price：$0.49
Amazon
Available for download now Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Best book I've read this year) 『This book, about AIDS orphans in Africa and one particular woman in Ethiopia who has been taking care of them, was hands-down the best book I've read this year.
There are a lot of numbers and facts in the first few chapters book, but I think they provide some necessary background and valuable perspective on AIDS and make the book that much more powerful.』
(Brings It All Home) 『The exquisite storytelling gift of Melissa Fay Greene brings home to those of us unscathed by severe poverty and a raging, unchecked AIDS epidemic how cruel is the fate of children quite literally left to fend for themselves. Greene's tale of a heart-centered woman, moved by her own tragedy to offer the sweet balm of instinctual caring to so many young souls (and despised by many for doing so), is wrenching, galling, entertaining, and -- ultimately -- inspiring. We are charmed by Ethiopia's children, root for them at every step of their spirited journeys, cry for them when all good efforts fail. Bravo to Greene for putting her fine talent to such generous use -- this story has needed to be told...and read!』
(Fabulously written; great book!) 『The author does a great job of mixing the story with the social, political, and economic aspects that all combine to create this heartwrenching outcome. I highly recommend this book! Keep the tissue box nearby.』
(I give very few books 5 stars) 『I could not stop reading this book but explaining why is the hard part.
Certainly one cannot enjoy a story that describes the daily horror that filled the lives of the Ethiopians especially the innocent children! How can one stomach to read about the ignorance and apathy of the rest of the world? I don't know but I did.
The writing is compelling. You are transported by the prose. This book does not wallow looking for pity rather it uplifts and gives hope. Hard to explain .. you must read it.
』
(Eye opening... heartbreaking and heart warming.) 『This book is an amazing look at what one individual can do to make a difference when the rest of the world isn't doing a whole lot. The history of the AIDS epidemic is enlightening. The story of this woman is amazing and the history of US drug companies failure to help and the government failure to step in initially is heartbreaking. The book is well written, wonderfully told and a captivating read.』 『My book about Mrs. Haregewoin Teferra, the story of a remarkable woman who opened her doors to Addis Ababa's orphaned children, is finished, but the vast landscape of the orphaned children flows on. On a recent return visit to Addis Ababa, I found I could not lay aside the impetus to see and to understand, the impetus to try to act, to try to bear witness.』
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Amazon
Available for download now Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (VERSION -- eDoc / Amazon SHORT) 『be aware that the ''Amazon Shorts'' version is anything *but* a condensed version of the book
out of curiosity i purchased the Shorts download, and was surprised to get what amounts to little more than a reasonable ''Look Inside'' preview, rather than a 10,000 foot overview or condensed version of the print book (a sampling from each chapter, perhaps, rather than what appears to be the first part of the Introduction)
did i expect too much, considering the original is a 192 page book ? no, taking the price into consideration. but as i indicated earlier, a broad brush overview would have made more sense than what was delivered ! the ''6,384 words, 27 pages'' delivered includes a cover page with ''Amazon Shorts'' and the title ''The End of America: Letter of Warning to a Young Patriot'' set in immense ''War Type Font'', 6 pages of footnotes and 2 pages of ''Author Spotlight'' ... the sum total of which resembles a reasonable ''Look Inside'' indeed !
if this is the direction Amazon is taking with their new ''Amazon Shorts'' offerings, they are in for the ramifications of a failed experiment - imagine the download of a song which contains a few bars of the opening strains and you have an accurate mental image of what this ''service'' currently offers, at least from a larger print book ; short stories from unknown authors may be a better fit with this minimalistic format
***
sadly Amazon does not allow comments on specific versions of any book, and with such glowing reviews for the printed version my *** patriotic, dissenting, speaking-up against the tyranny *** of the eDoc/Shorts version will not do much to harm the beautiful author's rep, and might actually make her laugh at the strange, wonderful world all around us 』
(Great book and information... a little too basic, too weak, and way to short) 『Overall the book has valuable information, but there is just too much red tape around how she writes. Too hands off on some issues and doesnt incoperate the other important points that clearly relate to the book. Hope that she is able to come out with a more breakthough and comprehensive book, and hope that I dont get put on the list she writes about by buying this book.』
(A Wake Up Call to Heed) 『This book should be a companion to every high school civics class.
If our constitution were taught the way this book sets forth, we would not be teetering on our present brink.
