Genres Books

If you like jazz, Armstrong, "Potato Head Blues," or life itself, read this book.

Satch fans will find a whole lot more to our hero than we knew before. For one thing,his 1954 bio was severely edited and we get some of the raw stuff here. Satch wrote as eloquently (and uniquely) as he sang. He does not hold back on his views of race (see "Louis Armstrong and the Jewish Family" (1970) which may shock some people and outrage others, as is true with almost everything else here. He holds forth on his love of "Swiss Kriss" and its after effects and delivers a heartfelt letter to a fan in Vietnam closing with the lyrics of "You'll Never Walk Alone."

Would be nice if the complete unedited documents were here in a multivolume series,but this will suffice. Swiss Krissly yours.

He was the greatest of all jazz-musicians. He was a founding father of the form. No one could play the horn like him, and no one could sing his gravelly voiced songs like him.
"I'm white inside
that can't help my case
cause I can't hide
what is on my face.

Old feather bed,
Filled up with lead
Feel like Ole Ned
Wish I wuz dead,

What did I do to be so black and blue?

One of the finest music critics writing today, Terry Teachout, says that this book is true Satchmo and he would have loved it to be twice as long as it is. The more Satchmo the better.

While it is true that he knew problems with the black-community in later years because some held him to be serving the 'Man' the truth was he brought great honor and dignity to not only blacks in America but all Americans.
And above all he brought joy and beauty through his music into the lives of so many.

Of the 21 books I have collected which are either by or about Louis Armstrong, this is definitely the one I would choose if I was allowed to keep only one. Basically a collection of autobiographical pieces, interviews, letters and so on, it reveals more of Armstrong as a man than all the other books put together. It also proves that, just as Armstrong had his own unique voice as a musician, so he has virtually invented his own language when doing his "typing" as he modestly called it. Grammar and punctation have been used this way nowhere else. Particularly moving are Armstrong's lengthy reminiscences of his early life in New Orleans, Chicago and elsewhere. Yes, his childhood was severely deprived but he recalls it not just without self-pity but with a kind of joy - joy in his family, in the friends who helped him along the way and, of course, his discovery of his own innate talent for both playing and singing. The book is filled with affectionate pen-portraits, as well as sharp social comment and, at times, with indignation at the injustices of life, whether suffered by himself or others. Equally moving are the pieces written when his life was nearing its end yet still exuding that same extraordinary open-ness and generosity of spirit which are humbling to experience. If anyone wants to know what Louis was like, and if they can take a little time to tune in to his vivid and utterly unself-conscious style, this is the book they should read.

Hey - it does what the title says. It is not the greatest book on the subject - but I appreciate the writing style, and the journey that the author leads us on. It is a very very broad subject - Louisiana Music - and the book could be 100 times bigger and not cover it all. This is an OK book for the beginner student on Louisiana Music.

Rick Koster's Louisiana Music is the first and only guide to the variety of musicians in this southern American state: others have focused on specific styles (Creole, Cajun, Zydeco) but Louisiana Music considers the past and present of jazz, rock, gospel and other styles of both urban and lesser-known areas, including the Mardi Gras Indian tribes. Louisiana Music is a `must' for avid fans of Louisiana music.

Just finished this book. It is another great effort on the part of this very talented writer. This will make for a wonderful addition to my music collection as a fantastic reference book. This work is HIGHLY recommended! Rick Koster -- keep writing!

This book contains a plethora of very valuable histories
of many well known and (more importantly) lesser known Louisiana bands and artists. Mr. Koster, although from neighboring Texas, has really done his homework on this project. You can also find Mr. Koster's dry humor come into play throughout.

If you like this book, you will also enjoy Mr. Koster's book on the history of Texas music called, you guessed it, "Texas Music".

