Southern Books

This was a great novel. I especially enjoyed the characters. They were all easy to visualize.

A white boy who is mute witnesses the rape of his black friend. The rape ends in a murder that he does not witness, and all kinds of problems flow from there. I don't want to tell too much of the plot, but it has a supernatural element. Set in the early 1960s in the south, the racial element plays out against this background of crime and hypocrisy in a small southern town.

I would also highly recommend Son of the Endless Night, by Ferris.
Son of the Endless Night

If you like coming-of-age stories (and Phantom Nights is one), then you will probably also like Summer of Night--a great story!

Summer of Night (Aspect Fantasy)

Take one rape and murder case, add a misunderstood child, and mix it all with some good old Southern hospitality, and you get a ghost tale that will make your skin crawl. Phantom Nights is an absorbing tale of murder, lust, racism, greed, and guilt. If you liked To Kill a Mockingbird or the film, In the Heat of the Night, you will find much to appreciate here.

Priest Howard, a wealthy Southern gent, has just died. Moments before his last breath, he accused his son, Leland, of being a thief in front of his black nurse, Mally Shaw. Leland is sure that Mally has evidence that will sink him in the upcoming elections. In the hopes of retrieving the evidence, Leland pays Mally a "friendly" visit, which ends badly for Mally. Leland covers up the evidence and believes the incident is over. There are only two problems. One, there was a witness. And two, Mally's ghost can't seem to rest until Leland's sins are brought to light and punished.

The characters are clearly drawn. The prose is written in a lyrical style that is poetic. This has real Southern flava. Has there ever been a more despicable character than the Bobby Gambier's mother-in-law? Leland Howard is the perfect bad guy, who starts out the book a suave, confident politician and gradually shrinks to a pathetic shrimp with an oral fixation. Readers who enjoy murder mysteries, ghost stories, or Southern fiction will love this so it has wide appeal. Read it in the summertime with a nice, tall glass of lemonade.

OK this is the 3rd book I've read by John Farris and I have enjoyed them all. This one is deeply satisfying. It's just a perfect supernatural thriller. Great plotting and characters.

You cannot do justice to this book by revealing the plot. What John Farris has created here is something very complex, deep, emotional, scary and timeless. John Farris never ceases to amaze me -- I wait for each of his new books with great anticipation and he never disappoints his readers. By the way, his publisher should really release the latest of the Fury book series: Avenging Fury. Why is it not on the shelves?? It is very sad that Farris is not more widely recognized and publicized. He has a unique voice and his previous books should constantly be in print and re-discovered. His publisher should really pay more attention to their greatest writer and make all of his novels available again -- mine are starting to fall apart!

The number one question I ask myself when I started this book is why haven't I heard of John Farris before now? My local bookseller at the time recommended the book after Mr. Farris had a booksigning at the store last year. I bought the book but it's sat on my TBR stack all this time. After reading this book, I have to admit that Farris is definitely a diamond buried beneath a ton of black coals of other less talented bestselling writers. This was the first time in a long while where I took the day off and read a book cover to cover. No skimming. Every word...every turn of phrase is literally an artistic masterpiece. I tried to research the author on the web, but he seems to be as much a phantom as the Dixie Traveler. Majority of the characters are multilayered and you do come to care for a great deal of them-none more so than Alex. Highly, highly recommended.

I happened upon this book at my library and thought it would be a good read. I had never heard of the author so wasn't sure what I was in for--Once I finally picked it up and began reading I was hooked!! When I finally found time to start reading it,it came at a time in my life when I really needed to be inspired, to laugh and realize there are other women who totally understand me. The chapter that touched me most was about Vivian the 87 yr old lady--who welcomed the author into her life and became such an inspiration. This book inspired me in so many ways--It gave me hope, renewed my faith and I plan on buying extras and sharing them with others who I am sure could use something gleamed from this wonderful book

Trying to feel fulfilled with only 1 other person in your life? It doesn't work. Several friends add the spice to the spice cake, the toppings to the pizza dough, the rainbows to the landscape. Read this book about friendship and mutual support and then go out and build your friendships!

