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This book was great. I like the part were they were galloping in the morning and Lisa thought that Phil or Stevie had gotten hurt when she didn't see them when they got to the top of the hill. I also like it when they were on the walk and Stevie almost fell! This book was so cool it was funny to I had my friends laughing the hole time we were riding our horses. It was kind of weried when Stevie and Phil were always on oppsite teams. This book was cool and even if your not a Stevie-fan this book talks about Lisa and how she has to do something for school and it talks about carole and how she has to help the younger riders. I liked this book and I know that if your a horse-fan you'll like it to.

I think the book was great! It's about when the saddle club's going on the MTO (Mountain Trail Overnight) and this time Phil's coming along too! Stevie is really exited, but when Jo Novick comes and asks Stevie to help him with his horse, Phil sees and gets Jealous. So he goes and helps Betsy Cavangh, and Stevie is not really happy with him. Things go from bad, to worse when the MTO starts. I thought it was funny when Carole dreamed of swatting giant Mosquitoes and instead hit Stevie in real life instead! I recomend this book to peale who love horses!

It's been nearly 2 years since I read this book. But I remember that it was good! The thing I remember most about it, though, was on the M.T.O. (Mountain Trail Overnight), Carole had a funny dream about giant mosquitos, and she was trying to hit them. She ended up hitting Stevie in real life, instead of mosquitos in the dream! Overall, this is a great book and you should get it!

This is the forth Gayle Wilson Story I read in the past month. I just discovered her great stories and am trying to catch up on all the regencies she's written. The only thing I regret is that the story wasn't longer. All the characters were believable and interesting, whether they were the hero or heroine, or the villian.

I started this book yesterday and finished it last night. Its a wonderful read! Traywick's character was written so well he made my stomach turn. If you can find it, snatch it up!

HIS SECRET DUCHESS is truly one of the most remarkable books I have ever read. It was one of the first romance books I read and it definitely encouraged me to read more. I picked it up one night when I couldn't find anything else to read. And boy was I glad I did! Once I started, I couldn't seem to put it down.

From the first scenes we meet the young lovers as they have to say goodbye. They have an unforgettable lovemaking, exchange their vows and in the process concieve the one bond that sustain and bind them forever.

Nick goes off to war and Mary is left with their son and noone to turn to after her father's death. In desperation, she turns to the one man who vows to ruine her and the two men she loves most.

Years after Nick returns from battle scarred physically and emotionally, he learns Mary is in need of help and goes to her rescue. After that, what begins is a plot full of twists and intrigue. They fight together to get their son back and also rekindle a love that never ended.

HIS SECRET DUCHESS is one wild roller coaster that never leaves you bored for a moment. I have read it many times and will read it whenever I am in the mood to witness the power of love. Highly, highly recommended!

In a world where most opera biographies are either useless, gushy fan magazines or vicious, gossipy garbage, this loving yet warts-and-all account of the life of the great Swedish tenor Jussi Bjorling (1911-1960) is a standout. Although the book is written primarily by his widow Anna-Lisa, there is additional, exhaustive research and editing by Andrew Farkas (who also co-authored an Enrico Caruso biography with Caruso's son). Many of Bjorling's colleagues are also interviewed, and reviews of both his live performances and opera recordings are extensively quoted. As a supplement, there is also a 58-page listing of Bjorling's performances (933 in opera and nearly twice as many concerts and recitals) at the end of the book. The cover shows Bjorling as Romeo in 'Romeo et Juliette', perhaps his greatest role.

Anna-Lisa Bjorling, who was married to Jussi for 25 years, was herself a fine soprano who often partnered her husband in concert. As of this writing she is still alive at 92. Although Anna-Lisa clearly loved Jussi very deeply, she is still capable of being objective about him when required. She is a wonderful writer, providing vivid portraits not only of Jussi, herself, and their children, but just about everybody they ever came into contact with, as well as of life in Sweden in general. After reading this book, I felt like Jussi and Anna-Lisa were old friends.

