Curtis Books

This book tells not only of a seemingly impossible, desperate love between a man and a woman but also of the endless and unconditional love that God has for each and every one of us. A really great read.

This is the 1st Christian book I have read (even though I am a Christian). I liked the begining and the end but the middle of the book was SOOO slow. I was going to quite reading half way through but friends of mine encouraged me to keep reading so I didn. It turned out to be an "ok" book but not one that I would say is a must read.

This isn't typically the type of book I read either so maybe it just wans't for me because I have heard many other people just rave about this book.

Although I am a Christian, I'd never read any Christian books until this one. Now that's all I read. This book was recommended by a young man at my church and boy, was I impressed. I've read all my life, I love it, but I'd never read a book that was as great as this one. This is a must for anyone who needs to know what it means to really have a relationship with God & what it needs to be between husbands & wives. Men should read this book also, it'll give them a new perspective on women, marriage and God. I've read 3 or 4 Francine Rivers books now & they are all really, really good, but this one has been the best so far. SERIOUSLY!!! A MUST READ for EVERYONE!!! Thank you Mrs. Rivers for putting the story of Gomer & Hosea into a story everyone could relate to.

This gripping fictional tale is loosely based on the book of Hosea. As evidenced by the hundreds of glowing reviews, it is an immensely popular book among Christian women. Unfortunately, this author has made some serious theological missteps which are not brought to light in previous reviews.
1. She allows the voice of the Spirit (in bold print -- be careful, the voice of Sarah/Angel's flesh is also in bold on occasion) to contradict the directly inspired Word of God. The whole premise of the book -- that Michael Hosea is "led" by the "Spirit of God" to marry an unregenerate woman is preposterous. God has certainly led many, many godly men and women to marry those with sordid pasts, but AFTER He has performed His redeeming work in their lives. Numerous scripture passages forbid the marriage of a believer and an unbeliever. Several other minor points and the climax of the book also violate this principle. She further pushes her charismatic agenda with dreams and visions as major plot points.
2. She seems to intimate that the relationship between a believer and Jesus Christ can be compared to a marriage relationship. That analogy is NEVER used in scripture. The marriage relationship is always protrayed between God and Israel or Christ and the church. The individual believer is pictured as Sheep/Sheperd, Master/servant, Father/child, and even Vine/branch but the marriage relationship is always reserved for the body of Christ(the church) or Israel.
3. Her Harlequin romance novel style writing is designed to titillate the flesh. I would not consider this book appropriate for unmarried young ladies as intimated in some of the previous reviews. If you are a mom considering this for a teenaged daughter, read the entire book FIRST. Even though the most graphic scenes are between a man and wife, there is far more detail than most young ladies who are desiring to keep their minds as well as their bodies pure before marriage need to know.
This book is thought provoking and has some compelling themes, but in my opinion is not worth reading. You may be able to pick a perfectly good meal out of a restaurant dumpster, but you'll have to go through a lot of disgusting trash to get it. I would highly recommend biographies of Amy Carmichael's life to see the redeeming love of Christ in action with helpless child prostitutes. A bonus: it really happened!

It is the most beautiful illustration of God's love for us. Very touching and well written.

I can't figure out how to write to these authors, so I'd like to use this review to thank them for writing such a beautiful and thoroughly enjoyable novel. I never read a book quite like this and since the Curtis' don't seem to be writing anymore, I doubt I ever will. The characters in this book are absolutely unforgettable. I can't get them out of my mind. Raven was funny and brave and Rand - I'd love to see his harsh exterior melted by a woman of his own - and Cat is just hauntingly beautiful. Bravo, Mr. and Mrs. Curtis!

A voracious reader since childhood. I became fan of romance novels in my teens and AT LEAST 2500 books later, The Windflower by Laura London sets the standard for which I judge all romances.

I found a sadly tattered copy this book in my local library 1985. I couldn't find anything from my favorite authors that I hadn't already read. I chose this book very reluctantly because I was concerned that it might be another boring and irritating bodice-ripper type of romance. I was completely blown away to discover an extremely well-written, wonderfully detailed, charming, poignant, humorous, witty, and sensual book. I found all of the characters interesting and memorable. Yes, the hero could be aggravating sometimes but I imagine that the relationship would lose its interesting complexity were he the easy-going type.

