Authors Books

Don't know what happened to the Kindle version, but it is a mess. At the beginning of each chapter, it skipped to unrelated text for a paragraph, then went back to the flow of the story. These were not lovable people for me. Cindy is a taker, latching onto a stranger. She apparently wore out everyone in town, leaving no one to drive her around - not one friend. And why the tornado?

This is a great book, as all of Charles Martin's books are. It will also make a reader cry.

I had never heard of Charles Martin or this book when it was recommended it to me but the person recommending it had great taste so I figured I would take a chance. I was so drawn into the detail that Martin brings out and the personality and reality of the characters that I bought the book so when I returned the copy I was borrowing, I could keep it to read again. This is called a novel of the heart and it truly is. It will touch your heart and leave you changed. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves to read, it is amazing. Charles Martin does a fantastic job and this wont be the last book of his that I read.

This book got my attention from the very beginning and kept it through till the end. I have limited time for reading, and When Crickets Cry was very well worth the time!

Only 5 stars? This is a truly gifted author. The worse part is after you read this one or another of this author, you try to find something to equal it's quality and that is a difficult task. Hopefully he will keep writing. I beleive he has a new one coming out this summer. "When Crickets Cry" is a story filled with humor, sadness, despair and mostly a man and doctor who must learn to forgive him self and live again. The journey with Annie is a story that will touch anyone who takes the time to read it. All of the characters are delightful though I got somewhat frustrated with Reese and wanted to shake him and make him realize what a gift he was wasting but of course that was the point of the story. Annie's Aunt and Charlie and even Termite are characters you won't forget for a long time. Mr. Martin has done some incredible research on heart disease and heart transplants and though I got a little squimish at some of the details they were informative and amazing. There were details I had no idea of in transplants. I would highly reccomend this author and all of his books.

You know it still surprised me when I run across a kid who hasn't read one of Stanek's Kingdoms or Dragons books yet. These books are so amazing and so descriptive, the comparisons to Lewis, Dahl and other great writers are right on. Kids is my classroom aren't exactly sheltered, but they often don't hear of all the wonderful new authors and each year I love introducing them to Stanek's books. I have five copies of his Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches #1 in my class library and after the first few weeks kids were already begging me for Book #2 and Book #3. They were thrilled when they found out there was a Book #4 and I saved the best surprise for last, this whole new series, In the Service of Dragons, with four more books for them to enjoy. The first in the Dragon series, Stanek raises the stakes, adds in a couple new heroes and villians, and basically ratchets up the tension while cutting down on the easygoing moments. We get to see the bigger scope of things through Noman, who's on a rescue mission to save nothing less than the entire world and all the magical realms. It's bound to make readers happy (and it does). "In the Service of Dragons," will satisfy its die-hard fans. A fine addition to a fun, fast-paced series.

If you've been following this fascinating series, you'll already know that it is based in a fantasy world called Ruin Mist. This first book of a completed four book sequel series to The Kingdoms and the Elves. It starts with a might titan watching a procession of giants. When the titan returns to his over world, his mystic companion is nearly swept away into a swirling gray abyss and thus starts a truly amazing story of men, elves, titans, royals, commoners and fair folk.

This well-written book is terrific reading for all ages. Cool monsters, shadow warriors and bad guys abound. This is one of those series where you just gotta get them all. Good thing all four books are available.

In this first volume in Stanek's In the Service of Dragons series, magic splashes across virtually every page. First, a brief, cryptic prelude tells of "the Gathering" being formed and hints at great changes. Next, readers meet the mystic Noman, who also sense the coming changes. Stanek quickly thrusts the reader into the heart of the mystery and fantasy when Noman is nearly swallowed by the swirling gray. Here the fantastic story becomes even more mysterious and magical as the story races off in a new direction and the reader meets the Eagle Lord and the King of Gnomes. With likeable unlikely heroes in Vilmos and others, fast-paced plotting and a plethora of mystical oddities, this series is sure to garner a host of fans.

Kids, adults. The stirring of titans and dragons has begun. Monsters not seen for thousands of years have returned to the land, threatening to unleash death and destruction on an unprecedented scale and destroy the kingdoms and the reaches, and it's up to Vilmos and his friends to stop them. This fifth in the Keeper Martin's Tales and first In the Service of Dragons series makes ancient legends come alive. The titans and dragons of old walk the earth and so do monsters of myth and shadow. Although this can stand alone, you will race back to the first four volumes and eagerly go on to the next installments. Stanek's characters lovable and relateable. There is a character for every reader to identify with in some way and he brings readers on a journey on a grand scale. This series is great literature, and is compulsively page turningly entertaining. I give this and the rest my highest recommendation.

It's a rate treat to find books better than Potter or Narnia. Stanek wins with plain oldfashioned good writing and not so much with witty banter or whimsical prose. Originally, I got these books my kids and ended up reading them for me. Stanek creates a complex magical world that is believable and a joy to discover. The author's subtle development of ideas, plots threads and characters you can love/hate that contributes a great deal to elevate the book above standard fantasy. The characters are memorable and mystery and intrigue throughout grab you.

Stanek has a rare gift to write beautifully and to tell terrific stories. His writing skill will make you keep reading in addition to the plot. I love that the prose isn't dense, and that he achieves with simple statements what others authors often take pages to do. I absolutely recommend it, but you must be prepared to read all the books. Plus if you haven't yet read the kingdoms books that's what to start with.

