administration. As Rolf and Julie fall in love and she wants to mother his children as if they were
her
own, she wants to retain her career too. However, she knows his first wife's career ended Rolf's 's
marriage. K.N. Casper is gaining quite a following for her deep looks at relationships, especially in
The First Family of Texas series. A Mother To His Children is a powerful look at how choices
people make in their professional lives impact their personal life. The story line works when Julie
struggles with her growing love for Rolf and his four children vs. her desire to continue as a
curriculum writer. Though the amateur sleuth investigation into the school administration adds
excitement and facilitates the proximity between the lead protagonists, that subplot never feeds
into
the larger theme of selections among options indirectly effecting relationships. Still, K.N. Casper
fans with a thought provoking entertaining novel.
Naughty By Nature
Jule McBride
Harlequin Temptation
$3.99, 212 pp. ISBN: 0373259662
The Valentine Bomber sent two explosive letters to two former US Senators who along with
another retired colleague is leading the debate on extending maternity leave. So far luck has
insured
no one has been hurt, but Secret Service Agent Morgan Fine is assigned to watch over Vivian
Verne, the daughter of the third retired senator. Morgan has done his duty, but has kept his
distance
from the vixen he watches. Now with his two weeks of bodyguard service over, Morgan makes a
play for Vivian's maid Lucy Giangarfalo, who invites him to her bedroom. The next morning after
awakening to the best sex of his life, a horrified Morgan realizes he spent the night with that man
eating Vivian. As the threat to her safety rises, there is a direct correlation of risk to his heart that
goes up proportionally as Morgan and Vivian fall in love. Naughty By Nature is an exciting
political
romance that shows the danger to individuals when extremists try to take control of any issue
worthy of debate and ultimately synergy. Though how Morgan mistook the six-foot Vivian for the
five-foot Lucy seems impossible even with the duo steaming the sheets in the dark. Still, the lead
couple is an engaging pair who drives a strong tale forward. Jule McBride provides readers with
an
interesting tale of love and compromise that leaves the reader thinking about solutions not sound
bytes to other complex issues.
Good Time Girl
Candace Schuler
Harlequin Blaze,
$4.50, 251 pp. ISBN: 0373790317
Starting to feel ancient as she nears her thirtieth birthday, fifth grade school teacher Roxanne
Archer
fixes on having a "final" good time. She sets in motion her strategy as if she is the Commander in
Charge of a deploying joint military operation. With school out for summer, Roxanne plans to
spend
her summer vacation in Texas seeking the perfect cowboy. The staid teacher is determined to
become a groupie on rodeo circuit, but to one hunk of a cowboy of her choice. Tom Steele knows
that this is his last summer working in the rodeo as he plans to run the Second Chance Ranch after
the Vegas show. However, he is shocked when hotsy Roxy chooses him among the available
hunks
for a summer of love. Though he quickly sees past her sexy veneer to the warm caring person that
Roxy tries to hide, he still wants to taste her fire, but not just for the summer. Roxy's portrayal of
a
femme fatale groupie turns Good Time Girl into a humorous contemporary romance. Tom is a
fabulous dream cowboy, who is a handsome hunk treating people with respect especially drop
dead
gorgeous sirens. His teachers never looked or acted like Roxy. Though the good girl pretending
to
be a loose woman has been used in many a tale few writers attain Candace Shuler's novelty that
leaves the audience wanting more works like this one.
Secret Games
Jeanie London
Harlequin Blaze
$4.50, 250 pp. ISBN: 0373790325
When the Weatherbys informed marriage counselor Maggie James they no longer require her
services, she is stunned. The Weatherbys went to a relationship superclub by Niagara Falls that
coaxed them into intimacy. Maggie realizes she misdiagnosed their needs, feeling stress, not a lack
of sex was the cause of the couple's woes. A disturbed Maggie visits her friend Dr. Lyn
Milhausser
for advice on how not to miss the intimacy angle in the future since she never stays in a
relationship
long enough for the lull to set in. Lyn suggests going to Falling Inn Bed and Breakfast with good
neighbor Sam Masters. That night Maggie asks a stunned Sam to accompany her as his pretend
lover to the B&B superclub. Sam loves Maggie and sees this as the opportunity to change their
relationship to friend and lover. He plans to seduce his beloved until she realizes she really wants
him. Deigned by the Falling Inn Staff as Cupid's Couple, Maggie begins to fall in love with Sam,
but
cannot understand that her best friend can also be her best man for a lifetime. Secret Games is an
enticing erotic romance that paints a scrumptious picture of superclubs that will have couples
ready
for a go of their own. The story line is fun as Sam adheres to Maggie's five steps to strong
relationships, but with an assist from an out of control B & B staff. Though why Maggie after
three
years of success should become unglued by the Weatherbys epiphany seems odd, fans of
relationship
dramas that is part humorous romp and part sexual desire will enjoy Jeanie London red hot trip to
the Falls.
The Maverick
Carrie Alexander
Harlequin Super Romance,
$4.99, 296 pp. ISBN: 0373710429
In treetop, Wyoming, Deputy Sheriff Sophie Ryan knows immediately who is driving the
motorcycle
fifteen miles over the speed limit though he has not been in town in over fourteen years. Sophie
arrests her teenage lover Luke "The Maverick" Salinger as he has charges of arson, vandalism,
and
breaking and entering on the books from fourteen years ago. Sophie wants nothing to do with
Maverick or any other of the wealthy Salingers who forced her to raise her son Joey by herself.
Upon seeing Sophie, Luke thinks back to the fire in the lawyer's office that changed his life. He
was
about to turn himself in after seeing his girlfriend Sophie, but was stunned to overhear she ratted
on
him. Instead of going to the law, he fled town. Later he learned she had a kid. Not comprehending
he might be the father, he assumed she cheated on him too. At Luke's present day hearing on the
old
charges, Judge Entwhistle makes a surprising decision by appointing Sophie as Luke's watchdog
to
see that he behaves while in town. Sophie knows she must do her job, but wonders how to do it
when she still loves the man she thought she hated. The Maverick is an interesting police
procedural
romance starring two fine lead protagonists learning that love is forever. The story line is fast
paced
as the lead couple struggles with an attraction that threatens to engulf both of them as well as with
misconceptions about their past. Though the villain is a more of a caricature than a realistic
person,
readers will relish Carrie Alexander's super romance.
The Caves Of Perigord
Martin Walker
Simon & Schuster
$25.00, 394 pp., ISBN 074322849
In 1500 BC in the Vezere valley (what is now La Ferrassie in the south of France), only the true
artisans are allowed to paint. These artists are a brotherhood that is considered holy and each man
is
only allowed to paint one animal. The Keeper of the Bulls tries to defy tradition by becoming the
leader, thus forcing the keeper of the deer and his mate to run away. They find a cave far from
their
people and begin painting inside it. In occupied France in 1944, murder occurs in that same cave.
American Captain Manners sent to help the resistance and Francois Malrand, a leader of the
French
Resistance, agree to hide the caves. In the present day, Manners' son goes to an auction house in
England with a rock painting from that cave, wondering how much it is worth. Lydia Dean knows
it's priceless but before any decisions can be made about what to do with it, the painted rock goes
missing. Since all roads lead to France, Lydia and Manners cross the Channel to try and find the
rock and the cave where it belongs. The Caves Of Perigord is a fascinating look into the
prehistory
of man, the French Resistance just prior to D-day, and the politics involved in the modern art
world.
The three tales are told in alternating chapters and Martin Walker is so talented the reader never
loses interest when jumping from one era to another. Although there is plenty of action, this novel
will be a literary success because the audience will care about the characters and hope everything
turns out all right for them.
Spy's Life
Henry Porter
Simon & Schuster
$25.00, 390 pp., ISBN: 0743215605
When the UN plane crashed near LaGuardia Airport, Robert Harland quickly realizes he is in
great
danger of drowning, as the rescuers have no idea he was dumped into the nearby East River. He
struggles over to where Alan Griswold reclines in a busted up seat, but finds his friend is dead.
Robert's personal luck continues when Alan's cell phone rings. This enables Alan to inform the
caller
where he is. Robert takes Alan's wallet with him before the rescuers save his life. As Robert
recovers
from his one in a fifty billion chance of survival, he learns what happened. Transportation blames
it
on physics, but the FBI hints at sabotage. UN Secretariat Jaidi asks Robert to learn why someone
destroyed a plane, murdering officially ten people and unofficially eleven in order to kill Alan.
Apparently, Alan had damaging information on someone. A former espionage agent, Robert
agrees
to uncover the truth even as a young man Tomas Rath comes into his life claiming to be his son
through a liaison over two decades ago with Czech Eva Houresh. Rarely does a novel start off as
exciting as a Spy's Life does. Henry Porter never eases up on the throttle from his first page in the
East River to the final overseas confrontation. The espionage thriller is very complex though it
appears to contain an unnecessary spin or two too many. The cast is developed so that readers
appreciate Robert as a fabulous lead character while those who seem on the hero's side and his
enemies round out a strong tale of international intrigue.
Target Lock
James H. Cobb
Putnam
$25.95, 419 pp. ISBN: 0399148493
In 2008, when modern day pirates steal a satellite with military information from a US research
ship,
the American navy sends Commander Amanda Garrett and her USS Cunningham "Sea Fighters"
crew to retrieve the stolen item. However, Amanda quickly realizes that these thugs are not some
solo Jolly Roger, but belong to massive conglomerate led by the charismatic Makara Harconan.
The
chase goes awry and the dynamic Makara captures Amanda. He takes her to his secret hideaway
where she sees he has stored the stolen satellite. Though she finds herself falling for her host,
Amanda knows her crew will soon come to save the day and rescue her from the brink. Normally
a
Sea Fighters novel is action packed and plenty of fun for the reader. Though the history including
biological of the Indonesian archipelago is fascinating, even hard core fans will believe Target
Lock
sinks to the ocean floor and it is not a submarine of bathysphere. Amanda acts more like a high
school girl with her first crush than the intrepid intelligent Commander she normally is. As
humongous, powerful, and brilliant Makara and his followers are, the Sea Fighters are never truly
challenged. To read James H. Cobb at his best, the audience should target Sea Fighter, Sea Strike,
or especially the incredible Choosers Of The Slain.
A Game Of Spies
John Altman
Putnam
$25.95, 256 pp. ISBN: 039914837X
In 1939, M16 espionage agent William Hobbs seduces naive twenty-year old German Eva
Bernhardt
to work undercover in Germany spying for the British. After obtaining Eva's cooperation, William
callously drops her leaving her at the mercies of M16, who believe Eva is the prefect person to
drop
in Berlin to learn when and where Hitler's invasion of France is to begin. The Nazis hope to
uncover
British moles to use them to transmit misinformation to the Allies. In 1940, Eva hates both the
Nazis
and the British for their callous misuse of people. She is trying to obtain invasion information
from
Otto Klinger, a person who might have a grudge against the Nazis. However, the German Secret
Service know Eva works for the British and plan to use her as a courier for disinformation to fool
their enemies. Hobbs, who arranged a kidnapping of himself in Holland by the Gestapo, realizes
the
Nazis are using Eva as a pawn. He now knows he loves Eva and will risk his life to insure her
safety
even as the Nazis pursue him. In his debut tale, A Gathering Of Spies, John Altman provided
espionage fans with a taut World War II thriller. His second novel, A Game Of Spies is even
better
as readers receive a powerful historical spy tale that never slows down as both sides use people as
fodder in a deadly game of trump. Fans of the genre will want to read this superb World War II
novel that brings the era alive through the actions and reactions of a powerful ensemble.
Turbulence
John J.Nance
Putnam
$25.95, 400 pp. ISBN 0399148477
In the years following September Eleventh attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon,
the United States warred on terrorism. For the most part, they wiped out the leading terrorist
organizations and bailed out the aircraft industry. People are flying again, but the service has
deteriorated to the point that customers are angry, frustrated and fed up with the cavalier
mistreatment by the airlines on its' passengers and crew. The worst offender is Meridian Airways
who treat the people like cattle and are more interested in the bottom line than caring for its crews
or passengers. The service on Meridian Flight Six is so terrible and frightening that the passengers
are ready to mutiny. The pilot is paranoid and afraid because he's a newcomer to international
flying.
Add to the mix that the spooks at Langley mistakenly believe through a ridiculous set of
circumstances, that terrorists control Meridian Flight Six and you have a scenario for tragedy. Just
about everyone has seen a road rage incident, but few have observed an air rage occurrence.
Turbulence provides such a happening and the subsequent overreaction of the passengers, crew
and
the CIA as a consequence of the lessons learned by the September Eleventh tragedy. John Lance
is
to aviation thrillers what John Grisham is to legal thrillers with this novel being his most disturbing
yet best work by far. The plot projects the effects of future actions that are caused by the horrific
events of the last few months. This story line mesmerizes readers who will not put down the
thriller
until the last page is turned.
Time And Chance
Sharon Kay Penman
Putnam
$27.95, 512 pp. ISBN: 0399147853
Early in his reign, King Henry II successfully subdues his rebellious lords, who prefer their little
fiefdoms to a powerful central state figure like His Highness. He decides he must also act
accordingly with the Church in order to bring the priests in line. He chooses his most trusted ally
Chancellor Thomas Becket to serve as the Archbishop of Canterbury though his friend is not a
priest. However, once Sir Thomas takes over his new position, he changes his philosophy and
becomes a fanatical supporter of the Church publicly opposing much of what his mentor desires.
Though over a decade younger than his wife Eleanor, Henry still loves her madly. He sires two
daughters and five sons with her, while anchoring the throne for his Plantagant descendants
(Richard, John, etc.) through war, treachery, and statesmanship. However, his fame (or shame) in
history hinges on the murder of Sir Thomas, considered a saint by almost everyone else in the
country. Time And Chance, the sequel to When Christ And His Saints Slept, is an insightful
historical fiction that brings to life the Henry II nation- building era. Reminding the audience in
many
ways of A Man for All Seasons, the tale is vividly loaded so that the audience can see a critical
period in the building of a nation. Henry is a complex individual whom Sharon Kay Penman
insures
the audience fully comprehends how deep the King was. The look at the fights Henry fought and
their impact on his family, his subjects, and his enemies make this mid to late twelfth century tale a
must read for genre fans.
The English Assassin
Daniel Silva
Putnam
$25.95, 400 pp. ISBN: 0399148515
English art gallery owner Julie Isherwood obtains a commission for Mario Delvecchio to go to
Zurich to restore a painting. Mario has no idea who the client is or what painting he is to clean,
but
the money is too good to ignore. In Zurich, Mario finds his host is not at his villa and learns from
Julie that there is a change of plans. Julie provides Mario with the security codes to enter the villa.
Inside Mario learns he is to restore Raphael's Portrait of a Young Man from the early sixteenth
century until he finds the murdered body of his client. Relying on his stealth as a former Israeli
operative, Mario sneaks away, but is caught by the police as he tries to leave town. Mario's
former
boss Ari Shamron obtains his freedom. Ari had arranged for Mario, who is actually Gabriel Allon,
to
do the restoration job. He wants Gabriel to meet with Anna Rolfe, daughter of the deceased, to
see
what she knows. Reluctantly, Gabriel becomes involved once again in the deadly world of
professional assassinations even as art crimes from the time of the Nazis threaten his life. The first
half of The English Assassin is as good as any thriller readers will find as Daniel Silva sets up his
plot
with historical references and moral predicaments. However, the latter part of the novel is loaded
with action, but turns into a more typical "shoot-em-up" espionage chiller. Overall, fans will enjoy
this story, but will feel a bit shortchanged because the second half fails to attain the incredible
levels
of the first part of the book.
Widow's Walk
Robert B. Parker
Putnam
$24.95, 304 pp. ISBN 0399148450
Boston lawyer Rita Fiore hires private detective Spenser to find some evidence that will help her
client Mary Smith who is accused of murdering her husband Nathan. He was a very rich fifty-one
year old man and Mary is twenty-three and a real life dumb blonde. Both Spenser and her attorney
believe she is innocent and intend to find the real perpetrator so Mary's name will be cleared.
From
the time Spenser signs on for the case, he picks up a tail. Hoping that the thugs following him
could
lead him to somebody that clears Mary, he has Hawk follow them. When they find out whom they
work for, Hawk and Spenser talk to that person but learn nothing. As Spenser starts to peel away
the layers of a financial conspiracy, six people involved in the case are killed and it looks like
Spencer is going to be the seventh. Spenser is like Batman: ageless. He is a wise cracking ex-cop
who has been involved with Susan for a quarter of a century and even with all the novel revealing
so
much about him, readers still learn something new with Robert B Parker's latest fun tale. Widow's
Walk is funny, entertaining and action packed, a joy to read.
The Wheat Field
Steve Thayer
Putnam
$24.95, 304 pp. ISBN 0399148418
In 1960, Kickapoo Falls, Wisconsin is a small bucolic town with a comparatively smallsized small
sheriff's department to match the low crime rate. Deputy Pennington reveres his boss Sheriff
Fatts,
the man who hired him, trained him and believed in him ever since he was brought on board just
after World War II. The job is Pennington's whole life although the ex military sniper is in love
with
Maggie Butler who is married to Michael. Pennington feels a deep rage when he comes across
Michael and Maggie dead and nude in Farmer Gutterson's wheat fields. The sheriff wants to call it
a
murder-suicide but his deputy knows instinctively it's a double homicide and goes about gathering
evidence, which leads him to one of the town's most powerful citizens, a man running for the US
Senate seat. Before this case is over or he is dead, Pennington will be betrayed, shot at and
imprisoned by the elite infrastructure. Steve Thayer, author of one of this reviewer's favorite
thrillers
(see The Weatherman), has written another exciting work that stars a flawed and brooding hero
who
captures the attention of the audience from the very first page. The historical police procedural is
cleverly designed to bring out the era yet provide an exciting who-done-it investigation. Readers
will
hope that there will be more works staring this protagonist because he is atypical law enforcement
official.
A Murder Of Promise
Robert Andrews
Putnam
$24.95, 336 pp. ISBN: 0399148329
When Susan Boukedes is murdered, hardly anyone takes much notice of the "Greek in the Creek"
so
not surprisingly it ends up as a "Cold Case". However, when renowned Washington Post
investigative reporter Mary Keegan is killed, the media latch on because one of their own was
violated. The two most experienced homicide detectives in the Washington DC police
department,
partners for twenty-five years, Franklin Kearney and Josephus Phelps are assigned the
investigation.
The press sees the similarities between the two Georgetown homicides especially the severed little
finger on both victims so quickly they howl serial killer. Frank and Jose make inquiries into both
deaths, however, though the clues between the two cases seem alike, they never quite fit together.
Though diligent and professional, Frank and Jose seem to lag behind the killer. Both know that if
Mary were as prestigious as Susan was this investigation would also have been a cold case. A
Murder Of Promise is a tremendous police procedural that enables the audience to not only
observe
modern investigative techniques, but also failed procedures. Readers see two police teams in
action
with Frank and Jose kicking over every rock including one involving the Deputy Secretary of
State
to find the culprit; the original team on the "Greek in the Creek" case just went through the
motions
before closing the case as unsolved. Robert Andrews provides one of the genre's best tales not
because of a complicated twisting who-done-it, but because his cast of characters brings alive law
enforcement investigation.
Henderson's Spear
Ronald Wright
Henry Holt & Company
$25.00, 368 pp. ISBN: 0805069968
In April 1990 from a jail cell on Tahiti, Olivia Wyvern writes a letter to the daughter she placed
for
adoption years ago. Olivia tries to explain what happened that led to her current "home". Liv's
father
Jon was a Royal Air Force pilot who survived Hitler, but vanished during a Korean War mission
leaving behind a grieving family of three women and Lord Jim the parrot. Though neither the
plane
nor his body was found his family always sought news on Jon. In 1988, while Liv lived in
Vancouver
and her sister in London, Lord Jim dies and a few days later, mother passes away too. The two
sisters go through two centuries of family stuff when Liv finds an 1899 journal written by Frank
Henderson telling his adventures with Queen Victoria's grandsons Princes Eddy and George. This
leads Liv to come to Tahiti to learn about Jon's disappearance. Instead she's arrested on phony
murder and spy charges. While lingering in her cell, Liv learns about her own daughter, a product
of
a seducer who promised her information on Jon and never delivered. Henderson's Spear is a
complex historical tale that never loses its path while entertaining the audience. Though the
narrator
Liv tells the story late in the twentieth century, she relates her present predicament with the 1899
Henderson diary and the Korean War vanishing of her father without either account losing steam.
The two subplots tie brilliantly back together as Ronald Wright proves he has the right stuff with
a
forceful twentieth century triumph that genre fans will appreciate.
The Millionaires
Brad Meltzer
Warner
$25.95, 479 pp. ISBN: 0446527297
Brothers Oliver and Charlie Caruso work at the exclusive banking firm of Greene and Greene
where
client entry begins at two million dollars. However, the siblings soon learn that a boss Henry
Lapidus
is destroying Oliver's career. Already in major debt, The Caruso brothers decide to embezzle a
three
million-dollar inactive account owned by a dead client that no one in the firm or the deceased's
family seems to realize exists. However, the smooth felony fails as hidden strings attached to the
loot
ring alarms to various players. To the sibling's fear and bewilderment, the cash abruptly multiplies
one hundred times. The Secret Service, the Disney Corporation, and a thug or two chase after the
lads. Desperate Oliver and Caruso flee to Florida in an attempt to get out of this mess by
following
up on the only lead available, the dead client's daughter. The Millionaires is a wild financial thriller
that takes the audience on a strange but interesting trip into the world of not so real but somehow
spending money. The story line is fast-paced though marred from the seesawing between past and
present tense that at times jars the reader out of the plot. The Caruso brothers gain fan empathy as
their one attempt at crime ends up as a Mad Hatter ride leading to the audience singing Brad
Meltzer's praise for an enlightening, exciting, and entertaining story.
Lion's Blood
Steven Barnes
Warner
$24.95, 461 pp. ISBN: 0446526681
Depending on who you are the year is either 1279 or 1863. Bilalistan is divided between Aztecs
mostly to the south, Zulus and Arabs in the heartland, and some Vikings to the Northeast off the
ocean. The native residents fled west towards the other ocean. To work the land, ignorant
barbarians taken from the continent due east toil as slaves. The coexistence between the three
prime
powers is turning uglier. Caught in the midst of the inevitably of war are two young boys. Slave
Aidan O'Dere was taken from his Erin home while Kai is the youngest son of slavemaster Wikil
Abu
Ali. Though Dar Kush Plantation is known for its lenient treatment of the barbaric whites, going
as
far as allowing their pagan beliefs of worshipping the Son of Mary, the slaves hide their anger and
humiliation. Soon due to dangerous circumstances caused by the increasing tension between the
superpowers, slave Aidan and master son Wikil, though "friends" on the estate, must learn to trust
one another if they are to survive. Using an incredible pivot point (Socrates fleeing Athens for
Alexandria), Steven Barnes provides an amazing alternate history tale that never slows down yet
makes the audience ponder events. The action packed story line contains a rich background that
enables the reader to accept Mr. Barnes' premise and the occurrence of the subsequent events.
Lion's
Blood is a must read for sub-genre fans, but also historical fiction readers will want to do so
too.
Knight In My Bed
Sue-Ellen Welfonder
Warner
$5.99 384 pp. ISBN: 0446610348
In 1330 in the Western isles off the Scottish coast, the MacInnis clan hold Laird Donall MacLean
prisoner because they believe his brother Iain killed his wife Lileas, sister to their clan leader, lady
Isolde. While the chieftains want revenge by killing Donall, Lady Isolde knows her people cannot
deal with the aftermath from the much more powerful MacLean clan. When Isolde meets Donall
she
asks him whether Iain killed her sister. He says no, but he has some doubts as he realizes his
brother
has quite a temper. To save her clan, Isolde wants Donall to impregnate her so that the child binds
the two clans, but she wants no marriage between them. She further explains to a chained Donall
that she will save his life if he agrees to an alliance of convenience. To her chagrin, Isolde realizes
that in spite of drinking potions of non-attraction, she finds Donall quite appealing. Donall also
wonders how he could feel desire for her after the inhospitable imprisonment that he has suffered
at
the hands of her men. Though Isolde and Donall fall in love, the specter of her sister keeps them
apart. Sue-Ellen Welfonder, author of Devil In A Kilt, provides fans of fourteenth century
Scottish
romantic suspense with an exciting action packed tale. The story line is typical of the sub-genre,
but
Knight In My Bed makes for fun reading as the mystery of who killed Isolde's sister unfolds.
Though
the villain is obvious early in the plot, Ms. Welfonder furbishes a strong tale that thoroughly
entertains readers.
Up Country
Nelson DeMille
Warner
$26.95, 705 pp. ISBN: 0446516570
After years as an Army Criminal Investigation Officer, Paul Brenner was forced to retire. His
former
boss Colonel Karl Hellmann asks Paul to meet him at the Vietnam War Memorial. Karl explains
to
Paul that an American may have murdered a person listed on the Wall. In 1968, a North Viet
Namese soldier Tran Van Vinh witnessed an American captain killing an American lieutenant.
Tran
sent a letter in 1968 claiming what he saw. This letter has just reached the Criminal Investigation
Division. Karl wants Paul to go to Nam to determine if Tran still lives and can identify the killer.
Paul wants no part of Nam having served two tours there, but reluctantly agrees to travel as a
tourist
though he believes there is more to the case than a three plus decade old homicide. In Nam, Paul
meets Susan Weber, who serves as his translator. Besides the personal nightmares that Paul
relives
on his journey, he becomes entangled in a murder mystery shrouded inside espionage that reaches
into the highest levels of both nations. Up Country is a great thriller that plays out on several
levels
with each interesting and all tying back to the prime theme of the soul "going home". On the
surface
the tale is a cleverly designed mystery with spy and political implications, but it is much more than
that. The novel is a character study that provides a look inside a person proving you can go home
even if it is never quite the same. Nelson DeMille's tale is bound to make everyone's short list for
best book of the year unless 2002 proves to be the equivalent 1939 cinema.
The Fourth Perimeter
Tim Green
Warner
$24.95, 329 pp. ISBN: 0446527858
When his beloved wife died, Kurt felt much of his life was interred with his cherished spouse.
Though he was away from home a lot as expected with his job as a Secret Service agent, with the
help of his sister Grace, Kurt raises his son Collin. Now years later, Kurt has left the agency to
become a successful CEO while Collin is the family's Secret Service Agent. In Skaneateles Lake,
New York just as Kurt proposes marriage to his beloved Jill, Grace calls to tell him that Collin is
dead. The Alexandria, Virginia police believe Collin committed suicide using a gun through his
mouth to blow away his brains. Kurt refuses to accept the official explanation as he does not
believe
Collin would take such an action. He begins to investigate and soon learns about an enigmatic
meeting with the President in which several of the attendees are now dead. Kurt intricately knows
the layers protecting the President including The Fourth Perimeter of secret service agents. He
plans
to use this knowledge to assassinate the man whom Kurt believes had his son murdered though he
knows it will still take a Hail Mary to succeed. Though not offering any new offensive thrust, Tim
Green provides fans of political thrillers with an exciting tale due to the likable hurting hero. Fans
will root for Kurt to score because his pain as a beloved father of the victim feels genuine and his
need to sack his son's killer will garner much empathy. The story line follows the sub-genre game
plan, but Kurt turns The Fourth Perimeter into an engaging tale.
Passing Through Paradise
Susan Wiggs
Warner
$6.99, 432 pp. ISBN: 044661078X
Many of the residents of Paradise, Rhode Island observed the intense argument between Sandra
and
Victor Winslow. When their car crashed through a safety railing into the nearby Sound, Sandra
survived, but Victor apparently died though his body was never found. Ruled an accident, most
locals encouraged by the media branded Sandra as the Black Widow of Blue Moon Beach. Even
her
friends believe she got away with the murder of their favorite son, a state legislator. Two years
later,
Sandra remains the town pariah. She decides to sell her family home, but knows the historical
house
needs costly renovation. Victor's friend Mike Malloy needs the money badly after getting killed
during a divorce. Though he believes Sandra murdered his pal and he does not really want the job,
he accepts the work for the fee he will earn. As he becomes acquainted with Sandra, he realizes
that
she could never have killed her husband. As he falls in love with her, he wants to prove her
innocence not for his own need, but for hers. Passing Through Paradise is an engaging romantic
suspense that never stops entertaining readers. The story line takes off once Mike makes up his
mind
to prove to the world what is heart knows. Sandra is innocent. Though Sandra should have filed a
liable suit against an obnoxious reporter and a final twist leaves a key character seem disjointed,
the
lead couple makes the tale succeed. Known for her fabulous historicals, Susan Wiggs scores with
this superb thriller that hooks the audience from beginning to end.
The Birthday Of The World
Ursula K. Le Guin
HarperCollins
$24.95, 384 pp. ISBN: 0066212537
Fans of deep science fiction that stars aliens in order to dig into the human condition will want to
read Ursula K. Le Guin's powerful anthology. The eight stories are all excellent as each one looks
into a "excursion" of sorts with some actuality occurring and others happening inside the minds of
the key cast members. Each tale is different with unique perspectives. The characters in each tale
are
so complete the audience will think they are reading a short novel especially since the action is not
neglected as the plots are filled with energy. Six of the stories occur on Ekumen, but still share in
common with the other two tales problems with relationships complicated by emotion. The
Birthday
Of The World shows why the award winning Ms. Le Guin remains at the top not just for her
highly
regarded Earthsea novels, but also for some of the best short stories and novellas of the last
couple
of decades.
Say You Need Me
Kayla Perrin
HarperTorch
$6.50, 384 pp. ISBN: 0380813793
While dining with her younger sister in Miami Beach, librarian Serena Childs sees her former
boyfriend Cecil Montford leisurely eating in the same establishment. Serena is very upset to see
the
lowlife who left town with her savings and a family heirloom necklace. Serena walks up to Cecil,
slaps him in the face while yelling at him. She regally leaves before Cecil can say anything.
Wondering what crap Cecil caused this time, his identical twin brother Darrell is cleaning up the
mess, as he wearily always does. Thinking he is Cecil, Serena gets a cop who through a series of
events arrests Darrell for assaulting a police officer. The next morning with his identity cleared up,
Darrell is released. Serena realizes that the Orlando bed and breakfast owner is her only hope to
regain her ancestor's necklace. As he tries to flee from the dingbat and she tries to cling to her
only
"clue", they fall in love, but Cecil remains an obstacle between Serena and Darrell. Though the use
of a mistaken identity twin has become somewhat trite, Kayla Perrin invigorates the concept in
Say
You Need Me through the interactions of her wonderful lead characters. Darrell is a
compassionate
role model and Serena is a bewitching ball of energy. Though his leaving the wallet in the
restaurant
seems unnecessary, fans of a dynamic relationship romp filled with humor yet with a serious tough
love perspective will say they need to read Ms. Perrin's warm romance.
The Hearse Case Scenario
Tim Cockey
Hyperion
Feb 2002, $23.95, 338 pp. ISBN: 0786867116
At Baltimore's Sewell and Sons Family Funeral Home, mortician and wannabe private detective
Hitchcock Sewell receives the call from nightclub owner Shrimp Martin during a slow period in
which Death takes a vacation. Shrimp, barely able to speak, mumbles that before Lucy Taylor left
him she shot him. Later Shrimp is found dead. The police have one prime suspect Lucy. Though
he
believes Lucy shot Shrimp, Hitch refuses to accept his childhood friend as the murderess. He
begins
an investigation using his most incognito vehicle, the hearse. His inquiry leads Hitch to Pete
Munger
of Munger and Associates private investigation company who has been hired to find Shrimp's
missing stepbrother. The amateur and the licensed agree to partner their resources to uncover the
truth about a murder (or two) and a missing person. The third Hearse amateur sleuth tale is a
weird
case that contains Tim Cockey's all over the place sense of humor as the hero is parts reverent,
parts
street smart, and parts corny. The who-done-it entertains the audience thanks to a strong
secondary
cast that propels the plot forward and enables the fans to better understand Hitch. Fans of
amusing
amateur sleuth stores will want to read The Hearse Case Scenario and the previous two novels
due
to Hitch, who knows that sooner or later he will get his man or woman.
These Dreams
Barbara Chepaitis
Pocket Books
$24.00, 320 pp. ISBN 0743437500
Cricket Thompson lives a contented ordinary life in the small upstate New York town of
Dansville.
It is a place where neighbors know each other and crime is relatively low. Cricket has two
daughters, Janis and Grace, who she adores, and her husband Jim who she is comfortable with
although the passion left their marriage a long time ago. Although she is attracted to coworker
Pass,
she believes she would never be unfaithful to her husband. Her snug and secure world crumbles
when an unknown gunman starts firing in a video arcade killing many students and injuring some,
including Cricket's daughter Claire. She is taken to the hospital where she lies in a coma until she
dies three months later. Cricket's world falls apart and she runs away from all that she holds dear
hoping that one day that she will find herself again. These Dreams are a heart-wrenching beautiful
human drama that portrays what can happen to a family when a bad thing happens to a good
person.
The heroine is a very special woman, resilient and determined in the face of adversity and willing
to
do whatever it takes to find a purpose in life after fate shatters it. Barbara Chepaitis is a fantastic
writer whose works can break your heart.
The Runaway Heiress
StefAnn Holm
Pocket Books
$6.99, 339 pp. ISBN: 0671775499
In 1911 Beaumont, Texas, after Baron Oil heiress Evelyn Thurgood-Baron disgraces her family,
her
father cut a deal with rival William Hadly, owner of Texhoma Oil. Evelyn will marry William's son
Guy regardless of how either of the heirs feels. Unable to cope with a loveless marriage, Evelyn
flees
town as a maid to a Mrs. Smythe. Luke Deveraux cannot understand how a person can fall from
grace so fast. He was recently a New Orleans police officer like his father and three brothers.
Now
he sees his picture on a wanted poster with a reward of four thousands dead or alive in Texas. His
only hope for proof of his innocence lies with his former partner Henry Boyd squirreled away in
New Mexico. When Mrs. Smythe fails to make the train due to her ailing canine, Luke buys her
ticket. When Luke meets her maid, he realizes he has no choice but to allow Evelyn to accompany
him so that she cannot reveal his identity. As they travel together, they fall in love while eluding
the
man her parents sent in pursuit of her and while chasing down the man that can prove his
innocence.
The Runaway Heiress is a fun romantic historical romp that will remind readers of It Happened
One
Night though the novel thoroughly brings to life an era two decades earlier than the classic movie.
The story line is loaded with action as the two lead protagonists escape one caper only to land in
the
next escapade. Fans will enjoy StefAnn Holm's unrestrained Americana fable.
The Fire Inside
Kat Martin
Pocket Books
$6.99, 408 pp. ISBN: 0743419154
In 1805 London, the Ton concludes that Lady Kassandra "Kitt" Wentworth is too reckless for any
respectable man to marry even if she is the daughter of a viscount. That is fine as far as Kitt is
concerned as she refuses to bow to any male including her father just because society rigidly
insists
she must. Duh! Kitt believes that is all a female can expect from a nation ruled exclusively by
males.
Clayton Harcourt, heir to a dukedom, has no plans to wed in the foreseeable future until he meets
Kitt. He finds her wild behavior intoxicating, but he also sees beneath the veneer to her
vulnerability.
Clayton wants to hold her until she realizes that whatever her secret is that has forced her to don a
mask of not caring what others think, his hugs will always be there. Though they fall in love, he
worries about ever cracking the shell that keeps them from a lifetime of happiness. Kat Martin,
one
of the top authors of Regency romances, enhances her high esteem of entertaining the sub-genre
fans
with her latest novel, The Fire Inside. The story line is exciting as Clayton sets his strategic goal,
mounts a campaign, and deals with setbacks by revising his plan without losing sight of his
mission.
Though readers will want to adopt this caring hunk, Clayton's actions tend to limit the strife
between
he and Kitt. Still as only Ms. Martin can induce out of her audience, readers will feel Kitt's
obvious
defenselessness in spite of her shield, and hope she can finally open up to her beloved.
The Twentieth Wife
Indu Sundaresan
Pocket Books
$24.00, 320 pp. ISBN: 0743427149
Though too young and way beneath his station, Mehrunnisa, the daughter of a Persian courtier to
the Mughal Empire, plans to one day wed the heir apparent to the throne Salim. The very
intelligent
eight-year-old Mehrunnisa knows she needs a plan if she is to achieve her impossible dream of
marrying her beloved whom barely knows she exists. A few years later Mehrunnisa is forced to
marry a cruel soldier. Besides abuse from her odious spouse, she suffers several miscarriages.
However, she ultimately succeeds in gaining more than just the attention of Salim, who is now the
Emperor Jahangir, she shares passion with him. Finally, Mehrunnisa accomplishes her dream goal,
but though now a powerhouse empress she and her family paid quite a price for her attaining her
childhood desires that she never let go of as an adult. Historical fiction readers that relish a deep
look at seventeenth century India will gain much pleasure from this descriptive tale. The story line
is
loaded with historical references with a very illuminating portrayal of Mughal court life. However,
the wealth of information, which seems authentic to this pre-school novice on the history of India,
overwhelms the characters and thus undercuts the prime tale of Mehrunnisa's efforts to become
the
empress. Indu Sundaresan provides a vivid tale that the hard core sub-genre audience will want to
read, but the weak characters make it difficult for casual fans to care what happens to Mehrunnisa
or
anyone else.
Bad Seed
Beth Saulnier
Mysterious Press
$23.95, 372 pp. ISBN: 0892967498
Benson University in upstate Gabriel, New York is in the midst of a major debate over genetically
engineered foods. One side of the heated controversy sees this as a means to feed the world
population and end the Malthus effect. On the other side, opponents believe science is running
amuck Dr. Frankenstein style destroying future generations of third world people. When the
Gabriel
Monitor science reporter Jake "Mad" Madison mixes alcohol and prescription drugs to mend a
broken heart, he lands in the hospital, which leaves Alex Bernier to report on the food
controversy.
Brilliant botanist Dr. Kate Barnett leads the genetic food experiments, but is soon found murdered
in
her laboratory. Alex investigates the homicide looking at the activities of the Don't Break the
Food
Chain opposition as well as Kate's scientific cronies knowing that either side could hide a
murdered
amidst their crowd. Bad Seed is a good, make that excellent, journalistic investigative tale that
uses
modern scientific debate as a mechanism to set up the motive for a homicide. The story line is fast
paced, but clearly belongs to Gen Xer Alex whose retorts provide the audience with humor even
as
she takes her inquiries quite seriously. Beth Saulnier has written a wonderful novel that is part of a
strong series worth reading by fans of investigative tales.
Sinister Heights
Loren D. Estleman
Mysterious Press
$24.95, 262 pp. ISBN: 0892967382
Rayellen Stutch, beautiful widow of deceased Michigan industrial millionaire Leland, hires Amos
Walker to find the illegitimate child of her late husband. Though years ago Leland had a paternity
case thrown out of court, he quietly paid child support until the child turned eighteen. Rayellen
fears
DNA testing would prove the offspring is Leland's and erode her estate much more than a
benevolent gift of a million or so would. Amos figures the case is an easy one. He immediately
proves himself right when he finds Leland's daughter Carla Witowski. That leads him to Carla's
daughter Constance Glendowning and her grandson Matthew at a battered woman's shelter run by
Amos' former girlfriend Iris. However, the case takes a strange spin when a Dodge rams Amos'
car.
Iris is decapitated, Constance lands in a coma, and Amos is left unconscious, while Matthew is
abducted. When Walker recovers he revises his assignment as he has some butt to kick while
trying
to rescue Matthew. The latest Amos Walker case is a wild joy ride around Detroit as the hero
accepts a simple case that leads him to one confrontation after another. Amos retains his
hard-boiled
with a mouthy retort to anyone persona as expected by fans of this "dance instructor". However,
Amos and his renowned propensity for ending up in violent situations overwhelm the
investigation.
Sinister Heights is for fans of the series who know what to expect from Loren D. Estleman and
get
that and two or three rounds more of violent action.
Something Wild
Patti Berg
Avon
$5.99, 384 pp. ISBN 0380816830
They first met at the wedding of his brother, but neither Charity Wilde nor Mike Flynn felt any
sparks. Both went on with their lives with Charity returning to Vegas in her efforts to become a
headline showgirl and Mike to run his ranch. They meet again when Charity returns to Wyoming
on
a family visit at the Remington Ranch. This time an attraction engulfs both of them, but neither
desires the unwanted feelings. Mike remains racked with guilt over his deceased wife and his
caring
for Charity increases his feelings of inadequacy. Charity's situation is a bit simpler as she does not
want to give up her dream of stardom. Not even Cupid could hope to bring this couple together.
Something Wild is a sequel to the fantastic Wife For A Day. Though the story line is as amusing
as
the latter novel, it lacks the social teeth of the first book. The tale is fun, engaging the reader
through the two obstinate lead characters who want love and their dreams, but neither knows how
to grab and hold onto the feelings. Patti Berg is quickly becoming a sure shot to provide strong
entertainment for romance readers.
My Lady's Temptation
Denise Hampton
Avon
$5.99, 384 pp. ISBN: 0380815486
Though bandits killed his father and stepsisters, Josce FitzBaldwin blames the Knabwell Sheriff
Reiner du Hommet for the dastardly deed. His stepmother Lady Beatrice Haydon obtains a vow
of
vengeance from the grieving and guilty feeling Josce. Josce and Beatrice ride into Knabwell Castle
to ostensibly bring the bodies home, but really seeking revenge. Reiner invites Josce to stay at the
castle to the shock of his daughter Elianne. Even more stunning Josce accepts the invitation. Josce
and Elianne are attracted to one another, but he does not trust the daughter of the man who he
believes killed his sire while she mistrusts any male after the schemes where her father always used
her as a disposable pawn. Josce quickly pushes marriage between them but is he wedding his
enemy's daughter out of a need for vengeance or has somehow love entered the relationship of
these
star-crossed lovers? That is the question as far as Elianne is concerned because she knows she
loves
Josce. Medieval romance fans wanting a complete feel for the era will find My Lady's Temptation
as
the right read. The story line is filled with vivid descriptions of the period especially the role of
single
women as pawns to be used, misused, and discarded as necessary. Josce is a tormented antihero
struggling between his vow to his stepmother and his split feelings of wanting to hate and love the
offspring of the sheriff. Though the villain is hard to comprehend his logic Denise Hampton
provides
her audience with a darker but fuller picture that those medieval aficionados who demand total
realism will relish.
A Touch So Wicked
Connie Mason
Avon
$5.99, 384 pp. ISBN: 038080803X
In 1746, King George knights Damian Stratton following the Battle of Culloden. For the next
several years, Damian loyally serves his majesty and his country fighting the remaining Jacobite
rebels still plotting in Highlander Scotland. Though weary of the endless fighting, as a landless
knight Damian owns nothing and has never forgotten the Scots killed his father. In 1752 King
George and Prime Minister Lord Pelham assign Damian the mission of stopping the marriage
between the Gordon Laird and the Maiden of Misterly because they fear the merging of these
powerful clans. Because of his previous loyalty and if successful on his quest, Damian will become
an Earl with an English estate plus that of Misterly. Damian halts the nuptials angering the bride
Elissa Fraser. Though she wants to hate him as the English killed her father at Culloden, she
observes how kind Damian is with everyone. As these "natural" enemies fall in love, they must
overcome those opposed to their union including a King who wonders if his warrior turned traitor
at
the sight of a skirt. Though star-crossed lovers impacted by the events at Culloden and other mid
eighteen-century squabbles has been often told, Connie Mason provides an action packed thriller
that hooks fans of Scottish romances. The fast-paced tale never slows down especially when
Elissa
and Damian verbally dual. This delightful pair stimulates A Touch So Wicked while keeping the
plot
moving. Ms. Mason furbishes a story that historical romance readers will enjoy due to the
presence
of Damian and Elissa.
