Forster Books

I just got this book, and usually it takes me about two days to read a book. It is day 5. I have read a number of books by this author and each time I am disappointed.(you think I would learn my lesson) I picked up this book because it featured a full fiqured woman, and a nice seeming man. However, the story is boring and extremely long. They hardly paid any attention to Tara in the beginning of the book, and the kisses that were hot often fizzled into no where. There was typos all over the place. I wish Velma would get a backbone and for the her personality you would think she would not care that she is a bigger woman. Lastly, My theory is if a man don't love and respect his mother, he won't respect you. Just not worth the time, long and boring.

3.5 stars - Having read other reviews and just finished the story Russ does not come across as real romance hero but too arrogant. What man puts a woman down who has issues with her weight? Yes he likes Velma, is attracted to her, wants her sexually but finds her lack of self confidence in this matter a turn off rather than be there to encourage her and help her? Plus from the first he knew his friend was in competition with Velma he should have supported her straight away. No wonder she upped and left him. Ok things work in the end. But in the real world with a man that kissed you and was pushing you away at the same time would not get a girl like Velma.
However glad the heroine was a full figured woman, her lack of self confidence in this regard is no surprise, one can be successful professionally but still lack confidence in other areas of life. Especially in this case where one has a sister - pretty, tall, slim as per society's standard of beauty and one has emotional issues with ones parents. If Russ was more understanding he would have been the perfect hero , glad to see that his character grew and he learned to stop fighting fault with Velma and just enjoy being with her.

When I read the preview of the book and discovered the female lead character was a full-figured woman I bought the book instantly, since I am a full figured woman also. This book was simply unrealistic, boring, and just all around not good.

AFTER THE LOVING, the sequel to Once In A Lifetime, continues with
the saga of the Harrington brothers. I immediately thought of the
popular ballad, 'After the Lovin', by Englebert Humperdinck, "So I'll
sing you to sleep after the loving," because the story raises issues
about the aftermath from emotional entanglement versus physical
dalliance.

Russ Harrington, an enigma of sorts even to his brothers, is a
loner who has always been afraid to love. Because of his laconic
nature, his friendly reaction to Velma, the sister of his brother's
wife, is untypical. But even Russ, who capitalizes on lustful
interludes, knows Velma is different. She makes him wonder how
strong his feeling would be, after...

Velma uses her flirtatious nature to best Russ each time she visits
her sister. She is attracted to him, but her plus-sized figure gives
her no false hope; men prefer tall slim women. Russ is attracted
to Velma, all of her, but he hates her lack of self-confidence. What
he doesn't know is that Velma's insecurities run deeper than her full
figure or even men. They stem from the belief that her parents did not
love her or her sister. Russ wonders if he's up for the challenge of
changing Velma's perception of herself, and I wonder if they can
override their insecurities and find what happens the morning after?

AFTER THE LOVING is a wonderful exploration of the lives and loves
of two people overcoming their blind spots. Ms. Forster again displays
her talent for writing a believable storyline and human bcharacters,
especially the children who literally steal the stories.

In After The Loving by Gwynne Forster, we explore the budding attraction between Velma Brighton and Russell Harrington. Velma is a full figured, educated caterer with a growing business and growing insecurities due to her weight. Velma's weight issues hit their peek the day she watches her sexy and thin sister (Alexis) walk down the aisle to the man of her dreams.

Russ Harrington is the strong silent type. Russ was raised as part of a loving and open family but he always remained the loner that is until Velma enters his life. With Velma, Russ is able to laugh and enjoy life. He even begins to envision himself with a family of his own. Things would be perfect if Velma would stop obsessing over her weight.

Will Velma find the true root to her weight obsession? Will Russ be able to stand by Velma as she struggles through her weight issues? You will have to read to find those answers.

After The Loving was a sweet romance story with interesting character's made real in true Gwynne Forster style. I applaud the way Forster depicted the struggles many plus size women experience through out their lives. Velma's weight insecurities were never underplayed. Velma's character was real, with real life issues and feelings. And Russ was the man of every woman's dreams. As a plus size women myself it was nice to see the strong handsome man that truly loved the woman with curves.

Reviewed by Desiree
for BBW Reviews

I'm not going to go over the summary, because many people have already...but I would like to share my comments on this book.

The "likes:" The book is well written, there's some spicy romance, and it's suspenseful to the point that the audience has to keep reading.

The "dislikes:" The romance was a little trashy. I like romance details, but I don't want to actually know all of the explicit details of characters having sex. On a different note, there was almost too much suspense. I appreciate the fact that it kept the readers needing more, but her suspenseful build-up for 450 pages was a bit much. Also, the porn references and incest-nature of one of the characters was not necessary. His hatred for his sister was enough...we didn't need an extra complexity between their relationship. The ending was a little too "wrapped up," and not fully believable and the epilogue was cheesy.

I'm trying not to add a spoiler, so I'll ask it this way:
Why did the main character need to do what Tony Bogart told her to do with her brother, at the end?
That didn't seem believable.

