Kearney Books

I like the book a lot, particularley the bit about the little cat. He has a bomb the furry devil. He has caused much damage becuase he likes milk too much. He is extremely dangerous in his outlook.

A book about growing up in Dublin in the 1950s.

Despite mentions of real-life people, and a deliberate effort by the author to fudge the line between fact and fiction, it is apparent that most - if not all - of it is fiction. But my main beef with it is the drawn out tedious writing.

Bottom line - there are a couple of funny stories in it, but having to wade through the rest of the book to get to them is too much like hard work.

Knut - you reviewed a different book - NOT "The Consequence"

The 2 reviews from "A Reader in the UK" and the review by a Mr Ernest Borgnine (obviously not the Hollywood actor), I suspect were written by the books author, or a close friend.

The review written by "A Reader in San Francisco" is right on the mark.

This cold-war thriller had me on the edge of my seat. The bit where Gogol is chased across the icepond by rabid mink is one of my all time favorite scenes. I also enjoyed the closing section in Red Square where Flaherty is shot eight times in the buttocks and takes out twenty soldiers with his 'dynamite suit'. If it's action and bloodlust you're after, buy this book. Dick Francis meets Alistair McLean. Marvellous

I debated giving this book four stars rather than five since I have read it eleven times and still do not fully understand it. QUESTION 1) If Flaherty's 'dynamite suit' is his "greatest defence", why is he the first person to die when it goes off? QUESTION 2)How did the mink get rabies? They did not have rabies at the beginning of the book. Also I feel that there are some factual errors in the book. Flaherty would not have been allowed to carry an atomic bomb through Russian customs. They would have detected it and he would have been denied entry. I especially liked the bit where dynamite is strapped to cats and they are used as mobile bombs, though direction proves a problem. The first cat returns home for a dish of milk and blows up the flat rather than KGB headquarters, which he was supposed to do. The point seems to be that cats, though co-operative do not make reliable terrorists. Perhaps Flaherty should have selected another animal. For example, a dog. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an exciting read, though the plot is quite complicated.

As someone who is very familiar with houston and the surrounding area, i find this book a bit disappointing and dont agree with many of the authors suggestions, but if you are totally new to the area, this may be an good starter book I suppose, but frankly, stick to Galveston, Kemah, Brenham, Beaumont, and you'll have a good time and find lots to do in and around these places, frankly i dont care to drive two hours to some town of 300 and eat at some dive and stay at someone's house, id rather take in historical Galveston, or the Kemah boardwalk, or Crocket Street in Beaumont, but hey that's just me.

This book would be great for someone who really has nothing to do,loves to drive around, and won't be sad if they don't find much at the end. I was looking for more at the end of the journey especially with gas prices where they are now. Driving 2 hours just to have BBQ is not worth it to me. BUT if you are driving somewhere anyway and want to know what is along the way by all means this book will be informative. I say borrow it from the library.

We are new to Houston, and have lots of company, as well as liking to explore and find new restaurants, shops, activities, beautiful views, etc. for ourselves. We have learned so much about Houston and the surrounding area in a few short weeks thanks to this book. And, every recommendation we have tried has panned out well!!

We just moved to Houston and have been using this book to find fun places to go in Houston. It is a very detailed book and contains little mini-histories on each town in and around Houston. I am sometimes overwhelmed by how much is in here - it is sometimes tricky to figure out what is worth going to. I have supplemented this book with "147 Fun Things to do in Houston" which is much more user friendly. I find a fun thing to do in the 147 book, then I look in this book for other fun stuff that might be close to the real attraction. It is also handy to have a guide for nearby eateries.

Overall, this is a very handy book and if you really want to get to know Houston and surrounding areas well, this book will really help.

How many times have you considered the VFW a local eatery?
We tried using the book and found it to be a serious let down. A day trip to Sealy? What is the purpose? Hinze's Bar-B-Que is very good but you can find better without leaving Houston.
To be fair, we did not try all the trips, but the ones we did try left a lot to be desired. Not for people interested in getting out of the car.

Not as good as 'The Challenge' but the premise is interesting and the content was very sexy as always.

As has been noted, this is a new-ish direction for Susan Kearney. Many people are familiar with her other sci-fi series (The Challenge, The Dare, The Ultimatum and The Quest). This book is a little different, in that is set here on Earth, and the aliens come are the minority.

Cade is from a planet where any children that are no the first-born sons are essentially slaves. When his first-born brother shoots him out of the sky and he lands near Shara's private island, things change. Cade is here to open a portal to his planet and make some kind of trade agreement between our world and his. Shara is on the island to escape from her movie star past that ended with a scandal.

