Martinez Books

"Tonio's Cat" combines a story by Mary Calhoun with illustrations by Edward Martinez. The book is about Tonio, a boy whose family has moved from Mexico to California so his parents can find work. While living in California, Tonio befriends a stray cat. Some Spanish words and phrases, with English translations, are blended into the text.

There are a couple of flaws with this book. The Spanish dialogue and English translations are incorporated into the book somewhat awkwardly. Also, the book fails to deal with important issues that are relevant to the plot, such as the possible danger of interacting with a strange stray. But the book has many good points. It teaches respect and compassion for animals, and Tonio is an admirable young hero. And anyone who has bonded with a cat (or other animal) can, I believe, relate to the story.

Almost a must read for any pediatrician who manage any significant number of young children with asthma. It seemed expensive for a small book but is guaranteed to change your management of this group of patients. Only a 4 star because I probably have a little adhd and couldn't stay on task. I had to reread many sections. Also contains basic science information that is more that a practicing physician may need.

Structurally, the book was interesting. Several characters narrate the book, and the plot unfolds around a central issue--who owns a particular house. Who can live in the house? Who can sell the house? But, the major problem is that the characters are difficult to identify with or find sympathy for. All three of the central characters--Kathy Nicolo, Lester Burdon, and Colonel Behrani--remain the same. They are never changed by incredible circumstances--death, murder, suicide, inprisonment--they remain the same. Kathy has a chip on her shoulders that's never explained and Lester is just plain stupid. What motivates these characters? The reader never knows. Kathy gets herself into trouble blindly and so does Lester. The reader is left wondering how these two are bungling through life. Surely, every human has some kind of thought process that at least partially puts the world into focus--but Kathy and Lester never do. Even in jail, both Kathy and Lester are still thinking about sex with each other. Well, their worlds have fallen in on them and there is no opening in sight, and they are still thinking of a little sex. Unbelievable! Where is the introspection? When Kathy's relatives show up at the jail, she still has a chip on her shoulder. Why? What's happened between them? The writer's job is to give us some insights into human relationships. The insights are missing here. Colonel Behrani is a little easier to understand. He's outside his primary culture. He operates with a different world view than most of us, and thus we cut him some space. But even he doesn't change. His last coherent thought is that his daughter should sell the house for a certain amount. That's why the book ultimately seems flawed to me--the characters are unbelievable, unlikable, and ultimately are boring. I also agree with the reviewer who said the book is not for kids. I know there is an audio version for kids (unabridged)--but this book is definitely not for kids. The sex is raw, the drug additions exposed, the blind and stupid behavior accepted. I don't think this book will be much discussed in a decade.

Avid Reader

OMIGOSH, how is it possible to hate a person who has had her home taken away erroneously (but I did hate her)? And to hate the 'noble'(lascivious) police officer that comes to her rescue? Even though Kathy lost her home due to ignoring important mail regarding taxes, I found it so difficult to sympathize with her. That creep Lester had NO redeeming qualities; bullying Col. Bahreen while pretending to be an officer was deplorable--Not to mention jumping into bed with the 'poor victim' almost immediately. So, faced with the dilemma of whom to root for--I found myself feeling guilty for supporting Col. Bahreen.

This is a great story of tragedy. I found it an easy read and couldn't put it down. I finished it very fast because the writer keeps the story moving. Very good writing as the characters are strong and easy to imagine. Highly recommended.

Events occur & become intertwined with one another. Dubus keeps you wondering where it is all heading. The book is easy reading & you have to
keep reading to FIND OUT what is going to happen! When NOT reading this book I found myself wondering what Kathy & Lester & Behrani (the main characters) were up to next!

I gave this book 1 star, only because the review requires at least 1 star. This book was given to my 14 year old son to read for a High Honors required summer reading program. He read through the first 2 chapters and handed the book to me and said he wasn't going to read it. My husband and I then read the book and discovered extreme graphic sexual content, not just once, but, many, many times! The description of the sexual content is not done in a metaphorical way, it is exremeley graphic! I'm totally disgusted and appalled that not only did a teacher choose this book, but that it was approved by the Director of Curriculum! PARENTS BEWARE!!!

