D Books

Im going to the museum and I know you cant take pictures inside and you can purchase this book at the museum gift shop.The book is large and heavy --so Im buying it now so I can read up on things and dont have to purchase it there and carry it all the way home

The artifacts are arranged from earliest to latest, which creates a greater understanding of the arts and their progression. The arts themselves are mostly jewelry, coffins, statues, and painted carvings. There are many other objects like beds, chairs, etc. A discription of the objects is listed with it's use, material properties, aerchaeological founder, and a story behind each item.

The Egyptian Museum in Cairo is whit out a doubt the greatest museum in terms of Ancient Egyptian artifacts. This book is filled with beautiful images of the most artistically amazing pieces as well as the most historically signifigant with a concise explination. On top of that the contents of the book are arranged in an easy to find in chronlogical order. A must have for all artists and scholars.

IF YOU WANT TO VISIT THE EGYPTIAN MUSEUM IN CAIRO BUT FIND IT INCONVENIENT TO GET THERE THIS IS THE SECOND BEST WAY TO VIEW THE OBJECTS. THE COLOR PRINTS ARE AS GOOD AS CAN BE PRINTED AND THE DETAIL IN DESCRIPTION IS VERY HELPFUL. I HAVE A LIBRARY AND THIS IS THE BEST AND MOST DETAILED BOOK I HAVE SEEN IN YEARS WRITTEN ON ARTIFACTS FOUND IN EGYPT. 5 STARS !!!

This is definitely a cheaper way of seeing the museum in Cairo! When I went to Egypt last fall, we spent an afternoon in the museum. People could spend days in there and see new things. It is so packed full of artifacts that we could only stand to be in there for a few hours. Our brains could only absorb so much! This book is a good way to go back and learn about all of the things that we saw.
The pictures are large and unbelievably clear. I would recommend this book to everyone! Of course, I would also recommend a trip to Cairo...

This was the book I was looking for when it came to all things surfing. Everything from history, boards, type of surf, how to surf, surf lingo, and great pictures: it's all there.

I bought this for my boyfriend last year and he is still reading it. It is a great book for the coffee table and it keeps you going back for more. It has everything related to surfing in a great layout.

I bought this for my eight-year-old son. He has gotten into surfing recently and can't stop talking about it. He is just getting better at reading, and although this book has a lot to read (which is a plus for those wanting to look up anything about surfing), he is more willing to practice reading when it comes to a subject of interest, so he'll open it up and look up whatever questions pops up in his mind about surfing. Great book!

Or so I presume.

This book has the best history I've seen on Pacific Ready Cut Homes and that's why I purchased it. I'm the author of "California's Kit Homes" and had a devil of a time finding information on this Los Angeles-based company.

I bought "The Encyclopedia of Surfing" and was pleasantly surprised to find information about the company that brought us the Swastika Surfboard. Yes, they made wonderful (and heavy!)surfboards, but did you know they also made and sold 40,000 kit homes before they got into surfboards? (BTW, one Pacific Ready-Cut house had 30,000 pieces of house and a 75-page instruction book - and you thought putting together a VCR stand was tough.)

I also browsed other parts of the book and found it to be an informative and well-researched book.

Rose
author, California's Kit Homes

If you are a surfer or interested in learning anything about the history and names in the sport past and present then you should immediately buy this book. Two copies. Matt Warshaw does an excellent job of detailing almost every major and minor aspect in the history of the sport from onshore wind to "nat young" to "new jersey". There are small black and white photos throughout the book as well. I guarantee you will learn alot from reading just one letter of the alphabet. After reading this book, you can start to talk like Sam George. Highly informative and hard to put down.

A thorough overview of the Lusitania's construction, features, and last voyage, as well as Ballard's impressive modern-day expeditions to the wreck itself. For the record Ballard's investigations strongly suggest the "accepted truth" of the liner being a clandestine courier of munitions for the British war effort was probably never true at all: or if true then stored armaments were not a factor in the ship's sinking. Rather Ballard points to the culprit being coal dust residue that had infiltrated the inner hull, and was set off by the initial impact of the torpedo. This is a great sort of book. It appeals visually, intellectually, and includes some terrific mythbusting that comes as a result of sound investigative work.

