Shadow The Books

This book by Narendra Singh Sarila is a true eyeopener. Many commonly held beliefs about the history of the Indian subcontinent are disputed and in some cases heartily debunked. The author was the ADC to Mountbatten and thus comes with the imprimatur of "being on the scene".

I remember reading various sources like Wolpert wherein it was emphatically stated that Gandhi was always against partition. Well here Sarila reliably infers that at the end Gandhi thought partition was a necessary evil. Jinnah played the religion card to the hilt appealing to the lower angels of human nature via the fear route. Arguing that muslims would never get a fair shake in a Hindu Congress and nation Jinnah shrewdly played the fear card. Of course thirty million muslims who were not in the demarcated areas were left high and dry.

What is truly sad is the low opinion that Churchill had about Indians in general and Hindus in particular. Yes in those days it was quite common to view Indians as a cacaphony of peoples incapable of governing themselves, but Churchill's animosity seems to have been beyond the bounds of reason. Too bad because Churchill truly was the man of the hour during WW2 and helped save Western civilization. In my eyes the greatness of Churchill is tangibly abased by the vile alloy of racism.

Sarila recounts, in detail, the behind the scenes machinations of various players mostly to the detriment of a united India.

A sad commentary on a lamentable period of the Indian subcontinent. Highly recommended.

This book is a significant contribution to the understanding of the fateful events surrounding the independence and partition of India and the players involved. The book presents the events in a cogent manner with insightful analyses into the events and personalities. It is a must read for any student of Indian history and politics since it gives insight into the situations affecting the national security and political decisions made even today. We all have heard so much about the "Divide and rule" policy of English. The reader is able to witness that policy in action in this book.

Key features that one learns from this book are: i) the British determination to hold on to India as long as possible, and in the event that this becomes impossible, secure the northwestern portion of India to thwart any real or imagined Russian adventures, ii) The naivety of Indian National Congress leaders, especially Nehru, about the survival of an independent India in a predatory world, iii) the aging of Gandhi and weakening of his faculties and judgment in dealing with the changing political environment, iv) Even though Mountbatten contributed to bringing the princely states into the Union he also did double cross Nehru in dealing with Kashmir, and v) Hunger for power at any cost on the part of Jinnah who died regretting what he had done with his life.

The role that President Roosevelt played in pushing Churchill towards Indian independence and the US gesture to be the first country to send an ambassador to India is neither appreciated nor known among the India's polity nor did the historians pay much attention to the subject. Better management of the relationship with US early on might have paid dividends and the world history could have turned out to be totally different than what we have witnessed.

The author has to be specially commended for his assessment that Indian independence came not because the British had an enlightenment about egalitarianism or human rights but because the empire was economically not tenable any longer, and even more important, the events of the second World War and its conclusion created an environment in India where they could not even count on the loyalty of the Indian army any longer. The "awe" with which the ordinary Indian looked at the Englishman had ended. The bluff that worked for two hundred years stopped working.

The author worked from 1948 to 1985 in India's Foreign Service. He uses primary sources in this excellent book to show how from 1906 to 1947 the British state allied with Islamists to defeat India's majority-supported Congress Party.

The Aga Khan and some Bengal landlords founded the Muslim League in 1906 and at once petitioned Viceroy Minto to introduce separate Muslim electorates, a sure way to split a country. Lord and Lady Minto immediately welcomed this: she wrote that it would mean "Nothing less than the pulling back of 62 million people from joining the ranks of the seditious opposition."

Churchill too played the Muslim card, lying that the real problem lay in Hindu-Muslim differences about India's future and not in Britain's rulers' unwillingness to accept Indian independence. Viceroy Linlithgow forged an alliance with Jinnah's Muslim League Party. Linlithgow's successor Lord Wavell produced the 1946 blueprint giving the strategic prize of North-West India to Pakistan.

Jinnah called a `Direct Action Day' for 16 August 1946. The British governor of Bengal knew of the League's intention, yet the British brigadier in charge of law and order in Calcutta ordered his troops confined to barracks for the day. 5,000 people were killed. Wavell's blueprint was implemented when the British withdrew from India in 1947, even though it was kept secret to avoid any impression of a British hand in the division of India.

