Attractions Books

El Secreto (The Secret)Es muy interesante aparte de los consejos de vida k te da te hace recordar y valorar las cosas buenas sobre todo ser agradecidos por lo k tenemos, me gusto mucho .

Que descubrir en ti mismo el poder que tienes para hacer que las cosas cambien,...........

Les recomiendo la versión AUDIO MP3 de Piense y Hágase Rico Piense y hagase rico

A good book if you are looking for an impulse to improve and enhance your self-steem. Some of these methods may result questionable but it's a good job in general.

La escritora australiana Rhonda Byrne logró reunir a grandes maestros, filósofos, escritores, científicos, etc. que comprenden y aplican en sus vidas los principios de la Ley de la Atracción. Estos personajes destacados comparten con nosotros sus conocimientos y experiencias sobre el tema en forma por demás amena e instructiva. La Sra. Byrne incluye, además, pensamientos brillantes que tomó de grandes escritores que vivieron durante los siglos 18, 19 y 20 quienes, afortunadamente, dejaron su obra, o gran parte de ella, escrita en libros que aún se pueden encontrar en algunas tiendas. Robert Collier, Prentice Mulford, Charles Haanel y Charles Fillmore son los nombres de algunos de los pioneros de la citada ley que mas sirvieron de sustento para estructurar El Secreto, sin embargo también podemos encontrar citas de Budha, Henry Ford, Shakespeare, Emerson, etc. Es realmente excepcional el trabajo realizado para la elaboración de este documento que ha servido y servirá para que muchas personas aprendan cuestiones que tienen que ver con la utilización de sus propios recursos personales así como recursos del Universo para lograr una vida mas plena.-

While the writing style of this book is no better than her other book "How To Talk To Anyone..", the information is. If you follow Mystery's or any other PUG really you will most likely only hear about 3 or 4 IOIs through body language. This book actually discusses and shows pictures of 26 and even sites the information present very well (a well know sociologist sat in a bar for 9,000 and studied this). It brings to light a much more rich, colorful, and complicated set of body language actions to watch for that will give you a much better understand of what she is actually trying to tell you.

The bad points. 1) The name is less than creative. 2) The cover makes the book appear sleazy and diminishes it's credibility. 3) She uses bad metaphors like a machine gun with the trigger taped down. If you took out the metaphors I am pretty sure the book would be a quarter less in length. 4) Her attempts at humor fall short. 5) Her "Men's Voice" sounds like Stallone's retarded cousin.

If you can get past the issues above the book is a great resource. The good points. 1) The information in the book is plentiful, sound, and backed up with sources. 2) She references a lot of sources that would be good for a future reading. Honestly, the list of sources alone is worth the cost of the book.

Read Mystery. Read Strauss. Don't read this. There are a bunch of photos of woman with come hither looks(all looking like 80s disco queens), one of which has the women showing thigh. Lowndes helpfully tells us that these looks mean a women is interested and men need to pick up on the looks. No fooling. (Although I have not been blessed by one of the looks. Guess I am toast.) One photo shows a nerdy looking guy being touched by three women and Lowndes says that women touch men they desire. She forgets to say though that many women just touch you to stress a point they are making.(Sure if they play with your hair, that's another thing.) This is dangerous advice. She has tiresome chapters on genetics and early imprinting(she tells the story of a pal of hers who falls for a guy who looked like the pal's dad). She also says us that women are always judging men so be careful what you say and how you say it. How exhausting.

Worth it even if only for 1 thought.
"I'm not looking at who I pick, it's who picks me."
Everything else was good, if somewhat repetitive.
The pictures show some points better than pages of descriptive text.

Wow! Your book - Undercover Sex Signals: A Pickup Guide For Guys has changed my life. Many Thanks. I also highly recommend The Exclusive Layguide: When Dating and Having Sex with Incredibly Hot Women is No Longer Mirage Even If You Don't Look Like a Model or Don't Make a Fortune

This book changed my self confidence, for GOOD, and now I no longer feel anxiety, self doubt and nervousness when approaching women and starting conversations. Another must have that I highly recommend- The Exclusive Layguide: When Dating and Having Sex with Incredibly Hot Women is No Longer Mirage Even If You Don't Look Like a Model or Don't Make a Fortune

Both books are strongly recommended!

