Nelson Books

Those who are about to read this book need to keep in mind that in it, Robert Bly shares his thoughts about what blogs cannot do (nor be expected to do) as well as what they can do. Over the years, he has earned and deserves his reputation as a master of reasoning, reading, and writing skills...whatever the given genre may be. Among his previously published books, my own favorites are The Copywriter's Handbook, his Guide to Freelance Writing Success, and most recently, The White Paper Marketing Handbook. In his latest book, Blog Schmog, he focuses on "the strategy of using blogs as a business-building and marketing tool, explaining how your time is best bent on strategy, not fooling around with programming or design." Bly then goes on to explain, in the Introduction, that his book "is written from the point of view of a blogging skeptic and doubter, not one who has bought into the whole blogging fad without holding it up to close scrutiny... And my conclusions about blogging, unlike those of [blogging consultants, enthusiasts, and evangelists], are not always favorable; my positions on blogging are highly controversial within the blogosphere." He urges those who read this book to share their comments ideas, techniques, and/or success stories with him at rwbly@bly.com or to visit www.bly.com.

Who will derive the greatest benefit from this book? Probably, those in need of expert advice on how to start their own blog, and, those who have done so and are dissatisfied with the results thus far.

Time Out: There are significant differences between personal blogs and institutional blogs. Therefore, those who are about to launch either a personal blog or an institutional blog should first answer the six questions posed on Pages 55 & 56 in Chapter 2, "How to Start Your Own Blog." (Bly cites Elisa Camahort's Worker Bees as their source. Her Web site is workerbeesblog.blogspot.com.) Moreover, I think that those who have already launched a blog and are not satisfied with results thus far should also answer these six questions. For those with a special interest in institutional blogs, Bly provides an insightful analysis of do's and don'ts in Chapter 7. Then in Appendix E, he identifies "Business Blogs Every Blogging Newbie Should Know" and provides links to them.

To me, some of the most valuable information and counsel are found in Chapter 3, "Blogetiquette: The Rules of Blogging." He shares his responses to a number of frequently asked questions. For example:

Is "selling" a person, a company, or a product acceptable in the blogosphere?

How to treat copyrighted material in a blog?

Why are corporations afraid of blogging?

What is the "bloatosphere" and what's wrong with it? (Note: Bly cites Steven Streight, president and CEO of Streight Site Systems, as his source for much of the response provided.)

What is "ghost-blogging' and why does it occur?"

What about other types of blogs such as "simulated," "drivel," "sleazy link," "fictional persona," and "link farm?" What does Bly think of each?

Throughout his narrative, Bly inserts a series of "Rules"(also listed in Appendix B) and provides a context for each. (I highlighted each of them to expedite periodic review of them later and suggest that other readers do the same.) He concludes this chapter with Rule 8A: "To be effective marketing vehicles, blogs should be relatively free of marketing. They should contain useful content and the truth, not hype or sales talk. To violate this rule not only costs you sales and credibility, but it also incurs the disdain and wrath of the blogosphere." He makes essentially the same assertion about white papers in an earlier book, The White Paper Marketing Handbook.

In the final chapter, He shares a number of opinions whether or not blogging has a future and many of these opinions are certain to generate controversy. (Bly urges those who disagree with any of them to contact him at rwbly@bly.com. He plans to share feedback with readers of the next edition of this book.) I strongly recommend, however, that the first nine chapters be read with great care, first. I cannot think of a better way to conclude this review than to share the conclusion to Bly's book:

"So blog if you want to. If you don't like blogs, don't bother. And if you think the advice in this book is great, and you want to let me know, or if you think I don't know beans about blogging and that my advice is useless, you can certainly say so - on my blog.

"Best of luck to you in the blogosphere - and outside it!"

I just finished reading Bly's book and as a direct response writer, I found his observations on the "blog scene" to be dead on.

When blogging first starting coming up on my radar, I looked into it briefly and didn't understand the fuss people were making over it. It seemed very much like what people used to do on BBSs (I used to be a sysop of a BBS back in the late twentieth century). Anyone could access a BBS and anyone could comment on the author's writings for all the world to see. So, what do I see on blogs? Much the same thing. People read what you write, choose to comment, link to you or you link to them. Same thing, different year.

I also echo Bly's observations that many blogs are unreadable and do little to further marketing goals. Many I've read have interesting things to say, but they're written in long, unbroken blocks of text, which cause me to stop reading part way through out of boredom.

But, the main reason I don't like blogs is because of the toffee-nosed way it's being promoted. That, and I just hate the word "blog." It sounds like something a cat coughed up--which, now that I think about it, might just be an apt description for much of what passes for content out there in blogland.

