Readers RAVE about BLACK AS NIGHT

Hey! I'm just posting a comment for you! I LOVE LOVE LOVE your books! I own 'Shadow' and 'Black as Night' and am awaiting to get my copy of 'Waking Rose' I really got into reading the books thanks to my wonderful best friend (whose name is also Regina!!!) who loaned them to me and later bought my own copies. I love the Catholic themes in the stories...and the romance and humor that also went into them. "How do you say 'gimme bacon and eggs or I'll slit you throat!' in Italian?" is my favorite line! I also recently loaned my copies out to a close gal friend of mine who isn't Catholic (she's Christian though!) and she adored the books and ordered all three online! I'm very excited to get my hands on 'Waking Rose' and am blessed to be one of your fans! Oh! And congrats on your new baby!
Love and God bless, your loyal fan, Megan, age 17 Roseville, MN,
10/29/2007

I loved "Shadow of the Bear" and also really liked its sequel. Keep up the great work!- Jennessa L,
5/31/06

I JUST FINISHED READING "BLACK AS NIGHT"; IT IS A WONDERFUL BOOK. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO "WAKING ROSE." ---JOHN MULLEN, 7/16/2006

Black as Night is a great sequel. Definitely a bit darker than the first one, but it has a happy ending. I'm going to read it again in a few days. :) - Joe N.,
3/30/06

Hi! first of all, let me join the adoring fans in saying that your books are quite excellent. I'm an avid reader and usually a bit picky about what I read, but these books absolutely fit the bill. they've got it all-- adventure, suspense, good sound moral messages, and of course....romance, every girl's favorite. i love to write and its great to see a truly talented young catholic writer. Kudos! ~ Nicole, 3/25/06

I absolutely LOVE your books, and I told my school librarian to order them. When I got Black as Night, I couldn’t put it down. I got up really early in the mornings to read it! - Kayla, 10/19/05

O my goodness! Your books are sooo awesome! I finished them in about 5 days. I love how you put suspense and romance in it! Can't wait for the last sequel! Your an awesome writer and I'll pray for your progress. Thank you for your books! They're great, awesome,the greatest books I ever read. Congrats!
Vanessa, 9/9/05

I love your books, considering the fact that there are so few out there for moral Catholic teenagers. Your books really give us encouragement to keep going and not give up and follow the crowd. Good job! -- Anna, 18, Westminster, MA
8/29/2005

I don't know if this is the place to say this, but I am very impressed with both The Shadow of the Bear and Black as Night. Of all the hundreds of books I've read, they are among the top five. The stories are incredible, the plotlines well-developed, the characterization very well done. I find the dialogue some of the most natural and lively of it's kind that I've ever read. Congratulations, and I'm praying for Waking Rose. May God keep you always in His care.
In Christo Rege,
Emily, Sunman, IN
6/23/05

Thankyou,Thankyou,THANKYOU! My name is Monique, and I finished your book about two weeks ago, and I realy, realy loved the two books! They are the best books I have read in my life! I got the book from my confirmation sponsor, and I read the first book from my friend, and when I started this book,(as well as the first one!) I just could not stop reading them! And when I went on your website and found out that there would be Waking Rose, I was so exited, that I have told all my friends and I dont think I have a friend that dosent know about the third book! I just wrote this review to say how gratefull I am to have read these books! I am praying for you and your family always! Please bring out the third book soon! Thankyou once again! THANKYOU!
Monique, 6/25/05

I just finished Black as Night. Congratulations! You have done it again. Now I can't wait to find out what will happen between Fish and Rose ... when's the third book coming out? ;0)
Lewis, 6/10/05

Peace of Christ! First, I must say how thoroughly I have enjoyed both of your books. I first read Snow White, Rose Red as a teenager years ago, and now, in my mid-twenties, I still enjoy it just as much. Black as Night was very different in many ways, much darker and more suspenseful, but I really enjoyed the deep look at the fears of Blanche and Bear, and how they began to overcome them, and to really be able to trust. Like you, I grew up reading (Protestant) Christian novels, so it's a refreshing change to read something that is so totally steeped in the Catholic vision of reality, without being preachy or embarassingly pious. Thank you! May God bless you in your writing - it is such an important work, to shape the imagination and let it be formed by the truth! Thanks again!
Genevieve, 6/2/05

I read your first three books: Snow White and Rose Red, The Shadow of the Bear, and Black as Night. They are my favorites. I loved them. I can not wait until Waking Rose comes out.
LaShaun, 16
4/6/05

