* * * * * FIVE STARS! NO DOUBT ABOUT IT! * * * * * Last summer I found this book on my younger brother's desk--a gift to him from our mother. As an eighteen-year-old college student, I thought the writing would be "too young" for me. NOPE! I read the book and it has significantly changed my views of myself, others, and the world. On another note, I liked the book so much that I decided to check out 'the original,' Sean's father's book (7 Habits of ... *people*): the verdict: I personally found the book for Teens a MUCH better read. Sean's writing style is concise and very visual, making it easy to understand, enjoyable, and fun. The anecdotes and stories are universally applicable--despite racial, economic, etc. backgrounds (or even age!). He doesn't waste time getting to the point, taking a single paragraph to introduce a new concept, and then supporting it with two or three stories, anecdotes, or quotations; and yes, there are even pictures too! The end product is something that is VERY enjoyable, practicable, and has helpful. If you have ANY doubts about whether or not to read this book, I would say that if you are even looking into it enough to read this review, you and someone you know can greatly benefit from the ideas in this book. Of course self-change is scary and difficult, but this book makes it fun and easy. It's helped me to not only improve my own life, but also that of my younger brother, guiding me to be a better role model for him. When I first found this book I had made fun of it, but as soon as I had begun reading, I was hooked [or as the book would have me say, "I hooked myself..."] Thanks Sean (and Stephen) for your contribution(s)! [And thanks Mom, too...] : - )

Teenagers are so extremely busy today trying to juggle school, home life, friends, sports, after school activities, friends and plan for the future. This book helps a teen to recognize the need to look at and begin from a solid foundation in life.

I work for the Office for Youth Ministry in the Archdiocese of Boston. I run many training sessions for adult youth ministers and leaders who work with teenagers. We help them create effective youth ministry environments. This book has proven an extremely effective tool in that process.

It is an easy read for the teenager or for the adult that wants to read 7 Habits of Highly Effective People but want to read it from a lighter perspective. It was also used as a text for a one day training course for a group of teens at a local high school. They loved it, especially the Baby Step recommendation sections. A great gift for a teen or for those of us young at heart

I purchased the book for a teen-aged niece, who was, at first, very hesitant to read the book. However, once she read through the first habit, she couldn't put the book down. Her personal conversations have changed from discussing the latest music videos to her goals in life and her methods of pursuing them! I LOVE IT! Thanks, Sean, keep up the good work.

Where Will Nana Go Next? is a fun book that tells the story of Nana's trips around the USA (and the world!) in her motorhome. The sentiment is warm and the illustrations are fantastic--not to mention educational. While following the travel's of Nana, a typical "Grandparent on the road", children will also be learning a bit of geography as the book "maps out" Nana's trip. Nana is one busy traveler! She's found surfing in Southern California, on safari in Africa, even climbing Mt. Rushmore! A great book that your child will remember fondly in years to come.

This is a book that is fun for adults and children both to read. Packed with vibrantly colored illustrations along with full page maps, Nana is sure to teach children of all ages. Don't think that pictures are all you get. The words of wisdom show children that grandparents can be extremely active and have fun, even at an older age. This book truly builds a bridge between the generations. Also, I can't forget Nana's spunky little dog, Spike. All you animal lovers will love to know that Spike solidifies what we knew about pets all along--their half-human. Whether he is sporting a Parisian mustache or hiking up George Washington's nose at Mount Rushmore, Spike is every bit as active as Nana.

This is a great book for early readers! It teaches geography in a fun, painless way, with lyrical prose, and colorful, bright pictures. Children will love it. Highly recommended for Kindergarten and First Grade teachers.

The book offers insights about expatriate life and the personal search for meaning and integration with a community.

When the narrator begins on page p. 11 with "Bernard was a Southern Indian. . ." he gives the feel of turning to this new character and exploring his perspective. The reader discovers later on that he is only a peripheral illustration of the kind of disturbance that makes its presence felt in his household. Bernard is seen through the narrator's eyes, integrated into his daily life as a kind of tangential reinforcement that indeed, the "gods" have thrown his household in some kind of a soulful disarray.

As social and political insights, the passages devoted to the Burmese situation are engaging and seriously informed. The tougher challenge the author negotiates is filtering these events through his "romantic" perspective--fascination--with Tanya.

