Authors Books

If I was stranded on a desert island and could only have one book with me, it would be "Cries of the Spirit". It has a wide variety of offerings and the excerpts from larger works leave you wanting more. Such richness! I never tire of it.

I've had this book for about three years, and given it as a gift numerous times to my women friends, because it's the perfect companion in any mood and for any occasion. Marilyn Sewell has collected a broad spectrum of poetry from women, both famous poets and not-so-famous, and collected the entries into categories that make it simple to find a reading for just about any occasion or ceremony. There are wise words here, beautifully presented. Bring this book back into print! Buy it! Have it on hand as an instant resource, along with the collections by Elizabeth Roberts and Elias Amidon ("Earth Prayers," "Life Prayers," "Prayers for a Thousand Years") for all those occasions when you need the exact right perfect reading for an important moment.

Marilyn Sewell's work on "Cries of the Spirit" was more than worth the price and I have wanted to thank her over and over. A death in the family and I grab her book to find the right words, a marriage and there she is again, providing a womans point of view from a variety of woman that I have found extremely useful. No matter the occassion, a new baby in the family for instance, and flip of the pages and Marilyn found one more woman who said what I want to say beautifully. Not to mention the times I sit alone, staring at the bay and use the poetry for inspiration for myself. "Cries of the Spirit" (and laughter I might add) is a worth while find!

A truly rich and diverse sourcebook of poetry and prose which defines women through our writings. The book is an anthology of more than 300 poems and several of prose pieces by such authors as: Annie Dillard, Denise Levertov, Maya Angelou, Alice Walker, Marge Piercy and earlier writers such as Hildegard von Bingen and Margaret Fuller. My favorite writings are from the hearts and minds of writers such as Joyce Carol Oates, "Growing Together," Margaret Atwood, "Five Poems For Grandmothers," Gwendolyn Brooks, "The Mother," and Annie Dillard "Holy the Firm". These writings offer visions of women from the ordinary to the eclectic. Marilyn Sewell, a Unitarian Universalist minister & doctoral candidate, offers an inciteful introduction to this book. I often dip into this book when seeking just the right poem to review or to remind myself how diverse the women's writing movement is. I give this book a huge FIVE stars. And I hope others will be able to enjoy this book as much as I have.

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This is the only anthology of poetry that I have ever read cover to cover without putting it down. This book is comfort, a talk with your best girlfriends, encouragement, enlightenment and thought-provocation all between two covers. I would recommend it for any woman's private library and the libraries of her friends who love good words, moving images and beauty.

This was given to me by my mother when I was a teen. I still have this book today and I read it over and over. This book is really good.

I have a 1970 copy of this book, and I love it, absolutely love it. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to get lost in a book for hours. You feel like you're walking beside Francie, and Sukie on the streets of Harlem. This book is a thumbs up.

From beginning to end, the book was enjoyable. Brutally honest and very mature, but an excellent read. Many times hit close to home, others were a learning experience (like the use of rags, the electric hair on juveniles, etc.) It was a quick read that I didn't want to finish!

Daddy Was A Number Runner provides a horrific historical and sociological picture of Harlem during the 1930's post-Renaissance era. The reader travels throughout the daily trials and tribulations of Francie Coffin, an adolescent girl living with her brothers, mother and father, who is a number runner.

Statistically we know of the crime, deviance, poverty, fatherless homes and emerging welfare system but what we do not read about is the human elements; the feelings involved. Through Francie's own words and her dreams we are able to feel and capture Francie's plight. While Francie appears to be somewhat naïve she is also able to navigate the streets and people within Harlem. Francie serves as an errand girl for her father, gets into scuffles with her friend and is a victim of molestation. On the positive side she is an obedient daughter and sister, attends school and she loves to read. For Francie, reading and attending movies at the theater is her salvation from the madness.

The book goes one step further to examine Black and Jewish relationships. These relationships are presented in the form of tenant/landlord, student/teacher, customer/business owner and domestic/employer and in each, the black characters appear to be the victims. While not harboring resentment towards Jews as a group, the characters demonstrate a dislike towards the individual because in each example the Black character is shown to be subservient towards the Jewish character for survival.

The characters portrayed are captivating and one of the books largest strengths is the ability of Meriwether to show some positive aspects of the inhabitants. Through all of this despair we find love, kindness and support of family and neighbors, male pride, the importance of education, and compassion. The word community resonates throughout this story and the women are the backbone of this community.

There is no happily ever after and everything is not neatly fixed at the conclusion for there is no conclusion. What we have is Francie's acceptance of her life and her community but also her ability to still dream of a different life. Meriwether has provided the reader with an assessment in the life of a small community but does not place blame on one entity. We, the reader, are able to empathize because Daddy Was A Number Runner offers a lesson in history that is relevant today. This is a story of family and the survival of it.

Reading Daddy Was A Number Runner for the second time as an adult was like visiting an old friend. I first read the novel when I was in junior high and the only thing I remembered from it was this freaky movie theater scene. That and the fact that it was good. Now that I am grown, I took a lot more away from it this time.

Francie is twelve and growing up in 1930's Harlem. She has two older brothers who have totally different aspirations in life. One wants to be a hoodlum and the other wants to quit school to become an undertaker. Her father, a number runner of course, is too proud to go onto public assistance and that causes a lot of turmoil between her parents. She has a best friend that likes to beat her up most of the time. Old white men try to feel her up whenever they get a chance. Francie really endures a lot for a person her age. If you are into period novels, this is a must read because it gives insight in a generation we know nothing about.

I had previously read some of these stories on Eskridge's website, after having become intrigued by her beautiful novel "Solitaire" when it first came out. That being said, even skimming the table of contents and realizing that there would be a bit of repetition in what I read gave me no pause while purchasing this book. So although I was prepared for a few of the stories, and reacted sort of in the same way you would when meeting an old friend that you hadn't seen in a while, what I was not prepared for was the impact of the stories as a collection. It's breathtaking.

