From Publishers WeeklyStarred Review. At the start of bestseller White's outstanding 17th Doc Ford thriller (after Dead Silence), two low-life ex-cons, King and Perry, are on the lam after killing a family of five in a burglary. They end up in Doc's neck of the woods, or rather his neck of the swamp, in central Florida. Doc; his boat-bum hipster pal, Tomlinson; troubled Indian teen Will Chaser, who played a key role in Dead Silence; and Arlis Futch, a crusty old fisherman, have arrived at a small lake, which they intend to search for Batista's treasure plane, which disappeared in 1958 while flying the ex-dictator's looted booty out of Cuba during the Castro takeover. King and Perry, who are as bad as they come, quickly take control of the others, forcing Doc and friends to continue diving in the lake, after which the pair plan to kill them all. Throw in a giant, mysterious swamp creature with an appetite for cattle, horses, and divers, and you've got a nail-biter that's virtually impossible to put down. Author tour. (Mar.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. FromStarred Review Florida’s mystery heroes have been having a hard time this year. First, James W. Hall’s Thorn spent most of an entire novel trapped in a dry well (Silencer, 2010), and now, in Randy Wayne White’s latest Doc Ford thriller, the intrepid marine biologist goes underwater for a couple hundred pages. It starts innocently enough, with Ford, his hippie pal Tomlinson, teenager Will Chaser (from Dead Silence, 2009), and cranky old-timer Arlis Futch embarking on a treasure-hunting trip to an isolated lake, on the bottom of which is purported to be a mother lode of gold from Batista’s Cuba. Three problems quickly develop: a sort-of underwater avalanche that leaves all but Ford trapped under tons of limestone (a cave keeps the victims alive as their air supply dwindles); the arrival (on land) of two psycho killers right out of In Cold Blood (one is even named Perry); and, scariest of all, the lurking presence of, yes, a sea monster. Ford eventually surmounts all the obstacles before him, of course, but along the way, we are treated to a wonderful mix of hair-raising horror, grace under pressure, and fascinating natural history. There turns out to be a biologically sound explanation for the presence of the sea monster, but that doesn’t make it any less terrifying for anyone who remembers Creature from the Black Lagoon (as Ford notes, “The universe beneath is alive—relentlessly alive”). It’s no surprise that White’s long-running, always-popular series has broken through to mainstream best-sellerdom; his novels appeal on so many levels: as portraits of a steadily evolving, tough-yet-introspective hero; as eco-friendly investigations of natural Florida; and as muscular, head-banging adventure thrillers. And, now, there are sea monsters, too! --Bill Ott Views: 22
When Jana leaves Earth to get married, she discovers that her fiancé has kept a secret. On his planet, the groom isn't the only one having sex with the bride. It's the best man's privilege too. And the best man is someone she knows. And fears.The best man takes what he wants-and he wants Jana. In his bed, she embraces both males and her darkest desires. And she experiences how pleasurable the use of a riding crop can be when wielded by a dominant alien. Views: 22
Debutantes in love. With each other. Grace Dunlop is the eleven-year-old girl with everything, including a trust fund. Transplanted from London to the United States, her life is forever changed when she meets the precocious and irreverent Harper Alessi. Attending black tie balls and fielding boyfriends, the two girls develop an unusually close friendship that endures into college. Finally presented as debutantes by their proud parents, they hope for an end to the close hold their family has on them. It's 1984, after all, and they have choices, don't they? Maybe that's why all the songs on the jukebox suddenly suggest a dangerous passion they haven't been able to express. Gina Daggett is best known as 'Lipstick' of the columnist duo Lipstick & Dipstick, and as an award-winning writer and successful blogger. Jukebox is her first novel, and is in pre-production for a feature film. Views: 22
