Blown Away: The Rolling Stones and the Death of the Sixties

Customer Reviews:

Rolling Stone Lit at its best.......2003-01-11

This is an outstanding book that provides excellently written information on the world's greatest rock and roll band. Although i question some of the accuracy of the information, it is one of my favorite books.
Mick jagger ROX!!...

Rolling Stone Lit at its best.......2003-01-11

Paint It Gray........2002-09-06

I really wanted to like this book. I saw A.E Hotchner on TV talking about Doris Day, and he just struck me as a likeable, earnest sort of guy. Unfortunately he didn't live up to his Tv-self in print. Most of the book is comprised of large chunks of interview material, both from Hotchner's own research and Rolling Stone magazine interviews you've probably already read. The rest is made up of highly subjective meanderings and vain attempts to link two ideas together.
It's hard to make this story dull, and some of the Marianne Faithfull stuff is good, but there are better books with less academic-sounding titles about the same subject. Or you could just watch "Gimme Shelter" for the condensed version.

Average customer rating:

Blown Away will blow you away
A different prespective on gun ownership
Blown away by Blown Away
Great Insight into Why Women Buy and Have Guns
amazing woman

Blown Away: American Women and Guns
Caitlin Kelly
Manufacturer: Pocket
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0743464184

Book Description

A controversy that has divided America for decades.
A decision more women must confront every day.

In the long-standing and heated debate between gun-control advocates and supporters of the Second Amendment, the perspective of women has often been overlooked in what most perceive to be the "masculine" world of firearms. This is the subject journalist Caitlin Kelly was motivated to explore after she was threatened by a stalker and contemplated acquiring a gun for her own protection.

Through interviews and firsthand accounts, Kelly probes the many issues affecting women who own guns and influence gun policies, to those whose lives are most affected by gun violence, and our society's conflicted views on women who acquire guns for sport and self-defense. Voices include activists and legislators such as Representative Carolyn McCarthy, whose husband and son were the victims of a shooting rampage; Patty Varone, who served Rudy Giuliani as a bodyguard for nine years; Mary Leigh Blek, founder of the Million Mom March; and Paxton Quigley, a modern-day Annie Oakley who teaches women how to shoot in the name of empowerment -- as well as insights on guns and violence from such high-profile women as Halle Berry, Madonna, and the late Katharine Graham.

Brutally frank in its description, yet balanced in its analysis, Blown Away is an up-close and unflinching look at guns in America -- and the women who live with them.

Customer Reviews:

Blown Away will blow you away.......2004-11-06

Caitlin Kelly is a gifted writer. I have read many of her articles and news stories in such newspapers and publications as, The New York Times, the New York Post, Chatelaine and the Wall Street Journal. Buy this book and you will get an unbiased view of every woman's right to bear arms -- if she so chooses. This book is a "must-read" for everyone.

A different prespective on gun ownership.......2004-08-11

I very much enjoyed this book. I found the balance refreshing. I also greatly appreciated the different perspectives on gun ownership the book brought out. These are things I wouldn't have been exposed to otherwise.

Blown away by Blown Away.......2004-07-14

I challenged myself to read a book about a subject I'm not comfortable with and then couldn't put it down. What a great Journalist and Storyteller Ms. Kelly turned out to be. I particularly enjoyed reading the history of women and guns in America. It gave me much food for thought. I highly recommend it for everyone on either side of this issue.

Great Insight into Why Women Buy and Have Guns.......2004-04-08

I found the book very powerful. The author's interviews with women of all walks of life were very interesting. You really understand that a gun is seen as a guard against violence towards women. The book was well written and not full of opinions by the author. Just real people talking. Great Book.

amazing woman.......2004-03-04

Although I have not read this book I have met the author! while in Las Vegas promoting her book I had a chance to meet her,(a truly amazing individual), she told me many details about this book and I can't wait to actually read it! if the book is as fascinating as she was I would have to say it is worth the read.

Average customer rating:

WONDERFUL SAILING ADVENTURE
Great read for the Landlocked
Living a dream, an honest and fun look.
Hope for us all
If you love sailing, you'll love this book.

Blown Away
Herb Payson
Manufacturer: Sheridan House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0924486953

Book Description

In the 36-foot ketch SEA FOAM, Herb and Nancy Payson and their large brood of teenaged children cruised the Pacific for six and a half years. They experienced a certain amount of stark terror, but the delights far outbalanced the drawbacks. The result is Blown Away, a kind of Swiss Family Robinson with overtones of the Marx Brothers. The situation aboard SEA FOAM may frequently be desperate but is seldom serious as Herb Payson carries his readers to Tahiti, Fiji, New Zealand and dozens of other islands.

