Full Books

Where the Mustangs Show, is a work of art, from the heart. Truly Cowboy feelings. The CD is so alive, complete with sound effects. The photography is thought evoking, and makes me wonder who the photos were of. The best Cowboy Poetry book I've read & listened to. In fact, I've purchased 5 additional sets for gifts.

It makes a person want to move to Wyoming, Meet, Greet and live like a real cowboy. The author's voice is richer than Burl Ives, and he makes you feel "not alone", with feelings a person gets from time to time.

"Coyote" has the heart of a true western cowboy. As one begins to read the verses, it is almost possible for the reader to taste the dust, feel the cold wind and smell the sage of the high prarie.

Listening to the accompanying CD, I truely enjoyed Mike's playful drawl as he describes the "breaking of a colt" thru the eyes of the colt in "Play Time" and his lively discription of a thunderstorm as he recites "The Devil's Whip". Congratulations, Michael "Coyote" Schroll, I hope to see more of your poems very soon!

This is the first book of Cowboy Poetry that I have read...but it has sparked my interest. The poems range from humor to heartbreak..and much in between. The illustrations are so fitting. But I would have to say that the best part is the emotion that you feel when you listen to the CD..the author truly brings his stories to life. A wonderful journey of experiences in a cowboy's life. I highly recommend this book.

Where the Mustangs Show is a wonderful collection that should be part of anyone's growing library of Cowboy Poetry. The book not only contains the spirit of Michael Schroll's work, but the pages and cover are also graced by a painting by Bonnie Conrad of Utah, and photos by Robbie Larson of Cheyenne.

Cowboy Poetry is fun to read. It's fun to read aloud. And this collection comes with a BONUS. Since Cowboy Poetry is a performance art, the book includes a CD with the poetry read by the author. What a delightful treat to enjoy the words interpreted by the author, complete with musical snippets and some appropriate sound effects.

Michael's work has the true tone of Cowboy Poetry. A rhyme and rhythm that is comforting and vivid. His voice is charismatic and calm and he paints pictures in our minds that put us in his words and put his words in us. You just want to invite him over for the evening to entertain.

Where the Mustangs Show has a special place on our shelf. Michael is a good friend whom we've never met, but with whom we'd love to sit a spell. Just to listen and enjoy. We will head up the trail to stand in line for the first edition of his next collection.

I'm still reading it, but so far, I think it is a wonderful study of the scriptures and putting on the whole armor of God to prepare for spiritual warfare.

Much of the Christian church today is ignorant of the battles going on in the spiritual realm. This is tragic and pathetic. Too often, Christians adopt a de facto naturalism or deism as their worldview. We do not take seriously and prayerfully passages in the Bible that speak of an invisable yet real world of spiritual influence. This must change if the church is to be what Christ calls it to be.

Gary Kinnaman has written one of the best books I've read on spiritual warfare. It is rooted in a careful exegesis of the text, but also provides many practical applications, many of which come out of his extensive ministry experience. There is no sensationalism, but rather realism about the spiritual realities we face.

As one who has labored in controversial Christian ministry for over thirty years (and who has experienced my share of spiritual warfare), I heartily recommend this wise and needful book.

This book shows you how to take the literal meaning behind the separate pieces of God's Armor and apply it to your life rather than just pray that you have it. It goes into detail to explain exactly what each part of armor really stands for and what it means to actually wear it.

I like this book because it showed me the 'holes' Satan uses to drive us away from Christ, and how our armor can protect us from his onslaughts.

I'm looking for a retirement community for my father. What a great resource! I especially appreciated the charts and questions I needed to ask. It is well written, humorous and easy to read.
Thank you for a wonderful resource!

This is the book I wish I had had when I had to place my mother in a retirement facility after she had been diagnosed with dementia and could no longer live with me. The choices then were very few and very difficult. Loni & Ralph Smith's book gives everyone a roadmap for this difficult journey. I will use it when I(or my daughter) have to make the choice for my husband and myself. Hopefully it will be in it's 10th edition by then, for it deserves to be a classic and to outlive us!

