The Bride Finder is a truly outstanding book. I found Madeline a wonderfully refreshing character, she was intelligent & giving. Anatole, though dark & brooding, displayed a depth of character rarely seen. I loved the idea of a Bride Finder, found it very romantic. I also enjoyed the magic & legends in the story. I found all secondary characters intriguing & the plot twists truly surprised me. I was saddened when I reached the last page, I wanted to spend more time with these characters. This is a must-read book!

There are very few authors who can grab and hold my attention, but Susan has with this story. It is a wonderful love story with two powerful people set right in the middle of it. Anatole and Madeline are made for eack other, even though they don't think so in the begining.

They have to overcome many obsticles to come to realise they love each other and finding they do they realise that love is strong enough to change the prophecy of what must be.

The BRIDE FINDER is a very rare book with some wonderful and not so wonderful characters. The story will hold you right to the very last page. I was so sad when Roman, who was a very nasty member of the St.Leger family died. He finally made his peace with Anatole just before he died. They both hated each other from the day they were born, thanks to Anatole's parents rejection of him. Anatole's mother wished Roman was her son because he has not inherited the St.Leger curse, like her own son has.

Buy this book, you won't be disapointed with it. I'm just about to start the sequel to this story called THE NIGHT DRIFTER. This one is about Lance, son and heir to Castle Leger, one of Anatole and Madeleine's twin son's. I can't wait to finish it.

For those of you who want to know if there will be a third book in the series, there will be. It is called VALENTINES BRIDE ( Lance's twin brother) and will be released in the winter of 2001. There is a sneak preview at the end of THE NIGHT DRIFTER. I can't wait.....

Anatole St. Ledger is a very gifted man whose inner turmoil and scars have made him into a recluse. But like many St. Ledger men before him, Anatole feels it's time to marry. Because the St. Ledger men are each gifted with a unique ability(Anatole's strongest gift being clairvoyance), only women destined to love them can be chosen. THE BRIDE FINDER, the only one capable of finding such a mate, is summoned. He has chosen Madeline Breton. Now wed but wary of each other, Anatole and Madeline try to make the marriage work. Though at first, it seems that they were not destined to love, in the end they prove to themselves, to the rest of the St. Ledger clan and to a self-doubting bride finder, that they were indeed meant to be. They are unaware, however, of an evil from the past waiting to strike. Can their love survive such a threat? Susan Carroll has created a masterpiece. THE BRIDE FINDER is a magical tale filled with mystery, suspense, the supernatural, and a passionate yet tender love. It will make you laugh, cheer, and most definitely cry. I recommend it. You'll absolutely love it. Trust me!

Perhaps one of the most difficult stories to write is a story about children and/or abuse. Interjecting just the right amount of sentimentality is often times too difficult of a task for even the most talented writers, but Connie May Fowler tackles both topics with a level of sensitivity and finesse that makes this book a "must read." BEFORE WOMEN HAD WINGS tells the story of Avocet "Bird" Jackson, a world-weary child in search of love among the people whose love should be a given but who are sometimes the most stingy with their affections. Bird tells the story of many young women who have either witnessed or experienced abuse in a matter-of-fact, no-holds bar fashion. The complexity of the relationship between she and her parents and she and her sister and brother provides readers with a wide-open look into a tragic life that eventually makes a transcendent jump into a path of redemption. This is a book well worth reading again and again.

I heard about the book when news of the movie came to my attention. I was determined to read the book before seeing the movie and I'm glad that I did. Connie May Fowler is an excellent author who uses wonderful techniques that not only describe but give you a feeling that you are the character. Bird is a wonderful young girl who throughout the book you grow to love and sympathize and Mrs. Zora gives the book a wonderful touch and leaves hope of happiness and survival. I recommend this to everyone interested in a loving and touching story about survival and forgivness. It was wonderful reading.

The book entitled,"Before Women Had Wings," is a very wonderful book. There is a wonderful variety of interesting topics, which happen throughout this book; and throughout Bird's life. Bird is a girl featured throughout this book, which her real name Advocet Jackson. Advocet was raised within a poor family with a sister named Phoebe, her mother and father were both alcoholics. Bird and Phoebe both throughout the book recieved critical physical, emotional, and mental abuse. Not only that, but as Bird was younger, her father ended up comitting suicide.

