Book Description
In this delightful second installment in Alexander McCall Smith’s best-selling new detective series, the irrepressibly curious Isabel Dalhousie, editor of the Review of Applied Ethics, gets caught up in an affair of the heart—this one a transplant.
When Isabel’s niece, Cat, asks Isabel to run her delicatessen while she attends a wedding in Italy, Isabel meets a man with a most interesting problem. He recently had a heart transplant and is suddenly plagued with memories of events that never happened to him. The situation appeals to Isabel as a philosophical question: Is the heart truly the seat of the soul? And it piques her insatiable curiosity: Could the memories be connected with the donor’s demise? Of course, Grace—Isabel’s no-nonsense housekeeper—and Isabel’s friend Jamie think it is none of Isabel’s business. Meanwhile, Cat brings home an Italian lothario, who, in accordance with all that Isabel knows about Italian lotharios, shouldn’t be trusted . . . but, goodness, he is charming.
That makes two mysteries of the heart to be solved—just the thing for Isabel Dalhousie.
Customer Reviews:
The Isabel Dalhousie series.......2007-10-06
The series of Isabel Dalhousie books is a most enjoyable read. As I am a nosy female, she is most easy to identify with, and her actions are most understandable to me.
The author is a favorite of mine. Always a good read.
attractive title but boring story (if any).......2007-06-18
I was attracted by the storyline: after a heart transplant, a man had some "new" memories, and suspected that the transplanted heart carried with it the memories of the donor. Attractive story, isn't it? But I'm sad to find out the story unfolded was quite boring *_*
Something almost happens.......2007-05-11
I have to admit that, although I enjoyed reading this book, I was disappointed when I reached the end and realized that nothing much had really happened. There was the prospect of a juicy hit and run murder, perhaps the question of questionable transplant ethics, perhaps something supernatural and outside the realm of rationality - but, no - nothing really comes of any of it. It reminds me of Virginia Woolfs 'To the Lighthouse' with much internal rumination and complex social mores and not much actual action. I would prefer if there were even a small crime or mystery, such as those solved by the Botswana detective lady in the midst of her gentle African ruminations. This was more just leaping about to wrong conclusions, and Ms. Dalhousie is much too intelligent for that.
A Lesson in Moral Obligation.......2007-05-10
I really enjoyed this second installment in the Isabel Dalhousie Mystery series. The book is frought with moral dilemmas and observations regarding human behaviour related to organ transplants and the concept of "cellular memory," May-December romance, and unrequited love.
Does a recipient of an organ donation have the ablity to remember the last moments of the donors life? Also, should the family of the organ donor be made aware of this, or even know who received the organ? What if the donor died under suspicious circumstances? Or perhaps we are all jumping to conclusions?
This is a great read that makes the reader question the morality of each situation, turning the reader into an armchair philosopher!
A GOOD READ!.......2006-11-10
AS BOOKS IN A SERIES GO, 'FRIENDS. LOVERS. AND CHOCOLATES' WAS EVERY BIT AS GOOD AS 'THE SUNDAY PHILOSOPHY CLUB.' PERHAPS THEY WERE NOT QUITE AS MUCH FUN AS THE 'NO. 1 LADIES' DETECTIVE' SERIES BUT MORE INTERESTING THAN 'PORTUGUESE IRREGULAR VERBS' TRIOLOGY ALL BY ALEXANDER MC CALL SMITH.
THE CHARACTERIZATIONS WERE VERY GOOD, THE NIECE, THE HOUSEKEEPER, JEREMY, AND ISABEL ALL LEAPED OFF THE PAGE AS LIVING, VERY REAL AND INTERESTING.
IT WAS A QUICK READ, I KEPT TURNING PAGES WANTING TO REACH THE CONCLUSION, BUT VERY MUCH ENJOYING THE STORY ALONG THE WAY. I ALSO ENJOYED THE PEPPERING OF W.H. AUDEN QUOTES THROUGHOUT!
Book Description
Leading relationship expert and bestselling author Dr. John Gottman, who has won numerous awards for his groundbreaking research, presents a revolutionary five-step program for repairing troubled relationships — with spouses and lovers, children and other family members, friends, and even your boss or colleagues at work. Drawing on a host of powerful new studies, as well as his 29 years of analyzing relationships and conducting relationship therapy, Gottman provides the tools you need to make your relationships thrive.
Introducing the empowering concept of the "emotional bid," which he calls the fundamental unit of emotional connection, Gottman shows that all good relationships are built through a process of making and receiving successful bids. These bids range from such subtle gestures as a quick question, a look, or a comment to the most probing and intimate ways we communicate. Gottman's research reveals that people in happy relationships make bidding and responding to bids a high priority in their lives, and he has discovered the fascinating secrets behind mastering the bidding process. Those who do so tend to "turn toward" bids from others, whereas most problems in relationships stem from either "turning away" or "turning against" bids for connection.
Gottman's simple yet life-transforming five-step program, packed with fascinating questionnaires and exercises developed in his therapy, shows readers how to become master bidders by effectively turning toward others. Presenting fascinating examples of bidding, he teaches readers how to assess their strengths and weaknesses in bidding, as well as those of the important people in their lives, and how to improve where necessary. He draws on the latest research to show readers how their brain's unique emotional command systems, as well as their emotional heritage — their upbringing, life experiences, and enduring vulnerabilities — affect how they make and receive bids, and how to make adjustments. He then introduces a set of enjoyable and remarkably effective ways to deepen connections by finding shared meaning and honoring one another's dreams. The final chapter offers specially tailored programs for life's most important relationships: with lovers or spouses, children, adult siblings, friends, and coworkers.
