I like the theme of this book, but the author relies on too many cliches to excite the readers interest. The story is basically evil and greedy politicians conspire with the liberal anti-gun media elite to do away with the constitution and bill of rights. Add into the mix the Fidelistas (Mexican invading army) and the Patriots (a group of, well, patriotic Americans wanting to fight the evil government and bring back America's greatness) And you have all the elements fo a great story. But, this particular story doesn't go anywhere, and the book ends without any resolution. I suppose that is left up to the imagination of the reader. Maybe the author intends to write a sequel? If so, I would buy it.

A book with a similar theme, but that is carried out with a lot more convincing detail is "Unintended Consequences" by John Ross. I highly recommend Unintended Consequences.

If you like Westerns, you'll like the action in this novel. If your politics are right of center, you'll enjoy the political intrigue. Even if your politics are left of center, you'll enjoy this portrayal of the US in the near future, when three political factions are fighting for control of all or part of the country and some good people have to make some hard choices about which side they're on.

When "Patriot Radio is on the air" my friends and I listen. We are still trying to stake out our own political philosophies and D. Michael Phillips does a great job in assisting us. I would recommend this book to any college- aged student wanting to strengthen their grasp on the American political economy.

Yes, this book does have good ideas on each page as others have stated; however, many are neither unique nor original. I got more out of Levinson's books.

This book is ostensibly about marketing, but much of the information is of general relevance to running your own business. I received my MBA from an Ivy school, and I have to admit that a substantial portion of the material in the book was stuff that we never covered in marketing classes. Overall, a very useful book about starting and operating your own small business. I highly recommend it.

I found it in the library, read it, returned it, bought it.

With each store example they use to describe an marketing idea, a bulb went off in my head because the stores are my favorites, but I could never have made the connection of using the same ideas for our own businesses. Now that I am attuned to the concepts, I can appreciate the things that the small businesses we've been patronizing for 10 years have been constantly doing.

After reading the book A House Divided by Michael Phillips and Judith Pella, I learned that it was really an interesting love story. It takes place in St. Petersburg, Russia. Anna Burenin is a young servant girl who goes through many trials and tribulations. She is torn between the man she loves and her family, hence the name A House Divided. If you have a hard time following stories I would not recommend this book for you unless you don't mind taking notes. Personally, I think that book is worth taking notes.

Anna's love interest is Prince Sergei who's reign over his vast empire is being threatened by a revolution. Anna's brother Paul is part of the revolution to overthrow the Prince's reign and win back the Motherland. Although she loves her brother dearly and doesn't want to tear her family apart, she understands that what her brother is doing is very wwwwrong. Anna knows in her heart that Prince Sergei doesn't deserve the way he's being treated. Anna also faces the reality that her best friend Katrina is in love with the Prince too. The only person Anna can rely on now is God. Her faith and trust in God is all she has top get her through this.

Will she choose a great new future with her Prince or will she choose her family who raised her and has always been there for her? I think that the decision will definitely suprise you.

Book two of the Russians series has action, romance, friendship and best of all, an interesting storyline.

This series is typically categorized by bookstores as "religious fiction". I will say that there is an underlying message about God (after all religion plays a huge part of Russian history) but it was simply woven into the story subtly and relevantly. I have read other Pella books and found this to be the case with them as well.

This book was the start of my infatuation with historical fiction and I am thankful for it. I do recommend all seven in the series with five stars - read them, although it may take a while!

As you probably guessed after reading my review of the first book in the "Russians" series, I grabbed the second one up as quickly as I could...and I certainly wasn't disappointed. The book begins right where the first one left off, and it quickly presents us with new changes and challenges that the chracters are facing. Prince Sergei and Anna's relationship is a major component of this novel-it is talked about more than it was in the first novel. Paul Burenin, Anna's brother, also takes a much bigger part in this novel, and his revolutionary ideas that had begun to take root in the last novel are now the only causes he's living for. I thought the authors did an excellent job of portraying Paul and his conflicting thoughts about sacrifices for the revolutionary cause, and his anguished wonderings about what lengths he will go to as he fights for change. And Katrina's love life takes a few new turns...but I can't really say anymore. All I can say is that, if anything, the history in this book is more masterfully blended into the story than it was in the last book, and anyone who loved the first book in this series MUST read the second!

George MacDonald is the master when it comes to communicating the beauty and power of Nature. He has a deep appreciation for the transcendant meaning and purpose which God infuses into Nature by His very character which is ever-present Love. And because man is made in God's image, he is able to experience in the deepest way possible the all-present Love of God. A God who is always seeking to sympathize with and redeem the men and women He created.

