I had read Like a River Glorious and Measure of Grace, which were both excellent, and I wanted to read this sequel, Jewels for a Crown, which was just as good--could hardly put it down until I had read it completely through. I ordered it Used from "Berniebae (bernman2) and it was in wonderful condition and I received it within two or three days from the day I ordered it. Couldn't ask for better service.

Lawana Blackwell is one of my favorite writers. Her stories really are interesting, and spread God's love to the world. I've read five of her books and they were all wonderful, I plan to read the rest as well. I highly recommend reading her books, they are a joy to read!

This book picks up the story of Corrine's daughter Jenny from book #2, who is now grown and finishing nurse's training. She is chosen to be a private nurse for a little girl with epilepsy for the period of 2 years in order to repay her education funding. Once Jenny meets twelve-year-old Celeste, however, she realizes that she has a huge task in front of her. Petted and spoiled due to her disease and the frequent absence of her widower father, Celeste is a commanding presence to deal with. She dismisses servants at her whim and takes no responisbility for her actions. Jenny realizes that she needs to rely on her strong faith in God to get her through the two long years ahead. As she does so, she also becomes a witness to Celeste's governess and other members in the household. This is a great story of faith getting a person through very difficult times.

I know that this sounds like hyperbole, but this book is so far above and beyond any other dive guide I have used that I cannot resist. The maps are works of art and acurate, to boot.

After reading this book, my dives at the Liberty, the Tulamben drop off and Batu Kelebit seemed like visits with old friends.

As a terrific bonus, you can even dive these sites with Wally Siagian (+62 363 41869, persistantly) as I did.

Best dive guide I've read about any location. Get this one if going to Bali.

This is an outstanding and reliable resource on diving in Bali. The author writes with clarity. It is an enjoyable read even if you can get out there as often as you'd like. Worth reading!

i really loved this book..i found it hard to put down...i wish Ms.Ivanescu would write more books..A MUST read book, you will not be disappointed.....

I love this book! once I started reading it I found it hard to put down. I wish Ms. Ivanescu would write more books. A MUST read book! you will not be disappointed.

I have a very small keeper shelf, and only the best books get space there. I couldn't put this book down, I read all night, and when I read the last page I was very sorry to see the book end. I wish Ms. Ivanescu would write more books.

It was a very good book and I really liked the end. It was so sweet. I think other kids would like to read this. The Jewel Kingdom is a very good series, if you like princesses.

Roxanne, the Ruby Princess, finds a dragon egg and the dragon turns out to be playful. Roxanne feeds Sassy, the dragon, from a bottle that her sister, Demetra, the Diamond Princess, gave her. All of her sisters love Sassy. One day the dragon gets terribly sick. Will he get better? Read this book to find out!

An extra exciting story, telling, that you should never do something when it could hurt something.

Field has produced an excellent balance of text and pictures and has done an exceptionally thorough job of documentation. I was fascinated by his descriptions of how the jewelry was modified over the years to accommodate the fashions of the day and the taste of the current owner. The only reason I did not give this 5 stars was due to the pictures. Most are black and white (for obvious reasons), however some were of very poor quality, and very few taken with the intention of displaying jewelry. There was one delightful story of a gift to the young Princess Elizabeth, a necklace and bracelet, which the Queen now refers to as "my best diamonds". But do we get to see the diamonds? No, the only available picture was a distant news photo of the young Princess sitting at an angle and the jewels nearly impossible to see. For Princess Diana fans, don't bother buying this book. There are less than a half dozen images of Diana, and nothing you haven't seen before. And just a reminder, this is her personal collection. You won't see any of the crown regalia.

Leslie Field's "The Queen's Jewels: The Personal Collection of Elizabeth II" is a splendid, splendid book in every way. Field has gathered together hundreds of important photographs (of the nearly half million she saw altogether) of Queen Elizabeth's jewels. These are shown both in their cases and being worn by various monarchs, and we see how different royal family members have altered the look or the purpose of pieces as fashions and times changed over the years. Field has complemented these photographs with her outstanding, meticulously researched text. Even if you purchase the book mostly to drool over the photographs, you will end up being both captivated and educated by the accompanying text.

Field begins the book with the ascension of Queen Victoria to the throne. Because of the Salic laws passed by the House of Hanover in 1833, Victoria was prevented from becoming ruler of both the United Kingdom and Hanover. The kingdoms were split for the first time in well over a century. Immediately, King Ernest of Hanover--an uncle of Queen Victoria--demanded his share of the royal jewels, arguing that since the kingdom had been split, so must be the gems. Victoria disagreed, and the argument went on for two decades before finally being settled in favor of Hanover. Subsequently, Victoria gave up several important pieces of jewelry to her uncle's descendants--but was already well on her way to amassing an important collection.