If this book had consisted just in the reprinting of the great lyrics Ira Gershwin wrote then it already would be a treasure. But it also contains his descriptions of how he wrote the songs, and is filled with stories of his long- song- writing career. He comes across as a decent, family- person somewhat reserved but basically a very , fine human being.
There are many trivial and forgettable lyrics here. But these are cancelled out by being among some of the greatest popular song lyrics ever written.
Perhaps the lyricist is almost absolutely dependent on the quality of the ' melody' in order to have his words become memorable as part of a great song.
Ira Gershwin in this was fortunate enough to work with some of the greatest of all writers of popular song, first of course and above all his brother, George.
As I write this I am humming the melody of the Gershwins' classic " Embraceable you".
How much pleasure and delight did these two great brothers give, and how much do they still give, to the world.

If you know the lyrics, you know George Gershwin's brother was a witty and warm-hearted writer of verses. His prose paints a self-portrait of a somewhat reserved, witty, erudite, unpretentious man who deeply loves (now, loved) his family, his friends, and his profession of lyric-writing. The stories behind the songs sketch a picture of show-biz life of the 1920s, before everybody had stereo systems; when anybody middle class or richer had a piano in the house; and when parties necessitated a piano recital from anybody willing and able to give one, as Ira's virtuoso brother usually was. Brief snapshots of life with his brother are shot through with almost heartbreaking poignancy as one recalls that George died young. The poignancy and his love for his brother shine the brighter as Ira never explicitly calls attention to them -- he shows, he doesn't tell. A beautiful book, with many droll observations & humorous anecdotes wittily told.

Although Ira Gershwin was capable of lyric sloppiness -- you'd have to rate his work a tick lower overall than that of Cole Porter, Johnny Mercer, Yip Harburg, Alan Jay Lerner and Stephen Sondheim -- at his best his lyrics sparkle. In LYRICS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, Ira wittily sets the conditions that lead to some of his best work. For the most part he wisely allows the words to speak for themselves, grouping his lyrics under charmingly appropriate headings and occasionally describing why one works (or doesn't) and what it took to get there. It's both a delightful compendium of Ira's best songs and a crash course in lyric writing that may make you wish the late Mr. Gershwin had conducted classes to aspiring song-writers.

Thank heaven this has finally been re-printed! No other lyricist of Gershwin's magnitiude ever took such a detailed and witty song-by-song look at his life's work. Wonderfully entertaining and informative. If you are interested in the craft of lyric writing or in the history of the musical, this book will be as essential as it is delightful.

100% happy with "Confessions" wall calendar. I have had every one of her calendars for the last 15 yrs. or so and I think she only gets better with time!!

No puedo opinar porque no me lo habeis enviado...a que esperais?????,hace ya como 3 meses,menos mal que no me lo habeis cobrado

Great photos in very special poses of this diva, the must wonderfull woman, of all, an example for young girls to follow.

This is an excellent calendar despite all the photos of a gaunt looking Madonna. The photos do only mount to a slight distraction when trying to operate the calendar. What is amazing about this calendar is how Madonna's merchandizing team have managed to sequence the months in the order as they appear in real life. An excellent job!

Included in this Omnibus are three of the first four 'Inspector Maigret' books (more like novellas) that Simenon wrote in 1931. They are both a police procedural as well as a murder mystery. They evoke a time between the two world wars that are seldom written about. You can feel the undercurrents of the French when they speak about the Germans or the Russians and still feel the 'grittiness' that followed the end of WW1.

Maigret is a large man for his times, he never smiles or laughs and sometimes will muse about his time in the 'trenches'. He knows the effect his size has on people and is not afraid to use it to intimidate witnesses or to get what he wants. His pipe is part of his hand and mouth and seldom found in his pocket. He is the kind of man who when he stands in front of you demands respect and attention to what he wants. Even before he announces that he is an 'Inspector of Police' people know that he has authority and will use it.

