Amazon.com
Fans of Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones's Diary will recall that at the end of that sly and funny version of Pride and Prejudice, singleton heroine Bridget landed her Mr. Darcy at last--Mark Darcy, that is. Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason picks up four weeks later, and already the honeymoon is over. In addition to discovering that the man of her dreams votes conservative, left-leaning Bridget is also feeling just a mite uncomfortable with the realities of sharing bed and board with another person:
V. complicated actually having man in house as cannot freely spend requisite amount of time in bathroom or turn into gas chamber as conscious of other person late for work, desperate for pee etc.; also disturbed by Mark folding up underpants at night, rendering it strangely embarrassing now simply to keep all own clothes in pile on floor.
But all of these problems pale to insignificance with the arrival on the scene of Rebecca, a beautiful, man-hunting arch-nemesis with "thighs like a baby giraffe" and absolutely no girlfriend code of ethics when it comes to poaching another woman's man. Before long, Rebecca's manipulations, Bridget's own insecurities, and a string of misunderstandings (starting with a naked Filipino boy in Mark Darcy's bed and ending with a suggestive valentine from Bridget's dry cleaner) result in "128 lbs. (good), alcohol units 0 (excellent), cigarettes 5 (a pleasant, healthy number), no. times driven past Mark Darcy's house 2 (v.g.), no. of times looked up Mark Darcy's name in phone book to prove still exists 18 (v.g.), 1471 calls 12 (better), no. of phone calls from Mark 0 (tragic).
Fortunately, Bridget has plenty of other problems to distract her. Her mother has returned from a trip to Kenya with a young Masai in tow--to her father's consternation; her best friends Jude, Shazzer, and Tom are all trapped in dating hell themselves; her apartment is in shambles thanks to a dotty carpenter; an unreliable ex-boyfriend has just reentered her life; and now someone is sending Bridget death threats--could it be Mark Darcy? If Bridget Jones's Diary was a modern riff on Pride and Prejudice, its sequel borrows several themes and devices (not to mention a section heading) from another Austen novel, Persuasion. And as in Austen's fiction, here the journey is the destination. A happy ending for Bridget and her pals is a foregone conclusion; how they get there, however, will have you on the edge of your chair--if you haven't already fallen off of it laughing. --Alix Wilber
Book Description
Lurching from the cappuccino bars of Notting Hill to the blissed-out shores of Thailand, everyone's favorite Singleton Bridget Jones begins her search for The Truth in spite of pathetically unevolved men, insane dating theories, and Smug Married advice. She experiences a zeitgeist-esque Spiritual Epiphany somewhere between the pages of How to Find the Love You Want Without Seeking It (can self-help books really help self?), protective custody, and a lightly chilled Chardonnay.
Download Description
"With another devastatingly hilarious, ridiculous, unnervingly accurate take on modern womanhood, Bridget Jones is back. (v.g.) Monday 27 January ""7:15 a.m. Hurrah! The wilderness years are over. For four weeks and five days now have been in functional relationship with adult male, thereby proving am not love pariah as recently feared."" Wednesday 5 March ""7:08 p.m. Am assured, receptive, responsive woman of substance. My sense of self comes not from other people but . . .from . . .myself? That can't be right."" Lurching from the cappuccino bars of Notting Hill to the blissed-out shores of Thailand, everyone's favorite Singleton Bridget Jones begins her search for The Truth in spite of pathetically unevolved men, insane dating theories, and Smug Married advice. She experiences a zeitgeist-esque Spiritual Epiphany somewhere between the pages of How to Find the Love You Want Without Seeking It (can self-help books really help self?), protective custody, and a lightly chilled Chardonnay. "
Customer Reviews:
So funny!!!.......2007-07-04
I read both this book and the first before I watched either movie. Both were great movies; even better books! It's the same old thing, the book is always much better than the movie. More of the plot reaches your eyes and is left to great imagination. I loved these books so much!! I'm so ready for more of Helen Fielding's books!
even funnier than the first.......2007-04-12
OMG, this was a laugh a page. I was wary, as follow up books are rarely as good as the original. But this book was even better than the first. And much better than the movie!!!
Sequels CAN Be Better!.......2007-01-26
I liked Bridget Jones's Diary, but I LOVED this one. The first was fun, but this one was laugh out loud funny. I enjoyed the movie of the first book more, actually, than I liked the book. I am so happy that I read this one instead of seeing the movie. If you have seen the movie version, don't be dissuaded. Read the book. The book is completely different and far superior. I only suggest that before you read this, you rent the A&E version of "Pride and Prejudice." Unless you are a P&P fan, much of the humor will be lost to you. If you haven't seen P&P, be prepared to enjoy one of the greatest works of fiction ever written.
Clever sequel!.......2006-12-31
Helen Fielding has done it again in this clever sequel that chronicles the life of Bridget Jones. This is a MUST READ sequel! But do not read it unless you have read the first book.
This series is in my top ten of best books for women to read. It is all that a sequel should be, but not boring.
If you have seen the movie but not read the book, the two are entirely different! The movie took license with the plot, and I enjoyed them both equally.
Not half-bad but not exceptionally great either.......2006-05-30
First off...if you are thinking of purchasing this book because you saw the first, or more to the point, the *second* Bridget Jones movie, stop right there. While it's typical for an adaptation of a book to the big screen to take creative liberties, Helen Fielding's second Bridget-book is nothinggg like the second movie. Period.
