Donna Schaff's Just One Kiss is an entertaining romance novel of a man and a woman who simply don't care for each other in the beginning - but with passing time and new challenges, each finds the courage love again. At different times warm, contradictory, or philosophical, Just One Kiss is a thoughtful, passionate, highly recommended presentation of stubborn personalities and heartfelt sentiment.

Once again Ms. Schaff has done it again. As with her first book "Priceless" everytime I put it down I was drawn back to it. I just had to find out what was going to happen next. I found the non-rushed pace of the "budding romance" refreshing. I mostly enjoyed the author's sense of humor. Although I am not a big reader of romance I most definitely will continue to look for Ms. Schaff's work and am eagerly awaiting her next venture.

Ms. Schaff has done it again! Like her first book, Priceless (which was a RITA finalist for Best First Book), this is one you can't put down. Just One Kiss is wonderful. This author has a magical story-telling ability; she delivers adventure and passion in a superbly paced, emotional tale of two people, each with their own painful secrets. They don't like each other in the beginning; they clash, they try to out-manuever each other, yet they're destined to become lovers. Ms. Schaff creates heart-breaking, memorable characters who play off one another beautifully, with wit and humor and deep emotion. In my opinion, she's one the best historical romance writers in the genre. I can't wait for the next book!

Written and compiled by holistic veterinarian Donna Kelleher, The Last Chance Dog And Other True Stories Of Holistic Animal Healing is a heartwarming anthology of stories about treating animals ranging from dogs and cats, to horses, turtles, birds, and more, through the application of alternative medicine. Engagingly narrated in a down-to-earth fashion, The Last Chance Dog is an engaging, entertaining, informative, and very highly recommended read for animal lovers everywhere.

I read a LOT of animal-related books, and this is one of the very best. It is so well-written and engaging, that you can hardly put it down (although I had to often, just to process all the new information that Dr. Kelleher gave in each and every chapter). I have learned so much about holistic vet care from this book and really appreciate her knowledge and the way she shares it with us. Each chapter gives a beautiful, moving story about a particular animal and the health problems he or she has been going through, as well as the fears and frustrations that the animals' humans are experiencing. Probably most of us who have ever lived with animals have gone through those most difficult times, and I especially appreciated the love expressed by both Dr. Kelleher and the animals' caretakers in each instance.

I am now determined to find a holistic vet for my cats and am excited about starting them on the homemade cat diet that Dr. Kelleher gives us in the book (and, yes, there's a dog one too!). This is a must-have book for everyone who lives with an animal, and the stories are wonderful to read for all animal lovers.

Okay, once I got past the 50's-textbook-cover design (which does an inadequate job of expressing the vitality of the book and its author), I discovered a dynamic, articulate animal advocate; a very knowledgeable veterinarian (both conventional and holistic, explaining acupuncture and the Chinese medicinal theory behind it, chiropractic, herbal & homeopathic solutions, and other alternative approaches); and a delightful storyteller. Her enthusiasm and personality fairly jump off the pages; her stories are well written and heartwarming/heartbreaking (18 chapters, 18 bouts of tears), and her advice is absolutely essential. The only challenge is keeping track of it all - I have tattered sticky-note bookmarks spewing from the book edges. She uses an interesting and effective structural rhythm: case stories followed by explorations of the medical issues and alternative medicine solutions each story brings up.

Dr. Kelleher is impassioned and opinionated (without ever judging or making me feel inadequate because, for example, I can't get my cats to eat home-cooked food), compassionate (her love of animals is glaringly apparent), brutally honest (revealing her heartbreaking frustration and despair at some cases), thoughtful and interesting (her embrace of holistic medicine is both well-reasoned while also quite intuitive as she tells the tale of her medical-intellectual-emotional-spiritual journey), and, at times, funny, like when she crawls around in a dirty crawlspace looking for her escaped tortoise muttering, "I am the worst tortoise mom in the whole world." By this point in the book, you can see her doing this and chuckling while a tear escapes the corner of your eye.

