I started in the middle of the series last summer-- enjoyed "Irish Mist," so much I scoured my hometown and the internet until I found and have now read the whole Nualla series (in order). "Irish Stew" is not the best of the series, but if you were hooked from the previous books, you'll enjoy this one too. The only thing is that this one lives a little too much in the past and you don't get a lot of Nualla and Dermot, but the way he leaves you hanging as you go from the present story of Dermot and Nualla to Ned from long ago Chicago (same Ned as Irish Eyes) you find yourself hooked. I just hope the good father has one more Nualla story up his sleeve to quench my addiction.

I have read all the books in this series. The conversations between Dermot and his mental alter ego were very confusing at times. I would re-read paragraphs to make sure I was getting the speaker right. I enjoyed the history lesson though!

If you are going to read any of the "Nuala and Dermot" books, start with the first one and do them in order. If you hate the first, it's OK to quit. I like them all, but then I like nearly 90 percent of Fr. Greeley's output, and over the decades I've probably read about 90 percent of his total. I am only an eighth Irish, have only been to the airport in Chicago, and no longer consider myself Catholic, but I still am hooked. This group of novels are just plain fun. There are two mysteries, one from the past, one in the present, to solve, plus a progressive love story and cameo appearances by many of Greeley's stock characters in the Ryan-Kane-Murphy-Casey extended families. To enjoy these books, one has to suspend a lot of disbelief...Nuala Anne McGrail Coyne, our sexy, feisty, low self-esteem Irish peasant heroine, achieves a world class singing career rather too easily, for instance, and her husband, Dermot, may be too rich too easily, and too multi-talented to be credible. However, both are so darn likeable you won't give a flip about the unreality. If you like any of Greeley, I cannot imagine not liking this series. Each book has sex, humor, suspense, a bit of danger, a lot of history, an explication of how modern-day yuppies can still be practicing and sincere Catholics. the "Irish" series may not earn respect from the academic literati, but the plots are not dull, and the feeling when you are done is that all can be (mostly) right with the world if you do your part to play by the rules. For a celibate priest, Andy Greeley sure knows how to write about the healthy parts of lust and love and desire and the mysterious compulsion that brings men and women together despite their being different creatures altogether.

To begin with, I would first like to say that Rat Race was a much better mystery story than what I had first expected it to be. While it could have been much better, it was not a complete waste of time. This is a book that frequently centers on horse racing, which I despise, so you may want to keep my prejudices in mind while reading my opinions.

Rat Race slowly begins with pilot Matt Shore flying passengers to a horserace for a little airline company named Derrydowns. Matt was taking over for another pilot who had left the job just a week before. On his fist flight to the races Matt found out that other pilots despised him just because he worked for Derrydowns. He also found out that one of his passengers was the famous jockey, Colin Ross. Colin became one of Matt's permanent costumers. Everything was going well with Matt's job until he had trouble with one of the plane's steering cables on a trip home from the races. He then made an emergency landing to have the airplane checked out. The disgusted crew was suddenly jolted by an explosion at of nowhere as they walked from the plane. Luckily, though, no one was close enough to be injured. Right timing and chance seemed to have been the only thing that saved them.

After much questioning from the Nazi-like Board of Trade, Matt was reprimanded and then decided to search for answers to the explosion. As a result he made an astonishing find: one of his passengers was an explosives expert! The 'chance' that saved his life was now thought to be a deliberate ploy by one of his own passengers riding in the plane with him. Was this loose maniac planning to take Colin Ross' life? Maybe someone had made a bet on Colin Ross to win or lose a race and needed that bet secured. But why would he blow up a plane with no one in it.

As time passed Matt forgot about the explosion because of the fact that he met Colin Ross' sister, Nancy, and became infatuated with her. The story then turns into a boring romance between Matt, Nancy, and her doped-up ex-lover. Fortunately, the story picks up again when Colin is in another near-death plane incident. This time Nancy, who is not very experienced, is flying. The same man who hid the explosives on Matt's plane has now sabotaged her plane. With all electrical devices not working, she is done for in the cloud-filled sky. Luckily her lover, Matt, finds out about the plot and manages to find her in the sky in his own plane and guides her to safety.

