A dear friend gave me this book after the sudden death of my beloved husband. For a few weeks, I couldn't even open it. Once I did though I found an invaluable way to help me remember Mike and to put into words all of those little things that were so much a part of our relationship. I have recommended it to my grief support group and will cherish the memories it has helped me capture.

My mother died from pancreatic cancer a year ago. We knew that it was inevitable. I found this book while I was looking for literature on how to deal with a terminally ill loved one. When I opened it up and started to read it, I cried. I had not yet lost my mother but as I read I was able to face what was coming - knowing that I had been able to share in her life and that our relationship was special.

I didn't buy the book that day. I came back to it many times, especially during the rough times. After a hard day I was able to go to the book store and flip through its pages and remember all the wonderful times. The day after my mother passed away I bought the book and have written in it everyday since. My memories are alive within it. It has helped me through the times when I couldn't tell anyone else how I felt.

This book allows you to put your feelings into words. It prompts you to consider things about your loss that you may have never explored on your own. It is wonderful.

I first purchased this book at the request of my grief counselor, after the sudden death of my Brother, D.J.
Since then, I have purchsed 4 additional copies as gifts for friends and relative who have suffered the loss of a loved one.
I found it very helpful. The pages start you off with questions or statements that allow your feelings to flow. Some feelings that even if you are a "writer" you would not think of or even may feel uncomfortable about bringing up yourself like anger.
I find that most people will only talk or write about the good things about the person they've lost which of course is good and natural but "Angel Catcher" alows you to write about all feelings and situations. I find that it allowed (and guided) me to express all of my feelings and in return I felt peaceful and had a better understanding of my own feelings.
As stated I purchased several as gifts. In stead of sending flowers, I gave this book. I also found it much easier to order it from Amazon.com, have it gift wrapped and sent with a personal note from me - especially when it was being given to someone out of town. I must say that instead of the usual "Thank you" note, I have received very personal cards of gratitude stating that it has helped others gather their thoughts.
I thank the Authors Kathy and Amy Eldon for using their personal loss to help others deal with theirs.

This book has truly inspired me. To read about the sacrifices Brother Andrew made has made me know I can do so much more for God. This is a must read for anyone who is working for God. This is a thrilling, edge of your seat, page turner. You will not be able to put it down.

If self-sacrifice is the mark of true heroism, then Brother Andrew is in a class with the most valient. This book tells his story from birth and youth in WWII poverty, to the agnosticysm of a young man to the realization that God is REAL and part of his life. It will challenge your faith to rely on God as if he were a king leading his troops into battle. He is. Brother Andrew's story is one of the most involving STORIES I have read. But it isn't just a story, it is the life of a real man who has given everything for the mission to spread light to a dark land. Just because the Iron Curtin has fallen, dosen't mean that this book is any less relevant today. It will change your faith. Gaurenteed.

This book can change your life and how you see God. Brother Andrew gave his life totally to God, and God remained faithful to him. you cannot read this book and come away with the same view on God. I read this book, and could not put it down. Sure to strengthen your Christian experience. As thrilling as any spy novel. Not one to be missed by any christian. What one person can do when they give themselves totally to God. If you thought the result would be a dull life, you're dead wrong! Read the book!
IF YOU LIKED THIS, I HAVE ANOTHER TO RECCOMEND. It's called "A Thousand Shall Fall" But you must be sure to get the right one. The full title is "A thousand shall Fall: The electrifying story of a soldier and his family that dared to practice their faith in Hitler's Germany." Written by Suzy Hazel Mundy. It's as much of a page turner as this book and will also change your life.

Happy reading!

A wonderful story of three amazing people. A must read!!It will keep you guessing! buy this book if u want to laugh, cry and be genuinly touched forever!

This book was wonderful. I couldn't put it down and have given it to about ten people. Of course one of the 10 didn't bother returning it so I bought another copy which I am putting away. I even had my Grand-daughters read it while they were visiting and the both really enjoyed it also.