One of the things I like best about Ms. Kearney's books is that she gives real reasons behind why people do the things they do. Motives are real, actions ring true. I like that Cade and Shara behave in the ways you might expect them to (assuming we can guess how an alien and a movie star would act).

The story is different and the world-building is done well.

Shara Weston is a retired film star who lives alone on her island in the South Pacific, recovering from the tragic death of her lover four years before. However she is somewhat surprised to see a man fall from the sky into the water and she goes to help him, discovering that he is rather unusual. Not only unusual because he dropped from the sky but other things happen that seem a bit off, for example he recovers very quickly, his clothes seem to change magically, and he has an obsession with salt. Fairly soon Cade Archer tells Shara that he is an alien and needs the volcano on her island to create a portal to his home world to transfer salt, something that is lacking on his world and an unjust hierarchy is in place which rations salt only to special people, 'The Firsts'. Cade's own brother Jamal is a First and is trying to prevent Cade's mission which is to find three special machines which are needed to make the portal and have been scattered around the planet. However, Shara's friend Jules has visions which usually come true and one of her visions predicted just this, and that Cade's actions would destroy the world. Shara decides to appear to help him and then, when convenient, to scupper his plans.

The action moves from Shara's island of Haven to Hawaii and then mainland USA. Various other people are involved in the plot including Jules, a security expert, a reporter and a vulcanologist. Shara and Cade face dangers all around including escaping a burning building, an aeroplane crash, being stranded in the desert, being held at gunpoint and being controlled by the mind of Jamal. However they seem to shrug all this off with remarkable aplomb and this especially goes for Teresa Alverez, the security expert, who seems to recover almost overnight from being tortured by Jamal and left for dead. Although obviously parts of this story have to be beyond belief (being about aliens) it was actually harder to swallow the actions of the humans in this story.

The romance aspect is less important to the story than the earth-destroying plot and in some ways it's a romance born of nearness and mutual appreciation rather than anything else. Cade is worried as he starts to gain powers that previously were reserved only for the Firsts, including mind control, and he uses this on Shara occasionally. She seems remarkably phlegmatic about it and apparently glosses over any future problems and they are also both amazingly forgiving of some of the dodgy and untrustworthy things they do to each other. And that's my main criticism with the book; the action is OK, the plot is OK but the alien aspect just doesn't work. There's no world-building as one would expect, the aliens aren't human and yet seem to have no problems having sex with humans and even making babies with them. There seems to be minimal adjustment needed by Cade to this alternative world and although we learn that his culture sees relationships with women very differently than on Earth, he is able to commit to an Earth-type relationship within a week. It's OK to suspend disbelief when reading this genre of novel but there's a little too much of that in this story.

Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book, [...]. © Helen Hancox 2007

For me, this is not one of her best. It is readable and enjoyable but not a keeper.

This semi-new direction in Kearney's writing had potential but this book was disappointing. However, if you're a die-hard fan of her work you'll probably enjoy it.

To me there was something missing - and I think it had to do with the characters but I cannot quite put my finger on the problem. Maybe it's because Cade's acceptance of his newly awakening power takes too long and is too awkward. Or maybe it's because there is a lot of build up but the resolution and subsequent "mutual forgiveness" between the H/h was too quick. The ending really wasn't good in my opinion.

I'm not sure but this book is NOT a "keeper" on my bookshelf!

After reading the book "Jesse James Lived & Died in Texas" written by Betty Dorsett Duke, one would have to wonder how the historians who continue to deny Mrs. Duke's book as "history-worthy" can sleep at night!

Instantly I could tell that the photos in question are definately one and the same! It doesn't take a expert in facial recognition(which, by the way, the book is backed up by numerous "experts" who claim the photos in question do have a high degree of facial similarities)to determine that the photos in the photo comparison section are definately the same.

The book is full of interesting stories on Jesse James....stories that have never been mentioned in any history book. I found the book to be very enlightening and stimulating.

Take my advice....read the book! It's a must read!!

I guess I will have to take a trip to Texas, in order, to see where the real Jesse James is buried!

Betty Dorsett Duke's book, shows very strong evidence that Jesse James really did fake his death and lived to a ripe old age. Unlike most other books on Jesse James; the photographs were verified by qualified experts and it's evident the Author actually took the time to research her theory. Also of great value is the Author's proof that the 1995 exhumation in Missouri was a farce.

Betty Dorsett Duke's book gives very vague evidence that her great grandfather, James Lafayette Courtney, was in fact Jesse Woodson James. Most of the proof revolves around her "he said" or "they said" theory. Her text craftily stretches historical truth but fails to provide sources for any of her so-called facts. This fairy tale might satisfy the longings of some who still believe Jesse Woodson James escaped his bank and train robber reputation but until hard evidence comes forth, conventional history has not been challenged here.

