Book Description
In her dazzling new historical trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Liz Carlyle plunges readers into the steamy underworld of nineteenth-century London. Among the swirling glitter of English high society, a scandalous rogue gets more than he bargained for in the lady of his desires.
Lord Nash is a creature of the night -- his wealth and title provide but a tenuous entrée into polite society. Notorious for his sophisticated manners and a dark, dashing elegance, rumors abound of the men he has bankrupted and the women he's left heartbroken. But when Nash leaves his lair for a rare foray into the ton, he faces a lure of temptation all his own -- an extraordinary moment of passion with a mysterious lady in the moonlight -- and an obsession that will lead him into a hellish world of smugglers, spies, and intrigue. And as for his damsel in disguise, the witty and beautiful Miss Xanthia Neville, he soon learns, is as unattainable as she is tempting. And now Nash must decide if she is also dangerous. . . .
Customer Reviews:
No cookie cutter storyline here..........2007-10-10
Dark, dangerous and intelligent, of eastern European and English descent, Lord Stefan Nash, is a compelling, complex man who finds himself captivated and involved with the intelligent, independent. businesswoman, Xanthia, who recently arrived in England after nearly 30 years in Barbados. They are both outsiders, citizens of the world with broad views and interests, unable and unwilling to constrict themselves to the provincial world of english society. The time period is the late 1820s, the political atmosphere in Europe in the years after Napolean is unstable at best. I found the time period used an interesting and not often used departure from the norm, the prejudices and perameters of societal situations are the hints, the precursers if you will, of the geo-political and societal changes to come to the British empire and other world nations. Nations are jockeying for positions of political and economic strength. The British empire well in the thick of the machinations, must protect it's interests, and America wants a footing in mix. The worldly, Xanthia and Stefan are thrust into the intrigue of the political and societal undertones, where it leads their relationship, is not a rosy, predictable resolution formula. This book is a well crafted blending of compelling, sultry sensuality, intrigue, and well developed supplementary character storylines. I enjoyed the pacing and the prose. Shortcomings?...IMO not many. The well rounded, strength of character and personality in Stefan and Xanthia along with the developing, rich intimacy and mutual respect in their relationship is more than worthy of 5 stars. I will re-read this book - In short, I recommend it.
The plot just kept getting in the way .......2007-09-11
I just could not get over the fact that Xanthia was running a shipping empire that measures up to the likes of the East India company. I could really enjoy this of a contemporary, but a historical? A Regency Historical? I don't mind historical inaccuracies and women ahead of their time, but Xanthia just rang too false it got annoying. Lord Nash, the gentleman spy was equally annoying. He was just plain boring and seemed like a rehash of previous Liz Carlyle heroes. I'm pretty wary of reading the rest of this trilogy based on this disappointing beginning.
HISTORICAL ROMANCE--DON'T YOU LOVE 'EM?.......2007-09-03
GOOD BOOK--ANXIOUS TO READ HER OTHER BOOKS.
BOOKSELLER SENT A GOOD BOOK AND QUICKLY
Never Lie to a Lady.......2007-09-03
Lord Nash is dark and dangerous. Although accepted by the ton due to his title and his wealth, he rarely partakes of the societal entertainments. Attending the Sharpe ball for business, Nash meets the sensual beauty, Xanthia Neville.
His pursuit of the passionate Xanthia leads him into an intrigue involving smugglers, spies, treason and love.
Never Lie to a Lady is full of the unexpected. I was surprised by many of the directions the plot took. From Xanthia's past to the identity of the traitor, I was pleasantly shocked. I do so love to be fooled.
Never Lie to a Lady has an engaging and unpredictable plot, a strong and independent heroine and a romantic love story. Liz Carlyle has begun a trilogy that promises to be extraordinary!
Annmarie
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed
Oh, Liz Carlyle - you can do better than this. I'm disappointed........2007-08-27
Liz Carlyle is capable of so much, so I don't know what happened here. I guess that she decided to pick up a few of the successful elements from previous books - a practical, business-minded woman who can compete in a man's world, a dastardly rake, fierce sexuality, a hint of intrigue - and hoped that if she tossed them together any which way the results would be satisfactory. Well, she was wrong.
