Reed Books

I have had four miscarriages and through this book and finding a new doctor who is mentioned in this book...i have finally been able to figure out what the cause is...i have high natural killer cells and will need IVIG treatment for our next pregnancy...which hopefully will be soon...so if you have been TTC for a long time or have had repeated miscarriages I SO RECOMMEND this book! its NOTHING like regular doc books!

WOW! Dr. Beer is way ahead of his time and I throughly enjoyed reading his book and understand more about the world of miscarriage and infertility! The only down fall of this book is the medical terminology that most may not understand. Some parts were over my head...but Dr. Beer's theories make complete sense in how the author explains them.

The book has some very interesting ideas as to why failures happen. It can be pretty boring and repetitive at times though, very dry. It doesn't seem to be really written by Dr. Beers, it just has quotes from him every once in a while.

This book was extremely helpful! I read it cover to cover in a matter of days. Dr. Beer et al have certainly made it easy to understand and explain reasons for unexplained infertility and loss. I would recommend this book to anyone who has suffered through either infertility and/or recurrent miscarriages. In the reference section it lists the clinics which provide the type of care he discusses. I made an appt immediately with Dr. Kwak as she is the closest to our home. She is a gift to work with!

If your best friend was a book it would be this one. Dr Beer describes in easy to understand words how the immune system can go into overkill in some women. The result is miscarriage, IVF failure and infertility. But these outcomes can be prevented with the right tests and treatments. I read this book and found it technical when necessary but with lots of human interest stories and studies to back everything up. The authors did a good job making this book accessible to ordinary women and also credible for when they take it to show their doctors. It is not dry like the other reviewer said, it is factual and makes a complex subject understandable. The book is ahead of its time and will make infertility and miscarriage a far less frequent event if only it was more widely known to the medical profession. I had twins as a result of Dr Beer's treatments. I wasted many years and many $s consulting with narrow minded doctors before finding him. I recommend this book with all my heart to all those women who were once suffering like I was. The tests and treatments are out there and this book tells you where to find them.

Moe Prager, P. I. and wine shop owner, interesting, kind of like Sam Spade owning a gourmet cheese boutique or maybe Raymond Chandler a nice little French bakery.... But, Reed Coleman pulls it off and the James Deans won't disappoint even the most discriminating imbiber of classic P. I. Noir. Plus, I met Mr. Coleman on one of his tours and he's a nice guy. Buy this book!

An ex-cop turned successful wine merchant and sometime PI. A golden-haired politico wanting to be another "comeback-kid." An office intern who turned out to be a deadly researcher. These are the intriguing main characters in Reed Farrel Coleman's third Moe Prager mystery, The James Deans.

If you've got politicians in a story, then you know what the other elements will be--greed, betrayal, misuse of power, dishonesty, and in the wake of Monicagate and GaryCondit/Chandra Levy, sexual dallying will play a big part too.

Or will it? That's what's so intriguing about this specific mystery and the skill that author Reed Farrel Coleman brings to his stories--you think it's going to follow the path lead by headlines, then it veers off into uncharted territory, with roots laid deep and long ago. His style is lean and mean on one of its threads and spiraling with imagery on another. The combination makes his writing exciting and hard to forget.

The James Deans is a terrific page-turner, complicated with plenty of twists and made rich with believable, flawed characters. It's only a matter of time before Coleman and emerges from the pack and shines in the spotlight.

Moe is the refreshing antithesis of most characters being written today. He is a loving husband, father and brother, neither an alcoholic nor a drug user, but with secrets and burdens of his own. I still rave about "Walking the Perfect Square" as one of my favorite books. Coleman creates an environment that feels personal. But it's the writing that makes this book and series one I feel deserves attention and recognition. Highly recommended.

A pretty decent, fairly engaging mystery. The characters are pretty well fleshed out and the relationships, for the most part, are very believable and sympathetic.
The plot is a good mix of an old-fashioned Hammettesque detective story and modern day mystery.
My main problem is the observations, obviously from a post 9/11 perspective, of 1980's New York. I mean, come on, why would a 1983 detective be looking for the twin towers, thinking that "the skyline wouldn't look right without them?"
Over all, I enjoyed the characters enough to try another Moe Prager mystery. It's a decent, light read for a Saturday afternoon.

