This was the first book by Joan Johnston that I had read that wasn't in the Silhouette or Harlequin line and I was pleasently surprised. An interesting premise and I loved Charlotte. She was headstrong and not afraid of doing what she wanted. I also enjoyed the other small stories that Ms. Johnston incorporates into her books. Go out and find the others in this line. You won't be dissapointed.

This book was a good read. True, you could usually figure out the plot, but so what. Do we ever really not know how the romance novel will end? If you're looking for suspense read a mystery. If your looking to be swept away into a world of Sexy excitment, humor and true love, You'll like this one. Also try Anything, My Love" by Cynthia Simmons. A real page turner and a hero you won't forget.

This book was delightful. I fully enjoyed Charlotte's outspoken frankness and her views on equalality among everyone. She helped the Earl of Denbigh shed his much too stuffy attitude. And she helped heal his heart from a disasterious courtship from an unfortunate victim. I do so hope that the rest in this quartet series are as enjoyable as this one.

The story of Robin Hood is not one of stealing from the rich to give to the poor. It is a story of too much taxes and Robin Hood returning the taxes to those that were bled dry. Not only does Collins rely on an incorrect myth of Robin Hood, but he latches on to myths about solutions for poverty. Studies have shown that minimum wage does not help the poor. In fact, one study (whose author would agree with Collin's premise) called minimum wage "perverse" in the fact that it took from one group of poor (those that became unemployed because of minimum wage) and gave to another group of poor (those that got a small raise because of minimum wage).

A better book on effective ways of helping the poor can be found in some of the chapters of "Healing Our World" by Dr. Mary J. Ruwart.

Good intentioned book on the importance of giving money for social change. But the book left me short by not addressing the authors' own observation that "uncertainty about the impact of your gifts" can cause the most philanthropic among us to balk at giving. Book would have been so much more helpful if the authors had spent more time on how a reader can intelligently evaluate the foundations they profile in the book. We get a glimpse of what the book could have been in appendix H where the authors tell us that nonprofits with budgets of more than $250,000 have to have annual audits that are made publicly available. That's the kind of information that's really helpful...and a few words or paragraphs or even a chapter on how to read these audit statements to make sense of the health and intentions of the organizations would have been terrific.

"Robin Hood Was Right" is an entertaining and intelligent guide to contributing to social change. Instead of replying to the nightly phone solicitations or the direct mail appeals, the reader can take control of the contribution process to focus on the values and outcomes desired.

I especially enjoyed the cartoons and sidebars. The text is thoughtful and each appendix offers an array of legitimate organizations. I recommend this book to anyone, who like me, wants to be sure that giving will make a difference. That the book is also a good read is just a free bonus.

Owning a Great Pyrenees is not a simple task, but this slim volume was tremendous help in preparing for caring for a Pyr. Pyrs are huge, beautiful animals with some special needs, and no owner should acquire a Pyr without some professional guidance such as this book. It is one of the few, really well-written guidebooks for Pyr ownership available, as this is not one of the most popular breeds in this country.

I really enjoyed this book as a good place to start gathering information about the great pyrenees before making a final puppy purchase. The pictures were great and i have enjoyed looking at them several times!

this is a great little hand book to give a beginner a complete overview of this magestic dog.

You're enjoyment of "How the Heather Looks" may be in direct proportion to your ability to instantly recall scenes from classic British children's books. And not just the "classic" classics, mind you, but some rather obscure works indeed, classic for their quality instead of their familiarity. Do you know the illustrated verses of Randolph Caldecott? How about Arthur Ransome's "Swallows and Amazons" or Kipling's "Puck of Pook's Hill?"

I found that my interest waxed and waned along with my familiarity. I was thrilled to go to Tintagel and Sherwood Forest in search of King Arthur and Robin Hood. I delighted to visit with Mrs. Millne in the Hundred Acre Wood of Winnie the Pooh. Toad Hall and Rat's Riverbank are well-traveled terrain. Less so are the lands of The Borrower's, or the Gypsy Caravans or Pook's Hill. (I winced when they drove past Anlwick Castle without stoping. They missed out on quite an experience.)

