Murder on a Girls' Night Out: A Southern Sisters Mystery

Book Description

A Different Kind of Sister Act

Patricia Anne -- "Mouse" -- is respectful, respectable, and demure, a perfect example of genteel Southern womanhood. Mary Alice -- "Sister" -- is big, brassy, flamboyant, and bold. Together they have a knack for finding themselves in the center of some of Birmingham's most unfortunate unpleasantness.

Country Western is red hot these days, so overimpulsive Mary Alice thinks it makes perfect sense to buy the Skoot 'n' Boot bar -- since that's where the many-times-divorced "Sister" and her boyfriend du jour like to hang out anyway. Sensible retired schoolteacher Patricia Anne is inclined to disagree -- especially when they find a strangled and stabbed dead body dangling in the pub's wishing well. The sheriff has some questions for Mouse and her sister Sister, who were the last people, besides the murderer, of course, to see the ill-fated victim alive. And they had better come up with some answers soon -- because a killer with unfinished business has begun sending them some mighty threatening messages...

Customer Reviews:

Murder on a Girl's Night Out.......2007-07-15

Anne George's characters are so real. These two sisters are so entertaining and have their own relationship norms. I cannot say that at any time am I bored while reading about their adventures or just their interactions. This series is one of my very favorite reads - I don't have to worry about blood, gore or profanity - these stories can stand on their own without resorting to the quick, gory, or bloody fill-ins.

Not For Me.......2006-11-04

I was looking for a new "series" of books to be interested in when I ordered 2 of the Southern Sisters mysteries. I should have known better than to order just on reviews; I should have checked at the library first. I only read this one, and have donated both to the local seniors group. I am an insatiable reader, and devour a wide variety. My favorite authors of fiction are James Clavell, Tim Clancy, Nora Roberts, Laurell K Hamilton, Anne Rice, James Patterson and Janet Evanovich. If these are on your list of favorites, my advice is "try before you buy"; this series is a little simplistic for my taste.

Great book--Great series!!.......2006-10-30

I purchased this book because I had read the second in the series previously and was very entertained. "Girls Night Out" did not disappoint. The characters are vibrant and the story line is easy to follow but not as easy to predict. If you like a "funny" murder mystery this series is for you!

Deadly Doings in Dixie.......2006-10-03

Patricia Anne and Mary Alice are sisters but there the similarities end. Patricia Anne (Mouse) is a sixty-year old retired schoolteacher who has been married to the same man (Fred) for forty years and she weighs one hundred and five pounds soaking wet. Mary Alice (Sister, Aunt Sister to Mouse's children) is sixty-five, weighs two hundred and fifty pounds and has outlived three husbands. Mouse is well grounded, tries to eat a healthy diet and always votes Democratic. Sister is flighty, claims that Mouse doesn't eat enough and always votes Republican. The fertile mind of Anne George dreamed up this pair, put them in position to solve a mystery and neither Alabama or the mystery world will ever be the same again.

Sister and her boyfriend Bill are into line dancing and when the owner of their favorite honky-tonk decides to sell Mary Alice decides to buy. The day after the sale closes however the former owner is found dead in the bar's wishing well and from then on Sister's investment is jinxed. The sisters don't really set out to catch the killer but instead are trying to help a former student of Patricia Anne's who is a suspect in the crime. The more they delve into matters though the deeper they find themselves and before it is all said and done one of the sisters finds herself on the wrong end of a gun. Since this is the first book in the series it is easy to assume that the endangered sister survives but you'll never guess who saves the day.

As with most cozy mysteries the characters tend to overshadow the plot and the hero figures don't actually solve anything but just sort of blunder into the solution. The characters are so much fun though that you will hardly notice when the plot happens to disappear. Seldom does a book like this make me laugh out loud but this one did the trick and the plot held just strongly enough to make me rush toward the end once I approached the climax of the mystery. As a born and raised Southerner I could clearly visualize these two and could actually identify them with several of my own family members, right down to the double first names. So pour yourself a nice glass of sweet tea and settle down on the veranda for an unforgettable visit with these two Southern ladies extraordinaire.

THE SOUTHERN SISTERS SERIES IS THE BEST AND YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE EIGHT BOOKS.......2006-09-25

OK, OK, I am reviewing all eight books in this one sitting! Anne George wrote a series WINNER with these eight books. You need to read them in order and they are as such --

MURDER ON A GIRLS NIGHT OUT
MURDER ON A BAD HAIR DAY
MURDER RUNS IN THE FAMILY
MURDER MAKES WAVES
MURDER GETS A LIFE
MURDER SHOOTS THE BULL
MURDER CARRIES A TORCH
MURDER BOOGIES WITH ELVIS

I have lent these books out to so many friends/family that they are in need of repair. These books should be read in the above order.

