I started reading this to my daugther when she was 8 weeks old. She has enjoyed it from the beginning. The language is simple and easy to read. Now that she is over a year old, she still enjoys it as she notices something new in the illustrations everyday. It is a bedtime must have in our home.

I really enjoyed this book, which opened my eyes in several different aspects. Looking at the relationship, from someone else's perspective, as well as ending an relationship, makes one more closely examine, the "whys" and the "what ifs". But I believe that the bottom line still comes down to communication, truth and honesty - from both partners. If the communication is not flowing, how can one know? Truth and honesty are born from communication. Michael Drury writes from the perspective of a mistress, speaking to the wives of not losing themselves, but maintaining that sense of self. She speaks of marriage, love, of sex and of making love - huge difference between having sex and making love. There are many great quotes in the book, "Attraction can flare up in almost any situation, but love cannot long endure where there are no selves, no terminals between which the spark can alternate."

Her advice is that of an old sage, crone woman - wise beyond her years. This is not a book one can fly through, but to savor, mull over and contemplate such worldly advice. Then apply it to your relationship and open the flow of communication, of total honesty and truthfulness.

An easy, quick read who's quotes are timeless. It helped me better understand and honor myself as a woman, and as a person, and changed the way I look at love and relationships.

Reading this book is like getting good advice from a close friend. Not only does the author have extremely good insight on relationships, but she also knows what it means to be happy in life whether you are by yourself or involved with another person. The most impressive facet of the book is that the author has realized that there is no one right way to live and thus manages to convey her ideas in such a way that no matter what the reader's mindset is at the outset, each and every person will leave the book with a slightly different and equally poignant message. Anyone in a serious relationship and considering questions about monogamy and lifetime committment should definitely read this book. I know that it will profoundly effect the way I approach my relationships in the future and I think its words will give more that just a few clues on the mysterious realms of love and happiness.

The brutal rape of a young innocent. The destruction of an entire clan of people. The role that one woman was play.The anguish of a man in love who realizes that he once raped the woman he loves. How can he make it up to her?! It will take your entire idea of love and reshape it.

This book makes every pore in my body want to cry. It's a battle of wits and pride between the heroine (kat) and the hero. It is by far the best book written by Fern Michaels. It takes place in an interesting time nad makes you wish you a bystander to watch all this happen. Read it!

WhiteFire by Fern Michaels is wonderful. Although Russia is not my favorite setting for books, this one is an exception. From word go you fall in love with Katerina. She is wonderful as a character. You have to read this one for a really great book!

Not all book reviews have to be nice. Nor do they have to be exciting. I do feel that I should share my personal feelings about this particular book.

Fern Michaels did a wonderful job in the Texas saga. I truly enjoyed those books. I would have liked to believe that the rest of her books would be half as good. I was truly disappointed with Seasons of Her life.

I didnt like it much. The book was generally good to begin with and then it died in the middle. Fern seems to have tried giving it life support, but when the book had been braindead for that long.... it became a vegetable.

I am an avid reader. I am never without a book to read and this one was just wonderful. I hated it it end. It was a long book but I loved every minute of it. When people ask me some of my favorite books, this one continues to top my list. I have read other Fern Michaels books and some were good and some not so good, but this was by far, in my opinion, her best.

I love to read and this has got to be the best book I have ever read. I hated to put it down. Ruby becomes your best friend. Eveything is just brought to life for you with this author. If you are thinking about buying this one, do it quick.

Kyle and Dominic Renbourne are twins, born 10 minutes apart, which makes Kyle the heir and Dominic the spare. This causes some family problems with the brothers... one becomes domineering and the other rebellious. After living separate lives for some time. Dominic finds Kyle at his door offering him something he has wanted all his life. But, he can't get it until he does what big brother asks.

Dominic agrees to impersonate his twin at the Warfield Manor with Kyle's future bride, Lady Meriel. Dominic thought it would be quick and simple... until he sees the rumored mad and silent young lady his brother had described is really a beautiful, enchanting woman, living in an enchanted world of her own making. A world Dominic feels at home in.

