"Patience and Silence had one beautiful daughter. And her name was Vengeance."
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Part two of the most creative and entertaining sci-fi trilogy in the whole universe, Gemina, close on the heels of Illuminae and holding its own, does not disappoint. Ever. Also narrated in the form of an incriminating dossier of emails, schematics, transcripts and classified files, Gemina continues to tell the story of what happened after an outer space mining colony was attacked by a hostile corporation. But this time, Kady and Ezra take a backseat and let new characters Hanna and Nik drive for a while.

Jump Station Heimdall is an insanely boring place for a teenager, at least according to the station commanders daughter, Hanna. Spoiled, self-entitled, and a demon in the martial arts, Hanna spends her time sexting her boyfriend, buying overpriced jumpsuits and taunting her drug dealer, Nik. Raised by a long family line of criminals, Nik is easy-going, cocky and quite resourceful when it comes to breaking the law. And he definitely has a thing for Hanna.

As in Illuminae, when the cow dung hits the fan, the teenagers are the only ones who can save the ship, or jump station, or universe. Your choice, its all there. At the Terra Day celebration, a highly trained elite force sent by BeiTech, the corporation that attacked the mining colony, invades the Heimdall. Led by a dead-eyed psychopath who finds bliss when everything goes his way, the assassin squad lies in wait for the ship bearing the last refugees from the mining colony. Hanna and Nik, polar opposites, join forces to defend the Heimdall, save their family and friends and prevent BeiTech from destroying the only living witnesses from the colony.

My first impression of Hanna was: I miss Kady. Hanna is so bratty and self-centered that she is unlikeable and easily dismissed as a tease. Au contraire, mon ami, there is more to this little girl than meets the eye. Raised by a military father, this little girl has studied warfare, battlefield logistics and can quote Sun Tzu, Napoleon and the Bhagavad Gita. Shes sassy, kickass, and clever, and she grew on me.

Nik, on the other hand, I loved from the beginning. With his life story inked on his body and his heart on his sleeve, Nik is absolutely charming in a bad boy sort of way.

The book is powered by a wicked sense of humor and creative genius. Malware has infected the stations computer system so that a single raunchy pop song is constantly playing: in the elevator, during a gunfight, while being attacked by mutant eels. Did I mention the mutant eels with their psychotropic body fluids? Evil little monsters. I caught a bunch of pop culture references: a computer actually uses a line from Rocky Horror Picture Show, and Im pretty sure Nik is channeling the Joker from the movie Batman Beyond at one point. I saw the names of at least two young adult novelists on the Heimdalls casualty list. And the texts between the teens, even in moments of crisis or sadness, are hysterical.

There are more twists in this book than in your intestines. So many times my family heard me loudly proclaim how much I hated this book only to follow with shhh, cant talk, Im at the good part. Its engrossing and compelling and entertaining and so so so so good. Now, in case you do miss Kady and Ezra and AIDAN, yes, AIDAN, do not worry, they join the story.

What makes the only important difference between Illuminae and Gemina is the readers perspective. We know there will be painful twists that gouge our hearts, we know it will make us laugh out loud, make us cry, make us curse the authors and their unborn children (trust me, I did), we went through it all with Illuminae. As seasoned readers of the Illuminae Files, we know to look for the clues, the crumbs, left by the authors because we know they are there and it is so fun when you find them. And, in the end, on the very last page, when a character asks, You wanna know how it ends? my answer was a resounding Yes. Yes, I do.

The last page always has the best line. Bliss.
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She was good friend & tried to raise her grandchildren as well as possible.  She did without for them.  Her daughter had a bad way to go. Her father deserved to be murdered
822371
Really a consulted story.  Glad she was able to forgive him, don't think I could have.  Must be nice to be so talented that she could organize every thing to help save his daughter.  I wish I could be like that.
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By Anna Markland
(The Montbryce Legacy Anniversary Edition Book 4)

Vengeance is is a tale of love and revenge.

