This is an incredible book. I haven't been much into reading fantasy in years, although I have always been a fan of Merlin, King Arthur, and Camelot, Fantasy books failed to hold my attention for every story has been told and retold in one way or another. I have to be honest, it was Deepak Chopra's name that drew me to this book, and then seeing Merlins name on the same cover, I had to check it out. And I am so glad I did. What a truly wonderful book for fantasy lovers, and spiritual seekers alike. Don't miss out on this great read, books like this come far and few between!! This book and the characters in it will stay with you for a long, long time.

Chopra manages with some Skill to interweave his teachings into this magical story. except for a few numbing points, this book is certainly a good work. With a good editing, it might even be a good theme for film purposes.

Actually, strictly he doesn't, but let's not ruin the story!!! This is a seriously intertwined book, about the return of many of the characters of the Arthurian Legends. Arthur is a present day policeman who finds an old man dead on the side of the road. He is nicknamed Merlin, for his long flowing beard, but things get interesting when Merlin does a disappearing act on the police force. It emerges that Melchior, his understudy, has also appeared in this time, and he befriends an aptly named Pen (Arthur's full name was Pendragon). Other "coincidental" characters begin to show their faces, including the reincarnation of Mordred, who originally defeated Arthur. It takes some concentration to understand the events occurring, and some knowledge of the Arthurian story helps no end!!!! The finale is so fantastic that any effort on the part of the reader is well worth it!!!!!

I won't bother providing an overview of the book. You can get that from the jacket or other reviews found on Amazon.

I am a very picky reader and don't like to waste my time with bad literature. With this in mind, I felt this book started very slow and at a couple of points, I nearly put it down. Fortunately, I stuck with it and the suspense and tension in the story built like a freight train moving out of a rail yard. Once the book hit full speed, I didn't want to put it down. I literally hid it under stuff and hunched my shoulders to sneak in a little more reading while at work. When I finished the book, I was disappointed that the story was over.

This was the first Deutermann novel I read, but a day after finishing this one, I went right back to the library to get another. Look for my review of "Hunting Season" in the not-too-distant future.

From the first chapter, which deals with more detail than anyone should need to know about blowing up a bridge to the last climactic confrontation, this novel literally moves with the speed of a trainwreck. The identity of the terrorism as revenge culprit is well hidden and is not revealed until the final third of the book. The elements of political intrigue within the FBI, gender equity, and animosities between federal agents and local law enforcement personnel are woven together in what is a very interesting and highly entertaining story.

TRAIN MAN is one of those books that I couldn't put down, and which caused my wife some exasperation. ("Are you reading again?! Which do you love more - me or that book?") Uh, sorry ... what did you say, dear?

This thriller by P.T. Deutermann is really two storylines in one, coming together only at the end. Each has its own protagonist and its own nutcase Bad Guy.

The primary plot has the TRAIN MAN blowing up railroad river bridges in retaliation for a past personal tragedy. The Good Guy on his trail is FBI Acting Assistant Director William "Hush" Hanson, who departs the Machiavellian atmosphere of the FBI's Washington headquarters for the field to run his quarry to ground. However, even out in the sticks, Hush isn't safe from the backstabbing and internecine warfare back at the Big House as spans continue to drop into the water. And what sort of game is Senior Agent Carolyn Lang, Hanson's assigned deputy for the manhunt, playing? Is that a treacherous blade in her belt, or just a friendly nail file?

The other wacko is US Army Colonel Mehle, down from the Pentagon and the National Security Council with explicit, no-nonsense orders to transport some captured Russian torpedoes with nuclear warheads from the Anniston Army Weapons Depot in Alabama to the Army's destruction facility in Tooele, Utah. The warheads need to go Right Now On The Double because they're leaking radiation, and the mode of transport is to be an Army train also taking chemical weapons to Utah for disposal. Top Brass pressure has made Mehle a bullet or two short of a full clip, so when the colonel decides to go along for the ride as the train's Full Throttle commander, Major Tom Matthews, the train's reluctant Security Officer, fears a bumpy ride and an inglorious end to his previously unblemished 20-year career.

Oh, and have I mentioned that the Train Man's targets are the bridges over the lower Mississippi River, that part of the waterway smack in the path between Alabama and Utah? Can you see where this is going?

