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.

I must admit I was growing tired of Kathy Lynn Emerson's Lady Appleton but her latest book, FACE DOWN AMONG THE WINCHESTER GEESE, tops the series by rekindling my interest. An excellent plot and resolution to the fate of her husband, as well as Emerson's usual top-notch historical details and writing style.

I'm reading the "Face Down" series in order, and I've really come to love Lady Susanna and her supporting cast of characters - even her dog of a husband is entertaining. I have to admit, I guessed who the murderer was in this one - but I didn't guess why he was until late in the story. You get a fascinating history lesson with all of Emerson's books, but a great mystery too.

Susanna is taken from Leigh Abbey to London by her husband Robert, but has no idea why. She is not aware that Robert is scheming with Diego Cordoba and the Spanish Embassy and needs her there in London.

One day a petite dark haired lady named Diane St. Cyr comes to see Robert at their rental house on Catte Street. Robert is not present and Susanna takes a message to have him meet Diane at a place called the Falcon. Susanna is aware that Diane is probably one of Robert's many mistresses but gives him the message anyway. Robert goes to see Diane to find out what she wants. The next morning Diane is found in the streets dead.

In order to clear Robert's name, Susanna begins to look into the murder and discovers that there have been several women(mostly prostitutes),with the same physical features murdered on the same day over a period of seven years.

With the help of her maid-servant and friend Jennet, as well as a brothel keeper named Petronella, Susanna discovers who is killing the Winchester Geese(prostitutes)and what Robert has up his sleeve.

This is the second Susanna, Lady Appleton mystery that I have read and found this one to be much more enjoyable.

We LOVE this book!
The world of quality science books for very young children is sadly lacking. Mudpies to Magnets definitely fills a huge void. The book is detailed, clear, accurate, and age appropriate. Don't think this book is strictly for young children, older ones enjoy it as well. It really helped reinforce concepts in a real, fun way. If your kids are struggling with science or think its 'boring' you definitely need this book.

I love this book! It is a great introduction to science for young kids, beginning with pre-school age. Sensible focus on asking questions, observing and measuring phenomena. Uses a child's natural curiosity about the world all around and harnesses it to encourage the systematic thought on which science is based. I will be teaching a science class for my daughter's Montessori class every two weeks and will take many (most?) of my lessons from this book!

This book and the original Mudpies to Magnets are my best choices for simple, one-page science activities. These science books and experiments were clearly written with the parent or teacher in mind. Although the books contain a wealth of knowledge and experiments, none of the material is overwhelming for the adult participant. The experiments themselves require only inexpensive, household materials. And each of the experiments that we have tried are fun. One caveat: Ignore the age rankings as a wide variety of children (up to age 10) can enjoy all the experiments in these books...from The Science Spiders(TM) Newsletter.

I studied this book for about 1 month and is giving me a clear understanding of the verbal part in the SAT. This will explain almost all of the stuffs you may need to know for your upcoming SAT as well as some tips. I highly recommend this book. Good luck on the test!

I have had this book since I was very young. I always enjoyed being read to from it, and now I read it to my younger brother and to my catechism students. This book has beautiful illustrations, and tells a myriad of stories spanning the Old and New Testaments. The stories are short enough to hold a young child's interest, and are simple enough to be read by beginning readers. The Story of GODs love will always hold a special place in my heart and is perfect for young Christians.

I loved the book! As a parent raising three teenage children in this very competitive world, this book was a dose of reality. Sometimes you find yourself caught up in how things "look" rather than what's right for your children. This book made me take a closer look at my children and what their individual strengths and interests are, and how I can nurture them to become happy and successful adults. I especially liked the Strategies chapter, which offers some hands on tips for situations that are familiar to many parents. The book was an easy read, with a friendly tone and a sense of humor that made you feel good about your children and what you can do to help them in a positive way when you were finished reading it.

Kathy Matthews offers no-nonsense advice with a sense of humor. This how-to-parent-and-feel-good-about-yourself book is a must read. . .and, along with Jim Trelease's book on reading aloud to your children, will certainly become a standard baby shower gift from me in the coming years. Matthews speaks with the authority of a mother comfortable in her own skin--and with her own children. Brava, Ms. Matthews!

