Shadow Books

This book is a most have for anyone who grew up with Barbie. I know now why I always wanted long slender legs."The Body Burden" is about women as a whole. It shows that as women, we are not alone in our thoughts, feelings and food issues in a society obsessed with media perfectionism.

I found this book very well written by Ms. Handler. It is hard to realize, a woman who's grandparents created the Barbie doll went through so much pain while growing up. The poems were so strong and so heartbreaking that I wanted to cry. I also cried to the chapter about her father who sounded like a wonderful man. I had lost my mother three years ago so was able to relate to it. I feel that this book will be very inspirational to all women of many shapes and sizes. This book shows readers a true survivor. I would recommend this book as a worthwhile read. Ms. Handler truly has talent in writing as well and should release a book with all her poetry she has written in the past. I hope to see another book by her in the years to come.

When I first picked up the book I was very interested in seeing what it was all about, the title really caught my attention. In the book there were a lot of things that I could relate to. I myself am a bit overweight and have always struggled to lose the extra pounds. Her story really is an inspiration to all those unhappy about their body. I never really stopped to think about how the image of Barbie affected people and when I was reading Stacey's story it really made me think about how today's society portrays women compared to the way most women really are. I hope that it makes people stop and think and realize that it is not how a woman looks on the outside that makes her beautiful. I think Stacey I very brave for telling her story and I recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a truly inspiring tale.

A fabulous book!! I laughed, I cried...I could relate to many of Ms. Handler's writings. So many women try to conform to the "societal standards" of what women are "supposed to look like." Ms. Handler certainly has a unique way with words and has expressed herself openly and honestly! How refreshing! I believe that this is a MUST READ book of quality, for women of all shapes and sizes. As a BBW (Big Beautiful Woman) that has accepted for a many years her size, I am glad to see that there is an author acknowledging the various sizes of women and the importance of self-acceptance regardless of size! I look forward to additional writings from Ms. Handler!

Stacey Handler's book is an emotional revelation. You don't expect that such a challenging personal journey would need to be undertaken by the granddaughter of Barbie's creator. You imagine instead an idyllic childhood surrounded by every Barbie doll ever made, every Barbie pal, every Barbie accessory -- no matter how expensive. You picture endless happy hours lost in play. No doubt that was true some of the time. But, in her insighful and courageous new book, The Body Burden: Living In the Shadow of Barbie, Stacey Handler reveals that things are not always what they seem. Always overweight, haunted by the impossibly perfect Barbie she saw everywhere, badgered by her grandmother to control her eating, Handler struggled to be thin, to be like Barbie. How ironic, I found myself thinking as I read her book, that such an impossibly skinny doll should cast such an large shadow. Yet it has for many young girls who look in the mirror and see a very different image from their beautiful, popular, fashionable Barbie with her handsome, adoring Ken. When that disparity is reinforced every day by size-prejudice in television commercials, magazine ads, and the attitudes of loved ones, the effects can be devastating. Despite its considerable bumps along the way, Handler's story is one of personal triumph. Through sheer force of character, she has emerged a woman very much "in the process of becoming". Her poems and essays give encouragement to women everywhere facing issues of body image and personal self-worth. She's been there and she knows what it takes to survive. A gutsy, no-holds-barred anthology of one woman's journey to self-acceptance.

A Bright Sun and Long Shadows is a marvelous book for everyone who even considers leaving the culture they grew up in. Being a foreigner anywhere is not easy. I'm fortunate in that the Thai general citizenry adore foreigners, which is not the case in many countries . . . but a foreigner is still all that I am. Because I don't speak the language I believe it is assumed I don't have a brain. Because of my accent (when I do attempt to speak for myself), I'm treated like I'm a two-year-old learning how to speak . . . much the same way my Thai husband, Jit, was treated speaking English in the United States of America for twenty-eight years.

