Noah Saari, former smoke jumper, is now a notorious hermit in his hometown of Alouette, Michigan. Thinking to avoid the rumors surrounding his return, and escape painful memories, he has settled himself into a cabin deep in the woods, taking care of injured animals, and crafting unique wooden artifacts. Noah has no desire for human contact--until Claire Levander crosses his path.

Claire Levander is having one heck of a time trying to locate the bed and breakfast in the back of beyond that she's supposed to scope out for the company she works for. On the dark, lonely stretch of road that's supposed to take Claire to Bay House, she nearly runs over a mama bear and her cub. No sooner does she recover from that incident, when a deer pops out of the woods, using the hood of her rental car as a springboard to get to the other side of the road. Result? Car goes off the road into a ditch. Claire exits the car and tries to backtrack to see if the deer is okay. Instead, she stumbles into a huge, most hirsute man, baby bear cub tagging alongside him. Can the night get any more bizarre?

What follows is a most endearing, emotional read with traces of humor, and a twisted quest for revenge. Ms. Alexander's ability to create well-rounded and fully developed characters, both main and secondary, is exceptional. Readers will gather to their hearts Noah and Claire, along with the quirky caretakers and employees of Bay House, Noah's animals, and Bay House's number one boarder, disabled spitfire, Cassia. Even the setting takes on a life of its own, with descriptive narrative that places the reader firmly in Alouette.

NORTH COUNTRY MAN is classic Carrie Alexander. She has definitely found her niche with Harlequin Superromances, starting with THE MAVERICK. Even though TM is a wonderful read, it is not related to NORTH COUNTRY MAN; however, it is my understanding that there will be at least two more stories related to NCM. Personally, I can't wait!!

I admit it: I'm a Troll. I live in the Lower Peninula where residents living south of the (Mackinac) Bridge are labeled Trolls. Being a native Michigander I was delighted to see Ms. Alexander (a Yooper-or a Michigander north of the bridge)set one of her books in my home state. And she couldn't have picked a better story with which to do it.

Noah Sarri lives a private life by choice, wanting to forget that his good intentions of making a difference in the world turned tragic in the blink of an eye. Now he devotes his time to nursing injured wildlife back to health and crafting pieces of furniture that fetch lofty sums and provide his livelyhood. His seclusion fuels wild speculation in the town about him.

Enter Claire Levander, businesswoman on a working vacation sent to scout out the possibilities of buying property for her company, a hotel corporation. She and Noah meet when one of his critters crosses her path.

The story is rich in characterization, setting and believable plot lines. Noah has some big demons to overcome and Claire is there to help him. Claire, on the other hand, has to make some decsions as to make as to what path her life is going to take. Add to this a haunted bed-and-breakfast, a man eaten up with revenge against Noah, and some hot moments between Claire and Noah and you have a story that is never dull.

I'm glad Harlequin is planning on releasing more books about the residents of Alouette, Michigan. They make interesing reading, even if they aren't Trolls. [grin]

While she practically begged for an easy assignment, Claire Levander expected deluxe accommodations, certainly nothing as rustic as the Upper Michigan. Her boss promises that they have booked her into the Day Brook House where she will have nothing to do but breath fresh air and release stress. And decide if she wants to recommend that Bel Vista Hotel Corporation should purchase the property from its unsuspecting owners. Her boss could not have been more wrong. Before she even arrives, Claire encounters Michigan's wildlife with uncomfortable closeness, including the hermit Noah Saari.

The proprietor of Day Brook House puts Claire in the "Valentina bridal suite." Rumored to be cursed, the suite displays a bridal painting that does not convey the joy of a wedding, but suggests a much more foreboding and chilling tone. According to the prophesy, any woman staying in the suite will be married before the year is out in retribution for the jilted, suicidal Valentina. But Claire's social life has been on hold for a long time, and establishing a relationship with an alpha male as reclusive as Noah might hold some especially difficult challenges. Especially since she will be leaving in a week to resume her high powered career.

