Kakaku：478 saved$4.78
Three Rivers Press
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (The Queen who gave us an era) 『I think we all know about the Victorian Era from high school. The time when hats were large, men were men, women wore corsets and the Industrial Revolution was in full swing.
But not many know of the queen who gave her name to this important time in history. This novel gives you a personal look into her life.
From even before her birth Victoria was very important. The death of her cousin, Princess Charlotte, necessitated that she be born. And from the moment she appeared her mother did everything she deemed necessary to prepare Victoria for the all important task of being Queen of, not just England, but of Great Britain. No easy feat.
But Victoria's early life wasn't as easy as being a princess sounds. Her mother was unpopular and sought to steal the limelight whenever she could, and almost always did something to displease the reigning King. She also annoyed Victoria with her attitude and almost made her completely distrust her.
But on June 20, 1837, at the age of 18, Victoria became Queen, and the first thing she did was to demand that she could be alone. After all the years of being with her mother, or her beloved Baroness Lehzen, she was by herself, and Queen.
Her aim was to be good. She wanted to make sure that her people were ruled well; not just according to her whim, which could change with her moods. She had many good advisors to help her, some of which she liked, and loved, and others she tolerated because she had to.
Of course she married her Prince Albert and it was a true love match. Producing 9 children, much to her chagrin, proved that. But his death left a large hole in her heart that shows through the rest of the novel. You would think that would detract from it, but it doesn't. In truth she was devasted and Plaidy lets you know that without jamming it into your head.
I will say that the novel doesn't describe too much the politics behind many of the events that happened during the Era. In fact there were just too many to name, and they were so complicated it would have made this long book(with good reason, a 64 year reign can't have a short book) longer(but then would have made it boring.)
If you're looking for something more political on her life this isn't for you. If you're looking for a more inimate look at the great queen then this one is for you. Plaidy makes her real. She makes her lovable, understandable, human.』
(jean makes history fun) 『jean plaidy makes history intersting,you get to meet victoria and how unstable royal life is on a young woman.』
(Good Characterization of Victoria, But Too Insular) 『An unfortunate thing about this book is its alliterative but undescriptive title. It suggests that Victoria triumphs over adversity in some way, and at least as far as this book goes, she doesn't. She's not victorious or defeated; she simply lives a long, full life.
Plaidy succeeds in making Victoria a complex character. She's quite often stubborn, selfish, and insular, yet the reader rather likes her at the same time for her tenacity and for her spirit. These qualities are most apparent in the first half of the novel, where Victoria has to deal with her interfering mother and her beloved but priggish husband.
The focus of this novel is on Victoria's relationships with others, not the events of the day, and this insularity--heightened by the first person narration--was to me the great defect in this novel. Though major events--the Chartist movement, the Crimean War, and so forth--are mentioned, there's little sense of how they came about or what Victoria thought of them. We hear from Victoria which prime ministers she likes and doesn't like, and we're told which party they represent, but there's little real sense of the politics of the day. There's also very little sense of the enormous changes that were taking place; no one seems to have invited Victoria to the Industrial Revolution. When toward the end of the novel, someone mentions a telegraph, I was frankly surprised, for up to then there'd been no indication whatsoever of such technology. Indeed, I don't think there's even mention of the railways here.
