tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49051742299815143622024-02-20T11:47:53.020-08:00Mainstream FictionHarriet Klausnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15737192992257674872noreply@blogger.comBlogger2117125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4905174229981514362.post-51240823609047336902014-10-08T11:49:00.002-07:002014-10-08T11:49:17.648-07:00Real Santa-William Hazelgrove <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Real Santa<o:p></o:p></span></cite></div>
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<cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">William Hazelgrove<o:p></o:p></span></cite></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Koehler Books, Oct 1 2014, $16.95<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">ISBN: 9781938467943<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Fifty years old and now unemployed after S&G
fired him; George Kroenfeldt feels he failed at life. He knows he was not there for his older
children (eighteen year old daughter Jamie and twenty year old son Jeremy) from
his first marriage and not that much with his youngest with his second wife, tweener
Megan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ridgeland Elementary fourth grade teacher Barbara
Worthington responds to Santa Claus questions from her class as she has for
four decades; which leads to her student Megan having doubts. Her friend informs Megan that her older
brother insists Santa Claus is not real as their parents pretend otherwise. Megan asks her parents if that is true and
when they say no, record him to place on YouTube when Santa and his reindeer
land on their roof.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jamie demands her dad give her an IPhone for
Christmas while Jeremy wants a new car and their mom pushes him to sell their
tiny home for a new one. George says no
to all three demands as money just got tighter.
However, he reacts differently to Megan’s query. Though his plan will cost a fortune he does
not have and he will need many people involved, George as Santa will land on the
roof with reindeer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The actions and reactions of the cast to George’s
obsession to create a Real Santa in order for his daughter to believe make this
a winner. George knows he cannot afford
this yet also believes he cannot afford not to do this though the cost in money
and relationships is exorbitant. The
climax feels logically wrong, but emotionally right as William Hazelgrove authors
a wonderful Christmas family drama. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Harriet Klausner<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Harriet Klausnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15737192992257674872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4905174229981514362.post-20512357618967822382014-10-04T11:54:00.002-07:002014-10-04T11:54:55.881-07:00A Sudden Light-Garth Stein <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">A Sudden Light <o:p></o:p></span></cite></div>
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<cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Garth Stein<o:p></o:p></span></cite></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Simon & Schuster, Sep 30 2014, $26.95<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">ISBN: 9781439187036<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">As he nears his fortieth birthday, Jones Riddell
separates from his wife Rachel. For the
first time since his father exiled him after the teenager’s mother Isobel died over
two decades ago back in 1967, Jones, accompanied by his fourteen years old son
Trevor, heads to his family mansion, Riddell House in Washington State; Trevor arrives
for the first time. Financially strapped
Jones and his sister Serena want to sell the estate, but first they must remove
their uncooperative father Samuel to a nursing home. Though he is not mentally what he once was,
Samuel refuses to leave his home where generations of Riddell’s have resided
since they made a fortune in timber.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Trevor hopes his parents reconcile as he misses
having both parents. Meanwhile, fascinated
by the estate and his ancestry, the teen learns about his paternal family when
he finds the diary of his late great-Uncle Ben’s lover Harry and of the curse
that began with Samuel’s avarice grandfather Elijah.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">A Sudden Light is a fascinating family drama that
looks closely at several generations of Riddell’s still residing, some as
ghosts, in the mansion as told by Trevor assisted by timely spirits’
soliloquys. Although at times Trevor’s
narration seems to mature and accepting for his youth (in spite of a coda
explanation) more insight into the hauntings would be welcome. This is an
intriguing epic.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Harriet Klausner</span></div>
Harriet Klausnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15737192992257674872noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4905174229981514362.post-21362443566398498122014-10-03T12:11:00.002-07:002014-10-03T12:11:24.069-07:00The Promise Beth Wiseman<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Promise</span></cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Beth Wiseman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Thomas Nelson, Sep 30 2014, $15.99 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">ISBN 9781401685959<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Teen cousins Mallory and Kelsey were more like sisters ever since
they were born three days apart.
However, Kels is dying and in desperate need of a kidney
transplant. Extensive tests prove
Mallory is the only match and she plans to donate a kidney to save the life of
her BFF.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">A dozen years later to fulfill a vow she made to her late cousin,
Mallory informs her parents and her boyfriend Tate that she will donate a
kidney to save the life of Majida, the daughter of her Pakistani pen pal Abdul.
Her three loved ones fear for Mallory’s
safety in Lahore, but she stubbornly travels to Pakistan. In country, Mallory reluctantly agrees to wed
Abdul so Majida can come to America for treatment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Back in the States, music teacher Tate worries about recently
orphaned Verdell, a student who steals things from the bathroom and never
practices the piano. Though he wishes he
could help the grieving child, he has no idea how; matters turn worse when he
becomes temporary guardian. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mallory’s altruistic willingness to travel to dangerous Pakistan
and also marry there seems nearly over the top of K2 for a rational person
whose late cousin would call her nuts; in spite of the Afterward informing the
audience her subplot is based on a real person.
