Science Fiction & Fantasy Book

Check Out Xenocide (Ender, Book 3) for $6.83

2010-09-21T18:42:00.001-07:00

Xenocide (Ender, Book 3) Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

Xenocide is a very difficult book to assess. On the one hand, Card pushes the limits of self-indulgence - of the book's nearly 600 pages, I think a good 150 pages or so could have been eliminated without any harm to the ideas presented or the overall story. Numerous times, Card (or his characters) would make a point and then continue making that same point across a number of pages. This could be frustrating. Rather than include an entire chapter in which characters debate free will, I think we would have been better served by having the plot develop and move forward. In other words, Card at times seems to have an agenda, and that is to show off how smart he is. He is smart, though, brilliant at times, but it can be a slog to get through.

On the other hand, when the plot does push forward, as it does in the final 100 or so pages with great force, Card's brilliance is extraordinary. His characters feel real, and their problems, whether physical or ethical, are captivating. Speaker for the Dead was a significant shift from the tone of Ender's Game, and Xenocide follows that path even further, mixing in the characters on Path deftly and adding a new dimension to Ender's universe.

Overall, I don't think this book is quite as good as Ender's Game or Speaker for the Dead, but it's a worthy continuation. If you enjoyed those first two books, I think you'll find quite a bit to relish here. Try to be patient with the slower bits, because it does build to an excellent pay-off in the concluding chapters, which I will not spoil here.

Xenocide (Ender, Book 3) Feature

ISBN13: 9780312861872
Condition: New
Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Xenocide (Ender, Book 3) Overview

The war for survival of the planet Lusitania will be fought in the hearts of a child named Gloriously Bright.

On Lusitania, Ender found a world where humans and pequininos and the Hive Queen could all live together; where three very different intelligent species could find common ground at last. Or so he thought.

Lusitania also harbors the descolada, a virus that kills all humans it infects, but which the pequininos require in order to become adults. The Startways Congress so fears the effects of the descolada, should it escape from Lusitania, that they have ordered eh destruction of the entire planet, and all who live there. The Fleet is on its way, a second xenocide seems inevitble.

Xenocide (Ender, Book 3) Specifications

Orson Scott Card's Xenocide is a space opera with verve. In this continuation of Ender Wiggin's story, the Starways Congress has sent a fleet to immolate the rebellious planet of Lusitania, home to the alien race of pequeninos, and home to Ender Wiggin and his family. Concealed on Lusitania is the only remaining Hive Queen, who holds a secret that may save or destroy humanity throughout the galaxy. Familiar characters from the previous novels continue to grapple with religious conflicts and family squabbles while inventing faster-than-light travel and miraculous virus treatments. Throw into the mix an entire planet of mad geniuses and a self-aware computer who wants to be a martyr, and it's hard to guess who will topple the first domino. Due to the densely woven and melodramatic nature of the story, newcomers to Ender's tale will want to start reading this series with the first books, Ender's Game and Speaker for the Dead. --Brooks Peck

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Sep 21, 2010 21:42:05

Great Price for $4.18

2010-09-20T18:30:00.001-07:00

Demon from the Dark (Immortals After Dark Series, Book 8) Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

First off I'm a huge IAD fan. I love that the women are as tough as the men and won't take cr@p from anyone much less their men.

The reason I didn't love this book as much as the others was probably because I felt this was a lot of filler to carry the story onwards. A lot of plot lines were opened wider (Lothaire, Melanthie, Regin) and to a degree I felt like this was the "focus" of the story with Carrow and Slaine's story there just to get us further along the ascension. Also whilst I understood Cole's need to make Slaine a sympathetic character with massive trust issues I thought the whole part about him, as a very young child, pretending to be a willing participant and enjoy his abuse and rape rather disturbing. No Cole doesn't go into any detail but I still found it a tad distasteful. Lastly I found the dialogue wasn't up to Cole's usual excellent standards. If yet another of her characters continues to call each other by their "type" (eg "Demon") instead of name I might go mad. Unlike most of her other couples I didn't "get" why they fell in love. I understand the whole mate and bride thing but with her other books I have seen the characters fall in love but here I just didn't. Perhaps it's because the dialogue is so limited in the first half as they don't speak each others languages.

Fans will still read this book and I've already read it for a second time. I just didn't think it was as good as others however and I'm looking forward to the next ones!

Demon from the Dark (Immortals After Dark Series, Book 8) Overview

From New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole comes this scorching tale of a demon outcast poisoned with vampire blood and the vulnerable young witch he vows to protect—even from himself.

A DANGEROUS DEMON SHE CAN’T RESIST . . .

Malkom Slaine: tormented by his sordid past and racked by vampiric hungers, he’s pushed to the brink by the green-eyed beauty under his guard.

A MADDENING WITCH HE ACHES TO CLAIM . . .

Carrow Graie: hiding her own sorrows, she lives only for the next party or prank. Until she meets a tortured warrior worth saving.

TRAPPED TOGETHER IN A SAVAGE PRISON . . .

In order for Malkom and Carrow to survive, he must unleash both the demon and vampire inside him. When Malkom becomes the nightmare his own people feared, will he lose the woman he craves body and soul?

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Sep 20, 2010 21:30:16

Check Out The Fires of Heaven (The Wheel of Time, Book 5) for $4.60

2010-09-19T18:03:00.001-07:00

The Fires of Heaven (The Wheel of Time, Book 5) Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

This novel goes into much more detail than others in the series to date as far as character growth and storyline. The action culminates at the end like most novels do along with some added twists and unexpected character changes. Other readers describe this novel (along with many others in the series) as slow and boring. If you like a novel to pique your interest every minute, then this series will leave you disappointed. If you want to immerse yourself into the storyline and world completely, then you are in the right place.

That being said, there was one point of the book that always made me want to read right past it. That was the women constantly getting angry with the men for being decent, well, men. Always rolling their eyes or sternly talking to them as if they were complete idiots. If I didn't know any better, this book feels like it was written by a woman who hated men. I certainly hope that the following novels don't have as much of this bashing as it became old very quick.

The Fires of Heaven (The Wheel of Time, Book 5) Feature

ISBN13: 9780812550306
Condition: New
Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

The Fires of Heaven (The Wheel of Time, Book 5) Overview

The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and go. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.

Let the Dragon ride again on the winds of time.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Sep 19, 2010 21:03:04

Great Price for $3.50

2010-09-19T17:51:00.001-07:00

Kiss of Midnight (The Midnight Breed, Book 1) Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

The Story:
The Breed Warriors are at war fighting the rough vampires, the ones that are crazed with blood lust. The leader of the warriors is Lucan. He is a rare type of Breed, a gen one. That is the first generation sons from the original invaders of earth. All the gen one breeds have a harder time with blood hunger. Lucan has been fighting with his warriors against the rough and fighting his blood hunger. He comes upon a group of roughs attacking a human. To his surprise so does someone else, Gabrielle, she snaps pictures of the murder and runs. Lucan tracks her down after killing the roughs and finds out she is a breedmate. Women born with a tear drop running into a crescent moon birthmark are special women. They can mate and create blood bonds with the Breed. He wants to save her for someone else, but he is unable to stay away from her. The enemy learns of her picture taking and comes after her with a vengeance. Lucan adds another battle to his tally, protect Gabrielle.

Thoughts:
I absolutely love this series. I don't compare it to BDB, or Dark-Hunter, or any other series. I appreciate the stories and plots on their own. It is a creative suspenseful story. This whole series is fantastic. I am in the process of re-reading this series, I rarely do so. This book entertaining, fast paced, suspenseful and passionate. Gabrielle and Lucan find something their life has been missing. It is also a nice beginning into what the series will become. I highly recommended to anyone who enjoys paranormal romance or romantic suspense. The writing style is great and conveys emotions very well.

Kiss of Midnight (The Midnight Breed, Book 1) Feature

ISBN13: 9780553589375
Condition: New
Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Kiss of Midnight (The Midnight Breed, Book 1) Overview

He watches her from across the crowded dance club, a sensual black-haired stranger who stirs Gabrielle Maxwell’s deepest fantasies. But nothing about this night—or this man—is what it seems. For when Gabrielle witnesses a murder outside the club, reality shifts into something dark and deadly. In that shattering instant she is thrust into a realm she never knew existed—a realm where vampires stalk the shadows and a blood war is set to ignite.

Lucan Thorne despises the violence carried out by his lawless brethren. A vampire himself, Lucan is a Breed warrior, sworn to protect his kind—and the unwitting humans existing alongside them—from the mounting threat of the Rogues. Lucan cannot risk binding himself to a mortal woman, but when Gabrielle is targeted by his enemies, he has no choice but to bring her into the dark underworld he commands.

Here, in the arms of the Breed’s formidable leader, Gabrielle will confront an extraordinary destiny of danger, seduction, and the darkest pleasures of all. . . .

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Sep 19, 2010 20:51:05

Check Out Eight Hundred Leagues on the Amazon

2010-09-18T16:53:00.001-07:00

Eight Hundred Leagues on the Amazon Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

This is one of his less known works, but WELL worth reading! Its a darn good book, the Amazon descriptions are amazing, but there is a great mystery too boot!

Funny thing about great foreign writers, Verne was French, but most of us grew up thinking of him as American, (sadly I admit I did). It's easy to, watching the old movies on TV, or new movies, all in English with US actors. And of course all the wonderful books we grew up with were in English. I hope that is considered a compliment as to his power and success, as he was just as enormously popular in France, and is the founding father of science fiction with perhaps with H.G. Wells. Verne's stories, written for all ages, caught the enterprising spirit of the 19th century and its uncritical fascination about scientific progress and inventions. Perhaps some today are not so uncritical of science, but those who still have adventure in their soul, who long for the stars and the space program, will love all of Verne's works.

Enjoy!

Eight Hundred Leagues on the Amazon Overview

Classic novel. According to Wikipedia: "Jules Gabriel Verne (February 8, 1828-March 24, 1905) was a French author who pioneered the science-fiction genre. He is best known for novels such as Journey to the Center of the Earth (1864), Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea (1870), and Around the World in Eighty Days (1873). Verne wrote about space, air, and underwater travel before air travel and practical submarines were invented, and before practical means of space travel had been devised. He is the third most translated author in the world, according to Index Translationum. Some of his books have been made into films. Verne, along with H. G. Wells, is often popularly referred to as the "Father of Science Fiction"

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Sep 18, 2010 19:54:06

Check Out The Ware Tetralogy for $15.87

2010-09-17T16:50:00.001-07:00

The Ware Tetralogy Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

In the first three books of his `live robots' series, Rucker is so brilliant on so many levels it is sometimes hard to realize that he was writing to be read for fun.

In the first three books of his Tetralogy, Rudy Rucker shows himself to be one of the rarest and brightest lights that science fiction produces; a science fiction writer who knows what he's talking about in terms of the science involved; and one who makes it happen in prose that an adult will find entertaining-even, and perhaps especially, an adult who has read something other than science fiction.

His books are like looking at an onion in cross-section: you can stay close to the surface layers if you like, or you can look deeper and try to go to see what he does and how he does it. Rucker always lets you go deeper but no matter where you stop looking, it's still a wonderful onion.

Some highlights:

Rucker's central scientific premise works by getting around the limit of artificial intelligence established by Marvin Minsky's observation that a system cannot create another system as complex as itself.

Rucker's plots involve conflict between machines and machines and between machines and humans. What comes from it creates some wildly entertaining reading involving comedy, drama, war ("how about a nice laser-blast?") and intrigue-and sometimes all three at once.

Rucker's use of language is like no one else's. He's been compared to Phillip K. Dick, but only because too many people have read Phillip K. Dick. Rucker's language is all his own and it is just *better*-often better than mainstream fiction writers whose broader audiences allow them to be paid a lot more for a lot less.

The books are a breeze to read and Rucker comes up with gems of language that demonstrate not only that he can pound typewriter keys but that he has the rare gift of understanding that each member of his audience is another mind and playing with that fact with every word.

I am delighted that they are republishing the trilogy as an omnibus edition. I loved the first three books and it will be as if I'm getting the fourth one for free.

The Ware Tetralogy Feature

ISBN13: 9781607012115
Condition: New
Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

The Ware Tetralogy Overview

An omnibus of Rudy Rucker's groundbreaking series [Software, Wetware, Freeware, and Realware], with an introduction by William Gibson, author of Neuromancer.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Sep 17, 2010 19:51:05

Check Out Voyager

2010-09-16T16:39:00.001-07:00

Voyager Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

I loved this book. This is actually the third one, of a so far eight part series, telling the story of Claire and Jamie. Some time ago I started with Drums of Autumn, then ran across A Breath of Snow and Ashes and realized that I wanted to start at the begining. So I ordered all the books that I have not read. I am so glad I did. This is a marvelous story with a lot of history thrown in the mix. I have become very fond of the leading characters who are very human. Amazon has it listed under Romance novels, but I don't think that is a good place for the series. I think more folks would read the books if they were under Historical Fiction.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Sep 16, 2010 19:39:03

Check Out The Vampyre: A Tale

2010-09-15T16:36:00.001-07:00

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

I think i should review this from two different perspectives: those who have play the game and those who are just seeking to read a futuristic scifi book. Let's start with the ones who like the game:

For those looking to read a story about commander Shepard, let me tell you that he does not appear in this book. This is a story about Anderson (who appear in the Mass Effect games as a general or something like that, i forget his rank). The events on the story are happening years before Shepard defeats the geth's and Saren in the first Mass Effect game. It is not about the Contact War, events occur some years after that, although it mention some things about it that clarifies how it happens. The story is full of action and some drama. Lt. Anderson is investigating a mysterious attack on a Alliance secret research facility at Sidon, he was sent there by the Alliance ambassador in a solo mission -due to some sensitive research that humans are hiding from the Council-. He will not be totally alone in the investigation, because the Citadel Council has also send one of his Spectre's to investigate the blody attack on the facility.

There are some mayor twists in the story, and if your a gamer to happens to enjoy Mass Effect and just want to immerse yourself in a spin off story in the Mass Effect universe then you should enjoy this book.

Now my review for people just searching for a sci-fi book to enjoy:

This book is based on the scifi universe of the Xbox 360 and PC game Mass Effect, which is a action-RPG game. But you don't need to know almost nothing of the game to understand this book. The environment is similar to the Star Wars universe. The protagonist are humans if you are wondering about that. Although you may find some not so convincing explications that attempt to explain how humanity is almost everywhere in the galaxy in a few years (for me was just too fast, even with the unlocking of some secrets of alien technology), the reader will be immersed in a futuristic world full of spaceships, futuristic weapons, faster than light travels, aliens communities, culture and politics, action and some ancient mysteries. If you enjoy those topics, which are mixed with a good -human heroic- story, then you should read it.

Mass Effect: Revelation Feature

ISBN13: 9780345498168
Condition: New
Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Mass Effect: Revelation Overview

Every advanced society in the galaxy relies on the technology of the Protheans, an ancient species that vanished fifty thousand years ago. After discovering a cache of Prothean technology on Mars in 2148, humanity is spreading to the stars; the newest interstellar species, struggling to carve out its place in the greater galactic community.

On the edge of colonized space, ship commander and Alliance war hero David Anderson investigates the remains of a top secret military research station; smoking ruins littered with bodies and unanswered questions. Who attacked this post and for what purpose? And where is Kahlee Sanders, the young scientist who mysteriously vanished from the base–hours before her colleagues were slaughtered?

Sanders is now the prime suspect, but finding her creates more problems for Anderson than it solves. Partnered with a rogue alien agent he can’t trust and pursued by an assassin he can’t escape, Anderson battles impossible odds on uncharted worlds to uncover a sinister conspiracy . . . one he won’t live to tell about. Or so the enemy thinks.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Sep 05, 2010 16:35:04

Check Out The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde for $5.40

2010-09-04T08:54:00.001-07:00

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

This short novella that has become such a staple of our culture is a quick and easy read, but definitely rewarding. In most formats, the entire story takes up only 50-70 pages, and could be read in a single sitting of a couple of hours. Given this, you may hesitate to fork out your well-earned money for such a small amount of gratification, but if you can find this story as part of a collection or at a good discount (maybe an e-book), definitely go for it.

