Loyalty Myths: Hyped Strategies That Will Put You Out of Businessand Proven Tactics That Really Work
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Big hype, poor delivery
  • vs. Gittomer
  • Tears apart accepted marketing practices
  • New take on customer retention
  • This is a Great Business Book
Loyalty Myths: Hyped Strategies That Will Put You Out of Businessand Proven Tactics That Really Work
Timothy L. Keiningham , Terry G. Vavra , Lerzan Aksoy , and Henri Wallard
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0471743151

Book Description

In Loyalty Myths, the authors have assembled 53 of the most common beliefs about customer loyalty – all of them wrong or misconceived! Each of the beliefs in this book is debunked with real-world examples. While other books speak in platitudes; this book is the only one to validate each proposition with real data.

Granted unprecedented access to customer records from a variety of multi-national corporations. Through these records, Ipsos Loyalty was able to precisely track the impact of this customer-centric construct on actual purchasing behavior. The authors’ findings and conclusions will stun business leaders around the world. The lessons learned from these provide a true guide for the proper use of customer loyalty.

Customer Reviews:

1 out of 5 stars Big hype, poor delivery.......2007-07-28

If you are going to create a book that so directly trashes thousands of its predecessors and the work of many people that have devoted their careers to this subject (including many well-regarded contributions to the Harvard Business Review), you had better come up with something special. This book is not it. It is replete with dreadful generalizations and - contrary to the jacket - is not loaded with solid case studies. In fact, it is challenging to relate the few case studies that are quoted in here to the point that they are trying to make. For example, the authors use a lengthy disposition on France Telecom's capital over-expansion and its subsequent near-bankruptcy as an example of failed customer loyalty. This is like suggesting that the sinking of the titanic was as a result of having engines that were too powerful: Broadly related but absolutely fails to support the assertion. This is true of much of this book. When you feel the authors are finally about to bring something of actionable value they leave you wanting, making broad hypotheses and utterly failing to support them. This book really has one premise: "not all customers are the same"; and anyone for whom that's a revelation should not be in marketing anyway. This book read like many consultant's reports - it is big on conjecture, assumptions and assertions, and very light on any supporting evidence or actionable insights. Overall this was an extraordinarily disappointing and frustrating read.

4 out of 5 stars vs. Gittomer.......2007-01-15

If you've read any Gittomer sales books you will know what this chap is getting at in this book. Although he chides the opinion of customer loyalty's importance his book builds a foundation upon which customer loyalty can be achieved. Interesting

4 out of 5 stars Tears apart accepted marketing practices.......2007-01-09

Pareto's principle states that 80 percent of a company's business comes from 20 percent of its customers. Therefore, businesses invest time and money into building and maintaining customer loyalty. Loyalty Myths says that organizations focused on traditional loyalty programs won't succeed and explains why the 53 customer loyalty beliefs are myths.

Businesses that work to keep "loyal" customers may be actually losing money from such customers. Furthermore, traditional marketing emphasizes retaining customers instead of seeking new customers, a belief that could wipe out some businesses or prevent them from reaching their highest potential.

Few argue against the premise that today's environment in which lets customers be choosier and indifferent when it comes to products and brands. Consider the fact that having the most loyal customers doesn't guarantee a company the highest market share.

Do you believe that customers over the age of 50 stay true blue to products and brands? The authors have successfully proved otherwise. Think about the different loyalty programs to which you belong. Several airlines have loyalty programs in place, but do you cash in? Do the programs influence your decision on which airline to take?

The book contains a great example from The First National Bank of Chicago, a bank that needed to find ways to overcome the low equity that affected many banks in the '90. The bank took an unpopular approach in charging $3 when customers went inside the bank for transactions instead of relying on the ATM or doing it over the phone. Sound disastrous, but it paid off.

Unsurprisingly, the media posted negative stories about the bank's method, and competitors jumped in by paying customers to use the teller and other incentives. The result? The bank's profits went up by 28 percent with over 80 percent of the transactions done electronically.