Victoria was the first British monarch to make clear that some pieces belonged to the Crown and were for use by any Queen to follow her--and that some pieces were her personal property, and hers to dispose of as she saw fit. British monarchs have followed in her footsteps ever since and although Field showcases many sumptuous Crown pieces in the book, the bulk of what we see are the Queen's personal pieces. And what a collection it is!

The collection is vast and jaw-droppingly beautiful. Field wisely divides the book into types of stones, from diamonds and pearls to emeralds, sapphires, amethysts, turquoise, and more. We see everything from parures
(i. e., complete matching sets of everything from necklaces to brooches to rings to earrings and more) to necklaces and tiaras which were gifts from other governments or from such quaintly named organizations as "Girls of Great Britain and Ireland" to pieces designed by Prince Philip expressly for his wife.

Among the many stand-outs in the book are:

- Queen Elizabeth's three-carat diamond solitaire engagement ring, designed by Prince Philip for his wife and set with a handsome diamond taken from a tiara belonging to Philip's mother (p. 85);

- The Godman Necklace, which had been bought by an English naturalist in the 1890s while on holiday in Bavaria. His daughters, many years after his death, wrote to the Lord Chamberlain saying that they felt they owned jewelry once owned by Empress Josephine of France and that the Queen might be interested in it. Although it turned out not to have been of this provenance, it was undoubtedly a stunning and valuable piece, showcasing seven large emeralds and three smaller ones, and surrounded throughout with an encrustation of diamonds and platinum filigree (p. 95);

- The Cambridge's Lover's Knot Tiara, shown being worn by the Duchess of Cambridge in 1818, the Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz in the 1890s, Queen Mary in 1926, Queen Mary again in 1935 (this time without the upright pearls which originally adorned it), Queen Elizabeth in 1955, and Diana, Princess of Wales in 1985. This is powerful testimony that good design and fine jewelry are both timeless (pp. 113 - 115);

- Queen Mary's "Rose of York" bracelet, which is a breathtaking ruby and diamond pendant which was eventually turned into a bracelet (p. 143).

Of course these are but a few of the many treasures in the book. It is a fascinating read, and a wonderfully complete and detailed account of what is probably the finest jewelry collection in the world today.

I was so impressed with and have gotten so much Joy from this book, it has inspired me enough to go ahead and try my first on-line review. When I noticed this was out of print I was very surprised. Even more so when I realized there was also a 1997-revised edition. I am hopeful its simply because the newly expanded volume is getting its finishing touches. With digital imaging technology having come so far since the publishing of the first two editions (87/97), the detail that is now available will hopefully be prominently featured in the next. A unique aspect of this book is the thoroughness of information presented on several different topics.
The title subject is definitely covered in meticulous detail. Aside from the jewels it really is almost a complete mini-biography of most of the British Royal Family. After all the Men bought jewels too! It is amazing to see an 18th century piece on Queen Elizabeth and be able to trace it exactly from it origin through the centuries.
The information in text and pictures give a much better understanding of the whole concept of continuity, with many surprises along the way. Tidbits like how Queen Victoria stubbornly refused to return gems that another Royal House insisted it owned. How important Jewels were to Queen Mary, not for their monetary value but because of their family historical importance. Its the little details like this that give you a much more personal understanding of monarchs, without being dishy or gossipy.

Both the front and back inside covers gives a complete family tree dating back to Henry VII. Inside, thirteen categories/chapters cover everything from Diamonds and Emeralds to Sapphires and Amethysts, explaining who favored a particular kind of gem or style over another. Do not expect a very in-depth education on gems, however you get a great understanding of the history and importance of gems through the centuries as a symbol of power and status. There is a generous amount of color and B&W photos perfectly balanced with the text. Generations of Royals Portraits set-up three or four to a page wearing the same Jewels over scores of decades are some of the picture highlights. I really don?t think you need to be a Royal Watcher to appreciate the images. From all the individuals listed in the Acknowledgments many of them with titles you understand this book was published with the complete cooperation and help of the entire Royal Family. Its the photography that makes you appreciate this. A perfect example of this is the cover subject. A magnificent necklace part of a set named: The Cambridge and Delhi Durbar Parure. Inside there is another full color page showing the complete set, however throughout the book you can see no less than ten or twelve different royals wearing some kind of configuration of it. Including the World Famous snapshot of the late Princess Diana wearing the necklace as a headband.
You cannot help but feeling like you know the members of the various royal houses a little better after reading a few excerpts. The entire volume gives you an impression that the author truly respects, enjoys and is highly educated on her subject. This is one of the few books that I own, that I know I will never post for sale used. I hope you enjoy!