This is the second book in the Raintree triology that was written by three women who were able to work so well together so well that this fascinating tale goes very smoothly and is a must read for good light reading. The combination of romace, phychic powers and charactors will keep you interested from page one right up until you finish the very last word.

This is the worst Linda Howard book I have read. SPOILER-In the first third of the book, the woman is mind raped, mind controlled-she couldn't speak or move, kidnapped, and her clothes are ripped off-by Dante. Ms. Howard spends the next part of the book having Dante justify what he did-although 'he would do it again'. I'm glad I have read other Linda Howard books. If this was my first, it would have definitely been my last.

Neither Hope nor Gideon appear to have much reason for what they do. The premise of "I see dead people" has been done to death also. The characters were cardboard. There was no mystery. The evil woman wasn't even interesting. I should have known when the Linda Howard first book wasn't that good that the series was not going anywhere. I recommend spending scarce reading hours elsewhere.

I enjoyed this book. I liked the chemistry between the two strong characters of Gideon and Hope - even though the romance moved a bit too quick to be completely believable, this IS a romance, after all, so that made it kind of fun.

I would have liked to have found out more about the dark forces working against them. Why did Cael send Tabby to kill the Raintree heirs, what the heck was she going to do with her trophies? But, I liked this book about Gideon and his unique powers over electricity.

This book was very good. It had great pacing and was quite good at holding my interest (which is not always easy). Although it is not the first in the series, it makes you want to get the trilogy.

Once again, Murphy delivers an engaging tale about urban shaman, Joanna Walker. I finished it in two days.

I don't want to spoil the surprise, but I really enjoyed all of CE Murphy's books.

I was so excited when this book came out! Urban Shaman wet my thirst and geared me up for the long haul, but Thunderbird Falls was a bit of a let down. Coyote Dreams started out great and kept me reading. It definitely made up for any dislike I had for book two. This book dug so much deeper in to the characters we've all come to love or hate - I no longer wanted to reach in to the pages and shake some sense (or nonsense) in to Joanne! I gobbled up this book and couldn't wait for the next!

...but the series ended there.

Fellow readers may agree that the series didn't feel "complete." I, for one, have unanswered questions. Great read, but if you're expecting more to come then prepare yourself for disappointment. Oh well, that's what the imagination is for.

This book was BORING, I made it almost half way & gave up. The best thing about this book was the book cover, which was excellent.

This series if fresh and original unlike other urban fantasies with werewolves and vampires. Joanne is a wonderful heroine, strong and vulnerable at the same time. I love the romantic tension with Morrison and I hope she gets togther with him in the next book. Unfortunately the author is putting this series on hold to start a new series, and we will likely have to wait at least 2 more years to read about Joannes further adventures.

The story grabbed my attention from the very beginning, BJoyce has done it again, it was lovely to see well developed characters. This is certainly a keeper. Please give us more of this type of reads. I always admired your style of writing and this is certainly one of your best. Thanks for keeping us well read and entertained.

This is one of the loveliest romances I've read in a long time. For once, the hero and heroine actually fall in love with one another, rather than just fall in lust, declare love, and get hitched. This is a love story. So refreshing!

The heroine, Blanche, is marvelously drawn. She is sweet, generous, mature, and truly lovely. She doesn't stamp and pout like other heroines, she isn't mean and cruel to her hero to keep the tension going, she isn't silly, she isn't stupid. She's a fantastic character.

Sir Rex is also extraordinary, to me. He truly is the tortured hero, brooding and dark, but unlike other "tortured" heroes he does not sulk or do inexcusable things and then blame them on past traumas. He is honorable and respectful and intriguing, kind and thoughtful, and very, very passionate.

I think what I like so much about this book is that the main characters are ADULTS, who act in a mature manner. And they truly respect one another, as well, and treat one another with kindness and courtesy. There's one plot point in the book where Blanche does hurt Sir Rex, but she doesn't do it out of selfishness or cruelty.

