It's In His Kiss

Book Description

From one of our most successful authors and multiple New York Times bestseller Julia Quinn comes the much anticipated story of Hyacinth, the youngest child of the famed Bridgerton siblings.

Raised by an unloving father who told him he was actually a bastard, Gareth St. Clair, the second son of a viscount, has plenty of private demons to battle. Years later, after ironically becoming the heir to the St. Clair title when his older brother dies, Gareth still doesn't understand why his father, Lord St. Clair, hasn't publicly denounced his position in society. His brother, always a champion of Gareth, leaves him a diary written in Italian. Unsure of what to do with the mysterious journal, he heads to his grandmother's house where he meets Hyacinth Bridgerton, youngest of the famed eight Bridgerton siblings. Though she is known for being outspoken and dramatic, there is something charming about her that keeps her in everyone's good graces. Fortunately for Gareth, Hyacinth can read Italian and as she begins to decipher the text, clues to the mysterious St. Clair history begin to unravel. Long ago, Gareth's grandmother hid jewels on the St. Claire estate –– jewels that can replenish St. Claire coffers left bare by Lord St. Claire's gambling debts. As Gareth and Hyacinth begin their search, they soon realize that they're uncovering another treasure –– a love infinitely more precious than any shiny bauble.

Download Description

Meet Our Hero ...
Gareth St. Clair is in a bind. His father, who detests him, is determined to beggar the St. Clair estates and ruin his inheritance. Gareth's sole bequest is an old family diary, which may or may not contain the secrets of his past .. and the key to his future. The problem is -- it's written in Italian, of which Gareth speaks not a word.

Meet Our Heroine ...
All the ton agreed: there was no one quite like Hyacinth Bridgerton. She's fiendishly smart, devilishly outspoken, and according to Gareth, probably best in small doses. But there's something about her -- something charming and vexing -- that grabs him and won't quite let go ...

Meet Poor Mr. Mozart ...
Or don't. But rest assured, he's spinning in his grave when Gareth and Hyacinth cross paths at the annual -- and annually discordant -- Smythe-Smith musicale. To Hyacinth, Gareth's every word seems a dare, and she offers to translate his diary, even though her Italian is slightly less than perfect. But as they delve into the mysterious text, they discover that the answers they seek lie not in the diary, but in each other ... and that there is nothing as simple -- or as complicated -- as a single, perfect kiss.

Customer Reviews:

Fun, but not fantastic........2007-07-28

Number 7 in the Bridgerton series was a little disappointing but still a fun read. Julia Quin stayed true to character for Hyacinth Bridgerton, but Garreth lost a little of his edge as they were getting closer acquainted and the continual search for the bracelet was a little hokey, compared to the other books in the series. All in all still 4 stars (3 1/2), because you just can't go wrong with the Bridgertons.

I normally adore Julia Quinn...but I didn't like the hero's motivations for seducing the heroine.......2007-07-20

Alright, I won't get into the plot, since that's been done to death in these reviews.

First off--I love Julia Quinn. She's one of the few authors who writes with true humor, not forcing something that's supposed to be funny but isn't. She always makes me laugh. She has great, snappy dialogue and great characters. If sometimes the heroines of her novels seem to be a little too alike, that can be overlooked because reading her novels is such a joy.

I'm not following the Bridgerton series, just reading JQ books as I come across them. So I won't talk about how this book fits in or compares to the other novels in the series. Others have done that.

I liked this book until 2/3 of the way through. That's when Gareth (the hero) and Hyacinth (the heroine) are engaged, and Gareth decides that he is going to seduce Hyacinth to ensure that she will have no choice but to marry him, just in case she finds out the truth of his parentage before the wedding.

I found this both selfish and stupid. First of all, no one should ever try to trap anyone into marrying them. That is just wrong. But secondly, it's stupid. Now he'd have to live the rest of his life wondering if she would have married him if she'd had the chance to walk away. Who wants that kind of a thing hanging over them? That would be poison to a relationship. Every time there was a disagreement or a rough patch, she might feel resentful, thinking, "I'd never have married you if you hadn't compromised me and trapped me into it". And even in the good times, he'd have to wonder if she would have loved him enough to marry if he hadn't trapped her. Trickery does not make for a healthy marriage.

Yes, I know this is fiction, but still, I couldn't much like the hero after this. I like my romance heros to be honorable, and taking a woman's virginity so that she has no choice but to marry you is not honorable. In fact, it's downright wrong. If I'd known, I never would have bought this book. Flawed characters? Fine, and in fact, I like characters who aren't "too good to be true". But dishonorable ones? No, that crosses the line.

And I just want to state that I have no problem with sex in romance novels, provided that it is in the context of a loving relationship. I just have a problem with sex that is motivated by selfishness or is paid for, coerced or forced (in other words, no rape).

I will still read JQ, as I've liked 90% of the stuff I've read by her. I think she has an amazing talent, and I hope she never stops writing. I just hope she doesn't again resort to characters who use underhanded tactics to get what they want.

"It's In His Kiss" by Julia Quinn.......2007-05-30

Julia Quinn is my favourite author so I was not surprised to find I thoroughly enjoyed reading her novel.

One of my least favorite Bridgerton books.......2007-02-26

In the second to last book in Julia Quinn's Bridgerton series, the time has come for youngest child Hyacinth Bridgerton to find true love. When she meets Gareth St. Clair, a notorious rake and heir to baron St. Clair despite a well-known rift between father and son, she is struck by his honesty and refusal to care what others think. Being a blunt and candid person herself, Hyacinth feels she has found a kindred spirit. When Gareth asks her to help him translate his Italian grandmother's diary, the two become involved in a scheme to find a hidden fortune in the St. Clair mansion, and somewhere along the way they fall in love.