<cite>The Promise</cite>
is a fascinating inspirational as Tate deals with a troubled tweener and
Mallory struggles to help Majida and escape her own captivity. Both turn to God to guide them through their
crisis.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Harriet Klausner</span></div>
Harriet Klausnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15737192992257674872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4905174229981514362.post-11428276586310394842014-09-25T12:14:00.003-07:002014-09-25T12:14:19.536-07:00Cali-Deborah Frazier <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Cali <o:p></o:p></span></cite></div>
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<cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Deborah Frazier<o:p></o:p></span></cite></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Deborah Frazier, Aug 22 2013, $9.00<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">ISBN: 9780578128795<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Rita and Mike Evans are the perfect who fell in love in high
school. Both are excited with the birth
of their first child; but especially the marine, a former quarterback, who
looks forward to playing sports with his son.
However, Dr. Martin informs them their newborn has abnormalities in the
genitals and recommends surgery to change the boy into a girl. Reluctantly, Mike accepts the doctor’s
recommendation and persuades his wife that their son is better off as a girl.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Over the next few years Cali is raised as a girl mostly by her
loving mother; her dad, filled with guilt and doubt, kept reenlisting and
volunteering for deployments. Cali
prefers competing against the guys and proves a better athlete than them. She begins receiving hormone shots, but
unaware what they are; as her mom refuses to tell her the big secret and her
dad abandoned his family. Cali also
feels suicidal as she hates feelings of being a boy trapped in a girl’s body. Meghan remains her only friend and anchor
even after Cali confesses to her that her brain screams male. Becoming a psychologist to help others with
similar haunting issues as hers, twentyish Cali meets and marries kind Lance but
she still feels trapped in the wrong gender.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Cali is a powerful psychological thriller that cautions parents to
think of the long-term consequences on their newborn before agreeing to a sex
change medical procedure. Character-driven
by the protagonist’s inner turmoil of a freak in the wrong body, Cali reminds
readers that even loving decisions have second order effects and that doctors
are people not gods; but mostly consider the future as much as the present.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Harriet Klausner<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Harriet Klausnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15737192992257674872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4905174229981514362.post-59445525984052335422014-09-22T11:34:00.001-07:002014-09-22T11:34:11.479-07:00The Language Of Silence-Peggy Webb <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Language Of Silence<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Peggy Webb<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Gallery Books, Sep 9 2014, $16.00<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">ISBN: </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">9781451684810<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">In 1976 in Tupelo, Mississippi, Ellen Blair fears her husband
Wayne. To the rest of the world Wayne is
a charming businessman; but inside their home he is violent having sent his
wife to the hospital with accidents caused by her clumsiness. Knowing if she does not flee soon, her spouse
will one day kill the child she carries.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Her Great Aunt Ruth Gibson encourages her to leave town just like
Ellen’s grandmother Lola did five decades earlier. Lola joined the Great Giovanni Bros/ Hogan
& Sandusky Circus as a star tiger tamer to escape family violence. When Ellen gets to the Haven House shelter,
Wayne greets her with a beating he disguises as a car accident. Her mom offers no hope as Josie insists Wayne
is a good husband if Ellen could learn the Language of Silence. When Ruth is hospitalized in Arkansas, Ellen
insists on going to the Ozarks while Wayne demands they stay home to greet his visiting
Japanese client. Leaving Tupelo, Ellen joins
the same traveling circus as her grandmother did but as a teacher with her
favorite student being mute Nicky. Ruth
welcomes her niece, but soon sees visions of irate Wayne coming for his runaway
spouse. With Lola’s help, the female
relatives flee for their lives from a psychopathic husband.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; padding: 0in;">The Language of Silence </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">is a profound tale that looks deeply at spousal
abuse during the “Stand By Your Man” at any cost even your life era. Ironically, Wayne believes in the sanctuary
of his vows enhanced by his fists.
Although the ending seems over the top of the trapeze wire, </span><span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Language Of Silence is a wonderful second chance at life if
you take the risk</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Harriet Klausner<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Harriet Klausnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15737192992257674872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4905174229981514362.post-49057571792305021892014-09-22T11:33:00.002-07:002014-09-22T11:33:08.671-07:00The Goddess Of Small Victories-Yannick Grannec<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Goddess Of Small Victories<o:p></o:p></span></cite></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Yannick Grannec, Willard Wood (translator)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Other Press, Sep 9 2014, $26.95<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">ISBN 9781590516362<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">In 1980, the Institute for Advanced Study sends archivist Anna
Roth to the Pine Run Retirement Home in Pennsylvania to persuade obstinate widow
Adele Gödel to release the papers of her late husband, brilliant troubled
mathematician Kurt. Anna says she would
like to catalogue the Nachlass so that those qualified can study it. She also explains she reads the rarely used Gabelsberger
shorthand; the style Kurt employed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Adele tells the visitor how they met in Vienna and though several
years older than Kurt with his mother’s reluctant approval they married. When the Nazis annexed Austria, Kurt and
Adele fled eventually arriving in America, but treated as enemy agents due to
their accents. While she did everything
to make her disturbed mate’s life easier over the five decades together, for
the first time Kurt, still distressed, found acceptance at Princeton because of
his brilliant work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">This is an intriguing biographical
fiction that focuses on the mentally tough widow and through her filter we see
the great but mentally ill genius. Although
distracting from the fascinating main storyline, a well-written secondary
subplot re the relationship between Adele and Anna further shows the strength
of the older woman; as she encourages her visitor to be all she can be with
what she wants out of life. With real
persona like Einstein; documented incidents (with footnotes) and events like
the A-bombs and the Cold War to anchor time and place, readers will appreciate
The Goddess Of Small Victories.<o:p></o:p></span></cite></div>
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<cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Harriet
Klausner</span></cite></div>
Harriet Klausnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15737192992257674872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4905174229981514362.post-42461147946241183852014-09-21T12:03:00.002-07:002014-09-21T12:03:26.233-07:00The Front Seat Passenger-Pascal Garnier<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Front Seat Passenger</span></cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Pascal Garnier, Jane Aitken (translator) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Gallic, Sep 9 2014, $13.95<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.gallicbooks.com/"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">www.gallicbooks.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">ISBN 9781908313638<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">After visiting his <em><span style="background: white; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">père</span></em> in Normandy, Fabien Delorme returns to
Paris to an empty house. He actually is
pleased though surprised his wife Sylvie is not home as their relationship has
drifted apart. Fabien soon learns that
Sylvie and her lover Martial Arnoult died in a car accident in Dijon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Instead of grief, Fabien obsesses over his spouse having a secret
lover she concealed from him. In Dijon
to identify Sylvie’s corpse, Fabien notices a woman do likewise with Arnoult’s
body. Obviously he concludes she is Arnoult’s
widow, Martine. Ironically in spite of
her cuckolding him, Fabien misses Sylvie who kept him anchored. Thus he decides since Arnoult stole his wife,
he will do likewise with the other man’s widow.