There are some problems with the book: historical inaccuracies, and there's an Other Woman of sorts in the book, which seems weird and out of place in this novel, to me. Typos also clutter up the pages. There are a few words and phrases that get repeated a little too often (people "breathe," "startle," and "cry" a lot in this novel, while "wide-eyed," and so forth) but it doesn't hurt the book for me.

But I do love this novel. Rex and Blanche are so good together, love each other so much, and are so good to one another. The plot is actually very melodramatic, dealing with hidden sons, murdered mothers, scheming maids, insanity, and combined with the bleak Cornish backdrop, it's very Gothic. It's a testament to Brenda Joyce's writing that I love every melodramatic aspect of it, and it doesn't actually feel melodramatic at all.

Wonderful novel!

The Perfect Bride's first encounter between the hero and heroine is so entertaining. Lady Blanche who (to quote Mary Poppins) is practically perfect in every way, literally stumbles into a room and sees Rex de Warenne engaged rather intimately with his housekeeper. Her sensibilities are astounded yet also piqued.

Lady Blanche is the perfect London hostess. She is totally devoid of real emotion. This was somewhat hard to believe because she seemed loyal to her friends back in London and was compassionate to others too. She suffered a trauma as a child and her coping mechanism is too feel no great emotions of love, passion, hatred and rage. Surprisingly this did not make her all together bland because she instantly feels emotional connections with Sir Rex.

Rex is absolutely brimming with emotion. He is a war hero but suffers from its trauma. He is reclusive and described by the ton as boorish. So it is with great surprise that Lady Blanche has come to his estate. She is there only because she has been duped by her well meaning friends into believing she has property interests in the area.

As Blanche develops feelings for Rex she also begins to suffer memories of her childhood trauma. Believing she is going mad she feels she has no one to turn to. She acts irrationally once or twice but fortunately, comes to her senses rather fast. Rex is loyal and kind hearted. It was easy to see why Blanch loved him.

There are some inconsistencies in this romance. For instance, Lady Blanche is totally unchaperoned at the estate. During Regency England, this would have forced an immediate marriage. However, I got past this because I genuinely liked the characters. This story is not as good as some of the other De Warenne novels but it has a certain charm. Blanche's awakening to love and passion is slow moving but believable. And Rex's determination to protect her from her memories and the horde of suitors for her hand is heart warming.

I wasn't really sure about this one to begin with because in all the other books I didn't really like Rex. And I had thought of Blanche as a bit dull. I was so glad I didn't skip this book. I had a hard time putting it down.

I could not get into the story from the first page, when the author states that a merchant's daughter was totally accepted by the ton due to the fact that the viscountancy was granted so long ago that everyone had forgotton. If her father died at 62, it must have been granted about 20 years before unless he made a fortune in manufacturing as a teen. Daughter of a viscount is not "Lady Harrington" (title only of a married woman) or even "Lady Blanche", have to be a daughter of at least an Earl. Also manufacturing fortunes were not made that early, much better to have her father been an East Indian Nabob.

Book would have been better set seven years after Crimea when some of the actions, woman staying unchaperoned at a unmarried non related male's house for over two weeks, for example, was not even commented on by the neighbors or anyone else. Most regency's would have her considered ruined after 1 night in such a situation.

Then having the hero when asked what he was drinking at his club, to ask for a Cabernet!!!!!. That is an American name for wine, never used in the 19th century.

Also being knighted for war service maybe, but a grant of property for service in the Napoleonic wars? No way. And what was the second son of a loving and rich earl doing being poor. Something would have been settled on him, most likely a minor property.

Plot was ok and characters interesting, but a real lack of conflict or villans made the book suffer.

I run a singles organization, and am constantly in search of good reference materials. I happened to get an ebook online from a man called David Deangelo who sells and markets a whole line of materials of this same genre. Part of his program consists of audio CDs with dating gurus, one of which was David Wygant. I kept this CD in my car for over a month literally laughing at that great material. In the interview David came across as confident, relaxed, and inventive. I only wish this book was as good as his interview, but it does highlight all the basics of his philosophy in meeting a partner. He covers all aspects, atttitude(sometimes called inner game), attire(what to wear), presentation(the importance of good hygiene), and more. I feel alot of people can benefit from his audacity, and mantra. However this book falls short in it's own merit from it's approach, I only wish whoever was his writting coach(since David himself is not a writer), would have brought out more of his humor thoughout the book with lots of examples or fun stories. Overall this is a good book, which will give most people the necessities they need to find their perfect someone.