The novel version of Jekyll and Hyde is quite different from the many movie adaptations. For the most part, this version is more simple, with very little filler. Stevenson's original leaves much up to the readers' imagination, making the story even darker and more powerful, in my opinion. Apparently, the idea behind this book came from a very real fear of Stevenson's that he might be living a double life, in which he would unknowingly sneak out at night to commit atrocious misdeeds. Knowing this gives the story even more power, as you can sense the author's seriousness for the topic.

If you haven't before, make the effort to find a good copy of this novel. Written in only a couple of days, it is remarkable how integrated these ideas have become in our culture. Recommended.

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Overview

This best selling classic is known for its stunning depiction of a split personality, split in the implication that within the same person there is both a seemingly good and an evil personality each being quite distinctive from the other.

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Specifications

The young Robert Louis Stevenson suffered from repeated nightmares of living a double life, in which by day he worked as a respectable doctor and by night he roamed the back alleys of old-town Edinburgh. In three days of furious writing, he produced a story about his dream existence. His wife found it too gruesome, so he promptly burned the manuscript. In another three days, he wrote it again. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was published as a "shilling shocker" in 1886, and became an instant classic. In the first six months, 40,000 copies were sold. Queen Victoria read it. Sermons and editorials were written about it. When Stevenson and his family visited America a year later, they were mobbed by reporters at the dock in New York City. Compulsively readable from its opening pages, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is still one of the best tales ever written about the divided self.

"The God Engines" is dark, heavy, and richly textured beneath a gauze of foreboding. John Scalzi's novella is a severe departure from the tone and wit of his popular "Old Man's War" series. But it's equally as awesome.

The title is quite literal. Superhuman god-like beings are the engines that drive human interstellar travel. While they have the power to move humans and ships across enormous amounts of space, their powers are much more vast. The story moves at a rapid pace, and the characters are well drawn despite the books' length. The universe of "The God Engines" is creatively conceived.

Scalzi's story, which sits somewhere between scifi and fantasy, takes an compelling look at religion, faith and what they can really mean to individuals and societies. The foundation of characters are military, like much of Scalzi's "Old Man's War", but this military and this universe is much more frightening.

Everything is drawn with muted colors. Scalzi's writing is very clear, and always crisp, but one can't help but feel a little suffocated in reading this story. Scalzi is also a master at forwarding a plot through well-worded and well-timed dialogue.

This is not your father's John Scalzi. And this is very good.

The God Engines Overview

Captain Ean Tephe is a man of faith, whose allegiance to his lord and to his ship is uncontested. The Bishopry Militant knows this — and so, when it needs a ship and crew to undertake a secret, sacred mission to a hidden land, Tephe is the captain to whom the task is given.

Tephe knows from the start that his mission will be a test of his skill as a leader of men and as a devout follower of his god. It’s what he doesn’t know that matters: to what ends his faith and his ship will ultimately be put — and that the tests he will face will come not only from his god and the Bishopry Militant, but from another, more malevolent source entirely...

Author John Scalzi has ascended to the top ranks of modern science fiction with the best-selling, Hugo-nominated novels Old Man’s War and Zoe’s Tale. Now he tries his hand at fantasy, with a dark and different novella that takes your expectations of what fantasy is and does, and sends them tumbling.

Say your prayers... and behold The God Engines.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 29, 2010 10:40:05

Great Price for $5.40

2010-08-26T19:58:00.001-07:00

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Overview

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Specifications

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 26, 2010 23:05:04

Great Price for $4.21

2010-08-24T20:33:00.001-07:00

Maelstrom: Destroyermen Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

Mr. Anderson's climactic Naval action novel reads like something from the newsreels of 1942. Implacable, ferocious enemy; desperate and reeling protagonists; a fragile yet resilient alliance. He's clearly done his research and it shows in the sharp focus on the Naval vessels and their dauntless crews - while it seems he hasn't spent too much time among giant lemurs*, leading to a slightly softer focus on the ships' furry allies. He's careful to not commit the sin of anachronistic hindsight too much - but lets his characters learn the lessons of the shortcomings of their outmoded or incompetently designed equipment (Mk 14 torpedo) as part of the story.

His characters are fully fleshed out and grow along with the story - and in many instances he uses the stereotypes (e.g., Chief Gray) as to both poke fun at the stereotypes and as launching point to let the character develop in the new environment and strangely similar war. And in keeping with the different cultural climate of the 1940's, the few romantic relationships are handled with restraint and decorum - even Gunner's Mate Silva gets a PG rating.

If you've read accounts of the surface actions in the early days of WW-II, you'll see the resonances here, and of course, the nearly quixotic Battle of Samar echoes as the hopelessly outgunned and over-matched small boys of TF-77.4.3 (aka Taffy-3) took on a vastly superior Japanese battle group to protect the landing beaches at Leyte Gulf, except of course with the USS Walker and USS Mahan filling in the roles of destroyers and the Lemurian's SalissaHome filling in for the "baby flattops" of Taffy 3

I greatly enjoyed this trilogy and see here on Amazon that he's started a new series, which I look forward to reading.

BRAVO ZULU!

*considering they've been extinct for 2000 years, he gets a bye on that one

Maelstrom: Destroyermen Feature

ISBN13: 9780451462824
Condition: New
Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Maelstrom: Destroyermen Overview

The alternate history saga of The Destroyermen continues...

Lieutenant Commander Matthew Reddy, along with the men and women of the battleship Walker, are once again at war. Having sided with the peaceful Lemurians against the savage, reptilian Grik, they now find themselves scrambling to prepare for the attack that is sure to come. Meanwhile, the Japanese juggernaut Amagi, also trapped in this strange world, is under Grik control. Soon, they will have amassed a force that no amount of fire-power and technology will be able to stop. Reddy, his crew, his allies, and his loved ones face annihilation. But if there is one thing they have learned about their new world, it is that hope-and help-may just be over the horizon...

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 24, 2010 23:40:04

Check Out Frostbitten for $4.42

2010-08-23T09:28:00.001-07:00

Frostbitten Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

I have to admit, I have a fondness for Kelley Armstrong's novels, and while I have been reviewing them well, sometimes I wonder if it is merely because I like the author or was the book really as good as I first thought? What I will tell you is that Armstrong definitely is back to the basics in "Frostbitten", the latest in the Otherworld series. That "something" that I found and enjoyed in the first few novels, is there woven artfully throughout the story. And while I can't really put what I mean into words, I will say that it was almost like listening to an old friend who you haven't spoken to in awhile and realizing that you missed their voice. Meaning, I now realize that some of the Otherworld novels that I thought I enjoyed, in retrospect I probably didn't (for example, the young adult Chloe Saunders series), but I really have an appreciation for this author and her works. BUT never fear, I thought that this one was really GREAT, and the old Armstrong is back. With that being said, here is the review....

The last time we saw Elena (the only female werewolf), she had just given birth to twins (who are possible werewolves, which is a rarity in the werewolf world), and was settling into married and pack life with her beloved mate, Clay (the slightly grouchy yet sexy pack enforcer/anthropology professor). A few years have passed and Elena is continuing her investigation into incidents that could affect her pack. Sent by Jeremy and using her investigative reporter skills, Elena sets out to discover the truth and see if there are rogue werewolves involved in several unexplained disappearances of women and bloody animal attacks in the wilderness of Alaska. Faced with things from her past (emotional scares of her childhood she'd rather forget), she learns that the only way to conquer her fears is to face them head on. Meanwhile, Clay is dealing with his own insecurities and questions his ability to protect his pack (having been injured in the previous novel). He finds himself questioning if the "mutts" need another reminder of just what a monster he can be. As the two face new challenges, they learn to trust each other completely in order to survive.

There is everything that makes this a wonderful paranormal read. There are werewolves (good and bad), snow beasts (for lack of a better word), and battles. New characters are introduced (that I hope become pack members) and new storylines forged. I also enjoyed the resolution of some of the issues between Elena and Clay. And as always, I enjoyed seeing or hearing about Jeremy, Hope, Karl, Nick and of the rest of the characters from the Otherworld books. I can't wait to read the next one.

Frostbitten Feature

ISBN13: 9780553589627
Condition: New
Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Frostbitten Overview

For Elena Michaels, being the world’s only female werewolf has its advantages, such as having her pick of the Otherworld’s most desirable males. And she couldn’t have picked a more dangerously sexy and undyingly loyal mate than Clayton Danvers. But now their bond will be put to the ultimate test. A werewolf more wolf than human and more unnatural than supernatural—a creature whose origins spring from ancient legend—is hunting human prey, and Elena and Clayton must track the predator deep into Alaska’s frozen wilderness.

But the personal stakes are even higher. Either Clayton or Elena has been chosen to become the new Pack leader, and every wolf knows that there can be only one Alpha. The couple have always been equals in everything. Now, when their survival depends more than ever on perfect teamwork, will instinct allow one of them to lead and the other to follow?

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 23, 2010 12:35:05

Great Price for $4.15

2010-08-22T08:38:00.001-07:00

Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men (Jane Jameson, Book 2) Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

I think I'm falling in love with Molly Harper's Jane Madison series. I really enjoyed the previous installment, Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs (Jane Jameson, Book 1), and this one is just as good.

As far as paranormal romances go, it does get to a point where they all start to seem the same. What set's Harper and this series apart is the fact that the heroine is smart and has a great, witty sense of humor.

Jane and her friends' stories continue along nicely here. Her romance with Gabriel is pretty realistic. There's a lot of tension between them due to the nature of their relationship. As her sire, he can be domineering and that doesn't sit well with the independent Jane. She also becomes aware of some less-than-honest behavior on Gabriel's part, adding to their troubles. The impending nuptials of her best friend Jeb and her strained relationship with her family also add great fodder to the storyline.

If you haven't read the first book in this series, you'll probably be a bit lost if you jump straight to this one. They're great though, light-hearted but not so fluffy that it seems contrived or like some other paranormal romance that you've already read.

Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men (Jane Jameson, Book 2) Feature

ISBN13: 9781416589433
Condition: New
Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men (Jane Jameson, Book 2) Overview

Kitty and the Silver Bullet (Kitty Norville, Book 4) Feature

ISBN13: 9780446618755
Condition: New
Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Kitty and the Silver Bullet (Kitty Norville, Book 4) Overview

Kitty's radio show is as popular as ever and she has a boyfriend who actually seems to understand her. Can she finally settle down to a normal life? Not if this is just the calm before the storm. When her mother falls ill, Kitty rushes back to Denver--and right back to the abusive pack of werewolves she escaped a year ago. To make matters worse, a war is brewing between the city's two oldest vampires, threatening the whole supernatural community. Though she wants to stay neutral, Kitty is again drawn into a world of politics and violence. To protect her family, her lover, and herself, she'll have to choose sides. And maybe become what she hates--a killer.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 17, 2010 13:25:17

Check Out Bat Wing for $12.95

2010-08-16T01:29:00.001-07:00

Bat Wing Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

There's a lot more to Sax Rohmer than his Fu Manchu novels. Some years back, I bought a cache of Rohmer's books published by A.L. Burt in the teens and twenties, some from the Fu Manchu series, but others with delightfully lurid titles such as The Golden Scorpion, The Green Eyes of Bast, and The Dream Detective, the latter featuring the wondrous Moris Klaw, a blind detective with extra-sensory powers.

From time to time I dip into this reservoir for a completely escapist read. These novels, despite being dated and notoriously full of racial stereotypes, fairly pop off the page. Rohmer knew how to spin a yarn, and Bat Wing is no exception. The tale involves a haughty Spanish colonel and a secret too dark, too deep, to divulge. Rohmer's detective hero, Paul Harvey, is in the mold of Sherlock Holmes, and of course he has a trusted friend who doubles as the narrator much as Dr. Watson does. Together they unravel the sinister mystery, encountering voodoo rites, vampire bats, an Edgar Allen Poe-esque writer, and other fantastic developments en route to the sensational ending.

Bat Wing Overview

Arthur Henry Sarsfield Ward (1883-1959), better known as Sax Rohmer, was a prolific English novelist. He is most remembered for his series of novels featuring the master criminal Dr. Fu Manchu.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 16, 2010 04:35:05

Great Price for $14.74

2010-08-14T19:19:00.001-07:00

The Stand (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

I won't be a poser here and say that The Stand is what turned me into a King fan...considering I just finsihed the book last week, and I've been reading King since at least high school. In fact, I initially started reading The Stand as a HS fresman, and for some reason, just never got around to making it through more than the first chapter.
So, years go by, and at the begining of this summer I picked up the complete and uncut (read:much, much longer) edition of The Stand. I figured if I was going to finally read the damn thing, I might as well read every single page King meant to put in there originally. And I'm sorry to see what a great book I missed out on all these years.
The plot is pretty simple: a flu outbreak has wiped out all but about 1% of America's population and survivors begin to migrate to the Midwest, fueled by thoughts of recreating society and a dream of a dark man with dark intentions.
Although there are very defined good and bad characters (and some who seem to toe the line between both), this book is more than just good vs evil. In fact, until the last 3rd of the book or so it has less to do with this than it does just people coming to grips with what Captain Trips (the flu) has done to America and how those who survived make it from day to day; from finding food that isn't spoiled to maneuvering through roads clogged with cars and their dead passengers, to dealing with sickness and injuries without the help of doctors.
When the Good Vs. Evil situation does come to a head, it's over pretty quickly (and efficently). Again, The Stand is about more than just good vs. bad, right vs. wrong. It's really asking the question:If you were the survivor of a mass epidemic (or bomb, or asteriod, or whatever) that claimed just about everyone else in the world, how would YOU handle it? Would you seek out others for companionship and help make a new society, or would you just hide in your home, living as long as you could until you eventually died? Would you be willing to follow someone else's vague directive from God, even if that meant sacrificing yourself?
Yes, this is a long read, but it is worth it. King, as usual, builds his story around strong characters and descriptive narritive. You feel empathy for the characters who have lost everything head out on a blind journey to start over. You can feel their anxiety, fear, and hope as time and again they are met with roadblocks and successes, fall in and out of love, and struggle with the simple challenge of being human. If anything, read it for the ideas you could get about how to make it in a post-apocalyptic world.

The Stand (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) Overview

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. A monumentally devastating plague leaves only a few survivors who, in a desert world, experience dreams of good and evil in confrontation and, through their choices, move toward an actual confrontation.

The Stand (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) Specifications

In 1978, science fiction writer Spider Robinson wrote a scathing review of The Stand in which he exhorted his readers to grab strangers in bookstores and beg them not to buy it.

The Stand is like that. You either love it or hate it, but you can't ignore it. Stephen King's most popular book, according to polls of his fans, is an end-of-the-world scenario: a rapidly mutating flu virus is accidentally released from a U.S. military facility and wipes out 99 and 44/100 percent of the world's population, thus setting the stage for an apocalyptic confrontation between Good and Evil.

"I love to burn things up," King says. "It's the werewolf in me, I guess.... The Stand was particularly fulfilling, because there I got a chance to scrub the whole human race, and man, it was fun! ... Much of the compulsive, driven feeling I had while I worked on The Stand came from the vicarious thrill of imagining an entire entrenched social order destroyed in one stroke."

There is much to admire in The Stand: the vivid thumbnail sketches with which King populates a whole landscape with dozens of believable characters; the deep sense of nostalgia for things left behind; the way it subverts our sense of reality by showing us a world we find familiar, then flipping it over to reveal the darkness underneath. Anyone who wants to know, or claims to know, the heart of the American experience needs to read this book. --Fiona Webster

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 14, 2010 22:25:04

Check Out Gideon (The Nightwalkers, Book 2) for $3.57

2010-08-12T23:54:00.001-07:00

Gideon (The Nightwalkers, Book 2) Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

They're called the Nightwalkers--proud, ancient beings who live in the shadows, existing just beyond the human world. But there are also dangerous humans who hunt them--necromancers who use the blackest magic to manipulate them. And for a Demon named Gideon, the battle against these evil forces will soon be all too personal.