Unfortunately, Anne George has passed on, so this is it for this series. You will LOVE every single book. The main characters are two sisters who could not be more different than day and night. Mary Alice weighs two hundred pounds and the word flamboyant does not even begin to describe her. People who know and love her call her Sister. She is loud, border-line obnoxious, and into getting married - over and over again. She is someone you would adore in real life.

Her sister, Patricia Anne, is a retired school teacher and the more serious of the two women. She is lovingly known as Mouse. She has been in a steady marriage for years, has grown children, and is the more sensible of the two. You will love them both. The books are set in Alabama, so the books are full of Southern flair and charm. The characters in each book are funny, sad, sweet, nasty -- you will meet a whole cast of characters in each book.

I cannot emphasize enough how much you should treat yourself to these eight books!

Each book deals with a murder mystery that these two senior girls just seem to keep falling into. I know, I know, the titles sound hokey and so does the preface of the books, but they are WONDERFUL. I read all eight of them in a row and was sad to see them come to an end.

Each book deals with another mystery and caper. The trouble these two old ladies get into! The laughs are there, and they will have you laughing out loud. The mystery is just that -- mystery. You will not know which way the book is headed. Each book is full of surprises and keeps your attention the entire length of the book.

Get this entire series and set yourself down. Enjoy!

Thank you! Pam

What Makes Day and Night (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2)

Average customer rating:

Very good early elementary science book

What Makes Day and Night (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2)
Franklyn M. Branley
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0064450503

Book Description

`Accompanied by NASA photographs and Dorros's colorful, lively drawings, the text explains the Earth's rotation in clear and simple terms. An experiment using a lamp as the `sun' further clarifies the principles introduced.' —BL.

Customer Reviews:

Very good early elementary science book.......2007-01-03

If your child is interested in science, they will enjoy this book. It combines colorful drawings with actual photographs to explane the earth's rotation in a simple, understandable way. It is also a part of the Harcourt reading series for second grade, and a wonderful addition to your home library.

Average customer rating:

Perfect for your next girls' night in
Wonderful!
Great read
Fantastic Book filled with GREAT AUTHORS!
Girls' Night Out

Girls' Night Out
Assorted
Manufacturer: Red Dress Ink
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Girls Night In
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American Girls About Town: They're Not Just the Girls Next Door....
The Guy Not Taken: Stories

ASIN: 0373895798

Book Description

25 stories from the hottest female writers on the scene

Too tired to doll up and head out for a night on the town? (It happens to the best of us.) Just dip into this year's must-read collection for a Girls' Night Out to remember and indulge in tales of reunions and weddings, sisters and friends, endings and beginnings . . . No waiting in line, no wardrobe malfunctions, no jockeying for position as you try to catch the bartender's eye. With a lineup of fantastic writers like Meg Cabot (The Boy Next Door), Emily Giffin (Something Borrowed), Kristin Gore (Sammy's Hill0, Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus (The Nanny Diaries), Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez (The Dirty Girls Social Club) and Lolly Winston (Good Grief), you'll be hanging with the VIPS all night long!

Net proceeds to benefit War Child and No Strings

Other fabulous writers featured: Jessica Adams, Cecelia Ahern, Maggie Alderson, Tilly Bagshawe, Elizabeth Buchan, Laura Caldwell, Lynda Curnyn, Kathleen DeMarco, Nicki Earls, Imogen Edwards-Jones, Robyn Harding, Lauren Henderson, Marian Keyes, Chris Manby, Carole Matthews, Anna Maxted, Lynn Messina, Sarah Mlynowski, Pamela Ribon.

Customer Reviews:

Perfect for your next girls' night in.......2007-01-02

Girls' Night Out is a collaboration effort from some of the biggest names in chick lit with proceeds to benefit War Child, an organization dedicated to easing the suffering of children around the world. The editors of this book have long-since had a similar effort organized in England with many British chick lit authors contributing, and this is the second effort in the American version of the series. The previous novel, Girls' Night In, was released in 2004 and included many of the same authors.

If you like chick lit, this is your chance to get samplings from many of your favorite authors in one convenient package and to help out a good cause while you're at it.

A couple of my favorite stories in the anthology are:

A Thing of Beauty by Emily Giffin

In this story, by-the-books actuary Kate stops living her ordinary life when her numerologist/manicurist Betty suggests that she needs to make some changes. On Betty's advice, Kate cuts off her long hair, breaks up with her long-time boyfriend, and quits her respectable job as an actuary. Instead, she takes a job at a flower shop, and decides to rethink her previously well-ordered life.

