With You in Spirit : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Anything but vanilla
Review: First of all... I loved, loved, loved this novel! Steven Cooper has an unbelievable knack of creating rich characters, eclectic storylines, unbelievable humor, wonderful wit and superb satire, and delivers something that is severly lacking in the publishing world today... and that's ...an unbelievable hunger to finish the novel... while resisting the temptation to finish it so soon! Anyone who has anything negative to say about this novel is just a frustrated, jealous writer wannabee who's ticked off at the world because he can't get past the first page. I would highly, highly, highly recommend this novel because steven cooper is anything but "vanilla" ... and if you have half a brain in your head, you should be praising him profusely and checking the bookstores with bated breath for his next novel! hurray steven cooper!

Rating:
Summary: With you in Spirit
Review: I didn't think I would like this book when I first started reading it, but when I got into the book I found it very witty and full of surprises. It made me really want to know who done it. It was a quick and easy read, and kept you interested until the end.

Rating:
Summary: A great funny read with lots of different characters!
Review: I started this book while on vacation and could not put it down. If you like a good mystery and like to try to figure out who did it, then you will enjoy "With You In Spirit". The writer, Steven Cooper, has a terrific sense of humor that is carried throughout the story. The characters in this book are loveable yet quite unique in their own way and each will make you laugh and wonder what is coming next. Some of the material is quite explicit but covers all spectrums of the people rainbow from straight to gay to black to blind as well as rich! There are some surprises in the book but with Graydove, Chauka, Stevie and the rest of the gang you never know what is about to happen. Graydove and his sister, who is white but wants to be black, share a special bond and try to figure out just who did kill their father although their mother is in jail for the murder. Graydove is out to prove his mother's innocence with the help of a few friends, his lover, and a medium. If you are looking for a book that will give you laughs while telling a great story than I highly recommend "With You In Spirit".

Rating:
Summary: Recommended By A Friend
Review: Okay, first I want to thank my friend for recommending this book. I wish I had found it sooner. It's one of those books you breeze through with delight. Sure, it's wacky and a little over the top, but it has heart and feeling and it resonates in so many ways. I can't wait to read Cooper's next book. It's already out. I hope it's a treasure like With You In Spirit.

Rating:
Summary: A Piece of Crap
Review: This is one of the worst novels I've ever read. Don't waste your time and money. I sincerely hope this author is never again allowed to publish a novel. Graydove, the main character, is completely pretentious and arrogant, you'll hate him from the start. The rest of the characters are stereotypes and/or completely uninteresting. The author's attempts at jokes are weak, trite and corny. Not funny at all. He also has an annoying habit of inserting jokes at inappropriate points in the plot. A joke will suddenly pop up in a spot where it makes no sense. The plot is dull, uninspired and boring. I picked this up becaused it looked like a really unique and amusing story. Instead, the corny jokes, lame plot and terrible characters made for a miserable reading experience. Save yourself the grief and skip this one. Hopefully, the author will stick to anchoring television shows in the future.

Rating:
Summary: Not enough pizazz
Review: With You in Spirit is a slow 219 pages. Gray is trying to solve the mystery of who murdered his father-and clear his mother's name in the process. Enter a psychic, a small handful of spirits, and a chauffer to help him solve the case. Gray also has to deal with the fact that his boyfriend plans to make a very drastic change in his life, his dysfunctional siblings, his best friend, and a pompous detective. At least the villain is not pulled completely out of thin air, and the last 50 pages pick up the pace to be more fun. I take into consideration that this is Steve Cooper's first novel, but I also must complain about the lack of transition between Chapters 2 and 3. In 2, Gray is headed to the opera with his boyfriend. Then all of a sudden, he is at the Vineyard in 3.