Attractions Books

It's great to see the Hot Blood series back in action after ten previous volumes. Love the larger size of the book. Some familiar names here, including Max Allan Collins, Graham Masterton, David Schow, Nancy Holder and Brian Hodge deliver their usual excellent work. Director Mick Garris has a wild story involving the movie industry. And about half the book is stories by female writers, who offer uniquely erotic viewpoints. Gelb and Garrett may have given us the best Hot Blood volume ever - welcome back!

This book was better than the last but in my opinion, it didn't live up to what I normally expect from the "Hot Blood" series. The collection of short stories managed to keep my attention but failed to keep me up at night. *laugh

The lastest collection of stories by authors Gelb and Garrett is a real mixed-bag of so-called erotic horror stories. The anthology begins with three or four stories detailing the deviant side of sexual horror. Hardly anything to get your pulse racing.

These stories are followed by a short group of stories that, in my mind, could more aptly be called erotic horror as these stories dwell upon themes based on romantic relationships, rather than deviant behavior. From this point on, the stories fall into the just plain weird category.

If you're a fan of the earlier books in the original series, I doubt that you'll find this collection to be a worthwhile addition to your library.

This new anthology from Jeff Gelb and Michael Garrett stands right up there with the others in this series of erotic horror. Fatal Attraction fields a great line up of award winning pros and new names in the horror genre. The stories run the gamit from fetishes to shooting stars with a nice selection of blood and bodily fluids to keep things lubed up. These stories will keep coming back around to haunt your thoughts and pique your imagination as you contemplate new ways to spice up your own sex life.

New publisher Kensington Books has made an attractive book that will stand up nicely with the others in this horrifically steamy series.

This book has all the secrets that I have been looking for in hundreds of other books. It is concisely written and easy to understand the answers to the toughest problems. I wish I could buy this book for everyone to read & understand what is happening in the univese and how to play your part. You will love this book.

It was hard to get through this book. I actually felt embarrassed for the author. He spends the first half of the book telling you what this program is "not" and why it so special and different. The second half of the book is in fact a poorly presented repackaging of the very authors he mentions in the first half of the book that his program is supposedly so different from.

The author frequently refers to the 80's and 90's, as if to say, yes I know I am not selling anything new. But my program is different because it is not just the mind, but emotion, gratitude and spirit that invite manifestation.

I believe Colin Tipping has some great information and insight to share with the world, but I felt like this book was just used to get me to purchase his other products. This book would be great as part of an entire program, but alone it leaves you with less than enough information to create a Radical Manifestation in your own life. I think it should be titled as a reference manual for the entire Radical Manifestation program and not be sold seperately unless far greater detail is added.

I just attended the Radical Manifestations workshop after reading the book. This book, in addition to the workshop, have been life changing for me. It challenged me to look at my belief system and my old ways of thinking to see if it aligned with what I wanted to manifest in my life. It talks about the fact that although we may say we want certain things to manifest in our life, our old ways of thinking causes us to hold on to what we do not want. Of course this is on a subconscious level so you will not even know what messages in there are blocking things from manifesting in your life. This book helps to shift you to a new way of thinking about money, relationships etc.

The workshop brought all of it home for me. For the first time in a long time, I had a sincere belief that I can actually manifest what I want in my life and I am worthy of having what I want in my life. It was a bonus because he also talks about Radical Forgiveness which was a bonus for me since I had not had this workshop. If you are ready for a change and tired of the same old patterns repeating themselves in your life, I would recommend the book. I would HIGHLY recommend the workshop. Colin and his staff were wonderful.

This book is good if you are looking for research on the topic of sexual attraction (there are some interresting facts to be learned) but it's lacking in practical advice. In addition, the first few chapters seem to be all about why people are attracted to "10's", models, actresses and other perfect people. There's even a page listing the costs of plastic surgery. I was hoping to find out how to better use the posative traits I was born with in order to create my own sex appeal. This book made me feel that I could only do that by attempting to look more like Pamela Anderson or Gretta Garbo. I think that if you are looking for practical advice in relationships that you might be better off trying "How to Make a man Fall in Love with You" or "Man Power--How to Win the Woman You Want" by Dr. Tracy Cabot. I found that 20 minutes on her website ... gave me more insite into sex appeal than the entire reading of this book. The reason I give it 2 stars instead of one is because it makes an interesting coffee table book and the pictures are beautiful.

