Reds Books

This book is just what I was looking for. It was well written and kept my interest. My daughter is Catholic and married a non-practicing Mormon although his family are practicing Mormons. I believe in the Catholic church and wanted a good book to explain the different beliefs between the two in a factual, nonjudgmental way. This book did just that. I would recommend it for anyone interested in learning the beliefs of the two religions with an easy to read storyline.

An excellent comparison of beliefs....I thought it was written in a fair and clear manner. I learned more about both religions.

While volunteering in Alaska for a year, I fell in love with a Mormon woman. As a Catholic, I thought that we could come to a common ground in our faiths and maybe even marry someday. A friend found out I was dating a Mormon and gave me Fr. Taylor's book. After reading it and other books on Mormonism (Mormonism Unmasked, The Mormon Conspiracy, The Facts on the Mormon Church), I found that Fr. Taylor had more charity in his analysis than all of the writers of the aforementioned books combined. I have found great flaws in Mormon Theology, History, Anthropology and Archaeology. Yet because of my relationship with a Mormon woman, I had to be careful on how to compare Christianity to Mormonism. Fr. Taylor gives an unbiased, straight forward account of the two religions. He is careful not to hurt or offend his Mormon family and friends, but he points out critical differences with Catholicism and problems with Mormon Theology. He even goes so far to point out his own weakness in his faith when comparing Joseph Smith's death to the death of a real saint. I recommend this book to any reader, Catholic or not, that has a Mormon friend, Mormon family member or Mormon girl/boy friend. I wish I had had Fr. Taylor's knowledge and charity when I dealt with my relationship, we might still be together to this day if I had.

Fr. Taylor presents a fair and even-handed comparison of Catholicism and Mormonism from a Catholic perspective. Missing is the bitter polemics which characterizes too much of the comparative religion genre aimed at lay readers. The book's main strenghts are eight chapters which briefly present Mormon beliefs and then compare and contrast those beliefs with Catholic beliefs on the same subject. Fr. Taylor is careful not to disparage Mormon beliefs when he describes them. This, along with his refusal to slander Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, set his book apart in its field. Written by a faithful Catholic this book aims to educate lay Catholic readers on the basic beliefs of Mormonism. This book is not an exhaustive treatise or inacessable scholarly tome. Nonetheless Fr. Taylor does an outstanding job presenting the basics of Mormon beliefs in an organized manner for the average reader. In the end Fr. Taylor explains why he has problems with the Book of Mormon. The Mormon reader will no doubt be frustrated with this if he or she does not take this book for what it is: a fair and charitable comparison from the Catholic perspective. Hot-blooded partisans from both the Catholic and Mormon faiths will dislike this book. One camp because Fr. Taylor writes honestly about the differences, the other camp because he shows respect for those who have beliefs different from his. This is a book written by a man of good will for people of good will. I recommend "A Tale of Two Cities" rather than spending time and money on "When Mormons Call" by Isaiah Bennett. Mr. Bennett is strident and uncharitable in his writing style. Without question Fr. Taylor has written the best introductory comparison of the two faiths available today for the lay reader.

I am a Catholic convert (from the Episcopal church) who was born and raised in Idaho and I therefore have many longtime and newer LDS friends. Perhaps they would disagree with my assessment, but I think this book and the Ostlings' "Mormon America" are fair and charitably written. This book is particularly good for Catholics trying to understand the LDS faith. It's a short book but packed with information -- not a quick read. At least it wasn't for me!

This book is a must for all pastors and leaders to "face their own stuff" as they lead in ministry. It will challenge and bless you.

I wish I had read this book 30 years ago when I first entered ministry. I am now recommending it to all my friends. I hate conflict and have always tried to avoid it. Now I know that conflict when handled well becomes a constructive force for ministry. Our entire staff has benefited from studying it together. It is one of the few books that I continue to read over and over again as I try to absorb the content. It's value reaches way beyond the church to anyone in leadership. It is full of the truth. NOT easy to swallow but spot on.

Internally, I don't handle conflict or criticism well. This book helped me understand why and the internal changes that I need to make even before I work on the tension that might exist between me and others. With its narrative teaching style, "Thriving through Ministry Conflict" is fun to read and easy to learn from. This a great resource that I have already given to friends.

