Zebras Books

Outstanding look at new palaeontology and dinosaur work. Taking the various papers that Bakker wrote for scientific journals and converting them to a book that is slightly more understandable to the public. The basic premise is that dinosaurs were not cold-blooded lizards, but warmer blooded and quite fast at times. See Jurassic Park for an example of the theories in action. Really great work.

Bob Bakker book describes so brilliantly why Dinosaurs were so successful and ruled the Earth for 150 million years. The Dinosaurs were so successful that mammals throughout this time never grew larger than 1 meter long and many were rat sized. If it wasn't for a giant asteroid that hit 65 million years ago, they would be still around and we would not.

Bakker in this book describes how the Dinosaur's warm blooded metabolism was integral to their success and how cold blooded animals like reptiles back then as now were limited. He also goes to show us how Dinosaurs were fast growing, dynamic animals that were constantly changing, how bird evolved from dinosauts and how dinosaurs were key the spread of flowering plants.

A book you must read before you die.

In the second half of the twentieth century the current thinking about dinosaurs completely changed, so that they are now accepted as warm blooded, vigorous alternatives to the mammals, and in fact the ancestors of birds (though not all that bright, whereas birds can be). Bakker was a major player in this change of views, and offers some fascinating anecdotes on how various experiences led to insights which permitted proper interpretation of the fossil evidence. The reader comes away not only with an understanding of the dinosaurs, but with many insights into evolution in general, and all the types of reasoning and analysis necessary to glean the truth from fossil evidence. Bakker has a lively style, giving detail without getting bogged down (well, I occasionally skimmed a bit, but that is because I have little interest in anatomy). There are many illustrations, but I was not always happy with them. Some illustrations serve as hand drawn alternatives to Power Point slides, and are very good. However, the drawings to illustrate anatomy were often not simplified enough for me to better understand the point. I do wish Bakker had speculated why, in the world of the dinosaurs, it was the mammals who apparently occupied all the really small ecological niches, comparable to current day mice and squirrels. Also, his final chapter on the demise of the dinosaurs was stimulating, but not as well thought out as the rest of the book. He points to the development of land bridges (as water levels dropped) which permitted worldwide migration of larger animals, and the consequent extinction of many species which could not compete, and also the spread of pathogens and parasites. Interesting, but competition would not eliminate all species, and no arguments are presented as to why small animals, e.g. mammals, would be more likely to survive than large animals (great numbers?). While this book was published in 1986, I read it based on Richard Dawkin's recent recommendation, and I do not believe it is outdated.

This book talks about new theories(at the time) of dinosaurs and their extinction, ranging from warm-bloodedness all the way to dinosaurs evolving into birds. There are five parts to this story.

Part I:The Conquering Cold-Bloods: A Conondum
Basically this part describes reptiles and their advantages/disadvantages when it comes to either cold blooded or warm blooded animals. It even compares mammals to reptiles. It talks about how cold blooded and warm blooded reptiles/mammals how active and how their eating habits are different. Also talks about dinosaurs if they were warm or cold blooded. Here is a short excerpt from this part. "Ornitholestes was an impressive little dinosaur, and even the diehard defenders of orthodoxy yield a little to admit that perhaps Ornitholestes and its kin might have had high metabolism. Such a concession, however, would lead to yet another incosistency in the theory of mass homeothermy. Big dinosaurs, all of them, evolved from small-dinosaur ancestors. The idea that little ancestors had high metabolism and their bigger descendants didn't, would be tantamount to arguing that evolution reversed itself"(Bakker 98).

Part II:The Habitat of the Dinosaurs
This section discusses dinosaurs with their habitat and how their diet/body features adapt to their environment. It discusses dinosaurs who helped use gastroliths for digestion. Also talks about the evolution of plants in relation to dinosaurs. Here is a short excerpt from this part. "Brontosaur teeth, moreover, confirm the heretical idea that they ate a tough vegetable diet. If the brontosaurs dined only on soft water plants, then very little wear would appear on their teeth. But infact the teeth of Camarasaurus, Brachiosaurus and their kin manifest very severe wear, which could only have been produced by tough or gritty food"(Bakker 136).