One, a social science expert and one-time board member of a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC), the other, an attorney and law professor: Ralph and Loni Smith have helped others select a community and then applied their own knowledge to choose one for themselves. In so doing, they assembled five years' worth of research to produce a volume of very sound advice. They recommend a go-slow approach that includes visits to various properties and in-depth interviews with directors of marketing, with chief administrators, with health staff members, and with residents. The most outstanding feature of this book is a thirty-some page checklist of key questions to ask during these visits, along with "red-flag" and "deal-breaker" indicators to steer the prospective resident away from making a bad decision. The chapters leading up to this extensive questionnaire explain the authors' approach and prepare the reader to understand the purpose of each question. There is enough repetition from section to section to allow readers to begin where they choose and read selectively; yet, those who prefer to proceed straight through the text will not be put off by this style. My only objection is the relatively limited focus upon assisted living units in CCRC's; indeed, reading between the lines, the astute reader may sense that there is more to be said about assisted living. Perhaps the authors are mindful that future CCRC residents give little thought to assisted living until the moment comes for crossing that bridge. On the whole, a most useful text; CCRC marketing directors would do well to be on their toes if prospective residents show up with this guidebook in hand.

The authors, Loni and Ralph Smith came to see me at Oak Hammock at the University of Florida on a tour several years ago as part of their research for this book. I can honestly tell you that in all my many many years of Marketing in the senior living industry, I have never met a couple so prepared and knowledgable as the Smiths. I'll never forget them because they had pages and pages of questions, all them important and all of them worth asking!I believe they have made it a life passion to educate people about full service retirement communities and with the publication of this book, their tremendous knowledge is now availabe for every one. There are so many options and choices and contract types that it can be very confusing to someone trying to either chose the right community for themselves or assisting their parents in this choice. I guarantee you that this book will give you all the questions you NEED to be asking to help you pick the right community for yourself. This book is not just an introductory guide but a total and complete course in how to evaluate one community from the next. Definitely worth every penny! Star Bradbury, Marketing Director, Oak Hammock at the University of Florida

Bed skirt is a great compliment to any of Rachel Ashwell's quilts and sheets.

This book is by far one of the best decoupage cut-out books I've owned. There is something here for everyone, from the beginner to the most experienced decoupager. Almost every page is a delight, shapes come in many colors and variety of styles and sizes. One added bonus of this book is that the paper is of the best quality, making it easy to handle, cut images, and glue them successfully.

Lots of variety, good images that seem to have been scanned in from original postcards. I found them quite useable, the majority are crisp and clear. They are pretty easy to cut out too in terms of not having too many sharp/difficult corners. Subjects range from people to flowers to animals to buildings/castles. Some are comic in nature (big heads, small bodies) others are victorian looking. Excellent collection, and like I said earlier - lots of variety to play with.

How often is non-fiction actually giggle-out-loud fun? This bright and colorful storybook (it's the shape, size, and length of a children's book, but is aimed for their parents) takes us on an adventure with Mindy, who has written a book for kids and is having dreams about publishing it. She swings over swamps filled with alligators (the sign next to the swamp says "starving artists" (ha!). What is she swinging from? A snake of course.

In other words, Mindy is finding her journey to get published filled with danger at every turn. As a writer myself, I know exactly how Mindy feels. She happens upon a castle and from there, all her dreams of publishing her book come true. Do I mind that this is intended to sell the services of a self-publishing company (Outskirts Press)? No. Do I appreciate that this book recognizes my problem and strives to help me solve it (just like all non-fiction is supposed to do)? Yes. Do I like the $100 promotion in the back? You betcha!

Okay, so I know children's books are supposed to be cute, but here's a book that is not only cute, but very helpful, too. I have a son and wrote a story for him. Now I want to publish it, so my son and I both read this book aloud together. "Aw, isn't that cute?" I found myself saying at the end, but even more surprising was it answered some of my questions about publishing my own children's story and helped me overcome my biggest fear of all -- getting it illustrated! I'm not scared to publish my children's story now. I'm really excited! Totally recommended.