For a thousand years, Gideon has healed his people. And as the oldest surviving male of his race, his wisdom has always been respected without question.

But Gideon knows that even he is vulnerable to the powerful, primitive desires that befall his kind during Hallowed moons--and nine years ago that truth was hammered home when he found himself claiming Magdelegna, the Demon King's sister, in a wild embrace.

orrified by his lack of control, he left her wanting and furious--and then exiled himself for the better part of a decade.

Now, with necromancers threatening his people--and Magdelegna nearly their victim--Gideon must face another truth. He and the beautiful, stubborn Magdelegna are destined to be together, to share a love as deep and old as time itself. But first he needs to regain her trust. Then he'll have to save her life.

I also enjoyed this one Gideon is a very old and powerful demon and he Carry's him self as such .He just radiates power, knowledge and respect you cat help but get wrapped up in him with the book. Legna is also a very strong heroin she is not to be underestimated she is very loving and child like at times but she is fun too. I like that she is witty i liked her alot . Also in this book they introduce the Vampire prince Damien (who has his own book in the series i just haven't gotten to it yet.) and he is very intriguing i cant wait to read more about him. She also introduces the Shape shifters and they are very unique i love how she describes them and the significance of there hair and how it works with there shift . Wow super cool idea. I am very excited to go on to read the next book which is Elijah. Ill keep you posted on how i like that one.

Gideon (The Nightwalkers, Book 2) Feature

ISBN13: 9780821780664
Condition: New
Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Gideon (The Nightwalkers, Book 2) Overview

They're called the Nightwalkers - proud, ancient beings who live in the shadows, existing just beyond the human world. But there are also dangerous humans who hunt them - necromancers who use the blackest magic to manipulate them. And for a Demon named Gideon, the battle against these evil forces will soon be all too personal...For a thousand years, Gideon has healed his people. And as the oldest surviving male of his race, his wisdom has always been respected without question. But Gideon knows that even he is vulnerable to the powerful, primitive desires that befall his kind during Hallowed moons - and nine years ago that truth was hammered home when he found himself claiming Magdalegna, the Demon King's sister, in a wild embrace. Horrified by his lack of control, he left her wanting and furious - and then exiled himself for the better part of a decade. Now, with necromancers threatening his people - and Magdalegna nearly their victim - Gideon must face another truth. He and the beautiful, stubborn Magdalegna are destined to be together, to share a love as deep and old as time itself. But first he needs to regain her trust. Then he'll have to save her life...

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 13, 2010 03:00:08

Check Out Best Friends

2010-08-11T22:19:00.001-07:00

Best Friends Review

Hot!!!

Oceans of Fire Overview

The third daughter of seven in a magical bloodline, Abigail Drake was born with an affinity for water and a strong bond with dolphins. After she witnesses a murder, she flees right into the arms of Alexsandr Volstov. On the trail of stolen Russian antiquities, he's a relentless Interpol agent--and the man who once broke Abby's heart. But he isn't going to let the only woman he's ever loved slip away again.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 07, 2010 16:40:08

Check Out Eight Hundred Leagues on the Amazon

2010-08-06T04:34:00.001-07:00

Eight Hundred Leagues on the Amazon Review

Dragon Keeper (Rain Wilds Chronicles, Vol. 1) Feature

ISBN13: 9780061561627
Condition: New
Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Dragon Keeper (Rain Wilds Chronicles, Vol. 1) Overview

Enter the spellbinding world of dragons . . . and those who tend them

One of the most gifted fantasy authors writing today, New York Times bestselling author Robin Hobb has dazzled readers with brilliantly imaginative, emotionally resonant, and compulsively readable tales set in far-flung realms not unlike our own. In this enthralling new novel, she returns to the territory of her beloved Liveship Traders and Tawny Man trilogies with a story of dragons and humans, return and rebirth, and the search for meaning, belonging, and home.

For years, the Trader cities valiantly battled their enemies, the Chalcedeans. But they could not have staved off invasion without the powerful dragon Tintaglia. In return, the Traders promised to help her serpents migrate up the Rain Wild River after a long exile at sea—to find a safe haven and, Tintaglia hopes, to restore her species. But too much time has passed, and the newly hatched dragons are damaged and weak, and many die. The few who survive cannot use their wings; earthbound, they are powerless to hunt and vulnerable to human predators willing to kill them for the fabled healing powers of dragon flesh.

But Tintaglia has vanished and the Traders are weary of the labor and expense of tending useless dragons. The Trader leadership fears that if it stops providing for the young dragons, the hungry and neglected creatures will rampage—or die along the river's acidic muddy banks. To avert catastrophe, the dragons decree a move even farther up the treacherous river to Kelsingra, their ancient, mythical homeland whose mysterious location is locked deep within the dragons' uncertain ancestral memories.

To ensure their safe passage, the Traders recruit a disparate group of young people to care for the damaged creatures and escort them to their new home. Among them is Thymara, an unschooled forest girl of sixteen, and Alise, a wealthy Trader's wife trapped in a loveless marriage, who attaches herself to the expedition as a dragon expert. The two women share a deep kinship with the dragons: Thymara can instinctively communicate with them, and Alise, captivated by their beauty and majesty, has devoted her life to studying them.

Embarking on an arduous journey that holds no promise of return, the band of humans and dragons must make their way along the toxic and inhospitable Rain Wild River—an extraordinary odyssey that will teach them lessons about themselves and one another, as they experience hardships, betrayals, and joys beyond their wildest dreams.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 03, 2010 00:45:05

Great Price for $6.71

2010-08-01T12:29:00.001-07:00

Stranger in a Strange Land Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

The book shown in the picture on this product page is possibly a first paper edition, printed in 1961. No, it's not the one I've just read; I had to trot to a bookstore and buy a fresh copy. But there are 500-plus reviews posted on that new edition. Most promisingly bookish young people these days have read "Stranger in a Strange Land" by age 15 or 16. I didn't have that opportunity; I was already 20 in 1961, when it was published, but I read it soon after. I hadn't looked at it since that initial reading, until I found myself "sharing water" (actually red wine) with a college mate I hadn't seen in an equally long time. He caught me using the "Martian" word GROK -- a regular item in my vocabulary -- and knew its source, and that set us talking about science-fiction in general, this book in particular.

And now I've re-read Robert Heinlein's enduring 'classic' about a H. sapiens male raised by Martians (rather as Tarzan was raised by apes) and thus equipped with extraordinary powers, who returns to Earth utterly unprepared to think or act like a human. It's a great read, as people say nowadays, packed with imaginings and speculations. Some of the epiphanies almost convince me that the author had the blood of prophets. For instance, the Secretary General of the World Federation, a power-hungry but almost honorable politician of mediocre mind, is an absolute prototype of Ronald Reagan, complete with a wife who manages his decisions by consulting an astrologer, but Reagan hadn't even run for office when Heinlein wrote "SiSL". There are also scores of tech prophesies that have 'come true', but such things don't impress me as much; after all, Dick Tracy had his wrist radio in the 1940s. Heinlein does handle words very artfully; in fact, his writing style isn't a selling point, but his sentences crackle with almost hormonal excitement. It's easy to 'grok' why the book has sold a gazillion or two copies worldwide.

On the other hand, there's a lot of hokey-pokey in "Stranger in a Strange Land". The sexual escapades of Valentine Michael Smith are awfully pokey by our latter-day norms, neither sensuous nor graphic. Sexual freedom is one of the Martian's lessons for humanity, as propounded by Heinlein of course, but this jolly promiscuity (strictly hetero, by the way) is soooo 1960s! Oh well, I was in and of the '60s when I was in my twenties ... but now that I'm in my sixties, Heinlein's libidinous optimism seems mildly embarrassing. Sophomoric. Passé.

Heinlein's theological/metaphysical expatiations, which amount to more than half of the book, are also hokey/naive and his satire of religious cultism, his Fosterites, is pokey/slow. I have no idea whether Heinlein was knowledgeable about the original Giordano Bruno, but his notions of the plenitude of Life throughout the Cosmos are simplified Bruno, and his basic pantheism is much like an undisciplined extract from the thoughts of Baruch Spinoza. The Martian wisdom that Valentine Michael Smith hopes to teach Earthlings amounts to the realization that "God" is a synonym for Life, and that Life is God. But I don't want to sound too judgemental here; for a 15-year-old reader with normally uncomfortable doubts about the religious doctrines in which he's been raised, the humbug expressed in this sci-fi novel might be powerfully liberating.

The chief thing I remembered from my first reading -- the only thing I remembered, really -- was the notion of "grokking." And that notion is truly potent. GROK is a verb in Martian, for which no English verb is an adequate translation. Heinlein shilly-shallies at defining it; the first translator of Martian to English, Dr. Mahmoud, says: "Grok is the most important word in the language - and I expect to spend years trying to understand it.... You need to think in martian to grok the word 'grok." But in actual fact, even the dullest reader almost immediately grasps the simplest meaning, 'to perceive' or 'to comprehend'. It's 2010 now, and English has absorbed much of the conceptual vocabulary of modern physics, and I brashly think I can define GROK a little more clearly. Yes, it means 'perceive', but also to 'be perceived' reciprocally, empathetically, in a kind of quantum simultaneity, a timeless and total entanglement. So... does the word have a 'real' meaning? Does it represent a real occurrence? Sometimes, when I look at a full moon or a paper clip on my desk, I do have a moment of awareness that I sense to be close to grokking. I've always had a certain sense of "vocation" (I was raised as a Lutheran, and my grandmothers told me I had a vocation to become a pastor). My own first vocation, around age 16, was 'poet'. Then I felt called to be 'historian', and later to be 'social activist', and still later 'musician'. I was fooled by the latter; music became my career but if it had been really a 'vocation' I'd have written nine symphonies by now. A few years ago, for various reasons, I started to disengage from my career, to retire, to tend my garden like a rational Epicurean. That was when I discovered, at long last, my true vocation. I am a Grokker. I am called to Grokking, as some are called to preaching or martyrdom. Reading "Stranger in a Strange Land" again, after almost 50 years, has forced me to acknowledge that this pop sci-fi kid's book has probably been a formative influence on my life.

Stranger in a Strange Land Feature

ISBN13: 9780441788385
Condition: New
Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Stranger in a Strange Land Overview

One of the greatest science fiction novels ever published, Stranger in a Strange Land's original manuscript had 50,000 words cut. Now they have been reinstated for this special 30th anniversary trade edition. A Mars-born earthling arrives on this planet for the first time as an adult, and the sensation he creates teaches Earth some unforgettable lessons. "A brilliant mind-bender."--Kurt Vonnegut.

Stranger in a Strange Land Specifications

Stranger in a Strange Land, winner of the 1962 Hugo Award, is the story of Valentine Michael Smith, born during, and the only survivor of, the first manned mission to Mars. Michael is raised by Martians, and he arrives on Earth as a true innocent: he has never seen a woman and has no knowledge of Earth's cultures or religions. But he brings turmoil with him, as he is the legal heir to an enormous financial empire, not to mention de facto owner of the planet Mars. With the irascible popular author Jubal Harshaw to protect him, Michael explores human morality and the meanings of love. He founds his own church, preaching free love and disseminating the psychic talents taught him by the Martians. Ultimately, he confronts the fate reserved for all messiahs.

The impact of Stranger in a Strange Land was considerable, leading many children of the 60's to set up households based on Michael's water-brother nests. Heinlein loved to pontificate through the mouths of his characters, so modern readers must be willing to overlook the occasional sour note ("Nine times out of ten, if a girl gets raped, it's partly her fault."). That aside, Stranger in a Strange Land is one of the master's best entertainments, provocative as he always loved to be. Can you grok it? --Brooks Peck

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 01, 2010 15:35:05

Check Out Gathering Blue for $6.56

2010-07-31T08:44:00.001-07:00

Gathering Blue Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

Lois Lowry's Gathering Blue is the next installment in The Giver series, the first having been wildly successful, though is dubbed a "companion", as it has no relevancy to the plot of The Giver. The question is: "is it worth reading?" Depends. Address the points below to find out if this next installment in the series is worth going to the bookstore to purchase.
The story revolves around a girl, presumably in her teen years, named Kira. Kira's mother passes away at the beginning of the book. Her father has said to have been killed by a beast during a hunt, so she must protect herself from a group of village women, who want her to leave the community and go to the Field (where she would die), due to her crippled leg, which keeps her from marrying, working, or raising children. She overcomes other challenges aided by her tyke* friend Matt and her talented friend Thomas the carver, and unlocks secrets within the alienating community. Her reputation as a masterfully talented artist grows as she develops new threading techniques throughout the book, which give her a significant importance in the village. I shall try not to dive further into the plot, in the case that you decide to read the book.
The style in Gathering Blue remains the only thing that links it to The Giver. The creepy atmosphere of the community in which the story takes place and the ominously emotionless tone of the author create a mysterious tint to the tale that actually motivates the reader to continue and discover what happens next. Relatively complex, though not to the point of being grandiloquent, vocabulary contributes to the tone, and is satisfying and understandable: "... and she could hear the high, haunting melody that the child had sung in her magical voice, solitary in her room,
before they had forced her from it and given her their own song to sing." If you are a fan of The Giver, the similar though still enthrallingly gripping style of the story will not disappoint, and those that have not read the previous book will find the style fresh and creative.
Assuming you read the introductory summary in paragraph two, you may have interpreted that Gathering Blue is predicable, and it is. Very predictable. This is where the story suffers a bit. Even though the story is so well delivered and makes you want to continue reading to find out what happens next, I found that I already knew what was going to happen, and was just hoping the next event in the book would be surprisingly unexpected. Though the story continued to keep me excited though unsurprised until a partially inspired (though honestly quite confusing) conclusion. How many times have you heard of the protagonist with half a family trinket (in this case a necklace) that is completed at the end of the tale by the other half belonging to a long-lost relative? That's right, it happens here too. Gathering Blue is a story with a creative idea, though is utterly predictable in continuing that idea.
Gathering Blue is by no means a bad book, though suffers due to its predictability. If you are a fan of the series, this story will not disappoint due to author Lois Lowry's still wonderfully creative style. The story may also amuse others not familiar with the series, though if you're looking for something completely new and unpredictable, I recommend you look elsewhere.

Gathering Blue Overview

'Kira saw that she was surrounded by hostile women who had come from their cotts and were watching Vandara for instructions and leadership. Several, she noticed, had rocks in their hands. If one rock were thrown, others would follow, she knew. They were all waiting for the first...' When Kira is summoned to judgement by the Council of the Guardians to resolve a village conflict, Kira knows she is fighting for her life. In this challenging vision of the future, society is not technoogically advanced, and is tough and unforgiving, with every member having to prove their place. Kira has a withered leg and up till now has had her mother to protect her. With her mother gone, Kira will need to use every ounce of cunning, wit and bravery to ensure her continued acceptance - and even survival. A compelling, thought-provoking vision of a future society from an award-winning author.

Gathering Blue Specifications

Lois Lowry's magnificent novel of the distant future, The Giver, is set in a highly technical and emotionally repressed society. This eagerly awaited companion volume, by contrast, takes place in a village with only the most rudimentary technology, where anger, greed, envy, and casual cruelty make ordinary people's lives short and brutish. This society, like the one portrayed in The Giver, is controlled by merciless authorities with their own complex agendas and secrets. And at the center of both stories there is a young person who is given the responsibility of preserving the memory of the culture--and who finds the vision to transform it.

Kira, newly orphaned and lame from birth, is taken from the turmoil of the village to live in the grand Council Edifice because of her skill at embroidery. There she is given the task of restoring the historical pictures sewn on the robe worn at the annual Ruin Song Gathering, a solemn day-long performance of the story of their world's past. Down the hall lives Thomas the Carver, a young boy who works on the intricate symbols carved on the Singer's staff, and a tiny girl who is being trained as the next Singer. Over the three artists hovers the menace of authority, seemingly kind but suffocating to their creativity, and the dark secret at the heart of the Ruin Song.