Customer Reviews:

WONDERFUL SAILING ADVENTURE .......2005-06-18

This book is one of my favorites. If you love true adventures, and real-life drama, read this book! Herb Payson does a wonderful job in drawing the reader into his boat and taking us for a ride! You will have a mixture of dread, excitement, and anticipation as they cruise along from island to island. This book will make you want to sell everything you own and move into your own boat. But don't let their setbacks discourage you. They have several mishaps while out at sea... But I won't spoil the fun and tell you what happens ---- This is good reading and I dare you to put the book down before you are finished!!! Happy armchair sailing!

Great read for the Landlocked.......2002-02-21

I'm landlocked in Colorado, with no real desire to cruise on an ocean or even a bay, yet I really enjoyed reading this book. Herb and his wife, Nancy, were ordinary people except with perhaps even more limited funds than most Americans. Yet they impulsively decided to take to the sea. Somewhere along the way Herb started writing articles about his adventures (they almost always needed extra money because something else on the boat had broken). Eventually that led to this amusing, laugh out loud while reading it, book.
Herb displays a fine sense of humor that never comes across as mean, just amusing as he describes himself and the people he meets along the way. This is a good book for sharing with others, then tucking it away on the bookshelf for another read next year. And if any cruiser is trying to explain to a landlubber what it's like on the water, this book would be the perfect gift to share both the bad (lost in the middle of a pitch black night surrounded by dangerous coral heads) and the glorious (a village throwing a party in honor of your visit). A charming book that is aging extremely well.

Living a dream, an honest and fun look........2001-02-06

Both of these books ("Blown Away" and "You Can't Blow Home Again") are great and should be read one after the other (The second is the continuing saga). The true story of a family that sells everything to buy a boat and sail around the world. They only make it as far as the south pacific, but it makes for year after year of adventures. As a sailor myself (coastal, not blue water) I felt he did a great job of capturing the sharp contrast between the elation, exhilaration and sheer terror that can be found in sailing. Mr. Payson's honest, care free and "oh well" attitude is something that I wish I could capture for myself. Someone who does not mind laughing at himself.

I only have one critique of the books. Mr. Payson uses nautical terms and the names of boat parts as if they are a part of everyone's daily vocabulary. I sail a simple sloop configuration and can name every component that is applicable to our boat. But his repeated use of terms unique to multi-masted, wooden masted, bow-sprinted boats kept sending me to the nautical dictionary. Since the book does not appear to be targeted at highly experienced sailors, a little more explanation would have been nice.

Hope for us all.......2000-12-31

This book is one of the best all-around, just-your-average-guy, kind of sailing story. There are many, many books about guys who have been sailing their local waters all their life. They have always owned a sailboat and have always known that some day they would take off over the horizon. That is not the kind of guy Herb Payson was.

The author and his wife just happened to decide that sailing was the answer to a life that did not seem to be giving them the joy they were seeking. Nevermind that between them they had very little sailing experience. It's this type of spirit for adventure and desire to explore the unknown that many of us aspire to.

The book is well written and truly a joy to read. The author takes a witty and low-key approach to their sometimes eventful escapades. What this book represented most of all, however, was that you don't have to have decades of sailing experience or incredible endurance to take to a life of cruising. It is an inspirational piece and required reading for anyone thinking of doing the same.

If you love sailing, you'll love this book........1998-07-02

My dad gave me this book to read during our first week-long cruise on the Chesapeake with his new 34 Catalina. Not only was this book an instant favorite of mine, it was a perfect selection while I was enjoying the sea myself. It made me want to buy a boat and cruise the world. I'm envious of his travels! It's an endearing and hilarious read.

$Men Of Courage II: An Honorable Man\Blown Away\Perilous Waters (Signature Select)$
Average customer rating:

This is a must have
Three times the Excitement!
These are Men to love!!!
Men of Courage II - romance done right, very sweet

Men Of Courage II: An Honorable Man\Blown Away\Perilous Waters (Signature Select)
Lori Foster , Donna Kauffman , and Jill Shalvis
Manufacturer: Harlequin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Anthologies | Romance | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0373836422

Book Description

Ready to risk it all

Three men come face-to-face with physical danger
Their courage, their choices, will make these men heroes. . .

Lieutenant Colonel Hamilton Wulf's career ambitions cost him the one woman he ever wanted--Liv Avery.Now he's determined to win back her love. . .even if it means risking his life.

Helicopter pilot Wyatt Stone attempts to rescue his former high school sweetheart, Leah Taylor--stranded on a houseboat in the path of a tornado.And vows he'll give their love another chance. . .if they make it out alive.