He had to find a clear tone in relating to the political events. For example, are they so darn serious and harrowing that they make him forget Tanya momentarily? Does an individual's accidental engagement in certain political events render his personal life almost senseless and inconsequential because he must yield to "greater, more serious" things? Do these events seem more important to him only because (subconsciously) they might hurt/harm his beloved?

At the early stages of his pursuit of Tanya, the attraction is intensely physical. He presents his encounter with Tanya as a motif which, somehow, either validates or contradicts the Buddhist concern for enlightenment.

In this "carnal" phase he indulges in re-creating that joy-of-the-flesh that is the core of sexual discovery. But as we progress through the chapters, the reader would also be interested in tracing--in a subtle way--the kind of emotional and philosophical developments which the relationship accommodates. Somewhere we must locate a peak, and elsewhere--a swift, surprising metaphysical turn to another insight about relationships all together--if the Tanya parts are to reflect the stages of his own spiritual journey.

I liked this book. Mr. McGrath has written about a life that doesn't exist for most of us. Born in Switzerland, growing up in Papua New Guinea, Africa and the Philippines - a privileged life. Yet Mr. McGrath shows us the sordid side of being an expatriate. The endless 2 year relocations, the new neighbours, the lack of concrete reference points upon which most of us peg our lives.

Mr. Mcgrath writes from a perspective not usually seen in a traveller's tale, that of youth. The style is gritty with no attempt to protect the reader from the beetle-nut spittooned streets of Port Moresby or the tin-shack night-clubs that used to be down-town Manila. Through these images of vice and tawdriness we see the angst of growing up as a young sahib in a world where this is no longer pukah. Surprisingly perhaps, we see our hero walk away from the resulting flames of uncertainty that threaten.

In Mr. McGrath's work I see glimpses of Alex Garland. His tales are engrossing with the right whiff of spice from exotic lands. I await to read more...

"I have vivid memories of three small children huddled together like refugees, among a dozen suit cases, waiting in nameless airports..."

That sounds like a contribution to the series 'What happens to the Second Generation?' It comes in fact near the beginning of Sean McGrath's 'autobiographical fiction novel'. The uprooted youth searches for his identity and his roots in an odyssey which takes him to a monastary in Burma, to participation in the Burmese Spring with Aung San Su Kyi, an affair with mercenaries in the Comoros, to Kenya with the legendary George Adamson to a doomsday cult in Thailand, and that's not all. But at the end, there is a healing process through work with the Red Cross in areas buried by the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, in volunteer work in Nepal.

A readable book of a remarkable search, reaching through strange and troubling experiences, to a better understanding of one's real identity.

I have never seen the show ROAR, but the book was awesome! Sean Kiernan is now one of my favorite authors, and I can't wait to read the sequel. It was great literature, very descriptive. I couldn't put it down. It had a different sort of plot, but very interesting. I recommend it! Great book!

I had watched the T.V. show befor I read this book ( and before the show was canceled) and had thought it was great. As soon as I read Roar I thought it was great. The characters in the book were a great match for each other. If you like fantsy and Scifi, you'll love this book. And the sequal is really, really good to. It is almost better! (Sorry if there is any spelling mistakes!)

After the disappointment of the networks decision to cancel the series, I found the books (Roar and Roar,the Cauldron)true to form... it is a real shame they stopped the series...though I can see where book 2 would have been conceptually impossible to project to the viewer in a series form... I loved both books.. the charachters.. I hope that Kiernan furthers himself in writing so the disappointed viewers can still follow his works... very enjoyable reading.

WHILE I WAS ON VACATION IN BERMUDA I STUMBLED ONTO LORI'S BOOKS. I SPENT JUST ABOUT EVERY WAKING MOMENT READING THE FIRST 2 BOOKS AND WHEN I CAME HOME I ORDERED THE 3RD AND 4TH BOOK READ THE 3RD ONE IN 2 DAYS. I AM STILL WAITING FOR THE 4TH BOOK TO ARRIVE.