I first saw the original Bridget Jones movie, then read the book was was fairly disappointed by the extreme erraticness Bridget displayed in the book that was cut down for the big screen. Afterwards I watched the second movie, fell asleep about 3/4 of the way in, and felt bad for Renee Zewelleger for having to sing Madonna with a tampon as her microphone. I recently settled down the read the second book, and re-watch the second movie and they are extremely different!
Essentially in both cases the book picks up a month to a month and a half after Bridget Jones and her leading man from the previous book end up together. She is blissfully happy, but at teh same time extremely paranoid, judgemental, and constantly seeking the advice of her romance-handicapped friends.
Eventually Bridget and said man break up, under a series of accusations and misunderstandings, and most importantly, fears. The big difference here between the movie and the book is in the film, Bridget breaks up with her guy under vague suspicion he is having an affair with a co-worker, Rebecca, who ends up being a lesbian that fancies Bridget. In the book however, Rebecca really is trying to seperate Bridget and her fella, and more or less successfully does so.
The rest of the story from there follows Bridget's depression, subsequent attempts to cheer herself up, and a couple of 'major' events including her best friend getting married, an interview with Colin Firth, and a trip to Thailand. Didn't see those first two in the film? That's because they never happened in the movie version. As well, the role of the 'other' man in Bridget's life, who shall also remain nameless, takes on a MUCH smaller role in the book than in the film - but that one you can chalk up to star power quota.
All in all the second book is an improvement over the film, unlike the slightly disappointing first novel in comparison to the movie. If you like the writing of Helen Fielding you'll be pleased to find it still entertaining, slightly easier to read, and as wacky as the first book. I found much of the story bogged down with weird sub-plots and Bridget's complete psychoticness at times, but it was certainly better than the first book, and second film.
Book Description
William Frederick Cooper's eagerly anticipated sequel to his wildly acclaimed debut novel Six Days in January is a powerful, heartfelt tale that will resonate with readers everywhere.
In Six Days in January, William Frederick Cooper shed light on the insecurities and fears of African American men through the experiences of his enigmatic protagonist, William McCall. As There's Always a Reason opens, William has experienced another emotional heartbreak at the hands of a woman. When he loses his job, too, William finds himself battling just to survive. When he's convinced he's at his nadir, William meets another woman, Linda Linda Woodson, who begins to restore his faith in all areas of life,illustrating through example that a woman of enormous strength can teach a man the true meaning of love. There's Always a Reason delves into the complex workings of the human heart and its ability to triumph over despair, providing an uplifting message and emotional core that will resonate with every reader.
Customer Reviews:
Congrats!!!!.......2007-08-22
All I can say is that this book was even better than the first one. Congrats to William Cooper. He definately wrote this one from the heart and he touched so many emotions in me. At the end I was so sad but it proves that every pot has a lid and there is a good in all of us despite how rocky the road. I loved it!!!!!! Much love to you William from your Sugar and Spice fans.
BRAVO!!!!.......2007-07-24
I laughed out loud and cried silently.....Momma always said, if a woman/man tells you that all they're looking for is a booty call, then expect nothing more.
In this heartwarmed story, William was told just that by the love of his life. Just as he was about to propose marriage to Anna, he caught her expressing her hungry appetite to swallow the babies of the new assistant he had just hired.
With his heart broken, William began to take steps to find another true love after receiving two powerful messages which came from both a pastor and an elderly lady at a homeless shelter.
Linda, who also went through a sour relationship, met William at a park and from there, love starts all over again for the couple.
A WORTHY READ.......2007-07-10
You may want to take the chance that I did and introduce yourself to this author's work which I found touching and revealing from a male's perspective on an emotional level. Black love in today's society is extremely complicated and this read offers valuable insight. Read it!
EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER!!!.......2007-07-08
Best book of 2007! This book is a page turner and one that will get your emotions stirring. If you dont cry, then something is wrong with you. William wrote from his SOUL in this book.
Really Good!!.......2007-06-06
O My GOD!! This book was so good. I just finished reading the last 3 chapters at work today and cried like a baby. I had to go to the restroom and get myself together. This book shows you what it's like from a mans point of view and it was a real page turner. I won't reveal any of it (like some people who leave reviews do), but you just gotta read it. I'll be reading the 1st book next (I know it's backwards), but I've never heard of this author before now and I'm glad I gave him a chance. It was worth it!
Amazon.com
Dr. Neil Clark Warren is the mastermind behind eHarmony.com—an Internet matchmaking service that encourages readers to find "true love" rather than a slew of Saturday night dates. His basic shtick is that "broad-based compatibility" is the glue for making a partnership loving and lasting. Falling in Love offers 29 "dimensions of compatibility" to consider before committing to a romantic relationship. His formula is so, well, formulaic, it threatens to take all the mysticism and romance out of finding a soul mate. That's fine with Warren, who believes that readers who screen partners for compatibility will fare much better than spirit-struck lovers who base commitments on profound immediate attraction.
Warren begins with weeding out bad characters. "If one of the partners in a relationship lies, cheats, or steals, that bad character will eventually undermine the relationship." Even if you're not the victim of these behaviors, you will be, claims Warren. So run, don't walk from the relationship. Seems like obvious common sense. Yet advice columnist are constantly answering letters from unhappily married men and women, complaining about these very forms of broken trust. Warren also encourages readers to stop ignoring the early "red flags" of addictive personalities and psychological issues, such as chronic depression. Demand that the partner commit to professional help before you go any further with the relationship, he advises. Other compatibility issues include anger management, sexual passion, and family planning.