If you are looking for a romance with a little bit of mystery, look somewhere else. There is little if any romance/relationship here. It is mostly a mystery, written such that you hear the thoughts of the 5 or so main characters. It is a nice try in that she does try to get some personality/pathology going in the way the characters think and act, but it falls flat. The "mystery" is really little more than nasty people doing nasty things to each other with very little motivation. The legal aspects are laughable, since the "evidence" is rare to non-existent. It wouldn't happen that way in real life. The last few pages are spent tying this up in a neat little ribbon, as if she said "ooops, met my page quota, let's wrap this puppy". Everything is sorted out in a neat little package with everyone having their little epiphany and/or spilling their guts and thereby clarifying their soul or somesuch. Bottom line: not up to a quality mystery, and not up to an even mediocre romance.

OH! I remember! It's almost a complete carbon copy of Sandra Brown's "Mirror Image." I suppose that happens sometimes, but kinda ruins the book a bit for me.

This book starts out with a desperate search by a man (Andrew) to find his wife (Allison) who apparently fell from their boat during a storm. He finds what appears to be his wife on a bunch of boulders and has her brought to a hospital for emergency surgery. Her face is smashed beyond recognition but she has an odd skin discoloration on her neck. Thinking nothing of it, Andrew tells the doctors to remove it and also to try reconstructing her face. He gives them photos of his wife to help and after several months of surgeries "Allison" is restored to fairly much how she looked before.

But as the audience can guess it is not really "Allison" but because of an "arrangement" she made with Andrew, she will pretend to be Allison while Andrew can look for the real Allison. Sounds complicated? It gets worse. Allison and Andrew are invited to Allison's mother's estate for a visit. The estate is close to where the real Allison disappeared. They agree to go because it will be easier for Andrew to investigate.

When they get there "Allison" is constantly under suspicion, especially from the real Allison's slimy brother Brett. To make matters worse an FBI man (Tony Bogart) is investigating the death of his brother, who was murdered on the night of Allison's murder. He has several suspects but principally, he suspects Andrew. In the meantime it appears that someone is trying to murder the fake Allison.

This book holds you from start to finish and it is not till way near the end that the reader starts to get some answers. What makes this work is the interaction between the characters is compelling especially between Andrew and the fake Allison. Andrew never really loved Allison and her fake is way different then her in demeanor and this attracts Andrew. The author keeps throwing in little teasers as to whether or not they will become a "real" couple and it keeps the reader on edge.

After falling off her husband's yacht six months ago, Alison Fairmont Villard is lucky to be alive. Her face was repaired to fix the damage caused by the battering of the rocks. Her husband does not touch her, after surgery they had made a deal ¾Andrew would let her recover and she would share the details of that night with him. Every night she has nightmares. Every day she wakes up and wonders whom she truly is, and whom can she trust. The partial amnesia clouds matters even further.

Andrew Villard has a shadowy past. For six months he has watched the woman who he calls wife. They have an agreement that they have both stood by. Now complications have arisen due to Alison's mother summoning them to return to the scene of the accident

Both hope to find answers to their own questions. They each have demons they need to take care of. Andrew makes an offer that Alison has no choice but to accept. But can they find the answers to their own questions or will it tear things apart even further. Who can they trust? Neither can escape the consequences of their decisions.

The Arrangement is one of those books that captivates you from the moment you start reading. It keeps the tension at a heightened level that kept me turning the pages to find the answers to the questions raised in my mind at the beginning. It is incredibly engrossing; the intrigue with a dash of romance is the perfect continuous mix to make the reader glad they are reading The Arrangement. This is a book that I highly recommend.

Barb
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

The author substituted Elvis trivia for character development and made EVERY major character spout said trivia at the drop of a hat. Maybe having one avid fan pop in with some tidbits now and again would have been bearable, but this felt almost like a lecture with a few murders thrown in. The lack of susbtance shows.

I've read all the Louie mysteries up through this one (awaiting my copy of "Kiwi Con") and this one was, as another reader said, much more of a chore to finish than the others.

IMO, all the Elvis trivia and the sheer amount of time spent on the Elvis con/competition/hotel opening was filler for what was a thin plot to begin with. I normally enjoy spending a few hours with Temple, Louie, Matt, et al, but this time there was none of the internal dialogue or the conversations that really make each of these people "spark". Temple seemed to be there just to help move point A to point B or ask the pertinent question that would let the Elvis information pour forth. Matt was much too one note; his sole purpose seemed to be to show up, wonder about being a local media star for a few moments and then disappear again. It was like reading a book where all the main characters were reduced to cameo appearances by an unwieldy, boring plot that forced its way to center stage like a 300 pound diva.

One of the things I've really enjoyed about the series is the way Douglas lets us into Matt's, Temple's and C.R. Molina's minds. It makes them much more well-rounded as characters and I feel I "know" them. This book was incredibly short on that aspect as compared to the other novels in the series.

I'm also very tired of Max/Matt/Temple triangle. I suppose the main reason is I don't care for the Mundane Max very much. I find him more a convenient plot point than anything else. Need something that might be a little extralegal? Max shows up! Need to remind everyone there's a romantic triangle? Max pops up out of nowhere! *yawn* I find him to be the weakest character in the series because I have very little to base him on in my mind. I don't know whether it's Douglas' intention to make him appear mysterious or what, but one or two glimpses into what Max is thinking other than "Kinsella thought that he had the upper hand" type stuff or appearing to be jealous when Temple seems to have Matt foremost on the mind would go a long way towards filling him out as a character and making him seem more like a real person than simply someone invented for those times when you need someone with extralegal access to the info needed to move the plot along. The background she gives him doesn't ring very true to me for several reasons too long to go into here. I will say that it just ended up feeling like another smokescreen. I generally end up skimming the Max chapters for the necessary info and then jumping back into the story.