I LOVE THE WAY THAT LORI BROUGHT 2 STRANGERS TOGETHER SEAN AND CHARLIE AT FIRST AND THEN BY THE END OF THE BOOK THEY WERE WHERE GOD WANTED THEM AND DEEPLY IN LOVE. IT MAKES ME BELIEVE THAT WONDERFUL MARRIAGES DO EXIST ESPECIALLY WHEN GOD IS AT THE BASE OF IT.

This book was neat. It was sort of different then most of Lori Wick's books yet,it was typical of her books in the way it was written. The plot was neat,a little unrealistic in today's times but, it was rather romantic. One way it was neat was the fact that Charlie had such a bad life and didn't know what real love and care were but, Sean ,(pronounced Shawn),came by and gave her a real reason to live. Along with God's forgiveness,Sean's love and his wonderful family life, Charlie finds out what true love is all about.

I am a big Lori Wick fan and Sean Donavon is one of her best. I just finished reading it and I wanted to read more about Sean and Charlie! Sean is a wonderful character that started out as a wild young man and grew into a sweet, sensitive Christian man. The characters were wonderful and the love story kept me turning the pages! A lot of adventure and romance to keep you reading.

This was a great investment. I took another's advice and spent the extra money to buy this book versus a smaller, cheaper Wolfhound book. I am so glad that I did. It has a great in depth history of the breed including the efforts of those who worked so hard to keep the Wolfhounds from becoming extinct. It covers puppyhood, breeding, health care, training feeding. It has it all. I went ahead and bought it new to avoid the waiting list. Definitely worth the money!!!

In my opinion, this is the best book ever produced on the Irish Wolfhound. In depth information which is easily understood by the novice as well as totally absorbing for the more experienced owner. Mary McBryde has done the Irish Wolfhound proud. A must for anyone with interest in this very special breed.

Bought this book yesterday and it's worth every penny that was spend. Since I dont own a Wolfhound and wanted to know more about them before I got one, this is the perfect book. It has everything you need to know. Not just all the boring Kennel, champion part were most other books go into great detail for those who are interested in showing and breeding. Since I'm not,other things are more important like the character,the history,the feeding of puppy's and adults and all the other things that dog owners find important for everyday life. Thank you very much for writing such a great and informitive book with so many great pictures.

A tightly-written novel that starts with a strange, naked man in the heroine's bed and proceeds at a fair pace. I liked the preceding novel in the trilogy well enough, but this is better. The characters are fleshed out quite well, and though I wanted to strangle the heroine at times, she had extremely good reasons for being such a wimp -- which made her seem so much more courageous when she decided finally to DO something about her situation.

That situation is a tense one, very well constructed and scary, and the addition of some realistic-sounding kids complicates matters even further. Hero and heroine showed a very warm chemistry. Sean is definitely someone I wouldn't mind having live in my garage... or finding naked in my bed. The sex scenes arose organically from the plot, unlike the slightly uncomfortable ones in the previous novel. Well done and enjoyed!

Cover: quite eyecatching!

This book was fantastic, one I could sink my romance loving teeth into. To put it simply: A good old-fashioned love story. The story had characters I could sympathize with -- and in the heroine, Rachel, I fully identified with her reluctance to confide her problems to anyone, even her mother. Both Rachel and Sean exuded likeability and the author hooked me into their story from the first page. Rachel had good reason to be afraid for her and her children's safety and good reason not get anyone else involved. But through Sean's persuasive kindness and consideration, he earns the trust and love of Rachel and her children. Throw in sweet seduction, sizzling love scenes and moments of panic, mayhem and angst and you'll see why Ms. Kantra has become an auto-buy for future titles, and her back list now is part of my books to be read.

Two scenes that stood out for me were Sean and Rachel, confronting each other in the kitchen and coming to terms with their feelings for the other and later, when Rachel gets her first introduction to the entire MacNeill family.

The Temptation of Sean MacNeill is definitely Two Thumbs Up.

Rachel's packed up her two kids and everything she owns, and is heading home to her mother's house where she finds a man sleeping in her bed -- a very naked, sexy man. He's Sean MacNeill, her mother's tenant. He's definitely a piece of eye-candy, and as she grows to know him, Rachel discovers he's even more attractive inside than out. And he makes it clear he's interested in her. But interest or not, Rachel doesn't have time for Sean, not when the mobs on her heels. She has her family to worry about.