As a pastor with 20 years experience in the church and a seminary professor in practical theology, I know of no other resource that is so immediately and practically accessible for coaching ministers through the toughest aspects of our calling. It captures succinctly and deftly so many of the issues surrounding pastoral conflict (and beyond conflict to change-leadership, too). I am having my entire pastoral staff read it, my wife who is a therapist with minister clients is reading it and it is being passed along to other colleagues.

Thriving is an excellent book for anyone, especially in ministry, but it is truly helpful for anyone. Let's face it, conflict is a fact of life and it is found everywhere - in ministry, at the office, in little league, at home, etc. What is so helpful about this book is the understanding that conflict does not equal personal attack. So often we take all conflict personally, what the authors call "The Red Zone" rather than professionally, "The Blue Zone."

The book is enjoyable to read as the material is presented in the form of a story about a pastor's struggle in his own church and family. It isn't a dry list of principles, but an opportunity to discover the core ideas as the main character does.

To satisfy the other side of our brain, the authors include a great section at the end of the book with plenty of exercises to apply the principles to one's own life and conflict style.

I highly recommend this book. I plan on buying multiple copies to give to friends and colleagues.

The Toll Bridge is a story about development. The main character, whom is named nicknamed "Jan" within the book decides to seperate himself from his previous life, to clean the slate and start over, to find out who he is and what he really wants for himself. This becomes possible when he gets a job collecting tolls at a bridge (hence the title), which also offers him accommodation in a house where he lives alone. However this isolation is shattered with the arrival of Adam, a character who represents the complete opposite of Jan. The Toll Bridge is about the relationship that develops between Adam and Jan, and Gill who is the daughter of the owner of the Toll Bridge. However the bridge is not only physical, it also represents the mindset of Jan as Gill puts it "You don't know whether you're coming or going." Like a bridge that has two paths to take. Into the future, or back into the past. As the book develops, the characters interact with each other and bring up many issues that are relevant to development of the individual. However, an incident at a party soon smashes the world of the Toll Bridge into pieces, and Jan and Gill soon discover that Adam is not the same person they grew to know - Adam is on the other side of the bridge. This is my favourite book because it contains so many sub-plots that create a complete picture of the development of the individual personality, and evokes thoughts within the reader about their own "character".

The Toll Bridge is a story about development. The main character, whom is named nicknamed "Jan" within the book decides to seperate himself from his previous life, to clean the slate and start over, to find out who he is and what he really wants for himself. This becomes possible when he gets a job collecting tolls at a bridge (hence the title), which also offers him accommodation in a house where he lives alone. However this isolation is shattered with the arrival of Adam, a character who represents the complete opposite of Jan. The Toll Bridge is about the relationship that develops between Adam and Jan, and Gill who is the daughter of the owner of the Toll Bridge. However the bridge is not only physical, it also represents the mindset of Jan as Gill puts it "You don't know whether you're coming or going." Like a bridge that has two paths to take. Into the future, or back into the past. As the book develops, the characters interact with each other and bring up many issues that are relevant to development of the individual. However, an incident at a party soon smashes the world of the Toll Bridge into pieces, and Jan and Gill soon discover that Adam is not the same person they grew to know - Adam is on the other side of the bridge. This is my favourite book because it contains so many sub-plots that create a complete picture of the development of the individual personality, and evokes thoughts within the reader about their own "character".

This book, this wounderful wounderful wounderful book. Is the best one i have ever read. Aidan Chambers is one of the best authers i've ever incountered. He's masterful at teaseing the mind and leafing through are idel imagination, he makes charticors seem so real and alive its as though u are with them in that very room, breathing three air, touchign there skin, feeling their sun. This is a beautful book about a Teen age boy trying to excape his life of lies, then finding one liveing in a world of make believe, and the wounderful bonds that people can form together. I cryed. and i never ever ever cry.