Advocet throughout the book states a lot of varities, like I said, which happened throughout her life. As I read this book, it made me cry, have joy; and learn how to cooperate with my life, since I'm 15 years old; and also live with an alcoholic.

Advocet, I'd just like to say if you get my message, to never give up;"Have faith!" You do well, "Keep up the good writings!" When I read Advocet's book, it really touched me; and how to change my life; and what to do with it. I bet you, that if you read this book today, you won't every second of your time. Also, I bet if you read the whole book, it will somehow change your life. I hope you enjoy the book,"Before Women Had Wings!"

It would appear that there is a general consensus from Nevada Barr fans that they like this book and feel it is consistent with her other novels. This being the first Nevada Barr book I have read, I can only provide prospective of an avid mystery fan.

Nevada Barr clearly does a good job of putting you in the setting. You can visualize the Natchez Trace Park and the surrounding area. It is apparent that she spent the time working there and she translates her experience well.

That being said, the amount of detail about the area becomes exhaustive. I found myself skimming thru pages (not paragraphs) that went into the description of the area. This made the book move slow.

As far as the mystery itself, it almost plays an incidental part in the novel. The solution itself is pretty weak and only plays a key part in the last 30 pages or so. The book revolves mainly around the life and surroundings of park ranger, Anna Pigeon. This approach to the book made it very easy to put down, and I would hardly call it a page turner. The sign of a good mystery is a book that keeps you guessing and has you eager to get the next page to find out what will happen next or what clue will surface. This lacked that.

If you want a book that puts you in the middle of Mississippi, with a mystery on the side then this is for you. However, if you are looking for a solid mystery book then I would suggest you move on.

This is the first novel that I have read by Nevada Barr, but I plan to "go back" and read the rest in this series because I really enjoyed the Anna Pigeon character. Also, the book had vivid descriptions of the area and persons surrounding the Natchez Trace which added much to the tale.

Anna has just assumed a management forest service job on the Natchez Trace. She is the first woman in such a position in this area of the "Deep South," and is subject to significant animosity on several fronts, especially from her two long-timer subordinates. Unfortunately, within days a local girl is found murdered in her jurisdiction, under peculiar circumstances. Along with her charming counterpart in the Sherrif's office, Anna dives into the investigation, although she has little understanding of the relationships and dynamics among the locals.

This is not the most suspenseful page-turner that I have read, although the mystery remains well-concealed until the end. It is, however, a very pleasant read. I highly recommend it.

I've enjoyed every Nevada Barr mystery I've read, which is all of them except for "Blind Descent." "Deep South" is no exception. In fact, it's one of my favorite entries in the Anna Pigeon series, even though I've never been farther south than Virginia and am a native of California who's always lived there. I've enjoyed the other novels immensely with their predominant western venues, but one of the joys of reading about Anna Pigeon's adventures in law enforcement as a U.S. National Park Ranger is the vicarious experience of traveling and experiencing new places. Nevada Barr is excellent at making the reader feel as if he or she were actually there.

In "Deep South," we readers get to have an experience of the southern portion of the Natchez Trace Parkway in Mississippi. Some interesting characters are introduced -- people who make Anna's professional life interesting, positively and negatively, as she has assumed a management position in a completely unfamiliar park venue and a part of the country that is utterly new to her.

The plot is specific to the place and reveals much about local residents who live in towns and cities adjacent to the Trace. If I have a complaint at all, it's that Anna is subject once again to great injury and this time I found it upsetting. I had to put the book down and tell myself, "This is fiction. Anna Pigeon is not a real human being." I came to realize is that I wish she were a real human being.

One of the best parts of this book is the introduction of a new character who looks to be a promising love interest for Anna, someone she actually deserves who deserves her, too. We shall see in forthcoming books what happens in this regard as Anna progresses through her 40s.

Read "Deep South" and you'll feel the heat and humidity, experience aspects good and bad of Southern culture and politics, and learn the obvious truth that racism there, while firmly entrenched and prevalent, isn't universal.

Nevada Barr writes this novel very convincingly as she ought to -- her most recent post as a ranger with the National Park Service was on the Natchez Trace Parkway in Mississippi and even though she's now working as a novelist, she still lives in that state.

This was the first book by Phillip Margolin that I have read. It was mostly a thriller, but some reviews hinted at a courtroom drama type thing.

It was defiantely a suspense/thriller. While the book was a very entertaining read, that moves along at a very quick pace, it is also very predictable.