In "The Trouble with Perfect" Dr. Guthrie offers a unique and much needed perspective on raising children in this modern age of competition to always be the best and have the best. Not only is this important book enlightening and refreshing in its content and message to parents, it is enjoyable, easy to read and funny while exploring serious and difficult topics. This book is a "must read" not only for parents, but for all adults who spend time and interact with today's children.

If you read the "Face Down" series purely for the Whodunit, than this one is as strong as the others - in fact, harder for me to figure out than some of the others have been. I have to admit - I'm a bit disappointed in how Emerson resolved some relationship issues in this one. I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but I felt that some things were a bit rushed and seemed out of character for two of the players - but all in all, I love how Emerson continues to grow the the characters of the supporting crew to Susanna - another fun mystery.

This time Susanna, Lady Appleton is suspected of the murder of her husband, and, as the author makes clear, this is hardly the best century in which to be a murder suspect. Susanna fights against time to find the real murderer and escape a gruesome death. A riveting mystery with authentic and fascinating period details, well drawn characters, and always a plucky heroine. Fans of Anne Perry should check out this series!

For a look at the cover of this book and other news about the series, visit my website. I have my own domain name, so I'm easy to find. I also have a newsletter, Face Down Update, for those interested in knowing more about Lady Appleton. P.S. I couldn't submit this without rating the book. I do think it's the best in the series to date, but I hate the idea of rating anything. Much too subjective!

It's been a year since Mary, Queen of Scots, fled Scotland and pled for asylum in England. And although she is now a prisoner, dependent on Elizabeth I's charity and mercy, Mary and her allies still plot to make her Queen of England.

Sir Walter Pendennis is in Augsburg, negotiating for a secret loan on Elizabeth I's behalf, and he is looking forward to returning to England, and to settling down in his country manor with his wife, putting his days as a diplomat behind him, when tragedy strikes. Eleanor, Sir Walter's wife is run over by a farm wagon, and is seriously injured. Believing herself to be at death's door, she confesses to her husband that she has been conspiring with the Earls of Northumberland and Westmorland for quite a while now to overthrow the Queen and to place Mary on the English throne. Sir Walter is both angered and appalled at the news. His only thought now is to somehow thwart the conspirators, and to minimize his errant wife's role in the conspiracy. Discovering that his old friend, Lady Susanna Appleton is in Hamburg, Sir Walter goes to her for help. His plan is for Susanna to impersonate Eleanor and to somehow insinuate herself into the conspirators' circle. Sir Walter assures Susanna that practically no one will discover the impersonation as Eleanor has more or less had little contact with any of the conspirator's (save through letters). Eager to prevent any kind of uprising, Susanna agrees to help Sir Walter, eventhough she senses that there is something that Sir Walter is holding back.

Susanna's lover, Nick Baldwin, however is not so sanguine. Distrustful of Sir Walter and his motives for involving Susanna in this dangerous enterprise, Nick does some digging of his own, and discovers that Eleanor had actually been murdered, and that the order to murder her had come from someone close to Northumberland. Obviously the conspirators did not trust Eleanor at all. Fearful of Susanna's safety, Nick quickly makes for England. Will Nick arrive in time to warn Susanna of the danger she is facing? Will Susanna mange to ingratiate herself with the conspirators? What exactly is Sir Walter hiding, and exactly what kind of deep game is he playing? And will the conspirators pull off their coup?

These are the threads that bind this very suspenseful mystery novel together. With "Face Down Before Rebel Hooves," Kathy Lynn Emerson does an excellent job of maintaining that taut suspenseful air, where you wonder if Susanna will finally be unmasked; and if the killer, who believes that (s)he has failed in his/her attempt to murder Eleanor, will strike again. Since this mystery novel is based on historical fact, we all know how the coup panned out, however, I thought that the authour did a truly wonderful job of bringing this entire conspiracy to life. Susanna Appleton remains as wonderful, and as strong and as resilient as ever. And it makes for wonderful reading to see Susanna and Jennet, her clever and resourceful ally, grapple with the mystery at hand and solve it. This novel is quite a fun read, and is, in my opinion, part of a series that is one of the better mystery series dealing with Elizabethan England.

In the first few years of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, there were numerous plots and counter-plots to try to put Mary, Queen of the Scots, on the throne. Many powerful nobles, especially in the north, had strong Papist sympathies and ultimately many rebelled. Elizabeth's spymaster Sir Walter Pendennis is aghast to learn his wife is in league with the rebels.