All in all, this is a pleasant read if you're interested in Victoria's domestic life, but those who are looking for something deeper will likely be disappointed.』
(victoria victorious) 『a truly beautiful book and the only one in which this wonderful womans story is told in her view. It was so refreshing to read the first person account of a great love story and an amazing life.』
(Great historical read) 『Plaidy certainly does her job with this book, and does not disappoint: this is indeed the dramatic and engrossing historical novel which the cover seems to promise. Personally, I found myself reading hundreds of pages at a time, and ended up reading most of the book in just three (extremely long) sittings. However, and this in no way detracts from the quality of the book, I found myself dwelling over the portrayal of Queen Victoria more than once. As a child, she becomes indignant and stubborn after rising above her overbearing mother to become queen, and seems disinclined to submit to anyone. However, after her marriage to her husband, her manner seems to change completely- she eventually succumbs to his every whim to please him, and accepts fault for their arguments because she was not properly "tamed" in childhood. For me, at least, these changes came about all too quickly, and seemed unnatural. Certainly some calmness can be attributed to growing up, but it was as if Victoria traveled from one end of the spectrum to another. However, Victoria's demonstrative nature (and fickleness with her affections) remains with her throughout the book, and was one of the things that I most enjoyed about her character- especially when people whom she judged harshly and mocked without knowing became her closest advisers. This was the first of Plaidy's books that I have read, and overall, I loved it. I would have given it five stars, but I am a harsh judge and reserve that for my VERY favorites. I also admired how Plaidy was able to encorporate history into the novel- and yet, as a great amount of information is included in the last section of the book, in Victoria's old age when some of the other characters are no longer close to her or living, the book does change somewhat surprisingly- that is, going from a book focused entirely on Victoria's personal life to including political events and affairs of the reigning families. However, Plaidy's portrayal of an aging queen is extremely believable, and it makes sense for her areas of focus to change as she is a mother of nine and grandmother of many, no longer a self-centered adolescent. 』 『In this unforgettable novel of Queen Victoria, Jean Plaidy re-creates a remarkable life filled with romance, triumph, and tragedy.
At birth, Princess Victoria was fourth in line for the throne of England, the often-overlooked daughter of a prince who died shortly after her birth. She and her mother lived in genteel poverty for most of her childhood, exiled from court because of her mother’s dislike of her uncles, George IV and William IV. A strong, willful child, Victoria was determined not to be stifled by her powerful uncles or her unpopular, controlling mother. Then one morning, at the age of eighteen, Princess Victoria awoke to the news of her uncle William’s death. The almost-forgotten princess was now Queen of England. Even better, she was finally free of her mother’s iron hand and her uncles’ manipulations. Her first act as queen was to demand that she be given a room—and a bed—of her own.
Victoria’s marriage to her German cousin, Prince Albert, was a blissfully happy one that produced nine children. Albert was her constant companion and one of her most trusted advisors. Victoria’s grief after Prince Albert’s untimely death was so shattering that for the rest of her life—nearly fortyyears—she dressed only in black. She survived several assassination attempts, and during her reign England’s empire expanded around the globe until it touched every continent in the world.
Derided as a mere“girl queen” at her coronation, by the end of her sixty-four-year reign, Victoria embodied the glory of the British Empire. In this novel, written as a “memoir” by Victoria herself, she emerges as truthful, sentimental, and essentially human—both a lovable woman and a great queen.』
Kakaku：699 saved$6.99
Wizards of the Coast
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Finishes off one of the original Eberron trilogies. Satisfactory ending.) 『Finishing off one of the two original Eberron trilogies, THE QUEEN OF DEATH does a fine job of wrapping up to story of Kandler, Espre, Burch, Sallah, Te'oma, and Xalt. The first half of the book is actually rather plain, with the heroes facing enemies that seem wholey nonthreatening to the hardened group. And, I thought it was a bit of a stretch to get Espre's father into the story so late in the game. In any case, the last part of the book picks up with an excellent climax that takes up about a quarter of the total book and is highly exciting. The way the book ends is very satisfying and, while I didn't see it coming, seemed rather predictable in hindsight. Very pleased with the ending.
The Lost Mark trilogy would be a good place to start reading Eberron books, as it does take you all across the land and introduces you to many of the inhabitants of the world. History, geography, and the unique magic of the world is given a very good overview in the trilogy. Its also a good story.