The Wild Child captured my attention immediately. The story itself is enchanting and romantic. Mary Jo has a way of writing that has her readers coming back for more. The characters are well developed and come to life with the first page. Each has a vital part that adds to the story line and their relationships are intriguing. If you are a romantic at heart, you will love this passionate romance.

Continuing her Fallen Angel series, Mary Jo Putney writes the story of Dominic and Lady Meriel.

When Dominic's twin brother Kyle asks Dominic to pose as him while courting a woman, Dominic is naturally skeptical. Not only are the two estranged, they are also rivals. Dominic agrees after Kyle, the heir to the earldom, promises to give him property in return. Dominic sets out to woo Lady Meriel, the heiress madwoman.

After the murder of her family, Lady Meriel hasn't spoken for years. Her family naturally assumes she is mad. Living a sheltered life, Lady Meriel spends her days with animals and time in her beloved garden. When Dominic (posing as Kyle) comes to her home for an extended visit, she is skeptical. Eventually Dominic gains Meriel's trust and realizes that she isn't what she seems. Dominic falls madly in love with Meriel, eventually bringing her out of her shell.

With The Wild Child, Mary Jo Putney has written another great regency. The only complaint I had (although it didn't take away from the book one bit) is that once Meriel finally does begin to speak, it is almost as if she has spoken freely for the past 15 years and that she has undergone an education, which I don't believe would have been the case. Other than that, great book!

Mary Jo Putney has made a name writing books that combine lyrical romance with strong characterization and social commentary. In THE WILD CHILD she is in top form. This historical tells the story of Meriel Grahme and Dominic Renbourne. Dominic is the younger of an earl's two sons--by ten minutes. Those few minutes make all the difference. Relaxed and friendly where his identical twin is formal, and independent where his twin is duty-bound, Dominic is hardly one to step to his brother's tune. But then Kyle, his brother, offers him the chance to realize a dream Dominic had thought beyond his grasp. In return, he must play Kyle in an odd charade that makes no real sense to him; he agrees to court his brother's betrothed, Meriel Grahame, a lovely, wealthy--and apparently mad heiress.

So begins a well-realized love story between two remarkable people. Putney creates a magical quality for Meriel's vast garden, where much of the story takes place. In some ways, THE WILD CHILD is an adult retelling on THE SECRET GARDEN, with the roles reversed. Here the woman needs to heal. Meriel is both strong and vulnerable, freed in some ways from the constraints on women in her culture, yet bound by the borders of her garden. Her gradual recovery makes an uplifting story. For all her silences and withdrawal, she often comes across as one of the most sensible people in her small world. The garden is beautifully realized, from vivid descriptions of the topiary to the enchanted quality of Meriel's tree house.

Dominic's burgeoning love touches a deep chord. I don't normally go for twin substitution stories, but this one works. His dilemma--coming to love with his brother's intended--avoids cliches. Rather than bogging down with discord or misunderstandings, the characters act with maturity, humor, and a refreshing dash of common sense. None are perfect; when Dominic isn't pretending to be his overly exacting twin, he is somewhat of a disorganized mess. His faults only increase his charm. His fundamental decency adds power to the conflict he faces when he realizes how he feels for Meriel.

With gentle stealth feminism, Putney comments on how labels such as "hysterical" and "mad" have been used to silence women's voices. Although this book is a historical, it has resonances with our own culture. The commentary is all the more effective because of the compassion Putney infuses into her work. She seems to care for all her characters, male and female, young and old, of all races, conservative or modern.

Putney fans may recognize Meriel as the descendant of another Merial in the novel UNCOMMON VOWS. Nor does the story arc end with THE WILD CHILD. Due out in summer 2000, THE CHINA BRIDE tells the story of Dominic's brother Kyle and an unusual, captivating woman who comes into his life.

THE WILD CHILD is well worth reading. It is Mary Jo Putney at her best. And that is good indeed

Tripp is a 40-something university professor and novelist who is having trouble finishing his fourth book: he's seven years and over 2,000 pages into it and he's not even halfway done. His favorite pastimes are getting high, getting drunk, and cheating on his wife, all while battling (and losing) his reflex of running off on wild adventures at the drop of a hat. Terry Crabtree, Tripp's gay editor and old friend, is flamboyant, likes college age boys, and is even more irresponsible with drug and drink.