The gender ambiguity that threads through the stories, particularly in the character of Mars but also subtly accented in the sexuality and qualities of Eskridge's other characters, was not, for me, the main focus. It evidences the author's skill in her prose, as well as an incredible openness about human potential. To me however, the book is about people, the way they become broken or mended, the way they become open or closed.

But "Dangerous Space" is not just about those places, geographic and symbolic, where we can become vulnerable. It's also about the thresholds that we need to cross, the moments that we need to share with other people to get there. Whether though love, or affection, or friendship, or lust, or just though a single moment of shared understanding, this is a set of stories filled with hope about the human capacity to connect. It is consistently delicately raw, and delightful.

Although I loved Dangerous Space as a whole, the character that appeared in 3 of the stories and who stood out for me the most was the gender ambiguous Mars. I have tried to put into words just how powerfully and interestingly I thought Mars was written below (there may however, be spoilers in this review, so please do not read on if you would rather wait to discover Mars for yourself).
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Mars And `Dangerous Space'.

"And Salome Danced"


This first Mars story did not fail to haul me in and intrigue me about Mars from the very beginning. Here, the character's voice strikes me as strong, vibrant and female, even though no allusion to gender is ever mentioned, apart from where concerned with the morphing of Salome. I am not sure if this is just me imposing my mental voice and liking of strong female voices on Mars or if it is something else about the character that does this.

Within this first Mars incarnation, the raw and magnetic dance of power and sexuality that (s)he has with Salome is almost like a duel for each other's soul. Salome strikes me as the ultimate emotional vampire, eager to manipulate one's concept of perception and self for the rich energy and life source that can be derived from the passion of desire, and yet - Mars, quite uniquely, where others (like Lucky) are confused, at every step of the way - seems to understand this hidden game and draw on the power of essence almost innately, no matter how much (s)he is both pulled towards and repelled by this attraction and the dangerous space it compels Mars to.

By the end of the account, I was almost mentally breathless with both wanting Mars to fight Salome's spell, and an intense curiosity to find out what would really happen if (s)he succumbed to this strong and seductive desire as well.

Throughout the 3 incarnations in this book, I love that Mars is so deeply connected to his/her centred feelings of emotion, desire, and overall, control. Mars is so *there*, so *present* - so assuredly themselves, and in "And Salome Danced", and other carnations within "Eye of the Storm", and "Dangerous Space", (s)he seems so wonderfully and finely tuned to that unique essence that gives Mars that deeper view of the world. (S)he is like a finely attuned musician, who can hear the beauty and patterns of the music of life, where the rest of us can only wonder. Beautiful.

Finally, in "And Salome Danced", even after the tumultuous dance, I got the sense that although Mars had his/her most inner desires and temptations are forcefully manipulated from the inside out, the fact that (s)he had the strength to hold onto her core seems to make Mars stronger.

By the end of this tale, one feels as if that sense of understanding of one's own dangerous space has been enhanced, tinged with a little bit of stark realisation, but also a sense of renewed understanding as well.



"Eye of the Storm"


In this second incarnation of Mars, again, the gender of the character remains unmentioned, leading to that subtle hint of ambiguity that lends to the richness of Mars character throughout. And here, this younger version of Mars is on the cusp of their lives - a difficult childhood, spent fighting for the right to be his/herself due to the unfortunate circumstance of his/her birth as the child of a war rape has left Mars both torn and saddened at the relationship with his/her mother, and also on the fringes of the village life that she has no choice but to exist in. From the start, Mars is both complex and beautiful, a product of her environment, but also a constantly evolving form, adapting and changing as life happens, and all along, forming a unique sense of self.

I love the way that Mars so wonderfully learns how to fight as the "Eye of the Storm", and how, because this is the only way (s)he has been taught how to truly feel desire, it becomes such an intricate, unusual and beautiful part of Mar's emotional make-up, that is the core of how (s)he relates to things/people, is able to teach others, and ultimately governs the way Mars survives.

Again, throughout, Mars is so finely tuned into the rhythms of nature and the patterns of life, that when later on (s)he is confronted by a different kind of magic with the prince's character (who is also refreshingly gender ambiguous until a little later in the story) and secret, magical dance , Mars knows innately how to deal with it, because at a very core level Mars understands where the prince is coming from. Stunningly beautiful in and of itself. With each incarnation I can't help but become a little more in love with Mars, and on a deeper, more personal level both understand and empathize with his/her unique take on things. It is so reassuring to see how complicated can also seem so beautiful too.



"Dangerous Space"


This is my favourite of the Mars incarnations. Reading this, again, felt like one was witnessing an exquisite dance of souls. Though for me, there were three souls involved in the dance this time. (1) Mars, the ultimate musical conductor, who at an innate level can understand, tune into, and harness the raw power of the band's music. (2) The band leader himself (Duncan), who is the tortured and complex channel of the raw talent of the music that drives him to create. And then, (3) music itself, which to me seems like an like an entity all of itself, a wild child - raw, demanding, powerful, inquisitive, driving and beautiful - almost like that perfect storm sailors speak of - all that wild energy that one can never quite tame, but can only hope to harness so one can get to the other side, and hopefully live. A wonderfully described and evolving element throughout, that seems to bend with, play and almost consume the key characters at times.