Sarila summarises, "Once the British realized that the Indian nationalists who would rule India after its independence would deny them military cooperation under a British Commonwealth defence umbrella, they settled for those willing to do so by using religion for the purpose. Their problem could be solved if Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the leader of the Muslim League Party, would succeed in his plan to detach the northwest of India abutting Iran, Afghanistan and Sinkiang and establish a separate state there - Pakistan. The proposition was a realizable one as a working relationship had been established between the British authorities in India and Jinnah during the Second World War and he was willing to cooperate with Britain on defence matters if Pakistan was created."

Imperial policy was and is divide and rule - whether setting Muslim against Hindu in India, Bosnian Muslims against Serbs in Yugoslavia, Sunni against Shia across the Middle East, Protestant against Catholic in Ireland, or Scottish against English in Britain. As Sarila notes, "The successful use by the British to fulfil political and strategic objectives in India was replicated by the Americans in building up the Islamic jihadis in Afghanistan for the same purpose, of keeping the Soviets at bay."

An interesting and detailed analysis based on historical documents that sheds light on the british machinations to encourage, even engineer the partition. lots of other fascinating facts and details are brought to life as well.

The Partition of India is one of the great un-studied subjects of modern times, especially in light of the great ethnic-cleansing that it caused, it is suprising it is ignored and its refugees forgotten. This book however is not about these crimes but about the politics and also the prejudices that brought about partition. It mostly focuses on the British decision to assist Ali Jinnah and his attempts to form a Muslim state. The British had long supported Muslims in India, both as civil servants and administratively, allowing them to keep Shariah law while suppressing Hindu traditions.

As the Great Game ended in 1905 and world politics changed the British continued to cultivate loyal Muslims in India and used them to split India, eventually using them to create Pakistan, and using Pakistan against Soviet Russia, which would have reverberations in the 1980s and even today.

This is a very interesting and new point of view. Few authors have tackled the subject of British pro-Islamic politics in their colonies and this is an important contribution.

Seth J. Frantzman

THE THIRD PART OF HELEN HOLLICKS SERIES BEGINNING WITH THE KINGMAKING, THEN PENDRAGONS BANNER IS FANTASTIC AS ARE ALL THREE. HELEN HOLLIC IS A CREATIVE INTENSE GREAT WRITER.

The third and final book in Hollick's Pendragon trilogy is not just a wrap-up, but an entire story (and a good one) wihch dives deep into the lives of the characters met in the first two books. It's a big, stong book and terrific finish. Read them all and enjoy the last.

In 468 AD, Arthur Pendragon rules over a relatively peaceful Britain. However, to the king, pax is a pox, so he agrees to lead his Artoriani fighters to help the Romans defeat invading barbarians in France. He leaves Queen Gwenhwyfar to run the country and defend his crown.

While Arthur plays soldier on the continent, the Queen has to deal with several threats to her spouse's throne. Adding to the growing danger is the word that Arthur died in battle. As his absence on the home front lenghthens, Gwenhwyfar struggles to abort the attempts of several individuals, including relatives, from usurping the throne. As Arthur recovers with the nursing help of a former lover, he hears rumors that his beloved queen died. It will take more than magic to bring this couple back together atop of the British throne.

The third book, SHADOW OF THE KING, in Helen Hollick's Camelot series is as great as the two previous novels (THE KINGMAKING and PENDRAGON'S BANNER). Fans who enjoy the Arthurian epic need to read these three tales because they are some of the best ever written about Camelot. With novels more like this trio, Ms. Hollick will become a legend in our time.

Harriet Klausner

The third and final book in this Arthurian trilogy - see below for the other two books. It took me a while to finish this one because I enjoyed it so much. How did that work? Well, whenever I was putting the book down, I would flip ahead some pages and see what would be happening, flip ahead a few more, etc. So I have to leave myself enough time in between readings to "forget" what I had read so I could be more surprised in what was coming up. Did it work? A little. Well, perhaps a lot - even though I knew what was going to happen (both from my knowledge of Arthurian literature and in what I had skimmed ahead), there were many tears that I shed at the end of it. Very very good trilogy of books.

