Book Description
The main character of John Irving's second novel, written when the author was twenty-nine, is a perpetual graduate student with a birth defect in his urinary tract--and a man on the threshold of committing himself to a second marriage that bears remarkable resemblance to his first....
"Three or four times as funny as most novels."
THE NEW YORKER
From the Paperback edition.
Customer Reviews:
Dear John.......2007-10-06
This, my first John Irving Novel, has resurrected the rare feeling one gets from well written novels (the `good reading' feeling). This feeling is hard to bring about these days. It makes me wonder whether I should be looking for good novels written twenty and even thirty years ago. Are the authors of today writing for the sake of the buck, requiring only tenth grade reading comprehension? Why insult our intelligence? Why the cruelty against the sophisticated reader?
Where can one find today the same feelings of richness of words, meaningful dialogs and a story that keeps coming again and again with an unprecedented uniqueness the caliber of Delillo, Franzen and Auster? Where can one discover characters with the likes of Bogus and Biggie, Tulpin and Ralf Packer? Did they only exist in the books written before the turbulent 80's?
Here is a recommendation. Why not have a special shelf in the public libraries dedicated only to the likes of Irving, Delillo,Franzen and Auster? Why not call this shelf `The Greatest Authors of our generation' to make it easier for readers hungry to immerse themselves in the `good reading' feeling?
John, I thank you. I thank you for the patience that carried you through the process of writing, for the incredibly creative mind that pieced together this astonishing book.
Keep writing John, keep writing and I promise - I'll keep reading you.
I highly recommend this book. If you are searching for other gems of creativity try: Don Delillo's `The Body Artist', Jonathan Franzen's `The Correction' and Paul Auster's `The Brooklyn Follies'
By Simon Cleveland
As Refreshing As Water.......2006-07-07
The Water-Method is John Irving's second book, written when he was 29 years old, but it certainly doesn't sound like it. This is, in fact, one of the funniest books I've read in a long time. It isn't too hard for me to find a book that will make me smile, but it is a rare pleasure to find one that will make me laugh out loud.
The story follows the stalled and frustrated life of Fred Trumper (alternately known as Thump-Thump and Bogus), a 29 year-old graduate student who can't seem to pay bills, finish his thesis, or maintain a healthy relationship with a woman. In addition to these fairly normal problems, Fred also has to deal with a twisted urinary tract that causes him no end of problems. Given the choice between corrective surgery and something called the water-method, well, you can guess which one he opts for.
In spite of some peculiar, interesting, and hilarious scenes, the basic plot of this story is nothing new. Marriage and dating struggles, infidelity, raising children, and love triangles are all problems dealt with in the book, but even if the subject matter tends towards the mundane, Irving's stylish and clever writing makes it enjoyable to read about. Especially clever are the various allusions to the Old Low Norse manuscript that Fred is attempting to translate for his thesis paper, and how its dramatic and epic elements mirror those more realistic experiences through which Fred must struggle.
I think even Irving was aware of the rather stunted nature of the premise. Fred is friends and co-workers with an independent film-maker named Ralph Packer who ends up making a movie about Fred (the film's title is not really appropriate for this website, however). Various reviews and comments on the film actually mirror what negative things one might have to say about the novel itself, so on that score, I give Irving points for his tongue-in-cheek humility (and for the subtle and witty self-mockery).
Although, much like water itself, this book is certainly thirst-quenching, there isn't too much substance here. It is refreshing nonetheless, and is a delight to read.
Early Irving, similar in style to Setting Free the Bears.......2006-04-25
I've just read this and was surprised at how much it felt like reading 'Setting Free the Bears'. I liked this better and Irving's talent for an entertaining plot seems to be starting to emerge here but the writing style is a bit awkward at times. Not my favourite John Irving by a long way but his talent for sucking you into the characters is clearly evident.
I'd recommend this to a Irving fan but would hesistate to recommend it to friends quite as freely as I would Owen Meany or Garp.
