Contemporary Books

I loved this book. It was funny, profound and authentic. Rhona is a great character. Her challenges are hysterical and touching. The resolution is uplifting and spirit filled. I only hope Lisa Lieberman Doctor continues to share Rhona's journey with us in other books and on film.

This book is a charming read. Lisa Lieberman Doctor captures the time and place perfectly.

You can't help but feel Rhona's pain and joy. Loved the characters, love the local. The author, Lisa Lieberman Doctor, can certainly make you feel a part of that era. I'll never look at a creampuff the same way again! Enjoy this book!!!

I loved this book. If you know anything about growing up in Queens, New York in the late 60's you'll totally relate! I loved the authors vivid portrals of her characters! A thoroughly enjoyable read!

What a wonderfully humorous and insightful book from Lisa Lieberman Doctor's sharp wit and fast pace we enjoy a Jewish perspective as Rhona the lead charater of Queens, NY finds love eventually in just 11 days! I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to laugh out loud.

Exactly what, I asked myself, is a Diva?

Well, according to most dictionaries I checked, Diva is a noun, and it describes a "distinguished female operatic singer; a female operatic star." Synonym: prima donna

Hmmm. I've noticed in today's usage, Diva seems to be applied to anyone who is at the pinnacle of their career, or knowledge, or special in some other way. Let's find out if it applies here.

Our Diva in this book is one Aubrey James, the reigning Queen of Country, residing at the top of the charts for over ten years. We meet Aubrey onstage at a CMA special. She's exhausted. Her boyfriend pops out onstage and publicly proposes. The ring is thrust on her finger. He leaves, she steps up into the spotlight - and the Diva takes a dive. Total wipe-out.

As she recuperates, she learns she has been cruelly betrayed by a former band member. Her "story" has been sold to a major tabloid. Up to this point, Aubrey has kept her very public life separate from her private life. Now, she realizes she's going to have to open up and talk about the real Aubrey James.

She chooses the venue for her interview, but they change her scheduled interviewer. A person from her past she'd rather forget. Now she faces her past--her personal life--on more than one front.

Aubrey James refuses to become a victim. She is strong. She faces everything head-on. No hiding, no prevaricating. Brought up by Christian parents, at their death, Aubrey moves away from her faith. Yet, though she doesn't realize it, her 'faith' never left her. When things happen to her, accusations thrown at her, she handles them with grace, though she doesn't realize that. Some of those things made ME angry. I wanted Aubrey to lash out in anger, throw something, do something--anything. But she didn't.

And she remains a Diva.

I loved this book. I highly recommend this title, even if you don't reach much Chick-Lit.I believe this is Rachel's strongest book to date It is not a "girlie" book - it is full of depth and rich with symbolism. Get it!

extremely well written. the characters dont feel like they were pushed and forced into being and the conversations and story feels natural. extremely good book and i would recommend it to everyone. i enjoyed the storyline in that it could be read by anyone, man or woman. its a chick lit thats not too romancey.

Diva NashVegas is the touching story of a country music superstar trying to get back in touch with herself, her faith, and her love for music. In the first few pages of the book, the main character, Aubrey James, bursts forth as a glitzy, glamorous star of the stage who has everything that anyone could ask for - love, money, success. But it doesn't take long for the reader to get to know the inner turmoil of Aubrey's life as she has learned to deal with the loss of her parents, the betrayals by lovers, and the duplicity of former band members, all while under the bright spotlight of the public eye. Now, recognizing that there is nowhere left to run and hide from the mistakes and misfortunes of her past, Aubrey decides to face them head on by doing a one on one interview with Scott Vaughn, one of the co-anchors of Inside NashVegas. Rachel Hauck does an amazing job of bringing to life the complex character of Aubrey James whose larger-than-life, diva persona is balanced perfectly with that girl-next-door, down to earth quality that makes Aubrey irresistibly relatable despite her status as a country singing legend. Aubrey's encounters with Scott span the gamut of emotions from embarrassing and nerve racking, to compassionate and even comedic. The moments where Aubrey dreams of her mother will touch the heartstrings of anyone who has ever felt sad and alone and wanted nothing more than to crawl inside a warm, motherly embrace. Turning the pages on the growth of a woman on the brink of a breakdown as she turns into someone enjoying the process of regaining her faith is a joy to witness!
--Amey Libman, Author of Heart of Blue