I haven't read the first two books in the triology and I was hoping for an invasion by Picts or Scots. However, the story moves through post-Roman Gaul and even Brittany (called Little Britain in the book). Helen Hollick knows she has no skill in telling stories of battles, which are glossed over in a page, so the story is not weighted down by forced writing. Helen Hollick's research into post-Roman horses lets the story down as the horses the Artoriani cavalry rode would have been pony-sized. One doesn't need stirups if one's feet scrape the ground as one rides a pony-sized horse.

Three stars and an extra one for the setting.

Leigh Southern

As another reviewer of this particular Karl May travel and adventure story, I was mesmerized by his stories when I was growing up in Luxemburg. It is shame that he is virtually unknown in North America. I've started my great nephew (who unfortunately does not know German) reading the stories in translation. I hope that he will get a greatly expanded view and understanding of other peoples, ways, mores as I did; and that he just plainly will enjoy the stories, because they are SUPERB.

I'm the translator of this unabridged first volume of Karl May's Orient Cycle, a six book series of adventures that detail a journey and exiting adventures through many Middle Eastern countries.

Karl May's 73 novels are still being published today in numbers that are astounding. Yet whilst his works have been translated into about 30 languages, he is virtually unknown in North America.

Given the current events in the Middle East today, it is amazing how much insight he had into the psyche of the people he wrote about. In reading his work you will discover that little has changed over the last 120 years since he penned the original narrative. You will also discover a wealth of pertinent facts about the people and their religious beliefs.

I consider Karl May's travel narratives a body of text that has been well researched and whilst some of the information contained therein may not be entirely accurate when compared to the facts as we know them today, they represent nontheless a very clear insight into the customs of the local inhabitants of these foreign lands.

My wife and I have enjoyed the often frustrating task of rendering Karl May's work into English and we hope that you too will enjoy the tale as it unfolds.

This book is a gripping tale of adventure and suspense that left me unable to put it down especially towards the end. I was drawn into the characters and found myself laughing at their antics. In reading this story I felt like I was traveling through the land alongside the heroes of the story.
I especially liked Halef who was a very important part of the story and I can't wait to see if he continues his journey in the next book.
Even though the book was written more than a hundred years ago the customs and traditions of the Arabs have not changed through to the present day.
Not being an avid reader, a book must be exciting to keep my attention and this book met and exceeded my expectations.
Growing up in my grandmothers house who was from Germany I know the German language can be very difficult to understand and with many of the translations from German to English the true meaning of the prose is often lost.
It is obvious that a great deal of time and effort went into this unabridged translation of this adventure story.
This is the first Karl May book that I have had a chance to read and I can't wait for the next book to be translated.
To the translator I say, 'Great job!'. I highly recommend this book to readers of adventure stories and to children - most enlightening.

The Shadow of the Padishah

This book is a step into the world of Shaharazhad and a little beyond. Our Hero, the Frank, Emir Nemsi, is a German writer on an odyssey into the realm of the Padishah, of Arabian Knights and the rich culture of the Middle East, in search of adventure. He travels with a native companion, little Halef, a devoted servant, bent on converting his beloved Master to the True Faith of Islam. It is interesting to note that our hero becomes a Muslim against his will, all the while remaining a devout Christian, an interesting twist of events. The series of adventures, beginning with the discovery of a murder victim, through the Hajj to Mecca to the victory against the Haddadihn leaves the reader panting for more and more, until you are dropped on your head with a cliffhanger. I feel much like the Shaharazhad? sultan, I simply must know what happens next.

I was quite surprised to find out that this story was actually written in the late 1800?s, as it has a fresh and modern feel. I especially liked the author?s use of the Arabic words, with the translation right behind. It gives the story an exotic cast, without sacrificing the meat of the Tale.

The story is an honest portrayal of this world, with only a slight European smugness, but much less than most of the literature of the day. The Arab Culture is not portrayed as barbaric or savage; rather we are shown its depth and richness.

I am waiting less than patiently for the next installment of my hero?s adventures.
HURRY UP!!!!