I'm jealous of Val and Linda's ability to communicate in the language of the land. I'm also jealous of their home. The descriptions in the book attest to the entire house being really beautiful, but oh, the work involved to get it that way. Our home is a far cry from even remotely attractive. I comfort myself with it does provide shelter and that's the original purpose of building. Clearly the authors are not one iota lazy while I am just the opposite. I gave up probably the first year we lived here, a privilege I could afford being married to a Thai. Val and Linda are living proof that what one truly wants is attainable . . . but often at a very high cost, not only monetarily but mentally.

There is no comparison between living in France and living in Thailand but the similarities of some situations seem to be universal.

A Bright Sun and Long Shadows is a wonderful piece of work.

This a refreshingly direct book. For anyone who has read any of the scores of ex-pat books about setting down roots in a new country, this will be a welcome and loving splash of cold water. The authors' depiction of life in a small French town gains so much from their refusal to see things other than as they are. We see real people in real time and I suspect that my reactions would be very much like the authors.

But there is more to this book that a how-to survive with the French. The authors' sometimes painful honesty points us to deeper questions about living in the mess of life with a direct and honest passion. I have returned to this book several times and always gained from it.

My husband and I read this book aloud to each other, and finished it within a day of arrival. It is a compelling, true account of a planned move to France, international renovation/restoration, and many personal reflections on the process - and the people involved. It was fully engrossing. I completely recommend this book for any student of French culture, or person considering international living in retirement. I feel it would be helpful for any person considering a domestic relocation in retirement as well. (note: I spoke with Val today, and am happy to report that they are well, the guests are coming, and the neighborhood children have aged a bit!)

I have read most all the travel essays on expats travails, from Mayle to Mayes, with their moves to foreign homes and usually only hear about the "Bright Sun", but seldom of the "Long Shadows"! As my wife and I continue our search for a property in France, it was refreshing to hear the realities of adjusting to a new culture and the difficulties in accomplishing everyday tasks.

We stayed at Val and Linda's wonderful B&B in Florensac several years ago, so it was fun to read about all the "sweat equity" required to get their most beautiful, La Petit Jardin, habitable.

Val's candor and transparency is rare and confirms one's suspicions that, the French la bonne vie, the good life, is not always on the green side of the pasture.

This book really lays out, that despite extensive planning, retirement (anywhere) is not the bed of roses that many think it should be. Of course, retiring to another country (or even geographical area of the U.S.) would/could exacerbate things considerably, the book illustrates the many emotions/reactions that I've heard from others who have retired. And, if you are a Type A person it can be really difficult to make such a switch without some modification of behavior and expectations.

As a future retiree, I'd recommend this book to others who may being making that change in the not too distant future.

Bob Freeman's "Shadows Over Somerset" was described to me (to paraphrase) as being a bit like Dark Shadows, in book form. Though I only ever saw it in reruns during the 1980s, Dark Shadows was inventive for a soap opera, so I was rather enthusiastic about reading this book.

Werewolves, and vampires, and witches, oh my! I will admit that I had a little trouble at first getting my bearings on the vast cast of characters and where they lived when summoned to Cairnwood, but once I had that clear in my mind, I really enjoyed the book. Mr. Freeman has quite a talent for setting a scene, giving physical descriptions of his characters, and clarifying their individual powers.

The story itself is a clash between good and evil, that began 700 years ago in Scotland, and involves an offshoot of the McGregor clan -- the Cairnwood clan. The patriarch McGregor is a vampire, destined to hunt down and destroy the werewolf Cairnwood descendants. Michael Somers and his fiancee enter the creepy world of the Cairnwoods, not knowing he is the heir to their clan, destined to kill off Malcolm McGregor in an epic clash of good vs. evil. He emerges triumphant . . . for now. "FINIS?" as Mr. Freeman ends the novel. No, far from it.

What kept me on my toes while reading it was its "cutting" from one scene to another rather abruptly. This is also what lent it an air of television or movie, and gravitas to the assessment I heard before reading the story. It was indeed like watching a gothic soap opera, only in book form.