There are three stories included in this collections: 'Crime at Lock 14' which was the story in which he was introduced. It is a story of love, hurt and abandonment, and the ending is quite unexpected. 'Maigret and the 100 Gibbets' presents a problem to Maigret that comes from his constant need to understand why things happen. It is very much influenced by Edgar Allen Poe and the ending is 'Poe-ish' in style. 'The Strange Case of Pietr the Lett' hinges on finding out how one man can be in so many places at the same time, but never really there. The criminal is from that part of Europe that has undergone huge upheavals because of the end of WW1, and the break-up of the Russian Empire.

You have to keep in mind, the 'times' these stories are written in, they are post-WW1 Europe, that has been two years into the "Great Depression". Life is hard and most people see no future, just day to day drudgery and maybe starvation or life on the streets. At the same time, 'The Rich' are so far above the average person or worker to make them almost invisible. Money is power and people fear those who have it and know how to use its' power.

Read this book is a like a journey in the past (the firties) in the sailor's world and in the passion.

The atmosphere is splendid, the characters are interesting. The story is superb.

Read it you will not waste your time.

One of the very best Maigrets, in my opinion, and I've read most of them. This one is particularly memorable for its brilliantly evocative atmosphere.

This title is an English invention, unhappily signalling a facetiousness absent from a sombre Simenon story about double murder, decdence, broken lives and betrayal. A literal translation from the French is 'The Carter Of The 'Providence'', but perhaps that was seen as too leading, even if it was Simenon's choice; another alternative, 'The Crime At Lock 14' is the most satisfying, centring on the important aspect of the novel: place. 'Milord' is set in that strange, marginal, now obsolete inter-war world of canal barges, perhaps most familiar from contemporary films of the period, such as 'Boudu Saved From Drowning' or 'L'Atalante'. Indeed, the star of those films, Michel Simon, would have been an obvious choice to play the main non-Migret character in any film of this book, the carter Jean, a taciturn giant whose face and tattooed body are buried in a mass of hirsute overgrowth, a man who sleeps in dumb animal warmth with his horses in the barge stable, and into whose eyes Maigret can't decide whether to read imbecility or the keenest intelligence.

A beautiful, rich, well-dressed woman is found strangled between two sleeping carters in the tavern stable at Dizy, Lock 14. She is the wife of an elderly English aristocrat, disgraced Colonel Lampson, who is sailing along the canal tribuatry of the Marne on his luxury yacht The Southern Cross with his sleazy but charming companion Willy Marco, and his fat Chilean mistress. Despite his bearing and stiff-upper-lip, the Colonel conducts regular drunken orgies on board his yacht, and tolerated his wife's affair with Marco. The other principal boat in the story is the huge barge The Providence, run by a small, timid skipper, his garrulous, kindly wife and the carter Jean.

Simenon characterises barge-life as a kind of shadow-world adjacent to, but unknown to, normal life around it, with its own codes, customs and language. Although these are floating homes, not tied to any one place and potentially unstable, their slow, regular movements up and down the river, and the rules they must abide by are as rigid, claustrophobic and monotonous as any settler's. But Simenon brilliantly captures the sense of a shifting communal life, competitive (the dense traffic on a small stretch of water means much jostling for pole position), but full of cameraderie and good humour, helping out friends in trouble, carrying messages from relatives, tipping canal-side officials.

For a rooted outsider like Maigret, this world seems enchanted, his inability to crack the case matched by a terrible sense of suspension hanging over the twilit realm - it is only by breaking out of it, asserting his mobility by bicycle, that he can regain his detective prowess. Before that, he learns many fascinating facts about the mechanics of barge life, as well as its drabness and colour, its hierarchies of boats and petty bendings of the law, the land men, women and buildings who service it (lock-keepers, tavern- and shop-owners); a group world of work and routine in which transgressive individual desire can have the direst consequences.

The way Simenon himself, like a narrative elastic band, suspends the tension, allowing us to soak in the character and atmosphere, before accelerating the suspense and action, is so gripping, this must count as an exceptional early Maigret.

I loved this book! It is a great how-to write book and takes you through many things you need to know if you are interested in writing M/M fiction. It is also very good for new writers period. Many of the items in the book take you through the writing organizational process.