What bothered me here is that Xanthia and Nash's relationship is so exclusively sexual that although I totally believed that they were hot for one another, and would go out of their way to arrange trysts and such, I never saw any kind of loving or emotional attachment developing at the same time. The kiss, they grope in public, they meet in back alleys; ok, sure. All of the soulmate, yearning for one another, emotional trappings just seemed like the kind of self-deception so many people indulge in when they don't want to see how simple and base their own motives really are.
If Liz Carlyle were writing erotica, this might fly - but she's not, she's writing a romance where the love connection never happens. And the book suffers as a result.
Book Description
From the author of our popular Secret Lives of the U.S. Presidents comes another rambunctious look at White House history and this time, women are in the spotlight. Secrets Lives of the First Ladies features outrageous and uncensored profiles of all the presidents' wives.
You'll discover that Dolley Madison loved to chew tobacco. Mary Todd Lincoln was committed to an asylum, and Mamie Eisenhower never missed an episode of As the World Turns. You'll also learn why Hillary Clinton went to work for Wal-Mart (long before she started campaigning for a higher minimum wage).
Complete with biographies of every first lady, Secret Lives of the First Ladies tackles rough questions that other history books are afraid to ask: How many of these women owned slaves? Which ones were cheating on their husbands? And why did Eleanor Roosevelt serve hot dogs to the Kings and Queens of England? American history was never this much fun!
Customer Reviews:
First ladies - First rate.......2007-02-24
Recently a foreign journalist interviewing George W. Bush asked the President of the United States to turn out his pockets. What an interesting, humanizing thing to ask of the most powerful man on Earth. And exactly the kind of thing that never occurs in the burlesque of today's 24 hour electronic news cycle. The contents of our pockets, those little handy nooks that serve as contingency storage for our day-to-day indispensables, speak wonderful, accessible volumes about us as people. Show me what you have in your pockets and, whether or not I know WHO you are, I get a glimpse what KIND of person you are. In Secret Lives of the First Ladies, Cormac O'Brien has politely turned out the pockets of the spouses of each of our presidents, and it's a neat-o treasure trove he uncovers. His style is neither lewd nor exploitative, though, to be sure, there's plenty of juicy stuff here. His project is a sort of cameo portraiture of some forty seven intriguing and often remarkable women. The only flattery in these portraits is a consistent, entertaining, and often astounding disclosure of each woman's individual humanity. It is tempting to read the book in little chunks (as I did at first) owing to its concise chaptering. However, it's a real pleasure go back and review long stretches, watching how the public appearance of the First Lady has evolved over time while her private role has remained remarkably consistent: she is the president's wife. Which is to say, sometimes she is a loving yet diminutive spousal anchor and sometimes she is a headstrong engine of scandal and outrage. Sometimes she is a fully enfranchised partner in even the weightiest decision-making at the executive mansion, including public policy. That there were first ladies fitting all these descriptions in every era since the founding of the republic, to me, was quite amazing. If you know any married couples, you will find the First Ladies, good and bad, tragic and heroic, satisfyingly and entertainingly familiar. Predictably, a frustrating aspect of The Secret Lives of the First Ladies is the rigid brevity of its entries, particularly in chapters describing women whom one would like to examine more closely. The challenge is to keep track of those First Ladies whose full biographies you now want to find and read. Alas, one has the nagging fear that those biographies won't be as frank and entertaining as these admittedly brief introductions. But, such is the nature of this omnibus beast. O'Brien's prose is a yummy balance of richness and skim-ability with very few false notes. The design and illustration are a constant reassurance that this is a social visit and not a college text. You're here to make friends and there is no requirement to pass a final exam. A pleasure to read cover-to-cover or simply to table hop as you meet these one-of-a-kind ladies. Of its genre, this is an A+.
oregonmommy.......2006-06-17
If you like trivia, you'll enjoy this book. If you have only enough time to read short chapters or a few pages at a time, again, you'll like this book. Each chapter, which is about one first lady, is only a few pages in length -- perfect for bedtime reading for tired moms like me. There was enough information about each first lady to pique my interest, and make me want to find more in-depth biographies about many of the women.
Worth reading!.......2006-02-27
A very good read! Interesting facts about all the first ladies. It is sure to make you laugh. You will find out things you did not know. Entertaining.
interesting trivia - too bad the typeset is so tiny and feint.......2006-01-17
Warning: Do not buy this book for an elderly person, people with bifocals or people who wear glasses to read - unless you can get it in LARGE print.