A satire on the literary life, Wonder Boys is an enjoyable if somewhat cumbersome read. Great characters, all of them on a quest for self-acceptance, but Chabon gets bogged down by his obvious affection for literary description, which, while startingly good, distracts from the action at hand and puts too much space between the character and the reader. The book reads like a series of run-on scenes, rather than a flowing novel, which is probably why it made for a good film.

The relationship between Tripp, the main character, and James, one of his students, is a focal point of the novel. Tripp inadvertedly helps James kill a dog, and then spends the weekend running around with it in his trunk, trying at various times to dispose of it. But the relationship is deeper than its lighthearted treatment. The two of them end up palling around together all weekend, getting drunk and stoned, and finding themselves in over the top situations, which includes scenes with Crabtree, Tripp's wife who has just left him, his wife's very Jewish family, Tripp's lover who is pregnant, a stolen jacket onced owned by Marilyn Monroe, a stolen car, a drag queen, and on and on.

At times I marveled at Chabon's prose and his penchant for description -- that he loves his characters and respects them for who they are is evident, that he can be simultaneously playful and serious, that he can write circles around a good many of today's writers is also true. However, while the book is light in spirit, it is often not light on the printed page, and you sometimes have a difficult time getting pulled into the hilarity and absurdity of the action.

I read this book after I saw the movie, so I am judging it a bit backwards. I read with a vision in my head of the way the characters were portrayed in the film, and tried to envision them the way Michael Chabon wrote them. For example, in the book, Grady Tripp is a large, imposing man, and his friend and editor, Terry Crabtree, is the same age as he is, and they have been friends since college. Of course, in the film, the slender Michael Douglas plays Grady, and Robert Downey, Jr. plays Crabtree, making him about 20 years younger. But, things always change when books are adapted to film. I think the screenwriter did a fine job adapting this novel to the screen, and keeping it fairly faithful to the book.

Michael Chabon is a very descriptive writer, as far as feelings, sensations, smells and the like. He focuses mainly on Grady Tripp as narrator here, and a lot on Crabtree and James Leer. He is also more open about Crabtree's sexuality in the book, although it wasn't exactly hidden in the movie. There were also some changes, like the name and breed of the dog, which seemed kind of unnecessary.

All in all, I found this book a well-written page turner, with a very interesting protaganist, the confused, dope-smoking, blocked writer, Grady Tripp. There is much more about his estranged wife and family in the book, and the ending isn't quite as uplifting as the film, plus, I would have liked an epilogue of what happened to the characters after the novel was over. Although, the ending of the book is more realistic and ambivalent than the film.

I couldn't wait to finish the book, and then view the movie again. It's rare that a film is so accurate to the novel and so well-casted. Especially since the author himself did not adapt the screenplay, it is amazingly like the book in almost every way. I couldn't wait to finish the book, because I was really caught up in the lives of the characters. Michael Chabon is definitely a very good writer, and I want to read his other novels, so that I can read them without the pre-existing condition of having seen the film.

It is unfortunate to discover a fine novel after seeing it as a fine film. I did not know about Michael Chabon until after seeing Curtis Hanson's film adaptation of Wonder Boys (robbed of a Best Picture nomination), and did not read Wonder Boys until much later, coming across several other Chabon works first. That said, it is hard to know how I would have reacted to Wonder Boys if I did not know the story in advance. Unlike the broader Kavalier and Clay, which is in all a better book, Chabon does not slip into occasional caricature here. Yes, the "doped-up novelist with writer's block" and the "spooky, haunted young genius" are archetypes, but Chabon's Grady Tripp and James Leer come off as original inventions due to Chabon's skill with subtlety. While revealing characters through a road trip is hackneyed, it comes off better in the novel than on the screen. Chabon's uniqueness lies in his combination of the mundane and the bizarre -- well-crafted characters wandering through a strange landscape. Wonder Boys is not the choice for a reader who wants just one Chabon experience -- Mysteries of Pittsburgh is odder and funnier, and Kavalier and Clay is bigger and better. But for a Chabon fan, Wonder Boys is an excellent diversion.

