American Books

I have a bad habit of reading books out of order. The reason being my local library doesn't contain certain volumes. Even though, I started with this volume I felt as though I didn't miss a beat. When reading this book I felt that this world is waiting to be discovered and I have to say I'm proud to be one of the few that discovered it. Ms Chester has a unique way of drawing you in and wow, I felt like I was in entirely different universe which separated itself from anything out there. The whole infrastructure of the Viis empire and community was interesting. The Viis being superior to any race out there gave you an understanding of how Ambris felt. She felt supressed and seeking out a way for every race to feel equal. Even though she was a slave turned famous gladiator she stayed true to who she was and what she believed. No mattered what had happened to her especially when she gave birth to genetically experimented children she still believed in the greater good of things. Everything in this book shows how Debra Chester had great depth of knowledge of this universe. So now goes on my search for part one and part three.

The Alien Chronicles by Deborah Chester are among the finest books I have ever read. The journey that the characters undergo is so epic and far-reaching that once you experience them, you will feel as though you have lived an entire life within this alien universe. The characters are well-defined, rich and provocative. The story itself is so much more than what it seems to be. Even though those living within these tales are fantasy species with abnormal customs, they are so unbelievably human. The trilogy revolves around the quest for freedom. The abiru -- a race of slaves who possess no rights whatsoever -- are considered greatly lesser than their Viis superiors. They are beaten, sold and killed at the whim of their owners, echoing the horror of our own history of human slavery. The oppression of the Viis leads to in-fighting and betrayal amongst the abiru, making it nearly immpossible to trust another untouchable. But even amongst this reign of distrust lies the hope of long-lasting, beautiful frienships -- as demonstrated by the wily Kelth thief (Elrabin) and the lovely and powerful Auron pet/gladiator (Ampris). The bond that develops between them is almost instantaneous even though it takes Elrabin years to realize how much Ampris means to him. They share a sort of unrequited platonic love. Unrequited in that it's not what they say to each other but what they do for each other. There are also strong antagonists, from the fear driven mad-gladiator Ylea to the tempermental spoiled sri-Kaa Israi (whose ascension to power is far from pretty). She is such a fantastically written villian that you will find yourself wanting to jump inside the book and slap her silly. The decisions she and those before her make in regards to the abiru are often times disturbing and haunting. (The period Ampris spends in the medical testing facility of Vaas Vess is particularly horrifying.) In summation, this book she be heralded as so much more than dime store science/fiction. It should be placed among books such as 1984 and Animal Farm. I know I will be recommending this book to everyone I meet henceforth. Even those who would never think of picking up a science fiction novel. Deborah Chester should be lauded immensely.

I you like books that get you hooked this is one of them. You enter a new world with strange creatures. But it is writen well enough that you can almost see the creatures. This book is about a strange creature called Ampris who is forced to fight as a gladiator. Many of the fights are described including her last one were she makes a life changing mistake, in her fight for piece and freedom...

I you like books that get you hooked this is one of them. You enter a new world with strange creatures. But it is writen well enough that you can almost see the creatures. This book is about a strange creature called Ampris who is forced to fight as a gladiator. Many of the fights are described including her last one were she makes a life changing mistake, in her fight for piece and freedom...

This lives up to the first book and usally you don't think the second will be as good as the first, only on a rare occasion, and this is one. It was better, faster paced, and gives more understanding to the character's roles. If you read the first you HAVE To pick this one up. I waited forever to have this one out, and I couldn't wait very long. This is a good book, Terrific, and Deborah Chester is a great Author.

This is my favorite book from any of the recent releases by Easy Company veterans. The writing style is smooth and the emotions are clear. This is the kind of memoir a person should be proud of and the personal narratives bring out a surprisingly sensitive side to the paratrooper sergeant that is the subject of this book. Highly recommended for anyone!