The years in wich you leave school and start working, or maybe better the years that you leave your parents, start building your own life are probably the most intresting years of ones life. Some people wonder what they want to do and take some time to find out. Jany is such a boy. He decides to leave his parents, at least for a while, and he takes a job at a tollbridge. It is easy working and he can be alone and think about his future. His self-chosen lonlyness is rudely broken at the arival of Adam. Adam seems to have some troubles, so he moves in the toll house together with Jany. Then there is Tess. Between these boys and girl starts a strange kind of friendship, all are very different people. The story is written from the perspective of Jany (mainly, some parts are written by someone else), we learn what he thinks. we are a whitness of the changing of his personality, a change due to his confrontation with Adam, and the 'catalyst' Tess, catalyst in his developing towards a grown up. The book is great because the characters are real, it are real people. Reading it they are for a while part of your life. Jany is very open and fair in what he tells what happens, what he feels and what is spinning in his mind. You can feel page by page what is going on inside him. The only thing I didn't like when I read the book was that one of the characters stoped existing at the best part of the book, without any warning that they would not live happyly ever after. But that is an important literal trick; Jany wants to find out who he is, Adam wants to forget who he is. This book is a book for all ages, although it's probably written for the age 16 - 20. It is a must-read if you like other books of Aidan Chambers (like 'Now I Know', or 'dance on my grave') or if you like to read books with a more difficult structure

The first time I read this book I had just turned thirteen. It was very different from anything else I had read. I identified very well with 17-year-old Jan, and was fascinated by the deep thoughts the book evoked in me. Now, five years later (I read the Swedish translation, which was published in '92) I still identify with the main character. I have read the book five or six times, and each time is a new and different experience; as I mature, so does the book, and aspects I never saw before are brought into the light.

"The Toll Bridge" provides a very rich reading experience, dealing with everything from depression and finding oneself, to Kafka and human relationships. It's a page-turner, with unexpected events colourfully bursting out with each new word. The next sentence cannot be predicted, and the end surprises me every time I get to it.

After my first encounter with this book I have expanded my reading, enjoyed many Nobel laureates, and other acknowledged literary works. I place this novel on the same piedestal as Marquez's "One Hundred Years of Solitude" and Morrison's "Beloved." What separates "The Toll Bridge" from these others might be the fact that it is more welcomed by the "non-reading public."
I recently recommended the book to my boyfriend (more or less forced it onto him), he hadn't touched a book since high school, and even then not very willingly. Two nights later I woke up from his sobs, when I asked what the problem was he simply answered: "I can't help it, I just finished the book, and it's just so beautiful."
If that's how much it affected a macho 25-year-old, just think of what it will do to you.

I recommend this book to every person in every age-group. It's an experience you shouldn't miss. Read and enjoy.

Linn

The story of Tumble Tower is hardly throw-away - Princess Molly the Messy is almost despised by her family: King Clement the Clean, Queen Nellie the Neat, and Prince Thomas the Tidy. Molly lives in the castle tower, where her room is beyond what most would considered "a bit cluttered." However, as we soon discover after the rest of the castle is flooded, even the messiest of rooms can be considered a safe, even comfortable haven. Seeing life through Molly's eyes gives the rest of her family a sense of understanding, perhaps even empathy.

While Anne Tyler's story is very nice, I found the illustrations to be far more engaging. There are hidden surprises in almost every page, and the characters are wittily, handsomely, and endearingly brought to life in a style that almost resembles the Saturday morning series "Angela Anaconda."

The kids will love having this book read to them again and again, and there's enough treasures spread throughout to make the parents most happy to oblige.

I am an adult who never liked picture books as a child (I fell in love with reading in fourth grade, when I finally had the vocabulary and comprehension skills to read the more appealing "Chapter" books). I came to this book because Tyler is one of my favorite contemporary novelists, and even though I love tons of other novelists both present and past, sometimes I just can't wait for Tyler's latest to hit the stores. So, I read her children's book, and I was enchanted. The story is great, the pictures are charming, but what I liked best was the book's "Child is father of man" philosophy. Modarressi, who happens to be Tyler's daughter, has written and illustrated a number of other books: don't miss "Yard Sale!" and "The Parent Thief" and even the weaker "The Dream Pillow" is worth a look-see.

