New York Books

Mostly biographical and great pictures with some very subtle commentaries on Kashmir Shaivism and tantra.

This book is a breath of fresh air in today's world of yoga and spirituality. It is unusual to read from a teacher who has not only gained intellectual understanding of a particular system, but has also experienced the reality of its practices.

The first chapter 'Fifteen Verses of Wisdom' went straight over my head, which shows I still lack understanding in this area. The chapter 'Talks on Practice' reveals the mechanics of meditation according to the system of Kashmir Shaivism. I found it clear and insightful. This was balanced by the chapter 'Talks on Discipline' which shows that Lakshmanjoo has the integrity to give clear guidelines to the spiritual aspirant on how one should conduct oneself on the spiritual path.

Finally in his last chapter 'The Secret Knowledge of Kundalini' Swami Lakshmanjoo gives real insight into the mechanics of the mysterious subject of kundalini. To date I have found other material on this subject to be rather nebulous and mere fantasy, based in the vivid imaginations of so called gurus and well read authors. Swami Lakshmanjoo takes this mysterious subject out of the category of fantasy and clearly defines how kundalini functions. His intimate description of the various modes of rising of kundalini, based on his own experience are truly fascinating.

This book is a revelation for the earnest seeker on the spiritual path.

Can hardly believe I wrote this review 6 years ago (it is now 24 Feb 2008).

Having delved deeply into the subject of Kundalini, I still find nothing to match Swami Lakshmanjoo's explanations on this mysterious subject. In my continued research I have found that almost all writings on Kundalini are based on what is known as the "Shat Chakra Nirupana," which elaborates on the six chakras in the subtle body. Everywhere you will find illustrations showing the chakra positions along the vertical axis of the spine and the various petals that emanate from each chakra.

After reading the last chapter in "Self Realization" I wondered why Lakshmanjoo made no reference to these commonly recognized lotus petals that surround the charkas. I found the answer in his earlier book "Kashmir Shaivism, the Secret Supreme", in the form of a small footnote which says: "in Kashmir Shaivism the lotus petals are neither experienced nor recognized."

This explains why Lakshmanjoo only talks about the chakras spinning with great velocity and power as the energy of kundalini rises from one chakra to another. Obvious isn't it, since the word chakra actually means wheel.

In this book Lakshmanjoo also explains the difference between prana kundalini, cit kundalini and para kundalini; subjects unique to Kashmir Shaivism. Based on his own personal experience, Lakshmanjoo elaborates with great clarity, leaving the reader convinced of his total authority on this subject.

For those interested in Kashmir Shaivism in general, and Kundalini in particular, I highly recommend this book, and the earlier one: "Kashmir Shaivism the Secret Supreme" which has two chapters on Kundalini.

This book took me to the heart of Kashmir Shaivism. It covered concepts and included both practice and experience. The authors have also provided transliterated sanskrit verses for those who are interested. This is a good begining for any one intending a study of Kashmir Shaivism.

One of those books you devour in one sitting! Too cool for words. A kind of quick overview of Shaivite philosophy and practice. An excellent beginning for those wishing to start the Shaivite path.

It is the first book of kashmir philosophy which covers all the aspects of the title.It is the complete informative book about pre-history age of kashmir.

Shadows of Light is a wonderful conclusion to the series. It shows growth both in the characters and in the writing. It is a most satisfying ending to a riveting trilogy. I love how the author brings to life characters that are just like real life. Although Katie and Ben are wealthy business owners, they face the same problems you and I do; the pain of loss, sickness, separation, and yet through the strength that comes from faith, they can rise above those problems. Thank you Eva Marie Everson, for a book that is endearing and encouraging, AND a delight to read.

Eva Marie Everson has given readers an enormous gift: a trilogy of novels with characters to love and hate, and a plot that keeps you tapping your fingers from one chapter to the next. From the time Katie Webster wakes up hazy in a filthy apartment, to the moment of her final celebration in a Hamptons mansion, Ms. Everson keeps the reader engaged in a suspenseful tale of desperation and success, betrayal and loyalty.

I especially enjoyed Katie's relationship with her best friend Marcy, and the fact that her marriage is not all bliss and romance. Katie evolves from a young girl not quite sure of her own self into a powerful woman who fights for, and finds, a place of her own. Her cat-and-mouse game with a man determined to destroy her makes for many moments of cover-clinching, while her self-depreciating humor and intelligence will make the reader both admire her - and want to BE her.

Katie is a woman to love reading about - and remembering.

Eva Marie Everson has given her readers a satisfying conclusion to the "Shadows" trilogy. Her portrayal of Katie Webster's search for her husband, who had mysteriously disappeared, and her quest for inner peace made this book a page-turner. I found it difficult to put it down. "Shadows of Light" is a fascinating read and I highly recommend it.