This is my first Fern Michaels book, and I did enjoy it... really. As a matter of fact, I found it hard to put down. Which is probably why I was so disappointed with the ending. I can only hope that Ms. Michaels wrote it with a sequel in mind. I found some of the plot a tad bit implausible, but this is fiction...right? I did enjoy the friendship between Jessie and Sophie... that is so rare in romantic novels. I was a little creeped out by some of the parental behavior...on both the natural and unnatural parents' parts. The dialogue was stilted and trite in certain places, but Ms. Michaels more than made up for it in others. All in all, I would recommend the book... just read it knowing that it might leave you feeling like the printer accidentally left out the last two or three chapters of your copy.

I enjoyed this book so much, especially after having read several books by current, popular authors that were just "fair". This was my first book by Fern Michaels. I read it in a few days and was always eager to get back to it when I had to put it down. The author writes very believable characters. Who doesn't cringe when Tanner's mother enters the story. And wouldn't you love a friend like Luke? I thought the friendship of Jessie and Sophie was lovely, but I often wanted Jessie to not be so dependent on Sophie and do some thinking for herself! The only thing that really disappointed me about the book was the ending. Not that I want to always know the outcome of a book halfway thru, but this ending seemed so abrupt and left you hanging! A lot of unanswered questions. I hope there will be a sequel. I'd like to know more about Jessie, her child and family. Even with the disappointed ending, this was a good book that held your interest. I will definately recommend this book to others.

As usual this book is written to keep you reading until the last page is turned. The friendship between Sophie and Jessie is wonderful. The story is tender, realistic and powerful all at once. Lots of tears for Jelly! Everyone should read this. I hope Fern Michaels never runs out of stories to tell, there is no one else like her! I'm a fan forever!

Michael Connelly has dusted off an increasingly rare gemstone in the crown jewels of American literature: the hard-boiled detective. Present in Connelly's pithy and believable prose is all of the wit and grit of Hammett, MacDonald, Stout, and Spillane. What he's brought us in Harry Bosch is a cop's cop. Bosch, an LAPD homicide detective, is a real-life hero for whom the principled drive to see justice done allows him to deal with the treacherous world of Los Angeles politics and some even more treacherous politicians (some of whom masquerade as police officials).

While _The Last Coyote_ is the fourth Bosch novel, the plot and characters are so artfully developed that this novel could stand alone as a complete novel. At the same time, the writing is so compelling and captivating that it is a real pleasure to know that Bosch is a recurring character in Connelly's work. Although this is my first Connelly story, I am officially an addict, and I cannot wait to devour the rest of the titles in the Bosch series.

_The Last Coyote_ opens with Bosch under suspension for assaulting his Commanding Officer, Harvey "98" Pounds. With his newfound freedom comes a mandatory psychiatric evaluation to determine his fitness as a police officer. The ensuing therapy sessions force Bosch to take a hard look at his options, should he later be kicked off the force for the assault on his CO.

Faced with his ever-present personal demons, his suspension, and time on his hands, Bosch begins to investigate perhaps his greatest mystery: the unsolved 1961 murder of his call-girl mother. Though cautioned by his therapist that solving this mystery may remove his motivation to be a detective, Bosch dives into a mystery (and his personal story) that exposes the seedy underside of Los Angeles political corruption. The ride is taut, human, and utterly engrossing, and we are at once deeply satisfied and virtually winded when the dust settles.

My introduction to Harry Bosch was one of those rare joys: a gifted writer spinning a fascinating tale with grace and skill. Perhaps equally enjoyable to me was the principled drive of the protagonist to get at the facts, despite the potential costs-to himself, his career, and his department. Bosch's belief that the truth shall set you free is more than a bromide. While freedom may not always bring redemption, it allows him to sleep at night.

I really enjoyed this book! I began my Michael Connelly journey with Concrete Blond, then Blood Work, then Trunk Music. Then I decided to start at the beginning. This book is one of my favorite Connelly books! I really like Harry, and "feel his pain." I'm about to read The Poet, which I understand is not a Harry Bosch book. But, neither was Blood Work, and I enjoyed it very much. After The Poet, I guess I'll have to wait for his next novel. Hope it's soon!!

