JO

All I want to know is . . . Jo Goodman, how many of those hallucinogenic drugs (which the villian was addicted to in this book) were you taking when you wrote it?

Jo Goodman has written a fine tuned novel but gets bogged down by the angst of the heroine and the dark storyline. There are so many secrets and hidden agendas going on, that the reader truly doesn't understand everything till the last chapter. Goodman writes elegantly but the story is so dark that there doesn't look to be a happy ending for our two main characters. Even then, their relationship is still questionable.
India, the heroine, is an actress on the London stage and the latest toast of society. South is part of an elite group of friends who have known each other since childhood. Each is named North, South, East and West. Murders are happening to titled men and South is approached to find the killer, who maybe India or something to do with her.
Of course both are attracted to each other but because India is so tormented by her past and by someone truly insane, she can not act upon her growing feelings for South. He maybe the killer's next target.
The love scenes seem stilted and the chemistry is kind of bland between India and South. All is mainly due to India's part.
Madness, obsession and murder all play a part in this story. People are not whom they seem and the reason for the murders don't become clear till the very end.
If you enjoy complex characters and many forboding moments, check out Jo Goodman's latest. It is the second of four novels about the four friends.

I just started reading Jo Goodman books and have been sad to learn that many of her older books (which really aren't that old!) are out of print. She's an excellent author, and her books are delicious to read.

This story is the second in a quartet of tales about four boy-hood friends known as the Compass Club. In this story we learn about the life and love of The Earl of Southerton, aka, South. In these "Compass" books, I greatly enjoy the change of pace Ms. Goodman offers us from the traditional historical romance--in this and the first book, it's the hero we know more about and we grow attached to, while the heroine remains shadowed in mystery and secrets. I am not often fooled by an author, but Jo Goodman is a master at keeping tricks and surprises up her sleeve. I love it! She has stunned me so many times, I wonder what she could possibly do to surprise me next. But she finds a way!

The only reason this book got 4 stars instead of 5 is because it ends on a rather dark note. Unlike a previous reviewer of this book, I wasn't left with the feeling that they may or may not have lived "happily ever after." The hero and heroine were happily together, but it was the dark and rather unpleasant secrets of the heroine's past that really put a damper on this story at the end. It was hard to feel happy for the two of them with all that other stuff hanging in the background.

But don't let that stop you from reading this book! Jo Goodman has a tremendous wit, and she will keep you guessing until the end!

I am a US citizen and a caribbean medical student. I was deathly afraid of the CSA--primarily because of the idea that failing it meant another $1200. I studied with a classmate of mine for about 2 months and then studied with a family member for another month (although studying with someone is not required--you can do it on your own). We role-played each case and did the write-ups all under the CSA timed conditions. This is really important! The book is great but just make sure you time each session--both the data gathering and the write-ups. You need to memorize the order of a H&P if you haven't already. When you get to the exam you will be able to take what you learned from the book and pass. The book allows you to hit the high points of what you should get out of the encounter without wasting too much time. The only negative about the book is that some questions that should be asked in some of the cases are omitted. Just make sure that you systematically go through the book and time it.

Although it doesn't have the real CSA format, it is worth studying. It can help you get insight about the CSA. It also has a lot of high-yield complaints that can appear on the real CSA. You can practice thorough history taking and physical exam with the checklist. A must for CSA/CSE candidates!

I felt for an IMG this book is very useful and I am sure the success of this book will continue with introduction of CSE for US graduates. I would not have passed CSA without the help of this book

Jo Petty certainly has a real winner with "Apples of Gold". I am over fifty and can relate to many of the phrases quoted by the compiler. The book generated rather mixed reviews from my young granddaughter who seemed bewildered at some of the outdated metaphors. However, to most of us "oldsters", we are quickly able to grasp the wisdom behind the phrase.

This is to say "Well Done" to the seller, Colorado Mist Sanctuary...they were great!! Received notification of receipt of my order and next day shipment within 24 hrs of placing my order. The book is brand new although I purchased a "used book". All monies (minus Amazon's commission) go towards last chance help (feed, vet bills, etc) for wildlife and horses. They have no public funding and I was very pleased to not only receive a great book, but to help in the rescue of hurting animals at the same time. I highly recommend their organization for purchasing books. Amazing service, great reason to buy and enjoy a good book.