Many blog evangelists talk about blogging like it's something new and revolutionary. Psh. It's old technology with a facelift! I've heard that "blogging is all about having conversations!" Someone in Bly's book said this very thing. This same guy spoke of blogging in a weird Jack Kerouac-ish way that made me want to reach for an air sickness bag. I envisioned him wearing a tie-dyed shirt, a grateful dead headband, and little John Lennon glasses--typing furiously with two fingers in some off-campus "Café Nervosa."

A great read, Bly's book. I'd recommend it to anyone contemplating blogging so that they can avoid the hype and not be taken in by dewy-eyed blog-angelists.

I enjoyed reading this book. It confirmed what I already knew about blogs and blogging. I highly recommend anyone interested in exploiting blogs for financial gain get a copy of this book and read it.

The overall message of the book is that blogs help increase a marketing-focused Web site get favorably ranked with search engines. Therefore, indirectly they help in marketing. But blogs are not a marketing tool in and of themselves unless one treats article writing as a marketing tool.

Building Web sites has always been pretty easy. And blogs are Web sites. What has always been somewhat hard is designing a Web site and filling it with content so visitors to the Web site will be inclined to buy a certain product or service. Since blogs by definition are not seriously researched or planned, their ability to convince visitors to buy is limited. And, as a result, their marketing value is not that great. However, Web sites do not exist in a vacume. They rely to some extent on getting traffic from search engines on the Web. And blog entries help in a few ways with getting a Web site some traffic. First, they provide content in a Web site that search engines index. At least this is the case when the blog entries are stored on Web pages within the blogger's main Web site for marketing purposes. Second, blogs are possible "hit pages" surfers will click through to when trying to find information. Such pages will then direct the surfers to "marketing pages" in the blogger's main Web site set up for marketing purposes. And third, if the blogs are freestanding, then they can provide external links directing Web surfers to the blogger's main Web site which has marketing umf. Search engines rank a Web site more favorably when other Web sites direct traffic its way.

The book also points out that the best blogs from a business' standpoint are "topical blogs." And the businesses that usually benefit are service oriented (as compared to retail oriented). For example, a consultant who counsels small business owners might have a blog that only includes entries about small business. A life coach might have a blog that only includes entries regarding life coaching issues. Or a bankruptcy attorney might have a blog that only includes entries regarding Chapter 7 personal bankruptcies. The blogs will probably help boost surfer traffic to their main Web sites, but they will also help build credibility for their respective services. Assuming the blogs have accurate and timely content, then the bloggers arguably will be viewed as "experts" even though they haven't gone through the hassle of getting a book published or passed some professional exam.

But there are many blogs out there that are not topical, are not accurate and timely, and don't really say anything worth reading. Those are the blogs that the author says are not worth producing. And I agree. 5 stars!

Finally a business book that is unpretentious. Blog Schmog is not one of those books that takes one good idea and then tries to stretch it beyond its boundaries just to get a specified page count.

Bob Bly is a direct mail copywriter and by his own admission does not buy into the blogosphere hype. But he decided to delve into the world of blogging and find out what it was all about (probably so he could write a book). The fact that Bly is not a blogging expert is exactly what makes this book valuable to someone thinking of starting a blog.

This book gives you an unbiased view of starting a blog from scratch and leaves out the sales pitch you would get from a blogging guru trying to sell you the latest patented system for starting a blog.

BS is short on technical advice but does give you resources and plenty of website addresses to get you started. What you will get out of this book is why you should start a blog (if you should) and what is the most effective way to write a blog. If you are already a seasoned blogger, this book is probably not for you.

If you are thinking of starting a blog, or just trying to get more comfortable writing one, I recommend this book. You won't be an expert after you read it, but you will have a better perspective of blogging.

Robert Bly's BLOG SCHMOG is a balanced, openly honest, "no pie-in-the-sky" assessment of the craze which has swept across the internet, namely blogging. In short, the book's subtitle "The truth about what blogs can and can't do for your business" tells the buyer exactly what to expect if they buy and read this book. In fact, that is exactly why I purchased this book because I am on the cusp of setting up my own blog. I was not disappointed.

In conceptualizing and framing his book BLOG SCHMOG, Robert Bly has targeted a wide audience: new bloggers, blog enthusiasts thinking about designing and launching their own blog, and internet surfers who have been blogging for awhile.

