A real tour de force by Todd Stone-a military thriller written equally as much for women as for men. Some of the major characters in this book are women in the military, and not just as secondary characters, dropped in as window-dressing, but women with brutally important responsibilities in our military forces. The personal struggle Major Valerie Macintyre endures while surviving in this career, not to mention climbing toward and holding on to the same high rank her male counterparts can easily reach is understandable, at times infuriating, and always fascinating. We have foreign agents hiding nuclear weapons. We have an entire battalion of men in a remote area who have been genetically altered so that they cannot be stopped by normal means known to normal men. And we have military politics to contend with as this unusually diverse pot comes to a boil. This author proved himself to be a master storyteller when he wrote CLOSE TO HOME, and now this book has reinforced what a meticulous, brilliantly talented author he really is. Rugged, human and vital, THE BEST DEFENSE is another edge-of-your-seat thriller with a plot that's only too possible in today's world.

Since I've just begun reading again, I finally decided to read Kriegspiel. I'd gotten the book, I'm embarrassed to say, nearly 6 years ago. But my past experience with military style books was that they were incredibly boring. Not this book! I couldn't set it down! I felt like I was in the middle of the battles myself. I hope Todd Stone writes more books in the future. I'll be first in line to read his next one.

My 6-year old daughter recently brought this book home from her school library, and she announced that she likes it more than any other book she has borrowed so far. It portrays a classic theme: the rewards of honesty and selflessness versus the pitfalls of greed and jealousy. The story is set in Tibet, with two brothers, Drashi and Jarlo, portraying "good" and "evil", respectively. The illustrations are gorgeous, and the story is richly interspersed with tidbits about Tibetan culture and customs, with an undercurrent of environmental sensitivity as well. Overall, a wonderful book, and we plan to add this to our home library.

Adam Phillip's chapter stands out in this valuable book. Finally, advice from a real professional(Disney) animator. Well respected as a character, special effects and Flash animator, Adam's advice is invaluable to anyone seeking to animate in Flash.

i fenk tihs bok is so kool 4 sk00l i giv fiev starz cos it iz good.

i aelso fink flash iz fuhn + awsum x 9

<3 (osupsons)

- mucks

This book has got eight chapters in it, and I've been through four of them so far and am really enjoying it. I bought it because WideGroup wrote one of the chapters and I saw the Sofake site on FlashKit featured site. It's great to see how their Flash files are built and yuou can get all the files for the book on the web site. I made the MP3 player which is great as I've been looking around for tutorials that show you how to do this in Flash MX for ages.

Todd and Wait provide a competent, comprehensive, and attractive guide to each of the state's 46 counties. They cover the historical sights of each county in a systematic fashion, with knowledgeable commentary on architecture. Their photographs, all in color, are very good. The greatest shortcoming is the county maps, which are passable, but difficult to use without the supplementary aid of a detailed, county road guidebook. The description of natural sights, as opposed to buildings, is a little lacking.

This book is fantastic! I live in Columbia and can tour any county and return home in the same day. This book reveals all kinds of wonderful, historical sites which are not only interesting to me, but also to my children. We even found new places to visit in our own county!

Caroline and Sidney have done a real piece of research in preparing this wonderful book. I know many of the places mentioned and can vouch for their accuracy. They seem to have a real feel for old South Carolina architecture. With this book you can go anywhere in South Carolina and have an interesting day or two by just using it as your guide. What a wonderful gift for a friend that's visiting from out of state.

I have not read the book in its entirety just yet I have read the first 5 sections in the book and I have found them somewhat tedious. The book is filled with diverse topics which only a few have been able to stimulate my interests.

This book provides insight into the tender moments Abraham Lincoln had with his wife Mary. Mary Lincoln does not come across as a shrew or a nag but as a loving wife that from time to time yielded to frustration and had to bear the personnal loss of two sons. Each time, Abraham seemed to know when to comfort her or when to leave matters unsaid.

I read and re-read this classic. Through Irving Stone's elaborate descriptive words, I feel, see and live what Mary Todd "Molly" did. I can smell the oranges, feel the velvet dress, and experience the political turmoil of the times prior to and during the Civil War. I don't even consider this book fiction. I am a romantic at heart, and she showed true devotion and undying love for Honest Abe. She taught me traits to look for in a man, and what to overlook. I am grateful to my father for giving me this book before he passed away.

I got this book a couple of years ago. I consider myself a pretty good cook, and there's still stuff I go back for over and over again in this book. The meatsauce recipe and the veggie chili have become favorites in my house, and the photographs and layout are exceptional.

This is neither a basics cookbook, nor a sophisticated gourmet chef's collector cookbook. It is in-between. There are simplistic contents on technique, sources, ingredients, getting started, etc., which the beginner on up in cooking experience utilize to prepare great menus.

There are sophisticated recipes that the intermediate cook can sink their teeth into, e.g. Chicken Satlimbocca or Grilled West Indies Spice-Rubbed Chicken Breast with Grilled Banana. Sides are concentrated entrees brimming with flavor, great for beginner to intermediate: Bell Peppers Stuffed with Couscous, or Eggplant Caponata.

Receiving this as a gift, I likely would not have purchased this for myself, as there are just more cookbooks I'm into having. However, I defintitely would give this as a gift to cooking friends who fall in the beginner to intermediate level. There are recipes here for all. Well done. Great photos and layout and instructions.

I am a single guy, and as such, I have not prepared food very often. Getting a little tired of always eating frozen/canned food, or at restaurants, I decided to give this book a try.

The instructions in this book are easy to follow, and the food has turned out well. I could not be happier!

Like many of the other Chic Simple Books (I own 6 or 7 now - some wonderfully helpful, some just fun to look at) this one is filled with witty quotes, fashionable observations and pretty pictures. However, for those of you seeking advice on how to deal with the mess your desk may be, this is not the book for you. There are fine descriptions of the origin of the word "credenza", instructions on how to make your own paper, facts, figures, statistics & even a history of the evolution of paper. But in fact, no real instructions for dealing with the real issue: your desk. I love these books for their design quotient, the facts are interesting (reminding you to take special note when setting up a filing system in China, as they have no alphabet...this is important in my life-NOT), and the quotes add spice to my day, but if you are looking for real solutions you might be better off with the other condescending, no price tag is too high in the sake of style Diva, Martha, than with this book. The Chic Simple "Components" as they call them are attractive, and appeal to a rather impulsive urge, but are really just pretty ways to seperate you and your money. Try their books on clothing & wardrobes, they are VERY helpful.