Short Stories Books

This is a really wondeful collection of stories. Two-Rivers takes us from Sapawe, Ontario to the streets of Chicago with stories that are immediate and from the heart. He is a terrific writer who takes us on a great journey of distance, time, and emotion.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this book that brings back fond memories of my own Ojibwe upbringing. Two Rivers writes with a style that is raw and true to his Anishinaabe people. Gchi Migwetch Eddie!

I have known of E. Donald Two-Rivers' work since he started the "Red Path Theatre Company" of Chicago, and am glad he found the time in his busy schedule/career to write a book on short stories based upon the Native American experience(s).

Good Luck E. Donald; and may the you always stay in the Gods' favor for Poety & Muse.

David Andrew Shawanokasic, Menominee

I knew Harold Ball. I wasn't his friend because, as this book explains, for most of his life he drove people away. I wasn't at the party that changed his life, but I know some who were. In fact, I know everybody in this book. Set in the city, on the rez or on the road, these stories read as real to me as the last time I stepped out the door or walked into a truck stop. Each person has his or her own fully realized voice. But what recommends this book most to me are the narrator's voices.

Many writers talk about cultural conflict, the Relocation Act or going back to the reservation, but few express it in more than one voice. Eddie Two-Rivers has the classic short story writer's gift for implication: "It was mid-afternoon-the time of day for sighing. That second when everything is just right and silence slices through time. A slight wind rustled the leaves of a nearby tree and the moment was lost to the past." (p. 54) He evokes nostalgia: "Timber supported the town and everyone in it. I remember it as a green, blue, and brown place: forest, sky, water, and sawdust everywhere. A great place for a kid." (p 221)

Yet he also has that educated awareness that summarizes whole decades in short, sociological parapgraphs: "Bill and Glenda thought of themselves as second-generation urban Indians. Their parents had moved to Chicago's South Side during the 1950s in accordance with the Relocation Act. They met at Red's, a blues bar on Thirty-fifth and Archer Avenue. It was love at first sight. They dated a couple of weeks then decided to live together. Their families disapproved so they moved to the more liberal North Side. Both had been raised in working-class homes. Both regarded their families as being provincial, not with the times." (p. 144)

But Eddie Two-Rivers also understands deeply the power of writing to heal communities and make each of us whole: "Everybody got something they do to make themselves feel better. Writing is my medicine." (p. 83)

You may see it in other writers; you can hear it here.

Ed Two-River's book Survivor's Medicine is an important contribution to the literary world both for Indians and non-Indians. The stories unfold to present a fresh perspective on the human condition in general, and the reality of American Indians specifically. As an educator, the collection of stories explores a spectrum of issues and themes that makes it a dynamic book for teaching in the classroom. Each story broadens the reader's perspective about the reality of American Indians' experience today and challenges the reader to consider and question his or her own perceptions. It grapples with history, politics, and culture in a way that is accessible and poignant to audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Survivor's Medicine can be used with students of all academic abilities. The story "Slow Walker: Hero of the Mud Flats Battle" which tells the story of childhood lessons and lifelong memories fought out in the bush in Canada, can be read to a third grade classroom or in a college literature class. I highly recommend this book for educators at all levels and encourage Native educators across the country to use this book with their students. Mr. Two-Rivers is a wonderful and rare role model for young Indians today. I anxiously await his next book.

Wow, I am so glad I stumbled across this book. This romance was GREAT! The male/female lead had such chemistry. The supporting characters were great and the story line was intriguing. I am definitely going to have to read more of Ms. Esdaile's books. If you want a good romance, try this one!!

Before facing the IRS, Jacques (JB) Dubois, CEO of Def Island needs financial help quick. The accounting firm that is trying to get his account assigns CPA Karin Michaels to work with him until the boss gets over his sickness or another top staffer can take over. Although, Karin is fascinated with the singer, she is also looking out for his business.

Karin is invited to Jacque's concert while in Philadelphia and takes her "stuck up" doctor boyfriend, Lloyd. This is a fun read as Karin enjoys herself at the concert.

Karin has to travel to Jacques home in St. Lucia to look over his books and this is where she better understands his lifestyle while their attraction for one another truly surfaces especially with the sly help of Jacques housekeeper, Mrs. Orville.