A great read: entertaining, heartwarming, informative, and ultimately hopeful. Any person owned by a pet will love (and benefit from) this book, even more so if your animal companion has medical challenges.

I found out by reading this book that God speaks through bumble bees, frogs with sore tongues, power outages, broken cars, clogged sinks and numerous other ways. You don't have to be a spiritual superstar to hear him speak. (Actually, being a spiritual superstar disqualifies you). God speaks to normal, everyday people in everyday circumstances, and Donna show's you how in this easy to read book.

A WORD OF CAUTION: There were several stories in this book that had me laughing so hard that I almost ran off the road.

Ted Wilder

Learning to Hear The Whispers of God contains many personal stories from the author's family life. These are stories that are very easy for me to relate to because they are common situations for a family with children. This makes it a comfortable book to read. It is also easy to make a connection with the truths about God, and how He talks to His children, that Donna is sharing in her book.

I loved this book. I found I learned new things all the way through it, even though I have been a Christian and "in the church" since I was a kid. I love just picking it up and opening it and reading wherever I open it too! I am sure you will enjoy the ways God has taught her things. I know I did!

This is a very well-written history of the Columbian Exhibition and the Little Egypt legends that abounded after the 1893 Fair. A fascinating read; highly recommended.

Looking for Little Egypt is well-researched, a fascinating history, that is eloquently written. It was not as much about belly dance as I expected; it is exactly what the title says: looking for the legendary Little Egypt. It is a fascinating, murky, brief, and obscured history of a dancer whose existence is more legend than truth. Carlton sought to discover just who was Little Egypt. She was able to dispel a few myths (Twain did not suffer a coronary after seeing her dance), but was left with no solid answers about who that dancer was in the end.

If you enjoy Middle Eastern dance or like a good history/mystery, this book is absolutely for you!

This book is a well organized and well written account of the beginnings of "belly dance" in the USA. More than that, it's a detailed account of the famous "Chicago World's Fair," and much to my surprise I found that as intriguing as the Little Egypt Story. Buy it, you'll be riveted!

This book is the best book available about the history of oriental dance. Although this book tells only about Chicago World Fair and dancers and musicians there, it does it with lots of accurate information and very interesting and fluent way. Illustration is wonderful and here a reader can find out how Oriental Dance really found its way to the West and what lies behind colorful myths about Little Egypt.

A charming and timeless piece that accounts the unparalleled experience that is being a child. In the book you meet 8 year old Donna as she meets the unforgettable Lucky Larry, a young boy with MD who doesn't let that or anything else stop him or Donna and their delightfull friends from getting into all sorts of mischief and having fantastic adventures.
Donna Worden Abitz's wonderful craft at storytelling coupled with the beautiful illustrations of David Michael O'Barr, make this book a joy to behold. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

This is a beautiful story about growing up in a time where the biggest crime was being caught throwing apples at cars, where one boy with disabilities found acceptance, simply by being himself. It's a great story for helping readers to see what life was like during this period in history. The illustrations help to capture the attention of the reader and the mood of the time. I look forward to reading more by this author.

I need more copies of Lucky Larry. Everyone who reads this book has loved it!

This set still rates 5 stars, both for content and beauty, even though the newer sets that are now shipping no longer have a hardcover book. The book is now softcover, and, disappointingly, omits the handy reference charts that are in the front and back of the hardcover.

The cards are *almost* the same in this newer edition. In the older sets, they are a little more vibrant, and the finish is a high gloss, while the newer ones have more of a matte finish.

I prefer the packaging of the older set: the book slides out of the side, and a carboard container next to it slides out, and neatly held in that are the cards. The packaging of the new set is not bad, but you do have to slide the cover off; then the book sits on top of a carboard section with a cut-out center for the cards.

In short, I would suggest trying to find an older set with the hardcover book, and superior packaging; but the new set is still, overall, quite lovely, and the content is undeniably wonderful. A wise and beautiful oracle.