If you've read the first two books in this series, you no doubt are eagerly waiting to read this one! Up to this point, we've read about Ben & Katie Webster, who, on the outside, look like they live an idyllic life. But there is always a past to everyone's present. Then Ben disapears and Katie must learn to mature and become the woman God intends her to be. What I especially like about this last book, is that it answers our lingering questions early on, and the plot only thickens from there! Yipee! Good reading! I was only perturbed when I had to put it down to get other work done!

Eva Marie's series is fabulous. I couldn't wait to find the time to read the next page. I fell in love with Katie and hope there are plans to read more of her. Eva Marie's 3 books in this series is filled with exciting plot twists, suspense, and drew me closer to the Lord, plus making me even more appreciative of my wonderful husband. These books are delightful!

If you have every been a New York tourist, cluelessly wandering the streets looking for a cool bar in which to hang out only to end up in a cheesy "Night at the Roxbury" reenactment, you must buy Shecky's. The guide has never failed me. You can find a bar for any occasion or mood, with helpful information such as which places sell the strongest drinks. I only wish they'd write one for San Francisco!

I once was lost but now I'm found.Accurate, outragiously funny reviews. A must have if you're going to assume the overwhelming task of finding the best spots in town. Great value if you're looking for the perfect gift.I Love Shecky's!

This book is a great idea, simply because New York is one of the world's great drinking towns and hasn't had a very good guide (if at all) to put it all together. This guide can only get better, since there are some notable omissions, but the task is indeed daunting so I can understand how difficult it is to include everything. For instance, New York City does comprise of FIVE boroughs, not just Manhattan.

My only other criticism is that it is a bit biased...you can clearly tell by reading the descriptions and classifications of the various bars, clubs, and lounges what type of people are contributing to all the reviews. That being said, the "Shecky's Picks" denoted by a happy face next to the name of the bar generally are excellent choices.

Definitely worth buying.

Shecky's really spells it all out.With all of the bars listed in this book, I was able to pick out a perfect spot to have a large group for some drinks. The reviews are hysterically funny, and the descriptions are right on the money. Essential for any one who goes out at night. Anyone.

Shecky's Bar, Club and Lounge Guide is the greatest. Before SHecky's, there was no guide to drinking in NYC, and lets face it, NYC is a nightlife, drinking town. All of Shecky's reviews are right on, funny, hip and always accurate. The icons are great as well as the lists in the back of the book. All of my friends love the guide and we all live by Shecky's Bar, Club & Lounge Guide.

This is the greatest book I've ever read and that includes the classics. And, for all of you cynics out there, I'm not just saying this because I'm the senior editor (P.S. The 2004 guide is hitting stores this week).

Shecky's makes it easy to pick a watering hole. All the reviews are funny, hip, and, most importantly, true. Whether you live in New York or are just visiting, this book will help you find refreshment.

The funniest New York guide book i've ever read! The description s are right on and the jokes are awesome!!!

Shecky's is by far one of the most useful recreational/night spot resources I own. While I do not always agree with the reviews, the comments are definitely worth taking into consideration and are usually rather amusing (especially the review of the Gemini Lounge). At the very least, this guide can help you eliminate the frat boy bars from consideration!

Sheckys is by far the best guide to all that New York's nightlife has to offer. Its to the point reviews are both entertaining and right on the mark. Sheckys is a great way to avoid a bad night.

Trigoboff tells a very good story. He's got a way of describing the streets, the monumental setting of New York City, and the criminal underbelly that learks beneath the survice. In the Shooting Gallery, he conveys a very compelling story. Along with the criminal action and the description of big city corruption, Trigoboff weaves a large amount of biting and incisive social commentary into the story. The book is also rich in black humor, with some very amusing scenes.

NYPD Alvin Yablonsky returns in this book. He is faced with the political murder of a reporter, one who has crusaded against powerful interests for years, in the employ of a liberal paper. The cities limosine liberal establishment is outraged, and storm clouds soon surround the investigation. Yablonsky is faced with a political administration that doesn't exactly want the case solved, a shadowy force willing to kill anyone close to the case, and a group of liberals that don't trust the police at all. All together, it makes for great modern urban noir.

The only reason I didn't give it the full 5 stars is because I found the actual mystery fairly obvious, and I figured it out almost right away. Still, it was a very entertaining read.

Alvin Yablonsky is a New York detective assigned to investigate the murder of a Skinny McPherson, a reporter for "The Village Guardian", a left-wing newspaper with strong connections to the Big Apple's elite of among the literary set and their judicial allies. Yablonsky runs afoul of the corrupt "powers that be" in the drug infested East Village neighbor. It takes a tough minded, quick thinking, street savvy cop like Yablonsky to go where he must go and do what needs to be done to identify and then bring the guilty to what justice can be done under the circumstances. The Shooting Gallery confirms Joseph Trigoboff's as a tightly disciplined mystery writer who plays hard but fair with his readers and his characters. Also highly recommended is Trigoboff's earlier Detective Alvin Yablonsky novel The Bone Orchard.

