Although critical reviews for this book are accurate and give it much deserved praise, do not read them. Let Ellis Burt tell his story to you the way he wants to--give him his own timing. To know the story beforehand is to take away your involvemnent in the terrible and powerful discoveries that he must make as a human being: about others, his society, and himself. This is a tale of sin and redemption. To know his sins too soon is to underappreciate his redemption--what there can be of it.

Life can change in an instant. Picked an old paperback copy of this up at a used book sale. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Easily one of the best "stories" I've read in years (and I read many, many contemporary fiction novels). If you ever take your relationships (family or friends) for granted, read this book. You won't anymore. It's extremely well written; authentic without seeming contrived.

Tremendous book. This is the best book I've read in the last 3 years. Very readible, incredibly moving. This is not brain candy. It will make you think for a long time afterwards.

Just like all of Harold Morris books, this book is great. If you haven't read these books you should, once you start to read the book you can't put it down.

A powerful story of failure and redemption. But also a story of growth and love. And a story of racial tension and solution. The story is about the lives of two men, one white and one black, prison-mates at the Georgia State Penn during the era of forced integration. Faith and love translate into action, and behaviors change as the two men come to respect each other. Eventually they have to act to save each others lives as both face the anger of their own preduced race. Through the milleu of prison life and prison basketball, the story unfolds. Simply yet powerfully told and with poignant scenes of humor and humanity that transcend the prison environment.

This is a book that everyone should read--a powerful statement that is not lightly made; the story chronicles the critical importance of Love to overcome racism, violence and despair. Author Morris shares a candid account of his life: a series of poor choices which resulted in (false) arrest, lengthy incarceration in one the country's worst prisons, and near death (murder and suicide). He faithfully reports how his smug attitudes, smart mouth and tragic misjudgment of the integrity of others and his own abilities reaped a bitter harvest of terror and humiliation. Sound grim?--well, it is that all right, but there is much more to the honest, autobiographical tale than mere institutional horror. He issues sincere warnings and serious challenges to young people Not to repeat his grievous errors.

Locked in a small cell with another athletic but Black man--in the warden's determination to inititate Integration in the deep South--Super Honky learns bitter then humbling lessons re the value of human interaction. His life was forged into a never-ending chain of physical and emotional shackles, which crippled both his body, his thoughts and his future. Yet he grows in spiritual strength as he overcomes his social conditioning, to ultimately realize that a Black man proved his best friend in the Pen--a mentor and inspiration for the rest of his life. Once paroled and ultimately exonerated, Morris dedicates himself to helping others, especially teenagers, but also those who are terminally-ill. Having felt Cancer's grasping finger, he understands that threat to one's dignity. Despite pessimistic predictions that he would never amount to anything, he decided to prove them all wrong. Through public speaking and now the written word, he has touched the lives of thousands of teenagers, for whom he desperately wishes to spare a similar fate of crime and inevitable punishment. Call it Love Therapy; he is not ashamed to express love and compassion for others, even strangers. His steadfast faith in the value of human touch shines through the horrors of behind the bars of prison or ignorance, offering much-needed Hope and practical advice to turn troubled lives around. This book helps unlock the mysteries of the human heart--to set the soul free! The only shackles we should bear with pride are those of our common humanity.

Patricia Sprinkle has done it again. MacLaren Yarbrough is a fabulous character. I have read every book in the series and each time I feel as if I am visiting an old friend. In fact, I am! The town of Hopemore and the characters that live there remind me of a small town in Georgia where I lived for three years. I am waiting with breathless anticipation for the next installment in the Yarbrough's life in Hopemore, Ga. I hope I don't have to wait too long!

The quiet town of Hopemore, Georgia is the home of local Court magistrate Judge MacLaren Yarbrough, part owner of Yarbrough's Feed, Seed and Nursery. She counts her blessings especially when it comes to her husband Joe Riddley who is recovering nicely from a head wound that almost killed him. Her next door neighbor Maynard is getting married soon and he has bought himself a BMW, one that he intends to keep no matter that Skell Macdonald is offering him a fantastic deal to buy it back.

Shortly after Maynard and his bride go on their honeymoon, Skell disappears. At the same time, Skell's father Sky, a popular civic-minded town leader is run over by his own car. While the family grieves, the honeymooners are arrested in Orlando for transporting drugs. The police chief and MacLaren feel Skell knows something about this but the magistrate doesn't believe the missing man could have killed his father. She starts her own investigation and almost gets killed by a murderer who has nothing left to lose.