When he is cornered at an employee's wedding in 1983 New York, the last thing wine shop owner and private investigator Moe Prager is to work for a politician. A former cop who was forced on disability by a piece of carbon paper on a waxed floor, Moe has had enough of being manipulated and holds a secret that could destroy his marriage. However, a carrot and stick approach by the bride's father forces Moe into working for State Senator Steven Brightman and investigating the disappearance of his female intern in Reed Farrel Coleman's The James Deans (Plume)..

Moe soon makes headway into the case, but after coming to a conclusion that leaves everyone satisfied niggling doubts begin to force Moe into looking a little closer at a case that has been tidily resolved. Now, Moe must decide whether to open a can of worms that would leave the powerful and his own friends particularly unhappy with his actions. From the Senator down to the neighborhood bar owner, all are invested in the nicely wrapped package Moe has presented to the city. To continue investigating means that Moe risks sacrificing his career, his family, and his friends.

Moe Prager is a wonderfully down-to-earth detective who, although bored with his mundane life, would rather avoid a fight than wield his muscle. His love for his family makes him engagingly human, especially when he knows that a secret he shares with his father-in-law will one day explode and shatter his marriage (Walking the Perfect Square, 2001). Not overly bright but always quick with a quip yet never annoyingly so, it's his ethics and sense of honor that make Moe shine. Taking a turn at writing his version of the Chandra Levy/Gary Condit scandal, Coleman does an original twist with the plot as halfway through, just when you think the mystery has been solved, he boomerangs the story and leads Moe into making a decision that forces him to look deep into his soul and his sense of justice. While Coleman does make a few obvious references meant to give a wink and a nod to the present (a poetic look at the sturdy World Trade Center and jokes about a going-nowhere Arkansas Senator), he writes a riveting plot and creates a vivid portrait of eighties New York City. Always entertaining with a character who is never disappoints, Coleman continues a series that improves and expands on a truly unique character.

This story is about Catherine and Grayston and is set in the 13th century. Grayson, a powerful lord, is ordered by the King to marry Elise to try and stop a conflict between her brother Eduard and Grayson. Grayson has no choice but to agree. However the bride that comes to him is not Elise but is Elise's widowed sister-in-law Catherine.

Eduard, a very nasty person and makes my top ten bad guy list, decides that since the King has ordered the marriage of his sister Elise to Grayson he would have her set him up to be murdered several months after their vows. That way no one would suspect Eduards or Elises involvement and Graysons property would then become his.

Elise, having been severely abused by Eduard and not wanting to be an accessory to Graysons murder, commits suicide, leaving Eduard in a quandry. That's when Catherine comes into the picture. Since Grayson, or anyone for that matter, has never really seen Catherine before, he beats Catherine for days to submit to his murderous plot. She refuses until he kidnaps and threatens to kill her children. She is then forced to comply and assumes the role of Elise. The story continues with relationship developement and some good action scenes. Both characters have their own problems to work out, which is done pretty smoothly.

This story also has an interesting twist which really hooked me. The prologue starts in first person, as if Catherine was writing the reader a letter. You could really feel Catherine's pain and hopelessness in the writings. The first chapter then goes into 3rd person.

This book will definately be a keeper of mine for a long time.

This is one of the best romance novels that I have read in a long time. I got the book because it was rated highly and I was pleasantly surpised that everyone who rated it before me was absoutely correct in saying it was a 5 star read.

I bought this book on the strength of the Amazon community reviews...famous last words.

Let me say that I read lots of romance novels. And this one is pretty good -- but five stars? Hmmmmmmmm. The story/plotting has good moments, and the writer is creative & a fresh voice, but still...I can't put my finger on it, but I was able to put this one down with no problem. My criteria for a 5-star read has to be that I just can't put it down. I didn't have that feeling with this novel -- and I could wait to pick it up again too. Maybe I thought it was too melodramatic. Maybe I've met this hero & heroine before. If I were grading it like in school, I'd give it an 85 out of 100, or a B+. So, yes, I think it's good, but it's not the gripping keeper that other reviewers described, at least not for me.

When the book started with a first person narrative, it stopped me cold. I reluctantly trudge through it but was already thinking about tossing it. Well, I am glad that I did. It may start out a bit slow but by chapter 3, you can NOT put this down. The characters are so real, issues, warts and all. Our heroine starts out as emotionally and physically beaten and terrified.She's been forced into an evil plot to save her children by a sadistic, psychotic man. Our groom has demons that torment him and is also forced to wed against his will. This sounds same old-same old.......and to that point it probably is. BUT the rest of the story takes it in different directions. You will never regret reading this story. Accolades to Ms. McCall.The epilogue is also first person by our heroine but by then she is a strong, confident woman and it is perfectly done. The notes by the author explain several cultural aspects of the time and are informative and helpful. Wow..how far we've come as woman and as a society. Hoping for a sequel about sir alban.....enjoy.........

