While I am not a big fan of short stories, I had to have "Irish Girls About Town". Maeve Binchy and Marian Keyes are two of my favorite authors and what can I say? I couldn't resist. These short stories are full of fun, life, and adventure in which any woman (not just the Irish!) can relate. "Irish Girls About Town" covers a wide range of topics, from PMS, to the simple joys of friendship, finding the perfect someone, heartbreak, and so much more.

Surprisingly, my favorite stories did not come from my favorite authors. Annie Sparrow's "The Unlovable Woman" had me laughing and rolling my eyes as at a woman who can't see the love of her life directly in front of her. "Moving" by Collette Caddle is another personal favorite. Out of 16 stories, only two seemed lacking. Julie Parson's "My Cup Runneth Over" was a bit darker and tried to pack too much into too small a space. "Your Place or Mine" suffered from the same. Other then that, this is a wonderful book. If you are fans of Binchy, Kelly, or Keyes; do not pass it up. I didn't and because of that, I have discovered some wonderful writers and got some wonderful stories in the process!

This book is an absolute must for the bedside table. The best thing about a book of short stories is that you can pick it up and put it down, but I found it extremely difficult to put this book down. Maeve Binchy is her usual self - a compelling storyteller but there are a few surprises here...newcomer Marisa Mackle's short story was a gripping, laugh-out-loud read and I loved short stories by Collette Caddle, Marian Keyes and Sarah Webb. Julie Parson's story has a great twist at the end and Mary Ryan's story was v. amusing but surprisingly there isn't a dissappointing story in this collection - a rare feat when you get 17 authors together. All in all I give this a fantastic 10 out of 10 recommendation!!!

What brilliant idea to have Ireland's most gifted female writers put together in a gem of a book! Irish Girls About Town is every chick lit enthusiast's dream come true. My favorite stories are the ones from Marian Keyes, Maeve Binchy and Cathy Kelly. However, newcomer Marisa Mackle's "Girls' Weekend" is the best one out of the bunch. I was so impressed with her sharp wit that I purchased her debut novel, Mr. Right for the Night. This book is a true gem and I couldn't recommend it enough!

I can understand that a book written in 1962 would quote the Bible from the King James Version. And it's ironic that I'm reading this book to my own children who are about the same age I was when the book was first written.

But I'm disappointed that the publisher didn't update the quotes and hymns to reflect where children are today, perhaps a more "sprightly, conversational"* translation and choruses the kids might hear most Sunday Schools? (* a quote from back cover describing this book)

I'm sure we'll still be able to reap much of what was sown by the author for our children, by paraphrasing the KJV verses and singing simple choruses.

Whither thou goest, let thy buyer bewareth.

I am so impressed with this children's devotional! The language is written to capture a child's attention and hold it. The power and wonder of God is displayed and portrayed throughout the entire book, in every lesson. It is easy for a young child to understand, and deep and meaningful enough to inspire thought in an older child. We are halfway through and will be repeating it again after we are finished.

It begins with Part One: Looking for God, and Part Two: God is Very Great. Each "part" consists of about 5-8 individual lessons on the subject, using people from the Bible to learn from, in how God uses them. Then we are taken through the introduction of sin, God's law, what Jesus did for us, prayer, and several others, ending with Part Fourteen: Things That Are to Happen. Each lesson includes "something to talk about" (questions for the children to answer about the lesson), a related Scripture from the Bible, suggested Bible reading, a hymn to sing that relates to the lesson, and a prayer to say, asking the Lord to help us with those things we learned that day in our lesson.

Needless to point out here, I can't say enough about this devotional. It is a wonderful way to teach your children about God in a thorough and consistant way, and help them to love learning about the Lord and his nature, and what he does for his children. You'll love going through it with your little ones and watching their love and understanding for God grow.

My boys, ages 5, 7 and 9, and I went through this book over the last year, with each son taking turns reading the associated scripture, reading or singing the hymn (we knew about 1/3 of them) or praying through the closing prayer. It really did cover the basics of the Christian faith and life in more depth than we would normally discuss. I consider this a classic and highly recommend it.