While I have enjoyed the six Eberron books I've read, I just don't see myself coming back (at least for a while) to Keith Baker's creation. Too many good fantasy books out there to get tied up with the never-ending WoTC library.』
(Wizards of the Coast Pulp) 『This is more fantasy pulp from Wizards of the Coast. It's an ok trilogy but should have been shortened to two books. There's too much catch and release going on in the first two books (you'll have to read it to know what I am refering to). I really liked the ending, though. Overall, there's better stuff in the pantheon of Wizards of the Coast novels. The characters are very simplistic (except for the one that makes the ending cool). If you like fantasy pulp, read volume 1 and read volume 3 - you really won't miss anything important by skipping volume 2. Overall, an ok trilogy from Wizards of the Coast.』
(Excellent conclusion to a great trilogy) 『I enjoyed the first two books in this trilogy immensely and Queen of Death was a terrific ending to the series. It brings closure to the central issue of the trilogy but leaves just a bit of a question open. Plus there are several easy story arcs left open at the end of the story for future books. This series served as a really good introduction (and tease) to the Eberron setting. It covered several different cultures, countries, races, and areas of world enough to make me interested but not so much that it detracted from the storyline. I really like Forbeck's writing style, so much so that I finished the entire trilogy in less than a week. He has a knack for creating suspense and memorable characters. I feel like I could read a series focusing on any of the main characters from this trilogy. If you already like the Eberron setting, read this series. If you want an introduction, I highly recommend this trilogy. And if you like other Wizards of the Coast settings, give this one a try.』
(Solid conclusion to this trilogy) 『Queen of Death by Matt Forbeck is the final book in The Lost Mark Trilogy. The first book in this trilogy is Marked for Death and the second book is titled The Road to Death. This trilogy is set in the new world of Eberron. I would certainly stress reading the first two books in this trilogy before reading this one. Other wise you will become quickly lost with the plots lines and some things that occur. With that said on to my review.
While the second book had an extraordinary mix of character development with a very good plot, this book lacks just a little in the plot department. Part of that reason is there is a great deal of character development that occurs in this book. This character development has a price of lessening the plot just a little bit. That des not mean the plot is a bad one, it just means the plot feels a little rushed in terms of the past book and the good balance it held. This plot covers the same characters as the first two books and their journey to make sure Espre will be ok and just what the Dragonmark is that she wields. Saying more would give spoilers and I would rather not do that. If you enjoyed the plots of the first two books you will enjoy this one as well.
The character development in this book is fantastic. There is such a wide array of characters and each one grows and develops in some way. Mr. Forbeck could have easily ignored the Warforged character, but he chose to develop him at times as well. This wide array of characters and motivations lends itself well to the reader becoming interested in at least one character, if not more. There is certainly a character in this book for everyone. There is the covert character with her own motivations, there is a noble character looking out for the interests of his daughter, and there is also the loyal character that tries everything to help his friend succeed. Of course there are many more, but those are three of the main ones. Each character has its own `voice' in the story and Mr. Forbeck's understanding of the various voices allows the characters to lead the story and the story never feels contrived or forced. It flows very well.
What book would be complete without a good twist at the end. This book certainly has that. I honestly didn't see this twist coming, but once I finished I can see how it was there. A good author can hide those twists and Mr. Forbeck hid this one rather well.
Overall, this was an enjoyable book and a decent end to the trilogy. It was a little too open ended for my liking, but it makes sense for the story. Throughout this trilogy I can see how Mr. Forbeck really grew as a writer, it was a pleasure to read.
If you are an Eberron fan you will most certainly enjoy this book. If you are looking at starting to read in the Eberron world, this is a pretty good trilogy to start as it does give some history without being overwhelming. This trilogy is a solid addition to the Eberron world. Solid conclusion to this trilogy』 『They’ve been hunted across the Mournland, captured in Karrnath, and attacked in a dragon’s mountain lair. One band of adventurers has had enough. Time to take the battle to the enemy. Time to fight back. One young woman will have to decide to give in or embrace her destiny as . . .