This was an enjoyable story and one that you have to keep reading until finished.

I got hooked on this book immediately. Finished it in 2 days. It's a book that you can relate to. The passion between Karin & Jacques was incredible. I want my own Jacques Dubois! I only wish it was longer.

Buy it. Great to read while working out.

Leslie Esdaile took us on a wild journey of lust and love in her novel "Take Me There". It is a great romantic novel about a woman in her search for love. Her novel also shows a very real economic side of the world that many travelers or tourist fail to see. She brings her main characater, Karin, to life as she embraces the things she sees. A great romance story indeed.

Thanks Leslie!!!!

This is my 1st book by Leslie Esdaile and I am hooked. The chemistry between the main characters, Karin and J.B. is mind blowing. A must read. Can't wait to read her others.

Over 50 years ago I read these books in Swedish (original language)and now I read them in English. I just love them, to me they are the best fairy tales ever written for children and for adults. Jan

Tove Jansson's tales from the Moominvalley are fascinating reading for adults and children alike. Although I read my first copy in Finnish, the English translation is equally enjoyable. I am surprised that Disney has not yet bought rights to the series that would make wonderful animated movies.

This is not exacly a book for kids and much as I liked some of the other Moomin books, I used to hate this one. Only after my visit to Finland this year and seeing the museum of Moomins did I re-read all the books.

I fell in love with them. Totally and permanently.

If not for anything else, get this book for the story of the Hemulen who loved silence. I actually had tears in my eyes when reading it.

Beautiful, warm, mature and full of hope, like all the other Moomin books.

I picked up this book because I thought I hadn't read it before, wanting to see the Moominvalley books through adult eyes - not to have my childhood memories of favourite books tarnished. As it turns out, I had read "Tales from Moominvalley" before (the fungus-covered granny was the trigger for my recollection), but I was really relieved to find that Tove Jansson's books are just as good as I remember - and there is, I think, even more for the adult to appreciate and enjoy than there is for the child.
I generally dislike the short story genre, but not when it's done like this. Every short story is simply that, a short story; not a contrived literary exercise with the obligatory "twist in the tail". Jansson's stories are charming little gems, full of wonderful moments and images, thought-provoking and touching. Her characters are often the lonely, the lost, and the troubled, and she makes you feel for them and understand them, without ever becoming ridiculous or sentimental. The tales about Snufkin and his tune and the Fillyjonk who believed in disasters are shining examples of this. But Jansson can write humour and happiness just as well, as the tales of the invisible child and the fir tree show.
I really can't speak highly enough of this book. Jansson's wonderful insight into people, her spare, deft prose, and her brilliant imagination make a great combination. Buy it for your children or for yourself.

As many readers have noted, Tove Jansson's Moomin books may be appreciated by adults as well as children (particularly children who are of a quirky, thoughtful bent, in grades 4 and up.) The "Tales" is a late collection of short stories and not a complete novel like most of the other ones (beginners should start with "Comet in Moominland" instead), but it contains all the characters we know and love from the series. As usual, Jansson deftly captures the exact mood of the time of year portrayed in each tale, as well as the complicated inner workings of the misfit characters, with a few deft words. Two of these stories are absolute masterpieces. The first is "A Spring Tune," in which the fiercely independent Snufkin is prevented from writing a melody by a lonely, talkative squirrel. The other is "The Fir Tree," which comes at the end of the book and is perhaps the finest Christmas short story I have ever read, which is praise indeed. (Were ever layers of irony so superb? All writers take note of this one.) In between we get an offbeat collection of curious tales, not as memorable perhaps as the novels but jolly good fun, and emotionally pure like all of Jansson's amazing body of work. How else to describe it? Read for yourself.

The eleven stories collected here range in setting from Chicago's south side to small towns in southern Illinois, but are all thematically linked in their exploration of confused and often angry lower-class white males. The stories are also generationally linked, in that their characters all appear to have come of age in the early to mid-'70s. Indeed, the three best stories are set in the '70s and follow the same junior high boys through a trio of episodes ("The Vomitorium,'' "Smoke'' and "The Grand Illusion''), which include a trunk full of stolen Tootsie Rolls, and the forming of an "air band", and a homosexual advance. These three stories share much of the humor and angst of Chris Furhman's excellent novel The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys, and Tom Perrotta's collection Bad Haircut.