BLOG SCHMOG is a three-tier crash course in how to realistically analyze blogging application and effectiveness, how to measure the effect of blogging on current marketing and media trends, and how to create your own effective blog that will lure in readers and participants. The back matter or appendices of BLOG SCHMOG contain invaluable information: detailed notes from each chapter, blogosphere rules & etiquette, a comprehensive list of blogging books & guides, blogging consultants with their emails and phone numbers, blog software, blog search engines, a litany of successful business blogs covering an array of topics, and a glossary of blogging terms so the newbie does not remain a newbie.
.
A word to the wise should be the mantra for this book. In other words, underscoring all of the above is a golden thread that runs through his book, namely, do not miscalculate or overestimate the effect that your blog will have on your business. Do not live in the fantasy world of blog. Be very clear about what your blog can do for you, in terms of a return on your investment ROI, whether it is financial, advertising, or just broadening your reputation via the web. Your ROI is always a balance between weekly time invested in your blog versus what do you get in return for giving up that time. What Robert Bly makes clear in BLOG SCHMOG is that blogging is a new phenomenon whose long-term effects are yet to be measured in the commercial marketplace. He does cite instances where bloggers have influenced politics; they have fanned the flames of a sweeping news story; and, through the mainstream media, blog designers and analysts have attempted to alter the path of the meandering river of public perception.

All-in-all, though some critics view Robert Bly's perspective and tone more akin to a parent who negatively discourages his child by undercutting his child's goals, I found Robert Bly's BLOG SCHMOG to be an informed primer that encourages the newbie blogger by giving him all the tools he will need to succeed, but Bly does so with words of caution. BLOG SCHMOG reads with experience and careful consideration. In short, it informs. As a writer and businessman, Robert Bly blends his knowledge of writing, marketing, advertising and persuasion into a most pleasing and rewarding work. BLOG SCHMOG is worth every penny.

John M. Weiskopf
Author, The Ascendancy
[...]

Move aside Captain Jack and make room for Gabe Avery! Okay, not really - Jack is my favorite. But boy-oh-boy, Gabe Avery is an amazing leading man. He's strong and roguish and has that soft side that he only shows to the leading lady.

Blue Moon is a treasure hunt of suspense and romance filed with entertaining characters and an exotic location. There's plenty of adventure and excitement in the hunt for a sunken ship and its treasure. Fans of Linda's other "Moonstruck" books will not be disappointed as she tells this tale of Jeanne Madison - the sister of the Madison men from the other books.

It was difficult, to say the least, but Jeanne Madison has finally pulled off the impossible. She has secured financial backing to find and excavate a treasure laden 18th century Caravel off the coast of Yucatan. God has smiled on her so far, so what could possibly go wrong. Well, for starters, she hires Gabriel Avery and his ship, The Fallen Angel. After seeing the run down boat, Jeanne feels that's an appropriate name. Gabe Avery is bronzed, muscled, has a tatoo, and a teasing glint in his eyes. He wears his dark hair pulled back in a ponytail and isn't what she expected in a ship captain, but she has to admit he adds a certain something to the scenery.

Treasure hunting isn't for the timid, and soon a competitor who will do anything to succeed is trying to take over. Jeanne begins to think she is in over her head, both professionally and romantically. Suspense builds as they scramble to recover the treasure before it can be stolen from them. Nights spent on the beach with the moon working its magic on Gabe and Jeanne weaves a romantic spell, but can the lady PhD and the rough and ready ship captain find lasting happiness?

Blue Moon is the third book in LInda Windsor's Moonstruck series and it's just as much fun as the first two. Set in an exotic locale with a quirky cast of characters, lost treasure, romance and humor, it's a story you won't want to miss.

When archaeologist Dr. Jeanne Madison plans her "Blue Moon" expedition to look for the Luna Azul, and early 18th century Spanish galleon that sunk off the coast of Mexico, she has no choice but to hire the only captain her project can afford, Gabriel Avery. Her former professor and mentor, Dr. Remy Primston, accompanies her to Cancun to meet the captain of a charter fishing boat. The handsome, dark captain who sports a British accent is far from the crusty image she had. Far worse, he reminds her of a pirate and his blue eyes make Jeanne nervous. Worse, one look at his rusty ship, the "Fallen Angel", makes Jeanne wonder if it can even hold any artifacts they might find.

Jeanne returns to Cancun a few months later to start the expedition, along with students from Texas A&M University and a former classmate of Jeanne's who is now a photographer who will film their discovery, if any, for National Geographic. Accompanying Gabe on the expedition is his deck hand, Manolo, and Gabe's lab, Nemo. When Gabe's nemesis, Captain Marshall Arnauld of the "Prospect", suddenly shows up, Gabe fears Marshall will try to steal any discovery, just as he had stolen the rights to salvage a ship Gabe himself found several years earlier.

