Characters Books

More adventures of a 'modern' vampire - for the depression. This light reading material debunks the notion that Vampires - or anyone, for that matter - are all good, or all evil. This particular vampire was a real nice guy, and became a real nice vampire. A good treat for people who 'hate' vampire stories . . .

I was so happy to see that the publisher has opted to do a 3-book large format release for this excellent series by P.N. Elrod that even though I own all the books under the original mass market covers, I am buying them all again in the new editions.

I am also ecstatic to see that they have done a MUCH better job on the cover art than in the original mass market editions. If I had not been running a chain bookstore when the first one came out hadn't gotten a recommendation from one of my customers who loved the book, I would NEVER have picked it because the cover art was so tacky. I think a lot of good books go unnoticed because the publisher harms the book with bad art. Publishers: use a plain colored cover instead of something that makes the book look like tough-guy drivel or something else they are NOT! Good cover art sells books, BAD ART KILLS!

I recommend this series to readers who are interesed in how a 'normal' human might react to the circumstances created by being made vampire unexpectedly. Jack isn't a deliberate hero, and is no part of any 'brotherhood' or 'secret society'; he is instead a Joe Average hack journalist scrabbling to make a living in the depression, a likable guy who bumbles around trying to figure out what happened to him and feeling like he is up to his waist in the quicksand that has become his existence.

In many vampire fiction novels, becoming a 'creature of the night' magically solves a host of probelms and enables the hero to go on a crusade or gain lots of 'powers' which help to cope; this doesn't happen for Jack. He tries to do the best he can under the circumstances he's been handed, but finds himself becoming more at odds with the 1920's organized criminal empire he's become inadvertently pitted against, and finds himself relying more and more upon the few human friends he has who know what he is. His vulnarability is at times wrenching.

These books are enjoyable fiction which make you think about what it REALLY might be like to have the vampiric circumstance thrust upon you. No sturm and drang, no graphic sex scenes, but plenty of emotional response where the reader becomes invested in Jack, his friends, and the trials of his new existence.

I recommend these book Highly - watch out, though: they're hard to put down and you may face the hazard of staying up way too late to finsh and showing up for work the next day with dark circles under your eyes!

P.N. Elrod's Vampire Files are amazing. They take old-style detective fiction, set in post Al Capone Chicago, and merge it with the supernatural in the form of Jack Fleming, former reporter turned private investigator. Oh yeah, he's also a vampire.

Elrod's stories would be great reads on their own, but with the addition of Fleming's status as a bloodsucker, they are absolutely fantastic.

Wonderful settings, filled with exciting action and really cool characters, make these books seem to whiz by. Fortunately this volume includes the first three books of the series.

By the end of the last book, you'll be hooked. Be sure and pick up The Vampire Files Vol. II.

For those who like vicious gangsters, dapper detectives with a dark past, and smart, beautiful damsels in distress, The Vampire Files are a perfect fit. Get this one today!

Set in 1936, our hero finds himself on a shore with a man tyring to kill him. The series of books follow Jack's adventures to find out why someone whats to kill him and his search to find his lover Maureen. Excellent light reads 9/10

This is a collection of books 4-6 in the Jack Fleming, Vampire PI series and contains entertaining supernatural stories which leaven the 'vampire' moments with the humanity of our bloodsucking protagonist, Jack. He's a great hero because he's fallible, seems to get shot and knocked out rather regularly, cares for his girlfriend Bobbi and his friend Charles Escott and tends to blunder around not being quite sure what he's doing a lot of the time. Perhaps his blundering and being shot may pall over time but at the moment it makes for a very different, and very likeable, hero.


ART IN THE BLOOD
"Art in the Blood" sees Jack coming to the rescue of a man at a party and then being sucked into problems within the art world. Alex Adrian was a famous artist but hasn't done anything since his wife committed suicide; Evan Robley and his sister Sandra are also artists and when more suspicious events start taking place, including a death for which Alex Adrian might be responsible, Jack and Escott have to unravel the plot and work out what's really going on. The Chicago underworld plays its part as usual with more dodgy characters who have it in for Jack and Escott.

This story gives us more of an insight into the relationship between Jack and Bobbi as well as Jack needing to use his powers of vampire hypnosis more and more, leading to more people finding out what he truly is. It's another great read with a lighthearted feel and yet sometimes a darker undertone.


