I agree with "A reader from Michigan" Jan 12th 2003. This book was disappointing. I too was anticipating its arrival in my mail box and couldn't wait to jump right in and read it. But I found that it lacks depth and goes into details about the most unimportant things that don't help to further the story along. I would have liked more details of Joe's looks rather than the way the Admiral looks with his "steely blue eyes and weathered face". If his looks were important to the story, or to Ronnie it would make sense to describe everyone in the same way Joe is described, but it never comes up again. It seemed totally pointless and didn't have anything to do with the Admirals emotions or character at the time of description. The story stops for a paragraph of 5th grade Navy SEAL explanations which seem to fall in the wrong place every time they come up. I found this book amateurish in comparison to what I normally read (Tom Clancy, Michael Crichton). The love scenes are wonderful, although few and far between.
The most wearisome thing was that I kept thinking to myself that men don't talk like that, or think to themselves like that. I mean really! But then it is written for women, and that's what we want to hear right?
Well, I'm looking forward to her later books which seem to be better written with less useless descriptions or inane explanations, if just for the romance aspect. All in all it's a real easy read, but if you know anything about the military its account of the Navy SEALs is frustratingly simple and redundant.

A lot more interesting than your basic one night stands! Suzanne Brockmann stirs up a sensual read in Prince Joe. I can't wait till her next book! A definate pleasure for all romance readers!

I usually dislike any action/adventure in romances because the authors forget to concentrate on the characters and spend the entire book on car chases and gunfights. Well, Brockmann is one author who does it right! The characters are always the focus, with the action a nice bonus.

Joe Cat is a wonderful hero: a tough, intelligent, funny, blue-collar kind of guy. He is the leader of the Alpha Squad of the Navy SEALs. Veronica is a high-class and hoity toity media consultant. A job brings them together: Joe must pose as the Prince of Eustanzia to catch a terrorist. Veronica must turn this macho sailor with the atrocious New Jersey accent into a prince in 2 days!

The attraction between them is immediate and very powerful, but many things stand in their way. Joe, a usually confident man, feels insecure for the first time. His blue-collar background makes him think Veronica won't want him for more than a fling. Is he right? You have to read the book! Veronica, for her part, is scared for Joe as catching dangerous terrorists is a daily thrill for him. Does she ask him to quit the SEALs? You have to read the book! Believe me, it's better than I can ever describe.

I was excited to learn that this is Brockmann's 1st book in a 10-book (or more) series about Navy SEALs. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this series.

As someone who loves both snakes and travel writing, I was intrigued by this book's topic. Though the author proclaims himself "phobic" of snakes, his attitude is probably closer to that of most people--a mixture of fear and fascination.

Seal focuses on four snakes: taipan (Australia), cobra (India), black mamba (Africa) and diamondback rattler (United States). In each country, he pursues both the snake itself and the people fascinated by snakes.

This travelogue explores psychological and religious affecting our relationship with snakes, as well as interspersing Bill Bryson-esque encounters with the people in each country (Seal is British, and thus a stranger in each land he visits). The author is amusing as well as informative; when dealing with snakes as venomous as these four, it's hard not to be dramatic. Historical tidbits (such as the Australian immigrant surrounding his home with snake-free Irish sod in hopes of repelling Australia's reptiles) lend a terrific feel to the book.

The primary difficulty I experienced with this book is its format. Each chapter covers one segment of his experience in a different country in a rotating format (oddly, India doesn't appear until we've gone through about three segments in each of the other countries). This occasionally makes it difficult to follow the multiple story threads. Additionally, the saga of the American woman whose husband attempted to murder her with rattlesnakes is excessively long and drawn out.

On the whole, however, this is a great read for anyone who either loves or hates snakes.