Of course, Dr Robert Ballard will forever remain the man who found the Titanic, but in this book he also provides the reader with an extremely well documented account of the loss of the Lusitania.

Mysteries are mysteries and whilst there are those experts which insist such and such happened, there will also be those who assert the opposite. I shouldn't say this I know, but it the way in which Bob Ballard takes such a thorough approach to his subject, it leaves one feeling that the only book you need to read on the entire subject of the loss of the Lusitania is this one.

Exploring the Lusitania - yet another four-funnelled passenger liner built before WW1, is a large coffee-table book approx. A4 size. Just a glance at the pictures throughout the richly illustrated pages (227 altogether) reveals the extent of the research to which the author has gone on behalf of the reader. There are many historic pictures of the ship itself - including when she was no more than a keel. Others include paintings of the day, newspaper cuttings and postcards showing internal and external views. Then there are the photographs of the tragedy itself and the effect it had upon the people of Ireland. Photographs of seemingly unimportant people at the booking office and individuals such as the Captain. Dr Ballard has been equally thorough when it comes to detailing the U-Boat which sank the Lusitania and we are treated to almost the same level of coverage of vessel and individuals and their trade of war.

Once again, however, the author has put together the most outstanding collection of artwork created by Ken Marschall. From thousands of photographic images taken from the wreckage itself, Bob Ballard created a complete montage (i.e. a big photograph made up of thousands of little photographs) of the various sections of the wreck so that Mr Marschall was able to provide us with the most accurate paintings of various sections and even the entire wreck. The one painting I had to look at again and again was the painting of the sinking across pages 96/97. For a moment there I thought the world's greatest photographer had been on hand to capture the event.

I congratulate Dr Ballard on another excellent and professional job of work. Another outstanding book and yet again 5 stars are not enough.

NM

The illustrations and photographs alone make this book worth owning. It is very direct and to the point for the most part.

Also of interest is the contrast between Lusitania, a shallow water wreck, and vessels such as Titanic and Bismarck which are under miles of water.

Bob Ballard's string of investigations into famous shipwrecks, while doing solid science continues in this exploration of the Lusitania.

The famous Cunard liner was torpedoed off the Irish coast in 1915, and was one of the pivotal events that dragged an isolationist America into the First World War.

Ballard's work at laying the groundwork for his book is again exceptional. Cunard's need to battle the White Star and other cruise lines for the transatlantic business is examined, and the method was indeed an interesting one. Cunard entered into an arrangement with the British government to build the Lusitania and her sister ship, Mauretania. In exchange for a loan, the government got the right to call the ships up for wartime service, and the builders set up placements for deck guns on the vessels.

This was before it was found that using cruise liners as "armed merchant cruisers" was just not practical.

In any case, the setting of the scene as the Lusitania headed east is well done--the German government has given fair warning to anyone sailing on British or Allied vessel that they're fair game. A German U-boat is known to be off the coast, the Lusitania is traveling at less than full power, her captain chooses not to zigzag, then waste time taking an involved bearing on the land...and the end is known.

Question: Did Winston Churchill stake out the Lusitania and let her be sunk as an effort to get the US into the war? It wouldn't be out of his mindset, but there appears to be little in the way of proof that he did such a thing. Of greater interest is the secret correspondence between Admiral Tirpitz and Admiral Jacky Fisher, in which the latter tells his German counterpart that he'd have done the same thing in going after the Lusitania if the roles were reversed.

The examination of the wreck is sad; there's not much left of her, as the ship has been used for depth charge practice. There was not much of an effort to get inside her as was done on other ships. Perhaps there's little point.

Once again, Ken Marschall's paintings are stellar and the book is well worth reading...and looking at.

This handsome companion to the excellent National Geographic documentary is the best overview and photographic record of the Lusitania disaster I have seen. If you only own or read one book on the Lusitania, let it be this one! It covers the key issues surrounding the tragedy: Why did the powerful, double bottom ship go down so quickly (only 18 minutes compared to over 2 hours for the less robust Titanic)?; What caused the second explosion?; Was the Lusitania carrying arms? Dr. Robert Ballard, who discovered the Titanic and explored the Bismarck, uses advanced equipment to go down into the ocean's depths to answer these questions and to give us a glimpse of how the Lusitania looks today through remarkable photographs and the masterpieces of maritime artist Ken Marschall.