Bjorling had not only what was probably the most beautiful tenor voice to ever come out of a human throat, but also a nearly perfect technique, a superb sense of style, and the ability to truly stir the souls of his listeners. While he had a reputation for being a very poor stage actor, this was at least occasionally exaggerated. Although Bjorling died tragically young at the age of 49 of heart failure, he had a magnificent and very long career which lasted 45 years, 32 as a tenor. He is probably the only opera singer whose recording career (which began when he was 9!) lasted from acoustic to electric to LP to stereo recordings. He made his stage debut at 19 as Don Ottavio at the Royal Opera, Stockholm, after having studied first with his father, his principal singing teacher, and then at the Royal Opera School with the Royal Opera's director, baritone John Forsell. His career expanded to Europe and the rest of the world very quickly. He made his Metropolitan Opera debut in 1938, and with the exception of the WWII years and several years in the 1950s due to fights with Rudolf Bing, he remained there until his death. He concentrated on about 10 or 15 Italian and French operatic roles, and was also an avid recitalist with several hundred songs in his 'inventory'.

Unfortunately, Bjorling is nearly as famous in operatic circles for his alcoholism as for his glorious singing, and I think that is appalling. In fact, the one thing this book makes very clear is that although the disease was a tragedy for him personally and traumatic for his family, it had comparatively little effect on his actual career, at least outside Sweden. Working actually kept him from drinking. Anna-Lisa offers considerable proof that many of the stories about Jussi's drinking were exaggerations, gossip or outright lies, most tellingly in the true story of the cancellation of the 'Un Ballo in Maschera' recording under Sir Georg Solti, which was a product of producer John Culshaw's malice. Nearly all his colleagues also defend him on this regard. As far as I'm concerned, the only people who have any right discussing Jussi's alcoholism are Anna-Lisa and his children, as they are the only ones who really had to deal with it. ....

Overall, Jussi comes across as a beautiful human being - simple, warmhearted and lovable, a wonderful husband and father, adored by almost everybody who worked with him or knew him. The book is full of stories about his kindness and generosity to colleagues. He was also an avid pike fisherman who loved westerns and was unbeatable at arm wrestling. He basically had only three serious flaws as a human being: impulsiveness that on occasion bordered on irrationality, stubbornness, and what Anna-Lisa calls, for lack of a better term, a deep inner restlessness - the inner demon that drove him to drink.

I only wish 'Jussi' could have been longer. A year before it was published, I spoke with leading Bjorling authority Cantor Don Goldberg, one of the book's proofreaders. He told me that the first draft was 1100 pages. As the final copy is only 520 pages, I wonder what was cut besides the many laudatory comments from colleagues that were considered repetitive. I was surprised that there wasn't more information about Jussi's brothers once they reached adulthood, especially Gosta, who was so close to Jussi that they had an almost telepathic relationship. And while this book does full justice to such fundamental influences on Jussi's singing as his father, John Forsell (who emerges as quite a character!), and Tullio Voghera, I would have liked a bit more on Nils Grevilius, who conducted nearly every recording Jussi made before 1950. There is also virtually nothing about Hjordis Schymberg, the fine Swedish soprano who partnered Jussi over 100 times in Stockholm. More mention of his recordings besides the complete opera sets would have been welcome, although I am aware that his recordings are covered in the companion volume 'A Jussi Bjorling Phonography'. Finally, while I am aware this would have added to the price of the book, there are so few color photos of Bjorling that I think they should have had one on the cover.

'Jussi' is essential reading for anyone with any interest in good music, let alone opera. It is the definitive biography of one of the most magnificent singers and human beings ever to appear on an opera or concert stage. If you haven't heard this man sing, remedy that immediately!

