This series really complements Harry Potter. If you like stories about extraordinary kids, then here's another series - only the Christian or religious crowd would have no problem with the Gifted Girls Series at all.

This is the BEST BOOK I've read in a long time!!! Better than the first book in this series. I want to read the next. VICTORIA LONDON --- PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE WRITE SOME MORE OF LUCY'S ADVENTURES! Don't keep me in suspense. No wonder why the Gifted Girls books are getting so popular!

I'm 13 years old, and I loved reading about Lucy. In the first book, she hasn't learn how to use her gift yet. But in this book, she uses it often. This book isn't all about being goody-twoshoes. Lucy faces temptation, dark forces, and even a sinister plot against her new friend, Queen Cleopatra. I'm not going to tell you how the story ends, but Lucy learns a lot more than she bargained for in this book. Good adventures and plot, I'd recommend it even to boys.

I loved Marrying Mattie! Ty was a perfect tortured hero andvery sexy, and Mattie was so delightful, full of spunk. The humor wasmaintained right through the story! I started off laughing on thefirst page, and humor was added throughout in the most unexpectedplaces. For instance, just before the wedding ceremony, Mattie said tojust drag her down the isle if she fainted. Comments like that evokethe most hilarious images! Added to the humor was a touch ofsuspense. You gotta love a book that keeps you on your toes, and eventhough you know it's going to turn out happily, you still root for theh/h when the bad guy attempts a sneak attack. And I loved how theirnew family tied together. It was so nice to read a story where thestepchildren didn't start off hating each other. :o) You did a greatjob, Viki!

Marrying Mattie is a thoroughly delightful book. I don't read a lot of historicals-- although I do enjoy Robin Lee Hatcher and Julie Garwood, who use roughly the same period --but this book entertained me from page 1. I love all the local color, the details of their dress and everyday life. Ms. Dark has a wonderful ability to portray character and place, and the humor enlivened it throughout. I look forward to reading more of her work.

Everyone loves a wedding and Mattie's is sure to charm you. Victoria Dark has written a compelling historical romance guaranteed to warm your heart. MARRYING MATTIE is set in the nineteenth century town of Medicine Springs, Texas -- a far cry from Andersonville prison -- a far cry from Ty Warburton's haunting past and his pledge never again to give his heart to a woman. Mattie Idyll, a prim and proper widow, victimized by a controlling husband and loveless marriage, struggles to build a life for herself and her young son, while vowing never again to be another man's wife. The battle lines are drawn. The conflict resonates. But circumstances force this unlikely twosome together. A bargain is struck and a marriage forged between the impoverished widow and roguish tycoon. Through realistic dialogue and rich introspection Ms. Dark skillfully carries the reader with her as the story unfolds. She shows how despite their misgivings and determination to keep their marriage a business arrangement, little by little Mattie and Ty grow to respect one another. And little by little passion erupts between them. Anticipation builds and the reader will cheer from the sidelines as their passion blossoms to fulfillment. Midway through the story Ms. Dark adds a twist to the tale. A villain enters the story -- a villain who binds the twosome together and makes them aware of the depth of their feelings for one another. Read how Ty casts aside Matties fears and awakens her sensuality. And how Mattie melts away his distrust. This book has it all including an ending which puts to rest the demons from Ty's past. This book is a keeper!

For any lover of genealogy, this story tells a compelling story of another family through generations of love, war and family relationship! It is absolutely fascinating and surprising the way the story evolves. There is a backgroung of history that makes it come alive in the modern world.

i just finished this book and it was fantastic-i just dicovered this author what a nice surprise.I definitely recoomend this book if you can find it.

I picked up Lousia Elliot a number of years ago and couldn't put it down. When Morning's Gate was published I immediately bought the hardcover and was very impressed. The story is well-told and compelling and all the characters are so clearly drawn that I felt like I could really understand them and empathize with whatever their view of a situation, sympathetic or not. However, the biggest draw for me was the size of this book. I love big stories and this fits the bill, both in length and scope. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series or Judith Merkle Riley's A Vision of Light, both of which have a style similar to Morning's Gate. Good luck finding it!

This is a pretty spiffy little calendar. I wish I had more time to look this one over, but from what I've seen so far - this is good. Practical, functional, educational, and pleasing to the eyes.