My best friend and I sat in my living room reading this book to each other. We only paused long enough to grab some brownies from the kitchen and snag a box of Kleenex before diving back into the wonderful world of the Georgia Girls. We agreed that we felt like we went on the retreat with those women. We laughed and cried....sometimes these emotions even overlapped! It was truly wonderful. I've read nearly all of Becky Freemans books and once again she has succeeded in making me feel special as a woman, not on my own merit; but by just knowing that we all depend on Gods grace anyway.

I'm a Becky Freeman fan and have read all of her books. While her humor always brings a refreshing "out-loud" laugh, she has the ability to bring the reader into "deeper waters." This book is definately not the "shallow-end" kind of swim. I made the mistake of reading from it while in the plane on a business trip. The flight attendant asked me if I was all right--at least he got me a kleenex. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys true-life stories about average women with an above-average inner strength. These gals may never make the front page of the news or be featured in the National Enquirer, but their stories are worth reading--ala "Chicken Soup" variety. Thanks for the refreshing swim, Becky, but next time, you need to put a "hanky warning" on the cover.

Real Magnolias was the most encouraging book I have read! It reminded me that I am not alone on this journey. There are friends around me who are going through the same situations and struggles in their lives. This book is about REAL women who share what makes them continue toward their walk with Christ. There is a lot to be said for women who enourage each other. Becky Freemen is a very unselfish writer who let these women tell their life story. Life stories that we all can relate too. Stories that are full of laughter, tears and hope for tomorrow.

Good recipes and easy to follow. I never miss a year of this annual book. They look great all lined up on a kitchen shelf. Makes me feel like I am a real cook. I recommend this series of cookbooks (yearly) instead of clipping them out of the magazine. I refer to them for ideas and I always find something. The annual Christmas Series is also worth buying.

This is a beautiful book with all of Southern Living's recipes for 2006. You can feel assured that every recipe has been tested and tried by the Southern Living staff. Having one book with the recipes lets me now recycle all those magazines. I love the color pictures of some of the food and I love the seasonal recipes, since they are grouped by each month. Having the bonus section, which has recipes from the cook-off winners as well as slow-cooker recipes, is also a real plus. This book would make a nice gift as well. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves to cook or simply sit and read a cookbook!

I have not made anything yet, but I can tell you this book is full of delicious recipes. I know right away if I will like a book based on how many recipes I find interesting. Every page I turned I was highlighting the recipes I wanted to try. I know I am going to enjoy this book. There are not that many photos that is why I gave it a 4 but the recipes seem so simple that you really won't need a picture to figure out how it should look.

Loved the quality of the recipes, layout and the pictures. Very nice quality cookbook!

My wife and mother-in-law really love these Southern Living Annual Recipe books. I've purchased all the annual books & select other Sothern Living books for each of them for many years. Husbands & son-in-laws, purchasing these books is a quick & easy way to take care of part of your holiday & birthday shopping. Plus the food is great as well. Enjoy!!!

Opening with 'Tips and Guidelines for Catering Your Own Party', "Southern Scrumptious" by Betty Sims draws upon her more than 30 years of expertise and expertise in cooking, catering, baking, and restaurant ownership to compose what is an ideal combination of instruction manual and cookbook for planning parties and menus for any occasion. Aspiring hostesses are provided with a year's worth of complete menus; invaluable tips for hosts and hostesses; recipes for time-stressed party givers; as well as culinary ideas for spring luncheons, summer picnics, and holiday dining. From Sour Cream Cornbread; Wilted Spinach and Bacon Salad; Baked Ham with Sugar Glaze; and Red Onion Marmalade; to Wisconsin Cheddar Cheese Soup; Chicken Supreme Casserole; Garlic Pickles; and Lemon Poppy Seed Shortbread Bars, "Southern Scrumptious" provides recipes that are elegant, palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, gourmet quality, thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly'. Certain to become a favorite menu planning reference, "Southern Scrumptious" is a very highly recommended addition to both personal and community library cookbook collections.