Heart And Soul
Sally Mandel
Ballantine
$23.95, 288 pp. ISBN 0345428927
Rocky Beach, a working class town in Nassau County, Long Island is home to Bess Stallone (no
relation to the movie star) who defies her parents to take piano lessons from the music teacher at
her
school. She enters the competition to go to the prestigious Julliard School and works many part
time
jobs to pay for her lessons. She is a musical prodigy who is so afraid of performing in front of an
audience that she faints whenever she tries. When David Montagnier, a former child prodigy,
comes
into her life, he wants Bess as his partner in his two-piano repertoire. He isn't afraid she will faint
and embarrass them both and as time goes by, she becomes one with David and the music while
overcoming her stage freight. The pair is together both professionally and personally until tragedy
strikes and Bess must find the courage to go on alone. New York Times best-selling author Sally
Mandel has written a realistic yet beautiful love story that will warm the heart of readers. Bess'
meteoric rise to fame feels like it could happen to anyone who has talent. Heart And Soul is a
heartwarming work that will be placed on the romance reader's keeper shelf.
A Caress Of Twilight
Laurell K. Hamilton
Ballantine
$23.95, 336 pp. ISBN: 0-345-43527-3
Princess Merry of the Unseelie Court has been made co-heir to the throne along with her cousin
Cel.
The first one to get pregnant or give a woman an heir will be the new ruler of the court. Even
though Cel is under punishment now for six months, Merry has too many enemies to feel safe at
the
court. She returns to Los Angeles with her harem of males (fertile sidhe who can get her
pregnant)
and goes back to her old job as a private detective. A very famous movie star Maeve Reed hires
Merry to perform a fertility rite so she can get pregnant by her husband before he dies. She was
banished from the Seelee Court because she knows a secret about its' king that would get him
killed
if it was ever revealed. Before Merry can perform the ceremony, the Nameless has been released
on
the world with Merry and Maeve as its specific targets, and unless someone can stop it, a
massacre
will occur. Readers were introduced to Merry in A Kiss Of Shadows but in the sequel, A Caress
Of
Twilight Merry finally comes into her own. She is no longer fearful and anxious, but instead is a
fully
mature woman ready to fight to keep her people safe. There is enough romance, action, fantasy
and
adventure to keep lovers of all genres satiated.
Vertical Burn
Earl Emerson
Ballantine
$24.95, 400 pp. ISBN: 0345445899
In Seattle, veteran firefighters John Finney and Bill Cordifies are searching for trapped people
inside
a nasty fire at Leary Way when a wall collapses. Bill is pinned under a segment of the wall so John
goes after help. He finds Fire Chief Charlie Reese and firefighter Robert Kub. They follow John's
directions, but return empty-handed. Afterward, Charlie tells the press that John panicked and
said
zilch to him about deserting his partner leaving him behind to die. John is ostracized by just about
everyone while Charlie is a hero. Every day for the next several months, John goes over what
happened in that inferno and what he could have done differently. He concludes he did nothing
wrong, and that the odious Charlie used the chaos at the scene to further his own career perhaps
at
the cost of Bill's life. Unless he can break Robert, John knows his chances of proof are slim while
the
odds of his remaining a pariah to his peers are a sure thing. When Vertical Burn follows John and
Bill into the fire and its aftermath on the former, the novel is one of the best firefighting thrillers in
several years. However, a well-written subplot involving a conspiracy slows down the insightful
prime theme. Still John is a hero struggling with vindication for his character reminding the
audience
of a merging of the two brothers in the movie Turk 186. Earl Emerson is the duke of this
sub-genre
and his latest thriller proves how regal a writer he is.
Final Round
William Bernhardt
Ballantine
$23.95, 256 pp. ISBN: 0345449622
Long before they joined the tour, PGA players Conner Cross and John McCree have been close
friends from their Oklahoma childhood days, but their respective careers are going in different
directions. While both enjoy the off course camaraderie and wacky bets, John is a steady player
earning a living while the more talented Connor struggles to make the cuts. However, this year
both
have been invited to the most prestigious of the Grand Slam events, the Augusta National
tournament better known as the Masters. However, a killer mars this year's tournament in
Augusta,
Georgia with John being one of the victims. The death of his friend shocks Conner who though
distracted tries to play up to his potential in respect to his buddy. As Augusta police officer Nikki
O'Brien investigates the killings, she offers Conner an additional distraction as he too tries to
solve
the case of who murdered his friend with one of his clubs. Final Round does not include William
Bernhardt's usual protagonist Ben Kincaid, but still has a wonderful eccentric lead protagonist
who
is the opposite of the conservative lawyer. The story line crosses several sub- genres lines to
include
sports mysteries, police procedural, and amateur sleuth tales. Though the who-done-it is simplistic
yet engaging, it still feels like a bogey next to the hole in one homage paid by the author to golf
especially the Masters. Though more for golf fanatics, overall Final Round is a birdie.
Eureka
William Diehl
Ballantine
$25.00, 448 pp. ISBN: 0345411463
In 1941 Verna Wilensky is electrocuted in her bathtub in what at first seems like a freak accident
caused by a misplaced radio. However, the woman turns out to have been dead before the
"accident" occurred. The real mystery behind the victim is that she lived a lower middle class
lifestyle yet held a bank account packed with just under a hundred thousand dollars in it. For no
apparent reason Verna received monthly deposits from an unknown benefactor for more than two
decades. Police officers Zeke Bannon and Ski Agassi investigate the homicide just before the
former
goes off to war. In 1945 Zeke recovers in his hometown from a combat injury when his friend Ski
hands him the so-called solved Wilensky case file. Both cops know that some segments of the
murder remain unresolved. As Sheriff Thomas Culhane initiates his run for state governor, Zeke
uncovers dark secrets from the first two decades of the century that could derail the bid. The
return
of William Diehl after such a long absence is wonderful news for his fans, but this time it is great
news for historical mystery readers in general. The story line is taut, exciting, and non-stop as the
complex powerful novel brings alive the first half of the twentieth century in California. The cast
is a
robust group that enables the plot to move forward and make the eras seem so realistically alive.
Readers will shout EUREKA at Mr. Diehl's latest and perhaps greatest work to date, which says a
lot about the quality of this tale from a best-selling and award winning author.
Southampton Row
Anne Perry
Ballantine
$25.00, 336 pp. ISBN 034544003x
In late nineteenth England, it is not the monarchy or parliament who rules the country but a
clandestine organization known to only a few as the Inner Circle. Thomas Pitt, a Metropolitan
Street
policeman, once tangled with a member of that group and for his effort was fired from his position
as the superintendent of the Bow Street Station. When he was able to neutralize his enemy Queen
Victoria reinstated him. Unfortunately, his enemy was able to hold on to his power and thus
pulled
strings to force the transfer of Pitt from Bow Street to Special Branch, an organization involved
in
guarding England's from her enemies. Pitt is assigned the task of neutralizing his old enemy who is
running for a seat in the House of Commons. The former superintendent knows that if he wants to
keep his wife and children safe, he must succeed in his assignment and do it before his enemy has
a
more powerful base than he already has. Anne Perry, the leading writer of Victorian mysteries,
has
published her best work to date in Southampton Row. It is as much a political thriller as it is a
Victorian historical mystery. The details of the era are so detailed and colorful, that it feels as if
the
author actually lived in that period. The mystery is complex and creative but the most fascinating
part of the book is the political picture Perry paints for her audience that turn a potent tale into a
masterpiece.
The Body In The Bonfire
Katherine Hall Page
Morrow
$23.95, 256 pp. ISBN: 0380978431
Patsy Avery asks her friend caterer Faith Fairchild to teach a cooking course for idiots at the all
male
high school, Mansfield Academy in Aleford, Massachusetts. Patsy actually wants Faith to use the
cooking course as a cover to ferret out who is committing hate crimes against African-American
scholarship student Daryl Martin. The amateur sleuth agrees though she loathes teaching male
teenagers. As Faith teaches her class, she beings to investigate the students who most likely sent
the
hateful e-mail, nasty newspaper clippings, and the noose to Daryl. However, her inquiries take a
twist when someone murders Faith's prime suspect Sloane Buxton with Daryl as the prime
suspect.
Now Faith feels obligated to prove the Roxbury resident is not only innocent but also the victim
of a
heinous crime. When The Body In The Bonfire stays focused on the hate crime, readers receive a
tremendous regional cozy. When the plot spins into a murder mystery, the story line remains solid
and well written, but much of the excitement is lost as if the air was let out of the balloon.
Katherine
Hall Paige cooks an engaging morsel that cozy and culinary mystery readers will take pleasure in
especially when the delightful lead character teaches her students how to cook.
Exit Strategies
Catherine Todd
Morrow
$23.95, 292 pp. ISBN: 0060953489
Since her divorce, La Jolla, California's Becky Weston has worked hard to get where she is now.
She partially supports her daughter and son, nurtured her demanding elderly mother, and attended
law school at night while working as a receptionist at Roth, Tolbert & Anderson. Now a lawyer at
the same firm, Becky is still at times assigned the tasks of a receptionist. When her ex husband
dies,
his will causes havoc on Becky and their children as his second wife controls the trust funds. Her
professional life begins to look up as Becky is assigned to legally represent current in-crowd guru
Bobbi Crystol, proponent of an anti-aging program. However, just when her legal career looks
upward, Becky notices that many participants in Crystol's program seem sicker when they leave.
Knowing she needs her job, but fretting over her integrity, Becky struggles with what to do about
her new client. Exit Strategies is an insightful look at an optimist who has been down for the nine
count on several occasions, but always gets up jabbing. Becky makes the story line as readers
follow
her trials and tribulations that probably make her feel as if she is part of Job's gene pool. The
support
cast mostly adds stress to Becky's life, but that enables the audience to observe her coping with
one
disaster after another. Catherine Todd provides an insightful look at a true survivor, who
surprisingly never runs away from home though the thought is bouncing around her conscious
electrons.
A Winter's Haunting
Dan Simmons
Morrow
$25.95, 303 pp. ISBN: 0380978865
Overcoming the nightmare of his childhood (see Summer Of Night), Dale Stewart became a
successful literature professor and novelist, though his Jim Bridge: Mountain Man books do not
attain the literary standard he desires. However, he threw away a loving family life with a
cherished
wife and daughters for an affair with a student that ended badly. Filled with self-recrimination,
Dale
takes a sabbatical from the University of Montana and flees Missoula to stay at the farmhouse of
his
deceased childhood friend Duane McBride to write his first real novel. While battling with guilt,
Dale writes Internet articles exposing the Big Sky neo-Nazi skinheads, which brings him to the
attention of their Illinois brethren. As he settles in the McBride farmhouse, he begins to fall
further
apart and begins to realize that more than a bunch of extremists want his skin peeled. There are
forces turning the screws, but is it inside his head or outside his head's understanding? The sequel
to
the scary Summer Of Night (to be re-released shortly), A Winter Haunting, is a great tale that
keeps
the reader wondering if the plot is a psychological thriller or a modern day Turn of the Screw.
The
story line starts off in an eerie manner as the long dead Duane begins the narration of seeing
Montana through Dale's eyes though he never left Illinois. Dan Simmons is at his most frightening
best guiding his audience into deciding whether middle aged Dale is breaking down or haunted.
This
novel and its previous tale are winners and worth reading by fans relishing psychological thrillers
or
haunting stories because the plots play on multiple levels.
Star Light, Star Bright
Katherine Stone
Mira
$22.95, 384 pp. ISBN: 1551668750
When his Mexican village and four neighboring hamlets high in the clouds are destroyed as Rafael
defeats the Rain God, he leaves in exile for America using the name Rafe McClure. He accepts a
job
as a stable hand in the Forsythe's FoxHaven estate in Virginia. Rafe's natural talent and his love
for
horses come to the attention of Brooke Blair, whose mother Marla is an informal member of the
Forsythe family through her relationship with her best friend Carolyn. Brooke and Carolyn's
daughter Lily are not only best friends, but raised as sisters. After receiving medical treatment in
Europe, Lily returns home to an apparent suicide murder as Brooke's mother and her father are
dead. Unable to cope, Brooke flees FoxHaven leaving Lily to cope with the aftermath. Now years
later Brooke has returned to FoxHaven only to see the intimacy between her "sister" and the man
she loves, but left behind. Best-selling author Katherine Stone usually provides her fans with a
pearl
of a novel, but her latest tale seems disjointed as if the wonderful writer could not decide between
a
contemporary triangle and a fantasy romance. The story line of Star Light, Star Bright contains
several intriguing subplots, but the two prime themes never merge in spite of three strong and
delightful charcaters. The contemporary aspects with its mystery and relationship drama is a
powerhouse, but the fantasy elements remain out of place and never fully integrate. Though not
one
of her brighter lights, the audience will still enjoy Ms. Stone's latest tale.
The Dream Factory
Janet Leigh
Mira
$22.95 ISBN: 1551668742
In 1938 Chicago, Eve Handel is engaged to marry Arthur Burdsey who she met four years ago as
he
was entering Northwestern. However, co-owners of Pad-Dar movie studio Peter Padron and John
Darius invite Eve to come out to California to work for them. Though a difficult decision for a
single young woman, Eve ends her engagement and journeys to Hollywood. Over the next three
plus
decades, Eve evolves into a major player in the movie industry as her ability to find talent is
uncanny. Many individuals from different walks of the Hollywood life turn to Eve with their
worries
and darkest confidences, knowing she will never reveal what she learned and will provide needed
solace. However, in 1972 Eve lies in a Los Angeles hospital with what at first appears to be a
heart
attack. Many of the people she has assisted over the years wish for Eve's speedy recovery for
different reasons. Some want it out of love and respect for someone who has always provided a
safety net for the industry's workers. Others fear that the rumored journal that Eve allegedly
maintained over the years will rock the community if it lands in the wrong hands and secrets are
revealed. This reviewer expected to invoke the fifty-page rule on The Dream Factory, but instead
was pleasantly surprised by a well-written novel that provides entertaining insight into thirty plus
years of Hollywood. The story line will remind readers of Jackie Collins' Hollywood Wives novels
though much less spicy and titillating. Renowned actress Janet Leigh leaves the audience guessing
who the characters are actually based on, but no exposes in this engaging bit of fluff.
So Wild A Heart
Candace Camp
Mira
$6.50, 416 pp. ISBN: 1551668777
His family demands English Earl Devin Ainscourt marry an heiress to bring needed money into the
estate and to produce an heir. They point out that due to his numerous scandals no English family
will accept Devin. His mother says that a visiting wealthy American wants his daughter to wed an
aristocrat. Devin rejects the idea, but agrees to meet the ugly American at dinner. Her father asks
Miranda Upshaw to at least meet the English noble although she rejects the idea of marrying
anyone
for anything but love. She admits she enjoys the concept of restoring his old house and would like
to
see her stepsister have a debut in a few years, but not at the cost of marriage. Still Miranda agrees
to
meet the Earl at his mother's dinner party. A drunken Devin fails to attend his mother's dinner
party,
but meets Miranda when she rescues him from street thugs. He proposes, but Miranda rejects his
marriage offer. However, she sees a caring side to him and offers a marriage of convenience that
he
accepts. They soon fall in love, but unbeknownst to both of them they share a past that once
revealed will destroy any hope for happiness between them. Historical romance readers will enjoy
this entertaining tale due to the heroic Miranda who uses modern business techniques to go after
what she wants, which changes from renovation to Devin. The story line is loaded with action and
several twists though some readers might feel that there are to many coincidences connecting the
cast. Still readers will delight in Candace Camp's engaging novel.
Final Stand
Helen R. Myers
Mira
$6.50, 377 pp. ISBN: 1551668785
Las Vegas police officer Sasha Mills fled the city because she knows that staying behind means
death. She realizes that she is a loose end that must be eliminated by the Russian crime ring.
However, in Bitters, Texas, Sasha hits a stray dog. She takes the canine to veterinarian Dr. Gray
Slaughter, who helps the dog. Before she flees into the night Police Chief Frank Elias arrives
informing the vet that someone burned down the porch of the Assembly of Souls Church in what
looks like a hate crime. Being the only outsider, the cop names Sasha as the prime suspect. Sasha
tells Frank why she is in town, but he feels she lies as no one stops for a strange mutt. He tells her
not to leave town. The arson makes Sasha visible to her enemies. She knows Frank will not keep
her
safe, as he only wants to grope her. Her only hope for survival resides with a crusty, but gorgeous
animal doctor and a canine that started her current mess. With novels like Dead End, Helen R.
Myers is gaining a large fan following for her exciting romantic suspense thrillers. Her latest tale
starts off slow as the author introduces the players, but once it shifts into gear the rapid pace
continues until the final page. The audience will admire Sasha as she struggles with thugs, a bully
of
a cop, and her growing attraction and need to keep Gray safe while making her Alamo-like Final
Stand. Readers will want more novels like this one from Ms. Myers.
July Thunder
Rachel Lee
Mira
$6.50, 379 pp. ISBN: 1551668858
In Whisper Creek, Colorado, Deputy Sheriff Sam Canfield still mourns the death of his beloved
wife
even though three years have passed. Sam and his father mutually gave up on one another as the
younger Canfield chose marriage and his dream of becoming a cop over his family. Now only law
enforcement keeps him sane. To his chagrin, Sam learns that his estranged father Elijah Canfield
has
opened up a ministry in town. Schoolteacher Mary McKinney grieves for her son who died seven
years ago. Though her child's death ended her matrimonial state she has no regrets, though some
guilt, on the collapse of her marriage. A loner struggling with nightmares, Mary feels Sam's pain
and
for the first time since her son died wants to help another person. She hopes to help Sam
overcome
his demons to include reconciling with his father after a fifteen- year estrangement, but never
expected to find salvation in his arms. July Thunder is an endearing second chance at love through
redemption tale that succeeds because readers will care deeply for Rachel Lee's prime players.
The
audience will pray that the "triangle" will lead to healthy relationships between Mary and Sam,
and
Sam and Elijah because the audience empathizes with the genuinely flawed individuals whose
individual pasts weigh down each one of them. Though the story line has been told often, rarely is
it
as eloquent and delightful as Ms. Lee has done.
Cypress Point
Diane Chamberlain
Mira
$22.95, 384 pp. ISBN: 1551668823
Joelle's best friend Mara Summers suffers a brain damaging aneurysm while giving birth. Joelle
helps
Mara's spouse Liam cope but soon falls in love with him. One night they lose control and make
love.
To her shock, after failing to become pregnant with her former husband who has since sired a
baby
with another woman, Joelle is expecting. Liam remains divided between his love for Mara and
feelings of guilt for his love for Joelle. Also feeling culpability, Joelle turns to ailing healer
Carlynn,
who once saved her life when she was stillborn and apparently dead at birth, to help Mara.
Carlynn
realizes she must heal Joelle and Liam, which will help Mara more than any miracle she might
perform. As she nears death, Carlynn reveals to Joelle a secret shared by her spouse and the
widow
of her twin sister so that the latter might find a happy medium within this bizarre triangle. Diane
Chamberlain provides fans of relationship dramas with an interesting tale starring a strong
ensemble
that will remind the audience of the works of Barbara Delinsky and Belva Plain. The story line
floats
back forth between the present and the past, but never anchors the reader to either era. Still the
characters are a powerful fully developed group whose struggles for love and happiness turn
Cypress Point into a pleasant tale that readers will appreciate.
In the far distant future, Earth is part of the Galactic Empire; a confederation encompassing many
worlds and many species, some humanoid and some not, though all are sentient. As captain of an
interstellar patrol ship, Chaz Bergren was proud to serve the empire until the day she was
court-martialed for failing to obey instructions she claims she never received. She was sentenced
to
life imprisonment on the penal planet Moabar and was without hope until Sully, a mercenary she
tangled with over the years, rescued her. He needs her expertise as a pilot and her knowledge of
the
workings of the empire to see if any forbidden genetic engineering experiments are taking place
and
if they are, stop them using any means at their disposable. As Chaz and Sully work together, the
pair
falls in love. Even when Chaz learns some things about Sully that the empire taught were taboo
and
frightening, their feelings are strong enough to overcome the empire's prejudice. Gabriel's Ghost is
an excellent science fiction romance that will remind readers of Anne McCaffrey's "Freedom"
series.
Megan Sybil Baker is a fresh new voice in the sub-genre and she brings fresh ideas to the novel.
Chaz and Sully's adventures continue in the author's next book and it will be great to be reunited
with these idealistic, realistic and colorful characters. There is a secondary character in this novel,
a
humanoid with gills, who deserves to have his own story told because he is such a complex and
admirable character.
Ever A Princess
Rebecca Hagan Lee
Jove
$6.99, 277 pp. ISBN: 0515132500
In 1874, Prince Victor hires assassins to kill his uncle and aunt, the ruler and his wife of the
Principality of Saxe-Wallerstein-Karolya. Victor's men also murder loyal supporters of His
Highness
and seek out his cousin Princess Georgiana to complete his coup. However, due to the efforts of
trusted individuals, Princess Giana escapes. Though officially the new ruler of the small Baltic
principality, Giana flees to Scotland where she hides in an isolated hunting lodge. Victor rules the
nation with an iron fist while his hired killers seek to eradicate the last symbol of the opposition,
Giana. In a card game, American business mogul and hero of dime novels Adam McKendrick
wins
the hunting lodge that conceals Giana. He arrives at his new property, but is shocked to see
residents' residing in what he believed was an unoccupied lodge. The squatters including Giana
pretend to be servants, but her royal bearing reveals her masquerade as a maid false. As Adam and
Giana fall in love, he learns more about her past. He becomes determined to help her gain what is
rightfully hers. The relationship between Adam and Giana turn Rebecca Hagan Lee's historical
romance into a fun reading experience. Though the audience will crave Adam, he seems too
perfect
that is until Giana, Ever The Princess, rips his skin apart revealing his flaws. The story line is
action
packed, but clearly belongs to the intrepid heroine who makes a fairy tale come true for sub-genre
fans.
Rose In The Mist
Ana Seymour
Jove
$5.99, 262 pp. ISBN: 0515132543
In 1565, Niall Riordan accompanied by John Black are at Whitehall Castle to negotiate a peace
between their beloved Ireland and Queen Elizabeth. However, instead of Her Royal Highness,
Lord
Wolverton meets the visitors, but not before they try to introduce themselves to two beautiful
ladies
in waiting including the English mediator's ward Catriona Sherwood. Though many in Queen
Elizabeth's court oppose a peace with the Irish, Niall is shocked that Catriona happens to be one
of
them. She spies for her homeland Ireland as she detests the English for what they did to her family
seven years ago and opposes peace with these despicable people. However, when she is exposed
for
her seditious activities, her only hope to leave the Tower resides in marriage to the peace broker
Niall. Though the late sixteenth century is the backdrop of a googol of novels, Ana Seymour
successfully keeps her historical romance fresh through two delightful lead characters. Niall
knows
the cost of war and will do what it takes to protect his country's liberty even if it means brokering
a
peace with the enemy. Catriona is his opposite who sees war as inevitable through her hate filled
eyes that only love will cleanse. The subplot of someone desiring Catriona's death is exciting and
ties
back to the main sixteenth century theme, but also takes away from the turmoil caused by the
extreme differences on the English question between the stars. A Rose In The Mist is a colorful
tale
that readers will enjoy and want to see more novels like this one from this talented author.
Don't Leave Me
Clare Curzon
St. Martin's Press
$27.95, 224 pp. ISBN: 0312286783
Thames Valley police Detective Superintendent Mike Yeadings feels that d‚j… vu has occurred
when
11-year-old Julie Winterton is reported missing. Eight years ago Julie's father writer Daniel
reported
his wife Caroline vanished with most of their bank account. Then Sergeant Mike investigated the
disappearance until Caroline later surfaced in the Canary Islands accompanied by a neighbor. To
assist on the current disappearance, Mike drafts his regular team consisting of DI Mott, Sergeant
Beaumont, and Detective Sergeant Rosemary "Z" Zyczynski. They begin to make inquiries, but
questions asked of the missing child's former nanny and Caroline's brother yield nothing. Unless a
break occurs, this case is going nowhere and a child's life could be in danger. The Thames Valley
police unit consists of four engaging characters that readers will simply like. When the team hits
one
dead end after another, the police procedural story line works well as the audience wonders how
the
case will be resolved. However, the plot plops into the Thames River when Clare Curzon uses a
different crime to lead to an implausible disclosure. Though the cast remains attractive Don't
Leave
Me is a weaker entry in a usually dependable series.
When The Halo Falls
Kathleen Kane
St. Martin's Press
$6.50, 320 pp. ISBN: 0312978421
Though she is his guardian angel, Patience Goodfellow loves Brady Shaw. She has loved him ever
since she took over when he was eleven from three "fallen" angels who were tired of the
impossible
assignment. Everyone in heaven knows Patience loves Brady in spite of his being a womanizing
gambler. Though her superiors do not want Patience to reveal her identity to Brady, she strongly
feels this is the right time to straighten out her ward that she believes hides a heart of gold. In
1885
Fortune, New Mexico Patience sets her plan in motion, but is accidentally knocked out with her
halo
removed. Patience suffers amnesia forgetting that she is a two-century-old angel. Instead she
believes she is Brady's mortal fianc‚. Brady laughs at her contention, but is stunned when she
knows
things about him that no one but he knows. As Brady falls in love with his angel, Patience regains
her memory and is willing to move heaven and earth for an eternity with Brady. When The Halo
Falls is an engaging historical fantasy romance that will leave the audience believing in angels. The
story line is amusing as a bewildered and often irate Brady feels devilish when Patience leaves his
shoulder for his heart. Fans of fantasy and historical romance tales will share in common the belief
that Kathleen Kane is their special angel sent from up above to provide infinitely vogue novels
that
readers love.
A Place Called Trinity
Delia Parr
St. Martin's Press
$24.95, 320 pp. ISBN: 0312282885
For three generations, fiftyish Martha Cade's family has served as the midwives for the people
living
in and around Trinity, Pennsylvania. However, Martha struggles with the realities of the modern
world. Her daughter Victoria has fled home joining a traveling acting troupe rather than take on
her
"natural" role as the heir apparent midwife. Also that newfangled professional, a doctor, has come
to
her small town, leaving Martha to wonder how many of her clients will continue to use her
services.
In spite of her feelings of failure and inadequacy, Martha continues to make rounds caring for the
physical and emotional needs of her patients and a few other individuals. Martha finds her faith
helps
her through this confidence crisis. However, her inner turmoil is on hold when she becomes
embroiled with the shenanigans of the chaplain of Hampton Academy whose courses would leave
1830s educators shocked and dismayed if known. How to prove the chaplain is grooming a bunch
of
future thieves without getting killed is Martha's dilemma, but her belief in God will help her carry
her
burden. A Place Called Trinity is a sweet engaging Americana novel starring a kind compassionate
individual who turns to faith when her comfortable world seems near collapse. Perhaps a bit too
Mother Teresa in outlook, Martha's abilities to surmount her doubts serve as a lesson for anyone
struggling with apparently impossible trials and tribulations. Few writers are on a par with Delia
Parr, whose latest homespun tale will delight those in the audience relishing an uplifting historical
story and will desire more inspirational yarns starring Martha and the townsfolk.
The Foxes Of Warwick
Edward Marston
St. Martin's Press
$23.95, 274 pp. ISBN: 0312280882
While on a hunt with his hounds, local constable Henry Beaumont finds the crushed corpse of
Martin Reynard. Outraged that the homicide occurred on his lands and to a former employee of
his,
Henry investigates the crime. Having no experience on murder cases, Henry ignores motive and
opportunity to decide that only the blacksmith had the means i.e., the strength to perform this
odious
act. Henry places the big man in the dungeon. William the Conqueror's Domesday commissioners
Ralph Delchard and Gervase Bret head an entourage handling a local land dispute. When the
King's
team learn of Henry's rush to judgment, they feel the constable did not do an adequate
investigation.
They begin their own inquiries into what really happened to Martin. The Foxes Of Warwick is a
superb eleventh century mystery that brings the era to life as rarely seen in a novel though the
period
graces myriad of books. The story line is insightful, vividly descriptive, and contains a fabulous
who-done-it with a rational twist of an ending. The characters are warm and feel real, making the
age seem even more colorful for the audience. The Domesday series is one of the best medieval
mystery collections on the market and author Edward Marston has written a tale worthy of award
consideration.
Angel Fire
Lisa Miscione
St. Martin's Press
$23.95, 278 pp. ISBN: 0312283040
As a teenager, Lydia Strong learned how to live up to her surname following the murder of her
mother by a serial killer. The homicide shaped her personal and professional lives. She molded
herself into a non-caring person so that she would never hurt again. Professionally she became a
successful true crime writer who depends on her intuition to learn the truth. Fifteen years later,
Lydia is in Santa Fe where three people with no real ties to anyone recently vanished. She and the
cops disagree as her instincts scream sly serial killer while Police Chief Simon Morrow insists just
a
trio of losers escaping from their mundane lonely lives. Lydia persuades private eye Jeffrey Mark
to
help her prove she is right. Jeffrey would do anything for Lydia, who he unrequitedly has loved
since
he met her when he was a FBI agent investigating her mother's murder. Soon corpses appear and
Simon reluctantly begins to believe in Lydia's intuition that dangerously takes the trio to the
Church
of the Holy Name for a final confrontation with evil. ANGEL FIRE is a police procedural tale
with
an ESP-like private investigative twist to the plot. The lead trio makes an interesting team as a
strange yet engaging relational triangle forms. The story line is gory and all over the place losing
at
times sight of the prime theme, but those readers who enjoy a bloodstained tale with likable
protagonists will find Lisa Miscione's debut novel to be heaven sent.
Evan To Betsy
Rhys Bowen
St. Martin's Press
$22.95, 240 pp. ISBN 0312286457
In the heart of North Wales lies the small bucolic village of Llanfair, a quiet quaint place where
everyone knows everyone else and crime is practically non-existent. However when a murder
does
occur, it is local constable Evan Evans rather than CID who always solves the case. The town is
peaceful now but events are happening at the nearby Grove Center for Healing Arts and Celtic
Spirituality that will draw Evan into the biggest case of his career. It begins when an American
girl,
last seen working at the Sacred Grove is reported missing by her frantic parents. When Evan
starts
asking questions he's told that the girl quit and took off with almost no notice. Then the director
of
the center, a famous American psychic married to the owner of the property, is murdered. Evan is
asked by the CID team to help out, which he gladly does though his main concern is a local girl
named Betsy who quit her local job as a bartender to work at the cushy center. He senses she's in
danger but by the time he figures out who the killer is, Betsy is already in the perp's clutches. The
Evan Evans mystery series is quaint, colorful and thoroughly enjoyable reading, so much so that
one
can hope this series never ends. The mystery is cleverly crafted with many sub-plots tying neatly
into
the main story line but it is the hero and recurring characters that make Evans To Betsy a very
special novel. Each in his or her own way makes an indelible impression so that the reader feels as
if
old friends have come for a visit.
The Devil In Bellminster
David Holland
St. Martin's Press
$22.95, 240 pp. ISBN: 0312279981
In 1833 Bellminster, England, Vicar Tuckworth finds the beheaded corpse of the local sexton
Will.
Lord Granby sends to Bow St. to assign a cop to investigate the repugnant murder. Detective
Inspector Myles arrives and almost immediately interrogates Tuckworth leaving the soon to retire
vicar with the impression that he is a suspect. Not long after Granby offers Tuckworth the job of
caretaker to the renovated Bellminster Cathedral, a second homicide occurs. However, the
medical
evidence leads to the conclusion that this killing occurred before the Will murder, confusing the
previous data collected while struggling with uncovering the identity of the wrongdoer.
Tuckworth
accompanies Myles as they investigate two murders in a town not used to any violent crime. The
Devil In Bellminster is an engaging nineteenth century English village mystery that provides the
audience with an insightful look at the times outside of London. The story line is cleverly
developed
so that the reader feels fully engaged, especially with Tuckworth, a likable lead protagonist. Fans
will understand his doubts enhanced by his wife's death a few years earlier, his pending retirement,
and what is best for his beloved adult daughter. David Holland furnishes an interesting historical
so
cozy that those readers who enjoy a well-written Regency - Victorian bridge era tale will want to
peruse it.
Island Bliss
Rochelle Alers, Marcia King-Gamble, Carmen Green, Felicia Mason
St. Martin's Press
ISBN: 0312978936, $6.50
"From the Heart" by Rochelle Alers. Leland lives in an antebellum mansion on Georgia's St.
Simons
Island where he finds historic documents. Curator Aimee visits Leland to catalogue the discovery.
They fall in love, but he lives on an ocean island while she resides in inland Atlanta, making a
relationship seem impossible. Though the excuse seems feeble in this world of commuter
marriages,
fans will enjoy this well written contemporary. "An Officer and A Hero" by Marcia King-Gamble.
Reticent Kitt goes on a Caribbean cruise where she cannot compete with the women participating
in
the Miss Black Universe contest for the attention of cruise ship employer Jared. Still they fall in
love,
but several contestants want him too. This is an amusing fairy tale. "Our Secret Affair" by Carmen
Green. Though they work for the same company, Toni and John are competitors. Toni is the top
salesperson while John is second. During the company's annual retreat, they fall in love, but they
compete for a promotion that will lead to the lay off of the other. Though the premise of firing
your
top guns seems improbable when there are lesser talents available for downsizing, readers will like
this dueling duo. "Heart's Desire" by Felicia Mason. Single father David takes his three children
on a
Bahamas vacation where he meets Lucia. They are attracted to one another, but she played the
role
of stepmother once before and vowed never again. Though matchmaking children have become
trite,
the two adults make for a fine reading experience. Some of the premises are weak, but the stories
entertain and are fun to read so kick off your shoes and enjoy Island Bliss.
The Lake Ching Murders
David Rotenberg
St. Martin's Press
$22.95, 208 pp. ISBN: 0312276710
Four and a half years ago, Zhong Fong headed up the Special Investigations, Shanghai District.
He
fell from grace convicted as a political felon and spent two years in Prison. Upon release from the
detention facility, Zhong was exiled beyond the Wall where he serves as a police officer in a
village.
Zhong is unable to step beyond the two-mile perimeter of the village and has no access to phones
or
computers. Instead, his only outside communication is receiving telegrams though he is not
allowed
to reply. Except for his hidden works of Shakespeare (stained with urine) that serves as his only
reminder of his beloved deceased wife, Zhong is alone shunned by all as befitting a traitor. A
politico
and a thug abduct Zhong. Though they obviously need his help, they abuse him as suiting his
station
in life. Soon Zhong meets Captain Chen and learns that they want the sleuth to investigate the
murders of seventeen foreigners on Lake Ching. As Zhong leads the inquiries, he knows that his
own life is forfeit if he fails to uncover what happened. The Lake Ching Murders is an appealing
unique police procedural that focuses on law enforcement in a land where political expediency
supersedes justice. The who-done-it takes a back seat to the fascinating insight into modern day
China through the characters. Zhong is a wonderful lead protagonist and the support cast
augments
the tale by their varying behavior toward the hero and his fall from grace status. David Rotenberg
provides the audience with a fine who-done-it enhanced by a deep character study.
Ghost Towns
Betsy Thornton
Dunne
$23.95, 272 pp. ISBN: 0312280416
Cochise County, Arizona Victim Advocate Chloe Newcombe knows that in spite of the relatively
small population and the isolation of the mountains she has plenty of clients assigned to her. Local
Deputy Sheriff Hector Estrada turns to Chloe to inform Lee Thomas that someone killed her
husband, State Supreme Court Judge Cal Thomas, in the nearby ghost town Windy City. Chloe is
shocked to observe Lee as an antisocial shell of the once civic- minded individual she had been
and
her family totally ripped asunder. As Chloe tries to help Lee, reporter Nate Pendergast, who was
working on a story about Judge Thomas, has disappeared. Chloe's lover Craig Williams another
person linked to Thomas also vanishes. Rationalizing what she is doing as part of her job to help
victims, Chloe investigates the late Judge and his links to the missing people starting with the
Thomas family. Chloe is unaware of the danger she places herself in by stretching her job beyond
the
limits. Once the audience accepts Chloe's definition of her job to include "police" investigation,
the
story line is an engaging amateur sleuth tale. However, by going down that path, readers lose an
opportunity to see what a victim advocate must fully deal with, as that role serves as a secondary
plot to Chloe's inquiries. Elizabeth Thornton provides an entertaining mystery, but needs to place
Chloe on the fringe of the case because her official work should serve as the lead theme of the
plot.
In other words, leave the crime busting to the pros, but make that a subplot. Amateur sleuth fans
will delight in Chloe's antics, but feel a bit gypped.
A Weekend At Blenheim
J.P. Morrissey
Dunne
$24.95, 320 pp. ISBN: 0312282680
In 1905 American expatriate John Vanbrugh is a draftsman working in the London firm of
Burlington and Kent. He is at the bottom of his company's food chain until wealthy American
Duchess Consuelo Vanderbilt, wife of Charles Spencer-Churchill, wants John to renovate her
quarters at the Duke's family estate Blenheim. She chooses John because he is a fellow Yank but
mostly due to his sharing the same full name as the architect who built Blenheim two centuries
ago.
John's pregnant English wife Margaret encourages him to accept, which he does. John and
Margaret
stay at Blenheim and are ecstatic until they meet the other guests and the husband of their hostess.
John and Margaret feel overwhelmed by the duplicities, affairs, and damaging secrets that threaten
everyone within the sphere of the duchess. As John uncovers hidden messages and falls under the
spell of his hostess, a servant mysteriously dies and the drawings of artist John Singer Sargent
vanish. John wonders if he and Margaret are safe amidst these backstabbing devious aristocrats.
Though somewhat of a mystery, A Weekend At Blenheim is more of a historical novel that looks
deeply at the architect of the early eighteenth and twentieth centuries as well as the last elitist days
of
the English aristocracy. The first half of the story line enables the audience to deeply observe the
dysfunctional cast interact. However, the price for this depth is that the action is deferred until the
latter half of the tale. Adding strength to the plot is a different perspective on Winston Churchill,
cousin to the host. Fans of character driven historical novels will enjoy J.P. Morrissey's latest
design.
Coming Up Roses
Alice Duncan
Zebra Books
$5.99, 352 pp. ISBN: 0821772767
In 1887, William "Buffalo Bill" Cody hires Rose Ellen Gilhooey as a trick rider in his Wild West
show. Though not as famous as her pal Annie Oakley, six years later Rose still performs at Mr.
Cody's show as The Wild West troupe works the Colombian Exposition of the Chicago World's
Fair. Covering the World's Fair to include Buffalo Bill's Wild West show are local reporters
Horatio
Lambert "H.L." May and Sam Trimble. The two journalists look forward to seeing the two female
stars of Buffalo Bill's extravaganta. After meeting Annie and Rose, H.L. decides to do a story on
the
less famous woman who rides as well as any Indian. As he follows her for his story, Rose and
H.L.
fall in love. He rejects his feelings so that the chances of sharing what Frank Butler and Annie
have
seem remote. The first tale in Alice Duncan's "Meet Me at the Fair", Coming Up Roses, is a
wonderful Americana romance that though placed in a different city echoes the delight of the
movie
Meet Me In St. Louis. The perspicacious story line is fun enabling the audience to acquire an
impression of the American Gay Nineties while also providing a warm romance. Rose is an
engaging
character refusing to bury her country roots, but it is H.L. who steals the show by fleeing his small
town Twain-like heritage for a Windy City persona. Ms. Duncan provides a delightful historical
romance that will provide this rising star with a horde of new admirers.
In 1455 Scotland Fergus Thurkettle incarcerates Sir Revan Halyard who is investigating a plot to
overthrow King James. His jailer's niece Contessa Tess Delgado frees the imprisoned Revan, but
before he escapes Fergus arrives. Realizing that Fergus will kill even his own blood, Revan
abducts
Tess for her own safety. Revan and Tess travel to the King to warn him of the treachery, but
Fergus
and his seditious comrades pursue. As the intrepid duo journeys closer to their goal, they fall in
love.
However, though cherished, love must remain on hold for first they must survive the traitors
chasing
after them and second inform His Highness that perfidy is rampant among some of the nobles.
Fans
of historical Scottish romances will fully enjoy this reprint of a Hannah Howell tale written under
the
name of Sandra Dustin. Though almost a decade old, the tale retains a freshness in spite of
remaining inside sub- genre plot lines. The key to the crisp story line is the lead couple whose
courage and love shine throughout the novel. Readers will enjoy this story and want to read Ms.
Howell's delightful Highland trilogy (note that this novel is not part of that miniseries).
Catch Of The Day
Marcia Evanick
Zebra Books
$5.99, 352 pp ISBN: 0821772414
Sadly town matriarch Millicent Wyndham concludes that her beloved Misty Harbor, Maine is
dying.
Money will not save the town that she cherishes because she lived there with her beloved but now
deceased Jefferson. The town needs single women as the female natives seem to always move to
the
big city where opportunities are plentiful. The local youthful males like everywhere else follow the
trail of the women. Statistically speaking, her generation looks like the final act for the dying
town.
Millicent offers her Philadelphia chef Internet chat friend Gwen Fletcher an opportunity to open
her
own restaurant in Misty Harbor. Insanely, Gwen relocates. Like hounds on the scent of a fox,
every
single man and a few married ones from seemingly eight to eighty plus pursue Gwen except for
the
carpenter renovating the restaurant. The once jilted Daniel McCord rejects joining the mambo line
even if he finds himself attracted to the newest resident. Gwen wants to only open her facility and
not be the Catch Of The Day unless the angler is Daniel. Though quite humorous, Catch Of The
Day
contains a serious undertone that enables the audience to be amused yet understand the
seriousness
of dying small towns. The story line is superb as Marcia Evanick pulls off her double-edged plot
through a strong cast. The lead couple will delight the audience and the eccentric chorus line of
male
pursuers will keep the readers attention until the novel is finished. Hopefully, Ms. Evanick hooks
her
fans with more tales from Misty Harbor.
In 1307, when ailing King Edward I sends troops to end Bruce's campaign for Scottish freedom,
Scots take over the Borders' Castle Langley after defeating the depleted English forces that are
struggling with the plague. Scottish leader Eric Graham learns that his child is dead from the
plague
and his wife is near death. He blames Lord Afton for their plight feeling the inhuman treatment of
the Scottish prisoners caused their deaths, but the English aristocrat has also died from the plague.
Afton's widow Lady Igrainia tries to heal the sick, but Eric treats her with scorn and warns her
that
if his wife dies she dies too. Eric becomes ill and Igrainia heals him, but his wife dies. Eric informs
Igrainia that King Bruce has ordered him to marry her because Edward plans to wed her to
Afton's
cousin Robert Neville. Igrainia says no, but Eric forces her to marry him anyway. Eric admits that
Igrainia tries to help Scot and English alike and begins to fall in with her. She reciprocates after
observing how much Eric cares for everyone, but she wonders if his gilded cage is any better than
the one Robert would lock her inside. Knights Triumphant, the fourth Graham Family novel, is a
well-crafted medieval romance that displays the impact of the Kings on the lives of nobles.