This book was given to me on my sixteenth birthday from my Dad; naturally I will cherish it always. Dad is a very wise man and he knew that this was the perfect book for an impressionable young lady with her whole life ahead of her. This book truly makes me understand that "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." Proverbs 25:11

"Apples of Gold" contains short sayings of wisdom about numerous virtues WE ALL should strive to attain. These virtues are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE Galations 5:22-23; entitled "The Fruits of the Spirit." These 9 "fruits" are the table of contents of this book: LOVE, JOY, PEACE, LONG SUFFERING, GENTLENESS, GOODNESS, FAITH, MEEKNESS and TEMPERANCE.

My favorite saying in each chapter is:

LOVE: "Success in marriage is much more than finding the right person; it is a matter of being the right person."

JOY: "Just think how happy you'd be if you lost everything you have right now--and then got it back again."

PEACE: "That man is the richest whose pleasures are the cheapest."

LONG SUFFERING: "A diamond is a piece of coal that stuck to its job."

GENTLENESS: "True nobility comes of the gentle heart."

GOODNESS: "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."

FAITH: "Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday."

MEEKNESS: "The best medicine for you to take is yourself--with a grain of salt."

TEMPERANCE: "Wise men aren't always silent, but know when to be."

"EVERYTHING HAS BEEN THOUGHT OF BEFORE... THE DIFFICULTY IS TO THINK OF IT AGAIN."

Now do you understand why I treasure this book? Go buy it! This is a keeper folks!

I had high hopes for this book. The first few pages really draw you in and make you think you're in for a great mystery. Little did I know that was the best it was going to get and I should've stopped there. Within the first few chapters we learn who hurt Daniel Hood and why. The rest of the book is mainly devoted to Daniel's strange sense of acceptance/forgiveness of his tormentors which goes so far as to include his constant "lying" to the Detective investigating the case. Even more inexplicable, is Brodie Farrel going along with it. I kept wondering who was more pathetic...Daniel Hood or me for continuing to read this dreck.

When the great reviewer Penzler (see Editorial Reviews above) says the book requires "fair suspension of disbelief" you know there is a major problem. How could anyone give this book five stars--don't they know what good crime literature can be? Let me tell you the names of some good writers that can tell a story: Christie, Sayers, Bruce Alexander, Laurie King, etc.

This author starts out with a bang, describing a horrible torture, and in the second chapter we meet a really interesting lady character who finds things. But the story blows up when the two main characters (Brodie and Daniel) figure out who perpetrates this crime and goes on to confront the criminals rather than inform the police--are they crazy? Brodie has a four year old daughter who is in danger from this kind of thinking. Yah, there is a policeman but he is treated as an idiot by the main characters. The pangs of conscience of Daniel to the people that hurt him are completely unbelievable, and in the real world they would have easily killed him when he confronted them with only Brodie at his side.

At the end of the book, Daniel's stupidly almost gets him killed (again), but the author throws in the unexpected miracle that saves the day. This is the same problem that the Scarpeta stories (Patricia Cornwell) and innumerable other bad authors share with Jo Bannister--it is always this miracle. Bad people when cornered will continue to do bad things. It is not fair to throw in at the last minute some special circumstance that saves the hero--this is just not believable.

There are lots of good ideas and character development in this book--this author should be capable of solid detective writing without resorting to cheap tricks. This is the first book of hers that I have read, but I am not going to read any others.

The title says it all. The resolution to the novel is not what you expect! My favorite character is Daniel Hood and while at times his actions seem to suspend belief, you feel for this character and want to root him on.

Brodie is a great character as well. I wish there was more info about her but you're revealed yummy carrots, enough to grow attach to her as well.

Only problem I had with this book was the fact it makes me want to read more! :)

Out of 12 recipies I made, my family only liked 3 of them. Spinach lasagna, rainforest bars, and whole wheat bread. There are several errors in the book, so pay attention and calculate amounts carefully. The prep and cooking times are low. Two hours usually means a little more than three. Everything looks delicious but it's not all that easy to prepare. Some of the ingredients are a little difficult to find, too.

