Average customer rating:
- Good book at a good price.
- The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell
- The Author Who Wasn't There
- Avoid this installment
- The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell
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The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell (Cat Who...)
Lilian Jackson Braun
Manufacturer: Jove
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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Braun, Lilian Jackson | ( B ) | Authors, A-Z | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
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Braun, Lilian Jackson | ( B ) | Authors, A-Z | Mystery & Thrillers | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
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Book Description
The residents of Pickax are about to celebrate the 150th anniversary of its founding. But in the midst of all the preparations, Qwill has to take time out to deal with Koko's strange new habit of dropping from balconies and landing in the oddest of places-and a couple that has mysteriously gone missing.
Download Description
"James Qwilleran and his famous felines, Koko and Yum Yum, are back for another mystery-solving stint in the beloved bestselling Cat Who . . . series. While the town of Pickax is swept up in its sesquicentennial celebrations, Koko has developed a strange new hobby: He drops himself from balconies, occasionally landing in the oddest of places. When a young man comes to visit his wealthy relatives, Koko plummets straight onto his head! Meanwhile, a hurricane is brewing, and the visitor's family members soon fall deathly ill. Qwill has his work cut out for him as Pickax-as foreshadowed by Koko-is about to be hit by a bombshell."
Customer Reviews:
Good book at a good price........2007-10-10
I purchased a book from the Cat Who series. The book arrived quickly and as described. The price was reasonable, less than I had found elsewhere.
The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell .......2007-10-01
I have read all of Lillian Braun's Cat Books and love them. I share them with all my cat loving friends.
The Author Who Wasn't There.......2007-09-11
Hardcore mystery fans may find it a bit of a stretch, but if your taste runs to expertly written and very light fiction, you can't do better than Lillian Jackson Braun's "The Cat Who..." series. Her detective, reporter James Qwilleran, investigates crimes with the aid of his Siamese cats--and the solutions to the crime inevitably rest more upon intution than actual deduction. The premise sounds farfetched, but Braun's work is usually less fanciful than you might expect, and she presents her eccentric characters and stories with great charm.
Unfortunately, the series has been in marked decline since the 2001 THE CAT WHO WENT UP THE CREEK, the publication of which raised speculations about whether or not the book had been ghostwritten by another author. The 2005 THE CAT WHO WENT BANANAS was a marked low point; with the 2006 THE CAT WHO DROPPED A BOMBSHELL, however, the series receives a slight upturn. This is not to say, however, that BOMBSHELL is any less immune to accusations of "ghostwriting;" although better plotted and better written, it simply doesn't read very much like Braun.
In this particularly title, Qwilleran's home attracts the nephew of a much respected and somewhat elderly couple. When wayward Siamese Koko literally drops from a rafter onto the young man's head, Qwill knows something is amiss--but what? Unfortunately, he is distracted by the necessity of participation in the city's 150 anniversary celebrations, too distracted to be aware that murder is afoot.
As noted, BOMBSHELL reads much better than recent entries in the series; that, however, is not saying much, and it does seem likely to me that Braun is no longer actively writing the series but instead generating basic plot ideas for development by others. The book lacks her light, bemused touch. Give it a miss.
GFT, Amazon Reviewer
Avoid this installment.......2007-08-20
Even though this is a short book, there's plenty of repetition of mundane details about goings on in Moose County. I remember when Qwill actually took the time to investigate murders instead of just waiting for a letter from a friend of a friend to arrive and tell him who done it (and how and when). There's one possible murder in this book that never gets solved, but maybe the letter for that one got delayed and will show up in the next book in the series, which I don't plan to read.
The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell.......2007-06-27
This may not have been one of the best of the series, but it was still pleasant reading. I always enjoy reading about the colorful characters in Moose County.
Book Description
In this glittering beauty and lifestyle guide packed with pearls of wisdom, Laren Stover has compiled everything a woman needs to know to live the Bombshell life: from how to dress and make an entrance to what to eat and where to shop. It tells readers what makes a Bombshell tick; road-tested outfits for 25 occasions; must-have Bombshell sleepwear, handbags, and fragrances; whats in the Bombshell library; and what she looks for in a man. With scads of little-known facts about real-life bombshells like Liz, Mae, and Lana this fun and ever-so-practical little book is certain to bring out the inner Bombshell in every woman.