』
(Strangely silent after Nov 15, 2008) 『I agree that our liberty is at risk, but her call to action has ceased after the election of Barak Obama. All of the dangerous conditions STILL exist, and are supported by him. I suspect she was just another political shill... But time will tell on her...』
(Great choice for all government students!) 『As a government student, I really enjoyed reading this book. I think Wolfe has America's best interest at heart. The way this book was set up made it easy to follow and understand, even for a lazy and easily bored 18 year old. I can admit to being biased and sharing most of Wolfe's views on the Bush administration, but I don't think many people can argue with her facts. She makes very valid claims and her arguments are logical. The one issue I had with this book was its relevance. Reading it now, in 2009, rather than in its publication year of 2007, gives a very different message. I'm sure someone reading it in 2007 would be terrified and moved to take action after reading. Now, in 2009 with a new President, I feel less inclined to worry about the fears presented by Wolfe. Most of what she is saying are results of actions by the Bush administration. Whether it is relevant anymore or not, it can still serve a purpose for educating people against repeating mistakes from history. When Wolfe alludes to the Bush administration being similar to that of Hitler or Stalin, it sends the message out that a dictatorship could happen again and that we should not allow ourselves to be swayed in that direction.』 『In my travels across the country, I have heard from citizens of all backgrounds who feel alienated from the Founders' idea that they are the ones who must lead; they are the ones who must decide and confront and draw a line. They are the ones who matter. This book is written for them. Such citizens need the keys to, the understanding of, the Founders' radical legacy. They need to understand how despots have gone about their work. They need a primer so they and those around them can be well-equipped for the fight that lies ahead.』
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Amazon
Available for download now Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Enjoyed the Story!) 『It was very well written and it was filled with passion and excitement. This is a great buy.』
(a good read....) 『I loved this whole series. This is not my favorite of the 6 but it is a must read...Love the way Cindy Gerard can bring the reader into the book and that the reader can actually visualize all the settings.』
(Fell a little short of the mark) 『This entry in the bodyguard series didn't quite do it for me. Not a bad story, but for whatever reason, I just didn't find the main characters or the back story interesting. 』
(A definite page turner) 『This was the first of Cindy Gerard's "Bodyguards" series that I picked up quite by accident at the drugstore one day. Wasn't really expecting anything special, but I was really impressed - I couldn't put it down!
The scenes and language are a bit on the gritty end of the spectrum for a romantic suspsense, but no more so than some of Nora Roberts latest. I also really enjoyed that the characters who were likeable, but not at all typical. I've read a ton of romances, and this is the first I've read about a rock star heroine and a hero that looks like he could be 18. It doesn't sound great, but Gerard really makes it work.
The book was good enough to send me off in search of her other Bodyguard books, and Cindy Gerard has become one of my rare "autobuys." The only reason I gave it four stars was that after reading her other Bodyguard books, I like those even more (specifically try Under the Wire; it was really outstanding)!』
price：$0.49
Amazon
Available for download now Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Great book&service) 『This was my first order and the service was great. The book arrived in 3 days and I really enjoyed the convienence. I enjoy this author and will look for more books by her.』
(Perfect Title) 『What a beautiful lovestory between Sydnam and Anne. They were there for each other despite both feeling emotionally as well as physically scarred. I became so hooked on this story. The terrible suffering they both endured in their lives and the loneliness they each felt as a result, was heartbreaking. The way they supported each other and eventually understood and accepted the depth of each other's love, made each complete. It was a pleasure to read this story.』
(Not a bad read) 『The story is sweet and I highly commend Balogh for writing about 2 unlikely h/h. It seems that most romance stories are filled with the same cookie cutter main characters and Anne and Syd are not it. I also appreciated the way Anne and Syd got together. It was awkward, painful, slow and full of doubt. To have the story told in anything different would not have done justice to their past histories.
However, the characters lacked that spark or chemistry or even tenderness between them. There were a bit too much emphasis on the angst and not enough on character development. These 2 people had a hard past but there are also more to them then just the past. Balogh emphasized these throughout the story but I didn't quite see the delivery of that promise. Then all of a sudden, everything got wrapped up like a pretty gift with a big bow on top. Sure predictability goes hand in hand with romance novels but since Balogh went ahead and wrote an unusual story about two unlikely romance h/h, I would have preferred some unpredictability.