I grew up in Germany, and that means I grew up with Karl May. I probably read more than 20 of his books and I even brought some of them with me to the U.S. Unfortunately nobody I talk to here knows about this great author, and my children can't read German well enough to share my experience. I was therefore delighted to find this unabridged translation. I sure wished more of Karl May's books were available in English.

this book starts out slow BUT the further you go the more interesting it yets. you can not believe what the mother is thinking, but then, it might really be true. i really recommend this book!

this book starts out slow BUT the further you go the more interesting it yets. you can not believe what the mother is thinking, but then, it might really be true. i really
recommend this book!!!

Hollie Ganz is newly separated from her abusive husband Jeremy and has moved into a small house in a new town, to await a divorce. Her 14 year old daughter Allison, has been continually pestered by Dylan, an older boy at High School and is the adored son of a doting mother and an arrogant, lecherous father, a prominent lawyer in the small community. Hollie's young son Jake is coping fairly well although he misses his father badly. Hollie keeps hearing strange noises in the house and is so unnerved that she makes several calls to the local police who, except for one detective, write her off as a neurotic attention seeker. When Allison is accosted in the street by Dylan and his cronies, a young neighbour, Woody, comes to her rescue, and from then on, insinuates himself into their lives. Hollie still feels that she is being watched and is thrown off balance by the heavy breathing phone calls that she recieves, unsure whether it is Dylan playing games or if perhaps it could be her ex husband who is trying to force her to return to him. The scenario gradually worsens and results in a terrifying ordeal for Hollie and her children, with some of the characters seeming to change from good to bad and leaving a big question mark over people's motives. It's a story that would make a good, spooky movie with lots of twists.

When divorcee Hollie Ganz moves into what seems like the ideal house with her two children, Jake 8 and Allison, 14 life takes on a cheerier turn.

That cheer darkens when Allison is stalked by a classmate named Dylan. Dylan hounds and harasses her in school; he telephones her; on one occasion he grabs her into a car after school and refuses to release her. Naturally Hollie presses charges against Dylan.

More ominous events take place. Windows are shattered; books are moved; horrifying stories of the previous tenants are left for Hollie and the children to find.

Who and what could be behind these bizarre occurrences leave the Ganzes feeling terrorized and traumatized. Dylan is at the top of their short list of suspects; Dylan's overbearing, lawyer father is yet another suspect; a strange, lonely boy who appears to be attached to the Ganzes; Hollie's ex-husband Jeremy certainly appears to have an agenda as well.

In time light is shined on the shadows and the mysteries recede. This is a masterfully crafted book that was very riveting indeed.

this novel had me hooked from the beginning. the plot was quite complex but not too complexed that i got lost. I was amazed each chapter by the twists and turns, horrors and surprises that happened to the family. I still remember the plot and all the evil, troublesome things done to the single mother, her son and her daughter

In you have one of these cars this book will refund your its cover price the first time you do any task covered within.
The Shadow Companion makes a complicated car a lot less daunting. Even if you don't do your own work, this book will assist you by explaining in clear terms the work involved n most tasks required with these cars and will make you a smarter and more knowledgeable owner and that should save you money at the shop. It breaks down many jobs simply enough that it will tempt you into trying things yourself you may have thought were beyond you and like the Muir's famous VW book, if you follow the directions you won't get into trouble. An essential for Shadow owners everywhere.

Really useful book for the DIYers, in order to help keeping our cars on the road. Very clearly explained with helpful pictures

I am a reasonably talented amateur mechanic, and a long time car enthusiast/restorer. I was always a bit nervous about buying a Silver Shadow, because I know they are complicated, and very advanced (for their time) automobiles. This book completely explains all of the intricate working of these cars, and more importantly, shows how the home mechanic/enthusiast can take care of most of the regular maintenance, and smaller repairs themselves, rather than having to pay specialists for all of the required work. There are even sections on restoration of woodwork, paintwork, etc. Much more than just a shop manual supplement, this book is absolutely essential for the current owner or anyone contemplating the purchase of one of these Rolls-Royce. It is the best money you will spend, before, during, or after your aquisition of a Silver Shadow.