I had never heard of Bjorling until several months ago one late evening when the local classical music station played some of his arias. I had missed the intro to the work and couldn't figure out to whom this incredible and unique voice belonged; I knew I'd never heard anything remotely like it. You have to hear Jussi only once to want to listen endlessly to his voice. (Needless to say, my opera CD collection is expanding exponentially.)

So it was a great pleasure to discover this excellent biography, which illuminates not only his life but also the opera world from the 20s through the 50s. His early life and training from his father are particularly interesting if you wonder how such a great talent was discovered and developed. (The only question in my mind not answered is the extent to which his children inherited the incredible musical talent that was in his family for generations; that they perform is mentioned but never elaborated on.) The book is well documented with quotes from his peers, and the authors do a splendid job of presenting the entire person with his strengths and weaknesses in a very objective way that holds the reader's interest from beginning to end.

Using painstaking research, Mr. Farkas helps readers understand the demons that followed this troubled musical genius. I always revered this extraordinary man; I now feel that I know him. Thank you, Mr. Farkas Carol P. (JBS member...attended Washington conference but never met you)

_Long Time, No See_ is the memoir of a woman whose diabetes caused her to become blind at the beginnning of her relationship with the man that became her husband. Beth chronicles her life since the lights went out in a funny, poignant style, bringing humor to stories about her seeing eye dogs and not wallowing in sentimentality over her love for her husband and disabled son. But for me, the best part of the book was reading about the resources and adaptive measures available to blind people. I've been an avid reader since I was two and it's always been one of my greatest fears that I might someday lose my vision, but Beth's book is both an inspiration and a practical guide to what's available. Good work.

Beth Finke's _Long Time, No See_ is a lively and very real story of a modern American woman's life--the ups and downs, the tragedies and belly laughs. Her honesty is palpable and her humor always engaged. Blindness, birth defects, medical red tape, bureaucratic Catch 22's, problems in relationships--this woman has met them all straight on and remained real and honest and entertaining. You won't be able to stop reading this personal story! Guaranteed to give you both grins and tears. Highly recommended even if you know nothing about diabetes or blindness. (P. S. Do not confuse it with a recent novel by the same title.)

I loved this book , not because it is inspiring , which it is , but because it is the story of a fascinating , interesting , fun loving , intellegent , warm , beautiful , real woman ... there is nothing she can't accomplish ! This book reads so easily and with so much anticipation, I put everything aside until I finished it , and when I came to the end I could have started all over again ...... Thank you Beth Finke

This book by Susan Carlson was THE first book that captured my attention, involving a different approach to quilting. I picked up her book at my local library, but I have since purchased my own copy. The traditional quilt patterns have been copied and rehashed so many times, and because they are now being mass produced and sold in department stores--I feel that traditional quilting has suffered somewhat. I was looking for something that I could create that was different and more individual. I like this book because Susan has been very generous in the information that she shares, and although many quilting books claim to do the same, many fall short of the mark. (If you will read the reviews of other "notable" quilting books-you will see what I mean.) Anyone who is looking for a new approach-buy this book and you will not be disappointed at all. The other books that I could recommend, would be the Gee's Bend books, and Piecing: Expanding the Basics by Ruth B. McDowell.

I'm a quilter who hates to spend hours with tiny precision piece work. I like to see results that are inspiring, freeform and fast. This is the book for me. Susan is a gifed artist and her method takes the fear out of attempting what would otherwise be a terrifying project. I like landscapes and her method lends itself beautifully. Although she gives you several projects to work on, I encourage the reader to quickly go out on your own and take a chance on your own design. This method is pure fun.

I really loved this book -- it's one of my very favorites now. It's easy to read, and the photos are gorgeous. Susan Carlson shows you how to take colorful, textured fabric and turn it into a fabric portait of anything -- from fish, to butterfly, to flowers, people, anything! Her technique is easy. Use templates to cut out fabric, layer it, glue it together, then free style machine quilt over it. Great for embellishing. Then frame and hang your fabric art masterpiece on your wall. Her quilts are vibrant, colorful, rich in texture and detail. Splendid!