With the help of a cheerful waif called Matt and his little dog, Kira at last finds the way to the plant that will allow her to create the missing color--blue--and, symbolically, to find the courage to shape the future by following her art wherever it may lead. With astonishing originality, Lowry has again created a vivid and unforgettable setting for this thrilling story that raises profound questions about the mystery of art, the importance of memory, and the centrality of love. (Ages 10 and older) --Patty Campbell

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jul 31, 2010 11:50:05

Great Price for $0.99

2010-07-30T08:24:00.001-07:00

The Time Traveler's Wife Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

It is a strange yet interesting novel. It draws you in from the very beginning so that you won't want to put the book down until everything unfolds. At the beginning I really enjoyed the book and how the story was progressing. But after Clare turns 20, the story seemed to be missing something. I can't quite put my finger on it but something was bugging me- maybe it was the f- words.
I do feel that the novel could have been more enjoyable if the writing had not been so bawdy.
The story is compelling, interesting, and even sad. I admit, I cried at the end. Henry and Clare's story is unlike anything I have read before.
Overall, the story made me read til late into the night and that's a good thing. I loved bits of it and hated others.

The Time Traveler's Wife Feature

ISBN13: 9780156029438
Condition: New
Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

The Time Traveler's Wife Overview

A dazzling novel in the most untraditional fashion, this is the remarkable story of Henry DeTamble, a dashing, adventuresome librarian who travels involuntarily through time, and Clare Abshire, an artist whose life takes a natural sequential course. Henry and Clare's passionate love affair endures across a sea of time and captures the two lovers in an impossibly romantic trap, and it is Audrey Niffenegger's cinematic storytelling that makes the novel's unconventional chronology so vibrantly triumphant.

An enchanting debut and a spellbinding tale of fate and belief in the bonds of love, The Time Traveler's Wife is destined to captivate readers for years to come.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jul 30, 2010 11:30:05

Great Price for $8.07

2010-07-29T08:19:00.001-07:00

When He Was Bad Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

When He Was Bad has two stories in it. Miss Congeniality is by Shelly Laurenston and Wicked Ways is by Cynthia Eden. Miss Congeniality is a five star read on it's own and it is a keeper to boot! I just wish that it could have been longer. Irene is the young female genius heroine working as a university professor. Van Holtz (Holtz) is a wealthy wolf shifter hero who has had the hots for Irene since he first saw her several years ago. One night, Holtz rescues Irene from a pack of shifters. To keep her safe though, he has to make her his mate. Holtz thinks that he can make her his mate and then walk away, but he is in for a surprise when he can't stop thinking about her. Let the sparks fly because Irene has a prickly attitude and she doesn't want a man for long-term, but Holtz is determined to change her mind. This is a great story with lots of humor and smoking hot scenes. 5 stars!
Wicked Ways by Cynthia Eden is a story about Cain, a jaguar shifter and ex-FBI man, and Miranda, his sexy neighbor that he can't stop thinking and dreaming about. The story starts out with Cain rescuing Miranda from a vampire attack. Things between Cain and Miranda heat up really fast which is a shame because there needed to be more character development. The rest of the story follows with the both of them trying to set a trap for the vampire that got away after attacking Miranda. Wicked Ways is the first story that I've read by Cynthia Eden, and it was okay. I'll give her props for the plot, but I wasn't drawn to the characters. Everything was rushed. 4 stars for Wicked Ways.

When He Was Bad Feature

ISBN13: 9780758227263
Condition: New
Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

When He Was Bad Overview

This title contains two stories including "Miss Congeniality" and "Wicked Ways". Shelly Laurenston - "Miss Congeniality": It's those damn stockings that get me every time. They have this sexy little line down the back and I can't help but stare at her legs...constantly. And you'd think she'd be all over me like every other female in the Seattle area. I'm young, good looking, and one day I'll be Alpha Male of my family's Pack. But Professor Irene Conridge acts like I don't even exist. How is that possible? Now she's got enemies coming out of the woodwork and I have to protect her. Why? Because that's the kind of man I am. Yes, I am that amazing. Of course, it doesn't hurt that while I work to secure her safety, she'll be hanging out at my house. That's hours...days even that I've got Irene Conridge right where I want her.Cynthia Eden - "Wicked Ways": I'm too dangerous for her. I know it, but I can't get my sexy new neighbour out of my head. When I hear her scream one night, the absolute last thing I expect to see is Miranda Shaw - star of my hottest fantasies - being attacked by a vampire. Now the undead jerk is after her, and I'm the only thing standing between the beautiful lady and a killer who just won't stop. Well, too bad for him, because that vamp has just made the worst mistake of his afterlife - he's tangled with a shifter. And Miranda, well, she's so busy watching out for him that she won't see me closing in on her - not until it's too late - and I'm about to show her just how wild I can get...

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jul 29, 2010 11:25:05

Great Price for $14.61

2010-07-28T03:29:00.001-07:00

The Coming Of Wisdom (The Seventh Sword Trilogy Book 2) Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

This should have all been one book. Part 2 goes on seamlessly from where the first book ended. I fear that those readers who have not read "The Reluctant Swordsman" will be a bit confused, since Duncan doesn't go into much of the backstory. He just assumes you already know. Other than that, this was an outstanding read. It moved along with almost the same pace as the first, my only quibble being that Wallie should have caught on to what the sorcerers were doing a lot faster than he did, given his Earth background. It will be interesing to see what he does with his new-found knowledge in Book 3, which I've already downloaded. Sorry - I do have another quibble. I'm not sure what Duncan is doing with Wallie's/Shonsu's mind. Sometimes he seems to have all of Wallie's memories, but there are times when he goes blank, and I don't mean when Shonsu's swordsman skills take over. That is why I was surprised at his being so slow to recognise the source of the sorcerers power. That is all I can say without giving the plot away. You'll see. Again, highly recommended, but do start from the beginning with book 1!

The Coming Of Wisdom (The Seventh Sword Trilogy Book 2) Overview

Wallie Smith is staring death in the face; only a miracle can save him. And then one does! The Goddess appears to preserve his soul, but she does much more than that. She promises to bestow upon him a new and powerful body, and, more importantly, to endow him with the fabled Sapphire Sword of Chioxin. But nothing in this world or any other comes without a price. The Goddess demands that, for her services, Wallie become her champion. It will be an honor to serve such a presence, to have the chance to be victorious over all challengers. But Wallie and his sword quickly find themselves outmatched in a world of high-stakes magic. Even the Goddess's priests cannot offer any resistance to the invading sorcerers and their quest to conquer souls for the Fire God. Wallie will need to find in himself and in the world the powers that will save all mortals. He will need to find The Coming of Wisdom.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jul 28, 2010 06:35:05

Check Out Grimm's Fairy Stories for $23.96

2010-07-27T03:09:00.001-07:00

Grimm's Fairy Stories Review

Hot!!!

One Foot in the Grave (Night Huntress, Book 2) Feature

ISBN13: 9780061245091
Condition: New
Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

One Foot in the Grave (Night Huntress, Book 2) Overview

You can run from the grave, but you can't hide . . .

Half-vampire Cat Crawfield is now Special Agent Cat Crawfield, working for the government to rid the world of the rogue undead. She's still using everything Bones, her sexy and dangerous ex, taught her, but when Cat is targeted for assassination, the only man who can help her is the vampire she left behind.

Being around him awakens all her emotions, from the adrenaline kick of slaying vamps side by side to the reckless passion that consumed them. But a price on her head—wanted: dead or half-alive—means her survival depends on teaming up with Bones. And no matter how hard she tries to keep things professional between them, she'll find that desire lasts forever . . . and that Bones won't let her get away again.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jul 22, 2010 02:50:08

Check Out Tempest Rising (Jane True) for $40.93

2010-07-20T23:10:00.001-07:00

Tempest Rising (Jane True) Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

If you are truly looking for a different and unique take on urban fantasy, then stop because you have just found it! It starts with Peeler's heroine, Jane True, the town outcast and freak, due in part to her parents and to a terrible accident that the citizen's of Rockabill will not let her forget even though Jane can neither forgive or forget. An apt analogy early in the book explains that Jane feels like that anonymous key on your key ring that you can never find where or what it fits into (who hasn't felt that way at some point). Despite all this she is comfortable in her own skin and with her life, she loves sex almost as much as she loves to eat, and what an appetite. You can't help but laugh at Jane's inner dialogue, sometimes because you too easily relate and at other times at the somewhat inappropriate setting/timing of her conscience battling her libido.

Peeler wonderfully populates her world with a variety of not your usual preternatural suspects; nahuals, barghests, selkies, spriggans, ifrits, dryads and nagas. To this she also adds gnomes, goblins, succubi, incubi and vampires. The author steeps her supernaturals in deep mythology along with science and evolution to explain their existence. As Ryu explains to Jane, he is what humans commonly refer to as a vampire but in his world baobhan sith (baa-van shee), they are not undead but in-human, they eat food but feed off of human emotions. Djinns/genies still grant wishes but what gets rubbed is the surprise. Peeler takes your "normal" supernatural beings and gives them a twist and a tweak which keeps you wondering who or what you may bump into next.

Jane's discovery of the corpse of a man(?), bobbing in the Old Sow and her piglets whirlpool, brings about her introduction to this other world and to Ryu. He becomes her guide to this new world and its inhabitants and quickly her lover. After more deaths, the mystery deepens as well as the differences between the humans and the supernaturals. The author called her book "comic hormance", I would say it is humorous urban fantasy, mystery and romance. For those who like romance, Ryu certainly won't let you down and for those who prefer little to no romance in their urban fantasy, Jane and Ryu's interludes don't get in the way of a fascinating read. Yes, there is some explicit sex and language as well as cursing, so this is definitely an adult read. The author does a very good job with pacing and alternating between action, mystery, sex and humour. Some may find that the story slows down at points compared to some of the full throttle series out there, but it is needed to build the necessary layers that put this book above your average urban fantasy fare. Jane's world is so absorbing, so be careful you could get sucked in like a body in the Old Sow and find it difficult to come up for air.

Tempest Rising (Jane True) Overview

Living in small town Rockabill, Maine, Jane True always knew she didn't quite fit in with so-called normal society. During her nightly, clandestine swim in the freezing winter ocean, a grisly find leads Jane to startling revelations about her heritage: she is only half-human.

Now, Jane must enter a world filled with supernatural creatures alternatively terrifying, beautiful, and deadly - all of which perfectly describe her new "friend," Ryu, a gorgeous and powerful vampire.

It is a world where nothing can be taken for granted: a dog can heal with a lick; spirits bag your groceries; and whatever you do, never-ever-rub the genie's lamp.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jul 21, 2010 02:15:04

Check Out The Last Wish for $4.15

2010-07-19T22:40:00.001-07:00

The Last Wish Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

The Last wish is written by Polish sensation Andrzej Sapkowski, recent winner of the David Gemmell Legend Award for Fantasy.

Geralt de Rivia is a witcher. A cunning sorcerer. A merciless assassin.
And a cold-blooded killer.
His sole purpose: to destroy the monsters that plague the world.
But not everything monstrous-looking is evil and not everything fair is good
. . . and in every fairy tale there is a grain of truth.

The book is basically a collection of short stories involving Geralt of Rivia, aka The Witcher. The Witcher is one of those tough guy heroes that's easy to get behind. Taken as a child, trained, given potions and other treatments to turn him into what he is. Deadly with a blade, Geralt is tough, sarcastic and thoroughly enjoyable. I wouldn't say that this book gives the kind of depth that I would have liked to see to a character like Geralt, but things certainly could have been worse.

My only complaint about the novel was that the text seemed a little short, almost as if it somehow suffered from translation. Then again, I have been reading The Wheel of Time, so I'm used to a little more exposition and a little more detail....okay, a lot more detail.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was fun to see how Sapkowski twisted fairy tales and fairy tale creatures into something bold and interesting. I'll look forward to reading Blood of Elves, and getting my first crack at an entire novel with The Witcher.

Score: 8/10. An exciting, fast paced group of short stories with a bold protagonist.

The Last Wish Feature

ISBN13: 9780316029186
Condition: New
Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

The Last Wish Overview

Geralt de Rivia is a witcher. A cunning sorcerer. A merciless assassin.

And a cold-blooded killer.

His sole purpose: to destroy the monsters that plague the world.

But not everything monstrous-looking is evil and not everything fair is good

. . . and in every fairy tale there is a grain of truth.

The international hit that inspired the video game: The Witcher.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jul 20, 2010 01:45:06

Check Out House of Suns for $9.48

2010-07-18T18:24:00.001-07:00

House of Suns Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

This is one of Reynolds' best books. The prose is well done, the plot moves along quickly and the galaxy he has created seems real. It is very reminiscent of Chasm City, though in House of Suns, the narrative feels much tighter.

A fantastic and quick read.

House of Suns Overview

Six million years ago, at the dawn of the star-faring era, Abigail Gentian fractured herself into a thousand male and female clones, which she called shatterlings. She sent them out into the galaxy to observe and document the rise and fall of countless human empires. Since then, every two hundred thousand years, they gather to exchange news and memories of their travels.

Only this millennium there is no gathering. Someone is eliminating the Gentian line. And Campion and Purslane-two shatterlings who have fallen in love and shared forbidden experiences- must determine exactly who, or what, their enemy is, before they are wiped out of existence.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jul 18, 2010 21:30:05

Check Out Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister: A Novel for $3.75

2010-07-17T18:19:00.001-07:00

Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister: A Novel Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

I've read almost all of Gregory Maguire's books, and didn't like any of them. Except for this one. This one was wonderfully done and while it showed some of his tendencies towards crudeness, the writing and characters were much better developed.

Margarethe and her two daughters have escaped from England, where the locals were wanting to kill them. Originally of Dutch descendants they thought they could find a home with relatives still in the city. However, upon arriving they learn that all of their relatives are dead.

They are taken in by an artist who the mother cleans for, her daughter Iris poses for, and her other daughter Ruth (thought to be challenged mentally) picks flowers for. It is during this time that the artist paints a picture of Iris and some regular wild flowers that entrances a local man Van den Meer to bring them into his household as a playmate for his daughter Clara. Clara is an exceptional beauty and the complete polar opposite of Iris. Iris is clever, but extremely plain to look at.

Through a series of misfortunes the wife of Van den Meer dies in childbirth and through some manipulations Margarethe becomes married to him. Not holding to the usual Cinderella story, Clara chooses that fate on her own, wishing to disappear into the kitchen and be left alone with her chores.

During this time the family's fortune is made on the Tulip Craze that was sweeping through the area at the time. It is merely coincidence but I had just finished reading "Tulipomania" which is a non-fiction book a week ago and was amazed at how much I recalled from that novel that was in this one. Maguire did his homework well. Unfortunately, for anyone familiar with the craze, it quickly plummeted and many lost their fortunes, much like the Van Den Meer family.

Desperate, Margarethe tries everything to restore their fortunes while losing her eyesight at the same time. When the coming of a Prince is announced she sets up her biological daughters to be present at this meeting while Iris secretly plots to get Clara there. The goal is for Clara, the beauty, to catch the eye of the prince and be free from everyone.

The characters in this story are well written. I felt great compassion for most of them and Iris especially gained a place in my heart. She had her flaws but did her best to overcome them and do what was right for others, even at her own expense. Ruth, while somewhat of a surprise at the end, even in her simplicity added a lot to the book and was an important character. Clara we are able to see grow throughout the novel and while she may not be the most pleasing character at the beginning, she is one of the most well-rounded ones at the end.

Maguire's writing is very descriptive. However, he does tend to go off topic sometimes or for the sake of effect through in crude scenes and ideas. In this particular novel I wasn't fond of the fact he decided to add what we can only presumably call a rape into one of the scenes. It didn't really add much to the story and just played into sensationalism, which is what makes his other novels distasteful to me.

