A Wish & Kiss is worth spending a few hours on. Itfeatures an archeologist heroine who uncovers a nifty little lamp thatturns out to contain a very sexy genie named Alex. He announces his presence to our stunned heroine with this line "I have come to do your bidding mistress". How can one not read on? What follows is a fun, sexy romance where the couple spend a lot of time together and get to know each other well before committing. The book begins to drag towards the end as the focus shifts from their relationship to a mad chase around the country as they try to salvage Chelsey's career. Despite that little slow down, the book is most definitely worth searching for if you like magical stories filled with laughter, sensuality and strong characterization.

This is by far one of the best books I've ever read! Not only does it have a less-than-perfect heroine (which is refreshing after being bombarded with flawless females in so many romances!) but the hero will melt your heart. This book brings to life every woman's fantasy -- a gorgeous man willing to grant your wishes. You'll have the sudden urge to rub every lamp you see in hopes that your own genie will appear. Chelsey is comical in her skepticism and Alex is extremely funny in his joy of the world around him. I cried and laughed and sighed. This book reaffirms your faith in the human spirit and shows you that a love worth having is worth risking everything for -- be it fame, fortune or healing. This book is absolutely beautiful. Mere words can't express how amazing it really was. I could have turned right around and read this book a second time and I will be keeping it for many, *many* repeated readings in the future.

I usually avoid Harlequin Romances and other series books, like the plague. I was in the mood for a vampire story and noticed that Love Bites by Margaret St. George (a.k.a. Maggie Osborne) was highly rated by a popular romance magazine. I will say it's the best vampire story I've ever read. However, I found the ending realistic and not very satisfying; and the story is told in typical Harlequin 'quickie' fashion. It was ok but nothing to really brag about.

I bought this book used after reading a recommendation about it in someone's Listmania list, and I'm glad I did. When I found out that it was a Harlequin book, I figured that the whole vampire aspect was going to be pretty generic, but to my surprise it wasn't. Ms. St. George provided a very plausible explantion for vampirism, and also gave the secondary vampire characters some real emotional depth, rather than just making them stereotypes.

Trevor d'Laine is a late-night radio talk show DJ. He markets himself as a vampire DJ (never appearing at daytime events, not allowing himself to be photographed, etc.), which of course his listeners don't really believe. For him, though this is a case of hiding in plain sight. His mortal assistant recently died and he has to hire a replacement to handle his daytime affairs - a person know as a "Renfield" in the vampire community, a term lifted with derision by them from Bram Stoker's book. In fact, all of the mortal assistants are referred to as Renfields by their vampire employers, and they refer to themselves that way too. Kay Erickson happens to be the only person who was willing to show up for a 2am interview with him for the job, and he hires her. Both of the characters have surprising depth: he positively exudes joie de vivre, and is in the process of organinzing the vampire community to make it more acceptable to the human community, while she is engaged to a man who may or may not be right for her and who is still trying to overcome a childhood that was suffocated by her mother's fears. Needless to say, she has a hard time accepting the truth about Trevor's nature, and she actually responds in a realistic fashion to the truths revealed to her, rather than than just accepting them matter-of-factly.

The book is fast paced, with some thoughtful insights into vampirism and personal choice. The mystery, while not very mysterious, was a nice little additon. The growing attraction between Trevor and Kay was done well - romantic and sexy, yet with realistic consideration to physical and philosophical differences. This book is out-of-print but is available used. If you enjoy the vampire/romance genre, this is one book worth adding to your collection.

I'm not too into Vampires and such, but this book, I just could NOT put down! It was so compelling and exciting! I wish I could read more stories about these characters, that's how much it intrigued me! I loved this story from cover to cover. It's one of the best books I've read in a long long time!

I kept wanting more as I read this book. It's well written, an easy read but I wanted to know what she's learned that the rest of us don't know from doing these reading for the last 15+ years. Are these spirits around us 24/7? Why -- don't they have anything else to do (seriously)? Is the afterlife like the movie "Defending Your Life"? (I too was curious enough to visit Char's web site and was shocked to find out the going rate for a reading was $500.) If Char writes another book, I'd ask that she please provide more information than what we can learn from watching a few John Edward episodes.

Unlike other books on the same topic I found this book to be easy to read and follow. It is well edited and organized. The stories of readings are fascinating and the intuition exercises can be used by anyone. Char Margolis is very down to earth. She's the type of person you'd want to have coffee with!

