Publications Books

This book is worth it for anyone wanting to learn about Pharmaceutical Sales. It covers EVERYTHING you need to know about this career. It was recommended to me by a sales rep for a major pharmaceutical company. The book is great from beginning to end. It's also very easy to understand and offers great tips. The only thing I didn't like were the sample resumes and cover letters. Nevertheless, it was still a good buy.

Insider's Guide to the World of Pharmaceutical Sales, Eighth Edition

This book had every bit of information that I needed to get interviews, how to perform on interviews and what to bring with me. I used it to get a different type of sales position but I went to each interview well equipped and was able to score so many job offers that in the end, I got to pick and choose! There are key factors in here that will truly win you the next interview or the job offer. I am so thankful for this book!

great book. very informative. I highly suggest buying this book before you try and get a pharma job. You will realise that after reading it, the process is whole differant approach than a conventional job.

Great reference. Thorough, succinct, nice extras in the back, lots of legwork already done for you!

This book is a fantastic primer for "how-to-get-a-job" in pharmaceutical sales. It is a quick read, but the information is complete and if you actually follow-through with all of the tactics that the author suggests, you have a good chance of at least getting one interview. After that it will be up to you to sell yourself and demonstrate that you actually know what you're talking about. But again, if you do what the author advises you to do, you should be able to get the business.

If you're thinking about taking the Security+ exam from the position of a complete newcomer to the field of INFOSEC, then this book is highly recommended. The print quality is not that great, there are a few typos here and there and the humor sometimes gets a little tedious. But look beyond these shortcomings and this book is worth every penny you spend on it. In fact, if the Security+ exam were not as technical as it is, then this book would be the definitive text. The material is laid out in simple language and yet technical details like port numbers are covered nicely. In all, if you are new to INFOSEC, or you just want to be sure of your foundations, then this is a good place to start. For the exam, read this book first and then get Security+ Prep Guide by Ronald L. Krutz and Russell Dean Vines to provide more technical insight. Polish both off with the 100-page study guide that you get with Security+ Transcender and you should have no problems achieving 85% pass mark.

Congratulations to Helen and Tcat, their book is one of the most organized and practical technical books I have ever seen. I has been very useful to study and day-to-day tasks. A very good choice to prepare to Security+ Exam and IT security career.

I like how this book ties in real life examples and stories into its pages. This makes it a bit more interesting read then most dry, boring, and technical books on Security+.

When you are purchasing any can of material you must do your research on the product. Well I did and it has paid off!
You well not find a better book when your pursuing your Security+
certification! This book not only gets you going in the right direction, but the authors have also included links if you want to delve deeper into the particular subject they are addressing.
(I mean they did their research!)
The software they also include in my opinion is just simply one product you just cannot do without!

There are just too many kudos to list!

When purchasing any kind of material you must do your research. Well I did and it has paid off!

This is the book you want to have when you are pursuing your Secutity+ certification!

It has so much information that is presented in a way that makes you want to never let it down!
Not only will you have this wealth of information, but the authors have included so many hyperlinks related to subject they are addressing. This is great for the person that just wants that extra touch!

The tools which they include on the cdrom are just ones you must have! The missus and myself love testing each other.

There are just too many kudos too list!

When you wake up at 4:30 in the morning and start reading you know you have a great book in your hands!

I love this book! Mother Teresa speaks in very simple terms about her faith and her calling to follow Jesus. The chapters on love and prayer were very inspirational and convicting. We should all follow her example in how we treat one another. I am not a Catholic, but that doesn't matter, her message is for everyone. I have purchased several copies of this book to give away. That's how good it is.

The quality of the books are excellent. I had a problem receiving the books, though. When tracking them I was told they were delivered, but I had never received them. I got connected with customer service through the website and they helped make things right by re-sending my order. These books came in the same time I should have received my other books. I feel confident that I can order through Amazon again and they will make sure that I am satisfied. Thank you, Amazon!

