Book Description
When someone orders a black rose for Abby's old law school nemesis, Professor "Snapdragon" Puffer, her plans for a speedy delivery are foiled when he catches her putting the bloom on his desk and sends it straight into the trash. So she heads back in to retrieve her dignity and her flower-only to find the rose now decorating a dead professor, and herself the prime suspect...
Customer Reviews:
Marco makes my toes curl!!.......2007-08-26
these books are just great! They have just enough romance to make your toes curl but not so much that it over powers the mystery. Keep them coming PLEASE!!!!!!
Well done... if you don't mind occasional crude language........2007-08-04
Kate Collins is a gifted writer who knows her setting- a flower shop. This was a good read, although I could do without the occasional "earthy" language.
Hits keep on rollin'........2007-05-10
Abby becomes a suspect in the murder of her law-school nemesis Professor. Will she be able to beat the rap? The usual supporting characters return in this installment of the Flower Shop Mystery series.
This series is still fresh as a daisy!.......2006-10-01
In the 4th book in the Flower Shop Mystery series, Abby Knight, owner of the Bloomers flower shop, receives a funeral order and decides to deliver it herself. None of this initially sounds odd for a florist, but the order that Abby received was for one perfect "black" funeral rose. When she sees that it is to be delivered to one of her most hated prior educators in law school, Professor "Snapdragon" Puffer, she is determined to bury her bad memories and make the delivery herself. Nothing goes well in the delivery...first Abby almost runs over Puffer with her car. Then, she tries to sneak into his office to deliver the flower and gets caught riffling through his desk. Puffer is famous for breaking pencils and throwing them at students, and doing a poor imitation of him, Abby gets caught by a furious Professor Puffer. Fleeing from the office, Abby then runs into another nemesis professor, Carson Reed. Professor Reed is involved with Dermacol Labs, a company that performs lab tests on animals. Abby was recently involved in a protest in front of the lab and was arrested. When she sees Professor Reed in the hallway and is taunted by him, she yells some very harsh words in his direction and stomps off.
Feeling smug for having the last word, Abby decides that she has finally buried the demons that have haunted her after flunking out of law school. But when Abby righteously decides to get back the flower she delivered to Puffer, she finds out that the nightmare is just beginning. She stumbles over the dead body of Professor Reed, and once her fingerprints are found on the murder weapon, the town starts to insist that she be arrested. While dodging the relentless press, staying away from angry law students, and cracking a pet-stealing ring, Abby works diligently to clear her name.
This is a fresh, funny series! Even though I figured out early on how several of the details tied together, I was still intrigued to see how Abby would solve the case. She stumbles around a bit in her investigating, and gets herself involved in quite a bit of mischief, which is always amusing. I found her choice of disguises to be hilarious, and her budding relationship with Marco was sizzling. Great addition to the cozy genre!
The first book in the series is called "Mum's the Word". Enjoy!
Kate Collins Flower Shop Mysteries.......2006-08-24
I loved this book! She is funny and the story moves quickly. I am going to collect them all!
Book Description
Jimena was once the toughest chola in East L.A. No longer in a gang, she is still feared by many. Nothing scares Jimena. Nothing, that is, except the reappearance of Veto, who was once the love of her life. That terrifies her, because Veto was killed a year ago by a rival gang. Or was he? Jimena discovers that he has made a devil's bargain, which could cost both of them their lives.
Customer Reviews:
Spankin sweet summary of Night Shade........2006-10-18
My book is about a girl named Jinema whos boyfriend, who she thought was killed the year prior by a rival gang comes to visit her. Jimena is trying to figure out weather she is just imagining him or if he he is alive. Also ther is somehting suspicious going in downtown Los Angeles at a small lake there. Jimena is a daughter of the moon with Vanessa, Catty, and Serena which are Jimena's three best friends. The four of them each have a special power and each power is defferent. Jemina has premonitions, Vanessa can become invisible, Catty can travel back in time, and Serena can read and minipulate minds. I liked this book for many reasons just a few are... one the book glides along really easily and smoothly. It is also really difficult to set the book down after you start reading it. In conclusion i think this is a wonderful book and i recomend you to read it if you are looking for a WONDERFUL book that is moves at a very nice rate.
