Book Description
Sizzling, sensual romance and unforgettable characters combine in Sylvia Day's newest novel about a marriage of convenience that takes an unexpected turn...into true passion.
Customer Reviews:
Can't get past the language.......2007-09-14
I mostly enjoyed reading this book. As other reviewers mention, the plot is insufficient to support the length of the book. I had the feeling the author added the heroine's brother's story just to fill in the pages.
I had a really hard time getting past the sexual terminology - it smacked of pornography, IMO, and was repugnant to me. I most likely will skim any further Sylvia Day books at the store and not read any more if they all use similar language.
How Lovely.......2007-08-23
This was a first time read for me--I really wasn't expecting much--and WOW! I fgound it enchanting, amusing and very entertaining. I will not hesitate to purchase another novel by this author! It was subperb!
4 stars for the sex, 1.5 stars for the plot.......2007-08-18
I had two reviews spinning in my head about this book and decided to go with the favorable one. Clearly Sylvia Day is not really interested in giving us a literary masterpiece. Her characters are clichés, the storyline is dubious, the side characters negligible. What she boldly offers is some very sexy scenes - not too kinky, not really innovative - but definitely a hot read. By page 60 I stopped caring about the story and characters because I knew that if I stayed the course, I will only get mad at the exorbitant price I paid for this trashy story. So I switched my approach. I let my eye drift over the pages that were outside of the bedroom and just got into the sexy parts - and frankly I had a lot of fun (and a few cold showers) reading this book.
If you are looking for GREAT stories - try elsewhere.
If you are looking for HOT sex (and to be honest, a bit of good healthy porn) - this book will do very well, I think.
Eh........2007-08-09
It was OK for a night's reading but I wouldn't recommend this book. A good book should stick with you and the characters should be people you care about. Neither happened for me.
Always a nice way to spend an afternoon... reading Sylvia Day novel.......2007-06-21
This is historical novel where Isabel and Gerard marry to annoy Gerald's mother and for Isabel to stop the proposals of her many lovers. They have a friendship and each other other lovers. Gerard leaves for fours years and returns a changed man and wants a real marriage. I also like the secondard plot of Isabel's brother.
Book Description
For anyone who needs a little help finding love, this book is the ultimate dating makeover kit!
The line at Starbucks. The movies. The Internet. Even the dry cleaners... there are dozens of opportunites to seize the date, but millions of lonely singles pass them by!
David Wygant shows readers just how easy it can be to overcome fear and meet new people in their daily routines. David explains the three simple steps to getting a date with ease: being prepared, being aware, and making contact.
Always Talk to Strangers breaks away from pop psychology, gimmicks, and rules to offer concrete information on how single people actually meet--and successfully date--other singles. No mind games, cheap tricks, or corny pickup lines here. Just common sense, and specific information on:
- Where to go to meet people, and when
- Why bars and clubs are the worst places to get a date
- Overcoming fear and negative thinking
- Using props to start a natural conversation
- Making a great first impression
- Spotting opportunity--and going for it!
Customer Reviews:
Common sense? Of course. Should you pick this book up? Absolutely........2007-02-25
It always baffles me as to the complaints about dating books. Did anyone really think there was that one book that would open up the clouds with profound dating revelations? Yes, this is coming from someone that "surprisingly" isn't the author of the book or a planted review.
At any rate, Wygant's book isn't ground-breaking and that's the prime reason for the four star rating. However, for the remaining stars left, Wygant's book packs as much useful dating advice than most books out there. Always Talk to Strangers provides much common sense such as dressing well, smiling, and not being afraid to talk to people. However, it's the way Wygant goes about all of this that's helpful since many of us weren't born with common sense or taught half of these truths in junior high.
For me, the personal grooming/hygiene sections are extremely self-explanatory and for me useless. Sadly enough, I have more than a few friends that could take a solid look at this section.
Among the most helpful sections are where to meet women, props to use in conversation, and varying techniques to "close the deal" after you've been talking to a woman for a while. In addition, Wygant poses several different questions that you should ask yourself whenever approaching a woman that you fear rejection from. Furthermore, there are great sections on both internet dating and blind dating that are definitely useful.
Is a majority of this common sense? The first few sections on hygiene, grooming , physical/mental makeover, and dating myths are. However, the rest of the book had a lot of stuff I'd given little thought to or never thought of altogether. If you call that common sense, then so be it. However, most of Wygant's advice has definitely helped improve my perspective on dating/picking up women. For the price of $3-4 on Amazon Marketplace, what have you really got to lose?
-Travis.
Double your dating.......2007-02-09
I run a singles organization, and am constantly in search of good reference materials. I happened to get an ebook online from a man called David Deangelo who sells and markets a whole line of materials of this same genre. Part of his program consists of audio CDs with dating gurus, one of which was David Wygant. I kept this CD in my car for over a month literally laughing at that great material. In the interview David came across as confident, relaxed, and inventive. I only wish this book was as good as his interview, but it does highlight all the basics of his philosophy in meeting a partner. He covers all aspects, atttitude(sometimes called inner game), attire(what to wear), presentation(the importance of good hygiene), and more. I feel alot of people can benefit from his audacity, and mantra. However this book falls short in it's own merit from it's approach, I only wish whoever was his writting coach(since David himself is not a writer), would have brought out more of his humor thoughout the book with lots of examples or fun stories. Overall this is a good book, which will give most people the necessities they need to find their perfect someone.
Common Sense 101.......2006-09-05
Men, cut that mullet or trim that ponytail! (p. 42) Women, teased hair is out! (p. 41) (Just in case anyone has been asleep since the B-52s debuted or models her hair style from Gary Larson cartoons.) And not only does dating coach David Wygant tell daters to put a Q-tip in your ear, he gives you step-by-step instructions on p. 44. And, men and women, for goodness sake, trim that nose hair! (p. 49.)
