Characters Books

This book is awesome! McManus really inspires you to look at every second that goes by in life, and seize those divine moments because they can really impact someone's life, as well as your own. I HIGHLY recommend this book!!!

Chasing Daylight is the kick in the rear a lot of us need. Go after your passions with confidence and don't look back.

McManus is an inspiration and by telling the story of Jonathan he gives us an example of someone living boldly because they can not live any other way. That is the life I want to lead.

I loved this book. I would read it in the mornings while eating breakfast and it was a great start to the day. Erwin McManus is very passionate about his faith and he is very effective in trying to convey that passion. So many of his personal stories that he tells made just say "Wow." And then I realized how so many small things we do, the little leaps of faith that we take, can have such huge rewards and make so many differences in people's lives that do not know Christ. This book is definitely a call to action for the individual and also for the church as a whole. Let's be a generation that seeks to help the lost, the poor, the broken. Let's be a generation that puts other needs before our own. Great message!

I would agree with another reviewer that things get repeated a lot throughout, probably because the whole book was based around the story of Jonathan and the Philistines. Could have been shorter, but still, an excellent read and highly recommended.

A good read, motivational. It is a little rambling for my preference, the author seems to say the same thing many different ways ie take action, just do something for the kingdom of God etc. It gives overall good advice for believers in Jesus Christ but I wouldn't treat the book as a book on theology. The personal stories the author gives are excellent and are the most motivating part of the book.

McManus has an easy to read style that draws you in. Though carpe diem (seize the day) is the main theme this does not reflect a frantic pace but rather developing a discipline of making deliberate choices that give life to your dreams and what God has called you to do. Using a moment in Johnathan's life when he did seize the day by taking the initiative in the face of uncertainty. I will warn you that this is a battle story and was difficult for some church members to find value in studying. Jonathan used his influence inspite of the risks, to advance and leave a mark that served God's will. McMannus writes that all of Jonathan's choices required action and a willingness to awaken those who are in many ways just sleep walking through life. Our church bought the book for our small group leaders as well as the companion DVD and study guide. They were generally well received.

The Wind River mysteries provide the reader with pleasure that is absent in many series after twelve installments. The mystery is intriguing, the writing is tightly paced, the characters still provide surprises by their actions, and the background information is so sound it never reads as a dump, but is finely woven into the story.
Two young Arapaho men, working on a ranch, are accused of stealing a petroglyph and Raymond Trueblood dies at the hands of Travis Birdsong. Travis is serving time for the killing, but Vicky Holden and Father John O'Mally believe he is innocent when a second petroglyph is stolen.
Nash Black, author of TRAVELERS and SINS OF THE FATHERS.

Margaret Coel's Windy River Reservation series is wonderful. In this book she explores the dark underworld of trade in stolen Indian artifacts. She builds a plot that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat right until the end. Her characters are very complex and real, and the relationships that she explores betweeen her two main ones, Vicky and Father John grows and changes with each book. In this book Ms. Coel also explores the relationship between Vicky Holden and her partner Adam as Vicky goes out on her own trying to save one of her own people. Adam realizes that if any of the elders come to Vicky for help she simply can't refuse even if it puts her in danger. Margaret Coel is a master and this is one of the best mystery series that you'll find out there today. Intelligent writing with the cutting edge of tension running right through the book.

Well written book and great characters I am just beginning to know these authors and hope to read more of them in the future.

Another great story in the series by Coel. Can't wait for the next one each time. And you learn another facet of the Indians in the Southwest. I love the interplay between Father John and Vicki and the other characters. Good reading.

This was a great book by a great author, Margaret Coel. I hope there will be many more books with Father John and Vicky in it. I have read the entire series and each time I finish a book, I am already looking forward to the next one. When I finish the stories I have this wild desire to be able to help Father John in his endeavor to stay faithful to his calling but I also want him and Vicky to be together. I guess this is what keeps me waiting for the next book. When an author can make you feel all these emmotions, she is good, real good.