I love Black as Night. I started to read at 6th grade level when I was five, and I am now fourteen. I have to say Black as Night is the BEST book I have ever read. Thanks and please continue to write such great novels!!!. in Christ, Bradley, 1/18/05

Yes! Finally! I found a secret door! Wow! I can't believe it! You did a great job hiding it...why am I not surprised? You tend to do a great job in everything. I loved The Shadow of the Bear and Black as Night. I just got Black as Night for Christmas and finished reading it the next day. I couldn't put it down! I love your writing style...I feel like I'm part of the story. By the time I finished Black as Night, I was exhausted! I was so nervous about Blanche. I'm counting the days until Waking Rose comes out! Thanks so much for writing these books! I LOVE THEM!!!!
Jamille, 12/31/05

I finally got Black as Night for Christmas yesterday, and I've already finished it. I just had to come straight on here and tell you how awesome it was!!! It was so cleverly written and had me gripped all the way through-- it was unfortunate I got it in the morning because I couldn't stand putting it down for Christmas lunch!! But with many distractions I finally got it done, and can only say thank you so much for such a wonderful, enjoyable and utterly fantastic read, and now I can join the already large group of fan girls screaming for Waking Rose!!! Everything was so well researched, you described Bear's and Blanches feelings so well and I loved the Franciscan brothers! I must admit that I liked the story most from Bear's point of view as he was my favourite in the first book. (And still is, though I like all the characters so much.) The ending was out of this world. *sighs and wipes away tear* I think I should have waited to read it because I know that I won't be able to enjoy any of my other Christmas books as much after such a good one. Again, thankyou, thankyou, thankyou, and please try and hurry with Waking Rose, I just have to see Fish and Rose together too! I loved your hints of how they feel about the other in Black As Night. God Bless you and your fantastic works! My prayers for you and your family and the coming along of Waking Rose!
Jacinta, Australia, 12/25/04.

I wanted to thank you so much for writing The Shadow of the Bear and Black as Night. I love your books so much and I'm begging my mom to get me one of the t-shirts for Christmas! Please keep me posted on this John Paul II High project. Thanks! P.S. My mom got a copy of "Angel in the Waters" to review and we both really enjoyed it!
Sarah, 12/1/04

Yet another great read! Again, I could not put down for wanting more. I can not wait for the next novel to come out. Being a 38 year old mother of 2, this collection of Fairy Tales Retold is absolutely wonderful. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Sherrie, 11/16/04

I’m writing back to let you know - I read Black As Night! I gave it to my friend on Sunday; she finished it in one day, and gave it to me the next day, saying she loved it and I absolutely had to read it! I finished it on Tuesday and now my friend has lent it to another girl who was interested in it. It was a positively unbelieveable book - I’ve read few books with such an intriguing plot! I was captured the minute I opened it up to the first page, and I literally didn’t put it down until I had finished it. I even held it in my left hand so I could read while I was eating lunch. The way you put forth the emotions in Black As Night - the way Blanche and Bear feel is so eloquently and effectively expressed, I felt the whole time like I was a piece of each character. I am dying to read Waking Rose!!
I just wanted to mention something else I liked about the book: I loved how you portrayed the Franciscan priests and novices at St. Lawrence’s. They were extremely witty and kept me laughing through the whole story! The reason I loved them so much is because our parish is run by Dominicans, and every year we have new novices come in to spend time living and learning at our parish, and that is exactly how the novices at our parish are - they’re hilarious! Before I met the brothers, I was under the impression that all people called to the religious life - whether a priest, a nun, or a brother - had to be very serious and solemn all the time and they had no room for jokes or spending time with teenagers of the parish. However, these Dominicans proved me wrong - they are all just fun-loving, life-loving young men with a special call to Christ, and the novices I met last year were some of the coolest people I have ever met. One of them, Brother Martin, was a former snowboarder and played electric guitar. Another novice, Brother Patrick, was a real clown and a favorite with all the high school boys. When my friends and I would be waiting outside the parish center waiting for choir practice to start, the brothers would come out and play Ultimate Frisbee with us. They were really awesome, and that’s just the way they were in Black As Night (even the part with “You calling me a Dominican??” I laughed so hard because our novices say the same thing: “Are you calling me a Franciscan?!”) Thank you for sharing your gift with the world. Thanks and God Bless
E. B., 10/14/04