The connection that this raw power of music has between Mars and Duncan, is at the same time a lure, and a bane. They both know that for all the right reasons they must resist, for the good of the band, its members, and the music that is eventually half-tamed and produced. Yet at the same time, it is also that magical pull of raw musical energy that also manages to turn them both inside out. Mars is the focus for it, both a muse and an anchor that Duncan is tempted and inspired by. And for Mars, Duncan, with his raw channelling of this wild essence of himself through the music is something Mars is both fascinated and in love with. Mars' connection to the energy of this raw music and Mars' talent for mastering and tuning it to the public's ears is a wonderful thing to see.

Again, the writer makes reading/witnessing all of this such an effortlessly intricate and visual experience, that one feels one is a hidden and highly honoured observer in this beautiful dance.

The ending of this tale is thoroughly engaging, raw, passionate and organic, and something that definitely does not disappoint. In a way, this also mirrors the character of Mars, who throughout, remains a strong, evolving, magnetic and thoroughly intriguing entity. Again, I was quite captured with how, in each incarnation, Mars remains true to self, in that unique way that (s)he is tuned into the intricacies of life - forever observant, and wonderfully skilful in a most unusual way - and filled with an innate understanding of honour, the intertwining patterns of life - all painted in such an interesting way by the author, that reading about Mars is almost like experiencing a rather individual and intriguing piece of organic art.



Summary

All I can say is that I really loved the experience of 'Dangerous Space" - it was like having my mind and soul invited to an unusual, complicated, intriguing, fascinating and dangerous dance, that left me both awed and inspired. I don't think I have ever read anything that has been able to reach inside me and play my thoughts, perceptions and emotions in as much as this writing seems to have so effortlessly done, and in such a unique and intelligent way too.

The writing is very, very visual, and even reading on a crowed London train, at the height of morning rush hour and in the midst of commuting hell, I was effortlessly transported to another space - not always comfortable, but definitely always interesting, and always challengingly beautiful.
I was strangely saddened to have to put the book down afterwards (which very, very rarely happens with me). Vainly hoping for some more (very soon), but also feeling as if I had learnt something about the world and my own dangerous spaces too.

Kelley, thank-you.

This collection of stories gives more than reading pleasure, it gives a view into many places most people don't even think to look. Using various settings and characters Kelley Eskridge tells the story of people. Through these characters we are in their skin as Eskridge skillfully reaches into the feelings and motives of the stranger you are sharing a public space with or acquintainces who you can follow from limited knowledge to the most intimate of friends and lovers.

Using art in all it's forms makes it possible for the author to share insights through the eyes and feelings of her characters. In doing this the author shows her observational abilities to the nth degree. For me the most powerful of these arts was the music. I don't know if this author is also a musician but she really gets the scene, it's authentic. It's difficult to say in just a few words how smart this book is.

Greatness in writing is hard to achieve. But it's not as hard to recognize. Great writing reaches right through the page to you, so that you are no longer reading, you are experiencing the world the author has created. Most writers never touch it, or touch it only for a moment. So when you find an author who lives in that space, you are blessed. You see life in a different way, and you are never the same again.

Kelley Eskridge is such an author. Her new collection, Dangerous Space, proves it. Weeks after reading it, I find myself wondering, "What's Mars up to? How is it working out for him and ..." Then I stop. For a moment, I might have sent him an email, or picked up the phone. But the Net doesn't go where he lives, and the country code is nowhere listed. For a moment, reality hangs by a thread, and I might go over to that music bar, Lillie's Place in Seattle, and see him working the board for Noir, a band that just might be the next big thing...

In the title story, Noir does a song with the refrain, "The water is deep here, the ground is uncertain / It's dangerous space this far inside of me". You don't read it, you hear it. And your world expands to hold it...

Buy this book.

Rarely have I been so amazed, so impressed, so flat-out blown away by a collection of short stories. Even among those few writers who are skilled at the form (John Varley and Connie Willis spring to mind for science-fiction readers), their short stories can't compare to their full-length novels. They may be enjoyable, interesting thought exercises, but short stories never seemed to carry the heft or the excitement that I knew an author was capable of.

Well, scratch all those assumptions when it comes to Kelley Eskridge. As much as I loved "Solitaire," her only novel to date (and let's work on that, can we?), "Dangerous Space" moves Eskridge into another level entirely, as far as I'm concerned. The stories in this collection span the spectrum, from contemporary fiction to classic sword-and-sorcery fantasy to hard sci-fi and speculative fiction. And yet, while in another author you might be frustrated by this flitting from one genre to another, Eskridge is so talented at whatever she sets her hand to that I found myself wondering what else she might be capable of.

Love, and the many maddening, variable, indefinable forms it takes, are major themes of Eskridge's work. That's what makes the character of Mars so wonderful. It might seem a gimmick to have such a gender-neutral recurring character - indeed, from a lesser writer, that's exactly what it would become. But Mars is more than an exercise. S/he challenges our very assumptions about gender, making us first obsess about his/her sex, and then gently showing us, by the end of each story, how silly and unimportant such concerns are. Man, woman - it doesn't matter, Mars is a force of nature, one of the most complex, complete, and fascinating characters I've ever had the pleasure to read. I wish we could get a Mars novel, but I suspect that Eskridge couldn't keep the secret for that long without it becoming awkward. For now, we have "And Salome Danced," "Eye of the Storm," and the title story "Dangerous Space."

Other stories address the irrepressible creativity of the human spirit (the Harrison Bergeron-like "Strings"); the nature of pain and our humanity (the heartbreaking "Alien Jane"); and the rarely-discussed price that must be paid to balance the scales when someone is offered a unique, even magical gift ("City Life"). Few of these stories have typical happy endings, and many of them are downright disturbing, in that delicious, claw-their-way-into-your-subconscious fashion. These are stories that will stick with you long after you put them down.

Ms. Eskridge, please, please don't make us wait another five years for your next offering!

Gospel singing, mystical visions and a journey across America create inspiring and intriguing scenarios flowing in this uplifting novel. I deeply enjoyed it.