"The goal of this wonderful book is to glorify our Lord Jesus Christ,by drawing us closer to Him. Bryant and Cindy take us on a spiritual journey through the lives of family and friends,to experience God's grace, healing, love and His ever constant presence with us. With our eyes fixed on God we can experience joy in spite of sorrow and trials we may face. The stories gently remind us to turn to God to fill our every need. A truly inspirational writing for any age group or stage of life!

I plan to use this book as an encouragement to our students at the College Student Health Service where I work as a nurse. It will be great for our waiting room when students come in and are waiting to be seen"

An important truth of following Christ is we do not look for adversity. Adversity will find us! In the pages of this book, Cindy and Bryant have compiled story after story of adversity's role in deepening His saints and God getting the ultimate glory. The ancients said `God is an ever-present help in time of trouble'. Thank you Bryant and Cindy for reminding me of the constant relevance of that promise.

I eagerly read each and every story with a sense of awe at what God can do. This book helps me to realise that God is there in the mist of our need and we can truly count on Him.

I don't usually read in the summer, but this book was an exception. I thought it was truly heart warming.

James C.
college student

Faith, hope, encouragement are essential to every human being; without these we at times could never face tomorrow or live today. Jesus did not promise us a perfect world, but He did promise us His strength to endure whatever life may bring our way.You know, in life there is an old saying about things it goes something like this, " You don't need it until you need it." I have often thought that about those who ignore God, just don't have time to know Him or just don't care to know Him. Troubles touch every humans life and for us who know Him we have an edge on those who don't. Remember, "You don't need HIM, until you need HIM," and in this life you will need HIM. Think about it. This book will help you do just that.
In this work, Experiencing the Great I Am, we are given 40- Faith-building stories from Christians who have tasted the pain of life in various forms and have encountered the Great I Am. Each story takes you along their personal experience that at times will not only show you that indeed God is ever present; but will put you on your knees in thankfulness that you have not lived their journey.
This book is a strong reminder of how fragile life can be; but it is also a stronger reminder of how faithful our God IS! The authors share their hearts with you, sometimes with raw emotion, but always at the end of the journey is the Great I Am!
If you need encouragement to know that God never leaves you, if you want a reminder of His love for you or if you just want to share stories of His ever present help in times of trouble, please read this book. A heart-warming work that will leave you smiling, looking up and whispering, "thank you," to a God who never leaves us and always loves us.

My kids were both traumatised by Chicken pox, and this has enabled them to laugh about the whole experience. It is a very clever rhyming book which kids of all ages will love and the reference to other nursery rhymes makes it a throughly entertaining read.

This book is so clever! The book is fun to read b/c it rhymes, it has characters from nursery rhymes and it gives kids an introduction into the world of chickenpox. This book is a familiy favorite!

Me and my almost 3 year old daughter LOVE this book. She's never had the chicken pox, but even so, it's such great writing and cool pictures! I highly recomend it. My daughter begs me to read it to her every night! I wish the author/illustrater would team up for more books like this one!

This book is so cute. Goldie Locks has chicken pox and her little brother won't leave her alone. There are some familiar faces that drop by to check on Goldie and brother gets a little bit jealous.
Mamma Bear assures Goldie's mom that Baby Bear is fine because bears can't get chicken pox. Henny Penny comes by to let the Lock's that the sky is falling. Jack Be Nimble wants to play with Goldie but her dad doesn't think it's such a good idea. Little Bo Peep has stopped by to see if she can find her sheep and Little Red Riding Hood wants some company on the way to her grandmother's house.
It is a very contemporary book with humor and intrigue. Goldie's brother just can't stop teasing her. He wants to connect her dots and wants to know why she can have ice cream and treats and he can't. At the end of the story however, he ends up with some very mysterious spots.
This poem will make children laugh and get them excited because they will recognize other characters form other nursery rhymes. They will also be able to relate to Goldie if they have ever had chicken pox themselves. It is a very cute and simply entertaining story for children to enjoy.