Overall though, I'd say that this book was wonderfully done and offers a great insight into the other side of the story. It is also placed in a well thought out setting as the entire story seems plausible enough to happen. Much better than anything else he's written in my opinion.

Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister
Copyright 1999
368 pages and a Reader's Group Guide

Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister: A Novel Feature

ISBN13: 9780060987527
Condition: New
Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister: A Novel Overview

Is this new land a place where magics really happen?

From Gregory Maguire, the acclaimed author of Wicked, comes his much-anticipated second novel, a brilliant and provocative retelling of the timeless Cinderella tale.

In the lives of children, pumpkins can turn into coaches, mice and rats into human beings.... When we grow up, we learn that it's far more common for human beings to turn into rats....

We all have heard the story of Cinderella, the beautiful child cast out to slave among the ashes.But what of her stepsisters, the homely pair exiled into ignominy by the fame of their lovely sibling? What fate befell those untouched by beauty . . . and what curses accompanied Cinderella's exquisite looks?

Extreme beauty is an affliction

Set against the rich backdrop of seventeenth-century Holland, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister tells the story of Iris, an unlikely heroine who finds herself swept from the lowly streets of Haarlem to a strange world of wealth, artifice, and ambition. Iris's path quickly becomes intertwined with that of Clara, the mysterious and unnaturally beautiful girl destined to become her sister.

Clara was the prettiest child, but was her life the prettiest tale?

While Clara retreats to the cinders of the family hearth, burning all memories of her past, Iris seeks out the shadowy secrets of her new household--and the treacherous truth of her former life.

God and Satan snarling at each other like dogs.... Imps and fairy godmotbers trying to undo each other's work. How we try to pin the world between opposite extremes!

Far more than a mere fairy-tale, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister is a novel of beauty and betrayal, illusion and understanding, reminding us that deception can be unearthed--and love unveiled--in the most unexpected of places.

Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister: A Novel Specifications

Gregory Maguire's chilling, wonderful retelling of Cinderella is a study in contrasts. Love and hate, beauty and ugliness, cruelty and charity--each idea is stripped of its ethical trappings, smashed up against its opposite number, and laid bare for our examination. Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister begins in 17th-century Holland, where the two Fisher sisters and their mother have fled to escape a hostile England. Maguire's characters are at once more human and more fanciful than their fairy-tale originals. Plain but smart Iris and her sister, Ruth, a hulking simpleton, are dazed and terrified as their mother, Margarethe, urges them into the strange Dutch streets. Within days, purposeful Margarethe has secured the family a place in the home of an aspiring painter, where for a short time, they find happiness.

But this is Cinderella, after all, and tragedy is inevitable. When a wealthy tulip speculator commissions the painter to capture his blindingly lovely daughter, Clara, on canvas, Margarethe jumps at the chance to better their lot. "Give me room to cast my eel spear, and let follow what may," she crows, and the Fisher family abandons the artist for the upper-crust Van den Meers.

When Van den Meer's wife dies during childbirth, the stage is set for Margarethe to take over the household and for Clara to adopt the role of "Cinderling" in order to survive. What follows is a changeling adventure, and of course a ball, a handsome prince, a lost slipper, and what might even be a fairy godmother. In a single magic night, the exquisite and the ugly swirl around in a heated mix:

Everything about this moment hovers, trembles, all their sweet, unreasonable hopes on view before anything has had the chance to go wrong. A stepsister spins on black and white tiles, in glass slippers and a gold gown, and two stepsisters watch with unrelieved admiration. The light pours in, strengthening in its golden hue as the sun sinks and the evening approaches. Clara is as otherworldly as the Donkeywoman, the Girl-Boy. Extreme beauty is an affliction...

But beyond these familiar elements, Maguire's second novel becomes something else altogether--a morality play, a psychological study, a feminist manifesto, or perhaps a plain explanation of what it is to be human. Villains turn out to be heroes, and heroes disappoint. The story's narrator wryly observes, "In the lives of children, pumpkins can turn into coaches, mice and rats into human beings. When we grow up, we learn that it's far more common for human beings to turn into rats." --Therese Littleton

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jul 17, 2010 21:25:05

Check Out Beyond the Highland Mist (Highlander) for $39.25

2010-07-16T14:14:00.001-07:00

Beyond the Highland Mist (Highlander) Review

Hot!!!

Rachel Morgan, witch and bounty hunter with the Inderland Runner Services, is one of the best at apprehending supernatural lawbreakers throughout Cincinnati, but when it comes to following the rules, she falls desperately short. Determined to buck the system, she quits and takes off on the run with an I.S. contract on her head and is reluctantly forced to team up with Ivy, Inderland's best runner . . . and a living vampire. But this witch is way out of her league, and to clear her name, Rachel must evade shape-changing assassins, outwit a powerful businessman/crime lord, and survive a vicious underground fight-to-the-death . . . not to mention her own roommate.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jul 14, 2010 13:10:06

Great Price for $20.98

2010-07-13T09:35:00.001-07:00

Lord of the Rings, the Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

Of course I will not regurgitate the sweet plot of J.R.R. Tolkien's great novels, The Lord of the Rings. If there's any criticism it's that the volume does not have The Hobbit, but that's a minor quibble.

But why get this book?

Unlike the little paperbacks, this thick volume not only has all three books into one volume, it has large type and holds easily in the hands. After you have visited the Two Towers and have scoured the Shire, it's time to dive into the Appendices.

Wow, this a great! Tolkien clearly put a lot of work into creating this world of fantasy. We have the legends and history and lore of Middle Earth, starting with the Annals of the Kings and Rulers, the Numenorean Kings, the Heirs of Isildur and the Kings of the Mark (and so on, and so on).

Drooling yet?

There is a chronology of events in the later appendices which makes a reread of the stories make more sense (at least for me). A brief mention of The First Age, the dark years of the Second Age, and a thorough working of the Third Age -- it's as if this world actually existed, complete with its own history and events.

Turn the page and observe the genealogy of the Baggins of Hobbiton, Brandybuck of Buckland, what a Shire Calendar looks like and how to work out the dates, the pronunciation of words and names, writings and spelling. Heck, learn the "Feanorian" alphabet!

A complete index of all three novels, including the songs and verses, the first lines of the songs and verses, references for all persons, beasts and monsters and so on.

You get the idea. Extensive!

The book was printed at the time of the Peter Jackson films and so will have photos and the New Line Cinema logo on the cover.

Reread Tolkien's masterpiece all in one easy-to-read volume.

Recommended!

Lord of the Rings, the Overview

All three parts of the epic masterpiece 'The Lord of the Rings' in one paperback. Features brand new packaging, the definitive edition of the text, fold-out flaps with the original two-colour maps, and a revised and expanded index. Sauron, the Dark Lord, has gathered to him all the Rings of Power -- the means by which he intends to rule Middle-earth. All he lacks in his plans for dominion is the One Ring -- the ring that rules them all -- which has fallen into the hands of the hobbit, Bilbo Baggins. In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo Baggins finds himself faced with an immense task, as the Ring is entrusted to his care. He must leave his home and make a perilous journey across the realms of Middle-earth to the Crack of Doom, deep inside the territories of the Dark Lord. There he must destroy the Ring forever and foil the Dark Lord in his evil purpose. Since it was first published in 1954, 'The Lord of the Rings' has been a book people have treasured. Steeped in unrivalled magic and otherworldliness, its sweeping fantasy has touched the hearts of young and old alike. Now, to coincide with the publication of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Children of Hurin, the definitive 50th Anniversary text, fully restored with almost 400 corrections -- with the full co-operation of Christopher Tolkien -- is reissued with a striking new cover.

Lord of the Rings, the Specifications

A Christian can almost be forgiven for not reading the Bible, but there's no salvation for a fantasy fan who hasn't read the gospel of the genre, J.R.R. Tolkien's definitive three-book epic, the Lord of the Rings (encompassing The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King), and its charming precursor, The Hobbit. That many (if not most) fantasy works are in some way derivative of Tolkien is understood, but the influence of the Lord of the Rings is so universal that everybody from George Lucas to Led Zeppelin has appropriated it for one purpose or another.

Not just revolutionary because it was groundbreaking, the Lord of the Rings is timeless because it's the product of a truly top-shelf mind. Tolkien was a distinguished linguist and Oxford scholar of dead languages, with strong ideas about the importance of myth and story and a deep appreciation of nature. His epic, 10 years in the making, recounts the Great War of the Ring and the closing of Middle-Earth's Third Age, a time when magic begins to fade from the world and men rise to dominance. Tolkien carefully details this transition with tremendous skill and love, creating in the Lord of the Rings a universal and all-embracing tale, a justly celebrated classic. --Paul Hughes

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jul 13, 2010 12:40:06

Great Price for

2010-07-12T09:30:00.001-07:00

Dark Tower 4-book Boxed Set Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

I have been searching for this Stephen King series for near eight years now, but never found it in a boxed set. Where I live books are also exorbitantly priced. I would have easily paid 500 to 800 dollars (roughly 76 to 123 US Dollars)for this set and even more for the entire set. I am very happy with this product---an item I am proud to have bought online.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jul 12, 2010 12:35:06

Great Price for $29.95

2010-07-11T07:05:00.001-07:00

Alice in Wonderland Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

Almost everyone knows the classic tale of Alice in Wonderland. They've either read the book or seen the movies but none of the former publications quite bring Lewis Carroll's story to life like Camille Rose Garcia. The artwork in this story is fantastic! Every page pops and pertains to the scene being described in a nearly perfect fashion. After finishing this version I could not help wondering if I hadn't drifted off and visited wonderland myself.

Now, obviously the art is one reason to purchase this book but let's not forget the story itself. Carroll pushes the boundaries of reality, leaving the reader as well as the characters themselves to wonder if what they have experienced is real.

This is not your classic fairytale. There is a damsel in distress but she has to save herself. There are kings and queens but no princes to save the day. There is magic without spells and witches. There is life in everything from the animals to cards. There is chaos with a certain amount of order and a dose of fear.

The story itself is imaginative and one of the reasons I enjoy books so much. Carroll reveals to us the magic of imagination. Garcia takes this imagination and brings it to life, making it perfect for people of all ages. You've seen Alice, but never quite like this. You won't regret this purchase!

Alice in Wonderland Overview

A beautiful restoration of Steadman's 1968 edition.

The force of social satire and fantasy in the original text of Alice in Wonderland is as relevant today as when the novel was first published in 1865. This version of Carroll's classic tale is a startling departure from the traditional Victorian or Disney approaches. In his introduction, Ralph Steadman describes how a fresh illustrative perspective created an original, modern vision.

The irony and satire of Alice in Wonderland acquires new life with Steadman's audacious and dynamic illustrations. The 47 pen and ink illustrations from the critically acclaimed 1968 British edition are faithfully restored and reformatted. The energy, imagination and power of Steadman's pen introduces the wit and wisdom of Alice to a new generation of readers.

Alice in Wonderland Specifications

Source of legend and lyric, reference and conjecture, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is for most children pure pleasure in prose. While adults try to decipher Lewis Carroll's putative use of complex mathematical codes in the text, or debate his alleged use of opium, young readers simply dive with Alice through the rabbit hole, pursuing "The dream-child moving through a land / Of wonders wild and new." There they encounter the White Rabbit, the Queen of Hearts, the Mock Turtle, and the Mad Hatter, among a multitude of other characters--extinct, fantastical, and commonplace creatures. Alice journeys through this Wonderland, trying to fathom the meaning of her strange experiences. But they turn out to be "curiouser and curiouser," seemingly without moral or sense.

For more than 130 years, children have reveled in the delightfully non-moralistic, non-educational virtues of this classic. In fact, at every turn, Alice's new companions scoff at her traditional education. The Mock Turtle, for example, remarks that he took the "regular course" in school: Reeling, Writhing, and branches of Arithmetic-Ambition, Distraction, Uglification, and Derision. Carroll believed John Tenniel's illustrations were as important as his text. Naturally, Carroll's instincts were good; the masterful drawings are inextricably tied to the well-loved story. (All ages) --Emilie Coulter

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jul 11, 2010 10:10:04

Great Price for $11.90

2010-07-10T04:55:00.001-07:00

A Fistful of Charms (The Hollows, Book 4) Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

Fistful is probably the most 'streamlined' of the Hollows books to date (I know, I'm a bit late to the party!). While I enjoyed the previous three just as much, if not more in some cases, they tend to wander at times. Which is perfectly fine. While they have a central plot, many of the scenes are 'a day in the life of Rachael and her unusual assembly of friends', and it's great reading! Some of the day to day situations Harrison puts these colorful characters in are more entertaining than some books main plot by far.

Fistful does lean heavily on a central plot: Nick is in trouble. He stole an ancient artifact that could shift the power balance between weres and vamps in the hollows and cause a bloody war. Rachael, happy in her life but still fighting her own demons about how Nick seemingly left her high and dry decides that she's going to help out. There's one other thing that makes this even more personal for Vampiric Charms. Nick enlisted Jenks' oldest son, Jax to help out. Road trip for Rachael and Jenks! The run/rescue mission takes them up north, well out of the comfort zone of Cincinati.

There's plenty of action mixed in with some really great character development here as Rachael's inability to say no to a loved one (or ex loved one) has her crossing more lines than she ever thought possible. It's very engaging to see her work through her moral dilemmas, both with the type of magic she enlists to help people out of a bad situation as well as how she deals with a certain vampire who may want more than she can give. There are some scenes in the book that are truly heart wrenching.

This is really a great, action packed, thoughtful story. We learn a lot more about what makes Rachael tick, both good and bad. We see certain relationships moved forward on shaky ground and some come to unforeseen conclusions and all the while, Rachael is one mean runner, but is always entertaining and likable.

I'm excited to get into the next of the series to see what other surprises Harrison has in store for me. Four books in and so far so fun!

A Fistful of Charms (The Hollows, Book 4) Overview

The evil night things that prowl Cincinnati despise witch and bounty hunter Rachel Morgan. Her new reputation for the dark arts is turning human and undead heads alike with the intent to possess, bed, and kill her—not necessarily in that order.

Now a mortal lover who abandoned Rachel has returned, haunted by his secret past. And there are those who covet what Nick possesses—savage beasts willing to destroy the Hollows and everyone in it if necessary.

Forced to keep a low profile or eternally suffer the wrath of a vengeful demon, Rachel must nevertheless act quickly. For the pack is gathering for the first time in millennia to ravage and rule. And suddenly more than Rachel's soul is at stake.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jul 10, 2010 08:00:08

Check Out I, Alex Cross for $9.99

2010-07-09T02:25:00.001-07:00

I, Alex Cross Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

I couldn't put it down! If it weren't for the little things like work, home, kids, I would've finished it in 2 days. As it was, I did it in 3 and then read it again a few days ago. Don't hesitate, get it now! You'll love it!

I, Alex Cross Overview

THE #1 BESTSELLING BLOCKBUSTER

Can Alex Cross survive his most chilling - and personal - case ever? Pulled out of a family celebration, Detective Alex Cross gets awful news: A beloved relative has been found brutally murdered. Vowing to catch the killer, he quickly learns that she was mixed up in one of Washington, D.C.'s wildest scenes. And she was not this killer's only victim . . .

The hunt for the murderer leads Alex and his girlfriend, Detective Brianna Stone, to a place where every fantasy is possible, if you have the credentials to get in. Soon they confront some very important, very protected, and very dangerous people who will do anything to keep their secrets safe. As Alex closes in on the killer, he discovers evidence that points to the unimaginable - a revelation that could rock the entire world.

I, Alex Cross Specifications

James Patterson and Patricia Cornwell: Author One-on-One
In this Amazon exclusive, we brought together blockbuster authors James Patterson and Patricia Cornwell and asked them to interview each other. Find out what two of the top authors of their genres have to say about their characters, writing process, and more.

Patricia Cornwell is the former Director of Applied Forensic Science at the National Forensic Academy, and a member of the Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital's National Council, where she is an advocate for psychiatric research. She is the author of sixteen previous Kay Scarpetta mysteries, five non-Scarpetta novels (including At Risk), and Portrait of a Killer. Read on to see Patricia Cornwell's questions for James Patterson, or turn the tables to see what Patterson asked Cornwell.

