Guardian Books

Karl, Andrea, Ahira, Lou and Walter are stuck in the fantasy game world. It is a little bit different now as they are used to it, so this becomes more of a standard fantasy adventure type novel.

They become good guys, and fight to oppose a bunch of wizards and slavers.

I can't believe these books are out of print. I originally bought them as a single hardcover collection from a book club. This takes up right where The Sleeping Dragon left off. There is no drop off in quality and it certainly feels like the 2nd part of a greater story and not some forced sequel. It also is an interesting social commentary on the ills of slavery.

The Sword and the Chain, while still a quick, entertaining read, lacks the unique appeal that The Sleeping Dragon had. The characters, having been imported into a Dungeons & Dragons world from our own, are now completely ensconced and resigned to staying. There is no longer any disconnect between the characters and their setting and, except for a certain sense of greater superiority, there is little to distinguish our heroes from any other fantasy character. Also problematic is that the narrative focus has shifted entirely onto Karl Cullinane, leaving the far more interesting Ahira in a side-kick role. There is, however, an intriguing plot development involving erstwhile professor Deighton, whose resolution appears to await later books.

Like The Sleeping Dragon, The Sword and the Chain is an incredibly quick read. It's not always enjoyable (do we really need to read about disembowelments that sound like a wet fruit exploding?), but it is a fine distraction from our own daily lives. A worthwhile read for any fantasy fan.

I have to say that I was thoroughly impressed with this outing. While most sequels are stale and transparent, Joel Rosenberg manages to take up where The Sleeping Dragon left off and create a mystical tale that keeps the readers attention from the first page to the last.

Admittedly, I let out a yelp of joy when Karl announced to the slaver, "Tell you masters that I am hunting them!" It showed a glimmer of what was to come in this series (especially this installment), and it did not disappoint.

I won't allow myself to announce any spoilers for those who haven't enjoyed this, but let me say that it was delightfully intriguing when the secret of Deighton was revealed. The implications of this information should have an enormous impact in future volumes.

The second book in the Guardians of the Flame series returns the reader to the world of Dungeons & Dragons. Karl, Andrea, Ahira, Walter, and Lou are stuck in a strange world in the bodies of the characters they created and played. These friends are bound to this world through a pledge to bring freedom to the world. They made their pledges to save the life of a friend. Now Karl and his friends must wage a war on slavery, fighting against Wizards and the Slaver's Guild. With the aid of the young dragon Ellegon, from the first novel, Karl and his friends start trying to fulfill their promise. The two books in this series that I have read so far have read mostly like you would expect a Dungeons & Dragons adventure to be. The characters have to adapt to the strange world of magic, with only their wits and the instincts of their bodies. There is, of course, the obligatory quest, and plenty of magic and spells. This book is interesting, easy reading. Do not expect many plot intricacies, but do expect to enjoy the developing story of the Guardians of the Flame.

What an amazing story, I was completely riveted by the love and hope that captures you and ties you to it even after I was finished reading it. It continues to be a topic of conversation even after experiencing it weeks ago. I highly recomend this to anyone.

I have to say that I do not agree with the Reader from NY when it comes to this book. This is one of the only books I have found that both my husband and myself could read and enjoy -- and even discuss! Not only that, my teenage daughter is now reading it, and it opens up a line of communication to her that we've not had in a long time.

I found the story and writing to be extremely honest. The author was not trying to impress or dazzle us with her large vocabulary or play on words. She told the story simply and honestly and with a lot of heart -- and love! When my daughter is finished I plan to read it again -- for there is so much to learn in there, so much great advice on life, love, sacrifice and growing up, that I don't want to miss anything!

This is an inspiring piece of work, and I feel that I have grown along with the characters of the story -- and that's a remarkable thing to say about a piece of fiction. Thank you!

Wow! What a powerful story...... while reading this book you practically crawl into the story. You can't put this book down. As a high school principal, I plan to put it on the curriculum list for English classes.......... I believe this is a book that teen-agers and adults can absorb, discuss, and enjoy. Congratulations Robin on such a wonderful piece of literature!