Margolin throws in plot twists that, you, the reader, will find yourself suggesting before they happen. Still, this was a very exciting read. I unfortunately have this knack for plotting and development that ruins most mystery books and movies.

And for the ending, it was well drawn out and somewhat believable. I have read that Margolin should be compared to Grisham, but I don't think that is true. Grisham would have built up some suspense, and then ended the book on the last 2 pages. The endings have always been the worst thing about a Grisham novel. He always ends his books so abruptly, like running as fast as you can to the edge of the cliff, and then just falling.

Gone, But Not Forgotten is a fun book to read. If you like thrillers, or suspense books, then you should definatley read this.

The first question I asked myself is why did I wait so long to read Phillip Margolin. We've had this book in our home library for years, and I've finally gotten around to it! Wow...did I waste some time! This is an outstanding, well-written and terrifying book. Margolin has captured a lot of "personality" within most of the characters in this book: flawed, driven, ambitious, and of course with the killer, actual demonic qualities. The book is filled with many surprises, including some really nasty ones, too! I especially liked the characters of Alan Page and Betsy Tannenbaum---lawyers that seem to have a true sense of justice, fighting even their own demons. Betsy's failing marriage to Rick at first seems cliche, but as it evolves and it's final dramatic resolution, we can see how two people who love one another let jealousy destroy their lives. The character of Nancy Gordon is also a good one, and one has to wonder during the proceedings if she could perhaps somehow be involved in the killings. But at the heart of this book is Martin Darius and Peter Lake----these guys are truly villians in the worst sense of the word. No remorse, no compassion, evil to the core. A stunning book that certainly made me go in and put the rest of his books on my wish list; hopefully, my wife will have such a hard time deciding which ones to get me for Christmas, she'll get them all!
HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

I have always loved the John Grisham books, someone else who reads them suggested I read Phillip Margolin's books also. I live in Portland, OR where Mr Margolin lives and he shares pieces of the city and state in his books, making them seem more real to me. He has a real knack for twisting plots! You think you know where the book is going and then as you read on, the book twists in a new direction. I love to read, but his books I have simply not been able to put down! I have to know what's going to happen next. Gone but not forgotten is one of his best at this. He is truely a one of the great writers. If you like mysteries and intrigue, read this, you won't be disappointed!

I admit that I'm a big fan of Suzanne Brockmann's books, so I may have been predisposed to like The Unsung Hero. However, I can objectively say that the book surpassed even my high expectations with its attention-grabbing mix of action/adventure, long-simmering romance, young love and an important secondary story told in flashback.

Intricate? You bet, but Suzanne does an incredible job weaving it all together in a way that kept me spellbound.

Everything in this novel works for me. The plot of injured Navy SEAL Tom Paoletti returning to his small-town Massachutsetts home to recover from a possible-career-ending head injury and spotting someone who could be a deadly terrorist is a great set-up.

The conflict between hometown doctor Kelly Ashton and her terminally-ill father Charles touches the heart.

Even though there's a lot going on, the primary romance between Tom Paoletti and Kelly Ashton is dynamite. I love having two people who have known and been attracted to each other for years finally meet up again.

Some readers don't like the addition of the WWII backstory involving Charles Ashton and Tom's great-uncle Joe Paoletti. I disagree. I think the flashback segments are extremely well done and make for compelling reading. I HAD to find out the whole story.

So, count this a rave for The Unsung Hero because it is definitely at the top of list of my favorite books of the year.

I've read each and every one of her US Navy SEALs series and I love them all. Why? Because you get more for your money in Brockmann's books and Unsung Hero is no different. This one, like the others, offers more than a single love story. Sure, it has a modern-day love story between Tom, an injured SEAL on medical leave, and Kelly, a childhood friend-turned-divorced doctor. But, it goes beyond that! (1)with Tom's struggle to retain his position with the SEALs and concerns over his own sanity and health (2) with a possible terrorist threat that may be real or may be Tom's imagination (3) with flash-backs to a WWII buddy story of lost-love involving Tom's great-uncle, Kelly's father and a French widow. (4) and with an added love story sparking between two unlikely youths, one being Tom's neice. Brockmann does a spectacular job of weaving the plots to form a truly enjoyable page-turning novel! It really should have been called Unsung Heroes ... there's more than one character who'll touch your heart in this book.