The love scenes were fairly standard: beast ravishes woman, and woman loves it. But, they weren't gratuitous, and each led to a greater understanding of the relationships between the characters.

The fight scenes were wonderfully gory and blood-spattering. As a reader, I'm not into blood and gore if it serves no purpose in moving along the story, but in an epic battle 700-plus years old that has revived, there must be lots of blood and gore for it to ring true.

An interesting twist comes at the end, when Michael's Cairnwood heir who lost out on The Manor, Sebasian, becomes the Cairnwood representative on the Order of the Nine Skulls. There is a rivalry between Sebastian and Michael, which leaves open many possibilities for the series.

Overall, I give this novel a thumbs up. I thought it was quite well crafted.

As a real lover of horror and vampires, I could find nothing wrong with Cairnwwod Manor or it's inhabitants except of course they are not your average family even though there both good and bad among them.

It was a thrilling, chilling read, filled with all the good things and beasts I love about horror. Mr. Freeman is a wonderful writer portraying these characters in a way that kept me riveted to my chair. I am looking forward to the next tale of Cairnwood Manor and it's inhabitants.

This book is wonderfully entertaining and scary! It kept me enthralled throughout, I couldn't read it fast enough. I hope that there are more books to follow!!!!

Bob Freeman's Shadows Over Somerset is a contemporary horror/dark fantasy tale that chronicles the rather mysterious Cairnwood family and the individuals/entities who come to be at odds with them. It's not always simple to tell who's protagging and who's antagging, though, as the Cairnwood family is something of a mess. They've got heroes, they've got werewolves, they've got vampires...they've just got all kinds living under the family name. Their homestead, Cairnwood Manor, situated in a dark corner of Indiana, is reminiscent of the classical mansion full of secrets, a la Collinwood from Dark Shadows; in this tale, however, the secrets are multiplied something like tenfold.

Freeman's storytelling is enjoyable, particularly during the action-packed scenes of character conflict. I did have a problem with the lack of breaks between paragraphs when scenes changed, though I'm not sure whether this was a copy-editing gaffe or something done intentionally. Whichever, it's cumbersome, and it brings the flow of the drama to a screeching halt on any number of occasions, particularly because there are so many characters to follow. Better structuring of the book's passages would have helped distinguish what's happening when and to whom. In fact, I would like to have seen better copy-editing in general, as there are numerous small problems that a second trained eye could have easily caught and fixed. KHP Publishing, take note.

Regardless of its problems, Shadows Over Somerset is a generally entertaining novel, fast-paced, and vividly rendered. With its dark, gothic atmosphere and occasional moments of breakneck action, it's got a little something for fans of every dark persuasion.

Michael Somers is summoned the bedside of a dying grandfather he never knew existed. But that's just the start of Michael's problems. Because in the sleepy little town surrounding Cairnwood Manor strange things are afoot, and are killing and bringing the dead back to life. Into the supernatural mix throw a powerful and jealous witch, a council of immortal monster-slayers and a pack of restless werewolves, and you have a terrific novel that delves deep into every dark aspect of human nature. Freeman pulls no punches--Cairnwood Manor is vicious, Baroque and will keep you up long into the night. A stunning debut novel by a talented newcomer to the gothic horror genre. Longtime fans of Dark Shadows, rejoice. I'm eagerly awaiting the next entry in the series.

A fast reading biography of a truly unusual and remarkable man. I recommend the book highly.

Every year, during May, The United States Military Academy (West Point) has a memorial service commemorating Col. David "Mickey" Marcus. If you are anywhere near West Point, you owe it to yourself to attend the service.

A well written story of one of the most unusual American war heroes as well as a stirring account of the birth of Israel.