Part III:Defense, Locomotion, and the Case For Warm-Blooded Dinosaurs
The third section discusses the locomotion of dinosaurs in comparison to lizards,crocodiles,etc. Discusses dinosaur defense, like Triceratops' horns and the "boneheads" of the Pachycephalosaurs. Also talks about Pterosaurs. Discusses Archeaopteryx and it's feathers helping to support warm-bloodedness.
Here is a short excerpt from this part. "Anchisaurs' tails were stoutly muscled and they could easily have reared up, foreclaws at the ready, to face their enemies. Anchisaur hind claws, especially the one located on the large inner toe, could lash out with even more powerful blows than the foreclaws"(Bakker 256).

Part IV:The Warm-Blooded Metronome of Evolution
Talks about dinosaur sex, with threat displays of intimidation. Discusses growth in dinosaurs who were probably warm blooded. Talks about dinosaur lungs, heart, and large brains. Here is a short excerpt from this part.
"How can the dinosaurs' growth be measured? An accurate estimate can be derived from the texture of the fossil bone. A thin slice can be cut from a fossil-bone chip and glued to a glass plate"(Bakker 350).

Part V:Dynastic Frailty and the Pulses of Animal History
This final section discusses the Kazanian Revolution. During the Kazanian Revolution, warm blooded animals exploded in population. Discusses the dinosaur extinction and the animals who died along with them. Talks about the evolution of the Dinosauria and that they should be in their own class. Here is a short excerpt from this part. "A truly scientific skeptic would start assuming neither cold-bloodedness nor warm-bloodedness, and then reevaluate the evidence without prior terminological bias. So long as the DInosauria remain stuck in the class Reptilia, this type of analysis is impossible. Let dinosaurs be dinosaurs. Let the Dinosauria stand proudly alone, a Class by itself. They merit it"(Bakker 462).

Overall, this book is excellent. Bakker did all his own illustrations(which are very artistic) and even assumed dinosaurs were feathered even before they were discovered. Even though some of his theories may be outdated now, I still recommend this book to anyone. I read it back in seventh grade and it took me a while, but reading this book is surely worth the time!

Incredibly compelling book about the possible evolution of velociraptors into birds.

Dinosaur Heresies goes beyond mere dinosaur evolution, however. As an enthusiastic gardener, I was bemused and delighted to learn of the powerful link between Cretaceous herbivorous dinosaurs and the rise of flowering plants, how it was BECAUSE of these saurian herbivores that we have flowering plants instead of a world of gymnosperms (aka pines, cycads, ginko, etc.).

It was a FUN read!

Most romance novel heroes have a bit of everything....looks, charm, bad boy tendencies, and a bit of reformation in store for them. Chase Jordan has all that and more. He is the best hero that I've read for sometime. I kinda have a crush on him (a fictional character no less!)

This is one of those books that everyone who's ever been to high school can relate to. High school is such a difficult time. Clicks, out of place teens, popular students, geeks, athletes, labels...yuck. This book dives right into these tough memories as the smart, geeky, valedectorian Abby Stepp returns to Millbrook, Maine to do some research and is living next to her high school crush (the popular badboy)!

Abby has a lot of forgiving to do. She was poorly treated in high school and has many hard and hurt feelings surrounding her treatment. Chase also has difficult memories and regrets his behavior from high school. The question is "can he get Abby to forgive and forget".

I loved this book. It was deeply sensual but emotional as well. Both Abby and Chase have work to do...accepting themselves for who they are and learning how to love each other and themselves. I found myself devouring this book with a silly grin on my face the whole time. Chase is such a gentleman and a GENTLE MAN. He is the stuff dreams are made of, and when Abby's dream comes true, I for one was cheering on the sidelines.

Read this one!

I finished reading all of Kathy Love's vampire series books and was happy to have found her Stepp sister's trilogy. I have purchased, but have not yet read the last two books, but I'm sure I will not be disappointed as I really enjoyed this book. For me, I was able to relate with the characters immediately (who didn't have a crush on a boy in high school that you thought you could never get?). Fun, easy read and I highly recommend her other books.

