O'Neal Books

I was so disappointed with this book. My husband is an avid fan of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series so I decided to read this novel (because I love historical fiction) to see if I liked his writing style. This book was obviously written by a man and it reads more like a bad romance or porn novel, than historical fiction. I had to quit after about 1/3 of the book because I couldn't stand the lack of storyline development and the constant sex. The pages were either filled with extremely boring political accounts(reads like a history book) or extremely immoral behavior. There is sex on almost every page-- it's not romantic or realistic. Nothing leads up to the intimacy described and it is not moving in any way-- the character just has women throwing themselves at him (hence why I said it must be written by a man-- who is living in a fantasy world!!) The characters are shallow and unlikeable and the rest of the story is boring. I threw this book away and don't recommend it to anyone. My husband swears that the Wheel of Time series is written completely different, but now that I've read this (...) I'm not certain I even want to begin the Wheel of Time series.

After reading the Wheel of Time Series, I started to think that Robert Jordan was one of my favorite authors, but I thought I should take a look at some of his other works. So far Fallon Blood is the only other book I got to, but after I read it I have decided that Robert Jordan is my favorite author...or whatever his real name is (it's not Robert Jordan). I didn't finish the book, but that was because I moved and had to return it to the place I was borrowing from. Otherwise I wouldn't have put it down. His villians are truly evil and the hero very impressive. The book is more about family fued than war, but for the war fanatics, there's definately plenty of it. As much as I know of history, it's accurate but there are still plenty of fine details that only a scholar would know presented in this book. And for those of you who like WoT, there are some similarities in his writing. The woman are all still very strong characters, and the hotels are an awful lot like the ones in the fantasy series, plus there is a lot to do with travel. I would recomend this book to anyone. (As long as they are teen and older).

Michael Fallon, in the Fallon Blood, is one of the most interesting and believable characters I have found. This book covers his trials and his successes over an extended period of time that covers the American Revolution. I found the book to be very exciting and dramatic, while at the same time historically accurate and educational. I would reccomend this book to anyone. A very enjoyable read. What is Robert Jordan's real name??

I have read all of the wheel of time books, and RJ places second on my favorite authors list. I had no idea that he even wrote these Fallon books until I happened upon this one. I must say that I have never even had a slight interest in historical fiction, or what actually happened to gain us our independance, but after reading this book I found that it is quite fasinating. This book really helped expand my interests to more than just fantasy novels. I would never have opened it if had not had RJ's name on it.

Reading this book reminded me of something that Orson Scott Card wrote once about how he bought back the rights to his first novel, just to make sure that no one would go back and reprint it on the merits of his later books. This novel shows the weakness that a new writer brings to a novel. The story is too plot driven, the villians have weak motivation, and the use of point of view was simply baffeling. There were times when I completely lost track of who the point of veiw was following. This novel also shows Jordan's often odd and what I find highly unlikely veiw of how women see the world. And while I could keep this list going, for all of that he managed to write a fairly compelling story. His historical backgroud was interesting, if for nothing else but for the southern bias that it takes.

While there are far to many mistakes to call this a great novel, and any of Jordan's wheel of time novels are far better. This was an entertaining read that can show how much a writer can improve.

I was very excited to find this book in hardback. I have the whole series and hadn't been able to find a hardback copy to read and put on my shelf with all the other "People". It seemed it was missing something that some of the other books have, it was still good, and still had lots of information, but I didn't seem to get into the book as quickly as others. Still I would recommend it!

I've loved everything I've read by the Gears and I've read just about everything they have published. Wonderful interposing of fiction onto the facts! They use their expertise as anthropologists and as story tellers to combine what really has been found about North American Indians and interpose a very believable story onto it. They really make the past come alive! The inclusion of what has really been found by anthropologists adds tremendously to the books!

I really liked the saperate storys of the 2 main characters a lot better than the combined story of the 2. I liked the story of kestral a lot she is pragnet by a another man and is running from her husband and she has to survive by her self.

Seeing WolfDreamer again was like hearing from a long lost friend, like a message from the past. I found the scene with him and Sunchaser in the future at the ruins of Chaco Canyon to be some of the most powerfull writing they have done so far. The Spirals crying out for WolfDreamer to save them and now knowing what became of Green Ash's(People of the River) son Born of Water was gutwrenching. You can relate to the panic the people must have been feeling watching their world change before their eyes, having mammoths drown themselves and forgetting what some animals looked like must have been unsettling to them. It also dosen't help that their best Dreamer has lost his way to the One and has fallen for a hunted woman. The only annoying side of the story was Lambkill,he was a bit to inhuman too evil and crazed to care about or even feeling the least bit sorry for him.