The book doesn't stop at loyalty programs we encounter in our daily lives. It also looks at loyalty myths associated with company goals, management practices, market share and profitability, and employees. In addition to breaking the myths, the authors also provide a chapter on how to do loyalty the right way.

The authors do a nice job providing the rationale for every myth backing it up with data and case studies. The only annoyance with the book is the cartoons that appear throughout the book. They're corny and ugly. Adding cartoons into a business book is fine, just not these.

This type of book can be dry and academic, but not this one. Loyalty Myths is an engaging and valuable read for anyone who wants to get positive results from customer loyalty programs or turn around their broken loyalty programs.

4 out of 5 stars New take on customer retention.......2006-12-18

Many business people believe in Pareto's principle, which states that 80% of your business comes from 20% of your customers. As a result, businesses have invested a lot of time and money developing that crucial minority of loyal customers. However, according to Timothy L. Keiningham, Terry G. Vavra, Lerzan Aksoy and Henri Wallard, some of the customers you're working so hard to retain may actually be costing you money. Even worse, if you follow the advice of many marketing experts and focus narrowly on retaining old customers rather than on finding new ones, you can kill your business. The authors effectively demolish each of 53 myths about loyalty using helpful statistics and case studies on the one hand, and some enigmatic charts and corny cartoons on the other. In the end, you may wish they'd spent a little less time on demolition and a little more time on presenting the "proven tactics" they promise in the second half of their subtitle. Nonetheless, we recommend their book to marketers who wonder why their customer loyalty programs are not working and who want to make a change.

4 out of 5 stars This is a Great Business Book.......2006-02-08

This book distills in a logical format that common misperception that selling the same customs over and over is always good business and that all customs are loyal. Through case study after case study, it validates the book's title and then gives strategic and tactical steps to mange profitable customers and recapture lost ones. A good business read in today's hyper competitive world.

Paul DiModica
Author of Value Forward Selling - How to Sell Management
http://www.howtosellmanagement.com/
Hyped
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Hyped by Luke: An PeoplewholoveGoodBooks Review
  • Life or Lust?
  • Great Debut Novel
  • Luke's got me "HYPED" up over this book!!
Hyped
Luke
Manufacturer: Black Pearl Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0972800565

Book Description

Maurice LaSalle is a player - of women and the saxophone. A gifted musician, he's the driving force behind MoJazz, a neo-soul group on the verge of their big break. Along with his partner in rhyme and crime, Jamal Grover, Maurice has more women than he can count. Though guided by his mentor Simon, Maurice knows Right but constantly does Wrong.

Then Ebony Stanford enters Maurice's world and he begins to play a new tune. Ebony, still reeling from a nasty divorce, has just about given up on men, but when Maurice hits the right notes (everywhere) she can't help but fall for his charms.

While Maurice and Ebony get closer, Jamal is busy putting so many notches on his headboard post after each female conquest, that the post looks more like a tooth-pick. When a stalker threatens his life, Maurices warns him to slow his roll, but Jamal's hyped behavior prevails over good sense.

Just as Maurice is contemplating turning in his player card for good, stupidity overrules his judgment and throws his harmonious relationship with Ebony into a tale-spin. When it appears that things couldn't get any worse, tragedy strikes and his life is changed forever!

A Powerfully-Written Sexy-Tale, HYPED is a unique blend of Mystery, Suspense, Intrigue and Glowing-Sensuality.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Hyped by Luke: An PeoplewholoveGoodBooks Review.......2005-08-24

Hyped by Luke is the story of Maurice LaSalle, he is a gifted musician on the verge of becoming the next "big" thing. Like his best friend and bandmate Jamal Grover, he's living the life of a "player" until he meets Ebony Stanford. Ebony still dealing with the hurt from a painful divorce is attracted to Maurice but afraid to believe that he could be the "one". Eventually, they grow closer and fall in love and embark on a relationship only to have betrayal and secrets threaten to break them apart. It isn't until tragedy strikes that they realize just how lucky they are to find each other and love. Hyped is a steamy, romantic drama that grabs your attention from page one. I give this book 4 stars!! Reviewed by Shay C of PeoplewholoveGoodBooks

