English Books

The Compendium of Catechism of the Catholic Church is an excellent "condensation" (the right word to use escapes me now)of the Catechism. It's written in clear, easy-to-understand English without sounding pedestrian. It's in question and answer format but still following the CCC outline. It is not a substitute however for the CCC which might take much longer to read. But if you want a quick and easy reference to answer your own or others's questions, this is very helpful lest you want to lose the opportunity for some "apostolate" work. It took me less than three days to leisurely read the whole book. And now using it as quick reference as I read the CCC at the same time.

I have been impressed with the way Pope Benedict XVI writes. I suspect, much of the content of this book, reflect his personal style of writing. After all, he (as Cardinal Ratzinger) presided over the ICC that prepared the Compendium. The copy I have is the one printed by the USCCB. The texts are clearly printed and very legible. The choices of the of the photos and annotations are excellent. Another great feature of this publication is the compilation of popular prayers and devotions in English and in Latin so you won't need to have a separate prayer book while studying this one.

I would have given this copy 5 stars, but the binding broke apart after one reading. Although this could be a problem resulting from my country's climate.

Strongly recommended for an incoming Catholic or an old Catholic brushing up on their knowledge. I am using the Compendium as an ordinary Catholic sitting in on RCIA classes with some soon to be Catholics. It has turned out to be a very readable primer (or review, in my case) on Catholic teaching, and I believe it covers the bases (with references to corresponding sections of the Catechism at margins in case anyone wants more depth). While we used this in a class format, I think it would be readable for oneself or in a group (or in a family). The format is Q&A and split into five sections--it's pretty manageable to go through it quickly (i.e., a couple months), although I would recommend taking time to digest the information. I do find it helpful to have someone more knowledgeable than me (priest, etc) to help when I don't understand something. There were a few "answers" that I needed help understanding. This is not a replacement for RCIA or formal catechism, but I think this book is now an essential in learning about and understanding the Catholic faith (unless you're inclined to tackle the whole Catechism). For me, it was a needed refresher course. There is a lovely prayer section in the back. My only complaint is that I wish the Apostle's Creed could be repeated in the back to make saying the Rosary from the book a little easier for those of us who haven't memorized it quite yet. It's not an extensive prayer handbook, however, so I don't know if it's fair to ask it to do this. It won't tell you how to go through mass (the How-to Book of Mass is good for this) if you're a new convert, or how to do confession, although it does discuss the spirit of these matters. I got the paperback version, and it seems to have taken abuse from my throwing it around in my bag quite a bit, so I believe even the paperback is well-made.

If you're wondering whether or not the Pope is still Roman Catholic, you won't after reading this. I found it very handy, well referenced (lots of notes back to the Catechism itself) and clear to read. It is a reasonably short exposition of the key doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church, and presents itself well.

I offer this from the perspective of a catholic-minded Lutheran, who has been flipping through the CCC since it was published in the 1990's. While there is a risk that the Compendium will reduce reference to the Catechism, it does help clarify conversations between communions.

This is a wonderful and informative publication. I have never been able to bring myself to tackle the actual Catechism because of its enormous size, so this little book is great for me. I am a CCD teacher and I find this book to be a wonderful reference as I prepare for classes. My parents have also borrowed it and really liked it. It really has a simple way of explaining the fundamentals of the Catholic faith.

I purchased this book for a faith formation class I'm taking, and let me just say that I am overjoyed to be reading such a fine piece of work.

When read hand-in-hand with the Catechism of the Catholic Church, a very real, in-depth view of our faith arises; it accurately portrays the beauty and mystery of the faith that Christ has handed to us through His Bride, the Church.

I can't stress how fundamentally important it is for Catholics to actually know their faith, and how important this book is for an amateur apologist such as myself. This book is really helping me live the Catholic life, and not just falsely claim the title of being Catholic.

Have become a huge fan of the "death" books as they always have danger associated with a super mystery, plus some humor to ease the tension.