No, it's not the classic type romance novel but rather a story about a sheltered young lady whose world is turned upside down when she ends up a captive on a pirate ship due to tricks of fate. It is about how she and the hero deal with their attraction and discover love (albeit with difficulty). It is equally about how she adapts and matures in her new world and how her new world is affected by her.

I've had the good fortune and privilege to read all of Laura London's (Sharon & Tom Curtis) books. I am awed by their talent. They are truly artists and I also feel that they must be very special people.

This is one of those rare books that manages to be sweet and touching and exciting all at the same time. It is such a page turner, and when you finish it there is a feeling of let-down, like you know you are never going to pick a book quite as lovely as this one again. At least not one with pirates in it! Real, blood-thirsty, knife-in-the-teeth, take-no-prisoners, offer-no-quarter pirates. This has got to be the best pirate romance book ever written.

The closest I ever found is "Passion's Ransom" by Betina Krahn. If you are a Windflower addict searching for another hit, that's where you should look.

OK, so maybe I'm just cranky because I plunked down $25 for an out of print paperback-- expecting one of the best romances ever written. I'm so annoyed that I don't know who I want to slap first--- the people who recommended this book, the authors, or Devon.

In my dreams, I'll line up all of them a La "Airplane" and have a go at them.

First off, this is NOT a romance! The 'whateveritis' between Devon and Merry could probably fill up oh, all of 4 chapters, maybe 100 pages of the book. It's lame, limp, passionless, full of distrust and so much of the heroine being hogtied with either ropes or verbal manipulation, you think you're reading some kind of the twisted tripe from the 70/80's(OK so this book WAS written sometime around then). That may explain it.

Like others have said, there are entire chapters where they don't even speak to one another. The relationship between the 2 actually becomes something that sorta looks like a relationship in the last 2 chapters. The rest?

Is about Merry and EVERYONE else on the ship. EVERYONE--- Cat, Raven, Morgan, The Crew etc. Heck, half the Caribbean for that matter. But Devon and Merry? Erm, not much. Very little...dang near nothing. Not enough for me to see why she 'loved' him and why he 'loved' her. Like others have said, this is the first 'romance' that I've read where I wasn't sure who the heroine was supposed to be with, even 2/3's of the way through the book. I assumed it was Cat for about 3 chapters, then Raven....but then the author would have Devon reappear to scowl, kiss Merry, fondle her a bit as if to say "NOPE! He's the one!"

Thank you, I was very confused until those moments. But by then, I disliked Devon so much, I was really hoping that he'd croak and maybe Cat would get the job.

Secondly, when you finally get to the "romance" part of this "NOT A ROMANCE", you are so annoyed with Devon's on going coldness, manhandling and mistreatment of Merry, plus the manner in which they are not only married, but the marriage is finally consumated that you feel....well...ah...

I personally was FURIOUS! The book is pretty much about someone who has every choice stripped away from page one by either relative, circumstance and at the very end husband.

OK, for that total slap in the face of freedom, I hated the book.

Lastly, what makes this book beautiful is NOT THE ROMANCE! But the prose, the imagery, the characters, the research etc. Mostly---The story inside the story. These factors are what make this book beautiful and great. And why I gave it two stars instead of one.

However, I disagree with others, I would never, ever ever ever ever ever pass this book on to others as an example of a 'Great Romance' novel. Because, it's not a romance.

Wow, every now and then I come across a romance novel that has everything I want in it. A great hero and heroine, adventure, love, some misunderstanding, a little humor, bad boys, etc. The Windflower was one of the few. It made me feel for ALL of the characters. I don't think I have ever cared so deeply for multiple secondary characters, and it makes for a deeper reading experience. Overall, this book was wonderful; I mean really perfect, the ideal romance novel whose formula has never been dupliacated.

The romance is actually not as prominent in this particular romance novel as in others, but it doesn't detract from the read at all. One thing I really liked was the subplots don't feel forced unlike many other romance novels; they are enjoyable.