It always baffles me as to the complaints about dating books. Did anyone really think there was that one book that would open up the clouds with profound dating revelations? Yes, this is coming from someone that "surprisingly" isn't the author of the book or a planted review.

At any rate, Wygant's book isn't ground-breaking and that's the prime reason for the four star rating. However, for the remaining stars left, Wygant's book packs as much useful dating advice than most books out there. Always Talk to Strangers provides much common sense such as dressing well, smiling, and not being afraid to talk to people. However, it's the way Wygant goes about all of this that's helpful since many of us weren't born with common sense or taught half of these truths in junior high.

For me, the personal grooming/hygiene sections are extremely self-explanatory and for me useless. Sadly enough, I have more than a few friends that could take a solid look at this section.

Among the most helpful sections are where to meet women, props to use in conversation, and varying techniques to "close the deal" after you've been talking to a woman for a while. In addition, Wygant poses several different questions that you should ask yourself whenever approaching a woman that you fear rejection from. Furthermore, there are great sections on both internet dating and blind dating that are definitely useful.

Is a majority of this common sense? The first few sections on hygiene, grooming , physical/mental makeover, and dating myths are. However, the rest of the book had a lot of stuff I'd given little thought to or never thought of altogether. If you call that common sense, then so be it. However, most of Wygant's advice has definitely helped improve my perspective on dating/picking up women. For the price of $3-4 on Amazon Marketplace, what have you really got to lose?

-Travis.



update (8-3-08):

I read this book again just a couple of days ago on vacation and my comments remain largely the same. I disagree slightly on the internet portion of it though. I'm no stranger to the online dating game and the fact that David acts like gorgeous women are online in every city is simply not true. It's not true in Houston (one of the BIGGEST cities in the world), anyway. Maybe I'm not in the right age range for online dating yet, but hell I'm 22. How long does one have to wait? At any rate, most of what David says is very spot on in other areas, just don't get too psyched up about his Internet Boot Camp dating ideas.

Men, cut that mullet or trim that ponytail! (p. 42) Women, teased hair is out! (p. 41) (Just in case anyone has been asleep since the B-52s debuted or models her hair style from Gary Larson cartoons.) And not only does dating coach David Wygant tell daters to put a Q-tip in your ear, he gives you step-by-step instructions on p. 44. And, men and women, for goodness sake, trim that nose hair! (p. 49.)

Get the feeling the advice in this book is rather basic, common sense stuff? You're right. Granted, it's not all about grooming, although most of those tips are common sense as well. Advice includes how to: fill out internet profiles, start conversations with anyone (and gain the courage to do so), ask for phone numbers, and tell if someone's single. Hint - that wedding ring is a BIG clue (p. 158). But Wygant goes beyond the wedding ring to less obvious clues.

I have mixed feelings about the book. It's virtually all good advice, although I know happily married guys with ponytails. And there's none of the silly dating "play hard to get" Rules type of advice. I would think a lot of people will already know most of this stuff (although I've been on some dates from hell with guys who didn't). Anyway, here it is in one place to possibly serve as a motivator or refresher to someone who is just entering the dating scene or who has been out of it a while. It's a particularly good book for folks who are shy or who have difficulty starting conversations with the opposite sex. I suggest checking it out of the library first, lest you purchase this book only to find you knew about 98% of this stuff.

Mr. Greenstein wasn't being accurate earlier with regard to the section, "The Entitlement Myth." Although we respect his opinion, we beleive he has taken our work out of context. Here are the first few paragraphs of that section for future potential readers.

"I can't tell you how many clients have come to me and said, "David, you're my last resort. I've done the right things. I've been a good person. Yet, nothing ever happens to me. I never get asked out. I'm alone and I'm tired of being alone. Aren't I entitled to a little happiness?" My response to them is a resounding, "No."

