The Dream Thief, by Shana Abe'

The Dream Thief

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Author:

Shana Abe'

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Hardcover released

October 2006

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Mass market edition released

September 2007

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Published by:

Bantam Dell

A Division of Random House, Inc.

New York, New York, USA

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ISBN: 978-0-553-58805-7

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Mass market paperback price:

$6.99 USD

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Though this book is niched as plain 'fiction' by Random House and Bantam Dell, it is a fantasty book with strong romantic leanings. In short, it's one of the new genre blends that are sweeping the markets.

. Out of curiosity, I bought and read (since Random House apparently declines to take part in my book reviews by simply ignoring my emails and letters) The Smoke Thief. This book, The Dream Thief is a sequel to it. I bought and read this one with the intention of bringing it to the attention of those who enjoy the romance genre as well as the fantasy genre -- Shana Abe' brings to us a wonderful voice as well as an intense imagination. It's a pity she limits herself to the narrow world of romances (yep, at times her stories lean darn near porn!) by this blend, yet I believe she's making a solid place for herself in a niche, with specific, steady fans.

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The Smoke Thief and The Dream Thief are tales of humans and dragons, magical and basic interaction gone dramatic. We're taken into a world of the rich and poor, jewels and high flight with the inevitable velvet darkness to set it off. It's a heady blend of style and power.

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If you love both romance and magical fantasy, this author is for you. Dragon flags with dark jewels for this one... the voice alone warrants this, if the genre blend does not.

. -- The Fireside Reader

Demon's Kiss, by Eve Silver

Demon's Kiss

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Author: Eve Silver

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Released in mass market paperback October 2007

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Published by:

Forever

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Hachette Book Group

237 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10017

www.hachettebookgroupusa.com

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ISBN-10: 0-446-61892

ISBN-13: 978-0-446-61892-2

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Paperback price:

$6.99 USD

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The genre marked on this book is "paranormal romance". I shudder as I write this, as I would describe it as more like 'fantasy alternated with consenting adult porn'.

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Having dipped into the mixed-genre books that seem to be sweeping the market recently, I have to say that in comparison to the truly skilled authors, Eve Silver has fallen flat on her face on this one. I'm saddened by this, as she has the ability, I think, to do much better. What she needs is an honest editor!

. Ms. Silver alternates pornographic (mostly graphic) scenes with her magical scenes. There is no blending, no integration of anything. It's up (pardon my expression), down (again, pardon me), and gone in a puff of smoke all too soon -- all too personally. Delicate filaments of light magic cannot heal this alleged story from the chopping and patching that had to have been done to bring it to this state.

. Another problem is that while Ms. Silver definately skipped on research, she also skipped on polishing her style. Everything is in italics, which bugged me, and words are used incorrectly in various places, mostly 'hybrid'. A visit to Dictionary.com would have let her see that making up a word would have made a lot more sense. She seems to talk down to the reader with such careless inattention to detail, which I abhor.

. As an honest reader, I can't offer any flags for this book. I would have to call it unedited, and therefore unfinished.

. Best of luck in the future, Ms. Silver. You have the right idea. Now apply a little honest sweat -- and change the sheets while you're at it.

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Our thanks to Hachette Book Group for the chance to review this book. For information on other books offered or about to be offered by HBGUSA, please visit their website.

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... Comments? Questions? -- The Fireside Reader

Stone Cold, by David Baldacci

Title:

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Stone Cold

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Author:

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David Baldacci

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(New York Times bestselling author

of The Collectors and Simple Genius.)

. ADVANCE REVIEW

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Novel to be released as hardcover November 6, 2007

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ISBN number:

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ISBN-10: 0-446-57739-1

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ISBN-13: 978-0-446-57739-7

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Published by: Grand Central Publishing

Hachette Book Group USA

237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10169

www.hachettebookgroupusa.com

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Price:

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$26.99 USD / $31.25 CAN

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The blurb on the back of this advance copy says that the author "returns with STONE COLD -- an unforgetable novel of revenge, conspiracy, and murder" ... which I find to be a gross understatement. This novel is a highly developed work, its plot woven and rewoven into a tight tale of political and personal power struggles.

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The charactors are larger than life, the stressors intense -- you'll be on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. If this book makes it to movie, it'll be a wild ride for any enthusiast of tight packed action and intrigue (providing that the movie makers don't massacre the whole thing as they have done so many others in the past, that is). As it is, with the reader providing all the props, cast, and details, it's a fireball of a trip I'm glad to have taken. .