Sean knows Rachel's in trouble, but she's keeping him at arm's length. How can he help her if she won't let him come any closer? And Sean wants to be closer . . . much closer. Can he save her from her demons, and better yet, can he save himself from falling head-over heels for her?

Virginia Kantra delivers another powerful story of love and intrigue, of honor and trust. A great read that will tempt you to read it all in one sitting!

We (Dutile Kids) thought it was a good book because it sort of taught you a lesson about not always having to have the best things, and to have faith in yourself. It kept our interest because the descriptions were good enough to let us use our imaginations. We were always curious about what the sled would look like in the end, and to want to build our own sleds.Some of us though, thought it was a little too predictable, but still enjoyed it.

A nice children's story that isn't bogged down by commercialism. It's very sweet and solid and the illustrations are excellent. Also, it has a nice message. Thumbs up for kids and adults who miss the children's stories of old.

Brilliant illustrations and creative, fun story-telling make this book a must-read for children and adults of all ages. A hidden gem that begs to be discovered!

There is only one complaint to be made of this book: The picture on the dustjacket. Instead of a photograph of someone dressed in fireman's gear, there should have been a photograph of the building described in the narrative, an enormous building with no windows, no easy paths, and, once it caught fire, no mercy. It became a monster which took the lives of six firemen.
Sean Flynn does a great job in telling this story. The book is relatively short, but Flynn does not shortchange the reader. You turn the pages fast as Flynn provides brisk views of the firemen he writes about, giving us the flavor of their family lives and their personal ambitions, and then rushing on into the action and tragedy that are the centerpieces of the book.
This is a true story, but Flynn writes as if it were a novel, letting us know what people were thinking and saying in a terrible situation. He is able to do this because he has researched the story so well. (It began as a story for Esquire magazine.)
The descriptions of the desperate attempts to save the six firemen who became lost in the mazes of the fiery Worcester Cold Storage building are some of the best true-life action sequences you are likely to encounter in a book. Flynn describes the aftermath of the fire eloquently, relating the sorrow, guilt, and pride felt by the surviving firefighters, and just as important, the heartbreak of the families the heroes left behind.
Before the Worcester Cold Storage building ever caught fire, one of the firemen in this book looked at the towering thing, imagined it on fire, and said, "Bad Building." It seems he was right.
Bad building. Hell of a good book.

The title at the beginning of these comments is from St. Florian, and was on a medal recovered from the spot where one of the men fighting this fire died. The medal should not have survived, silver melts at 1,600 degrees, a body is incinerated at 1,800 degrees, and the heat in the building had reached 3,000 degrees.

I came to read this book from a rather unusual direction. Worth Magazine just did a profile of the most generous Americans, not necessarily those who gave the most money, but as a percentage of what they have, their reasons, and other intangibles beside the traditional yardstick of amount only. Actor/comedian and member of this very special group is Dennis Leary. Of the 6 men who died in this fire, one was his cousin and another was a childhood friend. His foundation has raised $2 million for firefighters in Worcester MA and NYC. His organization was cutting checks 3 months after September 11th in NYC; he has no use for bean counters.

Sean Flynn's book, "3000 Degrees", is easily one of the most powerful books I have read in 2002, it is the first of many books I will now read on Firemen, and others who put themselves in lethal harm's way, for the rest of us. As I read this book, I asked the same question I often ask when men and women put the lives of others before their own, not for a single moment, but every day, for years and often for decades. Some members of a team are the rescue members, and these men enter the building without any fire fighting equipment, like hoses, to protect themselves. They go in looking for victims and are unprotected against flame and other lethalities except by their experience and luck. They are in a burning building looking for you and me before the houses may even be turned on.

Firemen are not drafted; they are not military, although some served prior to becoming Firefighters. The serve their own communities, but adjacent ones when needed, and generally walk in to situations that may kill them to save people they do not know, or to be sure a building is empty of persons. The latter was the case on December 3, 1999. Six men died in a building that was boarded up, and devoid of human life. It had many lives within it for several hours, and then 6 lives became the only bodies that the building would ever contain.