While his advice is solid, it is conservative. For instance, he does not address homosexual love or allow homosexual partnering on his web site. Also, most of the discussion is geared toward traditional marriage as the final goal. --Gail Hudson
Book Description
Dr. Neil Clark Warren is the mastermind behind eHarmony.com#151;an Internet matchmaking service that encourages readers to find "true love" rather than a slew of Saturday night dates. His basic shtick is that "broad-based compatibility" is the glue for making a partnership loving and lasting. Falling in Love offers 29 "dimensions of compatibility" to consider before committing to a romantic relationship. His formula is so, well, formulaic, it threatens to take all the mysticism and romance out of finding a soul mate. That's fine with Warren, who believes that readers who screen partners for compatibility will fare much better than spirit-struck lovers who base commitments on profound immediate attraction.- Warren begins with weeding out bad characters. "If one of the partners in a relationship lies, cheats, or steals, that bad character will eventually undermine the relationship." Even if you're not the victim of these behaviors, you will be, claims Warren. So run, don't walk from the relationship. Seems like obvious common sense. Yet advice columnist are constantly answering letters from unhappily married men and women, complaining about these very forms of broken trust.- Warren also encourages readers to stop ignoring the early "red flags" of addictive personalities and psychological issues, such as chronic depression. Demand that the partner commit to professional help before you go any further with the relationship, he advises. Other compatibility issues include anger management, sexual passion, and family planning. While his advice is solid, it is conservative. For instance, he does not address homosexual love or allow homosexual partnering on his web site. Also, most of the discussion is geared toward traditional marriage as the final goal. --Gail Hudson
Customer Reviews:
Helpful and solid.......2007-07-18
Although I normally avoid this kind of book, I found this one to be very helpful...so much so, that I've ordered copies for two people who wanted to borrow my copy (because I didn't want mine to disappear).
Although some reviewers of this book have complained that it "seemed like an ad for eharmony" I felt that the discussion of the research that went into the development of the 29 dimensions provided the evidence I needed and gave the balance of the book credibility. If you are a cut-to-the-chase person, skip the first 50 pages, but if you have a skeptical and analytical bent, you will find the initial discussion helpful in weighing what they have to say about each dimension as they go through the remainder of the book. They don't really pull punches and their breakdown of the dimensions into categories was very helpful. It really helps to clarify what's being "too picky" and what's holding out for the right relationship.
Incidentally, there is stuff in here that no one I know ever thought was important to be matched on, but that I watch friends struggle over in their relationships and didn't understand why.
Follow this book's advice and cancel your eHarmony account.......2007-03-11
Neil wrote a fine book with good advice. The most helpful section was the first screening dimension: Good Character. "Character matters!"
My own and others' horrific experiences with eHarmony (passive aggressive and/or nonexistent customer service, fraudulent guarantees, questionable "matching" practices, low number of matches--zero globally for many weeks!, and charlatan billing practices), lead me to believe that Neil's company suffers from bad character.
Let us follow Neil's advice: "Watch out for signs that reveal a diminished sense of conscience. People who willfully and regularly lie, exaggerate, or cheat have no regard for the rights of others. They will pay little attention to how their actions impact you, as long as they get what they want....A person with a character disorder has mastered the art of putting on a facade of social acceptability. He knows how to gain your confidnece and that of other people. The person with a character disorder is often a smooth talker, a charmer, a person who knows how to say just the right thing to get what he wants."
Neil, eHarmony can change for the better if you genuinely want it to and are willing to do the tough work to see change happen. But we realize that the prognosis for bad character is not good. Only three experiences seem to bring any real change--a stint in prison, serving in the military, or a deep spiritual transformation. We hope the people at eHarmony will be helped by at least one of these experiences.
Folks, if you encounter eHarmony, run--don't walk--away from it as fast as you can. It will not get better with time.
Didn't read the book, but..........2007-01-11
I never read the book, but I have been on e-harmony for 6 months. They were sending me matches the first 2 weeks, but most of "matches" were not responding at all or the people were totally the opposite of me. I manage to meet one single girl out of there in 6 months and as soon as we met we started to laugh because we were so different, that even a stranger could say we weren't a match.
I called e-harmony several times to cancel my membership and have some refund, but they only agreed to prolong my membership without additional expenses. I didnt get ANY matches in the following 6 months, even though I WAS ACCEPTING MATCHES FROM THE ENTIRE USA!!! I calle dagain just to hear excuses.
Now, every time I see the ad on the TV...I just laugh. dont subscribe to these people, its not worth of it. Oh and by the way, I sold the book on ebay for $11.50. Total loss, total waste of time and money.
Sincere & straight forward.......2006-09-28
I especially appreciated Dr. Warren's comments and reflections on character. It is so important. The book is genuine, reads well, and held my attention. He knows what he is talking about. It is thorough and clear.
Excellent advice for people who want to get serious.......2006-09-07
I do life coaching and public speaking for a living, including in the areas of relationship and sexuality. I have read a lot of books on both of these topics and was very pleasantly surprised that this was a solidly written book and not just a lot of hype.
One of the things I most liked about this book was the emphasis on character. Dr. Warren was very direct about what constitutes good character, the likely outcome of dating people with characters disorders and the pivotal importance of being authentic and not dating people who lie.
The author also stressed the importance of compatibility. A lot of people work too hard at relationship because fundamentally, they are not compatible. If they were, things would go a lot easier. There is a section in the book that breaks down compatibility into a number of different dimensions that I thought were an extremely useful lens for people to use when looking for a serious partner.
I also liked the sections on sex and the healthy expression of sexuality. Dr. Warren points out that premature sexuality can often blind you to character faults and compatibility issues. While this is difficult to swallow for a lot of people, it sure seems to be true. He also talks about the importance of sex and sexual compatibility from a space of someone with a lot of experience counseling couples.