FIRE IN THE BLOOD
The first page in this book is great fun as we meet Jack apparently stripping Olivia Vandemore's evening gown from her and about to sacrifice her on an altar to Sabajajji, the Spider God. Fortunately this is just part of the novel he is writing rather than reality - although reality for Jack Fleming, Vampire PI, is often as bloodthirsty as this novel.

Jack and Charles Escott, Private Agent, are summoned to see Mr Sebastian Pierce, a rich retired Chicago man who tasks them to find a valuable bracelet that his daughter's boyfriend or a friend of his may have stolen. Jack finds himself shadowing the daughter to Bobbi's club and soon enough they stumble into murder and mayhem. A new member of the Chicago Underground, Vaughn Kyler, comes into play in this book and he's a particularly creepy individual who is resistant to Jack's vampire hypnosis. This book also sees the darker side of Jack having an outing after an episode of hypnotising goes rather wrong. Once again Jack finds himself in dodgy situations and only escapes by the skin of his teeth - is this ability going to pall any time soon?

The ending of this book is rather open and in fact leads directly into the next story, "Blood on the Water", although fortunately this episode does reach some sort of a conclusion. However Jack's rather more off balance in this book because of the darker side of his powers and we are learning more about him through it. Another great episode in this excellent series - a series that it probably pays to read in order.


BLOOD ON THE WATER
This story starts directly after "Fire In The Blood" and I think it would probably be rather difficult to understand everything that's going on, along with the fairly large cast of characters, without reading some of the previous books.

Jack Fleming, Vampire, had a bit of a shock in the last book when his vampiric nature got away from him and he nearly killed a woman. He's still struggling with the aftermath of those events in this story and is unwilling to use his hypnosis skills but equally doesn't want to talk about it to the rather perceptive Charles Escott, his partner.

The 'baddie', Vaughn Kyler, who we first met in the last book plays a significant role in the beginning of this story when he gives Jack the ultimatum to leave town or die. This gives Jack huge moral qualms - Jack knows that if he doesn't kill Kyler then neither Charles nor Bobbi will be safe, and yet how can he become a murderer? I think the way that the author showed Jack's fears about this was excellent.

In this story everyone is still chasing the bracelet from the last book and Jack enlists the help of Gordy, another local crime boss who's helped them in the past. Unfortunately a turf war seems to be breaking out with a new entrant, Angela Paco, playing her part as well. The three-sided war looks to be unstoppable and Jack has to decide on his actions with Kyler.

Once again, as in most of the other stories, Jack gets himself into various fixes and nearly dies. His physical limits are tested in a new way and there is more violence surrounding him. In the earlier books there was a lot of situation comedy where Jack was acting like a ghost and it happens again, very amusingly, in this book. However the turf war in this book lends it a darker feel and no doubt sets up for further instalments.

In short, it's another good read and we're getting further and further into Jack's character as the stories continue but this wouldn't be a good first book for a reader in this series.

This is a captivating children's story that will make you looking forward to the next book of the series. I think it is smart on the part of the author to finish this Book 1 just after Kate follows Matt into Abadazad. This is exactly why the readers will wait for Book 2. My problem, however, is that the story was not long enough. I wish the book contained 280 pages, instead of 140. It would also make me feel that my money was well spend... Otherwise the book is great, nicely designed, with vibrant colors. Overall I rate it for 4.5 stars.

This book deserves more than five stars! Its compelling, exciting, intriguing etc. Loooooooooooooove it! I've never read such a fantastic novel! This is a book for all kids to enjoy. A classic and a masterpeice! Its appropriate for all ages. The plot is about a young girl, Kate, who finds herself in a enchanted land. You feel as if you're there yourself and experience the exciting events right with Kate. I highly recomend this fantastic novel.

This is an amazingly good book. The moment I picked it up I knew I was in for a treat. The charactors are fantastic and the plot is compelling and engrossing. The illistrations do wonders for the eye and once you star reading you can't stop. 5 stars!!!!!

Take the graphic novel format, add full color, and add more text to get a vivid enchanting diary/journal of magic, adventure, and a friendless child whose life changes. A journey to another world makes for vivid adventure.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Cross Gen Comics was a noble failure. The publisher tried to expand Comics by publishing stories in as many far-thinking formats as possible. They also tried to create tales for all age groups and interests by pushing into as many genres as possible, eschewing for the most part the capes and tights superheroics that still dominate this dusk of the comic industry. Alas, the financial side of the equation did not match the creative and Cross Gen was in the end unsuccessful.