Matt now knows who has sabotaged the planes both times but is unable to have him arrested. He also finds out that others are involved. Other peoples' lives are in danger but he cannot tell them without looking like a fool because he has no solid proof. Even more disturbing is that the crooks know that Matt knows about their scheme. Which side will come out victorious in the end?

Was this book worth reading? No. There was not enough excitement or enough suspense. Nor was the plot original. It was the same story of two lovers falling in love, some kind of event splitting them up, and they finally live happily ever after in the end. While I suppose this sort of 'fairytale' type of story is possible, it is highly unlikely. For example, Matt is invited to move in with Colin and Nancy in the end. Colin is very rich, so the rest of Matt's life is a breeze. I am sure this sort of thing could and does happen, but for the most part, only in dreams.

One good thing about the story, though, is that it develops the characters very well. I was able to learn the personalities of most the characters fairly well. This, of course, is essential in a mystery story. If I had to give it a grade on the overall quality of reading I would give it an average, solid 'C'.

RAT RACE is mainly about insurance fraud. The side issues are the fixing of horse races and a feud between rival air taxi services. As a former jockey and pilot the author is able to lend an air of authenticity to the story.

Once again he makes you run to the store to get another one of his books. The mystery and supense is just a great read

While I don't think S&S 17 will go down in the annals of history as one of the great works of literature in our time, it is worth reading. It's good for reading on lunch breaks or other times when you don't have several uninterrupted hours for a good solid read.

As with all anthologies, there are submissions that appeal to my sense of "good story" more than others. My personal favorite from this one was Carrie Vaughn's "Haunting of Princess Elizabeth."

Since volume IX of Sword and Sorceress, I've anticipated each summer's offering of the latest and greatest S&S short fiction - S&SXVII, while perhaps not the best of this wonderful series, still provides some entertaining reads.

Several of the stories are fairly predictable - in an anthology designed to promote strong female characters in Fantastic Fiction, you can pretty much bet that it's the lone girl and not the army (be that Plains Tribe or Amazons or your brother who ought to weild the sword) that will step up to bat and save the day.

That given, there are some delightful gems in S&SXVII that make it worth buying, such as such notables as :

"Memories of the Sea" by Dave Coleman-Reese is an interesting look at the relation of the soul and memories. The characters and their interrelations are drawn especially well.

In "The Summons," Bunnie Bessel built upon an interesting moral dilemma that a bodyguard must face. I only wish this story had been a novel - the glimpses into the world seemed to display something larger than a short story.

"Luz" by Patricia Duffy Novak examines humility, perseverence, and divine favour in a charming and well-wrought story that, given its content, manages to keep away from moralising while instructing at the same time.

Charles Richard Laing's "Weapons at War" draws from the well-worn "gimmick" of sentient swords, and takes it one comical step further, making one swordwoman's whole armament into a highly opinionated convention!

Enjoy!

The "Sword And Sorceress" series is a series of collections of short stories set in the "Sword And Sorcery" genre, except that in this series, all the protagonists are female. The is because, as Marion Zimmer Bradley has always explained in her introductions, historically in the "Sword And Sorcery" genre, the only female characters were "Bad conduct prizes" for the heros.

The series as a whole is very good, although some volumes were stronger than others. I would rate this one as the best of the series, and with MZB's death, it may be the last. Not a certainty; it is possible, I suppose, that the publishers may choose to continue the series with a new editor, possibly MZB's assistant of the last few years. But I suppose we'll just have to wait and see.

There are only three stories in this collection that are continuations of the adventures of characters met in previous anthologies: "An Exchange Of Favors", by Dorothy Heydt (the adventures of Cynthia, The Witch of Syracuse); "Shadow Soul", by Laura J. Underwood (Ginny, celtic wisewoman); and "Lady Of Flame", by Diana Paxson (Bera, Norse Voelva). But there are many fine one-shot stories here, and no bad ones. If this is the end of the line for the series, it is going out in fine style. Hopefully, there will be more to come.

