Clubs Books

Any book that commands, and demands, my full attention deserves the best of my critiques, and this is why I give the "Riddle Maker" a two-thumbs-up Five Star rating!
If you're bored with the never ending routine of your daily life, then this is definitely the book for you. From the very onset of the first paragraph, my daily chores got put on hold, the telephone answering machine was driven into overtime, and my husband suddenly learned how to cook for himself. But it got even worse, when at 3:30 in the morning, I woke out of a sound sleep and just couldn't wait another minute to find out whodunit?! So I did the only logical thing one can do while reading this book. I grabbed the flashlight, donned the glasses, and raced to the end in all the glory of my 'jammies' and my favorite comforter! And, what a finish it was!...
I always know when I've read a good book because I find myself getting really ticked-off at the author for ending it. And that's exactly what I experienced with the "Riddle Maker."
So if you want a much needed break in that dull, boring household routine, do yourself a favor by reading the first paragraph of this magical book. I guarantee you, life will take on that much needed sudden change! And you'll enjoy every single moment of it.

k.t. Frankovich

...Riddle Maker proved to be more than just a pleasant surprise for me!

The very first paragraph plunges the reader into a vividly described scene on par with any good Hammer-horror movie, followed by an introduction to the first character who is graphically murdered by the end of the first chapter. This book is not for the feint-hearted or those easily offended by 'adult content', albeit minimal and in context with the killer's 'modus operandi'.

Unlike the classic style of who-dunnits, Riddle Maker does not lead the reader on a merry dance to the final chapter before the killer is revealed, along with the motive and means, all neatly tied up in a bow and smugly leaving the reader to feel an idiot because of being so out in left field. For the 'veteran reader' of this genre, that may be a disappointment. For a novice, like myself, it was the very thing which appealed to me, because this lead me to wanting to read on to discover how the killer's pursuers would figure it out, and if they would thwart his intended 'Grand Finale'.

Fairall, the author, is unapologetic concerning the relative lack of complexity of the plot, and the manageable number of characters (manageable for those of us who lose interest after running out of fingers to count on for who is who!)

All in all, Riddle Maker is an ideal 'level entry' book for this genre, and an excellent start for Fairall's first novel...

This was an amazing book, quick & witty, impossible to put down! I can't wait for her next book.

I don't know who this Author is but when a friend let me borrow a copy of hers I couldn't put it down! I had to have a copy of Riddle Maker for myself! I can't wait to read more from this Author.

I buy these books for the public library at home. I felt that this one was a bit different from the rest It's totally unlike Max to believe that the members of the Saddle Club would be responsible for anything that would endanger the horses in his stable. The best part is that while the girls manage to get back at spoiled brat Veronica D'Angelo, this time Stevie, Lisa and Carole have help in the form of veterinarian Judy Barker. Plus, Veronica's horse "Danny" was the life of the party they all attended. Couldn't have ended better.

I like this book because the Saddle Club gets even with Veronica....always fun to read about...and they have fun at a dance as well!

Stevie is up to her jokes. Lisa's and Carole's school is having a dance. Everything should be normal. Then the stable snob decides to get Revenge. She sticks the Saddle Club up at Pine Hollow for the night caring for her horse while she is at the dance. Then Judy shows up with a horse vaccum cleans up Danny.the girls take danny to the dance with them. Rock and Roll will never be the same!!

I've read this book and think it's great! I have two friends and we're just like the Saddle Club. I can't wait till they read it! I loved their plan to take Veronica Di Angelo's horse to the dance. It was a fun and sneaky way to get back at her. Veronica is such a jerk. But her horse is beautiful and talented. He has great taste for music! Please read this book.(And of course a rock and roll soul!) More great books to read are HORSE CARE #76 and HORSE WHISPERS. Please continue writing Ms. Bryant so I can continue reading.

This book is about the band S Club 7, who split in 2003. However, this book was written in 2000.

The first seven chapters of the book, are about the S Club 7. Each chapter is about a different member. The members of S Club 7 are Jo, Jon, Bradley, Tina, Rachel, Hannel, and Paul. Each chapter gives info and fun facts about the members, and really takes a look at their personal life.

The last six chapters of the book is about the band S Club 7 put together. It starts off with how the band was formed, and all of them meeting each other. It then takes you through the progress of making two singles, an album, and performing around the globe.

The book is very interesting, and is needed by any S Club 7 fan! The book does only give information from the year 1999-2000 though. Still get the book, because the information you get, is very exculsive and interesting!