Being a fan of Suzanne Brockmann's series on Navy SEALs for Silhouette Intimate Moments, I felt I knew what to expect when buying this book -- scrumptious Navy SEALs, a strong heroine, and a great action plot.

UNSUNG HERO provides all of those things and more. The mainstream qualities of this book impressed me, and I hope to see more of her Navy SEALs' books take this direction.

The plot was dual-leveled: the action plot ran alongside and deftly interwove with a plot of unrequited love and a subplot of new-found love. The secondary characters, David and Mallory, in this book were skillfully drawn and realistic. Their story of two social misfits overcoming societal stereotypes and finding love was wonderful. Tears come to my eyes just thinking about it.

Tom's and Kelly's, the main characters, attempts at renewing and understanding the attraction between them was believable. Overcoming misunderstandings and preconceived notions, their relationship is brought to an equally satisfying conclusion.

As for the action plot about a terrorist attack on United States' soil, it was fast-paced and all too realistic.

You can't go wrong with this book.

As soon as I realized that Once a Princess had a sequel, I ran out and found this book as soon as possible. And I wasn't disappointed. I enjoyed it immensely. I just love Johanna Lindsey's style of writing.

The story of Vasili and Alex was made so interesting by the way they were both trying to hard to turn each other off. I laughed at so many scenes in which their plans backfired and they were drawn only closer to each other. Alex was a heroine I could admire for her spunk, her stubborness and sheer determination. She was the perfect match for such as Vasili. He on the other hand was already on my nerves from Once a Princess. I didn't like his arrogance in that book though I did understand why he acted that way. So it took a little bit for me to be won over by him. But not long. After all, he *was* drop dead gorgeous. And his true personality soon came shining through. He was fiercely protective of Alex and when he finally realized his deep love for her, I just melted watching him show his soft side.

It was so much fun catching up with Stefan and Tanya, learning about what they've been up to. Now I am just waiting for Serge and Lazar's stories. They should definetely each have one. Great book! Give it a try. But read Once a Princess first as its the first in the set.

I loved Once A Princess so much, I was almost afraid to read this sequel, fearing it could not live up to it. It is almost as good. Which means, it was a heck of a fantastic book! This is the story of an exceptionally handsome count misled into believing he is betrothed to the daughter of his dead father's best friend. Accustomed to having women swoon over him, the young woman he is betrothed to, is an exception, who adamantly opposes marriage to him. Each tries to portray themseves as undesirable to get the other one to back off and break the engagement, which neither wants to do as a matter of honor. It is a charming story and much enhanced by the appearance of the characters from Once A Princess. Well worth reading.

You Belong to Me is a wonderful story, which is a sequel to Once A Princess. Alexandra Rubliov and Vasili Petroff are forced to honour a betrothal agreement that their fathers 'supposedly' arranged. Neither are happy about it and do their damndest to get the other to break the engagement. Set in Russian times, you can just imagine the expolsive tempers that they both have. I loved the manner in which Alexandra tried to disgust Vasili and found myself laughing as I thought that Vasili was a bit too full of himself and definitely needed taking down a peg or two. The passion that flares between them was consuming. Neither were prepared to give an inch. Most definitely a keeper, as are all of JL's books (even the odd bad one). This is yet another JL book that I read over and over again.

I enjoyed this book so much, especially after having read several books by current, popular authors that were just "fair". This was my first book by Fern Michaels. I read it in a few days and was always eager to get back to it when I had to put it down. The author writes very believable characters. Who doesn't cringe when Tanner's mother enters the story. And wouldn't you love a friend like Luke? I thought the friendship of Jessie and Sophie was lovely, but I often wanted Jessie to not be so dependent on Sophie and do some thinking for herself! The only thing that really disappointed me about the book was the ending. Not that I want to always know the outcome of a book halfway thru, but this ending seemed so abrupt and left you hanging! A lot of unanswered questions. I hope there will be a sequel. I'd like to know more about Jessie, her child and family. Even with the disappointed ending, this was a good book that held your interest. I will definately recommend this book to others.

Once again, Fern Michaels has written a book that totally engrosses her readers! She has this ability to stir her readers emotions. I could not put this book down! Loved it start to finish. You really get to know her characters. Finders Keepers is one of the best books I've ever read, and highly recommend it to everyone. You will not be disappointed!

