Answering Their Country's Call: Marylanders in World War II Review

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(More customer reviews)For starters, every Marylander should buy this book! I have never said anything like that before. And it's not just because I have an uncle and one friend/neighbor in this book. It's because these chapters are written and these stories are told so well. (And the interviews were carried out just in time.) There is also wonderful diversity represented here--of race, background, military arm, theatre of operations, rank, etc. Many of these stories are quite harrowing. Typically my responses were: I don't think I could have done that. And: Thank you--thank you--for your service.
Of course, as sometimes happens, my other thought was that I should have done this book. It was a great idea, well and faithfully executed.

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The Good Thief's Guide to Paris (Good Thief's Guides) Review

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(More customer reviews)I enjoyed this mystery, and will look for others by Chris Ewan. Light read, wry humor, good characters, good plot with good twists. I did find some of the grammatical errors [use of "me" when "I" was appropriate; incorrect use of the subjunctive "if I was to ...", etc.]distracting; is that carping? But on the whole, a recommended read.

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Murder 101 (Alison Bergeron Mysteries) Review

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(More customer reviews)"Murder 101," Maggie Barbieri's debut novel, features Alison Bergeron, an English professor at St. Thomas, a small Catholic college in the Bronx. Alison calls herself "queen of the nerds," and it is an apt description. She is in her thirties, five-foot ten, intellectual, a chatterbox, clumsy, and prone to making silly and often inappropriate wisecracks. She cries at the drop of a hat and often faints or pukes under stress. Alison was recently divorced from her husband of seven years, a fellow professor who cheated on her repeatedly.
Her problems with her ex-husband fade into the background when two policemen barge into Alison's office. It seems that one of her students, Kathy Miceli, has been found dead in the trunk of Alison's car. The fact that the police consider Alison a suspect is bad enough, but making matters worse is the fact that Kathy's parents are reputedly Mob connected. If they believe that Alison was in any way responsible for their daughter's death, they might have her fitted with cement boots and dumped into the Hudson River.
The only silver lining is that one of the detectives who questions Alison, Robert Crawford, is nice-looking and apparently single. Alison is attracted to him, and she believes that her interest may be reciprocated. Alison's best friend, the sassy Maxine Rayfield, dubs Crawford "Detective Hot Pants," and snickers suggestively whenever he and his partner are around. As the investigation progresses, Alison's life is repeatedly threatened; she is also in danger of losing her heart to the compassionate and adorable Detective Crawford.
Barbieri's debut novel is a frothy combination of romantic chick lit and murder mystery lite. For the most part, "Murder 101" is formulaic and far-fetched, but it has pleasant moments of lighthearted wit and sweetness. Alison is a refreshing character: bright academically but naive in almost every other way. As she puts it, "I had spent way too many years with my head in books." It's time for her to grow up at last, and as a result of her traumatic experiences, Alison learns a great deal about the tough realities of life. "Murder 101" is an inoffensive, squeaky clean, and delightfully funny murder mystery with a spunky and appealing heroine.


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X: The Erotic Treasury Review

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(More customer reviews)Last night I attended a reading at Books Inc. for this book. It was a real treat to hear four of the authors read their stories out loud. I could feel the energy in the air as the sexual tension built with each reading. :)
I enjoyed this book immensely. Not only is it a gorgeous, luxurious book that would make a beautiful Valentine's, birthday or Christmas gift, but the content inside is rich, too. The stories feature a range of sexual situations from lesbian shoe worship, hot anonymous alley hook-ups, sex with a murderer on the run, to ritual spanking and circus love. While some of these scenarios may not be my particular fantasy, all are well-written, compelling and hot.
This would make a superb gift for both the erotica newbie and the person with a shelf full of sexy paperbacks who might enjoy a special treat.

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If there's only room for one book on your bedside table, this should be it.The reigning mistress of erotica, Susie Bright, has expertly chosen 40 of the hottest stories ever written: breathtaking new stories as well as the most sought-after stories from The Best American Erotica series. Designed in a "gotta-touch-it" slipcase with a cloth-covered book, the package cultivates the quality and taboo satisfaction of the stories themselves. Luminaries like Carol Queen and Robert Olen Butler contribute to the stories about all kinds of lovers: heartbreakers, foxes, maniacs, romanticists, hell-raisers, and utter bandits. This delicious collection is certain to satisfy.