I loved this book. I read it during down time at work but had to be very careful... due to the fact that I busted out laughing at the antics between Aubrey and Scott. Singed eye-brows, the driving lesson, teaching Aubrey to cook.

I found Hauck's writing to be down to earth, weaved with love and humor. Aubrey was so well-rounded that I could relate to bits and pieces of her personality. Scott was such an easy character to love. He would be a lot of fun to hang with. When I neared the end of the book, I found myself procratinating to finish it. I didn't want the story to end.

I am going to buy this book for my 12 year old niece. I know she will love it.

Diva NashVegas is a good, fluffy read but it's not quite as good as Lost in NashVegas. As a heroine, I found Robin Rae to be more relatable than Aubrey James. Honestly, in the beginning chapters, I didn't like Aubrey very much at all- she seemed too cocky (I realize that she is supposed to be a `diva'- so this characteristic is fitting but still annoying), pessimistic, and at the same time, weak and spine-less (had a hard time standing up to her schmoe of a boyfriend/fiancé/live-in lover). There were more than a few instances where I tried to yell through the book at her for not making a bigger deal about things that were in fact a big deal. Another point of contention was her living with her boyfriend- granted, her faith wasn't that strong in the beginning but, still, for a Christian fiction book it bothered me how sugar-coated it all seemed- it was written and handled in too blasé a manner, as if it wasn't a big deal that they were living and sleeping together. And there was really no remorse, regret, or anything from Aubrey after the fact, never realizing or admitting that it was a mistake.

Still a good quick read but a disappointment after the fun of Lost in NashVegas and the plucky Robin Rae. Although the plot was predictable, I'm not giving up on Ms. Hauck; I just hope the next story in more in the lines of the first and not this mediocre second installment.

Kristan Higgins is a author I just recently discovered. I just finished "Fools rush in" by her and absolutly loved it. Higgins manages to make scenarios I normally not enjoy into something beautifull and I can only recommend this book and her other work.
Our heroine is Millie Burnes, the intelligent sister, who is back in her hometown after going away to study medicine. Ever since highschool she dreamed about getting together with Joe Carpenter and now she is back to achieve her dream. She thinks that she knows everything about him (hey, she kind of stalked him more often than not) and that Joe is her perfect match.
So Millie is a girl who likes plans and after managing to make the most out of herself (for the first time she really enjoys how she looks like) she is finally ready to get her guy. And oh boy, does she gets him only to realize after some time that a fantasy is just that: a fantasy that has sometimes nothing to do with reality.
So after breaking up with Joe she realizes that she is in love with somebody totally different: her sisters ex-husband Sam. That's when the trouble really starts because Millie and Sam (of course he has feelings too) find themselves in a weird situation where they have to defend their feelings to their family and they have to decide if their love is worth all the turmoil.
This book is so good, Millie is great and inspiring and she has a bunch of people who care about her, I especially like her gay friends who help her making the most out of herself but also staying true to who she really is.
So, if you haven't already read this beautiful and inspiring book get yourself a copy and realize that love sometimes takes the long way and not the shortcut.
Enjoy.
S.M.

I love that the main character has such a hapless way about her and a self-deprecating wit. And it's a wonderful lesson about judging books by their covers... which is ironic - because I first picked this book up at a 1/2 price book store because of the dog on the cover. Ever since I read it, I've watched for her next release and this is still my favorite of the first two. I'm looking forward to reading her newest - "Just One Of The Guys".