I liked this one. It's a charming saga of prehistoric peoples somewhere in California. Our heroine gets afoul of her husband for adultery, and decides to run off instead of facing the death penalty allotted to her. Her angry husband and his brothers follow her for weeks with murderous intent. During her escape we read of her many exploits trying to throw them off her trail, the birth of her baby alone in a cave, and how she manages to cross a raging river with the newborn. Always heading west, finally she's taken in by a coastal tribe. Meanwhile the coastal tribe has their own problems. The mammoth migration has declined in recent years and they are forced to look elsewhere for a home. The angry husband eventually shows up and a deadly confrontation results. I found the story readable. The battered wife, angry husband confrontation is a bit overdone. Do we really believe that he would spend a year and risk death to find and kill a adulterous woman who ran off and kept going? I didn't believe it. The disaster that befalls the coastal tribe is a little overboard too, but I guess it's almost believable. With those exceptions it's a good entertaining read for the hot tub on an afternoon.

Just finished reading the Summoning God. This one took place around the Four Corners area. Again, I encountered some of the same problems: overwriting (Purple Prose:), weird grammatical rules, and I know they have no clue what New Mexican food really is. Maybe I'll send them a cookbook or link or something. But these were nothing - in fact a person could even have fun with it.

The switching back and forth was still there. Dusty and Maureen were warming up to each other; how sweet. But there was too much unnecessary stuff in those chapters that I didn't care about. They were at their best when they digging up bones or looking under the microscope. Those parts were what kept me going.

What I found more difficult to deal with is the unforgiving violence in the story against elderly women and the emphasis on violence towards children. Yes, I know this is a work of fiction. And I know that period was harsh and violent. It was driven home by the Gears, I'll hardly forget it.

I think some of the stuff the Gears came up with to explain the warfare was a bit of a stretch. I loved Catkin but I think she took a back seat in this story. Browser wasn't quite focused for a chief but I liked him. Never gave Springbank a single thought. Loved Redcrop and Straighthorn. Overall I did enjoy the story although I didn't love it. Probably why I gave the book three stars. But I will read the next one. I'll review it too.

Yeesh, what "A reader" said. Was a professional editor employed in the publication of this book? Repetitive, unbelieveable physical descriptions of the characters and their actions irritated me enough to detract from the intriguing device of an Anasazi murder mystery. No-one's hair actually looks like a "glistening black serpent", no matter how many times you repeat it.

And yeah, the story jumps around too much and introduces too many characters and situations. You'd need to keep notes to follow what is going on.....and I was irritated enough by the poor writing to lose interest in keeping it all straight.

To continue damning with faint praise, this book's wannabe-Indian authors aren't too insistently "Indian good, modern world bad" nativist, although it's in there. I've encountered worse. Still annoying, though.

If you are interested in native American/First Nations mysteries, give Tony Hillerman a try. Better written, with more believeable characters.

I got this triogy after seeing a lot of other reviews at first all I cared about was the indian half of the books. but I read the other modern half and liked it just as much. The entire triogy was great.

Intertwining contemporary archaeology with an Anasazi mystery is a good premise. Unfortunately, the authors fail to execute it well.

Repetitious descriptions deaden the writing, making it flat and formulaic. No less than three times, Catkin's black braid is described as a "glistening serpent lying across her back." Too often, moonlight "gilds" or "sheaths" her "upturned nose," "beautiful oval face," and lots of others things. I lost track of how many times yellow cottonwood leaves glinted or glimmered in the autumn sun or swirled somewhere (down paths, on the river, over the kiva edge, etc.) We are reminded ad nauseum of the glints in Dusty's blond beard and hair, of the chin-length black bangs plastered to Browser's face by sweat, of his knee-length war shirt whipping against brush or bushes. Concerning Elder Stone Ghost, "Thin white hair blew around his face as he looked up at Browser." A mere three lines later we read, "Thin white hair blew around [Browser's] uncle's wrinkled face. Sloppy! Where was the editor when the authors needed him/her?

Gestures are recycled until they become tedious. People tuck stray hairs behind their ears or under their hats again and again. Lots of brows draw together lots of times. There is much cupping of coffee cups, sipping of coffee, gripping of war clubs in hard fists, and clasping of capes. The result is unintentionally comic and Chaplin-esque. These characters come across more like marionettes than full-blooded people.