Customer Reviews:
Never out of date.......2007-03-08
I have owned this book for years and I absolutely love it. My daughter has read it, and I have given a few to friends as gifts. What fun. I enjoy the fact that I am relatively intelligent. But, I love being girlie. I love perfume, make-up, lingerie, all of it. Bombshells are not stick thin waifs who don't eat. Real bombshells are real women with appetites and curves. Bombshells refered to in the book are Sophia Loren, Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor, to name a few. Women who look like women, not women who look like little boys.
Perfume and make up are wonderful things. This book mentions classic fragrances. Chanel Number 5 will be around long after I am gone. It also mentions the classic fragrance of Tabu. Which I adore. It's sets me back all of eight dollars, and I get so many compliments on it that I have to laugh.
After reading this book probably 60 times in the last few years it just keeps reminding me that there is nothing wrong with being a bombshell. Bombshell is a state of mind. And while I think women's lib is a good thing, I have to admit, I LOVE having males open doors for me. I love having a man offer me his arm when I am walking in heels on ice. I love having a man offer me his hand when I step out of the car. I have reached the conclusion that a lot of men like women who look like women. I think secretly, men like women to wear dresses and look pretty.
Mostly, tho, a bombshell is sincere and caring in her heart. A bombshell cares about others. Most importantly, at the end of the book there is mention of how a bombshell leans in to listen to the person she is speaking too. That may be called a "bomshell-ism", but, in reality it is just good manners. I couldn't imagine a bomshell talking to someone while looking over their head to see what else is going on in the room. I'm thankful I was a self-made bombshell before the book. Reading the book keeps me on my toes. And I am thankful that my daughters are also bombshells. Because in my mind bombshells are women who are comfortable with being women, and who also have some manners.
Bombshell here I come!.......2006-11-10
Ok, I was a bomb shell to begin with but its nice that other people understand that too! This book is so funny and enlighting that I could not put it down and had it read in the first night! This book allows us to bring out the hidden bombshell!
This is a must read.... again and again!
Bombshell Anthropology.......2006-06-10
Isn't it always the case that what some readers hate about a book is what you love about it? I love the focus solely on vintage movie stars, perfume, music etc. I love the way it reads like a movie magazine of the era, full of fluff and fun and nothing too sad or intrusive. I love the way the author seems to be making a study of bombshells in their native habitat, the movie screen and the Hollywood of yesteryear. I love that although it's so over the top you may sense a hint of things being "tongue in cheek," she passes no judgments about the bombshell way of life.
I love the fact that it is not a how-to book which I find have a tendency to sound rather "Do this or you aren't beautiful/strong/hip/chic/accomplished etc." You can take what you will from this book. Read it to see a light and fun side to bombshells whose lives are usually mentioned in junction with tragedy now. Read it to see some suggestions as to what music a bombshell listens to and what mood it sets, what movies she loves and what books she reads (and why). Maybe you'll want to add some bombshell touches to your life or maybe you won't, either way it's a fun read.
Personally I pick it up to cast a rose glow over my life, to add some effervescence and to recapture a sense of fun. To me, that's what makes this book sparkle, it is a slice of a cotton candy world. It's a rose-tinted bygone Hollywood that you can stroll through and pick up a few trinkets to adorn your reality, or not.
Classic Bombshells .......2006-04-09
This is a great book. It's not a good book if you're looking for a guide to dress like Lindsey Lohan or how to put together a work appropriate wardrobe. It's a fun and funny book about the concept of the bombshell. The concept that started with Marilyn, Sophia and Kim, and continues today in some of the sexier and smarter women out there. Being an old movie buff certainly helps in the appreciation of this guide. If you can't stand black and white movies, and think that Marilyn was fat and over-rated, do not bother.
a must own .......2006-03-13
this book is delightful and inspiring. it's definitely a light read, and shouldnt be viewed as a "guide" or "how to" book. it's more an homage to women who are strong and independent enough to embrace their femininity, sometimes to the point of hillarity. i have been giving it as a gift to fabulous women i know for four years, and it's always adored. i recommend reading it in a bubble bath...
Product Description
Are there hidden words and messages within the Hebrew text of the Bible? Who hid them there? What is their purpose? Author and mathematician R. Edwin Sherman presents startling, never-before-seen evidence of these codes and their significance for the world today. In this informative and entertaining new book, the astonishing contents of over 200 lengthy codes are translated by Dr. Nathan Jacobi, one of the worlds leading experts on Bible codes. Unlike other books on this topic, most of the codes presented in this book are so lengthy that they could not be coincidental. For example, while it may be possible to find Messiah as a code in an ordinary book, the chances of finding the longer code, you will cry out for the blood of the Messiah, are extremely small. A mathematician with 30 years of experience in probability and statistical analysis, Mr. Sherman explains clearly how codes show that the Bible is indeed inspired by God.
