Services Books

This is such an incredible (and true!) spy-story. The writing is sharp, and keeps you turning the page. I usually don't read non-fiction narratives, but I loved this book. It is such a great story, and it is so well written, that you can't do anything but be caught up in this tale.

Ross quickly inserts you into his exciting and important life's work with the Mossad in a way that keeps you invested in the outcome of not only his career, but also the security of America and Israel.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys spy books, learning about the mysteriously effective Mossad and the very intricate relationship between Israel and America.

Unlike the obvious fiction of "Vengeance" (the pseudo-history on which the movie Munich was based) this one was indubitably written by one who really has "been there, done that." It's a fine book unencumbered by the sort of purple prose that often infects memoirs of first-time authors, though it does contain an inexplicable howler about the thoroughly mythical supposed efficacy of Black Talon ammunition.

As for the Publisher's Weekly review, it's politically-correct drivel that disgraces the Amazon web site.

Anyone who is interested in what really went on should buy this book.

Very interesting, insightful and captivating.

A couple of comments regarding the editorial reviews presented here:

- A self-account book need not be balanced, show what the "other side" think of it, etc. You want a balanced view? Get a history book. The author here conveys his view, his beliefs and his experiences, which lets the reader get a little glimpse into the Israeli life and ethos.

- The occupation is not "intact" in Gaza Strip, when Israel fully pulled out, after intense international pressure to do so. The current situation is that some locals are actually fleeing the "free" area of Gaza to the still-occupied West Bank.

"Volunteer" is the story of Michael Ross. He was formerly a Canadian citizen who had served in the Canadian Army. He went on a hitchhiking tour and wound up in Israel. He moved into a kibbutz and married an
Israeli girl. He then served in the Isareli army(IDF). After his service in the IDF he was recruited by Mossad. He describes in detail the hard
training he had to endure. His first assignment was the Caesarea. During
the Gulf War he had a hand in marking a ship that was shipping scuds from
North Korea to Syria. On his next assignment he slipped into Iran to make
an assessment of the Iranian nuclear program. The book points out the deep
hatred that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadine jad has for Israel. It also
points out the Hezbollah-Iranian connection. Ross was next sent to Khartoum in Sudan to target Hezbollah members. Khartoum was known as Terror Central. Osama bin-Ladin used to be part of the network in Sudan.
Ross was next promoted to the Tevel Department in the Mossad. He had a role catching a Hezbollah agent named Ramez who was based in the Detroit area. There was also a section concerning Jonathan Pollard. Ross also was
active in catching the terrorists who set off truck bombs in Nairobi,Kenya,and Oar Es Salaam. This proved to be a very informative book by an actual spy.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Finally a book that gets rid of the hit-or-miss, one-size-fits-all, try-anything-that-might-work-to-get-relief approach to treating peri-menopause and menopause. Progesterone cream just wasn't doing anything for me......and rightly so....from taking the test in the book, I learned that progesterone is NOT what I need. I also didn't recognise some of my symptoms as being menopausal until I read about my specific type. Now I have a better understanding of why I have been so miserable these last 2 1/2 years and I have the tools to get better! I bought the book two days ago, started an herbal formula program today, and I already feel better. Every woman over 40 needs this book!

I am a practicing Naturopathic Physician. Dr Collins, has provided me with a great tool to further my understanding of the complexity of menopause. I have had cases that have not responded to what was a resonable treatment plan. After reading "What's your menopause type" I now have a new insight into those patients and their needs. To have the "types" defined and put into categories lends to a greater understanding for the practitioner. The "menopause Type Questionnaire", combined with the labatory hormone levels is very useful information that should help everyone who is working with this transitional time in a womans life. The information on the nutrition and supplements is excellent. I applaud Dr Collins for his commitment and dedication to an area of medicine that is in great need of more information and understanding. If you are practitioner who deals with menopausal patients, I strongly suggest you read and understand what Dr collins has to say. If you are not a practitioner but would like a better understanding of menopause, this is a good read.