I thought this story was fun and lighthearted while at the same time reminding you to take stock of your life and make sure you're living it the way you want to. Kate takes a chance, and winds up with valuable experiences that she'd never have had if she'd just kept living her ordinary life without thinking there might be something more out there for her. Emily Giffin is one of my favorite authors and her books Something Borrowed, Something Blue, and Baby Proof are definitely worth checking out if you have never read her work before.

A Little Bit Broken by Sarah Mlynowski

When her husband of six month confesses to her that he's had an affair, Jessie has no idea how to react. The idea that someone she trusted and thought she knew so well could treat her so badly doesn't sit well with her and she has to make a decision about whether or not she can forgive this indiscretion.

This story is probably my favorite in the entire anthology because it resonates with truth from start to finish. It's difficult to know whether or not you can put back together something that may be irreparably broken and the fact that their marriage is so new makes it especially difficult in this story. Mlynowski is also one of the editors of the book and I'd never heard of her before I picked it up. I'll be sure to check out her work in the future.

Overall, Girls' Night Out is a great way to get a little something from some of your favorite chick lit authors who might not put out work as often as you'd like them to, and also a great way to get an introduction to some new ones. Another story I really liked was by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez, titled The Corruption of Father Scott, and involves a television producer who is tasked with finding the sexiest Catholic priest in the country to become the next Dr. Phil. I'd never heard of Valdes-Rodriguez before but I enjoyed the story so much I went out and bought one of her books.

Girls' Night Out has got stories that range from humorous and lighthearted to somber and thought-provoking. It would definitely be perfect for your next night in.

Wonderful!.......2006-07-21

I absolutely loved this book! I loved the premise of the short stories by fabulous authors. "Girls' Night Out" introduced me to so many new "chick-lit" authors. After reading the book I had to run out and get "Girls' Night In."

Great read.......2006-07-12

I'm about 6 stories in and so far, it's great. I picked up both Girls Night In and Girls Night Out in hopes of finding more authors to read, and I've definitely found them! I can't wait to finish both books!

Fantastic Book filled with GREAT AUTHORS!.......2006-06-06

What a compilation of fantastic writers! This book is filled with stories from Meg Cabot, Cecelia Ahern, Marian Keyes, Laura Caldwell, Sarah Mlynowski and Carole Matthews, to name a few. Each story is a wonderful trip into the interesting lives of very diffent women. You will find yourself savoring each story so as not to finish the book too quickly. You will also discover new authors and new voices. A great read for the beach, the cabin, the pool or the train to work. (In other words, a great book for ANYTIME!)

Girls' Night Out.......2006-06-02

A host of authors have come together to produce another anthology benefitting Operation War Child. This alone makes the book worth purchasing. Beyond that, several of the entries are truly enjoyable. Dog Lover will definitely give you more than one chuckle, while Wishing Carefully or A Thing of Beauty will give you smiles of a more profound nature. There are some stories that just won't be for you, but the few gems and the good cause combined should make this one to think about.

Amanda Killgore

Average customer rating:

A recommended novel
Healing Feminist Literature
A New Writer to Watch
A Novel of Life, Love, and Growing Up Not to be Missed
a touching story

Night Diving
Michelene Esposito
Manufacturer: Spinsters Ink Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Accessories:

Health o Meter HDC100-01 "Grow with Me" Teddy Bear Scale for Babies and Toddlers
Braun IRT 4020 ThermoScan Ear Thermometer

ASIN: 1883523524

Book Description

Night Diving is both a young woman's coming-out story and a 30-something coming-of-age journey that proves you can go home again. It is the story of Rose Salino, a thirty-year-old woman living the San Francisco chic lesbian lifestyle, who loses her job as a chef and her lover on the same day. The next day her grandmother dies and in the course of returnng to her hometown for a funeral, she sees her childhood best friend and first love, Jessie. They begin to rekindle their friendship, which later becomes a romance. Through a series of crises Rose is forced to look at her life and find the courage to create a future that is true to her real self and her heart.

The story is also a family saga. Rose's mother is manic-depressive and much of the first half of the novel is focused on Rose's understanding of and coping with her mother's period of illness. These sections also highlight Rose and Jessie's relationship as young girls, including Jessie's wild acting-out in response to her father's sexual abuse. In the end, with the support of friends and the hard lessons born from life's challenges, Rose takes the risks to create a life she wants rather than the life she thinks she's "supposed to have."

Customer Reviews:

A recommended novel.......2007-05-26

From the book back cover:
"Rose Salino is living the perfect lesbian-chic lifestyle in San Francisco. But then she loses both her lover and her job on the same day. Twenty-four hours later, her grandmother dies and so Rose must journey home for the funeral.
Once there, she meets up with Jessie, her best friend from childhood - and her very first love. Through the crises she faces, Rose is forced to look at her life and find the courage to create a future that is true to her self and to her heart.
Will Rose take the risks necessary to create the life she wants - rather than the life she thinks she's "supposed to have"?"