You ever listened to one of those audio books that is so bad, yet you have find out how it ends? This is it. Maybe it's because I haven't listened to the other books, but the author gives a great recap that I didn't have to worry about that. My problem was that the characters were totaly unlikeable and there were tons of inconsistantces. First of all, the characters. I didn't like anyone, though Ruby wasn't too bad. Like parts of the story, some of them get a little inconsistant. At first Fanny is a strong-willed woman and then reverts to a pathetic figure when the plot demands it. I also think Ms. Michaels wasted Celia. What could've been a decent woman who happened to be a bit of a goldigger is quickly revealed as your run-of-the-mill femme fatale. I know that I probably have a lot of the fans mad, but continue to hear me out. That over, now the consistantcies. If this family is so rich, how come they act like they're poor? I'm no expert on rich folks, but I think that a family as wealthy as them wouldn't expect their wives to clean and cook. Also, Thronton Chickens is suppose to be a multi-million dollar business then why does it seem that Ruby is doing all the work for what seems like it's described as a small farm. And Celia's baby, I think Ms. Michaels was hinting that it was Birg's even though he hadn't touched since she they got back from that jungle. There's some other things I'd mention, but I don't have the room. Let's just say the only reason this book doesn't fail is becasue of the great recap of everything and you still want to find out how it ends. Love, Yaoi Huntress Earth

I read this book without having read the 2 previous books in the series. It was fairly easy catching up on who the characters were. One thing I found annoying is that during conversations, characters would bring up things that other characters had done throughout the book, but there seemed to be no relevence to the conversation. It is almost as if Miss Michaels was trying to remind the reader what had happened previously. It seemed unnecessary to me. I am, however, looking forward to reading Vegas Heat and Vegas Rich.

Vegas Sunrise was really great. Enjoyed the whole series of these Vegas books by Fern Michaels. They just keep getting better. Loved the way she did this one though. Would love another one. Onto Finder's Keepers next.

I found the book to be easy to read, and the ending was one that could be let to one's imagination. . I was not totally taken in by the book, but was still glad that I had read it. If you like captivating love stories that touch your heart, you might read stolen Moments by Barbara Jeanne Fisher. If you liked this book you will also love Stolen Moments by Barbara Jeanne Fisher. I intended to give the book a quick read, but I got so caught up in the story that I couldn't put the book down. From the very beginning, I was fully caught up in the heart-wrenching account of Julie Hunter's battle with lupus and her growing love for Don Lipton. This love, in the face of Julie's impending death, makes for a story that covers the range of human emotions. The touches of humor are great, too, they add some nice contrast and lighten things a bit when emotions are running high. I've never read a manuscript more deserving of being published. It has rare depth. Julie's story will remind your readers that life and love are precious and not to be taken for granted. It has had an impact on me, and for that I'm grateful."

"Stolen Moments " which is reminiscent of "Love Story" is written with so much sensitivity that it made me want to cry. Like"Love Story" it is about a dying woman who has found true love. It is the love story of the nineties."

