CASUAL CRIMES by Kelly Norris examines in three voices the lies and the truths we tell ourselves. A powerful, complex story that reaches beyond the lover's triangle to examine the small sins we all commit against ourselves and each other each time we are dishonest, even for what we believe to be the "right reasons."

Sara, the writer with one novel to her credit, can't bring herself to be honest about her growing feelings for Ben, or her jealousy of Kurt's success with a half-baked science-fiction best seller, while her own literary efforts remain ignored. Sara's desire for love and her vulnerability sharply contrast with her need for self-preservation. Overcoming a painful childhood and still mourning the death of her brother, she retains a poignant depth and beauty that haunts the reader when the final page is turned.

Kurt, impossibly beautiful and selfish, lives the perfect life. Wildly successful with his first literary effort, he can't see beyond his own needs to honestly recognize the needs of others. Instead, his charm, wealth and looks ensure a following of friends and fans. While Kurt can't see the truth in the people who surround him, he is refreshingly honest about himself, about his own needs and short-comings. Until separated from Sara by his success, Kurt only understood loneliness in theory. His love for Sara began by finding her "real and complex," as opposed to the phony shallow women he had dated before. He dreams of marriage and children with her.

Ben, painfully honest, has sworn never to lie about anything. But those around him should be careful what they ask. Ben's engaging voice provides a stark contrast to Kurt's viewpoint: Humorous, crass, but enduring in his love for family and Sara. Ben patiently indulges his mother in persuading her to enjoy two breakfasts at the same time, all the while stolidly enduring her shortcomings; and yet, even with his mother, he sees life with startling clarity. Ben offers Sara a refreshing strength and honesty she's never known but greatly fears.

Three voices -- three diametric points of view moving fluidly through this novel as the story unfolds. Sara meets Kurt following the funeral of her brother. Kurt was Marcus' roommate in college. Also while in college, Kurt met Ben, creating a brief history terminated by a crude prank. Several years later, to salve his conscience, Kurt hires Ben as chauffeur and mechanic, thus introducing him to Sara. As Kurt's literary career takes him away on tours, Sara finds herself increasingly fascinated by the enigmatic Ben.

CASUAL CRIMES confronts the crimes we commit each day with our dishonesty --internally as well as externally. The lies we tell -- the dishonesty of thoughts and emotion when we deny true desires and true feelings -- become rampantly apparent in these individual voices, blended and synched with precision and grace. Not just a love story, or a comment on dishonesty, CASUAL CRIMES honestly examines that which makes us human: love, vulnerability, weakness and strength.

I read this book after reading a review of it. I liked it a lot and found the differentperspectives interesting. What I didn't quite expect was that thislove story is suffused with some graphic sexuality. Not that I mind. I wish, in fact, that there had been even more. One of the sexiest books I've read in a long time. END

There are few books in this world that I would reread time and time again because they were so enjoyable. I am happy to say that Kelly Norris' 'Casual Crimes' is now one of those books in my 'reread' list. In a simple phrase, it's a great read.

Set around Easter of 1965 in Virginia. Carol Lynn was ten years old. She was to spend her second Summer at Grandmother's farm. Carol's younger cousin, Tom, went with her this time. It was the Summer that would force them to grow up.

The Horten family lived nearby. Everyone looked away from the couple and the thirteen year old with them named Clovie. Clovie and Carol became close friends, but Clovie was an abused child and had more dark secrets than anyone would ever have guessed! Secrets that had killed before and would again!

***** I recommend this one for ages 13 and up only! It has mystery, excitement, danger, and many surprises! I believe it especially great for teens! Author, Gail Yilitalo, created a wonderful story that will remain in your memory long after you have finished reading it. *****

BLACKBERRY SUMMER by Gail Ylitalo is a haunting coming of age story that both fascinates and repels; yet I couldn't put it down till the end. During the days I read this novel, I found myself thinking back to it at odd moments, making me reflect, question, and meditate upon the difficulties of growing up. Indeed, BLACKBERRY SUMMER is of those rare, powerful novels that I will never be able to quite forget.

