Park Books

We have been hiking the National Parks in the West for almost 20 years and this is the most valuable trail book I own. The information on each trail is completely accurate with respect to distances, maps, directions, etc., and the naturalist notes are very informational. We have completed 75% of the hikes in this book and have enjoyed every single one - some have even been done two or more times. The book is small enough to carry in a fanny pack. I have thrown away all of my other Yellowstone hiking books as this has become affectionately known as "The Bible".

We bought this book before a trip to Yellowstone with our family. The book was very helpful in helping us find trails that our whole family could do. The pictures and discriptions were very helpful in the planning and telling our kids what to look for.

This is an excellent guide to relatively short day hikes in Yellowstone. Provides good descriptions on what you will see on the trails and it's small enough to take along on your hike.

Very thorough description of trails. Chart of easy, moderate and strenuouos trails is helpful.

As a veteran of more than 35 years of wilderness backpacking in all kinds of weather and every season of the year my brother-in-law and I decided to shoot HD video in Yellowstone.

We did not want to do a wilderness trek on the first time out with all new video gear so decided day hikes were best. We did 20 of 29 of the hikes in "A Ranger's Guide to Yellowstone Day Hikes" in 7 days and covered 70 miles on foot.

This is a great book, one of the best I have seen in my years of hiking and backpacking. Each trail is unique and amazing. Some are tough but even the steepest trail was not so bad for a 54 year old with 35 pounds of video gear on his back. Trail ratings are true, so you will NOT be surprised by a gargantuan climb that is rated as moderate. Strenuous ratings wisely reflect both length and elevation change.

If you have room for only one day hike book in your travel gear this IS the book. If you are a seasoned backcountry expert or a beginner you will not be dissapointed.

This is not only the authoritative account of the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone, but also a profound insight into the process of getting things done in American conservation. The return of the Yellowstone wolf was the greatest triumph of species restoration in American history, and there are many lessons to be learned from this book. It's also a thrilling murder mystery, as federal agents track down the killer of the magnificent Wolf Number Ten. Written for adults, but great for kids as well.

Residents this reason have heard lots about wolves, but Thomas McNamee brings a fresh perspective to the story. He was a part-time rancher himself while writing this captivating book, but was also drawn to the wolves more deeply than he had first realized.

McNamee himself is a character in this book, giving it an inviting and personal air, but does not force his views on the reader. He shows the reader a federal wildlife agent tracking a wolf-killer outside of Red Lodge and even opens the window on curious rivalries and tensions between agencies involved in various chapters of the wolf story. Parts of the book are almost dramatic in their intensity, while others slow the pace as the wolves romp and play.

I loved this book! The only complaint I have against the book I bought was the lack of pictures. I had checked this book out from the library and it was full of pictures of the wolf.

If you have any interest in the return of the wolf to Yellowstone, this book will definitely be an asset to your library.

I would rate this book a '5', if it was the illustrated issue.

Thomas McNamee is a passionate writer as well as a consummate naturalist, and what he has done in this book is a remarkable feat; to tell the story of the Yellowstone wolves from the perspective of a denizen of the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem/one who owns a ranch within the wolves' new domaine/and an enrivro who questions his own, in addition to other's, emotional involvement with the issues raised by the their re-introduction. To do this all in a book as readable as this one is is a great feat. If you love the West, love Nature, or just want a surprisingly suspenseful story of the animals survival, the political and social implications of the wolf and, by extension, the ideals of the Endangered Species Act, you must read this book -- You won't be disappointed. It's a personal journey with implications for all of us who care about the imperiled natural world.