I recommend reading Michael Connelly in the order the books were written. I love most of them, and The Last Coyote is one of my favorites.

Although Harry Bosch has wrestled with his past before, it's in this book that Bosch confronts it.

This is an awesome read. And the scene in Florida when Bosch meets McKittrick may be one of the best I've ever read in all of crime fiction. It's that good. The setup, the dialogue, everything.

I highly recommend this novel.

This was the first Michael Connolly book I read, and because of it I have since bought five others. The plot is engaging from the very start. Ex-FBI agent Terry McCaleb, whose speciality was profiling serial killers, has retired from the Bureau after a heart transplant and is living on his boat in LA harbour. Having turned his back on fighting crime, he has no intentions of helping Graciela Rivers, a woman whose sister has been murdered, until he finds out that the transplanted heart that saved his life belonged to her. With this knowledge, he feels obliged to investigate Gloria's death, against the express wishes of his doctor and knowing it could have serious consequences for his health.

All McCaleb has to go on is a video tape from a convenience store showing a masked man hold up the owner and then shoot the two witnesses. Add to this the hostility he receives from the two LAPD detectives assigned the case, and it seems like McCaleb isn't going to get far. However, it soon becomes clear that the crime is not as random as it seems, and McCaleb is on the trail of someone a lot more sinister than an opportunistic thief.

Connolly writes "Blood Work" with an unrelenting pace and a real flair for knowing exactly how to string the reader along. You'll be as hooked as one of the fish in the harbour!

Terry McCaleb, ex-FBI profiler and serial killer point man in Los Angeles, is spending his days recuperating after a heart transplant by restoring the boat he lives on. Life consists of long daily walks, checking vital signs and taking anti-rejection medications. That is, until he looks up one day to see Graciela Rivers coming aboard with a request. She's read about his career and new heart in the paper and wants him to privately take on the murder case of her sister, Glory, who was shot in the head and killed during a convenience store robbery. At first, McCaleb says no, he's not in the business anymore, doesn't need the stress and has to take care of himself. But when she reveals that his new heart belonged to Glory, she was an organ donor, he rethinks his answer and decides to look into the case. As he starts to look at the LAPD paperwork and crime scene tape, one thing becomes very clear, things are not as they seem. The detectives working the case, missed some important clues and it appears that Glory wasn't just at the wrong place at the wrong time, but the actual target. And as McCaleb digs deeper, he knows his new heart will never rest easy, unless he solves the crime and finds the killer..... Michael Connelly has done it again. He's written a great mystery/thriller with enough twists, turns and false starts to keep you turning pages to the very end. This is a book that has it all...a great, fast paced, suspenseful plot, well drawn, original characters and riveting scenes that come alive on the page. This is a novel you'll definitely want to read in one sitting. So turn off the phone and lock the door, Blood Work is about to keep you up all night!

This was my first time reading a book by Michael Connelly. I saw somewhere that Clint Eastwood has a movie version of "Blood Work" coming out in August and what I read of the plot interested me so I got the book. It did not disappoint. I enjoyed "Blood Work", I'm looking forward to seeing what Clint Eastwood did with it and I am definitely checking out some of Mr. Connelly's other books.

Terry McCaleb is a retired FBI Agent who specialized in profiling serial killers and he's fresh off a heart transplant. His new chance at life is compromised when he learns that the woman whose heart he was given was murdered - and her sister wants his help in finding the killer. McCaleb's unofficial investigation is hampered by his condition (still recovering from transplant surgery) and turf battles with local law enforcement who don't exactly appreciate hints from a former fed that they may have missed something. Plus he's become emotionally attached to the murdered woman's sister and son, and someone seems to be setting McCaleb up to look like a less than innocent recipient of a life-saving organ.

