THESE BOOTS WERE MADE FOR STOMPING

Author: Julie Kenner, Jade Lee and Marianne Mancusi ISBN: 050552760X 4/2008 ANTHOLOGY Publisher: DORCHESTER

SOMETIMES IT'S ALL ABOUT THE SHOES Whether facing the forces of evil or simply battling a bad hair day, fantastic footwear is key. Yes, there are the right shoes for the right situation, and not every moment calls for Manolos. Sometimes a woman's gotta be fierce as well as feminine, fiery as well as fragile. And when the legwork required is a roundhouse, when a girl's mantra has to become "I am woman, hear me roar," those are the times it's good to know there's magic in the world—because in super-powered pumps, the shrinking-est Violet or the nervous-est Nellie can do anything. Every step in magic shoes is sure to be a big one.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

THESE BOOTS WERE MADE FOR STOMPING is a butt-kicking, foot-stamping trio of short stories that show that sometimes the shoes do make the (ninja) woman. This anthology showcases stories whose connection is footwear. Namely, footwear purchased from an on-line site called Hiheelia.com.

The first story, written by Julie Kenner, is called A Step in the Right Direction. It is fun and funny and turns Lydia, a woman who wouldn't say "boo!" to a bug, into a superhero. She orders a pair of boots, meets a man who is a superhero in his own right, and decides a career shift might be worth thinking about. This is such a feel-good story it brought a smile to my face.

Kung Fu Shoes! by Jade Lee is, I have to admit, my favorite story in this book. Micki is a teacher whose dream is to reach young minds and, hopefully, make an impact on their lives. She is from a privileged background but works with kids who belong to gangs, take drugs and really have to work hard to better their situations. With the help of a pair of Mary Janes and a sexy man, Micki manages to make a substantial difference in the lives of those she teaches.

Marianne Mancusi's Karma Kitty Goes to Comic Con brings another pair of Hiheelia's super boots into the action. Hailey is in New York for a convention, her dreams of comic success realized, but she feels a distinct emptiness. In her dreams she had always imagined herself at the con with someone special, but she and that "someone special" haven't seen each other in a long time. When she sees Collin she wants to share her success, but old patterns emerge and in the end it may just be Hailey's creation, Karma Kitty, for company.

Each of these stories is entertaining, well written and amusing. They show that good overcomes evil, with the right pair of shoes a woman can do almost anything and that hidden inside everyone is a Ninja who is just waiting for the right moment to show her face. I very much enjoyed this anthology. Well done!

Kay James