Get the feeling the advice in this book is rather basic, common sense stuff? You're right. Granted, it's not all about grooming, although most of those tips are common sense as well. Advice includes how to: fill out internet profiles, start conversations with anyone (and gain the courage to do so), ask for phone numbers, and tell if someone's single. Hint - that wedding ring is a BIG clue (p. 158). But Wygant goes beyond the wedding ring to less obvious clues.
I have mixed feelings about the book. It's virtually all good advice, although I know happily married guys with ponytails. And there's none of the silly dating "play hard to get" Rules type of advice. I would think a lot of people will already know most of this stuff (although I've been on some dates from hell with guys who didn't). Anyway, here it is in one place to possibly serve as a motivator or refresher to someone who is just entering the dating scene or who has been out of it a while. It's a particularly good book for folks who are shy or who have difficulty starting conversations with the opposite sex. I suggest checking it out of the library first, lest you purchase this book only to find you knew about 98% of this stuff.
A Response to Mr. Greenstein.......2006-09-04
Mr. Greenstein wasn't being accurate earlier with regard to the section, "The Entitlement Myth." Although we respect his opinion, we beleive he has taken our work out of context. Here are the first few paragraphs of that section for future potential readers.
"I can't tell you how many clients have come to me and said, "David, you're my last resort. I've done the right things. I've been a good person. Yet, nothing ever happens to me. I never get asked out. I'm alone and I'm tired of being alone. Aren't I entitled to a little happiness?" My response to them is a resounding, "No."
People aren't entitled to happiness. People have to work for happiness just as they have to work for a successful career, and in the very same way they have to work and save for a house, a car, a stereo, retirement, or even to maintain friendships.
When you believe you're entitled to something, you won't go after it. You passively wait around hoping whatever you feel entitled to will be handed to you on a silver platter. When no one serves it up to you, you become angry, upset, and frustrated. "Damn it," you proclaim. "I'm a good person. I do the right things. I'm entitled to this." You become reactive, instead of proactive."
You be the judge.
Pretty good, actually.......2006-08-24
I bought this along with a few other self-help books, and this one was probably the most realistic. The overall tone is sincere but firm, which I think is a good thing especially with a sometimes delicate subject like dating and love. I think the title may be a little misleading, and perhaps a more fitting one would be along the lines of "Dating Advice for Nice People," but I guess I can't critique that since titles are supposed to catch your attention and well, I own the book now.
Like I mentioned, this is a good book for nice folks -- those of us who aren't exactly the flirtatious type. It really appeals to people like myself who have always thought "Well, it will happen when it happens" and are now in the mind frame of "I want to make it happen, now." While I can't say from first-hand experience that the advice and tips actually work, I can honestly say that they seem reasonable. I like how realistic he is about dating, and this book really put into perspective what it might be like to be "proactive" and ask a person out.
One thing I love about this book is that it warns against going to bars to find a date. For those of us who aren't that impressed with alcohol and don't see a get-together primarily based on the presence of booze appealing, this is a relief to read. He shows that it's possible to meet people in everyday places like the coffee shop, the movie theater and even the university library.
It's easy to read because the sections are divided to help you read what you want and pass over what you don't want to see. For example, I have no interest in online dating and getting set up on blind dates. It was easy to skip those parts because I just moved on to the chapter for meeting people on my own.
It's a good book. I actually read the whole book cover-to-cover (minus the two sections stated above) in one sitting and felt satisfied with what I had learned.
Product Description
The 14 Book Beany Malone Set includes: Meet the Malones; Beany Malone; Leave It to Beany; Beany and the Beckoning Road; Beany Has a Secret Life; Make a Wish for Me; Happy Birthday, Dear Beany; The More the Merrier; A Bright Star Falls; Welcome Stranger; Pick a New Dream; Tarry Awhile; Something Borrowed, Something Blue; Come Back, Wherever You Are. The Malones of Denver, Colorado are a warm open-hearted family with a welcoming home, open to friends and all others in need of physical and emotional nourishment. The series has the warmth and sense of solidarity intrinsic of wartimes and the post-war era. There is a general feeling of peace and simplicity. When the series opens, the Malone children are motherless, as Mary Malone has been dead for three years. The father, Martie Malone, is often absent due to his duties as editor of the Denver Call. Three of the four Malone children, Mary Fred, Johnny and Beany, live at home. The oldest Malone daughter, the beautiful, loving Elizabeth, has been married to Lieutenant Donald McCallin for one year. The Malones live on Barberry Street in a large, wide-bosomed gray stone home. Their surrounding neighbors are Mrs. Morrison Adams (known as Mrs. Socially-prominent Adams) in her red brick home with immaculate white trim and frilly curtains in the windows, and the imposing and stately home of the Judge Buell family.
Customer Reviews:
AMAZING SERIES!! IS A MUST READ!.......2006-06-24
I got the entire series this past Christmas. I had read the first 2 because although my library had more, they didn't have all of them, and they didn't have the 3rd and I don't like to read things out of order so I was really sad. So then I was soo happy to find out they were being republished by Image Cascading!!!
So yea I read them all and they all rock!!! It's nice seeing what teenagers did back in the 50's. And it was also nice how different people's relationships were with their family's, I wish it were more like that today. And they are also way more responsible and mature then we are now. Making their own money, not having to depend on their parents for everything. And their parents respect and trust them more too! And they definatly treat their parents with much respect which is ALOT more then I can say about kids of today.
The first book is about Beany's older sister, Mary Fred. It is in MF's junior year of highschool, when Beany is in 8th grade. The rest of the books are all about Beany, in highschool, college, and then when she gets married. And let me just say I LOVE who she ends up with. They are SOOO cute!!!