Still, the story was thoughtful and brave and that's to be commended.』
(Don't buy the electronic version!) 『I am a little irritated that nowhere in the description does it say that the download version is not a complete book. I assumed because it was 27 pages that it was a little novella/short story. It is not. It is basically the first chapter of a book. It reminds me of the Harlequins that give you a sample chapter from another book at the end of the book you've just read. So don't buy it unless you want to sample it and make sure you like it before you buy the actual book.』
(No stereotypical heroes in Balogh's tales...) 『This is the only one of Mary Balogh's novels I struggled in reviewing, and not for the reasons one might imagine. Indeed, I find no flaw worth mentioning, though I suppose there must be one or two. Simply Love is true to Balogh's gentle, steady style, and the characters are comfortably familiar, even if you haven't read all the tales in the "Simply" or the Slightly" series. I find reviewing this book difficult because I know, far more intimately than I might like, what it feels like to be "damaged" and to have given up on any chance for love. I have lived it, and I can tell you, Balogh's insights into the heart, soul and mind of emotionally scarred Anne and physically maimed Sydnam are dead-on. The book could almost have been sub-titled "Simply Given Up on Love." To those few human beings who have been chewed up and spat out by life experience, the struggle with pain, loneliness and isolation can become, inexorably, the ubiquitous fabric of their existence; slowly, insidiously, like the frog in the pot of heating water, they lose their sense of hope and optimism for their future. Balogh has captured this subtly hidden malady of the human spirit and infused her main characters with it. Anne's herculean efforts to hide her fear, sadness and pain will stab at your heart. Sydnam's desperate, tenacious struggle to hold on to the limited physical ability and independence he retains in the aftermath of horrific torture as a prisoner of war literally made me weep. No fluffy, witty romance here to be sure, and yet... We begin to see as the pages turn that Anne and Sydnam may be the only two people in the bright, gay world they inhabit who, as a direct result of their own personal, private anguish, have the unique ability to understand, accept, heal and ultimately, love one another. And so they do. Make no mistake, Balogh is not offering a smooth, sweet, tidy love story. The intimate encounters between Anne and Sydnam are at worst awkward, and at best poignant and wrenching, rather than erotic. However, this is perfectly fitted to the storyline. After all, this is a man who has lost his right arm, bears horrific burn scars from cheek to knee and is half blind. It would be ludicrous (not to mention insulting to the reader) to offer sophisticated, suave and graceful loveplay. And this is exactly what makes this such a special romance. The author wants her readers to know that there IS hope and optimism and love, even for those people most unlikely to have it. And I, as one of them, would like to say, Thank You, Mary, for writing a beautiful story----about us. 』 『A sparkling excerpt from New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh's SIMPLY LOVE: Mary Balogh returns to the elegance and sensuality of Regency England as she continues the enthralling story of four remarkable women - friends and teachers at Miss Martin's School for Girls. At the center of this spellbinding novel is Anne Jewell, a teacher haunted by a scandalous past…until she meets a man who teaches her the most important lesson of all: nothing is simple when it comes to love.…』
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Amazon
Available for download now Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Nice start but boring afterwards) 『I think this book started off cute enough, with the hero and heroine stuck in an unlikely place together and developing a mutual affection for each other simply because of what they went through together. It felt very real to me because it might happen even in today's world. But after they parted, things kind of went tepid, and still the book dragged on for another good more than half of it. In the end, I agree with one of the reviewers below that the big secret was kind of disappointing. Yet more disappointing was the character development of Lucius Marshall, which was none. He struck me as an impulsive, love-struck man with nothing better to do but run around shopping with his sisters and taking care of his grandpa -- not very masculine indeed. I much prefer the first part of the book when he was at least making use of his muscles for chopping woods etc. She's this gorgeous Italian, olive-skinned goddess with a good head on her shoulders, and a good singing voice. I couldn't help thinking that she could do better. I finished it in less than a day, and unlike with Slightly Dangerous, had no wish to go back to it again.』
(WARNING! Not the whole book!) 『I purchased this as a 49 cent download. It was a waste of 49 cents. You get only the first 2 chapters, which can be summed up as "boy meets girls in a snowstorm, and rescues her." The "short story" ends abruptly with their arrival at an inn. I cannot see that it is indicated anywhere on the purchase page that this is an excerpt from a book. Don't buy!』