4 out of 5 stars Life or Lust?.......2005-06-22

Maurice has it going on as far as with the ladies, his career, finances, and social obligations. He's handling his like a pro! Enjoying the game of music and the rewards of plenty ladies until he's enamored with the 'Lady in Red.' Ebony is doubtful because of a past betrayal even though she is feeling this good looking musician. Maurice's best friend and co-hort, Jamal has one goal and that is to sex as many females as possible. Fun and games only last so long, right? We all know that the little head will get you in trouble, so take this journey with LUKE and see where he will lead us in the love and life of his three main characters. This book is full of romance, excitement, intrigue, and is well worth the read!

5 out of 5 stars Great Debut Novel.......2005-05-17

Luke Thomas explodes onto the literary scene with a novel that while a quick read is also packing a lot of drama and intensity. The ending was quite a surprise and I look forward to reading his next effort.



5 out of 5 stars Luke's got me "HYPED" up over this book!!.......2005-05-07

Off da chain!! What more could I say. After reading the first few paragraphs I decided to purchase the book and I'm glad I did. This was the best novel I've read all year. The author did an excellent job of capturing my attention from the beginning sentence and pulled me thru to the ending (Which has one helluva surprise twist). I must send well deserved props to Luke. He has a new aficionado!! I'm looking forward to reading his next book!
APS at six years--over hyped or underwhelming?: An article from: Photo Trade News
Average customer rating: Not rated
    APS at six years--over hyped or underwhelming?: An article from: Photo Trade News
    Jerry O'Neill
    Manufacturer: Cygnus Business Media
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Digital

    GeneralGeneral | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
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    ASIN: B0008F3KF4
    Release Date: 2005-07-30

    Book Description

    This digital document is an article from Photo Trade News, published by Cygnus Business Media on March 1, 2002. The length of the article is 1543 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

    Citation Details
    Title: APS at six years--over hyped or underwhelming?
    Author: Jerry O'Neill
    Publication: Photo Trade News (Magazine/Journal)
    Date: March 1, 2002
    Publisher: Cygnus Business Media
    Volume: 66 Issue: 3 Page: 1(3)

    Distributed by Thomson Gale
    Canadians await launch of much-hyped iPhone.(Business): An article from: Winnipeg Free Press
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      Canadians await launch of much-hyped iPhone.(Business): An article from: Winnipeg Free Press
      Gale Reference Team
      Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Digital
      ASIN: B000SKJKFI
      Release Date: 2007-06-26

      Book Description

      This digital document is an article from Winnipeg Free Press, published by Thomson Gale on June 23, 2007. The length of the article is 570 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

      Citation Details
      Title: Canadians await launch of much-hyped iPhone.(Business)
      Author: Gale Reference Team
      Publication: Winnipeg Free Press (Magazine/Journal)
      Date: June 23, 2007
      Publisher: Thomson Gale
      Page: b9

      Distributed by Thomson Gale
      Deconstructing the truth about Hawaii's construction industry industry Myths. (HB Special Report: Construction).(housing and government construction overly-hyped): An article from: Hawaii Business
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        Deconstructing the truth about Hawaii's construction industry industry Myths. (HB Special Report: Construction).(housing and government construction overly-hyped): An article from: Hawaii Business

        Manufacturer: Hawaii Business Publishing Co.
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Digital

        GeneralGeneral | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
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        ASIN: B0008DIW9K
        Release Date: 2005-07-31

        Book Description

        This digital document is an article from Hawaii Business, published by Hawaii Business Publishing Co. on June 1, 2003. The length of the article is 1331 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

        Citation Details
        Title: Deconstructing the truth about Hawaii's construction industry industry Myths. (HB Special Report: Construction).(housing and government construction overly-hyped)
        Publication: Hawaii Business (Magazine/Journal)
        Date: June 1, 2003
        Publisher: Hawaii Business Publishing Co.
        Volume: 48 Issue: 12 Page: S10(5)