I read this book when it first came out years ago & was warned by friends not to cheat & read the end before finishing it(something I never do anyway). The book is such a page turner I was totally shocked by the ending & it left me wanting to read more of Elizabeth Adler's books. If you like interesting, fast moving stories with surprise endings, this is the book for you. Others I'd recommend are Peach and the followup, Leonie. Ms. Adler is a wonderful writer and I always look forward to her next book.

I've loved The Saturdays since I was about 8, when I read it for the first time. It wasn't until I was older that I realized: these children had to figure out things for fun, because they didn't have TELEVISION! What a concept! Just look what awesome things they find to do. I'm delighted to share this book, and that added idea, with my son.

My original review was written 14 July 1998. This is an addition for readers (and potential readers) who are (or would be) as puzzled as I once was when the book said the Melendy children played a noisy game of "Dumb Crambo". Over 20 years after I first read THE SATURDAYS, I was lucky enough to get a copy of VICTORIAN PARLOUR GAMES by Patrick Beaver that includes it.

To paraphrase, in Dumb Crambo, the players are split evenly into two teams. One team leaves the room while the remaining team chooses a verb. When the first team comes back in, the second team tells them another verb that rhymes with the first verb. The first team must guess the secret verb by acting it out. For example [not the one given], if the secret verb is "fly", the first team might be told "try". If they guess it's "spy", they act out someone spying on someone else. If they're wrong, the second team hisses them. The first team keeps trying until they act out the right verb.

It's called "dumb crambo" because it's a variation of a game called "crambo." In the original, only one person leaves the room and any kind of word may be chosen. The guesser is still told a word that rhymes with the secret word. The trick is that you have to ask questions that might get you the secret word WITHOUT naming the word you're guessing. For instance, if you think the secret word is "bus", you might ask "Is it a big ground vehicle that carries a lot of passengers?"

I think it shows something of the personalities and intelligence of the Melendy children that they would enjoy Dumb Crambo.

When I was in third grade, a classroom aide gave us the option of listening to her read out loud, or playing on the playground. Her book of choice? The Saturdays. Within the week, every child was choosing to stay in during recess and breathlessly awaiting the further exploits of Mona, Rush, Randy and Oliver. At 40 years of age, it continues to be an all-time favorite book of mine, as well as the other books about the Melendys. I consider it a treasure to pass on to my eight-year-old daughter; something we will share and laugh together about for years.

Lauren has come back to her home town of Wisteria, Maryland finally. It's been 7 years since that tragic night when her mother died. While on her way to her Aunt Jule's(her godmother) she meets up with Nick, her childhood best friend who is no longer the troublesome chubby-cheeked boy she remembers. She also sees Nora and Holly again, Jule's children. Nora is deranged and angry and she wants Lauren gone. While Holly is accepting and her and Lauren become closer. Meanwhile Nick who had been acting as if he'd like to be more than just Lauren's friend turns on her and becomes glued to Holly. Now Lauren doesn't know who she can trust, but she'd better figure it out soon cuz someone wants her dead. And this time there's no place to hide.

GOD, this was an awesome book. I love Elizabeth Chandler. Make sure you read all the Dark Secret books! They are the best. And the guy on the cover who is supposed to be Nick is HOTT!!!

Seven years ago, Lauren's mother was mysteriously killed in Wisteria. Now, Aunt Jule has asked Lauren to return to Wisteria for a visit. While in town, Lauren meets her old friend, Nick, who at first flirts with her and even ends up kissing her the night of the prom, he becomes cold and hostile to her because he thinks she pulled his cartoon from the paper. Holly, who would be cold to Lauren when they were kids because of her mother's sickening admiration, seems to have warmed up to Lauren and be more friendly to her. Nora, who was always very timid, has become out of touch with reality, thinks that Sondra, Lauren's dead mother, has come back to haunt her. Lauren's stay at Wisteria becomes more baffling and more suspenceful as the book goes on. A disaterous prom night, warnings, things moving by themselves, and people acting a little off around her, Lauren thinks she's losing her mind until she's locked in the boathouse with Nora by someone she truly trusted. Will Lauren be able to survive her stay at Wisteria or will the murderer succeed once again?