I bought this book for my mother. However, the typeset is soooooo small and light weight that the words literally just looked like lines on the page to her.
Much better ... for what it is.......2005-09-17
I didn't think Cormac O'Brien's previous book, "The Secret Lives of the U.S. Presidents," was worth a lot. Though some reviewers raved about how he brought forgotten presidents "to life" for them, I still fail to see the point in bringing William Henry Harrison "to life" if all you know about him are a couple of People Magazine irrelevancies. Combine that with conventional political sneers breezily delivered and you've got perfect modern history-writing.
"Oh lighten up. It's all in fun." Okay: If you liked the author's last dive into hip, ironic, personality-driven history, you'll probably like this one. In fact, I found it less objectionable because the relative historical anonymity -- even insignificance -- of most American first ladies fits better with the author's interest in trivia in the first place. (I recall one newspaper editor gushing about Jacqueline Kennedy not long ago, saying something to the effect that she was "the first first lady to go to college, the first one to have lived overseas, the first one to speak a foreign language!" None of which is even remotely true.)
While O'Brien largely glossed over most of what was important in the presidents' terms in office, his thumbnail biographies of the first ladies tend to be balanced and fairly comprehensive. And although he still gets his digs in at Nixon, Reagan, and George Dubya, his chapters on Mrs. Nixon, Mrs. Reagan, and Mrs. Bush (both of them, actually) are fair and even sympathetic.
I'm not sure precisely who the target market is for this book. But if people in that demographic are seeking lightweight reading that tells them a little bit, maybe, about American history and politics, then I suppose this will suit them well enough.
Book Description
Impossible!
Colin Oliver, Viscount Sutton, left his beloved Cornwall for London to find a bride—some comely, proper, wellborn lady to bear him an heir. Certainly not someone like Madame Alexandra Larchmont. Yes, she's the toast of the ton, and a rare beauty to be sure. But she's also a fortune-teller. And Colin has an excellent reason for keeping a sharp watch on this one . . .
The cards have warned Alexandra for years about a dark-haired stranger who would wreak havoc with her life, so when she sees him at a soiree, her first thought is to run. Unfortunately, she overhears a murder plot, and the only person she can turn to for help is a man she knows she should stay away from, a man who eyes her with an undisguised hunger.
But fate's strange turns are Alexandra's stock in trade. And if love is written in the cards, surely nothing is impossible!
Customer Reviews:
unique heroine.......2007-08-28
I really enjoyed the storyline where the heroine is a reformed pickpocket who became a professional tarot card reader, quite different than the norm. The plot is strong as is the writing. The love scenes are way R rated.
The only thing I don't like is that in both D'alessandro books I've read so far, the heroines looked the same: not beautiful because of mismatched features. I don't quite know how to picture the mismatched features, I'm afraid to. May come up with an ogre! But the guys are gorgeous.
My First D'Alessandro Read...Excellent!.......2007-08-22
This was the first book I had read by Jacquie D'Alessandro. Her work was quite reminiscent of Teresa Medeiros or Julia Quinn. I particularly liked the witty banter that occurred between Colin and Alex. Alex was certainly no wilting flower! It was a fun, light-hearted read, and I would read it again.
Great book, as a sequel or alone.......2007-01-22
All of this author's books are wonderful in the order they are written or alone, having read them out of sequence myself. I am never disappointed in her books. Sometimes I'll read the back of the book and think "That doesn't sound very good." I have never been disappointed. If you have the chance to read this or any of her other books...go for it. You'll be glad you did.
Terrific Regency Entertainment.......2006-12-14
Colin Oliver, Viscount Sutton has come to London on a mission. Feelings of melancholy and doom coupled with reaching the age of his mother's death have him prompted him to get down to business to wed and secure his title by producing an heir. Several times Colin had been to London before, always looking for face so memorable but only glimpsed for a scant moment four years before. Prepared to abandon his search for that elusive dream he was astounded when across the ballroom floor he got his first glimpse of the newest toast of the ton, the famous fortune teller and saw the face that haunted him.
Madame Alexandra Larchmont knew how fleeting the novelty of her fortune-telling would be as an amusement for the ton. It was imperative she earn as much as possible in order to save what children she could from the vermin ridden streets of London. Spying Colin, the face of her dreams across the ballroom floor was a shock and in her efforts to hide she unwittingly overheard plans being made to commit murder. The only person that might be able to help would be Colin, the one person who could expose her for a fake. When it appears Colin doesn't recall that monumental moment of four years ago, and in spite of the folly of spending more time in his company, Alexandra cannot leave when his cards show him to be in danger. However, the real danger was in Alexandra becoming more and more susceptible to the impossible yearnings of her heart.