High school can either be one of the greatest of your life or it can be Hell on Earth...for Abby Stepp it was complete Hell. Born poor and incredibly intelligent she was constantly ridiculed for her intelligence. The subject of many cruel names and jokes,she believes that she'll never have the one person she truly wants: Bad boy Chase Jordan. So imagine her surprise when she returns to Millbrook to find she's the object of his affections.

Chase Jordan was Millbrook High's classic bad boy. Good looking with a huge chip on his shoulder,getting any girl he wants. Never did he think he would find Abby Stepp the attractive woman she today. After each meeting,he's consumed with thoughts of her...Can the bad boy of Millbrook keep a huge secret from the intelligent woman he's growing to love?

I loved this book so much. It was a great story of how people can change and how time can heal old wounds. If you're a fan of the underdog you will definitely love this series about the Stepp sisters. Awesome job,Kathy Love...you've got yourself a new fan.

Wonderfully funny and sexy all at the same time. You can relate to the characters in the whole series. A Must read!

I have to give a shout out to Mrs. Kathy!!! Love her books all of them read them you will love her work!!!

Zink by:Cherie Bennet was the best book ever.I love the author. She is the best.I'm realy looking forward to reading another one of her books.

I am not a very emotional person, and I found myself crying at least once every chapter. This is a very sad book. I don't recommend it if you are under the age of 10, because the words are small, and the emotions just make you want to reach out. I am very touched by this book. It is DEFINITLY A MUST READ. This is my favorite book I have ever read - and I have read ALOT OF BOOKS

I thought this book was very good. It talked about a girl who ends up getting a form of cancer called leukemia. She meets people in the hospital who like her and don't like her. During her difficulties in the hospital some zebras come to her and she thinks their not real but what she comes to find out is that she is the zebras assigned human. She goes back and forth to her assigned zebra herd. This is a great story for people who like to act like their in the book.

I have had the book since it first came out. My book is so worn from reading it over and over again. I read probley every six monthes. Now I need by another because it is so used it is falling apart.

This book goen into depth just how bad cancer can be. You may car at the end. When I frist read it I did the way she dies is so sad. Anyway you get to see how things work for getting rid of cancer. You also will see how couagre is thouht and how Becky stands up for herself. This such a good book! I think there should be a second one to it. It would tell what happens after Zink and how her faimly is doing.

I've read Zink countless times since I got in the 4th grade. Every night, I sit down and go to my favorite parts of the book, and then shead a tear or two as I lay down to sleep.

Ever since I first read Zink, I started looked at my own life closer. I noticed how lucky I was to have my hair, not be sick all the time, and not always have Lukemia on my mind. This book is so inspiring for everyone. And in more ways than one. Ever since I read the book, I have been planning my own book to write about Lukemia, called Bald and Beautiful. Although no book could top zink, I think I will give my planned book a shot.

True courage is admitting that you are scared but continuing to fight. I have applied this to every day life, from math tests to track meets, riding rollar coasters to standing up in front of a bully. Every day, when I'm about to face something scary, I try to have true courage. And before I read Zink, I never knew what true courage was.

Zink is a great book that I reccmond to all my friends. I actually like how Becky dies at the end, though it is very, very, sad. Before you protest and stop reading this review, please listen to my reason. Two years ago, my best friend was diagnosed with Lukemia. And today, sadly to say, she isn't hear anymore. Not all people will live, and Zink teaches you that.

Knowing what Chemo is like, the book does a great job of telling people all the horrible, horrible details. I was with my friend almost every day when she was having Chemo, and I was right outside her room when she was having her TBR. And I remember when she got her BMT so clearly, that just reading this book brought back so many memories.

All in all, if you want a really good read, with totally real facts and plots, than Zink is for you.

