Bell Books

I ordered this book because a family member has been diagnosed with the same cancer that Mr. Herrera went through. I went to his site and clicked on "Contact Mr. Herrera" and was amazed at how fast he responded. Later he called me and we talked for a good while. He was so pleasant to talk to and he was so helpful with all the information he had to share with me. He gave me many people and places to GOOGLE for my own personal verification of what he was sharing with me and I found him to be a true humanitarian - trying to share the wealth of knowledge that he has regarding an alternative method for treating this horrible Mantle Cell Lymphoma cancer. I can't thank him enough for his kindness.

I was very touched and moved by the experience that Mr. Herrara had gone through. He is a very brave man and I have extreme admiration for him. I watched him on As the World Turns and his character shows what and incredible actor he is also. I hope now he is living and very full and prosperous life. I would highly recommend his book to anyone. No one would believe a real person actually went through what he went through. I'm hoping one day I have the opportunity to meet him in person, it would be such an honor!!

Having met Anthony when I performed one of his imaging tests, I was interested to see if his good humor and strength of will translated into his book. I should not have worried. From the first chapter, it is apparent and I found myself pulling for him all over again. We are transported into his world of pain, loyalty of friendship, and frustration with a medical system that sometimes forgets that the patient is part of the process. I continually recommend Anthony's book to my patients, and I recommend it to anyone who wants to read the story of a true survivor.

Fascinating book by a unique and interesting person who has loved his life and has managed to do what he loves through force of will and an engaging personality. Anthoney Herrera is an actor, playwright, television producer, and poet, currently appearing on "As the World Turns". This book is an account of his fight with mantel cell lymphoma. It is also an account of his life with and without cancer. Well written with not a single excess word. Straight and to the point. This man took responsiblity for his medical care. He found the best doctors and the best hospital. Personal and very readable. Should be read for an account of the trials of a strong, funny, and intelligent human being who decided to continue living and living large.

The Cancer War is a must read for anyone going through cancer treatment (whether as the patient, family member or friend). Anthony details his struggle with lymphoma, including his pioneering second stem cell transplant, with style, humor and grace. This book gets beneath the soap opera star veneer and into the heart and soul of a brave warrior. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and most of all, you'll be touched and changed by his words.

When Taylor begins her search, you not only feel her need to find her real mother but meet some delightful people along the way. The landlady and her "friend", the young man next door, the childhood friend all add depth and appeal. Add to that a large dose of small town Christmas and you have a joyous holiday experience.

It's a story you can't put down once you begin reading it. Taylor, a woman searching to find her real parents goes to Dell Colorado. The author paints a realistic image of a friendly small town at the Christmas season where Taylor believes she will find clues to who her parents were and the secret of the bell. It's an interesting adventure with an intriguing ending.

This is a great story which is very well written. It is hard to put down the book. You want to know what is happening. The way the book is written you actually can see yourself in the places the character is in, see the people she is interacting with. I love books like that. It is a story you can really get into.

I could hardly put the book down.
The characters were so believable.
The ending was especially wonderful.

I enjoyed this book so much. It just pulled me along. I could hardly wait to see what was going to happen next. It is a great story to read at Christmas time, but would be a good book to read any time of the year.
I bought extra copies to give as Christmas gifts to family and friends.

I cannot understand why anyone (with the pretribulational perspective) would not like this book. It is entertaining, well designed, and fun to read. Bell quotes many scholars, and presents the information in an anything but boring manner.

Differing views are presented fairly, and historical tidbits are welcome insertions. So are the present-day applications.

Revelation doesn't get much simpler than this, except "Dragons, Grasshoppers & Frogs!" which is for new Christians and teens.

Both books deliver the goods, and would be excellent resources for those teaching this most wonderful last book of the Bible.

This book was a fun and delightful way to learn about the Book of Revelations in the Bible, yet at the same time it was very informative. If this book is going to be used in a study group for the book of Revelations, however, please be aware that the first 15 chapters cover the book chronologically from chapter 1 to up to the end of Revelations, but then has several additional chapters that cover such things as other views (preterist, historical, and the like). Therefore, a study group should leave time for covering these chapters as well, either while reading through revelations or at the end.

