Rating: 
Summary: Nice to See the Old Characters Back
Review: This book is a breath of fresh air from the NJO series which reads like one long ode to how great Mara Jade (and her hair) is. It was great to see Han and Leia back as the stars in a book again, actually getting things accomplished and being respected. Most importantly, they were acting like newly-weds as I would expect them too. Nice to see some innuendo and finally see some evidence that their kids weren't conceived by immaculate conception as some of the books would like to have us believe.I have to say I was worried about Troy Denning writing this giving how he handled Han and Leia in Recovery, but he did a great job here, and with the short Valentine's story. I hope to see him come back to write more about Han adn Leia. It's also great there's no Mara Jade. Can't stand to read the NJO books because of her. Now if only they would just kill her off...In the meantime, I'll continue reading any and all books that star Han and Leia with no annoying EU characters hogging the spotlight.
Rating:
Summary: All-Around Fantastic Book
Review: Excellent book in all aspects - action, humour romance, and good-old fashioned adventure. It ties the prequel trilogy and the classic trilogy together seamlessly and works as well as a book on its own. The original characters like the squibs were a lot of fun, and it was really interesting seeing all of Anakin's old friends from Tatooine. One of the best parts was the humour. The NJO has been quite depressing, so it was a great relief to read about the gang in happier times. I admit I'm not a huge fan of the prequels, but after reading this book I felt I understood people like Shmi, Cliegg, and Watto much better. The person I learned about the most though, was Anakin Skywalker. Seeing him through his mother's eyes was heartbreaking and very poignant, and I saw him in an entirely different light after reading this book. Chewie is downright adorable in this book. I loved all the interaction between him and Leia, probably the best we've ever seen. Their close friendship is a welcome (and much more true to the characters) change from the jealousy we've seen in other works. He acted like a protective big brother, and Leia's obviously very fond of him. My favorite aspect of the book by far are the characterizations and relationship of Han and Leia. First, Leia's characterization is dead on. I don't think I've ever seen her done so well in a SW book. She has her biting sarcasm and tough-girl persona, but she also has the gentle nature and compassion we saw in the movies. What I liked the best was seeing her vulnerabilities and fears - something rarely touched on in the Expanded Universe. It made her much more human. I also loved the part where she chose Han over her duties to the New Republic. Obviously, I don't think she would do that all the time, but we have to remember, this is the same woman who left the Rebellion to save her lover from the clutches of Jabba the Hutt. Han was dead on. I loved that Denning wrote him as someone smart and competent, using his Imperial days to his advantage and not getting by just on luck. Han has surprisingly depth in Tatooine Ghost, far more than I believe we've ever seen in the novels. We see his more thoughtful, introspective side in discussions with Leia, as well as the fierce protection and love he has for his wife. The interaction between Han and Leia is terrific. Nice mix of banter, humorous comments, flirting, tender concern, and some innuendo. Even though they're in the middle of urgent situations, they still find the time to show each other how much they love each other, and time and time again risk their lives for the happiness of the other person. Now that's love, folks! Furthermore, I love that Han and Leia's relationship is shown as one that is mutually respectful and egalitarian. It is portrayed as a real marriage, one that both of them work towards and are constantly negotiating and compromising for one another. Their discussions are constructive and each side listens to and respects the other. Both Han and Leia's personalities complement each other throughout this book - Leia's diplomacy versus Han's brashness, Leia's calculating logic versus Han's innate reasoning, and so on.. It is easy to tell in this book why they fell in love with and married each other, and how they make better people because of each other. I would venture this is one of the very few books that gets the complexity of their relationship from The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi and captures it in its true form on the page.
Rating: 
Summary: Here we go again...
Review: I really hoped that this book would be everything it could have been, but rather Tatooine Ghost has only served as a haunting reminder of why I stopped reading these dreadful Star Wars novels (in all fairness, I haven't read any of the New Jedi Order, which I hear is good at times). Now...where to start? Mr. Denning has tried to weave a tangled web that not only connects the classic trilogy to the prequels, but also brings in elements from the X-wing novels, the Zahn Trilogy and duology, and plethora of other expanded universe sources. This, in and of itself, is not a crime. However, the entire novel takes place on the small out-of-the-way world of Tatooine. Combine that with the deluge of references to other works, and you've succeeded in reducing the entire Star Wars universe into the equivalent of an overstuffed broom closet. Unfortunately, there aren't any redeeming qualities that allowed me to overlook such grievances. The dialogue is, on countless ocassions, just plain awful. Shmi's diary entries seem glaringly expository and Han and Leia come off as acting out-of-character far too often (Han as an art critic?). This is a great premise for a story: Leia coming to grips with the Skywalker legacy. But the brief snippets of this seem to be sidebars to an incredibly weak story about trudging through a desert to find a painting. This is not Star Wars and it's not good storytelling. How very disappointing.