(Loved It!) 『Okay, I had not read a romance novel in quite awhile, and I picked up this book at my local library's used book section (a wonderful place where you can buy used paperbacks for 50 cents.) And maybe I was just in the mood for a good romance novel. But, I was totally charmed by this book--loved the characters, the setting, and the writing. I couldn't put it down and at its conclusion, I immediately read Ms. Balogh's Simply Magic (which I had also purchased). I am now going to read her other two books in the series, Simply Love and Simply Perfect. I've read romance novels for many years (although I will admit I go through periods where I can't read them and need to read more "serious" stuff.) But I've read enough romance authors to know who's really good and Mary Balogh is truly gifted. Her character development is really wonderful--she creates people that you really care about and are multi-faceted (not just a pretty face)and her writing is so much better than many other novelists in her genre. I just picked up a different author's book (whom I had read in the past and thought was OK) and I couldn't read it--the book was written so poorly and so childishly--really terrible. Or maybe the comparison to Ms. Balogh's writing was too much to bear. Anyway, this book was wonderful and I recommend it to anyone who wants to escape for an afternoon to another time and place with some really satisfying and well written characters and really lovely love story. If you haven't read her novels before, it will probably start you on a love affair with Mary Balogh.』
(Pardon the pun, but this book was "simply forgettable" for me (2.5 stars)) 『The first in Mary Balogh's Simply Quartet, SIMPLY UNFORGETTABLE was unfortunately not so for me. I am a huge Mary Balogh fan, but this is my least favorite book of hers and I actually had to stop myself from skimming parts at the end (which is just unheard of for me). Meanwhile, I have continued on to the second book of the Quartet, Simply Love, and found that book highly enjoyable - I recommend just skipping to that one.
The middle section of this book was actually quite enjoyable; it was in the beginning (read my comments below) and in the end (which is supposed to be the best part!) that things fell apart for me. The section that takes place in Bath is fun to read and the interactions between Frances and Lucius are enjoyable, but once things move forward after that ... the book lost me and by the end, I was so sick of the back and forth that like I said above, I had to stop myself from just skipping to the end and finishing it already.
PROBLEM WITH THE PREMISE: This is a matter of personal preference, but I don't usually like the "one night of passion with a stranger" premises in historical romances. I don't read many contemporary romances, but I don't mind them in that genre. However, when you're dealing with a historical romance, it just doesn't really fit with the times unless the woman is "loose," which of course the heroine never is. When the author writes a heroine who is supposedly prim and proper (Frances is such a heroine), it's very hard to have that type of character engage in one night of passion with some mystery man and maintain a sense of continuity or cohesiveness with how she's supposed to be the rest of the time.
SIMILAR BOOKS: If you like books where the hero and heroine have one night of passion as strangers and later fall in love, check out the following: ~ Slightly Wicked (Bedwyn Family, Book 2) by Mary Balogh ~ The Secret Pearl by Mary Balogh - a spin on the "one night of passion" ~ When We Meet Again (Effington Family, Book 10) by Victoria Alexander ~ Her Highness, My Wife (Effington Family, Book 5) by Victoria Alexander - premise isn't exactly the same, but similar enough ~ Let It Be Love (Effington Family, Book 11) by Victoria Alexander ~ It Happened One Night, anthology - I haven't read it, but I think it is similar
BOTTOM LINE: Balogh is a wonderful author, but from this book you wouldn't perhaps know it. Skip it and read one of her other books: you can skip to SIMPLY LOVE, which is second in the Simply Quartet; read The Secret Pearl, a great stand-alone; or settle in to enjoy the wonderful Bedwyn series, starting with A Summer to Remember (Bedwyn prequel) and Slightly Married (Bedwyn Book 1).』
(Just wonderful!!) 『Simply said...one of the best series and authors I have ever read. To the woman who reviewed this in 2005...if you knew anything about natural talent you would know it's just there. You don't need to practice everyday of your life. Since this is a piece of fiction as well, I'm sure Frances did practice once she started to perform in public, but we don't need to know that. We do need to know that Frances and Lucius end up happy. Again, Brava to Ms. Balogh for a great series of historical romances.』 『A tantalizing excerpt from New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh's SIMPLY UNFORGETTABLE: Mary Balogh returns to the seductive world she knows so well - Regency England - in a new novel filled with her trademark wit, sensuality, and breathtaking storytelling. With this, the first in a dazzling new quartet of novels, Balogh invites us into a special world - a select academy for young ladies - a world of innocence and temptation. Drawing us into the lives of four women, teachers at Miss Martin's School for Girls, Balogh introduces this novel's marvelous heroine: music teacher Frances Allard - and the man who seduces her with a passion no woman could possibly forget.…』
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Available for download now Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Such a good story) 『This is such a good story. I remember reading it in high school and not knowing what all the fuss was about it. Then I re-read it a few years ago, and got it right away. It's great to see that you can get it for free here. Everybody should read this, or if you're like me a read it a long time ago, re-read it. It's worth it!!』