*** I've long been a fan of Ms. D'Alessandro's and her most recent Regency NEVER A LADY only cements my admiration for this vibrant wordsmith who's charismatic prose is a guarantee of providing the utmost in reading entertainment. She fashions her main protagonists with depth of personality making them seem larger than life and in this example the reader will be totally captivated by Alexandra, a product of the mean streets of London who makes it her mission to save as many of the unfortunate children as she can. Colin is fashioned with the undeniable stamp of an honorable gentleman who had been captivated by the dirty face of young girl who had once tried to pick his pockets. He'd let her slip away once and had suffered years of torment in wishing he knew what had happened to her; if she had managed to survive. While the romance and sensual elements were the prominent plot to this story, the mystery of who, what and why someone was to be murdered helped to keep the pace lively and the story rushing towards it's inevitable climax. Moreover, in addition to keeping the richness of this well-rounded story D'Allessandro inserts a plethora of engaging secondary characters including the very cunning six year old Robbie, Colin's brother Nathan, and a boot chewing dog aptly named B.C. All in all, a totally enchanting read that is sure to please.
Marilyn Rondeau, Official Reviewer for THE MYSTIC CASTLE
Extremely well done!.......2006-11-21
Colin Oliver, Viscount Sutton, left his countryside estate in Cornwall for London. Recently, Colin has been having the feeling of impending doom. Recalling that his own mother died at the same age he currently is, Colin decides it is time to find a bride and provide heirs for the family line. Thus the unwanted, but necessary, trip to London is done. What Colin does not expect is to find a face from his past. Madame Alexandra Larchmont may be the most sought after fortune teller for all the Society parties lately, but four years ago she had been a thief who tried to pick his pockets. Since the night she escaped him, Colin feared for the unknown girl's fate. The question now is whether she has really changed her ways or if she is using her talent of reading cards to gain entry into the homes of the upper crust.
The cards have warned Alexandra for years about a certain man that would enter her life and turn it upside down. Yet she never expects to see him at a London soiree. In trying to slip away unnoticed, she ends up overhearing an assassination plot. Trying to stay out of danger, but unable to sit by and do nothing, Alexandra leaves the host of the party an anonymous letter, explaining what she had overheard. Later, when Alexandra learns the host has been murdered, she rightfully fears for her own life. The only person she can turn to is Lord Sutton. It does not seem as though the gentleman recalls their encounter four years ago, but the longer she stays in his presence, the higher the odds that he will remember her. Even worse, the man may figure out just how much she yearns for his touch.
***** Author Jacquie D'Alessandro has yet to disappoint me with any of her romantic and suspense filled tales. Until the unlikely day occurs of D'Alessandro suddenly getting writer's block so badly that she totally flops in story telling (Heaven Forbid!), I will remain one of her biggest fans. Once again, all the characters in the story are very well developed and totally believable. The main and secondary characters are so detailed that each seem to have their very own personality and little quirks. I not only came to care for the main characters, but also all the secondary and a few of the background characters as well. (Little Robbie is a perfect example.) Wimpy, fainting, and useless females need not apply to be in any D'Alessandro novel. The same can be said for stiff, recherché, and boring men. Excellent and highly recommended reading! *****
Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.
Book Description
Suzann Ledbetter brings her unparalleled storytelling talents to a new mystery series in which one engaging heroine sets out to tame the Wild West with a woman's touch...
"The simple truth is, I was born clever...." So says spirited young Denver City detective Joby (Josephine Beckworth) Sawyer -- and she isn't bragging. With a whip-sharp mind, self-taught expertise in biology, herbology, chemistry, criminality, and legal action, Joby can pretty much get her man. But there's one still hanging on the line: her devoted policeman beau, Jack O'Shaughnessy. In Joby's line of work, murder and mayhem come before matrimony. And with two new cases to crack, her wedding gown can wait.
For now Joby has to get the goods on a no-good abusive husband so a wealthy wife can get out with her fortune and her features intact. Then, a high-class jewel thief goes from larceny to murder as a woman is found strangled with her pearl necklace. Against Jack's wishes, Joby takes a crack at the case with the help of her mentor, Won Li. Determined to prove she's as good an investigator as any man, Joby must use both her brains and her beauty to catch a thief -- before he kills again.