I was reading the Left Behind books and began to think to myself "surely, this can't be the only explanation for the Book of Revelation". I mean, I'm a Christian, but I wanted a little bit of perspective and maybe some other theories. This book gives me just that and explains many of the other theories scholars think Revelation might mean. A great study tool for anyone wanting to find out more.

The complete Idiot's Guide to the Book of Revelation helps our understanding of the symbolism inherent in Revelations. While we cannot be sure of exactly what is meant, the Guide is easy to read and comprehend. And the Book of Revelations itself promises a blessing to all who read it.

This is a great book on Revelation. It doesn't tell you what to believe. It gives you lots of history, lots of great details to help you understand better. My husband is using it to teach his teenage Sunday School class about Revelation and they are liking it. It is very user friendly.

When I first laid hands on this book, it was merely the cover that caught my attention, having just turned from classic fiction to science--fiction and fantasy epics, and this being my first one, I didn't know what to expect. The back cover made it seem like my kind of book, so I decided to give this old book a chance at catching a place in my heart. To think I doubted. To think I doubted is enough to make me feel unclean, like most of the creatures in there, but not he book itself, no, definitely not the book itself. This book deserves too much praise.
I believe, once I've read the first chapter/prologue, that this book is sure to prove a captivating fantasy, how true it is that the beginning lays the foundation for not only the book, but the way you think about it, too. Oh, who could not notice the bright descriptions so deep and so true that just the mere beauty of it would make one snicker at a picture, so deep, and so grasping. Who could not pity Edward, for all his brutality, he died a fateful death at the age of sixteen!!! Who could not frown at Ethelred, and laugh inspite of themselves, and regret it with horror afterwards? Yes, who could not despise Angelo, and yet wish they had that same brilliance, dreaming on and on??? Of course, who could not hate Elfryth, a queen evil enough to rule with more of an iron fist than even Satan? Jadrien Bell, a. k. a. Christe Golden did such a wonderful job of making us care about the characters, that by then, I could feel a deep pleasure swelling up in me at the most austere part of the book, and still love Kennag and the crippled boy monk later.
Now, I'm not much of a spoiler, so don't try to get the ending from me. But one hint though, Elfryth's death haunts me to this day. Having read and discovered all the big names in science fiction and fantasy epics written by professional and non--professional critcs, I concluded that to make the reader actually care about a certain character or two can make even the most mediocre of stories interesting. I bet Christie Golden realized that, and she no doubt did a fine job of it at the beginning, wasting no time. But even if I did not care about it, the story overall still clung to my hand like an atomic magnet. That amoungst all the science fiction and fantasy epics are few. The more experienced readers will surely agree with me on this one.
When I finished the book, I regarded Christie Golden with great respect, expecting other books with equal powers to astound, and the same unwillingness to leave. But when I found out that this was her best novel ever, I wasn't surprised. Oh, woe is me and anyone who will ever look upon this book with indifference. It had definitely found a place in my heart.

Weaving a plot using Bible prophecy and Nordic sagas, the author has created a novel with an intricate plot which is well crafted and entertaining. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The story takes place at the turn of the first millennium. Many of us faced fears at the turn or our millennium but immagine Alwyn a monk and Kennag a pagan woman as they join forces against Satan in the guise of Angelo. Using Britian's ruler and the trickster Nordic god Loki, Angelo plans to usher in the Apocalypse and rule the earth.

I thought the novel was unique and imaginative, and I hope to see another Jadrien Bell historical fantasy available in the near future.

Bell offers a fun, fast light read here. Those who know medieval history will perhaps be bounced out by a lot of small errors (and a couple of not-so-small ones) but readers who like generic medieval-flavor fantasy will have a good time with this book. The heroes are likable, the bad guys really bad (what they lack in smarts they make up for in enthusiastic evil). There are no new ideas here, but what Bell lacks in perception of medieval paradigm--and how it was changing--is made up for in page-turning action, razzle-dazzle magic, and a really fun Ragnarok.

