E Books

I loved Mr. Ayala's book. This book tells of real life situations, as many people experience this lifestyle everyday. He teached us that no matter what the situation is, faith in the Lord will bring you through. I have had the pleasure of reading Mr. Ayala's novel Alabaster Box as well and loved it! If you love Will You Be Made Whole you will enjoy Alabaster Box just the same. Please keep writing Mr. Ayala!

When Keith Coleman got on the Greyhound bus headed to Chicago he knew his life would never be the same. At the ripe age of 13, he fled his home in Atlanta after he defended his mother against his stepfather. Fearing the loss of his freedom, he thought he could go to Chicago and stay with his mother's sister. However, staying with his aunt was not an option with the authorities looking for him. Unfortunately for Keith, he was beaten unconscious soon after he arrived in Chicago and it was Drake Sommersbee who helped to change the course of his life. With Drake's help, Keith became KC and into his life came a succession of characters all seeking solace and help but not knowing where to garner it.

Katy meets KC while at a club, which begins their friendship. She is from a wealthy family in Ohio and finds Northwestern University has more to offer than just an education. However, she finds herself in a situation, that can only be categorized as purgatory. She goes from being a young woman with goals to a prostitute who can't get away from the man she thought loved her, but was really just her pimp.

There are several other characters in this story whose lives are intertwined as they live sinful lives and hope for a better life. One constant person in the characters' lives is a homeless man known as Old Ben who seems to know everything about each person and tries to guide them to salvation. He seems to be in the story to help them all learn to accept Christ and know they are loved.

WILL YOU BE MADE WHOLE has an inspiring message of accepting God's love and faith without being overly preachy. The characters all have lived sinful lives whether it was drugs, alcohol, sex, homosexuality, murder or more illicit transgressions, yet they are all deserving of being saved if they are willing to ask forgiveness for their sins and accept Christ into their lives. Readers will be drawn to several of the characters because it was easy to understand their pain and because they will probably recognize some of the characters from people in their own lives. The pacing was okay, and there were only a few editorial issues. Unfortunately, the story was too predictable; you knew what was going to happen before it happened, leaving no element of surprise. Although written in a simple manner, it guarantees the readers will receive the inspired message.

Reviewed by Cashana Seals
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

From the beginning to end to book of work keep you wondering what's going to happen next. Once you pick this book up you will not want to put it down. The author really gives life to all the character's in this book. My favorite character in this novel is Big Ben the homeless man. He's like the conscience or guardian angel througout the story. If you're expecting a E.L Lynn Harris or a ZANE like experience you will be disappointed. Ayala will take you mind to a different level. He brings a strong and powerful Christian standpoints but he don't turn you off with it. Ayala isn't someone to sleep on. Check this book on all of his other literary works.

Often in life we face a moment time that will alter our lives forever. This was the quandry Keith Patrick Coleman found himself in as the sand from the hour glass slid away. From page one you'll find yourself enthralled following Keith's every move as he leaves Atlanta for the mean streets of the windy city. What do you do when you can't stay home, and you have no place to go? Will you be made whole has all the angst and passion of Shakespere's Hamlet in a modern day setting. Get ready for the ride of your life!

E.L. Ayala is a very powerful writer. With a background in playwriting and stage productions he has honed a sense of drama that serves him very well indeed as a new novelist. Ayala joins the ranks of the fine cadre of African American writers today with his first novel WILL YOU BE MADE WHOLE, and with the surety of voice he has developed, we can expect further equally fine books from this artist.

Ayala has chosen Chicago as his stage for this story of multiple lives that interweave in a journey through drug abuse, prostitution, sex rings that involve both boys and girls as sex workers, violence, parental abuse, AIDS, the homeless street people, and ultimately for the power of friendship and love and as well sculpted a use of introducing ethics and religion as any writer writing today. He paints wholly three-dimensional characters, allowing their own character development in the course of the story to physically and emotionally describe their physical personas. The leading character is KC, a young thirteen-year-old running away from Georgia after being involved in murdering his abusive stepfather and while on the bus to Chicago he encounters a dear lady who shares with him a tattered book 'When God Doesn't Make Sense', a book she eventually leaves with him and which sets the tone for the long epic ahead. Once in Chicago KC is taken in by a kind black man (Drake) who treats him well, cares for him, and eventually becomes KC's lover as well. Drake is involved in a male prostitution ring and KC successfully develops into a handsome hunk who is one of Drake's prime hustlers.