"Ye cannot be a witch alone," the Charge of the Goddess goes, but that text meant something different from what many opposed to solitary practice seem to think. You can, in fact, be a witch alone, and Marian Green provides what turns out to be a pretty good sourcebook for those who choose that way.

Green's got some excellent ideas for spiritual practice and attunement that work quite well no matter what your path. Her insistence on exploring the history of the region where you live, for instance, is well merited. Much of what's written about modern witchcraft practice is based on British practice and British folklore, and doesn't fit very well for many who live in the United States and elsewhere. Really learning the properties of various herbs and substances is also a good idea, and much more thorough than following someone else's set of correspondences.

However, I have a few quibbles with this book, the major one being that Green herself is no historian. Her comments on history and folklore often blur one into the other, resulting in errors that anyone who's read a bit of either will spot. This reduces the credibility of her work, which is a shame because so much of it is so good.

Green is emphatically not addressing Wiccans here, or at least not solely Wiccans. That's fine; we Wiccans have enough 101 books to last us until the universe grows cold. Her ideas, though, are interesting no matter what your path, and are useful for those who are Wiccan as well as those who are not.

A Witch Alone (Thirteen Moons to Mastering Natural Magic) is a must have for anyone studying the Craft. Marianne Greene writes in a way that is appealing and understandable. A Witch Alone contains valuable lessons for the beginner as well as the adept. At the end of each chapter, there are exercises to expand your thought process and increase your magic capabilities. This book is wonderful in that you do not need fancy tools or other folks to practice the craft. Marianne Greene, from England, has a flair for writing that captures your attention and makes learning or refreshing that which you already know delightful. Along with how to's, she also includes what to be on the look out for if indeed you do decide to join a coven. All in all, this is one of the best books I have read with regard to Witch Craft.

Marian Green's language is straightforward, practical and wise. In A Witch Alone, Marian has created a grounded, clear approach to learning the Old Ways. Her structure of thirteen lessons for thirteen moons takes the reader on a journey of self discovery. As one works through the lessons offered, there is an awakening sense of reconnection to our natural world; a sense of belonging and rediscovering the lost parts of self. The sensation is akin to coming home, that brightening moment of: "I knew this!" Her lessons ring true. Not everyone has the inclination or opportunity to join a circle or learn from a Wisewoman; many readers are solitaries, edging out their own path. For solitaries and anyone interested in true craft (not Hollywood's version) this book is a welcome treat, even a treasure.

Once *Last Chance Saloon* became available in the United States, I made a run to pick up my copy. Marian Keyes has yet to disappoint me with her sharp prose and endearing characters, and *Last Chance Saloon* was no exception. I can see Keyes easily dubbed as the Maeve Binchy of the 21st century.

In *Saloon*, Keyes explores a year in the life of three thirty-something singletons in London. Tara, Katherine and Fintan grew up together in Knockavoy, Ireland and eventually made the big move to London for their careers and their love lives. Tara is desperate to find her one true love but instead ends up in a dead-end relationship with a jerk named Thomas. Katherine, whose first love scorned her, has become quite adept at ending love affairs before they start. And Fintan is successfully maintaining a relationship with Sandro. Although the three are at different points in their lives, all comes together when one of the group becomes ill.

In addition to the three lead characters, Keyes introduces us to an extremely well-developed and loveable cast of supporting characters. In particular, Fintan's mother, Mrs. O'Grady, lights up the pages with her preconceived notions and ignorance of big city life. She stole scenes more times than I could count.

Keyes has a wonderful ability to bring these characters' stories to life and to keep the reader happily entwined for the duration. A fast and entertaining read sure to please.

Having already enjoyed the three previous Marian Keyes books I'd read - Rachel's Holidy and Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married more than Watermelon - I was looking forward to Last Chance Saloon, expecting more of Keyes' wit, wisdom and excellent characters. And I was not disappointed.

This novel revolves around a trio of Irish friends, relocated to London, and their various friends, lovers, families and so forth. The two women and man who make up the core group are quite different from each other, yet the bonds and interests that bind them together are clearly evident. And each one is fully developed and unique, interacting with the world in his/her own distinct way. They fall in and out of love, work, fight, worry about getting older, have fun and so on - pretty much a snapshot into the lives of some nicely drawn, interesting characters.