I haven't a fraction of the writing talent that Ms. Bell displays in this book and can't hope to do it justice, but I have to say something!

I loved it! Only the inconvenience of having a job stopped me reading it in one sitting - it took me two days!

The way in which the author has woven diverse threads of pagan mythology with christian apocalyptic prophesy works perfectly. It never felt contrived or forced.

Angelo is beyond machiavellian, and the reluctant relationship between the two heroes works very well too. Add to that some of the "stranger-than-fiction" characters and events from history and you have AD999.

When God created a being in his image, an insurrection occurred in Heaven with the reactionaries led by the supreme being's beloved Lucifer. However, the revolt fails and God casts Lucifer and his followers from Heaven. They are doomed to reside in Hell away from God's glow. Satan reigns in Hell and is stepping closer to dominating the earth. His final plan outlined in the Book of Revelations begins when the Anti-Christ walks the planet.

Once before, Satan came close to victory. In 999 A.D., people believe the world is coming to an end. Satan, disguised as the Roman Angelo, murders King Edward so that his selected puppet Ethelred becomes England's monarch. For the next two decade, chaos rules the land. The signs of the Apocalypse are visited upon the people and God appears to have forsaken humanity. Instead of abandoning mankind, God selects two special individuals to act as his Witnesses. On first look, a crippled monk with a useless hand and a Scottish midwife seem as poor a choice as anyone could make. However, the divine creator has bestowed special powers that combined with courage and purity might defeat the seemingly invincible Satan.

Anyone who enjoys apocalyptic fiction will gain much pleasure from reading 999 A.D., a frightening story that seems very real. The exciting story line combines historical tidbits including millenia hysteria with religious beliefs that make for a genuine feeling tale. Angelo comes across as a Middle Ages crazed serial killer (as expected of Satan in any guise) that adds to the overall terror. Jardien Bell has written a fascinating novel perfectly timed for Millennium buffs.

Harriet Klausner

A very heartwarming story about a hardworking and talented Irish-Catholic family. The travels and travails of the Burkes as they rehearse and perform across the country during the turbulant decade of the sixties against a background of racism and Vietnam, is a nonstop adventure for the reader also. The book brought back many memories for me personally as my family also traveled in the sixties in a 64 Chevy Belair wagon-but we only needed one! The story just goes to show how much has changed since that era. Or has it? An outstanding story-Highly recommended.

The Burke family brought many childhood memories of my own past. This family represented everything good in America at a time when our country was experiencing issues of racial hatred, turmoil and unrest. I was fortunate to attend the same Catholic school and parish as this wonderful family and remember the Christmas shows on local televison. I recommend this book be read by all families to show the love, devotion and moral values instilled in this family as an inspiration to all!!!

The Burke singers lived my fantasy. I too am from a large Catholic family who grew up in the fifties and sixties and the relationships of the siblings in the book and the antics of the little brothers brought back so many childhood memories for me. My elderly mother has been mute for several years due to a stroke, but she was able to communicate her pleasure in reading the book and seemed to like it better than any others she has read. This book could be read and shared by children, parents and grandparents in a family. The story is told with humor and affection and it was just too bad the trip had to end. Don't think it hasn't been fun... Because it HAS!

This book shows that truth is easily as fascinating as fiction. The Burke family's exploits would be beyond belief if there weren't so much proof they actually happened. This book made us laugh and cry while we returned to a decade when America's innocence was unpeeled in the face of racial oppression, assassinations, and the agony of going to war on foreign soil. Seen through the eyes of a child innocently traveling the country singing with her family, and laced with the family dynamics of ten children on the road, Burke's book left us stunned, warmed, and thinking deeply about our country today. If you're looking for a book that leaves you filled up, read this.

When my grandmother was alive she made fudge. It was so rich, you couldn't eat it. You had to sort of scrape little bits off with your teeth - if you took a full bite you'd probably die, it was so rich and sweet and wonderful.