And they all lived happily ever after.......2005-12-10
This is John Irving's farcical comedy about a man whose life is a series of loose ends, until he decides to change his ways and shape up. Bogus Trumper drops out of graduate school before completion, leaves his wife and son, and goes to New York. He goes to a urologist with a blocked urinary tract and is told to choose between two treatments: an operation or the "water-method" (basically just drink lots of fluids). He opts for the latter, which like his name, is bogus.
He takes a job with an off-the-wall art filmmaker; a woman (Tulpen) who also works there falls in love with Trumper and wants to have his child. Trumper is not up to that, and when she becomes pregnant he flees to Europe. There, he searches for his old fiend Merrill Overturf, but learns he died a few years earlier in a drowning while searching for a submerged WW II tank. He gets involved in a drug deal, is caught, and sent back to the US. During his chauffeured limo drive from the airport he talks the driver into taking him to Maine, again to see an old friend. (This part really stretches the imagination.) When he gets there he finds his ex-wife and son there, and this is when he experiences an epiphany of some kind and decides to straighten out his crazy life. He goes back to graduate school and finishes and then returns to Tulpen, who has had their child. In fact, just about everybody in the book has something to be happy about as the story comes to a close.
Irving says he wanted to write a book with a happy ending and that he surely did. Much of the humor is symbolic (Trumper's first name, his urinary tract "blockage" which causes him great pain in lovemaking as well as in "eliminating waste," his doctoral dissertation which involves a dead language [Old Low Norse] that nobody else knows) or comes across in bold, lavish strokes. Until his change near the end, Trumper is not a sympathetic character: he lies, cheats on his wife, acts the cad. But after the change, it's not too hard to imagine him turning out fairly decently. And the novel, too, is fairly decent. The comedy is rich, the characters well drawn (even if a bit ditzy at times). A good novel.
Okay, okay, it's not "Garp" or "Owen." But it's VERY funny........2005-07-04
I love to read but I'm not an intellectual, so my review will be brief.
I read this book in college (1984) and have kept it over the years, re-reading it whenever the urge for a little "Bogus" appears. I laughed so hard in my dorm room that my friend (a non-fiction-reading geology major) asked to borrow the book when I was through. Twenty years later, we still reference parts of the book when we're together.
Though I'm not a huge movie buff, I've always wondered why this didn't get made into a motion picture. Of course, John Cusack is too old now to play Bogus, but I've always thought he had a kind of vacancy in his face that would be perfect for the role; he also has the charm, which Bogus obviously must have to attract the women he does.
John Irving writes about flawed men in a way that makes me think he was once a woman, or (surprise) he's a man who's very in touch with his own weaknesses. Being a woman, I appreciate the honesty (and the humor).
Average customer rating:
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John Irving: Three Complete Novels: Setting Free The Bears, The Water-Method Man, The 158-Pound marriage
John Irving
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ASIN: 0517146541
Release Date: 1995-05-21 |
catalog copy and individual title synopsis
This collection features the first three novels of this highly acclaimed New York Times bestselling author. Compassionate, satirical, deeply insightful and humorous, these compelling novels have gained him millions of fans.
Setting Free the Bears: Siggy and Hannes were disenchanted students and fellow conspirators. Astride a 700cc royal Enfield motorcycle, they roamed the Austrian countryside. When Gallen, a lovely hitchhiker, joined them, they zeroed in on the Vienna Zoo--and Siggy's dream: setting free the bears!
The Water-Method Man: The acclaimed second novel by the author of the #1 international bestseller, A Prayer for Owen Meany. Fred "Bogus" Trumper is a wayward knight-errant in the battle of the sexes, and the pursuit of happiness. Yet, he stubbornly clings to the notion he'll make something of his life.
The 158 Pound Marriage: Sometimes they looked at each other, aroused half out of their minds by the thought that each had just been making love with another, and it would be enough to make them want to do it--together--all over again. Well, almost enough.
Product Description
multiple books ship as one item. save on shipping/handling charges.
