Bonds Books

Loved all the local fare......
Great book! Can't wait to read the next one!

Atlanta Pearl Girl

For a summer romance, Body Movers is number one on my list!

Poor Carlotta, "life in the dumpster" would be a move up for her. Their parents deserted them when her father was accused for embezzlement, leaving her to raise brother. Her brother, Wesley, is up to his old tricks and indebted to loan sharks for gambling debts. As for the men in her life, Wesley's new boss is a body mover (transporting corpses from crime scenes); her ex-fiancé is accused of murdering his wife and oh yes, the detective who arrested her brother believes she's Angela's murderer and was looking into their parents "disappearance".

Poor Carlotta's life is just one misadventure after another, much to the reader's entertainment. Yes, "life in the dumpster" would be up and this is only book one. I can't wait for the next book "BODY MOVERS: 2 Bodies for the Price of 1".

Reviewed by Michele Patrykus
For eBookIsle

Wish I'd followed my original intention and purchased 'Our Husband' rather than being swayed by reading about this one. Usually enjoy this author but really couldn't read one more sentence where she moaned over her poor younger brother, who meanwhile is causing bad guys to come threaten her because he's got gambling debts. Maybe the book redeemed itself farther in, but I didn't care enough to keep reading.

I almsot marked this a 4 because I was so mad at the first maybe 80 pages or so (couldn't stand her brother and her continuing to put her life on hold for the loser and also didn't like her being treated like lowlife by a former friend) but I'm glad I kept at this one because the brother though continually in one mess after another seems to be trying here and there and there was always something going on to keep the story moving. I think Bond usually writes romance (or that's what I've seen in the Blaze line but she's a new author for me and I've recently gotten several of her other books) but this really isn't a romance though there are sexual situations/innuendos here and there but not actual 'sex'. there are 3 men 'interested' in the the main character and one I don't think is worth the time of day though the other 2 I'd have a bit of trouble picking between...and the brother has the hots for his parole officer. Oh and this 'ends' with the current 'storyline' but also ends wtih the pickup/tension for the next book (andI've heard the 2ndbook ends the same way with something happening we have to wait a year for the sequel)..I don't particularly like that and since there are supposedly several of these to be done I hope she puts out at least 2 per year or I'll be reading these when I'm 50! overall a nice story once you get past the first few chapters and just relax and go with it!

Carlotta and Wren haven't grown up in the typical household: their parents, convicted fellons, fled from the authorities when Carlotta was in High School. Faced with raising her brother, Carlotta's life changed and not in the good way. Her fiance dumped her, all of her friends turned their backs on her and she was forced to get a job in retails. Fast forward a few years and Carlotta suddenly finds herself involved in the murders of rich women in her ex-fiance's rich Atlanta neighborhood. This book is FUN FUN FUN. It never has a dull moment...a must read!

My 19-year-old Persian cat, Tilly, is a regular visitor to Dr. Julie. She is the warmest, gentlest and most knowing doctor I have ever known. She has helped Tilly with her severe arthritis and greatly reduced her pain. This book is filled with stories of the animals Dr. Julie has known and treated. There is also an excellent interview with veterinarian accupuncturist Dr. Heather Evans. This book will speak to your heart.

Julie has carefully combined a variety of writings, both her own and from other pet owners, that show the depth of emotional and spiritual connection that can exist between humans and their animal companions. These stories are "from the heart." Read this and see if a story of your own isn't sparked to life.

Crossing the Rubicon: Celebrating the Human-Animal bond in Life and Death. 1999. By Julie Kaufman, DC.

This is a very well-written and heartwarming anthology of real stories and experiences with pets. As the title indicates, it is intended to offer the reader new perspectives on the loss of a beloved companion animal. It also conveys the important message the bereaving pet owner is not alone, in this grief.

The author has succeeded in transcending the usual view and fear of death that we all have been raised with. In her wisdom and perspective she perceives death as a natural phenomenon, and offers gentle guidance to her readers, in developing this theme.

Each chapter begins with a self-help approach to meditative visualization and healing. In addition to the many heartwarming memorial poems and stories, this helpful book presents a positive philosophy of undying love, that enriches and enhances the life of the surviving owner.