People aren't entitled to happiness. People have to work for happiness just as they have to work for a successful career, and in the very same way they have to work and save for a house, a car, a stereo, retirement, or even to maintain friendships.

When you believe you're entitled to something, you won't go after it. You passively wait around hoping whatever you feel entitled to will be handed to you on a silver platter. When no one serves it up to you, you become angry, upset, and frustrated. "Damn it," you proclaim. "I'm a good person. I do the right things. I'm entitled to this." You become reactive, instead of proactive."

You be the judge.

I bought this along with a few other self-help books, and this one was probably the most realistic. The overall tone is sincere but firm, which I think is a good thing especially with a sometimes delicate subject like dating and love. I think the title may be a little misleading, and perhaps a more fitting one would be along the lines of "Dating Advice for Nice People," but I guess I can't critique that since titles are supposed to catch your attention and well, I own the book now.

Like I mentioned, this is a good book for nice folks -- those of us who aren't exactly the flirtatious type. It really appeals to people like myself who have always thought "Well, it will happen when it happens" and are now in the mind frame of "I want to make it happen, now." While I can't say from first-hand experience that the advice and tips actually work, I can honestly say that they seem reasonable. I like how realistic he is about dating, and this book really put into perspective what it might be like to be "proactive" and ask a person out.

One thing I love about this book is that it warns against going to bars to find a date. For those of us who aren't that impressed with alcohol and don't see a get-together primarily based on the presence of booze appealing, this is a relief to read. He shows that it's possible to meet people in everyday places like the coffee shop, the movie theater and even the university library.

It's easy to read because the sections are divided to help you read what you want and pass over what you don't want to see. For example, I have no interest in online dating and getting set up on blind dates. It was easy to skip those parts because I just moved on to the chapter for meeting people on my own.

It's a good book. I actually read the whole book cover-to-cover (minus the two sections stated above) in one sitting and felt satisfied with what I had learned.

The power we have over ourselves usng creative visualization is infinite. This was easy, relaxing and perfect for people who want to tap into themselves. One of the best purchases ive made.

I was looking for a creative visualization meditation program that I could listen to in the mornings when I woke up. There are several short meditations on this CD that are perfect for that and don't take much time. What I also like is the 30-minute relaxation & goal visualization session that I can listen to at night before bed. I regularly have this CD is my car when I need to relax or motivate myself with positive thoughts. The CD is 60 minutes long, but you can easily listen to it in short pieces if you don't have an hour to spare.

The case was broken in shipment because the CD had not been packed properly/at all. It was shipped in a manila envelope with no cushion or bubble wrap whatsoever.

I recommend Shakti Gawains Creative Visulization Meditation CD. It's
certainly not the best one out there, but is good for beginners. This 60 minute CD is much better then the original book on tape she did years ago. On that tape, she read very fast, she sounded unenthusiastic, the meditations were rushed, so I couldn't get much out of it.

Here, she reads slow and her voice is calm and relaxing. The added music is pretty good, however I would have wanted a little more time spent with her guidance through the creative visualizations.

This is about the 5th meditation cd I've purchased. This one was hard to follow and just wasn't as effective as others I have. If you are considering this one, I'd keep looking.

I love Summer CD's I lesson every day the CD in the morning and evening. This is a great way to stay positive and make things happening. It's very uplifting and open the door for creativity.

this CD is the best for relaxing and getting into the flow of your energy flow and tapping the resourses that you need for your best interest. Loved it!!

Overall, I liked the message/content of the CD. However, the author, who also serves as the only narrator, does her product a disservice by using her own voice. As you listen, you try to relax as the message persuades you to do, but it is extremely difficult due to the narrator's jarring, fast-paced, overly-perky voice. For example, she will instruct the listener to imagine a scenario and before the listener can even begin the imagination process, the narrator is jumping along to the next thought sequence. The pace and voice completely disrupts the message.