Finally, sense to the confusing passage of menopause. Why do some women hardly notice the change at all? Why does one do well on estrogen while another, natural progesterone only? Why do some women's discomforts resolve while others continue to baffle? Not only does Dr. Collins make all of this simple to understand, but he offers straight forward protocol for analyzing, understanding and prescribing for the whole range of individual differences of menopause. What a relief, to see light through the tunnel. The book is in my back pocket. The appointment is made. My Naturopath and I now have the tools to mend my menopausal way.

I have read the books - all the good ones I thought; I've researched the treatments; I've talked (& talked...) to several physicians, to other women - nothing has even come close to this book. This makes sense! We are all so unique - biologically, psychologically, chemically; why would our passage through menopause not be unique as well? Of course it is!

Well written, logical & filled with simple yet revolutionary new alternatives to use immediately for the irritation, anxiety, memory-lapses, hot flashes, night sweats, you-name-it... that you're experiencing, the book gives you some control over what you're experiencing.

I knew I was doing something wrong (though I was trying almost everything!), but didn't know what. Now the pieces fit!

Beg, borrow or steal if you have to, but get a copy for your home library; you'll refer to it again & again.

While reading "What's Your Menopause Type?", one can feel the heart felt compassion of the author. His writing is down to earth, easy to understand, and the resource information is invaluable. This book enables you to take control of your own life. Dr. Collins has finally put to rest the old myth that menopause is the same for all women. I would suggest that every man read this book, especially to help them understand their loved ones. As well as having valuable information on nutrition, herbs and hormones, he gives the reader access to a web site that will enable them to find physicians and pharmacists that are commented to treating each menopausal woman. I know I will keep this book in my library as a valuable resource, and I would like to personally thank Dr. Collins for his sensitivity with respect to woman and menopause.

The material in this book is so organized and straightforward that its deceptively simple..yet Dr. Snodgrass' book has a ton of useful information ... after surgery I was full of questions.. after pillaging my HMO library, searching the internet and reading books by several plastic surgeons.. I discovered this book... I pored over it..the best resource yet... I wish I had had it in my hands from the onset.. I would recommend it to anyone considering or undergoing this particular surgery... MOST INTERESTING AND HELPFUL...

Overall, this is a very good book to read when you're trying to make the decision. Honestly, there's not much out there (at least from what I could find), so it really felt great to get my hands on such a comprehensive source.

I read so much and talked to so many people online that I thought I'd go crazy trying to make the decision - you can't tell which end is up when you get overloaded. So, this book was very helpful in my journey to make my decision. I, personally, ended up not going through with the surgery, but I learned a ton through the process of thinking about it.

Good wishes to all of you ladies out there wrangling with this decision.

I'm so grateful for Dr. Snodgrass writing this book. This is the only book that I have been able to find that solely deals with breast reduction. Most books I have read, concentrate more on breast lifts and implants.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is considering breast reduction surgery. I now know what to expect at every phase of this endeavor, from my initial consulation, to my follow-up appointment after surgery.

I even have some insight into why my last claim may have been denied
(but I have a new insurance carrier, and I know for a fact that they do allow for breast reductions for medical reasons, as about 6 of my co-workers have been approved over the years).

Get this book, and be informed, because a informed patient is a happy patient!

This book will answer all of your questions, and suggest ways to find a plastic surgeon and what questions to ask of him/her. The people at [...], a website for all different types of plastic surgery procedures and antiaging, highly recommend it!

This book walks you through the entire process from initial consult, what to expect, and insurance appeals.

Insurance originally denied my request, and thanks to this book I was able to write an informed appeal. I believe it was the key to my successful appeal. I've had my reduction surgery and feel great! Thank you Bethanne Snodgrass!

This book is strictly for men who want to work through the twelve steps in recovery from sexual addiction of any type. Outstanding book to be used in step meetings.