Stalking Martine, Fabien becomes part of her life and that of her
companion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The latest Gallic translation of a Pascal Garnier suspenseful
French middle class tragedy (see <span style="background: white;">Moon in a Dead
Eye, The Panda Theory and How’s the Pain?) is another superb </span>dark surrealistic novella.
Character driven by an unlikable but realistic three degrees of separation
quintet, readers will appreciate the impact on their respective mates by the
deaths of The Front Seat Passenger and the driver.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Harriet Klausner</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Harriet Klausnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15737192992257674872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4905174229981514362.post-69142648473328486182014-09-08T12:17:00.002-07:002014-09-08T12:17:52.549-07:00Death in the Dolomites: A Rick Montoya Italian Mystery-David P. Wagner <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Death in the Dolomites: A Rick Montoya
Italian Mystery</span></cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">David P. Wagner<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Poisoned Pen, Sep 1 2014, $24.95 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">ISBN 9781464202728<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Translator Rick Montoya leaves Rome for a skiing vacation in Campiglio. However, when American banker Cameron Taylor vanishes
while also at the ski resort, Inspector Luca Albani, aware of Rick’s assistance
to the Tuscany police (see <em><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Cold Tuscan Stone</span></em>), asks for his help. Rick agrees to join the inquiry as long as it
does not interfere with his R&R.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Several witnesses insist they saw Cameron head to the slopes, but
none including his sister recall seeing him return to the lodge. Meanwhile, someone wanting Rick to stay out
of the investigation, attacks him while he skis and a lookalike is stabbed. This plus the discovery of a corpse leads to
Rick taking the case more seriously as he wonders who gains from murder.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The second Rick Montoya Italian investigation is an engaging
whodunit though the Alpine cuisine supersedes the case and even the skiing. Even though the mystery is shortchanged for
much of the storyline by Rick’s vacation, <cite>Death in the Dolomites remains a well-written tale.</cite>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Harriet Klausner<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Harriet Klausnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15737192992257674872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4905174229981514362.post-19235578116531025052014-09-05T12:00:00.000-07:002014-09-05T12:00:32.044-07:00Madame Picasso-Anne Girard <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Madame Picasso <o:p></o:p></span></cite></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Anne Girard<o:p></o:p></span></cite></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mira, Aug 26 2014, $14.99 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">ISBN 9780778316350<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">In 1911, <span style="background: white;">Eva Gouel rejects her
family’s demand she marry Monsieur Fix.
Instead she flees for Paris where her only friend is Polish speaking
Louis Vollard who changed her name to Marcelle Humbert. To her elation, one of her goals is met when
Madam Leutard hires her as a seamstress at the Moulin Rouge. There she sees a powerful man sitting at the
front of the dance hall but surprisingly no woman with him. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Last night, after a fight with his beloved
intoxicated mistress and primary model, Fernande Olivier the artist, Pablo
Picasso went to the Moulin Rouge alone.