An excellent read...sensual, romantic, compelling, agonizing, and intense. McCall's story weaves a superb romance with harrowing personal demons and manipulative, exceedingly dangerous villains. McCall allows to to see Catherine and Gray fall in love, to feel them struggle with their pasts and their fears, to alternately worry and cheer as they face Eduard's manipulations.

Superb. Don't pass it up.

What could be more horrifying than to have the psychic ability that forces you to witness the events in other people's lives but not be able to find your own son after he is kidnapped? With an intense plot and vivid detailed writing, Rick R. Reed has crafted a compelling, fast-paced thriller that would haunt any parent's nightmares.


www.AllTheseBooks.com

Reviewed by Tyler R. Tichelaar for Reader Views (2/08)

Rick R. Reed's new novel "Deadly Vision" is another page-turner from this masterly horror writer. The novel opens with Cass, a single mother, who also happens to be a lesbian, simply trying to make a life for herself and her son by working as a waitress in a diner. One day, she gets hit on the head by a tree branch during a storm, and when she wakes up, she begins to see strange visions, which she realizes are related to the recent cases of missing girls within the community. Cass is reluctant to be in the public light, but she knows she must use her knowledge to save lives. She has a difficult time trying to get help from the authorities and media, but eventually, she convinces them and one of the girls' bodies is found. When Cass's name appears in the paper for having helped the media find the missing girl's body, the killer decides he must stop Cass from revealing more. His revenge leads to an exciting showdown.

Unlike many horror, thriller and detective novelists who center the plot around a detective character searching for an unknown killer, Reed eliminates the mystery behind who the murderer is, and instead depicts the killer in alternate chapters. Reed did an exceptional job in his previous novel "IM" of getting into the killer's mind, and by doing so, while the mystery is absent, the excitement and adrenaline flow all the more. In "Deadly Vision" Reed writes in third person, so we do not understand as well what causes the villain, Ian, to act as he does; instead we view the action from the eyes of Ian's girlfriend, Myra. Ian is obviously crazy, talking about how he must sacrifice people to The Beast, yet Reed fully makes the reader understand why Myra remains with Ian for so long, first because he is gorgeous, secondly because he taught her how to lose weight and make herself attractive, and finally out of confused loyalty and eventually fear of Ian. Myra is forced into the role of accomplice to Ian while she continually tries to manipulate him to stop the crimes, and yet helps him out of fear. I personally thought Myra the most developed and interesting character in the novel.

Reed's characters are often homosexual, and in past books his characters' sexual orientation has added to the novels' plots. However, while the back cover includes Lesbian with Fiction/Mystery/Thriller as one of its genres, I didn't see any reason why Cass or Dani, her reporter friend, were depicted as lesbians. It was clear they were going to become a couple, but their sexual orientation was not detailed enough to advance the plot or motivate their actions, unlike the detective in "IM" who is himself homosexual and seeking to save his male lover from a killer bent on murdering gay men.

I would gladly welcome a sequel to "Deadly Vision" where Reed further develops the relationship between Dani and Cass so their sexual orientations are more integrated into the plot. The two women make a great team, and I can definitely see possibilities for further adventures as Cass learns better how to use her psychic abilities. I would also like to know more about what became of Myra. I hope another Rick R. Reed book will soon roll off the presses.

Hot on the heels of his enjoyable gay serial killer novel - last year's "IM" - Rick Reed returns with another gripping thriller, "Deadly Vision." Reed is quickly developing his own unique formula that blends suspense, fast-moving narratives, fully-realized gay characters, and a touch of the occult. His seeming bid to become a gay hybrid of James Patterson and Dean Koontz will not be lost on readers with this latest offering.

