Remember How I Love You: Love Letters from an Extraordinary Marriage-Jerry Orbach and Elaine Orbach

Remember How I Love You: Love Letters from an Extraordinary Marriage

Jerry Orbach and Elaine Orbach

Touchstone, Nov 2009, $23.00

ISBN: 9781439149881

 

This is a combination memoir and poetry book as Elaine Orbach tells the audience about her marriage to the late actor Jerry Orbach, starting with how they met in the first half of the biography.  That section is interesting but nothing extraordinary.  The latter half of the book consists of short poems that for the most part are lighthearted ditties that the late actor scribbled on a cat calendar before a shooting.  His wife Elaine would read and enjoy them before tossing them into a tureen.  At his funeral several were read in loving memory and eventually led to the book.  Is this great literature?  No as some of the entries are inane, others poorly written and few complex beyond simple rhyming.  Yet the poems are inspiring and enjoyable.  Readers will who appreciated Law and Order will relish seeing another side of the actor; his love for his beloved Elaine as the couple reminds us how important it is to tell your loved ones you care while they still can appreciate the mental hugs.

 

Harriet Klausner

 

Grace After Midnight-Felicia Pearson and David Ritz

Grace After Midnight

Felicia Pearson and David Ritz

Grand Central, Nov 13 2009, $13.99

ISBN: 9780446195195

In Baltimore, Felicia Pearson was born to a drug addict.  Although the infant mortality rate is high for that class of baby, she survived overcoming illness.  She was raised by foster parents who cared about her, but she could not accept their loving kindness.  Instead she turned to the streets where she worked the crack trade under the tutelage of “Uncle” and “Father”.  At fifteen she killed a woman in self defense but spent several years behind bars.  At the same time Uncle is killed street style and father goes to jail for life.  Not wanting to emulate them any longer, upon parole Felicia accepts work on an assembly-line but her criminal past kept her from going straight.  The Wire saved her in a Hollywood only happy ending as Felicia Pearson keeps the hope alive fueled by the regrets of the harm she had caused.

 

This autobiography pulls no punches as Felicia Pearson tells her past with an open eyed honesty; not often seen in memoirs.  Using street vernacular, Ms. Pearson leaves nothing to the imagination as she explains her street life childhood in spite of a loving foster mom and Pop.  Profound and profane made even deeper by the street vernacular, Ms. Pearson has in deed come a long way from working the corners to Hollywood, but has not lost who she is.  Grace After Midnight is inspiring for it’s in your face from the heart honesty.

 

Harriet Klausner

Rules of the Game-Neil Strauss

Rules of the Game

Neil Strauss

!T Books (HarperCollins), Oct 2009, $16.99

ISBN: 9780061911699

Although the book is focused on becoming a successful pick up artist, it actually is a well written relationship primer on interrelation dynamics regardless of gender and scenario.  The book is divided into three sections.  The first “The Stylelife Challenge” consists of breaking bad habits and replacing them with good routines.  This needs to occur over thirty days so as Mr. Strauss points out follow the instructions strictly and read each day the applicable section over the month in order to kick out the bad and bring in the win.  The second chapter “The Routines Collection” is perhaps the most applicable to the male PUA as it describes different pick up scenarios.  To us targets, this section is amusing as women will recognize some of the trite devil spawned pick up tries and some new at least to this retired target.  The third and final chapter “The Style Diaries” once again is useful to kick any bad habit as keeping score is critical regardless whether it is to meet women or diet.

Not for everyone but more than just for those penis envy wanting to play the Game played at the level of a master PUA, Rules of the Game gives easy to read and applicable tips though difficult to achieve dynamics. A successful relationship depends on get ridding of the bad habits by replacing them with good ones.  Mark Twain said: “It’s easy to stop smoking. I stopped a thousand times.”