Customer Reviews:
tkd review.......2007-02-12
Very good reading but don't take too literally the answers given, there are reasonable alternatives
Bible Codes... Something to Think About.......2007-02-01
Bible Codes, a subect for the open minded, have fast become a subject of controversy to some and hope to others. Since my introduction to the codes I have bought programs, books, and haunted the net for more info and opinions plus learning some basic Hebrew, all because I am truly fascinated! Much is said about skeptics becoming believers including the authors of Bible Code Bombshell. This book puts forth over 300 codes referencing the life of Jesus and would have you believe that God did indeed write the Hebrew Bible. Even if you remain skeptical about that, the book could go a long way in convincing you that "something" extraterrestrial or otherwise, knew a lot about our history that had yet to happen. If you are a person who needs statistics for assurance, you will find them here. Any way you look at it, it is a fascinating subject and the book gives you a lot to consider regardless of your religious or philosophical bent. I suggest you read it with an open mind.
Another Bird Singing..........2007-01-26
This book is a God send. The original author of the Bible code did nothing to address Jesus, which obviously this author did. I have also.
I didn't use the Hebrew version, but the English version that was available online from Researchsystems I did a search using YAHWEH, with JESUS, and got a matrix that had the word YAHWEH twice in the form of a cross. With JESUS under the cross. I think that this is more than a coincidence.
This was written, fabulously.
Author of
Birdsong, Catherine Mary Sabala.
just what we wanted.......2007-01-09
could not find in several book stores in my area. got it in two days from amazon. great service Much better then bible code I
Nonsense "codes" presented as proof .......2006-11-10
This book makes the claim of being a "bombshell", presenting proof of Jesus being the promised Messiah. However, Mr. Sherman supports his claims by "codes" that make no sense with respect to meaning (semantic structure). It is obvious that the Hebrew Old Testament (Tanakh) is encoded. This has been proven beyond reasonable doubt by the thorough statistical research of Eliyahu Rips, Doron Witztum, Harold Gans and others. These eminent scientists have also warned researchers of the Bible Code not to stretch the evidence to "prove" their religious convictions. Now, this is exactly what Edwin Sherman does.
How, then, is the Bible Code misused in this book? To begin with, I need to say that a few of the codes Sherman presents are both intelligible (expressing comprehensible meaning) and statistically significant (extremely unlikely to be a product of chance). The problem is that he doesn't stay there. Instead, he seeks to "read more into the codes" by extracting longer ELS strings of letters, interpreting and translating them to fit his point of view (traditional Christian Messianism). These "sensational whole-sentence codes" have a tendency of not making any sense. And why would God encode messages in the Bible if they read as gibberish? Wouldn't they be there to actually CLARIFY our confusion regarding relevant matters? Of course! Codes have to make sense to be considered as divine messages. And that is only an initial, foundational requirement. As has been proven by statistical standards far beyond most research today, there are codes in the books of the Bible. My own codes research, however, indicates that these codes go beyond traditional religion; beyond the claims of orthodoxy - Christian or Jewish, or of any other brand. Truth is not confined by dogma!
I get the impression that Sherman is out on a religious mission, garbed in the "respectable" language of science. In this pursuit, he is willing to sacrifice the credibility of his claims. What does it MEAN that the "mighty name" of Jesus is "gushing from above"? (This is a major "code" in the book). The answer is obvious: nothing or everything - depending on your agenda.
The Bible Code can be seen as a Rorsach test. People tend to see whatever they want to see in the ink stains! And what they see says something about themselves, and little - or nothing - about the Truth. This is the kind of "research" we ought to shun. As Scripture says: "And the truth shall make you free".
Sherman extracts long "codes" that make no sense, and then "prove" their authenticity by using the principles of statistics. By doing this, he actually harms his own cause - to prove the Godhood of Jesus. Statistics can only be applies to coded messages, or words, that make sense grammatically and semantically. It is easy to take almost any long string of letters in skip sequence and "prove" that it is coded. Commercially available software easily calculates "statistics" of this kind. The problem is that those statistics are produced without any consideration given to the meaning of the letter string. Thus it is the easiest thing in the world to construct "long codes" and freely project meaning onto them by "translation" of "words" in the string by applying word breaks at the desired places. If "snooping" (as it is called in statistics) is to be applied in Bible Code research, this has to be done with UTMOST care and consideration. Sherman's "bombshell" is basesd on the utter abuse of this research method. Bible Code Bombshell is just one of many "Bible Codes" books by Christian authors, seeking to prove their point by pseudoscience. Look for another book to read! There are excellent books written about the Bible Code, but this is definitely not one of them.
