Shadow The Books

This book was of great interest to me for her opinions on different techniques. I especially liked learning more about masking and glazes.

The paintings capture light and shadows with incredible beauty and are inspiring to my own watercolor endeavors. The book is a worthwhile addition to any watercolorist's library.

"Paint Watercolors That Dance with Light" is a very well written, easy to understand book that can be applied to other media as well. Her explanations are clear and concise. This book would be a great addition to any painter's library. Defnitely would recommend to others.

Elizabeth shares with me the meditative and contemplative aspects of painting. Additionally she values pure colour glazes and this has provided me with a new way of glazing, a technique that I love. The book is suitable for someone who has been painting and is dedicated to impovement. It builds on the knowledge that you already have and doesn't treat you as a novice. Thankyou Elizabeth, it is a delight to own your book.

HER WRITING DEFINITELY SHOWS HER LOVE FOR WATERCOLOR. IT SPEAKS TO YOUR SOUL.

I have read this book several times. The Woolfolks were my ancestors so I wanted to get some information on my past family history. Before this book I never knew that this had even exsisted. Carolyn...thank you for teaching me about something I knew nothing about.

Carolyn spoke at my library in 2000 and everyone was so impressed that I have been trying to get in touch with her ever since. I would love to hear from you. I can't find any new books by you and was wondering where you are with the movie plans.
Joice Public Library, Joice Iowa

I received this book for Christmas and have already finished reading it. In fact, I read it in 8 hours. Wow!! It knocked me off my feet. Powerful stuff here! Highly recommend it.

I also received this book as a Christmas gift. I can not believe how incredibly good this author is. I am difficult to buy for because I am such a critical reader. But THIS book kept me glued to the pages. It was so rivoting, I could not put it down. I predict a movie. Thanks sis for a great present. I recommend it highly to anyone who likes nonfiction narrative.

The good thing about this book, and perhaps the best thing I can say about it, is that there is a huge body of historical information within it's pages. I myself have visited the Woolfolk site as a child and as a young man, and I've been interested in the story for years. I've heard all of the local legends and wives' tales, and I've long wanted to know what actually happened to the Woolforks. DeLoach has done a great job of sorting through the newspapers and recording her findings. My hat's off her for what was no doubt a great amount of research.

However, all is not well in this book. Throughout the book, we're treated to descriptions more befitting a badly written romance novel. For instance, the book starts off innocently enough, setting the scene: "Before the rains, Tobosofkee Creek was a meandering branch lazily engraving its serpentine path down from the fertile fields of Monroe County before fading quietly into the mightier Ocmulgee River." A lurid description, a bit on the verbose side, to be sure, but not a terrible start. Shortly after, we get to a prime example of what's wrong with this book: "Emma Jones stirred. The silver rays of the bright full moon gradually illuminated her bedroom then faded again in the clouded night." This is the meandering prose of a bad romance ghost writer, not that of a writer that wishes to properly convey a historical scene. To further illustrate my point: "As she read, a raw pain began cutting deep within her, increasing in intensity and severity until it exploded in her chest. She felt as if someone savagely reached inside her body, took hold of her heart, and ripped it out." While I understand the desire to tell a compelling story, this book is billed as a historically accurate account of an event, not a fictionalized retelling of the story.

Furthermore, while I understand that it's important to accurately recreate the dialect of a place and time, DeLoach's approach borders on the absurd, if not the offensive. Take for instance, this recollection of a black man to an investigator: "Yassur. Ya see, he was struttin' 'round talkin' high and mighty 'bout how'z d'place was his'n and his sisters 'n that he was gonna have it...Well suh, ya see, I was outside there paintin' n' I heard him'n his pa arguin'. D'Cappin', he went on in d'house." Or perhaps: "Run over to d'Smith's and d'Yates. Tell'em to git over here quick...tell'em somethin' bad's happened at d'Cap'ns.'" Throughout the entire story, nearly every black character talks in the same, practically unreadable "dialect." In effect, DeLoach managed to take several important characters and turn them into one interchangeable "black" character, an effect that she was probably trying to minimize by adding the effect in the first place. Any proper editor worth his salt would've nipped that directly. It's not only not needed, the reader is actually left guessing at the actual dialogue at times, much less being offended by the treatment of these characters. To be clear, I'm not saying that this is racist, simply that it was ill-advised and badly implemented.

