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Content by Lawyeraau
Reviewer Rank: 6
Helpful Votes:
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Reviews Written by
Lawyeraau (Balmoral Castle)
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The Face
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by Marvin Werlin
Edition: Mass Market Paperback |
| Availability: Currently unavailable |
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0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
A PHOENIX ARISES OUT OF THE ASHES..., 6 Oct 2009
This is the story of Emily Gordon, a young woman whose face had been horrifically scarred in a car accident when she was a child. Her scars turned her into a self-conscious, shy person that stayed in the background in most of her endeavors, loveless and friendless.
Then she met handsome Alec Darcy, a man who promised her the world but left her to pay the piper when something went terribly awry. Out of this calamitous event, Emily Gordon was reborn, beautiful and free to satisfy her ambitions and her thirst for revenge.
This is a wonderfully written novel of second chances, love, betrayal, revenge, and redemption. It is a novel that is reminiscent of the best of Danielle Steel. Those that are fans of chick lit will love this book, which was made into a television movie.
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
AN EIGHTEENTH CENTURY WOMAN OF NOTE..., 6 Oct 2009
This is much richer fare than the film adaptation of the book, which I saw before reading the book. The author does a remarkable job of creating a woman of flesh and blood out of all the documents and correspondence that she had to sift through and read in order to compile this eminently readable biography of a prominent and influential eighteenth century woman. It was like looking into another time and place.
The author paints a vivid three dimensional portrait of Georgiana, the Duchess of Devonshire, with all her positive attributes and foibles laid bare for the reader. The book also richly details the social mores of the eighteenth century, as well as the lifestyle of the rich and famous of that era. Georgiana's place as a leader of that stratum of society is clearly delineated within the pages of the book and makes for fascinating reading. She comes to life on the pages of this book.
Since Georgiana became a political animal and involved herself in Whig politics, the politics of the times holds a prominent place in the book. This, unfortunately, is the Achilles heel in the book, as too much time is spent on the politics of the day and some of it is dry stuff, indeed. Still, the book is filled with so many interesting anecdotes of some of the most important personages of the time, whose lives intertwined with that of Georgiana's, that the reader will stay the course and come away with a feeling of having met one of the most interesting of women of the time.
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Dexter by Design
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by Jeff Lindsay
Edition: Paperback |
| Price: £3.90 |
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| Availability: In stock |
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
DELICIOUSLY DARLING DEXTER..., 6 Oct 2009
Now that the supernatural mumbo jumbo of the third book is in the past, this book is more in alignment with the first two books. It not quite of the same caliber, as some of it feels too contrived. Still, fans of Dexter will rejoice that there is a fourth book and find it enjoyable.
Dexter has now married the clearly clueless Rita, gone to Paris on his honeymoon, and returned home, a devoted father to Astor and Cody, only to find himself embroiled in a hunt for a madman who is displaying dead bodies in a very decorative fashion. These human dioramas are aimed at putting a crimp on the tourism industry of Miami.
When someone close to Dexter nearly bites the dust in the hunt for this newest "artist" on the Miami scene, Dexter loses control and does the unthinkable. He violates the code of Harry. Consequently, the hunter becomes the hunted.
I enjoyed this book, though not quite as much as the first two, but certainly way more than the third. I am also a huge fan of the cable series based upon the character of Dexter, and it has now surpassed the books on many levels. Still, I look forward to the author's next book on America's most beloved serial killer.
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Breath of Magic
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by Teresa Medeiros
Edition: Mass Market Paperback |
| Price: £4.55 |
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| Availability: In stock |
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
COULD IT BE MAGIC?..., 6 Oct 2009
When seventeenth century puritan Arian Whitewood, wearing the special amulet given to her by her mother, decided to try magic on for size, little did she know that by hopping on a broomstick she would travel into the future and into the life of a twentieth century tycoon.
Trystan Lennox, a paranoid self-made billionaire who had just offered a million dollars to anyone that could prove that magic existed, wasn't prepared for the sudden entry of a raven haired beauty into his life, much less one that seemed to drop right out of the sky, as Arian did.
His quest for magic, sparked by a hidden agenda, and Arian's quest for her prince charming make for a bumpy beginning to what promises to be a magical relationship, marred only by the undercurrents of the secret each one brings to the relationship. Their road to true love is destined to be full of surprises for them and for the reader.
This is a light historical romance that is light on history but heavy on humor. Therein lies its charm. Although the writing can best be described as pedestrian, the author's way of interlacing humor and romance is entertaining and is sure to delight those who enjoy light, romantic time travel novels.
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The Innocent
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by Posie Graeme-Evans
Edition: Paperback |
| Price: £4.79 |
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| Availability: In stock |
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
THE SECRET LOVE OF KING EDWARD IV..., 6 Oct 2009
This is a work of romantic historical fiction that takes place in fifteenth century England. A young, barely conscious, and very pregnant gentlewoman is fleeing through the forest with another gentle woman. It all proves too much for the pregnant woman and she dies in the forest, but not before giving birth to a baby girl. The child is left with Deborah, a wise woman and healer who lives in the forest. Named Anne, the child is taught to read and write Latin and do sums by a local priest, while Deborah teaches her domestic skills.
