New Books

Lamb Chops...What do lamb chops have to do with this story, well everything! Lamb Chops is the vaudeville routine that brought fame to this comedic duo in the late 1920's. I have the link to a You Tube movie short that was filmed in 1929 for this popular routine here. ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzFcsdgkg54 ) In this clip and others that I've seen with Burns and Allen, I think Gracie is the reason that they had so much success. She was so natural in her role as the "ditzy dame". She was good if not one of the best funnymen to a straightman role. This book takes the reader back to the waning days of vaudeville and the beginnings of film, radio and television as the new media for bringing entertainment to its audiances. George Burns takes us back down memory lane with a personnal love story that lasted nearly 40 years. His memories include many places and friends that I as a reader enjoyed visiting. I don't read love stories usually, but this love story is one that I enjoyed and won't soon forget.

In our disposable transient society of today, it is a refreshing change to see a love and a marriage that lasted so long. As time goes on, it is becoming an even rarer event.

In this book, Mr. Burns fondly remembers his wife, Gracie Allen. The stories that he tells about her, how they met, and how they managed to stay together so long were interesting to read and entertaining.

I would recommend this book to all ages. It is easy reading and also tells somewhat of the history of vaudeville, radio, television, and movies.

If you love old Hollywood, read this book. If you loved George & Gracie, read this book. If you want to read a true life love story, READ THIS BOOK. I just love the inside scoop on the old Hollywood that George dishes out. I never knew Cary Grant sold neck ties before becoming a screen idol. Harpo Marx (the quiet one) wanted one child in every window to wave goodbye or hello when he pulled up in the drive. George wasn't all that impressed with Marilyn Monroe.

This book is an easy read and so hard to put down.

Growing up, I really only knew Goerge Burns for the occasional television special he would host. Other than that, and his "Oh, God" movie (which came out when I was very young), I was relatively unfamiliar with him.

In the mid 80's, when I was about 10 years old, I found that a local radio station would run old time radio comedies from 8-10pm, and as such, I used to fall asleep nightly listening to the like of Jack Benny, Fibber McGee and Molly, and, of course Burns and Allen.

I finally just purchased this book from and Amazon bookseller about two months ago, and honestly, it's as good a $2.95 as I've spent in a while.

As other reviewers have said, many times bigraqphies can be a bit on the dull side, but George really did well with this. It is an easy read... a page turner. It's very interesting to get more insight on what a great performer she was, and how natural it came to her. One always got the feeling that even though she was delivering her "dizzy" Gracie charater, that underneath that was a very smart, clever person. This book certianly backs that up, and it backs it up with all the warmth and affection George Burns had for his wife.

I thoroughly enjoyed this not only for the story of Gracie, but also as a way to look inside the life of an entertainer at that time. I neverquite understood before what it was to work the vaudeville circuit, but there is a ton of insight in this book.

This is a must read for even the most casual fan of old time radio and the celebrities of that era.

I glanced at the reviews here to see if my opinion of this book was just a fluke, but they pretty much bear me out. I didn't expect this book to be nearly as good as it is. On second thought, though, it's not that surprising. This pair was magic and it was seen in everything they touched, the prime and lasting example being the without parallel Burns and Allen Show.

Burns and Allen successfully weathered many storms, making the transition from Vaudeville and stand-up comedy to radio and later to television. The earliest TV shows are the only ones available on DVD, but in later seasons they really hit their stride. In this hilarious and ground- breaking show, George would turn on the TV in the den to see what Gracie was doing, and regularly chat with viewers about events in progress. Gracie would walk in the wrong side of the set and regale viewers (or listeners) with non-stop comedic patter, malapropisms and surrealistic humour (ala Ernie Kovaks) with George as the straightman and pinnacle of style puffing his ever-present cigar.

Even as an octagenarian he could still act (Oh God, You Devil) but as a nonogenarian (92) he could still write. This marvelous memoir is not only the most delightful reading I've had in a long time, but makes me all the more want the Burns and Allen show on DVD. This book was a bestseller in hardback, but is now unaccountably out of print. Yet many readers would love this book, and would enjoy making the acquaintance of the remarkable Gracie Allen.