The Relationship Cure offers a simple but profound program that will fundamentally transform the quality of all of the relationships in your life.
Customer Reviews:
Abridged Audio Cassette is good.......2005-11-24
The abridged audio cassette version is very good. I found the naration very clear and pleasant. I also found the content very useful. I found the abridged content still clear with ample examples. However, I have not read the book, so I can't contrast it the to the original. This is a good audio to share with others wishing to better understand and improve their relationships. I only wish this was available on CD!
Clear guidelines!.......2002-07-12
Gottman, the leading researcher in the area of marriage and other intimate relationships, provides in this latest book a simple, yet very effective 5-step-model of enhancing and deepening your personal relationships.
This program builds upon the results of several longitudinal studies. This means, the advice offered is based not on personal opinion (like so many other authors do), but on solid research findings. Gottman starts by introducing the basic element of human relationships, the bid. A bid is any single expression that says "I want to feel connected to you". Failed bid processes are the root cause of many problems in human relationships.
The 5 step Gottman offers are:
1) Look at your bids for connection: here the reader learns to distinguish among turning-towards, turning-away and turning-against responses and their effects
2) Discover your brain's emotional commmand system: this chapter is especially illuminating because it deals with 7 emotional systems with their distinct linkages to behaviors and feelings. It demonstrates how these systems can cause problems in bidding processes
3) Examine your emotional heritage: in my opinion, this is the best part of the book. Several exercises reveal your family's way of dealing with emotions such as pride, anger, fear, and accomplishments. You beome aware of your personal way of relating to others and how they relate to your earlier experiences. Another part is devoted to your enduring emotional vulnerabilities.
4) Sharpen your emotional skills: various exercises are aimed at improving your emotional intelligence.
5) Create shared meaning: another very important part, not only for marriages. It encourages the reader to explore his and the other's personal dreams and visions. It also urges to create a deeper level of connecting by the use of rituals.
By and large, this book is an excellent example of science applied to real life. Everyone interested in improving his personal relationships should read this book!
Does It Again.......2001-08-24
This is another outstanding book by Dr. Gottman and his research team. Instead of an author giving his own personal opinions of what he thinks make good marriages, Dr. Gottman actually observes hundreds and finds what they have in common. Two major bits he observed in happy couples were paying attention to each other and elements of romance. From all the very happy couples I know, I would agree.
I'd recommend looking at The Romantic's Guide for ideas on easy ways to keep being romantic.
Superb manual for mindful relating with authentic E.Q........2001-07-14
I feel privileged to pick this book to mark my 100th review for Amazon.com. I've been recommending to numerous groups Gottman and co-authors' books, esp. the less technical ones: The Heart of Parenting (which is in Chinese also), Why Marriages Succeed or Fail and The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work.
With almost 3 decades of research of actual interactions, Gottman and teams' books are always filled with vivid and enlightening examples. The touching personal stories, elucidating questionnaires, exercises and long lists of "what to do" are all helpful and practical. They hold up multi-dimensioanl mirrors to explorations. Without having to do any formal meditation, you can grow in awareness and mindfulness.
Given the plethora of popularization, it might sound trite to relate this book to E.Q. (Emotional Intelligence). But it IS one of the best books for developing mindful emotional connections. That's why I need to qualify it with "authentic E.Q.". Please note in particular "Emotional Intelligence Versus Detachment and Denial" (pp. 158-160).
Please read the informative Book Description and the review by Mitchell (one of my "favorite people"). In Step One, breaking down communication to the basic unit of exchange, "bidding", and responding (turning toward, away or against), helps one to learn HOW to behave differently instead of remaining at lofty levels of unfruitful talk about love and consideration... (This reminds one of Eric Berne's "stroking" in Transactional Analysis, most popular in the 60s & '70s. "Stroking" however, connotes more manipulation.)
The authors have done a good service to make Jaak Panksepp's pioneering studies in Affective Neuroscience accessible to readers in Step Two: Discover Your Brain's Emotional Command Systems. (It would be interesting to see if there are any correlations with the Enneagram systems, which study nine-types of personality.)
Step Three: Examine Emotional Heritage, gives a good illustration of the value of the "emotion-coaching philosophy". The other books that I've mentioned give many more examples.
Step Four: Sharpen Your Emotional Communication Skills, gives interesting coverage to sharpen sensory acuity and listening skills (much stressed in NLP, Neuro-linguistic Programming). [I personally tend to differ from the author's sweeping dismissal of "the pseudoscience of physiognomy", p. 178. I still see some value of a more scientific approach in verifying the significance of permanent features and also fleeting changes in physiognomy. Cf. My several reviews of "face-reading".]
Step Five: Find Shared Meaning, brings us beyond behaviorism and studies truly human interactions and rituals.
Detailed applications of these 5 steps are given to different relationships: marital, parental, friendship, sibling, coworker. The book is ideal for personal and shared reflections, retreats, marriage encounters and workshops. I have already been actively promoting it and sincerely hope that it will reach the best-seller list. Gottman and team well-deserve the reputation and publicity they receive. Readers will not be disappointed. Relationships not needing cure will also be much enriched. [From a Christian viewpoint, it is in relationships that we can reflect the communion and unity in diversity of the Trinity, that we continue to become the image of God, and embody the presence of Christ today. Salvador Dali's Last Supper depicted a Risen Christ without any face. It is the quality of our relationships that will show forth the face of God.]
