Can't Get Enough: A Novel

Book Description

The memorable men and women of P.G. County are back in Connie Briscoe’s wickedly funny and deliciously daring novel of romance and betrayal, dangerous choices and seductive second chances.

“This romp of a read combines lush settings, humorous dialogue and outrageous behavior . . .” Ebony magazine wrote of P.G. County, Connie Briscoe’s first excursion into the world of the overprivileged and undersatisfied inhabitants of an elite suburb of Washington, D.C. Readers will be delighted to learn that their mischievous machinations and meddlesome ways reach new heights—and sink to new depths—in CAN'T GET ENOUGH, the much-anticipated follow-up to P.G. County.

Barbara Bentley, the grand dame of P.G. County, is tentatively embarking on a fresh approach to life, abandoning the alcohol that served to soften the edges of her marriage to her bimbo-loving millionaire husband, Bradford. She’s been sober for nearly a year, her part-time work as a real estate agent has boosted her self-confidence, and the unexpected attentions of a handsome young colleague have done wonders for her ego. For Jolene, Bradford’s ambitious, conniving ex-mistress, the status she covets remains tantalizingly out of reach. Her decent, hard-working husband, Patrick, has left her for Pearl, a woman proud of her success as a beauty shop owner and eager to create a loving home for Patrick and his two mixed-up teenage daughters. Royalty comes to Silver Lake in the form of Veronique. She’s rich, fabulous and everyone’s new friend, or is she?

As the characters slip in and out of their Pratesi sheets and stride into mayhem and misdeeds in their Jimmy Choo shoes, CAN'T GET ENOUGH will hold readers spellbound. A delectable and scrumptious page-turner, it ushers in spring with the fabulous force of a Gucci-clad lion.

Customer Reviews:

Can't Get Enough.......2007-05-18

I finished the book this morning and just like PG County I felt left in a lurch, like I needed like 5 more chapters! So many questions, I needed to read about Jolene doing community service and her and Patrick fighting over Juliette, I needed to see Bradford return to his philandering ways and Barbara finding another boyfriend. I needed to see Pearl re-open her shop, I needed to see Veronique get hers from Bradford, I needed to see Brian get out of jail and stalk Jolene..............................oh I feel so deprived!

Money. Power. Sex. That's what the folks in P.G. County can't get enough of!.......2007-04-11

Few can do it better than Connie Briscoe and in "Can't Get Enough" she proves she's at the top of her game. The novel picks up where "P.G. County" left off and resumes the story of Barbara Bentley, wife of philanderer Bradford, and her equally enthralling co-residents of a wealthy Washington, D.C. suburb.

Barbara Bentley, the queen of P.G. County, was once a woman who never met a martini she didn't like. But clean and sober for a year now, she's a part-time real estate agent working with a young, handsome man who's got his eyes on her "property." She's eating up the attention, since she's not getting any from her philandering husband, Bradford. He's too busy traveling, making deals and bedding young hoochies. Then there's Jolene, Bradford's social-climbing former mistress, who fully intends on winning back Patrick, the husband she lost as a result of her affair. He's hooked up with Pearl, a plus-size sistah with real values and Jolene's plan to break them up may have gone too far. And who can forget the new neighbor on the block -- the beautiful and mystical Veronique, who builds a mansion next door. Everybody wants to be her friend, but she's not really interested. She's busy working on the best laid plans yet....

Both amusing and delectable, "Can't Get Enough" is a pleasing and spirited novel - one that may entice and surprise you with its climatic twists. Again, Connie has delivered a great story line of greed, jealousy, bitterness, adultery and of course betrayal. Great writing and great character development has proving to be some of the important ingredients to a great read.

Black Dynasty .......2006-06-15

This is the sequel To P.G. County by Connie Briscoe. Great cast of characters are once again called upon to cast a web of betrail, lust and revenge. This time Millionaire Bradford Bentley has given up his wayward ways (or has he?) to be a devout husband to Barbara (or is it to late?). Now that Jolene has built her mini mansion will this satisfy her roming eye for the finer things in life? Pearl's been out of love for so long will she be able to keep Patrick's interest? Lastly, Why would royalty pick P.G. County to constuct a new home. This is just the tip of the ice berg for the drama and laughs you'll find in the pages of this book. This story line is good enough for a mini series! I Loved every minute of it.