Tornado chasers Cooper Harrison and Marty McKenna once spent an incredible night of passion taking shelter from a twister. Now a tornado has Marty in Cooper's arms again. Only this time Cooper isn't about to let her go.

Customer Reviews:

This is a must have.......2005-03-08

Men Of Courage II has three extraordinary tales of heroes and their struggles.

Lori Foster's An Honorable Man has Lt. Colonel Hamilton Wulf coming back to offer Liv Avery comfort at the loss of her military father. Liv was raised by a military man you never put her first and she has vowed never to live that life again. Hamilton is back to help Liv but also to win her back. When a tornado hits town they both realize that love has a place in their world. Lori Foster has written a story that is uplifting to the soul.

Blown Away by Donna Kauffman has tornado chasers Cooper Harrison and Marty McKenna trapped again by a vicious storm. Six years ago they shared an incredible night and the next day went their separate ways. As they find themselves trapped again can they both work through their past to a future? Donna Kauffman's story you feel like you are really a part of the storm.

Jill Shalvis tale Perilous Waters has old high school sweethearts stuck together during a tornado. Helicopter pilot Wyatt Stone was just recovering from Leah Taylor being back in town, when he is sent to rescue her from a boat on the river. Leah Taylor came back to town to forget and to start over. Can her and Wyatt put their history behind them and begin anew. Jill Shalvis story make you experience the trauma of being in a tornado.

This is an excellent anthology. It makes you appreciate the people that put their lives on the line each and every day to make the world safer. Great job ladies.

Three times the Excitement!.......2005-02-16

Man against nature is a fascinating subject, and these three talented writers will keep you turning the pages with their heroic tales involving some of nature's most volatile and unpredictable weather.

Lori Foster brings us a story of Liv and Hamilton, two people meant to be together, despite their different beliefs about life in the military. Liv grew up with distant, cold memories of her family because of her father's military career, and is determined not to follow that path for herself, even if it means she can't be with the man she loves. Ham is just as determined that Liv is the woman for him, but will having her mean he must give up the career, the life, he belongs to? When a deadly tornado puts them in danger, will Liv be able to let go of the past and let herself be happy with the man of her dreams, who happens to be career military? Ms. Foster tugs at your heartstrings with this emotional journey of the heart.

Cooper and Marty are fearless storm chasers who've worked together in the past, even experiencing a passionate interlude while seeking shelter from a deadly twister, a fierce force of nature that calls to their adventurous spirits like a siren song. After the encounter, they both go their separate ways, believing they are each at different points in their lives. The wedding of a mutual friend brings Cooper and Marty back to a familiar place, yet they never expected to see each other under the same exact circumstances -seeking shelter from a deadly tornado. This time, will they make it out alive, and if so, will it be so easy to walk away from each other?

Wyatt and Leah were high school sweethearts, and Wyatt believed that they would be together forever, until Leah decides to leave smalltown life for the excitement of the big city. When Leah returns years later, this time back to stay, Wyatt can't help but feel resentful of the way she waltzes back into his life so easily, like she never broke his heart. But when a deadly storm strands them on a houseboat, Wyatt realizes he's never stopped loving her, and can think of only getting them out alive so he can spend the rest of his life proving it to her.

Lori Foster, Donna Kauffman and Jill Shalvis delight with their heartfelt writing, wonderfully capturing the essence of some truly brave heroes and heroines. Whether in the military or some other dangerous occupation, heroes are all around us.

These are Men to love!!!.......2005-02-05

An Honorable Man by Lori Foster. LT Colonel Ham Wulf returns to his first love, Liv Amery to inform her of her father death from a heart attack. Colonel Weston Amery was all air force and did not have time to raise a little girl after the death of her mother. Always feeling alone Liv did not want any part of being a military wife. But Ham came with a plan to convince Liv that they can have a life together. But Liv is confused and leave right as a tornado hits town. They have to courage to fight the tornado but do they have courage to find a life together? Ms. Foster has never disappointed. And she has another winner with me. *** Blown Away" by Donna Kauffman is about tornado chasers Marty Mckenna and Cooper Harrison. Six years ago they shared passion as big as the tornado they escaped from. Now Cooper wants her back. *** Perilous Waters" by Jill Shalvis. Leah Taylor steps back in helicopter pilot Wyatt Stone' life. Now they have to work together. Leah broke his heart 10 years ago when she left to follow her dreams. When a tornado threatens Leah and others on a houseboat Wyatt pulls out all stops to save her. And to rescue their lost love. I loved all three love stories. These stories are about three men and lost first loves and their courage to recapture the loves of their lives.
Also recommended: Lori Foster's Visitation Series

Men of Courage II - romance done right, very sweet.......2005-02-05

Men of Courage II contains stories by three of the heavy hitters in women's romance today - Lori Foster, Donna Kauffman and Jill Shalvis.