This book was wonderful. The story was great and I had never laughed out loud so much while reading a book. Very clever writer. Catch of the Day by Higgins is also good but not as good as this one.

Kristan Higgins is one of the greatest treasures of an author I have discovered in years!! This was a smash hit of a debut novel imo and it literally left me gasping in laughter. Millie was so REAL that she seemed to leap right from the pages. It takes a top notch author to create a character so vivid. I found myself relating to her so well in so many ways. Well, except for the hookup with the ex BIL. Ick! lol On to my next Higgins novel. I'm confident I'll strike gold twice. An author this good and so snappy and fresh surely cannot be a fluke.

I really liked the book, but I feel that the author spent too much time writing about Millie's relationship with Joe. I kept skimming through the parts with Joe, which was a big part of the book. I wanted to know more about Sam and Millie's interactions. It is a little strange to fall in love with her ex-brother-in-law, but once you start reading, you get sucked into the plot.

This series is a pleasant light read that has enough originality to keep it interesting.

We join Maggie O'Neill back in Indiana, in the mystical gift and antique shop Enchantments, where she works for a witch, Felicity Dow aka Liss. And Liss really is a witch - a practicing witch in an established community that is blithely aware of the paranormal happenings around them. At least, most of them seem to be immune, but many are starting to notice the increase in crime and accidents that are plaguing the community. When a local Amish craftsman is found dead next to his bicycle with his head bashed in, residents are shocked. Not only was this gentle and talented man killed, but his was the third murder in six months in their small community. Are there supernatural forces at play, or has the town simply run out of luck?

Maggie is quite excited to be attending the annual craft fair put on by the county. Normally Liss attends alone, but this year Maggie is getting a break from running the store to help find some new merchandise. While browsing, they visit the stall of an Amish woodworker they are friends with, and Liss falls in love with an armoire decorated with patterns and bright colors not normally seen on the shaker style furniture normally produced. The armoire had been donated to the auction taking place later that day, so the two women plan to attend in hopes of winning. But the armoire's decoration is credited to another Amish craftsman, Luc Metzger; one like Maggie has never before seen. His craft work is just a beautiful as the man himself, an uncommon trait among the simple Amish people whose faith is foremost in their community. And when the ladies' man is found dead after supposedly doing `one more job' to help earn money for a farm for his wife and children, Maggie can't help but wonder where he'd been.

Maggie and hunky friend Marcus come upon the nighttime scene of buggies that have discovered the body on a darkened stretch of road, and Maggie has to decide whether or not she is comfortable with the paranormal side of her life in order to help discover why there was a strange hex tacked to a tree not far from the body - on Amish property. Maggie's sometime boyfriend, Tom the detective, is also having a difficult time with the peculiar aspects of the crime, but mostly with Maggie's involvement with people he considers questionable because they are not considered mainstream. So we are able to follow Maggie's personal journey into unfamiliar territory that is considered taboo to her Catholic religious background, and also her journey on how to trust her heart and instincts.

I am really enjoying the Bewitching series by Alt. We are seeing characters develop with the paranormal aspect - especially some who are new to the subject or fear reprisal if outed, which I think are normal reactions people would have in real life. The cozy series is engaging, and there is enough mystery to keep you guessing throughout the story. I eagerly await the next in the series, but I have one question: How does Abel charge his cell phone?

i give this author a thumbs up. this is a delightful mix of magic and fun.

Third in the series, this book once again brings us back into the cozy world of small town Indiana. Being from Indiana myself, I can relate to Hoosier prejudices and such. However; after the initial murder, it seems the plot is shelved until after halfway through the book. Maggie spends her time dickering about her love interests. It's gone beyond romantic tension and is dangerously close to entering the annoying. Make a decision and move on! The ending to this book was not quite as satisfying as the other two books but I'm most definitely looking forward to November when number four is released.

a great read...mixes seers from different traditions gracefully. i hope to see many more.
star santa cruz ca

Maggie is feeling old. Her kids are out of the house, she's getting hot flashes, and her husband seems to be looking at younger women. Her best friend also seems to be more concern with dating than hanging around Maggie. Maggie is all ready to accept the fate of a mid life crisis when she meets a young woman at a coffee house who seems to need a "motherly" type figure in her life. With true to life descriptions and humor that will make the reader giggle and groan, this grown up chick lit novel is perfect for those who can't wait to get older and those who wish they could stop.