Aside from all this, the story itself is why I read the book, and why I continue to read it. I don't know that anyone unfamiliar with the murders in the first place will find this book to be much more than an overly romanticized account, but deep down, DeLoach has the facts and uses them to relate what happened on that fateful day and subsequent months and even years of trial. Ultimately, the reader will have to decide to either trudge through the ungainly verbose tale to find out what happened, or simply look up the bare facts online and forgo the gory details. I chose to read the book because the story itself is simply that compelling. Let's hope that the next generation of Georgia and/or murder scholars learn from this text and stick to what works: facts, not implied fiction.

I remember reading this when I was young. I would read while sitting on an old tree stump until it was dark. Overall it's a great read, very creative and draws the reader in. When I had finished it I went looking for the other book. It wasn't until now just about ten years later that I found it. Enjoy reading it, I'm sure you will.

Shadows in the Water mostly takes place in the Florida Keys during summer.In this book there are two sets of twins.The first set of twins are July(boy)and Liberty(girl)they are both 12.The second set of twins are Charly and Molly, both girls and both 5.They all have telapathic powers and can talk to each other through their minds.In the begining of the story July and Liberty were unhappy because school was going to begin soon and they were going to have boring lives,until the next day the children's father,Put,told them that they were moving to the Florida Keys from their home in Washington D.C. for his job(catching toxic waste dumpers.)When the children get there they discover a mysterious boy named Robbie that has bandages over his hands.After about a week of being there July and Liberty sneak out into the night.They sail in their boat to an island and find many turtles.For the next couple weeks July and Liberty sneak out,until one night they find dolphins waiting for them at the shore.The dolphins tell the twins about Cuda and his toxic waste dumping crew.The twins and dolphins meet at the island many more days, then one day when July and Liberty sneak out they find Charly,Molly,and Robbie in the boat waiting for them.As they ride the dolphins that night they decide to meet the next night and sail to Cuda's house.The next night when they reach the house Robbie,July, and Molly got cught by the crew. Liberty and Charly had to think of a plan.I think this book was very good.Everyone should read it because it is adventurous, mysterious, and I enjoyed it a lot.

The main characters in this book are Liberty and July. They are twins who have telepathic channels. They just got back from a trip to London where their dad, a special worker for the government, ended another crisis.
This time their dad drags them to the Florida Keys where he can end the crisis of a very serious chemical called diploidmysterol. This chemical keeps being dumped into the ocean killing tons of sea life. On the twin's way they run into a lot of problems. For example, the twins get stuck in these drunken guy's home on an island they've never even heard about. While they're there they find out that these are the guys who keep dumping the diploidmysterol into the ocean.
The time with major events is at night, because that's when the twins always sneak out of the house. You always want to be sneaky at Pelican Key, because even if you don't know it some strangers might be watching you.
The theme is that the twins are trying to constantly save everything they come across from the diploidmysteroil, including themselves.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It constantly gave details to enjoy. The author made a very constant statement of getting the point across in an enjoyable manner. Another thing is that the author doesn't always use such fancy words like diploidmysterol.

I read this book when I was 10 and really enjoyed it. So now that I am 15 and had to do a book report for school I decided to read it again. Although I am now five years older it was still very interesting it dosen't seem like required reading because it is fun. It draws you in and lets you use your imagination.

I enjoyed Shadows in the Water because it is such an imaginative novel but yet seems so real. The Starbuck Family is full of unusual features. Including two sets of twins, Liberty and July (feternal),Molly and Charly (identical), the Starbuck Family goes on many wild adventures.To make the story even more exciting, both sets of twins are telipathic. On this expidition,the twins are sent to the Florida Keys. Meeting up with some toxic waste dumpers, the children find that a beautiful dolphin's life is at risk. Being able to communicate with the dolphins using their telepathy, the children do the best they can to save this beautiful dolphin.
This book is very thrilling. If you decide to get it, I hope you enjoy it.