In "The New Year", "The Greatest Goddamn Thing" and "Torture", the narrators are teenage boys, whose primary role in each is as sidekick or witness to another person's pain. In the first story, a cuckolded and abandoned father takes an axe to a deer. In the second, a brother just out of jail leads him into an all night bar party complete with gun, fire, and sex. And in the third, a neighbor is stranded on his roof by an irate wife, and no one calls for help. In each case, there's a kind of sad desperation to it all. Desperation is also present in two stories ("The End of Romance" and "Roger's New Life") that follow a UPS driver with a flaccid marriage, two kids, and a shaky grip on sanity. These are the most distant of the collection, as the protagonist is clearly cracking up and it becomes harder and harder to identify with his tenuous grip on reality. A rather similar character is the focus of the longest story, "Limbs," sharing a troubled marriage, kid, and in this case, friends of dubious character.

Two Chicago-set stories stick out: "The Politics of Correctness" abandons the world of the unemployed and lower-class for the world of academia and a struggling young English professor who must contend with the drug dealer who menaces his home, and the uber-PC people in his department. One sense this is a very personal story from McNally, and while it's not bad, it's not particularly original or noteworthy either. My own favorite is "The First of Your Last Chances," which stands out if only because it has a happy ending. Both funny and tender, it's a welcome respite from the heaviness of the other ten stories. The collection as a whole reveals a great new talent, I'll look forward to his next work.

The cover photo on this book (cuffed hands) isn't quite right. This is not gritty realism or "Cops"-like docudrama. Instead, author McNally's sensibility lies somewhere between the blue-collar melancholy of Raymond Carver and the outrageous humor of Hunter Thompson. His characters (all males in their early teens to their thirties) are comically pathetic, living lives that barely hang together. Teenagers Hank and Ralph appear in three stories set on the Southside of Chicago, obsessed with girls (who are all repelled by the two boys) and spending their aimless days and nights on the ragged boundary line between adolescent angst and Big Trouble. Roger, a UPS driver, moves blankly through empty days haunted darkly by thoughts of Squeaky Fromme and Charles Manson, while a fellow worker runs a personal ad and discovers the liberating mysteries of "raw carnality." Meanwhile, romantic relationships and marriages languish and sour.

Far from being bleak, the wonky dialogue and cock-eyed situations in these stories had me laughing out loud. In my favorite story, a debt-ridden young English instructor is beleaguered at work by witless students and an annoying, politically-correct faculty and then harassed at his new home by a neighborhood bully. All comes unglued for him at a faculty party where he gets entirely too drunk. Only the last longer story, "Limbs," shows McNally stretching himself into something more novel-like, as he explores the disintegrating impact of a murder on the lives of several small-town people, and here there are few laughs, just a dizzying descent into confusion and rage.

I love this book. It is both disturbing and fiercely entertaining.

Eleven stories make up this solid collection, and three of them are related ("The Vomitorium," "Smoke," and "The Grand Illusion"), starring a kid in the eight grade named Hank and his sometimes goofy, always strange adventures with Ralph, his dangerous deliquent of a friend. All three are excellent, and they make a logical progression, offering nice closure at the end of the third story.

The remaining eight are a mixed bag. "The New Year" is fantastic, but "The End of Romance" is not. "The First of Your Last Chances" seemed a bit too crafty, but I ultimately loved the story, which features a hilarious S&M vignette and a real cute ending. "The Politics of Correctness" was a wonderful story all the way through, my favorite in the collection. "The Greatest Goddamn Thing" didn't do it for me -- it all seemed too forced, and I didn't buy the narrator's voice. "Roger's New Life" just never seemed to go anywhere (a detached 3rd person pov, reminiscent of Raymond Carver), while "Torture" was strong from start to finish, though I'm not sure if it's a story that has a real direction. And the last and the longest, "Limbs," is a winner.

I wouldn't consider any of these stories as bad -- they are all finely written, and McNally's got a very nice, easy style. Many of the stories were very funny and thoroughly enjoyable.

