Quills Books

The book was in excellent condition, and it was just what I was looking for.

Taking Michael Crichton's word on Henry James is sort of like listening to Gary Coleman criticizing Olivier, or Milli (or Vanilli) carping about Mozart.

First of all, in the above non-review, the reader assumes we "want to be swimming through crystal water," whatever that means. Well, I've swum through enough crystal water, and come away after the read with nothing. James's industrial strength extra chunky peanut butter sticks with me long after I've put it down. "The Beast in the Jungle" OR "The Jolly Corner," two novellas, eclipse and obliterate the entire body of Crichton's work. Simple as that.

"The Velvet Glove" is a great find - the limousine ride stuck in my mind. "The Birthplace" is a riot, too. Try them-

Michael Crichton said of Henry James: "I hate Henry James. His stuff reads like a first draft." For a pop writer, was Crichton ever right!!! Henry James is incapable of getting to the point. Reading Henry James is like swimming through a pool filled with peanut butter, when all you want is to swim through crystal water.

Predictable story. I guess they are detectives who got a murder and followed the leads to an anti-climactic ending that should have given the reader more in terms of confrontation, action, suspense, etc. After all we are dealing with vampires!

There was an introduction at one point of an old book that had photos of Gideon in compromising positions, but it was never developed in the story and I don't know why.
Lots of talk of whips,chains,etc. but the story delivered on little.

The very erotic and sensual moments between Jesse and Gideon rated this book 3 stars.

Jess works since two year for Gideon, a four hundreds years old vampire. Gideon was a rogue vampire until forty years before he falls in love for a woman, Mary, who teaches him to do a better person, and to puts his skill on the site of justice. Working for the Gideon Investigation allows Jess to be near this vampire he adores since he was fifteen years old. But Gideon has never shown an intereste on him until one night, during an investigation, when he suddenly corners Jamie in an alley and mades love to him in an passionate and violent way. Now Jess and Gideon are involved in a vicious case but also in a steamy relationship, where Gideon will free his most darker desires.

Jess is an interesting character: willing to leave the strong hold to Gideon, he is not at all frightened from the scary past of Gideon. He trusts completely Gideon, and knows the vampire will not allow to nobody to hurt him. Gideon on the other side, is wildly attracted from Jess, but he will do anything to destroy the friendship between them. Only an uncontrollable situation will free his desires and from that moment on, Jess will be his and his only. He will protect him and will mastered his body and soul in every way.

An interesting vampire tale where the vampire character, Gideon, is not so perfect like most of the vampire hero we know. He is dark and complex, he is not always controlled, and his dark nature could put Jess in dangerous situation, but he likes that, he likes the thrill of fear.

Jesse Madding has been working for vampire Gideon Keel for two years, assisting him in his investigations. Their current case, the bizarre death of a city councilman's son, is the most difficult case they've ever worked on. While checking out a warehouse, Gideon suddenly begins acting strangely, demanding sex in an alley. Jesse, who's loved Gideon for years, gladly agrees. Later, when Gideon realizes he was under the influence of a powerful substance, he feels guilty and angry at himself. Can the two men prevent the vampire drug Obsidian from destroying the city while coming to terms with their feelings for each other?

I'm going to preface this review by saying that Master of Obsidian is a not for the faint of heart. If you don't like hardcore BDSM, torture, blood play, group sex, and the like, then you won't like this book. Any and all sensitive readers should stay far away from this one. If, on the other hand, those things don't bother you, then read on! I found the storyline of Master of Obsidian fascinating. The idea of a drug that tears away all of the vampires' inhibitions was unusual, and Gideon and Jesse's quest to uncover the origin of the drug and stop the city's descent into chaos was suspenseful and entertaining. Intellectual, caring, and secretly submissive Jesse was an interesting character. Gideon's many contradictions made him interesting as well, but not always likeable. His dark past and sometimes violent present were contradicted by his care for Jesse and his determination to do the right thing, even if he had to do some wrong things to get to the right thing (and believe me, he does a couple of very wrong things in the process of saving the city). Jamie Craig did a very good job of portraying the many contradictions of the characters, as well as the dark atmosphere of the tale. Even though I very much enjoyed the overall story, however, I didn't enjoy the sex scenes all that much. The first scene, in the alley, was just too rough for me. I like to read a bit of light BDSM now and again, but Master of Obsidian shows a lot more pain than I like to read about in a sex scene. I wanted to see more evidence of love, or at least some level of caring, from Gideon. Near the end of the book, the sex scenes begin to take on a more loving tone. While the storyline and characters of this book were enthralling, several of the sex scenes and a few of the other scenes left me feeling a bit uncomfortable (and, at one point, downright queasy). Ms. Craig has created a fascinating world that is a worthwhile read, but please be sure you know what you're getting before you buy.

