Attractions Books

When I began reading this book it reminded me of RL Stine's The Girlfriend, but this one had an unexpected twist at the end, which not even I had sussed, and I usually do. Since it's not original or very scary I'll give it three stars, but it is a very enjoyable read

This book is a thrilling ride. Dangerous obsessions and mysteries fill the pages. Since arrogant and rich Robert Q dumped unstable Darlene, things have been going wrong at Salem U--deadly things. In fact, Robert is not the only victim; others are being tortured. The only question is: Why? Almost everyone is positive that strange town-girl Darlene is seeking revenge against all who have teased and tormented her. She must be the cause--right? The ending is amazing as all secrets are revealed

Bought this for a trip to Boston this past December and the tips to places were great but the text was small, even for a portable guide. The maps were hard to read so I had to go find one a tourist center too. I definitely enjoyed the details about restaurants and hotels that were affordable and places to visit but it could have been easier to read with more breaks.

I always buy several travel books when going on any significant trips. Frommer's guides provide practical, easy-to-read info without an attitude. This version for Boston is no exception. I like the option of having a short version of the books with the contact info I need. Easy to carry and mark-up as well.

What this book is and what it isn't: "The Game" is a narrative of Strauss' (and others') activities as (a) member(s) of a loose association of men who try to learn and apply various methods of attracting women. The book is not a handbook or instruction manual detailing those methods: though one might abstract such from "The Game," there are surely many faster ways of getting the information-check, perhaps, the associated books Amazon suggested when you searched for this one-and the interested potential reader is hereby directed to one of those sources.
The weak points of this book are (a) that the writing is mediocre and (b) the narrative as such quickly (after about 100 pages) becomes tedious. The book goes downhill quickly.
Nevertheless, the book is interesting to read, mainly because of the characters. This is one of the few media products I have experienced-the other one that quickly comes to mind is the film version of "The Beach"-in which every last character is unattractive. Indeed, there are only two characters (Courtney Love, flatly portrayed as a lunatic, and Britney Spears, who comes off as a simply typical human, not particularly bad, interesting, or good) who are not utterly venal and stunningly dull. Given the desires that allow the characters to enter the narrative, it goes without saying that the "pick-up artists" portrayed here will be repulsive and pathetic (as indeed they are), but one might expect at least some of the characters to be interesting (as in contrast with willfully colorful). None, however, is.
Another remarkable point is that virually all of the main characters (excepting two peripheral participants) come off here as stupid people. Strauss several times remarks that sundry men drop out of schools or universities to practice their "skills": given what the characters say and do, the reader is lead to strongly suspect that these characters, had they not dropped out of school or quit their jobs, would have failed out or been fired. Despite cringe-inducing attempts to convince the reader of the contrary-..."but I like cool movies"...Strauss, himself a character in his book, manages to portray himself as a bonehead as well, this no small accomplishment for an author, inasmuch as the reader concludes that this writer has to be genuinely stupid and not simply portraying himself as such.
If you buy this book cheap and are prepared to put it down about a third of the way through, it will afford the same degree of reward that a poor horror novel does. No decent person would wish the characters' experiences for him- or herself or for anyone else, but there is some interest in once in a while reading about the sorely unattractive.

Even if this book was total fiction, it would be a great read. Stories about geeks that find their mojo are always fun.

But what's fascinating is that it's real. This book isn't so much a how-to-pick-up-women guide as it is a biography of all the people that have been hawking techniques for doing it over the past few years. You can learn a lot about the various characters and pick-up styles floating around in the "seduction business".

A lot of the people he discusses in the book such as Tyler Durden and David DeAngelo have their own websites and workshops, and they take the ideas he touches on in this book even further. Intrigued, I started cross-checking some of the theories the pick-up artists use with work by anthropologists and body language experts. A lot of it holds water.


While I doubt I'll ever approach strangers on the street with card games, I actually tried some of the more basic stuff the PUA's talk about on some dates, and was amazed at how well and quickly it all worked. Most people think that attraction is totally physical, in-an-instant and genetic. But surprisingly, you really can make yourself seem more valuable by the ways you do and don't behave. Don't know if I'd actually marry a girl that's that easily led in, but still, there's no question that this stuff works on a lot of people.

Great book!! Good beginning and Good end!!!
Keeps you going all the way through. Way to go again Penny!!

Penny Jordan's Law of Attraction left a lot to be desired. The book begins slowly and crawls along at a snails pace. Charlotte, is full of self-doubt and is entirely self-centered. Daniel tries to be noble which is unlike most of the male characters in the Harlequin Presents series. The two characters don't interact enough in the story for it to be a plausible romance. Ms. Jordan spends to much time focusing on Charlotte's self-doubts instead of on the relationship between the two characters.