I have to say that It's In His Kiss is probably one of my least favorite Bridgerton books. The entire mystery surrounding the hidden St. Clair jewels and Hyacinth and Gareth's attempts to find them just reeks of an Amanda Quick novel. Sadly, Amanda Quick could have pulled it off and Julia Quinn didn't quite do so. This book was pretty hard to finish because I didn't really care whether the couple got together. For me, the most entertaining parts were Hyacinth's interactions with Lady Danbury and Gareth's interactions with the Bridgerton family. Despite my disappointment with this book, there's only one left in the series (On the Way to the Wedding) and I'll still go on to read it. I liked so many of the other books in the series (particularly The Duke and I and The Viscount Who Loved Me) that I'm willing to give it another chance.

It's in His Kiss.......2006-11-12

I like smart, outspoken heroines, but Hyacinth got on my nerves. There is a time to be smart and outspoken but not when it makes everyone around you look idiotic and that is what the author seemed to do here. No-one seemed to be able to match wits with Hyacinth and I didn't want to read about her showing off her intelligence all the time. The twist at the end where she gets her come-uppence by her own daughter is cute.

Average customer rating:

Lovely lovely regency romance.
A Great Romp
Unexpectedly Beautiful
A Real Romance Worth Reading...
Some parts of this book just rip your HEART out!!!

His Every Kiss (Avon Romantic Treasure)
Laura Lee Guhrke
Manufacturer: Avon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 006054175X
Release Date: 2004-09-28

Book Description

A passionate, rich, and wonderfully moving romance from RITA Award–winning author Laura Lee Guhrke.

Customer Reviews:

Lovely lovely regency romance. .......2007-08-08

Dylan Moore is a tall, lean, devilishly dark composer with untamed hair and a loose grip on sanity. He's driven to despair by increasing noises in his head - presumably tinnitus - and his frightful inability to compose since the noises began with an accident. His life is a joke, a shambles. One mad night he ends up in Charing Cross Palladium, the concert hall where he conducted his first symphony. He's standing there, gun to his head, ready to blow his tormented brains out, when Grace Cheval stops him the only way she knows how: she plays her violin. In that stunning instant, for the first time in years, Dylan hears music in his head. Not the music Grace is playing, but his own music, music he hasn't written yet! And he realizes he'll live.
It takes five tumultuous years for him to find her again, and this time he's again desperate. An unknown daughter, a wilful, dark-haired child who composes music beautiful enough to make the saints weep, has been deposited at his house. Dylan didn't even know he was a father. The only thing for him to do is find Grace, and ask her to be Isabel's governess. Secretly he's also thinking if he can just get her into his house, and into his bed, the elusive music in his head might finally drown out the maddening noises still tormenting him. There's a catch. Grace was someone else's muse, and it nearly destroyed her and her family. She's not going to be selfishly used again, not even by the magnetic, urgent Dylan. Oh, this story will live in your heart long after you close the pages. A beautiful, luscious, stunning romance with unexpected humour and a deep, wild streak to enjoy. Music for your soul.

A Great Romp.......2007-07-28

For romance novel fans, this book has it all. Engaging lead characters, interesting secondary characters, humor and enough of an entertaining plot to keep you reading. This was one of the more entertaining romance novels I've read in a while. And one of the few times I didn't find myself wanting to smack the heroine upside the head for being so silly!

Unexpectedly Beautiful.......2007-03-23

I had never heard of Laura Lee Gurhke before I read His Every Kiss. Nothing I've read by her since has impressed me very much. However, His Every Kiss is a keeper. I read it years ago, and then a few years later, but I keep it in my room at all times. I could walk into my bedroom and walk straight to it even if I were blindfolded.

Dylan is a wonderfully broody hero. Grace is a little too gracious. But their good-girl/bad-boy thing works. She has not always been a good girl, and he was once something more than a bad boy. Their initial meeting will rock you. Their subsequent meetings will leave you turning pages until the end of the book no matter how early you have to be to work the next day.

You will learn some things about musical notation you may never have known before and you will hope that someday the author will write about their daughter. Hers is definitely a story that will need to be told.

A Real Romance Worth Reading..........2005-12-17

I am really pleased that I took a chance and bought "His Every Kiss" by Laura Lee Guhrke. I had never heard of this author before but, I won't soon forget her.

It has been years since I read a good novel that truly got my emotions involved and made me feel a part of the plot line. I could almost touch these characters they became so real. If you enjoy a romance novel that is not so steep in history it boggles the mind or so intense into sex scenes that you think you are involved in a soft porn movie than this book could be for you. I can truly say this is one of the top books I have ever read. And...I have read honestly thousands of romances since I was 18 years old.

You will connect with the main characters Grace Cheval and Dylan Moore. This was a beautiful story not of dukes, duchess, princes or princesses...or even high society. Instead...it was about human emotions and how you deal with love won and lost, sexual attraction, uncomfortable emotions and how to be a decent human being.

The back drop of Dylan's musical brilliance as a pianist and composer, and Grace's "fall from grace" due to running away with her first love and the repercussions from such actions will keep you engrossed from the beginning. Dylan is drawn to Grace from the first time he met her not just due to her beauty and talent as a violinist but, something deeper that draws him to her as no other woman. She allows him to hear music again after he lost it for years. Thus...she becomes critical to his world. Grace in turn is deeply attracted to him as his passion and drive is white hot but, she got burned before in this haze of intensity and doesn't want to again but, Dylan's kisses and drugging passion are hard to resist.