Honestly one of the most inspiring books I have ever read. I minister to the homeless and everytime I re-read what I have high-lighted, I want to run off & serve God even more. I highly recommend this book. But if you share books with others, buy 2 copies b/c you will want to re-read yours often. She is such an amzing woman. I felt like this book was a personal letter to me. It took away some of the fear I harbored in the work I do. Praise God!

The devotion of Mother Teresa should be an inspiration to us all (whether you are Catholic, Eastern Orthodox or Protestant; Christian or non-Christian). I'm a Methodist and I see in Mother Teresa a true imitation of Christ. She reminds us of God's love and how God uses us to minister to one another.

While I was growing up, people would call Mother Teresa a "living saint" (I grew up and still live in a heavily in a Catholic neighborhood). Recent evidence reveals that she sometimes wrestled with doubts and frustrations. This has actually enhanced my appreciation for her, in that I see Mother Teresa now as more a human being, who struggled along like the rest of us, and could relate with our faults and trials better than someone of superhuman constitution.

Her feeling for the poor; that is the economically, as well as, spiritually poor, gives us all a lot to think about. Whatever religion you are, I am sure you can find comfort in Mother Teresa's gentle spirit:

"I deal with thousands of Christians and non-Christians, and in each you can see such conscience at work in their lives, drawing them to God...If everyone were capable of discovering the image of God in their neighbors, do you think we would still need tanks and generals?"

This book is pure inspiration. You realize how selfish the world is after reading this humble book. Mother Teresa is often in my thoughts now. And for that reason, this book is priceless.

This is my favorite book on autism, period. I adore it.

I am a 30-year-old mom with Asperger Syndrome, my 11-year-old daughter has Autism. As such, I have sought books to keep on hand to give to friends who may be interested in reading about autism. I wish I could afford a whole shelf full of this one!

Paul Collins writing is insightful and deep and it flows well - leading from one chapter into the next, it's a difficult book to put down. This book talks about the author's expolration of the history of autism, and individuals who have lived or are living their own unique lives. At the same time as he's following these leads to find out more about his autism, his own son is diagnosed. It's a beautiful story because of the twists and turns, and because of the lives of people it illuminates so graciously.

I was given an assignment in my graduate Humanities class to recommend one chapter of a book for the whole class to read. I knew immediately it would be this book, but had to think about which chapter. After much deliberation (there are many beautifully written stories that flow together in this volume), I selected Chapter 16. The passage where he sits on the steps of a church to cry after meeting the man with the painted lightbulbs illustrates how this book speaks on what it means to be human, it isn't just a book on autism.

Always eloquent, never condescending - if this is the first book you read on autism you'll start with a deeper understanding. Don't bother reading books that bog you down with those who "suffer from autism" - this book, instead, is about human beings.

You won't find the rage at autism that so many parents have experienced, or the accounts of scientific and medical detective work that other parents have undertaken. What you will find is a collection of stories of people in both relatively ancient (Peter the Wild Boy) and relatively recent (Henry Darger) history who might have been diagnosed somewhere along the autism spectrum, interspersed with his experiences of his son, Morgan.

Another way this book is different from a lot of books written by parents of children with autism, is that Collins uses this collection of stories to look at Morgan's life in its totality, thinking what Morgan might be like at age 40, or age 70, instead of focusing on today's trials and opportunities. Collins thinks a lot further into the future than most parents. On the other hand, using history to think about autism, may not be the best way to go, as quite a bit of research into autism and related disorders is currently under way.

If you've already read some books about autism, you might think "Been there, done that" as you read about important people in the autism community like Simon Baron-Cohen and Temple Grandin. On the other hand, this book is unusually free of the anger, drama and tragedy of many books on this topic. Another thing that is useful about this book is to reflect that autism has most likely been around for a long time.

The book is easy to read, and is extensively documented if you wish to go further along the path Collins is treading.