As featured on The Glenn Beck Show. Tempest at Dawn is on the Glenn Beck Reading List.The United States is on the brink of total collapse. The military has been reduced to near extinction, economic turmoil saps hope, and anarchy threatens as world powers hover like vultures, eager to devour the remains. In a desperate move, a few powerful men call a secret meeting to plot the overthrow of the government. Fifty-five men came to Philadelphia in May of 1787 with a congressional charter to revise the Articles of Confederation. Instead they founded the longest lasting republic in world history. Tempest at Dawn tells their story.ReviewThe novel captures the real drama that ensued behind closed doors as they hammered out what is now the oldest living constitution. Read it for its historical value. Read it for its dramatic value. But read it! --Bookviews, by Alan CarubaIt's a truly great read and is one of the few books I've picked up in the past year that I ended up reading more than 200 pages from in one sitting. --Militant ReviewsThe dialog will surprise the reader with its eloquence and understatement. Any reader conversant with history will have both his affection and appreciation for the Constitutional Convention deepened. --What Would The Founders Think? by Martin SielaffI find hope and confidence in the wonderfully written Tempest At Dawn, by James D. Best. Mr. Best sheds light on a time when it was necessary to revise the Articles of Confederation. He does it with eloquence. I wanted to read Tempest At Dawn, from cover-to-cover, after reading the first couple of pages. As I read Tempest At Dawn, I felt as though I was present at the proceedings of the Convention and the private meetings of James Madison, George Washington, Robert Sherman, and others. You cannot help but feel pride as an American, as Tempest At Dawn reminds us of the impeccable integrity of our Founding Fathers. The delegates regarded one another with utmost respect and civility.If you want to know the truth about the character of those gentlemen and you want to learn about the evolution of one of the greatest documents ever created by man--the Constitution of the United States--relax in your bed, favorite chair or recliner, and enjoy Tempest At Dawn, by James D. Best. --Beaufort Observer, Ballpoint column by Allen Ball About the AuthorJames D. Best is the author of The Shopkeeper, Leadville, and Murder at Thumb Butte in the Steve Dancy Western series. His other books include Tempest at Dawn, The Shut Mouth Society, andThe Digital Organization. Tempest at Dawn is a dramatization of the 1787 Constitutional Convention. James has written monthly columns for two magazine and numerous journal articles. He lives with his wife, Diane, in Paradise Valley, Arizona.You can learn more about James and his books at jamesdbest.blogspot.com Views: 22
For years, Marcia Willett has touched readers with her poignant novels about the intricacies of friendship and family. Now, in The Summer House, she explores the secrets that families keep, and the decisions, made in an instant, that can change our lives. Matt has always felt that there was something missing in his life. His mother kept all his childhood memories in a small inlaid wooden box, along with many photos of Matt as a child. But something about these photos has always puzzled Matt. Why doesn't he remember those clothes? The toys? And where, in the photos, is his sister Imogen? Meanwhile, Imogen is living with her husband and their baby in a rented cottage. Ever since she was a child, she has loved the Summer House, a charming cottage on the grounds of a beautiful and ancient house in Exmoor. When she has a chance to buy but her husband refuses to move, Imogen begins to question the seemingly picturesque life she has built for herself. Eventually, the Summer House provides the key to the strange and tragic secret which has affected everyone involved. Views: 22
"Utterly thrilling...the best fantasy of 2010"" (The Times) ""Stark and brutal, with moments of heartbreaking beauty"" (The Guardian)"Seth MacGregor is the half-feral, bastard son of a Sithe nobleman. It’s the last decade of the sixteenth century: a time of religious wars and witch-hunts in the full-mortal world. But the Sithe are at peace – until their queen, Kate NicNiven, determines to destroy the protecting Veil.When his father Griogair is assassinated, and Seth is exiled with his brother Conal to the full-mortal world, they vow to survive, to return to reclaim their fortress and save the Veil.But even its power can’t protect the brothers when the witch-hunts begin...Review"Once a year, a new novelist really blows me away. Last year it was Suzanne Collins with The Hunger Games…. This year it's Gillian Philip's Firebrand…. A fantastically violent, utterly thrilling tale.... Firebrand is one of the very best...Philip’s clear prose is as fiery as whiskey…. The best fantasy novel of 2010."—*The Sunday Times"Philip has created an utterly believable other world, where male and female are equals in arms. It is often stark and brutal but with moments of heartbreaking beauty."—The Guardian*About the AuthorGILLIAN PHILIP was born in Glasgow, lived for twelve years in Barbados, and now lives in the north of Scotland with her husband, twin children, three dogs, two sociopathic cats, a slayer hamster, three chickens, and a lot of nervous fish.www.gillianphilip.com Views: 22