I like reading cookbooks. I mean, I like reading cookbooks in the same way that I like reading novels. If that's true for you as well, this book is a good choice (only beware, there are no pictures). As far as utility purposes go, this isn't a book for the casual chef. Many of the ingredients are obscure and many of the recipes call for over 10 ingredients. I disagree that it holds up well in the kitchen - I've only actually made a few recipes from it (I agree wholeheartedly about the Tofu-Basil Lasagna - but you can use regular white vinegar instead of umeboshi vinegar) and already some pages threaten to fall out.

I also value a cookbook that can convince me that its recipes have been thoroughly tested. I hate feeling that the money I've spent on the book and on the ingredients (for this book, the ingredients can get costly) as well as my time and effort were all just to satisfy a whim some chef had - instead of concrete evidence that a meal will be tasty. The Kripalu cookbook includes little stories about each recipe that I really appreciate and trust.

If I had unlimited funds and didn't have to work full time, this would be a primary resource in my cookbook collection. As it is, it's definitely a major player in my casual "flipping through" collection.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in cooking vegetarian. The tofu basil lasagna alone is worth the price of the book, and I've even pulled off making it for a Christmas dinner (the die-hard meat eaters had no idea, and even had seconds!).
The muesli recipe is excellent, and I've made the garlic green beans a staple in my house.
The only drawback is that there is no nutritional information provided, which is a drag for label-readers like myself.
It may be a silly point, but the book holds up pretty well in the kitchen, what with sauce and splotches mucking it up, and if it ever gets REALLY messed up, I would pay the money to replace it.
Hope this helps anyone with a decision.

When purchasing this book, I expected to read about rodeo and native american life with a little romance. I did learn a lot of the native american way of life and enjoyed reading about it. The romance story line was decent, but not incredible. The only mention of rodeo was towards the end. When the author misinformed the readers and wrote that the flankstrap used in the roughstock events is tied around the animals testicles. This is untrue. The fact is that the strap is used as a conditioning tool and does not harm the animal at all. In fact, some of the animals used in saddle bronc and bareback (which are horse events)are female not male. The author needed to get her facts straight or left rodeo out of the book completely.

I, too, have read Ms. Mapson's other books, and have enjoyed them. I did feel, however, that "Blue Rodeo" was just a tad bit overblown and the ending was...how shall I put it? Well, just let me say that when I read the last page I thought to myself, 'That's the end?' It just wasn't a very strong ending. I did appreciate the the information about the Navajo culture and I yearn to visit Arizona and New Mexico after reading Ms. Mapson's books, but I just didn't enjoy this one as much as her others. I do hope that she writes more though!

I found myself enthralled with the characters and what they were going through. Very realistic. Not too mushy. Problems people deal with in the real world, which is why I think it is easy to relate and become engrossed.

Another in the growing universe of new age books proclaiming the aliens are gods, we are gods, everyone and their uncle Sydney is a god. Fine. It's an amusing and imaginative rendition of reality. But, as with all pseudo science, science fiction and real science, we're left with one basic question: Where does it all begin?

If aliens seeded the planet, who seeded the aliens? If a Big Bang created the Universe and all life in it, then how was the Big Bang created and what existed beforehand?

I can make up stories, too. That doesn't mean I know what I'm talking about. Some things are mysteries beyond human--and alien--imagination or the ability to comprehend. Saying otherwise doesn't make it so.

It's a fun read if you like science fiction, but given the option, I'll stick with God.

I have recently re-read my copy of "The God Hypothesis". I have been fascinated with the ongoing debate of UFO's and their 'reality' or non-reality. It seems to me, that the whole point of non ordinary experience, is to question the edges of our perceived borders. I found Dr. Lewels investigation thorough, and extensive, and extremely mind awakening. People who tend to have non-ordinary experiences have opened the edges of all of the boxes we seem to think we exist in. Changes can be uncomfortable, but perhaps it is about time that we looked at all of the experiences as a whole and listen to what the people experiencing them have to say. UFO's, Out of Body states, NDE's and Shamanic visions all share an equal and important theme. That we are part of a much larger 'reality' than we have accepted until now, and that we need to be connected in all ways to the beautiful Earth we live with, as well as worlds that are not as apparently visable. I highly recommend this book as part of library of thought which needs desperately to be considered if ,we as a race, will continue to exist.