Cass D'Angelo, single mother to seven-year-old Max, is toiling away as a waitress in a small, depressed river town in Ohio. When Cass goes off after Max when he wanders off one afternoon during a thunderstorm, she runs afoul of a lightning strike and a falling tree limb. She awakens days later in the hospital - relieved to find Max safe - and discovers that the resulting concussion has left her with a newfound psychic ability. Before you can say Psychic Friends Network, Cass receives disturbing images of several local girls gone missing - their grisly fates playing out behind her mind's eye. Fearing more deaths, the reluctant psychic reaches out to the police and to one of the missing girl's parents - all of whom are skeptical. But when the father of a second missing girl begs Cass' help in finding his daughter and her decomposing body is found along the Ohio River banks, Cass finds herself the center of unwanted attention from a pair of devil-worshipping killers desperate to find out how she found their carefully hidden grave. It's here that the story kicks into even higher gear with a kidnapping, a manhunt, and - to a lesser extent - hints of a budding romance with a sympathetic female journalist.

As in "IM," Reed again opts to tell his story through multiple points of view. And, again, it works surprisingly well even when minor characters like Cass' mother get their chance at the storytelling bat. Laying out the actions and motives of your villains for readers is a tricky proposition - give too much and risk predictability at the expense of the suspense. But Reed expertly walks the tightrope between disclosure and omission, crafting passages told from the killers' perspective that are appropriately chilling and give just enough away to readers so that their acquired insight translates into dread when the action switches back to Cass and company. It's foreboding at it s finest with readers left muttering, "If you only knew what I know" at the book itself.

Reed also imbues "Deadly Vision" with a strong sense of setting, creating in Summitville a bleak tableau of working class hardship. One gets a strong sense of inevitability for the fictional denizens of the town, like they surrendered master status of their own destinies somewhere between unplanned pregnancies and factory closings. He nails the idea of familiarity and disconnection as analogous functions of small-town life:

"When Sheryl McKenna's mother opened the door, Cass felt as though she had already seen her. And maybe she had. Summitville was, after all, a small town. She could have passed the tired-looking woman on the street downtown, or served her in the diner. The woman stared at her with bright gray eyes, looking her over as if Cass were something she had discarded in the yard that had managed to make its way back to the porch. Mrs. McKenna was small, with no fat on her bones; she looked almost skeletal. Her skin was weathered, the result of too much sun, too much smoke. Her skin, combined with straw-like bleached blonde hair and hard eyes made her, Cass was sure, look older than her years. She held a cigarette in her hand, and the smell of tobacco smoke came out of the house in a wave when she opened the door."

Unlike "IM," the lesbian romance is relegated to the background here, never even a glimmer of possibility until the third act - and even then it's only alluded to in a near future. This is the novel's only misstep - and a slight one at that - and an area where Reed missed an opportunity for deeper emotional investment in the reporter character of Dani Westwood. The lack of romantic connection to Cass keeps her at arm's length for much of the action, consigning her to stock character status.

The novel's supernatural elements are handled quite well, with Cass' understanding of her precognitive abilities evolving gradually over the course of the book and never coming off as forced or over-the-top. Only toward the end when Cass encounters the spectral vision of one of the victims does one get the sense that they're smack dab in the middle of an episode of "Cold Case" or "The Ghost Whisperer" - and that's either criticism or commendation depending upon your level of tolerance for either of those shows.

The literary equivalent of a hybrid vehicle, "Deadly Vision" powers forward on a combustion of supernatural suspense, murder mystery, and breakneck thriller. With psychics and serial killers rendered with the same deft hand in a propulsive narrative likely to increase respirations, it takes no psychic ability to see that Rick Reed is headed for the top of the suspense class.

Ready for yet another roller coaster ride from one of the most entertaining authors around? BUY THIS BOOK!! It's a heck of a ride.
Enter the world of small town America... a place where life is pretty quiet. Well, usually.

You'll become entrenched in the drama in this well written, taught thriller. At times you'll laugh, cringe, sigh with relief and at times your breath will catch in your throat. Mr. Reed knows just how to grab his audience... where it counts.

If you've never read any of Mr. Reed's books, this is a great one with which to begin. After this page-turner... you'll be wanting more, much more. And he'll never disappoint you. Mr. Reed is one of the best, freshest authors today. You're going to be hooked.

"Deadly Vision" is a great read! Fast paced and full of characters you not only like but actually care about.

Will the killer be stopped in time? ONly one way for you to find out... click on the "Add To Shopping Cart" button now!! Then go and buy his other books. You'll be very glad you did.

Cass D'Angelo lives a regular life in small town, Ohio, with her seven-year-old son, Max. She works at a popular diner and has little unusual going on in her life except, initially, the lack of a girlfriend. Her whole life changes, however, after being struck on the head during a storm. When she wakes up in the hospital, she discovers that she's acquired psychic powers, specifically the ability to visualize the grisly deaths of local girls who have recently begun disappearing.