This is the story of an orhan who cannot speak who flees the city and manages to find friendship and love in the midst of a simple country family. In the end his life leads him back to the city and to places he never could have imagined.

If you are interested in finding out what life is all about and where true happiness lies this story is an exellent guide-book.

A young boy with no advantages, as this world counts them, in seeking goodness, went on to discover that doing right, as God counts right, is the best reward. A wonderful book.

We read this aloud to our family and ALL loved it. We think the author is the best ever. Most of his books are Scottish and C.S. Lewis and JRR Tolken both claimed him as their mentor! GET IT ! :)

I found this book by accident in a bookstore, and am glad I bought it. It is an excellent story. The setting is well-described, the writing style is eloquent, and the characters are presented with depth and emotion.

The only slight problem with this book is that it does hold a very obvious Christian bias. I was not aware that this book fell into the genre of "Christian fiction" when I bought it. Although the plot is great and the story is very entertaining, it is obvious to me that the authors intend to bring a stong faith element to the story. I wish the authors had broken out of their Christian bias long enough to simply tell a good story.

However, in spite of the Christian bias to the story, I will still complete all six books in this series. This is a great tribute to the authors, because in spite of the fact that they have introduced a bias that I personally do not agree with, the story is still worth reading to the end.

I picked up this book yesterday evening and I couldn't put it down. I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen to Maggie and Ian. Now I have to go find the next books in the series! I also enjoyed the thread of faith in God that the authors wove throughout the book. It was a great read!

The Heather Hills of Stonewycke is a wonderful book. The characters are so realistic and you feel as though you're right there with Maggie, Ian, Digory, Atlanta, and James. It was a beautifully written novel and everyone should read. The only bad part was when I finished all six of the books!

I could not put the book down. It reads more like a conversation between friends than a step-by-step how to. The author is present several schools of thought on organic farming and encourages others to try different approaches. A goldmine of information, it is comprehensive in its treatment of the organic apple growing. I highly recommend it to any one interested in raising apple trees for fun or profit.

Most gardening books tend to be fairly dry, with step-by-step instructions, lots of tables, etc. This book is the opposite. This book reads like a long story told by the fire which happens to be about serious apple orcharding. And maybe a bit like a sermon, but I mean that in a good way, not preachy. Those with wisdom should impart it. After reading so many impersonal gardening books, this one is a breath of fresh air and reminds me why I love gardening.

Even though the book is not facts-in-your-face, it does impart an incredible amount of information. But, you need to re-read since the information you need may be buried in that story somewhere. There are a couple places where more tables and diagrams could have helped. The chapter on pest and disease control for instance could have used a problem --> solution kind of table. This chapter also was over my head in spots, almost like he switched to telling his story to another seasoned organic orchardist and not a beginner like me.

The book really does impart wisdom about orcharding. Stories can contain subtle shades of grey you just can't cram into a table. Mistakes will happen, but after reading this book they won't seem quite so painful. In that sense it is invaluable.

The book is more directed at the commercial organic orchardist, and I am a home orchadist. At first I was a little annoyed at having to read about the commercial aspects, but after awhile the story got so good that I was enjoying those parts just as much as the stuff I needed to know. Also, he does direct some comments at the home orchardist. I expect I will be re-reading this book many times over the years.

A great book on small orchard management. It is especially helpful for a person interested in growing apples for the first time. The book guides you through orchard planning, care, pest control as well as marketing strategies for the small orchardist.

Good adventure novel. Interesting characters, especially the "human" ones. I thought the hero, Malcolm, was too good to be true, too "saintly" to be real. The ending leaves you hanging though. I hadn't known when I started reading this book, that it is really Book 1 of a two-part story. Make sure you can get hold of the second book "The Marquis' Secret" before you started reading "The Fisherman's Lady".

This book was my introduction to George MacDonald's adult fiction, and I think his best! Don't miss the sequel, The Marqui's Secret. As a child I grew up reading C.S. Lewis, John White and MacDonald's writings and developed a love for the keen insights and deep thoughts in MacDonald's novels as well as his inspirational books. Interestingly, he was the spiritual and literary mentor for both Lewis and Tolkein. They are not a lightweight romances like modern authors tend to write, but classic love story both men and women read and enjoy.

Excellent reading! This was my introduction to George MacDonald's books. Not a soppy romance as today's authors tend to write, but even one that men would enjoy reading for leisure! As I am a GREAT fan of C.S.Lewis' and Tolkien's writings, I was fascinated to find that both these author's drew a lot of their inspiration from MacDonald's writings. I have since read "The Princess & the Goblin", "The Princess & Curdie", "The Golden Key", and "The Light Princess". My husband is currently reading Phantastes and we have also bought Lilith, still to be read. I look forward to getting "The Marquis' Secret" if I can, as I really would like to follow the full story!!