You may say what you like about Victoria Gotti as a writer, I enjoy her books a great deal. Like millions of other Americans, I find cross country airplane trips to be an opportunity to lose myself in the kind of torrid pot boilers one's former English teacher or mother-in-law would tsk tsk over (in my case, she's both!), and to forget, for awhile, the rigors of modern literature (read, at least in part, so I'll be able to maintain my educated bourgeois status in conversation with my peers). A recent trip from Seattle to Baltimore and back was just such an occasion, and I was grateful to have Ms. Gotti's second book, "I'll Be Watching You," along as a companion on this flight. Okay, so she's not Jane Austin, or even Joan Didion. Victoria Gotti is, however, a great story-teller whose books are a welcome addition to the ranks of airport fiction. I mean, okay, I started "I'll Be Watching You," as I had her first book, "The Senator's Daughter," with some quibbles about the writing. The juxtaposition of the word "lovely" with the markedly unlovely word "flaccid" as in "her lovely, flaccid body" made me pause for a few seconds, for example. The repeated use of the word "shattered" seemed peculiar on occasion (some things just don't shatter when they break). But it was not far into the book that Gotti the story teller took over - I started hearing, and appreciating her voice, as if we were sitting together in her sun-lit study with its massive Ethan Allen oak desk, she in her Donna Karan loungewear, me in my casual Armani, sipping amareto from Damask cups.... she resumes her story as the late afternoon drifts on, her piercing hazel eyes growing distant as the story takes hold and I put my feet up and lean back into the luxury of the Eames padded leather chair , lost in her voice, the slowly setting sun now spreading a golden glow over the palatial grounds of the surrounding estate.... The world of the rich and powerful is an intriguing place when seen through Victoria Gotti's eyes, and I was delighted to place my advanced order for her new book, "Superstar," today - the plot description sounds great! I can't wait for the next time I fold my lanky six and a half foot frame into an airplane seat obviously designed for people about half my size, and, with my Diet Coke and my bag of Planter's peanuts arrayed on the plastic tray in front of me, I can dive into a totally different world, suffused with comfort, luxury, passion.... and terror!

I tell ya, I got this book at B&N on their bargain book rack for [a good price] a couple years ago. I took it home seeing it was a stalker thriller and knowing I would love it. I was right!! This book had everything, suspense, fright, mystery, a twisted plot, and even romance (even though I am not fan of any kind of romance novels this worked!). Rose, Dimitri,.....you will just have to read it and find out for yourself. The ending is something great, which alot of books lack and are usually a letdown. I am going to go out and buy her first book "The Senator's Daughter" or maybe I can find it online for a good price!! Thank you Miss Gotti for giving me a great and entertaining book to read (since I LOVE to read!!). Buy it Buy it Buy it!

Since I am post-menopausal I thought I'd really enjoy this book -I ABSOLUTELY did NOT! I found the main character exceptionally dull, and her friends sterotyped. This book was more about her friend's problem and emails about grandchildren rather than a REAL mystery.

Jane Isenberg's protagonist, Bel Barrett, faces whatever life throws at her with a wry quip, a desire to make things better for everybody, and a loyal duo of equally savvy,similarly determined buddies. Those of us who have become fans through Isenberg's earlier books eagerly recognize facets of our mid-life selves,even though most of us don't deal with murder among our acquaintances. In "Out of Hormone's Way," Bel is at her engaging, menopausal best, using experience, logic and empathy to find out who killed a young member of the Urban Kayaking Club--which Bel doesn't really want to be leading. Isenberg vividly creates the haunting and intriguing atmosphere of the New Jersey watermeadows while tracking down the killer of a hard working, enthusiastic student. The plot is taut, and the characters are both realistic and involving. Environmental and political issues are up-to-the minute, reflecting life as it is today. Both Bel and Isenberg get better with each book in this lively, well-written series. Keep 'em coming, please!

I enjoyed this take on life (and death) afer menopause. Bel Barret solves a tough puzzle and her family and friends seem a lot like mine - so I get a kick out of them. I learned a lot about the NJ Meadowlands too!

I found this book to be a little to graffic to read to my children. My kids are coming to the age where they are ready for fairy tales, but I don't think that I want them to learn about such topics before they are drinking out of cups without lids on them. If James Finn Garner intended this book for children rather than a mens bathroom at a truck stop, then he intends to raise his children in a different manner than my wife and I. Some day my children will be ready to learn about sexuality and the humor behind it, but I think when that day comes they will be reading beyond the three little pigs and little red riding hood.

Amusing retellings of the most familiar fairy-tales: Snow White (the dwarves become "vertically-challenged"), The Pied Piper of Hamiln (Hamlin has "ethno-religious diversity"), Goldilocks and the Three Bears (who live together "anthropomorphically in a little cottage as a neuclear family"), etc, etc, etc. The humor wears thin after a few tales, which are reasonably short, so this works best as a bathroom book. Not for children, as they would ask far too many questions.

this book is for adults, it has adult humor. The reason you found it too graphic to read to your kids is because it is not for them.