Lori Foster's AN HONORABLE MAN has Lt. Col. Hamilton Wulf trying to win the love of Liv Avery, the only woman he has ever wanted to call his own. Liv has reservations because of Ham's dedication to the Air Force, the same dedication that kept her father from being a part of her life. Ham is so sweet in his determined pursuit of Liv that you can't help but hope she will give in and accept his love.

Donna Kauffman's BLOWN AWAY gives an inside look at storm chasers Cooper Harrison and Marty McKenna, two very gutsy and determined individuals who shared intimacies years before. The two of them have never forgotten each other; it seems that fate is determined to bring them together once again.

Jill Shalvis' contribution of PERILOUS WATERS is the story of copter pilot Wyatt Stone and reporter Leah Taylor. The two of them were sweethearts several years before and Leah broke Wyatt's heart when she left for higher aspirations in New York City. Now she's back, and Wyatt wishes she had stayed in New York . . . or does he? After saving her life during a violent storm, he's not so sure.

These three stories are all very sweet with comfortable characters; all three have just enough heat to keep things hot. I am sure you won't be disappointed, these three authors always please their readers.

Average customer rating:

Great Beginning...Insulting Ending
HORRIBLE Ending!!! Insult To Readers.
Twists and turns to delight you
Bad Ending
Not worth reading

Blown Away: A Novel of Suspense
G.m. Ford
Manufacturer: William Morrow
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0060874392
Release Date: 2006-08-08

Book Description

With each riveting new thriller, author G.M. Ford garners more critical praise for the breakneck, revved-up, nonstop style that has catapulted him into the upper echelon of contemporary crime writers. Now he returns with his most harrowing novel to date—based on an incredible but true unsolved case—as he plunges his dark and complex protagonist, disgraced journalist Frank Corso, into a lethal morass of revenge and conspiracy.

The nightmare began a year ago with the curious and unfortunate death of a delivery driver—blown to pieces. With a little prodding from the media, the terror spread, burning a bloody swath from East Coast to West.

Bodies are piling up as a series of deadly bank robberies rocks the L.A. area. Where federal agencies see nothing but the random hand of a bomb-tossing lunatic, rogue journalist turned bestselling author Frank Corso sees the tracks of something more sinister—something with a motive and a message. And it's not going away.

Forced to work within the system, Corso and research assistant, Chris Andriatta, are never-theless ready to pull out all the stops to halt a time bomb of terror. But the closer they come to a maniac, the more a shocking and devastating truth comes to light—that the fuse to the horror that has killed many times over and will kill many times more may have been inadvertently lit by Frank Corso himself.

G.M. Ford delivers an edge-of-your-seat thriller that's gritty, harrowing, timely, and explosive—as past and present, fact and fiction crash head-on. You will be . . . blown away.

Customer Reviews:

Great Beginning...Insulting Ending.......2007-10-09

G.M.Ford`s latest Frank Corso novel left me shocked and resentful. After discovering this series a couple years ago, I have read all the Corso books. This one began with great promise as I wondered where Frank was going with his investigation and who might be behind the cover up and the violence directed at Corso. It was headed in an intriguing direction.

But the middle third of the book slows down into a procedural mainly noteworthy for the way Corso loses control of the direction of the investigation and becomes a spectator in an interagency taskforce. During this whole section of the book, all the interest generated by the opening of the book is not only lost...but not even pursued or revisited until the last 40 pages.

And without going into detail, the real "ending" occurs or should have occurred earlier in the Sacramento scene. The last 30 pages or so represent an extension of the plot that ultimately leads to one of the poorest, lamest, and personally unfulfilling endings I have ever read. As another reviewer stated on this book, I feel so strongly, I may never read another Ford novel---at the very least, I will never "trust" his perspective of his readers again.

HORRIBLE Ending!!! Insult To Readers........2007-10-02

If I were to give the ending the full review rating, it would be one star, but I decided on 2 since up to that point the book was an interesting read. There were some flaws with the characterizations and plotting, such as the behavior of the hero's associate and that of the town's residents, particularly the sheriff, but generally the plot and dialogue were fast-moving and held your interest.

The ending: SIMPLY HORRIBLE! The last scene/word left the reader totally hanging in a jaw-dropping way, and eliminated this as a stand-alone book - the 'cliffhanger,' necessarily resolved in another book, made it impossible for closure for those who would not read a sequel, and screwed those who would by having to wait a year or more to find out what happens. That is insulting to the readers, and totally unworthy of a good author. Shame.