Great Advice for Overcoming the Communications Stall!.......2001-05-22
The Relationship Cure is one of the four best books I have read about developing, nurturing, and sustaining relationships. I hope that everyone I know reads this book!
The book's focus is drawn from observations of people speaking with their family, friends, and lovers. From this work, the authors have skillfully located the mechanisms that can be used to improve connection and communication, and provide much practical coaching on what the reader should work on. Anyone who follows the advice in this book will live a life filled with much richer human connections. Think of reading this book as like having an emotional intelligence coach.
The book begins by looking at the fundamental ways that connection is pursued. People say and do things to get attention and make their needs known, which the authors call bids. "People make bids because of their natural desire to feel connected with other people." How you respond determines how well the connection develops. You can use words (like questions, statements, or comments) or actions (touching, expressions, gestures, and sounds). As step one, you are encouraged to look at your own bids for connection. You want to avoid being "fuzzy" about your purposes. This can come from being ambiguous, being a poor communicator, being negative, or not acting like it is important. When you respond to bids, use a positive stance, pay attention, interact in a high energy way, and be playful. Avoid reacting mindlessly. You are especially warned against harmful ways to respond (not being mindful of your reactions, starting on a sour note, employing harmful criticism, being overcome with emotion, having a crabby way of thinking, and avoiding conversations you need to have).
The book also explores the style you use to think about communication. You will be able to see which of 7 types you most closely fit with (commander-in-chief, explorer, sensualist, energy czar, jester, sentry, and nest-builder). You will also find how to tell if you are over or under doing it, and how to adjust. You next look at the emotional heritage of how you learned to respond to others in your family. Again, there are tools to help you change where that would be helpful.
Another section looks at reading others' emotions, naming your own feelings, using richer metaphors, and ways of active listening.
Next, you are encouraged to find places where you can share meaningful, positive connections with others . . . even if you have differences in other areas.
After you have this overview, chapter eight looks at how to apply all of these perspectives to marriage, parenthood, friendship, siblings, and co-workers.
The book's strength is that it uses examples that you can identify with. Then, rather than leaving you hanging with what not to do, the book goes on to provide alternative ways to handle the same situation. There are too many to memorize easily, but you will soon get the hang of how to compose a reaction that will be better received. In fact, you probably run into fruitless conservations with certain people so often that it would help to draft out some possible alternatives in advance. I also found the self-diagnosis exercises to be helpful. I think you will, too.
After you have finished reading this book, you must practice applying it. I suggest that you start with someone who is fairly easy to communicate with already. Later, you can go on to work with those who you have more problems with, as you develop your skill.
This book will be especially valuable to men who want to communicate in more effective ways with women. Realizing that women put out more bids for connection in many situation, this book will help men realize better ways to respond. I was impressed with how well the advice worked in my family as I followed it during the days following my initial reading of the book. Of all the things I have tried out that I have read in books, these suggestions worked our far better than most! And they made me feel a lot better and more relaxed in the process. That's a pretty nice advantage to gain from reading a book.
May you always be rich in your human connections as you desire!
Book Description
"Humorous and wise . . . Lowndes helps readers focus on what's important and gives them a good chuckle along the way."
--Publishers Weekly
Making friends can be intimidating for anyone, especially if you are naturally shy. This can be an obstacle not only in social interactions but in romantic and work relationships as well. Now there is hope from communications expert Leil Lowndes's How to Be a People Magnet. The bestselling author of How to Make Anyone Fall in Love with You, Lowndes reveals specific and proven techniques for attracting friends and lovers and keeping them for life. She uncovers the secrets of attracting friends for fun and romance as well as networking to strengthen business contacts and relationships. Her advice is effective, yet easy for anyone--shy or bold--to implement.
Customer Reviews:
only east coast will get anything out of this book.......2007-10-04
I will never forget the time I was in Boston and helped a blind man board a subway train. The doors nearly closed right on him! A lady nearby was truly amazed that someone would be so nice as to help a stranger having difficulty.
This book is for those who rarely experience common courtesy and have no clue as to how to behave in a civil manner.
If you get much out of this book, it's time for some drastic action!
I think the author needs to move to a more friendly environment!
The narration may drive you insane.......2007-09-14
This review is specific to the Audio CD version of the book.
The material is worthwhile, though not very original. The tips serve as good reminders of communication tools most of us have heard before. Too bad the narration makes me want to tear my eyeballs out. The narrator (author) both over-enunciates and over-dramatizes to a disturbing degree (think of an NPR host gone wild). I highly recommend the print version over the audio cd!
Fantastic book!.......2007-08-18
Another great book which I love and highly recommend - How to be a Super Hot Woman: 339 Tips to Make Every Man Fall in Love with You and Every Woman Envy You
10 Stars! I am making new friends and deepening the relationships I have.......2007-07-04
I read Leil Lowndes's "Good-bye to Shy" and it worked like magic to get me over my shyness. After reading that book, I wanted more. I thought "How to Be a People Magnet" was the next logical step. It was! I am so glad I read this book.
There are three things that I especially like about it.
One is that iIt progresses logically. It starts with 1) making strangers like you instantly and how to "win their hearts in ten words or less." Then 2) Things you can do to turn a stranger into a friend. 3) A section on how a man can win with woman and the opposite. 4) How to build a whole network of friends. 5) How to give depth to a new or existing friendship, or reawaken an old one.