Every so often I would go through several NT books in Greek as a discipline and this volume will be my constant guide. If you don't have it get it. It is worth the buy.

A very helpful and handy companion to the Greek New Testament. Not only it locates the conjugations of every verb in the Greek NT, it also serves as a grammatical commentary where applicable. You must own one if you are serious in studying the New Testament.

This book is a great tool for intermediate Greek students. It parses and defines unfamiliar forms and words and provides helpful syntactical comments.

This book provides a verse by verse analysis of the Greek NT. Greek words are printed in Greek letters throughout, flowed by a short (one word) definition and partial parsings. There is also coding to Biblical Greek's . So if you get one book, it would be best to get the other as well.

The information is helpful but hard to follow. There is just too much information packed in, with lots of abbreviations and notations that have to be remembered. And as with Zerwick's "Biblical Greek," this is an advanced exposition. Beginners will get lost in it. A similar but easier to follow resource is Fritz Rienecker' s New Linguistic and Exegetical Key to the Greek New Testament, The.

I only rarely referred to either of these volumes as I was working on my Analytical-Literal Translation of the New Testament: Third Edition (ALT). So I cannot really recommend either. I just think there are easier to use resources available. I present a full list of all of the resources I consulted in working on the ALT in my Companion Volume to the Analytical-Literal Translation: Third Edition, with asterisks indicating the ones I found most helpful.

It should also be noted that Zerwick's theological orientation is Catholic. This can be seen in his attempt to get around the clear meaning of Matt 1:25, where it says of Joseph and Mary, "and he was not knowing her [fig., was not having sexual relations with her] until she gave birth to her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus" (ALT3). The natural reading of this is that after Jesus was born, Joseph and Mary began having sex like any normal married couple. This is then confirmed by Jesus having four brothers and at least two sisters (Matt 13:55,56).

But Zerwick comments, "... until (the time when) but not excluding the continuation of action beyond the time indicated; author only concerned here to indicate virginal conception."

Notice that Zerwick does not give any examples of when "until" (Gr., eos ou) does not exclude the continuation of the action. But compare the other places where this Greek phrase occurs in Matthew: 13:33; 14:22; 17:9; 18:30,34; 26:36. In all six of these verses this phrase does exclude the continuation of the action after the time period indicated.

To be clear, this means the phrase indicates a change in behavior after the time period indicated. So in Matt 13:33, the woman mixes yeast into flour; but once it is thoroughly mixed, she stops mixing. Here, Joseph was not having sex with Mary; but once Jesus was born, he began having sex with her.

The meaning of the Greek phraseology is clear, but Zerwick is allowing his pre-conceived theology, not Greek word studies, to color his comments. This is yet another reason I cannot recommend this book.

This is simply a must for the student of intermediate Greek (i.e., one who has just completed his introductory grammar). Here's why I say this:

This is the ideal tool for learning NT Greek through induction. I love studying grammar deductively, that is, studying the principles and rules (a priori), but the average person will find that deductive study isn't quite enough. Even with examples, the rules tend to get lost in the heap. One needs also to gather up particular instances of the manifestations of those Greek rules of grammar as he goes in a real text (a posteriori) in order for the principles and rules to really take root (IMHO). Here's where 'the Jesuit' comes in.

As you read the NT you will encounter--invariably--forms you can't parse and words whose definitions you have not yet memorized. While having a lexicon handy, and consulting it liberally, also consult Zerwick's Grammatical Analysis and you will identify the word and its parsing. He will then possibly refer you to a section from his companion book (which you must get) called Biblical Greek (ISBN 8876535543), and it will tell you what the deductive intermediate grammars have also told you, but quickly and succinctly. By studying an intermediate grammar plus this book you wind up with a double whammy of inductive/deductive study!!