Ronan MacLachlainn is an Irishman of great strength and determination. His home is taken over by some very bad brothers the MacFintains and their band of mercenaries who kill Ronan's wife and unborn child. They then torture him, maim him, and he is dispossessed. He now burns for vengance and the restoration of his hereditary Irish lands. Now he has to come to terms with the irrevocable physical losses he has suffered.

Rhoni de Montbryce appears to all to be just another spoiled, rich Anglo-Norman noblewoman. She gradually cloaks herself in the strength, honor, and integrity that is her birthright however will she be able to prove equal to the daunting challenges Ronan will face?
Will Ronan ever be able to get past the vengance he seeks and see Rhoni for who she really is?
Can they both get past the horrors and injustice of the things they have witnessed?

Anna Markland is simply fantastic. She writes a story that makes you want jump up grab a sword and get in on the action. There were times I wanted to scream at the characters and at other times I wanted to give them a hug. To me this is what makes a story fantastic. I could envision every little detail down to the seals swimming in the water. If you enjoy a fast paced story that involves history and romance this is the book to read. Well done Ms. Markland you have a winner here.
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Elyssa is fearful of her future and also for the life of her youngest son Jeoffery when both her husband and eldest son die on the same day .  Since her son is too young  to rule their manor, Elyssa fears at first she may be forced into another loveless marriage. She is shocked to learn that she is pregnant and must be put under the wardship of the king's high sheriff to protect her and her young son. However, Elyssa learns that that she must leave her home and go to live in a private cottage in the sheriff's town until her baby is born. Upon arriving at her new town, her twelve year old son is taken from her by the sheriff to go to his younger brother's manor to learn to become a squire. Elyssa's 12 year old boy has become spoiled by his mother's overprotective nature, that he has not even learned to ride upon a horse which was a necessity for any man in medieval England.  Despite her fears, she hears that young Jeoffery is thriving in his new life and despite being frail for his age, makes up for his lack of brawn with his quick mind. By the time her new baby is about to be born,  Elyssa has managed to brefriend the sheriff's own little daughter who has lost her own mother and her baby brother when her mad mother, Maud, attempted to kill her children en and herself. Her father Geoffrey the High Sheriff had managed to save his daughter from his wife's attack with a knife, but his own face bears healing scars and an eye patch as a result of Maud's  attack before she killed herself.
As the novel progresses Elyssa manages to reunite Geoffrey and his little daughter once more and Cecilia no longer runs from her father's disfiguring scars. Of course, Elyssa and Geoffrey begin to fall in love, but their dream of a happier life together is threatened by
 two men who want control of young Cecilia's inheritance and the other man, Jeoffery's uncle, who wants the lands he has been managing for his young nephew all the years Jeoffery has been at Lord Gilliam's estate training to become a squire and knight. Of course, the women must try to defend Jeoffery's manor once Elyssa returns to live there with her new baby boy. Knowing the Sheriff is away at the king's annual court to present asessed tax money and reports, the greedy relatives plan a united attack upon Elyssa  and her smaller force of knights at her deceased husband's manor. Will her new lover, Sheriff Geoffrey manage to find help and rescue his new love and his little daughter before the manor falls ... will two other secret lovers in this novel also find happiness or a tragic end? You will learn many details about medieval law and how widows and orphaned children were often pawns in schemes of more powerful relatives. If you thrill to the scenes of a final climatic battle between the forces of good vs evil, then the last chapters of this novel will keep you reading steadily to learn the outcome of Elyssa and the brave defenders of her manor as they all fight using every manner available to survive!
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Suspenseful and tragic story of how the death of one of their 6-year old twin girls affects not only the parents, but the remaining twin.  This is a tale of mistaken identity as the parents do not know which twin died, as the living twin seems to have both her own identity and that of her dead sister.  But, which one is it who is alive?  In an attempt to start anew, the family moves to an isolated Scottish island, but tragedy and betrayal follows .  The description of the island was vivid and the characters were well developed.  Mesmerizing story that I could hardly put down and I wish I knew who the author really was, as the book was written under a pseudonym
2386260
When the Livingstone family relocates, their daughters miss their old neighborhood and friends. The eldest, Faith cant wait for school to start so that she can make new friends. Unfortunately, Faith is shy, and the children on the school bus, her classmates, and the lunchtime crowd seem more interested in each other than in Faith.