Excitement abounds when the first sign of the Luna Azul's contents are found near a coral reef, but it's nothing compared to the excitement that Gabe stirs within Jeanne when they share dinner, or when Gabe reveals his concern when she comes down with a fever. Then strange things begin to happen after their discovery: Gabe's ship suddenly develops problems, and a strange man keeps watching Jeanne and Gabe when they're on shore. And the excitement is only beginning...

Linda Windsor's BLUE MOON is an exciting novel filled with adventure and intrigue, deception and suspense. It is also a story of love, set in the exotic seas of Mexico's Yucatan peninsula. BLUE MOON is a true treasure for any reader who loves a great romance, and one I highly recommend.

Twenty-six years old archeologist Dr. Jeanne Madison believes she knows where the eighteenth century Spanish galleon Luna Azul sunk off the Mexican coast during a storm. With her mentor Dr. Remy Primston they hire marine biologist Captain Gabe Avery to take the two marine archeologists to the locale. Though Gabe has strong references including those of her overly protective brothers, Jeanne has doubts that he knows what he is doing though she admits to herself he is quite a hunk.

Gabe has more doubts than Jeanne about the success of this sea venture. He has been betrayed before from so called friends plus the Pollyanna believer in God team leader looks too young to be a PH.D though he admits to himself he finds her fascinating and pretty. As they sail, Gabe realizes he wants her and not just for a sea cruise fling. He cannot abide her so called mentor who he feels holds her back. However, even worse in his eyes is her naive attitude towards a charming snake he once called pal; Gabe knows the rat is her rival who will steal the claim and the fame unless he and his crew give 200 % to the woman who inspires them to be more than they ever have been before.

The third Moonstruck tale (see FIESTA MOON and PAPER MOON) is an enjoyable inspirational tale starring an idealist and a cynic falling in love while on a high seas adventure. The story line is action-packed yet the key cast makes for a fun time as readers will appreciate the antics and competition between the three men now in Jeanne's life. As always Linda Windsor provides a strong thriller with interesting characters enhanced by an impervious belief in God.

Harriet Klausner

Dr. Jeanne Madison has secured limited funding to find and excavate the "Luna Azul" (translation: Blue Moon). It is a treasure-laden eighteenth century caravel off the Yucatan coast (Mexico). Along with Jeanne is the snobbish Dr. Remington "Remy" Primston who is documenting all for his future book, a few college students, and Ann Mills who is not only Jeanne's college classmate, but also a photographer with World Geographic magazine.

The tight budget forces Jeanne to hire the handsome Captain Gabriel "Gave" Avery. His boat may look ready to fall apart at any moment, but Jeanne knows that God will help her in her quest. Besides, Gave is the only skipper around that will agree to getting part of any treasure that they may find instead of a huge daily fee. Gabe and Jeanne are very attracted to each other, but Jeanne knows that a relationship between them is hopeless unless God helps Gabe see His light.

In the meantime, the American playboy Marshall Arnauld smells treasure. He has already stolen sunken site rights from others in the past, including from Gabe, and now he is after Jeanne's find.

**** This is the third in the Moonstruck series. The cover says it is the "new romantic comedy", however, I found very little comedy. Instead, I recommend this one as a Christian Modern Contemporary type of romance. A sweet read with lots of faith and a dab of suspense. Author Linda Windsor proves that you do not need a lot of steamy bedroom scenes and crude language to make a wonderful story. ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Families who are familiar with the VeggieTales videos will enjoy this alphabet book, which features all your favorite Veggie characters and makes references to many of the Veggie video stories. The rhyming is good, so it's pleasant to read aloud over and over again! The illustrations are colorful, as is to be expected from the Veggies. The reinforcement of family values and God's truths is natural and doesn't come across as forced.

Buy this book! This book is so well written, very catchy. My son would read this each week in his church nursery class. He loved it so much we bought it, and it has been read at least 100 times since!

My daughter loves Veggietales and especially the whole Educational Series that they came out with including, Shapes, Colors, Opposites, etc. They are catchy with their fun rhymes and rhythms, bright colors, and familiar friends. If you want good clean fun, education, and further imparting good Christian values...VeggieTales are a way to go.

My daughter is now 20 months, but has loved it since she was 6 months.

Alphabet Larry and Alphabet Bob are great tour guides through the alphabet. It helps if you've watched a few of the VeggieTales videos so that you'll "get" all the references (such as a hero with plungers and Qwerty). But even if you've never seen one, the art and rhythm of the text are engaging to all children. My son's loved it ever since he was just a few months old. And if I need him to calm down when he's crying, I just start reciting the book. My only complaint: X, Y and Z get short shrift!