Adventures in Publishing is a unique idea. It is a children's book about how to publish a children's book. The verse rhymes, the illustrations are bright, very colorful, and professionally done, and the main character even grows from beginning to end! Sure, children may like the colorful drawings featuring bright-eyed characters, magical castles, rainbows, and alligator-filled swamps, but at the end of the day, this is a "how to" book aimed squarely at adults. If you like test-driving a car before you buy one, this book lets you test drive the concept of being a pulished children's book author by holding an example of a children's book. Great idea!

Stephanie and Michelle had to watch the triplets that live around the corner. The three children seem like little angels. The two sisters thought this is going to be an easy job. Boy, were they wrong! On the day of the job,the triplets' mother took everyone to the Imaginarium -- a museum in town. And the triplets run wild! Can Stephanie and Michelle keep the triplets in line? Or will their babysitting job be a total disaster?

Stephanie needs a helper to babysit triplets. Michelle's helped with one, she's helped with the twins, it's easy, right? The problem - it's not in a home, but a crowded museum they must watch them. The bigger problem - Michelle brings a furry visitor which just adds to the hijinks.

this i very cool, i give it 5 stars and if you like "Full House" you will DEFINATELY like this book :)

In this sturdy med-sized board book of opposites the purple wonder teaches all about full/empty, on/off, awake/asleep, open/closed, tall/short, hot/cold, big/little, wet/dry, and front/back.

My children were really attracted to the colorful pictures and I found that there were alot of other ideas to discuss in the book as well. For example, Barney's *shiney* vest, what was actually in Barney's lunchbox (yummy grapes, apple, sandwich, etc.) and the fact that there were 3 scoops of ice cream on the cone (1,2,3).

Simply a nice little educational book.

This is a great book. My son really started enjoying this book around 2 years old. It is simple reading (one sentence per page)and fun. Teaches things like on/off. It is not a story. But strickly focuses on opposites. I have read it to him so many times he now can recite it and pretends to read it to me. I really enjoy this book for the "please read me a quick story Mommy" times! He now has even began to "read" it to his younger brother.

My daughter of 13 months old and we have three or four "opposites" type books for her. This is the best of the bunch. I think it's strength is in the fact that it uses actual photos of the objects (hat on/hat off, basket full/basket empty) to illustrate the opposites, which makes the distinction very easy to see. Some of the other books that try to be creative with their drawings don't work as well. They have done a good job with this book and my daughter definitely enjoys turning its pages.

Loved the book. We're working through it right now and it has been helping a lot. It definitely gives more insight to things you might not have thought about before.

It was perfect timing since we took a one on one retreat to Anderson Island on Friday night. We talked about the points the workbook brought up and we were inspired and feel re-charged and re-connected. This was one of the best getaways largely because of the topics this book brought up. We've been married for over 12 years and it's amazing how much the premarital topics still apply. As a guy, I really appreciate the funny quotes, relevant factoids and quick bible references in the margin. The Section on intimacy is right on! And the best thing is the idea to "be the soul mate" rather than expect someone to be yours! Wow! that was good! OK, I'm going to go get it and read it again!

My wife and I have conducted pre-marital counseling for several years. Our daughter recently became engaged and I gave her and her fiance' copies of "Before "I Do." (You should consider that as a very strong endorsement!) This workbook has now become our primary pre-marital counseling tool. We use Prepare/Enrich for 2 sessions and then Before 'I Do'. It's a great combination. The format in each chapter of individual homework, review by the couple, and feedback with "Marriage Investors" is simply the best I've seen. If you do pre-marital counseling you should be using this great resource. Give copies as engagement gifts. Give a copy to your minister. Buy copies for you and your spouse and strengthen your own marriage.

A poignant romp through the layered universe of Linda Addison's prose. You skip, twirl, pause, cuddle up, and dance through the pages. The poems are refreshingly varied, yet together they communicate a unique sensation of foreboding and exhilaration. While swimming through her powerful images of the past, present, lost, longed for, and imagined, I couldn't help enjoying my lightness of being.

Being Full of Light, Insubstantial is a poetry book that will take the willing reader to the edges of the universe. The boundaries of time and space are explored and transcended by the words in this collection.

