Miriam Grace Monfredo's "Seneca Falls" mysteries are
very good reads. The history is always first-rate, and
the mysteries are compelling. The same holds true for
The Stalking Horse, except the not-believable Bronwen Llyr
as the heroine, and Jacques Sundown as the "deus ex machina."

In short, Bronwen is not credible as a mid-19th century
young woman. She is a late-20th century "supergirl" cast
anachronistically back into 1860 (especially given the
ridulous and confining layers of 19th century women's clothing).

As for Sundown - too much the stereotypical and stoic "noble savage" American Indian with "eyes like a wolf." His characterization, and overly convenient intrusions out of nowhere
to kill the villain, are ridiculous.

None of the above implies that I did not enjoy the mystery, and especially the history. But even good historical novelists like Ms. Monfredo must avoid historical anachronisms and stereotypes to be credible.

This book was dark, moody and probably one of Monfredo's best. heroine Bronwyn Llyr and her compatriots are well drawn and seen in complex terms. The history, as always, is well researched and fascinating -- this time focusing on a pre-inagural assasination plot on Abraham Lincoln. Her historical mysteries are some of the best in the genre. Occasionally, Monfredo has let her characters steps on the soap box a bit too much, but this book avoids doing that -- partially because Bronwyn herself tries to avoid politics on the whole.

A thrilling and accurate tale of the Southern attempt on President Lincoln's life as he traveled through Baltimore enroute to Washington for his inauguration. The author's fictional
Pinkerton female operatives are well cast, generally dependable and loyal to their mission. Of course they are stimulated by wartime patriotism. For a sketch of a not so dependable "Pink Rose" in later peacetime adventures see THE PINKERTON EYE.

I enjoy the subjects Mr. Bottoms writes about, including the social customs of the American south, the outdoors, family life, but most of the poems seem slack in their language. They don't have a real suggestive zing beyond the literal story. The author doesn't seem to weave words so much as to present a couple of strands together. I should mention that I think he has some good stories to tell, but he doesn't make the language sing, so it just doesn't seem like poetry.

Poems are often NO TRESSPASSING signs in the minds of the uninitiated. They, not unlike their creators, ward off readers because of willfully obscure and hard to crack forms and images endemic to the poet's world. However, David Bottoms places poetry within the vernacular. He welcomes the reader, all readers, within his dialogue of contemporary poetry.

The Georgia-native is a celebrated author, a recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Walt Whitman Award of the Academy of American Poets, among other laurels; he speaks with an earthy language that tugs at the heart, direct, strong, eye-opening. Among his many books that I have read, Vagrant Grave is his finest and most spiritually rawboned collection of poetry, the kind of writing that shakes down life to the essentials.

This slim volume of ninety pages is about the tension between faith and doubt, the interior world of rural and suburban living with all of its spiritual relevance. Vagrant Grace is not a poetry collection apt to find a home in either religious bookstores or the placating shelves of those wishing for easy answers. With this said, each poem seems to inhabit a hyperrealist vantage point, the spiritual necessity beneath a very harsh natural world. Perhaps these and other warring factions can coexist: innocence and experience, faith and skepticism, all in a state of vagrant grace.

Though "In a U-Haul North of Damascus," one of the author's best-known poems, would have been a fitting addition to the collection, he does include twenty-seven poems first published in leading literary magazines. One poem in particular grabs the attention, "My Uncle Sowing Beatitudes." It is a vivid narrative about a farmer accosted in the field by his drunken cousin who strikes him for little reason. The younger man's attempt to start a fight is avoided when the farmer simply turns the other cheek in Sermon on the Mount fashion. This poem, not unlike the others, exemplifies the concrete necessity of free grace, sometimes in the hardest of places.

Each poem carries with it a burden, and begs to be read, listened to, even watched carefully. Both poetry aficionados and those who disdain the craft should explicate this volume closely. This is real world writing from a person who seems to be struggling boldly at times with the uneasy aspects of life and death, Georgia and the South, the past and the present. Intermingled throughout is a message of unsolicited grace, the meaning beyond loneliness. Vagrant Grace is a powerful blend of poetry from one of America's original voices. And though it may never answer the questions, at least it engages the issues with abandon. What a fine and welcoming book!