Parallel to his gradually developing story of one lad's rise and fall is a second story of a young girl Katy who arrives in Chicago from Youngstown, Ohio to attend Northwestern University. What begins as a mild shy girl develops into the character who likewise falls into the prostitution line due to the influence of the handsome but evil Sugar Man. This slow but inevitable descent into low life is populated with a number of friends for Katy and one of those friends is KC. From the time of their meeting the story pummels into the fast track of bad choices, violence, drugs, bondage to pimps, yet in this story there also appears Old Ben, a homeless street person 'angel' who seems to rise up out of a sense of strange timing to offer consoling words from the Bible, messages about God's love and restorative powers for the downtrodden.

To tell more would be to deprive the reader of just how facile E.L. Ayala is in bringing the reader face to face with the seamiest side of life, creating a glowing tapestry with threads of fear, of need, of illness, of desperation, of shared love, of disappointment...of restoration. Ayala is in control of the story at every turn and never lingers too long to let the numbing persistence of a world gone wrong become maudlin. The narrative is crisp, the events propel naturally, and the use of the introduction of spiritual healing is never intrusive, only needed!

Stories of crime in the smarmy side of big cities are many, but few have been told with the finesse and page-turning style Ayala manages. This is a fine book, worthy of serious attention among readers, and a first novel that bears witness to a fine new talent. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, March 06

It was almost as lovely as the first one that was given to my children when they were very small....a gift from their great-aunt who was a Catholic nun with a degree in Library Science...I tried to locate one exactly like the original which was received in about 1964. It was about half the size, hard cover with the most beautiful artwork and my 5 children loved it. Somehow it was lost in one of our moves, but I bought this one for my oldest daughter (now 51) who always wanted a copy..She loved reading it to her younger siblings. She loved it and so did I, so we consider it a wonderful little book.

The familiar poem from childhood paired with beautiful illustrations makes the perfect bedtime read to share with your grandchildren.

Captain Kangaroo sang this song on his show many years ago. I was fortunate to have
the leather bound edition of children's poems by Eugene Field that included this poem.

I sang "Wynken, Blynken & Nod" to all our children and all the children I have loved. The original
is a bit different and has more lyrics but the feel is the same. The color pictures
are beautiful. The song is a wonderful bedtime routine and the imagery is lovely. Also,
it is appropriate for either a boy or girl. This book makes a wonderful addition to any children's library.


We will be gifting and singing this poem to the children of the many children we
love.

Eugene Field spins a marvelous bed time yarn with Wynken, Blynken, & Nod. Wonderfull Illustrations by Johana Westerman enhance this century old tale. It was my favorite bedtime story as a child, no violence, no villians, no nightmares. A fantasy delight that will send all young children off to dreamland with vivid and happy thoughts. Highly reccommended to parents and teachers, or anyone who cares for a child.

I was thrilled when I discovered Wynken, Blynken & Nod was still being printed. I believe of the two books I have saved from my childhood (I'll be 65 next week), this was one of them.

I treasured this book. It's a classic.

Today I found it has arrived. I am so sure that my grandchildren, 4 and 2 will love it as much as I did, that I bought it for them.

Blood of Angels is one of the best suspense novels I have read in quite some time. Set in Nashville it features Thomas Dennehy, a lead prosecutor who is known for his closing arguments and who has sent more than one criminal to death row. His new case, for which he plans to go for the maximum penalty, is against Moses Bol, a Sudanese immigrant accused of raping and murdering a white woman in a gritty part of town. As the case is contemplated a bombshell drops. An anti-death penalty professor claims he has incontrovertible proof that an executed convict that Dennehy put on death row, Wilson Owens, was innocent of the crime for which he was put to death. This throws the prosecutor's office into disarray, as well as the case against Bol, as an activist preacher claims Bol is innocent. In the meantime Dennehy thinks he's being stalked by someone, and acts directed at him get increasingly more frightening. He is soon visited, yet again, by his past, in a harrowing sequence of events.