Should you read this book?.......2006-10-18
Jimena was one of the toughest and well known girls in west L.A. Jimena CAstillo was in a gang for a very long time. Not any more she is. She is feared by many people for what she can do to them. Jimena had a boyfriend named Veto. Veto died a few years ago by a gang that killed him. A few years past and one stormy night Jimena was walking home down the street when someone comes and grabs her from behind. It was veto. She didnt know what to do. She was shocked! She thought he was dead, but was he really? Or maybe she was just imaging this becasue she missed him so much. No, he is not just an image she finds out. He is the real VEto. He made a bargain that could cost them both their lives.
Teens can really relate.......2006-05-25
Lynne Ewing's Night Shade is a heart-racing book of a teenage chola from East L.A. who lost her love in a gang shooting about a year ago. Or did he? She comes to find out that he's not really dead. Or is he? He has made a deal with the devil that might cost both of them their lives.
This book is a story of love or death. Jimena has to make many choices: her old life in a gang or her new life being a Daughter of the Moon; the love of her life Veto or her new best friends; living the life or dying with her boyfriend. Is the risk of being with Veto really worth loosing her family, her friends, or her life for? Jimena is caught in a trap and doesn't know how to get out this time. This book takes you on a wild ride through her journey of suspense, supernatural, and love.
Ewing's series of Daughters of the Moon are all interesting but she put a lot of thought into this one. This is a very realistic fiction story. It has love, life, and people facing bad experiences that teens go through every day that a lot of books like these don't have. Teens will love it because they can really relate. I personally would recommend this book for people of the ages 13-19.
Daughers of the Moon...the story continues..........2006-02-19
NOTE: PLEASE READ THE FIRST TWO BOOKS BEFORE YOU READ THIS BOOK. THE STORY WILL BE RUINED IF YOU DO NOT READ THE OTHER TWO BOOKS FIRST. THIS STORY IS HARD TO FOLLOW IF YOU DO NOT EVERYTHING ABOUT THE SERIES AND ALL THE REALATIONSHIPS. BY FAR THIS BOOK IS THE MOST DARING OF THE WHOLE SERIES SO DO NOT RUIN THE BOOK. PLEASE ALSO KNOW THAT JIMENA IS IN BOOK #3 & #9 DO NOT READ NUMBER 9 BEFORE THIS BOOK.
Jimena is a goddess, a daughter of the moon. Sent by Selene to protect the human beings from an ancient evil called the Atrox. Jimena, Serena, Vanessa, and Catty are all daughters of the moon. Each of them has a unique gift. Vanessa can become invisible, Catty can travel in time, Serena reads minds, and Jimena sees into the future. Lynne Ewing has designed all of the books to show us everyone's point of view at different times. This book is based on Jimena. Jimena use to be the toughest gang girl in L.A. But she gave it up once she found out she was a daughter of moon.
Through out this book Jimena struggles over the fact that her once lover Veto is dead. Veto is shot by a rebel gang group. Jimena isn't sure if she can get over her love or fall in love with Collin, Serena's brother. One day when Jimena is walking down the street she hears some one call her jaguar. Only Veto, her lost love, ever called her that. But Jimena knows he is dead. Suddenly these big booms happened through out L.A. and no one knows why. Jimena also has to deal with the fact that her best friend, Serena is having a realationship with Stanton a follower of the Atrox. And that she has to lie whenever Serena goes off with him.
Soon Jimena sees Veto, but he was supposed to be dead? Then one day when Jimena sees Veto, Stanton and Serena come out from a shadow. Then Stanton tells Jimena that Veto is a shade. Serena asks Stanton what a shade is but Jimena stops him from telling her. As the book moves on one of the most upsetting event appears that could threaten Jimena and Veto's lifes. This book is by far the most amazing love story it shows that love can destroy all.