Although an avid Anne Tyler fan, I just discovered this book she wrote for children and I now number it among my favorites. I find it perfectly charming to see childhood "messiness" vindicated. My grandchildren (ages 8 to 13) thoroughly enjoy the book, too. I can tell they relate to "Messy Molly," although maintaining that their own bedrooms are never as messy as the wonderful two-page spread of Molly's room.

Can you imagine a children's book about messiness which does not end with the character discovering the error of her ways and (literally and figuratively) straightening up? Instead, Molly's free-spirited approach to storing her personal possessions is celebrated. Molly, her friends, and the family pets revel in the glorious mess, and even her uptight parents and little brother come to see the advantages of disorder. A highlight is a wordless double-page spread showing Molly's room in all its splendour. Ask your child to locate different objects, a la the "I Spy" books.

This book is the perfect vidication for those of us who are hopelessly sloppy. How can we contend with the celebrated neatness of this person or that person? How can we explain that there is indeed a method to our madness? We are messy for a reason! Anne Tyler does a wonderful job championing our cause and Mitra Modarressi's illustrations are perfect to keep children rivited. I read this to my friend's 7-year old, and I finally had a valid explanation for why there are "so many things on my bedroom floor."

I didn't want to put the book down. Everything about the book kept me wanting more. It was real easy to read. I loved the TV show Jag and this reminded me of it. I feel it would make a great movie. I can't wait for the sequel.

M. C. Henson's writing style is a mixture of Janet Oke and Tom Clancy. Her first novel is well written. I feel I know each character personally. Each chapter in action packed and enhanced by great visual imagery. I was kept on the edge of my seat with the danger and adventure facing the lead characters. My heart was warmed when their love was finally realized and their lives enriched with a seemingly impossible surprise at the end. This story is filled with all that makes life worth living. I want more. I hope to read the sequel, Unbecoming, soon.

Unwritten has just enough of everything: intrigue, suspense, romance, humor, etc.--but without profanity, violence, or overly descriptive intimacy. One of those books that is difficult to put down. Totally enjoyed the story and particularly liked the fact that the couple was a couple before the last page of the book!! Thanks, Monica.

I picked up this book at our local library. It is a very good combination of suspense, romance, and good character development. Just enough mystery that I wasn't sure what was going to happen, but not much violence (which is great). I didn't know there was an upcoming sequel until after I finished it, but I look forward to reading it.

I read the first 50 pages of the book online at the author's website before purchasing an autographed copy there. I read it in about three evenings. The book reads very well and is easy to follow. It doesn't leave you dangling at the end- one of my concerns when I heard there will be a sequel. It's military/action oriented, but has definite human/emotional undertones. I believe there would have been more overt violence in it if it were a male author. As-is, it's a good story without gratuitous violence or profanity.

Vagabonding is a children's picturebook about a young girl's fantasies of traveling the world. The simple verse follow her imaginary adventures from the Taj Mahal to the Eiffel Tower and a Buddhist monastery. Yet no matter how far her mind reaches, she realizes that the comforts of home and family deserve to be appreciated too. "A traveler, / a vagabond! / To wander / and to roam, // for maybe oh... / an hour or so... // and then I'll go back home!" A joyful singsong picturebook ideal for reading aloud to young people.

I picked up this book about a month ago for my 1st grade class as a fun supplement to our geography lessons. There aren't many children's books about travel so I was pleasantly surprised to find one! And I absolutely love it! The simplicity of the illustrations and the fun George has with the main character: a little girl who fantasizes about traveling around the world with just a hobo sack. It is a quick & simple read, but what has my class buzzing is the whimisical illustrations. They love to pick it up and get lost in the drawings, especially the full color page spreads in the middle of the book.

I highly reccommend this book for young children who are just starting out to read and to anyone who wants to expose kids to the art of world travel. As an avid traveler, I think it's great to have a book like this to get kids to open up their eyes to a world outside of the United States or wherever they happen to live. Like I said, there aren't many children's books about travel and hopefully George will continue to fill this void. "Vagabonding" is a wonderfully refreshing way to bust into the children's book scene and I really look forward to new projects by her.

i think this book is a great gift for kids that they would enjoy reading! its really interesting and you dont want to put it down until you finish reading it to the end.