Though
the squabble between the lead characters feels overdone, the cast provides a deep look at the
point
when Edward I is nearing death. Fans of Shannon Drake will enjoy this tale and that the three
previous will be republished.
To drum up tourism during the off season, Lake Eden, Minnesota hosts its first annual Winter
Carnival. The Cookie Jar bakery owners Hannah Swensen and Lisa Herman are providing many
pastries though not the official Winter Carnival cake. That honor has been bestowed on TV show
celebrity, Connie "Mac" MacIntyre, host of "Cooking with Connie". Connie Mac expects
everything
her way and even overruns the most obstinate of local individuals Hannah's mom to gain what she
wants. When the truck carrying the official cake rolls into a ditch ruining it, the abusive SOB
orders
Hannah to lend her the bakery's oven. Though tempted to tell Connie Mac where to stick her
dough,
Hannah acquiesces for the good of the Carnival and a friend who works for the nasty bully. The
next
morning Hannah finds her shop a total mess and angrily begins to clean up until she finds the
murdered body of Connie Mac. Though warned by her potential boyfriend a cop to stay out of the
investigation, everyone else provides Hannah support in trying to solve the crime. The Blueberry
Muffin Murder is an engaging pastry that fans with a sweet tooth for a culinary cozy will want to
read. The story line is humorous and the who-done-it is fun though why the cops were not upset
over the crime scene being ruined by Hannah is a mystery too. Readers will relish the support
cast's
confidence that Hannah, not the police, will solve the case by encouraging her to set up her
command post. Joanne Fluke provides sub- genre fans with a delightfully delicious delicacy.
Come Midnight
Veronica Sattler
Kensington
$5.99 320 pp. ISBN: 0821769227
After her Irish healer foster mother dies Caitlin O'Brien can no longer remain where she was
raised
due to the numerous reminders of her beloved guardian. Feeling alone, Caitlin travels the
countryside providing solace and healing. The Marquis of Ravenskeep, Lord Adam Lightfoot asks
Caitlin, who has gained a reputation as a healer, to help his son Andrew injured in a carriage
accident in which his mother died. Willing to do anything for his son, Adam also signed a pact
with
the devil exchanging his soul for the life of his beloved boy. As Andrew and Caitlin begin to
cherish
one another in a child-matriarchal relationship, Adam and his healer also fall in love. Though
Caitlin
has captured his heart, the devil owns Adam's soul Come Midnight is an exciting paranormal
historical romance that uses a Faustian twist to provide freshness to the tale. The characters make
the pact with the devil seem as if this really happened so that readers believe in the twisting plot
that
never slows down for a moment and in the authenticity of the key cast members. Veronica Sattler
provides an entertaining novel that readers will enjoy while wondering whether the author's
immense
talent comes from a pact.
In The Blink Of An Eye
Wendy Corsi Staub
Pinnacle
$6.99, 448 pp. ISBN 0786014237
In upstate New York lies the gated hamlet of Lily Dale, a quiet summer resort that is inhabited
mostly by spiritualists communicating with the spirits of the dead. Fourteen years old Julia and
Kristin are enjoying going trick-or-treating until they reach the Biddle home at 10 Summer Street.
While there Kristin sees something there so frightening that she withdraws into herself and when
her
family moves away, she ends all ties to Lily Dale and Julie. Years later, an adult Kristin returns to
Lily Dale to help her mother move into 10 Summer Street. Kristin is later found drowned in the
nearby lake even though she was always afraid of water. When Kristen's mother dies, Kristen's
daughter Dulcie and the child's father Paine move in to 10 Summer Street so they can prepare the
house for sale. Julia, who is now a spiritualist of considerable power, vows to find out the secrets
of
10 Summer Street so what happened to Kristen won't happen to her daughter. Fans of Peter
Straub
and Stephen King will definitely enjoy reading In The Blink Of An Eye, a work that is equal parts
horror and suspense. Wendy Corsi Staub is a superb writer who creates characters that the
audience
cares about and places them in a tale that starts out at supersonic speed and only gains momentum
with each page turned. The finale is shocking and suspenseful leaving the reader feeling that they
got
their money's worth and more.
The Spirit Of Thunder
Kurt R.A. Giambastiani
Roc
$6.99, 366 pp. ISBN 0451458702
On an Earth that never was but might have been, General George Custer was never defeated at
the
battle of Little BigHorn. Instead he won a glorious victory, became a national hero, and went on
to
become president of the United States. George Custer Jr. followed his father into the army but he
was not the warrior his father was nor was he interested in the political games necessary to gain
power. When his hot air balloon went down on lands belonging to the Indian Nation of the
Cheyenne Alliance (see The Year The Cloud Fell), George Jr. saw how intelligent and kind these
so-called savages really were. He shifted his allegience to the Cheyenne and fought against his
own
father, winning a great victory. Now One Who Flies (George Jr.) must somehow find a way to
stop
his father from building a railroad that will bring the white man onto Indian land. Kurt P.A.
Giambastiani has written an extremely entertaining alternative history work that readers will
thoroughly enjoy. The action shifts from Washington DC to the lands of the Cheyenne Alliance so
that the audience understands the points of view as well as the causes and reactions taken by both
cultures. The Spirit Of Thunder is a work that sub-genre fans will consider a classic in a few
years.
The Dragon Delasangre
Alan F. Troop
Roc
$5.99, 304 pp. ISBN 0451458710
Once upon a time, long before man walked the Earth, dragons ruled the world, masters of all they
surveyed. When mankind came into existence and geometrically multiplied, the dragons were
hunted
down and thought to have become extinct. Eventually, they were found in fairy tales and the
remaining dragons that lived among humanity kept it that way. They shape change into human
form
and do business with humans, but know never to trust or befriend them. Peter Dela Sangre, a
dragon
that spends much of his time in human form, is conflicted about human beings as he went to
school
with them and only kills them to eat. When he mates with a female dragon who feels nothing but
contempt and disdain for humanity, he loves her enough to respect her wishes until the day comes
that he refused to kill the brother of a woman he ate. Alan F. Troop has done for dragons what
Anne
Rice has done for vampires and Laurell K. Hamilton has done for werewolves by making his
creation so realistic and endearing even though they eat people. The Dragon Delasangre is an
exciting fantasy set on modern day earth that hooks the audience whom reaches out to Peter for
enduring so much pain in his young life. Fantasy and horror lovers will have a feast reading the
first
novel in what looks to be a great series
Miss Match
Leslie Carroll
Ivy
$6.99 ISBN: 0804119996
In New York, to shut up her nosy neighbor "Yenta", Kathryn "Kitty" Lamb agrees to try the
woman's matchmaking service. At Six in the City, Kitty meets Walker "Bear" Hart, a successful
financial guru, who is filling in for his mother Yenta as she travels in Wales on her latest
honeymoon.
Bear and Kitty are immediately attracted to one another especially their shared warped sense of
humor, but she wants love and marriage while he avoids commitment. Kitty begins dating the men
that Bear provides to her, but none seem to compare with her host. He, in turn, is jealous of each
date he arranges for Kitty. However, though he wants her, Bear knows that relationships are
fleeting
as he learned observing his mother. Kitty knows who her true match is, but expects to miss out on
the love of a lifetime because he cannot escape the lessons of a lifetime. Miss Match is an
engaging
amusing contemporary romance that contains a serious undertone on what parents leave with
their
children including those grown up. The story line is fun due to the lead couple's reactions to one
another and the antics of the five dates. Though done many times before, readers will enjoy Kitty's
trip through the looking glass of singles dating in Manhattan because Leslie Carroll uses the
eccentric cast to provide freshness to the scene. The ensemble thoroughly entertains the
audience.
Almost Perfect
Patricia Rice
Ivy
$6.99, 368 pp. ISBN: 0449006034
With her record, Cleo Alyssum knows she needs to remain perfectly clean if she is to regain
custody
of her seven-year-old son Matty. Thus, she finds contentment and isolation from her past on a
secluded South Carolina island until renowned cartoonist Jared McCloud of Scapegrace fame
arrives
asking to rent the dilapidated guesthouse. Cleo refuses until a teenage neighbor playing a prank
causes an accident involving Jared. To keep thirteen-year-old Gene out of trouble with the law,
Cleo
rents the property to Jared. Jared is very attracted to Cleo, but she rejects his advances, as she
does
not need a new man in her house except for her Matty. However, she admits that Jared is nice and
seems to care about others when he begins to help Gene and the lad's sister with their personal
problems. Still his efforts to reach Cleo constantly fail leaving it up to a natural disaster like the
hurricane that descends on the island to show her that Jared is nothing like her deceased husband
was. Almost Perfect is a superb relationship drama that stars two strong lead characters and a
deeply
wounded but a bit over-characterized support cast. The story line predominantly spins around
Jared
and Cleo, but also provides a deep look at other relationships especially when a caring adult gets
involved with teens. Patricia Rice has written an angst laden relationship drama that hard core
fans
will fully relish.
Out Of Control
Suzanne Brockmann
Ivy
$6.99, 416 pp. ISBN: 0804119716
Her friend told her that her best chance of rescuing her Uncle Alex resides with US Navy SEAL
Ken
"Wildcard" Karmody. Desperate, Savannah von Hopf is in San Diego hoping to persuade Ken to
help her with the ransom exchange in Jakarta, Indonesia. She met Ken once while in Yale so how
does she explain the "coincidence" that has him changing her flat tire near his home unless she
tells
the truth. Savannah and Ken are immediately attracted to one another, which makes her cowardly
and unable to request what she must. They even make love that night. When she finally tells him
why
she is there, he is angry that he was sucker punched by a beautiful woman again. Still, he cannot
allow her to go by herself. Soon the duo is struggling to keep alive, unable to differentiate
between
terrorist attacks and friendly fire as other American operatives propelled by Savannah's
grandmother
make a rescue attempt. Out Of Control is an exciting romantic suspense novel that first builds up
the
cast so that the readers know whose whom before going into an incredible warp speed. The
flashbacks through Rose's autobiography add depth, but also jars the reader from the prime plot.
Still, the story line is fast-paced, but it is the details that make this an exhilarating tale such as the
audience trekking along with the stars in the jungle. Though a wild spin, Suzanne Brockmann
never
allows her novel to spin Out Of Control so that sub-genre fans have an exuberant experience.
Dark Of The Night
Dee Davis
Ivy
$6.99 ISBN: 0804119767
Mary Catherine "Riley" O'Brien loves her father Senator Carter O'Brien. Just as important is he
fact
that she believes in him and actively supports his front running campaign for the presidency.
Currently Riley provides a speech at an Atlanta abortion clinic. Atlanta Journal-Constitution
homicide reporter Jacob "Jake" Mahoney covers Riley's stop because his paper's political reporter
is
"ill". After she finishes her speech, Riley walks to her friend's car, but mistakenly tries to enter
Jake's
similar-looking vehicle. The car explodes and Jake saves Riley's life. Not long afterward Riley
goes
to the home of Chief of Police Douglas Mitchell where she runs into Jake who is on an
investigation.
They find Douglas dead, an apparent suicide victim. Jake and Riley work together to learn the
truth
even as the pair falls in love. If they survive their quest, which is turning into one of justice for an
unfortunate individual, will Jake realize Riley is much deeper than his hollow me-only ex-wife?
Though coincidence is overused and the front-runner and his family refuse Secret Service
protection
will jar readers, Dark Of Night is a powerful political romantic suspense tale. The attraction
between
the lead couple is so intense that the audience will need asbestos gloves to keep from burning a
finger. Jake and Riley make the story line move forward as the audience will like both of them and
hope they come through the ordeal to insure justice occurs even at the cost of an almost First
Family.
Dating Without Novocaine
Lisa Cach
Red Dress Ink
$12.95, 288 pp. ISBN: 0373250142
For twenty-nine year old Hannah O'Dowd the clock is ticking away as she nears the dreaded big
"Three O". Hannah is seeing no one in spite of her desire to marry and raise a family. Her
roommate
Cassie and their friends Scott and Louise fail to calm down a panic stricken Hannah who believes
the
world will end in four months when she turns thirty. Hannah begins a search for her ideal mate
thinking a city as big as Portland, Oregon has to have someone right for her. She uses on-line
matchmaking services and newspaper personal ads to find Mr. Right. However, as the four
months
pass with each new male in her life being another catastrophe Hannah looks within for comfort
before the Red Cross declares her a disaster area. Fans of amusing contemporary tales will fully
relish Dating Without Novocaine. The story line is a refined mainstream romp that employs humor
to depict the agony, apprehension, and anger of a single person struggling with the relationship
game. Hannah is a great lead character while her friends and her dates augment the reader's
understanding of her desires and motives. Lisa Cach furbishes her fans with a charming modern
day
tale.
Confessions Of An Ex-Girlfriend
Lynda Curnyn
Red Dress Ink
$12.95, 288 pp. ISBN: 0373250150
After exclusively seeing the same man Derek for two years, Emma Carter felt they were
committed
to one another. Instead when a Hollywood producer optioned Derek's screenplay and offered him
a
job as a script doctor, he dumps Emma and heads west. In the weeks following the break-up,
Emma
is mess. She concludes that she is a spinster. She goes after a job promotion she does not really
want
and drives her friends crazy with her depression. Ultimately, Emma looks within and realizes she
does not need a man to live a full life; only to find love when she least expects it. Lynda Curnyn
has
written a novel featuring a heroine that most people will enjoy reading about and even sympathize
with her intense angst. Emma does not always behave admirably but even with some questionable
decisions, she gets her act together. Confessions Of An Ex-Girlfriend is part comedy, but mostly a
serious, delightful look at people at a painful point in their lives.
Bermuda Grass
Keith Miles
Poisoned Pen
$24.95, 307 pp. ISBN: 1590580044
Professional golfer Alan Saxon is partnering with highly regarded golf course architect Peter
Fullard
designing a course in Bermuda. Alan wants to take his Oxford College student daughter with him
so
they can spend some quality time together. Knowing how his acerbic ex-wife Rosemary can be,
Alan
asks her if their adult child can accompany him though he knows the final decision resides with
Lynette. Rosemary agrees on the condition that Alan fund Lynette's friend Jessica Hadlow,
daughter
of a wealthy international industrialist, to join them on the trip. However, the island proves no
paradise as their taxi driver threatens Alan, vandalism is wrecking their course construction, and
finally someone abducts Jessica and Lynette. Unable to sit back while the police double bogey,
Alan
begins his own inquiries in an attempt to safely find his beloved daughter. Keith Miles, whose
novels
written as Edward Marston and Conrad Allen, are some of the best aces around, provides the
audience with a powerful sports mystery that flies like an eagle. The story line is fast-paced, but it
is
the cast that makes the tale different as they bring humor to the plot. After a decade of absence,
Alan proves he is no duffer as he struggles with what he perceives is the elitist obnoxious behavior
of his ex wife and Jessica, who also tosses in a sand trap of flirting. His rescue efforts hook the
reader, as Bermuda Grass is an above par round of enjoyment.
2nd Chance
James Patterson
Little, Brown
$26.95, 416 pp. ISBN 0316693200
After solving a particularly gruesome homicide investigation Detective Lindsay Boxer is
promoted
to Lieutenant. Although she is grateful for the promotion, she knows she would never have solved
it
without the help of her three good friends: Chronicle reporter Cindy Thomas, medical examiner
Claire Washburn, and Assistant District Attorney Jill Bernhardt. This informal group, known as
the
women's murder club, still meets from time to time as a support cell for each other. When Lindsay
starts another high profile homicide investigation, being a member of the club becomes very
dangerous because the perpetrator marks some of them as his victims. He also kills a young black
girl in front of a church, a older black woman in a laundry basement, and a black police officer.
The
two dead black females are related to police on the force. Lindsay and her superiors conclude that
the killer has a grudge against the force. The only problem is they don't have a clue as to his
identity.
New York Times best-selling author James Patterson displays his talent with his latest police
thriller
2nd Chance. The female characters are at the top of their profession and are in deserved positions
of
leadership that will definitely appeal to the author's female fans. There is enough action and chills
in
this work to keep the author's male readers happy. All in all, this is a non-sexist, one of a kind
dynamic work.
Dark Light
Ken MacLeod
Tor Books
$24.95, 270 pp. ISBN: 0765303027
The most powerful sentient beings known in the universe have been relocating humans, Saurs, and
other intelligent species from one star system to another for at last several millennium. In the
twenty-third century (local earth time), Gregor Cairns decides to use the interstellar technology
invented two centuries ago by his ancestors to open up interstellar trade routes. However, when
Matt and crew arrive at planet Croatan, the local Port Authority impounds their ship. It will take a
diplomatic warrior to navigate the political land mines in order for Matt to regain the vessel.
However, as long as the bureaucrats think this is a trade mission he has a chance though
somewhat
remote. However, if the ruling officials ever learn about Matt's hidden agenda to confront the
Powers Above on why the various races were moved a staggering one-hundred thousand
light-years
from Earth, they will lock him up and throw away the key. Dark Light, the sequel to Cosmonaut
Keep, is a deep cerebral science fiction tale that contains plenty of action, but leaves the reader
pondering about humanity's place in the universe. The complex story line is loaded with adventure
and a deep cast of which not all are human, but all are fully developed so that readers appreciate
the
intelligence of each species. Still, the bottom line of Ken MacLeod's futurist outer space enterprise
is
the philosophical question of mankind's place in a diverse universe in which God-like beings play
puppeteer to humanity the puppets.
The Impossible Bird
Patrick O'Leary
Tor Books
$25.95, 365 pp. ISBN: 076530337X
College literature professor Daniel Glynn still grieves the loss of his spouse Julie. He also feels
guilty
that he is unable to offer solace to his son Sean, suffering from painful nightmares. At the same
time
in Los Angeles, Daniel's brother Michael, a TV ad director, struggles with the recent death of a
loved one. Neither sibling can turn to the other for relief, as they detest one another. As the two
siblings separately cope with death, strange beings assault both of them in different but related
incidents involving demands to hand over the "codes" or reveal the whereabouts of one another.
These "crossovers" force Michael and Daniel to seek each other out or else die. As they close in
on
one other, each brother questions what the future will hold, but both predict with absolute
certainty
that death is inevitable and this may be their time. The Impossible Bird is an exciting science
fiction
thriller that provides a series of unbelievable subplots tied together by the Glynn brothers. The
story
line seemingly touches on every corner of the absurd and then some including hummingbirds as a
key element to the wild plot. However, that hitting so much on full cylinders causes the reader to
lose empathy with the lead couple as the wild plot overwhelms the audience with a what next
attitude. Fans of a weird well written, but all over the place journey past a certain sign post will
enjoy Patrick O'Leary's strange adventure.
Transcension
Damien Broderick
Tor Books
$25.95, 432 pp. ISBN: 0765303698
In 2004, Lebanese born Judge Mohammed Abdel-Malek is murdered. Seven decades later, Abdel
is
brought back to life. The world he died in is not the same as the world he is reborn in as the
artificial
intelligence Aleph now controls mankind's destiny. Not long after his reanimation, Abdel serves as
a
judge again. Amanda Kolby-McAllister and her boyfriend are caught breaking into a mag-lev
freighter terminal while hoping to hobo a ride on these super speed underground trains.
Mohammed
confines her to her home while taking away her communication privileges. However, the brilliant
Amanda manages to hack through her confines. Mathewmark Fisher learns of Amanda through
her
hacking and decides to help Amanda sneak into a mag-lev compound, but he nearly dies in the
attempt. Mohammed assigns Amanda to care for Mathewmark, whose brain now consists of
computer circuitry. His new "brain" enables him to learn of Aleph's apoplectic plan to attain the
next
evolutionary level in relatively moments rather than millenniums. With no hope for the future, they
must stop the all-powerful God-like Aleph. Transcension is an exciting futuristic science fiction
novel that is based on machines intelligently growing in brain power without human support. The
story line is engaging as Damien Broderick adds several layers of depth to the typical super AI
tale.
Though the numerous major subplots at times overwhelms the more casual follower, Mr.
Broderick
has created a powerful science fiction entry that fans will fully enjoy and want more AI tales from
this free thinker.
Dreaming Down-Under
Jack Dann and Janeen Webb (Editors)
Tor Books
$17.95, 550 pp. ISBN: 0312878125
This speculative fiction anthology contains thirty-one powerful tales written by Australian
authors.
The tales run the gamut crossing fantasy, horror, and science fiction with each contribution well
written. Audiences outside of Australia have read several of the writers such as Sara Douglas,
Isobelle Carmody, and the late Paul Turner, etc. These authors provide their usual powerful story.
Of interest at least to this reviewer is writers that I never read before. These "newcomers"
apparently have a strong reputation in Australia and fans will quickly understand why, and like
me,
will seek other works by these talented contributors who open up brave new worlds for readers.
Dreaming Down-Under is speculative fiction short story collection at its best.
The Road To Santa Fe
Norman Zollinger
Forge
$25.95, 364 pp. ISBN: 0765300052
Chupadera County, New Mexico District Attorney Rick Garcia is running for governor with his
only
blemish on a squeaky clean record being his wife's suicide. Even when campaigning for public
office,
Will has always run a clean race, but state office may be too difficult to avoid the mudslinging. His
campaign manager Ashley McCarver greatly cherishes Rick's honesty though she wonders if he is
too na‹ve to win. However, his integrity turns Ashley's admiration of his character into much more
and they soon become lovers. However, Rick's past as an idealistic prosecutor may cause him
more
problems than just impeachment if he wins the governor's race. Rick successfully won a
manslaughter case involving the deaths of children drinking water poisoned by a local mining
operation. His former college football teammate Stanford Brown went to prison for the crime and
vows revenge. Only politically savvy Ashley might save Rick's reputation from the scandal that
Stanford has raised as a cornerstone of a terror campaign. The late Norman Zollinger pays
homage
to himself and his fans with a tremendous final political thriller. The story line centers on a
protagonist with strong ethics struggling against a tsunami of people whose value focuses on the
bottom line end regardless of the means. Ashley is a heroine who is the key person with the
lifeline
that enables her "Don Quixote" to adhere to his principles even when he seems to be going under
for
the third time. Mr. Zollinger has been one of the better historical fiction authors of the past few
decades and The Road To Santa Fe shows why.
Criminal Element
Hugh Holton
Forge
$27.95, 528 pp. ISBN: 0312877870
Chicago Alderman Skip Murphy kills his bedroom partner bargirl Sophie Novak during a rough
sex
incident. Knowing his career is dead if his deadly dalliance surfaces, Skip needs to cover up the
crime. He turns to Violent Crimes Unit Detective Joe Donegan, an individual who uses the badge
to
successfully perform illegal activities, to help clean up his problem. Not only does the corpse burn
to
ashes, but also witnesses who have seen Skip with Sophie are killed. Joe sees his new work as an
upward mobility career move. Police Commander Larry Cole and his partner Sergeant Blackie
Silvestri know the truth about Joe's revenue making actions, but struggle to find evidence to
prove
their case. Now they have a murder mystery that smells of Donegan, who slyly manages to keep
one
step ahead of his peers. Donegan steals this police procedural, as the veteran team (in books too)
seems to fail to stop this master felon. The story line of Criminal Element moves quickly forward
though Larry and Blackie appear hopeless and even somewhat pathetic in their chase of Joe.
Hugh
Holton, who recently past away, provides fans of his Chicago police procedural series with a
pleasurable entry though the villain owns the novel.
Snowfall
Mitchell Smith
Forge
$23.95, 316 pp. ISBN: 0312878966
In 1998, humanity learned a cold hard lesson about the interrelationship of the solar system.
Comets
and fragments hammered Jupiter causing a minute, seemingly statistically insignificant shift in the
giant planet's orbit. Insignificant to Jupiter turns out to be colossal to Earth as that almost
undetectable shift over two hundred years later has caused a monstrous new ice age on the earth.
This wall of ice is so big that almost all of Chicago is buried under it and so wide the North
America
continent is divided in two. Clans barter, fight, and compete for supremacy in a harsh land. For
instance, the Trappers are hunters with some knowledge of the past eke a living in the frozen
Colorado Mountains. When barbaric invaders from the north attack, the Trappers flee led by Jack
Monroe and Dr. Catania Olsen to the south. They seek peace and domestic tranquilly, but only
find
a vast wasteland of savageness. Still they keep searching for a better life. Snowfall is a great
apocalypse tale that uses a real solar event to cause an incredible catastrophe on earth that leads
to a
deep tale of future survival. The story line is very exciting, as the action never slows down yet
readers care about the Trappers, especially the lead duo, whose struggles seem so real. Fans of
future dark global calamities will want to revise their short term reading plan by placing Mitchell
Smith's tremendous thriller at the top of the to read immediately food chain.
Changing Woman
Aimee & David Thurlo
Forge
$24.95, 384 pp. ISBN: 0312870590
Life on the Navaho reservation in New Mexico is never easy but this winter is particularly hard.
The
weather is abnormally cold, unemployment is up, and many people are forced to choose between
eating and heating up their homes. The Tribal Council, responsible for the welfare of the people
on
the reservation, debates whether to legalize gambling as a way of bringing in revenue. Navaho
Special Investigator Ella Clah knows that the Indian Mafia is behind the wave of vandalism that is
concentrated in the Shiprock area. The thugs hope to intimidate the people and the Tribal Council
to
vote for gambling and they are willing to escalate the level of violence to achieve their goals.
Between tracking down the leaders of the criminal element and avoiding snipers and other assaults
on her life, Ella has a thirty-six hour day just staying alive. Amy and David Thurlo have created a
mystery series that gets better with each book written though the previous novels are all top
quality.
Ella Clah is a fascinating character who endears herself to the audience by adhering true to her
values even defending the rights of those who disagree with her. Fans of Tony Hillerman and
Southwest mysteries will appreciate Changing Woman.
The Lost Diaries Of Iris Weed
Janice Law
Forge
$24.95, 320 pp. ISBN: 076530273X
At a highly regarded Connecticut university, Professor Jason "Lars" Larson teaches literature.
Because of his antics in the classroom, students enjoy Lars' classes and anyone fortunate to attend
his seminars is considered lucky. Some of the prettier females go so far as to share a bit more than
just his professional time. Because she believes he loves her, Lars' spouse Emma quietly accepts
his
trysts and the emotional ups and downs of his extracurricular activities. However, Emma begins
having doubts about Lars feelings when Iris Weed becomes his latest student involvement though
she rejects his advances. Iris has obtained Lars' permission to write a journal about living in a
truck
with no other modern convenience. However, Lars feels like a moth to Iris' flame as her ‚lan pull
him into her sphere. When someone murders Iris, Lars hides her diary from the police. Though it
can
help capture her murderer, it provides insight into the darker elements of the charming Lit
Professor
that Lars prefers buried for now even if the police feel he committed homicide. If you have not
read
a Janice Law novel, you are missing out on one of the better writers of psychological mystery on
the
market today. The story line allows the audience to get inside the heads of the key cast members
so
that each individual is quite understandable on how they behave following the homicide. This deep
character development enables the powerful plot to gain incredible speed and suspense until the
tale
is finished. The Lost Diaries Of Iris WEED is another triumph from a strong author.
Sacrament Of Lies
Elizabeth Dewberry
Blue Hen
$23.95, 240 pp. ISBN: 039914854X
As the daughter of the Governor of Louisiana one would think that Grayson had everything.
However, she is reeling from the shock of her mother's apparent suicide and her father's reaction
ofthe death. Governor Guillory immediately cremates his spouse. Not long afterward, he
remarries
his sister-in-law knowing he needs a stable steady wife for his bid to gain the White House.
Meanwhile Grayson remains grieving her mom's death, but as her mind clears she begins to
wonder
if her father had her mother murdered. As Grayson relooks what she knows about that terrible
night,
she contemplates whether she is insane having inherited her mother's mental problems or is she the
daughter of a matricide killer. Grayson concludes with a strong certainty that her father is capable
of
removing a wife by homicide that would derail his presidency run. Still she questions her paranoia
speculating the role her husband played in the death of her mother and whether the two males will
remove her too if she makes waves that threaten to flood the presidential run. As Blue Hen
advertises, Sacrament Of Lies modernizes Hamlet with a gender-changing lead role. The story line
is
superb due to Grayson with her doubts about her mind and the men in her life. This serves to
make
her plight feel real, while leaving the audience to speculate on the truth. Fans of taut psychological
thrillers will fully relish her quandary and want to read more tales by Elizabeth Dewberry.
The Adversary
Emmanuel Carrere
Picador
$13.00, 191 pp. ISBN: 0312420609
Jean-Claude Romand lived his life based on a series of lies starting with persuading his family,
friends, and mistress that he worked as a doctor for the World Health Organization. He became
so
good at BS piling higher and deeper that almost two decades pass before the mountain of
deception
crumbles. When his layers of mendacity becomes known starting with the fact that he never
completed medical school, Romand covers up by killing his family and attempting to commit
suicide.
Emmanuel CarrŠre tells the true crime story of Monsieur Romand while also trying to dig deep
into
the psychological base that led Romand to outrageously fabricate a fantasy to his loved ones and
ultimately caused him to murder them to protect his prevaricated life. Though intriguing in many
ways and easy to read and follow, Monsieur Carrere breaks the first rule of the genre by bringing
too much of his own life and philosophy into the narrative. Still, The Adversary remains a
fascinating
work that hard core genre fans will want to read.
Anthony Blunt His Lives
Miranda Carter
Farrar, Straus, Giroux
$30.00, 590 pp. ISBN: 0374105316
This superb biography reveals in depth the many "lives" led by art historian spy Anthony Blunt
who
worked concurrently for British and Soviet espionage agencies during WW II, but actually
betrayed
his homeland. Miranda Carter deeply researches her subject going into the notorious Blunt's salad
days as a disconsolate, lonely, and abused student. The author follows her subject into Great
Depression England when communism turns appealing to the leftist intellects especially
homosexuals
like Blunt that distrusted and often felt paranoid about English authority. During WW II, Blunt
served in British intelligence, enabling him to supply secrets to the Soviets. When his friends
defected to the Soviet Union, Blunt and other Cambridge intellectual playmates were investigated.
In 1964, he received immunity in exchange for his cooperation. The embarrassed British
intelligence
community kept his secret for fifteen years until Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher exposed Blunt
in
1979. Miranda Carter provides an incredible insight into the life of one of the strangest enigmatic
individuals of the past century. The author paints the complete picture so that fans of true life
espionage stories and biographies in general will simultaneously be stunned yet bluntly fascinated
by
this spy, almost two decades after his death. Anthony Blunt His Lives is an intelligent and
engaging
true-life account of the infamous art historian counterspy worth reading.
The Knight And The Rose
Isolde Martyn
Berkley
$14.00, 464 pp. ISBN: 0425183297
In 1322 Lady Johanna FitzHenry knows that she must escape from her abusive husband Sir Fulk
de
Enderby who lives up to his nickname The Mallet as he constantly hits her and scorns her for
failing
to produce his heir. Johanna knows that if she fails to flee soon she will join his two previous
wives
interred under the earth. Her opportunity arises when she receives a message from her mother
Lady
Constance that her father is dying. Johanna tricks Fulk into allowing her to see him. Gervase de
Laval pretends to be a scholar though he recently fought and fled from a losing battle with the
English. Father Gilbert arranges for Gervase, using the name Geraint, to take his wounded
comrade
to a local healer Christiana. There Geraint meets Constance who decides to blackmail the
obviously
not scholar into helping free her daughter from that beastly Mallet. Knowing whom his injured
friend
is, Constance persuades Geraint to testify at an ecclesiastic court that he is Johanna's husband
married before she wedded Fulk. As Geraint and Johanna play out their dangerous ruse, they fall
in
love, but she struggles with taking a chance on any male after the behavior of Fulk. The Knight
And
The Rose is an entertaining medieval romance filled with charcaters readers will either love or
detest
as the cast is fully developed. Though everyone seems to recognize the wounded colleague, the
story line remains enjoyable for fans of thirteenth century romances. Readers will root for Johanna
and Gervase while hoping that the odious Fulk receives all he deserves. Isolde Martyn provides
sub-genre fans with a historical treat.
A Murderous Yarn
Monica Ferris
Berkley
$5.99, 256 pp. ISBN 0425184032
Betsy Devonshire moved away from California after her divorce seeking solace with her sister
who
owned a needlepoint shop in Excelsior, Minnesota. When her sister was murdered, Betsy
discovered
the identity of the perpetrator. She stayed on in Excelsior, owning and operating the Crewel
World
shop established by her deceased sibling. Betsy has made a place for herself in the community
while
solving several other homicides. Lars, a local police officer, buys a Stanley Steamer antique
automobile, which Betsy agrees to sponsor in the Antique for Run from New London to New
Brighton. In an exhibition run that stops at Excelsior, Betsy becomes friendly with Charlotte
Harrison. When Charlee's husband Bill is found murdered along the road, she asks Betsy to find
the
killer. Considering that Betsy never said a word to Bill, she manages to acquit herself quite nicely.
A
Murderous Yarn is a delightful cozy that entertains as well as educates the audience. The heroine
is
a believable character whose investigations seem totally in character and very authentic though
why
the widow chooses an amateur sleuth rather than a pro to investigate always lingers in the back of
the reader's mind. Monica Ferris is a talented writer who knows how to keep the attention of her
fans throughout her latest novel. There is a secondary character that readers will want starring as
a
delightful private detective in his own series.
Gunpowder Green
Laura Childs
Berkley
$5.99, 256 pp. ISBN: 0425184056
Though Charleston's Indigo Tea Shop normally never caters a party, proprietor Theodosia
Browning makes an exception for the annual Isles of Palm Yacht Race. She and her crack staff of
two even make a new tea, Gunpowder Green, for the "Tea by the Sea" event. The gala is going
quite well though Theodosia observes an argument between upper crust Oliver Dixon and Fred
Cantrell. Not long afterward, Oliver fires the finishing line gun, but it misfires exploding in his face
leaving him dead. Everyone including police detective Burt Tidwell believes an unfortunate
accident
has occurred. That is everyone except Theodosia who feels someone pulled off a clever homicide
by
disguising it as one of those misfortunate events that happen in life. Unable to leave it alone,
Theodosia begins making inquiries that places her in danger. The latest Indigo Tea Shop mystery,
Gunpowder Green, is an engaging cozy that sub-genre fans will want to read along with a spot of
their favorite beverage, preferably green tea. The story line engages the audience from the start
though why the heroine insists murder occurred against the overwhelming evidence seems inane
on
Theodosia's part. Fans will enjoy the antics of Theodosia and her employees as they put their
personal spin on the perils and delights of tea flavored boiling water. Laura Childs provides the
right
combination between tidbits on tea and an amateur sleuth cozy that will send readers seeking a
cup
of Death By Darjeeling, the series previous novel.
The Wicked Flea
Susan Conant
Berkley
$21.95, 304 pp. ISBN 0425183343
Holly Winter, proud owner of two beloved malamutes Kimi and Rowdy, is going through some
hard
times. She is recovering from a case of amnesia and related neurological problems, while trying to
adjust to the fact that her long time lover and vet, Steve Delaney, married somebody else. To add
injury to insult, Steve's wife is somebody Kelly absolutely despises for good reasons. To get her
mind off her personal problems, Holly spends some time with a group of pet owners and their
dogs
in a beautiful park in Newton, Mass. One of the members, Sylvia has a golden retriever named
Zsa-Zsa who is rambunctious to the point of being dangerous. It is a shock when Holly and some
other member of the group find Sylvia dead in the park, killed by a bullet in her chest. Holly goes
into her sleuth mode and tries to ferret out the perpetrator. It has been a long time since Susan
Conant has written a book about everyone's favorite malamutes but the poignant mystery was
well
worth the wait. The relationship the heroine and her canines share is precious to behold while
Holly's
sense of justice encourages her to take risks that most people would not. The Wicked Flea is a
delightful whimsical and humorous mystery that shows off the attributes of humans and canines
that
are rather similar in nature.
Reunion In Death
J.D. Robb
Berkley
$7.99, 384 pp. ISBN 0425183971
In the summer of 2059, Eve Dallas, a lieutenant in the New York Police Security Department,
believes it's going to be a crime-ridden season. She is assigned to the homicide of Walter
Petibone, a
wealthy and prosperous elderly man, who was poisoned at his birthday party in his own home.
After
Eve eliminates all the obvious suspects like the trophy wife, the ex-wife, and the grown children,
she
finds evidence that the killer was Julianna Dunne. Unlike most of Eve's other cases, this time she
knows the suspect and managed to have Julianna incarcerated for nine years for killing her three
husbands. The serial spouse murderer is determined to make Eve pay now that she's free. Julianna
stays one step ahead of Eve's pursuit, just waiting for the right moment to take her ultimate
revenge.
She intends to kill Eve's beloved husband Roarke. Unlike all of the other books in J.D. Robb's
"Death" series, the police investigation in Reunion In Death is up close and personal for the
heroine.
This makes her step out of character and lose her objectivity that places her in deadly situations
on
more than one occasion. Though the villain is so obsessed with revenge that seems unreal at
times,
J.D. Robb shows the character's flaws and frailties of her heroine, which make the tale and
Julianna
more believable. Fans will not be disappointed with this latest entry.
The Hidden Dragon
Irene Radford
Daw Books
$6.99, 384 pp. ISBN 0756400511
When the O'Hara clan resisted the Galactic Terran Empire planetary governor's takeover, he
declared them outlaws and claimed the family shipping business. When the O'Hara home
exploded,
the oldest sister Katie disappeared. The family matriarch became determined that the family would
regain their citizenship rights so that they could have access to the databases and thus find out
what
happened to Kate. The three O'Hara boys (Kim, Konner and Loki), take to smuggling so that they
can bribe a corrupt official into returning their citizenship. On their latest run carrying valuable
pearls, they are almost caught and have to make a FTL jump into unknown space to avoid getting
captured. The ship is damaged and the O'Hara brothers are forced to land on a planet inhabited
earlier by earlier GTE colonists who have sunk into a hunting and gathering type society. In a
battle
with a corrupt tribal official, the brothers liberate the slaves, build their own nation where the
inhabitants regard them as the Stargods. Their adventures become the stuff that legends are made
of.
Irene Radford has begun a new series that is very different in tone and style than her previous
Merlin's Descendants. The story line is sophisticated yet the interactions between the brothers is
both
witty and slapstick. There is enough action in The Hidden Dragon to keep readers turning the
pages
until they reach the end of the book. It will be very hard to wait for book two in the series so we
can
revisit those darling O'Hara men.
The Better Part Of Valor
Tanya Huff
Daw Books
$6.99, 416 pp. ISBN 0756400627
In the distant future, Earth has joined the Confederation in return for becoming a fighting arm of
the
empire along with other sentient species. Staff Sergeant Torin Kerr is proud to be a marine
fighting
the Others, a race that covets confederation territory while refusing to negotiate with the
delegates
of the Confederation. In a life or death battle with the Others, she has come to the attention of
General Morris. The General assigns her a top-secret mission to investigate a spaceship that is
neither Confederation nor Other in a far corner of the galaxy. When Kerr boards the alien ship,
she
learns the hard way that it is sentient and doesn't like anyone shooting it. Trapped on board the
ship
with a group of the Others, Torin must find a way to escape or die trying. Fans of military science
fiction will want to read The Better Part Of Valor, a thriller that is every bit as exciting as STAR
WARS. Tanya Huff's latest work is so action packed and colorful it would make a great movie.
Torin is a great heroine while the realistic species provide an authentic spin to this vigorous
fantastic
futuristic tale.
Chasing Darkness
Danielle Girard
Onyx
$6.99, 368 pp. ISBN 0451416238
She was a homicide detective in the Sheriff's department but she became sick of dealing with
death
all the time so she transferred over to the State of California of Department of Justice working
mainly with abuse victims. At the same time she transferred jobs Sam Chase unexpectedly gained
guardianship of her twin eight-year-old nephews. Their parents died in a car crash and their
deceased
mother (Sam's late sister) did not want her family in Mississippi even getting near them. Eight
years
later Sam and her two nephews Derek and Rob are a family. Sam is a success at work and envied
by
her peers when one of her old cases comes back to haunt her. The mother of a child abuse victim
is
found murdered and Sam is forced to work with Derek Thomas of the Sheriff's department since
the
victim looks like she was murdered by a serial killer that Sam once caught. Since the killer is dead,
the police are working on the assumption that it's a copycat killer until another homicide is
committed and Sam is linked to both deaths. Danielle Girard is a name to watch because she's
rapidly reading the level of a Nancy Taylor Rosenberg or a Sandra Brown. Chasing Darkness is a
tightly woven thriller that shines a dark light on the evil things done to children and shows how it
affects them long after the abuse stops. The strange and off beat romance that develops between
Sam and Derek is a realistic necessary subplot to reduce the tension, which becomes unbelievably
high voltage at times. This one sitting read entertains as well as educates.
Body Of Lies
Iris Johanson
Bantam
$24.95, 340 pp. ISBN 0553800973
After the heartache forensic sculptor Eve Duncan has been through, she's finally happy. She's
living
with her lover Atlanta Detective Joe Quinn, and her daughter Bonnie after years of searching is
buried on their property. When Senator Melton of Louisiana calls asking Eve for help in
identifying
a skull, she refuses. Jules Herbert, a member of the Cabal, insists that Eve be the one to do the
identification. Since she refused the Senator, Jules arranges for her to find out about Joe's
betrayal.
When she does, she runs to Louisiana to drown herself in work so she won't have to dwell on
what
Joe did to her. From the time she arrives she is faced with death threats to her and her loved ones.
Joe follows her to make sure Eve lives to see another day even if she hates him for it. Iris
Johanson
has written another exciting thriller starring characters from previous novels. Readers will feel
they
are being reunited with two dear friends and hope that they can work out their problems, both
professional and personal. Body Of Lies is a compelling tale filled with so many unexpected twists
and turns that readers won't be able to predict what happens next.
Catch As Cat Can
Rita Mae Brown & Sneaky Pie Brown
Bantam
$24.95, 304 pp. ISBN 0553107445
In the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia lies the small bucolic town of Crozet located in
the middle of Albermarle County. It is a special, magical town unlike any other because all the
animals are sentient and can talk to each other including cross-species communication with one
"muted" exception: that of the inferior humans who have not evolved enough to be on their level.
Since man is the only species who kills for reasons other than food and defense, the animals of
Crozet may have a point. Currently Crozet is suffering from a crime wave with three murders, a
stolen truck, an unexplained $530,000 in one of the homicide victim's safe, and other lesser
felonies.
Mary Minor "Harry" Haristeen, her gray tiger cat Mrs. Murphy, Pewter a fat gray cat, and Tucker
the Welsh Corgi are as usual in the middle of the investigation and hope to close the case soon.
Any
new Mrs. Murphy mystery is a joyful reading experience and Catch As Cat Can is no exception.
Rita
Mae Brown and her feline Sneaky Pie have co- authored an adult mystery that appeals to the child
in
all of us. Although Harry and her ex-husband are still dating, the fair maiden has a gorgeous new
suitor who seems to good to be true. Still Harry and her "owners" will never allow her romance to
get in the way of justice; but then again she is human.