The writing is very much like that of a person keeping a journal. Details do not fit into a story, and the narrative drifts along with the same randomness of the family. The only voice is Joan Bodger's, and her husband and children are foils for her to act upon.

All in all, it is a very pleasant little book that I enjoyed reading. I know I would have enjoyed it more if I had a library of British children's literature to browse through for familiarity.

If you love children's books and/or are an Anglophile at heart, you will love this book. The Bodger family is on a quest around England to find Pooh's Enchanted Place, Toad Hall and other places from classic British children's books. In addition to enjoying their literary discoveries, I enjoyed Joan Bodger's descriptions of the special challenges of traveling with young children. Food, laundry, and places for their children to play are as important as locating Beatrix Potter's farm. While reading this book I felt as if I were on a vacation with some very good friends. I loved this book.

I would recommend this book to anyone- as a read-aloud, a travel book, or just something to read to yourself. Mrs. Bodger & her family truly loved English lit., and her love for it shines through. In this book you will discover Narnia, Beatrix Potter's country, Kipling's "Puck of Pook's Hill" ( a delightful look at old England) and many other such treasures. Mrs. Bodger's writing style is clear, her family wonderful- and the subject, English children's literature- will always be fantastic.

This book is great! It has mystery and makes you want to read more. And I can garentee guarantee something will change your favorite character. You may want to dose in some points, but most of it is pure enjoyment! Dido Twite has some problems, to get a lake! Find mystery and adventure The Stolen Lake!

Of the many reasons to read the works of Joan Aiken, two stand out: the irresistable pluckiness of the heroines (especially Dido Twite), and Joan's marvellously detailed alternate history of the planet Earth.

An alternative history is one of the staples of science fiction. What if the Nazis had won World War II? Or what if the South had won the American civil war? These subjects have consumed many a book. But Joan Aiken is unique, in my view, because she has crafted a detailed alternate history of England and America, and has used it as the backdrop, rather than the focus, of the story. Just take it for granted that the Stuarts managed to keep a hold of the English crown. This is just one of many ingredients in Joan Aiken's stories.

But in "The Stolen Lake", Joan's alternative history writing is at its most creative, and that pushes its prominence forward in the book. Rather than fading into history, the ancient kingdom of Arthur and the remains of the Roman Empire stole the boats of the invading Saxons and fled to South America where they founded "Roman" (as opposed to "Latin") America. King Arthur still sleeps, but Queen Guenivere has basically sold her soul to keep herself alive through the 1300 years, awaiting her husband's return. Into this, the young and plucky Dido Twite arrives, and upsets the corrupt regime.

This only scratches the surface of the detail of "The Stolen Lake". Alternative history buffs, fans of King Arthur tales, and fans of the plucky Dido Twite will find plenty to enjoy in this richly detailed tale that is a standout of Joan Aiken's books.

Out of all the books in Joan Aiken's Wolves of Willoughby Chase series, this is hands down the best. (OK, I haven't read Dido and Pa, but of the others.) It really has no connection to the other books in the series, and I don't think that it's the greatest read for very young children, however it is the most thrilling, the least predictable, DEFINITELY the most imaginative, and the most mature. It's not as humourous as the others, but it has its moments, and I personally feel that this is the climax of all Dido's adventures before she gets home to meet Simon again. As always, unforgettable characters (Cap'n Hughes, Mr. Holystone, Elen, Bran...) that are always believable, no matter how fantastical the plot is, and well, an all round fascinating, entertaining, frightening, happy-ending, beautiful book. MUCH more adventurous than the previous books in the series.