Exciting!!.......2006-06-05

This book was a great follow-up to PG County. Some of the things that happened were predictable but some I would never have thought of. I read this book in 2 days.

very good gossip!.......2006-05-04

The lifestyles of the rich and famous black...this book is funny and very, very "messy"...however, you won't be able to close it!

Average customer rating:

GREAT READ!
Can't Get Enough of Darrius
Through The Test of Time
Running From Passion

Just Can't Get Enough
Cheris Hodges
Manufacturer: Dafina
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 075821975X

Book Description

Both down-home sweet and seductive, Cheris Hodges's new novel is about breaking the rules, going back home...and finding more than your heart's desire...

Celina Hart had security, a steady job, a predictable fiancé...and nothing that was making her truly happy. She gave it all up to gamble on her talent, and found success she'd never imagined as one of New York's hottest painters. But when she returns to her South Carolina hometown to care for her ailing father, she gets an even bigger surprise. That "bow-legged" neighbor's boy she used to play with has grown up into Darius McRae, a lawyer who gave up the D.C. fast-lane to get back to his roots. Now, Darius' dark-chocolate build and slow, easy smile are proving to be just as tempting as any city lights...

The last thing Darius was looking for was a relationship. He'd been burned by too many women who put finance over romance--including his conniving ex-girlfriend Cortina. But Celina's sense of humor and unpretentious ways are igniting more than his passions. And when Cortina starts stirring up a mess of trouble, Darius will do whatever it takes to show Celina a home-grown love is a dream worth everything...

Customer Reviews:

GREAT READ!.......2007-09-30

Cherish Hodeges wrote a great novel titled "Just can't get enough". This was a really great read. It keep you going. I was feeling emotions I really hadn't felt in a while. She kept you on your toes. She had a very strong main character in Celina. It showed you how to not only follow your dreams, but the mistakes of your parents are THEIR mistakes. She used Celina to show you and teach you how to forgive because you NEVER know what tomorrow may bring you.

Thanks Cherish!!!

Can't Get Enough of Darrius.......2007-08-19

Cheris,
The title says it all. I love this book and that Darius oh boy what a GUY. You will enjoy reading this book and will not be able to put this book down.

Darius was who knew what he want and was not going to back down and he fought for his relationship with Celina. Reader you are going to love the way he would pick her up and take her to BED smile :). The love scene was hot & sexy.

Louise

Although I was feeling Celina pain, but said enough already, but I am glad she finally got these settle between her & father.

I do wish that this was not a stand alone book and the character had sisters or brother so you could do a follow up book to let us know how the happy couple are doing, and find out the sex of the baby Darius & Celina was going to have. Maybe they would have TWINS. SMILE..................

Okay whats next after Aug. book and I will be purchasing my book it is already on my list to buy.

Thanks again for a wonderful story............................

Through The Test of Time.......2007-08-07

Celina Hart was a normal eight year-old girl when her parents divorced. Little did they know that this would affect the way she viewed relationships when she became an adult. Now that she is an adult she has trust issues. She is a successful artist living in Paris when she gets a letter from her father asking her to return to her childhood home and care for him because he is sick. Celina, out of a sense of duty, returns to her childhood home to find her father on the verge of death. While she is there, she runs into her best friend from her youth, Darius. Will she be able to overcome her fears and allow herself the love she deserves?

Darius McRae was a successful attorney in Washington, D.C when he returned to Elmor, South Carolina to run the family business, a hardware store, because his parents retired. By chance, he runs into Celina when she comes to thank him for doing the yard work for her father since he has been sick. They begin to spend time together catching up on each others lives. But the more they hang out the more Darius begins to fall for her. However, there is a woman from Darius' past that is intent on keeping him all to herself and she will stop at nothing to make that happen. Will she be able to keep Darius and Celina from being together?

I really enjoyed reading this book. It takes a look at the way children view adult relationships and how it affects them later in life. I found myself talking to the characters out loud on several occasions. I even felt their joys and pains. Overall I would definitely recommend this book.