I have, in fact, only one criticism of this publication: it is not physically user-friendly. One cannot open it up and lay it out next to one's Greek NT. It's kind of laborious, putting down, picking up, putting down, picking up, when you're basically just doing the same one or two pages of text in a sitting. And it is just a little guy. When you get it you'll be like, "Oh, it's dinky!" It's real thick, though--like a little red brick of goodness. It's covered in thin red plastic for a binding, which may reduce its longevity if you're not careful. But, whatever. Get it!

Note- Don't fret (if you are so inclined) about the fact that this is issued by Rome and that the scholar is a Jesuit. As a Roman Catholic turned Calvinist, I can tell you that it is my impression that Zerwick goes where he believes the Greek points, period. He's a true scholar, rip.

I heard Larry Burkett highly praise this book years ago so I got one. I agree, this is an awesome book. read just a few pages and it will change your heart to love others more, no matter how grouchy you are at the time. I prefer the older editions of this book, they fit in my purse better

My brother sent me a copy. He liked it so much he brought fifty copies to share with friends. I in turn have purchased copies to give away. It is the Sermon on the Mount, The Gospel of John, and First John all in one by way of expounding upon Paul's great love expose. Gary Trawick.

I did not receive the book that was pictured. It was inferior quality. I returned them (I had ordered 10 as special gifts for my grandchildren)because they did not look good. the paper used was cheap paper and the print was terrible. The cover was not as pictured.

This book by Henry Drummond is a much-neglected meditation on I Corinthians 13. With kindness and gentle encouragement, Drummond walks the reader through the characteristics of love we all fail so miserably to exhibit in our own lives. Well-written and short, this book should be on the shelf of anyone who is trying to live Scripture.

Hadn't read Henry Drummond's book in years, but I recently picked it up again and re-read it and found it had lost none of its power for me. This book can be read in twenty minutes, but it's a twenty minutes that can change your perception of life and love.

Drummond, who was an inspiring liberal-thinking Christian of the 1800's, divides Paul's chapter on love in First Corinthians into three parts: "love contrasted," "love analyzed," and "love defended." He shows us what love isn't, shows us what it is, and defends it as the "greatest thing in the world." He helps us understand that it is not a burden to love - it's the easiest thing in the world!

This book is one of the most inspiring pieces of Christian literature I've ever read.

I bought this deck after spotting it in a store 10 years ago, and though I thought it might be another theme deck, it goes above and beyond that!

The colours used in this deck are so vibrant and alive. They are so refreshing. The artwork, superb and evocative. The choices for the majors are truly inspried. I just love the Star, the Tower and the Chariot! A sense of humor also runs through this deck.

It very closely follows Rider-Waite symbolism so it can be read right out of the box by anyone remotely farmiliar with that system. But she has put in some interesting twists though in that framework. The idea of changing the suits too Imps, Bats, Ghosts and Pumpkins is brilliant! And how about those vegetable people? Love it!

The book that comes in the set is a must have if you love this deck. She gives you many tidbits and facts surrounding the history of Halloween. Each card is described and her prose is charming as well. Some of her takes on the cards a different and exciting!

This is a great all around deck, the artist and writer struck just the perfect note for lovers of old time Halloween. From the images,to the colours....even the font. I read this deck all year round, and it is a firm favourite. If you love Halloween, I can assure you you will not be disappointed in this purchase! Now I wish Kipling West would make more decks!!! Please?

The art for this deck is exquisite: lively, colorful, and detailed.

A must-have for black cat lovers. The black cat featured on the World card can be spotted wandering through the scene on every card in this deck! It's oh, so cute!

For those who intend to use the cards for divination but haven't yet memorized the major and minor arcana, I recommend the book that accompanies the deck for ease of reading tarot spreads. However, a very abbreviated booklet also accompanies the deck itself, but it is very general and contains very little deck-specific information.

What a fun set of tarot cards. This would definitely be a set I would bring out and use at Halloween. Images are fun. Not a set I would use on a daily basis.