The problems are not merely stylistic. Early on, too much information is thrown at the reader, confusing him/her: a mummy hanging from a rock, copper bells apparently left as bait, a murderous female, a little girl tagging along with her, somebody in a wolf kachina mask, a vicious pack of white-caped warriors, a woman with her eyes gouged out, beheaded bodies in a kiva, the heads in a grove, a necklace that seems important....Whew! The narrative would have been more coherent and the pacing better if these details had been doled out more slowly, one at a time. Easing into a good mystery should be like worming into a ripe apple: the deeper you dig, the darker and juicier it gets.

Sexual tension between Dusty and Maureen is a central conflict in the novel's contemporary portion. However, their unresolved mutual attraction/revulsion soon became frustrating, if not downright annoying. When are these two going to hop in the sack together? Or at least confront their obvious feelings for each other? I know, I know...this fat novel is one in a series of fat novels, and the authors want to keep things simmering. Maybe we'll find out if anything happens between Dusty and Maureen several thousand pages hence. Want to wait that long? I don't.

Hopefully someday somebody will give prehistoric Southwestern peoples the fictional treatment they deserve. But not today....

The anasazi series by the Gears is fantastic! History comes alive, and I like the parallels written into the modern day story as well! Well done!

You have to remember before issue #56 of the "X-Men" came out in 1969 that the comic book was hurtling towards oblivion (which meant it would became a reprint title for Marvel). Jim Steranko had come in and done a few wonderful issues but then we had issue #53, which we all thought was the worst drawn comic in the history of the world. The artist was some young kid off the boat from England named Barry Smith who was clearly trying to imitate Jack Kirby (what we did not know was that Smith had literally drawn the pages sitting on benches in Central Park. In what was clearly a final but big time effort to save the X-Men, Neal Adams was brought in as the artist, the pages inked by Tom Palmer, the stories written by Roy Thomas and then Dennis O'Neil. For those who had suffered through issues drawn by the competent but uninspiring Don Heck, the nine issues drawn by Adams raised the bar for what the art in a comic book could look like. Whereas Steranko was the master of style, Adams provided a realism that was just great, as he went on to show while drawing Batman and Green Lantern/Green Arrow for DC.

Collected in "X-Men: Visionaries - Neal Adams" are issues #56-63, and 65 of "X-Men," published originally in 1969-1970, and since all of them run for over $100 in proverbial near mint condition, this is a nice way of enjoying these great comic book stories. Issue #56 has the Living Pharaoh, #57 the start of an awesome Sentinel trilogy, #58 offers the first appearance of Havok, #59 has Cyclops as the last X-Man standing against the Sentinels, Issues #60-62 offers the Sauron trilogy, which gets the X-Men back to the Savage Land and a meeting with Ka-Zar, #63 is a nice Magneto story (picking up on the Steranko bit of the devil having a daughter), and #64 is admittedly a lame monster story. These were just above well above average stories with the longer storylines working to the advantage of the characters and the artwork. I did not understand the importance of using the name "Sauron" as a villain, since I was still a few years away from reading the Lord of the Rings, but it was cool to have a monster that was a flying dinosaur. The Havoc costume was pretty cool too and I still remember the way Adams introduced Magneto without his helmet in one of the great reveals of all time. There was one more original issue after the run by Adams and then the title started reprinting issues #12-45. Granted, the run by Chris Claremont and John Bryne when the X-Men were brought back as an international gang of merry mutants in 1975 is the highpoint of the series, but the issues by Adams comes in a strong second.

Just as the Original X-Men's run was hampered by ridiculously low sales, Marvel tried to salvage the title by conscripting two greats -- Roy Thomas and Neal Adams -- to come up with some butt-kicking tales. And this they did! Adams can tell a story by himself, really, with his spectacular pencils. His sense of perspective, lighting and presence is truly phenomenal. Unfortunately, even he and Thomas couldn't prevent X-Men from lowering into the depths of reprints, despite their herculean effort.

In these collected tales you'll witness the Living Monolith, Havoc, the Sentinels, Sauron, Ka-Zar and the civilization-destroying Z'Nox. Overall, this is well worth the $$.

At times, I have difficulty with the concept of Marvel's "Visionaries" books. When the book focuses on a writer (like Chris Claremont) or a writer/artist (like Walt Simonson or Frank Miller), it's good, as you get grade-A stories that signalled changes in direction for certain books. When the book focuses solely on an artist, however, it's not so good, as no matter how good the art is, there's no telling what you'll get in terms of story quality. Also, you only get issues with that artist's work, so incomplete stories and fragments can be quite prevalent.