Well....I am not a professional reviewer or writer. However, I was expecting something totally different from what I got. I have read stories that were much, much better done than this one. The concept was, however, fantastic--too bad the author couldn't have capitalized better on this idea. I have always been leary of books with no publisher or any other info other than the author's name. I would be willing to bet that this Robin L. Hutton was in high school when the book was written. I don't know why so many people raved about this book.

I hate to crash this party of good reviews, but before you buy this book - be aware - as I wasn't.

You'll notice that the book is spiral bound. Like at Kinko's. There is no publishing company and none of the editors featured in amazon's editorial review section appear to be real editors. In fact, many seem to be folks the author has worked with before.

The reason there is no publishing company is because the writing is awful. Her use of language is on the junior high school level and the story is thrown at you rather than shared with you. To be fair, I must admit that I did not read this entire novel. Only the first few chapters - I just couldn't bear it any longer. Besides, I fully intend on returning it.

It's too bad - the basis for the story sounded incredible....

Lasky keeps her books new and fresh by creating all new characters. She creates an epic past of the incredible owl world she created. Constant battle, love, and discovery make this an exiting new addition to the fabulous Guardians of Ga'hoole series. all readers, especially those who have read the peivious books, will be thrilled with this new tale.

Great series of books! My son thoroughly enjoyed reading the entire series.

This book is AWESOME! It's exciting and detailed to the point where you are swept away in it. It's really easy to imagine the scene which you are reading. It's AWESOME!

If you like the Guardiens of Ga'hoole series then you'll love this. Unlike the other series, now it talks about this one legend of this one spotted owl, Grank. He seems to have fire like powers such as.... when he looks at fire he has visions and so. This is so a must read and I can't wait to get the next book too!

My son and I have really enjoyed the whole Guardians of Ga'hoole series. This book is no exception. The story is well written and holds your attention quite well. We have read all of the series at bedtime and 3-4 chapters a night never seems like enough. We both always want more.

This story explains a lot of things mentioned in the other books. It was nice to see the background behind those books. Now we are anxiously awaiting the next addition to this wonderful series.

I've read a lot of books about Rock-N-Roll. This one is unique in approach resulting in seeing the industry from the other side. Not from just fans or musicians, but from behind the scenes. What really does go into each show, day after day - and somehow they come off successfully. The author has a remarkable ability to make each of Andres Augustine's episodes come to life. It really is a thrilling read. You won't be sorry.

This is a great book for any music fan. There is a lot of trash out there and I was pleased to see that this book was above all that. It was a fun book and hard to put down. The behind the scenes stories gave you a peek at the inside. And the photos were fantastic.

Guardian if the Gods tells the story from AndrŽ Augustine's perspective as the head of security, and in some cases, the tour manager for various Rap and Rock bands. From the start of his career touring with Run D.M.C. and the Beastie Boys in their early days to touring with KISS, Aerosmith, and Bon Jovi, Augustine and writer Mark Rodgers have produced a book that keeps the reader interested from the first page to the last. It also includes a lot of great private, never-before -seen photos from Augustine's private collection. Guardian of the Gods is not an exposŽ, but more of a highlight journal that shows the good times, wild times, and in some cases the sad times of the music world, plus, the dangerous times dealing with over zealous fans and groupies.

Bought the book from the Omaha KISS Expo recently while Andre was there to sign the book. Of course, I got his autograph. What a quite nice guy. Also, had a Q & A session with him. It was pretty interested to listen what he had to say but told us to get better information by read this book. He's right about it. Because it was a well informed on how the life on the road to protect the stars such as Aerosmith, KISS ,etc. I laughed so hard when he told the stories about Ace Frehley, the lead quitarist of KISS. If you like KISS, better get this book so you will enjoy to know what the deep inside of how the life of KISS when they are on the road. Mostly on Ace. I am still laughing here...I won't tell you. So you better read this book!