The author introduces so many characters and so much uesless information that the reader is left to wonder what really happened in Westchester. The Police claimed that Warmus is guilty of murder because she was a spoiled, sexpot....and the author ate it up. How was this ditz able to pull off a professional hit? Why did Paul Solomon lie about where he went the night of the murder? If Carolyn was obsessed with Paul, why was she sleeping with other men at the time? This is a mess of a book that doesn't begin to answer the many questions about this case.

Mike Gallagher, you have a fan in me! This is one reader who thinks you are 1st rate! My only regret is that I cannot find other true crime books you have authored. Judging by this one, I would stay up all night reading them. I simply could not put this book down. The Warmus case was fascinating in the way that certain cases with nearly unbelievable twists and turns can be. The temptation for an author in a situation like this one is to use information from the myriad headlines--and in "The Fatal Attraction" case, there were many!--but Gallagher did not take the easy way out. Instead, he brilliantly researched the case, sharing details and behind the scene information that every true crime afficionado appreciates. We learn about the background, fascinating quirks, and bizarre previous infatuations of Carolyn Warmus. We get to savor the juicy details of her foray into the world of private investigation, and how it relates to the murder of Betty Jeanne Solomon. We learn of the complicated relationships within and relating to the Solomon family (some so off-the-wall that you feel as if you are reading scandalous fiction!). Yet at the same time, Gallagher manages to give each of the principals a voice, and you feel as if you know them somehow. After reading the book, it was crystal clear that Warmus is guilty, yet you find yourself wondering how it felt to be Paul Solomon, husband of the murder victim. He was never seriously implicated in the crime, and I personally do not believe he in any way assisted Warmus--for her, killing Betty Jeanne was simply an expedient way to remove the obstacle she believe was thwarting her plan to rush off to the altar with him. Yet, despite her efforts it was doubtful she could have ever realized this goal. A passage in the book regarding a bat mitzvah he attended with Betty Jeanne shortly before the murder made it obvious that despite their ups-and-downs, Paul did love her in his own way, and they enjoyed happy family times and loyal friendships as a couple. It must have been excruciatingly painful for him knowing that it was his adulterous relationship that deprived his wife of her very life, his daughter of her mother, and her friends and family of someone they loved. His is a sad tale of the tragedy that can result from an eye roving in the wrong direction. Would be good reading for any married man who asks himself "What harm could it possibly do?" Paul Solomon is one who could answer that question...Thanks again, Mr. Gallagher for your tour de force tale; truly "true crime" at its most fascinating.

Rachel Westover is known as The Man Tamer. To Rachel, having a highly successful weekly column in a magazine is only the beginning; she wants to go further in her career by having her own televised show. If only she could convince her boss that her ideas are worthy of a chance. Meeting her boss at a party in order to pitch her idea, Rachel may have bitten off more than she can chew when she agreed to a bet with her boss, but if she wins, she can gloat from the set of her own TV show. There is just one kicker; she has to tame Garret Kelly, otherwise known around the country as The Wild Man. In trying to tame him, however, Rachel finds more stubbornness than she ever though possible and withholding pleasure is not an option. When it is all said and done, who wins the prize?

I liked the premise of The Man Tamer very much. You have a highly successful columnist who gives out advice that people rush to embrace. Add to the equation a lacrosse player who is stubbornly set in his ways, yet as sexy as all get out and also a completely adorable hero. That said, there was one major aspect of this book that I didn't like; I disliked Rachel's character immensely. I wanted her to lose the bet from the get go. I didn't like her attitude and I didn't like her underhandedness in dealing with Garret, who by the way, I completely adored. The only thing that saved the story for me was the fact that Rachel got what was coming to her and I relished in the fact that she had to make amends.

While most readers will enjoy The Man Tamer, I was unable to fully embrace its plot and the characterization of Rachel. More chick lit than romance, some readers will really enjoy The Man Tamer. Clearly, I am not that type of gal.

Talia
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Rachel Westover is the queen of makeovers as her popular column the Man Tamer in Belinda magazine affirms. She is so confident in her skills she believes she can turn any male loser into a desirable hunk. However, she wants the vacant afternoon TV spot on KTXK, whose owner Denton "Mr. Money" Morrison offers her an opportunity to get her own show; all she has to do is turn upside down Australia, lacrosse star Garret" The Wild Man" Kelly into a caring well dressed man about town.

Rachel begins her campaign to change the athletic slob whom she assumes would be a reject amidst the Kangaroo high society. However, she runs up against a roadblock of major proportions; her hormones explode every time she sees Garret. Adding to her chagrin every step forward is two giant steps backward as he seems to regress with the only carrot to modify his behavior is sharing his bed; the only thing in her mind (and body) better than chocolate strawberries.

THE MAN TAMER is a delightful contemporary romance starring a rugged what you see is what you get hunk and a woman who believes in making them over in the image you want of them. Their gender war is amusing as each time she feels she makes progress; he kisses away that gain until she reconsiders her objective. Readers will enjoy this fun tale.

