Secret Sins

Secret Sins
Average customer rating:

a quality of story that is too few and far between

Complex characters, fascinating interwoven plots

Wooden writing style

One of the best I've read in a long, long time

exciting London investigative tale

Secret Sins
Kate Charles
Manufacturer: Poisoned Pen Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1590583566

Book Description

Life may not be getting any easier for curate Callie Anson, but it is definitely getting more interesting. Her relationship with policeman Marco Lombardi grows ever warmer, even though he seems to be keeping her away from his close Italian family. Then her own brother Peter, beloved and engaging as he is, gets a bit too close for comfort when he moves in with Callie.

Professionally, things are challenging as well. Callie has become involved with the problems of a new parishioner. Morag Hamilton is worried about her granddaughter Alex--a lonely and isolated twelve-year-old with a work-obsessed father and a self-absorbed step-mother. If Morag knew how much time Alex spends on the internet, she would have even more cause for worry.

Meanwhile, Detective Inspector Neville Stewart tries to put his personal problems on hold as he deals with Rachel Norton, a pregnant young woman with a missing husband. With the birth of their first baby only a few days away, why would Trevor Norton go out jogging and not return?

Trevor's disappearance may not be what it seems. Just when Neville thinks he's solved it, someone else goes missing: young Alex Hamilton.

Customer Reviews:

a quality of story that is too few and far between.......2007-09-30

I agree with Dr Cathy Goodwin's assessment of the book, except I would say the quality is right up there with Deborah Crombie and Jill Mcgown (and that IS high praise). Lots of characters, but depicted so well and concisley that they are easy to keep track of. This is the type of writing I long for, and the paperback looks so blah on the cover--just goes to show once again about not judging by a cover! I started the book this morning and couldn't stop till I was through, not so much because the mystery is so suspenseful as that the characters and their lives really draw you in. Will definitely check out her other books.

Complex characters, fascinating interwoven plots.......2007-05-18

Another wonderful mystery from Kate Charles, whose insights into human nature and relationships breathe life into her books. It's a pleasure to get to know characters like Reverend Callie, Mark Lombardi and Morag Hamilton little by little and try to envision how the different subplots will affect each other. If you like Julia Spencer-Fleming's Reverend Clare mysteries, give Kate Charles's Reverend Callie a try.

Wooden writing style.......2007-04-09

This author's writing style was so stilted or wooden. I didn't care about any of the characters. She gives no wrap-ups, has too many characters, no suspense or action or feeling whatsoever. I kept telling my husband this book is so boring! He was wondering why I was still reading it but I dislike not finishing a book that I have started. It bugged me to read about a female parish priest who enjoyed sex with her ex-fiance. I don't consider myself a prude but what was that about? Why didn't the book go into any detail about Rachel & her boyfried who killed her husband? I did not enjoy this book. I am actually shocked at the 5 star reviews.

One of the best I've read in a long, long time.......2007-03-25

It's been so long since I read a truly great mystery: absorbing, suspenseful, well-written, cleverly plotted, three-dimensional characters worth following. I hear publishers are pushing the more contemporary suspense novels, but give me a good detective read anytime.

Author Kate Charles masterfully controls a handful of parallel plots. Some characters are common to all, but thankfully we don't have a contrived ending where everything nicely dovetails. In fact, at least one plot ends with a revelation of a cruel tragedy.

This series inevitably gets compared to other clerical mysteries (such as Spencer-Fleming) and English mysteries (such as Veronica Stallwood). But I think anyone who appreciates great detective fiction will be delighted to stumble across Kate Charles. I'd compare her to Nevada Barr, Sarah Stewart Taylor, and even some of Sharyn McCrumb.

An author, in my mind, can be called great when we readers commit the secret sins of reading their work when we should be working. A rare and highly pleasurable experience. Secret Sins qualifies.

exciting London investigative tale .......2007-03-10

In London recently ordained Anglican cleric Callie Anson is happy with her relationship with police officer Marco "Mark" Lombardi though he seems to avoid having her meet his Italian family. Callie tries to provide solace to new parishioner Morag Hamilton, who is worried about her beloved preadolescent granddaughter Alex who never goes outside unless she has to; her father Alex is to busy with work and her stepmother Jilly is too busy with her own needs to care that Alex lives on the Internet.

While Callie worries about Morag and Alex, Detective Inspector Neville Stewart investigates a missing jogger, computer guru Trevor Norton whose wife is about to give birth. Though he hopes the runner is found okay, Neville fears the worst while welcoming the respite from his personal problems of a maybe romance with the woman he has always loved who dumped him a decade ago. Now Neville has a second vanishing to investigate; that twelve years old Alex whose grandmother reported her missing.

