Reconnaissance by Anne Higgins

Title: Reconnaissance

Author: Anne Higgins

ISBN:978-0692300046

Publisher: Texture Press/2014

Pages: 104

Poetry is very close to my heart. I read it and write it all the time. Reconnaissance by Anne Higgins is divided into six parts.

Binoculars

Like the Eye of the Insects

Knowing Again

Debriefing Magritte

Interrogations

Safe House

Her poems deal with birds, insects, gardens, human diseases, and life's journey, ending in death. Beauty of her poem lies in the poignancy and sadness. One can relate to her poem because she speaks of the quirks of life, the dead end, and inevitable death. When she writes about aging, illness and people, we nod our head at that as if she is talking about us.

The section, Interrogations was not easy to understand. It encompasses life yet it is somehow surreal, happening at another unknown plane. I had to read that section twice to understand it. I am glad I did. 

Her poetry looks at everyday things in a new light, another dimension. That appealed to me. 

One poem which struck a chord is Perdita. It spoke to me. Sharing it here to know why:

PERDITA

If I had a daughter, I would name her Perdita.
Of course, the time when I could have a daughter is long
gone.
But that name, the lost one, calls to me tonight.
Like Anita, and Rita, and Jacquita, Lolita, Florita, it is Latin and
lovely
but it’s lost, too.
So my lost eggs, long ago shriveled up,
and lost nest, more recently, fried by radiation.
Perdita, your name wouldn’t go well with my last name,
or the names of any of the men I would have married,
but you are the lost one,
the invisible one,
the one I never would have had the patience
to toilet train, to least train like a puppy,
to train like a stubborn adolescent.
Never meant to be be a mother,
today, more than old enough to be a grandmother,
I think of long lost tempests,
and you.

I recommend this book of poems for all poetry lovers..

Posted it for Poetic Book Tours

Friday 56: Unseen by John Michael Hileman

"What kind of life did you have planned for him, Holly? Oh, that's right, you don't have a plan. How many years will he suffer because you decided to bring him into the world? If I were to butcher him in cold blood, he would suffer less than what you have in store for him.”

Posted for The Friday 56, which is hosted by Freda's Voice

Unseen by John Michael Hileman

Jake starts seeing pregnant women, toddlers and an old woman. Only he can see them. And then his estranged sister, Holly's son is kidnapped. Most likely by a serial killer who targets children from single mothers.

How are these two connected? But why are they only seen by him? The children Jake sees are not ghosts. 

We see two parallel stories going in there. And both keep us engrossed. Revealing more would spoil the story. This novel did not get much publicity but it is very engrossing and the supernatural element keeps us going. The characters are  flawed in a realistic way. The conclusion of the book was worth it.

Musing Monday: ten poems to say goodbye by Roger Housden

Musing Mondays asks you to muse about something related to reading/books each week…...

As most know, I am a poet and avid reader of poetry. I can read all kinds of poetry. Today I will discuss a poetry book where the author has taken ten poems by well known poets. Reading these poems help us letting go. That is what Roger Housdon has detailed here.


ten poems to say goodbye by Roger Housden covers 10 poems by well known poets which are steeped in spirituality. 

Each of the ten poems is followed by an essay where he analyses the poem, explaining its importance and meaning. The poems tell us how to go about saying goodbye. With our mind, heart and soul. 
My favourite poems in the book are "The Lost Hotels of Paris" by Jack Gilbert  and "How It Will Happen, When" by Dorianne Laux.   There are poems by Ellen Bass, Gerald Stern, Rilke, and few others which make such a pleasurable read. The explanation by Housdon at the end of each poem takes us to another world.

I quote from the closing lines of Jack Gilbert's poem:

". . . We see the memory
of when they were, once upon a time.
And that too is more than enough."

If that isn't goodbye then what is?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Catching up with my 2013 Reviews....

Dirty Little Secrets by Liliana Hart

"You gave me a scare, Jaye. I thought you weren't going to make it, "he said.