One Door Away From Heaven
Dean Koontz
Bantam
$26.95, 607 pp. ISBN: 0553801376
Though nearing thirty, Micky Bellsong feels like her life is stuck in California quicksand with no
future and wondering "is that all there is"? She has a boyfriend and lacks steady employment
forcing
her to live in her Aunt Geneva's trailer. Micky's life changes when she meets her new trailer
neighbor
brilliant nine-year-old Leilani Klonk, a preadolescent suffering from physical deformities. The
precocious Leilani tells Micky wild stories involving alien abductions, UFOs, her crazy stepfather,
and her missing brother. Though she finds the youngster entertaining, Micky disbelieves the tales
assuming they are the work of a fertile imagination. However, Micky begins to believe that
Leilani's
stepfather plans to kill the little girl if he fails to contact the aliens whe he belives has the cure for
her
deformities. She turns to the authorities to keep her friend safe, but they write her off as a nut
case.
Making matters worse, Leilani and her family vanish into the night. Micky decides to pursue them
because she believes the crafty stepfather will murder Leilani soon. The dean of suspense writers
may have written his best tale to date with the incredibly insightful taut thriller, One Door Away
From Heaven. Dean Koontz allows the tension to slowly boil by fully developing the key cast
members so when the pot overflows with action, readers understand why, yet remain unsure of
what
is eally happrning. The audience will adore Leilani and root for Micky on her quest to not only
save
a little girl, but to find and save herself too. Dean Koontz is typical Dean Koontz with this tale,
only
better than ever.
Splintered Bones
Carolyn Haines
Delcorte
$24.95, 308 pp. ISBN: 0385335903
In Zinnia, Mississippi the old code of the south still reigns supreme. "Daddy's Girls", those
females
who grow up the daughter of a rich man and learn all they can to marry a wealthy man are in
plentiful supply. Sara Booth Delaney started life as a "Daddy's Girl" but when her parents died in
a
freak accident, she had to grow up in a hurry. Although she wants to keep the family estate of
Dahlia House, she wants to pay off the family promissory notes by using her salary as a private
detective. Her partner in the agency is Binky, an intelligent Daddy's Girl (oxymoron?) with their
office being Dahlia House haunted by Jiltty, the ghost of Sara's great-great grandmother's nanny.
Sara's latest case is heartbreaking as Lee McBride confesses to the murder of her abusive husband
Kemper but nobody believes she did it. Although the prime suspect is Lee's daughter, there are a
lot
of other people who wished him dead. Sara Booth has plenty of suspects with viable motives but
the
one thing she lacks is what she desperately needs: proof. Carolyn Haines is a colorful and creative
writer who captures the atmosphere of the old south (or at least one aspect of it) to perfection.
The
heroine's interactions with the ghost are hilarious and add comic relief to a very fast paced,
angst-laden plot. Splintered Bones is a unique mystery that will be enjoyed by those fans wanting
something different in their mystery reading material.
Jimmy's Girl
Stephanie Gertler
Dutton
$22.95, 274 pp. ISBN: 0525945652
In Connecticut fortyish Emily Hudson leads a fulfilling life as an oil painter with some success and
as
the mother of four children. So why does the demand of middle class suburban living leave Emily
feeling vapid and empty. Her relief from her unhappy thoughts is not in her oil painting or her
spouse
of two decades Peter. Instead she dreams of her first love James Moran when they shared their
own
New England summer of love thirty years ago. Though married with an adopted daughter in
Mobile,
Jimmy Moran wonders more and more on what might have happened if he did not go to Nam
back
in 1967. Via the Internet, Emily finds Jimmy and gets in touch with him. They agree to meet in
Washington, DC using the pretense of paintings on Vietnam, but both know that they need to see
whether the love they felt as teens still exist between them. Both suspect that they were always
meant for one another. Any individual who enjoys a rich relationship drama will fully relish
Stephanie Gertler's tremendous tale Jimmy's Girl. The story line alternates chapters between
Jimmy
and Emily point of view without disrupting the flow of the novel. Instead the reader receives a
deep
"He feels, she feels" tale loaded with a robust authentic-feeling support cast. Ms. Gertler's novel is
obviously an immensely enjoyable read for sub-genre fans. However, business majors will find
enlightening the seemingly simple choices for the lead couple to decide upon are actually
complexly
compounded by the impact on everyone in their sphere.
Murder Can Cool Off Your Affair
Selma Eichler
Signet
$5.99, 272 pp. ISBN 0451205189
Desire Shapiro is very comfortable living in her own skin despite society's narrow views of short,
full
figured women. She is a private detective who has had a remarkable record solving cases for her
clients. However she knows she has plenty of competition in Manhattan so she's really surprised
when John Lander and his wife Trudie insist she is the only private investigator they want. The
Landers hire Desiree to catch the person who killed Cousin Edward and tried to kill John.
Wealthy
Uncle Victor is dying and his heir was Edward followed by John. The Landers and Desiree think
that
the inheritance is the motive behind the homicide and attempted murder but the police think John
killed Edward and Ken faked an attempt on his own life to divert suspicion. It is up to Desiree to
prove the cops wrong. Selma Eichler has once again written a delicious cerebral cozy culinary
mystery that satisfies the mind and the stomach. The protagonist is an admirable woman who
genuinely likes herself and doesn't need to conform to society's expectations of what a woman
should look like. Murder Can Cool Off Your Affair has a fascinating story line that ends with a
stunner.
The Chocolate Cat Caper
JoAnna Carl
Signet
$5.99, 240 pp. ISBN 045120561
Lee McKinney was considered a trophy wife because she came from an impoverished background
and married a very wealthy Texas bachelor. She left him when the marriage went sour and refused
a
financial settlement so she was more financially impoverished than before her marriage. Her aunt
Nettie, who lives in the Michigan resort town of Warner Pier, hires her to manage her chocolate
business. Clementine Ripley, a world famous and widely detested defense attorney, orders a few
thousand dollars in specialty chocolates for a party she is throwing. Lee delivers the candy to her
and is a waitress at the party whose Clem dies from cyanide poison injected into one of the
chocolate candies. With her and her aunt's reputation and freedom on the line, Lee decides to do
some sleuthing and manages to become a hostage to the killer. Do not eat The Chocolate Cat
Caper
on empty stomach. The descriptions of the individual pieces of candy are so mouth-watering; one
will gain weight just from reading about them. JoAnna Carl has created a delicious mystery
starring
a heroine who will endear herself to the audience. This is the beginning of what looks like a
terrific
new cozy series.
No Man Standing
Barbara Seranella
Scribner
$24.00, 304 pp. ISBN: 0743213866
In 1985, Los Angeles police detectives Art Becker and Rico Chacon almost lose their lunch
looking
at the tortured corpses of Dwayne and Lila Mae Summers. Not long afterward they visit Lila
Mae's
adult daughter from her first marriage Ellen, a resident of the California Institute for Women at
Frontera. Ellen is stunned with the news knowing she will receive her parole "freedom" tomorrow
in
time to host a funeral. Because of her trips to the prison to see Ellen, Rico visits the reformed
troublemaker turned automobile mechanic and adopted mother Munch Mancini to obtain
information on who would want the innocent couple dead. Believing there is a connection to
Ellen,
Munch investigates even as she deals with a stalker who accuses her of stealing her life. However,
she finds evidence involving stolen loot connected to Ellen that Munch hides from Rico though
she
is attracted to the law enforcement official. This leads to someone willing to murder children to
gain
what they believe is theirs while coming after Munch. The fifth Munch Mancini amateur sleuth
tale is
a great novel because readers gain insight into the heroine's dark past and current motivations.
The
story line of No Man Standing is action packed, but belongs to an impressive cast who enables the
audience to better understand Munch while forwarding the who-done-it plot. The audience's
hearts
will reach out to the preadolescent friend of Munch's daughter who is caught in the crossfire of
two
selfish adults. That sidebar augments the intense look at the star though not critical to the prime
theme. Fans of amateur sleuth tales will enjoy munching on Barbara Seranella's latest tale.
Red Dust
Gillian Slovo
W.W. Norton & Company
$25.95, 340 pp. ISBN: 0393041484
In Smitsrivier, South Africa, anti apartheid activist Ben Hoffman knows he cannot handle this case
before the Truth Commission alone as he is ailing and his energy low and ebbing. He asks his
former
student, New York City prosecutor Sarah Barcant to come home to help him with the amnesty
hearing of former local police officer Dirk Hendricks. Ben represents an interested party, Alex
Mpondo who was a torture victim of Dirk. Ben also feels this forum will enable the law to get at
Dirk's former boss Pieta Muller, who the former believes killed the son of another client back in
1985. Sarah returns home after fourteen years away as only Ben could get her to come back. As
the
hearing occurs, Sarah, her dying mentor, Alex, the Ben's other client, and the pleading former
cops
are facing relatively diverse truths. Though intended to provide closure so that the country can
move
forward, this particular Truth Commission Hearing will leave no one happy as these "realities"
open
up new nightmares. As documented South African police brutally tortured and murdered their
opposition in order to maintain apartheid, but now face complex justice. Red Dust provides a
close
look at the amnesty hearings as the country struggles with the ugliest part of its heritage while
trying
to forge a better future. The story line is superb due to the characters forced to look at their past
actions and the subsequent effects on each one and their loved ones that occurred by their actions.
Gillian Slovo provides a tremendous gripping human-interest legal thriller that is unique and
deserves an award if justice is to be served.
Rapture In Moonlight
Rosemary Laurey
Avid
$12.95, 242 pp. ISBN 1931419094
Justin Corvus once was a regimental surgeon in the ninth Roman Legion Hispania, but now has a
medical practice in modern day England. He is also a millennium old master vampire who has
come
to German village in Columbus, Ohio to meet with his old friend Kit Marlowe and his wife Dixie.
Justin also has to negotiate territory for the New World vampire colony with Vlad Tepes,
otherwise
known as Dracula. While playing shopkeeper in Dixie's shop, he meets the beautiful mortal
woman
Stella and her eight-year-old son Sam. In the very first moments of their first meeting, both feel an
electrical attraction to one another. At first Justin is not going to pursue her beyond the time he is
to
return home but circumstance force him to turn her into a vampire. Even when she makes the
adjustment, they have heavy-duty problems to work out if they mean to spend eternity together.
Fans of romance and the supernatural will love Rapture In Moonlight, the fantastic sequel to the
Prism award winning Walk In Moonlight. The vampires of Rosemary Laurey's creation are
urbane,
witty and easy to fall in love with. Their mates are their equals in every way, which makes for
some
amusing "discussions" when one doesn't agree with the others. Ms. Laurey is a talent that should
be
on every vampire fan's "must read" list.
Riverwatch
Joseph M. Nassise
Barclay Books
$15.95, 370 pp. ISBN 1031402191
Long before man was a sentient species, two intelligent races walked the Earth. The Elders,
looking
much like present day Homo sapiens, were a wise and benevolent group who saw the potential in
man's ancestors and taught them what they knew. The Nightshades, a reptilian race that could fly,
thought of the humans as cattle that made for a tasty meal. They ignored their kind rivals and the
time came when the Elders and the Nightshades went to war. They fought each other to the point
of
extinction until the last Elder defeated Moloch, the last Nightshade. Moloch was in a state of
suspended animation until a construction worker in a small Vermont town inadvertently awakened
him. He managed to free himself and go on a killing spree in Harrington Falls. To stop this dark
and
evil creature will take all the courage and the strength of the three people in the town who knows
what they are really dealing with. Horror fans have a special treat in store for themselves if they
choose to read Riverwatch, a genuinely frightening novel that features a creature out of our
darkest
nightmares. Joseph M. Nassise is a gifted storyteller who knows how to capture and keep his
audience's attention. Readers should put Mr. Nassise on their must read list.
Texas Homecoming
Leigh Greenwood
Leisure/Dorchester
$5.99 384 pp. ISBN: 0843949724
By 1864 Confederate Captain Cade Wheeler is tired of the war and the successful raids he has led.
Perhaps his wariness is born of the treachery suffered by Cade and his men when one of their
alleged
most loyal followers diViere betrayed them, leaving many dead from the Northern ambush. The
war
is over so Cade leads the survivors back to their Texas home to start anew in a radically different
world. However, foremost in most of their minds is vengeance on diViere. Cade takes over his
family ranch from his feisty grandfather. Already staying at the spread is diViere's sister Pilar and
their grandmother because squatters have forced them out of the family home. Cade plans to use
Pilar to get to diViere, but as Cade and Pilar argue they fall in love. However, she is the sibling of
the person he detests so much that he wants to personally kill the man. Leigh Greenwood raises
the
heat and tension with his latest tale, Texas Homecoming. The story line is loaded with action and
two strong lead characters. Cade struggles between his obsessive thirst for vengeance and his
need
to nurture his beloved. Pilar is a fiery individual who loves her captain, but when she learns why
he
courts her, all hell breaks out. Few authors provide a vivid descriptive Americana romance filled
with realistic angst-laden protagonists as this author can.
The Promise
Dee Davis
Love Spell/Dorchester
$5.99, 362 pp. ISBN: 0505525759
In Colorado's San Juan Mountains, Cara Reynolds had just remarked to her parents how her
sixteenth birthday celebration was the best day of her life when the car crash occurred. Michael
MacPherson finds the injured Cara and takes her inside a mine tunnel so she could warm up. By
morning, Michael is gone and her grandfather is there with help. Her parents are dead. Years
later,
Michael is shot and goes to the same haven he took and lost Cara. She finds him and takes him to
her nearby cabin where she provides him medicine for his wounds. As the twosome fall in love
they
realize that he is from the late nineteenth century and she is from the late twentieth century. Cara
concludes that she has a mission to correct the misdeeds of the past. However, to succeed she
must
learn how to use her sixteenth birthday silver heirloom present to open the quantum entrance to
the
mine. The Promise is a wild seesawing ride between centuries that initially will bewilder the reader
with its switching between the present and the past. However, this reviewer promises that if given
the chance, the audience will enjoy the journey. The story line is charged with an abundance of
action that enables the lead characters to seem real. The support crew provides enough depth
along
with specific tidbits to insure fans know which century they are in at any moment. Dee Davis
furbishes a time travel romance that Quantum Leap off the pages into the hearts of her
readers.
Picoverse
Robert A. Metzger
Ace
$22.95, 400 pp. ISBN 0441008992
In the not too distant future scientists such as Katie McGuire, her ex- husband Horst, and a few
other technicians are working hard at the Sonomak project operational. If it works the world
could
have cold fusion power at their disposable. When it looks like federal funding will fall through,
Horst
calls in a block-ops agent to see if the military would be interested in funding the project. The
agent's
boss Alexandria Mitchell learns about the project. She is over five million years old, a sentient
android serving the Makers, the beings whom created our universe. Her job is to make sure that
the
people of Earth don't rise above a certain level of technology. Alexandria is tired of answering to
her
masters and intends to take control of the Sonomak project, forcing the scientists to create a
Picoverse (an alternate universe of our world only much smaller) so she can rid herself of any
controls. She gets her wish but even she is surprised at how quickly she becomes dissatisfied, a
condition that forces her to deal with Katie and Horst, their son Anthony and Jack Preston, a new
player in the game, in this new and unfamiliar realm. Although Picoverse is filled with scientific
theories that are difficult for the layman to understand, this no way detracts from the overall
enjoyment of the story. The climax is a shocker but the whole novel is based on situations that
take
one surprising turn after another. Robert A. Metzger makes the implausible seen all to frightening
real.
Looking For Chet Baker
Bill Moody
Walker
$23.95, 264 pp. ISBN: 0802733689
After the serial killer fiasco in Ls Angeles (Bird Lives) and counseling in New York, jazz pianist
Evan Horne flees to London to star in a week long gig. His friend Professor Ace Buffington is
also
in the city following a sabbatical from UNLV. Ace pleads with Evan to join him in Amsterdam to
research a biography on music legend Chet Baker, who died either by suicide or homicide in the
city.
Evan refuses remembering the trouble that occurs whenever he works with Ace such as he did on
the Clifford Brown recording. Evan travels to Amsterdam for another gig after his successful
performances at Ronnie Scott's place. He stays at the same hotel that Chet took that nose-dive in
1988. Ace has already checked out of that hotel so Evan feels relieved that he will not get
involved
in another case. However, Evan cannot resist peaking inside the room Baker dived through the
window. When Evan sees Ace's satchel containing his notes, he becomes concerned for his friend.
He begins making inquiries that force him to follow the last days' trail of Chet Baker. Readers
looking for an entertaining, but a bit different kind of an amateur sleuth tale will enjoy Looking
For
Chet Baker and the other novels in the Horne series. The story line provides insight into jazz (past
and present) while spinning an engaging mystery involving a real persona. Evan plays the right
notes
so that the audience feels as if they attend a masterful concerto written by talented Bill Moody,
whose love for jazz shines through each Horne selection.
The Secret Ingredient
Jane Heller
St. Martin's Press
$24.95, 336 pp. ISBN: 0312261721
When she married her spouse Roger six years ago, Elizabeth Baskin thought he was an eleven in a
male ranking system that tops out at ten. As an undercover field agent for luxurious properties,
she
seeks perfection in the hotels she clandestinely canvases. Elizabeth expects the same in her
personal
life. Thus, she decides she must renovate her heavier and lazier real estate attorney spouse so that
instead of he sleeping away the night, they make love. Elizabeth knows she needs professional
help
to accomplish her agenda. She visits Dr. Gordon Farkus, a Beverly Hills "life enhancement" guru.
Gordon persuades Elizabeth to buy an herb that magically changes an aging over the hill dud into
a
lovemaking stud. However, Elizabeth puts too much of the elixir in Roger's orange juice. Instead
of
lovingly turning to her, he becomes a narcissistic babe magnet. Desperate to regain her husband
the
sloth, Elizabeth seeks a cure for the cure. The Secret Ingredient is a humorous contemporary tale
with messages on perfection and satisfaction that curiously the cat would understand, but
ironically
fails to have the bite of the author's more powerful satires. Instead the audience receives an
amusing
Southern California romp reminiscent of the movie Love Potion Number Nine filled with funny
fluff
but lacking the intelligent sting of Female Intelligence. Still Jane Heller shows she continues as
one
of the top satirical humorists with this enjoyable frolic.
The Mummy's Ransom
Fred Hunter
St. Martin's Press
$23.95, 272 pp. ISBN: 0312271239
The Chicago Dolores Towers sponsors the first American showing of pre-BC Chilean Chichorro
mummies. The exhibits brings protests from native Chileans who were already upset that
archeologists dug the grave sites of their ancestors, but find this sideshow to be as deep an
outrage.
Sponsor Louis Dolores feels the publicity of his support to a historical exhibit will help him with
his
latest plan to raze a historical site. Police detective Jeremy Ransom feels confident nothing will go
wrong at the exhibit because his friend, senior citizen Emily Charters, a magnet for homicides, is
not
attending the gala opening. However, he is sent to look into death threats and a breech of security
that Louis would prefer to ignore. However, Louis should never have disregarded the threat
because
someone kills him. Jeremy investigates a wide range of suspects that include a sighted mummy
running loose at night, an angry personal assistant, the Chilean protesters, and the Chilean
museum
curator with doubts about the exhibit- among other suspects. The Mummy's Ransom is an
exciting
police procedural that leaves the reader guessing whether it is a supernatural murderer or a more
earthly killer. The story line succeeds because the cast feels real and Fred Hunter insures the
audience understands the motives of the key secondary characters. Fans of the series will relish
the
return of Jeremy and his "extended family" in this engaging who-done-it.
Harriet Klausner
Reviewer
Sandra's Bookshelf
What Is This Thing Called Love?
The Reverend Della Reese-Lett
Hampton Roads Publishing Company, Inc.
1125 Stoney Ridge Road, Charlottesville, VA 22902
ISBN: 1-57174-268-9. Hardcover, $16.95, www.hrpub.com, 1-800-766-8009
Della Reese, currently well-known for her role on the TV series, Touched By An Angel, is also an
ordained minister. "Her mission is to teach a practical Christianity, which brings love, abundance,
strength, and personal growth to all people."
In line with her mission, she is writing twelve books of devotions, one for each month of the year.
What Is This Thing Called Love? is one of the twelve. Like the others, it has a devotion for each
day. It may be used for any month--the devotions are universal, rather than seasonal.
Each day begins with a quotation from the Bible, followed by a brief commentary from Reese.
The
facing page for each day includes a beautiful full-color photograph, and an affirmation. Reese says
that each day we make a choice whether or not to fill our lives with love. Her devotions "are love
seeds to plant in your mind and heart each day."
What Is This Thing Called Love? is designed to help readers choose love daily so that "you will
be
able to watch love grow in your life." It's an excellent choice with which to begin your collection
of
all twelve books.
It's also a perfect gift.
Sheer Superstition
Armando Benitez
Hampton Roads Publishing Company, Inc.
1125 Stoney Ridge Road, Charlottesville, VA 22902
ISBN: 1-57174-180-1 Soft Cover. 316 pp. $14.95, www.hrpub.com, 1-800-766-8009
Is there any validity to superstition? Does throwing salt over your left shoulder keep away bad
luck?
Will walking under a ladder bring bad luck? Armando Benitez thinks the answer to questions like
this is yes, and he tells why in his new book, Sheer Superstition.
Benitez says that "superstition has been present in the human soul since the first stirrings of the
human intellect." He digs into the reasons for this, searching for the origin of superstitions, and
maintains that "the basic premise of all superstitions is that we have direct control over our
destiny,
that we can change our destiny, because we are free to choose the path we wish to traverse."
He turns to the ancient Greeks, using the mythology of the Fates and their control of human
fortune,
as a model for explaining how events seemingly beyond our ability to influence or change can
affect
our lives. Then he describes how we can use superstition to make choices to overcome these
events.
The way to modify our lives, or destiny, is to start with very small changes. Those changes often
hinge on a stroke of luck. Benitez believes that certain practices can affect luck, thus giving
people a
measure of control.
He has bet on horse races for many years, and he uses his racetrack experiences as examples of
how
people can use superstitions to outwit Fate and improve their luck. While some superstitions
apply
only to certain people or at certain times, others are universal. Benitez describes them all, often
with
explanations of how they came into being, and explains how individuals can put the relevant ones
to
work in their own lives.
Benitez says that "our luck should be nurtured, just as a sensible person guards his health." In
Sheer
Superstition, he provides readers with the knowledge and tools they need to change and nurture
their luck.
Spirit Animals And The Wheel Of Life
Hal Zina Bennett
Hampton Roads Publishing Company, Inc.
1125 Stoney Ridge Road, Charlottesville, VA 22902
ISBN: 1-57174-216-6, Soft Cover 175 pp. $13.95, www.hrpub.com 1-800-766-8009
Many people have lost touch with what brings peace and harmony to their lives. They are also
concerned with what's being done to individuals, animals, and the Earth itself in the name of
technology. They're looking for help with spiritual development and finding their own
centers.
Hal Zina Bennett offers practical help in Spirit Animals And The Wheel Of Life, his twenty-third
book. In it he continues to explore how we can incorporate universal love in our daily lives. He
has
chosen the wheel because it has no beginning or end and thus "teaches us how to work with the
limits of human knowing and how to find peace with our apparent human differences."
Bennett believes that people are searching for ways to become closer to Earth, and finding the
solutions in ancient practices, such as shamanism. He describes "nature-based spiritual practices"
that emphasize the connection between Earth and all its inhabitants. Some of these practices
involve
looking at characteristics of certain animals and using them as models for our own behavior.
He says, however, that animals are not just symbols. They are living creatures. We learn from
observing them in their natural environments. Since not everyone can do this, Bennett describes
the
powers of the seven primary animals with the most to teach us. These are correlated with the
seven
chakras, for those who find it easier to think in those terms. He provides complete instructions for
setting up and using an "ecospiritual wheel," which helps to establish rituals for learning from
animals.
Bennett says that he "offers Spirit Animals And The Wheel Of Life as a way to begin reclaiming
your own ecospiritual connection with our planet not just as a philosophy but as a practical
spirituality and a way of mapping your own path back to the center." Readers will find that he has
provided the knowledge and guidance they need to make their own sacred connections.
The Gathering
William Gammill
Hampton Roads Publishing Company, Inc.
1125 Stoney Ridge Road, Charlottesville, VA 22902
ISBN: 1-57174-206-9 Soft Cover, 217 pp, $12.95, www.hrpub.com, 1-800-766-8009
In 1996, William Gammill experienced contact with otherworld beings. The channeling lasted for
approximately fifteen days, during which time he took copious notes. He describes his experiences
and what he learned from them in The Gathering, his fourth book. He says that "although [his
book]
begins with an encounter that can only be characterized as 'alien,' the theme is not alien contact.
The
theme is human consciousness and transformation."
The basic message that "The Brothers" gave Gammill is that earthly humans are part of a grand
experiment. Our purpose is to learn how to recognize the God within each of us. This requires
change, from the level of DNA outward. This change is occurring now in each of us. Like most
changes, it can create emotional and physical distress, even disease.
Gammill says that we have free will, but it's guided by our souls. "Everything a person
experiences,"
he says, "is determined by his or her soul, which reincarnates from one body to the next...Personal
responsibility, not chance, determines your fate." Between lives, the soul goes to a place of light,
where it decides what you will experience in the next lifetime. All experiences have the ultimate
goal
of healing the human race so that individuals can increase their awareness of God. Once
awareness
and surrender are achieved, which will take thousands of years, individuals will "ascend" to rejoin
with God as one entity.
"Compelling and beautifully written, The Gathering can help us understand our alien neighbors
and
ourselves in a new and positive way." It's essential reading for all those who have wondered why
we
are here.
Sandra I. Smith
Reviewer
Terry's Bookshelf
Mengele's Legacy
David Jay Weinberg
Rutledge Books, Inc.
ISBN: 1582441855, $23.95, 287 pages
Not Ludlum or Follett, but the author shows promise
I am not a fan of self-published books. They lack the discipline a good editorial staff brings to a
piece of work.
With that said, I'll recommend Mengele's Legacy because the author (1) knows his biology and (2)
we're not the same world we were before 9/11 and the anthrax scares.
I don't know much science, but I'll try to explain the author's main plot line....Joseph Mengele,
Hitler's henchman, was able to alter the make-up of human cells so that they cause mysterious
deaths. Dr. Mengele infected Jews and Africans with these cells during the holocaust and after
several generations, the mutated cells became HIV/AIDS.
What Doctor Isaiah "Izzy" Slesinger, the hero of Mengele's Legacy and America's preeminent
protein biochemist, needs to do is to find Dr. Mengele's copious notes and dissect the 'Mengele
cell'
and stop the ruination of the human species.
The science part of this book is well done..almost too much technical information for a novice like
me, but I did come away with a better understanding of how difficult it will be to find a cure for
HIV/AIDS because of how it mutates differently in each individual.
There is a lot of Ken Follet/Robert Ludlum wannabe cloak and dagger action in the book, but
some
of it is so implausible as to make the reader groan. I know there are new neo-Nazi movements in
the
world, and I know we need to be vigilant, but some of the characters and plots proposed by the
author seemed to be more science fiction than thriller material.
The author has promise, but he needs a quality editorial staff to guide him through the maze of
plot
lines and to re-organize his chapters so there is continuity and not confusion. After the success of
Mengele's Legacy, maybe he'll find an agent and a publishing house. With Ludlum gone and
Follett/Woods faltering, the world needs good thriller writers!
The Englishman's Daughter
Ben Macintyre
Farrar, Straus & Giroux
ISBN: 0374129851, $24.00
Great Story - True - Well Told
The entire time I was reading The Englishman's Daughter, I felt as though I was reading a
well-researched piece of historical fiction. Ben Macintyre has done a terrific job with a story that
was begging to be told to the outside world.
In 1914, seven British soldiers, separated from their units for one reason or the other, found
themselves trapped behind enemy lines. The citizens of Villeret, a small village near the front lines,
hid the soldiers, fed them and kept them safe...sometimes to their great peril. However, after one
solider, Robert Digby, fathered a child by one of the village maidens, someone blew the whistle on
their charade and four of the soldiers, including Digby, were shot by the Germans.
I was never as concerned as the author about who ratted on the soldiers...they were in the middle
of
a war....everyone was under a great deal of stress...food was scarce....the German threat of
retaliation was real....any number of people could have spilled the beans. The fact that the village
kept them for over 2 years is a miracle of human constraint and discretion.
Macintyre was a reluctant author, having been sent to a small village of Picardy to record the
dedication of a plaque on the spot where the soldiers were killed. After the ceremony, an elderly
woman told him that one of the murdered soldiers was her father. Intrigued, Macintyre pursued
the
story and The Englishman's Daughter is the splendid result of his effort.
I'm not a true fan of non-fiction, but this book is so well done and the story is so compelling that I
read it in one sitting....all the while trying to cast the characters in the film. Harrison Ford (in his
younger years) would have been perfect as Digby. Angelica Huston would make an excellent
Jeanne
Magniez, the aristocrat who loved her horses more than people. Olympia Dukasis would be the
perfect one to play Claire Dessenne's mother. Claire herself would be tricky, because her photos
are
at once beautiful and have an air of intelligence about them.
I hope someone with Hollywood connections finds this book. It would make a marvelous film.
Enjoy!
Terry Mathews
Reviewer
Hodgins' Bookshelf
Fury
Salman Rushdie
Knopf Canada
ISBN 0676974406, hardcover, 259 pp., Can.$34.95.
Random House
ISBN 067946333X, hardcover, 259 pp., $24.95
"Fury" - this is the book's complete title - is structured in three Parts and 18 chapters. Part One
makes a pretty good, straightforward read despite author Rushdie's curious mix of High
Literature
and gutter-talk styles. Parts Two and Three, though, gave me a sense of disintegration. If
"Literature" is only negatively defined as "not genre fiction", what happens if "Literature" itself be
a
genre's name? What if, alternatively, works like "Fury" are of, say, a "manners & morals" genre -
may the pretensions of Literature then collapse? Rushdie's "Fury" in any event runs a considerable
risk of being refused high-hat Literary status because it contains action, e.g., three gruesome
murders - "action" being the very name of one of the most frequently recognized/disparaged
genres!
It may cheer writers who fear their works contain errors that, on a front page of this book, famed
author Salman Rushdie's surname is misspelled "Rusdie". Call my reaction schadenfreude if you
like,
but others' faults tend to lessen the impacts of one's own.
I'd guess "Fury" appeared in the summer of 2001, not long before the terrorist attacks on New
York
and Washington. Rushdie mentions, as examples, SUVs, the human genome project, Tiger
Woods,
road rage, the struggle for possession of the body and/or soul of young Cuban shipwreck survivor
Elian Gonzalez (sorry that I can't make Spanish accents using this software), New York's spraying
to kill mosquitoes which might carry West Nile virus, the I Love You computer virus, and so
forth.
Yet the book's greater part is set in New York without mention of 11 Sept. 2001.
Rushdie thus was not cowed by popular sentiment into pulling punches, as he might easily have
done
after his dire experiences with an earlier work, "The Satanic Verses". No, he frankly states his
generally negative impressions of New York. Candid criticisms appear not only in the first several
pages, but also in (as examples) pp. 51-52, 55-56, 85, the very long paragraph beginning on p. 86
and ending on p. 88 ... and the list could go on. The overall picture he draws, with thanks to the
democratic principle of free speech, cannot be called pretty. His protagonist, and perhaps he
himself,
lives there only because he cannot live at home and because New York has rather repulsively
seduced him. He should take care, though, not to read like just another stock Manhattanite writer,
given that he has chosen some of the same subject matter. "Why, this is The Gross Apple of
Jackie
Collins!" I reflected at one point.
Moreover, if this book is a fair sample, Rushdie proves also to be one of those writers who write
too
much about writers - a common banality. To my offhand recollection, the protagonist-professor
himself is a writer, his second wife works for a publisher or something, and the father of one Mila
Milo is a poet and novelist; whereas nobody I've noticed in this book is, say, a railwayman,
steelworker, securities broker, computer programmer, sculptor, radio announcer, shopkeeper, or
...
(you name it!) For such highflown style, the use of obscenities in "Fury" is surprisingly prevalent
and
ungenteel for any trade this side of the lumber camps or the cargo docks - unless, that is,
once-polite
society's gutterward slide is proceeding even more swiftly than I've hitherto supposed. For
instance,
Rushdie puts into the prof.'s first wife's mouth, in a fury of her own on page 30, "... you're really
only in love with those fucking dolls ... women you don't have to fuck. Or are you making them
with
cunts now, wooden cunts, rubber cunts, [etc.] ..." Incidentally, this tirade is part of a long
question
lacking a question mark, showing some loss of grammatical control on the author's part. Rushdie
moreover begins many sentences, as in the foregoing example, with conjunctions - and, or,
sometimes but, etc. - which, of course, are supposed to conjoin clauses, phrases, or words.
A more moderate instance illustrating the book's style, era, and how the protagonist, Professor
Malik Solanka, deals with his own fury occurs eight pages later: "No drugs; he had put them
off-limits, and he was also avoiding head doctors. The gangster Tony Soprano might be going to
a
shrink, but fuck him, he was fictional." In religious terms, page 49 identifies the
professor-protagonist as a non-believer. One who doesn't believe in God obviously can't respect
Him, and in dispassionate logic may therefore show no special scruple either for or against
blasphemy. "Fury" nonetheless goes lighter on this type of verbal abuse than on obscenities.
It's interesting to read a celebrity writer's "take" on celeb's generally. At one point Rushdie muses
concerning recent times, "And if culture was the world's new secularism, then its new religion was
fame, and the industry - or, better, the church - of celebrity would give meaningful work to a new
ecclesia, a proselytizing mission designed to conquer this new frontier, building its glitzy celluloid
vehicles and its cathode-ray rockets, developing fuels out of gossip, flying the Chosen Ones to the
stars. And to fulfil the darker requirements of the new faith, there were occasional human
sacrifices,
and steep, wing-burning falls." The Church of Celebrity - an excellent summary of the
phenomenon!
PART ONE
"Fury"'s protagonist, Solanka, is an Indian/Pakistani native but English-educated Cambridge
professor, who seems possessed of certain character defects which bring unhappiness, even
disaster
into various lives including his own. As quoting his first wife has already shown, he is not the only
one in the book who flies into occasional rages and who must struggle at other times not to do so
again; however, the book is about him and it is his specific flaw that gives rise to the title. At the
same time, we discover as the book unfolds that being unable to keep matters in perspective
worsens
his bad temper. Thus his shortcomings still trace in good part right back to his own faults.
He is poor marriage material in other ways, too. In particular, he seems to have lacked wisdom
while
choosing his first mate - just as an unduly large proportion of the population at large does - and he
lacks an adequate long term commitment even to such a seemingly blameless, loving woman as
his
second wife ... all of which too-familiar stuff can make one wonder where people's minds really
are
when they recite marriage vows ending with, "till death do us part" - a pretty unequivocal way of
putting matters, one might have thought.
The trick is that he is neither "solid" as a professor nor even-tempered in any role. Instead of
putting
his all into teaching, he drifts off into his irrelevant artsy-craftsy hobby which takes over his
personal
and professional life, as well as his personality, until ... ah, but I mustn't reveal too much here!
Let's
just say that a great deal revolves about this, umm, metaphysical metamorphosis. That the
professor
is determined to wrestle unaided with his demons seems to indicate a further flaw, comparable to
believing himself strong enough to throw off physical ailments without either medicines, medical
help, or even amateur consultation.
Upon finding a hobby he grows it into a paying avocation, then a total obsession, complete with
individual background stories for each doll he develops. These facts might be of great interest to a
psychoanalyst, if only the ex-prof. would see one - but he won't.
His consuming activity thus affects his ability to relate to others, for now he largely lives in an
insubstantial dream world. He also drinks far too much at times, and then has total blackouts
during
which he apparently continues to take action, but which he can't recall to memory afterward.
While living with his second wife he discovers, even if he won't adequately deal with it, that he
has
become dangerously deranged. Now he bolts from his home and country, but still doesn't seek
help -
a very serious fault indeed in his case, although it probably is common among those who suffer
similarly. He thus migrates to New York, a city he finds both crass and yet seductive.
The book builds up tension based on certain horrifying suspicions that now develop, but it would
be
a disservice to everyone concerned were I to "spill the beans" before the reader has a chance to
read
for him- or herself. This issue isn't resolved until a later Part.
Let me simply suggest in summary that "Fury", Part 1 makes a good read which I hope I haven't
now unduly compromised.
PARTS TWO AND THREE
Whether it's a strength or a weakness of Rushdie's writing, he doesn't always follow normal
sequences in "Fury". Telling his tale in meandering fashion, after he seems to have planted his
protagonist firmly in American soil, evidently to follow a theme in greater detail he returns to an
earlier time in England when Solanka had just begun making dolls.
Part Two largely traces the now ex-professor's obsessed mutation into a latterday Pygmalion (he
of
the Ancient Greek legend, not of Shaw's witty modern play,) as well as his descent into both
abysmal husbandship - his wives remain in England, although he acquires a mistress or two in
New
York - and something like all-encompassing madness.
Does Solanka typify the "me" generation? At all events he shows no trace of "noblesse oblige"
consideration, when his wife begs for sex (at least while she's ovulating); or of having the love in
his
heart to want a second child. When his seeming piggishness gets him banished from his wife's bed
to
the guest room, he has the gall to complain of his lot. He is however in a fairly deep psychological
situation which can't be well understood - it is certainly not to be facilely branded as mere male
chauvinism by simplistic feminists! - without taking into account the ramifications of the dream
world that more and more possesses him, and the rages that sometimes overwhelm his reason.
Part Two thus tends to round out and add perspective to material established in Part One. It is a
treatment that permits Part One to retain enigma, mystery and suspense through its incomplete
exposition of important facts. In this second part there also is a description of a Mila Milo's
important attempt to rehabilitate but at the same time slowly and secretly seduce Solanka, so that
although his path didn't initially seem to run downhill, that was in fact the long term trend.
As already noted, others also feel fury. Indeed, a mission of a book named for that passion seems
to
be to collect instances from far and wide. Thus after recounting a couple of resulting murders,
Rushdie gives this classical overview: "Everywhere you looked ... the fury was in the air.
Everywhere you listened you heard the beating of the dark goddesses' wings. Tisiphone, Alecto,
Megaera: the ancient Greeks were so afraid of these, their most ferocious deities, that they didn't
even dare to speak their real name. To use that name, Erinnyes, Furies, might very well be to call
down upon yourself those ladies' lethal wrath ..." Pages later: "For he [Solanka] knew he had not
shaken the Furies off."
Had Solanka himself committed some brutal New York murders, while in his blackouts? This is a
suspicion we've begun feeling before the end of Part One, and we feel it again in Part Two. This is
however one of those matters a reviewer should not explore any further, lest the story's central
mystery be betrayed and the suspense intended for the situation be nullified. (Note, however, that
"mystery" and "suspense" are also names of genres, and as such are supposedly incompatible with
big-L Literature!)
It may be a personal failing, but I find progressively more difficulty in reading through Parts Two
and Three, perhaps because I've grown fed up with a situation in which an excess of ease and
riches
in New York life has got certain secondary characters doing most unnatural things in search of
diverting novelty.
That can happen, without a doubt; for instance, as a small-boat sailor, once I'd "zoomed" fast
enough to make the centreboard scream and to send spray out fifteen feet or so from either bow, I
found that pastime boring, and so began overnight cruising; while those (NOT including me, I
admit)
with ready access to every variety of the most glamorous possible sex at every hour of the day
and
night probably also feel dulled by it, and come to crave something else - maybe something more
depraved, then. This seems the general direction the tale takes toward its end, but to be honest, I
eventually felt unable to finish my reading of it. A book of this nature, but about half as long,
would
have suited me better. Others will respond differently, depending upon their personal degrees of
interest in such matters as psychology (I was a civil engineer by training) and urban life (my best
times were spent in the wilderness).
Two For The Lions
Lindsey Davis
Century/Random House
ISBN 0712677968, Can.$33.95.
Warner Books
ISBN 0446609021, 464 pages, $6.99
Ancient Rome generally and, in this novel series, the Rome of the first century AD specifically,
was
a bloody-minded "civilization", it's all too true. However, in this book I personally find the number
of people set up to be killed in fights between gladiators (and some others) and/or lions, or in
plain
murders, to be a source of confusion above all.
In essence, "Two for the Lions" is a detective story told in the first person, although protagonist
Falco is called an "informer" and seems ready to undertake contracts involving any kind of
information and/or skullduggery. He thus accepts work, in this historical-crime novel, more or
less
as a forensic accountant working for the Censors on the Great Census of AD 73 as commissioned
by
Emperor Vespasian, who needed to raise extra money to pay for his great project of building the
Flavian Amphitheatre, or Colosseum.
The author uses that role only to bring Falco into contact with a set of often scoundrelly gladiator
masters, two of whom "cook" accounts to conceal much of their wealth in the hope of dodging
high
taxes. Yet more interesting than taxation are the murderous sides of their businesses.
As a sort of frontispiece, this book provides two useful maps, although their spellings of place
names
don't always coincide with those in the text, not to say with those shown in modern atlases.
There also is a list of 33 "principal characters", plus some animals. In at least one instance some
characters may be bogus, but in any event the list seems unnecessarily long. If many readers have
available the disused brain cells to store all the data pertinent to such extensive dramatis personae,
others will already be nearly filled with other products of our "information age". In that
perspective
some of this book's personalities seem supernumerary, and for the second aforementioned type of
reader these will end as being rather forgettable.
The brief descriptions of that table's characters aren't always helpful, e.g. "Rumex - A celebrated
graffiti" (not even "graffito" which, I think, comes closer to the correct singular noun, in modern
Italian.) What is Ms. Davis trying to convey about Rumex, in fact? He is a retired, successful
gladiator, now gone to seed, who maintains at least a pose as a reclusive but hyperactive
womanizer.
Having read this book once, and not being interested in doing so again, I'm not at all clear about
the
identities of the "Two" in the title. On the front cover there's a picture of THREE people and one
lion ... and the guy aiming a spear at the lion's throat is not the one who actually does the deed ...
No, then, I guess they aren't those "Two".
As a still more minor quibble, the subtitle "The latest Falco novel", also on the front cover, is now
a
four-years-old claim which likely has been outdated. How many different Falco books by now
exist,
all claiming to be the "latest"? This being the tenth in the series, calling it "The 10th Falco Novel"
might have been smarter in the long run.
A common if fairly minor flaw of some serial novels is that they may contain too many references
to
persons and events of earlier volumes in the series, to the puzzlement of readers who haven't read
those precedent works. Some authors handle this hazard well, others less well. I personally would
place Ms. Davis among the second group.
For instance, readers are assumed to have met Falco's Ma in previous books. (I think I read an
earlier book of this series six or eight years ago, but Ma's character and doings in that volume
have
escaped me, since.) In fact Ma is important here only because she keeps pressing Falco to accept
one Anacrites as his permanent business partner, a man Falco dislikes and treats shabbily
whenever
he can. Background insights to explain that animosity seem to depend on recalling those earlier
books.
Falco's Pa is even less relevant to this book, but he still gets meaningless mentions and a place
among the 33 "Principal Characters".