(The Raven, a Poetical Thesis) 『The rhythm of the "Raven" is trochaic, the meter is acatalectic, alternating with heptameter catalectic repeated in the refrain of the fifth verse, and terminating with tetrameter catalectic. The trochees employed throughout consist of a long syllable followed by a short: the first line of the stanza consists of eight of these feet (trochees), the second of seven and a half (two-thirds), the third of eight, the fourth of seven and a half, the fifth the same, the sixth three and a half. It is noted that each of these lines, taken individually had been employed before, and what gives the "Raven" its originality is the combination of these into stanza. The other novel affects aiding the combination are the applications of the principals of rhyme and alliteration. The sole poetical thesis of the "Raven" is beauty and these two ideas unfolded, a lover lamenting his deceased mistress and a Raven continuously repeating the word "Nevermore."
I conclude the "Raven" being one of E.A.Poe's best works and for all else considered, a great study in poetry.
Robert Meacham, poet, novelist, and short story contributor for The Amazon Shorts Program.』 『This is a test of the Shorts ingestion pipeline. This is a test of the Shorts ingestion pipeline. This is a test of the Shorts ingestion pipeline.』
price：$0.49
Amazon
Available for download now Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (The Serene Republic and its charm) 『I find I have a great many books in my library by Dave Duncan. The title was the first thing that caught my eye, and the cover followed. Finally I saw that it was by Duncan. I must have just glanced at the marketing blurb for it was only after I started reading did I realize that we had a Renaissance who-dun-it.
Our hero is the apprentice of Nostradamus who is not nearly as fascinating as the Serene Republic where our story takes place. My library has only a small handful of books with Venice as a background, but all are charming in their way for the city is rich in cultural material seemingly at all periods of its existence.
The mystery is solid and has its share of red-herrings and coincidence. But as I mentioned it is far more interesting to follow all the layers that is Venice and this is just but the beginning to that.
This may be a story that gets read only once, for it is not full of depth for a series, though more books are being released. Where Duncan takes us with the likable hero will be important. It is definitely work reading if you like the Renaissance and should like to know more about Venice.』
(A Great History-Mystery w/a Touch of Fantasy) 『Alfeo Zeno is a minor noble, skilled swordsman, and apprentice to the notable physician and astrologer Nostradamus. He has enough on his plate to keep his day-to-day life busy and fulfilling, as he practices his skills in the beautiful city of Venice and tries to learn everything his master has to teach him. But when a high-ranking noble dies after an event at which Nostradamus is present, and after receiving a horoscope cast by the physician that predicted the danger, the Council of Ten suspects the worse. Alfeo is charged by his master with the task of solving the mystery, finding the murderer, and clearing Nostradamus of any suspicion of wrongdoing.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I'm always a little bit put off by first-person narratives, since many authors cannot write them with skill, but Duncan handled it expertly and then some. I enjoyed seeing this story progress through Alfeo's eyes; his humor and wit, not to mention his powers of observation, kept the story flowing smoothly. Actually, I think that based on the concept of the story, first-person perspective probably worked better than third-person; if we knew what everyone was thinking, it would ruin the excitement of the mystery. The cast of characters is colorful and entertaining, and all of the major personalities are very well fleshed-out. I especially loved Duncan's descriptive language - some of the ways that Alfeo has of describing his master made me giggle a little, and the somewhat unconventional figurative language really helped me to get a clear mental image of the characters. I enjoyed this book and I'm really excited to read the next one!』
(Five Black Orchids!) 『The Alchemist's Apprentice is a re-imagining Nero Wolfe. It has some minor fantasy elements. It is set in 16th century Venice, where it seems almost impossible to avoid arrest and torture. And of course, eternal damnation is a constant threat. But this is at heart a murder mystery, and magic is of surprisingly little help when it comes to unmasking a killer. The only thing missing is photographic plates of the art the wealthy people of Venice are surrounded by.』
(Not the best by Duncan) 『I never thought that I would give less than 5 stars to the book written by Dave Duncan, but obviously everything has to happen for a first time. If you pick up this book, you have to be aware of one major thing: It is mystery, not a fantasy! Ok, I knew that and still I was disappointed. I think I am spoiled by the originality of plots in Duncan's fantasy books. On the contrast, The "Alchemist apprentice" is read as a Venetian version of Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin adventures. It is classic mystery "who's done it?" with classic twists and classic characters. As a result, the mystery is quite predictable. What's worse, the clairvoyance, demons and Tarot - the tools that are supposedly to help us to experience the atmosphere of medieval Venice - all these look like not necessary attributes, and can be removed from the plot without any disturbance to the major events. Maestro Nostradamus himself (aka Nero Wolfe etc.), as described by Duncan, is highly intelligent and educated private detective and doctor (reminds you of somebody?) and is very out of place in the medieval Venice. Him being an astrologist comes more like "by the way"...