The next day, Louis and Marcelle visit the Petit Palais to see an
exhibition. Also there is the solitary
man from the evening before, an up and coming Spaniard artist Pablo
Picasso. Eva becomes his insecure muse;
but his Montmartre crowd prefers feisty artsy Fernande who they consider as one
of them to the upstart outsider. That
same year Eva came to Paris, someone stole the Mona Lisa with Picasso
considered a suspect. A few short years
later, as war explodes across Europe, Eva suffers from tuberculosis.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">This is an excellent biographical fiction that
brings to life mostly Paris when the City of Lights was the world’s cultural
center during the years leading up to and the beginning of WWI. Character driven by the triangular
relationship between Picasso, Gouel and Olivier, subgenre fans will relish this
vivid art historical.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Harriet Klausner<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Harriet Klausnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15737192992257674872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4905174229981514362.post-89587503427087188212014-09-05T11:59:00.002-07:002014-09-05T11:59:46.407-07:00Thief Of Glory-Sigmund Brouwer <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span class="a-size-large"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Thief Of Glory <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span class="a-size-large"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sigmund Brouwer<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">WaterBrook, Aug 19 2014, $14.99<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">ISBN 9780307446497<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">In 1942, the Japanese successfully invade the Dutch East Indies
islands. On Java, the soldiers deploy
the affluent adult males as slaves toiling on the Burma rail; while placing the
left behind women and preadolescent children in prison camps. Overnight, the son of a well-to-do Dutch
headmaster, tweener Jeremiah Prins is burdened with keeping his mom and young
siblings safe when his dad and older brothers are taken away. He does his best, but the horrid conditions of
the camps limit his options. Still he
tries while many others succumb to the nightmare.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Decades later, Jeremiah still searches for peace from those
troubled times. His journals help as do
his loved ones, but those were times that tested him and still haunt him as he
looks back and wonders what he could have done differently.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Thief Of Glory is a powerful historical that intensely describes “c<em><span style="background: white; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">rimes
against humanity”</span></em> atrocities during WWII. Character driven by Jeremiah and other
victims; this thought-provoking tale reflects on Thomas Paine’s insight into
another war as <span style="background: white;">"<em><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">These are the times that try men's souls</span></em>."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Harriet Klausner</span><span class="a-size-large"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span class="a-size-large"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" /></span></span></div>
Harriet Klausnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15737192992257674872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4905174229981514362.post-19803398650166856192014-08-30T11:43:00.002-07:002014-08-30T11:43:34.706-07:00The Winter Guest-Pam Jenoff<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Winter Guest <o:p></o:p></span></cite></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Pam Jenoff</span></cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mira, Aug 26 2014, $14.99 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">ISBN 9780778315964<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">In 1940 in Biekowice, Poland the Nowak patriarch died in a cart
accident while the matriarch was hospitalized with severe injuries. Though acrimonious rivals with diverse
opinions about the German invasion; the oldest children, twins Helena and Ruth take
charge of their younger siblings (Michal, Dorie and Karolina) even as the Nazis
blitzkrieg Poland. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Though she knows she should ignore the wounded foreigner, Helena
rescues Jewish American soldier Sam Rosen.
Initially telling no one about him she hides the paratrooper as he heals. When Helena and Sam fall in love, jealous Ruth
reacts with bitterness; while opportunistic neighbors plot against the family. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The latest <cite>Pam Jenoff</cite>
WWII Poland thriller (see The Kommandant's Girl and The Diplomat’s Daughter) is
another excellent historical as readers obtain a vivid sense of life during the
Nazi occupation. The strong cast makes
for a powerful drama enabling us to see the deadly era through the eyes of the
five Nowak siblings (especially the diverse bias of the twins) and Sam. As the truth fails to set them free, The
Winter Guest is a fantastic 1940s war novel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Harriet Klausner<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Harriet Klausnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15737192992257674872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4905174229981514362.post-63903638637554608142014-08-26T12:00:00.002-07:002014-08-26T12:00:40.140-07:00The Benedict Bastard-Cate Campbell<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Benedict Bastard <o:p></o:p></span></cite></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">C</span></cite><span class="med"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">ate Campbell</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Kensington, Aug 26 2014, $15.00<o:p></o:p></span></cite></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">ISBN: </span></cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">9780758292308<cite><o:p></o:p></cite></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">In 1923 Seattle, Dr. </span></cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Margot Benedict continues to
practice medicine at the Women and Infants Clinic. Driven by Mr. Blake and accompanied by Nurse
Sarah Church, Margot arrives at The Ryther Home to inspect the place before
applying for government funds to assist the children’s home. After being nasty towards Margot’s two Negro
companions, Mother Ryther objects to the doctor’s insistence that she allow her
and Nurse Church to vaccinate the orphaned or abandoned kids residing there. When Margot meets the young charges, she is
taken aback by a little boy who could have been her demented brother Preston’s
twin (see Benedict Hall).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Stunned Margot seeks the truth while at the same time Bronwyn
Morgan searches the city for her lost three years old son sired by Preston when
she was sixteen. As Margot seeks proof
that she has an illegitimate nephew whom she hopes to take to Benedict Hall; she
and her Pater visit psychopath Preston at the asylum where he is held in a
drugged state; and family matriarch Edith brings Bronwyn into the home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The third<b> </b>Benedict Hall
historical family drama (see Hall of Secret) is an enjoyable glimpse at bygone
era in which a changing America still feels the impact of WWI. Now married to Frank, Margot keeps the
interesting storyline focused as her inclusive beliefs remain decades ahead of
her time. Charlie’s paternity issue enhances