Second, it is based on truth, all backed up by studies on "interpersonal attraction.." For instance, "being popular is not the same thing as people really liking you." And "You don't just mke friends, you earn them by the benefits you bring to a relationship like intelligence, wit, or kindness."
A part that was especially helpful to me because of my old shyness was "how to work a party like a politician works a room." Also the book tells "how to create chemistry" with someone.
Third, "How to Be a People Magnet" is not just general advice. It is broken up into 55 concrete steps or "clauses" you sign off on. I did all of them, or at least most of them, and I notice a BIG difference in how new people are drawn to me and how my current friends seem to be warming to me even more.
I highly reccomend this book if you want to make more friends and deepen the relationships you have.
Bravo, Leil. I can't wait to read your other books.
A unique and wonderful guide to making friends, quickly and for life. .......2007-01-29
This is NOT your average book with trite advice on "how to make friends" It is far superior in every way. The author discusses the extreme importance of friendship. (She was inspired to write this book when two of her friends saved her life.)
There is solid evedience for everything she says. (She references 77 sociological 77 which are annotated in the back of the book.) And third, like all Leil Lownds' books, they are so much fun to read. Stories about some of her "friends" had me ROFL.
I love the author's concept of "you don't just make friends, you EARN them" by being a person of value yourself. She calls it The First Commandment of Friendship: "You must have something in order to receive." In other words, you must develop likeable and valuable qualities yourself so you can be an important friend to others. Not only does she talk about how to make friends quickly and make them grow, but how to nurture and enrich the ones you have.
The author explores how different women's friendships are from men's, and whether a man and a woman can truly have a "platonic" friendship and, how to do it, if you want to turn a friend into a lover.
One of my favorite concepts is her exploration of the "in" crowd and that "being popular does not mean being liked." This too is based on studies. I could go on and on about her insights on friendship that I've never read anywhere else.
I tried one of Leil's techniques which is to dig up a very old friend and spend a few hours with them. She writes, "Whether the friendship continues (or you relize why it ended,") you will both receive a priceless gift. Each of you will come away with a fresh and profound new sense of self." I did.
I will be forever grateful to the author for the awareness of the importance of friends - how to make them quickly, shed the superficial ones, and keep the ones you want for a lifetime.
Download Description
Dale loves women, and they love him. His love life is a revolving door. No one special, no one stays, except Lauren, his best friend. She's a sweet beautiful, talented woman. His rock, the steadying influence in his life. So why is he starting to see her differently, where are these lustful thoughts coming from? Guys don't sleep with their best friends. Lauren has loved Dale for five years, from the moment she saw him. She loves his smile, his walk, his deep, sexy voice. But he isn't in love with her. She's his pal, his confidant. Until one hot, steamy night.
Customer Reviews:
fantastic.......2007-03-28
A Great read! I absolutely love books about bf's finding love and this one is the perfect example of how it's supposed to be done!
Solid, sexy, heartwarming.......2006-12-12
Lauren Spencer is a beautiful artist living next door to the man of her dreams. Dale Stoner is crazy about Lauren, too, but as his best buddy, the woman to whom he confides all his secrets and romantic woes. Dale goes through a series of relationships hoping to replace Nikki, the girl who got away and married another man years earlier. Each day is a fresh pain for the quiet, reserved Lauren as she watches Dale take up w/ one Nikki clone after another, but she has resigned herself to the fact that Dale will never have deeper feelings for her.
After Lauren and Dale fight over a blind date gone bad, she goes to Dale's house with an apology gift of home-baked cookies. She is met by an inebriated Dale, who is drowning his sorrows over some recent news about Nikki. Things get out of hand and the two have a torrid sexual encounter. The only problem is, Dale has little memory of the incident, and has no idea Lauren was his partner. Convinced that he will never love her, Lauren is determined to never tell Dale the truth, even when she learns that their night of passion has lasting consequences.
Ms. Walker has penned a good romantic tale, with well-drawn characters and a developed plot. Dale can be a little dim at times, and his fixation on Nikki is a little tedious, but he has his moments and comes through in the end. Lauren is a bit of an icicle on the outside, but this is a survival mechanism she developed as a child. Underneath her reserve, she is a warm friend and a passionate lover. Readers will want Dale and Lauren to overcome their obstacles and find happiness with one another.
This is a good, sexy read and I recommend it to other readers without hesitation. One drawback I am compelled to note, however, are the abrupt changes in perspective. The transitions were not handled smoothly and I frequently had to re-read sections trying to figure out who was "speaking", breaking the flow of the storytelling. There were also a number of typos throughout the book. These are things that should be taken care of by basic editing and proofreading. (Hint, hint, EC.) But, these relatively minor quibbles shouldn't put readers off an otherwise solid and heartwarming story.
This sexy story will touch your heart.......2005-07-12
Love at first sight. That is what Lauren experiences the first time she sees Dale Stoner, and has been living with those feelings ever since. After years of loving Dale, Lauren knows something has to change. It hurts too much to even be around him anymore when all she can do is wish he felt the same way. She tries to lose herself in her art, creating visions of sad beauty that echo what's in her heart.
But Dale is not in love with her. Instead he sees her as only his best friend, his rock. The one constant in his ever-changing world of women. No one will ever take the place of the one who owns his heart. It will never be his to give to another anyway. However rather than live a celibate life like his friend Lauren, he chooses to drown his sorrows in temporary encounters where there are no strings attached and no one gets hurt.
