K Books

McAbee deserves a huge audience. From her plotting to her amazing details, she is a master of the craft.

For killing his owner, he is to be executed in the human and the hounds playful manner of the elite. Thus the hounds and their aristocratic owners pursue the condemned slave. Valerik's flight for life seems futile until he meets Madryn, who rescues him from certain death. However, though he has little choice, Valerik wonders who the mysterious woman is and if he has entered the fire after escaping the frying pan?

Thugs attack them and they are fortunate to survive. Other adventures follows as dueling sorcerers plot their fate. While Valerik ponders deserting his hostess, Madryn distrusts him though she intellectually knows she needs him to succeed on her quest. Though attracted, they fight to thwart the feelings that bind them together, but love blossoms anyway. With Garet the thief tolerated as an unwanted appendage, Madryn and Valerik continue on her mission, which looks more hopeless than a relationship between an aristocrat and a slave, if that is even their true identities.

ESCAPE THE PAST is an interesting romantic fantasy starring an engaging heroic pair and an insightful, irritating (to the lead couple but not the reader) young thief (mindful of Broderick in Ladyhawke). The story line is fast-paced but similar to other sub-genre novels as side adventures test the mettle of the hero and heroine during their epic journey. K.G. McAbee provides fans with a fun fantasy filled with delightful protagonists struggling to endure on a vividly described world of magic.

Harriet Klausner

Valerik had been a gladiator and then a slave. When he murdered his Mistress, he was sentenced to death by hunting. So Val was released to be prey and the hounds were shortly released afterward to kill him.

Saved by the mysterious and lovely Madryn, Val accompanied her on her self appointed mission. Unknown to them, they were to become the champions of some magical guardians in a war against a sorceress and her evil brother.

***** K.G. McAbee seems to breathe life into her unforgettable characters! From the opening sentence, until the last, it is non-stop thrills which is destined to captivate readers! I am proud to recommend it to everyone!

K.G. McAbee is now an auto-buy author for me. This tale is a nonstop action, suspense, adventure fantasy that kept me glued to the pages. Valerik is the epitome of any woman's hero and Madryn is a strong, mystical match for him. Good prevails over evil; and I mean EVIL! Whew.

K.G. McAbee has an imagination that knows no bounds and I look foward to reading her other unique books - as soon as I can find them all!

Valerik had been a gladiator and then a slave. When he murdered his Mistress, he was sentenced to death by hunting. So Val was released to be prey and the hounds were shortly released afterward to kill him.

Saved by the mysterious and lovely Madryn, Val accompanied her on her self appointed mission. Unknown to them, they were to become the champions of some magical guardians in a war against a sorceress and her evil brother.

*****K.G. McAbee seems to breathe life into her unforgettable characters! From the opening sentence, until the last, it is non-stop thrills which is destined to captivate readers! I am proud to recommend it to everyone!*****

The story of this book is just wonderful. I just remembered it at random, and knew I had to have a copy. I grew up with this book - it was my late mother's favorite. It's a well written fairy-tale with an Asian twist. The moral is that you can't judge a book by its cover.

The irony is that you CAN judge this book by its cover. The illustrations are not just good, not just beautiful, these illustrations are fine art! I want to get a good copy and maybe frame some of these beautiful pictures.

If you want a WONDERFUL gift for a child or adult, buy me a copy... oh, I mean buy this for your loved one!

"Give me something to eat and something to drink and speak to me politely," said the small, fat man with a bald head, "and I will save the city."

"Nonsense and piffle paffle," thought the rulers of the city. "Get out of the way!"

Well, the Wild Horsemen of the North were just outside the gates of the City of Wu ready to destroy it and all its inhabitants. And only the dragon god could save Wu from this terrible fate. But the dragon god wasn't sure he wanted to. For you see, this old man IS the dragon god. Or so he says. And this is no way to treat a dragon.

[Picture book traditional tale suitable for grades primary through intermediate.]

This story of a child's acceptance and trust in the midst of adult rejection and scoffs is a classic morality tale. Mercer Mayer's wonderful illustrations combine authentic Chinese painting styles with familiar "Little Monster" type characters. If Little Monster was human and Chinese, he'd look like this!