There was a lot of interesting information about appeal on many levels(scent, appearance, voice, charisma etc.), from different cultures, and across time. However, some information just wasn't accurate. The information they put in there about what females supposedly like in a man was very different on some facts from how I feel(in some parts of the book). As far as the accurateness of what was appealing in a female, I can't fully vouch for that, but it did make me wonder on some factors. I also felt that it was so focused on this one subject(this is one small aspect of life), that it was something a bit unhealthy to indulge in the book too much. Overall though, I thought this was a great book. Being a left-brained person, I loved the approach to the "art" of beauty from a scientific perspective.

Ok, so it's not a work of heavy scholarship (maybe see David Buss for that) or entirely a how-to-be-successful-at-love/sex/romance book -- Cabot's website is indeed pretty good for that, not that there are none of those helpful and practical pointers here. This is the kind of book you could give to your kid sister. And it glows with style (hint, hint...). I certainly think it's worth more than the measley two stars the other two reviewers gave.

The authors have surveyed the entire field of research in this extensive area and put together almost all the interesting little tidbits and theories into an enjoyable and easy-to-read format. Even someone who thinks they're not a beginner will be sure to learn some cool things here which will make them sound like an expert at their next social gathering. I really liked the tone of the book and its often layed-back, bemused approach to a topic which can often lead to furrowed brows and a grim outlook on things. You got interested in sex research because you thought it would be fun, didn't you? This book delivers. 4 1/2 stars.

I enjoyed this book because it's one of my favorite topics. The book has some interesting things to say, although it's more along the lines of a magazine's style than I had anticapted. Some of the more recent findings aren't in here, such as shoulder-to-waist ratio for men. Sex appeal is also aimed slightly more toward women than men. I would have preferred more research, and less filler, but I read it cover to cover.

I've read dozens of these books over the years, and I liked the approach to fulfillment as something other than just material. All help-yourself books have a certain amount of fluff. I especially liked that Leonard encourages people to see their strengths in their weaknesses, and seemed far from the get-rich/abundance books out there in that he encourages the reader to think about what s/he really would find fulfilling in life regardless of whether it makes you a financial success or not.

This book reminds me of what my financial advisor has repeatedly told me --- if he were the financial genius that the stereo-typical persona of a financial advisor holds then he would not be a working stiff!

This audiobook supposedly can give you the "all knowing power" to accomplish anything. OK, will I be the next millionaire by listening to it? I don't believe so. If Mr. Leonard is the coach he claims to be and swears people can accomplish whatever they want by doing the 28 laws, then why is it necessary for him to write a book? His reason for writing it is because he wants to be a good person and help others? I think not!

This is just one more of those "get rich" (or get whatever it is you want) quick theme books that have you spend money to buy them and then the results are less than promised. This is not my cup of tea. By all means, use your mind for great things but you don't need a book to tell you how to do that.

I really thought this was just another program riding the coattails of the Secret. It is helping my business and career. Thank you!

we took it with us, and it did provide a lot of good info

Although this book was published in 2006, many of the prices are out of date and at least 2 euro off. Also, the maps are not accurate. My husband and I spent lots of time searching for items listed and could never find them. After the first day, we carried another map with us and consulted it instead of the maps in the book. Also, be careful with the maps printed in the book, as most of them are not pointing north. We got turned around in many of the walking tours by accidentally turning the wrong way because of the map's orientation. Also, we tried to eat at a couple of the restaurants listed in the book. One was no where to be found, not even the street listed, and two more that we had hoped to eat at were supposed to be open and were not. We will NEVER buy another Frommer's guidebook.