So I'm not a baby boomer. In fact I'm pretty much the same age as the kids of the main characters in this book. You'd think I wouldn't enjoy it because of the generation gap. WRONG. I totally enjoyed this fun and humorous book that women of all ages will enjoy. What I found most interesting about the book was how insecure most women, even Christian women, really are. It seems that everyone is afraid about losing their husband to someone who is younger or who they think looks better than them. Women are always comparing themselves and therefore creating low self esteem. Of course men don't help out with this, as Gordon doesn't really reassure Maggie that he doesn't go for the blond type. The writing is top notch, I felt like I was a part of the story. I also really enjoyed seeing Maggie's relationship grow with Lily. And it was cool to read a mom drinking frappachinos and ending up working behind the counter in a coffee shop. I also love the Chihuahua who pees when nervous! I think it'd be cool to have her as a mom. There are some times where I would get frustrated with her actions, like her getting ticked at her daughter for being friends with her mother in law or when she stalks her best friend while she's dating. But then I realize that Maggie is having empty nest syndrome and is therefore frustrated with her life. It makes me want to learn to make sure to take time to enjoy my own life, and not just focus it on others so that way I know that I am meaningful. Excellent mom/lady lit book that everyone will enjoy.

Author Diann Hunt pens the words of Hot Flashes and Cold Cream with both humor and honesty, as she describes a fifty-something woman in the grip of menopause. Maggie Haydn's world turns upside down into a despairing heap of cellulite, as her search continues to find something that will spare her the pain of life change. Her pursuit accelerates into a full blown rat race.

Sipping her favorite beverage at the new coffee house makes a dent in her meaningless days of waiting for her overworked husband to return home. While the superficial makeovers never touch the deepest longing of her heart, she hardly expects her out-of-style elderly, widowed neighbor to strike a cord within her. Tired of running, Maggie pauses long enough to notice that Elvira, after all, is fashionably dressed in expressing God's love to others. Maggie is ready for a real change!

Maggie's husband Gordon and her best friend Lily nearly go out of their minds trying to help Maggie keep her balance in her topsy-turvy world. Her college age son and newly married daughter love their mom, too, but hope she doesn't go completely over the edge.

I nearly ran out of breath trying to keep up with Maggie's agonizing pace of going everywhere, never really getting anywhere. Finally, she comes to terms with her age, her appearance, and her attitude toward life. At times, I wanted to say, "We've heard this before!" It seems that was the author's creative technique -- to wear out the reader as much as it exhausted her main character, so that, in the end, we could all breathe a huge sigh of relief.

I commend this book to the Maggie Haydens who are struggling with an empty stage of life. Hunt's character Elvira will point the reader to Jesus Christ, at center stage in her own life. - Cheryl Cecil, Christian Book Previews.com

This book was funny and relaxing and I enjoyed reading it. The author kept me laughing while at the same time wondering what was coming next for Maggie. I can't wait to read another book by D. Hunt.

Great book, if you are close to menopause it's a must read.

Diann Hunt uses humor and zany situations to make us laugh at aging. Maggie Hayden gets herself into one scrape after another with her misguided caring. Hunt drew me into this story so well, Maggie became real. I cared about her. So much that there were times I wanted to slap her. She drove me nuts with her inability to get a grip, yet I laughed all the way.

Besides having a wonderfully intriguing title, Hot Flashes and Cold Cream is a page-turner of a book. You can't wait to see what Maggie gets herself into next. Thanks you, Diann, for this hilarious romp through aging.