Mr. Koontz blends a crazy brew with this story that is part gritty PI novel, part X-files and part horror movie that is bound together with love, humor and bravery. Sounds like something that won't taste good? Despite the odd combination of ingredients this brew not only tastes good, it is good for the soul.

I started reading this book and am halfway through it and I cant seem to get into it. It gets into some good parts and remains intense for a short while then Zzzzz. Have to put it down and read more later. I hope the last half has more excitement than the first half. So far this has got to be the worst of his that I've read. It sure isnt a sit on the edge of your seat or cant put it down type book. I've had to put it down many times.

I've read so many DK books over the years. My favorite two are probably "Watchers" and "Lighting", which I would have to give 5 stars each. This one is one of the better ones for sure, but not quite worthy of 5 stars in my opinion. It's a solid 4 stars. It was a bit drawn out in parts (aren't they all though) and it wasn't until about two thirds of the way through the book that you finally found out (for sure) what the heck was going on with Curtis Hammond. I really enjoyed reading about "Old Sinsemilla" who was always whacked out on shrooms and peyote and other mind-altering substances. It reminded me of my college days. LOL! I also LOVE the ET story. I wanted much more ET than was given though. The book was right up my alley: drugs, babes, ET's (good ones and bad ones), private investigator, serial killer, dogs, and more. I really enjoyed this one.

I love this book!!!! I have read several of Dean Koontz's books and, in my opinion, this is his best work. If you do not fall in love with Curtis Hammond and Old Yeller, you do not have a heart. Without giving the book away, Curtis is not who he seems and the adventure Curtis and Old Yeller take together is worth the read all by itself, however, there is a young girl Leilani, a young woman Micky and an old worn out detective who soon find themselves with Curtis and Old Yeller in a very scary situation. What happens to them is life changing and leads them on a road to true humanity and a mission to change the world one person at a time. This book will make you think about where humanity is heading. This is a must read again and again.

I came into Dean Koontz's world much later than I should have. I had this preconceived idea that he wrote the sort of horror novels that I thought I'd abhor....and, I was a Stephen King fan at the time!

But, the more of Koontz I read, the more I fall in love with his books, some more than others. I "read" the unedited audio version of "One Day Away From Heaven" & I loved it. Koontz brings some of the most wonderful characters to life in his novels. They become so real that I want to meet them, befriend them & in the case of the dogs...well, I want to take them home with me!

If you're feeling a little low or negative about where the world is going, this is such a hopeful book filled with many characters who are a little bit broken, lost, feeling alone in the world but who also have incredible strength. They're brave, they care about each other and they'll fight anyone who tries to hurt their own.

Koontz is a brilliant writer & his books are also great in audio format. I often listen to them if I'm in bed and can't sleep....sort of bedtime stories for adults. If you've never read a Koontz novel, grab this one & it will surprise you. If you already love his work as much as I do, this one won't disappoint!

This wasn't a tear-jerker for me. Mebbe I'm a cold-hearted fish. But I dug it. I read the book in 3 or 4 hours. I think it could have been longer.

I thought there would be more letters from Sam (Grandmother) to her granddaughter, Jennifer. If there are about 170 of them, how come we only read about 20 of them?

The book moves fast. It is easy to read. I think if the book had been longer, the author would have laid down more for me to become more emotionally invested in the characters.

But it's love triumphs over the hardships in life. Short & sweet.

I did not love Sam, and I did not love her letters, but I loved Jennifer and her romance with Brendan. This book is worth reading for them alone. And it's short enough that you can endure reading Sam's letters without wasting too much of your life.

Warning: SPOILER!

When Brendan went into surgery, I was CRYING! And I loved it!

Couldn't put this book down,,only took me 1 1/2 days to read it.God reading.

Worth the $2 I spent on it at the used book sale. (They lost me when the hero brings an electrocuted kitty back to life - oy!)