I am getting back into tarot after a few years of not doing many readings. I started out with the RWS deck, but never really caught on to the meanings just by looking at the imagery and reading the LWB. I then moved onto the Tarot of the Cat people, which was about the same experience, with much better artwork, and a much better book, but the artwork was a bit bare/abstract for me to catch on just by looking at the images. Now I purchased this deck and book, and I have to say I wish this had been my first deck. The imagery is based on RWS to some extent, but it is also very easy for even a child to understand the halloween based imagery. I can look at the delightful, non-scary halloween imagery and imediately pick up on the meaning of the card just through the images. Also, the book is fantastic, and it explains the images used very well, and how they relate to the meaning of the card. The only complaint I have about these cards are that there are a few cards that have astrological symbols I would not normally associate with that card. Astrological reading is not a big part of my tarot reading though, and mostly the symbols are unobtrusively hidden, so it does not really detract from the deck as a whole. I think this is going to be my new fav deck!

When can you find pumpkins, ghosts, bats, and imps all together? Why, on October 31st, a single day's night known simply as Halloween, when the falling darkness of the evening brings to life all that might go bump in the night. The Halloween Tarot is a very delightful mix of such traditional Old Year's Night fare including Dracula, the Frankenstein Monster, the Wolfman, and the Mummy, as well as one omnipresent black cat. Created by Kipling West, this is a very charming deck with Rider/Waite/Smith symbology depicted on every card, with, of course, a decidedly Halloween theme.

We mentioned pumpkins, well, in the Halloween Tarot deck they impersonate the pentacles, while ghosts are cups, bats are swords, and imps are wands. Quite a clever approach to the suits, and as the entire deck reflects, a well thought out approach. Ms. West has managed to temper the imagery with a palette of bright tones, and a distinct absence of shadow. Combined with her near satirically approach to characterization this deck is really more fun than scary, and we feel it would be suitable for elementary school age children. It even appears as though she has included Wednesday and Morticia Addams as the Page and Queen of Pumpkins, respectively.

The deck comes with a companion book written by Karin Lee, with illustrations by the deck's creator, Kipling West. The book offers the divinatory and reverse meanings, and explains the artist's choices of all the spooky subjects and elements she has depicted on the cards.

Many of the cards are simply a redressing of the Rider/Waite/Smith deck, for example; the Knight of Pumpkins is a knight on a unicorn holding a pumpkin instead of on a horse holding a pentacle. There are other subtle differences such as it is night instead of day, the knight's armor has horns, and the ever present cat is on the back of the horse.

The traditional Four of Cups from the R/W/S is a young man sitting under a tree with three cups on the ground in front of him and a fourth in the disembodied hand of a cloud. By contrast the Four of Ghosts card from the Halloween Tarot is a young woman sitting against a tree at night under the full moon, while four reveling ghosts enjoy cookies and cider and attempt to coax her out of her apathetic funk.

The Six of Pumpkins from the Halloween Tarot is a green haired Halloween witch generously passing out candy to trick-or-treaters, while the Six of Pentacles from the R/W/S is a wealthy man using a scale to dole out pittances to paupers.

Some of the depictions are less traditional and, at least from our perspective, more reflective of the reverse of the card, for example; The Lovers card is a woman who appears to be reading love letters and missing her lover, and is then being tempted by Count Dracula who is entering through the window. Perhaps resistance is futile, but it is the reverse of the Lovers card that represents temptation and infidelity, and the woman is showing no desire to resist. The Hermit of the R/W/S is the wise man shining the light of knowledge to light the way. The Hermit from the Halloween Tarot is a mad scientist who desires to put a brain in a pumpkin. This is indicative of self-deception or confusion, the reverse of The Hermit, because one must ask the question, "Why would you want to put a brain in a pumpkin?"