This novel is definitely an intricate, well thought out work of suspense. The characters in this novel are very well drawn and Dennehy's relationship and interaction with them gives the novel a very personal touch.

Two thumbs up for this one.

The start was a bit misleading ( I thought I'd stumbled upon an anti-death penalty rant disguised as a novel ), but was pleasantly surprised to find myself in the middle of a fantastic thriller.

I recommend readers go through the bargain hardcover book section of their local bookstores and experiment with new authors on the cheap. That's how I found Reed Arvin and now I plan on reading all of his books.

Thomas Dennehy, Assistant District Attorney of Davidson County Tennessee, has his hands full in Blood of Angels.

The case of one Wilson Owens has come back to haunt the DA's office as new evidence has come to light that the State of Tennessee may have executed the wrong man two years ago.

Dennehy was the prosecutor in the case known at the Sunshine Grocery murders and has the singular notoriety of having convicted two men in separate trials and of separate crimes of killing the same woman. This in itself puts a tornadic twist into this book that would make it a brilliant story, but Arvin goes one-step further by hurling the racially charged murder of a local white-trash girl by a Sudanese immigrant into the mix.

Kwame Jamal Hale has come forward and delivered what may prove to be very damning evidence that he, not Owens, was the murderer at the Sunshine Grocery. His claim? He knows where the heretofore-undiscovered murder weapon can be found. Dennehy, his boss David Rayburn and soon-to-be retired fellow prosecutor Carl Becker, can only wait and watch as the circus rolls into downtown Nashville and the DA's office prepares to tender their resignations en toto, if it is proved that Wilson Owens was innocent and unlawfully executed.

Meanwhile the bond hearing of the suspected Sudanese murderer Moses Bol comes to court. The DA is dealt another blow when bail is set at $1.5 million and is paid by one Fiona Towns, a Presbyterian preacher of a dying central Nashville church that has less the dozen members.

These two stories together are not enough for Arvin. He tosses in the failing personal life of Dennehy, a cast of characters that make every page a thrill to turn and just enough action for you to gnaw your fingernails down to the cuticles. Dennehy has a wit and dark sense of humor that would be depressing if it were not written so well. Add his ex-wife, her wealthy doctor second husband, and a daughter that truly loves her daddy, and you have the full package in a legal thriller that you will be proud to recommend to every fellow fiction reader you know.

Armchair Interviews says: If you love legal thrillers, check this one out!

I loved "The Will" by Arvin and grabbed "Blood of Angels" as soon as it was released in hardcover. It is a book to own and I will read again one day. Great suspense, character developement and plot. This book has it all. It's one of those you can't put down once you start it.

As a former resident of Nashville and currently living in the city of Frankling (the hero's city) I was expecting to be somewhat familiar with the sites and locations. What I was not expecting was the absolutely riveting story - a police procedural of the first degree. I now know how residents of New York, DC, LA & Chicago feel when they read stories that take place in their city. The areas described are well-known and provide a reference point for the story.

This is the New South. Absent are evangelicals, the dominant Democrat party, close-knit generational families and a whites only landscape. Instead, Thomas Dehenny, the district attorney, is a driven, dedicated hard-drinking, divorced father who never attends church. One detects that the author (through Thomas) decries those who devote their lives to defending murderers and rapists. He asks, What about the victims? Who speaks for them?

In this case, there is a strong possiblity that the wrong man was executed. The crime involved two defendents - the shooter & the medic who actually killed the woman through negligance (he was on meth). At the same time, the city is rocked by the brutal murder of a Nationite woman by an African refugee. The struggle between low-class whites (The Nation) & the growing numbers of refugees and immigrants is real & depicted with accuracy. Into the fray steps Fiona Tonws, local Presbyterian minister/activist. Despite their positions, a romance breaks out between the two. The real villian is revealed midway through the book & he is as horrible and clever as they come. The ending was sheer perfection as was the entire story. I cannot say enough about this book! Buy it.