Twists and turns to delight you.......2007-07-17

In this sixth book in the series, Frank Corso, the true-crime bestselling author, is sent by his publisher to the small town of Edgewater, Pennsylvania to solve a very strange crime.

Slacker Nathan Marino had staggered into a bank and shoved a note at the teller that says he will be blown up if they do not follow his directions. Through a series of mistakes, including the late arrival of the bomb squad, he dies in the resulting explosion.

This case does not interest Corso at all, but he is forced to investigate it. The price of fame and his recent huge advance is that he must investigate what his publisher wants. As he begins to make inquiries, he realizes his fame (he was recently on the cover of People magazine) is a hindance, and both the Chief of Police and the local newspaper publisher seem to sincerely want him out of town. The more he is urged to leave-by some thugs who try to beat him up in his hotel room, and by a raving snow plow, that shoves him and his car into the freezing river-the more he wants to stay and figure it out. Was Marino innocent? Or was he part of the scam?

Corso demands assistance on site, and his publisher sends out a freelance writer, Chris Andriatta. He needs someone to research who is not well known and not connected to him.

Suddenly Chris and Frank Corso are seized by the FBI as "material witnesses" and flown to L.A., where similar bomb-rigged bank robberies are taking place. The robber/victims are kidnapped by several masked men, then drugged, rigged with a bomb around their neck, and set off to follow directions over an earpiece. Is the only motive money? What is the possible connection to the robber/victims: a Latina nurse and a psychologist originally from Iraq? How on earth does this relate to the Pennsylvania case from a year earlier?

The breathtaking pace and the very surprising twists will astound you.

Armchair Interviews says: If this case sounds familiar, it was patterned on a similar real crime.

Bad Ending.......2006-11-16

Having read all the Frank Corso series, as well as the Waterman series, it never occurred to me to check the last page to make sure the book ended OK (i.e., is the main character alive and expected to survive?); something I always do before I read any unknown author or a book without a continuing character. Therefore, although I enjoyed the book up until the end, I would strongly recommend against anyone reading it who wants a satisfactory ending, because I was devastated by the ending. If his next book is not a Frank Corso, or if he does not continue his Frank Corso series, we will never know whether Frank Corso lived another hour or not (which logically, he should not, based on the circumstances). This is a very bad ending which I resent, and has almost put me off ever reading anything by G. M. Ford again. I wish G. M. Ford had a personal website so that I could contact him directly to express my annoyance.

Not worth reading.......2006-10-20

G.M. Ford has written some really fine Corso novels in the past (Fury and Red Tide) come to mind. This is the worst. I read suspense novels for a good read and a good ending. It's a typical writer's technique to end a chapter with suspense, begging the reader to keep going to find out what happens next and how the tension will be resolved. Ford and his publisher have apparently lost their collective minds by ending the book on such a note. As a reader he's lost me for good. There's too many good writers and good books out there to waste hours on a writer who's too gutless to deliver an ending.

Average customer rating:

Very creative mystery of political corrpution

Blown Away
Perry Wynn
Manufacturer: Harrington Park Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Political | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1560236078

Book Description

How far will "moral" politicians go to achieve their gay separatist goals?

The nation's leaders have gained a "moral" upper hand against the gay community. A case before the Supreme Court on gay marriage and civil unions results in a shocking act of violence that clears the way for an agenda of intolerance that ultimately reshapes the country. Blown Away takes one step into the future of America, where those convicted of gay sexual behavior are deported to the Territory, a newly established refuge in Florida for any individual exhibiting homosexual tendencies. Elizabeth is a dynamic and intelligent lesbian political insider called to rise above the troubled political waters threatening the gay community. Katherine is a research pathologist and the wife of the lead counsel for the Christians for Moral Accountability, a right-wing political action group out to crush the advancement of gay rights and other social advances. In desperation to find the revolutionary treatment for the disease her deathly ill son has contracted, Katherine must travel to the Territory to discover the secret of why those being treated there for the disease are not dying. There Elizabeth and Katherine are thrown together and begin a romance of undeniable passion as they both strive to achieve goals that just may be beyond reach.

The changing environmental conditions in South America's tropical rainforests cause a terrible new illness to surface that threatens to become pandemic. Katherine devises a drastic plan to become banished to the Territory, where she can use her extensive medical expertise to infiltrate the progressive and successful treatment program. Once she finds the cure, she knows she must return to save her son. There she meets Elizabeth, the popular and very capable mayor of the Territory. As they fall in love, they begin a twisting journey packed with political intrigue and suspense. Both suddenly find that the world they thought they knew, the familiar world of justice, trust, and safety, has been completely Blown Away.

