Forty-five years ago, Lillian Redmond's Hollywood acting career came to an abrupt end when the studio boss was murdered. Lillian provided the alibi for the prime suspect a gangster. Everyone thought Lillian lied about spending the night with the gangster. Now, Lillian wants to find the real murderer, clear her reputation and write her memoirs so she sets off from Alabama to track down her old friends and gather clues. Chicago private detective Archie Hunter, who worked at the studio when the murder took place, learns what Lillian is planning so he comes to Alabama to protect her.

Lillian's granddaughter Lilli is supposed to take her grandmother to Disney World and talk Lillian out of writing the book. When Lilli arrives at her grandmother's house, she finds sexy private investigator Sam Hunter, Archie's son, handcuffed to granny's bed. Sam came after Archie to try to persuade his father to go home. Soon, Lilli and Sam set out on their own road trip to find Lillian and Archie. A couple of pairs of sinister gangsters are thrown in to spice things up.

This book provided two romances to follow, between Lilli and Sam and between Lillian and Archie. It was nice that the elder characters romance was hotter than the younger couples for a change. The murderer was easy to figure out early in the story but that's ok because this is a romance not a mystery. The mystery was used as an excuse to get the two main couples alone together in tight spaces for long periods of time and to put Lilli into perilous situations. Overall, well worth the read.

Chasing Lily is Dixie Kane's latest, and it's wonderful. Her characters possess moxy, wit and charm, and you will love seeing the world through their eyes. Anything by Dixie Kane is great, but with this one you're in a for a rare treat!!

This book is a treat, let me tell you. It's the perfect read for a lazy summer day, or any day of the year, actually. This author is sure to become a favorite!

These stories are the equivalent of being hit on the head with a literary sledgehammer. The points that they make (the Arabs as The Other, the Holocaust as having an impact on modern Israeli society, etc.) are pretty obvious to anyone who has any knowledge of Israel or Jewish history. They occasionally read like writing class exercises, actually.

That being said, the stories are a good window into Israeli society and show elements which you don't see on the news. For excellent Israeli literature, though, I'd have to recommend Yaakov Shabtai, Amos Oz or A.B. Yehoshua.

This is a wonderful book of short stories which contradicts the sterotypical picture of Israelis so often portrayed in the nightly news. It shows (mostly from the female point of view) the nuances of many types of Israelis, from religious to secular, from Ashkenazi to Sephardic, from Arab to Jew. In particular, it brings out the human side of each of its characters and demonstrates that feelings change from time to time and situation to situation. These are beautiful studies of human interaction.

I have four favorite stories. In "A Room on the Roof", a woman's husband goes to Texas, and she decides to build a new room on the second story of her home while he's gone. Her Jewish contractor leaves her alone with three Arab laborers during the construction process. She is not sure to how to react to their presence near and in her home. "The Road to Cedar City" tells of an Israeli couple (Hassida and Yehiel) and their son Yuval who are traveling in the United States when their rented car breaks down. The wife is unhappy when she learns that she must share a ride in a minivan with another young Israeli couple and their baby who are from Jerusalem. A talkative minivan driver further complicates matters by running his mouth during the entire trip. "Mother's Photo Album" is about a Dr. Joshua Hoshen who looks into his mother's medical record after she is hospitalized in a mental institution. He pieces together her life from what he reads in her record and uses a photograph to help resolve his anguish about what he discovers. A most notable story is "The Homesick Scientist" in which eldery Zerubavel wlcomes his nephew, a well-known Israeli scientist who lives in the United States, as he returns to visit Israel after 21 years. His nephew had frequently spent summers with Zerubavel after Zerubavel's own son Uri had been killed while on reserve duty. Zerubavel, although he had eagerly anticipated his nephew's visit, isn't sure what his nephew's motives were for returning after such a long absence.

Great, tight, vivid, exact writing about the Important Things (universal concerns, issues, and feelings) in the mood of a calm and astute observer/chronicler -- with soul. Perfect. Although these stories are primarily concerned with Israelis, I encouraged an East Indian friend to read "The Homesick Scientist"; it spoke to him so deeply of his own private experience that he immediately ordered the book (from Amazon, of course).

By TT reviewer Deborah Hern

Fire Lilies tells the story of two sisters, Delores and Alicia Martinez, born into the upper class of Mexican society in the late 1800s. The story takes place between 1902 and 1926, with an emphasis on the Mexican Revolution. During this time, we follow the lives of Delores, Alicia, and their family and friends.

