emanuel Carpenter

Selling is Dead
Marc Miller & Jason Sinkovitz
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
www.wiley.com
ISBN 0471721115, pp. 320, price $27.95

In today’s corporate world, the performance of a company’s sales team can determine if they will sink or swim. The sales team is responsible for seeking out opportunities from current customers and creating opportunities from potential customers. In the new book "Selling is dead" by Marc Miller and Jason Sinkovitz, the Ohio-based authors explain the importance of hiring the right salesperson, recognizing the type of demand that is needed, and monitoring the progression of each sales stage.

"Selling is dead" introduces a new way of approaching potential customers based on four types of demand: new application demand, aggregate demand, continuous improvement demand, and economy demand because the authors believe that customer decision-making changes from one demand to another. According to this book, an informed salesperson should be able to recognize the demand type and respond accordingly.

This book is at its brilliant best when it explains the Buyer Psychological Model, the importance of creating demand, and how to overcome traditional objections such as a potential client’s budget constraints. It also serves as a wake-up call for sales managers who employ mediocre salespeople who are ineffective at creating demand or selling to prospects who are satisfied with existing products or services.

However, there are a few problems with this book that may cause its words to fall on deaf ears. The first is that it reads like a dissertation and contains complicated language (i.e. the cadence of commoditization) that may cause the average salesperson without a college degree to run for cover. Next, the book is written from a very strategic point of view and lacks more needed tactical instructions. Finally, the book is written with a slant towards IT firms and may turn off those who are not in technology fields. In other words, it’s great for IT sales managers but maybe not for other sales professionals.

"Selling is dead" has the potential to be a groundbreaking book. The authors understand the psychology of supply and demand, the pressures of a sales manager, and the need to move salespeople from inertia. But the success of this book will be determined by the buying public’s willingness to make a major paradigm shift in the sales process and the hiring process and a clear understanding in the psychology of how purchasing decisions are made. This book makes an interesting and informative read but it will be even more interesting to see if salespeople worldwide accept or reject it.

Recommended.

Fumbling Toward Divinity
Craig Hickman
Annabessacook Farm
ISBN 0-9762462-01, price $27.95, pp. 374

Imagine growing up not knowing who your real parents are. Would you wonder who you resemble in the family tree? Could you deal with being ignorant to your family’s medical history? And most importantly, would you wonder where you belong? In a new book from Craig Hickman, the author takes readers on his journey of discovering his true roots.

In the new memoir "Fumbling Toward Divinity" from Harvard graduate Craig Hickman (Rituals), the author takes readers into his journey of the search for his biological parents. Along the way, we learn of the African American writer’s homosexual lifestyle that includes a marriage to his Caucasian partner. The apprehensive author not only worries about finding his biological family but if they will accept his alternative lifestyle.

As the story unfolds, readers are right there with Hickman as he researches his roots in libraries, government buildings, and online and treks along U.S. highways with help from his adoptive family, his husband Job, and his newly discovered Uncle James. By the time he meets his religious, biological mother in Georgia, readers will come to know him and cheer him on as he takes on the task of finding and getting to know his real family.

"Fumbling Toward Divinity" is a well-written and unique book. Written in third-person format, Hickman meshes a poetic, scriptural-like, and a journal-like writing style that is quite interesting to read. Many readers will feel a kinship with the author as he shares his trials, triumphs, pain, and joy of self-discovery. However, the meticulously written memoir, which almost reads like a diary, is so detailed that it may turn off readers who do not know him intimately. "Fumbling Toward Divinity" is still well worth the effort and will be received with open arms.

Recommended

Snake Walkers
J. Everett Prewitt
Northland Publishing Company
ISBN 0-9761927-0-5, Price $24.99, pp. 328
www.eprewitt.com

In J. Everett Prewitt’s debut novel "Snake Walkers," an educated yet but naïve African-American reporter, Anthony Andrews, accepts a job in the early sixties as the first black employee of the Arkansas Sun, a newspaper known to have been unkind to his race throughout its history. Excited to get out of the family’s mortuary business, Andrews takes an assignment to investigate the disappearance of the citizens of a rural Arkansas town. His investigation leads him to strange characters, different little towns in Arkansas, and eventually to Cleveland, Ohio.

In Cleveland, Andrews befriends the odd but close-knit Williams family to learn more about their roles in the disappearance. When he begins to build a bond with the black family, especially the college-bound Raymond, he becomes conflicted. If the family is guilty of a crime, was it justified? If so, should he reveal his discoveries to his historically racist superiors for a story that could catapult his journalism career? Having witnessed a horrific crime as a boy complicates matters even further. These are the type of ethical dilemmas the reporter must deal with as the story unfolds.

Andrews enlists the help of Carla, an intelligent and beautiful college professor with a background in history. While there appears to be a spark between them, their ideologies cause them to clash. If there is any chance of romance between the two, one of them will have to do an about face in regards to his or her beliefs about civil rights, racial atrocities, and the justification of revenge.

"Snake Walkers" is a captivating book that delves into explosive subjects such as lynchings, overt and institutional racism, and retribution. Although this is the author’s debut, Prewitt clearly writes from wisdom and know-how, which will cause readers to sacrifice a few hours of sleep to read a few more chapters before bedtime.

While this book is a recommended read because of its hang-on-the-edge-of-your-seat content and original storyline, there are a few imperfections. Though the author knows his way around a metaphor, he is still guilty of telling rather than showing. Also, it’s difficult not to compare the novel better written work of the same subject matter, of recent "Blood on the Leaves" by Jeff Stetson and of old "A Party Down at the Square," a short story that appears in "Flying Home" by Ralph Ellison. With that being said, "Snake Walkers" still holds it own and should be read by anyone who enjoys a good story that takes on complicated subjects from our country’s racist history.

Recommended

A Brand New Night For Murder
Arthur Burton, III
PublishAmerica
ISBN 1413750710, $19.95, pp 204
www.asylum11.com

When special agent Fred Soleos of the American Security Organization is assigned to investigate a string of murders in New York City, he finds that the task is even more daunting than he imagined. Upon arrival, he is partnered with Detective Meyers, a bald-headed, tough-talking, hard-nosed cop who is feared by all who know him. As the story unfolds, we learn that Meyers is a bad cop who is a little too close to the criminal element of New York. He is also Soleos’s number one suspect. So begins the premise for Arthur Burton’s (Savior of the Woods) murder mystery, "A Brand New Night For Murder."

Soleos enlists the assistance of Rick, his fellow agent from Washington D.C., in helping to solve the murders. Rick is a young agent full of energy and wit and has just enough tenacity to compliment Soleos’s laid back, experienced approach. When the two of them hit the streets of the Bronx, they do so with vigor and purpose. But can the agents outsmart a cunning and mean-spirited murderer?

Reading "A Brand New Night For Murder" may remind you of watching an extended version of TV’s "New York Undercover." Burton paints a descriptive picture of a Bronx city full of prostitution, drug dealing, and indifference. By the time you arrive at the story’s mysterious conclusion, it may leave you longing for more closure, or better yet, a sequel.

Pen on Fire
Barbara DeMarco-Barrett
Harcourt, Inc.
ISBN # 0156029782, $13.00, pp. 262
www.penonfire.com

If there is a profession that requires ongoing motivation, mentoring, and lifelong learning, it is surely writing. Writers face a number of obstacles, including dealing with rejection letters, going through writer’s block, and let’s not forget, finding time to write. In "Pen of Fire," author and University of California Creative Writing teacher Barbara DeMarco-Barrett serves as a catalyst in helping writers achieve their goals through discipline and planning.

Although the book is geared towards women writers with busy lives, there’s clearly enough useful information for everyone who is serious about the craft. Barrett draws on her own experiences (as well as the experiences of other professional writers who’ve experienced trials and triumphs) when discussing a wide range of topics, including how to make time for writing on a daily basis, structuring plot and creating interesting characters, and what to look for when searching for a literary agent or a publisher just to name a few. What makes the book unique is that every chapter is succeeded with Barrett’s "Set the Timer" instructions, allowing the reader to take a more proactive approach while reading the book. The result is an incredibly motivating and informative book on the craft from a writer with experience, intelligence, and industry know-how.

Though there are so many quotable passages that could be remembered for a lifetime, one of the best is when the author says "My own experience tells me that to succeed with your writing, you need a combination of patience, instinct, awareness, and timing. But mostly you need a belief in yourself and your project, and the willingness to do what it takes to work as long and hard as you must to get out there."

"Pen on Fire" is just what the marketplace needed, a thoroughly researched, highly motivational, and instructional book that will cater to all writers who love to write. Keep this one on your bookshelf to refer to over and over again.

Highly Recommended

No Plot? No Problem!
Chris Baty
Chronicle Books
ISBN # 0811845052, pp. 176, $14.95
www.nanowrimo.org

How you would feel if you were told you could write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days? Would you picture yourself quitting your day job and retreating to some log cabin to write it? Could you see your name on the New York Times Bestseller list? Well, in Chris Baty’s new book "No Plot? No Problem!," the author explains just how the seemingly impossible goal is attainable.

Baty is the founder of the National Novel Writing Month challenge (NaNoWriMo), where everyone from the polished author to the newbie is given the task of writing a novel in 30 days. The book serves as a step-by-step guide on how to achieve the goal. Why is the writer only given 30 days? It’s because people seem to work better when deadlines are established. Baty explains: "…most of us become "one day" novelists. As in, ‘One day, I’d really like to write a novel.’ The problem is that that day never seems to come, and so we’re stuck. Or we were stuck, anyway. Because as far as artistic deadlines go, this book comes with a doozy."

What about the person who hasn’t a clue about novel writing? Not a problem. Baty shows you how to get started by developing characters, writing what you know or want to know, and participating in free range writing without worrying about editing. By the time you’re done, you’ll have a first draft of that great American novel you’ve been promising yourself you’d write. Well, uh, at least you’ll have written an American novel, which is the goal here anyway. The editing phase and getting published are a whole different ball game. So if you’re just writing a novel just to say you’ve written one or to get a major publishing deal like a few of the NaNoWriMo participants have done, there’s something in this book for you.