The Snakebite Survivors' Club by Jeremy Seal is subtitled "Travels Among Serpents." In fact, this book is about travels among people who get sometimes too close to highly poisonous snakes. The book is a travelogue, and British author Seal traveled to four places where snakes are very venomous in pursuit of people who hunt, handle, and get bitten by snakes: Appalachia in the USA where fundamentalists take literally the Bible passage about having faith to handle venomous snakes and sometimes pay the ultimate price, rural southern India where the cobra is worshiped as a phallus symbol and fertility God, Kenya where the black mamba lives in trees and strikes passing humans on the shoulder, and home of the most dangerous snake of all, the Taipan in Far North Queensland, Australia. The book is well constructed, entertaining, and enlightening. Anyone with an interest in the principle subject matter -- people -- will find this a delightful read.

As a snake owner (20+ years for a non-venomous one) and an author of a book about Cleopatra, how could I not order this book? When it arrived, I was delighted to find it was beautifully written and taught me about many species of snakes I did not know about, as well as the mind-set of those who seem undaunted by hunting and handling poisonous snakes. I know (from various herpetology society newsletters as well as regular news items) that the lure of breeding and keeping 'hot' snakes (as they are called in the trade) exerts a strong fascination for many. Jeremy Seal captures this psychology very well, as well as the attitude of most of us: we want to look at the deadly creatures, but not too closely.

The book also gives fine background about the natural history of Australia and Africa, introduces a set of human 'characters' that you will never forget, and keeps the reader in suspense about many of the stories by shifting locales, like the old matinee cliff-hangers.

Like another reader, my only suggestion for improvement would be that he would have come out against the rattlesnake roundups, which will soon be making an impact on the population of the rattlesnakes and sending them the way of the passenger pigeon or the dodo. Such elegant and beautiful creatures (who are only trying to eat and survive, after all) deserve better.

Great book, great job, Mr. Seal! Thanks for writing it for snake and non-snake people alike.

"Hey, Indy I've found something", Oh, wait, that's a line from the movie 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' isn't it? and 'The Sign & the Seal' is a serious historical, archaelogical account of the search for, and supposed discovery of the biblical Ark of the Covenant. Yes, one is fantasy and the other non-fiction, although after reading some parts of the book, don't be surprised if you find yourself flipping to the backcover to check on the publishing category. For your reference it's 'history/religion/archaeology'

That the book reads like a great adventure novel makes it enjoyable. That it purports to have solved the mystery of not only what happened to the Ark, but also that Hancock says that he knows where it is, makes this a book that deserves serious attention. The author spent considerable time researching this subject and his quest took him to Jerusalem, Egypt, the Chartres Cathedral in France and finally Ethiopia. He read widely and interviewed many people and discusses a wide variety of topics. The Kebra Nagast (the ancient Ethiopian history of the Queen of Sheba), the Templars, the Holy Grail, the biblical story of Solomon and the Babylonian Exile of the Jews all have some bearing on the wherabouts of the Ark. Hancock weaves it all together with style.

Research, genuine interest, enthusiasm and writing style however are insufficient in overcoming the critical flaw of the book. Unlike a movie which can end however it chooses, an investigative history book must prove it's thesis. Hancock neatly dodges producing proof by telling us that the guardian of the Ark won't let anyone see it. In recalling the conversation Hancock remembers saying 'this is a great disappointment for me', to which the guardian philosophically replied 'there are worse things in life than disappointment', to which I say, there are many movies that could use good endings like this but a history book should not be allowed to get away with it.

I started reading this book just after it was first published, in 1992 I trudged on for a hundred or so pages, and then put it down. For 10 years. Heavy reading indeed. Every year or so I would pass by the book on my shelf, and it would glare back at me, calling out "Unbeliever!" "Backslider!" I would respond (silently for the most part) "Oh yeah, if the Ark of the Covenant really is in a Church in Axum, then I think, given the importance and power of the Ark, that it might have been subjected to well publicized, widespread, and modern analysis and study by not only religious scholars, but historical scholars as well.

Well, at least an article in Time or Newsweek.

But I digress.

Most useful part of book: Hancock's historical research is very interesting. He made the Bible become an historical record, as opposed to the Holy Book. I had never really though of the Bible as an attempt to lay out a historical narrative, and this book really made it easy to see the Bible in that light. He did a lot of research in a lot of areas for this book. But, I would be really interested in seeing what true scholars make of his sources and conclusions. I don't think many people have the depth of knowledge to truly assess the credibility of those sources and his conclusions. For all we know, the people and sources in his footnotes might be considered a little "wacky" by scholars.