Harriet Klausner

Japan Took the J.A.P. Out of Me Lisa Fineberg Cook

Japan Took the J.A.P. Out of Me

Lisa Fineberg Cook

Downtown, Oct 20 2009, $15.00

ISBN: 9781439110034

Jewish American Princess Lisa F. Cook accompanied her husband when he accepted a teaching position in Japan.  Used to the pampered life of the wealthy of Beverly Hills, Ms. Cook was in for culture shock following the business flight from California.  First instead of a luxurious private residence, they moved into an apartment.  Second she suddenly became a domestic engineer struggling with things like laundry and cooking she took for granted that someone else was paid to do back in Southern California.  Adjusting proves a nightmare even when she is rewarded with nirvana, a washing machine.  Ultimately, Ms. Cook begins teaching English as a second language, which she finds satisfying.

Although much of the memoir reads like an uneven diary with fits of jerky input; when Ms. Cook digs deep beyond the trials and tribulation of a Yank in Japan into how she feels about aspects of the Japanese culture, the book contains profound passages.  Overall, readers will mostly enjoy the efforts of the author and her husband finding ways to make both of them contented with life as a self anointed J.A.P. trying to initially survive but ultimately thrive in Japan.

Harriet Klausner

Mennonite in a Little Black Dress: A Memoir of Going Home

Mennonite in a Little Black Dress: A Memoir of Going Home

Rhoda Janzen

Holt, Oct 2009, $22.00

ISBN: 9780805089257

This is a fascinating memoir of a woman at forty who was still recovering from a car accident that disabled her from lifting her right arm over her head.  However, that proved minor to her husband Nick dumping her after fifteen somewhat volatile years together.  He ended their marriage to be with Bob, who he met on the Internet.  Realizing with his departure that she was a co-dependent who encouraged his behavior because she could not leave, Rhoda Janzen moved back into the home of her Mennonite parents.  There she creates her 12-step program to help her move on even as she looked back to the religion she was raised in but abandoned.

This is a terrific memoir that uses self deprecating humor to both enlighten the reader on helping oneself through tough times and most critically lighten somewhat the emotional strain and stress of difficulty with jocularity.  Rhoda Janzen does so by taking the audience back to her Mennonite roots as only a skeptic can appreciate chilled borscht as a gourmet dessert instead of a soup served cold.  Although the appendix “A Mennonite History Primer” seems an awkward padded addition that feels out of place, Ms. Janzen proves you can go home when loved ones are there to welcome you with mental and physical hugs as long as you are remember the unwritten unmentionable criticality of what is expected from you: “polish your floor with your ass”.

Harriet Klausner

A Baby For Mommy-Cathy Gillen Thacker

A Baby For Mommy

Cathy Gillen Thacker

Harlequin American Romance, Oct 2009, $4.99

ISBN: 9780373752829

In Fort Worth, single dad Dan Kingsland struggles with raising three children with the help of his ex wife’s uncle.  He hopes some good cooking will bring some peace to the chaotic household so he hires Chef Emily Stayton to at least cook them a good tasting meal.  He fails to notice that she is pregnant; if he did he probably would not have hired her.

Emily plans to leave Fort Worth after the holidays to go home to her family’s peach orchards, but accepts the job temporarily with the Kingsland brood so she can earn some needed money.  However, Emily is unable to leave as planned due to the machinations of some sly youngsters; Dan is exhilarated as he and the others in the household have fallen in love with the chef.

This is an amusing charmer that looks at what truly makes a family as DNA is not enough, but caring and loving are.  Dan is terrific in a sort of naive way that endears him to the readers as he will remind fans in some way of Steve Carell in Dan in Real Life though he is not a widower.  The kids bring humor as Chef Emily regrets falling in love with them, their father and their great uncle because she must leave unless the brood can convince her “home is where the heart is.”

Harriet Klausner

Enslave-Cathy Yardley

Enslave

Cathy Yardley

Avon, Oct 2009, $13.99

ISBN: 9780061376092

The Bessonova family patriarch is a career criminal whose prime employment is stealing cars though selling his daughters either as mail order brides as he did Irina when she was eighteen or even whoring them out is not beneath him.  His three daughters Nadia, Jelena and Irina love and hate their father though they appreciate living in Vegas and not Kiev.

However, Papa Bessonova purloins the wrong vehicle as the owner is dangerous Dominic Luder, who wants an arm and a leg literally from the thief as he did papa’s partner Roddy.  Even with Papa’s wife carrying Dominic does not give a pregnant pause for what he will do to the thief who should have researched who owned the car.  Her father may be afraid of the beast, who seeks to teach him a lesson, but courageous yet fearful Nadia offers her body willingly to the beast in remittance; he accepts her offer as he plans to tame the beauty.