One must wonder at the motives of the previous reviewer, who is himself a Southern poet, though certainly not in Bottoms' class. Vagrant Grace is an extraordinarily beautiful book, rich in image, narrative, and music. Over the past twenty years David Bottoms has become one of the South's finest writers and has won a number of awards and fellowships for his work. Vagrant Grace marks a real development in the evolution of Bottoms' poetry. From vivid short scenes, he has turned here to longer and more meditative poems, but without losing the narrative power for which he is well known. The result is a spiritual depth hitherto unmatched in his work. The long centerpiece of the book, "Country Store and Moment of Grace," which deals with the desegregation of his grandfather's country store, is certainly one of the finest long poems to come out of the American South. This is first-class poetry.

This is a great book in that it presents the often-misunderstood Doctrines of Grace in a manner that is more easily comprehended. No, the plot of the book isn't what will hold your interest. But for those who do not understand "Calvinism" or "Predestination," I highly recommend this book as a place to begin. It presents the truth, but not in a "high-minded theological" way. It's simple enough for every Christian to understand, even new believers.

I was impressed with Belcher's knowledge of the topic. It has challenged my thinking very much. A quick warning though, the plot is rather thin and I even found typos which generally make the book look quickly thrown together. If you're looking to get a good founding in Calvinism, this is the book for you, but don't buy it for entertainment value.

A Journey in Grace is a book that seeks to teach theology in the setting of a fictional novel. It is a novel idea(no pun intended), perhaps somewhat similar to John Bunyan's enduring classic 'The Pilgems Progress'. The Biblical doctrine that is taught by Mr.Belcher in this book is often referred to as Calvinism. A label that this reviewer prefers is 'The Doctrines of Grace'. This format is ideal for teenagers, young adults and perhaps those who are not that familiar with this Biblical teaching. What Richard Belcher accomplihes with great sucess is to clearly instuct the reader on this often maligned doctrine. The reader is also exposed to what is thought to be Calvinism but in reality is a caricature of it. Another great value of this book is that there is a good deal of help in learning how to present what one believes in a gracious manner. This is the first in a series which now totals seven books with each one focusing on an impotant Biblical teaching. The story begins with the main character Ira Pointer being interviewed for his initial pastorate. The interview seems to be going well until one of the men asks Ira with an abrasive sprit if he is a Calvinist. The journey thus begins with Ira trying to find out what a Calvinist is and then seeking to assess if is one.

I enjoyed this book, but I am having a difficult time deciding how much. It certainly was one of the more interesting and truthful ones, as far as autobiographical information goes. It was not however, one of my favorites, as far the Star Trek Alumni Biographies go. George Takei's and Walter Koenig's take the top two spots there. Her battle for sobriety was forthright and made for good reading. I don't buy her claims to have had visions from God, however (alhtough I do beleive that SHE believes them). Where that affects the overall "rating" for the book, I guess you will have to decide for yourself. The book was a worthwhile read overall.

I am a long time Star Trek fan who bought this book because I have had the honor of meeting Ms. Whitney at a couple of conventions, and she has impressed me with her warmth and wit. I read this book in a single sitting because I could not put it down. Unlike the other Trek memoirs I've read, this one focuses not on a TV series, but on the incredible story of a woman's fight to find peace with God and herself. This book is a must read for anyone who has ever experienced tragedy, loss of self esteem, or addiction. The one thing that concerns me most is that I feel too many people will look on this as just another Star Trek book when its audience should be far greater than just Trek fans. The author has bared her soul in an attempt to help others, and the courage that must have taken is awe-inspiring. Bravo, Grace Lee!

I was very impressed by this memoir. Grace Lee Whitney went through some terrible ordeals in her life and her account of how she eventually recovered from them and found spiritual peace as a Jewish Christian, while somewhat unorthodox for me to fully comprehend at first, ranks as one of the most inspiring accounts I've read this past year. Probably what impressed me most however, was her willingness to challenge the late Gene Roddenberry's long-standing diatribes against religion and faith in general by using herself as an example of what happens to one who decides its better to reject God in the name of doing one's own thing and thinking it's somehow "liberating" when ultimately it leads to the worst consequences imaginable.

I have only good things to say about the man John Piper, both as a theologian and pastor. I was however, a little disapointed with this book. I love all three of these Christian heros and was very excited to read about their lives and ministries especially agaist the backdrop of their blatent failures. Piper however, spends more time molding their lives into three preset themes he wishes to discuss then their lives themselves. His chosen themes are Sovereign Joy, Sacred Study, and The Divine Majesty of the Word.