Night Shade.......2005-12-14
(...)
Vanessa, Catty, Serena, and Jimena are all goddesses of the moon out to fight the evil Atrox. Each of these four girls were born with a secret power. Vanessa has the power to become invisible, Catty has the abbility to travel back in time, Serena reads minds, and Jimena has premonitions. When the Centi (highest powered followers of the Atrox) catch Jimena and steal her power to see the future, it makes the leader of the followers stronger. Because she was a daughter of the moon and the followers are strongest in the dark, now the followers have more power when the moon is out. Since all of the powers joined together create the daughters of the moon, it weakens each and every one of them. Now they needed to get Vanessa's power back, but how? They all got together and made up a brilliant, but very dangerous plan. This plan needs all four of them. Vanessa needed to be strong and make not only herself, but also Catty and Serena invisible, while Jimena distracted the followers, especially Cassandra, who is the one who stole the power in the first place. The hard part would be getting Cassandra to meet them for the plan to work. But Jimena asked Cassandra to please meet her in McArthur Park to discuss getting her power back. (...)
I recemmend this book to any teenage girl who loves adventure as well as romance. Not only is there never ending adventure and exitment, but each of the goddesses of the moon have a boyfriend and go out dancing at planet bang every friday night. There is drama, love, and even hatred. I loved it and i know you will too.
Book Description
Shadows Run Deep
There is a taint in Chicago, a barely suppressed shiver of horror that touches all who make their home in the city. In this collection of three connected novellas, vampire, werewolves and mages all pursue their visions of power. Each novella tells part of the story of the hidden monsters of the Windy City.
Customer Reviews:
Like wading through pudding.......2007-03-23
I found this book to be an extremely hard read due to it's implausible character interactions and disjointed plot line(s). The conversations that take place between everyone sound like a poorly run convention game with inexperienced players. Combined with the repeated use of the "yeah, this kind of thing is (insert adjective), but this time it was REALLY (same adjective)". Unfortunatley the First story in the book suffers the worst, therefore giving a bad starting point for the other two. It seems like the main character has more things happen to him than actually doing things. Every major plot movement is instigated by the Main Characters literally stumbling upon seemingly random events or items, which may or may not get explained away later. Most are just left there for you to forget that they were mainly just accidents or incidently encounters. It's like Indiana Jones walking through Manhattan and accidently falling through an open manhole to discover an ancient indian burial ground underneath.
The only plus i have for this book it's that it does present the use of the supernatural powers in a neat and concise way and one could convceivably benefit from reading this book, if they wanted to have better imagery on the different powers.
3 NOVELLAS IN ONE WORLD OF DARKNESS ANTHOLOGY.......2007-03-18
THREE SHADES OF NIGHT has an interesting premise; it tells the same story from the perspective of characters from three different lines in the WORLD OF DARKNESS game line; vampires, werewolves, and mages. As game fiction, each story (and each one was penned separately) is interesting as flavor text for its respective game line. The reader sees how sample characters interact in the Chicago setting, what their societies are like, and how their special abilities manifest themselves. And I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed the entire book and would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in the WORLD OF DARKNESS game lines.
THREE SHADES OF NIGHT does suffer some drawbacks, however (which is natural, considering the innate complexity of the undertaking). There are two worth mentioning here; first, there is the problem of the interaction of the three novellas. The first is the vampire one, which tells a great story and could stand alone very nicely. The events are well-developed, plenty of mystery, and whatever happens behind the scenes (covered in the other two novellas) is reasonable to be outside the scope of "The Murder of Crows". The second, on werewolves, tells some of the same events from the werewolf perspective but has plenty of additional material with a fresh perspective. The gimmick is cute at this point. The third story is on mages, and by now I didn't want to read the same events from yet another perspective. The author fortunately clued in on this and left a coda to represent events done to death. However, it makes the mage story much weaker than the others because it isn't complete (nor entirely coherent).