I got your book a few days ago, and didn't get a chance to start it until last night. I finished it last night too. It took me from 10pm-3am, and today I am a complete monster but the point is that I really, really liked the book. I never really liked Blanche in the first book because I thought it was annoying how she fainted all of the time, but in this book you got to know her and I began to really like her. I thought all of the modern parallels to the original story were really well thought out (the seven dwarves were my favorite) and it was definitely um...hard to put down. I also want to thank you for the ExCeLLeNt job you did on Fish's character, he is my absolute favorite and he made me laugh a lot. The book was exactly the way it was supposed to be, and you made me like a fairy tale that has been my least favorite forever. I can't wait until the next book because Rose and Fish are my favorite. Good luck with writing that, and once again congratulations on this one, it was really fun and interesting (and romantic....*sigh*) to read, and I'm sorry I finished it so quickly. :) bye.
J.C., 10/15/04

I finally did read Black as Night .....it was sooo good. You made it so much edgier than the first, and I enjoyed how you portrayed the friars so much - it puts a different outlook on belonging to a friary. I keep thinking "That would be so cool to meet them," and then I realize "Wait, they are fictional!" Thank you so much for making the conversation between all the characters so real, especially between Bear and Fish - the was they act and talk toward eachother is almost exactly like some people I know. Also, the Jamaican and Spanish homeless people were awesome (I know a few, so I was so impressed with your perfectly real characterization of them!) Anyway, I didn't enjoy the book as much from Blanche's point of view . . .I was so busy worrying about her! But I did like to hear what Bear was thinking, and the flashbacks he had from before Shadow of the Bear. Again, thank you for another great book . . .you must have done quite a bit of research!
C. L., Santa Paula, CA
P.S. I'll be sure to pass the book out to all my friends!
P.P.S. I do have to say that I think Fish is a total jerk . . .in a maddeningly attractive way!

Never to Stop . . .
by Marie L. Wycklendt
Crinkle, snap! The paperback book balked like an 88’ Chevy pickup on a cold morning; it yearned to be read, but the pain was too great. Snap! The book slammed shut as if to say "Hands OFF!" After a few minutes of struggling, the book grudgingly relented and the girl scanned the first words on the page, "It was night. In most places, night is a time for sleep, for calm, and for mystery. But not in New York City, where many things conspired every evening to murder the night." A chill scurried up and down the girl’s spine like the soft stealing of a mouse in a dark room or the fall of a dominos row. The mystery of the book clutched the innocent girl, entwining her in its seemingly unconnected tendrils and alleyways. Soon she was hopelessly lost in a world of fears, mirrors, and hair-raising suspense. The telephone, the doorbell, and the honey sweet voice of her mother all bounced off deaf ears. Totally oblivious to the very real world surrounding her, the girl read on with the terrifying speed of a charging shark. Page after page slipped easily from her right hand to her left until the bittersweet words "The End" appeared at the bottom of the final page. Here the girl paused to meditate on the griping fairytale of modern life. She looked up, tears in her entranced eyes, but she did not see the clock to which her attention seemed to be directed. All she saw was a girl with skin as white and clear as new-fallen snow and a husky prince in disguise.
9/28/04

When I first heard about Shadow of the Bear in the Bethlehem Books magazine, I have to admit that I got it because I was looking for a Catholic (to please my mom) romance(to please me;). Shadow of the Bear seems to fit that category, but unlike other books, it's so much more at the same time! The parallels between the book and the fairy tale were unbelievable, and the transposition of facts from that time to modern-day New York were flawless! I loved the book, and Black as Night even more, but have been in suspense for Waking Rose for over four months and am not sure I can stand it much longer!!!! ;) Rose is my favorite character, so I really want to know what happens to her! Thanks a million times over to Mrs. Doman for an excellent series, with more to come!
Anne Marie, Peoria, IL

I wanted to briefly comment on The Shadow of the Bear and Black as Night. I liked the first best and the style better, but the second was excellent as well, and practically everything I was hoping for. The way we got to see a lot of Bear's feelings was cool, and I hope you'll do the same for Fish! And the happy ending was the best!... Also, I liked the friars. Their humor and faith was really delightful to read.... I'll be praying for you, your family, and the swift publication of these wonderfully imaginative inspiring books!
A.M.C.A.H, 9/20/04

I got "Black as Night"! I've already finished it. Boy, was it good!! Unfortunately, I am not going to have time to re-read it, for I have to lend it to all my friends. Thank you again, very much, and God bless you!!
Rachel, 8/24/04