Title: Dirty Little Secrets
Author: Liliana Hart
ISBN: 9781481158640
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing/2012
Pages: 316

J.J. Graves inherits a mortuary business and also she is  the coroner for King George County, Virginia. She is none too happy with her lot. She had to leave her medical studies in the middle after both her parents died in an accident. She has no money, and no relationship and she is stuck in the small town of Bloody Mary. 

When a grisly murder happens, she being the coroner, finds herself in the middle of it. Fiona Murphy, was once a close friend of hers. Detective Jack Lawson, her best friend, depends on her to find out about the murder while doing postmortem.

A hunky Crime Fiction writer, Brody Collins arrives into the town and J. J. drools over him! Soon they are involved and Jack does not like it at all. Meanwhile, another murder happens. When Jack and J. J. go around investigating they find that Bloody Mary has some dirty secrets. it seems a doctor in the nearby town is a common factor to all those who have been murdered. Dr. Hides is not what he seems. 

With a nasty reporter, a hunky crime fiction writer, a serial killer and a jealous friend, Dirty Little Secrets makes an enjoyable read. Our coroner has a weird sense of humour and the steamy chemistry between her and Brody works towards our advantage! The ending was totally unexpected.

Misery Bay by Steve Hamilton

"Two sons and two fathers now," he said. "plus one girlfriend. McKnight, I think we've something terrible going on here."

~Page 92

Title: Misery Bay
Author: Steve Hamilton
ISBN: 9780312380434
Publisher: Minotaur books/2011
Pages: 304

On a cold miserable night, a college student hangs himself from a tree in the middle of a snowy, deserted field called Misery Bay near Lake Superior. He doesn't leave a note, but then suicide victims seldom do. The boy's father, a federal marshal and who happens to be an old friend of Alex McKnight's rival Police Chief Roy Maven, asks Alex to look into his son's suicide. But what appears to be a simple suicide, gets them embroiled in something sinister. Alex and Chief Maven find themselves working together, trying to find and stop a cold-blooded killer, who is hell bent on targeting law enforcement officers via their children. Meanwhile Alex tries to put the demons of his past behind him.

Hamilton’s drawing of characters or plot-line is superb and very believable, Alex McKnight’s  relationship with police chief Roy Maven changes to grudging mutual respect as the novel progresses. The  twists and turns in the story line keeps the reader on the edge. WE observe that the victims are the real focus, and although McKnight and the FBI search frantically for that elusive link that might lead them to the killer, we do see a hopelessness and bleakness in the characters. 

Alex McKnight is one of the best fictional investigators that has been created in a novel. I am going to read  as many books I can, written by Hamilton.

Dead Head by Rosemary Harris

"So far I'd been excoriated for being a slut and pitied for being a dumpee who was all but stalking a former lover. If I didn't have such a positive self-image, I might have let those two calls discourage me."

~Page 139;

Title: Dead Head
Author: Rosemary Harris
ISBN: 9780312569945
Publisher: Minotaur Books/2010
Pages: 245

Paula Holliday, a gardening specialist in Springfield, Connecticut. But she has also earned some fame as an amateur sleuth. It is discovered that, Caroline Sturgis, a client/friend and a very cool mom, is a fugitive from law. She is really  Monica Jane Weithorn, who escaped from the prison, twenty years ago, where she had been jailed for drug charges. The tabloids in Springfield are having a field day, trashing Caroline. 

Paula has been thinking of going into business with Caroline when she is arrested. Caroline's husband, Grant wants Paula to find the person, who told on Caroline/Monica. Paula is not so keen.  But she finds about a stranger who had been to the Springfield a short while ago and must have recognized Caroline. Paula is determined to find out all about that stranger and how he knows Caroline.

And more she gets into it, more it gets murkier. And Sgt. Mike O'Malley, a Springfield cop does not like Paula to be all over the place. However, he is always there when she is in trouble. Now who is the victim? Caroline? Or the person who told on her? Or someone else? With the help of Lucy, her friend, Paula gets to the bottom, even though she too is attacked.

With tongue in cheek humour, a heroine who is not afraid of anything, her friends, Babe (of Paradise Diner) and Lucy, this is another engaging red from Rosemary Harris. I look forward to read all the books involving Paula Holliday., Dirty Business, both literally and figuratively.