If I could offer only one southern cook book as an example of the best of the old southern and new southern cooking I would give this one to my friends...either "Yankees" or other visitors. I have used selections with just family and formal dining in Europe, with novice cooks and experienced professional chefs and I always get rave reviews. Buy this one.

This is a great cookbook that every cook should have. The recipes are great and so are the menus.

By all means buy this cookbook! My sisters and I hosted a bridal shower for 30 guests and totally copied the Buffet Dinner with Friends menu. It turned out beautifully. I have tried several other recipes and all have been outstanding. Ms. Sims gives thorough directions for all the recipes and helps with pre-party planning. You will turn to this cookbook first when you want something special.

If you are looking for a recipe book with fail proof recipes for any ocassion, this is the book. Betty Simms makes having a party easy with her delicious recipes and simple ideas. One of the most hectic things about any party is finding the right menu and then pulling everything together- this book will do the trick. There is not one recipe or idea that is not wonderful (we've tried them all)-- use this book for your next party and everyone will be talking about what a wonderful cook and hostess you are! Betty has other books out and they are all just as excellent!

This is one of the best books I have ever read on the Christian walk. I would highly recommend this book to any new Christians. It is deep without being overwhelming. After reading this book, I immediately began ordering more Ellen White books. I haven't been disappointed with any of them.

Without a doubt, once one has read this gem of a book, it will be confessed that Steps to Christ is one of the Greatest Christian Classics of all time! One of the greatest things that the author, Ellen G. White, has done, is take the complexity out of a relationship with Christ that has been portrayed by too many who do not clearly understand. She shows a clear and steady path that can be followed by any and all who sincerely want to come close to Jesus. Because the author had such a great understanding of what it means to surrender, trust, and to follow Jesus, she is able to give in simple, easy to understand language, step by step guidance to bring the child of God into a life of humility, repentance, forgiveness, prayer, and service! As I was recommended to by my University Professors, to read this book at least once a year for the rest of my life, I have found over and over again deeper and deeper insight to my relationship with Christ, bringing me closer to His desire for me! My hope is that you will pick it up and read it too, that you may know the Sweet Jesus that I have learned of!

This is one of the best Biblically-based books that I have read on the lift of Jesus! I absolutely love it and would highly recommend it to anyone who would like to learn more about Jesus Christ. It's a must buy, in my opinion.

Of Ellen G. White's many astounding books, this is probably her best seller. Literally in the tens-of-millions. A beautiful guide to understanding and personally accepting Jesus Christ and His Grace. The perfect gift for anyone even considering following the Son of God. And despite false accusations from many, after reading her inspired works you'll better understand why she is America's all-time best selling female author, and most widely translated of any gender. A beautiful light to the real Biblical Jesus.

"Steps to Christ" is a wonderful book! If you could just read one book, this would definitely be the best one to read indeed! It brings God's love closer to you than you could ever imagine. It opens your eyes to just how much God really loves you, a love that none of us deserve. This is a must-read classic! I would highly encourage anyone to get this book and read it and pass it on! You'll never be the same. It opens to the heart the great impact of the Gospel and shows the way, the only Way, to salvation-Jesus Christ.

I was pleased to find that not only is Texas BBQ represented in the first chapter, but the book also recommends the use of wood-burning, offset firebox pits. Unfortunately, the book is a let down when it comes to BBQ sauce.

I have two major points of contention with the lone recipe that is provided:

First, the authors admit that the only reason that the book even contains a BBQ sauce recipe is at the request of their New England-based publisher, and while their chastising is mildly amusing, I have to agree with the Yankee: the vast majority of Texas diners that I've met take their brisket/sausage/chicken/etc with sauce. It is disturbing that the Jamisons, while attempting to write a Texas cookbook, had to be strong-armed by a Red Sox fan into coughing up a BBQ sauce recipe.