An excerpt:

At just after sunrise they began gathering on the lawn outside the Fairfax County Courthouse. A few overzealous radicals arrived before dawn, but since daybreak the crowd grew steadily into the mass that now spilled out onto the streets and sidewalks of the blocks surrounding the courthouse. It was a scene that had lately been repeated hundreds of times around America. Impromptu chants, flags, handmade signs bounced and waved in the air; blacks, whites, Hispanics, men, women, children, media satellite trucks, FBI agents, and local curiosity hounds crammed together in a throng of elbow-to-elbow anger and emotion.

Katherine never expected to actually be part of such madness, much less to cause it. She turned from the window and caught her breath. The past twenty-two hours were the most horrifying of her life, and the next twenty-four would be worse. She kept her eyes down until the van stopped in front of the courthouse. Two uniformed officers from the escort cruiser rushed back and slid her door open. The hysterical pitch of the shouting voices hit her head on; she barely heard the officers ask if she was ready. Katherine nodded slightly and leaned forward as each officer took an arm. From twenty feet inside the crowd something flew at them, barely missing the officer on her right. A large iron cross fell at her feet. Maybe the bulletproof vest she wore was a good idea after all.

Prepare yourself for a political suspense novel unlike any other. Take a disturbing look into just what may be the future of America. Prepare yourself to be Blown Away.

Customer Reviews:

Very creative mystery of political corrpution .......2006-11-17

As the conservative and religious-right factions in the country turn gay marriage into a hot-button political issue, Chris Landry, a lesbian civil right attorney bringing an argument in favor of equal rights to the Supreme Court, loses her life in a shocking attack of political terrorism. In an attempt to cater to its conservative supporters, while hoping to appease (and somewhat silence) its gay detractors, the new presidential administration comes up with a novel idea. It handpicks Elizabeth Nix, a lesbian associate of the murdered attorney, to head up "the Territory," a large parcel of land in northern Florida set aside for gays and lesbians who wish to relocate there and achieve full rights to marry and govern themselves. In the years that follow, state laws providing rights for gays are deemed unnecessary and are repealed (since gays nad lesbians now have the option of relocating to the Territory), and those prosecuted for acts of homosexual conduct are given the option of applying for citizenship there as an option to prosecution in the states.

Katherine is a brilliant research pathologist who opted to move to the territory to avoid such prosecution in Virginia. As Governor, Elizabeth Nix has to rule on her application for citizenship, and there is some hesitation given the fact that Katherine's husband is involved in conservative political causes. After meeting her, however, Elizabeth is impressed on many levels, and finds herself falling in love with the woman, who is assigned to a prestigious, top-secret research project in the territory to find a cure for a new disease spreading throughout the country. The capture of an intruder in a secured area of the research complex later turns the eye of suspicion back on Elizabeth as a spy, and leads to a dangerous trip to get evidence of the biggest political conspiracy in US history.

Ms. Wynn wrote an extremely creative (and downright scary, due to the fact that it is somewhat feasible in today's political climate!) and captivating mystery of political intrigue and corruption, and I recommend it highly. You won't be able to put this one down!

Average customer rating:

A different type of Becker novel from Wiltse
Goodbye to Becker?
Exceptional
New Discovery
Blown Away: David Wiltse, review by Jessica Lackie

Blown Away
David Wiltse
Manufacturer: Putnam Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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Spy Stories & Tales of Intrigue | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Suspense | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0399142088

Amazon.com

The plot and chief characters of Wiltse's latest thriller are good: a slicker, more daring Unabomber named Jason Cole is blowing up bridges and tunnels in and out of Manhattan, and ace FBI agent John Becker has to stop him. But it's the smaller players that raise the level of Blown Away to greatness -- a gallery of colorful, often hilarious hoods, losers and lunatics who come to life quickly and linger on in the imagination long after the last bomb has gone off. (Other Becker books by Wilste include Bone Deep, The Edge of Sleep, Into the Fire, Prayer for the Dead.)

Book Description

Adventure/SuspenseLarge Print EditionRiveting . . . Will hold readers in thrall through a fast-paced, cleverly plotted tale that features plenty of action. starred, Publishers WeeklyA masterpiece of suspense. BooklistA phantom bomber who calls himself Spring holds the city of New York responsible for his thwarted academic career and uses this grudge to go on a campaign of terror against the city. First he takes out the Roosevelt Island tram, then a bridge and finally a tunnel. Though Springs goal is simple vengeance, hes soon intercepted by a low-life with higher aspirations: getting the city to fork over $5 million in exchange for no more bombings. FBI agents John Becker and Pegeen Haddad are on Springs tail, but can they stop him before more lives are lost?