I liked the way Connelly was able to use McCaleb's heart transplant to both drive the plot forward, as a motivating force, and to hold McCaleb back, in terms of the reality of the situation - he couldn't drive a car because of air bags, he had to get someone to drive him or call a cab; he had to take a ton of medication and monitor his temperature to make sure he didn't reject his new heart. Later on in the book, he took a lot of chances that could have jeopardized his health, but it was necessary to the plot (he wasn't going to solve the murder from a hospital bed) and there was always an awareness that he was doing something risky - in fact his doctor was ready to dump him as a patient because of his actions. It put an interesting twist on a murder mystery/thriller.

"Blood Work" is fast-moving and entertaining fiction. It's made me want to read other Michael Connelly books and I'm looking forward to seeing the screen version.

A Case Of Need : by Michael Crichton 4½ Stars It has been three decades since the release of this captivating novel written by Michael Crichton. Originally, in 1969, this breathtaking novel was so 'hot', it was originally written under the alias of Jeffrey Hudson. Today, millions of readers acknowledge Crichton's mastery that begun long ago with this novel. Stephen King himself praised the novel as "Fantastic...I loved it!". I thought was a little confusing so that's why I gave it the last half star. Other than that the, plot was exhilarating and kept me going until the very end. I recommend this novel to anyone who is interested in stories about medical thrillers and constant suspense. Crichton most probably wrote under the pen name Jeffrey Hudson because he anticipated a mixed reaction from the public. At the time, as it is today, abortion was a very controversial subject that raised many eyes. In this book both opinions of the matter are represented in different characters. The ethics of Art Lee can be matched with someone who believes for abortion while the strict opinion of the public at the time believed against it.- Carlos Encalada

This book won the 1968 Edgar Award for best mystery novel of the year. An obstetrician has been accused of performing an illegal abortion in Boston in the late 1960's. A pathologist discovers that the girl, who died in the emergency room of a hospital, wasn't even pregnant. He sets out to clear his friend of the charges. Although some of the discussions on abortion may seem dated, this is still a good mystery. Michael Crichton originally published this book under the pseudonym Jeffrey Hudson. Some earlier reviewers have suggested that he did this because of the controversy generated by the topic of abortion. While this undoubtedly was a factor, we also have to recall that this was his first book and Crichton was a medical student in Massachusetts at the time he wrote much of this book. I'm not sure if his faculty would have been too keen on having a student devote a significant fraction of his time to writing a novel instead of to his studies, had they known. But, I may be wrong. Some other reviewers gave it a low rating because it contained too much jargon. Of course, that is a trademark of this category of books; however, I seem to miss the jargon in this novel. Perhaps I missed it but "A Case of Need" seems to be the least technical of Crichton's books.

Sci-fi wizard Michael Crichton wrote this novel when he was still in medical school. In fact, he wrote many such novels under pseudonyms to pay his way through college. Then, this book won an Edgar Award, and everything changed!

'A Case Of Need' is a medical thriller along with a murder mystery thrown in. The story revolves around Dr. John Berry who works in a Boston Hospital. His best friend Dr. Arthur Lee is arrested and charged with murder caused by an abortion gone wrong. The deceased is the daughter or Dr. J. D. Randall, one of the most prominent doctors in town. Was it deliberate murder? Was it accidental malpractice? The police are under a lot of pressure, and finally slap charges on Dr. Lee. John Berry is convinced that Lee is innocent. He sets out on his own investigation into the matter.

It's a fast-paced mystery with the hero uncovering shocking secrets about the girl's life. Of course, it isn't as good as other mystery writers. After all, this was Crichton's first attempt at such a topic, and hardcore mystery fans may not find it much exciting. But the fact that Crichton is a doctor himself, makes up for this. The book has quite a few medical details about surgical procedures and the functioning of hospitals and also a lot of arguments on medical ethics.

Quite reminiscent of Robin Cook's medical thrillers but with a very different writing style, the story moves quickly, and seems to have lots of unexpected twists. All in all, it's a superb novel, combining elements of mystery and authentic medical detail making it one of the best books of it's kind.

Any fan of Crichton should not miss this book. Originally written under the pseudonym of Jeffery Hudson, this one's a rightful Edgar Award winner. Michael Crichton deserves all the praise he gets. Don't miss this one!