I was a lucky person to have had John McNally as an instructor in college. He taught at my college for a short time and I still feel that college (which will remain anonymous) did not know what they lost when they lost this brilliant writer. He taught a creative writing class which was based fully on the power of the written word and how the simplest and most realistic language often tells the best story. McNally's own work completely upholds this belief. I unfortunately have lost touch with John, but when I found out via the web that he had published this collection of short stories, I knew I had to find it. I had him for one semester, yet I remember him better than any other teacher I have ever had.

As a fan of the writing of Richard Yates and Raymond Carver (who John introduced me to), I can tell you that he learned his craft from the writings of these masters. His characters are believable, the dialogue is simple but powerful and the settings are described in the most minimal detail, but yet you have a feel of exactly where you are and who these people are. McNally's characters exist through their dialogue and that is what makes his stories powerful.

I highly recommend this collection of stories. Some are disturbing, others are more lighthearted. However, the writing is tremendous and you get inside these characters almost immediately. The art of the written word is not lost. People like John McNally are keeping it alive.

John McNally's Troublemakers sparkles with electric language and moves the heart with touching scenes faithfully depicted. Often these days, one must look widely and patiently to find contemporary fiction that rises above the level of workshop attempts to that of true literary art. McNally has shown his work to be sensitive, laugh-out-loud funny, and true to the spirit of what it means to be human. For all familiar with the plight of the college adjunct, I especially recommend "The Politics of Correct", a tale of a young man oppressed, financially and culturally, to such an extreme that radical decisions and actions are called for, and it resonates with a veracity nearly impossible to find in other works dealing with this subject. This collection is a fine example that good literary work is out there, if one looks patiently for it.

Some of the stories are only four star, and that says a lot about the standard to which I hold Tim Winton. "Only four star." I've been writing for years and publish three-star work sometimes. This collection, meanwhile, is five stars overall.

This is a collection of thought-provoking stories which are loosely linked, always excellent, always natural, never showy or forced, always observant, and a pure pleasure to read. He's such a gifted author that you're actually not always aware of how gifted he is.

If you are looking for writing that takes your breath away and stories that make you look deeply into yourself and your life and the lives of others, then read this book. You will not be disappointed.

Sometimes Mr Winton seems to be straining to be profound riddling his books with impressive literary devices - or maybe I'm too dumb to recognise great art. But with THE TURNING he seems completely at ease and as a consequence the stories ring with a truth - an emotional and spiritual truth firmly set in a believable landscape. The title story about Raelene's physical and spiritual journey, is in the patois of we Australians - a ripper! Mr Winton's great contribution to world literature may indeed be the way in which he is liberating the Australian language and bringing the voice and stories of our caravan dwellers, fishermen, and other inhabitants of small town Australia - working and otherwise - to the fore.
The Lockie Leonard trilogy and THE TURNING I expect have joined or will be joining our collective memories much as Blinky Bill, Ginger Meggs and Voss already have.

Tim Winton has created a Western Australia community, which remote as it is, portrays a commonality of human spirit instantly recognizeable. The scruffy town of Port Angelus, whose whale-processing history is laid out in his book THE SHALLOWS, is as original a concept as the communities of Faulkner or Louise Erdrich or T. R. Pearson, and with each book, Winton continues to expand the community of Port Angelus while limning out the human condition. The people in these stories could live anywhere, but are still ineffably Australian. In this latest book, each story is complete within itself yet linked to one another. Each story could be a springboard for an entire novel of its own. And each story makes you care about its characters and wish you could know what happens long after you've closed the book.

There's a special appeal to the "linked" short story collection. Although the same names and places appear, each is new with the next story. The desperate men, the battered wives, the confused and bewildered children. They interact in their own ways, coming together and breaking apart over the years. In the hands of a master storyteller like Winton, each tale is a spark of reality. Every individual comes almost startlingly alive in but a few pages. As the sequence unfolds through the view of the protagonist, you gain fresh insights on circumstances. Absolute values have no place here, a lesson most of us would do well to remember.