I admit right up front I am lucky. I have a personal relationship with Ms. Margolis. But nonetheless, I am writing this review because what I have to say is true and I sincerely hope it will be helpful to you: this is the best book on psychic intuitive abilities on the market. Here's why: 1. She is the Real Thing. I was a confirmed non-believer until I met Char and she pulled some stuff out of the ether than NO ONE LIVING could have ever known. Like, she spelled my late grandma's name...in Swedish...and she doesn't even speak swedish! Wow! 2. What she says in here works. Even if you don't want to set up your own crystal ball at the flea market, this is a critical book to teach you how to tap into your VERY OWN psychic powers, without a lot of hype and silliness. 3. It's amazingly well written by Victoria St. George, who is profoundly gifted at exposing Char's brillance. 4. It has helped hundreds of people I know. Enough said? Your heart is probably already telling you to buy it - go with the impulse - it's the right one!

and this novel makes for a neat twist on the "locked-room" mystery style that is Blackie Ryan's forte. One of the biggest problems an established author has with an on-going series is to make sure that the stories don't become too "formula," like the last couple of Bond films with Roger Moore did.

Greeley avoids this with his Blackie Ryan novels by going for interesting locales...he takes Ryan out of Chicago without taking the Chicago out of the good bishop.

So, without giving the story away (a sin for a reviewer of a mystery novel), suffice to say that Blackie Ryan has a wonderful time in Paris, with his boss, the more-than-formidable Sean Cardinal Cronin. My only major complaint is that the love-story-subplot in this novel is a bit formula.

Greeley's descriptions of Paris are excellent, giving the reader a good feel for the neighborhoods and the metro without being a Fodor's book. _Beggar Girl_ doesn't tackle any serious hot-button issues of the modern Catholic Church, but the author still throws out tidbits that make those who are interested in church politics and such say "hmmmmmm."

Reading Greeley is like drinking champagne: a frothy concoction that perfectly complements an evening of escape. Here Greeley's customary Irish charm competes with Gallic savoir-faire. We are introduced to the Paris of the protected visitor with translators, tucked-away hotels and famous restaurants.

Greeley's series hero, Bishop Blackie Ryan, is on a mission for "Cardinal Sean:" find Jean-Claude, a young Dominican priest who vanished without a trace while conducting visitors around cathedral ruins. Jean-Claude had a popular television program and was much admired by the students and nuns who were his ministry, yet everyone saw him differently, and all agreed he had mysterious depths and a magical smile.

Bishop Blackie has a gift for unearthing hidden depths in people as well as clues for his investigation. Befriending a young woman who seems out of place as a Cathedral beggar, he enlists her help in tracing the young priest who often seemed equally out of place as a Dominican priest.

The story line has the fascination of a moderately difficult crossword puzzle, the kind you know you can solve if you just put in the time. It also has about as much action and cliff-hanging action -- and short-term satisfaction as the Sunday crossword. Greeley gives us the world as we would like it to be, where problems are solved by a convenient phone call to Chicago and a couple of FedEx packages, and even the Cardinal benevolently distinguishes the Christian from the Church.

As Greeley is careful to note in an afterward, this is a tale of fiction. Unlike many readers, I was surprised by the ending, which fit the clues but seemed highly implausible. I will say only that Greeley gets the chance to share his very politically correct, enlightened views of the Church and the world. And he might encourage us all to beware of reading our own beliefs into situations that are not what they seem.

I'm not usually a fan of Bishop Blackie -- but I liked this one!

"The Bishop And The Beggar Girl Of St. Germain" by Fr. Andrew M. Greeley, Audio book Version narrated by George Guidall. Recorded Books Productions, New York 2001.

The author, Fr. Andrew Greeley, moves the venue for this Bishop Blackie mystery to Paris, and it seems that he certainly knows Paris: at least the Cathedral of Notre Dame, the subway system, many subway stops and the little bistros on the Left Bank. Using this as backdrop, Fr. Greeley has Bishop John Blackwood Ryan accompany his Cardinal, Sean Cronin, of Chicago, to Paris, where Bishop Blackie is impressed as a detective in the service of the local cardinal. "Blackie" is requested to find the young television priest, Jean-Claude, who had disappeared during a TV shoot in the 3rd Century basement of Notre Dame.

Needing an interpreter, Bishop Blackie "stumbles" on Marie-Bernadette, an accomplished musician who is begging outside the Church of St. Germain. Greeley's fascination with thing Celtic (pronounced as KEL-tik) means that Marie-Bernadette's accomplishments are in Celtic music, whether from the Celtic region of France or the Basque region of Spain, or, of course, from Scotland and Ireland. This makes a nice little sub-plot, with Bishop Blackie officiating at Marie-Bernadette's marriage at the end of the book.