This book is certainly not a biography (something that is tipped off by its 150 pages of large type) but is interesting if you wish to read about all of the aformentioned ideas. It certainly is a quick read and worth the edification. I would reccommend though that after this book you read some of the men themselves to get a fuller picture of their lives and more importantly, how they display God's glory.

Most reviewers have hit upon the highlights of this book. I do not feel the need to repeat it.

This book is a set of mini-biographies of the lives of three flawed saints. I emphasize the word "flawed" because one of the things I appreciated most about this book was how it emphasized each man's weaknesses and sin. These were flawed saints. There is no saint who is not flawed. When it comes to heroes, there is an easy downward slip from the desire for imitation to the discouragement of intimidation to the deadness of resignation. Seeing their weaknesses and how God's grace triumphed in them is to see Christ's strength perfected in weakness.

And seeing how they sang of their sovereign joy of God in the midst of incredible opposition both from the world and their sin gives me hope; for I am flawed, I am imperfect, and I struggle with sin. But oh, I sing for my Sovereign Joy! There is hope in these pages that even men of God sin, but God pulls them out of the mirey clay as an example of His grace, not their greatness.

While I wish Piper could have gone a little bit deeper, I found in his book enough to meditate upon, and a spark has ignited a desire to learn more about these men in order to see their God, their Sovereign Joy.

John Piper's series of biographies, The Swans Are Not Silent, of which this is the first book, is so named for multiple reasons that come out in the preface. When Augustine was handing over his administrative duties to an assistant named Eraclius, Eraclius was asked to give a message. As Augustine sat silently on the bishops throne behind, Eraclius said, "The cricket chirps, the swan is silent." This is how I feel looking at the way that God has impacted men like Augustine, Luther, Calvin, Edwards, Owen, and even Piper. Being motivated by the grace that God has shown them in their lives and learning from their lessons, as I go out to the world with the motive of Paul that is seen in so many of these great men in history, "Him we declare, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom so that we may present everyone mature in Christ (Colossians 1:28 ESV)," my words feel like the chirps of crickets next to the songs of these gifted swans. Sometimes, one of the best ways to let their songs be sung is to let them sing them for themselves through the words that they wrote and the testimony that they left. That is what John Piper has done in this book, and it has definitely had its desired effect.

Rob Neyer's "Book of Baseball Lineups" is a solid addition to any well-stocked baseball shelf. It goes right next to Bill James' glorious Historical abstract.

Lineups basically goes through the major leagues team by team. We're given an all-time lineup for each team as well as best homegrown players, gold gloves, iron gloves, all-bust, all-name and used-to-be-great -- which catalogues what great players eeked out their declining years on a certain club. This is accompanied by little essays in the margins detailing certain selections and a short essay for each team addressing some topic. The essays are actually pretty good, sort of like little columns that you might have missed on his espn gig.

Neyer has put together a rather unique look at the game. Most books of this type look at the best players of all time from all of baseball, but Neyer's book focuses on *teams* and gives you a sense of the ebb and flow of each team's history. You'll see how all thre greatest players in Royals history bunched up in the late 70's and early 80's, how Atlanta's best players all came in the 90's. The traded away section will detail eras of stupid management for each team. And in the back, you get year to year lineups.

I can't think of any other book that does this. Most books focus on the history of one team (usually the Yankees) or one great year (Yankees again, '27 or '98). But this book will give you your first real sense of the history of other organizations like the Expoes and Brewers and so forth -- teams I didn't know HAD a history before I read this.

It's not as big, bad and beautiful as the Historical abstracts but this is a book you'll find yourself leafing through frequently. Definitely worth buying.

This is not a book to be read in a few sittings or over the course of a week. Of course, that didn't stop me. Neyer's comprehensive lists, anecdotes and essays capture baseball's most alluring charm: the stat. No other sport can be catalogued, compared, debated like baseball. And very few writers or fans break down the details better than Neyer or deliver the results in a more manageable and reader friendly manner (by very few writers I really mean Bill James and that's only when it comes to breaking down the numbers).

Breaking teams and organizations into multiple categories (iron glove stands as my favorite) is a simple idea that Neyer flushes out with nuanced details and sound logic.

Just get the damn book. It's really good.

Excellent resource. Well researched. Things you didn't already know, but wanted to know about your favorite team(s) and players.
A must have for baseball fans.

