DAMAGES is a memoir of a brave young poet, artist, performer and writer whose life story holds as many elements of a richly detailed fictional novel as well as moments of eloquent poetry, philosophical views gained from living through the rise and fall of communist Yugoslavia and the subsequent fracture of that country into the parcels we now know, observations of the surface and the core needs of the people at the battled intersection of Christianity, Muslim faith, and atheism, and experiences of identity crisis that haunt many adopted children/adults.To make this vast amount of information work for the reader, author Bazhe has wisely elected to tell his story as bifurcated between the realities of the present in relating to his adoptive mother on her deathbed and his at times lurid past to his birth mother, conveniently placed just up the stairs from his dying mother. It works as a gimmick or technique that allows the reader to understand the present Bazhe by allowing him to very gradually escort us through the damages of his early childhood through his bumpy road to manhood.The crises here are from two vantages: Bazhe was reluctantly given up for adoption by his 15-year-old birth mother Mila (his very beginning was the result of a brutal rape), his adoptive parents were wealthy and privileged due, oddly enough, to the high communist government position of the father. His early years were frosted with gifts and advantage, but his childhood was damaged by his position of wealth in a country (Macedonia) struggling under dictatorship and inequality. Bazhe, a beautiful and bright child, drew attention beacuse of his androgynous appearance - a factor that would provide problems for him throughout his life. His father was highly respected by the people, but feared by his abused wife and child. Entering school, Bazhe gradually became aware of his same sex orientation and began to dress 'inappropriately' and attract male lovers in a community that would not tolerate homosexuality. His adventures in escaping to Turkey resulted in his being courted by a wealthy man into the world of cross-dressing and the eventual rejected demand that he undergo sex reassignment surgery. Returning home, his confession of his lifestyle brought the expected conflict from his parents and he fled to Belgrade where he became a Madam for the unwanted gay population of 'aunties'.While undergoing this seemingly endless series of life changes, Bazhe searched for his birth mother without success. After a final life threatening incident that underscored the bitter and vicious collapse of his country's belief systems in the person of a brutish, abusive, conflicted anti-communist, Bazhe fled to America, only to return to comfort his mother at the time of his father's death. Upon arriving in Macedonia his mother's devotion is focused on her beloved adopted son and Bazhe discovers that his mother has progressive cancer: he spends his time as a nurse to his mother's increasing needs while finally making contact with Mila, his birth mother. The story of his life is related to the birth mother while Bazhe attends to his adoptive mother, and it is this dichotomy of allegiance that forms the true conflict of the book.The story of Bazhe's life is fascinating and horrifying, and were that all that this book had to offer it would be enough. But DAMAGES goes far beyond that: this is one of the better insights into the history of Yugoslavia, Macedonia, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro - all places that we understand so poorly but all places that hold the keys to the discord between the religious seeds that lie at the center of the constant conflict we still are experiencing. Bazhe's comments on governments and religions are harsh, both in his evaluation of his native country and his adopted country of America. 'Anyway, it's we who are to blame. Everything about (God) is a myth. We're the creatures of our beliefs. We're the source of good and evil. Our big mistake was creating Him and all these evil religions, so we can be divided and hate each other to death as enemies. Whether Muslim, Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, or whatever, we stress the 'other'-ness of others when true differences between us don't exist. We are all humans. We're a grown-up race. We should see that religions are superfluous. In the past, religions made some sense: to give young nations identities and a reason to fight for survival. Now, we need a new identity. We need global unity. We need a new order and a new progressive faith of peace and love. It's time to put the holy books where they belong, on the shelves of museums'. Powerful words from a man who has survived a life few of us could tolerate. Perhaps we should listen. What on the surface is a fascinating autobiography by a very unique writer gains importance as the observations of a damaged philosopher! Grady Harp, July 08

I seldom read autobiographies since most of these ghost-written homilies airbrush the warts and pimples from the 'author' while making it seem that they had saved Western civilization along the way. But Bazhe was a very interesting person to talk to, and he'd convinced me that his book was even more so.I was not many pages into 'Damages' before I realized that the Bazhe I met at his book signing was not the Bazhe that is. Anyone we know, even our spouse or our closest friend, presents an edifice to the world, a structure that is the sum of their life experiences and their genes. What they are is normally what you see, but what you see is the finished product, or at least a work in progress.Others on Amazon have discussed the events in Bazhe's 'Damages,' so a recap here isn't necessary. What I would like to concentrate on is the autobiography itself. Not the events in his life, but what they reveal about the author and, implicitly, about us all.'Damages' is not a typical autobiography. The open, honest, unflinching nature reminds me of some of the better works of Burroughs, Rechy, and Ginsburg. It is raw. It is difficult at times. It is a reflection of humanity at its best, and humanity at its worst.Bazhe hides nothing. His words describe his life but also define the man as few other autobiographies have. And by defining the man, they also define the culture in which he was born and raised. Much of Bazhe's life may seem alien to readers, but they will also grasp the essential truths that underlie his life story. This is not a life glossed over to make it seem better or more noble. This was a life the author lived. Much was admirable, some was not. But all rings true. 'Damages' is the essence of one man.'Damages' is one of the few books I would give a '5' to. It's not for those who see the world through rose-colored glasses. It's not for those who can't tolerate the reality that comes into human lives. But is it for everyone that wants to learn more about the human condition, one person at a time. I have great admiration for Bazhe. He lived through conditions that might have had most of us running for the exit. He had the courage to investigate his origins. He accepted life as it was, surviving, while embracing his familial obligations. He learned, grew, and formed himself into an integrated, functioning person.How many of us could have done that?I recommend Damages. Enjoy Bazhe's life as it unfolds. Learn more about humanity. And wonder what you would have done if you were in his place. I know I thought about the book and the author long after I finished it. And I honestly don't know what I would have done were I in his position. But do any of us? We weren't there. We can only observe and marvel at Bazhe's trek through life. And wonder, What would I have done?

It is rare for me to read a book cover to cover, but "Damages" had me reading it passionately to its conclusion. I am young, yet to experience the pains and pleasures of this world. Reading "Damages" has affirmed my belief that life is an adventure, full of possibilities. I can only hope to experience a tenth of what this brave and intelligent man lived. I highly recommend this book to anybody.

Don`t think for one moment that this is a one-theme novel. Far from it. And if you do, your are in for a big surprise. This marvelous book encapsulates everything and everyone around the author from his early upbringing to his adulthood and his undying total devotion to his mother and her tragic illness, colon cancer. Also it encompasses the turbulent Balkan history and the consequences of nationalism and religious fanaticism that destroys any society. This is a touching characterization of a young man growing up in a setting alien to most. Bazhe manages to weave issues of identity, sexuality, class and search for his birth mother with ease. He is not afraid to speak the truth and to feel trust because of that truth. You will be taken in very subtlety the first few chapters and then be lifted into a kaleidoscope of heartbreak, terror, humor, and much happiness. One major attribute it teaches us is to listen to our own hearts. After finishing the last chapter one is amazed that he survived and shows us the shining example of the human spirit. Don`t pass this gem up!

I read lots of books that are true stories, but Damages really hits home with a unique perspective on todays world events from Bazhe's experiences that are, in your face, honest.Beleive me, I haven't read anything like this since 'Before Night Falls' by Arenas.Bazhe's story is a movie director's dream.Bazhe's writing is very picturesque (and he is not born in America) that while reading Damages I felt like I am watching a movie. I hope Bazhe will get into writing movie scripts.Do yourself a favor and pick up this book.