This is a great book. The author has given an exciting modern rendition of the ancient story. There is an excellent blending of suspense, excitement and real faith-inspired insights.
Beware, some of the stories concerning the friars are true!!
Fr. Luke Mary Fletcher, CFR, 8/8/04

Thank you so much for writing a sequel. I loved both your books. I was away when the book arrived at my house [...] and so when I arrived home I was forced to read it until I was done at 2 in the morning. It's nice reading about people you can identify with, because rarely in books or magazines or movies do you get a positive view of Catholics and the faith (most often we're pictured in movies as repressed wackos). I also loved the friars in the book as I recently met some Fransican Friars of the Renewal, who work in the South Bronx and they were really cool. I can hardly wait for the third book to come out and (hopefully) a movie someday:)
P.S: I was so excited to see my name in the book!!!
Nora in New York, 8/8/04

Black as Night was....amazing!!!! One surprise after another, I just kept reading, waiting for all the pieces to fall together. It was different than the first book, and as much as I liked The Shadow of the Bear, I'm in love with this one. Of course, Blanche and Bear are my favorites, so I may be prejudiced. It is always interesting to read a fairy tale from the prince's point-of-view. I think its annoying when you read classics that the prince just sort of pops up at the end to save the day. Elaine really freaked me out...I mean that as a compliment. The fight in the subway was cool too. The one thing that I found disappointing was the end. It was WAY too soon. I get depressed when I reach the end of a good book. So now I'll just have to content myself with re-reading it a half dozen times until I can quote it, and wait for Waking Rose.
Jennifer, 7/30/04

Hey Regina, Thanks so much for the book!! I've just finished it today (as I wipe away the tears that have been streaming down my face!!) I'm speechless!! Actually, not really speechless as I've been recommending it to every one that I see/talk to/pass by. Amazing!! Can't wait to see book #3!! When is it coming out so that I can get my Rose/Fish fix? Huh?
C.K., 7/28/04

Wow!!! I got the book but wasn't able to e-mail you about it yet because I could not put it down! Black as Night was so great!! I can't even tell you how much I enjoyed it! I read it the entire day on Saturday:) I loved how Blanche stayed with the friars and how you truly modernized and improved Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. However, my favorite part was the ending!
Kelly, 7/27/04

I'm sixteen years old and I am going to high school in Peoria. I come from a big family and I love reading, drawing, animals, kids, and old people. I hope one day I can become an author too. I first learned about your book, "The Shadow of the Bear," from my best friend. We love reading the Bethlehem Books and we love our Catholic faith. We are almost sisters like Blanche and Rose. I'm more like Blanche and she's more like Rose (sort of.) Anyway, I was intrigued to read your book since I read the Brothers Grimm version of Snow White and Red Rose and I just fell in love with it. My friend and I were all the more excited to read the sequel, "Black as Night". We loved it more! I suppose I can relate more to Blanche -- she's my favorite of the two sisters. I thought it was clever that you made your version of the seven dwarves the friars of St. Francis! Friar Leon is my favorite. I could easily pinpoint Friar George as "Grumpy" in the Disney version of Snow White. The whole book was amazing - I could barely put it down! Anyway, as I draw to a close, I wanted to say your first two books were great. Sometimes when people rewrite fairy tales or any other story, they do the story an injustice. I thought you did a fantastic job and I look forward to reading more of your novels!
Your sincere reader,
Anna-Marie, 7/25/04

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Some comments from proofreaders:

I wanted to tell you I am near the very end of your book - I am on page 181/206. It is GREAT, great, great! Really. You're a very good writer. - Jen, sister-in-law and proofreader, 1/25/04

I really had fun reading this. Your flowing narrative style is so easy to indulge in! You had a few twists and turns that I totally didn't guess - in a good way - I wish you all the best as you have this printed and published... may your sales be mind-bogglingly abundant :-) - Christine, 4/1/04

I was very blessed to hear Mrs. Doman read 4 chapters of this book to me and a couple of friends who had come to her home. I am a huge fan of the first book, and from what I heard, this story will be just as good! I can't wait! -Emily, June 14, 2004

I loved the part in Black as Night when the friars had to take Marisol's grandmother back to the airport. It was so funny!!! My dad and his entire family are Jamaican, so it was particularly special to me. I love how you put the Jamaican accents in, too. Will Brother Leon be in Waking Rose? I'd like to see what he's like as a priest. (I also think it would be nice if he got to see Blanche and Bear's wedding!) : ) In Christ, Elizabeth,
6/25/06