The book read like a play. It lacked rhythm. It lacked passion. It was a pretty good story, but the absence of rythmic flow took away from the content.

The story is an essential part of the human experience. The person who held the tribe spellbound by the fire knew that. The teacher who calms a disruptive class with the words, 'Once upon a time...' knows that. And so does Joan Albarella, in her second Nikki Barnes mystery Called to Kill. What makes a story, any story, engage or disengage its audience is its characters. In Called to Kill, Albarella gives the reader an assortment of characters to care about. It's not just the central character who resonates with the reader (Nikki Barnes is a unique detective -- lesbian Vietnam vet, Episcopal priest, and university professor), it's also the series' supporting characters (Max, Nikki's fellow vet turned detective, and Ginni, the doctor who is Nikki's partner) and a wonderfully quirky Falklands War photographer named Magpie York. Magpie, in fact, is one of the best quirky characters I've encountered since Buddy Bustamente, the dim-witted, outrageously dressed mobster in Les Roberts' Full Cleveland. A slight woman, she has a personality that expands beyond her size to change the chemistry of any room she enters. Also impressive is Trang, the Vietnamese woman Nikki saved, in a flashback, in the first book, Agenda for Murder. She has exactly the right combination of toughness and humanity one would expect in a person who's endured a horrific war and made a grand new life for herself. The story begins with Trang's plea to Nikki for help and moves at a rapid clip through Western New York, the Buffalo area mob, and the toples-bottomless dancing industry in Fort Erie, Canada. There's murder, betrayal, frank eroticism, and more murder in a fast-paced mystery that skirts the line between a cosy (Agatha Christie, Murder She Wrote) and hard-boiled (Kinsey Milhone, Spenser, V.I. Warshawski). Called to Kill is time well spent.

Also recommended: Darkness Peering by Alice Blanchard (a strong woman detective) Agenda for Murder by Joan Albarella (Nikki Barnes' debut) The Wheel of Desire and Other Intimate Hauntings by Gary Earl Ross (short stories both erotic and macabre)

Of all the accolades I could offer...all the complimentary adjectives I could bestow...and there are plenty...the highest compliment I can give for any book is this. I read it twice. Each and every page. I hadn't intended to. I wanted to do up a review as soon as I read it the first time, it was that compelling. Time passed and some months later I picked it up again, meaning to just leaf through it...re-acquaint myself with the characters, you know. Anyway...next thing, I'm right back into it. Nikki, Trang, Ginni, Magpie...each and every character, no matter how small their role, is captivating and entertaining. Ms. Albarella jam packs each page with riveting action, complex relationships and, yes, even the odd sexual romp! A wonderful book by a woman who obviously has great insight into the human condition and leaves the reader feeling satisfied and uplifted.

'Cold Shoulder Road' is the latest installment in Aiken's juvenile series set in an alternative Victorian England. Beginning (more or less) with 'The Wolves of Willoughby Chase', continuing through 'Black Hearts in Battersea', 'Nightbirds on Nantucket', 'The Stolen Lake', 'The Cuckoo Tree', 'Dido and Pa', and 'Is Underground' the stories present the adventures of the Twite family as they frustrate attempts by 'Hanoverians' to unseat the Stuart dynasty, who in Aiken's fictional universe still rule Britain.

In the previous novel the heir to the throne, the King, AND the Hanoverian 'pretender' died (together with a large chunk of the population of England's east coast.) This story finds the telepathic Is Twite and her cousin Arun wandering through the miserable ruins of England's flooded coastal towns, trying to find Arun's mother, a devotee of a glum, abusive sect known as 'the silent folk'. Arun's mother is in hiding having discovered the identity of the 'Merry Gentry', a brutal gang of murderous smugglers and child - kidnappers. She has with her a depressed child of mysterious heritage left with the silent folk as a kind of counter-hostage.

Aiken's characters and action is imaginative, but the tone of the series is increasingly despairing.