An unusual, rather bold title; however, 'Mickey' Marcus was an unusual, incredibly bold man. The author keeps you turning each page with disbelief that this book is covering the shortened lifetime of ONE man! His list of accomplishments would look like a who's who list, only they were all accomplished by ONLY him. No matter how avid a reader, you will find yourself saying "How could one guy pull ALL this off and How come I've never heard of him before" I usually read a biography a day. This is by all means the most unforgettable and without a doubt my highest recommendation for anyone interested in the flame within man. And once you have heard of him (for this is not a book that you could put down without finishing) you will find there are thousands of web pages honoring multitudes of his individual achievements; but, this is THE book about ALL his achievements and his biographer is a GREAT writer allowing us an intimate look at an amazing person.

I was surprised at how good this book is, and how much work must have gone into writing it. Berkman who for most of his professional life was a screenwriter did a tremendous amount of research to tell this story. As a screenwriter he increases its readability by casting a great deal of it in dialogue, though this raises questions about his 'fictionalizing' at certain points.
Nonetheless there is a strong sense of the overall reliability and authenticity of the narrative. The story is a fascinating one. Marcus was a true hero , a person of tremendous personal courage and ability. He was a fighter and a man of many accomplishments. Born to a poor Jewish family, and orphaned of his father in his early years he worked hard to win entry to West Point where he was intercollegiate welterweight boxing champion. He had a successful Army career including a stretch as head of phystical training for the Army's elite Ranger unit, and was mustered out only to become Corrections Comissioner of the City of New York. But when the Second World War began he returned to the Army .He did important administrative work but eager to contribute to the battle on the ground, parachuted into the Normandy battlefield where his sense of command and battlefield savvy were vital . For his actions he won the Distinguished Service Medal, and the Bronze Star. . At the end of the war he was with Patton's forces and was among those who visited liberated Dachau. The horrors of the concentration camp deeply effected him, and were part of his decision when later called upon by emissaries from Israel, to go and volunteer and help the Jews in their fight for a homeland.
Marcus made important contributions to the disorganized and beleaguered Jewish forces. He aided Ben- Gurion , and argued for the building of conventional forces and not simply guerilla units. He urged thus that the units of the Palmach lose their independent decision- making power and become part of the overall force of the Haganah. Marcus also made a great contribution to the Israeli forces in the battle for Jerusalem by pushing for the building of an alternative route, the Burma road to Jerusalem. It was while doing this that he was killed when a guard mistook him for an enemy soldier.
Marcus was a character of great energy, imagination, and flair. Berkman tells how he too was a person of great humanistic ideals, a fighter for freedom and human dignity.
One other central theme of the story is his relation to his wife Emma who suffered his long absences but remained the anchor of his existence. The book is filled with moving excerpts of his letters to her.
Berkman's tone in this work is upbeat and promotional. He tells the story in an exciting way. Here it is possible to wonder whether he might have done more in exposing the critical opposition to Marcus.
But the book is an overwhelmingly positive and convincing one. In the course of it not only is Marcus' story told, but we have the sense of a different time, a different world and different values. This is most apparent in Marcus description of and feeling about the Israelis he serves with. He finds them to be energetic, idealistic, youthful , innovative , and above all courageous.
Marcus himself came to beleaguered Yishuv, an underdog in its war against five Arab Armies, and made a major contribution to its victory.

This book is a fantastic biography of an amazing man. He is a man who should be loved by those who love freedom, and hated by those who despise freedom. This book intimately details the sacrifices of this war hero in both WWII and the Israeli War of Independence. Ted Berkman does a superb job in documenting the feats of this man, enabling David Mickey Marcus to serve as a role model for future generations.

A must read for any aodoptee who is a parent or is considering parenting. Enough said!

This personal testimony is definitely worth a read for anyone whose life has been touched by adoption in any way. In simple language and with an engaging writing style, the author, Zara, tells her own story, with frankness and simplicity. In doing so, she educates us about the some of the complex feelings of adoption - feelings that, for many people and for many years, have never been acknowledged.

