Scott Books

This book is a classic on the use of index mutual funds to achieve the performance of the market. Scott is a lawyer and has mastered all facets of investing. He is an expert recognized by the courts in law suits where the defendant has violated his fiduciary duty.After reading this book you will be convinced that passive techniques offer the best method to achieve superior returns.

Piscaqua Research in a study covering the period 1987-96 found that only 10 out of 145 major pension funds, or just seven percent, out performed a portfolio consisting of a simple 60%/40% mix of the S&P 500 index and the Lehman Bond index respectively.

Or is it logical I ask for you to believe that you can predict which actively managed funds will out perform, or are you overconfident of your skills? If you are trying to find the great fund managers who will out perform in the future ask yourself: what am I going to do differently in terms of identifying the future winning fund managers, than did the pension plans and their advisors? And if you are not going to something different what logic is there in playing a game at which others with superior resources have consistently failed?

If you a really serious in finding an investment technique that will provide you with reasonable return with less risk I suggest the following little book. This is a little book that I have written and contains the essential of how to invest. Just click on the title to find the book. How to Make Money in the Stock Market-Buy 2,500 Different Stocks-Pay no Commission The Investor's Cookbook

Scott Simon's book thoroughly reviews the many advantages of index funds, and the disadvantages of actively managed mutual funds. Many of the standard arguments are presented--the cost advantage of index funds, the difficulty in picking a superior actively managed mutual fund in advance, etc. But, the author has managed to add a few wrinkles here and there. Did you know that investing in index funds can reduce your stress? Well, according to this book that is one of the more important advantages.

The book is well documented (as you would expect from a former tax lawyer). Of note is a chapter devoted to the "nuts and bolts" of index funds which gives thorough details about the operations of index mutual funds. The appendix also contains good descriptions of the major indexes.

I have spent the last three months researching index funds for purposes of writing a professional paper, and this book is by far the best source of information on the topic that I have found. But it's more than that. In making the case for index funds, Mr. Simon provides a succinct, yet intelligible, description of modern portfolio theory and its place in the world of finance.

If you are interested in subjects like portfolio theory, decision-making under conditions of uncertainty, the efficient market hypotheses, game theory, the Third Restatement of Trusts and zero sum games, and just the mention of people as diverse as Peter L. Bernstein, John C. Bogle, Warren Buffett, Alfred Cowles, III, Eugene Fama, Mario Gabelli, Elaine Gazarelli, Edward C. Halbach, Jr., Roger Ibbotson, Peter Lynch, Burton G. Malkiel, Harry Markowitz, John Neff, William F. Sharpe, and Rex Sinquefield causes you to hyperventilate, then this book is for you.

Don't let the tacky cover put you off (It would be more appropriate for "How I Went From Nothing to Being a Billionaire in Three Weeks.") This is a well-written and useful book.

As an excellent review of index fund investing, I give this book an A.

Simon's book was one of the first books about index fund investing. He published this book prior to the index fund 1999 peak in popularity.

Simon points out that institutional investors put about 35% of their money into index funds versus actively managed funds. At the time he wrote his book, about 6% of individual investor's stock money went into index funds. In 2005, it has risen to about 10% of individual money in index funds.

He also pointed out that the smartest people with the most resources for choosing good investments choose index funds. TIAA-CREF indexed about 65% of their $81B stock portfolio to the Russell 3,000 index. CALPERS indexed 85% of their $41B stock portfolio to the Wilshire 2500. Other well known corporations who index a large portion of their pension funds include Deere, GM, and IBM.

He also does a good job of reviewing Brinson's famous asset allocation study including how to use index funds to achieve your desired asset allocation.

All-in-all, Simon has written a very good book on index fund investing. It will be interesting to see if his prediction of foreign countries (Japan, England, Australia) embracing indexing turns out to be true or not.

I would suggest companion books to supplement this book including The Richest Man in Babylon, Bogle on Mutual Funds, The Millionaire Next Door, The 4 Pillars of Investing, A Random Walk Down Wall Street, Wealth of Experience: Real Investors on what Works and What Doesn't, Index Mutual Funds: How to Simplify Your Life and Beat the Pros, The Coffeehouse Investor, and the Armchair Millionaire.

Simon clearly presents all the evidence as to why passive investing, also known as indexing, represents the best method for any investor to succeed in the market. He goes further by showing how investing in a portfolio of index funds allows the average investor to achieve both less risk and and an expectation of higher returns. Thus the investor is in tune with the precepts of Modern Portfolio Theory.