I'm sorry so say that The House at Pooh Corner isn't quite as good as the Winnie-The-Pooh book that preceeds it. It spends a lot of time on the new character Tigger. Too much if you ask me. Even though Tigger is a darn cute fellow in words and pictures, I thought the first Pooh book to be much more balanced out, and to be honest, I didn't think Tigger to be as funny as the other characters. He's only funnier than Rabbit, and that's not saying much. Rabbit's darn plain when compared to that crafty Brer Rabbit of the Uncle Remus books.

Actually, maybe Tigger isn't the problem. It's just that some of the middle chapters of the book are quite bland. Two, Three, and Five don't stand out very much, and look rather ordinary. However, Eight, Nine, and Ten more than make up for the bland chapters and suddenly this book becomes well worth reading. Eeyore's even funnier in his second appearance than his first, and Milne does such a great job giving personality to even the most inanimate of objects. The man's a darn good writer, let's face it.

And, my goodness, Chapter Ten really gets you thinking. Where is Christopher Robin going? Is entering into the grown-up world really so bad? What will the forest do without him? It's very subtle, but you can tell it's important too.

I think my favorite thing about the Pooh books is the entire universe is pretty much limited to 8 or so different individuals. Pooh wakes up and says, "Let's visit everybody to wish them a Happy Thursday!" He can do that because there are only like 8 people in the whole world. It sure makes things a lot simpler having so few people.

The Pooh books make simplicity beautiful. They seem to be set in a very limited technological environment with a heavy emphasis on nature. Heck, everyone there lives in a tree, for goodness sakes.

The House at Pooh Corner is yet another book in the Pooh series. This book is ok, I say this only because it's not as good as the original Winnie-the-Pooh, (When We Were Very Young, etc.) But with A.A. Milne's storytelling and Ernest H. Sheppards fantastic drawings you can't go wrong.

I actually enjoy Winnie-the-Pooh and The House At Pooh Corner much more as an adult than I did as a child. Maybe this is because I was not properly introduced to them at an early age. I am sure that the Disney shorts set some preconceptions in my head (namely, that these are merely childish stories). I think that the original Winnie-the-Pooh features from Disney are wonderful gems, but they do, nonetheless, depart significantly in overall character from Milne's stories. It is also true that there is a great deal of cleverness and insight here that I did not discover or appreciate until I was grown up.

It turns out that these are beautiful, masterly crafted tales full of witty dialogue, lively songs, gentle landscapes, and real warmth. Shepard's lovingly rendered illustrations do not simply complement the stories, but are easily the equal of Milne's narratives.

I look forward to reading these books to my boys--when they are ready for them. In the meantime, I am quite content to snuggle up with these tales myself, again and again.

This classic is listed under the age group of four to eight, and as a Poohphile I am quite appalled that it is. Winnie the Pooh books have such wit, wisdom, and humor that gets better every time I read them. Their not just for children, they are for everyone. Over the years, Christopher Robin, Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore, Piglet, Tigger, Kanga, and Roo have become some of my dearest chums. I once heard someone say, or perhaps I read it, that "books are like dear friends, and who has too many friends?" I am quite inclined to agree with that statement. This book is a dear friend of mine and I hope that you shall make it yours. :)

I was participating in an on-line discussion on the subject of the single book that had influenced us each the most.

The book that first came to my mind was "The House at Pooh Corner". It seemed rather silly, but after considerable reflection I decided it was probably the correct answer after all.

The book was read to me by my Dad before I could read, and I still re-visit it occasionally fifty years later. In fact, I wouldn't be adverse to using it's ending as my epitath.

In Revere is the coming of age tale of Anthony Benedetto and his extended Italian-American family, yet it is also the account of the city of Revere, Massachusetts some forty odd years ago.

Merullo intertwines the two into one entity. Benedetto, orphaned at a young age becomes enmeshed with not only his sizable family of uncles, aunts and cousin's but within the atmosphere that defines Revere. In doing so he creates a conflict that Anthony has to comprehend to sort out the person he genuinely is.

