A truly educational experience in the first person. Grace Kaiser has done an excellent job of documenting her many years of experience as a Practicing Physician living amongst the Amish people. She leaves nothing to the imagination on her birthing experiences. Learned much from reading this book of short stories.

I used to live near the Amish, growing up in Illinois, and so ordered this book. How comforting it was to read about a lifestyle that hasn't changed in hundreds of years. It is somehow comforting to know that there are still places in America where life carries on like this. The book was humerous too, especially if you grew up on a farm. She does a great job of portraying some of the more subtle differences in how the Amish regard money, work and life. This is a terrific read and I would recommend it to anyone. (I can almost see my German-descended grandfather in here - in some ways, he was not too different than the Amish when it came to squeezing a penny.) Anyone who had grandparents who worked the farm, particularly around some of the old German communities, will love this book. It would also be a great book for schools, I think, when the children are studying history and/or different cultures.

Book two covers a lot of territory - some of the top Indians are offered jobs as escorted scouts for the Army. Daniel Two Stars has finally gotten out of a living hell prison and is wearing an Army uniform and hunting renegade Indians. Genevieve LaCroix is serving as caregiver for Simon's children and orphaned baby Hope who was rescued by Gen and Daniel after the death of her parents.

The conditions of the Indians is deplorable - most of the children have died. Thousands are still sick, starving prisoners. Simon Dane buries himself in Indian missionary work but is frustrated at his limited resources. Simon is falling in love with the beautiful half-breed Dakota Indian, Blue Eyes (Gen) and even though she respects him in return, her heart still belongs to her true love, Daniel Two Stars who she believes is dead.

Elliott Leighton, Ellen's brother, enters the storyline and has one goal in mind - to prevent his sister's children from being raised in the wild West, OR by an Indian mother. He has been discharged from the Army after losing one arm and having his long hair turn white overnight. He travels to Simon's home to retrieve the children, having no idea the changes that await for him.

Jeb Grant is a pivotal figure in this book. He is a farmer who just cannot bring himself to hate all Indians and he opens his heart and his farm to questionable Indian activities.

Simon and Elliott accidentally run into Daniel while traveling in a storm during an illness, and after learning that Gen is engaged to Simon, Daniel asks both men to promise not to tell her and to forget they ever saw him. This is NOT going to be easy to do but Daniel determines to leave her alone so she can have a better life. Simon has a strange illness that persists, and among his many nurses are Mother Friend, Daniel, Elliott and Genevieve.

The devastation of the good Indian's homes and villages by soldiers and renegade Indians leaves families separated and thousands homeless, injured, starving and defeated. Several major questions are answered in this book:

1. Will Gen marry Simon even though they both know her heart belongs to the memories of Daniel Two Stars?

2. What will happen to an angry Elliott when he visits the Crow reservation?

3. What happens to Daniel who was reported as hanged? Will he ever see Blue Eyes again?

4. What is the fate of 5 orphaned children, including baby Hope?

5. Which is stronger, love, committment or duty? Is it possible for Simon, Blue Eyes(Gen) and Daniel to make the right choices in spite of their hearts?

I felt that Stephanie Grace Whitson reflected some of the pain of her own life in this book. Love, death, grief, faith, loyalty, overcoming and doing the right thing were foremost in the intrigue and interest this second book held. I give this book at least 15 stars for the mystery and suspense it generates particularly in the last 25 pages. Excellent writing skills Steph!

Book three in this series is due out in late 2001 and I am planning to order it well in advance.

At the end of Valley of the Shadow, Ellen and Two Stars are both dead. Simon has undergone a spiritual renewal with influence of Gen, and he now needs a wife and mother to his children. Gen slowly begins to accept the death of Daniel Two Stars, and promises to Simon that she will try to love him, while he promises to take it slowly. Far away, Daniel Two Stars lingers in a prison for rebel Indians, being put there by mistake with others who have also accepted the Christian faith. Miraculously, he is released, only to eventually find out that Gen is promised to Simon. He makes Simon promise never to tell Gen the truth, and resolves to lead his life without his beloved Gen. Whitson's master storytelling skill is evident as she weaves the differing stories of Gen and Two Stars, as well as those of Miss Jane and the Major and the orphaned twins into one riveting novel. This is a great read, a must for those who are fans of Whitson and historical fiction, as well as for those who like to read about the power of God in people's lives.