Book Description
A two-toned, three-taloned CLAW paw has been sprawled in aerosol across walls around the world since the early 1990s. Whether lolling in the East Village or lazing in Los Angeles, lounging in Amsterdam or living it up in Milan, the instantly identifiable icon maintains a fun, fabulous, and feminine allure, despite the grit and grime that makes graffiti a man's world. One of the first writers to use an icon as her throw up, CLAW is of the rarest breed: the female graff King.
Not content to beat the boys at their own game, CLAW also designs her own clothing line, Claw Money, as well as a jewelry and accessory line, literally creating her own street style. Emblazoned on t-shirts, sweatshirts, purses, and panties, her emblematic icon gets love from everyone, be it graff legends or new jacks, riot grrls or fashionistas, or school kids and soccer moms. A magazine fashion editor, brand consultant, vintage clothing collector, and lady about town, Claw Money is New York City's best kept secret.
Bombshell, her first book, explodes all preconceived notions about the icon many have seen but few have known. From the deepest recesses of her shoeboxes comes this incredible compendium of photographs, designs, personal letters, and other ephemera collected throughout her life. Whether it's shots of spots she bombed in the Bronx or Grandma Baba's recipe for latkes, fashion shoots or candid snaps, Bombshell redefines the graffiti monograph, taking you beyond the icon and into the realm of Claw Money.
Customer Reviews:
Absolutely Fabulous!.......2007-07-20
as a huge fan of her work i was so happy with this book. it is so well done, the photos and stories are amazing. really hot! must have for the graffiti heads
visual ecstasy.......2007-06-17
this girl is hot, graffiti is slamming, and everything sexy.....a must for any downtown lover!
The Bomb of Books.......2007-03-26
The most awesome and extremely personal graffiti book I have ever seen! A must have for all 90's new yorkers!
Average customer rating:
- Carmen-the lovely Latin lark lives!
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Brazilian Bombshell
Martha Gil-Montero
Manufacturer: Dutton Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Voice | Instruments & Performers | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Genre Films | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
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Carmen Miranda - Bananas Is My Business
ASIN: 1556111282 |
Customer Reviews:
Carmen-the lovely Latin lark lives!.......2005-03-04
Carmen Miranda da Cunha was born in Portugal and she with her family moved to Brazil when she was very young.Her family was poor but at a young age she started to sing and eventually she started to carve herself a very respectable notch in the Brazillian music scene.She toured during the thirties with the top flight Latin musicians in her country and with many recordings under her belt before she even landed in the U.S. she was in fact a bona fide star in her native country.
The U.S. recording industry got wind of this unique talent and then Hollywood who beckoned her northward.Determined,talented and driven she went on to conquer Hollywood as she had her home country.But it was the image she created there that many back home decried her for having sold out her principals and herself.Carmen so wanted everyone to like her and she especially couldn't understand the lack of tolerance in Brazil by some for what she was doing in the U.S.After all wasn't she just trying to be a success?
She unfortunately took alot of criticism to heart either from home or elsewhere and she became at times deeply depressed.She relied sometimes on alcohol and other chemical substances to asuage her inner demons but they wouldn't go away.Rest in sanitariums and even shock treatments over time didn't do it and neither did a loveless marriage with an abusive husband.
It was during a taping on Aug.4/55 of a Jimmy Durante show that she had an unexpected fall but quickly recovered.She had not been feeling her self for a while but she carried on and finished taping the show.The next morning at around 2:30AM she left to go to bed and that was the last time her family and friends saw her alive.Such a tragic ending for such a talented woman.
This book is a welcome tome on the life of Carmen but unfortunately the authors' writing gets away from her sometimes and she will devote paragraphs of florid prose on what she thinks Carmen may have thought of at a certain moment in her life.Also her chronology is sloppy as she skips forward then back from chapter to chapter.
In conclusion I would recommend this book,albeit not highly,as there are many things one can learn once you're able to seperate the wheat from the chaff.It does contains alot of photos previously unseen by this writer and contains adecdotes from many who knew her both in Brazil and in the U.S.
I can only hope there comes along another deserved book on this delightful and talented singer/actress but with a more focused and thorough approach to its' subject matter.