When she was nine Rose's world fell apart as her mother got sick with manic-depression. Now at thirty she is again seeing her carefully controlled world fall apart, and is forced to look at her life. In Night Diving, Rose dives into her past and tells us of her childhood and of growing up with her best friend Jessie, who like her is the product of a dysfunctional family. But the question Rose has to face in the book is how to find the courage to finally take risks, in order to move out of her carefully constructed controlled life into the world of possibilities that a life with Jessie represents.
Night Diving deals with issues such as mental illness, sexual abuse and cancer but Esposito manages to keep her writing balanced and with enough sense of humour so that the book doesn't turn into a melodrama. I highly recommend this book.

Healing Feminist Literature.......2004-10-01

While dealing with difficult and disturbing issues like breast cancer, incest, alcoholism and homophobia, "Night Diving" is nevertheless not so much a depressing book about victims, as it is a joyous book about survivors. "Night Diving" is an empowering read, which will touch your heart, make you weep and make you laugh. Like all the wonderful, feminist novels from Spinster's Ink, it is a stellar book!

A New Writer to Watch.......2004-09-13

Written in a first person narrative, Night Diving follows thirty year old Rose Salino, as she heads home to Long Island to attend the funeral of her grandmother. While there she runs into her childhood friend and first love, Jessie. Seeing her childhood haunts and her old friend brings up painful memories for Rose as she comes to terms with the effect her childhood fears have had on her as an adult.

If all of that sounds like a terrible downer, never fear, Micheline Esposito injects the whole thing with her distinctive wry sense of humor. Even with the serious subject matter at the heart of the book, I found myself laughing out loud through most of it. Micheline Esposito has a way of describing Rose's life that reminded me of David Sedaris and his darkly comedic essays on his wacky life and family.

So if you're looking for a book that will make you cry but laugh while you're doing it, give Night Diving a shot. I liked it well enough that I'll be on the lookout for more of Micheline Esposito's work.

A Novel of Life, Love, and Growing Up Not to be Missed.......2004-07-30

In Rose Salino's life, bad things happen in threes: she's dumped by her lover, loses her job (because she worked with her lover at a restaurant she had always considered "ours" - which wasn't), and then her grandmother dies necessitating a flight from San Francisco to her childhood home in Long Island, NY. And so begins a journey in the present as well as in the past.

Rose's first person tale is bookended by events in the present, while the bulk of the novel tells the story of her youth. In a crisp, fresh, and often funny voice, she tells of her early struggles with her manic-depressive mother, of feeling alone and outside the pale during her school years, and most of all, of her friendship with Jessie who not only had a screwed up mother similar to Rose's, but also carried hidden wounds of traumatic abuse.

Much of Rose's description of her childhood is moving, and with her fine prose, Esposito never lapses into melodrama. "I was nine the first time my mother got sick, leaving me with an emptiness that clawed at me like some little trapped animal. It was as if some faceless man had taken her away in the middle of the night and because I could not yet feel where she ended and I began, had taken me with them. I awoke one morning to find her shell and a hugeness that grew louder and louder and more panicky inside me. The first aloneness" (p. 34).

The way Rose attempts to make sense of her world, to grow up, to find a place for herself is by terms touching and comical. I laughed out loud when Rose describes her friend's enormous Newfoundland dog: "She was, I was sure, some mix of black bear and water buffalo, definitely bigger and heavier than me, with long black fur and a mouth I envisioned snapping off my leg in one jagged bloody chomp" (p. 22).

Esposito has a delightful sense of timing as well as the ability to evoke character, particularly Rose's, in ways that kept me glued to the book. For instance, at her grandmother's funeral, she nervously connects back up with childhood friend Jessie, and thinks this: "I can't even tell you why I'm so damn nervous except that I don't know where to start. You can't start from where you left off because that was a dozen years ago and you end up feeling like William Randolph Hearst clutching a sled, rocking back and forth in some dark room, whispering, 'Rosebud, Rosebud'" (p. 116). Esposito's ability to juxtapose flashes of comedy into the story is illuminating in the way that unexpected lightning allows for brief glimpses into dark places.