This book is great! The book has cool facts on the band. The book tells you all kinds of cool things about the members. It is a great book.

This is a great book, it tells you who is always late, whos's a shopaholic, who has 5 tattoos, a pierced bellybutton, who's most health-concious, who's the biggest party animal, whos the messiest, who has too many shoes, S Club 7 websites, S Club 7 Speak, and about what the members did before S Club. It also includes 8 black and white photos. This is a great book and you get to know a lot about the band. It also tells you what they do on their downtime, and who they fancy.

This book is filled with information on the band. Bios on them all, how they got started and more. I highly recommend for any S Club fan.

This book has lots of pictures and info. on the band. It also includes new's, bios on each member, and more. I Love this book and it's a must for any S Club Fan!

u hav 2 reed tis book it iz grate a must hav 4 all s club 7 fanz

This was the best book! I had a great time reading it! A must have for all!

This book has a bio on each band member, how they got started, and loads of color pictures. A must for any S Club fan!

these are the first four books in the series. they are okay but some of B.Bryant's are better. although you want to read these to know what is going on in later books I liked them but the plot was not realy very deep or interesting

These are great if you want to read the whole series.

#1 Horse Crazy- Best Friends Carole Hanson and Stevie Lake meet Lisa Atwood at Pine Hollow. Carole thinks Lisa is nice but Stevie is playing jokes on Lisa. Then Lisa starts hanging out with the snobbiest girl at the stable.

#2 Horse Shy- Veronica the snobbiest girl at Pine Hollow pushed her horse to hard and he broke his leg. The vet has to put him down. Carole is devistated. Will she ever ride again?

#3 Horse Sense- Lisa Atwood wants to make rules for the Saddle Club. The new rules are so sever she has to kick out her two best friends.

#4 Horse Power- Chad, Stevie's annoying brother is riding at Pine Hollow. Then the girls find out he has a crush on one of them!

I recommend these books to anyone who loves horses.

Not only are these books interesting but if you want to read the whole series these are a must so you can learn all about the Saddle Clud in the beggining!

#1 Horse Crazy- Best friends Carole Hanson and Stevie Lake meat new rider Lisa Atwood at the stable where they ride. Carole thinks Lisa is a nice girl, but Stevie is playing practical jokes on Lisa. Then the new girl starts hanging out with the snobbiest rider at Pine Hollow!

#2 Horse Shy- Veronica, the snobbiest rider at Pine Hollow stabeles has really done it this time! The rich brat was pushing her beautiful stallion too hard. The magnificent horse broke its leg on a jump and must be put down. Carole, who loved the horse and felt sorry for it because Veronica didn't give it the right care. When she finds out about the dead horse she is devistated. Carole never wants to ride again! Can Stevie and Lisa get thier horse-crazy friend back in the saddle again?

#3 Horse Sense- This is very good book that talks alot about Lisa.

#4 Horse Power- Stevie Lake's brother Chad has started taking riding lessons at her stable. They annoy each other all day at home. The stable is Stevie's only safe refuge, but now he is there too! Then the girls find out Chad has a crush on one of them!

Theses are great stories! I recommend them to anyone who loves horses.

These are awesome books. I'm trying to read the whole series, and I started with these four books. Bonnie Bryant is a great writer. I recommend Horse Crazy, Horse Shy, Horse Sense, and Horse Power (the rest of the series to) to everyone who likes horses.

#1 Horse Crazy- The three horse crazy girls, Carole Stevie and Lisa start the saddle club

#2 Horse Shy- Carole Hanson is devistated when her favorite horse at Pine Hollow is put down. Will she ever ride again?

#3 Horse Sense- All A's in school, Lisa Atwood made rules for the Saddle Club.It turnes out the rules are so sevier she will have to kick out her two best friends.

#4 Horse Power- Stevie Lake's annoying brother is going to ride at Pine Hollow. How awful! Then the Saddle Club finds out it is because Chad has a crush on one of them!

This is a great set of books!

Passionate. Raw. Captivating. Intriguing and thought provoking. Written as a father justifying the course of his life to his dying son when sharing his memories at the bedside, Sea of Light brings a myriad of issues to the fore: lost contact with families; incest; religion; mystical belief; and suicide expertly intertwined with historical fact and downright unashamed fantasy.

Skilfully composed, like the rise and fall of the sea itself, you are lifted `soaringly' high with the romanticism of recollections to be brought crashing down to sobriety by the realism of the moment.