In presenting new viewpoints on pet death, Dr. Kaufman has also added five interviews of special people, in this wonderful collection. These include a counselor in pet bereavement, two forward-looking holistic veterinarians, and the last two with a spiritualist and animal communicator.

Although the recent emergence and popularity of holistic medicine is starting to prove its hitherto undiscovered values, the suggestions that some people can communicate with animals - living as well as dead - can be too extreme for many. But it is still very interesting to read what these people have to say.

Overall, Crossing the Rubicon is an excellent new literary experience in pet love and loss. We recommend its reading, and trust that a future edition will include the APLB website with the others listed as Internet resources.

Grief can be such an isolating experience. Many people are extremely uncomfortable with another person's pain. All too often, when that grief is from the loss of an animal, it can be regarded with even less tolerance from others. The comfort I found from reading this book was crucial to my healing process.

When my beloved dog, an 11-year cancer survivor on all natural remedies, died in my arms at the age of 19, few pet-loss books spoke to the depth of my pain. This book was one of the few that did. I found its descriptive collection of stories, situations, and ritual, that other pet parents went through, incredibly validating.

.....having just lost a cat that I'd had for fourteen years, I can tell you that the pain is terrible and that the one thing that can reduce the pain is someone who has been through it and who understands. Dr. Julie Kaufman, an animal chiropractor, has compiled a collection of wonderful stories written by people who have lost pets, be they cats, dogs, a horse or a beloved goldfish. It helps relieve one's own grief to read how each individual dealt with the loss, memorialized a pet and in some cases wrote poetry or even attempted to contact a departed animal spirit. She even includes relaxation and breathing techniques to engage in while thinking of one's beloved lost companion. This book was recommended to me by a friend and is wonderful for anyone dealing with the terrible grief that accompanies such a loss.

The first few chapters of this book may go slow, but itz a rreally great book. You'll forget all about reality until the mystery is solved, and Joe 'n Roxanne get together.
This is Stephanie Bond's first book that I've ever read, n I'm reeli impressed. Are all her other books this good?

After reading Bond's "Got Your Number", I swore I'd never pick up another one of her books. But I'd heard so many good things about "Kill the Competition" I had to give her another chance. And boy, am I glad I did!

"Kill the Competition", while not being a particularly steamy read, was extremely enjoyable. The mystery kept me captivated, the by-play between the carpool gals was interesting and funny, and the question of which man the main character Belinda would pick was a nice switch on most romances where the hero is slated from the beginning.

Roxanne and her dimwitted cousin, Angora, are very well drawn. You can get frustrated with bimbo Angora, but it makes perfect sense for her to be the way she is with her shallow, overbearing mother and superficial "country club" lifestyle. Love the pictures the author draws of Angora and her mom!

Capistrano is a delicious character, as well, and Roxanne's vacillation is very believable, given the hunkiness of this detective and the non-self-acceptance of Roxanne.

There were a few flaws, like when Roxanne dumps coffee on Capistrano and gets fired from her waitressing job. First of all, this is more than a firing offence, it's assualt & battery! Secondly, Capistrano wouldn't yelp, then brush it off, jogging alongside Roxanne not long after. Still, the characters grab you and keep you going!

This is my first Stephanie Bond book but it won't be my last. This is the kind of book I love. . .hunky, alpha-type hero, smart heroine, complicated but well defined characters, a smart story line, a mystery that is actually difficult to figure out, action, humor, sexy love scene. . .Hey! This one has it all! A definite keeper and I can't wait to order OUR HUSBAND and any other book I can find by SB. Great!

I really enjoyed this book, but it's not much of a romance. It's full of sexy and sinister secrets, compelling hints and lots of humor. I found Roxann and Joe completely likeable and respectable. Unfortunately, there is such a little part in this book for Joe and she is so good at blocking the few advances he makes that when she and Joe fall in love, you find yourself asking, "Where was I?" But buy the book, anyway. Stephanie Bond moves the story forward at a good clip and with firm control, keeping you reading and wondering and feeling fairly satisfied that all the pieces of her complex puzzle fit so nicely together. All but the romance.