Rating: 
Summary: Lust in the Dust
Review: Once I had finished listening to this latest Star Wars book I couldn't help but think how this story reminded me of the Divine film "Lust in the dust." Okay there is no 300 pound+ drag queen running around but taking into account the desert of tatooine and the romantic element not to mention the big chase going on for some art work and the similarities are there. I would classify this book as the first ever romance novel for the Star Wars universe. Danielle Steel could have written this though the writing might not had been as good. Our heroes Han and Leia are on the hunt for an Alderonian painting which also holds a secret. Along the way Leia manages to come across a diary recorded by her grandmother and she learns of her father's AKA Darth Vader past or rather his childhood on Tatooine and how the events of Episode 1 changed him. This is the book's strongest feature how the past and present come together. Its worth reading for that point alone yet the other aspects of the book are not bad as well. Still I would not count this installment as one of my favorites. Too much romance for my taste and not enough action. The race for the painting at times seems dull and there is just too much predictability. The reappearance of Chewbacca just made me realize that I don't regret in the least seeing him die off in the excellent "Vector Prime." The squibs were more then annoying at times and although Grand Admiral Thrawn makes a cameo there is no strong villain to be had anywhere. Still it's a fun read and it is Star Wars but give me the New Jedi order series any day than this. This audiobook contains five CDs. Sound effects and music accompany the reading which is done rather excellently by the way.
Rating:
Summary: Good book
Review: I thought the book was good and it explored the skywalker side real good. I wished they would come out with a book that would deal with luke and leia's mother. There was one book that did explore it a little and it seem to point that she was still a live but just in hiding. Hopefully we can find out.
Rating:
Summary: This is what all STAR WARS books should be like!
Review: Now this is what all Star Wars books should be like. Never before have I read a SW book that is so alive, so true to the spirit of the films and the characters in them. I finished this book in a day, and while I was reading it I felt as though Han and Leia could have leapt off the page while John Williams' score played in the background any minute. Tatooine Ghost got back to the roots of A New Hope and engaged in old-fashioned fun, fast-shooting blasters, witty one-liners, and clumsy but endearing sidekicks. However, that edge and dynamic of Empire Strikes Back with Han and Leia's truly exceptional written relationship is definitely present and the best part of the book by far. Additionally, the austere, philosophical nature of the first movie (The Phantom Menace) is also visible in Leia's dreams and thoughts of the past and how her parentage relates to it. All the best aspects of the SW films rolled into one magnificent book. I will say now I'm a Han/Leia fan, and have been waiting for years for someone to write them right and in a relationship that is a natural development from the one we saw in the movies - one that is both loving and respectful, passionate and affectioante, with some playful teasing and light-hearted banter as well. Finally, Tatooine Ghost did just what many, many Han/Leia fans have been wanting to see for years. It's about time! My favorite scene has to be the one where Han and Leia spend the night together after rescuing Han. I'm so glad Del Rey let Denning write a "hot" scene between them, an element of their relationship all Han/Leia fans are dying to see. It was great to read a book that was absolutely chock full of my favorite characters - Han and Leia, and even Chewie. All of the main trio are characterized brilliantly, but Leia's shines above the rest as far and away the best portrayal of Leia ever seen in the EU. One of the best parts about this book was that there were no annoying EU characters like Mara Jade in sight! (Sorry...Her becoming a major character was a big turn-off for me in the books.) If the H/L short story Denning wrote felt like a slice of chocolate cake from heaven, then Tatooine Ghost felt like eating the entire chocolate cake all at once (The only difference is that too much H/L never makes me sick.) I hope Denning comes back to write more Star Wars stories on Han and Leia. He would definitely be my pick in the future.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Star Wars novel! Easily within the top 10
Review: In his second full Star Wars novel, Denning tackles new territory. Tatooine Ghost tells of the time right after Han and Leia's marriage, but before Zahn's classic trilogy. Denning also has resources that none of the other pre-New Jedi Order authors had: Episodes I & II. He makes great use of these resources by having Leia discover more about Vader's origins and giving her a picture of of her father before he was Vader. Denning perfectly captures the characteristics of Han and Leia. Plus it is equally gratifying to see Chewbacca return to the expanded universe. This is by far the best non-NJO Star Wars book to come out in this millenium. I highly recommend it to all Star Wars fans, it is truly a great and exciting read.
Rating: 
Summary: An excellent addition to the Star Wars series
Review: Tatooine Ghost is a book that's long overdue.
Centered around Han and Leia Solo, Tatooine Ghost takes us to Tatooine, where a lost piece of artwork has been found and is on auction. The Republic wants it because it holds a transmitter that contacts intelligence units, while the Imperials want it for unknown, but possibly similar reasons.