The appendices in the book are just as valuable as the text. I particularly liked his sections on the "must haves" and "can't haves." When many people are dating, they are not conscious of what their non-negotiables are and enter into relationship where there are a lot of good things, but one essential ingredient is missing. This is a very seductive dynamic, especially when the beginning of the relationship feels soooo good. However, it's like missing one essential vitamin; it will eventually catch up with you.
Also, there is a great no nonsense section on sexual chemistry. Dr. Warren doesn't side step this important area and he makes it very clear that this is what separates potential friends from potential partners. According to him, there must be sexual chemistry and you either have it or you don't. Without sexual chemistry, people often end up having affairs or feeling guilty that they are not attracted to their partners.
Overall, this book posits a conservative approach to dating. Many people won't be able to live up to all the advice, but the advice is sound and it makes good psychological sense. Some people will find the advice on sex overly conservative, but as adults we need to draw our own lines between the ideal and what is reasonable for ourselves. We don't necessarily have to embody the gold standard, but we can certainly aspire to it.
Another interesting part of this book was the section that stepped through each part of the traditional marriage vows and talked about what each means. The take away point, was not that you just promise to stay together, it's that you promise to do the work to love, honor and respect each other. This section which contained a lot of commentary was a useful reminder of examining your deep intention before taking a walk down the aisle with someone. Sometimes people think when they are just staying together they are keeping their vows, but Dr. Warren points to something more than this as truly living your commitment. I thought this was a good point to make, although in practice I believe that sometimes divorce is the best course for some people. On the other hand, I like that he emphasized that marriage isn't something to be entered into lightly and either is a serious relationship.
Dr. Warren talks a lot about eHarmony in his book and this can sometimes be annoying. I have never tried eHarmony or even looked at it in-depth online. However, whether that website is good or not, the book certainly is, so don't let any impressions you have of eHarmony get in the way of seriously evaluating this book.
In short, the advice in this book is good to keep on your radar with the understanding that life isn't perfect and ideals are often difficult to live up to. Even if you disagree with Dr. Warren, his words are good food for thought and you will at least have a heightened awareness of the trade-offs inherent to less conservative dating approaches.
This is not a book geared toward casual dating or casual sex. The audience is clearly people who are very serious about finding a lifelong partner. If you fall in that category, you can't go wrong. Another good book that complements this one is WILL OUR LOVE LAST by Sam Hamburg.
I don't agree with everything this author says and I don't think he factors in enough compassion for the human condition and the challenges of modern life, especially around getting needs for intimacy and sexuality met. However, there is a lot of wisdom here and anyone can benefit from it.
A problem of the modern world is that it's more complex to find a match than ever and it takes longer because people are more complicated and life is more demanding. While Dr. Warren gives excellent dating advice, he doesn't address how to meet your intimacy and sexual needs while you are involved in a lengthy search for a good partner. Let's face it; the kind of great partners that Dr. Warren is asking us to hold out for don't grow on trees. I wish he wrote section on friends, social support and other coping strategies for what to do in the meantime.
Average customer rating:
- love beyond reason
- Read it at the beach
- Go ahead, if you have nothing better to read...
- LOVED IT!
- Not very realistic but okay for an afternoon read
|
Love Beyond Reason
Sandra Brown
Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
 General | Romance | Subjects | Books
General | Brown, Sandra | ( B ) | Authors, A-Z | Romance | Subjects | Books
Paperback | Brown, Sandra | ( B ) | Authors, A-Z | Romance | Subjects | Books
General | Contemporary | Romance | Subjects | Books
General | Brown, Sandra | ( B ) | Authors, A-Z | Romance | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Paperback | Brown, Sandra | ( B ) | Authors, A-Z | Romance | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
General | Contemporary | Romance | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
General | Romance | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:
-
A Treasure Worth Seeking
-
Eloquent Silence
-
A Whole New Light
-
Prime Time
-
22 Indigo Place
ASIN: 0446616834 |
Customer Reviews:
love beyond reason.......2007-01-05
I enjoy all of sandra brown books . This was a very good.
Read it at the beach.......2005-11-27
As many love stories' books this one start with a thrilling story of an "abducted" baby. After a few pages the main story drowns to oblivion and you'll only read about the love story and you wouldn't care about the "abduction". So the love story is good enough to keep you reading but don't expect any thrilling plot at any part of the book. You can read this book at once in a long flight or at the beach.
Go ahead, if you have nothing better to read..........2005-06-28
I guess I fall somewhere in the middle on this one. It was okay, I liked it until the trailer scene. ...the enjoyment ended there. I love romance novels, so don't get me wrong. But even as romance novels go, this one was just a bit flat.
I have read over 20 of Sandra Browns books, and about half of them were great, half not. Usually because there was a lack of excitement, or because the characters contradicted themselves. The almost rape in this one was good. It spiced it up, made it exciting. But that's as good as it gets.
It might have been nice if they did have to actually battle it out with the grandparents, or if Katherine would have left after having found out about Jace's ex-wife and catching them in what looked like a compromising position. Her running off with the baby again would have made it exciting. Or she could have ran off when Jace left without a word for two days to go rescue his ex-wife, she should have been gone when he returned. But alas, none of that happened. Katherine just kept taking it. She was a total walking contradiction. As I said, the story is flat and predictable. The so called explosion at the end was just a stupid cop-out way to end the story. So I wouldn't break my neck to run out and buy this one. Read only if you have nothing better to do.