The summer of 1965 forever changes the lives of three children, brought together by their common family difficulties. Cousins Carol Lynn and Tom spend the summer on their grandmother's sixty-acre farm. While trespassing at a nearby pond, they meet Clovie, a child only a couple of years older, but wise beyond her years with life experience. At Clovie's request, Carol Lynn undertakes to teach her to read.

Daily they meet at the pond, as Clovie learns to read and write, hungry for a life away from her destitute, horribly abusive conditions. Bruised, filthy, sexually abused, Clovie is a pitiful waif who's burgeoning knowledge brings her hope. Eventually, Carol Lynn takes Clovie to the library, to receive her own library card, for the days when Carol Lynn must return to the city. When Clovie's father discovers the girls on the road back from the library, danger and disaster await.

When the truth is know, neither Carol Lynn or her cousin Tom will retain even a remnant of their childhood innocence. But within that lost innocence is also beauty. Carol Lynn comes to understand the relationship between blacks and whites in her small town. And when she recognizes the strong feelings between her grandmother, and the black man who cares for her property, Carol Lynn exhibits the same loving tolerance and understanding toward that relationship that she exhibited toward Clovie.

Like the wild blackberries of my childhood summers, I found BLACKBERRY SUMMER bittersweet. And as I couldn't stop eating the blackberries in my grandmother's backyard, no matter the scratches, I couldn't stop reading this novel. My teenage son also read this book for review purposes, finding it compelling and thought provoking. We both were impressed with Gail's straightforward handling of violence and abuse, all the while tempering the negative with open-mindedness and compassion.

Reviews of Frequent Flyer Twins series:

...the characters are funny, believable and memorable and the plot well developed throughout the stories.

The readers' interest is easily held as they identify with the twins in working through the clues to find 'who done it?' The novels give interesting factual information about what goes on behind-the-scenes at airports and makes readers familiar with various cities. The vocabulary is fairly simple making these very readable books for the middle primary reader and a great support for the struggling upper primary reader.

The reader also comes away with a knowledge of airport specific vocabulary. These books would certainly be an asset to a school library collection.

'Artnapping' was my first experience of an e-book.I enjoyed the art mystery set in the airport but being able to click onto the hyper-text links was fabulous. It just took the story into such a realistic world. Loved it. Highly recommended.I look forward to reading the others in the frequent flyer twins series.

I have read this book three times and love it. It's a story that wraps you in the life of the characters and confirms life values and habits as you read. You will find yourself wanting to read this story over and over.

I'm currently looking for the availability of a copy to give as a gift. It may also make a special gift for someone in your life that you would like to inspire.

This book is fantastic! I borrowed it from the library and have bought several to give as gifts. It is the story of a grandmother who is teaching her granddaughters the skills needed to create a quilt over a one year period. The sisters are very different and each one learns the TWELVE GOLDEN THREADS for successful living step by step as they create their own special quilts. It is a book that I want to share with my high school students because of the wonderful way that the two purposes of this book - quilt making and steps for successful living - are woven together into a story of love and caring. Highly recommended!!

This book is written with a passion by two individuals who have not just come up with a new way of living, they are living it. The authors employ a humorous writing style in discussing a serious problem with life-long weight challenges. Unlike other "diet" books, this is a book about changing and maintaining life style. They make you feel comfortable with who you are first, before showing you a method of redefining yourself. Their approach is non-threatening and non-judgemental and is indeed logical. The book suggests a new direction for your life and then provides a detailed map on how to achieve your goals.

This wonderful book was written for parents and children. Character building requires a give and take relationship. The goal is to live out of our selves and not from another group, being Self-directed not Group-directed. Each chapter is crammed full of meaty stuff of character building. First, there is the statement of a principal followed by anecdotal illustrations. Then comes the practical application of that lesson. It is not a preachy approach to life's morality but rather the gentle sharing of wisdom gleaned by the old out of their life experiences with the young. Whether it is how to catch a fish or how to catch a truth the task is always how to apply what you've learned. It is packed full of wisdom to live by.

Molly Proust is the type of character I would like to meet. Having taught British Literature for years, I'm always interested in characters who reflect the ones I am most fond of from the novels I've read in the past. Molly Proust not only resembles the famous Moll Flanders (as well as some others from Brit Lit), but she shines on her own. The voice in this electronically published work is exceptionally strong, wry, irreverent, and totally British. Jeanne Lake is (dare I say it?) extremely close to being the contemporary version of James Joyce, a writer I dearly love, and that is the highest compliment I can pay her. Can't wait to read her next work!