"No Plot? No Problem!" is filled with sound advice on how to write the first draft of a novel, even if you don’t adhere to the 30-day rule. Baty’s humorous writing style makes reading the book a fun way to learn all about the writing process without necessarily taking the task too seriously. So if you’re interested in writing a novel just for the hell of it or to sign that two-book deal with a major publisher, this book is great desk reference to help you get started.

Highly Recommended

We the Media
Dan Gillmor
O’Reilly
ISBN # 596007337, 304 pp, $24.95
wethemedia.oreilly.com

Weblogs (online web pages written in diary-format often called blogs) are one of the latest trends in Internet technology. Blogs can be written by an incredibly diverse group of people, including consumer products advocates, political supporters, and corporate public relations people. In "We the Media," San Jose Mercury News columnist Dan Gillmor discusses how grassroots journalism has gained momentum, especially due to weblogging.

From the introduction of the book, it is clear that the author believes that "tomorrow’s news reporting and production will be more of a conversation, or a seminar." The technology behind blogs allows that conversation to take place, particularly the comments section that allows readers to give input and RSS (Really Simple Syndication) that allows readers to pick and choose the subject matter they want to read about. Even though there is a down side to consider (trolls, liars, and other people who use the technology maliciously) the tone of this book indicates that Gillmor is a supporter of the technology.

"We the Media" is very informative when it discusses history in journalism, the limits of the First Amendment, and trends in technology, such as WIKI, SMS, and RSS. However, if one was looking for a more technical book on how to use this technology, this may not be the book for that person, since it gives more of a surface level overview than a deep, technical view. In other words, it is more of a "what is" versus a "how to" book. Though some of the information tends to get repetitive, this book could still serve as a useful guide on the future of grassroots journalism.

Honor killings are an every day occurrence in many countries such as India, Israel, and Palestine. Unfortunately, over five thousand of these horrific murders plague the world by victimizing women throughout the world. “Burned Alive” is just one of many tales of these atrocities.

In this book, author Souad tells the tale of what is was like growing up an unwanted female in a violent, patriarchal society. In her village, men are treated like kings while women are treated like garbage. The birth of a female child is cause for grief, not celebration. In her small village, her brother and only male in the family is treated like royalty while she and her sisters are exposed to treatment worse than slavery. The author describes her own father as an evil and abusive man. When the author recalls a time when she accidentally let the sheep escape, she writes the following about her father:

He pulls me by the hair and he drags me on the ground into the kitchen. He strikes me while I kneel, he pulls on my braid as if he wants to pull it out, and he cuts it off with the big scissors used for shearing wool. I have hardly any hair left. I can cry, yell, or please but I’ll get more kicks.

When the author does the unthinkable and shames the family by getting pregnant before marriage, her brother-in-law is given the duty of killing her. She describes in great detail how she had been doused with gasoline, lit on fire, and left to die. Her escape from her family, her village, and ultimately her country is a source of motivation.

“Burned Alive” is not the best book written on the subject of honor-killings or on atrocities committed against women. While the topic is important for readers to become aware of, the writing is the book is rather lackluster for such a powerful subject. However, for readers who are not aware of how thousands of the female population is murdered simply for being female, the book will serve as an interesting introduction to this shameful yet important issue.

Gettin’ To The Good Wood
E. Joyce Moore
LessisMoore Publishing Company
ISBN # 1-883111-75-7 $20.00 340 pp.
http://get.me.to/goodwood

When I first started reading “Gettin’ To The Good Wood” by E. Joyce Moore, I have to admit that I was a little skeptical. As far as I was concerned, the book already had two strikes against it. 1) It is self-published, which in this industry can be synonymous with poor quality. 2) The author does not necessarily have the credentials to write a self-help book on relationships. But as I began reading this author’s work, I realized that my pre-conceived notions were wrong. Dead wrong. In fact, by the time I was done, I was thoroughly impressed and had learned quite a bit.

“Gettin’ To The Good Wood” is a unique collaboration of essay-styled advice and personal experiences meshed with poetry in between. The book is divided into four sections titled Your Relationship With You, Relationships and God, Male/Female Relationships, and Other Relationships.

In Section One, Moore stresses the importance of knowing yourself before exploring relationships with others. She delves into subjects such as anger management, the need for closure from previous relationships, and the need to forgive.

In Section Two, the author discusses the need to have a relationship with God and the reason to pray for a mate, primarily from a Christian perspective. She gives biblical examples and quotes passages from various scriptures.

In Section Three, my personal favorite, the book digs deep into the male/female relationship phenomena. The author elaborates on the dating scene, pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, the realism of cohabitation versus marriage, and the difference between love and sex. Moore even reveals her humorous side when she suggests using the following approach after a man insists on sex before a woman is ready: “Great. Let’s plan the wedding for this weekend. We’ll need to make a list of what we need to do; I’ll call my Mom tonight. What’s that? What am I talking about? Well, you want to have sex. I don’t want sex before marriage, so I thought you were asking me to…No? Okay, well, you’ve answered your own question.”

In the final section, the author discusses other relationships, such as those in the corporate world, relationships with other family members, and even relationships between races.

While Moore readily admits that she is not necessarily a relationships expert, she still does her homework and quotes experts like Dr. Phil when proving her point. The book does have a few problems though. It could use some fine-tuning from a professional editor. The poetry seems a bit out of place. And the writer’s Christian perspective can be a turn-off for those who may not have the same belief. But don’t throw the baby out with the bath water. The good definitely outweighs the bad. The author takes a complicated subject and explains it in everyday, plain English so that you won’t have to run to a dictionary after reading every other sentence. It’s the kind of book you would want your son or daughter to reference when they start thinking about having sex. To sum it up, “Gettin’ To The Good Wood” is a heavily researched, easy-to-read, and thoroughly entertaining book on how to deal with all types of relationships.

Recommended.

The Root of All Evil
Joylynn M. Jossel
St. Martin’s Griffin
ISBN 0-312-32860-5 $12.95 326 pp.
http://www.joylynnjossel.com

When Klarke Taylor’s husband leaves her for another woman, her world catapults into one filled with turmoil, bills, and loneliness. But when Klarke discovers the personal e-mail address of a best-selling author named Reo Laroque, she figures life is giving her a second chance at lust, riches, and maybe even love. Although Reo enjoys the company of groupies who admire his work and his money, he longs for a woman he can bring home to his parents. The pair begin a series of steamy e-mail exchanges that leaves them both longing for the real thing. Klarke convinces the writer that they’ve met in an airport, when in actuality, they have never met. Of course, that will have to change. This premise sets the stage for Joylynn Jossel’s (Dollar Bill) latest novel, “The Root of All Evil.”

When Klarke’s best friends Jeva and Breezy are introduced, we learn that they are having relationship problems of their own. Jeva longs for marriage with her long time live-in boyfriend, even though he is not ready to make that permanent commitment. She also struggles with the circumstances of her adoption, since she never knew her biological parents. Breezy, on the other hand, balances two men, one of them poor but a dynamic lover, the other one married, abusive, and paid. When the latter decides to break things off, she offers revenge a la Fatal Attraction.

“The Root of All Evil” is an interesting read, full of twists, turns, and a very unpredictable ending. Jossel even infuses some clever humor in the story, like when she writes the following:

“You didn’t!” Jeva whispered.
“I knewed it!” Breezy exclaimed. “You gave him some Boyz N the Hood pity sex?”
“Evan lucked up on some life-crisis drama sex like Cuba.” Jeva laughed.

Although I would recommend this book to those who are interested in a combination of street lit and chick lit, I did have a few problems with the book. While the Columbus, Ohio native and Capital University graduate knows how to craft a good plot, she seems to cross the thin line between sexy and vulgar, which may turn some readers off. Another problem I had with this book is the authenticity of the dialogue, especially when slang is mixed with proper English, all in one sentence. This combination makes for an awkward read. Yet even with these minor problems, I would still give this books a thumbs up bec ause both the main characters and the peripheral ones are just like everyday people who deal with real-life situations, the plot is fast-paced and interesting, and the story is quite original. “The Root of All Evil” makes an entertaining read that many people will be able to relate.

Recommended.

Black Eye: Escaping a Marriage, Writing a Life
Judith Strasser
Terrace Books
ISBN 0-299-19930-4 $26.95 350 pp.
www.judithstrasser.com

"My husband punched me in the eye." This powerful sentence begins an even more powerful memoir describing one woman’s heartbreaking relationship with an abusive spouse. In "Black Eye," Judith Strasser describes her rollercoaster ride of a relationship with her husband Stu. Stu, a mean and surly alcoholic who lives off his inheritance, is psychologically abusive throughout most of the couple’s marriage, even during and after her pregnancies and when she is going through chemotherapy for cancer. He makes Archie Bunker look like Mickey Mouse.

"Black Eye" is an exquisitely written and deeply personal journey. The author takes you on a world wind tour of emotional and physical abuse, including actual journal entries from the time of the events. This technique gives the reader a sense of being with the writer during every tongue lashing, every two-bit argument, and every smack and punch. When the author is faced with the dilemma that many women dealing with domestic violence are faces with, she writes, "The problem now, as I see it, is that I have two alternatives. I can stick around, if Stu will change. But what most provokes his flight or fight reaction is my "using the stick," as he puts it, to make him change is behavior." Later she continues, "Or I can leave. But what other prospects for intimacy do I have, forty-one years old, with two children and a questionable health history?"

Though it sometimes fees like the story gets bogged down in the minutia of events, it is only because the reader is dying to know what happens next and how it will end. The autobiographical tale offers a fascinating view of the writer’s life, which includes her political activism in the sixties and seventies, her battle with Hodgkin’s Disease, and the ups and downs of her career. "Black eye" will serve as a powerful warning and survival guide for those living with domestic violence. Strasser serves as living proof that there is a way out.