The book is wonderful and very well published. I received it in record time. Thank you very much.

The Tabernacle: Shadows Of The Messiah, Its Sacrifices, Services, And Priesthood by David M. Levy examines the description and ministries of the Tabernacle as portrayed in fifty chapters of the Old Testament. This extensively researched presentation, offering full-color photographs and a wealth of archaeological evidence as well as close study of the Old Testament itself, sheds new light on the sacrifices, services, and priesthood of this ancient institution which figures so prominently in Judeo-Christian religious history. The Tabernacle is a welcome and highly recommended addition to Biblical Studies reading lists.

It's very good information regarding the entirely tabernacle. The typology of the tabernacle is much learned. The book is recommended if you want to know more about Jesus Christ. It is enjoyably read. :-)

Many Books on the Tabernacle but this one is such detail of describing of Christ. Uses alot of scripture. Awesome book. Well not resell. I will use as a refrence book along with the Bible

A pretty good book. But, if you are not Protestant you might be in for a slightly rough read. The author dwells heavily on the notion of legal imputation of the righteiousness of God. The book is not as organized as I hoped it would be. I was left with some unanswered questions about the priesthood and the sacrificial system. Also, there were not enough diagrams here for my liking. But still and all, I got a lot out of it.

I met author Frank Fradella at DragonCon in Atlanta, GA a few years back. My fiance and I talked to him, and he gave us a deal on his book - we got two copies for the price of one.

I regret that.

The book is worth every penny, and a part of me feels as though I have stolen from him.

The book appeals to me through a fantastic plot with a seemingly ordinary protagonist who faces great odds. The level of writing that Fradella exhibits is greatly under-appreciated - the man is only starting out, and he definitely deserves to have a growth in fame.

One of the greatest elements of the book is the use of various mythologies, effortlessly and flawlessly incorporated into a single, cohesive unit, with elements pulled most notably from Greek and Norse myths, but also with a few other references.

I apologize for ranting - but I love the book, and, come to think of it, it's about time to re-read it! I do guarantee that any mythology buff will NOT be disappointed, and lovers of great fantasy or romance can also find an enormous appreciation for this title. One of the best books I ever bought. Fact.

Have you ever wondered if there's another world going on around you that you just can't see? Forces at work that are undetectable? The protagonist of Valley of Shadows, David Knox, wakes up one day and finds just such a world imposing itself on his previously normal life. That woman he loves? Not who he thought she was. That opera he took her to - just killed her. And though hidden forces manage to keep his senses at bay for a little while, he eventually peels back that thin veneer, the one that is not strong enough to keep him from his True Love, and goes hunting for answers. If you're looking for adventures, you'll find them in this book. If you're looking for happy fairy tales, well, look again. As David goes from a mountain cabin to the depths of Hades, itself, he's physically and spiritually accosted by beings that just shouldn't exist. Terror, bodily harm, threats to his own life and those of his loved ones, none of it is enough to deter him from finding out the answer to the question: What is real, and what is illusion? In Valley of Shadows, Frank Fradella uses vivid imagery and stark terror to answer those questions, about the world around David and his true friends, as well as the love that he feels for a woman he just can't let go - not even if it means challenging the very substance of his own reality.

I was lucky enough to read this book in one of its later draft stages, and even then it excited my senses. I usually have reservations about reading the manuscripts of friends as it sometimes puts me in the delicate position of having to feign enthusiasm for my friend's work. My worries evaporated quickly as I read the first few pages of this book. Anna bursting into flames and the attendant fallout had me riveted. I barely put the pages down over the next few days as the rapid-fire chapters sunk their hooks deeper and deeper. Seeing the book in it's beautiful hardback edition months later swelled me with pride almost as much as it did Frank.