The adventures and coming-of-age story of a young gay man have by now become a well- (even over-) explored genre. But this particular story presents a unique point of view and setting. Tell the truth: How many Macedonians do YOU know? Bazhe's upbringing and coming-out, set in the socially and morally repressive waning years of Balkan communism, present unique challenges and dangers (and opportunities) that the author vividly describes. He possesses a keen eye and ear for character, and the family, friends, lovers and enemies that populate this book ring true-to-life. His highly 'accented' and melodramatic use of American English serves a unique purpose: Reminding the American reader that he or she is a foreign visitor to this book, privy to extremely personal feelings and events that might not always reflect an American mindset, but which are nonetheless real and compelling. Bazhe is by his own account no saint, and presents his life and deeds un-flinchingly - the good and the bad alike. Definitely 'worth a read.'

A great read. I enjoyed the book immensely. (That is, if crying real tears while reading can be called 'enjoying'.A rare insider's view of Macedonia, during the final years of communist Yugoslavia and the beginning of ethnic tensions, which eventually led to genocide.One gets a sense of Balcan culture, character, politics and mentality while at the same time accompanying a young man's personal search for his biological mother and his own identity.I couldn't put the book down!

Have you ever come to the end of an exciting book and you want to continue? Without exaggeration, that was my experience with Damages by Bazhe, a writer raised in Macedonia, what was once part of Tito's Yugoslavia, and now an American citizen.The story is full with emotions. Damages is the unusual chronicle of a gay man who was adopted and goes back home from the United States soon after his adoptive father's death and finds out that his adoptive mother has colon cancer. While back in Europe caring for her, he decides to try to find his birth mother and much of the narrative of his life is told to the reader as he relates his childhood being raised in the home of a Communist Party leader, his adolescence and early manhood to her, Mila, while she, the birth mother, visits him for a week and stays under the same roof but on a different floor as his dying mother.The construction of the story-telling works well. The best parts are when he writes about his adoptive mother's decline and his feelings of ambivalence about his birth mother. Anyone who has ever been around someone dying will recognize the feelings. The details of his mother's illness, the changing of colostomy bags, the dialogs between the dying mother, Bazhe, and their loved ones are painfully real. Bazhe tells Mila how he feels about the United States, his new home, compared with the 'Old World.' What he tells is interesting and correct. The book is a powerful read and certainly not one that one will fail to remember in a rush.There is a myth out there that everyone has a book in them. Many people unfortunately do not. Bazhe does he have a great story and defiantly you will want to know what happened next, after he immigrated to the U.S.A.

I picked this book up and was blown away by it. Ingeniously written, this is a great weekend read for someone who is looking for laughs along with clever bits of dialogue and writing. I throughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it. I tend to stay toward more darker, serious fantasy and this was a great break.

This is a very enjoyable book! I found myself laughing at many passages. Reminds me a bit of Princess Bride. I wouldn't mind reading more books like these!

This book was full of adventure, humor and even true love. I chuckled through many parts of this book and found myself grinning like a dope through it several times. it was a great adventure of a read, one I would take again!

The unique fairy tale references are not the Disney versions. I never would have thought that about the Evil Queen, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Especially the bit about the massage and the honey...

Such a fun read and very clever--I loved the twists!I could've done with a bit less cliche at the end though.

I have to be honest, when it comes to working out in most gyms, the faster I can get in and get out the better. I've got better things to do with my time than to be a gym rat. So when I go to weightlift, I'm going for two main reasons:1. I want to build lean muscle so I can burn more fat.2. I want to increase my strength so I can stay healthy and injury-free in my 40's and into my 50's.Pete Sisco has discovered some incredibly simple, but effective principles of strength training and muscle building that leverage the best of isometric exercises, maximum weight and very safe range of motion. I found the workouts in this book to be very straightforward, something I can do quickly (less than 30 minutes total time in the gym), and can do entirely by myself (no need for Personal Trainers or lifting partners - unless I want one.)Do you remember in High School, college, or perhaps with a trainer when they would have you lift your maximum weight the first workout? How long was it before you were able to lift that max weight again? Or another way to think of this . . . in your normal 2 or 3 times weekly weight-lifting workouts, how often do you really jump up in the amount of weight you're lifting? For me, it was maybe 5 lbs once a month. My strength wasn't increasing, I was just barely maintaining.In this book, Pete clearly explains the reasons why we don't see our strength increase that much doing traditional workouts. In contrast, since starting the Static Contraction Training, I've more than DOUBLED my leg press and bench press strength in just the first month! I can virtually guarantee you'll see the same increase in strength.Ok, you're probably thinking, so what . . . how will doubling my strength help me in daily life. Well, for me it has resulted in several positive changes. First, I no longer have lower back pain (even after helping some good friends move into their new house.) I can't tell you how many of my 40 year old buddies complain to me regularly that they can't do this or that, because their back is too sore. Or I hear from their wives that they tried to move a piece of furniture or bent over to pick something up . . . and now they're on the couch with back spasms. Not me - my back is stronger than it's ever been, thanks to the exercises Pete introduces in this book.Second, I can climb stairs pretty fast again and with no pain. A year ago, I was starting to notice I was using the arm railings a lot more, and I also grabbed the car door frame to pull myself up out of the car. No more. Now that my leg strength and back strength has returned, I can climb stairs and get out of the car like I did in my twenties.This ebook is just an introduction, so I read it, visited some of the links Pete has in the book to his extensive blog site at PrecisionTraining.com (where you can ask questions, share your experiences, etc.), and then bought his Train Smart book too. But I definitely recommend An Introduction to: Static Contraction Training - The World's Fastest Workout to someone who wants to learn more about this new, incredibly fast and effective exercise program.

Science certainly backs this type of exercise and it's worth investigating and learning more about. I use some static holds in my own workouts but they're not to the extent described in this book. Static holds make perfect sense to me since that's when you build muscle.This is a very short booklet and it's intended to be. It's what it says, an introduction. It provides three excellent exercises and lots of valuable information plus an FAQ. It pretty much answers any question you'll have before you opt to try out this program. You may decide it's not for you. Either way, you've not invested much money to find out.If you do decide to continue with the program, you'll want to invest in a book with more information.My issue with the book is that it only promotes going to the gym or working with gym equipment. There is no room for home equipment or even free weights. I do all my workouts at home and enjoy lots of growth and it's very effective. So when an author promotes gym-only exercises or workouts, it's a turnoff to me.Other than that, I recommend the book to you.-- Susanna K. Hutcheson

I'm turning 58 in a few weeks. I've been using Pete Sisco's strength training methods for about 5 months now, and am amazed at how effective it is. It's measurable as well so I can see my progress. There are plenty of positive reasons I have for using this system. Best is to get the book and try it. Results can be had in a relatively short period of time.

I love this system by Pete Sisco.Using up the fuel (glycogen) in a muscle in 5 seconds of work in the safe range for muscle work so the muscles go into overdrive to build more muscle tissue is pure genius.It really works, it's really that easy, and it's the safest workout you'll ever do, as it's in the safe range for muscle work (up from the starting point and not yet into the end of the movement).Wonderful.If I wanted to do this without a gym, I'd use Callan Pinckney's Callanetics: 10 Years Younger in 10 Hours, which uses gravity and repetition to do the same thing, BUT ...1. it takes much longer,2. it requires harder work and3. the results, while still miraculous, are slower than Pete Sisco's technique. But no need for a gym.Pete's work is the best thing for strength training I've ever seen. And strength is the basis for the later training in whatever sport or activity you love.I guess you could say this is the workout for people who hate spending time in the gym, because you'll be in and out in a half hour, including a shower.