All in all, I enjoy the Louie series immensely. They may not be entirely logical at times or gritty and real, but they're (for the most part) well-written, fun, full of people with very individual voices (including Louie), and I think Douglas has done a fantastic job with the character of Matt and showing what it might be like for someone to try and become part of a world that he never really knew. But after such great previous novels, I found "Cat in a Jeweled Jumpsuit" to be below the standard of the other Louie books.

I have read all the books in the Midnite Louie series, and this one was definitely my least favorite. Maybe because I was never an Elvis fan, but I just didn't find all the Elvis trivia and impersonator stuff interesting. Like several other readers, finishing the book was a chore, not really a pleasure like usual. I hope the next book gets back on track.

Great book for Louie lovers & Elvis fans. And for those who aren't Elvis fans or too young, there's something to be learned. Another fun adventure for Louie, Temple & you.

I returned home from a recent trip to Memphis, where we toured Graceland, to find "Cat in a Jeweled Jumpsuit" in the mail awaiting my arrival. The coincidence was amazing. Finished reading it last night and think it is one of the best books I have ever read. The author's thought process gets deeper with each book and her exploration of the never-ending Elvis mystique casts an accurate eye on the sociology of the 50's and 60's and the perception of those times having been so innocent. Having been a teenager in the 1950's, I could also totally relate to the Electra character. The author's use of words gets cleverer and funnier with each book. As with any "whodunit," you have to keep reading to find out who was the perp, but you finish the book with sadness because there will be no more show-stoppers on each page. Thank you, Carole, so much for Temple and Louie and Chatter and all the rest of them!

At the Rowe Academy for Girls in Tiburon, California, nothing is as it appears to be. The outside might look like a Victorian castle you would find in England, but on the inside, under the control of headmistress Millicent Rowe, the Academy is nothing more than hell for four young girls forced to do things that are truly abhorrent. For Ms. Rowe, the Academy is her life, and she'll do anything to make sure the school stays intact. That includes providing young girls for the wealthy men who have sexual tastes that differ from the norm.

Matilda "Mattie" Smith, Jane Mantle, Breeze Wheeler, and Ivy White were four troubled girls who were at the Academy for different reasons. Thrown together by the sick desires of Millicent Rowe, however, forced to "pay" their way through school by doing the bidding of Ms. Rowe and the men who paid her handsomely, the four girls formed the Lonely Girls Club. Brought together by their sad fates, not allowed to be normal teenagers, these girls had a bond stronger than that of sisters. Although totally different in their personalities, Mattie, Jane, Breeze, and Ivy were joined by their hatred and fear of Millicent Rowe, by their own guilty consciences, and by the terrible men who forced them to become women before they were ready.

The Lonely Girls Club ended, however, when Millicent Rowe was murdered by William "Billy" Broud-or so the girls thought. Twenty years have gone by, and Broud has been exonerated through DNA evidence, proving he wasn't the one who killed the Academy's headmistress. At the time of his arrest so long ago, he'd been trying to tell authorities about Ms. Rowe, about her sex-ring involving students, about conspiracies and cover-ups involving men of power. No one was inclined to listen then, when Billy had a prior record, drugs in his possession, and had the same blood type as that found at the scene of the crime. Now that he's released, the only one who is inclined to look back on that past, to follow a string of clues reaching back to the Rowe Academy for Girls and its headmistress, is Jameson Cross, a true crime writer, who just so happens to also have a heavy interest in proving Billy's innocence. The wrongly-convicted man wants no part of Cross and his book, however, and after a short stint outside prison walls, ends his life to avoid a past that just won't leave him alone.

Jameson Cross is obsessed with finding out who really murdered the headmistress of the Academy, and discovering who the Lonely Girls are. He knows that Ivy White is no longer alive, having committed suicide years ago, but what about the other mysterious members of the Club? As clues come to light, as he finds the three remaining women in positions of authority and prestige-one a judge, one a businesswoman, one the First Lady of the United States-Jameson realizes that finding out what happened so long ago is about more than just solving a crime. Because one of these girls-or even all of them-may very well have murdered someone. And even now, the Lonely Girls Club is gathering steam, trying to keep their secrets hidden and lock away the part of themselves that was abused so long ago.

Suzanne Forster has once again managed to write a suspenseful story of danger, intrigue, sex, lies, and murder that takes you into the world of the rich and powerful. The men and women associated with the Rowe Academy for Girls will do anything and everything to keep themselves from being exposed, up to and including murder. With an intense plot, strong characters, and the twists and turns of a true mystery, THE LONELY GIRLS CLUB is a book not to be missed.

I just love the private school for girls setup of this book. I thought the characters were unique and unusual. Once I started the book, I couldn't put it down.

I really enjoyed this book. It kept me guessing and while a little far-fetched, it was a great escape. If I am looking for reality I would choose a non-fiction, but this book lived up to my expectations and made for good before bed reading.