The book reveals many years of research by the author. The family pictures of her great-grandfather and other family members were compared to known historical James family pictures by well known experts and they came to the conclusion that they were the same people. If you are interested in the true facts about Jesse James, then this is a very good book to read. There have been several people trying to discredit the works, but they do not have proof and only their opinions.

I would recommend the book to anyone interested in the historical facts about Jesse James. Also the Author is writing a second book on more research she had done. Watch for the printing of the second book, if you are interested in the true facts about Jesse James.

One would think that after the 1995 exhumation and DNA testing books claiming that "Jesse James never died" would simply cease. This book, while apparently sincere and well intended is to well documented history what the National Enquirer is to serious journalism. The author presents photos, supposedly of her kin, which also supposedly resemble those of Jesse James and his family. Well, maybe not quite. It's easy to see the differences with the naked eye. The best judge of all this might be the author's family. Do a web search under the author's name for a feature article, in which she sought an exhumation order for her Courtney/"James" ancestor to the chagrin of other relatives.

The second empire continues the war with Corfe battling endlessly to save the beleagured country. There is a little more about the beast from the west and hawkwoods return voyage but only enough to set us up for the next book.
I think the previous 3 books are probably better since more seemed to happen in them, but this has to be read to get to the next book, and probably the next one after that. I found myself bored with the endless battles and uncertain as to the use of Corfe's ex wife as the sultans concubine and queen ( I don't think thats a spoiler since it is indicated in "iron wars". I do wish there was some indication as to the number of books in this series since I am not sure my interest in the characters can be sustained for another 4 books. This book is really one endless battle and could probably have been contained in one or two chapters instead of a whole book. Maybe you should skip it and just read the "what has gone before" in book number 5.

The first book did not totally grip me, but by the time the third and fourth appeared I was fully enthralled. A truly gripping story with all the intrigue and twists you could want. The characters are gritty and composed of the kind of flaws that bring them to life. I agree with some of the editing comments, but it did not reduce my enjoyment of the yarn as a whole. Bravo and I eagerly await the next one.

This fourth book of "The Monarchies of God" is full of action!
The Second Empire mainly concentrate about Torunnas war against the Merduks. We also learn what happend with Hawkwood, Bardolin and Murad and their return to Hebrion, not to mention the Ramusian Church and their internal struggle.
This book describes war in a very realistic way, with the heroic warrior, what they think before going to battle, the death and the sorrow afterward over dead comerads. For those of you who don't like to read about war and battles this is not the book for you! I think that you then easely can read about it in: "what went before" in the fifth book. But then again, if you can't handle to read about war... Well, then why read this serie? It's full of violence and describes human kind as we can be at our worst, and we can also see parallel to the European history where the church controlled the lives of the people and it's struggle with the different king/s.
The first three books are just as good as this one.
This serie is a fresh contribution to the world of fantasy.
I can't recommend it enough!
ENJOY!

"The Second Empire" is book four of "The Monarchies of God" and is even better than the first three novels. Most of the book deals with the war between the Merduks and the Torunnans. Unlike the the last book of the series, people such as Richard Hawkwood, Murad, and Bardolin do make appearances, but this book really centers on Corfe Cear-Inaf.

Corfe is the leader of Torunna's army and is battling a religous war with the Merduks. In the last book the monks Avila and Albrec have brought forth a document that says that Saint Ramusio, the Westerners savior, and Ahrimuz, the Merduks (Easterners) savior, were the same person. This is a fascinating discovery since the enemies really idolize the same God and the war is frivolous due to religous reasons.

The plot of this book made me think about certain things that are going on in our world. There are religous clashes happening today and this book makes you wonder if Paul Kearney borrowed from current events as well as history. Kearney borrows greatly from Renaissance history and this makes for a different feel to the book compared to others. I am used to reading books that take place in the medieval times but this is different as this book has guns and other things that weren't present back in medieval times.

Most epic fantasies are known to be long books that are well over the five hundred page mark. "The Second Empire" is amazingly under three hundred pages and this book is better than some of the very long stuff that you could read today. Because of this this series would be great for somebody that is not willing to read door stopper size novels. The fourth book of "The Monarchies of God" is a truly amazing read that will be enjoyed by fans of the series and fantasy fans in general. This is a great read.

Happy Reading!

There's no doubt that Paul Kearney has the ability to spin a powerful yarn. The politics, the drama, the plot twists, the characters, they're all there. But I base my rating of a story's quality on its ability to hold my attention. And nothing diverts my attention more than flagrant spelling errors which should have been caught in the proofreading stage. These appear throughout the novel. Rather than galley proof reviews, "The Second Empire" was apparently given a quick run through a spellchecker, without regard for the results. When I read "I am tyred, Betanza thought. I am tyred, and I am older than I think I am.", I imagined Betanza as a golf cart rather than leader of the Inceptine Order. If the author is tired of the story, he should just finish it and spin us another fascinating tale. Ace Books should be more careful.