When Lost Men Come Home is more than a book. It is a tale of struggle, despair, hope and success. It inspires the hopeless, and provides the tools to make changes in your life to become a man of integrity. I highly recommend this book to those who are struggling with issues related to sexual integrity.

Dave has taken a bold step beyond the usual esoteric self help adiction diatribes by taking us, adict and non-adict alike, down a simple path of self evaluation. Through matter-of-fact, straight forward and anecdotal personal experience examples, Dave flips on the light switches that illuminate the better potential that lurks within us all. Well done Dave.

When Lost Men Come Home isn't filled with trite euphemisms and slogans for living a life of integrity. It is a practical, insightful, well-written book that gives men and women tools for living a life of sexual integrity. It is a book to read over and over again...filled with grace and truth...it won't beat you up, but walk with you side by side to help you become the person you truly desire to be.

A brother in the journey
San Clemente, CA

From a woman's point of view, the help, inspiration and encouragement found in this book is wonderful. Not just for the addict but for the family and supporters of those struggling. This book brings hope to those who have not yet experienced hope for recovery.

This book is a perfect summary of the dark side of humanitarian work. Unequipped, unprepared contract workers who are unprotected and essentially thrown to the wolves.

The author answers an fax looking for boat drivers and the only preparation he's given is a night at a bar and told to watch out for displaced wildlife. From the moment he steps off the plane it goes downhill. Even a good deed ends in tragedy because he doesn't understand the population he's trying to help.

Mostly though this is an indictment of the conditions the relief workers have to deal with because different UN agencies and Non governmental organizations all want to show how much they are "helping". The individuals may do good things but the organizations use it to play politics.

Burnett provides a vivid picture of the logistics and politics surrounding relief work as well as the dangers and difficulties of doing this work in a war zone. What I liked best about this book is he didn't enter into this job with any particular altruistic or political agenda. As a result Burnett is able to paint a rather honest and impartial picture of NGOs, the UN, the people of Somalia and his fellow aid workers. The book is written in a way that lets you experience what he experienced. It is a personal account that keeps you turning the pages.

This is a well-written, fast-paced book that sheds an important light on relief work, its benefits and its risks. I knew very little about the floods in Somalia, and this was a great lesson as to what I missed.
Great read. You won't be disappointed.

This book reads like a bullet train from New York to Mogadishu, from heaven to hell, a pageturner if ever there was one. You get a privileged insight into the life of a reliefworker, a first hand account of the absurd madness of a godforsaken place where anarchy rules and where lives have no value.

Speedboats donated by western governments to distribute relief supplies quickly turn into perfect terror tools for local warlords, who find them to be ideal to impose their will on the population, specially when mounted with a machine gun...

John Burnett completely repaints the picture that I had in my mind of a relief worker. Only guts, ingenuity and a whole lotta luck will help you to get out alive of a place like this.

From the comfort of your home to the nightmare of Somalia is just a book away...

Superbly written and very hard to put down, this book throws quite a few surprises. Burnett provides first-hand insight into the adventurous and dangerous world of those on the field who distribute humanitarian aid.

Relief workers, like those they are trying to help, survive crocodiles, snakes and hippos, feuding warlords, and child soldiers. At the same time they are dealing with competing aid organisations and governments' political and military agendas. Through tears, anger and frustration, he reveals what it is like trying to save lives in a war zone.

The ups and downs. The highs and lows. The good the bad and the ugly of LV advantage playing. Could not put it down.

Read it all in one sitting. I just couldn't put it down!

LV Pro is a card counter. He turns himself from a degenerate losing gambler into a degenerate winning card counter and shares all the details as he proceeds to build his bankroll trip after trip, beating the casinos at their own game of blackjack. Unlike the high-rolling whiz-kids on the MIT team in Bringing Down the House, LV Pro grits it out, starting on small teams, but deciding to make it on his own. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas is the usual rule, but not this time. The good games, the interesting folks who count cards and pursue them, sex, drugs, and money...all find their way into this genuine account of one man's pursuit of the Vegas dream.