Cassie
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Paragon, another of E. F. Watkins thrillers (heavily edged with supernatural chills) is a smoothly drawn tale of intrigue, romance that takes elements from the myth of Pygmalion and warps it into a far darker tale. Very, very nice.

I'll not take the time to re-cap the story line here as it was done so nicely by the last reviewer.
Ms. Watkins manages to build an intimate rapport between the reader and her characters from page one of disturbing twist on ancient mythology. Lu, the main character of Paragon, is completely endearing and one can't help but empathize with her plights throughout the book. At the same time, Erik, the ideal boyfriend turned charming manipulator maintains a sort of Hannible Lector quality. That type of thing that makes you hate him yet rather still sort of like him in some way all at once. This makes for a creepier brand of horror than your average ugly nasty monster. The supporting characters are well definined and equally as interesting in their own right. This was one of those books that I found hard to put down as the clock crept well past midnight. Paragon is a straight forward read which I think adds to its charm. Never long winded and always moving forward at a fast pace. I'll be looking forward to reading more from Eileen Watkins in the future!

When Lu Bauer overhears a group of thugs on the verge of assaulting a crone, she takes action that saves the old woman's life. In return, Desma gives her a small gold heart with instructions to take it and place it inside a statue formed to represent Lu's ideal man. Within weeks, that ideal man will come into Lu's life and bring her riches and happiness, as long as she never questions his past. Lu obeys, and sure enough, Eric walks into her life on schedule. Lu is even able to ignore the way those who would harm Eric in any way meet with misfortune until she slips and does ask something about his past. All deals or off then, and Eric not only turns to other women, but becomes the worst sort of playboy. He has a plan, an agenda to fulfill for himself and for his unholy father that includes world domination. If Lu will not oppose him, Eric is even willing to give her a few crumbs, but Lu knows Eric is anything but human and has to stop him, no matter the price.

*** Subtle horror effectively moves the plot to a chilling conclusion. Lu is a very sympathetic heroine who finds that good intentions are often simply not enough. Ms. Watkins is a true master of terror. ***

Amanda Killgore

I wonder why the discrimination (is it ignorance?) exists regarding James's first great work, "Roderick Hudson." Yes, it is early James, and yes, snobs, it is very "readable." It's a page turner, the sentences are short, and the clauses only interfere in the early chapters, as James revised this earliest work with woefully-advised insertions of his later style. Once you get past these early chapters, however, you will be carried along - there are a few laughs as colorless Rowland Mallet tries to rein in the wild, sensitive Roderick.

Much of the action takes place in Italy - and you get to meet the delicious Princess Casamassima (at this point, Judith Light), to boot.

A real winner - for me, second only to "Portrait of a Lady"---

Henry James brings Americans to Italy - and the Americans act American. There are a few stumbles in this book that don't detract from the story nor from Jame's voice. The semi-sophisticated American brings a hopeful artist, also American, to beautiful Italy, where the artist, instead of acting like a European artist, acts like a spoiled child.

Roderick displays all that Europeans hate and love about Americans. And he gets away with it. It is only when his Mother and fiance arrive that the story turns from a soap opera into a tragedy.

I happen to love Jame's later works and found this story exhibiting all the promise of his later books.

I've always admired Henry James' vision. His exploration of character's desires, intriguing premises, and occasionally brilliant imagery all would certainly give him the title of "the Master". It's just too bad these strengths in most of his work are buried under unbelievably dense prose. Finishing one of James' novels is like emerging from an expedition into a deep cave. You certainly feel the same sense of accomplishment and fatigue.

That said, James' debut novel, Roderick Hudson, is a relatively quick read, filled with the interesting characters and settings, but without the convoluted writing style. It is the story of a young artist who is taken to Italy by an admiring patron, to become a great sculptor. Along the way, the artist struggles with his genius, and becomes distracted by...what else? A woman.

I felt for Rowland Mallet, the philanthropist who supports the man-child Roderick in his work. He has the patience of a saint, and is impeccably polite, almost to the point of annoyance. He is the reader's eyes and ears, through which the we perceive the other characters in the story.

Roderick Hudson himself is not likeable beyond a vague sympathy from the reader. He is given the opportunity most aspiring artists dream of: a patient, supportive patron, an exotic locale in which to work, the praise of his peers. He ends up squandering all of this over the most enigmatic of flirts, Miss Christina Light.