Everyone should read these books they are amazing and are definatly one of my favorite books ever!
Book Description
Told in his own words, a very personal story from the star of many beloved and classic comedies, including Young Frankenstein, The Producers, and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate FactoryGene Wilder is one of the great comic actors who defined the 1970s and 1980s in movies. From his work with Woody Allen, to the rich group of movies he made with Mel Brooks, to his partnership on screen with Richard Pryor, Wilder's performances are still discussed and celebrated today. KISS ME LIKE A STRANGER is an intimate glimpse of the man behind the image on the screen. In this book, Wilder talks about everything from his experiences in psychoanalysis to why he got into comedy-his first goal was to be a Shakespearean actor-to how a midwestern childhood with a sick mother changed him. He writes about the creative process on stage and on screen, and divulges moments from life on the sets of some of the most iconic movies of our time. He also opens up about his search for love and his marriages, including his marriage to comedienne Gilda Radner. But the core of KISS ME LIKE A STRANGER is an actor's search for truth and a thoughtful analysis of why the choices he made-some of them so serendipitous they were practically accidental-changed the course of his life.
Customer Reviews:
Gene Wilder - Actor, Comedian, Human.......2007-08-21
I am amazed at the negative commentary about this book. I loved Gene Wilder the actor before I picked up the book and love him after having read the book.
We are all a mishmash of polar opposites -we can go from being egocentric, narcissistic, to benevolent, tender and compassionate ... all in a single day. It is as if you are disappointed to find out that Gene Wilder is simply a real human being. Making him something else is about your pathology, not his.
I think it took a lot of courage for him to be vulnerable and revealing. It is a literary voyage alongside a fellow sojourner who gives to us what he may still be searching for. His failures at loving may be different than our own, but don't kid yourself, we all fail. No rocks here, just a "thank you" for the joy he has given, and warm wishes as he struggles toward the very light we all aim for - love.
Great book Jerry!
Audio Version is a MUST HAVE.......2007-07-19
If you're curious about the life of Gene Wilder (and you should be) pick up the AUDIO VERSION of Kiss Me Like A Stranger, read by Gene himself. It is altogether warm, funny, sad, insightful, intelligent and candid. The only problem with it is that I am on disc 4 out of 6 and alreday I am wishing it was longer, I do not want it to end. Otherwise I couldn't be happier with this purchase and will be giving this gem of an audio book as a gift to several people. Go ahead and treat yourself.
I read these reviews---makes me feel like I can't trust reviews in the future!.......2007-07-08
I read Gilda Radner's book, "It's Always Something" which she completed only weeks before she died. And so when I was recently taking a flight, I picked up Gene Wilder's book to read on the plane. Sadly, I DID need another book on the way back. This one won't take you cross country.
There are two camps in these reviews. People who blindly give this book 5 stars and say they love Gene Wilder. But they never actually tell us what they thought was so great about this book. WHY do they give it five stars?
The other group, generously giving this book 2 stars, comments on his narcissism, his unwillingness to feel needed by anyone in his life, his current wife's greatest asset being that she hangs poetry on her refrigerator reminding her she is on her own.
Here's the thing. Gilda Radner loved Gene Wilder unconditionally, even to the day she died. She loved every thing about him, even his insistence on pushing her away. She loved the way he smelled, his looks, his humor, his mind, his character. She loved him totally. Gene Wilder on the other hand, doesn't seem to have loved her at all. He seems at best to have tolerated her---and that not very well or consistently. In one chapter he describes not having had sex with Gilda for about 6 months, (because she had had a grapefruit sized tumor removed from her body, was undergoing chemotherapy and radiation!) and perhaps as a tribute to what he sees as his own nobility, comments that he didn't ask her to "relieve" him in other ways. He then goes on to describe how, as a result of his deprivation he was of course immediately attracted to the woman who became his fourth wife, when he saw her skirts swishing about her legs.
Gilda was sick in bed having chemotherapy, and he is having dinner in a new woman's apartent. And then, when Gilda dies, he discusses with his therapist whether it's too soon for him to get married again, because the tabloids might make him look like a selfish jerk (Because he IS one!).
Look, I am all in favor of celebrity memoirs. Their artistic and celebrated lives create narratives of experience that we don't normally have access to. I like to read the kinds of books that give insight into famous people and in the circles in which they work and live, and I especially enjoy one person's reactions to them. Shelley Winters' three part autobiography revealed so much about the theatre scene of New York in the 50's, so much about her roommate, Marilyn Monroe, and so much about "the method". I felt as though I learned something in reading those books.
Here I learned that a Gilda Radner was sadly mistaken in whom she chose to love, and maybe the best book to read would have been one from HER therapist. I'd like to understand how someone so consumed with love could have chosen someone so consumed with avoiding it. It's pretty easy to understand why Gene Wilder, one of the greatest narcissists ever, would have chosen Gildan Radner---America's sweetheart who adored HIM above all others. When I put this book down, I felt disgust.
Truthful and honest.......2007-04-29
This was one the the best autobiographies/memiors I have ever read. Heartfelt and very touching Mr. Wilder has so many good insights on life. Extremely funny and at times heartbreaking it is a very quick read on which you do not want to put down. Its a must read for any fan.
Hearing him talk abou the book was more fun than reading it.......2007-03-19
I bought this book after hearing Gene Wilder on the radio, and found the book itself less compelling than the interview. I assume part of the blame since it's probably not right to expect people to reveal every detail of their lives simply because they are famous, but then again, if you are famous and you write a memior a certain amount of kiss and tell is expected. It does not have to compromise one's personal life, though. I would like to have known more, for instance, about the writing process for Young Frankenstein, the working relationship with Mel Brooks, how the actor's craft meshes with the screenwriter's, and how that all translates to what happens on the set. After reading this, I am not as well acquainted with Mr. Wilder's talents as I had hoped.