This book was difficult to put down so, even with a 4 year old to look after, I read it in 4 days. I haven't had that experience with a book in a long time! "Not Even Wrong" is extremely interesting and informative on the subject and history of autism and the author's own personal experience with his autistic son is a tender and heartfelt thread binding it all together. Not only did it give me a much better understanding of autism but it had a profound impact on my understanding and respect for the unique way my own mind works, as well as the minds of those around me. By taking a respectful look at the extreme differences of the autistic mind, it helps a person become more accepting of the subtle differences we all have between us that, if we work with what we've got instead of trying to fit a mold, make us so unique and interesting. Along with his talent for describing history, Paul Collins has put his heart and soul into this book.

This is not your typical book about autism, and I mean that as a compliment. As another reviewer said, it's difficult to characterize, but it's very interesting even for someone who doesn't know a lot about autism. Well done!

Not Even Wrong: Adventures in Autism was written by historian Paul Collins, the author of Sixpence House. Apparently Collins and his wife don't have enough sense to be devastated that their happy, healthy son Morgan is suffering with a tragic disease. The kid bounces around exuberantly playing verbal games with numbers and letters, banging on the piano, reading everything in sight, and interacting with his nanny and parents in his own way. He's as happy as Mandy West in Paul West's old classic Words for a Deaf Daughter and just as oblivious that he's actually living in a hellish prison and that there must be a real child in there struggling to get out, etc., etc., ad infinitum, while the parents think he's simply a bright kid with many interests. Who cares if he doesn't answer when you ask his name or play along with dumb "look at the funny monkey" games when there's a much more interesting talking computerized camera in the same room?

In short, the parents don't see anything wrong with the kid, because there isn't anything wrong with the kid. He's just more interested in music, math, reading, and audio equipment than people. A phalanx of experts try to convince Collins that Morgan's in need of vast amounts of therapy to bring him up to "normal", but Collins sensibly doesn't buy it even after he is made to understand that two-year-olds generally have more interest in the above social interactions.

Like Paul West citing stories of famous deaf people, Collins goes back in time to look at historical figures who may have had conditions similar to autism, which the shrinks finally talk him into believing his son is at least sort of, kind of, on the spectrum. He spends a lot of time on Peter the Wild Boy, gets into a bit of Henry Darger and others, and presents us with an endless array of fascinating trivia. Thirty years ago, the obviously devoted Collins would have been targeted as one of those too-intellectual "refrigerator parents" who forced their kids to withdraw into a shell of autism. He talks about Bruno Bettelheim, too -- the guy who faked a psychology degree and promoted the theory that all autism was caused by abusive parents. Bettelheim defrauded the psychiatric community and the public for years, while brutalizing hundreds of children at his Orthogenic School.

Collins looks for (and finds) a way to help Morgan communicate without murdering who he is, using techniques such as PECS picture cards. He also finds an autistic school where the kids are permitted to learn through their own ways and interests. The book ends in almost a parody of the old sunburst-through-clouds, ohmygod-it's a breakthrough fashion when Morgan notices Collins has left the room and yells "Daddy" to bring him back. So those who believe in the sickness/cure paradigm get a Reader's Digest condensed version of what they want, and Morgan remains jolly well autistic.

The book repeatedly and convincingly gives the message that it's a mistake to try to force we autistics to behave as something other than our true selves. Parents of other autistic kids tell Collins about how their kid went through the pink monkey routine when they were mainstreamed, but did fine in an autistic school where they were allowed to communicate in their own way. Simply letting autistic people be autistic is such a revolutionary idea! But I think it will be accepted, along with ideas such as autistic culture, in the very near future.

It is easy to forget that just a few years ago, autism was still being classified as a mental illness (in the DSM-IV, it still is). Part of this confusion is caused by the fact that some psychotic children (made that way by abuse or other toxic life circumstance) behave superficially similar to autistic (cf. Mira Rothenberg's Children with Emerald Eyes). The Journal of Autism used to be the Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia and the two conditions were constantly being mistaken for each other. Now it is generally acknowledged thanks to Bernard Rimland and others that autism has a biochemical and/or neurological basis and is not a response to child abuse. (I believe it is only a matter of time before multiple personality is similarly demystified.)