LOVED IT!.......2005-06-09
This has to be one of my absoulte favorites! I loved the storyline. I thought it was creative and inventive. Their romance was hot and steamy and I loved Jace. He took to baby Allison and I thought it was great when he referred to himself as Daddy when speaking to her. I loved it!
Not very realistic but okay for an afternoon read.......2004-04-14
In my opinion, for Katherine to have taken such drastic measures to protect her niece, Allison, she trusted Jace Manning way to much. Personally, if this was reality, the moment Jace knocked on the door, I would have collected the baby and went running. But even being fiction, the quick first kiss, his moving in, the marriage, was a bit much. Then the fact that the grandparents are pretty much dropped from the story line was pretty disappointing. I was expecting a little more especially after their wayword son, Jace, was the center of the fiasco. Okay book, if you need something to do for an afternoon.
Average customer rating:
- Beecham has another winner
|
Sleep of Reason
Rose Beecham
Manufacturer: Bold Strokes Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | Classics | Comic | Contemporary | Literary
Action & Adventure | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Women Sleuths | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
General | Contemporary | Romance | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:
-
Grave Silence
-
First Instinct
-
The Devil Unleashed
-
Flight Risk
-
Fresh Tracks
ASIN: 1933110538 |
Book Description
When toddler Corban Foley vanishes from his home in the dead of night and a goat's head is left on the front lawn, most of Montezuma County turns out for the search. But nothing is at it seems with this case, and Detective Jude Devine soon finds herself caught up in a small-town soap opera whose players seem more interested in their fifteen minutes of fame than in the fate of little Corban.
With the media snapping at her heels, she can barely conduct the investigation let alone have a private life, not that it's going well. Jude never liked time-sharing Dr. Mercy Westmoreland with English actress Elspeth Harwood, and when Elspeth buys land locally, Jude has to make some choices.
The unexpected arrival in town of Chastity Young and her niece Adeline, adds a new complication to Jude's life, when she finds herself drawn to Chastity, who is far from her usual type. Rose Beecham follows her award-winning Grave Silence, with another uncompromising page turner. This second in series will not disappoint.
Customer Reviews:
Beecham has another winner.......2006-10-03
Detective heroine Jude Devine returns with a horrific new case to solve in Rose Beecham's quick-paced and commanding latest mystery, Sleep of Reason. The murderer of toddler Corban Foley seems obvious to all, even the readers. The problem is that Devine cannot find the missing child and cannot prove a murder has been committed.
Beecham is uncompromising when describing scenes, characters and emotions so that the reader can visualize it all. She does this once again with Sleep of Reason, using an economy of words. Beecham's writing is tight, fluid, and crisp. We can feel the cold snow and the desolation of the desert when Devine is searching for Corban. We become angry at the despicable adults in Corban's life that have allowed this to happen. Beecham likes to mix it up for us, never giving us the predictable. She carries the reader along to a point where we are putting together the pieces of the mystery puzzle. Then she introduces a new and disturbing angle and efficiently merges it into the main plot. With a less seasoned author, this additional storyline could be an interruption, but as she takes us in and out of this subplot, we turn the pages even faster so we can see how it corresponds with the overall story. Beecham does not disappoint her readers here.
We get to know Devine better in Sleep of Reason, seeing a very likeable woman who is a dynamo as a professional, strong, driven and unwavering in her duty, but deeply conflicted in her personal life. It is easy for us to make Devine our heroine because even with her flaws, we want to be like her. Beecham also has done a swift and thorough job of lending continuity in Devine's life by weaving in the back story, and using the same characters that were in Grave Silence, including her romantic interest, Dr. Mercy Westmoreland. But rather than giving the reader an overused romantic story, we are treated to some unexpected events that pique our interest.
Sleep of Reason does not have a neat and tidy ending, but Beecham smartly leaves the reader with a promise that we cannot resist, letting us anxiously await the continuation of the series with Place of Exile in 2007.
Customer Reviews:
Pat Reader.......2007-03-09
I liked "When You Believe" and "Reason to Believe" and I'm going to get "Believe in me". These are the first books I read by Jessica Inclan and I'm hoping she writes more like them. I found the stories very good and I enjoyed reading them.
Second book in a wonderful new series.......2007-02-13
This is the second book in this new series. The first book is When You Believe. This book deals with Rufus and Fabia's story. We find out in this book how Rufus lost his memory and was taken in by Fabia. Fabia and Rufus are from the Croyant race, magical people, trying to integrate into the Moyennne race, the humans. This book has a touch of adult fantasy, romance, and social issues pertinent today. I absolutely love this series and have enjoyed the first two so far and will definitely buy the third. It has mystery, magic, romance and a wonderful style of writing. I highly recommned reading this wonderful author.
Judge for Yourself!.......2007-01-13
This is the second book in this series and it is not as compeling as the first. Enter again a world of Moyenne (humans) and Croyant those who perform magic, spells, incantations,etc you get the picture. Moyenne are ignorant of the Croyant and most Croyant want to live in peace with the non-magic humans, but some don't. Some want to control the humans, and feel Croyants should rule the world and they don't care what they have to do or who they have to kill to do this. This time around it was a little too reminiscent of an adult version of Harry Potter, but instead of our hero and heroine being triumphant they constantly and consistantly get their you know what kicked. In fact all the men and women of reason seem to do is get taken at will and beaten up by the bad guys. Most of the story appears to be spinning its wheels as opposed to moving forward. It's not until towards the end that a third party is introduced into the scenario that may shift the balance.