To conclude, I did enjoy historical descriptions, and liked Alfeo Zeno (major character) to the same extent as I used to like Archie Goodwin. Unfortunately, this accounts for three stars only. I doubt that the book would appeal to fantasy fans, and because the mystery part lacks originality, some mystery fans are also up to disappointment.
』
(An Enjoyable Historical Mystery with a small dash of Fantasy) 『I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Mostly I was surprised it was in the Fantasy genre, but I suppose, with its touch of the supernatural it wouldn't quite fit in with the Mysteries... Although it could.
This was a good solid mystery, with an engaging amateur sleuth--the very surprising apprentice to Nostradamus. And, surprise--it's not THE Nostradamus, but his nephew (although it really seems to make no difference--this Nostradamus is quite as formidable and fascinating). And the historical facts and details of life in the amazing city of Venice is deftly handled so that the reader feels comfortably back in time and place.
Fortunately for me, this combination of fantasy, mystery and history is totally welcome. I enjoy reading historical mysteries about as well as I do reading fantasy, and the setting of Venice is also a favorite of mine. If you like these elements, as well as a dashing, multi-talented apprentice hero who can hold his own with his learned master, you should enjoy this book as well.
I am very happy to learn it may be a series as I will gladly read more along this line.』 『Michel de Nostredame, known as Nostradamus, died (in France of course) in 1566. His work was continued for many years by Filippo Nostradamus, who published in Italy and claimed to be Michel's nephew. Michel's family denied any knowledge of Filippo and nothing more is known of him. I have rectified this sad state of affairs by writing a fantasy-historical-mystery novel set in Renaissance Venice. This is how it begins.』
price：$0.49
Amazon
Available for download now Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (A Dish Served Cold) 『A Dish Served Cold has so many great twist in it. This read just makes the reader feel like they are in the presents of A genius author that loves to give the reader treat after treat. Truly a pleasure to read completely unforgettable by all means.』
(cute fun read, but...) 『This is a cute, fun read, but from about page six, by the author's choice of language if nothing else, the plot is fairly transparent -- and, once you see where it's going... well, it almost becomes annoying. I bought it for a quick evening read, and that was fine, but glad I only paid .49!』
(Revenge Indeed!) 『From the opening paragraph, this suspenseful tale had me flipping pages, trying to solve this tantalizing mystery. Someone is seeking revenge for some long-ago crime. This information has come to light and the target is a local investor, Stephen York.
York is questioned by police detectives, who have learned of the threat of possible harm from a day laborer - someone who works for a local landscaper, the alleged avenger.
The detectives query York as to why Mr. Trotter, the landscaper, would want to harm him. The suggestion strikes York as ludicrous - unlikely, even. Besides, he doesn't even really know the man and can't think of any business dealings that might have gone awry....
Then a series of strange occurrences lead York to begin taking the possibility of harm seriously. He talks to the cops again, taking his "evidence" in for review. He hires a bodyguard. More information seemingly falls into their laps and it begins to look like evil machinations are at work here.
York searches his memory for any person or persons he might have harmed - after all, as the detectives suggested, Mr. Trotter might be a hired killer for someone else.
York's paranoia increases when one event after another occurs to increase his fear and panic.
Then, finally, something totally unexpected steers them all in a completely different direction. And it looks as though nothing untoward was happening at all.
Relaxing finally, York begins to get on with his life.