Throughout my reading of this novel, I wished one of the characters had the nerve to shed their 19th century sensibilities and put the coquettish Miss Light in her place. Rowland comes the closest, but he never musters the courage to mutter anything beyond a grudging, (and unrealistic) admiration for her. He watches the already engaged Roderick fall for her and does nothing until it is too late. None of the characters have much of a backbone.

This novel almost begs for a genuine villain to be a foil to the dull main characters and their encounters. Every other chapter involves Roderick, Rowland, and Christina somehow always running into each other, be it a roman coliseum, a catholic church, or a Swiss monastery. This doesn't seem to faze any of them, and they go on with their conversations with barely a, "fancy seeing YOU here" to be found.

Henry James has enough brilliance in his work to be worthy of study, but for those who read for entertainment (and that's what novels are supposed to be) Roderick Hudson is about the most accessible thing James has ever done. It's too bad the story itself isn't one of his better ones.

This book was a gift for my husband. He already knew most of the information and didn't seem very interested in it. I too am a golfer (taught him everything he knows, lol) so I started reading it and found some areas that had some good tips. My advice, DON'T give this book as gift! The female author had some good tips for women and information on playing with men and how to get started. If you are relatively new to golf, buy it for yourself.

Many never get around to enjoying the sport of golf until later in life - due to the perception that golf is an "old man's sport". Those who start late however will see it is not as easy as it seems and there is indeed a physical and mental toll to the game. "Tee to Green: A Guide to Golf After 50" is there to help those late adapters get started, and may help a few seasoned veterans get a bit of a refresher course. "Tee to Green: A Guide to Golf After 50" covers subjects such as understanding these new challenges, setting reasonable goals, and building and sustaining an enthusiasm for the game. It's highly recommended for its titled target audience (Starting Golfers over 50) and deserves a place on community library sports shelves.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

At last, something tailored to my age group and adult learning styles, and offered with a healthy dose of the realities of life and learning. Personally, having struggled to learn golf since retirement, this seems to be a super useful guide, not only technically, but also in de-mystifying some the 'softer' sides of golfing as well. Thanks Goodness that David Goslin also wrestled with the same challenges as I do and chose to do something with that information. I once was in a golf clinic with Mary Beth McGirr, so I know she is an excellent teaching professional who can really help one's game. The 'hints' from the pro are straight from her teaching techniques. I plan to review this often as I continue to strive to improve my game!

A captivating account of antebellum life on a Sea Island cotton plantation. This is a genuine depiction of innocent people pressed into unremitting labor under the most onerous conditions right here in the United States of America! It's not "Gone With the Wind." If you believe the Civil War wasn't about slavery, read this! Tombee House still stands today. Just drive to the southern end of St. Helena Island and look seaward. Read the book, then go visit the house -- it's a haunting experience!

Great book about Thomas Chaplin and His history on St. helena Island. Really gets you to know what life was like in antebellum South.

Tombee provides an amazingly immediate view of the life of a "typical" slaveholder and cotton plantation owner in the years leading up to the Civil War. The book is divided into two parts, Rosengarten's commentary on Chaplin's life, and Chaplin's diary. If you read only one part, read Rosengarten's. You can feel the heat and the haze of the steamy low country in summer as the slaves toil and Chaplin frets over his life and finances. And you watch the story unfold knowing the Civil War is about to stamp out slavery and a tragic way of life. This is great history!

I found the story predicatable and the plot simple. I did not feel heat between the characters and found the story disappointing short and dull.
3 stars for a hot cover.

Spy Minot Tyargot and his partner's current government assignment is to recover the Hybri Codex before it falls into the wrong hands. Just as they manage to obtain and implant the Hybri Codex into Minot's body to smuggle back to their planet, Minot is captured by a deadly Damurian slaver. And, to make matters worse, Minot finds himself instantly attracted to the very handsome silver owner. Now, Minot must find a way to escape his imprisonment, figure out why the people whom he has dedicated his life to betrayed him and most importantly, fight his increasing desire to mate with his capturer.

The Andumi Effect by Laura Bacchi is a homoerotic futuristic story and I found it to be a delightful read. Here's a story about one man who is internally fighting his desires to be with another man because the powers that consider two men in any a sexual manner as an embarrassing liability. But, no matter how hard Minot tries, he could not resist his attraction to Andumi, his imprisoner. The chemistry between Minot and Andumi is blazing hot and the sexual encounters between the two males are more on the vanilla side more than the erotic; nevertheless, their intimate time together is lustfully explosive in nature. Pick up The Andumi Effect and enjoy!

Nikita
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

As strange as it may seem, the Spitfire has it's origins in an idea whereby one man wanted to make boats that could fly - hence the name "Flying Boats." This was very different from any concept of aircraft simply being able to land on water. Many notable designs were tried and tested. Then along came aerial races and the famous Schneider Trophy. Step forward one R. J. Mitchell who designed the Supermarine S 4 and anyone with an interest in aircraft design will instantly recognise this as a very early Spitfire with floats instead of wheels.