Customer Reviews:

A different type of Becker novel from Wiltse.......2007-01-25

After browsing through all the reviews on this novel, the latest in the John Becker series by David Wiltse, I can understand why some readers were so disappointed by the latest (and so far last) in this series.

Wiltse does throw anyone who has read the previous five novels in this series a bit of a curveball by relegating his main characters to secondary (almost supporting) roles in this novel. Additionally the high quality of the first five books in this series does tend to set the bar very high for any thing else that follows them.

This book focuses more on the Una-bomber style villan, an unstable ex-professor named Jason Cole. Because of his perceived lack of recognition and injustices done to him, Cole basically brings New York City to it's knees through carefully planted bombs that take a devastating toll on the city. To complicate matters, Cole has no interest in being bought off by the city, rather he is only interested in the city correcting his perceived injustices.

Added to the mix are a complex array of supporting characters including a wise-guy, a gay hit man, and a very intelligent and ruthless young street thug who all see Cole as a means to a very quick payday. Cole's insistence on sticking to his principles and his lack of any interest in any monetary reward causes numerous complications and makes him that much harder to apprehend.

The book moves swiftly if a bit unexpectedly, and the conclusion does seem a bit forced-and is not your typical happy ending. With Becker however, this is not a totally suprising turn of events.

Although this book is not up to the standards of the rest of this series (all of which I would rate at 4-5 stars) this is still an very good stand alone novel which probably would have worked better outside of this series. The development of the supporting characters and the quick twists and turns of the plot make it a very fast and dramatic read.

Goodbye to Becker?.......2004-10-31

This seems to be the last of the Becker series which is a crying shame because this one, like all the rest, is sooo good. But then the four Wiltse books that preceded Becker and the two that have followed so far, the Billy Tree books, Heartland and A Hangman's Knot, are just as good. The important thing is to keep the guy writing, anything--and I've just read two of his plays and they, too, are sooo good-- You can read something about the plot in the other reviews, but why bother? Just plunge in and enjoy the crisp, unusual, abundant characterizations, the tension, the suspense, the excitement, the crackling, funny dialogue that are the hallmarks of the Wiltse books (and plays, too, as it turns out.) More, Mr. Wiltse, more! Please?

Exceptional.......2004-01-06

Since this book is several years old, I won't bother with a precis of the plot, that having been done by others. But I do want to say how happily I was struck by the author's use of character. That's an ingredient missing all too often in crime fiction. Sure, the plot is twisting and involving and there is plenty of tension, etc, but, almost uniquely, it is all performed by some very real, very complicated characters. I found it quite exceptional.

New Discovery.......2004-01-04

I've just discovered John Becker and David Wiltse (where have I been?)and what a fortuitous discovery it is! If John Becker is not the most fascinating, complicated, sexy, clever, dangerous--and most interestingly of all--oddly virtuous character in this whole genre, I don't know of any other contenders that even come close. His villains may be be even better. Evil enough even for Dubya's list, but tantalizingly human as well. Most exciting of all for me as a reader is the author's command of the language. The words, the words! This is a genuine writer, not just a potboiler. If Blown Away is any example, I'm going to have a wonderful time with the rest of Mr. Wiltse's work.

Blown Away: David Wiltse, review by Jessica Lackie.......2003-10-30

The book takes place in New York City. What happenes is this guy named Jason Cole is a terrorist, and is blowing up trancars and bridges. He disguises himself as "Spring". He told the FBI that if they didn't give him $5Million in cash then he would blow up the whole New York City. One of the FBI agents named Karen takes matters into her own hands. She decides to pretend to be this women named Robin. She heard of the guy Spring and told him she would like to go on a date with him. He calls her and tells her where to meet him at. So she gets a rental car and buys a new outfit, to fit the description of Robin. She drove to the place spring told her to meet him at. She was waiting at a red light when someone opened the door, got in and another guy had her at gun point. The other guys name is Donny. He had cole tell her where to go. They drove all the way to Ithica, and Donny had the gun to her head the whole time.
Cole made her drive to the middle of nowhere. He had an abandoned house back there. By this time no one knew where Karen was. One of the other agents got information about this "Spring" guy and drove up to his house, the agents name was Meisner. Donny had a feeling someone was there. So he hid until he heard him come near the house. All of a sudden there was a knock on the door. "Hello,anyone home"? Cole heard the door open slowly , but he could barely see because of the darkness. Then he heard a shot and donny came running. Then out of coles mouth came an evil laugh.
You'll have to read the book to find out what happens to Karen, Donny, and Spring.
These are the literary elements the author used; Foreshadowing, surprise ending, and conflict.
For foreshadowing he gave hints about spring and you always knew when he was going to blow something else up.
The surprise ending wasn't what I expected it to be. I can't tell you what happens so you'll have to read the book!
and for the conflict spring has a problem with the FBI and wants $5million or he'll blow up the city.
Foreshadowing- The use of clues that suggest events that have yet to occur.
Surprise ending- a conclusion that violates the expectations of the reader.
Conflict- A struggle between opposing forces

I really liked this book because you never knew what was going to happen next unless the author used foreshadowing, it made you wanting to read more.