Sir Walter travels to Hamburg to ask his good friend Susanna, Lady Appleton, to help him infiltrate the rebel leaders so that he can prevent a civil war. Susanna, loyal to Her Majesty and relishing a good adventure, agrees to help. She goes to the estate of the Earl of Northumberland with false messages and soon joins the Countess' entourage. She gathers evidence on rebel activity even as someone wants her dead.

Kathy Lynn Emerson brings vivid color to a tumultuous time during the early stages of the Elizabethan era. Readers learn that the intermingling of religious conflict with politics leads to thoughts of rebellion. The heroine is independent and morally righteous, but tempered with a pragmatic streak. FACE DOWN BEFORE THE REBEL HOOVES is an exciting historical mystery.

Harriet Klausner

Set in Elizabethan England, author Kathy Emerson has chosen an interesting historical period for her mystery series and an intriguing heroine in Susanna, Lady Appleton -- a proto-feminist educated by her father and grudgingly admired by her more conventional husband. Emerson introduces a great deal of information about the times, the people and the herbs without making it painful, and the book is readable for that alone. The heroine and other characters are believable and three-dimensional and the murder and its solution are reasonably well-done -- better than many historical mysteries. I look forward to reading others in the series.

This is an immensely readable, enjoyable book. The characters are great, the story kept my interest, and the historical background is accurate and is inserted into the story in engaging ways. I have been reading a lot of historical mysteries this summer, and this is an excellent one! Good summer reading!

What a wonderful surprise! It's refreshing to find an author who really knows her history. The main character, Susanna, is a very unusual woman, in that her father pampered her by allowing his daughter the education that would normally only be appropriate for a boy. Poor Sir Robert, to have to put up with a wife who can run the family business better than him, take care of the household, and research and write a book on deadly herbs on the side. ;-) I've read the entire series up to date and have discovered they just keep getting better! I hope Emerson has plans for more.

"River of Stones" is a poignant novel presenting the emotional pitfalls and trials faced by children of divorce. Unfortunately, divorce, with its accompanying tearing of families ties, is an ever growing societal curse. Readers may not be able to slow down the divorce rate but through Jones' book, readers may come to understand the emotional strain, loss and guilt experienced by children of divorce.

A River of Stones approaches the painful topic of divorce and emotional longing for a father's love with great depth of understanding and honesty. Kathryn Jones poignantly portrays the story of Samantha, a young girl struggling to understand her parent's divorce and her mother's subsequent re-marriage, without much outside help. As the years pass she grows to understand why it happened and where the healing and peace can come from. Most importantly she begins to understand where love has a place in her life and in her heart. I recommend this inspiring novel for anyone who wants to understand the impact divorce and abandonment has on children and young teenagers. Samantha is a character that every young person can relate to in some way. Read it and be nurtured.

Samantha Gregory is eleven-years-old when her mother tells her and her brother, Luke, their father has left and is never coming back. Like most children, Sam has a hard time understanding this and thinks her father left because he didn't like her.

June and Bruce, Sam's neighbors, are the only children willing to be her friends. Sam has feelings for Bruce she hopes will be returned, but she doesn't see how they can be when her own father doesn't love her.

June is heavy into hypnotism. She asks Sam if she can hypnotize her and Sam can only laugh. Sam's unbelief in hypnotism causes such a rift that June refuses to speak to her. Sam loses yet another friend when she has so few, and the belief that she's unlovable only grows stronger.

Sam's mother remarries and her new father has a son named Joshua. Joshua is very fat, and as a result, he is shunned by people too. Sam and Josh form a friendship because both of them understand each other's feelings of being unloved.

June makes friends with another girl named Tracey who is a devout Mormon. Tracey is always friendly and nice, and Sam hates her at first because she feels Tracey took June's friendship away. But Tracey doesn't give up. She continues reaching out to Sam and eventually, wins her friendship. Sam starts asking questions about Tracey's religion and as a result she is given 'The Book of Mormon.'

Sam's mother is very upset when she sees this book and calls it the book of the devil, but Sam's step-father is very understanding and allows Sam to keep the book.
As a result, Sam learns to pray and feel some peace and love.

A River of Stones is the first book by Kathryn Elizabeth Jones. It is written on a child's level, and geared toward those who are suffering the loss of a parent from divorce. It deals effectively with the issues that a child might go through with this, unfortunately, too-common issue of finding acceptance and a personal religious course in the world.