This is one of the great marketing books of our age. We focus so much on the product's features and benefits in marketing that we often forget that a buyer's decision is not necessarily made logically. Emotional triggers created by perceived relationships with the brand are often the deciding factor, especially in an era where the differences among products in a class are seen as minimal. I heartily recommend this book to any business wanting to better understand its customers and create low-cost strategies to give its marketing an edge on the competition, and to university Marketing departments. The insights here are invaluable, and not found in this detail in any college textbook I've seen.
Gary Witt, Ph.D.
Chair, Marketing
Western International University
Phoenix, AZ
[...]

As a graduate student taking an Advertising, Imaging and Branding course, I was immediately intrigued by the title of this book. I purchased it and read it with much anticipation. Unfortunately, the book's title does not deliver within its covers. It fails in the area of research based analysis....no serious research was provided. It suffered from vague research references that the author claimed were done by the Gallup Organization but were not presented in a thorough manner. Overall, I felt as though the author, who happened to be a consultant for Gallup, was trying to get brand managers and organizations to hire and use Gallup.

Why do some consumers bond to brand names for life? Sixty years of Gallup research into consumer habits and their psychology lend to MARRIED TO THE BRAND: WHY CONSUMERS BOND WITH SOME BRANDS FOR LIFE. Many marketers work on first impressions without considering the reasons why consumers will stick with a brand. MARRIED TO THE BRAND tells how the most successful marketer not only creates the bond, but strengthens it over the years so that consumers come to equate the brand with quality and value. Chapters survey pride levels, common brand dilemmas, and more.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

This book gives you a good insight about a brand and the marriage it has with its customers. Its very easy to read and enjoyable.

Dr. McEwen is a consultant with the Gallup polling people. For over sixty years they have researched brands and branding. In this book he analyzes and explains what he has discovered.

His comparison is that branding is a lot like marrying. It is a merger of company and customer and both have obligations to the other. The company has most of the responsibilities because they are the ones that have the power to change things that attract or drive away the customer. But like any marriage, the customer also has the obligation to buy the brand so long as it meets their needs.

And if brands are a marriage, he also talks about divorce. My family has always used Crest toothpaste. I go to the store, I want the same old Crest I used as a kid. Now there's Gel Crest, Mint Crest, Crest with special this, and special that. New is a magic word in marketing, but I don't want NEW, I want the same old stuff I had before. I honestly couldn't tell which was the same old stuff. I bought Colgate.

Sears was a great brand, then they went all goofy. But the Craftsman brand of Sears tool has held it's place. I bought some tools for Christmas presents. They were Craftsman -- but it was the only thing I bought in the Sears store.

This is the best book on understanding brands and branding I've ever seen.

I own several hymnals and several other books about hymn writers. One hymn that is mentioned in this book is "Amazing Grace," and what Mr. Pipes tells the children doesn't line up with any of the other stories I've read, or with how the words to this hymn are credited in **any** of the hymnals I have seen or own. I've seen no indication anywhere that John Newton wrote the verse that begins "When we've been there 10,000 years . . .", and yet Douglas Bond credits Newton with this verse as if it were written to be part of the original poem. It makes me doubt the accuracy of the other, perhaps lesser-known hymns that are discussed in this book.

I read the Mr. Pipes books aloud to my kids when they were little, and though they liked the books at the beginning, they lost interest in the kids before the end of the book. My oldest was required to read one of the Mr. Pipes books again for high school, and she was completely uninterested in the back story of the kids and Mr. Pipes. The back story seems to be written for younger kids while the stories of the hymn writers themselves seem to be geared for an older audience.

We are thoroughly enjoying this book series. We are now reading book #3, 'Mr. Pipes Comes to America'. My children want to be read to every day with this series. It would be nice if a cd was made with each hymn discussed in the books. This way, for the people like ourselves who do not play an instrument, could sing along with them. These books should be read in order. Again, these are excellent!

I had to do a book report on this book. I liked it VERY much. It is so clever, it is never "Children, I will tell you the story of Isaac Watts today"... Read the other two books and Bond's other trilogy the Crown & Covenant series. A must read!!