Back in the early nineties, Scott Smith wrote the definitive "what one act can lead to" novel, "A Simple Plan." That was a brilliant book and few have been able to come anywhere near it's domino effect crime. However, Kearney tries mightily hard in this thriller, which all occurs in one long day. Chuck Hausmann and his new wife, Gretchen, and step-daughter, Kara, return to an isolated island in the middle of Lake Superior, to attend the reading of his father's will. We soon learn Chuck is hated by pretty much everyone in the little village. We also learn Chuck had been married before and his first wife died under mysterious circumstances; Chuck feigned insanity to keep out of the draft. From the get-go, we know Gretchen and Kara are in for some dark, disturbing moments. The island is populated with stereotypical characters, but still they're interesting antagonists. We do wonder "Is Chuck really the insane killer" the town makes him out to be; was Mary's death really an accident; did the old man really extort money from his church-going parishioners; and is Chuck telling the truth about anything?
The novel spins towards it's unusual climax, and many people suffer because of one lie, one betrayal. Sharp and enthralling, this is no "Simple Plan" but is a fine psychological thriller, with an unexpected ending.
RECOMMENDED.

This book reminds me of one of those low budget horror movies. The writing is pretty elementary and undeveloped. However, I had just finished reading a novel by Dan Simmons and I guess that didn't help. If you enjoy Dean Koontz, Robert McCammon, Stephen King, and Dan Simmons then this book will probably be a disappointment.

This is a suspense novel with little whiffs of Hitchcock and Anatomy of a Murder. It kept me up all night last summer, while the loons by the lake outside outside a-hoo-ha'ed.

Good stuff!

As I began to read this one, I felt like groaning aloud: "Oh, not another one about a brave mom having to defend herself and her child against evil!" In the end it is so only to a point, and the book ends up developing in a rather unexpected direction. Its ambiguous story (and dubious morality) would have been the stuff of a very good book, but the characters are flat and never seem to come across as quite alive, except the teenager Kara, who soon steals the protagonist role from her bewildered mother. The book is entertaining enough, however, which is no small feat.

Gretchen did not think she had to know about the details from Chuck's past when she dated him or even when they married, since it is the man he is today that matters. She appreciates and likes his concern and protectiveness for her and her sixteen year old daughter Kara and is not all concerned he was a hell raiser in his youth. When the three of them go to Madeline Island off Lake Superior for the reading of the will of Chuck's estranged father, Gretchen wanders if a little foreknowledge might have given her some warning about what awaited them on that isolated area. It is a shock to learn that Chuck escaped the draft by going to Vietnam on a mental disability, that he, in fact, was institutionalized for some months. It is even more unnerving to learn that he was once married and that wife died in a mysterious drowning accident, one that the townsfolk still believe Chuck caused. The more time they spend on the island, the more Chuck changes and though Gretchen tries to believe Chuck's explanation for his odd behavior and illegal activities, there comes a point where she becomes afraid for her and Kara's lives. She makes the decision to cut and run when one final revelation makes her believe that Chuck is capable of anything including murder. This decision throws them into a life and death situation with no place to hide. The inhabitants of the island will remind readers of "The Children of the Corn" all grown up and unfathomable. However it is the anti-hero Chuck, who will mesmerize the audience as he constantly makes the world doubt him and themselves. Robert Kearney has written a spine tingling work of psychological suspense and terror, made all the more frightening because the story line is locked into an all too real world not a make believe imaginary scenario that could never possibly happen. HOLE IN THE WATER makes our worst nightmares feel like children's dreams. For that reason alone, this is one book worth buying at any price. Harriet Klausner -

"Midnight Magic" is a collection of three stories themed around a painting that is able to give people a second chance at their lives.

"Second Chance" by Rebecca York sets the stage for these three stories, introducing us to the painting "Midnight Magic" which is a door to a different time and place for those who are ready to use it. Sara Drimmon owns an antique shop and is still recovering from the unexpected death of her fiancé Matt in an arson attack nearly a year before. She is invited to visit an antique shop and, when there, sees the painting Midnight Magic and is told that it can give her a second chance. Not expecting anything to happen she takes a closer look at the painting and finds herself back in time to a party a year before where she first met Matt. She has a second chance with him and presumably the opportunity to change events so that he doesn't die in the fire - but will she mess up the opportunity.