Unless you want to hire a tour guide or you have a friend who lives in Rome to take you around this is your best bet. Short and to the point reviews and info on all the things you want to see in Rome. Some of the prices in the book are already out of date. The Leonardo Express train to and from the airport now costs 11 Euros, not 9.50. The map that is included is good enough but lacks some detail. It would be nice if the map included little icons of the more popular sites for ease of reading. That said your hotel will probably have a tourist map for you for free. Using this book I put together an intinerary that was good for me in about an hour.

I drove from coast to coast using this book and an road map atlas. It was of great help. My only complaint is that there were very few maps in the book. If you are planning a road trip, then don't count on this book as an atlas. Regardless of that, this book has almost everything you need, phone numbers, directions, descriptions, and a long list of places to stay. It's well worth it.

While on the road (Las Vegas, Arizona and New Mexico) I reviewed three USA guides and my first choice was Fodor's, then Frommer's and finally, Let's Go.

Frommer's practical recommendations are judicious ("We highly recommend that you rent a car when in Las Vegas". YES). The guide's 'What to See & Do' is worth adhering to. The maps are excellent and locate accommodations and dining rapidly for you. The comments for restaurants were normally 'spot on the money', but, restaurants can turn over ownership and management quickly and quality can drop. I experienced this in the case of the Frommer's recommended restaurant 'Maria Teresa' in Albuquerque. This is a property needs to be revisited and possibly dropped from the guide.

Very disappointing (and the PRIMARY reason for the 3 star rating) is the absences of any prices for accommodations or restaurants! This is the first major guide I have ever reviewed that omitted prices! This is a major flaw for this guide.

There are better guides for your money. Consider Fodor's (see my review) or if you are economically challenged consider 'Let's Go USA' (see my review). Conditionally recommend

Since I am planing to go to road trip in this summer, I went through a lot of travel books across america. This is the best one out there. It not only includes hot spots in all over the usa, but also has a detail rates in hotels and motels. I love it. I am sure I will have a great time with this book handy!

This book covers in a bit more detail the history and people involved with the discovery of magnetism and subsequent magnetic phenomena. Unfortunately it is also somewhat repetitive with topics being brought up again and again for pages at a time. It also veers off topic into cosmology, metaphysics and science policy. An editor with a strong hand would have improved this book considerably. I suggest skipping this book unless you can pick it up used for half price.

This is a most interesting read about lodestones and magnetism as told through an all inclusive historical record encompassing the evolvement of our understanding of what magnetism is. Gerrit L. Herschuur takes the reader on a dramatic discovery of everything there is or ever was to know about magnetism, from it's being a mystical lodestone with superstition as a basis of understanding, to the degree of sophisticated knowledge we have today. He has a natural talent for keeping the reader as intrigued as if he/she were holding a best selling mystery novel! The best part is, this is a non-fictional true life natural mystery and you won't be able to put this book down until you've finished it. Herschuur reveals every mystery contained within and about magnetism, all the stuff you ever wanted to know about it, but didn't know who to ask!

Hidden Attraction is a fascinating account of the study of the quite baffling phenomenon of magnetism across approximately five centuries. Verschuur constructs a smooth transition from one discoverer/pioneer to the next, allowing the reader to follow in the footsteps of the various figures discussed.

This is no boring catalog of scientists listing piecemeal contributions to the field; I personally found the book to be a page-turner. Hidden Attraction does not leave you feeling as if you could recite the names of historical figures--rather it gives you the sensation of having looked over their shoulders as they made their discoveries. Some of the scientists discussed, just to name a few, are Volta, Faraday, Hertz and Ampere.

Verschuur gives enough depth of the subject matter to keep the interest of the scientifically-minded, unlike other books on the history of science which spread the accounts of real achievements sparingly over a wasteland of historical details and background. At the same time, Verschuur includes enough background and biographical info to give the reader a sense of who each figure was both as a scientist and as a person.

Those without a strong foundation in physics may get lost in the last chapter or two--I am one of those. This, however, did not detract from the overall readability of the book.

Hidden Attraction is well worth reading for anyone who is interested in the history of science and who is excited by great scientific achievements.