As of 2005, most mainstream services for autism are still dedicated to the propositions that autism can and must be cured, and that until that day, autistics must be trained to behave as close to non-autistic as possible. It'll take a while to change, but I believe it will change. And I will live to see it, and so will you. Thank you, Paul Collins, for bringing that day a little closer.

I have been using Dr. Ted Roberts book Pure Desire every since the first week we started sex addiction ministry. Dr. Roberts through his own experience and expertise wrote a book that explains exactly what is going on in a sex addicts life. I've heard remarks like: "It's like he is reading my mail when I read this book" or "this book has help me understand I'm not crazy or alone in my struggle". We require this book for all of our men who attend our recovery groups and I highly recommend it to everyone who thinks they may have a problem with sex addiction.

Much needed information to help men and women to get out from under the bondage of pornography. A real problem in the family, husband & wife relationship, in the community, and in the individuals own moral, character, and mental health issues. A must read for everyone. For those trapped and for those who can help the trapped. It is written well. Informative, funny, interesting, and easy to read. It's hard to put down. Ted's transparentcy is the center of the success of this book. His openness is healing to those who need it most.

I love it when an author addresses issues that are rarely talked about, especially issued that are rarely talked about in church.

The thought life is the most private and secret area in our entire being. Unless you decide to reveal all that is in your mind, no one is going to know what lies behind the curtain. Yet it is right behind that curtain where most of the pain and damage begins.

Roberts boldly reveals the struggles he has had with sexual immorality, laying the foundation of his connectedness with more than half of the rest world. He does a great job at introducing possible ways of dealing with the skeletons in our closests and help bring them to the light of God for deliverence and healing.

Also recommend: "I'm Bored with Christianity" by Derrick Engoy

This book is more than just about sex. It is very rich for men and women to read. It addresses issues of relationships with family and with God and how that relates to disfunction in sex and other addictions. We have read quite a few books like this and it is by far the best.

Ted's personal experiences both in his struggle with sex addiction and in his career as a pilot provide a compelling unity to this book. He has a passion for helping the many people who struggle with this problem, but who are not receiving the help where they should be receiving it -- from their churches, who have the truth of the Bible, but often don't focus it in this area.

The book has a dual-fold purpose. Foremost, to help the person caught in the bondage of sex addiction. Secondly, to sound a "wake-up call" to churches who are letting these persons slip through the cracks. It is effective on both counts, though I think Roberts sometimes tries to address both simultaneously, and would be better off focusing on the sex addicts as his primary audience, then addressing the churches in dedicated chapters toward the end.

It is an easy read -- he writes in a conversational and "story telling" manner. He uses humor frequently and in good taste to help break the tension of a tough subject. There are also some helpful chapters from his wife offering her perspective on what it's like to heal along with her husband.

I've read many books on the subject, starting with SLAA's big book, the SA white book, and Christian books such as Every Man's Battle (Arterburn and Stoecker), Faithful and Tree (Laaser), Not Even a Hint (Harris), and the Purity Principle (Alcorn). I found something helpful in all of them, but Roberts' is one of the best. It has the "empathy" of the secular 12-step "big book" literature on sex addiction, but goes beyond self-defined bottom lines and "God as I understand him" to a much more Biblically grounded faith and vision.

Very interesting book for both the beginner and most advanced home brewer. Great techniques and odd ball recipes to try at least once in your home brew hobby.

This book is not for someone who's never brewed but if you've done it a few times, this book will get you hooked. The methods, ingredients, and everything else about this makes you want to try brewing in ways you probably wouldn't imagine otherwise.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a little adventure in their brewing.

I just started home brewing, and I want more--Randy Mosher's book gives me that. This book gives a full spectrum on brewing, from the history to the chemistry to tons of recipes for creating many different types of beer. This guy has a great sense of humor, and the book is also very visually engaging. This book answered many of my questions about how beer brewing works and what to do and what not to do. Most of the recipes he gives have instructions for beginners and advanced brewers, so this book can definitely "grow" with you. I would suggest brewing a few batches first, before trying the more advanced techniques, and/or purchasing the other books described in these reviews as companions. I was really happy to see that there are so many possibilities for home brew, and the author's enthusiasm motivates me to try them. A great book!