After a stressful first day, faith runs to her bedroom to hide her disappointment. Her perceptive mother follows her and offers advice, It takes time to make friends. You just need a little patience. Together they pray that God will give Faith patience.

Unfortunately, the following days bring neither friends nor patience. Mr. and Mrs. Livingstone decide that a puppy could brighten the spirits of their daughters. No, he isn't called Patience.

Faith suspects that patience, the virtue has arrived when she is able to ignore an obnoxious classmate, but knows God answers her prayers when she makes her first new friend. Youll never guess her name.

Virginia Lieto crafts a relevant and timely story with universal appeal. Suitable for young readers, for story time in class, and for home reading, it addresses a problem children face in our highly mobile society.

Carole Hahn Panzners illustrations capture the emotions of the entire Livingstone family. The poignant drawing of Mrs. Livingstone consoling Faith after her first day in her new school delivers a powerful non-verbal message which not only supports the text, but it touches readers of every age, sharing both Faiths agony and her mothers concern.

Consider Finding Patience as a comforting gift for families with young children who have relocated or who will soon do so.

I won my review copy of Finding Patience thanks to the generosity of the author as she supported the launch of Carolyn Astfalks latest release, Rightfully Ours.
1172037
Patience threw away the life of privilege and security her wealthy family could provide to run off with an unscrupulously dangerous man. Rather than return home in disgrace or live on the streets she opts to seek honest work as an actress - until the Earl of Ramscar offers her a position as a companion to his sister.

Fowler Knowden, Earl of Ramscar, has every intention of presenting his sister to society and secure her a husband.  Not a simple task considering Meredith has lived virtually in seclusion since the fire that left her scarred and their mother and sister dead.  Securing a companion in a bid to make her more comfortable with the changes that are about to occur.  Ramscar just hadn't counted on the effect she's having on his libido.

Since the `unfortunate' demise of Julian Phoenix, the man who lured Patience away from her family, she's worked hard to keep the small group of traveling actors together.  Things are starting to come unraveled and the offer of steady employment as a companion to Meredith gives Patience an opportunity she'd not dare dream possible.

By using her skills as an actress and unexpectedly witty comments she manages to win over Ramscar's introverted sister and inadvertently Ramscar.  While they battle their growing attraction, Patience helps Meredith prepare for their trip to London.  It's soon obvious that their attraction is too strong to deny and they begin to embark on an illicit affair - one that while immensely satisfying and showing Patience the joys of sex with a `skilled' man also threatens Ramscar's status among his peers known as the les sauvages nobles.  Patience has deep dark secrets in her past that she's fearful will destroy the happiness she's found with Ramscar, but will he really turn his back on her if the truth is revealed?

I found NAUGHTY BY NATURE to be a thoroughly enjoyable story on many different levels.  Patience's innocence, Meredith's fears and Ramscar's love for them both really pulls this story together and makes you care about what happens to them.  Barbara Pierce captivates her readers by combining suspense, charming characters, and unique situations with such delightful results that you won't be able to put this book down until you've read every last word.  While this book is a continuation of the CARLISLE SERIES, it can be read as a stand alone - but if you're like me you'll want to know about what happened in the previous books.

NAUGHTY BY NATURE is the third installment in Barbara Pierce's CARLISLE SERIES.  If you haven't already picked up copies of WICKED UNDER THE COVERS and SINFUL BETWEEN THE SHEETS then be sure to do so - and of course be on the lookout for the next book, SCANDALOUS BY NIGHT, due out in August 2008.

Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)
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His dying father's cruel words still hold the power to hurt, although the worst pain lies in the words left unsaid. Blake Bravo knew his only grandchild lived within a few miles, but never made any effort to know the child, or locate the father. Even now, as the old man breathes his last, he taunts his only child with the words of the pretty redhead's surprise.
Marsh spent ten years recreating his identity only to have his father reduce him to feeling like an angry eighteen-year-old again. Only his father's impending death can persuade him to return to Norman, Oklahoma and face the man who badly abused him as a child. Only the woman he's always loved, and had to leave behind, could convince him to stay.
Victoria Winingham always dreamed that Marsh would come back for her. Even now her first impulse to rush to his arms. But a secret lies between them: one that has waiting nine years for the telling. Now she must tell him that they share a daughter. One who will welcome him into her heart as a daddy; but the question remains if he's ready to be a daddy. Or if any of those old feelings for Tori can be resurrected.
Author Christine Rimmer once again presents herself as a master wordsmith will her carefully chosen descriptions, gently structured phrasing, and compelling expressions of the deepest possible emotions. At times poetic, other times strident and fierce, her words evoke emotional reactions in her readers, bringing tears of sadness and tears of joy in turn. Further, her expressive, imperfectly believable characters are equally remarkably realized. A romantic, heart twisting read, THE MARRIGE AGREEMENT comes very highly recommended.
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Tahn Dorn has led a hard and brutal life. Even now, when love and acceptance seem to be his future, he has a sense of unease. On the eve of his wedding to Lady Netta, he discovers her guards have been killed and Lady Netta is missing.

In this final installment of the saga of Tahn Dorn, readers can see not only how a person might overcome his past, but also the power of love and faith. The theme of revenge--even though the vengeful one has no reason to feel so--is explored well. And there is also a nice twist of words in a family motto where one party uses them for evil while another can only see the spiritual connotation.

I really enjoyed this story. A lot of supernatural elements often go unwritten these days, but they can really add to the book. Although the characters had a lot of depth, I wish I had read the first books in the series to better know them and from where they came.

All in all this was a well-written novel where the characters stayed with me long after the book has concluded. I highly recommend it--though you may want to start at the beginning of the series to get full enjoyment and appreciation.

Armchair Interviews says: A book about revenge and the power of love and faith.
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It is incredible to me That Paul was able to focus on not only telling his story but telling it so beautifully and sensitively while he was waiting to die and while also awaiting the birth of his daughter.
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Babette Hughes evokes the Depression years of the 1930's to perfection. The hard, drab existence of the widowed alcoholic mother, contrasted with  the luxuriousness of the pretty young wife's leisured days and glitzy evenings, lived under the domineering shadow of her ruthless gangster husband. The way she exacts her revenge makes for a satisfying, fast-paced ending.
3558631
Patience...ok, I really wanted to like her. I wanted to feel bad that she'd been manipulated by a rotten father and disgusting fiance.  I wanted to be happy when Cyrus died and she didn't have to marry him...but then she turned into a selfish, bratty little girl.  Alex had changed...so instead of trying to work things out with him, instead of trying to see why Alex was different, she just became horrible to him.  Nope, a heroine has to have something about her that makes me loyal to her...I got nothing from Patience.  Alex should have walked away from her forever.
3032370
Reading this book some time ago, I was intrigued by the complexity that was Joan Crawford.

The author details her very disturbing childhood, raised by a tyrant of a mother who whipped her causing bleeding welts across her legs, young "Joan's"(real name Lucille LeSuer) had father had abandoned the family.

Her brother Hal showed no sympathy for her. Her mother's second husband Mr. Henry Cassin was kind to her, but he also left the family.

Sent to a catholic boarding school, St. Agnes,she worked at waiting on tables, because her mother could not afford tuition.

Finishing her curriculum at St Agnes, her mother found her Rockingham Academy, in Kansas, who took her on as a pupil in exchange for her cleaning fourteen rooms of the mansion, scrubbing toilets, bathing the young children and tucking them in bed. She got five hours sleep on average.

Life was hard at the academy as the principal would also beat the child. She tried running away, but was returned and further beaten.

Neither her home nor school allowed escape from beatings, while Joan was schooling, her mother had a new man installed at home and he too would beat Joan mercilessly.