The device of going back in time to re-live your life is an interesting one. Right from the beginning Sara behaves differently in the hopes of changing the course of history, partly through choice and also because she knows so much about Matt this time whereas last time around this was their first meeting. She has to keep secrets from him this time as she doesn't think he will believe her if she tells him the truth, but in keeping her counsel she is behaving oddly to him. Will their relationship actually continue as it did first time around or will he be put off? Sara soon discovers that events are different in this timeline and that she may not be able to save Matt this time around either. Although an interesting story it felt rather superficial on many levels. It was hard to get much sense of the characters and the plot device of Sara keeping her knowledge of the future to herself sometimes seemed to be awkward - I felt like saying "just tell him and get it over with!" In such a short story it's difficult to really work with the characters and plot but the 'baddie' seemed to behave in a remarkably foolish way at the end, just so the story could wrap up neatly. It was an interesting read but nothing special.

"Ulterior Motives" by Susan Kearney uses the same device of a magical painting for a very different effect. Merline Sullivan is a famous singer hounded by the paparazzi. When taking refuge in an antiques shop after a car accident she finds herself drawn through the painting to somewhere completely new - and without oxygen. As she passes out she sees a man leaning over her. When awakening again she finds herself in a hospital on a space station somewhere a long way from earth and three hundred years in the future. Her original rescuer, Tomm Jabal from the planet Siraz, tries to help her with information about the world they are in but she's a rather headstrong lady and finds herself making a contract to sing with someone else. It goes rather wrong, she has to be rescued; when the action shifts to a pastoral planet she still finds herself being pursued by a nasty man.

The concept of the painting that allows people to travel to different times and places has great possibilities but the execution of the story in this case wasn't very good. The plot seemed very facile in that Merline seems able to escape remarkably easily from her problems, she settles in to an entirely new world incredibly quickly and her singing is apparently so fantastic it's known galaxy-wide. The hero in the story is a rather shadowy figure - we never really learn much about him and his thoughts and feelings - and his interactions with Merline are rather cardboard and one-dimensional. The story didn't really have much tension, it felt sometimes more like a travelogue as Merline wanders through this new world, guitar case over her shoulder. This isn't a story with much depth or characterisation - fine for a light read, disappointing for someone who wants a little more from a paranormal romance.

The third story in this collection is "Temptation" by Jeanie London set in 1713. Nina de Lacy and her guardian, Gray Talbot, Earl of Westbury, have moved to the United States. Nina is blessed or cursed with the ability to see the death that people are likely to suffer if she touches them - she can give them advice during this touching to help them to change some of their decisions to move towards a better death. Gray Talbot is the only person she has ever met whose touch doesn't cause her to live these experiences. However when she and Gray see the face of a red-haired man in the painting Midnight Magic and discover that he is a local shipbuilder and artist she finds another man who she can touch and whose behaviour and decisions are very different from Gray's. Nina feels a real debt to Gray but she can't avoid the attraction to Damian the artist - which man should she choose?

This story is a very different feel to the other two in this varied collection. Although set 300 years ago the historical accuracy isn't that strong - the names of all three protagonists aren't right for English or Scottish people of the period - and Nina's behaviour is strikingly unusual for a titled lady of 18 years old. She has to decide between Gray and Damian and although the story is interesting and it's not easy to see what the conclusion will be, the actual conclusion is probably one that would not appeal to many of the readers - myself included. Damian seemed rather unheroic for a hero and Gray wasn't much better as he didn't seem to really connect with Nina or to understand her. Some of the background detail such as shipbuilding and the artist arranging his portrait was well written but the characters never really came to life and it was a rather disappointing story overall.

Originally published on Curled Up With A Good Book at www.curledup.com. © Helen Hancox, 2007

In the antique shop "Second Chance" resides a painting that is unique. It is titled "Midnight Magic". Legend states that it was painted by a sorcerer as an escape hatch. He did not get what he wanted out of this life and he longed to escape to someplace better. So he used magical paint to create an environment where he could be happy. Once the painting was completed, the sorcerer entered the painting, traveling into the universe he'd created on canvas and never returned. When most people look at the painting, they see only dots. However, once in a while, the painting seems to choose someone who is deserving of a second chance. When that person looks upon the painting, they see shapes, objects, and/or people among the dots. And if the person wants it badly enough, they can step into the painting being transported to the past, future, or even off of Earth; depending on where the painting knew the person needed to go. As this book begins, Mr. Garrison is the custodian of this special painting.

SECOND CHANCES by Rebecca York
Antique dealer Sara Drimmon is contacted by Mr. Garrison to come view his gallery. Sara enters the painting to find herself transported one year into her past, to the first day she met Matt. Matt had been the love of Sara's life. But he had died in a burning building. Arson had been involved. Now Sara has been given a second chance to find love with Matt. She must, somehow, change events without anyone believing she is crazy. This will be hard to do since Matt is only meeting Sara for the first time and Sara's mother had been classified as Depressed before she died.