My wife and I play pool. Most Thursday afternoons, around 4:00 P.M., a true gentleman strolls into The Cue Ball, Salem, Oregon. I'm not a war buff. I don't have a collection of war books. I bought the book because I've had the honor of meeting the man. I found this book to be a fantastic read...other reviews here do a good job of describing that.

I guess my reason for writing this is to assure you that Sgt. Donald Malarkey deserves all the respect he receives. The regulars of The Cue Ball know who the toughest guy there is. At least, after reading this book, I do.

While readers may revel in the glory and excitement of a war they've never fought, this book, without meaning to, gives an honest, begrudging account of the tragic personal cost of war to those who fought and survived. In this sense it is a moving, at times heart breaking and compelling documentary.

It took real courage to face fear in battle, and I am sure even more for the author to write this book.

MR MALARKEY BRINGS THE " BAND OF BROTHERS" MEN INTO A CLOSER INSPECTION, THE BOOK IS WELL WRITTEN, A NATURAL FLOW, GIVES THE READER A REAL FEEL FOR THE WAR. PUT THIS ON YOUR " TO READ LIST" AT THE TOP

Don Marlarky shares with us his experiences as a member of the famed Band of Brothers, Easy Company. His memory of his life in and out of uniform is remarkable for any man, let alone one who was 86 when this book was written. Kudos to his family for encouraging him to write this book for us to respect, honor and enjoy. You will not believe how fast this book reads. There is plenty of action and insight into the heart, mind and soul of one of the most effective fighting men in Easy Co. From Currahee to Zel am See we are transported through one man's experiences as an elite paratrooper who fought more days than most of the men of Easy. You will truly find it hard to put this book down.

A.E. Wentworth
Military History buff
Respector of our WWII veterans

The Ebony Tree has so much truth to it that it makes you feel as if you are a part of it. This novel belongs in all libraries and schools. Excellently written. Like Alex Haley's novel Roots whether fact or fiction, The Ebony Tree encourages you to look at your own background.

The Ebony Tree couldn't seem more real. It's a very wholesome story. You don't see any 'sugar coating' as you read about what the women in this novel went through for the welfare of their children, and to keep their hopes and dreams alive.

The story tugged at my heart because it made me think about my own mother and grandmothers.

It's a novel I will hold onto and enjoy reading again.

The Ebony Tree is a CLASSIC. I loved every drop of it. The author is TRULY and I mean TRULY a master at her craft. This book was wonderfully written, compelling and thought-provoking. I thoroughly enjoyed following on the journey of Jewel's life, the main character. Again, this book is WONDERFUL. Ms. Thompson put so much passion into writing this wonderful book. I cannot wait to read her other books. I'm a fan for life!

The Ebony Tree by Maxine Thompson is a journey back in time into the lives of The Shepherd family. Thompson does a wonderful job of placing you right into their lives as if you were a member of the family.

Jewel Shepherd has many secrets that she has kept from her kids. No one really knows the real Jewel, and at times she wonders if she really knows herself. She loves her children, and surprisingly, her husband, Solly - even though he has tried her patience time and time again. Jewel wonders what brought her to Delray, Michigan, and how will she get out with her children intact. Her youngest, Imani, has decided that it is time they find out how the Shepherd family came to be. Therefore, she tries to capture 53 years of marriage on tape. Unfortunately, being the youngest she does not know how to read between the lines of the web her mother has weaved. Only her older siblings know the truth.

I loved the history, loved the family life - even if it was not so perfect, it was real. This book will make you think about the relationship you have with your own mother, and wonder what secrets may be hidden between the stories she has told you. I recommend this book to all of those who are history buffs at heart. The Ebony Tree by Maxine Thompson won't disappoint you.

Jacki

APOOO BookClub

Maxine E. Thompson's, The Ebony Tree, vividly depicts the coming of age of the Shepherd family in Delrey, Michigan during the oppressive 1950's. The Ebony Tree narrates the sometimes woeful and disconcerting tales of matriarch, Jewel Shepherd. A woman who sacrificed aspirations and individuality to rear a family during the darkest moments in her life.

