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This is a great book. My friend and I used it when we led a college age small group. We had people that had been in church all their lives, as well as people who were either new christians or just interested, and this book was able to give something to everyone. It is very easy to understand, practical, and soundly based in the Bible. I very highly reccomend it!

This book is a wonderful way to get closer to Jesus. Written in Skip's practical yet spiritually insightful style, the reader gets the true picture of what Jesus is really like. As you finish reading each chapter, take the time to truly reflect on the discussion points. They are very thought-provoking and will strengthen your walk with Christ.

This book is divided into three parts: The Person of Jesus, The Power of Jesus and the Glory of Jesus. In each of the 14 chapters, the author describes an encounter with Jesus by various people in the New Testament. Most of the stories are taken from the Gospels.
Skip's knowledge of ancient Jewish customs and culture is probably the most helpful part of the book. This information makes familiar Gospel stories even more meaningful.
In each chapter, an encounter with Jesus is described. Skip shows that Jesus used different methods with different people. He did so because the people who came to Jesus had different requests and different motives. Some readily believed and some held back.
Skip also uses stories of his own to further make the points of each chapter. And he attempts to make the lessons learned relevant to the reader. In the second half of each chapter, the author appeals to the reader to apply to his life what has been shown.
Chapter 13, about the Apostle Thomas, is particularly interesting. It describes the differences between doubt and unbelief.

i loved this book. especially reese, she is sooo cute! there are a lot of twists and turns and it was hard puttin this book down.

I read this book as soon as it was delivered to my doorstep and it was fantastic. It only took me 2 hours to finish, including breaks!! I recommend this book to anyone who is a romantic suspense fan. It had just the right dosage of everything.I would give it a 5 but nothing's perfect. : )

KEEPING YOU CLOSE by Celya Bowers is a suspenseful romance about a woman who gets a better life, and finds an overwhelming love after a painful loss. After Kasmira Benton's mother dies, she comes into a substantial monetary windfall. This allows her to move, with her daughter, to a better neighborhood. Now she can finally accomplish her goal of obtaining a college degree. In her sociology class, she finds herself attracted to Patrick Callahan, his green eyes, and sexy body; however, she hasn't decided how to get him to notice her. When they are paired together for a class assignment the sparks begin to fly, but Kasmira feels Patrick has not told her the whole truth about himself. Even with their burgeoning romance and passion, there is still something missing from her life--her father. Kasmira desperately wants to know the identity of her father, but that is one secret her mother took to her grave.

Patrick Callahan is a DEA agent on the hunt to take down his nemesis Paulo Riaz, who just happens to be Kasmira Benton's father. Knowing the drug lord will try to contact his only living relative, Patrick goes undercover and ingratiates himself into Kasmira's life. Not only is he trying to do his job and protect her and her daughter, he finds himself falling in love with her as well. However, he doesn't know if their relationship will continue when his job is done and his secret is revealed.

This novel is a page-turner because of the suspenseful nature of the story. Readers are reminded chapter-by-chapter that Kasmira is in danger and even though the couple develops a relationship, Patrick is there to watch over her. The characters were well-developed which allowed the reader to fall in love too. The storyline was intriguing with gripping suspense flowing constantly throughout the novel, but never overpowering the genuine romance and steamy affair. Readers and lovers of romance will find a connection to KEEPING YOU CLOSE.

Reviewed by Cashana Seals
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

Have read many, but this is so far the best for beginners and intermediate level. Author stays on the ground with very realistic approach. Some part did good refreshment.
Looking forward for second edition.

This is a great book on the mechanics of providing executive protection. It provides a comprehensive discussion on what protection is and how to provide it. Although it has many typos, it is a professional piece of work. It is concise and to the point, arming the serious student with an understanding of what it takes to get there, and what to further study to accomplish that. This work is to Executive Protection what the Ranger Handbook is to the infantryman.

As a manager of a bodyguardcompany I would have to say that Peter Consterdines book is one of the best I have seen. It covers the work in a down to earth no-nonsens way. This guy has worked and sweated in the industry and he knows the ropes. A must for anybody interested in the work of a bodyguard. You will not have to read pages up and down on paramillitary stuff, but instead get up-to-date usefull information on real VIP protection. END

Great book for Public Health professionals, doctors, nurses, and all of those interested in the health field.

I found this book difficult to read, as there were few illustrations, pictures, no color, etc. This is a compilation of information from various writers, requiring you to critique each article. The information is very broad, making it difficult to dissect for information on a particular topic.

This book provided my students with a clear view of the development of Health Policy in the United States. The articles in this text provided a clear explanation of what the definition of health is, how health policy has developed, comparisons to other industrialized countries, and where health policy reform has failed. This is an excellent text for undergraduate health policy students. It also provides a great deal of insight into the making of policy decisions in the United States

I really don't think that any artist can survive with just one book on the shelf. This book is a great resource with beautiful step by step photographs. I recommend it to someone with a little experience and foundation. This book is not too intensive but also does not hold your hand at every step. A resource to add to your library. It helped me relax my style a bit.

