On-the-tape

This is a wonderful book about life & some of the things that come our way. If you ever enjoyed the Little House on the Prairie Books, you'll love this book! It's great to see how families pulled together to make things work out, if only more people would live by those standards today!!! I have read a lot of Janette Oke's books, but this is truly one of the best!

I have enjoyed every book that I have read by J.Oke. This one in particular has touched my life. I recommend her books to any one how enjoys romance novels and who loves the Lord.

This story is about four siblings who learn to live on their own after their parents die. Angela and Tomas must learn to fend for themselves and their three siblings. Angela and Tomas must teach the smaller children how to do chores,cook, and make them do their homework. Eventually they all learn how to depend on each other and get the most rough times together ,even when Angela and Tomas begin to have their own relationships. All in all i think this book is a great book to read!!

This book should be mandatory reading for anyone tired of the hype and "free lunch" philosophy of most MLM ventures. A judge in this province has ordered several young offenders to read this book and write a book report as "punishment" for their crimes. Art's message that you can overcome obstacles and achieve all of your dreams without compromising your integrity and values impressed me so much that I joined the company!

The book starts the way hundreds of motivational books do. I almost gave up - how many times can you read the same phrases and ideas. But reading on I discovered that this one is different: it's just wise and very practical... Archie said few thinhgs you can't find in other books but he said it in such a way that I really believe him. He is just an honest and wise man, in my opinion. What a contrast to Brian Tracy or Anthony Robbins which I used to like.

This story is a true American story. How a small band of "average, middle-Americans" upset an entire industry, with nothing but a "crusade" - as Art calls it.

This is entrepreneurism at its best! Not only is this a great read, but it is chock-full of "unwritten laws" than can help any would-be-entrepreneur.

I recently finished After Innocence, which was the second Brenda Joyce book that I've read. I enjoyed both Promise of the Rose and After Innocence, and I admire an author who can write successfully in different time periods.

After Innocence seemed reminiscent of Judith Krantz' Scruples series; however, keeping within the boundaries of the romance genre, it had a somewhat softer touch. I enjoy romantic fiction primarily for the more positive outlook on life and the guaranteed happy endings.

I became quite absorbed in After Innocence. Joyce kept the story moving so that it was difficult to put down. The difficulties the characters faced primarily resulted from their own flaws. Human shortcomings such as self-absorption, low self-image, and inability to communicate feelings were dealt with in a thought-provoking manner. Although I was frustrated with the many loose ends (it was obvious that a sequel for Lisa's story would be forthcoming), I felt that After Innocence was a surprisingly deep and thorough book for an escapist read.

Although this is a minor point, I believe that the book would have been better without the epilogue, which I found distracting rather than satisfying. I would have preferred to have lingered at the turn of the 20th century a bit longer.

Brenda Joyce is TRUE talent. Her books are soooo richly written, getting accross to the reader the struggles the lovers in her stories have to go through to be together. She got my attention with RIVALS and she held it with SPLENDOR, and FIRESTORM, and she still has it with AFTER INNOCENCE. What an amazing read. Sophie and Edward were great characters, but the way that Ms. Joyce wrote about them, they seemed very real. Edward wooes Sophie, he's the only one who doesn't consider her a cripple or feel sorry for her. He treats her as a full person. To Sophie, Edward is the only one with whom she can share her dreams and recieve encouragement from. Thiers is a love match made in heaven and despite all the hell they go through, the end result makes it ALL worth it. Read AFTER INNOCENCE, it is a GREAT romance, an amazing story of LOVE, COURAGE and STRENGTH...and above all, the story of two people, very much in LOVE.

Recently, I discovered Brenda Joyce and her many wonderful romance novels. I have enjoyed all of the books I have read to date and I must say that she is not a writer that writes similar themes in her books. Reading my first four Joyce books, I realize that they each differ greatly - more than any other author I have read. Each has an entirely dissimilar premise. She does not need to borrow from one success formula in one of her books and use it to write another. I chose After Innocence as my fourth Joyce book because it was so highly recommended when I asked about her books on AAR's website.

Edward Delanza is a man known for his diamonds. In the late 1800s of New York City, Edward is a man who loves women and women love him. He is a little flashy and selfish but it's okay because he is a man of principal and honor beneath it all. At a country home weekend party, Edward first spots Sofie as she watches him - uhh - how should I say this - as he is spending some time with a female acquaintance. This certainly makes for an explosive beginning and causes Edward to be very curious about the beautiful face he saw watching him and his female friend through the forest greenery.