Pushing Up Daisies by Rosemary Harris

She leaned in. "How many men do you know who can move their fingers and push in and out at the same time?"
~Page 201

Title: Pushing Up Daisies
Author: Rosemary Harris
ISBN: 9780312943721
Publisher: St. Martins/2008
Pages: 288

Paula Holliday, a television executive in New York City quits her job and moves to Springfield, CT. She wants to turn her interest in gardening to a career. She gets her chance in the restoration of the gardens of a property left to the Historical society, by Dorothy Peacock. She knows it will either make her or break her.

While digging, she discovers a body of a baby, which seems to be very old. The local authorities, thinking it would bring bad name to the Peacock sisters, drop the case. But Paula can't. She finds too many loose ends to rest. 

Then one her helpers is arrested for attempted murder of a old lecher. She knows Hugo is innocent although the local police does not believe her. She has a friend in an aging rocker, babe who owns the greasy diner in that place. There is this mysterious Mexican labourer and more secrets tumble out. The list of suspects include the local congressman, and his gin drinking mother. With more interesting characters thrown in, Paula has a field day unearthing all the town's deeply buried secrets. In the way, she makes a few enemies too. She also solves a 50 year old case.

With varied mix of characters, a good town setting, long buried secrets and of course a past and a recent murder, this cozy mystery is also filled with wit. It has gardening tips too.  

The author was kind enough to give me two of her books, that too, when she was in Delhi and had them sent to me.