Second, the recipe that is offered is a tangy, syrup-y concoction the likes of which I've never seen served with Texas BBQ. I certainly can't claim to have tasted the sauces from a majority of Texas purveyors of Q, but none of the ones that I have tried, from Austin to Houston, resemble "Ol' Red's". I expect something thinner, not a glaze, more savory with a hint of smokiness and very little tang.

The Jamisons need to rethink their seemingly limited view of "the perfection of cookery"'s most recognizable accompaniment.

I bought this book a few weeks ago in a Dallas mall in one of those Texas touristy shops because I was looking for a basic Texas cookbook that had a great variety of Southern and Mexican recipes including a great basic salsa and a Ranch dressing.

So far, I have not been disappointed ONE BIT. I have made four recipes so far...year-round salsa, green sauce, milagro meatloaf, and the mashed potatoes, and everything has turned out absolutely fantastic. The instructions are perfect and don't need any tweaking whatsoever.

Just as an aside, I have made mashed potatoes probably forty times, but decided to give this new method a try after reading how deliciously fluffy and rich they were supposed to be. Not only did the method work out perfectly, but they are THE best mashed potatoes I've ever had.

Fantastic book...definitely a must-have for anyone that adores Tex-Mex or Southern cooking!!!

Like other reviewers have said, I have never made anything out of this cookbook which wasn't utterly delicious! The difference between this and many of the other cookbooks I own is that this food is meant for people who love to eat real food- not "nouveau" dishes that often turn out as if no one had tested the recipe. My favorite recipes are "The Driskill's 1886 Room Chocolate Sheet Cake" (which is now called "Texas Sheet Cake" by my family, the PTA and my church group); the Molasses Spice Cookies; and the Big Thicket Coconut Cake.

Yesterday was my daughter's birthday and she opened this cookbook and requested Tamale Pie and Pineapple-Ginger Upside-Down Cake for her birthday dinner. Both were new recipes and both came out absolutely beautiful and delicious. I asked my husband what he wanted for dessert for Father's Day and he picked out the German Chocolate Cake from this cookbook, because he said that it was guaranteed to be excellent.

So can you tell I think you should buy it?

I have owned this book for over 10 years now and have cooked most everything in it. I'm telling you honestly that I have yet to cook something out of here that doesn't get snacked on constantly or rave reviews from people that visit. My original copy of this fell apart from being used so much! What I wound up having to do was cut the spine off of the book and rebind it myself.

I'm honestly very surprised that this book doesn't have more reviews than it does. Not only are the recipes wonderful to eat, they are fun to read. The author adds fun descriptions and background information with every recipe. Reading these will actually make you want to cook them. Almost every recipe book that I've read since has been disappointing in this respect. This book raised the bar!

Actually there is one recipe that I haven't been able to cook very well, and that is the biscuit. I've dedicated entire days here and there to do nothing but cook batches trying to get it right, but they always come out hard and don't taste very good.

I can't believe there are used copies available! Why would anybody sell one after seeing and using it? I wasn't born in Texas but was made an "honorary native" by friends (complete with membership card!). I received this book as a gift after moving back to the midwest and I LOVE it! I now make the best chicken-fried steak this side of the Sabine River thanks to this cookbook. It not only has great recipes, it has invaluable tips and interesting comments on Texas culinary history and culture. The recipes are not fancy (meaning not "nouveau" or "fusion"), not laden with fillers. Just good food suitable for any night of the week.

I love reading poetry books and this was just a darling little thing that kept me horrified and freaked out and falling in love with the human spirit all over again. Reminds me a lot of Jim Morrison's work.