Cate Campbell's entertaining glimpse of the Roaring Twenties in the Pacific
Northwest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Harriet Klausner<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Harriet Klausnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15737192992257674872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4905174229981514362.post-44714098256577675592014-08-24T11:46:00.002-07:002014-08-24T11:46:13.837-07:00The Agincourt Bride-Joanna Hickson <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Agincourt Bride<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Joanna Hickson<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Harper, Aug 19 2014, $14.99<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">ISBN: 978000744697<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">In fourteen years of marriage to “Mad King” Charles VI of France,
Queen Isabeau already has given birth to four boys and five girls when a sixth
worthless female Catherine pops out. Royal
nursery boss Madame La Bonne is pleased that the fifteen years old Parisian
baker’s daughter Guilliamette Dupain gave birth to a stillborn. Given no choice, Mette becomes Catherine’s wet-nurse.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Over the years Princess Catherine keeps Mette at her side during
her childhood and into adulthood. Though
a commoner, Mette guides the child through the chaotic courts of her insane father
and her ambitious brother King Charles Dauphin; both whom plan to marry her off
to forge an alliance. The powerful Duke Philippe
of Burgundy also has an agenda for this princess. However, after the forces of Henry V win at
the Battle of Agincourt, Catherine becomes either a greater asset or liability
for the ambitious plotting to use her or get rid of her. Only Mette, risking her life, protects her
until the royal sibling must choose between two monarchs, her brother the
French King and English King Henry V.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">This is a vivid historical biographical fiction tale that brings
to life early fifteenth century France (at court, in Paris and the countryside)
and to a lesser degree England through the eyes of Catherine’s prime
confident. Though not for the casual
reader as the storyline can be overwhelming in the depth of background, The
Agincourt Bride is a very fresh entry in the often told tale of Catherine of
Valois (see <span class="a-size-large">The Forbidden Queen </span>by Anne O’Brien
<span class="a-size-large">and The Queen's Secret</span> by Jean Plaidy). The pleased audience will return for the
continuation of Catherine’s saga (see The Tudor Bride; not yet published).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Harriet Klausner<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Harriet Klausnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15737192992257674872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4905174229981514362.post-29255792493285677972014-08-22T11:50:00.003-07:002014-08-22T11:50:41.289-07:00Incense & Peppermints-Carole Bellacera<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Incense & Peppermints <o:p></o:p></span></cite></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Carole Bellacera<o:p></o:p></span></cite></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, May 2 2014, $16.00<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">ISBN: 9781497355637<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">In 2011 Memphis, sexagenarian nurse Cindy Sweet
receives a Facebook message from her fiancé Ryan Paul Quinlan, who allegedly
died in Vietnam over four decades ago.
Stunned she thinks back to 1965 when idealistic Cindy voluntarily joined
the military as a nurse assigned to the 24th Evacuation Hospital at Long Binh. She faced death and maimed victims on her
first day and every day afterward while serving in Nam. Cindy still sees the face of her first dying
soldier; a youngster from South Carolina whose last wish she could not grant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Cindy also reflects on her first innocent love
before she volunteered Gary McCartney; her passionate second in Nam with Ryan;
and her calm final one with Sergeant David Ansgar whom mentored her as she
adjusted to the frantic existence at the 24<sup>th</sup>. Though encouraged by her husband David, this
hesitant grandma must decide whether she wants to meet Ryan at the Vietnam
Memorial Wall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">This is a reflective Vietnam War tale
starring an innocent growing up rather quickly when faced immediately with
dying and severely wounded young soldiers; just the title (from the Strawberry
Alarm Clock song) will remind boomers of the sixties furor. Carole Bellacera provides a gripping
storyline due to the support cast (patients and staff) who bring a timely haunting
message that the cost of war is not just in combat dollars, but also the impact
on those fighting and their loved ones; that lingers on for decades after the last
soldier came home.<o:p></o:p></span></cite></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Harriet Klausner<o:p></o:p></span></cite></div>
</div>
Harriet Klausnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15737192992257674872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4905174229981514362.post-69769117121624932572014-08-22T11:49:00.002-07:002014-08-22T11:49:55.426-07:00Never Mind Miss Fox-Olivia Glazebrook <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Never Mind Miss Fox <o:p></o:p></span></cite></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Olivia Glazebrook<o:p></o:p></span></cite></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Little, Brown, Aug 19 2014, $25.00<o:p></o:p></span></cite></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">ISBN: 9780316242899<o:p></o:p></span></cite></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Martha and Clive met while attending Oxford. He fell in love immediately and felt
fortunate when he persuaded her to join his Barkes family Easter vacation in
France. Clive’s brother Tom’s special
friend Eliot Fox joined them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">After years away from England, Eliot Fox comes home to London. One of her students Eliza Barkes informs her
parents (Clive and Martha) that her piano teacher knows both of them. Whereas Martha relishes the coincidence, Clive
panics as Eliot was his series of indiscretions over the years. Fearing she will expose his betrayal to his
wife, Clive tries to keep the piano teacher away from her; but Eliot knowing
the power she has over her occasional lover refuses to back away from the
Barkes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Appealingly rotating between the present relationships and past
illicit trysts, this is an absorbing character study that looks at the impact an
eccentric other woman has on her former lover and his family. The quartet is three dimensional making the
cause and effect of his cheating seemingly genuine. Although the encounters over the years come
across as well written but improbable happenchance, the trouble Miss Fox’s
return to England causes to the Barkes’ seemingly happy family makes for an
appealing novel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Harriet Klausner<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Harriet Klausnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15737192992257674872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4905174229981514362.post-10674019368502957742014-08-21T11:33:00.003-07:002014-08-21T11:33:35.466-07:00A Grand Design-Amber Stockton<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">A Grand Design <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Amber Stockton<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Abingdon, Aug 19 2014, $13.99<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">ISBN: </span><span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">9781426773471</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">On a dare from her BFF Libby, Alyssa Denham entered the Bride