Guardian of the Gods is a great book for any music fan. There is a lot of trash out there written about the music industry and I was thrilled to see that this book is not a part of that. To find a good quality written book from "behind the scenes of the music business" is rare.

The stories are great - I bought it for the rock stuff and did not think I'd read the rap sections - but I have to admit that I found the whole book intriguing.

Mark Rodgers did a great job of capturing Andre's life and career in the music business.

The whole book is great - and all the color photos - WOW. I felt like I was right there in the stories.

I realised after having purchased this book that it was originally written in French, and translated into English. As a French native speaker, I stopped reading and thought I'd buy the French original instead. But then I got broke, so I read this one anyway. I also worked as a translator, and let me tell you, they could have done a much, much better job of translating this. Some words don't even exist in English, and whoever translated it seems to have a shaky grasp on the English language (translating the French "insensible" into the English "insensible", when it should be "insensitive" is a classic mistake, but shouldn't be committed by professional translators).

This being a first edition, there are also numerous typos and other mistakes. But to the substance of the book.

The author, whose jokes are often flat, focuses mainly on Near Dear Experiences and saints, and from these things, he looks into guardian angels and angels, but you will know far more about NDE's and saints than you will about angels proper. The author has read exstensively on both NDE's and saints, and he gives us his sum up of what he learned.

I admit it was an interesting read despite the bad translation and bad jokes of the author, but eventually it feels like the topic of guardian angel was barely touched upon - although I admit I wouldn't know where else to look for more had I been the author.

That said, more could have been done if the author had focused more on angels rather than on NDE's and saints. The Cathechism of the Catholic Church defines angels as "spirits" and that "angel" is not their name, but the name of their office, for instance.

Things you will learn from this book about guardian angels is that they communicate to us via synchronicities (strange coincidences) and that you should pay attention to them and pray to your personal angel. They are here to protect you and help you and will try to influence you. If you're about to die, and you're not supposed to die then, your angel will interfere; but he or she won't otherwise because they're not allowed to interfere with your free will unless you're about to die.

In conclusion, if you feel up for some really bad English, some typos, flat jokes, and a general reviewing of NDE's and saints, this is the book.

I have to completely agree with one of the earlier reviewers: this book is not really any meaningful work concerning guardian angels, but rather a tale of the author's progressive (and somewhat chaotic) search for the paranormal, in general. Most of the book examines Near Death Experiences, stigmatics, saints, "synchronicities" (unexplainable coincidences read as signs from guardian angles); very little of it actually tries to examine what world's religions have to say about angles, what their (possible) names are, where in holy texts they are mentioned, or what their nature might be. For example, the book will (indirectly) state that "[one's relationship with his or her guardian angel] can be modified by prayer", but will not elaborate on that very interesting thought at all in the remaining 300 pages, giving the reader somebody's yet another paranormal experience tale, instead. It is almost as if the work was a really a forced attempt to find guardian angels wherever they could possibly be found (doesn't matter whether the tale comes from Padre Pio or Mr. Schmoe, M.D. - they are both granted the same importance), rather than a disciplined treatise of where information about angles CAN be found, all the while jumping from MDEs, through tarot references, through out-of-body experiences on LSD, to weird psychological experiments of "isolation chambers", all intertwined with author's personal philosophical musings. If you are looking for "Soul-Searching and the Paranormal 101" - it is an excellent and thoughtful work, but if you are looking for a serious, organized, impartial book about angels, look somewhere else.

This book is more than I ever expected; the honest, investigative research style of Pierre will turn any "skeptic" into a believer in the existence of angels. His bibliography and "permissions list" were also worth the price of the book; they opened up a new world for me. I sincerely hope he will write another book. Thanks to Amazon for making these 5 star books available used.