Eve Dallas is, on the whole, a misanthrope, and appears to get on better with the dead than the living, but she's nothing if not fiercely loyal to her friends. When her best friend Mavis falls under suspicion for murder, Dallas brings all of her considerable skill to bear on the investigation to find the real killer and clear her friend.
Robb is enormously skilled at characterization and we have the extremely unlikeable Pandora portrayed so beautifully that our dislike spikes as soon as we meet her and no one is sorry she's killed. Juxtaposed with such an unlikeable character, Mavis, with all her sweet wackiness, gets us all on her side right off, even without our knowing she's Dallas' best friend.
With her usual talent, Dallas doggedly works through the usual maze of facts, clues, and evidence, and finally tracks down the killer.

There's nothing to say except that Nora does it again! She's is by far one of the best writers of our time. Each of her IN DEATH books are well written, the stories and mystery are totally awesome.

This is my third Eve Dallas "In Death" read, and also the third in the series.

So far this is the best one yet. Each book they get better.

You can tell J.D Robb, aka Nora Roberts is really getting familiar with the characters, and the great writing proves it.

It is really fun to read the books in this series. Its like a television show, you can drop in and visit your friends. Luckily for us the readers, Nora Roberts keeps cranking them out.

As long as she writes them, I will read them.

Happy Reading!

Eve and her rich fiance Roarke are about to get married, but that doesn't mean all is puppies and rainbows. Mavis, Eve's best friend, talks Eve into using Mavis's new fashion maven boyfriend as her wedding dress designer, but dear Leonardo turns out to be the start of Eve's latest case. Or rather, his ex-lover (a famous model) is, when she turns up dead in Leonardo's flat after an argument, and Mavis is found unconscious near the body, her fingerprints on the murder weapon.

Once again Eve finds herself trying to walk a fine line between her duty as a cop and her loyalty to the people she cares about. She sets off into a world of models and actors, business and crime, drugs and beauty. At stake is nothing less than immortality---or rather, Immortality, a new drug that promises youth, beauty, energy, power.

While Eve and Roarke's relationship still sizzles, there's a bit more attention paid this time to the difficulties of trying to deal with something as big as marriage when two such headstrong loners are involved. Eve's childhood memories also rear up to smack her full-out this time, and the reader isn't spared any details. The things that happened to her as a child were horrific, and not everyone will feel comfortable reading about them, even though they're handled in a non-prurient and non-sensationalistic manner.

This mystery kept me guessing much longer than the previous one, which I very much enjoyed. There was plenty of misdirection and guilt to go around, confounding the guessing game beautifully. I love Roberts's heady mix of futurism, mystery, romance, mild erotica, and sharp personalities.

This was my first Hornblower book after a recommendation from a friend. Could not put this book down especially after the mutiny.
The details of life in the English navy in the 18th century and then in London are richly told with details such as the "press gang" that goes out rounding up sailors for His Majesty's ships, the slim pickings of naval officers during the dreaded peacetime, the caste system of well healed officers playing whist to keep themselves in food and housing.
I found it a fascinating book and it increased my knowledge of naval history.
A spellbinding book from a military and social perspective.

Lieutenant Hornblower occurs second in the series by internal chronology, though it was the seventh-written book. Unlike every other book in the series, this one is related from the point of view of Lieutenant William Bush. This alternate point of view allows Hornblower to be presented as a legitimately heroic figure, though it does deprive the reader of the internal thought process of the series' protagonist. The text provides solid background on Hornblower's early career as a lieutenant. Written as a novel, it paces well and has an authentic texture. Indeed, the small-scale combat action is so gripping that in many ways the book eclipses volumes in the series which deal with Hornblower's later career.

Plot Summary (with spoilers):
The novel takes place from May 1800 to March 1803 aboard a cruise of HMS Renown, a 74-gun frigate. The ship's captain, Sawyer, is dangerously paranoid and believes the lieutenants and warrant officers are plotting mutiny against him. To circumvent their putative desire, Sawyer panders to the crew, encouraging them to be lazy and insolent, and issues additional rations of grog. The situation becomes untenable as Renown reaches its cruising grounds near Haiti. Even so, nobody will take the decision action of attempting to remove Sawyer from command.