I've been reading this book rather like eating Nana's fudge. I don't want it to end, so I'm doing little bits at a time. When I first started I read something like the first five chapters without taking a breath. Now I'm rationing.

Wonderful. Just wonderful. I'm 57 years old, so this is my time, the shows they appeared on, I watched. When I get back to NY I am going to go the Museum of Broadcasting and watch tapes.

The only thing that could make reading this book better would be playing the tape of the Burke Family SIngers doing Christmas carols in the background.

Now if I only had some fudge....

For three days in July of 1863, war raged in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. When it was over, thousands of men on both the Union and Confederate sides of the conflict were dead or dying, and the lives of the residents of Gettysburg were changed forever. Fixin' Things, by Peggy Ullman-Bell is a tribute to those residents, especially "all the women who sacrificed their health, their lives, and their sanity to keep the [Gettysburg National Cemetery] from being a hundred times larger."

The story centers on the Loren family and their near relations. Like many people who lived close to the Mason-Dixon Line, their loyalties were mixed. The Loren women, Kathin and her younger sister Megan, secretly operated a station on the Underground Railroad. Kathin's sister-in-law, although born in Philadelphia, thoroughly adopted the slave-owning society of Maryland, where she lives with her husband Jason Mercer. Jason, a colonel in the Confederate army, is a kind and intellectual gentleman, while Kathin's husband Edwin, a captain in the Union army, is an abusive and foul-mouthed tyrant. When war comes to Gettysburg, family relationships and loyalties are strained. The Loren farm and their townhome, rented to a female blacksmith and a schoolteacher (tacitly recognized as lovers), become field hospitals and refuges for wounded soldiers on both sides.

In this well-researched novel, readers will grasp the immensity of this historic event--and recognize at once how the small community of Gettysburg was devastated. Churches and schools were desecrated and dismantled, overflowing with blood and offal and stuffed to the seams with the dead and dying. Fields and crops were trampled; wells and streams were fouled. Larders were emptied; supplies raided. And rather than fight back or protect their possessions, most residents of Gettysburg gave all they had and more than they could afford. They baked the last of their flour into bread for the hungry men, nursed the wounded in their own homes, ripped up their petticoats and linens for bandages. In turn, many of the desperate soldiers became attached to their resident saviors, who hid them and shielded them from enemy soldiers and, in some cases, from their own army which would have sent them back into action.

Even after the battle, the horror continued in Gettysburg. The wounded were legion; the town was bereft of supplies, and thousands of dead needed to be buried. (And, in a few weeks, orders arrived to dig them up and rebury them elsewhere.) In Fixin' Things, author Ullman-Bell explores the impact of this event on the fictional Loren sisters and their friends. Readers are transported back to an event of huge historical consequence in our country, viewed through the eyes of people who lived it personally, with all glamour and patriotism stripped away.

Author Peggy Bell is the worthy representative, and her book, "Fixin' Things" is the fitting memorial. This fascinating and credible story of the Civil War as seen (primarily) through the eyes and experienced through the lives of the women of the time, transports the reader into a ghastly world gone mad with the blood-letting, gut-spilling violence of insane men playing a to-the-death game of "King-of-the Hill." And through it all, the women were there; amazing women, with strength, resiliency, and fortitude. Feeding, nursing, wading through the blood and guts, bandaging mutilated men with strips torn off their petticoats, they fought through the war with unmitigated valor.

A wonderful piece of historical fiction, Bell's "Fixin' Things" has everything you could want in a good tale; a unique plot angle with twists and turns, lots of intriguing sub-plots thickening and expanding the story, remarkable characters brought to life, and scene depictions that run the full gamut from tender and lovely to terrifying and horrific. The story of the Battle of Gettysburg as told in this book was the best I have ever read. This book is an excellent tribute to the women who loved their broken country, mended it, and nursed it back to life.

Exceptionally written. Author keeps you 'in' the action. Does a super job of letting you see through words the events of the time. Paints the picture well. The author's rendition of the women of Gettysburg is enlightening, especially since we typically read only of men in times of war.

