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I was drawn in quickly by Lara and the author's certain voice. Conflict comes early and the backstory is braided and seamless. McCarty stays out of the way of this one, managing complex characters and providing trustworthy dialogue from the shadows. The result is pure story. Throughout the pages burned a fire kindled by the electric spark between Lara and Aedan. Long after story's end I lay in the cinders of that fire cursing myself for reading so fast, and grasping for some way to return to that world. Write more, Ms. McCarty, and either wind me in tighter on your string or release me from the spell Cerridwen's Tears cast over me.

This is a rich story filled with interesting characters who leap off the page. McCarty has done a great job writing a fresh vampire story. Her provocative and witty style had me from page one. I cannot wait to see where Lara and Aeden's chemistry takes them. I will buy this book and any others by this author!

Intrigued, I read this excerpt several times and each time I find myself amazed Ms. McCarty's crafted such believable and realistic characters. Lara is a hard working nurse who knows her job. The coffee addiction juat adds another layer of reality we can all relate to. Her angry personality is profound and well thought out; a result of losing her beloved spouse only a few years before. Now, her only true love is her horses.

Into her life, a life where she has become a bit promiscuous to numb her loneliness, comes Aedan, a vampire of the highest order. Suave and sophisticated, well dressed and well heeled, he is facinated by her. Although his early, formal introduction is a bit awkward, as are all formal introductions between strangers, he senses a way to become a friend. A friend that she needs as she tries to end an unsatisfying relationship.

It is Aedan and Lara's mutual love and respect of horses that finally melts the ice, and leaves me begging to find out more about these facinating people. Aedan and Lara are bound to become classics in the pantheon of fictional characters, and I, for one, want to read more and more about them. If Sheryl McCarty were to write twenty more books in this series, I would pre-order them now, because this is a delightful read!

Sheryl McCarty's got me. I love her provocative, yet witty writing style. I can see the setting and she brings her characters to life so vividedly. Lara, independent, fiesty, so seemingly in control; I can't wait to see where she's going with hunky Aedan. How long do I have to wait for more of this captivating work? YOU GO GIRL!

I Loved it! Its fast paced dialog and well developed characters got me from the start. I read the excerpt twice and I could find no reference to a husband who was afraid of vampires, in fact there was no husband at all so I'm not sure where some other reviewers got that part. I loved Lara's snarky attitude and thought it was refreshing to see a female character who's not stumbling over herself where men are concerned. Rock on, Lara, I want to read more!

I was looking for a book like this, one that doesn't go by month to month of what I should expect physically, medically. It's a book that gives you some perspective from personnal short stories. I brought it to read during my "baby moon" and it just made me feel whole-especially mentally. Too bad there isn't a more recent version but, I would buy this as a gift-especially for a first time mother.

I really hate to give any "Chicken Soup" book less than a 5 star because I am a huge fan.

I was slightly disappointed in the content of this book. I really was hoping and expecting that it would have more stories about giving birth. It says on the cover that the 101 stories inspire and warm the hearts of soon-to-be-mothers but I felt like the subjects were too general.

For example, the contents are 1. We're Pregnant, 2. Nine Months and Counting, 3 Expectant Fathers, 4. Challenges along the Way, 5. Special Delivery 6. Small Miracle 7. Memorable moments, 8. On Motherhood, 9. Expectant Wisdom.

I didn't find many birth stories - in fact, I don't think there was even one.

However, in spite of my need for positive birth stories, I still love the stories that they put in the book.

Sheri Menelli, childbirth educator, doula, speaker and author of "[...]"

If you're an expectant mother you will appreciate the stories in this book. They are touching and funny and strike a universal chord that make you realize you're not alone. Five stars! Debbie Farmer, parenting author of 'Don't Put Lipstick on the Cat'

Although I read almost every single publication of Chicken Soup, I must say this is definitely my favourite, especially that we are expecting our third child.

