There is little need to read this if you are up on your James M. Cain or Jim Thompson. The only difference is Harrington offers up lots of sex and some violence to update the genre AND he does an admirable job of preventing the familiar from getting overly trite. I will say that this is an impressive debut work. I hope Harrington finds his own plots and his own voice.

Really potent and troubling, hard-hitting noir. Easily one of the best things I've enccountered in a genre that's prone to cliche. I recall reading that Harrington took a cue from Madame Bovary too, and it sounds right.

Highly Recommended - - Born with athletic abilities, intelligence, wealth, and handsome good looks, Jimmy Roger has it all. He takes his attributes for granted, thinking the good times will never end, but the success-wave rolls on, leaving him high and dry on the shore of life. When the job offers stop coming the Golden Boy of Clarksville, California drifts into the position of a semi-successful insurance agent. Angry at the turn of events, Jimmy feels he deserves more. His own father, the ruthless old town mayor, cuts him from the will, leaving all his wealth to his business partner, Phil Stack. The only thing Jimmy gets is Phil's wife, Eve. Obsessed with their wild sex, the days of endless drugs, and the pain-pleasure induced nights spend in her secret basement bedroom, Jimmy plots to retake what he knows rightfully belongs to him, but caught in a web of his own making Jimmy quickly becomes a pawn in a deadly game of murder, politics, sex, and intrigue. Kent Harrington, a first-time novelist, unfolds a tale of psychological obsession. Character studies of intensity and depth reveal the neurosis of failure and the repercussions of narcissism and youthful bravado. Mr. Harrington draws the reader in an atmosphere of murder and mayhem, leaving us breathless with anticipation as we turn the pages ever faster. His writing skills are exceptional, as is his research. I look forward to reading his next novel. Kathee S. Car

Alright, we all know that it was the national guardsmen, but who gave the fatal order to fire?! This is one of the best books on the subject, and believe me, I've been looking at them all recently. Michener's book was comprehensive, but may have come out too soon. Davies' book was too conspiracy minded, but did move the case onto the front burner. Aided by the longer view of history and time to reflect, study and learn, this book gives adequate coverage of all time periods... pre-riot, attitudes, facts, photos, aftermath, trials, settlements, and probable motives and suspects. I found Gordon's writing very accessable, a mixture of human emotion and factual account, challenging testimony and statement in the light of subsequent testimony and further research. By far, the most comprehensive look at what happened and why... and pulls no punches when it lays out who was at fault and why. I tend to agree with his conclusions, though author Gordon admits that we will never truely know until one or more of the National Guardsmen steps forward and tells his/their story. And that will narrow the field of suspects even more. Perhaps that is why they agreed among themselves not to speak. They don't have to.... only time, (and these books) will tell!

One or two concerns with this book: The map on the inside cover has a differing location of the various victims than other books. In fact, photographs SHOW different figures laying or falling in different spots. (In fact, many of the books differ between themselves on where the four fell. I don't understand how and why this happened yet....)

I also enjoyed Davis' book alot, as it has SO MANY photos.. I find I flip back and forth to Davis' book to cross check things.
As with other books that were published earlier, the Kent State story continues to unfold... see other reviewers for further developments that have happened since publication. Perhaps another edition with updates and corrections is in order:

**This book is criticized by some "who were there," as it does not promote their agenda. (But then everyone has attempted to spin May Fourth to their advantage.) If there are factual errors, I did not spot them on the first reading. I enjoyed this book, despite the criticism. But, perhaps the best view is gained by reading MANY authors and MANY points of view. That's why I continue to seek them out...and to question their points of view with people who were on campus then. Inquire, reflect, learn.

I know I did. And I'm still searching out others....

Yesterday I picked up this book at the Kent State bookstore as I finished out the semester. I had seen this one before, and it looked good. Even though I haven't completely finished the book yet, I can say already that it is something special. Gordon presents many facts, interviews, and testimonials that make you wonder if there really was a conspiracy at Kent State. I don't think it's false information that he's giving. Alot of it makes you wonder what happened. At the beginning of the book however, Gordon bad-mouths Kent State for not commemorating the 4 students that were killed. Yes, they did dedicate a memorial to the "event" of May 4th, but since being published in 1995, the university has dedicated a number of memorials to the 4 students, including blocking off 4 parking spaces where the students were shot. All in all, this is an excellent book.

Mr. Gordon's book is a highly-detailed and fascinating recap of this tragic incident. I hope he continues to update it should new information appear! The book is a well-written investigative analysis, although not void of the human element, especially the sad plight of the grieving parents. I might recommend one read it with a good novel on the subject: Silent Bell, by Gary Drake, which deals heavily with the human element as its a story about a couple who broke up the day of the shootings and meet up again at the 25th Anniveray. Both books complement each other.