Both plots are taut, suspenseful and finely paced, and the characters well drawn and believable. The identity of the TRAIN MAN comes as a surprise, though perhaps the revelation occurs too soon. Moreover, the author apparently researched America's rail system extensively, so the technical backdrop against which the action unfolds is very absorbing, especially if the reader has no prior knowledge of the subject. The novel's jacket compares it favorably to THE DAY OF THE JACKAL. I agree. This is quality reading entertainment.

I really enjoyed this book and read it in a day and a half. The characters were really great and I love how Kat always throws in another romance with secondary characters to follow also. If you love romantic suspense, you will love this book. It reminded me a bit of Cherry Adair's romantic suspense books. The main character Jake Dawson is such a hottie! ... Allie although a bit annoying at some points was also a character you could really like. If you like Martin then this is a must read.

I thought this book had just the right amount of fun, sex and suspense in it, although I always enjoy a book that involves getting lost in the jungle (and I'm not really sure why).
Martin's latest novel features a woman bent on solving the death of her best friend, so she stows away on a boat and is found by two men eager to have their way with her. Enter our hero (big strong Jake Dawson) who manages to keep her out of trouble. For a little while. Allie, the heroine, is held hostage on the boat while the three men take head to Mexico. No sooner do they get there than all hell breaks loose.
I enjoyed the banter between Allie and Jake, even if it did seem a bit ludicrous and contrived. Maybe I just have a soft spot for books like this, but it totally reminded me of Midnight Rainbow by Linda Howard, another great read if you can manage to track it down.
A word of advice, however. If the story seems to be going nowhere in the beginning, give it a shot. It turned out to be lots of fun, a light summer read on a hot afternoon. Highly recommended.

I loved this book.. Kat Martin's Contempory Suspense is a winner for me... I have a love hate relationship with her books and this is a LOVE.Jake is very much the man of the moment and Allie she is a wonderful character very strong.. even when she eats snake and turtle there is no silliness that you get with some females.. I loved her.. she's strong and wilful searching for the excitment she needs in life.. flitting from one job to another... with her convictions she ends up in a heap of mess but makes the best of the situation in she finds herself.... I very much look forward to reading more CONTEMPORY SUSPENSE FROM KAT.... Thanks for a very enjoyable entertaining read

The reader for this book is impossible for me to listen to without gritting my teeth. Maybe this series is better in written form.

I'm not that I understand why so many other reviewers gave this book 5 starts. The book was good but not great. This is my first Liam Campbell mystery and, sorry, I didn't find Liam Campbell to be an exceptionally compelling or inventive character.

Ok, that said, this is a very good read. I really enjoyed the picture the author paints of the Alaskan bush. What a setting for a murder mystery? Beyond Liam Campbell, we meet a number of characters who are riddled with their own problems and connected by a series of creepy deaths. This book reinforced the notion that one wouldn't want to get lost in the rugged Alaskan outback amongst the frigid temperature, the lack of daylight, and the beers.

I look forward to reading more from Dana Stabenow.

This is the third story in the Liam Campbell series by Stabenow.

If you like the Kate Shugak stories you will also like this series. I admit that I jumped in at the third story here but I am now going back to get the rest.

Liam is forced to solve a serial murder case though at first no one is sure that it is a serial case. It seems with different weapons and the distances apart that they are not connected. But, as the story progresses you see how they are connected and how eventually things come together. As usual Stabenow also makes the characters very real as well as the difference in the remote parts of Alaska and family values. She describes the setting as well as the lifestyles fantastically.

Another winner by Stabenow.

This book was written with Morsi's wonderful storytelling but I found it somewhat lacking in the character depth. I felt myself feeling very sorry for Moss and disliking Eulie. Perhpas I could've felt compassion for her situation if she showed a little remorse for forcing Moss to marry her but she thought he should "just get over it." I also found her to be disgustingly shallow. She couldn't understand how Clara could love Bug and too many times commented that he was ugly. I found it made her even more unlikeable to me. Then there was the situation with her youngest sister. If ever there was a child who need the strap, she needed it.

In the end, I just felt sorry for Moss. He never got to Texas and he was stuck with his selfish bride.

If you've never read Pamela Morsi before, begin with Marrying Stone or Wild Oats. This one just isn't up to her usual standard.