If you are a Joan Aiken fan, you will love her latest book about the Twite family. This exciting sequel to Is Underground continues the story of Is and Arun. They have yet another rollicking adventure filled with telepathy, deceit, and shady characters. The Merry Gentry make a repeat appearance, and Penny is rounded out as a person.

If you haven't read Joan Aiken's books, they're excellent! However, you will need some background to understand the beginning situation in this one. It is best to start by reading The Wolves of Whilloughby Chase, and work your way up through all the adventures of Dido first. Once you start, you'll want to read them all!

Older readers who have already read all these books enough to move on, will be happy to know that there are many Joan Aiken books for adults of varying lengths. You will be pleased to find tiny connections between all her books.

I thought this book was witty and exciting, but a little strange at times. For an example, people have this thing called "Thought Language". And Arun, one of the main people, used to think he was a cat, and some of the times he starts to look like one.
I like the way the whole story fits together, and you have just as much a chance to figure out the mysteries as the people from the book do!!

If you are looking for an exciting book, read this one!!!!!!

The pictures are exquisite, but as a new collector, I was somewhat lost. I guess the idea is to buy all 5 books. I really don't like the question and answer format. So much of the information there and elsewhere is irrelevant.

This is a wonderfully informative book on the popular collecting field of Nippon Porcelain. More than half the book is brilliant color photos of a wide variety of pieces with dimensions & estimated retail prices.

What sets this book apart though is the wealth of information for collectors. There is a history of Nippon Porcelain & an insightful section of frequently asked questions. Themes including baseball, dogs & dolls are highlighted.

I especially enjoyed the original documents reproduced here including early ads with items selling for pennies, design patents, beautiful hand painted salesman sample pages and complete selection of back-stamp marks.

There is a well illustrated section on the dangerous reproductions now entering the market and many more tips to aid the new or experienced collector. This is a truly indispensable reference on Nippon.

The 5th series highlights moriage swans and enameling. Reproduction section is more extensive and updated. There is also a section depicting the style evolution of nippon to further help identify and date items. A MUST for all nippon collectors and dealers.

This was a somewhat disappointing episode in a wonderful series, though I have never read the previous two stories, 'The Cuckoo Tree' or 'The Stolen Lake', the first two parts, 'Black Hearts in Battersea' and 'Nightbirds on Nantucket', were wonderful. Of course it's really just for children...

The redoubtable Dido Twite returns from her adventures in the Atlantic to reunite with Simon (now a Duke) in London, where she finds that once again her nefarious musician father is up to his eyebrows in 'Hanoverian' plots against the Stuart throne. The tale is crammed with incident as Dido and Simon fight the machinations of Abednego Twite and his patron, the evil Margrave Eisengrim. The appearant foundling Is, who (in the next novel) proves to be the daughter of Dido's unhappy sister Penelope, is also introduced.

All Aiken's adventures contain dark edges and disturbing images but in previous novels they were counterbalanced by a more inventive goodness and optimism - although it has to be admitted that 'The Wolves of Willoughby Chase' was a pretty tough cookie for a juvenile adventure. With 'Dido and Pa' the series has become somewhat stale and the characters more routine - though still superior to most of Aiken's competition. Perhaps as a result the Dickensian environment of cruelty and misery becomes more oppressive, which together with the 'just desserts' experienced by the villians makes the novel grim reading for the grade school set.

Firstly, a previous reader was incorrect in stating that Is was Penelope's daughter; she is, in fact, Penny and Dido's half-sister, their father's child by another woman.

I also disagree with that reviewer's assertion that Dido and Pa was formulaic and stale; it is, in fact, my favorite novel in the series of nine, and, tragically, the only one out of print. Dido *finally* reunites with Simon, older, wiser, and worldly. The two are very happy to be together again at last, although their joyous reunion, in typical Aiken fashion, does not last long.

Aiken's plots are water-tight and well-developed, interesting, lively, and full of skilled foreshadowing. If this is a formula, oh that it were one all writers followed!