The trophies were won and the development continued right up until the outbreak of World War Two when suddenly the requirements of a nation at war became very different from winning silver cups. Europe had entered into a fight for it's own existence and the Supermarine - so far ahead of it's time when it first appeared, coupled with a 12 cylinder Merlin engine had become the Spitfire.

Only last week I was able to closely examine four of these aircraft in a museum store. The previous week many people watched in awe as several flew low over London as part of an aerial display from the Battle of Britain Flight. Later this month that same flight will be flying over my village in Norfolk, England.

In the meantime, aircraft design and technology may have moved into the jet age, but the magic of the Spitfire remains. For those who are not able to see these incredible aircraft at close quarters, this is the book which reveals everything there is to know regarding how they came about.

It is a fascinating read.

NM

As strange as it may seem, the Spitfire has it's origins in an idea whereby one man wanted to make boats that could fly - hence the name "Flying Boats." This was very different from any concept of aircraft simply being able to land on water. Many notable designs were tried and tested. Then along came aerial races and the famous Schneider Trophy. Step forward one R. J. Mitchell who designed the Supermarine S 4 and anyone with an interest in aircraft design will instantly recognise this as a very early Spitfire with floats instead of wheels.

The trophies were won and the development continued right up until the outbreak of World War Two when suddenly the requirements of a nation at war became very different from winning silver cups. Europe had entered into a fight for it's own existence and the Supermarine - so far ahead of it's time when it first appeared, coupled with a 12 cylinder Merlin engine had become the Spitfire.

Only last week I was able to closely examine four of these aircraft in a museum store. The previous week many people watched in awe as several flew low over London as part of an aerial display from the Battle of Britain Flight. Later this month that same flight will be flying over my village in Norfolk, England.

In the meantime, aircraft design and technology may have moved into the jet age, but the magic of the Spitfire remains. For those who are not able to see these incredible aircraft at close quarters, this is the book which reveals everything there is to know regarding how they came about.

It is a fascinating read.

NM

At the suggestion of a friend, I recently read "Black Flowers". From page 1, I was completely drawn in---just couldn't put the book down. The suspense throughout kept me totally captivated and I must say that it reminded me of a Stephen King/ Twilight Zone piece of work. In fact,it would make a great screenplay, in my opinion. It is definitely stirring, and quite believable in this technologically advanced age. Excellent novel.

It all begins when an apparently drug crazed ex-employee of her husband's, their housekeeper's son in fact, attacks Allie's family and is killed. His death is especially gruesome, leaving his body in a condition that can not be explained by drugs. Allie's husband, David, begins acting strangely, secretively, and there are more deaths, more unusual events. Their autistic son begins exhibiting talents that are truly out of the ordinary. Allie overhears and sees messages that frankly give her the creeps. The key to all this is in David's past, but delving into the mystery will either free her from a madman, or cost her more than her life.

*** What makes this horror novel so frightening is its sense of "this could happen". Tension is kept low key, but very present from beginning to end as the reader follows Allie's quest for truth and deals with the betrayal she has suffered. Horror need not be filled with slashers and monsters. True fear lies in the commonplace turned against us, and that is captured here. ***

Amanda Killgore

"Burning Daylight" was Jack London's best selling book during his lifetime, yet amazingly since his death, the book has been totally neglected except for an occassional reprint, and currently it is again out of print. The book begins as a two-fisted macho adventure on the Klondike, as the hero --nicknamed Burning Daylight -- becomes the most successful entrepreneur during the Alaskan Gold Rush. However, after acheiving his fame and fortune, he finds no more challenge in the north and heads to the States for new worlds to conquer. But, first he is flim-flammed out of his fortune by Wall Streeters. However, he learns the lesson of dog-eat-dog and becomes as much of a scoundrel as those who robbed him. He ventures to California and envisons the future success of Oakland, buys property, sets up utilities and public transportation systems through overbearing and shady tactics. He begins to drink, starts to go soft in the belly, loses his good looks and vitality. And then, for the first time, he falls in love. The last third of the book charmingly relates how a good woman turns a now bad man around. It is a love story. A rousing adventure. A trieste on the ills of big business. All superbly written by Jack London. It's easy to see why this book was so popular in London's day. If you can find it, read it. It will be time well spent.

burning daylight is a man of the wild, with a great sense of grandeur. when he does something, he wants to do it in a grand fashion. but he wants more. he wants to be part of a greater game, join an inner circle. a very interesting life story, but dwells at times. one of his best.