Chasin’ It
Tony Lindsay
Urban Books
ISBN 0-9743636-7-7 $14.95 248 pp.
www.urbanbooks.net

One of the hottest trends in African-American literature has been street lit or literature involving life on the streets. Oftentimes, this life includes hip-hop themes, the drug culture, and even prostitution. In "Chasin’ It," a new novel by novelist Tony Lindsay (One Dead Preacher), the author takes the idea of street lit to the extreme.

The novel is based on the wild and dangerous life of Terri Parish, a gay drag queen who has been in and out of jail. When Parish is released from prison after a seven year bid for fraud, he is faced with life on the streets once again. Terri gets caught up in prostitution, selling his body for both money and drugs. When Terri gets involved with a former inmate, Mo-red, who mistreated him in prison, Terri decides to get even by stealing his drugs and money, and leaving him for dead. When Mo-red shows up, battered but alive, Terri must decide if he will run for cover or stand up and fight.

The story is told primarily in flashbacks. These flashbacks include Terri’s first sexual experience with the boy next door, his growing up under his grandmother’s guidance, and his troubles in prison where he was forced to prostitute himself. When the story returns to the present, we find a crack-addicted Terri, longing for love yet chasing money, drugs, and sex. While Terri dreams of moving to Birmingham to escape the mean streets of Chicago, there always seems to be something pulling him back.

Lindsay’s style of writing makes the story feel authentic and even funny at times. It is very interesting the way the author mixes pronounces, sometimes referring to the protagonist as she, other times as he. When Terri is on his way to prison once again, the author humorously writes:
"All Terri heard the judge saying was fifteen to life. He said it as easily as if he were ordering a drink: scotch, no ice; fifteen to life; scotch, no ice; fifteen to life…scotch, no ice; fifteen to life.
Terri’s stomach was twisted as tight as one of Madear’s dishrags. He found it difficult to breathe. He could no longer distinguish between what he imagined the judge was saying and what the judge actually said.

"Chasin’ It" is a one-of-kind story that is hard to put down. The idea of commingling the street culture with the gay lifestyle is a risky yet successful endeavor. When the material gets sexually explicit, it’s almost like being a fly on the wall. Though the material may make a few people uncomfortable, those readers who enjoy stories of brothers on the down low, life in and out of prison, and stories from writers like E. Lynn Harris will no doubt enjoy this fast-paced, no holds barred story. Lindsay has not only crafted an intriguing tale but may have also added a new genre to the field. It will be worthwhile to discover if the book (or the genre) finds an audience.

Where in the world is Lisa Countryman? Lisa, a twenty-something American woman of mixed-heritage seems to have disappeared after a trip to Japan. As the plot unfolds in "Country of Origin," we learn that Lisa is a Ph.D. candidate looking to write about Japan’s matriarchal society. Her research (and need for money) leads her down the dark path of the country’s underground sex world in the early eighties, where men pay wads of cash for female companionship. Is it the reason for her disappearance? That’s what Kenza Ota would like to know.

Ota, a bumbling detective, is given the task of finding the whereabouts of Countryman. But his lack of skill either leads him to dead ends or two steps behind. Though Ota suffers from the humiliation of being a terrible detective, he takes the Countryman case very seriously since it could redeem him. Meanwhile, Ota deals with the crisis in his personal life, including a divorce that occurred fourteen years ago that left him single and celibate. When his ex shows up in Japan with her teenage son, he is convinced that he is the boy’s father. He follows the boy while working up the nerve to speak to him.

Then there’s Tom Hurley. Tom, an embassy service officer, gets involved in the case when Lisa’s sister contacts him from America. When Tom begins an affair with Julia Tinsley, the wife of a CIA agent, Lisa Countryman’s case becomes the highlight of their conversations. Once he learns this, he digs deeper into the case, not because he truly cares but because he wants to keep Julia interested.

This book is not only about the mysterious vanishing of Lisa Countryman, it is also about race, gender, sex, and Japanese culture. The underlying theme of the Japanese’s obsession with racial homogeneity is eye-opening and mind-boggling. The underground sex world is described in titillating detail. Author Don Lee, who also wrote "Yellow," is a gifted writer who is best when taking a subject and rolling with it like in this passage:

"Kenzo had always been rail-thin, as was Yumiko, but Simon was fat. Roly-poly, flesh-bobbing fat. Trundling, waddling fat. Wheezing, heaving, lard-ass fat. American fat. What had they been feeding him over there in Atlanta, Georgia? Kenzo could only imagine. Mounded, gelatinous meals, like chicken-fried steak, mashed potatoes, white biscuit gravy."

Though some of the material may be considered offensive (Africans look like monkeys, Caucasians stink of dairy products, and lighter skin in considered better than a darker hue), it does not take away from the fact that this is an intriguing read. Reading "Country of Origin" is like riding a time machine to Japan’s underworld in the late seventies and early eighties. "Country of Origin" is worth the read.

Jasminium
Jonathan Luckett
Strebor Books International
ISBN 1-59309-007-2 $12.00 218 pp.
www.jonathanluckett.com

When Taj and Cheyenne met during a trip to Jamaica, they shared a horrible tragedy that would bond them for life. Fast-forward twenty years later and it would appear that both have managed to put the past behind them in order to move on with their lives. Cheyenne is now a promising vocalist who is married to Malcolm, a record producer. Meanwhile Taj is also happily employed and equally happy in love with Nicole, a beautiful woman he calls his soul mate. But a chance encounter between Taj and Cheyenne during the holiday season brings the past into view once more and threatens to damage their love lives permanently. This is the premise of "Jasminium" by Brooklyn native Jonathan Luckett, the author of Feeding Frenzy.

As the story unfolds, we discover that Cheyenne’s marriage is not as glorious as it appears. Malcolm is a demanding and somewhat abusive husband who seems to care more about his own gratification than his wife. When the mysterious Taj shows up, with his haunting eyes and his own nickname for Cheyenne, the possessive record producer naturally becomes jealous. When Cheyenne refuses to share the past with her husband, it complicates matters further. Taj is just as secretive and aloof when Nicole inquires about Cheyenne. Both Taj and Cheyenne both arrive to the conclusion that they’ve left unfinished business in Jamaica. Unaware of the each other’s actions, they both return to the country for closure. Will the two be able to bury the past that haunts them? Or will they find each other and create a new future together?

Luckett is a stylish writer who shows great patience in letting a story unravel, revealing just enough throughout it to keep you longing for more. As a result, the payoff is a well-written, suspenseful, and deeply erotic tale of fiery passion. For example, the author writes:
Cheyenne’s breasts were firm and upturned; her nipples were emergent like a flower to the sun’s radiance. Taj watched her in profile and his breath caught in his throat.

As she turned her back to him, the fullness of her spoke to him. The curves of her waist, her long golden legs were magical. And when she pivoted like a ballerina and turned to face him, he saw the patch that covered her sex. Taj was overwhelmed with unfamiliar, intense sensations.
Muy Caliente!

"Jasminium" is the type of book lovers should take turns reading to one another while sipping white wine and listening to John Coltrane in the background. But what else would you expect from an author published by Zane’s Strebor imprint, the number one African-American, erotica publisher in the business? You should expect nothing but the best, which is exactly what this book delivers.

The Origin of Brands
Al & Laura Ries
Harper Business
ISBN 0-06-057014-8 $24.95 308 pp.
www.originofbrands.com

What do WebTV, The Swiss Army Knife, and Miller Lite all have in common? If you said bad ideas, you’re only half right. According to the new book "The Origin of Brands" from marketing experts Al & Laura Ries (The Fall of Advertising & The Rise of PR), they are also examples of convergence, which should be avoided whenever possible.

Convergence occurs when products produced separately are merged into one. The authors of this book offer an alternative, divergence or new products or services that stand alone. Relying heavily on examples from Darwin’s "Origin of Species" the authors explain why creating separate categories are more beneficial to consumers, businesses, and the marketplace. The authors state "Did you ever see a tree in which two branches converged to form a single branch? Perhaps, but this is highly unlikely in nature. It’s also highly unlikely in products and services." Instead, according to this book, divergence is the answer.

In the chapter titled "Survival of The Firstest," the authors give the best advice. They insist on the importance of launching a brand into a naught market, relying on the importance of being first. And if you can’t be first in the market, the chapter "Survival of the Secondest," explains how to survive being second and how to overcome the competition. The authors explain how emulation is to be avoided and being the direct opposite of competitor’s works best. They use The University of Phoenix, G.I. Joe, and Bud Light as successful examples.

Though this book tends to overlook some of the successes in convergence, like the car stereo and the caller ID/phone, "The Origin of Brands" is still an excellent book. It’s packed with intelligent marketing and public relations advice that could be applied to practically every product, business, or service. Anyone in business will love this book and will not be able to put it down until the very last page. "The Origin of Brands" will make a wonderful desk reference for anyone who wants to practice sound marketing techniques. Buy it. Study it. And put in into action.

Parasites
H.B. Marcus
PublishAmerica, LLLP
ISBN # 1-4137-4363-3 $19.95 153 pp.
www.hbmarcus.com

After the mysterious death of a young woman in her supposedly haunted house, a young newspaper reporter named Jack is assigned to investigate the tragedy. The skeptic Jack enlists his friend Phil, a scientific expert with all kinds of gadgets and equipment for these types of occasions, to help. Not only does Phil want the opportunity to investigate the ghosts and spirits of the house, but he also wants access to a rare and priceless book. Phil assembles of a team to help with the investigation, a team that includes psychic expert Kurt Schroeder and an odd and obnoxious pair of janitors named Spidey and Smokey. This sets the stage for "Parasites" a new suspense/humor book from Ohio writer H.B. Marcus (Crispy & The Joe Schmoe Show).