Chester Higgins captures the beauty, strength and courage of the African-American elders he photographs. I am awestruck by the depth he achieves in these portraits. This collection of photos along with tips from the subjects on how to get along in life is truly an inspiring book for anyone interested in viewing a piece of history.

I had been waiting since May for the release of this book! It is an honor and a privilege to see our elders dipicted with such natural grace & beauty. Chester Higgins is a absolutely centered photographer! He sees with such clarity. He captured everyone's beauty, emotion, prowess & coutenance. I walk around with the book to show it to everyone I encounter, especially the elders & the children. Everyones' first expression is Ahh! The elders start to reminisce, the rest of us can see how we will grow old 'gracefully'!

Even though most of this book was written in the 70's and early 80's the message that Prof. Conn imbues in his 112 page text is still perfectly pertinent to Christians today. Addressing both a study of the misguided state of the modern Church and ministry and their inability to reach the sinful and the "sinned" against, Prof. Conn gracefully argues the pertinence and relevance for the kind of "mercy" ministry which Christ exemplified by His life on earth. Prof. Conn's approach calls each and every "Christian" to think of themselves as a missionary who's neither defined by home or foreign missions but simply a missionary to the world.

I had the honor and blessing of meeting Prof. Conn and he was as pleasantly humble, caring and kind in person as he comes across in this book. Sadly though Prof. Conn has since passed away. He was truly an individual who thought outside of the box and he will be greatly missed by many.

Dr. Conn presents a stirring and compelling call to holistic evangelism, the presentation of a gospel through "show and tell." His call to an evangelism that embraces the needs of individuals as sinners and as sinned-against is a much needed wake-up call for our church that has tended towards hoarding rather than spreading the good news of the gospel. Conn reminds us that the gospel saves, and saves completely. This book will hurt you.

"Evocations of Grace" is a small sampling of Joseph Sittler's writings and thoughts on ecology, theology and ecumenism from 1954-75. Martin E. Marty (University of Chicago) wrote a very personal foreward describing Sittler as a truly gifted "theologian, rhetor, teacher, exemplar". Sittler was a pioneer in terms of speaking out on the environment from a Christian perspective. His description of nature (both organic and works of art, poetry, dance) was the "theatre of God's of grace". He made a landmark speech at the 1961 World Council of Churches on ecumenism. Sittler's writing is interesting and alive because he "insisted that his loose, unsystematic manner of exposition was appropriate to the dynamic and interrelated character of experience, and to the concrete particularity of occasions of grace". "Evocations" is a fantastic introduction to a bit of Sittler's "corpus of work"--how Joe would have loved to play with THAT phrase!

Evocations of Grace is a compilation of some of the writings and musings of American Lutheran Joseph Sittler. This corpus of work spans from 1954 to 1975. Martin E. Marty gives a very personal glimpse of Sittler who attracted small groups of students who listened for any tidbit they could glean as he walked through Chicago's Hyde Park. Sittler wrote and spoke on the environment in the '50's. He influenced Teilhard de Chardin's work on the "cosmic Christ". In 1961 he made a landmark speech on ecumenism at the WCC meeting in New Delhi. Sittler's incarnational view of nature as "God's theatre of grace" shaped much of his theology on "creation-as-grace". Sittler is an interesting theologian to read because of his style of using poetry and literature (which he considered to be part of nature, along with art, dance, etc...) in his "loose, unsystematic manner of exposition". "Evocations" is a fine introduction to a theologian who will hopefully, one day, be recognized for the pioneering theologian he was.