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Among Thieves Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been fascinated with the theft at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, so I was intrigued by the storyline of David Hosp's latest novel. Fortunately, Among Thieves did not disappoint!
Location is as much a character in the novel as the people; David Hosp captures the atmosphere of Boston well from Gardner Museum in the Fenway area to South Boston and the streets of Boston.
While attorney Scott Finn is a convincing and likable lead character, I was drawn in by Finn's colleagues Lissa Krantz and former detective Kozlowski. Lissa Krantz is a strong independent attorney from a privileged background who cares fiercely about her small circle. Tough and burly, Kozlowski ("Koz") built a reputation for integrity and competence in the Boston Police Department but hadn't gotten along with his superiors; after retiring from the police, Koz built a niche as the investigator of their group. When Finn, Koz, and Lissa take on Malley's case in the course of their practice, they approach his case with professional distance. But the three grow increasingly invested and Malley becomes more than a client as the story evolves.
Among Thieves is a satisfying and compelling escape - an art theft mystery and a legal thriller to enjoy.
ISBN-10: 0446580155; $24.99 - hardcover
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (January 11, 2010), 384 pages.
Review copy provided by the publisher.

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End of the Spear Review

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(More customer reviews)Holding the distinction of being the most homicidal people group ever, until the Gospel penetrated their culture, the Huaorani of Ecuador have about six thousand years' worth of catching up to do. And they know exactly who is going to help them do it. The man is Steve Saint, their adopted "cowodi" son... whose father they killed, along with four other missionaries in 1956.
The book is captivating as it brings the THROUGH GATES OF SPLENDOR story up to date. I really liked Steve's honesty in relating his story and the frequent use of Huaorani terms. I would like to have a glossary as well, though.
The book includes many color photos, but it would have been nice to see more names along with the photos. I also would have liked to see more current photos of some of the people who appeared in THE DAYUMA STORY, such as Dayuma's sisters and Tyaento ("Sam") and Bai. A Mincaye family photo would have been very interesting as well. It would have made a lot more sense for the dust jacket to feature pictures of real people instead of movie actors.
This remains one of the greatest stories of our time, if not the Second Greatest Story Ever Told. But before getting into this book, I really believe one needs to read THROUGH GATES OF SPLENDOR and THE DAYUMA STORY, at least.

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The Heir Review

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After his splendid performance of the audio edition of The Ravenscar Dynasty who else to give voice to the second in Bradford's trilogy than British actor and playwright John Lee? His delivery is again impeccable as he successfully brings to life a large cast of characters. His voice is deep with a slight British accent - all the better to read these roles with.
Listeners who have felt withdrawal symptoms without a Bradford saga to lose themselves in have shown they're delighted with the trials and tribulations, maladies and machinations of the Deravenel family. Bradford is deft at plotting stories of multi generational families and The Heir is not an exception as the now 33-year-old Edward Deravenel struggles to hold his company together in the midst of an influenza epidemic, and the plotting of brother George. As if this were not enough, he finds no solace or comfort in the arms of his wife Elizabeth.
While Bradford's storyline is unsurprising, it's pure magic for many.
- Gail Cooke

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Impetuous R., Secret Agent Review

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(More customer reviews)Impy and his friends are young cockroaches who just can't help butting in when anything concerns them - especially when the roach family's home is threatened with ruin. And in such a case, it's up to little Impy to investigate the future of his colony - and to uncover unique methods of saving his home. Add a healthy dose of intrigue and you have a fun, light-hearted read for kids in grades 4-6 with Jane Leslie Conly's Impetuous R., Secret Agent.


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Managing Your Emotions: Instead of Your Emotions Managing You Review

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(More customer reviews)I had been watching Joyce Meyer on television for many years. Her background of abuse and emotional turmoil was something that drew me to her. Emotionally, I had no connections.
Not long ago I was in a season of emotional winter. Everything looked dark, cold and dreary. I had confessed many scriptures, read many books, but could not shake off my winter of discontent. I hate to admit it- but I was depressed. During this season I joined a book club and "Managing Your Emotions" was one of the books I selected.
When it arrived I was a little hesitant to open it because I did not know how it was going to challenge me. I started reading it and I was able to identify with some destructive cycles that I was going around in. I was always getting my feelings hurt, feeling rejected, feeling alone and unwanted. Joyce went through those cycles especially in dealing with her husband, Dave. As I read the book I started to realize that if she overcame all of those things then I could too.
There was no quick fix but she had to get in the word of God and start to believe what God said about her. She believed that God loved her and that he had good plans for her. She had to confess the scriptures daily and over a period of time she learned how to manage or take control over her feelings.
One thing that she mentioned in her book that was extremely powerful for me was the fact that God gave us these emotions but we needed to know when to express them. I learned that I could get angry, only I should not stay in anger because it produces bitterness. This book really helped me and reading it was like a therapy session.
Everyone who is breathing, has friends, families, children, co-workers etc. can benefit from reading this book. It might not be for you but it can help you to help someone else. It is information we all can use. (1-26-2004)