As the story unfolds, Jack and Phil use their investigative skills and wits to uncover the mysterious death of Barbara Pinchot. When the pair first visit the spooky home, they are faced with all kinds of things that go bump in the night. Further visits with the Phil’s team reveal even more strange happenings, such as doors that shut by themselves, equipment that does the same, and ghosts that don’t necessarily respond to angry taunts and machine gun blasts but lose it when the word "dude" is spoken. The strange and hilarious duo of Spidey and Smokey provide the shots, shouts, and "dude" utterances. The team try to find the truth before it kills them.

Though the book could stand alone as a mystery/suspense novel, it is the humor that makes it worthwhile. While Spidey and Smokey serve as the comic relief in the book, it is at its hilarious best when Marcus provides Jack’s first-person narration. Upon the first visit to the mansion, the author writes after hearing a strange voice ask for help:

"Help me open the door!" he grunted. "What the hell is taking you?"
I could almost hear Richard Dawson yell, "Survey says…paralyzing fear!"
H.B. Marcus writes in a fun and imaginative style you’d expect to find in a Farrelly Brothers script. The style is also reminiscent of the classic writings from 60’s sitcoms like The Dick Van Dyke Show and I Love Lucy. Though the length of the book may be a little shorter than a novel intended for an adult market, "Parasites" is still intriguing and laugh out loud funny. This book, which could be categorized as a Scooby-Doo for grown-ups, gave me a legitimate reason for using the letters LOL!

Shades of Retribution
Chandra Adams
Adrolite Press
ISBN # 0974890294 $14.95 341 pp.
www.adrolitepress.com

They say everything done in the dark will eventually be brought to the light. Such is the case in "Shades of Retribution" a first novel from newcomer Chandra Adams. The book centers around three women, the central characters. Meena is a successful African American entrepreneur who runs a successful winery with her Caucasian husband Justin. They also spend their time raising their young daughter Simone. Kenya is a beautiful black woman who has suffered a few of life’s failures, including battles with the bottle and relationships. And Basilah is a tough, African-American, ex-convict whose life has taken a turn for the worse.

When Kenya threatens to expose the illegal activities of the trio’s past, Meena takes matters into her own hands. But instead of walking away from it all, Kenya becomes more determined to get revenge and even recruits the hardened Basilah to help her set it off. Meanwhile, Meena must deal with her relationship woes with Justin, a man she admits to marrying without fully loving him. And Kenya must deal with the inquisitive police officer, Marvin, who wants more from her than the chance to protect her from harm’s way.

"Shades of Retribution" is a novel of epic proportions. The plot is stimulating and original; and the writing is above par. Adams abandons chapter numbers, opting to use creative chapter titles instead. The California native succeeds at crafting a story with authentic characters and a suspenseful storyline. Though the main characters are women, don’t be fooled. This ain’t no chick lit. Although an element of the novel involves an examination of relationships and romance, there’s still enough action and violence to appeal to the fellas as if it was an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie. Take a chance on "Shades of Retribution," and look forward to more from this new novelist.

Blood on the Leaves
Jeff Stetson
Warner Books
ISBN # 0-446-52706-8 price $24.00 392 pp.

Move over John Grisham. There’s a new king of torts; and he’s taking the literary world by storm. In his amazing new debut novel "Blood on the Leaves," Jeff Stetson crafts a delectable tale of racial hostility, murder, and retribution that commands your attention.

In the book, several of the white men accused but never convicted of murdering blacks during the civil rights era are turning up dead. What’s more, they’re dying in the same fashion as their alleged victims of long ago. When it is discovered that Professor Martin Matheson has composed a list of the men for a college course he teaches, he becomes the prime suspect in the murder investigations. Matheson, an intelligent yet pompous man believes the men got just what they deserved. But did he participate in their untimely deaths? That’s what James Reynolds, the only black prosecutor in the district attorney’s office, would like to know.&nbs p;

When Matheson is arrested for one of the murders, he hires long time civil rights advocate, Todd Miller as his attorney. Miller, a middle-aged man who sports a pony tail and is a friend of the prosecutor, comes from a long line of attorneys. And by the way, Miller just happens to be Caucasian. Though Miller is not thoroughly convinced of his clients’ case, he cannot refuse what will prove to be the case of a lifetime.

Thus sets the stage for the trial of the century, even bigger than O.J. When Reynolds’s haunting secret of the past reveals itself again, he becomes even more dedicated in proving Matheson’s guilt. But battle with a genius professor, a seasoned attorney, and a history of bigotry may prove to be enough to send the prosecutor over the edge. Can he win the case? And if he does, will justice be served? Regardless of the outcome, the clear winner will be the reader.

Jeff Stetson, writer of the long-running play The Meeting, has crafted a powder keg of a tale full of intrigue and shock that will leave readers longing for more well after its dynamic conclusion. Though you may not be able to decide which side to cheer for, you will no doubt love this remarkable book. This is the kind of story moviemakers should eat up. I hope Hollywood is listening. Run out and buy "Blood on the Leaves" today!

Bylines 2005 Writer’s Desk Calendar
Linda Hagen Miller
Bylines Publishing
ISBN 0-9744185-1-X $13.95 150 pp.
www.bylinescalendar.com

Why would reviewer bother to write about a desk calendar? When it is more than meets the eye. This is the case with Bylines 2005 Writer’s Desk Calendar. The calendar consists of short stories, poems, and anecdotes from writers you may or may not be familiar with. It also includes a list of essential books, magazines, and websites meant for everyone from the skilled, professional writer all the way to the novice.

In the calendar, 55 writers tell about their experiences in writing. This includes advice on how to deal with rejection letters, experiences with success, and the joy of crafting a story. The style of writing includes humorous essays, thought-provoking poems, intriguing short stories, and much more.

Bylines senior editor and creator Linda Hagen Miller says she decided to launch the calendar as sort of a cheerleading squad for discouraged writers. The result is an introduction to some of the best writers you’ve probably never heard of. Combine that with a compilation of resources every writer should have and you get one powerful punch. Bylines will make an excellent edition to any writer’s (or reader’s) bookshelf.

Highly Recommended

Hidden
Paul Jaskunas
Simon & Schuster
ISBN # 0-7432-5748-0 $23.00 256pp.
www.simonsays.com

When college senior Maggie Wilson meets Nathan Duke, a man with money in the family, business plans, and political aspirations, their courtship results in a marriage. Though Nate truly loves her, their matrimony seems more like a conquest than a foundation for longevity. As the marriage progresses, the couples idiosyncrasies are revealed to one another. Nate is the jealous type who tends to drink too much. Maggie is a bit on the naïve side. Her epileptic seizures cause her grief and memory lapses.

After Maggie begins to fall for Phil Carson, a reporter from her workplace, things get complicated. One fateful morning, Maggie awakens to a lump on her head and blood on the floor. Her husband is accused of the assault. An arrest and conviction leads to jail time for Nate. But Maggie’s memory lapse and personal motivation causes others to doubt her story. To make matters worse, another man confesses to the very crime Nathan is accused. Maggie must decide what to trust, the words of the community around her or her own foggy memory.

Jaskunas dances back in forth in time, from past to present with the delicacy of a trapeze artist. Written in first-person narrative, the Oberlin and Cornell graduate takes on the incredible feat of delving into the female psyche, becoming a woman on paper, and succeeding masterfully.

If I hadn’t known the book was written by a man, you could not have told me otherwise. The author’s keen eye for a woman’s mind, stylish scribing, and unforgettable and realistic characters makes this book one of the best first novels of the year. Bravo to Jaskunas for crafting such a compelling, suspenseful story. Buy this book and expect great things from this writer in the future.

Highly Recommended

Stone’s Revenge
Sylvia Hubbard
Ariel International Publisher
ISBN 0975268988 price $16.95 384 pp.
http://sylviahubbard.homestead.com/

In Stone’s Revenge, a copycat murderer is on the loose. The prime suspect is William Stone, the young son of the original killer. The prosecutor of the original case, Ramsey McPherson, believes William could be the killer. Ramsey, who has all kinds of reasons for hating Stone, has just found another. Stone is in love with his daughter Abigail. Before it ends, two questions must be answered: is William the killer and will love conquer all?

There is something enticing about Stone’s Revenge that makes you want to read more. The protagonist makes an interesting character. The idea of young, teenage love is intriguing. And a plot that combines a murder mystery and street lit is an attention-grabbing endeavor.

But there are far too many problems in the novel to call it a success. For one, most of the character introductions are jammed into the first two chapters without much thought given to developing them. This includes the protagonist, who has so many nicknames it may cause the reader to get confused about which character is being written about. Secondly, there’s a problem with plausibility. For instance, when the main character just happens to meet his love interest by chance, it’s not very believable. The fact that she is the prosecutor’s daughter makes it too much of a convenient coincidence for the author. Lastly, the writer’s s tyle could use a bit of sparkle. The story is told in a rather plain, every day style instead of with style and finesse. The result is a tale that has potential but reads more like a first draft.

The author, Sylvia Hubbard, is native Detroiter who has written three other books and is the founder of the Motown Writers Network. With those types of credentials, one would expect a lot more than this novel offers.

What Doesn’t Kill Us, Only Makes Us Stronger
Nicole C. Kearney Cooper
Mind’s Eye Publishing
ISBN # 0-9729133-1-9 price $12.00 88 pp.
http://www.mymindseye.net

Short story compilations can be a great launching pad for authors. Each story can show the potential for something bigger and better. Yet they all can be distinguished from each other to showcase a writer’s versatility. In "What Doesn’t Kill Us, Only Makes Us Stronger" newcomer Nicole C. Kearney Cooper gives readers a glimpse of what could be.