Yet author Davis often draws effective and sometimes finely detailed vignettes or word pictures
of
ancient scenes. Here she may be at her best. Research travel for novelists is highly desirable, but
time
travel, alas, is not yet an option. Davis nonetheless sets many scenes, not only in old Rome but
also
in North Africa, well in a few words, e.g.: "Apollonia is a long habitation, fronding the beach so
closely that in really rough weather floods crash into the glamorous temples near the water's
edge."
Things NOT to be found in this novel to any great extent, although they may well have
occasioned
much discussion in Falco's day, include the Jewish and Christian troublemakers of the eastern
Mediterranean. Only a few years previously, though, to keep matters in perspective, Titus had laid
seige to Jerusalem.
"Two for the Lions" is certainly a worthy read if you're interested in slightly selective ancient
history
and in detective work, but I feel one should begin at the beginning of this series and then work
one's
way through, to avoid the feeling you get upon entering a theatre half an hour late for the movie's
start. Even more important than giving one a handle on Davis's invented characters, it is very
likely
that such reading will greatly enhance one's grip on historical places and happenings (such as,
perhaps, the events which so deeply affected Jerusalem in AD 70) because a usual function of
historical fiction is to sketch out and integrate the results of great deal of historical, biographical
and
geographical research, all ready for easy assimilation by questing readers who perhaps have
naively
suppose that they are simply being entertained.
The next trick is for the reader to distinguish fact from fiction in such works, so as to be educated
rather than misinformed. This knack you learn through experience and by doing a little research of
your own.
The Cockroaches Of Stay More
Donald Harington
Vintage Contemporaries/Vintage Books
ISBN 0679728082, $9.95
Harcourt Brace
ISBN: 0151182701, $7.95
This very imaginative and occasionally humorous novel parallels Richard Adams's "Watership
Down", but deals with the partly documented, partly imagined lives of cockroaches (Periplaneta
americana, of the Blattidae family), rather than with those of wild rabbits in the English downs.
These Periplaneta happen to live in Arkansas, a fact that affects their manner of speech.
For once again there is the type of anthropomorphism which attributes humanoid character to
animals, endowing them with speech (here, a variant of Ozarks English) and human-like
rationality.
For instance, one of the more prominent cockroaches in the present work warns his mate, "If you
cain't shet yore mouth, Maw, you're liable to git a midge caught in it." However, legs or possibly
feet are not called "laigs" by the humanoid insects, but rather "gitalongs". Also in roach talk,
"east"
signifies "life", "alive," etc., while "west" means death or dead, "westering" is "dying", and so
forth.
There are numerous species of cockroaches, fifty-odd of them - mostly accidentally introduced in
shipping - being found in North America alone, although Periplaneta is a native type. The
community with which this tale deals inhabits a formerly (and now very nearly) deserted Arkansas
humans' village named Stainmoor or Stay More.
These roaches are very hospitable toward one another, and invite each other to "Stay more".
Within
Stay More is the roach village of Carlott, which is a lot that's strewn with cars - one operable and
one inoperable - and with derelict parts of, it seems, several others.
The two houses which have been re-inhabited by one person each have also been given fanciful
names by Harington's roaches, one of them being Holy House, in which Man (who is taken by the
roaches to be their god, in part because they are fed by his crumbs) lives with his Selec Trick
typewriter - he is a poet, and as he tickles the machine's fifty "eyes", its striker ball performs
Tricks
for him - and his revolver Gun. The latter he uses to Rapture roaches away, in the process of
which
the house's Holiness increases by one new hole per shot.
The other house where a human, known as Woman, lives is much better cared for, having no
bullet
holes. Only elite roaches may live there. The roaches who have seen it believe her telephone's
handset to be an enormous black ant, through which she somehow converses with her
grandmother.
She cannot speak by the same means to Man, though, for he owns no giant ant of his own, but he
writes her love letters when he's not too drunk for it, his potions being canned beer and Old
Granddad bourbon.
The insects are depicted as quite fastidious, including in their use of the language; they call
themselves "roosterroaches", the prefix "cock" being considered opprobrious (for these amazingly
intelligent insects are able to eavesdrop on, understand, and even learn attitudes from human
speech). Saying simply "roach" is also bad form, for it refers to the convex curvature cut into the
leach and foot of a Bermudan mainsail, to a small freshwater fish, and to a marijuana "joint".
The animals had no control over their book's title, apparently.
It is largely in his invention of "roosterroach", "Holy House", "Carlott", and similar terms that
much
of Harington's humour lies. His devout roaches also pray to Man, and so forth; while there also is
a
play on the "crust" of "crustacean", creating the roaches' "Crustian" religious faction. The
mounting
pin used to impale insect specimens has the same significance to Crustians as the cross has to
Christians.
Some readers may be offended by this rather irreverent allegory, but one should recognize that
false
gods and prophets, even false popes, have been a fact of life in humans' religions, too; here we
simply see, in a more objective light, a different species undergoing the same groping for truth as
we
humans have known so well.
In the novel, Man eventually proves fallible and imperfect. The roaches conclude that their faith
has
been misplaced; that they should instead have been worshipping Woman.
It will be useful in reading this book either to know something of entomology, or to keep a
suitable
dictionary at hand. For instance, years being too long for the measurement of cockroaches' ages
(one
dies of old age at 27 months, in the book), they count instars, or periods between moults; for
example, a roach in her third instar is a juvenile.
The book itself is divided into Instar the First, Instar the Second, and so forth, instead of into
Parts
One, Two, etc.
The scientific word "imago" also turns up; it means the fully developed, adult stage of an insect,
such as the butterfly which follows after the egg, larval, and pupal stages.
The novel gives the reader a pretty fair notion of how it feels to stand near the bottom of the food
chain, and also to be vulnerable to such frequent accidents or acts of malice as being squashed
under
a human's foot. Among the carnivorous "critters" (creatures) which a roach must fear are toads,
frogs, salamanders, snakes, lizards, most birds, opossums, weasels, and, if in the water, fish and
turtles. To offset their high mortality rate, "roosterroaches" must sustain a high birthrate.
The book's anthropomorphic beasts, though, enjoy a certain amount of protection in the form of
humanoid family life, but with very unsentimental loyalty, together with what Hayakawa called
"timebinding" - that is, the ability to pass on learned wisdom, including strategies for survival - to
others, especially those of younger generations.
Harington's is above all a book to capture the imaginations, possibly even the sympathies, of
especially susceptible readers - in my own case because one specific cockroach has lived all his life
inside the case of a noisy clock, which has rendered him very hard of hearing; for I happen to
share,
albeit from other causes, his exact condition.
Will I avoid stepping on cockroaches in the future, then? I must say, I doubt it - although, in this
part of the world, the occasion to do so luckily arises very seldom, in any case.
Harington was credited, back in 1990, with one published nonfiction book, and four additional
fictive titles. If he hasn't "westered" in the meantime, I assume his list will be much longer by now.
In the above context a question may arise of why I am reviewing such an old book? I tend to feel
that if I've never heard of a meritorious work until someone especially "in the know" points it out,
as
in this case, then it can't have received its due publicity when it was just off the presses. Besides, a
book discussing a species that has hardly altered in the last 325 million years is unlikely to have
gone
suddenly out of date in the past decade. Perhaps finally, the Web didn't exist back in 1990, and
also,
many of today's readers who may be interested in a book of this nature could have been too young
for it, that long ago.
I nonetheless promise to seek out - for they seldom seek me out, alas - more up-to-date
publications
to review in the near future.
The Imperialist
Sara Jeannette Duncan
McClelland & Stewart
481 University Avenue, Suite 900, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5G 2E9
ISBN 0771099789, 320 pages, U.S. $8.95, Can.$6.95, 1-800-788-1074
The interesting life of author S. J. Duncan (1861-1922) is worth summarizing. Born in Brantford,
Ontario, she trained as a teacher but took up journalism and worked - in part as a book reviewer,
so
special to our hearts! - for newspapers in (alphabetically) Montreal, New York, Toronto, and
Washington. In 1888 on a world tour she met her future husband, who was curator of the Indian
Museum in Calcutta. With visits to England and Canada, she would live in India 25 years and set
many novels there. "The Imperialist" was her only fiction set in Canada, but, they say, perhaps her
best of all. In her later career, she would also become a playwright.
This 1904 book came three years after Queen Victoria's death. Victoria had been followed on the
throne by Edward VII, who would live until 1910. The work also appeared two years after the
South African or Boer War's end, that conflict consequently receiving a passing mention or two.
Perhaps finally, it appeared six years after the Spanish-American War of 1898, and seven years
before the loss of the RMS "Titanic".
It thus brings to life an otherwise somewhat obscure or anyhow undramatic time of peace and
prosperity, when the transition from horsedrawn carriages to, it seems, initially electric cars had
just
got underway and the age of powered flight had dawned in the previous year.
Although Duncan wrote her work 16 years before Sinclair Lewis's "Babbitt" - which I admit I
haven't read for some decades - I think I recognize a similar spirit of slightly quaint, countrified
enterprise and optimism in the two works. At all events, "The Imperialist" being a story of
political
economics or economic politics as well as of romance, we observe that the great issues of the day
among nations were not those of mutual defence, security, and military preparedness, but rather
of
commerce, preferential or protective tariffs versus free trade, finance, international competition,
and
Transatlantic shipping pacts.
Some slight knowledge of the Canadian parliamentary system of a century ago may be useful to
this
book's readers who live outside Canada. (The more complex picture of today is neither here no
there
for present purposes.) In brief, it was either actually or effectively a two-party system descended
from the British model, pitting the right-of-centre Conservatives, or "Tories", against the
left-of-centre Liberals.
Unlike their British forbears, though, Canada's Liberals were not nicknamed "Whigs", but rather
"Clear Grits" (or far more usually, just "Grits") because an early leader had once said words to
this
effect, in debate: "We are not Whigs, sir, but clear grit, all the way through!"
Despite author Duncan's strong interest in and grasp of 1900-era politics, as a woman she would
not
be enfranchised to vote in Canada until about two years before her death, supposing that an
election
was held. In 1918 and 1920 women's suffrage would be a two-step process here, versus Britain's
single step in 1918, and USA's in 1920. All three countries had long been put to shame in this
respect by New Zealand (1893), Australia (1901), Finland (1906), and Norway (1907), and others
a
little later.
Particularly at the outset, and apart from an "old Mother Beggarlegs" whose sole purpose may be
to
give the tale a striking start, the book's focus is largely upon the whole community of Elgin,
Ontario
- clearly not the real Eastern Ontario village of that name, lying very roughly 1/3 of the way from
Kingston to Ottawa, but rather a fairly large and prosperous, fictional Southern Ontario
manufacturing town which may, from my interpretation from a hint or two, correspond to St.
Catharines, near Niagara Falls.
Then, for a time, first one character, then another undergoes development and seems fated to
become the book's definitive protagonist, although none seems particularly apt to fit the work's
title.
Slowly, however, the focus narrows upon a young, barely graduated lawyer, Lorne Murchison,
upon
whom a combination of internal talent and manners and external fate smiles so kindly that after
winning just one case in court - it has become "his" case only because his senior at the law firm is
unexpectedly laid up by sciatica or something - he is sent on official business to a conference in
London, England as a delegation's secretary.
Duncan wrote, of course, nearly a full century before these notes were compiled. A taste of the
then
barely closed 19th century lingers in the fact that the point-of-view ("POV" to many in the literary
trade) is neither first-person nor third-person, but rather an odd mix of the two, placing the POV
mathematically near the 2.8th person.
That is, the author generally tells her tale in straightforward third-person narration, but from time
to
time she inserts herself as an unformed personality, as in the following sentence opening Chapter
15
on page 125: "If it were fair or adequate to so quote, I should be very much tempted to draw the
history of Lorne Murchison's sojourn in England from his letters home."
Thus an "I" exists. Moreover, the "I" is somehow privy to others' private correspondence.
However,
"I" does not awaken stretching and yawning to wash, dress, and breakfast in the morning; she
doesn't take any part in such events as afternoon tea or Sunday & Wednesday church events
(churches are quite central to the life of the Elgin, and thus to this tale). A more immaterial,
ghostlike first person or "I" one can't imagine.
For simplicity, then, let's round the number up and say this story is told, as its nearest
whole-number
approximation, in the third person.
An additional point of style is that Duncan fairly frequently falls into a somewhat opaque, didactic
mode of simply arguing or stating her story, rather than dramatizing it. This happens chiefly while
she discusses the larger, more abstruse and/or abstract philosophical or quasi-philosophical issues
of
her day. In this mode her paragraphs can run on and on, up to roughly two pages of print in at
least
one instance.
Canada is often said to have "come of age" during the First World War (for us, 1914-18), thanks
largely to the heroics of the Canadian Corps as directed by Ontario-born General Sir Arthur
Currie -
so that, by the same metaphor, "The Imperialist" of 1904 would have been written in Canada's late
adolescence. Duncan's was a day when "the flag" she sometimes speaks of was the British Union
Jack, not even the later Canadian Red Ensign, which in turn gave way to today's Maple Leaf
design;
a day when Britain held an undisputed Empire, about the future of which folk earnestly talked
even
as that family of nations showed signs, as will any family, of its members' maturing toward their
eventual independence.
Matters that are now passe' can be difficult for us to absorb in the way the author no doubt
intended,
when she moreover allowed her writing to slide into the opaque, or anyway clouded mode of
expression she sometimes used. This observation doesn't mean to say her book is unworthy of
reading; it only says that the "read" may be moderately difficult, demanding much concentration at
times, and even a little judicious jumping over selected irrelevancies (to us) Duncan occasionally
brings up.
Such subjects as romance may never, one hopes, go out of style and ready understanding. Yet
Duncan is not above teasing the reader along, using the coy reluctance of young Murchison's lady
friend to delay any substantial satisfaction to anyone concerned. Duncan has "the fair sex" of my
own distant youth running true to form, then, at least during the virginal years - and, given that all
this took place in an age of even greater innocence and long, long before the Pill-inspired Sexual
Revolution, virginity was then more than possible; it was highly likely.
Yet all this almost sexless romance - near the middle of the book, Lorne is reduced to attempting
his
lady love's seduction into marriage (but nothing more sinister) by urging upon her a stunningly
beautiful, exquisitely tasteful diamond ring - is often just a sideshow to or diversion from the
"imperial idea" which returns again and again.
Of course humans continued in reality to procreate throughout that age as in all others, and any
pretence otherwise you may put down to a holdover of Victorian hyper-morality, sham, and
coyness. The romantic aspects in this book aren't in fact half bad, in their repressed and
pseudo-innocent way ... but be prepared to read many a chapter before a single passionate kiss
occurs, while hands are not "held" between the sexes so much as used - very occasionally - to
move
someone's attention or person in some desired direction. All this may be of especial interest to
academics in the behavioural sciences, but modern readers may find the treatment frustrating.
There also is a second romance involving Lorne's sister Advena; it for a long time shows still less
promise because both parties are simply too good for this world. (One scarcely imagines such
things,
today.)
Well then, what was the recurring "imperial idea"? On page 169 in Chapter 20 one finds this
explanation: "If you [as a colonial] would not serve ... the greatness of Britain[,] you were held to
favour going over to the United States; there was no middle course" [such as has, in fact, been
steered throughout most of the century since.] Because of its perceived importance, the title "The
Imperialist" was chosen to label the personality of Lorne Murchison rather than, perhaps, "The
Lover" or something else of that orientation.
It seems a bit surprising that alcohol may have played a very normal (that is, evident but harmless)
role in 1904, when one might have expected much stiffer moral rectitude involving a
"temperance"
which meant, in practice, total abstinence and condemnation. Wine is often mentioned, but only in
passing and as an optional table-menu item. The American prohibition era, with its gangsterism
and
other distortions, was however still 16 years away, and normal behaviour remained possible
throughout North America.
Duncan seems naive in her kindly optimism concerning authority figures in the world of business,
whether in the public or private sector. She seems not to be aware of propensities to fear and to
resent any brilliancy or success in newcomers, and specifically in the young; to pick their brains
before misappropriating all credit for their ideas; to use them as sacrificial goats when things go
wrong; to cover their own tracks and if possible to get rid of "straight arrow" employees or
associates should their own crookedness risk exposure thereby; in short, to back-stab, denigrate,
and
cheat, while being perfectly self-serving.
In her account of the London junket, admiration for and credit to young Murchison for his
contributions to the mission's success are universal and unstinting - to which anyone actually in
the
know is likely to respond, "horsefeathers!", "in a pig's eye!" or "fat bloody chance!"
Duncan sees more clearly the shortcomings of the British or rather English press and public,
though,
using Murchison's mouth to accuse them figuratively of fiddling while Rome burns; of publishing
irrelevancies such as "Why Are the Swallows Late?" at a time when an American business
combine
is stealing an important march on the British industrial base.
She also has things to say, frequently but not invariably through the Murchison mouth, about
English, American, and Canadian proclivities, but many such observations are too dated and too
opaquely phrased for us easily to appreciate today. (Duncan is a Scottish name, by the bye, the
Presbyterian Church upon which she focusses is of Scottish origin and character, and she peoples
her book with a disproportionate number of other Scots; yet Scotland doesn't seem to figure in
the
tale at all, except as a distant country from which such characters once came and to which they
may
return once or twice, perhaps to see the heather again.)
Read "The Imperialist", then, for its general ambience and perhaps for its sweet, oldfashioned
romantic cross-currents - but not for any relevance to today's politicosocioeconomic picture
unless it
is to study an element or two of how we came to our present pass; nor, above all, for any lurid
revelation of century-old peccadilloes which, by present evidence, didn't exist or, more likely,
were
simply hidden from sight.
Pete Hodgins Sr.
Reviewer
Kristy's Bookshelf
Drowning Ruth
Christina Shwartz
Double Day
0-385-49971, 2000, $23.95
Christina Shwartz's Drowning Ruth is a captivating and multi-layered story spanning over twenty
years. In 1919, Amanda Starkey returns to her rural home after a disastrous affair in Milwaukee
leaves her pregnant and heartbroken. In an excellent tale of the close, or not so close, bond
between
sisters, Amanda and Mattie hide her secret by living on the island they played on as children. One
catastrophic night, however, leaves Mattie drowned, forcing Amanda to care for her three
year-old
niece Ruth. Whn Mattie's husband Carl returns from the war, conflict arises over Amanda'a
over-protection of her niece, forcing her to slowly reveal what occured that fateful night. For
years,
Amanda and Ruth are haunted by their own, however vague, recollections of that night. Ruth
grows
up amid silence and discomfort, smothered by her aunt. The novel becomes an examination of one
girl's life growing up amidst family secrets, early 20th Century America, and the bonds she is
forced
to break with the woman who raised her. When she befriends the outrageous Imogene, a girl with
an
eerie resemblence to Ruth's own mother, the truth behind their lives is forced to its breaking point.
Drowning Ruth is an excellent portrait of early to mid century female life, the effects of war and
domesticity--of the problems women particularly faced amidst the desolation of the countryside. It
also explores the bonds between sisters and friends--how much we are willing to reveal even to
those closest to us. Shwartz provides an excellent layering of narrative, providing several
excellent
points of view. She also succeeds in gracefully and slowly revealing the story peice by peice,
strand
by strand. The prose style is clean, crisp, and haunting, setting an excellent backdrop for the
isolation of the Wisconsin landscape.
Losing Julia
Johnathan Hull
Delacorte Press
ISBN: 0-385-33375-7, $24.95
"Early on the morning of October 18, 1980, in a clearing near a woods in eastern France, I found
the
body of an elderly American named Patrick Delaney slumped against a small granite monument
that
bears the names of 152 American soldiers who died on that date in 1918. On the ground next to
him
was a worn leather-bound diary, a pen, an empty glass and a bottle of scotch dating from the
1920's,
its label covered with signatures. This is his story." So begins Losing Julia, a haunting and
beautiful
exploration of the concept of loss, whether it be through the horrors of war or the decay of old
age.
Patrick Delaney, in a nursing home, surrounded by the death of his hospital mates, recounts the
story
behind the loss of his one great love, Julia, the girlfriend of his best friend lost in the war. When he
meets Julia years after the war at the memorial, he immediately begins a tragic affair which leaves
him unable to forget the woman he believes is his destiny, despite the obstacles of his wife and
child.
During the short duration of their affair, he leads Julia through the French countryside, avoiding
the
discussion of Daniel's death he cannot bear to initiate. In the nursing home, much as on the
battlefield, Delaney watches as he loses one person after another to an undignified death. With
one
last burst of energy, he returns to France to try to find the woman he lost decades ago, only to
find
her grand-daughter Natalie miraculously tending the monument. A sense of waste pervades this
novel--a waste of life and potential, be it youth on the battlefield or the wasting away of the body,
especially the ultimate sadness of surviving so much to die in such a way. Delaney remains the last
man living from both his army pals and his nursing home freinds. The certainty of death resonates
throughout the novel, as does Patrick's fear of losing rationality and senses, be it in war or old
age.
The question of memory plays a large role--what we want to forget, what we want to remember.
The loss of his memory plagues Deaney, as his past begins to slip away, first the details, then the
face of his beloved Julia. With limited time, he struggles to put his life in perspective. Hull ties all
these pieces together wonderfully, presenting a poignant contrast between horror and beauty, love
and war. The description of war-time France, the beauty of the countryside intermixed with the
horror of the battlefield, is breathtaking. The novel moves effortlessly between the past and
present,
carrying us between the two almost imperceptably, presenting the ultimatel parallels between the
landscape of the nursing home and WWI. As a sad tale of romance and war that spans nearly the
entire century, Losing Julia is highly recommended.
Kristy Bowen
Reviewer
Harwood's Bookshelf
Jesus - One Hundred Years Before Christ: A Study In Creative Mythology
Alvar Ellegard
The Overlook Press
386 West Broadway, NY 10012
0712679561, $37.95, 1-800-743-1312
Ellegard states in his introduction, "I shall argue in this book for an entirely new perspective on
the
earliest history of Christianity." After an opening like that, it should surprise no one that his
bibliography does not include the 1968 book, Did Jesus Live 100 BC?, by G. R. Mead. Both
Ellegard and Mead argue that the only historical Jesus was the Essene Righteous Rabbi executed
by
the Hasmonean king Alexander Yannai more than a century earlier than the procuratorship of
Lucius
Pontius Pilatus. Apparently Ellegard thinks he is the first to reach such a conclusion.
But that was not the only part of Ellegard's book that had my teeth on edge before I had even
finished reading the introduction. Apparently he has never heard of the connotatively neutral
dating
system, "Common Era," and instead uses "AD," a term that is insulting to the five billion citizens
of
planet earth who do not view a dead Jew as their Dominus, "Master." And in case that were not
sufficiently offensive, he casually refers to a place called the "Holy Land," as if a piece of
geography
were objectively "holy." From a brain dead theologian (tautology), such terminology would be
acceptable. From a practitioner of any legitimate discipline, whether motivated by political
correctness or simple ignorance, it is not.
Criticizing Ellegard for not taking into consideration books published later than his own would
obviously be absurd. But it would be equally absurd for Ellegard's readers to accept his
conclusions
without first comparing them to those of other scholars in the same field. As much for Ellegard's
benefit as anyone else's, I cite the disparate theses of John Crossan (Who Killed Jesus?), Earl
Doherty (The Jesus Puzzle), William Harwood (Mythology's Last Gods), Randel Helms (Who
Wrote the Gospels?), Martin Larson (The Essene-Christian Faith), and Robert Price
(Deconstructing
Jesus), none of whom appears in Ellegard's bibliography. I particularly urge Ellegard to read my
novel, Uncle Yeshu, Messiah, and then reconsider the primary sources in the light of the
reconstruction presented in that book.
In dating the letters of Paul and some non-canonical documents earlier than the gospels, Ellegard
is
not breaking any new ground. But in placing all gospels in the second century, and not even early
second century, he is clearly wrong. Matthew was not only written by 100 CE; its virgin birth
interpolation had also been inserted by 100 CE, as that is the approximate date Shimeown ben
Azzai
first accused Jesus of being a bastard, an accusation based on interpolated Matthew's pretence
that
Jesus was not the natural son of Joseph. Randel Helms presents solid evidence that Mark was
written before 74 CE, as that is the date Mark forecast for the end of the world. Indeed, Mark's
whole purpose in writing was to convince Vespasian that the Christians were not a sect of the
religion with which he was currently at war, a war that was over by 74 CE. Luke could not have
been written more than a decade after Matthew, or it would have borrowed Matthew's genealogy
rather than inventing a new one that gave Jesus a different grandfather from the one named in
Matthew. John was written in the decade following Hadrian's anti-circumcision edict of 130 CE
that
triggered the bar Kokhba war, when Christianity's connection with Judaism was again a negative
factor, so Ellegard got that part right.
Of six books that Ellegard dates to the first century (The Shepherd of Hermas, Didache, 1
Clement,
Letter of Barnabas, Letter to the Hebrews, and Revelation), Ellegard writes (p. 35), "None of the
authors ever claim to have seen or heard Jesus in the flesh, nor to have known anybody who had
done so." From this he extrapolates that, at the time the documents were written, Jesus could not
have been a near-contemporary-and he is right. But I get the impression that his reason for dating
the first five in or near the procuratorship of Pilatus was to support his predetermined conclusion
that there was no first-century-CE historical Jesus. Since previous scholars have more accurately
placed four of those documents in the second century, and Hebrews after the death of Paul, no
such
inference can in fact be drawn. As for Revelation: the earliest parts, written between the Roman
occupation of the temple in July 70 CE and the razing of the temple in August 70 CE, forty years
after Jesus' execution, were the composition of an Essene to whom the Nazirite Jesus would have
been an opposition pretender-if he had heard of him at all. The Nazirite redactor of Revelation,
writing during the imperium of Domitian, was probably not born when Jesus died.
In trying to separate the "Cephas" mentioned by Paul as a leader of the Jerusalem Jesus commune,
from the "Peter" named in the gospels as a companion of a historical Jesus, Ellegard makes an
issue
of Paul's consistent use of the name "Cephas" rather than "Petros." But since Paul actually met
Cephas, it is only logical that he would refer to him primarily by the Aramaic name used within
the
commune, rather than the Greek translation used only in books written in Greek. Ellegard believes
he is making the point that the communal "pillars" who were Paul's contemporaries were not
simultaneously Jesus' contemporaries, since Paul's Jesus was allegedly the Essene Jesus executed
circa 100 BCE.
Such rationalizations could be justified if they were used sparingly. But the foregoing is in fact
typical of the lengths to which Ellegard stretches to reach conclusions that are totally devoid of
less
fanciful evidence. Ellegard's book is by no means a ridiculous or definitively falsifiable
reconstruction
of early Essene/Nazirite/Christian history. But it is at best just one more attempt to replace an
orthodox myth with an unorthodox one. I doubt that many scholars will take it any more seriously
than I do.
Demons Of The Modern World
Malcolm McGrath
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228
1573929352, $32.00, 1-800-421-0351
"In his book McGrath explains in clear and careful detail how satanic ritual abuse and the
widespread belief in Satanism was born, grew, developed, and proliferated from its birth in
primitive
times to the present day. The step from satanic conspiracies to false memories of childhood abuse
was short and appallingly easy. McGrath shows the details of the birth, growth, and progress of
such
conspiracies in the minds of those who should have known better. From such a background of
delusion, illusion, and the media's raucous reminders via subtle suggestions and disinformation,
the
average citizen was well prepared to accept the reality of demons from nether worlds and outer
space haunting his mind and abducting his fellow citizens." (p. 10)
While I do not dispute the accuracy of the foregoing excerpt from the Foreword written by
Robert
Baker, I do not share Baker's opinion that this is a particularly good book. In fact Demons of the
Modern World reads like a doctoral dissertation that was never rewritten into the non-boring
format
usually considered mandatory for published books. I see it as a dozen pages of cultural
psychoanalysis of the kind of minds that can swallow such superstitious hogwash as Satanist cults,
recovered memory, multiple personality and alien abductions, expanded into 300 pages of
psychobabble.
That does not mean that, on the rare occasions that McGrath actually says anything, what he says
is
not valid. Consider:
"By the mid-eighties Satan-hunting cops and journalists were claiming that as many as fifty
thousand
people a year were being secretly murdered by satanic cults that had millions of members. By the
end of the decade, some 'experts' were describing conspiracies of extravagant size and
complexity."
(p. 93) "If the modern Satanism scare began with individual tales of molestation, it ended with
tales
of satanic conspiracy no less global in their proportions than the Red Scare of the McCarthy era
or
Cotton Mather's fear of the devil's invasion of New England." (p. 95) "Still, quack therapy aside,
is
there a danger to the demonic illusion? Only if we ignore the fact that it is an illusion.... As long as
the basic institutions of our society remain intact, the demonic illusion will always retain its official
status as an illusion." (p. 291)
"Historians have suggested that one of the reasons for the collapse of the Salem witch panic was
that
eventually accusations began to fly too high up the social ladder. A similar process occurred with
the
recovered memory movement." (p. 133) "Also, people who had earlier attacked their parents for
abusing them began to file lawsuits against their therapists for misleading them into believing false
memories. By the mid-nineties, suits against some of the most prominent MPD therapists ...
resulted
in million-dollar settlements." (p. 134) "The moment that recovered memory and MPD took on
stories of satanic conspiracies, however, they sailed away from the safe harbor of unfalsifiability
for
good. Mass murders, animal mutilations, pornography rings; if they were true, all of these would
have to leave hard evidence. When none was found, not only Satanism was called into question,
but
recovered memory therapy and MPD as well. By accepting or even suggesting stories of satanic
ritual abuse, advocates of recovered memory therapy and MPD risked more than the possibility
that
the stories of Satanism might be disproven; they risked having the whole recovered memory
edifice
come crashing down on top of them." (pp. 157-158) "When the recovered memory and MPD
therapy fell into disrepute, the last serious source of evidence of the existence of satanic cults
disappeared." (p. 262)
"The role model for modern cases of MPD was the 1973 book Sybil, which became a TV movie
three years later.... Before deciding to publish the story in journalistic form, Cornelia Wilbur,
Sibyl's
(sic) therapist, had repeatedly tried to have her accounts of the case published in scholarly and
medical journals. According to philosopher Ian Hacking, she was constantly rejected on the
ground
that multiple personality could not be taken seriously. Herbert Spiegel, one of Wilbur's colleagues
....
expressed his doubts that Sybil had multiple personalities to ... the journalist who turned the story
into a book, but she retorted, 'We have to call it a multiple. That's what the publisher wants.
That's
what will make it sell.'" (pp. 124-125) So the reason hogwash gets published is that the mass
media
are run by prostitutes interested only in profit and possessed of a depraved indifference to truth.
So
what else is new?
"Just as the institutional credibility of the Satanism scare began to collapse in the early 1990s,
claims
of another form of demons were on the upswing: aliens. Although the alien-abduction myth can
be
traced to different origins than the Satanism scare, by the mid-1990s it had assumed the structure
of
a classic demonic illusion." (p. 261) "Karl Marx once said, 'History always repeats itself, the first
time as tragedy, the second time as farce.' If the Satanism scare can be seen as the tragic repetition
of the great witch-hunt, there are good reasons to see the abduction craze as the farcical
repetition
of the Satanism scare." (p. 276)
Of John Mack, author of Abduction, McGrath observes (pp. 288-289), "Mack is an M.D. and a
professor of psychiatry at Cambridge Hospital and Harvard Medical School.... Yet his approach
to
alien abductions is not only unscientific, but antiscientific. According to Mack, letting go of
science
as we know it is both a necessary and desirable prerequisite for coming to terms with the aliens.
This
openly antiscientific approach is an innovation in abduction research and in UFO studies in
general.
Earlier attempts to prove the existence of UFOs and abductions had always cloaked themselves in
an
air of science. Hence the paradox: the most scientifically qualified of abduction writers presents
one
of the most antiscientific cases for the existence of abductions." Yet Harvard accepted this gullible
incompetent's argument that he should not be fired. Go figure.
McGrath's thesis is valid. His presentation is significantly less readable than my own The
Disinformation Cycle (Xlibris, 2002), Paul Kurtz's The Transcendental Temptation (Prometheus,
1986), or Michael Shermer's Why People Believe Weird Things (W.H. Freeman, 1997), on the
same
subjects. A marginal thumbs-up.
William Harwood
Reviewer
Kaveny's Bookshelf
I am pleased to announce that I was informed in a recent telephone conversation with the James
A.
Cox, Editor-in-Chief of the Midwest Book Review of my promotion to the Midwest Book
Review's
Literary Editor. In addition, Mr. Cox informed me that I had creative license to do what I wished
each month, "just so I did not do anything to scare the horses". This is enough of an opportunity
to
inspire my to give up playing Go and Chess on the Internet for the seemingly endless hours I was
playing them as a recent retiree from the State Of Wisconsin, and also a recently former graduate
student who now has a few extra letters after his name.
It was not so hard to give up playing these games as you might think because the bottom line is
that
after forty years of playing chess and thirty years of playing GO in the words of another dear
friend
of mine the of over fifty years the artist Robert E Mckiernan Jr. It was clear that I was more
persistent than Talented. Therefore with resolve of every Irishman who swears of some bad habit
(usually of the liquid variety, as I did forever thirty one years ago), I resolve to at least some
amount
of that energy which dissipated over these boards games into my new office as long as it lasts.
Besides I am giving them up for a bigger and much better game than both of them the game of
language and literature, which unlike chess and go is not a zero sum game, to say it a different
way
unlike chess and GO their don't have to be winners and losers, and you win by just playing.
Just so our readers will know a little bit more about me, I have mentioned a number of times in
some
of my other features that I review and do critical articles for a number of different academic
journals,
as a matter of fact if I polish up my vita a bit I would be a pretty good candidate for a teaching
position at some institutions As a matter of fact since my late and beloved aunt left me out of the
will I may well be doing that next fall if the fates continue to be amused by my efforts.
But in any case this months Kaveny's features to critical reviews of two books I did not like very
much by an author who works in the same field as I concentrating the works of J.R.R Tolkien.
When I wrote the reviews I was not sure exactly what I was doing, but looking back at what the
author did with J.R.R Tolkien; I think that she was doing his memory no favor to say that J.R.R
Tolkien was good enough to sit on the same dusty bookshelf as one of Classics Like Spencer. I
believe that J.R.R Tolkien would have wanted and deserved better than that.
What the works of J.R.R Tolkien do for me is make me want to learn old English his language of
specialization as he concentrated on West Midlands Dialects. Let me give you an example of why
I
feel this was from my own work. Many years ago I wrote a sold a story called."Thar Guth Eigi
Gengr" which means, "Where God will Not Walk " in Old Norse. I got the phrase from Richard
West a literary scholar who has worked with that language, and it was the only title that could
embody the meaning of my artistic gesture. Now some fifteen years later, my friend and
bookselling
customer From Norway Anders told me via the Internet (That it was) "fascinatingly strange to
think
of, at least for me who speaks both English and Norwegian, is that Old English and Old Norse
were
mutually intelligible. The differences were probably no greater than those between American and
Australian English today. Imagine that, one could just go from Norway to England without
considering a lingual difference"
Not more than a week later his Statement was tested and proven corrected when a woman
Graduate
student from the Republic of Georgia who my wife and I sponsor , and who knows old English
Read
the title of my story Correctly as old English "Thar Guth Eigi Gengr" though she does not know
Old
Norse. What a hoot. Not only does Frodo Live but so does old English and Old Norse in the four
corners of the world.
One last thing before I get to my two critical reviews. In the future I plan to do author Interview
particularly of some writers who have risen from the ranks to become rising stars the hard way. I
have my eye one right now and will be doing a feature on her in the near future. Well so I only
recently quit playing Go and have a deadline to meet this will have to do for this month but I
promise better for the future one day at time
*********
Tolkien's Art: A Mythology For England
Jane Chance
The University Press of Kentucky
663 South Limestone Street, Lexington, KY 40508-4008
ISBN: 0813190207, $19.95, Paperback - 262 pages, revised edition (November 2001),
1-800-839-6855
The Lord Of The Rings: The Mythology Of Power
Jane Chance
The University Press of Kentucky
663 South Limestone Street, Lexington, KY 40508-4008
ISBN: 0813190177, $19.95, Paperback - 162 pages, revised edition (October 2001),
1-800-839-6855
The first of these two books is of interest to the reader of science fiction, fantasy, and criticism of
both genres, and this for several reasons. The most salient one is that Tolkien's Art: A Mythology
For England is an example of retrospective conversion in reverse. This is the process by which a
writer like Poe in the 19th or Swift in the 18th or perhaps even Bacon in the 17th century is
treated
as if they were in fact a science or fiction or fantasy writer for critical purposes even though these
genres did not exist in the modern sense at the time these writers were working. This book
reverses
the critical process so that J.R.R. Tolkien (even with the success of the Harry Potter Books),
certainly the most read fantasy author in the English-speaking world over the last seven decades,
becomes inseparably linked to medieval literature and sensibilities. Chance's arguments work well
since she is preaching in a sense to the converted in that I think they are directed to a medieval
studies audience, but not so well to someone like myself who is not part of that particular
congregation, or for that matter any other.
Both of these books brought out the resistant reader in me. As I read though and prepared to
review
them, which involved a lot of painstaking source checking using other established and creditable
sources in the field, I found myself progressively becoming a more and more resistant to her
interpretation. By the time I finished the second book, The Lord of the Rings: The Mythology of
Power, I found myself becoming absolutely contentious towards nearly everything the author had
to
say in both books. Yet, "Jane Chance is Professor of English at Rice University, where she has
taught since 1973. Her research interests center on mythology and myth-making, the reception of
classical mythology and medieval Latin literature in the Middle Ages, particularly in England
(especially in relation to Chaucer and Gower); medieval women writers (Christine de Pisan in
particular) and the study of gender; and modern medievalism (Tolkien in particular)" according to
her own web page. http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~jchance/ Therefore it is safe to say that Jane Chance
has indisputable credentials within the field of medieval studies and modern medievalism to write
incisively about J.R.R. Tolkien.
I take my job as the resistant reader seriously. Over the last several weeks I was drawn back to
reread several other works by or about J.R.R. Tolkien. Among them were The Evocation of
Virgil
in The Works of J.R.R. Tolkien by Robert Morse 1986, The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien by
Humphrey
Carpenter 1981, J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography by Humphrey Carpenter, 1977, re-issued in 2000,
J.R.R. Tolkien: Artist & Illustrator Hammond & Scull, 1996, War of The Jewels Christopher
Tolkien 1996, and Norman Cantor's chapter on the "Oxford Fantasists" in his 1991 Inventing The
Middle Ages and, of course, J.R.R. Tolkien Author of The Century, Shippey 2001. And I have
even
listened to audio versions of The Hobbit, The Lord of The Rings, and The Silmarillion. Together
all
of these books work to present a portrait of J.R.R. Tolkien that does not separate the events of
his
life from the major events of the 20th Century and in a sense modernism, which he seemed to
abhor.
This distaste excepted only the tape recorder, which according to Carpenter he became quite
proficient with even to the point of doing his own sound effects for radio productions for the
dramatization of his own works.
All aforementioned books work together to convince me that J.R.R. Tolkien was twice as clever
as
nearly the entire body of his critics. He left them with the fragments so that they might create the
mythology out it, out of shards and fragments of his imagination. Thus his mythology became a
kind
of living thing rather than something he set down with almost pedestrian internationality at a
particular point in time.
Much of Jane Chance's argument for Tolkien's Art: A Mythology For England is grounded upon a
section she has cut and pasted from an excerpt from Letter 131 in The Letters of J.R.R Tolkien.
The
letter is addressed to the publisher Milton Waldman in 1951. As Chance presents to us that
excerpt
she claims that J.R.R. Tolkien does clearly state his intention to create a "Mythology for England
with a Northern Flavor." But what she does not state is that the letter is several thousand words
long
and she has taken one small part out of context. To me, reading the letter read in its entirety tells
us
more about Tolkien's intentions than any excerpt. Tolkien is making an argument before what he
thinks is a sympathetic publisher. This losing argument was for the inseparability of The Lord Of
The Rings from The Silmarillion after Rayner Unwin and his son deemed the Silmarillion to be
unpublishable in its current form in 1951. Buried elsewhere in that same letter, J.R.R. Tolkien
refers
to himself almost as a working scientist creating a thought experiment with language, which
perhaps
gives validity to a science fictional reading of his work others have done elsewhere.
I am not wholly qualified to judge if Jane Chance is correct to so extensively integrate Tolkien's
use
of medieval sources in the body of his life's work. It is really necessary to read oneself to judge.
But
I think it gives far too little weight to the role history (in the smaller personal sense), takes.
Tolkien's
personal distance from economic necessity, and the rules of the publishing game, also played a
part
in it in the construction of Middle Earth. For example, in a letter in June 22, 1952 to Rayner
Unwin
written by J.R.R. Tolkien after publisher Milton Waldman also finds The Lord of the Rings
unpublishable in its preferred form as insisted upon by J.R.R. Tolkien, we find a very contrite
Tolkien faced with the prospect of an impoverished retirement of paper grading, and tutoring,
willing to cave in on the delayed publication of the Silmarillion, which we can now say historically
was in an unpublishable form at that time. Perhaps this is because of the multiple forms in which
his
drafts were found. Tolkien unsuccessful attempts to integrate it into The Lord of the Rings as a
feasible project even for very sympathetic publishers are evidenced both Waldman's and Unwin's
respective rejections.
I think in The Lord Of The Rings: The Mythology Of Power Jane Chance shows her weakest link.
Chance assumes she can speak about the history of the last half of the twentieth century
English-speaking world with the same authority that she speaks of the Middle Ages. To quote the
blurb from Library Journal on the back cover: "The author has taken a complex convoluted
masterpiece, and dissected it with a clear and concise style. Fans of the Tolkien classic will love
it." I
am forced to ask almost rhetorically why should fans like this since this the way J.R.R. Tolkien
least
liked to see literature treated. After all J.R.R. Tolkien "Preferred the Soup to the Bones"
according
to Guy Gavriel Kay. It was made from and allegorically referred to the folly of dismantling the old
tower made of different types of stone to find its purpose (Carpenter & Shippey). Finally an
illuminating piece is added to this puzzle by one of the last published Letters of Tolkien's lifetime,
letter 346 Dec 13 1972." This letter was in reply to a reader who asked for Tolkien's help in an
academic project. "See The Lord of The Rings Vol. 1, p. 272 "he who breaks a thing to find out
what it is has left the path of wisdom "(or she)- Gandalf). I should not seem inclined to help with
these destructive processes."
Lest you think I am some kind of critical Luddite arguing for the impossibility of critical
treatments
it can and has been done by many: Humphrey Carpenter, Veryln Fleigher, and Richard West as
well
as Douglas Anderson, Tom Shippey, and of course Christopher Tolkien most of all. But it must
be
done with the greatest care. Again in Tolkien's own words about his own works from that same
letter."It is also that I .p 93 'Do not meddle in the affairs of Wizard for the are subtle and quick to
anger.'"