I've tried & had them all and I was very hesitant to order one at this price. As soon as I opened this book my magickal socks were knocked off! It's very easy to read & use , everything is right there at your witchy fingertips! I am now a customer for life! Can't wait to order for 2004, GREAT Yule gift ! It even tells you what days not to do magick ( NO research or charts to look up)What more can you ask for?

Deana's title can't be surpassed, I've used it for some time now and everyone from the Solitary Practitioner to Traditionalist, will find this Day Planner a invaluable tool to the scheduling of our monthly observances!

This is a beautiful book to keep and to give. The drawings are very interesting and beautiful, some of them are very basic sketches, some are complex artistic works, but all of them have one thing in common: they were drawn with lots of love. And that shows. Thank you for this book Ms Leacock!

This book is absolutely great. Kids of all ages enjoy looking at the flowers that were drawn by the many famous stars that appear in it. I personally know Victoria and the work that she put into the book. There are stories in it that will make you cry, like the Alison Gertz story. It is very heartwarming. Thirty percent of the profits go to the Aid foundation known as Love heals which is absolutely great.

A very beautifully well put together book. Not only are the drawings interesting, the text that goes along with them as Ms. Leacock remembers the acquiring of the flowers will make you laugh and cry. The wide range of celebrities drawings of flowers is quite amazing (authors, directors, actors, etc.). That Ms. Leacock would share these very personal rememberances make it quite touching. Makes a wonderful gift for anyone and you will want to display it on your coffee table forever. The fact that a large percentage of the proceeds is going to AIDS charities is even more special.

A collection of essays wrote by african american and biracal young adults. The essays are about struggles the writers have been through while growing up, and on college campues. I throught all the essays were good.

This book is a very well-done sociological study of African American/bi-racial college students and the telling of their stories to get to this point in their lives. The stories are diverse yet similar. Bright, misunderstood, sticking out like sore thumbs because they were of color and intelligent. That is not the way it is supposed to be. Why is it African Americans are ridiculed for being smart. I read Kunjufu's book some years ago when my daughter was in middle school, Black Peer Pressure: To be Popular or Smart. Why must you choose. I am trying to remember my childhood experiences. I cannot remember being ridiculed for doing well in school. It seemed that was the norm for my group and the kids seem to have more respect for one another. I know this is unusual. I think about my brother who is now a well-known cardiologist in the Bay Area and when I look back on it, he must have felt isolated because he was one of those super-smart, gifted students. From the first story of Prince which was heart-wrenching. He was truly a testament to the poverty and hardship. He proved he could succeed against the oods. So, it is with Malik who had a drug-addicted mother. These young men's stories is in contrast to some of the more affluent of the group. Maria, Rob, and Steve had all of the amenities to have a good head start, well-eduacated, financially secure, and good neighborhoods. However I must say, I was disappointed that these students felt they had little in common with other black students because of their status. And it seemed their attitudes were reinforced by their parents attitudes who seemed to feel if it's white, its right. I am trying to reconcile these parents with the generation that had to strive for basic civil rights in housing and education. Where was the pride in being black. Why were they not going to black churches and putting their children in contact with other young black people with groups such as Jack and Jill or church youth groups? I always thought it was the generation these students that lost the black pride, not their parents who I guess are in their forties, fifties, and sixties. Claudio and Alessandro had to do with the problem of being both black and Latino and all the trials associated with being of a double culture. So often in Latin cultures, children are told they are Latino and then they get out into the world where no one will let them forget they are black. That can be a rude awakening when culture and color clash. The bi-racial students angst of being between two world, not knowing where they belong. This story was also very well told in "Black, White,Other" by Lise Funderburg. Christina and Susanna's black fathers evidently had problems with their black identities. It seems in these and many bi-racial families they do no discuss race, as if not talking about it, it won't be a problem. But as they find out, these issues need to be discussed. Sure these kind of parents say they just want their children to grow up to be good, healthy individuals, regardless of race. Not in America where race and race matters are so pervasive. The editors forewords before each chapter, Janie Victoria Ward and Tracy L. Robinson among them were provacative, intelligent studies. I would highly recommend this book to high school and college student of African descent as well as their parents and students of black sociology. Very well done.