Sofie O'Niel is an extremely talented artist who is attending a weekend party given by her socialite mother. She has no interest in the party but her mother is determined that Sofie will be seen more in society. Her mother realizes Sofie is lame and will never attract the right type of man for marriage and she believes this so deeply that Sofie believes it herself. Sofie is resigned to a life alone but she loves her art and happens to be talented enough to actually make a living selling it. She also has a large trust fund left to her by her deceased father and realizes money will never be a problem for her although she deeply wishes to be independent of her mother. Sofie does not see herself as the beautiful woman she is both inside and out. It takes little to make her happy and she wants mostly solitude. When she first spots an extremely handsome and obviously virile man in the forest with his apparent paramour, she is fascinated with him. She knows she can never attract the attention of such a gentleman but the experience has certainly given her fuel for many dreams in the future.

Edward does seek Sofie out. He doesn't realize that she is lame and Sofie is sure that as soon as he discovers her uneven walking that all of this interest will vanish. However, it does not. Edward perceives the twisted hold Sofie's mother has over her and decides he will become her friend and make her see herself as the truly beautiful person she is with only a very minor disability. He likes the sense of purpose it gives him and wants to throw himself into an unselfish project. He has tired of his self-centered life and relishes the thought of helping another. However, to do so, he must disregard his strong attraction for Sofie.

Edward and Sofie establish a friendship of sorts and he arranges her first sale of her art to a well-known gallery. Edward is very impressed with Sofie's art and finds that he is a subject she paints again and again. As their friendship deepens, Edward realizes that Sofie has more than friendship in mind. He sees her as beautiful and she blossoms under his kind regard. Although she is falling in love with him, Sofie recognizes that Edward is not the type to settle down - especially with someone like her. Their relationship soon develops beyond that which Edward had so carefully deliberated in his philanthropic plans for Sofie. It brings them to a crossroads that the two see in a totally opposite manner and Sofie runs and Edward is left confused and lonely and more than a little angry.

The interaction between Edward and Sofie is priceless. Although a few minor misunderstandings come and go, primarily their relationship is one of truth and respect. Sofie reacts in a flighty immature manner more than once. In the process she loses some of the respect Edward had for her. She, in a misguided loving manner, actually hurts Edward tremendously again and again. But when they are together, the pages sizzle and the pace never slows. The sensual scenes rate about a 4.0 out of 5.0 (see More About Me for rating guidelines).

After Innocence is the sequel to Secrets. It is very loosely tied to the Bragg series (his brother married a Bragg in Secrets). But this is a stand-alone book and Secrets does not have to be read first. I highly recommend After Innocence for it's unusual and tender romance line and totally captivating story. Now - to find my next Brenda Joyce book! She certainly has a great backlist to choose from

Max Lucado gives an easy-to-understand explanation of the Second Coming of Christ in this book. He uses Scripture, along with examples from everyday life, to show what it will be like. He advises the reader on what his attitude should be while "waiting forwardly" for Christ. He tells us what Scripture means when it says we will be raised to Heaven at our death and will be given a new body when Christ returns. He tells us about the difference between being saved and then about appearing before God on Judgment Day. He emphasizes God's grace and the defeat of Satan. This is a clear and concise book which will give the Christian a positive feeling about the Second Coming.

Max Lucado makes reading about the Lord simple and understandable. When you are overwhelmed with trying to figure out where to go from here, he provides analogies, stories and anecdotes to make things more clear. Its kind of like, without being sacriligious, the Bible-lite.

Max Lucado has been truly blessed with the gift of interpretation. As a Christian, I read my Bible but falter with meanings and explanations. Max Lucado to my rescue.

This book oozes hope. It relays joy. It shares the Truth about our heavenly expectations. Peace abounds as you learn that Christ will return, keeping His promise, allowing us access to Our Father's Kingdom. All of this is deciphered for us verse by verse; translated into common understanding and personal adeptation. I loved this book. Fear was invading my spirituality but "When Christ Comes, reinstated the strength within me to have Faith.

Excellent teaching. Worth more than gold!

