The okapi was discovered in 1901 and is sometimes called the forest giraffe. Little was known about it until recently; it lives in the rainforest of the Democratic Republic of Congo (previously known as Zaire). The okapi is very unique and only about 200 are found in captivity; wild populations are threatened. This is the first book in English about this endangered species. The book brings together all that is known about the okapi in a very readable format and is illustrated with lovely drawings by one of the authors. The book is introduced by renowned scientist Dr. Jane Goodall; ALL royalties are used in the country of Congo-Zaire to preserve the rainforest, the okapi and all the other plants and animals which call this place home.

The reason I read this book was to find out if the wife and family of Mr. Hightower realized before the murders that he had problems and was capable of murder. It was an interesting and well written book explaining point by point the relationship, from start to finish of Susan and Chris Hightower. I think it was a necessary book to write and to read, as it shows the complete selfish and cruel nature of Chris Hightower and for a brief moment you can see through his eyes and, as crazy as he is, you begin to understand why he thought he could get away with murder. One of the reasons I think people should read the book is because it examines the non-physical side of abuse that is just as harmful and probably more long lasting than the physical. Had Susan been aware of the manipulation that was controlling her, she might have ended the relationship years earlier and saved herself all the heartache. Christopher Hightower would very probably have murdered or attempted murdering someone who got in his way with or without Susan. The horror of what he did to the Brendel family is unbelievable and painful to read but the book brings it out factually without glorifing the brutality of Hightower's actions. I am glad I read it and I hope it will help others not to casually become intimately involved with strangers without meeting their family and finding out who they are or as much as you can about them.

I found this book very enjoyable. Each page gave the reader another look into the deaf culture and sign language. It is not a long book but an easy one to understand. This book is a great starting point for people who are interesting in learning sign. The book is made more for a child then an adult, but I believe anyone will enjoy it as a look into the use of sign Language.

The catchy title made me buy this book but I was disappointed after the first couple chapters. The characters are too beautiful and rich to be real and the plot too is unbelievable.

I really wanted to see the relationship between Jada and Wellington expand beyond the cliches that we are used to reading about contemporary successful black couples but Mary B. Morrison just did not deliver. Jada came off as being desperate and childish and Wellington came across as being a typical black male who cannot resist raunchy sex with another woman (Melanie), thereby breaking his woman's heart. In many ways this book was a ghetto fabulous read but for the serious reader, its appeal is minimal.

In the end, we are left to wonder if Jada and Wellington will get together again but if the sequel is anything like its Soul Mates Dissipate I will not read it.

I polished off the novel in one sitting. Her book wouldn't allow me to do much else. I had to finish it--I wanted to know what happened next! It's an easy read and very entertaining book. The steamy scenes that will make your head spin, are not the heart of the story, but it adds the spice. Being too comfortable in a relationship and not seeing the signs of reality is what the book is really about. Mary has a spectacular way of putting words to paper, and I am looking forward to the sequel. If you are a reader who is tired of "fluffy" and "glossed over" love scenes--then get ready. Mary takes you to the graduate school of sensuality. Class is in! Mary's unique style of sensual writing should have people taking notes and trying it out for themselves.

Hats off to Mary Morrison for a job well done! Her next novel can't come soon enough. Don't "borrow" a copy, because you will not want to give it back. Buy your own!

I really didn't know what to expect from this novel. After reading some of the reviews, I had mixed feelings. But I have to admit that those feelings disappered after the first page.

This book is about Jada, a thirty something business women, that gets engaged to Wellington, her boyfriend of almost a year. They believe that they are soul mates, but there are different situations that occur thoughout the whole novel that make them question that belief. I won't tell you the whole story, but Melanie, Wellington's godsister, is a house guest at Wellingtons house. This girl has some serious issues that will have you up at night shaking your head. She ends up coming in between Wellington and Jada.

I enjoyed this book to the fullest. I cannot wait until the sequel comes out because Mary Morrison left us hanging at the end of the book. I seriously suggest this book for anyone who loves the drama and hot and heavy love scenes. This is a great book that somewhat deals with reality ( I couldn't believe what Jada did when she was drunk)
:)

I heard the author discussing this book on a local radio station recently. I'd never heard of her, but found the book in my library yesterday. I'm glad that I had not bought it.

I live in Connecticut, but am not a native like the author. I am not upset at her snide comments about Texas. That is the way people in Connecticut are. They are very snobby and superior. They do not believe there is anything west of the Hudson that is worth knowing about and they make fun of anything out there.

As far as this book, I liked it except for the vulgar language here and there which I guess is necessary these days. It lowers my opinion of the author, tho. She doesn't really have to write that stuff.

Interesting story with a few twists. However, Sue Grafton's Kinsey is more to my liking. I don't think I'll read another book about Poppy.

I found this to be an excellent novel. The cover makes it look like a bit of fluff, but it is hard edged and great reading. It's a hardcore crime fiction, with twists and turns that are excellently connected. I've read some of the other reviews and feel that possibly the 'lightness' of the cover led some folks to the book who may not have otherwise read it. If has the tightness and darkness of James Lee Burke, Dennis Lehane and Nevada Barr. For the record, I am a Texan and while some comments were a bit far fetched, I found nothing to be 'offended by.' I am eagerly awaiting the next Poppy Rice.