I `happened' across this book - 6 years into my own reunion with the daughter I lost to adoption in 1968 - and have been very moved by the open and honest way Zara talks of her own experiences and feelings about being adopted, many of which echo things I know for myself or have heard from others. Unlike many of the books out there that deal with adoption, she makes no judgements on what others should do or feel - this is simply her own story - a very personal account of how adoption has affected her life.

Though Zara has chosen to write about her journey to motherhood, I think there is much to be learned from her story outside of that. The book has helped me to understand my daughter better and from the comments I've had back from her and others affected by adoption to whom I've given copies of the book, it seems to bring new level of validations and enlightenment about the whole adoption experience.

Whether adoption is part of your life or not, you truly will not want to miss out on this newest adoption book, "Chasing Away the Shadows - An Adoptee's Journey to Motherhood," by Zara Phillips.

Zara and I had corresponded for a couple of months before I had the privilege of meeting her at November's CUB retreat in Monterey, CA. In this writer's opinion, Zara is articulate, smart, and very well spoken, possessing all the qualities needed to be a successfull writer/speaker.

Having had the opportunity to be the first test-reader for Zara's manuscript, I knew then, when I simply could not put it down it was going to be a great book - a must read, in fact. It is an honest and compelling account of the struggles one encounters in living the life of an adoptee.

Zara was born (1964) and raised in England. I so enjoyed reading and "hearing" her lovely English accent gently carressing the words upon the pages of her story, as only a "Proper English" lady can do. Zara's willingness to share the story of her troubled past so honestly and openly is a tribute to her fine, upstanding character. This outstanding book is most certainly worth the read.

To learn more about Zara, please go to her website - [...]

This was by far one of the best adoption related books I've read. Zara Phillips did a wonderful job sharing her personal story & feelings about being an adoptee. I could see myself in so many aspects of her life from the beginning of life to becoming a mother. This book should be read by ALL members of the triad. It was worth more than 5 stars in my eyes. GREAT BOOK, easy read.

A vivid and entertaining story of one determined young woman's quest to find her unique place in the world. Adopted as an infant by well-to-do parents in a London suburb, Zara Phillips felt wracked with a sense of displacement she couldn't explain -- an inner turmoil at odds with her developing persona as a cool rock singer. In secret, she decided that she must discover her truth of her identity. The cost, as turned out, would be great. Phillips takes the reader along for the whole rich ride, through rage and drugs and tours and men to the hard-earned happiness of motherhood and marriage in a home unquestionably her own. Even readers who weren't adopted will understand Phillips's driving need to uncover the truth. In direct, spare language, she unerringly locates the universal pulse beneath her personal spiritual journey. "Chasing Away the Shadows" delivers information, including a solid resource guide for adoptees and parents. But Phillips writes like a novelist. Her suspenseful search for her birth parents keeps the pages turning. And amid the drama, she lets the laughter through. One highlight: Phillips's son telling workmen that his mum is like Superman. Why? "Because she's adopted!" he says. "Chasing Away the Shadows" is a super book. Whether you're adopted or just plain human, don't miss it.

The only bad thing about this book is that it ends.
Clovermead lives in a wondrously imaginative, entrancing world filled with action and adventure. She is a Satisfying Character. The people and the world of this book linger in your imagination long after you have shut its covers.
One can only hope it is The First In A Series.

Clovermead, a twelve year old girl with tomboyish fantasies, in a wild land before firearms, is soon swept up in malevolent plots and a raging war --between rival kingdoms and rival gods --of which, astonishingly, only she proves to be the key to resolution. Her once beloved father fails her as a protector and as a moral example. Her new barbarian friend Sorrel is really kind and helpful, but no omnipotent superman. Snuff, the evil priest of the evil Bear god, Ursus, is ominously sardonic, but it's no joke when he's after Clovermead. The monstrous Bear god is genuinely nightmarish when his tooth is in Clovermead's mouth, and his will begins to take over Clovermead's mind. High up in the icy north, the benevolent goddess, Lady Moon, does not directly drive events, but...? The story begins in Clovermead's childhood home in the chill of autumn, and unrolls in desperate flights through dangerous wilds and more dangerous people in the terrible cold of winter, in the shadow of the Bear. It warms us, too, when Clovermead is at last under the covers in a safe, warm bed before a toasty fire.