Kate Rothwell's debut is a romance out of the line. One doesn't have the feeling to read just another romance book, but a real novel.
The characters are true and endearing, the plot is funny, sad and captivating at the same time.
Mick McCann, the young cop with the heart of gold, reminded my in some of his characteristics of Jamie Fraser from Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series. And that's about the biggest compliment I can make to a romance heroe.
I bought the book because of the low price, and was instantly hooked! I want more!!!

looks like I'm the one bone of contention here, but I didn't find this book as wonderful as the other reviewers. I kept getting the feeling that I should have liked this book. Some of the situations just struck me as too implausible for early America.

While I liked the hero, Mick, at first, who was fairly honorable in every respect, I quickly took a dislike when he thought he'd "have a go" at the heroine because he thought she was a prostitute-in spite of her being injured AND the fact that he was almost bethothed to someone else. This one scene just threw me off the book, I'm afraid. That and the fact that, even though he's a cop, he still believes Timona is a prostitute through a third of the book? I quit at that point.

Anyway-three stars for an interesting premise, maybe I'm wrong-try it for yourself, for $3.99 you can't lose.

I am pretty tough when I rate books. So far I've only given two books a five star rating. One was a romance novel. Something Wonderful was delightful! I won't summarize the story because others have already done a great job of it already. I will just tell you how much I enjoyed this book. I loved Michael! He was a perfect hero. He didn't meet the typical romance hero requirements. He wasn't rich, arrogant, or English noblity. Nor was he a "noble crook" forced into a life of sin because of an unfair society.

Michael was unique and to me the perfect hero because he was so real. He cared about his family, neighbors, friends, animals and strangers. Whatever he had he was willing to share.

I also liked Timona. She was also atypical. She was a heiress but she accepted being rich as a part of who she was. She was open, honest, and smart. I liked that she didn't try to play mind games with the hero.

Their attraction to each other was loving and passionate. They had fantastic chemistry both physically and mentally. I liked how they really talked and shared who they were.

The story wasn't loaded down with mind games and other love interests. It was simply a powerful love story of two lovable characters.
Sensuality rating 3 out of 5.

I can't claim to be disinterested in this review, as Kate is my sister. But that disclaimer stated, I really did enjoy this book! It's fun to read. The characters are lively, funny and likable. I haven't read many romances -- it isn't my genre of choice. But if there are more like this out there, I may become a convert!

That's what Kate Rothwell's debut novel is. Her characters are wonderfully original, as is her setting. And combined, they create a wonderful story about two people from different ends of the spectrum brought together by circumstance. But they're kept together by a passion that sparks in Mick's dingy little apartment, and fuels a fire in each of them until they're certain they're where they should be - with each other.

Definitely a keeper!

I loved this book. It really made you think about "could this actually happen?" I love the bits of history, the attitudes of people in different times, the extraordinary amount of research that Mrs. O'Day must have put into this. She is just an awesome story teller.

I read this book many years ago and fell in love with it. I just found it again and re-read it- yep, still love it! I don't really agree with the last review about the "rape" scene. It's a fictional book and I took it as that- fictional. It was an important part of the plot, although it may be disturbing to some, you soon forget about it as Constance weaves her magical spell. I felt transported back in time with Brianne and almost wished it were true. I hated that the book ended, and the ending was fabulous! I wish there was a part two and I could continue reading about Brianne and Ryan's life. Not to be, but at least I have this copy and I can pull it out every few years and get swept back in time once again and try to pretend I don't know how the story will turn out. I love this book and highly recommend it to all those who enjoy an easy read that will make your heart flutter and your cheeks flush!

THIS IS MY ALL TIME FAVORITE BOOK! I HAVE READ IT OVER AND OVER. A TRUE ROMANCE NOVEL...AND A VERY HARD ACT TO FOLLOW.

and I still think about the storyline quite frequently. Not only did I love the characters and how they developed throughout the book, but I'm very much into the New Orleans: it's such a great setting for a romance to take place. "Timeless Passion" also includes many dualisms, like North vs. South, being a modern career woman vs. being an oppressed wallflower wife, etc. For me, the time travel genre is a great expression of clashing ideals and interests, which can be both hilarious and shocking depending on what's encountered. From a person that reads just about anything she picks up, I'm still a very harsh critic. This book, along quite a few classics, I swear it makes me want to be a writer, too. On a side note, it was clever of O'Day-Flannery to make Brianne so short in comparison to Ryan. We need more characters that aren't portrayed as supermodels so that more people can enjoy these types of novels.