I feel that the character of Skye was not as well developed as the previous characters in this series. It was a light, easy read, and amusing, but I was a bit disappointed. I am a great fan of Linda Lael Miller and was very pleased with the previous 2 books in this series, and am looking forward to the next.

This is the second set of frontier series I have read written by Linda Lael Miller. "The Women of Primrose Creek" are truly courageous, bold, and intelligent. I am eagerly awaiting the fourth book to this series.

The main character, Skye, also the name of the book, was a feisty woman, but stubborn. Skye refused to admit her feelings for the man she loved and just waited so long to express her feelings to Jake Vigil. Everyone in the town could see that Skye and Jake were in love, except the two people it mattered the most to -- Skye and Jake.

Jake had been bitten by what he assumed was love on two other occasions, one time with Skye's cousin, Christy McQuarry, who later married the town's marshall, Zachary Shaw. Jake was a little shy at admitting his feelings now. Maybe not shy, but a little reluctant to fall into the trap again. Although in the end, he and Skye, could not deny their love. They marry; Skye becomes a mother to Jake's son, whose mother abandoned him and sent him to live with Jake. Later, Skye becomes an expectant mother, and Jake is to become a father a second time.

Each book in the series gets better than the one before. It is like a new chapter unfolding in the lives of the McQuarry women. "Skye" is about a woman who is determined, yet independent. Skye does not discuss her feelings with Jake, which sometimes causes confusion, as in the scene where Skye contacts the railroad company without telling Jake. He in turn thinks of this as an act of betrayal on Skye's part. Then the fire nearly destroys the town, but the people of Primrose Creek are determined to rebuild. All in all, love and determination win afterall.

I think it is wonderful the way Ms. Miller enfolds the lives of all the McQuarry women in each book of this series. The reader gets a view of what is happening to the others and how their lives are shaping up. The McQuarry women may be apart, but they are still one family. I am looking forward to the fourth book in this series.

Definately worth the wait. Devoured the book in one afternoon! Can't wait for the fourth to come out.

Readers of Dorothy Cannell's "The Trouble with Harriet" may be disappointed. After such wonderful stories like "The Thin Woman" and "How to Murder the Man of Your Dreams," "The Trouble With Harriet" drags with little humor and passages more suited to dramatic soliloquies. More time was spent on Ellie's father's bouts of depression and ill-humor than I thought was necessary and the premise of the mystery itself was a bit bland.

I'd really like it if one of these books were to take Ellie and Ben away from Chittendon Falls on a holiday and then shove them headlong into a mystery....but please! Let's get these two together without the kiddies and Freddie lurking about. Frankly, I'd love to read more of Ben.

Although the book was acceptable, I found myself skimming and skipping, a sure sign of boredom with a story.

This is a fine little British cozy with some escapades in Germany on the side. I was drawn in by the title. I had never read this author or series before, and was pleasantly surprised and entertained. Ellie Haskell (sometime interior decorator, full time Mom, daughter of the prodigal Morley) and her husband Bentley (chef and restaurateur) are confronted and confounded with the remains of the mysterious Harriet. Or are they? This domestic duo reminds me somewhat of a Goldie's Colorado Catering (the series by Diane Mott Davidson) Goes Across "the Pond." But the Haskells are more witty and their children far better behaved.

It is a fun frolic with some Saints, sinners, relics and characters endearing and quirky.

Cannell's fans will no doubt agree that Ellie needs a good vacation away from the twins and the most interesting residents of Chittendon Falls. . Understandable then is the reader's frustration, surely shared by our heroine, that yet again that her plans are hijacked by her dramatic and high maintenance family. Instead of jaunting off to a well earned rest and recreate exploring the epicuriously rich France we are delighted to have another Ellie Haskell adventure even if the poor woman must stay at home at Merlon Court.

