First Date The Latest Review Pen and Muse 05/17/2010 by Nancy The prologue for this incredibly funny story is a hoot!  A nice set-up, my Gods (read the excerpt, below, and you will understand.)  The story is filled with humor and some healthy, hot sex between two people intent on finding out more about each other.  Told in the first person (not my favorite), it worked well, here.  The author skillfully melds sex and humor as in this line . . . "He pulled me into his arms and gave me a long deep kiss the peeled the polish off my toenails."  Excerpt from "First Date"           "Political assassinations...spiritual wars...hostile takeovers!  And now this!"  Heaving a frustrated sigh, Fate threw down the most recent cd-mail from the Celestial Department of Interspecies Mediation and the sheaf of protest petitions containing a billion energy imprints.           Hitching up  her robe, she stomped to the edge of her intergalactic dust cloud.            "What idiots came up with the idea that they could enslave the djinni's souls to generate power and solve a galactic energy crisis?  Some of these species are seriously strange."           Leaning on her staff, reminiscent of a drop spindle on steroids, she pursed her lips and stared into the void beyond.  Maintaining a balance within the universal realm required her constant vigilance and divine intervention in the big-ticket affairs.  Necessary, but she hated ignoring the ordinary beings and leaving their individual development to a gaggle of untrained staff.           "Besides, that's the fun part of the job," she murmured wistfully.  She'd paid her dues.  Wasn't she entitled to enjoy herself every now and then by bringing together unlikely beings and causing unexpected events at the personal level?  "I wonder what's happening down on Earth?  Now, there's an interesting species."           At the edge of an ethereal rift, Fate whipped out a heavenly instrument like a telescope from under her flowing robes and aimed it at the Milky Way Galaxy, located in the most distant reaches of her jurisdiction within the Celestial Department of Predetermined Destiny.           "I'll just take a quick look."  No one would miss her for a few minutes.  She'd relax a bit, then get back to the task of freeing the souls of one billion djinni.           Preset on random scan, the instrument hummed as it examined millions of human beings in all walks of life and came to rest on a young woman living in a quiet town in a place called California.           "Well, let's see who we have here."  She looked through the telescope and focused it.  "Harriet Ruby.  Ow!  We don't see many Harriets these days.  But she seems smart enough and honest.  What else?  Trusting, dependable...those are good, but she hasn't found what she wants to do with her life."  Fate shook her head with resignation.           Kids!  They're all alike, no matter what species.           Then she did a double take.  "Hmm, this one is too well balanced."  Concerned, she fined-tuned the instrument and studied the readings.  "Well, of course she is.  Her life has been stable,  predictable and good.  Nothing really bad has ever happened to her."           Fate frowned.  This kid must have completely fallen through the cracks.           "No hangups?  No fears or phobias?  No tough choices?  What has my staff been doing?  This girl hasn't been challenged at all!"  Clearly, someone in the Earth Division had been sleeping on the job.  "I'll have to speak to the intern who's assigned to her case."           Disgruntled and suspecting the worst, Fate reset the scanner to search for other anomalies in the system.  The djinni would just have to wait.            Every now and then, when the divine intervention scanner slowed, she glanced through the eyepiece, but each time the machine moved on.  Finally, it stopped again and didn't budge.           "Uh-oh.  We've found another one?"  Exasperated, she gritted her teeth and peeked.  This time the subject was a young man on the other side of the world living an unpredictable life filled with mystery and excitement but also hurt, disappointment, and distrust.  He faced danger on a daily basis, fighting for what was right in spite of a turbulent and troubled youth.           "Ouch!  That's bad."  Shaking her head, Fate recalibrated her equipment for more detailed information.  "Oh, my.  This poor Will Talbot fellow has a shitkicker of a caseworker with an overactive imagination.   He is one seriously troubled human."           Irritated by such incompetence, she paced back and forth across the diffuse intergalactic medium, comparing his situation to that of the young woman whose biggest problem was that she had no real problems.           "Why in the name of dirt and earthworms can't these interns get it through their thick skulls that our interventions are supposed to create choices for these corporal beings?  Opportunities to exercise free will.  How else can  they define their lives and eventually become civilized?  That can't happen when some beings don't have to make any choices and others are slammed with too many.  No wonder the universe is such a mess!"           Fate pounded her staff on a nearby cloud, stirring up puffs of ionized hydrogen.  "I'll be glad when these budget problems ease up and I can get some trained staff.  I'll have to keep a closer eye on these interns from now on.  In the mean time, what if I give this girl a life-altering decision to make?" □ ALL FOR A FIST FULL OF ASHES The Latest Review Examiner.com 05/03/2010 by Ginger Simpson All for a Fist Full of Ashes - Romantic Mystery/Suspense with Humor If you are looking for one book that delivers a satisfying dose of romance, humor, intrigue, danger, and sexual attraction so intense you feel it, then All for a Fist Full of Ashes by R. Ann Siracusa is just what the doctor ordered. Harriet Ruby, a tour director with the Adventure Seekers Travel Agency, takes you along when she guides a somewhat unique family through Italy as they search for their roots. Their first meeting occurs during a fracus at the custom’s desk, when one officer helps himself to a single Cuban cigar the Spinelli/Mazza family carries with them. It seems in order to save money, they’ve rolled Uncle Carmelo’s ashes inside the several boxes of stogies they’ve brought with the intent of leaving them at his mother’s grave in Sicily. Handsome William (Will) Talbot) is an agent for Europol. He and Harriet have met formerly, and he seems to be extremely patient with her, despite all the predicaments she finds herself in. They’ve agreed to a no-strings attached, sexual relationship, but there’s no denying the feelings are far more than casual. The cane wielding grandmother, Vita, plays a hilarious role as the family matriarch, but it seems everyone in the family has their own agenda when Granny isn’t around. She likes Will and isn’t the least bit upset when he decides to tag along on the trip. Something stinks, and it isn’t in Denmark. One of the family members is the object of Will’s secret investigation. Harriet has her hands full with this group--green hair, bad attitudes, an escaping snake, and more to cause you to chuckle. I guarantee you’ll keep turning pages and enjoying every moment. Kudos to Ms. Siracusa for this awesome read. Coffee Time Romance and More 12/06/09 by Maura Frankman This story is outrageously funny and over the top in every way. I do not think that there is a more obnoxious family on the planet than the Spinella/Mazza clan. I loved Vita and her deadly accurate cane and the green-haired Eric, but the rest of the bunch has few redeeming qualities. The scene in the airport with the Italian officials smoking some of Uncle Carmelo’s remains is hilarious. Harriet and Will’s relationship is complicated, since he keeps everything about himself a secret, but their love scenes are pretty hot. Harriet manages to keep her head, if not her control, for most of the journey, and you will enjoy her efforts to keep the group from destroying the luxury hotels of Italy, to keep the teenagers out of jail, and to help Will keep someone from assassinating the Pope. All in a day’s work for a tour guide. Not! Womens Book Reviews 11/02/09 by Rita Kardeman An absolute must read! The further adventures of Harriet Ruby. It kept me up late at night "All For a Fist Full of Ashes" is a sexy, sparkling, mystery-comedy-romance. Tour director Harriet Ruby travels through Italy with the extended and dysfunctional Spinella family and paramour/spy Will Talbot. An absolute must read! Amazon.com 11/04/09 by V.Miller A pleasurable reading experience and impressive scope of imagination. Harriet, the tour guide, is a saucy feisty heroine.  Her breezy crisp dialogue, both inner and spoken, is amusing and provocative and drew me into the story.  Knowledge about traveling detail and descriptions of people, customs, and places, plus a smooth well-written style and intriguing plot makes reading this book, and the prior book All For A Dead Man's Leg, a pleasurable experience.  Both books left me with an interest in reading more about Harriet and Will. 11/04/09 by Melanie You won't be able to put this book down! This is a fun and addicting second novel featuring Harriet Ruby, a tour director with the Adventure Seekers Travel Agency, who seems to find trouble around every corner!  In this novel, she ends up taking an American-Italian family on a tour of Italy to visit their roots and also to bring the remains of one of their patriarchs back to his homeland for burial.  The turmoil that this family can cause is at times hysterical, frustrating, strategic, funny, mean and even dangerous.  In "All For A Fist Full of Ashes" you will follow them in expert detail as they travel through Italy and you will learn a lot about Italy and the Vatican while you are being entertained.  This novel has everything - intrigue, murder, romance and some comic relieft, and you will be immensely entertained by the various and diverse characters that grace the pages.  