This first effort by the author/illustrator stands out for its simplicity and free spirit. The illustrations are sprightly and appealing as a girl trades places with a gypsy or "vagabond" and dons a red kerchief and gold hoop earrings. We get a quickie around-the-world tour--from Sydney to Tibet to the Taj Mahal and Paris and then, of course, back home in time for supper.

The back flap says George studied travel sketching, and the book has the quirky feel of doodles filled out with dabs of watercolor. Bonus points for portraying a full rainbow of ethnicities too.

Here's a book that celebrates one child's imagination, adventurousness, love of world cultures, and appreciation of home and family. George's casual, facile style lends the book a comfortable, cozy feeling--simple, appealing, and accessible for young readers. Her prose matches her illustrations in its simplicity, creating almost a kind of haiku effect. Completely charming.

I've been waiting a month, now, and it still has not shipped from Amazon. I'll let you know whether it is a good book after I read it.

I have to say I'm addicted to Red & Rover. Rover is sooooo cute! But I'm getting a little frustrated waiting for follow-up books. Please everyone support Red & Rover by buying these books. I'm going through withdrawals and need your help!!!

The love between a boy and his dog is a special thing. Ever since the first time I saw Basset's strip, I fell in love with the characters. Right now, I have two of the strips preserved on my desk which are indicative of the attitude I love: February 28, 2005 -- Red is in bed not feeling well and he asks Rover if he ever doesn't feel good.... Rover replies "Uh-huh. When you don't feel good." The other shows Red pondering why half the world seems bent on destroying the other half. He finally decides it must be because they didn't grow up with a dog to love and a dog who loved them back.
These characters are so on the money!

Another delightful book by Mr. Basset. I just love his work. I read Red and Rover everyday in the newspaper. To have a whole book with this wonderful companionship of human and animal is sheer pleasure. It lifts the heart and gives one a really good feeling. Thank you Mr. Basset.

Do you remember a time when your favorite member of the family had four legs? Can you recall when a visit to the ice cream truck was an event and everyone was going to grow up to be an astronaut? Can you recollect the simple pleasures of summer break and holidays?

Waggin' Tales, the second in the Red and Rover series, will bring these things back to you vividly and set your mind on a more pleasant bend.

As the backcover reads, "cynics stay away..."

This beautiful collection of poems follows Red Hawk's stunning "The Sioux Dog Dance." Following a year at Princeton University as its Hodder Fellow, Red Hawk has lost none of his ability to powerfully convey images of beauty and evil as revealed in everyday life. Much of this work is autobiographical and reveals the writer/educator as a self-described "loser" searching for salvation in an ugly world. He has the rare ability to seek and find the truth in the smallest and seemingly most meaningless of actions. With spare and simple prose, Red Hawk turns a perceptive and unwavering eye on the world, as well as himself. THIS IS A MUST-BUY, EVEN IF YOU HATE POETRY!!!

Buy this book...it will change your life

I have known Red Hawk all of my life & he is one of the most intense questioners of the meaning of life & death on this planet. Some of his narratives relate to his own life directly & some indirectly. He wondrous storyteller.

Red Hawk speaks with such a stunning & plain elegance that his voice can be a help to others. He tells the truth no matter how bad it makes him look. His is a book about honor,love,wisdom, death and how to use all of those as spiritual practice. It changed me; it is a book which matters.

Finally a book of poems that speaks of my own experience and understanding of the world!! This book and Red Hawk's two previous books are some of the best poetry I've ever read...and I read poetry like a fiend. As a high school English teacher, I am always on the hunt for poems whose literal meanings are clear enough for students to be interested right off but which also offer a wealth of deeper meaning once the surface is scratched--Red Hawk's poems are perfect for this. My students love him and so many have begun reading poetry on their own after this introduction!! (This, of course, is the English teacher's secret fantasy--a world of poetry readers!!) I, myself, am always moved by the depth of the poems themselves and I always notice something previously missed. If you read only one poem in your life, read "For Rain Drop Who Grows Up" -- it is, without doubt, one of the most beautiful tributes to a child I have ever read.