Blown Away (Hardy Boys: All New Undercover Brothers #10)

Average customer rating:

Cool Hardy's

Blown Away (Hardy Boys: All New Undercover Brothers #10)
Franklin W. Dixon
Manufacturer: Aladdin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1416911731

Book Description

ATAC BRIEFING FOR AGENTS FRANK AND JOE HARDY

MISSION:

the Billington Resort has two high-profile events on Saturday: a vintage car auction and a celebrity wedding. But they also have a bomb threat. You have EIGHT HOURS to find the bomb and bust the bad guys.

LOCATION:

Phoenix, AZ.

POTENTIAL VICTIMS:

Everyone staying at the Billington, as well as the resort itself.

SUSPECTS:

Top suspects right now are the group running the car auction and the owner of the resort.

THIS MISSION REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.

THIS MESSAGE WILL BE ERASED IN FIVE SECONDS.

Customer Reviews:

Cool Hardy's.......2006-07-28

This new line of Hardy Boys books is very current in language and content. Refreshing after reading the old books, that in some instances aren't politically correct, i.e. always referring to Chet as fat. The stories are timely and engaging.

Average customer rating:

Bonding with a new place
Terrible
not blown away far enough

Blown Away: A First Year in Santa Fe
Gail Reitenbach
Manufacturer: Right Hand Communications LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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How My Neighbor Worships: A Grand Tour of Faith Communities

ASIN: 0978684214

Book Description

Blown Away: A First Year in Santa Fe shows that you don't have to move to another country to experience the charms and frustrations of making a home in a foreign place and culture-you only have to move to New Mexico. For Santa Fe visitors and all armchair travelers, Reitenbach provides an inside look at what it can really be like to move to the City Different. Though conceived as a counterpoint to tourist-enticing depictions of Santa Fe, this story demonstrates how the power of place can transform those who embrace change. Twelve chapters trace Reitenbach's yearlong efforts to turn a house into a home. As each chapter unfolds, we see her succumb to the city's spell-without losing her clear-eyed perspective. Hardheaded realism tempered by an openness to serendipity . . . part cautionary tale, part journey of discovery-this book will have you looking at Santa Fe with new eyes.

Customer Reviews:

Bonding with a new place.......2007-03-12

I loved the book. I have visited Santa Fe and enjoyed it, but this book is richer than the stereotypical travelogues, giving me a new and different appreciation of the area. The earlier reviewers clearly didn't like the book's realism. They seem to only want to read about the touristy aspects of Santa Fe. But Blown Away shows that the spirit of the city and the heartbeat of the countryside are more complex (and, ultimately, more rewarding) than what tourists see.

Blown Away is in the armchair travel genre of Under the Tuscan Sun and A Year in Provence. The author presents her environment so vividly that I was transported to Santa Fe. I could hear the wind blow and see the incredible skies and desert flowers. This is an engaging book that teaches a lot about the realities of living in Santa Fe, from xeric (low-water) gardening to the unexpected consequences of Santa Fe's unique energies. Though the author begins the book with mixed feelings about the city (she moved there to follow her husband's career), this is a candid portrait of a personal odyssey, subtle transformations and about how moving out of one's comfort zone can open up new possibilities.

I also loved the wonderful dessert recipes. They're not standard "New Mexican" recipes but ones that emerge from the author's experiences with restaurants and locally grown fruit.

Terrible.......2007-02-13

I can't help but agree with the other review. Thia book is awful. I myself moved to Santa Fe about the same time as the author, so I was really looking forward to her observations of which there were so very few. Awful, awful self involved very boring writing.

not blown away far enough.......2006-12-23

If I hadn't read two very old books by Glads Taber on Cape Cod maybe I wouldn't be so harsh in my criticism of this book but three-quarters through all I could gleam from it was it was very difficult to garden in New Mexico and there was a lot of wind. I'm very serious. Maybe it's today's generation that substitutes whining for observation but there is very little about New Mexico here. This is a place I love and visit and know. This couple should move back to Colorado where they came from. Even poor Santa Barbara took a hit from their visit. Just another yuppy thinking her boring life is worth recording. Sorry.

Average customer rating:

Blown Away
Patrick Cave
Manufacturer: SIMON & SCHUSTER CHI
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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