WHO LEFT THAT BODY IN THE RAIN? is an amateur sleuth cozy in which all the violence takes place outside of the pages of the book. There is no blood and gore but there is plenty of thrills and excitement as the sixty-something sleuth uncovers a host of buried secrets and a surplus of suspects. Readers who are fans of Carolyn Hart and Kate Kingsbury will want to buy Patricia Sprinkle's latest and that will lead to desiring the author's previous mysteries.

Harriet Klausner

I absolutely loved this book from one of my favorite authors. Patricia is a masterful wordsmith; her illustrations truly come alive. Her characters are so very real and so very southern. I especially appreciate the fact that Mac is not a spring chicken like so many other detectives I read about And this mystery really worked.

Thanks, Patricia!!

Woman of Color, Daughter of Privilege tells the story of Amanda Dickson, daughter of a wealthy plantation owner in rural Georgia and one of his slaves. Amanda was much loved by her father and amazingly went on to inherit most of his estate upon his death despite the strict racial segregation and discrimination of the era. Obviously, this situation was unique for its time. The book is very well-written,very informative and provides a good glimpse into the life of a privileged woman in a strictly segregated society. Highly recommended

I first saw the movie, A House Divided and searched out and found out that there was a book. I read the book and i recommend this book for everyone to read. It is a good book. If you haven't seen the movie. SEE IT! the author that wrote this book should be commended. He did a very good job. I am about to write a paper for my history class on this book. Linda D. Westman Mannsville, Oklahoma

Hi my name is Ashlee Dickson and I am a descendent of Amanda America Dickson. I am very appriciative to the people who have read the book and reviewed the website. I am also proud of my heritage and what she has done for the people of America. I am proud to be a Dickson.I am John R. Dickson's daughter's child. Thank you for your time.

The style holds the reader; the story grasps the reader in a tale
that displays loyalty and love between a grandfather and a five-year-old granddaughter in a tense drama that reveals the best of us and the worst of us! (From a reader in LA,CA)

An exciting tale of love and compassion between an old man and his five-year-old graddaughter he raised from a baby. A gripping tale of survival against all odds. Written in the style of the best of authors---simple and to the point in a manner to keep you turning the pages!

I thought The Third Season was a remarkable story about a grandfather's devotion to his little granddaughter. It is a story to touch your heart. And it makes us all wish we had a grandfather like that! This novel will wind around your heart just like Poppi is wound around Spice's tiny finger. This is truly a story to stir your emotions.

Turn Homeward Hannalee, a book by Patricia Beatty is more than a story about a family separated and in hard times. It is also a brilliant piece about the Civil War.
This story is about a 12 year old mill hand named Hannalee. Her Pa is dead and brother Davey has gone to war. The setting is Roswell, Georgia. Soon her government is burning the town. "The Yankees are coming!" they shout. Soon Yankees are roaming the town, burning the mill, and taking Hannalee and her little brother Jem to Indiana because they worked in the mill that made Confederate cloth.
Hannalee and Jem need more than hope and courage to get back home to Mama. As they are leaving Mama tears off a button on her dress and gives it to Hannalee. Hannalee knows then, she must get back home.
In Kentucky, after many days of riding the train, and walking, Hannalee and Jem are put in prison. People come to buy them as servants and Hannalee is separated from Jem.
Find out what happens as Hannalee sets out on an adventure that takes courage, heart, and hope, to get Jem and go home to Mama.

Turn Homeward Hannalee is a great way to educate yet exhilarate people with this civil war story. Hannalee is forced away from her southern town by "Blue Bellies" to work in their mill. She is seperated from her pregnant mother and through the course of the journey her younger brother is sent in a different direction. Her older brother fighting in the war that the south appears to be losing. Hannalee finds courage and uses her resolve to reunite her family. She encounters MANY hardships along the way. Does Hannalee find home? Find out! Exciting and plucky.

This is a very adventurous book. I read it this year in 5th grade and there are a lot of exciting things that happen. It's about a girl who gets taken away from her family by the Yankees during the Civil War. But luckily she is taken in by a friend. HannaLee has to go through a lot to get back to her family, but I can't tell you if she does or not, you'll just have to read the book for yourself to find out. This was an incredible book and I wanted to get more books like it. It's a great book and I know you'll enjoy it.