My advice for you is to find it; it was a rather hard book to track down, but it was so worth it. It is one of those novels you think about even after several weeks, and one where you can still remember every character's name because they mean something to you. An exceptional book.

As a mother of a 15 month old daughter, I was looking for a book that I could read to her that would teach her that she is connected to the universe. I believe that all of our energy combined is God (for a lack of a better word)...and this book says this beautifully. I think I would have loved this book as a child as much as I do as a mother. This is my new favorite children's book after reading it to my daughter for the first time today. I almost had tears in my eyes it is so wonderfully written. I'm looking forward to giving this book as a gift to other spiritual mommy's that I know. The illustrations are lovely and kept my daughters attention the whole time. I will be reading this to her very frequently.

This is a wonderful book. I have a four year old son who has owned this book since before he was three. He loves and understands it, probably more so than many adults. It is the favorite book for my husband and son to read together.

If you like this book you will love "Child of Fairy, Child of Earth". Both books have beautiful verse, illustrations and messages.

This book is beautifully inspiring and a needed aid in nuturing spirituality in children, I love it as much as my 3-year-old.

If you have a universal outlook on spirituality- you will love this book! My children beam after we read it. They feel special, loved, secure... all the things we want for our kids. There is not ONE THING scary or negative in this book. It voids the polarity idea. It is fantastic.

This is by far one of my most favorite children's books. "I am part of all I see, and all I see is part of me." Those first two pages sum it up.

The illustrations are warm, gentle, and beautiful. If you look closely you can see little elves and fairies hiding in the forest. My girls love to try and find them while we are reading.

I have given this book as a gift many times and it is always well received.

Thank you Chara for creating such a wonderful book for our evolving little ones (and their parents)!

My favorite teacher at my son's daycare was leaving - going to a new job. I found this book to be a perfect gift for her. I thought it could also represent the balloons as a metaphor for someone going away. Excellent story with beautiful illustrations.

As an elementary school counselor I used this book to help students cope with grief and loss.

I wish there was a way to promote her books more. I bought one of Jamie's earlier books for a little boy a couple years ago. Recently, I was very surprised when his Mother said that it was the only book he enjoyed reading and wanted "Where Do Balloons Go?" for a birthday presnt. This little boy doesn't read very much but spends a lot of time in front of the television or computer, so it was very uplifting to know he realized there is more to life than visuals.

Our grandson has this book & loves it so much that we purchased another as a gift for our nephew.

I think every young child whose ever accidentally released a balloon into the wild blue yonder has wondered what happens to them...and this book gives kids some whimsical ideas about the secret life of balloons that should ease their minds about what happens...I suppose this is a better way for kids to think about it than just popping somewhere up there and plummeting to the ground. The words are written in silly rhymes and the illustrations are lush and whimsical...just plain silly and loads of fun for young readers. Younger kids (2-4) will like having the opportunity to explore each page and older kids (5-8) will enjoy reading all the additional text loaded onto each page (balloons writing post cards, signs for various things, ect...) that should help keep their interest when the simple rhyme is, well, too simple for them to enjoy. Each page feels rather like an explosion of art and whimsy...it is that chaotic splendor that kids can't help but love!! Where to Balloons Go? doesn't provide any scientific explanation...but it's not meant to, it's just plain fun!! Kids and adults alike will have fun reading this and diving right into the incredible illustrations...if you've got a kid 4-8, this is a must read!!

Mu problem with this book is that the title really has nothing to do with the content. Maybe I'm just being picky, but before I read the book to my sons, I prefaced it with telling them what "Human Race" means--people as a whole, or all the people in the world. I was expecting and hoping to see a message about how people are really just people, regardless of color, physical differences, etc. But as I read the book, we quickly realized that the book isn't really about "The Human Race". I LOVE, LOVE the message of the book-take time to enjoy the journey of life, don't get caught up in winning or losing, etc. But the title and the message seemed incongruous to us. That certainly doesn't really effect the value of the story or message, and the book itself is very fun to read and listen to. But it really has nothing to do with what most people mean when they use the term "Human Race".