Fortunately, Sawyer falls down a hatchway and receives a serious injury. There is intrigue surrounding his fall, but no actual witnesses to the accident. Upon Sawyer's physical recovery it is evident his mind is gone--he sobs hysterically and cringes away from everyone. Buckland, the senior lieutenant, takes ostensible command. The unimaginative Buckland botches the ship's primary mission, but disaster is averted when Hornblower proposes an audacious recovery.

From that point forward, it is Hornblower who guides the ship as he influences Buckland subtly but correctly. Indeed, the theme of Hornblower leading his superior officers is a dominant thread in the narrative. The ship carries out other duties with great success until Hornblower is placed aboard a prize--whereupon Renown is almost seized by prisoners. Hornblower once again comes to the rescue and recaptures the ship. The novel ends with Hornblower losing his job because of the Peace of Amiens. He takes up lodging in a public house, makes a meager living by playing whist, develops his friendship with Bush, and meets the young Marie Mason.

Forester's key book on the times...the made-for-tv series episode parallels this book very closely. And I am very picky when it comes to sea books. Definitely at the same level as the Bolitho series!

This is the sixth Hornblower book I've read, although it's only the second in terms of the chronology of Hornblower's naval career. And I must say, it's one of the better books. CS Forester could be a compelling writer, but some of the Hornblower novels feel a little disjointed. Not this one.

Lieutenant Hornblower is written from the point of view of Lieutenant Bush, whom Hornblower meets in this book. The result is that Hornblower is a more interesting character. It also, unlike some of the other books in the series, primarily covers a single plotline dealing with Hornblower's last mission as a lieutenant, so it hangs together very well. The result is a book that I had trouble putting down until I had read the whole thing. I wholeheartedly recommend this installment of the Hornblower series.

C.S. Forester created a superb naval drama that gave me an inside look at the life of a sailor serving in the Royal Navy on the wooden war ship Renown. With Hornblower, and his companion Bush dealing with their befuddled Captain and fighting off the attacks by the Spanish this book kept me reading page after page. I believe this is one of the best books in the Hornblower series and I would encourage anyone with an eye for historical novels to check this series out.

The illustrations are fantastic. The writing is clever. But for a children's picture book, it's just too wordy! Hate to say it, but the rhymes barely fit on a page and cover too much of the illustrations. I love a well-written book, but this is overwritten. I have to abridge it while reading to keep my childrens attention. Still, I would recommend this book for animal loving children and parents.

Stand back,- said the elephant, -I'm going to sneeze!

I hate to alarm you, But I don't wish to harm you.
My friends, I fear, Its clear, Oh, dear,
You'd better stand back, I'm going to sneeze.-

The tale begins with a representation of an massive elephant standing on his rear legs

The opening page sets up the story line. Instantly each of elephant's neighbors begins to tell elephant precisely why they do not want him to sneeze. The reader meets many of the elephant's friends who are most apprehensive to hear that the elephant is needing to sneeze.

The critters begin to converse, confer, talk about and remind the elephant using child friendly rhythm and rhyme, that he just really must NOT sneeze. "The zebra yelled, "Yipes, You'll blow off my stripes, Plus lots and lots, Of the leopard's spots, And all of the snakes will be tied up in knots!"

Oh no. Not again. The elephant is going to sneeze.

Catastrophe is at hand, the jungle is in pandemonium.

The last time he sneezed; it was dreadful, just dreadful. Why elephant blew all the stripes off the zebra, and all the fur from the bear. He turned the crocodile's nose inside out and blew the stings right off the bees. They had to made due with rose thorns and glue. He even blew all the scales from the fish, and the monkeys out of the trees. Featherless birds were forced to walk south and not fly.

An alligator, and a buffalo, bees, and bear, crocodile, fish, giraffe, and hippopotamus, leopard, mouse, parrot, and snakes, and even the zebra are worried. It is going to be mayhem; if the elephant sneezes.

