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Reader Reviews

READER’S REVIEWS FROM AMAZON.COM OF
Blood is Pretty
The First Fixxer Adventure
by Steven Paul Leiva

Blood is Pretty fun to read
August 28, 2004
Reviewer: J. Kesler (San Diego, CA)

As kids we all loved to read stories or have them read to us, but the public education system tends to kill this enjoyment for many of us when we are young. I have not read a book for fun since the fourth grade (and rarely did I read the required books I was supposed to for school), but at the age of 25 I picked up Mr. Leiva's first novel and rediscovered that childhood fascination with print. I have since read three other novels in as many months.

Wonderful Book Worthy of Wide Attention
May 6, 2004
Reviewer: Benjamin M Karon from Santa Cruz, CA

Contrary to popular belief, Santa Cruz college students do not read as much as we do drink and watch television. My roommates and I are too lazy to read the menu at drive-thrus; we know our meals by number only. We also don't know how to write transitions; which brings me to Blood Is Pretty.

I have read the reviews of this book above and I find them incredibly accurate. Further, those reviewers are much more articulate and educated than I am. However they only seem to focus on the positive things of the book. They focus on the main character, Fixxer whose flair is reminiscent of James Bond in the good old days before Shawn Connery left with its charm. You may read about how the plot carries you smoothly from page to page and the strong twists, while fresh and unexpected, do not derail the story. Each character is remarkably enjoyable in their own way; my personal favorite is the Fixxer's homosexual assistant who uses as much wit as the Fixxer but in his own gay way. The main point of these reviews is get people to find this gem of a book in the sea of poorly written stories drowning book stores.

Well unlike those reviews, I will tell you the real bad thing about this book: you cannot put it down. You will dive deep into the book and be enthralled by a story that is focused and flawless. You may forget to do things like eat, go to the restroom, and pick up your children from school. But it is a sacrifice you should be willing to make. Kids come and go, but every second you go on living without having read this book is a waste of your humanity. As a college student, I may have the attention span of a gold fish, but this book sucked me in. Bravo Leiva!


Inventing a new genre...the Hollywood Mystery Thriller!,
December 2, 2003
Reviewer: nortonv2 from Los Angeles, CA, USA    

This is an amazing first novel! As one who works in Hollywood I can say that this story has the whole town figured out....It's tons of fun...intricate, sharp, thought provoking, witty...I was prepped for a fun detective yarn, but found myself swept beyond THAT genre into Ian Fleming territory - a mix of ingredients that felt both familiar and original. The way the action scenes top each other as the book builds to it's rousing finish left me appropriately exhausted! Steve Leiva's writing finds a nice line between commentary and action, and the overall effect is vivid -- it's easy to see and feel it all. I recommend it...it's fun to discover a talented new writer!

Whooping good fun...,
November 29, 2003
Reviewer: A reader from LA, CA United States

I found this strange little book left on a seat in a prefab waiting area at the Long Beach Airport. My Jet Blue flight was delayed, the paper only had more bad news from Iraq and California, so I started to read. The book harkens back to strange pulp novels of the mid to late-60s, early 70s. It tosses in lots of Hollywood humor, much of which has been mined over and over...but something here works better than one might expect. There is a Coen Brothers quirkiness, a strange, alluring awkwardness to the convoluted tail. Nothing in the book seems natural nor real. But it isn't calculated, either. It's James Bond as played by Robert Michum, channelled through Daffy Duck. After an hour reading, I left to go to the bathroom and on my way back to my seat I wondered if I had been napping and just dreamed the book. Punctuation and spelling are, frankly, surreal. Plot twists come and go, although the story is clearly secondary to the effect of the chain-link dialog and over-heated theatrics thrust upon the intentionally depth-less characters. It is an anti-novel, and a very good one at that. Life lessons are not learned. Great truths are not revealed. The human condition is left unexplored. In return, the reader drifts off into a murky world of half-seen television shows, adolescent fantasies and grand conspiracies, all mashed together and presented with a not quite so straight face. If Quentin Tarantino can film homages to bad movies, why can't talented writers write good novels that celebrate unreadable pulps? They can. Leiva (the author, if that's his real name), has, and it was worth the read.

A great mixture of brutality, gentility, passion and cool,
September 9, 2003
Reviewer: Steve Morris from Los Angeles, CA United States

I had a great time reading "Blood is Pretty". The Fixxer is a terrific new version of an adventure hero, along with his intrepid sidekick, Roee.

This novel is a wonderful combination--constant action and suspense, compelling characters, plenty of comedic insight, and, whaddaya know, a story that makes some great observations about our Hollywood, and our culture.