Book Description
Faith Merridew and a hardened soldier marry in haste-and for convenience. They vow to love, honor, cherish-and then get to know each other.
Customer Reviews:
An enjoyable romance with a different setting.......2007-05-07
Anne Gracie's Regency romances are definitely a notch above the average. Her "Perfect" series follows five sisters, all named after virtues (Prudence, Hope, Faith etc) as they find love. Although a series it's not necessary to read the books in order to enjoy any of the individual stories - they work fine as standalone books, this one particularly.
"The Perfect Stranger" focuses on Faith Merridew, twin sister of Hope, whose life at the outset of the book is a complete disaster. She has been tricked by a violinist into a sham marriage and has escaped him, only to find herself a social outcast, sleeping on the beach and in danger from various men. When chased by some men bent on rape she finds herself rescued by Nicholas Blacklock, a former soldier. All this happens right at the beginning of the book and it's a great and lively start to what becomes an engaging tale. Nick looks after Faith and soon offers her marriage to help her socially and to quieten his mother who has been trying to get him to marry for years. However Faith, once she feels a little more in control of her life, isn't willing to just wave goodbye to Nicholas as he journeys to Spain and Portugal on a mystery personal mission - she decides to travel along with him, hoping to turn their marriage into one more than name only.
Faith is a feisty heroine, a woman who is able to overcome incredible challenges - perhaps she's even too good to be true. Nicholas is the traditional tall dark and handsome but troubled hero that Faith wants to understand and help. The reader knows all along that there's something more going on in Nick's life - although most of the point of view of the story is Faith's we also occasionally dip into Nick's view. We also learn a little more about Nick's two companions, including the misogynistic Scotsman Mac, and there is even a side romance involving one of these characters.
The enjoyment in this story is that of the way in which Nick and Faith come to know each other and particularly in the way Faith manages to overcome her past (not particularly dwelt on in the story, we learn more of this in Prudence's story, "The Perfect Rake") and learn to be a suitable wife for a soldier. Of course there's a shock in this story which is trailed from fairly early on, and its resolution in some ways was slightly unsatisfying for me, but overall it was a very enjoyable story with a very different setting than usual - no balls, country houses and duels in this story, instead we read of travelling by foot and horse through France to Portugal with our characters sleeping on beaches and in open ground, suffering injuries and getting sunburned.
This is a very different story than Anne Gracie's other "Perfect" series to date, mainly in terms of the setting. The love story is sweet and not beset by the usually obligatory Big Misunderstanding or mutual hatred - our characters have other things going on to take their attention and that makes for a slightly different, but nonetheless enjoyable, read.
[...].
boldly endearing characters with larger than life personalities.......2007-02-18
Faith Merridew left everything she's ever known to elope with a man whom she believed truly loved her. A full month after their supposed wedding Faith learns that her marriage is a fake. Not only is he already married, has five children, he's even lied about his nationality. With her reputation and heart in tatters, Faith sets out to return to England from Paris on foot with very few provisions. Faith crosses paths with her unlikely savior, Nick while evading her would-be rapists.
Nicholas Blacklock and his companions are traveling to the various battle sights where they'd lost friends. His years as a soldier have hardened him. He prefers sleeping outdoors to the comfort of a bed, which is the only reason that he was on the beach the night Faith was attacked. Nick harbors a secret that has him determined to keep Faith at a distance.
Faith's own parents had eloped and they'd been so happy. When Felix swept her off her feet and suggested eloping, Faith believed she was following in her parents footsteps. After learning of his deception returning to her home and siblings is her only acceptable option but as a woman traveling alone she's accosted by unsavory men and treated poorly by everyone else she's encountered. Her would-be rapists would have caught her eventually if Nick hadn't come to her rescue when she stumbled into his campsite. He fought them off and then took care of Faith's injuries and needs. He would have liked to delve more into the reason she's in such horrid condition and alone but one of his debilitating headaches strikes and it's morning before he hears the whole sordid tale. Aware of her precarious position Nick offers her a marriage of convenience. She'll have the protection of his name and he'll send her to stay with his mother while he and his companions continue with their mission. It seems like a simple plan until after the vows are exchanged. Faith takes them to heart - especially the "until death do us part" and thwarts Alex's efforts to send her away.
Readers are going to fall in love with Anne Gracie's THE PERFECT STRANGER. The characters are boldly endearing with larger than life personalities that kept me reading far into the night. I loved how Faith interacts with all the characters mentioned throughout this book but especially admire how she handles Nick's companions, Mac and Stevens. I had a truly wonderful time reading this story and fully intend to read the other books in this series as soon as I get the chance.
Even though THE PERFECT STRANGER is part of a series, it can be read alone. This book is the third one in Ms. Gracie's PERFECT series. Each book depicts the story of one of the Merridew girls, who are all named after virtues. THE PERFECT RAKE,THE PERFECT WALTZ, and THE PERFECT KISS are the other books that make up this series.
Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)
A good read.......2007-02-02
While the reader will have to take a leap of faith in reading this book, it is a very good read. I don't usually enjoy mystical type stories, this was well written and not corny at all. The story touched my heart and I hope you will try it.
What Happened???.......2007-01-23
I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books about the Merridew sisters and was very excited to get my hands on the third one. However, by about a third of the way through I simply could not believe I was reading a book by the same woman who wrote "The Perfect Rake". The story was dull, contrived, and -- I thought -- beyond unbelievable. I felt no connection with the characters, especially Faith. I did grit my teeth and finish "The Perfect Stranger", but sold it to 1/2 Price Books as soon as I could. The first two Merridew books were, to me, quite wonderful. This one simply did not measure up.