This as my first brewing book and still my favorite. If you get one brewing book, this is the one. While not encyclopedic in brewing details, it shines in inspirational historical insight into what beer IS.
A joy to behold, you will not be disappointed!

I'm enjoying this book immensely. This is my second home brewing book (Papazian was the first, about 15 years ago). Like Papazian, "Radical Brewing" includes plenty of lore in addition to hard core brewing info. And like Papazian this book has lots of humor in it. But Mosher's book is much more current, in terms of both information and viewpoint. And the humor is sardonic where Papazian's humor tends to be more goofy and quaint.
If anything "Radical Brewing" is slightly less practical than "The Joy of Homebrewing." It seems like Mosher focuses on giving the reader inspiration rather than step-by-step instructions, which is very wise considering how individualized each batch of homebrew is. Papazian has a certain recipe mentality, where Mosher is instead setting forth ideas and techniques. Good stuff, particularly for the intermediate or advanced brewer. Highly recommended.

This book is a pleasure to read, between the artwork and the author's comments. Some of the dishes are more complicated than I care to make, but there are also some simple ones that look delicious. The ingredients and recipes are clear and easy to follow.

I have to buy another copy of this book, as my first copy has fallen apart. That's how often I use this cookbook. I buy many cookbooks, but this one has a permanent spot on my kitchen bookshelf.
Every recipe I've tried has been great. The Cinnamon Cornbread is one of my daughter's favorites, and the Salsa recipes are both good. The pasta salads are all excellent, and my family requests them often.

I have been eating vegetarian for about two years and I could not have done it without this book! The recipes are creative, fairly simple, and best of all, they do not call for unusual or hard to find ingredients. I love that the recipes are divided by the seasons (though I don't always use it this way)and I think the Autumn menus are the best. If you are vegan, you can use the majority of recipes in the book because the author is very good about telling you when you can substitute soy milk or other non-dairy ingredients. This book should be in every cook's collection- vegetarian or not!

This cookbook provides a great variety of foods to try and to explore. Many books tend to be full of recipes which may seem to complicated for the everyday cook, but Ms. Allrich has mastered the ability to share down-to-earth recipes which a cook with any ability can easily create.

The list of ingredients to keep in one's pantry was very helpful. The separation by Season is very logical. Various produce comes available at different times. As a gardener, I am already planning for meals with ingredients which are not yet harvested.

This is a great cookbook - the one I use again and again. However, it is, unfortunately, out of print.

Here's the good news! This cookbook has been revised and updated as Cooking by the Seasons - Simple Vegetarian Feasts. I've just received my copy and reviewed it at Amazon today. You'll find the cookbook searching for Allrich, Karri or Cooking by the Seasons.

Enjoy! It's a fun cookbook, and the new design (though slightly different) has a good feel to it.

"The Temple of the Twelve" bills itself as a spiritual fairy tale, and this is an excellent way to describe it. The central character, Caroline, presents herself at the Temple of the Twelve (Colors) to begin her life as a novice priestess. Each new moon, a different one of the twelve Colors (they are gods and goddesses) comes to visit her and gives her a new task to complete to prepare for becoming a priestess. As you read, you follow Caroline on her journey, and learn with her about the nature of the Divine, about love, about compassion, about what it means to have a calling. The imagery is deep and beautiful; the characters are rich and warmly drawn; and the writing is gentle, yet powerful.

One of the reviews on the back notes that "In using colours as Deities of Initiation, the Author transcends all differences between various paths of Pagan spirituality and unifies them all." I'm hardly an expert on paganism, so I can't tell you whether that's the case, but I *can* tell you that this book is worth reading no matter what your faith is. The themes in it are universal, as is Caroline's struggle to find and fulfill her vocation. As a Catholic, I have found it to be a remarkable aid in my prayer life, and it will take its place in the "frequently used" collection of spiritual books I keep on my desk. It has deeply touched and inspired me, and it has help me grown closer to God.