It has been seven years since Lauren's mother drowned, now her Aunt Jule asked her to come back. Jule's daughter Holly appears to have accepted Lauren with open arms - but there is a friction between them. Holly's sister Nora is strange - a frightening figure who makes Lauren's skin crawl. A series of accidents makes Lauren afraid for her life - especially when two of the "accidents" almost kill her. There is a secret buried in the past that Lauren must uncover. If Lauren can not find the truth then she will be the victim of a fatal accident - just like her mother.

The first book in this series was so well written that I didn't think the author could make it better - but she has. The storyline of this novel is strong and keeps you reading until the last page. As with "Legacy of Lies" this novel has strong characters that draw you into their story and make it yours. I have been recommending this all over the place.

The other great thing about this book is that although it is part of a series you don't have to read the "first" one first. It's also pretty neat that both books have been set in the same small town so that you can build a mental image of the town and add to it each time you read another book in the series.

This is a must for any charmed fan not only like the show but with a twist of greek mythology.It starts with Prue gettting the chance to get the photograph cover for 415 the magizine she works for.At the same time Pheobe meets a gorgous guy named Nikos at her art class.But then Prue gets the idea for a photo getting a greek gods/goddesses photo to shoot in the Halliwell mansion,Nikos even got an old camers from his dad to capture the style.But when Prue snaps the shutter all the models apart from Pheobe and Piper fall into a deep sleep.To rescue the models the three sisters go to the Greek Underworld to rescue the models but a surprise awaits them there and the evil gods son has made Pheobe his bride and she may not be able to return to her sisters.Prue and Piper must rescue pheobe and the models but how with only two?Another mystery for tha charmed ones to solve.
This is a great book and its not to be missed.
I give this 5 stars.

I've read almost all the Charmed books and am an avid fan of the show. Where the other novels fall short, this book is completely on target. The basic premise is this: Prue is offered the chance to shoot a cover for 415 magazine, and a handsome stranger gives her the idea to emulate old Victorian photos which posed the subjects in fanciful outfits depicting myth and legend. Using her sisters and some of Phoebe's college classmates, she sets up a shot of the group as Greek gods and goddesses in the Manor conservatory. However, with a click of the ancient camera Phoebe's token love interest Nikos loans her, the 'models' collapse. The rest of the novel has the sisters traveling to the Underworld to save the models, until Phoebe is trapped by Hades' youngest son to be his bride. But which of the models is behind this scheme? And is he or she the only one? You'll have to read the book to find out.

Now, here's what makes this book so great: the author manages to write the sisters most realistically out of all the books I've read. I found that I could easily see this book becoming an actual episode of the show; the characters remain true to character, and the banter between the sisters is excellent. All in all, this book is a great read for a Charmed fan because the author has managed to capture the true spirit of the Halliwells and bring this across, making it as close to the show any of the books has come. Pick it up as soon as you can - you'll have a great time reading it.

This book was really great. I love the CHARMED show that is on the WB every Thursday at 9:00 till 10:00 children under the age of 13 should not watch. Well this book is about Prue and she just got a job for the 415 mag. to take a really narlen photo. Prue gets the idea of duing a Greek scean in there patio she is even letting Piper and Pheobe in it but Pheobe is the one who has to find the models for the photo. When PRue takes the photo all the models are transported to Hades know by most bpeople HELL. the girls dont want anything to happen to the models so they go to HADES themselfs. But the prince of HAdes wants Pheobe as his wife. Will prue and piper be able to save pheobe and bring her and all the models back to earth? find out when u read this book!!!!