Told in seven distinct and succinct stories, the book commences with the best story of all, Breaking Free, a chilling story of domestic violence. In the story the protagonist, Rachelle meets Cedric, the man she believes will be the one. Her naivety doesn’t allow her to realize that the ring he wants to give her is a black one around her eye. Just when she’s ready to break it off, Cedric proposes. Can Rachelle change him before he kills her? The answer may surprise you.

The remaining stories, Matriarchal Musings, Grandmother, Honoring the Difficult, Choices, Metamorphosis, and Passing Lives bring women’s issues such as abortion, teen pregnancy, breast cancer, absentee fathers, and street life to the forefront. In Choices, the main character poignantly ponders after an abortion "…I turned my head toward the window, closed my eyes, and thought ‘aftercare.’ But who really cares-after?"

There are a few problems with the book. Mostly all of the fictional stories could use a bit of descriptive detail. Instead of feeling like you’re there with the characters, the stories read like more like essays. In Metamorphosis, the narration of the thirteen-year main character seems more like the writings of someone much older. The book is also a bit light in content considering the price.

However, any book that brings these important issues up for discussion should be commended. "What Doesn’t Kill Us, Only Makes Us Stronger" could be a great launch pad for Cooper’s writing career. It’ll be interesting to gauge the metamorphosis of this author’s writings in the near future.

The Darkest Child
Delores Phillips
Soho Press, Inc.
Pages: 387
ISBN#1-56947-345-5 $26.00 387 pp.

Rozelle Quinn, the matriarch and villainess in the novel "The Darkest Child," may soon become the most detested character in the history of fiction. She is a physically abusive mother who not only spanks her children with a leather belt but also burns their flesh with smoldering pokers straight from the fireplace, pours steaming hot coffee in their faces, and punches them in the face sending teeth flying and causing eyes to swell like a world class pugilist. She encourages the children to steal for the good of the family. She even forces her teenage daughters into a life of domestic servitude and prostitution (a life she knows all too well) for the extra money it brings into the household, which she always claims for herself. Psychologically, she’s even worse, ranking her children by skin tone, claiming the lighter skinned ones are more valuable than the darker ones. When some of them make plans to leave her house for good, she either makes them feel guilty enough to stay or finds a way to sabotage their plans.

The story is told from the perspective of Tangy Mae, Rozelle’s darkest and most intelligent child. The setting is the fictitious, rural town Pakersfield, Georgia. Tangy Mae, who is 13 when the book commences in 1958, dreams of someday being the first in her family to finish high-school in order to make something of her life. But there are many obstacles, including Jim Crow laws, racism, poverty, and most of all her sadistic mother who wants her to quit school to get a job for the purpose of helping take care of the family, which includes nine other siblings, all of them by different men.
Though Tangy Mae is the storyteller, the lives of her brothers and sisters are given just as much attention as she. This includes Tarabelle, Tangy’s strong and brave older sister who hates her mother for forcing her to service men in The Farmhouse, Harvey, her older brother who wants to marry an undertaker’s daughter, Martha Jean, her deaf younger sister who falls for an older man for whom Tangy also has a crush, and Sam her brother whose dreams of equal opportunity leave him framed for a crime he didn’t commit. When Mushy, Tangy’s older sister, returns to Georgia after a four-year, self-imposed exile to Cleveland, she fills her brothers’ and sisters’ heads with ideas on following in her footsteps-far away from their abusive mother. Meanwhile, Rozelle will stop at nothing to keep her children home with her.

"The Darkest Child" is a beautifully written work of art that is hard to put down. Its descriptive writing is reminiscent of classic works from Alice Walker, Ralph Ellison, and Ernest Hemingway. Consider the following passage as an example: [And the sound of silence was frightening. Rain pounded the tin roof like a thousand demons marching for their master, and the roof yielded. Liquid curses splashed down upon our heads and into the waiting vessels. In the gray shadows of a rainy dusk, the clock on the table ticked rhythmically, but the hands never moved. They were stuck.] Simply beautiful.

This novel will undoubtedly cause you to cringe with its graphic depiction of violence. The characters will make you cry and laugh. They will also leave you longing for the escape they desire. But most of all, this book will make you fall in love with the writing of Delores Phillips, a Cleveland resident who works as a nurse and holds a degree in English from Cleveland State University. Not only is it the one of best debut novels available, but it is easily one of the best novels ever written. "The Darkest Child" is a masterpiece.

The Revolution of the Mentally Dead
Darrin Osborne
360 Publishing Company
ISBN 0-9755411-0-2 price $18.95 pp. 375
www.360publishingcompany.com

In the new book "The Revolution of the Mentally Dead" first-time author Darrin Osborne sets out to prove two points: 1) Someone is trying to kill people of color. 2) Non-whites have the power to control their own destiny. The author believes that there is a White supremacist agenda threatening the lives of every brown to black person in the world.

Divided into three sections, The Grave, Elimination, and The Revolution, the book commences with a brief history of revolutionary uprisings by blacks in and out of the U.S., including information on the actions of some well-known historical figures such as Nat Turner and the Black Panther Party, and some not-so-well known ones like Gabriel Prosser and Denmark Vessey. He later proposes that African-Americans stop committing physical and spiritual suicide and backs the proposal up with interesting data on the life expectancy of Whites versus Blacks and the murder rates of young African-American males.

The book is at its mind-blowing best when it discusses the failure of the Wars on Drugs, AIDS, and Terror. Osborne sheds light on the government’s involvement and in the drug trade, which drug companies are making millions in profits from the War on AIDS, and provides riveting documentation (including a timeline) on the events that occurred before, during, and after the terror attacks of 9/11. Did the U.S. plan and carry out the events of 9/11? Is AIDS a disease created in a lab meant to destroy Blacks? The answers may astound you.

Osborne even proposes solution to some of the problems that ail African-Americans, including embracing Hip-Hop as a political movement, creating a legitimate political third party to compete with Democrats and Republicans, and motivating citizens to register to vote.

The book does have its flaws. For instance, instead of acknowledging the fallacies of art that depicts Jesus as blonde and blue-eyed he faults Black Christians for worshipping a "White man (in the form of a Caucasian man named Jesus)." And rather than attacking the legitimacy of slave owners’ faith or how they interpreted the Bible for their own gain, he condemns African-Americans for following the same religion slave masters used to rule slaves. The author does not offer an alternative form of worship.

Osborne believes HIV is not lethal and doesn’t cause AIDS. Instead he theorizes the treatment of the disease with the drug AZT is the actually culprit that causes death. While this makes a very interesting and quite believable theory, the author does not support this claim with statistical data.

All things considered, "The Revolution of the Mentally Dead" is a beguiling, investigative piece of work. Osborne, a Northeast Missouri State political science graduate and Chicago resident, is nearly flawless with his extensive research, thought-provoking theories, and proposed solutions. You will not be able to put this book down until the very last page.

Highly Recommended

Counting Raindrops through a Stained Glass Window
Cherlyn Michaels
Archland Books
ISBN# 097295001X $14.95 304 pp.

What do you do when the man you've loved for years has asked you to marry him when you don't believe in matrimony? This is the dilemma Vanella Morris is faced with in the new book "Counting Raindrops through a Stained Glass Window" by Cherlyn Michaels.

Morris, the main character, is a woman who's got it going on. She works for a Fortune 500 company, drives a luxury car, and is in love with her long time boyfriend Alton Goode. Her only problem seems to be a battle of the bulge. But after witnessing the turmoil marriage has caused for her best friends and for her parents, she has decided she does not want any part of it. Unfortunately, Alton is an old-fashioned, marriage-minded man who has just popped the question. Vanella is left with the decision of marrying Goode or the consequences of losing him forever.

The book also deals with Morris's troubles with family and friends, including her best friend Synda, who trapped Vanella's college boyfriend into marriage after cheating with him, her sister Jaelene, who believes she must buy a man's love, her brother Kizaar, who has a hard time getting along with their father, and Morris's parents, whose tumultuous relationship is the main reason she does not want to fall into the same marriage trap. Morris must resolve issues with her friends and family if she wants to move on with a relationship of her own. Before it all ends, secrets will be revealed, friendships will dissolve, and relationships will change.

One thing to be said about the author is that she describes a scene with great detail and clarity. This especially holds true when discussing the two cities in which the story takes place, St. Louis and Cleveland. The book reads like a love letter to both cities. Michaels also does a great job in capturing the essence of conversation, particularly when all of the girlfriends get together to discuss men. Her writing style reminded me of a combination of E. Lynn Harris and Terry McMillan with a tad more sex appeal.

The only problem with the book is that it gives so much descriptive detail that it tends to get a little light on plot. It would have been nice to read more about the steamy relationship between Vanella and Alton and even more about the relationship between Synda and her husband Tucker.
Still, "Counting Raindrops through a Stained Glass Window," is a sexy, entertaining first novel that is exciting to read. After reading Michaels' first novel, there's no doubt that she will have a following for years to come.

Paranoia
Joseph Finder
St. Martin's Press
ISBN# 0312319142 $24.95 432 pp.

Adam Cassidy has skated through his entire career at Wyatt Telecom, doing just enough work not to get fired. When he hacks into the corporate computers to finance an expensive shindig for a friend, a retiring dock worker, he must face the consequences. His abrasive boss, CEO Nick Wyatt, gives him a choice: go directly to jail for embezzlement or go to work for Wyatt's chief competitor, Trion Industries, as a spy. When Cassidy chooses the latter, the intrigue of "Paranoia" begins.

Cassidy, a low-level employee, is coached by Nick Wyatt and Dr. Judith Bolton, an executive coach who holds a Ph. D. in behavioral psychology. They teach him the ins and outs of espionage, including giving detailed biographies on Trion employees and instructions on how to use the latest in spy gadgetry to gather the information they need.