I'm sorry, but none, not one of these characters were real. This book didn't even pass my 50 page rule. I gave up and tossed it.

I must preface this review by saying that it's possible that the genre of romantic suspense isn't for me, but it's also possible that far fetched and improbable plots and characters aren't for me either. And as much as was intrigued by the blurb on the back of The Lonely Girls Club, I just can't recommend this book to other readers.

Three scholarship women who were students at the same boarding school 20 years ago are plunged into a whirlwind of emotions and actions when the man accused of killing their headmistress is released from prison. When new information is revealed which exonerates this man of the crime, these women are thrown back into a part of their lives they would rather forget. Now, though, all of their old history and the killing are once again front and center. And when the man these women and the courts thought was guilty is found dead, the victim of an apparent suicide, the women mount a campaign to find out what really happened to Ms.Rowe, this man and their friend Ivy. Along the way there are other attempted murders, deceit, contradictions and a would be love story between two of the characters.

While the first 100 pages had me glued the book became painful to read at the end and I skimmed the last 200 pages and couldn't wait for this to be over so I could read something else. I have no doubt that someday I may read a good book filled with romance and suspense, but for me it wasn't The Lonely Girls Club. I can suspsensd disbelief with the best of them but the storyline was just so improbable and poorly written that in the end I was sorry I wasted my time.

This book was very boring. I was disappointed in Ms. Forster. I have read several of her books and this was one I did not enjoy. There was too much push and pull between the two supposed main characters. By the end of the book you didn't even really care if they got together or not. They got together on almost the last page of the book. The book focused more on Maude and her relationship with Johann. I am glad I got it from the library and will not be sorry to return it.

This book dragged and dragged, and it's pretty predictable! It's a cute book and had it not been for the grandfather and Aunt Maude I probably would have put it down....As a matter of fact this book was disappointing! It left you hanging I'm still really not sure if Justin and Regina had sex, if Harold is gay, or what role Cephus played!??? Read it only if there is nothing else in your house!!!!!!!

I was very disappointed and agree with others by saying this is not one of Mrs. Forsters best. I have not finished the book and have never taken this long with any of her books. I think Regina is too prim and proper and her relationship with Justin has taken too long to surface. I had to re-read a few sentences to know they'd been intimate and they are the main characters. I recommend others but not this one. I also want to know how does he look? Did I miss that?

I have read this book and it was ok, but for the book to be about regina and justin it focus more on maude and her sex life with johann than with regina, it was just lacking something. i didn't know regina and justin had been together until regina mention it but it was vidid info with maude. so her book was ok but i had to fight to keep reading it.

I'm on page 278 and I can't wait to get to the end of this long, drawn out book. I've read several of Ms. Forster's books but none has been as disappointing as this one. I don't care if the central characters, Regina and Justin, get together or not. If it hadn't been for Pop and Maude I would have put this book down a long time ago.

Poor erotic fiction. This story is implausible, disjointed, and bites off more than it can chew . Its cast of poorly developed characters do nothing for a plot that meanders in a disconnected fashion. The characters are unlikeable and I found it impossible to discover a single thing in their personalities to relate to or appreciate. Their reasoning is far fetched and their behavior immature. The plot is choppy and over the top. I cannot think of a single reason why the hero and heroine would love each other. There is little opportunity for the development of a relationship between Jack and Gus and yet they carry on as if it's perfectly natural. Gus ultimately falls in love with a man who, as far as she knows, is a kidnapper, a hired criminal, a murderer and a thief. She shows little concern over that fact at all, which only emphasizes her inherent selfishness and stupidity which is not in the lest bit redeemed by her ultimate goal to be a responsible person. They have few, if any, redeeming characteristics between them. Their sexual attraction is wild and reminiscent of bad porn rather than attraction bordering on love. This book isn't about romance of any kind and if it's supposed to be erotic, the thrill is weakened by the terrible personalities of all the characters.

I normally like Suzanne Forster's books, but this one falls short. Her usual intriguing and exotic storyline just doesn't have that zing that her former stories share. Instead I found myself flipping through the pages just wanting to end it quickly, because i could care less what happened to the characters. All I wanted to do was at least finish the book and make it worth what it was not. Warning to all who are considering this book, skip it and try one of her other books instead or save your money.

While I really enjoyed this book (as well as all of the other Suzanne Forster books that I've read), I've got to ask...what happened to the ending? There is a major climax and then....nothing. An epilogue or something would have been very appropriate.

I really enjoyed my first book by the author and would definetly buy more of her books. I enjoyed her characters, the suspense and the love scenes. Jack was the epitome of tall dark and handsome, and I loved Gus for being more than the usual weak kneed woman she actually went out and hired someone to kidnap her. If that isn't spunk I don't know what is. I think we could have used some happily ever after though and I wanted to "see" Bridget/Haley maybe as a teenager and Jack and Gus with another child not to replace the one they lost. You care about these characters and wish them well.

This book suffered from disjointed writing, unfinished teasers and lack of love in the love story. The ending was horribly abrupt, the plot was both hackneyed and ridiculous and the characters .. what a disappointment.