I have read my recently purchased Shadow Owners' Companion book and have found it very informative. I have been relying on my Owners Handbook for all these years and it is nice to have something that has more in depth information. I apprecaite the author sharing his time and effort in detail for the rest of us to learn from.

If you have a Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow or are thinking of buying one, this is your #1 must-have publication. It's the only step-by-step manual on how to maintain them. The factory service manuals are great, but don't explain the how and why of some of the systems and they certainly don't explain how to actually perform some of the necessary tasks. This book is a bargain at $40.

I loved this book. Kane was a wonderful hero. Tough and mean with a dark tourchered past that makes him think he is not worthy of a decent womans love. I read it in two days, it is so fast paced I could not put it down. look forward to reading more of this author.

Love the sexual tension and passionate relationship between the hero and heroine!
At first I just skimmed through the book, reading passages here and there to get an idea of what the story's about. The hero seemed a bit crude at first, and a lil rough around the edges...
But when I actually sat down and read the novel, Morgan's story really touch my heart. It's clear that he loves sarah very deeply and passionately... bordering on obession, I'd say...

Morgan is... let's see... a bit on the mean side. He rages and
has a tendency to grab/shove/squeeze/slam people. He yells at sarah a lot and has a habit of stalking and staring at her from afar... And even though he tries like hell half the time to avoid her, he just always seems to seek her out in the crowd, and watches her when he thinks she's not looking. And he just loves sarah so much. She...gives him a reason to live, I'd say.

Morgan also has a tragic past of being abused, molested, abandoned, tortured, and betrayed... So you can get a pretty good idea why he is the way he is -a bit on the rough and crude side... but never evil like King, who seems to share a common past.


Sarah is a sweetheart... a bit naive when it comes to matter of evil and danger...but stubborn as hell. No matter how tough things get, she grits her teeth and bears it all. One heck of a gal.

Sarah is ... a bit confuse when it comes to Morgan. She's really attracted to him, but she's scared to accept his love because that would mean giving up everything she's ever heal dear, everything that is stable and safe in her world.
Throughout the story, however, you can see how she matures and emotionally grow. Her experience with danger and death teaches her that there's more to life than social repectability and a titled husband... I love the person that she's become at the end...

Somethings I did not particularly like about the novel was the disturbing details about how King tortures and kill his slaves... it made me kinda nauseous, so I don't know if that's a compliment to the writer for successfully getting her point across, or what...lol...
I also wish the ending was a bit more climatic... I kinda wish King would die a horrible, painful death... lol ... Sorry if that's a bit blood-thirsty. You'll know what I mean when you read the book.

For some reason I kinda feel like the book is incomplete somehow... mostly the story between Morgan and Sarah... I didn't really see how Morgan went from someone who didn't think Sarah would ever love him, to someone who feels he's worth something (IF he indeed undergoes that spiritual realization in the end) I didn't really see that... Miss Sutcliffe kinda left out that part, I think...

Anyway... this one's a keeper folks. You won't regret buying it.
Incredible sexual tension... very passionate and deep in a way not many novels can compare with...

Nothing has prepared me for the breathtaking illustrations of the Amazon as potrayed by the author. I know it is a dangerous place to be in but never in my lifetime could i have conjured up the distressing and life-threatening experiences that had befallen the characters in this book, and in real-life, the explorers and adventurers who had been brave enough to enter it. And the fact that whilst it might be the likes of real-life versions of Morgan and Sarah who had been the early Europeans who came to my country Malaysia (then Malaya)to plant the rubber seedlings years ago, it makes my heart swell knowing how risky their tasks were in trying to take the seedlings from the depth of the Amazon and turned Malaysia into an established rubber planting country (with glorifying results in the early 20th century).

And congratulations to Ms Sutcliffe, Morgan and Sarah are two characters that I haven't been able to forget up until now, neither can I forget the storyline. Thank you for your talents and imaginations, not to mention extremely detailed researches on the Amazon and the history of rubber trees.

I have now read two of Katherine Sutcliffe's books, this one and "Notorious" and they are both way above average. "Shadow Play" is a breathtaking story of unrelenting passion and bravery. It's a page-turner and it stays with you long after you've finished it. Morgan Kane is a hero you won't forget. "Notorious" is also a cut above average. Ms Sutcliffe's writing, character development, dialogue and plots are really excellent...so far. Can't wait to read another of her books.