Another reviewer mentioned AMERICAN GODS. I've read AMERICAN GODS. This book is no AMERICAN GODS. It's better!

Frank Fradella is a true master of the written word and, while the book could use a bit of editing in the punctuation department, VALLEY OF SHADOWS is fantastic introduction to the strange and romantic world of David Knox and his creator.

And just to rub your nose in it: I've already read the manuscript of the next chapter in David and Anna's life, and it's even better than the first.

In the hands of the right director this story would make a great movie. There aren't enough well written books in this genre, which I would call fantastic realism. I literally could not stop reading and, as soon as I finished, I read it again! I truly marvelled at each and every unexpected turn of events, and believe me, there were plenty. This author kept my interest, told a great story and I fell in love with some of the characters, and they weren't even the main ones, and some of them were the baddies. Deirdre Fallon, her pet monster/henchman Chester, Thracian and who could forget dear Uncle Teddy. I really hope this author brings them back if this is to become a series. Joss Whedon needs to read a copy of this book!

Some say Love is Hell. Well, in "Valley of Shadows", when David Knox' lover, Anna, literally catches on fire during an operatic performance by famous tenor, Oliver Thracian, Knox awakens in the hospital to discover that a witch can restore his badly burned hands.

More than that, someone magically restores David's old life, including Anna. Only replacement Anna isn't quite right and a chance encounter with scalding water from a coffee pot at his Seattle based bookstore, has Anna Version 2 fleeing and Knox in search of answers.

Nothing is quite what it seems. Anna is in Hades--and she isn't dead. Well, she was never really alive to begin with.

Oliver Thracian will help David recover Anna from Hades as long as David will do a favor for him. This favor literally takes David and his bookstore helper-adopted daughter Vanessa across the River Styx for love.

Frank Fradella's got an interesting take on life, soulmates, Valhalla and warriors in general, and the making and un-making of gods that comes from the "it's not right, but it's definitely real" school of life. "Valley of Shadows" is a strong entry into modern urban fantasy-magic realism and is well worth the read.

If you're interested in this type of story, Jane Lindskold's "Legends Walking" and "Changer" might be worth a read.

Rebecca Kyle, April 2008

Great work by Mr.Bows. His work is really relayed from the heart. I recommend this book to all. I hope Mr.Bows writes more in the future and tells us of all his experiences. Thanks Mr. Bows.

Dave Sistaro
Staten Island,New York

I would recommentd this book for all to read. This book tells a little about some of us that were part of the original people assigned to Vietnam prior to 1964. This was one of the first books to tell about myself, having been captured on 24 December 1961 and held for six months. Most people do not want to talk about those of us that were part of The Expeditionary Forces of the time.

while you wrap yourself in your flag and say I would go and fight,
others already have. In current times we all try to get a meaning or a sense of our America, this book blows anything you have ever read of war away...when we are all searching for the human element most of the time it is lost and unreachable yet here like rolling echoes of thunder from a distant shore real lives and heroic acts of soldiers so revered.....so moving if you ever needed a motivating force, this book is it. And yet where is the elusive Ray Bows?

while you wrap yourself in your flag and say I would go and fight,
others already have. in current times we all try to get a meaning or a sense of our America, this book blows anything you have ever read of war away...when we are all searching for the human element most of the time it is lost and unreachale yet here
like rolling echoes of thunder from a distant shore real liVes and heroic acts of soldiers so revered.....so moving if you ever needed a motivating force, this book is it. and yet were is the elusive Ray Bows

I would like to recommend "Vietnam Military Lore - Legends, Shadows and Heroes" for a lot of reasons but especially to Army aviators because there is quite a bit of coverage of the first Helicopter transportation companies that were sent to Vietnam way back in 1961 and 1962, namely the 8th, 57th, 33d and the 45th, which later became the 117th, 120th, 118th, 121st and 145th Helicopter Companies. I know the old timers will recognize a lot of names of aviators that Bows has written about. I thereofre recommend this book to all those interested in Army helicopter aviation. I recommended this book to Art Conroy, Publisher of the Transportation Corps Army Aviation Newsletter. Bentley Herbert

An uplifting memoir, An Irregular Girlhood in Hitler's Shadow reveals the spirit of a very determined young girl. Raised by a selfish father and a sweet-natured mother during World War II, the author faces many challenges along her path to adulthood. The book is brutally honest, revealing her most intimate feelings, experiences and memories.