Tim Jackson, Joe McGuirk, Paul Brotherton, Jay Lyons, Tom Spencer, and Jerry Lucey died, because as one person involved in the fire wondered, that 6 of his friends had died because, "two misfits were too scared to dial 911". These misfits not only started the fire, accidentally, they did not report it, but because it is not against the law to fail to report a fire in Massachusetts, even if you started it, neither person was convicted of anything.

Now Julie and Tom continue to live their lives which up until the night they started this fire were notable only for the similarities they shared. They were the personification of life's losers, living illegally, living in filth, living any way they chose as long as it required nothing from them, no effort. And if that meant going to jail, breaking the law, and living in their own filth like no animal would do, that was what they did.

They killed these 6 men by their actions, even if you call their act one of omission as opposed to commission, the men are dead, and Julie and Tom started the fire, Julie and Tom ran, and Julie and Tom did not bother to let anyone know the building they illegally were squatting in was empty. That their illegal residence was barely worth the water to contain the blaze, much less the lives of 6 men, a host of new widows, and a large number of now fatherless children, never occurred to Julie and Tom.

They went to Media Play and listened to music while the fire spread, books were out for Tom, he's illiterate. And while the candle falling over and causing the fire was called an accident, it probably would not have fallen if Tom did not try to force himself on Julie. Tom was in the mood, Julie was not, so 6 men died.

The men who fought this fire and died and those who fought it and lived are all remarkable people. They are people that few of us can measure up to. Are you willing to take a job where you place your life at risk every day, not for fame, or money, or even job security? I don't think you are; I'm not.

Firemen are willing to make the sacrifice, so are Policemen and women. So the next time you are tempted to park in front of a hydrant, don't, next time you get nailed for speeding, take the ticket, call the officer sir or mam, and act like an adult. Don't whine because your radar/laser detector did not allow you to get away with speeding. Want to speed, pay the ticket; don't blame the officer who stops you.

30,000 Firefighters from all over the world came to Worcester to pay their respects to these men and the families that were left behind. So the next time you pass a Firehouse, think about the people in side, you probably don't know them, and they don't know you. Would you die for them, they are prepared to die for you, every minute of every day.

Like many of Worcester, MA, I watched this fire and was overwhelmed by its power. The loss of life was without equal. This recounting is a great tribute to the Fire Department and all the men present at this fire. Many of us listened to the events unfold on scanners; others watched as the flames colored the night sky. Sean Flynn tells all the details and the humanity of these life shattering event. No matter where you live, this book is a must read to understand what firemen and women do everyday. As well as to see their lives through their family and friends.

I am never dissappointed in a Thoene novel. This Irish series is best of all in my opinion! I love the on going story of Kate and Josheph and all the characters of Ballynockanor. The stories my grandmother told about her childhood in Ireland have really come to life. It is amazing how similar the stories in the Galway Chronicles are to the real life history of many of us Irish Americans! The injustice of l800 Ireland under English rule make me value America all the more in spite of our problems here. Anyway, this is a great read for ANYONE!

I have never been dissappointed by a Thoene book. Even those Thoene novels which are not my favorite titles are ten thousand times better than anything else out there. It is interesting that any criticism of their writing compares their books to other Thoene books not to the novels of other contemporary writers. It's because no one in their genre is as good as they are I think. I have my MA in Lit. I teach American and English Lit and drama. I just have to say, having read and reread their novels, I really feel that this Irish series is right up there with the best of the best of Thoene titles! It is obvious they are going to write a Book 4 for the Galway Chronicles. I just wish they would write faster! Bravo to the authors. You are the best I have ever read. (And I am comparing your writing to Steinbeck, Mitchner, Faulkner, Hemmingway...all of whom are long gone. May you live and write forever! We intellectually starving readers need you!)

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the Galway Chronicles- I'm anxiously awaiting my copy of the next book. I really enjoy historical fiction, and I love anything about Ireland's past, so these books have been such a treat for me. I'm even recommending them to my dad, who strictly reads non-fiction, because I think he would enjoy them immensely. Through all the tragedies and horrors that these characters have experienced, one common theme is evident- God is always there, always protecting, loving, and comforting, even while the world is crashing all around. A sincere thank you to the authors, for conveying such a wonderful message and a terrific story.