Reviewed by Shavon
APOOO BookClub

Running From Passion.......2007-07-30

Upon receiving news that her father is deathly ill, artist Celina Hart leaves Paris and returns to her roots of Elmore, South Carolina. Once there, she takes on the task of comforting her father in his final days. Going home for Celina is hard, this is a place that holds negative memories and a place she hasn't set foot in since the age of eight. In addition to caring for her father, she must deal with the realities of the past and extend forgiveness. However, Celina's believes her only task is caring for her father and returning home to New York City.

Darius McRae was the boy next door and Celina is shocked to find he still occupies the home. Truth be told, Darius, an attorney by trade, hightailed it back to Elmore from Washington, D.C., to take over his family's business after his father's retirement and subsequent move to Florida. Leaving behind the affects of September 11th and a disastrous relationship, Darius is enjoying the slow pace of small town living.

As Celina thanks Darius for tending to her father's lawn, they reminisce about the past, which creates a yearning for both. Both are gun shy towards relationships - for Celina, her father's infidelity leaves her hardened towards love and Darius see the women of Elmore as gold diggers. As their relationship moves from friends to lovers with no strings of commitment attached, lurking in the shadows is a former lover who can't take no for an answer.

JUST CAN'T GET ENOUGH by Cheris Hodges is an entertaining novel with interesting and comical characters. It was a treat to watch the main characters run from their feelings and an equal pleasure watching the secondary characters instigate matters. However, the book was labored because of the repetitive scenes and the time it took to climax. All in all, JUST CAN'T GET ENOUGH is a light-hearted and enjoyable romance novel filled with the notion of forgiveness being good for the soul.

Reviewed by Dawn R. Reeves
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Average customer rating:

No good guys...

The perils of a perpetual loser

All the Bullets and Twice the Caffeine

Zany crime caper

Read it. You'll like it.
Suicide Squeeze
Victor Gischler
Manufacturer: Delacorte Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Suspense | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0385337256
Release Date: 2005-03-29

Book Description

The Edgar Award-nominated author of Gun Monkeys delivers an adrenaline rush of a novel that features a special appearance by Joe DiMaggio.

The high spot of Teddy Folger's life was the day in 1954 that he got an autographed baseball card from Joe DiMaggio himself. It's been downhill ever since. Which is why he just unloaded his freeloading wife and torched his own comic-book store–in one of the stupidest insurance scams in history. Enter Conner Samson. The down-on-his-luck repo man has just been hired to repossess Teddy's boat. Little does he know there's a baseball card on board that some men are willing to kill for. Thus begins a rip-roaring cross-country odyssey–and with bodies piling up, the squeeze is on for the penultimate piece of Americana. And Conner will be lucky if he ends up back where he started: broke and (still) breathing.

Download Description

Victor Gischler lives in the wilds of Skiatook, Oklahoma–a long, long way from a Starbuck's. His wife, Jackie, thinks he is a silly individual. He drinks black, black coffee all day long and sleeps about seven minutes a night. Victor's first novel, Gun Monkeys, was nominated for the Edgar Award.

From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

No good guys..........2006-04-23

but don't worry, you'll have fun as the author metes out justice with a dark humor.

The perils of a perpetual loser.......2006-03-18

Conner Samson thinks of himself as a failure in life. And he is absolutely right. He blows a college sports scholarship, a chance at being a pro player. You name every good break that wandered into Samson's life and he could tell you how he blew it. Bad luck, he would say.

Now he can't afford to pay for a dollar beer at the bar, his latest inspired bets having failed. He owes Rocky Big, the local crime chieftain, $2,500 in lost wagers. He knows that Fat Otis, Rocky's enforcer, a 6' 5" black man will soon be looking for him to collect. (As it turns out, Otis and Conner are old buddies so Conner knows he has a tiny bit of wiggle room before his bones are broken.)

Desperate for a quick paying gig, Conner winds up plying his occasional trade as a repo man, this time looking for a sailboat.

The sailboat belongs to Teddy Folger, another loser in the game of life. Folger has divorced his life, hidden his assets, burned down a strip mall shopping center for the insurance and is about to sail into the sunset with a young woman half his wage. The woman, though she, when in financial need, accepted a thousand dollars to spend a night with Teddy now wants nothing to do with him. Teddy is dejected, but he still has his hole card: literally. Teddy has a baseball card signed by Joe DiMaggio, Marilyn Monroe and Billy Wilder who directed the star in "The Seven Year Itch," the movie with the famous scene of Marilyn's skirt billowing upward.