-Oh, please, Not a sneeze,- Said the bear. -Thats not fair. I declare.

The last time he sneezed he blew off all my hair,

And left me so bare I spent the whole winter in long underwear-
Nothing is so sad as a bear that is bare.-

Stand Back," Said the Elephant, "I'm Going to Sneeze! was a much loved favorite of both of my own children when they were young as well as for the K - 1 classes I taught in California.

Sad to say, not too many people have even heard of the book. The premise and rhyme are amusing, words flow in cadenced, and lovely tempo that children adore. Images are a brilliant addition to the account.

For years the first book I read to my students, on the first day of the new school term, is Stand Back," Said the Elephant, "I'm Going to Sneeze!

I read it in part because, I just plain like the book. I read it too because; in spite of my being a small person, I have a sneeze that will rattle the windows in the next classroom.

I read the book, and the children and I talk about the absurdity of the tale, and I assure the kids they need not fear ... when I sneeze I will try not to blow off their stripes.

I get pleasure from reading the book as much as the kids enjoy listening to it being read to them. The book is very repetitious leading to children being drawn right into the fun as they talk nineteen to the dozen along with the reader.

Synonyms like bare and bear, and fun observations like 'Bee's Knees are sprinkled into the text.

Following elephant's pronouncement a tiny gray mouse sets about to save the day. Rising up to full height he demands that the sneezing must stop. And within moments the elephant begins to giggle.

Even before turning the page; you just know there must be a consequence when an begins elephant laugh. And so there is. The unexpected ending always has my first graders animated, giggling and ready to talk.

And, they are mesmerized to learn that elephants really do not care for mice!

Stand Back," Said the Elephant, "I'm Going to Sneeze! is a -read to- book for the 3 - 6 year old set and a -read with help- for 6 -8 -8. The book is written well, holds children's interest and is just plain fun to read. I particularly like the illustrations, they are child friendly, my first grade likes them very much

I have always enjoy the read, happy to recommend for the target audience. Stand Back," Said the Elephant is a must for the 3 to 8 set, the home, classroom, school and public libraries. Older children in the 9 - 11 group choose the book for reading to the little kids.

Molly Martin
Reviewer

I grew up having this book read to me, and now I can share it with my daughter. I just love the illustrations and the story is so funny - my daughter laughs out loud when I read certain parts. I highly recommend this book.

Though it is a little wordy and long for a 2 year olds attention span, the rhymes are funny and entertaining; a key for a mom who reads each book many, MANY times!

A wonderful book to read aloud to kids. It is one of our favorite family books.

The book is perfect for my 6 year old. She had to read it for school..and we truly enjoy the Frog and Toad books. The seller sent it in a timely fashion and it was in excellent condition :)

The Frog and Toad books have helped my 8 year old grandson learn to read--he has been having trouble and these books were so interesting and fun to him that he finally realized how reading could open up whole new worlds for him. He loves these books.

I've read this book over and over and over again to my kids... they're now adults, but they still remember Frog and Toad.

An absolute classic book of short stories - my favorite is the one where one of them is in bed all winter, and the other one is bored, so he tells the sleeping one to wake up because it's spring, even though it isn't quite spring yet... just too cute. They're friends, they love each other - what more could you want in a story that you'll read to a child? One of my family's favorite bedtime books. I look forward to reading this classic to my grandchildren.

And Remember: all Toads are Frogs, but not all Frogs are Toads.

'Frog and Toad Are Friends' by Arnold Lobel is a story is most appropriate for children ages 4-8. This is a great story of friendship between Frog and Toad. Toad tells stories to Frog when Frog is sick, Frog helps search for Toad's lost button, and Frog writes a letter to Toad because he never receives any mail. This book is full of tales of friendship and adventure. Read this book to see all that Toad and Frog do on their adventures.