A fun book that you will truly enjoy reading! ALL FOR A DEAD MAN'S LEG Review by YOU GOTTA READ 08/19/09 By Brynna C. for YouGottaRead When tour guide Harriet Ruby tries to round up her tourists in a Moroccan market, she returns to find one of her charges violently ill. He dies shortly after. Clearly a damsel in distress she accepts the help of Will Talbot, who turns out to be a Europol agent. He insists they smuggle Archie's body out of the country by pretending he just isn't feeling well, but when Harriet almost dies trying to rescue Archie's prosthetic leg out of the water, they realize there is more to the unexpected death than either of them could know. I found All for a dead man's leg hilariously funny at times. The author literally had me in tears with laughter, but balances this with a constant impending sense of doom, eventually bringing the couple together. A great story, and one you've gotta read. Review by BETWEEN THE LINES (WRDF Review) 07/18/09 By Lisa Mitchell for Writers and Readers of Distinctive Fiction All for a Dead Man’s Leg is a comical romantic mystery. Harriet Ruby has stepped out of her comfortable box, agreed to guide a European tour and is hopelessly over her head in misadventure. From the death of a tourist, to meeting a handsome spy; this was definitely not the trip she expected. Harriet is a likeable heroine who good-naturedly endures the griping, whining, complaining tourists, some of whom can’t even say her name correctly. It is her kind nature that endeared her to me as I read. She’s doing her best to keep things going after the death of a tourist turns out to be more than just “a death.” Will Talbot, her hero, is a true romance hero—to quote Bonnie Tyler, ‘big, strong, and larger than life.” And it is Harriet who uncovers that sensitive side that he tries so hard to hide. R. Ann Siracusa has done a great job weaving this tale. For those who enjoyed Romancing the Stone, this is reminiscent of the film. While the plots are very different, the story was in the same tone. All For a Dead Man’s Leg is a good rainy day—or any day read. Review on NIGHT TIME ROMANCE REVIEWS 06/21/09 By Estefanie Larranaga for Night Time Romance Reviews R. Ann Siracusa managed to keep me smiling throughout "All For A Dead Man's Leg," and had me from the beginning with this line: "Mez Harri Boobies."  I just couldn't love Harriet and Will more because no matter the danger they were in, both managed to do some major banter and flirting.  This is a genuine gem.  It kept me in awe with each new chapter.  From the middle to the end there's plenty of action packed scenes.  Harriet is determined to save a friend of Will's whether he helps her or not.  Here's to Harriet and Will for rescuing the good and catching the bad guys.  I definitely enjoyed the talks between Will and Harriet. Cute nickname Will has for Harriet. "All For A Dead Man's Leg" is an amazing romantic comedy with well written action scenes mixed in, well written characters and storyline that is well thought out.  It's hard to find great humor novel.  Ms. Siracusa sure knew how to work this into an A+ charming tale.  I definitely recommend this top choice of the week!  I don't know how much more I can say, but that I love "All For A Dead Man's Leg" and give it a rating of 5 stars! Review on ROMANTIC CRUSH JUNKIES 06/19/09 By C.S.Morehouse for Romantic Crush Junkies All Harriet Ruby wants to do is get her little tourist troop through Morocco without incident. This being her first guided tour since graduating college she would like to get every one through and out of the country without a hitch. One problem, one of her tourist Archie Philpot keels over making a once easy job now a very huge complication. Enter undercover bad boy agent William Talbot, he’s on a mission of his own when the sultry Tour Director falls into his arms. With one dead man, a group of errant tourist and assassin s chasing their every step how is a girl to have a real relationship? Oh. My. Gosh. Reader get your self a hanky because “All for A Dead Man’s Leg” is this years go-to romantic comedy is sure to have you shedding tears. Tears of joy. Tears of laughter. Ms. Siracusa has masterfully created long lasting and endearing characters that had this reader laughing through one escapade to the next. Get ready to split a stitch and shed a few tears because reader this story is too funny to not pass it on. Review on NIGHT OWL ROMANCE 06/08/09 By Arianne, Reviewer for Night Owl Romance Harriet is a tour guide who conducted her people to the medina in Tangeir when one of the tourists died leaving her with a dead man, Mr. Philpot.  She has to get him out of the medina and the country but she does not know how to do it.  Lucky for her, she meets a man named William Talbot, a.k.a. Will, who comes to her aide.  Will said that Mr. Philpot had been poisoned.  Will, a spy, helps her get the dead man out of the medina with help from some of his friends in Tangier. Will they find out who killed Mr. Philpot?  Was he smuggling something?  This is an entertaining story that keeps you riveted until the end.  It is a mix of a little romance and a huge dash of mystery.  The characters being portrayed are believable and appealing; they go well with the rest of the story. Review by CK2S KWIPS and KRITIQUES 05/23/2009 By Melissa This book has a lot of action in it.  Readers will be kept guessing as to who are the bad and good guys. There is also humor in the book, whether through the escapades of the tourists or through Harriet's spying events.  Readers will care about Harriet and Will and want them to solve the mystery and get to safety.  Besides the humor and action, this book has some steamy romantic scenes. Harriet and Will have good chemistry.  There is a sexual chemistry to them, plus they seem very comfortable with each other, even though they just met.  