Everybody raved about how good this book was, so I decided to give it a try. I didn't get very far.

When the hero (who up to this point despises the heroine) has sex with the heroine WHILE SHE'S DRUGGED UP ON LAUDANUM and passed out, not really aware of what's going on! His reasoning? She's dressed in pants and must be a prostitute, therefore he's not doing anything wrong. He's got a right to use her because she's a whore! I was so disgusted that this book flew across my room.

Yeah, yeah, I know such things were just par for the course in many 80's romances, but this is sick, sick, sick! Hello, people! Sex without a woman's consent is called RAPE!!!! That's why they call it the "date-rape" drug, and not the "seduction" drug! I can't believe people actually find this romantic.

This disgusting "love" (RAPE!) scene appears just 50 pages into the book. So it's not like they hero and heroine have had any time to fall in love with one another. In fact, they hate each other. I don't like such early sex even between consenting adults, let alone a rape scene (which is NEVER acceptable!) Skip this book!

A light, but fun Time-Travel Romance. Ms. Stover has sassy characters that go through a range of emotional upheavals related to falling head-over-heals in love, escaping bad guys, and working through the distress of being an unwilling time-traveler. I find I need to stretch my concepts of reality and coincidence a bit more than usual with a Deb Stover Time-Travel Romance. So, if you enjoy light romance, a bit of time-travel and some suspense, this book is for you.
A Willing Spirit, Shades of Rose

What more could you want in a book? From the absolute stunner of an opening to the last page, I was riveted by this story. Cleverly plotted, heartbreaking in places, always entertaining. A perennial favorite author.

I could not put this one down. I loved the story, it was rich in detail and personalities. The chemistry between the characters was "pardon the pun" electrifying. Thank you Ms Stover for your time. I am heading off to seek another Deb Stover novel on Amazon.com. Aufwiedersein.

If you like Time Travels you will like this book, I couldn't put it down. Plus this is an author that interacts with her reads, she's online all the time talking to people who love romance books. I think that is really neat.

This is the first Deb Stover I've read and I'm now glomming her backlist. This book is definitely a book worth more than its price - exciting, passionate, and emotional. It made me think a little about the penal code as well.

I actually bought the book for the cover. Don't laugh. But oh, what a serendipity! This book is a treasure.

Currently living in Canada, Ms. Hovey chose to set this novel in Evansdale, a small town in Maine and home to psychologist Ellen Morgan Harris. Counseling others on problems she knows all too well, Ellen battles her own childhood demons and a predisposition to alcoholism. These, she can handle. It is grief, often underestimated as a prime motivation, which brings her to the attention of both law and outlaw. First, the premature death of her husband knocks her off balance. Then the contemptuously brutal murder of her beloved little sister, her last bit of home and hearth, drives her into a hard-edged and relentless pursuit of her sister's killer. She and the killer seem to have little choice as they follow their respective fates: the prey turns predator and the predator can't stop, even when self-interest would dictate otherwise. Hovey's realistic and understated prose carries the reader along faster and faster to a conclusion that both relieves and saddens...so many lives and so many scars. Hovey's characters are so believable that the reader closes the book after the last chapter as though returning from a visit to Evansdale. Readers who find a restrained description of terrifying events all the more chilling may see Nowhere to Hide as more thriller than mystery. In any case, we have reason to exult over Ellen's triumph and mourn her losses, in equal measure.

"...makes the reader glance nervously over her shoulder when the house gets too quiet. Start reading this book on a Saturday morning. That way, you'll have all weekend to read it, since you won't want to put it down.

Martine G. Bates Inscriptions magazine

This book is right up there with the greats, in my opinion. While I think the author could have started off with more action, then perhaps after hooking the reader, gone back to the beginning, it still nonetheless is an excellent read. Once it heated up, I couldn't put it down. It was enthralling, captivating, and I was anxiously anticipating the ending. Ms. Hovey did such a remarkable job with the keeping the reader in suspense and caring about the lead character's fate. I recommend this story without hesitation. Ms. Hovey has a refreshing writing style, which I found to be clear and to the point, and as I stated previously, an absolutely marvelous ability to keep the suspense turned up high.