Of course, Blackie solves the mystery of the disappearance of the television evangelist priest, Jean-Claude, and while doing so, Author Greeley comments on the loneliness of the celibate clergy, their trials and temptations. I couldn't help wondering if there was some autobiographical issues buried in those comments. The story's main plot had a nice little twist that I should have been able to catch earlier than I did!

Narrator George Guidall was again excellent. I have listened to him as the voice of Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee in the Tony Hillerman mysteries, and it is amazing how Mr. Guidall can range from "flat" Navajo tone in those books to an excited French accent for the exalted cardinal of Paris in this book. I enjoyed the book and listening to Mr. Guidall as I commuted on I-495, the ring road around Boston... Five Stars.

This book is entirely too similar to C.W. Metcalf's 1992 book,
"Lighten Up: Survival Skills for People Under Pressure." Mr. Braverman should find his own material.

I found this book to be a great resource for getting over anything in life, be it a bad relationship or tough business times. My PR firm is using some of Terry's ideas from the business chapter; whoever thinks work cannot be fun must read this book!

I strongly disagree with a previous reviewer's assessment that Braverman's book is similar to Mr. Metcalf's. This book is chock full of ideas to implement in everyday living with levity, and a great asset to have in my clinical practice. Thank you Mr. Braverman!

I particularly enjoyed it because they each wrote their own impressions of each event and they clearly have a unique perspective on the world and in particular their world

The beauty of this book is in the photograghs! Herbon does well to use a simple, interesting text, which includes just enough history to make the pictures come alive, but not too much where you will lose interest. The photos speak a thousand words!

I would have enjoyed some photos from more parts of the Park from the ground. Most photos were strictly from the air or in Kennicott or McCarthy. Since I am planning a backcountry trip there in Aug 2000 I would have enjoyed pictures from the areas that hikers are venturing to.

I would recomend the book for anyone planning to vistit McCarthy/ Kennicott and the Wrangell/ St. Elias Natl. Park.

A refreshing read.The books in this series are about angels sent down to help innocent people.The one thing they don't count on is falling in love along the way. I think anyone who believes in angels or wants to belive in them will really enjoy this book.

This classic work, which still is in print, traces the legend of St. Nicholas back through the years to its origin, revealing all that is known in fact and in custom conserning this popular saint. The reader will discover the source of the legend beginning with its birth in Asia Minor, his role in gift giving and ohter charitable activities along with the pagan heritage of the St. Nicholas legends. This study is well illustrated with 23 pictures of St. Nicholas paintings from museums throughout the world. German Christmas card, circa 1907, depicting St. Nicholas adorns the front cover.

This book is so poorly written and has no profundity at all.
Folksy wisdom anyone learns just living life.
I find none of the stories inspirational because they are sophomoric and mere reports of average struggles and bland testimonials without any substance or insight at all.

If you want to read and inspirational book leave this one on the counter. This is a self-aggrandizing account by a narcissist living out a frenetic existence. The author writes nothing pity about the author's personal life? Does he lead a life that is balanced? My impression is this is a savant with one directional and one dimensional skills and experience. Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah as the saying goes. This review is more exciting than this mundane pseudo informative self-help cud.

Mack Newton's book is a rehash of pop-culture trash that's been written about before. And much more profoundly. For various reasons (based on a rationalist's skepticism), I really do question the validity of most of the book's contents. And in a "self-help" book such as this, integrity is all important. If a story is created just to make a point, that's nice and all. But getting happy applying Mack's advice in real life works the same way you get rich by playing the lottery. Additionally, the book is self-published by Mack himself. Listen folks, the world is made up of a million self-help gurus selling us stuff to make us like them. How may ways can these people rehash such simple human observations such as, "to thine own self, be true, "seek and ye shall find, and, "life is misery." Read a novel. Don't buy this book.

This is one of the most inspirational books I have read in a long time. I don't seem to have read the same book as the previous reviewer, who labeled it "rehashed trash." I also find it interesting that he chooses to remain anonymous while spewing vitriol. He seems as though he has an axe to grind and a great deal of personal resentment toward Mack Newton. At any rate, this book contains some timeless observations about human nature, as well as some refreshing and thought-provoking ways to live your own life with sincerity, integrity and joy. I highly recommend it, as have the other reviewers I read on this page.