I read this book in order to prepare myself to transcribe for Mrs. Miller's upcoming novel, and I found it to be a lovely true story that encompasses World War II, but more so, the forever changed lives of those who lived it. Easy to read and easier to connect with, this story brings to us not only the war but our vital human connection with those around us and around the world, the importance of peace and understanding, and a lesson on the fallible nature of stereotyping our "enemies". I look forward to Mrs. Marako Miller's coming novel, which I expect to be even better.

Ever since my June 12, 1999, comments on "Bridge To The Sun, I've received many personal e-mails requesting a copy of my movie video. Please do not ask me to violate copyright laws. Do as I did...keep checking your local cable listings or inquire of the classic movie channels when "Bridge To The Sun" will air again, and then set your VCRs accordingly.

I attended Mariko Miller's lectures about her family and just had to have the book. For those who want to know major events since, Mr. Terasaki was the liaison after WWII between Emperor Hirohito and MacArthur. He was "writing" a book during this period, but when Mariko got it translated from the court Japanese to the more common dialect, it proved to be much more valuable. Publicly Emperor Hirohito said very little about WWII. He dictated his thoughts on it to Terasaki instead. Terasaki's book proved to be an invaluable historical document. Mariko lives in Wyoming and is writing her own book. She mentioned in her lectures how easy it was to figure out where her parents were on a given day and time in the days leading up to WWII. She just requested their FBI files and it was all there. Keep an eye out for Mariko Miller's book. It should be even better than BRIDGE TO THE SUN.

Having lived in the modern Japan for 10+ years, I was impressed by how beautifully Mrs. Terasaki captured the spirit of Japan, and somewhat jealous that she experienced things (I don't mean the war, mind you) difficult to find today. This is a great book, and my only complaint is that she didn't write more.

Incidentally, I actually found out about this book from a Japanese mini-series that was re-broadcast recently called "Mariko". It had a few more details not found in the book, such as the fact that Mr. Terasaki used phrases regarding Mariko (esp. "Mariko is not well today") as a code with his brother and others in Tokyo to relay how discussions were progressing during the tense time right before the Pearl Harbor attack. Also, I found out that Mariko is alive and well and living in the US.

As literature, this book is not the best. However, as a historical first-hand document that recounts a personal, interesting, and very unique story, this is superb. This book may not read easily for some since the writing style can be a little scattered. This characteristic, though, reveals a rawness in the writing. Terasaki is genuine, and she opens a window to many intriguing subjects. These subjects include: foreign policy between Japan and America surrounding World War II, cultural contrasts between the two countries, perspectives on love, the life of ambassadors in the WWII era, Japanese perspectives on Americans in that era (and vice-versa), the treatment of the different classes of people in Japan, separation of civilians and government, Japanese WWII propaganda strategies, Japanese military actions in China before the US entered the war, Japanese perspectives on the American occupation after the surrender, and so much more. This text contains plenty of substance, even if not in a most polished form. I would recommend borrowing a copy through your local library rather than paying $$ for it.

Robert Armstrong grabs your attention on Page One and it only gets better from there. I rarely have time to read a book cover to cover, but I found the writing, pacing and characters in this new mystery compelling.

Chief of the Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care, Dr. McDonell, DVM faces the conflicting demands of the realities of his job, the laws that govern it, and a boss who is more involved with the Health Department's public image and catering to special interests. Add to that, he may have the clues to solving a series of deaths of Houston's homeless. Something powerful and vicious lurks on the quiet streets at night. Canis will keep you sitting up late to see how it all ends.

Totally believable with a nice twist at the end. I am trying to decide who will play Dr. McDonell in the movie! I am ready to read Index of Suspicion and Oryx, which I hear is due out this Fall!

Robert Armstrong has written an amazing mystery. The main character, Dr. Duncan MacDonell, DVM, is both very believable and likable, and so are the other characters in the book. My complete attention was held from start to finish, and Mr. Armstrong's humor showed through at times, adding some fun to the reading. I never guessed who the real culprit was. Several characters could have been the murderer and that only made it more exciting. I never expected the outcome, so the ending was a total surprise. I am excited about CANIS and plan to read more of Robert Armstrong's books. He's an excellent writer. You will not be disappointed in this book!