Fantastic collection of Champions and true leaders from history. A must read for anyone desiring to become a stronger person. Excellent thoughts for today's centurions.

Jeff O'Leary has a winner with this book. What sets this one apart from other leadership books is the approach. Each chapter is devoted to a leader from history, complete with a to-the-point retelling of their story. Then O'Leary seamlessly incorporates the principles learned from the history lesson into modern day wisdom. It is a very effective motif. I have not found another book quite like this on the market. And that's what makes it so special. The Centurion Principles is extremely readable (the chapters have nice break points and are not overly long) and inspirational. Overall, it is a very fine book that any aspiring leader or history buff will find enjoyable and helpful.

Excellent! Cover to cover. Author takes practical, historical examples of leadership and applies them to the present. Don't miss this book. You will refer to it again and again.

Wow, I have read many Leadership books, From John Maxwell to Andy Stanley, but I have never read one so simply put and so interesting. Mr. O'Leary not only teaches good guidelines for leadership, but also shows how they have been used in the past for great success. The intercutting of the teaching portions and the story portions helped make it smooth going from cover to cover.

In a genre filled with leadership pabulum, this book stands out as truly unique and inspiring. All leaders - whether in business, in the military, or in the community - could benefit from reading this excellent book. It is extremely well-written with prose that paints vivid imagery, it is highly thought-provoking, and it is very enriching.

Drawing on the lessons forged by extraordinary (and sometimes, infamous) leaders, the author spins engrossing accounts of real-life leadership and then helps the reader draw out the lessons that will enable them to reach new heights of leadership acumen.

What's more, this is one of the few leadership books that recognizes and acknowledges that spirtual element of our human nature that truly enables us to lead others. Within each chapter, the author presents relevant and clear examples drawn from the Bible that directly relate to the principles discussed. His approach is far from preachy and, in fact, is quite refreshing.

I have read a great number of leadership books and have more than 20 years of leadership experience. Even so, I learned a lot from this wonderful book. I strongly recommend it and I commend Mr. O'Leary for his valuable insights, superb writing style, and his obvious passion for exceptional leadership.

I ordered a used copy of"China Cry" and was very pleased with the product. It arrived in excellent shape and in a timely manner. I ordered Dec. 11 and received the book Dec. 20. I did not know what to expect since this was the first time I had ever ordered a used book. Due to this experience I will definitely consider ordering used items in the future. Thank you for retaining my trust in Internet shopping.

This is the incredible story of Nora Lam, a woman whose unwavering faith in God has seen her through more upheavals in her life than most people ever experience.

Her story spans decades and takes the reader through the invasion of China by the Japanese. The daughter of a western educated doctor, Nora saw her comfortable upper middle class life end in 1939, when at the age of seven she was forced by the Japanese to flee her home on the outskirts of Shanghai with her parents and seek refuge at the home of her step-grandmother's house in the French section of Shanghai. There they would remain for three miserable years, during which Norma was to have the first of a number of visions of a guardian angel, appearing in the guise of an old man. This guardian angel would sustain her and advise her in her hour of need throughout her life.

At the age of ten, she and her parents once again fled. This time they were to travel to Chungking, in free China, where her grandfather lived. Only after a perilous journey through Japanese occupied China and after being beset by robbers along the way, were they to cross the heavily guarded border and arrive safely at their destination. In the primitive city of Chungking, which was subject to continual bombing by the Japanese, Nora was to learn many life lessons that were to hold her in good stead.

Nearly four years later, in 1945, having survived the invasion of Shanghai by the Japanese and their heavy bombing of Chungking, Nora returned to Shanghai after the Japanese surrendered. There, Nora was to continue her education at a boarding school for girls. Now an impressionable fourteen years old, it was there that Nora renewed her interest in Christianity. Then, in 1949, the peace of life in Shanghai was once again disrupted for now seventeen year old Nora, when the Communist Army entered within its confines and Red Army soldiers were suddenly everywhere. The Cultural Revolution had only just begun.

Nora studied hard at the university in hopes of becoming a lawyer for the state. There she met and fell in love with Lam Cheng Shen, a handsome and young legal scholar. Some time after graduation, in 1955, when she realized that she was pregnant, Nora and Cheng Shen got married. Shortly after, she and her husband were subjected to interrogations by Communist officials, as they were deemed to be suspicious because of their family connections and because of that fact that Nora had, at one time, held Christian beliefs. Moreover, as Nora's independent spirit began to chafe under the repressive and oppressive party line, she found herself in conflict with the state and sentenced to death. Her moment of truth arrived when the pregnant Nora was brought before the firing squad.