While at Trion, Cassidy must become a different person. He must appear to be an intelligent innovator of one of Wyatt's most successful products rather than the slacker he truly is without getting caught. When he gains the trust of the CEO, Jock Goddard, he is given the raise of a lifetime and access to much of the secure information he is looking to steal. A moral dilemma commences when Cassidy realizes that Goddard is an honest man of integrity who he enjoys working for as opposed to the tough and threatening Nick Wyatt. Can he gather the enough information on Trion's secret project AURORA to keep Wyatt off his back without completely ruining Goddard or his own new lavish lifestyle, including a budding romance with Alana, a gorgeous Trion employee?

Meanwhile he must consider his personal life, including the caretaking of his grumpy, dying father (which he pays for); and his friendship with Seth, a local bartender and paralegal. Though the signs of his newfound success become apparent, including his new Porsche and a luxury apartment, he must use discretion when discussing his new position or run the risk of having his cover blown.

Paranoia is a nail biting story of corporate espionage and morality told with incredible wit from bestselling author Joseph Finder (High Crimes). The book will have you laughing out loud from the onset. Although it loses some of its wit towards the middle of the book; and the unit introductions with espionage definitions seem a bit out of place for a story on corporate spying, the story will still grab your attention and keep it right until its surprising ending. Hats off to Joseph Finder for writing such a clever, hilarious and suspenseful novel.

Slave: My True Story
Mende Nazer with Damien Lewis
PublicAffairs
ISBN# 1586482122 $25.00 368 pp.

History is filled with mankind's atrocities against mankind, from the Crusades, to the Jewish Holocaust, to the legacy of slavery. It is in the new book "Slave: My True Story" that we discover the latter is still practiced today.

"Slave" is the new book that chronicles Mende Nazer's horrific tale of capture into modern-day slavery by Arab raiders from her small village in Sudan. It begins by transporting the reader into the author's Nubu village where she describes growing up with her family. The author recalls the joys of her upbringing, including watching the village wrestling matches in which her brother participates, snuggling up with her father and pet cat during bedtime, and playing "kak," a game similar to Jacks, with her brother. Her pains are also vividly recalled, including witnessing a relative die from a snake bite, watching her sister cry from the consummation of her marriage, and feeling of excruciating agony over her own ritualistic circumcision where she is literally pulled apart and sown back together.

Next, the reader is taken to that fateful night where the raiders attack her village, setting fire to their huts, slitting the throats of adults and children (even babies), and brutally raping girls as young as eight years old. Unable to escape, Nazer loses her family during all the confusion and is seized by a slave trader. When Nazer is raped by her captor, one can only imagine the pain she experiences, which is only intensified by the genital mutilation she suffered as a child. What's worse is that the year is as recent as 1994 when it all begins.

Later, Mende is sold to a somewhat wealthy, middle class Arab family living in Khartoum. Nazer describes her situation in graphic detail. Her owner, Rahab, the wife and mother of the family begins physically and mentally abusing the girl, hitting her in the head with anything she can find, refusing to take her to the hospital when she needs it most, and even telling her that she and all other black people are stupid, diseased, and worthless. She is forced to live in a locked shed. Her duties include cleaning the entire house, inside and out, cooking every meal, ironing, and taking care of the children. Nazer must also fight off the sexual advances of Rahab's male guests. Besides her acclimation to Rahab's abuse, she must also become familiar with her new surroundings, which is all new to her. This includes electricity, household appliances, and indoor plumbing. All of it is foreign to the twelve-year old Mende when she arrives to Rahab's house. Before Mende is exposed to outsiders, she is instructed to say she is a paid servant who likes her job thus proving Rahab's knowledge of her immoral and probably illegal behavior. Even though Mende displays some feelings for Rahab's children, she knows she can never be part of their family. Instead, she longs for the day she can be reunited with her own family and wonders if they are even still alive. Yet due to Rahab's threats of violence and death, she is too terrified to even consider escaping.

After seven years, Rahab decides to give Mende to her sister, the wife of a Sudanese diplomat who lives in London. Meanwhile, Rahab has already purchased another young girl from Nubu to take her place. Nazer needs not to imagine what the young girl, who had already been repeatedly raped, will go through. It is in London that Mende is given just enough freedom to plan her getaway. After a daring escape with the help of some fellow Sudanese natives, Nazer must still face the aftermath of freedom, which includes the search for political asylum from the British government, attempts at a reunion with her family, and the discovery of her own identity.

"Slave" is a powerful tale that will enlighten the reader's awareness of the present day atrocity of slavery, which still haunts many in Africa today. Though some may argue that the author's experience pales in comparison to the experience of those slaves who spent an entire lifetime in bondage, the mere fact that such horrendous acts still occur today should be reason enough to shock and disgust you. This book will no doubt sadden and anger you. It will also motivate many into action to fight against the horrors of slavery in the 21st Century. Most importantly, it should cause one to celebrate the everyday freedom we take for granted.

Fissure Rock
John Blair
Xlibris Corporation
ISBN 1413422535 $20.99 192 pp.

When the Bridgeman family move from the big city to a small, country town called Fissure Rock, the family must undergo some major life changes. The unfolding story is told from the perspective of Jim, the 16-year old protagonist of the book. The changes the family endure includes an adjustment to Jim's father's new position in advertising and the long hours he must work, Lisa's (his younger sister) acerbic attitude shift and addiction to online chat rooms, and Jim's own adjustment to his new high-school and the students who attend.

When Jim catches a glimpse of Cynthia, it's love at first site. However, he receives a friendly warning from Andy, a loner with a secret past. Even though Jim befriends Andy, he ignores the warning and pursues Cynthia, who he later discovers is the student council president and one of the most popular girls in school. When he discovers that she and her brother are involved with backyard wrestling, he reluctantly participates, mainly to impress her but also to prove his manhood.

Jim discovers that the backyard wrestling federation, in which he is involved, is more than it appears to be. Not only is it extremely dangerous and real but Cynthia appears to be making a profit from filming the events, sending the videos to the highest bidder. To make matters worse, Jim discovers an internet predator has been leaving him perverted messages on the federation's website. Meanwhile, Jim's family seems to be unraveling right before his eyes. Before it all ends, Jim must deal with his past and come to grips with his present situation.

Though the main character at times appears to be a little more mature than your average teenager, John Blair still does an excellent job in capturing the emotions and sentiments of a na‹ve, sixteen year old facing some of life's familiar challenges. The story is told with tenderness, attention to detail, and surprising wit. Considering the subject matter and ages of the main characters, it's easy to predict the book receiving a hardy welcome on the desks of high-school and middle-school students worldwide. "Fissure Rock" is a rock solid debut novel.
Emanuel Carpenter
Reviewer

July 2004

The Book of Joe
Jonathan Tropper
Delacorte Press
ISBN 0385337418 $19.95 340 pp.

When best selling author Joe Goffman returns to his hometown due to his father's stroke, he ends up getting much more than he expected. It seems that his book, a thinly veiled fictional account of his growing up in the town, had caused a bit of an uproar when it was released. Fortunately for Joe, he was still living in New York City, where his greatest worries were feeling guilty for driving his Mercedes, psycho ex-girlfriends who call just to tell him how much of a jerk he is, and getting advice from his best and only friend Owen, his literary agent.

Joe's return to Hope Falls is anything but dull. While his father's physical condition worsens, he begins to get to know his jock brother Brad and Brad's family a bit better. Joe forms a special bond with Brad's son Jared, a somewhat rebellious teenager who has a penchant for paintball and marijuana. Joe even gets re-acquainted with Carly, his high-school sweetheart and only woman he's ever loved and his best friend Wayne who is dying from AIDS. To top it off, Joel is presented with the opportunity to live out a childhood fantasy with one of his best friend's mom.

Meanwhile, Joe must deal with the wrath of those who were affected by his writing, including an ex-con, a policeman, and the local basketball coach who practically owns the town. When the coach's wife greets Joe with a milkshake poured over his head, he knows he's in trouble. Even the book club gets in on the act by personally dumping their copies of his book on the front lawn. It seems that everyone wants a piece of him.

The Book of Joe is a touching coming-of-age story told with a smidgen of emotion and a truckload of sarcasm and humor. Jonathan Tropper (Plan B) has created a first person narrative that dances back and forth through time, from his Springsteen-inspired teen years, to his unpredictable present, never missing a beat. The Book of Joe is currently in development at Warner Brothers Studios. Let's just hope the movie is as good as the book.
Highly recommended.

Closing Techniques (That Really Work!)
Stephan Schiffman
Adams Media
ISBN 1558504109 $9.95 152 pp.

Selling is a tough business not for the faint at heart. If salespeople aren't dealing with prospects slamming doors in their faces or hanging the phone up in their ears, then they're stressing about meeting their quotas. Luckily there are books like Stephan Schiffman's "Closing Techniques (That Really Work!) to help guide those in need of assistance.

The book is divided into three parts, Part One: The Fundamentals, Part Two: Breakthrough Ideas for Closing Success, and Part Three: Rethinking Your Relationship with the Prospect. The chapter titled "Verifying Your Information" is probably the best and most sound advice Schiffman gives. He insists on doing all the necessary due diligence before the close so that time and money isn't wasted when the close is presented.

Schiffman's experience as a corporate trainer shows when he states "Focusing on "closing" the deal instead of "opening" the relationship is a classic sales mistake." He also gives helpful advice on avoiding complacency. But above all, the advice given on closing techniques should help you get from "no," "maybe," or "I'll think about it," to a resounding yes. Schiffman doesn't overwhelm the reader with charts, graphs, or the latest re-packaged mumbo-jumbo on how to sell. Rather, he does give sound, no-nonsense advice, not just for closing but for navigating the entire sales cycle. He evens throws in a few proven scripts to help you get started. Closing Techniques makes an ideal desk reference for those salespeople who may need to sharpen the saw and get back the basics of selling.

Shifting Through Neutral
Bridgett M. Davis
Amistad Press
ISBN 0060572493 $23.95 320 pp.