Harriet Klausner

No bells and whistles. Low quality, I could have done the same job, but I do use it. I recomend The Secret - Universal Mind Neditation, by Brain Sync

I've read widely about the Law of Attraction, and this is one self-hypnotic audio CD that covers all the bases. It instructs the subconscious to rid itself of the basic fears that hold us back, such as the fear of failure, the fear of criticism, and the fear of ill health. It instructs the subconscious to break the bonds of jealousy and bitterness and other karmic tethers that may be keeping us stuck and unable to move forward. It instructs the subconscious to reveal your true purpose by bringing buried thoughts to the surface, and to get you out of whatever rut you may be in and move you along the road to achievement. But most of all what it does is help you build confidence and -- the big kuhuna of the Law of Attraction -- the expectation of success. After a few nights of listening to this CD, I really did feel different. I was more confident, more self-assured, and felt certain things were finally working for me. Circumstances just seemed to start falling into place. I highly recommend this CD. Let the other reviewer listen to his meditation. What impresses me is results and I've already started seeing them.

I'm glad that I didn't read the mixed reviews that Raintree: Inferno received from Amazon readers before reading it myself. It probably would have clouded my opinion. I really enjoyed this book! I think it started out great with Dante Raintree rescuing Lorna Clay (the heroine) and trying to save his casino too from a fire. Dante tries to put the fire out himself because he has magical abilities including the power of fire and compulsion while Lorna has her own abilities (she has a way with numbers). I loved the scenes where he uses mind compulsion on Lorna. It made for some great tension/banter between them. Great chemistry between them. Linda Howard's writing flows so smoothly and it makes you feel like you are there with the characters. There is an effortless quality to her writing (if that makes since). The only bad thing about this book is that it leaves the reader hanging at the end. It is the first book in a trilogy. I recommend that you read them in order.

The book starts out so promising. Dante Raintree is owner of the casino in Reno the Inferno which is ironic on more than just the name level since Dante is a Level 1 Fire Master AND his casino burns down as the first action of the book.

As Dranir ("king" of the Raintree clan) Dante is the most powerful of his family as so has some rather interesting gifts aside from being able to control fire.

When he first meets Lorna Clay, it's because he thinks she's been cheating in his casino, counting cards or something because she continues to win without appearing to try. But she's not cheating... she just knows what cards are coming, which slot will pay off. Before he is done questioning her the fire alarms in his casino go off and Dante uses a mind compulsion to get all of the guests (and Lorna) down the stairs and into safety. He then uses that compulsion to keep Lorna with him despite the fact that she is extremely afraid of fire. When Dante is unable to calm the fire that is raging through his casino he turns to Lorna and takes her raw power to help save them from the heat and the smoke that is overwhelming them. Several hours later he takes her to his home under the pretense that he's not done questioning her and keeping her under the compulsion. By that time she's figured the compulsion thing out and is spiting mad. To make matters worse he orders her to "strip" so that he can see if she has the mark of someone of the Ansara clan (a rival and enemy) but doesn't bother to explain himself. Since she doesn't have the mark, Lorna is a "stray" as Dante calls her - not affiliated with either the Raintree or the Ansara clans which makes her inherent power and precognitive ability so much more unusual. She's untrained which is the next pretense for keeping her with him.

The Ansara were the ones that set the casino on fire and it took four of them to maintain that fire and still Dante and Lorna survived. Their next attempt to kill the Dranir is with a car accident on the highway but again Dante and Lorna both walk away pretty much unscathed due to some tricky driving and a protection charm.

By this time they are on better terms with each other and really learning the extent of Lorna's power. She feels sick before each attempt on their lives and is able to save him from the last attempt - a marksman with a rifle outside his home. The book pretty much ends with Dante calling his two siblings, Gideon and Mercy, and warning them about the upcoming attack on the family home.

The book ends starkly even though the action is obviously nowhere near finished.

This book was so interesting, it kept my attention throughout the whole book. The good vs. evil theme is awesome. I am somewhat new to Linda Howard but I plan to read many more of her books. If you liked this book you will also enjoy Love Returns Through The Portal Of Time.

I was intrigued by the idea of Linda Howard branching out into paranormal/fantasy romance. I thought this story was hot and intense, yet a little unfinished (but what can you expect when it's part 1 of a 3 part series). In all honesty, the other 2 books in the series are better. If you read it and are interested in the paranormal aspects of this story, check out the rest of the books in the Raintree series by Linda Winstead Jones and Beverly Barton - the middle one by Jones was especially good and actually seemed more like LH's voice than "Inferno".

