I re-visited "Sacred Connections" after almost a year. Any parent would benefit from these tender , moving stories of love, courage and commitment. The voices, of the subjects, reverberate in many of my personal encounters and experiences. It is a wonderful book.

I bought the book because I know some of the people interviewed in the book...but the book was even better than I had hoped it would be! The stories are very moving and brought tears to my eyes. It was nice to see a variety of closed adoption reunion and open adoption stories. I think the book shows people that contrary to current adoption stereotypes...adoptees, adoptive parents, and birth parents can all share a special bond or connection if they are open to it. Everybody has something special to add to the relationship...and having birth parents be a part of that relationship doesn't have to be threatening or confusing for anyone! This book would make a beautiful gift for anyone you know who is involved in adoption!

Wow! I loved this book. Letting people speak for themselves about adoption is so important. I sensed a compassionate hand in the editing of these stories that makes them a pleasure to read and gives an artful consistency without diminishing the individual voices. The photography is wonderfully evocative. By chance, I have had the opportunity to meet a few of the people whose stories are in the book. I was delighted to find that there was no disjuncture between my brief encounters and what I read, which added to its authenticity for me.

Mary's insightfulness of what it's like to be a woman, a human being, come through in simple, yet awe-inspiring words. Her poems moved me more than anything has in a long time. I want other women to discover the beauty and wisdom of Mary Waters. She's amazing!...

The poems in "Sandpaper Blankets" are so easy to read yet full of images and feeling. You can read them several times and find more meaning each time. My most favorite are "Moonlight" and "Ain't No Sunshine". I would recommend this for everyone!

Reading these poems is like staring into still water -- reflective, yet deep. While reading, I found myself saying, "Yes, I've felt that too!" Ms. Waters' poetry gives us language for the difficult and wonderous thing we call life. If I have to choose a favorite poem, it would be "Meetings." It should be required reading for anyone under the age of 30 -- and for most of us beyond...

This book attempts to explain Star Wars in the context of patterns found throughout the mythology and legends of various cultures. The success of the film, the book claims, is due in no small part to the fact that the film's story is a composite of all the things that make mythical stories endure as myths.

To my suprise, however, I found the book to be an excellent commentary on mythology itself - the book is almost as informative in pointing out elements that repeat themselves in mythical stories - the concept of the "hero's journey" - with Luke being our hero - mystical forests as a place of healing (Degobah), etc, as it is in relating these elements to the story of Star Wars.

This book was written to accompany an exhibit of the same name at the National Air & Space Museum in Washington DC, and I was fortunate enough to see the exhibit on tour in San Diego last year. While the exhibit itself was amazing, and filled with various props and spaceship models used in the film, this book is actually more informative than the exhibit and stands exceedingly well on its own.

I love the Star Wars films, though I am certainly no hard-core Star Wars buff. I feel that just about anyone who, like me, loves these films will get a lot of enjoyment from this book.

If you love star wars, and would love to see it analyzed seriously, but without being to heavy and dry, this is perfect for you. It discusses the correlations between myth and Star Wars, influences from around the world, etc. Its facinating, and beautifully laid out.

I saw the exhibit in Washington, DC TWICE! It was so cool to see all the real space ships near this vision of another galaxy far, far away. The book is the perfect narrative to the exhibit and it is the ANSWER to not being able to get there if you live in another part of the world.

The images, text, and layout of this book take you on a journey like none before. A MUST HAVE BOOK to complete your collection of great STAR WARS merchandise.

you have no idea, what i thought of this book at first.. before i read it i thought that just because the cover looked good, the book won't be great, but guess what??? This book is absolutetly amazing, and page by page as you read it, it becomes more interesting, as you travel through the Belezzan world and start to imagine yourself as Lucien.. You literally become him.. you travel with him every step of the way, and know all people just as well as he does. this book is a once-in-a-lifetime book, it is absolutely breathtaking and adventoreous, it's one of a kind. i can't wait for the next two to come out :)

I love this book it's abouit a kid named Lucien and how he travels from world to world learning about other people and how he is in great danger. He meets many friends along the way. His friend, Arrainia hates the Duchcessha, but in the end of the book she find out that the duchessa is really her mother. This book is full of action,secrects,and excitment. So read The City of Masks!!!!
I love it!!!!!!!