Lots of twists occur such as the unexpected arrival of Dylan's unknown daughter "Isabel" and how they deal with her, Dylan's medical condition of ringing ears from an accident years before and his lost musical touch, Dylan's fascination and need for Grace to be his muse and Grace's past disgrace of living in sin with a famous painter and what he did with all those nude paintings he made of her over the years. Truly, the twists and developments never end and you don't want them to.

The love scenes are happily second in this book to the great characters and story line. In romances, often the love scenes need to be hot to keep the action going but, not here.

The ending of the book is marvelously written and actually made me tear up a few times (I didn't cry...just felt the threat of tears - that's alot for me in a love story) - the writing made the emotions that real and raw you couldn't help but, be moved and pray for a happy ending.

I'm sad that their tale is now over....I say buy this, keep it, never lend it out and expect to read it again and again. Enjoy!

Some parts of this book just rip your HEART out!!!.......2005-07-25

Dylan is probably the most tortured hero I have read about in a long time. And because of this afliction (the ringing in his ears) he really is tortured. Can anyone imagine how horrible that would be and especially for a gifted composer. Grace early on saves Dylan's life by keeping him from killing himself. and that moment Dylan never forgets. When he meets her finally a couple of years later he has to have her in his life. She is so fearful of giving her heart again, especially to another artist. Her husband was a tortured painter and he became almost insane with his extremes before he died. So when Dylan asks Grace to become his newly found daughter's governess, only desperation on her part allows her to agree. The torture this man goes through, fighting his demons, not being able to compose is excrutianting to read. And truly many writers can write joy, pain and bliss and all the other emotions but when you read the part when Dylan truly lets his daughter down by exposing the worst parts of his nightly activities well it is one of the most compelling parts of any book I have read recently. You just are racked with the pain Dylan feels at what a horrible person and father he is. I absolutely could not put this book down. It is such an emotional read and Dylan and Grace are just beautiful together. I did feel the ending was a little hurried. I think this is one book that badly needed an epilogue. Perhaps if there is a book about Ian maybe we will learn how Grace and Dylan are living on. there is no known cure I do not think even now for the ringing in ears- but I would hope in the contentment of Dylan's love for Grace he will find some peace. Wonderful book!!!

Average customer rating:

Wow !!!
Pleasant Reading
First part was entertaining
Can't agree more with the other reviews of this book...
It was so good but then....

His Wicked Kiss: A Novel
Gaelen Foley
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0345480104
Release Date: 2006-04-25

Book Description

From emerald jungles to the high seas to the glittering ballrooms of Regency London, beloved author Gaelen Foley tells a sweeping, sensual tale of the ruggedly handsome Lord Jack Knight and the passionate beauty who lays claim to his heart.

An English rose blooming in the untamed jungles of South America, Eden Farraday lives a life of independence–unheard of for a lady–with her doctor-turned-scientist father. But Eden misses England desperately. When the dangerous and darkly charming Lord Jack Knight sails into her life, she seizes her chance to return to civilization, stowing away aboard his London-bound ship.

Roguish and charismatic, a self-made shipping tycoon with a shadowy past and a well-guarded heart, Jack is sailing on a vital secret mission. When the redheaded temptress is discovered aboard his vessel, he reacts with fury–and undeniable lust. Forced to protect her from his rough crew, the devilish Lord Jack demands a scandalous price in exchange for Eden’s safe passage across the sea. As his wicked kiss ignites an unforgettable blaze of passion between them, Jack and Eden confront a soul-searing love that cannot be denied.

Customer Reviews:

Wow !!!.......2007-10-05

This author is very different in a very good way. This whole series is wonderful and if you haven't read all these books you really need to because it's great.

Pleasant Reading.......2007-06-27

This is the last book of Gaelen Foley's Knight series and in this story our hero is Mr Jack Knight the second knight brother and the heroine is Miss Eden Faraday.

I really liked the way Gaelen made both of them vivid and likeable characters. Miss Faraday is a clever and unconventional lady who spent most of her life in the jungles of South America. Jack is a powerful and tortured hero who spent most of his life trying to prove to his family that he is as good as his "true noble" brothers.

As usual the sheer sexiness and emotional impact are present and the sex scenes are really hot.

I agree with the other readers that the last part of the book is frustrating because both Jack and Eden relationship becomes boring and Eden seems to be only concerned with her clothes, her hair and social affaires. She is not even able to have an adult conversation with Jack.

There are also some mistakes regarding dates and facts presented in the other stories. It seems that different people have written these books: for instance, when Eden is presented to the knight family there is only 1 girl child "the only girl produced by the clan". Did Mrs Foeley forget that Bel gave birth to a child named Kate in the previous book "One night of sin"? I found it very annoying and there are mistakes regarding dates in most of the Knight books. Sounds like noone made a review before publishing them.

First part was entertaining.......2007-02-06

In the beginning, the conversation and interaction between Erin & Jack was unexpected and interesting. Their actions surprised and delighted me. Very enjoyable first 284 pages. less so after that when the couple fought and other problems arose. Erin withheld sex because he wouldn't answer a question. She was more concerned with what other people thought than his needs. This didn't sit well for me since they were still in their honeymoon phase. He had his faults as well. I would have preferred different conflicts and faults for them at the end.

Can't agree more with the other reviews of this book..........2007-01-20

The beginning of this book is fantastic. Like everyone else writing a review here, I lost interest in the story pretty quickly once the characters set foot on English soil. The character of Jack didn't live up to the "bad boy" reputation, hinted at in the other books of this series. If you are reading this series, this is a must read to wrap it all up, but be prepared for a some disappointment.