With both experiencing the pain of unrequited love, eventually something was bound to happen. A bittersweet reminder from Dale's past leads to a night of passion, only Dale is too drunk to remember who he made love to. Now he's haunted by erotic dreams of a sexy mystery woman who fulfills his every fantasy, and he can't stop thinking about her, wanting to be with her. If that wasn't making him crazy enough, now he's constantly struck by sexy images of his best friend Lauren, and to make matters worse, he's beoming irrationally jealous of this mystery man she's so desperately in love with, whoever he might be. Lauren's not talking.
"Her Best Friend's Lover" will touch a chord with anyone who's ever been intensely in love with someone who didn't feel the same way. It will break your heart and make you smile, and ultimately have you believe that sometimes love does grace us with its presence when we need it the most. It's moving, sexy, and erotic. Definitely a keeper.
Another keeper by Shiloh Walker.......2005-04-26
Shiloh Walker describes perfectly the rocky road that Dale and Lauren have to take from their realtionship as friends to being lovers. The readers is drawn into the story and has the feeling to become a part of the story. The book is really fantastic and is a real page turner.
Shiloh Walker's first Ellora Cave's book.......2005-04-25
is a mesmerising page-turner. It is no accident that she is now a fast rising star in the romantica genre.
Lauren and Dale are neighbours and the best of friends, only Lauren wants to be much more than that. For five years, she has lived with the painful knowledge that she is in love with someone who can never love her back and watched as Dale ran through a succession of women. Then one night of mind-blowing sex changes everything. Both Lauren and Dale must overcome insecurities and shadows from the past before they can be happy together.
The plot device may not be new but Shiloh Walker's unique voice and strong characterisation gives the story an exquisite poignancy. Lauren and Dale are sensitively drawn with layers that are slowly revealed as the story progresses. Their journey to happiness is by turns heartwarming and heartwrenching.
While the sex scenes are incinerating, they never come across as indulgent. Infused with tender emotions, they reflect how Lauren and Dale's relationship have evolved. This is a story that will linger in your heart long after you have closed the covers on the book.
Customer Reviews:
Where did the friendship go?.......2004-04-20
I have read a few books by Diana Palmer and I must say that my satisfaction has been hit and miss. I loved "Champayne Girl" by DP and looked forward to reading "Friends and Lovers".
This is a book about two "friends" Madeline and John who both are attracted to each other. John has been ready to be more longer than Madeline but even when she is aware of her feelings she is to much of a "child" to see it.
I like a strong man, an in control man, but I also like the woman to have some backbone. I also would like a leading lady I can identify with or atleast like. I did not find that in this book. She lied to him and herself almost till the end. She keep their pregnancy from him and I can't stand that. He may have been stubborn/hardheaded but sad to say I could identify with John more than Madeline.
Diana at her best !.......2001-08-15
This is one of Palmer's best works so far. It's very entertaining and the romance is sizzling. John and Madeline have great chemistry together. If you loved "The Cowboy and the lady" then this one is a must read.
Typical Palmer - weak heroine, bully hero.......2001-06-14
I used to love big strong alpha type men. I still do, actually. What I hate, though, are bullies dressed up as big strong alpha types. And that seems to be what I get when I read a Diana Palmer book.
First off, John is supposedly an indredibly wealthy man. Their friendship is supposedly strengthened because Madeline has no need for his money. But this is never explained. Her books sell, but she's apparently not a name brand. She drives a 20 year old car. She can apparently pay her own way, but still..that doesn't seem to explain how that rules her out as a gold digger.
John is just mean - no other way to put it. You know the type - "I desire you so much that I *have* to be mean to you". He belittles her fear of men after a bad relationship. He doesn't trust her with his own cousin. Granted, she just doesn't lay back and take it, but her responses are weak.
Madeline doesn't thrill me, either. At 27, she goes around with a "sophisticated" facade of a woman who needs no one. She claims to feel trapped by the very idea of marriage and children. But when she gets pregnant, all those feelings simply dissolve without a wimper.
It also annoys me to no end in a book when women who are in a relationship with a man makes the deliberate decision to NOT tell him about her pregnancy. To me, is shows that the woman is too weak to substantially stand up to the man and that she doesn't really trust him.
I did give it 2 stars because for the most part the dialoug was witty and moved at a decent pace.
Alpha men are few and far inbetween..But if you're looking for a prime example of a hot and sexy alpha man - stay away from John.
A great friendship that turned into a rocky romance........1998-07-30
This story features a funny and romantic friendship between a rich oil man(John) and a murder mystery writer (Madeline). Suddenly they can't get along because of the strong sexual attraction between them. The build up to the big night is fantastic, then they finally become lovers and the author cops out and does a fast forward to the next morning. Diana Palmer is know for her hot sex scenes, and this is a real disappointment. The book is still highly entertaining, but lacks the satisfaction she usually delivers in spades.
Book Description
In this delightful second installment in Alexander McCall Smith’s bestselling detective series, the irrepressibly curious Isabel Dalhousie gets caught up in a highly unusual affair of the heart.
When Isabel is asked to cover for vacationing Cat at her delicatessen, Isabel meets a man with a most interesting problem. He recently had a heart transplant and is suddenly haunted by memories of events that never happened to him.The situation piques her insatiable curiosity: Could the memories be connected with the donor’s demise? Naturally, Isabel’s friend Jamie thinks it is none of Isabel’s business. Meanwhile, Grace, Isabel’s housekeeper, has become infatuated with a man at her spiritualist meeting, and Cat brings home an Italian lothario. That makes for some particularly tricky problems–both practical and philosophical–for Isabel to unravel in this enormously engaging and highly unusual mystery.
