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In Southern California, everyone pays respect to the "great" man, but his widow Mary Jane "MJ" Hollander knows her bisexual spouse's final breath was on a round bed of a "pseudowoman". While his adult kids and their spouses salivate over the inheritance, MJ makes it through the platitudes and the sushi served by her stepson only because her two best friends Cat and Bitsey are truly there for her. The three transplanted southern amigos get together to help MJ with her grief and discuss the men in their lives including the one that memory serves as being their ideal mate. Bitsey is married to her lord and master Jack Albertson who never appreciates her efforts because if he didn't do the chore then it is not perfect; however, he never does it with her nor helps with their Stepford kids. Cat has less patience with the lesser gender than her friends having two divorces on her belt. Sick of selfish perfection, avaricious stepchildren, and failing husbands, the trio agree to visit each one's hunk that got away to see if the memories match the realities or their dead, ex, and living husbands. Though middle age female buddies star, OLD BOYFRIENDS is an amusing coming of age relationship drama. The three women learn about themselves during their often comic escapades as they realize how much their behavior as an individual and as a trio impact on the rapport with others. Though the fine story line lacks a specific center to hold the tale together due to the constant rotation of perspective, fans of a jocular tale with a moral "to thine own self be true" will hitch a ride in the Jag.

Boston based research neurogeneticist Daisy Hubbard is obsessed with her work on gene therapy for brain disorders because of family illnesses. Her brother died at six years old of Stier-Zellar's disease; her mother has depression; and her sister Anna suffers from schizophrenia. When her mom goes over the edge because Anna vanishes, Daisy thinks nothing of this because her sibling has disappeared before. However, mom makes a persuasive case that this time the vanishing act is different so reluctantly Daisy leaves her laboratory haven to travel to California. LAPD Detective Jack Makowski convinces Daisy to help him with her sibling's missing person's case that includes other females that seem linked to a serial killer. Starting with visiting Anna's friends in De Campo Beach, last known place that she apparently was before falling off the map, the duo investigates unaware that the culprit is taking genetic engineering to the extreme by eradicating those with specific diseases. LIFE SENTENCES is a terrific medical thriller that provides readers with a deep look at the full impact on families by degenerative diseases to include members without any illnesses as there is a psychological impact as well as physical and financial factors. The exhilarating story line is action-packed yet insures the two key players, Daisy and the killer come across as similar yet opposites. Anyone who reads Alice Blanchard's strong tale will wonder why we bushwhack stem cell research.

In Avon County, Pennsylvania, Homicide Detective Evan Crosby is sick when he sees the fourth victim in under a month. Each casualty was pretty young female, ages 12 - 14, attending a private school, and left without shoes. His lover, FBI profiler Annie Marie McCall tries to give him solace, but knows how difficult coping with this case is. At the wedding of Annie's sister to a Shield sibling, Evan feels left out as the happy occasion is more a wake to FBI Agent Thomas Shield, who was assassinated. Upset, Evan leaves when another girl is killed without a word to Annie who is inside the Shield zone since Thomas was her fiancé, which bans the detective from entry. Not long afterward, knowing she needs closure, Evan offers a fresh pair of eyes in investigating the murder. As they work together on the Shield murder and the serial killings, an agency insider watches them very closely because he will have them eliminated if they get to close to him or his young girl black market ring. The fourth Dead tale is a potent romantic suspense tale starring two likable protagonists in love yet struggling to form a relationship because of the ghost of her murdered fiancé. The Shield Zone is tighter than ever, denser than a black hole as no matter escapes this closely knit family to the chagrin of Evan. Annie is terrific as she balances her second strike of love's lightning bolt with her first hit, but still needs closure, which Evan knows means uncovering who killed Thomas. Mariah Stewart is dead on with this tale and series

New York based Deputy U.S. Marshal Juliet Longstreet knows she must be cautious as Bobby Tatro was just released from federal prison after serving four years. He vowed to avenge his arrest when Juliet took him down in Syracuse and she believes this violent man will come for her. In New York she finds her apartment house doorman murdered and her place searched as if someone was looking for an edge to get at her. Wanting to insure the safety of her family though most are law enforcement types, Juliet vows not wait for Tatro to make any more moves. While she searches for Tatro, former Special Forces officer Ethan Brooker seeks the actual killer of his wife though he helped expose Nick Jannsen who called for the hit on his beloved Charlene. He believes that they have a mutual enemy as Tatro pulled the trigger. Ethan keeps Juliet on edge more so than the killer coming for her, but she persuades him to team up to keep her family safe as Tatro is coming for them. The latest Carla Neggers deputy US Marshals tale is a tense romantic suspense thriller in which the lead couple tracks down a killer while trying to ignore their attraction to one another. The joint investigation seems at first simple enough to the lead pair and readers, but takes twists into a deadly conspiracy in which avariciousness leads to homicide and places her family at risk. Though similar in tone to previous tales like NIGHT'S LANDING, Ms. Neggers' fans will enjoy this strong tale while wondering if Juliet can capture her men, one to lock away and one to shower with love.