I almost didn't buy this book because of the reviews left by all those other people but since I bought Haunted & Sanctuary I needed to complete the trio and I am very glad I did. I liked the book and how the authors did the trilogy. Me and some girls from work even formed a little romance book swap club and this was one of our founding books (the entire Raintree trilogy and Call of the Highland Moon by Kendra Leigh Castle). All the girls enjoyed it and ranked it pretty high but we all agreed Haunted is the best of the trio and Sanctuary was the worst. But you can't really read one without the other 2 cause they compliment and intertwine and yet work separately. Like I said I liked the book and the girls in the club did too but where we all agreed this one was "good", Haunted was "great" and Sanctuary was....."not"-LOL-but it completed the series so we all endured it-LOL-but don't be fooled.....this book isn't as bad as the others have made it out to be....I liked it and so did my Moonlight Reads club members :)

Brenda Joyce's Dark seduction is one of the best romance books i have read in awhile. set in the past in and partualy in the feuture. is a wonderful mix of romance with the brutal reality of the past. i will continue to read books from this auther to see what she will come up with next.

I enjoyed the book, I guess I'm able to let go of reality when I read a book like this. This is actually my first book of this author's to read and didn't even realize it was a time travel book, which I enjoy. I'm not sure why some of the reviewers think Claire is "too stupid to live". I thought she was brave and intelligent. Of course she was scared. I always think . . how much like that person would I be if thrust back in time dealing with those types of things. I'm afraid I probably wouldn't fare as good as Claire! She spoke her mind which drove Malcolm crazy, but she also learned when to back off. She also learned how to negotiate with him. I really liked the touch of her having her taser with her in the 1400's. That was funny. I'm looking forward to the next in the series. I liked the book enough to read the next.

Love the Highlanders and time travel too, all in one fantastic story. My first for Brenda Joyce , but not my last thats for sure. Fell in love with both main characters. Looking forward to the next book. Hoping one of them will be about Adian. I read books constanly and love all books about Scotland and Highlanders, this time Time Travel will be on my list. This good versus evil was a page turner. Keep up the stories Ms Joyce. Write them and we will come!!

I read Book II prior to this - better to read in order. Brenda Joyce is an excellent author - her writing style really pulls you in and makes you feel as if you are there with the characters. Great read if you enjoy Diana Gabaldon or Linda Lael Miller.

though the action wasn't to bad and the sex scenes were ok, I found this book to be somewhat boring in too many places

A few days into our trip to Belize, my friends and I began calling this the book of lies. I bought it because it was the only 2007 travel book for Belize, but it none of the prices were accurate and some things it suggested doing hadn't existed in years. It was just a joke by the end of the trip and we would read passages and just laugh at how wrong the information was. You're way better off getting the rough guide or lonely planet and checking the internet for current prices.

Just came back from Belize. Book is inaccurate in many ways and missing a lot of information. Prices are way different than what the book suggest and I'm not even talking about some restaurants that were recommended in the book ..... bad bad bad !!! Directions are sometimes very poor. If you tell people that one place is worth the find, why don't you give them a little bit more explanation on how to find it ????? After driving in the middle of nowhere for an hour, without a soul to ask for directions, we just gave up. Overall I have the impression that Frommer's caters more for the wealthy, which is the easiest. When you pay a lot, it is easier to get satisfied. If you travel on a budget, it is a lot trickier to find good places to stay and eat. I am going back to Belize in June, and I will definitely try to find a better guide for my next trip.

I took the frommers and the lonely planet book to my first trip belize, get the lonely planet the frommers isnt very useful nor as easy to use nor as accurate (even tho its newer)

I am a planner freak, so I used this book and Lonely Planet for my trip. I ended up relying on the Frommers as it was more detailed, more accurate with pricing, and included alot of stuff LP didn't.

I used to write abroad for travel guides, and I've traveled to developed and developing countries in Asia, Europe, South and Central America. From a low to moderate budget perspective, this book is a letdown. Not only were the budget restaurants and accommodations expensive, nothing we found was even a good value at its price. If you can't afford super expensive to get super nice ($40+ meals, $200+ hotels), this book leaves you with sub-mediocre options. My experience with their "Budget Value" listing ($60/night!) was 3-inch cockroaches in the bathroom, no warm water and loud neighboring bars.

Public transportation is skimmed over, with bus and boat terminals missing from maps and costs missing from text. They repeatedly recommend renting a car or flying to nearby cities, which is fine albeit very expensive, but left me no information to make public transportation an option. International bus travel was incomprehensible.

Some recommended activities were downright boring. Frommer's is simply too positive on every meal, site and hotel, and in the end, that doesn't help plan a trip! Negativity may not be nice, but it's essential in a travel guide - if the meal or hotel or Mayan ruin or river is so-so or awful, don't waste my time and money. If I had only known, I would never have traveled with a book that reads as if written by someone who'd never bothered to take public transport or stay in budget accommodations. This is my first and last experience with Frommer's.