Souls Looking Back is a thought-provoking, engaging and critical work that solidifies the validity of personal narrative as form of interpretive research with a focus on critical race theory. Anyone who may posses any questions regarding the power of such representation should read, ingest and reflect upon the stories of the young people presented in this book. The editors splendedly synthesized these educational and personal memoirs within the context of personal identity, critical race, critical feminist and critical race feminist perspectives. I would strongly recommend this book for all those with sincere interests in anthropology, sociology, psychology, African-American/African-Carribean/Afro-British studies, and education. This book truly exemplifies the multiplicity of lives our young people of color experience.

Been to almost every restaurante in Disney resorts, and the recipes I have prepared are identical in taste.

I have often heard that Disney served up some of the best cuisine around. This book proves that it is true. This book has a wide variety of recipes anything from simple to complex, and american to a vast amount of ethnic dishes. Recipes are easy to follow, and turn out well. If you want to bring the taste of Disney home, or impress your family this is the way to go.

This book is great. It features loads of wonderful recipies. They are all exact to the food that you can get in the restaurants in the theme parks. They are indexed by food type and by the restaurant and park that they come from, so that you can look up your favourites! My favourite is the Smores from the MGM studios! Enjoy.

I started reading Primrose Past on a plane from Dallas to Los Angeles. It was clever and amusing, and I took it to be an enjoyable, light read. As I got into it, and as the story unfolded more and more, I could see that it was "getting to me" in unexpected ways. The people were so real, the challenges and problems were presented boldly and beautifully. I will never casually pass an old graveyard again, and see all the aging and weathered old stones marking the graves, without remembering this book, and the fact that beneath the ground there are buried dreams, promises and love. Buy this book and see what I mean! Kent Perkins, Los Angeles

For her fifteenth birthday in 1848, a young girl living on an estate in Victorian England is giving a diary in which to record her thoughts. She describes her idyllic life in the beautiful English countryside, where her biggest problem is dealing with her annoying little brother. When her parents travel to London, she expresses her disappointment at not being able to join them. Although this girl lived 150 years ago, her feelings and relationships were not all that different from those today. This book seemed almost like a real diary, even though it was fiction. Although this is an adult novel, teenage girls who enjoy historical fiction, such as myself, will enjoy it too. I highly reccomend this book.

Primrose Past is terrific. Caroline Hunt has conveyed fully the mind and spirit of an adolescent girl -- her struggle for identity and independence, her drive to develop and demonstrate her knowledge and skills, her emerging romantic and sexual desires, and her longing for family relationships that are mutual, intimate, and special. What a vivid portrayal of this bright, courageous, vulunerable, and likable girl! The story is replete with deft and detailed descriptions of life in England over 150 years ago -- estates (lands, buildings, furnishings, provisions, management, and operations), societal and cultural mores and expectations, and travel and experiences throughout the contemporaneous world. Primrose Past is practically a textbook wrapped in a delightful, intriguing tale. If I were teaching English in secondary school, it would be required reading along with Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice. I am eager for the sequel!

This fun anthology gives us four different novellas, each including a Christmas setting and delightful dogs. We get to understand people and events from the dogs' points of view and their uncanny senses--and the way they can sometimes gently nudge their people together. Loving pets combine with loving stories to make a marvelous combination that's a great read any time of year.

Victoria Alexander starts off with "Shakespeare and the Three Kings," set in 19th century England. Sir Oliver Stanhope's great aunt, the woman who raised him so lovingly, has died and left Oliver charged with the care of her three beloved Yorkshire Terriers, Melchoir, Balthazar, and Gaspar. She has also arranged for one D.K. Lawrence to come and train the Yorkies for him. When Diana Lawrence, once the love of Oliver's life, shows up at his home with her Great Dane Shakespeare in tow, Oliver wonders at his Aunt Ellie's true motives--but of course goes along with his aunt's last wish. Lady Eleanor's hopes for her nephew to find true love tug at the reader's heart--be sure to have a hanky ready.

In "Athena's Christmas Tail" by Nina Coombs, Athena that knows her mistress, Mercy, isn't as happy as she should be, especially since she is newly married. And Viscount Brockton acts strangely towards his bride, as well. Athena knows he likes his new wife, but why is he so distant from her? When they buy Hannibal from a cruel master, the two dogs put their noses together to try to get their master and mistress to see what any dog can tell immediately--that they really do care for each other. Another sweet, emotional story.