Well I use to hate poetry. I remember back in highschool when they made us read Shakeaspeare and Lord Byron in English class. I hated it I couldn't understand it at all, and my teacher she gushed over Shakeaspeare, acted like he was a god. Well I refused to read a poem after I got out of college. So I have been dating this girl and guess what she's a teacher, she kept telling me about this book of poetry that she just loves and well it has been our only real disagreement. So finally I gave in, yeah women can be persuasive. I read her copy of this book and I was astounded, I couldn't believe that I had been refusing to read this stuff for years. Then I came to my senses and decided that this guy was alone and everything else was like Shakespeare, well I was wrong I picked up a copy of one of Saul Williams books and was just as astounded. But hey if you really want a fresh look at poetry, life, and all just read this guy. Now I need to go so I can order my copy of this book, my girlfriend has been insisting I give her's back. I especially loved the one on page 133.

After years of dedicated searching under the tutelage of my uncle who thrives on unknown poets, I found a wonderful poet before he did; Rik Woods with "This Little Red Bitch in My Chest" has assembled a new authoritative guide to life, survival, and modern poetry for the whole of society. I usually tend toward Australian poets like Banjo Patterson and Tim Thorne, but last summer I was in New York City to visit a mate. We were walking down the road a came across a bookseller and I were astonished by the title and just snatched it without even looking really. Well I stashed it in my gear and didn't look at it until I got back. Well I love this book; the bloke is just marvellous with one-liners every so often. Well this is definitely a book for the Joe Bloggs.

I couldn't put it down. The words swayed me into times and places of past, present, and future. Images cursed through mind of mad men and sultry lusts, dripping with sweetness and innocence. Some poems made me want to put my hand over my eyes like a child watching a scary movie, but still always peeking through the fanning of the fingers. I have tried to put the book down, and like an obsession, I keep reading, one more poem, one more poem. Wonderfully written, experience laden, and an emotional rollercoaster. Thank you for sharing, the world needs more.

This Little Red Bitch In My Chest (2004.) A collection of poems covering the heavy and the distraught the edge and the inner soul.

INTRODUCTION: (I discovered most of the following from Rik Woods' Yahoo 360 and Myspace.com sites.)
Rik Woods isn't some academia poet that lives under publish or perish. For decades, Rik Woods has been writing and building a following of people he knows without ever being published. Read on for my review on this new and exciting poet.

OVERVIEW:
This book is essential a wandering through a life, at least that is how it seems to me. A life lived and struggled through. But I wonder if he can sustain this kind of writing or will it run out before he can make a real impact on the world of poetry, notably the hardest writing market to succeed in.

REVIEW:
I hate writing reviews and you can see I have never posted one on Amazon before, but after watching this book for several years and ordering a few for friends and seeing great reviews but none that really highlighted what this poet can do. So I am going to take the time to make a few points out of the book.




Only the good die young
Excerpt: Just as sweet death comes to claim me
That damn machine brings me back
Have you ever dreamed on life support?

COMMENTS: Okay so this poem might irritate some people right off as it is about euthanasia, I can't really say from reading the book where the poet stands on this subject or any others for that matter. But the character in the poem is definetly pro-euthanasia, as you see the struggle his body is going through just to survive you kinda wish he would die.

The hand that hurts
Excerpt: My father was not a man of great acclaim, yet
He is mine to claim
COMMENTS: Okay so this one after you read it is clearly about child abuse, but asfter you get through it and reread it you realize that from the child's point of view only knowing that abuse, he stil loves his father.

Reproduction
Excerpt: As I stand here in the cold ass rain
The fear of loneliness gripping me
For the thousandth time this day
COMMENTS: When I first read this one I was kinda at a loss, I thought it was just a person depressed over not having children. But now I wonder if maybe there was and it was aborted or miscarried. I don't know like all poetry I think each person has to take their own away from it, and I think this short simple poem is a prime example.