David Randall can devise and tell a rousing tale, fantastic but realistic. His characters are no wooden emblems, but are complex and divided as we are. (Even the Bear god develops an admiration for Clovermead, who is growing up fast.) His language is varied, supple and effective; he writes neither down nor up for readers who may be twelve, eighteen or eighty. His evocations of nature, and hints about morality and religion, don't obtrude in the tale, but deepen it. A seizing story. A fine book!

Clovermead is an excellent read. The heroine is both believable and likable and really does seem to be the age she is written as. Everything she does makes sense and has its own logic - the decisions she makes stem from her character, not from the demands of the plot. This is true of most of the adults in the book as well. The book is also very well-paced. Digressions into the backgrounds of other characters are also interesting and flow naturally from the story.

The surprise at the end didn't actually surprise me, but it should still be a genuine surprise for those in its targeted age group. And for the kids who do get it beforehand, they will probably feel proud of themselves for getting it, and not let down by figuring it out early.

Overall, it's a good, tight, and engrossing narrative. It feels neither contrived nor cobbled together like many other fantasy books I have read.

I found this book thoroughly entertaining and highly recommend it to anyone in the mood for a whimsical, exciting, articulate read. David Randall clearly has a gift for creative writing. The quality of Clovermead brings to mind fantasy classics like Lloyd Alexander's Prydain Chronicles and Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials. Can't wait for a sequel.

When I first picked up this book, I wasn't sure what to expect. The market has been flooded with heroine-takes-charge kind of books which, after a while, tend to run together.

Randall has a beautiful way with words; reading Clovermead is a pleasure, not just an adventure. Clovermead, our protagonist, is well-drawn and engaging. The overarching battle in this story is one between the nuns of Lady Moon and the bear-priests of Lord Ursus, but everyone, including Clovermead, get swept up in the conflict leading to unforeseen results.

The heros, the enemies, and those that play both sides are all complex characters, and the plot line doesn't miss a beat.

Overall, a very fun read.

The only bad thing about this book is that it ends.
Clovermead lives in a wondrously imaginative, entrancing world filled with action and adventure. She is a Satisfying Character. The people and the world of this book linger in your imagination long after you have shut its covers.
One can only hope it is The First In A Series.

Clovermead, a twelve year old girl with tomboyish fantasies, in a wild land before firearms, is soon swept up in malevolent plots and a raging war --between rival kingdoms and rival gods --of which, astonishingly, only she proves to be the key to resolution. Her once beloved father fails her as a protector and as a moral example. Her new barbarian friend Sorrel is really kind and helpful, but no omnipotent superman. Snuff, the evil priest of the evil Bear god, Ursus, is ominously sardonic, but it's no joke when he's after Clovermead. The monstrous Bear god is genuinely nightmarish when his tooth is in Clovermead's mouth, and his will begins to take over Clovermead's mind. High up in the icy north, the benevolent goddess, Lady Moon, does not directly drive events, but...? The story begins in Clovermead's childhood home in the chill of autumn, and unrolls in desperate flights through dangerous wilds and more dangerous people in the terrible cold of winter, in the shadow of the Bear. It warms us, too, when Clovermead is at last under the covers in a safe, warm bed before a toasty fire.