What happened next is sure to make one believe in miracles. It is at that miraculous moment that life really began for Nora. She goes on to live a life that is nearly incredible in terms of its experiential breadth. It is a secular life ultimately lived in the service of God in all parts of the world. It is amazing what this young woman would go on to achieve and accomplish in her life. Notwithstanding the fact that some of her story strains credulity, hers is, indeed, an inspirational story that will make one believe in a higher power, if one does not already do so. It is surely a story worth telling.

Nora Lam has gone on to establish the Nora Lam Ministries, which is based in California, and she leads evangelical crusades in China and the United States. A movie, based upon this book and having the same name, has also been made.

I read this book some years ago. I've also viewed the film. However, the book brings out more details that reach deeper than the film. I enjoyed reading how the Lord saved & delivered Nora Lam and her family. I was also very encouraged by Nora's faith in what God would do for her and her family. She had tremendous faith! This is a very touching story that I would recommend to anyone. It is an excellent book that doesn't take long to read. God Bless! Happy reading! You'll be glad you did. :)

Lam Sung Neng Yee's story is marvelously told in this book. The communist don't play. Her story is both remarkable and insturctional.

I received this book into my collection when my father passed away a few months ago. A few days ago I picked it up and decided to read it. Am I glad I did. It's falling apart now, but I plan to use some hot glue to hold the pages in the binding so I can read it again later. This book can give a person a lot of insight into the workings of God in our world today. People who think God is dead need to read this book. He is alive and well and ready to come to our aid when and where we call on Him. Christians need to read this book. Sinners need to read it. People who are luke-warm need to read it. It has really inspired me to do all I can for God in 2004.

AWESOME, INSIGHTFUL, WORTH LISTENING TOO-- I FIRST CAME ACROSS THIS AT A LOCAL LIBRARY-- LISTENING TO IT ON AUDIO IS SUGGESTED. I HEARD IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN AS I RODE IN MY CAR AND NOW I CONSIDER IT A NECESSARY MARRIAGE GIFT TO NEWLYWEDS! FOR ANY STAGE OF MARRIAGE, NEW, OLD, ETC... IT IS FULL OF PERSPECTIVE WISDOM AND CONTAINS GREAT STORIES TO RELATE TO.
KIMBERLIE PETRULIS-- I WILL REFER THIS BOOK ALWAYS!

Great book! Every new marriage should be given this book!

This is a good book with a lot of practical ideas that you can start applying immediately. When you read it, what Mr. Ziglar says touches you deeply and you know it's true.

While many of the ideas here are presented through the lens of Christianity, they apply universally. Zig Ziglar also has a way of making his point powerfully through entertaining stories and vivid metaphors.

If you are a Christian, I'm sure this book will even mean more to you. However, if you are not a Christian, I still wouldn't hesitate to buy it. If your goal is to improve the quality of your marriage, this book will definitely help.

Zig Ziglar has always been one of my favorite authors/motivational speakers . . . in fact, he wrote the first positive thinking book I ever read--the classic SEE YOU AT THE TOP.

I read that book in college and have devoured just about everything Ziglar has produced--with the possible exception of COURTSHIP AFTER MARRIAGE . . . for some reason, I had missed that one when it came out back in 1990 . . . yet hearing it now for the first time, I found it to be amazingly up-to-date with its advice . . . and especially relevant for me, given the fact that I'll be getting married in less than two months and do believe ROMANCE CAN LAST A LIFETIME (the program's subtitle).

I loved listening to the tape program, in that it reminded me of how much I like hearing Ziglar . . . he's corny, but also funny and oh so real . . . my only regret is that I did not have a copy of the book with the same title because there were so many things that I would have wanted to underline and review--over and over.

For instance, he urges listeners to make an effort every day to please your mate . . . this can be done by asking at the start of each day: What can I do to make your life easier, better
and more fun?

In addition, I came away with many other ideas, including (to cite just a few):

Women should be just as kind to their mates as they are to their hairdressers. Men should be just as kind to their mates as they are to strangers who ask for directions.

Accept the fact that it's now who is right, but it's what is right.
And what is important.

You change your partner by changing you.

Confrontation involving condemnation seldom brings about any change.

The important question in marriage is what am I putting into it, not what am I getting out of it.

In marriage, we both need to be on the same side . . . it is not my bank account, but our bank account.

Marriage is not a 50-50 proposition. It is a 100-100 proposition. You give your mate 100% of your love and affection, and you'll get the same.