Let me give some examples. The tasks Caroline complete include discovering who she really is, and coming face to face with that truth; identifying her emotional wounds; finding her strengths; discerning her vocation; coming to terms with the fact that she is a child of God; and trusting in the Divine. Who among us, in a life of faith, can avoid these questions, these tasks? They are a part of every (or almost every) spiritual path, and rarely are they treated more beautifully than they are in The Temple of the Twelve.

In sum, I highly recommend this book to everyone who is seeking to grow in their spirituality. Reading it has been a great blessing to me, and I'm sure it will be to you as well.

I love this book! I just finished reading it. When I first started the book I wasnt so sure, it seemed kind of corny but I continued reading it thinking It would be a cute read for my young daughters. By the second chapter I fell in love with it. I had to resist marking it up with my highlighter and notes because I want my girls to read this without my influence. I truly believe this book is important and entertaining.I will probably re-read this book after my girls and then write my notes so that I can go back to it when I need. Better yet I think I will purchase this book for each my daughters so that they can mark it up with their own thoughts and feelings.

I am so honored to know dear ELF (Esmeralda Little Flame) and be friends with her. It was because of that friendship, I was even aware of this book. I would not have missed the experience for the world and I look forward to the other two books of the trilogy.

This book has colors personified as deities. You can feel like you are really interacting with the colors and that they speak to you. You feel like you are Caroline "Little Bird", so engrossed you will be in her experiences.

The colors already have meaning in my life as an artist. How much more so as I have seen them through the eyes of "Little Bird". This not only tells of her experiences as a novice in the Temple, but reaches deep into the past of many lifetimes.

One thing, whether colors are as real and personal to you as deities, you can not deny they are always present. An ever constant in our life. The representations are dead on with how I feel about them. It's like something that most creative people know deep within.

I was profoundly touched by this book. Something that soulful and deep can't merely be called entertainment, rather it goes deeper and gives the reader a challenge. I intend to notice colors more now. I thought I noticed them before, but there is always room to delve deeper.

This book was wonderful - not only the story itself, but the journey on which it takes the reader. It lead me to quite a bit of self-examination, and allowed me to embark on my own spiritual journey. I absolutely love this book, and look forward to more from Ms. ELF.

This book touched me deeply, in ways that opened my heart up to the magick within myself. Regardless of what spiritual path you follow, this book is a must-read. It teaches you how to work through many aspects of yourself, in a beautiful, fairy-tale kind of way.

A wonderful collection of the historical and the traditional songs. This is one of the best hymnbooks of any kind to be published in recent years. It took me back.

this is a wonderful book. It is full of new and old songs.

GIA, the publisher of this hymnal, is a Catholic publisher. This book is not a Catholic hymnal unlike "Lead Me, Guide Me", GIA's "turnkey solution" to gospel-style music for Catholic services. Also, the lyrics have a lot more "I", "Me", "My" and "Mine" in the lyrics than would be appropriate for Catholic litugies. This is not a quibble; just a bit of information for potential Catholic purchasers. Those matters aside, this is a fine product, packed with impressive new material and old favorites that will add much to spirited worship.

This hymnal has all my favorites in it. Even the responsive readings are biblically solid. I love it. My pastor does too. The pianist at our church loves to play these hymns.

This song book has wonderful spiritual, God-loving songs. It is a great source for getting your congregation in the spirit of 'singing praises to our King'. Introduce it to your choir or congregation and you will be forever greatful for the joy it will bring.

Andi Carter is a tomboy who loves her family's ranch and her horse, Taffy. When a flood closes the school in Fresco, Andi is secretly delighted. She'll be able to stay home and ride her horse. She won't miss school!
Instead, Andi finds she is being sent to San Francisco to study at Miss Whitaker's Academy for Young Ladies. Disappointed, but struggling to make the best of her school term, Andi is drawn to the young servant girl, Lin Mei.
When Andi realizes that Lin Mei is a slave, she is determined to help her escape. Andi finds herself drawn into the depths of China Town, where mystery and danger surround her at every turn. Will Andi be able to rescue Lin Mei?
This is the fourth book in the Andrea Carter series, but is a great stand alone read. The story has enough action and excitement to keep the pickiest tween reader enthralled without realizing that she is learning American history. Andi Carter is a wonderful role model. She displays courage, compassion, and a willingness to treat all people equally during a time period when many groups were not accepted. She stands firm in her beliefs and in her Christian heritage.