Written with warmth and humor, the book has an engaging style that draws you in from page 1 and holds your interest until the last page.

The author's long journey to America begins in Tsingtao, China and ends in Riverdale, New York. Whether Ms. Haldy-Regier reminisces about nature, her pets, friendships or hardships, the reader is thoroughly entertained.

This is an important book in at least four areas:

1. It belongs in collections of books about World War II. One of the perennial themes in the history of WW II was the search for Hitler enemies. Here was one. There was a limited amount that he could do, but in spite of death threats he did that.

2. It is a coming of age story in a time and in a situation where the young lady was dealt a pretty bad hand. Her life was a lot rougher than what we read in other stories of life in our times. Of course her life was a lot better than others in say Dresden, Nagasaki, or Auschwitz.

3. This is beautifully written memoir. Just the prose itself creates word pictures that bring a different world to life.

4. In the Afterward she remarks on the attitude in this country in 1948 when she arrived and today with our country's attitudes towards those of the Muslim faith, and the comments being made by the current flock of politicians regarding Latin immigration.

My only regret is that the author has found it nessary to self-publish this book. It should have been published by one of the big publishers so that a full blown marketing program could have been carried out and more people would become aware of it. It is very difficult for an unknown author to get her book on the shelves at Borders, Barnes and Noble where a large number of people would find it.

My hope is that while this is her first book, that it not become her only. It is a gem of rare quality.

An Irregular Girlhood in Hitler's Shadow by Vera Haldy-Regier is a very touching, deeply honest book about coming of age during and after World War II. However, its appeal is universal, reaching beyond its historical context to describe a painful, anxious childhood in a complex, cruel world. Throughout her youth, the author bravely kept her pain and humiliation to herself and one can only imagine how much she longed for a sympathetic family who understood what she endured. Her father, a complex, despotic man, was shown also to be vulnerable through carefully chosen, insightful words and a forgiving daughter's heart. Haldy-Regier writes well and brings insight and balance to the picture she paints of the Nazi years, lived in China, the family's early years of hardship in America and her subsequent banishment by her parents to Germany.
Lisbeth W., Woodstock, NY

"A book......that wishes to mount the canvas on which a family portrait is painted." Haldy Regier indeed succeeds to do just that and in the process takes us through upheaval, tension and stoic resolution not to let life crush those who travel the road. She paints a picture with tenderness as well as resolution of a family who, like countless others, was dealt a difficult hand and found its unique and creative way of dealing both with challenges that were personal to this group of people as well as those that many German families faced in some shape or form.

The remarkable aspect of this story is in the way it is told. Throughout the narrative it is clear to the reader what a path the author has travelled herself not only in sheer geographical miles but in understanding and coming to terms with her own circumstances over which she had no influence throughout her girlhood. It shows the searching questions the author has posed herself and holds the reader in thrall as s/he learns of the events and the meaning she makes of these events. A book showing the personal development of a human being shining through the fast paced narrative.

This surprising memoir has all the ingredients for a Merchant Ivory multi-episode TV production. A sensitive and acutely aware child, the daughter of an autocratic Nazi ambassador who secretly opposes the Hitler regime, vividly remembers her earliest experiences growing up in China and Vladovostsic in lucid prose which often crosses the border into poetry. The venure proceeds to America via horrific sea voyages, to an idyllic interlude in Kentucky, reminiscent of "National Velvet" with just a soupcon of (gasp) depraved sex. Another sea voyage to Cuba then back to New York,a now thoroughly rebellious egalitarian young lady, tries to defy the upper-class pretensions of her aristocratic father, who has been (double gasp) carrying on an extended love affair with his wife's sister. Her family, having no income, other than what her loving, long-suffering mother earns doing domestic work, struggles at the edge of poverty throughout these tumultuous years. Despite this, the author's father still has the connections to arrange for her and to overpower her vigorous objections, to appear as Miss Germany in a coming out society ball. Then, once again, against her will she is shipped over to Germany to live with a venerable noble family while completing her education. More reluctant appearances at glittering Austrian society balls; being courted (unsuccessfully) by the scion of an aristocratic family: thence back to America, and not yet twenty years of age! (Whew!)