Jamie Lee is very clever with her wordings and rhymes. The illustrations are very eye-catching. Always looking for a new way to challenge and stimulate children's minds....this is it!

I love reading this book to my son. It not only gets him thinking about the human race, but me as well. Jamie Lee Curtis did a fantastic job with this one.

Jamie Lee Curtis, Is There Really a Human Race? (Joanna Cotler Books, 2006)

Man, this book started off so well. Of its thirty-two pages, fully twenty-six of them are great stuff. Playing on the multiple meanings of the word "race", Curtis asks all sorts of amusing questions about humanity. While it does get a tad overbearing at times with the moralizing ("If the race is unfair, will I succeed?" comes flying out of nowhere, for example), it's quick, funny, and wonderfully illustrated by Laura Cornell. Unfortunately, then come the last six pages, where Curtis tosses away the metaphor and dives straight into the moralizing. Show Don't Tell is gasping by the wayside, obviously not having the lung capacity to finish. Sense of Subtlety got knocked over the head by an unscrupulous racer and is lying in the gutter, quietly sobbing. Not Talking Down to Kids lost his jockey and bolted for the track bar. Moralizing and Sanctimoniousness hit the wire in a dead heat.

Still, the first bit's worth it. **

While I don't usually review picture books, I highly recommend this charming book for adults who need to be reminded to slow down. I bought a copy to purchase for a youngster -- but was so moved by the message that I plan to keep it myself and will have to buy another. Curtis's important message is sure to strike a chord with over-scheduled adults who happen to be reading the book aloud to children. Cornell's whimsical illustrations (I loved the girl who's got the biggest hair "without product") make you pause for a closer look as you follow the text, which is exactly what a good picture book should do. This book makes a great gift for anyone -- regardless of age. -- Cindy La Ferle [...]

Steven will not forget how he met the unbelievably gorgeous Julie Montenegro. Her beautiful eyes and stackable body had Steven wrapped around her finger. The love he shared with her was deep, sensual and hypnotic. Steve never knew what hit him when he felt that first fatal blow. After the repeated cries of apologies, Steven knew that he was in for something terrible. After countless beatings, broken ribs and false promises, Steven decides enough is enough. Will Julie feel the same way?

Marvin Reid does an excellent job at describing what we as a country feel is a woman's ordeal. Hundreds if not thousands of men go through physical and mental abuse each year. While when women are victims, the courts are enthused to throw the men straight to jail. On the other hand the courts, almost laugh when the men are victims of women abusing them. Double standard at its finest. Marvin should have opened the eyes and hearts of many of his readers and his story should be passed on.

Marvin Curtis Reid is a serious novelist. He's not the type of author who gives you a story based on half-truths; rather, he does the research and gives you fiction that resembles the truth. Marvin's novels are the real deal. His second book, STEVEN is a journey into the world of domestic abuse from a most unique perspective, par for our society. This unique story centers on the abuse of an African-American male. The eye-opener for this tale is how the story is written. Not many stories are depicted about battered husbands and boyfriends. The popular belief is that this type of abuse is mainly a woman's domain, but rising statistics tell us it's more prevalent than we realize. The story takes place in modern-day New York City. Steven is a young Black urban professional who meets a beautiful woman on the streets of New York and they begin dating. Julie is high maintenance, independent, and a stunningly attractive woman who owns a Brownstone in Harlem. Her aggressive style attracts and intrigues him enough to fall in love, which is the beginning of his nightmare. The dark side of this pretty lady emerges, and Steven becomes her favorite victim.

I was impressed with the way that the author portrayed the soul and spirit of Steven. Readers will readily be drawn into this drama! Reid created rich characters full of human emotion, which will allow pity to be the main ingredient in understanding his ordeal. Paradoxically, his refusal to stay away from this woman who beats him so brutally makes you want to see how far it takes you. She almost kills him on more than once occasion adding fuel to the fire, making you angry and fearful for his safety. Julie, the girlfriend from hell, will chill your bones. The madness in the character's personality and her dark and evil acts will give you a villain you will love to hate. This is not a pretty ride and parts of the book are raw and revealing. The physical assaults on Steven will make cringe as you imagine both his physical and emotional pain. You almost wish that the court system would have been an ally, but does little to keep him safe. What defense does Steven render? And what turns the tide for him? Steven's needed to do the right thing, and his feelings of inadequacy make him a continuing vulnerable target. Finally, his spiritual strength kicks in and he moves on, but Julie will not let him be. She stalks him until the very end.