I picked the book up again a few months ago, determined to finish what I started, and finally solve the great Mystery of the Ages (and I don't mean the location of Atlantis, or that Isis and Thoth and Moses were Masons). I got very close to putting it down for another 10 years during Part IV. But I am determined to finish it yet. I feel that I might get in trouble, in a religious sense, if I don't.

The Sign and the Seal is a very admirable attempt to track down the lost Ark of the Covenant. Hancock's research is excellent and he believes in his quest so much that he puts his life in danger at times. After reading this book I can safely say that if the Ark of the Covenant still exists then it is most likely in Axum, Ethiopia, as Hancock claims. There is a steady and persuasive line of evidence pointing directly to Ethiopia that only a true cynic would not take seriously. Prior to reading this book I doubted whether biblical characters like Moses, David and Solomon even existed, but I doubt that no longer. This is no fairy tale; there was an Ark, there was a Temple, and the Ark mysteriously disappeared from that Temple. For those interested in the Knights Templar, the militant monks of the Crusades, Hancock provides some interesting speculation regarding their involvement in seeking the Ark (most likely going all the way to Ethiopia to look for it). Any fan of history and archeology will love this book. Hancock is not without a sense of humor, knowing he would be compared to Indiana Jones and joking about it; he even admits that seeing Raiders of the Lost Ark inspired him to begin his own real-life quest. But unlike the Hollywood version, the actual search for the Ark is extremely difficult and leads to a rather ambiguous conclusion, but that does not mean that the journey was not fascinating!

I appreciate everything that Rad Miller, Jr. did for his country, but this book is a poor testament to the men of Special Forces in Vietnam. His unedited, unpolished style of writing might appeal to some, but I found Miller's style to be annoying, self-glorifying and, frankly, probably a little fanciful. Miller tries to convince us that SEALs are the ultimate warriors, yet he details his screw-ups and his colleagues screw-ups. Unprofessional behavior that would normally get you killed fills the book. I don't know about SEALs in general, but this guy wasn't a patch on the Green Berets that I know who served in Vietnam. Just goes to prove that the best of the best are the ones that you never hear about or read about.

I wanted to know what it was like to be a SEAL in Vietnam. This book more than explained what it was like. Miller tells his life story from graduating high school to buying a tape-deck that lasted nearly 20 years. He goes through what BUD/S was like, SEAL Training, and getting his fair share of beatings. Oh, by the way, I hate to read, but I didn't put this book down. I highly recommend it.

This is a very good book to read for Seal fans because Miller takes u into the minds of seals during their ops in vietnam.

I was thrilled at the release of Going Overboard. This sweet and suspenseful book was loaded with lots of heat. Carly Sullivan is out to find the perfect man for the perfect commercial. She finds Ford McKay, Navy SEAL, who has been sent to protect her. Sparks fly. The story was nicely paced and the characters were well written. I wish Ms. Skye would have instensified the ending a tad. Ford's fear of the future could have been more poignant. (Julia Quinn's Duke and I, has changed how I view romance heroes!) The epilogue was sweet and left me wanting more. Ok, Ms. Skye, how about one big last bash at Draycott Abbey?

I fell for Christina Skye after '2000 Kisses' so I bought 'Going Overboard' automatically. I knew it was a book I would read and enjoy... and boy, was I right ! Ms. Skye's charactres always seem SO vibrant and real, you almost feel like you could pick up the phone and call them. In 'Overboard', Carly and Mc Kay were no exception. Carly is the workaholic photographer haunted by the similarities to her deceased mother that she is only now discovering in herself. Mc Kay is the too-gorgeous-to-be-true hunk who bails her out of a jam professionally, and then risks his life to protect her when some slimey Russians take greed and revenge too far. Of course, being a Navy SEAL helps.

As usual, the course of true love is anything but smooth, and the pair find themselves caught in the middle of a dangerous swirl of murder and deception. Basically, this book has everything. Looking for romance? Got it. Mystery? Check. Side-splitting dialogue and sharp witted sexual tension? Bingo.