The books were in excellent condition and arrived earlier than expected. I had checked all local used bookstores. They were not available because of the high demand in our district. Similar books were the same price as Amazon's including shipment. I will not be going to used bookstores again. Amazon saved me time, money & gas!

I LOVE Jan Brett's books! I buy them anytime I see them whether on sale, old ones on Amazon as remainders, or new.. They make great gifts. I have a backup of many to give to children, particularly my granddaughters. The illustrations in this one are so beautiful it is really a keepsake to save as well as enjoy. Give it as a gift and you will make some child very happy and a parent happy,too.

Beautiful illustrations reprinted from over 40 sources. All illustrations are credited on last page. Book measures 9"X11.5" Only down side was that the price changes by the day. One day it's almost $11 another it's $8.97. But that's just the way Amazon works; something to be aware of. (It's worked in my favor often while shopping at midnight--price suddenly went down!)

it's a classic, so of course you can't go wrong, but as far as the best one being out there... well, I'm sure there are much better illustrated ones out there than this one

I bought this for my grandchildren last Christmas. The wording is traditional, and the illustrations are wonderful! This has become a part of the Christmas Eve tradition at my daughter's house.

These illustrations are the best ever for The Night Before Christmas...Stunning even! A worthy heirloom Christmas Book. The illustrations cover both sides of the page for a large panoramic view seldom seen in other books...

Although I think it may be a bit advanced for my 9 yr. old, I'm still glad I purchased this book for my most recent book club choice. A gentle book that flows easily, and the characters change for the better in wonderful ways. The one thing that bugged me was Mrs. Shaw and her smelling salts. It almost seemed to me that Polly Milton was the better 'mother' to the Shaw family. All in all, this is truly a memorable classic.

This book started off a bit slow, but if you read more than a page or two at a time, I think you will like it. This story is about a girl from the country who goes to visit her cousins in New York. Polly's cousin, Fanny, and her friends find Polly "coutrified" and "old fashioned". Everyone falls in love with her because of her quiet manner along with the fact that she dresses and acts her age. Although their are multiple hardships along the way, you couldn't have wanted the book to end any other way. I recomend that you don't read the book until you are at least 11 or 12 because some of the wording is odd because it was writtedn so long ago. Happy Reading!

Alas. In my opinion, both "An Old-Fashioned Girl" and "Eight Cousins" audio versions would benefit by having a much younger narrator. Despite her long and illustrious career in audio, Flo Gibson is now too old to bring these novels to life. They are books about young girls, and they are obviously being read by a grandmother. Rather than illustrating the timeless quality of these fine books, an elderly reader makes the books simply sound old and out-of-date. What were the publishers thinking?---CaroJ11

An Old Fashioned Girl begins with a teenage girl, Polly who visits her cousins in the city. There, she realises that they are exactly the opposite of the old fashioned girl that she is, and this causes some distress on both sides. Being a modern woman, I expected that this book would be a wonderful read but the initial chapters where Polly was a teenager were hard to take in. Alcott created what she felt to be the "perfect" teenage model in Polly, but I found myself wishing that this "perfect teenage model" would loosen up a bit and do something for herself instead of serving everybody else, which was the "proper thing to do." Ironically, Alcott herself wrote in the book "excessive virtue doesn't last long ...except with little prigs in the goody storybooks." She should have taken herself more seriously because her main character came very close to becoming exactly that! Compared to other classics like Tom Sawyer, The Secret Garden and The Railway Children, the teenagers in the book were very unrealistic, I dare say even for that time. Alcott wrote too much of what she wanted children or teenagers to be, opposed what they actually were, which can get exasperating. However, that is less than half the book, which follows into young adulthood. In here the characters become more realistic, and Polly begins to be truly affected by her poverty and to long to be different. To avoid spoilers, it morphed from an exasperating read into a very good read. Overall, the valuable lessons in the book make it good addition to any collection, especially for children.

Do you ever feel like you are tied up in our times? Worrying too much about cell phones, fashions, and the latest whatevers? This book can set you straight. It gives you a peace of mind and fills you with simple pleasures.