Always welcome your mate home. When you do, treat your mate as if he or she had a tough day.

Swap jobs for one week. In general, don't keep score on who does what.

A beautiful marriage is built up on a long series of little things you do for your mate for no reason on Earth but for the best reason of all:
You love your mate.

And this final one that REALLY made a lot of sense to me:
Fight while holding hands!

Zig and "The Redhead" as he calls his wife are living examples of a successful marriage. This book documents his beliefs and actions to create that success.

Zig understands that in his marriage, it's not about him. Instead it's about him being committed to The Redhead. In the bible it talks about loving with your heart, your mind, your soul, and your strength. Courtship After Marriage shows you ways to fulfill that premise and promise.

You won't agree with everything in this book yet there's enough meat on the bones to help you make incredible leaps forward in your marriage. There is a wonderful marriage survey in the book. I recommend that couples take the survey individually and then review your results with each other. You will be amazed at the knowledge and perspective you gain into each other and your relationship. It will also give you a starting point for taking your marriage to higher levels of love.

At the end of the book Zig talks with great love about his children and grandchildren and the relationships they have. These are just a few of the benefits and rewards of his investing his energy and love into his relationship. I've always read that to learn to be successful, model successful people. Zig Ziglar and the Redhead are a couple to model.

Another great book of Colleen Coble's. As the title indicates, there is danger in the depths of the sea - and truly she captured that danger. There were times I could almost feel the agony of the characters and wanted desparately to go to their aid. Love her work.

Leia Kahale has left career and romance to settle on a secluded Hawaiian island - and Bane journeys to the island to find out why, under cover of searching for an archaeological fortune in Hawaiian waters. Treachery will drive them closer together, murder will challenge their ideas of safety, and danger will re-ignite romance and attention to valuesi n life in DANGEROUS DEPTHS, a passionate novel of adventure and love.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

As always, Colleen Cobles book was a good read. I am not partial to the Hawaiian setting. But the characters and story line are good.

Dangerous Depths is Colleen Coble's third installment in the Aloha Reef series. In it she focuses on the oldest Oana sibling, Bane. He has been a rock in the first two books, and in this one you see why. He doesn't know how to not try to control events around him. But from the moment his plane dives into the ocean, the events in the book rocket out of his control.

Leia Kahale turned her back on traditional medicine to embrace homeopathic, holistic medicine, a decision her mother won't accept. She broke off her engagement with Bane, but finds him back in her life -- a situation she is not comfortable with.

Bane has returned to help a friend find a sunken ship rumored to be filled with treasure. When his partner dies, Bane and Leia work together to find answers. The interactions and conflicts between them rang true. Each had reasons for the ways they responded to the events.

Colleen paints amazing pictures of Hawaii in this book. As I read it, I could almost feel the tradewinds on my face and the stifling heat in the jungle. Her attention to detail transforms the setting into an active part of the plot. While this is the third book in the series, you don't need to have read the previous books to understand and fully enjoy this one.

Dangerous Depths is a well written book. The plot and characters are believable in that it is could have really happened. The story line moves along smoothly and keeps you on the edge of your seat in anticipation of what's going to happen next. A must read!

Love the convenient size and the Max Lucado devotions. Wish the print was darker.

This is a bible that I have used along with a couple others. His notes are so comprehensible and he writes in a manner that is easily understandable. I highly recommend especially if you are new to the bible.

This bible is the best one I have read. It is easy to understand and Lucado relates the passages to every day life. My only complaint is that the pages are very thin and can be torn or bent easily.

This devotional bible is one that you wont be able to put down once you begin reading. It's so easy to read and understand. Its loaded with extras, he sets up for what each book is about, he breaks down chapter and verse, gives the situation, inspiration, application.... he makes you think on how this applies to us right here, right now. Best bible. Buy it, read it, and you will not want to read any other.

I have yet to be disappointed in any Max Lucado book, but I think this edition of the Devotional Bible may be the best yet. The size is perfect; it's convenient to put in your bag or keep at your desk or bedside.

I love the devotionals, essays, explanations, and examples that Lucado intersperses throughout the book. Each book begins with an introduction that shows you the "big picture" of that book, and the books are broken down into sections (sometimes a section is a chapter, sometimes more or less than a chapter), each with its own sidebar introduction, a brief related devotion/explanation, a "life application", and list of related passages. Throughout the book there are also full-page devotionals that relate to bigger themes like guilt, forgiveness, love, mercy, grace, and so on.

The devotionals pull from already-published devotions (many are from Lucado's books, but there are also many from other devotional writers such as Charles Stanley).