STEVEN is a book that you read in one sitting. I did, because I wanted to know so badly how the book was going to end. It was suspenseful and gripping. I enjoyed crying for Steven in his worst moments, and cheering him on when he was strong. I recommend this book to readers who appreciate a good storyline, great characters, and crisp clear writing. Marvin Curtis Reid is an author to keep an eye on. I'd rate this book a 4.5 because it was just that close to being a perfect read.

Settling in for a nice evening and curling up with a good book? Well, this ain't it. If you're looking for a nice chick-lit story or some sweet, honest drama, you've come to the wrong place. STEVEN is a gritty, shoot from the hip memoir of a man suffering the indignity of domestic abuse at the hands of his "gorgeous" girlfriend, Julie. About Julie: she's a character that you'd love to grab by the neck and squeeze. Her visceral actions will leave you speechless, especially one particular scene...but I won't give that one away.

Steven Porter himself is a sweet and gentle character who is exceptionally well developed, but his choices obviously contributed to his situation with Julie. Fortunately, Fallon, his subsequent wife is an amazing person. The author's characterization of her is obviously meant to send a message to the men of the world. She's generous, loving, patient and strong, just the way she should have been. She needed to be to deal with a situation like that.

Overall, this book is mind-bending and shows the triumph of the human spirit. I applaud the writer for his insight and taking on a topic that is extremely difficult. Men are often victims of circumstance and generally unwilling to come forward, Reid clearly points that out. Though some might be more interested in why Julie was the way she was, that really doesn't matter because it's about Steven and how he manages to get through it all.

It was indeed a pleasure.

In Queen Latifah's song U.N.I.T.Y she says `Put your hands on me again I'll put you're a** in handcuffs.



I know this because my boyfriend at the time would always say it. We would laugh about it, because it wasn't like I was beating him senseless we would just be playing. As ignorant as it sounds I would have never thought that statistics would be this high regarding men being abused.



Steven is a wonderfully thought out tale of abuse and then UNITY. Who would have thought that simple gesture of helping a beautiful woman out one day would turn into the kind of physical and mental abuse he suffered. Due to embarrassment he wasn't able to call the cops on his abuser or even admit the truth to himself that he was a victim of physical abuse from the hands of a woman. What cop, doctor, friend, sister, co-worker would believe that she was beating him unmercifully day in and day out. He wasn't sure who he could tell until he was almost beaten to a pulp and didn't have a choice but to admit what happened.



Months later and his neighbor turned out to be the woman that was made for him. Through love, understanding and UNITY they overcame all the abuse that was shed upon him and their relationship.



I really enjoyed reading this, I mean I wanted Steven to whoop her a** but I understood his reasoning behind not responding to her. He forgave her but as they say we can all forgive we will never forget.

Steven and Julie's relationship is a tumultuous one.

"You made me do this!"

Words uttered by one mate to the other after a fierce beating. Julie, a petite perfect size six, is no physical match to Steven at six-one, six-two, at least 200 pounds. If it were only that simple...

"You made me!"

With manipulation, power, fear, and sex, the scales have tilted in the other direction. It is Steven that is subjected to mental and physical abuse at the mouth and hands of Julie. Ashamed, broken, and scared, Steven doesn't know if he's coming or going. Slap after slap, punch after punch, kick after kick, he's dangerously nearing the point of no return. Will Steven continue to suffer in silence?

As this frank novel unfolds, Steven will suffer more than physical abuse as he questions his worth and manhood. Marvin Curtis Reid has drawn a vivid and dramatic portrait that gives readers a greater understanding of an often unspoken of abuse - men victimized by women. Steven's struggles will resonate for anyone that has themselves been a victim or knows someone that is - pretty much everyone. I highly recommend this novel.