This was my first Pamela Morsi book. I absolutely loved the first 2/3 of this book. The love scenes between Eulie and Moss were tender and teasing, the supporting characters were interesting. But at some point, the supporting characters took over the plot line. Did we really need to imagine legless Uncle Jeptha with an erection in a bathtub? Did we need the details of hard working Ransom suddenly on a wild spree - losing a large sum of money in a poker game and then shooting his opposing players? I don't think so. At first I thought that I had discovered a new favorite author - but now I'm not sure.

Romance author Pamela Morsi strikes again. She's written another funny, tender love story featuring an unlikely pair--a confirmed bachelor groom (with a shotgun at his back) and a young bride so desperate to find a home for herself and her younger siblings that she traps a stranger in a loveless marriage. Once again, Ms. Morsi's characters come alive on the pages of her latest book. We suffer with them when things go bad. We root for them to overcome hardships, doubts and crises--and celebrate when they do.

Being a 23 year old college student, I was clearly looking forward to reading Sparkledoll as I thought I would clearly relate to the elements and themes in this book. Sadly, I was proven wrong as I am left wondering what message was truly conveyed.

Loosely based on a true story, Sparkledoll focuses on the story of Lori Baldwin, a young woman who falls into trouble, running the streets and eventually getting caught up in the legal system. In the midst of her trials, she realizes that she wants more out of her life and decides to pursue flim in college. From the moment that she starts, she clearly sees that the world around her is one "wild and crazy" place. Throughout the story, She shares with us her past, present, and desires for the future. We are also introduced to the people that made an impact on her life, both positive and negative.

With a unsolid plot and unneccessary grammatical errors, this story has left me wondering "What was this author truly trying to say?", "What is the point of the story?". Although we were introduced to Lori's story, I regretfully feel that the author missed the mark in truly bringing what could have been a strong tale. I felt very disconnected and was dissapointed. If a sophomore novel indeed comes forward from Ms. Wheeler, I would really like to see a much stronger plot and content, free of grammatical errors that are common sense. To take a word from the FOX smash "American Idol", this book is not "a golden moment".

Sparkledoll-Always Into Something is a daring novel to say the least. The first time author, Dorrie Williams-Wheeler, takes a risk. She has written a story in first person about a young woman named Lori Baldwin. The author claims this story isn't autobiographical, but the story is so gripping and real and over the top it's hard to believe that the author didn't actually "live" this story.

There are a few flaws. For one, I didn't really feel that the author resolved the characters problems at the end of the book. At the same time, I'm not mad at the author because the book was so good I truly hope there is a sequel. So much happened in a short book and there truly was not a dull chapter or moment in this book.

I also didn't understand the characters motivation, why did she do the things that she did? But then after thinking about it and reading the book again I realized that the woman in the book was just a young girl finding her way in life.

I also applaud the author for taking a risk when it comes to topics like sex, and drug and alcohol use. She doesn't exploit her characters, you really feel for the main character and her friends. I felt myself wanting to have a serious talking to to the main character and telling her to straighten up and fly right.

I would definitely recommend this book to others. It's a keeper and I know this author is going places.

I really liked this book. I had the opportunity to see the author speak recently in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The author claims the book is fiction but it's hard not to believe that some of the stories in the book weren't based on real life events because the story is told so passionately. Sparkledoll Always Into Something is almost a collection of short stories, but really it is a book where each chapter explores a part of the characters journey from a junior high aged teen to a college graduate. The main character Lori Baldwin has to deal with problamatic relationships with both males and females, verbally and physically abusive relationships and just normal angst and drama that people go through in high school and college. Now don't read this book if you are looking for some deep read. It is a light easy read and it's not out to change the world. It is entertaining and I did not notice any significant typos. This is the revised version that was released in the fall of 2002. I would recommend this book to anyone aged 15-24. People in this age group could really relate to this book, at least I think so.

The village of Ancombe is in an uproar. A mineral water company has requested the right to bottle part of its spring every day. Part of the town thinks this is just what their economy needs, but the other part doesn't want the increase of people this would bring. Agatha Raisin agrees to come out of retirement to handle the public relations for the company. But then a body is found. What side of the issue was the victim on? Will this help or hurt Agatha's new job? And can she find the killer before the launch of the label is ruined?

This book was my introduction to Agatha and her friends. While she is a gruff woman with some vices I don't like, I found myself liking the character. The sub-plots in her personal life seemed a bit immature, but I found them funny and the insecurity they brought out made me like the character. My only real complaint was the plot. While it did eventually pick up speed, much of the first half seemed slow to me, with not much advancement in the story. But once things got moving, I was hooked and completely surprised by the ending.