It is 1993 and Imani Shepherd puts her journalistic training to use by interviewing her elderly parents regarding their lineage. Instead of a family gushing with pride, her mother, Jewel is tight-lipped and filled with indignity. Through hesitancy, Jewel relates the story of abandonment by her mother, Luralee; tutelage from Aunt Beulah that boys are superior to girls; husband Solly's infidelity and drunkenness; and the ill-treatment she bestowed upon eldest daughter, Midge, because she was a girl. A woman in that era did not have the resources nor the wherewithal that Imani has today to be an independent woman in control of her own destiny. Therefore, Imani would never understand Jewel's feelings of degradation or regrets of leaving her family in Richmond, California. These secrets, Jewel would rather keep hidden from her twenty-five year old daughter. Secrets too painful to utter, yet necessary to provide healing and answers for a young woman seeking insight into her family tree.

Protagonist Jewel Shepherd is a thought-provoking character; a woman before her time. Women will identify with her...cry with her...and rejoice with her as Jewel struggles to shed memories of the past and reach for a brighter future. Maxine E. Thompson's The Ebony Tree is a paradigm of the struggles African-American mothers have endured in raising black children.

Reviewed by Nicki Lancaster
APOOO BookClub

An excellent illustrated version of a favorite old song from childhood. The illustrations are exceptionally good. Came in fine condition.

I am now a fan of Peter Speir books. This is a very nice book. The provider was very prompt and arrived in new condition.

My four children are now in their thirties and they loved this song when they were young. I bought this edition for my two grandsons aged 18 months and three and a half and they love it. No publisher has it in Australia but Amazon came to the rescue! It also has the music included which is great for our musical famly. The whole family - children and adults- join in the singing and we always end up laughing. The illistrations are tasteful and vibrant.

A favorite family song brought to life with wonderful pictures. Perfect for a child--music and lyrics included.

This is one of my all time favorites. The text consists of one version of an old folk song, general known as "The Fox." There are probably several dozen versions of this particular song, likely even more. I know of at least nine myself. The one used in this work is from a Burl Ives recording done in 1945. I was and am a big fan of Ives, so this book has been a real treat for me. The song originated from a poem, written in the 14th for 15th century in Middle English. I can remember versions sung of this song at various gatherings back to the late 1940s. This particular work was originally published about 1961 i.e. the Spire's version...not to be confused with one written by Wendy Watson which is a good work itself.

Anyway, the text consists of the words to the old song and this is a wonderful sing-along book. The art work by Peter Spier is some of the best. It is extremely detailed, the colors are wonderfully blended and even though they are actual paintings, they give a true feeling of being there. The story consists of a fox who goes out on a chilly night and visits the hen/goose/duck house of a local farmer in or near a village. The fox does this in order to feed his family. The book is the picture and word story of his journey there and back with the meal for his family. I note that there is some disagreement here as to the location of this story. It certainly took place (the story) during the late 1800s or possibly the early 1900s. The setting is rural. If I were to give a guess, I would say it probably took place in New England, possibly Massachusetts, Connecticut or Penn. Of course you could make a pretty good argument for Virginia also, but the civil war monuments shown in the book look to me more Union than Southern. Yes indeed folks, they do grow tobacco in New England. There are several pictures of tobacco drying sheds in the book. There are also pictures of covered bridges and wonderful details of the country side, farm and village.

The illustrations alternate between full color and black and white sketch type drawings. I personally find this technique quite appealing. I know the kids to which I read this book to don't seem to be bothered a bit by it. In fact, I have caught several of them trying to copy some parts of the black and white drawings. I do love the author's use of color, shades and his minute attention to detail.