The key to this exciting London investigative tale is the extended cast are fully developed three dimensional people who make the several plots merge into a terrific one sitting thriller. Alex is the link that ties the multitude of plots into one superior story line. Readers will want to obtain Kate Charles' fine character driven tale SECRET SINS and the previous novel with much of the same lead players EVIL INTENT.

Harriet Klausner

Sin, Shame, And Secrets: The Murder of a Nun, the Conviction of a Priest, and Cover-up in the Catholic Church

Average customer rating:

A factual "Eyes Wide Open" approach to a shocking "closed Mouth" subject.
A Book Not to be missed
Couldn't put down...
The Truth Comes Out
Too close to home to be objective

Sin, Shame, And Secrets: The Murder of a Nun, the Conviction of a Priest, and Cover-up in the Catholic Church
David Yonke
Manufacturer: Continuum International Publishing Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Criminology | Crime & Criminals | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Murder & Mayhem | True Accounts | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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After Asceticism: Sex, Prayer and Deviant Priests

ASIN: 0826417558

Book Description

David Yonke's new book Sin, Shame, & Secrets is the shocking but true story of the 1980s ritual murder of a Roman Catholic nun that went unsolved for more than two decades - until cold case investigators arrested Father Gerald Robinson, a 66-year-old Roman Catholic priest, at his home next door to the Toledo police station on April 23, 2004.

Just over two years later, on May 11, 2006, a jury convicted Father Robinson of murder and the priest was sentenced to life in prison, a term he is now serving at a maximum-security prison in southern Ohio.

An award-winning journalist and the religion editor of The Toledo Blade, David Yonke covered the trial from gavel to gavel. Sin, Shame, & Secrets chronicles the unique and compelling case that involves startling evidence of a satanic murder, an examination of the cover-up by the Toledo Catholic Diocese, and an inside look at how cold-case investigators and the prosecutor's office put together an iron-clad case that resulted in a conviction after just 6 hours of jury deliberations.

Customer Reviews:

A factual "Eyes Wide Open" approach to a shocking "closed Mouth" subject........2007-05-14

David Yonke tackles this blockbuster of a subject with the profesionalism of
the seasoned journalist he proves to be. He unbiasly weaves a story from
events that take place over nearly a fifty year span. He backs up his facts
with fascinating interviews with those just and injust. As with interviews
culled from all sides of those who played parts in horrific events like war
crimes, Yonke's work shows how the passage of time has made some interesting and redemptive twists of perspective
with those who participated or had some accountabillity in the matter. Also, disturbing as it is,he illuminates the fact that as well, time has made no difference,
to some individuals responsible,yet still obsessed with self preservation,and the image of a culpable institution they will not question.

A Book Not to be missed.......2007-03-22

This book is a must read if you want to know what is really going on in the church. Very sad state of affairs

Couldn't put down..........2007-01-18

I read this book over Christmas with much activity going on but couldn't put it down. Living in Toledo I was well aware of the events and the trial yet only after I read the book did I understand what had really happened. I am not interested generally in this genre. This book, however, reads like a novel as far as "interesting" and reads like a documentary as far as "information". I highly recommend it!

The Truth Comes Out.......2007-01-11

Author David Yonke has done a wonderful job of sorting through and explaining a tangled web of cover-ups, lies, and tabu subjects that have been supressed by the Catholic Church for years. He lays it out and explains technical information in a clear and entertaining way. Once you pick it up, you can't put it down.

Too close to home to be objective.......2007-01-09

As a "hometown" boy and a Catholic and knowing many of the "characters" in some way, it's very difficult to remain objective.
Dave Yonke is definitely a newsreporter. The writing has very little flare and is usually straightforward.
On the otherhand, despite the facts, it's hard to keep reminding yourself that this is all real. You expect the insights of a novel, with dialogue and psychological analysis. And the fact that it's real leaves it without all the threads tied in tidy little bundles at the end or the appearance of the narrator on a white horse bringing all the hanging "facts" to a conclusion.
At times it seemed repetitive, but then when different people are talking about the same events it does get repetitive.
It is a fascinating read. It was even more fascinating to live through it.