However, one of the last enterprises of the company was the launching of Abadazad. It lasted a mere 3 issues, but fortunately showed enough of it's promise (and generated good word-of-mouth) to be picked up by Disney.

Abadazad is clearly the Wizard of Oz for the generations that have grown up demanding more depth even for Children's entertainment.

Abadazad is a dynamite mix of prose, traditional illustrations and pure comics. The prose adds so much more to the story than could ever be portrayed in traditional panel comics and the comic pages add so much more illustrative depth than could otherwise be conveyed.

The story is strong. While it concerns a more or less standard quest of fantasy ( a young girl must travel to a strange and enchanted land to rescue her little brother), the main character's persona is so much richer (and just a little edgier) thanks to the circumstances of her rather difficult life and family relations perceeding the jump to pure fantasy.

And what a fantasy world she jumps into! With all the depth and colour of Oz or Narnia, but with just a slightly harder edge that should be acceptable to both parent and child. Mike Ploog brings the fantastic world of Abadazad to life and proves the axiom that a picture is worth a thousand words!

A wonderful start for a series that should be immensely enjoyed by anyone 8 or older (or even MUCH older).

HEEBIE-JEEBIE HULLABALOO is top-of-the-line Simpsons! The presentation is high-quality with an embossed cover and bright, clear graphics inside. You won't be disappointed!

This book was as told it would come and was brand new. There was not one little mark on it. I would order from this user again.

This comic book was pretty good with another humerous approach to to the Simpsons comic saga. Stories include
1. Sideshow Blob-Sideshow Bob is turned into a giant phlem.
2. The Exorsister-Lisa possessed by the spirit of Madonna.
3. The Immigration of the Body Snatchers-Pod people take over and Homer tries to convince them they are here and not crazy.
4. Call me Homer-Famly history of Homer eating blubber in the tale of Ishmael.
5. Bart People-Bart turns into a cat.
6. Little Shop of Homers-Killer Homer plant.
Pretty good book overall.

I think this book was really funny. I really liked Homer Simpson's Halloween Carols. He is my favorite cartoon character. I guess the funniest part is, when the Simpsons were watching Kent Brockman talking about a plant that eats donuts, and Homer said "Mmmm... Donuts." That was pretty funny. Another funny scene was when everyone in Springfield found out this was just a comic book, and they didn't really exist. Homer said "If I don't exist, can I still eat donuts?" That one cracked me up. I guess, now, you can see why I like Homer Simpson so much.

For those of you who are fans of the hit television show "The Simpsons", you are probably well acquainted with the legendary "Treehouse of Horror" episodes that have become a Halloween tradition. These episodes have proven to be such a seasonal favorite that Groening and the gang have decided to dish out even more tales of terror in "Bart Simpson's Treehouse of Horror: Heebie-Jeebie Hullabaloo".

Hullabaloo is a collection of comics and sketches that cleverly capture the humor and style of the Simpsons Halloween specials. Much like the television version, the main stories in Hullabaloo are parodies of famous horror films. The first story in the book is a parody of the classic horror film "The Blob". In the sketch, Simpsons character Sideshow Bob takes an experimental treatment that transforms him into "Sideshow Blob". Seizing the opportunity to take revenge on his nemesis Bart, Sideshow Blob squeezes out of prison and wreaks havoc on Springfield.

After Springfield is saved from "Sideshow Blob", they barely have time to recover before Lisa becomes possessed by the evil spirit of Madonna in "The Exorsister", a combo-parody of the infamous "Exorcist" and the even more infamous Madonna. The book continues with additional parodies of films such as "Little Shop of Horrors", "The Invasion of the Body Snatchers", and "Cat People".

In between the main features of the book are a plethora of comics, guides, and stories hosted by and featuring an assortment of Springfield characters. One of these guides features everyone's favorite slack-jawed yokel, Cletus Del Roy. Cletus presents to us "A Yokels Guide to Halloween" which teaches us how to celebrate Halloween like "Edgar Allan" Poe white trash. Another extra features Bart's "Guide to Low-Budget Costumes" which shows you how to cheaply transform yourself into horrid monsters such as "Vaselino, The Thing That Wouldn't Dry". You'll also find the story of "Elijah Dunn and the One-Armed Nun", Evil Dr. Burn's "Goodtime Servant Factory", "Springfield in Hell", and much, much more.