The hardbound book is TOP quality. One of the only to list semi-precious stones & other correspondences for each symbol. The front & back inside covers have a quick reference keyword section. The artwork on the cards is exquisite but I would recommend using them for meditation due to the thinner cardstock. I purchased a font set from Deniart & made my own cards to shuffle & then I lay out the beautiful ones to study.

The Mayan Oracle is a delight for the discriminating seeker after a more evolved oracle. Tired of tarot and its worn archetypes which are based on the Middle Ages, gothic and dark overtones, I found the Mayan system un-contaminated and fresh. The cards are stunning in their beauty and design, immediately conveying a lighter, more etheric message for the spiritually discerning individual.

Never The Same is a book that weaves a straight talking, light-hearted tone with accurate academic information. My father died when I was eleven and through my subsequent studies, I can see the relevancy of its contents.

Dr. Schuurman uses her experience and anecdotes from children and families at the Dougy Center to aid the reader in understanding the bereavement issues discussed.

I have shared this book with adults who attend our Center. Overwhelmingly they agree that reading Never the Same sheds light on their childhood history and provides insight into the current (and possibly future) experiences of their bereaved children.

One of the best things Shuurman has done is to include questionnaires triggering memories that provide insights. This book is easy to read and written with a hopeful tone.

If you, or anyone you know, had a parent die in childhood, drop everything and read this book. Dr. Schuurman's wisdom, humor, and conventional style engages the reader with thought-provoking insight and practical suggestions. This is not 'just another' self-help book: it could, quite literally, change lives.

Never the Same gives information for adults about their experiences with a parent's death during childhood that clarifies, for many, the issues carried into adulthood. Specifically this book addresses intrapersonal and interpersonal issues stemming from the death of a parent.

Reading this book not only gives hope for those investigating the impact of a parent's death but also gives specific recommendations about what can be done now in an adult's life.

Those to whom I've recommended this book have joyously thanked me for giving them an easy to read personal inventory. Dr. Schuurman has intersperced Never the Same with activities and inventories designed to integrate the past with the present.

It is the first book of its kind that I've seen. Buy it now and you won't be disappointed.

I avoided the television Sunday evening and sat down with a book. I spent my time well! I chose Donna Schuurman's new book, Never The Same - Coming To Terms With The Death Of A Parent (from St. Martin's Press, New York, 2003).

Adults who have experienced the death of a parent during childhood must read Never The Same. Family members, friends, and support professionals who wish to better understand the impact that parental loss has on children throughout their life should also read Donna's book. This book blends scholarly and anecdotal research with the compassionate exploration of some of the roots of thoughts and feelings experienced by adults who mourn the death of a parent during their early years.

Schuurman offers more than a simple list of "here's how you may be affected by the parental death in your past." While reading Donna's book, I felt the two of us were sitting down in a one-on-one relationship, with Donna exploring, coaching, and guiding me along the path of grief.

Never The Same reads like a storybook, a textbook, a workbook, and a guidebook -- all in one. The dust cover of the book contains this statement: Although we can't relive childhood, we can choose to live healthier, fuller lives. From opportunities for introspection to the practical suggestions for dealing with childhood loss, Donna Schuurman's book provides tools for healing and moves the reader toward a healthier, fuller life!

Danny Mize
Executive Director of The Kids' Place support group center for grieving families in central Oklahoma

This gentle tale throws the reader a bit of a curve and leaves you with an "oh, yeah" affirmation. This story recounts the everyday adventures of a grandfather and his grandson, clearly two peas in a pod, who share a fondness for hot chocolate with tons of marshmallows, watching construction equipment, telling jokes, and just being in the "now."

Both the typography and illustrations evoke warmth and love, making this a great choice for reading to four- to seven-year-olds.