The story kept surprising me, and I especially found the characters to be lots of fun to be with. Except, of course, Mr. Rand, and his henchmen. (Rand himself, I thought I recognized as a fictionalized version of a current major Hollywood "player")

I love that Anne (the actress who gets pulled into all this danger) was so smart. I love that Petey (one of the Fixxer's allies) was such a nut, and a great source of comedy. And I loved the way Leiva pulled it all together. The dialogue was wonderful, whether it was Fixxer and Roee debating a philosophical point, or Batsarov "expressing self."

The Fixxer himself, of course, is just fascinating. A great mixture of brutality, gentility, passion and cool; a philosopher and man of action. His resourcefulness makes James Bond look like a damsel in distress. If you leave this book with one jealous note, it's that, we'd all like to have the assistance of Roee, in our own lives' adventures!

Roee is a marvelous marvelous character. Reminded me of the fellow who helped out Cary Grant in To Catch A Thief. But Roee is far beyond that. A total original, and a delight!

But the thing that really worked for me...the book is a real "page turner." The comedy compliments the action, and you simply have to keep reading to find out what happens next.

I can't wait to read the promised sequel: "Hollywood is an All Volunteer Army." I guess that's because, other than maybe Carl Hiaasen or Elmore Leonard, I really haven't seen anything close to this, and only Leiva has done this with a James Bond/ Hollywood flair.

"Blood is Pretty" is Excellent !,
July 18, 2003
Reviewer: Daniel Rosen from Santa Monica, CA United States

I loved reading this book. I couldn't put it down. The characters were really wonderful. Especially the Fixxer...and I loved the way that present-day Hollywood was worked into the story. If you're a fan of modern classic characters like James Bond, or the Saint, you will love The Fixxer. I highly recommend "Blood is Pretty!"

Watched a movie as I read the book...,
June 13, 2003
Reviewer: Lynn Barry (see more about me) from NY,
author of "Puddles" and "Bjoyfl"

"Blood is Pretty" reads as if the reader is also watching a movie. Author Leiva writes well and shows off his obvious experience in the world by interweaving pop culture and cutting edge trends...This fast paced read is never dull and the believeable characters move the plot, the way a good book should. Two thumbs up!

Blood is Pretty has everything.,
April 13, 2003
Reviewer: jeff trenner from new york

Blood is Pretty has everything. This book is a page-turner with aspirational characters that are both real and intriguing, a plot that both twists and plunges forward faster than an NFL running back, humor dryer than Bond's martini and explosions, guns and creams, all of which cannot even be mentioned on a family site.

Leiva delivers us the Fixxer, who is a Hollywood insider asked to help a starlet's potentially doomed career. His fee? Only a large percentage of her future income; forever.

He has a personal assistant who is ex-Israeli commando, he never drives the same car twice and has acquaintances from every walk of life that help him tackle what turns into a serious and ambitious encounter with a Bulgarian cowboy, a film director, and an international team of ner-do-wells. And all this in a story of daily life in Hollywood, on steroids. Blood is Pretty is literally and figuratively a blast. Proceed with abandon!
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E-MAILS WE HAVE RECEIVED:

August 24, 2004
Hi Steven,

I met you at the premier of 12 Dogs.  I am Ken Kragens bookkeeper.  You had given a copy of your book to my sister and I read her copy.  I just wanted to let you know that I loved it and I am looking forward to the next Fixxer adventure. 

Take care,
Nancy Pacheco

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May 29, 2003

Steve --

I am really enjoying “Blood is Pretty.” Nice characters. Exquisite economy. Lovely tension. Tremendously amusing.

Bill Keeler

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May 30, 2003

Hi Steve,

I was going to wait until I finished the book to write, but I *finally* have time and no other reading demands to get into your “Blood” (so to speak!), and I’m enjoying it a lot. I particularly like the humor, and it moves very nicely.

Best wishes

Matthew Cope

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June 21, 2003

Hi!

I have been thoroughly enjoying “Blood is Pretty!” I am holding myself back from just wolfing it down! I want to savor it -- it’s not every day I come across something so juicy! It’s terrific! You are a great writer -- very smart and funny and the plot twists are killing me!!! I can wait to see what happens next!!!!

Your fan,
Johanna McKay

P.S. I’m just getting ready to throw on my pajamas and curl us with more of you book!!! I can’t WAIT!

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July 15, 2003

Hello Mr. Leiva,

I enjoyed your book immensely. And I intend to watch for your next book. It was obvious that you have a love for Pasadena in the same way that I do. I have lived here for over 20 years. Lately, I have been experiencing some sleepless nights worrying about my objectives at work. It was about 3:30 in the morning last week when I read a very important message to me on page 256....

"Worry and concern are just false ways to prove to observers that you take your responsibilities seriously. Analysis, planning, and action, are ways to fulfill your responsibilities."

It hit home! Thank you very much!

I don't know if you will remember me, but I purchased the book directly from you in Pasadena in very early June. I was the tall blond man who was leaving for Palm Springs for a few days of rest and I was celebrating turning 49! Your book was a great companion next to the pool!

Cheers to you!

Jay Houser

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