Magazine contest to win a romantic getaway for two on Mackinac Island, Michigan. Home to her grandma, Alyssa used to visit the
island when she was a child until an incident shattered her heart and when her
dad died she never returned. When Bride
informs Alyssa she won the vacation, she struggles with whom to take with her
as she has no man in her life. She sadly
muses she can’t even find a date for the June weddings she attends; so
persuades Libby to join her as the contest says “two” not “couple”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The two BFFs delight in working with <span style="background: white;">Alyssa’s
grandma on an heirloom quilt</span> and enjoy the Lake Huron island immensely especially
since they have access to places outsiders are banned from visiting. Meanwhile <span style="background: white;">local
Scott Whitman and Alyssa are attracted to each other, but her heart must let go
of what happened several years ago to her and her family on Mackinaw Island so
that their love can fill the vacuum.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The latest Quilts of Love inspirational (see A Promise In Pieces
by Emily T. Wierenga and</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> A Sky
Without Stars by Linda S. Clare</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">) is a warm coming of age contemporary
in a wonderful setting starring a fascinating protagonist who spent years hiding
in plain sight from what happened. Although
the romance is rather straightforward, Alyssa’s rapid maturity makes for an
endearing tale.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Harriet Klausner</span></div>
Harriet Klausnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15737192992257674872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4905174229981514362.post-22077979897510127352014-08-21T11:32:00.002-07:002014-08-21T11:32:42.006-07:00Bittersweet-Colleen McCullough <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Bittersweet <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Colleen McCullough<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Simon & Schuster, Aug 19 2014, $26.00<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">ISBN: 9781476755410<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">In Corunda, New South Wales, Australia, <span style="background: white;">St Mark's Church of England Reverend </span>Thomas Latimer sires twins (Edda
and Grace) with his first wife, but their mom dies in childbirth. The church rector mourns his loss, but soon
marries his stern housekeeper. Two years
after the birth of his first children, Thomas sires another set of twin girls <b>(</b>Heather and Katherine).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">By 1926, Thomas encourages his four young adult daughters to leave
their home to attend the nearby new Corunda nursing school though each has
different BHAGs in mind. Edda wants to
become a doctor though she understands the bias against female physicians. Her twin Grace’s objective is more acceptable
by Australian standards as she wants to be a wife and mother. Tufts, as Heather’s siblings call her, wants
freedom mostly from the demands of her parents.
Finally Kitty wants acceptance for her brain instead of her beauty. Now as each begins their own unique adventure
in independence, the quartet knows there are two sure things in life: death and
through thick and thin they can always rely on her sisters to be there when it
really matters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Bittersweet is a great family epic that provides readers with a profound
absorbing glimpse at Australia especially during the twentieth century decades between
the World Wars. Each of the lead sisters
is fully developed but also possesses differing personalities and diverse
desires as to what they want out of life.
As their respective lives bounce back and forth between sorrow, happiness
and feelings in-between, the four siblings remain steadfast in their belief that
they always have each other when the going turns ugly or simply Bittersweet regardless
of distance and other relationships.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Harriet Klausner<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Harriet Klausnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15737192992257674872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4905174229981514362.post-46535166835217735752014-08-20T11:59:00.006-07:002014-08-20T11:59:53.613-07:00Home To Chicory Lane-Deborah Raney <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Home To Chicory Lane <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Deborah Raney<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Abington, Aug 19 2014, $14.99<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">ISBN: </span><span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">9781426769696</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">In Langhorne, Missouri, since their five children have left the
nest empty, compulsive Audrey Whitman persuades her retired husband Grant to
convert their home into a B&B though their adult offspring have doubts just
like their dad has. The children dislike
the idea of strangers in their home and their father worries over their lack of
experience and the long hours to run the place.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">On the day they open up Chicory Inn for business, their spoiled
youngest daughter Landyn Spencer arrives with a U-Haul trailer attached to her
car. Landyn explains she left her
husband of a few months Chase the artist for making unilateral decisions
without consulting her. She further
explains to her parents she will stay at the family home and help by marketing
the inn. Meanwhile in New York, unsure
what to do Chase remains mentally paralyzed that his wife left him without a
word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The grand opening of the Chicory Inn series is an enjoyable family
drama with the Landyn and Chase relationship as the prime plot. Though I doubt Grant would acquiesce to
renovating their home to run an inn and would prefer more insight into the operational
side of preparing, managing and operating the business, this is a warm second
chance (if New York and Missouri communicate) Christian tale.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Harriet Klausner</span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Harriet Klausnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15737192992257674872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4905174229981514362.post-31398148942325763932014-08-20T11:59:00.002-07:002014-08-20T11:59:13.848-07:00Season Of The Dragonflies-Sarah Creech <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Season Of The Dragonflies <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sarah Creech<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Morrow, Aug 12 2014, $25.99<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">ISBN: </span><span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">9780062307521</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Serena Lenore found a rare flower overseas<span style="background: white;"> that she brought back to the Blue Ridge Mountains. For decades since Lenore women have created
an extremely expensive rare perfume from that flower to sell to selective clients
though many want to be their customer.