This book seem to focus far more on two other topics, NDEs (near death experiences) and saints, than it does on its title subject of angels. The whole angel theme seems in fact to be kind of an incidental inclusion, like a thread of only secondary importance. The tenuous angel theme thread ties the other two themes together, themes which form the actual substance of the book.
I would recommend this book to those interested in NDEs; I would also recommend this book to those who are interested in the mortification, stigmatic, and pain aspects of Catholicism, which are dwelled on quite extensively in this book. I'd also recommend this book to anyone interested in saints. But to someone purely interested in angels, I regret I have to advise you to look elsewhere for real substance on that subject.

This book is written with humor, eloquence, journalistic perspective/restraint, and passion. After an inexplicable escape from what might have been a fatal shooting on the L.A. freeway, Mr. Jovanovic began on a journey to investigate whether angels do in fact exist. He approaches it with the experience and restraint of a professional journalist, which he is. He looks at Near Death Experiences (the famous tunnel with light at the end etc.), interviews the woman who made famous the 'stages of dying', and Georgette Faniel, a stigmatist who some believe is a living saint; the book explores such diverse topics as Medjugorje, Padre Pio, apparitions of angels and The Virgin Mary; and yet never gets syrupy or precious. In fact, it manages to be all the more powerful reading due to its step back from the topics. Friends gave me a copy of this book and I was amazed by it; it's very quiet in tone, yet not without humor, and explains itself very well. The reader goes on the journey to discover whether angels exist, right along with the author, yet at the end you don't feel pushed toward any conclusion but your own. I highly recommend this book to everyone, not just those who already believe in such things as these. (Oh ! PS, if you net-search on this book title you will find its author's own website, which has more about the book, including a the first chapter available to read online for free).

Jenna Solitaire is the author and star of this novel. With the recent death of her grandfather, Jenna has really taken on her name. But at her grandfather's funeral things begin to change drastically for Jenna. There is a stalker at the funeral. Then her local priest introduces her to a former priest named Simon. Simon has made a study of Jenna's family line. There has always been one woman in each generation. That woman becomes the Keeper. Jenna is now the Keeper although she has never learned anything about it. Then she finds a spirit board in the attic and jokingly tries to contact her dead family. Unknowingly she awakens the board which is known as the Board of the Winds. Winds begin to blow.

Things really begin to get out of control quickly. While Jenna may be the Keeper, there are other forces out to get and control the Board. Simon wants to help Jenna. Jenna is the final branch in her family tree and known as the Daughter of Destiny. It will fall to her to find all of the Boards like the one she already has. Soon Jenna has to make some choices about her life as she, Simon, her friends, and her entire town become endangered by the awakened power of the Board and the evil people out to control it. Can Jenna gain control of the Board without it controlling her? Can she save those she cares about? Finally, will she be able to survive?

This is the first in the Daughter of Destiny series and, so far, the best of the three I have read. So far all of the books have glaring flaws throughout. In this one Jenna acquires the journal of the Keepers. For thousands of years the Keepers have added their stories to the journal. Never mind that they somehow all fit in one small volume or that books like this did not exist when the first Keeper wrote in it. While it is possible the book is magic so that it can hold all the information there is no hint that it has changed forms through the millennia. It would seem the author is a bigger fan of Charmed (everything in one simple book) than of Buffy (libraries full of information). I had better hopes for this but having read further into the series I have to say it has a similar lack of sense as Charmed. I would not recommend this unless you really like Charmed.

I have read thousands of books so far in my life and spent several years recently as a bookseller... and still there are some books that just grip me and I can't let go of them. This series was like that for me.
This series is slated towards teens and I am definitely not in that age group, and I still love this series! I had to buy it for myself after reading the first one in advanced reader form (booksellers get these). I waited for the rest of the series and it was well worth the wait!
There are few books I read that have such a blend of humor, action, struggle, magic, wonder, and destiny. You can read this as lightly or seriously as you choose.
Jenna has taken me on a journey I wouldn't have had otherwise, and I wouldn't change that for anything!