Dr. Duncan Macdonell is not your typical protagonist. He's an older, rounder gentleman with a penchant for smart-talk and one of the most thankless jobs in the world-- he heads the Houston Department of Animal Control.
As an animal lover, I cringe at the statistics he presents on the number of animals destroyed by the city each day, but he inserts these figures skillfully within his compelling story and doesn't use them as a plot device or shocker, simply to establish Dr. Mac's mindset and feelings about his job.
The story is written in an easy, comfortable style that is akin to having an old friend tell you a tale over dinner rather than florid prose that waxes eloquent and makes you want to skip paragraphs. Not a word is wasted in Dr. Mac's world!
Finally, the mystery aspect of the book is excellent. Armstrong had me suspecting everyone but the kitchen sink, then still managed to surprise me at the end. The plot is believable, fast-paced and well worth your time and money. Skip James Patterson's new one and buy CANIS instead!

I'd had a "sneak peak" of the first chapter, so I was curious to see what this book was like and where it was going. It wasn't what I expected ... it was BETTER!! :D From page 1 it had me hooked. It was a VERY entertaining book which I couldn't put down. Every chance I got, I read more, then I felt like I'd lost my best friend when I finished. I only have a few authors I enjoy, Robert Armstrong is now in that list, he's a great writer!! :D Can't wait to read Index of Suspicion and the next one he's working on now!

After reading the first paragraph of Canis, I found myself wanting more. Robert Armstrong has weaved a tale of intrigue mixed with politics and a bit of humor and has captured the local flavor of Houston. The characters were believable and the story compelling. Armstrong is definately an author to keep your eye on...Bravo!

L.C. Martin

I ordered this since my sister received it and thought it was a great book. Unfortunately, this copy does not come with the answers. Look for the hard cover version, that has the answers in the back.

CDB! (Stories to Go!)

I was very excited to find this book for my grandbaby. We had great fun with it when her aunts were small. Who would have thought back then that William Stieg invented 'text speak'. I even stumped my youngest daughter with NQ!

This book is as intriguing and entertaining was it was 25+ years ago when I read it to my children. As an educator, I discovered this book to be a source of entertainment and challenge to my children as well as a wonderful tool to help my students as they struggle with reading skills. I recently purchased it again for my grandchildren since my copy was misplaced over the years...and they love it as their mother when she was their age.
Buy it and use...it will help dust off the gray matter and delay alzehemier. :)

smart! adorable! unexpected! (the book, not my kids...)
This book really has us rolling in laughter. My sons (ages 4 and 6) and I have been playing with an electronic toy: push a letter and the thing says the letter's name. We had been using it to make word sounds -- pressing U R A Q T for "you are a cutie" and so forth. When I saw this book I just had to get it. It is amazingly clever -- and to think it was written in 1968. It's fresh, not at all dated. My sons are very good readers for their respective ages, but it is definitely appropriate for them. I had to explain a phrase or two (they didn't know the word "ecstacy" when they saw X-T-C) but otherwise it was totally on their level. I still crack up reading it, and I've read it at least ten times. The watercolor illustrations are perfect. Stieg conveys a lot of emotion and expression with just a few brush strokes. When a boy sees someone with a lollipop and tells him "I N-V U," you can see the envy.
I won't mind if my kids want to read this one again and again. I M N X-T-C 2!

This book helped me learn to read when i was 3 years old. As long as you know the alphabet you can read this book, which makes it perfect for children who are learning to read.

I have a copy of the first edition of this book and am still mesmerized by it. When it first came out, everyone I knew at design school who bought it felt like the information and techniques had given them an out-of-body-experience and it quickly became THE book to own, learn from, and emulate. Anyone who buys this book and applies the material and techniques will become better at drawing, rendering, and creative presentation methods...it is a sure-fire way to achieve "star power" in your office and in front of your clients!

great book! Out of the dozens of hand rendering guides I looked at, this was by far the best and the easiest to learn from. It tells you what pencils, markers, and tools to buy to achieve certain effects, and gives you step-by-step rendering instructions for tons of different types of materials and lighting situations. I highly recommend this- in fact, it should be mandatory for interior design students!