The proof is here - trying to beat the market is a loser's game. It's way against the odds and neither individual investors nor profesionals have deomonstrated any ability to beat the market on a consistent basis. Indexing provides market returns with lower costs, lower taxes, and less stress.

Following her much-acclaimed novels "Righteous Revenge" and "Ruth Fever," author Beverly J. Scott delivers yet another outstanding offering, titled "Jena's Choice." Deftly interweaving romance, courage, intrigue, and suspense, she creates an absorbing historical fiction, set in rural Texas during the late 1860s.

When the story opens, eighteen-year-old Jena Grant is mourning the loss of her older brother Jared, who was cold-bloodedly murdered by an unknown assailant. Jared's demise is a terrible blow to Jena, who is still coming to terms with the death of her parents in a freak accident just a few years ago. The responsibilities of managing the family ranch and her younger brother Randy now rest on her shoulders. Though the immensity of the task seems overwhelming, this feisty and spirited young woman resolves to get on with her life.

Jena does not anticipate the problems running a ranch pose. Firstly, a wild, white stallion pursues her mares. Secondly, her ambitious and powerful neighboring rancher Everett Walker and his two sons Carl and Case cause her trouble. Walker gives her an ultimatum: within forty-five days, she must either sell her ranch to him or marry the despicable Carl. Since both the prospects are appalling, Jena faces an agonizing dilemma. She also frets because Carl menacingly threatens Randy's life.

Refusing to be intimidated by the Walkers, Jena chooses to take charge of her destiny. Marriage seems to be her best protection, but not to Carl. Unmindful of the repercussions, she advertises in the newspaper - "Wanted a mail-order husband, tall, dark, handsome and good with a gun." However, none of the men who respond to Jena's advertisement is a suitable match for her. Instead, she accepts the marriage proposal of Jared's dear friend, a half-breed Apache named Flint McKay. It is a marriage of convenience that Jena does not intend to consummate.

With their carefully laid plans being shattered, the Walkers wage a personal vendetta on Jena, deliberately attempting to undermine the McKays' ranching efforts. While bravely battling their adversaries, Jena and Flint uncover many secrets, including the identity of the murderer of both their parents. Jena also discovers surprising facts about her dead brother. Flint sets out to win the affections of his wife, and over a period, their relationship blossoms into love.

Scott has written an engaging tale that combines artful storytelling with pageturning suspense. The rampant prejudice against Indians, blacks, and Mexicans prevalent during that time, as well the stigma against prostitutes come alive in the story. While the strong protagonists and the development of the relationship between them are the novel's greatest strengths, a colorful cast of secondary characters, regional focus, authentic dialog, and lyrical descriptions add further appeal. This book is another hit from the gifted author.

Talented Beverly J. Scott has written an exciting, page-turning Western adventure sure to please readers with an appetite for excitement and suspense set in Texas during the range war days of ranch life in the Old West of the late l860's. An unsolved murder, evil neighbors threatening to claim Jena's land, a forced marriage in the offing, a beautiful white stallion creating problems, are trouble enough for young Jena who must manage the ranch for herself and her younger brother Randy. A "hold on to your seat" suspenseful sort of read with a special lyrical narrative and many poetically descriptive touches so characteristic of multi-talented author, Beverly J. Scott. A highly recommended read!

This is the third novel by Bev that I have read. I enjoyed reading all three but this one is by far my favorite. I have three kids and still had a hard time putting the book down every time I started to read it. I hope that in the future Bev will write a sequil to this book. I look forward to reading her next book.

The setting of this outstanding novel is late 1860's and eighteen year old Jena Grant must face yet another sorrow in her young life with the mysterious death of her brother Jared. Now she is left to take care of her younger brother and try to keep their ranch; something which seems impossible to do. However, one evil man, Carl Walker will take all her cares away if she will marry him. Jena would rather die, but Jared's best friend Flint McKay comes to the rescue.
Flint is a half breed Apache and is not accepted among the whites but he extends his hand in marriage to Jena and proves to be a very wise choice in husbands.
The adventure heats up as the couple face prejudices towards so many, including Indians, Mexicans, blacks and any for that matter that does not stand up to their standards. Carl is livid with anger and causes extreme problems for Jena and Flint and the mystery of Jared's death is slowly unraveled.
I'll tell you the truth I was surprised by the ending to this story; I truly never would have guessed who Jena's true enemies were. Great job.
This is a tight written story. Packed full of all the great elements in a good read. We have mystery, adventure and romance, all woven nicely together for a bang of an ending. You will enjoy this read.

This is the third Beverly J. Scott book I've reviewed. Every book she writes is exciting, entertaining, delightful, sensuous, and more. She's gained a loyal following for good reason.