Thank you Marvin. Did you succeed? Yes, you did.

Decorative Artist Curtis L. Heuser will take you on a true-to-life journey of his purchase of a forgotten historic house in disrepair to it's reclaimed glory. A chance meeting between Curtis and the art director for the book's publisher resulted in this journey being documented for the benefit of creative thinkers everywhere. Where to begin? What to tackle first? How to proceed? Curtis allows us to enter his creative thinking process as he provides the reader with his inspirations, initial preparatory drawings, as well as tips and tricks, materials lists and instructions for executing many of the exciting painted and plaster finishes that he used in this stunning home. From the elegant chinoiserie-inspired garden mural on the cover to the creation of a faux-rusted vanity, Curtis hasn't kept much to himself. He allows the reader generous access to this handsome home and to all of the secrets of it's restored beauty. Your Home, a living canvas will inspire you to rethink your own living canvas and if you like, will hold your hand along the way.

This is a delilghtful and beautiful book for artists or those of us who appreciate others' talent. Curtis has created a labor of love first in his home and then in his book. I was fortunate enough to tour the finished product and it is truly gorgeous. I'm able to relive the experience by revisiting his book from time to time. This book is a winner on all counts.

I love reading what people have to say about things I KNOW so well. lol I am very fortunate to have a Curtis Heuser mural in my home and when guest see it, they speak of my home to others as a mansion, not a house. Curt is a would class artist, however, this book gets criticized in some reviews because it is not JUST about murals. Please be thankful about that folks. A mural does personalize a space and add an art feature to a home but Curt then teaches how to complete the picture by showing you how to decorate the space. Curt does not say, "Give me a boat load of money and i'll transform your home", he tells you how to make your house a mansion. I, like Curt, came from very humble beginnings and he has taught me how to live like a king, or at least look like on a shoe string budget. He teaches how to select great paint colors, fabrics, and decorative pieces you can pick up at discount stores or antique shows. People come to my house and look at things I have picked up and marvel at their beauty and I smile knowing that the item might have been $9.00 and I bought it because I loved it. I didn't have to pay a decorator a commission on something purchased form a store that already has it marked up. Please enjoy Curts gift for making your house a home from mural work, faux finishes, collections that you purchase from Goodwill to antique shows. However, having said all this, my best purchase was the mural in my dining room. Check it out on HGTV website, episode 508 on the show Before and After. I hope there will be many more books from this man. He has the gift to create world class spaces. I wish all of you could have your own Heuser mural. His portfolio is amazing.

YOUR HOME,A LIVING CANVAS sits on my living room coffee table and everyone who sees it wants one. Curtis Heuser's work is stunning and his directions for achieving beautiful results in your own home are clear and accessible. This book is head and shoulders above any others that I have read on faux finishes and/or murals. For just browsing for aesthetic pleasure or for guidance in undertaking major artistic redecoration, YOUR HOME is the book to own; the perfect gift to give or to receive.

Being in this house must be like walking around in a dream.This man is highly gifted!

This is a wonderful story of finding one's own self confidence. I loved it from beginning to end. The illustrations are adorable. Nice to see some fantastic, good old fashioned storytellers are still out there still!

I won't bother to explain how I come to read The Little Prince and His Magic Wand, a well-written children's book by Jillian M. Curtis, because it really doesn't matter. I'm just thrilled that I did.
When I was a little girl, my mother constantly told me that I was special because I was born on Good Friday, and then I was blessed with the beautiful experience of standing at the end of a rainbow. Unfortunately, there was no pot of gold. But you know what, it really didn't matter and I wasn't the least bit discouraged to think that pot of gold didn't really exist. It was just a stroke of bad luck to find myself standing at the wrong end...that's all. Admittedly so, I might have been a bit disappointed, but never enough to give up believing in that rainbow. And wasn't it enough just getting to stand there in those beautiful colors? Wasn't that quite special? Maybe not to anyone else in the world, but it sure was to me.
So no matter how old we get, we should never give up believing in those childhood fantasies our parents tell us about, like the tooth fairy or the Easter bunny or "Yes, Virginia, there really is a Santa Claus." That wonderful world of magic and wishing upon a star should remain as much a part of our adult lives as it did when we were children.
It's like "no child left behind". No youngster should be allowed to miss out on the joys of make-believe and fairy tales. And when a precious story like "The Little Prince and His Magic Wand" comes along, we shouldn't miss out on that either. After reading this beautiful short story, I smiled, wishing I'd had this book to read to my children when they were little. Children love a beautiful fairy tale, and I'll have to say, this little book is one of the very best, truly a story for the young at heart. In fact, I'll probably read it again...just for me. ;-)
Get it. You won't go wrong. Your kids will love it.