When Anne is nearly fifteen, she is placed into service in the household of a wealth London merchant, Matthew Cuttifer, to attend his wife, the Lady Margaret. It is the Cuttifer household that Anne's fame as a skillful herbalist and healer take hold. When The King, himself, Edward IV, hears of Anne's skills, she is summoned to his castle to assist the Queen through the rigors of childbirth. It is through her service in his household that the King takes note of Anne's charms.
Before Anne knows it, she finds herself permanently ensconced in the palace. It is there that she awakens to love, as Edward IV has more than a platonic interest in her. It is also there that she discovers her true origins. This knowledge changes her life and conflicts her, as events occur that take on new meaning in the context of her new found knowledge. Fleeing her old life with all of its intrigues and dangers, she hopes to start a new one.
This is an interesting, fairly well-written work of romantic historical fiction that is steeped in period detail. It is the first in a trilogy of books. I enjoyed it and expect that I will be reading the remainder of the trilogy.
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
THE MERRY MONARCH'S FRENCH MISTRESS..., 6 Oct 2009
Those who like historical fiction will enjoy this book about a lesser known mistress of King Charles II of England, Louise de Keroualle, the Duchess of Portsmouth. Reviled in her day by the English for being French, as well as Catholic, Louise began life as the daughter of an impoverished French nobleman.
Growing up in her family's crumbling chateau in the French countryside, her life changed when her family secured her a place in the sophisticated court of the French king, Louis XIV. There, she was ensconced as a maid of honor to the wife of the decadent notorious Duc D'Orleans, brother of the French King. The Duc's wife was none other than the sister of the English King, Charles II.
When circumstances had Louise and King Charles II meet, he quickly became smitten with her and she is with him. When fortune threw them together after the suspicious and premature death of his sister, Louise not only acted in the interests of France, she acted in her own interests. Though Louise was sent to England by the French King to ensnare the heart of the English King and spy for France, Louise and Charles would begin an enduring relationship that was to last until his death.
The story of these lovers is told by the author in a straightforward way, using a first person narrative. Well-written and steeped in period detail and intrigues, the story of Louise Keroualle is that of a woman who was determined to make the most of her situation and in the process found love, wealth, and a place in history.
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The Lion's Game
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by Nelson DeMille
Edition: Paperback |
| Price: £5.96 |
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| Availability: In stock |
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
THE SLEEPING LION WAKES..., 6 Oct 2009
I confess that I love the character, John Corey, the tough talking, wise-cracking NYPD homicide detective that the author first introduced in his mega bestseller, "Plum Island". I was, therefore, delighted to find him headlining this novel. No longer with NYPD, John Corey is now with the federal government's Anti-Terrorist Task Force (ATTF).
When a Libyan terrorist, Asad Khalil, known as "the Lion" decides to defect to the West, a jumbo jet from Paris carrying him, as well as hundreds of other passengers, is approaching the runway at JFK airport in New York City. The plane has been incommunicado and remains so, when it lands. Something is terribly wrong.
Asad Khalil is apparently on a mission, and his goal is to kill by any means necessary all those who were involved in the 1986 bombing of Libya that killed his family. He leaves a swath of carnage as he seeks to complete his personal jihad. John Corey and ATTF colleague, FBI agent Kate Mayfield join forces, and when these two are not busy trading light-hearted banter, they are at the top of their game in trying to stop Asad Khalil from completing his mission.
This is a top-notch action thriller. The author is definitely at the top of his game with this book. The book presents perspectives of both John Corey and Asad Khalil, so that the reader knows what makes them each tick. Great dialogue, non-stop action, and interesting characters, including one of the most intriguing and interesting villains of all time, are some of the hallmarks of this page-turner. With a fiendishly clever plot, peppered with many twists and turns, this novel is sure to thrill those readers who enjoy action packed thrillers. I loved this book!
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The House of Stairs
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by Barbara Vine
Edition: Paperback |
| Price: £7.19 |
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| Availability: Not in stock; order now and we'll deliver when available |
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
WHAT ON EARTH HAPPENED?..., 6 Oct 2009
This is a wonderful novel of psychological suspense written by Ruth Rendell under the pseudonym of Barbara Vine. From the beginning, the reader knows who the murderer is, but the identity of the victim remains in the dark. That murderer is a woman by the name of Christabel Sanger, newly released from prison after fourteen years. Spotted by Elizabeth "Lizzie" Vetch on the streets of London, Lizzie hooks up with Christabel Sanger once again, despite what Christabel once did that got her sent away for so many years. Just who did she kill?