.. .. at how good this series turned out to be. There are 4 books so far: Keeper of the Winds, Keeper of the Waters, Keeper of the Flames and Keeper of the Earth. The author's use of magic isn't over the top and she doesn't rely on it to carry the story. The anthropologist and historian in me really was fascinated with the detail in each book. I didn't stop reading until I'd had all four books read. I would definitely recommend this book series to any teenager or young adult.

I absolutly love this series and I've read a lot of books. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone. It's the young adult version of Radiers of the Lost Ark, with a female hero! Something that's not very popular in these HarryPotter-esque days. I love this book and I'm sure you will too.

The Daughter of Destiny series starts out well, if not wonderful. While I'm not chomping at the bit to get to the next book, I am curious as to where the author will take things. The characters are fairly 2-dimensional, but they are likeable and have room to grow (hopefully) in the books to follow. The storyline is interesting, though far from novel. I gave four stars instead of three because the first book in a series is often lacking even if the series itself is wonderful- hopefully Daughter of Destiny fits this mold.

A fabulously quirky and intellingently witty book.

If you have never read a regency romance start with this one because Ms Manning is a very special storyteller.

I've known Jo for a few years now. When this book was published, she assumed I wouldn't like it. I did, very much so. I'm waiting for the next one, Jo.

Colonel Sir Isaac Rebow's unhappy relationship with his shrewish mother has turned him into a confirmed misogynist. Now, to his dismay, he must take over the guarianship of his two lovely young cousins. Sally, the youngest sister, a sweet bidable girl gives him no problem. But Mary, the oldest sister, used to running an estate and a household refuses to follow his orders. So why does he keep wanting to kiss her? It is always fun to see a confirmed bachelor's life turned upside down. And it is fascinating to learn this book is lightly based on an actual historical event.

Based on a series of letters that Jo Manning (the authour) came across many years ago, this (completely) fictitious accounting of the real romance between Mary Martin and Isaac Rebow, had me devoutly wishing that this authour had written a lot more Regency romances than she actually has. What a find this novel (and authour) was! "The Reluctant Guardian" is definitely one of the better romance novels that I have read so far, and I'm really puzzled as to why Jo Manning is not being more loudly touted as one of the better authours in this genre.

When Sir Isaac Reblow receives a missive from his dragon of a mother demanding that he see to his two abandoned cousins, he is quite irked. Apparently his loose crew of an uncle (Matthew Martin) had left his London house in the middle of the night, without leaving his daughters, Mary and Sally, any kind of missive at all. Isaac realises that what his mother wants is for him to pack the two girls home so that they can play nursemaid to her crochets. However, upon seeing his two cousins, and realising that they are two rather pretty and accomplished young ladies, Isaac decides to sponsor them to a Season instead, while he searches for their father. What Isaac refuses to do is to admit to himself that he has fallen violently in love (at first sight) with the delectable but strong minded Mary. For Isaac has suffered from being the only child of a deeply unhappy marriage, and doesn't believe that there is such an emotion love at all.

Mary, on the other hand, has been in love with her cousin Isaac for as long as she can remember. And now here he is, summarily ordering her about and insisting in running her life! Who would have thought that her beloved Isaac could be so cold and autocratic? But as the days pass, Mary finds that her childish adoration for Isaac has blossomed into a more adult love of a young woman for her soul mate. But how can she get Isaac to see that she is no longer a little girl, and that she is a worthy mate for him? And what of Isaac's rumoured affair with the very beautiful and married socialite, Lady Sophia Rowley?

On paper, this romance novel reads like a great many other romance novels with similar plots. The difference lies in the excellent manner in which Jo Manning allows her plot to unfold. Completely character driven, and with a great eye for detail (whether it was for fashion, architecture or scenery) Jo Manning skillfully held my interest. So that even though there was nothing terribly new or different in "The Reluctant Guardian," I felt as if I was reading something rare and precious.