The King Arthur connection is brilliant, even if Arthur did actually die BEFORE the battle of Dyrham... but those with a basic knowledge of the legends and history will appreciate it, and if you learn more about Arthur etc. your appreciation of the book will only grow richer. Also, make sure to pay attention to the marriage of Latin American and Welsh cultures, which is also brilliantly done (Dafydd Gomez, Juan Jones, José Glendower - should that be Glyndwr?) although it begs the question, if the Celts settled the area in 577, when did the Spanish come? But ignoring that, a BRILLIANT book, definitely read it.

I found this book to be very depressing. I got it when I just found that I was pregnant with my second and I wanted some advice and support - and it doesn't give you any. Most of information is a common knowlege, some is controversial, and what was probably intended to prepare you to all upcoming difficulties makes you think "What the hell I was thinking that night...".

If you read something in your first pregnancy and if you have What to Expect the First year and Toddler Years (that have chapters about siblings), you already know more than this book can offer.

I decided to read this book while waiting to be a mother for the second time. This book is realistic, straighforward and honest, almost to a fault. While some of it did not pertain to me as my first child is adopted, I still found myself identifying with what to expect when a second child enters the family. I found this book to be enlightening, informative and at times humorous! I would highly recommend it for both second time mothers AND fathers!

Finding out I was expecting daughter #2 only 9 months postpartem, and knowing they'll be a mere 18 months apart when she's born, sent me into a tailspin and an overwhelming feeling of despair at how I would manage. Reading Twice Blessed really put into focus, albeit realistically, how every pregnancy is truly a miracle and showed me the actual blessing it is. Although I know there will be hard times ahead, I am now grateful for realizing that I will be "twice blessed" and will try to focus on the fact that my daughters will have each other as playmates and lifelong friends. Eventually, the diapers, night feedings and sleepless nights will lessen and I know I will look back at this time and be grateful for this miracle. Sometimes, life has something else in store for us :-)

Hmm... Creative is important, but the recommendations are not that creative enough. The hyperlink at the back are not good enough as well. Some are simply spamming links that keeps on putting advertisements.

For the content, it looks like to be a step-by-step one, but the recommendations are boring. May be, a better way to reunderstand each of the two will be better?

I found that there were a few useful ideas to use or help you come up with our own. A good thing to add to your collection for men or wemen!

Joan Elizabeth Lloyd knows this. Who is Joan Elizabeth Lloyd and why is she so interested in our sex lives? She is a former high school math teacher, Emergency Medical Technician, mother of grown children and grandmother. So, she knows about sex and wants to get the ball rolling so you can have a wild intimate relationship with your spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend.

For couples who have succumed to the ordinary, or are too overwhelmed by the 'hustle and bustle' of daily life to be creative when it comes to love making, fear not. With "52 Saturday Nights," Lloyd provides a sensual week-by-week course in pleasure.

Each scenario delves into the hows and whys of good love making. Some of her night plans include using water to start a passionate fire, playing games where the winner can ask for whatever they want, an evening of picture taking, ventures in the great outdoors, and touching each other at the movies.

Lloyd wants to put the spice back in your relationship. She wants to assist couples in the creation of their own Saturday night fever. Unfortunately, this is just like any other sex book out on the market. We all know what we can do to spice up our relationships. We know about strip shows and deep kissing and oral sex and whatnot. If you don't now, I'm sure you will soon.

"52 Nights" is a good book if you want something to get you in gear, so to speak. Otherwise, a romantic bubble bath with soft music, or a night with leather and handcuffs will do the trick.

I thought this book was a great general book. You get a little o everything. I love the part where Gary is talking about his favorite tomatoes. The information on the festival is inspirational!

This was sold as a companion book to Carolyn Male's "100 Heirloom Tomatoes." Dr. Male's book is pretty complete for a home tomato grower, but this book has extra tips for growing those love apples, and a lot of recipes, too.