Boys began asking Joan out to dances in her last years at school. She was growing into a beautiful young lady and a great dancer. This
was when she dreamed of becoming a professional dancer.

She auditioned for the chorus of a traveling show and was hired.

Beautiful, talented and very intelligent, Joan's most valuable trait was her determination. Severing a tendon and artery in her foot, she proved her doctor wrong in his prognosis that "she'd never walk again without a limp", Joan was dancing in just a few weeks.

The book outlines her triumphant career where her professionalism and good instincts as an actress led her to notoriety.

Unfortunately she too would abuse the four children she'd adopted, yet be affectionate and overwhelmingly kind to her fans. She adopted a pattern of putting her faith in strangers rather than in her family. She trusted strangers more than family.

It is a rags to riches story. I'm not a fan and I've seen just only of her films and yet found this book interesting, sometimes fascinating and disturbing.

Recommended as a look into a complex, often manic personality.
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This book started off a little slow for me, but once I got into it I was hooked. It easily slipped from a tale of a present day woman and the disconnect with her daughter, to her mother's life, then her grandmother's. With many questions answered,  valuable insight was gained as to what circumstances led each woman on the irreversable course of their lives and how those circumstances affected the next generation. Heartache, disillusionment and pain turned into understanding, forgiveness and peace.
726656
I love revenge films. I find the mere idea of revenge fascinating. While this movie starts of rather slowly it does a very good job of developing its characters and when the time comes for the end, let's just say it's worth the wait. The last 40 minutes of the movie makes it worth it to wait through a rather bland, yet still disturbing in some respects, first 80 minutes or so. This film has much more to do about the psychology of revenge and retribution than it does about just taking revenge for the sake of feeling stronger than one who hurt you. A good "ending" film to the "revenge trilogy" of Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Oldboy, and Lady Vengeance.
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Vengeance doesn't have to be in the form of a bullet.  Granted, this story took place out in the wild and wooly West of long ago and that is the mentality of that day for men to kill each other.  My vengeance will be in the form of words for now, no gun for me.  As with my tormentors, this person who avenged the death of his parents changed his name from Carl to Carlos the Snake, the gunslinger.  I had a penpal named Carlos Ubach in Barcelona, Spain, back in my youth.  But that's another story.

The last laugh will be on you -- all of you.  What they did was un-Christian though two of the major players claimed to be holier than thou Christians, probably Church of Christ.  I had underestimated my power of persuasion when I sought help from Carl's dad (my fav of the group of jokesters)  and dark rage boiled inside me when the first did his nasty act and especially when the meek and well-mannered fake entered in with his sarcasm.  You always did over rate everything about yourself, being involved in large things out West.  Have things really changed since Carlos' time?

Let's quit wasting time; his day will come.  We bide time until we get ready to wreak vengeance as Carl did.  He learned not only to use a gun but to lie and use false names, as these jokers did.  False names that is.  No one was going to deny him his vengeance.  He appeared disgusted with everything and everybody.  His one aim was to seek and fulfill his vengeance.

Things had gotten messed up, due to Carl; he would tell her anything except the truth.  He liked the idea of her not knowing who he really was and what he was up to.  We all make up for our mistakes one way or another.  Were her tears of joy or sorrow -- when she finally realized that he was no longer a part of her world.  Let him get out and stagger around, what does she care anyway.  Do you think I'm stupid?  Now, she was finally free of all encumbrances life had placed upon her.  She was overjoyed and yet desolate when she had to admit it was over, but now she can get on with her life somewhere or other.

She had succeeded in getting her own revenge and was in a bit of shock.  Not just a bad dream, she knew, that's what people do when they're in shock.  They are not held accountable.  She said that she may go to Europe or just a little jaunt to Hawaii.  Who knows who she will find there?  She'd wondered how much of what a man does is meant to makes things right, or to make things wrong.  It didn't matter now, as she realized she had no strings anymore and could go where she wanted.  Not so Carlos, he was the typical avenger, ending up dead.