Such is the case with X-MEN VISIONARIES: NEAL ADAMS, spotlighting the 1969 X-Men issues illustrated by one of the greatest comic artists of all time. One thing that you should be aware of is that, in 1969, the X-Men, currently the world's most popular super-team, was in the dumpster. The stories were not that great, the art was generally horrible, and as a result, no one would touch this series with a ten-foot pole. But then came Neal Adams to spice things up a bit, drawing issues 56-63 and 65, knocking people out with his realistic depictions of our beloved teenage mutants. Artistically, these issues are excellent, and they rightly got the attention of readers. Even with this artistic jolt, however, Roy Thomas' writing is painfully melodramatic, and no amount of good art can fix that. In addition, Adams' artistic chores began in the middle of an ongoing story, and as this book contains no non-Adams material, you won't get a complete story. Also, the recoloring of these pages is horrible, so even though Marvel trumpets Adams' work, their lack of care in reprinting it doesn't back it up.

So, this book is a great artistic experience combined with some laughable stories. You do get a few great moments in X-Men history, such as the return of Professor X and Magneto, the intros of Sauron and the Savage Land mutants, and cameos by Ka-Zar and the Living Monolith, but X-MEN VISIONARIES: NEAL ADAMS is proof that Marvel should focus on either writers or writer/artists for these books.

Seriously, what were they thinking when they gave the coloring job on this the green light? For those who love great artwork in comics, this short run by Neal Adams on X-Men in the late 60's is really one of the highlights. So why would Marvel treat it so poorly? One reviewer mentioned the previous print job as being worse but I disagree. This is a mess; costumes change color from page to page, some pages are flat, saturated color while others are dot printed (which looks far worse on high grade paper than on newsprint!). I also hope they give this a third, improved printing. For those of you who can't wait, the great artwork is still there, it's just buried under an inept rush-job. Personally, I would've prefered the thing in b&w.

The 2nd print is very close, but no cigar. After the computer coloring hack job of the first print, Marvel redid some of the issues, as there were originally printed 30 years ago. Unfortunately, there are still some pages, here and there, that still have this bad coloring work. On top of it, I now see some colored pages from the 80's special edition reprints making it an inconsistent mess.
Hopefully by the time Marvel releases the 3rd print, ALL of the coloring for this collection will be brought back to its former glory.

Kathleen has done a superb job of adding a fictional story to the great historical cultures of the Native Americans. She has shown courage in being willing to add the romantic element. I look forward to reading her next work as it will use the power of sex to heal. The high chieftess trully exudes the stresses of leadership.

I have read almost all of the books that Kathleen had co-written with her husband and loved each one. I expected nothing less from this book. I began reading it and was very pleased with the story. It has a lot of erotic moments that some may interpret as a cheap romance novel, but it is so much more. If you are prude in that department you may not be interested in this reading. However, sex is a very personal act shared between two people. It was important I think for the readers to understand the graphic details that were shared between the people to further develop the story and understand the characters better. The story twisted me in so many different directions and the end just cuts you off. I hate that. I really do. It is like watching your favorite t.v. show just to have the climax cut you off with big bold letters that read, "TO BE CONT..." However, the sequel has already been published so I understand and hope (cross my fingers) that all the answers that I seek will reveal itself in the next book. Knowing that I could continue the story kept me from taking away a few stars when rating this book. Kathleen is a great author and I will continue to follow her work.

It sleeps in me was one of the best books that Katheel O'Neal Gear has written. It even gives you a twist at the end of the book. Ill be getting the 2nd book in the triogy when it come out.

When Sora, chieftess of the Black Falcon Nation, is faced with warring clans, duplicitous friends, and baffling seizures, she feels that she is trapped in a labyrinth of deceit. Skinner, a friend of her ex-husband, Flint, comes to Sora with a shocking message: Flint is dead, but his shadow soul lives within Skinner, and he must tell Sora Flint's last words. When Chief Blue Bow of the enemy Loon Nation asks Sora for warriors to help his clan attacks another, Sora suspects treachery despite the promise of jade bounty. As she seeks counsel from her second husband, Rockfish, and best friend, Wink, Sora is shocked that they are eager to accept Blue Bow's proposal. Suspicious of their motives and tortured by the lure of Flint's shadow soul, Sora learns that she can trust no one and that her life is in danger.

Throughout out this book I was mesmerized with the culture and the beliefs of this tribe. I use to read-up a lot on Native Americans in my college years because the culture fascinated me so much.

While reading this I kept trying to predict part of the ending but came up short every time I turn to a new chapter, there were a couple of shocking twists that had me going.
Gear did a great job keeping up with the story line throughout the entire book. It did break my heart during the end of the story. With this debut in a new series, Gear, the beloved coauthor of many Native American prehistoric novels (e.g., People of the Owl), spins her magic again in a saga peppered with murder, intrigue, and erotic love scenes.