Applying Tolkien's caution to Chance's linking Tolkien's work to the Horrors of World War Two
and The German Submarine Blockade of 1946 one must point out that WW II ended in 1945, or
to
link Tolkien's popularity to the Cold War may work but not the Korean War Since it ended in
1953
a year before the first appearance of The Fellowship Of The Ring. These quibbles are a bit mean
spirited on my part in a sense not outside the warrant of Chance's rhetorical license but to move
from Foucault's comments. Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832), to speaking of Foucault, Michel (1926
-
1984) as contemporary of Tolkien's, and suggesting that the French and English academic worlds
were analogous enough to make the use of Foucault's theories of institutional power relevant to
power in The Lord Of The Rings left me breathless with indignation. Besides anything French was
right behind allegory in Tolkien's hit list of cordial dislikes, as is this kind of criticism in which it
feels
like both the subject and the reader are pushed off the page.
Philip E. Kaveny, Reviewer
Literary Editor, Midwest Book Review
Bogstad's Bookshelf
Hi, I am back with a few reviews that I have written for publication, but in this venue, I get to be
more wordy so you're seeing the full version, as I would like it to be read. As I comment below
with
regard to Reid's book, it is challenging to write for publications that prescribe the form of your
writing. You are often limited to difficult constraints on length, complexity of argument, topics to
be
covered. But talented writers can get around these constraints if they have to.
Women Of Wonder: The Contemporary Years. Science Fiction By Women From The 1970's To
The 1990s
Pamela Sargent, editor
Harvest Books
c/o Harcourt, Brace and Company
15 East 26th Street, 15th floor, New York, NY 10010
0156000334, $15.00, 422 pages, 1-800-543-1918
These 21 stories by contemporary writers of science fiction have all been carefully chosen as
among
the best by these notable women SF authors. However, this anthology does double (or triple) duty
because, in addition to providing both interesting and important stories from the last thirty years
of
SF writing, it also gives the beginning reader a primary and a secondary checklist of the most
significant female authors in the genre.
One could not go wrong looking for novels and stories by each of these writes, many of whom
have
won awards, entertained large audiences of readers, appeared at conferences and themselves
critique
the work of others in review publications such as Locus and New York Review of Science fiction.
These are the authors whose stories are worthy of your attention, and, in some cases, the
important
stories found here are not anthologized elsewhere and may only be available through out of print
paperbacks or issues of SF magazines such as Asimov's , Analog, Fantasy and Science Fiction,
and
others of the same stature. C.J. Cherryh, Tanith Lee. Suzy McKee Charnas. Carol Emshwiller.
Sydney J. Van Scyoc. Angela Carter. Mary Gentle. Octavia Butler. Pamela Sargent. Jayge Carr.
Rosaleen Love. Sheila Finch. Pat Cadigan. Pat Murphy. Karen Joy Flower. Judith Moffett. Connie
Willis. Lisa Goldstein. Nancy Kress. Storm Constantine. Rebecca Ore.
Additionally, the editor has included 13+ pages of recommended reading to point out many other
important women authors. These features alone would be a high recommendation for the
anthology
were Sargent not herself a prominent and talented writer of SF whose selection process is very
trustworthy. Yet another startling and refreshing feature of this anthology is that it represents an
extensive RANGE in the types of stories included.
Anyone knowledgeable in the field can tell you that several of these authors do not consider
themselves to be feminist, that others are very closely link with the women's movement in the late
20th and early 21st century (I LOVE writing that), that some are adventure writers, others take
their
inspiration of literary movements of the contemporary world, others write in more than one genre
and yet others are part of contemporary SF movements like Cyberpunk and Ecofeminism. So the
reader gets a very valuable reader's advisory and taste of things to come. Anthologies like Women
Of Wonder: The contemporary Years (and it's companion: The Classic Years), are as important as
critical statements about women in the SF field as they are specific reading experiences. This
anthology is highly recommended.
These next novels by established writers appeal to two very different tastes in thought-provoking
science fiction.
Dennis Danvers lives in Richmond, VA where this novel is set. He is the author of five novels,
including the two connected space-adventure novels, Circuit of Heaven and End of Days.
The Watch. Being The Unauthorized Sequel To Peter A. Kropotkin's Memoirs Of A
Revolutionist -
As Imparted To Dennis Danvers By Anchee Mahur, A Traveler From The Distant Future, Or A
Science Fiction Novel.
Danvers, Dennis
EOS/HarperCollins
0380977621, $24.95, 368 pages, January 2002
In 1921, the ailing, seventy-eight year old Anarchist Kropotkin is visited by an 'angel' who offers
him
a mysterious but compelling choice. He can die or resume life as a younger man, but in 1999. He
agrees to the offer but never loses his distrust of Anchee, a being from a future so far ahead he
says
Kropotkin couldn't adapt . No simple time-travel adventure, this story creates a solid and
satisfying
thought experiment in classical SF style. The story revolves around U.S. history and is made more
immediate and personal by the setting of Richmond, Virginia. Chapters begin with quotations
from
the historical anarchist and from writers like Dickens and Coleridge, Civil War soldiers and
generals
and politicians and lend insights on slavery, the civil war, and race in America. Anarchism as a
solution is exemplified as the young Kropotkin copes with, and improves on, the world
immediately
around him while trying to understand his purpose. Seemingly chance meetings give him a
girlfriend,
job, friends, a place to live and contact with others from the past. Earl, a doctor and former
resident
of the Civil War-era prison on Belle Isle keeps to himself but provides more history lessons.
Jonah, a
run-away slave from 'Gabriel's Rebellion' of 1800, adjusts easily to this new life. But, the anarchist
becomes more aware of Anchee's manipulations, he asks more questions and finds himself once
again with a terrible choice. Does he go along with Anchee's plan or suffer the consequences? Can
he trade personal comfort for humanity's potential slavery? The novel is his answer.
Manifold: Origin
Stephen Baxter
Del Rey
0345430794, $26.00, 576 pages
This third and final book in Baxter's ambitious trilogy, whose vast scale calls to mind Asimov's
Foundation series, shares the same strengths and weaknesses as the two previous volumes,
Manifold: Space and Manifold: Time. It covers vast stretches of time and space, introduces alien
and
pre-human species in disconnected pastiches and posits endings for characters and stories that
seem
contradictory to other volumes. It follows a particularized interpretation of contemporary
cosmology, but is generally a thought experiment. This novel differs primarily in that it is more
anthropology than hard science and the anthropological speculation is suspect given more modern
evidence about human evolution.
The novel follows the disjointed adventures of series hero Reid Malenfant's wife, Emma Stoney,
on
the hostile surface of an alien red moon that mysteriously replaces Earth's own. Using multiple
viewpoints (sometimes within the same paragraph), the author details the primitive thinking of at
least five hominid races (homo sapiens included) that inhabit the red moon and of a super-race
that's
been manipulating human evolution. Once Emma sorts out the evolutionary differences, she
favors
the Runners (Australopithecines) and Hams (Neanderthals) over the higher humans, who have
foisted their crude fundamentalist religious beliefs on the others, reducing them to slavery in some
cases. A variety of characters speculate on the simpler aspects of Darwinian survival-of-the-fittest
theory, but somewhat disappointingly they all reach the same conclusion. Gratuitous violence
from
time to time offers relief from the challenge of keeping straight the host of loosely related story
lines,
but is still painfully gratuitous. Baxter fans should be well satisfied with an extension of the
Manifold
story. But many of us find his fuzzy social Darwinism to be offensive. The second book of the
trilogy, Manifold: Time, was nominated for an Arthur C. Clarke Award.
This critical work may be of interest as an introduction to modern critical methodologies as well
as
the works of Ray Bradbury.
Ray Bradbury: A Critical Companion
Robin Anne Reid
Greenwood Press
0313209019, $29.95, 152 pages.
One of almost fifty titles in this basic series, Reid's Ray Bradbury: A Critical Companion is long
overdue. Like the other titles in this series, it fills a gap in the critical consideration of writers who
have, in most cases, been a common part of American life of the latter 20th century. Writers
considered therein are the most popular among science fiction, mystery, popular and ethnic
fictions.
Female writers predominate in this series, which makes sense when you consider that they are still
often neglected in critical circles. At present, fantasy and science fiction writers include Ray
Bradbury, Stephen King (who is paradoxically included while having received his share of other
attention), Kurt Vonnegut (another much-critiqued author-due in 2002), Anne McCaffrey, Robin
Cook, and Arthur C. Clarke. I was also pleased to see among the list several a very few Asian
American women writers, Kingston and Tan, a few known for studies of American Indian culture,
Kingslover and Erdrich and several favorites in mystery, including Tony Hillerman and Mary
Higgins
Clarke. While this abbreviated list will show that there is some eclectic element in the selection
process (Stephen King is already scheduled for a second study), it will also verify that popular
authors are a focus. Thus, our surprise at Anne McCaffrey preceding both Bradbury AND
Vonnegut
(scheduled for 2002), is allayed somewhat in that other 'popular' genres have been similarly
treated.
Each volume of the series follows a very strict organization, as if these books were expanded
encyclopedia articles for young adult readers. Indeed, the preface in each volume identifies them
as
directed at high school and public libraries and as basic introductions to the authors and their
works.
Each study in the series is under 180 pages and begins with a biographical chapter and a chapter
devote to contextualizing the writer within a subgenre or literary movement. In Bradbury's case,
this
is of course science fiction. These are followed by chapters devoted to the major novels or story
collections created by the author under examination. I mention these details by way of explanation
that Reid neither intends nor achieves in-depth critical analyses of the titles considered. That
would
be outside the parameters of this series. The brevity of the volumes means that prolific authors
like
Bradbury have many short chapters. Reid considers eight separate texts, and three of them are
well-known short-story collections. This results in very sketchy interpretations and in pages that
consist in primarily of short-story titles, (p. 21-22), and brief plot outlines. The chapters are
arranged
chronologically, by publication date, and they could easily be read separately, starting with
Martian
Chronicles (1950), The Illustrated Man (1951), Fahrenheit 452 (1953), Dandelion Wine (1957),
Something Wicked This Way Comes (1962), Death is a Lonely Business (1985), A Graveyard for
Lunatics (sequel to death 1990) and Green Shadows, White Whale (1992 describes 1953 writing
experience).
Reid obviously has a solid grasp of the author's techniques and the contents of the works. She
also
does well in stretching the limitations of the series formula and length. The formula calls for
sections
on plot development, character development, setting and themes, again breaking up the usual flow
of a critical narrative and frustrating the expectation that one chapter will lead into the next. The
more experienced critic will find this approach of minimal use except to check facts such as
character names and confirm details of the setting. Here the formula is only useful for an
inexperienced reader or perhaps as a starting point in comparing features of earlier and later
works.
Fortunately, Reid is a facile and creative writer and the text is very readable. The most useful
parts
of the text are the biographical information, the perspectives on Bradbury in the context of past
and
present science fiction (Chapter Two: Ray Bradbury and the Question of Science Fiction) and, as
a
starting point, the alternative reading section. The inclusion of an alternative reading' for each
fictional title are a part of the formula which Reid uses ably to introduce very unusual readings of
this classical SF author. For example, a post-colonial reading of Martian Chronicles revitalizes a
text
that is almost 50 years old. "Race as a literary construct in science fiction" is used on the stories in
The Illustrated Man. She also incorporates gender, feminism, postmodern analysis, semiotic and
queer readings of individual texts, thus expanding the standard interpretation of these very
classical
science fiction and fantasy stories and introducing a range of contemporary critical
methodologies.
Each of these 2-3 page sections is again frustrating in its brevity but interesting because of the
care,
basic definition of often-complex critical approaches. For example, in discussing a lesser-known,
later Bradbury work, A Graveyard for Lunatics, Reid introduces a semiotic reading, saying:
"Semiotic theory is based on theories about how language work developed initially by the linguist
Ferdinand de Saussure and added to by many subsequent theorists, including Umberto Eco.
Saussure developed a theory that words are not just labels for things, Instead, language is a code
that relies on complex relationships between linguistic elements Words do not exist in isolation:
their
meaning depends on other worlds." (p. 106).
This short representation is typical of her succinct rendering of decades of theoretical speculation.
She then uses her definitions to focus attention on 'J.C.' or Jesus Christ and 'The Beast' as signs
that
Bradbury uses to enrich his description of the screenwriter's experience, the topic of this
novel.
Reid's Ray Bradbury: A Critical Companion compares well with other volumes in the series,
especially those where the authors have produced multiple texts. The entire series is useful,
however, only for inexperienced readers and only as a starting point for these many authors who
deserve serious critical attention. In my estimation, she has surpassed the severe limitations of the
series and demonstrated that a good writer IS good no regardless of their constraints.
Dr. Janice M. Bogstad, Reviewer
Professor, Women's Studies & Head of Collection Development
McIntyre Library, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Cindy's Bookshelf
A Convenient Proposal: Superromance No 1044
C. J. Carmichael
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373710445, 299 pages, $4.99
In one horrible instant, RCMP officer Kelly Shannon chooses between the life of Danny Mizzoni
and
the life of her sister. She shoots Danny, husband and father of two young children, as he holds a
gun
to her beloved sister's head. Subsequently, officers learned that Danny carried an illegal handgun,
and thousands of dollars of illegal drugs were found on the property. Kelly knows that she had
fulfilled her duty as an officer of the law. Nevertheless, in the aftermath, Kelly suffers deeply for
the
moral decision she made in taking a life. Adamant that she will not return to police work, Kelly
finds
herself cast adrift in guilt and hopeless concern for Danny's fatherless children. Day after day she
parks nearby, watching the children who do not receive adequate care from their alcoholic
mother.
The children's uncle, Mick Mizzoni, finds Kelly watching the tiny bungalow that houses the
fatherless children. They often work together when he comes to her for police information for the
small town newspaper where he is an editor. Kelly has always half hoped he would ask her out,
but
Mick's coolness makes her think that she is not his type. Now with his brother's death between
them,
it is only the lives of the two children that bring them together. Kelly is convinced that the children
need more than a busy uncle and an alcoholic mother. Mick does what he can, doing laundry,
ensuring that the children eat, but with their mother drinking and pregnant, there's a limit to how
effective his help can be. Mick needs a wife to help with the children, and he needs to bring the
children home with him. Then Kelly convinces him that she can be the wife he needs. It couldn't
make for a more explosive situation. CJ Carmichael tackles an emotion-laden plot with flair in A
Convienent Proposal. Child custody issues, alcoholism, and death bring this unlikely hero and
heroine together in a marriage of convenience that quickly gives way to love. The plot is
impressively convincing, given that the Kelly shoots Danny, falls in love with his broter, and wants
to mother his children. The alcoholic Sharon is likewise a remarkable character, falling into the
self-pity and destructive behaviors common to a practicing alcoholic; yet Carmichael's tone
maintains an evenhanded compassion even as Sharon's behavior spirals into negligent behavior.
Mick
is a terrific hero, cleaning kitchens and washing clothes without complaint. His strong desire to
give
Danny's children what he never had - clean clothes, regular bedtimes and mealtimes - makes him
vulnerable and strong all at the same time. Indeed, the masterful characterizations in A
Convienent
Proposal make this one a keeper. Very highly recommended.
Marriage To A Stranger: Superromance No 1045
Kay David
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373710453, Mass Market Paperback, 299 pages, $4.99
Seven years of marriage have left Conley and Lara Harrison with only ashes of a once all
consuming
passion. Raised in extreme poverty, Conley's first priority has always been to make enough money
to
support those he loves very comfortably. His company inadvertently came ahead of his marriage,
and Lara can no longer cope with empty nights and her broken heart. Somewhere along the way,
neglect resulted in her falling out of love. After sleeping alone for ten months, she asks for a
divorce.
But Conley has been keeping secrets -- not another woman, as Lara suspects, but something far
more dangerous. A stalker knows intimate information, calling at night and on weekends, entering
his office during his absence, and even stealing a jacket. When the stalker's behavior escalates to
physical danger, Conley fears for the well being of his company. Investors tend to shy of such
security breaches. Lara's father runs a bodyguard service, and convinces Lara can only protect
Conley if she acts the part of his loving wife until they can solve the case. Conley welcomes the
opportunity for Lara to be his bodyguard. He still loves his wife. While she makes plans for his
protection, he makes plans to win her back. But for Lara to serve as a bodyguard, she must come
to
terms with a painful incident of the past, as well as become willing to spend time in Conley's
company. Conley likewise must make major changes to win the woman he loves back before the
divorce papers are finalized. There is something incredibly endearing about a story that recaptures
lost love, and especially so when the couple is already married. Such a situation brings out both
tender and fierce emotions as lovers risk vulnerability and pain. Add to that mixture jealousy and
betrayal, and the result is an explosive mixture that makes Marriage To A Stranger a fantastic
read.
Indeed, author Kay David once again displays her flair for capturing the deepest nuances, the
darkest passions, and the fiercest loves in Marriage To A Stranger. Secondary characters are
deftlyportrayed, making their presence as vivid as the hero and heroine. A page turner that
belongs
on the keeper shelf, Marriage To A Stranger comes very highly recommended.
Unexpected Outcome: Superromance No 1048
Dawn Stewardson
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373710488, Mass Market Paperback, 299 pages, $4.99
Hired to find a saboteur in a small import company, PI Dana Morancy goes undercover as an
organizational design consultant. Instant attraction to Noah Haine causes Dana to remind herself
that he is off limits, at least until she can rule him out as a suspect. Interestingly, Dana carries a lot
of
emotional baggage, having given up her beloved career as one of New York's police officers
following a devastating event. Immediately after meeting Dana, Noah surfs the web looking for
information on this design consultant. He wonders if she is either a cop or a PI. He finds a website
with her credentials as a consultant, but, still suspicious, follows her home later that day, soon
learning her true identity. Rather than making her look bad to the bosses, he insists that they team
up
and find the saboteur together. Dawn Stewardson neatly sidesteps ethical issues of a PI becoming
involved with a potential suspect by not allowing the romance to grow between them until the
second half of the book. However, that plotting decision presents a problem for the reader. The
focus on plot to the exclusion of character development results in distancing the reader from the
hero and heroine and not buying into their developing romance. Worse, the final conflict that
threatens to tear them apart blindsides the reader, rather than working convincingly into the plot.
On
the other hand, the mystery is carefully plotted, well motivated, and credibly developed.
Nevertheless, Unexpected Outcome is unexpectedly disappointing.
Wide Open Spaces: Superromance No 1046
Roz Denny Fox
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373710461, 299 pages, $4.99
Roz Denny Fox has a gift for using obscure news articles as the premise for evocative tales that
capture the reader's heart. Wide Open Spaces, Fox shares in the introduction of the novel, comes
from a conservation ad aimed at saving "imperiled landscapes." Around this simple ad, Fox
creates
Summer Marsh -- a woman intent upon the preservation of her heritage and her son's legacy.
Under
Oregon divorce laws, Summer's ex-husband is entitled to half of Forked Lightening, and intends
to
collect in cash. He takes her court to force the sale, and the judge gives Summer only six months
to
come up with 3.8 million dollars to buy out Frank's interest. The prospect looks hopeless as none
of
the banks want to lend her the money, and she barely meets expenses and keeps the ranch in the
black. Frank vows to see her bankrupt within a year with Forked Lightening up for auction if she
refuses to sell. Coltrane "Colt" Quinn tends to side with Frank Marsh until he meets Summer
when
she brings a bald eagle to the vet with a wing injury resulting from poachers on her land. He is
swept
into her life as he volunteers to help her rescue the eagle's offspring from their mountainous perch.
Special forces training in the military might have prepared him for the physical challenges of
assisting
Summer, and later working for her, but even a vicious ex-wife cannot shelter a heart that feels
such
strong kinship with a woman like Summer. Fox brings her love for the Wide Open Spaces of
Oregon
to this novel, creating a landscape rich in beauty and nuance. Summer is a woman who values her
heritage not just for its land but also for its spirit. She's determined to preserve the land and
protect
from development, yet she also realizes the land comes second to her son's well being. A woman
of
strong morals and ethics, Summer also exhibits the flaws that make her vulnerably human.
Interestingly, Colt begins with a grudge against women; siding with Frank's point of view until he
actually sees for himself Summer's inherit goodness. Further, his guilt oer his own deceptions
regarding Forked Lightening provides strong motivation for his character. This beautifully crafted,
marvelously realized tale comes very highly recommended.
A Lasting Proposal: Superromance No 1050
C. J. Carmichael
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 037371050X, 299 pages, $4.99
Rod was addicted to extreme sports and foolish decisions. Consequently, his irresponsibility led to
his death on a too quick ascent on a mountain in the Andes. Indeed, such irresponsible
decision-making was characteristic of Maureen Shannon's husband. As she became the overly
responsible parent to compensate, she did not realize she was loosing contact with her daughter.
With Rod's death, Maureen begins to recognize the horrible distance that now separates her from
her daughter. Maureen's long hours at the law firm have only exacerbated the situation. Now
Holly's
failing grades and bad attitude indicate a radical change is needed. So she and Emily return to
Canmore, where Maureen grew up. Jake Hartman needs an investor for his heli-skiing business,
Grizzly Peaks. A referral leads him to Maureen who has money to invest. Although she's attracted
to
Jake, she believes him to be too much like her deceased husband: his life revolves around
superficial
ambition. He spends his days having fun and seeking thrills through dangerous sports. Her
disillusionment with Rod leads Maureen want to avoid such a man again, even when she sees his
sincerity, caring and intelligence. Worse, as they begin to know each other, Jake is attracted to
Maureen's strength and confidence. She fears that if he suspects the weaknesses beneath the
surface,
then he will see a woefully inadequate wife and mother. Admittedly, as Jake begins to see her
sensitivity, it attracts and repels him at the same time, leaving him in quite a conundrum. Too bad
he
handles it badly. Author CJ Carmichael brings a fabulous conclusion to the Shannon Sisters
trilogy.
A Lasting Proposal ties up loose ends of previous narratives, including giving sister Kelly another
challenge that lends closure to her story. Additionally, Maureen's daughter becomes a delightful
amateur sleuth, determined to solve the murder that introduced the series. And the sister's
charming
Grandmother Poppy also lends loving support to these marvelous sisters, even as she pursues her
own love intrest. Maureen's story achieves a remarkable poignancy as she struggles with the trials
of
motherhood. A strikingly imperfect heroine, she confronts the mistakes of the past, learning to
stop
blaming Rob for the distance between herself and her daughter. As she becomes self-honest about
her own role in the past, busy readers who are mothers and wives cannot help but empathize. The
moment Maureen buys a scooter and learns to participate in her daughter's interests, I wanted to
cheer. Likewise, Jake is an appealing hero, even as he makes the typical mistakes guys make when
they don't quite know what to do with the woman they love. I wanted to shake him when I wasn't
laughing at his goofy guy behavior. A Lasting Proposal comes very highly recommended.
Babes In Arms: Superromance No 1047
Kathleen O'Brien
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 037371047X, 299 pages, $4.99
Obstetrician Heather Delaney has long dreamed of the day she could transform the beautiful
Victorian mansion, one of the Glen's four premiere "season houses" into her combined living and
working space. With tentative approval for rezoning, she has invested thousands in the building's
restoration. Unfortunately, she also managed to offend the town mayor who, in a petty act of
petulance and power, manages to swing the final vote against the rezoning. Since ex-fianc‚ and
board member Griffin Cahill should have been present to help defend her, Heather has no patience
when he approaches her to ask for help. When she eventually agrees, she does so only out of
concern for the children. Just before leaving for the town meeting, Griffin finds himself saddled
with
twin boys, age eight months, and no sitter. His sister-in-law was called away to aid her mother
following surgery and his brother dropped off the children on his way to a London business
meeting.
Bachelor/playboy Griffin finds himself ill prepared for infant care. Certainly his collection of
expensive glass and modern architecture is not conducive to infant safety. After three days of no
sleep, he admits defeat, and asks ex-fianc‚e Megan for help. He does not expect himself to like
caring for children and enjoy the routine he and Heather establish. Perhaps Playboy Cahill will
learn
the value of home and family before yet another career opportunity and beautiful bimbo catches
his
attention. Author Kathleen O'Brien pens another delightful romance in the second of her Firefly
Glen
miniseries. O'Brien's has a gift for portraying the challenges and rewards of caring for young
infants,
creating comic humor in all the disasters and triumphs. One of the best scenes occurs early when
the
bimbo girl friend destroys the color-coding system and the twin boys become Stewbert-a blend of
their two names. The hero's transformation from Playboy Cahill to substitute daddy likewise adds
some intriguing moments, especially as the d‚cor of his bachelor pad does not easily transform o a
nursery. Heroine Heather Delaney makes a delightful counterbalance, underscoring his need of
responsibility and her need a fun. A lovely, entertaining read, Babes In Arms comes highly
recommended.
On The Texas Border: Superromance No 1049
Linda Warren
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373710496, 299 pages, $4.99
For the last month reporter Abby Duncan has been on a leave of absence from her Dallas job,
spending time with eighty-year-old Spenser Brewster writing his memoirs. She blames Brewster
for
defaming her father's character after firing him from his position with Brewster farms following
thirty-five years of service. Abby had no intention of writing his memoirs until she recognized it as
an opportunity to learn the truth. Then Brewster announces that he has a daughter. If Abby will
locate her, then he will reveal the answers she seeks. Brewster insists that Jonas Parker, the
foreman
of his farming business, accompany Abby. Secrets of the past have bound Jonas to Brewster since
he
was fifteen. He dreams of the day he will be free of the tyrannical old man who has run his life for
so
long. When he meets Abby, Jonas feels an immediate attraction, but does not feel worthy of such
an
outstanding woman. But the quest for Brewster's daughter will draw them closer together as they
untangle a web of deceit that will leave them both with more questions than answers. Having
enjoyed Linda Warren's Emily's Daughter and Straight From The Heart, I looked forward to
reviewing On The Texas Border. It begins wonderfully, with a clash of characters and hints at a
past
that cannot help but pique the reader's interest. Unfortunately, the middle section of the novel
sinks
into melodrama as characters behave rather childishly. On the up side, the last few chapters of the
book do provide a nice conclusion and some delightful healing. Indeed, two wonderful themes
sparkle throughout the novel: that we each define our own identities, and that parents are human,
capable of deep love and miserable flaws. Consequently, I feel compelled to recommend On The
Texas Border with reservations.
No Strings Attached: Harlequin Blaze No 32
Alison Kent
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373790368, 248 pages, $4.50
In All Tied Up, Macy Webb begins this adventuresome series with a scavenger hunt when she
gathers the other partners of gIRL-gEAR and some male friends for "game night." Present are
Chloe
Zuniga and Eric Hayden, who teamed up for the scavenger hunt. Now Macy's scavenger hunt is
having repercussions she never even imagined for Chloe and Eric. In Chloe's experience, men
"preferred their women on a pedestal, between the sheets, or three paces behind." But what she
wants is a connection, a bond, a sense of completion, and, of course, great sex. Although she
doesn't
want a relationship with him, Eric does convey a hint of the sophisticated, cultured movie star
finesse of her fantasies. He proved himself during the month they spent on the scavenger hunt,
when
Chloe and Eric shared meals, movies, and fun, not to mention one soul-stirring kiss. Although
they've not spent time together since the conclusion of the scavenger hunt, Chloe turns to Eric.
Her
potty mouth and bad girl reputation has her in trouble with the partners of gIRL-gEAR, and
Chloe
needs Eric's help with her pro-active, career-saving strategy. She needs an escort. A month of
Chloe's company proved to Eric that she is simply covering her vulnerability with her big, bad
attitude. Even though he does not envision a future with Chloe, he still does not appreciate her
turning him down for dating. Now she needs an "escort" to official business functions. Eric does
not
want to become Chloe's arm candy, but if it gets him what he wants, he'll compromise. She needs
a
date to three major functions. In return he wants three dates - kind of like three wishes. Her only
condition is that the possibility of sex out is of the equation. From a girl who's been through
sixteen
men since the beginning of the year, and it is only April, Eric demands a lot. He gives even more,
and that scares the hell out of Chloe. Once again Alison Kent presents a dynamic romance certain
to
curl readers' toes with No Strings Attached. Kent has a gift for bring her prose a sense of
immediacy, ith descriptions that keep the pulse racing. Chloe's calculated manipulations of the
male
species backfires in the most wonderful of ways when it comes to Eric. He's the only man who's
ever
managed to look beyond her sexy blond appearance to the brains, beyond her negative attitude,
and
still understand her desire for chivalry. Eric may not be Cary Grant, but he matches Chloe's
passion,
energy and stamina. This battle of the sexes will delight, tantalize and entertain with Kent's
indomitable style. Delicious! Very highly recommended.
Into The Fire: Temptation No 872
Leslie Kelly
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373259727, 218 pages, $3.99
From the beginning, the attraction between them is overwhelming and intoxicating. From the
moment she glimpses him across the crowded room, Lacey Clark feels a sexual sizzle. When she
escapes the cocktail party momentarily, she doesn't know that Nate Logan watches her as she
jumps
on a trampoline in garters and her little black dress. The forbidden glimpse of her overwhelms
Nate
with intense, instinctive desire. They come together as strangers in a heated encounter; they part
as
enemies when each learns the other's identity. For months a fiery feud has raged in print between
Lacey and her nemeses. Lacey believes in soul mates and responsibility, blaming men for
screw-ups.
Nate pushes sexual freedom and exploration, blaming women for what ever goes wrong in a
relationship. When they each realize they've made love to their nemesis, fiery passions ignite. J.T.,
the owner of both magazines they work for, sees the possibility of publicity and profit, pitting
them
on opposite sides of the battle of the sexes. Now their jobs thrust them together as partners in
"the
battlefields of the sexual revolution." Author Leslie Kelly demonstrates her masterful ability to
blend
passion and humor in Into The Fire. A simple, anonymous encounter backfires as the powerful
hero
and heroine step in the fire of desire. But the question remains if they can continue their exposure
without getting burned. Secondary characters likewise sparkle from the irrepressible Venus, the
Amazon goddess, to the not-so-secret spy Raul. Once again Kelly delivers a romance filled with
sensual pleasure, comic humor, and fabulous tension. This is an author who always delivers! Very
highly recommended.
The Family Feud/Stop The Wedding!s: Duets No 72
Carol Finch, Jennifer Drew
Harlequin Inc.
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 037344138X, 378 pages, $5.99
Duets once again provide a hearty dose of love and zany humor with two fun novels. Both stories
are delightfully amusing as Carol Finch and Jennifer Drew provide romantic romps that have
become
a trademark of the Duets line. This Duets selection, part of the Bad Boy Grooms series, will
definitely keep the reader highly entertained with its outrageous hilarity. The Family Feud by
Carol
Finch: Living in Oz, Oklahoma does not guarantee a happily-ever-after for Jan Mitchell's
dysfunctional family. After thirty-three years her parents have split up. Her father wants to tour
the
country from a Winnebago, while her mother wants to advance her career at her dress shop. Jan's
high school crush Morgan Price owns the hardware store across the street from her mother' dress
shop, and employees her father part-time. Consequently, with the elder Mitchells not on speaking
terms, it falls to Jan and Morgan to barter for peace and reconciliation. But Jan finds Morgan as
infuriating as he was in high school, and his plans to reconcile her parents outrageous! Finch has a
gift for creating dysfunctional families and ridiculous situations that result in a humorous read.
Middle aged, fickle parents trying to recapture their youth, a change in the groom a month before
Jan's sister's wedding, and well meaning but meddlesome small town interference keep the fun
coming. And there's always my personally favorite line, spoken during a mother/daughter pity
party:
"[Men are] the bottom feeders in the cesspool of life." Stop The Wedding! by mother/daughter
writing team Jennifer Drew: After five dress shops, bride-to-be Stacy Moore still hasn't found the
right wedding dress. As she tries on yet another, she's distracted by sexy stranger Nick Franklin,
who's accompanied his mother while she tries on wedding dresses. Then two strangers kidnap
Stacy
and bash Nick over the head with a six-pack when he tries to be her knight in shining armor and
rescue her. Now Stacy and Nick must combine efforts to escape the six-pack wielding kidnappers.
A
wild rop across an island in an effort to escape their kidnappers leads Stacy and Nick into extreme
circumstances and the discovery of love and forever can begin in the most unlikely of situations.
Writing team Jennifer Drew bring their marvelous talent for deftly combining humor with the
improbable to Stop The Wedding! An Elvis cake, served on a bedspread the King might have
slept
on, and combat boots worn with wedding dresses serve as a backdrop as this hero and heroine
escape their kidnappers. Even the method of kidnapping, will keep readers in stitches.
Lighthearted
vibrant characters make this an incredibly amusing read.
The Bare Facts: Harlequin Blaze No 22
Karen Anders
Harlequin Retail Inc.
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373790252, 249 pages, $4.50
An editorial assistant for SPICE magazine, Haley Lawton is offered an opportunity to prove her
writing skills. She must write four columns, but she is without a sex partner and assigned to write
"Spice Up Your Sex Life." Haley's wild and wicked reputation does not bear close scrutiny, and
now she must quickly find a partner to explore her fantasies. Indeed, Haley's bed has been empty
for
a year, since she woke up naked with college heartthrob Dylan Malone, and did not remember
what
happened between them. What Haley needs is a tutor and she is going to convince Dylan to be the
teacher. It drives Dylan crazy to not remember what happened between them on graduation night
a
year ago. He assumed her departure was just as well, anyway. He did not want to subject her to
his
"high-class barracuda friends and his class-conscious family." Now when Haley realizes that she is
entirely out of her playing field, she has serious misgivings about her proposition. Dylan, on the
other hand, hopes that enacting a few fantasies will get the delectable Haley out of his system.
Perhaps when he has the forbidden, he can return to women of his own social status. Never mind
none of them ever hold his attention for long. The Bare Facts entwines sensual exploration with a
plot of differing social positions keeping these lovers apart. While I thoroughly enjoyed the
erotica,
explored in scintillating detail, I became terribly impatient with the conflict that keeps Dylan and
Haley apart. I have trouble respecting a hero who would allow his social position to dictate his
lover. Worse, Dylan does not choose to step beyond such limitations until his peers have already
accepted Haley. Social position aside, The Bare Facts offers some of the hottest fantasies
presented
in this line. Each seems to play off women's common desires, such as making love on fur in front
of
a fire, but the descriptions and sensual exploration gives the fantasies a remarkable freshness.
Recommended.
The Smile Of An Angel: Special Edition No 1436
Peggy Webb
Harlequin Retail Inc.
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373244363, 248 pages, $4.50
The Smile Of An Angel introduces new series The Westmoreland Diaries by Peggy Webb. The
narrative is interspersed by journal entries spanning four decades penned by Anne Beaufort
Westmoreland as she records the challenges and joys of her life with husband Michael. Theirs is a
special kind of love: they knew at first sight they were bound together as soul mates, and even as
Michael's career as a mountaineer carries him thousands of miles away, they have always
treasured
their bond. As parents, Anne and Michael only wish their children could experience the kind of
love
they share. This selection in The Westmoreland Diaries is their daughter Emily's story. Emily
Westmoreland works in animal rescue and rehabilitation, so no one is surprised when she brings a
skunk to the family reunion. Her father has invited his younger friend, mountain climber Jack
Dean,
to join the family for the weekend. The free spirited Emily immediately captivates Jack as they
both
recognize their bond as soul mates. After a stunning weekend together, Jack returns to Atlanta to
prepare for another climb. When his cameraman bows out due to illness, Jack invites Emily's
father
Michael to come along to film the IMAX film with Emily's encouragement. But the magic yields
to
tragedy when an avalanche leaves Michael in a coma. Jack feels incredible guilt for inviting
Michael
on the expedition and pulling him from retirement. Emily feels guilty for encouraging Jack to
invite
her father on the expedition, and cannot help but blame the man she loves for the accident. Amid
the
shared feelings of guilt and blame are Anne's journal entries as she records the pain and the anger
of
having her husband torn from her life in such a devastating fashion. Surrounded by her children,
Anne spends months at her husband's side in the hospital waiting for Michael to awaken from the
coma. Author Peggy Webb pens The Smile Of An Angel is flowing, poetic prose that sings both
in
sorrow and in joy. The narrative spans decades, but the time switches are clear, flowing naturaly
with the narrative, lending it depth and complexity. The emotions displayed by each person
touched
by tragedy are believable, from guilt to forgiveness, from blame to love. Indeed, The Smile Of An
Angel is one of the most powerful tales I have encountered in this genre. An evocative,
memorable
tale.
A Prince Of A Guy: Harlequin Temptation No 861
Jill Shalvis
Harlequin Retail Inc.
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373259611, 217 pages, $3.99
Awakened at five in the morning to the sounds of his sister asking him to baby-sit his niece for
two
weeks, workaholic Sean O'Mara cautiously accepts, despite the four-year-old's perchance for
trouble. While ill prepared to care for Melissa, Sean sees his sister's opportunity to further her
career
with this flight to England too good to pass up. Only two days turns his house into a war zone
with
piles of laundry and no sleep, so when a prospective nanny arrives to relieve his burden, Sean
gratefully hires her. Little does he suspect this princess has manufactured references, no work
experience, and a strong desire to experience middle class suburbia. Runaway Princess Carlyne
Fortier answers the ad for a nanny in complete disguise, including heavy cosmetics, heavy
clothing,
thick glasses and colored contacts. With her face plastered all over the tabloid's front pages, she's
determined to pass as Carly Fortune. Little does she suspect the conundrums her disguise will
create
for both herself and her employer. Carly quickly learns the joys of being accepted on the basis of
one's merit rather than one's social position. Sean finds her wildly attractive despite the artificial
disguise, sparking a strong response in the princess. Further, Carlyne will find she loves life living
as
Carly and learn how much Sean hates any type of deception. Author Jill Shalvis pens a
lighthearted,
amusing read in A Prince Of A Guy. Sean sees the world in terms of true or false, and falsehoods
offend him terribly. Such a black and white world view clashes with a woman who needs to
disappear to find herself. This quirky princess lacks practical experience with young children, and
Melissa puts her to the test with her inquisitive nature and fierce determination. Indeed, the
four-year-old threatens to steal the show with her knack of feeding sandwiches to computer
drives
and her sweetly charming hugs. In addition, Sean's nosy, tree climbing, well intentioned neighbor
likewise makes the narrative sparkle. A fast paced read that keeps the smils coming, A Prince Of
A
Guy comes highly recommended.
Learning Curves: Temptation No 863
Joanne Rock
Harlequin Retail Inc.
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 037325962X, 216 pages, $4.50
Graduate student Madeline Watson feels outraged to learn that her desertion topic has been
rejected.
She had elected to study the mating practices of humans from a sociological point of view. The
committee's denial of the topic implies that she lives a pristine life that lacks practical experience
with dating rituals; therefore, her innocence disqualifies her from making an adequate study of
such
a racy topic. Consequently, Madeline approaches long time friend Cal Turner, the bad boy of the
teacher's lounge. Her goal: to practice dating rituals publicly enough to convince her professors to
reconsider her topic. Cal has tried to flirt with Madeline for years, but she just never seems to "get
it." He resolved long ago to maintain their platonic friendship. Now he is shocked at Maddy's
invitation to come to her place to burn up the sheets. Shocked that she offers and flattered that
she
wants him, Cal still has to decline. He has been cleaning up his reputation for the sake of a
custody
hearing for his little sister. A flagrant and public affair could cost him the case. Still, he finds
himself
irresistibly drawn to Madeline, especially when his Lady Scholar becomes a siren in a red dress.
Author Joanne Rock brings a marvelous sense of adventure and a touch of the unexpected to
Learning Curves. In the Ivory Towers of higher academia, this marvelous heroine discovers that
higher learning and falling in love can be both challenging and rewarding. Rock carefully sidesteps
current policy of prohibiting a graduate student and an instructor from dating. Her ingenious
resolution: they were friends before he started teaching, she has more teaching experience, and
they
are in different departments. And in a world where a graduate student's reputation makes all the
difference, in this case because she is a little too pristine, Rock exploits the possibilities to the
fullest.
A delightful romp scertain to entertain, Learning Curves comes very highly recommended.
Her Passionate Pirate: American Romance No 903
Nessa Hart
Harlequin Retail Inc.
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373169035, 248 pages, $4.50
Rafael Adriano recently discovered of the underwater site a ship portrayed in Greek myth. The
scientific community's interest quickly gave way to general interest when a few spin-doctors
capitalized upon his pirate good looks and romantic aura. Now he wants to find the remains of a
Civil War clipper ship captained by the successful privateer Juan Rodiguez del Flores, and
believes
professor Cora Prescott holds the key. Cora bought her home from the University where she
teaches. The family of Abigail Conrad once owned her home. Abigail kept diaries of her illicit
affair
with a man she does not identify, but could easily have been Juan. Rafael believes those diaries
may
contain the knowledge needed to find the remains of the Juan's clipper ship. With the university
bringing considerable pressure to bear upon her, Cora agrees to aid Rafael's quest, in return for a
bit
of help. Her sister's dumped her three daughters on Cora for the summer, and she needs a nanny.
Along with searching the house for missing diaries, however, Rafael vows to awaken the
smoldering
passion carefully concealed beneath Cora's prudish demeanor. The children, complete with
Benedict
Bunny and oyster spit, add a marvelously amusing element. They also cast the rogue pirate in a
responsible, caring role as he lures them into good behavior or when he rescues the bunny. Author
Neesa Hart displays her remarkable story telling skills with a careful balance between the
secondary
plot of a research project and the main plot of the growing romance between the staid professor
and
the swashbuckling rouge. The sophisticated Rafael allows their romance at unexpectedly slow,
and
sizzling pace without ever rushing his counterpart. He also discovers his intellectual and spiritual
equal in the reticent professor, thereby lending the relationship a strong sense of balance.
Moreover,
despite a large and varied cast, characters appear fully developed with their own quirky personas
without threatening to overwhelm the narrative. A wonderfully entertaining, sensual ad seductive
story, Her Passionate Pirate comes very highly recommended.
Rookie Cop: Special Edition No 1444
Nikki Benjamin
Harlequin Retail Inc.
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373244444, 251 pages, $4.50
History teacher Megan Cahill returns to the small town of Serenity, Texas in an effort to heal
following the devastating loss of her baby and divorce from her husband. Wounded that the man
she
gave her heart was absent when she needed him most, and still grieving the loss of her infant,
Megan
does not allow anyone within her carefully erected defenses. Then someone abandons an infant on
her doorstep, and Megan suddenly finds her heart on the line. While she would like to pretend the
child could replace her own lost child, Megan knows she can't keep him. But an overburdened
foster
care system allows her to care for the child while her ex-husband, sheriff Jake Cahill, investigates.
Although Jake followed her to Serenity in an effort to win her back, Megan has declined his
interest,
believing his love for his former job will eventually lure him back to the big city and result again in
long, absent nights. On the other hand, Jake has not given up on winning his former bride back;
perhaps their joint efforts for this child will bring them together. Stories that reunite lovers are
especially endearing, especially when tragedy originally destroys the relationship and results in
divorce. Certainly no one tells such a tale better than Nikki Benjamin in Rookie Cop. Benjamin
delicately balances the major plot of love, forgiveness and redemption with the secondary plot of
the
abandonment of an infant. Indeed, this marvelous author pulls no punches as she describes
Megan's
feelings of abandonment when her FBI husband puts his career ahead of his family. She likewise
deftly reveals Jake's feelings of guilt and pain as he comes to understand the devastating effects of
his actions on his ex-wife. Rookie Cop comes highly recommended.
Scent Of A Woman: Harlequin Blaze No 23
Jo Leigh
Harlequin Retail Inc.