Trigaboff has indeed done it again!! A terrific read.

Joe Trigoboff explored both the emotions and driving motives of his complicated characters and the outer world of crime and punishment, to create an almost mythic saga. The story lingers long after the book is closed.

excellent sequel to the bone orchard

From LONDON FIELDS [1989] by Martin Amis: "Features include fool-the-eye dent-marks, a removable toupee of rust on the hood, and adhesive key-scratches all over the paintwork. An English strategy: envy-preemption."

From SHOW AND TELL [2001] by John Lahr: "In fact, [Wallace] Shawn, who admits he's actually 'a very arrogant and vain person', preempts envy by constantly spoiling any picture of his own distinction."

In these days when performers are celebrated -- and demeaned -- for being famous, every little tidbit of information is up for grabs by the media. I say this as someone who was a journalist for nearly 20 years (and is now an entertainer). What's missing on the market: candid performers' profiles that still convey WHY great performers are GREAT performers and -- sometimes -- great people or great creeps. Show and Tell contains 15 of John Lahr's BEST New Yorker show biz profiles. The zest and verve of these creative folk and Lahr's excitement writing about them is all here. The subjects: Woody Allen, David Mamet, Frank Sinatra, Arthur Miller, Liev Schreiber, Roseanne, Irving Berlin, Wallace Shawn, Eddie Izzard, Neil Labute, Bob Hope, Ingmar Bergman, Mike Nichols, and his parents Bert and Mildred Lahr. You don't have to even know who these celebrities are (you'll enjoy this book if you're in your early 20s) to love these profiles: each chapter tells you how they got from point A (childhood) to point B (becoming great entertainers, playwrights etc) -- and about all the joys and obstacles along the way. Don't expect simplistic tabloid journalism but more detailed interviews. The Bob Hope profile was controversial when it was first published since it not only hinted at adultery but etched a portrait of a man who created a corporate comedy machine -- and even needed cue cards when performing at a private party. But there's tons of info amid these revelations. My other favorite profiles and tidbits include: Woody Allen (his casting method for movies sometimes boils down to him looking at someone for a few seconds), Bert Lahr (his frustration at not having made many movies, unlike some of his vaudeville colleagues), Roseanne (her rage-based comedy; how she wrested control of her t.v. show from what would have been sit-com mediocrity),Irving Berlin (the 20th century's most prolific and perhaps great composer adapting to all kinds of music from the century's beginning UNTIL rock...which finally did him in). There are many others but the point is: these are unlike any other profile's you'll read. They celebrate the joy, creative "juice" flow, toil, and heartbreak of show biz and performing arts creativity -- and you'll want to read them again and again.

As a lifelong subscriber to The New Yorker, I have especially enjoyed reading Lahr's various "Profiles." Fifteen of his best are anthologized in this volume. The subjects are Woody Allen, David Mamet, Frank Sinatra, Arthur Miller, Liev Screiber, Roseanne, Irving Berlin, Wallace Shawn, Eddie Izzard, Neil Labute, Bob Hope, Ingmar Bergman, Mike Nichols, and the author's parents, Mildred and Bert Lahr. My personal favorites are those which discuss Sinatra, Miller, Roseanne, Hope, Bergman, and Nichols but I was pleased to re-read all of the others also. Lahr has a somewhat specialized form of genius for crafting what are indeed "profiles" rather than portraits, much less in-depth character analyses. Even when fondly discussing his own parents, he seems to have no limiting biases, "baggage" or predilections. It is high praise to note that the reader feels as if she or he is a "fly on the wall" during Lahr's conversations with his subjects...and at other times, as if the reader can hear him thinking aloud while alone and in reflection. Lahr's is a naturally casual style (so sophisticated that it seems effortless), perhaps most evident when discussing Bob Hope. According to Lahr, Hope's wife Dolores and the children were "extras" in his life. "It was hard for anyone in the family to get much of Bob Hope." Lahr shares this without judgment, suggesting implications without manipulating inferences.. With Hope as with each of the 14 others, Lahr's objective is to capture the essence of his subject, the esential qualities and characteristics which are revealed in "defining moments" of inimitable behavior or utterance. Lahr's reader (at least this one) is left to wonder what he would have to say about so many others such as Saul Bellow, Hillary Rodham-Clinton, Joe DiMaggio, Bob Fosse, Jackie Gleason, Sam Peckinpah, Jackson Pollock, Martha Stewart, and Oprah Winfrey.