If you are interested in receiving an advance or contract before you write your nonfiction book, then Elizabeth Lyon's Nonfiction Book Proposals Anybody Can Write is a bookshelf-must you will treasure! Lyon has demystified the process of writing proposals in simple How-Why-What steps. An editor, writing instructor, and "book doctor" she wrote this best-seller after observing her students and clients struggle to understand the basic steps of proposals. Her book is organized in order of reader need, packed with practical and easy-to-use information and interwoven with examples of proposals. Peppered with chapter goals, it will keep you in writer's mode until your book is assembled, polished and ready to market. The recipe in this book gives you the tools to be taken seriously by the publishing world. "Elizabeth Lyon knows proposals the way a surgeon knows anatomy" best-selling author Gary Provost. "You helped me create a tightly written, well-organized, and great-looking book proposal from concept statement to appendix" Bill Buzenborg V.P. of National Public Radio's Morning Edition and All Things Considered.

As a literary agent, I endorse this book and recommend it to my clients who are working on nonfiction book proposals because, in my view, it is the most thorough and clear book on the subject. A number of the titles listed on E. Lyon's website are books I represented and sold. They were developed following these guidelines. It is one thing to tell a writer to develop "a great hook" or "write a strong concept statement" and quite another to actually explain what these things are and why they are needed. It is important for the writer to understand the purpose of each piece of a proposal and how it will be used by the agent and editor to grasp why the approaches explained in this book are so valuable. Beyond having a strong salable subject and good writing skills (or a good co-author or ghostwriter), in today's publishing world even smaller publishers want to see a solid marketing plan and publicity ideas. Elizabeth provides guidance to develop one. There are quite a few books on this subject offering a broad range of expertise, but this one is the best. As someone else pointed out, the errors in the previous edition were the responsibility of the original small press-- a reminder that many things like title and cover design and certainly page layouts are not left up to the author! Natasha Kern

Of the several books available on how to write nonfiction book proposals, this one is the most comprehensive. Some of the areas it covers particularly well are the importance of credentials and presentation. However, it provides solid information in all the important areas. It takes more time to read this book than the others on the topic but the time is well spent. Editors and agents are always impressed by book proposals that are informative, succinct, and well prepared and following the guidelines in this book will help you prepare an impressive proposal. Prospective writers often ask me to recommend books on writing book proposals and there are several that I recommend depending on the writer's temperament. I am always encouraged when writers select this one because the level of commitment usually reflects a quality proposal.

Note: Beginning in December 2002, the book is published by a new publisher. The proofing issues that inadvertently slipped through the cracks with the second edition have been corrected( e.g., chapter 14 is now included in the table of contents).

This novel is one of a series, and makes the presumption that you have read the earlier novels in the series, with references to previous action. It is written in a narative style. The main character is not fully identified by name until page 74 (part of the assumption that you have read the previous novels). Tony Whats-his-name from book one in the series reappears, along with other characters from previous books. There are numerous digressions, and a tendency to use foreign language terms.

The plot is a whodunit as various characters search for the lost Trojan gold that disappeared from Germany during the final days of World War II. In the chaos at the end of the war, many valuable items disappeared, apparently looted. Now a story has emerged that the Trojan gold (artifacts that had been in a German museum) was carried to safety and hidden. Many people have an interest, either for museums or for their own profit.

With two people murdered, and an assortment of people just happening to be on the scene, there are questions about some people's motives (other than the fact that several men are trying to seduce Vicky). Vicky finds her life in danger, as various people follow clues in attempts to track down the gold. There are indications that it had been hidden in a schrank (a type of wooden cabinet). The good guys prevail over the bad guys, but the story leaves things unfinished and the schrank disassembled.

I love the Vicky Bliss Mysteries. Trojan Gold was great fun. I don't often laugh out loud while reading a book, but this one had me laughing a number of times. Herr Dr. Schmidt is just wonderful as her helpful boss. He just cracks me up. I wish I had someone like him around to drive me crazy like that - well not all of the time.

Vicky's wit and intelligence are wonderful and she always gets the last word - and the cat and the dog and maybe even the mysterious John Smythe. I wish I could have one of him around, too.

I'm about to start Night Train to Memphis, and I'm already dreading the end of it. When will there be another Vicky Bliss Mystery???? Elizabeth Peters must write more of them.