The troupe of characters Merullo has tenderly created is difficult to abandon. The uncle with the oversized personality, who speaks with the grace of a bull and not a 'r' in sight! The Italian grandparents are drawn with out and out perfection, gracefully quiet, yet they have skillful unspoken wisdom that Merullo conveys to the reader with charm and lure.
(Yes, I'm from New England and yes, I had Italian grandparents!)

Revere itself will be a place difficult for the reader to leave behind, from the main street called Broadway, (I have many wicked memories of Broadway...especially during the Blizzard of '78!)...to the richly ornate church of St. Anthonys to the fine grains of sand of Revere Beach; all of these are calling cards to the young Anthony's experiences.

This book is a slice of modern, everday history. A well crafted, impeccably researched and laugh aloud story that is highly enjoyable regardless where you are from!

I am love with this story, the characters came to life, with the town of Revere playing a major character in itself. I identified with the character Anthony Benedetto and his family and laughed out loud many times as well as wiped away tears. I literally could not put this book down, and although I am a Bostonian I know this book will capture the heart of anyone anywhere. Roland Merullo is an excellent story teller, his other books are every bit as enjoyable as this one.

I haven't even finished In Revere, In Those Days, yet I already wanted to review it/recommend it. I am in love with this book. Merullo's writing is exceptional--he captures complex emotions in spare, concise sentences through his careful and perfect word choice. The characters are so well-developed they feel real--and wonderful and interesting. I would love to meet Grandpa Dom. Yes, this book is nostaligic and written like a sentimental memoir--that's part of its appeal to me. I hope I find Merullo's other books (I plan to read A Little Love Story next)as wonderful--perhaps it is this family's story specifically that draws me in. When I have finished the book, I'll re-check this assessment, but for now, I can not say enough about this novel if you enjoy beautiful and clean writing, a complete, well-drawn family, and nostaligic tales of how the dynamic of family relationships affects your life path.

Though I don't particularly love the two professional reviews listed here, I like the phrase "omniscient rememberance" that's used in one of them. That's part of the beauty of this novel: in addition to finely-drawn characters and places, and a lovely cadence to the sentences on the page, the author beautifully presents both the text and the subtext of the story at once, so that you are caught up in the richness of the lives that are presented within.

I loved this book for its nostalgia, for its acute observances of the life around the main character, Anthony, for the questions it brought up around my own family, and for the skilled technique in the writing itself.

A wonderful, wonderful work.

"In Revere, In Those Days" is the best novel I have read in years...sensitive, dreamy, with all the love and rough edges of growing up, and all the hopes and sorrows of adulthood. Merullo just draws you in to the Benedetto family and Revere. The story is told through Anthony's eyes and the family emerges and developes as Anthony matures and understands his clan with more clarity. Despite the troubles that surround his Uncle Peter and his cousin Rosalie the love and care that root the Benedettos are evident. It's a tale of another time, another place, that any baby-boomer will recognize.

This might be one of the best love stories that I have read. I really enjoyed the relationship between Michael and Kylie. I really liked that fact that Michael was vunerable and not the careless and experienced hero of most romance novels. I liked how Kylie also got her backbone back at the end of the book. They both helped each other get their lives back and it was a great read. I just finished the book today and keep going over my favorite parts of the book.

Highly recommend this book and although I am looking forward to her follow-up novels...although I don't expect they will come close to this one.

My grandmother used to tell me stories of her village in Ireland and this book came close to her descriptions...I love it!

I'm just sorry it took me this long to get to Dorien Kelly's wonderful book. This is a book to be savored -- beyond the setting and a real (and not always rosy) depiction of small-town living, she gives us a hero to die for in Michael, and a near-saintly woman who is still someone you can sympathize with in Kylie. And the conflict is both believable and heart-breaking. I can't wait until the sequel in March!