I loved this book. After a few chapters into it I could not put it down. Mary Hoffman made this beautiful world come to life in your own mind. The boy, Lucien, fighting a deadly disease in one word living a full life in another. In Talia, he has people that love him and he laughs and has adventures with his friend, Ariana. He is fighting one of the deadliest diseases in the other. The book will make you laugh and cry. This is one of the best books I have ever read.

I read this book in on sitting, I just couldn't put it down. My own faith has been improved by the stories in this book. I would highly recommend it.

Surprised by Peace is a treasure that I highly recommend to all. It is easy to read, hard to put down, and extremely moving and inspirational. The stories are so real you can feel the anguish and joy of the authors as you read. This book offers insight into gay people that we do not often encounter. It will make you rethink the typical stereotypes of gays, as well as Christians, especially the negative ones. It shows how gay people are among all segments of society and that they yearn for the same things all people do: peace, love, joy, and hope.

From these accounts, we see that God is much bigger and of such greater character than what we are led to believe by religion, its leaders, and their interpretations of Scripture. The stories are about people of various ages, family status, educations, religious backgrounds, nationalities, professions, finances, and health, yet they all find peace through a simple faith in God.

For these reasons, Surprised by Peace has universal appeal. It is the kind of book we all need to read to better understand ourselves and all those around us, as well as the character of God and the peace and hope we can all find through simple faith in Him.

I'm not much of a reader but I started to reading this book and could'nt put it down. I have read it three times and when I am having a bad day I pick it up and read some of the stories and it gives me encourgement and peace.
The stories were written by people of all walks of life. Each story touches you in a differnt way you feel the pain, sadness, happiness and the hurt they felt as the wrote about there life's expreinces. And How God can take your heartache and turns thing's around and gives you Peace and Love like no other.
The book shows God Love and Acceptance everyone as we should except and love one another as he does.
I pray that this book will give each reader the peace and love that only God can give us.

I just wish I had had this book when my mother was fighting cancer. It's a winner.

Concise, well written, and packed with valuable information and suggestions on understanding and managing one's interaction with the medical world, this book makes a great gift for someone facing a health challenge - or for yourself. You or your friend will certainly find this book more useful than a potted plant or a hot casserole.

I am not facing a health challenge, but found this book interesting, informative, and good advance prepartation for any future health challenge to me or members of my family. One tip, alone, is worth the price of the book - if a doctor tells you unpleasant news, ask him to put it in writing. So often, when one gets home and tries to repeat the dignosis and options to family, one forgets important facts or has misunderstood what the doctor said.

The book is full of incredibly useful information, charts, and examples. If you or a loved one are seriously ill, it will become your Bible. I am so impressed by this book that I plan to send it to my friends and family as a Christmas gift this year.

Informative book with many practical tips for people with serious health problems or chronic diseases. I especially like chapter 3...Getting It Together, regarding putting together a medical resume. This is great advice for people who are seeing multiple physicians. I wish this book had been available when I was visiting several neurologists prior to the diagnosis of essential tremor.

This is a fabulous "hands on" read - simple, direct and succinct. Not a lot of medical jargon. Touches topics we all need to consider such as "If You Are Having Problems With Your Doctor" and a sample letter for changing doctors within the same practice. There's also one if you choose to go outside the medical practice. The authors offer a pragmatic sensitive approach to daily hassles such as navigating the insurance company maze, and what to do when you and your doctor disagree. Get this book before you need it.