Before reading this book, I must admit I was not sure if we did the right thing to concieve a third child but now I know more than missing to cherish every moment of our pregnancy.

This book has moved every kind of feelings in us from happiness to excitement, to sadness at some times and made me thankful for this beautiful gift from God.

This is a must for every expectant parent.

this book was exactly what i needed to help me love the feeling of being pregnate. during my second pregnancy i wasn't feeling all that hot until my hubby came home with the book. i read this book three times already, even my four year old loves the stories. i cried and laughed and cried some more...read this book if you're looking for something to cheer you up while you're feeling down! An excellent book--I promise!!!!

I wrote my review a second time because I thought I'd done something wrong and you weren't going to post it. Please delete the review dated October 23 and leave the later version. Thank you.

Gardener's Soul is my first read in the Chicken Soup series. Had I an inkling that the series could evoke that cozy-fuzzy feeling, like a purring kitten warming your lap, I would have been reading them all.

Paula Silici's Nona's Garden stands as a fine example. I could smell the beef, garlic and tomatoes simmering in the kitchens of my childhood as I read of the life's lessions learned from her grandmother. I have more hope for the future after reading Beth Pollack's Planting Day,especially considering that such words of wisdom came from a 16-year-old. Good job,young lady! And A Bedside Story by Pat Stone reassured me that I'm not the only gardener who talks to plants.

No wonder the publisher has the name Health Communications. When the mind is calm, the body is better able to heal. This book is a fabulous choice for anyone feeling blue or for just anyone!

A truly good book evokes cozy images and sensations from the past. And this is a very good book, one that teaches us to stop and consider how wisely we spend on this earth.

Among my personal favorites was Nona's Garden by Paul Silici. I could almost smell the delectably heavy garlic, beef and tomatoes slowly steaming in my grandmother's kitchen, and felt a tug on my heartstrings when she shared the story of her grandmother's lessions in life. Planting Day filled me with hope for the younger generation when I saw that sixteen-year-old Beth Pollack had written such an insightful essay. It was good to learn in Pat Stone's A Bedside Story that I'm not the only person who talks to their plants.

There's something for everyone in CS for the Gardener's Soul.

I am a great fan of the Chicken Soup Books. They are a wonderful way for me to start my morning. Being an avid gardener, this one was truely special. Although many of the stories left me teary-eyed, the messages relayed were always positive and uplifting. -- Highly Recommend

This heartwarming, soul-satisfying collection of stories is a beautiful testimony to the special knowledge held dearly by every gardener, regardless of if they are first-timers or veterans. Even the smallest gardens have the ability to uplift our lives with the magical, unique understanding that they are living reminders of the potential beauty of the world.

Sharon Galligar Chance, Times Record News, Wichita Falls, Tx.

A wonderful book. I loved it as a child, and going back to read it as an adult I realize that there are a lot of things that I missed. I remember my teacher reading it aloud in class--wonderful!

The movie, although very nice, has only a superficial resemblance to the book. For one thing, it moves the time a generation or so back. For another, in the book both parents are alive, rather than Caracticus Pott's being a widower; consequently, there is no romance.

I could very well wish that a new movie be made, NOT a musical and following the original plot.

Just like when I was a kid at my moms knee listening to her read this to me I wsa again transported to another time. This audio is great. Kids and adults alike will fall inlove with this audio book. Some what diffrent than the movie staring Dick Van Dyke. which is always a welcome suprise.

I remember the 1968 movie based on this novel fondly, but had never picked up the novel itself until just the other day. I was surprised at how different the book is. Although Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang herself is very similar in both, the plot of the story is much different. I enjoyed this simple little story, with Fleming's humorous asides, very much. Those asides reminded me of the "Series of Unfortunate Events" books I have read and I would be interested in learning if Lemony Snicket drew from Fleming's story style for his own series. This is a fun, quick story that most kids will enjoy. I do, however, fear that the admittedly crude illustrations in my original edition would not be as popular with modern children.