A whole lot of nothing
excerpt: and a whole lot of nothing is what I will leave the
sons and daughters that will never be born
COMMENTS: Again one that evokes that feeling of longing. Sometimes you wish that when you turn the page there would be a happy poem, and I guess occasionally that does happen, but when you read ones like this you just want to cry.

Stuck
excerpt: Have you ever felt like a cigarette butt in the bottom
Of a half empty beer bottle
Unsure if it's stale beer or urine
COMMENTS: Okay so this one is just great in my book, those first three lines sum up what we have all felt in life at some point, but could really never put out finger on how to say just how crappy life felt at that time. If those three lines don't make you say "yeah" and laugh at how hard life really is then I don't know what will.

If I Fall Down on My Way to Heaven
excerpt: And now I'm so tired I lay me down to die
And if I should go to heaven instead of oblivion
I give my soul for Elvis to take
COMMENTS: Where the hell does a person come up with lines like these? I mean it is great to see that a person can take something in life that has become mundane like mentioning Elvis and turn it into something that makes you do a double take and say what! This is another of those that you will have to really take your own from it.

Sexual innuendo
excerpt: I reach for you and find your thighs wet
Come here, baby, kiss the king tonight
COMMENTS: To put it simply, this poem is erotic without being just porn as you so often see in erotic poetry. It appears to be a sweet memory from the past that a person relives. It is sweet is so many ways which is probably why it ended up in a chapter titled "Sweetheart"

OVERALL:
Overall, it's a good collection. If you don't want to spend the money to get this book believe me if you like poetry and reading poetry it will be your loss? I have spent a lot of money on poetry and I tell you this is one book I have not minded buying 4 times now, and three friends have agreed with me on this poet's work. I do not hesitate to say that often it left me in tears. When a writer (poet or novelist) can do that to a person you know you have hit upon a wonderful and insightful artist.

Patricia Sprinkle is one of my favorites becuase she doesn't just "phone it in" with her series books. Great character development and an ending full of surprises.

I had not read Patricia Sprinkle before I read Who Left That Body In The Rain. It wasn't as easy to figure out "who done it" as you might think and I appreciated the challenge. An quick read.

This is the first Patricia Sprinkle book that I read, and ever sense I have some to love her writing style. This book is excellent not only for the vivid portrayal of life in the South and the customs that go with it, but also for the intrigue and suspense that keeps the reader guessing almost to the end as to who the killer really is. This list of suspects goes on, and on, and with one major suspect on the lam, its easy to finger that person right off the bat. I really enjoyed this book and the McLaren Yarbrough is a delightful heroin.

Except for the first two books, I have read all of Patricia Sprinkle's Thoroughly Southern Mystery series to date and have loved each one. The stories envelop the reader in the cozy comfort of visiting with old friends, without ever letting them overstay their welcome. Each book reveals something new about returning favorites and introduces enough new friends, family members, and villains to keep things fresh and interesting. The mysteries are clever, intriguing, complex. The setting is rich in the regional flavors, customs, and manners of the small-town South, but never at the expense of other cultures or groups of people. This series never disappoints.

I hope Signet will one day offer BUT WHY SHOOT THE MAGISTRATE? and WHEN DID WE LOSE HARRIET? in the same style as the rest of the series so my collection may be complete.

I had a hard time deciding whether I should give it 5 stars or 4 stars, because it took me a long time to get into this book and get interested in the characters. I didn't really care for the setting. To me, it wasn't really cozy enough.

The writing was good. The clues/twists/surprises were clever. The more pages I read, the better it got. When I got to the last 100 pages, I couldn't put it down. It was so interesting, and it kept getting even more interesting by the page.

So while I was deciding whether this deserved a low 5 or a high 4, the last 100 pages convinced me to give it a 5. The last 100 pages were so good - those pages in themselves deserved a very high 5!