Average customer rating:

Whats the point?
Very helpful resource
Unorganized
May not suit everyone's needs....
This book is written by an uneducated hillbilly

When His Secret Sin Breaks Your Heart
Kathy Gallagher
Manufacturer: Pure Life Ministries
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0971547017

Book Description

Behind every husband enslaved to sexual sin there is a woman reaping the horrible side effects of his selfcentered lifestyle. What can be more devastating for a wife than to discover her husband has a secret obsession with pornography and other women Yet this is what countless Christian wives face every day. Kathy Gallagher has been there; she understands the pain of rejection the feelings of hopelessness and the questions that plague a hurting wife. In this collection of letters Kathy imparts heartfelt encouragement by providing the practical biblical answers that helped her find healing in the midst of her most trying storm. The 30day journal offers wives a place to prayerfully reflect and meditate upon Kathys letters. When His Secret Sin Breaks Your Heart testifies that there is hope for the most dejected of souls and the bleakest of marriages.

Customer Reviews:

Whats the point?.......2007-03-02

This is a very unorganized book and it doesn't even include the letter that the author is responding to. The responding letter may have good points to it but it may or may not apply to your situation. I couldn't assess whether the advice given in the letters were in my best interest or not because I didn't know the situation surrounding the advice.

Very helpful resource.......2007-01-10

The reason for purchasing this book is obviously a heartbreaking one, but I found so much encouragement in its pages. This book really helped me begin to shift my focuss off myself and on to God. The author has been through what you may be going through and what I am facing and truly offers much hope.

Unorganized.......2006-05-01

This book is a series of letters to various women (real or fake? who knows) and has pretty much zero structure to it. I'm pretty sure the whole "letters" idea is just an excuse for not having any kind of organization at all. It's hard to even know where the author is coming from, or going, with whatever she is saying. It's just a bunch of random thoughts thrown together. Not only that, but some of the things this lady says don't really line up with scripture. It's just not a very helpful book at all, and is pretty frustrating to read, and like I said before, not really sound scripturally. It's unorganized and "chatty" and basically depthless, which is a pretty impressive feat to accomplish with a subject as deep as sexual sin. Unless you just want an attractive book with a catchy title, save your money and time and pass this one up.

May not suit everyone's needs...........2005-07-17

If you are looking for a book to help with a personal situation in your life or in the life of someone you love that is hurting, this is not the first book I would recommend. Each letter is written with a different situation in mind and it is likely that only a few of the letters she writes will touch your personal situation, especially if your situation involves other forms of abuse. If you are looking for a more professional or pyschological approach, you may want to look elsewhere. However, if you want to have a greater understanding of how the sexual addictions of husbands hurt their wives or to let you know you are not alone, this book will help give you that. Kathy, the author, has experienced a great deal of hurt in her own marriage and identifies well with the various situations. Although I didn't always agree with her advice, I admire Kathy's consistency as she points each woman back to the Lord where all Truth and healing ultimately lies.

This book is written by an uneducated hillbilly.......2005-03-11

Her advice is eratic and inconsistant. I'm worried that the women who recieved these letters from her will actually continue to remain in horrific degrading marriages.

In one letter she asks, ". . .does having a comfortable, pain-free life mean so much to you that you would end your marriage for it? Does his pornography addiction really warrant divorce?" As a person who has been in recovery for several years for co-dependency and co-addiction and is married to a sex addict who actually went to a rehab program (Del Amo Hospital in Los Angeles) for it, I think that I can answer her rhetorical questions. When you are married to a narcissist (and yes, most sex addicts qualify as narcissists)who is emotionally abusive and you have lost your sense of self and self respect and you feel like you're losing your sanity, yes you should end the marriage. It is o.k. to do what is in your best interests. I can't believe this woman would suggest that other women remain in a painful demoralizing relationship with no end in sight of the suffering. Marriage takes work on both sides and if your husband is not in a recovery program for sexual addiction and seeking professional help then it is time to hit the road ladies. It's not going to get any better unless you focus on your own recovery AND he focuses on his.

To answer her second question, again my answer is YES. Pornagraphy is cheating which in biblical terms is grounds for divorce. I can't believe this woman waters it down and suggests that a woman suffer through it. Sexual addiction is progressive, that means without treatment it gets worse. If your husband is looking at porn and is not earnestly seeking help for getting free from it, then get out of the relationship. Why wait until he's sleeping with prostitutes and gives you a V.D.?! Don't be naive, that is what it leads to. Even if he is seeking help, still if you want to get a divorce, then yes of course you have biblical grounds for it it. It's your life and no one in their right mind would suggest you put up with this, just like no one would suggest you remain with an alcoholic or a drug addict. It's the same across the board. Any professional will tell you that addiction is addiction is addiction - they all tend to have the same root causes and they are all destructive.