I have always enjoyed reading anything James Patterson has written, but this such a switch from his normal writing, I really didn't know what to expect. Boy was I surprised!!! This is one of the absolutely best written stories I have ever read. It was heart-wrenching, hilarious and a true love story. James Patterson has certainly outdone himself. Hopefully these marvelous stories will continue along with all of his wonderful mystery writings. Five stars aren't high enough ratings for this book.

well this book is packed with action and suspence. I felt like if I was watching a movie,very fast paced. It is a definite page turner. This is a must read book.

I am a huge Mary Higgins Clark fan. I love to read her books in between some of the more intellectual books that I read b/c they are riveting page-turners with a complex plot...usually. I picked this book up at the supermarket and was excited to hear that there may be a supernatural twist. Not only is this incredibly downplayed throughout the book, but there is a sense of repetition that was slammed home by the following exchange. On page 223 of the paperback Nell is speaking to detectives about a safe deposit box to which a key has been found. She says, "Can't you take it to the bank and find out there?" They explain the difficulties of finding a box without knowledge of the bank where it is located. The repetition occurs on page 291 where the detectives visit Nell's home and speak to her about the box as if it is the first time (i.e. a new discovery). She says again, "Can't you just take it to the bank that issued it and find out what is in the lock box?" Prior to this, I felt time and again that the feelings of the characters and the facts of the story were being unnecessarily repeated. I always liked Ms. Clark for her wit and quickness and I don't enjoy being written to as if I were a small child. It makes me question whether this book had ever been edited. She claims her long-time editor is Michael Korda, and I wonder if he somehow dropped the ball on this one. Ms. Clark is truly the Queen of Suspense, but this book should be erased from her C.V. The supernatural suggestions are misleading and should have taken the place of the constant reiteration of the facts and feelings surrounding the main characters. All in all, a dud.

Nell MacDermott, granddaughter of Congressman Cornelius MacDermott, has had psychic premonitions for as long as she could remember. One day her husband Adam Cauliff, with whom she had argued that morning, held an architectural discussion aboard his boat with a few associates. While he, Winifred Johnson, Jimmy Ryan, and Sam Krause were on board, the boat suddenly exploded. All four were reported dead, but only Krause and Ryan's deaths could be proved. Meanwhile, Nell was struggling to cope with the loss of her husband, and her grandmother suggested that she see the famous Bonnie Wilson, a renowned psychic. She hoped that it would help give her closure on the matter. After her visit, Nell was completely convinced that Bonnie was a true psychic, and that she had really spoken to Adam through Bonnie. But the two detectives on the case, Brennan and Sclafani, found new evidence to suggest that the explosion had been set by someone on the boat who had somehow escaped. The suspects were quickly narrowed down to the unconfirmed dead, Winifred and Adam. Nell was having an even more difficult time coping after this news, and she resorted to clearing their apartment of anything reminding her of Adam, except the blue blazer that he was supposed to have worn the day of the explosion. A safety deposit box key found in his coat pocket further connected him to Winifred, and the detectives soon deduced that he was the person seen escaping from the burning boat, and that it was a real possibility that he was still alive. But the detectives unearthed some background on Adam Cauliff that unnerved Nell to the point where she felt she had to go to Bonnie to contact Adam in the spirit world for answers. While she was there, Adam came up behind her, shot her, then bound her and lit the room on fire in hopes that she'd burn alive. But she was too smart for that. Nell crawled over to the window, broke it, and cut her bonds on the broken glass. She was then able to try to escape out the window and let the police on the ground know that she was up there. Adam and Bonnie's combined weight on the old fire escape was too much, and it collapsed with them on it, killing the both of them on impact with the ground. Nell escaped, burned and cut, but alive, and she succeeded in winning the election to Congress and followed in her grandfather's footsteps.
Before I Say Good-Bye was a good suspense thriller, though it lacked a solid plot.