It is evident that Kipling West was passionate in her approach, and should be quite proud of her hard work and effort. It is unusual to find a theme Tarot deck that doesn't look nonsensical, or just stupid, often drawn by someone with limited, if any, Tarot knowledge. This is a Tarot deck, through and through, and we both like it and recommend it. The book, which contains a lot of interesting and fun information about Halloween, as well as Tarot reading, just makes this is an even better acquirement.

[...].

This book was extremely helpful to me. I never gave much thought to the healing ministry, mainly because it all seemed so foreign and so over-the-top. I thought all faith healers were a bunch of kooks and that miraculous healings were few and far between. It's sad that I thought all of that because I am a Christian and I grew up in a Christian home. Then I started dating this guy who felt called into the healing ministry. I was really troubled by this (and so was my family). So I started doing research. I didn't want to just bail out on anything if the healing ministry is valid, if it's real and it's of God. I came across this book and it explained it all for me. If you have doubts about the healing ministry, or you just need some more information... Read this book. It's amazing. There are some things in it than I have doubts about, but those are just small issues; trivial things that probably aren't that important. I like this book because Dr MacNutt isn't some radical, holy-rolling, throw-the-spirit-at-all-people kind of person. He is down to earth and he lays out the facts like they are. He doesn't claim to know the mysteries behind healing and even confesses that he, in no way, has all the answers. But this guy is experienced and it is well worth your time to read this book.

I believe that every Christian should read this book. It explains God's healing power in a very understandable and down to earth manner.

This is a very informative and helpful book. I recommend it for anyone striving for an understanding of hands-on healing. The book is written for any Christian, Catholic or Protestant, not just clergy.

This book has become the model I use for the healing ministry I lead.
Practical & Spirit led.

MacNutt has compiled the definitive work in Christian healing. Any church with or without a healing ministry would profit from a study of this book

Part one walks us through the usually explanations and rationale that a lot of people need as preparation for healing if they've grown up in naturalistic, materialistic educational systems. We need to be reminded of the plausibility that the transcendent God we believe in really does transcend. The only thing I might have found interesting that isn't included here would be a brief background of the philosophical foundations of modernity and rationalism, although it might not have been appropriate for MacNutt's intended audience.

Part two is an essential reminder of the necessity of faith and loving when it comes to healing. The book strikes a good balance between the theological, the practical, and the exhortative.


Part three is perhaps the most useful part of the work. It divides healing into four categories: forgiveness, emotional healing, physical healing, and exorcism. It gives careful analysis of each situation and practical approaches to prayer. I appreciate that when he comes to exorcism, he is neither dramatic nor shy.

Part four is a bit of a mishmash of last details. He gives twelve reasons why people may not be healed, talks about the presence of healing in the (seven) sacraments, and gives due consideration to the importance of secular medical care in addition to prayer.

Having watched a healing ministry be established and flourish at a church, I now wish retrospectively that this was the foundational text. Pragmatically, it is at least the notes on the growth of a healing ministry in a well-written, complete, and balanced form.

I was able to use this book with my student's to assist them in their own understanding of death, forgiveness, grief, as well as trust, joy, and courage. I was able to use the stories, and then discuss them with the children, many of whom have witnessed the death of a parent, friend, and who are either in the child welfare system or with the corrections facility. With these stories, I am able to assist them in resolving their conflicts.

Life seems to be one continuous gift, even in times of great darkness. I am at such a critical place in my own life now, grateful that darkness holds the promise of great discovery and healing.
These healing words; these remarkable stories not only bring me much solace, but also the necessary loving nudge to dare me to continue to live in the tension of the questions before me.

While living in Scotland, far away from my support sytem of family and friends, and struggling with a myriad of physical, emotional and spiritual difficulties, I received this book from my mother. Words to describe what a blessing this book has been elude me - so I'll borrow some of yours... All I can say is I have "Gratitude", "Peace" and "Optimism" for the first time in a very long time. Your words, Ms. Goldman, and message "Comfort" me and, I'm sure, many others. May we all have "Laughter", "Joy" and "Play" while we "Heal" and have "Wellness" on our "Journey". Thank you for sharing your "Wisdom" and "Spirit" with us.