As the story opens, their youngest sister is being introduced into society by her godfather, the Governor of their territory. At this time, Delores has already been married off to a wealthy landowner who seems to represent the very worst of the upper class of this society. He is cruel, not only to his wife, but to all who work for him. His idea of incentive is to leave the hanged bodies of those who oppose him rotting in the main yard, as a warning. Delores recognizes the cruelty and violence of her husband, and does her best to shield the peasants from his wrath. Eventually, she realizes she must shield herself as well.

Alicia, meanwhile, is being pushed toward a marriage she does not desire with a rather foppish and churlish man. Her mother encourages the union because of the wealth of the man's family. Alicia makes her stand against her mother's wishes; then refuses the man's proposal. She has realized early that there is, and should be, more to life than a sheltered, pampered existence.

From this point, the story sweeps all the characters into the vortex of the Mexican Revolution. This revolution not only pits class against class, but splinters families as well. Each of the characters is very well defined. They all have their own strengths and weaknesses. They're very human. Throughout the story, they must find their own way through the social upheaval that follows. Some make good choices, some bad. They all make choices that are intrinsic to the characterizations they've been given.

The descriptive passages are very well written and evoke both the time and place with precision. If you are not proficient in Spanish, you may want to have a Spanish dictionary nearby to look up some of the terms sprinkled liberally throughout the narrative. Most of them are fairly obvious, given the context, so a dictionary is not a necessity.

This is a bittersweet story about the strength of family ties, love, and friendships in a time of war, upheaval, and sweeping social changes. Not everyone has a happy ending. In that way, this is a very realistic portrait of what it must have been like to live through that time.

"Fire Lilies" is a compelling read about two sisters and how they deal with the changes in their world as they know it. I found myself caught up in their struggles. Cynthia Massey weaves an intriguing tale of two families caught up in Mexico's volatile history. Highly recommended.

I absolutely loved this book. I could not put it down once I started reading it. I was emotionally caught up in the culture, history and characters. It is a well written romance with so many surprises! I cannot wait for her second book, The Cabelleros of Ruby, Texas.

Chieftain Conn the Ever Truthful owes his glory to Fintan, a blind warrior who has the gift of making his spear hit its mark with unfailing accuracy. Imagine Conn's horror, then, when a druid announces that Fintan's unborn child will be responsible for Conn's destruction. Fintan and his beloved wife, Grainne, cannot believe that the child they have waited for all their lives could cause the demise of their leader. With no other choice, they accept Conn's decree that the child should be sent to live in a convent. Conn's plans for the baby girl are far darker than anyone could imagine - let's just say that "Ever Truthful" is the least appropriate nickname for this man.

Twenty years later, Caitlin of the Lilies leads a peaceful life with the nuns of St. Mary's. Once a year, she travels to the spot where she was left as a newborn and finds a perfect lily there, a sign that whoever her family is, they are still watching over her. This time, however, Caitlin finds not the flower she expects, but a warrior who tells her he has come to the Abbey to fetch a wench by the name of Caitlin of the Lilies. After many tears and much grief in being separated from the only family she's known, Caitlin leaves with the man, and they begin the journey toward Conn's lands.

Niall of the Seven Betrayals is appalled by the menial task he has been given. By God, he's a warrior! What's he doing playing messenger and fetching wenches for Conn? In reality, his task is a grim one, but he only finds out after he's been thoroughly captivated by Caitlin. His decision is to take Caitlin to his family home - where he hasn't set foot in years - and where they are received by his mother and his young sister, who'd like nothing better than to bash Niall's head against a rock.

The attraction between Caitlin and Niall grows despite - or maybe because of - the huge difference in their personalities. Their first interaction sets the tone for how I saw them throughout the book: Caitlin skips toward the sea she is seeing for the first time; Niall saves her when she nearly drowns, and then gruffly pushing her away so he won't reveal how attracted he is to her.

