If you read my review of the first book, you know that I loved it. Well, in my mind, this one is so much better. I don't remember laughing out loud at this one, but over all the story is so great. The mystery is harder to solve, yet makes perfect sense. The romantic subplot is great as are the plots involving the other characters that we meet. I saw a lot of myself in Merry's problems with her personal life. The first book is great and a great way to meet the characters, but this book gets even better. Be sure to read them both. I'm egarly waiting the third book, Caught Napping, which the author has just started on.

I didn't think I would enjoy "Caught in the Act" as much as I did "Caught in the Middle", but I liked it even better! The mystery kept me guessing until the end of the book(and so did the romance). I can really relate to Merry. She seems like someone who would be a good friend(if she were real). She's a great character. I cannot wait for the next in the series. Write(and publish) faster!

The predecessor to this book was good, but the sequel was even better. The characters are just as real and loveable, and the feisty heroine Merry tells her story with both dry wit and tender feeling. The mystery was also even better--just about as hard to solve as an Agatha Christie. If you liked the first book, grab "Caught in the Act"!

My girlfriend and I recently took some of Ropers advice on a Mt. Conness Loop 5 day hike in Yosemite. It was an increadible trip. Roper gives just enough hints to get you there but few enough to make it still feel like exploring. Be advised however when he referes a section of your hike as 'adventurous' or 'exciting' he means it. We pushed ourselves to the physical and mental limit on this trip.

This book outlines a magnificent experience following an off-trail, higher version of the Muir Trail through the High Sierra. We have followed most of Roper's route over several years: sometimes we thought we were lost or overwhelmed, but it always turned out fine, and usually excellent. He treads a fine line between complete instructions that would allow no mistakes, and an experience that gives the hiker their own opportunity for route-finding, discovery, and growth. This is one of our favorite books, and we keep an intact copy plus another one torn apart for each journey and sometimes given away to people met along the way who need it. We still travel the trail some of the time, but genuinely value this alternative farther away from the crowds.

I made good use of this book to plan a wonderful cross-country trip in the Sierra. Roper was kind of vague at times, but I never got lost.

The route he described was breath-taking. I intend to use this book to plan next summer's trip.

Hallam ptovides us with a wonderful book on the reigns of Henry III, Edward I, Edward II and Edward III. Each of the reigns is examined in detail with a series of essays written by experts in medieval history. The 113 essays cover a wide range of topics and provide the reader with a vivid history of Europe from 1216 - 1377. Contemporary chroniclers tie the book together. This beautiful book contains over 235 illustrations (in color and black and white), five detailed maps and a genealogy chart showing the interrelationships between the English, Scottish and French Dynasties.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in medieval history.

I read the British edition and found it fascinating. This book is for the general reader interested in English medieval history. It is not a scholarly piece of work, hence it is easier to read and more entertaining. Every aspect of the life in medieval England (and a little of France) is covered as well as the rule of the Plantagenet dynasty. There is lavish use of photographs and colorful illustrations which brings all the information more into perspective. I highly recommend it for general reading.

I'm currently engrossed in reading Victorian history and literature, and purchased this book to get a quick infusion of church history for that period. The book was a perfect choice for my needs. While the book's coverage extends from the French Revolution to the present day, it is mainly concerned with the events of the nineteenth century in Europe, England and Scotland.

Mr. Vidler starts with a discussion of Catholicism in France during the periods of revolution. He delineates the struggle between those favoring strong papal control and those who wanted a more secular society. He moves on to the Oxford movement in Britain where there was a tendency toward revival of Catholic beliefs and liturgy. The Chartist movement and the Christian Socialists were a development of the Industrial Revolution. Marked attempts were made to address the political and financial poverty of many of England's citizens.

The author also covers the split in the Church in Scotland; the impact of Charles Darwin on Christian thinking; the growth of liberal theology and the Catholic modernists; the influence of Kierkegaard; and the impact of imperialistic missionary programs on European and British colonies.

Although written by an Anglican theologian the book is a very even handed treatment of Protestant and Catholic movements and theology during modern times. He presents the good along with the bad, and in sum presents the reader with a concise, informative church history in slightly less than 300 pages. My only caveat is that if you are primarily interested in twentieth century coverage of this topic, then you had best look elsewhere. Coverage of the current period is relatively brief and extends only to 1971, the date of publication.