My only disappointment was that this book was aimed for tween and teen girls. I am always searching for quality historical fiction for tween boys. However, this book deserves a place in any family library where high quality, Christian fiction is appreciated.

Andrea has no idea the man she and her friends rescue isn't quite what he lets on, but she has other things to occupy her mind when she finds her home invaded by a woman and her three unruly kids. She has no desire to welcome the strangers into her home, especially when her eldest brother, on her insistence, reveals a family secret that devastates Andrea. Can she get past her hurt to protect those in her care?

This book though it takes place in the past reminds me of my contemporary novel MY SUMMER JOURNAL: THE RESCUE because of its active young heroine who grows in her faith as she deals with very serious adventures. Read complete review at AUTHOR'S CHOICE REVIEWS [...]

Susan Marlow has done it again! FAMILY SECRET is full of suspense, humor and edge-of-your-seat action!

The characters are fully rounded, but don't come across as "perfect". They call to the reader and engage them to be part of the story, not just onlookers. The imperfections found in the MC (such as impulsiveness, sometimes self-centeredness) reflects actions found in most everyone. THEN, when the MC displays courage, spunk and growth -- the reader is able to connect then, too.

I'm way older than the target audience, but I was also able to relate - not just read! IF Andrea can grow... so can we!

My daughter hasn't been able to put this book down (or ANY of Andrea's adventures!). We'll be waiting in line for the next one!

Donna Earnhardt
Concord, NC

Can you keep a secret? Andi Carter's family has kept one from her for her whole life, and when she finally finds out, she's stunned. Andi's pretty good at keeping secrets, too. She and her friends find a mysterious stranger who asks for a little help until he gets on his feet again. There's just one catch--the stranger asks Andi not to tell her family about him. She agrees, against the better judgment of her friends.

The two secrets turn Andi's life upside down. She's no longer the youngest child at the ranch. Now, there are three younger kids and Andi has her hands full. If you thought the horses Andi loves are wild, wait until you meet these three rascals!

Of course Andi's faithful palomino, Taffy, is back, but when it comes to a fierce thunderstorm, even Taffy has her limits. Andi is left alone with a desperate outlaw and the three kids to discover just how strong her family ties really are.

Writer Susan Marlow shines as she brings Andi through this storm in her life. The timely story line about a broken family and forgiveness is a definite plus, with echoes of the Prodigal Son from the Gospel of Luke. This is a book your kids, grandkids, and even you will love, and that's no secret.

Reviewed by Sheryl Root

Lately, twelve-year-old Andi Carter seems to have a knack for getting into trouble. She never means to be a problem, but there are just so many interesting things to do on her family's California ranch, like watching the new broncos being broken in, that she often gets distracted from her chores. It doesn't seem fair that her family is always upset with her about this.

Andi decides that her family would be better off without her, so early one morning she saddles up her horse, Taffy, and runs away from home. However, if Andi thought life on the road would be easier than life at home, she quickly learns differently. After a horse thief attacks Andi and steals Taffy, she is found by a kind Mexican immigrant family who takes her under their wing. While they want to take her back home, Andi refuses to go until she gets Taffy back. They reluctantly agree to let her travel with them and try to find Taffy as they look for work. Andi soon realizes just how protected her life has been. Will she ever be able to find Taffy and go back home?

Andrea Carter and the Long Ride Home is the first in a series of "tween" books by Susan K. Marlow. Set in 1880s California, Andi Carter is a feisty, likable tomboy who gets into enough scrapes that she should appeal to both male and female readers. History, such as the treatment of immigrants and the details of daily life on a ranch, is blended into the story in an entertaining way. The moral values are clear, but not preachy.

Armchair Interviews says: A good start to an enjoyable new series.