I'm hoping beyond hope that Ms. Aiken will resolve Simon and Dido's fate in a new novel-she focuses on every character except my two favorites!

Joan Aiken is my favorite historical adventure novelists for young adults. Her characters are wonderful, her sense of humor is perfect, the plots are page-turners. She creates a Dickensian world for a younger audience with a bit of Roald Dahl thrown in. I highly recommend all of the books in this series to anyone who likes a good ripping story. A note to teachers, they might be a little difficult to read out loud because of the british dialect.

Overall, I liked the book. It's a good exposition into Catholic teaching about the Eucharist, and these miracles are concrete examples of those beliefs and how they can strengthen the faith. However, I did have problems with the repetition of the blood libel charges so frequently leveled against Jews (for example, the miracle of Brussels, Belgium which involved physical desecration of consecrated hosts by Jews--a common theme in medieval and early modern anti-Semitism). Accounts associated with the blood libel add nothing to the book. Rather, they detract from the divine beauty of the miracles and unwittingly expose the darker side of Catholicism.

A very fascinating book with a remarkable number of Eucharistic miracles over the ages - does get a tiny bit repetitive but this woman had obviously put her time into research! I reccomend it highly as the stories are interesting and supportive to the truth of the real presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. Buy it, get a warm drink and a nice blanket - and Jesus in the Holy Eucharist will warm your heart as you read the book!

Over 35 famous, amazing, historical miracles of the Eucharist: Hosts that have turned to visible flesh when consecrated, Hosts which have bled. Hosts which have become hard as stone upon being received by a person in mortal sin, Hosts which have levitated or manifested their hidden presence by mysterious lights, etc. Covering a period from Lanciano, Italy (8th century) to Stich, Bavaria (1970), many of these miracles came about after sacrilege had been committed against the Holy Eucharist. Gives information on official investigations made into these events and tells where these miraculous Hosts can be seen and adored. Also describes the extraordinary Eucharistic phenomena in the lives of many saints: saints who lived on the Eucharist alone, raptures and ecstasies during Holy Communion, miraculous receptions, levitation, visions, locutions, and phenomena of tears, fire and light - plus the history of Eucharistic adoration, including Benediction, Corpus Christi, and perpetual adoration. A powerful shot in the arm to the sagging faith of Catholics today. Firmly buttresses the loftiest mystery of the Catholic religion.

THis is a tiny little book with a few enlightening quotations (some even from the bible)with a brief description and photos for some specific yoga asanas (positions). I honestly didn't find this very helpful. Its 4 inch by 4 inch ring binder format should cost $4, not $10+. You'll get more out of the fat free video called "Fat Free Yoga by Ravi Singh". Amazon does not carry this video, but you can find it easily if you do a search on msn.

Joan Budilovsky's FAT FREE YOGA is one of them. The book is simply stated and produced. It has profound depth of wisdom in its small yet eloquent package. It is one of those rare books that appeals to both the student and yogi alike. Ms. Budilovsky's good spirit and sense of humor come through in every page. I used the quotes and exercises in it for a chronic pain support group I facilitate. Everyone quickly ordered a copy. For just a few cents, one gets quite a bit of common yogic sense.

I enjoyed this book. It is a fast read, but contains an incredible depth of wisdom within its small package. The information is simply stated and very easy to understand. I've re-read it many times, each time, picking up some new insight about myself and the world around me. In every sense, this is truly a yogi's book.

Gentle readers, and I do mean 'gentle' in the literal sense, here's a book for you. It is amiable, peaceful, and pleasant. "The Gardens of Covington," Joan Medlicott's sequel to her engaging "The Ladies of Covington Send Their Love" (2000 ) brings us up to date on the three widowed women who moved across country, refurbished an old farmhouse, and revitalized their lives.

Now nearing seventy and settled in Covington, North Carolina, the ladies are very much unchanged. Hannah remains formidable and no-nonsense; Grace is the quintessential caregiver, and Amelia is well, Amelia - fluttery, vain, unable to assert herself but nonetheless endearing.