In a small package, Vidler has written an analysis - - not merely an overview - - of reactions by the Christian Churches to moderrnity and its discontents from the French Revolution to Vatican II. This is a deceptively small book for it is dense, deep, and highly informed. It may even be too concise for the casual reader; I read it with an abundance of other source materials. Figures such as Coleridge, John Henry Newman, and Kierkegaard are portrayed with sympathy. This is essential to any understanding of the Western world in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Dancing On The Moon is a wondrously illustrated color picture book showcasing the artistry of Lauren Grimm in service to a sensitive and gentle text especially written by Janice Roper for children on the subject of coping with great loss. A young girl suddenly loses her infant brother, and her parents try to help her understand that he will always be with her, in her heart. Dancing On The Moon is a powerful and profound story, and highly recommended reading - especially for boys and girls having to deal with the loss of a friend or family member.

This is an incredibly well-written and beautifully illustrated book. It tells the story of the journey of a young girl, whose infant brother has died. She sets off to find him, and in the end, realizes that he was always with her, in her heart. The author, Janice Roper, lost her 3 month old son to SIDS, and years later, wrote the story that she was unable to find for her daughter (Selena), to guide her through her grief. She tells the story through beautiful poetry and powerful illustrations.

I received my copy of the book this week. My daughter (almost 9) had me read it again and again. If was about the fifth time we read it, that we could read it without crying. Reading this book with my daughter was like watching someone transform before your eyes. She cried uncontrollably (she has a 6-year-old brother and obviously could relate to the main character, Carly), she talked about her feelings, and then she started focusing on the end of the book. She said the book made her feel really, really good; that when someone dies they are always with you.

Fortunately, my children have not had to suffer the loss of someone close to them. But with my grandmother and my husband's parents aging, it is inevitable. I am comforted to know my daughter experienced this book. I think it will help us through those rough days. Even as an adult, I found it very comforting.

I thank the author for sharing this story, that was born out of her own personal tradegy. By writing this book, she will help so many people. It fills a void in children's literature. It is a beautiful and important book that every parent should own.

I personally liked this book. It really lets children interact with the storyline, which is to get Dora safely to the library so she can return her books. Dora asks the reader for help in finding articles in her backpack that will help her accomplish this goal.

Overall, this book was a little too advanced for my soon-to-be three year-old cousin. Be sure to buy this book for a child who's older, because it's not a hardcover book (a little one will rip this easily) and it might be a little difficult for a toddler to interact with the story.

My 2 year old is a big Dora fan and this book is requested at bedtime every night. It is very interactive (there are lots of questions in it like "where is boots?" or "Can you count the books?" ) It is a good inexpensive book for any Dora fan.

The title suggests this book is comprised of reminiscing reflections from sadistic, self-satisfied Nazi war criminals. In fact, most of the observations in written and spoken testimonies, diaries and documents, suggest the 'Perpetrators and Bystanders' were appalled. Frequently, however, they were only bothered by the manner of the beatings and executions. Those whose material contributed to this book had to see starved women beg for their lives-- soon to be corpses pulled from gas chambers by hooks on sticks inserted into their mouths to make for easy dragging-- Nazi mass executions of Jews by bullet in which many near dead tumbled into communal graves begged to be shot again, or even crowbar execution beatings by SS-supervised Ukrainians, and so on, before returning to enjoy their privileged lives away from real military action.

In a section on the camps, an SS Doctor, Johannes Kremer, Mengele-like, describes how he 'reserves' certain starving prisoners who are particularly interesting to him medically, for warm disections. On the next entry of his diary he says: "'There was roast hare for lunch'a real fat leg'with dumplings and red cabbage'" His remark, chosen for the title of this chapter: "Food in the officers' mess excellent."

There are a number of photographs throughout the book, which were taken in spite of it being forbidden.

For those of us born after 1945, there is an impenetrable membrane between us and a proper sense of these important recent events. (If you visit Auschwitz/Birkenau you may be struck by how modern everything looks. It was not that long ago.) We may ask how it is possible for civilized people with families to commit and tolerate such affronts to humanity, and then quietly return to their lives with a clear conscience. Hauntingly, there is an even worse question, if I had been born in the right time and place, and had been fed the right propaganda, could I have done it? In some way, am I doing it now?