This is an intriguing erotic take on “Beauty and the Beast” that begins gloomy as readers meet an unlikable family especially father and a seemingly despicable beast.  When Nadia leaves with Dominic, the story line takes off as they battle for supremacy until love levels the paying field.  The other sisters also come a long way baby as married Jelena finds her craving and Irina moves on after being dumped for the replacement teen.  Although dad is a worthless dreck from start to finish, fans will enjoy the taming of the beast.

Harriet Klausner

Christmas Ball-Emily Bryan, Jennifer Ashley and Alissa Johnson

Christmas Ball

Emily Bryan, Jennifer Ashley and Alissa Johnson

Leisure, Oct 2009, $7.99

ISBN: 9780843962505

“The Longest Night” by Jennifer Ashley.  Nvengarian shapeshift Baron Valentin arrives at the ball to continue his pursuit of his beloved Mary Cameron, who has run away from love.

“My Lady Below Stairs” by Emily Bryan.  Being a bastard means to Jane collecting the eggs from the henhouse when it is cold or impersonating your legitimate half-sister Sybil when she apparently elopes with a painter.

“Traditions” by Alissa Johnson.  Prim and proper Casslebury plans to court Miss Caroline Meldrin, but to his chagrin is attracted to her wild friend Miss Patience Byerly.

Readers will enjoy attending the Hartwell holiday ball as sponsored by these three fine Regency romance authors.

Harriet Klausner

Sand Daughter-Sarah Bryant

Sand Daughter

Sarah Bryant

Berkley, Oct 2009, $15.00

ISBN: 9780425229804

In 1187 the crusading Franks are in control of the Holy Land while the Muslim armies led by Salah ad-Din prepare a counter offensive against the occupying European forces.  In that environs, two normally hostile towards each other Bedouin clans of the Hassan have settled on a peaceful coexistence as they share a common infidel enemy.  To anchor their shaky friendship, Khalidah and Numair will marry.  She does not want to wed her cousin, but knows she must for her people’s safety; however Khalidah is unaware her saying I do is a death notice for herself and her clan as betrayal is what awaits her and them.

The minstrel Sulayman persuades Numair to flee with him to save her clan.  He promises to escort her to her maternal kin in Qaf; she prays to Allah that the Qaf Afghan warriors Jinn come to her aid.  At the same time, her friend Bilal initially joins with Numair before switching to the Templar Knights as a spy lover of Salim, the sixth son of the Sultan; he also learns his dead father actually lives and is coming commanding a legendary unit as war will soon unite him with Khalidah.

This is deep Crusades era historical thriller that brings to life the Holy Land at a time in the late twelfth century when the Christian Franks are in control.  The story line provides various perspectives of those caught up in the numerous battling factions, but especially the SAND DAUGHTER and her BFF.  Fans of vivid tales of the Crusade will want to read this fresh saga.

Harriet Klausner

The Earl Claims His Wife-Cathy Maxwell

The Earl Claims His Wife

Cathy Maxwell

Avon, Oct 2009, $7.99

ISBN: 9780061350993

In 1806, Brian Ranson married Gillian, but before going off to war in the Peninsular, the Earl spent his last hours in England with his mistress instead of his young shy wife.  When he fought against Napoleon in Portugal, she thrived taking over the running of his property profitably.

In 1810 Brian comes home to a strong sassy spouse who blithely informs him she plans to have a lover Andres Ramigio and divorce her husband.  He is taken aback and attracted to his wife he scandalized four years ago in front of the Ton and recently having been back home for six months before coming to claim her.  Brian and Andres are prepared to duel over Gillian so she agrees give him thirty days to make amends and win her over.

This second chance at love regency romance is a delightful tale as the Earl learns claiming and keeping is not quite the same thing.  The story line is fast-paced from the moment Brian comes for Gillian only to have her reject him.  Sub-genre fans will enjoy this fine tale of a politician who learns what love is but the lesson may prove too late as his rival has been much kinder and nicer to his wife than he has been.

Harriet Klausner