Poignant and bittersweet.......2006-11-19
Faith Merridew was fleeing for her life when she stumbles into Nicholas Blacklock's camp. He rescues Faith from the men who are after her and invites her to stay with him and his friends. Nicholas is drawn to Faith but Faith is at first hesitant to trust him. Gradually, Nicholas draws the story of Faith's elopement with a certain musician and what led to her living homeless on the beach. Nicholas, being a practical man, decides the only way out of this predicament is for Faith to marry him. His plan is for them to marry and then he'll ship her off to London to live with his mother.
Faith is reluctant but eventually agrees to the marriage. But when they reach Calais, where Faith is supposed to board a ship for England, she has a change of mind and decides to stay with her husband and travel with him. Nicholas is furious, but what can he do. He's stuck with her. Faith believes that Nicholas and his friends are on a secret mission for the English army and she's excited about being on an adventure with them. They do have some adventures together; some of them hilarious, but what worries Faith most is Nicholas' debilitating headaches. They're increasing in magnitude and nothing she can do will help soothe the pain. Nicholas and Faith fall deeply in love but as they get closer to their destination, Nicholas becomes even more desperate to send Faith away.
The Perfect Stranger is a witty, poignant and bittersweet tale of two lonely people who find love in each other. It pulled at me and made me weep. It was absolutely a wonderful story to read. I think, of Anne Gracie's perfect series, this is my favorite.
Average customer rating:
- Poor, Pititful Gerry Starrett and Her Perfect Son
- Could This Be your Neighbor?
- the victim was my cousin
- In a word--Ridiculous.
- Sad, strange, powerful book!
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A Stranger in the Family: A True Story of Murder, Madness, and Unconditional Love
Steven Naifeh ,
Gregory White Smith , and
Gregory White-Smith
Manufacturer: Onyx
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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ASIN: 0451406222 |
Amazon.com
The setting is the progressive South United States of the 80s, where education and hard work offer hope for the good life--until mental illness brings tragedy. This is an unusual true-crime book because it's neither a whodunit, nor a manhunt, nor an account of a trial. Instead, it's a character study of a sadistic sexual predator who is all too human in his desperate need for love, and of his family members who need, just as desperately, to believe that their love for him will make them whole again. Authors Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith are adept at teasing out the many-layered subtleties of the criminal mind. Here they create a thought-provoking portrait by alternating passages from the well-educated killer's own diary, with the unfolding narrative of how the revelations of his crimes are affecting his family. It includes a surprising twist, and a powerful scene of confrontation near the end.
Customer Reviews:
Poor, Pititful Gerry Starrett and Her Perfect Son.......2006-06-25
I am an avid reader of true crime, but this is the worst specimen of such that I have ever seen. This book focuses not so much on the crimes committed but how this serial kidnapper & rapist, once murderer, was treated so poorly behind bars. And the second story of this book focuses on how his mother worked dilligently to right those wrongs. The kidnapped, raped and murdered victims are but backdrops to this 400 page whine about the injustices suffered by the accused. This is the first work I have read by these authors and will most definitely be my last. Steven Naifeh & Gregory White Smith: Get out of the trime crime writing profession...leave it to the true professionals like Ann Rule, Corey Mitchell & Steve Jackson.
Last but not least, I must say this: many, many times we hear the accused blame negligent mothers, domineering mothers, or absentee fathers. Most times, I personally feel that this is one more attempt at ridding themselves of personal responsibility for their actions; more specifically, their choices. However, after reading this book I firmly believe that Danny Starret was the result of a over-worrisome, over-indulgent mother that, with her high-falutin' attitude, thought that her family was above evil doings. The statement that shook me the most was when discussing his case with defense attorney Bud Siemon, she made the statement "Danny is basically a good boy-" That one statement sums up the attitude of Gerry Starrett and her "perfect son."
Could This Be your Neighbor?.......2006-03-13
The authors of this book have researched this book very thoroughly, and their style of writing is excellent. They compare and contrast the views of both the main characters that leave the reader wanting to learn more. This is a page-turner book in which you don't want to put down until it's finished.
the victim was my cousin.......2005-06-05
That's right the victim Jeannie was my cousin. We went to the beach together several times when we were kids. Now I am 32 and finally found out the previously unspeakable (in my family) details through this book. We are the same age born one month apart. I was 15 at the time the murder happened.
We were very close friends, so it was interesting reading about her. Even if it was from the killer's viewpoint. It brought back a lot of memories. For example, she liked peach wine coolers, pringles chips, her favorites, just as the killer said. You could tell she was trying to please the killer with the lies she told him, typical for victims with the Hearst-like syndrome she developed after the trauma of being abducted from her home.
The last reviewer was mistaken when he said Chrissy was murdered, and the book never says she was. Also the reviewer before that didn't read the book well either, Starrett clearly admitted he killed Jeannie. She did not kill herself. There were two bullets in her chest, so how could she have killed herself anyway?
Anyhow, I knew her very well and she was a spunky young woman. Wild and crazy and a lot of fun. Had a lot of potential. Didn't have fear of anything, and like many teenagers believed she was invincible. She was brave and mentally strong. Once she got to know him, she never dreamed he would actually kill her.
The book didn't say how much she hated the name Jean and only used it in the "runaway" note to give clues for someone to find her. She also spelled letters in her name backwards which she normally never would have done. I knew her writing, as she wrote a lot. After her disapearance, the FBI called and interviewed all her friends, including me, looking for her.
True she could have escaped if she hadn't been so ballsy and if she hadn't had that "no one can hurt me" attitude. But I remember at that age I had the same attitude so I can't blame her.