It was so good but then...........2007-01-16

3.5 stars. I have to agree with a couple of reviewers in saying that this book started out great. Exciting locale, intriguing characters...I just knew this was going to be juicy novel...but then something happened around chapter fourteen that had me wondering if I was reading the same book. Suddenly, my characters were acting like different people. Couldn't Ms. Foley come up with a stronger reason for this couple to hit a rough patch? The one given in this book (he almost left her in Ireland) seem contrived. And how come when the heroine lie or betrays the hero trust, it's okay-but when the hero makes a mistake, he's to be raked over the coals? The point was that he didn't leave. He immediately went back and got her and she withholds sex for that? The woman knows he's on a secret mission, she knows the dangers he's up against and she throws a fit about going to England-which she didn't even need to do anymore. She want to go to England to get more funding for her father, but during her voyage at sea, she admitted that was the very thing her father didn't need. Then the excuse was that she needed to go England to find someone to love or a husband. Well, then she had that-so what was she throwing a fit about? Then when it was time for him to go back to South America and leave her England, she was fine. So the only abandonment she would accept was when she was abandoned in England? Ireland, she still had a staff of servants-she wasn't exactly alone there either. And what happened to Nipper? He just disappeared after Chapter thirteen. Never to be heard of again. I was also surprised by the ease in which Eden blended into society. She's shopping going to parties and never once sits and pines about what is taking her father so long to reach England. He was older and traveling with a man that was crazy. Of course, Conner killing a man what was about to rape her didn't seem so bad to me. You mean to to tell me Jack wouldn't kill someone who was trying to rape his wife? Sure, his actions later confirmed he was crazy, but initially I was like-so? The girl is raised in the jungle and she had NO transitional problems? Plus, there is no way a letter had reach Uncle Arthur leaving from Venezuela after Jack left and beat him to his Uncle. It wasn't like he had made a couple of stops.
Another issue I had was with so much telling. In the last part of the book suddenly I'm aware of everything being told to me as oppose to me seeing it and living in the moment. Example: why didn't we just see the scene when the maid comes onto Jack as to being told what had happened? Same with the grand fight with Ruiz. Why fade to black and then tell me what happened? Why couldn't I have seen Jack take one four men? I do like that Eden participated in her own rescue, but what happened to Jack being near death? Sure he was driven by rage and a fierce need to protect his woman, but it read more like Ms. Foley forgot he was supposed to injured. And a man rising up like a half-dead gladiator from the sand of the Colosseum just had me laughing. Tone it down a little on the dramatics. Ms. Foley is talented and this is my first book by her. I'm curious to read other works by her. Maybe there was a deadline issue or something that went wrong in the last third of this book.

Get Lucky: Seven Seductions from His and His Kisses

Average customer rating:

Here's a blurb and information on Get Lucky

Get Lucky: Seven Seductions from His and His Kisses
Massa / Obsidian
Manufacturer: Claudia Regenos
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1600540554
Release Date: 2007-01-26

Book Description

This is a two author anthology of gay romantic fiction exploring men from various walks of life who learn to love each other in every possible way.

Customer Reviews:

Here's a blurb and information on Get Lucky.......2007-02-22

There are a lot of men in the world--but it only takes two to get lucky. Spend some time with this sexy collection and see how many ways a man's luck can run.

Stories include...

By Illian Obsidian:

Into the Light

Rengal, Pan's best friend, is to be joined. Pan is happy for him, really he is. It isn't like Rengal could have joined with him. Males are not supposed to join with one another. It happens now and then, but it isn't favored. Especially not for one chosen to rule.

The sun may bring the dawn, but Pan's world feels very dark, very dark, indeed.

Trial and Error

There's a fine line between too much sex and not enough. Lawyers Clint Reese and Jonathon Williams are both smart men, and very determined. Between them, they'll find the perfect balance. Give them one long weekend and a little trial and error, they'll figure it out.

~~

By J.J. Massa

Lucky

Sometimes working late really sucks, and sometimes you get Lucky like I did.

Life's Mysteries

What does a man really need to live his life? Does he need society's approval? How does a man know whom to trust? Should he follow his heart or his head? It is a mystery few will have to solve, and one that is solved every single day. This is one man's answer.

Bar Back

On any busy night, a bartender is only as good as his bar back, right? Sometimes a nervous new bar back is only as good as his bartender, especially after all the customers go home.

Signet and Silk

He's been watching me, and I've been watching him. Is this a one-time office fling, or something more? I know I want a lot more. A whole lot more.

Learning Curve

I never thought of myself as remedial, someone who needed to be graded on a curve. When I decided to get my degree at thirty-seven years old, I realized there was a lot I didn't know - about myself and about the world. Thankfully, Professor Richard Wyeth grades on a curve. It turns out he teaches much more than World Literature, too.