I stumbled across this series at the library and thank God I did. Fever Devilin is a wonderfully fleshed out creation and the meaning behind his past and homeland of the Georgia Appalachians is vividly expressed within these books. Anyone from the south will immediately recognize similar places that Fever walks through, such as centennial town squares and charming meat and three cafe's and even spooky cemeteries nestled in the woods. If you love a good mystery and your tongue salivates at the bit of nostalgia of growing up in the south, you must read these books. Treat yourself.

Outstanding book. Great mystery and plot. The cemetary is so detailed that it is like you are standing there. The same way with dinner, you can almost smell the home cooking. Fever is a interesting charactor. Depoy has a great since of humor in the aftermath of chaos. The ongoing changes in the story line keeps if from being a boring "who done it" book.
Would highly recommend to mystery readers.

For the fourth Fever Devilin mystery, THE WITCH'S GRAVE Phillip DePoy takes from the national news a true incident and weaves a complex tale of secrets, hidden passions and hatred of the different.
Fear rides the road as Fever and his friend Dr. Winston Andrews are asked by Sheriff Skid Needle to help unravel the clues and blind allies in Blue Mountain when a local mortician is murdered and the local witch Truevine Deveroe cannot be found. She and her friend, Abel are suspects until the real killer is discovered amid the ruins of a cemetery/sanctuary.
Nash Black, author of TRAVELERS and SINS OF THE FATHERS.

This was a fun read and I admit to enjoying it cover to cover. I love folk lore, food and the region in which the story took place. The author's character developement was good, the story moved well and was not only entertaining, but informative. There was obviously much research that went into this one and it shows. The story did have some twists and turns but not the sort that were so unrealistic that it made the story bad (like so many books of this genre suffer from). Note to author: I have to say that the character of Andrews was one of the most annoying characters I have ever encountered in fiction. That being said, the character of Andrews did work as I suspect that is how and why you developed him. Had he, Andrews, be a guest at my house, he would have been packed on the first flight to Atlanta after the first evening. All in all, I enjoyed this one and do recommend it.

Fever Devilin, a folklorist, has returned to his home deep in Appalachia Georgia. Truevine Deveroe, a local girl considered to be a witch, goes missing; the mortician Harding Pinhurst, one of Fever's least favorite people, turns up murdered and Truvine's fiancé, Able Carter, is the suspect. Fever, his friend, houseguest and Shakespeare scholar, Dr. Winton Andrews, and childhood friend Deputy Sheriff Skidmore Needle, need to find Truevine and Able, and Harding' killer.

It's hard to resist a protagonist who is in his 30's, is almost 7 feet tall, has snow-white hair and sees ghosts. Or a story that's filled with music, folklore, literary quotes, southern food, humor, unique characters, an excellent sense of place, suspense and twists along the way. My recommendation is, don't try. Sit back and enjoy the world of Fever Devlin. I certainly did.

I gave this book four stars because M. Lacroix wrote a story that entrances and that made me long for New Orleans. Most of the characters were delicious and fun, including Alex, the main character. His friends Jolie and Angelique and Duncan, and even his mother (late in the book) were all fantabulous. The villians, Alex's fiancee and father, were two dimensional and evil, but fun to read about and fun to see thwarted.

Lacroix developed what might have been a wonderful love story, except that he developed a boyfriend for Alex that committed an action that was inexcusable. Had Cord ever realized how badly he hurt Alex and how badly he had behaved, exploiting Alex, and apologized for it, he might have been forgiven, but he did not. It was bad enough that Cord turned Alex over to his father, but he told Alex that he loved him and that he wanted Alex to face and deal with his father IF THEIR RELATIONSHIP WAS EVER TO HAVE A CHANCE OF SURVIVING FOR A LIFETIME. That last phrase is very important, because it closely paraphrases what Cord said was his motive for betraying Alex to the latter's father. Unfortunately, what Cord then did after betraying Alex was despicable and was never explained or apologized for; worse, it implied that Cord's statement of his motive was insincere. Within a day or two or maybe even within hours of turning Cord over to his father's goons, Cord went to Key West, looked up Alex's friend Chandler, shacked up with Chandler and became his new lover. Cord knew who Chandler was. Had he told Chandler about his feelings about Alex, Chandler would have helped them. He didn't. Cord did not even tell Chandler how he felt about Alex or that Alex was his boyfriend until AFTER Alex had surprised the two of them in Key West. I can't believe Alex didn't blow his top and lay a heavy guilt trip on Cord right then. I find it even harder to believe that Alex took Cord back later on without any explanation for what Cord had done and without any apology from Cord for being an incredible prick. Without this bad glitch in the book's plot, it was easily worth five stars; with it, I find Cord a royal jerk and Alex a wuss for taking him back. Three and a half to four stars. Two bad, as it was otherwise a lot of fun and a great read.