The tales are set in a coastal town in Western Australia. Angelus is a fishing community - often under stress from unemployment, it is a contained locale. Children grow up as neighbours, move through school together, and interact in almost wildly varying ways as they mature. There are mysteries - why was a boy left broken and battered on a beach? Who was the girl found dead in a school loo and how did she die? Who escaped the almost desolate town and how bound do they remain to it in later years? These are common situations and questions in a small town, and the economic pressures add intensity to the expected conditions we all endured in adolescence. It is a credit to Winton's outstanding prose skills that beauty emerges within this forlorn community. A coastal location always provides a sense of expanded view lacking in inland towns. Yet here, as almost everywhere in Australia, the desert looms as an ever-present menace, poorly understood and a block to escape even mountains fail to match.

Vic Lang, the character around whom these stories weave, emerges first as a young child at a beach party. His life is complex. While in school, a girl with a facial birthmark fascinates him, but that's not the girl he marries. His attachments are intense and sometimes offbeat. He takes up with "Boner" McPharlin [the term comes from his job in an abattoir], the Huckleberry Finn of his time and place. Totally without ambition, Boner's presence gives Vic a basis for comparison with his own life. It's a shaky foundation to launch into adulthood. Vic symbolises the small-town outlook with his sense of being under constant scrutiny. In "The Long, Clear View", Vic reflects on his life and how the town imposed so much of itself on his later life.

North American readers often balk at the "culture shock" of Australian conditions and language. Winton's deft touch softens the shock to what might be deemed a "culture tickle". His character portrayals and the manner in which he deals with the passage of time among what become familiar people, guide the reader effortlessly through some unfamiliar terms and conditions. What does "shoot through" mean? It has nothing to do with weapons. It means "escape" or "desertion" depending on the protagonist's viewpoint. A "jacaranda" turns out to be a tree, ugly when not blooming, but a stunning array of colour in the proper season. If a blossom falls on while walking underneath, it is said to be a sign of good luck. Does that happen in Angelus?

Winton's realistic view of people and events is at odds with much of today's literature. His voice, while grim and sometimes even bleak, doesn't overwhelm the reader with despair. His people aren't crushed by events, they remain battlers even in the most seemingly desperate circumstances. You must, however, traverse the entire sequence to understand how they accomplish that feat. While each story stands entirely on its own, like a brick-built building, they must all be taken together to perceive the entire stunning edifice. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

I had long awaited Brenda's next book and she does not dissappoint with her latest drama, Two Wrongs Don't Make a Right. Once again Brenda spins a tale of infidelity and triumph as she brings you in the lives of a married couple whose marriage is more than in trouble, it's in desperate need of CPR. You have the professional black businesswoman and a STL cop that is a master player. As what is true to life, men have a hard time when the shoe is suddenly on the other foot. The most amazing part is how detailed Brenda is with the male perspective when it comes to cheating. I swear it felt like she was in my head with some of the stunts that Issac pulled. This book is a definite page turner!

Brenda once again you have outdone yourself. I am a true fan! I have read all of her books and I LOVED them all! I just have problem can you write a little faster. I can hardly wait till your next book comes out. I tried to make the book last a little longer but once I pick it up it is hard to put it down. Keep up the great work! As long as you write them I will buy them. :-) Love ya!

Brenda Hampton did a GREAT job with this novel "Two Wrongs Don't make a Right". I love Brenda's work but I was a little sick of the "Jaylin" character. I was happy to read about some new folks!
Issac and Cydney Conley are a married couple who's trust in each other is wearing thin, because of infedilities. Issac is a police officer who has a child across town that he thinks his wife does not know about, along with many other "jump offs". Meanwhile Cydney has been creeping with Isaac's partner Miguel. After Cydney escapes the drama and heads to Maui for a relaxing getaway,upon her return the ISH hits the fan!!! Drama all over the place! Can Cydney and Issac save there marriage and realize wrong + wrong = DEAD WRONG!!!

This was my first Brenda Hampton read and it won't be my last. This book was so good, her book just seemed to flow. I will definitely be reading more by her soon.

Cydney Conley is ready to throw her hands in the air and her husband out on his cheating backside. Their marriage has lost all of its meaning and her husband refuses to be faithful to their once solid relationship. Yes, she has gained some extra weight and sometimes works extra hours, but doesn't that go along with being married? In any event, two can play this game and Cydney is sure that this blow will ultimately make Isaac choose between his loyalty to their marriage or his loyalty to the streets.