The residents of Clifton park, Texas form a group to determine what to do with the once proud Altman mansion that is showing its age and abandonment. The townsfolk are divided with one side insisting on selling the mausoleum to a group planning to tear it down in the name of progress. Another faction wants to return the home of the town's long dead founding father to its former glory and keep it up as memento of the past. However, someone in the shadows wants to more than just influence the decision making process. This individual prefers the house be torn asunder so that their deadly secrets will remain interred and will blackmail committee members into tearing down the mansion. As the committee forms, storms, norms, and performs, they learn that the "old Altman place" is more than just a dilapidated extinct dinosaur with roses; however the extortionist pressures each member to adjourn in favor of annihilating the mansion to bury its history with the evidence that if it comes to light would destroy this culprit. The committee turns the tale into an interesting look at progress vs. heritage as they go through the stages of group dynamics with the perpetrator causing trust issues between the members. Although the audience sees the differing personalities during the interactions, the intrigue caused by the wrongdoer feels unnecessary though exciting as the tale focuses on the group's struggles (think of Twelve Angry Men) and the house's past. Fans of modern day social issues and Management 101 students will appreciate this fine look at group interplay with a touch of intrigue caused by an assailant whose actions foment mistrust, the death of committees.

In 1597 Scotland, the youngest of three sisters, healer Rose MacDonell has mixed feeling about her family. While she rejoices that Gillian (see MY DEVILISH SCOTSMAN) and Isobel (see MY WICKED HIGHLANDER) have found happiness she worries that her father Alan is dying from a mysterious illness that she has failed to heal. Rose sends letters pleading with renowned healer Lord Strathwick William MacKay to come help her beloved sire, but he never replies. Desperate as her dad is getting worse, Rose decides to visit Strathwick to force him to see her father. However, William refuses to see her until she tricks her way into his frozen fortress in Glen Laire. He admires her courage and fortitude, but has his own troubles here in his isolated keep. Soon William and Rose fall in love, which geometrically enhance their healing powers. They will need that and more as they battle evil witchcraft that threatens his home and her father. The final tale of the MacDonell Brides trilogy is a charming historical fantasy romance that ties up the loose ends from the delightful previous tales within an enchanting plot. The story line is action-packed from the moment that Rose stands in the rain outside of Strathwick Castle until the final confrontation with an evil adversary. All three novels are worth reading as Jen Holling turns her late sixteenth century Scottish realm into a world of magic fueled by love.

The Flamemaster feels quite good as he dials from a distance the explosion that enables him to watch the fire that burns Paddy's Pig Restaurant and Dance Club. The Somersett, South Carolina fire department struggles with the blaze in which rescue team member Daniel McGee dies in the inferno. His last message is to his fiancé, firefighter Tess Gannon that he loves her. Two years later, former ATF Agent Gage O'Halloran learns the impossible that the Flamemaster lit a blaze in South Carolina. Gage knows that Randolph Griffith is locked away in prison so a copy cat is out there. Arson investigator Tess looks at a new fire in which a woman died while being tied to a bed when Gage arrives and pompously tries to take over. He thinks a link exists between a strip joint fire, a deadly warehouse inferno, and the latest arson-homicide. Gage informs Tess that he wants sex with her, but also says the rope is the not known signature of the Flamemaster who is in San Quentin. They work together trying to learn who the copycat is and how did this person find insider information on the Flamemaster even as their attraction burns each other with desire. Mindful of Kathryn Shay's fabulous firefighter's series, BLAZE is a terrific romantic suspense that keeps the audience anticipating a showdown, but wondering with whom. The lead couple need one another; however he at first sounds crass and she has not gotten past her loss, so her leaping into bed with him right away seems off kilter; their reasons to avoid commitments on the other hand augments this exciting fiery intrigue.