This book is everything we buy romantic suspense for. Don't wait. Click on the 'order' icon now. You won't regret it.

Note to Ms. Skye . . . any chance of catching up with Daphne Brandon in future books ?We would love to see wht her future holds =:)

This is the first book I've read by Ms. Skye. The story flowed rapidly and I thoroughly enjoyed the dialog between Carly and McKay, no pretense, tell it just like it is!! Gives you lots of heart gulping moments and boy can Ms. Skye describe kissing!! The secondary characters, Daphne and Izzy, fit in like gloves. The ending was brilliant. I don't want to describe the ending because it would ruin the surprise. This book was full of adventure, romance and people you'd like to hear more about. I've just finished reading Susanne Brockmann's 3 books which also was about Navy Seals. These two writers are fantastic!!

I've read all of the Rogue Warrior books, plus the Marcinko book on leadership. I was hoping this book would be about non-fictional accounts of the missions in which these SpecOps warriors participated. However, there is very little here on missions except for oblique references, probably to classified missions. Mostly it covers why each got into the SEALS, and how they enjoyed working under Marcinco due to his management abilities and his confidence in his troops. This is a good backgrounder if you're a manager and want to know how to lead the troops, and it fits in with the Rogue Warrior's other management books. But you'll be disappointed if you were looking for shootin' and lootin', in which case you should stick to the Rogue's fiction books.

I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone who's not already a fan of the Rogue Warrior books. It's basically a collection of essays by friends of Marcinko (most of whom have been used as characters in his novels) about their background, including combat experiences, etcetera.

This is also the first Marcinko book I've read that seemed to be clearly aimed, at least in part, at the audience for his two management and leadership books. That is business people who want to be hardcore. To this end, all the essays touch on the individual's view on teamwork and what makes a good leader, etc.

All in all, interesting for fans of Marcinko's books; useful for people who want to understand how a team should or can work.

If you have read any of Richard Marcinko's Rogue Warrior Series you will love this book. It really fills in the gaps about the members of the team Marcinko takes with him on his adventures. The best part is that Marcinko gives you his point of view on each team member then lets the team member tell you about himself in their own words. I can't wait to see a Rouge Warrior Movie!!

I bought the book a while back, and while the explanations of exercises and stretches are nice and simple, there is a complete lack of explanation in lay terms of how to actually USE this routine. E.g., In the Upper Body section, you have to read the fine print that says, "do this Monday, Wednesday and Friday." The same phrase is in plain print in the next section. No explanation of how you should integrate the cardio with the workout. THIS IS NOT THE WORKOUT FOR SOMEONE WHO ONLY HAS 1 or 2 HOURS A DAY TO EXERCISE! It seems DeLisle is just listing already-available information as briefly as possible, with no respect to the lay people who actually have to execute the program. (And true, the many shots of skinny guys are not extremely inspiring.) And contrary to other reviews here, no, there is NO phone number so you can call DeLisle. They're reviewing the WRONG book. If you want a program that actually explains the proper way to implement it, get "Body For Life."

I don't agree with some other reviewers that this book gives inadequate information or that people can get hurt easily using the program. I'm a 42-year-old male who had been lifting weights sporadically for years without seeing much improvement. Within a few weeks of starting Mark's program, I noticed increased definition all over, especially in my arms and abs. Unlike weightlifting, I've had little soreness. Also unlike weightlifting, it's impossible to drop a barbell on your foot, since you're only using your own bodyweight for resistance! I think most people would be more likely to hurt themselves using weights or even weight machines.

For anyone who is even remotely in shape already, the only way to really get hurt with this program would be to do too much, too soon. Mark emphasizes repeatedly that beginners need to take it easy, and the beginner routines involve minimal repetitions. I found the progression from beginner to intermediate levels to be clear and logical (you work up to the next level gradually; you don't just jump from one level to the next.) I also found the explanations and photographs of the various routines to be adequate to permit proper form.

Maybe this isn't the ideal book for former couch potatoes, but every book doesn't have to serve every possible audience. I recommend Mark's book highly.