I had this book as a child, given to me by my late beloved grandmother and was thrown away by a wicked stepmother. Over the years, I remembered the book vividly having amazing pictures and missed it terribly. Of course 20+ years later, as well, it was hard to find and out of print. I searched all over the net to buy a copy for my own daughter. I found a wonderful bookseller here on Amazon who sold me my copy for $25 and what a bargain that was! I would have bought it for so much more just so my daughter could come to love this tale as I do. May it teach young ones that they should always be kind because they never know what good may come of it. Out of love for a great story, this is my review. dk~

Han, a poor orphan boy sweeps the gate of the city of Wu, which is sandwiched between China and the land of the Wild Horsemen. Threatened by the horsemen, the city leaders pray to the Great Cloud Dragon for help. One day an old, fat man comes to the city and announces that he is a dragon. Han takes him to the palace to meet with the city leaders. The old, fat man offers his assistance if the leaders will show him courtesy. The city leaders scoff at the old, fat man and send him away. Han gives up his own meager meal to the old, fat man who decides to save the city for his sake. Han tells the story to the people of the city and is called "The Honorable Defender of the City." Mercer Mayer's illustrations have the appearance of ancient engravings with expressive faces and intricate detail.

This story shows the folly of judging by appearance and the rewards of kindness. This lesson is reinforced when the city leaders - the Mandarin, the Captain of the Army, the Leader of the Merchants, the Chief of the Workmen, and the Wisest of Wise Men - explain that surely dragons must look like Mandarins, Army Captains, merchants, workers, or wise men. Unfortunately, the source of this tale is unclear. Is it a traditional folk tale or the author's invention?

My 5 year old would read this book every time we went to the doctor's office. A must have for little firemen!

First of all the pictures are well painted. Our son who is not yet 3 can finish the sentences from memory for each letter as we read together. This one was well worth the purchase.

This book is a great ABC teaching tool for children fascinated by the big red fire engines racing past. Learn some of the key terms and aspects of what firefighters do to save lives.

Young children will enjoy learning about the very exciting and dangerous aspects of being a firefighter. With the imagery and vivid colors, children will certainly get the message that fires are serious and dangerous business that should be left to professionals (and trained volunteers). It is a great book to approach the topic of fire safety with young children.

This is a really nice book to learn about firefighters. The pictures are bright. The fire is really vivid and a couple of the pages might scare really young children. It would be a good tool for teacher's to use during Fire Prevention Week.

My almost three-year-old son Devon loves fire engines. He gets so excited whenever we're out and one goes roaring by, siren screaming. He loves books too and he already knows his ABCs, both upper and lower case and this book shares the credit with a few others and his loving and attentive parents for giving him this gift of the Alphabet as such an early age. He'll be reading by Kindergarten.

In addition to being a very good ABC book, this book tells the story of firefighters fighting a fire, something guaranteed to hold the interest of any little boy (and a lot of little girls too). All of the letter pages have beautiful, action filled illustrations that seem to draw Devon right into the book. No wonder he can sing that ABC song so well.

Jack Priest, Dad in Training

Not sure of how I came upon this author, but I had put this on my Amazon "wish-list" and was given this book and "House of Brede" for Christmas. I just dusted the book off last week (only took me 5 months) and am now having a hard time putting it down. Wonderfully written, although it took a bit to understand the writing style, it is now an easy read. Highly recommend and now looking forward to reading more books written by this Rumer Godden.

Having read "In This House of Brede" by Rumer Godden I was expecting a fine quality novel out of this book. I was totally blown away.This may be the most powerful novel Ihave ever read. This book is not for everyone and some material may not be suitable for younger readers, as the main characters and some secondary characters are prostitutes.
Basically this book deals with the human condition and our need for redemption, and abov all Christ's mercy and love for the least in society (prostitutes).
The main character is Lise,a former prostitute who, as the novel begins is being released from prison for murdering the man who was her pimp. There are two secondary characters that are important to the story, one who becomes redeemed by Love and one who seems to be corrupted to the point of perdition. The realism with which the author portrays the less pleasant characters is sometimes shocking and slightly graphic but not terribly so. I found this to be an inspriational and uplifting book and I recommend it to anyone interested in genuine Catholic literature.
My estimation of Ms. Godden's rank as an author was immensely improved after reading this novel. Also, her portrayal of religious life is one of the most accurate that I've read, and to me, this added greatly to the book.