As with some of Keyes' other books, all is not fun and games - there's some serious subjects mixed in with humor and warmth. Keyes' always seems to make this work - treating the heaviness of whatever topic with the respect it deserves but seeing the funnier side of things without demeaning or belittling it. And given the strength of her characters, it works in Last Chance once again.

I base my ratings on how much I enjoyed reading a book, and I really enjoyed this one. This is not to say, however, that it's not without a few minor problems here and there - things that can be irksome but do not detract from the overall success of the book. Still, for anyone who knows Keyes' work, this is another great read - for anyone who doesn't, this is as good a place to start as any. I'm already waiting for the next one...

Last Chance Saloon was my first brush with Marian Keyes. She is a fabulously talented author with a very distinctive style and engaging dialogue. Of the three of Keyes books that I have read (LCS, Rachel's Holiday and Sushi for Beginners), Last Chance Saloon was my favourite - the characters were well developed and I could not put it down once I had read past the first chapter! Keyes' style is similar in all of her books (at least the ones I have read) in that she begins the story in the present and flashes back to past events periodically throughout the novel. It is very effective as hints are dropped early in the book about a characer's issues or personality and you know the reasons behind it will be uncovered later on - that's probably why it's impossible to put down! This is a really fun read. I can't wait to get started on Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married.

This book is wonderful is you wish to disparage and ridicule marian apparitions; indeed, Mr. Garvey takes you on a tour of all the bogus, sad, uninspired and demented "appartion" sites in America. What he fails to do is show Church-approved, or even Church-approvable apparition sites, such as Medjugorje in the former Yugoslavia. True, he is working in the American apparition milieu where Church-approved apparition sites are few and far between; but reading this book, one might come away with the impression that Marian Apparitions are laughable, at best. For a more counterbalanced look at the phenomena, I recommend "The Day Will Come" by Michael H. Brown. For the truly skeptical, I recommend "Encountering Mary" by Sandra L. Zimdars-Swartz, a remarkable book which both believers and skeptics can appreciate. However, the book in question delivers nothing but snide commentary at a phenomena which has brought countless millions to a life of greater holiness.

Garvey's book was very enjoyable and provided a vivid glimpse of a very interesting religious subculture. For the most part, I got a kick out of Garvey's humorous observations regarding his interactions with the individuals who flock to these apparition sites; however, sometimes his comments were inappropriately demeaning in my opinion. Nonetheless, I gained much from reading this book and would recommend it to others.

I recommend this book to everyone interested in Marian apparitions (not only apparitions in the US but Marian apparitions in general). The end of the book is dark but powerful. This book is one of a kind. No one has ever attempted a book of this sort. The author tries to be humorous throughout the book (some of his jokes might slightly offence people that believe in those alleged apparitions). He attempts to be impartial but by the end of the book, Garvey clearly becomes skeptical. This book illustrates what might have happened in previous Marian apparitions (Lourdes, Fatima, Garabandal, etc), i.e., the general setting of those events, as well as the mental approach of the people that came to witness those alleged apparitions. It should also be noted that this is book is not as skeptical as, say, "Looking for a miracle", by Joe Nickell, so believers should also be able to enjoy reading this book. But for people looking for a truly scholarly book on Marian apparitions, "Encountering Mary" by Sandra L. Zimdars-Swartz is the book I would read.

I have read all of Keyes' books, and this is my favorite. Maybe just because it is closer to my own experience, but I really enjoyed the characters being women whose work was a part of their life, and whose lives didn't seem to begin every day after work with hours in a pub. (Personally, I don't know anyone who drinks as much as the women in all the Brit Chicks books -- it seems like their primary activity). anyway, I loved this book; you can read the synopsis in the canned review.

This is my second Marian Keyes book and I now at the point where I need to read the rest of her books.