After having quadruple bypass, open heart surgery, I thought, "What could this program do for me?" How about a new life! I originally purchased Mark De Lisle's first book, "Navy SEAL Workout." The results I experienced were nothing less than phenomenal. As soon as I found out that Mark had completed "Breakthrough To Master Level Fitness," I had to have a copy. Breakthrough blows away anything else I have encountered in the fitness market. I have purchased other Navy SEAL workout books and videos but they were either too incomplete or did not sufficiently layout an effective program. Breakthrough however, contains exercises for upper body, legs, cardio workouts, sprints, long distance running, abs and plateau breakers such as Burn Outs, Intervals, and Circuit Training. And with 12 Weeks To Better Than Ever, which lays out routines on a day by day basis, you can't wander off the path to improvement.

With the 12 Weeks, I simply took the evaluation test and checked off each day. The routines were laid out right before me. It even told me when to do my burn outs, intervals and circuits. With the new book combo, I have been able to take myself up another notch. For a middle-aged business executive with heart disease, I need every edge I can get. I highly recommend this book combo over any other SEAL/fitness exercise book or video. Thank you Mark De Lisle, your program is saving my life and dramatically improving my lifestyle.

How many times do we see a movie with so many special effects that the story is lost and we walk away saying "if they had only done this". Mike Murray does that, the characters are smarter and don't just respond to what happens, that's why they are in the elite forces to begin with. Sometimes I wonder if "Rogue" warriors have a brain, not the case in "RED", they come accross as real people with just different views. The book is a page turner wether it's an action scene or character study. GOOD BOOK.

After reading a large selection of books on mystery and supense, I have to give this a good rating. This is one right up there with Tom Clancy's OP-Center books. If you like military action, get this book.

If you like the Rogue Warrior series then this is the series for you. It is packed full of action and adventure. A great read!

I'm into futuristic, high-tech stuff and this novel fills the bill. Tom Clancy move over! With futuristic weapons of mass destruction and a little science fiction thrown in, I found this book to be highly readable and very entertaining. Also, the scenario of the way the future government (New Earth Federation) comes about is not out of line with the political trends. It might happen that way. Most of the time I read fiction for pure entertainment, but I'll have to admit, the author got to me to thinking. I've had to take a second look at the whole occultic underpinnings of the radical environmental movement. Somehow, I kept thinking of Al Gore. I can see how saving Mother Earth could very well be the new rationale for eliminating masses of people who happen to displease the future rulers. I found that reading 'Seal of Gaia' was time well spent.

Marlin Maddoux, a broadcast journalist based in Dallas, has crafted a stunning novel. The story begins in the year 2031. The environment has, indeed, become the central organizing principle of world civilization. The Secretary General of the New Earth Federation has replaced national leaders as the focus of political news. The right of a mother to abortion has been extended until a "biounit" reaches the age of three. Active euthanasia of the elderly, especially those who have used all allotted health care credits, is common. "Seal of Gaia" contains gut-wrenching violence in the "Lethal Weapon" tradition, without the graphic language of that popular film series. The twin attractions of casual sex and unfettered power are conveyed, without endorsement, through the main character's perspective. "Seal of Gaia" is a stirring and perhaps prophetic book by a knowledgeable analyst of world news and trends. (Patrick B. McGuigan, The Daily Oklahoman.)

Read a good book lately? Or seen a good movie on the last days from a pre-millennial position. Certainly there are many artistic efforts focused on the millennium. Many of them end up on our desks at MOVIEGUIDE. However, there is one that we don't want to overlook. Whatever your eschatology, Marlin Maddoux's SEAL OF GAIA is the most suspenseful of all the last days yarns. The international director of the Sky News Network, Steve Weston, gets caught up in the intrigues of the anti-Christ and the new earth federation. The tribulation period is seen through his eyes. Clearly the battle for his soul is intense. As Steve Weston ascends higher into the upper echelons of power, he begins to understand the cost of peace. What makes this book stand out from the rest is the sense of jeopardy and foreshadowing. This is a book that understands the threat of fear and sees the underside of the world very clearly. In spite of being set in the future, it is riveting and current. It is the most exciting end-times scenario filled with innocense, conspiracy, betrayal, and supernatural power. MOVIEGUIDE