This is an excellent resouce for the study of rendering. After detailing the elements of color and design, it describes, step-by-step, how to achieve many finishes both interior and exterior. It is both instructive and informative.

It's really hard to say too many things about this book. Even older editions of Color Drawing are great, but this newest one goes above and beyond the call of duty. In an age when a lot of books get re-released as new editions with few substantive changes, Color Drawing breaks the mold by updating the techniques with current technology (i.e. Photoshop). It's great to see that the author and publisher realize that pure hand-drawing and rendering is quickly becoming a thing of the past and that the practitioners of today and tomorrow need to have excellent computer skills too. This book is full of very useful tips for combining Photoshop with hand drawings to create great effects. So even if you have an earlier edition, do yourself a favor and buy the new one anyway because you will learn a lot.

This is the standard for rendering in architecture and interior design as far as I am concerned. It will most definitely become a required textbook for my classes in visual presentation in the years to come. Doyle takes you step-by-step into the process of rendering with marker, color pencil, and pastels. But he doesn't just spoon feed you the recipe for each material rendering, he presents the basis for a process that allows you to render virtually any material not found in the book.

Flying Between Heaven and Earth provides us with a glimpse into a fascinating netherworld and, more importantly, provokes us to contemplate the reasons we're here on this planet. Gina Jones' exemplary writing skills give us richly developed characters to follow right to the end of this page-turner.

Whether you believe or not, the postulates Gina presents will stay with you long after you finish the read. Get ready for an enjoyable ride on Infinity Airways.

Two concepts were presented in this book, no, actually three, that make this an important book for someone searching and asking questions about what is going on and WHY?

The concept of spiritual creatures, angels and demons, having meetings and discussions about what to do about things on Earth is a very new idea for most of us. I thought that it was a war between good and evil. But, the more I think about it, the idea that Jones proffers makes a bit more sense. I can even picture all of it happening just as she describes. Good spirits and bad spirits argue about the outcome of things and do their best to influence us humans in this "free will" world. And may the most influential win it all. And yet, the idea that these "good and bad" spirits are just part of a larger "game" and are playing parts even makes the concept more interesting and compelling.

Another concept that fascinated me was of the "veil of forgetfulness". This is what happens when we, as multi-dimensional creatures enter into this three dimensional existence. Our "reentry" dazes us and causes us to forget who we are until we can awaken to our condition. Of course, if you accept the idea that we re-entered this existence by choice, you could argue that we agreed to forget ourselves for a time. How else could we expect to live here like this is all there is and we are playing for keeps?

And the third thing I enjoyed was how our guardian angels interact with us and influence us while we are living our day to day lives. And that all the experiences we have in this life are planned to teach us something. Of course, since we are in a "free will" world, we don't do the right thing too often and have to pay the consequences for our actions.

Okay, that is four concepts. But, you get the idea.

Jones writes in a lively style and breaks the book up into lots of chapters since most of us don't have long periods of time to devote to reading these days.

Oh, and I almost forgot, the Mayan Calendar is featured here and how it relates to 2012. Now, this is an area where a number of people have wildly different theories over its significance and what is supposed to happen when 2012 rolls around.

Ok... five concepts.

This book presents one picture and googling 2012 will garner LOTS of others. There are references in the back of the book to get you started.

This book is a gift to humanity. It is genuine, bringing hope and faith to the reader. I found that the minute I opened it, I was compelled, I could not put it down. It took me on a journey into what is truly and really important in our lives. Each chapter brought me to a realization, of how our lives intertwine with certain people and events that show us the miracles, that there is something more guiding us.

This book is a lamp in a great sea of darkness. It is the inspiration that gives us hope, in the end it will make your heart sing a new song.

Former flight attendant and later founder of the spiritual message-delivering company "Scene The Light Productions" Gina E. Jones presents Flying Between Heaven and Earth, an original novel of angels set in the bustling modern day. As the divine cosmic plan for the Earth nears its 2012 culmination, as predicted in the Mayan Sacred Calendar, global chaos, bizarre weather, worldwide terrorism, and an increased fear of flying permeate the world. Infinity Airways, an airline operated entirely by angels, strives to move people toward their higher purpose and aid spiritual evolution through opportunities to balance their heavy karmic and emotional baggage. Amid this divine work, one angel named Nicole, who volunteers to be an Infinity Airways flight attendant, unwittingly falls from grace when she becomes fully human. Caught in the war between Dark and Light, and enticed by the temptations of Darkness, she must learn to confront her human weaknesses and shortcomings in order to play her role to help save humanity in its final days upon Earth. An apocalypse story with a celestial twist, and a riveting read from cover to cover.