This story touched my heart and held my attention throughout. It reveals a unique side of a special ministry, in a very personal way. I have already recommended it to several friends and will continue to do so.

This is a beautifully written account of one woman's journey to the fulfillment for which she has always been searching.The descriptions of France and the French countryside are evocative and lyrical. I detected many echoes of "In this House of Brede", her earlier work, and her subsequent comments on that and the opinions voiced by various religious sisters on it. To some extent I found the ending anti-climactic ; although hints of evil are cleverly suggested,I regretted a final confrontation between Vivi and Lise. Perhaps the author wanted to say that we are never completely free from fear and danger. But a good read, nevertheless.

Often I give away a book, especially fiction, once I've read it. Not this book. I have bought aeveral to give to my friends and without exception, each of my friends had to get the book to give to their friends. This is a story packed with reality, mercy and new beginnings - it overflows with hope even when things for the central character seem at the worst. I so appreciate Godden's sensitivity in conveying the truth about human nature and, as I am a member of a monastic community, amazed at her ability to portray life in a convent without romance and with great regard. Powerful read.

James "Ty" Tyrone writes sports columns for a "rag," but his excellent salary supports the tremendous medical expense of his wife who must live in an iron lung, a victim of polio. FORFEIT is a masterful thriller from Dick Francis.
Ty meets Bert Chekov, a fellow writer, on the street. Bert is drunk, but warns Ty not to sell his column. A short time later Bert falls or is pushed to his death. Thugs demand Ty's support for their race fixing scheme and resort to intimidation through his wife's frail grip on life. A must read for Dick Francis fans.
Nash Black, author of WRITING AS A SMALL BUSINESS and SINS OF THE FATHERS.

This was my first Dick Francis novel. Took a while to get into it, but it was a page turner by the end. 3 stars for those who aren't racing fans.

I've probably read all of Dick Francis' many books and always await the next one happily. In between the advent of his new books, I occasionally re-read some old ones with pleasure, which I rarely do except in the case of classics. He writes literature equaling, for example, Eric Ambler's writing in quality.

Forfeit, by Dick Francis, tells the story of sports writer James Tyrone beginning when a drunken colleague, Bert Checkov, warns him not to sell his column. Making vague allusions to blackmail and bribery, the man is so drunk that he's all but incoherent and then goes his own way. Chalking it up to the booze, Tyrone leaves his friend only to learn minutes later that the man has just fallen out of a window and died. A short while later, we learn that Checkov has been heavily touting a large number of horses that end up getting scratched from their races shortly before post time. This is the tip of the iceberg that leads Tyrone into conflict with bookmakers who will stop at nothing to continue a scheme that has already netted them a small fortune.

Tyrone is a remarkably strong character who deals with a home life that could only be called difficult, an editor who doesn't mind risking his life to get a story, and a gang of thugs that don't mind dishing out a beating or even murder to get what they want. He is not perfect, but he does have a good heart and readers can't help but root for him. Most of the characters are interesting and portrayed uniquely enough that they remain distinct and not just cardboard cutouts put in place to fill their assigned roles. The story builds momentum as it goes. In the beginning, I found it mildly interesting but as it progressed it became a real page-turner.

This is the first novel by Dick Francis that I have read but he has been one of the most respected mystery writers for many decades. His writing style is very clear and crisp, easy to read and understand. Some English novelists use language that can make it hard for Americans to follow but I didn't find that to be the case here. I am not particularly interested in horses or horse racing but I do like good stories with interesting characters and there was a healthy dose of that in Forfeit. After reading this book, I'll be ordering more Dick Francis novels soon.

I had been thinking: Do I really want to read about horse races? I only watch the Kentucky Derby and sometimes two more races, if there's hope for a Triple Crown.

My friend had been urging me to read Dick Francis, and recently recommended Forfeit, which finally I read.

In the book, Francis is always low-key and, as a former jockey, knows his stuff. Suspense is permanent, the plotting intelligent and flawless.

In Forfeit, we follow journalist James Tyrone, as he and his London newspaper colleagues investigate racetrack fraud. The highly profitable criminal organizations pressure racing writers to mislead England's legitimate bettors. The perpetrators are not hesitant to inflict serious bodily harm and worse.