Lisa - What a pain the behind, from the start I wasn't to sure what I would think of her, but for most of the book I felt that she was just a bitter woman with a lot to deal with. She at times never seem to care about anyone or anything but her self. But towards the end my feelins for her changed, but she still was the same old way. I felt that she was never truly happy working at Colleen, but that she dealt with it as best she could.

Ashling - I felt a that the story revolved around her and her life. She is Little Miss Fix It, always carrying around her bag with bandages, tape and so forth. At times I felt that was a goody good. But her life never was too predictable, she was just happy to be back working for magazine doing what she liked. Her love life was one you read about all the time and sometimes seemed a little preditable, but somteimes it took a turn and changed. Her friendships with Joy and Ted were wonderful and her friendship with Clodagh was good, but it had it bad parts.

Clodagh - In my opinion she was a whiney woman, who was just out for herself. She lived what would be the good life to a lot people. She was married and had two kids. But in her world it wasn't good enough so she had to take things to the extreme and screw up a lot with her life and other peoples lives.

Overall this book was wonderful, I loved how the three charactors and all the supporting charactors acted and how there storys seem to come together at the end.

I can't wait to read more from Marian Keyes

This is my first Marian Keyes's books and I understand now why she has so many fans. "Sushi For Beginners" deals with the world of magazines in Ireland. Lisa, a powerful editor for a magazine in London was transferred to Ireland to start a new magazine targeted at women called "Colleen." Lisa was terribly unhappy at this transfer as Ireland was dull and dreary compared to London and she considered it an insult. At the same time, she was recently divorced from her husband of four years. Lisa is one of those difficult boss/supervisor as she is extremely competitive, arrogant and expected nothing but the best. Her assistant editor, Ashling was the complete opposite.

Ashling is a big worrier and with somewhat low self-esteem. However, she is extremely kind, sensitive and caring. She found out that working for Lisa was extremely difficult as Lisa seemed to take it upon herself to make Ashling's life miserable. Then there is Jack, the managing editor at Colleen who also seemed to bully Ashling and Lisa had her eyes set on him. Other characters in the book include Clodagh, Ashling's best friend who is an unhappy housewife and mom, and who seemed to blame her husband for everything; Ted, Ashling's stand up comedian friend; and Marcus, another stand up comedian who seemed to be interested in Ashling.

There are definitely a lot of characters and plots in this book which at times can be a little confusing but once you get the hang of it, you will enjoy the book. The storyline is nothing new - the whole arrogant editor and victimized assistant but Marian Keyes adds subplots which makes the entire book quite a treat. In addition, there are definitely humor and romance in "Sushi For Beginners". This is a great summer read!

Alas, I wanted so much to become obsessed with this book, since I am obsessed with the whole Romanov legacy. However, Radvinsky's style left me frustrated. He throws in his personal opinions throughout, he dwells too much on details instead of sweeping us along on this horrendous tragedy in which the Tsar, the Empress and the five children were butchered. Paul Massie's extraordinary, Nicholas and Alexandra, is still the greatest book on this subject ever written. I'm re-reading it now for probably the upteenth time and never fail to be hypnotized by the wonderful flow, details and descriptions created by Massie. The Last Tsar is still a must-read. but it can't galvanize the reader like Massie did in his towering achievement.

As readable and compelling as a novel, we learn the intimate details of the end of the Tsar and Tsaritsa's lives primarily through primary sources such as their diaries, original telegrams, and eyewitness accounts (cross-verified with physical evidence). As the book progresses, we can see how a combination of factors (including Nicholas' own non-confrontational personality, paranoia and over-protectiveness of the secret police, and Nicholas and Alexandra's faith in Rasputin) caused Nicholas to miss the signs that the absolutist monarchy had to come to an end. As is to be expected from a tale based on personal writings, the story is sympathetic to the family and portrays the barbarity of the execution in the most compelling manner. The focus of this book is very narrow, however. While we get a detailed description of the thoughts and feelings of the Romanovs', we see almost nothing of the larger picture of what was going on in the rest of Russia and the world. Information is notably lacking on the progress of World War I and the Bolshevik revolution, except as the Romanovs encountered them. The narrow focus is both a strength and weakness of the book. It is a weakness in that the reader would need some supplementary reading in order to understand what was going on in Russia overall at the time, but it is a strength in that the reader is seeing the world from the limited viewpoint of the Tsar and his family, and you get a feel for just how sheltered they were and how incomprehensible world events and their own fate must have seemed to them.