Product Description
4 Book Set By John Irving; a Window for One Year; a Prayer for Owen Meany; the Water Method Man; a Son of the Circus.
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This is a NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA report procured by the Pentagon and made available for public release. It has been reproduced in the best form available to the Pentagon. It is not spiral-bound, but rather assembled with Velobinding in a soft, white linen cover. The Storming Media report number is A428673. The abstract provided by the Pentagon follows: Aerial image acquisition systems are producing more data than can be analyzed by human experts. Most of the images produced by remote sensing satellites, including military ones, never get seen or inspected. In this work, automated detection and recognition of buildings in aerial photos is explored. Connectivity analysis is performed on graphs derived from line segment representations of the original images, obtained with the use of the Radon Transform. The model is experimentally validated using 2-meter panchromatic aerial photographs from the National Aerial Photography Program (NAPP), which provide a marginally adequate resolution for the recognition of small buildings.
Book Description
Pressured by a society searching for a simple solution to a complex problem, educators are constantly subjected to a double standard and their work and role marginalized as insignificant despite compelling evidence to the contrary. This enlightening discussion of the misperceptions about the profession offers a thoughtful perspective on the real work done by educators and examines some of the harm done by efforts to fix what is wrong.
Customer Reviews:
A Must Read.......2007-09-12
Dr. Norris' book about the mistreatment of American educators is very interesting and should be read by all who have children in schools, make policies for public school teachers, or are employed in public schools. It's refreshing to see the truth as experienced by someone in the trenches. Many misconceptions are addressed. The book is very easy to read because of the way it is written. He is obviously very experienced and has the best interest for all involved in education at the forefront.
Average customer rating:
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THE WATER METHOD MAN
Manufacturer: Pocket Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GQDPL4 |
Customer Reviews:
Great Love Scenes But Lacking .......2007-08-18
~~~ MAJOR Spoilers Alert~~~
I have been a big fan of Connie Mason ever since I read Lion's Bride but I found this story annoying at times. Connie Mason writes amazing love scenes, but it seems she use the same formula: girl is a virgin, but hides it; guy believes the girl is not a virgin despite her protests; guy realize she's not a virgin during intercourse, but goes on any way; from then onward guy has sex with girl whenever he feels angry, jealous, or any other powerful emotion...(Personally, I like the whole she gets pregnant at the end). I'm getting a little tired of the same 'secret virgin until sex' routine, but at least in this story, the male character's mind reels over her being a virgin and feels somewhat responsible.
The male character, Jackson, who is supposedly being a "rogue" is mistakenly labeled for Moira, the female character, was the true rogue. She's constantly lies and avoids telling the truth or what's on her mind even after they admit their love for one another and are married. That was the BIG thing she did that bother me because she did that throughout the whole book.
Moira claims she would never steal yet she takes money to get a passage. She get upset that Jackson didn't come after her even though she rejected him, stole his money to get away from him, and told him she didn't love him. The excuses of 'protecting him from society/danger', 'didn't want to be thrown in prison', 'gossip about her being his mistress', and etc. really gets old. I found those excuses made by an insecure, highly sensitive woman instead of a supposedly fiery, beautiful, stubborn, proud Irish woman. And I really doubt pregnancy hormones causes you to go that insane. The man is willing to put his life and heart on the line constantly doesn't convince her he's the one.
I hate how Jackson commends her about being so smart and cunning trying to escape. Holding in your breath, accepting someone's offer to escape, and hitting someone with a crowbar blindly in the dark are not smart or cunning.
I did enjoy Jackson's fits of possession and jealousy. It showed that his emotions were boiling along with his loins. It was adorable when he would reject every one of Moira's suitors and picture himself as her ideal husband. I also liked that Connie Mason added the historical element in her book about the Hellfire Club and Caves. I was surprised she added English gentry's dark, dirty secret especially in a romance novel. It's nice that she pushed the boundaries and tried something moodier and true to history.
~~End of MAJOR Spoilers~~
Jackson had such a vile temper that I could kind of see why Moira would constantly questioned his motives, but he would always explain himself (unlike Moira who thinks the worst of him when she's in doubt). I seriously found she lacked faith in him.