Wow, great read. Not the usual trite and didactic Christian fiction writing-this novel carries some weight. I laughed and cried as I took the journey with Danny Gospel-penetrating the heart to where God's forgiveness resides. A bit of a Job theme, but one can trace many biblical parallels.

Just looking at the cover, let alone the title, and a snicker comes to mind immediately. I've never heard of David Athey. I mean seriously, who wants to read a book called "Danny Gospel"? But then again, sometimes the things that look so retarded to us just might be quite the inspiration in the end. This was really nothing short of a pleasant surprise for me. And it was a great read, might I add. Readers familiar with W. Dale Cramer might find a treat woven within the pages of "Danny Gospel."

Meet Danny! He was a performer with his family, and they performed concerts of hymns. Danny Gospel is no stranger. In fact, he's well known around Iowa. As a mailman, he just wants life to be normal. But he gets a kiss, and he wants to find the woman who gave it to him. This begins the adventures of Danny Gospel. Humor lightens the mood, while sadness often permeates through the cracks. What does life hold for Danny Gospel?

This is a humbling account of one man. And for the long chapters, it is anything but boring and drawn out. It is quite enjoyable, and it was a pleasure to read this work by David Athey. Whether he served up a one hit wonder or not, I'm thankful to have experienced his work.

Reviewed by Tracy Kokemuller for Reader Views (6/08)

"Danny Gospel" is the story of a man named Danny. Danny is a mailman living in a rundown trailer in Iowa. All he has to look forward to everyday are the old women on his route giving him baked goods. Danny used to be a gospel singer with his family, hence the name, "Danny Gospel." He has gone through a lot of recent tragedies and is struggling to maintain his sanity. One day after a vivid dream of a woman kissing him he wakes up and decides to put on a blue suit and go find her. He is sure that she will be his wife and they will marry on Christmas Eve. Everyone around him begins to think he has gone crazy when he tells them about her. It is also discovered that a lot of mail has gone missing and they begin to point the finger at Danny. Is Danny really going crazy or is this a man who has so much faith that he can make his own dream come true?

The author takes us through Danny's journey in an almost dreamlike state. His writing is eloquent with descriptions so vivid they jump off the page. The story was a bit confusing because it went back and forth in time introducing us to a lot of characters. I did really like the story though so it is worth it to figure them out. Danny's faith was very inspiring to me and I found myself wishing he were a real person. I wanted to help him and look up to him just like the other characters in the story did. You will find yourself thinking of Danny long after you lay down this book, "Danny Gospel."

A good literary novel takes you to places you've never been (literally and figuratively). You discover new things about the world, and about yourself. Danny Gospel does this to the Nth degree, and I highly recommend it.

Danny's happy family and world have collapsed around him, and he seems to have been left with nothing but a couple of friends. Slowly, gradually, seeing and reflecting on the world through Danny's eyes, we piece together all that has brought him to this point. With masterful narration and beautiful prose, Danny leads us deeper into his family and his inner life, and we accompany him as he tries to put the broken pieces together.

Though there is much sadness and tragedy in the story, I found it to be increadibly uplifting at the same time. Most of us, like Danny, just want a "normal happy life," with a spouse and children and maybe a nice place in the country --- but there's always something that keeps us from getting there. The story led me to reflect on how better to keep my own inner peace while trying to find the elusive "normal happy life." And Danny Gospel is an excellent illustration of something else: there is seldom a Disney-style "happily ever after" in real life --- but even a life marked with tragedies and disappointments can still be full of joy and peace.

I found this collection of short stories to be amazingly gripping and enjoyable. Each of the stories were well written and kept my attention from start to finish. I've not been a fan of locked room mysteries, however, I must admit that Phil Mann's "Touch Of A Vanish'd Hand" not only kept my attention but spurred me to purchase more books in this specific genre. Joan Myers' "Copycat" was another personal favorite. I tip my hat to each of these authors as well as the three editors. Thank you for such a wonderful piece of modern literature.

Although I'm a voracious mystery fan, I tend to shy away from short stories as they never seem well developed enough. This anthology, however, has changed my mind. Each story is exceptionally well crafted with well defined characters, clever plot lines and lots of twists along the way. There is a mystery here to satisfy every taste and type. And there isn't a red herring in the bunch. Plaudits to the members of SinCLA - keep 'em coming!

The Los Angeles chapter of Sisters in Crime has released a captivating short story collection centering on what else: murder and mayhem. The twelve stories are fun to read as they vary in methods, means, and motives, but share a common background: the LA area and a common theme: of entertaining the reader. Characters run the gamut from the underbelly of society to the elite, but act as culprits dispensing murder. Though this is the "sisterhood", two of the collaborators are males, but the audience would not know gender if the stories were contributed anonymously because they are all strong entries.

Fans of murder and mystery anthologies will fully relish this collection. For the most part, the authors are just starting to become known, but in some cases, this reviewer has never previously read a work by a particular contributor. That error will be corrected as each writer holds up his or her end of the book, making for a wonderful reading experience.

Harriet Klausner

A Deadly Dozen is a compilation of short stories, naturally involving murders, written by the Sisters in Crime in Los Angeles, California. Featuring a deadly dozen stories from such authors as: Kris Neri, Cynthia Lawrence, Cory Newman, Lisa Seidman, and others, these stories provide a platform for these writers to dip their pens into stories with a twist. This group, which formed in 1986, led by Sara Paretsky, Sisters in Crime is now a respected national organization. The Los Angeles Chapter was formed by Phyllis Miller in 1989. In recent years, male writers have been welcomed into the organization. A Deadly Dozen is the second anthology published by this group.