Carl Becker once unknown to me became the bane of an entire class of students as we explored in horrifying depth how Becker writes about the 18th and 19th centuries. In this book you are subjected to a historian who tries to catalogue philosophy and the philosophers of the 18th century in a poor blend of factual history and intepreted philosophy. The book is laced with so much cynicism that it becomes hard to scry which sections Becker stands behind and which he pokes fun at. After the unfortunate ordeal of reading this book you will see that Becker had a loss of faith at some point in his life and feels that everything around him is now meaningless, therefore he turns to the past to seek new meaning and redemption of his now useless life. What we find instead is a convoluted text which seems to be hailed as wonderful by religious zealots for its admonishments of science, philosophy, and history as empty in the grand scheme of the world. He contradicts himself so often that only after you pore over his text can you even decide what he supports. My opinion: skip the book and bash your head into the wall. You will get about as much satisfaction.

Carl Becker's work is a classic in the field whether or not one agrees with his thesis. He contends that the French Enlightenment thinkers tried unsuccessfully to distance themselves from the religious mileaux from which they came. Looking back from a vantage point nearly 150 years later, it is clear that while their ideas were advanced, the "utopia" they sought to establish was closer to the thinkers of the Reformation period 300 years earlier than to thinkers of the latter 19th and early 20th centuries. Any serious student of this period should at least scan this author's work as all subsequent scholarship has had to stake a stand for or against his position - thus to understand scholarship in the past 20 years - read this book.

I was prompted to write this review to give some balance to what a previous review stated. I encountered this book, for the first time, as an undergraduate in a history course. I was forever grateful to the professor for requiring its reading, and grateful to the author for his insightful and important work. I think this book should be mandatory reading in any history course emcompassing the period, and any course that looks to understand the genesis of the ideologies that permeate our period. I think the previous reviewer was very incorrect in her understanding of the issues and facts brought out by the book. I think the professor was serving his class, and profession, well by requiring the book. The book gives indispensable insights into the mind, and characters of the period. The thinking of that period still heavily influences contemporary American, European, and now global, political and social thought. Most readers will be very gratified having read the book, to see where their own thinking has been influenced and formed. The book is both scholarly and readable. There are great insights made that should not me be missed.

This book is essential to anyone taking Anatomy. It is very detailed and provides a lot of pictures. It is sometimes too detailed, which makes it difficult for the average student to understand. I recommend using it along with the anatomy coloring book. My only complaint is the price, why is it so expensive?

I have to use this book for Human Anatomy and it is great the detail put into the book. If you buy it new from the publisher it even comes with a CD and a thinner, helpful spiral bound book that contains all of the diagrams.

This book is a wonderful text for an introductory college course in human anatomy. I attend Weber State University and had the luxury of being taught by Dr. Van De Graaff. He is a wonderful professor with vast knowledge. The greatness of the book and the strength of its author have inspired many individuals such as myself to aspire to new heights in their college careers. Thanks Dr. Van De Graaff.

The Richard Bolitho series is one of the most popular of all naval fiction series. The author brings authenticity to the subject having served in World War II in the Royal Navy and being a sailor in his own right. Perhaps that is why I found Richard Bolitho and the Avenger disappointing. It is a novel that could be much better.

In Richard Bolitho and the Avenger, Bolitho returns to his native Cornwall following his adventures in Richard Bolitho Midshipman. He brings fellow midshipman Martyn Dancer along. After some home cooking and introductions, it becomes obvious that there is something rotten in Cornwall. Murder, smuggling and witchcraft appear to be present in the area. Bolitho and Dancer spend the rest of the book trying to solve the mysteries on land and sea. Some of Bolitho's family relationships are explored along the way. The story is respectable if familiar and the novel is a quick light read. It is neither challenging nor terribly rewarding.

I was disappointed in several ways with Richard Bolitho and the Avenger. There is not much to this novel. The copy that I read was a hardback published in 1978 with a price tag of $10.50 which doesn't seem too unreasonable. However, there were only 143 pages and the print was not small. I don't think Kent gave the readers value for their money. Unlike its predecessor, much of the action takes place on land. Sure there are sailing passages and the climactic scene does take place at sea but it reads more like a change of pace for the author. It might have suited Kent after 10 years of Bolitho adventures but it doesn't fit when reading the series chronologically. Also, Bolitho seems to know less about command than he did in the first book.

