Average customer rating:
- As good as it gets
- Bring on Into Temptation
- A Wonderful Read
- UK Buyers Beware
- Complete reading satisfaction
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Something Dangerous
Penny Vincenzi
Manufacturer: Overlook TP
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Contemporary
| British
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
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Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
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Family Saga
| Genre Fiction
| Literature & Fiction
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Suspense
| Thrillers
| Mystery & Thrillers
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Similar Items:
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Into Temptation (Lytton Family Trilogy)
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No Angel
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Almost a Crime
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Sheer Abandon: A Novel
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Old Sins
ASIN: 1585677094 |
Book Description
Celia Lytton broke the rules when she demanded a job in her husband Oliver's young and eager publishing company. This was the belle époque of Edwardian England, when women were expected to look lovely and bear children but nothing more. With the help of her stern sister-in-law LM, Celia proved she could do that and more, becoming invaluable in the success of Lyttons. Now the company is safe and flourishing, and a new generation of Lyttons is growing up to inherit it. But the future they are also going to inherit looks dark. As the delightful glamour of the twenties passes away, fearful shadows of war begin to gather and threaten the happiness and very lives of the family. Strong-willed and stubborn, Celia Lytton has survived much in her time - now she must guide her family through the brooding danger of the thirties and the terror and spirit of wartime until peace is finally declared.
Customer Reviews:
As good as it gets.......2006-11-10
The second in the series "the spoils of time" about the Lytton family.
I would love to be able to write like that. Highly recommended
Bring on Into Temptation.......2005-02-18
Something Dangerous is the second book in the Spoils Of Time Trilogy by Penny Vincenzi. The first book is No Angel and the third book is Into Temptation.
In No Angel, the novel mainly centered around Lady Celia and Oliver Lytton and how their story began but in Something Dangerous the saga continued with the younger generation in the midst of war with Germany. Many of the characters you will see are Giles, Venetia, Adele, and Kit who are the children of Oliver and Celia. Barty, the woman that Celia took in as a child, Jay their nephew, and Izzy, the daughter of their prized author. Through these people you will see affairs, love, marriage, children, and death. What more could you ask for?
I am sure many of you have never heard of Penny Vencenzi before but if you are a fan of the big family sagas then I would highly suggest you give her a try.
A Wonderful Read.......2005-02-13
I happened to pick up a copy of "No Angel" -- just because it looked interesting. I had never heard of Penny Vincenzi and this was strictly a case of judging a book by it's cover. It didn't take long to get totally engrossed in the story, and I hated to see it end. At that time I didn't know it was part of a trilogy. "Something Dangerous", the second book, is just as good-- the characters are all interesting and easy to relate to-- the Lytton family and their friends live a lifestyle unknown to most people, very rich, but they have the same problems as everyone else. Without reading "No Angel" first, however, some things in "Something Dangerous" are left unexplained, and it makes one wonder why Lady Celia is the way she is. Oh, well. It's a wonderful book, and I can hardly wait for the next one
UK Buyers Beware.......2004-11-12
Customers in the UK should be aware that this book was published in the UK over two years ago.
Complete reading satisfaction.......2004-11-06
This is my favorite of the "Spoils of Time" trilogy, covering the Lytton family's story from the 1930s through World War II. Watching characters you've become familiar with in "No Angel" respond to the Depression and war is really intriguing, especially since Penny Vincenzi is so good at putting them into interesting tight spots.
Vincenzi writes the Rolls Royces of the big, juicy, substantial family saga, packed with believable characters, excellent historical detail, and complex plotting. After "Something Dangerous," you'll be so thoroughly hooked on the Lyttons that the release date of the third book will seem unbearably far away.
Book Description
It is the summer of 1916 and, as luck would have it, Otto is assigned to the nascent, unreliable, and utterly frightening Imperial and Royal Austro-Hungarian Flying Service. Ottto's aerial chauffeur is the self-willed Sergeant-Pilot Toth, with whom he can only communicate in broken Latin—although when all else fails, screaming will suffice! On the ground the rickety Habsburg Empire begins to crumble before the onslaught of WWI, while in the air Otto confronts a series of misadventures and the winds of change.
Customer Reviews:
Otto Takes to the Air.......2007-08-28
John Biggins' books dealing with the character, Otto Prohaska, have been a delight to read and this one is no exception. The conscientious Habsburg naval officer has served as a U-Boat commander, secret agent and almost savior of the Archduke Ferdinand in pervious installments. In this one, he takes to the air as a combat pilot. All of this would seem ludicrous to many serving officers but, Biggins makes it believable.