Cleverly interwoven with historical facts and intriguing themes we are indulged in richly descriptive situations and emotional turmoils and somehow left yearning for the vulnerability of the character. Still unsure whether you are reading fact or fantasy this book will make you question your own moral judgement and ...what you actually want from your own life.

Written very frank, yet somehow almost majestically dreamily, you will be hooked from page 1 and addicted by page 5. Beware of your life being consumed until you reach the end...Already suffering withdrawal symptoms, the sequel can't come quick enough.

Life doesn't give us neatly organized lessons. Instead, it is a conglomeration of disparate experiences that one does or does not make sense of. Miguel doesn't preach or try to give us some grand vision of life, afterlife, or other-life. Rather, he relates a journey punctuated with intense, revealing, personal, and too-strange-to-be-fictional accounts that only the protagonist can piece together, if he so chooses.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys travel and discovery, anyone who thinks too much about the meaning of life, and anyone who likes a good story.

I am looking forward to his next book!

I rarely read books twice, but I found myself going back to passages in Sea of Light just to be sure I could milk them for all of their worth. By the time I got to the bottom of the first page for example, I discovered that I was holding my breath. By the second page, the writer reminded me to breath. I knew that I was in great hands, or what I would soon learn to be a story teller of genius proportions. Sometimes we are fortunate enough to be thunder-struck by an occasional new insight, but this book delivers many times over. There isn't a day that goes by now where phrases aren't running through my head. Thank you for clarifying so eloquently what I've been looking for too. A must read for anyone who wants to learn profound insights into life through a story that tests the struggle of the will.

Balle's compelling novel is a cross between Daniel Quinn's Ishmael and Coleridge's The Ancient Mariner. Imagine a seafaring fantasy that is a forum for the exploration of human relationships and spirit. The book made me laugh, cry, and most importantly stop and think. There are many brilliant saga's within the story-telling framework that Miguel sets up. I read the entire book in one rainy Parisian spring day and then went back to find and copy out quotes that I especially liked and wanted to send to others. Balle is an enlightened story-teller who knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat; his love of the sea is evident; and his facility with language extraordinary. Don't wait for the movie�read it now!

I first read this book about thirty years ago, and would regularly re-visit it and other titles by this author, until I grew out of so called picture books. That I can still recall the pictures from Seabird, and the images that the cast in my mind testify to the quality of the writing. The journey from coastal whaling off Nantucket, to Greenland, the Pacific and the Yankee clippers that have forged their way into Legend, ending with one of the protaganists and his grandchild on a steamship in the 1920s will never leave me. Books like this should never die or be forgotten. You owe it to your children to make sure they read it.

From its inception in the 1940's, Seabird has offered children of all ages a rich blend of New World nautical history, from tall-masted ships to steamships, all woven into an adventure of global exploration by sea. Highly recommended.

To this day Seabird evokes sights and sounds of whaling days and early coal-powered ships. I smell the greased hemp lines and the rendered blubber, the sulphurous fumes of steamers, kelp, and the sea itself.

The early youth, perhaps reading alone or read to, becomes a lean young sailor, develops character, and passes into old age through four generations -- a most remarkable transition when one knows so little of aging or history. Holling was a master author, first of Paddle to the Sea, later of more land-based novels, each rich in full-page color images.

Any of Holling C. Holling books are worthy of a space on your personal library shelf. "Seabird" is a wonderful story celebrating the art of sailing as passed down generation by generation while exploring topics of geography, sea life, geology, and history. It engages the mind and investigates new interests. The illustrations are impressive and intriguing.

I haven't forgotten it in the 20 years since I last read it. I'm ordering it right now to read it with my sons. This is a lyrical book that can survive a post-politically-correct viewing without losing any of its character.

I've read all of Ms. Hingle's Desires and they are constantly getting better and better. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Secret Agent Dad. I started and finished teh book within one day. Blake and Josie are wonderful characters. Ms. Hingle brings them together in a very clever way and, as always, the sexual tension is amazing. Ms. Hingle excels with sexual tension. I loved the twins--Miranda and Edward. There was a little twist at the end of the book that I found a little surprising and very pleasing. This book is part of a five book series, the Texas Cattleman's Club, with each of the five books written by a different author. I read probably 5 to 6 romance books during an average week. I would highly recomment Secret Agent Dad. It is a book that definitely puts a smile on your face and leaves you feeling good. Try it, you'll like it!!

What a great read! This is the first book in this series of 5 that I have read, but I will read the others! Can't wait to find out what happens to the other members of the Cattleman's Club. Sure hope the other authors are as talented as Metsy Hingle. I read this in one sitting, couldn't put it down.