Kakaku：999 saved$9.99
TokyoPop
Usually ships in 24 hours 『As he grows older, Pil-Hyun realizes that love isn’t black and white, and that you can't control whom you fall for--which complicates everything as he falls deeper in love with his teacher Bok-Nam. And Bok-Nam is torn by her own love triangle as she finds herself forced to choose between the man she loves and the man she once loved...and could love again. What is love? This final volume in the heart-wrenching, emotional Queens proves that however you define it, love is a powerful force that cannot be denied, nor easily swayed, but when fulfilled, may indeed conquer all.』
IPhone 3G used's review (Excellent!) 『This romantic but very accurate novel made Marie Antoinette come alive for me. I am looking forward to reading more novels about this queen of France. It is Victoria Holt at her best. Why aren't there new novels like this anymore?』
(One of Holt's Finest Literary Hours.) 『If you are interested in history and fiction combined, I cannot recommend a better book than Victoria Holt's The Queen's Confession. In fact, I better understood Sophia Coppola's new film with Kirsten Dunst after reading this dramatic account, and enjoy the movie much more because of it.
This is so much more than a novel about an ill-fated queen and her milquetoast king being too young to rule and paying for mistakes they made for what seemed an eternity; it is a sad story about how someone naive and unsuspecting can fall into the ill council of those who mean to do them harm, and how loyalty is a trait that is very hard to find once you have fallen to the lowest depths. It also shows how people who were once enemies change their tune once they are in the same boat with their target (Take for instance the aunts.). In this we're all the same, and class distinction means nothing in the end.
You will laugh, get angry, and you will cry, but in the end you will see how genuinely human, imperfect, and frequently self-deprecating Marie Antoinette may very well have been due to the fact that lots of stories that were spread about her were the same lies the media dispells about celebrities today. Well, at least now they don't get their heads chopped off! Beautifully written, rich in detail, and entertainingly embellished, this long Holt novel is worthy of every single moment you spend with it.』
(Vive La Reine!) 『I am already a huge Victoria Holt fan, and this book made me THE BIGGEST Victoria Holt fan!! It is just wonderful, full of romance and suspense and dispells lots of the myths and lies about the doomed Queen, making a fascinating portrait of a young girl forced into an exalted position. Victoria Holt's legendary attention to detail makes this a book that will educate you as well as thoroughly entertain you. Get the Kleenex out for the last chapter! Sad, yes, but this book is completely satisfying, not to be missed.』
(LET THEM EAT CAKE...) 『Victoria Holt was one of my favorite authors when I was younger. A master storyteller, she would consistently weave a story that would have the reader turning the pages. This work of historical fiction is one of her best. Riveting from beginning to end, this fictional autobiographical account of the life of Marie Antoinette is superb. Written in the first person, with little dialogue, it is the rumination of a life that was to end tragically. Pampered, spoiled, and fun loving, the beautiful Maria Antonia of Austria metamorphosed into Marie Antoinette of France upon her marriage to the Dauphin, who would eventually become King of France, the ineffectual, but benign, Louis XVI.
This is her story, grounded in historical fact and set within the framework of history. This work of fiction about the life of Marie Antoinette, as seen through her own eyes, is fascinating, as it captures the flavor of those uncertain times and the events that led to the French Revolution and the end of the monarchy in France. It is a reflection on how Marie Antoinette's own behavior influenced the fate of France. Indulging in the excesses of the day, she initially gave little thought as to how her actions might affect the people of France or the monarchy. By the time she realized that her actions and excesses had wide spread political ramifications, it was too late, and the fate of her and her husband was sealed. No amount of personal regret could change it.
This book will be enjoyed by those who enjoy good, well written historical fiction. It is little wonder that this book spent two months on the New York Times Best Seller List. It is simply historical fiction at its best.』
(Excellent fiction based on fact) 『Keeping in mind that this is a work of fiction, it is still an excellent story about Marie Antoinette and the events that led up to the French Revolution. While the ill-fated queen is the protagonist of the tale, the author does not attempt to excuse but merely to explain the foolish and often callous behavior that placed her in history as one of the most hated women of all time. During earlier chapters we get a tantalizing glimpse into the decadent courts of Louis XIV and XV. Then we watch as Louis XVI ascends the throne, far too young and with no idea how to be a king, but determined to please everyone, including his pretty young wife. The ultimate collapse of the monarchy is mourned by the queen even as she admits her own part in it and recalls steps taken or not taken that might have averted it.