This is a story of hope and redemption. Did you ever wonder how an Angel earned the status of Archangel? I hadn't either until "Flying Between Heaven and Earth" landed on my doorstep. I was riveted and transformed by this 'factional novel'. It had been many years since a book spoke to me like this. Truth is woven throughout, like triggers, that ultimately brought me to a point of surrender, and a new level of awakening in my personal life. Gina's first effort at flying solo is an E-ticket ride. This felt more like riding first class in a hologram, while viewing a bigger picture than mankind could ever imagine. You will love this book! Now to see it come to life on the big screen. Stephen Spielberg, are you reading this?

Initially I borrowed this book from a friend and read it at bedtime. The short chapters are perfect for a quick read at bedtime, while waiting at the doctor, etc. Phillip Gulley is fabulous at taking the "normalcy" of life and applying Biblical principles to deepen the experience. His humor causes me to laugh out loud repeatedly. This is a fun and fresh way to look at the Eccelesiastes text. After devouring my friend's copy, I purchased this one to share with my dad. He is loving it as well!

Philip Gulley uses the words of Ecclesiastes, "For everything there is a season", as a springboard for essays on life. He happens to live in the small town of Danville, Indiana, where he grew up, so his stories have to do with the people and customs of his small town. Gulley is a Quaker pastor who holds to traditional values and the sovereignty of God, but this doesn't hinder his sly wit or wry observations on the absurdities of modern-day life. His choices of stories range from the addition of a screen door to his home under "A Time to Build" to a list of his prejudices and pet peeves under "A Time to Gather Stones Together". This is a good book to read a bit at a time as each chapter stands alone. It's also a good way to escape from stress and to get a laugh and a new perspective on life.

I was given a copy of this book by my sister, Mrs. Fruits, who is featured in the "a time to let go" chapter. I also have a signed copy. This is a wonderful book (along with Phil's others) to pick up when one needs a spiritual "pick me up". I have circulated these delightful books through the membership of my Episcopal church and have incorporated some of his stories into sermons. I am a Hoosier from Hendricks County who now lives in Washington State and it is often a nostalgic trip for me when I travel the roads and streets of Indiana in Phil's books. But anyone could benefit from these stories about every day people dealing with every day life.

This is an excellent book, as are all of Philip Gulley's. They are "feel good" books, and I enjoy them all. Although this particular book is not a story evolving around the local townspeople, as are many of his, it is still an inspiring read. I hope Mr. Gulley continues to crank out his particular type of humor/inspiration for years to come!

What a great book about the sweet simple side of life. It made me want to move to the author's small town and settle in with my family. I have enjoyed everything I have read so far by this author.

I read and reread Heyer, pick her up when I'm feeling blue or dismayed by the quality of some of the current Regencies I find at the library, and use her literary genius to restore my faith in the historical romance. Over time Frederica has become my favorite for its wonderfully drawn characters and its peek into London of the time. The novel is filled with fascinating historical accuracies that Heyer weaves seamlessly into the story. Heyer's intelligent and laugh-out-loud dialogue and situations never, never fail. Who else could have an entire key scene rise and fall on restorative pig jelly? The novel Frederica is the best of the best! It's fun and touching and entertaining and hilarious - and without a single sex scene Heyer still creates a wonderfully engrossing love story. (Is there some kind of publishing rule against that now? There is such a thing as too much information, you know.) Anyway, read Frederica, then Arabella, then Venetia. Then, because I favor the more mature heroines (and those quirky, socially-ambivalent heroes,) try The Nonesuch and Lady of Quality and Black Sheep. Oh, what the heck. Read any of Heyer's regencies. It's her genre. Bless her. Lily's Sister

Frederica is one of Heyer's older heroines (not one of the silly ingenues, who of course can also be fun to read about). Frederica and the other characters in this book are very well developed and easy to love. Frederica is a wonderful, unselfish sister to two younger brothers. Alverstoke is a good man who has- up until now- led a selfish life in which he has never gone out of his way to help anyone. Can he learn something from her and her family (including the Baluchistan hound)?