Teddy thinks the card is worth a million dollars, which will fund his life of sybaritic ease.

Across the continent and the Pacific Ocean, Ahira Kuriska is locked in private conflict with Hito Hyatta in their race to accumulate world class collections of, well, collectibles. Kurisaka is a billionaire, his fortune rooted in his earlier life (which he hasn't quite left behind) as a feared member of the Japanese underworld Yakuza. Kuriska is always one-upped it seems by Hyatta. Kuriska is convinced that Hyatta is seeking to acquire Teddy Folger's rare baseball trading card. Kuriska is determined to beat his rival.

And thus the stage is set for a riotous and murderous romp across Florid and Alabama as corpses pile up and a case of weird characters make their appearances (and often exits) in Victor Gischler's charming, endearing and very funny novel.

There's Tyranny Jones, eccentric artist and nymphomaniac (oh wait, Tyranny's therapist reminds her that she is not a nymphomaniac, but a sex addict) and sort-of long time lover of Conner Samson. Sort-of lover because Tyranny, who hops into bed with everyone including a dragooned delivery driver, won't committ the deed with Conner. Professor Dan, Tyranny's artsy husband accepts his wife's special needs. There's Rocky Big himself, a criminal colussus who is really quite a sophisticated, caring fellow . . . when he's not having people disappear or their bones broken. JoEllen Becker, late of the NSA, is there, fueled by murderous memories of her owwn failures and better days ahead.

Gischler has written a wonderfully comic novel of murder, mayhem and the destiny of losers who are destined to lose. "Suicide Squeeze" may or may not be a masterpiece, but it is a marvelous read. Conner Samson will remain in mind for a long time.

Jerry

All the Bullets and Twice the Caffeine.......2006-03-08

It's tough not to like a novel with Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe at the center of the plot. Even tougher when you've got characters like Fat Otis running around "turning strong, healthy men into little, mashed-up heaps of bone and flesh." And then there's bookie Rockie Big, an adulterous nympho girlfriend named Tyranny, a fat Japanese billionaire Yakuza boss, and a busted ex-NSA agent, all playing backup to our hero, the broken-down would-be ballplayer, hard luck gambler, sometimes repo-man and all times lovable Conner Samson.

If like me you'd never heard of Victor Gischler, fasten your seatbelt and lock in for the whacked-out spawn of the mating of Carl Hiaasen and Elmore Leonard, an in-your-face trip through Florida's panhandle while Samson tracks down a deadbeat's boat and a legendary baseball card. Gischler's prose literally rips across the pages, too fast for poetry, too lean for embellishment, bouncing from one-liner to six-shooter as thick with black humor as it is with fresh corpses. And give Gischler extra credit: nowhere in his cast of misfits and miscreants is there a single Russian mobster, the seemingly obligatory feature of every thriller written in the past couple of years.

If you're looking for an irreverent read straight from the hip, fast and furious with not an ounce of social redeeming value to distract you, Victor Gischler and "Suicide Squeeze" marks the end of your quest. "Just do it."

Zany crime caper.......2005-08-15

In Gischler's third outing, Suicide Squeeze, we are treated to a Florida coast caper involving a baseball card autographed by three famous people, a Japanese billionaire who wants it, a down on his luck repo-man, Connor Samson, who finds it and an entire host of criminals, ex-wives, bar-flops, crazed yakuza, and comic book nerds who get caught up in the action.

Reading a Gischler book is kind of like watching pachinko, the Japanese game with all the ball bearings. His characters, just like the ball-bearings in the game, zoom around all over the place in a zany, mad-cap pace and outrageously bounce against each other causing all sorts of laughs and deviltry. On the surface Gischler's writing is simple, direct, and funny and the character's he tends to populate his novels with are generally broke, lower class, confused, and socially challenged. This is somewhat of a pleasant relief from all the novels who use hyper-intelligent, daring, perfect physical specimens as their protagonists. Not so here. These characters get drunk, puke, have hangovers, get lost, write bad checks, and do lots of things they shouldn't morally.....and these are just the good guys. These characters can be pretty funny as they bumble their inept way through the story.