But the best thing I liked about the book was the humor. Josh Lanyon takes you through the process like he was a friend trying to teach you something with fun and excitement. I don't think you could do better than this book for getting all of the information with fun, intelligence and great information.

This is my new favorite reference book! As I have come to expect from Josh Lanyon this book is thoughtful and very entertaining. He stakes out new territory in describing the features that make m/m fiction distinctive and compiles the literary critique of current authors and publishers of this emerging genre. Especially interesting to me is his description of the craft of writing and where it meets the business of publishing. I am fascinated by his observations concerning the particular allure of m/m fiction to women and gay male readers. Ultimately we all seem to respond to quality romance. The author is very generous to his public and I am glad to return the favor by highly recommending this window into the world of the writers who give us so many dreamy sleepless nights!

Josh Lanyon's long awaited opus on the essentials of crafting a successful M/M novel hit the bookstores recently after a whirlwind of publicity and it was well worth the wait. This book is a step by step tutorial for both the novice and experienced writer on how to write the next great M/M novel. In his book Josh provides the reader with his own observations as well as astute and perceptive comments from others in the business such as publishers, writers, editors, reviewers and a host of insiders on how to create believable masculine characters while ensuring that the essential elements of a good novel are present in a story.

In Man, Oh Man! Writing M/M Fiction for Kinks and Cash Josh covers the basic fundamentals of good writing such as Hook, Characterizations, Dialogue and Conflict and he overlays this with the creative elements that are absolutely necessary for M/M romance in order for the book to grab the attention of editors, publishers and readers. Josh cautions that M/M romantic fiction should be from the male perspective and not stories about women masquerading as men and it must also be able to stand on its own without the sex.

I have been reviewing M/M romances for some time but didn't quite grasp the difference between M/M romance and gay fiction until I read Josh's succinct explanation in the book, and I'm sure that I am not the only one who was unaware of this distinction.

This is one of the most impressive how-to books that I have read in a while. What made this book different is Josh's easy, laid back, armchair style of imparting knowledge as a result of his years as a published author. The book provides practical examples and ideas that even a novice writer could easily grasp and implement. Josh uses humour in the book which makes communicating his knowledge easy on the reader. This book is rich in content based on Josh's experience, but he also gives us valuable information gleaned through a series of interviews conducted with industry insiders over the course of several months and offers the combined expertise of professionals in the business. Publishers give their take on what the current trends are in M/M fiction and offer a range of opinions based on reader surveys.

Josh takes us through the creative process starting with how and where to find fresh ideas and strong hooks, to creating believable masculine characters (since the majority of M/M authors today are women, I think they will find this very revealing) , to "selling" your carefully edited manuscript to a publisher and marketing the book after its release. Writers can take a page out of Josh's book, literally, and copy some of his strategies on the marketing of this book which were extremely effective.

Man, Oh Man! is geared to the rapidly expanding market of M/M romance and I would anticipate that the numbers of authors in this genre will grow exponentially as the market continues to increase. I attended Josh's recent on-line workshop for Cobblestone Press, which took place just prior to the release of the book and I was struck by the clarity of his presentation.

If I may, I would like to recommend a few chapters I found extremely relevant and informative - Looking for a Few Good Men - A strong character can carry a weak story; Cheat Sheets for Chicks -What makes a man and a woman different; Do the Math - Pacing - moving the story forward; What's it all about Alfie -Theme; MM! MM! Good and Rent Boys. I am not going to elaborate on all of the chapters because that would be a disservice to the reader and the book, plus there's only so much information that a reviewer should convey.

Each chapter is a little gem but there is not enough space to mention all of them. In order to get the full flavour and Josh's expert knowledge you need to read the book for yourself. Suffice it to say that I was inspired to write after reading Man, Oh Man! Writing M/M Fiction for Kinks and Cash, and if you've ever thought of writing for this genre then I think you`ll be motivated too. Authors and would-be writers of the genre should have a copy of this excellent reference source or your competition will blow you away. One bit of advice from Josh that resonated with me - write what you enjoy reading, make it fresh and write your passion.