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God Gave You Emotions on Purpose! Our emotions play a vital role in living happy, healthy, successful lives. All emotions, from love and joy to anger and fear, have an important part to play in understanding ourselves and others. They help us discover the wonders of this life as well as warn us when we are in danger. But this diversity of feelings is meant to complement our life, not determine it! In this life-transforming book, Joyce Meyer reveals powerful truths from God's Word that will help you learn to manage all of your emotions in the right direction. Through hilarious illustrations and real-life applications, Joyce delivers the keys to keeping your emotions in the proper place while allowing the Spirit of God to lead and direct you. Dynamic scriptural insights are included on topics such as: * How not to be led by feelings * Codependency * Forgiveness * Mood swings * Healing for damaged emotions * Depression * And much more! Don't allow your feelings to determine your destiny! Instead, manage your emotions to complement and enhance your attitude for a joyful, victorious life!

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Wellspring of Chaos (Saga of Recluce) Review

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(More customer reviews)Wellspring of Chaos is probably the best Recluce novel Modesitt has penned since the Chaos Balance, a solid if not spectacular addition to a series that had badly run out of gas the last few books. What makes it better? The good books in the series share the common thread of exploring the intriguing cultures and magic of Recluce; the bad ones use it as a backdrop for what has become a bit of a repeating boy-overcomes-obstacles-to-be-world-changing-mage/Emperor/etc. The good news is this has a lot more in common with the former.
The story is one we've heard before and unfortunately elements remain formulaic enough to knock it down a star. Without ruining plot, Kharl the Cooper is a good-deeds type who does a good deed for the wrong person, gets forced from his home, sails around the globe (literally), finds himself in exile, and helps out the land and people of his exile. Substitute sail for wander and Recluce has seen this tale told before - Magic of Recluce, Towers of the Sunset, Magic Engineer, Order War, Fall of Angels, among others. It's familiar territory, for better or for worse.
Now the good news. First, Kharl is Modesitt's first middle-aged Recluce protagonist since Nylan in the Chaos Balance, meaning Modesitt ratchets Kharl's observation level of life's travails up a few notches from his typical kid. This doesn't mean Kharl is any quicker off the bat than some others - his awakening as an Order Mage resembles that of Lerris - but we don't have to watch him do truly dumb things. Second, the wanderjahr is better done than any book since Chaos Balance. Kharl visits almost every major city on the planet in his sailing, and its the exploration of the different cultures in this well articulated world that make this worth reading. Nordla and Austra finally get explored, as well as side trips into Hamor, Recluce and Candar, the last of which features some neat cameos by previous series characters. As it turns out, Austra and Nordla don't feel much different from various Candar provinces, but its still interesting reading. Finally, Kharl does interesting things with Order magic - there's new tricks in that old dog.
The formulaic aspect to the plot clearly subtracts a bit, meaning this is good but doesn't rank with the very best of the series (such as Towers or Death of Chaos). Still, its the best of Recluce in several years, and the various plot threads Modesitt leaves undone means we'll get a sequel of hopefully similar quality.
It's also not a bad entry point for the series given that Kharl has to have the history of Candar explained to him by his shipmates, meaning you get a pretty solid background even if you don't know the series. Those of us who have a bookshelf full of Modesitt first editions and would buy the next just to keep the series complete have a worthwhile read ahead.

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The Shell Seekers Review

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(More customer reviews)This has got to be one of the best books I have ever read. Pilcher takes you in, warms your heart and then wraps you up in the tales of her story, which is spun so intricately with love. Her writing style leaves no corner of a setting or character uncovered. You can see the tilt of their head or an upturned smile, even the scent that they might be wearing or the sea breeze as the wind whips the hair against your face. She is a master.
Penelope is in the later years of her life. After time spent in the hospital she is facing her mortality, along with the present she is remembering her life, loves, and secrets. One of which she has carried quietly over the decades. She is taking a good hard look at her 3 grown children who have not all turned out like a mother might hope for. As they quibble over Penelope's assets she is disgusted by their behavior.
I became so entranced by this book that it was all I wanted to read. There are several surprises along the way and the book is filled with characters that are quite memorable. I have read and enjoyed many of Pilcher's works, one of my favorites being WINTER SOLSTICE, but I have to say this was indeed my favorite of all time. Kelsana 9/01/01