I have been studying the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone for some time, yet this book not only gave me tons of new information it also made the information palatable by bringing with it humor and wit. Mr McNamee has an insiders view, being both a rancher and a wolf lover. Few people could see through both seta of eyes as clearly as he does, yet he makes it seem so easy. If you are to pick one book about the wolves of Yellowstone to teach you as much as possible I recommend this book to you. I do feel like he rushes details at the end of the book, but since the saga is not over, the book was hard to finish I suppose. Other than that small detail this is a great book with lots of facts and easy, witty, reading. Enjoy

I really like this book. This is my second one because my daughter took my other one with her when she moved. I teach an Affirmative Prayer / Science of Mind Treatment class and I use this book as a reference for the class, as well as recommend it to all my students. It's easy and quick to read and would be a good purchase for your reference library. For beginning students, it's good because she gives actual prayers for you to work with. For more advanced students and practitioners, it's very good as a reminder and reference.

One of the best books on the subject. It's clearly written in a friendly, happy contemporary style.

THINKING FROM THE INFINITE is the perfect resource to empower you, transform your thinking, emotional and mental state, and thus your life. Delightful and easy to read chapters interspersed with life application and short writing assignments make this book IDEAL for those who are ready to go from where they are to where they want to be. The prayer treatments energize and give me a zing deep inside and reminds that all is well and unfolding perfectly in the palm of God's hands.
What a relief!

Encouraging, inspiring and transforming - THINKING FROM THE INFINITE is an invaluable resource that you will turn to upon rising each day and before going to bed at night. You'll notice the positive shift within as you move about your day and see small and big miracles unfold.

May all your dreams come true as GOD will do exceedingly and abundantly above all that we could ever ask or THINK. THINKING FROM THE INFINITE is the solution as problems get smaller and smaller while GOD gets bigger and bigger in your life.

Happy Reading!

Reviewed by Marina Woods [...]

Thinking From The Infinite: 4 Practical Steps To Empower Your Life by holistic transformation consultant Carell Zaehn, is an impressively written spiritual self-help book on learning to focus the mind, choose personal goals and then effectively and actively pursue. Zaehn addresses embracing the power of attitude and soul in overcoming dilemmas of money, love, depression, and much, much more. Highly recommended for self-help reading lists, Thinking From The Infinite is a decidedly thoughtful and very positive guide to personal self-improvement.

This insipring book is a gift in itself, even if it has not been given to you. For matters of complicated, everyday life, this book provides practical, easy and effortless answers and solutions to questions and problems. This book is not just about how to "fix things when things go wrong". It is also about upping your everyday consciouness, having more energy, a smile on your face, and how to be a happier person within yourself. For me, this book has helped me find strength, happiness, intelligence, and willpower within myself and not have to rely on the outside world. I am currently a senior in college, appling for graduate school, balecing a social life, a family life, and a job. When things get overwhelming I use the principals and practices laid forth in this book. I highly recommend it to anyone of any age, no matter the situation. Academic institutions teach the scientific connection between mind and body, this explains the practical connection between mind, body, and everything, and to use it to your advantage.

I went back and forth on buying this because of the price. Hard to spend that much on an unknown (at least to me) author. But I am so glad I did. I couldn't put it down. It was so cool! Now I have another author on my MUST BUY list. Anybody interested in a great new horror series should definitely pick this one up! I hope it doesn't take long for the next ones to come out!

Trailer Park Trash & Vampires is much more than your average shallow horror trash novel. Mr. Wayland has done away with the aristocratic bloodsuckers of Eastern Europe and replaced them with gritty, primal, and at times surprisingly human monsters. The author not only reinvents the vampire genre, but also creates characters that are powerful and easily related to. Readers will quickly forge bonds with the blue collar residents of Little Drop and their satanic assailants. Black humor abounds in this highly imaginative and blood-soaked romp through Anywhere, USA. If you are tired of the same old one-dimensional rehashed horror clichés then I strongly suggest you pick up a copy of this book. An all around great read.

I did not know what to expect, when I first picked up a copy of "Trailer Park Trash & Vampires", but I was in for quite a surprise (a few of them in fact). I have always been a fan of horror film and prose. However, I can think of no time when a novel has so captured the humor, intensity, and disturbing imagery of a good old B-horror movie. This is a great read, that accelerates all the way to the end. I can't wait to read the next in the series. Good luck to all of Little Drop, and its surrounding parishes.