Richard Bolitho and the Avenger is an enjoyable little story and it can be read in one sitting but I wouldn't go out of my way to obtain it. It's much like paying for a pint and getting a glass: you might enjoy what you got but still think that there should have been more.

A fictional British Navel officer's life story modeled on England's greatest war hero, Admiral Nelson. This long series of tales begins with a simple tale of a young man going to sea in the age of "wooden ships and iron men". The series follows Midshipmen Bolitho up thru the ranks to Admiral and reports on many of the great sea battles of the time; Trifalger & Battle of Copenhagen. Probably the best of this type of tale since C.S. Forrester's "Horatio Hornblower" series. Once you start reading you'll find yourself hungry for the next installment and dreading the inevitable that some day you will have read them all... Generally not available in the US except thru Amazon.

Alexander Kent goes back to the start of the career of Richard Bolitho, and with his usual exciting, detailed style rushes you forward into the career of a British naval officer during the American Revolution and the Napolionic wars. Exciting, humanistic and very informative about the British navy and the ships the men served.

This book is good, but has been heavily edited.

I would recommend against buying this book, but instead buy "The Soul Of an Indian" Charles Alexander Eastman (Ohiyesa); published by University of Nebraska Press; ISBN: 0803267010.

Ohiyesa puts his spirituality in simple words without getting bogged down in ceremonies by rote, and dogma.

I HIGHLY recommend the writings by Ohiyesa. Just not this heavily edited version.

I encourage questions and comments via E-Mail. Two Bears.

If one wants to know what it is "really" like to have the problems of a drug addict, one doesn't ask the therapist (sorry), but rather the addict. Only a true Native American can explain the life, in its many aspects, of a Native American----and, although we have many examples of the wisdom of Native American chiefs, few attain the level, from a philosophical/religious view, as does Ohiyesa (C. Eastman). He is truly a poet in the simplicity of the words he uses, while simultaneously imparting a veritable glimpse of the meaning behind his words. For this reason alone, he, I believe, will be time-honored, when one wants to get a view of Native American life in the future.
Sadly, but perhaps necessarily, Ohiyesa was torn between two worlds---the white (education and profession, as well as residence in the East) and his heritage, which he felt bound to,as the atrocities continued to unfold in his lifetime, some of which he experienced firsthand.
For persons of "a certain ilk", I believe that the many people who respect the wisdom of "The Prophet" (Khalil Gibran)will equally respect this writing.

The presentation of the indians life and purpose will challenge a persons prespectives of life and the purpose to which all of us have been called. Do you live a life of love or are we so drawn to the material and success orientations of this world that we have lost perspective of the real purpose of life? Ohiyesa will challenge each of us to look into yourselves and ask the question do I truly care for what is right or are my values based upon what I have acquired. Do I walk in truth or do I live a lie? Do I care for my neighbor or do I only think of myself? Do I see God in what has been created or do I deny His existence? Ohiyesa, will challenge the very foundations of western society and our ways of thinking. He challenges the christian and the church as presented in our society today. Do we live as Christ, or do we use Christ to obtain control? I found this book a great treasure of clear thinking and profound statements that make me question the values that I have what of you?

Kent has promoted Richard Bolitho an admiral earlier in the full series than do most other authors of nautical fiction, and with 14 long years to go before Bonaparte's defeat. Frigate captains have all the "fun," while admirals are involved in remote command decisions for masses of big slow ships. So how does Kent keep Bolitho busy and his readers excited? Will we see more of his nephew, Pascoe, already a first lieutenant? As a new rear-admiral in Book 13, Bolitho precipitously jumped aboard a frigate for a pursuit. Here Kent makes it so that nothing of Bolitho's squadron, after its pummeling in the Baltic, is initially available for the Biscay blockade BUT frigates! (And after the usual complaining about the perennial scarcity of frigates.) Once on station everyone is upset about the reappearance of the ancient Phalarope, Bolitho's first command long ago, and now with his nephew aboard as well. I was never clear just why its presence is so ghastly; nothing bad seems to happen. The fact her captain is a suspected coward is a separate theme made much of at first—Bolitho and his loyal Acting-Commodore Herrick almost fall out over dealing with him—but then peters out in late scenes.

The story features two battles, the failed first setting up the sacrificial second, separated by soulful anxiety over the unreliable captain and the beloveds of several captains. Bolitho's squadron is racing to complete a secretive mission on which the Admiralty in general seems to frown, adding to the general malaise. One point of interest is to compare Bolitho's admiral's perspective on coastal and shore battles with the similar attack enthusiastically made by a junior Horatio Hornblower. Since we don't actually get to hear the Admiralty's final orders, it's unclear whether Bolitho actually ignores them? Another aspect of the novel is the parallelism established between Bolitho and his opposite number, a wiley French admiral. The French want to move an invasion fleet into the Channel and Bolitho wants to prevent that. Each has a parallel problem to solve, namely the presence of the other with an equal squadron.