This book was intriguing and entertaining. I highly recommend this book. Great work Kathleen Gear.

IT SLEEPS IN ME by Kathleen O'Neal Gear has officially peeved me off. The book kept me interested all the way until the very end. In fact, it built serious momentum at the end, making me more and more excited to see how all the intrigue and mystery will pay off when ... cliffhanger. Thanks a freaking lot. Now I have wait for the next book to come out (in paperback) to find out what happens. I am NOT pleased.

The story itself is convoluted, but fascinating. Basically, Sora is a Native American Chieftess (circa 1400s) who was divorced and remarried. Just as political problems force her clan into considering war, she learns that her ex-husband, Flint, has died. He was the love of her life, and now she begins to believe that his spirit is moving from body to body in an effort to stay on earth with her.

But is it really his spirit? Or is there a greater conspiracy going on, one to overthrow Sora from her position as chieftess?

The story itself is rich with detail about Native American life in the 1400s. There's also a lot of sex in this novel. Not romantic type, either. The story especially delves into the various sex toys these people used to enhance intimacy. It's not everyone's cup of tea.

Anyway, I really enjoyed the historical/anthropological detail and the intrigue/mystery. I just wish the book had a real conclusion instead of an advertisement for the next book. So annoying. Apparently, it's part of a trilogy that includes IT SLEEPS IN ME, IT WAKES IN ME, and IT DREAMS IN ME.

With another cat burglar keep tailing him, Max Aveli was curios to know who was the other person. And he met Kitty Fontaine, a daring woman that crossed men boundaries. Never did Kitty knew that Max was her childhood sweetheart when she was just a child in India. She was robbed of her innocence by Max. Their quest was the same, to find the Blood of India, a fabulous gem that was sought after many people. But fate was never on their side, when the police caught both of them and make them agreed to work for the government to get the ruby for England. Both were shipped to India, and that was where Max played with Kitty's heart.In truth,Max was afraid to take a chance in love since he was hated by his father, Sir Harold. In India, Kitty discovered who Max was, and lost him again when he 'died' at his own father's command. Back in England,Kitty was forced to marry Sir Harold's another son, Charles. In a nick of time, she was saved by her Max, got another dose of adventure and together they fled to India bringing the Blood of India with them. A wonderful ending of this story were they had an Indian wedding and settled down for an adventurous life in India.

If this book were a movie, it would be a "Movie of the Week". One of those stories that trys to have something for everyone; romance, action, suspense, danger, mysticism, revenge, exotic locales, interesting professions (aviatrix and cat burglar), but not enough of any one of them to be completely satisfying. However, the book is fast-paced and entertaining. I liked Kitty and Max but I would have liked to know more about them. How did Max develope his skills and became the 'Tiger'? Why did Kitty take up aviation and how did she get started? How did she afford it? The story doesn't answer alot of questions. It keeps moving us along from A to B to C, and yet when you get to the end you feel like you've had a rather fun adventure. Not great, but amusing and different. KCS

I really loved this book! I read a lot of romance, and after a while, they all start to sound the same. This book surprised and thrilled me. The characters are fresh and different, and their romance is really touching and kept me hooked the whole time. The action is exciting and kept me guessing. After I'd finished it, I felt like I'd really been to India, and that I'd shared in their adventures. The hero is to die for! And the heroine is strong and sassy, but I felt like I'd really known her. I definitely plan to keep this book and read it again and again.

This is the best book I've read all year. It takes us on a magical journey to India through the exciting experiences of two sexy cat burglars who are at odds not only because what they want differs, but because of a past that's being denied. The writing is superb, the characters are the most interesting I've encountered in romance. It kept me guessing with unexpected plot twists to the very end. Romantic, adventurous, sexy, a fabulous read that I'd recommend to everyone! I plan to read all of Katherine O'Neal's books after this.

I'm a great fan of Katherine O'Neal's books and I absolutely loved this latest addition. As I've come to expect from her books, it's adventurous, witty, has a hero to die for and a heroine that any woman would want to be, and has love scenes that are some of the best and sexiest being written today. I felt as if I'd really been to India after reading her marvelous descriptions. I was completely captivated by the story, and often surprised, which is rare in this genre. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who wants escape, who wants to be transported to a world where love really does conquer all. I couldn't put it down!

I suppose any book about Jesus which does not hew to orthodoxy will be considered controversial by many, many people, and this book does take a non standard approach to the Resurrection. However, the idea premised here is hardly new, nor, I think, even especially provocative in today's world, and so anyone reading this expecting to be shocked will be disappointed.