Part of the charm of these books is that the protagonist is a basically good guy. He is employed by a decaying empire teetering on the brink of collapse but still tries to serve as best he can. All too often, his efforts are thwarted by the agents of the bureaucracy.
Like the others, this is a fascinating book. It is not only enjoyable, it gives a glimpse of the reasons for the internal decay of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
biggins best to date.......2007-02-01
The third Otto Prohaska novel in John Biggins' acclaimed fictional series is a good deal better than his first; it is in fact excellent historical fiction. Biggins' character Otto Prohaska in this case covers the five months he spends in the Austro-Hungarian air force flying over the hellish Isonzo front with Italy, involved in photographic espionage and recon, desultory bombing runs, and various special tasks. Along the way he deals with incompetent and cowardly commanders, gallant and honorable (or not) foes and compatriots, the Emperor as well as mutineers, and all the fun and games of flying highly erratic and dangerous contraptions in every kind of weather.
Biggins has only gotten better at showing us the collapse of the venerable but decaying Empire, besieged from the outside and rotting from the inside. The languages, the regulations and meaningless red tape, the starvation and shortages caused by the war and the blockade - they are all there, presented with stark clarity and empathy. The horrors of war, constant suffering and death in causes both noble and less so, are another constant theme. In the end there remains some room for personal honor and even humor. One great quote which can summarize much of Biggins/Prohaska's viewpoint reads, "The truth of the matter is that two world wars were, for Europe, nothing but a vast experiment in negative Darwinism, in which the best died and the worst survived to breed."
Biggins has also done outstanding research on all types of WW1 aircraft, ships, weapons, etc., and the reader is amazed at the detail effortlessly presented in the book.
Of course for many readers the future WW2 will hover in the background as well; various characters in Biggins' account of the First carry within them the seeds of the very worst features of the Second, from the death camps, racism and nationalism, to wholesale bombing of civilians and the destruction of entire cities.
Biggins' characters are better and more fully drawn, the story lines hangs together better, the dialogue is tighter and the situations are all more interesting than in A Sailor of Austria. For current historical fiction, The Two Headed Eagle is an outstanding read and highly recommended.
Otto Prohaska in the air.......2007-01-10
This is the third in the series that chronicle the adventures of Linienschiffleutnant Otto Prohaska of the Imperial Austro-Hungarian Navy around the time of the First World War. This book sees the hero attached to the KuK Armee's air service on the Italian Front in 1916, where he has to battle against various difficulties, including obsolete and under-maintained aircraft, a commanding officer obsessed with meaningless statistics, poor logistical support, the peculiarities of Austro-Hungarian bureaucracy, and the Italians. The author's research is impeccable, and the fictitious events in the book could have happened; they're all technically possible. The peculiarly horrible conditions on the Isonzo Front are well described, and remind the reader that conditions there were just as terrible as those on the Western Front.
The Two Headed Eagle is one of those books that has the reader eagerly turning the pages to follow the hero's adventures, but at the same time dreading the fact that the book is coming to an end. It's great stuff!
Customer Reviews:
Excellent! .......2007-08-17
This is the 2nd book of a trilogy. Loved the 1st and now I love the 2nd. What a fantastic writer!
A great read of epic proportions.......2007-03-04
This story is a continuation of 'No Angel'. I loved the many plots and subplots all of them intertwining seamlessly.The author's writing style is terrific. She has a magnificent way of complicating a situation or ending a section dramatically to add suspense.
The author's ability to paint her characters is fantastic. Lady Beckenham and her daughter Celia seem to be of the same mold. They both have a get-on-with-it approach to life (784). Venetia and Adele undergo significant change from the spoilt brats they were to being very capable and responsible individuals. I did think though that the characters of Luc Lieberman and Laurence Elliott were a bit too similar.
The story is loaded with historical facts, helping to make it believable. It was an interesting and beautifully written novel.
Excellent Book.......2007-01-18
Something Dangerous by Penny Vincenzi is the second book in the Lytton family trilogy. This book follows No Angel and in some ways I thought Something Dangerous was a better read than No Angel.
This book begins in 1928 when the Lytton children begin to make their way both socially and in workplace. Some go to work for the families publishing empire while others find themselves as mothers or working elsewhere. When war breaks out they find themselves serving in the military or living behind enemy lines. I enjoyed this book which described events leading up to and during World War II through the eyes of members of this prestigious family.