Jillian M. Curtis' The Little Prince and His Magic Wand is a quaint and delightful children's book that points young children to the magic within themselves and away from the constant distractions of the world. It's a sweet and wholesome story of a good and kind young prince who follows his dream of becoming a great wizard by searching the Forest of Magic, Mystery and Miracles for the Great Wizard himself. Coming upon the Spirit of the Forest trapped amongst some thickets and thorns, he does not hesitate to come to her assistance. It is through his acts of kindness toward the beautiful young Spirit that he ultimately finds what he is looking for - the true source of magic.

I love the look of this book. Some might consider the (watercolor?) illustrations of Janet Mattison-Prise to be old-fashioned - certainly, they don't leap off the page with vivid realism, but they are exactly the type of illustrations a good, classic children's book should have. After all, illustrations are supposed to complement the story, not compete for the child's attention.

It should be noted that this book is primarily written for children between four and eight years old, and it should go far in helping such youngsters realize just how fun reading can be. With its uplifting message that you can accomplish anything if you just have faith in yourself, The Little Prince and His Magic Wand provides children with an inspirational story they will find educational as well as entertaining.

I found this book to be an original hero quest for younger children. What made it original was that the main character already was a prince, a person of power and wealth, yet above all things he wished to be a wizard. As the tale tells us, even though he could command armies, he could not do magic. Even the court magicians could do no more than give him a cloak that made him look like a wizard- and advice to enter the Forest of Magic, Mystery, and Miracles to look for the Great Wizard on his own.

So the young Prince enters the great forest on his own. He soon encounters the feminine spirit of that forest. She is trapped, exhausted and in danger after her own quest for her Knight of Serenity. The young Prince shows empathy and compassion in freeing her, listening to her tale, and helping her to return to her home. He even finds the ability to do magic to aid them on their way, though it hardly seems like magic at the time. Indeed, as a result of his efforts, the Great Wizard reveals himself to the Prince. His message is that the prince had always had the magic within himself; he had only to realize it through selfless helping. The prince's worldly scepter had always been a magic wand. The young prince leaves a small spark of himself with the spirit and tells her that he will one day return to the Forest.

I found this a charming, non-threatening tale for children. It teaches that there is something more to the world than material wealth and power. There is something more. This something lies deep within us and we can connect with it if we only make a positive effort to use it for good. Part of us will always reside in the Forest of Magic, Mystery, and Miracles... and we will one day return there.

Growing up, a long, long time ago, I cut my teeth on fairytales. I have often felt we needed more of them, not only for our children and grandchildren, but for our own enjoyment. I must admit, many of the tales presented by the Brothers Grimm, read to me in my youth by my mother, scared me half silly, being a child with an over active imagination. (Actually, not much has changed over the years in this area). No fear here though. This is a delightful tale of love, friendship and the magic that is in all of us. This is a point well made in the story. Most, if not all, of us have that magic in us, we have it around us and it is ours to have for the taking if we just look in the right places. This little story points that out in an absolutely delightful way. The author's mellow syntax is an absolute delight to read and I did not find one page that did not leave plenty of room for discussion with your child or grandchild as the book is being read. I must admit to have greatly enjoyed the style of the illustrator also, Janet Mattison-Prise. It was executed in a manner that I find particularly pleasing. This book, as others have pointed out, is a great bed time book or a rainy afternoon book. I hardly think you could go wrong. The story is pretty straight forward, the lessons learned by the little prince are quite worthwhile and it does foster the imagination. What more could you want? Recommend this one highly. I do hope this author gives us more of the same in the future.