I've been using SCT for 2 years. Even tho I read about it thru other publications I bought the Intro because it inspires me and it's a good read about the best training system there is.

Started SCT at 69 for the first time. In about 8 months my partial Dead Lift went from 305 lb to 495 lb shortly after my 70th birthday. I took over a year off, then made another run at senior glory: in 8 months the dead lift went from 385 lb to 525 lb just before my 72nd birthday (9/11/11), by then down to a very ripped 162 lb. The muscle growth and fat loss associated with this run-up was simply stunning. The fact that my workouts were by this time 14 days apart (28 days between the same lifts) is clear proof that practically everyone over-trains by working out too frequently. And, this lengthy (by popular thinking) recovery time becomes far more important with increasing age - our repair processes take longer as we get older, and our ability to tolerate repetitive stress declines. Avoiding adrenal system fatigue becomes a priority. This is the most effective strategy I have found for rapid muscle/strength growth available without drugs for seniors. It is magic for seniors who want to maintain muscle size and strength into advanced age, with the added advantage that it promotes significant testosterone level increase. See more optimal aging strategies at my seniorfitness.com website. On the home page there is a brief video I managed to get a friend to record of the 495lb lift mentioned above. We cover ever aspect of staying strong and healthy into advanced age on the site.

This historical mystery set in the foggy gas-lit world of Victorian San Francisco is a complete package of a modified locked room puzzle, more than one murder, daring undercover snooping, romantic tension and a few twists and turns for a powerhouse of a debut novel.When I finished this book I immediately missed Annie (a liberated woman ahead of her time!) and the other characters, showing just how well they had been brought to life and made, dare I say...memorable. The mystery was well plotted so I went down the wrong path along with the police at first. The setting of Victorian San Francisco and period details are rich and layered, easily woven in the overall story from the attitudes towards Chinese and class divisions to the strict propriety rules restricting women. The journey back in time seemed so complete I felt jarred if pulled back into the modern world when my reading was interrupted.The climax and revealing of the murderer was tense and an edge-of-your-seat ordeal where Annie is in very real danger. The ending was satisfying and I put the book down smiling at the wrap-up.Read the complete review at (...)

Annie, the main character of Maids of Misfortune, a feisty pseudo-psychic, is so real she seems to walk off the page. Her male cohort, the lawyer Nate, is the epitome of gentlemanly sex appeal. The mystery advances the sizzling but restrained attraction between Annie and Nate to an almost unbearable pitch as it leads them into the most interesting by-ways and corners of Victorian San Francisco. You'll want to yell at Annie like a kid in a theater, 'Get out, now!' as she explores the library in the middle of the night-you just know someone's behind her. Is someone? Wait and see. You're there at the dance where the swells invade and Nate defends Annie against a masher. And the final scene, in which Annie and her accomplices . . .but I don't want to spoil it for you. The mystery is not so easy to solve, in spite of the clues, and yet its solution satisfies. M. Louisa Locke has a Ph.D. in history, and her research is meticulous. However, she never lets it stand in the way of her story-telling, and, in fact, her deep knowledge of the past enriches the story and makes it more credible even as it overturns your pre-conceptions of the nineteenth century.

M. Louisa Locke, a semi-retired History professor has written a delightful mystery set in Victorian San Francisco. In rating a book it is of first importance that I care what happens to the main characters and she has do a good job of drawing them in multiple dimensions and in a way that leads you to care about them. Secondly I look to see if I can figure out the plot before I get to the end. While she is very good at foreshadowing who the the 'bad guy' is by the end of the book I was still unable to figure out several of the plot twists until she skillfully revealed them. Third I rate a book by how much I look forward to my next reading installment. This book I carried with me to that when I had a few uncommitted moments I could continue to read it. By the end I was willing to lose sleep to find out how the locked room (actually locked house) mystery was accomplished.Very highly recommended and I look forward to her next book when it becomes available.

At the end of the book the author asks the reader to rate the book if you like it. It got me thinking about how it measures up to other books set in the Victorian Era. It is definitely not on a par with authors like Anne Perry. Thinking about it more made me realize the author describes the characters at the beginning, but never developes them further. There is potential for her maid, her cook, her boarders that are also long time friends and her alter ego to be really interesting, but she never follows through. There is a good reason to finish the book though. The capture of the villian ends us being very funny. You also have to the author kudos for having only of couple of typos.

It can be difficult for me to read books about San Francisco; it irritates me when they take too many liberties, and it annoys me when they get things wrong. That said, Victorian San Francisco was done well, and I felt like the setting was well handled; it was S.F., but it wasn't overdone, and it was never really about the city.Rather, the book was about Mrs. Annie Fuller, the widow who has found a way to eke out a living by running a boarding house and offering financial advice as t...moreIt can be difficult for me to read books about San Francisco; it irritates me when they take too many liberties, and it annoys me when they get things wrong. That said, Victorian San Francisco was done well, and I felt like the setting was well handled; it was S.F., but it wasn't overdone, and it was never really about the city.Rather, the book was about Mrs. Annie Fuller, the widow who has found a way to eke out a living by running a boarding house and offering financial advice as the clairvoyant Sybil. Things get complicated, however, when an old associate seeks to call in her dead husband's debts and a friend turns up dead.I found myself satisfied by the story, the developments of characters and relationships felt natural and well paced. I didn't feel like anyone was terribly unbelievable, and I hadn't solved the mystery within the first couple chapters, all of which bodes well for the title. There are seemingly more titles forthcoming by this author, and I'm likely to seek them out, as this one was very good.

Annie Fuller, M. Louisa Locke's main character in Maids of Misfortune, is a spunky young San Francisco widow, who secretly supplements her income as a clairvoyant. As Madam Sybil, Annie, is one of San Francisco's most exclusive clairvoyants. When a client dies and Annie believes he's been murdered, keeping her role as Madam Sybil a secret becomes increasingly complicated, especially because Matthew Voss's family will be destitute and Annie will lose her home if she doesn't solve the murder. She can't just walk away.At twenty-six, Annie is a widow without family to protect her. Since her husband squandered his money and her inheritance before he committed suicide five years earlier, the San Francisco home she inherited from her aunt and converted to a boarding house is the only thing that saved her from being forever dependent on her dead husband's family, who blamed her for his suicide. Annie inherited the house after she settled her late husband's debts. However, one of her husband's creditors believes he can intimidate her and rob her of a successful business, as well as her independence.If all of this isn't strange enough, Annie does the unthinkable for a woman in 1879. She decides to go undercover, as a maid named Lizzie, and find out what happened. In the process, she finds herself falling in love with her dead client's attorney, Nate Dawson. As Annie and Nate chase criminals, Nate finds himself strongly attracted to Annie and thoroughly confused by her intelligence, independence, and sometimes-unladylike behavior. He soon learns that Annie is also versed in finance and the stock market, thanks to her father, and that she knows a great deal about her client's financial affairs.Nate grows increasingly worried as it becomes obvious that Annie is right about the murder. His concern heightens when two fishermen discover the previous maid's body, and Lizzie refuses to leave her undercover job as the dead maid's replacement. Unfortunately, while Nate's tracking down the final piece of the puzzle, the real killer grabs Annie, in her Lizzie persona, and holds her hostage at knifepoint. The only people near enough to help Lizzie are her employer, who is the widow of Madam Sybil's client, Matthew Voss, and Matthew's elderly sister. Can three upper-class Victorian ladies outwit an armed assailant? They don't even do their own hair!Annie is a character with depth and personality. She's also a woman faced with huge challenges and limited solutions for a 'proper lady' in 1879. In real life, the Annies of the world are the survivors. Locke shows great finesse in character development and provides supporting characters that are diverse and entertaining.From beautiful Victorian houses to horses, carriages, manners, dress, lifestyles, fog, and gas-lamps, the setting is rich with authenticity. The author's research is thorough, and her descriptions contain details that are interesting and satisfying to readers who love this era. Locke's mysteries should develop a loyal audience quickly. This novel incubated for almost thirty years during the author's teaching career. Let's hope that it won't be thirty years before the next one.by Penny Leischfor Story Circle Book Reviewsreviewing books by, for, and about women