The killers are an insane, but handsome, psychopath and his smitten and spectacularly confused girlfriend. We find out very quickly that they worship a devil-like entity, "The Beast," and when they discover that Cass has directed the police to unearth one of their victims, they go after her and her family.

Like Charlaine Harris's Harper Connelly character, Cass D'Angelo is a psychic character who's fascinating to read about. She's thoughtful, smart, and capable. Unlike Harris's character, who travels around to use her gift, Cass is mostly happy and settled in her Ohio home and committed to family, friends, and her community. That makes her deadly visions and horror over the sick murders even more palpable. Everyone is at risk, even her own son.

Reed gives us alternate chapters from the perspective of the twisted killer's girlfriend and of our increasingly-stressed heroine. His secondary characters, particularly Cass's mother and Cass's journalist girlfriend, are lively, interesting, and essential. His use of tone, pacing, and atmosphere is masterful. A natural born storyteller, this author does an excellent job showing Cass's increasing panic in the face of the killers' single-minded murderous intent. With every page, the reader's tension level rises until the wild climax. At times graphic, always descriptive, and endlessly suspenseful, this novel takes you on a rocky ride through horror and anxiety. Will the killers be thwarted? Will Cass live to see another vision? Will she lose the one she loves the most?

Highly recommended for all who enjoy heart-pounding suspense, horror, and good old-fashioned fright within an expertly constructed narrative. ~Lori L. Lake, Midwest Book Review

Why should a conscious act of evil be forgiven? A person chose to commit an evil act on the victim of their own free will. It was a decision, an act of conscious evil.
To forgive someone for that is somewhat ridiculous. Its a bit like getting punched in the face and then immediately saying 'I forgive you.' What good does it serve? That doesnt mean you wallow in hatred or self-loathing.
But I find the notion that somehow the victim to 'forgive' themselves, has to 'forgive' the person who consciouslly committed an evil act on a defenseless child is repulsive. In some way it seems to remove the consciousness and willfullness from the crime.
I think a better word is acceptance. Acceptance in the victim that him/her was abused, that they were betrayed, that it was wrong, that evil does indeed exist in this world, and acceptance of the hardships this trauma put into their life.
In this way the abused can see the abuser as just a form of evil that existed in the past and put it behind them. Frankly why does the abuser deserve another thought from the abused?

Lois Einhorn's book is nothing short of heroic. She has spoken for many children, particularly girls. The little girls who were small and helpless, who had to remain silent to survive. She has made it clear, at least to me, that none of us are alone in our journey to become whole.

This is a book for anyone who has reason to believe or suspect they have been abused. This is a book written from the heart of a child, not a Therapist, removing the techical terminology. If the memories are repressed, this book will bring them out of the dark and into conciousness, at least in glimpses. It is at this point, though not easy, the memories will start to heal. We cannot heal if we do not see what is in need of healing.

Lois Einhorn is an angel, a brave and selfless angel.

The format for this book is what makes it so helpful. Lois offers no solutions, no formulas, no "pat" answers, no "shoulds". Instead, she allows the guest contributors to pose responses (not answers) to her questions about forgiveness, shame, blame, guilt, and about self-forgiveness. I found it to be very therapeutic to read through it, one brief chapter at a time, and then to take "time out" after each one to reflect a little on my own situation and decide how the ideas of various contributors meshed, or conflicted with my own. I found my own thoughts and feelings changing, shifting, emerging, and transforming as I reflected on the ideas being presented.

I liked that the book allowed for a wide range of conflicting points of view - which made me even more aware of how forgiveness needs to be an individual choice and an individual process - if it is pursued at all. There is no question that this is one of the most important healing resources available to people who are carrying wounds and burdens that need to be addressed. I am about to begin re-reading it now (one short chapter a day is the way that works best for me - to allow the necessary self-reflection time. I would highly recommend it for anyone who serves to help other people to let go of wounded energies, and to those who carry the unresolved trauma inside of themselves. It is an important piece of work and a brilliant alternative to all the useless "how-to" manuals that are a waste of time when dealing with issues of complicated trauma and abuse.