Download Description
Alexander McCall Smith is the author of more than 50 books, including the delightful 6-volume No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series. Born in what is now Zimbabwe, McCall Smith was a law professor at the University of Botswana. He now lives in Scotland.
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
average.......2007-08-13
As an avid fan of No.1 Ladies Detective Agency, I was most curious to discover what else Alexander McCall Smith could conjure. However, I have to agree with other reviewers that Friends, Lovers Chocolate is merely adequate rather than great. Sections did become overly wordy for no apparent reason. Isabel Dalhousie really does seem full of herself and not really likeable, and the ending was one chapter too long.
However, despite all that, it was still a relatively pleasant way to pass a few hours. It just didn't rise to the status of "being sorry to leave a good friend" when the book ended.
Cute Nonmystery.......2007-07-17
The charactors are fun nice people having interesting experiences. But there is no real mysteries like the "First Ladies Detectitve Agency" and the stories are not as enjoyable or lovable. Still the book is quite entertaining.
boring.......2007-04-16
I had such high expectations for this book. The story line never got fully developed and was such a disappointment in the end.
A pure delight!.......2007-04-14
Isabel Dalhousie is a pure delight. Her need for doing the ethical thing gives her a fine depth of character, and you've gotta love someone who quotes aptly from Lin Yutang as well as Auden and Robbie Burns. I haven't read "The Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" yet, but charm and imagination don't come much better than this.
An improvement over The Sunday Philosophy Club!.......2007-04-04
Author Alexander Mccall Smith blew onto the popular literature scene with his The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, and his more recent The Sunday Philosophy Club series starring Isabel Dalhousie, the editor of the Review of Applied Ethics, follows a similar format. A confident and educated woman (Isabel), financially secure, is attracted to mysteries like a moth is to flame, albeit reluctantly. I say "reluctantly" because the reader is teased with the thought process by which Isabel convinces herself that her involvement is socially and morally appropriate. She goes through this process with her niece Cat and Cat's ex-boyfriend jamie, as well as her housekeeper Grace and a stranger she meets at Cat's deli. In Friends, Lovers, Chocolate, her involvement is bizarre, as she hassles a family dealing with grief from the loss of their son (but justifies this harassment to herself, not them). A Precious Ramotswe she is not.
There, I did it. I made the comparison of Precious Ramotswe, the detective in The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, with Isabel Dalhousie. Alexander Mccall Smith clearly makes them different, and in Friends, Lovers, Chocolate gets into the mind of Isabel as she quietly makes her ethical decisions, as opposed to Precious, who makes her decisions in conversations with friends and family. It is much harder to "like" Isabel Dalhousie. Clearly she considers herself superior to all of her acquaintances and family. You never hear her saying this, but she is thinking "tsk, tsk" time after time. She's really not a lovable person, yet everyone loves her! Go figure.
I thought Friends, Lovers, Chocolate was a better book than The Sunday Philosophy Club, but I think I'll wait for the next book in the The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series.
Or... perhaps Precious Ramotswe will meet with Isabel Dalhousie, perhaps in Botswana! You read it first here!
Average customer rating:
- Amazing!
- A Thoroughly Enjoyable Read !
- Great debut
- Surprising Journey
- 'I Loved this book!"
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Friends and Lovers in Black and White: a novel
Altomease Rucker Kennedy
Manufacturer: iUniverse, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
| Classics
| Comic
| Contemporary
| Literary
General
| Romance
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Contemporary
| Romance
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0595417736 |
Book Description
"This debut novel is an engaging and touching story of friendship and love which captures the racial tension of the 60s and 70s with some laugh out loud moments." Randall Kennedy, author of Nigger: The Strange Career of a Troublesome Word and Interracial Intimacies: Sex, Marriage, Identity, and Adoption The 60s and 70s were a time of racial turmoil, political unrest, sexual freedom and the rise of feminism. This debut novel asks the question, "Do black and white people want to be friends?" The answer is provided by following the lives of three women from different worlds who meet in college in 1965 and struggle to move beyond the strictures of their insular childhoods and try to create a new world where they can have it all: friends, lovers and careers. Jennifer, a middle class, black girl from Detroit feels compelled to carry the mantle of the race by becoming one of the "first blacks" on campus. Her roommate, Leslie, hails from Scarsdale and dreams of becoming a journalist while her mother hopes for a Jewish doctor son-in-law. Paige rejects her "old money" Greenwich and Palm Beach pedigree and becomes a radical hippie. You will laugh, cry, and sometimes feel angry as they discover themselves, each other and share the joys and heartache of deciding who to love, when to love and how to love.
Customer Reviews:
Amazing!.......2007-07-06
A wonderful book! I real page turner with a social message. I encourage all people to read this book.
A Thoroughly Enjoyable Read !.......2007-05-27
I really enjoyed this novel. The characters were well developed and the storyline presented some suprising twists. I stayed up way past my normal bedtime to get to the ending. I was so engaged that I didn't want to wait another day. I look forward to another book by Ms. Kennedy.
Great debut.......2007-05-01
My aunt graduated from a predominately white woman's college in the late 1960's and this novel truly resonated based on her own experiences (plus the friendships and broken friendships continued to this day). We need more stories like this, showing that we exist outside of the hood, pining for that elusive "good man," and that we are capable of very, very complex and bittersweet feelings about our lives and loves. There's something in this book for everybody, especially younger women ironically.