I found this to be an enjoyable read. Nice characters, interesting story line and always enjoy books set in San Francisco. Looking forward to 'Uneasy Spirits' this authors next book.

I was very disappointed with this book. It starts with a bang and sets up a potentially interesting character. But by the middle of it I was really bored and only kept going just to see how it would end. Unfortunately the ending is clumsy and lacks credibility. The closing scene then undoes the entire premise of the book - I thought 'Well, if she had just done that in the first place ... then she would have saved herself all that trouble.'The plot flip flops between mystery and romance and achieves neither one well. The supposed attraction between Annie and Nate is unconvincing and seems to result more from proximity than any growing sense of relationship. The mystery is fairly standard and predictable, with no twists or surprises. There is little to no sleuthing involved, just lots of sneaking around until something happens. I got particularly annoyed with the character of Annie who switches back and forth from proto-feminist to helpless, self-pity. The other characters are highly stereotyped with little depth or sympathy.In the end, not worth the time or money.

I really enjoyed this book. I kept finding myself drawn into the next chapter. Thoughtful characterization! Good coming of age story for young adult to adult. There is nothing raunchy about this book and that is refreshing! Great read!

'Ashford' by Melanie Rose is an exquisite read that draws readers in from the very first page. The story is revealed in first person by the lovely, innocent heroine, Anna. At 17, Anna experiences her first introduction to young adult freedom while in the care of her absentminded caretakers, the Beauforts, who are tasked with accompanying Anna to Europe just prior to the start of World War II.The author does an exceptional job at evoking the setting and tone for this period piece of historical fiction. Readers are engaged into the dalliance and innocence of a young girl meeting her first love, Perry Bertram. Perry serves as the unsung hero, unable to serve in the war because of narcolepsy; Perry is loyal, selfless, and honest. His love for Anna is apparent early on, but circumstances keep them apart as both Anna and Perry are tested in different ways by the tragedy of war and separation.Rose does a brilliant job of creating characters that readers will love and portrays both the eloquence and tragedy of wartime with exceptional narrative, poignant dialog, and well-drawn characters. 'Ashford' is both a tender story of a girl growing up as well as a poignant story of epic love that will stay with readers for a long time to come. 'Ashford' is a superb novel of literary quality and is appropriate for both young adult and adult fiction readers of historical fiction, alike.I look forward to reading more of Melanie Rose's novels.Katherine Owen

This is a truly engaging tale which opens a window upon the perceptions, emotions and actions of a young American woman in war torn England circa 1939-1945. Anna's inner dialog is rich with unexpected observations, humor and deeply felt connections with the people and places she finds circumstances have drawn around her. Anna's deeply felt humanity and really a sense of love for these people matures from a rather child like simplicity early on to something much more developed and earnest later in the book. While reading this book before I went to bed I found myself disappointed that I needed to sleep. I was quite drawn into the story and while not at all eager for it to end, I really needed to see what was going to happen on the next page. I hope to see more by this author in the future.

This book was a very refreshing read - innocent without being cheesy. The writing style and wonderful descriptions grabbed me from the first word. Her descriptive phrases are the best I've read in a long time - if ever. The characters were well developed and pulled you into their lives. I'm hoping for a second installment of their story soon. Thank you, Melanie Rose!

This book was an amazing surprise. The prose was full of beautiful language and the characters very well developed. By the end, I felt as if I'd made several new friends as well as a couple of enemies. The story progressed at a perfect pace and kept me wanting to move on with it.I teach at a local school, and on the way to work one day I purchased a copy of Ashford. It was a conference day, and they usually have a couple of quiet times when I thought I could make a start on the book. I ended up devouring the entire book that day (without alienating too many parents who had come for a conference and not a review of this wonderful novel) and wishing it would just continue on. The writing style is reminiscent of a classical period where writing was more of a craft than it seems to be to those novelists of today who churn out book after book without a paragraph or even a phrase that lingers in the mind. The story transported me to many lovely places, but I believe that given a choice, I would choose Ashford as my favorite.I believe this was the first novel from Melanie Rose, but there seems to be another writer on Amazon with the same name. I haven't read any of the other Rose's work, but I couldn't recommend this historical novel any more eagerly. As a bonus, I have taken care of presents for many of my book-loving friends this Christmas by exposing them to this terrific new novelist. Please keep writing Ms Rose as I would love to see more of your work in the future.

I don't normally write reviews but this book has compelled me. I downloaded Ashford on my Kindle on a day it was offered for free. I hadn't heard of it before but the description was intriguing. I had a dozen other books waiting to be read, so I decided to just peek inside Ashford to see if it was worth keeping and reading at a later date.Then I read the entire book immediately.(I've updated this review to expand on a few points after re-reading Ashford at a slower pace).This is a somewhat short novel, which reads as a kind of retrospective journal by the main character, Anna. The book is accurately described in the Product Description and previous reviews. Anna's travels take her to places of great beauty, and she finds peace and joy not so much in touristy attractions but in moments of human understanding, in relaxing on stone steps warmed by the sun, in the promise of adventure. When the grounds at Ashford, in the wooded hills of Devonshire, are first vividly discussed, I so hoped the book would take me there. (You'd think the outcome here would be obvious from the title of the book, but by this point I was too caught up in the story to remember the title at all!) When the time came, I shared Anna's fear that my ideas might not compare with the reality, but the author delivers not only with physical descriptions but with wonderful new people to meet.Ashford put me in mind of some of my favorite things. I'm a big Dickens fan and felt echoes of his style in the descriptions of some characters. Downton Abbey fans might reflect on the similarities between the effects of WW1 (Downton) and WW2 (Ashford) on the characters and the many changes war forces on their lives. In particular, the happenings at the hospital and the characters' efforts at involvement and patriotism recall season 2 of Downton. The author describes every day people and nature with a certain magic which brings innocence and lightheartedness to a story that is not untouched by tragedy. I feel that's an important point to make because it pairs well with the book's overall tone, which could have been all doom and gloom considering we're talking about an orphan stuck in a war-torn country, but it actually puts forth a strong message of perseverance and hope.The plot moves along very steadily but human details are not put aside so more action can occur--instead the characters grow throughout the book. I especially appreciate the depth given to Anna's struggle with shyness and Perry's with narcolepsy. They do the best they can with their troubles and reward each other with understanding and a push in the right direction when needed. The younger characters mature, and you gain a deeper understanding of the elders. This enables you to picture them and understand their motivations, but also leaves you wanting more. That was all I could think at the end of the book--more, please! I couldn't help but wish for a sequel, a glimpse into Anna's future, Perry's future, life continuing at Ashford (sidenote: did you notice American orphan Anna's choice of dialect and spelling in this recounting of her past?)...but without one available, there's enough substance here to let your imagination run wild. I cannot think of many books I've read that accomplished that in under 250 pages.I'll be bookmarking Melanie Rose's author page and keeping a lookout for future releases! If the publisher or author should read this, I'd like to implore them to keep making titles available for Kindle. I have a hard time reading paper books because of a physical condition, and my Kindle has reopened the world of reading to me.