I ordered this book online and I read it yesterday when it arrived; from start to finish. I've read books that stirred every one of my emotions but none like this one did. I wanted to kill Jessie's mother, the one who stole her. I wanted to swat her gutless father, the one who helped steal her. I cried over Sophie and I wailed and moaned over Jelly. Now, that's a first class read in my opinion. Good work, Fern Michaels.

A long time forever and ever fan.

Julie Peters

First of all, let me state that I put this book into the "sappy romance" category. I'm not a fan of sappy romances, but if you are you'll probably like this book a lot more than I did. Having said that, I submit the following review:

I read this book because it was chosen for our book club. This is the story of Mattie Hart. In the beginning of the book she is fantasizing about how to kill her husband, Jake, because she has just found out that he has been having an another affair.They decide to separate, and just as she is celebrating having him out of her life, she is diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) and is told she has a year to live. Out of guilt and a sense of responsibility, Jake moves back into the house to take care of her. Complicating the story is that fact that both Jake and Mattie had fathers who cheated and ran out, leaving them to cope with dysfunctional mothers, and their daughter Kim, whose father, Jake, cheated and left then came back and assumed a role that she's not comfortable with. The entire story centers around how Jake and Mattie and Kim work out their problems and learn to love each other in the short year before Mattie finally dies.

I will admit that the story was somewhat compelling to read and the ending tugged at my heartstrings--have one or two Kleenex ready. But to me, this was a shallow romance no better than the cheap paperbacks that are all the same formula. I had several problems with the plot.

The treatment of Mattie's disease was rather superficial and meaningless. I kept thinking about "Tuesdays with Morrie," a true story about a man dying from the disease. Some of the passages seemed straight out of that book, especially his thoughts about how you lose your dignity when you get to the point where someone else has to help you go to the bathroom and wipe your bottom. I'm convinced that the author used the book as reference material.

I felt that the psychological problems of Mattie and Jake were trivialized as well. A person who is as abused and neglected as either of them doesn't just magically heal from those wounds overnight, and certainly not in less than a year. And it is even less likely that two of them together would heal each other without the help of therapy, especially that quickly. The whole premise was very unbelievable, in my opinion. Also the daughter, Kim, began suffering self-esteem issues and was developing anorexia, which seemed to vanish without explanation except that they loved her out of it.

I was irritated and offended at the unnecessarily explicit sex scenes. They didn't add anything to the story; quite the reverse--they seemed to emphasize to the lack of depth in the story. An author who struggles with putting love into words always puts in plenty of sex scenes, as if love and sex are the same thing. And to tell the truth, the sex scenes weren't even exciting or compelling. They were rather clinical and dispassionate.

Most unbelievable was that her mother helped Mattie die in the end. I had a hard time believing that her mother, who magically changed from an indifferent, dysfunctonal mother to a caring, loving one, would deliberately kill her own child just at the point where they were beginning to have a really good relationship. Even if the child was sick and begged for help doing it. She was chosen by Mattie because she had no trouble putting her dogs to sleep when they were suffering, and somehow we are supposed to think that she would just as easily do the same for Mattie, in spite of the fact that she wasn't the one who actually put the dogs to sleep; she took them to the vet.

So even though the ending tugged at my heartstrings and got me to shed a few tears (which I probably needed to shed anyway for personal reasons), I am only giving this book 2 stars.

After trying to get into a few crime/suspense novels, I picked up 'The First Time' just for something different and was blown away as to what an excellent book this was.

Mattie Hart has spent her entire marriage turning a blind eye to her husbands unfaithfulness and is slowly falling apart. After a few strange happenings and feelings, she is diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease, a crippling disease that eventually is fatal.

Her husband, feeling guilty, returns home to help her and look after his teenage daughter. Basically, this book is very thin on plot, but it isn;t the plot that makes this story interesting, it is the three main characters, that make this book unforgettable and un-put-down-able!

Even though the story rushes toward a tragic ending, it is the emotion, psychology and dialogue that will have the reader glued to the book.

I definately recommend this book if you are after something that will stay with you and is superbly written.

Well done, Ms Fielding!

Having enjoyed Joy Fielding's GRAND AVENUE so much, I was anxious to read another by this author. I secretly doubted she could duplicate the magic of the aforementioned book, but she did! The story is completely different, but the same compelling style of writing reels you in and makes you never want to put the book down.