On the other hand, while his books on the surface read as comedies, by the end of them you realize you have read a tragedy of Shakespearean scope....because nearly everyone is dead. This odd blend of less then perfect characters, white trash comic relief, small hopes and selfish viewpoints, neuroses, poverty, spite, cosmic bad luck, and high body counts work for Gischler in this book and I enjoyed the read. I truly like his first novel, Gun Monkeys, but didn't much care for his second, Pistol Poets. This book fell somewhere in between but I still recommend it because I really did like it. My reservation with Gischler is that, in using anti-heroes as protagonists, sometimes they are so unlikable that you can't enjoy the read. Books go down smoother if there is a character that you can identify with and like. Gischler does a better job in this novel of achieving that than he did in his last.

Read it. You'll like it........2005-06-01

Gischler walks a peculiar tightrope between humor and satire.

On the surface, you wonder if he's doing a parody of James Crumley, with an alcoholic loser hero, insanely over-the-top villains, and femme fatales amundo, all with a tongue-in-cheek style that makes the reader smile.

But there's also graphic violence here. And graphic sex. And though the book is funny, it's never silly. Gischler respects the crime genre, and plays by the rules.

The end result is a fast, fun read that will please Gischler's growing fan base and convert the non-believers.

If you enjoy crime fiction, you'll enjoy Suicide Squeeze.

If you don't enjoy crime fiction, why the hell are you bothering to read this review?

Average customer rating:

Suicide Squeeze
David Everson
Manufacturer: Fawcett
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0804110077
Release Date: 1995-01-30

Book Description

Robert Miles's baseball career is barely a footnote in the annals of America's pastime, but as an Illinois P.I., he's a heavy hitter. That's why he finds himself in the starting line-up of a baseball fantasy camp "dream" game at Wrigley Field. Blackballed major leaguer Dewey Farmer is quietly trying to make a comeback with the Chicago Cubs -- but he's been warned that if he pitches, he'll catch a bullet.
Miles is none too pleased to be baby-sitting a bum like Farmer, especially when the Illinois House Speaker has him chasing down the son of a political rival involved in vehicular manslaughter. What does hitting home runs have to do with a case of hit-and-run? Maybe plenty. Enough, at least, to make the infamous Cubs-Mets "black cat" game of '69 look like Little League, as Miles steps up to bat against crime and corruption with the bases, and a sniper's gun, loaded . . . .
"Witty . . . Entertaining." -- Publishers Weekly

Average customer rating:

Suicide Squeeze
S A Monaco
Manufacturer: Trafford Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1412014573
Release Date: 2006-07-06

Book Description

Suicide Squeeze journeys to the source of emotional pain keeping a man from committing to relationships and finding the happiness he craves. Dreams of youth and baseball collide with reality.

Average customer rating:

Suicide Squeeze
David (Baseball Mystery) \ Everson
Manufacturer: St. Martin's
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000GLNJ10

Customer Reviews:

Great Style--Lousy Plotting.......2004-02-11

Let me say this up front, because it affects how I read things: As a rule, I HATE books that end on a cliff-hanger (the single exception being "The Lord of the Rings").

This is the first of a trilogy featuring Thea, a young, club-hopping monster hunter and her comrades in Chicago who are being manipulated by a creature who has his own motives. Like many World of Darkness novels, there is a bleakness and despair that threatens to drag the story into depression, but Bates avoids that by keeping his style light and contemporary.

However, the plot was obviously padded. Instead of a tightly-plotted adventure, there are extraneous sub-plots with Thea's roommate that go nowhere, and the story suddenly changes viewpoints to a secondary character on a side-quest that has no bearing on the primary plot.

Bates' style is fun and easy to read. I will be looking for more books by him, as long as they can stand on their own. "Heralds of the Storm" cannot.

A Bit Silly, but Still Good.......2003-05-28

This book didn't exactly give me what I expected, but still delievered quite the page turner. The story mainly centers around a Hunter, who seems to have some unwanted assistance, but suprisingly the story continues to branch out in numerous ways switching perspectives to give a reader a full view of the entire story.