This book was amazing. Think Pulp Fiction meets Evil Dead Trilogy. Wayland's grasp of character and humorous overtones were real treats. And his portrayal of the vampires as sensual, strikingly human persons was especially interesting. There's plenty of action, insanity, and, of course, sex to keep any hot-blooded reader (vampire or human) hooked. On a side note, this book has so much alcohol, I got a buzz just from reading it!

If you are looking for the glitzy hollywood-pretty vampires, which politely and quietly feed and sip upon the high society of Europe, and then delicately wipe their lips with a lacey wet-nap and break for tea and biscuits to discuss Faulkner --- look elsewhere.

If however, you like your vampires dark, unpredictable and bloodthirsty, with an animalistic axe to grind against the food chain of humanity - with lots of good ol' american sex and violence mixed in...You should proceed on pawning your Playstation or VCR now to get the money to get a copy of this book. Now. Right now.

This book is more in the range of say, Dean Koontz or Stephen King in his Richard Bachman era:

Gritty and full of vivid characters who you can empathize and identify with and set in an area that could really be anywhere, including your hometown. Pick this book up, and you will be compelled to finish it.

Great story and would make a great movie. If you consider yourself a horror fan, you owe it to yourself to pick up a copy.

This was a great book and I am looking forward to reading the next one. It has some deep complicated writing at the get go but you catch on quike to everythings meaning and it really is writin well.

I really enjoyed this novel. It took some time to get in to because the prologue bogs you down with a lot of new information, but once you get into the main part of the story, it's pretty enjoyable. There are some spots that lag somewhat, but considering this is Park's first novel, I was very impressed. I was starting to rush through to find out what happened at the end. I'll definitely be looking forward to the sequel, although I hope they do better with the cover art for it. I did not like the art for this edition.

...or at least that I've personally read. Normally I don't seem to get into many fantasy books; science-fiction is my genre. So imagine my surprise when I was drawn into this fantasy book with no desire to put it down in sight.

Greg Park has created a new world for any and all fantasy lovers to delve into with "Veil of Darkness". The characters are the most in depth, real people you can find outside of real life. The locales are exquisitely described, and the reader can immediately see himself behind Jase, following them across the plains and through the forests, into the cities and towns, all while on the run from the Shadowhounds.

This book is a must-read for any lover of fantasy anywhere. You'll be hard pressed to find many better fantasy novels than this, and the next few can only promise to be just as good.

In an epic fantasy novel, Greg Park has managed to combine exciting story with well-rounded characters. With gripping battles and life-like situations, we are given insight into the details of this world. The book goes the perfect pace, never slacking off or speeding up to confuse the reader. It is a book that will not confuse you, but may cause you to reconsider deeper meanings of life- the choices we have to make, whether or not they are good, or evil. Park takes the reader on a journey they will never forget, a shadow of Jase Fairimore couldn't have been written more clearly or perfectly; This book is something that leaves you waiting for more, begging to know what comes next. An engaging, thrilling story, with only better yet to come. It is worth every penny it takes to buy it, and never will your money have been better spent.

Honestly? It's a once-in-a-lifetime book, something you won't see daily. Thankfully, we have the chance to read more, in four coming books. In the meantime, we have one of the best pieces of literature at our fingertips... Veil of Darkness is simply the best.

I found Veil of Darkness to be a wonderfully gripping book with lively characters, brilliant battles, and intense scenes. It is obvious that the author has nurtured and cared incredibly for this novel and the rest of its series since it was an inkling in the back of his mind. I was enthralled as the book played out the characters' personal struggles and triumphs. I've always enjoyed love triangles and one presented by this book has become an all-time favorite. Should you only read a single book this year, I implore you to choose Park's Veil of Darkness.