Seven years before this novel opens, Kathleen Darcy, a novelist famous for her one book, __Naked in the Ice__, disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Although no body was ever found and the only evidence was her abandoned car, which yielded no clues, her disappearance was officially ruled to be a suicide. Many of her friends, family, and fans question this conclusion and believe that she was either murdered or is still alive.

In the present, our protagonist Jacqueline (don't dare to call her Jackie!) Kirby, a successful novelist in her own right, wins a competition and is chosen to write a sequel to Ms. Darcy's novel. Upset by this decision are some fans who believe that no sequel should ever be written, and at least two of the other authors who lost out to her in the competition. These two rather unsavory characters are the aptly (self)named Brunhilde, and the bullying Jack Carter. How Jacqueline "destroys" these two through public humiliation is almost a case study in "coolness."

Jacqueline is a bit of an amateur detective whose instincts tell her that something is really amiss. There are a lot of people who might have had motives to get rid of Kathleen Darcy, and maybe Jacqueline, too.

She therefore makes it her business to determine:

(A): If Kathleen Darcy was murdered, or

(B): She committed suicide, or

(C): She is still alive, and

(D): If murder, who is responsible, or

(E): If she committed suicide, why, or

(F): If she is still alive, where is she, and

(G): Who murdered the owner of a local bookstore, a fanatical fan of Darcy, and why, and finally

(H): Who is setting up "accidents" that threaten Jacqueline's life, and why do they mirror a series of so-called accidents that happened to Darcy shortly before her disappearance?

Whew! That's a lot. Now let's throw in a sleazy lawyer, Kathleen's most unappealing half-brother, a handsome chef, a handsome neighbor, a dishonest agent, a couple of Kathleen's sisters, the two losing authors already mentioned, and one or two others, all with seeming motives, and all with something to hide.

It's Jacqueline's self-assigned job to sort through all of these people and possibilities while protecting herself, and o find the solution to this "who-dunnit."

How well does she do? You'll have to make it your job to find out.

This is one of my fave mysteries of all time, a witty, twisting mystery that will leave you laughing, sighing, frowning, and enjoying every sharply-defined character in it.

This book is the sequel to "Die For Love," starring the incomparable Jacqueline Kirby (first seen in "Seventh Sinner") who is now a bestselling author who previously did two historical romances (which she can't stand). Now she is being approached for one of the biggest book deals in history: Write a sequel to the historical/romance/fantasy epic "Naked on the Ice"--and yes, that is the real title. The author of "Naked," the cult figure Kathleen Darcy, is supposedly dead by suicide, having vanished into the wilderness seven years back, despite being a bestselling millionaire.

Jacqueline gains the book deal, but must now deal with the rising specter of murder. She suspects strongly that Kathleen Darcy was being targeted for death via "accidents." Among her suspects are Kathleen's toad-like half-brother, St. John Darcy; Kathleen's ex-lover; the hack historical-romance writer Brunnhilde; the violent male rival; the married hunk whom "Naked"'s hero was physically based on; the deformed woman who has an almost obsessive fascination with Kathleen; and a sprinkling of other former friends, enemies, and relations...

What happened to Kathleen? Did she really commit suicide, or was she murdered? Is she alive, possibly? And what possible reason would anyone have to want her dead--money, love, revenge? Jacqueline intends to find the truth -- but what if she gets in the murderer's way?

Jacqueline is still the same effervescently vivid character as before. With her slightly eccentric nature and keen mind (not to mention her flamboyant clothing--it's a treat just to visualize her) she is an instantly likeable detective. Yet she doesn't show everything on the surface: when she meets with her new agent, she has a wry cynical edge that is very appealing.

You will thoroughly loathe such characters as St. John Darcy, Tom and Brunnhilde, the overweight historical hack. More appealing is Paul, whose turbulent feelings and quick thinking make him a nice if blunt guy.

Aside from the excellent descriptive writing and wonderful situations (St. John attempting to kiss Jacqueline; Jacqueline showing what Sarah looks like) you also get little pokes and jabs at the book industry. Agents, contracts, those little fifteen-percent paychecks, "lit-ra-choor" and bestselling authors are all lampooned slyly by Ms. Peters. (And if you have ever tried to be published as I have tried and am trying, it's doubly amusing)

One slightly inaccurate thing in this book is that the person doing the cover art obviously didn't read the book. (No nude typing--the "naked" is a joke...) Aside from this, this is a witty, classic mystery that you'll read again and again...