I loved every second while I read this book. Josie is a woman down on her luck and alone. She is not glamorous or outstanding, just a woman who takes life day by day and wishes for her dreams to come true. They do when she meets the extremely sexy Blake Hunt. This book kept me so interested I looked for every book by the author I could find. Take the time and read this book. It is worth it!

Royal twins Miranda (sugar britches) and Edward have lost their mother. Now they are in danger of being political pawns, and their aunt wants them brought to safety. That's where the Texas Cattleman's Club comes in. It's a club of five wealthy bachelors who set out to rescue a princess, and in the process each find true love. In book four of the series, author Metsy Hingle leads us through a royal rescue and a new romance between Blake Hunt and the widowed Josie. Blake, who has former Cobra training, is assigned to enter the palace and rescue the twins right out their cribs. Next he is to deliver them to the aunt in Royal, Texas. Naturally, when so much is at stake, what ever can go wrong -- does. While transporting the babies, Blake finds himself driving through the worse storm Texas has ever had, and he has already decided babies and bachelors do not mix. Widow Josie, who Blake renames, takes him and the babies in once she discovers them. There is instant chemistry; physical attraction is no doubt mutual, but Cupid can't seem to get the deeply hidden romance off the ground until both partakers' pasts are cleared up. Do they both have that kind of patience? And will both be accepting of each other's past lives once Blake's amnesia is cured?

What a great quick read. The mixing of intrigue and romance has always been a plus for me in category romances. I liked the way Ms. Hingle handled the replay of the royal rescue as Blake relived it. Written in italics, the scenes carry a presence of danger and intrigue; I found myself whispering the scenes in my mind. The story is well written; the characters are likable and true to form as far as I'm concerned and the plot is very good.

The Texas Cattleman Club series titles are: Texas Millionaire by Dixie Browning, Cinderella's Tycoon by Caroline Cross and Billionaire Bridegroom by Peggy Moreland. Secret Agent Dad by Metsy Hingle is the forth in the series and Lone Star Prince by Cindy Gerard, which was out in December of '99, was the last title in the five part series. They are all available at Amazon.com, and I heartily recommend them to any romance, but especially category romance readers.

An erudite and fascinating look at the role shadows played in the development of philosophy, psychology, astronomy, the hard sciences, and the arts.

The target audience for this book is unclear to me. There is something of interest here for psychologists, artists, art historians, science historians, classical historians and perhaps others. As a professional scientist, I mainly enjoyed the few sections dealing with the history of astronomy. Although the writing is generally clear, the style could be more engaging. Is this because the original Italian text was like that, or did it lose its spark while being translated into English (?) I suspect that the latter is more likely. Anyway, because the book contains such a hodge-podge of information, all centering around shadows, at least parts of it should be of interest to almost anyone; I'm giving it as much as four stars mainly because of this.

Roberto Casati's Shadow Club about shadows goes far beyond their usual definitions to probe shadow's legends, influence on myth and religious beliefs, and changing scientific concepts of the shadow both on Earth and in space. Shadow Club is very highly recommended as an intriguing blend of history, science and anthropology which presents unusual insights into shadows and their lasting impact on mankind.

Ignore the hideous subtitle forced on the book by some idiot editor; "The greatest mystery of the universe" --- give me a break.

We've all read pop science books that include a mixture of anecdotes and history along with their main subject matter. This book is of that genre, but is far superior to most of them, largely because of the intelligence, scepticism and wit of the author, an accomplished scientist. Unlike most writers, rather than simply informing us of each anecdote or historical fact, he frequently then explains issues around the fact, and concludes with a summary as to why the supposed fact, the received wisdom, is nonsense. This could be tiresome in the wrong author's hands, but is really works well here.

As other reviewers have noted, the subject matter is indeed something of a random mixture, perhaps a third dealing with cognitive issues surrounding shadows (things like how do babies perceive shadows, or how does the language we use to discuss shadows tell us something about how we naturally classify the things and the naive physics of the prescientific mind), perhaps a third deals with how shadows (for example eclipses and transits) helped advance the science of astronomy, and a third is misc other things like how shadows helped renaissance artists come up with a theory of perspective. It's rather a strange mixture, but if, like me, you're broadly interested in psychology, history, astronomy and just the world at large, every chapter is fascinating.

SHADOWS FALL is a wonderful book! Normally I don't read a book this long but this one held my interest all the way through.