I too have been following LVPro's adventures in the Blackjack Insider newsletter. When I heard that he was compiling a book of his trips, I just had to read it and see how it all started!

His approach to grinding out an advantage in BJ play against the casinos was written in a much more realistic style than other books I have read on the subject. I could relate to his goals, problems, highs and lows in his pursuit of the elusive bankroll.

His style of writing is easy to read as well as humorous. I thoroughly enjoyed the read and found many nuggets of knowledge that I can apply to my own pursuits.

I have followed Barfarkel's trip reports as posted on bj21.com for many months now. "You've Got Heat" is a compilation of the reports that blackjack fans have followed for several years on bj21.com and on Henry Tamburin's Blackjack Insider site.

"You've Got Heat" is not a how-to manual on card counting. It is, however, a very entertaining read about the author's journey into both the secretive world of the card counter and the hustle and bustle of Las Vegas.

Books such as "Bringing Down the House" would have one believe that card counters live a lavish existence and routinely throttle casinos for millions of dollars. "You've Got Heat" dispels this myth and shows that the card counter faces an enormous challenge. Barfarkel describes the emotional highs and lows of his grind against the casinos in a very straightforward fashion.

Las Vegas guidebooks and Travel Channel specials generally show only the glitz and the glamour of Sin City. "You've Got Heat" explores the various cultures and subcultures of Las Vegas from many angles, ranging from the ritzy shows at the Bellagio and other high-end Strip properties to the prostitutes, vagrants, and other unsavory characters at the city's numerous run-down casinos.

Anyone with an interest in either Las Vegas or blackjack will like Barfarkel's book. Frequent Vegas travelers can learn a great deal from Barfarkel's experiences. All aspiring card counters should read this book so that they may thoroughly understand the focus and discipline required for long-term success.

Your Chariot Awaits is a brilliant match between mystery and humor. The protagonist's viewpoint, as one who has just turned 60, is a refreshing change from the many books on the market featuring twenty-and-thirty-somethings. The appealing characters had me rooting for them all the way through. Lorena McCourtney has spun a tight yarn, and kept me chuckling while she did it. I recommend this story highly, and can't wait for the next book in the series.

Andi McConnell's life is falling about. Just before her sixtieth birthday, her job is downsized and her boyfriend breaks up with her. In the midst of all this, she gets the surprise of her life. A long forgotten uncle has left her his limo. She really doesn't intend to keep it, but it is so much fun driving it around town.

The fun disappears a couple days later when Andi thinks she hears a noise outside. Going to investigate, she is knocked unconscious. When she comes to, she finds a body in the trunk of her limo. A body that wasn't there that afternoon. With the police zeroing in on her as a suspect, Andi decides to investigate and try to find some other suspects for the police. Can she clear her name?

This debut mixes murder with plenty of fun. No, it's never absurd or over the top, but I often had a grin on my face reading about Andi's antics. Really helping things along is her new friend Fritz, a former TV star who helps out. The plot was rather poorly paced, sometimes stopping for character stuff that really doesn't advance the story. The ending was plenty exciting, on the other hand. And the Christian sub-plot was interesting as well.

I have several of author Lorena McCourtney's books I haven't read yet, so I'll have to change that. In the mean time, I'm looking forward to Andi's next adventure.

Reviewed by Laura V. Hilton

Andi McConnell is celebrating her sixtieth birthday--but turning sixty is not for the weak of heart. She is fired from her job, breaks up with her boyfriend, and receives an unexpected inheritance from an eccentric uncle--a sleek black stretch limo.

Andi isn't quite sure what she's going to do with the limo, but it sure isn't what happens. Less than twelve hours after getting the vehicle, her ex-boyfriend's body is found in the trunk. As the prime suspect, Andi wants to prove her innocence, so she joins forces with a nosy but charming former TV private eye in a hilarious attempt to find the killer.

I fell in love with Lorena McCourtney's books with her previous series (which ended long before I was ready!) so I was totally thrilled to get to review her newest book, the first in the Andi McConnell Mystery series, Your Chariot Awaits.