This is the second book I read by this new to me author but certainly not the last. I have always been a sucker for family sagas and in thetradition of Barbara Taylor Bradford and others, Penny Vincenzi is one of the best writers of this genre. Now I am looking forward to reading the third title in this series, Into Temptation, as I slowly collect all of her older books.
Book Description
This research-based, theory-driven account of the changing underground world of drug use and associated health effects covers the essential ground in a brisk, authoritative fashion. After a thorough outline of the nature and history of drug use dynamics, the author assesses the role of youth in new drug use practices, the impact of illicit drug distribution and the war on drugs, and the public health risks of new trends in drug use behavior. The volume provides an up-close, ethnographic account of the social worlds of drug sellers and users and the processes of change in patterns of drug consumption. Additionally, it considers mechanisms for effective public health responses to emergent health risks associated with changing drug use patterns. Because Singer carefully explains all technical terms, uses clarifying examples, and avoids jargon, readers will walk away from this volume with a deeper grasp of this social problem; with appreciation for how change figures into drug use practices; and with knowledge of key social, cultural, political-economic, criminal justice, and health factors. While ideal as a text in the undergraduate classroom, its targeted focus on a specific topic and careful exploration of that issue—including new concepts and theory that advance the fields of drug studies and public health—make it appealing for use at more advanced levels.
Average customer rating:
- Laughably bad.
- Enjoyable read
- Something Dangerous...and not easily forgotten
- Wonderful book; Heart-wrenching ending.
- british horror
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Something Dangerous
Patrick Redmond
Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Contemporary
| British
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
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| Books
Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
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General
| Mystery
| Mystery & Thrillers
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Psychological & Suspense
| Thrillers
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General
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ASIN: 0786865520 |
Book Description
Kirkston Abbey is no place for weak or sensitive boys. Jonathan Palmer cant believe his good fortune when Richard Rokeby seeks out his friendship. Rokeby is everything Jonathan is not: wealthy, strong, handsome, aloofeven the professors cant touch him. As the bond between the two boys deepens, Rokeby grows increasingly possessive. Soon, Jonathan comes to realize that there is something not quite right about his new friend. Something a bit off-kilter. Something.... dangerous. What started out as an innocent game among schoolboys turns into a nightmare as Jonathan finds himself powerless to stop Richard from unleashing a diabolical force that threatens to consume them all.
Customer Reviews:
Laughably bad........2007-03-03
This novel focuses on 14-year old boys in a British public school in 1957; but author seems completely ignorant of his setting. He's clueless about how 14-year old boys interact (in any era.) He presents a world where each of these boys analyzes every emotion he feels; everyone converses endlessly about their relationships with each other, sounding like 30-somethings in couples counseling (even a pair of twins).
The adults are completely anachronistic; women are surprisingly savvy about battered wives syndrome, and in general everyone sounds like they're on "Dr. Phil." I'm surprised this was even published in Britain. This guy seems never to have read anything about the culture of public schools of that era. I guess fiction editors don't edit anywhere anymore.
Enjoyable read.......2006-02-09
This was a "blind" purchase for me, but I really liked it. The characters were well drawn, but there were a few too many to keep up with. That is my only complaint with this book, but by the end, I realized why there were so many.
All in all, a very enjoyable read, although not very creepy or horrific. I will read more by this author.
Something Dangerous...and not easily forgotten.......2005-11-22
I knew nothing about Patrick Redmond when I was thinking about purchasing Something Dangerous used online a few months ago. However, the description of the story that I read before my purchase intrigued me--an captivating setting rich with atmosphere, a supernatural mystery, and a story that appeared to have many layers. Little did I know that I was about to receive more than I bargained for!
The canned Publisher's Weekly review included here on Amazon is absolutely correct--from the very beginning of this story, you get a sense of creepy foreboding, like you know that "something bad" is lurking around every corner of the boys' school, just waiting to pounce. And pounce it does, repeatedly, as bullying, mental illness, hatred, revenge, lies, rage, and homophobia unravel the lives of heroes and villans alike.
Something Dangerous is a fantastic work of dark fiction, amazing as it's Redmond's first novel, but it is certainly not for those easily bothered by uncomfortable things. Indeed, this book is disturbing on several levels, and one is left to repeatedly wonder, "How in the world could things go so terribly, tragically wrong?" The reader will not easily forget the story or its characters.
One bit of disagreement with some of the other reviewers--I actually enjoyed the ending.
Highly recommended!