Vivid descriptions of characters and places in eloquent prose made this novel a joy to read. The perspective of innocent victims of the war lent a personal touch that is seldom purveyed. A thoroughly enjoyable read. I await Melanie's next literary effort!

Having trouble finding Mr. Right? You need the Boyfriend Bylaws!This was a sweet and humorous story about a young lady trying to find Mr Right! I really got a kick out of Melanie's bad dating habits. This story reminded me of that movie 'How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days' where the main character does everything wrong in a relationship. This was how this short story went! Some parts of the book had me laughing out loud!I thought the characters were well thought out and very loveable! I loved Melanie and her friendship with her roommate right from the start and her friend from the gym Matt was so sweet! I thought it was a bit too sexual at times with the way Melanie planned her lingerie and her talk of sex but then again some of that was just too funny not to laugh! I feel like this story could have went a lot longer because there was so much goodness there that it could have developed even further but for a simple enjoyable read this hit the spot! I received a copy of The Boyfriend Bylaws for free by Susan for my honest review of the book!

This was a nice, sweet, contemporary story about the dating woes of twenty-five-year-old Melanie. In love with being in love, she couldn't get it right when it came to men. She was also petrified of becoming a woman like her mother, who had left her father after years of marriage. In her quest to find The One, she ignored Matt, the perfect man under her nose all along. In her defense, one of her co-workers lied to her about Matt and said he was a player. (Oddly enough, I think Melanie should have been labeled the player, considering how she went through men.) The Boyfriend Bylaws were a set of rules her best friend and roommate, Patti, devised to save Melanie from any more heartache. All I have to say is, thank goodness for friends like Patti! With her tough love, she made Melanie see the error of her dating ways. When she risked losing her precious 'Betty' (you'll have to read the book to find out what that's about), Melanie finally understood just how important Matt was to her. The book had great dialogue, was funny, and just long enough to quench my thirst for romance. There's a short Valentine's Day story at the end that I really enjoyed, too.

I loved reading The Boyfriends Bylaws by Susan Hatler. This was a fun quick read and I felt I knew the characters. The only thing I didn't like about the book is that it wasn't longer! I wish there could be a sequel as I just adored it from cover to cover. I highly recommend this book!

This was a very cute short story. The characters are cute and quirky. From the very beginning you get sucked into their lives and the way they do everything. Perhaps it's just the way the friends interact, but it just makes you remember the fun parts of being single. Melanie is a classic marriage-obsessed character that is cute and fun. I didn't want this to end, especially since there were a couple side stories that didn't seem to quite get resolved. But it was definitely a light and fun read to make you smile.

I loved this book! The only thing I didn't love is that it wasn't longer since I wanted to keep reading about them! I fell in love with the characters as if I was right there with them the whole way. The story line and ending were great. I highly recommend this book for a fast fun read!

Melanie is a young woman with lots of great things going for her. She teaches classes at the Totally Fit gym and has finally saved up enough money for her dream car. However, she hasn't been as lucky in the romance department. After dating one lame guy too many, her best friend decides to lay down 'The Boyfriend Bylaws' or rules that will help Melanie find 'The One'.The Boyfriend Bylaws is a fun and witty read! I loved Melanie's character and the back-and-forth banter and antics between her and her Totally Fit co-workers. I wanna work out at their gym!I only wish the story had been longer. I wanted to know more of Melanie's backstory and what happened to some of the minor characters. Otherwise, I enjoyed it and I will be checking out more of Susan Hatler's work in the future!

The characters were fun and the dialogue between the characters felt natural and easy. The story moved along quickly and ended all too soon in my opinion. I would sure like to see a longer version of this. I think the employees being caught in the janitorial closet was very funny and I loved the word of the day idea. So much fun. Loved the happily ever after ending. My conservative reader side needs to mention (especially to all my squeeky clean reader friends) that while there was no explicit sex scenes, there was talk of having been there and going there. Buying lingerie, having the wrong kind of underwear on for pre-sex play... Characters in the book have implied sex, not detailed.Susan Hatler has a fun way of writing that I really enjoyed.

I received an arc copy of this super fun and engaging novella The Boyfriend Bylaws by Susan Hatler. First off I really like the cover. Now this is sweet romance that has you rooting for Melanie right from the beginning. I was laughing and smiling throughout the story. This is a clean romance. I only wish the story was longer. I would recommend this read and will be following Susan Hatler and awaiting her next book.

The author strips away the diluted contemporary fantasies based on the Dracula character and gets back to its true core. The tale is interwoven with rich historical detail. Cutugno has obviously done his research. The author stares into the heart of darkness and reveals that truth is stranger than fiction. Highly recommended.

I had previously researched the life of Vlad Dracul because of my love of the legends surrounding him. This book places the reader on the ground towards the end of Vlad's reign. It's gritty, well-written, and actually left me with some compassion for Vlad. They were incredibly hard times, as history will show. To build a story around this famous character was a great feat; to build a story without the silliness is a beautiful experience for the reader. Well done!

In Dracula's Time is a page turner and a fascinating read. It came to me as a recommendation and I wasn't sure what to expect. It was somewhat bloody for my tastes, but not overmuch, and the history and story line is compelling. The Vlad Drakul character is an original and he remained enigmatic even while he is revealed. And I enjoyed the story within the story structure that the writer uses and the connection that is made to Bram Stoker's original Dracula. It's a book that makes you think while it entertains. I recommend it.

This hidden gem was a great find and a great read - highly entertaining! The author's writing style is beautiful in it's simplicity yet conveys a rich and colorful story line. The novella seems based in historical fact but there's a dark and sometime macabre aspect interwoven with history that really grips the reader and makes you want to read on. Kudos to Matt Cutugno!

I am a huge fan of Bram Stoker's Dracula. Many people have speculated about the connection between Vlad and Dracula, but this book ties it all together. Great read. Cool story.

I always enjoy the topic of the historical Dracula, and In Dracula's Time turned out to be a fairly interesting read. I liked the idea of Pru being told Vlad's story by the intimidating leader himself--especially the impaling. Given that it was free when I downloaded it I'm giving it five stars. Good effort by Mr. Cutugno.

In Dracula's Time is a great addition to the saga. Author Matt Cutugno takes us on a wild ride with Vlad Drakul, the prince of Wallachia during the middle ages, who is recognized as Stoker's inspiration for Dracula.After I finished reading In Dracula's Time, I have started it over again and I'm enjoying it a second time.All and all, this is a fascinating read.

This book helped me to deal with guilt of my own sin as well as with others I need to forgive. It is a must read for anyone...believer or not!