        Distributed by Thomson Gale
        Good to be Alberta-bound; Former Hab Souray hyped about suiting up for Oilers.(Sports): An article from: Winnipeg Free Press
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          Good to be Alberta-bound; Former Hab Souray hyped about suiting up for Oilers.(Sports): An article from: Winnipeg Free Press
          Gale Reference Team
          Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Digital
          ASIN: B000TNRA7O
          Release Date: 2007-07-14

          Book Description

          This digital document is an article from Winnipeg Free Press, published by Thomson Gale on July 13, 2007. The length of the article is 472 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

          Citation Details
          Title: Good to be Alberta-bound; Former Hab Souray hyped about suiting up for Oilers.(Sports)
          Author: Gale Reference Team
          Publication: Winnipeg Free Press (Magazine/Journal)
          Date: July 13, 2007
          Publisher: Thomson Gale
          Page: c5

          Distributed by Thomson Gale
          The hazards of high-stakes testing: hyped by many as the key to improving the quality of education, testing can do more harm than good if the limitations ... from: Issues in Science and Technology
          Average customer rating: Not rated
            The hazards of high-stakes testing: hyped by many as the key to improving the quality of education, testing can do more harm than good if the limitations ... from: Issues in Science and Technology
            Lorrie A. Shepard
            Manufacturer: National Academy of Sciences
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Digital

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            ASIN: B0008G4YNK
            Release Date: 2005-07-30

            Book Description

            This digital document is an article from Issues in Science and Technology, published by National Academy of Sciences on December 22, 2002. The length of the article is 3562 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

            Citation Details
            Title: The hazards of high-stakes testing: hyped by many as the key to improving the quality of education, testing can do more harm than good if the limitations of tests are not understood.
            Author: Lorrie A. Shepard
            Publication: Issues in Science and Technology (Refereed)
            Date: December 22, 2002
            Publisher: National Academy of Sciences
            Volume: 19 Issue: 2 Page: 53(6)

            Distributed by Thomson Gale
            Hyped biomedical science or uncritical reporting? Press coverage of genomics (1992-2001) in Quebec [An article from: Social Science & Medicine]
            Average customer rating: Not rated
              Hyped biomedical science or uncritical reporting? Press coverage of genomics (1992-2001) in Quebec [An article from: Social Science & Medicine]
              E. Racine , I. Gareau , H. Doucet , D. Laudy , and Jobin
              Manufacturer: Elsevier
              ProductGroup: Book
              Binding: Digital

              BiotechnologyBiotechnology | Bioengineering | Engineering | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
              ASIN: B000RR7IPG

              Book Description

              This digital document is a journal article from Social Science & Medicine, published by Elsevier in . The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

              Description:
              Genomics integrates the promises and perils of modern biomedical science. Canada and the province of Quebec embarked late but aggressively in genomics research based on the 'discourse of promise' in which genomics is embedded. This did not prevent the emergence of a 'discourse of concerns', and debates on the wider meaning of genomics and on the risks related to genomics applications such as gene therapy and gene testing. Given this context, this study aims to understand the evolution of genomics press coverage from the early days up to the publication of the draft sequence of the human genome. Accordingly, we performed a press content analysis on 749 articles reporting genomics research in Quebec from 1992 to 2001. We focused on coverage of benefits and ethical issues, tone, and differences in reporting practices between press agencies and journalists. Results show an increasing number of articles, a general decline in the proportion of articles featuring ethical issues, an increased focus on the economy, and greater optimism from 1992 to 2001. In comparison to articles written by journalists, articles signed by press agencies are more optimistic and less often feature ethical issues. Results are discussed following two non-exclusive interpretations: (1) the successes of genomics and its institutionalization in Quebec and Canada brought hype and greater social acceptance, and (2) uncritical reporting practices have emerged under pressures for expedient and consumable writing. We are left with two concerns: given worldwide media concentration movements, what are the challenges for the dissemination of diversified and critical information in print media? And, given limited coverage of ethical issues, and concerns about bioethics being too narrowly focused, should public debates on frontier biomedical science be promoted to broaden the scope of biomedical ethics?
              HYPED TYPE.(Brief Article): An article from: Arts & Activities
              Average customer rating: Not rated
                HYPED TYPE.(Brief Article): An article from: Arts & Activities
                Irv Osterer
                Manufacturer: Publishers' Development Corporation
                ProductGroup: Book
                Binding: Digital