We move to the present day for "Away in a Shelter" by Annie Kimberlin, a funny, original twist on the snowed-in-log-cabin story. When they signed up to volunteer for the Christmas holidays at the animal shelter, neither Camille nor Roger realized they'd be sharing duty with the volunteer they liked least: the snobby lady lawyer and the big guy who always looked at her like she was a pariah. Both of them want to adopt the little dog who was left on the steps of the shelter; Camille calls her Gracie and Roger calls her Splinter. When the snow storm doesn't allow Camille and Roger to leave the shelter on Christmas Eve, they are forced to get to know each other as human beings--and find not only do they have a love of dogs and cats in common, but that they actually enjoy each other's company, and made some bad assumptions about each other at the outset. This is one of the best contemporary romances I've read all year. The characters and setting are all so very real, likeable and sympathetic. I was very sorry to see this story end and am very much looking forward to more from Ms. Kimberlin. (Writing as Annie Smith as of October 2002, with a new novel out -- yahoo!)

Miriam Raftery wraps it up with "Mr. Wright's Christmas Angel," which opens in present-day Los Angeles. Joy is upset that she won't be able to fulfill her daughter's fondest Christmas wish: she wants a daddy. The Santa Claus at the hospital that Joy has just been fired from gives Joy two airline tickets to Alaska, saying that perhaps a vacation from insurance forms and administration is just what she and her daughter Holly need. When Joy and Holly reach Noel, Alaska, the location of the cabin of Kriss Kringle, where they are to be guests for a few days, their rental car runs into a snowbank--they'll have to walk to the cabin. A big white dog, Frankincense, finds them and leads his master, Nicholas, Mr. Kringle's caretaker, to them. Nicholas is kind, if gruff and old-fashioned, not understanding what Joy means by "car" and "telephone." In fact, Joy marvels, Mr. Kringle's cabin has no electricity, no plumbing, and of course no phone. What kind of strange neighborhood have she and Holly been brought to? When a blizzard makes travel even out to the road impossible, Joy, Nicholas, and Holly all have more time to get to know each other... and like what they find. A happy story and satisfying end to this collection.

This is just a great collection of Chrismas stories. If you are a animal (more specifically a dog) lover you will truly enjoy this collection. My personal favorite is "Away in a Shelter" by Annie Kimberlin. The main characters Camille and Roger are a lot of fun to get to know and "Splinter" or "Grace" which ever you prefer is a true matchmaker. Victoria Alexander contributes a great historical piece with so many matchmakers the hero and heroine cannot help but finally get together. This story definatly contains lots of dog matchmaking fun. This book is well worth the read and it is extremely enjoyable...especially with a cup of hot coco and a furry friend.

This collection of novellas is a delight for the dog and romance lover. My favorite was Away in a Shelter, by Annie Kimberlin. An innocent puppy, two lonely dog-loving volunteers, a Christmas Eve blizzard that strands the three at the animal shelter--what more do you need for love to blossom? The puppy is wonderful--very much a character in her own right, and yet totally canine. Nothing mystical or anthropomorphic about her. Just Puppy Magic--which works on everyone! The man and woman work through their romance-traditional initial dislike very believably, especially considering the amount of time they have to do it. Real characters, honest settings and believable dogs add up to a great Christmas story which could be enjoyed any time of year.

This outing is one of the best Iris House books. The characters are surprising and the identity of the killer is uncertain until the end because of the red herrings and side stories! It's a great book to toss in the beach bag...just don't take any handweights along!

Weigh Dead is the most recent book in the Iris House series, and Jean Hager continues to provide fun and entertainment for her audience (although I confess to loving her Indian protangonists series as much or more than Iris House. I hope to run a B&B once I retire from the 9 to 5 routine. If you haven't read her before, this book will prompt you to go back and buy the earlier books in the series.

I enjoy the Iris House mysteries very much. I did not think The Last Noel was the best outing, however. Ms. Hager redeemed herself with Weigh Dead. I cannot wait for the next installment which hopefully will include the wedding. A thoroughly enjoyable read!