Now, parents do take note: The fox does indeed kill the old goose and makes off with a duck to boot. There are not graphic details of this other than the fox family finishing off the cooked bones after their wonderful meal. Some parents may feel that their child may have problems with this. To be honest, this is where parenting comes in. Each parent knows, or should know, what his kid can or cannot handle and at what age. I personally have no problems with it. The fox is acting according to his nature and yes, foxes do indeed raid hen houses.(Goodness knows I have lost enough chickens to the little guys). Again though, this should be the parent's call.

There is another note of interest and suggestion. This book is ideal to introduce the young reader to Middle English. A quick wed search can provide the text of the original poem, along with many versions of this song. It is interesting to see how our language has developed and evolved over the years.

All in all, there is little not to like about this book. The art work is wonderful, you cannot beat the text, you get a great sing-along book and I have found that kids love the thing. I have used this particular work from Kindergarten up through the seventh and eight grades. Adults also enjoy listening to it.

I have purchased several of Mr. Garner's books and this one, like all the others, is a masterpiece. Mr. Garner's command and understanding of the English language, combined with his concise, crisp descriptions, make this work an essential addition to anyone's library. I applaud Mr. Garner for his extraordinary efforts and I thank him for sharing his genius with the rest of us.

Garner's Usage is likely the single most useful and entertaining book on the topic. Little else needs to be said about it.

Garner's Modern American Usage My daughter attends law school at SMU in Dallas where Garner is adjuct professor. She says he is a great teacher. We ordered two copies. Yes, it's indispensible as a reference, but it also makes great bedside reading for us wordsmiths.

Being a layman, and not a wordsmith as some of the review-writers here, this will not be an eloquently written review, however the results are the same. I often hear people use words in a way that I believe to be incorrect, for example 'irregardless', but I'm never quite sure. A regular dictionary doesn't usually provide the explanations I'm looking for, and my curiosity goes unanswered. This book is exactly what I need when I question the usage of almost any word. It gives definitions, explanations as to why words are often used incorrectly, as well as pronunciations that are correct or incorrect, and often in a humorous manner! This book would be a must for any writer, but is also sure to satisfy the simply curious!

I ordered this reference based on an essay I read by David Foster Wallace titled "Authority and American Usage." In it, Wallace dissects the ongoing debate between the Prescriptivists (those claiming to defend the King's English) and the Descriptivists (those who claim language rules should reflect current practice rather than old rules), and he does so in the context of, essentially, a long-winded review of Garner's Modern American Usage.
The big problem with Prescriptivism is one of authority, or "why" their rules are what they are. The problem with Descriptivism is one of, well, spinelessness in the sense that rules cannot be based simply on "what everybody else is doing."
Garner, however, deftly walks the line between these two perspectives. He acknowledges common, accepted usage, but still has the guts to make "rules" where necessary. And when he does so, he resolves the "authority" question by logically and fairly arguing his case, rather than simply "that's how it is done."
In my limited reading of Garner's reference so far, I've found it to be amazingly thorough in its examination of everything from common errors to idioms to punctuation, and surprisingly down to earth for a linguistic reference.
Personally, I think everybody should have books like this. But if you write for a living or simply have an interest in language and grammar, this book is essential to your collection.

This is an excellent novel with a hugely important and significant historical validity. It's a bit slow to get going, but once into the story, you can't put the book down, and it has an amazing ending. I highly recommend it.

One of those rare occasions when my both my partner and I read this book one after the other - she is a PD James fan, Charles Dickens fan - whereas I tend to read those books less dependent on plot and more on philosophical meanderings, or rich in atmosphere, or completely character driven - Fateless or Old Masters say. In The Memory of the Forest has all the elements and so it appeals equally to us both. One of the great moral questions in the novel of course concerns the old dictum "evil thrives when good men do nothing". As such things as racism will always be latent wherever humans gather, it depends on the rule of law and the vigilance of citizens, to maintain civil life. And the life of a Polish village is at the centre of the story - if the village can survive, maybe humanity will too, but at what cost?
A very well written novel.