Memories overwhelmed Beth Gray when she returned home to the old lodge in her big white Mercedes. To look at her, no one would ever dream she was a murderer returning to the scene of a fifteen-year-old crime. Coming home to visit her mother and to introduce her daughter, Abby, to her grandmother, hid the real reason for the visit, to chase ghosts. Only her mother wanted her here. Most of her brothers and sisters looked at her with hate.

At the age of seventeen, she was found holding a gun over the bloody body of Ollie Stevens. Everyone believed she killed him. Beth claimed to have picked up the gun when she found him dead. No one listened. She spent six years in prison and three years on parole. One condition of her parole had been to stay out of Wilder, California. After prison, she married, divorced, and lived under an alias, as a famous designer, in San Diego. Now she was free to set things right by returning to silence the nightmares that awoke her almost nightly.

"The past has driven me backhere, it won't let go. It keeps hammering at my mind..."

While in prison, she had saved a nurse from another prisoner's wrath and was shot in the knee for her deed. In the process, she had met Dr. Peter Lloyd, a caring man who became drawn to her. He operated on her smashed knee and befriended her, while she tried not to open to him. After his wife died, he never forgot Beth's stories of fishing and her mother's lodge.

When Beth glimpsed Peter at the lodge, he pretended not to know her. Their attraction was stronger than ever. The understanding Peter offered, softened the animosity of her family. Soon Peter, Beth and Abby became a threesome, and scouted trails in the countryside. Warm feelings also bubbled up in Beth for her high school fiancé, Gabriel?

Beth thought of staying and running the lodge, but couldn't change the past. No one wanted to forgive or forget. Beth's claustrophobia flourished, as mysterious happenings occurred, doors closed and locked her in, and someone tore up her drawings. Then someone shot at her. Were they trying to kill her or scare her away? She couldn't give her heart to Peter or Gabriel until she felt free from the shadows that hung in her mind, free from being wrongfully accused, if ever.

Barbara Klaser has crafted a mystery of terror and romance with all the clues in place, but the reader won't find an answer until the end of Beth's twisting and turning nightmare. Those with heart problems, asthma, or ulcers should contact their doctors' or pre-medicate themselves before reading this story, and if shortness of breath or chest pain develops, call 911.

Nancy B. Leake, Reviewer

From the moment, I read the first two paragraphs of Shadows Fall I was hooked. What I had anticipated from a genre of a romantic mystery was a gentle heroine who discovered the object of her affection had a mysterious background. To find Beth Gray, the heroine, standing over a dead body with a loaded gun in her hand was shocking.

Fifteen years later Beth and her own daughter Abby are back. The thriller begins after Beth, who was convicted for murder and then released early, returns to her family estate "The Wilder Mountain Lodge" which is located on the west slope of Shadow Lake in California. The property value could be a clue to the identity of the real murderer.

Fourteen-year-old Ollie was involved with Beth's sister Vicky. At thirteen Vicky was enchanted by the handsome boy, and refused to forgive her sister. Her brother Matt, though he loved Beth dearly, testified against his sister at the trial. The traumatic events created an emotional dilemma for the young man.

Her romantic interest is introduced so casually in Chapter One that readers may not notice the connection between the two. It is ethereal, but perfect because we have all experienced that "there is something about her/him that I can't explain" feeling.

I will not provide a list of suspects and motives. Rest assured that there are a plethora of clues (and some red herrings) that will keep you turning pages. In many ways, this book reminded me of Agatha Christie's "Ten Little Indians." There are only a limited number of people who could have killed Ollie. In self-protection, the killer will strike again. Beth, Abby, and everyone she knows is in danger or dangerous.

Although there are a few cliché descriptions in Shadows Fall they do not detract from the plot, characters, surprises, and puzzle. This is a crime solver's delight; a romance that touches our hearts. This, most likely, will become a movie in which Winona Rider would be the perfect Beth.

If you start reading at dawn, suddenly it will be time to turn on some lights. The excuse will be that it is getting too dark to read. Too dark to be in the house with a killer -- the characters are so real that you know they are there with you.

Do not just wait for the movie -- let your heart race with this 5 star book that should become a New York Times Best Seller.

Victoria Tarrani

As the wife of a mystery author I get to read a lot of "his" books. This one, however, is my kind of mystery. The characters are painted in exacting detail, the scenery is grand, and the story is as complex as it is satisfying. Since I am a California girl, the only thing this author could have added is a map to Wilder Mountain Lodge. Halfway through the first chapter I wanted to go there... still do.