Lily Fair has its share of problematic details. Caitlin can be precious and melodramatic at times, going from heartbreaking grief to innocent delight in a nanosecond, and by the fifth time I read about her "lily fair" skin, or some variation on that theme, I wanted to scream "Okay! The girl's white, I got it! "

Niall, on the other hand, is a dark and tortured hero, but unwittingly naïve, given Cates' treatment of Conn; it would have been much better had Conn not been so obviously evil from the very beginning. Niall is also confused - was his father a good man or not? Was Conn responsible for his family's ruin or are his mother and sister lying? Unfortunately, the reader figures out the answers much, much earlier than Niall does.

This book is not for everyone, the writing is sometimes overtly lyrical and lush, and if this is not your style, you might not have the patience to stick with it. However, the story beneath the ornate gilt is an interesting one, and while Lily Fair does not match the quality of Gather the Stars, it is a read that will be sure to transport you to the pagan Ireland of long ago.

this was a great book about a man tortured by his past.the hero is a tough tortured soul,who you instantly fall in love with.the herione is a nice sweet trusting soul.she sees the beauty in everything around her.

Naill of the Seven Betrayals is a warrior with a cross to bear but underneath his gruff exterior is a noble, compassionate man waiting to find the truth and true love. Caitlin of the Lilies is an innocent drawn from her sheltered life into a world of betrayal, lies and deceit. She is Lily Fair, Naills savior and mirror! I had a really hard time putting this book down! It was extremely well written. I will buy more of her books! Thanks Ms. Cates for a wonderful story!

My eleven-year-old cousin got me hooked on the adventures of Lily Robbins. I read the books where Lily is a seventh-grader first, and these ones seemed a little less interesting at first. In "Lily Robbins, M.D." Lily decides that she wants to learn how to help others by learning basic medical techniques after she saves the life of a boy who got into a car accident. But Lily's efforts only get her in trouble--with both her friends and her enemies. Reni and the rest of the Girlz Only club don't like Lily and her forceful methods of getting them to learn how to save lives for her. And then Lily gets into trouble for "saving" her friend Zooey's life, when in reality Zooey needed medical attention and Lily said she was fine. When a couple of pranksters go out of their way to make Lily's life miserable, Lily begins to question her actions. Will Lily still get to save someone's life, or has she gone too far?
The book is not one of the best in the series, but Lily learns about cooperation and friendship, among other things.

I read this book about a year and a half ago. I enjoyed it then, and now, thinking back on it, I enyoyed it even more than I thought I did. Lily learns some very important lessons that will help all of us. It covers some tough issues that girls her age have. I recommend it to all girls aged 11-13.

This is a really good book. You shoud buy it. It's my favorite book right now. It is because it's exiting and fun and kind of sad. My favorite part is when Lily and Reni are friends agian.

. . . the publisher felt obliged to charge so much for this book, especially when other books written by experts in the field cost no more than a third this much. Gee, I wonder if that has something to do with its sales rank? I hope to see this one on the bargain tables before the state of the art information becomes dated.

Although written for the professional community involved in diagnosing and treating ADD, I found the book to be just as accessible and helpful to the lay reader. The authors are very credible in delivering the information from an objective point of view. A number of topics are discussed in detail concerning assessment of ADD in adults, its coexistence (comorbidity) with other disorders, current drug and behavioral interventions, the effects of ADD within the family and community, and the impact of ADD on individuals throughout their lives. As it is an "academic" text, each chapter is thoroughly referenced (which I like, because then I get to analyze their info sources). I found the guide to stimulant medications helpful --it was the most information I've uncovered thus far (next to Mosby's Drug reference guides)--as this form of treatment particularly concerns me. I was also moved by the personal stories of people interviewed who have been dealing with ADD, as some of the stories really hit home. OKAY, the book is NOT CHEAP, most books published by academic presses (John Hopkins in this case) are not. The writing is pretty straight-forward, perhaps even somewhat "reserved", but it is not geared for the self-help, everybody's-gotta-publish-their-opinion market. You will not see this book endorsed on Oprah. Decide for yourself if this book fits your budget, but do try to get a peak at its content through your local community or college library. You might even luck out, like I did, and find a first-printing hiding in the back shelves at a local bookstore for a reduced rate.

I agree, it looks like a helpful book but unfortunately I can't afford it

What does Christmas mean to you? As a child, I was one who couldn't get enough of its wonder. Santa was a huge part of this feeling.

Yet time passes, wonder fades. Knowledge drives out belief. The world grows hard and dull.