Hullabaloo is colorful, fun, entertaining, and just in time for Halloween. The comical cast breathes sarcasm and humor into favorite horror classics. If you are a fan of the Simpsons and Halloween, then this book will not disappoint you.

Especially for those who are passionate about Beatrix Potter. Sewall and Dubay do an excellent job in showcasing items often overlooked in other price guides. This is not to imply this book is simly a price guide. It is much more - a true delight!

Charming book documents Beswick, Royal Doulton, Royal Albert, Wedgwood, Crummles, Eden Plush, Giants, Pull Toys, Musical Toys Hand Puppets, Beanie Babies, etc., Schmid Music Boxes, Anri, Border Fine Arts Figurines, Steiff, Tins, R. John Wright, etc. by author Debby DuBay, foreword by Potter expert Judy Taylor, highlighting Kara and John Sewall's private collection. Fabulous colored photographs with complete descriptions and a value under each. This price guide is easy to read and the only one I could find on general B. Potter collectibles. Highly recommend this lovely yet inexpensive book.

Collecting is wonderful and documenting a collection is an honor that Ms. Dubay has bestowed on her friends the Sewall's. There are many books on the market that go into Ms. Potter's life like expert Judy Taylor who wrote the foreword for this book! As a novice collector, of many porcelain pieces, this is the first book I could find that has the values and is actually a useful price guide for the diverse Potter collector. I highly recommend.

I have collected Beatrix Potter for many years and finally a price guide is available on many of the pieces I have collected. I highly recommend this book to collectors of Beatrix Potter memorabilia from Wedgwood, Crummles, Schmid Music Boxes, etc., from the 1970s to today. LOVE this price guide!

This charming book opens with Debby DuBay chatting away on how she met the Miss Potter and collector of today - Kara Sewall. I love this book and highly recommend it to all collectors, Peter Rabbit and Potter fans. Thanks to Debby DuBay for another charming book; she has a unique way of inviting us into her life and the lives of her friends and then getting us addicted to whatever the subject is that she is documenting. I am now a Limoges and Potter collector.

Very fast moving book and a good story. I am reading it aloud to my 9 year old and he seems as interested in this as he was in the first book, Silverfin.

I take great issue with reviewers wanting young Bond to have sprung from the womb with a license to kill. Young James has already become a formidable opponent from the day he became a 00 orphan. That in itself is an overwhelming blow that people in modern era have a hard time dealing with! I will not preach, However I shall tell you what I love most about these novels , they made me fall in love all over again with Bond. To get to know his origins ,his family and how he has processed the most painful losses in his young life has made him more of a real life character to me. I believe Charlie Higson has given true Bond fans even more of a reason to dream BOND! I know that I have another superior series to introduce my boys to, and I am grateful . Please keep young Bond evolving and explaining his quirks and reasonings . I look forward to more young Bond adventures I HOPE YOU DO TOO!

Literary 007 fans are in for a real surprise with Charlie Higson's Blood Fever. A dark and intense story awaits readers and the result is thrilling and enjoyable. At first I was apprehensive about starting it. When I had obtained Higson's first novel, SilverFin, I had immediately jumped into it, excited and curious. With Blood Fever, I was worried that I would be slightly disappointed; that the success of SilverFin might have just been a one time deal. It turns out that I could not have been further wrong. Blood Fever is a fast-paced, exciting, well-crafted, and mature James Bond novel.

SilverFin started to clear up the many, many rumours that this new Young Bond series would only appeal to young readers or the Harry Potter crowd, but Blood Fever wipes the slate clean. This is a darker and tougher James Bond novel than anticipated. Where there were some decidedly cute aspects of SilverFin, such as the horse being called "Martini," Blood Fever is devoid of such moments. The maturity, both of Bond and overall, is much more pronounced in this story.

One way this new level of maturity is obtained is in the development of the characters. Many of them are standouts in this novel, starting first with the villain, Count Ugo Carnifex. Villains, both in the Bond novels and films, have to be above par to create an interesting enough challenge for Bond, and Carnifex meets the requirements. He is ruthless and cruel; Higson's characterization of this villain is full of details; and...of course, where would a good villain be without a well-designed and dangerous lair? An improvement over Lord Randolph Hellebore of the previous novel, SilverFin. The other obligatory character is the Bond girl--in this case, the determined and efficient Amy Goodenough. Again, as in the case of the villains, the improvement from SilverFin to Blood Fever is clearly evident. Amy is introduced early on in the story and Higson allows the character plenty of time to develop and become someone that readers actually care about. She is the perfect candidate to be the girl who needs rescuing. Her interaction with James is handled wonderfully and very believable for the reader.