Teaser Tuesday: From the Dead by John Herrick

The pain sharpened. Jesse rocked back and forth, not in comfort but in anguish, while he convulsed on the floor in terror. As he writhed in torture, he crouched low into fetal position. In a torrent, sodium-laden tears burst from his eyes and pattered on the floor.
~~~Page 114

Title: From the Dead
Author: John Herrick
ISBN: 9780982147016
Publisher: SegueBlue/2010
Pages: 375

Jesse leaves home at the age of eighteen years for Hollywood. His father is a preacher and Jesse can't measure up to him. But Jesse doesn't get the break he craves. He ends up doing roles as extra and works for a photographer. His relationship with Jada, whom he had met as soon as he arrived there has become a burden for both of them. Yet he is unable to break it. One day it all crashes down around him. He tries to end it all...

When he comes out of death's door, he realizes he has too go back home to Ohio. To reconcile with his father and his long lost love and then discovers another secret, that he has had a son all these years. When his son gets sick, he knows the only way he can save his son's life, is by giving up on his own. 

There is not much of a suspense in this book,yet it keeps us engrossed in it. We feel for Jesse, his sister, his father, his lost love and his son, Drew. Jesse gets a second chance but he is prepared to give it up all, for his son. Somehow this book touches us. There is happiness, sadness and hope, mercy too, in every page. I would say, it is a good debut. 

Teaser Tuesday: Tintin and The Seven Crystal Balls by Herge

A-Z Wednesday: Grace Under Pressure by Julie Hyzy

Title: Grace Under Pressure
Author: Julie Hyzy
ISBN: 9780425235218
Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime/2010
Pages: 310

Grace Under Pressure is set in a Manor in Emberstowne and is a cozy mystery. Grace Wheaton is the assistant curator of Marshfield Manor. Just when she thinks her life is settled, the curator of the Manor is murdered. It seems like a mistaken killing as the killer wanted to get the owner Bennett Marshfield.

Grace takes over as the curator and starts to investigate the murder in her own fashion. She discovers that everyone is trying to get a piece out of the owner. She discovers some dubious financial dealings. And while searching through her own papers left to her by her mother, she finds a link with Manor. 

Grace does whatever it takes to save the Manor despite the skeletons tumbling out. It is good cozy mystery and Hyzy has created a good character in Grace. This is the first book in the Manor of murder mystery series. Worth looking at..

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman

Title: Saving CeeCee Honeycutt
Author: Beth Hoffman
ISBN: 978-0670021390
Publisher: Viking-Penguin/2010
Pages: 320 pages

In the midst of all the difficult reads, I found Saving CeeCee Honeycutt very refreshing.

CeeCee has a mother, who lives in her own world, and a father, who has no time for either of them. Instead of her mother looking after her, it is CeeCee who is taking care of her. Then one day, her mother is hit by a car and is dead. CeeCee is 12 years old and nowhere to go. Tootie Caldwell, an unknown great-aunt turns up, to take her away, her father is only too eager to let her go.

When both arrive in Savannah, CeeCee finds herself in the midst of love from so many women that she is kind of overwhelmed by it. Slowly she emerges from her haze of sadness and takes in all the love and affection and returning it in great measure.

The novel does start with CeeCee's troubled life. We feel for her and wish the best for her. Our wish comes true in the form of Tootie, who genuinely wants the best for the girl. Even in the sad moments, the novel is not depressing. It tackles the issues with wit, sometimes hilariously and the affection of large-hearted women. We also get to see a few eccentric characters who help in enhancing the novel.

Crossing Oceans by Gina Holmes

Title: Crossing Oceans
Author: Gina Holmes
ISBN: 978-1414333052
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers/2010
Pages: 400

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Back Cover:
Sometimes love demands the impossible

Nothing deepens a stream like a good rain . . . or makes it harder to cross.Jenny Lucas swore she’d never go home again. But life has a way of upending even the best-laid plans. Now, years after she left, she and her five-year-old daughter must return to her sleepy North Carolina town to face the ghosts she left behind. They welcome her in the form of her oxygen tank-toting grandmother, her stoic and distant father, and David, Isabella’s dad . . . who doesn’t yet know he has a daughter.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Right from the beginning we know Jenny is dying. She has a young daughter, Isabella, who needs looking after. Jenny has no option other than going back home, in North Carolina town. Her father is a seemingly cold hearted person with whom she could never connect and David, who is not aware of the existence of his own daughter Isabella. Jenny has to make sure that one of them can take care of her daughter, after she is gone.

Meanwhile, in the five years, David has married. And does not have any children. He and his wife are keen on a child. When he becomes aware of Isabella, he wants her in his life. Jenny's father blames David's father, a doctor, for his wife's death. They don't have any love between them. Jenny wants the best for her daughter and will do any thing for her.