Download Description
"Suzann Ledbetter brings her unparalleled storytelling talents to a new mystery series in which one engaging heroine sets out to tame the Wild West with a woman's touch... ""The simple truth is, I was born clever...."" So says spirited young Denver City detective Joby (Josephine Beckworth) Sawyer -- and she isn't bragging. With a whip-sharp mind, self-taught expertise in biology, herbology, chemistry, criminality, and legal action, Joby can pretty much get her man. But there's one still hanging on the line: her devoted policeman beau, Jack O'Shaughnessy. In Joby's line of work, murder and mayhem come before matrimony. And with two new cases to crack, her wedding gown can wait. For now Joby has to get the goods on a no-good abusive husband so a wealthy wife can get out with her fortune and her features intact. Then, a high-class jewel thief goes from larceny to murder as a woman is found strangled with her pearl necklace. Against Jack's wishes, Joby takes a crack at the case with the help of her mentor, Won Li. Determined to prove she's as good an investigator as any man, Joby must use both her brains and her beauty to catch a thief -- before he kills again. "
Customer Reviews:
A Great Western Mystery.......2005-02-16
After reading so many mediocre mysteries, this one was a great find! The main character Joby is spirited with out being annoying, the supporting characters are believable and likable, and the plot is well thought-out. I find it follows in the great tradition of Agatha Christie novels: suspision is cast upon many people, clues weave in and out of each other, and of course, several wrong turns and red herrings. The twist at the end makes me want to pick up the next book in this series. Good show!
enjoyable western historical mystery.......2003-05-12
In Denver City, Joby Sawyer runs a detective agency, an unheard of occupation for a female in the late nineteenth century. To hide her gender in plain sight, Joby tells her clients that she is just an agent for her father, a former Deputy US Marshall, who is away on an investigation or he is ailing. She insists her father performs all the sleuthing. In reality her indisposed dad is dead.
Joby is working on several cases involving a jewel thief, a murder, and finding proof to enable an abused wife to divorce her nasty spouse. Her only help is Chinese immigrant Won Li who thinks Joby is a lunatic especially when she tests new sleuthing ideas. As she works the cases, collecting the fee from a shyster lawyer may prove almost as difficult as solving the cases.
A LADY NEVER TRIFLES WITH THIEVES is an interesting dichotomy. The western historical mystery hooks the audience with tension yet often renders readers amused with the antics of the heroine. The story line is loaded with action while providing insight into the role of women especially through the gender nuking antics of Joby. In the final analysis, it is the cast that makes Suzann Ledbetter's tale one of the better sub-genre entries as they take the reader through a fun experience.
Harriet Klausner
Average customer rating:
- SO FAR IT IS UNANIMOUS - B.D.S. IS A VERY INTERTAINING AUTHOR
- A Very Good Book
- Suspenseful romance..
- Another great one by Smith!
- The glitter of Regency England; the romance of "Cinderella"!
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Never A Lady
Barbara Dawson Smith
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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ASIN: 0312959362 |
Book Description
Haunted by her sister's memory....A vision brought traveling preacher's daughter Mary Sheppard to the wicked city of London-she saw the image of her runaway identical twin Josephine, bloodstained and begging for help. But Josephine has vanished and is wanted for the murder of her nobleman lover. And his brother Adam, the haughtily elegant Duke of St. Chaldon, has sworn to see her hang.Conspiring with her sister's enemy....The only way to clear Josephine's name is to find the real culprit, so shy Mary devises a scandalous ruse. Dressed as a courtesan, wearing gems as heavy as sin, and tutored in the arts of a temptress by the duke, she will enter the gilded salons of Regency society.Trapped by passion and endangered by love....But soon Mary's passion and spirit arouse in Adam the dark heat of desire. And as he coaxes her to delicious abandon in a decadent game of deception, Mary finds herself living the life and the lie of a privileged lady-the lady she knows she can never be....
Customer Reviews:
SO FAR IT IS UNANIMOUS - B.D.S. IS A VERY INTERTAINING AUTHOR.......2007-01-05
Mary Elizabeth Sheppard wanted the deacon that worked for her father, Thomas Sheppard. His daughter, Josephine has left for London. Mary feels guilty that she has shut off the mind communication with her twin sister, Jo. She feels that she has driven her sister away.