Peggy Ullman Bell's second book does NOT disappoint! This is an excellent historical fiction from the author of "Psappha, a Novel of Sappho," and will definitely be noticed! Well written, vivid, accurate historically, a fascinating and exciting read. And a most enjoyable story of a young woman's coming of age. Ms. Bell's writing in this book, as in "Psappha", takes you there and you can watch the story unfold! Hope to hear a LOT more from this Excellent author....

This is an unusual novel about the marvelous ways which women gave comfort and love during the civil war, an ode of love as responsibility in the care of others. While many books chronicle the adventures of males during this war, this is the first I have seen to get to the heart of the woman as homemaker, caregiver, and patriot. It is a book you will remember and ponder long after reading. The characters are diverse and stimulating. As fine a work of historical fiction as I have seen. It has everything from sexual abuse, to burying of body parts after surgery, to helping slaves to get north, to family conflicts. Throughout there is the heroism of women. I highly recommend it.

Barbara Pym has written another entertaining novel while giving insights into her characters minds and motivations.

This is the most entertaining book I have read in a long time. I happened upon the Barbara Pym web page and there was a page of quotations from her novels that were very amusing, kind of off-the-wall. Usually, humor from another era seems very tame or just doesn't hold up. I looked for a copy of one of her books and came across an old paperback copy of this one at the public library. The perceptions of the lead character, Wilmet Forsyth, a 33 year old childless married woman with a lot of free time on her hands, make up the book. I could describe some of the events in the book which involve men she finds attractive and men who find her attractive, church functions, a homosexual relationship, etc. but I won't bother. Sex is never overtly mentioned or contemplated by Wilmet in this book. The portrayal of a gay couple in England in the 1950's fascinated me. Wilmet is so cautious and careful in her observations even though she is opinionated. I was happy she wasn't harsh toward these gay characters even though she is heavily involved in her church. Wilmet is not a really deep thinker, but she's funny and kind. Anyway, it's a fun book you should seek out.

This is truly a great book. In all of its proportions it is graceful and beguiling. Themes of love are presented with humor.

St. Luke's head is called, Pym-like, Father Thames. At the service, Wilmet Forsyth, wife of Rodney a civil servant, meets her friend Rowena's brother, Piers Longridge. She and her friend Rowena were Wrens during the war. They met each other and their husbands while stationed in Italy.

When Wilmet visits Rowena and her family in the country she goes to the country church. It seems to her that country churches are surrounded by graves and yew trees. Wilmet learns that Father Thames carries a sense of disappointment that he never became an Archdeacon. There is a reception held in honor of the new assistant, Father Ransome.

Wilmet and her mother-in-law Sybil decide to take evening classes from Piers in Portuguese. Wilmet explains to Piers that she was named for a character in a Charlotte Yonge novel. She gives blood and is drafted to help an acquaintance, Mary, find a suitable dress. It is possible that Wilmet is being pursued by both Piers and Rowena's husband, Harry. She find the Christmas Eve service beautiful and exhausting. She attends service alone since Sybil and Rodney are agnostics. Sybil remarks that she doesn't know what is expected when Christians pray for the sick.

When one of the communicants, (Mary), experiences her mother's death, she joins an order, but decides later that she is not suited to religious life. In the end Mary and Father Ransome marry and Sybil marries too, causing Rodney and Wilmet to be turned out of her house. Rodney and Wilmet find an appropriate flat in the vicinity. A bare outline of the plot does not do justice to the book.

Jilly Cooper says that Barbara Pym's books remind her "of what is true.....about English life". In the case of A Glass of blessings, this refers to a very small, but significant part of 1950's English life in the 1950's, and Barbara Pym portrays it beautifully. Her characterisation is excellent, as are her descriptions. She must have been a very observant woman. To say that she is snobbish is unfair. She portrayed her part of the world as she saw it. And note that the very implicit sexual backdrop never has to be referred to explicitly at all.