Very informative. The author inserts his ideas based on the facts he presents, but his conclusions are hardly debatable. He changed my life. I especially enjoyed reading the author's thoughts on God.. both the Old Testament/Punishing and Cruel God, and the New Testament/Kind, Forgiving God. He made a very good case that the Old and New Testament Gods could very well have been different. This man started off as a curious reporter and wound up a changed man and an author. The book changed my paradigm, so I have to say it is a MUST READ.

What can I say? This is a crazy, crazy book. I read through it and thought, "Hmmm, interesting." Ginny goes through lots of phases in life, basically adapting to the people around her. She never speaks up for what she wants and the book never really goes anywhere. I guess that's the 'existentialism' ? side of it. The main message is 'Try everything in the world and be a chameleon and maybe you'll er...uh... end up at square one... a puzzling piece of fiction!

Alther's literary creation is 'feminist' in the most salutory sense of the word, but it doesn't contain the mandatory man-bashing that became so common a few years later. Instead, Alther invokes an avalance of wit and sharp observation that will provoke a healthy nostalgia in the over-40s, a realistic warts-and-all view of that decade in the under-40s, and a pretty darn good look at that pivotal time for young adult readers who pick up the book. (Perhaps you know an older teen who's 'into' the 1960s?) The plot takes our (at least partly autobiographical) heroine from little 'Hullsport' (read: Kingsport) Tennessee Up North to a good college, and gets her into the Sixties just at the point they get hot, hot, hot. Of the many virtues of this novel, two stand out to me: (1) Alther narrates the story in a moderate point-of-view, avoiding the twin perils of getting too immersed in the subject or too distant and 'snooty'; and (2) related to this, her lead character's voice (which reflects her personality) is good, clear and steady, no whining here. Not to mention the fact that the book is witty as all get-out.

As you probably know by now, this kind of witty and zestful Baby Boomer's coming-of-age story is a glut on the literary market but in my opinion "Kinflicks" is *far* above the norm in quality. You probably already have your own favorite coming-of-age-in-the-Sixties novels; try "Kinflicks" and add another to your list.

PS: Oh, Mr. Publisher!! Have you noticed that eight of us or so have gone to the trouble to review "Kinflicks," even though it's difficult to find through normal distribution channels? How about a reprint? I don't think you'd regret doing so.

charless@ync.net

Like many women of her generation (the 50s and 60s), Ginny Babcock is searching for her identity in an age when much is expected of women, but few opportunities and little direction is available. Being a wife and a mother is no longer the expected (and supposedly fulfilling) goal of all women of Ginny's generation, but what to choose instead . . .? Ginny tries a little bit of everything as she seeks for a role that thoroughly expresses her as a woman. Most of Ginny's experiments seem silly from the outside and end up as dissatisfactions and dead-ends, but often that's the only way we find our way through life. Counterposed with this is the lingering death of Ginny's mother and the struggle of the two women to bridge generational gap of two different generations and find some common ground. Ginny longs for some wisdom about life from her mother, but eventually sees that the only lesson available comes from simply living your life. I found this novel completely absorbing and sat up most of a night reading it. The relationship of Ginny and her mother touched a chord and has stayed with me.

This book is interesting, thought provoking & written in a very warm, engaging style. However, one thing bothers me. In the book, she states that her current husband was dating two different women, having sex with both of them, while courting her simultaneously. He later dumped the two women, picked her to be his wife, but as far as I can tell his attitude is, "hey, I'm a man and these women were giving it up to me but I picked you to marry because you're the virgin", shrug, shrug, wink, wink "don't you feel special". The author's attitude in turn is, "this is how men are, women have to deal with it, if you want the man, stay a virgin".