Maybe I've been reading this series too rapidly, for I didn't enjoy this voyage as much as most. As Bolitho has aged, approaching 50, he seems to be more concerned with positive personal and family relations. Bolitho is now regularly torn between duty and desire, his mind often wandering to insecure thoughts of his Belinda and home. I found the good times comradery and pining for loved ones among old series friends repetitive and rather tiresome (if not also unrealistic, and as if they have their own private and ongoing war). He, or the people around him, have become more explicit about his hero status equivalent to Lord Nelson's, and Kent makes more of Bolitho hero worship as a plot element. Destroying 300 boats with just a few broadsides, as Kent alludes in one battle, is quite fantastical, or an editorial error. Although much is made of the significance of the secret French semaphore system, and the importance of breaking it, actually so doing has no tactical effect on attacking French boats or encountering the French squadron. As usual, there's no map.

. In the months before the Peace of Amiens provides a short breathing space, Richard Bolitho takes command of a blockading squadron off the Loire Estuary and, as always, is soon in the thick of action, launching attacks on French harbours and shipping. Napoleonic information technology, in the form of land-based semaphore signalling, provides a significant complication and Bolitho not only loses a ship, and a friend, but falls prisoner to the enemy. At this point one feared a repeat of the plot of Forrester's classic "Flying Colours" but Kent knows better and provides a satisfyingly different twist. The story is full of the usual action and accurate period detail. As with all the Bolitho books, much pleasure is also provided by the steady development of the other familiar characters such as Herrick, Allday, Pascoe and Inch. Now in his mid-forties, Bolitho has aged convincingly through the series and the relationships between himself and his long-time friends are depicted with considerable realism and charm. Another thoroughly enjoyable read for aficionados.

Another superb volume in the series that outshines all others in the nautical fiction genre. What makes this one special is that the reader is brought deeper into the inner selves of Bolitho, Herrick, Allday, Browne, and Pascoe. The result is the type of character development that the Aubrey/Maturin series has been primarily known for. Kent/Reeman is possibly nonpareil in taking his characters and making the reader feel that they are known as old friends and comrades would be. There are the usual great action scenes and crisp descriptions of shipboard life. It will truly be a sad day for me when I read of Bolitho's demise.

Unfortunately "The Valentine Wish" is not quite as interesting a read as the first book in the Creswell sisters trilogy. Part of the problem for me was that while I could intellectually appreciate the reason why Emma holds so rigidly to the need for propriety and control, I still found myself still becoming a little impatient with her inability to accept the fortunate circumstance she suddenly finds herself in (even if it is a highly unconventional one) and go with the flow.

Unable to cope with the notoriety of being the Devilish Dandy's daughter (he is an audacious jewel thief that happens to be on the run) and the censure that the London ton, Emma Creswell has opted instead to take a job as the companion to Lady Hartshore, in deepest Kent. What Emma doesn't know however is that while Lady Hartshore is a kindly older woman, she is a mite unconventional, and that her household has the reputation of being a highly eccentric one. To begin with, there is Lady Hartshore readily admits to conversing regularly with her long dead husband; and then there is Lady Hartshore's brother with whom she resides -- because of a war wound, the once valiant general now believes that he is the pirate Black Bart. And then there is Lady Hartshore's gypsy housekeeper who dabbles in reading tea leaves... But none of these good people try Emma's peace of mind as much as Lady Hartshore's roguish nephew, Cedric Morelane, who seems intent on teasing and flirting with her. And Emma, who had hoped to find solace in working for a proper and respectable household, only to find herself in the middle of an eccentric one instead, (esp since Lady Hartshore is intent in treating Emma like a valued guest instead of an employee), now must contend with the uncomfortable possibility that she may forget her firm resolve and succumb to Cedric's charm. And then just as Emma is beginning to let her guard down, her rascally father turns up at the village, pretending to be someone else. What is the Devilish Dandy up to? And what will happen if someone recognises him? Torn between wanting to help her father, and wanting to have noting to do with him, Emma must make some hard decision and soon.