But on the other side of town, the landscaper is relishing his victory....
A Dish Served Cold is a thrilling suspense tale from the Amazon Shorts program; it satisfies even as it tantalizes.
』
(Very good short story) 『This was my first ebook download and my first reading of this author. I was very pleasantly surprised by both. I would recommend this read. It's short, very interesting, great ending.』
(Do you own "More Twisted"?) 『Deaver is one of my favorite authors, and this is a pretty good story. However, be aware that if you have his collection "More Twisted," you have already read this story. I will admit that I was expecting Amazon shorts to be unpublished stories and am a bit disappointed. It may say "previously published" somewhere on the Amazon page for the story, but it certainly isn't obvious if it does.』 『I love nothing better than surprising the readers of my short stories with a big twist in the end. They think the story is going in one direction and, bang, it ends up some place else. This is true of“A Dish Served Cold,” a crime short story set in Arizona. If any readers can guess the ending, I'd love to hear from them (through my website)!』
price：$0.49
Amazon.com
Available for download now Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Nice small story) 『I bought this from amazon.com, downloaded it, and had a lot of fun, especially with Jack crawling around tight spaces. I'm not ordinarily a fan of the short story, but my numero uno book series will always be the Repairman Jack novels. Therefore, if F. Paul Wilson decided to write a 50 word Repairman Jack short story, I would buy it. Wilson could pep up the phone book. He's that good a writer.』
(Outstanding!) 『This Amazon Short is an outstanding introduction to the character - even if you're unfamiliar with the continuing history of Repairman Jack. It moves swiftly; never a dull word or moment in this story. If you ARE familiar with him this Short is a great snapshot of just one evening in Jack's life; the one where his greatest fear, successfully avoided for years, is realized by one heroic act.
Read this - it's short, it's great, and it will likely leave you wanting more. For anyone who doesn't know Jack (sorry about the cliche') start with F. Paul Wilson's THE TOMB and go from there. It's a really great read!』
(A Five Star Series!) 『"The Long Way Home: A Repairman Jack Story" is just a tease. It is a short story of another of Repairman Jack's adventures. It is a must read if you are a fan of the series. For those of you who have not been introduced to Repairman Jack, it will have you ordering more.
Jack is a sort of a mercenary for hire. He has many identities. He lives off the grid and takes on anykind of job legal or illegal. In this short story, Jack is minding his business on his way home when he sees an armed robbery take place. He decides to step in, despite his best judgement, and his gets himself into a terrible mess. I won't spoil the story for you, because it has a couple of twists that I know you will enjoy.
Give it a try. I'm sure it will have you addicted to Repairman Jack, just like I am.
Other Repairman Jack adventures you should read: Infernal, Gateways and Nightworld.
Jennifer 』
(Long-Necked, Dark-Amber Bottles Go With What? Smoky Rooms&Red Meat?) 『A quick-capturing conversation between Jack and Julio (Repairman and Puerto Rican tavern owner) opened this plot with the cozy heat of feisty friendship, a lime-slice-tang of character development, and the smoldering intrigue of a Yuppie offer to purchase Julio's tavern (as a cocoon for a disdained bistro). Undercurrent emotion and underlying themes surged a quick fizz (Coal&Coca-cola) for an enthralling ride-along retaining a wide-eyed focus to the end of THE LONG WAY HOME.
This Amazon Short was not what I had expected; it was my first sample of a Repairman Jack story (a series which works a fetching concept). F. Paul expounded well here on some of Jack's angles, pulling me into and through this triage story, leaving me wanting to know more about what forced Jack into his low profile (almost "no profile") existence.
Well-designed, crisp sentence clips quickened the pace throughout these 33 fast-rapping pages:
>>Jack was halfway across the street when he heard a boom. He knew that sound. Shotgun. Instinctively he ducked behind the nearest parked car on the far side. The sound had been muffled. An indoor shot.<<
Intrigue was intensified through an exquisite economy of syntax:>>Years of hiding in the cracks, of forging an existence in the interstices of society would be wiped away. And then the IRS would get involved, wondering why this man had no Social Security number. They'd begin investigating every nook and cranny of his entire 1040-less life.<<
Fast, appropriate, and "whew" describes the way twists were worked out in this plot.