What a dandy book! I knew Michel La Croix - whom I've read under other names - always tells a good story, but "Alex" is more than a single story (and indeed, I'm pleased to see it IS more than a single book!); it's an introduction to a bunch of people I feel I've met and known. It's antediluvian New Orleans, the people and the place itself captured forever - thank God - in a story where serious issues of self and family are dealt with, sometimes seriously, sometimes hilariously, by folks you really hope everything will work out for. What more can you ask? (Oh, and descriptions of yummy men - as a straight girl I can appreciate that).
Who hasn't struggled with a family who demands they be something they're not? Who hasn't had doubts about the one they love? Who hasn't gotten by with a little help from their sometimes-very-weird friends?
And who doesn't appreciate an excellent relationship story, REALLY well-told. Part of the pleasure in reading it is La Croix's technical expertise as a storyteller, good writing that wraps you up and carries you effortlessly along. I agree with an earlier reviewer: Don't start this one before bed if you've got anything to do the next morning.

Uproarious and bittersweet, "Alex in Wonderland" is deliciously reminiscent of Armistead Maupin's now-classic series, "Tales of the City" with the New Orleans French Quarter replacing San Francisco's Barbary Lane. Author Michel LaCroix's characters--gay, straight and/or otherwise-- are every bit as colorful, loopy and lovable as they navigate life's promises and pitfalls. The chapters are short and the action fast with fascinating twists and turns that mesh neatly for a rollicking good, very satisfying climax. Written before the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, this book is a Valentine to one of America's most beloved cities and leaves the reader with a satisfying afterglow long after Alex finishes his madcap journey through Wonderland. I can hardly wait for the next installment, "Through With The Looking Glass!"

My hat is off to Michel Lacroix! I was surprised to find "Gay Men's Fiction" next to the title though. I, myself, am a stay-at-home mom from Texas and I truly thought it was a story that crossed the boundaries of such a classification. The story was vividly told- the characters came alive in my head and I found myself racing back for another chapter just to get better acquainted with them!

I loved being transported to NOLA, surrounded by these colorful creatures and their naughty exploits. Some characters were developed with a brilliant depth; they had a devil-may-care bravado on the outside and then tender moments of almost breath-taking sadness. The story had a timeless, honest quality about it. Again, it transcended the sexual borders of its subject and was beautifully and simply, a love story. It is so much more than just a gay man finding himself- it is for anyone who has ever struggled with the expectations of family or society. It's a study of the chains that come with wealth and privilege. The themes are for every gender, for all of us who feel pressure to conform. I just happen to have the skeleton of a domineering father in my own closet!

A skillfully crafted story, Alex in Wonderland is a sincere depiction of Southern gentility and how one man rises above the phony trappings of a modern aristocracy. I'm hoping it will be a series and that Alex will return tout sweet!!!

I thoroughly enjoyed my romp through Wonderland with Alex and his friends. Michel Lacroix has written a fast-paced, captivating yarn about Alex's coming to terms with his lifestyle in the face of extraordinary challenges. Alex's story involves quirky friends, corporate politics and greed, steamy sex, an appalling fiancee, family dysfunction, and, of course more steamy sex. This would be a wonderful read on the beach.