The novel unfolded briskly and smoothly; and the characters were all brilliantly depicted -- esp those of Isaac's mother (a character so poisonous that one can dislike her heartily with ease), and Mary. I thought that the authour had captured Mary's tumultuous and confused feeling for Isaac beautifully. There are a couple of other minor subplots concerning Mary's and Sally's missing father, Isaac's entanglement with Lady Sophia, and Isaac's dealing with his harpy of a mother. And while the resolutions to these subplots were sometimes rushed, it was not too much of a detraction. On the whole, "The Reluctant Guardian" was a wonderfully engaging read. And I'll definitely be ordering a copy for my own collection!

Colonel Sir Isaac Rebow, a war veteran, country gentleman, and budding politician, is vexed by a missive from his manipulating mother. She commands Isaac to curtail his carefree bachelor existence and apply himself to caring for his cousins, Mary and Sally Martin. Mary and Sally's absent-minded father has taken them to town and deserted them on Isaac's doorstep. Isaac reluctantly attempts to bring these two young women from the country to the notice of London society. Although only nineteen, Mary had run her father's household competently ever since her governess left three years earlier, and she has no intention of letting Isaac wrest control from her hands. Mary had worshipped Isaac as a child, while at the time he scarcely noticed her. She now resents his sudden interference in her family's affairs after months of neglect. When Mary's father resurfaces, relief gives way to dismay as the family learns he has married a fallen woman. This is only the first of many obstacles the headstrong heroine and duty-bound hero must overcome as they work through these family difficulties. Many of Ms. Manning's characters are taken from the letters of Mary Martin Rebow, an 18th century gentlewoman. Ms. Manning has moved the characters to the Regency period, infused them with life and charm and constructed her engaging tale around them. The fast-paced plot is full of twists and turns, and the dialogue is lively. Although she is a published author and reviewer, this is Jo Manning's first full-length novel. Fortunately for us, she is already working on two other Regency period novels.

Nan Curnutt, for the Historical Novels Review

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R13YRWFBYK3H3H

Crash! Is it the noise a new puppy makes or much, much more? Mayra Calvani's delightful book will keep children guessing about how to pick just the right name for a new pet as he tries to adjust to his new home. A sweet story. If you love Golden Retrievers you will love Crash!

Five-year-old Marcelo receives a puppy on his birthday. It's golden in color and has chocolate-brown eyes. A Golden Retriever! Marcelo wants a puppy more than anything else in the world, so he is quite happy with his new puppy. It's a boy puppy, and Marcelo wants to think up a special name for his special puppy.

Marcelo takes good care of his puppy and keeps him clean, well fed, and well exercised. Naming a puppy is a big undertaking, and Marcelo wants to make sure he picks out the best name. Mom and Dad give many names to Marcelo to consider, but he's not happy with any of them.

You'll just have to read this adorable book to see what the puppy does and what the perfect name is that Marcelo gives to his puppy!

Author Mayra Calvani carefully chose every word in this book. It just flows perfect, and I really enjoyed the care Marcelo put into giving his puppy just the right name. I was astonished that the colorful, kid-friendly perfect illustrations by Anna Pylypchuk are the work of a sixteen-year-old girl! She is a native Ukrainian and I found her very detailed illustrations just as charming as Mayra's text. This is a fun read for your little ones, and the author will be donating 50% of her royalties from this book to ALMOST HEAVEN GOLDEN RETRIEVER RESCUE AND SANCTUARY, a non-profit organization.
Reviewed by: Gayle Jacobson-Huset, Managing Editor

Review by Douglas Quinn, Author of Blue Heron Marsh, etal
and Donna Higgins Colson, Professional Artist

With rights come responsibilities. Conversely, with responsibilities come rights. Crash! is a story that shows a child that if he or she is going to take on the responsibility of a new puppy, then he or she should have the right to name the pet. Fortunately, the parents respect this right and, while offering suggestions, allow the child to feel his way through the naming process on his own. Ultimately, by observing the new puppy, the child comes up with the perfect name that suits his new pal.