Book Description
There should be a four-letter word for beauty.
She has more shoes than Sarah Jessica Parker and a skin-care system that could make Madonna swoon, but unlike her celebrity counterparts, Grace Noonan doesn't have it all. Her latest utterly-eligible-yet-maddeningly-unavailable boyfriend has revealed that having sex with her is one thing and having babies quite another, forcing Grace to move on -- again. And now that her employer -- a top cosmetics company once devoted to "beauty beyond thirty" -- is pursuing a teenaged supermodel as its future face, this thirty-four-year-old marketing exec is starting to wonder if she is going to get it all before the closing credits. Could it be time for Grace to back out of the beauty race and trade the singles scene for the sperm bank? Or is there something even this savvy bombshell has yet to discover about life and love in New York City?
Customer Reviews:
Absolutely loved it. Read it in a week........2007-09-05
Grace is such a riot! She reminded me of myself in so many ways. From her therapist sessions to her best friends phone calls, the plot was hilarious yet meaningful also. Must read for any woman.
I regret passing BOMBSHELL over so many times!.......2007-06-11
I finished this book two days ago, and I am still thinking about Bombshell Grace Noonan -- so I thoroughly regret not reading such a good book sooner!
While the writing style was nothing to "write home about," the writing is clear, precise, and well organized -- and, of course, witty. The plot moved along well, making it a real page turner. But the best part is that Grace Noonan's adventures seem real, emotional, and accessible. The emotions are palpable, and the ending IS NOT a fairy tale ending. The combination of a real, down to earth story and a realistic, ending (as in, not every loose end is necessarily tied up) makes it the perfect fun female novel. The is the kind that gives "chick lit" a good name.
Surprisingly good.......2006-01-21
I didn't love the title of this novel - it made me think the main character would be smug and conceited, or the novel itself would be shallow - but neither one was the case. Curnyn does a good job developing the character of Grace Noonan, an unexpectedly complex woman who despite being blonde with a big chest, does not have a perfect life.
In fact, Grace was adopted and never got to meet her Eastern European mother. In addition, Grace is frustrated with men who want her "in their bed, but not in their lives." She also works for Claud-zilla (Claudia), an aging harridan who takes out her own unhappiness on everyone around her.
Angie DiFranco from Curnyn's previous novel, "Engaging Men," appears periodically, but Grace's more confident, nuanced narrative voice is more interesting than Angie's was. Recommended.
Bad title, Good Book!!!.......2005-07-11
I really enjoyed this story and think any fan of "chicklit" will like this book. It is a more mature and sophisticated story. It starts alittle slow and doesn't really get going until around 100 pages in, but it turned out to be a very sweet and touching story. I really came to like Grace and could feel her hurt and fear of rejection that she has experienced in her life. I wish all chicklit could be this good.
Heartwarming and charming.......2005-07-07
A fun read that reminds you of the good things in life.
Product Description
Bombshells: War Stories and Poems by Women on the Homefront offers a unique exploration into the homefront experience of 39 women who are connected to a soldier in some way--as a mother, wife, daughter, sister, aunt, friend or lover. Most of the stories unfold with war as the backdrop--sometimes it looms, sometimes it wages, sometimes it lingers from the past inside the writer's house. Some of the stories center on the concept of "home" itself, and the search for roots in a culture where home is constructed, and de-constructed around frequent relocations and deployments. Each woman, in her own words and style, tells a unique story, and collectively they illuminate the pathos of this unsung microcosm of American society.
Customer Reviews:
A Collective Spiritual Consciousness about War and the Women left at Home! .......2007-04-14
Rarely does an anthology contain such nuggets of wisdom, and pain as does this wonderfully edited collection of stories and poems by the women who are left behind at home during war. The book`s cover shows the image of a pink hand grenade that jumps out at you. The title is just as explosive, "Bombshells: War Stories and Poems by Women on the Homefront". Inside the book is even better and is filled with stories, essays and poems that will rip and shred your very soul! It is one of the most gripping books related to war that I have read.
The book was put together and edited by Missy Martin and Jesse Lorne. It is a brilliantly done. The placement of the poems and stories is thought out well and it seems that the emotional energy just keeps building throughout the entire book. It is one of those books that you cannot stop reading.
There are many different and diverse voices contained in the book, which reflects again, some good editing choices. The book brings war into another level of thinking. War is not often viewed from the point of view of those who were left at home waiting for their loved ones to return; I often wondered what that would feel like when I was in Vietnam. When my own son was in the Gulf War in Iraq and I did not know his daily status, it almost drove me insane with worry. It hurts worse then being in combat yourself!