ULTERIOR MOTIVES by Susan Kearney
Merline Sullivan is a beautiful singer who has lost her voice. While running from the press, Merline takes refuge in an antique and art gallery. The new owner, Sara, locks the doors to keep out the press. While waiting for the press to give up, Sara shows Merline "Midnight Magic". Merline enters the painting to find herself transported to Space Station Alpha-Gamma Five, far from Earth. The medic program upon the station heals Merline while she meets her rescuer Tomm Jabal of Siraz. From Tomm, Merline learns that she is over three hundred years in the future. The beautiful singer must adapt very quickly and hopes to use her singing talent to get back to Earth. Problem is that Dubane Fik, the station's wealthiest resident, intends to cage Merline as his own, personal, song bird...literally.

TEMPTATION by Jeanie London
Set in 1713, St. Michaels, Maryland. Nina de Lacy has a rare talent. However, she knows not if it be a blessing or a curse. With the tiniest touch of someone, Nina sees their death and, during her visions, gives them directions toward salvation. Gray is the only one who has ever been able to touch Nina without consequences. Of course she must be careful. There are those who would call her a witch. With her always is her stoic guardian, Gray Talbot, Earl of Westbury. They had left their homeland and came to the colonies for a chance at a new life. Gray takes Nina to sit for a portrait painting with Master Verbrugges. It is not long before Verbrugges has the two standing in front of "Midnight Magic" and explaining the legend. Gray and Nina both see the same thing, a man staring back at them. Even more startling is the fact that the man they see is nearby. His name is Damian Hart. And Damian had seen THEM in the same painting. Master Verbrugges urges Gray and Nina to meet Damian. Strangely enough, Damian also can touch Nina without consequences. Nina finds herself with a difficult decision and the two men must wait for her to tell them their future.

***** This novel will haunt your imagination for quite a while after your completion of it. Each author tackles a different time and place, yet remain linked by way of the painting. I give one word of warning though; this book is only for those who believe in the magic of possibilities. Excellent! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

A mystical painting connects past, present, and future lives in the anthology, MIDNIGHT MAGIC.

1). Rebecca York: "Second Chances." - Rating: D+ (2 Stars).
Sara Drimmon's fianc?, Matt Tripplehorn was dead. Someone had murdered him. Now a mysterious painting gave Sara a second chance to be with him. Sara could go back in time to when they first met. Remarkably, they could be together again. She was overwhelmed and delighted. Yet, a question lingered - was it possible to change their ill-fated future? Maybe! Yet, as Sara made the necessary changes, her actions turned bizarre causing Matt to rethink their budding relationship.

Reviewer comments: In SECOND CHANCES, Rebecca York delivers the message "Love conquers all." In a romance story, this is a great theory, except here - Sara's clingy, clutchy, and disturbing behavior would have driven any man right outta Dodge! There is no way, this guy would have stuck around . . . NOBODY would have stuck around! Skip . . .

2). Susan Kearney: "Ulterior Motives." - Rating: D- (1 Star).
Singing was Merline Sullivan and Merline Sullivan was success - so much so - that the annoying paparazzi stalked her. Sometimes the price of fame was too much to pay and Merline had a terrifying secret. She could no longer sing! How long could she keep the upsetting medical reports hidden? Maybe forever! Legend claimed a magical painting could take the right person, to the right place, at the right time. A fanciful idea? Maybe, but who cared? Merline was willing! The Dividend? Space Station Alpha-Gamma five - 300 years into the future! The Cost? She landed in the arms of Tomm Jabal from Siraz. The Final Payment? Merline transported to Siraz, to sing for Tomm and hundreds of thousands . . . of . . . farm animals! Remarkably, on Siraz, the animals produce an exceptional spice and they produce it, a whole lot better, if someone sings to them!

Comments: Good Grief! In ULTERIOR MOTIVES, Susan Kearney's advice "Be careful; what you wish for . . . you just might get it!" Sound thinking, but here, ridiculousness wraps itself around that advice. Kearney's story borders on absurdity! Dancing, prancing animals that produce a spice! Moreover, if inspiration hits them hard enough, the little bedeviling creatures also produce a rare aphrodisiac mist! Oh . . . my . . . SKIP . . .

3). Jeanie London: "Temptation." - Rating: B+ (4 Stars).
By a mere physical touch, Nina de Lacy could experience a person's life and always their death. Was this a gift or a curse? Nina thought it was a wretched affliction. Her valiant guardian, Gray Talbot, thought it was a sacred gift. Only Gray was immune to her power. Only Gray could wrap his arms around her and offer Nina warmth and love. Only Gray Talbot . . . until Damian Hart came into their lives. Damian Hart, with all of his seductive charm, was more than willingly to offer his comfort. Nina de Lacy was an exquisite young lady and Damian wanted her. But at what price? Was Damian the devil's temptation? Dejected and unhappy Nina pulled away. Mystifyingly, she relinquished to the mysterious painting and its power!