I HAVE JUST FINISHED READING SHADOW PLAY FOR THE THIRD TIME. THIS IS THE KIND OF BOOK THAT GRABS YOU FROM THE START AND JUST GETS BETTER. I REALLY ENJOY A BOOK WHEN THERE IS A GOOD PLOT, LOTS OF ACTION AND CHARACTERS WITH DEPTH. SHAWDOW PLAY HAS ALL THE ABOVE. THE AMAZON (THE MAIN LOCAL OF THIS STORY) IS GRAPHICALLY DESCRIBED BY MS. SUTCLIFFE. THE CHARACTER, MORGAN KANE,IS WHAT I LOOK FOR IN A HERO: STRONG AND SEXY AS HECK YET VULNERABLE AND STRUGGLING WITH ISSUES FROM HIS PAST. THE FEMALE CHARACTER, SARAH, IS NOT ONE OF THOSE WEAK WOMEN THAT SOMETIMES BECOME BORING. SARAH VENTURES IN THE AMAZON WITH A CREDIBLE DETERMINATION. THE LOVE INTEREST KEEPS BUILDING AND YOU KNOW EVEN THOUGH SARAH IS ENGAGED TO ANOTHER, AND MORGAN FEELS HE IS UNWORTHY OF LOVE, THAT THESE TWO ARE GOING TO MAKE THE PAGES SIZZLE. I ALWAYS ENJOY A ROMANCE THAT KEEPS YOU READING AND KNOWING THE LOVE SCENE COULD BE ANY PAGE BUT THE CRESCENDO IS THE LURE. SHADOW PLAY DOES THIS WELL. MS. SUTCLIFFE IS A GIFTED AUTHOR AND I THINK SHAWDOW PLAY IS ONE OF HER BETTER BOOKS. I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO ALL ROMANCE READERS.

Eva Marie Everson has given readers an enormous gift: a trilogy of novels with characters to love and hate, and a plot that keeps you tapping your fingers from one chapter to the next. From the time Katie Webster wakes up hazy in a filthy apartment, to the moment of her final celebration in a Hamptons mansion, Ms. Everson keeps the reader engaged in a suspenseful tale of desperation and success, betrayal and loyalty.

I especially enjoyed Katie's relationship with her best friend Marcy, and the fact that her marriage is not all bliss and romance. Katie evolves from a young girl not quite sure of her own self into a powerful woman who fights for, and finds, a place of her own. Her cat-and-mouse game with a man determined to destroy her makes for many moments of cover-clinching, while her self-depreciating humor and intelligence will make the reader both admire her - and want to BE her.

Katie is a woman to love reading about - and remembering.

Eva Marie Everson has given her readers a satisfying conclusion to the "Shadows" trilogy. Her portrayal of Katie Webster's search for her husband, who had mysteriously disappeared, and her quest for inner peace made this book a page-turner. I found it difficult to put it down. "Shadows of Light" is a fascinating read and I highly recommend it.

If you've read the first two books in this series, you no doubt are eagerly waiting to read this one! Up to this point, we've read about Ben & Katie Webster, who, on the outside, look like they live an idyllic life. But there is always a past to everyone's present. Then Ben disapears and Katie must learn to mature and become the woman God intends her to be. What I especially like about this last book, is that it answers our lingering questions early on, and the plot only thickens from there! Yipee! Good reading! I was only perturbed when I had to put it down to get other work done!

Shadows of Light is a wonderful conclusion to the series. It shows growth both in the characters and in the writing. It is a most satisfying ending to a riveting trilogy. I love how the author brings to life characters that are just like real life. Although Katie and Ben are wealthy business owners, they face the same problems you and I do; the pain of loss, sickness, separation, and yet through the strength that comes from faith, they can rise above those problems. Thank you Eva Marie Everson, for a book that is endearing and encouraging, AND a delight to read.