Slowly, the facts begin coming to light. The murder took place in an old, odd house on Notting Hill known as the House of Stairs. There Christabel had been living with Lizzie, as well as with Cossette, Lizzie's recently widowed wealthy cousin and owner of the house. Also living in the house was any number of other quirky characters who would move in and out of the house with relative ease, as Cosette was generous and good-hearted. Little did Cossette know that there could exist such evil within the home she so generously opened to all and sundry.
What slowly unfolds is a tale of monstrous betrayal and cruelty that would cause all those living in the house to disperse and go their own way. Step by step, the author peels back the layers of this mystery to reveal just who was killed, as well as why and how. This is definitely a book to be savored, as the details reveal themselves one by one, painting an elaborate plot that lies at the core of what happened.
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
GRITTY...GRAPHIC...BRUTAL..., 6 Oct 2009
This is a remake of the Wes Craven's low budget 1972 cult favorite of the same name. I saw the original, and despite its low budget values, replete with grainy film images and bad acting, it was one of the most horrifying and brutal films that I had ever seen. Of course, the reality is that the crimes that were perpetrated in that film were just that, and, consequently, it remains one of the most frightening and shocking films to date. It was truly chilling. When I saw that there had been a remake, I would curious to see how it would compare. I would have to say that in the shock and awe department, the original still holds sway. Still, the remake is an excellent film and, though brutal, somehow less frightening.
The storyline is every parent's worse nightmare. A teenager, Mari Collingwood, goes with her parents to their rural country house. She takes the family car to meet a friend in town. Unbeknownst to them, an escaped killer named Krug is on the loose with his rescuers. Mari and her friend hook up with a creepy but cute guy with whom they end up smoking weed with in his motel room. Then his father, his crazy girl-friend, and his uncle show up, and all hell breaks loose. They are none other than the escaped killer and his rescuers. Clearly, they are not going to let these two girls walk away. What happens next will chill the viewer.
This gritty and raw film has excellent production values, good cinematography, and the cast is a definite an improvement over that in the original. The controversial rape scene is brutal but probably mirrors the reality of such a crime, and the reality of it ain't pretty. Garret Dillahunt is definitely a standout as the ruthless escaped killer. Likewise Tony Goldwyn, Monica Potter, and Sarah Paxton are also excellent as the beleaguered Collingwood family. Overall, it is a remake that stands up well to the original, as well as on its own merits. Although the film is very similar to the original, there are some differences, though in the long run, these differences do not really make or break this film of a family fighting to survive under circumstances most of us would prefer not to think about. Word to the wise: this film is definitely not for the squeamish or faint of heart.
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The Last Queen
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by C.W. Gortner
Edition: Paperback |
| Price: £5.58 |
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| Availability: In stock |
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
THE LAST QUEEN OF SPAIN..., 6 Oct 2009
This is an excellent work of historical fiction of a Queen about whom very little is known, Juana, the second oldest daughter of the King and Queen of Spain, Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand. Juana's parents would drive the Moors from Spain with the defeat and capture of Boabdil, the last Moorish King of Granada.
Ruling the newly united Spain was a formidable task, and much was expected of the five children of Isabella and Ferdinand. Their marriages were political ones, meant to secure Spain from its enemies and solidify its union. Juan, their son and heir, would marry Margaret of Hapsburg. The eldest daughter, Isabella, would marry Alfonso, the Prince of Portugal, while the youngest, Catalina, would first marry Arthur, the oldest son of King Henry VII of England, and later would go on to marry his younger brother, Henry. Maria would marry King Emanuel of Portugal. At sixteen, Juana was married to Phillip the Fair of Hapsburg, Archduke of the duchy of Flanders and heir to the Hapsburg Empire.
In Flanders, Juana becomes besotted with her husband, and just when true happiness seems to be within her grasp, with her children about her and her love for her husband paramount, the unthinkable happens. Her situation suddenly and drastically changes with the unexpected deaths of her brother, Juan, and her older sister, Isabella, making her the heiress to the throne of Spain. This changes the tenor of her relationship, as well as the balance of power, with her husband, who is no more than a puppet in the hands of his greedy and grasping Chancellor, the powerful Archbishop Besancon.
When Juana goes to Spain with her husband, she finds herself continually battling for power with him and struggling to retain her kingdom. She finds foes where she would least expect to do so and is pretty much left to fend for herself. Upon her husband's death, she carries her husband's coffin about with her, vowing to fight for what is best for Spain. She soon discovers that others do not share her vision. As rumors of her mental instability fly, Juana finds herself continually disenfranchised from her kingdom, heralding the beginning of the end for her reign, the last queen of Spain, and the end of life as she knows it.
Absorbing and well-written, the author's interpretive efforts bear much fruit, as he spins a story that captures the reader's imagination. This queen, about which so little is known, comes to life on the pages of this book. Written in the first person, it is a fascinating story of political intrigue at its most diabolical, replete with familial betrayal and great passion. Those who enjoy the books of Jean Plaidy and Philippa Gregory will, undoubtedly, enjoy reading this book, as well.
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![Last House On The Left [DVD] [2009]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51j3h0Z3MIL._SL110_.jpg)