Surprising Journey.......2007-03-08
Thank you. For giving me a journey through my memories. For being grateful for what I've learned and chosen to keep. For reminders of the joy of friends with whom time shared is the sum of our laughter and tears for and with each other. And finally, for crafting three characters in whose happiness I stayed invested.
'I Loved this book!".......2007-02-20
Dear Amazon Readers,
It is becoming "almost banal" to say that many lawyers "evolve" to become authors of fiction -- Turow, Grisham, Balducci.... they have each done it.
But, in my opinion, not one has "hit the sweet spot" that Al Kennedy has done in her maiden voyage as an author of "fiction" -- or is it?
This African American Woman Lawyer, and, now, an "evolved author of fiction," has dared to explore the knotty question "Do Blacks and Whites want to be friends?" --through this serious, yet, witty, thoughtful, poignant and reflective work of "fiction." Now this is a novelty.
In this book, Al Kennedy has dared to speak a little truth in the form of "fiction" about the collegiate, and subsequent life experiences of white and black people who dared to become "friends" while attending an all white college--and, during the 1960s, no less.
As a parent of collegiate young people, and as graduate of such schools, I say this is novel is a "must and fun read," not only for men and women who have already explored and maintained these relationships over time, but also, for today's enlightened college-aged young people who are experiencing, or should be experiencing, such "diverse," but sincere friendships, while living in the santuary of the "laboratory" of college.
After all, if one does not explore different types friendships while in college... then, when?
Absent such experiences, young people run risk of graduating from college and thereafter, to create a sterile stable of friendships as adults. (e.g., the popular TV comedy, "Friends.")
Author Kennedy offers food for thought for such people who have or may want to nurture and treasure such friendships through life and its challenges.
I enjoyed the book, and I commend it to you!
Thank you Al Rucker Kennedy!
Sincerely,
Betty Noel-Cushenberry
February 19, 2007
Average customer rating:
- Do yourself a favor... READ THIS BOOK!!!
- The best of all
- E. Dickey Did Not Disappoint!
- Fun, great read ;-)
- ****best gehetto book ever! ****
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Friends and Lovers
Eric Jerome Dickey
Manufacturer: NAL Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Dickey, Eric Jerome
| African American
| United States
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Contemporary
| Romance
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
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Sister, Sister
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Cheaters
-
Milk in my Coffee
-
Liar's Game
-
Between Lovers
ASIN: 0451201027 |
Book Description
In Friends and Lovers, best-selling author Eric Jerome Dickey takes an insightful look at relationships. When Debra meets Leonard, she makes it clear that if he wants her love, he'll have to produce a ring. Leonard must face that moment when he has to decide what matters most and whether he's ready for the love of a good woman. Friends and Lovers is a wise and witty look at the human condition from a writer who doesn't make gender an issue but merely a difference to celebrate.
Customer Reviews:
Do yourself a favor... READ THIS BOOK!!!.......2007-09-27
I have had this book for a while but just felt compelled to write a review on it. I have read this book so many times I have lost count. It is a timeless romance that would appeal to black and white, man or woman. This book is just an all around good read. I used to not enjoy reading at all & it was EJD's books that started me into the world of reading. Like a previous reviewer said it is not your ordinary happy ending romance but by the time you get to the end it is well worth the ride. You will laugh, you will cry, you will identify with the characters. If you ever wanted or needed to believe in love, and finding happiness against all odds then this is the book for you. Honestly....JUST DO YOURSELF A FAVOR & READ THIS BOOK!!!
The best of all.......2007-09-17
Out of all the books I've read by EJD, this one was hands down my favorite. I loved Leonard and Debra together. Shelby and Tyrel....not so much. I thought Shelby was narcissitic and Tyrel was just too good for her. Leonard and Debra were perfect for one another. I've read this book countless times, with the same results...I laugh and I cry each time. If ever you're in doubt about Eric Jerome Dickey's writing skills, pick up this book and you will never have to question them again.
E. Dickey Did Not Disappoint!.......2007-03-20
I'm currently in the process of reading everything Dickey has written, and this time around I opened the pages to Friends and Lovers. And once again, E. Dickey did not disappoint me!!
This story and the characters Leonard and Deborah, along with Tyrel and Shelby are so real. The friendship and love each of them shared with one another was a joy to read. So much in fact, that I found myself sad as hell by the time I hit chapter 25, because I just wasnt ready for it, ya know?
The foursome's story is one of love, loss, misunderstanding, stubborness, friendship, and once again...LOVE! So, if you're a Dickey fan, do yourself a favor and read the book. If you're a newbie to Dickey's work, still do yourself a favor and read the book. He won't disappoint you!!
p.s. Does anybody else love the way EJD continues to use past characters in his new books and builds on them?
Fun, great read ;-).......2006-07-20
Eric Jerome Dickey is one of my favourite authors. This was the second book of his I ever read and I love it. I think his style of writting has changed of late, but this was back when he was writting in the style I love.
You really get to know the characters and understand them. There is a good mix of drama, romance, humour and more drama with them all. I really love the Shelby and Tyrel story line. They are my favourite characters EJD has written. I also love how in this book everyone goes to Roscoes (the best fried chicken spot in LA). You don't necessarily have to read Sister Sister first, but you should at some stage read all of his books because he's such a great writer. These earlier books are much better (in my opinion) than his more recent. I love this.