Eva Marie's series is fabulous. I couldn't wait to find the time to read the next page. I fell in love with Katie and hope there are plans to read more of her. Eva Marie's 3 books in this series is filled with exciting plot twists, suspense, and drew me closer to the Lord, plus making me even more appreciative of my wonderful husband. These books are delightful!

Shadows of the Keeper is a keeper, for sure. Rich, intricate and bursting with imagination, this epic fantasy romance keeps readers on their toes with a series of twists and turns that will make you gasp, laugh, or both. In addition, the settings and language are thoroughly researched and impressive in their authenticity. And what a cast of characters! Brown rivals Steven Erikson in her complexity.

Epic in scope and mythic in vision, Shadows of the Keeper leaves you dying for more. It's a sexy mixture of sophistication and fun.

-- Jim Melvin, author of The Death Wizard Chronicles, a six-book epic fantasy

Though the story line was not quite what I would have expected, I was delighted with the unusual nature of the characters. The heroes of the story were quite unique, and the heroine, as stated before, was no damsel in distress! My kind of story. I had a little trouble at first immersing myself into the book as I am not accustomed to this type of fantasy/romance and the sub-plots were not immediately revealed, but once I did, I couldn't put it down. I finished it in 48 hours! It was that good! I am anxiously awaiting a sequel.

Karey E Brown has given us a heroine that every woman can relate to AND be proud of! Be prepared to fall in love with people and places you never imagined and don't be surprised if you are caught laughing out loud! Kleenex and a reading lamp are optional but highly recommended!
~H~

Not just another modern woman stepping back in time kind of romance. No damsel in distress here! The twists and turns of numerous plots and how they tie together as well as the cast of strong characters makes for a fabulously fulfilling read. Get ready to enjoy the sunrise--you won't be able to put this witty, laugh-out-loud debut novel down! I loved Emily's sarcasm. I am torn, however, as to which lead male was my favorite--they both had moments when I wanted to choke them, and when they made me cheer! Ghosts, Elves, Gargoyles, Stonehenge..Demons..whew! Seems like a mouthful--nope...just like cake ingredients...it's all deliciously blended!

The advance buzz on this book has been huge - a first attempt for an author I hope we will hear a lot more from...makes for a fabulous read:)

Plato's allegory of the cave is a story that everyone must read in order to claim to be educated. In it, people are permanently located in a cave with their back to the entrance. The shadows of what takes place outside the cave appears on the wall and the residents use that information to reach conclusions regarding what is outside. It is designed to show you that much of what you think you know is only a faint shadow of what the world really is.
This story begins in that vein; Unga, Bunga, Oogie, Boogie and Trevor are cave dwellers with a fear of the outside. They watch the shadows and reach conclusions and each has a different opinion regarding what terrible fate would befall them if they ever set foot outside their domain. They eat only what blows into the cave, so their diet consists largely of dried plant life and dead insects.
Eventually, Boogie expresses a desire to explore the exterior world, an opinion that immediately gets him ostracized. When he leaves, he discovers an amazing world of animals and vegetation. He wanders until he encounters a wise man named Mike, who tells him how it used to be.
In the old days, there was a major civilization that built towers to see what was beyond their immediate vicinity. In one direction, there were enormous herds of wild animals and in the other direction there were abundant fruits and vegetables there for the harvesting. There were two groups, each of which looked in only one direction. This led to an immediate split, one group wanted to build spears and other hunting tools while the other wanted to build baskets for gathering. Neither side would budge from their position, which led to a battle for control. This battle led to separate groups retreating into caves, where they remained to this day.
After the initial story of the cave dwellers, there is a serious discussion of the meaning of the tale. You are asked to ponder the significance of the story and how it relates to the modern business world. With the advent of global markets and the instantaneous transfer of information, for most companies a strategy of staying put is suicide. Each and every day, someone in the company must be examining all of the fundamental assumptions used to justify the business decisions.
This is a short book that is perfect for the half-day management seminar. Illustrated and only 81 pages long, it can be read in about an hour and is packed with information designed to get you thinking about your approach to life, work and career.

Fun and easy read but compelling! This is a book that I will want to keep on my bookshelf and revisit. A must read for managers, educators, and leaders.
Just as enjoyable and illuminating, Outlearning the Wolves, again, by David Hutchens.