The stories main character, Polly, we meet at the age of 14. She has come to stay with rich friends for a while. THey do everything so differently from she. The family has two daughters. One that is two years older than Polly called Fan, who cares for fashion, balls, and beaus. The author daughter is six and she is fixed onoo having her own way about everything. THe young man in the family Tom is a trouble maker, who no matter how hard he tries can't seem to stay out of trouble very long.

Polly is a gentle, kind, loving, caring, selfless, practical, and sensible girl. SHe becomes a great service to this family, touching each of them in a special way. She moves in the same town six years later and gives piano lessons. The family needs her more than ever and she helps them all in the end. This book has heart, romance, and realness to it that we can all relate to, rich or poor, young or old. It will make you feel warm fuzzies. Read on a rainy day underneath a flanel blanket!

I bought this book due to the highly rated feedback that it received and have not been disappointed. I am in the market for my very first horse and was looking for any training information that I could get my hands on. Clinton's book gives actual exercises that can be done and shows what to expect when done correctly. He took 2 people and their horses and worked with them and documented the results. This is excellent for a beginner and I will purchase any other books that Clinton writes.

I consistently rely on the reviews of others on Amazon, so I decided to place a review on this book, and other Clinton Anderson items. I am considered a "green rider". I also fit the demographic for the growing horse industry - woman, over 35, etc. More importantly, I have a PASSION for horses. I had researched several other clinicians in the area of Natural Horsemanship. It appears they all have something to offer. However, the three key elements that drew me to Clinton are is abiliy to communicate, his focus on safety, and gaining RESPECT from your horse. I am not opposed to Pat Parelli, but for a green rider like me, I do not think the focus should be on playing games.
Through this book, I have learned very critical basics, like where to stand with a horse, how humans act as predators, and horses are prey animals, that horses have "two brains", and most important, the one rein stop.
I have a fifteen year old quarter horse that had one speed GO. Truthfully, with being a green rider, I was afraid to ride her. So, I decided to follow the steps in the book...from square one. We focused on Backing Up, Yielding the Hindquarters, and a lot of Desensitizing...all stuff I had NO IDEA about - I just thought I could improve my riding and she would be a better horse. Well, now I wiggle the rope and she backs up! I can throw the rope around her, over her, you name it and she stands there. And she does the one rein stop! So now, my horse that had only one speed of go, is doing great on the trail - walking.
I would encourage this book, as well as other items by Clinton if you are new to riding, have been riding all of your life, or maybe returning to riding. You will find Clinton very easy to understand, he does not make his techniques complicated. Instead, he will say, "Pull the rope to the seam of your jeans." Yes, I get that!
I think this book would also make a great gift for anyone who has a horse, or is interested in buying a horse. Happy Trails!

Clinton Anderson has a way of making things easy to follow and explains the reasoning behind the ground work that he does. I like his no nonsense approach in working with horses. He takes you step by step through the lesson, answers what if questions, and talks you through other problems that may arise from the horse and the person working with it. I found his book to be simple, easy to understand, and once you get the hang of the basic concepts of what you're working towards, quite effective.

This book is great at illustration. I have a new horse that is only 5 yrs old and these techniques are working great. The book is very easy to follow and it totally helps to read each section over and over until you get it down. He gives do's and don't's and classic mistakes etc which help you to fine tune your technique because you know what mistakes to watch for in yourself.

I just received the book and am still reading it. I really like how he explains the lesson then has 2 students add their comments after their training session with Clinton. I find this helpful as it gives me insite how I might come across a problem similiar to theirs when I start my program.

Beautiful! I must admit that parts of this story, especially the beginning were a bit difficult for me to read. But that just goes to show how true to life this author's writing is.

The story revolves around Marley, her mother, Pam, and her grandmother, Ma Grand. Each woman's faith is challenged through the issues of life; an engagement that ends, breast cancer, and the condition of getting older. Each woman's trial(s) affect the other as it is also so in real life. When Marley's co-worker invites her to visit her church, Marley comes into a new understanding of God and forges a more personal relationship with Christ. In the process she encounters more peace, love, and fulfillment than she ever imagined possible.