This was the third...and last Rogue Warrior book for me. After being blown away by the first one, I eagerly awaited Red Cell. After being somewhat disappointed by Red Cell, I still awaited the third book, "Green Team." I did find Green Team readable and Im a big fan of the SEALs. But it was nothing that great either. It certainly did not pack the drama of the first book. Its basically more of the original book...more bashing the regular Navy, more bashing non JSOC SEALs who couldnt make the cut of SEAL Team Six or Red Cell back in the eighties, more bashing of civilian politicians who Marcinko perceives as "weenies" or even as traitors. I dont disagree with Marcinko's assessments of these individuals, but after a while his moaning and complaining gets old. Thats why I decided to call it quits after Green Team.

If I want to listen to some bitter old man complain about the sorry state of the world, I will go listen to my dad or my grandpa complain. Marcinko comes across like a whiner in Green Team. I havent read a Marcinko book since.

Marcinko's original book is a mini-education and a great book. The rest of his books are redundant, moaning and groaning.

The weirdest thing about this book is that the beginning is so true-to-life. The book was written several years ago, but the story is very much in sync with what is going on in the world today. This is my fifth Marcinko book and it's one of his best. It's his second fiction work, a follow up to Rouge Warrior: Red Cell, which is the main reason I didn't give it five stars. The action scenes in Green Team are much more exciting than Red Cell, but the plot just doesn't stand up to the latter. It develops at a break neck speed, but its quality fluctuates right up to the end. First time Marcinko readers will probably get hooked, just like I did with Rogue Warrior: Task Force Blue, only to be more pleased with the discovery of his first and second books. Marcinko's crossing of the thin line between reality and fiction might annoy some readers who are not used to his style, but I think it's a very original welcomed breather from the "2+2=4" formulas of other action books. Marcinko is not the writer Tom Clancy is, but then again, Tom Clancy is not the warrior Marcinko is.

RICHARD MARCINKO TAKES YOU ALONG FOR THE RIDE WITH THE ELITE NAVY SEALS, IT'S A NO HOLDS BAR RIDE TO THE WILD SIDE OF FAST ACTION SEAL EXCITEMENT. "DEMO DICK" HAS HIS OWN STYLE AND VOCABULARY THAT WILL SUCK YOU INTO THE WORLD OF THE NAVY SEALS. MARCINKO IS A REAL LIFE NAVY SEAL WHO PULLS NO PUNCHES WITH HIS SUPERIORS OR HIS READERS...IT'S A MUST READ FOR ANYONE WHO LOVES EXCITEMENT !!!

When are you ever going to see a great hero playing himself in his greatest moments? If "Saving Private Ryan" was too gory for you, here's a movie that shows the glory and pain of WWII, but without the gore. If your grade-school kids want to know about the soldiers of WWII without them having nightmares, have them see this film. Audie Murphy is great in this role -- even though it is his story, it becomes the story of ALL the soldiers (although Audie does have the best moments). The fight scenes are gripping, and it really does feel 'real' rather than 'staged'. I would also recommend that you read Audie Murphy's book of the same name to get the whole story. Definitely Audie Murphy was the greatest U.S. soldier in the 20th Century!

I first read this book as a young man before entering high school. The book and Audie Murphy became a symbol of not only what one man can do, but what one man can stir in the friends and comrades around him.

Murphy's acts, thoughts, and efforts described in this book make him an absolute hero not only during the war, but should be displayed for generations to come as a man that believed in our country and the American Cause. It is the ideals that he fought for, and the American people that he believed in that make this book a must read for all types of people that would want to feel good about the United States of America and to be personaly uplifted and moved by the challenges that this soldier endured and overcame.

I have to say that after I saw this movie, I was a little embarassed that I had never heard of Audie Murphy before, especially since I'm 37 years old. This guy epitomizes the term "war hero" and his story needs to be retold. I'd love to see this remade so that more generations of people would know about him. The current version was great, especially because Audie plays himself. A must watch, especially for anyone who doesn't know anything about him.