Big Kiss: One Actor's Desperate Attempt to Claw His Way to the Top

Average customer rating:

Fun and entertaining
Brilliant absurdity
Awkward prose and humor that misfires
Ho hum
First Book Much Funnier

Big Kiss: One Actor's Desperate Attempt to Claw His Way to the Top
Henry Alford
Manufacturer: Villard
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Municipal bondage: one man's anxiety-producing adventures in

ASIN: 0679438734
Release Date: 2000-03-14

Amazon.com

On the cover of his memoir, Henry Alford looks like a guileless galoot, a handsome hayseed, but beware! He is in fact a trained humorist from Spy and The New Yorker, as savvy as a charmer of snakes. His illuminatingly humiliating odyssey as an aspiring actor mines a comedy vein akin to that of David Sedaris or Joe Queenan, with a bit of George Plimpton's participatory reportage. First, Alford tries to win fame without achievement by talking Manhattan deli owners into posting his glossy next to photos of Telly Savalas and Kaye Ballard. Despite Alford's offer to write "Big kiss!" on it with his autograph, it's mostly no sale. So he studies Shakespeare at London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, soap opera at the Weist-Barron School of Television, improv comedy with the guy who trained Nichols and May. Despite Alford's hard-won ability to play "Winona Ryder pretending to be Wynonna Judd" and "an actress who is unsure if she is Karen Allen or Brooke Adams and thus has changed her name to Karen Adams," success arrives slow as sludge. He blows his chance to be on the first U.S. Olympic ballroom dance team ("my floor craft was uneven, and I was chesty through my topline"). He flops as a salesman of Thierry Mugler's chocolate-based perfume at Saks and as a TCR (telecommunications representative) at a phone-sex firm. His performances as an extra in Godzilla and on Bobcat Goldthwait's Big Ass Show earn no Oscars (though he does win a $199 ottoman). At last, he scores a gig on VH1, screening rock videos for old folks and Hells Angels to comic effect. He follows his big-deal Hollywood agent boyfriend, Jess, to L.A., and his book becomes a straightforward memoir.

When it's not overtly funny (the "sadopedagogy" of his cruel New York acting coach is authentically ghastly), Alford's autobiography is ever alert, witty, and penned in the nimblest prose. --Tim Appelo

Book Description

"I'd like to thank the Academy and all of the little people who made Henry Alford's hilarious book possible. Mr. Alford delivers a performance that is laugh-out-loud funny and written with high style."
--Christopher Buckley, author of Little Green Men

Henry Alford was a well-adjusted, critically acclaimed author living quietly in New York City.
        Then he decided to become an actor.
        In the course of this memoir, Alford is rejected by directors, ignored by casting people, abused by a sadistic acting teacher, and educated in the finer points of Shakespearean thespianism at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in England, where he fails to convince the Queen to attend his final performance.
        Along the way, Alford auditions for the role of Wil-bur the Pig in Charlotte's Web, triumphs as an extra in Godzilla, and takes his sixty-nine-year-old bird-watching, chain-smoking mother to improvisational-comedy camp. Hoping to broaden his range, he takes a job with a phone-sex business, where he assays many roles on a popular party line.
        Finally, Alford finds happiness and celebrity as the cohost of VH1's hit series Rock of Ages, on which he quizzes elderly Italian women, among others, about videos by heavy-metal groups.
        Original, absurd, and written with true comic grace, Big Kiss captures in a new and unforgettable way the experience of being a performer.

Customer Reviews:

Fun and entertaining.......2001-11-21

Henry Alford is an author I had never heard of. I ran across a copy of this book in New York City and I'm glad I purchased it. He faithfully recreates an actors plight in going from job to job
in a very hard profession. He never seems to lose his wit or sense of humor throughout. It is an enjoyable light read. I recommend it to everyone who is in theatre or wants to know what it is like to be a professional actor. I loved the part of Henry taking his mother to Paul Sills acting camp in Wisconsin. A neat lady with a great sense of humor. In fact Henry proves the apple doesn't fall very far. Most enjoyable

Brilliant absurdity.......2001-06-19

In the tradition of David Sedaris or Joe Orton, this author exposes the absurdities of life in a wholly original and daring way.

Awkward prose and humor that misfires.......2001-06-14

The author is described above as "a trained humorist," which makes him sound about as entertaining as a taxidermist. Despite that billing, this book is rarely funny. It begins with a few mildly interesting anecdotes about acting and auditioning, but follows them with several dozen pointless episodes. In one, the author dons pajamas and wanders around Manhattan. Why? It isn't clear. What does wearing pajamas to the New York Stock Exchange have to do with the author's ambition to act? Nothing, as far as we can tell. In another, he badgers the New York Police Department for details of the city's Rent-A-Cop program. Again, nothing to do with acting, but it's clear the author expects readers to marvel at his eccentricity. "See how wacky I am! I phoned the police department! I asked about renting a cop! Twice!" In one of the book's many inexplicable shifts of tone, the author spins the rent-a-cop anecdote into a rant on the police force being used as private security for the rich, providing wealthy residents with taxpayer-subsidized parties. All well and good, Henry; you're a perceptive social critic. But why are you telling me this? And why are you telling me HERE, in a book about acting? In an attempt to anchor his gossipy narrative with gravitas, the author makes occasional reference to the possible dissolution of his 7-year relationship. This material might prove interesting in another venue but it's out of place here. We learn little of substance about the author or his boyfriend, Jess. How can we be expected to care when their relationship stumbles? Perhaps the most annoying aspect of this book is its sloppy writing. Not only does the author resort to hackneyed phrases in place of original observations; he actually manages to MANGLE the clichés. Thus we read: "Could a weekend with Tony Roberts be far in the offing?" He means to say, "Could a weekend...be in the offing?" OR "Could a weekend...be far off?" Evidently, Alford's pajama-wearing wackiness prevents him from using a dictionary or hiring an editor. (By the way, Henry, "messenger" is not a verb.) The writer to which Alford is often compared, David Sedaris, artfully converts his highly individual speaking style into original, musical prose--carefully controlling both tone and rhythm. Instead of attempting something equally creative and true to himself, Alford merely imitates this style by spewing an onrush of breathless prose. The result is a vacuum where wit should be.