The Blue Ridge Parkway, almost 450 miles long, connects Shennandoah National Park in Virginia with Great Smoky Mountains National Park astride the North Carolina - Tennessee border. In between it traverses some of the most beautiful mountain areas in North Carolina and Virginia. Although it provides splendid views from the road itself and from its many roadside overlooks, it is much more than a scenic drive. It is a ribbon of land administered by the National Park Service, at several places broadening into wider mini-parks. All of those parks as well as various other spots along the parkway's route have hiking trails that give visitors a closer look at the many natural wonders there. This book, as a comprehensive guide to those trails, is the one most indispensable guide to getting beyond your car and the overlooks in this remarkable National Park Service land. All of its official trails are rated in this book as to difficulty, from very easy to quite strenuous. Thus there are ample hikes for whatever level of wilderness adventure you're up for. Each hike is described in details, with points of interest described in the order you'll encounter them, with mileages to each from the trailhead. Some hikes described herein also get beyond the parkway's own lands, into National Forest lands that border the parkway in many places, as well as occasional adjacent commercial attractions such as Grandfather Mountain. Any visit to the Blue Ridge Parkway should be quite rewarding, and this book is one of the best resources for making it even more so, showing that you'll never be very far from places to park and take a walk for a more intimate view. And you definitely should sample at least some of the shorter and easier walks, if not the longer or more challenging ones, depending on what you're up to. This parkway is a natural treasure well-worth exploring, and this book may well be the quickest way to learn that there is so much more there than meets a casual eye.

for a day trip, a weekend trip, or a long vacation. We have hiked and camped in several of the places mentioned. I have lived in NC all of my life and did not realize there was such enriching trails and escapades off the parkway. I wish I had known about this book while attending WCU! Take it with you, it is very worthwhile.

Designed as a "drive awhile - stop awhile" recreational road, the Blue Ridge Parkway is the most visited unit in the National Park Service. It has 17 million visitors a year as compared to 10 million a year for the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. But the Parkway is more than a beautiful drive; it is also a good base from which to hike. Adkins describes all the ways that we can get out of the car as we explore the Parkway. From a leg-stretcher to a view of Glassmine Falls Trail to the eighteen miles of the Shut-In Trail, Adkins gives a contextual introduction to the hike as well as step-by-step directions. He rates each hike from an easy leg-stretcher to strenuous.

My only objection to the rating is that the author considers too many hikes as strenuous. For example, Adkins labels the Snooks Nose Trail, eight miles round trip and described as "not well-maintained and hard to locate" as strenuous. The two-and-a-half mile round trip hike up to Mt. Pisgah, on a clear, well-marked trail, is also rated as "strenuous". Hikers will have to decide what strenuous means to them. Ratings aside, the book is necessary to anyone looking for a variety of hikes in the area. The appendices are also a wealth of information. He lists every feature on the Parkway along with its mileage, all the inns and campgrounds as well as a roadside bloom calendar

My wife and I have just come home from a 3 week trip along the entire parkway. We started the trip with Hiking the Blue Ridge Parkway, but ended up buying Walking the Blue Ridge at one of the visitor centers. While Hiking was ok, we found Walking the Blue Ridge to be the better of the two. It was very easy to use, easy to find information, and full of wonderful tidbits. The way the mileage data was set up in a vertical way made it very easy to use while we were hiking the trails, simple to always know where we were. In the Hiking book we had to wade through a lot paragraphs just to match up the descriptions with where we actually were on the trail. Also, it was obvious that the author of Walking the Blue Ridge had actually walked every one of the trails he was writing about. It was also nice knowing that it gave descriptions of every one of the trails along the parkway, even if it was just a short pathway; the other book neglected some that we found to be truly delightful. In addition, its smaller weight and size made it much easier to carry while on the hikes.
All in all, we were happy to have found Walking the Blue Ridge and will be using it often.