This won't be my last case with Ms. Raisin. I look forward to catching up on the back-story of this lovable crank and seeing where she goes from here.

This is a good Agatha Raisin story. I found myself enjoying it immensely. Of course it helped that James Lacey was not in it as much as he is in some of the other stories. I don't like him and I wish Agatha would forget him and get on with her own life. Agatha's a mix of city sophisitication and small town vulnerability and that is what makes her so appealing.

In this book Agatha is working freelance on public relations for a new spring water company in a neighbouring village. The commercialization of the spring has opened up a Pandora's box of bad feelings in the village and results in two murders (in true Agatha fashion). In this one though we see a mosltly solo Agatha working on solving the mystery. At the very end she is joined by her village friends to unmask the killer.

Reading an Agatha book like AGATHA RAISIN AND THE WELLSPRING OF DEATH is like eating chocolate-covered jalapeno peppers while drinking grapefruit juice, followed by a nice, hot cup of sweetened tea. You don't see how all the different elements could go together, but they do! This is about the 7th in the series that features Agatha and her neighbor James. All the traditional Agatha elements are here: the cozy Cotswolds, the quirky local characters, some "incomers" to stir things up, James, Roy. And it's so funny I laughed out loud several times, usually at Agatha's biting sense of humor. ("That woman has halitosis of the soul," said Agatha.) I'm telling you, Agatha really grows on you. Where I once said she'd never be my best friend, I just love her now. And where else in literary circles do we find attractive women in their 50s with a hot sex life? Go, Agatha!

Linda Howard is my favorite writer, but this is definitely not her best book. I couldn't believe that the main character Max would treat Claire with such little respect when he uses her to get information about a company! and then he expects her to just forget about that like it isn't important at all, when he knows that she doesn't open up to people easily. There was very little chemistry between the two characters also. They shared no romance or affection and then out of nowhere their is a steamy sex scene (which, in true Linda Howard form was very well written!). The sex scenes were great but other than that, their really isn't about this book that I would recommend.

If you are truly a Linda Howard fan, their are many amazing books she has written that I recommend, Some of my favorites include:
1. After the Night
2. Kill and Tell
3. Heart of Fire
4. Mr. Perfect

Claire is insecure which describes a lot of girls out there including myself. I guess I like this book a lot because I can relate to the heroine. I felt her feelings and emotions, and I cried when she cried. I absolutely love romance books that can make me cry, and this one sure delivers! Good job Linda Howard! I absolutely love your books, and have bought all the ones that they have at the bookstores!

I bought this book by accidnetly but I have to say, I am not disappointed. I couldn't put it down and I have to admit, this book makes me cry. For me, books that make me cry are good one. And because of the simplicity of each character is what makes the book interesting.

As we all know that the heroine have to be strong and independent but with Claire, she is totally opposite. She's fragile and sensitive but if you look deep inside her, she is one strong woman; and that is what she's trying to be all along after her divorce. And all of these are what make she's real.

With Max, what more can you ask for? He is perfect but what I love about him the most is his connection with him and his family. For woman, he is a playboy but for family, he is a family man.

"Almost Forever" is one of my favorite book of all time. Everytime when I pick it up, I can't stop myself from reading it.

The little Scottish village of Lochdubh has been discovered. A beautiful and ambitious TV reporter by the name of Crystal French has decided to do a show about the village. The show, supposedly about village life, is really just going to focus on old scandals that certain people thought that they had lived down. The residents are angry and Constable Hamish Macbeth is also upset because he knows that many innocent people will suffer because of the nasty news reporter dragging up hurtful information.

A pretty new town resident, Elspeth Grant has taken more than an interest in Hamish, but he's still moping over his lost love, Priscilla. When a murder takes place, Constable Macbeth pulls himself together to track down the killer. As usual, the Strathbane police authorities advise Hamish to keep out of the murder investigation, but obsessed with his own theories, he stays in the middle of it all. When a second murder occurs, Hamish is committed to finding the killer.

These light, but charming Harmish Macbeth mysteries are always fun to read.

Death descends into the quiet highland village of Lochdubh once again when a muckraking t.v. presenter is found dead in her car just outside of town. It looks like a suicide but police constable Hamish Macbeth thinks differently and sets off to prove otherwise. Nothing comes easy in the highlands, though, and the more he digs into the crime, the more he discovers that many people had motive to murder....