What a great beginning! I'm a sucker for interesting worlds, and this seems to promise a well-thought out and well-developed one. I generally don't read noir, and so I can't yet feel for the characters, but the chase scene and the little details made for a fast and engrossing read. I hope to read more of this!

All in all I'd say I am very impressed by what I've seen so far in this book. Be that as it may, one gets the sense while reading that all Subspace needs to bring it to the forefront of modern science fiction is a thorough pass by a talented editor.
The characters and setting are clearly top notch, but unfortunately the pacing - particularly the rate at which invented words are introduced - tends to bog the reader down. A little jargon here and there can pique curiosity and draw the reader in; but introducing four, five, six new terms before the reader has time to figure out what the first three mean for page after page is simply asking us to juggle too many balls at once.
To conceive of a new and vigorous universe is the mark of a good writer, and Justin Robinson has clearly achieved that. Is there a great novel here? Yes. Absolutely. Unfortunately one has to dig a little more than most casual readers would be comfortable with.
That said, I must be fair to insist that once the setting is established, once the politics of the era is set in perspective, once the new lexicon is metabolized, there is one hell of a story here.

Blending genres can be as risky as performing oral surgery on a cranky Sarlacc that declined the anesthetic. Chances are you're going to get bit, and it's going to hurt something fierce. In his debut novel "Subspace", Mr. Robinson has woven a seamless blend of Noir and Science Fiction sure the please the fans of well written stories set in either milieu.

The beginning of this excerpt is tense and fascinating. I was eager to know why Montoya was moving so quickly and who was chasing her. The description of the corridors in Santiago was vivid and interesting, and the author managed to reveal details about this world without slowing down the action.

There are some excellent details about how a world without gravity would function, as in the description of the bar that included where the bar was, where the tables were, and how the patrons would stay where they belonged.

I was a bit lost in the slang of this world. Some I could pick up through context, but other words I thought could have been saved until later, when I would have been able to get a better idea of what they meant.

Ramirez's inner conflict about Montoya's plea is interesting, and his character is obviously very complex. I liked him and would be interested in learning much more of his story. The history of Ramirez, Montoya, and Calderon is enlightening and creates the opportunity for a great deal of tension between the characters of Ramirez and Montoya.

So far this was a fascinating story, and I was disappointed not to have the opportunity to read more of it.

The author of Subspace has created a richly believable zero gravity world. Vibrant descriptions and colorful details draw the reader in, and make him believe - I could smell the odors of the world. The pace of the story is perfect; it keeps moving while continuing to impart interesting information to the reader. The description of the bar is excellent, completely adding to the zero gravity feel.

The slang adds to the story; however, I did feel that it needed some accompanying explanation. Most of it I was able to puzzle out, but this did slow down my comprehension and enjoyment of the story as a whole. Also, some of the characters need the same depth and detail as the world the author has created. At times, they felt a bit shallow or underdeveloped.

All in all, this is a fun, fast-paced read.

5 A.M. & Already Behind

As a physician I see the result of years of trial and error with people trying to get somewhere in their lives by doing the same thing.

Dave Lakahni's book is about common sense and teaches the skills that people need to communicate both verbally and physically. It shows a wonderful understanding of an art that is logical and usable.

Everyone who has barriers should read this book!

Dr. Don Kennedy

I finished this fantastic book during a three hour flight across country. It is that good. Dave Lakhani writes in style that draws yyou in and keeps you interested. If it sounds like I am reviewing a fiction title it should, the book reads that well.

I have an extensive persuasion library and this book is in my top three. If you read, studied and applied what is in this book you will amaze yourself with what you can accomplish.

Highly Recommended

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R5Z16KDSC08AM A two minute review of Dave Lakhani's "Persuasion"Persuasion: The Art of Getting What You Want

I am overwhelmed by the content of the book and the kind of new thought process I am experiencing. The outlook has changed a lot especially because of the kind of work I am doing (Online Marketing). There were few changes I made immediately, specially adding the word "curious" as I could feel how this would work when applied on me.

There is so much that can be written about the way book can influence your work specially in the field of marketing, but don't forget the difference between Manipulation and Persuasion before you apply the principle in your real life, with friends, families, acquaintances as the principle are effective in these areas as well.

In one sentence, this book has the "the basic principles of survival" that has not been discussed so deeply till now.

I have not met Dave Lakhani, but after reading this book and his earlier one - Power of An Hour: Business and Life Mastery in One Hour A Week - he is evidently a very clear thinking and pragmatic individual.

I have read a great many books on influencing and persuading, and this is one of the very best.

A survivor of a cult, Dave is well equipped to understand what can happen when people manipulate for his or her own ends. He has seen all the tricks, and knows the difference between manipulation and ethical persuasion.

None of us likes to be manipulated but to be persuaded is quite another matter. If someone is able to persuade me to take a new action, I want to learn how he or she did it!

It is extremely easy to apply the principles in the book, and he boils his approach down into six tenets of persuasion:
1. Outcome based
2. Best-interest focused
3. Truthful
4. Goal and time oriented
5. Personal
6. Ethical.

He expands on and explains each of these with well-chosen examples.

The book is attractively produced with a "Review" and "Success Questions" at the end of each chapter.

Dave has persuaded me that he has found a number of useful ways of influencing people without manipulating them and at the same time remaining ethical and above board.

For anyone who needs to persuade and influence other people this book is excellent. It also offers you a crash course in how to avoid being manipulated by others.

Highly recommended.



Richard G. Petty, MD, author of Healing, Meaning and Purpose: The Magical Power of the Emerging Laws of Lifee