Cornwell: James, your questions were so good, I'm going to ask you similar ones. Let's start with why you write? Do you love it or love having done it? What motivates you?

Patterson: I truly love writing. I sometimes think about my grandfather when I reflect on this. When I was a boy, I lived in a town on the Hudson River. During the summers, my grandfather would take me once a week on his frozen food and ice cream delivery route. We'd be up at four in the morning packing up the truck, and by five we'd be on our way. Driving a delivery truck isn't the most glamorous job in the world, but every morning, my grandfather would drive over the Storm King Mountain toward West Point, and he'd be singing at the top of his voice. And he told me this: "Jim," he said, "when you grow up, I don't care if you're a truck driver or a famous surgeon—just remember that when you go over the mountain to work in the morning, you've got to be singing." Writing stories keeps me singing. Writing to me isn't work, and I like that a ton.

Cornwell: What is your routine when you're facing your next novel? What is the process like for you, and what is your favorite part of it? Least favorite?

Patterson: I like to have a lot of ideas in the air at one time. I've got around 20 manuscripts sitting in my office right now, in some degree of completion. It's a lot of material, a lot of stories. My least favorite part? Hmm. Maybe sharpening pencils? Actually, I’ve always kind of liked sharpening pencils. I don’t mean to seem too over the top about this, but I really wouldn’t change any of it.

Cornwell: What do you and Alex Cross have in common? How are you different?

Patterson: We're both family-oriented guys. I think it's a real treat to be able to get along with your wife every day, which I do; my wife and I really have trouble being apart for very long. And I think readers will agree Alex is generally doing better in the romance department. One difference between us would be that I'm much more content to sit around and write. I think Alex would get a little bored on a "ride-along" with me.

Cornwell: What inspired you to create Alex Cross?

Patterson: Hardly anyone knows it but when I started the first Alex Cross novel, Alex was a woman named Alexis. After 100 pages or so, I changed the character to Alex. When I was a kid growing up, my grandparents had a small restaurant and the cook was an African-American woman who eventually moved into our house. All through my growing up period I spent a lot of time with this woman's family. They were funny, wise, the food was great, so was the music, and the family is at least part of the inspiration for the Crosses.

Cornwell: What's the one thing a reader has said that you've never forgotten and perhaps found startling?

Patterson: I'm sure you've had this, too, Patricia, but the one comment that gets me every time is hearing people say my books have them reading again. I know sometimes you and I get some heat for being as popular as we are, and are saddled with that old equation that says if you're a bestseller, you must be lowbrow. But I frankly don't think there’s anything more meaningful than hearing that I've turned a person back into a reader (or in the case of younger readers, got them started).

Cornwell: How about you? You're the one with all the movies! Good experience or not?

Patterson: Sounds like we're on the same page there, Patricia. I definitely feel like some past projects didn't quite live up to their potential. And I likewise have hopes for a couple of movies in the works: the third Alex Cross movie, and the very first Maximum Ride movie, which has Avi Arad (producer of Spider Man), Catherine Hardwicke (director of Twilight), and Don Payne (writer for The Simpsons) on board. There's also a very promising TV series based on a new book I've written that's being developed with CBS and Imagine.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jul 09, 2010 05:30:05

Great Price for $4.15

2010-07-07T11:45:00.001-07:00

Rosemary and Rue: An October Daye Novel Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

Rosemary & Rue is the first installment in the October Daye series- and what a fresh start! Dark, wicked and creative. The story begins with a prologue set in 1995, October "Toby" Daye is on a stake out. She's tracking a man who is believed to have kidnapped her liege's wife and daughter. Unfortunately for her, she is caught and subsequently turned into a Koi fish... flopping into a pond where she spends the next 14 years. She left behind a human who stole her heart, Cliff, and her daughter Gillian. Both refuse her when she returns all these years later... leaving her numb and willingly ready to avoid her life as a Changeling.

Our stubborn heroine is determined to live a life of loneliness, but fate has other plans for her. Her extremely old, powerful, pureblood fae frienemy has been slaughtered... And with her last dieing breath, she releases a curse that forces Toby to avenge her death or die trying. The curse throws her back into the world she has given up on- and she meets both old and new enemies, friends... fun, fae creatures. She's shot, beaten and even stabbed on her new adventure to find justice for her friend. Lucky for us, we get to watch first hand as she battles it out and finds the truth behind the gruesome murder. Now, I wasn't quite expecting the killer to be who it was- though others say they saw it coming from a mile away. Not sure if I should have admitted that ;) That being said, for me, the ending was solid.

Although I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I do have a couple complaints. I felt like I was getting information dumped on me and it was quite repetitive at times. Wordy. For some reason (the plot) I was able to over look this and love the book despite these "flaws" and just could not put it down. I grew tiresome of hearing how magic smelled by the end of the book. At the same time though, I wish the fae would have been given more in depth descriptions, rather than the magic or environment.

Now, what I truly loved about this book was the defeatist attitude that Toby sported at the start of the story. Slowly her attitude improves, we get to watch her evolve from a hurt, numb half-fae to someone who is looking forward to finding who she once was again. Her character had some depth, but was hard to relate to. Blame this on the wordiness of the text. The next books to come are sure to have less information dumping, so I look forward to relating more with Toby then. (Don't get me wrong- She was likable!)

This book was packed to the brim with world building. It did cause minor distraction from the plot, but it was entertaining. Seanan did a beautiful job, and I can't wait to read the next installments! Strongly recommend this book to those that love the Fae and Urban Fantasy.

Rosemary and Rue: An October Daye Novel Feature

ISBN13: 9780756405717
Condition: NEW
Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Rosemary and Rue: An October Daye Novel Overview

October "Toby" Daye, a changeling who is half human and half fae, has been an outsider from birth. After getting burned by both sides of her heritage, Toby has denied the Faerie world, retreating to a "normal" life. Unfortunately for her, the Faerie world has other ideas...

The murder of Countess Evening Winterrose pulls Toby back into the fae world. Unable to resist Evening's dying curse, which binds her to investigate, Toby must resume her former position as knight errant and renew old alliances. As she steps back into fae society, dealing with a cast of characters not entirely good or evil, she realizes that more than her own life will be forfeited if she cannot find Evening's killer.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jul 07, 2010 14:50:07

Great Price for $9.88

2010-07-06T11:35:00.001-07:00

Green (The Circle Series) Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

Thomas Hunter has saved Earth from a deadly virus and fended off the Horde. Thomas no longer dreams, but this does not mean there are not events happening in the Earth world that will gravely impact Thomas' forest world. Though unaware of the coming events on Earth, Thomas suspects there is a war fast approaching. His beloved son has created turmoil and unrest throughout the Forest people. Thomas must find a way to bring his people together again and save not only his son but the future of the Forest. With multiple betrayals, this task will be the ultimate challenge.

Ted Dekker does it again. His final chapter in the Circle series will have the reader turning pages long into the night. The suspense enthralls the reader to continue the journey through unsuspecting turns and astonishing twists. There are a few new characters introduced while other absent characters return. Green is not only the sequel to the series but the prequel as well. In addition, Dekker does a fabulous job of weaving in connecting series' such as The Paradise series and The Lost Books series. It was a fabulous end, or beginning depending on how you view it, to a most-engaging series.

Green (The Circle Series) Feature

ISBN13: 9781595546821
Condition: NEW
Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Green (The Circle Series) Overview

As foretold by ancient prophets, an apocalypse destroyed Earth during the twenty-first century. But two thousand years later Elyon set upon the earth a new Adam. This time, however, he gave humanity an advantage. What was once unseen became seen. It was good and it was called...Green.

But the evil Teeleh bided his time in a Black Forest. Then, when least expected, a twenty-four year old named Thomas Hunter fell asleep in our world and woke up in that future Black Forest. A gateway was opened for Teeleh to ravage the land. Devastated by the ruin, Thomas Hunter and his Circle swore to fight the dark scourge until their dying death.

That was then. Now the Circle has lost all hope. And Samuel, Thomas Hunter's cherished son, has turned his back on his father and is aligning dark forces to wage the final war. Thomas is crushed--but determined to rescue the Circle and his son even if he has to cross two worlds to do so.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jul 06, 2010 14:40:06

Check Out Full Moon Rising (Riley Jensen, Guardian, Book 1) for $3.98

2010-07-05T11:15:00.001-07:00

Full Moon Rising (Riley Jensen, Guardian, Book 1) Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

I like strong heroines, lots of action, multiple subplots, character development, a good storyline, and compelling writing; and this book fulfills. Riley Jensen is a powerful personality, whose paranormal abilities are only beginning to surface. She is being courted by her twin brother's, Rhoan, covert agency to be a guardian and she is resisting those overtures. The disappearance of her brother, though, causes her to forge an uneasy alliance with the agency in order to rescue her brother.

A lot of reviewers complain about the amount of sex and the rape scene, but, Riley's drive to have sex at the full moon phase is secondary to the plot other than it nearly defeats her ability to solve her brother's disappearance and the larger threat behind it. The book also sets up a future love interest for Riley in the form of the vampire Quinn; and, it's clear that Riley could easily be monogamous if Quinn were only able to set aside his distrust of werewolves caused by previous betrayals of the lupi kind.

I loved this book so much so that I ordered all the rest of the books in the series. I can't wait to see where Riley goes as her character and skills develop.

Full Moon Rising (Riley Jensen, Guardian, Book 1) Feature

ISBN13: 9780553588453
Condition: NEW
Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Full Moon Rising (Riley Jensen, Guardian, Book 1) Overview

In this exciting debut, author Keri Arthur explodes onto the supernatural scene with a sexy, sensuous tale of intrigue and suspense set in a world where legends walk and the shady paths of the underworld are far more sinister than anyone envisioned.

A rare hybrid of vampire and werewolf, Riley Jenson and her twin brother, Rhoan, work for Melbourne’s Directorate of Other Races, an organization created to police the supernatural races–and protect humans from their depredations. While Rhoan is an exalted guardian, a.k.a. assassin, Riley is merely an office worker–until her brother goes missing on one of his missions. The timing couldn’t be worse. More werewolf than vampire, Riley is vulnerable to the moon heat, the weeklong period before the full moon, when her need to mate becomes all-consuming.…

Luckily Riley has two willing partners to satisfy her every need. But she will have to control her urges if she’s going to find her brother….Easier said than done as the city pulses with frenzied desire, and Riley is confronted with a very powerful–and delectably naked–vamp who raises her temperature like never before.

In matters carnal, Riley has met her match. But in matters criminal, she must follow her instincts not only to find her brother but to stop an unholy harvest. For someone is doing some shifty cloning in an attempt to produce the ultimate warrior–by tapping into the genome of nonhumans like Rhoan. Now Riley knows just how dangerous the world is for her kind–and just how much it needs her.

From the Hardcover edition.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jul 05, 2010 14:20:08

Great Price for $8.53

2010-07-04T10:30:00.001-07:00

I'll Be Slaying You Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

There are vampires, demons, and shifters among us and the bounty hunters at Night Watch try their best to keep them in line. Sandra "Dee" Daniels is one of the best that work for the agency. She also happens to be a human with a violent bloody past that she can thank vampires for. She is exceptionally good at taking down the creatures of the night and when there is word that a Born vampire, the most powerful of its kind, is in town, Dee doesn't hesitate to take the case.

Simon Chase is new to the streets of Banton Rouge and has his eye set on Dee. The man is tall, well built, handsome and has a dark side that if revealed too early to Dee, may send her running. While there is a definite attraction and sexual spark between the two, Simon has another reason to stay close to Dee. He has learned a secret about Dee that she isn't even aware of and could be the key to taking down the evil that is after them both.

My opinion of Dee has changed since she first appeared in Eternal Hunter. I felt as if she tried too hard in the first book to come off as tough. She is a human who works with shapeshifters and demons (plus whatever else is employed at Night Watch) so I understand the need to not want to be seen as weak but I thought it was too much at first. In I'll Be Slaying You, her character developed into someone I actually enjoyed reading. Walls have been put up around her and her emotions since she was young. She isn't heartless just on her guard at all times.

I like several things about Simon Chase's character (the fact that he is gorgeous is one) which includes the way he breaks through Dee's defenses. Dee was letting what happened to her years ago rule her life today but then Simon came in and showed her she wasn't alone. Am I saying he came in and made everything better? No. He just made it more bearable and started helping her move forward.

The story itself was interesting with a few twists but nothing that caught me by too much surprise. Chase's real identity was easy to figure out and what I think was supposed to be a huge shock involving Dee, I figured it out at the end of Eternal Hunter because of something Jude, shapeshifter and main character of the book, said about Dee involving her appearance. Although, I didn't expect how deep it really went. I did like how more light was shed on vampires. They are my favorite paranormal creatures so I liked learning more about their part in the Other world.

Jude and Zane, who were my two favorites from the first book, return. How could I not like two strong, attractive, and loyal males? A character I didn't care for was Catalina. When things got rough she wanted to just run away and hide. She is a friend of Dee and Zane's (not sure about Jude) and while I think they would have done whatever they could and more for her, she would only be willing to go so far for them. A person I would like to know more about is Jason Pak. He is the head of Night Watch and is wrapped in mystery. I guess that can also be the appeal of him.

I'll Be Slaying You is a fun, fast passed read that I didn't want to put down. The story isn't overly complicated or complex but there is still depth to it that keeps your interest and makes you want to read and learn more about these characters and their world. I look forward to continuing the Night Watch series with Eternal Flame, which will be released on November 30th.

I'll Be Slaying You Feature

ISBN13: 9780758234308
Condition: NEW
Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

I'll Be Slaying You Overview

Cynthia Eden returns to the realm of the Other, where the supernatural bounty hunters of Night Watch work hard and play harder...

Sandra "Dee" Daniels is a vampire's worst nightmare. Sure, she couldn't get up to five-six in the highest heels money can buy--not that she ever wears heels. But the monsters in her past and the stake in her boot are enough to keep most bloodsuckers interested in staying undead out of Baton Rouge.

But there are changes afoot on her turf. Rumors of a Born Master in town--a vampire so powerful he can make the streets run with blood. And a new face in Dee's dive bars and alleyways--Simon Chase, a strong, sexy shadow with a haunted past of his own. Simon knows a lot about the dark side of Dee's work. He knows even more about how to make her body spark with desire. But the hot lust shimmering between them is only the beginning. Because Simon also knows a secret that will change Dee's life--if she can live long enough to uncover it.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jul 04, 2010 13:35:05

Check Out Covet (Fallen Angels, Book 1) for $3.98

2010-07-03T09:05:00.001-07:00

Covet (Fallen Angels, Book 1) Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

I am in love with all the Brothers and was hesitant to pick this one up because I was afraid I would hate it for not being about the Brothers. I loved it. It's definitely dark and the characters take some getting used to but I found myself really caring about them. I think that as the series goes on we'll all like the first book more and more. Looking back, I like each of the previous Brother's books better as continue with the series.
I had not problem with Vin or Jim. I thought Jim was really funny and his taking in Dog felt realistic, which made me like him even more. My real concern, when I started reading, was about how I would feel about Marie-Terese. I wasn't sure if I could connect with her but I did. I cared about her and Vin and that kept me hooked. My point is, it's not the Black Dagger Brotherhood, it is something different but with the flavor of BDB that caught and kept my interest. I really liked this book and can't wait for the next one.