I love this book. Period. Fully realized characters, gripping plotline, historically significant and cathartic. Definitely a keeper for life.

The story of a young man coming of age, discovering love and lies, ambition and murder in a town that cannot admit its past or face its present. Set in Poland as communism collapses, the rupture of old foundations reveal the townspeople to be what they would forget.While one of the book's larger themes is what the Nazis, and by complicity, the Polish people, did to the Jewish population during the Second World War, it is not "a Holocaust book." Rather it is an absorbing murder and love story; a murder that begins the novel and whose investigation provides its framework, a love story that will leave the reader in tears, reminded what the world should be but is not. It is a rare book, one that impels its reader onward with a gripping narrative but repeatedly brings the reader to a halt to reflect on the beauty and lyricism of its prose.

Those who like to read books about Poland (there must be a few of us out there) will find that Charles Powers' "In the Memory of the Forest" is a pleasant surprise. This book is a real dark horse. It doesn't appear to be widely known (I found it for sale on the used-book cart at my local library) and it's the only novel that Powers ever wrote. But the lesser known works are sometimes the most satisfying reads.

"In the Memory of the Forest" is a murder-mystery set in the small farming village of Jadowia, somewhere to the northeast of Warsaw. The book is skillfully written, with an interesting plot, a few twists here and there, and an ending that's both disturbing and reassuring. Poland's role in the Holocaust is the dark and provocative background for the novel. What I liked most about the book is that Powers (a former journalist who lived in Warsaw for five years) captures the personality of Poland better than other authors who have attempted this same task, e.g., James Michener, Lily Brett. My only complaint is that many of the characters are too clearly cast as "good guys" or "bad guys," without a chance for them to surprise you with the other sides of their personalities. A Polish murder-mystery is a narrow genre, which most people wouldn't be inclined to read. But if you're daring enough to tackle those tricky Polish pronunciations, you'll probably be glad that you read this book.

After reading "The Summer Guest" by Justin Cronin I couldn't wait to read something else by this wonderful author. That's when I bought "Mary and O'Neill". His first novel, "Mary and O'Neill" is just as enjoyable as "The Summer Guest", if in a somewhat different way. Don't let the fact that this is a novel in short store put you off. Even if you don't usually enjoy this type of book (and I don't) you will be glad you read "Mary and O'Neill". I cannot wait to see what else Mr. Cronin has in store for us. Believe the excellent reader reviews and buy this book!

Justin's Cronin's first novel is broken up into a collection of eight short stories about the love between parents, siblings, children and lovers.

The book doesn't begin with the title characters, but rather with O'Neil's parents, Arthur and Miriam. The entirety of the book is balanced on the early revelation of the sweet complexity of their love in life and death. Their death in the first story sets the tone for the rest of the stories, providing their children with both answers and more questions about love and loss.

Mary and O'Neil's love affair is one brought about by just these questions. Mary lives with the ghost of a child she aborted early on in the book, while O'Neil's parents live in his memory with such vitality that he actually tries to call them after the birth of his first child--only to unexpectedly have a sad and beautiful conversation with a lonely stranger. Cronin creates Mary and O'Neil as the answers to each other's questions. Even the names that Cronin picks for them overflow with a sense of completeness: "Mary" and "O'Neil," sound more like a first name and surname than two separate characters.

The surname as name only makes more sense when one considers O'Neil's presence in the book as father figure. It is O'Neil who develops as a source of strength for several characters in the book, anointing him the ultimate patriarch of this novel. Cronin is poetic and beautifully subtle when he baptizes O'Neil's relationship with the woman who completes him and gives him a first name. The baptism is complete when Mary is ready to walk down the aisle and it begins to rain. O'Neil looks at her and all the guests at their wedding and, Cronin writes, "in his heart he marries each one of them."

Cronin's style is delicate and full of purpose, just like all of the relationships between his characters. It is hard not to relate to this book in some way if you've ever loved someone, harder still to not find Cronin's prose captivating in its wisdom and sincerity.