On the ground, the bidding erupts into violence and the painting vanishes as a character from Phantom Menace, Kitsner, steals it. Now, the Rebels and Imperials are on a desperate race to recover the painting first. Everyone has a hard time, as they face a massive sand storm, Tusken Raiders, and other problems.
The main part of the book, or the most important part, is when Leia finds that her father, Anakin Skywalker, was born on Tatooine and begins to learn more and more about him. She finds out about Shmi Skywalker and a lost diary that tells her more about her father. It's something that has been long overdue in the GFFA and great to finally see.
In paticular, this book ties the EU (Expanded Universe) and the Prequel Era together. We see familiar people and locations as the heros move around.
Troy Dennings also did a very good job with the characterizations, nailing them perfectly. Han and Leia's relationship is well crafted, as well as their traveling companions and the characters they meet along the way.
Also well done is the setting. Denning crafts the underworld of Tatooine well, and creating many problems for the main characters. In that regard, it was outstanding.
What was harder about the book was the entire chase across the deserts. Over most of the book, Han and Leia are chasedby the Imperials on planet, and it seems that they did everything harder than they could have. Small things such as using dewback when they could have rented or 'borrowed' a speeder, which they later do but end up abandoning. In addition, Leia and Han argue about Isolder and her near marriage in the previous book, the Courtship of Princess Leia. I would have thought that to be over by this book. Lastly, a fan favorite, Grand Admiral Thrawn was hinted at, but never seen. I would have liked to have seen him in the book, but he is not even named. The lack of a character list in the beginning was disapointing as well.
To round everything off, the action scenes that Denning puts in are excellent. There are gun fights, star-fighter fights and speeder chases. What more do you need? This is an excellent read for every Star Wars fan.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: I found Tatooine Ghost to be a most enjoyable, and overall, excellent book . I'm a big fan of Han and Leia, and it was a breath of fresh air to read about the original characters as stars in simpler, and happier times for me. What I liked best was seeing Leia as a point of view major character because that has been something that's all too rare in the books. Denning nails her and Han's personality perfectly in this book, and gives us some beautiful introspective thoughts and the best characterizations the books have ever given us. Leia comes across as the sympathetic and beloved, well-rounded and multi-faceted princess everyone fell in love with in the movies. I can't express how happy I am that someone finally got Leia's characterization right. I also thought the interaction between Han and Leia was perfect, a blend of romance and banter. (I was especially glad none of their kisses were interrupted!) It's so rare that we do see a married couple portrayed realistically - either they've been overly mushy like Luke and Mara or sterile as Han and Leia have been - so congratulations to Denning for getting the mix perfect. The deep love and respect those two have for one another is palpable throughout the book. Another aspect I liked was how both of them were using their skills (Han at his renegade work, Leia at diplomacy) to manuveur their way around - I only wish the books had gone there a long time ago and made them co-pilots and partners all along! They're such a fun pair to read about doing adventures together. I hope Del Rey and Lucasfilm continues to produce such great Han/Leia products in the future! There is a definite fan base for them, as I am one of many customers who will buy anything having them as the stars!
Rating:
Summary: At last, a book that feels like STAR WARS!
Review: Finally, I felt like I was reading STAR WARS again, about characters I love, and with the feeling that the good guys will save the day in the end. It was a breath of fresh air much needed in the midst of the NJO books. The characterizations of Han, Leia, and Chewie were the best I've ever seen in ANY EU novel, Bantam or Del Rey. Leia, especially, was written just as I've always wanted to see her for years. She had that biting sarcasm and tough-girl air about her, but her enormous heart and devotion to those she loves was very, very clear throughout the book. I especially loved the part where she chose Han over the New Republic. It's about time! I think it is too often ignored that Leia is the same woman who left behind the Rebellion for a year to search for the man she loved between ESB-ROTJ. Their relationship is portrayed perfectly in this book. You can see why Han fell in love with her, and vice versa, and how good a match they make by reading this book. It's a respectful and egalitarian one - Leia isn't telling Han what to do, it's a mutually consentful. I love how Denning effortlessly weaves together all aspects of their relationship, the banter, the romantic, the passionate, and the argumentive. I especially liked page 210-212! I also thought this book did an excellent job of bridging the two trilogies together. I felt I understood Shmi much better after reading this novel, and Anakin became more sympathetic to my eyes after reading about his mother's dreams for him. The diary idea worked really well too. Luke in the few scenes he was in was handled well too in his support of Leia, and Leia's love for him is also very clear in this book. Finally, I also thought the relationship between Chewie and Leia was very cute and spot on. I've never liked the idea that they would have a rivalry or jealousy between them, so I was glad Denning chose to have a protective big brother like relationship between the two of them. Terrific book. I felt like I was watching the STAR WARS movies for the first time all over again.
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