Celebrities are fair game it seems for every hack, two bit journalist, and paparazzi. Their names are money and their pictures, weight loss, ageing, personal crises, and habits appear to be of endless fascination to the reading public or a fair proportion of it. What about Sinatra's links to the mob? What about Woody Allen's prediliction for young women? What about Mike Nichol's anger? What about Igmar Bergman's womanizing and tax evasion? Give me a break! There is much tosh, pap and babble written by those not fit enough to sharpen the pencils of the subjects of these profiles by Mr Lahr, but you will not find it in SHOW AND TELL. Mr Lahr is a writer worthy of these legends and that, dear reader, is indeed saying something. Revealing, interesting, incisive, entertaining and gripping, Mr Lahr and his editor at The New Yorker, have done a brilliant job. Perhaps the best short pieces I have ever read on the subjects contained therein. Brilliant.

The New Yorker is famous for its witty prose, "casuals," and most of all---its Profiles of famous and not-so-famous people. The New Yorker is also famous for unbelievably long pieces (sometimes taking up the entire magazine) and occasionally being so "in" that the readers are left "out."

John Lahr has all of the virtues: elegant, thoughtful writing, and he leaves you wishing for more. Mr. Lahr specializes in Entertainment Profiles, a difficult undertaking. He avoids the landmines of sound-bytes, scurrility, fawning and trivia. He delivers fifteen gleaming, sharp-edged Profiles on disparate personalities.

I feel the best are the ones that are not contemporaries and/or friends of the author with the exception of the lovely word portraits of his parents, father Bert, and mother Millie (who might or might not have had an affair with Joseph Cotton!) Mr. Lahr needs a certain amount of distance to do his best work. He is clearly an admirer of Woody Allen, and it shows. I felt we were seeing the brushed up and shiny side of this highly complex entertainer. Bob Hope is given the finest dispassionate treatment; Lahr steps back and allows Mr. Hope produce his own cause and effect. The reader can judge for himself. I was left thinking, as my grandmother would say, "this is NOT a very nice man." To me, Roseanne was frightening with her rage and skewed perspectives. It wasn't what Mr. Lahr said about her; it was Roseanne being herself. The Profile on Frank Sinatra left me with a emotion I would never, ever thought possible in conjunction with Ole Blue Eyes: pity.

I read this book straight through, almost at one sitting. I found it that fascinating. But it can be read at leisure. Just start anywhere; there's not a loser to be found!

This is a real page-turner, and absolutely fascinating. The author tells the stories of five immigrants to the U.S. and New York City around 1900, but what's amazing is the power of the voices here, plus the photos. The focus is on young people, but my adult book group read this and loved it. Everyone has seen photos of the crowded Lower East Side, but this book makes you think of the individuals and their families who lived there.

I hope by the time you read this review that you will be able to "take a look inside" this book on this website. Then you could really appreciate how beautifully illustrated and crafted this outstanding book is. For the time being, you'll have to take my (and other reviewers') word for it.

There are many books geared toward young readers on the subject of the immigrant/tenement experience in New York City at the turn of the last century, and many of them are quite good. But Deborah Hopkinson's "Shutting Out the Sky: Life in the Tenements of New York, 1880-1924" is far and above the best in recent times. The photographs are exquisite and exquisitely moving. The text is engaging, and, unlike other books aimed for this age group, Ms. Hopkinson's book doesn't dumb things down toward her audience. This is an admirable book that I would recommend to parents and teachers!

Rocco Dormarunno, author of "The Five Points"

I finished this book in a spell. Hopkinson weaves the stories of young immigrants and the story of the growing city into a rich experience for the reader. Her choice of detail, her gift for story telling, and the wonderful and often poignant photographs make this (beautifully designed book) irresistible. In the end you believe-as Hopkinson clearly does-that the past has meaning because of the individuals that lived it, and that their stories must continue to reverberate. It isn't "just" the past; it's what we're made of.

If you've ever heard family stories about grandparents or greatparents who came through Ellis Island, this book is a must. Hopkinson follows the true stories of five young immigrants. She tells the story of life on the Lower East Side at the turn of the 20th century using excerpts from oral histories and memoirs. Somehow the stories of the young Russian Jewish and Italian immigrants tie in seamlessly with information on coming to America, what it was like to live in a tenement, work (including conditions in the sweatshops and the Triangle factory fire), going to school, and what the future held for these young men and women. The historic photos are so evocative and powerful. Highly recommended.

My son loves history and when he brought home this book I immediately got hooked on the photos. Then I began reading the stories of the immigrants and I couldn't put it down -- I couldn't wait to find out what happened to the five young people whose stories are recounted here. Somehow the combination of the photos, the quotes and the personal stories all works together to let us into a world gone by. A wonderful book!