Ms. Peters, write more about Jacqueline Kirby!

I didn't think this book was as good as "Die for Love," which I thought was hilarious. It lacked the humor and outrageousness of that book, but I still enjoyed the mystery and "unveiling," which came as a surprise. I LOVE JACQUELINE KIRBY! As a longtime fan of Elizabeth Peters/Barbara Michaels, I only wish that she would write more books with this wonderful lady as her central heroine!

Though it was a nice, easy read, it didn't seem to be a typical mystery. It wasn't mysterious/suspenseful enough for me. If the author had given life and voices to a few of the suspected killers, it would have been more challenging to figure out whodunit. But that wasn't the case. Instead, we were just given page after page descriptions of Mali changing clothes, walking down many streets, eating at Charleston's, walking Ruffin, and trying to decide if she should call Tad. And their relationship didn't seem like a real relationship to me. They were together just three times throughout the book!

This is the first I've read of this author's works and I'll pick up another of hers in hopes that it's much more exciting.

Easy read. Mali had a knack for sizing people up. She was creative in her approach to pull information from her sources; some of whom she had never met until she began to investigate the murder of Starr. The story unfolded in such a manner that grabbed your attention from the beginning and held on to it until the end. The killer's identity and window of opportunity were not revealed until the very end of the book which allows you time to develop your own scenarios about "who did it and what for." The book also shows a strong bond of love between fathers and daughters: Starr and Ozzie and Mali and Jeffrey.

Don't pick up this book, looking for an Agatha Christie or P.D. James type of mystery. This is not a classic who done it. I enjoyed Do or Die mainly because it is a delicious hymm to Harlem. Grace Edwards does a terrific job of making you see that community. You almost taste the food, feel the funky clothes recognize the people that heroine, Mali runs into. The relationship between Mali and her father is touching and funny and could carry the book by itself but it's Harlem that is the star of this book and you'll find that fascinating.

Kimbereley Wilson, author of 11 Things Mama Should Have Told You About Men.

Small Graces made me relax and look at the world around me. The book helped me to remember the beauty in simplicity and appreciate the silence. It cleared my mind and focused my thinking. Nerburn's writing has a soft soothing tone. While reading, I found myself breathing a little deeper and a little slower.

I found this book when I was on vacation and looking for a book on grace before meals for myself and to give as a gift. As soon as I got it home and began to read it, I realized that it was the perfect little book to share with my five daughters and my daughterinlaw. It could be a gentle way to encourage the spirituality of daily living and of looking for the sacred in the mundane, especially for those who don't think they have the time to attend to the spiritual dimension of their lives or who are looking for a way to enhance that dimension for their families, but are not involved in a religious community or practice. I hope that with the help of this book they will be inspired to create such an atmosphere for their children.

I love this book. It is so unassuming and poetic. This is the kind of writing and thinking that we need to help us find the core values of everyday life. Mr. Nerburn helps us see the importance of the people and moments we often ignore. I think everyone should read this book and use it to measure the greatness of their own heart.

My Father Had a Daughter is the perfect blend of fact and fiction, which will satify anyone who has ever wondered about the private and personal lives of the famous. William Shakespeare's daughter, Judith, is smart, sassy, and determined but still sensitive and emotional, everything one would guess the child of the groundbreaking playwright to be. Judith is real, she is alive, and it is easy to become engrossed in her emotions, and share her joy, rage, and disgust. From the time she is a young child, through her adulthood, she makes her own rules, yet at the same time, learns to understand the workings of the world and her place it in, never oblivious to her role as Shakespeare's daughter.

I saw my mom reading this book and she just wouldn't stop. So when she finished, I picked it up to have a try. It's a good thing it's summer vacation because I spent the next two days reading about Judith. I really like her. The author brought that time and place alive with excellent descriptions of day to day life in the country and cities of England. I could feel Judith's inquisitiveness, excitement, confusion, fear, love, determination and courage.
Anna Oehser

I was near the end of the book but was unable to finish that evening, so I GOT UP EARLY to finish reading it before leaving for work! It's got to be darn good to get me up early. This is a beautifully written tale with the wonderful quality of being spare and full at the same time. It has a "I can't wait to find out what happens" pace like an adventure story, but the adventure is Judith's life as she discovers her passion as an actor, woman, friend, and, finally, a daughter. Her personality is distinctly revealed. Judith is whole, complex, believable, as well as highly likeable, and her life and this book do not follow the beaten path.