An orphaned cub and other assorted wildlife lend an intriguing backdrop to Carrie Alexander's NORTH COUNTRY MAN. The closeness of the citizens of the small community of Aloutette, Michigan, both alienates and draws characters together with painful gossip and sparkling loyalty. While Claire and Noah might be the stereotypical case of opposites attract, their path is quite original from steam baths and fallen plaster to a creative legend. Further, Noah lends a powerful presence to the novel with his genuine heart and deeply held secrets. As his past becomes revealed, readers will find him as irresistible as Claire does! In addition, while many elements might seem to superficially follow traditional plotting, Alexander has a flair for giving them subtle twists that keeps her writing refreshing and different. An absolutely delightful read, NORTH COUNTRY MAN comes very highly recommended.

This program exemplifies the potential quality audio has for complementing text. Soothing music introduces and links the stories and verses. Subtle sounds of nature immerse the listener in Pooh's world and provide a backdrop for Peter Dennis's enchanting performance. Dennis's ability to switch characters and moods allows him to accurately portray the range of characters in the stories. These talents shine prominently in the "When We Were Very Young" poems. All ages will enjoy this marvelous performance of Milne's words.

Pooh Corner, Not For Kids Only: ...Any adult or child who is captivated by Winnie-the-Pooh, Eeyore, Rabbit and all of A. A. Milne's creations - as he wrote them - will find magic in a new top-quality three volume set, The Classic Pooh Treasury" performed by British actor Peter Dennis.

Dennis has pleased critics and audiences around the world with his faithful treatment of Milne's stories and poems in live theater performances.

Peter Dennis brings to charming life each endearing character in these unabridged tales for the young and young at heart. LYNNE HEFFLEY, LOS ANGELES TIMES, AUGUST 11TH, 1996

These recordings of the Pooh stories are the BEST rendition I have ever heard. Peter Dennis' characterization of each character is perfect. The read-a-longs are great for the kids. I am a 50 year old "Classic" Pooh fan. I recommend these to everyone, whatever your age. They are pure joy .

The Other Side of the Coin makes us step back and rethink previously held views in a straight forward, common sense approach. Did we get these views from our parents, our church, our government, the TV? It makes us ask ourselves why we hold on to them and if they are still valid.

A "must read" for those who want to be informed and challenged.

The Other Side of the Coin is an empowering book that cuts through veils of financial deception in a frank and open manner. I recommend this book to anyone who is seeking a basic understanding of the economic realities that shape our world. The contents are categorized into ten chapters that stand on their own. This book has been a valuable addition to my library; it is set up for quick reference and hasn't been given the opportunity to collect dust on my shelf. Lest I forget to mention humor, let me now say that while reading this book, Barbra Alexander`'s antics brought me to tears of laughter from cover to cover. With ample personality, Alexander holds no punches as she swiftly points out the flaws of our credit crazed economy. Whether it be corporate bean counters or bumbling governmental bureaucrates, the author dishes out honest criticisms where they are due. The Other Side of the Coin embodies an independent spirit that is all to often excluded from cultural and economic debates.

Made me laugh. Barbra Alexander takes a whip and a chair and tames those silly notions that money is sacred.

I am Byzantine history buff, and after looking through this set in a college library, I decided to get it for myself. I plan eventually to read most of it. A feature I like is the inclusion of brief histories of important cities of the empire and also of provinces. So, for example, there are entries on Bari and Sardinia. The careers of important personages are also outlined, not just emperors. I expect to learn a lot from the articles on special topics, some of which are indicated in the editorial review. The maps are clear and not overloaded with detail, but I would have liked a map of the empire around 700 to be included, instead of skipping from 565 to 1025. But that's a minor quibble. I expect to be using this book for years to come, so it should be well worth the money.

I am Byzantine history buff, and after looking through this set in a college library, I decided to get it for myself. I plan eventually to read most of it. A feature I like is the inclusion of brief histories of important cities of the empire and also of provinces. So, for example, there are entries on Bari and Sardinia. The careers of important personages are also outlined, not just emperors. I expect to learn a lot from the articles on special topics, some of which are indicated in the editorial review. The maps are clear and not overloaded with detail, but I would have liked a map of the empire around 700 to be included, instead of skipping from 565 to 1025. But that's a minor quibble. I expect to be using this book for years to come, so it should be well worth the money.

This is a great reference for the thousand years of Byzantine history, covering everything from Amulets to Zoe. It is really helpful in starting any research paper, and is also great just to look things up in that you find of interest.