Annie and Drew are "stuck" in Olney, England for the summer. Their mother brought them over, and leaves them pretty much to their selves except on the weekends. Everything in Olney is old, even most of the people, and the children are sure they are in for a boring summer. One of Drew's consolations is his CD player, which is constantly playing. One day they meet Mr. Pipes, so called because he is the church organist, and whom they find to be a great storyteller.

In each chapter, he tells a short and appealing biography of many of the hymn writers from Britain. As he teaches the children to fish or row his boat, the "Toplady", he tells of the childhoods and interesting facts of the hymn writers. Mr. Pipes goes on to recite or sing some of their hymns, and tells why he appreciates them. In Olney, he shows them places in the lives of John Newton and William Cowper, and in the last chapter, they take a trip down the river Ouse to Bedford, and hear of John Bunyan.

The children become interested in Mr. Pipes stories, and an affection grows between them. On one of the excursions with Mr. Pipes, Drew leaves his CD player somewhere, while he was listening to Mr. Pipes deploring modern music and praising these hymns of old. As Annie and Drew hear of God and learn the hymns (which their mother terms "dirges"), they see their sins and their need for God. They begin to desire a relationship with the Lord, and to serve Him in their lives. When they fly back to America, they will miss Olney, Mr. Pipes, and their other new friends, but they take with them their new knowledge and understanding of God.

I enjoyed this book, in which I learned new things about many of the hymn writers. It was very interesting, with just enough story and plot blended into the biographies to keep the reader's interest, even for young children who might be anxious to know what happened next to the children and Mr. Pipes. I think the book (the first in a series of four) would be excellent read aloud to a family, with young children along with more mature ones enjoying the whole journey. At the end of each chapter, the lyrics and music for several of the hymns mentioned are included. This was helpful to me, because I had memorized all the verses included in the hymnbook to several of the hymns, and I was delighted to find more wonderful verses to them.

I received this book as a reading assignment my freshman year of high school. I remember thinking, "What is this? This is a kid's book! I don't want to read this!" Not reading it was not an option however, so I reluctantly read the book. My reluctance soon wore off as I became bewitched by the stories.

Mr. Pipes, a saintly old British organist, meets two American children who are "stuck" in a small, rural British town for the summer. He teaches the children about the love of Christ through stories of hymn writers, including the great Isaac Watts. Throughout the book you learn about hymns, their writers, and music. The characters are intelligent, dynamic, and funny.

This book is good for all ages and is great for family reading. It is especially geared towards ages 11-16, but any age can learn from it and enjoy it.

This book is the first of a trilogy, and I recommend that you also purchase "Mr. Pipes and the Psalms and Hymns of the Reformation" as well as "Mr. Pipes comes to America." Enjoy!

What a wonderful way to spend quality time with your beginning reader -- or for the independent reader to have fun reading, with both the child and grandparent (in my case) sharing in lots of humour.

Tacky color that ruins the great original drawings, abridged stories and possibly too big and wrong sized pages like for the B. Potter Treasury. With these many errors, I wouldn't be surprised if they have Paddington eating Coleman's Mustard in the book and a coupon for 20 P off on a tin of the stuff.

I gave this collection to each of my 4 grandchildren at our teddy bear picnic. They love Paddington.

You can tell some of the stories are missing from this collection, but it is a great price, for a large collection of some of my favorite childhood stories.

Sincerely,
Ira Carmel.

The publisher's description and reviews neglect to mention that all of the stories in this collection have been abridged. The only reason I didn't give this book fewer stars is because I like the watercolored illustrations (which goes to show that not all changes are bad), and because Paddington is still enjoyable reading, even when edited down. I just wish they had published a color edition of the INTACT stories, or at the very least they should have made it clear upfront that entire chapters have been omitted.

This is a fascinating story about an Albanian Dictator (the Guide) and his Successor's controversial death. The story has been summarized already in numerous reviews so I'll refrain from that.

What is interesting is to see how well the author has captured the omnipresence of a totalitarian regime's oppression and the lingering threat of "relegation" for those who fail to follow "the Doctrine" of the Party. It is mind control, the rationalization of illogical ideas and/or motives and the destruction of the human being. It is analogous to the fanatical or misguided wing of a religion or corporation or group of people. An illuminating book worth consideration.