Ho hum.......2001-03-02

I guess I managed to finish it, but there are no belly laughs in this book. Maybe there are for those who really appreciate the subtleties of the rather-seeming world of priviliged gay New York artistic types, but I guess I am just not hip to that scene. The man can write and clearly has a good eye for the humorous side of life, but this just wasn't the hysterically funny book earlier reviews had led me to believe.

First Book Much Funnier.......2000-07-12

His first book, Municipal Bondage, was much funnier. This one is a lot of fun, don't get me wrong, but I didn't fall over on my couch laughing the way that I did with the first one.

His Kisses Are Dreamy...but Those Hairballs Down My Cleavage...!: Another Tender Outland Collection

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Outland Volume Two

His Kisses Are Dreamy...but Those Hairballs Down My Cleavage...!: Another Tender Outland Collection
Berke Breathed
Manufacturer: Little Brown & Co (P)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0316108677

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Outland Volume Two.......2004-06-18

After years of creating the wildly popular and successful 'toon "Bloom County" Berke Breathed scaled back the strip to a Sunday-only offering called "Outland". During the same time he was beginning his work on his wonderfully written and illustrated children's books.

In Bloom County we were offered characters that grew familiar, even in their various deficiencies. The strips were episodic, frequently thoughtful and almost always hilarious. At the same time we came to identify with the various characters: Milo Bloom the precocious pre-teen and his paranoid buddy Binkley. Cutter John, the paraplegic Vietnam veteran who led his buddies on role-playing Star Trek adventures. Steve Dallas, the chain-smoking slime-ball lawyer who got his come-uppance over and over, usually as a result of his insensitivity to women. Oliver Wendell Jones, the young computer hacker who caused panic at the Pentagon, on Wall Street and in his school's science class.

Outland doesn't have the same feel as it's not episodic at all. Each Sunday comic "stands alone" - and each one is full of Breathed's inventive artwork and the same brilliantly conceived satire. I don't feel like the story stands still long enough to identify or care as much about the characters, and for that reason Outland isn't as satisfying to me as Bloom County.

Customer Reviews:

an enjoyable read.......2007-09-30

One thing you can count on when reading a Jo Goodman Regency-era romance novel is that the plot will be a sweeping one where her full bodied and multifaceted characters takeover the stage and all your attention. This was definitely true if "If His Kiss is Wicked," a novel that mixes a criminal investigation with romance with quite memorable results.

Not many young ladies of a genteel background survive being kidnapped off the streets and being brutally beaten with their courage and confidence in tact. But Emma Hathaway finds that is up to her to call on her inner reserves of strength to do something about her attack because her family would like nothing better than to pretend that the incident had never taken place, believing that the danger has long passed. Emma however is fearful that the danger is ever present and that the actual target of the attack was not her but her beautiful cousin, Marisol, with whom she bears a slight resemblance. To that end, she calls on Restell Gardner, a gentleman known for being able to help people who find themselves in precarious situations, to help discover who was responsible for her attack to to avert any future dangers. Moved by Emma's courage and intelligence, Restell agrees to take on the case. The last thing this confirmed bachelor expected was that he would fall in love with his emotionally fragile client. Ever mindful of the danger that Emma faces, Restell will have to work hard to ensure that his feelings don't jeopardize Emma and put her in even more danger than ever...

If I had one complaint about "If His Kiss is Wicked" is was that both the romance and the mystery subplots could have been fleshed out more. Essentially, "If His Kiss Is Wicked" seemed to be more about Emma and the relationship she had with her uncle and her cousin, Marisol, than anything else. That was the pervasive strand of the novel. True, the subplot that dealt with Restell's efforts to help Emma regain her self confidence and his growing admiration and feelings for Emma had equal weight, but for me, it seemed as if everything always circled back to Emma's relationship with her relatives. There was a reason for this, of course, but I really couldn't help but wish that we were shown more of the developing romance between the two. Likewise, I would have liked to have actually read more about Restell's investigations instead of "hearing" about them as he relates what he has uncovered to Emma in the last third of the novel. But these were rather minor quibbles. "If His Kiss Is Wicked" proved to be a very absorbing read. Both Restell and Emma were the kind of romantic leads that most readers will readily take to their hearts -- sensible, capable and mature. I liked that they matched each other very well, and that neither behaved in the kind of immature manner that induced eye-rolling. I also liked that the author showed us how, in spite of her courage and sensibility that Emma was still emotionally scarred by what had occurred, and that it would take time and a lot of effort for her to overcome her fears. This was a realistic touch that was much appreciated. Also much appreciated was how the author left little clues as to who was behind Emma's attack -- though you don't understand the why until the very end. All in all this was a very enjoyable read and one that I would recommend to anyone looking for something more substantial than the usual fare.

excellent read.......2007-09-30

The only thing I did not like - was the title, which I thought did not give the story any justice. This was a wonderful read, the story was very well written and not the typical lite regency romance like the title suggests. The tone of the book had me in that time period, it was so well done, and from the first page to the last, I was enthralled with the characters and story. It kept me twisting and turning, not knowing where it would turn next - Highly recommended, and I feel one of her best.

entertaining Regency romantic suspense .......2007-09-10

In 1822 Emma Hathaway lives in the home of her kind uncle. She has no prospects whatsoever. Her brazen cousin Marisol asks Emma to end her latest affair, which reluctantly she agrees to do.