The darkness of Blood Fever is accented by the violence, which seems to have been increased for this second novel. James Bond is much more agent 007 than Young Bond in Blood Fever. In SilverFin, he was unsure, but determined and not willing to give up. Even with those qualities, it was evident that this character was clearly no 007...yet. Blood Fever now takes James Bond on the path to 007. Even the first line, 'James Bond hated feeling trapped,' shows that this boy is restless and one that does not take the common path in life. He must know that there is an exit where ever he may be, and his real ambition is to be free. He realizes that he does not fit in with Eton, the so-called common path. This boy is different from the others. All of this essential information about the back round to this character is presented on the first page describing him alone (pg 15 UK first edition paperback).

One standout scene of Blood Fever (and one that was certainly anticipated before the release of the novel) is the torture sequence involving James Bond. The form of torture is the deadliest animal in the world: mosquitoes. As Ugo Carnifex says, 'they are a nuisance, aren't they?' The scene is written magnificently, from the lack of mutual respect between James Bond and Ugo Carnifex to the sense of hopelessness James feels after he is left alone. Blood drips from the uncountable bites on his body and the creatures are relentless and ruthless in their mass attack. Help eventually comes, but not after James experiences a world of agony and pain. In a way, this scene (which succeeds wonderfully) represents a transition from young Bond to the adult 007. Charlie Higson proves he can make a scene like this work very well. The violence is increased, but sex still remains very PG. Bond tries to resist Vendetta's uncontrollable attempts to kiss him, thinking the action to be embarrassing. He does however kiss her 'hard on the mouth' when trying to get a point across, but the idea of Amy as a girlfriend is 'nonsense' to him.

Do not resist this second Young Bond novel if you did of SilverFin because the idea seemed too childish or silly. Charlie Higson is an accomplished writer and his work on Blood Fever is definitely deserving of praise. This is the best kind of Bond novels--young or old. It grips you from the start and truly does not let go until the conclusion. The characterization is deep and rich, the settings described in detail, and the plot interesting and exciting. Equally as important, there is a point: Blood Fever continues young James Bond on the road to 007. Both James Bond and the readers are in for quite the journey.

commanderbond.net

Thirteen year-old James Bond is pulled into another adventure. This time, James stumbles upon a dangerous secret society at his own school. When his teacher and some of his classmates decide to visit Sardinia over a break, James tags along. He has a nearly takes a fatal fall at their archeological dig site, and James suspects one of his professors. James then leaves his group to stay with his uncle who lives nearby. But danger soon follows, and James discovers a conspiracy involving the secret society, pirates, and a power-hungry monarch.

In this second Young Bond adventure, there is even more action and suspense. Blood Fever definitely has the feel of a true James Bond story. James gets captured, (mildly) tortured, and even has a girl to save. Higson has done a wonderful job of staying true to Bond's character, while making him a much more innocent young man. And the secondary characters are remarkably vivid and exciting. Both children and adults who love action and adventure will love this series.

Blood Fever
By: Charlie Higson



The main character in the story is James Bond and he is a boy who is adventurous and likes to be sneaky at school. He also likes to be in secret clubs like the danger club.


When James Bond goes on a field trip he is on a exploration with a friend from school and on the trip with enemies. He encounters a group of men and gets knocked out. He also meets a big criminal who wants to kill him and watch him suffer.

The setting of the story is in a school, in a carnival, in a mansion and they were all in the middle east.

The theme was about bravery, greed, and death. The story was about bravery because James had to be brave to save the girl that was trapped. It was about greed because two big criminals were fighting for a big treasure. The story was about death because one of James's friends died and that was very big for James.

I liked the story because I like action and adventure type books and this book is very good and once I started reading I couldn't stop. Another reason I liked the book is because it had some parts that were very sad witch quickly changed into anger.

IF you like action or adventure I would suggest you read Young Bond Book #3: Double or Die

Ms. Lanier grabbed my attention with the very first book I read of hers in this wonderful series of mysteries starring her beloved bloodhounds. Her details of how they are trained could be boring, but she cleverly puts them into the story, showing why she picks a particular hound to do the tracking required in each case. Almost makes me want to own one of the wonderful breed. I couldn't wait until I could get my hands on the next book in the series, and now I have all of them. Hope she writes more very soon.