This book will get anyone thinking about what qualifies as "art". Have you ever gone to a modern art museum or picked up a modern art magazine and wondered "how can anyone call that art?" Well this book will get you thinking about questions like that. Using scientific polling methods 2 Russian immigrants canvased the U.S. to find out what the average American considers art.

The results are exactly the kind of works most working modern artists or their patrons would be dismayed over. Get this book. It is a fascinating and entertaining read. One interesting note from the book - the editor of The Nation said that when they published the results of this poll it drew an avalanche of reader mail. It generated the largest reader response of anything they'd published in the history of that magazine to date. Several newspapers interviewed owners of prominant NYC art galleries as well as some prominant artists. All of them were horified by the results of this poll. One commentator sniffed the poll just proves Americans are boors when it comes to art - prefering only the safest, most banal subjects. What is interesting is that the book shows the results of this poll were duplicated in many other countries around the globe. Countries as diverse as Kenya and Iceland showed their own polls duplicated the preferences of the average American - i.e. a liking for landscapes with peaceful blue skies.

The book reproduces in full the entire questionaire used by the polling company along with an interview with Momar and Kelamid. The two Russians also gained notoriety by creating pictures of each countries most-preferred and least-preferred paintings. Each painting had the canvas divied up to match the percentages shown in the poll that respondents wanted (or didn't want in the case of the 'Least Preferred' paintings). Thus if the poll showed 65% preferred landscapes with a blue sky then 65% of the painting surface had a blue sky.

Interviews as well as commentary on the nature of art and what this might mean also fill the book. There is even a chapter by one of my favorite modern-day philosophers - Arthur C. Danto (I have several of his books). He asks the question "Can It Be The 'Most Wanted Painting' Even if Nobody Wants It?"

The results in this book lead to many questions. Not the least of these is 'what is art?' and 'what does this say about human nature?'. One article from the Jan/Feb 2002 issue of American Spectator illustrates this problem very well. It seems a few months ago a very famous photographer was holding a one-man exhibit at a London gallery. He is quite famous for the nauseating and offensive subject matter of his work. That night he gathered together the cigarrette butts, empty paper cups, and other assorted trash from the opening-night party and "artfully" arranged it in a pile in a corner and took a picture of it. The pile was promptly announced by a London art-critic to be worth at least 5K (in pounds). Unfortunately, someone forgot to tell the janitor that night that the pile was art, not trash. So you can guess the ending of this story.

I recount this to make a point. That is, this book will shed some light on why so many people have trouble - even the U.S. Supreme Court - on saying exactly what Art is. Get this book. It is fun and fascinating look into not only the tastes in art around the world but also a window into the science of polls and polling.

This is one of the coolest art books I've seen, Komar and Melamid are geniuses! The whole idea art designed to please isn't that new but the idea using polls and statistics is. By using a random survey from several countries ( THe USA France China KenYa Russia Ukraine ect) they create each countries most and least wanted painting and take you through a wonderful romp discussing what art and expression and stuff are really all about. I gave this sucker out as X-mas presents! I can't reccommend it highly enough. Buy everything by Komar and Melamid...even their souls.... look that up on the web.

It's hard to express how fantastic this book really is in a review. Komar and Melamid's paintings, which threatened, for a time, to turn the art world on its ear, are supreme farces on what statistics can tell us. Obviously the principle is consiously flawed. The artist's interpretation of the statistical data is largely abstracted, but the paintings themselves are superb and outragiously funny takes on national culture. The question of the book is "What do people want in their art?" It isn't likely that you'll find a more interesting, fascinating, and entertaining answer than "Painting by Numbers."

...Perfect Timing is a wonderfull book - just like the rest in the series. I love the witty & exiting storylines which take over your brain. They totally envolve you in the storyline of the adventurous Alex & her companions. I adore this book & i recommend it to anyone aged 8+ it is a truly excellent book.I also recommend Samantha Alexander's other series of books 'Hollywell Stables'...I urge you to read Samantha Alexanders books if you dont then you will probally just be sitting there wondering what would have happened if you did. I have changed alot, in a good way thanks to Samantha Alexander & i expect you will too...