Tony Cavalucci is a cop for the NYPD, who used to live life hard and fast. After his new partner, Joe Fiore, introduces him to Christianity, Tony sees his life through new eyes and tries to get things back on track. Now engaged to a Christian woman with a son he loves, Tony is a new man and sees his job differently than he used to as he works to keep the streets safe for everybody--including the lowest inhabitants, the skells. Once treating them with distaste and disdain, he now attempts to be kind and help them solve their problems.

F. P. Lione, a husband and wife writing team, depicts the day-to-day real-life drama of police work realistically in this third offering in the Midtown Blue series, titled SKELLS. Murder and mayhem invade New York City, and this cop and his partner, Tony Cavalucci and Joe Fiore, are doing their best to make the streets a little less dangerous for everybody, including the homeless, the prostitutes, and the druggies--better known on the streets as `skells'.

The message of SKELLS is this: Everybody needs God, and God provides hope for everyone, even those people others consider hopeless. Climb in the back seat of Tony and Joe's cruiser and ride along with some of New York's finest; you just might learn a thing or two about hope and compassion yourself.

In their third installment of the Midtown Blue series and their best book to date, the husband and wife team of F. P. Lione (Frank and Pam) offer an absorbing look at the New York Police Department while continuing the story of Tony Cavalucci and his new walk of faith.

Cavalucci, a recovering alcoholic, is still on the wagon, although his dysfunctional family and the party-hard group of cops he works with make it difficult. He and his fiancée, Michele, are building a new house together and trying to work out the snags in their relationship before the wedding. Michele and Tony are waiting to have sex until they tie the knot, but Tony is impatient and turns on the pressure. However, Michele is a single mother who knows the price of impatience. Their relationship is well-developed by the Liones in this installment.

But most of the book is devoted to Tony's life on the job. His time with his partner, the scripture-quoting Joe Fiore, is slowly changing Tony for the better, and he's on a more even keel --- spiritually, emotionally and physically. (When he first met Joe, Tony had been "flirting with the idea of eating my gun.") But Cavalucci's hard-drinking Italian family sees Joe as a threat; he's the reason Tony is going to a different church, is marrying a woman they don't approve of (a single mom with a young son), and has quit drinking. His father's venomous second wife seems poised to wreak new havoc on the family, and Tony is concerned about his sister Denise dating a police officer Tony knows only too well.

As Tony tries to get along with his family and seeks to understand what his father's problems are, he discovers a secret from his father's past that helps him understand what has made him the difficult man he is today. He also battles his grandmother's superstitions, which the Liones flesh out with some nice details.

The "skells" of New York City --- the drug addicts, bag ladies, prostitutes, the homeless --- keep Tony and his department busy in this installment. Cavalucci used to look at them as the dregs of society, but recently "they just look lost and wounded to me." Part of this is Joe's influence; Joe tells him, "If you get down deeper into a person, you'll see there's a reason...Nobody wants to be a drunk or a crackhead --- they're struggling, just like you were struggling."

There are some memorable encounters, including a fairly violent rape scene and a domestic abuse situation, as well as some unusual offbeat calls that are by turns funny and sad. The Liones show how police officers are always just a step away from a lawsuit, even when they are only trying to come to the assistance of someone in trouble.

If you haven't read the first and second books in the series, THE DEUCE and THE CROSSROADS, you'll want to go back and read them in order. Although the first two are highly enjoyable, SKELLS is the Liones at their best. They've smoothed out some of the rough spots in the first two novels and strike just the right balance of faith and the gritty work of Manhattan's finest police officers. There's plenty of character development, mouth-watering food details, and interesting inside information on law enforcement to keep the pages turning. Fans of the series will not be disappointed.

--- Reviewed by Cindy Crosby. Contact Cindy at phrelanzer@aol.com.

It wasn't too long ago that NYPD patrolman Tony Cavalucci was dumped by his girlfriend and spent his off duty hours drinking. If it was not for his fellow officer Joe Fiore, a born again Christian, he would have become an alcoholic. His life has settled down and he plans to marry Michele, a single mom whose son Tony adores.

His new outlook on life leads him to look at the skells, those people who live on the fringe, the homeless, the mentally impaired, and the alkies and druggies with compassion, not scorn. He is now a good neighbor who prevents someone from beating up their wife. His only problem is with his father who broke up their family to marry Marie and won't believe him that his new wife is stepping out on him. His sister has proof, but dad refuses to see it. Tony must learn to accept his father's love for a cheating spouse.

This is not a police procedural but a deep and fine tale that is a character study of a how a cop lives as he thrives to do his best on the job, in his personal relationships and with God. He knows that the Lord is with him every step of the way. Readers will like the protagonist who sees like much differently since he became sober leading to an enlightened tolerance of other people's peculiarities.