Francis draws his characters carefully. We know them all, sometimes gaining our affection, identifying with their personal struggles. Tyrone cares for his mostly paralyzed wife Elizabeth, who could not survive without a breathing machine.

A major plot mover is a relationship between Tyrone and an attractive university professor, leading to extended complications and threats.

We also meet a stable owner who is dealing with his spacy wife and troublesome sons. We see the bad guys. We are introduced to the horses, especially a central one named Tiddely Pom.

We are in the British racing world. The writing is memorable.

These books are a favorite with my 9-year old boy. His only complaint...there aren't enough books in the series!

My son loves the Magic Tree House series and Caption Underpants series---and now this one too. I especially like that these books star a girl, yet appeal to boys. In terms of reading level, this series is easier and less "serious" then the Magic Tree House series---it's closer to Caption Underpants (lots of scribbles and drawings, goofy antics, and not too much text on each page).

My 2 older boys (ages 6 and 8) have been enjoying these books. They seem to have a good mix of kid-like silliness as well as a reading challenge and a good message.

Franny is a bit of a loner who marches to the beat of her own drum. In one of the books, she tries to change herself to fit in, ultimately realizing she is happier as herself. This theme follows throughout the series - she is different than her classmates, but likes herself and learns to make friends as the mad scientist she is.

Each book involves Franny "saving the day", using her scientific capabilities. Sometimes it's her experiments that create the problem in the first place, but none of her peers seem to hold that against her.

The reading level is a bit simple for my 8 year old, but he has enjoyed them anyway. He's able to read them through in one sitting, so these books are an alternative for him to the long chapter books that take a couple of weeks for him to read.

My 6 year old and I read them together, trading off chapters. The chapters are usually only a few pages, and simple illustrations help keep him interested as well. He and I usually require 3 sittings to complete a book (15-20 minutes per sitting, trading off chapters).

This package includes the first 4 books in the series. Two subsequent books exist as well, however I couldn't find a box set with more than these 4 original books.

One of the beautiful things about Franny K. Stein books, is what they inspire in my 6 yr. old little girl. I can't wait to see what invention my daughter will draw after reading a Franny book. After reading "The Invisible Fran", for instance, my daughter drew her very own robot that had new and different things than in the Franny book! After reading "The Fran that Time Forgot" we went around laughing about Fran's middle name for weeks!
Franny, that adorable little scientist, is PASSIONATE about science! She cannot understand why her schoolmates are not as passionate as she is! She gives our little ones permission to be passionate about the subjects that they like best!
Franny is wholesome, hilarious, and educational. (and I have not read the captain underpants series) I think that Franny can stand alone as a championess for science! Franny's zeal for science and discovery is contagious and I'm glad, I want my daughter to be encouraged and inspired by books.
I'd like to shake Mr. Benton's hand for creating such a lovable little "mad" scientist like Franny. Franny K. Stein is a fun and funny read, perfect for kids who love science and even those who don't love it so much.

My boys are 4 and 6 and they loves these. My 6 yr old can read them with no problem but they like for me to read to them both and we got The Fran with Four Brains just yesterday and they had me read the entire book to them last night. They are excited about the fact that i have ordered them this boxed set, and when it comes I am sure we will be reading them till we have read them all. I hope the author starts more in this series of books so they can continue to have a Great series that they enjoy that pulls u right in.

Overall this is a really great book with lots of examples and good problems, however my complaint is that some of the problems haven't been covered in the examples and so they are too difficult to solve. For instance, in the chapter on node voltages, none of the examples covers floating voltage sources that have other components like resistors in series with them, yet a number of the problems involve such floating voltage sources. I had to refer to the Schaum's Outline of Basic Circuit Analysis (another very good book, btw) to find an example problem for that.
If you're looking for books on electric circuits, however, I would definitely recommend this one along with the Schaum's Outline book I mentioned above.

This is a decent start for novice engineers. Unlike other texts on the same subject it has very effective methodology of teaching the very basic concepts of electric circuits. A bulk of solved examples is there to help you understand techniques of circuit analysis. It really soothed me when I was suffering from "circuit phobia". This text is highly recommended by me for beginners.