The characters in this novel were well-developed and quite life-like, though their actions were somewhat predictable. Mary Higgins Clark has a certain indescribable way that she unfolds her characters, and this technique comes through in all of her books. But the only problem I have found is that she often reveals a little too much about one person, and this person is usually the culprit in the story. This excess information leads me to know that this person is the real guilty party in the story. Conversely, this characteristic could help her to write the best thriller she's ever written. She could get her readers used to the way she unfolds the story, then *Boom* she could throw a monkey wrench into the pattern. Her readers would be astounded! It would be a perfect idea for the "Queen of Suspense" to use in a brand-new thriller.

In the other books of hers I have read, the plot was fairly stable and easy to follow. But in this novel, the plot was very unstable and shifted around a lot. That's not to say that it wasn't a good book, it was just a more difficult read than most of hers that I've read. The plot jumped around a lot, and switched points-of-view so often that I was left saying, "What?! When did that happen to her? Oh, wait, that's someone else."

In conclusion, Before I Say Good-Bye was an interesting thriller by the Queen of Suspense, but it wasn't thoroughly complete, in that it was slightly tough to follow. I would definitely recommend this book for any fans of Mary Higgins Clark, but not for someone new to her works.

-C. Edwards

I still don't know if I like the grandfather. He is controlling and a little stuck up. The storyline and plot went well and I stayed interested throughout this book. So, I gave it a modest ranking. I really wish that I could have learned some more about how the boat was blown up exactly. It is amazing that someone that you know for such a long time can turn out to be your enemy.

Quite honestly, I just can't understand how people can actually enjoy this drival. Not worth your time unless you are a devoted Mary Higgins Clark fan.

This a book with so many mysteries. Maybe the greatest is how can Delaware be wrong so many times about so many things and then everything becomes crystal clear to him. Still, it's an enjoyable read, and Kellerman does do a decent job of fleshing out many of the minor characters. Delaware's propensity to develop outlandish scenarios on the barest of evidence did get a bit tiring. Overall it was good book with an ending that you didn't see coming from page 1.

I love all of the Alex Delaware books! I have the entire series and have almost finished them. Sometimes some of the books are slower than others, but for the most part I am always thrilled! Jonathan Kellerman always comes through!

The first Kellerman book I have read, and possibly the last I think.
It was Ok, a murder mystery that delves into the world of prostitution and porn. It didn't leave me wanting to read more from this author, but judging from other reviews on this page, it is possible I started with the wrong book.

When Alex Delaware, former counseling psychologist turned consultant to LAPD, has a former patient murdered, he seems compelled to try to find the murderer. He contacts his friend, Milo, police detective, and they work on the case together. Kellerman's style of writing is very descriptive and enjoyable. Also, the book is fairly suspensful (and a little far fetched at times). Despite a few flaws, it is an enjoyable read. I actually listened to this book on tape and it was easy to get into. This is the third book I have read by Kellerman, and so far it's my favorite. I like the way the author chooses to have the main character, Alex, reveal his thoughts about various people as suspects. He often sifts through his thoughts, and it keeps the reader in tune with who the character sees as the most likely suspects. I would recommend this book as a great starting point, if you were interested in trying out Kellerman.

Seems to me Alex has been getting increasingly obsessive over the years and in this one, he is going over the deep end.

Out of nowhere, Psychologist Dr. Alex Delaware gets a frantic phone call from the mother of a former patient. Lauren Teague was a troubled teen when Alex tried to treat her years ago - one of his failures. After years on the street, though, the 25 year old woman seems to have turned her life around and is currently a psych major at the U - influenced by her brief visits to Dr. Delaware as a teen. But now, she is missing and her mother fears the worse. Alex does what little he can to try to find her, but when his pal Milo Sturgis, the homicide detective, finds her murdered, Alex becomes absolutely obsessed.

He starts neglecting his girlfriend Robin, he disregards Milo's warnings and goes snooping on his own. Is it because he feels he failed Lauren all those years ago? Or is the case merely a welcomed distraction from his own disquietude? And he's not his usual erudite self in this one either - he gets a lot of things wrong - almost gets himself killed. He gets enough right, though, to lead Milo in the right direction and eventually the tangled conspiracy is unearthed and the true tragedy is revealed. But at what expense? Will his relationship with Robin survive?