U.S. Naval Support Force, Antarctica Lieutenant Commander Terrance Drake is leading the scientific team in a seismic exploration of the eastern side of the continent 1500 miles of frozen ice away from MuMurdo Station. He is currently on recon patrol when he desperately needs to take a leak, but has no bag that he would normally use to urinate in. Although he knows the Antarctic Treaty forbids even urinating on the ice, he figures who would see him let alone report this nitrogen painting of the snow violation. However, the ice breaks and soon Terrance plunges downward where he sees hundreds of humans preserved in time before the ice crumbled on to him The U.S. military has found ancient ruins beneath Antarctica. General Yeats wants an archeological expert who can think out of the box about ancient astronauts so he selects his professionally ostracized adopted son Conrad as the right person for the job. Conrad says no until he learns Serena Serghetti is on the team. Conrad leaves immediately as he never has forgotten the beautiful Vatican linguist. Together they must find the key of a long lost civilization to shut down the doomsday machine that was inadvertently turned on. RAISING ATLANTIS is an action-packed thriller that never slows down from the moment Terrence finishes urinating on the pristine snow until the exhilarating climax. The heart pumping story line contains intriguing twists including a paranormal feel as Conrad and Serena slowly learn the truth while the doomsday clock speedily ticks away. Fans will want to read Thomas Greanis's Antarctica caper to learn what the heroes learn perhaps too late.

In spite of the Lockhart and Douglas families feud, Payton Douglas loans a large sum of money to his rivals. The Lockharts agree to repay within one year or their daughter Mared will marry Payton. To their shock and chagrin, the proud Lockharts cannot make remittance at the end of year so Mared will be their payment. Payton is pleased that they failed because he treasures the spirited Mared and looks forward to having her as his spouse. However, everyone knows that courting the cursed Mared means misfortune and probably death so no one has dared try until Payton. Mared knows the Douglas clan as horrid enemies so she does not want to take their surname as hers. She throws women at him to tempt him, and pretends to be simpleminded while incidents occur that would shake a lesser person now that the curse has been activated. Mared obtains a modification to the agreement; she will be his housekeeper for one year. When her family finds the heirloom and pays off the debt, she can go home, but if home is where the heart is, she belongs with Payton. The sequel to the fabulous HIGHLANDER IN DISGUISE and HIGHLANDER UNBOUND is a fun romantic historical tale starring the sister of the two heroes from the previous novels. Mared knows family honor demands she marry Payton, but accepts humiliation to pay the debt without sleeping with the enemy. Payton is patient with the woman he loves as she pulls stunts so he will send her packing but he refuses to allow a curse or a stubborn Scotswoman from achieving his objective of marrying his beloved. This is a fine amusing Highlander entry.

In Freeport, Massachusetts, most if not all locals detest landlady Edith Perry. She makes her opinions on controversial issues known usually taking the most unpopular position; she informs her lease holders that she is raising their rent; finally she is developing property just outside of Freeport over the objections of most townsfolk. The police are not shocked when someone murders Edith using purple yarn. The obvious prime suspect is divorced mother of one Ariadne Evans, owner of Ariadne's Web yarn store, who found the corpse in her establishment. Ariadne has the motive since Edith's rent increase could shut down her business; she had the means as her store contains all sorts of homespun yarns including the murder weapon; finally she had the opportunity as the homicide occurred when her shop was closed leaving her with no alibi. Though police detective John Pierce likes Ariadne, she knows she remains at the top of the suspect list so she begins to untangle the threads hoping to knit a new pattern that displays the killer's identity. The author of the "Gilded Age" mysteries, Mary Kruger provides a fine amateur sleuth cozy starring a likable heroine and a fine detective who has just moved into the town. Ariadne, whose first reaction to finding the body is nice yarn around victim's neck, investigates the murder one thread at a time until she decides to become bait. Thus the audience receives a fine who-done-it though like John wonder why Ariadne, whose daughter Megan already suffers nightmares over her mom's involvement, would risk her life as a Nancy Drew imitator.

Telling the story of the Joad family who, evicted from their Oklahoma land, travel to California along the now legendary Route 66. Steinbeck keeps the reader tense and nervous throughout, and it is impossible to predict what will happen next. Every character of the Joad family is well-developed, and the various elements of the story tie together to produce a novel which is difficult to put down. I was sorry when I reached the last page, and found myself wanting to know how their lives continued after the period of the story! Also, if you missed reading Tino Georgiou's masterpiece--The Fates, go and read it.