I am only 17 years of age and any thoughts of marriage and children are far on the horizon. Naturally, when my pastor's wife recommended this book to me, I thought it odd. However, after reading A Woman After God's Own Heart, I discovered this is a book for all women, married with children or single with not the slightest thoughts of marriage. Elizabeth George may have intended to reach an older audience, but her novel offers much needed advice to younger women, like me, who plan to marry someday in the very distant future. I've always thought I would become the modern working mom and somehow beautifully balance marriage, motherhood and a successful career, but this book has changed my plans. After reading chapter after chapter of how a woman must manage her household wisely; honor and submit to her husband; and nurture and teach her children in God's Word, I realized that just being a wife and mother is more than a full-time job! Obviously, I had a newfound respect for my own mother after reading this book.

I think what really impacted me the most is Elizabeth George's life stories of how she slowly became the woman God designed her to be. At first, I couldn't see how a wife can completely submit herself to her husband and respond with an enthusiastic, no questions asked "Of course, honey!" to all of her husband's decisions, even a missions trip to Germany that would cause them to be separated for 5 months! That completely goes against the strong independent woman image the world is teaching young women today. However, as I began to read through Elizabeth George's transformation and each of the accompanying Bible verses, I found that a wife IS to submit to her husband. She is to help by supporting his decisions and not hinder by pouting when his decision is an inconvenience to her. Not only does Elizabeth offer her own experiences, but she talkes about the examples of other God-fearing women, like Ruth Graham, who were especially

encouraging to her. I think it's awesome how much God has blessed the women who continue to seek after His heart. I recommend this book to all the other young women out there who want to follow God in every areas of their lives. Not only is it a preparatory guide to how to be a godly wife and mother, it's a great preview of the blessings God has in store for those who seek Him.

This book is a great guide for any woman who wants to better organize her life in order to accomplish all God has for her and to grow into a woman after God's own heart. Her practical advice on a woman's priorities (God, Husband, Children and home) are a literal "God Send". I highly recommend this book!

I think this book is incredible, and has helped me understand my role as a woman, wife and mother (from God's perspective, according to the Bible).

I just wanted to clarify something that the person with the 3 star review made, about the husband grounding the wife, with an excerpt from the book:

"As a young mom with two little ones and a home to maintain, I began to whine and cry to Jim [an expert on time management], '...I just can't seem to get anything done!'
"[O]nce I had [my calendar] spread out on the kitchen table, he said, '...which day do you need to do something outside of the house?' Well, of course I said Wednesday ... the day of our women's Bible study at church.... Then Jim stated, 'OK, Wednesday is your day out. I want you to try to do all your errands and running around and visiting with friends on Wednesday, and be at home the rest of the week.'
"Although he didn't actually say it, I was grounded! But oh, how many times since then have I thanked Jim - and God - for that guidance!"

I interpret this as a very pleasant, supportive and functional interaction with a spouse: wife has a problem, wife needs advice, husband (who is an expert in solving this type of problem) gives GREAT advice! I interpret the rest of the passage as the author admitting she had a problem looking for interest, excitement and fulfillment in places outside her own home. As a result, she was neglecting her responsibilities in her own home (which is why she felt like she couldn't get anything done).

Hope this helps clarify the issue. I haven't found anything in this book that sounds off any alarms for me.

As far as being "superwomen" and this book setting unrealistic goals for women, the author states somewhere in the beginning that of course WE don't have the strength to be a Godly wives on our own; we have to look to God for that strength. I have seen improvements in my own life by leaning more on God. I have the same # of hours in a day as I did before, but I can tell that I am using that time better because of my obedience to God.

Not as good as "Eat The Rich" or "Parliament of Whores" or "All The Trouble in the World" or "Holidays in Hell" or "Give War A Chance"; those books are thought-provoking as well as screamingly funny. This one is just screamingly funny, but this might actually be a plus for people whose response to some of P.J.'s better works is a defensive "That's not funny!"; P.J. has a tendancy to poke fun at EVERYTHING, including the sacred cows of people who he disagrees with (and sometimes those he agrees with.)

This book is absolutely hilarious! I'm a big fan of PJ's, so how did I miss this little gem until now? Anyway, this book had me literally LOL (Laughing Out Loud) as I read it in my own bachelor apartment. PJ has captured the essence of bachelordom, namely, we are all basically mischievous boys at heart who love chaos and disorder. PJ on cooking - "If you think of it as setting fire to things and making a mess, it's fun". His recipes alone will leave you in stitches. And he provides all sorts of ready excuses for putting off anything related to cleaning or keeping up one's residence. This especially rang true as I surveyed my own humble abode and thought "You know, I kinda LIKE having all that clutter on the floor, it makes the place looked lived in." This book is simply required reading for anyone who's experienced the joys of sharing an off campus apartment with two other complete slobs, where beer cans and empty pizza boxes are the primary forms of interior decoration. Let's just say it's a pleasant trip down memory lane for any healthy, red blooded American male, and should get 6 out of 5 stars if such a thing were possible!