The text of the book is very well-written. It does not go into as much of depth as longer books as it explains the sinking through accounts of select survivors, some alive at the time of the book's publication. Still, it reveals many lesser known points. First Sea Lord Winston Churchill, in France at the time of the tragedy, might have ordered a naval escort for the famed passenger liner (pg. 78). It notes that the U.S. tanker Gunflight was torpedoed the week before (pg. 124). Unlike the documentary, readers learn that nurse Alice Lines--who was still alive when the documentary was made--actually missed the lifeboat when she made her desperate leap with baby Audrey (pg. 102). The book takes a fair look at the sinking. There is much empathy for the German side (Lusitania was, after all, an auxiliary cruiser in a war zone) and is quite critical of Captain Turner who ignored the Admiralty's instructions on steering a zigzag course away from the shore in areas where subs lurked. The most valuable part of this book on a informational level is that it solves the mystery of the second explosion some witnesses believed was a second torpedo or the explosion of arms in the ships magazine.

As interesting as the text is, the illustrations make this book the best on the subject. Photos and startlingly accurate period postcards give the reader a look at Lusitania's interior in first, second, and steerage classes. Posters and memorabilia illustrate the propaganda war which followed. Finally, pages 144-89 explore the Lusitania and compares the ship then & now in remarkable photos. The highlight is a well preserved first class tub and shower found just outside the ship compared with a period illustration (pp. 172-3). A fold-out shows the sunken giant in full length thanks to the excellent work of artist Marschall. His realistic paintings look like photographs!

The book is very thorough. It includes a critical look at the inquiries into the sinking, the fates of some of the major players including U Boat commander Schwieger, a brief look at Lusitania's sister ship Mauretania, and a chronology of the two Cunard sisters. The only inconsistency I found was that Schwieger reported that he did not know he had torpedoed the Lusitania until he saw her name on her bow; however, the Lusitania name was covered up at the time to trick the enemy during the war (pg. 203). Still, this book is an excellent introduction to the Lusitania story and a more than sufficient and revealing account if one chooses not to read further.

This is number six in the series and it's a considerable improvement over number five. The first story concerns Jack's aborted career in Hollywood after leaving Fabletown in possession of a large quantity of stolen loot. As a talented con-man, he turns out to be a natural in the movie world and his first project -- a LOTR-like trilogy about his own fairy tale career -- is enormously successful. But he's still a louse, which is why the miniaturized Jill rats him out to Mr. Beast, Fabletown's new sheriff, and he finds himself on the road again, the least unpleasant option available to him. Then we go to the adventures of Boy Blue as he treks through the enemy-occupied Homelands in pursuit of Red Riding Hood, and to return the dead wooden body of his best buddy, Pinocchio, to Geppetto. And maybe he can do something about The Adversary while he's at it. Turns out Blue had a more-colorful-than-expected earlier career as a swashbuckling sword-swinger -- but things don't turn out quite as he expected. Then we return to the Farm, upstate, where Mowgli (a "tourist," i.e., undercover secret agent working abroad) has come back to try to spring Bagheera from the pokey. Then it's back to the tribulations of Boy Blue for a temporary resolution. There's a lot of good storytelling in this arc.

In this case, it's the world of "Fables," the place where storybook characters have (or had) real lives versus the hundred or more planets under control of The Adversary. The Fables live in exile here on Earth, blending in when they look human enough, and withdrawing to a private enclave if they don't. No matter how many hundreds of years they live among us, they still have a dream of returning to their one-time home. Five of the seven monthlies collected in this volume follow a heroic quest to make return possible - an attempt to assassinate The Adversary himself. The story takes several startling turns, and promises more action in future volumes.

The other two monthlies reproduced here each tell one-issue stories of their own. In the first, Jack (of the Beanstalk, of the giant-killing and of many other stories) sets out to find his fortune, as he's done so very successfully so many times before. And he does - up until he incurs the wrath of a woman scorned, and doscovers just how much wrath can be packed in even a small woman. The other story looks inside the new administration. It's not nearly so solid as they'd like people to think, and a side-trip of an adventure gets under way. By its nature, it's best told in small glimpses at long intervals, so I'm looking forward to more of it.