The deacon, Victor Gabriel has the grace and looks of an angel and has worked for Thomas for the last several months and had finally asked for Jo's hand in marriage. Now he is engaged to Mary since Jo took off. Strange.
Mary arrived at Jo's London house only to find that she has disappeared. Mary is still troubled by the waking dream she had of Jo begging Mary's help. Here she runs into Adam Brentwell, Duke of St. Chaldon or rather he plops onto her. What a shock he is in for as he runs his hand up her limb. The contratemps between these two is very enticing.
Mary soon finds a friend in the wounded soldier, Obediah that oversees Jo's home.
Adam comes up with the plan to have Mary play the part of Jo to lure the suppossed shooter out into the open - among Jo's suitors was the Earl of Peterbourne - a rackity, vile old man.
No matter what Adam wants, Mary seems to go her own way. Of course he wants her in his bed. She turns into a feather-brained idiot and wants him to teach her of the carnal pleasures.
The tale just keeps getting better - the characters are very good, with Adam's sister hanging out with Lord Harry Dashwood - and Mary helping to bring Cyril out of his coma. Poor old Adam wasn't allowed to hang the wench on Cyril's say so.
I enjoyed the intrigue of the family relations.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED --M This should be a keeper!
A Very Good Book.......2002-08-22
This is the first Barbara Dawson Smith book that I have read and I will definitly read more. The tranformation of Adam from arrogant noble to compassionate human being is wonderful. Mary is also transform to a passionate young lady. I highly recommend this book
Suspenseful romance.........2001-07-11
Never A Lady is a different story. I loved the mind communication between the twins. The mystery and suspense kept me up half the night even though I was sure I knew the guilty party. I tried not to lose patience with the very stuborn duke and what he put Mary through. This is the first book I have read by Barbara Dawson Smith and I can recommend it highly. I found and bought 7 of her books at a local used book shop and won't stop until I have all she has written.
Another great one by Smith!.......2001-02-22
I don't know why Barbara Dawson Smith is not more popular, because her novels are topnotch, and Never a Lady is one of her very best. The Duke of St. Chaldon and preacher's daughter Mary Sheppard come together via their families; his brother appears to have been wounded by her sister Josephine (his mistress), whom Mary has come to aid after having a vision of her twin's distress. What makes this story intriguing and unusual is the lovers' characters: he not your typical aristocratic rake (though that's precisely what she assumes he is), but rather a man of pride, dignity, and responsibility, which makes their coming together all the more interesting, as she in turn represents everything his upbringing disdains: low birth and a disdain for the aristocracy and its values. She is refreshing first of all, in her plain name, which reflects her ugly duckling evolution in the face of the duke's haughty expectations. Secondly, she is an innocent without being prissy or overawed at her social superiors (as many heroines tend to be). These clashing perspectives are undermined by their chemistry and grudging admiration for values each holds at odds with their respective upbringings. I like the angle of the brother and sister and the added complications of the lovers becoming potential relatives whether she decides to become his mistress or wife. I also enjoyed the proposal scenes and the erotic scenes, particularly the last one in the carriage ride. The dialogue was captivating and lively, showing their wits and mutual attraction, and sweeping the reader along swiftly through to the end. I was loath to put this one down. I also highly recommend My Secret Affair, which again has some unusual lovers, especially the virginal lord, whose inexperience and reluctant passion is a fascinating read.
The glitter of Regency England; the romance of "Cinderella"!.......1996-12-22
This author has a unique ability to bring her characters and setting to life. This is a glorious romance to savor
Average customer rating:
- The Fat Lady Never Sings
- True Celebration
- Redemption on the Diamond
- A fabulous feel good story
- The Game, The Town, The Team, and The Coach
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The Fat Lady Never Sings: How a Football Team Found Redemption on the Baseball Diamond
Steven M Reilly
Manufacturer: iUniverse, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Memoirs | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
General | Biographies | Sports | Subjects | Books
General | Baseball | Sports | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0595394671 |
Book Description
Football is life in the tiny community of Derby, Connecticut. But when three high school seniors allow a twenty-eight year winning streak to end, they are forever branded as "losers". The three determine to seek redemption by playing on the baseball team, where they forever leave a mark on this small Connecticut town. The Fat Lady Never Sings is the remarkable true story of the 1992 Derby Red Raiders as told by one of its assistant coaches, author Steve Reilly. The smallest school in the league, Derby qualifies for the state baseball tournament and ultimately advances to the championship game. Under the towering lights of Middletown's Palmer Field, the Red Raiders face off against Terryville. But in the last inning, the Raiders trail by two runs and are down to their final at bat. With one out remaining, the "fat lady" prepares to sing as the quarterback steps into the batter's box. "The Fat Lady Never Sings is a marvelous adaptation from an exciting era of Derby High School Sports which blends emotion, humor and ultimate success."-Bill Pucci, Valley Times Sports Editor who will enter his fortieth scholastic season this fall.