Comments: Finally a good story! The last entry, in this ho-hum anthology, is Jeanie London's TEMPTATION and it is a shame the publisher did not give Jeanie London more room - like the whole book. By far, TEMPTATION is the best of the lot. It has intrigue, it has lust, and it had my interest. If London's piece has a flaw, it is to wonder, if the three characters finally found lasting happiness!

Overall Comments: One good story out of three . . .

MaryGrace Meloche.
Reviewed for Romance Designs.
This review is based on an Advanced Reading Copy.

"Second Chance" by Rebecca York. Still mourning the loss of her beloved Matthew, antiques dealer Sara visits the Second Chance Gallery in St. Michaels, Maryland. Proprietor Marcus Garrison shows her a strange painting "Midnight Magic". When she looks deep at the picture she soon finds herself at the home of client Cornelia Ballinger who is Matthew's grandmother attending the gala where she first met Marcus; can she change history?

"Ulterior Motives" by Susan Kearney. Popular singer Merline dashes inside Second Chance Gallery to elude the paparazzi and soon looks into the painting Midnight Magic. The next thing she knows is that she is struggling to breath. Tomm from Siraz saves her life. He informs her she is on Space Station Alpha Gamma Five and asks her to sing with him on his remote planet, but she refuses as that is not in the direction of earth. She will soon reconsider his offer as a contract she signed proves too binding.

"Temptation" by Jeanie London. In 1713, Nina and her guardian Gray, who mourns the loss of his wife and newborn, visit portrait artist Master Verbrugees. The painter realizes Nina is an empath so he shows the Midnight Magic. She and Gray see a red haired man in the picture. Verbrugees explains that it is his former apprentice Damian Hart; he next shows them a sketch of what Damian saw in the painting - a picture of Nina and Gray.

These three fine paranormal thrillers will remind the audience of Rod Serling's Night Gallery. The novellas contain fine lead characters though the settings differ with the common thread being the painting that serves as the portal. Though many readers will want to know more about the original sorcerer-artist, MIDNIGHT MAGIC is a delightful anthology.

Harriet Klausner

Susan Kearney's story was the best out of all. This book was'nt what I expected. None the less the stories were put together very nicely by Susan Kearney in her part of the story. All in all not bad.

It was a good idea--connecting the 3 different romance genres (regency/historical, contemporary, & futuristic) by writing around a common object (mysterious box) in the past, present, and future. Unfortunately, the stories were mediocre at best, with the first one (Yesterday's Magic) being perhaps the best of the three. This one is going in my discard pile. I would not recommend it unless you are willing to be only moderately amused.

"Yesterday's Magic" by Jacquie D'Alessandro. In 1820 Cardiff Maxwell buys a hope chest at Gibson's Antiques and Curiosities just before Amanda tries to purchase the same item. He is cold to her efforts to buy the chest from him. Though the earl is known as the "Crazed Killer of Cardiff" due to the Scandalous Incident, he and Amanda fall in love due to the "matchmaking" of the hope chest.

"Today's Secrets" by Julie Kenner. While Ryan celebrates his taking over as head of Kinsey Applied Sciences, reporter Marty reflects on how disappointed her father, head of Allied International Technology, is in her. Marty and Ryan meet and are attracted to one another, but when he sees her hope chest with a special formula written on it he becomes fascinated with that. She wonders if he loves her hope chest or her.

"Tomorrow's Promise" by Susan Kearney. In 2705 Mars, womanologist Kendar looks back three centuries to doomed heroine Sara, a Martian archeologist, who tried to shut down a machine that ultimately obliterated the female population. While visiting Station 32 the site of Sara's doom, Kendar is sent back to 2405. He meets Sara. Together they must interpret the ancient Martian writings on the machine, a hope chest, or women will vanish from the planet.

This anthology contains three related romantic novellas that is fun to follow as readers gradually learn the secrets of THE HOPE CHEST. Each tale is unique with Ms. D'Alessandro providing a Regency; Ms. Kenner a contemporary; and Ms. Kearny a futuristic science fiction. Yet each tale is linked by fine writing that stars delightful protagonists and the overall lead the Hope Chest.

Harriet Klausner

I love a book that delivers heart-warming romance and heart-stopping suspense in one great package. This book certainly delivers both! And it's a great ending to the Sutton series.