By the time the events of the past catch up with the quandaries and disasters of the present, it's clear that Rose has the ability to rise above her circumstances-but will she make the right choices in order to do so? She has the possibility of a life with Jessie, but can she let go of her hang-ups and really communicate with the people she loves? "Love is knowing a person's tender spots, the places where the skin is transparent, not fully formed, like the clear membrane that holds a yolk round even after you separate it from the white. Love is standing guard over a beloved's yolk" (p. 219). Musings like that are just lovely and endeared Rose to me forever. How she gets to the point where she can stand over someone else's yolk, much less her own, makes for a wonderful story. This is a book that shouldn't be missed. ~Lori L. Lake, reviewer for The Independent Gay Writer and Midwest Book Review

a touching story.......2004-01-06

It is clear that Esposito is a therapist because there is a lot of talk about therapy in this novel. And she throws a lot of issues--cancer, family relationships, career, friendships, romance, incest--into one little novel. But, somehow she makes it all work. Jessie and Rose have a compelling friendship/relationship, and the friends and family that are in their lives are also interesting. Most refreshingly, Jessie's father isn't depicted as the big, bad wolf. He's just human like the rest of us.

Out of the Night (A Night Slayer Book; #1) (Warner Forever)

Average customer rating:

Simple mistakes made this book unreadable.
A Brilliant Series--Totally Fresh and Original
Unique vampire romance
:-)
fast paced

Out of the Night (A Night Slayer Book; #1) (Warner Forever)
Robin T. Popp
Manufacturer: Forever
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0446616265

Book Description

Lanie Weber isn't afraid of danger.As a volunteer firefighter, this seemingly mild-mannered librarian has faced life-or-death situations before--and survived.But she has no idea what's waiting for her in the dark Amazon jungles...in the staring eyes of a mysterious statue...and in the strong arms of a seductive stranger.Veteran pilot Mac Knight has vowed to help Lanie find out what has happened to her scientist father.But at Dr. Weber's secret research lab, they find only five dead bodies--and a creature believed to live solely in legends.The nightmare, however, is real.When Mac is attacked and bitten, Lanie fights to keep him alive.When he presses his lips to her throat, she yields to his touch.And when his teeth graze her flesh, she hungers for more...

Customer Reviews:

Simple mistakes made this book unreadable........2007-09-11

Wow, 15 reviews and a five star rating made me want to pick up this book. Note to self: Don't fall for it again. Let's talk about the first 50 pages of the book, which ruined it for me. Mac, books male lead, who the author states is a retired Captain, formerly in the U.S. Navy. Yeah, right! He is retired? After ten years? For reader's sakes, please do some research. How hard would it be to pick up the phone and call a retired military person?

A captain in the Navy is an O-6. My father was a captain. It takes years to make captain. First of all, officers are college graduates. You start off as an ensign, an O-1, that would make you around 22 yrs. old. Captains are not 30 yrs. old, try 40, at least. Most are well into their forties. Secondly, you can't retire after 10 years as an officer, or an enlisted person for that matter. Minimum, twenty. Thirdly, is Mac a seal or a pilot? It's just ridiculous. I was in the Navy for 10 years myself. I can suspend some belief while reading but this was to much.

A Brilliant Series--Totally Fresh and Original.......2007-01-21

There is certainly an abundance of vampire romance on the market today--some series are darker, some lighter, but many ideas recur. What I loved most about this book by Robin T. Popp was that it felt unlike anything I'd read previously, and I'll admit that it consumed me from the first pages until the very last! So much so that I rushed out to the bookstore and bought everything else I could find by the author.

I highly recommend this series, and this book in particular.

Unique vampire romance.......2006-11-22

A great first book in what appears to be a series. I bought this book on a whim after reading the reviews,and decided to buy it. I'm glad I did. I absolutely loved this book. It has a different take on the vampire. Lanie was a great female lead character and Mac was a solid male character. I liked the way she drew out the romance, it played into the story, it didn't become the story. I like plot, action, interesting characters and a little sex never hurts. This book had a great combination of all these necessary components for making a very interesting and enjoyable read.

:-).......2006-10-02

Facinating twist on vampire romance. The story begins like an Indiana Jones movie. Young librarian (a.k.a. firefighter/EMT) heads into the South American jungle to claim the body of her father, a researcher. Only when her and her pilot arrive, all they find are dead bodies (and none of them are her father's).

It only gets stranger when they discover the cage behind the facility in the middle of the jungle with nothing in it but a stone statue. Just then, the sun goes down and the statue comes to life and attacks the pilot, Mac. Lanie, our heroine, unloads a gun into the creature, to no avail, and shines an extra bright spot light at the creature. The light being the only thing that works. She drags the unconscience Mac into the facility and conducts a blood transfusion.

If you think this is wild, you have no idea! The book is nothing less than action packed. The romance is nothing to shake a stick at, either. I can't wait to read more from this author.

fast paced.......2006-08-11

This book was pretty good but, I do enjoy more romance .
It was fast paced and thrilling.