The story of three very good friends who must check their baggage in order to maintain healthy and meaningful relationships. They all start out in not so good places and come full circle. Good book.

Baggage Check is the story of 3 male friends who grow up and outgrow their womanizing ways. The tale is well told and thought provoking. You will recognize some of the men who have pushed up on you in the past. If you're blessed, you are one of the women who these men finally recognized they needed. Read it - with a quickness!

Can't say much except Curtis Bunn is a future star. I can't believe Baggage Check is ihs FIRST novel, but I do see why it was No. 1 on the Essence best-seller list. I'm mad at myself that I just discovered this book.
Without giving away the story, it's a lot of life lessons and insight and humor and passion and emotion and fun in this book. Each character had a different voice and a different set of baggage, and the way Bunn crafted each person's growth was extremely smooth and realistic and moving for me. This is one of my favorite books. I highly recommend it ot anyone who loves great writing, great characters (and some strong women characters, too), great stories and learn something in the process, you should read this book.
Lana Rickett, New York, NY

I loved this book so much. When my book club chose this book, I wasn't looking forward to reading it because I don't like relationship books. But, this book isn't just about male/female relationships. It explores the bond between male friends. By the end of the book, I grew to like all the male characters, especially the bond shared among the three male characters. It was great that the author exposed this to the rest of the world. Also, the author came to my book club's meeting and we found him to be a great guy. You won't be disappointed with this book. It's a great read.

Julian, Greg and Larry have been best friends since their childhood in Washington D.C. All three have different career paths and place value on different things, however they all have two things in common, their love for each other, and their inability to maintain a monogamous relationship.

Julian, the professor, says he loves his girlfriend Joanne but ends up in the sack with her sister and soon after said tryst finds out that Joanne is pregnant. He plans on taking care of his child, but his commitment to Joanne is lukewarm. Greg, the penny pinching bookstore owner, made the "mistake" of telling his long time love that he plans to marry her. Now her constant haranguing about when the marriage will take place is getting to him. Finally there's Larry, the aspiring actor and "playa". He spreads himself around and sticks with no one long enough for the words commitment or relationship to pop up. No woman has been able to hold his attention in that way. In today's climate these three are really quite ordinary in terms of their behavior and value systems. What makes Julian, Greg and Larry special is that they all learn by means of one fairly extraordinary event that they all have "baggage", which needs to be checked. (read the book for explanation). Once their baggage has been checked they all learn to love more freely.

As a female reader I was skeptical about how a story about men, written by a man would speak to me and speak about women. However, Baggage Check was a pleasant surprise. All the elements of a good story are there, believable characters, a startling beginning, a middle that held the reader's interest and a happy ending. Parts of this story in fact were uproariously funny as well as touching. How women are portrayed really became background for the real story of personal growth that happened for each of the characters. Yes the women were there and aided in the growth but the men had to do the hard work on their own. Bunn enabled this reader to drop her skepticism by simply writing a good story.

I live in Bishop, CA which is a flyfishers paradise. This book made flyfishing simple, easy to understand and is the best single work on the topic ever written. I say that while adimiting that I was a friend of the late, great Sheridan Mullholland Andreas Anderson and I miss him. Don't miss this book. I have just ordered a copy for a flyfisher beginer.

I am a newbie at the sport and bought this after seeing it highly recommended on several group discussions. But I was disappointed. The book is very short. It is written in comic book style. I don't have a problem with this, but I thought it was limiting.

Unless you are a extreme newbie, I can't recommend it. And if you are, go with LL Bean's book by Dave Whitlock.

Older book timeless in its message and written in a style that makes flyfishing easy for anyone who want to pursue the sport.

For me, this book was instrumental in developing good fly fishing techniques and habits. It is entertaining, easy to read, and technically accurate. Filled with highly animated comics, the book is a work of art.....very carefully designed.

I recommend this book for any beginning fly fishing angler. It is much less intimidating that other manuals and really is a delight to read...rich with information.

Great summary of fly fishing. Easy to read and reread. Excellant ideas that can easily be put into practice