This outstanding book defeats all stereotypical images of 'childrens pony stories' it is not as it seems. This book enhances romance, adventure, mystery, and horses in just over 150 pages. Alex: strong, ambitious and fiery. Ash: gorgous, ambitous, romantic. These two main characters keep the candle of love alight throughout; keeping you on the edge of your seat in case you should put it out by turning another page. Without a doubt this book is the climax of this amazing seris which awakens readers to a whole new dimension of the girl and pony world.

I injoy all of the RIDERS books....they are filled with horses and are good for teen age riders...they have a abit of love life to them and how they get set up in horses.....they are really fun to read and good for older readers

This collection is worth buying for the inclusion of Amy's Freed's THE PSYCHIC LIFE OF SAVAGES, which is with no exaggeration a work of staggering genius. Freed's tragicomedy tells a semi-fictional story about four American mid-century poets -- Sylvia Plath, Ted Hughes, Anne Sexton and Robert Lowell -- as a springboard for investigating the nature of art and the moral fabric of the era. Along the way Freed PARODIES these poets, plus Emily Dickinson, in a way that is both spot-on and hysterically funny. I saw PSYCHIC LIFE during its run in 1995 and can say without question that it remains one of the most memorable nights I have ever had in the theater. The good news is that the experience, I found, also translates well to the page -- so you can experience it, too.

This volume is a must for those interested in new contemporaryAmerican work and is easily purchased via Amazon... PublishedSept. 1999 by a theatre committed to developing and producing new plays and promoting emerging playwrights. The volume presents a spectrum of works (all of which premiered at the theatre) nominated for a variety of awards by 6 different playwrights, including the widely produced The Gene Pool.

I'm a huge Woolly fan and even being biased, I must say that this is an exceptional collection. The plays included are from the hottest and most interesting new-new playwrights in the country.

Robert Alexander's work, "The Last Orbit of Billy Mars," was nominated for the Charles Macarthur New Play Award here in Washington, DC.

All of the plays in this collection were highly successful shows for a great nationally-known theater! Definitely worth checking out if you're an off-off Broadway type of theater fan or producer.

Whatever the feeling, this book has a few words of wisdom. I like the layout of the book, it is not meant to be read cover to cover. The reader is able to skip around to read different sections but still gain valuable insight. I would recommend this book to anyone who feels they could use a pick-me-up!

The most wonderful book I have read..It is a must for anyone that coaches, plays, or works at being a motivator. I give it an 11 out of 10

Its NOT the kind of book you read from front to back. More like a reference book on positive thinking, motivation and achievement. Its small enough to fit in your attache or pocket. Great to read before a meeting or an important event. If you ever might have the slightest discouragement or frustration during your day...read it, it will give you the boost to get going again to succeed.....

This is a story with just enough suspense and a great ending - good for young children. While it begins with a message that, "being different is okay," it ends with a mother's love making everything wonderful again. On his quest for identity, the little Puffin meets wonderful characters along the way. They are funny, unique, colorful and attention to the detail of each "critter" is amazing. The tongue-in-cheek whimsy is delightful and very cleverly thought through. Notice the smallest details ... smart, very smart.

What a beautiful book! The illustrations are wonderfully rich and the artist truly has a sense of humor. The story is a tale of a young Native girl wishing to catch a king salmon. It is a confidence building story for any child. It is the favorite nighttime book for my son who is 4. I have bought some of the other Misty Mountain books and have found them all very enjoyable. What a nice find!

I love this book! We live in Colorado and have never seen a puffin, but after reading this book our kids want to travel to Alaska just to see a puffin. They feel that they already know the bird personally. The illustrations are funny and there are little secrets tucked away within the book that my kids are discovering each time they read it. You cant go wrong with this book!

There are two and a half sets of lovers in Thomas Hardy's "The Return of the Native," which, if your math is correct and your idea of the number of lovers in a set concurs with mine, makes five people. Romance, deceit, misunderstanding, and misfortune affect their destinies, and those to whom the novel is cruelest come to tragic ends because they refuse to forgive themselves or others for mistakes.