Andi is a wonderful heroine, old enough to be my mother, but lively and full of life. I fell in love with her and with her nosy TV private eye, Fitz. The secondary characters are all well developed.

There are plenty of red herrings in the book to keep the reader guessing, but I correctly guessed the murder before the end of the book. Still, it was well written enough that I had to keep reading to see what happened next. I love this new series and am anxiously awaiting the next book in it.

Armchair Interviews says: You'll love this series.

Lorena McCourtney's latest character Andi McConnell bursts onto the fiction scene in Your Chariot Awaits. As the book opens, Andi turns sixty, loses her job at the local insurance company due to a merger, and breaks up with her boyfriend. Oh, and if that isn't enough to make any woman seek her bed with a box of bonbons and a chick flick, Andi inherits a shiny limousine from her uncle and before she can decide what to do with it, a dead body is found in the truck. Not just any body, but that of her recently estranged boyfriend, Jerry who she threatened with a shovel in front of her neighbors.

Andi soon becomes a prime suspect in the murder and has no choice but to investigate to clear her name. She teams up with her new acquaintance and potential future love interest, Fitz. Though Fitz's more than willing to help Andi solve the murder, his only qualification for the job is the role of a detective that he played on an old television show. What follows is a bumbling search for the killer, leaving you laughing and smiling all the way through.


Though Andi is older than many protagonists in today's fiction market, McCourtney writes Andi in a way that all generations of readers can relate to her. She's spunky, vulnerable, and shares the same fears we all deal with everyday. Even I, an avowed computer nerd, embraced the woman who doesn't own even one computer. Really. Not one.


In addition to the fun read and enjoyable characters, McCourtney weaves in a strong spiritual message. She exposes the non-believer Andi to Christianity through a warm, pregnant twenty-something neighbor who encourages but never preaches. And, the unlikely friendship between the two women is believably written and natural despite the years difference in age.


So if you're looking for a well written cozy mystery, one that makes you laugh and smile, pick up McCourtney's Your Chariot Awaits. You won't be disappointed.

Lorena McCourtney is back with a new series that proves that just because you're over 50 doesn't mean you still can't have fun. Andi McConnell has just been laid off from her job. Things are still ok though because she's just inherited a limo from a crazy uncle she barely knows. But before she can enjoy her sweet new ride, she's knocked unconscious and wakes up to find a dead body in her trunk. Now Andi has to be on her guard as her house is ransacked and she's being watched to see if she knew the killer's secrets. With her pregnant tenant and an ex TV detective to back her up, will she be able to find the killer before he gets to her?

This was a wonderfully fun book to read. I love all the characters in this book. Andi, Fitz, and Joella seem like an unlikely threesome that end up gelling well together. Andi is a wonderful character. I love especially that she was dating a guy younger than her in the beginning of the story. She's very feisty and doesn't consider an age to be a problem to her at all. She doesn't act her age basically. Other than the occasional references to her turning 60, I wouldn't have thought of her as being that old at all. I do hope that in the next book Joella is able to play another role because I like her character very much. I think a series on her would be fun to read as well. Fitz reminds me of an aging Magnum PI, not really old but a TV actor who's past his prime. He has good chemistry with Andi and I'm hoping something will come out of it. The action in the book is fast paced especially the last few chapters. The mystery is very good and I had no clue who the killer really was until the very end. I really admire Andi for still wanting to own that limo even after knowing there was a dead body in it. I would have gotten that car destroyed! While there isn't as much humor as there was in the Ivy Malone stories, I still laughed a lot while reading this book. How Andi gets the car from her eccentric uncle and his way of distribution made me giggle a lot. Especially funny is the scene when Joella thinks she's in labor but it's really due to bad indigestion. The part when the pair realize how bad their breath really is was a hoot. I really can't wait until the next book comes out in the series. It's given me the urge to go find a limo and ride around now!