My main complaint with this book, was a problem that befalls most white-wolf books though. The characters seem to perfect, why are Thea and her workaholic room mate, both, apparently, so sexy? Infact most of the characters who are good guys, seem to all be made up as incredibly attractive. I don't think that's overly problematic, but it seems to be something that plagues many white-wolf books, and to those who are extremely picky it can seem rather silly.

A Great Beginning.......2002-01-14

I picked up this book as an impulse buy, so I wasn't expecting much from it. I had never read a World Of Darkness novel and I had no idea who, or what, Hunters were. This book knocked my socks off.

My only complaint is that I wish the back cover had been a little LESS descriptive. Knowing that the trilogy serves to introduce the M-words to the World Of Darkness universe dulled a bit of the impact the ending would have held.

Hunter's Rock - A Fine Effort by a New Author.......2001-06-25

This is the first volume outside of the Predator & Prey introductory series that deals with hunters, humans who have pierced the shroud of darkness around the Masquerade and are actively seeking to do away with creepy guys. I have honestly been less than enthusiastic about the P&P tales, but "Heralds of the Storm" turned out to be a very pleasant surprise.

Thea Ghandour is a member of the Van Helsing Brigade, a clan of monster hunters that works in and around Chicago. Her compatriots, Romeo, Parker, Jake, Dean, Carl, and Lilly, are young men and women with a strong sense of cause. Each has developed special talents that help in their battles and have kept them alive so far. They do not lack for courage, but frequently hide their fears behind anger and bickering.

The book opens with an attack on a vampire's lair near Chicago. Even as they infiltrate the site, they realize something isn't quite right. It goes too easily. Most of the guards are gone or are quickly handled. The guard watching the security is dead. After killing the Vampire with minimal injury, the entire lair is destroyed by explosives as they leave. Thea and the others suspect that someone was there before them, and that they are being set up.

When Thea gets a brief, anonymous phone call her fears are confirmed. But the gang has no clue on how to proceed. Before they can do much research, several brigade members are attacked and killed by zombies. Thea arrives in time to prevent things from being even worse and finds herself being helped by a stranger, who identifies himself as Maxwell Carpenter and pulls Thea and her unconscious friends from the building. Then he erases her memories and disappears.

Thea awakes in a hospital. When Romeo tells her she was pulled from the building by a super zombie who can pass for human she remembers what happened. Frantic research reveals that Carpenter was a 1920s gangster and was definitely dead. Many more phone calls and arguments later they finally meet with Carpenter. He asks them to help him get into the Temple of Akhenaton in downtown Chicago and gives them some time to consider their answer.

Carpenter has his own agenda, the complete destruction of the Sforza clan that caused his death years earlier. Thea and the Brigade find this out and are torn over whether they should cooperate with Carpenter or kill him for the monster he is. What they decide, and the horrific results of that decision fill the remainder of this volume and the next two novels of this promising and exciting trilogy.

This may be Andrew Bates first novel, but he shows considerable skill and talent. His characters have none of the stick figure quality which often troubles World of Darkness novels. Bates has a good sense of timing and a fine eye for detail as well. My only gripe is that the novel's designer decided to sacrifice page numbers for decoration. As a reviewer, I found this quite irritating. Otherwise this series looks like a winner from the folks at White Wolf.

A great White Wolf Book - Seriously.......2001-06-18

I read this book with a bit of trepidation because of the cheesy cover and the very cheated feeling I had after finishing the clan novel series. However, unlike almost all WW books, this book was written by someone who is a little more upbeat and can keep the pace of the book moving by not getting bogged down in this angst-ridden tone that other books of the genre seem to have.