This collection represents something a turning point in the Fables' tale. For one thing, we learn far more about the scope and power of The Adversary, with hints that the war is about to heat up. For another, it makes less mention of the Fables' fabulous lives. Partly for that reason, this might be the first in this series of collections that I wouldn't recommend to a newcomer. It certainly lives up to the standards of the earlier stories, but really works best for someone who already knows something about the characters and the premise of the story. It's very enjoyable, make no mistake, but easier to enjoy if you've been reading the series in order so far.

-- wiredweird

The premise of this wonderful series is to rewrite and expand the world of fairy tales. They characters of which has entered our world fleeing a great evil. Lost of fun, smart and witty, typical american style illustrations for the most part, but nice. Some similarities of premise to the Sand Man series, but not quite as inventive or as extensively research and deep. Start at #1 for the best read.

I really have to hand it to them, I wasn't that much of a fan of Jack or Blue until I read this collection. Jack's story takes place with his greatest scheme yet, which places him in Hollywood, creating a blockbuster trilogy and boom... well, you have to see. And Boy Blue's story is just fantastic as he battles his way across the Homelands to rescue Pinnochio and Red Riding Hood. A definite must.

This sixth volume of the "Fables" series does not disappoint. If you want to start the series at this point....don't. In order to fully appreciate this volume, you should start with Volume 1 and work your way forward. Storylines that have been under development for sometime are tied together at this point.

Don't even read anymore of this review! :-)

In a way, this graphic novel is about what happened to the things 'stolen' from Fabletown after the Adversary's attack and Prince Charming's election as Mayor.

The first part deals with Jack Horner and what he did with the contents of the late Bluebeard's missing treasure room. Up until now he has been portrayed as the pathetic hustler with one flawed get-rich scheme after another. Jack is the kind of guy that got your sister pregnant and then skipped town. He's the guy that's always borrowing money with no intention of paying it back. This is the loser your girlfirned dumped you for.....

Well this is one of his good ideas. Old Jack is a huge success. Even though he's set back at the end, he's still set up for his own personal series that I've reviewed elsewhere.

As satifying as the Jack tale is, it can't compare with Boy Blue's saga. He's left Fabletown stealing the Witching Cloak, the Volpal Blade and his best friends Pinocchio's body. He's returning to the Homelands to 1) Find Gepetto and see if he can fix Pinocchio 2) Reunite with his lost love - Red Riding Hood.

This is where Willingham and company's genius shines. Our nerdy trumpet-playing office clerk is really a man of cunning, brilliance, conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity. It's like Peter Parker and Spiderman. His primary motives are loyalty and love to the people closest to him. For this he risks his life in returning to the Adversary's empire, the Valley of the Shadow of Death referred to in the title. The journey is perilous and skillfully plotted with surprises and revelations along the way.

If I'm ever in jam, I'd want Boy Blue to come to my rescue.

This is a really cute book for toddlers/preschoolers/K-2 kids. It helps with colors for the really little ones, then with short sentences to read or write later. I actually bought this for my 10 year old daughter - lol - she always loved this book. I guess the bright colors and sparkle of the foil cut outs of the eggs appealed to her in Kindergarten when she saw it in the school library - she's checked it out every year at least 6 times ever since (4th grade now). Every kid has a few books that they just adore and can't get enough of, so I got it for her to keep and give her own kid(s) some day (she has my old copy of "Bambi's Fragrant Forest" - a 1970's scratch 'n sniff book). It's a visually pleasing book and little ones will enjoy it.

I love the illustrations in this book!!! My 2-year-old may be a little too young for the story, but she loves looking at the pictures.

My son learned his colors because of this book! Each page has a different color of egg, the story rhymes so well, and its a lift-the-flap book! The pictures have so much detail sometimes we spend extra time looking in the background for other animals and talking about what they are doing. We've had this book for a year and it is still very popular at our house!

I purchased this book for my nephew and he absolutely loves it. Beautiful illustrations and a very cute story for children from 1-6 years old. However, the book seemed a bit warped when I purchased it but I attributed it due to the delivery process.

One of the nicest things about this book is how well it is designed. Children love beautiful materials and this book delivers. Today, electronic media is so prevelant in childrens' lives. This book, though, offers children the opportunity to relax and read pages filled with awe and wonder. Quality colors, papers and decorations invite children into the Natural Easter world of the forest and imagination. It's beautifully adorned with sparkling, jeweled pages made to entertain and peak interest.