The Blue Ridge Parkway, almost 450 miles long, connects Shennandoah National Park in Virginia with Great Smoky Mountains National Park astride the North Carolina - Tennessee border. In between it traverses some of the most beautiful mountain areas in North Carolina and Virginia. Although it provides splendid views from the road itself and from its many roadside overlooks, it is much more than a scenic drive. It is a ribbon of land administered by the National Park Service, at several places broadening into wider mini-parks. All of those parks as well as various other spots along the parkway's route have hiking trails that give visitors a closer look at the many natural wonders there. This book, as a comprehensive guide to those trails, is the one most indispensable guide to getting beyond your car and the overlooks in this remarkable National Park Service land. All of its official trails are rated in this book as to difficulty, from very easy to quite strenuous. Thus there are ample hikes for whatever level of wilderness adventure you're up for. Each hike is described in details, with points of interest described in the order you'll encounter them, with mileages to each from the trailhead. Some hikes described herein also get beyond the parkway's own lands, into National Forest lands that border the parkway in many places, as well as occasional adjacent commercial attractions such as Grandfather Mountain. Any visit to the Blue Ridge Parkway should be quite rewarding, and this book is one of the best resources for making it even more so, showing that you'll never be very far from places to park and take a walk for a more intimate view. And you definitely should sample at least some of the shorter and easier walks, if not the longer or more challenging ones, depending on what you're up to. This parkway is a natural treasure well-worth exploring, and this book may well be the quickest way to learn that there is so much more there than meets a casual eye.

When a self-improvement book is reviewed I always look for actual experience from people who have tried the methods in the book - not just those read it and agree with it. Well now I am reviewing 'Walk Your Blue's Away' and I can say unequivocally IT WORKS, at least for me. All of my adult life I have been prone to depressive episodes from rejection and loss - even if the loss is very small. Recently a loving and satisfying relationship of 5 years was broken off by my partner. I knew from experience I was poised to nosedive into depression. This was despite many years of zealous embrace of cognitive behavior therapy in which the two sides of the brain battle. An adverse event triggers dejection, anger, depression. With cognitive therapy you have to identify the irrational thought that supposedly triggers your negative emotions, dispute the thought, and find a rational and sensible substitute thought. The problem was the negative emotions would take sometimes years to dissipate and I was constantly ruminating and flashing back to previous events. What Thom's book does is address healing. When you heal from emotional trauma with this method, the two sides of the brain actually are successful in integrating reason and emotion. With cognitive therapy reason and emotion seemed to constantly battle one another without resolution. You might win a battle but the next day another begins. I contend that after 5 daily walks following the simple guidelines of the book, the crushing sadness of rejection has lifted. The memories that previously would trigger bouts of depression are still there but now in the distance. They no longer dominate my mood allowing me to concentrate and get on with my life. At the end of each session my thinking was especially sharp - the corrective rational thoughts that I tried for years to marshal with cognitive therapy were at last automatic. Everyone suffers loss, rejection and emotional trauma. The key, as Thom says is, to facilitate your ability to heal naturally.

I ordered this book on a lark. Before I ordered it I had a very successful EMDR session and this book shows a perfect way to get the same benefits. It addresses trauma and how to process it so it becomes something of the past. I can't recommend this book enough for anybody who is stuck in a painful situation, has PTDS, or simply wants to become more alive to the moment. EMDR:
American Psychiatric Association (2004). Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients with Acute Stress Disorder and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients with Acute Stress Disorder and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association Practice Guidelines.

* EMDR was given the highest level of recommendation (category for robust empirical support and demonstrated effectiveness) in the treatment of trauma.

Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense (2004). VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Post-Traumatic Stress. Washington, DC.

* EMDR was placed in the "A" category as "strongly recommended" for the treatment of trauma.

This is a very insightful little book, and will make a great contribution to any therapists tool box

We've all been told that walking is good for us. This is an excellent source for learning about the mind and the benefits of walking. The author explains the mechanics of how and why walking helps us to process things like creativity, events, problems and/or solutions as well as healing. Gives specific techniques to use.