Customer Reviews:
The Fat Lady Never Sings.......2007-07-18
The Fat Lady Never Sings is the story of a man, a bunch of high school seniors, and a town. Like many small towns across the United States, Derby was a football town. With few jobs and little chance of making out of Derby, all hopes were focused on making a good showing on the football field. The winners might get scholarships and make something of themselves. They'd also get respect. A poor showing meant that these boys would forever be branded losers.
In 1992, the worst came to pass. The football team that had been on a 28 year winning streak lost in the finals. The coach, the boys, and the town were devastated. Fortunately, redemption came to Derby. Not in football but in baseball.
I have to say that I am not a diehard baseball fan so much of the subtle nuances of this story were somewhat lost on me. Despite this fact, I kept thinking that this story should be on the silver screen. I think that the detail of the action and the feelings of the different individuals would translate really well. Who knows, this might be the next inspirational sports movie coming soon to a theatre near you.
True Celebration.......2007-03-25
With a long history of winning, the Derby football team is suddenly faced with a devastating loss. For a team of young high school boys and their coaches, The Fat Lady Never Sings is a story of second chances.
Steven Reilly vividly describes how a group of young boys and coaches find the `road to redemption' on the baseball field. In this book, The Fat Lady Never Sings reinforces the supernatural drive to overcome adversity in spite of overwhelming obstacles.
The Fat Lady Never Sings is a book of true celebration. A must read for the sports fans who love to sit on the edge of their seat.
Redemption on the Diamond.......2007-02-14
"Losers". That's what the town would call the boys, especially the seniors. The kids who, in 1992, ended Derby, Connecticut's 28 year streak of winning football seasons.
This is a story about hope, faith and redemption for three high school seniors who were integral parts of the football team in the fall, but also played baseball in the spring. Relived through the eyes and experiences of author Steve Reilly, THE FAT LADY NEVER SINGS provides not only a colorful recollection of the journey from football disappointment to baseball triumph, but an interesting insight on the impact of sports on this small town and the players and coaches at the heart of it. Focused around three seniors, Gino, Ben and Donny, and the dedicated Coach D, we are drawn into the narrative and all their accomplishments and disappointments.
This is not your typical sports memoir, written from start to finish in a serial manner. There are no distracting side trips to the prom or classroom antics. Instead the author provides a unique historical perspective, not unlike a bunch of die hard fans reminiscing around a kitchen table. Like one guy interrupting another, Reilly often dives a supporting account, based only on a name or event, to provide context to the overall story. However his extremely well written descriptions, unencumbered by flowery text, and crisp dialog put you directly into the event at hand.
A good read for sports fans, and a must read for high school sports enthusiasts. The final chapters provide a page turning, heart racing climax worthy of any Hollywood underdog team story.
A fabulous feel good story.......2007-02-13
The Fat Lady Never Sings tells the true story of how an underdog baseball teams that finds a way to win and helps three seniors lose their "loser" label after they were part of the losing football season.
The story is well told and smooth to read. Reilly does a great job of making you feel as if you were right in the middle of all the action as only the assitant coach could. The detail is amazing and I find Reilly insightful and honest.
This book is not just for sports lovers, it is for everyone who wants a true feel good story.
Who knew baseball could be so interesting and intense!
The Game, The Town, The Team, and The Coach.......2007-02-05
Derby is the smallest city in the state of Connecticut with approximately 12,000 residents. High School sports were the life of the town. When the football team lost a winning streak of 28 games, three players felt personally responsible. This is their story, a story of how they went on to become winners. It is the story of building another team, a baseball team.
Steve Reilly writes with the insight and savvy of a seasoned coach and with the tender heart of a proud new parent. This is an amazing book, packed with stories of courage, successes, and failures on the practice field and at game time at the park.