A novel which starts with despair and sadness moves us through various family equations. WE see the deep abiding mother-daughter love. The dynamics of relationship can sustain in the face of any adversity. That is what Gina Holmes has brought forward. The deep faith can take anyone to the top. When Jenny passes away, she lives behind families united. All due to her daughter Isabella.

One of most endearing characters in the novel is, Jenny's grandmother, who is always toting a oxygen cylinder. One simply can't help loving her. It is a beautifully told story, one which touches us.

Teaser Tuesdays: Saving Max by Antoinette van Heugten

"He lies motionless in a slurry of blackened blood, his white T-shirt and underwear spattered with crazy, crimson spurts. His legs and arms are curled in fetal position. "
~Page 108

Title: Saving Max
Author: Antoinette van Heugten
ISBN: 978-0778329633
Publisher: Mira Books/2010
Pages: 400

Lawyer Danielle Parkman is a single mother with high-functioning Autistic son. Max, a teenager is very intelligent but lately he has withdrawn into himself by taking drugs and having violent tendencies. As nothing seems to work for him, Danielle decides to take him to Maitland, a well known psychiatric facility. They do some tests on Max telling her that Max needs constant care as he is violent, which can harm himself and others. Danielle doesn't believe it at all and wants him out of the facility but somehow can't take him out.

When she tries to get him out all by herself, she finds him lying in blood, unconscious and a body of another teenager, near him. That boy has been bruttaly stabbed to death. Thinking the worst, she tries to run away with her son and is caught, taken for an accessory for a violent crime. She is arrested and and is prevented from seeing her son.

But Danielle knows that Max can't have killed that other boy even though the circumstances point out towards him. She has to get to the bottom of it and save her son, no matter what. When she does that, she finds irregularities in Maitland, where no one is ready to cooperate with her. Infact she finds that, Max is being given drugs for what he is not. The more she gets into it, more and more skeletons seem to tumble out. She has to know if her son is responsible for the crime and she is prepared to go to any length to find out the truth. If not Max, who is the killer? And why?

Saving Max deals with the dilemma of a mother with a special need child. Dealing with autitism, in a daily basis is not easy. Max is vey intelligent but he is volatile and he can't lead a normal life like others. Danielle is well aware of that and tries to make it as normal she can, for Max. This along with it being a crime fiction, pulled me right into it. I could feel her pain at all times. Max's too. When the truth does come out, it is too horrifying to contemplate....

Friday Find: Never Let You Go by Erin Healy

Title: Never Let You Go
Author: Erin Healy
ISBN: 9781595547507
Publisher: Thomas Nelson/2010
Pages: 352

Molly is all that Lexi has. She can do anything for her daughter. Her husband had left them seven years' ago, without a single word. Even when he was with them, he was a drug addict, involved in seedy stuff, along with some disreputable characters. One day Warden, a drug dealer, comes back into her life, asking her to pay off Grant's old debts. Lexi is not aware of anything like that. She doesn't have that kind of money. Then Grant too re-enters her life, and wishes to see their daughter.

Lexi can't take all this. There is something in her past that she is not proud of and doesn't wish it to come out. But with Grant and Warden back in her life, each wanting a slice of her, she knows, she is in trouble. She doesn't know what to do and whom to turn too. It is not all, she can also feel supernatural elements, playing a part, affecting her equilibrium. And she has to deal with that.

After a while it ceases to matter if her past comes out or not. Only thing important is to save her daughter and for that she has to believe herself and chose the lesser of the two evils, between Grant and Warden.

Never Let You Go is a very well written book. The supernatural part doesn't seem out of place. Lexi doesn't fear anyone for herself but she fears for her daughter. That is a normal part being a parent. The prose is very good and the story line is very engrossing. I have not read anything else by Erin Healy, but I will.

In Harm's Way by Irene Hannon and author interview

Title: In Harm's Way
Author: Irene Hannon
ISBN: 978-0800733124
Publisher: Revell/2010
Pages: 326

When Rachel Sutton comes in contact with a Raggedy Ann doll, she has an unexplained feeling of terror. When it happens more than once, she thinks there is something, which needs to be found out. She goes to the FBI office, fully well-knowing no one is going to believe her story. Nick Bradley, a special agent of the FBI, is skeptical as expected.

But somehow the Raggedy Ann doll is connected with a kidnapped child, even though no one can understand how. Rebecca and her husband colin have given up hope of finding their child. The Raggedy Doll in a way helps the strange connection between Rachel and Rebecca, and also leads to the kidnapper. But by this time, Rachel's life is in danger, and Nick has to save her and also find the abducted toddler.