Such books as this make me mournful and trouble my sleep. I consider this necessary reading for anyone hoping see a little deeper into this terrible odyssey shared by perpetrators and victims.

I also recommend Nazi Hunter, the Wiesenthal File, by Alan Levy, which is by no means similar in style or perspective, but contains a wealth of information.

This book really makes one shiver. I have read a number of books on the holocaust and World War 2 and this book absolute is the rawest of the books covering the genocide. That is not to say the book had a blow by blow account of the methods of killing, but just the history of this group of solders and the off handed way the mass killing was described. The people doing this killing were just normal guys, not unlike friends, family or myself. Wow, it is just amazing to me the way they try to justify what they were in charge of, the crimes against humanity that they committed. That is what was so disturbing to me. It is much easier to think that the mass killing was done by some group of homicidal maniacs let out of the asylum and given guns that that is not the case.

The details you get here are very hard to take once you have finished the book and think about it. This is one of the few books that for weeks after I finished it I would continue to think about it I do not think I can recommend this book enough; it really gives you a feel for the tremendous crime that took place. You will not be able to stop reading the book until you have completed it. I could go on and on. Even if you are not overly interested in WW 2 or the Holocaust you should read this book, there is no way you will not be griped by it.

Read it but be careful! The abyss will look back at you. The reports, letters and diary excerpts... This is really the backside of the nazi grandiose facade. Not forget the Holocaust? This book will never let you forget.

A highly romantic book that is extremely touching, frequently funny, and easily re-read. The Decision is an exceptional book for contemporary romances. Although written in the first person, the descriptions are handled so well that the reader doesn't miss the other characters' view points. The heroine, Rose, is honest, sinful, repentant, and maturing. The "mystery" is only a small part of the book. The larger part is an understanding of the Amish, the grace and sovereignty of God, and the challenges of being a paraplegic(Jake). Difficult to put down; easy to re-read!

The first sentence of this book had me hooked, with each subsequent paragraph filling in more details of the "explosive" opening event, and drawing me further into the story. It was hard to put this book down. It contained action, romance, emotion, real people to whom I could relate, and a clear but non-preachy presentation of how God wants to relate to people. I'd like to see many more books by this author.

I just wanted to let readers know that The Decision was awarded the Holt Medallion as the best short inspirational romance of 1999. I'm honored to receive this award and pleased that the judges found The Decision worthy.

Gayle Roper, author

I was blown away by Spring Rain! I made the mistake of getting near the end around the time I should have been in bed, and wound up staying awake an extra two hours because I simply could not put that book down.

It's hard to say which plotline captivated me more- the romantic tension between Leigh and Clay or the smoldering conflict between Clay and Ted, fueled by severe stubbornness on the part of both brothers over the issue of Ted's homosexuality and brought out now because of Ted's impending death from AIDS.

You never know what to expect from any book dealing with sensitive topics such as AIDS and homosexuality, the author gives these timely issues the attention they deserve without becoming preachy. Through the interaction between Clay and his brother Ted, she gets the reader to see the fine line between righteousness and self-righteousness, and prayerfully, to be able to discern that difference in our own lives.

Not many authors could navigate the maze of family secrets and disagreements without turning their book into one big soap opera, but Gayle Roper has succeeded by treating each plotline with loving care, and giving us a clear look into the hearts of each character, from the youngest to the eldest.

I am eagerly awaiting more books in the SeaSide Seasons series (try to say THAT five times fast!)

Spring Rain is a wonderful story of family conflict, blossoming romance and the healing power that faith brings in times of heartache and struggle. Roper's characters are likeable, even charming, but not too perfect to be real. The romantic element--especially between the characters of Julia and David--is heartwarming.

Gayle Roper draws a smooth, fully developed picture of twin brothers each caught in the consequences of their own sins and hypocricies. A compelling story alive with detail through the full storm and out the other side to God's grace. This reader got absorbed into the pain and waded through the thorough working out of honest, enlightened faith. Spring Rain refreshes, but does not compromise. Janet Chester Bly, [...]