This is one of the most useful, informative and interesting books I've read.

It's a simple concept: our bodies usually heal rapidly from injury but our minds can suffer for years from upset. Now there's a method for combining the healing powers of the body with the mind: walking, a therapy which actives both sides of the brain to remove 'stuck' emotions. Case studies supplement the author's tips on how to use movement and mind awareness of the stress to mitigate its effects. New age and general-interest health collections alike will find this inspirational.

A highly detailed account that is part of a published series from the Florida University System. It has terrific detail and the writing style is enjoyable. Chock full of photos! Gives a perspective on the park that tells the positive and negative impacts on Florida of these attractions. I liked that it also gives a perspective on development of other water attractions in Florida and the people. I never knew that Ricou Browning, who played the underwater role in "The Creature from the Black Lagoon," had so many other accomplishments and played a large role in the Florida springs attractions. I really enjoyed this book and I believe it is a real bargain for the price. Recently, I visited the park and if you get to Florida I can recommend Weeki Wachee Springs for a great fun-filled day!

I ordered this book by mistake thinking I put it on my wish list, and am sooo glad I got it!! It is a wonderful book not only about the mermaids of Weeki Wachee, but also a history of Florida and the Roadside shows. It brings one back to a simpler, more wonderful era. Very moving and nostalgic. Now I must make a trip to Weeki Wachee. Great book for mermaid lovers.

Book was recommended by a former Mermaid from Weeki Wachee - it's a great book, well done - wonderful pictures and history from the area.

I grew up in a small town just a few miles from the Springs in the 40's and 50's and Weeki Wachee was our old 'swimming hole' where the men of the town would go clean out the 'grass' every summer so we could all swim and play even tho the water was ice cold and we would shiver and shake but refuse to get out and warm up. I remember a lot of the things happening that are included in the book and knew some of the 'mermaids' since I went to school with them and our P.E. teacher was also a mermaid. I spent many summers trying to learn how to eat a banana and drink a grapette under water(I never did accomplish this). This book brings back lots of memories and I think anyone who can 'remember when' would enjoy it and also anyone wanting to see a slice of 'old Florida' would also enjoy this book. I took my grandchildren back to the Springs last summer where we saw the mermaid show twice and once again swam in the icy water. They tried to be mermaids for weeks after and were enchanted with the 'mermaid' idea just as I was back in my day.

Lu Vickers has captured the history and essence of a very special Florida attraction in this book. This book offers a glimpse into a fascinating place during a very interesting time in Florida's tourist history, where the unusual was the draw. It has obviously been written with great care and attention to detail, and is a beautiful homage to the legacy of Newt Perry's vision & creation. We are very lucky to still have this historical and unique attraction~ perhaps this book will help to further encourage locals and tourists alike to take a trip and visit this special Florida icon. Doing so will help to make the experience of watching such graceful and talented performers available for future generations.
~Marina~MeduSirena~

We used this book to plan, execute, and review an amazing trip through Southern Utah. The guide covers much more than the two National Parks listed in the title, including Arches NP, and Capital Reef NM, among others. Not only was it extremely accurate, but it was remarkably entertaining to read. This book is a must-have for anyone venturing into this beautiful part of the country.

This was an invaluable resource for our 16 day trip to southern Utah. This book also includes information for the other national parks in Utah. We used it every day on our trip.

This book is the best and most informative source of useful information for visitors to the national parks of southern Utah that I have found. It provides information on: the most popular hikes, popular restaurants, good camping sites, activities, descriptions of geology, flora and fauna, and brief histories of the early cultures, explorers and settlers. The book is very well written by authors who obviously know their stuff. All material is presented clearly and concisely and in a manner that enhances its usefulness. I recommend this book whole heartedly.

Great little book. I do not know why it is named "Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks". This book covers all the national parks, monuments and State Parks in Utah. For each area, the book gives information on what to see depending on the amount of time you have to visit(half day, one, two, three or more days). For each location it gives you the sights to see, trails to hike and other activities to do in the area. Along with places to stay (Hotels, Motels and campgrounds), places to eat, equipment rental and more. This book is small enough to put into your glove box.