This book is an honest, compelling look at what these women went through while waiting fro their warriors to return. You cannot read this book without feeling your heart rip and break apart with their pain. This book transcends war -it is about people!
The Military Writer's Society of America gives this book its highest rating of FIVE STARS! It is a must read book! I give this my personal recommendation and fullest endorsement!
Note:
A portion of the sales from this book is donated to "The Fisher House Foundation". That foundation builds "comfort homes" on or near active military and Veteran Affairs medical facilities. The houses are provided for free for injured soldiers who must be close by for treatment. It is also open to their families.
Customer Reviews:
excellent second book in the series............2006-09-17
In this second installment of The Madonna Key series, Interpol agent Ana Reisner has been charged with preventing a murder and finding a stolen item. The only problem is that Elise Villecourt, the potential murder victim, won't tell her what was stolen! Ana would write all of this off as a bizarre joke but the president of France is insisting it is a matter of national security- and somehow linked to the mysterious power outages occurring across France. Ana must rely on the help of sexy former art thief, Robert Fraser, to resolve this matter. After all, Ana is more of an art historian than a cop!
Cindy Dees has done a phenomenal job at ramping up the action in the Black Madonna story! The reader is plunged into the world of the Marians and the history surrounding Queen Elizabeth I and her friend Lady Jane Norville. This book can be read as a stand alone book but this reviewer would suggest reading Evelyn Vaughn's book as well, as it appears that the authors have collaborated to produce a series in which the continuity is being maintained.
HAUNTED ECHOES is a spectacular read and one that is guaranteed to keep the reader turning the pages well into the night. The elements of suspense and intrigue coupled with intense action make this book well worth reading! Definitely recommended!
What is Interpol supposed to do when a murder is reported that hasn't happened yet?.......2006-09-14
Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques
What is Interpol supposed to do when a murder is reported that hasn't happened yet? Send in an art historian, agent Ana Reisner?
Ana's evening goes from bad to worse when her evening out is interrupted by her boss' urgent phone call. Elise Villecourt, close personal friend of the president of France has a murder to report, and will only talk to Ana. Upon arrival, Ana discovers Elise is reporting her very own murder, which hasn't happened yet, and needs Ana to track down a priceless stolen artifact to save Elise. Unfortunately, she refuses to tell Ana what exactly was stolen!
Robert Fraser is a former art thief, now university professor, called in by a mysterious elderly man to track down a stolen object. Is it mere coincidence that has Robert crossing paths with Ana, who just happens to suspect him of the theft? Now these two are on a race against time to find this mysterious missing item and solve a crime that puts the entire country of France at risk. What do these strange electricity blackouts plaguing Europe have to do with their case? Why is a ghost dogging Ana's footsteps? And do Robert and Ana really have the time... or inclination... to explore the powerful attraction between them? You'll just have to read Haunted Echoes to find out!
Cindy Dees starts Haunted Echoes, the second book in the Madonna Key continuity series, off with a bang! The action gets going from the first page, taking you through a thrilling ride with many ups, downs, twists and turns, and doesn't let up until the smashing final battle scene. So much is happening throughout, that if not so well written, this could be a confusing book. But everything fits together perfectly, with each event adding one more piece to the puzzle of what's happening.
Poor Ana is out of her element at first, after all she's an art historian, not a cop or soldier. As events unfurl, she comes in to her own, putting her unique skills to use to get to the bottom of what is going on with those Black Madonnas and ley lines. Then when you mix in her doubts about whether or not Robert really has decided to walk the straight and narrow, it makes for some pretty explosive moments. Haunted Echoes has it all and is sure to lure in readers of many different genres. We will find engaging battles, sexy love scenes, paranormal encounters, a little bit of history, mystery people, and plenty of excitement. We also get a chance to visit briefly with characters from the first Madonna Key book, and meet up with people to be featured in future books.
To put it simply, sit back and relax and prepare to be immersed in an international adventure that will leave you breathless, in more ways than one.
© Kelley A. Hartsell, August 2006. All rights reserved.
exciting, action-packed romantic suspense fantasy .......2006-08-12
Interpol agent Ana Reisner works stolen art cases as she is an expert on art history. Her current case comes from the French President requesting Ana solve a murder that has not occurred yet and recover a stolen statue rumored to have powers to extend life. Homicide is not her skill as she is a member of the "Paint and Pottery" Patrol, Ana knows she will need some insider help, she recruits Professor Robert Fraser, a former thief.