Ms. Forster seemed to want to paint everyone with such a bad brush that we couldn't help but love our heroine in contrast. It didn't work. The sex scenes were rather hot - quite nice in fact, but not enough emotion in them to convince me that these two should be in love by the end of it. Mr Forster gets a star for realism, not having a virginal heroine, and incorporating child who isn't a vision of sweetness and light. She loses 3 stars because by the time I finished I said to myself "wow. That was bad." and immediately put it into my giveaway pile.

My Profile- No qualifications as a Philisophy critic whatsover

This review refres to the spanish edition "Mi hermana y Yo"- Edaf

I have not read Nietsche since my days at the university.. and not only him, just about any other philosopher as well, I guess life got in the way and now I had to live it..

This is a strange book, for many its a fake and the reasons to claim it are substancial.. others, say its from the thinker himself, me? as I can remember the passion of Nietsche its there and that a hell of a difficult thing to emulate..

Once you get past the shock of the incestous relantionship and you have the context of see past his particular anti-semitism and anti-christianism then you can appreciate the personal anguish that its contained in this pages.

Strange enough, I am browsing through the book now expecting to see the many highlights and notes I used to make back then, and the book does not have that many...many thought are stirring up, did I really read this? looking over some of the aphorisms I try to picture myself reading this with passion I had back then.. where is that desire now?

One of them is worthy of the laughter that only experience can provide

" Mis necesidades sexuales aumentan, no disminuyen. Solia pensar. Pronto, pronto esto terminará, y estaré en condiciones de ofrecer toda mi naturaleza apasionada a la filosofía. No sucede nada de esto, y ahora pienso que no sucederá nunca. La filosofía siempre será el segundo violín de mis necesidades de mi naturaleza orgánica. es como morir en el Fuego" 49 del capítulo VI

" My sexual needs increase, not dimish. I used to think: Soon, soon all of this will pass and I will be in conditions to offer all of my passionate nature to philosophy. Nothing like that is happening, and now I think it will never happen. Philosophy will always ne second fiddle in the needs of my organic nature. Its like dying in fire"

Back in my 20s there was no way I thought my sexual desires were going to diminish, I thought tranquility was to be put to a "later age", say my 40's.. well I am here and I guess I have to postpone it till my 60s!! Glad to know Nietzshe felt the same way too.

Seiously, this book is worthy of a review, if for anything, as the last parragraph says (before the epilogue poem)

"As the poet Lucilus onced said, the friend of Scipion: Virtue exists so as to allow us appreciate the true worth of those things for which we live for.

Let us impress eternity's seal over our lives.

Lets live in a way that we shall desire to live eternally; this is my credo, yesterday, today, tomorrow and the days that precedes those of tomorrow."

There is debate over this book's authenticity, yes. However, research that I had turned up was nothing like what the reviewers here claim. That in and of itself tells me that there is a possibility that people just do not want to believe that Nietzsche wrote this book.

But, honestly, does it matter? The book has some amazing points and theories, regardless of the incest. If this book is a fake, the man who wrote it has been done out of his due credit. The fact of the matter is, people who are honestly interested in philosophy would read the book for its insights. The author does not really matter. I found this book in a thrift store, and it made me love Nietzsche. I discovered that it was supposedly a fraud, and then looked at Nietzsche's philosophies. I still greatly enjoy Nietzsche. And I still enjoy My Sister and I.

Don't pass over the book because it is controversial. If anything, read it BECAUSE it is controversial.

Of course it would be threatening to academic followers and/or readers of Nietzsche to learn that in the wake of his father's death (as a result of injuries sustained to his head after tripping over the family dog), his sister Elizabeth crept into his bed at night for comfort because their mother had switched off emotionally, and that during their lives Elizabeth and Friedrich developed a very close turbulent and incestuous relationship - which for Friedrich ruled out any kind of intimacy with women for the rest of his life.

Whatever arguments are presented in relation to its authenticity, this book demonstrates magnificently that the thoughts and ideas expressed in the accepted works of Nietzsche are based not on the high ideals of the Greeks, but on the psychology of having been left fatherless and under the power of women from a very early age, from the particular contradictions prejudices and delusions that this growing human male had to deal with during that particular life.

It is a rather tawdry tale which nevertheless points out the connections between the "man" and the "philosophy" - particulary Nietzsche's alleged mysogyny, and that reveals a vulnerable naive and trepidatious human being, incarcerated in an asylum, facing death, already experiencing seizures paralysis and insanity. Having moreover just discovered that his crisp autobiographical statement to the world in Ecce Homo is not going to be published because his sister has forbidden it. At the same time though he is aware that she is already starting an archive of his oeuvre so that the Nietzschean philosophers who are beginning to make themselves known will have some resource with which to work.

The one who is supposed to have faked this tragedy is skilled indeed in psychology and psychoanalysis. There are obvious anachronisms in the text, but all of these are explainable in other ways than that the whole book is a fake. What seems more likely is that Nietzsche did write notes that were smuggled out of the asylum or that he dictated words to somebody who then collated them into a manuscript. But that the story presented in the Amok edition of the book's subsequent travels is partial and/or inaccurate for whatever reason. Personally I doubt that Oscar Levy was the translator, and would add that it is not actually a very good translation.

Anybody who wants to find out more should read the book for themselves rather than listen to voices for or against its authenticity. That would be a much more Nietzschean approach.