While I liked the book, I found it did not thoroughly engage me. Perhaps that is the result of it having been translated into English, through French from Albanian. Did the words capture the intention of the author or were they the technical language of the translator?

Although information on the book jacket of The Successor claims that Albanian author Ismail Kadare is acclaimed worldwide, few English-speaking readers knew of him until he won the 2005 Man Booker Prize. Accessibility to his works is also hampered by the fact that for various reasons, the English translations are second hand, passing first through French.

From Kadare's introductory caveat in The Successor (" . . . any resemblance between the characters and circumstances of this tale and real people and events is inevitable") and the first sentence ("The Designated Successor was found dead in his bedroom on December 14"), the reader can quickly deduce that the novel is both historical and political. The simple plot presents the death as a mystery. Was the Successor's death suicide (the party line) or was it murder? It seems as though the Successor chose "to have himself hauled away by two black oxen . . .". Details are sparse, varied, and presented in flashback by potential murders and others. The country is Albania, but the year is not given. Most characters have titles but no names. The exceptions are a truly fictional daughter (the actual Successor had only sons) and another would-be successor Adrian Hasobeu. At this point, the reader who cannot tolerate ambiguity can consult the book jacket or more elaborate resources. Since this is a fictional account, facts might not be that important. The text explains, moreover, that Albania is governed by a Communist dictarorship; parnoid suspicion rather than truth reigns. Truth is not to be found, but the book presents an engaging read by holding out the bait. While the mysterious death of a leader is more prevalent in Communist countries, such deaths also occur in democracies--John F. Kennedy. Documented facts do not reveal the facts about such deaths. The style of this novel suits the subject well. It is a cross between The Trial and Rashomon (other reviewers have made the comparison). Kadare combines Kafka's nightmarish landscapes with subjectivity and folktale elements.

Like the Successor, Ismail Kadare is also hauled around by two oxen, but one is black and one is white. Because he had close but reputedly necessary Communist party connections, Kadare has received some controversial press from Albanians and other informed individuals. Interesting information about Kadare can be found on blogs. In the final analysis, however, he does write well.

This is a book that although fascinating as a mystery, fascinating as a book on Albanian by one of the worlds newest and greatest writers (most of his books have been recently translated also from the French) but the deepest value of the book written by a man who is a brilliant novelist and poet has to do with a global world where all that is solid melts away and truth is defined by dominance and brutality and thus dividing a nation and also confusing individuals and as now after the cold war so much of the world is placed under these conditions..whether in the Balkans, the Middle East or in parts of North and South America this book takes on massive significance....a must read.

Kadare may be the most intriguing and maddening writer to emerge from the other side of the Wall - or, more accurately, from one of the wall's more peculiar chinks. He can write clumsily, as he proved in Three Elegies for Kosovo, and The Successor lacks the lyric grace of the literary heavyweights Kadare upset in winning the International Man Booker Prize (unless the problem is with the two rounds of translation from Albanian to French to English), but Kadare concisely captures the mood of glasnost - a short hand term for the disappearnce of central authority, replaced by deep ideological uncertainty.
The chestnut of a murder mystery is really a parlor game played by the aging, increasingly paranoid Enver Hoxha (renamed Number 1 in The Successor), while the human tragedies caused by Communism's labyrinthine party politics (the successor's daughter is unable to marry, the architect of the successor's house is guilt-ridden over the secret passageway he constructed between the houses of #1 and the successor) only presage the book's disquieting ending. In the Successor's fragmentary recollections through a medium we glimpse a reversion to a primitive future that may be just as bad as totalitarianism, likewise dominated by the basic human - and inhumane - drive to power.