As Ana and Robert investigate the stolen icon, someone tries to prevent them from success even as a seemingly ghostly figure keeps warning her. As they dig deeper, she find herself at the center of attention of the mysterious Black Madonna cult in which one mistake might end her life prematurely.
HAUNTED ECHOES is an exciting, action-packed romantic suspense fantasy that grips the audience from the moment a stunned Ana protests that she is an art expert not a cop and never slows down as her "advisors are a former thief and an apparent ghost. Ana keeps this Madonna Key tale fully focused as the intrepid heroine skirmishes with the eerie, the scary and the weary in her pursuit of the artifact.
Harriet Klausner
Book Description
A vision had changed her life. . .
. . .Transforming Lieutenant Kai Alseoun from a soldier in the service of her country into a woman on a quest for the legendary ark of her people. The medicine woman of her tribe said it was Kai's destiny. But to Kai, it was starting to feel like a case of rotten luck. . ..
Especially since her mission sent her to the rugged Outback with the one man she had hoped to forget-Cherokee Captain Jake "Stands Alone" carter. Kai wasn't sure which was more dangerous: fighting off her feelings for Jake-or facing off with a powerful enemy who hoped to harness the ark's power for evil purposes. One thing was certain: Kai was determined to win. Or die trying. . .
Sisters of the ark:Driven by a dream of legendary power, these Native American women have sworn to protect all that their people hold dear.
Customer Reviews:
This kick-off book in the new Bombshell line will satisfy readers in many ways........2005-08-31
Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques
This kick-off book in the new Bombshell line will satisfy readers in many ways.
Kai Alseoun has led a hard life. Her father had been an alcoholic, who killed himself and her mother in a car accident many years ago. Just when she had found a life she was happy with, as a Navy combat pilot, it's all torn away from her by a betrayal from a fellow military man. She retreats to the reservation where she grew up with her Grandmother, and begins to realize there is another path meant for her, a life that comes to her through her vision dreams.
Three sacred crystal totems are stolen from the Cherokee people and only Kai holds the key to finding them again. Her quest leads her to the heart of the Australian desert, in order to recover the first of the three objects. When an old friend is found to be her partner on this mission, Jake Stands Alone Carter, old feelings come rushing back to her - feelings of safety and security and, could it be... love? But she is emotionally scarred from past experiences. Will Jake's strength be enough to help her complete her mission, and heal the wounds of her heart once and for all?
This was a good romance story, with enough action to keep most readers eager to share the adventure. Danger is around every corner for Kai and Jake, and will keep readers anticipating what is next to come. However, there were a few parts that dragged, in between the action scenes, and can take one longer to get through those sections of the story. For the most part though, this story does move steadily and details are revealed as the quest continues, making the villains seem all the more ominous as a result.
There is quite a bit of information scattered throughout the story as well, which will delight readers whom are fascinated by Native American religions and beliefs. Ms. McKenna quite obviously did her homework, researching rituals and powers held by those most revered of the Cherokee people, their Medicine Women... and Men. This reviewer was captivated by the bit of knowledge used in the story to give it depth, and could actually feel the power flowing through the sacred totem and the medicine people of the Cherokee and the native Australians.
Though the primary focus of the Bombshell series is on the strong female leads and their adventures, there is plenty of romance in this book. Correction... it reads more as a love story then a romance, but will please fans of the genre. Kai is a wounded soul, scarred by her past experiences with her emotionally abusive alcoholic father, her ex-lover who could not handle her strength of character and mind, and the man who cost her a military career. Though she and Jake have a past between them, where Jake was always her "savior" of sorts, due to her other experiences with men, she finds it very hard to trust him when he reappears in her life again after so many years. Jake understands her though, and how he deals with her fears will make readers fall in love with him for his kind and loving nature. When the two finally conquer Kai's doubts, and come to the end of their quest, readers will cheer them on to their much-deserved happy ending.
© Kelley A. Hartsell, October 2004. All rights reserved.
WHEN KNOCKED DOWN GET UP.......2005-08-25
WHEN KAI'S MILITARY CAREER IS OVER SHE IS AFRAID TO BELIEVE IN HERSELF. BUT DETERMINATION REINS AND NOT ONLY DOES SHE REACH HER GOAL BUT GETS JAKE TOO.
romance??.......2005-07-05
As a regular reader of Harlequin Intrigue, I was excited by the idea of a new series that focused on strong female characters as the heros of the stories. At least, that's what I thought the Bombshell series was supposed to be, a sort-of Grrrl Power romantic action/adventure line.