You have to have a little respect for someone who can find a way to say the same thing a hundred different times. Oh my goodness, Steel can create great plots but it boggles my mind that her editors let this repetition go unchecked. Of course, I keep buying this stuff because of its pure fluff value. I love chick lit. This audiobook has had me throwing things at my ipod speakers, though.

This was the first book I've read by Danielle Steel, and I must say I'm glad I did. It was a little bit too repeating sometimes, Danielle tells us the same things over and over again, but it's definitely worth reading it anyway. Once I'd got started, it was hard to stop reading it, and I'm a 100 per cent sure that I will remember this story for the rest of my life.

The book is about Isabelle, a warm-hearted and lovely woman who lives an unhappy life in Paris. Her husband seems to hate her, her youngest child, Teddy, is deadly sick and needs her to take care of him and her daughter Sophie is busy living her own life. Isabelle lives for her sick child and has no other choice then to let Gordon, her husband, treat her however he wants to, because she needs him to pay for Teddy's treatment which he'll refuse to do if she'll cause him any trouble. But Isabelle has got one thing she appreciates more then anything else - she has her daily phone calls with Bill.
Bill is also stuck in a loveless marriage and he's afraid to get a divorce, because he thinks that it might hurt his career. He lives in the US, has two daughters and a wife which is constantly unfaithful to him.

Anyhow, Teddy is getting better so Isabelle decides to do something she's never done before - she's going to make a short trip to London to meet Bill there and leave Teddy with his nurses. Everything turns out just fine and they're having a great time, until Bill's limousine gets hit by a bus. Within a few seconds both of them are put in between life and death and now they have to start their long journey back to their old lives. But is it even possible after the things they've experienced together..?

yes, the writer seems to repeat herself a lot in the story. i almost thought there were only two characters after reading the first 100 pages. but then it grew better, and even more appealing towards the last 100 pages. it is a decent novel, and i'm glad i read it. it is not as thought-provoking as the two novels of anita shreve i read, but i certainly enjoyed the reading.

I had never read a Danielle Steel book before, and decided to give her a try, given that she is so popular and has so many books published. I was pretty disappointed. I agree with the other reviewers that the plot is unrealistic; however, if a book is unrealistic but well-written and engaging, I would still like it. I think the biggest problem with this book is the author's excessive repetitiveness. Yes, I get that this character is really cold and unloving---that was already covered 50 pages ago! In addition, character traits could have been better conveyed through situations, rather than simply stating, "so and so was a devoted mother" and repeating this fact again and again and again. These flaws in the author's writing kept me skipping through whole sections of the book. This book did not leave me wanting to read more of Ms. Steel's books. It is an ok book if you like romance and very easy, repetitive reading.

This the first of Daninell's books I read. I learnt that she was the Queen of romance novel since I was a teen. I'm a little disappointed by the book because it's really boring for most of the part. It's like reading an alternative version of Princess Diana's traffic accident. I realize that Daniell likes to repeat herself a lot. There are too many reptitions of descriptions of all kinds. It's also too predictable. To me, everything that Bill did is really cheesy and unreal and his stubborness of rejecting and denying Anabelle after he became paralysed makes me wonder what a tyranny psycho he is that he just wants to inflict pain on the woman who loves him and who has nobody there for her at all. It's really hard to believe any man who acts so unreasonably stubborn on his own version of love and happiness that he can actually be an ideal partner for any woman. Men like that are normally pretty controlling and emotionally abusive. This is the major element in the book that really turns me off. I have to admit that the last part where Anabelle finally convinced Bill to be with her is quite touching. I think Ms. Steel does have her crowds of fans. My boyfriend's mother had been crying all the way thru the book.