The central tragic figure is Eustacia Vye, a young woman who has come to live on Egdon Heath with her cantankerous grandfather. Despising the dreariness of the heath and generally secluding herself from the local populace, she is somewhat of an outsider and not well liked by some in the community. She was in love with Damon Wildeve, a former engineer who now owns an inn and is not too happy about it; but their affair has since cooled and Wildeve has turned his attention to a girl named Thomasin Yeobright. Wildeve and Thomasin's wedding is aborted when the marriage license turns out to be invalid, and Thomasin, running home to her aunt in shame and anger, is caught on the rebound by Diggory Venn, her long-time admirer. A word about Venn's profession is in order: He is a "reddleman," who, not unlike the ice cream man in the summertime, rides around the heath in a van selling a strange product that shades its vendor most memorably.

Completing the quintet is Thomasin's cousin Clym Yeobright, an Egdon Heath native who is returning permanently after living for some time in Paris as a diamond merchant. Destiny eventually unites Clym and Eustacia in love, but Clym's mother does not approve of the union; she doesn't like Eustacia, and she fears their being married would prevent or discourage Clym from returning to his lucrative career in Paris. They get married anyway, as do Wildeve and Thomasin on a second try, leaving Venn as the fifth wheel but still not out of the running.

The catalyst for the tragedy of the novel involves an attempted reconciliation between Clym's mother and Eustacia, which results in the kind of ugly situation that could be cleared up by simple explanations and apologies but instead is exacerbated by normal circumstances. On top of this, Wildeve realizes he still loves Eustacia and is willing to help her in any course of action, no matter how lacking in judgment, that she thinks is an appropriate response to her plight.

This novel swells with Hardy's typical narrative genius, but no less impressive than the plot, the characters, the dialogue, and the prose, is the barren but hauntingly beautiful setting of Egdon Heath. Like the famous Casterbridge of his later novel, it is a world unto itself, defined by its own peculiar topography and populated by denizens who, with their own special jargon, customs, and folklore, act as a sort of Greek chorus towards the drama of the principal characters, commenting on events with humor and gravity. The heathmen and women don't much mind the hardships of life; they're the kind of people that will joyfully dance around their bonfires on the barrows even without musical accompaniment.

I didn't pay attention to much in high school but this book, and the tools by which to grasp it, has stayed with me through a lifetime. The heath and the people who were more of it than of the world, has remained vivid and powerfully romantic to keep me coming back to Hardy and other English authors of the 19th and early 20th centuries. The result has been part of the greatest joys in a life of reading.

Eustacia Vye is a magnificent heroine, and her power, ardor and ultimate destiny as perhaps in excess of the more common neighbors is intense and pagan and unforgettable. The heath is a pre-christian place, remote not only from civilization but from all that is ordinary. In a small country, with massive social rules, the heath is alive and in posession of a soul. They keep the ancient traditions of festivals and bonfires, the people even speak their own language. The book has enhanced battles with the elements that seem to be offended and punishing ill-fated love. No one who reads this book will forget the red man, seeming to be a favorite of those pagan gods.
This is a romance that is eternal. Read it again, or read it with an inner openness and it will repay your time and soul.

Egdon Heath is the wild and hostile environment in which Hardy's tale of love and loss takes place. The setting of the novel is inescapable and its influence so strong that the heath is almost a character in itself. The action of the novel focusses around three men and three women; Clym Yeobright, Diggory Venn and Damon Wildeve and Mrs Yeobright (Clym's mother), her niece Thomasin whom she has adopted and Eustacia Vye. The other charcters in the novel are the heath people who form a greek chorus to the novel and are occasionally used as instigators of the action. The main theme of the novel is doomed love and the way in which the characters are unable to escape their destiny. It is also interesting to note that the ending to the novel was not the one Hardy inteneded, he had intended to end it after the scene by Shadwater weir. However, his publishers demanded a more positive ending and one which I feel slightly undermines the power of the novel. Most editions have a footnote at the point where Hardy had intended to finish, allowing readers to choose which ever ending they prefer.
Hardy's characterisation is highly realistic in that the boundaries between 'good' and 'bad' characters are somewhat fluid. He also explores the idea of the 'fatal flaw' and how people inevitably destroy themselves and those they hold most dear. If you're looking for a 'feel-good' novel this is not the one to go for but if you enjoy enjoy novels like Wuthering Heights and Tess of the Durbervilles then place your order now...