Excellent book. My husband and I recently went on vacation to Southern Utah. We planned on visiting 5 national parks in Utah. I had purchased other books in addition to this one to prepare for the trip. I had no idea that this book would contain so much information about Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands. It was far more than I expected from the title. It even covered Moab. We booked everything last minute and called from one location before arriving at the next to secure hotel rooms. All the recommendations for lodging and dining were accurate. We were so pleased with this book that we purchased the Lonely Planet guide to the Grand Canyon while we were in Moab since we were visiting the Grand Canyon as part of this trip. I will definitely use their guide books again. They are well organized and are great for a quick reference. I kept this copy in my purse the entire trip. I would pull it out frequently to look up information about touring the parks or to find a place for dinner.

I absolutely love this series. They are the kind of books you cannot put down until you have finished them.

I am a total book addict, I read at least two books a week. I read a lot of this type of book. I keep up with the majority of the most popular series out there right now. (Sookie Stackhouse, Eve Dallas, Joanna Archer (Zodiac series), Joanne Baldwin (Weather Warden series), Dante Valentine, Rachel Morgan, Betsey Taylor (Undead/Unwed series), Aisling Grey, etc. etc.) However, I hate talking the time to write a review. The fact that I'm doing so for this series is a sign that I really, really, like it.

Honestly, I've O.D.'d on this genre. I picked up the first book in the series (Once Bitten, Twice Shy) from the library only because I couldn't find anythig better to check out that day. I really wasn't expecting much. Wow! What a nice surprise.

The books are smart, action packed and well written. Jaz Parks (the heroine) has a great, snarky sense of humor. Some of her observations and comments had me literally laughing out loud. In addition, I'm a sucker for romance, and the chemistry between Jaz & Vayl is great. If I have any complaints about the series so far it's that it's taking too long for the two of them to REALLY act on their attraction.

Oh well, I guess I'll just have to hang in there. I can't wait for the 3rd book to be released. I hope it's as good as these first two have been.

Jaz and Vayl's latest mission finds them pursuing stolen biotechnology, and saving the world...again. :) Also along for the ride are Cole, Bergman and Cassandra. The group goes undercover at the Corpus Christi Winter festival - fighting reavers, human extremists and dragons. Jaz is still dealing with her unresolved issues and once more the ultimate villain (Samos) proves to be elusive.

The thing I adore about this series is the relationship between Jaz and Vayl. They have great chemistry together, but the situation doesn't feel forced or rushed. They are still having misunderstandings, very realistic as he's a vampire and is over 300 years old. At certain points in the book Jaz is somewhat self-involved, and thus there's a delay between Vayl's actions and her grasping what he's about. Unfortunately by the time she's up to speed, he's brooding. It's realistic though, because she's still dealing with the death of her fiance. She's trying to resolve the issues in her sleep, so you have to pick up the cues when surreal stuff starts happening, as she doesn't always realize she's dreaming. Very well written.

The dialogue is again snippy, sarcastic, witty and self-depracating and I find Jaz's internal commentary hilarious. The banter between the characters means you are racing through the pages whilst at the same time not wanting it to end. There are so many quips to choose from.

"Something was stuck in my throat. If I was a guy, I'd have sworn they were my testicles."

My favourite is the 'snippy' comment on p59 of the UK issue. Just like book 1 the story is peppered with moments that make you laugh, wince and surprise you. And for those of you who've read book 1 and remember the hula dancing quote, p3 'belly dancing'. nuff said.

We learn more about the other members of the team in this book. Especially Bergman and Cassandra. Though it's not necessarily in what they say, but more in their behaviour and actions towards each other. There's a definite friction between them, which makes for some snappy dialogue. He's very much of the technological and Cassandra is of the magical.