What we do have is a fairly well written book with some interesting characters, though the Gears suffer from the failing of excessive, and somewhat repetitive, description, especially in regard to people's appearances. Sometimes less is more.

The narrative consists of two intertwined stories, one being the last days of Jesus and the second taking place three hundred years later as the Church attempts to find the Pearl, something which they fear can destroy them just as Constantine is institutionalizing Christianity in the Roman Empire. Unfortunately there really is no mystery as to the identity of the Pearl, and this seriously limits the suspense of the story.

Because of these limitations the search for the Pearl is a little too long and predictable. By the same token, the narrative about Jesus was too short for my liking. This book takes a decidedly Gnostic view of His Life and teachings, and this was the only real freshness in the novel. I was sorry there was not more elaboration on these thoughts.

All in all I found this an okay book, with likable, sympathetic characters and a fast moving, if unsurprising, adventure thread. However, I have always believed that any book which aspires to present Jesus' life should offer something for the spirit, and while this book has a few nuggets interspersed in it, they are way too few. Too bad, too.

This book was extremely well researched. The footnotes were interesting & informative. It was a good story intertwined with concrete factual history. If you know anything about the history of religions (especially Christianity), you will find this book enlightening. If you don't know anything, this book can teach you in a non-boring way! I've emailed everyone I know...it is a "Must read".

THE BETRAYAL: THE LOST LIFE OF JESUS BY KATHLEEN O'NEAL GEAR AND W. MICHAEL GEAR: Renowned husband and wife authors W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O'Neal Gear, of the First North Americans and Anasazi Mysteries series, return with their most controversial book to date. Also archaeologists, the Gears apply over thirty years of research with their backgrounds in biblical archaeology, religious studies, Greek, Latin, to reveal a new and relatively unknown and historically unsupported biography o...more THE BETRAYAL: THE LOST LIFE OF JESUS BY KATHLEEN O'NEAL GEAR AND W. MICHAEL GEAR: Renowned husband and wife authors W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O'Neal Gear, of the First North Americans and Anasazi Mysteries series, return with their most controversial book to date. Also archaeologists, the Gears apply over thirty years of research with their backgrounds in biblical archaeology, religious studies, Greek, Latin, to reveal a new and relatively unknown and historically unsupported biography of Jesus Christ, or Yeshua.

The Betrayal is told from two viewpoints; the first is that of Yeshua, as he travels in his time, changing the world in his way, and while one would consider this to be the important character of the book, this plotline serves more as an additional realization to the main viewpoint and character of the book, Brother Barnabas. The monk Barnabas, living in the year 325 after Yeshua, is a student and copier of the ancient holy texts, the texts that tell the true story of Yeshua, some in his very own words. These books portray a Jesus different from the commonly known one: heretical and radical, contrary to the contemporary Church's teachings. The Ecumenical Council of Bishops has now decided that these holy texts are nothing more than "a hotbed of manifold perversity," contrary to the Christian faith, and are therefore not to be read or copied by anyone. Emperor Constantine decrees that all copies of the sacred texts are to be destroyed and anyone found with them will be executed as a heretic. But Brother Barnabas knows that the texts tell the true story of Jesus, and he makes it his mission, as ordained by God, to save them for the world and the future, at no matter what cost.

While The Betrayal seems well researched and given the Gears' background, they clearly know what they are talking about, the reader is left wondering how much of this is really true, and could this really be a giant conspiracy hidden by the Church after all this time. The book is classed as fiction and shelved in that section in bookstores, as well as featuring a favorable quote from Lewis Purdue, author of Da Vinci Legacy. In fact, The Betrayal does bear some resemblances to the likes of Da Vinci Code, Rule of Four, and other books published in the last decade which question the religious dogma, much to the outrage of the Church. It begs the question as to whether the Gears are looking more for the true story of Jesus, or perhaps a bestselling novel in this popular genre, or perhaps both? The reader will have to decide for him- or herself.

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I really enjoyed this book. I am not really into novels,(historical, fantasy or otherwise)I tried to read a few, but they lose me along the way. When I picked this one up, I read It from cover to cover and I enjoyed the experience. It Is a very fast paced and griping story,and the non fiction 'end notes' are Iceing on the cake. Some people may get upset with the books conclusions but,It Is well worth the read. Highly recomended!