Isaac Conley loves the ladies. With his good looks and policeman swagger, the women just cannot resist him. After years of cheating, it almost comes like second nature. He has tried and tried over and over again with Cydney, but her sarcastic remarks, lack of maternal wants and 20-pound weight gain has driven him to the arms and bodies of his ghetto fantasies.

Miguel cannot believe how easy it is for Isaac to be unfaithful to his wife. Every booty that struts by grabs his attention. How could this man have a beautiful wife at home and cheat on her every time he feels a twitch? It is bad enough finding a good woman and dogs like Isaac eventually turn a good woman into an evil, fed-up pit bull. Like the saying goes, though: "Every dog has its day." Maybe with a little help, Miguel can turn the saying into a reality.

Brenda Hampton has done it again. Some say it's easy to keep a series going because you have a "personal" relationship already with your characters. Hampton has put the Jaylin series (Two's Enough, Three's a Crowd) to the side along with the Kiley series (How Can I Be Down?). Now what? You can't get more talented than her.

Reviewed by: LaDonna

While I didn't find every story particularly gripping or insightful, for those I didn't, there is someone I know who did so there seems to be something for everyone. The strength of these short stories is that the portrayals are so convincing to get us involved yet short enough to leave much to the imagination. The stories about the soon-to-be-guardian, the cancer patient, the mountain climber, the child on a road trip, and the sheriff were all powerful.

I picked this book up based on a friend's recommendation.

"We're In Trouble" is one of the best, and most memorable, books I have read this year. The theme: people in extremely difficult life circumstances, and their varied responses, is a difficult,painful topic to tackle, and there were moments where I almost could not take it. I hung on through the tough parts and found that the author took me places I don't usually go, and saw things I might not otherwise see, which, after all is part of why I read in the first place. I found this to be one of the most rewarding, thought-provoking short-story collections I have read in years.

Chris Coake doesn't subscribe to the wacky narrative experiments that seem to be infesting the American literary landscape lately. There's no funky type-setting, no illustrations, no cameos by comic book heroes or post-modern tomfoolery. But at the same time, it's not fair to place his work in the strictly neo-realist tradition either: the dull epiphany punctuated by a stream of quotidian events. He's just too original for that trap. He's experimental and conventional at once. The title story is three unrelated stories in one that share similar themes. The final story, "All Through the House", plays with chronology to maximize its cumulative affect.

He's convincing, deliberate and never gimicky. His stories have a sort of devastating quietness about them--stories that are invested in character and craft--stories that are unsettling, that are bristling and building like a dormant volcano, adding pressure upon pressure toward the last sentence. The final affect is startling, pure and terrifyingly beautiful.

These stories are often dark but never cynical, haunting but humane. There's a morality behind the trauma, a design that seems to redeem its horrors (Coake never compensates for the trauma--but there is something that is always subtlely gained, extracted from it. In "Abandon", for instance, it's a sense of accountability, of true devotion). The title of the collection is evocative of its theme--but to say these stories confront the cataclysmic seems to undermine their subtlety. It's not the event that matters but the way that the characters respond to the cataclysm. In clumsier hands, these stories could be vulgar, almost melodramatic. But Coake is in such control of his craft that he pulls each one off masterfully.

In short, this is the strongest and most consistent story collection I've read in years. If you care about literary fiction: Read him. Go. Now. Get this book. Read it. And Enjoy.

The prevailing theme of these short stories is of love, in the face of death, and this core idea is viewed from a fascinating variety of angles: long-married love confronting terminal illness, sudden death of friends turning a young man into a reluctant father, love entwined in jealousy, depression and violence, love born of heroism. Each scenario presents real characters, people we all know, tightly drawn, speaking words we all recognize. You read these stories with a near sense of having heard of or known these people. I read this book straight through, gripped by each unique story, and look forward eagerly to future work from this author. Don't be dissuaded by the seemingly dark content; some of these stories are actually uplifting, or at least come to a satisfactory close.

As other reviewers have stated,these unusual stories combine the themes of love and death in some very troubling and thought provoking ways. An amazing debut collection of short stories with nary a dud in the bunch. My favorite by far was "All through the house", but all these stories are much better than the standard fare gracing the best seller list. Christopher Coake has an illustrious career ahead of him.

Great read. Interesting characters in a believable setting that is funny, and will grab your attention. Ms. Suzette is just getting better with each new book. Can hardly wait for the next one. Recommend reading when not busy or in a rush, you will not want to put it down.