Mary and O'neil was so poignant with paragraphs I read and re-read numerous times because they struck a chord of something lost yet familiar to me. I cannot wait for more from this author; he has my heart!

Just finished reading Mary and O'Neil, and I know that it will stay with me for a long time. I laughed and cried, sighed and nodded my head as I read. This a very well crafted novel comprised of short stories, reminding me of the chapters of our lives. The relationships between parents and children, siblings, spouses and friends are realistically portrayed. Thanks to the author for a special experience. I look forward to reading his novel, The Summer Guest soon.

I read this book after finishing (right after!) The Summer Guest, also by Cronin. I loved both books. THe story line in each is poignant and moving and the characterizations are fleshed out brilliantly - with depth, eloquence and humor. The beauty of Cronin's writing is in his seemingly effortless ability to turn a phrase that just sings with its purity. He is able to capture, and describe emotions and events like no other author I've encountered in recent years. This is a lovely if odd story that jumps through the decades with poignant prose, the building of relationships, and the pain of loss. In reading Cronin's work you are left with a mystical and magical feeling. I did not want this book to be over as the emotions it evoked were much more powerful than those we typically feel in everyday life (unless you are 13). I found it hard to re-enter my own life - as if I were somehow changed by reading the words of this writer. Highly recommended!

THIS BOOK WAS SOOO GOOD I LOVED IT. VICTORIA WAS A MESS, THE DRAMA KEPT COMING JUST WHEN I THOUGHT ALL THE SECRETS WERE OUT HER COMES ANOTHER ONE. IT KEPT ME WITH MY MOUTH OPEN. THIS WAS A GREAT BOOK I LOVED THE ENDING A MUST READ!

Better Than The First!!!!!!!!! You Thought Secrets Was Exposed In The First Book You Aint Seen Nothing Yet. If You Havnt Read Had Secrets Of A Housewife You Need To Buy The First Book In Order To Really Understand whats Going On. I Give It 5 Stars

A little un-realistic in some of the events but all in all a good read.

From the first chapter you will be hooked. The book starts off with drama, sex and eye gripping words. Its a good piece of work. I never read any of his books but I will start to read from this author. Zane has NOTHING on him!

This book was ALL THAT! I couldn't stop reading it. I recommend this book to all of the ZANE, EJD, Carl Webber fans out there. The sequel is even better!!!

I loved this book~ I've loved all of Jane Porter's books- but this (and Odd Mom Out) are my favorites!

This was my first book by Jane Porter. As a relative newcomer to the mom-scene (my daughter is 4.5), and having been brought up outside of the US, I am still amazed at and amused by the "professional" and highly competitive approach to parenthood, particularly motherhood in this country. While I enjoyed reading the book - it is perfect for a long summer weekend - the message at the end gets muddled somewhat. Here is this long and somewhat labored build-up to Taylor's realizing that putting oneself in a totally dependent situation is not such a good thing, that perhaps her talents and abilities can be better utilized outside of making copies at a school office and helping with lunch, or baking designer cookies... She gets a job and seems to be at least initially successful at juggling being a mom and working full time, which is what 75% women in America do, and survive. And then, as though at a wave of a magic wand, Nathan gets a fabulous job overseas, with double the earnings, and sweeps Taylor off to Sidney, where she undoubtedly will once again fall into her seemingly perfect life of being a social ringleader, a professional uber mom decked out in designer garb, and ultimately an accessory to her bread winning husband. So, where is the message? What did Jane Porter really try to say with this book?

I will admit it was a shock to eagerly dive into the sequel to the fabulous ODD MOM OUT, only to find ourselves inside perfectly-perfect Taylor Young's pretty (empty) head; but, of course, she would be MRS. PERFECT and this one is from her perspective.