"Shifting Through Neutral" is a coming-of-age story that covers the life of the Rae Dodson, the main character (and narrator), from a young age until she turns seventeen. The story centers on Rae's relationships with her somewhat dysfunctional family, including JD, her father who suffers from migraines and hypertension, Vy, her mother who loves Stevie Wonder's music but has a problem showing her love for her daughter, and Kimmie, Rae's older sister living in Louisiana whom she idolizes.Though the family relationship is strained due to the fact that both of Rae's parents are in love with other people, her parents continue to live in the same house so that Rae can have access to both her parents. When Kimmie returns to Detroit for her summer vacation after a long absence, Rae is torn between spending time with the ladies of the house and her father with whom she shares a special bond that includes sleeping on his back for comfort. When tragedy strikes, it threatens to tear the thin fabric of a relationship between Rae and Vy. Yet it also reveals a deeper and stronger relationship between Rae and JD, exploring the social dynamic of "daddy's little girl" to the nth power.

"Shifting Through Neutral" is the debut novel from Bridgett M. Davis, an associate professor of English at Baruch College. The poignant story is written in first person narrative from the protagonist's point of view, giving the reader a first-hand view of what it must have been like growing up black, female, and confused in Detroit during the sixties, seventies and eighties. One of the book's greatest strengths is that it never forgets the age and appropriate mentality of Rae causing the reader to almost feel every twist and turn in her life. The cultural and geographical references to pre-casino Detroit, i.e. Faygo pop, the giant slide at Belle Isle park, and driving on Seven Mile Road will make those who grew up in the Motor City nostalgic for life in the city that gave us Motown.

Though the reader may want to put on the brakes after reading the uneventful first half of the book, the story begins to accelerate during the page-turning second half, when secret plans are revealed and Rae must make what proves to be a life-altering decision. The style of the book is driven by the book's driving theme, which includes its section introductions. For the patient reader, this mellow story catapults into an original, well-written, and inviting piece of work, a nice break from the current trend of "girlfriend" books and sex driven plots. "Shifting Through Neutral" just may stand the test of time.

Careful!
Richard Madelin
IG Publishing
ISBN 0970312563 $14.95 300 pp.

After a tragic childhood accident, Lenny has become mentally disabled and emotionally dependent on others. This includes his frustrated mother Alice, who believes her son's condition can be cured if he "sees the light," Maude, the older and inquisitive neighbor down the street whom he believes he will one day bed, and Jimmy, his best friend and co-worker who gives him bad advice about women and dating, provides him with skin flicks, and even teaches him how to masturbate to them properly.

When Alice hatches a plan for Lenny to kidnap her estranged son Jack, a policeman, the plot thickens. Lenny has no idea he's kidnapping his own brother, not only because his sibling left home over ten years prior but also because his mental capacity will not allow him to remember. Lenny's only concern is pleasing his mother, who threatens him with a game of "Careful," which usually involves some form of physical abuse or mental torture towards him. Alice's agenda is to get Jack to admit why he left and to have him help Lenny see the light. That is, after she decides to release him from being bound and gagged in the attic. Meanwhile, Jack has an astonishing secret that must be revealed before the story ends.

"Careful!" is told with breakneck pacing and incredible fervor. First time author Richard Madelin, who resides in England, weaves in and out of monologue with style and control. The protagonist is a fascinating character, reminiscent of Steinbeck's main character in "Of Mice and Men." The author's unique style of writing, mostly in inner-monologue, creates a fresh and original experience for the reader. After reading it, you will not forget the name of this book. "Careful!" is superb and easily makes my top ten list for the year.

Highly recommended.

Leaving Cecil Street
Diane McKinney-Whetstone
William Morrow
ISBN 0688163858 $24.95 304 pp.

1969 was a tumultuous time for blacks in America. Black leaders such as Malcolm X and Martin Luther King had been assassinated after leading the battle for civil rights. Hippies roamed the streets preaching free love; and the "black is beautiful" movement was in full effect. And though there were troubles and hard times, there were still neighborhoods where folks treated either other decently, almost like family. Next-door neighbors spanked your kids for you when you were away. Block parties brought people together. Even funerals brought out the love in others in the form of repasts, where neighbors cooked all kinds of food in hopes of bringing your spirits up.

"Leaving Cecil Street" captures all of the above and then some. The new novel from the author of Tumbling, Tempest Rising, and Blues Dancing tells the story of the goings on of two families who live next door to one another in West Philadelphia. This includes Joe, a horn-playing lover of both jazz music and women who can't seem to keep his hands off the latter even though he is married. Louise, his wife, is a wife and mother who refuses to see a dentist, even though half the teeth in her mouth are rotten. Shay is their Afro-wearing teenage daughter whose best friend lives next door. Bonita (Neet) is Shay's best friend for life. And Alberta is the church-going, mean-spirited mother of Neet who has a secret past. Then there's Deucie, a strange and dying woman looking for her lost daughter who takes up residency in Joe and Louise's basement during a block party without their knowledge.

The story centers on what happens with both families before and after Neet's pregnancy and subsequent, illegal abortion (described with shocking and incredible detail). After this tragedy is revealed, it affects the entire neighborhood, especially the next-door neighbors and their relationships with each other. Before the story ends, the past will be remembered, secrets will be revealed and life-altering decisions will be made.

"Leaving Cecil Street" is a moving and enchanting work of art from Diane McKinney-Whetstone. Not only is the author an expert in crafting a masterful plot but the fine-tuned writing shows a clear love of the language, a skill lots of writers lack. The book invokes the spirit of works from The Harlem Renaissance era. You can almost hear the likes of Langston and Zora kindly nudging the author on.

This book is a must read for everyone.

My Fine Lady
Yolanda Joe
Dutton
Penguin Group Inc.
ISBN 0525948082 $23.95 221 pp.

In the sixth book from Yale graduate and author Yolanda Joe, she introduces us to Imani, a twenty-something young woman in love with hip-hop and her childhood friend, Taz. Taz had been the poor neighborhood kid who gladly exchanged giving Imani piano lessons for an occasional meal at the request of Imani's father Maceo, a failed jazz musician. Having lost her mother, a wonderful singer in her own right, Imani is left with her memories of her and an unfinished song she left behind. Maceo would love for Imani to follow in her mother's footsteps but Imani would rather set her own course, rapping over tracks that her boyfriend has put together to cut a CD.

While freestyle rhyming at the local black university, Imani meets Professor Hopson, an uptight but brilliant twenty-five year old professor of music. The meeting sparks a bet between Hopson and his boss, Chairman Perkins. Perkins wants Hopson to change Imani from a raw, hip-hopstreet girl to a classy, jazz vocalist. If Hopson wins, the chairman will enter Hopson's paper for the local grant competition. If he loses, his rival's paper will be entered.

Not only does Hopson school Imani in song but he also teaches her diction, ballroom dancing, and other forms of etiquette. As Hopson and Imani work closer and closer together, it is inevitable that they begin to fall for one another. After this occurs, Imani must choose between Hopson and Taz, hip-hop and jazz.

"My Fine Lady" is a good read. While the plot of this Cinderella tale is not that original and the story is somewhat predictable, it is not difficult to fall head over heels with the author's style of writing. Nearly every chapter is introduced with exquisitely written, thought-provoking prose giving the book a unique and inviting style of its own. ("Envy the sun that has horizons to brighten. Envy the bird that has wings to soar. Envy the lion that has the power to roar. But envy most the person who has the courage to seek change.") If you like romance sprinkled with a bit of urban flavor, then this book is definitely one not to miss.

Play or Be Played
Tariq "K-Flex" Nasheed
Fireside (Simon & Schuster)
ISBN 0743244923 $12.00 205 pp.

What you get if you combined the DNA of Dr. John Gray with Bishop Don Juan? You'd probably get Tariq "K-Flex" Nasheed, the author of "The Art of Mackin'." In his latest book, written for "women who are tired of being played by men and who want to be players themselves," Nasheed gives his wisdom from the streets to the women who are willing to hear his opinions on the dating scene. "Play or Be Played" is not your average advice book from a psychologist, relationship expert, or even talk-show host. Instead it is from a man who doesn't claim to be an intellectual and admits that he has no credentials other than being a former player himself.

Written primarily for African-American women, the book begins by explaining what the author believes what both men and women want most-an orgasm for him, attention for her. He also explains how men and women differ, men being the natural leaders of the world and women being the natural nurturers of the earth. He later lists what he believes are the various personality types of both women and men, which includes players, hoochies, drama queens, and scrubs.

"Play or Be Played" is best when sharing the secrets of games and lies men use with women. In fact, some players will probably get upset when they discover Nasheed is divulging the secrets from the Boys Room. It is especially entertaining when the author uses humor to make a point. Written with tons of street slang, i.e. "hit that ass" for sex, "Captain Save a Ho" for a man who may save a woman from poverty, and "chickenhead" for a woman living poverty with no game. You don't know what a chickenhead is? Don't worry. Nasheed provides a twenty question survey to help a woman determine if she is one or not.

While the book gets check marks for its raw, streetwise vernacular and its sense of humor, it will make some people cringe for its sweeping generalizations of genders and their roles (i.e. women need to let their men be kings and serve as their queens), stereotypical ideals (i.e. women whose names end in esha must be from the ghetto), and conflicting statements. For example, one minute the author says all men are macks. A few minutes later he says a player did not bring his game to mack status. But how is that so if all men are macks?

It's surprising that a book which is supposedly written for women can be so offensive towards them. Even Oprah is fair game. I predict feminists will tear this book apart for its misogynist and chauvinist opinions, then set their sites on the author. However, it wouldn't surprise me if some women will love it because of the author's straight talk and street knowledge. Love it or hate it, the book will undoubtedly spark discussion and controversy between and within the sexes. And let's face it, controversy sells.

Vanishing Point
David Markson
Shoemaker Hoard
ISBN 1593760108 $15.00 191 pp.