However, being a Good Samaritan proves dangerous when someone tries to abduct Emma. When she tells her cousin and a few friends, they all think she is a bit crazy as no one gains by kidnapping the penniless Emma. She turns to Restell Gardner, known for helping people in trouble. Restell investigates her contention, but also finds he is attracted to his reticent client. When someone tries to kill her, Restell offers marriage in order to protect her; she is reluctant to accept as she believes he is doing this out of honor. As he unravels the truth, Restell knows he loves Emma and believes she reciprocates, but first and foremost he must keep her safe.

This entertaining Regency romantic suspense is fast-paced as an unknown adversary assaults the heroine, but no one in her inner circle give credence to her claims. Restell is a wonderful hero as he knows the only way to insure he is there at all times to keep his beloved safe is marriage, but she rejects his offer as she wants a husband who cherishes her. Although the ending leaves too many dangling threads as it is rushed, Jo Goodman provides an interesting historic romantic thriller.

Harriet Klausner

This one is a real treasure.......2007-09-07

Emma Halliday visits Restell Gardner after she has been kidnapped and severly beaten. She has heard he is a person to go to for help and she wants answers as to why she was kidnapped. Was it her they were after or her cousin and Anna was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Together Restell and Anna try and find the answers. Along the way Restell works to heal Anna of the trauma she suffered.
There is such a richness and depth to Ms. Goodman's writing, it's impossible to rush through this book. Instead one needs to slow down and savor this delightful book.
She is a master at putting words together to create those small moments that make you sigh with delight in pure reading enjoyment.

Average customer rating:

Dark, Mysterious & Sensuous
Incredible Gothic Romance- It will give you chills! (B+ Grade)
Another winner from rising star Eve Silver
Recommended Gothic Romance ...
I liked this book, but ...

His Dark Kiss
Eve Silver
Manufacturer: Zebra
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0821779672

Customer Reviews:

Dark, Mysterious & Sensuous.......2007-08-06

I finished His Dark Kiss within one day and I liked it a lot. This tale had all the necessary elements to make a gothic fan very happy. Dark, atmospheric, tense and menacing. Evenly-paced and vivid story-telling. Well fleshed-out vivid characters, both likeable and sympathetic, as well as sinister and unusual. Nail-biting mystery, with an unexpected villain. A crumbling and spooky castle which safeguarded years of secrets. Featuring a sexy, smouldering, mysterious hero and a loving, loyal, down-to-earth heroine.

Unlike the previous and debut book, Dark Desires, this one fairly smouldered with sexual tension. The heroine fell in lust with the hero almost from the outset, and their every encounter intensified that tension. Although, the author did the sexual tension very well, I am still not sure if I was convinced of the heroine's immediate lust for her employer.

I also found the heroine a little too forward and vocal with her opinions...especially with the hero, who was supposed to be dark and forbidding. She had certainly heard enough rumours about him and should be wary of him.

While this story was almost pitch-perfect, I just felt that the sexual tension took over too much of the story, hence the mystery, which could had been stronger, was compromised.

Eve Silver is undoubtedly a fast-rising, masterful storyteller. I will pick up her next gothic novel without doubting her brilliant ability to evoke the mood and create an atmosphere of perfect tension for a gothic story, populated by a cast of vivid, multi-layered characters.

Incredible Gothic Romance- It will give you chills! (B+ Grade).......2007-07-13

Eve Silver is becoming a star in the gothic romance arena. "His Dark Kiss" is a perfect novel that channels a classic- "Jane Eyre". This dark story is seductive, mysterious and everything in between. All that it was missing was the typical, dark and stormy night approach. (No clichés here!)
Emma has come to Manorbrier Castle as a governess for her cousin's six year old son. She has never met Lord Anthony Craven, as he was married to her cousin. She ended up dead and assumed by the locals that he murdered her. Emma doesn't believe in them since she is well read and intelligent. She has lived a life of indifference from her aunts who gave her shelter, but nothing else, due to being born illegitimate. This is now her time to shine and perhaps some happiness.
Anthony is her brooding yet handsome employer who makes her all tingly inside from the moment she meets him. Sparks fly on both ends but Anthony has too many secrets and everyone around him seems to end up dead. Did he really kill her first wife and other governesses? Will Emma end up like them?
This story is so well written that it keeps the questions rolling till the very end. There are so many mysteries and villains a foot that you will not fully understand who is causing the problems and why Anthony keeps corpses in his tower (Yes, dead bodies are around!)
Emma and Anthony's exchanges are very passionate, so much so that regardless of the tension and mistrust between them, you hope things work out and they will have their happily ever after.
Fans of sexually charged scenes, suspense and of course mystery will enjoy this gothic tale.

Katiebabs

Dark Desires (Zebra Debut)
Dark Prince

Another winner from rising star Eve Silver.......2006-11-29

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

Emma has always been more of a burden than anything to her aunts, also being the brunt of many slights and insults due to her illegitimate birth. When she has the chance to escape her aunts' home and become a governess to the child of her late cousin, she jumps at the chance. Never mind there are many rumblings about the widower, Lord Craven, and what really happened to her cousin.

When Emma arrives at the Manorbrier estate, she is immersed in even more mysteries. Previous governesses met unfortunate ends and Emma herself experiences strange accidents. What exactly is Lord Craven doing in that forbidden tower late at night, and with dead bodies no less? These questions plague Emma, but she can't resist her delightful charge, Nicky, or his sinfully handsome father. When opportunity presents itself for a more personal relationship with Lord Craven, Emma is torn between her unanswered questions and her dangerous attraction to the seductive man. But what will be her fate if she gives in to her desires for His Dark Kiss?