Although I had planned on buying this book, I didn't consider reviewing it. After all, it's a book written by a writer for writers. For me, I just wanted a book that would give me a better understanding of the basic concepts on the writing process, not only so I could write better reader reviews, but because I love my books. Plain and simple. I wanted to enjoy my books on a deeper level.

After reading through the book, hitting on those chapters of interest twice, let me tell you, I am impressed. I'm not talking just about the content, but also about the presentation. The book is well-written and well-organized. The essential information is delivered in a concise, easy to digest format, with the chapters naturally flowing into each other as we're taken step by step through the process of writing. The discussions are comprehensive, yet presented in a straightforward way, without overwhelming us with excessive facts. And that's why I'm so impressed, because I'm actually enjoying this read.

And this is not just the author shoving his humble opinions down our throats. The information is well-balanced, supported by Lanyon's first hand knowledge as an accomplished author, along with insightful comments from other authors, editors, publishers, and readers. Each chapter gives us a solid foundation of information, illustrated with clear and intelligible examples.

Reading this is like having a one on one with the author, his informal, non-pretentious style in this book is very similar to his fictional style of writing. Smooth, enjoyable and to-the-point. There's a hint of his charming sense of humor here, but he's definitely all business. It's obvious a lot of effort and heart went into this book, and I feel his motivations are not only to educate and prepare, but also to instill self-confidence to pick up that pen and write.

To finish, I am listing the chapters, and since the chapter headings are self-explanatory, not to mention amusing, I'm only commenting on a few interesting points of information. And please keep in mind that I'm a reader, and what I find insightful and interesting, may be mundane and common knowledge for others.

CHAPTER 1: NOT THAT THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT
Introduction

The author explains the origins of the m/m genre, and clarifies exactly what it is. This is something I truly had a hard time grasping in the past, especially the difference between m/m fiction and other related genres, and now I know. This is very important, obviously, for the writer to understand their market and readership.

CHAPTER 2: YOU GOT A BETTER IDEA?
Coming up with a Story Concept

I always wondered how authors came up with those awesome stories. Several authors answered this question, their answers diverse and entertaining, making me realize they are just normal human beings like the rest of us mortal readers, and sometimes they need a little creative inspiration when looking for something to spark the ol' imagination.

CHAPTER 3: GENTLEMEN, START YOUR ENGINES
The Writing Process & Outlining

Sometimes as a reader when I tear through a book in a few hours, it's easy to forget the time and effort that went into writing that book. Authors, including Lanyon, share how they stay motivated and focused. How they find time in their busy lives to write. Very informative and inspiring. And it makes me wonder if the authors are being paid enough.

CHAPTER 4:WHOSE LIFE IS IT ANYWAY?
Point of View

Who would have known there were so many points of view? He discusses the pronoun usage in m/m fiction, and its unique complications in this genre. This pronoun situation is a serious issue for us readers, because we need to know who is doing what to whom. Lanyon uses book excerpts to illustrate the do's and don'ts.

CHAPTER 5: LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD MEN
Characterization in the M/M Novel

This was my favorite chapter and a very fascinating one. He explains that these men come in all shapes and sizes, and how important a character is to the story. He takes us step by step through the process of characterization; how to make them real, how to make them bigger-than-life, how to make them interesting and how to keep them believable. And most importantly, he explains how the author gets to know their characters, visualizing them and understanding them.

CHAPTER 6: CHEAT SHEETS FOR CHICKS

Here the author lays it on the line, telling us what makes a man a man. And we're not talking about body parts here. It's all in their walk and their talk, what they wear or don't wear. He tackles the clichés and stereotypes, not to mention the male ego. And they say women are complicated.