Will is a dashing romantic hero--the handsome spy.  This book seems to be the possible start of a series and that is a good thing.  Readers will want more of Harriet and Will.  Harriet has the makings of a fine spy. She did not have a clue when she began to look into the murder mystery but she had decent instincts and a good dose of courage. Review on THE ROMANCE STUDIO 04/08/09 By Theresa Joseph, Reviewer for The Romance Studio This is an hilarious romp filled with amusing escapades and quirky characters. Harriet Ruby is just so entertaining and I can relate to her disaster prone accidents. Will is a bit of an enigma. But who doesn't love a tall dark and handsome operative with a provocative past? The secondary sightseers and spies are engaging and the dialogue is straight forward and witty. The plot twists are good and the varying pace enjoyable. I liked that every time I thought the adventure was close to over something else popped up. This author has a great comedic touch and I can only hope to see a series staring this appealing couple. I found this to be a quick page turner that kept me laughing out loud and I will happily recommend it. Review on COFFEE TIME ROMANCE AND MORE 05/04/09 By Shannon, Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance and More It is original in its story line, the narrative is written in a casual and humorous tone, and you will never  know what is coming next. There are plenty of mystery, plots and love to make fans of romantic comedy and suspense happy. Reviews on AMAZON.COM (Kindle Store/Books) 04/14/2009 By Dollar What a great book! I read it in one sitting. Harriet Ruby narrates her experience trying to smuggle a dead tourist out of Morocco. Turns out he's a suspect in an international smuggling ring! As she gets more involved in the intrigue, she is aided by Will Talbot, former military...trustworthy All-American type. They not only solve the case, but fall for each other in the process. Harriet Ruby is the next Aisling Gray (Katie MacAlister) or Betsy Queen of the Vampires (Mary Janice Davidson). She is funny and not afraid to laugh at herself. The book is a great read for people who like to travel, like to laugh, and like a good romance! 04/08/2009 By Diana Kroeger This story pulled me in and never let up.  it has everything: great story, engaging characters, humor and sex, and you feel like you're visiting the exotic locations. 07/2009 By Jan Martin This book is hilarious. Fast-paced from wild beginning to sweetly romantic end. Being disaster prone myself, I really empathized with the various plights of Harriet, the heroine. And the slapstick humor was a refreshing "vacation" from my stress-filled life. I hope to see more of Harriet in the future. Reviews on WOMEN'S BOOK REVIEWS 04/09 By Toni Noel Wish you could get away but can't? Then pick up a copy of Sapphire Blue Publishing's newest release, ALL FOR A DEAD MAN'S LEG, and journey to Morocco with a travel agent guiding her first tour through a crowded market. Siracusa makes the reader feel like she's there for all the hilarious confusion her fellow travelers cause. 04/09  By Anne Lane These characters have got to have their own series. They are too wonderful to let go after one book. I want to be with them on their next fun and exciting adventures. More, please. 04/09 By Lynn Miller R. Ann Siracusa's latest fast-paced novel, online from from Sapphire Blue Publishing, has everything --- humor and action woven into a good plot with vivid characters and descriptions that are anchored with her tallent and humor.  This was an excellent read.                                                         FAMILY SECRETS:  A VENGEANCE OF TEARS Reviews on AMAZON.COM 06/30/2009 by S.L. Stebel 5.0 out of 5 stars  Great Mafia story from the viewpoint of a woman.... Family Secrets is written by a woman named Siracusa. Some years ago, I went to a town in Sicily that was named Siracusa. Could there be a connection? Judging by the stunning veracity of the story - a mafiosa saga that can stand comparison to The Godfather by Mario Puzo (who never got the acclaim for his novel that he deserved.) With the current larder bare when it comes to finding thrilling new mafia stories, I'm amazed that this one hasn't been picked up for either a film or a mini-series. I have no doubt that it would - yet again - confound the critics, and re-invigorate the genre. S.L. Stebel 07/17/2008 by Richard R. Pillsbury 5.0 out of 5 stars Equal to the Best We vacation in Italy every year and consume Italian mysteries (by Leon, Camilleri, and the rest) as fast as they come out. Family Secrets's grasp of Sicilian life and the story are gripping. A must read for anyone into mystery novels. I liked it so much I bought another to give to a friend. 07/07/2008 by Ralph Day 5.0 out of 5 stars A fast paced, highly entertaining, fun read. Also educational, as Siracusa definitely understands what life was like in a certain stratum of society in Sicily in the early 1950's. 04/20/2008 by Millie A Wynne 5.0 out of 5 stars  Great Read! Siracusa is a talented writer who shows a lot of depth in this novel. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys romance and intrigue. Comments by WRITER'S DIGEST 16th INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDS Judge "In terms of readability and fluency of writing, this is one of the best books I read for this competition. The Prologue functions as well as any hook I've read recently.  The story is lurid, chilling, fascinating, and written with marvelous authority about the place and time.  Melodramatic, sure, but it's good melodrama-heck, Shakespeare is melodramatic. The author can feel secure in the knowledge that she has produced a fine work, carefully wrought and rich in detail." Review on BOOK PLEASURES.COM 07/2008 by Sandra E. Graham for BookPleasures.com   Family Secrets is not a novel that requires its reader to wade through a mundane beginning that causes a loss of interest early on.  From the very first page you already know that this is one book that will be hard to put down.  An exciting page turner from the start, the storyline holds your interest to the very end. Ann Siracusa’s characters range from the loving and caring young American heroine to the hard-hearted murderers and users of the numerous mafia families of Sicily and other areas of Italy fighting to control various enterprises throughout the world.  Ann weaves a wonderful tale of love, deception, danger, and suspense in the romantic land that is Italy.  Suffering from the advanced stages of cancer and realizing her days are numbered, Gramma Angela Venturiani knows that the time has come to unburden her soul of the dark secrets—family secrets—of her past.  She calls her daughter and granddaughter to summon a priest so that the three of them can bear witness to the confessions of a sad and weary soul; knowing that what she will tell them may cost her the love of a daughter that she has fought long and hard to save from a life that is worse than death. Angela’s declarations begin when as a beautiful young girl born and living in America, but whose family follows the time-honored Sicilian tradition; she is betrothed to a man she doesn’t love.  Fate, however, has different plans for Angela as she begins communication through letters to the handsome and recently widowed Santino, eldest son of the rich and powerful Camastro Family in Sicily.    Santino is ruthless is his quest to draw Angela Rosarno into his web so that through her he can gain the favors of the Rosarno family in Italy.  Santino knew that Angela’s Uncle, Cardinal Vincenzo Rosarno, was a rich and powerful man in his own right; and having him in the immediate family would further Santino’s goals immeasurably.  In his mind’s eye, Santino pictured himself taking over as chief of all the Mafioso on his side of the ocean and then on to America.  His ego was as boundless as his evil schemes! Angela accepts Santino’s offer of marriage, but too late learns that all is not what it seems to be in the land of romance and dreams.  Now she is trapped in a world that pits father against son and brother against brother in a duel to the death.  How will she escape to save herself and her children from a prison that was created by her own doing?  Let this great novel bring thrills to your senses as you delve ever deeper into a corrupt world of betrayal, undying love, and suspense.  You won’t want to miss this one. It is written with a strength of character and fortitude that few authors have.  R. A. Siracusa is an author of great talent and imagination. Comments from Other Publishers Considering Publications "Family Secrets is a well-written, compelling story, with lots of twists and turns, in a complicated plot filled with intrigue, betrayal, revenge, violence, and love." Beverly Sotolov, Harlequin Everlasting - 05/10/06 "This is an ambitious novel.  The author has clearly done her homework and her knowledge of this genre is reflected in the ease with which she covers the necessary bases in mafia fiction -- revenge, justice, honor, and love.  She has created a smart and capable heroine in Angela . . . and the reader wants Angela to triumph over the mafia that has threatened to take away her life." Fredrica S. Friedman, Little, Brown and Company - 05/12/95 "The writing is very easy going and sexy in some places.  The characters are well drawn as are the descriptions of the Sicilian landscape, and it is not overwritten." Sally Richardson, St. Martin's Press - 06/23/95 "An ambitions and muti-layered novel.  I admired the storytelling talents at work  here, as well as the energy of the writing itself." Marjorie Braman, Dell - 06/28/95 "This is definitely an epic of dramatic proportions and I felt for the struggles Angela (the heroine) had to endure." L. Spencer Humhrey, The Bubble Factory - 06/24/96 "A Vengeance of Tears is so readable." Liza Dawson, William Morrow & Co.,Inc.- 05/16/95 "[The author] has a nice feeling for plotting and character's. She's clearly a natural storyteller."  Jennifer Hershey, Bantam - 06/26/95  "[The author] has crafted a complex, fast paced saga about the Sicilian Mafia." Jeanne Tiedge, Warner Books, Inc. - 09/11/95 "This is an accomplished first novel." Laurie Berstein, Simon & Schuster - 07/10/95 "It's a fast-paced, entertaining read and I was extremely impressed by her rich and colorful evocation of  'Old World' Sicilian sensibilities and their repercussions in the Twentieth Century."  Deborah Futter, Doubleday - 07/12/95 End Reviews