The author does not pretend that everything in the story is true; conversations that might have taken place, suspected rendezvous, and dramatic license regarding people about whom little is really known have been added for flavor. But the historical framework of the story is unfailingly accurate, with an excellent bibliography. I would not recommend this to be the first or only book you read about Marie Antoinette, but after studying some completely factual works, sit back and enjoy being drawn into the story with some vivid speculation as to how some things might have happened.』
Kakaku：544 saved$5.44
Arcade Publishing
Usually ships in 1 to 3 weeks IPhone 3G used's review (Interesting, but this is not Elizabeth.) 『"The Queen's Bastard" proposes a truly surprising theory - that Elizabeth I and Robin Dudley had an illegitimate son. It's clear from the beginning that an exhaustive amount of research has been done, especially since Maxwell manages to make the secret pregnancy and birth of said illegitimate son actually seem plausible. The book alternates between first-person diary entries written by Arthur, the son, and omniscient third-person sections about Elizabeth and Robin. It's surprising, interesting, and original.
The problem is Elizabeth. Maxwell's version of the queen has none of the charisma, the talent, or in fact, the brains that we know Elizabeth possessed. Instead, we get a queen who is stupidly capricious, ridiculously volatile, and just plain irritating. She doesn't change, either. From start to finish, she has not learned a thing from her early days of indiscretion. It's all well and good for her to throw some tantrums - Elizabeth did have the redhead's temper. But by the twentieth hissy fit in a hundred pages, it's neither effective nor interesting.
Robin comes off well in the beginning, but he just gets more annoying as the book progresses. By the end, when he finally accepts that Elizabeth will never marry him, he does manage to salvage what remains of his dignity, but you hardly care anymore.
Arthur is the real center of the book, probably because his entire life, except for a brief interview with the king of Spain, is fictional. He's the real mystery, the one we know nothing about. About halfway through, I found myself practically skipping over the Elizabeth/Robin sections to get to the Arthur parts. Maxwell does an excellent job with him, creating a life that, while improbable, is believable within the book's world. (He also gets a star moment during the Armada's invasion of England that had me in stitches!)
This book left me feeling torn. On the one hand, I would love to believe that Arthur Dudley was who he claimed to be - on the other hand, to do that, and buy into the book's proposition, I would have to believe in Maxwell's Elizabeth and Dudley - and they are so unappealing by the end that it is impossible.』
(Disapointing!) 『The Queens Bastard is a difficult read. Maxwell's use of the diary entries worked for her first novel but Aurther's entries are boring. The characters come across as pathetic and unlikable making it difficult to even finish the book. The crude sexual references are unnecessary, the only impact being a roll of the eyes and a turn of the page. The depiction of Tudor England in this novel was a huge disapointment. My advice is to read Philippa Gregory, Maxwell pales in comparison.』
(Vivid and compelling) 『What if Queen Elizabeth had had a child with her lover, Robert Dudley? Robin Maxwell draws upon this question as she creates the character Arthur Dudley, born a (...) to the Queen and switched at birth by a lady-in-waiting. Arthur grows up in the gentrified household of the Southern family, leading a life like that of any other English boy: riding horses, going to school, and having all kinds of troubles of his own. As an adult he participates in the wars in the Netherlands, fighting against the Spanish, witnessing years of bloody battle. It is not until he is an adult, however, that Arthur learns who his real parents were, and his "memoirs" tell us about his life leading up to that momentous occasion.
This realistic novel places the life and times of Queen Elizabeth into a clear, definitive, albeit fictional, focus. Many authors have tried to recreate Elizabeth as a person, and not many can do it as easily as Robin Maxwell did here. Life at court is visibly rendered, as are the scenes in battle that Arthur Dudley witnesses. 』
(Intriguing . . . and possible!) 『I love books that take history and suggest something that is not what the history books tell us, yet is presented in such a plausible manner that you cannot help but think, "What if?" "The Queen's Bastard" is such a book, suggesting as it does that a love child was born to the Virgin Queen, Elizabeth I.