Dr. Einhorn's personal story is not an easy read. Her personal story of victimization is worse than anything I can imagine, and the fact that she has the bravery and courage to share her pain and her triumphant recovery with the world, through this book, is a testiment to the strength of the Spirit of Good-Will that lives deeper than the most evil demons that lurk within us all. I feel blessed to have run across this book and I am sure that it has moved me forward in huge steps in terms of my understanding of what it means to forgive, let go, and move on. Thank you, Lois Einhorn. God Bless you. Your willingness to illuminate the personal process, if not the pathway to healing makes you not just a wise communicator, but a respected leader in my books.

Reviewed by LuAnn Morgan for RebeccasReads (6/08)

When Lois Einhorn was a child, she endured unspeakable abuse. She was beaten, tortured and sexually assaulted by the two people who were entrusted to nurture and care for her - her parents. In writing this book, Ms. Einhorn asked a variety of people from all walks of life to read her story and contemplate the answer to the question, "Would you forgive?" The answers she received ran through an entire gamut of alternatives. Some said yes, others said no. Yet, it was the ones who refused to answer or who shared their feelings and left the answer up to her (and the reader) that make up the most crucial responses. These are the opinions that seem to bring the readers closer to the heart of the issue as it forces them to think about what they themselves would do in a similar situation.

The book begins with a brief history of what Einhorn (and her sister) went through as children. The heart-rending tale of the horrors these two little girls lived with day in and day out will make the reader take pause and thank God for the parents he or she had.
Could anything be worse than a child forced to crawl around on all fours for an entire day, while being beaten and gorged with wires and electrocuted? Could anything be worse than being tortured and forced to torture your own sister and kill animals?
The answer, unfortunately, is yes. What is truly worse is to live with the after-effects of growing up in those conditions and then, having to suffer the guilt of taking part in the psychotic schemes of two obviously disturbed adults.

That's what Einhorn had to come to terms with and it's the reason behind the book.
The responders include journalists, authors, doctors, trauma experts, psychologists, actors, activists, researchers, educators, politicians, religious leaders and more. They also include men who for one reason or another are serving time in prison for their own crimes against society.

The answers will, at times, make the reader angry, especially when they question Einhorn's feelings. The fact that she survived and went on to make enormous strides in her life is nothing short of miraculous. She has every reason to be commended for her contributions as an adult to the world we all face daily.

Truly, this book ranks at the top of those contributions. It is a book that will provide solace to those who have faced similar violence and to those who haven't. They are the ones who need to come to an acceptance and understanding about the suffering many children have to endure. They are also the ones who can step forward and try to put a stop to that same suffering.

I found "Forgiveness and Child Abuse" nothing short of phenomenal. It's a wonderfully candid and thoughtful book that takes the reader on a voyage of discovery into a world few are privy to. This book will stay on my shelf until I meet someone who needs it for their own healing. At that point, I will pass it on.

I found an article on Lois Einhorn's book in the newsletter of A Course in Miracles, and instantly knew I must have it. When I read the book, I could not take my eyes from the pages. I recognized in Lois a kindred soul, and recognized also the self-contempt and selfhatred we as torture-victims have etched into our soul.
As most abuse-survivors know, it is so difficult to let go of this self-hatred: it comes from being programmed to believe that what happened, happened because we deserved it, because we were inherent GUILTY. It's lodged in our cells. Daniel Quinn, one of the 53 people who gave their view on forgiving the unforgivable, writes: "The torture devised by your parents for you and your sister was specially designed to destroy your humanity by forcing you to become torturers yourselves."
And: "The scar they wanted you to bear forever was a guilt that must seem unforgivable no matter how clearly it's shown to be understood."
By writing this now, I still feel the tremendous gratitude I felt by reading Quinn's words - recognizing the truth in them - as well as the other 52 writers' contribution. For anyone having been abused, knows that it all comes down to forgiving, and we surely need all the help we can get on HOW to forgive. The book lifted me up and allowed me to see my own shining humanity: it was not destroyed. It allowed me to look deeply into my torturers' soul; and find it there too; hidden behind a guilt so deep that they needed to put it on someone outside themselves to survive.
And I felt a huge joy spread inside: as an adult, I could have chosen to do the same with my child - and I did not.
So where there was selfhatred and agonizing selfcontempt and disgust before, is joy now. We can survive, when we remember who we truly are - and this book has helped me to remember.

Seriously this book is great! It was wonderful ideas for the garden, crafts, the seasons, herbal stuff. It is just fun, cool, great!