I am very satisfied with Alexander's book. Compared with any other book in this field, the others actually don't really stand a chance. Why? Because you can actually teach from this book EFFECTIVELY. The pedagogy works here, whereas many other authors have unfortunately failed. The communication works; and the chemistry works too. I think we engineers really need to realize this important issue. And always try to improve.

This one book ist the best Engineer book for me since my undergraduate years. The great difference between this one and others are the very illustrativ problems. Charles Alexander is somewhat well known as an engineering educator - I could very feel this from the book's layout.

This is probably the most useful engineering textbook I have on my shelf. Not only is it very easy to understand, but as a reference, I like it even better! The math is lucid, yet never overwhelming, and in addition, the problems are quite interesting. I highly recommend this book, rather than Nilsson's. (I think one of the Authors of this book has written/edited an EE handbook as well, which I am less familiar with. Maybe I'd check that one out too)

I really enjoyed reading this book because it provided a real experience of how it would be like living on that base which most people will never get to experience. The book provided so much information about the history of the base as well as the personalities of the families that live there. I actually feel like a tiny expert on Gitmo.
The book was a very enjoyable read and I would highly recommend it.
Looking forward to another book from this author. Great Job.

For anyone who has "been there" or is just curious to know "what's there" this is a must read! K. R. Jones captures the unique feel of life in GTMO on each page. The story is intriguing, mysterious and surprising. The characters passionate, compelling and all too real.
The ending had several "A HA" moments-definitely not one of those stories where you can figure out what happens! Cleverly done and most satisfying!
Bake up a loaf of mango bread, pour yourself a rum punch and get ready to "dive in" to life, love and mystery in "the least worst place" AKA Guantanamo Bay-a place near and dear to my heart.
Congratulations K.R. and best wishes for a successful future!

Writing about combat is easy. KR Jones writes about the true 'garrison' military that non-deployed soldiers face every day. She writes of the excitement of arriving at a new duty station and spares no details in describing the setting of GITMO, but also the effect a base and its personnel can have on service members. And she also includes an engaging mystery that will cause you to lose a day reading the book; you won't be putting this one down!

Marine Captain Adam Claiborne and his wife Audrey have just been assigned to Guantanamo Bay, a US Naval Base situated on the island of Cuba. From the very start, the couple realizes that things run a bit differently at Guantanamo Bay than at other Naval Bases. The commanding officer and his wife run the island like tyrants. Officer's wives are expected to comply with all orders as given by the commander's wife. Woe be she who gets on the bad side of the woman. One husband is severely disciplined when his wife doesn't wave to the commander's wife.

Guantanamo Bay is also the home to multiple mysteries and cover ups. Everyone seems to be having an affair with someone on the base. Official records are often doctored. Telephone calls and private conversations with the chaplain are monitored. Then there are the strange deaths that don't seem to have any logical explanations.

The Ghost of Guantanamo Bay is a well developed book that delves into the dirty world of Guantanamo Bay. I was quite partial to the characters of Adam and Audrey. I could see myself getting deeper and deeper into a messy situation and not quite able to let it go, just like Audrey. I could also see my husband wanting me to drop it but secretly being just as curious and drawn to the mystery like Adam.

My husband was stationed in Gitmo from 1973-1976. Both my children were born there. I found the history of the Naval Base very interesting and plan to purchase this book for my children, too.

Oh my God- this book is wonderful! This ranks right up there with my favorite Victoria Holt titles. I will not summarize the story- other reviewers have done this. The story is told in first person narrative, by our heroine Mitji/Meg. It is poignant, wonderful and romantic. The guilt Luke feels in his attraction to Meg, her bewilderment at his mood swings, their growing love for each other (*sigh*), just fantastic. No graphic sex, just a lovely story well told. How refreshing in todays era of paranormal romance. You will not regret purchasing this book, it epitomizes the meaning of romance.

I loved this story and the adventure was top rate. Brent writes the best heroines and this girl was tops. You also get the tortured but honorable hero in this story. Every character is written exquisitely! I have rarely read such a charming tale.

I couldn't put this book down. It had everything I love: shipwreck, romance, and danger.

I was totally involved in this wonderful story. I've never been disappointed by Madeleine Brent, but this must surely be her best work ever.

The somewhat slow beginning is probably not for everyone, but it helped me get into the story. By the time Mitji found Luke and rescued him, I already felt that I knew her. Her life and adventures as Meg were never completely free of the Mitji period, and when Mitji was needed again, she was up to the task.