This book has renewed a piece of my spirit that has, through a series of tragedies and crisis, been sadly damaged. Inspiration comes in many forms and none more lovely, welcome and effective than this God-send of a book. The light your words shed on my shadowed soul prompted me to send a copy to my daughter in Scotland who was also battling health and life issues. We have regained some peace of mind and are healing - mind, body and spirit. Thank you, Ms. Goldman, for your healing words.

This was given to me during the middle of chemotherapy, when I was quite discouraged. This book is a wonderful resource - it does not confuse healing with a medical cure, but uses a broader definition of healing.

I have given four copies of this book to friends who have either been diagnosed with chronic illnesses (cancer, diabetes) or who have undergone wrenching life changes. All have called or written with stories of how this book has helped them have a new perspective, and to see hope.

The essays are also short enough that someone who has very little energy can read the book. Although some of the book is faith-based, it is not faith-specific. It was written after the author and her family underwent a dreadful series of diseases and disasters, and calls on their experiences and faith for some of the illustrations.

Affirmation books are generally wishy-washy. I find "new age" stuff to be full of pabulum. This book pulls no punches, and the writing carries an honesty and vigor that is refreshing. This is an excellent book, in every meaning of the phrase.

Buy it, for there shall surely come a time that you will either need it immediately, or will need to give it with little warning.

I have some real mixed feelings about this book. On the one hands I really like how Mr. Whyte used such unconventional ways to get his point across (he uses poetry to point out the flaws in the corporate world), but on the other hand, a lot of the points in the book made me scratch my head and go 'huh?!'.
The material is very deep and even where there is supposed to be just a small, simple message, Whyte seems to make it complicated so that the meaning looks to be more profound.

How much of our corporate productivity is impeded by pettiness and posturing in the workplace? Seems a corporate healer like David Whyte is needed to stand for finding and reminding folks of a different bottom line.

Whyte has a unique capacity to make powerful connections between the inner core that fills us with emotion and caring and the places we do our work, sometimes even at the place where our job is located, though not often. His observation that we leave as much as 55% of our true self "in the car" each day when we go in our office to work is so powerfully true. I dare say there are few among us who cannot relate to that feeling. And yet, it is the 55% of ourselves that the company we work for really wants and needs but rarely gets. Unfortunately because of the patriarchal environments that many organizations (not always corporations or even private sector businesses) create we all too often find no real fulfillment in the workplace. That is sad because I never have read any mission statements that pronounce "We ABSOLUTELY are not going to have fun or like one another around here." That makes me think that the realized, oppressives outcome are not intentional. However, we often find ourselves working in and hating very dysfunctional cultures, even if not by design. Whyte introduces the concept of hope in a effort to replace the all-too-present doubt and hegemony of the workplace. We may not be able to express ourselves freely at work but Whyte allows us some freedom to dream of that possibility during our reading of this book.

Brilliant! Brilliant! Brilliant! If you have a soul, buy this book. If you are not sure....buy this book. This book is an excellent exploration into the meaning of life + my job the incubus = a poetic awakening. David Whyte is a wonderful philosopher.

David Whyte writes in a truly inspiring way. When I worked at the Monterey Bay Aquarium many of us read this book as we struggled to grow better as an organization. This book was the catalyst to many personal "AH HA!" moments. Not just for me, but for many of my colleagues as well. From there I found myself in love with poetry again too. David's poetry is powerful and meaningful. The heart aroused is your own, and worth coming back to.

i have'nt read the whole book let but i will be buying it because the sample stories were so great i am setting tears rolling jusst over that so i know this book has to be great.

What can I say to make you want to buy this book? If I tell you I'm the author of "My Little Brother" which is included in this book - would that make you order it? Probably not. If I say it's one of the best collection of short stories I've ever read - would that make you order it? Again, probably not. So why should you order this book? You'll know the answer to that question after reading just one or two stories. I promise you will experience the joy of laughter and the healing of tears. This is one book that will be talked about for a very long time. But hey, don't take my word for it. Take a chance and buy it. This is one book you won't want to put down!