This is absolutely one of the best-researched and carefully written books I've ever picked up. Mr. Baldacci is gifted -- and has a strong voice that he uses to take us to ever-increasing levels of tension. Speaking of a book with meat on the bones ... this is it! Even I, who avoid reading political thrillers in general due to the dusty-dry source material, found it to be a top of the line item.

. If you like tales of spies, international intrigue, human nature and heroes found in the edges of society, check out this admirable work of David Baldacci's. It'll take you to places you never thought could exist and have you doing things you'd never dreamed of doing in ways you wouldn't have believed possible.

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Red, white, and blue -- a classic American flag for Stone Cold. No white flags or white feathers for this one. The action is too hot, the story and charactors far too vivid, the battleground all too close, to be flagged with anything else.

... .

Special thanks to Hachette Book Group for the chance to review David Baldacci's newest novel. For information on other books offered or about to be offered by HBGUSA, please visit their website.

... .

Comments? Questions? . -- The Fireside Reader

When Ghosts Speak: Understanding the World of Earthbound Spirits, by Mary Ann Winkowski

Title:

. When Ghosts Speak: Understanding the World of Earthbound Spirits

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Author:

. Mary Ann Winkowski (The consultant to CBS's Ghost Whisperer.)

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Foreword by James Van Praagh, spiritual medium and author of Talking to Heaven.

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ADVANCE REVIEW

Novel to be released as hardcover October 22, 2007

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ISBN numbers: ISBN-10: 0-446-58118-6 ISBN-13: 978-0-44658118-9

. Published by:

Grand Central Publishing Hachette Book Group USA 237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10169 http://www.hachettebookgroupusa.com/

. Price:

. $24.99 USD / $31.99 CAN

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Just in time for that time of year when ghosts and goblins lurk in every shadow, and the crash landing of a falling leaf can send chills down your spine, comes this interesting book by the consultant to CBS's Ghost Whisperer. Mary Ann Winkowski, a devout Catholic, happily married mom, and seer of the spirits of the dead offers us a tantalizing view "beyond the veil".

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Using a gift apparently passed down through her Italian ancestors, she talks to those who have crossed over the line between life and death, and yet have not left the earthly plane. Some of the stories she tells will have you laughing for hours afterwards -- and others of her tales will make your skin crawl and have you peeking around at flitting shadows, screaming when the cat brushes up against your unsuspecting shins! Mary Ann offers the earthbound spirits a pathway (the legendary white light, which she claims to be able to make on demand) to eternity.

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She even claims to have 'seen', in a round about way, evidence of guardian spirits who have gone beyond the light yet have offered support and care to those recently dead. Angels? Departed beloveds who carried the love into eternity? Perhaps.

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From the time we're concieved, we travel toward death. Death, however, often seems to sneak up on us like a theif in the night, taking away all of the things we'd planned in our disbelief that time is limited for all of us. For some, death is a release, a balm. Either way, it is the last, ultimate mystery, one we cannot answer until we, as individuals in most cases, experience it.

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Where do we go, when life departs us? What do we do? Do we lurk at the funeral home to see what the still-living have to say to us? Do we look into that bright white light and go on without a backward glance into whatever dreams may lie waiting for us in the last great unknown?

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Mary Ann Winkowski attempts to answer some of these questions -- and others -- while opening up windows and doors of the imagination with total abandon. Her stories of coming across truly evil spirits, things that scared even a woman accustomed to routinely speaking with the dead, will definately make you wonder about the truths of the struggle between good and evil. Humanity is still humanity, according to her, even when the frail shell of flesh is fallen by the wayside.

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Having seen a few inexplicable things in my lifetime, I'll hold judgment on whether this is a fiction or nonfiction book. Judge for yourself; my opinion is only one, one which has no proof either way of what comes after the moment death arrives with its cold fingers to separate us from all we've been aware of for a lifetime, be it short or long.

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Any book that makes a person think is a positive. Ghostly soft flags to Mrs. Winkowski, flying on a shivery breeze ... to keep us on our fleshy toes!

...

Special thanks to Hachette Book Group for the chance to review this interesting book by Mary Ann Winkowski. For information on other books offered or about to be offered by HBGUSA, please visit their website.

... Comments? Questions?

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-- The Fireside Reader