The story between the hero and heroine is a good one, it's the entrance of the magics that breaks down the love story. Meet Rufus, who while rescusing his brother from a crazy Croyant female, gets beated up and had his memories stolen from him by said woman before he teleported himself or was teleported away from the scene. Enter Fabia Fair, love the name, who finds this man on the doorsteps across the street from where she lives. She is a kind gentle soul who has very strong telepathic abilities, she can listen to minds far away. She's helping her people look for the troublemakers among them. She doesn't know that Rufus is a Croyant like herself, because his mind at first is a blank. He can't remember who he is, he can't speak, he can barely walk, he doesn't even know how to perform the most basic human functions on his own. The few days that these two are together while his memory returns and they begin to fall in love is what makes this book, it's their love story that makes it worthwhile.
Site Rating: 4 1/2 - Ms. Inclan Is On Her Way To Being The Ultimate Paranormal Princess!.......2006-10-10
In our time, there are two kinds living upon the Earth. The humans--Moyenne--live unknowingly amid the powerful and ancient Les Croyant des Trois. It is within this written realm that wondrous things play out and lives will be threatened. Open the book to experience the magical grandeur of Reason To Believe...
Fabia Fair is one of the Croyant. Her special ability to listen to the mental thinking of the Moyenne makes her the perfect candidate to help find and stop the evil, Quain Dalzeil and his followers.
One day she spots a man huddled on some steps all by him self. This meeting will forever change both their lives. Forcing feeling and twisting their lives in ways neither of them could ever imagine.
REASON TO BELIEVE is the last release by Jessica Inclan. Ms. Inclan's voice speaks in fresh tones and fully realized characters that will magically transport you into their world of magic, spells and the wizardry of Reason To Believe. The sparks of spell casting, transporting and the creation of love will have you enchanting and delighted from the very start. The emotions that start off this novel will pull at your heartstrings and an instant bond will form with the two main characters. This is an exceptional paranormal novel and one this reviewer highly recommends.
Fabia is a wonderful and trusting soul. When she spies a hurt and dirty--Moyenne--man crouched upon the steps one day, at first, she thinks he is a drunk. But, once she really looks at him, she notices he has been hurt and has no memory or ability to speak. Something about this poor pitiful man calls to her soul and she will take him home and care for him.
From that fateful moment Fabia takes the strange man home, does this story unfold to reveal magical wonders and danger for both of them. What will happen? Who is the brutalized stranger she found? Is he friend or foe?
The voice of Ms. Inclan is undeniable rich and creative. She has stirred up a different and remarkable fresh approach in the paranormal romance field with this novel. Ms. Inclan is on her way to be the ultimate paranormal princess!
Reviewed by Janalee Ruschhaupt, 2006
Courtesy of Love Romances and More
FINDING MAGIC CAN MEAN ALSO FINDING LOVE.......2006-10-09
After trying to rescue his brother and failing Rufus finds all of his memories are gone and he is alone and scared, all of his magic is gone. That is when Fabia finds him on the step of a neighbor house. She thinks he's probably one of the many lost homeless people found on the streets. But she cant hear his thoughts like with the moyenne there is constant things running around never such quiet they haven't learned how to be quiet with their thoughts no she doesnt think that he is a Moyenne (just an ordinary mortal) So Fabia goes to him she can feel that there is something more with this man so she takes him to her house. Maybe hes under a very strong spell that has been cast on him and he only needs time to come out of it. They clean him up and it is apparent that he is not just a homeless person his body is strong and the cloths he had on were not cheap. He had been in some type of fight, but with who? Could he be one of them, Croyant?
And as time goes on he does begin to get some things back with each kind caress and gentle kiss his memory is returning but maybe this is not what he wants because Rufus is not an ordinary mortal he is a Croyant, a man of magic, and someone is trying to harm him and the people he cares for. The Croyant people are divided some what to rule the moyenne, some feel that they should just rid the world of the moyenne. They don't want to live in secret anymore. And yet others want to start a way to bring the Moyesnn and the Croyant together. but yet still others cannot forgot the burnings or the trials or the crazed mobs with their torches coming after them every time something went wrong. Blaming them. And then there were the one's that just want it to stay the way it is secret. But no matter what there will be more trouble and Fabia and Rufus are going to have to find what there part is in all of the and it after they will still be able to continue with there growing attraction to each other
JESSICA INCLAN has brought us back to this world of Magic in her second book in this series, REASON TO BELIEVE. It is a wonderfully written book that does give you reason to believe that there is hope even at the most desperate of times and the attraction and love that grow between Fabia and Rufus and the trust they give to each other nothing not even this evil magic that is treating to tear up all they believe in can keep them apart.
Dreams and Magic are alive. Do you believe?
Book Description
Finally, the answer to why, when it comes to romance, women are coy and men are just clueless--explained from the micro standpoint. Who would have guessed that all of our sexual and social behavior, and even our physical appearance, could be attributed to what our tiny unseen reproductive cells are doing? But that's Quirk's thesis in this highly entertaining book from an Average Guy that's a fun read full of a-ha! moments for scientists and civilians alike. Learn facts about cheating you'll never see on "Jerry Springer," like how unfaithful females actually change the biology of their mates. Discover why most sperm couldn't care less if they never saw an egg, what makes men yell "woo!" in a feminine falsetto--very similar to the mating cry of the Siamang gibbon--and, most important, the surprising answer on what to wear to attract that alpha mate.
Customer Reviews:
Pure Genius.......2007-05-28
The best book on sexual evolutionary biology. Why both men and women seem to be on different planets. Hm... is there a catchier title?
Perhaps, but not a better book.