Synopsis: The story takes the reader into the world of orphanage girls and the depraved persons who either prey on them or allow others to. In this story, two sisters who survive life as orphans, grow up to become professionals. The oldest, a psychologist; the younger, a singer. Unbeknownst to them, the younger sister is being trailed by a sick person from their past. When she is murdered, the older sister, Ellen, finds solace in her best friend, who also happens to have spent some time in the same orphanage. As Ellen's life begins to spin out of control, she takes up the habit which killed her parents: drinking. Her best friend, Myra, who also doubles as her patient, on occasion, has been having weird dreams of which Ellen has been trying to help her figure out for the last year or so. However, after finding out about Ellen's sister's murder, the dreams come back with a rage. Myra is concerned about them, and even asks Ellen what they could mean, but Ellen is too caught up in her own nightmare to really concentrate and focus on their meaning. After Ellen challenges the murderer to come after her a police officer is assigned to protect her. She develops a great rapport with the officer, and when things seem to be less intimidating and the killer makes no further move to contact her, she convinces the officer of her safety and need for solitude. As if right on cue, all hell breaks lose and the reader is panting to keep up with the events in the story. Ms Hovey does an excellent job of fanning the flames of suspense and thrill, page after page until the very last word.

Joan Hall Hovey's Nowhere to Hide, is a fast moving suspense thriller, that will keep you up all night to finish it. Ellen Morgan, who is still recovering from the untimely death of her husband, is shattered when her younger sister is brutally murdered. Her pain soon turns to rage when she realizes that this man has killed before and will probably kill again and that the police seem unable to catch him. When the evening news wants to interview her about her work as a psychologist, she uses the opportunity to challenge the killer and sets into motion a series of events that will leave you turning all the lights on and locking your doors as you breathlessly await the outcome. Ellen and her sister grew up in an abusive home with alcoholic parents that ended with her sister living for a time in a local orphanage. Ellen senses that the answers she seeks my lie in the old orphanage but before she can really begin to look into her theory, the killer strikes again. As Ellen races to discover the identity of the killer, she finds that in order to live, she has to confront a past she has tried very hard to put behind her. Hovey has created a disturbing look into the mind of a serial killer that will send chills up your spine.

I loved the way that the children melted the heart of the most cynical of rogues. I would recommend this book to anyone that loves a story with joy and laughs in a well written romance.

There is so much more to this story than a romance, though that's as satisfyingly hot and sexy as any of Blair's rogues. This story however is fuller, deeper, more thought-provoking. Beyond the wonderful romance, it's about the search for home and family. Every character has been abandoned at one time or another, the hero and heroine, the children in their care, even the estate both Reed and Chastity hope to claim. I laughed, I cried, I read it again, and I still wanted more. I eagerly look forward to A CHRISTMAS BABY, fourth in the Rogues Club series, where all the rogues and their families will come together for Christmas. Can't wait!

I don't usually read historical romances, but I've read all of Annette Blair's books and enjoyed them very much. I like them because they entertain me in so many ways. In AN UNMISTAKABLE ROGUE there were so many times when I laughed or smiled, especially during the scenes with the children. At other times, I was left in suspense and even a little frightened, wondering what would happen next. I loved the somewhat spooky setting of a mansion with a dark secret. Underneath his rogue exterior, hero Reed Gilbride has a heart of gold--loved him! The story kept moving right along so I never got bored. The surprise ending really touched and endeared me to the heroine, Chastity Somers. All I can say is, I had a really good time reading this book and I couldn't have asked for more!