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The Lost Art of Gratitude: An Isabel Dalhousie Novel (Isabel Dalhousie Mysteries) Review

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(More customer reviews)You have to believe that author Alexander McCall Smith has a special fondness for his main character in "The Sunday Philosophy Club" series, Isabel Dalhousie, for he has created for her a seamlessly agreeable life. She is intelligent, well-educated, well-to-do and beautiful. She has a handsome, sensitive and younger fiance, who has fathered her beautiful and well-behaved son. Isabel loves her "job" as a moral philosopher and editor of a scholarly journal and lives in a historic mansion in Edinburgh, a city that fits her like a glove.
So without the frisson and stress, how does "The Lost Art of Gratitude" (and others in the series) grab the reader's attention and hold it? It may well be that the very stresslessness of living is what makes her story so interesting and enjoyable to the reader. You know that nothing terrible will ever really happen to Isabel and to the ones she loves. Who doesn't fantasize about a world where we are surrounded by beauty and intelligence that will never end? Where babies don't ever have to have their diapers changed nor do they ever get colic or throw tantrums. Where your SO, in addition to being beautiful/handsome and talented, respects you and intuitively connects with your every thought and impulse. And is always yin to your yang.
McCall Smith does provide a few gray clouds for his heroine in "The Lost Art..." in the form of a couple of Isabel's old adversaries--Minty Aucterlonie and Christopher Dove, but they have both been vanquished by Isabel in the past, and there is no doubt that she will prevail against them again.
Ultimately, the greatest pleasure from the book for this reader, was the time and space that Isabel Dalhousie is given to ruminate about the human condition and the interactions of people in ordinary day-to-day situations. This isn't peace in the Middle East or the answer to world poverty, but it is important reflection on how we behave toward each other as residents of shared communities. Hypocrisy and greed are two of the main identified enemies for Isabel, but all human folly is grist for her consideration. Respect and charity are always her goals.
McCall Smith's paragon does have interesting flaws--she is overly considerate and reasonable and therefore unable, at times, to correctly read the baser actions of others. These misunderstandings and her occasional outright cluelessness give the story needed zing and interest.
"The Lost Art of Gratitude" is another gentle and sweet installment in a series that you have to hope will hold McCall Smith's interest and enterprise for many years to come.


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Selling the True Time: Nineteenth-Century Timekeeping in America Review

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(More customer reviews)While it may be hard to easily categorize this title, it should become a mainstay of college-level collections of all sizes and types. Selling the True Time studies the transition from local to national timekeeping and a world-wide system of keeping time in the late 1800s. Until the railroads become involved, American lacked any uniform system to coordinate times: this charts the early involvement of the railroads in a process which transformed the world. Revealing and involving in its depth and detail, this is highly recommended.

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The Millennium File Review

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(More customer reviews)Vaughn's rather hard-edged thriller is both fun and fast, written in punches. It's a page turner with well-developed characters and a larger than life villain capable of both hi and low tech horror.

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Five Star First Edition Mystery - Black Like Blood: An Esbeth Walters Mystery Review

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(More customer reviews)While diving in a storm at night, teenage lovers Donnie Spurlock and Karyn Rainey find a corpse at the bottom of the lake. The townsfolk of Kiowa County are already shaken with the recent unsolved murder of Donnie's father, the mayor of Hoel's Dam, Dennie. The corpse found in the lake is Dennie's older brother Hugh, a WW II veteran missing for forty years whose father also went missing.
Texas Ranger Tillis Macrory investigates the homicides linked by blood, but rumors also include lost diamonds. As the two youngsters refuse to back off and continue digging for the truth, new sheriff's dispatcher septuagenarian retired schoolteacher Esbeth Walters mistrusts all law enforcement officials although she thinks Tillis is the cleanest except when he thinks with the wrong head involving the new deputy Gala.
Esbeth, the star of NO MURDER BEFORE ITS TIME, actually gets involved about halfway into this enjoyable police procedural. Three teams of investigations compete. Tillis assisted by his long time friend and Karyn's father game warden Logan make up the most professional inquiries; the sheriff's office is officially in charge; finally the teen lovers provide an amateur sleuth look. Russ hall brings these divergent competing investigations with Esbeth the retired teacher looking down from her big "desk" with a moral light as she trusts none of the players to learn the truth though her reasoning varies. BLACK LIKE BLOOD is a deep Texas who-done-it with a strong cast.
Harriet Klausner