I would really advise not to read this book because I found the leading lady the most aggravating damsel-in-distress. I don't know how Jackson changed his ways because of her, but I'm betting it was sex for I don't see what else she offers. Maybe Jackson likes her ultra-sensitive emotions that drives her to act rash and unpredictable. If you just want to read great love scenes, I advise you to read only them and skip the in-between. There are plenty of them - all full of passion.
I really did enjoy the secondary characters (except Spence who was uptight and insensitive at times) and the whole family bonding. If you still want to read this story, but I gave away too much, I can promise you I only told you the things that I disliked like character traits not any major schemes and twists.
Ack!.......2007-08-15
I thought this book was silly. The main characters (overprivedged English young men) are rich (well one is) and spoiled.
Jackson is almost a pauper, but still trying to hang on to his lifestyle. The house is falling apart and he barely has any money, but has it occurred to him to GET A JOB. NO
He parties/gambles/drinks all night and sleeps all day to start over again.
He and his well off friend concoct a screwy plan to fix Moira (who they found on the side of the road late one night; Jackson--the beanhead--thought he ran her over with his horse and buggy) decides to dress her up, teach her the manners of a lady and try to marry her off to a prominent member of London's society so he can get some money. (Geeze, that was a mouthful.)
Jackson spends so much time schemeing if he put his mind to getting a job, he would have been awesome!
They "assume" Moira is a prosititute because she was out at that hour of the night and on the side of the road. LOL
There is a ghost involved in this story, which makes it abit different for this author.
The ghost of Lady Amelia haunts Jackson in the house. She wants him to get his life together.
Also, there was a twisted "cult" that liked to have orgies that were hunting Moira. They wanted to drug her and throw her on some ceremonail slab and all have sex with her. ugh! That deserves another one. UGH!
I got frustrated with the characters. ACK! They were all old enough to know better and certainly act like adults.
Book Description.......2006-06-02
Spirits could be so bloody unpredictable, and the specter of Lady Amelia was worst of all. Just when one of her ne'er-do-well descendents thought he could go astray in peace, the phantom lady always appeared to change his wicked ways.
A rogue without peer, Jackson Graystoke wanted to make gaming and carousing in London society his life's work. And the penniless baronet would have gladly damned himself with wine and women --- if Lady Amelia had given him the ghost of a chance.
Fresh off the boat from Ireland, Moira O'Toole wasn't fool enough to believe in legends or naive enough to trust a rake. Yet after an accident landed her in Graystoke Manor, she found herself haunted, harried, and hopelessly charmed by Black Jack Graystoke and his exquisite promise of . . . PURE TEMPTATION!
..A Good Read..........2006-01-23
For me I thought the beginning of the book was ok but towards the middle and the ending it was exciting and a page turner for me and as always Connie Mason has great love scenes...
Jack and Moira were great together, Moira's family, you just can't help but just fall in love with her family and her grandfather who she finally got to know in the end.
If you decide to get this book I hope you enjoy it has I did great action, a page turner and great characters what you would expect from a Connie Mason novel
A Pure Delight to Read.......2004-04-28
I read this book a while ago, and it was my first Connie Mason book. This is the book that made Connie Mason one of my favorite authors.I recomend this book to anyone who wants a can't put down, can't stop reading experience.
Customer Reviews:
Bravo!!! Excellent story..........2005-06-11
Jack Tremaine is a rich bachelor constantly chased by money- hungry "model-type" women. He sees successful bakery owner, Kayla Thomas and can't get her off his mind. Kayla is very insecure about her shapely body and doesn't expect to ever see Jack again, when he does show up she decides he would be a perfect guinea pig for her experimental stimulating candies. Only problem is Jack's falling in love for real and Kayla thinks her candies (not her) are the cause. Even though this book was published in '03, author did a great job, obviously, because it still holds it's own and is a worthwhile read in '05.