They've settled into a comfortable routine with each one's tasks suiting the individual's desires and interests. Hannah repairs, easily unsticks windows, and tends the garden. Grocery shopping falls to Grace who happily cooks, bakes, and sings off-key. Flowers and music are the bailiwick of Amelia who also finds contentment in dusting and cleaning. It's an easy, satisfying existence.

Yet, all is not as serene as the trio might wish because their beloved land onCove Road is threatened by development. Hannah attempts to spearhead an effort to stop the interlopers, but neighbors don't rally behind her. Instead, some look upon her with jaundiced eye, view her as a newcomer, a foreigner who doesn't know the difference between "dinner" and "supper."

Evidencing her independence, Grace opens a tearoom. Her partner is Bob, a man for whom she has come to care. Both discover that running a tea room is not a piece of cake.

Grace also makes a new friend, Miss Lurina, a woman who "used to walk behind Pa's plow settin' potatoes." She is now a spinster octogenarian, seen guarding her cabin porch with a shotgun. No one is more surprised than Grace when Miss Lurina starts spending time with "Old Man." Who could have foreseen that the two would decide to be "married up"? Selecting a wedding gown, let alone planning the ceremony stretches Grace's imagination and patience.

When Amelia, an incurable romantic, is involved in a minor two-car accident, she finds the driver of the other car, Lance Lundquist, to be handsome, "larger than life." Claiming to be a retired architect, he soon becomes her ardent suitor.

However, Lance is secretive, prone to weeks long unexplained absences. Amelia believes he will tell her about himself when she has won his trust, while Hannah and Grace are wary of him. They see him as manipulative and possessive.

These scenarios are played out against evocative descriptions of North Carolina's verdant countryside. Ms. Medlicott's appreciation of nature is made evident by her thoughtful word paintings. For those who enjoy a leisurely paced tale with no more violence than an annual invasion of ladybugs, "The Gardens of Covington" is certainly their cup of tea which, by the way, the ladies often enjoy on their shaded veranda.

The Gardens of Covington finds the ladies back in fine form. Hannah is busy with the nursery and worriedly looks to the threat of development that looms over the valley. Amelia is as self-absorbed as ever, busy with her photography. (one wonderful thing about this book is the characters remain the same....no rapid character changes). Grace is busy with the tearoom her friend, Bob, and the youngster, Tyler who had captured her heart. This book once again captures the nuances, the joys and the strains of small town life. The three women are distinct, and there is the give and take of family life...even though the three aren't a conventional family. Familiar themes are explored, the risks taken when you grow beyond your boundries, the tug of family, the quest for love, recovering from betrayal and leaning on friends to recover. There are also some new people to meet and new challanges to attack. This book was a delight, I was so glad to have the ladies back and true to form. A wonderful summer read.

This newest book picks up the lives of our "Ladies" without missing a beat. It not only entertains us with their day to day activities and interests, but also adds some colorful new characters as well. There is eccentric, eighty-one-year-old Lurina Masterson who brings a grin to everyone's face when she dons a white satin wedding gown and marries "Old Man", her ninety-one-year-old boy friend. Then there is the frail yet unforgettable lady whom Hannah met and befriended who was to play a most important part in their lives and the lives of everyone in the Covington area. These new friends and neighbors are woven into the lives of our ladies in a masterful and entertaining way.

Precious, gentle Amelia, who carries burn scars on her neck from an automobile accident that claimed the life of her husband, finds herself swept up in an unexpected romance. My heart ached for her while she was under the spell of this charming yet demanding man, and at the same time I wanted to scream at her to WAKE UP! I found myself hoping that she would keep a firm hold on the independence that she had so recently found.

Grace, who makes cookies and mothers everyone, continues her loving relationship with her friend Bob and together they open the Cottage Tearoom on Elk Road. I was enchanted with the idea of their Cottage Tearoom, but it would prove to be quite an undertaking and too much hard work for the two of them. The awesome wedding reception for Bob's son and his new bride, planned and presented by Grace's son and his partner, was an event that kept Covington talking for months. WAY TO GO, GUYS!