Simple, yet powerful. A fun way to learn and very effective for group discussion.

I really enjoyed this book! The author's clever sense of humor and the great illustrations make a difficult subject--mental models--fun and easy to learn about. I think the book would help any company, family, or even couple get better at exploring why they think the way they do, and how to communicate better with colleagues and loved ones. The discussion guide at the end of the book makes it easy to start using the ideas in your day-to-day life.

David Hutchens brings new insight and twists to an age old metaphor. This book begins with a humorous tale whose analogy, to the world in which we live and the mental models which we hold, will hit you between the eyes. The writer quickly points out problems every organization battles with to improve performance and grow. While the business culture has become so overwhelmed with change, many leaders have embraced their current state of affairs. Holding tight to what we have, we spend much of our energy trying not to lose market share. This book gives insight into why and when this happens and how to move from there. "In a world of chaotic information, the mind instantly locks onto that which it already knows--and simply filters out other data." (from Shadows of the Neanderthal) I'm glad I bought it. Thom Hazelip, Arthur Andersen LLP

I have read three other books by Frances Vaughan, but I might have missed this extremely interesting study if it hadn't been for Ken Wilber's laudatory forward.

For more than three decades Dr. Vaughan has been at the forefront of efforts to integrate psychology and spiritual growth. Not only is she a practicing psychologist, but also she has been trained in several contemplative traditions: Christian, Sufi, Zen and at least one Hindu school.

I would like to quote from Ken Wilber's forward, "In the West, where psychology (and psychiatry) have completely replaced religion as the dominant sciences of the soul, it is the school of transpersonal psychology that carries most clearly the banner of genuine contemplative spirituality."

Frances Vaughan's view - and I am sure that she is correct - is that most of psychology and academia, particularly in the United States, has ignored, or become insensible to most people's need for a rich and healthy spiritual life. Many believe that the ever-increasing rates of substance abuse and extreme behaviors are a reflection of that unquenched spiritual thirst. As she says, "We live in two worlds: the outer world of ego and the inner world of soul. Many people suffer from being out of touch with the inner world of soul. Others suffer because they have tried to explore the world of soul without having come to terms with the world of ego. Freedom depends on acknowledging both worlds, harmonizing them and bringing them into balance."

The book breaks new ground, providing us with accounts of spiritual awakenings that she has seen in her practice, placed in the context of the many spiritual traditions that she has studied. Dr. Vaughan dispels the myth that spirituality is something that can only be experienced by a select few who have the time and the means to withdraw from the world.

Many authors tell us only about the pleasures and promises of the spiritual journey, without also warning us about some of the pitfalls. This book does both, and is an outstanding book for anyone interested in consciousness, spirituality and the future health of humanity.

Highly recommended.

I think that religion is an attempt to explain why the world is the way it is in an oversimplified fashion, inherent with limitations. For a critical thinker, this oversimplified version is simply not satisfactory, so we search for universal truths to satisfy our need for greater understanding, but unfortunately there are many pitfalls possible on that search, and this book does a great job of pointing many of them out............a must read for anyone on such a path.....for me it was a great book to read after book I Conversations with God...by Walsch.......

At least once a month a psychotherapy client or a student in a clinical psychology graduate program asks me what to read for a psychologically sophisticated approach to spirituality. Without hesitation I always tell them about Frances Vaughan's "Shadows of the Sacred," a work of such wisdom, warmth, and practicality that, after they read it, they'll probably want to see her for therapy. Vaughan's knowledge of both depth psychology and spiritual traditions is breathtaking. There's no wholly-headed New Age thinking here. This work belongs right next to Scott Peck's "The Road Less Travelled." It will be meaningful to men and women in all walks of life who are searching for the greater life they sense is possible.

This is a great book by a person who understands psychology and spiritual paths. It is very readable, and puts interpretation on the reader. If you buy only one spiritual growth book this year, this is the book to buy.

Riding on the coat tails of the Inward Arc, this book takes shadow work to another level. Ms. Vaughan is by far the best in the field of transpersonal psychology. This is a must have book for ALL transpersonal psychologist and transpersonal psychology classes.