Unfortunately, despite his extensive bibliography, Joe Quirk (What the blazes kind of name is that for a scientific researcher? ) does not have a Phd. Neither is he buddies with Oprah, so I doubt this will top the besteller list.
Never mind. I've suffered through many academese imbued evolutionary snoozefests texts. This one will keep you wide awake, I promise.
What Quirk has is brilliance, and (gasp!) an ability to write. He must have had some alpha ancestors during the pleistocene era that could spin some awesome tales by the campfire.
Among The Table of Contents we find such gems as:
Chapter 9: The Jerk Gene
Chapter 12: Why Women are Coy, Men Clueless
Chapter 26: Free Love Causes War
And, for a smaple paragraph:
" Men are attracted to nubility and health. Women are attracted to nobility and wealth. Both want intelligence, kindness, and opulence.
Both want a good sense of humor. They'll need it. "
As will the reader.
An easy 5 stars.
Quirk is a kick.......2007-05-12
A fun and funny spin on evolutionary biology. Sex: a serious topic at its silliest. Good reading, full of clever lines and information perfect for sharing at cocktail parties.
Great book. .......2007-01-03
It is not often that you find a book that informs as well as amuses. This is for everything they left out of sex-ed when you were a kid.
Fun read includes plenty of insights........2006-09-24
Why are women teases, why are men afraid to commit, and what's behind the real needs of women and men? SPERM ARE FROM MEN, EGGS ARE FROM WOMEN: THE REAL REASON MEN AND WOMEN ARE DIFFERENT takes a hilarious, quasi-scientific look at men and women from a different angle, blending a healthy sense of humor with science, sociology and biology in pursuit of the truth. The author 'studied' Playboy and Hustlers and spent some seven years researching source papers in sociobiology as well: his lively, fun read includes plenty of insights.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
Joe continues to rock.......2006-08-02
Not only was his novel Ultimate Rush a funny, dynamically-quick read, but now this writer has given us some smartitude along with the laughs. Read it, believe it, marvel over the aqua-ape.
Book Description
Falling in love is one of life's great experiences. Everyone wants to be in love. "No matter where we are in our lives, or what else may occupy our time, we all wish to have someone to love, someone who will love us in return," writes Greg Lang in the introduction to Why I Love You, the latest installment of his best-selling series.
Romance is fun. Romance is exciting. Romance is intoxicating. It's no wonder we all crave it, but it's interesting, too, that we approach it differently, depending upon our personal styles. Some people dive in head first, abandoning all their inhibitions; others proceed with caution. Either way, as a romantic relationship progresses, we find that it, like any other relationship, requires care and nourishment in order to flourish. If there is one thing the author has learned from his own romantic history, it is that love cannot go unexpressed. And that is why he has written this book.
In truth, there usually are hundreds of reasons that we love someone, and yet, when it comes to telling that special person how we feel, it is often hard to verbalize even a few. In Why I Love You, Greg Lang captures 100 reasons that we love a romantic partner in the hope that it will inspire couples everywhere to be more open and giving in their relationships.
With warm and vivid photographs of loving couples of various ages and ethnic backgrounds, Why I Love You is the perfect gift book for anyone who is in love.
Customer Reviews:
A great greating card.......2007-02-12
Lang writes wonderful stuff but should put it in a greeting card for $3.95 not a book. Like his past offerings, "Why a son needs a Dad" & "Why a daughter needs a Dad", there are pages of photos and one liners. Nothing of real essence, unless it was printed in a greeting card! Not worth the money!
Book Description
Best-selling author, Gregory E. Lang captures the essence of the dynamic relationships among adoptive families. These are families with so much love to share who are desperate to have and/or help children. From hugs and kisses, to witnessing "firsts" together, "Why I Chose You" depicts all of the reasons why each child is uniquely special to his or her adoptive parent(s).
For many adoptive parents, they desperately want children but are unable to have them. The adoption process provides them with a child who needs a parents' love and nurturing as much as the parents need the child. In other cases, adoptive parents see a need to provide loving homes for children who will flourish because of the affection they have to give.
More than 120,000 children are adopted each year in the United States alone. Trends continue to indicate that the number of adoptees is growing each year as the number of children in foster care continues to increase.
Raising a child is not a right, but a gift. It matters not from where the gift comes, but simply that it is received. Gone are the days in which adoption was taboo. It is reason for rejoicing, sharing, and celebrating. No guilt and no second guesses can creep into your heart once it is so completely filled to bursting with love.
It is that love that is celebrated within the pages of "Why I Chose You." Gregory E. Lang has compiled dozens of reasons for adoption as well as capturing the adoration, affection, and mutual gratification that is received from both the parent and child. For there is no greater place than a home filled with love, and no greater gift than the smile of a happy and contented child who knows he or she is loved.
Customer Reviews:
Why I Chose You Review.......2007-03-12
The book Why I Chose You was a disappointment for me. It's just okay. I expected some short adoption stories. Instead the book just lists simple sentences that express reasons for adopting along with an accompanying photo of an adopted child and his family. The book lacks substance. I don't recommend it.
It Touched My Heart .......2006-11-16
My husband and I are currently in the process of adopting our first child. When I came across this book in the store it stopped me dead in my tracks. Faster than you could blink an eye I was standing in the middle of the aisle reading each page and crying my eyes out. The photos and words in this book truly touched my heart, and I know that it will fast become a family favorite.
"Why I Chose You" Gregory E. Lang.......2006-02-02
Powerful, emotional, exceptionally well done. A perfect gift for anyone who has adopted a child and beautiful reading for the extended family. It captures the almost indescribable feelings that unite a parent and child and will, at some point, be a valuable tool in expressing those feelings to the child.
