The cover alone is worth the price! Each stone in this photograph of 46 specimens of turquoise is identified at the start of the book. High quality natural stones from the most important mines of the Southwest are pictured side by side with treated and plastic versions.

The book is a collection of 10 articles written for New Mexico Magazine. Titles include "Turquoise and the Native American", "Buyer Beware: Hidden Facets of Turquoise", Young Native Jewelers Signal Change of Guard" and "The Plight of Old Pawn". High quality photographs of famous mines, artisans and jewelry, both historic and current, will whet the appetite of would-be collectors but also leave an impression of love and respect for the land and its native inhabitants.

Read this book under a strong light to catch the full depth of color!

I am one of those traditional learner/teacher who needs a lot of repetitive practice of the same exercice. It both reasures the student and reinforces the knowledge. This book is excatly what I love: a lot of exercices, it has the answers so that the student can check at home, and very well explained grammar points (in English). A plus: it's pretty cheap, for all that it offers. It's the one book I recommend to my students, whether they are college students (the book is supposed to prepare you for your next quiz, midterm or final) or just learning for pleasure as the majority of you. (If you are buying the book, be aware of one typo, page 46, very last verb: revenir --> revenue. That is the only drawback I could find)

The reason I don't give this book 5-stars is not every story in this book is good. (Normally, Romance novel is not my thing. So it has to be a really really good story to keep me continue reading).. The first one (The traveller), is my most favorite. If you're Lynn Kurland's fan and love to read about de Piaget family or time-travelling, this is the one you don't want to miss. (I know this author through this novel and I really love her style of writing...really entertaining).. The second story (The minstrel) is fine. Not perfect but ..still fine. There's some time that I felt bored at its predictable story line but it's entertaining enough to keep going. The third story (The Bachelor knight)..this is the worst story in all 4. Well, it's not too bad...it's just not interesting and just cannot keep your attention until the very end..so a bit ruining your mood from the first two. The fourth one (The Seige) is better. The plot is interesting, in my opinion, and can entertain you on your boring day. It leaves the this-is-not-so-bad feeling when you finish the book.. Still.. although not a really good one, it's suitable for your bed time reading

A Knight's Vow consists of four stories with the same theme - knight's vowing to "honor and protect helpless women" ends up marrying the "respsonsibility" they had taken care of.

Only the first and the last stories are worth a read. I have been a fan of all Lynn Kurland's time travel series and this story continues to interest me. A must read to add your collection of her time series.

The last one, "the seige" is also a must read for a new author. It is entertaining and caught my attention throughout the story. I wished it were longer. The idea of "knowing a person's soul first before the body" is an interesting part. And thus I am taking my time to collect all three of Gylnnis Campbell's de ware trilogy.

However the two stories in the middle -- "the minstrel" & "bachelor knight" were a bore. The minstrel was soo predictable that I could not finish the whole book. I felt like I would make up a better plot than Ms Potter. The concept of the "bachelor knight" was a good one. However, Ms. Simmons seems to fail at the task of developing a full entertaining and cohesive storyline along the concept. It is like watching the Movie "Scorpion King" after the two Mummy series that you have to laugh. Although all the ingredients are there, there is just something missing.

a good book for bedtime or hospital run read.

I bought A Knight's Vow because I am fascinated with Historican Romances. However, I was VERY disappointed with the first story. I could not believe the time travel, nor the romance between the two characters. I found very little depth to the characters and very little effort put into the plot line. I was tempted to set the book down at that moment.

However, prompted by my inability to leave a book unfinished, I continued. To my surprise, I found the following three stories to completely make up for the slow started. I especially became fascinated with the second story, The Minstrel. Patricia Potter is still one of my greatest recommendations for Historical Romance novelists. I recommend this novel to anyone who wishes to enjoy short, interesting, intriguing and ROMANTIC trips to Medieval times. But, I do recommend skipping the first one, it's only a disappointment.