                NonfictionNonfiction | Subjects | Books | Automotive | Books on CD | Books on Cassette | Crime & Criminals | Current Events | Economics | Education | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Government | Holidays | Law | Philosophy | Politics | Social Sciences | Transportation | True Accounts | Urban Planning & Development | Women's Studies
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                ASIN: B0008I9Y88
                Release Date: 2005-07-28

                Book Description

                This digital document is an article from Arts & Activities, published by Publishers' Development Corporation on September 1, 2001. The length of the article is 882 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

                Citation Details
                Title: HYPED TYPE.(Brief Article)
                Author: Irv Osterer
                Publication: Arts & Activities (Magazine/Journal)
                Date: September 1, 2001
                Publisher: Publishers' Development Corporation
                Volume: 130 Issue: 1 Page: 44

                Article Type: Brief Article

                Distributed by Thomson Gale
                Let it snow: just lay off the incredibly hyped "storm tracker" coverage and give it to us straight. (Broadcast Views).(reporting on severe weather): An article from: American Journalism Review
                Average customer rating: Not rated
                  Let it snow: just lay off the incredibly hyped "storm tracker" coverage and give it to us straight. (Broadcast Views).(reporting on severe weather): An article from: American Journalism Review
                  Deborah Potter
                  Manufacturer: University of Maryland
                  ProductGroup: Book
                  Binding: Digital

                  GeneralGeneral | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | Classics | Comic | Contemporary | Literary
                  GeneralGeneral | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | e-Docs | Formats | Books
                  ASIN: B0008FSRJS
                  Release Date: 2005-07-30

                  Book Description

                  This digital document is an article from American Journalism Review, published by University of Maryland on November 1, 2002. The length of the article is 839 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

                  Citation Details
                  Title: Let it snow: just lay off the incredibly hyped "storm tracker" coverage and give it to us straight. (Broadcast Views).(reporting on severe weather)
                  Author: Deborah Potter
                  Publication: American Journalism Review (Refereed)
                  Date: November 1, 2002
                  Publisher: University of Maryland
                  Volume: 24 Issue: 9 Page: 68(1)

                  Distributed by Thomson Gale

                  Married at Midnight an Anthology: The Determined Bride/A Kiss After Midnight/Scandal's Bride/Beyond the Kiss
                  Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
                  • Married at Midnight an Anthology
                  • No problems
                  • On my KEEPER shelf
                  • As anthologies go, terrible. Don't waste your money!
                  • Married at midnight
                  Married at Midnight an Anthology: The Determined Bride/A Kiss After Midnight/Scandal's Bride/Beyond the Kiss
                  Kathleen E. Woodiwiss , Jo Beverley , and Samantha James
                  Manufacturer: Avon
                  ProductGroup: Book
                  Binding: Mass Market Paperback

                  AnthologiesAnthologies | Romance | Subjects | Books
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                  James, SamanthaJames, Samantha | ( J ) | Authors, A-Z | Romance | Subjects | Books
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                  ( J )( J ) | Authors, A-Z | Romance | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books | Jackson, Lisa | Johnson, Susan | Johnston, Joan | Joyce, Brenda
                  AnthologiesAnthologies | Contemporary | Romance | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
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                  ASIN: 038078615X

                  Book Description

                  FOUR BRIDES, FOUR BEGINNINGS. . .FOUR STORIES OF ROMANCE FROM THE INCOMPARABLE KATHLEEN E. WOODIWISS, and JO BEVERLEY, TANYA ANNE CROSBY, and SAMANTHA JAMES

                  MARRIED AT MIDNIGHT by
                  KATHLEEN E. WOODIWISS

                  The wedding of Jeff Birmingham of THE FLAME AND THE FLOWER and his new bride Raelynn inflames the jealous ire of a determined rival. . .