Please do not take this book seriously. Instead seek out a support group such as COSA. Stand up for yourself and get counseling, not just marital counseling or counseling for your husband, but one on one counseling for YOU!

Average customer rating:

The tragedy of Margaret O'Donnell, in the first volume of the Mockingbird Hill saga
EDITORIAL REVIEW: FACED PACED READ WITH SURPRISES
Secret Sins of the Mothers
Pick it up...can't put it down!

Secret Sins of the Mothers
Dorothy K. Morris , and Vannessa Vermond
Manufacturer: Ht Communications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Leather Bound

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1892977036

Book Description

Rape, a double murder, and the effects that the actions of our ancestors have upon the lives of their descendants are the simple themes of this easy-to-read, classic tale of mystery and romance. Much of the action occurs in South Carolina during the Civil War, but the novel is primarily a story about people, not about war. The plot twists and turns, the characters shock and surprise us. We are transported from the Civil War era to modern times. The earlier part of the story revolves around Margaret, a poor young white girldaughter of a half-breed Cherokee and his sullen, bitter-tempered wife. Margaret's personal diary is found hidden in a secret compartment of an heirloom desk a full century later. The truth about her life--the hidden paternity of her heir and only male child--had lay hidden in these pages for decades. The discovery of these truths deeply impacts the lives of her living descendants in the late twentieth century. Margaret's secret sins are exposed to her descendants. Now the family must cope with these terrible secrets. This is a book that you cannot put down until you reach the very end. Allow yourself a full evening before you begin to read the first few pages.

Customer Reviews:

The tragedy of Margaret O'Donnell, in the first volume of the Mockingbird Hill saga.......2006-08-21

"Secret Sins of the Mothers" is the first of what is now the three-part Mockingbird Hill series written by Dorothy K. Morris, a native of Charleston, South Carolina. Most of this first novel is set in rural South Carolina during the Civil War, but the story is not really about the war. Many of the male characters in the story go off to fight for the Confederacy, but that is to allow the focus to be on the women they leave behind and the relationships they form during a time when survival matters more than class (at least to most people). However, part of the story takes place in the present, among the ancestors of the people we meet in the past.

The story starts in the fourth decade of the 19th century when a half-Cherokee Indian by the name of Charlie O'Donnell decides the time has come for a wife. He finds one in Sylvie Sharp, an indentured servant who worked two consecutive contracts because her younger sister died on the ship from England to the United States. The marriage is of convenience and nothing more, and produces a daughter named Margaret for Sylvie's dead sister. But before Margaret is even born in this story, a woman named Elizabeth Perry reads a pair of desperate letters written by Margaret to another Miss Elizabeth from Tally's Nook, South Carolina, on November 30 and December 6 in the year 1864. This is how we are introduced to the mystery that winds its way through Morris' first novel.

I am in the habit of taking the book jacket off of a hardcover book like "Secret Sins of the Mothers" and putting it away when I start to read the book without paying attention to the cover art or anything the publishers have to say on the back or the flaps. That was a good thing in this case because the cover art by Vanessa Aeriane Vermond captures the pivotal event that happens at the end of Part 2. I was surprised when this happened, so I was happy that I did not look at the cover and that I ignored the reproduction of the cover art on the title page as well. The same thing applies to the back of the book jacket, which in the first sentence after the title gives away the key things that happens in the novel. I appreciate that readers usually need some sort of hook to get them interested in a new reader, but I had the third book and was not going to read it without reading the previous two novels first. That fact that an author gets to the third volume in a series is a pretty good sign and if you are interested in stories set during and after the Civil War that could be enough to recommend these books as well without knowing the specifics of this tale of mystery and romance. So my advice is to pay not attention to the dust jacket of this book.

The other important thing to know is that Morris tells her story briskly. Charlie O'Donnell usually makes his living making turpentine and I know plenty of authors of books like this one that would go to great lengths to work in all of the details of a process like that into a novel (if they are Jean M. Auel, of course, then they actually would have done it for real). Consequently, there is an economy of story telling her that keeps you involved in the story. I have a preference for what is happening in the past rather than in the present in "Secret Sins of the Mothers," and to tell the truth Morris would have maintained my interest without the modern part of the story. That is where Morris wants the payoff for this story to be found, and I can certainly follow her reasoning for wanting to play it that way, but that is not the most captivating part of the tale. Now I am hoping that when I pick up the next Mockingbird Hill novel, "Coyotes of Creek Crossing", that a lot of the things Morris quickly at the end of Chapter 13 of this book will be fleshed out more fully. The important thing is that I want to find out more about what happens to Margaret O'Donnell (plus I am betting Charlie comes back from the war).