This very factual and well-written book is, in my opinion, the very best on the life and death of Tsar Nicholas II and his family. Replete with both historical and familial details, it reads like a well-plotted, well-characterized fiction novel. The book, however, is all the more horrifying and heartbreaking because it is true. Unlike some of the previous reviewers, I enjoyed Radzinsky's writing style and consider him to be the ultimate authority on all matters Romanov. The only book more factual may be Nicholas and Alexandra, A Lifelong Passion which consists solely of the family's letters. The Last Tsar is definitely a must read for those interested in Romanov Russia and a book that will be enjoyable to all.

This is the first book I've read by this author and it won't be the last. Marian Edwards brings to life two wonderful characters. She doesn't pull any punches about how life could be harsh in 1067 in Wales but still she shows that love can conquer all.

This story actually begins in modern day with Regan, a handicapped woman and Drew her polital opponent die tragically in a plane crash. They die before thier time so they are put into the first two bodies that become available. that of Bronwyn, a beautiful Welsh rebel who has just murdered her new Norman husband Christophe. Christophe makes Bronwyn drink the same poisen and they both die only to be made whole again by the souls of Drew and Regan. Both remeber their former lives but don't realize who the other really is. They now must adjust to this harsh life and find what happiness they can. Everytime they seem to be getting closer to love something always drives them apart.

I was on the edge of my seat with this book wondering what was going to happen next. There is some humor and a lot of tenderness in this book. I enjoyed the secondary characters for they made the story whole. I can't wait to read the sequel. Heaven's Return.

Bronwyn of Lllangandfan is about to be married to the enemy, the Norman Lord Christophe Montgomery. Her father and brother convinces her to go through the ceremony, and after, to put poison in the wedding wine. They will provide her will an antedote to drink before hand. So terrified of this Norman and frightened by her abusive father and brother, she makes a mistake in the dosages and ends up killing the Norman as well as herself.

Regan Carmicheal and Drew Daniels, are political opponets. But that doesn't stop them from remaining friends. On a flight to the next campaign stop, they both think to themselves that they are attracted to each other, respect each other, but have never found the time to really explore anything past their friendship. Suddenly their plane drops and crashes. Drew is able to get to his free, but Regan is held secure by her seat belt. No matter what they do, they cannot free her as the flames begins to engulf the plane. Regan pleads with Drew to leave her, thinking she would die at least know he lived on. Drew, regretting all their missed past chances, stays with her. He is not going to let this valiant woman die alone.

After the plane explodes, Regan later awakes to find she is in strange place and dressed in a strange medieval costume. Worse, she is wife to a man who thinks she tried to poison him. What Regan does not know is as the life force of Bronwyn and Christophe blinked out, the Fates so touched by Regan's and Drew's self sacrifice, took pity on them and gave them another chance at finding love - as Bronwyn and Christopher!!!!

WISE Writers and Readers TIME TRAVEL Book of the Year 2000

After reading Heaven Sent , I could hardly wait for Heavens Reward. Both books kept me reading until the late hours of the night after work. I was not disappointed and I have sense read more books by Marian Edwards. All I can say is Marian keep it up.

This is Verne's classic story of the trip of Phileas Fogg (who is obsessed with time), Passeportout, Aouda, and Detective Fix around the world on a wager. The book is filled with beautiful time and space imagery throughout (I would bet that one could write an entire thesis on all the time and space references in the novel). Thirty-three years after its publication, the world first learns of the space/time continuum (although I'm certain Verne was not anticipating Einstein). Fogg bets his fellow club members that he can circumnavigate the globe in a mere eighty days. He leaves immediately with his valet Passeportout and is pursued by Detective Fix, who thinks he is a bank robber. Through many adventures, including the rescue of Aouda from immolation, they all return to London. Interestingly, a few years later, after a number of improvements had been made in railways and roads, a U.S. journalist named Nellie Bly (the pseudonym of Elizabeth Cochrane) decided to attempt to break Fogg's "record." Leaving New York on November 14, 1889, she was able to circumnavigate the globe in 72 days, 6 hours, 11 minutes, and 14 seconds. But, she didn't rescue a Hindu princess! It should be noted, however, that one has to be very careful concerning the translations of this novel. There are some terrible ones being sold. Perhaps that's the reason for the few poor comments by earlier reviewers. There is an excellent translation by William Butcher that appeared in 1995.