I hope nothing has happened to Virgina. this a great series. A new book would be great.

I just learned that my new favorite Author has died. I had just finished a Brace of Bloodhounds and was looking for the next installment. Mrs. Lanier died while I was reading this book. I was late in finding this great series and I will miss this character greatly. Thanks Mrs Lanier for a great series.

This is *NOTE* the third book of a series. It is well done enough that you can pick up the series here but it will be more enjoyable if you start from the beginning. The books are; 1996-Death in Bloodhound Red, 1997-The House on Bloodhound Lane, 1998- A Brace of Bloodhounds, 1999-Blind Bloodhound Justice, 2000-Ten Little Bloodhounds. I'm not sure why we don't have books for 2001 and 2002, but after you read the first book and then run out and buy the next four that continue without dropping the pace and excitement, you'll mourn the gap in the series. I have a review in on the first book that gives you an idea about the series, which I won't repeat the basics.

It took the first two books to teach me to REALLY not start them on a work night because no matter how hard I try I am NOT going to sleep until its done and it's hard to debug unix on four hours sleep. This time I managed to wait till friday night to read it, and did i mention these are a healthy sized book, the kind a serious reader who reads very fast needs. A thin or medium sized book I can read in a couple hours and is more like an appetizer to me, and you'll see me always score short story collections as 4 or less because there just isnt time to do a 5 story in one. While not a thick as 'Dune', all her books are a serious read and very satisfying to the mature bookaholic with a substantial habit going. Speaking of addiction, this is not the first but one of the cream of crop of books that makes me sigh that I can only read a few thousand words an hour , I scored six hundred with 100% retention in high school, 30 years ago and am several orders of magnitude faster now though I don't know exactly HOW fast. This kind of book makes you regret you cant IV it directly into your veins!

The reason I call this a 'friday night only' book is that she achieves the kind of realism where the idea of having to get up in three hours for ten or twelves hours of work, even vigourous brainwork, is a vague and unimportant concept once you start reading. Virginnia Lanier's books are filled with such a wealth of information and such an interweaving of the elements that after reading 1, then 1 again, then a pause before I found 2, and read 1 and 2, then 2 again, that it was only a few weeks before I found 3, and then read 1, 2 and 3! And im VERY ADHD so I get bored easily, but not with these books. Like only a few authors Virginnia Lanier manages to hold onto several themes at the same time (like life) and weave them in together so well that anytime you hit a low point at one you hit a high point elsewhere and the book never lets you go without being artificially extravagent, which never works for me. The story has to hold together well for things to happen within the realm of possibility of the definition of the characters and the environment and these stories definitely do that.

The main theme of this book is a murder. But what makes this a different murder mystery? One reoccurring theme that comes up is here is a mystery that has clear warning signs come up that a SMART woman would back off. However while Jo Beth is smart, she is both stubborn and ruthless in her way. There is just a point where she don't give a rat's behind and goes on anyway cause it's RIGHT, which is why I **LIKE*** the character. And no matter how compelling the story is otherwise I can't stand reading a story about someone I can't stand. Well, unless they are in a serious hailstorm of.. you know. But even then they can't be the main character or I just won't want to bother reading it. I know enough of THEM in real life.

So anyway, this book the main theme is a murder, but there are many others and skillfully woven in. Like life, nothing else waits while you work on your biggest priority. The lightning just keeps coming. And sometimes Jo Beth has to bail her boat pretty hard in the rain, which makes me like her and the series MORE. I've had to do some serious bailing myself, more often then not in fact I've been bailing out more then one leak and so does Jo Beth. I like Jo Beth because she has made herself a sucess AGAINST all odds, not because things just worked out her way easy. Also because she is smartmouthed ... tough broad that is willing to take the consequences of speaking her piece, even if they can be fairly serious.