It does start empty, with fleeting, superficial and cringe-inducing meanderings on Taylor's perfect life (again, from her perspective): PTA, entertaining, weight issues, beauty regimen, shopping, managing a very large home, judgements and criticism of other women and, ultimately, in spite of it all, self-pity:

"And the problem -- if there is a problem, and I even hesitate to call it a problem -- is that this life, my life, looks good from the outside, but it's not so fun on the inside. On the inside, it's intense. On the inside, it's endless stress." (page 96)
[Poor Taylor, right?!]

Fortunately, it gets better. Something is wrong with Taylor's husband. He's acting all weird and then he abruptly decides to move the family from upscale Bellevue, Washington to Omaha, Nebraska. He goes ahead, leaving Taylor to finish out the school year with the kids. Taylor begins to realize the extent of their trouble when her credit card is declined while she is at lunch with a friend. (Turns out, her husband was fired from his executive job and has been out of work for months.)

Poor Taylor's situation goes from bad to worse, as her husband abandons her, the collection notices start rolling in and she has no money. We could almost cheer for Taylor as she begins the transformation from rich housewife to resourceful woman and mother who must figure out some way to survive and take care of her children: Taylor has a garage sale.

Next, Taylor gets a job -- a job as a go-to girl/office manager in advertising, employed by her once and not-quite-former PTA nemesis, ODD MOM OUT Marta Zinsser.

MRS. PERFECT turns out to be an in interesting journey, with Taylor's growth through challenge. She works to support herself and her daughters; she figures out a new lifestyle on her own; she moves from a very large, beautiful mansion to a dingy rental house and makes it a home. She triumphs and finds new depths of character as she re-settles her children, focusing on what they still have, rather than what they've lost and making the best of it.

While it was more fun inside ODD MOM OUT's narrative with Marta, Jane Porter does a masterful job of portraying similar lives from two very different perspectives, making both books a must-read experience for women who can relate to the PTA lifestyle.

-- Sherri Caldwell, Humor Columnist & Reviewer at RebelHousewife.com
Co-Author, The Rebel Housewife Rules: To Heck With Domestic Bliss!

We first meet Taylor "Mrs. Perfect" in Jane Porter's previous 5 Spot book, "Odd Mom Out". While it is not necessary to read "Odd Mom Out" first you should because it is also a good book and sets the stage for "Mrs. Perfect".

On the outside looking in, Taylor seems to have the perfect life with a handsome, rich husband, three beautiful blonde daughters, a gorgeous house on the waterfront in an exclusive area of Bellevue, Washington, a fabulous wardrobe, and country club set friends.

She is a super-mom doing everything to volunteer at her daughters' schools. She volunteers in all of the classrooms and chairs the auction committee for an annual fundraiser. She set her own career in PR aside when she became a wife and mother.

Slowly Taylor's seemingly perfect world begins to unravel when shockingly she learns that her husband has lost his high paying, high power job and has actually been unemployed for the past several months. Everything changes for Taylor when her husband moves across country to accept a job in Omaha, Nebraska.

Suddenly Taylor finds herself with none of the security or money she had before--she has a closetful of designer clothes, but nothing of substance. I was hooked from the moment Taylor sat down in her husband's den and went through all of the unpaid bills and realized just how much in debt they were and how far behind they had fallen on the payments.

You will cringe when Taylor's credit card is rejected at a restaurant much to her humiliation and in front of a girlfriend. You will feel bad for her when her ATM card is not accepted at the grocery store when she is buying treats for her daughter's Halloween party. You will laugh when she turns her hair orange after being forced to color her own hair!

The book is funny and sad and real and empowering all at the same time. Taylor finds her own strength as she sells her things at a garage sale, gets a job beneath her qualifications after being out of the job market for so long, sells her beloved house to a woman she can't stand, tries to save her marriage, finds out who her real friends are, etc. I don't want to give anything else away.

I give this book 5 stars!! "Frog Prince" used to be my favorite Jane book...but "Mrs. Perfect" may have taken its place. Read all of Jane's books--she speaks to women and we can see pieces of ourselves in all of her characters!