My daughter received this as a Christmas gift when she was 4. Two years later it is still an absolute favorite in our house. Her younger sisters love it but she insists on keeping it in her room. It is a funny, well-written story that would stand out on its own, but the illustrations make it even better. I love how Ms. Dealey brings in the other characters, making it seem like all the characters are part of a big storybook world, where Henny Penny plays with Baby Bear and Little Red Riding Hood! Buy the book....you will be glad you spent the money!!

I am really privliged to be a part of this book as when it was in the makes I was requested by Joan to submit information from my kennel "Harbor Side Mastiffs". This fine collection was put togeather not long after we had a litter of 15 healthy strong pups (Clovite is amazing)that all lived, this was in Feb. of 87' and it was a pretty big deal in the Baltimore Area (the news coverage did a top notch story on channel 13 and was presented by the then anchor Jerry Turner-RIP).
This book has many great pictures and stories along with two of my daughters and their mastiffs. My youngest daughter is only 3 at at the time sitting out in a run with her puppy "Missy"...now she is in her last year of college. My daughter Helen is shown standing on a city street holding my stud dog "Chaucer" as I snap the picture. Now you see one of the reasons that I am crazy over this work. If possible get a copy as there will never be a more complete volume written on the Mastiff then this one.
"Enjoy" Joe Kopeck owner of "Harbor Side Mastiffs"

Please rerelease this book. It is a MUST have for ALL Mastiff lovers. Please Joan, Please.

This is a most excellent and comprehensive book that should be owned by all Mastiff enthusiasts! Don't miss it! The stories give you a glimpse into what Mastiffs are really like in a way that factual, descriptive books just don't do.

This is THE book about the best dogs in the world.
Of all the books on Mastiffs, this one best reveals the nature and specialness of these dogs. The heartfelt stories, the pictures, the tons of advice from experienced breeders and trainers.
Speaking frankly, it's a nightmare to try to find anything in it (it's hard to even find the table of contents!), but actually, that's a good thing because you end up wandering through it enjoying the wonderfulness of these dogs.
I thank my stars I was lucky enough to find a copy at a book store.

Having read other mastiff owner's coppies I want one for myself. I do not have 400.00 to buy one from an auction. It is a top quality reference book on the breed and to have only so few coppies in curculation is a shame.

I believe that this is one of the best books out on the market. I am a minister of the gospel and had issues hidden in my heart that needed to be dealt with and while reading this book, I was set free! I would recommend this book to all, male & female alike.

I was in the middle of a problem so much like the author when I found this book at the bookstore. I couldn't put it down. It ministered to me and helped to heal the hurt I was facing (and still am). To make it even better, the author really believes what she wrote. . . . I can't wait for her next book. If you want to heal the hurt inside, buy this book!!!

I bought this book recently, and I found it to be quite inspiring. Now, in relationships, it is real hard to let go of someone that you know is not in your best interests. But in this story, this lady did. She was also open and candid about the relationship, and offers tips and encouragement for others as well.Recommended for those in dead end relationships. Another thing: I really couldn't believe that minister. Some of these folks don't have no business being no minister or nothing. I just hope that he got help for whatever ailed him.

I felt that Patricia's story is the combination to the locked hearts of many. It was real and so is God's love for us. Only the LOVE of God can captivate and restore what once has been torn and ripped. I thank God for this story because it gives me the courage to be free.

Bless the giver and the receiver.

I read this book and at first, I must confess, I was a little sketical, but as I read on, oh my God! This precious author, Patricia Harris reveals herself that we may be healed. The Holy Spirit uses this book to minister to deep, dark, hidden hurts that we as women never want to talk about. If you want to be healed than read this book with an open heart. Write notes to yourself as things to mind, pray and God will do the rest. He will bring life to your dead situations and heal your broken heart!

Moe Prager, P. I. and wine shop owner, interesting, kind of like Sam Spade owning a gourmet cheese boutique or maybe Raymond Chandler a nice little French bakery.... But, Reed Coleman pulls it off and the James Deans won't disappoint even the most discriminating imbiber of classic P. I. Noir. Plus, I met Mr. Coleman on one of his tours and he's a nice guy. Buy this book!