The story of Caractacus Pott, his family, and that wonderful magical car is one of the best children's stories you will ever read. Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond, tells a fantastic story about Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the magical flying car that can even turn into a boat! It's a delightful story, filled with crooks and gangsters, and you won't be sorry you bought this fantastic little book. Should be added to every child's bookshelf. Just delightful! The book is so much better than the movie, eliminating that silly Vulgaria story. If you want to read the story Ian Fleming intended, you'll have to buy the book. You won't be sorry.

It is a charming and delightful story that you will love to read to your children. I read this book to my 6 year old. She loved it!! We both wish we could find more books about this wonderful family and car.

A Christmas Carol

It was my goal this December to read to my children, ages seven, nine and 14, the Christmas Carol story by Dickens so that they would know the original before seeing the movie. I also thought this would be an accessible way for them to get oriented to English literature and prepare them for further reading.

The requirements of the Christmas Carol book to be purchased were that a) it be new as opposed to a ragged used copy, b) it be unabridged, c) it have good drawings; and d) if possible it be inexpensive. I first looked in the library, but their book was checked out, and anyway I was looking to start a family tradition of reading the story every year with our own copy if possible. The Candlewick Press edition with illustrations by P.J. Lynch appeared to fill the bill; I bought it; and it delivered the goods. The book is nice and readable-sized, the illustrations good, the type pleasing. Thirteen bucks. I was immensely satisfied with the purchase.

As to the fate of the reading, we handled one chapter per evening, there being five chapters; each took an hour or so to read. I found Dickens to be sometimes heavy going for the younger TV and video-generation kids to get a sense of what is going on. I did not recollect Dickens to be so when I read some of his works as a younger person, but apparently it's something you have to be exposed to and get to understand. Anyway I was happy to provide my children with the chance to get started. It gave me a measure of the gap between the reading preparation of today's youth versus my pre-Cambrian elementary and middle school days. On Christmas Day I showed them the George C. Scott version of the movie, and they all liked it. But all knew the basics from the book, which was my goal, even if the mid-1800s prose obscured many of the action points to the younger ones in their Sponge Bob and Hannah Montana mindsets.

So the effort was a success, and this edition of the book did what I had hoped by delivering up an excellent presentation at a very low cost.

Dan of Arlington

If you are looking to purchase a copy of "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens, then I believe that this would be a excellent choice for you. The book is very well bound and of excellent quality. The illustrations are wonderful and very well detailed. The pages are slightly thicker than normal so you are probably less likely to tear them. If you purchase this book, you will not be disappointed.

I purchased this book as a gift for myself so that I could enjoy this timeless Christmas tale over the holidays. This edition of A Christmas Carol was a wonderful purchase. The illustrations added to the enjoyment of the story and allowed me to visit another time and place while relaxing with this holiday classic.

I would highly recommend this book to young and old alike.

I think we have yet to experience the definitive film version of "A Christmas Carol", but we now have the definitive book version! Masterful illustrations complement the unedited text. Oh, and EVERYONE who purchases this book, PLEASE take off the dust cover and let this one age without it! WONDERFUL cover, perfect!

This book is beautiful! The pictures are amazing and held my children (6 and 4) captive while I read to them. I would recommend reading this story every year at Christmastime as a family.

I bought this book for reference rather than than study use, but it has served its purpose well. First, this book provides decent coverage of Cisco Pixes. Brief overviews are provided of key technical concepts - enough that you can understand what exactly you're configuring. Secondly, the book provides excellent example configurations, even going so far as to step you through basic software setup. (i.e. A step-by-step guide to setting up the integrated PPTP Windows 2000 VPN client, including screenshots). Finally, it provides some of the best coverage of Cisco Pixes that I've found outside of Cisco's website.