Readers are again held hostage to Cannell's British wit as seen through her characters old and new. Delightful was the creation of new characters, annoying as they may be, and comforting was the venerable Mrs. Malloy to dazzle us with her adventures, sage advice, and forked but witty tongue.

A slow start but a dazzling finish brings the reader to a delightful and smiling close that seems to never fail to disappoint this devoted fan of the author, leaving me, and I'm sure other readers, hungry for more adventures. In agreement with some of the other reviews, I'd certainly like to see Ellie and Ben on holiday without the Kids. Someplace far from the family and relatives that often bring Ellie to her wits end, Perhaps a cruise to Australia or an African Safari, or even an adventure in the Scottish Highlands. Would it still be the same however, without the family antics that keep our heroine busy and readers in stitches?

Don't miss this witty adventure, excellently written, very amusing continuation of the misadventures Ellie Haskell, her accidental partner and husband, Ben and the usual witty characters of Chittendon Falls.

This is the first book I have read of Cannell's and I like it very much, but not without some reservations. Her writing is tight and often very funny. Yet there is something just not quite right about the character portrayal.

I think somehow that Cannell is too reserved in her portraits, especially the main characters of Mrs. Malloy and Ellie. In the right situation I think Cannell should let Ellie go "over the top" so to speak. Everything is so muted even when the situation is totally absurd. When she does allow the characters to exhibit a little more life, as in the scene where the sleuthing duo meet the hilarious Merryweathers, the pages seem to come to life.

Elsewhere, Ellie's observations as the narrative voice just seem lifeless. I think one example that stands out is the bird attack (shades of Hitchcock) on Ellie -- she is in danger and narrates it so matter of fact that it is hard to buy it. Was she in serious danger? Was she truly frightened? Did she feel like Tippi Hedren? It is a dramatic/comedic opportunity lost.

Still, Cannell writes well in general and the story is clever indeed. I will probably try one more of her Ellie Haskell series to see if this one (her 12th I believe) was just created at a point in time where Cannell ran out of steam even as the publishing deadline loomed. The potential is just too great not to give her another shot.

Ellie Haskell is in deep trouble. She has just finished redoing her husband Ben's office. She sent all of his beloved and crummy furnishings to charity and now he hates the new ones. Just in the nick of time Roxie her erstwhile charwoman calls for her help at her new place of employment, a private detective's office. The detective has left for a holiday and an aristocratic client shows up three hours after her scheduled appointment. She wants them to find the daughter of a disgraced and dismissed parlour maid named Flossie Jones. Flossie had apparently been accused of stealing a brooch and fooling around with the gardener and was fired. She died not long after giving birth and terrible things have been happening to the family since then. Lady Krumbly wants to make up for accusing Flossie(the brooch has turned up recently) and to end the curse on the family.

This isn't the best of the series, but it is still alot of fun, Ellie and Roxie really could have used the services of the Flowers Detective Agency, but went on their own with adequate results. Hopefully, some of the older characters will make a reappearance soon, but in the meantime I really enjoyed this one.

Ellie Haskell and her housekeeper, Mrs. Malloy are visiting in the detective's office Malloy cleans when a late client drops in. An elderly aristocrat claims that her family is suffering from a curse left behind by a falsely accused maid. The woman, believing that Ellie and Malloy are detectives, asks them to investigate. A gunman attempts to persuade them to drop the case, but only makes them more anxious to find the truth.

Egged on by her friend, Ellie agrees and the two women set off on a proper English play of manners. There are no end of suspects: a nephew who may have killed his parents with an exploding train set; the nephew's wife who is interested in blackmail; actresses turned maid; the elderly lady herself; and the mysteriously missing Ernestine. It takes continued efforts for Ellie and Malloy to get to the truth--and still make it home in time for Ellie to take care of her family.

Author Dorothy Cannell writes a funny, fast-paced novel. The character dialogue kept me chuckling, as did the rather mad-cap action. The mystery itself won't pose much of a challenge for hard-core cozy readers, but in the case of THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ERNESTINE, getting there is where the fun is. And there is plenty of fun in this charming novel.