CHAPTER 7: NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SON
Plot, Conflict, Goals, and Motivation

Lanyon covers the basics, including one of my favorites: conflict. He explains where conflicts come from, the different kinds of conflicts, how those conflicts motivate the characters and how some conflicts are tougher to solve than others. And he uses an actual outline to illustrate the lifecycle of a conflict.

CHAPTER 8: DO THE MATH
Pacing

This was another chapter I pounced on. I've always been fascinated by the rhythm of the story. And this is something that makes it or breaks it for me. When I read the words need to flow smoothly, and the scenes need to transition smoothly. Lanyon again illustrates with examples, how to match the tempo to the action or dialog, and how to use that rhythm to build suspense and tension.

CHAPTER 9: G.I. JOE, US ARMY, REPORTING FOR DUTY!
Writing Action Scenes

I love these chapter titles. Lanyon is one funny guy. He explains how to write about those things you may not know anything about. He tells us it's not just research, but it also takes imagination and empathy, the writer using what they do know, and filling in the blanks. How to create the illusion.

CHAPTER 10: RESCUE ME
Hurt/Comfort and Angst

Another pet peeve of mine. I like the heartache, but I don't like my heart stomped on and broken into a million little tiny pieces. He explains how to set it up, how to properly use it, how not to over do it, how to keep it real and in character. There's a balance, and Lanyon explains it all.

CHAPTER 11: WHAT'S IS ALL ABOUT, ALFIE?
Theme

I think besides characters, themes are my next favorite part of a story. He explains themes are the least understood, and how important themes are to the reader, so we can connect with the story. He gives basic examples, explaining the whys and hows. And again he stresses balance and realism.

CHAPTER 12: A MAN OF FEW WORDS
Dialogue

I love dialog, and I feel dialog should serve a purpose. I'm glad the author agrees with me. He explains how dialog advances a story, defines a character, makes a sex scene memorable and how there are different kinds of dialog. This was another insightful and interesting chapter.

CHAPTER 13: VENI, VIDI, VICI
I Came, I Saw, I Conquered--Writing Sex Scenes

Don't even get me started on this chapter. When I first started reading this book, this was the very first chapter I read. Because if I had to pick one pet peeve, well here it is. Thank you, Josh! He explains in the m/m genre, the emphasis is on the romance, not the sex. And although, they can all live happily together, sex is not a necessary ingredient in a romance. Lots of comments in this chapter from publishers, authors and readers. Really, really interesting chapter for the diversity of comments.

CHAPTER 14: IT'S DIFFERENT FOR GIRLS
Sex Scene Before and After

Now this is where I think a lot of authors miss out on golden opportunities, depriving us poor readers of memorable character moments. Lanyon uses a sex scene (before and after revision) between Adrien and Jake to perfectly illustrate how a sex scene should be more than just about the sex.

CHAPTER 15: IT'S A MAN'S, MAN'S, MAN'S WORLD
Setting

Another important element of a story, and another chapter that taught me a few things. Lanyon discusses why a setting is important, how to make it realistic and why it's important to the reader's immersion.

CHAPTER 16: IT'S NOT JUST A JOB; IT'S AN ADVENTURE
Writing a Series, etc.

Lanyon gives a few cold, hard facts here about publishing, the market, staying competitive, ect. He covers some interesting things here: motivation, writer's block, writing the series.

CHAPTER 17: REAL MEN DON'T
Editing & Revisions

I just glanced at this chapter. He talks about first drafts and revisions. What to look for, what to avoid.

CHAPTER 18: MM! MM! GOOD!
Getting Published

He explains what needs to be done before submission, things you should consider like pen names and agents. And the big question: Can you make a living at writing m/m fiction? Enlightening and amusing answers from authors.

CHAPTER 19: RENT BOYS
Marketing and Promotion

Another critical chapter where Lanyon discusses the fun part of writing. I found this chapter interesting as he explains the tricks of the trade, or in other words, how he gets me to buy his books. He tells us what the best marketing tool is and I whole heartily agree. Just simply write a good book.

CHAPTER 20: FAMOUS LAST WORDS

Odds and ends, and final comments from the author, other authors and publishers.