This novel is based on actual events: the Albanian communist dictator Enver Hoxha ("the Guide" in this book) denounced his long-standing premier and presumed heir, Mehmet Shehu ("the Successor"), who then was said to have shot himself. Whether he was murdered or committed suicide is the question at the centre of this book, and Kadare offers an ingenious answer in the last chapter. The whole book is suffused with the fear and paranoia prevailing in a country ruled by suspicious and devious tyrant: the terror felt by those near to him and by their families; the sycophantic rivalry for his favour; the dread felt by people like doctors or architects asked to work for someone in the government in case their work is dangerously caught up in some unpredictable political manoeuvre; the cautious and nervous gossip of the population; the attempt of foreign governments to make sense of what was happening in that hermetically sealed country.

Kadare has been fortunate in his translators. Most of his books have been translated from the Albanian into French and then from the French into English - in this case by David Bellos. This is the eighth novel of Kadare's that I have read and between them there have been at least seven translators - but they all capture Kadare's unmistakeable clean and simple style.

I was disappointed that there was barely a page and a half of comments by the book's author, and much of that included summaries and/or quotes from the story. Two of the three did add some insight to understanding the story. One interpretation was not in sinc with the Psych Manual of Mental Disorders, nor with two psychologists/psychiatrists I consulted. But I may have a better opinion when I've finished reading the book.

Tales of Psychology is both a self-help instructional manual and a fine collection of literature offered by highly regarded authors such as Joyce Carol Oates, John Cheever, Anne Tyler and Woody Allen. Dr. Alma Halbert Bond lends insights gained through her 35-year career as a psychoanalyst, analyzing each story as if its protagonist were prone upon her office chaise, introducing readers to classic dynamics of Oedipal complexes, depression, death and grief.

Dr. Bond's comments following each story don't attempt to resolve the dilemmas presented, only to help readers recognize the psychological indicators and implications. The stories themselves, culled from a lifetime of personal and professional study, present compelling struggles of life. Ranging from emotional insecurities to alcoholism to parenting to suicide, each delves into a different theme threading through the path of survival. Some are even horrific, like, "A Distant Episode," by Paul Bowles, which tells of a man's struggle to cope with physical attack and confinement through distancing and repression. But eventually the pain of his reality breaks through his mental barrier, as it must always, in some way.

In analyzing these hand-picked favorite tales, Dr. Bond gives of herself in unexpected ways. In her summation of the first story, "A Small, Good Thing," by Raymond Carver, she writes, "The end of the story made me break down and sob," revealing that even the psychoanalyst is also a human, feeling person. It seems rare for an analyst to shed the professional shield and admit to her own wrenching emotional reaction.

"In a Region of Ice" is Joyce Carol Oates tragedy of unreleased emotional love, Anne Tyler's "Teenage Wasteland" gives a glimpse into the heavy responsibilities of parenting that extend far beyond shelter, food, clothing and education to include the more important intangible qualities of caring and understanding. Dr. Bond says she's certain many lives have been saved when suicidal patients were instructed to read "Paul's Case," by Willa Cather. It is a tale of a young man's dreams of a grand life being dashed by his reality, plunging him into an unforgiving escape. But just as his body falls through the night and into the path of an oncoming train, he realizes all that he has robbed himself of, suddenly remembering the beauty of a sea he'll never see.

In the end, Dr. Bond reveals her own concern with death, and how her quest for understanding has led past the existentialists, to the philosopher Seneca and finally, surprisingly, to Woody Allen, whose wit confirms her greatest fear - that death is an unspeakable horror. In his quick story "My Apology," Allen concedes a fear of unknown horror when contemplating death.

Perhaps the wisdom promised is the knowledge that ultimately there are no right ways of thinking and behaving, and no definitive precedent or authority on such matters. Life presents a complex buffet of experiences and means of coping with its challenges. Unraveling its mysteries is a personal quest for each individual to undertake. Learning from one another's experiences with the helpful perspective of a professional will help readers navigate their own paths more successfully. Learning with Dr. Bond is a pleasure.

This book is one of fascination and imagery borne of creative minds. It takes the reader into the world of psychology in a way that both educates and entertains. Doctor Alma Halbert Bond Ph.D. has gathered a collection of short stories that show an excellent insight into the workings of the human psyche.

All of the stories contained in the book are well crafted by writers in touch with the inner emotions of people. Middle years, by Henry James, was like seeing a picture of a person's soul portrayed in words. It reflected exactly what most of us who have experienced the mid-life crisis went through.