MOSTLY MAX by Marianne E. Alexander provides a delightfully humorous, beautifully written account of being adopted by a pug. When Marianne and her daughter decide they want a dog, they are scarcely prepared for their lives to be taken over completely.

When Marianne's daughter Laura came to adopt a pet, she decided that nothing but a pug would do. Together mother and daughter carefully research the breed, agreeing to share pet responsibilities. Eventually, they adopt Max, and the great adventure begins. Because of work responsibilities, Marianne becomes primarily responsible for Max, and Max certainly finds ways to joyfully share most every aspect of her life from going to the bank to visiting friends.

Marianne offers tremendously insightful information, not just about sharing one's life with a pet, but also penetrating some of the mystique of dog shows and a lifestyle many pet owners never explore. Filled with love, tempered by common sense, MOSTLY MAX entertains and informs with flare and originality. And the "Glossary of Little Known Terms that Relate to a Pug" at the end left this reviewer laughing out loud.

MOSTLY MAX is not just for those who are considering being adopted by a pug; indeed, it is for everyone who's been adopted by any pet. All pet lovers will identify with the love and challenges that go with having small creatures in the house. With a household that currently includes 21 various pets, I find myself reading many pet related books. And of all the pet stories I've read, I must confess that MOSTLY MAX is now at the top of my reading list.

THE NAKED SHIELD by Christina M. Walker is a poetic vision of a vanquished world. Indeed, it is so richly detailed that the reader is lured into the dream world of Spirit where the Dream and Reality become one.

One hundred and fifty years before Bobby's birth, his ancestor Red Sky dreamed of a future without buffalo or The People. Carrying the dream shield of his grandfather, Red Sky sought understanding of the dream when he perished alone in the desert. But the people did not forget the man who dreamed, even when they had been banished to reservations and a world without buffalo or freedom. Eventually Bobby finds this shield and is visited by the ghosts of his ancestors, in an epiphany that changes the path of the rest of his life.

As we follow Bobby's struggles to find his path, we see him buffeted by forces he perceives to be beyond his control. His mother is involved with a dangerous and cruel man, they live in poverty, and he's lost his job and girlfriend. Moreover, he believes himself to be judged by his heritage because he is Native American. Without knowing it, Bobby's dissatisfaction leads him directly to the home of his ancestors.

The poetic lyricism of THE NAKED SHIELD also demands comment. As Christine recounts Red Sky's life, the language flows like a river, gently tugging the reader into the flow and movement, without a clear destination. The abrupt change to fowl language accompanying the murder of Red Sky is extremely jarring, underscoring the vicious intent behind the killing. Rarely does a writer have such mastery of voice, particularly in a first novel. As the novel picks up the Bobby's story, the language again adapts to the person, becoming somewhat lyrical, but carefully balanced with the tensions of modern civilization.

Although his mother has raised him off the reservation, and did not teach him the spirituality of his grandfathers, Bobby feels drawn to something beyond the mundane existence that currently defines his life. And that sense, this novel is more than the story of a lost people, it is also the story of all that seek more than the immediate gratification offered by our mundane existence. THE NAKED SHIELD speaks to the universal desire to fulfill one's destiny. It is a moving, extraordinary blend of past and present. For lovers of Native American fiction, for those who can appreciate the beauty of language, and for readers who enjoy watching a quest for identity and spirituality, this novel is must a read.

Neil Bezaire, author of FIRST EMPTY YOUR CUP, takes an extraordinary look at how to expand our vision so we see "from the beginning of time to the end of time, from the smallest particle to the largest star, and from here to eternity." When we learn to see beyond ourselves, to experience something so simple as a rose without preconception, to identify ourselves as part of the cosmos, we become better people. As we gain the use of our imaginations and increase the order of our minds, we learn to live fuller, happier lives.

Through the eyes of the author, we examine the greatest cosmos right down to the smallest particles of our brains. Neil weaves together the thoughts of the greatest thinkers of our day: physicist David Bohm, theologian Matthew Fox, theoretical physicist Fred Wolf, and philosopher Fritjof Capra. Moreover, he offers meditations to allow readers to experience concepts presented by all these great minds, thereby, allowing us to relate to these new ideas, and experience them for ourselves.