The illustrations are delightful. The red and green cover works well with eye-catching primary colors throughout the book. Composition and use of space are skillfully cropped and the space is nicely broken up with diagonals, creating motion with enough details to generate interest. The boy and the dog are well drawn in appropriate proportions for the target audience and support the story line. We were impressed how skillfully the illustrations were done by this young artist.

We enjoyed Crash! and recommend it for the targeted 3 to 6 read-to age range.

This is a sweet tale about a boy and his puppy. Crash! can be used by a parent to introduce and discuss with a child the challenges of raising a puppy before purchasing one. Also a child will discover the importance of finding the right name for your pet.

Anna Pylypchuk is a talented artist. The illustrations are wonderful. They seem very retro to me. They reminded me of illustrations in pictures book from the fifties.

I read this story to my five year old and she liked it. She even got into finding a name for Marcelo's puppy. She suggested Cutie. She enjoyed looking at the pictures and seeing the funny things the puppy did. But sad to say it did not discourage her in wanting a dog. Even though she learned that caring for a puppy is hard work; she stills wants one when we move into a house. When that happens, she just might get one.

Jon Shannow has learned that he is not just a man. When an Atlantean king out of the ages appears to him in dreams and tells him of his mythic heroic destiny, and tells how he, Pendarric, loosed the bloodstones upon the world.

An upstart gunslinger is looking to make a rep for himself by coming after Shannow, reliant on his speed.

That is a minor problem, when a mystic time gate opens, letting loose all sorts of problems.

Easily fixed. Easy, that is, if you call finding the Sword of God easy.

This book freaked me out. Books 1 and 2 of the Stones of Power series are centered around King Uther. Book 3 introduces the adventures of Jon Shannow.

And Book 4? Book 4 of the Stones of Power series thrusts us into a continuation of crazy sci-fi, but adds a little religion to the mix. We learn more about Atlantis (finally!) as a portal is opened that exposes the modern tipsy-turvy world to Atlantis, a nation unknowingly on its death bed. A prophet from Atlantis flees to Shannow's land and sort of finds answers to questions he didn't even know he needed to ask. Shannow battles the forces of evil, quotes scripture, and somehow is connected to the mysterious revival taking place in other parts of the land.

His ability to look back upon "our" time to see our mistakes is eye opening and a bit more than you bargain for in a futuristic novel. Eloquent and very well done fiction.

Gemmell's commitment to his readers surely shows in his work. He delivers, and you get good action with mind-blowing ideas and concepts.

Jon Shannow is the legendary Jerusalem man, feared and hated by many, but those who become close to him get to know the real pain inside him? He hopes not to be a killer, but still, the threats to the peace of the post-apocalyptic world force him to sling gun and shoot away at any evil that lives.

He portrays a great world that mixes sci-fi, fantasy and myth. The frequent use of the Bible here is a great idea. And the ironic mix of Shannow as a Bible reader and heroic killer is fascinating.

The way Gemmell weaves Bible lore and history together with his own telling of how the 'actual' events happened is cohesive, beautiful and telling. You can't go wrong with his books if you want action-fantasy.

A deadly power burst forth from ancient Atlantis. For the gate of time had been torn open, freeing a cataclysmic evil. Only the last guardian, Jon Shannow, the legendary pistoleer, could shut the deadly portal. But to accomplish this he would have to find the shining Sword of God.

I highly recommend this book. Gemmell is perfect again. So go out and buy this book.

While most sequels are underwhelming retreads of mealticket stories, some do manage to outdo, or at least match, their predecessor. 'The Last Guardian', sequel to the amazing 'Wolf in Shadow' is the latter; it doesn't quite better the first, but is an awesome story nonetheless.

Gemmell manages to take the character of the Jerusalem Man in a new direction, keeping true to the original source material but adding new details and nuances to the story. 'Last Guardian' does what many fail to do; keep the flavour of the original while expanding and adding to the mythos it created.