Frederica is a funny book, but it is also a very romantic book. A satisfying read, a gentle comedy, and a book you will enjoy reading many times.

I've read all of Georgette Heyer's Regency novels, and I've listened to many audio books...including a few of Ms. Heyers!
However, I must say that this audio book, is one of the GREAT ones!! Clifford Norgate has an obvious talent for conveying emotions, while also utilizing diverse accents/tones to give Ms. Heyer's characters their own particular voices! He was even able to adequately portray the female characters' tones (which is often a quite difficult task for a male reader to successfully accomplish!). I found that I thoroughly enjoyed this audio novel...immensely!!! I even surprised myself with how well I could remember and anticipate the dialogue before it was spoken...even though I'd not read this novel in quite some time.
This is an audio book that I will treasure, and definitely re-"read" many times. I only wish that all of my Georgette Heyer favorites were as wonderfully rendered in their "audio versions"!
I greatly recommend Clifford Norgate as a "reader", and this book as a definite keeper!!! Frederica has always been among my favorite Georgette Heyer novels; and this version does it great justice!

Frederica is without doubt my favourite Georgette Heyer novel - and I like her novels very much! What makes Frederica so good? Simply that she has populated this book with wonderful characters, amusing dialogue, interesting historical setting and a love story which is gentle and fulfilling.

The basic plot is that Frederica, a rather managing girl with three brothers and one sister, all younger than her, is attempting to launch her beautiful sister Charis into society so that she can make a good marriage. Frederica enlists the assistance of her sort-of cousin, the Marquis of Alverstoke, in this - and he agrees to spite his sisters. Alverstoke is an uncaring, flighty rake who doesn't do anything for anyone else and is hugely selfish. Through his interaction with Frederica and her two youngest brothers, Jessamy and Felix, Alverstoke is brought out of his state of almost continual boredom and takes real responsibility for his adopted cousins.

The power in this story is the exquisite way in which Heyer portrays her characters. We are shown Alverstoke with all his faults, yet we also get glimpses into what makes him in some ways a good man - for example the honourable and fair way in which he treats his secretary, Charles, and in the way that he takes on responsibilities to his adopted wards in order to lessen some of the load on Frederica's shoulders. Although Frederica initially comes across as a woman without fault, as the story progresses we see her occasional blindness in dealings with her sister and her eldest brother Harry; Frederica wants Charis to make a good match but Charis doesn't want that for herself. As the story progresses Alverstoke becomes more responsible, more aware of the needs of others and more aware of the effect he has on them. He takes care to hide his interest in Frederica from society so that she is not teased about it. As for Frederica's feelings for him, we do not hear much of the story from her point of view but it becomes clear by things that she says that she considers him very important to her... until of course the end of the book when they become engaged and she discovers what it is to be truly in love.

There are many other sub-plots running along in the main story - the romance between Alverstoke's secretary Charles Trevor and Alverstoke's cousin Chloë Dauntry is one. The various men who offer marriage to Frederica because they see her qualities and the different way in which they are portrayed is great fun. But the central part of the book - the conversations between Frederica and Alverstoke - are a delight.

This is one of those books that you can read again and again and enjoy even more each time. Heyer has masterfully described the way that a bored rake, Alverstoke, can change his whole nature when he finally finds the right person, the woman who is a conversational match for him; I also think that her ability to gradually unveil the faults in her heroine, small that they may be, is also good - it's annoying to read books with `perfect' people as they are so unlike us.

Like all Heyer books, the historical setting, dialogue and description of places is perfect. This book is just a fantastic read in so many different ways - buy it!

Never read or heard of G. Heyer until recently and Frederica was my introduction to this most talented author. This a sweet and fun story about finding unexpected love in the midst of family upheveal. The dialouge is hysterical. I laughed out loud on several occasions. Buy this book...you will not be disappointed!