The Raj Quartet (comprised of four novels) is in my ultimate top ten of great novels and my favourite work of fiction for the twentieth century. Paul Scott is up there up with Tolstoy and Jane Austen. The Raj Quartet is exquisite to read, every word and every sentence appears to have the perfection that Jane Austen bestowed on her works but on the majestic scale of Tolstoy's War and Peace.

The Raj Quartet is multi-layered, complex, beyond the apparent. Is it about a country? Or is it about two countries? Paul Scott deals with the years of the "great divorce" as it were, but now at the beginning of a new century the continuing implications of the historic British occupation are as fresh as ever, both in India and the UK, one example being the the unforseen post war immigration and lifting of racial barriers between two peoples (I myself am a product of a post war marriage between an Indian father and British mother).

The question of identity is explored. What makes an Indian? (still a relevant question in a subcontinent of such diverse cultures, religions, languages, outlooks, etc). What happens to a group (the Raj British) who are no longer needed in either India or Britain? (I recommend Staying On by Paul Scott which deals with a minor character who does stay on in India.)

Beyond the themes of history, colonialism and imperialism, there is the theme of the universal human experience. Who are we all really? Should we let our nationality and culture define who we are? Or as one character, Sarah Layton, finally have the courage to break free and define our own identity. Sarah at first is apart from "the other", then in one revealing scene (the ride with Ahmed) she subconsciously turns to face "the other" though unsuccessfully and finally in the beautifully written and incredibly sensual scene where she decides to dive into the forbidden (the seduction by Clark, who I see myself as Eros or the Hindu God of Love, Kama) she breaks through into her individuality, her "grace".

An outstanding piece of writing and a masterpiece, the Quartet compresses in four novels the essence of individual lives caught in the matrix of history. What is karma and dharma? The novels examine these as best Scott can in trying to articulate his artistic vision of the tragedy of history and of individual lives. History is impersonal and is from a God's-eye view, our own lives are subjective and given differing perspectives and are all that we have to imperfectly cling to. In that personal vantage point is salvation and hell all in one. Check out Scott's "Staying On" as well which is his farewell to the Indian scene and the characters we've come to know. A sliding farewell into oblivion, just as Scott himself fell into his twilight years.

Paul Scott's brilliant saga of the death of English imperialism resonates deeply for any American who has ever worried that Britain's shrunken global influence foreshadows our own destiny as a nation -- despite our current standing as the world's only "superpower." His indictment of racism is complicated and unsparing. In addition to his marvelous villain, Ronald Merrick, his female characters are so richly drawn, so simultaneously appalling, frustrating, and likable, that they dominate all four books of the Quartet and make it difficult to believe they were written by a man. The very appealing character of Guy Perron, whom the reader first meets in Volume IV, is, I believe, Scott himself -- serving as an academic observer who attempts to translate, and make sense of, the complex, emotional, and tightly interwoven events through which the first three volumes have carried us.

I reread the Quartet frequently and get something new out of it every time. It inspires me to write.

The Diamond princess is hosting the Winterfest when theres something wrong in Sparkle mountain and she gos off in a crystal sleigh with Rolf a reindeer and a fox friend named Finley to find out whats wrong in Sparkle mountain , there they meet a bunny who saids Elsinor and some goblins are trapped in the moutain . So Demetra and her fox friend go in the cave and chose a light tunnel finding its the wrong tunnel they go back and go into a dark tunnel . But they fall into the tunnel and the princess is caught by a goblin and they wake up a bear . Can The Diamond princess get out of sparkle mountain ?

This is a book everyone has to read. My faviorite part was whentheir was a parade in the book. This a great and adventurous book thatyou have to read.

I loved these books! They are wonderful. I am in second grade and I love to read. This book has a princess and a fox and a bear and goblins. I want ALL of the Jewel Kingdom books.

Preston Adams comes from a long line of vampire hunters. Raised to believe that they are soul-less creatures bent only on drinking the blood of mortals, then killing them, he finds when the moment to destroy his first prey arrives, he can't [do away with] her. She is the woman he has been dreaming about.

For Gabrielle, life is merely surviving. Ever since the loss of her beloved, she has suffered through her existence, only her strong will to survive keeping her from joining him in the afterlife. When Preston kidnaps her, she finds that things are not always as they seem, for here is a hunter helping the prey escape.