An intelligent book this is not.......2004-03-09
And maybe intelligence isn't what this author's readers are looking for. I, however, was brought to a screaming halt on the first page. The heroine is a caterer, and she decides the morning of a big chamber of commerce function to add a dessert item to the menu. I'm sorry. But the menus for big society functions are approved weeks, if not MONTHS, in advance of the event. Caterers do not add items to menus on a whim. Obviously this sort of "blooper" does not bother the audience for whom this authors is writing. It does, however, bother the more discriminating reader.
A wonderful, sexy and sweet indulgence!.......2004-01-10
Another steamy, sexy, yummy tale from Janelle Denison! Kayla Thomas owns her own bakeshop and is experimenting with a new line of chocolates - but not just any chocolates - these are laced with an aphrodisiac! She just needs the perfect test subject to try them out on. Will they really stimulate a sexual response? And how much fun will it be testing it out with the right guy?!
Jack Tremaine is the owner of one of the most popular restaurants in town and is in the process of opening a second. He has been so wrapped up in ensuring the success of his restaurant, and now launching the new one that he has spent little time dating - at least not seriously. And as one of the most eligible bachelors in town, he tends to attract shallow, vapid model-types that quite frankly bore him - like his date for the evening. He spots a gorgeous, voluptuous blond serving desserts at a Chamber of Commerce dinner and discovers that her shop catered the desserts for the event. She's a breath of fresh air - warm, sweet and curvy - and they flirt and have some serious chemistry. He suggests that he may want to hire her to revamp his dessert menu in his restaurant - a real coup for her and her business.
When he shows up at the bakeshop to taste-test one of her dessert suggestions, she decides to also have him taste some of her aphrodisiac candies! He's a gorgeous, dark haired, blue-eyed hunk who is way out of her league (she's got serious body image issues ingrained by her mother and an ex-boyfriend), but if the candies have the desired effect, she may be able to have a little fantasy time with him! Well, if the steamy kiss they share in her shop is any indication, it looks like the candy works REALLY well!
They begin an affair with Kayla always bringing a new flavour of candy for him to try each time that they are together. But is Jack's response driven by the aphrodisiac or by a real attraction to Kayla? And what happens when he discovers that she's been using him as a guinea pig? Was the whole thing the real thing or all an illusion?
I loved this story, could identify with Kayla and her insecurities and found Jack to be a really sweet, sexy and nice guy. I wonder if a story will be coming to feature Kayla's former model sister Jillian and Jack's business partner Rich
! Very highly recommended!
Indulge Yourself With This Great Book!!!.......2003-11-20
Ms. Denison has penned another great story! I love Ms. Denison's stories because her characters are not "perfect" and this gives those of us that aren't perfect our own happy ending!
Kayla Thomas is a full figured women who owns her own bakery. She meets Resturant owner Jack Termaine at a chamber of commerce get together. She is instantly attracted to the handsom Jack and thinks that the attraction is returned. That is until a perfect size 3 walks up and claims Jack as her own.
Jack Termaine has been busy getting his business up and running he has not been giving much thought to his female companionship until he meets Kayla. Kayla takes his breath away and he is instantly drawn to the beautiful Kayla but she does not see herself the same way he does and he is fighting her past and self perception. He can wait though because she is exactly what he has been waiting for.
This was a great read. The chemistry between the two main characters are great, her secondary charaters Jillian (Kayla's sister) and Rich (Jack's best friend) are great and I hope that they eventually get their own stories. The story line is great and I liked the fact that Ms. Denison tackled the problems that less then perfect figured women face. This book has made it to my keeper shelf!
Indulge in a steamy read.......2003-10-19
Kayla Thomas bakery Pure Indulgence has really started to take off. Kayla wants to branch out into chocolate aphrodisiacs. But she needs a test subject. At a party she is catering she meets restaurateur Jack Tremaine. Jack hires Kayla to make the desserts for his restaurant but Kayla decides to use him as her test subject while Jack gives her desserts a trial run. Kayla's aphrodisiacs work better then she ever dreamed. She finds herself falling for Jack but is Jack falling for her or is it the candy.