And like 'Wolf in Shadow', 'Guardian' bookends the amazing story with a creative knock-your-mental-socks off finale that will have you turning back pages just to relive the action.

Gemmell is a master storyteller and not only knows how to create characters, but guide them through his fantastic stories. Another near-perfect creation.

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BY: Gayle Jacobson-Huset

Eight-year-old Melina takes violin lessons from Andrea, who is from Rumania. Andrea wears a beautiful large square-cut emerald ring on her right middle finger, and Melina admires it. Andrea tells Melina that it's her "good luck" ring and she never takes it off. When Melina struggles to learn the second movement of "Winter" by Antonio Vivaldi, she tells Andrea that she'll never be able to learn the difficult piece. Andrea tells her all she needs is a "magic dose of self trust". Wondering where she'd find that, Melina heads home. On Christmas Eve, Melina's parents take her to a big square plaza in the center of Brussels (Belgium) called The Grand Place. Angel statues stand on pedestals on all 4 corners of the square, there's a skating rink, and there's also a huge Gothic church with a big clock tower to complete the picture. While drinking some hot chocolate, Melina hears music - somebody is playing the violin! She recognizes the music - it's Vivaldi's "Winter"! The violin player is an old woman in a ragged patched dress. Her face hides behind a large black hat. Something glitters on the old woman's right hand, but Melina can't quite see what it is from where she stands. People are throwing coins into the old woman's violin case, so Melina asks her parents if she can, too. Her dad gives her a one-franc note. Melina walks up to the old woman and holds out the franc note. The old woman reaches out to take it. On her hand is a large, square-cut emerald ring! Just like her teacher's ring! Was it her teacher's ring? And what or who is hiding under the old woman's hat? You will just have to read this book to find out the fun ending to this wonderful story!

Mayra makes this storyline and its backdrop magical, with just the right hint of mystery to it. Her characters' "voice" comes through loud and clear. Accompanied by the crisp, detailed, and lifelike illustrations of K.C. Snider, this book is a "keeper". This is a great read, especially for kids interested in music, mystery, magic during the holiday season, and the beauty of winter.

The story confirms the age old adage "Practice Makes Perfect." The author did a wonderful job of describing a scene at the Grand Plaza in Brussels. You could almost smell the roasting chestnuts and mulled wine. The illustration depicting that scene, which is the cover of the book, is gorgeous. The cover of the book makes you want to open the book up and see the other illustrations. At first, I was a little disappointed in the rest of the illustrations; but upon second glance, I would say that their simplicity is very nice. The story is charming and any child who is trying to learn how to play a musical instrument can relate. In fact, I would highly recommend this book to that child. It strongly reinforces the fact that you must work hard in order to master a skill and luck is not how you succeed.

The Magic Violin is a wonderful story about the belief in dreams and the importance of self esteem that leads us there. I recommend it to everyone.
Jan Amenta

Eight-year-old Melina loves her violin lessons. But one day she grows frustrated and loses confidence in her ability to play. Her Romanian teacher, Andrea, encourages her not to give up. All she needs is a magic dose of self trust.

Melina's parents take her to the Grand Plaza in Brussels, Belgium where she meets a mysterious woman in rags who gives her curious advice, to wish on a shooting star and her wish will come true.

Melina wishes to have a magical violin that will help her play Vivaldi's "Winter." After that night she plays everyday until she learns the song by heart. She gains confidence and plays the song to Andrea, who asks if it really was the star that helped her or her own belief in herself.

This is a sweet tale about believing in yourself. Children who are learning to play an instrument will be empathic to Melina's frustration at not being perfect at playing the violin. I loved the illustrations that give the story an old time feel. Melina learns an important lesson about not giving up. This story is perfect to read to children who doubt themselves and feel they'll never be good at something.

MAGIC VIOLIN is the perfect Christmas gift for those who love to play the violin and for those who love a good tale.