I picked up this book at the airport because it had an intriguing title. For once, I lucked out and found an excellent book. This is an author worth pursuing. I was delighted to find that this is the first in a trilogy. It was a beautifully written book. The main characters are very human. Their tragic pasts are overcome by the end of the book without syrupy prose and syrupy sweet or too-quaint characterizations of small town village people. The description of life in West Ireland felt realistic. The main and supporting characters had flaws and shared an ironic sense of humor which I found refreshing. Beware, this is a very quick read. You will be left wanting more.

THE LAST BRIDE IN BALLYMUIR is one of the the best books I've read this year. The writing is so poised and elegant it must be savored like a rich dessert. Kylie and Michael's love story is told with a grace that is both straightforward and achingly emotional. The realistic Irish setting is a delight and the romance is sweet, warm, sexy and completely believable. I can't wait for the next BALLYMUIR book!

I don't read romance novels, but in the case of Dorien Kelly's "The Last Bride of Ballymuir," I made an exception. To my great joy I found a tale of haunting truth told honestly, a message of hope forged into being, where none should exist, and a new writer of whom I shall expect much. The lion's share of the action in this tale is internal: that of the struggle of its two main characters. Both seek to overcome reputations earned, rightly or wrongly, find the courage to stand for themselves, one another, and the right to eek out a bit of happiness in a small town which holds staunchly to its quirky ways. Michael Kilbride's evolution throughout this novel is nothing short of heartwrenching. He is a "throw away" child who must learn not to give up on himself. Kylie O'Shea, in classic Irish form, is fighting the ghost of a past not of her making. She is a true heroine, willing the carry the cross of her shame, rather than run from her home. One could compare this work the the epic Irish classic "Deirdre of the Sorrows," wherein two lovers must run the risk of tearing apart the very fabric of thier lives for the hope of a love that will stand for all time. Dorien Kelly's Ireland is the one I remember, the one I ache for, and through her writing, the one I can find myself standing upon once more. Only twice have I read a novel in which I have missed the characters for days afterwards. The Last Bride in Ballymuir is one of those two.
I sense, the next two in Kelly's triolgy will do likewise.

Sean OTuathal
Writer, Poet, Literature Teacher

"Lonely Werewolf Girl" is a modern-day fairytale, destined to become a twenty-first century classic. Like the fables from the Brothers Grimm, Martin's story is a mixture of mysterious characters, improbable situations...laced with underlying social issues prevalent to current times. Unlike previous enchanted myths and legends, Martin interlaces his tale with his signature abundance of tongue-in-cheek humor.

Set in present day Great Britain, the story revolves around an angst ridden teenage werewolf, her werewolf family, two misfit humans, a large supporting cast of mythological beings, oh and a bevy of the inevitable evil bad-guys. There is murder, espionage, mayhem and bedlam, slapstick absurdity, and of course the expected guest appearance of Martin's fairies (after all, it wouldn't be a Martin Millar classic without the inclusion of the mischievous winged creatures).

Under all the fun and frivolity, Martin touches upon serious psychological and emotional issues that plague contemporary teens. Issues such as eating disorders, addiction, peer pressure, abuse, abandonment, heartache, and self-mutilation. Martin handles the inclusion of these serious issues with a nonchalant, non-preachy manner.

As with all of Martin's novels, "Lonely Werewolf Girl" features a cast of hundreds (ok, I am not sure of the exact character count, it could possibly be closer to thousands). Along with a robust cast of characters, the main storyline mingles with a plethora of subplots. This is the true genius behind all of Martin's works, his ability to effectively weave a multitude of characters and subplots into a coherent and plausible story. As always, he makes the reader believe in the unbelievable.

At 560 pages, "Lonely Werewolf Girl" is the most prolific of Martin's novels. Despite its length, the novel is a quick read, and evokes the "can't put it down" syndrome. The last chapter gives hint of a sequel...I know that I will be the first in line to read the further adventures of the "Lonely Werewolf Girl."