The problem...and the thrill...of short stories is that the characters have to introduce themselves to the reader early and completely. The reader has to immediately descend into the world that the author has created, and be ready for a real jolt at the end. Kris Neri's chilling "Sentence Imposed" does just that:

"Call it fate, call it chance--either way, it'll change your life. Sometimes you just find yourself staring into a crowd, your gaze floating aimlessly over a sea of faces you won't remember the instant you look away--until one person's eyes seem to grab hold of yours and you make a connection. You can't explain it, but somehow your life and that stranger's become bound together. When I made that link, it was with a little girl."

Whatever the subject, these writers know how to pull no punches. "Wifely Duties" is a Hitchcockian tale of a wife who plots to kill her husband, and ends up as a victim herself. "Push Comes to Shove" is a wrestler's nightmare. "Fatal Tears" is a classic sibling rivalry piece. A Deadly Dozen exposure is like taking in several episodes of "Night Gallery," with cataloging students catching a murderer in "Miss Parker and the Cutter-Sanborn Tables."

Shelley Glodowski, Reviewer

A DEADLY DOZEN (TALES OF MURDER FROM LOS ANGELES ) is the third anthology following the 1997 DESSERTICIDE (DESSERTS TO DIE FOR ) and 1998 MURDER BY THIRTEEN.

The Los Angles chapter of Sisters in Crime has released a book of twelve short stories, based on murder and mayhem. I usually do not like to read short stories, but these stories were fully contained with well-crafted plots and well defined characters. My favorites were Wifely Duties, because every woman can identify with Lucy and her discontent with her marriage, but I would like to think that we would not go to the lengths that she did, and with such a startling conclusion. Cats and Jammer was another favorite, it's about a teen-age detective that finds a body and the suspects are many.

Stories included are: Sentience Imposed by Kris Neri Wifely Duties by Cory Newman Push Comes To Shove by Nathan Walpow Fatal Tears by Ekaterine Nikas Miss Parker and the Cutter Sanborn Tablets by Gay Tolti Kinman Driven To Kill by Jamie Wallace Touch Of A Vanish'd Hand by Phil Mann Ai Witness by Kate Tornton Over My Shoulder by Lisa Seidman The Cats And Jammer, by Gayle McGary Copy Cat by Joan Myers Midnight by Dorothy Rellas

This book is well worth the read.

Bobby Salton knows she can't take her sadistic husband's abuse for another day. So at the beginning of the story, she takes her little daughter Penny when the monster isn't home and runs. Driving away in her half-working car, she finds refuge in a rambling house on the Connecticuit shore.

Hired as a live-in companion to Alma Ogilvie, Bobby helps the retired headmistress regain her independence.But Bobby's battered appearance also has a startling effect, especially on Eva Rule, Alma's niece, a successful author.

Three very different women grapple with dreams of haunted pasts, and yet form a tenuous bond. Just as they begin to look to to the future, the past catches up with them. Bobby's husband, for one thing, is still on the run looking everywhere for Bobby.

A very absorbing book and hard to put it down.

3 women...3 pasts...3 futures...what will happen to Bobby when Joe finds her? Or will Joe find her? Bobby and her daughter are being abused by Joe, Bobby's husband, they ran away to get away from the abuse. Bobby found a job as a "care-taker" and she nurses an old lady named Alma...who loves children. Alma's niece, Eva, is a writer and quite good...until she stopped writing about things she love...so in the end...will Bobby and Penny be able to stay away from Joe? Find out for yourself and read the book!

There's nothing superficial about the female characters in this book. Starting with the little girl, Penny, and moving to the eldest woman in the story, each unique character is described with increasing depth and detail. The same cannot be said for the depth of the male characters, but at least the good guys outnumber the bad. Be prepared for some VERY realistic perspectives on domestic abuse from every possible angle: the victims, the abuser, the children, and the friends.

I read this book in two days. It was well-written with execellent character development. I highly recommend it, but don't start it unless you have plenty of time to read, you won't want to put it down!

I really enjoyed reading this book from the first page to the last. Not only did it capture my attention immediately,but I connected with the characters as though they were my friends. I couldn't put it down!
I'm really tired of reading trivia. I don't feel justified in taking the time to read a book if I don't learn something. Charlotte Vale Allen set the stage in "Dreaming in Color" so we could identify the atrocities of abuse from the perspective of each character (including the child, Penny).
Kudos to the author. Not only did I learn something, but I will be more understanding of abused women in the future.

You don't need to be of Italian descent or from Michigan to enjoy this delightful collection of short stories from new author Joe Borri. While Joe's a very talented graphic designer, he's even more adept with the written word, bringing to life a variety of entertaining characters and situations we all can identify with. Joe's easy, humorous style and straight-forward storytelling skill makes this book a very enjoyable read. If you like the crazy South Florida stories of Carl Hiaasen or the Margaritaville-inspired stories of Jimmy Buffett, as I do, give Joe's book a shot. You'll be glad you did!

I thought this book might be interesting because it was written by a Detroit Native and is about this city we live in and around. Little did I know that I would pick it up one night figuring I'd thumb through it and read the entire thing in one sitting!!
Eight Dogs Named Jack and 14 Other Stories from the Detroit Streets and Michigan Wilderness marks the writing debut of Michigan artist Joe Borri, who is employed at Skidmore Inc., a studio in Royal Oak, Mich. This collection of short stories is inspired by the East Side Detroit neighborhood where he grew up and its predominantly Italian denizens. It's very easy to read, and keeps you flipping the pages till you're done.
Some books I pick up, read a few chapters and put down, only to never finish them again. The coolest thing about this book is each chapter is its own story. Some of the chapters I really wanted to hear more about, maybe delve into them a little deeper, so I would keep reading the next chapter thinking it would lead into the story deeper, but it would just start another one and get me hooked into that new character.
Joe Borri has a great way of describing the scene. You can picture the street, you can feel the warm breeze blowing on your face, you neck tightens up when he talks about a certain fight, and you need to make another drink when he describes the beautiful ladies the Wiseguys try to work over.
Many of the stories are set in the gritty streets of Detroit, where wiseguys and wannabes walk a thin line between good and evil. Some of these characters work their way "up north," where their street smarts are tested against the immutable forces of nature and the country folk who try and do things a little differently.
The stories are blended together perfectly and this book would be great to bring along on that next flight. You can pick it up anywhere and start fresh. Or you can read it from cover to cover like I did, and finish off a bottle of Scotch while enjoying some of the best writing I've read in years!!