Janelle Denison writes another steamy book. Its packed with great characters, sparkly dialogue and a dazzling sizzle.
Customer Reviews:
Sizzling hot!.......2001-04-11
This enchanting read is about the relationship of two best friends. Tess Blakely, a 26 year old virgin needed her best friend's help, Jeremiah 'Mac' MacDougal to find a sex partner for her. The assignment? Lost virginity. The reason? She was preparing her NY moves, and she was embrassed if anybody know her virgin status. Mac suggested himself as he vowed to keep this assignment to secrecy (after all, he was her best friend). The last thing that both of them expected from this arrangement is simply falling in love with each other. Fast paced and quick witted, not to forget, funny, this is an engaging story with lots of steamy scene. Tess' four very big brothers were simply adorable even though they are over protective about her. Who would have thought that Tess would be falling hard for her own best friend? After all, Mac was her best friend and was considered as an honorary Blakely, like a fifth brother inside the family. A wonderful contemporary short romance, this will surely delights readers. The book will surely touch a woman's soft spot about her own's vunerability.
Nobody does it better!.......2000-09-27
Vicki Lewis Thompson has a way with words that outshines many, many other authors. Her first Blaze is one of the best! Hot, funny, hot, intelligent...did I say hot? A fresh concept, a playful tone...a great book. DO NOT MISS THIS ONE!
Steamy sex but lots of verbage........2000-06-18
Overall this is a good book. I'd give it 5 stars for the love scenes, however the amount of verbage lowers the book rating.
WOW!.......2000-04-05
Vicki Thompson Lewis sure can scorch the sheets! Always with love in the foreground, these two characters enact some eye-opening foreplay. Good story, good steam, good read.
Very sexy, extremely emotionally intense read!.......1999-10-24
This is a fabulous book. I hope it wins the RITA for short contemporary romance. It is one of the best short contemporaries I've read this year, and definitely the *best* BLAZE I've read, and many of them have been *very* good. I agree with what the other people above said, very HOT, and I love a hot read. The premise for the conflict is very believable, and I personally love a "friends become lovers" plot. I also felt the small town theme was extremely well done. I, too, am now looking for more of VLT's books! :)
Book Description
CHANCE--It's not just a name, it's the family motto!
FIRST MAN OF CHANCE--Brandon
Former Nightstalker pilot, now a bodyguard, Brandon Chance can handle just about anything--except sassy Serena Deveaux, the one woman he's spent most of his life trying to forget. But Serena needs Brandon's help. In fact, she's concocted an elaborate story about needing protection, just so he'll offer his services. What Brandon doesn't know is that the only thing in danger is Serena's sanity. Her best friend has suddenly turned amorous, and Serena wants to cool his jets. Her plan? To make the other man think she and Brandon are lovers. Only her plan works too well...
Customer Reviews:
Leto SHINES!!.......2002-11-13
I think Julie Elizabeth Leto is one of the fastest rising voices in the series romance field. She is so strong in her craft, she creates vivid, interesting characters that are very memorable, and imbues her stories with her love of the New Orleans area, showing a strong technique in romance writing. She understand how to create sexual tension on a level of 10, yet still remembers the difference between sexual tension and romance. She has the wee touches that make a writer shine and shine she does!!
This is the first of the Chance brothers series, and it is a knockout. Serena Deveaux, grew up with Drew and Brandon, but at 17 the childhood friendships began to change. Serena fell in a mild crush with Brandon Chance, and Drew thought he fell in love with her. Brandon drunkenly ruined it all by shattering her teenage fantasies about romance one night. Immediately after, he went off to join the air force, later becoming a Nightstalker pilot. However, vision problems have forced him to retire and he is now opening a private investigation agency in the French Quarter. And who should be his first client - his old love Serena!