OMG!!!! This is one of the easiest ways to attract good things into your life. I've used this technique for over two years now. The events and blessings that have occurred are too many to mention here. However, I must say its worth every cent and then some. Get it while it's reasonable. The flow dreams really work!!! It is important to have emotion and really visualize with Summer. The God. the universe, your higher self, whomever or whatever you believe in does the rest. Its that simple and easy. I also use it to release stress and have a wonderful nights' sleep. Must have!!!!!!!!! Thanks Summer. JM

I was unemployed when I first bought this CD. I was skeptical, but wanted to give it a shot. It worked!!! I got a great job, after a few months, I decided the job was not so great. OK I enjoyed the work, but I didn't get along with the people I worked with. I tried the CD again, and this time I secured an even better job that I know I have a future with.

It take a little while to get used to the CD, but please be persistent. This stuff really works.

I bought this book, on an impulse, as a companion book to SKINNY BITCH. Big mistake. Unlike SKINNY BITCH, this book is a mess. For starters, it advises the reader to drink lots of diet soda, explaining, "...yeah, we know it causes cancer, but it has zero calories so drink up!" Worse, the writers then go on to advise eating ice cream cones and french fries, but NOT yogurt! Huh??? What kind of inane advice this this??? The problem is these two women, one of whom is a "journalist" and the other an actress, have no idea what they're talking about, a fact they try to disguise by talking about sex. A lot. I wasted $13.95 on this drivel! Don't make the same mistake I did.

I loved reading this book. It taught me a lot about food and also made me laugh. I would recommend it to anyone trying to change the way they eat and live.

This is a fun book, the language is R rated, but it makes a lot of sense.

I noticed this book when I order the book Hungry Girl. I received this book first in the mail. I read it in less than a day! It's completely the first time I started from the beginning and read all the way through. It was captivating and hilarious in the delivery of the text!! So down to earth it was like you are talking to your best friend. I read that on a lot of the reviews and it couldn't be more true. I also think now when I go to order something...would that be something a Hot Chick would put into her mouth? The nutrition was basic, but that's all I needed. I've received tons of receipes and proper ways to make things... But really what I needed was the push that it's okay to have an off day, just get back up and stick with it. Great work ladies!

This book was fantastic! I loved every word. It makes you feel so confident and sets you up to make easy and good choices. The best part is that you feel like a Hot Chick right from the beginning! It's like listening to your best girlfriend tell you about something that really works! I love these co-authors and would love to read anything else they come out with! Well done ladies!!!

This book was better than book two. The story flowed more and was less emotional but still way too much crying. I hated the fizzle ending w/ Cyrus and Carrie. To be honest, I was rooting more for Cyrus and Carrie, Nathan just seem to be in the way. I'm not even sure if I like Nathan and Carrie together anymore, they just seem so boring w/ no real sparks.

After not caring much for "The Turning", I thought "Possession" was incredibly good. Imagine then my regret to find that "Ashes to Ashes" wasn't anywhere near as good, in fact it actually dimenished some of the great character building Armintrout created with "Possession". Bella, the tough werewolf assassin becomes whiny and clingy. Max (my fave character) keeps most of his charm, but still falters when it comes to his relationship with Bella. Speaking of which, this relationship went from high attraction and flirtation with biting humor, to "I can't live without you" junk in the blinking of an eye. I wish some more care would have been taken in making this kind of relationship change. Even under the stress these characters face, they should have been able to retain some of the humor and wit that made them so great in the "Possession". Carrie became more annoying than ever in "Ashes to Ashes". She literally bounces back and forth from Nathan to Cyrus about ten times before the action even really starts going. I can happily say that Cyrus's character (although facing transformation) still stayed true to the changes established in the second book. Kudos to this volume for twists and turns and for not being afraid to take risks with the characters. There are some definite suprises in store, as well as some turns I personally am not sure if I will like. This book is not dull, but it still feels like the story danced around issues instead of delving straight into them. I think, honestly, that this series could have been made into a condensed but tight trilogy and instead was filled with enough filler to make up four books. I also don't think Armintrout really knew what would happen either and kind of is making stuff up along the way here. This doesn't always mean for negative production, because the series is entertaining and I don't think I will be quick to forget it. But the series has certainly suffered from inconsistancy, both in plot lines and character development. That said, unless the final chapter is an immense disappointment, I believe Jennifer Armintrout will only get better as a storyteller, and I would recommend her as an author to keep an eye on.