Pat Bonish
www.everymilesamemory.com

Expect the wonderfully unexpected when Goodfellas wannabes meet the Michigan Great Outdoors. With Eight Dogs Named Jack Borri demonstrates that he is a writer who possesses a rare combination of original vision, keen insight and an ability to combine humor and tragedy in striking ways. Many of the stories feature tough characters engaged in battles, physical and psychological, but Borri is not a one-trick pony. Several of my favorite stories in the collection feature characters who are wholly vulnerable and wholly real, and I found myself so engrossed in their struggles that I yearned for their salvation. Borri does not disappoint. Keep your eye on this writer.

This is a collection of short stories written by a native of East Detroit. The stories all take place in Michigan and are outstanding.

I loved this book! The short story format was perfect for this collection of stories from Detroit's east side and "Up North" Michigan. The hunting stories reminded me of tales my dad would tell from his hunting cabin, "The Hot Dog Lodge", and the stories of growing up on Detroit's east side took me back to a time when you could pick up a Vernors at the corner party store and walk into the hardware store and get any tool you needed to finish a job--on credit, no less.
Joe Borri paints a vivid picture with his words and I don't believe I have read a better debut. I cannot wait for more stories from this fresh, new writer.

In EMBRACE ME, Lisa Samson pens a powerful story of forgiveness, full of surprises and a cast of interesting characters --- including one making a return appearance from a previous novel.

The story is told from several first-person points of view. Drew Parrish is the slick red-headed prosperity gospel pastor of a megachurch, 12,000 members strong and growing. He knows all the right moves and words to say, but his sincerity barely runs skin deep. When the chance comes to move to television --- and a possible show of his own --- he settles on Daisy Boyer, a pretty young singer in his congregation, to serve as co-host.

But for Daisy's scheming mother (who sees her daughter as her ticket to fame and fortune) and for Drew, Daisy isn't quite good enough. Her face is a little less angular than needed for television, her weight a few pounds too heavy, her nose a bit too long. Daisy endures a strict diet and exercise regime and undergoes plastic surgery after plastic surgery. Eventually, she cracks.

Drew is also feeling a growing dissatisfaction, evinced by his habit of burning himself with cigarettes to try and feel something besides the pain of his life. His father, a Washington D.C. lobbyist, is clear that Drew never quite measures up to his expectations, and his mother, he believes, committed suicide when he was still an adolescent.

The opening of the book finds Drew at the end of his rope, and relying on the guidance of a young Catholic parish priest to help him figure things out. Samson then alternately fast-forwards and rewinds her story six years, time jumps for the reader that work because of her tremendous writing skills. In this way, we meet Valentine, a freak-show oddity with a terribly burned face who tours as Lizard Woman with "Roland's Wayfaring Marvels and Oddities." Her best friend is Lella, the Human Cocoon, who has no arms or legs. Valentine is bitter about the past and her disfigurement, and wraps her hopes for the future up in a dream of a home of her own with Lella.

But when Lella's life takes a new direction, Valentine finds herself thrown into the company of a heavily tattooed and dreadlocked minister, Augustine, whose vocal cords were damaged in a motorcycle accident. Both Augustine and Valentine find solace in the company of the surprisingly likeable televangelist Charmaine Hopewell, who readers may remember from Samson's book SONGBIRD.

Together, Augustine and Valentine wrestle with the difficulty of forgiving those in their pasts who have wronged them. But the biggest test of all lies ahead. Is it possible --- truly possible --- to always forgive? Forgiveness of ourselves and others, Samson shows through her narrative and characters, doesn't mean you can always return to who you once were. " I realize we can destroy ourselves in ways so deep we'll never return to the place we were before we started the destruction," muses one character. Another character learns that words of forgiveness come first; the emotional feeling of being able to forgive follows later.

Making the time jumps back and forth from character to character is a lot to ask, but Samson succeeds in helping the reader do it. The oddities of the characters, while a little exaggerated, are vintage Samson, as are the themes of social justice and grace. The setting of a "new monastic" community, in which the members are not necessarily Catholic, but take vows of different sorts and extend hospitality, serves as backdrop for the later part of the novel and echoes the community settings of past Samson novels.

Some readers may feel the reconciliation between Augustine and a relative from his past is too neatly wrapped up toward the end while others will applaud the power of grace. But what comes through, clear and strong, is that every person is beautiful and loved in the eyes of God, and all may find forgiveness --- and offer it to another --- if it's their true desire. Samson, who also penned QUAKER SUMMER, is one of Christian fiction's finest novelists, and her fans will find plenty to enjoy and ponder here.

--- Reviewed by Cindy Crosby

Embrace Me by Lisa Samson took me a little bit longer to get into than some of her others, but once I did, it was well worth it. I spent an entire weekend letting Lisa's words wash over me.

Once again, her word choice is impeccable. Look at these: from inside a church--"Thomas, his stained-glass face eating up the late afternoon sun, looks doubtful of my presence and I can't blame him." Or "Which much pretty ruins it for those people who don't exactly cotton to a three-piece suit, or a cassock, or even jeans and a polo shirt." Love it!