What I find disturbing is the mother's lack of compassion for the family members of the victims. She wouldn't even provide a picture of her son to help in the search. Even if he had been innocent she still should have provided the photo to help investigators. The mother was so wrapped up in protecting her grown son that she lost sight of the fact that several girls were abused and one was killed. And throughout the book she seems to want people to feel sorry for her. How would she have felt if one of her children had been killed? She didn't bother to consider this. All she cared about was whether her murderer son would go to the death chamber, or whether he had adequate prison conditions. She should have been more concerned helping authorities throughout the case. If she wanted to do the right thing. But she was too selfish to help.
It is sad how the killer keeps making excuses for himself. He may have had brain damage from his childhood injuries, but lots of people, including myself had an untreated concussion as a child from a car accident, and I didn't grow up to be a criminal! He is a sadistic calculated rapist and murderer. Something went wrong in his brain but that does not mean he should be declared too ill to be executed.
I see Jeannie's parents (it's acutally her stepdad who raised her)usually once every year. After she died, they gave me a favorite trinket of hers which I still have to this day. They didn't have any other children.
She did want to become a lawyer as the book says, and I have no doubt she was more than smart enough. Too bad she didn't get the chance. She was also one of my best friends and it sure would be nice to have her around. We would have finished growing up together. I never had a large family, and most of the family I do have I am not close with. Those are other reasons why Jeannie was important to me. After we found out she was dead I was severly depressed. My grades got a lot worse and I acted out as a teenager, getting myself into a lot of trouble. Some of it I would have gotton into anyway and some I would not have. I can only imagine if it affected me so much how it affected her parents. It would be interesting to have a book from the victim's perspective, to compare.
Due to politics and the legal system this man was not put to death like he should have been. However, from the book Starrett seemed to dislike living in prison so perhaps his 10 life sentences will be a fate worse than death. I hope so. Even if he is "suffering" then at least, lucky for him, he gets to live out a full life unlike Jeannie who didn't have the chance. I can tell you his suffering in prison, of which he and his mother complain, will never equal the amount of suffering Jeannie's family has endured outside of prison.
In a word--Ridiculous........2005-01-12
Given a choice, I wouldn't have given this book one measly star, but I was forced to. I've just finished the book (how, I don't know) and I'm glad it's over because if I had to read one more chapter beginning with wonderful Gerry Starrett sitting in her immaculate living room, holding hands with her perfect family, reflecting on the perfect previous years and 'her Danny', I was going to puke. I found this book to be more about the trials of Gerry Starrett than her son. I never read anything about the victims and their families. And I read very little about Danny's family (except for his strange mother) and nothing about his wife after all this except the two or three paragraphs when she asked for a divorce. Personally, it sounded to me as if Gerry was just a tad obsessed with her son and even after he confessed, she didn't believe 'her Danny' did anything. The guy was a freak and if his mother and he were as close as she claims they were, you think she would have seen some abnormalities in him. Granted, I can understand her desire to help her son but she attacked everybody around him and I got just plain sick of hearing about all the injustices that he was made to endure. He did, after all, rape a bunch of teenagers and kill one of them Gerry. If the purpose of this book--and it seemed to be that Gerry was the only participant in the writing of this book--was to conjure up sympathy for 'her Danny', it failed miserably. The only sympathy I felt for him was the embarrassment of having such a weird mother. (Example: her screaming at the prosecutor for mentioning the murder victim's name when 'her Danny' fell on the floor crying) She was just over the edge. She seemed extremely shallow, more worried about appearances than anything else. I actually thought her husband handled things much better than she did and I kept wondering when he was going to unload his half-crazed wife. As it turned out, she filed for divorce. As I said, I did manage to finish this book, but if you haven't read it, I wouldn't bother with it. It's nothing but a bunch of babble. It's actually a story about an anguished mother of a murderer than anything else.
Sad, strange, powerful book!.......2002-07-22
This was a very sad book, you got the view of the family of the criminal in this book, how they feel about the crime of their son. It's very sad and odd, why Danny Starrett had become like that when he had a loving family??? When his mother talked about how he was when he was a kid and we see his baby and kid picutures you think how a little boy who look so nice and sweet can become like that? It's was very well wrote and a very powerful book.
Amazon.com
When pirates overrun his paddleboat and his new bride Lierin is tossed into the dangerous river, Ashton Wingate is sure he has lost her forever. Three years later, Ashton's carriage collides with a rider, and he is certain that the unconscious beauty is his lost wife. But when the woman revives, she remembers nothing but faint memories of a dark and murderous night, and feels only trepidation in the arms of her so-called husband.
Willing to remain with him until she recovers, Lierin soon finds generous comfort in Ashton's care. Though her memories remain elusive, she and Ashton forge a relationship of deep passion and love. Then Malcolm Sinclair arrives and claims that Lierin is actually his wife Lenore, Lierin's twin sister. Lierin must admit that she has memories of Malcolm, though Ashton vows to never lose her again. Tensions flare between the men, and the growing danger seems frighteningly familiar to her. Will Lierin and Ashton be able to uncover the secrets of the past in time to secure a future together?
First published in 1983, Come Love a Stranger has remained a favorite among Woodiwiss fans for good reasons. Set in the South in the 1830s and dappled with well-formed characters, this book is fresh and entertaining on every page. Touches such as a burning madhouse, a melodramatic ex-girlfriend, and a deliciously malevolent villain make for a great read. --Nancy R.E. O'Brien
Book Description
A woman with no name and no memory...The two men who claim her:one with love, the other with fear...A dazzling tale of secret passions--and a love tragically lost and miraculously reborn--by the incomparable storyteller.