Wonderful book; Heart-wrenching ending........2005-06-15
I was on the edge of my seat while reading every single chapter of this book. After reading for a while I actually began to feel pain for certain characters in the book (especially Richard Rokeby) and also felt love for some too.I laughed and i cried (and believe me, i never cry over a story.) No book has ever touched me so deep like "Something Dangerous" has,or evoked such raw emotion out of me. However, when i read the ending part(which was a complete shocker)i got so nauseous i had to go throw up! The ending offered no kind of comfort whatsoever for people who had been clinging to this author's every word. Infact i had a very hard time sleeping the night i finished it, and i know i cant start on another novel until i get over this one. The book was unlike anything i've ever read before but it is defenitely not for the faint of heart (or stomache.)It is in every sense of the word, a "thriller," and will keep you in suspense the whole way through. Regardless of the horrible ending, this book proves that Patrick Redmond is an amazing author, and I very much look forward to reading his other books soon. All in all though, i must say "Bravo Redmond!"
british horror.......2004-08-15
Something Dangerous is set at a british boys boarding school,it is about lonliness, friendships, homosexuality, secrets, aloof parents, cruel teachers,lies,bullies, fear, betrayal, the occult(Ouija board), evil &revenge. Characters that will stay with you long after you read the book, esp the charasmatic richard rokeby, and the shy lead character jonathan palmer.Lots of dialouge between the characters of the school boys, most of adults less interesting.
Product Description
4 PAPERBACKS BY JO BEVERLEY
Average customer rating:
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Do Something Dangerous
Manufacturer: Harlequin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0373800010 |
Average customer rating:
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Do Something Dangerous
Manufacturer: Harlequin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000CSZQ5O |
Book Description
When writer and ex-deb Bennis Hannaford discovers the body of super-heiress Kayla Anson in the family garage, her visit to Litchfield County, Connecticut, is reluctantly extended. Bennis's hostess, Margaret Anson, presents an icy version of the grieving mother, cut out of her late husband's will-until now. And when Gregor Demarkian, ex-FBI man and Bennis's lover, arrives from Philadelphia to consult with local police, a media blitz storms in as more suspects crawl out of the woods. Kayla may have been too blindingly rich for her wild, private school chum; her older, socially ambitious entrepreneur boyfriend; and a divorced, downsized bookkeeper selling her furniture to survive. As Gregor maps out distances, locations, and motives, Halloween descends on the dark, silent hills. From a skeleton sprawled on the cemetery caretakers' porch to more deadly mischief and mayhem, the countryside is brimming with secrets. And a killer is about to strike again....AUTHORBIO: JANE HADDAM is the author of numerous articles and books, including sixteen previous mysteries featuring Gregor Demarkian.She lives with her two sons in Litchfield County, Connecticut.
Customer Reviews:
An OK Read.......2006-07-09
The storyline to this book is good, however, too many characters and the ending wasn't the greatest.
I'd rather they were in Philadelphia..........2001-06-12
Gregor and Bennis are bacK, and so is Jane Haddam's deft prose. No one fleshes out characters better than she - the twins in this novel are prime examples. They're so real they hurt. Story good, writing good - but I really prefer Gregor when he is in his element, on Cavanaugh St. with Tibor and George and Donna and the Ararat Restaurant. As an urban ethnic, I love that part of the books - the custom and ritual and general insanity that we eths bring to everyday life in the city.
Not one of her better mysteries..........2001-05-01
I usually enjoy Haddam's mysteries, so this one was not as satisfactory as usual. I enjoy her protagonists, Demarkian and Bennis. I also enjoy the view into the life of both the Armenian neighborhood in which Gregor and Bennis live, as well as the sarcastic analysis of those who are so class conscious. This book is just loaded with tidbits about Americans whose main purpose in life is to accumulate wealth and show off that wealth. This side story is probably the best thing about this book. I had no problem figuring out who the murderer was pretty much from the beginning. Haddam loads her story with plenty of possible suspects, but unfortunately most of the characters are not well-fleshed out. I actually thought the epilogue was written much better then the rest of the book, having to do with the reason why Bennis had to rush to the hospital. The dialogue between Gregor and Bennis, as well as those who live in their neighborhoods is more realistic and developed then the dialogue in the rest of the book. Again, it is difficult for any writer to maintain interest in characters after fifteen books. Karen Sadler, University of Pittsburgh
She's writing with one hand tied behind her back.......2000-11-28
I've always thought Jane Haddam was one of the best mystery series writers, and have been impressed with how she has kept the quality high through so many installments.