When the Adams clan finds out that Preston is helping a vampire, they are determined to crush her, and him if need be.

On the other side, the vampire council doesn't care why Gabrielle is keeping company with one of the hunter clan. Either she kills him, or they will both be destroyed.

Running for their lives, with the help of Gabrielle's off the wall friends, Gabrielle and Preston find that dreams sometimes shadow reality, that old love's can be found again, and that things are never quite what they seem to be.

Vampires have always held a fascination for me; be they the bad boys of Bram Stoker or Anne Rice's books, the devilishly delightful ... objects of erotica, or the attempting to reform and loving creatures of romance. They are capable of such delightful things, able to be molded into the quintessential misunderstood being, capable of pouring so much love and passion into a relationship.

Jewel Dartt does well with capturing the emotions, the doubts, the yearning of the female heart magnified by a vampire's age. ENEMY MINE is a heart-warming, passionate novel of a love that survives death, and a testament to not judging by preconceived notions.

© Michelle Houston, 2003

Daughters of the night are expressly forbidden to love humans. The horror of the Blood Wars, when humans rose to fight the oppression and sacrifice to vampires, clearly demonstrated the dangers of the undead and human trying to coexist.

But there is one human who would not agree with history's lesson. Trained as a hunter, Preston Adams spent his entire life studying vampires. Indeed, his entire family, for many generations, has been devoted to the extermination of the undead. Nevertheless, Preston watches his victim, and comes to realize she doesn't fit the teachings he's received from his family. Gabrielle Warlock is different. She does not drink the blood of humans, despite the weaknesses her decision brings. Sacrificing everything, Preston vows to not only defy his family's order to kill her, but to become her protector.

Gabrielle is an outcast even among her own kind. A woman of ethics and strength, she is brought before the vampire Tribunal to withstand the charge of betraying vampires by consorting with a human. In exchange for her life, she must take Preston's life. As Preston and Gabrielle flee to preserve their lives, they must confront not only the enemy that should keep them apart, but also a past the binds them eternally.

Jewel Dartt's dark romantic fantasy explores the range of emotions that binds as well that which destroys, weaving a complex, rich tapestry of strength and beauty. Lovers of the paranormal take note, for this is definitely an author holding great promise. Indeed, this reviewer sincerely hopes to see much more of Dartt's children of the night and the hunters which persue them.

i have read several of jewel dartt book once you pick them up you cant put them down they hold you spell bound you cant wait to see what happens next and her style of writing is a pleasure to read you dont have to force yourself to get to the good parts never a boaring moment looking foward to her next book

This book was pretty good and it was interesting to read it. There was some really exiting parts and some really boring parts, but overall it was a good book.

This book was a great suspense/thriller book. Nancy helps an elderly woman named Mrs. Alexandra. Nancy befriends her and learns she is a queen from a distant country. Mrs. Alexandra tells her of a long lost grandson, which she is determined to find. Nancy is trying to solve that mystery, when she notices many pick-pocket thefts in her town of River Heights. Nancy then finds out the two mystery's are connected, and Nancy is determined to solve it. Nancy figures out the confusing burglury of wallets, and finds the long lost grandson of Mrs. Alexandra. This is a wonderful book, like all Nancy Drew's.

At first I thought this book might not be as exciting as the others, but I was wrong!! I was always in suspence. If you like this book, I know you will love all the others! The Nancy Drew Files are the best!

Emily, the Emerald Princess of Greenwood, is a mischievous prankster, playing tricks on everyone in her kingdom. However, when Staghorn, the palace gardener, gets caught in a snare while pruning in the Twisted Vines, everyone blames Emily; yet she wasn't the one responsible for hurting Staghorn. So, with the help of her unicorn friend Arden and her size-altering pan flute, Emily sets out to discover who did it, as well as find a way to clear her name.

"The Emerald Princess Plays a Trick" is the third book in The Jewel Kingdom series. Other Emerald Princess books: "The Emerald Princess Finds a Fairy" (#7) and "The Emerald Princess Follows a Unicorn" (#11). This is a great series for 6 to 9-year-old girls who like fantasy stories involving princesses, fairies, dwarves, unicorns, and other mythical creatures. Plus there are some great illustrations by Neal McPheeters.

this book is great and tells what will happen if you play too many tricks.

I have read alot of the jewel kingdom books and this is one of my favorites. I suggest you read the Emerald Princess follows a Unicorn and the Emerald Pricess finds a Fairy and all the other Jewel Kingdom books! I can hardly wait for the movie!