Ann Pember, author of PAINTING CLOSE-FOCUS FLOWERS IN WATERCOLOR has a BFA from the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston in fashion design and illustration. Before she became a free-lance illustrator, she worked as a commercial artist for many years. Photos in her book show the professional studio where she works. Technically, her work is nearly perfect. I don't particularly care for her rendering of her subject matter as it stikes me as too "commercial" and not very painterly at all, but much can be learned from her book if you have had no other exposure.

Ms. Pember's background in fashion design and illustration are apparent in her work. She takes the reader from photographs of flowers to watercolors of those photographed flowers in several steps. She reveals how the eye is attracted by asymetry (offsetting of the center) and the placement of elements; how backlighting and focused lighting affect the appearance of the subject; how surfaces and background affect the paint and matter in the execution of a watercolor. She spends some time addressing color, but Ms. Pember is not a colorist. She is more concerned with line and the arrangement of elements in a design.

The end result from my perspective are flowers that are somewhat overcontrolled, although she gives the unpracticed eye the exact opposite impression. In the end, her flowers are contrived and not original. The watercolorist can acquire some interesting tips for creating pleasing paintings, but if producing art for commercial purposes is not your goal you may find Pember's book less rewarding.

I love looking at this book! For years I have been filing away myriads of floral photos with the hope that one day I might attempt to capture them in paint. I muse over these photos from time to time wondering just how a painter might do them justice. I need wonder no more. In Ann Pember's "Painting Close-Focus Flowers in Watercolor", she has been able to demonstrate a variety of step-by-fluid-step techniques to bring high drama to the world of simple blooms. Her close-ups of hollyhocks, gloxinias; and peonies float upon the pages which are jam-packed with carefully chosen, eye-pleasing colors. Thankfully, the vibrancy of Ms. Pember's palette has been well-reproduced in the printing process. There is so much valuable information packed into this book. One should read it from cover to cover initially to pick up all the helpful hints. What a wealth of knowledge Ms. Pember has shared with her readers including: preferences for specific papers, paints and brushes; how to avoid turning paints into "mud"; and my toughest assignment - how to see shapes and values as patterns; to mention a few. Ann Pember's close-up compositions are outstanding. Even if my attempts pale in comparison to this well-seasoned artist's, she is very encouraging. She reinforces the idea that given some degree of perseverence and practice, we too may develop our own means of capturing nature's beauties "up-close and personal".

A very readable and good book. Short and to the point. Read it quickly and passed it to a friend to read and enjoy.

After twenty-five years of probing serial murders, interviewing killers and their families, neighbors, and surviving victims, author Jack Levin has become an expert on the topic - and here translates his expertise to a series of lessons identifying the mind of these killers and how their murders occur. Any college-level collection strong in enforcement books will find this an invaluable tool to understanding the psychology and activities of these killers.

Levin's new book is a kind of summering his knowledge on serial killers for many years. The author explain the phenomena and its multiple faces to the academic reader as well as for the common readers as well
This book is not of a theoretical but a descriptive of the many kinds and reasons of serial killers. The personal touch from Levin knowledge and acquaintanceship with so many cases of serial killers give the reader a global picture of the phenomena, and make the reader feel as he himself knew this killers.

I purchased this book some time ago and I just keep picking it up and reading it. Every time it gets better and better. I recommend this book especially for people who never read books on poetry. Tarin's observations are so dead on it's scary. As a native San Franciscan, it feel's as though i'm taking a cultural tour of s.f, with Tarin in tow. Tarin is clearly a gifted writer, and she puts that gift to good use. An excellent buy that you won't regret!

Towers has been a big part of the San Fran writing scene for a couple of years now and I've heard her read at various events but this book packs a bigger punch than sound allows. That's right--here is a poet who is best read on the page. Saddle up with it on a lonely weekend night and you can feel the emotions, angst, and (yes-even) humor drip slowly into your lap. A powerful book.

J. Tarin Towers without a doubt has a gift for writing poetry. Her words are brutally honest -- things that most of us wish we could say but never do. This collection is refreshing compared to a lot of the poetry that has been published. Rather than being dark and sappy, this collection is humorous, clever, and fun to read.

I'm almost always impressed with the books that are published by Manic D Press and this one surely topped them off. This collection of poetry is one of my favorites in my collection.

This deck makes the perfect gift for our harried and overworked girlfriends. For all the information you get the price is very reasonable. The recipes are easy and they span the gamut of topical applications to great smoothies that revitalize and refresh.

The recipes do use ingredients that are not commonly found in our kitchen, but I've found that buying the essential oils a little at a time is quite painless and I can get great prices online. Once you have the oils they last for what seems like forever so you're getting a lot of bang for your buck.

One thing that often overlooked is all the cost benefits of essential oils. Once I started using them around the house and in my natural moisturizers, and diffusing them in my house, my family hardly ever gets sick! When you pay approx. $100 per doctor visit I can easily justify a $6 bottle of tea tree oil! If that's not what you're looking for though, I've found that just sitting down and looking at the great photography and reading the cards is great therapy! I can't wait to get several more decks for my girlfriends.