I've read some of the others' reviews and though I won't say that it is getting worse I will say that it has plateaued.
I think the reader should have decided by now whether they like the book or not. But if you haven't I'm here to help!
Consdier these points: Cyrus is now human again and has found his heart (corny); Carrie still practically ignores the fact that she pretty much just gave up a good chunk of her life by giving up being a doctor (frustrating); Oracle and Soul Eater (need I say more?); romance, action, adventure (sounds like a movie commercial); and, in my eyes, promise.

I'm not sure why, but this series does interest me. Perhaps it is because it's just something to read, but I think it might be more. Maybe once the writer seasons a bit she'll get better and correct her flaws.

I really enjoyed THE TURNING, liked POSSESSION and now, I can say: love SHES TO ASHES!!!

The book follows nicely the thread that was left opne on the previous book, with Nathan and Carrie going back home together but not too much, and with Cyrus in the surroundings. Carrie is still in a sort of place with those two men that can only be called as "in-between", because she doesn't know who to choose or why, not being so sure of her motives when it comes to Nathan or to Cyrus.

The plot goes on flawlessly, and I enjoyed having someone as powerful as the Soul Eater even if it was for a short amount of time. It was nice to see the reactions of Cyrus to his father, and those of Nathan to his Sire.

Also, I enjoyed the fact that Carrie wasn't the only one telling the story, as much as I enjoyed the fact that there were like two arcs of the same story, that of the group of Carrie, Natahn and Cyrus; and the one composed by Bella and Max.

There are some things that aren't answered on this novel, so I'm expecting a new one!!! ;-)

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

Carrie's life, or rather, her un-life, is finally getting on track and things are looking very good for her and Nathan after all the turmoil. But of course, Carrie was never meant for a simple life. Word reaches them that the headquarters of the Voluntary Vampire Extinction Movement has been destroyed and the Oracle, the most dangerous of all vampires except maybe for the Soul Eater, is on the loose. Then, when it seems things couldn't get any worse, all clues point to the Oracle teaming up with the Soul eater, whose own plans involve becoming a god above human, vampires, werewolves, and all else.

Then there is Carrie's being torn between her two men, her two sires, Nathan and Cyrus. Cyrus may be human now, but if possible, Carrie is drawn to him even more because of his humanity. And we can't forget Max and Bella, two assassins, one vampire and one werewolf who have found what all believed impossible - love between the species.

And this is just the beginning...

If you've read my reviews of either of the preceding novels in the Blood Ties series, then you know I've been waffling on my opinion of it. So far, I've though the books were decent, but nothing special to make them stand out from anything else I've read lately. Probably the largest contributor to me not loving the series is Carrie herself. I've never really liked her from the first book and over time I find myself liking her less and less since she never seems to mature. I get so tired of her "do I love Nathan or Cyrus" whines that I want her to just pick one already and deal with it.

As with the previous book in the series, Ashes to Ashes takes a really long time to get going. It starts off with a bang and I was excited to see the action begin right away. Unfortunately, that didn't last. There was a lot of aimless wandering initially, while we waited for the players to figure out what they wanted to do about the Oracle and the Soul Eater. They never really get going until halfway through the book, maybe even more, when we finally find out what the Oracle wants.

I do love Max and Bella though and their love story got me interested far more than Carrie and Nathan's. I like the new Cyrus though, now that he's discovered love (see Possession) and has gained a conscience to go along with his humanity. If not for the conflict between Max and Bella and their growing love and Cyrus still getting used to his humanity again, I would have put this book down long before the conclusion. The Oracle is horribly evil, as is the Soul Eater, so you know when these two get together, our characters are in for a hell of a time. I would have liked to see them play a larger role in the story. We see them here and there throughout, they don't really fully enter the story until close to the end.

If I've learned nothing else about the Blood Ties series, and the latest installment, Ashes to Ashes, I have discovered this series is one you either love or hate. There aren't a whole lot of people in the middle of the spectrum. I've admittedly been on the fence since book one, but most people have very strong opinions over the series. I cannot honestly say whether or not I'll be reading book 4 until it gets closer to the release date and I find out a little more about what it will be about. Right this moment though? I'm leaning towards cutting the ties with this series.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, January 2008. All rights reserved.