This book explained in detail, how to survive in the workplace. It has many examples on how to follow the unwritten rules (usually gained from many years in the work environment). I plan to purchase books for my employees and other young adults entering the workforce

This book is spot on about being the "hard truth" about soft skills. We can often get caught up in what we think is "fair", what companies "should" do and how people "should" behave and all of those things are honestly irrelevant. It is not until people are ready to face the hard truths that they are able to make decisions about their willingness to make changes to their work styles that will impact their career track.

Peggy Klaus' sophomore effort - a sequel of sorts to her Brag!: The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn Without Blowing It - covers the personal skills required to successfully navigate today's workplace. Each chapter is on a different aspect of these so-called soft skills, from dealing with a boss to managing others, even daring the reading to ask some tough questions (am I in the right career? am I cut out to be a manager?) and of course a chapter is devoted review the important lessons from Brag! Don't worry, every chapter has something for everyone, from someone on the lowest rung on the corporate ladder to the chairman of the board. Unlike Brag!, which reads like an excellent refresher course for Peggy's couching sessions and seminars, The Hard Truth feels like a trusty companion to her couching work and is highly recommended for anyone in the workplace - from a two person business to a Google-sized corporate environment. By presenting each topic in a real-life situations/case study, this book is highly readable and enjoyable and would make for a great summer read. What are you waiting for? If you read this far pick up the book and share it with your co-workers when you're done. Better yet, pick up a copy for each of them as well!

Where was this book when I started in the workplace?! Peggy's essential pearls of wisdom will help you fast-forward your career and navigate confidently the perils of the workplace!

Ruth Stergiou, CEO, Invent Your Future Enterprises

More or less a book about being nice at work. More of general guidelines as opposed to structured advice on learning to deal with people. Perhaps a good launch pad, but a little thin in content.

Heart Quest if full of romantic tension, murder, and mystery. Readers will particularly enjoy how Robin Owens has woven fascinating secondary characters into Ilex and Trif's story. Right to the end, you'll wonder who lives, who dies, and who has been right all along - Trif or Ilex. A truly enjoyable read, a solid winner that will have you eagerly awaiting the next book in the Celta HeartMate series. It's always a pleasure to return to the magical inhabitants of Druida City and find out who will be next to discover their HeartMate.

I read the first few books in the series years ago and have been reading her new series as of late. I know it has been quite some time since I read a book from this series, but I really think she surpassed herself on this one. I can remember the previous books being more mushy and romantic. This one was sweet but primarily I found it to be a mystery. A cult is killing people in horrific sacrificial manner and our main characters are not only trying to solve the case and trying to stay off the evil people's radar. Definitely worth your time. I loved it and had a hard time putting it down.

I somehow missed this book on it's release date, but was a must have as soon as I realized it was available. I loved Triff's story. Ms. Owen's continues to be one of my top 10 authors.

I have to admit, it took me a couple of Ms. Owens' books before I got the hang of the setting. It was so different from other works, but I kept coming back for more. In Heart Quest, the main characters Trif and Ilex were carefully crafted and so dear, story line was paced well, never a dull moment. I can't wait to read more on the Winterberry's in the next book!

Every time I get a new Robin D. Owens book I expect the best and I have yet to be disappointed. In Heart Quest, Ms. Owens brings two previous background characters to the forefront with their own story of love and heartache. When I read that Winterberry and Trif were the stars of this story I didn't think I would enjoy it as much as her other novels, simply because these two never seemed that important or remarkable, however, I am pleased to say that they really shine in this story, and of course there is all of the other characters from other books making guest appearances. As a stand alone novel, this is a good book, with a charming heroine and a serious, sexy, authority-figure hero. I love a man in uniform! As a continuation of her other Heartmate novels, Ms. Owens outdoes herself time and again and I cannot wait for her next one!

I originally bought this book for my daughter who had recently moved from Austin to Boston. However, after she finished reading it, she gave it to me and told me how much she loved the story and told me to read it.

I was fascinated with a book about an area of Texas that I had lived in for many years. As a result, Janice Woods Windle became one of my favorite authors. I have purchased every book she has written and many copies to give as gifts. I have never been disappointed.