An ex-cop turned successful wine merchant and sometime PI. A golden-haired politico wanting to be another "comeback-kid." An office intern who turned out to be a deadly researcher. These are the intriguing main characters in Reed Farrel Coleman's third Moe Prager mystery, The James Deans.

If you've got politicians in a story, then you know what the other elements will be--greed, betrayal, misuse of power, dishonesty, and in the wake of Monicagate and GaryCondit/Chandra Levy, sexual dallying will play a big part too.

Or will it? That's what's so intriguing about this specific mystery and the skill that author Reed Farrel Coleman brings to his stories--you think it's going to follow the path lead by headlines, then it veers off into uncharted territory, with roots laid deep and long ago. His style is lean and mean on one of its threads and spiraling with imagery on another. The combination makes his writing exciting and hard to forget.

The James Deans is a terrific page-turner, complicated with plenty of twists and made rich with believable, flawed characters. It's only a matter of time before Coleman and emerges from the pack and shines in the spotlight.

Moe is the refreshing antithesis of most characters being written today. He is a loving husband, father and brother, neither an alcoholic nor a drug user, but with secrets and burdens of his own. I still rave about "Walking the Perfect Square" as one of my favorite books. Coleman creates an environment that feels personal. But it's the writing that makes this book and series one I feel deserves attention and recognition. Highly recommended.

A pretty decent, fairly engaging mystery. The characters are pretty well fleshed out and the relationships, for the most part, are very believable and sympathetic.
The plot is a good mix of an old-fashioned Hammettesque detective story and modern day mystery.
My main problem is the observations, obviously from a post 9/11 perspective, of 1980's New York. I mean, come on, why would a 1983 detective be looking for the twin towers, thinking that "the skyline wouldn't look right without them?"
Over all, I enjoyed the characters enough to try another Moe Prager mystery. It's a decent, light read for a Saturday afternoon.

When he is cornered at an employee's wedding in 1983 New York, the last thing wine shop owner and private investigator Moe Prager is to work for a politician. A former cop who was forced on disability by a piece of carbon paper on a waxed floor, Moe has had enough of being manipulated and holds a secret that could destroy his marriage. However, a carrot and stick approach by the bride's father forces Moe into working for State Senator Steven Brightman and investigating the disappearance of his female intern in Reed Farrel Coleman's The James Deans (Plume)..

Moe soon makes headway into the case, but after coming to a conclusion that leaves everyone satisfied niggling doubts begin to force Moe into looking a little closer at a case that has been tidily resolved. Now, Moe must decide whether to open a can of worms that would leave the powerful and his own friends particularly unhappy with his actions. From the Senator down to the neighborhood bar owner, all are invested in the nicely wrapped package Moe has presented to the city. To continue investigating means that Moe risks sacrificing his career, his family, and his friends.

Moe Prager is a wonderfully down-to-earth detective who, although bored with his mundane life, would rather avoid a fight than wield his muscle. His love for his family makes him engagingly human, especially when he knows that a secret he shares with his father-in-law will one day explode and shatter his marriage (Walking the Perfect Square, 2001). Not overly bright but always quick with a quip yet never annoyingly so, it's his ethics and sense of honor that make Moe shine. Taking a turn at writing his version of the Chandra Levy/Gary Condit scandal, Coleman does an original twist with the plot as halfway through, just when you think the mystery has been solved, he boomerangs the story and leads Moe into making a decision that forces him to look deep into his soul and his sense of justice. While Coleman does make a few obvious references meant to give a wink and a nod to the present (a poetic look at the sturdy World Trade Center and jokes about a going-nowhere Arkansas Senator), he writes a riveting plot and creates a vivid portrait of eighties New York City. Always entertaining with a character who is never disappoints, Coleman continues a series that improves and expands on a truly unique character.

The book I ordered was shipped very promptly and arrived in brand new condition. I will deffinately order from them again.

it's a v good book for children. Letters are big and characters are interesting.

Very cute book! My 2-year old son is a Kipper fan and he loves this book! Hopefully it will help us with learning the ABC's!