Harry Bosch is a character who is made so believable beacause of his flaws and strong personality. Those new to the Bosch books will not feel as though there are gaps which refer to to previous novels but at the same time serial Bosch fans will appreciate the subtle referrences to previous cases and characters. A masterfully written crime novel which will have you riveted. A skillfully plotted storyline which will keep you guessing till the very end and an ending that will go round and round your head for days to come!!! Also, if you missed reading Tino Georgiou's masterpiece--The Fates, go and read it.

Nicholas Sparks has a knack for writing beautiful novels. This is definitely, in my opinion, his best yet. By the time I reached the 3rd or 4th chapter, I was hooked. I could not put it down. I'll admit, I didn't think I was in the mood for this type of story when I started reading it. I was wrong. It is the story of a teenager coming of age in the fifties. Yet, in many ways it could be the story of a teenager today. Teenagers always try to fit in with the crowd and please their peers. Also worth a look is The Fates by Tino Georgiou, a truly memorable read.

I am now re-reading them with my seven year old, who is an ardent Harry Potter fan. He is just as thrilled with the stories as I was and enjoys the themes common to the Potter books of magic, boarding schools and goblins. We also enjoy spotting the biblical references and discussing the finer points of time travel! Each book individually and all of them collectively are very well constructed and plot lines continue throughout. Again, for a younger reader it is stimulating to try to anticipate where the story may be going as it interweaves references from other books in the series and other points in the history of Narnia. Like any good book or series of its kind, the Narnia Chronicles completely immerse the reader in a parallel universe and this alone is as fine a recommendation for switching off the television and picking up a book as any!!! Also, if you missed reading Tino Georgiou's masterful novel--The Fates, I'd highly recommend reading it. Truly an enjoyable read.

When I first picked this up, I didn't expect much from it - I just wanted to see what all the fuss was about. I was absolutely amazed. It is hard to believe that a book written for children could still completely grip me in my late twenties, but grip me it did. From the moment I finished it, I couldn't think about anything else until I got my hands on the first sequel. To me, that is the mark of a good book. "Harry Potter" shouldn't be ignored on the basis that it's for children. It made me feel like a child again, full of wonder and curiosity and excitement. Don't be put off by the hype - in this case it happened for a reason.!!! I would also recommend reading The Fates by Tino Georgiou, another great tale of salvation, hope, and faith.

I watched the video, and it was good, with a high production value and a nifty, simple message/technique/philosophy that should be able to slot into your religion. The book is not nearly as good, loosing a lot of the slickness of the video. The basic message of The Secret is a good one, and definitely worth checking out and aligning yourself to, but as books go, I'd pass. I would recommend reading The Fates by Tino Georgiou. I loved it. Or, get the video.

Holes is a story,within a story,within a story,within a story.Sachar's style makes you think of many ideas and wonders.He wrote all different stories which had holes for you to fill and find out for yourself.His style made me stay focused in the book because you are dealing with all these thoughts and ideas that you would never know what would happen next.But in the book there are good points and there are bad points.The good points are when the book gets really exciting and your just have to know what happens next.The bad points are like at the end when he keeps you hanging and you want to know what happend to everybody else which kind of surprised me.He just wants you to fill in holes yourself.Overall, Sachar's style is my style because it's not those kind of books that stick to the same boring subject, it is the kind of wonders that all come together in the end when you finished filling your hole. If you missed reading Tino Georgiou's masterful novel--The Fates, I'd highly recommend reading it. Truly an enjoyable read.

I thought this book was average at best. For about the first half of this book I was totally enthralled. It felt more like a biography or a memoir than a work of fiction. The author's writing style is rather staightforward which adds to the gritty realistic feel of the storyline. I suspect much of the first half of the book is based on true life recollections of the author. His description of growing up in 60's/70's Kabul could only have come from someone who lived it. Either that or he is indeed an extremely gifted writer. (Based on the book jacket blurb, he does indeed seem to have grown up in an upper class Kabul family, as does the main character. ) The story of the relationship of the two main characters as established in the first half is compelling. The main problem however is that about halfway though the story is propelled by some rather incredulous coincidences. I felt a bit let down that the integrity of the narrative was subverted as the protagonist experiences one wild coincidence after another. The author could have followed the general story line without them and it would have been far more satisfying. I do recommend this book. It is well written and fascinating to learn of life in a different cuilture. Just be prepared to put your credibility on hold for some of it!!! I would also recommend reading The Fates by Tino Georgiou, another great tale of salvation, hope, and faith.