This captivating tale of a mysterious and mesmerizing "haunted" mirror is a gem in the Goosebumps series. The climax is as strange as it is exciting, and the enjoyable characters, including the mirror as one, provides page-turning reading fun. ut R.L.Stine seemed eager to end this one, making this the shortest Goosebumps book yet. Parts of the story seem routine and rushed insomuch that I wish R.L.Stine had took his time, but kudos on an excellent series and good book.

All the books by R.L. is (I can tell) done quickly and after each chapter, there is always a I gasped,or I screamed, whatever. It is not that scary and all there is is fun. The books are fun to read but not scary. Not by a little. Don't get me wrong here. I mean, he wrote a lot of Goosebumps~!

"Ghost in the mirror" is a very scary book to read. It would be hard to read this book in one sitting because after each page you read you have to find out what happens next. Some of the best parts of this book take place inside of a mirror! I really liked the way R.L.Stine described the monsters. I could picture them in my head. One of the main points of the story is that characters get taken into the mirror and their bodys get traded with monster's bodys. Once the main character discovers what is happening he has to go into the mirror to save his friends,But will he get them out alive...? Read "Ghost in the Mirror" to find out.

Nicole Burnham is a new author to watch. Her debut title, GOING TO THE CASTLE, which alternates between the realistic (and oh, so relevant) setting of a dusty refugee camp in a war-torn impoverished country, to the sparkling ballrooms of a neighboring Monaco-esque royal palace, is a breath of fresh air for series romance. I was rooting for spunky, smart Jennifer Allen from page one, and the dashing Prince Antony charmed throughout this well-written, intelligent, and delightfully romantic book! GOING TO THE CASTLE is an enchanting Cinderella tale by one of the most promising new series authors I've seen in a long while. Read, and enjoy!

This romance novel was one of the best I've read, especially for a debut author! I can't wait to read her next one.

Hang on for a happy ending! Antony and Jennifer's story is a fun yet serious story that travels from a relief camp teetering from one disaster to another, and a palace with more rooms than anyone can count.

The dialogue crackles, the attraction is immediate and the ending satisfying enough for everyone. I can't wait for her next!

When we last saw Samantha Devereaux, estranged twin-sister of Serena Devereaux, she was badgering Brandon Chance, her brother-in-law to be to let her work for him. Chance had just retired from the Nightstalkers, due to vision problems stopping him from being a pilot, and had set up a Private body guard service. Since he could find no reason not to take on Samantha as partner, he has let her go ahead and get her license while he and Serena are on their honeymoon. Only the joyful bliss led Chance and Serena to say away for a month longer than intended, leaving Samantha to grow antsy. She has gone gun-ho in this new line of work, and spent more than Chance's petty cash allows on new 'toys' for the business, so she kills time and get experience and money by hiring on as security for an business expo.

The first day she is put on a detail to provide security for the CEO/Model of a family run spaghetti sauce corporation. Dominick Larocca loves fine food, is very family oriented, and is sexy male personified. But when he two grandmothers decide it is past time for him to settle down, they take matters into their own hands and announce Dominick is looking for a bride. When a man that looks like every woman's dream is coupled with a spiralling fortune, it seems every woman is ready to jump Dominick like he is a rock star. This is very distressing to the CEO, for he cannot even take a shower without someone crawling out from under the bed, let alone carry on the business he came to New Orleans to handle.

Sam has spent hours staring at the huge display of the bare-chested man on the spaghetti sauce presentation, but she is unprepared for the reaction of the wild women chasing Dominick, as she is unprepared for the man himself. She tried to calm her fantasies by saying the CEO is arrogant for appearing on his own product bare-chested. But as she learns about him, like the fact is was his grandmothers that used his picture without his knowledge, she begins to feel sympathy for him. So when he mentions he will need to hired a personal body guard while in New Orleans, she jumps at the chance, despite her misgivings due her personal attraction to him. She is professional enough to handle it and keep their business impersonal....isn't she???