Covet (Fallen Angels, Book 1) Feature

ISBN13: 9780451228215
Condition: NEW
Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Covet (Fallen Angels, Book 1) Overview

Redemption isn't a word Jim Heron knows much about-his specialty is revenge, and to him, sin is all relative. But everything changes when he becomes a fallen angel and is charge with saving the souls of seven people from the seven deadly sins. And failure is not an option. Vin DiPietro long ago sold his soul to his business, and he's good with that-until fate intervenes in the form of a tough- talking, Harley-riding, self-professed savior. But then he meets a woman who will make him question his destiny, his sanity, and his heart-and he has to work with a fallen angel to win her over and redeem his own soul.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jul 03, 2010 12:10:05

Great Price for $12.85

2010-07-02T09:00:00.001-07:00

Silver Borne (Mercy Thompson, Book 5) Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

Ahhhhhh. here is what others have missed. A warm love story that charms with a kiss on the head rather than metaphysical garvage, I hope that Sam and Ariana will be in future stories and I hope Charles and Bran will once again have their day. Read it through on Kindle in one sitting - something you just can't put down!

Silver Borne (Mercy Thompson, Book 5) Feature

ISBN13: 9780441018192
Condition: NEW
Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Silver Borne (Mercy Thompson, Book 5) Overview

All-new action in the #1 New York Times bestselling urban fantasy series

When mechanic and shapeshifter Mercy Thompson attempts to return a powerful Fae book she'd previously borrowed in an act of desperation, she finds the bookstore locked up and closed down.

It seems the book contains secret knowledge-and the Fae will do just about anything to keep it out of the wrong hands. And if that doesn't take enough of Mercy's attention, her friend Samuel is struggling with his wolf side-leaving Mercy to cover for him, lest his own father declare Sam's life forfeit.

All in all, Mercy has had better days. And if she isn't careful, she might not have many more to live...

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jul 02, 2010 12:05:05

Special Price Here

Cat's Cradle is completely amazing. One of Vonnegut's best. Plenty of other reviews will tell you that, though. Just make sure you buy the right edition. As you may have noticed, there are two editions available in the Kindle store- one published by "Rosetta Books" for .19 (the first search result for "Cat's Cradle" in the store with an orange and white cover) and one for .59 (the third result with a blue cover and a picture of a bird cage). While I'm sure any sane person would buy the cheaper edition anyway, if you accidentally buy the more expensive edition like I did you will be thoroughly annoyed. For some reason, when a quotation mark appears mid-line the space before it is deleted and a space after it is added. For example:

We had locked "Papa's" door
appears as
We had locked" Papa's" door

While it's easy to figure out most of the time, if you're not paying terribly close attention or if a line is continued from a previous page, it can be hard to tell whether a quote is beginning or ending.

I called customer service and they sorted it out immediately, refunding my money and allowing me to purchase the cheaper, less flawed edition. Service was great, but I didn't realize there was another edition until I was 87% through the book. It wasn't the end of the world, but watch out. I wouldn't download anything else Rosetta Books either.

In conclusion, buy the cheaper version. You won't be disappointed. Cat's Cradle is great, especially if you're a Vonnegut enthusiast already.

Cat's Cradle: A Novel Feature

ISBN13: 9780385333481
Condition: NEW
Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Cat's Cradle: A Novel Overview

One of Vonnegut's major works, this is an apocalyptic tale of the planet's ultimate fate, featuring a cast of unlikely heroes.

Cat's Cradle: A Novel Specifications

Cat's Cradle, one of Vonnegut's most entertaining novels, is filled with scientists and G-men and even ordinary folks caught up in the game. These assorted characters chase each other around in search of the world's most important and dangerous substance, a new form of ice that freezes at room temperature. At one time, this novel could probably be found on the bookshelf of every college kid in America; it's still a fabulous read and a great place to start if you're young enough to have missed the first Vonnegut craze.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jun 28, 2010 10:00:06

Great Price for $3.98

2010-06-27T06:46:00.001-07:00

Mass Effect: Ascension Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

**MINOR NONSPECIFIC SPOILERS**

Drew Karpyshyn, author of Baldur's Gate II: The Throne Of Bhaal, and contributing author to a number of Bioware games has given us his second 'prequil' novel with Mass Effect: Ascension. This book has definitely highlighted his growing strength as an author, and while it strongly supports fans of the Mass Effect games, it really stands alone well, even more so than Mass Effect: Revelation. This book is a fantastic sci-fi read with action, adventure, romance, and with a psychological twist or two to satisfy nearly every sci-fi need.

Well, come to think of it, I do have some sci-fi needs left unsatisfied... but this book was very good. Ascension derives its goodness in part from building on the universe created for the Bioware series of games, Mass Effect. Two things stand out developmentally wise: species and element development.

As far as species development is concerned, the Quarians receive a little fleshing out in this tale. Tali, a prime Quarian character in the first video game, has gained a rather substantial following, and the mysteries of her race leave a lot of intriguing questions. A few of those questions are answered in the telling of this tale, and this ads a lot to the flavor.

Secondly, biotics, an element introduced as a foundation of the Mass Effect universe, finds development in some unusual ways. We get a chance to ponder, what makes a biotic powerful? Can genetic tampering enhance the natural biotic ability? Can the true potential of biotics only be tapped through training? How does the psychology of the subject come into play?

Ad in some elements of autism and drug abuse for flavor and you get the story. Intriguing, poignant, and exciting.

This story continues the tale of characters from the first prequil, introduces some new characters, and introduces one of the major characters in Mass Effect 2. The story itself is really good, and I found the book hard to put down from beginning to end. Suffice it to say, anyone familiar with the mass effect universe will like this story, and those who are not will get great enjoyment from it too.

Highly recommended.

Mass Effect: Ascension Feature

ISBN13: 9780345498526
Condition: NEW
Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Mass Effect: Ascension Overview

When they vanished fifty thousand years ago, the Protheans left their advanced technology scattered throughout the galaxy. The chance discovery of a Prothean cache on Mars allows humanity to join those already reaping the rewards of the ancients’ high-tech wizardry. But for one rogue militia, the goal is not participation but domination.

Scientist Kahlee Sanders has left the Systems Alliance for the Ascension Project, a program that helps gifted “biotic” children harness their extraordinary powers. The program’s most promising student is twelve-year-old Gillian Grayson, who is borderline autistic. What Kahlee doesn’t know is that Gillian is an unwitting pawn of the outlawed black ops group Cerberus, which is sabotaging the program by conducting illegal experiments on the students.

When the Cerberus plot is exposed, Gillian’s father takes her away from the Ascension Project and flees into the lawless Terminus Systems. Determined to protect Gillian, Kahlee goes with them… unaware that the elder Grayson is, in fact, a Cerberus operative. To rescue the young girl Kahlee must travel to the farthest ends of the galaxy, battling fierce enemies and impossible odds. But how will she be able to save a daughter from her own father?

This novel is based on a Mature-rated video game.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jun 27, 2010 09:50:05

Check Out Pandemonium for $8.13

2010-06-26T05:56:00.001-07:00

Pandemonium Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

This weeks issue of the New Yorker, a magazine I love, was their fiction issue, populated almost entirely by literary short stories. I didn't like a single one and in general I'm not a fan of the New Yorker's fiction. One of the hallmarks of literary fiction is supposed to be character. What is missing so often is a plot that drives the story forward. Pandemonium has both character and plot, mixed together in a somewhat strange novel by an author who seems to be a Philip K. Dick fan.

Pandemonium is written in the first person. I found the narrator, Del, somewhat sweet and sympathetic. He's struggling through a life that has dealt him a difficult hand. He has a devoted brother, Lew who loves him. Del is a bit of a loser. At one point in the book he says that the plot of his life is that Lew is supposed to be the brother who is successful while Del is the screw-up. Yet it is hard to hold this against Del because he's plagued by Demons.

The world of Pandemonium is very similar to ours, but the presence of Demons has altered the history, which is alluded to tangentially in the plot. There are, indeed, strange plot twists. Some reviewers have objected to these. Although we don't live in a world of demons, it's still a pretty strange world. The novel just throws demons into the mix. Given our world of people who claim, despite all evidence to the contrary, that President Obama was not born in the United States, I don't find some of the plot twists too much of a stretch, with the obvious exception of demons (then again, do we really know that Dick Cheney is of this world?)

About two thirds of the way through the novel, just as the Del, the narrator, starts to understand the underlying shape of his world, I did too. Yet the author does not do what many authors of similar novels do and come up with a happily ever after ending where everything is neatly wrapped up. This is one of those novels that I am still thinking of a day or two after I read it.

Pandemonium Feature

ISBN13: 9780345501165
Condition: NEW
Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Pandemonium Overview

It is a world like our own in every respect . . . save one. In the 1950s, random acts of possession begin to occur. Ordinary men, women, and children are the targets of entities that seem to spring from the depths of the collective unconscious, pop-cultural avatars some call demons. There’s the Truth, implacable avenger of falsehood. The Captain, brave and self-sacrificing soldier. The Little Angel, whose kiss brings death, whether desired or not. And a string of others, ranging from the bizarre to the benign to the horrific.

As a boy, Del Pierce is possessed by the Hellion, an entity whose mischief-making can be deadly. With the help of Del’s family and a caring psychiatrist, the demon is exorcised . . . or is it? Years later, following a car accident, the Hellion is back, trapped inside Del’s head and clamoring to get out.

Del’s quest for help leads him to Valis, an entity possessing the science fiction writer formerly known as Philip K. Dick; to Mother Mariette, a nun who inspires decidedly unchaste feelings; and to the Human League, a secret society devoted to the extermination of demons. All believe that Del holds the key to the plague of possession–and its solution. But for Del, the cure may be worse than the disease.

“Look out, Lethem! Daryl Gregory mixes pop culture and pathos, flavoring it with Philip K. Dick. Pandemonium possesses every quality you want in a great novel, and the good news is it’s only his debut.”
–Charles Coleman Finlay, Hugo and Nebula Award-nominated author of The Prodigal Troll

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jun 26, 2010 09:00:06

Check Out Shadowfever (Mackayla Lane) for $15.60

2010-06-25T04:56:00.001-07:00

Shadowfever (Mackayla Lane) Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

Shadowfever (Mackayla Lane) Overview

In Dreamfever, Karen Marie Moning has left listeners with the most heart-stopping cliff-hanger to date. Shadowfever will answer all the questions fans have been dying to know in the final chapter of MacKayla Lane's shockingly suspenseful and deeply satisfying adventure.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jun 25, 2010 08:00:05

Great Price for $5.79

2010-06-24T04:46:00.001-07:00

Black Cross Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

Black Cross is a great read for anyone who enjoys a historical novel. Iles takes us back to World War II and into the gambler's quandary of whether nerve gas will be used against Allied soldiers during the D-Day invasion. This critical unknown forces a two-layer clandestine mission to bluff the Nazis into thinking that the Allies have equally dangerous equipment and no qualms about using them. The bluff is designed to scare the Nazis out of using their nerve gas on the Allies. Multiple personal stories weave together to create a tense pace throughout most of the story. The characters of the book that Iles creates (some of whom were real personalities) are still crystal clear in my mind; several months after the first read. Their human qualities, uneven emotions, and conflicted decisions are very real and the reader can sympathize with all of them. Black Cross has all the elements of a great mystery and action novel. It would be a great movie, but Hollywood may kill the plot and only focus on the action. Read and enjoy!

Black Cross Overview

It is January 1944 — and as Allied troops prepare for D-day, Nazi scientists develop a toxic nerve gas that will repel and wipe out any invasion force. To salvage the planned assault, two vastly different but equally determined men are sent to infiltrate the secret concentration camp where the poison gas is being perfected on human subjects. Their only objective: Destroy all traces of the gas and the men who created it — no matter how many lives may be lost...including their own.

“Stunning....From the very first page, Greg Iles takes his readers on an emotional roller-coaster ride, juxtaposing tension-filled action scenes, horrifying depictions of savage cruelty, and heart-stopping descriptions of sacrifice and bravery. A remarkable story from a remarkable writer.” — Booklist

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jun 24, 2010 07:50:06

Great Price for $4.30

2010-06-23T04:36:00.001-07:00

Altered Carbon: A Takeshi Kovacs Novel (Takeshi Kovacs Novels) Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

I can't really say anything about this book that hasn't already been said. Several of these reviews outline the plot and Morgan's unique ideas with much more detail and class than I'm willing to invest. Basically, I'm just writing this review to push you over the edge and make you click the ORDER button.

If you think smart*** John McClain of the DIE HARD movies would make for an ideal private detective in some distant future, READ THIS BOOK. If you like your sci-fi gritty and raw, READ THIS BOOK. If you've ever thought it would be cool to download your entire psyche into a different body (or bodies, as the case may be), READ THIS BOOK. If you like the idea of a classic "who done it" turned on its ear, READ THIS BOOK.

By far the best of the Kovacs series, this book is a fairly dark, completely disrespectful, and (frequently) thought-provoking read.

READ IT!

Altered Carbon: A Takeshi Kovacs Novel (Takeshi Kovacs Novels) Feature

ISBN13: 9780345457691
Condition: NEW
Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Altered Carbon: A Takeshi Kovacs Novel (Takeshi Kovacs Novels) Overview

In the twenty-fifth century, humankind has spread throughout the galaxy, monitored by the watchful eye of the U.N. While divisions in race, religion, and class still exist, advances in technology have redefined life itself. Now, assuming one can afford the expensive procedure, a person’s consciousness can be stored in a cortical stack at the base of the brain and easily downloaded into a new body (or “sleeve”) making death nothing more than a minor blip on a screen.

Ex-U.N. envoy Takeshi Kovacs has been killed before, but his last death was particularly painful. Dispatched one hundred eighty light-years from home, re-sleeved into a body in Bay City (formerly San Francisco, now with a rusted, dilapidated Golden Gate Bridge), Kovacs is thrown into the dark heart of a shady, far-reaching conspiracy that is vicious even by the standards of a society that treats “existence” as something that can be bought and sold. For Kovacs, the shell that blew a hole in his chest was only the beginning. . . .

From the Trade Paperback edition.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jun 23, 2010 07:40:05

Check Out Brisingr

2010-06-21T14:51:00.001-07:00

Brisingr Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

Hey.I cant believe this was written by a 15 yr old!Whne i read this I was like,WOW!It was well written and seemed like it was written by someone who had YEARS of experience.Im homeschooled and during my free time,which is all the time since im a couple of grades advanced,I write stories.At first I thought this is going to be hopeless,then I thought if paolini can do it I can do it. I mean he was 15 and now im 15 and almost graduating highschool i can do it! So CP you inspired me.Thanks for showing to the world that it doesnt matter what age you are,if you try,you can do anything.BTW: literature class is awesome!bkluver:)phillippines

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jun 21, 2010 17:55:05

Great Price for $5.99

2010-06-20T13:51:00.001-07:00

Goddess of the Sea (Goddess Summoning, Book 1) Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

Well, This one did. I'm still crying at the moment. Darn it! But it's a beautiful story. I didn't want it to end. So now I have to go out and buy the other ones. Well pooh! But on the bright side, I get to go read a bunch more. Yay.

Other reviewers have done such a beautiful job of telling about this story, that I won't bother. Except to say, read this if, like me, every once in a while you just love a good cry. Just do it when you're not surrounded by teenage sons and husband who looks at you like you're a doofus for crying over a book.

Goddess of the Sea (Goddess Summoning, Book 1) Feature

ISBN13: 9780425226889
Condition: USED - VERY GOOD
Notes:

The 12th Planet (Book I) (The First Book of the Earth Chronicles) Feature

ISBN13: 9780939680887
Condition: NEW
Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

The 12th Planet (Book I) (The First Book of the Earth Chronicles) Overview

Over the years, startling evidence has been unearthed, challenging established notions of the origins of Earth and life on it, and suggesting the existence of a superior race of beings who once inhabited our world. The product of thirty years of intensive research, The 12th Planet is the first book in Zecharia Sitchin's prophetic Earth Chronicles series--a revolutionary body of work that offers indisputable documentary proof of humanity's extraterrestrial forefathers. Travelers from the stars, they arrived eons ago, and planted the genetic seed that would ultimately blossom into a remarkable species...called Man.

The 12th Planet brings to life the Sumerian civilization, presenting millennia-old evidence of the existence of Nibiru, the home planet of the Anunnaki, and of the landings of the Anunnaki on Earth every 3,600 years, and reveals a complete history of the solar system as told by these early visitors from another planet.