The story and characters were great. I won't give away the ending, but suffice it to say the ending wrapped up too neatly, was implausible, and uninteresting. Makes the reader feel cheated, especially given how good the book was until the last couple of chapters. Consider Christie's ABC Murders instead.

The author has chosen to set his story in Oxford among mathematicians, which initially appears odd, and remains so throughout the book. There is a lot of conversation about numbers, numbers theory, and various famous math folks, intersperced with murders (or what appear to be murders). The plot, shorn of the math parts, moves along briskly, and the ending does come as a shock, so the book is well worth reading, if you can handle the math!

This book is billed as a mystery for intellectuals (several glowing quotes printed on the cover). Actually, it's a mystery for those who, without developing themselves into disciplined thinkers, would simply like to see themselves as intellectuals ("the cover says it's for brainiacs, I bought the book, therefore I must be . . ."). Without playing the spoiler let me just say that maths and logic are central themes (and several concepts are presented amusingly), but the story itself is lacking logic at nearly every turn. In addition, if a mystery is supposed to keep you guessing until the end, you'll be sorely disappointed. The who in whodunnit is quite clear WELL before the end and subsequent misdirection is painfully clear. Finally, whether it was the author's or the publishing company's idea, the use of formula structure and writing make the book unnecessarily dull and predictable not only in plot and resolution, but in development and flow as well. I read an article recently which claimed that blurbs on book jackets are now "for sale" by reviewers and celebrities. I think we found a smoking gun.

The central premise, which finds both the police force and a renowned logician collaboarting with a young graduate student whom they have no reason to trust, snaps credulity in two. And the mystery itself, drily told and slowly paced, ends on a note as depressing as it is unlikely. You'd think the setting would evoke some heady atmosphere, but the author devotes almost no attention to Oxford or its history. A cold, hollow novel about cold, hollow people.

The book was short and a fun read. The author threw in mathematical theory, philosophy and history. There are several problems with the book but every British Whodunit has them. Character development was poor and I had a hard time caring about any of them. The book used red herrings and false endings to bad effect. The romance was okay. The "denouement" was fairly weak. Since it is a mystery, I won't divulge it. Needless to say I was disappointed.

The best part of the novel is the location at Oxford. The author wrote about the different locations. The mathematical philosophizing after a while became gibberish, but in the early parts of the book the philosophy and puzzles were entertaining.

In summary, I enjoyed the book more than I was disappointed in the ending.

I would recommend this book for sure. Yes, it is simple but that is the whole problem with the forex market and why 90% or higher do not know how to trade. There are so many "systems" and folks are confused. He shows how to trade with a high probability in this book but it's his personal testimony that I identified with most. It got me headed in the right direction by pointing out that I must use discipline or NO system will work. This is not the only information you need to learn to trade but a good one for your collection. I really enjoyed the book a lot.

Before you put your money on the line, READ THIS!

This book is a quality item for becoming acquainted with the reality of trading forex.

Good advice on the psychological aspects of trading.

I would recommend every beginner in Forex to read this book. As a person without any financial or investing background I like this book. It was my first book in the industry of market and explained me in simple words what Forex about.

The first day trading book I read was John Carter's Mastering the Trade. The 2nd book was Jared Martinez's book here.
So I'm a bit of a newbie. John Carter's book is not specifically on Forex. But I have to say, John's 3 pages on Forex have more substance than Jared's entire book. The other thing that is quite confusing about Jared's book (maybe I'm totally missing it) is that no where in the book can you see a basic overview of what the "10 Essentials" are!
Jared obviously is using this book to try and sell his MTI software.

The one thing that I found to be useful was his basic and repetitive reminders of how our personality type, emotions, etc. will effect our ability to be successful. I know this is somewhat obvious, but it helps to keep hearing it.

Jared Martinez talks to you one on one in this book. I have read other books and they tend to assume you have done forex already. This book starts you from the ground up and although allot more may be required in the world of the forex it is an EXCELLENT OVERVIEW to get your feet wet in a least paper trading. An excellent buy for new beginners. Easy to read, Easy to Understand.