A Seattle native, this book was hilarious to read as it accurately depicted the stereotypes of the east side. I highly suggest reading Porter's "Odd Mom Out" before reading this because it really gives you insight to Marta's character. This was a reaffirming book for me to read as a mother of two toddlers that has chosen to stay home and give up an income. I almost wish I hadn't read the book yet because I'd be able to look forward to reading it for the first time.

No Pockets In A Shroud is a moving tale of war heroes, a mother's love for an unborn child, and a woman wanting love all gone unnoticed. It takes the reader back to times when hiding what some thought were shameful secrets was popular and supposedly practical. Many young adults struggle today because of past secrets. No Pockets In A Shroud brings into vision the negativity of keeping some long gone secrets.

I really enjoyed this story. Maxine Thompson didn't hold back any secrets in this "seem so real" life story.

When Nefertiti went home to visit her parents after seven years of being away, it brought out traumatic emotions that she could no longer ignore. For instants, the unresolved relationships with the men in her past. And also, the feelings of dislike and unworthiness she had always experienced from her own father.

When this well needed visit, that re-opened old wounds, was over, Nefertiti decided to reveal a big secret that she had kept from her husband for years.

This story has a surprising ending. It brings to mind that old saying, "everyone has skeletons in their closet, so before you sit in judgment of others, keep livin'."

I hope Maxine Thompson continues to bring us these very good and wholesome stories. I'm looking soo forward to reading another one.

One decision sets in motion a ripple that will affect a family for years, until finally a daughter is faced with the decision whether to break the chain, even at the expense of her own future. This book is deep, but written in a style that is easy to read.

No Pockets in a Shroud wasn't at all about what I expected. I had thought it was about how the use of heavy religious based ideals helped a family solve issues from unresolved past secrets. However...it's not...not at all. The story took you inside flawed and weak humans who, through fear, clutched tightly to lies and secrets hoping they will simply go away, or better yet that they can simply carry them with them wherever they may go...however, as the author brings out, you can't take them with you, as there are no pockets in a shroud.

The book takes you back to the days when the old folks whispered the word sex, and what we take for granted, was forbidden.

Reading this book...again on the train, it took me several hours to get through it as it was deep with plot, although it had one storyline, the depth of that storyline, at times, had me a little confused about who was doing what. Eventually it all worked out and I fully got the jest of Ms. Thompson's rich tale of secrets revealed.

Up to the last page...you are left guessing. It's definitely a sit on the sofa with a cup of cocoa and your full concentration read. You have to get fully into it to get all you need out of it. --M.M

Every family has secrets but maybe not quite like the secrets that the Godbolt clan hold. Nefertiti Godbolt, a decent, God fearing teenager falls for Pharaoh Curry. He is her first experience with love and the inevitable happens; Nefertiti becomes pregnant. Her father, a stern minister who has never treated her the same as he treats her siblings, is outraged and demands that she be sent away to a home for unwed mothers. Nefertiti is coerced into giving her daughter up for adoption. Later, under her father's stern and unrelenting guidance, she
marries Pharaoh's younger, steadier brother, Isaac, but she is forever the soiled woman. When that marriage falls apart, Nefertiti leaves town and marries a white man in California.

Many years later, the unresolved issue of where her daughter is, begins to haunt Nefertiti and she returns to her hometown determined to find the answers. In her search, she finds herself pursued by both Pharaoh and Isaac. Isaac is now married to Roshanne, whom he cheated with while married to Nefertiti. It is her search that stirs up old issues and brings hidden secrets out of the closet. She finally finds out why her father treats her differently and maybe even begins to love herself a little.

It is a stirring story of life in the sixties in small town America where shame counted for more than love, where a good reputation was worth more than gold and preserving the family's good name was paramount. It is well written and will hold the reader's attention.

Reviewed by Alice Holman
of the RAWSISTAZ Reviewers