There is only one thing I would have liked to see included in this book: A basic configuration example for those who want to use the Cisco Pix as a termination point for Cisco VPN Client connections. For THAT, I had to go hunting for information on Cisco's website. Thus far, this is my only complaint about the book.

I can whole-heartedly recommend this book for anybody who needs a good reference on setting up, configuring, and managing Pix firewalls.

Excellent book, everything you want to know about the Pix. Very thorough, topics are explaned well, in great detail and with good examples. This is the best Pix book on the market that I know of.

I got this book to configure a Cisco Secure ACS with VPN clients, and i reached my goal. And you can get many other topics in a cookbook style. You can read the technical information or only take ideas from examples. Excellent PIX firewall book.

This book well and truly paid for itself after the first couple of chapters. We found a number of areas where our setup was wrong and this book provided a very indepth look at the PIX product and enabled us to fix this easily and quickly. Good book for all users.

If you use PIX, get this book, it has a LOT of great info.

The first 14 pages are very engaging. I look forward to reading the rest of the book.

"Even the Sparrow" is exactly the kind of story I loved as a girl, historical fiction with a close focus on family. Fans of Laura Ingalls Wilder, Understood Betsy, and other classics will "flock" to this well-written, emotionally engaging story. I'd certainly recommend it! The author's eye for detail, ear for language, and heartfelt connection with her characters makes it a winner.

Even the Sparrow instantly provokes emotion and never relents. Even reader's without a fondness for stories of the Great Depression (a group to which I'm a member)-forced to compassion, I yearn to follow the plight of Meg & Temple and hope for a happy ending.

Very well written, this excerpt provides wonderful visualization. I'm up for the next chapter!

Love the easy flow of this excerpt. Losing my mother at an early age, I empathize with Meg's loss. I am intrigued by the experience and emotions associated with living without her father. I want to read more!!!

The setting and dialogue caught my interest from the start. I could feel the heat and dust, the sticky lemonade, and the emotion that the main character felt as she learned of the changes that were happening in her life. The girls were likeable and the plot line interesting. I would like to keep reading! Very well done!!

i recomend this series i just bought night rise upon the completion of evil star. evil star is amazing and so is horowitz.

Evil Star
Evil Star by Anthony Horowitz is an amazing, action packed and fun to read book that I would recommend to anyone of ages ten and up. The story starts in the English town York, where Matthew
Freeman lives and goes to school. There he is asked by a secretive group to retrieve a diary. Along the way he ends up finding a dead man and loses the diary. After that he goes to Peru and meets a strange boy named Pedro. Pedro turns out to be very helpful and in a few situations he saves matt's life. Then, while trying to save matt's friend, Richard Cole, they uncover a mysterious plan made by Senior Salamanda to take over the world. But little does Salamanda know what he is messing with.
Matt is an intelligent boy, he is tall and has short brown hair. In the beginning of the series he was just a normal teenager who got into a lot of trouble until the Leaf Project sent him away in the first book, Ravens Gate. In Evil Star he ends up lost and confused in the winding streets of Peru instead of a distant farm way out in the country. There, his car is attacked, his friend is kidnapped and the driver is shot. Then he finds Pedro and Pedro takes Matt to the man he works for to get him help. To me, Matt seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time but somehow he manages to deal with it.
You should read this book not because I am recommending it, but because it is a great series that you can really get into.