I wasn't expecting the Vampire Hunter angle, but it really worked here. The plot had a few snags, but overall it moved really quickly and had enough action and realistic character development (something almost absent from V:tM books) to keep me interested. Plus, I live in Chicago and the author actually seemed to know a bit about the city (rather than having the just-read-the-Guide-to-Chicago feel of the clan novel series)

Customer Reviews:

Constantine is capable of far better........2001-11-28

3 Heralds is a well-packaged booklet collection of three short stories by the author of the cult classic Wraeththu trilogy. It's nice to look at and a supplemental to any Constantine fan's library. But that's it. The first story, 'Such a Nice Girl,' is interesting to a point with a few intriguing devices, but never realizes its great potential. 'Last Come Assimilation' also has potential for an interesting science fiction story, but is clumsily handled. 'How Enlightenment Came to the Tower' is downright silly. Hardcore Constantine fans will want this, but Wraeththu fans looking for more will be disappointed. Spend your money on the Grigori books instead.

A joy to read.......1997-08-25

This is the first U.S. printing of these three stories and each is a joy to read."Such A Nice Girl" is a story about a girl whom everyone thinks is so very nice, but they come to make other discoveries after her death. "Last Come Assimilation" is a tale of computer networking taken to the next level. "How Enlightenment Came to the Tower" is the story of Saphariel, who lives in a tower and will not come down until he is enlightened. A well done booklet that shows a range and style of Storm that will help you develope your taste for Storm and encourage you to look for her longer works if you are not already familiar with them

Old friends weather the storms.(PERSPECTIVES)(Editorial) : An article from: Sarasota Herald Tribune

Average customer rating:

Old friends weather the storms.(PERSPECTIVES)(Editorial) : An article from: Sarasota Herald Tribune

Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B000BQGPSY
Release Date: 2005-10-10

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Sarasota Herald Tribune, published by Thomson Gale on October 9, 2005. The length of the article is 827 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Old friends weather the storms.(PERSPECTIVES)(Editorial)
Publication: Sarasota Herald Tribune (Newspaper)
Date: October 9, 2005
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Page: F2

Article Type: Editorial

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Book Description

Written by Mary Nelson, the originator of LaStone therapy, it was her work in 1993 that launched this innovative and challenging technique that works on every level to create perfect balance and harmony for mind, body and spirit.

Customer Reviews:

Massage Therapy or Cult?.......2007-07-12

I have so much to say about this book it is hard to know where to start. But first I should say that the LaStone class and treatment are very good - this book is not.
I signed up for the LaStone class and purchased this book because it was required. I knew generally what LaStone was and expected the book to fill in the blanks for me, and to give some scientific and anatomical background. I was half way through the book, still didn't know what LaStone was, and I called to cancel my class because the book gave the impression LaStone was some kind of Wiccan cult. Which is so sad to say because I ended up taking the class, and it barely touched on the spiritual aspects that are drilled into the book. The class was all about massage, unlike the book.
The major let down was that the opening sections are all about Mary Nelson "hearing voices" and her personal spiritual visions- some going into embarrassing detail. If it was written more tactfully it wouldn't have been so distancing. But instead of saying "She was inspired by Spirit" is blurts out that she was communicating with other worldly beings and we are expected to accept that without any other information. I am a New Age person, but when people start hearing voices- it makes me wonder.
The book drills the fact that Mary is not the creator of LaStone, but these other worldly beings are. But it still touts Mary as a magical guru who created the "Best healing therapy ever!" And all therapists will be using this technique, and it will be the last therapy on this earth. ??? A little meglomanic for a massage book.
The details of her visions drown the first sections of the book. The therapy is forgotten and the focus is on Mary's extra sensory experiences and the "Stone People" visions.
The book switches between voices. It is talking to you, talking about you, talking to other readers- all very strange. The author even tells the reader to "chill out!" at points. And in between all that are excerpts from Mary's personal notes. Mary does not have a voice in the book, even though she is listed as an author. Jane will talk on a topic and then "This is what Mary says about this:" then a few pages from Mary's notes will be in italics and will generally repeat exactly what was discussed in the previous section.
This book should have been called "All about Mary" because an inappropriate portion is focused on her, and little is spent on the therapy. I was halfway through and still didn't know what a LaStone session entailed. The third section has sketches and descriptions of energy fields- none of which was discussed in class. The focus in the "Caring for your Stones" section is spent mostly on the spiritual aspects and not so much on hygiene and storage.
The "scientific" discussions are vague and described in metaphors. Thermal reactions in the body were defined as "blood soldiers." I believe some of the technical terms were invented by the author. I found few anatomical references. And the historical references were out of place and sounded like they came from a 3rd grade text book, i.e. they were outdated and inaccurate.
If you are a layperson reading it, I suppose it is OK. But for a massage therapist who has been required to take 100 hours of Anatomy, a little more is expected. When answering to the State Board, I want a full and complete set of directions on sanitation and contraindications. Not an afterthought.
After all that, I was still impressed by the class, but was disappointed when I had to return to the book to use the step by step directions at the end of the book. They are mind numbingly detailed, telling you when to breathe, where to look, where to step, but it will simply say "massage the face" and give no other directions. (I'm putting hot stones on someone's fragile face- I need more instructions than "just do it") Other steps were "Give a piece of Mother Earth to the body" and "Offer warmth to the side of the body" which mean little, and when taken out of context- they sound dirty.
Also- and you won't believe this till you own it- the book has an odor. The other students in my class received their books form different locations and they all had an industrial, acid/plastic odor. So if you are sensitive to scents, be prepared.
In conclusion, if you are interested in LaStone, don't buy this book. Find a LaStone practitioner and have them fill you in. If you are a student, purchase the book (because you have to) but don't read it. When you get to class, read the sections you need to, and after you get an overview of the therapy you should be able to read the book without it being so questionable.
I truely wish the book was better thought out, or a good editor could have looked at it. This is a great therapy, but the book gives the wrong impression.