CHAPTER 21: NUTS AND BOLTS

Glossary of terms which I really liked; notes, outline and synopsis examples, which I found interesting; and a few other things including publisher contact information.

I would spend a lot more for this book...it is worth every penny and you will squeal with delight when you first open it and find all the goodies inside. PAPER goodies.. LOL

Excellent book on the life and times of the great legend Bob Marley. Absolutely a must have for all Bob Marley fans. I couldn't put the book down until I had finished it. I highly recommend this book, it definitely deserves a five star rating.

The book came very fast and was in brand new conditions. I would recommend purchasing from this seller and would buy from them again.

When this was opened at X-mas, brought the recipient to tears. All the goodies packed into the book are amazing & worth every penny!

This is a nicely packaged (and slipcased) celebration of a reggae icon with beautiful pictures and interesting tidbits...the gatefolds and pockets with little surprises might become tiresome after a few browsings but Bob Marley is one those performers whose legend only grows with time and he is entirely deserving of this elaborate book. It's not too deep but then there are plenty of good books to choose from...in the end, it's all about the music.

this book is amazing for anyone who wants to see what it was like for maroon5 to tour for 4 years. a great book for any fan!

The book delightfully displayed wonderful memories through photographs of the bands musical tour. I enjoyed the message each member of the band wrote, not wordy which I prefer but insightful. The photography is very good and the pictures are a treasure in itself. You will be very pleased with this book.

this book is a must have for every m5 fan. it chronicles, in photography, the band's three year tour from small venues to soldout arenas. the book measures 6.5' by 9', and each picture is a full-sized page. it's a behind the scenes, in front of the scenes, at breakfast and long after midnight ~america to europe & back~ photo-diary of their lives for the last 3 years. also included is a page or two that each of the guys wrote for us.

I had the Pleasure of Meeting all 5 members of Maroon 5 at a Book Signing here in California last week and they could not have been nicer! They were Very Friendly, were on Time(unheard of for a band this big) and happily chatted and posed for photos with fans! These Guys Really appreciate their fans! The Book is Beautiful, packed with HUNDREDS of Photos from their last concert tour which lasted 3 years in support of their cd songs about jane. What is fascinating about the book and the band itself is that before songs about jane came out, these guys were just a struggling band playing in small clubs and colleges(hard to beleive but true). So the book actually gives you a rare glimpse of a band right before they became huge and you the reader get to witness this and view how fame and fortune changes the band and judging from the Book signing, fame and fortune hasnt changed these guys at all. When songs about jane became a huge seller, many people in the media called maroon 5 an "overnight sensation", The guys must laugh at this because the overnight sensations was like 10 years in the making! These guys worked their butts off to achieve the success that they now have and its nice and refreshing to see that they are still down to earth and they havent forgotten who got them to this point. The book in alot of ways is a tribute to their fans so GO BUY IT!

The Marriage Bargain by Susan Fox
Harlequin Romance #3606 - May 2000

Hallie Corbett couldn't believe what her dying grandfather was taunting her with. He'd will her the ranch, if she married before he died. Wes Lansing could remember only a handful of times that he'd actually seen his neighbour up close. He's intrigued when she comes to his home with a proposition. There's a parcel of land that has been disputed in their familes for four generations, and Hallie's willing to part with it if Wes is willing to help her meet her grandfather's conditions. After putting in place the legal agreements needed to guarantee their personal interests, they fly to Vegas to marry. Hallie's never known a man like Wes and she's overwhelmed by the emotions he brings out in her. She's not used to kindness and concern and she finds herself longing for the possibility of a real love with Wes. Wes knows that Hallie was treated very badly by her grandfather and her cousin and that she grew up a recluse with little affection from anyone. When he asks her why she doesn't feel there might be something growing between them, she answers quietly, "There are some gambles, I won't take." Deep in Hallie the hunger to be loved by Wes is almost overwhelming. If only she could free herself of her fears.