Mathew Freeman is a boy of thirteen years of age living with a greedy Aunt named Gwenda Davis in London. At the age of eight years old Matt's parents were killed in a car accident on the way to a wedding. A strange thing happened though. The night prior to the day of the wedding, Matt had a dream that his parents would be killed in a car accident the next day. Right before they were all about to leave Matt suddenly said that he did not want to go with his parents to the wedding. He was an only child and was a bit spoiled so naturally they agreed to let him stay with their neighbor, Ms. Green. Then later that morning a constable comes to their neighbor's house and tells Matt that his parents died on the way to the wedding. He then fosters out and goes to live with Gwenda Davis. Gwenda and her boyfriend then spend the fortune left to Matt by his parents . Matt then starts hanging out with a seventeen year old boy named Kelvin. He ends up getting busted as an accessory to murder while trying to rob an electronics warehouse. He is then put in the LEAF project and he is sent with an old lady to a small town named Lesser Malling which is a town full of vampires. He then runs into a secret organization called the Nexus which is dedicated to fighting ancient evil beings called the Old Ones from coming to Earth through inter-dimensional gates. Matt finds out he is part of the five original gatekeepers born to keep the gates from opening. The first one is Ravens Gate. There are four boys and one girl. Matt will me new people and will be helped and hurt on his journey to destroy Ravens Gate. Matt survives life with Mrs.Deverell his new foster vampire parent. Will he succeed? Who are the Old Ones? Will Mathew Freeman survive Ravens Gate? This book answers all these questions as New York times Best-Selling author Anthony Horowitz does it again in Ravens Gate.

I thought this book was way better than Raven's Gate. The story just gets better and better.

This book is about Matt going to Peru because the Nexus believes there is another gate and it's supposed to open soon. So Matt goes to Peru and as he's leaving the aiport, they get ambushed. Richard gets kiddnaped and Matt gets away. He then meets a boy named Pedro. Pedro takes him to a place called Poison town. Matt gets a whole new look because the cops are after him. He goes on a wild journey through town, through jungles. After they come out from the Cloud Forest, Matt meets the Incas, an ancient civilazation, and they beleive that Pedro is one of the five. They go to a labratory in a town because they think it will stop the gate from opening. They fight guards and then they find out the gate is still opening so they get sent all the way into a desert by a helecopter. The helecopter crashes and Pedro broke his ankle and he can't fight. Matt goes out alone and then he watches in horror as the Old Ones come out of the ground. Will the Matt win and save the world or will the king of the Old Ones detroy Matt and take over the world...

I think this book is great for someone who likes actionbooks and people 10 or older.

EVIL STAR is the second book in the Anthony Horowitz series called THE GATEKEEPERS.

In book one, titled Raven's Gate (The Gatekeepers), main character Matt discovers he is one of five specially chosen teens. Their purpose is to save the world. Matt doesn't know the other five and must "close" Raven's Gate on his own. As the second book, EVIL STAR, begins, Matt finds himself in Peru meeting up with Pedro, who turns out to be one of the chosen five.

Matt and Pedro join forces, although it isn't easy since Matt speaks only English and Pedro speaks Spanish. Their unusual connection does allow them to communicate while in a dream state. They learn each others' stories and realize that their paths will someday cross the paths of their remaining team.

Together Matt and Pedro must find and prevent the opening of the second gate. Its history is intertwined with the ancient Incas and the Peruvian culture. As they search the seamier side of Peru, they encounter kidnapping, gun battles, the evil "big headed" Salamanda, high altitude jungle treks, and terrifying helicopter rides. Exactly what is the Evil Star and can they find the next gate in time to close it and save the world from the Old Ones?

Horowitz provides his usual fast-paced, non-stop action in this new series. It is sure to impress his already established fans and create plenty of new ones.

Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"

Well-written, smart, and insightful! I'm not a teen but was captivated. The easy writing style makes it a fast read, and the issues of religion and finding one's identity are relevant to all ages. This is a must read.

This book will be of interest to adults as well as teens. The intelligent design/evolution debate is a relevant topic in our society, and this book presents some interesting thoughts about the controversy. It's quick, easy, and definitely worth reading.