Sadly, I have been quite disappointed. After having read this, the first offering in the line, and the 9th, Maureen Tan's A Perfect Cover, I decided that I was mistaken about the focus of the Bombshell line. Yes, the stories did focus on a strong female character. These main characters are more focused and dramatic than those in some other Harlequin/Silhouette categories. There is a male character to be the romantic interest and there is action and adventure.
But there's very little romance. (Assuming you've read the very apt descriptions of the plot by other reviewers here) The interaction between Kai and Jake seems to sometimes belong on a soap opera and sometimes in a young adult novel. In their particular story, it seems that everything important has been their from the past, and we're just waiting (page after page) for Kai to get over herself and love Jake, while he just stands by and waits for it. And, I suppose this kind of sensitive give the lady her time and space approach is fine in life, but it doesn't make for very good romantic fiction.
Rather than developing a romance, the author has set one up in the characters' past and spends the action of the book on building a main character and on accomplishing the given task, rather than in allotting a portion of the word count to developing a romance. Even at the end of the book, she never reaches where most romance readers expect her to be with respect to the protagonists' relationship to achieve a proper sense of satisfaction with the conclusion.
As an action novel, I would say that this is fairly good, well-paced with vivid descriptions of places, events, and cultural particulars. As a romance, I would consider the Bombshell line a bomb.
Overall good tight exciting action read .......2004-12-16
This is the first of a new Morgan's Mercenaries trilogy focused on the retrieval of 3 stolen Cherokee artifacts with mystical powers.
This book is exciting, tense, action packed and suspenseful. The aboriginal mysticism in Australia is nicely balanced by people shooting bazookas at our heroes in a helicopter!
I only have one complaint and I think this is a generational thing with the author- her dialog when she tries to use colloquialisms feels stiff and unnatural. Very few women or men- even gung ho military types use "dude" as much as she uses it. This is a term that went out with valley girls 20 years ago. "Buddy", "guy" or even "hey you" would be more current. This is a quirk I have seen in a number of books by the author- just a little thing- but it does disrupt things. Editors- please take note and get out a thesaurus.
Disappointing!.......2004-08-06
I bought the first 4 books in the Bombshell Series, and this was the first one I read. What a disappointing start! I gave it 2 stars because although the author set up a pretty good plot, I just didn't care for what she did with it. It's always a bad sign when I start scanning through to get to the end, and that's what I did with this book. Also, there is very little romance in this book. Kai and Jake spend the whole time tip-toing around each other. Am I mistaken, or is this supposed to be a romance series? Hopefully, things will get better with the next book.
Customer Reviews:
incredible romantic fantasy .......2006-06-17
The dreams seem so real that she wakes up in a sweat and frightened. Twenty-six years old Isabella DeMarco fears the nightmares of being chased by werewolves and vampires that have haunted her six times a year since her mother died ten years ago from an undiagnosed illness. However, what has recently changed and scared her much more because she cannot rationalize a tie to her late mom's death is hearing voices inside her head talking while she is wide awake.
Jean-Marc des Ombres introduces himself to Isabella by providing her with an explanation that she initially skeptically rejects but soon reluctantly accepts. She now knows she is adopted and that her biological mother has just died in New Orleans. It is Izzy's turn to take over as the matriarchal head of her family that has fought evil supernatural beings on another plane since Joan was burned at the stake.
DAUGHTER OF THE FLAMES is an incredible romantic fantasy in which the characterizations are so real the audience will quickly believe in a protector, vampires, werewolves and other ilk as well as a realm in which magic is a form of physics. The story line is fast-paced and action-packed, but it is the cast especially the heroine now the keeper of the flame who turns this into a must read superb thriller.
Harriet Klausner
Books:
- The Conqueror
- The Feminine Mystique
- The Heartless Stone: A Journey Through the World of Diamonds, Deceit, and Desire
- The Higher Power of Lucky
- The Honorable Imposter/The Captive Bride/The Indentured Heart/The Gentle Rebel/The Saintly Buccaneer (The House of Winslow 1-5)
- The Horse Whisperer
- The Hummingbird's Daughter
- The Inner Game of Work: Focus, Learning, Pleasure, and Mobility in the Workplace
- The Lady Killer (Berkley Sensation)
- The Last Temptation of Christ
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