Heather mama of 5

I purchased this book for my 7yo son because we do use a lot of herbs at home. He likes the book very much but my 4yo dd LOVES it! She loves making the recipes, learning about the plants and how they work, and hearing the stories. It has become her favorite book. I love the recipes as well since they are wonderful to give to children. I can't recommend this book enough.

Reviewed by Juanita Watson for Reader Views (4/07)

Lesley Tierra's book is just as the subtitle suggests, "for children of all ages." This fantastic herbal showcases 16 commonly used medicinal plants that could realistically form the core of a home herbal pharmacy. It is truly a great introduction to the world of herbs.

I adore Tierra's original stories for each herb which will stretch children's imaginations while connecting them deeper to the spirit of each plant. Lesley pays special attention to warnings where indicated, explains specific doses for children, and includes a convenient quick guide to treating illnesses (matching symptoms with herbal remedy).

Beautiful drawings adorn nearly every page of this book bringing each and every page to life. As an adult I appreciate the visual aspect, so I can only imagine that children will fall for them too - maybe even color in some of the bigger pictures adding an artistic element to the book itself.

Tierra's includes sing-along songs for each herb (with accompanying sheet music), as well as a vast array of crafts, projects, activities and herbal recipes. This author hasn't left anything out, and it doesn't surprise me knowing her background and the 15 years spent researching this book. Tierra is a nationally renowned practicing herbalist with family and friends in the herb world, many of whom somehow contributed to this book.

The thing that really stood out for me about "A Kid's Herb Book" is the way the author attempts to connect the reader (parents, children, and ultimately, that inner child within all of us) with the amazing life force found in herbs. This book is a timely bridge that serves to unite the heart of each reader with the natural world in fun, useful, creative and joy-filled ways. I feel that this is what makes "A Kid's Herb Book" unique in comparison to many other herb books on the shelves today.

This is a good book and my son and I both enjoyed the fairy tale-like stories in each chapter about how the herbs came to be known for their healing qualities. There are a lot of recipes and activities for each herb but it's not what I personally was looking for. I was hoping there would be more different kinds of herbs listed and what they are used for.

I found this from an EarthWalk class that I sometimes volunteer for. A 4th grader showed this book to her teacher who in turn showed it to us. I wrote down the name and bought it a few days later. Why? Because it is really informative and done really really well. I'm new to the whole outdoor, edible herb thing so I feel like I could use a kid's book to help teach me (it even has sections for me to color!) :-)

I ordered several mortgage books to use as reference tools as I begin my new loan officer career. I have not had a chance to read the book yet, but I feel confident that it will serve well as a reference tool. It was as described, and shipped in a timely fashion.

Good Book to get familiar with the jargon thrown at you by the realtors. Also covers some mortgage related history, math you need to know while answering the basic questions you have...

Breaks down industry terms into bite sized chunks. Concepts are clear and simple. Put this in your backpack when talking with lenders/brokers/agents.

This book helped me understand the mortgage jargon. I feel more confident of certain terms and mortgage products which can confuse anyone that is unsuspecting of mortgage dealings. Great Book!!!!

Mortgages 101 is an excellent resource for current home-owners, and aspiring ones. It provides a smart, clear understanding of the topic, and is relevent and accessible to a broad range of people and experiences. The question/answer format is easy to flip through, and is quite thorough. There is some very practical and realistic information for low to moderate income homeowners that are at-risk for predatory lending and other threats that can lead to foreclosure. This book is being strongly considered for the Post Purchase Education Curriculum --geared toward recent Home Owners--at a Local, Non-profit Home-Ownership Center.

Bravo and encore, Darren Reed!

Your 'poetic celebration' of women is a triumph and treasure for the Human family! Your clear and balanced writing style is pure simplicity and gives tremendous power to each poem, phrase and word! COCO WAYS is a keeper, definitely!

Darren Reed's poems visit our lives with memories that are past and of things to be. His first poem talking of the switch whippings reminded me of many a time I had to pick my own switch before the whipping. I can picture his characters clearly in my mind. This young man has a gift. I look forward to his future works. He will go far!

Coco Ways is an intimate glipse into the heart and soul of the author. It is refreshingly candid and honest. Its themes and subjects are not only readily transferable to any reader, be it male, female, black, hispanic or other, but they trandscend the personal experience and broach significant social issues . Even for the less than enthusiastic poetry reader, Coco Ways will evoke and validate our most primal sentiment- the love of our mothers.