The greatness of The Bearer of Gifts is that it tells two tales wrapped together in one story. The wondrous truth of Christmas and its meaning are expressed in a fun remaking and retelling of Santa's story. Fused together, this creates an honest little book that haunts the memory even as it delights the soul.

The retelling of the story of Santa Claus is brilliant. Wrapped in the icy mists of its Lapland setting, it is an invigorating blast of cold that gives the tale of Santa a new freshness. Any staleness brought about by the constant retelling of the Santa story is blown away by Steven Kenneth's stark vision.

This Santa story is masterfully woven into the true meaning of Christmas--the Free Gift of God to all people in His Son. Santa leaves his home in Lapland to follow a star across the winter sky. His journeys take him far from home--the foot of a stable.

The Bearer of Gifts is a book that is both simple and profound. Its loving illustrations and spare language make it something truly special. This book peels back layers of obscurity and heartless commercialization that have dulled the meaning of Christmas in the heart of many.

Christmas is a time of wonder. If its wonder has grown cold in your heart, I can think of no greater way to rekindle it than to curl up with this book on a winter's night. I give The Bearer of Gifts a strong recommendation.

This book beautifully balances Santa Claus and the Nativity in a story that is both inspiring and engaging. The colors and folk art drawings are a delightful departure from the typical seasonal fare. The most fantastic picture has to be the one depicting the subtle change in Santa's appearance when he gives the baby his humble gift.

If you are looking for a story that doesn't diminish the lore of St. Nick and his generosity but doesn't overshadow the Nativity, look no more. You've found it!

I was absolutely delighted with the warmth and imagination contained in this childrens book. The idea of bringing Santa and Jesus together was wonderful and helps to remind us what Christmas is all about.

The illustrations are well drawn but uncomplicatd so don't detract from the story at all.

This book also contains a wonderful little side story. Can't see it? Just follow the dog in the illustrations. It is very amusing and compliments the joy brought through to us in the main story.

As a childrens yuletide book I have not found better. It is a pitty I have run out of kids to send it to.

My first shock when I got this long-awaited book was how slender it is! I could not imagine how a book with large print and that thin could contain much useful info. I was disturbed by the author's attitude of 'it's up to the sick person to get well...if they don't (yet) want it for themselves, there's very little you can do.' While I do believe in a certain amount of mind over matter, the truth is one cannot simply heal themselves of this horrid disease & many people want nothing better than to be well & aren't. It isn't from lack of trying. There were small amounts of useful information in this book, but it was certainly not worth the [money] (plus shipping) that I forked out for it. So many folks with this illness do not have money to blow and yet most are so desperate for helpful information that we find ourselves continually searching and spending. I would spend your money elsewhere. I would only recommend this book if you can borrow it from someone else!

Stellar work. It very "gently" puts into perspective patient responsibility and a sense of uniqueness about everyone's illness. It's well-rounded, very clear about treating the whole person, and full of well-documented resources for treating protocol. A refreshing, informative, and useful tool for patients. The focus on finding your starting point of degenerative health and then piecing the puzzle back together in a way that honors the individual is brilliant.

This book is probably one of the most borrowed books from my office library. My patients have varying ailments, with CFS and FMS ranking in the 40-55% of the total. This book is a recommended reading and in some cases required reading for their healing process.

Lily sharing her own experience with her dis-ease process allows anyone with the same symptoms to explore the possibilities of the healing process as well as discovering some of the causes. If you are looking for a definitive medical treatment protocal, as in "one size fits all", you will not find it in this book or any other book! We all are unique, which makes each one of our dis-ease processes as unique as snowflakes and therefore so is the healing process. This book allows each person who reads it to take a look at themselves and determine where in their healing or dis-ease process they are and to take the necessary steps to recovery.

To counter the first review by Crittercove, this is a small book, but it is powerful when read by someone who is ready to take full responsibility for why they are sick. Sounds like Ms. Casura might have hit a nerve! She never suggests once in the book that healing this awful dis-ease is mind over matter or that those who have CFS or FMS aren't trying.

I believe that Ms. Casura was truthful and real about her book and makes readily available many resources that are difficult to find. Ms. Casura is well-educated and very well-read. Her research is impecible! It a brief, but to the point book that she packs a lot of information into. I can't say enough good things about it... I frequently reveiw it with patients and often times find an overlooked avenue to their healing. Many thanks again Lily!