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Esbeth Walters, a retired high school math teacher in her youthful 70s, tells herself that she's never too old to learn something new the hard way when she takes a job as part-time dispatcher at the Sheriff's Department - just a week after the mayor of a small town in the county has been murdered. New to the area, she soon learns that somewhere under the crust of her newly adopted rural Texas county there is a history of feuds, corruption, betrayal, and violence. Wild talk of a lost diamond mine helps to peel back the scab and she begins to wonder if even Texas Ranger Tillis Macrory isn't as tainted as the rest of them. He is overly friendly to attractive deputy Gala and has sat at the card table of gambler Morgan Lane. Esbeth tells him, "I think there's something about this one you needed, something that rattles you to your deeps." Tillis isn't helped when the murdered mayor's son Donnie and his girlfriend, Karyn, find another body - Denny's brother Hugh, who's been missing for forty years. Donnie and Karyn, daughter of Tillis' game warden friend, Logan Rainey, can't seem to leave the mess alone, and their relentless digging unearths a side to the story no one, not even Esbeth, could have expected.Russ Hall resides in rustic splendor on a lake in the Hill Country of central Texas.

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Hollow Ground Review

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(More customer reviews)As a college classmate of Stephen Marion, I was delighted to see his first novel and immediately bought a copy. Unfortunately, as I began reading, I was not that impressed. It isn't that Stephen Marion isn't a gifted author. It's just that I found the plot draggy, the points of view shifted way too much and at times, I found myself backtracking to see just what was going on. Perhaps I was expecting to see more of our hometown in the book, but I didn't. At any rate, I enjoyed works he did in college much better!

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Rivals: The Ten Greatest American Sports Rivalries of the 20th Century Review

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(More customer reviews)Sports rivalries are a wonderful thing. They stimulate excellence on the field, the court, the ring, the links, whatever the place of competition. They generate attention from even the most casual observer of the sport and the activities of its players. Who didn't tune in to watch the Soviets play the Americans in hockey during the Olympics; not only was it a great rivalry on the ice it also held enormous geopolitical resonance.
Richard O. Davies's "Rivals!" is an enjoyable recitation of the histories of several rivalries extending across a broad spectrum of sporting activities from the late nineteenth century to the present. These include Yale/Harvard, Bears/Packers, and Michigan/Ohio State in football; Dodgers/Giants and Yankees/Red Sox in baseball; Duke/North Carolina in college basketball; Lakers/Celtics in professional basketball; and the three individual rivalries of Jack Nicklaus/Arnold Palmer in gold, Joe Frazier/Mohammed Ali in boxing, and Chris Evert/Martina Navratilova in tennis.
OK, this is fine as far as it goes. It is obvious that there are many other possibilities, and depending on your perspective it might be more appropriate than the rivalries Davies came up with. How about the Oakland Raiders/Kansas City Chiefs football rivalry? How about the Auburn/Alabama college football rivalry? And then there are the great rivalries of Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan in figure skating, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird in basketball, Granbling and Southern in college football, John McEnroe and Björn Borg in tennis, the Boston Bruins and the New York Rangers in hockey, and Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt in stock car racing, Connecticut vs. Tennessee in women's basketball, and Army and Navy in college football. Then there are the weird rivalries, such as Kelly Slater and Andy Irons in surfing, Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant in professional wrestling, and Seabiscuit vs. War Admiral in horse racing.
I think Davies did fine choosing his top ten, but I like some of these other ones, and what I most dislike is the assertion in the subtitle that these are "The Ten Greatest American Sports Rivalries of the Twentieth Century." I'm not sure they are the greatest, although I will allow that they are great. It would have been entertaining to have seen an essay on the rivalry between Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant or about Seabiscuit and War Admiral.
In the end, the one issues that forces me to give this a four star rather than a five star review is that it spent more time reciting the various histories of the teams discussed rather than their rivalries. What took place between them, were their fights in the stands, did fights break out at bars, did other ugly things take place? Likewise, were they friendly rivalries and how did fans deal with it. In the end this is not just about the teams and the players, but also about cities and regions and their allegiances. I would have liked to know much more about that. Additionally, there was little analysis of what a rivalry in sports means in twentieth century America, something that I would welcome in this study. As it is, the book is enjoyable and useful to a point, but I await others who will really try to analyze this phenomenon.

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