If you thought devotions have to be dry or boring, then let "Extravagant Grace" take you on an entirely different journey! These wonderful women have truly given us a gift... a gift of Grace in every facet of life. I've felt something was spiritually missing from my life for a long time and now I know how to look for, receive and give others grace. What a gift! Kathy W.

Extravagant Grace is a treat worth enjoying. The six authors each take their turn at sharing their thoughts about experiencing God's grace in their daily lives. These women of faith use a light-hearted approach to show how the deep truths of God's love are applicable in any circumstance. These short, devotional stories will open your heart and uplift your spirit.

I am always on the lookout for new authors, and I am pleased to have found Patricia Brooks. I simply could not put this book down. Highly recommended!

Patricia Brooks and her delightful heroine Molly Piper are welcome additions to the mystery fiction genre. Molly is smart, sassy, and 4' 9" tall. She's a former gymnast, a former big-city police officer, and now setting up her own business as a private investigator on rural Grace Island in Puget Sound WA. Molly's idol is Kinsey Milhone (of the Sue Grafton alphabet series) but she's inventive and daring enough to teach Kinsey a thing or two. "Falling From Grace" deals with the appearance of a serial killer on Grace Island. With the island as backdrop, and a carefully wrought cast of characters to assist her, Molly Piper snoops, sleuths, and brings all to a surprising and satisfactory conclusion. Don't be put off by the cover (a speeding tractor trailer). This is fine mystery fiction and I hope we see more of Molly and Grace Island soon!

I found this book an easy and delight to read, and it is the first to actually document the daily tests and trials that most of the Baha'is in the Western societies go through. In a few centuries, books such as these will be source of much research, just as today we would love to have had a similar book written about the early christian communities and their daily lives in 150 AD !. One note of caution : the experiences of the author are not universal, and may not have happened to others. But having said that, I believe everyone who is seeking a 'Spiritual Awakenng' can resonate with this book.

This book helped me take a kind and understanding approach to myself and others during all the challenges that come from trying to live a spiritual life and build spiritual community. The author wrote from the heart in an engaging and approachable style. Although it is focused on the Baha'i Faith, it would be helpful to anyone who struggles with spiritual perfectionism and the search for God's grace...something that is really available to all of us.

Although this book's subtitle refers to religion in the heartland, essays in this collection evoke a more personal and, at times, idiosyncratic take on spirituality. David Hoppe, for example, writes about the "solitary communion" he spies through his neighbor's windows as they sit in front of their television sets at night. Jim Poyser recounts a surreal adventure at the Zoo in winter with his sons. In short, these essays, along with the handsome collection of photographs that complement the text, admirably plumb the psychic root cellar that entwines beneath the stereotypical surface of this Midwestern community.

Though strong Hoosier threads tie these stories together, the contributors share spiritual insights and experiences that will be meaningful to those outside the heartland as well. Read the tales for religious reasons or just because they are good stories by and about sensitive, observant people.

The editors chose writers from a variety of faiths and professional fields--included are a woman rabbi, newspaper people and professors. Big-name contributors are author Dan Wakefield and Pulitzer Prize winning poet Yusef Komunyakaa.

As a student who wants to work for agencies to prevent crime on the internet, I wasn't sure how much "Family Law and Practice: The Paralegal's Guide" was going to do for me. It turned out to be an incredible resource, not only of how the system works, but also of the workings of families in suboptimal conditions.

I could have done without the "Figures," which were mostly illustrations and seldom court forms; but on the whole, the book was well-written and obviously well-researched.

This book seems to portray very realistically family breakdown AND how the attorney and paralegal fit in. If "Family Law and Practice: The Paralegal's Guide" isn't a part of every business school's paralegal program, it should be. I got a LOT out of the course, and might not have if it hadn't been for the wonderful text.

This is a wonderful book for both students and people interested in family law. It covers everything from the history of family law to current events, such as Roseanne and Tom Arnold's marriage. The cases are more like soap operas than the dry cases one usually associates with law. These cases will inspire great conversation in the classroom and will hold the students' interest from start to finish.