Whetehr the fifties were "better" than now is open to doubt: but if you want a picture of a small part of 1950's England, then this is an enjoyable way to find it.

Blessed with money, position, and marital stability, Wilmet Forsyth lives in the heart of London with her husband and mother-in-law and tries to spice up her staid life by imagining the possibility of romance coming to her from handsome clergymen or lonely bachelor friends. The intertext for Pym's 1958 novel is clearly Jane Austen's EMMA, with the main character again trying to offset the end of narrative possibilities for herself that marriage brings. Philip Larkin praised A GLASS OF BLESSINGS as the subtlest of Pym's comedies, and although it's depiction of grace operating among the very respectable and genteel is very charming and even ultimately moving it is not one of her funnier books (in part because it is told from Wilmet's point of view and she, unlike Pym's more disadvantaged heroines, is so limited in her outlook). But the novel is pretty joyful nonetheless, and its depiction of a 1950s London gay subculture at the end of the book is fairly fascinating.

I think that the book is really good and it gives you alot of now ways to fight the "koach ha mdome" (ha yetzer hara)

Prescriptions for Inner Strength, Meaning and Hope is the perfect subtitle for this gem of a book. Small in size, Healing Leaves brings forth the wisdom of the beloved Rebbe Noson on a very personal yet universal level. This is the perfect book to keep by your bedside and refer to again and again. Rebbe Noson, the scribe of Rebbe Nachman has something for everyone in this book. It's just the thing to turn to when you are looking to create balance in your life.

This is a beautiful book. I have given it to many people as a gift. It is a gift that will make a difference to the person receiving it. The letters are inspirational and timeless. They were written in the 1800's and are exquisite even today. You will not be sorry with this purchase.

Healing Leaves: Prescriptions for Inner Strength, Meaning and Hope, from the letters of Rebbe Noson of Breslov is a remarkable treasure of 126 pages that fits in your pocket, and provides strength and inspiration for any trials or tribulations.
It will help you to connect with G-D, speaking of the special process, spoken of by the founder of Breslover Chassidim and mentor of the author, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov: Hitbodedut, pouring out your heart before G-D
A book to keep by your bedside and in your pocket and to meditate on the spiritual wisdom found within. Divided into themes such as Renewal, Hope, Joy and Avoiding Anxiety and Depression, it is a book not only for religiously observant Jews, but anyone interested in practical spirituality, and using the wisdom of ages to cope with life, and bring about joy.
Hence some notable meditations from this work include such gems as:

"Rebbe Nachman teaches us to begin anew- each day, each hour, each minute.
You must remain young, renewing yourself each day and making a fresh start."

And

" Even while the gates are closed are closed and locked on every side and in every corner - so that one may have mistakenly thought there was no hope, G-D forbid - I still believe that there remains plenty of hope! For G-D's capacity to send relief and deliverance is very great indeed, and His power of salvation is inexhaustible."

A gift for a lifetime.

This little inspirational book is small in size but big in meaning. Don't let the brevity of some of these quotes fool you -- they could each be a meditation for a whole lifetime.

Although these quotes come from the Hasidic tradition, one does not have to be a Hasidic Jew in order to use this book. Editor Yitzchok Leib has selected passages that are relevant to anyone seeking a path to God, and especially for Jews in recovery, who might need a quick quote as a pick-me-up throughout the day. Non-Jews will find it interesting, too, as they discover about a type of Jewish spirituality that is not so well-known to the general public.

The quotes are arranged by topic into 16 sections, each beginning with a quote from Rebbe Nachman of Breslov (founder of the Breslover Hasidic movement, died 1810), followed by excerpts from the letters of his chief disciple and recorder of his teachings, Reb Nosson of Nemirov. Among the Breslover Hasidim, letter-writing has been raised to a spiritual art, and Reb Nosson was the master of masters in using this literary form. His letters, although originally addressed to individual Hasidim, were intended to be inspiring essays on how everyone can apply the teachings, and were eventually published for all to read...The compact size of this little volume makes it very convenient to slip inconspicuously into a purse or briefcase for reading in those otherwise "wasted" moments on the bus, subway, or waiting in line. It would also make a nice gift for just about any occasion, too.