Very freeing...this series taught me how through Jesus I am no longer a slave to sin. Because of His grace and forgiveness, I am free to live! Hallelujah!

Very informative, clarifying and important. We all have a sinful nature that we struggle with day in and day out. But through God's forgiveness and the Holy Spirit we can forgive ourselves and others and control our sinful desires. Well written and easy to read and comprehend.

This Sin series presents a basic, yet entirely essential, understanding of sin and its devastating effects on one's relationship with God. But it does not leave its reader there- it also introduces the ways in which we fight sin and the power & victory we have in Christ alone to counter sin. Burton uses Scripture repeatedly to point to these pertinent truths, and I felt the Lord speaking through His support of Old Testament to New Testament texts. It is a read immensely worth pressing into with the Holy Spirit!

This series begins with a description of how sin entered the world. It goes on to show some examples of sinful people in the Bible. The author describes how sin affects our relationship with God. He then explains the Good News that God offers forgiveness for our sins. He ends with the interesting connection of us forgiving others as we have been forgiven. This series is a good reminder to repent and seek God's forgiveness daily as we forgive others daily. Sin is in this world, but there is hope through Jesus! The questions provide a good opportunity to reflect on your relationship with God. They would make good discussion questions with a mentor, accountability partner, or small group.

This is my fourth series by this author I have read Does God Change Lives, Tough Times, The Trinity (very powerful) and now Sin and I have found every one of them very informative, easy to understand, quick to read and as the series title states Life Changing or put another way they are impacting my journey with God.It has helped me to grasp God's hatred for sin and that my sometimes halfhearted 'I am sorry, please forgive me, I wont do this again,' is not pleasing to God. As I read this series I began to think of how he knows my heart and how pitiful my asking for forgiveness has been and the impact that has had on my journey with God. His word tells us he hates sin.The author does an excellent job in relaying the Holy Spirit's role in our lives when it comes to sin, if this was all this series accomplished then the series was worth while but there is more...I now realize at a deeper level how amazing God's forgiveness is and the fact that he forgets my sin no matter the sin and he wants me to forget.Burton tells us that in order to participate in the feast God has prepared for us we must lay some foundation and the series on Sin is part of that foundation. I thought of the verses in James that tells us a righteous man's prayers are powerful. How many times have I not realized the price Jesus paid and how my sin was impacting my life in a negative way.I loved how the author made me realize that no matter what I have done God is ready to forgive and to forget and that I can truly put my past sin to rest.Another highly recommended series by Burton.

Riveting, vivid, raw, yet authentic; reading about the experiences of Kenneth Lovelace will leave you on the edge of your seat. What else can we say about this ten-year-old protagonist and his supporting casts? Ezekel Alan takes a daring dive into the life of his protagonist, showing readers what it was like growing up in a poor neighborhood of Jamaica during the 1970's and 1980's. The author does so with a great deal of humor. At times, however, the pathos is overwhelming, as he captures what it was like for a young boy to grow up `dirt' poor: the squalor, the possibly avoidable tragedies, and such. But, he also shows the indomitable spirit of a person dreaming of a better life.The title of the book seems to reflect the fact that not only do others see the characters as `disposable', but that they also saw themselves in that way, accepting everyday tragedies and injustices as though they were normal. The characters feel real, not fabricated, and based on how they come across it is hard at times to tell whether to pity and embrace or despise them. Ultimately, the characters are people that only the most privileged among us will find hard to identify with.Mr. Alan has done a truly remarkable job of encapsulating the plight of the poor while reminding us that even in poverty there is humanity, laughter, pride, and ambition. The story is delivered in a very unique style, accentuated by short chapters and pithy poems.I thoroughly enjoyed the read!Coults ManningDacula, GA 30019

This is a quite stunning (and in places shocking!) debut novel from Mr. Alan. It tells the story of a young Jamaican boy growing up in quite extreme poverty in the 70s and 80s and tells it from the point of view of the boy himself, now a successful consultant in Asia. If you like charming, complex and unreliable narrators, as I do, this is right up your street.The variety in the language and the rhythms that the narrator uses in telling his tale are both stimulating and at times unsettling as you are left wondering about the narrator's mental state while he tries to come to terms with some of the terrible memories of his childhood. Most of the humor in the book is quite dark, but expertly timed/pitched and, I believe, deliberately placed to add to the sense that the narrator is troubled (the only exception is a poor joke about Anfield, although even this adds to the impression that the narrator is not to be trusted).As I've already hinted at, the writing is generally of a very high standard and you see can that this is a writer equally comfortable working through poetry, prose or even drama (some of the set piece dialogue is excellent). I think the book that this most reminded me of is Angela's Ashes, although it is quite different in style, there are some clear parallels in the experiences of the protagonists in these two books and, I suspect, in what the authors were trying to achieve.Having said that, this book is quite different in style and eschews the straight narrative approach for a much more inventive and challenging structure. This is a book I can see myself reading more than once and I firmly expect to read it again in a few years just because there's such depth and imagination to it that I expect to get something new out of it every time I pick it up.

'Disposable People', which is inspired by true events, is a brutal yet sensitive, shocking yet amusing, story about a Jamaican boy's journey to enlightened adulthood, finding and following a thread of hope out of a place of wretchedness. It was a real privilege, as a reader, to have been welcomed to share the deeper parts of the psyche and difficult memories that the author, Ezekel Alan, undoubtedly drew upon to create this piece. I was transported to another world, where I was appalled, moved, shaken by laughter and given liberal dollops of food for thought, in equal measures. A masterful effort by a talented and unique writer.

Poverty and desperation describe the start of life for Kenneth E.S. Lovelace, or Kenny. Born into a squatters village called a 'Depression' in 1970's Jamaica, he struggles with all the dangers and trials of poverty. He and his kind, living in one-room self-built houses on someone else's land, are 'Disposable People.' Kenny shows us his world through a collection of diary entries written to Semicolon, his true love. Peppered with bits of his writing collection, poetry, and reminiscence over time we gradually hear his tale. This novel takes a train-of-thought approach to Kenny's experiences. A progression of understanding, rather than a chronology, takes the reader scene by scene through his childhood and out of the 'Depression', or 'That hateful f***ing place', and into his life as a successful author, far from the squalor of his childhood.Ezekel Alan's book wowed me on so many levels. Kenny is thoughtful and honest, confessing all his sins to Semicolon. Ezekel displays gorgeous poetry, joy, beauty, culture, ideals, horror, sin, murder, fear, suspicion and faith, all surging through his tale. The graphic nature of many of Kenny's experiences are often witnessed while Kenny and his cousins eavesdropped without shame 'because we all knew that everything we did was being quietly observed by the cold unblinking eyes of Eternity.' It's all part of the honesty and depth of every bit of the book. Kenny bared his soul to Semicolon, telling her what he experienced and valued, but also what he felt, learned, and how he failed. Scandalous or horrific scenes are highlighted with a knowing, dark humor, but contain profound lessons learned. There seemed to be a kind of love/hate relationship between Kenny and his old home. Though he describes it with stark and unforgiving frankness, he does so with an underlying pride and affection.Even the source of the book is mysterious and poetic, 'A Novel Inspired by True Events'. Somehow I heard the voice of my own grandmother, transported across time, culture, race, and nationality. I guess some opinions appear everywhere: 'If he had gone to church, none of this would have ever happened to him.'