Hill Country is an mesmerizing story that keeps the reader turning the pages. Janice has the ability to take life, historical events and people, and intertwine them into stories that come to life.

However, the best part is that the reader is not only entertained but educated as well.

By the way, regarding all of Windle's books that I have given as gifts--everyone has thanked me after reading them and in turn buy them as gifts for others.

Brenda Ritter

Janice Woods Windle proves that lightning can strike twice.. Following her highly successful debut novel, True Women, which was made into a 1997 television mini series, the Texas author has penned Hill Country, a sweeping historical drama fraught with danger, excitement, and love - all the more fascinating because it's true.

Drawing from an unfinished autobiography plus a trove of letters and notes, the author has revitalized the indefatigable spirit of her pioneering grandmother, Laura Hoge Woods, an amazing woman who fought marauders, scratched a living from unfriendly soil, raised seven children, counted presidents as friends, and flew with Charles Lindbergh.

Much of Laura's grit came from her mother, "Little Mattie," who once pulled down Old Boomer, an "ancient, ten-gauge, double-barreled, shotgun" to protect 7-year-old Laura and her two brothers from hostile Indians. Herman Lehmann, who had been kidnaped by Apaches as a child, was among the intruders. To Laura, he was beautiful, "His hair was golden and long....his body seemed carved from ivory."

As a teenager Laura met Herman again, at Eager Mule Creek, her wilderness hide-away. They fell in love, but the gap between Indian life and the white world proved too wide for him to bridge. Wealthy Peter Woods, owner of a large horse ranch and chairman of the Blanco County Democratic Party, became Laura's husband. Through him, she hoped to satisfy her political aspirations - if she couldn't run for office because she was a woman, she decided to be a candidate's wife.

When government railroad land was offered for a dollar an acre, Laura and Peter bought. There was one qualifier: a buyer had to build on the land and remain there for six months. Agreeing to live in this new territory while Peter tended their present ranch, she "moved to the last place on Earth....the wild empty lands of Central Texas," where she felt her life was "sliding backwards."

In 1894, a violent storm arose isolating Laura and two young sons at the distant ranch. Days of incessant rain made puddles in the cabin, brought creek water to the horse pens, and serious illness to her youngest boy. Despite the blinding torrent, Laura managed to hitch a buggy, cradle the paroxysm seized baby in one arm, hold the other child on the floorboards between her knees, ford a wild river, and drive ten miles for help.

After the rigors of wilderness life, she was delighted to move to Blanco, into a stone bungalow overlooking the river. This home, known as "Hanging Tree Ranch" because of its proximity to a lynching she witnessed as a girl, was where Laura lived her glory years.

She gave birth to their first daughter, Winifred, and met the young woman who became her lifelong friend, Rebekah Baines Johnson.

It was also at "Hanging Tree Ranch" that Peter and Laura entertained Teddy Roosevelt who bought horses for his Rough Riders. Despite initial misgivings about Roosevelt's Republicanism, Laura was won over.

Later, in 1911, Laura again doubted a political hopeful; she was dissuaded by his scholarly mein. But when Woodrow Wilson came to Texas and advocated women's suffrage, Laura enlisted in his cause.

As the United States teetered on the brink of World War I, some suspected an alliance between Mexico and Germany. Asked to provide horses for an assault on Pancho Villa, Peter mortgaged his land to buy the animals.

An attempt to transport the Spanish cow ponies by train proved disastrous - a derailment injured the horses so severely that Peter was forced to shoot them. Laura wrote, "It was like something in Peter died that night, as well."

Always troubled by Winifred, who seemed uncommonly distant, Laura was pleased when her daughter married. But Winifred's first child was stillborn, a loss that pushed the fragile girl beyond reason, and eventually warranted her institutionalization.

As Peter faded to a shadow of his former self, Laura realized that she would have to support them. The family moved to San Marcos where she opened a rooming house. Of this journey she wrote: "The road from Blanco to San Marcos, Texas, is only 45 miles as the snake slithers.....Every mile of that road is littered with little pieces of my soul, with discarded notions of right and wrong, love and duty, and all the dreams and easy pleasures youth sheds on its way toward the setting sun."