                  MARRIED AT MIDNIGHT by
                  JO BEVERLEY

                  A women abandoned on the battlefield discovers that dreams can cone true when an honorable commanding officer gallantly offers his name. . .

                  MARRIED AT MIDNIGHT by
                  TANYA ANNE CROSBY

                  A rebellious heiress who must wed by the stroke of midnight learns that a twist of fate has fulfilled her heart_s deepest desire. . .

                  MARRIED AT MIDNIGHT by
                  SAMANTHA JAMES

                  A young woman_s reckless scheme to defy her father_s ultimatum leads to a hasty union and unexpected passion. . .

                  Celebrate the glorious, magical moment of new beginnings with for uncertain couples joined by a passionate promise--and surprised by unforeseen love.

                  FOUR BRIDES, FOUR BEGINNINGS. . .FOUR STORIES OF ROMANCE FROM THE INCOMPARABLE KATHLEEN E. WOODIWISS, and JO BEVERLEY, TANYA ANNE CROSBY, and SAMANTHA JAMES

                  MARRIED AT MIDNIGHT by
                  KATHLEEN E. WOODIWISS

                  The wedding of Jeff Birmingham of THE FLAME AND THE FLOWER and his new bride Raelynn inflames the jealous ire of a determined rival. . .

                  MARRIED AT MIDNIGHT by
                  JO BEVERLEY

                  A women abandoned on the battlefield discovers that dreams can cone true when an honorable commanding officer gallantly offers his name. . .

                  MARRIED AT MIDNIGHT by
                  TANYA ANNE CROSBY

                  A rebellious heiress who must wed by the stroke of midnight learns that a twist of fate has fulfilled her hearts deepest desire. . .

                  MARRIED AT MIDNIGHT by
                  SAMANTHA JAMES

                  A young womans reckless scheme to defy her fathers ultimatum leads to a hasty union and unexpected passion. . .

                  Celebrate the glorious, magical moment of new beginnings with for uncertain couples joined by a passionate promise--and surprised by unforeseen love.

                  Customer Reviews:

                  5 out of 5 stars Married at Midnight an Anthology.......2007-07-04

                  It is a very good book. It was shipped in a timely basis. I do most of my shopping here

                  4 out of 5 stars No problems.......2007-05-27

                  No problems. Book arrived in good time. Book had slight imperfection with the cover having a slight tear halfway down. Otherwise, everything was fine.

                  5 out of 5 stars On my KEEPER shelf.......2007-02-10

                  I don't agree with the other reviewers...I loved it and as you can see it is on my KEEPER shelf.

                  1 out of 5 stars As anthologies go, terrible. Don't waste your money!.......2001-11-09

                  I knew there was a reason I tend to avoid anthologies; this one has reminded me of it with a vengeance. Basically, most anthologies aren't worth the paper they're printed on: you get a selection of authors, some of whom may not be very good, and shorter stories than usual, some of which - if they are at all good - don't benefit from being compressed into under 100 pages.

                  This book is very definitely a case in point. We have novellas from Jo Beverley (normally excellent), Tanya Anne Crosby, Samantha James and Kathleen Woodiwiss - three authors I'd never come across before and whose work therefore I know nothing about. After reading this anthology, I know to avoid their work in future.

                  The Beverley novella, The Determined Bride, was interesting, but I kept feeling that I'd come in halfway through the story. Told by her soldier husband that their marriage hadn't been genuine, Kate desperately wants her baby to be legitimate. Unfortunately, her 'husband' has just been killed in battle. His commanding officer offers to marry her to give the baby a name. Afterwards, Kate returns to England with her son - but what of Captain Charles Tennant, the man she's just married? Does she want him? Does he want her? How does he really feel about having a legal son who is not his biological child?