This book was such a satisfaction to read and reread. I've grown so attached to Peabody and Vicky Bliss, not to mention their fellow characters, that waiting for Barbera Mertz to write more books about them is torture. I hope Ms. Mertz lives to an active old age for the selfish reason that I want her to keep pumping these books out as long as possible.

In Trojan Gold she really delivers the good stuff. John and Shmidt's personalities get a good filling out, reading it is like eating Godiva chocolates, only better. Words can't say enough. In her previous Bliss mystery, Sihloette in Scarlet, the plot seemed weak, but the follow up made up for it. Apologies for misspellings.

I am in third grade. My teacher read my class this book and the one before it to. Every time when my teacher would stop reading the whole class would beg her to read more. the author does a great job of stoping the chapter right at the really exciting parts.I LOVED it!!!!!!!!! Normally I don't like books about castles but this one I really liked!

It has been around 2 years since we read The Castle in the Attic which was one of the best adventures my son and I shared together. I was previously unaware that there was a sequel to this engaging book. After reading the first couple pages my son's came to rapt attention. "I remember this now," he said excitedly. He began remembering the charecters and adventures of the first story. Almost immediately we were captivated by this next adventure - familiar, but new. It was like coming home to the castle. Each chapter of Battle For the Castle brings a new depth of feeling and connection with the charecters - and, yes,each chapter opens to greater surprise and suspense. My son said feelingly, "I love this book." Even on Saturday morning when his favorite activity is to watch cartoons on TV, begged, instead, to hear "one more chapter!"

The Battle for the Castle is about a young boy who go to a different world to save a castle from billions of rats, who hate light.

This is an exciting book that leaves you breathless at the end of the book!!! READ IT!

This book is a wonderful source companion for anyone seeking to find effective ways of dealing with stress and the mental and/or physical pain that it can cause. By offering a variety of proven methods and approaches, The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook has helped me to discover and focus on those techniques that are the most helpful and effective for me. Clearly written and easy to read, I recommend it highly.

This is one of, if not the best books on stress management and relaxation. It is a must have for health care providers working in this area, and an incredible resource for laymen seeking personal help or self growth.

I've recommended this book to probably 1000 psychologists, and as a specialty dealer of products for stress management, relaxation training and biofeedback, I know that at least 600-800 actually bought copies. Many of the ones I suggested it to already owned the book and I was always happy they did, because then, they knew I made credible recommendations.

The book offers a wealth of beautifully, simply explained exercises and techniques you can use immediately to learn to relax and cope with stress more effectively.

Brew yourself a cup of your favorite herbal tea and curl up in a quiet corner because you're in for a treat. This book is exactly what the title says it is - a workbook for relaxation and stress reduction - and its user-friendly style enables the reader to dip into any chapter at will and derive something useful and informative from it. The book's orientation is very much a holistic approach and the authors' emphasis on mental coping methods dovetails nicely with the chapters on reducing physical stress symptoms. I found the progressive relaxation guidance (including instructions for creating your own tape) particulary well done and helpful. As the authors make so clear, many of us are unaware of how and where we store our tension and how our breathing impacts our ability to move from a stress response to relaxation. Methods such as progressive relaxation - systematically tensing and relaxing all the large muscle groups in the body - aid in gaining awareness of what we are experiencing physically both during stress and in relaxation. The book also discusses goals, time management, nutrition and exercise, with copious worksheets for the reader to dissect which area(s) he or she most needs to focus on to achieve more individual balance, and therefore less stress. The end of each chapter includes suggestions for further reading, providing the reader a jumping off point for deeper work in a particular area, if needed. Each chapter is a module for bringing about psyche/soma homeostasis. The book's one drawback in my view is the length of the personal stress analysis worksheets. One is of course free to skip over them or complete only a portion of each one. Overall though, the book provides a palatable plethora of nurturing and nourishing ideas and methods for bringing mind, body and spirit to a place of respite and repose, whatever one's outer circumstances may be.