There's something exciting about delving into a book without necessarily knowing what it is about. Sometimes a book description can absolutely ruin the element of surprise or even hype up a book that eventually disappoints in between the covers. My experiment with the unknown occurred when I started reading "Vanishing Point" by David Markson (Wittgenstein's Mistress). Although I had read a brief but positive review (that I couldn't remember) of the book prior to receiving it, I had no idea what I was getting into it. And that's a good thing.

To be brief, "Vanishing Point" is a book of succinct little-known facts and quotes about famous artistic types from Voltaire, van Gogh, Shakespeare, and many more. ("Zora Neale Hurston's jesting claim that she once avoided a pedestrian traffic ticket by the telling police officer that since she always saw white people cross on green, she naturally therefore assumed the red was for her.") The facts are incredibly interesting, making the book hard to put down. But the author doesn't stop there. He writes the book in a unique form of syntax, slightly resembling poetry. ("Heidelberg, Fritz Wunderlich died in.")

As if that wasn't enough, the main character tries unsuccessfully to keep his own thoughts and opinions out of the book. Slowly but surely we learn that the writer, known only as Author, is a man with questions of his own, including questions about aging and why he has become so tired lately. This element of the book is reminiscent of the main character in the film "Adaptation." It is equally amusing.

I have to admit that from the beginning I wondered where this book of merely quotes and facts was going with no chapter headings and its strange syntax. (I even sneaked a peek at the description on the back cover after reading a few pages.) I soon began to realize that "Vanishing Point" is a brave and original endeavor in experimental fiction. It's a thinking person's book that readers will want to read over and over again, all the way to its shocking ending. Lovers of fiction, poetry, art, and history should all find something in this book to enjoy.

Girls in Trouble
Caroline Leavitt
St. Martin's Press
ISBN 0312271220 $24.95 368 pp.

It's 1987; and sixteen year old Sara is pregnant. Her boyfriend Danny is a bit of a rebel who her parents want no part of. Neither do they want a part of Sara and Danny's baby. Their main concern is that Sara will move on with her life after the birth so that she can follow her dream of attending college and living a good life. But since Sara wants to be a part of the child's life, she has opted for an open adoption. So finding Eva and George as adoptive parents was like a dream come true. The middle-aged couple welcomes Sara into their home with open arms, taking snapshots with her, teaching her to drive, and even keeping souvenirs of her for the baby's sake. She is allowed to come and go as she pleases. They even treat her better than her own parents. But sometimes dreams become nightmares.

Once Sara gives birth, things take a dramatic turn for the worse. The adoptive parents no longer want to see her every day, telling her they need time to bond with the baby. Truth is: Sara's maternal instincts and natural bonding with the child prove to be a bit too much for the jealous parents to handle. Meanwhile, the na‹ve Sara continues to make her unwelcome presence felt by dropping by Eva and George's home on a daily basis, almost to the point of fanatical stalking. But she can't help it. She loves her newborn baby, Anne, even though she's not really her baby at all. When Eva and George express their true feelings about Sara's frequent visits, she takes matters into her own hands, which forces the couple to make a drastic decision of their own.

"Girls in Trouble" tells the story of a unique and original topic, an open adoption gone terribly wrong and how the lives of the people involved are affected. The story spans over a sixteen year period. The author does a splendid job at capturing the perspective of each person involved, including the birth parents, adoptive parents, birth grandparents, and the young girl who was adopted. Caroline Leavitt (author of Coming Back to Me) has definitely brought her "A" game to the table with her crisp and intriguing writing style that will make you smile.

Though the slow-paced beginning of the story contains a few clich‚s about childbirth and adoption, it gets a full head of steam and continues its pace for the remainder of the tale. By the story's end, you will surely crave more and more. "Girls in Trouble" is a captivating story that will surely find its way beneath the arms of a plethora of loving fans of all ages.

Good Grief
Lolly Winston
Time Warner Books
ISBN 0446533041 $18.00 352 pp.

When Good Grief first arrived on my desk, I told myself I would just read the first chapter to test the waters. A couple of hours later, I had devoured the book like a fat man at a buffet restaurant. Needless to say, the water was warm and oh did it feel good.

Good Grief is the hilarious new book about surviving death. No, that wasn't a typo. The story is filled with both poignant and sardonic comments from Sophie Stanton (the main character) and how she copes with the loss of her husband Ethan to cancer. Her spouse, who made his living as a software programmer, has gone on to a better place after merely three years of marriage. Sophie, a PR manager, now finds herself a reluctant widow. At only 36 years old, she is the youngest person in group counseling for the grief-stricken.

Sophie goes through all of the textbook stages of grief, including denial, anger, depression, and acceptance. During the first stage, she questions the meaning of life and the senselessness of her job, trying to promote a patch used to increase male testosterone. " I feel like an imposter in a cubicle-like the artificial crabmeat of public relations managers. Then there's the fact that I have to say "scrotum" to people all the time. Is this really the color of my parachute?"

During the depression phase, she finds solace in staying home and watching TV shows like Cops. " now I see the attraction of the show. It makes your own life seem pretty together." Truer words have never been written.

Though her deceased hubby's mother tries to help out the best she can, including helping with sending his belongings to Goodwill and spreading her son's ashes in the ocean. When she shows up to work in her robe and bunny slippers, her human resources manager gives her a much needed sabbatical. It is after this moment when Sophie decides to leave the Silicon Valley city she and her husband had shared and packs up to move to Ashland, Oregon to be with her friend Ruth and her four-year old daughter to start all over again

.In Oregon, Sophie trades sunny California days for cloud-filled ones. She rents out an unused bed and breakfast. Then she donates a portion of her time to Big Brother/Big Sisters where she winds up getting matched with a self-mutilating, foul-mouthed teenager named Crystal instead of a young, sweetheart to play Candyland with (like she'd hoped for). Afterwards, the road to recovery begins-a road that includes a new career and a new love interest.

Good Grief is a strikingly original work filled with charm, truth, and a heaping helping of sharp wit. First time author Lolly Winston, who resides in California, succeeds at the difficult task of taking a delicate subject and having fun with it without being offensive. The novel reminded me a lot of Dave Eggers "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" in style and content. I highly recommend this cleverly written book and hope the movie is in the works. Good Grief is an outstanding piece of work.

Miriam the Medium
Rochelle Jewel Shapiro
Simon & Schuster Inc.
ISBN 0743244788 $23.00 320 pp.

Miriam Kaminsky was born with a gift. She has psychic abilities. But she's no Miss Cleo or any other phony baloney. She's the real deal who foresees the past, present, and future with pinpoint accuracy. Whether she's studying tea leaves, listening to dead spirits, or studying the auras of those around her, her clairvoyance comes through loud and clear. Her gift was cultivated by her grandmother, a feisty Russian immigrant, who is a talented psychic in her own right. Unfortunately, not everyone believes Miriam's powers are a blessing. In fact, her own family, Rory, her pharmacist husband and Cara, her teen daughter prefer she not even use her abilities. Even her own mother had banned her from using what she calls the voodoo her babushka grandmother had taught her when she was a child. Welcome to Miriam the Psychic's world.

Miriam's powers are only the beginning of her problems. Her husband's business is on the brink of financial failure. His one employee, Fred, is a lazy man who would rather make small talk with customers than do his job. But Rory does not have the heart to fire him. At least Rory and Miriam still have the hots for each other.

Her daughter Cara throws herself into her schoolwork in order to hide the jealousy she has towards her mother and her psychic gift. When she meets bad boy Lance, Cara forgets all about schoolwork and plans for college to be with him, much to her parents' dismay. To top if off, her nosey neighbors want her to move because they believe her readings attract weirdoes to the neighborhood.

At work, Miriam listens to all types of on the phone, from a lovesick Sopranos type, an Asian masseuse with relationship issues, and a woman who wants to leave her family for another man. When a talent scout offers to make her rich and famous for her gift, Miriam has to think long and hard about the offer. Although her grandmother advised her to never do such a thing, her family's money problems make the offer tempting.

First time author Rochelle Jewel Shapiro has created an unforgettable and intriguing character in Miriam the Psychic. Unfortunately the dull plot, mostly about a housewife with every day family problems, does not do the character justice. After 150 pages, I was just about ready to give up on the book altogether. Reading about Miriam's adventures in Great Neck, New York was like watching Jackie Chan drop kick bad guys on a soap opera. It would have been much more stimulating to read about how the protagonist was tracking a serial killer, unveiling a political scandal, or even preventing World War III. There is an interesting and exciting development about a missing teenager that almost saves the book but it comes much too late to do so. Though I can't recommend the book, I believe it may still find an audience in a demographic outside of mine.

Mirror, Mirror
Laurel Handfield
Strebor Books
ISBN # 1593090145 $13.00 240 pp.

Jordan Overton's life was dull. Her daily routine consisted of catching the bus to work, working as a temp for an acerbic boss, conversing with her gay roommate Terry, and eating her way out of depression. Meanwhile, she couldn't help but to fantasize about her boss's sexy partner, the married Trent Prescott. But when Jordan's boss turns up dead, her dull life turns into one of mystery, ruse, and danger. And so begins the plot of "Mirror, Mirror," the second novel from author Laurel Handfield (My Diet Starts Tomorrow).

After the mysterious death of her boss, Mr. Hines, Jordan's dreams of Trent soon become a reality. After a hot and steamy affair, Trent attempts to persuade her that he had nothing to do with Hines's death. His power of persuasion is also used to convince Jordan that he is in love with her and wants to leave his wife, the ex-model Jaquie. But when the affair becomes a convenient alibi for Prescott, Jordan starts to question the authenticity of Prescott's emotions. What's more, a killer is on the loose; and everyone's a suspect.

Laurel Handfield has crafted a captivating page turner in the murder mystery in "Mirror, Mirror." The characters and dialogue feel real. The humor comes at just the right moments. Above all, the plot is well thought out; and the denouement pays off big time. Though there are a few awkward sentences that can be distracting; and the writing could use a tad more flair, it doesn't tak