Anthony Earhart, Marquess of Staunton, desperately wants to spite the father he hates. Summoned home after eight years' absence, he knows that he is expected to marry a chit straight from the schoolroom because she is his father's choice of bride for him; a suitable match for a future duke. Well, he has no intention of conforming. He decides to marry the most unsuitable woman he can find: a mousy nobody. So - as he is determined not to stoop lower than a gentlewoman fallen on hard times - he advertises for a governess, intending to marry the most submissive and plain of the applicants.

Charity Duncan seems to meet Anthony's requirements. Little does he know that her submissive manner is assumed, due to her having lost previous employment because she stood up for the rights of a chambermaid. Dressed in dull brown, she stares at the floor and seems so perfect for Anthony's purpose that he proposes to her.

Charity accepts, because her family is very poor and her brother is struggling to pay off debts so that he can marry his sweetheart. After all, the marquess promises that she will only have to play the part of his wife for a matter of weeks. Then he will give her a home and a pension - six thousand pounds a year! - and she can have her freedom, except for the wedding ring. Anthony himself, he declares, never wants to marry for real, never wants to have children of his own.

So they marry, and Charity accompanies Anthony to Enfield, the Duke of Withingsby's home. There, she finds an apparently cold, unloving family, and realises that her husband wasn't joking when he said he wanted to spite the father he loathed. However, Anthony has seriously underestimated Charity...

Gradually, she breaks down the ice which surrounds her husband's heart and, bit by bit, she becomes his confidant. She, on the other hand, learns that passion doesn't have to have anything to do with love.

While she seems to be making progress in helping Anthony to reconcile with his family, isn't she only hastening the time when he'll inform her that he doesn't need her any more, and thus of her own departure? After all, he did marry a temporary wife...

In Balogh's inimitable style, she gives us a poignant story which examines relationships in all their manifestations, and shows us that love and hate are often closer than we think. And typically in a Balogh novel, the apparent villain is not so evil as he might have initially appeared. This is a wonderful romantic tearjerker, well worth the secondhand price you might have to pay!

Anthony is absent 8 years from his home when he receives the request (order) from his father to return immediately. Anthony is independently wealthy and independent in all other ways, so why would he return to the family he has not set eyes on in 8 years? Well...

Anthony, the heir to a dukedom, marries an impoverished mouse of a gentlewoman below his station. He acquires this "temporary wife" in order to "stick it" to his estranged father (the duke) after he has been summoned home.

His bride, Charity Duncan, seems like the perfect little "mouse" to enrage his father. His plan is to marry her, use her for a few weeks to assert his independence from his father, then separate from her permanently.

Charity agrees to this because her family is in debt and, as the eldest sibling, feels this marriage is the only way to save her family from poverty and hardship. You see, Anthony will make her a wealthy woman for life if she marries him and lets him use her as a pawn for only a few weeks.

Things do not go as planned for either of them. Charity's warm presence in her new husband's stuffy, loveless family causes heartache, enlightenment, healing, love, grief, etc. Anthony learns very quickly that Charity is NOT a mouse. Charity learns quickly that there is more to Anthony than the cold, calculating, rigid man he seems.

The relationship between Anthony and Charity is a unique one and develops with care. This is NOT a case of "First comes love, then comes marriage". The sequence of events in their relationship is unconventional and they all unfold in a very satisfying way.

Great book! Read it!

Lord Anthony Earheart marries an impoverished, mousy woman to upset his father. But he gets more than he bargained for. Charity may be mousy, but she is stronger than she seems.

Charity is a catalyst. Her arrival results in lots of emotional turmoil for the people of this household. But in the end, the results are worth all the pain.

In the hands of the wrong writer, Anthony's father could have been yet another eeevil parent stereotype. But this is a Mary Balogh novel, and life is never so simple in her books.

The characters grow in the course of this book. The best moments are often the most subtle ones.