Ho, hum. Another unmarried female amateur detective with a hobby or job I'm going to
hear all about and a kid I can watch grow up because it's a series mystery. Well,
it's better than I expected.

I came in at number 11 of the series, but it was good enough that I'll hunt down
earlier volumes and perhaps read the whole series. It was good enough for two or three
more per year, but not good enough to tackle them one right after another. The mystery
part was fairly weak, but the characters were interesting. I found myself not wondering
"who dunit?" but rather "what will so-and-so do next?"

The dog and dog show portion of the story was also interesting. I like dogs but not dog
shows and I found the dog show and preparation scenes interesting. When the investigator
is a cook, I try some of the recipes, but I can not tell you if the dog tips are good or not.

There is a fair amount of humor here; not the laugh out loud kind, but rather the smile or
chuckle kind. The humor is about the interactions of the characters and the business or
busyness of living. I expect there will be similar smiles in the other books of the series,
rather than the same jokes repeated each time.

Single-parent Melanie Travis wants nothing but to spend a simple, traditional, relaxing Christmas with her eight-year-old son, Davey, and her fiance Sam. But preparing for the holidays can be a major pain when you're attempting to keep a Standard Poodle's fur intact for her upcoming show; racing back and forth between the fancy prep school where you work, your sons elementary school, and Christmas play rehearsals. Throw in holding down the fort, and dealing with your over-bearing, yet kind-natured Aunt Peg, and there seems like there's never enough time in the day. But when Davey's bus driver, Henry Pruitt, disappears without notice, and a surly, despondent, pierced teenager arrives in his place, Melanie is overcome with concern for the kindly old man, and decides to check up on him. However, upon arriving on his front stoop, Melanie learns that Henry died two days earlier, and there's an investigation being conducted, because suspicious circumstances surround the untimely death. Melanie instantly knows that she has to get involved, especially when she discovers that Henry's beloved Golden Retrievers have not only lost their owner, but their home, as well. Taking the two friendly fellows to Aunt Peg's for a little R&R, complete with the tale of their sordid predicament, Aunt Peg decides to do the only thing she possibly can...take the dogs in for the holidays and stick her nose where it doesn't belong, enlisting Melanie's help to do some snooping into the suspicious death of Henry. But just as the two amateur sleuths begin to dig up some incriminating info, they realize that they could be next on the lunatics list, and that they're in for quite a slay ride.

I have looked over Laurien Berenson's novels for years, but have never actually delved into one. However, when I noticed that she had penned a holiday mystery, complete with two puppies and a Christmas tree on the cover, I found myself unable to resist the purchase. While I do not own a dog of my own, I am a dog lover, and found the information regarding various breeds, and the special care they deserve - as well as Melanie and Aunt Peg's true love for each and every furry friend they meet - to be quite enchanting. The parts regarding dog shows, and the preparations (which there isn't much of) were somewhat tedious, and not as interesting - especially if you're not into dog shows. However, these parts did not overshadow the rest of the story, and lent a hand in building up the character's personalities, and interests. Melanie is a delightful character, whose determination to please everyone surrounding her - be it her son, her fiance, or her pregnant sister-in-law - is admirable, and quite enjoyable to discover more about; but it's her Aunt Peg who steals the show with her nutty as a fruitcake ways, and utterly crazy ideas. A delightful, cozy mystery that will leave you howling for more of Melanie, and her misadventures.

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

Melanie Travis has enough to do over the holiday season without worrying about murder. She has a son to shop for, an expecting sister-in-law, a poodle to prepare for all-important showings, a girlfriend to straighten out on buying a respectable dog, and a relationship to get right. When the favorite schoolbus driver is found dead, all Melanie intends to do is make sure his dogs get a proper home. But getting the dogs the right home gets complicated when the driver's daughters roll into town--intent on putting the dogs up for auction (because one of their parents' was a champion, the daughters assumes that the dogs must be highly valuable). The only way Melanie's Aunt Peg figures to get rid of the daughters is to solve the mystery herself. Of course, Aunt Peg's way of solving mysteries turns out to involve a lot of sending Melanie out to do the work.