This book is a must read. Information is presented in a very simple but powerful manner. It has a lot of examples of people who succeeded with the help of the author and has information on the steps they have taken and how they changed their mindset. A book worth reading over & over again.

Learn to write about “How to Attract Money”, and you surely will attract a lot of readers hungry to throw their money. The same old trick this is the "Secret", by the way there was a book with the same name and same contest - how to attract nothing.

The best little book I have ever read about how to make money using spiritual devices and the relationship between money and spirituality. Dr Jusuf Hariman

Sometimes I don't like a Blaze book too much because they seem so implausible and mostly about sex, but I enjoyed this one. I liked plain Jane's transformation and sexy Perry's beginning turn around toward his neighbor BEFORE she was so hot. I felt a little disappointed not to know what happened with the lottery case...oh well. Stephanie does a great job telling an entertaining story that light enough to be fun and just deep enough to be believed.

Night Owl Romance Review - [...]

She Did a Bad, Bad Thing
Harlequin Blaze #338
Score: 3.5 / 5
Reviewer: Deidre Sine

Jane Kurtz is a makeup artist for a television show, which is on the rise. She is mild-mannered, quiet and desperate to change something about herself. She meets her new neighbor, Perry, who is rude and loud in the most inappropriate of ways. Perry later attempts to redeem himself to his new neighbor when, because of him, Jane experiences some problems. Jane's life changes, when she realizes that her coworkers and she have won a huge lottery. She decides to head to Las Vegas to release her inner wild child, to try a little bit of everything.

Perry Brewer is a bad boy attorney who starts off on the wrong foot with Jane. He finds himself inexplicitly drawn to Jane, especially as he attempts to make up for some thoughtless actions and words. He decides to follow Jane to Las Vegas, as he feels he is responsible for her rash actions. He wants to keep her safe and as the weekend progresses, so does his feelings for her. As they have a sexually wild time together, both Jane and Perry find themselves with deeper feelings than they experienced. However, as they don't know each other well Jane finds herself mistrustful of Perry's motives. Perry must prove to Jane that he is not only the bad guy she first met.

I found this book a quick, enjoyable read. I was able to finish this in one sitting. This book is the first in the Million Dollar Secrets series. Ms. Bond does a good job making likeable and believable characters. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Plain mousy Jane Kurtz's life turns upside down when she learns that she's won a multi million dollar lottery. Desperate to release her inner wild child and get the hell out of dodge and her jerk neighbor, she packs up and jumps on the next plane to Vegas. For a fabulous makeover, some fun and lots of fornication!

Lawyer Perry Bower didn't hit off well with his new neighbor. Not only did he irritate her by playing loud music, but he also created some obnoxious noises of his own with his date. And he downright insulted her behind her back. He new she heard it all and has been guilt ridden since seeing her obviously red I've-been-crying-all-night eyes the next morning. And he doesn't know why, but something about her sadness/loneliness bothers him inside and he wants to make it up to her. And now he's got to follow her to Vegas to do it.

Basically a make-over story where the plain heroine changes her hair and clothes and then all of a sudden is gorgeous. Only then does the hero notice her. Normally I like these kinds of books, but this one I didn't. I simply could not get past the hero's behavior in the first few pages of the book. He was such a complete jerk to the heroine. I couldn't possibly accept that he really was this great lawyer that helped out the 'little guys'; A person who saw beneath the exterior of Jane to the real lovely women she is. I tried, I really did, but the first impressions were just seared into my head throughout the entire read. If you can get past it, more power to you. Too bad because I absolutely loved Bond's (author) other Blaze book 'Just Dare Me'.

In Las Vegas, Kimberly Wright belongs to the van Helsing League, but unlike the other members, she knows that the undead lives. Last year she met Stephen who brought her to levels of ecstasy she has never tasted before or since, the culmination being THE ULTIMATE BITE.

Kim wants more of the same so she has searched for Stephen. When she finally finds him, she begs him for more. However, he has no time for this mortal or any other although he finds himself attracted to her. Instead he must stop a rogue vampire from causing destruction that will reveal the species exists. However, Kim refuses to let him escape with his teeth and to his shock he loves nipping her; neither realizes that their nip and tuck relationship leaves her vulnerable to the attack of the rogue vampire.