In this one, though, she seeems to be trying to write a novel for which her series is not the appropriate vessel. As a result, it's one of her least successful outings.
On a bright note, her social satire on the inhabitants of Lichfield County, CT, is among her best and most pungent.
On the down side, the mystery (as another reader has pointed out) is pretty obvious, and her red herrings seem half hearted.
The real problem is that she wants to turn Gregor and Bennis into tragic star-crossed lovers or, alternatively, into poster children for the American Lung Association. The problem is that she cannot transcend how she has used those characters in the past.
As much as I have enjoyed reading about Gregor and Bennis, they remain two-and-a-quarter dimensional props to carry the mystery plot along. They can't bear the additional emotional weight she wants to pile on them here. It's like watching a semi-talented college theatrical troupe try to put on King Lear.
I suspect that Haddam probably could write a well-rounded novel about the sorts of people and issues she was dealing with here. (Every one of her novels proves that she can populate a fictional community with interesting and varigated character types.) But the Gregor Demarkian novels inhibit her amibitions. She can't be Ruth Rendell (let alone Anita Brookner ) while trying to continue to be Jill Churchill at the same time.
Great!.......2000-07-13
I don't know how anyone can say this book is bad. This is the best Haddam I've read yet--and that's saying a lot.
Average customer rating:
- delightful epic fantasy
- THE TRUEST POWER
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The Truest Power
Rebecca Neason
Manufacturer: Aspect
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
General
| Fantasy
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
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General
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
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Similar Items:
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The Thirteenth Scroll
ASIN: 0446611336 |
Customer Reviews:
delightful epic fantasy.......2002-12-16
Lysandra the Seer, her companion Cloud Dancer the Wolf and Renan the Priest have stopped Baron Giraldus and his sorcerer Aurya in their effort to have the Baron named as the High King. Perhaps more critical they have found the heir to the throne of Aghamore, Selia. However, proof of her ascendancy remains limited to the prophecy of the Thirteenth Scroll of Tambryn naming the Font of Wisdom. Since she does not know how to use her powers being inexperienced in magic and politics, many especially the barons do not agree to the naive lass sitting on the throne left unoccupied since King Anri died without a child.
Still, if Selia persuades the Archbishop of her right as the next monarch, she will fulfill her destiny. However, devious Bishop-ordinary Elon Gallivan assisted by his lackeys Giraldus and Aurya control the Archbishop through forbidden evil beings. At the same time, the barons and an invading army say otherwise.
Fans of epic fantasy battles between good and evil will want to read THE TRUEST POWER, a delightful sequel to the wonderful THE THIRTEENTH SCROLL. Though the book stands alone, as with many series in this genre, it is better to peruse the first novel before devouring this tale as the prequel sets the stage for book two. Still the story line is filled with adventure, much of the magical in nature. The key good guys seem authentic even those yielding non-human powers while the malevolence is as nasty as they get. If the first two books are any indicators Rebecca Neason will beguile are enslaved audience with her next tale.
Harriet Klausner
THE TRUEST POWER.......2002-10-16
THE TRUEST POWER is book two in the story begun with THE THIRTEENTH SCROLL, by Rebecca Neason. It is an exciting tale that deals with magic of good and evil, war, wisdom, and the quest for salvation, of a person and a kingdom. The story is not concluded with this book, and I look forward to, I hope, many more books in this series.
Book Description
ALS, Alzheimer's Disease, AIDS, cancer, heart disease, Parkinson's disease. . .the list of terminal or debilitating illnesses goes on. The one thing that all of these diseases have in common is that almost every patient has a person who is acting as a primary caregiver. Long-term care means the caregiver is busy, overwhelmed and tired with very little opportunity to realize or reconcile the gradual losses that take place. This takes a toll on the caregiver, the family and the patient. Doug outlines the dangers and issues and gently provides opportunities for the caregiver to deal with the "quiet sorrows" that make this type of caregiving a difficult task.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent for all care givers.......2000-07-18
This book is excellent for all persons dealing with long term care giving issues. As a provider of long term mental health services in nursing homes, the issues described in this book are on target. Care givers are often overlooked in the process of caring for others, including well intentioned family members and friends who are experiencing their own issues, but not recognizing them. It is well written, and not lengthy. It describes the process of grief, emotional ups and downs, and physical demands of care giving.
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- The Art of Doing Nothing: Simple Ways to Make Time for Yourself
- The Big Love: A Novel
- The Cat Who Brought Down The House
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