Harriet Klausner

"Skells" is the third book in the Midtown Blues series written by husband and wife team F.P. Lione. It continues the story of Tony Cavalucci, 11 year veteran of the NYPD and recent convert to Christ.

The title comes from the term NYPD cops use for the addicts, homeless, prostitutes and others who live on the streets and cause them problems. It's easy for Tony and the other officer's hearts to become hardened to them. But now Tony, through the example of his partner, Joe Fiore, is learning to see each person through the eyes of Christ as the lost and wounded souls they really are.

Tony and Joe run into some colorful characters, as well as tragic situations, during their patrols. But what makes the series so compelling is not the external conflict they face as police officers. Instead, it is the internal conflict Tony faces as a new believer in Christ. He is finding every belief he previously took for granted challenged by his new faith. Many writers might gloss over these challenges by using clichés or having Tony become an "instant" Christian, but not the Lione's. They have handled every aspect of Tony's walk of faith--from the path that led to his decision to follow Christ in "The Deuce" through the gradual changes God has made in Tony's thoughts and actions through "The Crossroads" and "Skells"--with authenticity and realism.

I am hoping there will be additional books in the Midtown Blues series. "Skells" ends in May 2001, just a few months before the tragic events of September 11. There seems to be some foreshadowing (such as rookie cop Nick Romano, whom Tony and Joe had befriended, transferring to the fire department) that suggests we might get to see how the events at the World Trade Center affect Tony and Joe. I, for one, certainly hope so.

Most NYPD cops think skells are the scum of the earth. They're the crackheads, homeless, prostitutes, and other lowlifes who can make an officer's job a nightmare. Eleven-year veteran Tony Cavalucci's midnight tour is full of skells. He used to consider them discarded trash worth no one's time. But lately the skells seem different to Tony--they look lost and wounded.

But the beat goes on. Trouble is always brewing in Midtown Manhattan, and Tony and his partner Joe Fiore confront it all. From the man who accidentally blows himself off the toilet (yes, you read that right), to the discovery of a loft packed with hundreds of marijuana plants, this ain't no nine-to-five desk job. Sure, there are days nothing happens. Those will be the days Tony's dysfunctional Italian family will provide enough drama to match what the streets throw his way. Has his family always been like this, or is he seeing them differently too? Tony's definitely changed in the last few months. He's stopped drinking, goes to church, and is engaged to a nice Christian girl.

There are some days Tony still longs to head on down to his old bar haunts and pound down a few cold ones. But he always stops short. What God thinks matters to him now. Yet whether on patrol or visiting his family, temptations abound. Is it really possible to be a good cop and a Christian?

Skells is not necessarily a plot-driven story. In many ways, reading it is more like reading the memoirs of a cop than reading a novel (think Blue Blood by Edward Conlon without all the family history). This speaks volumes for the realism Frank and Pam Lione (writing as F.P.) manage to convey through its pages. It's like you're tagging along in the backseat of Tony's cruiser. You can almost feel the dirt grinding under your shoes, the adrenaline pulsing through your veins. As Book #3 in the "Midtown Blue" series, Skells was preceded by The Deuce and The Crossroads. It isn't required to read them first, but they cover Tony's life consecutively and will bring a deeper understanding of the characters.

This isn't your grandma's Christian fiction (unless she happens to be an ex-cop). There's definitely some real-life grittiness here. People get drunk. People die. Tony and his partner stop a rape in progress. But through it all there's always hope. The Lione's don't drag you through the dirt of a cop's life without picking you up, dusting you off, and sharing the truth: Everyone needs God. The skells and the cops.

Fiction needs more of what F.P. Lione offers. Refreshingly honest, Skells is the raw portrayal of a NYPD cop's struggle to live out his faith through the good, the bad, and the ugly.

--Reviewed by C.J. Darlington for Infuze magazine

SKI MASK WAY tells the tale of a young man trying to forge a new life, a life of crime. Isaiah "Ski" Thompson's goal has always been to be a basketball player. With good grades and basketball skills it seemed as if he was on the fast track of doing just that. That is until tragedy strikes and what used to be important to Ski no longer is. Finally giving into peer pressure Ski chooses a new direction in life - drug dealing and stealing.

There is plenty in Randy Thompson's debut to sate the appetites of readers starved for a good read. The tone ranges from carefree and fun to murder and mayhem. Undoubtedly, readers will find themselves fully absorbed in SKI MASK WAY. Thompson's descriptions of the sights, sounds and emotions bring the story to life with all of its horrors and satisfactions. Job well done.

Intrigued, I look forward to SKI MASK WAY II.