Although the investigation takes back bite to the relationship between the bitten and the nibbler, vampire romantic suspense fans will appreciate this well written novel. The lead couple is an interesting pairing as they are attracted to one another, but while she craves more bites, which he desires to provide; he knows his mission and his family craziness must come before his need. However, Stephen soon learns what he wrought last year as Kim demands more of the bite that changed her and he feels mesmerized into accommodating her. This is a fun tale that sub-genre readers will appreciate.

Harriet Klausner

Kimberly Wright's life changed forever the night she got The Bite. Determined to find Stephen, the vampire who gave her The Bite, Kim joins the Van Helsing League to hunt vampires. Meanwhile, a rogue vampire is leaving dangerously drained victims in his wake. What happens when Kim experiences THE ULTIMATE BITE?

Crystal Green has written a very sensuous tale focusing on the powers of The Bite. Kim's obsession with finding Stephen haunts her, causing her to take crazy risks just to once again experience the sensations produced by The Bite. Her fixation on this quest is a bit hard to understand, although Ms. Green does an excellent job at describing the physical sensations of The Bite.

THE ULTIMATE BITE edges on erotica and I suspect that fans of the more sensual vampire tales will appreciate this one. Having read and loved Crystal Green's book, THE HUNTRESS, I expected something with a bit more action. I wanted to see more of The League and the ending with the rogue felt too pat for my tastes. However, it is important to note that THE HUNTRESS was written for the Bombshell line whereas THE ULTIMATE BITE is in the Blaze line. The Blaze line is intended to be more sensual and Ms. Green certainly accomplishes this!

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

Ever since the night one year ago that Kim Wright was bitten by a vampire, all she can think about is how incredible it felt and how desperate she is for another bite. Overnight she transformed from ordinary woman into fiendishly sexy woman. When she happens across her vampire on a routine patrol for the Van Helsing society, a group of vampire "hunters" who want to make vampires go mainstream in society, she throws all caution to the wind to catch up to him.

Stephen's existence is a lonely one, hunting women as necessary to assuage his blood hunger (and sexual hunger as well). When he runs into Kim, though he does not remember her from their last encounter, he desires her like no other. But there is a vampire out there draining women of their blood and Stephan is sworn to bring him in for retribution.

What happens when their sexual desires get in the way of Stephen and Kim's respective duties?

I know, I know, it's a Blaze and is supposed to be a hot book but I was disappointed how little the paranormal aspect of the story was explored in The Ultimate Bite. So why do I continue to test out the Blaze series? I have hope more of the stories will have deeper plotlines than sex and more sex. Some of them have been quite good, and while the sexual tension was through the roof, the story was the focus, not the physical relationship and I thoroughly enjoyed those. I think the sex scenes could have been toned down a bit, leaning more on the tension and passion in the story, so that the author could have spent more time expanding on her vampire universe.

The way the story is told in The Ultimate Bite, a vampire bite is like a drug to the victims, making them crave the feelings it roused in them to the point they go searching for more, which can eventually lead to the destruction of the bite addict. Kim was the perfect example of what this does to a person, becoming obsessed with finding her vampire and getting another bite. She started to get on my nerves after a while with her "I must have another bite or I can't survive" attitude but I absolutely loved the Van Helsing society she hooks up with in order to find her vampire again. The eclectic mix of people in the society were quite fascinating and Crystal Green could easily develop an entire series of books around the various members.

The story of Stephen's mission to hunt down the rogue vampire gets glossed over more than once, though there is a lot of focus put into showing us how his lust for Kim interferes with his duty. I would have liked a little more depth into that part of the story.

I know my review probably sounds more negative about the book than my actual feelings upon reading were. This was not a bad book by any means, I just didn't think it was as well developed a story line as it could have been. It presents the guise of being a vampire story, but when you get down to the meat of the story, the vampire aspect didn't play as much of a role as I would have liked, with us being told more than shown it's about a vampire and his "victim."

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