To read the book is to take a tour of a psychological gallery, with Doctor Bond orchestrating what the reader will see next. Her choice of stories brings forth images too powerful to ignore. Primeval urges that shake the reader from their normal state, taking them on a journey to a world hidden deep within their consciousness.

Some of the tales take one out of one's comfort zone bringing forth long forgotten demons. Just as though one was experiencing an exorcism. They do not generate fear, panic or depression, but calmly show us how we function as a person.

There are two themes that run through the stories in this book. They are those that deal with death and madness. Death is a fate none of us can escape. It is the final act for us here on earth. Some choose to bring death on to escape their misery. Others prefer to wait until natural causes take their toll. How one deals with it depends on one's belief system and state of mind when the time comes.

Madness is a battle between fiction and reality. Psychology is a means of getting to understand this affliction and to help the victim of it to cope. Yet this path from darkness to light is not perfect and cannot always produce what is desired.

"My apology" by Woody Allen, and "In the Region of Ice" by Joyce Carol are two insightful pieces about death and madness. They reflect the craft of writing at its very best. They stand as a credit to their authors.

Doctor Alma Halbert Bond Ph.D. has shown us works worthy of the accolade, brilliant. Her explanations at the end of each story leave the reader in no doubt as to what the author had in mind.

This book will indeed provide many hours of reading pleasure.

Alma Bond has taken the opportunity to combine some excellent short stories with her expertise in comprehending human behavior to both entertain and delight the reader. Each of her reprinted stories has a lesson, or special matter of understanding within its pages that she feels worthy of sharing with us. With her guidance at the end of each one we may gain some better understanding of ourselves or someone around us. A perfect example of this is in Conrad Aiken's Silent Snow, Secret Snow which deals with a twelve year old boy and the beginning of mental illness that goes undiagnosed even though his parents know something isn't right. There is a great lesson in this story. Bond is to be commended for this work. Excellent reading.

Painstakingly compiled by psychoanalyst Alma H. Bond (who was in private practice for 37 years), Tales Of Psychology: Short Stories To Make You Wise is an impressive anthology of short stories which were specifically crafted by their authors to provide meaningful insights into the nature and workings of the human mind. Ranging from Raymond Carver's "A Small, Good Thing", to Woody Allen's "My Apology", nineteen intellectually and literarily gifted authors proffer their short story revelations into the human psyche in a compelling, highly readable, enthusiastically recommended collection.

BERFORE i start the first story really really did it for me...
If you enjoy a fun, sassy read with three great heroines and three even hotter heroes, than this is the book for you. The stories all tie together nicely, yet easily stand alone.

...Ms. Blake but I've got to disagree. While I enjoyed the first two stories (especially Ms. Thompson's) Leslie Kelly's was by far the best. I recently discovered her and have since snapped up her backlist which I found to be wonderful. These three writers wrote an online continuation of the Red Doors story on eharlequin and Ms. Kelly's was again my favorite. I love her humor and her skill with character and dialogue. She is definitely a writer to watch.

So the three stories here are all linked- 3 gals- one store as the central thing that ties the stories together.
1- Vicki Lewis Thompson's tale is pure sex, wit, comedy and fun!
2- Stephanie Bond- some danger, crossed wires, a hero who needs to grow up and quit being a guy and more of a man to get the woman. This one is not your typical guy meets girl again story- much meatier than I expected from a short novella.
3- Leslie Kelly- bashfully buxom nice girl is the star of men's fantasies at a naughty lingerie shop! And the guy she meets is one of her biggest fans.... sensitive handling of how being built like Dolly Parton when you are not a country western singer is handled well.

There should be a follow up to this book! Plenty of characters introduced here could be expanded on for more.

For more reads - I recommend the Vicki Lewis Thompson Blaze titles and Nerd in Shining Armor.
I love the Stephanie Bond Harlequin Temptation and Harlequin Love & Laughter titles- esp WIFE is a 4 Letter Word.
Leslie Kelly is improving- her more recent offerings are better than her earlier ones.