My 2 1/2 year old LOVES this book. She's a big Kipper fan, and this is such a great book - much requested at bed time. We love all of Mike Inkpen's work...

My son loves the Kipper videos. I think he might even like the the books more. He takes them everywhere.

The author is a man who has lived life into his latter 50's and has experienced much. He understands life and uses spiritual wisdom from years of studying GOD's word, examining himself by its teachings, and applying its wisdom to his own life. What results is a book that opened my heart and showed me what 'mid-life crisis' really is; a 'crisis of the heart'. It's about interpreting my world, life, and heart in view of the truth, not my feelings or perceptions; but GOD's truth. It is a book that is, at times, painful to read because it forces you to face your real problem (yourself), but is written with wit, humour, in a conversational one-on-one at the cafe tone, and above all, IT PRESENTS A LOT OF HOPE AND ENCOURAGEMENT! A must read for the Christian in particular, or anyone who is seeking to understand their inner person in the midst of mid-life struggles of the heart.

This book was excellent. It was just what I needed to read at this time. It is helpful to know when other people have had the same thoughts and feelings as you are having or have had and didn't fully understand them. I would highly recommend this book to anyone middle aged or older whose kids have moved on and are retired and not sure what to do now. I see now that there are a lot of people that are experiencing these same things.
There are also a lot of good examples of how others have handled hard times and turned them into something positive by trusting in the Bible, God's Word to us.

This is probably the most practical Christian "self-help" book I've read. It brings to focus things that long-term Christians know, but don't dwell on. If you are a believer, after reading this book your focus on life will be altered. I would recommend it for anyone. Not just those of us who are ( or were ) lost in the middle.

This book is one of the best books I've ever read! Next to the Bible it has been the most life changing and inspiring literature I've read in 10 years!

Paul David Tripp's book starts by describing three main triggers of mid-life malaise - mortality, regret, and broken dreams - and then walks through practical and biblically-based strategies for understanding, healing, hope, and renewal. He shares some unique insights, such as the purpose and misuse of our God-given abilities of imagination, and society's failure to define the various stages that constitute what we oversimplify as "adulthood". Although the book is long-winded, Tripp is a lively and eloquent writer, and uses thematic analogies and the stories of several individuals to illustrate his points and hold the reader's attention. I also appreciate his careful avoidance of overusing scriptual texts; when he does turn to scripture, the passage is directly appropriate and fully developed. On the whole, the book is well-suited to the person lost in their own mid-life situation, is chock-full of insights, inspiration, and practical recommendations, and is an excellent traveling companion for the journey to significance and meaning in the "second half" of life.

This 10th entry in Victoria Thompson's Gaslight Series is indeed a winner. I have noted how each book in the series seems to get stronger and this is no exception. We also get a resolution to Sarah Brandt's husband's murder which occurred three or four years before the timing of the first book in the series. We also get a keen insight into Sarah's nursemaid Maeve and her intelligence and quickness. We learn that she is a girl that is used to living by her wits, and this stands her in good stead when she offers to help Malloy and Sarah track down the killer of Sarah's husband. I love the way these characters are developing, and I love the stories. The plots are tight and very fast-moving. I truly look forward to the next book in this series.

Loved it. Another enjoyable addition to the Gaslight Mysteries. I just hope Victoria Thompson keeps them coming! These are books to take to the beach or cuddle up with on a cold day.

I've become a fan of this series and I was glad there was finally a resolution to the murder of Sarah Brandt's husband, Dr. Thomas Brandt. It was quite a page turner and there are so many suspects, it keeps you guessing until the end. I was satisfied that there is great progress in the romance between Sarah Brandt and Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy. I was also surprised by who the murderer was at the end. I can't wait to read the next book!

This is one very large suprise, I usually can figure fairly close who the killer is before it is noted by the author. This was not happening is this book. Cant wait for the next in the series, Go Victoria!!!!

Victoria Thompson outdid herself on this book. Finally a Sarah Brandt mystery that didn't reveal itself several chapters into the book. She kept me guessing until the end and now I am anxiously awaiting her next installment in the Gaslight Mystery Series.