I found the story fascinating, moving as it does through so many historical settings and describing them as I might have seen them then. I adore the descriptions of people, fashions, customs, meals, all of which pull the book together and enmesh the reader in the world of Elizabethan England.
I confess, my favorite summer activity is going to Renaissance Faires, and I adore the Elizabethan period, so perhaps my viewpoint is skewed. But if you are the same, grab this book for a good read, though you may wish to start with its predecessor, and read the two straight through.
Happy reading!』
(Excellent!) 『I read this book before i read any others in the series. I could not put it down from the moment i opened it! in fact, once finished, i went and bought every other book i could find by Robin Maxwell. She had me believing that this bastard child existed through the whole thing. I highly recommend it to anyone whether they have a specific interest in the period or not, it is an excellent book.』 『Historians have long whispered that Elizabeth "the Virgin Queen's" passionate, lifelong affair with Robin Dudley, Earl of Leicester, may have led to the birth of a son, Arthur Dudley. In this exquisite sequel to The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn, Robin Maxwell fashions a stunning fictional account of the child switched at birth by a lady-in-waiting who foresaw the deleterious political consequences of a royal bastard.Set against the sweeping, meticulously rendered backdrop of court intrigues, international scandals, and England's battle against the Spanish Armada, The Queen's Bastard deftly juxtaposes Elizabeth and Leicester's tumultuous relationship with the memoirs of the adventurous son lost to them -- yet ultimately discovered.』
Kakaku：795 saved$7.95
NeWest Press
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Excellent read!) 『Start of a great new series of Gay mystery novels. Garry Ryan has a great future; anyone who can create the image of a teenager dragging his grandfather out of the rough on a golf course "like a seal being dragged over the ice in a Inuit documentary" is A-alright with me. Hope to learn more of the hinted parts of Detective Lane's relationship with his life partner, Authur.』
(Engrossing mystery. Glad to have found this gay detective series.) 『I enjoy mysteries series featuring gay detective/investigator, more so when he has a little help from his spouse. Tom and Scott, Mark Manning, the Potrait series, Adrien English, Henry Rios, Alex Reynolds Mysteries, Donald Strachey series, Todd Mills, Dick Hardesty.. just to name my favorites. Sadly most of these series have discontinued. I am glad to have found a refreshing one in Detective Lane. Mystery, family drama, quirky characters, this first in the series is well written and have me turning the pages eagerly. The solving of the "Who did it" is not the climax but the dramatic events leading to a humane resolution in this tightly woven story. Much more than a mystery, this is also a story with a heart as it touches on sexual abuses and homophobia. I would have preferred there to be more on Dectective Lane's background and his obviously painful past. Perhaps this will be delved into in the second book "The Lucky Elephant Restaurant" which I look forward to reading.』
(Bright, engaging new mystery author scores a hit) 『With some of my favorite gay mystery writers (such as Nava, Craft, Wilson and Stevenson) having concluded their long-running series, I have been looking out for possible replacements from lesser-known authors. I ran across the "Detective Lane" series (only two books, so far) written by Garry Ryan, a high school teacher in Calgary (Canada) who wanted to depict the diverse community in which he lives.
Detective Lane (the author apparently isn't real big on last names, so most characters are identified just by their first) is well known in the Calgary Police Department, both for being an excellent detective who specializes in missing persons cases as well as being one of the few openly gay members of the force. The latter has made him a target of occasional harassment by less-enlightened fellow officers, and made him a bit of a loner, working primarily by himself, occasionally aided by his life-partner Arthur, who worked from their home. It's a nice neighborhood, despite a busybody next door neighbor with a secret of her own.
In "Queen's Park," Detective Lane is sent to investigate the disappearance of the town's former mayor, Bob Swatsky, disappears following a bungled attempt at sexually molesting a teenage boy. In the days that follow, it also becomes known that he took with him an estimated $13 million swindled from the state from a shady land deal. Lane interviews Ernie, the young man who was attacked, and his colorful second generation Italian family, including a feisty aunt who chain-smokes while wheeling around her medicinal oxygen tank, and a widowed grandfather who has set up housekeeping with a likelike silicone female doll. The family claims not to know Swatsky's whereabouts, but Lane has his doubts. Apparently, so do two thugs with connections to Swatsky, who are trying to pressure the family into revealing his whereabouts, so they can get a share of the cash. It's a tough case, on which Lane reluctantly agrees to have help, in the person of Harper, a colleague who was one of Lane's bigoted critics until the gay detective once saved his life.