I bought this book used, which apparently is the only way to get it, but I would have paid the cover price just to have it.

I have discovered Madeleine Brent's novels recently and liked those so much that I have tried to read all of them. Two of these novels I have not managed to find yet (for a reasonable price), but so far Golden Urchin is my favorite of Brent's novels. Mitji is a white girl which has been raised by aborigenes and as the novel starts she is leaving her tribe to go search for the tribes of more white people. And Mitji's personality is fascinating, she looks at things very differently than expected because of the way she was raised and it is touching to watch her adapt to Western civilization. The love story is also believable and touching. Excellent novel, very recommended.

Of the many books I have borrowed from my dad, this was one that I have read repeatedly. Unlike some humor, I still chuckle every time I read "A hunker is not a squat" or the one about the grasshopper trap. This is one of three of Pat's books that I regularly give as gifts to those young men of impressionable age in their pre-teen and teen age years. Hopefully reading this book will enlighten both their minds and hearts.

I picked this book up at a liquidation sale at a used book store mainly because I liked the title and not knowing anything about the author. This was my first reading of Patrick McManus and now I just have to read more of his works. My better half was trying to watch TV while I was reading this and I kept interrupting by reading sections of the book. His comment was "I can relate to that." I got to the point where I couldn't read any more until I wiped my eyes. This is a must-read for anyone who needs a good laugh.

A book filled with humorous stories, this compilation of experiences was a treat to read! The Grasshopper Trap is only the second book I've read by Patrick McManus but now I want to track down all of his stories. McManus writes humor without the obscene, offensive language that seems so common everywhere these days. It's a refreshing, fun read with stories that entertain as well as remind us of a simpler, less frantic way of life.

The title of these comments is from one of the tales in this third collection of short stories I have read by Mr. Patrick F. McManus. The author has been writing the yarns and his versions of his childhood "true" stories for decades, and has now produced 12 collections of these essays in book form. Many of the stories are about being outdoors and failing miserably as a hunter and fisherman, but one gets the impression that to the extent he fails, he does with seeming intent. It's the outdoors he loves, not harming it or its inhabitants. When he does speak of a successful outing with his friends he complains so much about the "success" that again you can tell coming home empty handed is his real goal. A collection of stories is what he is after.

The best stories here range from his childhood when speaking of why an 8 year old is perfectly competent to own his first knife, while even one day short of the 8th anniversary would be nothing less than a felony were a knife to be given to such an infant. He goes on at length as to how men delude themselves in to their thinking they have convinced their wives how their gun collections multiply without a single purchase. And in a story entitled, "A Hunker Is Not A Squat", he explains how with the correct posture, a stick and a dirt floor, The United Nations would be unnecessary, and world conflicts would end.

Mr. McManus writes for everyone who enjoys a good laugh, uncontrived humor, and just simple observations about human nature. He does not preach about the solutions to world problems, claim a cure for the common cold, or how to get rich. He just gives the reader the gift of laughter, an invaluable gift.

I have always thought that Patrick McManus is the funniest writer on the planet. I read his stories when I need to laugh or relax. Sometimes I irritate my wife by reading it in bed. I try not to laugh out loud, but I only succeed in sounding like I am trying to muffle continuous sneezes.

However, not everyone gets it. I have been shocked by watching people read McManus without so much as a smile (though most start snorting like wild pigs on acid) . My only guess is that getting McManus requires a couple things. First, it requires some understanding of his experiences. He absolutely nails all of the stupid things 'outdoors men (outdoors people)' do and think, but don't want anybody to know about. Second, you have to see the self-deprecating aspect of his humor. Third, you can't look for great literature in integrated books. Patrick McManus is an excellent writer, if you see these as independent stories simply collected in a volume. They are meant for adults who want to laugh at themselves. So, If you are willing to or already meet the above three criteria, you will love this book.

By the way, I am a professor of clinical psychology and (other than worrying a little about McManus) I sometimes recommend this and other McManus books. I do this with people who have racing thoughts and anxiety at bedtime, and when I believe they have the necessary experiences to find it funny. It often works quite well. I think of his stories as little pieces of happiness. (Oh, that even makes me sick to hear. Sorry)