Bestselling mystery writer Taylor O'Toole likes to get into her work. So much, so, that when her friend asks her to do a little surveillance on her boyfriend, Taylor agrees. Little does she know just how much trouble she's courting until a climbing experiment goes wrong, and both Taylor and her friend are almost killed. While recovering from that little incident, Taylor follows the boyfriend into a convenience store and nearly gets herself killed. Her sexy new neighbor, Jack Broussard, saves the day, but after a few other coincidental meetings occur, she thinks there's a lot more to this hunk than just being a single guy who makes killer lasagna.

Navy SEAL Jack Broussard is going crazy trying to protect mystery writer Taylor O'Toole. He has no choice but to stick to her like glue, however, because she could be the key in a search for a missing Navy biochemist. Trying to keep Taylor in his sights is like trying to nail jello to a tree -- until an attempt on Taylor's life makes her realize that she is indeed in serious danger. The question is, why? Only Jack knows, and because this is a top secret mission, he's not telling.

Both strong and stubborn characters, Taylor and Jack butt heads at every turn. Their scenes together ran the gamut from humorous to sexy to dangerous without a boring moment in between. The villain is the epitome of evil, and I gasped at some of the descriptions of his nasty doings. HOT PURSUIT revisits characters from MY SPY, which I haven't yet read, but certainly look forward to.

HOT PURSUIT is one wild ride I'm glad I didn't miss, and I look forward to the continuing story of Taylor and Jack in Ms. Skye's next novel.

In Marin County, California suspense thriller author Taylor O'Toole almost dies when her rock climbing equipment fails. Taylor wonders if married scientist Harris Raines, the boyfriend of her guide Candace, sabotaged the bolts, especially when the pro checked it the night before. Over the smell of lasagna, Taylor meets her new neighbor, Jack Broussard.

Taylor furtively follows Harris as the scientist meets with nasty looking individuals. Unbeknownst to Taylor, Jack, an undercover Navy SEAL, trails her. When an incident occurs in a market, Jack intercedes to save Taylor's life. As Taylor realizes she is being stalked, she turns to Jack, her only hope to remain alive though he captures her heart. However, he is working a covert operation to rescue a missing scientist and to stop Harris from doing something odious.

HOT PURSUIT, the sequel to MY SPY, is an engaging romantic suspense that will thrill readers with its non-stop action and exhilarating intrepid lead characters. Taylor, the sister to the female star of the first novel, is courageous yet somewhat foolish. Her antics make the tale soar though the audience will question why she shadowed Harris in the first place. Still, this is romantic suspense at its finest as the readers plenty of thrills inside a wonderful story of love.

Harriet Klausner

Mystery writer Taylor O'Toole had already hit the Best Seller list several times, thanks to her zany characters. The deadline for the next in her series was near, however, it would have to wait. Taylor had promised a girlfriend that she would do a bit of surveillance work for her. It should have been simple. Instead, it landed Taylor into the path of a stalker. Yet whenever things turned bad her sexy new neighbor always seemed to be close by to save the day.

Navy SEAL Jack Broussard had a top secret assignment: Protect Taylor O'Toole! Jack was used to hand-to-hand combat, covert missions, and doing whatever it took to get his mission done. Babysitting a mystery writer was NOT suppose to be something that required the deadly talents of a SEAL. But Taylor could be the key link in the government search for a missing Navy scientist. So like it or not, his orders were to keep her safe - at all costs! WOO - HOO! Action, romance, and more action await readers in this novel! There are a few cameos from Annie and Sam McKade. Annie is Taylor's sister, if you recall, from the book "MY SPY". Izzy Teague, the electronic genius, is back as well and has major parts in the story. Word has it that Izzy will get his own story written in the future. Meanwhile, author Christina Skye lets us learn more about this mysterious man.

Jack and Taylor are well matched. Both are stubborn and tenacious to a fault. Their story is nonstop adventure from page one (ROCK CLIMBING) to the last. Highly recommended reading here. If the cover says "Christina Skye", just BUY IT. You will never be disappointed! ...