You will read this very fast. Excellent book. Could not turn pages fast enough. A must read for all of you.

We voted this novel Best Romance for 2003.
The story is smart, fresh and keeps you turning the pages.
I loved this story.

BE PREPARED FOR STARES AS YOU COMMUTE ON THE BUS AND THE TRAIN BECAUSE THIS NOVEL WAS LAUGH OUT LOUD FUNNY. ALSO BE PREPARED TO TALK BACK TO THE BOOK TOO BUT HOPEFULLY YOU'LL ONLY DO THAT IN THE PRIVACY OF YOUR OWN HOME/ROOM. :) MS. HARRISON DID EXCELLENT ON HER SECOND GO ROUND WITH THIS NOVEL BECAUSE LIVING ON THE EDGE OF RESPECTABILITY WAS GOOD. I WAS UPSET THAT I STARTED THIS BOOK DURING THE WEEK? WHY? BECAUSE I HAD TO SLEEP AND WORK! A WORD TO THE WISE, START THIS BOOK ON A FRIDAY NIGHT SO YOU CAN READ IT THROUGH THE NIGHT. GOOD WORK MS. HARRISON AND I LOOK FORWARD TO FUTURE NOVELS.

GOD BLESS!

WHEN PERFECT AIN'T POSSIBLE is a love story about a single mother of a teenage daughter who finds herself reluctantly falling in love with her daughter's guidance counselor.

After a disastrous first marriage her daughter Nia's father, Imani, the protagonist, has given up on men. When she is summoned to her daughter's guidance counselor's office, the last thing Imani expects to find is Braxton, an extremely attractive 6'1" head turner, who tickles her fancy but raises her ire. Before long they develop an off again on again romance punctuated with satisfying sexual encounters.

After a spiritual awakening, Imani starts having moral misgivings about the direction their relationship is taking and opts to end the affair. Braxton on the other hand, is not ready for a serious relationship, but finds himself extraordinarily attracted to Imani. After Nia and Braxton are involved in a near fatal auto accident, the two lovers are forced to make some life altering decisions.

This book is a tedious read though it has it's bright moments. The plot is meandering and the characters lack the depth necessary to keep the reader interested in a novel of this length. The author does an admirable job in dealing with the issue of morality in a contemporary relationship. Perhaps a more condensed version of the story would make for a more engaging read.

Reviewed by Autumn
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

All three stories were well written. These stories deserve their own stand alone novel! They were great. All the stories pulled you in and you hated to see the characters go! I would love to hear more about Erin and Raimi as well as Tre' and Dr. Summer Lane.

All three stories were great. Francis Ray's story was about Samantha Clark, a former manager of a bed and breakfast. Samantha answer an ad for a housekeeping position and never expects to find the handsome Ethan Rawlins, a man still in pain. Shirley Hailstock's story is about a woman that was hurt when her prom date stood her up. Now he has returned and she is trying to fight the attraction that still lingers. Donna Hill's story is about a radio relationship expert that has no relationship of her own, when she meets the handsome program director, will all of that change?

If you only had one wish for Christmas, what would it be? Would it be something materialistic, or would it be to find love with that special someone, on the day that is set aside to celebrate the birth of the one who is the epitome of unwavering love? In WINTER NIGHTS, an anthology with stories from such notable authors as Francis Ray, Donna Hill and Shirley Hailstock, we are treated to three endearing stories of true love at its finest.

Though each story was your typical romance with the happily ever after ending, the authors managed to portray deep emotions that have you rooting for the characters as they embark on that often bumpy, but ultimately rewarding, road to love and happiness. Next time you're feeling blue and need a little something to bring a smile to your face, or you want to escape from the pressures of life, pick up a copy of the newly re-released WINTER NIGHTS. You're sure to come away with a full heart and the knowledge that true love really does conquer all.

Reviewed by Renee Williams
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

Again my girl Ray out did herself with another great read! "Winter Nights" kept me up all night! I encourage everyone to go out and get a copy. They even have it in paperback now!