Eve Silver has written another brilliant gothic romance. Her first novel Dark Desires was wonderful, and His Dark Kiss is even more incredible. There is a richness to the setting and the story which measures up to even the extremely high standards set by classic masters of the genre like Victoria Holt. However, Eve Silver brings a modern heat level to her stories that is guaranteed to curl your toes in delight. The interactions between our hero and heroine are very passionate and intense. Characters are brought to life with vivid descriptions and mysterious behaviors.

As with any true gothic story, suspense is key to the story, as is the requisite spooky manor house and dark hero. His Dark Kiss has all that in spades. I found myself drawn into the setting, envisioning the manor and experiencing Emma's fears and desires. I, too, wondered what was going on in the dark tower and why the servants were so secretive. As events spiral farther onward, I was sucked into the maelstrom, and carried along for the ride.

The gothic romance is far from dead as some would like to believe. Eve Silver breathes new life into the genre that is the basis for so many romance novels on the market today. If readers want a thrilling story that will give them goose bumps in an oh-so-good way, than His Dark Kiss by Eve Silver is just the novel for them!

© Kelley A. Hartsell, November 2006. All rights reserved.

Recommended Gothic Romance ..........2006-11-28

Emma Parrish finds herself rescued from the untenable situation of being sold to the highest bidder by her heartless aunts when she receives an offer from Anthony Craven to come to his home in Wales to act as governess to his young son, Nicholas.

Manorbrier Castle is dark and foreboding and boasts a cast of servants that are deeply loyal to Lord Craven and intimidating to Emma. Upon arrival at Manorbrier, Emma is warned to never venture near the round tower of the castle. It is forbidden.

As Emma goes through her days, she finds herself falling completely in love with Nicky, Lord Anthony Craven's son, who loves her back just as wholeheartedly. More disconcerting, she finds herself incredibly drawn to Anthony. Anthony has many secrets and spends a good deal of every day in the round tower conducting mysterious business. Emma finds herself learning more about him from the servants and from neighbors--and what she finds is terrifying. Many are convinced that Anthony is some sort of ghoul that has a fascination for the dead and is conducting horrible experiments on them. This is contrary to everything Emma has learned about him. He adores his son, can be warm and loving, and during their encounters, Anthony conducts himself as a gentleman, despite his deep attraction to Emma. What is the truth about Anthony, and will Emma still be able to love him once she knows all of his secrets?

His Dark Kiss is a tightly written gothic romance. Silver deftly creates a foreboding atmosphere that colors all of Emma's encounters. The secondary characters are sharply written and interesting and enhance both the mood of the story and the relationship between Emma and Anthony. The story is written exclusively from Emma's viewpoint, so it is fortunate that she's both likeable and smart. Anthony is virile and handsome, but also a loving father, and it becomes easy for the reader to see why Emma falls in love with him.

Armchair Interviews highly recommend this gothic romance.

I liked this book, but ..........2006-11-19

I did like this book, but there wasn't enough conflict between the two leads. She liked him, really liked him, right from the get go. He kept trying to push her away, but you knew they were going to end up together. I know, it's a romance, and the hero and heroine always end up together, but it was just too easy here.
I loved the atmosphere. Gothic romances are what I grew up on and I love them. A gloomy castle, a dark, brooding hero and I'm in heaven. Eve Silver had all that in this book, but it just wasn't enough. There needs to be a little more turmoil before the happy ending.

Light Your Own Fire: A Program To Make You Feel Good!

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Light Your Own Fire: A Program To Make You Feel Good!

Manufacturer: Mega Systems International
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette
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ASIN: B000AMC6SC

Product Description

Ellen Kreidman, Ph.D., founder of the courses "Light His Fire" and "Light Her Fire" and author of the best-selling books by the same name, has been presenting her seminars for over 20 years. She is a frequent keynote speaker at conventions and corporate seminars. Often speaking to standing room only crowds, she is able to mesmerize an audience with her energy and enthusiasm from the moment she steps on stage. Through humor and personal experiences, she captivates her audiences and helps them to literally transform their personal lives. Ellen does not speak or write about theory. She teaches exactly what to do and say in order for life to be a rewarding experience. Most importantly, she practices what she teaches, having had a 30 year "love affair" with her husband Steve, and she is the mother of three children.By popular demand Ellen Kreidman has finally created a program specifically designed to make you feel great! LIGHT YOUR OWN FIRE WILL HELP YOU DISCOVER:* How to finally take control of your life and give you the tools you need to make your dreams come true.* How to improve your self confidence and build your self esteem... You will have the Power to "Go For It"..* How to replace worry, stress, and fear with passion, excitement and a new zest for life.* Light Your Own Fire will teach you how to overcome and deal with crises, and overcome many of the obstacles to your happiness.Don't waste your life on wishes: "I hope things get better", "I hope it will all work out", "Things", and "It" don't change or get better! It's all up to you, and with Ellen's program "Light Your Own Fire", she will be there with you every step of the way to help and coach you along your path to success, happiness, and prosperity!Now is the time for you to invest in your own Happiness. Everyone deserves to be happy. Ellen's program will show you how truly special you really are.

Seven Seductions from His and His Kisses: Get Lucky

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One of my favorite author

Seven Seductions from His and His Kisses: Get Lucky
J.J. Massa
Manufacturer: loveyoudivine
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1600541127

Book Description

There are a lot of men in the world-but it only takes two to get lucky. Spend some time with this sexy collection and see how many ways a man's luck can run.

Customer Reviews:

One of my favorite author.......2007-09-22

I loved all the stories in this book. This book contains MM romance but JJ Massa does this genre quite well. She is an autobuy author for me.

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