Reviewed by: Tracy

Randy Thompson aka Ski had two options while growing up poor in Long Island New York, ball or be a baller. Randy had the skills neccessary to leave his hood behind and pursue his basketball dreams but sometimes even the most seemingly attainable goals can slip away. When's Randy's opportunity slipped away he still had to provide for his family and being a small time drug dealer just wasn't gonna cut it. Randy was gonna have to do things the Ski Mask Way and with his clique of childhood friends that wouldn't be hard at all.

From Long Island to upstate NY nowhere was safe from the wrath of Ski and his crew. Jewelry Stores, Drug Dealers and Department Stores all got touched but would Ski's clique remained untouched? Or would Ski find out that becoming a baller by amassing ill gotten wealth would be even harder than going to school to pursue his NBA career. Especially when you have to overcome more than just the police but jealousy within his own clique. Read the Ski-Mask Way and find out what's harder balling or becoming a baller!

Randy Thompson aka "Ski" comes out hitting hard with this debut novel.. "SKI MASK WAY". In this story Isaiah "Ski" Thompson is a young man who is destined for great things. As he goes off to college to play basketball things take a turn and leaves him out of school and trying to make money, the ski mask way. The Go-Hard Crew, consisting of his childhood friends, rob anything, no business and no person is safe from this crew, because they definitely go hard for theirs.

I have to be honest with you this book had me from the first page. My mouth literally dropped on some parts and I had to laugh at a few. Randy came out banging with this book, if you haven't copped this book I suggest that you do, because in my opinion this is THE BEST book that I have read in "2008". So he gets my vote for best new author and best book in "2008". Randy I will definitely support your future titles!

Although words can't be used to describe how truly HOT, this novel really is, I decided to pick a few of my favorite to give you an idea!

SPLENDID, SUPERB, SUPERIOR, WONDERFUL...and the characters were...VICIOUS, WICKED, FIERCE FEROCIOUS!!!

To say that I thorougly enjoyed this novel is an understatement. And the fact that it's based on a true story is CHILLING!

From the very begginging Randy pulled me into the pages of this novel and I felt like I was right beside Ski through his entire journey. Although some disloyal people surrounded themselves around Ski, (disguised as friends) I smiled when I realized that in the end REAL friendship prevails.

You are a fool if you call yourself a lover of "Street Fiction" and don't cop this book!

It's a MUST READ!!!

Young Isaiah "Ski" Thompson eats, breathes and lives basketball. It's his ticket to happily ever after. Despites the hustling lifestyle of his friends around him, Ski is steadfast in his pursuit of the NBA. However, life-altering circumstances soon snap Ski wide awake from his hoop dreams and find him going hard on the streets instead of the court. Can he be MVP or will he foul out?

"Ski Mask Way" leaps from the pages with subplots and flashbacks, giving us Ski's adventures as a member of The Go-Hard Crew and his struggles with his hoop dreams versus his street reality.

Thompson proves deft in his delivery of drama, action, comedy and grit and grime. As much as this book centers on Ski, however, readers will be charmed and tickled by his colorful friends. They can tell jokes, turn on the charm and keep it gutter. I felt like I was riding shotgun in the get away car. And as wrong as they were, I found myself hoping they'd get away. Was so into the book I almost missed an editing issue - book temporarily flipped from first person to third. But even with that flaw, " Ski Mask Way " is an adrenaline and emotionally-fueled story, with strong elements all around that I recommend.

Readers will enjoy this well-told tale and leave many wondering: How much of Thompson's story might be closer to fact than fiction?

4.5 stars

Ellen Pall is a wonderfully fluent writer. Her interiors are vivid, her dialogue is real and she has a sharp but warm eye for humans and their weaknesses. Juliet Bodine is an attractive, imperfect, urbane writer who heads off in search of a killer while being honest enough to explain some of the machinations of fiction writing, or not writing, as the case may be, and what it's really like to be single in the city. She would translate very well onto the screen. But in the meantime, cozy up with "Slightly Abridged." You'll find interwoven some old London history delightfully come back to life in New York, and a clever mystery unraveled.

Juliet Bodine is stuck, blocked in writing her latest regency romance, so she welcomes the appearance of a fan. Ada Caffney is an energetic 84-year old who has lived life to the fullest, and who has discovered a segment of manuscript that might, possibly, be worth thousands. Ada drops into Juliet's life like a bombshell dragging Juliet away from her writing to poetry slams, Broadway shows, and tours of the Empire State Building (anything to get away from writing that dreadful romance). When Ada is found dead, the manuscript missing, Juliet becomes a suspect. With the help of illusive love interest and police detective Murray Landis, Juliet sets out to investigate.