This magical perfume they produce enables the chosen ones to succeed in
whatever vocation they desire. However,
Lenore, Inc. may be in trouble as the key ingredient, that special flower, is
nearing extinction and a troublesome individual begins an extortion scheme.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Additionally, current president Willow recently has
shown her age as she suffers from amnesiac gaps. Her daughter Mya, whose ambition has been to
run the family company, begins to think the time for her to take charge is now;
but hesitates as she does not want to hurt her mom. Her opportunity becomes threatened when her
only rival her sister Lucia, who never displayed the special Lenore talent,
returns to the Blue Ridge Mountains after being away for years. If the siblings compete, the firm dies; if
they merge their skills the firm survives (for now) and may even thrive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Season of The Dragonflies is a pleasant
female family fantasy. The women are
three dimensional even with their special skills; as their troubled
relationships and the impact on the firm is the prime storyline
ingredient. Though the perfume, its
special potent flower and the chosen beneficiaries (with one notorious
exception) are under-featured (suggest an anthology starring customers), this
is an appealing drama.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Harriet Klausner<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" /></span></div>
Harriet Klausnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15737192992257674872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4905174229981514362.post-36538804905152134012014-08-16T10:42:00.002-07:002014-08-16T10:42:34.241-07:00The Splintered Kingdom-James Aitcheson<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Splintered Kingdom <o:p></o:p></span></cite></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">James Aitcheson<o:p></o:p></span></cite></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sourcebooks Landmark, Aug 5 2014, $24.99<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">ISBN: 9781402286193<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Tancred the Dinan Breton knight loyally fought
for William of Normandy when he defeated Harold Godwineson at Hastings. In spite of the victory, rebellion continued
and in 1069 Tancred barely survived an ambush that left his Lord Robert de
Commines dead. Not long afterward his
heroics earned him </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">a title and land on the tumultuous Welsh border, and knights
reporting to him <span style="background: white;">(see Sworn Sword).</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">One year later, the land remains dangerous as </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">English,
Welsh and Viking <span style="background: white;">foes of William forge an uneasy
alliance to rid the land of the Normans.
Like his monarch, Tancred faces problems defending his recent gains
especially from the marauding border Welsh.
Unlike the Conqueror, Tancred also has Norman “allies” who consider him
an ambitious upstart needing to be destroyed before they fear he amasses more
power including usurping theirs. Thus he
is sent to lead a suicide mission across the in Wales ostensive to put down Welsh
raids and Saxon rebellion while conflicts explode in other parts of the kingdom.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The second terrific Tancred Conqueror era
historical is a great thriller that brings to life the eleventh century bitter hostilities
that remain heated several years after Hastings; war continues seemingly
everywhere and the Normans were not undefeated in these battles. Unlike most portrayals of the Conqueror’s
knights being chivalrous and caring, the protagonist and his equally ambitious competitor
for the same promotions Berengar seem genuine as their respective BHAGs realistically
lead them to disregard second order effects especially innocent collateral
damage. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Harriet Klausner<o:p></o:p></span></cite></div>
</div>
Harriet Klausnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15737192992257674872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4905174229981514362.post-59653181764388625992014-08-13T11:44:00.003-07:002014-08-13T11:44:24.779-07:00Secrets Of The Lighthouse-Santa Montefiore<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Secrets Of The Lighthouse <o:p></o:p></span></cite></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Santa Montefiore<o:p></o:p></span></cite></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Simon & Schuster, Aug 5 2014, $25.99<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">ISBN 9781476735375<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Londoner Ellen Trawton feels choked by her lifestyle especially
her pending marriage that she doubts she wants to happen. With an obsessive need to flee her troubles
and in search of a muse, the wannabe writer travels to her mom’s hometown Connemara,
Ireland to stay with her Aunt Peg, whom she never met before this visit. Ellen also meets the rest of her maternal
family for the first time too. She enjoys
the quaint Irish town and begins to learn secrets about her mom including why
she fled the picturesque coast and the rest of her Irish kin. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Her strongest attachment is to the lighthouse that seems to call to
her in spite of a death several years ago.
That is until Ellen meets reticent widower Conor Macausland; who mostly stays
away from the town or hides in his castle to avoid the villagers as they
believe he murdered his wife Caitlin. As
Ellen falls in love, she and Conor begin to see each other; but a jealous
Caitlin cannot let go of her spouse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Secrets of the Lighthouse is a fascinating paranormal family drama
with an intriguing relationship triangle.
The cast is solid and the vivid location enhances the entertaining
plot. In many ways Caitlin steals the
storyline from her mate and her rival as she tells the audience her tale of
woe. Although the climax seems too
obvious, readers will remain spellbound throughout.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Harriet Klausner<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Harriet Klausnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15737192992257674872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4905174229981514362.post-1836227872070401382014-08-11T11:20:00.004-07:002014-08-11T11:20:48.044-07:00Cancel The Wedding-Carolyn T. Dingman <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Cancel The Wedding <o:p></o:p></span></cite></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Carolyn T. Dingman<o:p></o:p></span></cite></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Harper PS, Aug 5 2014, $15.99<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">ISBN: 9780062276728<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Three years ago around the time her father died, Leo asked Olivia to
marry him. Last year around the time her
mother died from cancer, they bought a house and moved in together, but delayed
the wedding. Now at dinner, Leo announces
to Livie, her older sister Georgia, her brother-in-law and niece that he booked
their wedding site and date.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Needing to escape and think whether she wants to marry Leo, Livie
decides to fulfill her late mom’s wishes.
Her sibling refuses to go with her; so accompanied by her fourteen year
old niece Logan, Livie drives to northern Georgia to scatter part of her mom’s ashes
in the man-made <span style="background: white;">Lake Huntley and the rest for burial
in Huntley Memorial Gardens. When </span>Georgia
calls to tell Livie she left her engagement ring behind; she stuns Gigi by
telling her to hold onto it rather than ship it to her. Reaching their destination, aunt and niece
find the town of Huntley under the TVA created lake so Olivia turns to nearby
Tillman seeking to learn and understand her mom’s secret life in the south but
finds the official records under water too.