Embrace Me is about a "lizard woman" from a freak show trying to accept who's she's become after some nasty burns, a pastor who's realized how he's led his church astray in the name of power, and the communities that love them. It's a beautiful portrayal of gnashing-of-teeth forgiveness. It takes it out of the abstract and puts it in your hand.

Her characters, as usual, are amazing: each their own. Each flawed, redeemable, and marked with the Imago Dei. Their dialogue flows from the personality of the character and is distinct to each.

Embrace Me is sometimes borderline preachy (even if I could say amen! to the sermons), but it presents the frustrations and beauty of the Body of Christ.

Wow! This book is amazing. I could not put it down. Lisa Samson has an amazing gift at creating real believable characters, ones that you can relate to no matter where you are in life. This book is no exception! I have read almost all of her books and this is by far my favorite. This book would be great for all ages! A great book for a reading group, a small group, or youth group to read together. Whoohoo! Ms. Samson!

Lisa Samson's book always makes you think and this one is no different that the rest. Can you say EDGY?! I don't think I've ever read a Christian fiction book that deals with the type of people mentioned in this story. But these are stories that need to be told, because not everyone is living a picture perfect streak free Christian life. It's a heartbreaking story as you read what has happened in Drew and Valentine's lives. I nearly wanted to cry at times when reading because I felt the character's pain and suffering. Even though there are very few sideshow attractions such as the one portrayed in the story surviving today, it makes the reader think about what life is like for these "so-called freaks." How hard their life must be because they aren't born "normal" like the rest of us. I really don't know how Lella was able to be so upbeat and genuinely happy all the time. I don't think I could have accepted her situation quite so well. This isn't your normal happy ending novel. There is a lot of in your face stuff that a lot of Christians don't like touching. It will make you feel uncomfortable at times but it will also help you to understand more about God's infinite love and acceptance. This book is definitely edgy Christian fiction at its best. Lisa Samson has created another winner. HIGHLY recommended.

Embrace Me by Lisa Samson is another jewel in Samson's crown. Valentine stars as the Lizard Woman in a travelling freak show along with her friend, Lella, the Human Cocoon. While it's not a great life, it's one that she has come to terms with until returning to winter in a small North Carolina town. There she encounters Augustine, a tattooed and dread locked monk, who shakes up her ordered existence with his talk of God and faith. Samson's books are not for those readers who want to be comfortable and comforted in their reading. Her books with self-mutilating pastors and chain-smoking characters make me squirm in my seat like a good sermon. She delves into topics and places few Christian books dare to go, and God bless her for it. Her books are not to be read lightly and tossed aside. They weigh on my soul and heart and never leave me untouched. Augustine quotes Mother Theresa: You only love Christ as much as the person you love the least. Did that make you squirm in your seat? That's what Embrace Me will do to you, make you re-evaluate the strength of your faith and love for God. Samson writes like no one else in the business; each sentence is carefully crafted and weighted. Read this book and be transformed within.

I met Colleen Coble last September at the ACFW Conference in Texas, and I've been reading her books ever since.

As always, when I read a book I was impressed how Tess's past experiences influenced her job choice, and her relationship problems. Colleen is a masterful story teller and the story gripped me from beginning to end.

I highly recommend this book as a story with take away value.

I love Colleen Coble, and have read all her books. Fire Dancer is by far my favorite. It seems that many of Coble's books follow the exact same formula. This was the first book that I felt strayed into new ground somewhat. This book was a fascinating read. I would recommend this book if you enjoy Colleen Coble and a (somewhat predictable) romantic mystery.

As a child Tess Masterson could not save her parents and her uncle from a terrible fire.

As an adult and working as a smoke jumper putting out fires and chasing arsonists, she must return to the place she left behind to help her sister save the family ranch. Before she can, there's a blantant attempt on her life. With no time to figure that mystery out Tess heads to Arizona and the nightmares that haunt her sleep. Can she really go back to the place where much of her family was lost?

When she arrives sparks soon fly as she's reaquainted with Chase Huston. Meanwhile the local lawman has come to believe a series of fires over the years are the work of a serial arsonist. Tess and her band of smokejumpers begin to help in the investigation and putting out fire that pop up all over town, some getting very close to the family ranch.

Does this arsonist called the Fire Dancer have something against the Masterson family? Can Tess stop this serial arsonist? Can she put out the fire that begun to blaze in her own heart for Chase?

These questions and more will fill your mind and heart reading this novel, as will a long list of possibilities for the identity of the Fire Dancer.

When I first began to seriously pursue a writing career one name kept coming up. Colleen Coble. It seemed she had a million novels and billions of adoring fans. As I got to know some writers Colleen was one I was always pointed to as an example of what was right about this novel writing thing I wanted to do.

Finally I got to know her a bit and she was one of the first to encourage, and eventually convince me, that if I was serious about this writing goal I had to join American Christian Fiction Writers. I finally did and it's the single best thing I've done to date to help me advance to the place where I'll have my own name on the binding of a book.

Some who've never cracked open a novel of Colleen's, especially men, may discount her books as romantic fluff. I admit I did. I knew nothing of the romantic suspense. It was her books that convinced me I needed to pay attention to genre. Yes, there's romance. But there's always these intricate plots. In this story alone. You have Tess dealing with the lost of much of her family, an arsonist, attempts on her life, the lost of her family ranch and her horse. Her sister's illness and troubled marriage. Feelings for Chase, a man she shouldn't give a care for. Chase dealing with his own issues of family and love. Stevie and Paul's marriage. And so much more. And Colleen weaves it all together in a way that the reader keeps it straight in their head and never gets lost.