Then there is our strong and steady Hannah, the boldest of the ladies. It was Hannah who became embroiled in attempting to save their valley from developers who would strip the land without regard for anything except profit. I cheered for her indomitable spirit as she persisted with her plans for stopping them before they wrecked her beautiful valley. Help for Hannah's cause finally came from an unexpected source.

Wow! I loved this book, and so will everyone else who got to know Amelia, Hannah and Grace in the Ladies of Covington Send Their Love. Please, please let there be a sequel to this book!

Joan Lenherr draws us in to Island life in Southern Ireland like a fisherman drawing in his catch. With her clever character development and her the vivid and colourful language, depicting Ireland at its most rugged most mysterious, she carries us on a journey of romance, suspense, and danger. The story is consistent, the plot truly believable, and yet, the unravelling of the mystery, is a complete surprise, despite the clues she drops along the way. This is a finely written book, with a slight nod to Agatha Christie. Well done Joan!

I read a lot of romantic suspense books, and this is one of the best I've read in a long time. The author describes the people and places so vividly that I felt like I was there. The descriptions of Ireland really set the book apart. The characters were so fully developed and the plot so tightly written that the outcome was exciting and completely believable.

If you like books like "Rebecca" and Isabelle Holland's adult romantic suspense, you'll love this novel. It puts real emotion back into romance.

Joan Lenherr's first book, Here Among the Living, is an enjoyable and suspenseful romance set in Ireland and the U.S. The characters were well developed and interesting, particularly Simon. The plot had enough turns and twists to keep me interested and the ending was a real surprise.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Ireland, romance, and suspense. It's a great vacation--beach read. I hope Joan's next book is just as entertaining.

Having noticed many Joan Lowery Nixon books on Amazon.com,I was eager to try one of her books.She seemed very good.In fact she probably is.Perhaps I chose the wrong book.It is boring,dull,non-eventful.The entire book insists of Kristen arguing with various different people on hte matter of women's rights with nothing ever happening!

I thought this was one of J.Nixons best books. I think it is very good and keeps you on your toes! I especially liked Tim!! And I wish I could of learned what happened after that book! Enjoy!

In this great book Kristin Swensen has to immigrate to the United States O f America. Kristen is a nonproper girl. At first she hates it, but then she meets a young man named Johan. I really recomend this book and all other books writen by Joan Lowery Nixon!!!!

This book is alright if you didn't read the first two, but if you did it is a little bit of a let down. We have already gone over the plot of this book from "Deer" and "Horsemasters", there just isn't anything really new in this one.

This novel is the third in a series. Each book can be read individually, even if you don't own the others, because only the place (the French Pyrenees mountains) and some tribes names really bind the three novels together. The first in the series ("Daughter of The Red Deer") is set several generations before the second book ("The Horsemasters" -- the best out of the three!), and The Reindeer Hunters is set thousands of years after the second book, though still with the same tribes.

After reading the first two books in the series, I was a little disappointed by this one. I enjoyed it, but it was far from the epic story and deep characters of The Horsemasters. In The Reindeer Hunters, I found myself shaking my head many times reading about all the things that didn't make any sense, inconsistencies and bad/stupid decisions made by the main characters. A lot of times, I felt like the author was just using the most convenient solution to certain problems the characters faced, regardless of whether or not it made sense at all. I was also confused about the "new way of life" of the Kindred tribes, which seemed different from the first two books (all living together as a single tribe?) -- and for those who had read them, no explanations were given as to those changes.

Still, with so few prehistory novels available, this book is a good read, better than others I've read. The descriptions of the beautiful French Pyrenees mountains make you want to be right there with the tribes and horses, enjoying the wilderness.

This is an excellent book for those who want a "light" prehistoric read. Although Wolf lacks detail concerning prehistoric aspects of everyday life, the story is is well written and very entertaining.