Reilly captures the attitudes of these young sportsmen, their discipline, their ego, loyalty, and team spirit. He relates the incidents in a poignant way that makes his narrative take on a life of its own. This story details three years of the Derby High School baseball. It is a remarkable story of building a team from a shaky beginning to a winning team allowing them to qualify for participation in the state tournament. The interaction of the coaches and the team is an inspiration, as individual players are motivated to achieve their full potential.
I was personally challenged and moved by Reilly's words to the team after a particularly difficult loss. Addressing, Ben and the team, he said, "I just want to say how proud I am to be associated with you as well as every other member of this team...If life, like baseball, Ben, all boils down to effort, you have nothing to be ashamed of and a lot to look forward to. Whatever goal you have in life...just focus on it and don't let anything or anybody get in the way of what you want to accomplish."
This is suburb sports writing and should be available in every high school coach's office as a reminder of the true meaning of sportsmanship
Book Description
Always a Lord
Maximilian Chartwell made a deathbed promise that he would guard and protect his young cousin, the Duke of Penrose. He's not about to let a scheming American heiress trap the impressionable nobleman into marriage. Though Max heartily approves of an arranged marriage to a perfect lady, the beautifully daring and outspoken Virginia Blair is far from an acceptable candidate. Max will do whatever it takes to save his cousin from Virginia and her overbearing stepmother -- even if it means seducing the girl himself.
Never a Lady
Bound by family tradition, Virgie is resigned to endure her six-month sojourn in the cold aristocracy of England. Having sworn never to marry without love, she is shocked to learn of her stepmother's machinations to marry her to the Duke of Penrose. Though the duke's dashing but protective cousin Max doesn't believe for a minute that she is merely her stepmother's pawn, Virgie is unexplainably drawn to Max's brooding good looks and heroic demeanor. Too adventurous by far, Virgie knows she could never fulfill the role of a perfect lady. Is falling in love with Max and his loveless view of marriage to be her most dangerous escapade of all?
Customer Reviews:
Give this book a pass.......2000-09-17
I generally enjoy Marlene Suson's books, but I don't know what happened with this one. I couldn't make it to 100 pages before I put it down.The themes in this plot are so tired - the independent, take-over American girl who disdains English society and teaches everyone how "superior" Americans are...the evil stepmother. When the heroine decided to teach the Duke his responsibilities, I decided it was all too much for me. The characters are not especially likeable or realistically drawn and in the end, I simply couldn't believe in this romance. I'll wait until her next book and hope for better.
Never a Lady.......2000-08-21
As part of a character building "task" imposed by her father, Virginia Blair travels from America to England with her stepmother Rowena to live among proper society. This doesn't sit well with Maximilian Chartwell who is in charge of protecting the young Esmond, Duke of Penrose. Rowena would like nothing more than to see Virgie married to Esmond, but Virgie stuns everyone by declaring she will marry for nothing less than love. Opportunity may knock, but the characters here don't quite know when to answer the door. The characters were so wrapped up in concern for themselves that they seemed to forget about each other in the process. This reviewer saw no sympathy for any of them, and wondered, quite frankly, about the relationships among the characters and the relations between America and Britain in the mid 19th century.
A good read.......2000-08-04
In 1873 England, Lord Maximilan Chartwell turns livid when he learns that his aunt is fostering an odious, grubby American on his cousin Duke Esmond. Having promised his dying grandfather to watch over his cousin, Maximilan heads to Sussex to stop the greedy American chit, her covetous mother, and his own avaricious aunt from ruining Esmond's life.
When Max meets Virgie, sparks immediately fly, although her pistol aimed at his family jewels somewhat dampers their first encounter. Though strongly attracted to one another, that initial skirmish enforces his belief that Americans are barbarians and her deepest feelings are that the English upper class are snobs. As they become better acquainted they fall in love. However, her stepmother and his aunt still plan to have her marry his cousin.
NEVER A LADY is a fun to read Victorian romance that centers on the brave Virgie's need to marry for love, even if her chosen one is an elitist Anglophile. The cheerful story line moves forward due to the actions and reactions of the principle cast. The lead couple is beguiling as they struggle with love and outside manipulations. Anyone who delights in a historical romantic romp will find much pleasure in Marlene Suson's latest novel.
Harriet Klausner
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