The book is perfect (in content and size!) When I joined Heartwarmers.com some months ago, I figured, why not, it's free, what do I have to lose? Well, it has actually changed my life. Now I wake up and look forward to my days, rather than getting hit with the usual negative news. When I heard Heartwarmers.com was coming out with a book, I was so happy. Now I could share these wonderful stories with friends who were not on the Internet. When I got the book, I was thrilled and got several more. Oh, this would make a great Mother's Day gift too! (My mom already has hers, I couldn't wait.) I hope they come out with more books soon. I want to start a collection. Brenda

What can I say to make you want to buy this book? If I tell you I'm the author of "My Little Brother" which is included in this book - would that make you order it? Probably not. If I say it's one of the best collection of short stories I've ever read - would that make you order it? Again, probably not. So why should you order this book? You'll know the answer to that question after reading just one or two stories. I promise you will experience the joy of laughter and the healing of tears. This is one book that will be talked about for a very long time. But hey, don't take my word for it. Take a chance and buy it. You won't want to put it down!

I am one of many authors who donated some of their best stories to this book (for free) so that people might be inspired by the goodness of others. Be ready to laugh, cry and feel good while reading this book. There are stories that can make you laugh. There are stories that can make you cry. But this is the book that can make you laugh and cry at the same time....

This is a MUST read! I can not wait for another book by Shonda Cheekes! I read "Another man's wife a couple of years ago and I just finished "In the Midst of it All".... I am now going to read the first again. I can't get enough!

I think Shonda Cheekes is a superb author! I read "Another Man's Wife" first and loved it. I had to read the second part of the book. I would love to find out what happens next. Does she have an upcoming book on Alex and Yani? Asia finally got married; I was happy about that too.

In the Midst of it All is the portrayal of two sisters whose lives seem perfect but with each passing moment they become more complicated. Asia Fenton has found a new relationship with Detective Johnny Johnson after her ex-fiancé broke her heart. However, the love she has for Johnny is overshadowed by her attraction to her new neighbor, Ray, and the chemistry she still has with her ex. Yani, Asia's sister, and her husband, Alex, have been through the storm and rain and seemed to have made it. However, Yani's ex-husband has come to dally in her marriage once again, but this time from the grave through his children from his second marriage. And In the Midst of it All, September 11th changes everything.

I read this book in one sitting. I was pleasantly surprised. With this novel being a sequel, I did not have the benefit of having read the first book. However reading it was not necessary. Ms. Cheekes does a very good job of giving a reader enough of the previous information to keep them up to date with what was currently going on. This book definitely stands by itself. I also liked the characters who were complex and real. Although as a reader one may be drawn to a character for personal reasons, I enjoyed that there were no evil villains or hapless innocent victims. These were grown men and women making choices that sometimes work and sometimes do not. And ladies and gentlemen that is life. The input on the September 11th tragedies add another dimension to the story especially with it being in recent history. In some ways it eclipsed that which came before in the story causing this reader to leave the plot and ponder on the events of that day. Nevertheless, Ms. Cheekes uses this tragic day in history to turn her story in some predictable ways and yet revealing some unpredictable circumstances. Ultimately reminding us that life is not always fair; we just need to thank God for letting us in the game.

I really enjoyed reading this novel and look forward to more.

Kotanya
APOOO BookClub

This was an excellent read. Superb writing skills and a story line which kept your interest. This is the sequel to "Another Man's Wife" which was outstanding also. I have recommended both books to my friends for a group therapy discussion. In life we never know what lies ahead however if we can continue to keep our heads up to the sky "In the Midst of it all" that itself is a blessing....Can't wait for her next book.

The second part is way better than Another Man's wife. Even though it still left alot of stones unturned, I enjoyed it. You really don't need to read the first book to catch up with the second. I say save your money and just buy In the Midst of it all.