This is the best dictionary. It is easy to use because of the unique system of word groupings. I have four crossword dictionaries and this one is the best. I need to replace it as I have it held together with tape and string.

I MUST FIND A NEW BOOK SOON AS MINE IS BEYOND FIXING AND I CAN'T MANAGE WITHOUT IT!

You can't beat this dictionary - it's the best

For hard to find words, this is the best I've found, sorry it isn't available. Have a happy day & expect something wonderful to happen. Ed

My mother is 84 years old and she has used this dictionary exclusively since it's been in print. Her current copy is in shredds. We've got to find her one. Her life is not that full and crosswording is very important and this dictionary is a big part of her puzzling joy.

"Hot for You" by Jodi Lynn Copeland. Cocktail waitress Carinna wants an all nighter with no morning after strings with Jack the firefighter; he wants much more.

"Stripped" by Lauren Dane. Exotic dancer Dahlia ignores the casino's wealthy patrons, but businessman Nash manages to get her in his bed.

"Red-Handed" by Kit Tunstall. When the casino security caught Amy helping her cousin cheat at roulette, the owner Roan gives her a choice of jail or six weeks as his sex slave.

"The Deal" by Anya Bast. Casino shill Cassidy has vowed to never fall in love, but needs sex so she chooses her friend James as her partner.

These are four semi-heated entertaining contemporary romances starring likable protagonists.

Harriet Klausner

Is a collection of four novellas written by some of the finest women of erotic romance. It is not one of the typical books that I read these days, being a contemporary and a little BDSM mixed in, but the stories were well written and I learned something new. Each story revolves around the Liege Casino where the characters find romance. For two couples, it had been staring at them for a long time. For the other two. they were strangers but found the love can happen in Sin City.

To Anya Bast, thank you for giving me an opportunity to read this book. It was great and I had a blast reading it. However, I am looking forward to the next book in your Elemental Witches series.

To everyone who checks out my blog, I hope you will take the time to remember this review when you see this book on the shelf of your local bookstore. Maybe, you will walk out with a book that turns into a keeper.

Happy Reading Friends.

What Happens in Vegas, the first anthology from Harlequin's line of erotic fiction, Spice, shines! Four novellas tied to a common place, The Liege Casino, each story is nevertheless a stand-alone work and should be enjoyed as such.

Lauren Dane's Stripped is about so much more than appearances -- her characters are vibrant, real and alternatingly tough and sweet. Dahlia (who's a burlesque dancer, NOT a stripper) has every reason to keep her distance from the delicious Nash, but oh, how satisfying it is when they get together.

Anya Bast's The Deal is sweet and sexy, a tale of lovers turned friends that heats up the pages but never loses the romance of the story. Cassidy and James' journey from confidantes and friends to lovers is ultimately swoon-worthy, believable and lovely, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

What Happens in Vegas is a great read, heavy on the erotic content without missing the mark with the romance and love.

Great read! Highly recommended!

I really loved this anthology. I do admit that my favorite story was Stripped by Lauren Dane. If you have not yet read one of Ms. Danes books then get thee to her book lists and buy, buy, buy. Her books are well written and her characters are some of the most exciting and interesting
hero's and heroines to grace the pages of romance. In Stripped we meet Dahlia. As Tess said in the movie Working Girl "I have a head for business and a bod for sin." This fits Dahlia to a tee. She is working hard for her masters degree. To keep her in books and tuition she is working at the Dollhouse a burlesque dancer. It is at the Dollhouse she meets Nash. Nash the brother of the owner of the Dollhouse has looks, charm and money. What more could a girl want? Oh our Dahlia
is not just any girl and Nash must work to win her trust.
Nash not only has to overcome what his circle of friends think about Dahlia status but Dahlia's own insecurities. Stripped is one of those stories that you hate to see come to an end. The Characters are so vivid and you hate to turn that last page and know that your time with them is over. I am thrilled to see new faces in romance. So many of the authors I grew up reading have moved on to other genre's and left us behind. I find that the new talent that has come up from E Book publishers to he print media are some of my most loved. Run out and buy this book you will not regret the great reads.