David Randall can devise and tell a rousing tale, fantastic but realistic. His characters are no wooden emblems, but are complex and divided as we are. (Even the Bear god develops an admiration for Clovermead, who is growing up fast.) His language is varied, supple and effective; he writes neither down nor up for readers who may be twelve, eighteen or eighty. His evocations of nature, and hints about morality and religion, don't obtrude in the tale, but deepen it. A seizing story. A fine book!

Clovermead is an excellent read. The heroine is both believable and likable and really does seem to be the age she is written as. Everything she does makes sense and has its own logic - the decisions she makes stem from her character, not from the demands of the plot. This is true of most of the adults in the book as well. The book is also very well-paced. Digressions into the backgrounds of other characters are also interesting and flow naturally from the story.

The surprise at the end didn't actually surprise me, but it should still be a genuine surprise for those in its targeted age group. And for the kids who do get it beforehand, they will probably feel proud of themselves for getting it, and not let down by figuring it out early.

Overall, it's a good, tight, and engrossing narrative. It feels neither contrived nor cobbled together like many other fantasy books I have read.

I found this book thoroughly entertaining and highly recommend it to anyone in the mood for a whimsical, exciting, articulate read. David Randall clearly has a gift for creative writing. The quality of Clovermead brings to mind fantasy classics like Lloyd Alexander's Prydain Chronicles and Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials. Can't wait for a sequel.

When I first picked up this book, I wasn't sure what to expect. The market has been flooded with heroine-takes-charge kind of books which, after a while, tend to run together.

Randall has a beautiful way with words; reading Clovermead is a pleasure, not just an adventure. Clovermead, our protagonist, is well-drawn and engaging. The overarching battle in this story is one between the nuns of Lady Moon and the bear-priests of Lord Ursus, but everyone, including Clovermead, get swept up in the conflict leading to unforeseen results.

The heros, the enemies, and those that play both sides are all complex characters, and the plot line doesn't miss a beat.

Overall, a very fun read.

No matter what you do for a living, or your day job, creativity lurks deep within all of us. Bane finally proves that creativity is not just an element that the Gods give us in the form of artistic talent, but a neccesity of Life we all keep locked deep inside our well of potential. We get so few chances in our everyday lives to take a swim in that well, why not make a vow to do it every day? Rosanne shows you how. I could always write stories and paint but until I took Rosanne's class in which her book is based on I never knew how to tap into that well of creativity. I was foolishly under the impression I had to wait for the inspirtaion, or for the fleeting moment that my creativity decided to visit; then of course pray to the Gods I was near a pen and paper or easel. But with Rosannes book and Cd of guided meditations I can simply clear time in my schedule, put on the cd, following the meditation, sit down at my computer and WOW! Here comes the creative energy. I think the most important thing I've learned about myself through Rosanne's book, classes and CD is that I have the potential to do more than I ever dared to dream about. And she's helped me realize many of my dreams. I've given this book to many of my friends, those who are known to take a swim in the well of creativity and those who aren't, and they are always thanking me. If you want to make a New Millenium resolution to make more room in your life for your Creativity, this book can help you keep it.

GET THIS BOOK. It is simply terrific. I nearly finished
3 chapters and the moodling technique is stellar. Five stars
is way too low a rating for this book. I can't wait 'till
I see how the rest of the book will go.

This book is worth every penny.

I love this book ! I have gone through 3 chapters allready and
did many of the exercises. It is simply great.
Buy it and do the exercises conscientiously. You will be a
better person for it.

The only problem I have with the book is the guided imagery
exercises.

I have worked through this book and can't say enough good things about it. If you're ready to truly expand your creativity this is the book for you. I have learned how to recognize when my shadow is getting in the way of my progress, and how to use the knowledge to keep growing. If you are honest with yourself, do the exercises and keep going even when it's scary you too can integrate your shadow and improve your life. There's also a CD with Rosanne reading the guided imageries to you - highly recommend it too.