This is one of the best books I've read this year. It's also the book with the worst editing I have ever seen.

The plot is wild and funny. The daughter of a werewolf Thane is being hunted by both her family (she tried to kill her father and quite nearly succeeded) and a guild of werewolf hunters. Worse, she battles her anxiety. Lonely Werewolf Girl has many, many characters. Sometimes it's difficult to keep track of them all. I enjoyed this book on many levels. I didn't finish this book quickly, not because it wasn't good, but the short chapters which jumped from character and place and did all sorts of funny acrobats which taxed my poor concentration. This was a good thing. I dragged the pleasure on for three days as opposed to finishing it in one swallow.

Millar, being at least as talented as Gaiman and Pratchett, would do himself well to find another editor. Or maybe the editor would do him or herself well by hiring a high school student to proof read the final draft before sending it to print. Obviously no human read the final draft, and any reasonably literary high schooler could do better than Microsoft Word at spelling and grammar. The sloppy editing did this writing wrong.

Regardless, I give this book a five. Reviews are generally seen as a reflection of the writer and not the editor. The writing was excellent.

I bought this book at my local bookstore.I was looking for a new book and the cover jumped out at me.It turned out to be one of the best books I have ever read.While it is not a dark horor story,there are great battles,fantastic characterization,and rivalry and back stabbing among werewolf clans.
Kalix is the main character of the story.She is an outcast from her werewolf clan for past crimes against her king.Now she is a skinny,homeless,malnourished werewolf girl living on the streets.She is being hunted by her clan who have orders to bring her back to face trial.She is both hated and feared by her clan because she is a fierce fighter when she is overcome by her battle lust.She trusts no one but her self,but grudgingly is befriended by a couple of roommates who take her in and help her.
One of her sisters is a werewolf fashion designer who has a friend that is an other-worldly-fire-elemental-warrior queen with a fashion fetish.

There are twin werewolf sisters who aspire to be rock stars,but in reality are slackers who lie around and just get drunk all the time,living off the clans money.

There is so much more to this book than what is written above.You will truely not want to put it down once you start reading it.This book ended up making the rounds at work and everyone who read it loved it.Some kept it awhile,so their family members could read it.

My review title says it all...READ THIS BOOK!!!

I really enjoyed this book. There is something refreshing about how seamlessly the mundane, the fantastical, and the absurd all blend together. There were a lot of characters to juggle, but with deft skill on the part if the author, I found that I could keep up (Except tracing back the family tree of the werewolves etc.)
The character of Malveria in particular was a lot of fun. So overall well written, fun, and I will definitely look into more by this author.

Martin Millar has created a world that is so ordinary and extraordinary at the same time - it's so easy to immerse in it and enjoy every bit of fun, almost forgetting to leave.

I loved it.

p70. This book just did not pull me in. The plot was not interesting enough. Recovering widow meets hot divorced grumpy man - yeah that is OK but I am already on p70 and nothing is happening of interest. They get drunk, go to the grocery store, try to buy shades, get oil in their furnace, get a table, yeah yeah yeah - whatever I am bored. So much for a contemporary novel - I liked Jennifer Blake's Louisiana Dawn and Jen Hollings Shadow Warrior historical fiction so much more!

I liked the book; thought it was realistic while entertaining. Difficult to put down once you get into it. Thought an epilogue would have helped.

I've read a lot of books, but this is the first I've reviewed. I love this book, for every reason reviewers before me said: the characters aren't perfect, the story is more "real", etc. I got sucked in at the very beginning and have already re-read it soon after finishing it. It's a very well written story. I am glad I own this book, versus checking it out from the library.

This is one of my all time favorite romance books. I think it is mostly because of the realness of the story and the author's ability to capture your interest from start to ending. I couldn't put it down. The ending brought a chill.........you won't be sorry with this one.

This one you'll love also. He's rough around the edges, but he gets straightened out. He just needed a little love. He has a bit of a dirty mouth but I managed to love the book.