In 1924, a young Charles Lindbergh barnstormed through Texas selling plane rides. Laura flew with him twice, finding "It was like riding on a beam of sunlight and being in absolute control." That evening she pretended not to hear when Peter asked her where she had been.

Outliving her husband and her close friend, Laura saw Rebekah's son elected to the presidency. She waltzed with Lyndon Johnson at his Inaugural Ball.

At over 90 years of age, plagued by failing eyesight and osteoporosis, Laura became the unwilling resident of a nursing home where she was repeatedly told to lay "back and rest." Valiant in her obstinacy, she would have none of it. After escaping her confines, Laura thought, "Maybe if I was old like these others I'd lie back and rest. But I've got things to do." One can scarcely imagine what it was that this remarkable woman had not already done.

I was so sad when this book was over...I couldn't put it down!! I highly recommend this for any woman to read. A wonderful story, made all the more exciting because it's set in a region of My great state that is dear to my heart!

Ms Windle has given us two books in one. A thoroughly delightful sequel to "True Women" in Laura Woods and a thoroughly boring (even to a Texan who lived through it) story of Lyndon Johnson.

Too bad they were not bound seperately so I could have only read the one about Laura Woods.

Having grown up in the Hill Country, I was immediately drawn to this book. Woods' protrayal of her grandmother's life brought out the history of this area and her descriptions created vivid mental pictures. You'll find yourself not wanting to put the book down as you travel through time with this story of Laura Woods.

D.H. Brown's Honor Due is about a retired Army Special Operations Major, who is thrown back into the arena of warfare. "Once a special op's warrior always special op's warrior". You don't ever let your guard down. You learn things about people and their ways that you wish you never had. You always stay prepared.

The Major takes one look at the guy who entered his local watering hole and the warning bells of survival start to ring. He doesn't ignore these bells because they have served him well his whole adult life and kept him alive in some of the worse battles in Vietnam. Looking at this young man, the Major knows three things. One, someone wants him dead. Two, someone has made the ultimate mistake of bringing him back into the game of warfare. Three, he is going to have to kill this guy.

Finding his longtime friend from Vietnam tortured to death was a low blow and one someone would pay for. The Major is now set on a mission of revenge and he's back in a zone - predator vs. prey. There's a blood debt that must be paid and he won't stop until it is paid in full.

D.H. Brown has written a top-notch novel. The suspense that he has put in this book will keep you turning the pages or tossing and turning through the night if you dare put it down before reaching it's end. In his debut novel he shows the reader that he has mastered the art bringing the reader inside his world. You won't only read Brown's novel - you will feel his characters to your very core.

D.H. Brown has earned a space on my book shelf with this superb tale and I look forward to reading more of his work. This is just the beginning of the Citizen Warrior Series and I wait anxiously for the next. Excellent work and highly recommended! 5-Stars, Reviewed by Michael S. Timlin, Authors on the Rise Book Reviews.

"Honor Due" is a suspenseful, action-packed, entertaining thriller. A
novel that draws the reader into the Vietnam War, describing what D.H.
Brown had to face, and how he survived the horror. The author penned a
compelling story through the main character as Major, defining his haunting past, history during the Vietnam Era, and the bravery of one
hero who was determined to prove that life was still worth living. The
Major's mission was to find answers, and seek truth as to what happened
when South Vietnam was falling. Through his terrifying journey, he was
determined to seek vengeance for his fallen brother, and family. With
courage, one warrior manages to find healing as romance blooms, and he
is able to see light at the end of the tunnel. In comparison to reading
novels about the military, "Honor Due" stands out with pride in an
excellent performance that was written from the heart of a true warrior.
In many war stories, we only see the cold, bloody, and the angry
perspective of war. In this novel, through the fascinating character of
Major, we don't just see the ugly. The journey through "Honor Due" takes
the reader to the battlefield, then to the sunset where peace, and love
bloom like the flowers. Unlike most military novels, D.H. Brown has a
unique way to invite the reader into the Vietnam Era during traumatic,
uneasy times. The Major pours a fresh, brewed cup of coffee from across
the table as he tells the story of his military nightmare, without
decorating the violence. Most important, the story is told from the
genuine characteristics of the Major's realistic personality. The
protective, sensitive, loving man that he was before becoming the Vietnam
soldier, and his own battle to keep that self-respect. I applaud the author in his first book of "The Citizen Warrior Series." The Major was
appealing, the plot was superb, and the story was interesting from
beginning to end. I recommend "Honor Due" to teens, adults, and all
readers who enjoy thrillers with a blend of romance, and humor. This
novel was as chilling, and dramatic as "the Deer Hunter" with Robert
Deniro. The Major told his story with as much heartfelt emotion as
there was in "Armageddon." The true meaning of the word hero light up
the pages in "Honor Due" on the same scale as viewing "the Patriot"
with Mel Gibson.