These cards first caught my eye at the recent Photography Expo here in Los Angeles. When I found out that they were actually being sold at bookstores, I picked one up right away. The pictures of the backs of the cards are aesthetically pleasing. The recipes for massage oils and facials I tried were good, but the only problem is that you need to buy most of the ingredients, and if you really want them to work, you need to pay the highest price for them. For example, most of them use essential oils, and there are several you need to "stock up on". I think the oils cost around $6.00 for a small bottle.

I would prefer a book that utilizes home ingredients that we could all find in our kitchens, but I would recommend this for special occasions, like if you are celebrating an anniversary and are planning a weekend getaway.

I disagree with the other review....that person has no idea what essential oils costs, and I totally diagree about these recipes being for special occasions.....they appeal to me because they take care of the body and mind....and I do keep the ingredients used most often on hand....they give you a list.....you can certainly find these ingredients on-line at very competative prices. I'm afraid that the other reviewer was looking for something more "homey" and not aromatheraputic and nurturing.

Pictures were initially included, but had to be pulled due to legal issues.

If you're one of those people who keep getting *entomology* and *etymology* confused (happens to me all the time), this might be just the book for you. That's because Philip B. Mortenson has produced a work that should appeal not only to natural historians and biologists, but also word geeks and fans of linguistics. I commend him for bridging these very disparate worlds.

Divided up into short and easy-to-read sections, Mortenson covers such confusing topics (and topics that some people may not have known were different in the first place) like redwood versus sequoia, rabbit versus hare, shrimp versus prawn, sweet potato versus yam, and a great many others.

I always encourage, and try to acknowledge, precision in language and expression. This wide-ranging and entertaining book is both a fun read and a handy reference to have around. I recommend it to both sides of the traditional divide between the sciences and the humanities.

It has been my experience that most people are not concerned one bit about calling a toad a "frog." If you _do_ care, however, and if you are unsure of many of the confusing common names for animals, plants, and fungi, this book is a gem. It begins with an overview of taxonomy, and discusses how some scientists come up with names of newly discovered species (for instance, he explains why there are recently discovered wasps called _Polemistus chewbacca_ and _P. yoda_), a bit about common names, and the derivations of many scientific names--great for building vocabulary, and scientific knowledge at the same time!

Each of seven chapters is divided into smaller oft-confused groups...in chapter 3, "Terrestrial Invertebrates," he explains these groups:

Insect * Spider * Crustacean
Bee * Wasp * Hornet * Ant
Bug * Beetle
Centipede * Millipede
Dragonfly * Damselfly
Grasshopper * Locust * Cricket * Katydid
Mite * Chigger * Tick * Louse
Butterfly * Moth * Skipper

Caterpillar * Grub * Larva * Maggot * Nymph

In Chapter 7, "Mammals," the author lists all the common names for the cougar (There are 33! How confusing!). And he does not limit his examination of taxonomy to North America, so it can be used as a world-wide reference.

If it had pictures, it would be a better book, but these days, most of us have the internet which provides near-instant access to photos of most species.

I was a bit dispointed by this book, i'm a big aviation BUFF and read a lot of books and knew for the most part the devloppement of close air support and the A10. here you've got an intersetsing summary but not that much details on the A10 (ex : all the CAS techniques involved in USING this plane !)
One last point for aviation experts is the uge list of references used in the process (more than 1/3 of the book!) i was really dispointed by that (but in fact it can act as a reference for further research on AMAZON !)

Every Marine aviator and infantry officer should read this book. While focused on the A-10,it describes how the United States has become the world's leader in close air support. No one before Dr. Campbell has ever done such a complete history on this subject.

Finally--somebody told the real story of the Warthog. I've flown over 3000-plus hours in the A-10, written scholarly articles about the "Hog" and close air support (CAS), instructed and commanded in the A-10. I had read all the previous books on the subject, and thought I pretty much knew it all. I was wrong.

This book not only provides THE gold-standard history of the A-10; it treads previously unplowed ground by using that story to explain the Air Force's constant love-hate struggle with the "CAS" mission itself. If you are simply a model buff, or airplane "eye candy" buff, this book is not for you. However, if you want to read the definitive scholarly work that reveals the complete story of the A-10's origins and operational history, as well as comprehend the broader doctrinal, and inter-service fault lines which the close air support mission--and the Warthog--straddles, this is your book.

It is the first book I've seen that accurately and completely conveys that story. Campbell's book rigorously mines Air Force, Army, contractor, Department of Defense, and legislative records to tell the real story of how this airplane came about (a "shotgun wedding" if there ever was one), and how it has prevailed over time like a cat with nine lives. In so doing, he brilliantly uses the story of the A-10 to articulate the true essence of CAS, and the Air Force's genetically-coded dilemas in dealing with it.

I believe Campbell's work fills a critical historical void. Simply put, if you want to understand the "psyche" of CAS in the Air Force, and the A-10's role in that saga, read this book. It should become a must-read at every military staff college, and for every official charged with equipping our military to provide close air support in the future.