This brings the second point - you need a good conspiracy to unwind the same mystery from three different perspectives. Unfortunately, a bad conspiracy comes off as contrived or incoherent - THREE SHADES went for incoherent. Some of that is necessary - for instance, information presented as mysterious in one novella is well understood in the other, and the clues are supposed to all fit together. However, many parts are never well explained but are central to the story. I didn't understand the point of the Crone ritual in the vampire story, the difference in the 2 main spirits in the werewolf story, or why they were in conflict. Or what the voices were in the mage story. I understand that they tie together in the end, but they come across more as plot devices than integral parts of the story.
Still, all three were a good read (maybe the first 2 moreso); the book as a whole was pretty compelling and I stayed up pretty late just to finish it. It has its flaws, but they don't obscure the work in its entirety.
Things that go bump..........2006-06-29
This is a great book for a summer read, particularly for night owls who like to read by starlight. Shape-shifting werewolves, punk vampires, and benign mages with banal day-jobs tell the same story from their very different perspectives in 3 linked novellas. The best of the 3 is "Birds of Ill Omen", by Sarah Roark. Her characters are the most fully realized and her prose is by turns witty, wry, and wise. You don't have to be a WOD fan to sink your teeth into this one. Pull up a deck chair and enjoy a spooky little escape into the fantastical demi-monde of Chicago after dark.
Average customer rating:
- Very cute and great book to help with shadows
- Shadow night
|
Shadow Night
Kay Chorao
Manufacturer: Dutton Juvenile
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 General | Basic Concepts | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Bedtime & Dreaming | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Picture Books | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0525466851 |
Book Description
In a reassuring bedtime story by a beloved picture-book illustrator, little James learns how his dark room can be a fun and fanciful theater for shadow pictures.
Mommy and Daddy come running when eerie, flickering shapes give James a fright. Is there a MONSTER in his room? No, just shadows. James's parents can make shadow shapes, too-and soon a menagerie of friendly shadow animals dance across his bedroom wall, acting out a funny story.
Now James is not afraid anymore, but he can't resist a little shadow play himself before snuggling down to sleep. This endearing story about comforting childhood anxieties will ring true to any parent and provide inspiration for hours of family fun-at bedtime or anytime.
Customer Reviews:
Very cute and great book to help with shadows.......2005-01-21
If you have a little one that has trouble falling asleep because of shadows in the room. you really need this book. James, the little tiny boy in the story is frightened by the shadows and thinks they are monsters. So, his parents come in and make up a story using hand shadows to help James with his fears. It's very cute and even demonstrates how to make the shadow puppets. In the end, little James makes the puppets himself after his parents leave and says goodnight to all the animals and spiders in the story. It's very cute seeing him jump up and down on his bed, making shadow monsters. He winds up going to sleep very peacefully after figuring out how to make the shadows. It's been a very helpful book in our house and a very great idea for a children's book. Great find!
Shadow night.......2001-07-29
Neat concept, combining a story with shadow play (pictorial) "instructions." A young boy becomes frightened by monsters in his room--shadows from his bedroom curtains. His parents show him that it is only a shadow, then tell a shadow story. Chorao nicely integrates "shadow how-to's" into the story for those readers who may be inspired to tell there own shadow stories!
Average customer rating:
- HOHUM HORROR
- One of Hautala's better endings....
- Mulit-layered horror from a master horror writer
- Messages from the Grave
- Sometimes people aren't who we think they are . . .
|
Shades Of Night
Rick Hautala
Manufacturer: Zebra
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Hautala, Rick | ( H ) | Authors, A-Z | Horror | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Horror | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
Psychological & Suspense | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:
-
Winter Wake
-
NIGHT STONE
ASIN: 0821750976 |
Customer Reviews:
HOHUM HORROR.......2006-09-18
As with most Rick Hautala books, SHADES OF NIGHT suffers from being overly long and padded with redundant introspective narrative and a lack of sustained suspense. Although Hautala has good plotting, his excessiveness tends to diminish their impact.