You will be completely involved in Mattie Hart's life from the opening line when she is thinking of ways to kill her philandering husband to the unthinkable request she makes of her mother. You will be struck by the inner strength this woman brings to her life as well as to that of her family and deeply touched by the graphic description of a terminal illness.

Jake Hart, her husband, is an interesting creation. He doesn't love his wife, never has. He only married her because she was pregnant and Jake always likes to do the right thing. He constantly cheats on Mattie throughout their sixteen years of marriage and has never said "I love you" to her. So what's to like about a man like this? Amazingly, Fielding is able to present a side of Jake that touches every emotional note and leaves you rooting for this multi-faceted character.

From a comical steak-throwing spree in a Chicago grocery store to a wildly romantic chase through a Paris airport, Mattie and Jake's story will leave you breathless. Add to the mix their daughter Kim who is experiencing her first sexual misadventure and Mattie's mother who could never love her daughter like she needed to be loved.

THE FIRST TIME explores the ties that bind and the power of love to overcome the deepest wounds people can inflict upon one another. Inspiring and highly emotional, this book is one that touches the heart with its realism and poignant moments.

Hiaasen creates a clear view of hurricane devastated South Florida. The physical damage is daunting, but the moral devastation is inescapable. The characters he draws together in this novel are, as always, an amazing collection of the strange and extreme with a few "normal" types thrown in. This group includes insurance rip off artists,"drive-by" building inspectors, trailer salesmen, a honeymoon couple (the husband abandons his wife to take video of devastated people), Skink, the former governor of Florida who lives in the swamps, State Police officers doing their job, disappearing roof contractors, and some people who sacrifice animals. The story centers on people taking advantage of people in crisis and those who are attempting to right the balance of good and evil. As always Hiaasen creates a fast paced book with an amazing array of characters and his unique humor winds it's way through out this tale.

In "Stormy Weather," southern Florida is ravaged by a monster hurricane of Andrew-like proportions. What happens to the physical landscape is not as bad as what happens to the social landscape in the aftermath: into the devastation come bootleg contractors, shady insurance reps, assorted ne'er-do-wells and one honeymooning couple who just came out of voyeuristic interest.

Imagine what can happen when strangers inhabit a house pretending to be its owner--when a former governor has become a feral "wild man" out to wreak acts of eco-terrorism on behalf of his beloved state--when half the honeymoon couple gets kidnapped--then you'll get an idea of what "Stormy Weather" is like.

This story is told with typical Hiaasen crispness and pacing, and with his well-honed sense of timing. What I missed was not the humor, but the quality of humor. There is plenty of humor here, but 100% of it is black. It makes a book like "Strip Tease" look positively lighthearted by comparison. Still, readers of Hiaasen will enjoy this one and will know what to expect.

For those readers who are unfamiliar with Carl Hiaasen's novels, the opening scene with the two Miami honeymooners, Bonnie & Max, might read like a contemporary novel on a bored and restless couple. But add the 1992 Hurricane Andrew, the corruption in Florida, and several con artists, and Hiaasen has given us a virtual witch's brew of wickedly funny characters, each unique in their own way. Fans of Hiaasen's prior stories will be glad to learn that the infamous Skink will make his appearance and force his "wildlife" culture on Max Lamb, a pompous ad man who has the gall to videotape the hurricane victims in all of their misery. His bride of only one night, Bonnie, quickly reinforces her initial impression of him (disgust), but finds herself in the midst of a great adventure in the process of rescuing him. Augustine, the unfortunate owner of several escaped wild animals (including rhesus monkeys and buffaloes!) gets caught up in the rescue mission with Bonnie. The animals alone take on the starring roles when it comes to the "just desserts" that Hiaasen so fondly dishes out to his most deserving characters. And THESE are the true stars of his story:

Edie Marsh is a tough cookie who, failing to "get" one of the Kennedys on a rape charge, settles for scoring money on an insurance fraud scheme. Her rapid, sparring repartee alone is worth the price of the book; she fears no one and uses everyone, including her hapless partners in crime. "Snapper" is one of these partners, the stock "low-class stupid Southern bigot" character, but he also occasionally displays some cynical wit. His come-uppance is custom-made for him. Ditto for the other "slime" such as Avila, the crooked housing inspector who does his best work speeding by houses at 40 miles an hour. Tony Torres, the unscrupulous mobile home salesman, also gets more than he bargained for. The more vile the character, the more creative Hiaasen gets with the revenge tactics; if revenge is usually considered to be best served cold, Hiaasen prefers to toss in hot peppers and loads of fireworks. This is easily as entertaining a novel as "Strip Tease" (and PLEASE try to find a copy of "Strip Tease" without Ms. Demi on the cover, so as not to be reminded of the horrible movie version that blasphemed the book). Thankfully, it seems that a Miami hurricane would be far too expensive to reconstruct, even for a movie, so there is no danger of Mr. Hiaasen's wonderfully over-the-top satire getting the hatchet treatment by a conventional, "by-the-numbers" Hollywood producer. I was surprised to learn that there was an epilogue with this story, since my copy didn't have one; it didn't seem necessary. My only beef was with the money (I won't get too specific and spoil the plot). Why wasn't it used to help the victims? Even a radically non-materialistic jungle fighter like Skink would want to help poor families get back on their feet, wouldn't he? Then again, given his former-governor status and bufo-toad mind trips, maybe not. His dream is probably for everyone to get back to their "roots". Other than this minor quibble, the intertwining plots come together in an inspiring finale, and it's hard to resist a book in which Skink finally "gets lucky". Definitely a must-read.

Previous Burke audiobooks have been greatly enhanced by the reading of Will Patton who has established a distinctive audio identity for Dave Robicheaux, an authentic local narrative style as well as unique audio identities for the other characters. Although Burke's writing is as great as ever, the reading by Mark Hammer is not. Mark has just two voices, one white and one black, used for all characters, and he makes Dave sound as if he has aged twenty years between books. What a shame! I recommend reading, rather than listening, unless Will Patton returns.

One compensating feature is a preface read by James Lee Burke himself, together with the music for which the book is named.

Tee Bobby Hulin, a black junkie who never committed a violent crime, is fingered for the murder of Amanda Boudreau. New Iberia, Louisiana detective Dave Robicheaux doesn't believe he committed the crime even though the evidence points that way. When a local prostitute Linda Zeroski is also murdered in a violent manner, Tee Bobby, who is out on bail, becomes the number one suspect for that homicide too.

Linda's father is a powerful New Orleans mobster who comes to New Iberia to enact vengeance on his daughter's killer. Dave's investigation leads him to lean on Legion Guidry, a man who is the embodiment of evil. Legion beats up and emasculates Dave who first ends up in the hospital and ultimately off the wagon. Before he can discover who the killer is, he must defeat his own demons before they destroy him.

James Lee Burke is one of the better writers of the last decade. His prose is lyrical yet atmospheric, smooth yet dangerous, silk yet graphic. His protagonist is a flawed tortured soul who immediately makes a place for himself in the hearts of the audience. Jolie Blon's Bounce is a fascinating crime thriller with so many vile villainous suspects that readers will find it near impossible to figure out who the killer actually is.

Harriet Klausner

To categorize this book as a mystery is like clumping Haagen-Daz in the same category as cheap sherbet. Sorry. Not the same thing. These characters are alive and fresh and memorable. The settings resonate with sights and sounds and smells. The beauty of Louisiana juxtapositioned with the evil of the criminal world is a heady mix. As always, I'm impressed by Burke's ability. I feel like I'm repeating myself: James Lee Burke is a master of imagery, be it violent and dark, or moving and poetic. I can't help myself. To read his work is to fall in love with the language. With this in mind, it's true that I tend to overlook his meandering plots and psychological side-trips. For me, they make his books much more real and down to earth than the general formulaic mysteries.

In this particular story, we see Dave Robicheaux dealing with his inner demons, as always--this time in the form of pills. But it's the same white worm eating at him and driving anger to the surface. As usual, his emotions boil over into his job and cause trouble. The difference this time is that Robicheaux is dealing with other demons than his own. He's dealing with Legion, an old man, hard as nails and full of darkness. The supernatural aspects that come into play, particularly at the conclusion were, for me, very satisfying and remarkably well handled. Other reviewers have derided these elements; I found them to be the original touch this series needed. Others complained of sexual situations that were unnecessary; I was moved to tears by Bootsie's tenderness to her man in need of assurance. Robicheaux, behind his tough exterior, is a man of flesh and blood and emotion. Thankfully, James Lee Burke is too. It's the reason I keep reading his stuff. After "Purple Cane Road," I'd rate this near the top of the series.