It is very hard to find a good clean book that you can really enjoy these days. This was a great book that brought the characters to life. When you read about the people and the mountains, you can actually feel like you are there with them. I was so excited when I heard that "It Happened On Kendell Mountain" had a sequel. When I read "A Very Wealthy Man" I felt the same closeness to the characters as I did in the first. I would recommend this book to everyone.

It is so refreshing to read books that are good clean entertainment! I am an avid reader and very much enjoyed this sequel to "It Happened on Kendall Mountain". The characters are so real and become like family to you by the time you finish the book. The great descriptions of the countryside and all the things of that era are very vivid and if you close your eyes you can really picture yourself in the North Georgia Mountains. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read books without all the "ugly" things of the world written in every other page.....overall, very good clean interesting reading.

We enjoyed the continuation of plot development in this sequel to the previous book, "IT HAPPENED ON KENDALL MOUNTAIN". The characters appear in believable real life situations, centered around the North Georgia mountain area, with actions extending far and wide. The complex story contains much intrigue, folklore, historical development, and excitement. Readers, both young and old, will enjoy this well written book.

This is a historical novel about life in rural Georgia in during the World War Two era. If you like the works of Ferrol Sams, you will also like this one. As a baby-boomer, this gave me an insite into my parents childhood. The character are charming, and well-drawn.

Having grown up in a small southern town with the curses and blessings of larger than life small town characters and their intense involvment in each other's lives, The War in Sallie's Station rang true on every front. It is a marvelous book which has more than a few turns of phrase which remind me of my literary idol, Harper Lee--I could not reccomend it more highly. The War in Sallie's Station is a story of friendship and love that span not only changing years but cultures, of evil that transends imagination, and of ultimate good that conquors all.

I know Sallies Station, in fact I know Mignon Franklin Ballard.
We grew up in the same small town that Sallies Station is based on.
She has captured my town and all other small towns in America.
I have enjoyed her angel series and eagerly await the new one due in April of next year.
Sallies Station goes between the years of WW II and present day and the characters are wonderful.
I only wish she would write faster and hope she will write a sequel to this book.

There is a wealth of good, solid information in this very creative and readable book on writing. Practical suggestions and concrete examples add to it's value. This is an important book for anyone who wants to write or has a story to tell. I truly enjoyed it.

In this book Georgia offers us a guide back to ourselves. The exercises not only help us to become better writers but help us to know ourselves better as well. Very practical and enlightening.

Some say write what you know. But how do you find out the things that will make you interesting? That will make a writer out of you? In Write What You Know author Georgia Jones takes you through the steps that she herself has taken along the path to better writing. Georgia, who has helped writers find their voices for over five years, and whose own books and articles have spanned a period of over 30 years, tells us how her own life affected her fiction, non-fiction, journalism, commentary, poetry, and plays. Patiently and with a wonderful prose, she assists you through a series of exercises. She entertains with story examples to demonstrate techniques. She describes complex ideas so simply that anyone who has the spark can continue to improve on the skill that must go along with the love of writing. Write What You Know is a book that can be used and enjoyed by the new writer looking for guidance, or is a book for the seasoned pro in search of a fresh outlook. And for $12.95, you get to meet an absolutely marvelous woman.

Don DeNevi

I purchased this book to help me keep consistent with my journaling. On the days I "drew blank" when I took pen and pad in hand, I read a chapter of this book. I enjoyed the exercises and the experience. I may pull it out again for next year's journal to see what I come up with then.

This must be the most accessible book on how to live and communicate one's life through poetry simultaneously. As a former Georgia Heard (a most gracious educator whose life is her work) student, I can honestly say I have gained so much valuable insight into my own writing and teaching from using this companion (book). It is a must for those "re-visionists"; those who want desperately to communicate experiences and to see these experiences take on new lives of their own. If you enjoy poetry, you should not be without this timeless guide for writing.

My friend who was student teaching fourth graders at the time, told me about this book. She knew I wanted to start writing again, but was unsure of where and how to start. When I finally got ahold of Georgia's suggestions and life examples, I realized how difficult I was making it all out to be. Ms. Heard has helped me take my pen in hand again and I have been a happier person ever since. This book is one that you can take from the shelf over and over again, getting something different everytime you read it. I really appreciate her way of making every writer feel that their work is important - finding the joy in every piece of writing. I realized through her book that my writing, whether private or published, is a gift.