Disposable People'Disposable People is a book about one man's journey from a desperately poor Third World community to finding his true self on the global stage. The book reveals a dark, painful childhood full of very little hope other than one's educational ability to achieve and slowly move out of the 'Depression'. This is a compelling story weaved together by a literary grace that had me laughing so hard at times and then had me in tears at other moments as we go on this journey of self-exploration with the author. I was intrigued from the first page right through to the very end and was left with the poignant question: 'Can one truly go forward without going back?'. A definite must read!'

People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. It seems there is always a purpose if we seek it out. Alexandrea Weis' novel, 'To My Senses' reminded me of that. It also reminded me that we need to follow our heart's desires. What more can you ask of a good read? Romance, lush New Orleans settings, intrigue, conspiracy, art...it's a very fulfilling book.Nicci Beauvoir isn't really into the whole debutante life. She's done that, grown up in it, and now she wants to settle into being a nurse. She's completing her studies and will soon be ready to make a difference in the world. Her father would prefer she take over the family scrap metal business. But one evening, while attending a lawn party, she comes face to face with an inviting diversion. David Alexander is a struggling artist, obligatorily under the firm grasp of his benefactor, Sammy. There is something to be explored here.Nicci is swept off her feet, slowly, through a day of fishing, a visit to a coffee shop, and a collapse on David's couch, where he proceeds to capture her image on the canvas while she sleeps. He is passionate in his art, in life. He is just what Nicci needs in hers. There is trouble though. Nicci's father's business is in need of diversification. A plan is under way for a take over. Warnings are given and a possible saving grace is discovered. Somehow, David knows all about it.Nicci turns to Dr. Michael Fagles, a 'safe,' controlling man who only wants a wife to be exactly as he sees fit. He directs Nicci, and she allows him. Her passion is gone, for Michael has none to share. Will she be doomed to spend her life under the thumb of this loveless moron? Will she find herself again, and find the raw emotional life she needs to embrace her true goals?Alexandrea Weis paints an artistic, character driven novel, set in pre-Katrina luscious New Orleans, and offers life lessons to readers along the way. The pages are filled with self examination, romance, intimacy, hints of connections to the crime worlds, and lavish parties. My favorite scenes involve delightful cottages that leave me aching to explore New Orleans. A fantastic book to curl up with and get lost in, Weis introduces readers to characters that will linger in the mind like a sultry summer night. I trust there will be more from this author in the future, and I look forward to that prospect.

To My Senses is a beautifully written novel. It is rare to find a book that I can't put down. The book is filled with romance and suspence.I'm looking forward to Weis' sequel.

To My Senses is a book that I found myself enjoying so much I was sorry to finish it. It's been a long time since I have been so blown away by the ending of a book. I had a hard time putting it down as it is, suspenseful as much as it is romantic. The witty personality of Nicci adds an element of humor that I enjoyed coupled with the electric chemistry between her and David. She faces difficult choices that force her to decide what really matters most in life and in love.Weiss does a beautiful job of intertwining each characters relationship against the backdrop of the always interesting and intense city of New Orleans. Her descriptions of the French Quarter immediately brings you there.A fabulous first novel.

Surprised and entertained by this novel. Better than a romance and better written. LOVED all the characters, very memorable and was the kind of book you hated to finish reading. I really think a lot of readers will be happily impressed. Good book and worth the price!

I can't remember ever loving characters in a book as much as I loved Nicci, her dad, her uncle, Ned, Val, and yes, even the Hoover sisters. I just didn't want this book to end. I felt like I knew each one intimately and didn't want to close the pages on them.I tried to read it in one day. Stayed up until the wee hours of the morning, but couldn't make it. Even though I tried to gobble it up, this wasn't a fast read. I felt myself slowing down, not wanting to miss anything. I wanted to feel exactly what the characters felt.When I read the ending the next morning, I am glad I didn't finish at 3:00 a.m. The ending was so surprising, so shockingly stunning, it would have jolted me awake and I'd never gotten to sleep. Here's a little bit about the book.Practical Nicole 'Nicci' Beauvoir wanted more out of life than marriage and kids. She had plans to be a nurse. She's fiercely independent and didn't feel she needed a man to muck up her future.When David Alexander, a struggling artist, sees Nicci at a garden party and the attraction starts there. They both find they have something in common. Each lead a life void of passion by closing off a part of themselves to the world. Against her better judgment, Nicci responds to the passion David offer. Soon she finds out she's been deceived. David isn't what he appears to be.It will take the aid of her meddlesome family to get them back together, but the story will not end there. The author saves a super-sized twist for last in this page-turner of a book.

With equal parts romance, mystery and intrigue, To My Senses brings to life the compelling story of Nicci Beauvoir and the events that unfold which initially confound, but eventually mold her into a believeable, multi-dimensional character. Alexandrea Weis writes with the confidence and skill of a seasoned novelist; it is very difficult to believe this is a debut effort! With multiple storylines masterfully entwined to give the reader a layered, textured feel to the characters and environments they inhabit, Ms. Weis has created a page turner that leaves you grateful for spending the time to read it! As a native New Orleanian, I began reading with skepticism. I have never really found a movie, novel or television show that accurately captures the feel of New Orleans, at least to me. After the first few pages, I was home! The sights, sounds, smells and even the heat and humidity returned to me as though I were living there once again.I hated that To My Senses had to end....thank goodness for Recovery!

I was bewitched with the novel within the first three paragraphs. With refreshingly-rich sensory detail, Ms. Weis, weaves intelligent characters, sensual scenes of passion and seduction amid the lush background of beautiful New Orleans and its elite society. I have been consumed with the main characters for two days and I feel the miserable loss of their company. While the conclusion of the novel could be no other than the one presented, I terribly miss my role as a first hand observer to the dance between Nicci and David.I look forward to the promising work of Alexandrea Weis, please don't make me wait too long!

I really don't give a lot of reviews but I just had to say how much I loved this book. I wasn't expecting all I got out of it.It's a wonderful love story set against the sultry city of New Orleans. But it is much more than that. I don't like 'love stories' per se but this one was different. It has such strong characters good and bad alike.Nicci was such a delight! I would love to have her for a best friend! And I felt that David swept me off my feet as well as Nicci! I could picture them in my mind's eye. This book reads so well.You will delight in this fantastic debut novel. And the twist at the end had me...let's just say surprised. I definitely look forward to more books from this author. And to Ms. Weis: PLEASE HURRY!

'Terms of Mercy: To the Princess Bound' by Sara King will tenderly like a soft golden tendril, embrace you, touch your heart and since it is a romance make you fall in love.From the beautiful opening chapter, there is Dragomir, a romantic hero unlike all others before him. A gentle giant, healer, possessing a rare, feared gift that if discovered, by a tyrant ruler, would be executed. He is chosen from all the others, captured without his consent, and brought to Victory, the princess, a broken soul, of whom he'll be bound.Victory, the princess, privileged since birth, is betrayed by those she trusted. Now, she is scorned, abused, locked by fear, rescued, only to be subjected to the heartless decision of a soul-less man, her own father.In a short excerpt from the book...' No, his heart began to hammer like a sledge in his chest. The soul-link, made across an entire planet, completely dormant, yet still radiating residual fear to him for an entire month... It was her?'....There, begins their journey, soul mates, both lost, in pain, yet to be connected in this lifetime. Where one step forward, sometimes means two steps back, on that path where TRUST is the key.A book of the heart, one that has timeless qualities that blossom with the best of humanity, yet does not hide the dark shadows of it either. This one touches deeply. You will cry, but you will rejoice too, have experiences that will make your toes curl, and ones that make you, in no better words, pee your pants from laughing so hard.Miss King has this ability, no that word-ability is not enough, it's a unique gift, to pull you from your life and take you to a wonderful place that you want to visit time and time again.'Terms of Mercy: To the Princess Bound, a love story unlike all others.....