The horror of having a child kidnapped is well brought out. Rachel's seemingly unrelated to the child can feel a force/pull which leads to the kidnapper. We also winess a romance between Nick and Rachel and a bonding between Rachel and Rebecca. As a child was involved, I couldn't put down the book until I finished it. It indeed is a fast paced novel and is a winner with the reader.

Thanks to the Author for the book. And now check out her interview which follows the review:

> 1)When and why did you begin writing?

I can’t remember ever not being a writer. I really believe people are born writers. It’s a gift, just like any other talent. I did toy with the idea of becoming a psychologist, but in the end, writing won out. However, my psychology degree is a great background for writing about relationships—a key ingredient in romantic fiction!

> 2) When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When I was one of the honorees in a complete-the-story contest conducted by a national children’s magazine at the age of 10. I’ve always considered that my “professional” debut!

> 3) What inspired you to write your first book?

I’ve always loved to read. And I especially enjoyed romances, because I like books that have happy endings. So one day I decided to try my hand at writing one. That first effort was so bad I buried it in the darkest corner of my closest, where it will forever remain! But I learned a lot from that experience and kept writing until I sold my first book.

> 4) What was the hardest part of writing your book?

In Harm’s Way—and the other two books in the Heroes of Quantico series—all presented me with incredible research challenges, since they were my suspense debut. (All of my previous books were contemporary romances.) I have no connections of any kind to the military, the FBI or law enforcement in any form. So tackling these novels was more than a little intimidating. In the course of writing them, I read books, scoured the Net and consulted police officers, FBI agents, physicians, academics and a host of experts in their fields. I also enrolled in our local Citizen Police Academy, which included a heart-pounding ride-along with a patrol officer. By the time I finish a book like In Harm’s Way, I often have more than 100 single-spaced pages of research notes and reference citations.

> 5) What do you see as the influences on your writing, outside, inside, whatever?

I’ve learned a lot by simply reading excellent authors and analyzing how they use language. And I attend at least one writing conference a year, where I go to as many workshops as I can. Two things I’ve discovered: you never stop learning and you can always improve. I also had a high school literature teacher who was a tremendous influence on me. In fact, my next book will be dedicated to her!

> 6) Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

I enjoy many authors, so it’s difficult to single out one. But the author whose work inspired me to try my hand at suspense was Dee Henderson—in particular her fabulous book, The Guardian.

> 7) Can you share a little of your current work with us and how do you envisage it in future?

I’m currently working on the first book in my Guardians of Justice series. The book is called Fatal Judgment and will be out in January. It’s about a U.S. Deputy Marshal and the federal judge he’s assigned to protect when her life is threatened.

> 8) What book(s) are you reading now?

For a month I was busy judging entries in Romance Writers of America’s RITA competition (the “Oscar” of romantic fiction). Now I’m trying to catch up with my writing and finalize the new design for my website, which I hope will launch in June.

> 9) Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?

I haven’t discovered any new authors recently. I’m too busy writing!

> 10) Do you have anything that you want to say to your readers?

Here in the United States, my book are shelved in the Christian fiction section of bookstores. However, the faith content is subtle and reflected more in characters’ actions than in words.. As a result, any reader who likes fiction WITHOUT explicit love scenes, gratuitous violence or profanity would enjoy my books. Also, I’m pleased to announce that In Harm’s Way has just hit a major bestseller list for the second month in a row here in the United States!

Irene Hannon Bio

RITA-award winner Irene Hannon is the author of more than 30 novels, including the bestselling Heroes of Quantico suspense series. A four-time RITA finalist (Book 2 in her Quantico series, An Eye For An Eye, is a current finalist), she has also been honored with two Reviewers’ Choice award from RT BOOKreviews magazine and a HOLT medallion. For more information, check out her website, www.irenehannon.com.

Teaser Tuesdays: The Cutting by James Hayman

"Where Spencer's legs met, there was now only an open wound. On the wall above the bed, written in Spencer's blood, a line from the English poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

~Page 293

Title: The Cutting

Author: James Hayman

ISBN: 978-0312531294

Publisher: Minotaur books/2009

Pages: 336

Detective Sergeant Michael McCabe from the NYPD, has just moved into Portland, Maine. He is trying to get away from his messy and dark past. His wife has left him and his brother has been killed. He thinks he can raise his young daughter there in a relatively peaceful place. Nothing can be farther from the truth.

What he finds in Portland is horrific. Someone is killing young women, meticulously removing their hearts. That person is very well versed in the precise surgical procedure. Then another young woman goes missing. He knows that unless he finds her soon, she too would end up dead, her heart removed. But he doesn't have any profile of the killer.