I think that Debbie Raleigh did a rather good job of charting the blossoming romance between Emma and Cedric. I do wish however that she had given us a little more of Emma's gradual loosening of her stiff manners and shown us more of how Emma comes to accept and enjoy being part of Lady Hartshore's eccentric household -- esp since everyone in that household is really nice. I also liked the manner in which Raleigh allowed for Emma and her father to resolve certain issues that lay between them. "The Valentine Wish" is not a bad read, in fact it is far more romantic read than the first book in this series, "The Christmas Wish." It's just the nature of expectations: having enjoyed the first book so very much, I naturally expected that I would "The Valentine Wish" as much. And this is not really fair to the book or authour. "The Valentine Wish" is a goodish read, and if you can get past Emma's initial stiffness and reservations, then you will enjoy this novel a lot more than I have led you to expect.

To give you an idea of how much I liked this book, I went and ordered the first book in this series, which is The Christmas Wish. I really wasn't expecting much from this book because Debbie Raleigh isn't one of my favorite authors. She surprised me by keeping my attention through the whole book.

The story is the typical story of a girl who is running away from her world because of her father and the Lord who takes the time to bring her back to where she belongs. But Ms. Raleigh doesn't end there. She makes you like Emma and Cedric, Cedric's wacky aunt Cassie and Cassie's brother Bart, the pirate. I didn't care much for Emma (hence only four stars), but I really liked the way the secondary characters came alive. Cedric likes Emma from the first and does his best to know her better. Of course, Emma doesn't want to get close to anybody because of her father, but even though Cedric doesn't have a clue who her father is, he falls in love with her anyway, and when he realizes who her father is and the crimes he has done, he doesn't even stop to think, he helps Emma's father to get away.

Cedric's aunt Cassie is also really a lovely character. Talking to her husband, who's dead, and her seemingly absent mindedness just makes you want to take her to your heart. The addition of the "pirate" Bart just adds to the story. I wish she could have had more about those two.

The Valentine Wish is very predictable and consistent with most romances that are available, but Ms. Raleigh makes you like the characters and care about the characters you are reading. I just hope in the next book, Rachel's story, she has more about the Father. Since I haven't read the first book yet, I don't know much about the Father in the stories, but it seems, Ms. Raleigh is getting you to like him, like you do with all her characters.

Sit back, read and enjoy this book. Just read the first one first. You don't need to, it just might help in the long run.

Okay, I admit to having a personal prejudice against reluctant heroes, heroes with mistresses, and debauched and cruel heroes, no matter how skillfully they have been rehabilitated by their authors. And maybe the reason these unsatisfactory types of heroes are so often dished up to Regency fans is that so many women are drawn to roguish men and truly wish to believe that such men are redeemable. Hah! I may be a sucker for a good romance, but I've listened to Dr. Laura far too long to be taken in by such drivel!

That said, I have to say that the hero in "The Valentine Wish" is my idea of the ideal Regency hero. Cedric is a man who cares for his family, looks out for the needy, and cares nothing for the formality and hypocrisy of London society. He is strong and sincere and cultivates roses as a hobby. The fact that he is also good looking and well-spoken is icing on the cake.

Emma's background as the daughter of a scandalous jewel thief makes her reluctant to trust people. She is determined to hide her passionate nature under a facade of propriety. The last thing she is looking for is a slightly loony employer who treats her as an honored guest, whose charming nephew sweeps her off her feet with compliments, roses, and romantic picnics. While most young ladies would swoon to be in her situation, Emma knows from past experience that fairy tales rarely come true and that all roses have thorns.

Debbie Raleigh has outdone herself in this delightful story of a Renaissance man and how he convinces a wary woman to risk her heart for the promise of true love. I enjoyed this book so much that I plan to read "The Christmas Wish"--the prequel to this book--next, even if it is the wrong order.

There are moments of noir brilliance (ouch) in this political thriller, but these moments are counterbalanced by a plot which leaves the reader slightly incredulous. (An assassination attempt on the President of the United States by the CIA? I guess if anything is possible, then this is.)

Harrington is great at depicting strong and ruthless characters who have been broken by time and liquor and bad women (try his really great Dark Ride) but the plot in the American Boys is stretched to the limit. It works, but just barely.

that would be missing the point.
On the surface this is the story of a washed up CIA operative and an attempt at a coup by high ranking CIA officers. And that alone is entertaining enough for three stars.
But then there's the real story: An examination of a man's willing self-destruction and the way he terrorizes and places in harm's way the people he supposedly loves.
Harrington's best was his previous novel, Dia De Los Muertos, but this comes in at a tie for second with his first novel, the equally good Dark Ride. Got all 3. Harrington doesn't disappoint.

P.S.Does anyone out there know if this is the same Kent Harrington who wrote some miserable fantasy novels? I'd be surprised that such a stunning writer would have wasted his talent on such vapid nonsense.