It was stretching the imagination that a government diplomat on first name basis with the president could be so naive and careless in his determined search for Sabina. To not be aware of being followed and putting people who aided him lives at risk was just too much. And when he does find Sabina again, he parks his car that has been chased for 2 months right out in front of the apartment she has been hiding in. The story is being stretched out over 1500 pages and nothing new has happened so far.

Michael Phillips is wonderful in taking history and weaving a story of intrigue, faith and personal endurance. Historical fiction can be very exciting or very boring depending on the writer and he makes it come alive. You will be blessed by this series.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone. It was very interesting and a great story! I'd give it more stars if I could.

This is a fascinating story of Waite Phillips and his dreams of living a cowboy life out west, his bond with twin brother Wiatt, and his life as an oilman, wildcatter and millionare. Most importantly, it is the story of a man with the wisdom to understand that "A man keeps nothing unless he gives it away". His gifts to the Boy Scouts of America, hospitals, universities, and the city of Tulsa stand as a testiment to his wisdom and love of people. I recommend this book more often than any other. It should be required reading for all.

While my purpose for reading this book was to explore the history of Philmont Scout Ranch of which Waite Phillips was the benefactor, I found this book to also be adventurous and educational. The history of Waite Phillips and his generousity shows him to be a hard businessman with a heart of gold and his priorities in the right place. I can say that the Boy Scouts of America would not be the organization it is today without the life and generousity of Waite Phillips. A must read for anyone who loves Scouting.

And I will admit, my interest in opening the book was being there when Mr.Wallis and "Chope" Phillips did their book signing at Philmont Scout Ranch, BSA's mecca for Scouting. I thought I would be bored by the sections related to Waite and his twin brother Wiatt and their adventures prior to the time Waite became the benefactor of the property we call Philmont. Instead I found myself interested in the details and events of their lives, of Wiatt's death, and the personal insights into the Phillips family. Anyone with any interest in the west, in Scouting, in the history of the development of the oil fields, or in the giving of a man who truly felt "The only things we keep forever are those we give away" would be glad they read this book.

To the thousands who visit Philmont every year, for training, for a wilderness experience, or to serve on staff, this book should give you the information and attitude you need to truly appreciate the experience.

And you'll realize you should be kind to any old "cowboy" you meet in the backcountry -- it could be Chope.

Are you a conscious consumer? Or do you passively accept every technology trend that comes your way, believing the promises you hope it delivers? This book covers several areas on how we are rapidly moving ahead with technology without much thought to the consequences it has on our humanity- whether it is violence on screens, quick health "solutions", or stressed out lifestyles with a half dozen different contact numbers.

After reading this book, I don't think I will ever be able to look at the media and technology the same ever again. While I think a few of the issues were oversimplified, this book was also well researched and most importantly- it makes you think. Whether you agree with some of the main points or not, you will be thinking about this book long after you have finished digesting it. Think of it as a bit of balance to your ideas, to counteract with all of those commercials you've been reading and hearing your whole life.

John Naisbitt is very high touch in person. When he told me his next book would be about high tech, high touch--the most popular and shortest chapter in Megatrends--I was hoping for examples of how to achieve that balance. Alas I was mistaken. I came away from the read very sensitized to the encroachment of the technologically intoxicated zone. I chuckled at realizing our two biggest markets are consumer technology and escape from consumer technology. These are valuable lessons and well documented. There are a few personable moments in the book that point towards turning off the TV. But the reader needs to look elsewhere and inward for the antidote.

Megatrends author John Naisbitt's new book (co-written by daughter Nana Naisbitt and artist Douglas Philips) is a fat book of ideas that touches upon genetics, art, media violence, time sensibilities and even South Park. Unlike most futurists, the authors make judgment calls about future timelines and inclinations. However, they agree with other futurists that full immersion virtual reality is coming, although they add that it's probably not a good thing, especially for your kids. Their compelling discussion of the genetic revolution is wide-ranging and fair-handed. Their interesting take on media violence and video games seems more controversial, evidencing a distaste that echoes the genre's most hostile opponents. Their view of modern art, which touts body part art (i.e. Piss Christ and sliced cows) but ignores the computer-driven fruition of amateur filmmaking, also seems odd. You may find yourself arguing and fighting with this very stylish, well-written book, but we [...] promise you won't be bored.