So I am reviewing this primarily as a cookbook, though it is half cookbook, half gardening guide. The recipes range from soups to desserts such as a tomato granita (frozen sorbet.) There are of course spaghetti sauces. And here's where the book surprised me. The recipe for Bolognese sauce (tomato and ground beef gravy) is excellent, in fact, one of the best I have used. At home I have a taster who compares all things Italian to "Ma's". (Ma was born in Sicily, lived to be 100 and routinely cooked for a crowd of invading Visigoths on a Sunday.) The sauce lived up (almost) to Ma's unachievable heights. It was meaty, but balanced with plenty of fresh tomato and bolstered by canned sauce and paste. The addition of carrot and celery provided natural sweetness to offset the acid of the fresh tomatoes. No sugar was needed. We used farmstand plum tomatoes (my homegrown were dwarfed by the draught.)The directions for peeling them (bowl of boiling water, bowl of ice water) worked well. In no time, I had the fresh tomatoes peeled and seeded. A handful of fresh opal basil was substituted for some of the dried herbs. The proportions in this recipe are what makes it work so well. A huge, huge success.

The tomato growing tips add more information and lore than in Dr. Male's book. If you are deeply into growing tomatoes, I still would recommend "100 Heirlooms" but this book is stands alone for useful recipes and great hints.

Great book to learn which ones to grow and what soil should be ammended w/. Best all around tomato book i have and i have 15.

If you're stressed out or overwhelmed, I highly recommend this book. It gives you simple, workable solutions that make a HUGE difference.

Only criticism is that parts of it are a bit too "new age-y", but overall, it's very good.

When I first starting reading this book, I was like "thats my book, thats my life that she is writing about" I loved her writing and examples and stories that she told from other people's experiences. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in people's behaviors and everyday life.

I read this book at a very low point in my life, with depression and a variety of physical symptoms related to anxiety. This practical, straightforward book helped me gain some control of racing, negative thoughts (Borysenko calls this type of thinking "awfulizing"). Borysenko's rationale includes the fact that your body can actually help your mind to calm down. She provides simple, gentle stretching/breathing to help this happen. For me, it was most valuable to realize that even if my thoughts/intellect seemed beyond my control, my physiology is the same as all humans. Therefore, breathing/stretching has to affect my body/mind the same way as it does other humans. I kept the book on hand for bad moments, and I found that using the exercises helped me to bypass the downward spiraling thoughts and begin to get centered. She includes theory, psychology, and spirituality which supports the intellect as well. I still needed help after I found this book, but it absolutely put me on a safer, stronger path. I have loaned this book several times, to others in need. There are so many books out there, it's overwhelming. This one is worth it.

Oh, dear. To say unpleasant things about such a tome makes one feel slightly guilty, as if we were hurling unprintable epithets at the head of Walter Mondale, or attacking a banana split with a chainsaw, but we find in these 26 "drive-by" meditations nothing more than the attempted resuscitation of dead progressive cliches. We detect a note of wounded pride in Chittister's comparison of "canonical silencings" to the Inquisition and the Taliban. We learn (if we haven't learned already) that dogmas and doctrine are bad, that "openness" is good, and that Rome is a four-letter-word, in a manner of meaning other than the strictly orthographic. And sin (if it exists) isn't something we should fret over. The pert assessment of Sister Chittister as "girl guru" is, I'm afraid, very much on the mark.

One might wish to look at "Living with Contradiction" by the Anglican laywoman Esther de Waal for a slightly more rewarding exploration of Benedictine spirituality.

I don't believe that the reviews here do justice to this profound work. I have read many books on the spiritual search and this is one of the best. I have lately been struggling with what prayer means and her chapter on prayer is the best I've ever read. It is a refreshing antidote to the books that say prayer, and God, for that matter, are a means to personal power and things going your way. Joan Chittister is a wise woman, steeped in years of the contemplative tradition, and in this book she shares the fruits of her wisdom. She illuminates all of us.

This lovely and thoughtful lexicon offers delightful vignettes of the desert fathers (and mothers). With Chittister's own definitions ranging from 'beauty' to 'xenophilia' (love of strangers) there is inspiration and food for thought on every page. One of her very best!