Average customer rating:

Interesting werewolf story
Underdeveloped
Moonlight Shadow
Lower your expectations... no, further. Further... Further... That's it!
Erotic Mythology

Out There in the Night
Laura Baumbach
Manufacturer: Sybaritic Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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Details of the Hunt
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ASIN: 0977867048

Book Description

Dr. Connor Jacy is about to find out somethng after spending a long, lust-filled night of wild, animalistic and sensual lovemaking with the mysterious Native American trapper who rescued him from a snowmobile accident site in the Alaskan wilderness. It's only a few days until the full moon and once back at home, Dr. Jacy is sure it was all a dream compounded by his head injury. Unfortuantely for Connor, the powerful spiritwalkers of an ancient Indian tribe have already decided to mate a modern man of medical science with a mythical creature and guardian of the night.

Customer Reviews:

Interesting werewolf story.......2007-08-01

Werewolves in Alaska were what caught my attention and made me buy this book. I wasn't sorry I did. Baumbach builds an intriguing world in the story and Adam and Connor are likeable heroes. There's a lot of sex in this book, and most of it is a good mix of lust-driven and emotional. I found the sex in shifted form oddly intriguing. My one fault with the sex scenes is that there was a lot of repetitive language. I kept seeing some of the same phrases over and over. Still, I cared about the characters and was absorbed enough in their love scenes that the repetition wasn't a huge stumbling point. Overall this is a good one if you like hot, gay werewolf fiction.

Underdeveloped.......2007-07-12

A doctor in a remote Alaskan town falls for a Native American man who is also an immortal werewolf, and who plans to turn him into a werewolf, too. Underdeveloped characters and plot. Full-length review available at Obsidian Bookshelf website (see my Amazon profile for URL).

Moonlight Shadow.......2007-06-25

Well, naturally, I gave up on gay psychics and gay cops, favoring something a bit more fun. Werewolves. Due to past experiences with gay original fic, I wasn't expecting much. Therefore, I wasn't disappointed. Now, I'll go ahead and state that this book went -real- light on plot, but I've found that to be true with most of these types of stories. I will say that there was at least one character that I did NOT like, which is saying something. Why? Because I actually felt something for some of the characters. What was worse, IMHO, is that he got the -best- guy outta all of them! Guh! Where's the justice in that? If you're looking for a quick, porny read, I recommend this book. If you're looking for werewolf plot.... Well, I have no idea where to look for that, but I'm sure there's something out there with it. I will warn you, though. When it comes to the sex, it strikes me as border-line bestiality, which was... uhm. *twitch* Dude, he's in werewolf form sometimes!

Lower your expectations... no, further. Further... Further... That's it!.......2007-06-07

If you're going to read this book, take a buddy. You'll need them to keep you from clawing your own eyes out.

Besides the pseudo-bestiality, what else has gone wrong? Hmm. Flat characterization. Men with all of the emotional depth of twelve year old girls. Sex scenes that defy all physical possibility. Yes, it's fantasy. I mean, BESIDES the part where the guy turns into a wolf partway through coitus. I'm talking about "channels" that are apparently self-lubing, because the author doesn't help him out. I'm talking about non-existent refractory periods. There's also just something about the book that makes me think that the author hasn't 1) met many gay men, 2) doesn't know much about gay sex, 3) watch any gay porn, 4) know many men at all, or 5) done any research on Alaska or lived in a cold climate. Apparently the author spent all of her research time on dog wang.

Futhermore, the author totally Otherizes the Native American protagonist and reduces him to the object of some kind of jungle fever. It's kind of offensive. Oh! Oh! Oh! And she actually uses a phrase that's like, "It's the female in you that allows you to be attracted to men," so she's TOTALLY conflating transgenderism with homosexuality, and THAT'S pretty offensive, too.

Anyway, this book reads like bad fanfic, so if that's what you're into, you should enjoy it. But if you're into bad fanfic, why pay for it? Great gag gift, though.

Erotic Mythology.......2007-05-21

A great plot combines with steamy sex for an interesting story, which is one of the best specimens for combining erotica and mythology.

The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night (Dell Picture Yearling)

Average customer rating:

I remember it from my youth.
A New England masterpiece
GREAT!
A Classic Song Illustrated
the fox

The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night (Dell Picture Yearling)
Peter Spier
Manufacturer: Dragonfly Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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People

ASIN: 0440408296
Release Date: 1994-07-01

Book Description

A timeless folk song provides inspiration for some of the funniest, brightest drawings Peter Spier has ever produced. In the song, a fox forages for food in the village to bring to his family back in the den. The music is also included so everyone can sing along.

Customer Reviews:

I remember it from my youth........2007-08-31

Eventhough this book is about the grizzly journey of a fox out on a hunting mission for his family, it reminds me of my elementary years. the pictures are reminiscent of the cold Autumn day in Maine.