For that alone, I give this book 1 star. It seems like the author is so in love with being married, she doesn't see the toad that she married. And I'd like to say that if a man displayed such a lack of sexual purity while single, don't assume he's all of a sudden going to remain pure just because he's married. (Kobe, anyone?). Women have to stop thinking that marriage makes an impure man, pure. Or that marriage will turn a toad into a prince. It's not surprising that the divorce rate amongst Christians is higher than the divorce rate amongst non-Christians with that kind of "marriage is all important, do anything you can to get married" attitude that's prevalent amonst so many Christian women.

The faulty premise in this book is, do whatever you can to get the ring! (woo hoo)

I liked that the author devoted half of the book to YOU and what YOU need to do to become worthy of being sought by your spouse in the first place.

In the beginning of the book, the author explains that God is the writer of the book, awakening her at night giving her chapters names and materials to write. What I did not agree with is the "Blind Dates Are Great" and "What About the Personals?" chapters. If God gave that to the author, that is fine for her. God hasn't given me the OK to go out on "Blind Dates" or any other "dates". I agree with one of the testimonials in the book who stated "God has already given me a personal conviction against dating. I believed that 'He who finds a wife finds a good thing,' and that if it was for me, I'd know that this was the one when he found me."

Though I didn't agree with everything, the book had great insight.

I was laughing aloud and nodding my head before I even finished the Preface.

I've always been a little leery of "how to find a man" books because, in a way, the thought of them made me feel desperate. However, after my share of dead-end relationships and broken hearts, I have decided that searching for God's plan in this area of my life is no different than any other area. Mrs. Pool claims from the very beginning that God wrote this book, and she was merely the vessel. Because it has changed how I view dating, it has really changed my life.

The author first speaks on what should be our primary focus when desiring a mate - our relationship with our Father. Her tone is lighthearted yet the attitude adjustment is made. God must be first. She then spends the next section outlining to us singles that life does not start with a husband. Let it start now. She also gives thoughts on topics such as blind dates, personal ads and church-hopping to "find a man." The next few chapters are dedicated to reminding us that men have expectations, too. We can't always mold them into whatever we want, so can he fulfill your needs as he is now?

I recommend this book to anyone single (or single again). It is non-judgmental no matter what mistakes have been made in the past. It stretches across the age gap as well.

This book gave me an afternoon of pleasant reading and a fresh new story with familiar characters. I missed Rosa and Brand, but was happy for the dialogue with Portia. The style is different than the other Malloren novels, instead Winter Fire reads a lot like Beverley's Christmas Regencies such as Christmas Angel and Forbidden Magic. If you want frequent juicy sex scenes this is not the book. If you want a sweet romance that is satisfying in plot and character development (still containing a bout of sizzling sex) this is for you. I enjoyed the book and will read it again before Christmas.

Set in 1763 England, Jo Beverley's Winter Fire tells the story of Genova Smith, an impoverished companion, and the Marquess of Ashart. He is a womanizing, "tortured" nobleman, who apparently is dominated by his grandmother. His plan in this book? Destroy the Malloren's, Beverley's characters from previous books.
I can't say I loved this book, but neither did I hate it. The beginning is a bit complicated, with too many things happening at once, and the author does not manage to describe the scenes well. Once I passed page 30, things started to make sense.
If you enjoy explicit sex scenes, this is not for you, there is one, almost at the end. But if light romance is what you are looking for...go ahead, and buy it.

As an avid reader of romance, you learn to keep the expectations low. That's why it's such a high to find a book of real quality. Beverly breaks with formulaic romantic traditions to give us a hero who is far from perfect, and a heroine with troubles that one can relate to. Both are completely likeable and engaging characters and their story is one you won't want to put down. The pleasure is only added to by the reintroduction of our favorite Mallorens, but they do not dominate the book in any fashion. We also meet new and quirky characters, but again, Beverly shows her skill as an author in that these secondary characters perfom a function other than just filling in the blank pages. If I had to complain about anything, I would say it would be nice if she could be a little more discreet in setting up the plot for her follow up book, but this is a small sin. In the final anaylsis, we have a compelling and satisfying love story with no melodrama. Finally!