Concise, yet thorough, sourcebook with a really great message: You can get better! Don't risk information overload--start with this one book!

In 1673, after sixteen-year-old Lily Ashcroft meets aristocratic scholar Randal Nesbit she challenges the family motto of "Question Convention". Lily realizes she has found her life mate and wants a very conventional marriage to the decade older Randal. He is extremely attracted to Lily but he keeps reminding himself she is only sixteen. In fact he uses that rationalization for the next four years to keep his distance.

However, Rand sees Lily during a Baptism of her twin nephew and niece and he knows he no longer can hide behind her under age status, nor does he want too. He simply desires marriage to his beloved Lily. However, she concludes that her sister Rose has set her sights on Rand and Lily decides to sacrifice her own happiness for her family. However, neither sibling understands that to Rand a Rose is not a Rose as his preference run towards a different flower.

LILY, the second bloom in Lauren Royal's seventeenth century romantic bouquet (see VIOLET) is an enjoyable tale starring two nice people who (with Rose) make an interesting triangle. The story line is entertaining, but no character is deeply developed and the conflict is not that powerful. Still, readers will enjoy a warm historical romance starring charming protagonists who want no one hurt.

Harriet Klausner

In this, the second chapter of the Ashcroft sisters' story, it's Lily's turn to bloom. Sweet and self-sacrificing, Lily lets her sister Rose draw her into a promise to help her win the dashing Lord Randal Nesbitt for a husband. But Lily's selflessness is tested sorely when she discovers that not only is she enchanted by the scholarly lord herself, but he, too, is beguiled by Lily's unconventional spirit. From the moment they kiss, their destiny seems certain. Lily fears she cannot keep her vow to Rose, and for the first time in his life, the confirmed bachelor Rand considers marriage. But when a sudden death and a secret promise threaten to destroy their newfound love, Lily and Rand realize they must join, heart and mind, to resolve the past and create a place for their romance to blossom.

LILY is another engaging episode of the charming and offbeat Ashcroft family, set amongst the intellectual splendor of the Restoration period. The characters are delightful, the story riveting, and the descriptions rich with historical detail. Lauren deftly weaves humor, drama, warmth, and passion into a sensual tapestry that will leave readers with a sigh of satisfaction, a thirst for more Ashcroft stories, and a curious craving for champagne ...

I love Lauren Royal's books. She makes Lilly come to life. Royal's use of historical details are written into the story as part of the story. I like that. Lilly is adorable as is Rand. I can't wait for Rose's story.

I bought this book, in fact- after reading a couple of reviews. But I'm a little perplexed by the descriptions of this novel as "hip" and "trendy." I was expecting something a bit more along the lines of Bridget Jones in a mystery format from the descriptions, but in fact the protagonist Lily is on the pedantic side, and unless listening to Radiohead is the sole qualifyer, she didn't seem very hip at all for a twentysomething. She comes across as a thinks-she-knows-it-all, and the mystery plot wasn't all that well executed. There are too many inconsistencies, and although the setting is nicely done and the writing isn't bad, there are far better hip young Brit sleuths out there.

Try Lauren Henderson or Liz Evans, for example, or Sarah Lacey's File Under: series. Another good one is Anabel Donald's Notting Hill series- Alex is much more hip than Lily!

This first of three Lily Pascale mysteries is (how can I resist?) dead clever. Young Lily leaves her cheating boyfriend and dead-end London bartending job for some R and R in her small hometown in Devon where she promptly lands the perfect part-time job teaching crime fiction at the local university. Except one of her students has been gruesomely murdered. And some of the others are acting peculiar. And her new romantic interest comes under suspicion. Then the student who saw the whole thing (as we know, but Lily doesn't) seems to be going crazy.

Lily begins asking questions and before she knows it, she's investigating, withholding evidence and generally digging a deep hole she's only going to climb out of by solving the crime, a murder or two and a few close calls later. The plot gets a little wobbly but keeps moving, the characters are well drawn, the setting is lovingly rendered and the writing is crisp, fast-paced and humorous - though not quite as smart as it starts out to be. A promising beginning for a hip young protagonist.

Lily Pascale is a great new character. She's brash, funny, opinionated, and she doesn't let anyone else get her down. I like the fact that she strikes out on her own. She's got more brains than Bridget Jones!

This book is alot of fun and a must read! I can't wait for the next book in the series.