Author Ellen Pall has written a fun mystery interweaving Juliet's love interests, the painful plotting of Juliet's book (which starts out sounding like a stinker but begins to pick up when Juliet's attraction toward Murray takes on new fire), and the unveiling of more and more motives to see Ada dead all work to keep the reader glued to the novel. Pall uses author intrusion to set the stage for later developments and as chapter hooks, teasing the reader with promises of more to come. It's a little disconcerting at first, but Pall uses it lightly enough to make it an enjoyable style choice.

SLIGHTLY ABRIDGED did start a little slowly and the story really gathers steam when Ada goes missing, Murray comes back into the scene, and Juliet is able to escape her morose plotting and turn her energies toward detecting. You'll end up rooting for Juliet to dump the too-perfect book dealer, hook up with Murray, and overcome the killer that only a writer can find.

Very nice.

Juliet Bodine is stuck, blocked in writing her latest regency romance, so she welcomes the appearance of a fan. Ada Caffney is an energetic 84-year old who has lived life to the fullest, and who has discovered a segment of manuscript that might, possibly, be worth thousands. Ada drops into Juliet's life like a bombshell dragging Juliet away from her writing to poetry slams, Broadway shows, and tours of the Empire State Building (anything to get away from writing that dreadful romance). When Ada is found dead, the manuscript missing, Juliet becomes a suspect. With the help of illusive love interest and police detective Murray Landis, Juliet sets out to investigate.

Author Ellen Pall has written a fun mystery interweaving Juliet's love interests, the painful plotting of Juliet's book (which starts out sounding like a stinker but begins to pick up when Juliet's attraction toward Murray takes on new fire), and the unveiling of more and more motives to see Ada dead all work to keep the reader glued to the novel. Pall uses author intrusion to set the stage for later developments and as chapter hooks, teasing the reader with promises of more to come. It's a little disconcerting at first, but Pall uses it lightly enough to make it an enjoyable style choice.

SLIGHTLY ABRIDGED did start a little slowly and the story really gathers steam when Ada goes missing, Murray comes back into the scene, and Juliet is able to escape her morose plotting and turn her energies toward detecting. You'll end up rooting for Juliet to dump the too-perfect book dealer, hook up with Murray, and overcome the killer that only a writer can find.

Very nice.

Author Juliet Bodine writes Regency romances under the pseudonym Angelica Kestrel-Haven. Juliet is having trouble with her latest work because the hero is not the rake she usually uses. So when an octogenarian fan Ada Case Caffrey asks to meet over tea in Manhattan, Juliet, who normally says no, agrees as they have exchanged letters for several years. Ada has more energy that a teenager on a sugar high and gets Juliet and others to escort her all over the big city.

Ada also shows Juliet pieces of letters of the apparent memoirs of Harriette Wilson, perhaps the most infamous of the Regency courtesans. Juliet arranges for Ada to meet with Dennis Daigrault, owner of Rara Avis, a store that deals in antiques. However, Ada storms out feeling Dennis is short changing her, but also fails to return to her bed and breakfast while a blizzard socks the city. Not long after she is reported Ada missing, NYPD Detective Murray Landis has Juliet identify an elderly homicide victim who is Ada. Feeling guilty for failing as a host, Juliet begins making inquiries even as Murray searches for a killer and a lost manuscript.

This engaging Manhattan amateur sleuth story with some of police procedural elements adds realism to this fun tale due to Hurricane Ada. The key characters are a delightful grouping, but each feels the impact of Ada taking over the city and their lives even after she is murdered. SLIGHTLY ABRIDGED is a fine cozy that leaves the audience waiting for book three of the Muses mysteries.

Harriet Klausner

Ellen Pall's greatest asset as a writer is her edgy, witty prose - it's what makes this book a pleasure to read. The dialogue is sharp, the insights make you identify with Juliet, and the latent wit is always ready to surprise you.

Juliet is a writer of Regency romances and her difficulties with her current novel are overcome only when her own love-life sparks up. This love life is nicely handled with much left to the imagination and (Praise be!) the careful avoidance of a happy ending. How refreshing to not be landed with an existing amore in the next novel where the reader is stuck watching the relationship toil its way to the next level or, perhaps, fizzle out.

The writer really worked with this novel - she finds parallels to her plot in both the real Regency period and the imaginary Regency world of her novel. It's clever, but it's just a bit contrived. She divides her story between two contemporary settings - the semi-sophisticated of New York City and the truly unsophisticated of a tiny village in upstate New York. If I lived in upstate New York I'd be feeling a bit patronized.

But it's a good story, with the advent of the bright and beautifully-flawed Ada making mincemeat of the New Yorkers careful lives. As long as the writer maintains her sharp prose and dialogue, keeps the characters clearly focussed and doesn't try to get too clever with her Muses this will be a series worth reading.