Meet Poppy Rice, former Florida prosecutor and Bronx district attorney turned cracker-jack FBI Agent. She was brought to Washington to clean up and revamp the infamous FBI crime lab. With her take-no-prisoners style, she's turned the once sloppy and sometimes inept facility into a state of the art, well-oiled machine, the envy of the rest of the world. Now she's carved out a new role for herself, reinvestigating old cases, the ones that may have fallen through the cracks in the bad old days of slipshod investigations, and that's how she comes across Rona Leigh Glueck. Rona Leigh, former teenage ax murderer, now born again Christian, is sentenced to die by lethal injection in just ten days. She was a seventeen year old alcoholic, drug addicted, malnourished and only eighty-eight pounds at the time of the murders. With her tiny frame and childlike wrists and hands, Poppy doesn't believe she could have wielded a twenty-four pound ax at least a dozen times. Her trial was one big emotional travesty, topped off with very suspect expert testimony, "glee" made her able to do it. But what really sends Poppy to Texas looking for justice is the fact that the FBI crime lab ignored a request from Rona Leigh's public defender. Poppy feels if they had done their job, it just might have proven that Rona Leigh was innocent..... Based loosely on the Karla Faye Tucker case and execution, Mary-Ann Tirone Smith has written a fresh and entertaining thriller you won't be able to put down. This is an intriguing novel that has it all...a terrific and intricate story line complete with twists, turns, and more than a few surprises that keeps you off balance and turning pages, crisp, smart writing full of witty and irreverent dialogue and Texas humor, and vivid, riveting, sometimes laugh-out-loud-funny scenes. But it's Ms Smith's well drawn, engaging and original characters that really make this book stand out, and once you've met tough, clever and very capable Poppy Rice, you'll be hooked for sure. This is a book you don't want to miss. Love Her Madly is the first of what should be a marvelous new series, and should definitely be at the top of every mystery/thriller fan's "must read" list.

I thought I was buying a book written by Mary Higgins Clark. I am one of her biggest fans. The short stories were pointless and poorly written. One story was written by Mary Higgins Clark and even that was pointless. On a scale of 1 to 5, this rates a 0.

This twelve-story anthology loosely focuses on the title, MURDER IN THE FAMILY. Though the tales are well written, they lack the suspense and cutting edge expected of this famous group of popular authors that contributed to the collection and that of previous short story books produced by the Adams Round Table. For most mystery readers, previous Adams Round Table editions are stronger (see MURDER AMONG FRIENDS, etc.). However, die hard fans of Lawrence Block, Mary Higgins Clark, Stanley Cohen, Dorothy Salisbury Davis, Mickey Friedman, Joyce Harrington, Susan Isaacs, Judith Kelman, Warren Murphy, Justin Scott, Peter Straub, and Whitley Strieber will want to read the tales. Yet even the strongest of loyalists need to keep the expectations a bit lower than usual as the gaggle of writers fall short of what each one usually provides.

Harriet Klausner

Lawrence Block, et.al.'s Murder In The Family packs in high-profile mystery writers whose new presentations have not seen print elsewhere. Mary Higgins Clark probes a father's motivation for revenge, Susan Isaacs presents a chilling portrait of a family which should not be in business, and Dorothy Davis tells of a letter which transforms lives in this excellent collection.

Having read numerous Mexican cookbooks and numerous "forDummies" books, I expected more.

Specifically:

o An emphasison the basics: kitchen equipment, herbs and spices, preparation methods, cooking techniques. And with adaquate illustrations;

o Some semblence of recipe organization. Recipes seem like a hodge-podge collection, with a less-than-effective 'theme/chapter' organization. END

Not a Dummie anymore! I love this style of book; it is simple, informative & concise. Especially helpful to the novice cook!

This book was a pretty tough read, and most of the concepts about women starting out in medicine were fairly obvious. Some things, though, were new to me. I did not, however, learn enough to really give this book a lot of credit. It would have been easier to just look this particular subject up on the web or in an encyclopedia. Enjoy!

This book was extremly well researched, as well as well written. The antecdotes about the doctors were inspiring, and were often amusing. A great read. P.S. The author recently was awarded the Ross Winterrowd award for best book this year in composition rhetoric for Out of the Dead House. She should be congragulated.

This book was really good, but there were a few parts that I didn't agree with. I liked Life at Sixteen: Silent Tears better!!

The history is told from the viewpoint of the adminbistration, not the student. This absence of the students'viewpoint is the major weakness. The first part deals with Colonial History up to the early 20th century when W&M became a public institution. As W&M has an extraordinary history, filled with war at the doorstep, constant struggle just to survive, the story is essentially interesting. The most informative part of the second section when the college is public is the insight into funding of a public university and the stupidity of some government officials, as the state auditor who recommended in the 1940s as I recall that all donated money be credited to the state. The contrary argument, which won, was that that would simply kill all donations to the college. This is a good book for libraries and may be used by students of American history to benefit.