Good but not Inclusive.......2005-12-17
It would be hard for any author and his editors to represent every type of adoptive family in this book. And those not represented should acknowledge that, but it seems appearant that was a conscious effort made to limit and/or exclude non-white, non-straight families, non tradional families.
I was very pleased when I found this book on Adoption and my heart swelled as I read the various passages, but as I skimmed through it I failed to see a single picture of two dads. I thought I might have missed it, so I skimmed again, nope, not there.
But what I did find was an email address in the back of the book for the author. I sent him an email addressing my concerns. He responded quickly and reasonably. While I disagree with the marketing of the book, I applaud Greg Lang for his interest and effort and I have since purchased the book.
Note to the Editors: Had not the author responded personaly to my concerns, I would not have purchased this book, so keep that in mind for your second printing.
A Must For Parents of Adopted Children.......2005-09-06
I initially found this book at a local department store when shopping with my mother-in-law, her 2 sons are adopted. As she started skimming through this book in the store she started crying! I knew right away that this would be a perfect gift for her, but the price seemed too high at the store. I checked out Amazon.com when I got home and found it for $10 less!! If you have adopted children, this is a MUST!!
Customer Reviews:
The book "From Rage to Reason".......2007-05-14
I recieved the book very fast and it was in excellent condition.
Bravo! Janet!.......2004-09-27
for having the courage to tell your story about your rise from the projects of Indianapolis to being a member of a power elite. Yours is a story of struggle, guts and determination to make a name for yourself. Your interracial marriages did create a lot of controversy in the elite, for they don't accept the idea of black/biracial black women marrying elite, upper class nonblack men such as your husband.
You made a name for yourself in modeling early on. I have to give it to you for having kept your face and figure, but that's not all. You have a mind of your own that sometimes conflict with the prevailing views of the establishment, which isn't too accepting of smart, assertive women like you. But then again times has changed.
All I have say is that you rose above it all.
startling.......2004-08-22
This is an autobiography so you'd expect Janet Cohen to present herself in a good light. She doesn't. Instead Cohen comes off as a very bitter, self absorbed woman who doesn't seem to have learned anything over the years.
Janet, you did a great job.......2004-08-18
Janet's book is very excellent, she deserves a standing ovation for a book well written. This book is so interesting and captivating. This is the first time, i have seen someone so clear-cut honest. Janet Cohen is a beautiful woman who deserved all the good things in life. She has broken down racial barriers like Oprah to become of the greatest African-Americans of this era. I strongly recommend this book to people who haven't read it.
Amazing - Her Own Autobiography Makes Her So Unlikeable!.......2004-08-10
This book is so mistitled on two accounts. First, I would agree with the reviewer below; "From Rage to Reason" was for me, too, "From Rage to Disgust." How can anyone who is writing their OWN story come off so nauseatingly unlikeable? The more you read, the more arrogant, self-centered, and disengenuous Janet Langhart Cohen becomes. Maybe it should be "From Rage to Sickenly Manipulative." Second, this is clearly not a book about "My Life in Two Americas." Her story is simply not about the experience of being black in America. Forget that she's white skinned with caucasain features, she is astonishingly and uniquely beautiful. Perhaps, in her case, the two Americas could more adequately be described as the "few privileged with astounding beauty and the rest of us ordinary-looking people." Now, I have a great admiration for beauty and nothing against a woman using it to her best advantage; we should all put our assets to their best use. But this woman has done nothing to help the plight, the image, the future hopes and dreams of anyone but herself. As the old saying goes, for some women beauty is the biggest disadvantage because they have no need or motivation to develope any skills beyond dressing well and flirting when necessary. Janet Cohen has not proved that race has been a disadvantage for her, only that beauty paired with selfish ambition can produce a hollow, grating, selfish personality. Her "blackness" is used as a convenient excuse when she doesn't get her way or people don't like. People don't like her, obviously, because she is unlikeable. This woman is a horrible role model for any young woman, black, white, or whatever.
Books:
- Bruce Lee: The Celebrated Life of the Golden Dragon (The Bruce Lee Library)
- Brunner and Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing
- Carrera's Bride: Long Tall Texans (Silhouette Special Edition)
- Come Back to Sorrento
- Computational Electrodynamics: The Finite-Difference Time-Domain Method, Third Edition
- Confessions of a Video Vixen
- Crimes Against Nature: How George W. Bush and His Corporate Pals Are Plundering the Country and Hijacking Our Democracy
- Desperate Duchesses (Avon Historical Romance)
- Devil's Daughter
- Don't Talk Back To Your Vampire (Signet Eclipse)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Working on Yourself Doesn't Work: A Book About Instantaneous Transformation
- Shadows in the Starlight
- Fishes: An Introduction to Ichthyology, Fifth Edition
- Foundations of Quantum Mechanics II
- Making Comics: Storytelling Secrets of Comics, Manga and Graphic Novels
- Rockwood and Wilkins' Fractures in Children: Rockwood, Green, and Wilkins' Fractures
- Love of Labs: The Ultimate Tribute to Labrador Retrievers
- How to Look At Modern Art
- House Beautiful : The Designs of Donald A. Gardner Architects Inc : 101 Comfortable Country and Trad
- Girasol/sunflower: Por Dentro Y Por Fuera / Inside And Out
Bridget Jones's Diary
Bridget Jones's Guide to Life
Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination
Bridget Jones - The Edge of Reason (Widescreen Edition)
Bridget Jones's Diary (Collector's Edition)