A New England masterpiece.......2007-01-30

I just want to point out the errors in the reviewer 'Mark Savary "moon_city" '. He notes that the setting of this book probably is not New England due to the presence of tobacco farms, which, he adds, is not a crop grown in New England. As of 2006, tobacco leaf was one of the four main crops exported by New England states (along with vegetables, seed, and wheat). Western Massachusetts is notable for its presence of old, gabled tobacco farms for hang drying leaf. In addition, the numerous Civil War monuments to Union soldiers identify this as a northern state... as do, of course, the corn, pumkins, and covered bridges.

This is a wonderfully illustrated and old-timey book, but one of its greatnesses is its artful rendering of scenic New England a century or more ago.

GREAT!.......2007-01-04

I highly recomend this book for children. It is a great family get-together. I would like to get Burl Ives rendition of it. He also has a CD of it.

A Classic Song Illustrated.......2006-11-06

My daughter LOVES Nickel Creek's version of "The Fox Went Out.." and expressed a desire to learn it. She is pre-reading, and so the pictures in this book have proved to be a valuable tool for jogging her memory for the lyrics. Though the subject matter can seem a bit "gory" to modern parents ("Cut up the goose with a fork and a knife"), the illustrations (while suggestive) are not by any means inappropriate for even the youngest of children. Recommended for children (and adults!) who are familiar with the folk tune and would like a nice book to add to their collection.

the fox.......2006-10-31

the fox went out one chilly night,
he prayed to the moon to give him light,
for he had many a mile to go that night,
before he reached the town-o, town-o, town-o!
many a mile to go that night, before he reached the town-o!

this is the first paragraph of the song. just thought i'd share

Where Are the Night Animals? (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 1)

Average customer rating:

nocturnal fun
"Where Are The Night Animals?" is excellent.

Where Are the Night Animals? (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 1)

Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0064451763

Book Description

Did you know that a barn owl has one ear higher than the other? This helps it find squeaking mice that humans can't hear. Baby opossum hang on to their mother's fur for safety. Read and find out more about what nocturnal animals do as we sleep.

Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children 2000 -- selected by Natn'l Science Tchrs Assoc. & Child. Bk Cncl.

Customer Reviews:

nocturnal fun.......2005-09-29

my 6 year old daughter had a science lesson and this book was incorporated. great illustrations. great learning tool.

"Where Are The Night Animals?" is excellent........2003-12-10

Though this book is designed for older children, my 2 1/2 year old loves it. Some of the text is beyond her appreciation right now(e.g. "echolocation, diurnal, nocturnal"), but she loves the realistic illustrations and the different story-like scenarios for each different featured animal. I have read it to her many times and will continue to do so.

40 Days and 40 Nights: Taking Time Out for Self Discovery

Average customer rating:

Great Stuff!
Wonderful Journal for Self-Discovery
Great journaling book
Explore your true self and intuition when stuck in a rut.

40 Days and 40 Nights: Taking Time Out for Self Discovery
Ilene Segalove
Manufacturer: Andrews McMeel Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0740742035

Book Description

Doing something for 40 days can make or break a habit.There is something sacred and profound about the number 40. Throughout history, in ancient texts and the Bible, it is revered as the length of time required for enacting lasting change. This interactive journal helps readers dedicate a manageable but inspired time and space for conscious growth. It begins with identifying and clarifying your intention for the excursion. What do you want to accomplish or discover? No matter what your intention, from ending a stagnant relationship to changing careers or finding your true life's calling, the 40 days will act as a vital container as you go about your normal life with more awareness and commitment. Each day includes simple-but-insightful activities and stories, as wells as thoughtful journaling prompts focused on specific topics to help you along your journey. The blank journaling pages are designed to record the physical part of this spiritual journey. Once the 40 days are complete you can reenter the world and make the most of what you've discovered during this special period. Segalove's accessible step-by-step framework provides an uplifting yet doable odyssey, one that will enliven the way readers connect with themselves, with others, and the rest of their lives. No matter what the challenge, this book delivers a place and a way to return to day after day.

Customer Reviews:

Great Stuff!.......2007-07-03

I have been doing this guided journal for a little over 20 days and I love it. It has really helped me to get down with who I really am. Often, we don't have time to sit down and think about ourselves and what means most to us. This helps tremendously. I would reccommend it for anyone who feels they have something to work on in life.

Wonderful Journal for Self-Discovery.......2007-04-23

I had this book for three years and had not used it. While in India for one month, I decided to give the book a try. It was the best journal to write in at the best time possible. It helped to change my life. I absolutely love it! The questions are thought provoking and there are a few things that you might not want to write about. You will find some of the questions a little tough to answer, but the insight you will gain from writing about "scary" topics is amazing. As you complete the journal you will find out so much about yourself and what is really important to you.

Great journaling book.......2007-01-29

This book came to me at the best time. I love it! Segalove writes with experience, guiding you through many realizations and breakthroughs,nudging you along. I very much recommend it.