EDITORIAL REVIEW: FACED PACED READ WITH SURPRISES.......2000-03-02

"The author, who was born in Charleston, S.C., grew up in the low country where most of her story is set. The story takes us back to the mid-1800's, just prior to the Civil War when we meet the young Margaret O'Donnell, a young woman who is the daughter of a half-Cherokee and an Irish mother. The family has a small home on the Parrish plantation, where her father, Charlie, is employed. Her mother, Sylvie, is probably the most sour and unhappy woman you'd ever expect to meet and Margaret tries to stay out of her way(and so does Charlie). When Charlie goes off to war, Margaret steps up to fill his shoes, bringing home game for the two of them to eat. She also is asked to come over to the Grenville plantation to read to the owner's daughter, Elizabeth Perry. Elizabeth and Margaret form a close relationship, so close that Margaret feels that Elizabeth is the only one she can turn to when the unthinkable happens. The story jumps back and forth from the present to the past, but that doesn't cloud the issue. In the present, Elizabeth Wilson, a descendent of the Perry family, finds an old letter in her mother's trunk. The letter leads her on a quest for answers about the family and about herself. This is a pretty fast-paced read with a couple of surprises thrown in along the way."

Secret Sins of the Mothers.......2000-02-10

Great! I am an avid reader and Louis L'Amour is my favorite author. Ms. Morris' writing reminds me of him, in that her plot and characters are not complicated and I feel as if I am with them, observing all that is happening. This book is easy to read, has an interesting plot and compelling characters. I can especially relate to Charlie. I was born and raised in the low country of South Carolina (Bethera, right in the middle of Hell Hole Swamp). My uncle managed a turpentine plantation during the 1930s and I worked with him several summers, helping to blaze the trees and gather the sap. I am waiting (impatiently) for Ms. Morris' next book. Turn off the TV and pick up this book for an entertaining evening!

Pick it up...can't put it down!.......2000-01-29

From Lannette B. Steed (boat5050@charleston.net), January 10, 2000,

Ms. Morris captures your attention right away in such a fashion you have to keep reading. You go easily from one generation to the other. You follow the ancestor's lives without trouble as you've gotten to know them well. There are so many emotions that are interesting and thrilling. Artfully done in taking you from the Civil War era to present times. A story well written. Hopefully Ms. Morris will have more for us.

The Zippered Heart: Healing for the Secrets We Hide Inside
Average customer rating:

Insight, intelligence, and compassion in all walks of life

The Zippered Heart: Healing for the Secrets We Hide Inside
Marilyn Meberg
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Christian Living | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Women's Issues | Christian Living | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0849937027

Book Description

What do you do with all the ugly, embarrassing things in your life? We all have them whether or not we can admit it. In The Zippered Heart, popular author and Women of Faith speaker Marilyn Meberg explains that spiritual and emotional well-being require us to acknowledge the less-than-attractive, often shameful aspects of our character that we often try to hide. Meberg believes to admit our weakness is to invite the divine power of God to conquer them. With hope and humor, this book is an important reminder that there is nothing God can't heal.

Customer Reviews:

Insight, intelligence, and compassion in all walks of life.......2002-08-27

I am constantly impressed by the brilliance of Marilyn Meberg. In her latest book "The Zippered Heart," she tactfully tackles many issues that Christians face today, unwrapping the concept of living free from guilt, resisting temptation, and unlocking the truth to set your soul in flight. By revealing some of her "darker intentions" she makes us realize that those black thoughts and shameful memories and ideas that we hold "just to the left of the zipper" are the same guilt and fears that plague all mankind; that we are not something to be ashamed of, but rather a daughter of the King.

Gently treading on painful issues and areas of life, she unwraps the mysteries of the heart like a velvet ribbon, and when the last page is turned and the book lain aside, we remember the freedom we have been given in Christ, and the journey that lies before us toward learning to forgive ourselves. Long-time fans of Marilyn will not be surprised or insulted by some of the examples she uses to prove her point, having already become familiar with her sometimes dark but appealing sense of humor. But for those who have never read "the rapscallion brilliance" of Marilyn Meberg before, I suggest you begin with "I'd Rather Be Laughing."

Sins and Secrets
Average customer rating:

A Unique & Sexy Read

Sizzles with passion and sexual tensions

Classic Victorian Erotica

disappointment

WOW! Hot, Hot, HAWT!

Sins and Secrets
P.F. Kozak
Manufacturer: Aphrodisia
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | Classics | Comic | Contemporary | Literary
General | Erotica | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0758214189

Book Description

Set in Victorian London, a unique choose-your-own sexual adventure from the author of Passion. Go as far as you dare . . . what happens is up to you . . .