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373790279, 251 pages, $4.50
If Susan Carrington cannot have her wish for the forever kind of love, then she is at least ready
for
an arousing, exciting adventure. She is tired of men who want her based on her incredible looks
and
even more fabulous wealth. The moment she sees a sexy stranger selecting a scarf, she feels
something extraordinary. Acting entirely out of character, she teases and excites him with a
sensual
promise: "Meet me Wednesday night." When they meet, Susan tells David that she wants the
freedom to be anyone she wants -- to explore her most wicked desires and fantasies. Psychiatrist
David Levinson has no clue as to the identity of the stunning, mysterious woman who boldly
propositions him. Cloaked in anonymity they are free to explore their passionate attraction. David
comes to associate the sexy smell of Susan with the scent of promise, of daring, of a woman who
makes him appreciate being male. Their stunning Wednesday nights are about wild abandon and
physical pleasure. But when daylight comes, he cannot seem to get his temptress off his mind.
Soon
he wants more than anonymous play. He wants to know the woman behind the sexy fa‡ade. And
that scares the hell out of Susan. Author Jo Leigh pens a fabulously sensual adventure in Scent Of
A
Woman. While David and Susan seek erotic play, neither can get past the fact that they also desire
more. Their sensual encounters are intoxicating, building a need for an emotional relationship as
well. Favorite characters from previous romances by Leigh step in, attempting to play
matchmaker,
demanding to know who they have become involved with, and generally providing amusing
moments to offset the wildly erotic content. Indeed, Leigh strikes the perfect blend of humor,
emotional depth and sensuality, making Scent Of A Woman one of Blazes hottest titles. Very
highly
recommended.
Catching Chase/Nabbing Nathan: Duets No 71
Liz Jarrett
Harlequin Inc.
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373441371, 376 pages, $5.99
Leigh Barrett is tired of her meddlesome brothers' attempts to dictate her life. So she plays
matchmaker with one goal in mind: to find lady loves that will keep her brothers' attention fully
occupied so that they have no time to interfere in her life. She will stop at nothing if the end result
is
in her favor. Catching Chase: The women of the small town of Paxton, Texas relentlessly pursue
the
gorgeous Barrett brothers. The eldest brother, Chase, does not even realize what a heartbreaker
he
is. But Megan Kendall has known that she loves Chase since she was eight years old. Nineteen
years
later, she will take drastic action in a quest for what she wants, even if Chase doesn't believe in
true
love. Nabbing Nathan: Leigh has the answers to her friend Hailey Montgomery's summer
dilemma.
Her brother has a job and an apartment for Hailey; he just does not know it yet. But when
summer
ends, Nathan will still own the software company that keeps the small town's economy thriving
and
him bound to Paxton, while Hailey will still have a commitment to complete her Ph.D. somewhere
else. Love and career goals clash when this couple yields to Leigh's matchmaking. Liz Jarrett's
zany
voice lends sparkle to the Harlequin Duet series Hometown Heartthrobs. One of the greatest
challenges in writing for the Duet line is meeting the demand for humor and romance while still
creating a story and characterizations with depth. Jarrett rises to the challenge with well-laid out
conflict, pacing that enhances the narrative flow and engaging wit. Further, Jarrett deftly
demonstrates her gift for creating strong characters that feel overwhelmed by their attraction yet
hesitate to commit to a long-term relationship. Catching Chase and Nabbing Nathan combine in a
dynamic and amusing read, proving that Jarrett's witty style can't help but win reader's hearts.
Very
highly recommended.
The Great Montana Cowboy Auction
Anne McAllister
Silhouette Books
300 East 42nd Street, New York, New York, 10017
ISBN 0373484577, 299 pages, $5.99
Absolutely memorable! Very highly recommended. Elmer, Montana temporarily transforms from
a
quiet ranching community into a media feeding frenzy with the announcement of The Great
Montana
Cowboy Auction. The town elects Polly McMaster to organize the fund raising event that aims to
provide relief for a Maddie Fletcher, owner of a neighboring ranch threatened with reposition. As
if
Polly does not have enough to do as mayor, post mistress, part-time college student and single
mother of four, she adds yet another committee to her resume. When someone volunteers to
invite
Sloan Gallagher home for the auction, as the top prize, Polly remains skeptical that the small town
trouble maker turned Hollywood star will put in an appearance. She hopes he will not, with the
memory of him catching her in a compromising position eighteen years ago still burning a searing
memory in the back of her mind. When a buddy asks him to return to aid Maddie, Sloan jumps at
the
opportunity to repay the kindness done him by the Fletchers during his teen years. With his
mother
deceased his father descending into emotional and financial devastation, as well as the family
ranch
being sold, Sloan had been placed in foster care for two years. Maddie her husband gave him a
home, providing the frightened teen stability and instilling confidence and self-worth. As a
fourteen-year-old, Sloan's curiosity got him in trouble one afternoon when he peaked into the barn
to see the most glorious vision of his young life. Of course Sloan buried the memory, reserving it
for
fantasy. But this opportunity to return to Elmer reawakens the memory, and Sloan is anxious to
see
Polly, particularly when he learns she has been widowed for the last six years. The Great Montana
Cowboy Auction weaves numerous subplots with Polly and Sloan's story to create a dazzling tale
filled with angst, humor and passion. Anne McAllister is master storyteller, using a long ago
memory
to bind Polly and Sloan and boldly bring them together. Polly's reticence to become involved with
Slan makes her believable and sparks the reader's compassion even as the reader also cheers
Sloan's
determination to change her mind. Polly's creative mother and mastermind of the idea for a
cowboy
auction, inspired by Elmer's surplus of cowboys, gives the novel an added sparkle, as do her
children
and sister. Indeed, sister Celie's story begins here, and will continue in the June release of the
Silhouette Desire entitled A Cowboy's Pursuit. A marvelous tale that should not be missed, The
Great Montana Cowboy Auction comes very highly recommended.
On Pins And Needles: Silhouette Special Edition No 1443
Victoria Pade
Silhouette Books
300 East 42nd Street, New York, New York, 10017
ISBN 0373244436, 249 pages, $4.50
Business is slow in small town Elk Creek for acupuncturist Megan Bailey. When sheriff Josh
Brimley makes an appointment, Megan cannot help hoping his example will lead potential clients
to
her doorstep. Unfortunately, workers installing a new septic tank behind her house find a shallow
grave, bringing word before Josh's treatment can begin. Now, instead of convincing the sheriff of
the
viability of acupuncture for the treatment of his allergies, Megan finds herself convincing Josh
Brimley that her parents did not commit murder. Josh has been burned once by flaky philosophies
and new age mumbo jumbo, and does not care to repeat the experience. He only agrees to try
acupuncture for his allergies only out of desperation. But treatment is set aside in favor of this
eighteen-year-old murder. The personal effects buried with the body suggest the man was killed
about the same time the Baileys left Oak Creek, so Megan's parents immediately become his
primary
suspects. When Megan openly doubts his objectivity, Josh issues the challenge, "Maybe you
should
tag alone as I investigate to make sure I leave no stone unturned." Megan accepts the challenge. I
have several reservations with major plot details of On Pins And Needles. It is improper for a
sheriff
to allow the daughter of suspects to attend an interview with anyone but members of her own
family
or if she is a suspect. Certainly, Josh and Megan can work together as a source of information,
but
anything more is unethical. Also, Megan could be placed in danger by sitting through such
interviews if the real culprit let something slip in her presence. Indeed, Josh's decision to date
Megan
while her parents are suspects could compromise the investigation if they are guilty. Those issues
aside, Megan's eclectic nature clashes nicely with Josh's conservativism, lending a fun tension to
the
narrative. The resolution of the mystery is unexpected and a delight, allowing strong secondary
characters to sparkle. Recommended.
The Redemption Of Jefferson Cade: Desire No. 1411
BJ James
Silhouette Books
300 East 42nd Street, New York, New York, 10017
ISBN 0373764111, 184 pages, $3.99
A promise made: "If you ever need me " is a promise to keep as Jefferson Cade opens a
mysterious envelope only to find the handwriting of a woman who loved him and left him four
years
ago. Marissa Alexandre of Argentina returned to her country to fulfill a debt of honor for her
father
and marry a man she did not love. Now Jefferson holds the news account of a plane going down
over the ocean. The article reports the following passengers: Marissa's husband, herself, and her
parents. But if she were dead, he couldn't be holding an envelope in her handwriting. Now
Jefferson
requests the aid of The Black Watch, a mysterious government organization dedicated to justice.
Evidence suggests a drug lord brought the plane down, and he does not know Marissa was not
aboard. They must move quickly to rescue Marissa from Argentina before she becomes a victim
of
his vicious vendetta. Four years and the death of her husband and parents have built a lot of guilt,
and Marissa no longer feels free to give into the passion she still feels for Jefferson. Worse, she
knows her presence threatens the safety of a number of people, and the only way the drug lord
will
stop will be when either she or he is dead. A riveting tale of passion and danger, The Redemption
Of
Jefferson Cade will keep the pages turning. Author BJ James once again demonstrates her
remarkable gift for strong characterizations, exploring the emotional nuances that bring them
dramatic flair. Indeed, this irresistibly sexy hero and the unforgettable ambiance of The
Redemption
Of Jefferson Cade will linger long after the last page is turned. Highly recommended.
In Love With Her Boss: Silhouette Special Edition No 1441
Christie Ridgway
Silhouette Books
300 East 42nd Street, New York, New York, 10017
ISBN 037324441X, 248 pages, $4.50
Lori Hanson moves to Whitehorn to follow the threads of her heritage and to snip her ties to her
past. The physical trauma has long since healed, but the emotional implications linger even years
after her divorce. Lori has taken up self-defense classes and careful physical conditioning so she
need never be a victim again. Too bad she can't protect her heart with the same defensive
measures,
because it does not take long working at her boss' company for Lori to know her heart is at risk.
Josh Anderson suspects something traumatic has occurred in his new temporary assistant's past
for
her to erect such careful defenses. As he begins to understand the extremities Lori has survived,
he
finds himself falling for this strong woman. The more she resists, the more Josh wants to gently
slip
past her defenses to know the woman behind those walls. Little does he suspect that Lori's past
threatens the safety of not just her, but those people she cares for. Author Christie Ridgway
boldly
approaches the emotional issue of spousal abuse with knowledgeable compassion with In Love
With
Her Boss. Ridgway captures the unique challenges of running from the past and the fear of
trusting
again with flair. Her obvious careful research brings this tale to life, making heroine Lori Hanson a
memorable woman for her strength and determination when confronted with frightening
consequences. Only a hero like Josh Anderson serves such a remarkable woman with his gentle
understanding and patience. A memorable read, In Love With Her Boss comes highly
recommended.
Billionaire Bachelors: Ryan: Desire No 1413
Anne Marie Winston
Silhouette Books
300 East 42nd Street, New York, New York, 10017
ISBN 0373764138, 187 pages, $3.99
Tabloids announce Ryan Shughnessy as an "eminently available hunk," resulting in single women
with the appropriate breeding frequently introducing themselves. Jessie Reilly scoffs during their
monthly lunch, musing who would have ever "thought the skinny kid next door would grow up to
be
an eminently available hunk?'" Ryan does not intend to stay single long, however, when he learns
of
Jessie's plans regarding artificial insemination. Her biological clock is ticking and Mr. Right has
neglected to put in an appearance. Ryan has always wanted children, but gave up the possibility
when his wife was unable to become pregnant. Now widowed, he finds the idea of Jessie turning
to
a sperm bank incomprehensible. So he persuades her that they have the same goals in life. If she
wants a child, he'll provide the sperm. When she makes it through the first trimester, then they will
get married. Seems simple enough, until emotional ramifications set in -- extreme morning
sickness,
as well as the usual challenges when two people are wild about one another, but neither being
willing to become vulnerable enough to share their feelings. Billionaire Bachelors: Ryan begins
with
a bang, but ends with a gurgle. The premise of two friends marrying to have children via artificial
insemination makes for a fascinating premise. However, I'm unconvinced with how this plot plays
out. This couple agrees that they want a real marriage complete with sex. She needs a loan from a
bank to expand and keep with the competition, admitting that if she didn't have to spend the
money
at the clinic, she could afford to expand her gallery. Now, if they know they are going to bed
together, they agree they are going to get married when she gets pregnant, and they know that
they
both want children, why in the world go through the whole artificial insemination process?
Nevertheless, Anne Marie Winston is a gifted author, with a crisp writing style and believable
dialogue. Her characterizations are delightful, especially the gay houseman. As a result, I
stillrecommend Billionaire Bachelors: Ryan.
Woman Of Innocence: Silhouette Special Edition No 1442
Lindsay McKenna
Silhouette Books
300 East 42nd Street, New York, New York, 10017
ISBN 0373244428, 248 pages, $4.50
Jenny Wright has always dreamed of going on a mission instead of arranging them for other
mercenaries. But Jenny is the shadowy assistant that simply blends into the scenery and never
expects her dream to come true. Her bosses have noticed her abilities, however, and have decided
to
fulfill her dream. For her birthday, she receives the opportunity to go on a mission of her own
with
mercenary Matt Davis. They will be going undercover as married couple, interviewing prospective
candidates for an upcoming mission. Matt does not appreciate a babysitting mission. But a bit of
time in Jenny's company and her flightiness ceases to be annoying and comes to seem like the
flight
of a butterfly-busy, beautiful and filled with grace. Matt sees qualities in Jenny that make her both
unusual and intriguing. But Matt still cannot help feeling a bit cynical of the very qualities of
innocence that Jenny embodies. To win this warrior's heart, Jenny will have to lead him to the
path
of healing first. Woman Of Innocence reads better as a part of the series than a standalone. Jenny's
story feels like a summary of the previous books of the series and preparation for future segments.
It
is only towards the conclusion that Jenny's story takes control of the novel; but when it does, the
action becomes fast and furious and wonderfully satisfying. Nevertheless, Jenny's a fascinating
character whose flighty, clumsy, chatty ways conceal her fierce determination to overcome
overwhelming obstacles. Matt's pleasure in Jenny's ability to survive her background makes him
very
endearing to the reader. Recommended.
Navy Seal Dad: Desire No 1416
Metsy Hingle
Silhouette Books
300 East 42nd Street, New York, New York, 10017
ISBN 0373764162, 187 pages, $3.99
Two years had not erased the memory of Rachel Grant. Now injured and forced to take time off,
Lieutenant Commander Pete "Mac" McKenna returns to the city of New Orleans where he once
shared snow cones and passion with Rachel. He does not know they also shares another profound
connection. Rachel never thought Mac would return. Four weeks of love had radically changed
her
life, and when he left, Mac took part of her with him. But he also left her pregnant, and it was the
pregnancy that made his loss bearable. Mac has already chosen life as a Navy SEAL over her
once,
and Rachel does not intend to a repetition of history. She also cannot deny him the opportunity to
be
a father. Once again author Metsy Hingle pens an emotional, evocative tale in Navy Seal Dad.
Her
love for military heroes makes this tale sparkle with its wounded hero and his confrontation with
choices of the heart. Rachel Grant is a likewise striking character with her respect for Mac's need
to
be a SEAL and willingness to face the challenges that presents for her and her son, even when
Mac
decides to walk away from the career he loves. Secondary characters sparkle, especially the
irrepressible roommate with the fantastic matchmaking skills and a heart of gold A delightful,
thought provoking read, Navy Seal Dad comes highly recommended.
The Wedding Bargain: Silhouette Special Edition No 1446
Lisette Belisle
Silhouette Books
300 East 42nd Street, New York, New York, 10017
ISBN 0373244460, 248 pages, $4.50
His father always said that his playboy second son would come to a bad end. A prison term
proved
his father right. But now Drew Pierce has paid his debt to society, serving the maximum time
allowable. Six years ago Drew had been under orders from his father to cut corners wherever
possible. He chose to repair a faulty valve on a propane gas tank instead of replacing it. A
conflagration resulted, with several injuries, the loss of most of that year's crop, and a fire that
spread to Stone's End. Between hefty fines and legal fees, the Pierces faced financial ruin in the
community. With Drew incarcerated, they closed the sawmill, departing for more lucrative sites.
Only a few days out of prison, Drew sits out the rainy night in a diner just before closing time.
Olivia
DeAngelis enters, stranded when her car breaks down. Overly friendly, rough-looking customers
lead her to appealing to Drew to pretend to know her. She ordinary avoids men, which leads to
the
great comment: "It wasn't that she didn't like men; she simply didn't want one of her own." Drew
does not want to be anyone's rescuer; yet he finds himself drawn into Olivia's life almost against
his
will. He attempts to repair her car. Since they are headed to the same destination, she insists on
providing him with a ride. But the car breaks down again, stranding them together in an old cabin.
Soon Olivia realizes that Drew would make an ideal husband to fulfill her grandfather's will. The
terms of her grandfather's will demand that she marry to inherit Stone's End. For too long Drew
had
relied on his family's money and reputation for an easy life. Prison has changed him profoundly.
Marriage to Olivia affords him the opportunity to start again, to give something back to the
community his actions damaged. He'd originally planned to pick up his things and leave the area
forever, but now he makes a commitment instead to help restore this town that once relied upon
the
sawmill for economic support. Strong chemistry raises the possibility of more than a marriage of
cnvenience, though Drew doubts any woman like Olivia could truly ever want him. Author Lisette
Belisle presents a powerful tale in The Wedding Bargain. This marriage of convenience plot is
striking because it gives each partner equal power in the relationship. Olivia needs to marry in
order
to meet the terms of her grandfather's will, and Drew needs the timber on Olivia's land in order to
supply his sawmill. Even the purchase of the sawmill becomes an equal partnership when Olivia
offers her own money to meet the auction price. While both partners are hesitant to reveal their
inner
landscapes, both feel a strong attraction from the moment they meet; both are wounded by the
past;
both need healing. In addition, Drew is an outstanding hero in his own right. He's served five
years
in prison for his part in an explosion at the migrant camp, paying his debt to society. His return
home
provides another kind of accountability-to the people whose lives he damaged. Indeed, one of the
most powerful scenes of the book occurs when he stands before a woman whose gone deaf as a
result of the explosion. Highly recommended.
A Cowboy's Promise: Desire No 1405
Anne McAllister
Silhouette Books
300 East 42nd Street, New York, New York, 10017
ISBN 0373764057, 187 pages, $3.99
In a war torn, obscure part of the world, two people found life affirming love in the midst of death
and devastation. Charlie Seeks Elk photographs the tragedies of the world, capturing
disillusionment
and pain on film. Fearing love and a promise of permanence, he leaves Cait Blasingame behind.
Two
years later three bullets take his life, and as he's poised between this life and the next, standing in
the
light of eternity, he turns back to life because Cait wasn't there. It takes three months to recover
well
enough to leave the hospital. Another month proves Cait has left that shredded country to rebuild
without her. Finally a friend traces Cait to Elmer, Montana. But Charlie doesn't receive the
reception
he'd hoped for. Cait has rebuilt her life without him, moving in with her father as he recovers from
a
heart attack. Cait wants marriage and a family, and she is engaged to a cardiologist. Working as a
nurse-midwife gives her a first hand connection to her heart's desires, and she thinks she's left
Charlie behind. One kiss later, her heart tells her otherwise. She thinks it doesn't matter, though.
She
knows Charlie could never find joy and satisfaction without the crisis of war torn country and the
subsequent devastation to photograph. Sure, he thinks he wants marriage now, but what's a
cowboy's promise worth when he's already walked away before? A Cowboy's Promise is a joyful
romance filled with the promise of healing and of possibilities. Author Anne McAllister captures
the
transformation of Charlie Seeks Elk with grace as he learns to listen to the wind. His life after
death
experience and the renewal of purpose gives his character an appealing motivation. As he lives
quietly in the wilds of Montana, the reader can't help envying the beauty of his newly discovered
world. Further, Charlie's patient determination to win Cait's love is likewise a pleasure, balanced
perfectly by Cait's stubborn strength and determination. A marvelous romance for an evening's
read,
A Cowboy's Promise comes very highly recommended.
The Truth About Elyssa: Intimate Moments No 1122
Lorna Michaels
Silhouette Books
300 East 42nd Street, New York, New York, 10017
ISBN 0373271921, 251 pages, $4.50
Scars left from a tragic accident denied Elyssa Jarmon the opportunity to return to her role in
front
of the camera. Indeed, she lost her job and her boyfriend in the same day when he tried to transfer
from television to radio where the audience couldn't see her scars. Instead, Elyssa resumed a job
she
loved years ago, working as Lulu the Clown. Her favorite place to entertain kids is on the cancer
ward of a nearby hospital, which is where she meets the pediatric oncologist Brett Cameron. The
beautiful reporter on the late news entranced Brett. When Elyssa disappeared from the screen, he
didn't think much about it until she showed up regularly to perform the children in his care.
Although
she's extremely reticent about spending time with him, Brett is determined to know her better.
Never
mind he's decided that a busy career and family life don't mix, and that he's been terribly wounded
by
the loss of a wife and child. But as danger closes in and as Elyssa realizes the car wreck was no
accident, Brett is swept away by the woman behind the clown makeup. When Elyssa was initially
injured, her fellow reporter Randy was driving the car. He was killed in the accident. A year and
half
later, his widow Jenny approaches Elyssa with her suspicions that the wreck was no accident.
Someone wanted Randy's story stifled. Elyssa's eventual inquiry sets extreme danger into motion.
Author Lorna Michaels pens an intriguing romance about recovering from scars, both internal and
external. Unfortunately, Elyssa comes across as superficial when the reader learns that "she wasn't
disfigured". Her need for perfection also seems extremely superficial when her slight facial flaws
are
contrasted with a woman with a double mastectomy or children with cancer. However, Michaels
does successfully balance Elyssa's superficiality when a surgeon promises better results toward the
end of the book, and she declines, expressing satisfaction with her appearance. Also, I had a
problem
with Brett being so wildly attracted to a woman covered in clown mkeup during the first month of
their relationship, especially when she "smells like sex" after entertaining children for an hour.
Nevertheless, I can't help loving a heroine able to wield a skillet her own defense. The Truth
About
Elyssa is recommended.
The Valentine Two-Step: Intimate Moments No 1113
RaeAnne Thayne
Silhouette Books
300 East 42nd Street, New York, New York, 10017
ISBN 0373272030, 250 pages, $4.50
The Hartes of the Diamond Harte ranch, consisting of two brothers and a sister, are about to find
love in the miniseries Outlaw Hartes. Their father was a descendant of Matt Warner, one of the
original members of Butch Cassidy's gang, and was so enamored with outlaws that he named his
children after them: Matthew Warner Harte, Jesse James Harte and Cassidy Harte. Single-parent
Matt kicks off the series when his matchmaking daughter and her best friend spring a parent trap.
With the Valentine Day's carnival coming up, two forth-graders decide it's the perfect opportunity
to
play matchmakers so they can become sisters. So they volunteer their respective parents to serve
on
the Valentine Day committee. Matt Harte doesn't understand the bond that his daughter has
formed
with Ellie Webster's daughter over the last three months any more than he understands the
outrageous veterinarian practices that she has brought from California. New Age treatments are a
long way from acceptance in the small town of Star Valley, Wyoming, as reflected by Ellie's light
patient load. In fact, Matt finds Ellie to be annoying, opinionated, and argumentative. And he's
wildly attracted to her, something he believes he neither wants nor needs. Ellie had grown tired of
someone else determining her treatments, and jumped at the offer to buy the small veterinarian
practice. As a foster child she had learned to love animals that give back unconditionally, and
dreamed of some day living in a place like she has now purchased in Star Valley. She has seen
treatments like acupuncture work well, and believes in using such methods when warranted by
circumstances. Moreover, she treasures her independence, and works hard to preserve it. She
intends to fight her attraction for Matt. He is just like all the other ranchers in the area: skeptical
of
her ability to perform her job and achieve results. Then one of Matt's horse's needs care above and
beyond what traditional medicine can accomplish, giving Ellie a chance to prove herself. But
someone is watching ho does not want Ellie in Star Valley, and will do anything to make her
leave.
Like the lovely Disney film "The Parent Trap", this parent trap works beautifully in The Valentine
Two-Step. Author RaeAnne Thayne has genuine understanding of children and how to make
them
both believable and entertaining. In addition, Matt is a wonderfully giving hero, eventually willing
to
risk everything despite having been burned badly. In fact, the story behind his marriage and the
reason for his sister living with him gives the novel a nice punch. The unconventional treatments
that
initially alienate clients from Ellie's practice likewise add interest and an unexpected flair. Indeed,
Thayne is a gifted storyteller whose realistic characters and absorbing dialogue weave a
mesmerizing
tale. A wonderful Valentine romance, The Valentine Two-Step comes very highly recommended.
Dark Of The Night
Dee Davis
Ballantine Books
299 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10171
ISBN 0804119767, 384 pages, $6.99
Ice queen Riley O'Brien devotes herself to her father's campaign, setting aside her own needs and
desires for the goal of her father's presidency. They are at last poised for success, and a romantic
relationship now could mean political suicide. Then a car bombing following Riley's appearance at
an
abortion clinic results in violence when she mistakes a reporter's car for her own ride. When the
bomb explodes, investigative reporter Jake Mahoney knocks Riley to the pavement just in time to
prevent serious injury. Police are at loss to determine if the bomb was aimed at reporter Jake
Mahoney or at the senator's daughter. Ordinarily, Jake would not be trailing senator's daughters.
But
the usual political reporter was indisposed, and he stepped in to cover the story. As luck would
have
it, a contact introduces him to Riley, landing him a quick interview, and Jake finds the spark of
fire
carefully concealed within the perfect fa‡ade irresistible. He later assumes his car was destroyed
as a
result of a bad case of mistaken identity. Then to add insult to an already bad day, Jake follows a
lead to Police Chief Douglas Michaels' home, only to run into Riley who has arrived for a
scheduled
meeting. When no one answers the door, they venture into the unlocked house only to find the
police chief dead by his own hand. The incidents of the bombing and the suicide seem unrelated,
yet
they bring Riley and Jake into a collision course of danger and passion, even as their
overwhelming
attraction could endanger Riley's father's election. Jake finds Riley to be a sweet mix of fire and
ice,
and he refuses to back away. Riley has never met anyone who makes her feel such a gamete of
emotions from anger to desire. But the only place the future president's daughter and the
journalist
can meet is in the dark of the night. Author Dee Davis pens a multi layered romantic suspense that
readers won't be able to put down in The Dark Of The Night. Living in Atlanta myself, I was
impressed with the ability Davis has of working in the atmospher and the detail that marks this
sprawling metropolitan area. From the park that runs along side the Chattahoochee River to the
OK
Caf‚ at the corner of Paces Ferry and Northside Drive, Davis uses this city to great effect,
capturing
the political minefields and southern affectations with flair. Characterizations are likewise artfully
wrought from the innocent and the manipulative, to the guilty. A deftly woven tale of corruption
and
secrets.
Falcon's Angel
Judith E. French
Ballantine Books
299 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10171
ISBN 0345437616, 336 pages, $6.99
A study in contrasts -- Very highly recommended. Angel ignores nineteenth century superstition
that
warns of the danger of rescuing a drowning man from the sea. Boldly following her intuition,
Angel
risks the sea taking revenge on both the victim and the rescuer. A child of the sea and of uncertain
birth, Angel is said to be more fey or witch than part of the Brethren. Angel tells Will that the
Brethren live on the goods that wash ashore, refusing to believe accusations that the Brethren lure
vessels to their doom. A reclusive group, outsiders must be put to death unless they marry one of
the Brethren members. In a handfasting ceremony, Angel marries Will to protect his life. He later
escapes and forces Angel to accompany him home to Charleston. For a girl with salt on her skin
and
seaweed in her hair, Angel finds herself challenged to learn the manners and restrictions of high
society. Will does not honor their handfasting ceremony, and is unofficially promised to another.
Angle and Will are a study in contrasts: she is the child of the sea, and Will is a member of the
elite
Charleston society. Angel believes in the goodness of the people who raised her. Will is intent
upon
revenge, blaming Angel's people for the destruction of two of his father's ships, which led to the
deterioration of the financial situation of his father's business, and his father's eventual suicide.
Winner of an RT Career Achievement Award for American Historical Romance, Judith French
has a
gift for utilizing ambiguities to create a memorable story. Lady Graymoor desires a solution to the
puzzle of what happened to her granddaughter, hoping Angel is her missing heir. Angel wants to
know if Bret is truly her birthmother. For much of the story, Angel does not accept the truth of
the
Brethren as pirates -- again choosing to live within the ambiguities. As a result, there are no easy
answers, but many challenges and demands for self-honesty within this tale. Sharply contrasting
the
ambiguities are vivid characterizations and fierce loyalties tat give the tale a dynamic tone. The
background of early nineteenth century Charleston and the Outer Banks likewise becomes a
vibrant
setting for this wonderfully entertaining tale. Very highly recommended.
The Moon Runners
Mary Lennox
RFI West
#431 5515 N 7th Street, Suite 5, Phoenix AZ 85014
ISBN 1586973215, Copyright 2001, eBook/Multiple Formats, $4.95
In a time when pagan rituals still honor the gods and goddesses of Olympia, and a curse holds the
same power as a prayer, two countries poise on the brink of war and destruction. Years ago,
Melanion vowed to his dying mother that he would protect Thessaly, the beloved country of her
birth. He also vowed by the Mother and the gods that he would free Thessaly from his father, the
King of Macedonia, without harming him. Now Melanion finds himself pledged to path of
diplomacy, walking a dangerous line between both the King who intends to invade Thessaly, and
the
King's High Commander Polymus who is intent upon his own game of power. If Polymus has his
way, when the king invades Thessaly, the country will be raped of its riches to benefit the
Macedonians and the people of Thessaly slaughtered. The goddess Artemis chose the Princess
Atalante of Thessaly as her own, placing a mark upon her brow and forbidding her to look into a
mirror until prophesy is fulfilled. Assuming the scar is a terrible disfigurement, Atalante learned to
run as the wind and use her bow with perfection. But one shot, guided by the goddess' own hand,
brings about an injury, allowing her and Melanion to meet. Melanion considers the incident a gift
of
the goddess as he looks into the eyes of a woman he will pledge himself to forever. But Atalante
believes she will never have a man, and her growing love for Melanion will challenge her loyalties
to
her people and her father. A union between them seems impossible, and the charge of the goddess
likewise impossible to fulfill. One of the most powerful tales I have ever encountered, The Moon
Runners has earned the WordWeaving Award for Excellence. Tears, cheers, and smiles
accompany
the journey across kingdoms and the underworld, through the fearful passageways of the heart
and
the secrets passageways of a castle. Voices of reason seem lost in the growing chaos as evil
threatens good, and just when the cause is lost, the gift of the goddess returns hope. Author Mary
Lennox has a masterful story telling git, skillfully weaving the gods and goddesses into the lives of
mortals in a telling that is at once powerful and believable. Memorably told, deftly rendered, The
Moon Runners is destined to become a classic.
StarLight, StarBright
Erin Fox
Wings ePress, Inc.
PO Box 726, Lusk WY 82225
ISBN 1590889487, 420 pages, Paperback $12.95, eBook/Multiple Formats $6.00
For seven years, Alec Frechette lives the exotic lifestyle most men would envy. A bodyguard to
the
rich and famous, Alec protects some of the world's most wealthy and beautiful women. Hiring
Alec's
service has become a status symbol because of his sexy good looks and overwhelming charisma.
With his self-esteem already devastated, Alec comes to judge his self-value by sexual conquests
and
expensive French Merlot. But once his life was very different. Beneath the flash and glamour,
Alec
conceals a secret pain, born by the death of his child and the loss of the woman he loves. Now he
believes it is time to face that pain and find healing. Kira North works as a pediatric nurse on an
oncology unit. Contentious and devoted, she goes to great extremes to ease the treatment of her
young charges. Her love of medicine began with research into her infant daughter's devastating
illness. After the child died, Kira devoted her life to helping other children, yet her own wounds
still
ache. When Alec returns to Ottawa, old scabs are ripped away as she is forced to confront the
past.
As Alec and Kira begin to find tentative healing, however, a serial killer brutally rapes and
murders
wealthy young women. When the young woman that Alec has been hired to protect becomes a
victim, he stands accused of a crime he did not commit. Now Kira must aid the very man she
blames
for devastating her life. Author Erin Fox weaves a complex tale of strong characterizations, fierce
motivations, and a dynamic plot in Starlight, Starbright. Rich textures mark this novel, with layers
of
secrets and hidden motivation carefully revealed. Poignant moments intersperse the tale, for
example
as Alec describes gazing at the stars, hearing in the background the sounds of his dying child, and
making wishes that can never be. Such revelations give Fox's characters not only strong
motivations,
but also incredible believability, even under the most heinous of circumstances. Further, Alec is an
especially interesting hero because he faces the issues usually confonted by women: of being
judged
not as a person, but for his looks. Indeed, Fox has a flair for delivering a colorful, well-spun story
and shocking conclusions, making Starlight, Starbright another winner of the WordWeaving
Award
of Excellence.
One With The Hunger
J. C. Wilder
LTD Books
200 North Service Rd W., Unit 1, Suite 301, Oakville, Ontario, Canada L6M 2Y1
ISBN Disk 1553160703, ISBN Rocket 155316928X , eBook/Multiple Formats, Download
$5.00,
Disk $6.00
As five girl friends gather in a tavern to share celebrate Shai's thirty-first birthday, they are
unaware
of an unseen listener. As wine loosen inhibitions, their conversation descends into the risqu‚,
sharing
their secret fantasies and desires. Shai blushes at the discussion, but eventually shares her own
fantasy of an anonymous lover who comes to her on a hot summer night through her bedroom
window. When she invites him in, the lover cautions her, "Once I cross the threshold, there is no
going back." But that is exactly what she wants. And that is exactly what she gets when her
fantasy
lover Val appears that night. But there's another who does not come for pleasure. He has watched
Shai since her mother died. When Val finds Shai, his jealousy drives him to unspeakable acts and
vicious fantasies. The closer Val and Shai become, the more mysterious deaths begin occurring -
prostitutes killed after a night of passion with very little blood left in their bodies. Frighteningly,
they
start to look like Shai. Dark passions lend One With The Hunger a marvelously dangerous feel as
erotica and danger mesh. Author JC Wilder has a gift for penning hidden, forbidden desires and
bringing her characters to life with dangerous passion and frightening motivations. The gripping
plot
moves along quickly and the ends with a scene that will leave readers hungering for more. An
entrancing beginning to the Shadow Dwellers series, One With The Hunger comes very highly
recommended.
City Of Grateful Night
Tamara Lea Hoyt
LTD Books
200 North Service Rd W., Unit 1, Suite 301, Oakville, Ontario, Canada L6M 2Y1
ISBN Disk 1553160487, ISBN Rocket 1553169557, Download $5.00, Disk $6.00
On a tour in London's historical district, Jermyn Browne and Laura Wheeler walk through
Whitechapel. The horrible conditions of the area that had earned the nineteenth century
Whitechapel
the poetic nickname "city of grateful night" no longer describes the reputable, commercial district.
As the tour guide describes Jack the Ripper's killings while leading the tour to the site of the first
killing, Jermyn accidentally bumps her head, and awakens in 1888 aboard a train bound for
London.
Jermyn spends the following few weeks as the guest of her best friend Lettie enjoying Victorian
London. She quickly falls in love with Noble Quinn, a friend of Lettie's family. News of Jack the
Ripper's killings hold her unaccountably enthralled. Then one evening Jermyn finds herself lured
into
the dark allies of Whitechapel while Noble purchase tobacco in a nearby shop. A haunting voice
calls
her name, casting her in a trans-like state, and she awakens to confront Jack the Ripper. His mind
teetering on the brink of madness, he alternates between threats and demands, only freeing Jermyn
when she promises to meet him again. If she reports her encounter, Jack the Ripper threatens to
kill
the man she loves. Since his infamous 1888 killing spree in London's Whitechapel, Jack the Ripper
has held the public's imagination. Novelist Tamara Lee Hoyt brings his story to life with flair in
City
Of Grateful Night. Historical persons appear, such as the final victim, prostitute Mary Kelly,
lending
the novel a touch of authenticity. Some elements gave me pause, however, as I questioned if this
reincarnation or time travel, for example. Reincarnation would account for Jermyn's memories of
the
private boarding school where she met her best friend Lettie. But the narrative framework dictates
this to be time travel. If this is truly time travel, then Jermyn must know she's not a part of the
nineteenth century, or she must have amnesia, but neither possibilities are presented. Nevertheless,
the mystery is effectively developed and it is not immediatel evident how things will turn out.
Further, Hoyt's narrative tone resonates with the aura of the times, reflecting and magnifying the
dank allies of Whitechapel and the growing fear of a killer who preys on prostitutes. A fascinating
read, City Of Grateful Night comes highly recommended.
The Plausible Prince
K. G. McAbee
LTD Books
200 North Service Rd W., Unit 1, Suite 301,Oakville, Ontario, Canada L6M 2Y1
ISBN Disk 1553160533, ISBN Rocket 1553169484, Download $5.00, Disk $6.00
The Plausible Prince by K. G. McAbee is not to be missed. Written with a tone that contains a
delightful, tongue-in-check quality that is cheerfully determined to poke fun of genre fantasy, The
Plausible Prince provides one of those rarely wonderful books that refuses to take itself too
seriously. Be ready for a lot of fun with this novel! A simple college professor, Matt Southers
doesn't really believe the two strange men, Verene and Imre, who make him an incredible offer to
take him to another world where he must take the the place of a deceased prince and save the
world.
Matt's world has previously consisted of studies of alchemy and magic, certainly not the real
thing.
Our unlikely hero is beset with allergies, dripping nose and all, when he arrives at the new world
where he still retains his all too human flaws of drinking too much and falling in love with the
wrong
woman. Ria Hawkmoon, the commander of Prince Methos' guard, loves the dead prince, but
scorns
the imitator. As Matt becomes accustomed to the role of prince, he increasingly would rather
retain
silks and friends rather than return to the world of teaching Remedial English and Literature.
Pretending to be a dead man at least allows him to be close the elusive Ria, and fills his fantasies
built by role-playing games where his chamber walls are filled "with shields and banners, lances
and
pikes, swords and daggers and spears, oh my." Thrust into a world where he must fight a mighty
wizard by mimicking a dead prince, Matt faces incredible challenges with a unique humor and
grace
that mark McAbee's fine writing style. This quick moving, lighthearted tale makes a fabulous read
that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to any fantasy lover. Be prepared to giggle your way
through
the adventure, and then pick of the next treasure from McAbee.
Exorcism Of Muse
John Tannock
Awe-Struck Books
2458 Cherry Street, Dubuque, IA 52001
1587490838, $4.50/download
Highly recommended. John Tannock presents a variety of short stories in Exorcism Of The Muse,
ranging from interesting to excellent. While his tone is largely pessimistic, the prose is vivid and
succinct, carefully examining the dark side of nature with precision. Several stories present an
anti-militaristic view; others look into a future that blends biological developments and an
ominous
atmosphere that blurs the distinctions between past and future. Virtually all key into profoundly
dark
psychological aspects. The following are a few of this reviewer's favorites: "Drop" presents a
fascinating satirical response to Heinlein's Starship Troopers. This unnamed protagonists signs up
for the military to pacify the Third World, but actually pursues his own agenda. Other stories
likewise share this ominous, destructive tone that strikes out against blind military allegiance, such
as
"White Love" or "Oblivion's Octopus." Several stories leave the reader with an unnerving sense of
vertigo. In "Deprogromonster," wealthy corporations bred or develop a giant telepathic slug that
pursues its own immoral goals. This game of control and power is likewise reflected in "Bingo,"
and
"CancerBug." Destruction can come from an invasion of our planet, or it may be as close as the
internal changes of our bodies. Not all tales are entirely dark, however, as "The Guardian of the
Bow" presents an unexpected tale of healing as a man confronts the demons of his past. "Grinder"
also presents profound physiological ramifications when standard test pilot is stranded in space
with
no way home until he reconnects the discorporate parts of himself - aspects of his psyche that
have
splintered into separate beings. Tannock's bizarre landscape is inhabited by the unexpected, such
as a
psychic chimpanzee cop, or the deadly, as in a human bomb. His gift for examining the human
psyche, teasing out our most profound fears and challenging them with exploration and
acceptance
gives this uncanny collection of tales a haunting effect. Demons that walk th dreamscape meet
fiends
intent upon gaining control in power in a winner take all game of destruction. Fascinating,
complex,
and surreal, Exorcism Of The Muse makes for highly entertaining science fiction pleasure.
Welcome To Nash's
Mary Taffs
Awe-Struck Books
2458 Cherry Street, Dubuque, IA 52001
ISBN 1587490757, $4.50/download
A pink slip send computer programmer Ric Delmore on a journey to the past when he returns to
Myrtle Beach. Before college, Ric worked as a waiter at Nash's, owned by Walt and Olivia Nash.
They had filled the roles of both parents and mentors, loving him as a son. But years, relationships
and business seemed to come between the Nash's and Ric, until he finally returns. Walking on the
beach, Ric meets Kristian, the Nash's daughter. Instant attraction is almost immediately squelched
later in the day when Kristi realizes his identity. Childhood jealousy threatens to preclude a
possible
relationship between them as she vents years of frustration on Ric. But when Walt has a heart
attack,
Ric finds himself drawn back to Nash's to help out despite Kristi's negative attitude. Walt survives
a
bypass operation and offers to sell Ric half interest in the restaurant. Acceptance would make him
and Kristi partners. After a rather explosive encounter, Ric and Kristi work out a trial partnership.
But as with any new relationship, ties to the past threaten their tentative peace and growing
attraction. When Kristi's former lover and business partner arrives on the scene, tensions once
again
rise. Soon Ric will have to set priorities and make decisions regarding what he wants, and what he
will tolerate. Emotional complexities and nuances continually underscore the difficulties he and
Kristi face. Author Mary Taffs writes from an unusual perspective; that is, male first person,
thereby
lending her prose a sense of immediacy and expectation different from the usual romance. Her
powerful voice immerses the reader in a man's world, complete with his thoughts, feels and
emotions
as he struggles to understand the woman of his heart. The only complaint I have with the book is
the
feeling that the conclusion falls a bit flat, ending with a whimper rather than the bang I expected.
A
surprisingly fresh, realistic look at love from the other side, Welcome To Nash's comes highly
recommended.
Masters Of The Game
Laszlo Horvath
Awe-Struck Books
2458 Cherry Street, Dubuque, IA 52001
$4.50/download
Author Laszlo Horvath guides the reader through his personal journey of metaphysical seeking in
Masters Of The Game. Horvath's thesis is based upon the concept presented by Robert De Ropp's
book The Master Game: "We can choose a variety of games in life; from a householder game to a
money and power game, to a fame game; but the most important of all games is living a spiritual
life
- or in De Ropp's terms - The Master Game." Masters Of The Game is an account of Horvath's
own
seeking: a spiritual odyssey comprised of biography, influenced by extensive metaphysical reading,
and overlaid with intensive reflection. Horvath examines a number of game masters that
profoundly
influenced himself and the people of his generation. He cautions that the "search for ultimate
meaning is full of delusions." He describes his own efforts to find truth within the paradigms
presented by voices from the Orient and the Occident. Conflicting views often present themselves
as
he shares his own struggles to reconcile other's vision of truth with his own. He examines the
delusions of separating the spirit from the soul, and of misunderstanding the vastly different goals
of
Eastern and Western philosophy. Horvath likewise explores the struggles of men with women,
and
the lessons that can be derived from varying relationships. Masters Of The Game is a powerfully
written, masterfully presented essay that provides profound food for thought. Horvath's sources
are
varied, insightful, and often intensely personal. Those of us that are latecomers to the game will
find
the explanations of such things as transcendental meditation, the roots of native spirituality, and
eastern mysticism especially interesting. Rather than an instructional tool, Horvath describes his
own
experience that thereby challenges the reader to examine his own inner workings. Readers should
note that as Horvath is male, this book is at times a profoundly male centered view. After all, it is
also his relationship with women, or WOMAN in the larger sense, that defines his lesons. Women
will find the insight fascinating, but will find they approach these areas of game play from a far
different perspective. Very highly recommended.