The book is very well written, with engaging, realistic and diverse characters. My only critique is that I thought some of the characters were somewhat stereotypically cartoonish, but I would still give it four stars out of five.』
(a gem of a police procedural) 『A member of the Calgary, Alberta, police force, Detective Lane is presented the mystery of what happened both to an embezzler accused of attempting to rape his 15-year-old nephew and to the money taken. The investigation introduces him to a dysfunctional family, some of whose members nevertheless manage to keep functioning and whose antics often provide unexpected comic relief. When evidence almost at once begins to point to the nephew having accidentally and unknowingly killed the man, Lane must worry whether he really is onto the truth and what effect it will have on the boy. Halfway through the case, he gains a new partner, Harper, whose life he once saved. To Lane's surprise, Harper starts combatting the homophobic slurs Lane has learned to ignore, Harper having seen such hate cause his own nephew to try to kill himself. This very rich and very readable novel tells its story in short scenes, cinemagraphic style. Though it is not a canine mystery, it will also appeal to dog lovers.』 『Ordinarily Detective Lane has a knack for discovering the whereabouts of missing persons. But the city's latest victim has disappeared without a trace. After brutally attacking his young nephew, ex-mayor Bob Swatsky has gone missing along with 13 million dollars of tax-payers' money. Is he on the lam with the cash, or is it something far more sinister? A zany cast of characters, a love doll, and a chain smoking grandma with an oxygen tank, lead Detective Lane on an exhilarating romp through the streets of Calgary. A man hunt is on, and alone, Lane must uncover the truth before someone ends up visiting Queen's Park...permanently. The first book in the Detective Lane mystery series is an intriguing look at the prejudices gay cops face on the police force, and at the dangers of keeping secrets.』
IPhone 3G used's review (Shallow uninteresting teen drama) 『I was initially attracted to this book by vague cover and the fact that it was Tea Benduhn's debut novel. I had high hopes that this book would reveal something to me about homosexuality. It didn't.
The book is about seventeen-year-old Aurin and her friends Kenny and Fred. When a new girl, Neila, comes to the tiny town of Greensborough, they decide to start hanging out with her. Aurin and Neila's friendship soon blossoms into something else. The book takes place in four places: the park, the dance studio, the restaurant, and Aurin's house.
This book falls far short of revealing something new about gays and lesbians. All I learned was that girls kiss girls the same way that girls kiss guys. What's new about that? Gravel Queen falls flat most of the time, with the characters not in-depth enough to create an interesting or intriguing story. It is often difficult to see what drives them to do what little they do. Also, Ms. Benduhn's love of strange names (Aurin, Neila, Kenney, Prudence) confuses and frustrates the casual reader. Aurin and Neila's developing romance, which should be the central point of the novel, is also flat. Ms. Benduhn seems to have spent most of her time during the writing of the novel thinking up new sensations for Aurin, which often sound more like a bowel disorder than growing love.
Basically, Gravel Queen is a book that could be good if (a) it had a better plot, (b) better characters, and (c) a different author! I would highly recommend avoidance of this novel.』
(Fun) 『Gravel Queen is a fun, loving book about first love feelings. Some of it is a little over the top, in the realm of magical. While other novelslike "Keeping You a Secret" is more in depth and real, Gravel is still good.』
(Cute, frothy entertainment.) 『This is basically an after-school special in novel form. Well, make that novella form. It's only 150 pages.
The three main characters spend all their time hanging around at the local park, wandering aimlessly through their town, sighing dramatically about how incredibly bored they are. True to life? Sure. Interesting? No.