Still Giving Kisses: A Guide to Helping and Enjoying the Alzheimer's Victim You Love
Reading about Lela Knox Shank's incredible committment, creativity and and joy in caring for her husband as he suffered from Alzheimer's Disease was incredibly inspirational as well as informative. As an occupational therapist I appreciated her ingenius adaptations such as Velcro along the sides of his pants to make undressing easier and understanding of emotional needs as she discovered onging solutions to new challenges. As a writer Ms. Shanks presented as such a loving and sincere person, I asked her to write the foreword to my book: Still Giving Kisses: A Guide to Helping and Enjoying the Alzheimer's Victim You Love. Thank-you Lela, for your book, writing my foreword and being who you are!

I especially admire the sections "Twenty Coping Strategies" and "The New Life of the Caregiver and Its Rewards". She is so wise, although she doesn't always acknowledge that other demenitia pateints may not have the same problems. Wish I'd found this book during my husband's illness! I quote it often in my own book, "Voices of Alzheimer's."

For any family going through this heart-wrenching disease with all of it's struggles, this book should be mandatory reading. I have found, as a daughter of an Alzheimer victim, that people are afraid to ask you about your loved one, because they don't know how to react. Lela Shanks is to be admired for her enlightenment of this disease. This book should be handed out to any family upon the diagnosis of Alzheimers.

This book helps those of us new to dealing with a family member with Alzheimers's. It helps identify odd behaviors as expected and helps give caregiver tips for dealing with the affected family member.

I strongly encourage anyone facing any type of involvement with an Alzheimer's patient to read this book. Anyone who knows the author could tell you that she is the type of person who is honest and straightforward. This book is a mirror image of her personality. There are practical solutions to the day to day trials of dealing with an Alzheimer's patient as well as an overwhelming sense of love and acceptance for the entire situation. The book also deals with the importance of support for caregivers. The best thing you can do to support yourself or anyone involved with an Alzheimer's patient is to love them. The second best thing you can do is to educate everyone involved. Start with this book and it will open your eyes and your heart in ways you never thought possible.

The Interstate Exit Authority was ordered on June 3 and it had not been received by the 27th of June. Correspondence with Woody's led to a refund quickly. However, within a couple of days I received the book, it had been mailed on the 4th of June, the USPS took three weeks to deliver! The book was in great shape but the packaging looked like it had been through a war. Woody's Books was repaid and all is well. I consider them a great Company and certainly would order from them again.

It's amazing that they have a book of this sort. If I'd have known earlier, I would've bought one every couple of years. I drive a lot and this is perfect.

Best book I have ever used while traveling in the U.S. You will know what services are available well in advance of signage. Has been extremely helpful when automotive mechanical emergencies occur, since you can look up the exits ahead to determine service availability

If you have traveled, will travel, or currently are traveling on any interstate highway, you need this book. No more guessing where gas, food, or lodging are located.

Stop guessing what's ahead when you'r traveling. Interstate Exit Authority takes the guess work out of traveling. It list all the rest areas and services available to the traveler in a clear and concise format. If you've ever traveled miles and miles to find a restaurant or motel to stop at you will love this guide. Driving has just moved into a new dimension.

This book is fantastic. It is a necessary reference to anyone working in a critical care area.

This is a great book. It is very easy to find the drugs you need. I highly recommend it to my nursing students and carry one with me when I take them to clinical so I can be up to date on the information also.

I'm a pharmacist, and I keep this book at arm's reach for quick reference. I use it to check administration details, and my nurse friends are always referring to their copy. It's a good, well rounded resource for the ER or the med-surg setting. My old copy is going to a nursing student for study and reference.

this is an excellent book. I'm a nursing student and it has up to date meds that we need to know for school and the books at school don't have. It also has the best information on the medications that I've seen in any of our school books

Every Nurse or Nursing Student should have One! You can even get it for a PDA. Updated yearly, this book is a must have reference source for effective and safe nursing. Don't leave home without it!