This book asks more of us than the time-honored question of "who am I?" This book asks us "what am I?" We know where we fit, as mother, father, teacher, writer, or friend. But do we know our roles in a larger sense? Do we know where we come from, and where we are going as a member of the human race? Do we know how, as individuals, we fit into the "cosmic" picture?

Neil does not offer us definitive answers to these questions. What he does offer are his observations and experiences so that we might answer these questions for ourselves. In effect, he asks us to empty ourselves of the old thoughts, and fill our cup with "fresh tea"; that is, new ideas of looking at ourselves, each other, and the cosmos. Most importantly, he asks us to never be satisfied with answers, but to always continue filling our cups.

Our society is suffering from an epidemic of meaninglessness. Youth suicide is a terrible problem striking many families. Old certainties have crumbled, security in all its forms has proved to be an illusion. At such a time, we need a beacon, a light showing us the way to finding meaning. Neil Bezaire¡¦s book, First Empty Your Cup, is that beacon. Neil doesn¡¦t tell me the meaning of my life. How could he? Instead, he gives directions on how I can find it for myself. He writes: ¡§Our birth was the beginning of an awesome free-fall to death, and between birth and death lies an infinite array of possibilities. We have the power of choice over these possibilities and the power to choose is what makes us responsible for our life. Development of a rich inner life enables us to enjoy life to the fullest. But instead of encouraging us to develop a rich inner life, our culture encourages our best minds to develop gadgets and things that bring fleeting pleasure and then leave us feeling empty and depressed.¡¨

Neil is a master of many abstruse topics such as the concepts of modern physics, and has the rare ability to make them understandable in plain language. Not only that, but he makes the esoteric relevant to everyday life. Einstein could turn physics on its head. Bezaire can explain to us what this means to us, personally. He is equally authoritative about the mysteries of biology.

The language of this book is lyrical, sometimes bordering on the poetic, but one has the feeling that this is not studied Art. Rather, the lofty subject matter naturally elevates the author¡¦s language: „h ¡§Is my destiny to amass wealth, build monuments and wield power? Or is it to expand and deepen within myself goodness which is love, honesty, acceptance, and compassion?¡¨ „h ¡§We become more violent because we think about violence, more lustful because we think about sex, more authentic because we think about authenticity, and more compassionate because we think about compassion.¡¨ „h ¡§Maintaining our mind is akin to gardening. Producing good thoughts, like producing beautiful flowers, requires attention and effort. When the gardener tills the soil, plants seeds, waters, and fertilizes and keeps out weeds, insects, fungus, and disease, the results are beautiful fragrant flowers. Without this cultivation, the garden produces only a tangled mess of weeds and a few shriveled flowers.¡¨ „h ¡§The mind can travel beyond the ends of space and into the heart of an atom. In an instant it can encompass the universe and beyond.¡¨

I do not agree with all his attitudes and conclusions. For example, he dismisses emotions like anger as relics of the Stone Age. I think Stone Age people were as well endowed with nobility as we are. And, in an imperfect world, a perfect saint would be easy prey for the predators among us.

This is not a book you would want to read in one sitting. It is a heavy meal, slow to be digested, but all the more nutritious for it. Every thinking person should read it, then return to the beginning and read it again.

If you settle down with Neil's book, and a refreshing cup of fresh tea, you'll probably not want to stop reading till you finish the book. But that wouldn't do this work justice. To get the maximum value from First Empty Your Cup, you will need to pause, reflect, and examine your innermost self as you go. Neil begins by providing a summary of the formation of Life - how planet Earth was formed and how we came to be on it - in a non-technical way. Then he offers some guidance to help us determine why we exist, and more importantly, steps we can take to discover our true being, and why we behave as we do. At the end of each chapter, Neil has an "awareness exercise" to help the reader expand his personal horizons through introspection and reflection. If you've ever questioned the direction in which your life is headed, or what control you have over your own destiny, then First Empty Your Cup will help you in your search for answers. Stimulating and thought provoking - a "must read" for people of any age, from any walk of life.