The protagonist is a bored, sort of passive-agressive girl named Aurin who has a crush on a girl named Neila. (The author apparently has a fondness for weird names.) Her moody, attention-grabbing friend Kenney is jealous of the time she spends with Neila. It's never really explained why. Aurin resents Kenney, but that is never really gone into in depth. NOTHING in this book is gone into in any depth. It's a quick, superficial skim into the pool of teenager-hood.』
(Excellent Book) 『This is a very tender caring book which was certainly written by a caring loving Person. It becomes a page turner. It teaches us to care for one another, forgive and share. Refreshing and confident. Wonderfully written. We need more writers like Tea.』
(A touching romance, a good story) 『Aurin and her two friends have a nice comfortable friendship in their teen world, in Greensboro, North Carolina. When new girl Neila arrives, her liveliness and fun, are an instant attraction to Aurin. How Aurin manages to bring Neila into her life, and still keep her friendships, keeps you reading. This is a sweet, touching romance, realistic, with nice touches of humour. Author Benduhn insists this story could have happened for real, and most of it seems credible. The ending is definitely satisfying. A delightful, thoughtful novel.』 『
I look behind me as we walk toward the parking lot, gravel crunching and spraying beneath our feet.
"Whatcha' lookin' at, Aurin? I thought you weren't interested in those guys,"Kenney says.
"I'm not," I say.
There is a carefully constructed balance between Aurin and her friends Kenney and Fred. Kenney is usually the one who comes up with things to do -- her flair for the dramatic can make even boring old Greensboro seem interesting. And if she is a little controlling, Aurin and Fred just look the other way.
Aurin has no intention of throwing off their established equilibrium. But when Neila joins their circle, Aurin realizes that she and Neila are becoming more than friends. Aurin and Neila are happy in their developing relationship, but Kenney feels left out. Can Aurin manage to mend things with an increasingly possessive Kenney, without letting her control this aspect of her life?
In this stunning debut novel, Tea Benduhn looks at a teen making decisions about her future while trying not to lose her past.』
Kakaku：5975 saved$59.75
Intl Specialized Book Service Inc
IPhone 3G used's review (For All Royal Genealogy Buffs) 『If you are wondering where Victoria's descendants are, this is the book for you. It is in two parts. The first part focuses on the families with many pictures from the author's own collection. The second part focuses on the genealogical information. The format is lucid and newcomers should have no trouble following the family lines. I highly recommend this book. It is a great addition to anyone's royal or historical library.』
(Excellent source for its subject) 『If all you want is names and dates, then _Burke's Guide to the Royal Family_ is a better, more detailed source. But if you want more juice, the slightly gossipy chapters of this book -- one chapter per family group -- are informative and well-illustrated, and filled with odd tidbits . . . such as the fact that Queen Margarethe of Denmark is an artist who has designed her country's Christmas seals and also illustrated an edition of _The Lord of the Rings._』
(We are amused) 『Queen Victoria's Descendants lists every known descendant of the queen as of the date of writing. It's a good starting point for those interested in royal history and a valuable reference work for historians and royal genealogists, but it's also an eye-opener for those who think Victoria's descendants are all rich, idle jet-setters.
I strongly recommend this book.』
『Through her marriage into the German royal house of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, and through the marriages of her nine children and her many grandchildren, Queen Victoria guided and manipulated the destiny of European royalty. Today the British Royal Family is connected by blood and marriage to the royal houses of Spain, Germany, Greece, Russia, Romania, Yugoslavia, Sweden, and Denmark.
This is the first book to treat the subject of Victoria and her descendants. The first section is the story of Victoria and her children, and it follows them and their children and grandchildren through the royal courts of Europe and brings their stories, as far as possible, up to the present time. The second part of the book--the genealogy--shows the descents from each of Victoria's children, listing births, marriages, deaths, annulments, divorces, honors, titles, and connections up to the present time.』
Kakaku：704 saved$7.04
Arcadia Publishing
Not yet published 『The borough of Queens, New York, has seen many historical and geographical changes. Marshlands, woods, and farms gave way to factories, thriving communities, and the nation’s premier arterial highway system. Queens offers