She obtains help from local newspaper owner Elliot and other residents
while also wondering if she wants to marry Leo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Cancel The Wedding is a fascinating Roots saga as
the TVA buried the written records under the man-made lakes impeding the
research done by </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Olivia. Although Leo is an
unnecessary throwaway excuse for the quest; the shocking revelations discovered
by the heroine, her niece, and Elliot from several locals who either lived or
had family residing in Huntley enhance an intriguing family drama.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Harriet Klausner<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Harriet Klausnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15737192992257674872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4905174229981514362.post-65283187413391241982014-08-11T11:20:00.000-07:002014-08-11T11:20:11.146-07:00Kiss The Ring: An Urban Tale-Meesha Mink <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Kiss The Ring</span><cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">: An Urban Tale</span></cite><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Meesha Mink. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">S&S/Touchstone, Aug 5 2014, $14.99 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">ISBN 9781476755304<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">An out of control hellion as a teen on the streets of Newark; as
an adult Naeema Cole has become a law abiding model citizen working at a
neighborhood barbershop. However, Naeema
learns that four gangbangers hunted down like a rabies dog and murdered her fourteen
year old son Brandon Mack who had been part of a bank robbing gang. Filled with guilt as she gave him up for
adoption knowing that as a wild unsweetened sixteen with no prospects she could
not raise a child nor wanted too; she simply vows vengeance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Naeema needs to get inside the gang, but cannot do so as her
responsible adult self. She needs to
return to who she was just after her parents died when she was a wild tweener
and teen, but a mature adult version.
Thus she becomes siren “Queen” stalking her child’s killers and, though
attracted to the brutal chieftain, wants his head too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The key to Meesha Mink’s powerful gritty urban thriller (see the
author’s <em><span style="font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Real
Wifeys series</span></em>) is the protagonist who will remind readers of a
modern day Scarlet Pimpernel as the heroine smartly struggles with good motives
to keep the lifestyles of Naeema and Queen apart. The gripping storyline is filled with depth
due to each of the gangbangers boasting to the sexy seductress on what went
down. Kiss The Ring is a strong street
lit avenging mama drama.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Harriet Klausner<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Harriet Klausnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15737192992257674872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4905174229981514362.post-50412433544365127322014-08-09T11:09:00.002-07:002014-08-09T11:09:41.077-07:00The Last Conception-Gabriel Constans<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Last Conception<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="ptbrand"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Gabriel Constans<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Melange Books, Jun 21 2014, $12.95<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">www.melange-books.com<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">ISBN: 9781612358765<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Davidia and Mira Sikand pressure their single daughter Savarna to
have a child because the spiritual progeny from their late founding cult leader
must not die out and she is the last survivor able to conceive. Savarna has no male prospects to sire a baby
with her since unknown by her parents she is gay and thus has romantic relationships
with females only. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">As the embryologist looks into the instinct for the strong need to
belong to a family including procreating and what a family connotes, Savarna
realizes she wants a monogamous relationship with Charley who reciprocates her
love; they agree on raising a child that Savarna will birth. Thus she tells her family she is gay and
plans a life with a woman. Her India-American
parents accept Charley, but remain adamant that they need a biological grandchild. Desperate, her grandmother arrives from India
to persuade Savarna that she must give birth or thousands of years of heritage
will expire with her. When artificial
insemination fails, the female couple decides to adopt, which alienates Savarna
with her family who demand she keep trying.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">This is a fascinating look at what a family is and why people need
to belong and feel accepted by caring <span style="background: white;">social
groups (Maslow’s Hierarchy’s third tier).
Though why the intelligent Savarna knows so little about her family’s
cult lineage until the demands begin is unsatisfactory explained, she </span>drives
the intriguing storyline as she tries to please her extended family (including
the cult members), her mate and ultimately herself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Harriet Klausner</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Harriet Klausnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15737192992257674872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4905174229981514362.post-58534165019352857772014-08-05T11:34:00.002-07:002014-08-05T11:34:29.880-07:00Put Your Diamonds Up-Ni-Ni Simone and Amir Abrams<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Put Your Diamonds Up<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="ptbrand"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ni-Ni
Simone and Amir Abrams</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Kensington KTEEN, Jul 29 2014, $9.95<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">ISBN: 9780758288523<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">At Hollywood High, the four Pampered Princesses continue to compete for the ultimate throne of top
diva. London Phillips’s mom pushes
her to become a model, but that means losing her shape and perhaps her
billionaire BF. Raging Spencer Ellington
plots revenge against those she feel betrayed her while scheming to be numero
uno; even as her mom gives her rival druggie Heather Cummings a new show. Rich Montgomery fears she has lost the boy
she loves due to her running around, but rationalizes there is always another male
out there though she may lose a lot more this time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The 3<sup>rd</sup> Hollywood High tale (see Get Ready For War) is
an engaging entry as two generations of drama queens battle each other (and
others) for the role of monarch.
Although the storyline is thin, the characters more than make up for it
with their respective operational schemes that make Machiavelli seem more like
a kindergarten kid than the Prince of strategy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Harriet Klausner<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Harriet Klausnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15737192992257674872noreply@blogger.com0