Geraldine Ahearn A.I.O.M
CCRN/ Author of 6 books
Author Geri Ahearn, INC.
Fellow Member of the ABI Women's Review Board

Few Americans know about the American forces fighting with the Montagnards in the central highlands of Vietnam. A battlefield for some 30 years,"the `Yards" were one of the country's 54 major ethnic groups. Allied with the Americans, the Montagnards were horribly persecuted by the victorious North Vietnamese after the American forces left the country in 1975, with many emigrating to the United States.

Author D.H. Brown, a Vietnam vet who fought with the Montagnards, has written a fast-paced thriller based on the CIA-Special Forces-Montagnard relationships that continued after 1975.

With the hero patterned after a special forces vet living in the Pacific Northwest rainforest, Brown's story drags the hero, ex-Special Forces, back into the CIA- Spec Ops - Montagnard confusion of the late 1960's - early 1970's. His `yard' friend suddenly and brutally murdered after an attempt on his own life, Brown's hero finds himself falling in love with his friend's daughter as they chase and are chased by a renegade CIA hit team. The action is realistic and convincing as our two defend themselves before a thrilling and surprising conclusion.

"Honor Due" is D.H. Brown's first literary effort, and the first of a planned trilogy and is well worth reading.

With clear, crisp details and riveting action, D.H. Brown has penned a compelling novel that gives us a glimpse inside the mind and heart of a Warrior. Through the character of Major we see the cold, calculating killer who is always vigilant and prepared to be defensive. We also are allowed to look deep inside to see the caring and committed man who would go to any lengths for those he loves and respects. This book transcends the usual hype and hollowness of other military novels because it is written simply and from the heart.... the heart of a real Warrior.

[...]

MACK BOLAN FANS WILL LOVE THIS BOOK.

Some secrets age well, others tend fester. The good Major has retired, but some of his secrets have not. They come to visit the Major in his secluded Northwest forest home--armed to the teeth--and stay to feed the trees. All of which proves the old adage, "Two men can always keep a secret if one of them is dead."

This is the best debut novel I have read in some time. The characters are solid and the scenes are well set. Though occasionally predictable, the plot (I would like to have seen the author's take on the cops finding the body of the old man in the Major's freezer while he was sleeping with the old man's daughter) holds the reader's attention and satisfies the needs of the arc of the characters.

Old snake-eaters and old snakes have one thing in common; they are cunning and deadly. I look forward to my next visit with the Major in HONOR DEFENDED.

This is a wonderful tool that allows you to ask for donations "nicely." I really recommend this book to all who assist charities for a living whether on a professional level or as a volunteer.

Outstanding. Reminded me of everything I'm supposed to be doing in my fundraising letters but have forgotten over the years. It's the bible for fundraising letters!

Excellent for a review of those with experience and super for those new at the experience. We have used it for both occasions

I am not an expert in writing fundraising letters. So, when I found a book with a title "How to write successful Fundraising Letters" it was as if I had won the lottery. I couldn't wait to get my hands on it because I was on a dealine to write a fundraising letter for a non-profit organization for which I had volunteered. I ordered the book, and paid just as much to have it deleivered the next day (local bookstores do not carry it). I found the book to be a tutorial and not something I could quickly benefit from. It is written to teach how to properly write and follow-up a fundraising campaign letter. The samples provided were very specific to 3-4 scenarios and did not offer much context. I guess I was looking for a book with hundreds of samples so that I could pick and choose phrases, paragraphs, etc.

If you ever think you will have to write a fundraising letter, you NEED this book. Too many people think it is just like writing any other kind of letter but it isn't. There is a rhyme and, more importantly, a reason to it. Don't write a fundraising letter without reading this book first.