In the London of the 1880s, genteel young women are strictly governed and taught to obey without question. But not Pamela Kingston. Her guardian--the handsome and masterful Peter Rennard--indulges her every whim. When Pamela confides her most intimate fantasies to him, he promises to initiate her into a hidden world of desire . . . and teach her the infinite pleasure of pure sin...

Customer Reviews:

A Unique & Sexy Read.......2007-04-03

PF Kozak does an incredible job with Sins and Secrets crafting a story so unique and so hot I couldn't put it down. I loved the characters in this book and her attention to detail is amazing. I can't wait to see more from this author!

Sizzles with passion and sexual tensions.......2007-03-16

Sins and Secrets
by P.F. Kozak
Kensington Aphrodisia
ISBN: 0-7582-1418-9

Category: Historical Romance
Release date: October 2006
Reviewed by: Terry South for CataRomance (03/07)

[...]

P.F. Kozak's erotic historical romance, Sins and Secrets is set in Victorian London and is a very unique choose your own sexual adventure. A sensual delight with blazing hot eroticism.

Set in Victorian London, as a time when people were proper, but yet indulged in their sensuality, passion and sexual inclinations behind closed doors. The author is so vivid in detail that we are transported back in time. In this erotic tale, we as the reader can choose to have either the male or the female dominate the sex scenes, this is quite a change from the ordinary.

Pamela Kingston wishes to indulge her fantasies with her guardian Peter Rennard, the man whom she has loved forever. And Peter has loved Pamela from the moment she was a child, working as the family barrister. When Pamela's father dies she becomes the ward of Peter. Pamela is blooming into a beautiful young lady and Peter's sexual attraction to her is becoming very strong. Peter sends Pameal off to boarding school in hopes to prevent his growing desires and to avoid the taking of her innocence. He must keep his promise to Pamela's father, as he promised to make sure Pamela would marry into someone of her own status.

Upon her return, she has fully blossomed into a beautiful woman and is discovering her sexuality and desires. They immediately recognize their sexual attraction has grown even stronger due to their seperation. Peter introduces Pamela to her hidden desires and her sexual fantasies. But as time continues, Peter realizes he must find someone to marry Pamela, but he cannot stand the thought of someone else touching her. Will Peter find someone for Pamela to marry, or will he marry her?

You will find wonderful characters, adventure, love, romance, and erotic sexual tension making this one hard to put down. This is a highly recommended historical romance read as it sizzles with passion and sexual tensions.

Classic Victorian Erotica.......2007-03-04

Sins and Secrets is classic Victorian erotica. The relationship between Peter and Pamela draws you in and is very hot. The details of Victorian life add a lot to the story. If you like historical romance and erotica, and are ready to take the next step, you'll love this book. I really liked the choose your own aspect. It's fun to choose and then go back and read the other choice. Any choice will be a hot one. Enjoy !

disappointment.......2007-02-28

I absolutely hated this book! I read so I can be "taken away" and this book did none of that> I have just begun reading erotic fiction and I was lucky enough to have read Sharon Page first so I guess I expected better since this book had gotten some decent reviews. The book was silly, the fact that you got to "choose" which character you wanted to do what, was irritating..and I never felt that I could get a good grasp on their personalities. I want a story to "take me away." This one definitely did not!! There was no smooth transition from chapter to chapter and all the characters seemed juvenile to me.

WOW! Hot, Hot, HAWT! .......2007-01-24

A wonderfully written love story with an intricate premise, well-crafted characters and incredible sensuality. I couldn't get enough of this sexy historical romance!!! In fact, I missed my train stop one morning and finally made it to work forty minutes late!!! I read P.F. Kozak's first erotic romance novel, Passion, and I didn't think it could get any better. I was so wrong. And perhaps the best thing about Kozak's writing is how intelligent it is. This is erotica for readers who'd like their intellect stimulated along with their um...other parts. I'm a fan for life.