Good book.......2006-03-16

Is a good book to give you an idea of what to expect in a hot stone workshop. Very informative. I recommended it to a friend and she loves it.

LaStone Therapy: The Amazing New Form of Healing Bodywork that will Transform your Health Body and Health

Average customer rating:

LaStone the Best Stone Therapy in the World
New massage therapy technique
One book that I should have read the reviews on first!!
very helpful
Fantastic book

LaStone Therapy: The Amazing New Form of Healing Bodywork that will Transform your Health Body and Health
Jane Scrivner
Manufacturer: Piatkus Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Alternative Medicine | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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General | Medicine | Subjects | Books

Accessories:

ASIN: 0749923334

Book Description

Here is the first authorized book on La Stone therapy written with the full cooperation of Mary Nelson, the creator of La Stone therapy under whom Jane herself was trained.

Customer Reviews:

LaStone the Best Stone Therapy in the World.......2007-09-26

This Book is a great introduction to Stone Therapy. Being a Massage Therapist I knew by reading just the first chapter of this book I needed to learn this Therapy. I signed up to take a Basic Stone Course from Mary Nelson
the founder, I just got back from Tucson Arizona I was not disapointed the Training is Top Notch. Once you have had a LaStone Treatment you will not settle for anything Less. This book is a Must read for anyone interested in learning or receiving the best Stone Therapy on planet earth.

Dennis Greenwood LMT LST Bountiful Utah

New massage therapy technique.......2007-01-12

This is a great book on the LaStone technique of hot and cold stone massage. History, directions, insights, etc. It's an invaluable reference, even if you never take the LaStone training. WONDERFUL book!

One book that I should have read the reviews on first!!.......2005-10-30

No Kidding!!! I was looking for a book on hot stone technique, and thinking that this book was authorized by the founder of this wonderful modality, it should have been full of neat ideas and techniques to incorporate into my sessions. What A Crock! It's a fairly decent history lesson, at best I find it a thinly veiled advertisment for La Stone.

very helpful.......2005-09-20

I bought this for a friend who is in massage therapy. She added this to her skills and said it was very easy to follow and enjoyed the dvd very much

Fantastic book.......2004-07-10

I think the book is great and I absolutely disagree with the other review. The use of hot (and cold, which is the basis of Lastone Therapy) stones during massage or any kind of therapy is something not to be taken lightly and one cannot just learn the techniques from a book. This book really explains the origins of the stones, the treatment and how to take care of them. LaStone is an incredible therapy for everyone!! A great book, very well written by Jane Scrivner.

LaStone Therapy: the original hot stone massage

Average customer rating:

LaStone Therapy: the original hot stone massage

Manufacturer: LaStone Therapy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound
ASIN: B000I3ZFUE

Product Description

Subtitled: "The Original Hot Stone Massage", this is a guide on the theory and practice of LaStone therapeutic massage.

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