Author Laurien Berenson does an excellent job combining an interesting character with humor and mystery. Melanie, with her relationship issues, and her obsession with her standard poodles draws the reader in largely because she is a typical suburban mom--caught between a job, her child, and a hobby that demands so much of her time. In Berenson books, the mystery plays second fiddle--it isn't that it isn't being worked on, it's just that the mystery has to come after Melanie takes care of her son and her poodles.

In JINGLE BELL BARK, Berenson makes the combination click. I've enjoyed a number of other novels in this series, but BARK seems to put togther the combination of character, humor, and strong writing even better than the earlier novels. Berenson's writing hooks the reader early and keeps us involved with the story.

I have no hesitation in recommending JINGLE BELL BARK to anyone looking for a light mystery.

In Greenwich, Connecticut, Melanie Travis is a special needs tutor at the posh private Howard Academy. She enjoys her work there, but her passion is showing and breeding French Poodles. Her son Davy enthusiastically helps her with the canines when he can. When she takes her son to the school bus, Melanie is surprised that Henry the long time driver has been replaced by Annie. She visits Henry to see if he is okay only to learn that he recently died from a heart attack.

Melanie sees Golden Retrievers inside of Henry's home so feeling compassion and not wanting the dogs to mourn alone, she takes them to her Aunt Peg, a professional breeder and canine lover. The two female relatives learn through the grapevine that Henry was poisoned. His two daughters arrive planning to sell their father's animal companions on E-bay. They also refuse to leave town until their father's killer is caught. Peg wants these coldhearted adult children be gone so she investigates the homicide to expedite their departure, not realizing the danger her decision poses to her and her niece.

JINGLE BELL BARK is a delightful tale that amateur sleuth fans will enjoy especially the canine caper crowd. Laurien Berenson enables readers to glimpse inside the world of dogs through the loving way aunt and niece nurture their beloved barking family members. The audience, like Peg, will find it impossible to determine who the killer is because suspects abound with motives and opportunities. This leads to a surprising climax as Peg and Melanie try to take a bite out of crime before they are nipped permanently.

Harriet Klausner

I have read all of the Melanie Travis mysteries, and this is definitely the best one yet! It's written with Ms Berenson's usual humor and knowledge of her subject matter. Those who love showing dogs, especially Poodles, and a good light-hearted mystery will enjoy this book immensely. Can't wait for the next addition to the series.

This book is amazing! The pictures are gorgeous and I love how it explains Christmas celebrations all around the world! Definetly a classic to have in any Christmas collection.

We were late on this book too. My 8 year old and I sung this book together. It is Jingle Bells with the words changed to show children in different countries enjoying Christmas. It is a fun book with great pictures. Recommended for preschool - 2nd grade.

As a storyteller at the local library, I am always looking for new and different books to read to my preschool group." Jingle Bells" was one of the best holiday selections I have read. The illustrations are large enough for a group,and the colors and detail are superb. Trapani tells a story of Christmas around the world, describing how the children in Poland, Sweden, Italy and several other countries celebrate their own special holiday. Great book!

The book is an extention of the Jingle Bells song, with new verses added to talk about how kids celebrate in other countries. It gives very minimal details really, but it's a cute intro with a flying sleigh that flies around the world. They visit Mexico, Philippines, Italy, Sweden, Kenya, & Poland. My 2-year-old enjoys it & I'm sure it will be one that we continue to read in future years as well.

This is a wonderful addition to your Christmas book collection. I just purchased two copies for my niece and nephew's young families. I was really pleased that even I who is muscially challenged could sing the new verses without much difficulty. I loved that the book introduces children to Christmas customs in other parts of the world as I am always on the lookout for books that make my youngest nieces and nephews aware of people beyond their own neighborhoods. I think this will be a must have Christmas offering.