Secret Sin: When God's People Choose Abortion: Unmasking the Secret Shame and Silent Suffering of Post-Abortive Christians

Average customer rating:

Disappointed
Compassionate call for the Church to wake up and smell the coffee

Secret Sin: When God's People Choose Abortion: Unmasking the Secret Shame and Silent Suffering of Post-Abortive Christians
Mary Comm
Manufacturer: Morgan James Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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Rachel's Vineyard: A Psychological and Spiritual Journey of Post-Abortion Healing : A Model for Groups
A Solitary Sorrow (Women/Inspirational)
Her Choice to Heal: Finding Spiritual and Emotional Peace After Abortion
Healing a Fathers Heart: A Post-Abortion Bible Study for Men

ASIN: 1600371493

Book Description

Secret Sin: When God's People Choose Abortion was written because abortion is one of the last great secret sins that remains ?in the closet.? And because the Church hasn?t been aware of the magnitude of this secret sin or how it affects those it touches, the Church has done little or nothing to help these people suffering silently in their midst to find healing in Christ. This book was written to pull back the curtain giving those within the Church an inside look into the world of the post-abortive Christian with the intent of spurring them on to begin reaching out to these hurting people with the compassion of Christ.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointed.......2007-10-06

I volunteer at a Christian-based Pregnancy Support Center so the title of this book caught my eye. It is a quick read and contains some interesting and useful statistics. However, I found myself skipping over several sections because the same info was repeated, just in a different format. This is definitely a topic that warrants attention but this book didn't offer enough substance for me in relation to the money I spent.

Compassionate call for the Church to wake up and smell the coffee.......2006-11-12

"Secret Sin" is a fast read that packs a punch in the face of the Church's last taboo, reaching out to the post-abortive women and men in their midst. Sitting in the pews Sunday after Sunday are a huge number of people who have been affected by abortion. Yet as a pastor of a large mainstream denomination told me, "You'd be hard pressed to find many people in the church who are compassionate towards those who have had abortions". And that's just a shame.

As you can see by my name, I may be somewhat biased in writing this review. Yet I assure you that no such bias exists. Mary has done a tremendous job of writing a book that handles the issue both passionately and with great delicacy. Rather than being a political call to action, she takes great pains to state that while she is obviously pro-life, her direct mission is not to save babies... but rather to bring awareness to the church that the post-abortive can also receive the love of Jesus Christ to transform their lives and turn their pain into promise. It is about offering love and forgiveness to those who have chosen to abort.

Making the case that abortion actually causes far more long-term problems than it solves, we discover that no less than one in three women in the church have had at least one abortion. And many of the problems that women face, such as eating disorders, drug and alcohol dependency, relationship problems and suicide actually stem from a past abortion.

The pro-life movement has spent the last 40+ years focusing on the lives of the babies that are lost, while neglecting the victims who continue to walk amongst us all... and in great numbers. The author contends that by making the Church a safe place for the post-abortive to find healing, it is the voices of those who have received this healing that will mount in number and be able to state boldly and without shame, "abortion hurt me". And when the voices begin to be heard, then and only then will the abortion holocaust become a thing of the past.

It is time for Pastors and layleaders to step up and open their hearts to those who are suffering from their choice to abort. It is time for the Church to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ, just as he would do were he physically walking amongst the post-abortive in our churches today.

Kudos to Mary for writing this important book which I believe will be a groundbreaking effort towards bringing healing to the hurting and turning the tide of abortion in our culture.

Average customer rating:

Secret Sins
Merlin R. Carothers
Manufacturer: Merlin R. Carothers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0943026369

Book Description

As you read this book you will agree that secret sins bring heartache and pain but God has provided a simple way for us to be delivered from our secret sins.

Average customer rating:

This Book is Terrible!
AUTHOR NEED TO TAKE A CLASS ON HOW TO WRITE A NOVEL
I was not impressed....
Dissapointment
THIS BOOK WAS A ONE DAY READ FOR ME

Sins & Secrets
Carolyn Chambers Sanders
Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0446693855

Book Description

In the bestselling tradition of Nikki Turner, this self-published Essence bestseller is about one woman's determination to get to the top of her game-and stay there. Candice, Amber, and Toi are three young black women who have risen above life on the streets. Successful entrepreneurs, they're all at the top of their game-but money and success don't always equal happiness. Candice enters the world of professional sports, where numerous affairs will force her to question herself and what she wants out of life. When an old lover bullies Candice with past indiscretions, she will do anything to keep her previous life a secret. Now, her friends are in trouble, too, as an abusive boyfriend threatens Amber's well-being and Toi discovers her fiance's dark secret. The three soul sisters must evaluate how much of their life has left the streets, and how much remains......

Customer Reviews:

This Book is Terrible!.......2007-06-28

Please don't waste your money! This book is terrible. I hate to throw away books but this trash is going in the trash!