During this time, Drew's insistence he loves Serena has grown to the point he is trying to force her into marriage. She wants to discourage him without losing his friendship, and hits upon hiring Brandon to dim Drew's feelings. She concocts a hair-brain scheme to hire him as her bodyguard against the "cliché killer", pure invention on her part (though she later admits to herself and him it was just an excuse to approach Brandon). She thinks if Drew sees them together in a romantic light, he will back off. She makes a bet, knowing the men of Chance cannot back away from one, and banks on him living up to losing. In short time, she see she still is very attracted to him, so fesses up to the whole thing being a red herring, that she was hoping to drive Drew away without ruining their friendship. Only, someone else has other ideas and suddenly is making the "cliché killer" very real.
Aside from the problem of the threat, the main characters' have to deal with their different goals in life. Brandon wants a wife in the suburbs, kids and white picket fences. Serena is New Orleans all the way, loves to party-on-down-Cher and dance till dawn at The Reservation Hall (I have done this so truly sympathised with Serena!!). Can they find that bridge between their desires and their wants for the future???
Serena and Brandon are very warm and loving characters. Serena is wild, full of life, but is afraid of commitment after her parents' divorce. She is working to find a relationship with her estranged twin sister. Brandon, while being Hunk extraordinaire, is also very human - having his vision problems, and forced to wear glasses. Very Nice touch, Julie!!
Sprinkled in are Serena's twin sister (raised away from her), her psychic mother - who knows all - the kindly cook who makes all those wonderful New Orleans dishes that Justin Wilson would adore and all sort of New Orleans 'all that jazz'.
As a writer myself, I think creating one these series books is likely one of the harder tasks any writer undertakes. To give so much in such a short span of pages is a great challenge and Julie Leto rising to that challenge so well.
She is one of the best and brightest talents in series romance - keep your eye on her - she is going places!!
I triple-dog dare you to read this and not love Leto's writing!!
;-)
Very highly recommended!.......2001-02-16
When Drew Stuart moved beyond insulting or rude Valentines to mushy and started talking about marriage, Serena Deveaux decided to put an end to the nonsense. They've been best friends since kindergarten, and the last thing Serena wants to ruin their friendship by getting married. Her parents had already provided a terrible example of what can go wrong. Now she tries to live as simply as possible: an occasional lover without long term relationships, playing and have fun without marriage. Now Drew has made things not so simple.
Serena concocts an elaborate scheme to ditch Drew's romantic notions. And the scheme involves the only man she's ever loved, Brandon Chance. Fifteen years ago a graduation kiss with Brandon proved to her how foolish becoming involved with a best friend can be. Now she wants to hire Brandon to be her bodyguard and then make Drew think that they are lovers. He'll warn her about friends who destroy their friendship over romance, stop persuing her without destroying the friendship, and all her problems will be solved. After all, marriage is not an option, even if it costs her a cherished friend.
When she shows up at Chances Protection the first morning of business, Serena refuses to be turned away by Brandon's irritability. But he quickly changed his tone when she handed him beignets and cafe au lait. He's spent fifteen years trying to keep Serena out of his life. They are too much alike--"too reckless, too rash, too willing to throw caution to the wind and fly straight into disaster." What he wants is a sensible practical wife to help keep him out of trouble. What he gets is, well, trouble...
Julie Elizabeth Leto creates a passionate, sexy tale of love reunited. Serena is a playful, unpredictable sprite that doesn't back down no matter the wager or the chance she must take. Chance has to learn to reconcile the fun and unexpected with his vision of the future and learn to listen to his heart, creating a marvelous tension in the novel that keeps the reader smiling. Don't start this one at bedtime unless you want to be up all night. Very highly recommended.
Pure Chance is Pure Fun.......2001-01-04
"Pure Chance" is a romantic "who done it" novel. The heroine and hero have fun personalities. I did not want to put the book down!
Average customer rating:
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Pure Temptation
Manufacturer: Harlequin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000GSLVO0 |
Average customer rating:
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Pure Temptation
Sara Wood
Manufacturer: Mills And Boon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000PD7KC8 |
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- Virgin: Prelude to the Throne
- Ways of Dying: A Novel
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