Things soon steam up as Dominick makes it clear that he wants her not only as a body guard, but for her to pretend to be his girlfriend, hoping to stop the mobs of marriage hungry females.

What I like about Leto's writing is she presents strongly developed good-girls-do women, ladies who are not afraid to face romance and go after it, instead of blushing and denying...
Her men are sexy, to die for, yet are very down to earth...yeah, they are pure alpha males, but they are mannered, raised well gentlemen who respect women of all ages. She sprinkles her books with quirky characters, spices it with steamy love scenes, knows the difference between romance and sex and how the two go together. She breathes vibrant life into her writing, while drawning on her love of New Orleans and ethnic backgrounds.

You cannot ask for more than that!!!

A super follow up to Pure Chance!!

This was a really good read. I'll have to pick up Pure Chance - The book where sam is introduced.

The book is awesome! You definitely want to read this one. It is hot, steamy and leaves you wanting more! Julie Elizabeth Leto is at her best! The steam between the two main characters is unbelievable. The added plus of his aunts' interference is incredibly funny. I am not normally a big fan of Harlequin romance novels, but in this new genre, they have taken the lead in hot romance. I cannot wait until Julie's next book for the series is published!

This is a book for those who would like to know what Kodokan Judo differs from sport competition. As a sport Judo practicioner I could never expect so wide range of techniques and deep tradition. Now I can see the wisdom of Mr. Kano who preserved one of the best Japanese export products ever created -complete and powerful martial art! The photos, drawings and description are very clear and high quality. Absolute for every Judoka, regardless of rank and experience.

If Draeger's grocery list was published, I'd buy it just because I have yet to read anything by him that wasn't great. Draeger Sensei lived and breathed budo/bugei and it shows in his writing. This is the most detailed and best laid out manual for the Kodokan kata available and is essential to any serious judoka's library.

i just bought this book from kinokuniya bookstore. it is a very good book, i think. it presents the detailed explanation of techniques involved in judo. however, i think you will benefit most if you could combine this book with the reading of another one - "The Secrets of Judo" - a masterpiece in illustrating the mechanical principles that underlies Judo.

If I could afford it, I would give this book to all my friends with kids. This book is darling - the absolute best. We love it. The illustrations are gorgeous. The story has true depth and is so sweet and meaningful. A real classic. A gem!

I love this book, mostly because my son does...it is a sweet book that teaches a little about differences (Mother Katy Kangaroo doesn't have a pocket in which to carry her son Freddy like all the other mothers), it teaches ways she tried to adapt, then the perfect and wonderful ending where all is well with a big apron full of pockets for all the animals. The thing that bothered me was that Katy cried so much- and how (although briefly) Freddy seemed to feel as though it was his job to solve his mother's problems. Objectively, Katy has situational depression :) due to her lack of pocket. Honestly, I changed some of the "cried" and "crying" words (with my handy-dandy whiteout and a marker) to "thought", "thinking", "worried", etc. I also changed the part where she "screamed" at the owl to "spoke loudly" to the owl. I know this is overkill, but if we're trying to teach them to respect elders and be polite...and I read this book to him six times a day :)

This is a really delightful story book illustrated by H.A. Rey, who also created the beloved Curious George books. In the same fun-loving and colorful style, the story of Katy, a mama kanagroo with no pocket for her baby, comes to life. Katy searches high and low and interviews many other kinds of animals to try to find a way to carry her baby, Freddy. In the end she gets some great advice and finds a solution that is pure genius. The story is really cute but H.A. Rey's utterly charming illustrations make this into a treat that should NOT be missed. The details of the various animals are so jolly, the faces so expressive. The pictures just exude happiness. I believe that once you share this with a little one it will become a family favorite.