Explore your true self and intuition when stuck in a rut........2005-12-18

I never liked journaling and found no use for it, except feeling stupid and having nothing that seemed significant to write about. THIS BOOK turns THE NON-JOURNALER INTO A WRITER by helping you work through your feelings with prompts and ideas that really make you think. After just 8 days into the 40 I made some major realizations and had to stop myself from rushing through it. But the main idea of the book is to help you to slow down and listen to yourself.

Last Night's Fun: In and Out of Time With Irish Music

Average customer rating:

Best insight into the soul of the music available
The night before the morning after
Delvings of the deep diddly diddly
An experience not to be missed

Last Night's Fun: In and Out of Time With Irish Music
Ciaran Carson
Manufacturer: North Point Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

In Search of the Craic: One Man's Pub Crawl Through Irish Music
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ASIN: 0865475156

Amazon.com

Reading these essays by an Irish folk musician, you are drawn in and transported, and it begins to seem that you can hear the fiddles and bodhrans, and you can almost smell the Guinness. Ciaran Carson, who has published several books of poetry, spent many years playing traditional Irish music in pubs with sawdust on the floor, and he evokes both scene and sound brilliantly in prose. We're lucky that the talented Mr. Carson takes time to put down his flute and pick up the pen. Anyone who appreciates folk music, or anyone who just likes fine writing, will enjoy this wondrously quirky little book.

Book Description

Last Night's Fun's is a sparking celebration of music and life that is itself a literary performance of the highest order. Carson's inspired jumble of recording history, poetry, tall tales, and polemic captures the sound and vigor of a ruthlessly unsentimental music. Last Night's Fun is remarkable for its liveliness, honesty, scholarship, and spontaneous joy; certainly there has never been a book about Irish music like this one, and few books ever written anywhere about the experience of music can compare with it.

Customer Reviews:

Best insight into the soul of the music available.......2004-09-14

A skilled and formidable poet and chronicler of his native Belfast, Carson here blends his power over words into an evocation of how Irish music makes the impact it does. Seemingly an impossible task to attain on the page, but his decades as a musician allow him to capture the spirit behind the music. As they say, it's not how you read the notes, but how you hear them.

His chapter headings refer to various titles of Irish songs, and I enjoyed his rendering of differing reasons (or lack of) for how various tunes get attached to specific names. A much better book than "Round Ireland with a Tin Whistle" by David Wilson for its ability to convey the feel of how music changes with every playing, and how fluid the communication between players can be in a seisuin.

Any book Carson writes deserves a read, whether his version of Dante's Inferno, his prose-poem-fiction of late, his explorations of his city's past, or his crafted if learned verse.
He opens up a bit more here than in some of his earlier works, and the glimpses into the world he lives in between nights playing makes for intriguing scenes.

The night before the morning after.......2000-01-31

Carson takes the reader on a journey deep into the very heart of Irish Music - the musician at his most timelessness. Don't pick this up expecting a scholarly approach to Irish music. This is an amazing insight into the music and the soul of the music as performed by an Irish musician. Carson even shows the little quirks of daily living that help to give birth to such a personable music. I love Irish music, but am a jazz pianist by musical trade. I highly recommend this to any and all musicians who are searching for their soul in music, especially those in jazz. It is a very moving and thought provoking work.

Delvings of the deep diddly diddly.......1998-09-12

Belfast writer, fluter, raconteur and unreliable witness takes us into the subterranean world of craic agus chaos as he attempts to surf the web of the perfect session experience. Part nostalgic interrogtation of his own relationship with traditional music, part exploration of the Ulster breakfast: this book is a close as it gets to the cameraderie and catharsis of an all night music bash. A work of astute fiction that might never be true but is always believable.

At the end we are left wondering was this one large joke or simply a witty Northern oxymoron? A book to be revisited when the frost keeps us away from session, pub or our inner fiddler.

Excellent is too narrow a word to describe the sweep of the narrative.

Sean Laffey Irish Music Magazine Dublin

An experience not to be missed.......1998-05-01

I've been a Celtic music fan for many years, long before it began to turn up on the New Age charts. While I don't mean to knock that genre (which has given some splendid traditional musicians -- e.g., the O'Domhnaills of Nightnoise and Alasdair Fraser of Skyedance -- the wider listenership they deserve), traditional Celtic music is an altogether grittier, funkier breed.
Ciaran Carson brings a poet's sensibility to the performer's-eye perspective of Irish music, from last night's fun to the next morning's rude awakening. Irish music isn't simply the tunes themselves; it's the old-timers who performed them, the instruments they played, the pints of Guinness, the choking smoke in the bar and the pouring rain outside, and Carson conveys the whole experience admirably. It's almost as good as being there.

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