Mena knew her first day of High school would be bad. But who could predict this? Being shunned by all of her former friends, her church, and even her own parents. Why, you ask? Because her church community was just sued for millions of dollars. And all because Mena wanted to do the right thing. Now the only person that will talk to her is her incredibly brilliant (and surprisingly cute) lab partner, Casey. Along with her new science teacher Ms. Sheperd, who everyone thinks is crazy. When Ms. Sheperd begins the new unit on Evolution, and Darwin's theory, the spotlight is soon off of Mena and onto the school. Mena's entire class full of "churchmates" turns on Ms. Sheperd and her ignorance towards religion. They'll do anything to take her down, including dragging in the community pastor, and getting him to preach to the class. The only person on Ms. Sheperd and Mena's side is Casey, and Mena soon realizes that she feels a lot more than friendship for him. I definitely recommend this book for young adults and middle school age kids. If you don't believe in the theory of evolution, it's still worth the old college try. Robin Brande certainly has a slightly controversial, but amazingly written book on the trials and tribulations of surviving the evolutionary jungle we call high school.

yes! a fantastic book about and for teenagers that i can actually recommend to teenagers!

a bit like the movie "saved" in some ways, the narrator has just (as the book begins) been excommunicated from her church and youth group for being the whistle-blower over her church and youth group's campaign against a gay kid in her school. her whistle-blowing, in the form of an apology letter to the boy after his attempted suicide, has resulted in lawsuits against the church and pastor.

in the midst of this lonely ostracism (coupled with a massive silent treatment from her parents), the narrator struggles to redefine her faith. at the same time, she's getting caught up in a new polarizing campaign against evolution being taught in her biology class.

this would be a wonderful book to read with a group of christian teenagers. all kinds of great discussion could result: loneliness, love, articulated faith, the gospel, evolution and faith. a great read for teenagers and adults who care about them.

If you love your children, and you love Science, and maybe you love God, then rush out and buy this book. Other people have mentioned what its about, but what its really about is finding that perfect balance between scientific knowledge and spiriruality.

It's also about love, respect and honesty.

And its a little about freedom of speech and integrity.

If any of these things bother you, don't read it. Or read it, because it might rub off on you.

Give this book to your children.

Good! A book set in the 1950's (a time I remember well) about a young nurse, about her work in a psychiatric ward, about her conversations with other nurses, and, I am guessing, the possibility of a romance with the appealing Dr. Kerr.

Sounds good to me. I'd buy this book and I would read it.

I love the fifties. There is so much perspective to be gained about today's and tomorrow's challenges and opportunities by seeking insight into the lives led by our parents in that time. The first thirteen pages of Rubies began a journey that I wanted to continue. The restrictions of the period's rules and limitations, the promised security and certainty of those rules, the hints of rising turmoil that would not be recognized for some time to come, all tantalized this reader to go on. I looked forward to getting to know Kate, Rebecca, Sue Ann and June and felt trepidation and anticipation for that which awaited each. I am eager to read more.

I wish more of the story was here. This beginning was very engaging. I want to know what happens to the new young nurses. The setting reminds me of the Chicago hospital where my daughters were born.

There is wonderful insight in this book about the way that medicine was practiced. The writing evokes the old-style relationships between doctors and nurses, between staff and patients. Subtle touches, such as the shared ciagarettes, call up days long past. I'm also impressed by the expectations of these young women, and how different those expectations are from today's young women.

I'd like to read the rest of the story.

This promises to deliver a unique storyline, following the journey of four women in the nursing profession. What sets it apart is that it takes place in the 1950s era...quite a challenge for which the author has embraced. Successfully, I might add. Judging from the scenarios played out in the psych ward, Kate has chosen an extremely difficult field for which I'm sure she will emerge stronger for it. There are phrases like "Freudian theories cast shafts of light" that shine throughout this entry.

I would love to know where this journey takes these women, both in the work force as well as in the social arena. An excellent offering here, Margaret! Great job!

The author did an excellent job of bringing her characters to life in just a few pages -- no small accomplishment. The writing is quite descriptive, but not excessively, so the narrative keeps moving along nicely. And as a nurse working there during that time I can attest to the accuracy of the depictions of both 1950s-era Chicago and its inner-city hospitals.

An impressive effort -- I'm eager to see how the story line plays out.