                  An intriguing premise, written with something close to Beverley's usual style; but too rushed. Perhaps three stars.

                  Next, there is Tanya Anne Crosby's A Kiss After Midnight. Two children brought up together are separated when Victoria's father, a duke, becomes concerned about her friendship with the gardener's son. Can their love survive? What happens when Victoria needs to marry to save her estates? To begin with, I thought her hero, Thomas, was American; his internal narrative in the first few pages is entirely American in dialect and vocabulary. Too many things didn't ring true in this story for me to take it seriously. For instance, apparently Thomas and Victoria drove to Gretna Green in under five hours. So where were they? North of the Lake District and in the middle of nowhere fifty miles south of the border? Unlikely. And did Victoria really not recognise Thomas??

                  Oh, and *what* is "a'tall" supposed to mean? That simply isn't a word. It's not an expression used anywhere in the UK (or in Ireland, in case Crosby thinks it is). If she means 'at all', then she should say so. Terrible. One star.

                  The next story is Samantha James' Scandal's Bride. It was readable, more or less, though Victoria seemed to me to behave like a spoilt brat. I can't understand what Miles saw in her; he should have refused to marry her and insisted that her father sent her back to the country until she grew up. Two stars, maybe.

                  And finally, Kathleen Woodiwiss's Beyond The Kiss. This, I gather, is the sequel to another book by Woodiwiss. She spends the first dozen pages summarising Raelynn and Jeff's story to date (tedious exposition of an overly melodramatic tale) before launching into this story. The language is extremely overblown -talk about purple prose! The dialogue is stilted: I couldn't believe some of Jeff's speeches. Take this:

                  "In my lengthy quest for the woman of my dreams, I cannot deny that I've tested my heart with others, but they never assuaged that unsettled feeling gnawing at my vitals. I tell you no lie, madam, when I say that of those maidens I've courted, I favoured none with a plea to be my wife. Whatever enticements inspired me to seek their company were ephemeral, as fleeting as the morning dew." Ewwwww!!!!! I couldn't take this guy seriously at all.

                  In fact, I couldn't even finish this story. After 30 pages of it I'd had enough, and it's definitely put me off reading any more by Woodiwiss. I can't believe she's considered to be a top historical fiction writer! Zero stars.

                  Don't waste your money on this one.

                  3 out of 5 stars Married at midnight.......2001-06-25

                  It's not easy to rate four stories with one mark, so I do it one by one:

                  „The determined bride" - I give it 3 stars. It's not a bad story, but I found something missing there.

                  „A kiss after midnight" - nice, but just a little bit unbelievable. How Victoria couldn't recognize her best friend? I don't believe a man can change so much! And that marriage ceremony ... oh, it was sooo long, I became unpatient! 3 stars.

                  „Scandal's bride" - a bit cliche. I read so many books about London high society of 19th century I became tired of them. Why always London and 19th century? Why not France during 100 years war for example? 3 stars.

                  „Beyond the kiss" - out of question the best of „Married at midnight". I just love Woodiwiss and Birminghams. 5 stars.

                  And at the end - romance authors, keep writting. We need your stories to warm our hearts and make our lives easier.

                  Books:

                  1. Mary After All: A Novel
                  2. Master of the Crossroads
                  3. Mostly True Collected Stories & Drawings
                  4. My Life as a Fake
                  5. Nobody Knows My Name
                  6. On the Spur of Speed: Continuing the Account of the Life and Times of Geoffrey Frost, Mariner, of Portsmouth, in New Hampshire, as Faithfully Translated ... Contemporary Histories (Hardscrabble Books)
                  7. Other People's Houses: A Novel
                  8. Paul Signac: A Collection of Watercolours and Drawings
                  9. Perfect Husband: True Story Trustng Bride Who Discovered Husband Coldblooded Killer
                  10. Plant Growth and Development: Hormones and Environment

                  Books Index

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