What I like best about this format is that it helps me see how the Bible--both as a whole and in its individual parts--really applies to my life. It brings some very important messages home in a personal, practical way. I especially like the "Application" section of the sidebars, because it helps me understand how to really apply biblical principles to my life.

To recover dignity, respect, in a relationship and for yourself with the guidance and security of the pefect love.

Before I read Dobson's book I was battling with varying emotions as I tried to figure out why my marriage had taken a turn for the worst.

This book was an excellent source of strength as I struggled to move forward. It felt as though I was the only person on Earth enduring these trials, but I quickly discovered that there were others like me. Dobson's Christian-based perspective and advice allowed me to see my situation in a new light. (I needed to stand my ground, at all times!!!)

After reading this, I wished that someone had given me this book prior to getting married. This book not only offers advice for struggling married couples, but for single individuals as well. (A sense of individuality is key, before entering a relationship.)

I strongly urge anyone with or without a love interest to read the guidelines provided in this valuable resource, in order to prepare for the day the "right" person enters your life.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is suffering from the pains of infidelity/divorce in their marriage. It was partciularly helpful to me as I was separated from my spouse and wanting to make reason out of "chaos". Dr. Dobson "calls it like it is". His "Love Must Be Tough" process is the best advice I received from anyone including professional marriage counselors. I found myself so entrenched with this book that I could not put it down. Dr. Dobson's advice is scripturally based yet relevant to today. His advice is "REAL"! I found that it "hurt to read this book", but the result of my experience was truly liberating! I want to personally commend Dr. Dobson for his fine work! PRAISE THE LORD!

This book was wonderful!! I can't explain what great advice Dr.Dobson gives in this book. Basically tough love for marriages. My husband left for 8 weeks and finally came back - one of the reasons is because of this book. You cannot go wrong if you buy this book. It is a little religious, which I wasn't for or against, but it's practical sound advice.

Another great book that has somewhat the same principals as "Love Must Be Tough" is "The Divorce Remedy: The Proven 7-Step Program for Saving Your Marriage". This book was great too and had good advice on how to act towards your mate during the turmoil.

I read many many books during our crisis and these two were the best advice I got. Tough Love. Be strong!

This book stopped me from ripping myself to shreds and replaying my marriage, day by day and hour by hour in my head as I tried to figure out what I could have done to keep my husband from being unfaithful. It described all the characteristics that were playing out in front of my eyes. It explained the human aspect of how I responded to him and why he responded to me in a completely different way. It forced me to recognize where my strength lies and it's in that recognition that I found comfort and peace. I am the biggest sceptic and I analyze everything to the nth degree; this book put me in my place.

My 8 year old son 1st 4 in the Encyclopedia Brown books by Donald J. Sobol for Christmas but has yet to have read them. We discovered that they are "new" and the Volume 1-4 is different than the "old" Volume 1-4. He has loved these books. They are titled Boy Detective, Case of the Secret Pitch, Finds the Clues, and Gets His Man. As an extra bonus he was delighted to find out that his father had read these books too.

my 6 year old nephew just loves these stories

I have not read many EB books but this was my first one. The first mystery was very easy. so i like it pretty much.

Teaching kids to observe, think, and have fun at the same time? Difficult? Not with the Encyclopedia Brown books!

This is actually the third book in the Encyclopedia Brown series by author Donald J. Sobol. In this volume, Encyclopedia Brown, the smartest kid in Idaville, tackles ten cases. Kids (and adults) will have a great time matching wits with Encyclopedia as they gather clues with him and seek to put together the pieces of the puzzle. If you can't crack the puzzles, don't worry: the solutions to each case appear at the end of the book.

These stories were first published in the 1960's, so they're a little dated, but they still provide loads of fun, and some of them are pretty tricky. If you'd like to develop critical thinking and observation skills in your kids, you can't go wrong with Encyclopedia Brown.

10 cases, 112 pages total

Encyclopedia Brown is a 5th grade boy who solves puzzles, crimes and mysteries as easily and as unconsciously as breathing.

Each book is a series of short mysteries (5-10 pages each) ending with a question - usually "how did Encyclopedia know that X was responsible for the crime". The answer to each mystery is at the back of the book. Solving the mystery takes no special knowledge, but it does require paying attention to detail. Don't turn to the answer too fast.

This book is the third in the series, but the books do not have to be read in order. I loved the Encyclopedia Brown books when I was growing up. I am reading them again before I give them to my nephew who I hope will enjoy them as I did. (The target reading level is ages 9-12).

Adults who like this series may also enjoy the Lateral Thinking Puzzles books.