Have you ever wanted to meet a man that could reach inside you and heal the damaged parts? What's so beautiful about this story is the healing goes both ways. Dragomir and Victory are those characters that you remember for a very long time. This is a very good read and one that you won't be able to put down til the end. Would I buy this? Most definitely,, and well worth it!!

I must say that this is so far my favorite Sara King book. I've read 3 others, and like this one couldn't put them down, but To The Princess Bound kept me going to the last word was read. I can't wait until her next book comes out. I hope that there's more to his story too. I absolutely loved it.

A brief rundown: Our heroes, Coyote Cal and Big Yap, unravel the mystery behind the Trail of Death--all with bandits, horse chases, guns a blazin', and a Portuguese-Indian.A parody of those old west shows such as Bonanza and other spaghetti westerns. It plays upon the stereotypes of the genre like the charming hero and pearly white smile, the grumbly goofy side-kick, the gorgeous girl who helps the hero recover, and so on. The story itself doesn't even take itself seriously, breaking the fourth-wall. It's all meant to have a good laugh at the genre.I found it enjoyable, a fun quick read. I definitely can see some Captain Quasar in Coyote Cal--both ridiculously over-the-top heroes. Though if I were to compare Fool's Gold to Coyote Cal's previous adventure, El Diablo De Paseo Grande in Arcane, I'd have to say El Diablo wins. Partly because Big Yap plays a bigger role in that story, and I find him the funnier of the two heroes, plus the weird factor was so, so much weirder. *shivers*So if you like parodies, along the lines of Galaxy Quest and Austin Powers, check out Fool's Gold. And looking forward to more crazy adventures with Coyote Cal and Big Yap.

This was an enjoyable story with a great combination of weird, funny, and exciting elements. I'm not widely read in the genre of Westerns, nor have I seen many movies in that genre, but I had the distinct feeling that the author meant this to be a parody (or to at least contain satiric elements). Fowler deliberately uses phrases like 'our heroes' and 'heroic gaze' as if to call attention to Coyote Cal's overt need to be considered a hero. Everything from his very actions, to the phrases he utters, to the way the story ends supports his heroic nature. Even the 'villains' of this short story call Coyote Cal a hero.Similarly, there's a moment in the story where the author breaks the fourth wall (or very nearly does). Again, this seems to be a nod and wink to the readers. It's important to note the author's possible intent here, because without this consideration, one might misinterpret this story as derivative.Beyond my literary pondering, the story as a whole is simply wonderful. There's great use of humor, an unexpected speculative element, and tons of excitement. A great addition to Fowler's canon, and a must read.

This short story of about 26 pages(on kindle) is fun. Its a weird western that does not take itself to seriously. Taking the Trail of Death to see where it goes Cal and Big Yap run into trouble with a wizard.

OMG!! This book is a MUST READ!!!! I couldn't put it down. I know it's not a long story but I wanted more!!! I loved the names and the plot!! I had no idea what was going to come next!! Great job Milo!!! Keep up the excellent work!! Don't forget us little people when you become a best selling author!!

This had me flipping the pages as fast as I could read them. The author hooks you from page one and the hits just keep coming. I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen in the next scene and I read it all in one sitting. Loved it.The author has a fantastic voice and the creep factor is high, while the romance progresses between the characters.My favorite thing about the book was that the heroine is smart. In a lot of romantic suspense the heroines will put themselves in danger for no reason, or something stupid just to up the tension. That's not the case here. The heroine is so invested in the people around her and she's believable.All in all, it's a great read.

The author's humorous personality is missing from this book but I enjoyed it all the same. Has a twist which I won't wreck for the reader, just know it's worth your time! Loved it!

Other books by this author that I've read have been romances that were light and full of wit and sarcasm. This romantic suspense novel is much darker, but the suspense is so strong that I couldn't stop turning the pages. A smart, strong heroine is also a plus not always found in romances and romantic suspense. (Though this author's books have always leaned that way.) If you like romance with a strong, powerful suspense plot to keep you glued to the page, you'll love this.

What a surprise from this author! The suspense is indeed riveting and it is impossible to put this book down long enough to get anything else done until you finish it. Past books have been fun and full of humor while being romantic at the same time. This one just grabs you and doesn't let go as your eyes race along the lines to find out what is going to happen. It will not dissapoint!

I loved the intrigue in this book. When coupled with the romantic intrigue, this makes for a great read! I couldn't put it down.

C. S. Lewis once said: 'You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me...' If you are talking Sweet Ice Tea, and a book like this one by Tommie Lyn, then I completely agree with his sentiment.This rates as one of my favorite novels ever. Honestly. I couldn't get enough of the characters, and at the end of the last chapter I cried out 'NO!' because I wasn't ready for it to end. I will say that there's a lot of 'Mountains of GA' Dialect in the first chapter and through out the book that at first I thought would turn me off (because I wanted to correct their english). But I am familiar with the author (the fourth book I've read by her), so I knew that these were not the result of bad editing.Again, no one makes a more engrossing and tragically flawed character than Tommie Lyn. These are people that you want to spend more than two days with. Unfortunately I was finshed with this page-turner too quickly.

I really enjoyed the `The Sands of Santa Rosa.' So much so, I couldn't put it down.Great characters especially Cotton. I felt for him, having to cope with a gift of knowing, but with no specific details to guide him. I could almost feel his frustration.The story really grabbed me; I couldn't wait to find out what would happen. Would Cotton's gift of premonition save little Sara and what was it that threatened her?I love spooky stories like this, full of suspense and intrigue.Could the awful scenario that takes place in the book really happen?I didn't want the book to end, but what an ending... brilliant! There has to be a follow up. Please! Please! Let there be a sequel.

Good thing I know to allow plenty of time when I start a Tommie Lyn book - I couldn't put it down until I got to The End? Some of these characters stole their way into my heart, and then there were some who made my heart beat faster than it should! Could something like this really happen? Hmmmm ... The Sands of Santa Rosa presented a very convincing scenario.

I ordered 6 books, one for each great neice! Looking forward to putting them in their Easter baskets. This book is lovely story with fun illustrations.

The writing style makes it very fun to read, my 8 year old daughter love love loves it. You can really feel for the darling little Anemone.

Just got finished reading 'The Fairy's Tea'. This is such a beautiful book. The colors are great for children. I loved the story. It is the kind of book to curl up with your child on a cold winters night and read to them. Your book trailer is really inviting. You should do an audio book, with you reading the whole thing. You have the kind of voice for it. Good Luck and Congratulations. Bonnie Alonzo

Crystal Whimsey's first Book, The Fairy's Tea, is a wonderful little story that will help children explore their emotions. Anemone's feelings about being left out are emotions that everyone from Children to Adults can relate to. The watercolor illustrations are absolutely adorable! And Crystal's Whimsical rhymes are sure to become a favorite!

The story and the pictures are darling, and the message is poignant. If you have ever felt left out, you will feel for the little blue fairy. Super cute book!