This book instructs that despite the storms this life may bring we must stand firm and trust in the Lord. Ellis' writing evokes feelings of hope and happiness, at the same time Ellis also manages a very satisfying end. This work should definitely not be excluded from among good Christian fiction.

this book sums life true net worth for anyone who want to be love in God's purpose... a must read for women who feel they have to hide behind the wrong of man just to say you have a man...

I loved the book. It was such a feel good book. I hope she writes another book soon. Keep up the good work.

I didn't really like the title, but the story was fabulous! Probably the greatest Christian romance ever written. I also don't particularly like Christian fiction romances because they are usually boring and drawn out, but this novel is unlike any other Christian romance book that I have read. True enough it is a story about faith, trust and love, but it should be named something like "Love is in the Airlines," because that is where her heart lead her to find true romance (and let me tell you that he was a GOOD find). But from the beginning, Marley had suspicions about her fiance. The book was predictable but it was a quaint story. MaGrand was a big hit. She was one grandmother who spoke from her fists--and if the punch landed on your face--then so be it. Marley's friends fitted in the story as fill-ins. Christian romance writers need to use this book as a model. Jamellah Ellis kept it real and exciting. I recommend this book to all Christians especially women and non-Christian women.

It's a first rate engagement celebration honoring the couple of the century, Marley Shepard and Gerrard Shore. With hopes of what tomorrows were to bring, Marley was more than 70% certain that she was making a major mistake.

With wedding plans being made, Gerrard was becoming more physically absent and emotionally delinquent from their relationship. Causing Marley to become fixated in her grooming techniques which usually resulted in indulging her purse, shoe, and lip stick fetishes.

Marley's soul was in a deep disrepair; Her mother's hurting, grandmother is angry, father is absent, and her fiancé didn't care. All out of hope, joy, strength, resolve, and determination, Marley cried out; "God what have I done to deserve this?"

Be still and know that God is God.

It was those words that alleviate and allotted for some immediate comfort. It wasn't until she actually made it to Gilead's Balm, that her eyes, ears, mind, and heart were relieved. `Stop trusting yourself. Trust in the one who made you.'

God Bless you. Jamellah Ellis sharply perceptive walk through Marley Shepard's eyes was so very pleasing. I found myself smiling, laughing out loud, and riddled with heart wrenching grief. A wonderfully detailed work on life, and establishing an independent relationship with God.

I love this one! Spirited soulmates, linked by the topaz stone!! Must have in your collection.

Again, I enjoyed and was entertained and educated reading the going ons of Dix Wildhorse, Katherine, Bart(her father), and the entire cast of characters.

Bart was a character. He gave his 29 years old daughter up for marriage to Wildhorse without her consent or knowledge for a debt. I learned much about what was going on with the black folks, particularly the ones living in Indian Territory.

I recommend this book.

Beverly Jenkins is awesome. Not only are her love scenes hot but you are given a wealth of historical knowledge regarding the reconstruction and subsequent jim crow period in our history. She is able to make you proud of our contributions and especially proud of our black men and the way they treat their families and women. She is great and the stories have plots that hold your interest and keep you wanting more.

Topaz is a must read. I am a new Beverly Jenkins reader amd since reading Topaz, I have read two more books that have ties to Topaz. I wondered what happened to two of the characters in the book and low and behold.....I found my answer. If you like to read about life in the 1800's with the mail order brides........this book will not disappoint you. I plan to read every available book written by Ms. Jenkins.

I always shy away from historical romance because I thought they were boring. But boy was I wrong. This book was better than most contemporary novels. I loved Kate. She is a strong black woman who speaks her mind but there is also an innocence about her. Dixon was the best; he's sexy, compassionate and a REAL man. Can somebody say Amen! This is a true romance story that will melt your heart. The history is an added bonus. I'm still trying to catch my breath.