A diary from an insane asylum attributed to the most important philosopher of the post-modern era...

This book is controversial. Not for whether it is by Nietzsche himself (which it most likely is) but because it confesses to his sister's molestation of Nietzsche, and his subsequent erotic desires for her. If true, Nietzsche would have repressed such issues during his life, and only felt the courage to speak out about them close to his death. And if true, it pokes a gaping hole in the theory that Elisabeth commissioned this work, as it paints an unflattering picture of her.

This book would be very entertaining for both casual readers, as well as Nietzsche scholars. It is an interesting look into the mind of a brilliant genius. The fact that this book is often ignored by Nietzsche scholars seems to be a bit strange. Why? I believe that this book represents a diminution of Nietzsche's emphasis on the value of individual strength. Nietzsche in this text shows himself to be vulnerable to an overwhelming need for solace and love from others, values which he denounced throughout his career. (This adds further credence to the belief that this work is truly his, since what single dying man wouldn't wish that he had people who really cared for him around?) It seems that if a conspiracy existed to make one more Nietzsche book, it would have been a further exhortation to the will to power. However, because this book can be read as a parenthetical withdrawal from his espoused doctrines, it shows why theoreticians would decry its legitimacy. It is much easier to understand a man's writings if one ignores a lengthy inner contradiction.

But this is all the more a testament to the book's possible authenticity. Nietzsche's work is full of contradiction and reconfiguring of values. As he insists in the introduction to Beyond Good and Evil, why must we insist on the truth? Why not rather untruth?

An entertaining challenge to one's perspective on Nietzsche's philosophy, whether it is authentic or not.

The preeminent scholar of Nietzsche, Prof. Walter Kaufman, has obtained a written confession from the "translator" (Levy) that this book was in fact written in English by Levy. There was no original German manuscript by Nietzsche. This book is not by Nietzsche, and is not worth reading.

I don't know what happened this book seemd to be writing by numbers it held no interest for me. The premise of having 'a secret life' is good but for some reason I found the romance hard to believe - there was no chemistry between Jackie and Warren. Warren seemed to be more concerned about his ego with his tell me your secret or else I walk attitude and Jackie behaved liked she had some great secret to hide -rather than she worked two jobs to pay her dad's hospital fees. I think Vanna and Allen would have made a better story.

This is another must read book from Ms. Forster. The author draws you into the story slowly and begins an unforgettable journey into a believable story. The Plot - A woman has been hurt before and no longer trusts traditional love yet she struggles between not wanting to be involved and taking a chance. She leaves it up to the man who wants her to figure out a way they can be together. But, she is not what she appears to be "A Cocktail Waitress". But does it make a difference - Purchase the book and you tell me.

What's a woman, with a PhD. in Criminal Psychology, who is the reigning senior editor and crime reporter for 'African American Woman' magazine, doing in the most prestigious gentleman's club in New York City working as a waitress?

Dr. Jacqueline Parkton transforms into Jackie Parks at 6:00 p.m. most nights. This extra job helps to afford care for an ailing father currently residing in an upscale nursing home. For almost three years Jackie has worked two jobs plus speaking engagements at universities. In a few more months, she will have enough saved and will be able to live a normal life. But normal for Jackie is relative, she has no social life and no prospects, until club member, Warren Holcomb shares his feelings with her. Jackie has noticed Warren before, but she did not think the interest was mutual and a relationship might jeopardize her secret.

Warren, self-made millionaire and business mogul, is the only African American member of the elitist club, Allegory, Inc. He has been watching Jackie for some time, and her role as a waitress, no matter how professional, seems misplaced. He is more than curious about her, but club rules forbid fraternization between members and employees. Warren cannot ignore his feelings, so he must find a way to get to know the mysterious Jackie Parks.

HER SECRET LIFE is candidly entertaining. Warren who realizes Jackie is not exactly the kind of woman you take home to see mother, will soon discover that life is not as it seems. Jackie hopes she can justify her reasons for secrecy and add some real normalcy to her life. Ms. Forster gives readers real characters, real dialogue, mature family drama. She highlights community involvement and shares a strong message that love can indeed conquer all.

Reviewed by aNN
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

As an avid lover of romance I find it easy to pick up a book and finish it in a couple of hours. Unfortunately this book did not sweep me away. The story was cool, but it was missing something. Sensuality it didn't have. But I also didn't like the hero. He was a Gamma male sometimes. There was nothign that drew me to him. I was not emotionally taken with this book. Some of the scenes were more technical than romantic. It was a cute story. I love the idea of living the double life, but I think it could have been alot better.

HER SECRET LIFE by Gwynne Forster
September 25, 2006

Rating 2.5/5 stars

I really hate giving out anything lower than 3 stars in a book review. In my opinion, if a book gets published, it's because it's readable, or enjoyable, or well written. I am giving HER SECRET LIFE a 2- 1/2 star rating. My problem with the book could be the type of book it is. The book had a lot of erotic sex scenes with explicit detail, which I'm not much of a fan of when I read romance novels. When I read a romance novel, I want romance, good characterization, great dialog that sounds REAL, not forced or fake. Unfortunately, this book didn't have too much going for it at all. While I "got" the main character, Jackie, and understood what motivated her (she worked two jobs to help pay for her father's health care), I did not care for the male counterpart, Warren. He seemed like a chauvinist pig, and while I'm not sure this was the author's intent, it seemed all he cared about was "having her in me".