I have read Little Boys Blue and Lullaby and Goodnight was a great book to continue that mystery surrounding the Sutton family and it even makes the other book better, because it gives us the link. The link to all the trouble that surrounds the Sutton family, but this book is not just about the "mystery"-it is so much more. The relationship between Rafe and Rhianna is thrilling in itself. I loved seeing it play out and unfold. I hate reading stories where babies or children are involved, but really play no important role. That is not the case in this book, Rafe and Rhianna's child plays an important role in their relationship and in the Sutton family. I love that the characters from the previous books were included. This is a great book. Even if you have not read the previos two books I would still recommend that you read this book, but I guarantee that once you do read this book that you will want to read the others in the series. Yes, they are that good.

Susan Kearney brings the story of The Sutton Babies to a close in "Lullaby and Goodnight." Eight and a half months after he slept with Rhianna McCloud, Rafe Sutton discovers she is pregnant with his child. She is also being stalked by an unknown villain. Can this surprise father protect his unborn child and the woman he's afraid to love?

The Sutton Babies began with the shallow but exciting "Cradle Will Rock," improved with "Little Boys Blue" and stumbles badly in its final installment with "Lullaby and Goodnight." There are so many things wrong with this story I can't possibly name them all. The biggest flaws include a man who sleeps with a woman and refuses to call her for nine months, then has the gall to be angry with her that he wasn't told about the baby. What a hero! Kearney already wrote a secret child story in the first Sutton book, "Cradle Will Rock." As I said with Joanna Wayne's Randolph series, aren't two secret babies in one family too hard to believe? (On the plus side, the child is used more effectively than in "Cradle Will Rock," and the characters' reactions are more realistic, if not heroic.) Add a heroine who makes one of the dumbest decisions I've ever read near the end of this book. Any respect I had for the character disappeared. Worse, this entire section of the story is unnecessary. The next to last chapter (not counting the epilogue) is useless, dragging out the plot for no reason, when the author should have used that space to expand her climax. The end of this book is ludicrous, wrapping up the entire three-book storyline in a page and a half. It's not suspenseful, it's not believable, and then the book's over! When I turned the last page, I thought, "That's it?!?" The abrupt ending is a ripoff for anyone who took the time to read about these characters over three books.

The solution that explains everything that happened in the three books makes little sense. We found out in book one that someone wanted to destroy the Sutton family. Now that I know why, I have to say, the villain could not have chosen less effective methods. Why did the villain create these convoluted schemes in the other books when there were easier ways to go about ruining the family? You won't get the answer here. I think the only answer is because Kearney likes writing convoluted plots. It made no sense. One question out of the many I had when I finished: Why did the villain stalk Rhianna instead of attacking or kidnapping her outright? Why was Cameron's wife killed in Book Two instead of trying to kill Cameron? Why try to kill the eldest Sutton brother in the first book and then forget about him after that? The series does not hold together. The ending not only made this book look worse than it already did. It made the other two look weaker than they were.

The beginning is also awkward and confusing. It's hard to figure out where we are in the time line for the first two chapters. The action throughout is all over the map in a plot that lacks focus. The romance is nonexistent. Rhianna loves Rafe from page one and spends the next 250 waiting for him to tell her. The "romance" consists of Rafe thinking "I can't tell her I love her, I can't tell her I love her, I can't tell her I love her....the book's almost over. OK, I love her." (That is not a spoiler. This is a romance novel. What else could he say in the end?) Rafe and Rhianna have no depth. Compare them with the characters from book two, "Little Boys Blue," two well-developed characters with strong rooting interest. What do we know about Rafe and Rhianna in the end of "Lullaby and Goodnight?" Next to nothing.

This is only the second one-star review I have given in two years. I know I'll still be slammed for "ulterior motives" or "grinding axes." I'm sorry. The year 2000 brought Intrigue titles like "Twice Tempted," "Midnight Remembered," "Texas Midnight," and a wonderful secret child story in "Never Too Late." Those were five star books, stories with depth, stories that made sense. To give this one four, three, even two stars seems like a stretch, would be an insult to those authors and those books. No one who's read those books or some of the other great Intrigue titles this year could think this one is anywhere near as good. "Lullaby and Goodnight" was a huge disappointment.

Concise collection of texts treating all aspects of Renewable Energy in a grown up manner. Valuable as a starter's information source but also for experts. Covers all the aspects of renewable energy sources and many ways to transform one form of energy to another.

Concise collection of texts treating all aspects of Renewable Energy in a grown up manner. Valuable as a starter's information source but also for experts. Covers all the aspects of renewable energy sources and many ways to transform one form of energy to another. Spans from biomass, biogas, solar collectors, solar cells to fuel cell cogeneration.

Concise collection of texts treating all aspects of Renewable Energy in a grown up manner. Valuable as a starter's information source but also for experts.