If you fancy yourself as knowledgeable concerning the history of the early church and the Canon, leave this book for those "Thrillseekers" who want to know the truth. This is apparantly well reseacrhed but tediously written. Reminded me so much of "Lord of the Rings" movies when it seems to me all you ever see are the protaganists on a journey. Simply get tired of the "On the run" scenes. Concerning unfinished business, there are so many unreslved issues. If there is nothing more than a grave robbery, what in the world is the light, why do women appear angelic, what are the scrolls and how do they support this story? There is indeed controversy over the missing body and the ending of Mark, but no real explanation is given. The easy way out is to say that later writers "added" to Mark and gave us a Resurrection story. For the sake of fairness, at least address the other camp that says the current ending of Mark was later found and not an embelisshment. The Authors try to paint a picture of Jesus working in harmony with Zealots and there being a practical reason for what happens on the 3rd day, but come on, they were no more there than at the Alamao to see Davy Crockett survive ala Disney movie. This book is about agendas and I am tired of this worn out Gnostic approach to christianity. Sure, these Authors know that Jesus's name was Yeshua and on and on. Takes you a while to catch on to their hybrid english-hebrew-greek-latin ad aramaic approach to text. I am impressed that these english names have their hebrew or greek origins. Something happened 2000 years ago that contributed to the death of 11 people very closely aligned to a historical figure named Jesus. Stealing a body in the dead of night just doesn't do it for me anymore. Put the story in context of the early believers who died for what they believed. Something more happened on the 3rd day. Be it physical or spiritual, something happened and this book cheapens it. Sorry, but extensive research doesn't obliterate agendas and provide the shocking truth. File this book in your James Tabor library of christianity. I am bored with it all. I am not convinced the birth of christianity is the subject matter for lousey historical fiction.

Not as good as the first 2 books of the Fallon series. Unlike the first 2, that showed the build up and then how a Fallon took part in first the revolutionary war, and then the war of 1812. The Fallon legacy leads up to both the civil war and the battle of the Alamo, but never gets into them. Also the book leaves allot unfinished. Let me put it this way. If the wheel of time ends the way this series does, the dark one will be set free, Mat will still be trying to get the daughter of the nine moons to marry him, and Rand will be wondering if now would be a good time to save the world. Oh and a forsaken will be waiting in the next room to kill him.

Over all this was a let down. I'm really glad that RJ dropped this series and wrote the wheel of time.

Robert Jordan is a thrill a minute writer with incredible wit, but no movie could ever capture what Jordan writes.

I've read the Fallon series and the WOT series and couldn't even imagine them being deplored by a movie. Never in my life have I seen a movie that compared to the book. You wanna see a movie, fine, but writing as complicated and intertwined as Jordan's couldn't be put into a movie of any length.

In the Fallon Legacy, the story concentrates mostly on James Fallon, Robert Fallon's long lost son. The story takes you through James' adventures in the Texas frontier. Amidst much excitment and adventure, Robert Jordan is able to provide the reader with an extraordinary amount of history and culture from the Mexico/Texas region. The characters in this book are awesome. Some of the most loveable and hateable people I have ever read about. The Fourrier family continues to haunt the Fallons all the way up to the last chapter of the trilogy, but the Fallons are once again able to persevere, although with some heart-wrenching losses.
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While the adventure and romance of this novel were very entertaining and fun to read, the best thing about the book, and indeed the whole trilogy, is the fresh perspective that it provides on the history and the culture of America 200 years ago. Books like this help to preserve our heritage.

The struggles and hardships of the revolutionary period and beyond are masterfully captured between robert jordans bookcovers.A story of a family that stems with importance but not to much to be mentioned in our histroy books, a stragegy thats as complicated to preform, but done so as not to quell the importance of the book.A book so flowing with intrigue and danger, the only dissapointment that it had was that it had to end, or until the sequel arrives which will be waited for inpatiently.

I LOVE THESE BOOKS I dont know Y people dont like this book not just here but other web sites too but take it from me I HAVE ALL THE NEAL ADAMS COMICS FROM THE 1960s ALL THE WAY TO THE 1970s. Must of what I have seen people does not like the remasted art work but I love the art work just as well as the old comic art work maybe better cause its remasted but I love both of the 1960s to 1970s and this books art work its very hard what to like the best the old comics are this book NOTE THIS IS FOR ALL THE VOLS. 1,2,3

I have all three volumes of these sensational collectibles and I have to say this was "The Batman" not only as I remember him but the definitive Batman as he should be both artistically ( he looks like an athlete not a steroid pumped jock! No offense Jim Lee fans...but Neal Adams is the master! )and the character and stories themselves are barnone so timeless that it seems every writer for the character since Mr. Oneil refers to those incredible stories in some form or another. I am a firm believer in progressive or evolving a character but this time period of the Batman is untouchable!