Mere days after Ashton Wingate's wedding to the enchanting Lierin, capricious Fate stole the Mississippi plantation owner's beloved from him. Now, three years later, his carriage has collided with a cloaked rider on horseback: a woman who bears an uncanny resemblance to the young bride who was swallowed up by the merciless river.
She awakens from unconsciousness in his magnificent home with no memory of who she is. Yet the tenderness of this noble, caring stranger who lovingly calls her "Lierin" soon captures her heart and enflames her with wanting. Then another enters their lives, threatening to destroy the happiness they have rediscovered in each other's arms--the dark and dangerous Malcolm Sinclair, who claims the enigmatic beauty is, in fact, his own wife, Lenore. But Ashton has sworn that he will not lose his adored one a second time, and he will risk any peril to preserve their newfound joy--no matter what the unremembered secrets of his lady's past ultimately reveal.
LIERIN
With no name and no memory, she awakens from a nightmare of madness into the lives of two stranger. One she desires, one she fears--but both have claimed her heart.
To handsome plantation owner Ashton Wingate, she is Lierin--the cherished bride cruelly stolen from him by capricious Fate. The other calls her Lenore--entangling the lost, tormented beauty in his sinister web of perilous deceit. But it is in the adoring arms of noble Ashton that her true destiny awaits--as they join together to unlock the mysteries of a shadowed past. . .and to rekindle the flames of a glorious love once vanished but never forgotten.
Download Description
When Ashton Wingate's enchanting bride Lierin was swallowed by a roaring river, he thought she was lost forever. Until he crashes into a woman with no memory, who looks exactly like his loving bride. When dark and dangerous Malcolm Sinclair comes to claim the woman as his wife Ashton will risk any peril to preserve their newfound passion. A woman with no name and no memory...The two men who claim her:one with love, the other with fear...A dazzling tale of secret passions--and a love tragically lost and miraculously reborn--by the incomparable storyteller. ere days after Ashton Wingate's wedding to the enchanting Lierin, capricious Fate stole the Mississippi plantation owner's beloved from him. Now, three years later, his carriage has collided with a cloaked rider on horseback: a woman who bears an uncanny resemblance to the young bride who was swallowed up by the merciless river
Customer Reviews:
5 stars but there's more to the story...........2006-11-18
I really enjoyed aspects of this book, as I do all of Kathleen Woodiwiss (at least ones I have read thus far and that is about 6 of them) but I felt there were some missed opportunities here to make a good book a great book. Believe me, I am a big KW fan, but this book seemed rushed and slow at the same time if that is possible! The resolution at the end was a little too neat and sort of confused me. And, what annoys me about KW at times is that lots and LOTS of peripheral characters are introduced and flutter in and out of the story like hummingbirds. Why bother? Bitchy Marelda could have been a GREAT villainess but she is painfully underused and frankly was the only interesting character in the beginning which moves too slow. Then she leaves and comes back intermittently and that is too bad. I wish KW would write a book about Marelda! What fun that would be! The hero and heroine here are, as always, incredibly beautiful and we have to hear about that constantly, but I felt like their chemistry was like walking into a movie that had already started at times. KW can create an atmosphere full of suspense and adventure that I love and once you get into this book, you won't be able to put it down Not disappointing by any means but this could have been much sharper than as it stands.
I didn't like this book.......2006-01-23
This is the second Kathleen Woodiwess I've read that I didn't like because I couldn't get into the story.The whole amnesia confused identity thing dragged on far too long as far as I was concerned by the end I didn't care if she was Lierin or Lenore.I just wanted her to remember so they could move on with their lives.The story was way too long.I liked all her other books except Ashes in the wind.This one was not well written.
The ending needs rewriting.......2005-06-15
Ashton Wingate is a wealthy plantation owner in Mississippi. With his good looks and fortune, he had his choice of women but none was able to capture his heart like Lierin. He knew that he had met the woman of his dreams and so married her after a very brief courtship. On their honeymoon aboard one of Ashton's boats, the River Witch, with the ink on their marriage papers barely dry, they were attacked by river pirates and his wife of merely a few days was thrown overboard never to be seen again, leaving Ashton a widower.
Fast forward to three years and we see Ashton in a carriage on his way home to Belle Chene. Deep in thoughts, he is startled by the sound of a woman's scream. Thrown off her horse, Ashton immediately jumps out to her rescue and takes the unconscious woman to the safety of his home. But when moonlight frames her face, he is shocked for right in his very arms is the face of the woman who has haunted his dreams for the last three years - his beloved wife Lierin. Unfortunately, the woman wakes up with no memory whatsoever of her past or identity. But in his heart, Ashton knows that she is Lierin. And when fate once again threatens to tear them apart when Malcolm Sinclair turns up and claim her as his abducted wife Lenore, Ashton vows to fight for her no matter what.
What follows is a series of confusion and heartbreak for Ashton and Lierin. Although Ashton's heart tells him that the woman is his dear wife, mounting evidence seem to prove that the woman is indeed Lenore, Lierin's twin sister. For her, as much as it pains her to leave the kind and gentle stranger who has managed to convince her that she is Lierin and whom she has fallen in love with, she knows that she must uncover the truth about herself and whom she's really married to. Sadly, things seem to favor Malcolm's side of the story, especially when the man who claims to be her own father refutes Ashton's claims.
COME LOVE A STRANGER is an exciting story filled with deceit and mystery. As usual, Kathleen Woodiwiss shows her flare for storytelling with her vivid descriptions of each scenes and portrayal of her characters. I absolutely loved Ashton! His tenderness towards Lierin, his patience and undying devotion is simply adorable. I enjoyed their playfulness toward each other and those scenes made me smile. And when Lierin was taken away from him again, I really felt his grief and couldn't wait for the truth to come out. But personally, if I were the heroine, I would have gone back to Ashton immediately after seeing him come out of the sea wearing nothing but that loincloth!