Behind The Red Doors, has something for every romance lover. I enjoyed all the stories. The characters, dialogue, and plots in all of them are both steamy and entertaining, and will satisfy even the most die-hard romantic!

John Savoy
Savoy International
Motion Picture Inc.
Beverly Hills, California

BEHIND THE RED DOORS links three extraordinary shops that market scent, jewels and lingerie. Through these doors wishes come true. These searing tales should not be reserved just for Valentine's Day. Indeed, readers who enjoy anthologies with a united theme and story line will absolutely treasure BEHIND THE RED DOORS.

Door #1 - "Heaven Scent" by Vicki Lewis Thompson
In an innovative marketing ploy, customers uncomfortable browsing have the option to use computer kiosks to order their favored items and pick them up on their way out the door. To ascertain men's preferences and offer suggestions to shoppers, Jamie Ruskin asks long time friend and secret crush Dev Sherman to fill out a questionnaire. Certain his sister is somehow involved, Dev gives opposite answers, never suspecting that Jamie will use his own answers against him. The result is a sizzling, yet playful romp that combines erotic fantasy and aromatherapy in a sent-sational combination.

Door #2 - "Diamond Mine" by Stephanie Bond
Valentine's Day went desperately wrong between Faith Sherman and Carter Grayson when she expected more than just a friendly dinner. When a diamond on loan requires increased security, Carter reenters her life. Only this time he claims a fiancé and soon Faith finds herself recommending diamonds for someone else. Bond's characteristic flair for combining romance and humor truly sparkles.

Door #3 - "Sheer Delights" by Leslie Kelly
Conned into a photography session by her cousin, schoolteacher Meg O'Roarke becomes an inadvertent sexy model for lingerie. Her gasp of shock when she sees her body plastered on the store's kiosk screen brings an unexpected rescuer. But Joe Santori will be hard pressed to explain that the lingerie hanging in his closet was for her-a fantasy woman he had not even met. Kelly's dynamic storytelling ability truly results in an unexpectedly sheer delight.

I enjoyed this book very much. I love Mrs. Whiteside's writing style and the imagery she creates! A good read.

Anyone know of any hot romance books where vampires turn into bats? I've always been a werewolf-type person with paranormal books. I just love the part where man(or woman) becomes beast. So, any paranormal romance books that have a vampire character(s) that transforms into a large bat?

I liked this book, but, I liked the first one better. However, I will be reading the next in the series. I am hooked.

During the French Revolution, Jean-Marie St. Just met Helene d'Agelet in Paris. They fell in love, but were fated to separate as he was turning into a vampire and she was a mortal. However, he remained unaware that after he left her she was changed over too. Over the next two centuries fate seemed to intervene keeping them apart.

In the present, Helene is stunned to see a photo of her beloved Jean-Marie that indicates he is alive. She searches for him so that they can finally share eternity together. However, they still have issues between them as Jean-Marie has been assigned the task of killing the wicked vampire Queen of New Orleans Hélène's sister, Madame Celeste.

Although much of the story occurs before the first tale (see BOND OF BLOOD) the second of Diane Whiteside modern vampire trilogy is an exciting horror thriller. Readers obtain a bit of the history that led to the vampire kingdoms that carve up much of modern day America. Interestingly the lead couple spends much of the two hundred plus years (and most of the book) separated to the chagrin of romantic fantasy purists; yet the look through time strengthens the final showdown making BOND OF FIRE an entertaining read.

Harriet Klausner

After reading all of this author's books, I thought I had a better handle on her style of prose. This one caught me by surprise. Typical in this series is the mish-mash of languages--French. Spanish, Imaginary--and the heaviness of the writing. I believe there is aspiration towards literary fiction because the prose is intense, thickly written and nothing you can causally read through. That said, doggone it, I liked her characters and the detail she builds into them. Although sometimes I wanted to smack the book against the wall for ponderous writing--check out the first seduction scene and the e-t-e-r-n-i-t-y it takes for the knickers to scoot. That's not sexy--that's tedious. But I kept with it because I liked the characters, each very well defined and with a story of their own waiting to be told. This author remains an auto-buy for me, but I do it with heavy sighs knowing it's going to be a loooong read.