When he gets around to find the killer, he finds that there is lot more in there other than just murders. Too much money too involved. He has to know why/how. With Maggie Savage on his side, he gets around to it. Meanwhile his ex-wife comes back to claim the daughter she left behind.

AS a crime fiction, it is at par with the best of it. Hayman has created a great character in McCabe and Also Maggie, who is a perfect foil. The description of the crime committed keeps us engrossed. I liked the pace of the novel. It has a nail biting finish. As a debut, it is one of the best. What more can one ask from a crime fiction?

Thanks to the author for my copy of The Cutting.

Buried Alive by Roy Hallums

Title: Buried Alive
Author: Roy Hallums
ISBN: 9781595551702
Publisher: Thomas Nelson/2009
Pages: 241

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Synopsis

Contractor Roy Hallums recounts the harrowing ten months he was held captive by Iraqi insurgents, the heroic rescue by American troops, and the faith that helped him survive it all.

In November 2004 Roy Hallums was working late at his office in Iraq at the Saudi Arabian Trading and Construction Company, supposedly well-protected by armed security guards, when four kidnappers broke in and hauled him away at gunpoint. The next ten months were the darkest of his life. Hallums spent most of his time in a concrete pit beneath a farmhouse, constantly bound and blindfolded. A small pipe in the ceiling provided the room's only oxygen - and its only link to the outside world. Hallums banked on one group in particular not forgetting his existence-the US military. And sure enough, on September 7, 2006, they successfully rescued him. This is the edge-of-your-seatstory of a trip through hell for Hallums, the daring rescue mission, and faith that brought him through the experience.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On November 1, 2004, Roy Hallums was kidnapped from Baghdad by 20 gunmen, along with few other people. Those other hostages were released soon after but Hallum was in captive for 311 days. It is his story, a true account about what he endured in his captivity. Reading it was difficult enough for me and he lived through it. Also what his family had to undergo. They left no stones unturned to get him released.

It is an emotional roller coaster to read this book, an account which leaves us deeply moved. It speaks of a Iraq that we know nothing about. In the darkest moments of despair, Hallum retained his sanity and kept his spirits up. It is man's journey into himself and also a way of finding oneself in the unimaginable madness. The terror, the torture and then the triumph, all these make it a edge on the seat read. A book that inspires and speaks about human endurance, no matter what. It also gives us a good insight about the Middle East. The rescuers too deseve kudos. I salute to the spirit of Hallums.

Creole Angel by Peggy Hanchar

Title: Creole Angel
Author: Peggy Hanchar
ISBN: 9787116200396
Publisher: Onyx Book/1987
Pages: 445

Rayne Elliott has been hand-picked to be the first client for Gabrielle Reynaud to initiate her in the house of ill-repute in New Orleans. Gaby falls in love with him and leaves New Orleans to be with him, looking forward to a future. But there are too many people, who have desired her and can't let her go just like that. Then there are those who are bent on reminding her of her past life in that house of ill-repute.

Rayne too comes to doubt her and their life fall apart. But with courage and strength, Gaby can hold on her own and tries to win back the love that truly belongs to both.

With an unusual start, this romance novel makes a good afternoon read in the cold winter!

Tintin & The Crab with the Golden Claws by Herge

Title: The Crab with the Golden Claws
Author: Herge
ISBN: 9780316358330
Publisher: Little, Brown Books/1974
Pages: 62

The Crab with the Golden Claws introduces us to one of our all time favorite characters: Captain Haddock. A bumbling drunken wretch, he enderas himself to us right from the beginning and stays through all the Tintin Albums.

The plot is great too what with drug smuggling rings in north Africa. These really present Tintin with so many challenges, and TIntin gets out of all those with his usual aplomb!

Tintin and The Shooting Star by Herge

Title: Tintin and The Shooting Star
Author: Herge
ISBN:978-1405206211
Publisher: Litle, Brown Books/1984
Pages: 62

The Shooting Star tells the story of Tintin's voyage to the Arctic Ocean to recover a meteor that is composed of Phostlite, an unknown metal.

Walking home one night, Tintin sees a large star in the sky, a star that hadn't been there before. The astronomers have spotted it too, and predict that it will collide with the Earth and that would be the end of it.. The meteor causes an earthquake on impact but nothing else. The astronomers believe the meteorite is made of a mysterious new metal, and decide to make a trip by boat, led by Captain Haddock, to the Arctic Ocean to investigate. An oil company from Sao Rico has also decided to visit the meteor, to take the new metal for themselves. It becomes a race filled with sabotage and seasickness. Tintin and the astronomers have to beat them, no matter what.

It has got a few elements of sci-fi to it and a dream sequence. And It is always a pleasure to read about Captain Haddock. Another good Tintin album.