Of course by the strict definition of success a lot of people would not think she is a sucess, she works dang hard, long hours and doesnt have fast cars or serious jewelry (funny, like me). She does have a house (at the edge of a swamp) but then she did have an inheritance I didn't. But Jo Beth has none of the icons of success in the current world, most especially a husband. To a lot of the world she is just more white trash. But **I** think she is a success and that is all the thinking that **I** care about even if I am just 'more shanty Irish'. And if Jo Beth and I both blew some chances because we just had to tell someone where to go, sure but we're still laughing at the look on his or her face years later, not crying cause I'm 'trapped' in my nice house and wasn't 'allowed to be myself'. Which is actually something Jo Beth had and walked away from. I never had it so I don't know if I'd meet the test and give it up, but then Jo Beth is fiction and I STILL really LIKE her. I don't know what kind of background Ms Lanier has, but she sure created a tough gal that this 'worked her way up alone from minimum wage' reader can appreciate without rolling her eyes at the lack of realism.

The intrepid Jo Beth Sidden and her lovable, talented bloodhounds continue their daring exploits in this third suspenseful mystery of the series. This time our heroes deal with the kidnapping of a child, a murderous judge who's carrying on nefarious deeds in the woods, a bank robbery perpetrated by two drunken locals, and a rampaging alligator. And, yes, psycho ex-husband Bubba is still around. Add dangerous treks through the Okefenokee Swamp and stakeouts in the forest, and you've got an absorbing, unputdownable thriller. Unconventional characters, exciting subplots, vivid descriptions, humor, Southern atmosphere and, above all, those irresistible canines make for a most enjoyable read.

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.

I have just recently started this book. And I just love it. It is a wonderful work book that I will treasure forever. I love exploring the world of King David and the struggles he goes through. In comparison his struggles are not unlike our own. It is nice to see that the Old Testament is relevant in today's world. Every day I look forward to reading the Bible and working in this book. I recommend this work book to anyone who is looking to dig deeper into their faith and get closer to God.

Beth Moore is an awesome teacher of the Father's word to us. My wife and I love her books and study materials! We use them for life group study, topics, and couples reading to build one's personal responsible to the call of Christ and who we are in Him.

There is a high value to do this devotional. Writing out your prayers helps you to remember to pray them more thru the day. Also you can go back and write when they are answered and how.

Beth Moore's insights never stop amazing me. The length is just right for a daily devotional. The book is so high quality you feel as if you have an old world treasure in your hands.

Very well written and thought provoking book with plenty of room for contemplative notes ans exercises to help one evaluate and study David. My only problem, and hence the 3 not 5 stars, is she relates and compares, way too often, David to Jesus. It is a book about David according to its title and yet she falls in the same trap as most Christian authors. Everything in the bible is NOT about Jesus nor is there any need to try and force every verse, person, etc. to fit to some explanation or elaboration of him. It is about GOD and his message via his prophets. I would love to see some of the great Christian authors, Mrs. Moore included, give the Bible its just treatment especially when dealing with the Hebrew Scriptures portion (aka OT).

Each day there are about 2-3 pages of commentary and instruction from Beth Moore followed by 2 or 3 questions to consider and a space with a suggested prayer starter.

I purchased this book as part of an infomal bible study gathering with a few other ladies. We aimed to complete 6 days each week and compaired our impressions with each other once a week.

I highly recommend this book even if you don't have a group to share with. Just be sure to take the time to consider the questions and write out your answers and prayers.

WOW! This is one of the best Who novels ever. Funny, sad, AND scary. I felt for all the charecters in one way or another, even the computer! This mixed with a time travel story that flowed backwards (but I was able to keep up with) makes this a great book. Also, The Doctor and Romana are captured perfectly. I can't write enough about how great this book is for Who fans. This is also just a good sci-fi novel with a unique premise, so share it with non-who fans as well!

This is a fantastic read. This was the first Doctor Who novel I read, and after reading about a dozen others, this is still the best, far exceeding all the others so far.

The story is extremely well-written, very true to the TV show style, dialogue and characters. The plot is very interesting and exciting. The action moves quickly and there are wonderful plot twists and subplots to follow. The dialogue and supporting characters are marvelously written. I enjoyed every minute reading it, and look forward to rereading it at some point.

I highly recommend this to any Dr. Who fan, especially Tom Baker fans. If I could give it six (heck, ten) stars, I would.

This is pure 4th Doctor in all his glory; or did I say that already? That question rings throughout the entire plot. Time and time again, eddys in time, multiple visits and avoiding a paradox are all wound tightly within this tome. The ending gets a bit confusing but then it's the beginning, isn't it? But then I may have said this already. Read for all 4th Doctor fans a book that has captured all the nuances of his character in a wonderful story.