Jackie worked days at an African American publishing company. She has a Ph.D. But at night she's a sleazy waitress at a gentlemen's club. She keeps her two worlds separate, and even her sister and father do not know she's working her butt off at this club. She meets Warren at the club and they have great chemistry. The rules are, however, that they cannot have a romantic or sexual relationship, as it's hands off or she could be fired. So they meet at a corner near work after she gets off at midnight, and they slowly get to know each other, if you know what I mean. The sex scenes are definitely hot and heavy, very descriptive, and while maybe this book was aimed for the erotica fan, I guess I didn't want my story to be all sex and not much romance. I think I would have liked the book better if the characters felt real to me, but they seemed stiff and forced. The dialog was definitely unrealistic and awkward. I did like Jackie's father, who seemed to be a very loving father who was mourning his wife, and was now ready to meet his maker. But overall, I just did not "feel" this book and it certainly didn't call to me. I was disappointed, as my first experience with Kimani was wonderful and so I'm not turned off by this line of books. HER SECRET LIFE could have been much better, even with all the sex scenes, if the characters were not cardboard cutouts and the dialog flowed a lot more realistically.

Coreen Homes Treadwill is a woman in distress. Despite a successful career and a family that loves her, demons from her past are threatening her future. At 17, Coreen was the victim of a date-rape that resulted in an unwanted pregnancy, and immediately put the child up for adoption in an attempt to forget the heart-wrenching incident. Years later, to Coreen's dismay, the child she gave up has grown into a woman hell-bent on revenge.



30-year old Frieda Davis is a determined woman on a mission, stopping at nothing to find her biological mother. Instead of a heart-felt reunion, Frieda is out for revenge, and blames the woman who abandoned her at birth for years of sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of her adoptive father.



Meanwhile, Coreen's career takes off, placing her on a public platform, and she fears this recognition could lead to unwanted attention from the child she doesn't know. It doesn't take long for trouble to start in the Treadwill home, and Coreen's rising professional status soon leaves her husband Bates feeling like a failure. Those are the least of Coreen's concerns, as she's constantly haunted by the idea that the child she gave up will soon find her.



Her fears are not unfounded, as Frieda is hot on her trail. Frieda moves forward with a well-orchestrated plan to ruin her birth mother's life and destroy all that Coreen holds dear, beginning with one of her beloved stepsons, Glen. Before Frieda can follow through with her plan, though, she falls in love but quickly reverts to plan B. Unwilling to release the pain and bitterness she's carried for years, Frieda quickly learns that revenge isn't always sweet.



If You Walked in My Shoes forces us to think twice about keeping secrets from those we love. While some sentences seemed weighed down by excessive wording and phrases that remind you these characters are seasoned, the story flows through its few slow spots and is overall, a good read. Each page keeps you wondering how Coreen will handle her situation, and whether her family and career will remain intact once she faces those demons.



By the end, mother and daughter leave us wondering if they'll ever find peace, and their place in life. Foster leaves us cheering for both women in different ways.



Reviewed by Pat Tucker

(...)

Freida Davis is on a mission to find the one responsible for her being in an abusive situation and all the warnings that she received, she ignored and even though she knows that it is wrong to seek revenge, she forces full speed and with all the planning and plotting she never expected to find her ultimate love and where she thought she would be gratified, she stumbles and finds that it is nothing like she anticipated. Glen Treadwell is a self absorbed, over confident, take what he wants with no regard to anyone else, until he slam dunks with Frieda and oops the player gets played in the worse kind of way. Corrine is self sufficient and self proclaimed, through her struggles she succeeds and the skeletons in her closet will come out in the worse possible way, but in actuality when the story unfolds, the worse for Corrine is all in her secret, if she had came clean with Bates and explained what she could not control, she would have spared herself so much grief and anguish, but then Bates is no Saint, he is self proclaimed, above all and unfortunately, he should have told Corrine why he is so judgemental and they would have not had to endure so much anguish. When Frieda and Corrine come head to head and toe to toe, Corrine brings Frieda down a few notches and through this story I really felt for Corrine, 'cause she suffered the most. The characters in ths story all had a story of their own and it all intertwined, but it tells the story that you think you know someone and you believe you have all the answers, but if you "walked in their shoes," you would know better. I think that Gwynne Forster could do a part two to this story, because truthfully Frieda and Glenn have unfinished business, and Corrine and Frieda also. Corrine never heard that her Aunt died wanting to apologize to her... and Star and Eric have a wedding still... The drama is real and the story is spellbounding, cause you don't know what is going to happen and now that Porgy and Lizzette have sealed the deal, they have a story too... Keep writing Ms. Forrester.

I was very dissapointed when I read this book. The writing is very disjointed and the characters not developed -just plain stale. Their actions make little sense, and, frankly, I didn't care what they did. This book tackles such a serious subject and I find it hard to believe that such a story could be told without the reader becoming engrossed. Wish I had a better report......