This synopsis seems almost too fantastic to be believed. However the story as it unfolds in compelling, lucid detail, has the unmistabable aura of authenticity. I look forward to (if there is any literary justice in this world), Volume Two.

This is an awsome book. I like the way it starts out with Jai leaving one life and having to face another. Corbal was a tricky surprize for him to overcome. Tarquine, on the other hand, was a mystery that he had to solve before he could truly embrace his new life as Emporer of Eube. Then he made a stand for something greater than all of the characters of this book. Catherine Asaro is as awsome as this Series.

I was recently given a copy of this book, and although I don't normally like to read the middle of a series without reading what lead up to the book first. Let me say I'm glad I made an exception with this book. First, it is well enough written where it mostly works as a stand alone. But moreso that here is an incredible writer that has been around a long time I have never read! Although romance is not my first love (pardon the pun), this succeeds in the same way some C J Cherryh books do, and this book does it better than say Ann McCaffrey (who is the author I think of when Sci Fic and romance are used together). This book is full of characters to love and to hate, plenty of action and introspection. Fast moving and thoughtful. Great book!
An author who is a Physicist/Ballerina, I will definitely be buying more of her books!

I originally thought I hadn't suffered from not reading any of the previous books in this saga, but now I wonder. Perhaps a number of the characters and events would have had a greater resonance and feel more grounded had I known something about them already.
Essentially this is the story of Jai, who has unwillingly become the Emperor of Eube to save a relative's life and in the hopes of bringing peace to the galaxy. He is young, ethical and idealistic. Unfortunately he is also a "psion" (telepath) in a society where the vast majority of the population are slaves and psions are the lowest of the low.
"The Moon's Shadow" did not develop as I thought it would. I was expecting something along the lines of "Daughter of the Empire", where a novice ruler uses her unorthodox grasp of law and tradition to survive and thrive in her unwanted responsibilities. This book is quite different. Jai does not show much capacity for wisdom or compromise, only ethics. Much of the book is therefore taken up with him stumbling from one crisis to the next, many of them created or prolonged by his refusal to adapt to his new situation and take advice. For me the most significant problem with this book was a certain lack of grounding. Time has passed, but we do not know how Emperor Jai has been spending his time. We are told he is increasingly unpopular, but we do not know with who or precisely why. Everyone, even the hardest characters in the book, who spend time with Jai are won over by him and think him worthy of their loyalty, despite their knowledge of his secrets and behaviour that is strange and weak by the standards of his new society. Too much telling and not enough showing, in other words. I also found the relationship between a very old woman and a very young man hard to take.
But all that aside, I did rather enjoy "The Moon's Shadow". Asaro's style is clear and flowing, and editorial mistakes were at a minimum. The setting is really interesting and the many of the characters and events are appealing.
So - worth reading, but not a stand-out for me.

Catherine Asaro's "The Moon's Shadow" is the final volume of a quartet within her fabulous Skolian Empire series that tells of the events in the aftermath of the Radiance War. (Newcomers are advised to read "Primary Inversion" and "The Radiant Seas" first.) While the first of these, "Ascendant Sun," was a classic space opera, in "The Quantum Rose" Asaro riffed on the once-high-tech world gone medieval theme, while "Spherical Harmonic" can perhaps best be described as a resurrection myth containing a quantum physics monograph (or perhaps the other way around).