Addison has a way of expressing the concrete with the same clarity as she does the abstract. A perfect example of this ability is the poem entitled "Mp3 Zen Buddhists". She breaks down the concept of our relationship with our mp3 players - to achieve a state of thoughtlessness by drowning out the world with a noise of our choosing. Intertwining phrases like "meditation of the 21st Century" with "state of no-mind complete with a flick of a switch" contrives a subtle understanding to a current phenomenon.

Another example of Addison's talent to press the concrete and abstract together until they are one and the same is the poem "The Adventures of a Ghetto Child". She gives the reader the imagery needed to experience the imagination of a child while at the same time describing the harsh realities of living in an impoverished environment.

Addison's poems also bring out images of a person struggling to chip away the confining nature of our modern times in order to go back to a spiritual existence that is the basis of life. It's interesting to see how a person caught up in the hustle and bustle of life in the city tries to look past the now into the prehistory of human life. In "River Share", she writes "We share the same soul even as our breaths move separately/two billion exhales, inhales the River runs beneath our skin". Dancing takes Addison back to a primal past in "Belly Dancer" as she begins the poem with the following passage, "Gathering fire and wind earth and air to spark along the edges of my hips, fingers and waist".

Linda D. Addison has a mesmerizing control of the language and effortlessly re-constructs the past, present and future giving the reader to something digest and ponder. The beginning of this review mentions the "willing" reader. Only a person with an open, hungry mind can truly visualize the subliminal mission of this poetry collection - to expand the experience of the beholder.

Joey Pinkney
C & B Book Reviewer

I've been enjoying this collection over the past couple nights, but I know that I'll be pulling it out in the future to savor its pieces again, at a less frenetic pace, a little at a time. Addison has an amazing lyrical sense, juxtaposing seemingly unrelated images -- like a mundane house cleaning list and the necessary ingredients to passion and a healthy life -- in one taut, no-syllable-wasted poem.

Sometimes it's not even a whole poem so much as one really amazing image evoked in just one stanza that grabs -- like in "Interuption," where I absolutely love the opening -- "In my mouth Lies wait quietly to advise the Dreams." Gorgeous!

Or (from another piece): "she filled her mouth with the shadows of his words."

Or "My womb moans with the ghost of the broken structure both emptied, we wait to be torn down" from "The Barn" -- a chilling image, deftly woven.

I think my favorite may be "River Share" though, with its melancholic romanticism: "We share the same soul/even as our breath moves separately/two billion exhales, inhales/the River runs beneath our skin." I've gone back to read it twice. As I intend to do with all of these short but very substantial poems.

Bring some of this Light into your heart!

I have a teen group called Teens Trying To Make a Difference, I ordered it to work with my girls an they really love the book.
It has been a big help with my program. I have 37 girls in my group but i could only afford to buy 9 books. I buy everything for my girls out of my pocket. We are very pleased with them.

YASMIN SHIRAZ IS A INCREDIBLE PERSON,WRITER,AND SPEAKER.I ENCOURAGE WOMEN OF ALL BACKGROUNDS,RACE,AGE AND RELIGION,TO READ THIS BOOK.IT HAS ALSO INSPIRED ME IN MANY WAY'S THAN ONE.I'AM A STUDENT AT EMORY UNIVERSITY FOR MEDICINE.ON MEETING YASMINE SHIRAZ AND READING HER BOOK.I RECOMMEND ,THIS BOOK TO ALL WOMEN OF COLOR.A WONDERFULL AND INSPIRING BOOK TO ALL WOMEN.

This is a really good book, it also gives the young ladies an opportunity to communicate their thoughts ideas and feelings in writing, focusing on courage, determination and self love, which is so important for the 13 to 17 year old age group. I brought this book after meeting Yasmin at a book signing at karabu book store. My daughter read the book, took it to school and shared it with her classmates, they loved the book as well, and so did her teachers, they all said they wanted the book and been working on the testimonies individually and then discussing them as a group. this provides the girls with expression and communication and letting them know they are not alone with issues and concerns they have, also it again emphasizes self love.