A great third book with a lot of covers thrown in. Neal Adams is the expert Batman Artist and it's great to get these stories collected in one bound edition. Also includes sketches at the back of the book and a brief synopsis on Neal and the people who worked with him. My only negative about this book is that (as in the previous two books), they recolored the stories instead of leaving them in their original form. I think it takes away from the authenticity of the work, but it's still a great purchase if you're a Batman fan, or a Neal Adams fan.

I'm a huge fan of the 70's batman, Neal Adams' art, any kid of Ras story, so of course I was excited to pick this up. I usually like to thumb through a copy before ordering, but I imagine because of the cover price these were all sealed. I'd heard complaints about "retouched" inking on these Neal Adams volumes before, and chocked it up to people being too nit-picky. Well, I ordered the book, got in the mail, and ripped it out... then my heart sank. While I can't say that the re-touching of the art is bad per se, it totally took me out of the 70's comic feel, and actually ruined the book for me. I couldn't finish the first story, and thumbed through the rest of the book to see if it was all like this. Except for the black and white sketches, it was. I normally rate very high, but I wish I would have heeded the warnings about the re-touched art. Let me be clear that the stories, binding, paper-quality, and extras (intros by Denny O'Neil and Neal Adams, plus some of Adams' commercial Batman work) were all top notch--but the colors were so at odds with Adams pencils that I feel like I've completely wasted my money. If you're thinking about getting this, head over to brick-and-mortar bookstore first to thumb through it. If the art isn't totally off-putting to you, then there are some great stories in here that you'll really enjoy.

This third volume collects the last portion of the Neal Adams Batman. While the second volume is in and of itself excellent, this volume is indeed superior. Phenomenal writing, superb coloring, quality paper, and timeless art.

Present-day comic "artists" still have miles to go before they reach this type of comic storytelling.

You get:

"Daughter of the Demon": (R'as al Ghul)
"Half an Evil" (Two Face)
"Night of the Reaper" (Harlon Ellison assist)
"The Lazarus Pit" (R'as al Ghul)
"The Demon Lives Again" (R'as al Ghul)
"The Bruce Wayne Murder Case"
"The Joker's Five Way Revenge" (Joker)
"Moon of the Wolf"

My only complaint is the re-inking of two Power Record Books that were excellent the way they originally were.

Still, a volume to be read, re-read, and treasured.

The second of a four-part series, "The Pact With Bruno" is David O' Neal's novel of wealth, family and revenge. "Pact" continues the adventures of Doug Carlson from the first book, "What Goes Around," and the decisions that entrench him firmly in mob boss Bruno Sebastino's tight-knit family. O'Neal again illustrates how, when faced with the "no win" scenario, often the choice is simply survival. This story addresses the idea that cops can become immune to the very laws they represent. So hold on to your seats, breathe in . . . and hang on for a wild ride . . . as the saga continues . . .

I had high hopes for this little book. I currently read about 100 books a year (and particularly enjoy mafia/underworld stories) but this one lacked...well...just about everything. The plot, though largely well-conceived, was interrupted incessantly with meaningless flashbacks. Otherwise powerful scenes became limp with annoying character daydreaming. Not only was there an abundance of typos (probably publisher's error) but the strange use of italics and punctuation frequently distracted this reader. And pacing was irregular: the novel's sense of "time" varied from paragraph to paragraph; the story bumped along. But perhaps the biggest disappointment was the writing itself. I found no voice in the book. Instead, choppy phrases and trite descriptions ("Mama's tired eyes lingered and drank the shared love her men demonstrated for one another") left me searching for writing skills. So I wasted a little time. Big deal. I learn something every day.

David O'Neal has a unique way of taking a great character, Doug Carlson, and sending him on another, and even greater, adventure. Carlson is a more three-dimensional "Dirk Pitt," of Cussler fame, but just as gutsy and demonstrates that he can match wits with an array of very interesting characters. I can't wait until the next O'Neal book!

Reading for pleasure allows a person not to worry about facts, figures or other distracting information. All you need do is sink into the story and enjoy yourself. If it's a good one, time passes quickly. I started "The Pact With Bruno", remember noticing that I was on page fifteen, then in the blink of an eye, it seemed, I had finished the book. That's how good it is; better I think than the first Doug Carlson novel. David O'Neal still has the same sparse, smooth style but this second novel gives us a deeper insight into the motivations of his characters. A very good book.

The Pact With Bruno weaves a web of excitement, breathless anticipation, and heart-rendering emotion. The words followed one another in spell-binding anticipation, as I read page after page, chapter after chapter, until the very last word of the novel concluded the end of The Pact With Bruno.