Some of the most interesting passages in the story were the first person accounts from of the fire dancer. Colleen slowly drips out just enough information about this person that she get a real feel for them without ever revealing who they are until the last possible second.

I could go on and on about this book and about Colleen's writing but I must stop. If you've never read a Colleen Coble novel, this is a good place to start since it's the beginning of a new series. She has another new one just released, Midnight Sea, that's unrelated and yet another coming out later this year called Abomination. I can't wait to get my hands and eyes on both of these and more of Colleen's work.

I hope you'll pick up Fire Dancer and loose yourself in the world of Tess Masterson for a few hours. You won't be disappointed.

Care to dance?

A decade ago Tess's parents died in a barn fire; now she's one of the best smoke jumpers in the business - but has yet to face her loss. When the serial arsonist known as Fire Dancer strikes her home town, Tess can no longer run from her past and must face not only past truths, but their impact on her safety and future. FIRE DANCER is an intriguing novel of psychological cat-and-mouse games and intrigue and is a top pick for advanced teen readers.

In 1991 a young Tess Masterson watched with horror as her parents were both eaten alive by fire in their barn. Tess was horrified as she stood by and knew there was nothing she could do to save them. The fire pointed Tess's life towards fire fighting as a Smoke Jumper, those that jump from airplanes into the fire to attempt to stop its forward progress in any way they can. Tess relives that day every time she jumps into a fire and wonders many times what she could have done to save her parents from that barn inferno.

During one of the jumps Tess and a good friend, Allie, jumped as a pair into one of the fires. Allie's parachute did not open. Tess did all she could to assist Allie as they both floated towards the fire, reaching her and holding on to slow her fall. In the end, Allie was slowed but not enough to keep her from getting badly hurt when she hit earth. When Tess learned that the parachute Allie used was actually Tess's chute she began to think that she must have been a target by someone sabotaging her chute. Some of the lines were cut showing the murderous intent by someone. But who? Anyone on the fire team could have done this as well as anyone near their base camp. Allie was in the hospital and there she would stay for some time so her broken bones and the rest of her body could heal.

Chase Huston was a foster child the Masterson's had taken in. He was a handsome but bothersome ranch hand that Tess skirted when she could. Tess also owned a gorgeous horse, Wildfire who was a one-person horse, and Tess was that person. She hated leaving him when she had to go back on duty and couldn't wait until that smoke jumpers duty was over to see Wildfire back at the family owned ranch.

Fires continued to start in suspicious ways and places with a note and evidence found at most of the arson related fires. Signed "The Smoke Dancer" this person stopped at nothing to kill or maim animals or humans. The Masterson family seemed to be one of the main subjects The Fire Dancer was out to hurt.

Stevie was Tess's sister who Tess knew was not feeling good by just looking at her. Stevie had Lupus that left her feeling very run down and poorly. This devastated Tess. Tess helped her in any possible way. As time went on, Tess and Chase became closer but bitterness still was in the back of each other's mind, bitterness from earlier years. Eventually feelings between the two did change.

Tess's Smoke Jumper friends were the same or better than her family since she was with them so much and each ones life was so valuable to the others. It was hard to think that one of them could be the one that has been trying to hurt or kill Tess but the possibility of that existed as it did with various ranch hands.

I have always been fascinated by stories about fire, the fighting of them and the tracking down of arsonists. "Fire Dancer" is a great story with so many Christian values explored throughout; values that would help all involved when they take those values into their lives. Colleen Coble has spun an excellent story combining love, adventure, fire, mystery, murder, and that Christian value. An excellent book and a great read. Colleen writes in a way that makes this book easy and interesting to read, and hard to put down.

G-Town's Finest is absolutely the greatest gangster book that i have ever read. It has a story line and a plot that will knock you off your feet. The ending is unreal and unexpected. It kept me interested and wanting to read more. I couldn't put this book down for nothing. It only took me 9 hours to finish it and I cried at the end. I recommend this book to all readers!
Keep up the wonderful work CeDee and I will support all that you do.
Thank you for the wonderful entertainment that I received from reading G-Town's Finest!

THIS BOOK INDEED WAS THE FIRST BOOK THAT MADE ME SHEAD A TEAR OF 2 OR 3..... BUT MY POINT IS THAT THIS BOOK WAS OFF THE WALL. I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN AT ALL..... I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO EVERYONE IN THE URBAN FICTIONS GENRE.... PLEASE GO GET IT G-TOWN'S FINEST BOY I TELL YOU

...... PLEASE GO GET IT

... GOT ME ALL SPEECHLESS AND SH*T

G TOWN'S FINEST IS ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS YOU COULD EVER READ. I RECOMMEND IT TO ALL. IT WILL DEFINTALY CAPUTURE YOUR ATTENTION FROM BEGINING TO THE END FLAT OUT.THIS BOOK IS A MUST READ! ANYONE FROM THE HOOD OR OTHERS WILL FEEL THIS BOOK TILL THE VERY END.IF U LIKED COLDEST WINTER EVER,B MORE CAREFUL,TRU TO THE GAME,AND ALL THE OTHER FAST PACE BOOKS THEN YOU WILL LOVE G TOWN'S FINEST.

I really enjoyed the book. I couldn't put the book down.
I want to know where is G-Town Finest's money at???. MAYBE
this could be the next part II.

I have never been the type of person to read, but a friend of mine convinced me to read this book, and I did, and I loved it! Put it this way, I started the book on my lunch break from work. I took the rest of the day off just so I could go home and finish reading it. I needed to know what was going to happen next. The thing I liked the most was everything that I expected to happen, DIDN'T happen. It's not one of those books where you can predict the ending just by reading a few chapters. I don't want to go into any detail because I don't want to tell you too much, so I'll just end this by saying that the book is excellent, and you will enjoy it! I hope this review is helpful.