Another intensely emotional story by Ms. Fox. Hallie's had so little warmth shown to her that she doesn't recognize Wes' sincereity in wanting to make a future with her. Wes is her perfect match, strong and stern when needed but with a heart of gold. Their love story is very moving.

Don't put down the tissues. Halona (Hallie) Corbett has never had anyone to love her. Hallie has always worked along side the men on her granfather ranch. When her grandfather Hank tells her to act like a woman & find a husband or when he dies ( he is in the hospital ICU), he won't leave her a cent.
Candace her cousin hates her, and if Candace gets the ranch, both the Hank and Hallie know, Candace will sell it.
Wes Lansing their next door neighbor, has had a fued with the Corbetts over some land for ages.
Hallie goes to Wes and offers him the land he has wanted if he will marry her.
Wes has been secertly interest in Hallie for as long as she has been an adult.
Wes goes to Hank and makes a deal, only the same land Wes wanted is to go to Hallie.
This impresses Hank so much he changes his will to give Hallie everything.
But before he dies, Candace tells Hallie to leave and take her horses with her. Hallie gets Candace's permission to use the horse trailers. Only as soon as Hallie hits the open road, Candace calls the cops, and has Hallie arrested for stealing the trailers.
Wes gets Hallie out of jail, and He admonishes her for trusting Candace.
But Wes treats Hallie with tenderness and kindness only.
Soon Wes finds he is in love with Hallie just as Hallie closes up to him when Candace burns down the house that is to be Hallies.
Wes waits and watches, then when Hallie turns to him he is there with his arms open wide. Wes loves her as only a hero can.

Back cover reads:
A husband in name only?
Hallie had never even been in love--now she must marry to save her home! She just needed a wedding certificate--well, first she had to find a bridegroom...
Wes Lansing was her neighbor and the ideal candidate. Only what could a shy virgin like Hallie offer this dynamic man? Wes was intrigued and the marriage deal was struck. But could Hallie handle her new husband?

Hallie is a tortured soul -- the family scapegoat. She's stayed on because of her love of the ranch, not her love of the people on it. Her grandfather's dying and left her the ranch . . . only if she marries before he's dead. Hallie goes to Wes Lansing, a man her grandfather hates, and offers him an irresistible proposal, marry her and she'll deed him the land her family stole from his family. Wes agrees. But is it the land, or the woman who entices him?

Rather than a traditional tortured hero, Hallie is a tortured heroine. And it's Wes's love that begins to show her that she can chose to end her pain and seize a happiness beyond anything she ever imagined.

Fox writes a very traditional romance, with a twist that leaves it feeling quite untraditional. An Alpha male with a Beta soul, and a heroine who's strong enough to survive her life and find something better. I found her books last year and can't get enough of them.

All Marvin Gaye Fans Should Have This Book. Alicia Keys Turn Me On To This Book, Thank You Alicia

I've read all of the books written about Marvin and picked this up to add to the collection, expecting it to be little more than expanded liner notes for the album. Wow. Very wrong. The book ends up encompassing Marvin's entire life through the scope of his most acclaimed work. It's beautifully written, unfolding more like a novel than you'd ever expect. It's a genuinely moving look at a true artist taking the boldest step of his...and arguably any other musician's...life. I can't recommend this highly enough, both as an admirer of Marvin's and as someone who just likes to read a great book.

This book is wonderful! It gives a full account of the concept behind this wonderful album, which stood the test of time! To get the full effect, order the "What's Going On" Deluxe Edition!

should be more like it.what can you say about the Album "what's Going On"?Mind Blowing to this day.solid all the way around.the kind of Album that is timeless&moves you especially now in light of recent events.Marvin Gaye is one of those Artists in His League&this Book showcases that.also Madd Props to all the Great minds that Contributed to this Classic Album&it reflected then as it does now.War,Sex,Race,Religion,Class,&The World&it's Surroundings.Read the Book&Listen to the album they both will grab your full attention.