And now in "Shadow," one of the best of the entire series, the author returns to her romantic side--plenty of sex, plenty of space opera. Above all, though, it's a novel of manners. The red-eyed Eubian "Highton" aristocracy speak with indirection and false politeness. The biggest faux pas one of them can make is to say exactly what they mean. And suddenly among them comes their naive and reluctant new young emperor, Jabriol III, who has to grow up and take charge in a hurry (a typical Asaro theme), dealing with potential assassins and dubious allies, all the while trying to start peace negotiations with the Skolians (he's half Skolian himself); more important, all the while trying to figure out what's going on. A tall and complicated order indeed.

Most delicious of all, though, readers are reintroduced to perhaps the most complex character Asaro has ever created, the Eubian finance minister Tarquine Iquar (who fans of the series will remember from "Ascendant Sun"). She's smart, she's tough, she's conflicted. For the second time in the series she appears on the book cover. Despite her age (which of course she doesn't look a bit of), she's not too old to do some growing up and taking charge herself. She knows the language of indirection, and she redirects it her way. She has plenty of secrets of her own. Will she reveal them? Indeed, dear reader, that is for you to discover.

If you haven't read THE LAST HAWK, ASCENDANT SUN and THE RADIANT SEAS you will probably miss a lot of the important story threads and character development in this story, as in a sense this is the story of the massive change in the Eubian empire that these previous novels were leading to.

At the end of the Radiance War Jaibriol Qox-Skolia was still a school boy on Earth. When he saw his parents die in a shuttle crash he opted to trade himself to the Eubians in exchange for his uncle Eldrin, the Skolian Ruby Prince who had been captured in the war. For Jai was the true heir to the Eubian empire, but he was also everything they despised - a "provider" psion and a Ruby Prince - both secrets of his past and heritage he had to keep from everyone in the empire if he was to survive even a single day.

This is the story of how Jai learned to survive as Emperor Jaibriol III and the difficult path to peace he finds at the heart of an empire that is the epitome of everything he hates. This is one of the best books in this series, but its true strength lies in the way it builds on previous events. In other books we have been given glimpse of the violent and corrupt Eubian empire and its vicious rulers the Highton caste but in this novel we get to know them in all their depravity and glory as Jai learns more about his father's people than he ever wanted to know.

I have partially read so many bad romance novels recently (e.g., boy meets girl & saves the day). The plot of this book was unique and kept me reading straight through. The characters were very likable (the hero was not the overbearing Alpha male so often written into a romance novel). I did not read the other books yet in the trilogy - this was my first Holling book. Not having read the other two was not a problem for me. I hope her other books are as entertaining.

I truly enjoyed this series. There is so much depth and emotion in all three books. My Shadow Warrior concludes the story of the three sisters; Isobel, Gillian and Rose. Rose is a strong heroine, intent on saving her dying father at any cost. She seeks out the Wizard of the North, William in hopes that he will be able to save her father using his powers. After a rocky start he agrees to travel home with Rose to heal her father. The story is romantic and dark with lots of sexual chemistry. Deidra, William's daughter who is the heroine of My Immortal Protector (my favorite Holling book) is introduced in this book.

The fascination with the paranormal implies a big dose of imagination; Jen Holling is creating three heroines of different mystical powers: Isobel, Gillian and Rose MacDonell; in My Shadow Warrior, they merge the powers toward solving the mystery of the illness of Allan MacDonell, their father, and the fate of Lilian MacDonell, their mother.
Must read the entire trilogy

I am a die hard fan of romantic novels. I have all three of the series and I absolutely love them they are all really good.

This is the third installment of The Brides of the Bloodstone trilogy. It's the story of Rose, youngest of the three MacDonell sisters. While they were little girls, their mother, a powerful witch, was burned at the stake. In fear for their lives, their father hid them separately. Now many years later, and on his deathbed from a mysterious illness, the MacDonell has summoned his daughters home.

Their lives are still in danger so he has arranged each of them to be married to men he can entrust with their safety. Rose, the youngest and blessed with the healing touch, is betrothed to Jamie MacPherson, a childhood friend she hasn't seen in years. Her wedding, however, has been postponed so she can devote herself to discovering the source of her father's illness.