Anne M. Marble Reviewer, All About Romance

This book is a touch repetitive, and occaisionally new-agey, which could put a lot of horsey people off, but I strongly suggest you persist. If you have "feel" problems this may change your whole perspective! It's also a great source of ideas for teachers with problem pupils, I'd recommend it for teaching people exactly why position does matter.

I highly recommend Mary Wanless and her teachings. I was at the point of quitting riding. It had become a torture for my horse and myself. I felt that because I wasn't naturally talented I was destined to never progress beyond the point I was at. A friend recommended I read Ride with your Mind: Masterclass after listening to my feelings. It was like a whole new world opened to me within the first few pages. I'm excited about riding again and my horse seems happier with my new attitude. Reading this book was the greatest gift I could have ever given myself and my horse.

This book turned the unknown and terrifying into the wonerful world of riding I know today. It is an easy to read, practical guide that you will not want to let out of your sight, and will want to read and refer to time and time again.

AASIGNED TO COMPANY "D" 1/46, 196 INF, I KNOW MR. NOLAN HAS TONS IF INTERVIEWS AND DOCUMENTS ON THE SUBJECT, FSB MARY ANN, I BELIEVE THAT VOLUMES COULD AND SHOULD BE WRITTEN AS WELL AS PHOTS, NOT TO STOP SHORT OF A FEATURE FILM.....

This book helped me remember how lucky I am to be here to read it. I was amazed at how much detail he found in his research, best one Ive read on viet nam and what it was really like. Thanks mr. Nolan

The war was winding down but for the men of the 196th LIB home was just a distant dream. As a member of Charlie Company, I can attest to the accuracy and fairness the author treats the grunts of LZ MaryAnn. I only pray that we will never see a war like VN again.

Tallahassee Higgins reckon's she's got to be the unhappiest twelve-year-old in the world when her free-spirited, unconventional, flighty young mother Liz leaves her at an aunt and uncle's house while Liz goes off to Hollywood to hit it big. She does poorly in school, her only friend's mother hates her guts, and she has to have things like bedtimes and is made to do her homework. Tallahassee, who is not used to following rules, constantly argues with her Aunt Thelma over them. Every day she hopes Liz will hit it big and send for her.

There are two principal conflicts in the story. The first and most realistic in my opinion is Tallahassee's longing for her mother, longing to be with her. It is obvious to the reader and all the characters except Tallahassee herself that Liz is not going to pick her up anytime within the near future. Quite conceivably Tallahassee will be living with her aunt and uncle for years. Liz, like Kathy in Rainbow Jordan, loves her daughter in her own way but is not capable of taking care of her. And, like Rainbow, Tallahassee doesn't see this and regards her mother as something close to an angel. She's got a lot to learn.

The second conflict is Tallahassee's pondering as to who her father was. Liz never said. Tallahassee only knows that she isn't blonde and beautiful like her mom; she has freckles and big teeth and red hair. "You take after your father," Liz always said. Tallahassee never gave the matter much thought till she saw a photograph of Liz's long-dead childhood sweetheart who used to live in the neighborhood...and he looks just like her.

The young man, who was killed in Vietnam, does in fact turn out to be Tallahassee's father. However I think it would have been a better literary device if (a) Tallahassee hadn't been so sure and (b) Maybe he wasn't her real father after all, maybe it was coincidence. But she asked Liz when Liz came for a very short visit, and Liz told her the truth.

While the book does a good rendering of complicated family relationships and a child's love for her mother, I think it could have used some work...

Tallahassee Higgins is possibly the greatest book out for teens these days. While I have read almost every single one of Mary Downing Hahn's books, I have to say, this is the one I enjoyed the most. It's both realistic and exciting at the same time. I think this will be the one book most teens can relate to. I certainly could!

I am a 25 year old playwright. I just read this book and I regret I hadn't read it when I was in grade school. It was very realstic and Mary Downing Hahn is an amazing author who blends suspense with a bit of horror ( somtimes) and adds a whole twist of reality. I recomend this book to grade school children and adults who haven't read t