What's good about this is the mystery. It is well-plotted and I actually found myself confused and unable to figure out whether the woman is actually Lierin or Lenore, adding further to the suspense. My biggest gripe though is the ending. I closed the book rather dissatisfied, feeling as if the author has reached her word count and therefore decided to rush the ending. Overall, I thought that this book was good.
There's something missing.......2004-11-09
I typically enjoy Woodiwiss novels but this one left me with a big question mark in my mind. The beginning of the book dragged on while the end came up so quickly that I felt like I must have missed something.
And there was some logic missing in the plot. She has no memory of who she is, yet she goes with two complete strangers, leaving behind the man she has come to love and "trust" over recent weeks. She claims she's trying to find out who she is, but willingly takes up residence with those two strangers, and assumes the name of her sister.
This story isn't one of Kathleen Woodiwiss' best.
Very slow beginning but well worth it..........2004-06-30
At first I didn't think I would ever get into the book but after a long, slow wait I finally did & then I couldn't put the book down. To be honest it was about 150 pages before I was so into it that I hated to shut the book. The beginning was just very slow & kinda boring but I'm glad I didn't give up on it. I was truly confused as to who the woman was & I usually solve things pretty quickly but not the case with this book. The author gave just the right amount of clues to keep you guessing until the very end. I felt so giddy for her & Ashton when they found times to be together. It seemed to me that they were young lovers who were trying to be held apart by just about everybody but they weren't going to let anything or anybody stand in their way. It was so much fun for me to see their playful love for one another & to watch her find her identity. You just gotta love this book.
Customer Reviews:
*GREAT*.......2006-07-22
Bought because of Susan Johnson and loved it! Sometime these quick HOT, HOT, HOT, stories are the best!
"pretty good".......2005-10-08
Pretty good anthology. All three stories were good but not great. Good enough to pass the time.
Just about to give up on anthologies until I found this one.......2005-03-06
Natural Attraction by Susan Johnson
To the fashionable world, Viscount Priestley is known for his utter lack of morals, his wicked wit, and his unfailing talent at seducing any woman who strikes his fancy-and then discarding her come morning. But the viscount has never met anyone like Nicky Wemyss. A woman who dresses as a man and immerses herself in science...who can eat and discourse with equal gusto...such a woman is more than an aphrodisiac-she is temptation itself. And the viscount makes it a habit never to resist temptation...
Fool Me Once by Katherine O'Neal
It's 1933, and Kate Frost is the most creative flim-flam artist in all of East London-until she meets her match in the ruthless, rakishly handsome Rhys. The seductive con man has a plan of his own: Under his careful tutelage, Kate will pose as a long-lost Aztec princess who will fool the world. But to become a goddess, she'll have to submit herself to his training completely, giving herself over to his every instruction, his every command, his every desire. But when two thieves fall prey to their own deceptions, there's no telling who is fooling whom...and who is no longer pretending at all...
A House East of Regent Street by Pam Rosenthal
The war with Napoleon over, seaman Jack Merion has turned his attentions and his newfound prize money toward real estate, specifically a house east of Regent Street that was once a fashionable brothel. Such a house could provide a generous allowance in rent. But someone else wants to buy the house, too. Like Jack, the mysterious Miss Myles has come up in the world the hard way, and she knows how to get what she wants. To gain the property, she's willing to meet all of Jack's terms-with pleasure-and Jack may just get an investment he never expected...
I've been avoiding anthologies but being a long-time fan of Susan Johnson and a recent, but loyal, fan of Pam Rosenthal, I decided to give this one a try. I'm glad I did.
Each one contained interesting (and extremely different) stories. I think I enjoyed Susan Johnson's story the best. Katherine O'Neil's contribution was the most original story. Pam Rosenthal's was extremely hot (perhaps over the top for those easily offended). All in all, a great historical anthology.
Customer Reviews:
Wonderful stories by great authors.......2006-06-19
All three stories were wonderful reads, with great writing and story lines. All three were so good that i can't decide which one i like best.
The first story The Way Home by linda howard is about a woman who learns more of and becomes closer to her lover after becoming pregnant.
A Stranger's son by emilie richards a famous rock star finding out he has a child and trying to become a father out of the public eye while also trying to get the love of the mother.
The Paternity Test by sherryl woods is about a woman who gets pregnant by her ex who she still loves but who is completly committed to his job in another city. Can they work it out and be a family?
they are all sweet heart warming stories.
Books:
- The Sunflower: On the Possibilities and Limits of Forgiveness (Newly Expanded Paperback Edition)
- The Temple at Landfall (Celaeno)
- The Truth About Love: The Highs, the Lows, and How You Can Make It Last Forever
- The Water Devil: A Margaret of Ashbury Novel (Margaret of Ashbury Trilogy)
- The White Mountains
- To Charm A Prince (Zebra Historical Romance)
- True Believer: Inside the Investigation and Capture of Ana Montes, Cuba's Master Spy
- Uncovering Reasonable Doubt: The Component Method
- Understanding Open Source and Free Software Licensing
- Weight Watchers Weight Loss That Lasts
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- The Digital Filmmaking Handbook
- History: Fiction or Science
- Bioorganic Chemistry: Carbohydrates
- Envy
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
- History: Fiction or Science
- Family Diversity and Well-Being
- Culture of Complaint: The Fraying of America
- British Textile From 1850-1900
- Deadly Magic: A Personal Account of Communications Intelligence in World War II in the Pacific
Ask For It
The Raven Prince (Warner Forever)
A Lady's Pleasure
The Leopard Prince (Warner Forever)
Passion for the Game