In this rather tedious story, a young woman recently married finds herself stalked by a mysterious man; nightmares of an unknown woman beckoning her to a secret in her husband's cellar. A rocket scientist is not necessary to figure out what is going on, and the main character, Lara, becomes too whiny and self-pitying to become empathic with.
Labored and derivative, it's not one of Hautala's strongest entries.
One of Hautala's better endings...........2002-08-28
This is a very good book with a HELL OF AN ENDING!! Hautala turns the tried-and-true ghost story into a different kind of story. He weaves a complex and interesting plot to a NEVER SEE IT COMING conclusion!!
Hautala would have gotten the highest honor, a 5-star rating, but the book moves slowly at times. However, it is still a very impressive novel any HORROR LOVER SHOULD HAVE!!! If you enjoy Hautala, ITS A MUST BUY!!! (No I didn't get paid to endorse it, it is just that damn good)
I think Hautala is underappreciated in the horror field, just look at his cult classic, Little Brothers. That was a great 5-star book! He has been on the best-seller list, but I am not aware of him having ever won a Stoker or award from HWA! If I am wrong, please email me at darren.jacks@blueshieldca.com
A fabulous writer!!
Mulit-layered horror from a master horror writer.......2000-05-13
Rick Hautala never ceases to amaze me. Shades of Night is more than just a simple ghost stary, so much more. Hautala has the enviable gift of being able to place the reader in a shared intense emotional experience with his characters. The reader feels and fears for their plight. This is one of his best. An excellent book from an excellent writer. Recommended.
Messages from the Grave.......2000-05-06
Lara DeSalvo wakes up one night and finds a strange woman standing at the foot of her bed. The woman beckons for her to follow. The incident frightens Lara, and she passes it off as a nightmare. When it keeps happening, she begins to suspect that someone is breaking into her house. By the end of the story, Lara will realize who this woman was, what she was trying to say, and the shocking secret her husband tried to hide. The plot was rich and tight, with several subplots weaving into it. However, I thought Lara was too whiny and passive. I would recommend it, though, to anyone who likes ghost stories.
Sometimes people aren't who we think they are . . ........1998-09-16
A recent marriage, a dream home, but terror replaces romance. I was touched by this vulnerable woman, trying to understand herself and her marriage. The people and situations rang true and kept me enthralled, longing for a satisfying ending. And what an ending it was!
Average customer rating:
- Nope
- Worth Reading
- FANTASTIC VISUALS FOR THE MIND BENDERS OUT THERE
- Goth feminist fantasy
|
Night Shade: Gothic Tales by Women
Judith M. Redding
Manufacturer: Seal Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
United States | Horror | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Anthologies | Horror | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Erotic | Horror | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Horror | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Women | History & Criticism | United States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Women Writers | United States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Erotica | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | Adult Fiction | Anthologies | French | Gay & Lesbian | General | Sex in Literature | Victorian | Writing
Anthologies | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
British | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1580050247 |
Amazon.com
Gothic fiction transforms normality--the supernatural becomes the everyday, human fears are exaggerated, familiar landscapes are turned into places that are strange and bizarre. Female writers have inhabited this landscape for generations. Mary Shelley, Anne Rice, Angela Carter are just three of the more famous dark divas. Now some less well-known voices have their say in Night Shade: Gothic Tales by Women. The 17 short stories take place in everyday settings--contemporary houses, a bar, a veterinary hospital. Yet in this collection, the familiar is subverted. In Roz Warren's "The Birthday Present," a quite ordinary young woman is given a special gift on her 25th birthday--the powers of shapeshifting. When she falls in love with a married man, Liza morphs into a body that this man will find irresistible.