Before there was any kind of high-speed travel an English gentleman named Phileas Fogg betted 20,000 pounds that he can travel around the world in 80 or less days. He starts his journey in London. On his way he meets a beautiful Indian Princess. Fogg also gets mistaken for a criminal. During his whole journey he has a detective following him trying to arrest him when the warrant arrives. In the book you follow Fogg's adventures through four continents when he is racing against time. The book is fast-paced, action-packed adventure with both romance and danger.

The characters in the story were introduced very well, especially Phileas Fogg. In the beginning of the book you get to know that Fogg is a very private gentleman. He never goes to any social places except the Reform Club. A remarkable thing about Fogg is that his life is centered around the clock. He is very precise and always on time. Every day he follows the exact same schedule. Phileas Fogg does not have a wife or any kids.

The setting of the book was very jumpy. Since Fogg travels through many continents and countries the setting changes all the time. You still feel you know a little bit about every place that he comes to, even if he only stays there for a couple of hours.

When I started reading the book I thought it would be a really good book and it really did meet my standards. I would recommend it to any one who likes adventure and action. Since it is written in so many different versions a person almost any age can read it.

I think this book is a superior book because it is full of action. This book is about a man named Mr. Phileas Fogg, and his faithful servant, Passepartout, that wager a bet that They can travel the whole world in eighty days stopping at Suez via Mont Cenis and Brindisi, then to Bombay, then Calcutta, Hong Kong, Japan (Yokohama), San Francisco, New York, back to London, all within eighty days, and by steamboats, and trains. However, a nosy detective, Detective Fix, tracks them down, and tries to arrest Mr. Fogg because he believes that Fogg stole fifty-five thousand pounds. As one may guess, this greatly detains Mr. Fogg, and it seems like he may not make the trip around the world after all. However, the Fix never seems to catch up with Fogg, and Fogg triumphs over most of the obstacles that come his way, like missing boats, missing trains, missing people, and Fogg even meets and rescues a beautiful Indian Princess called Aouda. However, Fix finally catches up to the detective, and everything seems lost for Fogg until Fix discovers that Fogg was not the robber, and Fogg is released. Even so, Fogg is one day late, and in doing so, misses the train that would have taken him to London precisely to win the bet. He ordered a special train, but even in doing so, still misses the bet...or so he thinks. The ending of the book is a very unexpected one. Read this book and find out!

How funny this book is and just full of anecdotes about the nunnery and priest's parish. I was especially intrigued by the murder mystery in this book and loved all the expose parts also. Its a timely and exciting book for sure.

I met this author at a booksigning in N.Y. I told her that she needed to write a followup book about the rest of her story. She met this priest at retreats and college and they married, adopted stray animals on their farm and adopted a third world child. I'd like to know more. The book ended too soon, but I loved it. I give her credit for having the courage to discuss what happened to her and her priest husband while they were in the religious life, i.e. sex scandals. I forgive the few typos her publisher allowed because this book is exciting and timely too. It is not for the narrowminded cradle type religious who cannot accept the truth, graphic as it gets sometimes in this book. It was an eyeopener for me and my family.

I met this author at a book signing and told her to write a sequel because the book ended too soon. She married the priest she met at retreats and college classes; they adopted stray dogs and a baby from another country. It was a courageous book of her own first hand knowledge and involvement in sex scandals in the church. What she and others like her endured made her stronger she told me. I give her a lot of credit for telling the truth and for the humerous side of her life as well. I forgive the few typos in the book and found it a really interesting book and unique in its format. It is graphic and could offend anyone who is narrowminded and afraid of the truth in living color.