Zecharia Sitchin's Earth Chronicles series, with millions of copies sold worldwide, deal with the history and prehistory of Earth and humankind. Each book in the series is based upon information written on clay tablets by the ancient civilizations of the Near East. The series is offered here, for the first time, in highly readable, hardbound collector's editions with enhanced maps and diagrams.

The 12th Planet (Book I) (The First Book of the Earth Chronicles) Specifications

Zecharia Sitchen's The 12th Planet is the starting point on a quest that spans six books and 20 years worth of ancient aliens, genetic manipulation, and scrutiny of linguistic minutiae. If we trust Sitchen's translation abilities, we must be prepared for the imminent return of an alien race who created us some 300,0x00 years ago. The 12th Planet is perhaps the best written of Sitchin's Earth Chronicles series; full of example after example of ancient Sumerian passages, astronomical observations, archaeological finds, and technological coincidences supporting his theories. The price we pay for all this evidence is a bit of a dry read at times, but the ideas Sitchin proposes are more than scintillating enough to make up for the overtly scholastic tone of his text. --Brian Patterson

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jun 17, 2010 16:30:05

Great Price for

2010-06-16T12:11:00.001-07:00

Horror Stories Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

I enjoyed this collection of horror stories. Some of the stories verged more into the territory of "torture porn" than classic horror, but were enjoyable nonetheless. The Santa Claus story was incredibly clever and definitely worth a read. It does appear, however, that the book was rushed. There's a couple of typos and grammatical errors. At one point, it appears that a note from a reviewer or editor still remains in the story. I think if the copy were cleaned up a bit, I'd give the book another half a star.

If you've enjoyed other Kilborn/Konrath stories (many of which I read from the author's website some time ago) and have a stomach for gore, torture and squirmy situations, you'll enjoy these stories.

Horror Stories Overview

This collection features a menagerie of horror stories. Some are scary. Some are disturbing. Some are funny. Meet werewolves, vampires, zombies, psychopaths, aliens, cannibals, ghosts, and various things that go bump in the night.

Previously published in dozens of anthologies and magazines, some of these tales are mild, but some are extreme. Let the reader beware...

The twenty-six stories include:

Finicky Eater - It's after a nuclear war, and a mother and her son are in a fallout shelter, the food long long...

The Screaming - Van Helsing and vampires, in 1960s England.

Mr. Pull Ups - A body modification tale taken to the extreme.

The Shed - Two burglars find the door to hell.

Them’s Good Eats - Rednecks vs. aliens, on a spaceship ride of horrors.

First Time - A coming of age tale where all may not be what it seems.

Forgiveness - A dying serial killer asks for a priest to hear his last confession.

Redux - Ghost story noir, about a private eye and a deadly haunting.

The Bag - What's in the bag? You really don't want to know...

Careful, He Bites - Lycanthrope flash fiction.

Symbios - A sci-fi novella about man's first encounter with alien life, and how things can quickly turn bad.

A Matter of Taste - Zombie flash fiction.

Embrace - A bit of gothic horror.

Trailer Sucks - Some trailer park jerks kidnap a vampire.

Markey - Flash fiction, from a twisted point of view.

Punishment Room - A horrific suspense tale about a not-so-distant future.

The Confession - Terrible crimes, told entirely in dialog.

Basketcase - Hardboiled noir with a horrific twist.

The Agreement - A gambler pays the ultimate price to get out of a debt.

Well Balanced Meal - The worst restaurant you've ever been in.

S.A. - A werewolf novella about a Shapshifters Anonymous group that must battle Santa Claus.

Dear Diary - A very twisted pom pon girl reveals the secret of her inner strength.

Mr. Spaceman - We've come to mate with earth women.

Appalachian Lullaby - What do you do with a radioactive monkey?

Treatment - A troubled boy talks to a psychiatrist, but are either what they seem?

Sound of Blunder - A parody of Bradbury's Sound of Thunder, written with F. Paul Wilson.

This 70,000 word collection also includes an excerpt from Afraid by Jack Kilborn, and Truck Stop by J.A. Konrath and Jack Kilborn.

About the Author:

J.A. Konrath has written six Jack Daniels thrillers (Whiskey Sour, Bloody Mary, Rusty Nail, Dirty Martini, Fuzzy Navel, and Cherry Bomb.) The seventh, Shaken, will be available this year.

Under the name Jack Kilborn, he wrote the horror novel Afraid, and under the name Joe Kimball, he wrote the sci-fi novel Timecaster (featuring Jack Daniels' grandson as the hero, coming out in 2011.)

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jun 16, 2010 15:15:10

Great Price for $14.50

2010-06-15T11:59:00.001-07:00

The Hobbit: 70th Anniversary Edition Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

The Hobbit is a great story, I couldn't put this book down. Bilbo Baggins was someone who would much rather stay home and enjoy himself. He is unexpectedly dragged into an adventure that makes him realize he is full of courage and wisdom.

Bilbo and his dwarf companions will take you on a journey, you will be impressed as you read about their encounters with trolls, goblins, giant spiders, and a giant dragon, as they have a quest to recover the lost treasure.

The author J.R.R. Tolkien is an excellent writer. This is a must read classic !!

The Hobbit: 70th Anniversary Edition Feature

ISBN13: 9780618968633
Condition: NEW
Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

The Hobbit: 70th Anniversary Edition Overview

A new edition of The Hobbit with a short introduction by Christopher Tolkien, a reset text incorporating the most up-to-date corrections, and all of Tolkien’s own drawings and color illustrations, including the rare Mirkwood” piece.

The Hobbit: 70th Anniversary Edition Specifications

"In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort."

The hobbit-hole in question belongs to one Bilbo Baggins, an upstanding member of a "little people, about half our height, and smaller than the bearded dwarves." He is, like most of his kind, well off, well fed, and best pleased when sitting by his own fire with a pipe, a glass of good beer, and a meal to look forward to. Certainly this particular hobbit is the last person one would expect to see set off on a hazardous journey; indeed, when Gandalf the Grey stops by one morning, "looking for someone to share in an adventure," Baggins fervently wishes the wizard elsewhere. No such luck, however; soon 13 fortune-seeking dwarves have arrived on the hobbit's doorstep in search of a burglar, and before he can even grab his hat or an umbrella, Bilbo Baggins is swept out his door and into a dangerous adventure.

"Lilith is equal if not superior to the best of Poe," the great 20th-century poet W.H. Auden said of this novel, but the comparison only begins to touch on the richness, density, and wonder of this late 19th-century adult fantasy novel. First published in 1895 (inhabiting a universe with the early Yeats, George Bernard Shaw, and Oscar Wilde--not to mention Thomas Hardy), this is the story of the aptly named Mr. Vane, his magical house, and the journeys into another world into which it leads him.

Meeting up with one mystery after another, including Adam and Eve themselves, he slowly but surely explores the mystery of the human fall from grace, and of our redemption. Instructed into the ways of seeing the deeper realities of this world--seeing, in a sense, by the light of the spirit--the reader and Mr. Vane both sense that MacDonald writes from his own deep experience of radiance, from a bliss so profound that death's darkness itself is utterly eclipsed in its light. --Doug Thorpe

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jun 08, 2010 18:30:05

Check Out Day Watch (Watch, Book 2) for $3.69

2010-06-05T19:06:00.001-07:00

Day Watch (Watch, Book 2) Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

Lukyanenko continues his 4-book series with a string of tales that do not immediately seem connected but all tie into the great plots of the heads of the DayWatch and NightWatch. From the perspective of multiple characters we see the story unfolding and developing into a cohesive plan that even the Others struggle to comprehend. It is a non-traditional tale of good vs. evil in which most actions are various shades of gray and only forethought and introspection can lead to peace of mind. A heavy mix of action and introspection, Lukyanenko prepares the reader for things to come, though like Anton, the reader can only imagine just what the future holds for the watches of Moscow and the world.

Day Watch (Watch, Book 2) Feature

ISBN13: 9781401360207
Condition: USED - VERY GOOD
Notes:

Day Watch (Watch, Book 2) Overview

The second book in the internationally bestselling fantasy series, Day Watch begins where Night Watch left off, set in a modern-day Moscow where the 1,000-year-old treaty between Light and Dark maintains its uneasy balance through careful vigilance from the Others. The forces of darkness keep an eye during the day, the Day Watch, while the agents of Light monitor the nighttime. Very senior Others called the Inquisitors are the impartial judges insisting on the essential compact. When a very potent artifact is stolen from them, the consequences are dire and drastic for all sides. Day Watch introduces the perspective of the Dark Ones, as it is told in part by a young witch who bolsters her evil power by leeching fear from children’s nightmares as a counselor at a girls’ summer camp. When she falls in love with a handsome young Light One, the balance is threatened and a death must be avenged.

Day Watch is replete with the thrilling action and intricate plotting of the first tale, fuelled by cunning, cruelty, violence, and magic. It is a fast paced, darkly humorous, haunting world that will take root in the shadows of your mind and live there forever.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jun 05, 2010 22:10:06

Check Out Distant Thunders: Destroyermen for $12.80

2010-06-03T17:17:00.001-07:00

Distant Thunders: Destroyermen Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

The reptilian Grik continue their assault using any sort of mass weapons of destruction against the Lemurians whose strongest supporter are the dimensionally displaced U.S. Navy Captain Matt Reddy and the crew of the USS Walker. The American navy desperately is trying to move forward the Bronze Age Lemurians into at least an Industrial Age and preferably past that too especially with their ship badly devastated in the last encounter (see Maelstrom). That is the only hope for the allies against the overwhelming superiority of the invading Grik.

Reddy and his unit make some progress using paddle-wheel steam frigates developed in New Britain as the Americans free cities in the west from the previously invincible conquerors and give new hope to their allies. However when word reaches Reddy that the enemy has captured New British Princess Rebecca Anne McDonald, he rushes back east on the renovated USS Walker to mount a rescue of a key symbol.

The latest Destroyermen science fiction thriller, Distant Thunders, is an action-packed entry with strong relevant moral questions about the rules of combat engagement running throughout the adrenalin pumping story line. Reddy ponders whether negotiations with a species apparently seeking genocide are feasible as the enemy seems resistant to a peaceful solution although the displaced hero recognizes some of the beliefs on both sides may be bogeyman propaganda. He also wonders whether are any weapons of mass destruction include biological, chemical or nuclear in their arsenal that will be used especially on the brink of perhaps extinction acceptable? Taylor Anderson is one of the best at military science fiction as his plots combine cerebral thought provoking issues within a great adventure tale; the alternate realm of the Destroyermen saga is worth the journey.

Harriet Klausner

Distant Thunders: Destroyermen Overview

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jun 03, 2010 20:20:04

Check Out The Twilight Watch (Watch, Book 3) for $7.12

2010-05-31T10:52:00.001-07:00

The Twilight Watch (Watch, Book 3) Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

Twilight Watch is the best of the 3 (recently 4) books in the series. It constantly builds suspense, and the imagery is fantastic. From start to finish, Lukyanenko paints a vivid picture with every page. The only reason I give it a 4/5 is because of the ending. Without giving anything away, I thought a certain moment would be a climactic end to the story, but the book took a strange twist that just didn't click with me.

Save for the very end, the entire book is riveting and keeps your attention. I just got #4 in the mail (from Amazon, of course), can't wait to start it.

The Twilight Watch (Watch, Book 3) Feature

ISBN13: 9781401360214
Condition: USED - VERY GOOD
Notes:

The Twilight Watch (Watch, Book 3) Overview

The third in the internationally bestselling series from Russian author Sergei Lukyanenko

Three years have passed since the events of The Day Watch. His wife and daughter spending the summer on a dacha not far from Moscow where Anton is working when his boss Gesser reveals he has received an anonymous note. An Other has exposed the truth about their kind to a human, and now intends to convert that human into an Other.

The note has been sent to Zebulon and to the Inquisition’s offices in Berne – a place whose address only the highest level of mages and sorcerers know. Now cooperating, the Night Watch and the Day Watch, along with an Investigator from the Inquisition, seek to unmask the culprit. Anton will represent the Night Watch, while the Day Watch is sending High Vampire Kostya Saushkin, once Anton’s teenage neighbour.

Installed in the apartment complex to which the letter writer has been traced, Anton begins to investigate the residents one by one. Reviewing the dossiers of the building’s inhabitants, Anton comes across a familiar – albeit much younger – face. Could Gesser be trying initiate his son as an Other?

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: May 31, 2010 13:55:04

Check Out Slave to Sensation (Psy-Changelings, Book 1) for $3.60

2010-05-28T16:57:00.001-07:00

Slave to Sensation (Psy-Changelings, Book 1) Review

Hot!!!

Special Price Here

This is one of several attempts into the paranormal romance category and so far it's the best I've read. The concept of Psy or psychics stripped of their emotions to create the ultimate race and the overly feeling Changelings who cling to their animal instincts and physical power coexisting but not trusting of one another builds a great backdrop for a Romeo and Juliet scenario.

Sascha Duncan is scared. As a Cardinal Psy, she thinks she's broken because she's not supposed to have emotions and desires, but she does. She lives in fear every day that she'll be exposed and does everything she can to conceal her flaws including to her mother who is powerful and on the Psy council. When Sascha is partnered with Lucas Hunter, a Leopard Changeling, on a building project, she slowly gives in to her attraction, knowing that she doesn't have much time left anyway. If she's discovered, her mind will be stripped and she'd rather kill herself before that happens. When Lucas meets Sascha, he knows she's not like the rest. Sascha can't help but react to him and he picks up on feelings and her energy. He plans on using her physic connections to track down a serial killer. The changelings know the killer is a Psy but only the Psy's are part of a network to find other Psy's. As they spend time together, their mutual attraction grows and before Lucas knows what hit him, he realizes he's bonding with Sascha. Changelings essentially mate for life and don't necessarily have a choice with whom or what. This bond is what holds these two together and makes it a very sweet romance. The only problem is that Sascha cannot escape from her Psy network, to do so is instant death since they feed off of one another's energy to survive. If she tries to break those links, she'll die, and if she stays she'll be discovered and ... die.

With that happy outlook, Sascha feels she has nothing to lose and risks her life to help the changelings catch a killer. Through it all, Sascha and Hunter are sensual, protective and desperate for one another. They're trying to find the killer before the outcome becomes all out war between the two factions. During her investigation, Sascha discovers she's not actually broken but that she is a type of Psy who's foundation is based on emotion, something the Psys tried to eradicate and will continue to eradicate. Lucas is desperate to protect his mate and calls on pack and forges new bonds in an attempt to keep her safe, risking his life in the process.

This is a touching and great love story and I really enjoyed the cast of supporting characters. It could have been a five but as a powerful Cardinal Psy, I was disappointed in what Sascha's powers were. I was hoping she'd discover something a little more kick ass to take down the killer. It was akin to finding out Harry Potter's greatest magic is love. It also set the foundation of how bad the Psys really are and I keep thinking most of the follow up stories will be about helpless Psys trying to defect over to the changelings. Regardless a solid and entertaining read.

Slave to Sensation (Psy-Changelings, Book 1) Feature

ISBN13: 9780425212868
Condition: NEW
Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Slave to Sensation (Psy-Changelings, Book 1) Overview

In a world that denies emotions, where the ruling Psy punish any sign of desire, Sascha Duncan must conceal the feelings that brand her as flawed. To reveal them would be to sentence herself to the horror of "rehabilitation"- the complete psychic erasure of everything she ever was....

Both human and animal, Lucas Hunter is a Changeling hungry for the very sensations the Psy disdain. After centuries of uneasy co-existence, these two races are now on the verge of war over the brutal murders of several Changeling women. Lucas is determined to find the Psy killer who butchered his packmate, and Sascha is his ticket into their closely guarded society. But he soon discovers that this ice-cold Psy is very capable of passion-and that the animal in him is fascinated by her. Caught between their conflicting worlds, Lucas and Sascha must remain bound to their identities-or sacrifice everything for a taste of darkest temptation...

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: May 28, 2010 20:00:04