The whole book is heartwarming and lovely, but the end is the real clincher. I read it over and over again the first time I checked it out from the library, and decided it had to be part of my kid's permanent collection. The book starts off with "My favorite person is coming to visit me today..." and goes on to take you through a story of two people sharing time together and enjoying the simple things in life, like hot chocolate "with as many marshmallows as you want". It teaches that part of love is sharing small things in common together, and you're never too old to enjoy the company of a little person if you don't lose touch with the kid inside yourself.

I read this heartwarming book and instantly thought of my dad's relationship with his out-of-town grandchildren. Drinking cocoa, working on projects together, telling bad knock-knock jokes and reading stories are EXACTLY what my niece and nephew like to do with their grandpa when they visit. Now grandpa will have a new story to share!

I enjoyed Ms. Abear's book because it is a humorous account of a working mother's daily trials in a family with four children, husband and pets. She is very down-to-earth in the Erma Bombeck style of writing. The reader feels as though he knows the author and can identify with many of her everyday experiences. Light, enjoyable reading for everyone!

Donna Abear's book is a humerous take on the lives of a family of six (not including pets), and the trials and tribulations which accompany a family of this size. The book is funny as Ms. Abear points out the obvious differences in the way women and men look at life's ups and downs and day to day occurrences. She portrays the children as fun loving, interesting but exasperating at times. Her observations on newly weds, Oprah and the Chicago Bulls are all enjoyable and funny. I would compare this book with Erma Bombeck 's style of writing and recommend it as good reading to anyone who enjoys laughing at life's twists and turns.

Having read a number of Ms. Abears columns I was pleasantly surprised to find this collection in book form. It is a book that can be devoured in a variety of ways, as it lends itself to being read when you have a little time or alot of time. Its humor crosses gender and age boundaries with great facility and the artwork can be enjoyed by itself or as an enhancement to the topic. Good for the coffee table or the powder room reading rack.

If you are a basic sort of person who enjoys plain, down-to-Earth meals, and do not like to spend a lot of time in the kitchen, this book is for you. Not only does it suggest what basics to stock on your shelves, but the recipes turn out very well if fresh ingredients are used. One will not be caught off guard when unexpected guests arrive, if you follow the suggestions offered by Hay. I did, however, find the recipes were not quite as original as anticipated. Many are variations of recipes found in other similar cookbooks, particularly the Asian noodles; however, the recipes are still tasty and the book will be particularly valuable to those inexperienced in the kitchen.

I don't know about you but I have a whole shelf filled with cookbooks. Many of them seemed like a good idea at the time (ahem.... Bobby Flay), but after struggling through their long and complicated recipes - delicious as they often were - I never returned. They sit, forlorn, awaiting the day I have four hours to spend on dinner.

I can think of no higher praise for 'Off the Shelf' than to say my copy is happily covered in splashes and stains: the mark of a real cook book.

Hay has a simple philosophy: acquire some pantry staples and with the addition of a few fresh ingredients you can have a quick and interesting meal ready in no time. And it works!

Each dish in the book gets its own beautiful photograph, which makes for an inspirational flick-through each time I'm at a loss for what to cook next. It helps that the styling and photography are top notch too.

I suspect many Americans have few culinary associations with Australia beyond barbeque, but Hay - who edits the food section of Australian Marie Claire - proves she has her finger on the pulse of what and how people want to eat nowadays. If you're like me, that means interesting dishes borrowing techniques and ingredients from Asia and the Mediterranean - that you can make in under an hour.

Trust me: this is a book you'll use whether cooking for yourself or a dinner party. Your copy will be filthy in no time!

Most of the recipes don't have more than 5-7 ingredients, mostly items from the pantry but there are always 2-3 fresh items that really make the difference. There are pictures for every single recipe, very useful for when you want to know what the dish should really look like. The gorgeous pictures alone are worth the price of the cookbook, wonderful to browse when you are trying to figure out what to cook. The only negative is that the recipes are not inherently low fat, but it's easy to substitute high fat cheeses etc with the low fat version. The interesting food combinations and easy easy preparations make this an awesome everyday cookbook.