>>"No, thanks, da..t! Just evening up. You didn't have to do what you did but you did; I don't have to do what I'm doing, but I am. Like you said: Quid pro quo. This for that. Now get out of my sight."<<
That wasn't the end of the story; it was nearer the middle. The end kicked in the title in a pleasantly surprising shift which symbolically caught the essence of Jack's plight in a dry, cool conclusion I hadn't anticipated. The passage quoted below wasn't the end, either, but it teases closer:
>>The fusillade slammed Fat Henry back against the doorframe, his sawed-off went spinning, and then he was turning and falling and rolling down the steps. It was over in seconds. No Peckinpah slo-mo. No ballet-like turns. Quick, graceless, ugly, and red. He hit the sidewalk face first and never moved again.<<
Yep, WAY HOME was not what I expected, and, yes, better than. The 33 electronic-text-segments drove the "page-down" key more quickly than even some of the 10 page Shorts I've read, which, when providing a slower read did that with an easy grace I needed at-the-time, and relished. This time I was thankfully surprised to be caught and pulled through the quick-shift, ebony-edged, red-tinged plot.
F. Paul Wilson is a very talented, seasoned writer, with a unique style perking hot in Repairman; I might not have met up with F. Paul's work if I hadn't taken THE LONG WAY HOME this time, in my current choice of a Short. I'm headed to Amazon's pages to study the list for the Jack series, checking out its number of novels, publication dates of each, and noting titles for the pilot and latest release.
This Jack guy might develop (for me; he probably has already for other P.I. enthusiasts) develop as much appeal as Robert B. Parker's Spenser. For my tastes, it wouldn't be easy to slide-into-base anywhere near the subtle complexities of Spenser. But the next-city-over from Spenser's ball park would certainly provide an equally worthy hot dog. Pass the Mustard! Hiss the steam!
My apologies, but I'm hoping Jack's Hard Boiled sulfur won't be overdone for my edible-pansy tastes, for which I often cringe, in shame of a lack of grit(s). Does Jack cook? Or does he make do with long necks, rotten eggs, and short runs? (Please excuse my addiction to tangy description quips; this one should not be taken as an insult to F. Paul, not at all! I look forward to adapting to whatever style he operates in this series.)
Curious, Linda Shelnutt』
(Great 15 minute escape) 『First experience with this author and character. Great 15 minute escape for short story lovers, particularly sci-fi or future urban fans. For .49, you don't have to overthink this one.』 『"The Long Way Home" arose from the aphorism about no good deed going unpunished. Jack is not a do-gooder per se. He fixes problems on a cash-and-carry basis. He's not a crime fighter; in fact, he's a career criminal. He does his damnedest to avoid the police. So I figured putting him in the position where he's the only one who can help a downed cop would create a lot of dramatic tension. It does.』
price：$0.49
Amazon
Available for download now Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Wish it was in the main novel!) 『This is just what Fairyville was missing! If you read and liked Fairyville then this is a must!』
(And Then There Were Four) 『Not paticularly keen on regular printed pages to read a story. Would rather hold a real book in my hands.』
(Just "OK") 『It almost felt juvenile. It didn't leave me feeling excited or anything either, cause I was too caught up into trying to understand exactly what they were doing. At least it was only 50 cents.』
(Yikes!!!) 『Bought this and Fairyville at the same time but I forgot about it and it just sat in my computer. Well...Fairyville itself held some big surprises for me and I wrote a review for it. Mainly - not my cupa tea. I repeat - not my cup o tea. If you like male/male, male/male/male/woman references then go for it. But if you're like me and you don't think it would be particularly titillating to see your husband "do" and "be done" by another man then I think you should skip this one.』
(Why not in the book?) 『When I finished Fairville I wanted this scene!!! Why was it not in the book? Im not sure it works as a stand alone...who am I kidding...Its HOT without the book. Just know this is a missing group M/M/M/F sex from Fairyville.』 『This epilogue came about because, when my fabulous editor finished telling me how fun and sexy she thought FAIRYVILLE was, she added:“I was seriously tempted to ask you for that foursome you hinted was coming at the end, but the characters do need some rest ?.” Needless to say, most authors respond well to praise, and I decided my fictional peeps could rally their strength after all. I hope you enjoy watching Zoe, Magnus, Bryan, and Alex find their personal slice of heaven in a snowy cabin in the Rocky Mountains …』
The scallop of large satisfactory ! northern countries and - [ of how much ] botan shrimp are ! tightly.
getting to know the technique of motorbike expensive sale -- Ta -- if -- -
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