The Bachelor Home Companion: A Practical Guide to Keeping House Like A Pig written by P.J. O'Rourke is a very funny, keep you in stiches book.

You'll never keep a house neat and tidy after you read this book. Of Course, that's assuming that you already do. What its like as a bachelor in theory as to actually being one is, according to O'Rourke, a great disparity. If you want to laugh and be entertained at the same time then this little tome is for you to enjoy.

Humor abounds and your life will definately take a turn... for better or worse will depend on you.According to O'Rourke... "How often does a house need to be cleaned, anyway? As a general rule, once every girlfriend. After that she can get to know the real you."

Jill Paton Walsh's "Knowledge of Angels" should havewon the Booker Prize. It is arguably the most outstanding yetaccessible of the five novels that made the shortlist in 1994. Set in the medievial ages, KOA is a brilliant and highly intelligent fable of ideas. Controversial perhaps, but timeless. Even today, we continue to debate the question of whether the concept of God is innate to man or acquired through the intellect and the socialisation process. In the middle ages, certainly during the times of the infamous Spanish Inquisition, it was heretical to espouse the creed of atheism. The crime was punishable by torture and death. The story of Amara (the wolf child), brought up and suckled by wolves before being returned to human society, was to be the great experiment by which learned scholars of the day sought to prove the existence of God. Palinor, the castaway who hails from a world where people live by the principles of humanism, finds his life endangered when his unconventional ideas threaten the orthodoxy of the day. Paton Walsh's novel isn't even specifically about religion or humanism. It is about the need for human society in its search for truth to understand the confining nature of paradigms, to continually challenge conventional wisdoms and reinvent itself, and to practice tolerance if the search for truth is to be served. Astonishing, yet not. "Knowledge of Angels" is a beautifully crafted and highly entertaining novel of ideas that should be read by those who love good literature. I can't recommend it highly enough. END

Knowledge of Angles by Jill Paton Walsh is one of the best books of our time. Its richly illustrated plot was truly unique. We read this book for a high school English class and both agreed that it was one of the best books we've ever read. The story of a wolf-girl slowly interwines with that of a man unjustly persecuted because of his beliefs. A young girl, raised by wolves, is captured by men and brought into the human society. A kindly boy finds help from the Cardinal who in turn decides to perform a religious experiment with her. She is brought to a secluded cloister where she is to be kept without any mention of God in her presence. In this way, the Cardinal tries to find out if there is actually a high spirit, that seems to guide you. This careful experiment soon leads to surprises, that would best have been left unknown. The story of a wrongly persucuted man makes "The Knowledge of Angles" even more amazing. Palinor, a king from an unknown "perfect world" fell off a boat and swam to a nearby island. He is immediatly thought to be an athiest because he neither knows that God exists, or knows that He doesn't. Palinor was put into prison, then released and taken to talk to the Cardinal. His arguments are so convincing that he even has the Cardinal somewhat doubting his faith. The two stories come together to create a very important theme, one of love, hate, God, and sympathy.

This book cries out for a different rating system - perhaps a 1-10 scale. Even then one would have to reward an "11" for this magnificent tome. I could not find a single flaw in the entire reading - character development and portrayal was realistic yet unforgettable, the setting mesmerizing (one is instantly transported back to the time of the Inquisition and the faith-filled, simple lives of the city dwellers) and the plot was perfect.

I have read criticism that the tale was not realistic or made suppositions and assumptions that are not exactly correct in the historical sense. But what one should remember is that this tale is an allegory, not a documentary. The fictional city is in Spain and the Inquisition is at its high point when a stranger appears. He is intelligent, interesting, and friendly but an unbeliever. He tells of a land in which belief is arbitrary and where one can change their religion - or choose to have no religion at all. This is too much for Church officials for in their eyes murder, torture and lying can be forgiven but also blessed. A trial of sorts is proposed.