AUTHOR NEED TO TAKE A CLASS ON HOW TO WRITE A NOVEL.......2007-01-11

THIS BOOK IS OH SO HORRIBLE. THE AUTHOR SHOULD HAVE STUCK WITH BEING DION'S WIFE, STOCK-BROKER, FINANCIAL PLANNER,REAL ESTATE CONSULTANT OR INSURANCE AGENT. THE AUTHOR SHOULD HAVE STOOD IN THE MALL PARKING LOT AND HANDED OUT EVERY COPY OF THIS BOOK FOR FREE. I WISH THE AUTHOR ALL THE SUCCESS ON HER NEXT NOVEL.

I was not impressed...........2006-07-08

After reading the first 3 chapters...and i I only read past the third chapter because I was stuck in the house during a thunderstorm, with no electricity and nothing else to do.

Having said that much...the character's were shallow, pretty much single females who make it out of the ghetto to become successful entreprenuers by using what they've got (you figure it out). For these women to be the "successful entrepreneurs" they constantly claim to be...they still live by the ghetto/hood mentality based on their juvenile actions.

As for the story itself...there was no storyline, this is until around chapter 7 or 8 (again i was bored with nothing to do, that was this books salvation, otherwise I would've given up at chapter 3). It was only around chapter 7 or 8 that the author finally decided what she was writing about. No real surprises...and this book fails to live up to it's title. No Sins & Secrets here...just trash, and that's exactly where this book is going!!!

Read this book if you must - but with a WARNING.
The front cover indicates it's an Essence Bestseller, I'm still trying to figure out how it achieved that.
I will NOT be waiting on the sequel...

Dissapointment.......2006-06-12

Should have been called "Sins, Secrets & Trash". The storyline was juvenile, ghetto, and unintelligent. These women weren't only friends, but tramps and nasty too. The only reason I gave the book 3 stars is because the last couple of chapters made up for the entire book.
Yes, Ms. Sanders left the story open for another book. But, I won't waste anymore money.

THIS BOOK WAS A ONE DAY READ FOR ME.......2006-05-08

I personally like this book very much. The characters were a bit course but I think thats what made it interesting. I also thought it was an unique touch the way the author talked directly to the reader. She had some valuable insite for the reader especially when she spoke to the fact that the other woman thinks she has something when she gets your man. But deep down she is looking for him to do the same thing to her because of the way she got him. That is so true. As far as the hot, heavy sex and mushiness....Hello!!! this wasnt suppose to be a romance novel. I found it with the mainstream books. As far as the secrets and sins were concerned they were definitely there. I dont know if I would be able to keep a secret like the one Candice and Amber had to keep for life. And what about Toi and the secret she has on Johnny? That was a whopper, now I would like to think I would make a different choice when faced with what Toi faced. God knows I hope I would but who knows. I have known a many women to turn a blind eye to Toi's situation. Now Fred was just a horny freak and wasnt use to women telling him No. I mean really how easy was it for him to do Candice and the others. He wasnt in love....his problem was strictly ego. So what... there was no major drama between Fred, Candice and Michael. I feel like if its over then its over and you dont have time to entertain foolishness and Candice knew Fred was foolish. So why entertain him and his issues. I would have preferred the N-word not being used so much but I think that just let you know them. One thing for sure you can take the girl out of the ghetto but you cant take the ghetto out of the girl. I dont care how successful you are in business or how much money you may have, that still does not give you class. As I use to hear my mother say all the time "if Horsey aint got it then Horsey cant trot it". These girls were successful and had money, but they didnt have class. It was still entertaining though and I know people like every character. I for one thought the book was very good and I cant wait for the sequel.

Special Investigations Agency: Sins and Secrets

Average customer rating:

Special Investigations Agency: Sins and Secrets
Denise A. Agnew
Manufacturer: Ellora's Cave Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Fantasy, Futuristic & Ghost | Romance | Subjects | Books

Gothic | Romance | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1419954229

Book Description

Special Investigations Agency - Sins and Secrets By Denise A Agnew
Special Investigations Agency series.

Geeky, cheeky, and not the least sexy…

Tara Crayton figures she knows everything about her cubicle buddy, Marcus Hyatt. Not the type of man she'd want for a date, much less a long-term relationship. Yet at night, a fearless lover tantalizes her dreams and makes her realize how much she needs the love of a man.

Mad, bad, and dangerous to know…

Special Investigations Agency operative Marcus Hyatt knows Tara thinks he's the dullest dude on the block, and he wants to keep it that way. For if she knew the truth, her life could be in danger. Yet at night, a daring lover touches his dreams and makes him realize how he longs for true companionship.

When Tara receives a series of death threats, the only man she can turn to is Marcus, and the only way he can keep her safe is to never tell her the secrets he holds.

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