Francis Ray's, "Until Christmas" is a touching novella about a young woman who not only touched the heart of the high school principal, Ethan Rawlings, but Samantha also won the hearts of Ethan's twins, Alan and Alex. Samantha, aka "Sam," was hired as a combination housekeeper, babysitter temporarily, but only until Christmas. At least, that is what Ethan told the twins and Sam, as well as himself. However, it was much too late for all of them to abide by this decision. Each was starved for the other's affections and each had become too attached to give up. The twins, not only saw Sam as their housekeeper/babysitter, but they saw her as a friend. She could play ball and was not afraid of their dog. The twins' affection went deeper still. Although they were in contact with their grandmother, they were still minus a mother figure. Sam with her winning ways, not only because she was a good cook and let them help her in the kitchen, but because it was who she was, had become special to them and they wanted her with them full time. Not only had Sam become special to them and the twins had become special to Sam, but Sam had also affected the twins' dad. Ethan's feelings for Sam were more than that of an employer, more than that of a friend. Somehow, in that short time, Sam had imbedded herself into Ethan's heart. Was he willing to allow a new love interest into his life or was he still shadowed by the deceit and experience of his ex-wife and the deceased mother of his twins. Ethan thought he had a solution to the problem when he reluctantly agreed to keep Sam, "but only until Christmas." However, love does not have a set time to go away. Therefore, until Christmas, turned out to a lifetime of love for Sam, Ethan, Alan and Alex. "Until Christmas" was the best. Way to go, Ms. Ray.

"Kwanzaa Angel" was a sweet remembrance into the past with a chance to correct the future. Erin had been hurt in the past by Raimi, who had reentered her life. Would Erin give in to her feelings that never dissolved for Raimi and become involved in a new relationship or would she revert back into the past? "Kwanzaa Angel" was about the Kwanzaa celebration, but with a twist of love for Erin and Raimi. Good story.

"'Round Midnight" was about the New Year's celebration. I loved the story of Dr. Summer Lane, the psychologist who now has a job at the radio station as a counselor on the air. Her show airs around midnight. It is at the radio station where Summer meets Tre Holland, one of the bosses. Everyone thinks Summer is a snow or ice maiden because Summer stays to herself and does not socialize with the others. However, Tre is attracted to Summer and sets out to melt the snow. Summer also has feelings for Tre and wants the ice to melt from around her heart. However, after getting together, somewhere while the ice is melting another freeze comes along and the ice around Summer's heart becomes another block of ice. Summer and Tre suffer heartship and are temporarily separated. Tre sets out to recapture Summer's love and to permanently melt the ice. He knows a new year will be approaching and is determined to be in Summer's life when the new year begins. So, he sets out around midnight to make it happen. Will Tre succeed in his endeavor? Read "'Round Midnight" and see what the New Year has in store for Summer and Tre. Great story with just the right amount of heat.

The good Professor is one funny guy. This book will have you rolling on the floor laughing out loud. And it will do so while educating you on the debacle/scandal that was and is the Clinton Years. From the bimbo eruptions to the servicing intern, it covers it all. If you want to indulge in the lighter side of "historical analysis," this is the book for you. Enjoy!

The good Professor is one funny guy. This book will have you rolling on the floor laughing out loud. And it will do so while educating you on the debacle/scandal that was and is the Clinton Years. From the bimbo eruptions to the servicing intern, it covers it all. If you want to indulge in the lighter side of "historical analysis," this is the book for you. Enjoy!

Think of Dave Barry's humor gone Gonzo and interested in Politics. Mix that with the Impeachment of Bill Clinton and what came out would look an awful lot like this book. This was a truly refreshing and funny read. I laughed so hard a few times that I thought I was going to hurt myself.

The good Professor is one funny guy. This book will have you rolling on the floor laughing out loud. And it will do so while educating you on the debacle/scandal that was and is the Clinton Years. From the bimbo eruptions to the servicing intern, it covers it all. If you want to indulge in the lighter side of "historical analysis," this is the book for you. Enjoy!

Professor Jerry Mander's tounge-in-cheek 'review' of President Clinton's approach to President of The United States is an entertaining and enlightening view of today's politics. Very right-winged, the book is chock full of tidbits from the controversial Starr Report as well as pertinent stories, facts, and related conjecture. Not for the faint-of-heart or liberal minded or those others in opposition to the Vast Right-Winged Conspiracy.