Continuing with the theme of metamorphosis, Lisa D. Williamson's "The Existential Housewife" is the story of a frustrated homemaker who develops the ability to transform her hands into household objects. As Mel's boredom and frustration with her domestic confines intensifies, her hands take on more sinister characteristics. Her fingers "morphed into sharp, curved blades, deadly looking files and long, pointed knives." Her husband will do well to watch his back!
Night Shade is a melting pot of the erotic, the supernatural, and the gloriously gory. Fans of Gothic fiction will eat it up. --Naomi Gesinger
Book Description
From a housewife with morphing hands to a teenage girl who communes with La Noche, this audacious collection showcases 16 eerie, otherworldly tales by talented women writers. Contributors include Terri de la Peña, Ruthann Robson, Susanne Sturgis, and Barbara Wilson, among others.
Customer Reviews:
Nope.......2002-04-06
So I bought this without even bothering to read any of the chapters. Boy, was THAT a mistake, but I read it because I didn't have anything else at the time. If you're real desperate for supernatural stories, and I mean REAL desperate, than I guess you could get this book. If you're into stories like "Aperitif" (by Susan Raffo): the story about the woman who relates having her glass eye [filled] with sex or the story about a guy who gets trapped on a sheet of film-yes CAMERA FILM - ("Newtime Cowboy" by Joyce Wagner)then this is the book for you. Unfortuately, as you can see, this WASN'T the book for me but everyone has their own tastes.
Worth Reading.......2000-10-06
Excellent Book! Very entertaining. Hard to put down. A bunch of very talented women.
FANTASTIC VISUALS FOR THE MIND BENDERS OUT THERE.......1999-08-04
Where else can you spice up your love interests reading this book for ideas and plumming the depth of your soul to achieve everything you can possibly drain from your mind to THINK you've achieved it! Goth forever!
Goth feminist fantasy.......1999-05-28
Women writers keeping it real. Seventeen Goth Short Stories that inject modern lifestyles with supernatural myth to gloriously gory effect.
Product Description
3 Book Set By Nora Roberts (Night Series); Night Shift Night Shadow; Night Shade Night Smoke; Night Shield Night Moves.
Product Description
5 Book Set By Linda Howard; Dying to Please; Shades of Twilight; Killing Time; Cry No More; Cover of Night.
Product Description
6 massmarket paperback Titles By Linda Howard - Shades of Twilight - Dying to Please - Now You See Her - Open Season - Kiss Me While I Sleep - Stranger in the Night
Average customer rating:
|
Darkness
Mildred Pitts Walter
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster (Juv)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: School & Library Binding
General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0689803052 |
Books:
- Sour Puss: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery (Mrs. Murphy Mysteries)
- Stop Getting Dumped! All You Need to Know to Make Men Fall Madly in Love with You and Marry "The One" in 3 Years or Less
- The Bookman's Wake (Cliff Janeway Novels)
- The Cane Mutiny (Den of Antiquity)
- The Colorado Kid (Hard Case Crime)
- The Commodity Trader's Almanac 2007
- The Dark Wind (Jim Chee Novels)
- The Deer Leap
- The Demon Soul (Warcraft: War of the Ancients, Book 2)
- The Frightened Wife
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- The Collected Poems of W.B. Yeats
- History: Fiction or Science
- Durable Goods: A Novel
- Fantastic Tales
- Film Directing: Shot by Shot: Visualizing from Concept to Screen
- History: Fiction or Science
- Landscape Turned Red: The Battle of Antietam
- Judith Leyster : A Dutch Master and Her World
- Escape South
- Diary of Samuel Pepys Complete 1661 N.S.
Dearly Depotted: A Flower Shop Mystery
Acts Of Violets: A Flower Shop Mystery (Flower Shop Mysteries)
Slay It With Flowers
Mum's the Word: A Flower Shop Mystery
Murder Most Frothy: A Coffeehouse Mystery (Coffeehouse Mysteries)