There are also things left unresolved here that I think it will be important in upcoming books. Especially Cassandra's vision. Of some concern is that it's hinted Jaz might be developing new powers. Always a bit of a worry in urban fantasy that your hero/heroine is going to be 'The One' and become super-powerful and boring. But that's a concern for a future book.

Also available:-
Book 1 - Once Bitten, Twice Shy
Book 3 - Biting the Bullet

This second book in the Jaz Parks series is every bit as good as the first (which was, incidentally, great). Sarcasm, humour, action, mystery, romance... These book really run the gamut, without ever letting up. There are continuously things that are being thrown at Jaz, Vayl, and their companions, making each page a study in 'how to keep your readers flipping.' It was, quite truthfully, very hard to put this book down, because it was so chock full of Important Conversations and Pivotal Events. You couldn't help but keep reading.

As the second book in a series, Another One Bites the Dust certainly delivers. There are some answers for questions brought up in the first book, some (halfway?) resolutions, but then there are also new questions raised which have me iching to get my hands on the next books. This looks to be the start of a new favourite series!

Ever since the Anita Blake series turned into bad porn, I've been hunting for a good urban fantasy series, with plenty of action, vampires and a likable yet tough female lead.

Well, I may have found what I'm looking for, in Jennifer Rardin's Jaz Parks. Her second novel "Another One Bites the Dust" has plenty of guns, gore, evil vampires and brewing world wars, but Rardin doesn't lost her grip on the inner intricacies of the characters, or the tongue-in-cheek way they do their jobs.

New target for the team: a Chinese vampire and his acrobat troupe, who are performing at the Corpus Christi Winter Festival. Even worse, he stole Bergman's invincible "dragon armour."

So while Jaz struggles with the prospect of public belly-dancing, she finds herself facing a crabby undercover team, soul-devouring reavers, religious fanatics, and a luxury yacht full of vampires consulting with Chinese generals. As if that wasn't bad enough, Jaz is being haunted by nightmares about her fiance and brother, which always end with her almost getting killed -- for real.

And it's getting progressively more dangerous to poke around the acrobats and their bosses, especially when Jaz finds that reavers are only called in for one thing -- to start world wars. The armour, reavers, and acrobats are all wound up in an international conspiracy -- and to stop the big bads, Jaz will need all her team's technical and supernatural skill.

That stiletto boot with knife in strap sort of suggests that this is some sort of vampire-slaying chick-lit. That's rather deceptive, because "Another One Bites the Dust" has none of that.

In fact, it's sort of a vampire-slaying secret-agent story, complete with dress-ups, romantic tension, lots of gory death and torn-up bodies, and a gloriously explosive, kinetic final chase scene that is worthy of an action movie. Rardin weaves in some enjoyably comic moments and entertaining dialogue ("It sounds like someone's seesawing dental floss inside her nose!" "Are you sure she's not our target?").

But she balances out the fast-bang action and international conspiracies with a healthy dose of Team Jaz exploration. Since all the good guys are crammed into a largish RV, we get to see how these guys operate when they're forced to spend a lot of time living together-- and it's a credit to Rardin that she keeps things from ever turning sitcommy. Blech.

But none of this would matter if Jaz weren't a likable, tough, believable heroine... and she is. She's smart, funny, a little too reckless, and acutely attached to all of her coworkers. But this time, she's forced to deal with her unresolved, guilt-riddled feelings about the death of her fiancee, and the source of her suicidal nightmares.

And her team is no less likable -- Vayl is one hot gypsy vampire, though I'm glad the smoldering tension between him and Jaz doesn't overwhelm the storyline. Cole, Bergman and Cassandra add their own quirky, sometimes dramatic edge to the story, and we get some very nasty villains, including a "Dragon Lady" vampire and a bunch of ravenous three-eyed reavers.

"Another One Bites the Dust" is a solid, enjoyable story for anyone who likes their vampire stories fast and witty, and their heroines strong and likable. Definitely an author to watch.