Think you know all about the city that never sleeps - Las Vegas? Venture behind the scenes and you might just discover that the real excitement isn't going to be found at the roulette table.

HOT FOR YOU by Jodi Lynn Copeland
Cocktail waitress Carinna doesn't do relationships and she thought Hank understood that fact when they hooked up - apparently not since he's gone and ruined everything by proposing. She likes her men just like her martinis - the dirtier the better and nowhere does marriage fit into her plans.

Fortunately long time friend Jack knows exactly what Carinna needs and isn't afraid to give it to her. His only problem is he isn't interested in a casual fling with her - he wants to make their relationship permanent but will he be able to convince her that they can have a red hot smoking sex life and still remain friends?

Ms. Copeland kicks off this anthology with a fun and sexy story that will have readers smiling as they imagine Carinna and Jack's impassioned battle to gain their fondest desire - each other, despite themselves.


THE DEAL by Anya Bast
Cassidy works as a shill, attracting patrons to the tables by posing as one of them and playing with house money. She's been experiencing a sexual dry patch ever since she was stood up at the altar but she's ready to rectify that problem and couldn't imagine anyone more appealing than blackjack dealer Jack to help chase away the cobwebs.

Jack has been in love with Cassidy since he moved to Vegas three years ago but he isn't sure how she feels about him. He does know that she was deeply hurt when Damien stood her up. It's been a year since that fateful day and he's ready to act on his feelings. Her comment about being sex-starved gives him just the opening he needs. Cassidy may think they're just `friends with benefits' but after five days of playing Jack's very sexy personalized version of blackjack she may just decide to give love another chance.

Ms. Bast takes the `friends with benefits' storyline to new heights by incorporating the couple's blackjack challenge and oh my, the sexual acts the winners come up with have you practically sweating in anticipation of each night's game.


STRIPPED by Lauren Dane
Burlesque dancer Dahlia may have a body that sends men into overdrive but she's no powder puff. She's determined to get her business degree and make a name for herself in the business world but not many people see past her looks or view her as an intelligent woman. At first her boss's brother, Nash, appears to be exactly like every other man who's ever hit on her - only he isn't easily deterred.

Nash is used to women falling at his feet for a bit of attention so being rejected and put in his place by Dahlia is shocking and more arousing then he ever thought it would be. Seducing her to his way of thinking is going to be a time-consuming project and for once he'll have to use his brains rather than his sex appeal and wealth.

Ms. Dane proves that you should never judge a person by their occupation with STRIPPED. This story will have you alternating between laughter and sighing as Dahlia puts Nash through his paces and forces him to court her if he's truly interested.


RED HANDED by Kit Tunstall
Amy's the brains behind a plan to rob the Liege Casino, but when her co-conspirator gets greedy too fast, she finds herself at the mercy of the owner. There's no doubt she's going to pay for her refusal to give up the name of her partner and it's obvious Roan is willing to use every means at his disposal to convince her to talk. There's just the little issue that he has no clue that his thief is actually a young woman.

Roan is bound and determined to force Amy into revealing whom she was aiding in stealing from his casino - but since she's not cooperating, he chooses to accept her offer of repayment by becoming his companion until the debt is paid. Neither of them had any idea that they're arrangement would prove to be the most satisfying thing they'd ever experienced.

Ms. Tunstall finals out this book with RED HANDED a pulse pounding story that will capture your attention right away and leave you gasping for more. Amy and Roan certainly don't seem like a match made in heaven but they're a couple you grow to love.


I've always had a fascination with Las Vegas. It's such a wild city where dreams are realized or destroyed. With WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS... Jodi Lynn Copeland, Lauren Dane, Anya Bast and Kit Tunstall offer readers a very hot and alluring look at the people who live and love there. Each of the authors' stories is refreshingly different which makes this book almost impossible to put down between stories.

If you're looking for a fun read by some of today's talented authors then be sure to pick up a copy of WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS... it's a book that will definitely satisfy your desire for a little something extra in your storyline.

Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)