Now we have the second story and the joy is how the two are seemlessly weaved into one arc. A child found among the wolves is being raised by nuns. She is not to be given any religious instruction and if she comes to a belief in a Supreme Being the visitor will be found guilty, otherwise he will be judged to be innocent.

The battle is not between atheist and believer. It is a civil war between two schools of thought within Catholicism - the plain folk and their local leaders and a grand inquisitor who employs "unusual" methods for "protecting the faith". The wolf-girl finally is made to make a statement that can be interpreted as belief and Palindo, the visitor, is tortured to confession. When he refuses to follow this up with another confession (which would then validate the previous "confession") he is sentenced to be burned alive at the stake. A lowly follower trades all her material goods for a balm that will bring instant death upon being heated.

The aftermath is a short but appealing denouement. The bishop's assistant announces he cannot believe in a God that seeks obedience through torture. The wolf-girl returns to her solitary mountain home but not before catching a glimpse of a vast naval armada from the foreign land streaming toward the city that burned its citizen. The rewards of sin...

Whiskey Island is the compelling story of the Donaghue sisters whose past is full of pain but whose history is about to be traced back to three men whose love for Lena Tierney irrevocably sets in motion a chain of events that lead to a terrible tragedy and a horrifying scandal.

Niccolo Andreani, a former priest, agrees to transcribe the journal kept by Father Patrick McSweeney who valiantly tended to his flock of Irish immigrants over a hundred years ago. Niccolo finds himself with more questions than answers when he comes into contact with the Donaghue sisters, the little girl under their protection, and the old man who harbors the truth to a murder that took place years ago. An old man who might be their father.

Richards has crafted a powerful story as she allows readers to become acquainted with characters from the present as well as the past. The length of this novel is appropriate because it gives the author the means of exploring the lives of the Donaghues of the present and, more importantly, the struggle endured by the Tierneys. A tragic struggle witnessed years ago by their best friend, Rowan Donaghue, and counseled by their priest, Patrick McSweeney.

The characterizations, drawn by Richards, of all these people are strong and distinctive. Her audience will be swept away by the powerful history of Whiskey Island and the intrigue of its present state. Furthermore, the author has so intricately intertwined the two to create a story whose development will have you turning pages in anticipation and feeling bittersweet, yet satisfied, with its conclusion.

This novel is set in Cleveland, my home town, so I may have been more fascinated than others will be by this compelling tale. I also went to all Catholic schools with many Irish kids which only increased my interest level since Whiskey Island was the settling place for so many immigrant Catholic Irish. I can say, however, that Richards faithfully recreates all of this and hits no wrong notes. The novel proceeds at two levels: one part of it is set in present day Cleveland on Whiskey Island, close to downtown, and the other is set in the same place but in 1880. Both stories also involve a priest and a woman. Frankly, I do think more novels of any genre would benefit from using locales not already overused and this was certainly one of them. It gives a touch of originality to any tale when the reader can go to new places and meet new people from previously uncovered backgrounds. Having priests or former priests as major characters certainly puts this author in unique territory. This is my first book by this author and I will try another of hers.

And keep you reading page after page till you find out what the great secret that the Donaghue family has been hoarding for generations. This is not only a story about three motherless sisters, Megan, Peggy and Casey, who were abandoned by their dad at an early age but it is also a story about Lena, Terry, Rowan and Father Patrick back in the late 1800s. And Richards manages to tie both stories in brillantly ~~ till the last page is done. It is a fast-paced read ~~ a wonderful story about love and relationships and secrets and truths.

Megan is the owner of Whiskey Island Saloon set in Cleveland near Lake Erie where her Irish ancestors have once worked. When her sisters come home for various reasons, Megan begins a journey of self-realization ~~ especially when there is a man involved. There is Casey who has a secret regarding the little girl she brought home from Chicago. There is Peggy, who was supposed to be in her last semester of college but decided to stay home instead. And this is their stories.

Once again Richards prove that she is an excellent story-teller. This is one fast read ~~ one that will keep me hopping till I read the sequel. She has a talent of making her characters seem as real as you and I. And the relationships between the sisters are like mine. It's a fun and captivating read ~~ especially since it has a dollop of history thrown in it. I am a native Ohioan and now my curiousity has been piqued about Cleveland's history. Only a good author can do that.

9-9-03