The TARDIS materializes in a tourist park which houses a unique attraction that enables one to experience what it's like to be dead - without being obligated to remain so. But a freak mishap has caused the participants to become murderous zombies. The Doctor arrives just after the crisis has passed, and in a welcome deviation from the norm, he is not blamed for the incident (not at first, anyway), but praised for saving the day.

The strange thing, of course, is that he hasn't done anything yet. The stranger thing is that he died while doing it. So our heroes travel further and further back in time to figure out exactly what happened. It's great fun to see all the bits fall into place as the novel progresses. The author handles the different timelines beautifully, and keeps it from being as confusing as it might have been.

The story may be a bit morbid, but this is an extremely funny book nonetheless. The story, dialogue and supporting cast fit right in with the high camp nature of the era from which it is derived. Most importantly, the characters of The Doctor, Romana and even K9 are flawlessly written, down to the most detailed mannerism. It's such a faithful recreation that you'll swear you'd seen it on TV. If you're a fan of the fourth Doctor, this is a must-read.

Festival of Death is full of the illogical wit, wisdom, and fun that made Doctor Who great! Reading this is like finding a lost tv episode. The Doctor, Romana, and K-9 are so well realized it's like watching them on the screen!

The story starts out with Romana insisting that the Doctor take a "time travel proficiency test" a sort of driving test for a Tardis. And being the Doctor, well....

They land on a space station in the aftermath of a catastrophe, dead and wounded lying everywhere. Naturally they jump in to help. Only to find out that they've already helped! The Doctor is recognized as the savior of the G-Lock. And as a saboteur, and a spy, and a friend, and an escaped criminal....

The Doctor and Romana realize they have skipped their own time traces and must go back in time to do whatever they did the first time to save the station.

But they're recognized again. And again! Each time they go back they are faced with solving the present problems without changing what those problems become in the future, and without running into themselves in the process!

Soon the Doctor and Romana are running all over the G-Lock narrowly avoiding their own past and future selves. And the closer they come to the heart of the disaster the more mysterious it becomes. Until the Doctor does what he always knew he must do to save the station.

He dies.

For everyone who likes classic, clean, monstery, funny Doctor Who this is the book for you!

I read these books with both younger sons for years and we loved them. It's amazing how many times you can "read" one of the books and yet find something you had never noticed before. Such a neat way to engage young children in books. We would make up our own stories and the boys would try to best each other in finding the most unusual happening on each page. If you buy one I'm sure you'll want the other. Very, very enjoyable!

My daughter brought this home from her school library last year when she was in kindergarten. We had great fun with it. She checked it out two more times over the course of the school year. She's in Grade 1 now and has already brought the book home once. So we bought it for her, and she was delighted to get it.

The book is a series of pictures of the inside of a hotel. In each of the rooms, you see various characters engaged in activities (cooking, cleaning, checking in, etc). As you turn the pages, you see looming disasters from all directions, and each page shows how each character is affected at each stage. It's very humourously done.

The newer edition is in the form of a "find the . . . " book. This addition is entirely unnecessary as our daughter found the original version highly entertaining. But she's very happy with the new edition we ordered, as well.

My 5-year old son found this book in the library and could not put it down. At the end of our borrowing period, he was still in love with this book, spending up to an hour at a time following individual characters from one page to another. So I had to buy a copy.

These wordless story books are rich in detail and drama and can inspire the most book phobic child to reconsider their viewpoint. The story here centres on a peaceful evening in a tranquil country hotel. Weird and wonderful things begin to happen when the soup is served up! The Hotel action is shown in double page spreads of glorious activity and superbly detailed art work. With each page turn you have a myriad of events to witness and decipher as each character has progressively madcap events unfold for them. You will want to cross reference several times to grasp a fuller understanding of the action. There are factfinding questions at the rear of the book which will have you hunting all over again! A marvellous, amusing and highly innovative route into concentrating the minds of reluctant readers and hyperactive minds. Devilishly funny for adults too! Must have books as the possibilities for spur off activities and fun learning are endless.

I gave this book to my 6-year-old on the second leg of a loooong plane trip. It kept her absorbed for almost an hour. She isn't reading yet, so it was a relief to give her something she could look at independently (especially as she was seated across the aisle). Since that trip, the book gets moved from the car to the church bag, and it continues to hold her interest several months later.
Have to admit I haven't really looked at it myself, but after seeing some of the other reviews I'll have to give it a try!