I really liked this book. I thought the story was wonderful. The characters seemed like real people to me and I was sorry when the book was finished because I wanted to know what happened next. The little kids in the story were really funny. This story was a little "steamier" than I usually read but I found I really enjoyed it. Good book if you're looking for a good story

I don't typically read historical romances, but I make the exception with Annette Blair's Rogue series. Her current, an unmistakable rouge, entertained me as thoroughly as did the two previous Rogues. This is fun, sexy, escapist fiction, what is often referred to as a "good beach read"! As with the other heros in this series, underneath his rogue exterior, Reed Gilbride has a heart of gold. There's also a bit of suspense, four mischievous children who provide plenty of laughs, a house with a dark secret, an evil villainess, lots of plot to keep the story moving, and a surprise twist as the end for heroine Chastity Somers. Wow! I loved it!

I had high hopes for this book after reading such glowing reviews, however, I was disappointed. The problem with it is that this author is L-A-Z-Y. She used the word "Stunning" or some form of the word over and over (and over and over...you get the idea.) The two main characters were "Stunned" so many times I began to think they must be using tasers on each other. Overuse of a word or phrase causes it to lose its effectiveness, and becomes distracting to the reader. There are multitudes of wonderfully descriptive words in the English language, authors, use them!

Daughter of Fire, was a great book to read, and am currently reading Daughter of Mist, which so far is pretty good. I like reading the books of Quinn Taylor Evans, a very talented writer.

Both my daughter and I loved this book. It keeps you spellbound. The only thing we are upset about is,you can't get the third book in the series!! This book was a real page turner.

I loved this book! Full of history, romance, and the mystical legend of Merlin made for a page turning romance.

The story between Vivian the daughter of Fire and Rorke FitzWarren knight to William Duke of Normandy is touching and has managed to become one of my favorite stories! Vivian is the daughter of Merlin and she finds herself in the middle between the Norman's and the defeated Saxon's. Rorke is sent to find the healer with amazing powers and brings Vivian back to the battlefield to take care of William. Rorke finds more then just a healer of the physical self but a healer of the heart and soul. This story takes place right after the battle of Hastings and is full of historical detail but not so much that you feel that it is a history lesson. The story is touching and I found myself laughing and crying which in my opinion is always a sign of a GREAT book! I look forward to the rest of this series to make it to my mail box!

Book 1- She is Vivian of Amesbury, the daughter of the great Merlin and possessed of the gift of second sight. Most of all, she is haunted by an ancient curse that prevents her from ever knowing love. Then, in a vision, she sees a Norman knight riding across a battlefield. He is Rorke FitzWarren ahd has come to Amesbury to find the celebrated healer whose powers could save his wounded Soverign, William of Normandy. Together they must fight the force of darkness in a search for a legendary sword.

Do not miss this one!!!

A fun book for kids, with some deeper insight as well.

"When you go beyond Zebra,
Who knows...? There's no telling
What wonderful things
You might find yourself spelling!"

Actually got this for my new tat, but I love this art

This book introduced "paradigm shifting" into my intellectual vocabulary before I even knew what such a thing was.

Many, many, many years ago (Nixon was President, I think) I read this and was changed. I can remember the the images, the textures, the smells (Ah! The ditto machine and its purple perfume!) and all my surroundings. I was sitting in the elementary school library, facing northwest toward the door. Lured by the title and the premise, I had taken the volume to my assigned seat ("Library" was a class back then, as it should have been) and quickly devoured it.

The concept - that our 26-letter alphabet was an arbitrary collection and not a universal constant on a par with gravity - had never entered my cartoon-addled mind. It sparked an awareness of similar cultural and philosophical constrictions that I have expanded and retained to this day.

Hats off to the Dr.!

Loved this book as a child. Fast-forward thirty-some years, I am a computational linguist with a fascination for exotic writing systems. Coincidence? In think not.

This was my favorite book as a kid & still is. I now have ownership of our family's 'ancient' copy (copyright date 1955, Mom's written inscription: Christmas 1962 for my oldest brother who was age 6). I recently read it to my 6 year old son and he also was taken with this book. I am getting a new copy for him for Christmas as the original is pretty fragile now. This book belongs in every family's collection along with The Lorax, The Sneeches, Bartholomew Cubbins, Horton and the rest of the classic/original Seuss stories.