****best gehetto book ever! ****.......2006-03-17
i give thumbs up and all props for friends n lovers. the characters, attitudes, and the role takin was all bomb. i've even seen the play, which i liked. i take all five stars back and triple it all the way up. even though shelby had attitude she played her role as a true black quuen of dramma. males u betta watch out shelbys given us a new way of checkin 2 c if yall cheatin. i really likes tyrell's role u don't find to many guys who wants to commit with someone. though i didn't like the fact he was seeing a dum married women who tried to have her cake and eat it 2. the down fall of the story was that leonard had to get killed but then again when you think about it that is life. i felt debra's pain so much, my best friend kind who kind of remind me of her. debra really has a good heart but don't be fooled she will go black on u. im already on book #2 cheaters and man we do have another black queen in fact quite a few in cheaters. i can't wait to get to milk in my coffe and liar's game. dramma is just around the cornor.
Book Description
Taking a Chance on God explores how lesbians and gay men can claim both a positive gay identity and a fulfilling life of Christian faith.
Customer Reviews:
Great Book! .......2006-07-16
The "Honest Truth" (or, more accurately, Reactionary Bias) does not sound as much against homosexuality as he does unsafe sexual behavior, which many, many gay men do not engage in. Heterosexuals do a lot of stupid stuff too, but we do not blame heterosexuality, we blame the self-destructive behavior. What HT fails to explain in his review is this: How do you account for all the gay men out there (myself included, HELLO) who are not promiscuous and risk-taking in their personal lives? I'd like to here the "honest truth" about that! Oh, and by the way, what makes straight people always think they're such authorities on gays and lesbians? If you want to find a real expert, look no further than an actual gay person. What a concept.
Very important book.......2006-06-08
I got this book for my birthday one year after finding it on the shelf at a bookstore. Being a part of the minority group of gay Christians, I was intrigued. The "target audience" for the book is for homosexuals and their loved ones, but it really could be read by anyone, and I think it should be. McNeill offers theology on living in fear, guilt, shame, anger, and living with pathological faith and the importance of maturing spiritually. I think any Christian can relate to any (if not all) of these topics, and not just struggling gay Christians. It's the kind of book that you may want to read with a pencil or pen in your hand so you can underline parts that are important to you. (That's what I did.) This is a caring, humble, and comforting book, and one that I highly recommend and cherish.
Pro Gay, Pro Christian!!!.......1999-01-09
I am a gay ordained minister of the gospel, and this book helped me accept my homosexuality. It is suberbly written and researched. A must for anyone coming out, and a definite must for any minsiter workign with the gay community. God bless the author.
Pro Gay, Pro Christian!!!.......1999-01-09
I am a gay ordained minister of the gospel, and this book helped me accept my homosexuality. It is suberbly written and researched. A must for anyone coming out, and a definite must for any minsiter workign with the gay community. God bless the author.
Average customer rating:
- All African American Couples Should Own!
- Leave your Ego behind when you read this book.....
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Friends, Lovers, and Soulmates: A Guide to Better Relationships Between Black Men and Women
Dr. Darlene Hopson
Manufacturer: Fireside
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Beauty & Fashion
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
Marriage
| Relationships
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Sociology
| Social Sciences
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
African-American Studies
| Special Groups
| Social Sciences
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
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How to Love a Black Man
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How to Love a Black Woman: Give-and-Get-the Very Best in Your Relationship
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What Brothers Think, What Sistahs Know: The Real Deal on Love and Relationships
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The Sistahs' Rules: Secrets For Meeting, Getting, And Keeping A Good Black Man Not To Be Confused With The Rules
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SoulMates: An Illustrated Guide to Black Love, Sex, and Romance
Accessories:
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philosophy hope in a jar daily moisturizer
ASIN: 0671505610 |
Book Description
Are you looking for a special companion? Frustrated because you can't seem to communicate with the person you are with? Determined to meet someone whose vision matches yours? If so, Friends, Lovers, and Soul Mates is for you!
Filled with self-assessments, dozens of case studies, and an appendix of organizations, Friends, Lovers, and Soul Mates is more than just a relationship book for Black men and women. It is a guide you can use at any stage in your life, whether you want to figure out why you don't currently have a relationship or want to enhance your existing relationship. There is no magic wand to create the nourishing bonds we so desperately need and deserve, but with hard work and the guidance that you can find in this book, a healthy, nurturing, and loving relationship can be yours.
Customer Reviews:
All African American Couples Should Own!.......2003-03-05
This book is one that "ALL" African American couples should own. My professor used it as the main text in his class and it not only helps you understand yourself but your mate as well. It also gives you insight on why we behave in the manner in which we do, and provides exercises to help you sustain your relationships. The authors are African American Husband and Wife Psychologist who also practice what they've written.
Leave your Ego behind when you read this book............2000-11-03
I say that because in reading and understanding the husband/wife authors, you will become humble and start looking for opportunities to become more of a soulmate to your lover or friend. I agree that a person can indeed become jaded or exasperated with the "games" that men and women play on each other! Sometimes a person wonders how did their parents or grandparents ever get together! This book was one of the FIRST of the truly HELPFUL books in the Iyanla Vanzant, Maya Angelou, Dr. Ron Elmore tradition! This one has the benefit of a very intuitive and intelligent husband and wife team aiding you in the process ! A very good investment. May the reading and applying of the information bring about a healing and lifetime love for you! Peace -ed-
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- Heroes and Saints and Other Plays: Giving Up the Ghost, Shadow of a Man, Heroes and Saints
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
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