This book is the quintessential Hamish Macbeth: sharp, witty, brooding, and oh-so-unlucky at love. Beaton offers up the most well-rounded Macbeth mystery ever, propelling her quirky (but nicely defined) characters along a briskly paced plot that's as warm as a wee dram o' whiskey.

In her latest Constable Hamish MacBeth tale, Death of a Celebrity, M.C.Beaton has outdone herself! Arguably the best yet of this cozy series, Beaton finally fulfills the potential of the series. In this book, Hamish, himself, has been fleshed-out - flaws-and-all, to the degree that on our next trip to Scotland, I expect to be able to spot his tall, red-haired form patrolling the streets of his cherished Lochdubh and the rugged Highlands, as well! Too, coming from a law enforcement heritage as I do, I recognize MacBeth's bucking of "the brass" as a behavior also resorted to by other bright, young talents who serve on police departments in the US, as well...As one who loves both the British "cozy" and the country of Scotland, itself, I have thoroughly enjoyed ALL of M.C.Beaton's books; THIS one is the very best!

I was anxious to read the sequel to GARDEN OF LIES, which is one of the greatest novels ever written in history. I was hoping for a novel of equal magnitude with THORNS OF TRUTH, but instead was left wondering "what happened"? Although it was wonderful to read how all the characters turned out over the years and to learn about their children's lives, too, I felt there was way too much written about past history of the original characters. Anyone who would have read this book knows that it's a sequel and it certainly was not necessary to practically repeat excerpts from GARDEN OF LIES over and over again. I felt that was an entire waste of redundant writing.

Although the novel wasn't very many pages, a great deal of the writing was very detailed, which grew tiresome. I would have liked more dialogue amongst the characters. There lacked a real plot other than the family try to deal with Drew and Iris's engagement. The best part of the book was Sylvie, who was weak from her ailment, but remained strong in character.

I'm glad I got this book from the library because otherwise I would have been disappointed to waste my money on the book. It could have been a lot better but Ms. Goudge's chose a different route instead. This will not prevent me from reading any future novels by Ms. Goudge but I hope they will be of better content that this one.

It was a long time to wait for the sequel to Garden of Lies (one of my personal favorites), but well worth it. Thorns of Truth picks up the story of Rose and Rachel many years later in their professional and personal lives frought with problems, decisions, joys and triumphs. It was interesting how the author wove their history into the story; a reader wouldn't have to read "Garden" necessarily to enjoy this book, but he/she would miss the wonderfully written introduction to this strange yet endearing family. The character of Sylvie throughout is just amazing - she continued to keep her SECRET until death is imminent and finally eased her conscience by devulging her past and acknowledging her child and ultimately breaking the hearts of her other child and her grandchildren. How they came to grips with the revelation and how they became stronger persons for it was interesting. Sylvie touched them all. I was sorry when I finished reading it, but I don't see it as final. The relationships of Drew and Iris, Eric and Rose, Brian and Rachel, Mandy and Robert and the ensuing problems in their lives could lead to a third book and I certainly hope this happens. Are you listening Eileen?

Over four decades have passed since that hospital fire led to the switching of two newborns. Now forty-six, one of the switched babies, Rose Santini Griffin, is deeply grieving the loss of her husband by burying herself in her work. Her oldest son, Drew, is engaged to Iris, the daughter of Rachel MacClanahan. Rachel is the other switched baby during that fire.

A guilt-laden Sylvie is dying. She is the biological mother to Rose who switched the infants, and raised Rachel as her own. She has hidden her transgression from everyone, including her spouse. Outside of Sylvie, only Rose knows what happened during the confusing hospital fire. She has vowed not to reveal what she knows because she does not want to hurt her friend Rachel. However, knowing that she is dying, Sylvie feels compelled to reveal the truth, but hesitates for fear of what it will do to everyone she holds dear.

The sequel to GARDEN OF LIES, THORNS OF TRUTH, holds up to the quality level of the first novel. The continuation into middle age of the two criss-crossed women is brilliantly described due to the strong characterizations, including the secondary players. The story line is a classical tear jerker that requires a fresh towel for every fifteen pages (a handkerchief is not big enough for all the weeping). Readers will gouge on Eileen Goudge's gut wrenching, heart warming tale.

Harriet Klausner