The Undertaker
Lauryn Hale
Awe-Struck Books
2458 Cherry Street, Dubuque, IA 52001
1587490811, $4.95/download, $9.95/CD
Life following the Civil War takes a vicious turn for Robert Dean Willis, Robbie, when he returns
to
find his father's throat slashed, his mother and sisters brutally raped and murdered. With the family
home still smoldering in the background, he buries his family and vows to seek answers. His face
bears witness to the ravages of war, scar tissue badly marring a once handsome face. Robbie dons
a
black hat to conceal the ruin, and nicknames himself The Undertaker. For six years he works his
way
west as a bounty hunter, seeking the woman he left behind. When her fianc‚ Robbie left, Kristian
did
not know she was pregnant. When word came of his death, she married another, little suspecting
the
horrors that would follow. Her husband proved to be cruel and sadistic. He takes her Colorado,
where he eventually dies, following the loss of his ranch in a card game to The Undertaker.
Assuming the name Dean, The Undertaker arrives at the ranch just in time to save Kristian from
yet
another brutal rape. He doesn't initially reveal his true identity or ownership of the land, hoping
first
to find answers and eventually earn Kristian's love. Debut author Lauryn Hale pens a vivid picture
of
the haunting ruins of loves destroyed by the war and its aftermath. Kristian's scars are no less
obvious than Dean's, although they are internal. Together they present vividly real
characterizations,
filled with poignancy and struggle. The background of the West lends the novel a sense of
presence
and authenticity. Caution: some readers may be uncomfortable with the violence and rape,
although
they are not presented in great detail. A compelling, evocative read, The Undertaker comes highly
recommended.
The Threshing Floor
E.L. Noel
Fiction Works
P.O. Box 1066, Corvallis, OR 97339-1066
ISBN 1583383514, eBook (all formats) $6.95
Sir James Greybold of Glastonbury, Knight of the Weeping Tiger, Commander of Knights mourns
the men he leads, as foolish orders result in slaughter. In this time of deceit and betrayal, his honor
binds him to his commanders, no matter how wrong their orders. Despite the odds, Greybold
valiantly leads his men into battle against the pagan Saracens. Then the GrandMaster of the
Knights
Templar calls him away from the battlefield, even as his men face slaughter, demanding Greybold
seek reinforcements, knowing help will not arrive in time. Indeed, power plays upon Greybold's
sense of honor in a manipulate game seeking its own purposes. Arriving too late with aid,
Greybold
is then sent on a plot to assassinate a Saracen leader, an assignment that conceals the true target -
one within Christian ranks. Greybold's masters exploit his integrity and moral code to their own
purposes in impossible assignments that test his very soul, leaving him poised on the brink of
death
and destruction. E.L. Noel deft weaves a tale of conspiracy, intrigue and murder in The Threshing
Floor. As political machinations take all from him, leaving Greybold with only hid code of honor
and
his integrity, he is left feeling like so much chaff upon the threshing floor. But what is left is a
tribute
to the heroic spirit that makes the greatest of heroes and lies at the heart of chivalry. Despite
temptations to walk away, to yield to an easier path, to kill the enemy, Greybold displays
remarkable
fortitude and perseverance. Cast against a colorful pageant of players, Greybold comes to embody
the most profound and ideal traits that the Knights Templar endeavors to portray. A novel rich in
historic detail, The Threshing Floor comes highly recommended.
Color Of Blood
M.K. Fottrell
Fiction Works
P.O. Box 1066, Corvallis, OR 97339-1066
ISBN 1581246994, eBook/Multiple Formats $6.95, Trade Paperback $14.95
Hollywood in the early sixties is a carefully segregated place, but races unite in outrage at a news
conference of Miranda Lane. Once a revered child star, Miranda still retains her sparkling
presence
even as her glittering reputation lies tarnished. One reporter asks, "how does it feel to be called
'nigger lover' by whites and 'racist' by radical Negroes?" Yet even lurid tabloids headlines and
outrageous accusations fall short of the outrageous truths that governs Miranda's life. Sybil, "the
blue-eyed tyrant" carefully controlled her daughter's career from the moment she was discovered.
Miranda's announcement of retirement is her first independent decision, and it infuriates her
mother.
When Miranda moves out, Sybil threatens to destroy the fabric of her life. Sybil begins her
retaliation by spending over 35 million dollars, the sum of Miranda's wealth, thereby forcing her
daughter out of retirement. Then she reveals the ultimate secrets that undermine the very fabric of
Miranada's identity. Miranda begins a new life by moving to New York. Her mother's careful
grooming has taught her to trust no one else. But in her fantasies she strolls storefronts without
being recognized, and falls in love without a lack of trust. New York affords her the opportunity,
at
least, to begin her first romantic affair with Peter Brooks, a reporter she met during her retirement
announcement. Her opportunity for self-discovery abruptly halts, however, when Sybil reveals a
secret that thrusts Miranda into social, political and ethical turmoil. Secrets and scandal emerge
against the glitter of a Hollywood background in The Color Of Blood. Author MK Fottrell moves
seamlessly between past and present, locations and characters in this richly woven tale. Fottrell
likewise fluidly blends a number of genres, including suspense, mainstream and romance. The
psychotic Sybil provides the perfect anti-heroine, as she undercuts her daughter's success in
retaliation for hurts both real and imagined. Indeed, the love/hate relationship between mothr and
daughter is beautifully portrayed. Miranda learned early to trust her mother because there never
was
anyone else, and that is the key her personality, her motivations, and many of her ultimate
decisions.
Such complexity gives The Color Of Blood an extraordinary tone and remarkable depth. This
cross-genre novel comes very highly recommended.
Runaway Bay
Lisa Hendrix
Jove
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014
ISBN 0515132640, 320 pages, $6.50
Thirty-six hours before departure for a Caribbean holiday, Jackie Barnett's boyfriend dumps her
with
a message left on the answering machine. He coldly announces that he needs more excitement in
his
life, and she can't provide it. He rails against her lists, complains that she never takes chances, and
calls her boring. Jackie's tempted to cancel the trip altogether until a colleague informs her that
Farley Phelps will also be in St. Sebastian for the next two weeks. The Phelps grant would fund
her
research for at least the next five years, and she needs it desperately. Worse, her nemesis, Reade
Hunter will also be there, also courting the Phelps grant. Reade schedules the island holiday when
he
realizes Jackie will be there the same time as the man who funds the grant. He takes advantage of
the opportunity by bringing his mother along as an excuse so he won't look obvious courting
Phelps
for the grant. Looking around for Jackie, Reade expects the mousy woman from a photo in his
professional journal. He's dumfounded to learn the sexy, gorgeous woman with Phelps that he's
been
staring at over dinner is Jackie. His mother and Farley hit off, leaving Reade and Jackie to round
the
foursome as they each jockey for position with one eye always on the grant they both want. As if
things aren't complicated enough, a kiss proves that the grant isn't the only source of tension
between them. Author Lisa Hendrix lifts the doldrums of winter with comic humor in Runaway
Bay.
With a million dollar grant at stake, the conflict is hot and the passions even hotter. The
characterizations are wonderful, with the heroine's dress size alone making her absolutely
appealing.
Add her rather anal determination to make lists and plan every detail, which then blows up in her
face, and the result is a delightful romp. Reade's combination of sexy body and brilliant brains
makes
for an unbeatable hero. In addition, Reade's hypochondriac mother also lends the tale a delightful
levity. A light romance destined to keep the reader smiling, Runaway By comes highly
recommended.
Pendragon
Catherine Coulter
Jove
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014
ISBN 051513225X, 368 pages, $7.99
Meggie Sherbrooke has loved her "dratted" almost-cousin since she was thirteen. Of course, over
the six years intervening between the time they met and the present, Meggie almost forgot him;
that
is, until her coming out allows them to cross paths again. Meggie is immediately smitten, and then
heartbroken, as Jeremy announces his engagement to another. Aware of her feelings, Jeremy later
behaves rather badly in an effort to disillusion Meggie and free her heart to love another. Earl
Thomas Malcombe expresses his interest in Meggie, but knows her heart belongs to another. Only
when medicine he brings saves the life of a younger brother does Meggie afford him the
opportunity
to spend time together. While she immediately captures his heart, Meggie still mourns the loss of
love that never was. Kisses distract her, however, and eventually lead her to marriage with
Thomas.
But words overheard only an hour after their vows are spoken provoke jealousy and anger, thus
ruining their wedding night. As Thomas and Meggie travel cross country to his family home, they
are delayed by a homicide, soon followed by an attempt of Meggie's life. When Meggie's family
arrives to offer their protection following a second attempt on her life, Thomas' jealousy
increases.
Often his negative reactions create unnecessary distance in their relationship, despite Meggie's
assurances regarding her commitment to their marriage. Pendragon is my first exposure to author
Catherine Coulter's prose, I admit to feeling a bit torn about this book. On the one hand, she
creates
a lovely background with strong characterizations and delightful gothic elements. Meggie's puppy
love for her cousin that eventually gives way to true love with her husband is a delight to watch.
On
the other hand, her heavy-handed innocence and pressing the point regarding tongues and kisses
grows a bit tiresome. Likewise, Thomas presents a bit of difficulty to like. On the one hand, he is
a
strong male character who handles his brother's escapades with grace. On the other hand,I wanted
to
shake him and tell him to pay attention when he yields too much to his jealous emotions,
especially
given his crude use of his wife on their wedding night. Yet even that scene is offset nicely when
Meggie and the innkeeper share a bottle of champagne and talk of men. Further, the sparring
between Meggie and her mother-in-law also proves to be a delight. She never allows the older
woman to repress her spirits despite sometimes cruel, often inappropriate, comments. While I'm
not
entirely satisfied with Pendragon, the remarkable strengths will certainly have me giving this
author
another read. Recommended.
The Wrong Bride
Susanna Carr
Heartline Books
PO Box 22598, London, W8 7GB
ISBN 1903867312, 217 pages, Price 3.99 Brit. pounds
Her identical twin sister persuades Jessica Parks to step into her role during a wedding rehearsal,
but
she never expected to actually walk down the isle in her sister's place. The whole outrageous
situation results when Tracy flies to New York at the last minute, supposedly for an emergency
meeting with a potential employee. A woman who always puts her career first, even to the extent
of
allowing an arranged marriage for the benefit of the company, Tracy actually has other motives
for
her New York trip. But innocent Jessica trusts her sister's word, especially when her mother
likewise
insists she step in for the good of the family. But stepping into Tracy's shoes is a pinch, both
physically and metaphorically. Jessica prefers jeans to business suits, and the straightforward truth
to
deception. Devlin Hunter knows from the beginning that he is in the wrong bride's company. He's
aware of Tracy's New York plans, but allows the situation to play itself out to see just how far
Jessica will go. He doubts Jessica's innocent appearance; after all, she did grow up in a nest of
vipers. Yet he has wanted to believe in her sincerity and inherit goodness since their first chance
encounter. Although Jessica mimics Tracy's confidence and cynicism, her own inexplicable
innocence still shines through, making Devlin suddenly question his own motives regarding this
arranged marriage. It does not take long for Devlin to realize that Jessica does not recognize her
family's manipulations, and for him to want to protect her. Marrying the wrong bride will not
prevent him from accomplishing his purpose, even if his long term plans also backfire on himself.
Debut author Susanna Carr pens a delightful romance in The Wrong Bride. Carr has a knack for
creating wonderful characters in varying shades of gray. Even the evil stepfather has an occasional
vulnerable moment, making him quiet human. Jessica's growth as she goes from doormat to
becoming self-confident is an inspiration, and allows for several witty comments that will keep the
readersmiling. Devlin's motivation quickly moves from self-serving to concern for Jessica,
likewise
giving his character room for substantial growth. While others might have been tempted to take
revenge on Tracy for setting her sister up, Jessica easily forgives, putting family first, thereby
revealing her only motive for becoming the wrong bride. This carefully crafted plot is wonderful;
the
only complaint I have is the last two chapters feel a bit drug out and might have been benefited
from
reaching the appropriate sense of closure a bit quicker. Nevertheless, that did not take away from
my enjoyment of The Wrong Bride. Highly recommended.
Burn
Jonathan Lyons
Domhan Books
9511 Shore Road, Suite 614, Brooklyn, NY 11209
eBook $5.98, ISBN 158345442X, hardcover, 216 pages, $18.95, ISBN 1583454438, trade
paperback, $13.95
In post-environmental-apocalyptic Old New York City, acidic rains fall in a surreal dirty
near-night
landscape. In a world where the environment has shifted following corporate brutal abuses intent
upon profit, citizens don filter masks and non-reactive coats as a matter of course. NewSchool
Grrls,
Nouveau Gothics and rogue-boyz populate bars like the Nine Circles, where chip rental outpaces
consumption of alcohol, allowing patrons to experience the highs and lows of drugs without the
aftereffects. Cage had once been a career cop with a wife, a good partner and a retirement plan
with
Expedite Corporation, the corporate sponsors of Old New York's police force. Then he
challenged
Expedite Corporation and lost his job, his wife and his future in the same day. Now he ekes out a
living as a private detective. Janice Gild arrives in Cage's office, hiring him to investigate the death
of her brother James. The police attribute the case to spontaneous human combustion and have
dropped the investigation. Soon Cage learns that James is not the only person to die this way.
Jonny
Cache, a beautiful android, is a netrunner of unique talent, able to slip past any security system
undetected. Once she delivers information to those who hire her skills, Jonny burns the
information
from her memory to the tune of "Ring of Fire," recorded by her namesake in an almost forgotten
sunlit era. Jonny achieved sentience because of James Gild. She wants answers to his death. She
will
begin to find those answers in an online virtual world run by paranormal enthusiasts that leads to a
real world meeting with Cage. Together they will attempt to find answers without arousing the
attention of Expedite Corporation or the police force it funds. Debut novelist Jonathan Lyons
juxtaposes a frightening futuristic landscape with a hero in the tradition of the 30's private
investigator. A corporation runs the world, destroying the environment for profit and funding law
enforcement. Despite this bleak landscape, these characters thrive, creating their on unique niches
in
a world gone wrong, merging their humanity with technology seamlessly. Fans of technoir or
cyberpunk will find Burn to be a highly entertaining read, with richly developed characters, and a
fast paced plot. Readers will be disappointed to reach the conclusion and left hoping for more! A
stunning narrative with haunting possibilities.
My Funny Valentine
Peggy Daniels, Allison Knight, Deborah Matthews
Zebra Books/Kensington Publishing Corp.
850 Third Avenue, New York NY 10022
ISBN 0821772619, 314 pages, $5.99
My Funny Valentine presents three heart-warming stories to bring a smile, or perhaps a tear, to
the
holiday. Authors Peggy Daniels, Allison Knight and Deborah Matthews bring their lovely talent
together in this trio of treats certain to sweeten the approaching holiday. Can I Call You
Sweeetheart? By Peggy Daniels: Four years ago Nicholas Parish left to fight in the Civil War,
practically leaving Amber Wade at the altar on Valentine's Day. Now he returns to learn that his
sweetheart married his brother and has a son. A tender, evocative tale certain to pluck the
heartstrings, Can I Call You Sweethear?tcopes with the pain of abandonment and the sweetness
of
learning to trust. Winter Roses by Allison Knight: Gavin Sinclair is determined to thwart his
younger
brother's plans for elopement after the Valentine's ball. He thinks he's kidnapped the bride, but he
really has the bride's older sister. Winter Roses is a charming regency romance that deftly breaks
the
rules of society in the most delightful manner. Be Mine by Deborah Matthews: The Earl of
Valentine
curses the fool that gave his family their name. Even worse, his Aunt Cupid capitalizes upon her
name by bringing lonely hearts together. Val makes a wager with his cousin that he can escape the
marriage altar, but finds himself struck by Cupid's arrow aimed from an unlikely direction. A
delectable, playful treat, Be Mine brings a comic chuckle to this collection. Evocative, endearing,
and tender, this collection is highly recommended.
Too Much Temptation
Lori Foster
Kensington Publishing Corp
850 Third Avenue, New York, NY, 10022
ISBN 0758200846, 288 pages, $14.00
Rather than feeling outraged, Noah Harper feels incredible relief when he discovers his fiance in
bed
with another man. While he dislikes disappointing his grandmother Agatha, Noah had never been
comfortable with Kara anyway. She was his direct opposite with her smooth refinement and
polish.
Noah needs a wild woman who can match his voracious sexual appetite. Grace Jenkins has
worked
for Noah's grandmother for three years, falling in love with him on sight. But it takes a night of
drunken revelry with his brother Ben for Noah to recognize Grace's sensual value. Wet clothes, a
black out, and waking together the next morning opens his eyes to all her erotic possibilities. So
they
strike a bargain. He'll please and delight her if she'll be his willing sex slave. But their sudden
togetherness will meet some extreme obstacles when they both find themselves unemployed and
the
focus of his grandmother's ire. Author Lori Foster creates a sensual delight in Too Much
Temptation. Grace is no ordinary heroine with her voluptuous curves and struggle to fit in her
waitress uniform. Turning what ordinarily would be a painful fitting experience into a sensual,
playfully sexy scene demonstrates Foster's erotic skills at her best. Indeed, Too Much
Temptation's
success lies in the combination of sensual realism of a modern relationship with heart searing
romance. The hero and heroine are intelligent, quirky, and believable. The meddling grandmother
likewise adds realism and humor, making Too Much Temptation too tempting to resist.
Hopefully,
Foster plans a sequel with the remaining Harper descendant! Very highly recommended.
Get Crafty: 60 Cool Holiday Crafts For Year-Round Fun
Nancy Jo King
Lunchbox Press
214 East College Street, Suite 201, Grapevine, Texas 76051
ISBN 0967828538, Paperback, $7.95, 96 pages, Ages 9-12
Author Nancy Jo King's artistic and teaching background makes Get Crafty: 60 Cool Holiday
Crafts
For Year-Round Fun a marvelous resource for parents, teachers and children. With holiday
themes
to cover all seasons, each project is carefully detailed with simple, easy to follow instructions and
lists of ingredients, including where to find the more unusual items. Whether you are seeking
appropriate projects for home or classroom activities, Get Crafty: 60 Cool Holiday Crafts For
Year-Round Fun is certain to have many ideas to inspire young creative minds. Further, while the
book suggests a total of 60 projects, additional tips expand many projects beyond their intended
season to encompass many others, making this a valuable and flexible resource of crafting ideas.
Very highly recommended.
Island Girl: Seasons No 2
Lori Stacy
Lunchbox Press
214 East College Street, Suite 201, Grapevine, Texas 76051
ISBN 096782852X, Paperback, 116 pages, $4.95, Ages 9-12
Since her mom passed away seven years ago, Samantha has taken care of her dad, helping with
every household chore from bill baying to assuring that her dad takes his allergy medicine. Their
comfortable routine has recently been interrupted, however, by her dad's new marriage. Suddenly
Samantha does not feel so needed, and she resents her stepmother's intrusion in her life almost as
much as she resents being shipped off for the summer to her new step-grandma's. But her
grandma
and the island where she spends the summer turn out quiet unexpectedly as she meets new friends,
especially Jason, the cute kayaking instructor. Unfortunately, there's a secret game that could
threaten Samantha's new love. The second of a series targeting teen girls, Island Girl scores a
direct
hit with this audience. Author Lori Stacy deftly captures the struggles and triumphs of changing
family dynamics as well as the turmoil of young love. As Samantha gains insight and maturity, she
moves from a self-consciousness and resentment to a strong young woman in control of her
destiny.
A delightfully entertaining read, Island Girl comes very highly recommended.
The Star Prince
Susan Grant
Love Spell/Dorchester Publishing Co., Inc.
276 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10001
ISBN 0505524570, 395 pages, $5.99
After three alcoholic pilots drink themselves to death, Ian Hamilton finds himself stranded on
Donavan's Blunder, a bustling crossroads that attracts the dregs of the galaxy. Ian must find a
pilot.
His stepfather Romlijhian B'Kah has assigned him a task critical the future of the galaxy. A Vash
Nadah, Rom had first broken tradition by marrying the earth woman. He broke tradition again by
choosing Ian to be his heir. Now after month in the frontier, Ian's intuition tells him that the set
backs, ship malfunctions and pilot problems are not coincidence. Since first contact, the people of
earth have approved being a part of intergalactic Trade Foundation and liked the Vash. Now
propaganda for "Earth First" seeks to undermine that alliance. If earth withdraws from the
alliance,
others may follow, thereby undermining the stability of the entire galaxy. Ian's mission is to learn
if
the earth's unrest has spread to the frontiers of the galaxy. The Vash possess a long and
well-respected heritage. Eleven thousand years ago they nearly destroyed their own civilization. A
group formed of eight families at last brought a long lasting peace to their people. Thousands of
years later, they still adhere to the teachings set down by their forefathers. Unfortunately, that
includes the tradition of keeping their royal women in seclusion. When Princess Tee'ah learns of
the
possibilities for women from her earth bound cousin, her spirit longs to fly free. Tee manages to
learn to become a pilot, but when her father learns of her skill, he's outraged. Worse, Vash do not
marry for love, but for political alliance. Her prospective husband will also never approve of her
free
spirit. So during a ferocious storm, Tee affects her escape. She heads to the frontiers, but while
her
ship is being worked on, palace guards arrive and confiscate her ship. Then she learns that Ian
needs
a pilot. Political intrigue, deadly intentions, and power struggles give the plot of Star Prince the
depth and passion that is fast becoming Susan Grant's trademark. exual tension between Ian and
Tee
begins to build early, adding a teasing and tantalizing tone throughout the narrative, but their
relationship isn't consummated until extreme circumstances force extraordinary choices-the scene
plays out with majesty and beauty seldom matched. The secondary plot also adds extraordinary
pizzazz as tracker Lara attempts to resist the affections of both a ketta-cat and the sexy Gann,
whose previous devotion to duty precluded relationships. Favorites likewise make appearances,
including the macho Muffin and the great references to beer, now spreading throughout the
galaxy.
Put this one on your keeper shelf! Exotic and erotic, Star Prince comes very highly recommended.
Cindy Penn, Reviewer
http://wordweaving.com
Kinni's Bookshelf
The Elephant And The Flea: Reflections Of A Reluctant Capitalist
Charles Handy
Harvard Business School Press
60 Harvard Way Boston, MA 02163
233 pp, $24.95, ISBN 1578518229, 1-800-668-6780
Leading U.K. business thinker Handy is back with his most personal book yet. This time, he
blends
autobiography and business meditations in equal parts to create a memoir that offers thoughtful
advice on pursuing a fulfilling career, the changing structure of business, and the future of
capitalism.
Primal Leadership: Realizing The Power Of Emotional Intelligence
Daniel Goleman, Richard Boyatzis & Annie McKee
Harvard Business School Press
60 Harvard Way Boston, MA 02163
306 pp, $26.95, ISBN 157851486X, 1-800-668-6780
In the book of the month, this author team turns the emotional component of leadership, which
they
define as the primary difference between outstanding and average executives, into a science. The
book explains EI from the leadership perspective, describing four competencies -- self-awareness,
self-management, social awareness, and relationship management -- and applies them to six
leadership styles that execs can adopt to cover a wide range of situations.
Value-based Fees: How To Charge And Get What You Are Worth
Alan Weiss
Jossey-Bass, Inc.
350 Sansome Street, 5th floor, San Francisco, CA 94104-1342
207 pp, $40, ISBN 0787955116, 1-800-225-5945
In this text aimed at consultants, Weiss describes how to set and get fees based on the value
delivered to the client. He explains how to establish and communicate value to new and existing
customers, use retainers, and overcome price resistance. For good measure, he throws in sixty fast
ideas to raise fees and/or increase profits.
Everybody's Business: Managing Risks And Responsibilities In Today's Global Society
David Grayson and Adrian Hodges
DK Publishing, Inc.
95 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016
320 pp, $29.95, ISBN 0789483912, http://www.dk.com
To be successful in a global economy, according to this U.K.-based author team, companies must
take responsibility for the environment, the health and well-being of all stakeholders, human
rights,
and the communities in which they operate. In this handbook, they position social responsibility as
a
competitive advantage and offer a seven-step process aimed at helping execs understand and
manage
the social implications of their actions.
The Oracle Of Oracle
Florence Stone
Amacom Books
1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
226 pp, $24.95, ISBN 0814406394, 1-800-250-5308
In The Oracle Of Oracle: The Story Of Volatile Ceo Larry Ellison And The Strategies Behind His
Company, Florence Stone takes an unbiased look at Ellison and the software giant he built and
concludes that he is "the new millennium's Barnum." The book traces Ellison's career and the
growth
of Oracle, explores the company's values, culture, and strategies, and explains Ellison's latest bid
for
market success: the integrated E-Business Suite.
The Conflict Management Skills Workshop: A Trainer's Guide
Bill Withers
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
280 pp, $35, ISBN 0814470920, 1-800-250-5308
This oversized paperback includes all the materials needed to create a two-day, a one-day, or
three
half-day conflict management workshops. It covers mediation practice, conflict resolution, and
response skills, and includes course outlines, set-up instructions, activities and stories, and
reproducible visual aids and handouts.
True Partnership: Revolutionary Thinking About Relating To Others
Carl Zaiss
Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc.
450 Sansome Street, Suite 1200, San Francisco, CA 94111-3320
144 pp, $15.95, ISBN 157675166X, 1-800-929-2929
"The drift" -- that is, the traditional way in which we relate to each other -- is based on power and
control, a fact that leads to less-than-effective partnerships, according to consultant Zaiss. Instead,
he advocates a more powerful foundation for partnering built on interdependence, a focus on the
quality of the relationship, a win/win orientation, and a flexible, creative world-view.
I'm Stuck, You're Stuck
Tom Ritchey with Alan Axelrod
Berrett-Koehler
450 Sansome Street, Suite 1200, San Francisco, CA 94111-3320
203 pp, $15.95, ISBN 1576751333, 1-800-929-2929
Based on the behavioral model first developed in the 1920s by William Marston, I'm Stuck,
You're
Stuck: Break Through To Better Work Relationships And Results By Discovering Your DISC
Behavioral Style offers readers a way to measure and analyze their own and other peoples'
response
patterns. It describes the four major response types -- Dominance, Influence, Supportiveness, and
Conscientiousness -- and offers advice on how to manage them to improve your life and career.
X-Engineering The Corporation: Reinventing Your Business In The Digital Age
James Champy
Warner Business Books
1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
232 pp, $25.95, ISBN 0446528005, 1-800-759-0190
Reengineering guru Champy is back with a concept he calls x-engineering -- the use of
Internet-based technology to connect businesses to each other and their customers. The goal is to
wring savings out of transparent, customer-driven processes that effortlessly and instantly cross
organizational boundaries.
The Phoenix Effect: 9 Revitalizing Strategies No Business Can Do Without
Carter Pate and Harlan Platt
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
605 Third Avenue, 4th floor, New York, NY 10158-0012
244 pp, $27.95, ISBN 0471063626, 1-800-225-5945
Corporate renewal experts Pate and Platt think that every business, no matter how engulfed in
crisis,
can arise from its red ink. They use numerous examples to illustrate nine practical approaches to
resurrecting a troubled business such as redefining your markets, improving employee
productivity,
reframing debt, and restructuring processes.
The Big Idea: How Business Innovators Get Great Ideas To Market
Steven Strauss
Dearborn Trade
155 North Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606-1719
229 pp, $17.95, ISBN 0793148375, 1-800-621-9621
To inspire would-be innovators, Strauss entertainingly tells the stories behind thirty successful and
not-so-successful products, ranging from Barbie to Viagra. Along the way, he uncovers seven
"great
lessons" or general principles of innovation. These include: be first to market; keep it simple; be
prepared to take risks; stay the course; etc.
Sticky Fingers: Managing The Global Risk Of Economic Espionage
Steven Fink
Dearborn Trade
155 North Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606-1719
326 pp, $26, ISBN 0793148278, 1-800-621-9621
The annual cost of economic espionage to U.S. businesses is $250 billion and 56% of the Fortune
1000 admit to having been victimized, according to crisis consultant Fink. He weaves his
exploration
of the dimensions of the problem and how companies can best manage their exposure around the
story of the Avery Dennison spy case -- the first to go to trial under the Economic Espionage Act
of
1996.
The Corporate Shaman: A Business Fable
Richard Whiteley
Harper Business
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
147 pp, $19.95, ISBN 0060008393, 1-800-242-7737
It takes a shaman to enhance creativity, cooperation, and enthusiasm in the workplace, says
professional speaker Whiteley. In this fictionalized story of a management team in conflict, he
describes how to find your "power animal" -- raven, wolf, ram etc. -- and enlist its aid in healing
yourself and your working relationships.
Promoting Yourself: 52 Lessons For Getting To The Top...and Staying There
Hal Lancaster
Wall Street Journal Books
221 pp, $24.00, ISBN 0743213637
Lancaster's lessons, which appear to be drawn mainly from his half-decade stint as WSJ's career
columnist, cover a lot of ground in three to five pages apiece. They are organized into seven
topics:
getting a job; getting promoted; managing others; making mid-career adjustments; navigating
environmental change; office politics; and, alternative career choices.
The Art Of Speedreading People: How To Size People Up And Speak Their Language
Paul D. Tieger, Barbara Barron-Tieger, Marly A. Swick
Little Brown & Company
1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
ISBN: 0316845183, $16.95, 1-800-759-0190
Do you find that you often need to quickly size up a person? How about that new client sales
meeting? How about that blind date? Or the daughter's new boyfriend? A teacher? An opponent?
It
really doesn't matter why you need to quickly determine how to communicate with a person and
understand the way they think, the fact is that we all need to do it on a regular basis in one form
or
another. This book works through the Personality Typing paradigm of psychology and emerges
with
a comprehensive set of tools to determine quickly where a person fits within that paradigm. This
information can then be used to communicate effectively with the other person. It works through
this process by starting with you, the reader. You go through several steps to determine which
personality type you match and helping you to understand how that personality type tends to
communicate. Then you learn how to communicate with others with each of the different
personality
types. It is a highly recommended book with techniques that are useful for anyone in any social or
business situation.
The Complete Idiot's Guide To Handwriting Analysis
Sheila R. Lowe
Alpha Books/Pearson Technology Group
201 West 103rd Street, Indianapolis, IN 46290-1097
ISBN: 0028632028, $16.95, 456 pages, http://www.pearsonptg.com
The Complete Idiot's Guide To Handwriting Analysis is a wonderful introductory text to the field.
I
say introductory because it starts at the very basic level and explains items step by step. On the
other
hand it is pretty much an intermediate text because of its thoroughness and attention to detail.
And
yet it is written in a style that is light, easy to read, and easy to understand. One of the problems
with
trying to learn handwriting analysis is that there are a lot of books that contradict one another in
terms of what a particular stroke means. This book's author is a well respected authority in the
field
and the book contains information that is widely accepted by most schools of handwriting
analysis.
Lots of good information with no blind alleys and many notes and examples, it is probably the top
beginner/intermediate book on the subject out there today.
Handwriting Analysis: Putting It To Work For You
Andrea McNichol & Jeffrey A. Nelson (Contributor)
McGraw-Hill Book Company
Two Penn Plaza, New York, NY 10121
ISBN: 0809235668, $18.95, 1-800-722-4726
Whether you have a mild interest in graphology or a deep fascination with it, you will find this to
be
one of the best books on the market. Written in an easy to read style, each section starts with a
handful of questions to point out how much you already know about graphology without realizing
it.
It then goes on to explain how the samples should be interpreted and supplies the detailed
knowledge needed to analyze it further. There is a chapter with some analysis of doodles, but it is
far
too small to be of much value. As for the rest of the book, all the typical forms of analysis from
margins and slants to the details of crossing a "t" or doting an "i" are well covered. Whether a
beginner to the field or an experienced graphologist, this book has everything you need to
understand graphology or improve your skill level. Very well written, a delight to read, packed
with
detail, easy to learn and a tremendous reference. A must have book for anyone dealing with
graphology.
The Relaxation & Stress Reduction Workbook
Martha Davis, Matthew, Ph.D. McKay & Elizabeth Robbins Eshelman
New Harbinger Publications
5674 Shattuck Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609
ISBN: 1572242140, $19.95, 276 pages, 1-800-748-6273, http://www.newharbinger.com/
Unlike many books, this book is exactly what the title purports it to be. It is a workbook
containing
most of the common and not so common techniques being used for relaxation and stress
reduction
today. Each chapter not only describes a technique but also what symptoms you can expect it to
relieve and an estimate of how long you will have to use it in order to master the technique. I have
seen no other book that does such a thorough job as this one. That is not to say that there are not
others that are much better on a specific technique, but this is the best overall survey of all the
currently used and effective techniques and the only one that guides you to what to expect, the
details of the techniques and how long you will have to practice before seeing results.
Difficult Conversations: How To Discuss What Matters Most
Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton, Sheila Heen, Roger Fisher
Penguin USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
ISBN: 014028852X, $14.00, 250 pages, 1-800-847-5515
There's nothing like the difficult conversation that has to be done. You may have to tell a friend
something that you know will hurt them deeply, you may have to tell the boss that you are
quitting
after many years of a friendly working environment, you may have to break off a relationship or
who
knows what else. Difficult conversations are a part of life and often a staple part of life with a
teenager. That is where this book comes in. The authors discuss the structure of these
conversations
and how you can get to the heart of the matter with compassion and clarity so that each party gets
through it as a team or with a minimum of emotional pain. It also examines why they are difficult
conversations. In short it teaches how to examine situations in terms of how each person
perceived
what happened, how each person feels about the situation or is likely to feel when they are
confronted, and the identity issues that are involved when discussing the subject. A fine book that
will help many people learn how to deal with a difficult conversation, but should be augmented by
"Words that Hurt; Words the Heal" or a similar text.
Mindworks : Unlock The Promise Within : NLP Tools For Building A Better Life
Anne Linden, Kathrin Perutz
Berkley Publishing Group
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
ISBN: 0425166244, $6.99, 368 pages, 1-800-847-5515
This text explores various facets of NLP and how it can be used to change your life. The author is
the director of an NLP training center in New York City, but the writing style and presentation of
the material is done in an easy to understand and conversational style. The book is also packed
with
examples to demonstrate the concepts, which helps tremendously in understanding how they are
supposed to work. At the end of each section are practical exercises that help you apply the
techniques covered in that chapter. I really liked the way that the book is laid out in short chapters
that could be read in just a few minutes. It made it easy to pick it up when I had a few minutes,
read
a chapter, read the exercises and apply that technique. I also enjoyed the chapter about changing
behavior and working with problems that you have tried unsuccessfully to rid yourself of before.
Some of the first sections seemed to spend a lot of time on basic communication techniques,
which
is a very important part of NLP, but it seemed repetitive to the point of being almost boring. If
you
find the first sections fascinating then that is great, if you find them common sense and a bit more
boring then hang in there as it does get better and provide a lot of useful information before the
book is completed. A good book with a lot of basic useful techniques that you can apply yourself,
it
is a wonderful reference that should be read several times a year to remind you that there are
other
techniques that you may not have tried which might help you unlock the promise of who you can
be.
Addictive Thinking And The Addictive Personality
Craig Nakken, Abraham J. Twerski
Mjf Books
c/o Imprint of Fine Communications
Two Lincoln Square, 60 West, 66th Street New York, New York 10023
ISBN: 1567313310, $7.98, 288 pages, 1-212-595-3500, http://www.amazon.com
Addictive Thinking And The Addictive Personality is actually two books put together as a set in a
common binding. The first book, Addictive Thinking, was pretty much a rehash to anyone who
has
read anything about alcoholism and addiction. If you are completely new to trying to understand
alcoholic addiction then it may have some value, but there are better books on that subject. It
could
more accurately be called Addictive Thinking in the Alcoholic. On the other hand the second
book,
The Addictive Personality, was an excellent and broad reaching tome on addiction. It covers how
addictions form, what they mean to the person, what the person is thinking, their fears, concerns
and
innermost turmoil. It not only applied to alcoholic addiction but food addictions, power
addictions,
sexual addictions, etc. If you truly want to understand how addictions form and what is really
going
on below the surface then this is one of the best books I have read on the subject.
Bias: A Cbs Insider Exposes How The Media Distort The News
Bernard Goldberg
Regnery Publishing, Inc.
One Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001
ISBN: 0895261901, $27.95, 234 pages, http://www.regnery.com
Bernard Goldberg was a respected veteran reporter for CBS. He had won an emmy seven times
for
his broadcast reporting and was considered a peer among the likes of Dan Rather, Tom Brokaw
and
Peter Jennings (at least considered a peer by viewers if not by Dan, Tom or Peter). In his book he
steps forward to tell how reporting bias has interfered with truthful and honest reporting using
specific examples. You'll note that I said he was a respected veteran reporter. After coming
forward
with an expose of the liberal bias in news reporting and how it is used to support the causes of
various pressure groups instead of actually reporting news in an evenhanded manner, he was
terminated from his employment. The only thing that I did not like about the book was the
common
thread that ran through all of it that sounded like a child ranting and raving about the local bully .
Dan said this, Peter said that, hearing the story once was enough without having it repeated again
and again throughout the book. On the other hand, when it turned to actual examples of how the
facts differed from the reporting in multiple situations it becomes a fascinating book. The
examples
are accurate and very detailed. You end up with the conviction that this is a timely book, from a
respected source, providing compelling evidence of strong bias in news reporting today. I had the
advantage of confirming Mr. Goldberg's accusations and depictions of the character of various
high
profile newscasters with a retired news producer from one of the big three networks. His
comment?
Right on the money.
Harold McFarland
Reviewer
Gorden's Bookshelf
Aftermath
Peter Robinson
William Morrow
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022
ISBN: 0-380-97832-6, $25.00, copyright 2001, 387 pages
Aftermath takes a unique spin on the detective mystery. A serial rapist/killer is killed by the police
in
an unrelated crime. Robinson's novel answers the question of how do you prove what happened
when your suspect is already dead. 'Aftermath' has the flavor of the TV series 'Law and Order.'
Both
start their investigations after the event. Surprisingly the questions that come up are just as
intriguing
as they would be if they were asked before the suspect was found. And there are more questions.
Why didn't we find the suspect before and how could we not have asked the correct questions
earlier
in the investigation?
Acting Detective Superintendent Alan Banks is a believable lead character. His interactions with
the
other police officers, investigators, witnesses, and suspects have just enough of a ring of reality to
bring the reader into the story. Banks stubbornly pulls every thread of the investigation until he
knows the truth of what has happened. He is, at times, both the brilliant detective with sudden
insights into the crime and the conscientious cop who doesn't stop until everything is
answered.
Aftermath takes a different look at the detective mystery but it is an easy recommendation for any
reader in the genre. Its unusual approach brings my ranking of a solid B mystery up to an A.
Future Eves
Jean Marie Stine, editor
Renaissance E Books
P.O. Box 494, Clemmons, North Carolina 27012
ISBN: 1-58873-070-0, $4.00, electronic download, Copyright 2002, 166 pages,
www.renebooks.com
Those who have been following my reviews know that I love the pulp style of writing. During the
first half of the twentieth century, the bulk of the experimentation and vitality of the writing
profession appeared in the pulp magazines. These single-themed, short story magazines drove the
development of the genre styles found in today's storytelling. The pulp writing style has both its
good points and its bad with the good out weighing the bad. Reading Future Eves will let you
track
the changes in the pulp style from the 1920s to 1960. Although the stories are science fiction by
women with women lead characters, they are really just a selection of stories representing the
Golden Age of pulp SF.
Future Eves is laid out chronologically. It is easy to follow the development of the science fiction
genre as the publishing form matures. The first story is a simple world invasion theme reminiscent
of
H.G. Wells' 'War of the Worlds' but with a reversing twist of roles. The next is a psychological
mystery written back when psychology was considered speculative science. The next is an
exploration of the horror genre that has just enough chemistry to cross into SF. And so on. Each
story looks at changes in culture and thought, from the exciting speculation of the Roaring
Twenties
to the possibilities of thermo nuclear war in the late 1950s, through the eyes of SF.
For those readers who are serious about SF or learning about the history of the twentieth century,
'Future Eves' is a collection of stories that have to be read. For readers dabbling in SF, the pulp
style
of writing in 'Future Eves' can be a disconcerting, but pleasant, change of pace from the
generalized
sameness of the current SF market.
Last Breath
Michael Prescott
Signet
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
ISBN: 0-4512-0507-3, $6.99, US copyright 2001, 400 pages
The Last Breath is one of those stories that you need to plan ahead to read. You will not want to
stop once you start. Prescott's writing style is plain and simple. The story is what forces you to
read.
I found that the suspense built up continually through the first few chapters, which left a problem
for
the middle and end of the novel. Where do you go if you have already exhausted the emotions of
your readers? Even with the problems, Prescott's open style and ability to let the story tell itself
make him an author worth looking for.
Last Breath starts with ten year old Caitlin Jean, C.J., Osborn being attacked by an assailant she
calls
'The Boogeyman.' She survives the attack by fighting back with a knife but the attacker leaves no
proof of his attack behind and her family doesn't believe that the assault occurred. The trauma
stays
with her and she becomes a cop to fight the fear that is always with her.
A new serial killer dubbed 'The Hourglass Killer' has set his sights on C.J. An anonymous Internet
informant sends an email to a member of the FBI computer fraud squad with the address of the
web
site used by 'The Hourglass Killer.' And the web of interconnecting threads from 'The Boogeyman'
to 'The Hourglass Killer' starts to unravel. But will the threads come apart in time to save
C.J.?
Last Breath isn't the best action mystery. It misses by a thread. If you can stand the intense pace,
'Breath' is a must read. There are problems with the pacing and believability of the story but the
strength of the basic tale is more than enough for these minor difficulties. If you have a day free
for
reading, you will not be disappointed using it to read this action mystery.
Libraries In The Ancient World
Lionel Casson
Yale University Press
PO Box 209040, New Haven, CT 06520-9040
0300088094 $22.95 1-800-987-7323
"This book," writes Casson, "is the first full-scale study of libraries in the ancient world. It
presents
whatever is known about them from their debut in the ancient Near East in the third millennium
B.C.
down to the Early Byzantine period, and the fourth and fifth centuries A.D., when the spread of
Christianity and of monasticism fundamentally changed the course of library history."
Going back long before the famous library was built in Alexandria, Egypt circa 300 B.C., this slim
volume tells the physical details of prominent libraries and their contents soon after writing began
on
clay tablets.
Papyrus, made from the papyrus reed, became the dominant product used to write on. Egypt held
a
virtual monopoly on papyrus because the plan