This is the riveting story of how keeping secrets can come back to haunt you. Coreen Holmes Treadwell for all appearances has a successful career, loving marriage and a wonderful relationship with her stepchildren. But her life hasn't always been so "perfect", as a young girl she was raped and wound up pregnant. Coreen is hiding a painful secret. A secret named Frieda Davis. Frieda Davis is the daughter that Coreen never knew. As a child, Frieda suffered years of abuse from her stepfather, which has made her bitter and determined to find her birth mother, to make her suffer as she has. She puts together a plan of vengeance that will ultimately change their lives forever. This book is one that stays with you long after you put it down. Gwynne Forster has written a story that will make you think and touch your heart. I give this book 3 stars!
Reviewed by Shay C
PeoplewholoveGoodBooks

The prologue for IF YOU WALKED IN MY SHOES alerted me that there
would be a day of reckoning. Coreen Holmes was raped by one of
her classmates when she was seventeen years old, and her die was
cast. Thirteen year old Frieda Davis was sexually abused by her
adoptive father, a fate which continued for four years; until
Frieda fled into the night.

A much older Coreen Holmes Treadwell is on the brink of fulfilling
her dream as the president of the International Society of Social
and Welfare Agency. For the past 29 years she has dedicated her
time to social and welfare issues. And for that same period she has
lived behind a façade, with the fear that her darkest secret would
be unveiled. But how long does a secret remain a secret? Coreen's
fear is manifested when her past walks into her present.

Frieda needs closure to her past; her adoptive parents are deceased
and she needs to know her roots. Also embedded in her heart is the
drive to fulfill a vendetta against her biological mother. But will
her vindictive intent produce an outcome more devastating than her
past?

IF YOU WALKED IN MY SHOES is a dramatic story about two women
emotionallydamaged by violent acts, and the aftermath that
reverberated throughout their lives. The destiny of these women was
propelled by outside forces at a time when neither was mature enough
to accept the outcome. And while each chose a different way to deal
with their past, somehow that difference had an element of sameness.
Premature in their judgment about one another, things become clearer
when they share the opportunity to walk in each other's shoes. Ms.
Forster methodically highlights the emotional anguish of the
characters and the havoc the repercussions caused in Coreen and
Frieda's lives, yet it is the very havoc that served to strengthened
them. (RAWSISTAZ Rating: 4.5)

Reviewed by aNN
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

Once again Carole Nelson Douglas has written another wonderful continuation for the Midnight Louie series. I have loved this series from the first time I read Catnap and It gets better with each book. I'm sure we all feel for Mister Matt Devine now that Temple Barr is back together with the "Mystifying Max". and poor Louie!!! He has some luck with the ladies of the feline purrsuasion. All I have to say is, Carole Nelson Douglas, Keep up the AWESOME work.

I simply did not understand the story. I had to force myself to continue to read and when I was finally finished - I could hardly believe it. I felt cheated and betrayed. I could hardly understand what had happened and could not figure out the ending. Was the mystery solved? Who was the killer? I could only guess. So I visited this site to read other people's review and was stunned to find to find that the average rate was 5 stars! They must be loyal to the author or be crazy about anything that has to do with cats. Or I must be from Mars. I love books and I love mysteries - but this is the worst mystery I have ever read. Perhaps the author should consider another genre of writing. I feel bad giving a bad review but want to warn others not to read this book.

I've read all books in the series (which I'm normally fond of), but this one was just a little too overloaded with characters, plots, and angst. I didn't really care about the too out-there Shangri-la villianess or her cat, and I was annoyed with the heroine Temple (who actually seemed to be more in the background). I think Ms. Douglas does a much better job juggling a complicated storyline in the next book, Cat in an Indigo Mood.

I've read all of the first nine books, except for the first and they are absolutley incredible!. I just ordered the first one and I'm getting ready to order the tenth one INDIGO MOOD. The books are fast paced and very exciting, I read 8 of the books in just two weeks, I couldn't put them down! Cat on a Hycanith Hunt was one of my favorites in the series. If you're looking for a good read, these are definitly it!

Midnight Louie is upset because he suddenly has stiff competition for the affections of his human pet, Las Vegas publicist Temple Barr. To Louie's dismay, Temple has resumed her romantic relationship with master magician Max Kinsella, who lives in a James Bond-like world. Louie has no intention of sharing his "doll with anyone"; but Temple does not notice his displeasure.

Accompanied by his offspring, Midnight Louise, Louie returns to his former home, the Oasis Hotel, for a bit of rest and relaxation. However, the feline discovers the body of the odious Effinger, whose corpse is wrapped like a mummy.Effinger is the heavy-handed stepfather of Matt Devine, a former priest and questionable third wheel in the Barr-Kinsella romance. Only a few days ago, Effinger beat up Temple as a warning to his stepson to stay out of his life. However the death of the mean spirited person does not end the danger to Louie and his associates, especially Temple and her two male companions. It is only the opening gambit.

CAT ON A HYACINTH HUNT is the ninth entry in the Midnight Louie cat series and surprisingly the book retains the fresh and exciting perspective of its forerunners. The mystery remains first rate while the romantic triangle (or is that rectangle with Louie being the other corner) has become more complex and interesting. The brilliantly talented Carole Nelson Douglas has set in motion story line twists leading the series in a new direction that is sure to surprise yet please Louie's biggest fans.

Harriet Klausner