I've got a closet full of other books and tapes that promise me I'll be more creative if I just set virtuous goals and think positively, but often I follow that advice and still feel blocked and paralyzed. This book gives a comprehensive explanation of the repressed "shadow" parts of ourselves that we try to hide, but which can really make us feel alive and liberated if we choose to embrace them rather than wait for them to surprise us at the most inappropriate times. I got a lot out of the guided imageries and the playful exercises (like dressing up like your shadow or making a collage of your repressed qualities). It's still a scary process for me to blast through my comfort zone and try daring things, but the times I've taken the book's advice I've felt wonderfully alive.

I so enjoyed the story, the author is an excellent storyteller and a descriptive writer. It is one of those books you just don't want to put down, and are sad when you come to the end. I have read it a number of times and highly recommend it.

This is a very enjoyable novel by a talented new writer. Her style is original, and the plot and characters are interesting. I particularly enjoyed how she handled the fight scenes. I felt they were incredibly well done. I am looking forward to the sequel to this book.

I don't always have alot of patience when reading. If I'm going to stick with a book all the way through it has to grab my attention in the beginning and keep a hold of it. I definitely found this to be the case when I read "Eagle Shadow". Not only is it captivating with action and romance, but the author uses her words so beautifully that you feel you are actually experiencing a part of the old west.It is now one of my most favorite books which I read again, and again. I would highly recommend it and am anxiously awaiting a sequel!

Normally I wouldn't read period fiction, especially a Western, but a friend recommended I read it, and I did. I was hooked and have recommended it to others.

"Eagle Shadow" is a definite page-turner, and I was disappointed when I came to the final page - disappointed because I'd come to the end of the story. I hope the author comes out with a sequel.

This is well-written. Ms. Greenhalgh-Davis is a talented new author and I look forward to reading her other works. Another thing that makes this so special and appealing to me is the fact that she is a female writer of western drama; something you don't often see in this genre. Excellent and recommended.

This is a neat collection of weird, off-beat, and straight out freaky creatures culled from Edgar Rice Burrough's 1911 through 1930s+ SF action stories of otherworldly adventures.

13 basic monster types, 26 variations--half of them with psionics (what better to surprise players with these days?). Some truly bizarre imaginings among these: mobile plants with blood sucking arms, beings whose bodies are made up of two different species (sometimes the heads wander off on their own business, yuck!). The art is a mix of vintage items and creepy new art. All this with helpful extras to either integrate Mars critters into your campaign, or launch your campaign to Mars. Highly recommended!

This book has taken Edgar Rice Burrough's old Mars stories and made a fresh presentation of them for gaming with loving care to detail. It's simply laid out but deep in usefulness, evoking the charm and versatility of the original Dungeons and Dragons games for those of us old enough to wince at the modern money-churner the game has become in official hands.

Along with its many creatures, the book weaves in the armorless combat of the stories, some of the ecosystem and reproduction of the beasties, area-specific encounter tables, and Burrough's original Mars mythos of the origin of species. This is meant as an opener for an entire line of new "Mars" products so I'm eager to see what comes next!

This book gives you everything you need to use the creatures from the Edgar Rice Borroughs Mars books in your game. It uses descriptive excerpts from the book and does a great job of embelishing on everything that ERB was a little vague. If you play d20 and want a beastiary of some fantastic creatures this book is a must have!

Whether your campaign is set in Mars or not, this book offers a lot of great monsters. Even for your straight d20 adventure, this book has loads of psionic creatures, which I haven't seen a lot of anywhere else. I know I don't own a wizards book with too many in them. All the monsters were thought up by literary great Edgar Rice Burroughs, and Skirmisher stayed really true to his work. So whether you're playing in ERB's world, or want to change it up in your bland DnD campaign, you can't get much better than this.

Monsters in a lot of fantasy role playing campaigns start to look and sound the same after awhile, and this book is a breath of fresh air for anyone who wants something new and different for their games! I have never read any of the books the creatures in this work are based on, so they have all been pretty much of a surprise to me (as they will for the players in my group).