Despite her many efforts, her father continues to deteriorate. To Rose's mind, her only hope is William MacKay, a gifted healer also known as the Wizard of the North. Since her many letters to him have gone unanswered, Rose decides to travel to his fortress to see him in person.

William is determined to shun the girl who has traveled many miles to see him, but curiosity forces him to disguise himself and seek her out. What he finds is a beautiful woman who is dedicated to helping others, even at risk to herself.

His fascination with her finally forces him to see her and eventually agree to travel to MacDonell castle to see her father. But in truth there is a sinister plot behind the MacDonell's illness and his wife's death and this mysterious enemy will stop at nothing to get what he wants.

This was such a great ending to a wonderful trilogy. The plot of the MacDonnell's illness and the mother's death at the stake is woven throughout all three books. It is finally resolved in this last tale but what an ending. Jen Holling has done a masterful job weaving several storylines together to create an enchanting tale of love, treachery, and greed.

After the fall of Valzaan on the beach of Col Marena, the army flees Wethanin by ship, hoping to find aid in Suthanin. But Aljeron must follow a different path. Bound by a promise to Valzaan, he sets off on a quest across the wilds of Nolthanin in hope of awaking the legendary Sulmandir, Father of Dragons. But the cold and beasts aren't his only enemies. Synoki, the secretive castaway from the first book, shows up with a friend who claims to have traveled in Nolthanin before. Can they be trusted?
While traveling, Benjaih is invited to the Tarlindraal, where he receives a vision from Allfather calling for the union of four great peoples. Who are they, and can the army hold out until then?
Readers of the first two books may be expecting a dramatic ending, but Graham raises the bar by having TWO shocking cliffhangers. Who is the man in the golden cloak? And what will happen as the army crosses the Kalamin?

I've been following the Binding of the Blade series and loving it. Beyond the Summerland started a little slow, but if you stay with it, you become engrossed to the point of no return. I read Shadow of the Deep on a long plane trip, and it made that trip much more bearable. Excellent bood, decent Christian symbolism. I can't wait until the the next one.

I read the first book in the series. It drew me in completely.
Then I read the second book. I tore through it.
I have now finished the third book, and I am just amazed. L.B. Graham never ceases to amaze me with his writing. Every time I read one of his books, I get drawn into the story. I feel like I'm right there, standing beside the characters, seeing what they are seeing. I thought the first two books were fantastic. This third book does not dissapoint. The character development continues to be fantastic. The plot couldn't be better. Graham takes the reader farther and farther into the world he has created. Just when you think you've explored as much as you are going to, the author takes you further in. I highly recommend this series for anyone who likes adventure, battles, friendship, love, devotion, and, simply put, GREAT STORIES!

We read on in the tale of Benjiah as he seeks to discover the truth of the eternal rain, and Aljeron seeks out the lost dragons in the frozen wastes of the North. It has some great flashback bits about the enemie's pasts, and powerful battle scenes, with a twist (predictable) at the end.
Graham's third book in the Binding of the Blade trilogy is satisfying, but it seems to be lacking a bit in the intrigue department. I am not saying I dislike this book at all, it was a great continuation of his earlier story, but it seems to waffle on in certain parts. The "secret" of the rain, which I won't disclose here, was painfully obvious even in the second book. Not a bad fantasy read, go ahead and try it, but it lacks the zest of his previous two books.

This third book in the Binding of the Blade trilogy is roughly on par with the 1st two in the series. The characters are well developed and each chapter has plenty of conflict, adventure, and romance to keep the reader hooked. The style is reminiscent of the earlier works of Stephen Lawhead (that's a good thing). Some of the plot lines are interesting, but they are pretty typical for this genre. Others show flashes of brilliance that leave you with hopes that Graham will grow into a world class author. As a trilogy, the three books are not quite as cohesive as they could be - more like a set of episodes in a series than a unified saga. I expect this is simply a mark of inexperience and not a serious weakness. If you are a fan of sci-fi/fantasy with a positive moral compass, I highly recommend this series. I do recommend reading them in order.