I think that the book was very relative to me and how my history was and still is when I was growing up. I just love my favorite poem "Things Done Changed" because I think that it relates to me the most. I also think that the uncle poem intitled " Guess What" was really relative because that is very true. I can feel you on that one. Well gotta go. By the way my name is Franklin Dealno Roberson and I am your student. All I have to say is that your book is astonishing! Check you later. Peace, Stanklin

Mr. Reed brings the subtleties of the old school classics into being with new world soul. If I were to describe his style of writing it would have to be dubbed as hip-hop waltzing with elegance. This young man is destined to be recognized as a literary force in the future. The very near future! Langston has a son named Darren Reed.

I am a Civil War reenactor, and this book has been an excellent source of ideas for first person scenarios and ideas for living history. It is an insightful, unique record of the soldier's life for living historians or students of history. I would highly recommend this engaging book.

This is the best book on the life of the Civil War soldier. The other reviews attest to this, so here is something different.
Charles W. Reed, the illustrator, was ALSO a Civil War veteran.
He served in the Ninth Massachusetts Battery and won the Medal of Honor at Gettysburg for saving his commanding officer, Captain
John Bigelow, who had been seriously wounded in the fight at the
Trostle Farm on 2 July 1863.
My favorite chapter was the one on the army mule.
Buy, read & enjoy this book!

Hardtack and Coffee provides an excellent picture of Army life in the mid-nineteenth century. The sketches illustrate the text superbly. This is a useful handbook for students and teachers as well as an intriguing introduction to the Civil War.

This engaging book fills the void that other Civil War histories leave, and that is an understanding of the everyday experiences of the foot soldier. "Hardtack and Coffee or the Unwritten Story of Army Life" by John D. Billings is an exhaustive and fascinating look back at the flesh, bones, and blood of those lines and arrows on the maps of Civil War battle strategies.

The book is filled with anecdotes, observations, and songs arising from the era. (I very much appreciated the introduction which details the election of 1860 and started the whole terrible tragedy that ensued over the next half decade.) The generous amount of illustration truly helps evoke the period. "Hardtack and Coffee" is a perfect companion to Bell Irvin Wiley's "Life of Billy Yank: The Common Soldier of the Union" and "The Life of Johnny Reb: The Common Soldier of the Confederacy". And it is a perfect part of anyone's Civil War/American History library.

Rocco Dormarunno, author of THE FIVE POINTS

I'm one of those men with the "Civil War Itch" who can't get enough reading, can't get enough time on the battlefields. This book is hands-down one of my favorites in my extensive collection, re-read several times and dog-eared. It's something I always put in my bag for air-travel reading, because you can pick it up and put it down when you need to...the author and the illustrator both were participants in the Conflict, so you know it's accurate. The content is educational but not stuffy, since it was written to explain to soldiers' families what exactly Union Army life was like...and the humor still carries through to this day. After you've read the historical studies or walked a battlefield, THIS is the book you want to read to put yourself in the shoes of the everyday soldier--and it's easy to do with the author's skills. For me, the best chuckles are the chapters "Jonahs and Beats", and "The Army Mule". A must-read for those wanting more than just a general's biography or an order of battle.

I bought this book for my mother as she had been looking for books about the "Donnor Party". She found it interesting to read & enjoyed it.

I read this book ages ago and thought it was awesome. But, recently I bought it to read to my 9 year-old as she is beginning her living history career as "Patty Reed". What a wonderful book. It really shows what life and hardship are all about, but done in such am engaging yet non-violent way. I cannot recommend this book enough! It ought to be required reading in school.

I read this book in 1964 as a 4th grader in Northern California learning state history. I have never forgotten Patty or her doll (which used to be on display at Sutter's Fort). When my children were small it was not in print and I am so happy to see it is again. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to know about American history from a totally different perspective. That of a little wooden doll, chosen amongst many beautiful sisters, to make a rough trip in the pocket of her owner. You will never forget Patty Reed, or her doll, I know I haven't. I am buying the book to keep to read and to my grandchildren.

This is an excellent book that is based on fact and actually sticks very close to the true facts. It is hard to put down once you start it. Our 6 year old granddaughter loved the book, as I did also. I highly recommend it for both children and adults, even though it is written for elementary age children.

This is a beautifully written book that captures the plight of pioneers traveling west. My fourth grade students really gain a sense of what life was like once upon a time. Great book!!...