The setting of Jena's Choice is late 1860s Texas. Eighteen year old Jena Grant has had too much sorrow in her young life. First her parents died in a freak accident. Then her older brother Jared is killed by a back shooting coward, leaving a grief stricken Jena and her younger brother Randy to manage their large cattle ranch. Jared is barely in his grave when Everett Walker comes calling with an ultimatum. Jena must either marry one of his sons or lose the ranch. Everett and his son Carl are bullies, neighboring ranchers who rule that area of Texas through intimidation and violence. Jena knows only too well the kind of man Carl Walker is, and vows to control her own fate.

Flint McKay was Jared Grant's best friend for years. Flint is a half breed Apache living in a white man's world. He and his little sister Marissa were orphaned at an early age. His parents' deaths remain a mystery. When Flint offers to marry Jena, she decides to go with the familiar. She's known Flint for years and trusts he is a decent man. Despite Flint's wishes otherwise, their marriage is a business proposition, nothing more. Jena has vowed that no man or husband will ever share her bed.

Everett Walker wants Flint, Jena, and Randy dead, and he wants the Grant ranch by any means. Carl Walker wants Jena. She's been his sexual obsession for several years. Her marriage to an Indian enrages him. The Walkers and their cohorts use every means at their disposal to rid themselves of anyone who stands in their way.

Flint proves himself to be a devoted husband and an efficient overseer of the ranch. Jena learns surprising secrets about her handsome husband and her brother Jared. Flint honors their business arrangement, but sets out to teach his fearful wife the full meaning of love and desire between a wife and husband. The story sizzles as Ms. Scott allows the chemistry between Flint and Jena to slowly simmer over time. She also does a thorough job of developing her characters as they are forced to face the prejudices of the times. Indians, Mexicans, and blacks are reviled. Prostitutes are treated as less than human cast offs by townsfolk. And yet it is Flint's Apache relatives, a loyal black man, Jena's Mexican cook, and several prostitutes who rally to the Grant's defense against the Walkers.

Action and adventure, love and romance, courage and devotion -- all contribute to the story in tantalizing ways. If you're a fan of tasty romances laced with action, be sure to check out Jena's Choice.

This is a great book all fans of UNC basketball will enjoy. Jimmy does a great job of sharing an "inside" look of that championship team!

super insider information gives a real life perspective to players and team--great book for UNC and basketball enthusiasts

This is a great book for Tar Heel fans everywhere who are old enough to remember that magical year 1982 when the Tar Heels captured Dean Smith's first National Championship. Great stories and memories from a great player who many of us think was the driving force behind that Championship. If you are a Tar Heel fan and 1982 was one of those great years for you and you have not read this book, then buy it and read it right now!!

If you graduated from UNC in 1982, this is second only to the Bible as the best book you'll ever read. If you're a Tarheel, this is a MUST HAVE!
Scott Fowler's (of Charlotte Observer fame) writing is the best. Jimmy "Bossman" Black proves he can write as well as he can lead a championship team.

How 'bout dem Heels, they are the NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!

A pleasure to read. As a Tar Heel who knew Jimmy, I am not surprised by the candidness and honesty of his writings. The '81-'82 Tar Heels were an amazing team. Jimmy's book provides a personal perspective that brought back many memories. Any fan of college basketball should read this.

Reading is one of my favorite things to do, and reading this book was definately a highlight of my years of reading. I have never read a book more enjoyable than Lenegrin. It was entertaining, engrossing, tantalizing and thorougly addictive from the first page to the last. I found myself slowly getting to know these characters with all their good and bad characteristics, as one would get to know someone in life. By the end of the book, I didn't want to say goodbye.

Lenegrin is one of the few books I've looked forward to reading again. Great writing! Let's hope there are many more where this one came from!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The imagery was beautiful and vivid. It was very moving at times and wonderfully well thought out. Most of all, it was totally intriguing, I just had to keep reading. I loved the profound and mysterious ways of the ancients and the flaws of the "perfect" Kehl society. It is a brilliant piece of work and I would highly recommend it.

On the surface, "Lenegrin" is a highly readable visionary/adventure novel involving a quest. However the content of this book suggests that the author may have some familiarity with one or more of the schools of experiential
mysticism.

In some ways, the novel's antecedents may stem more from certain examples of ancient or Medieval romance than from contemporary fantasy or visionary literature. Like those earlier works, "Lenegrin" utilizes the outward form of a contemporary popular fiction genre, while embedding the work with material that is of deeper significance, for those in search of it.

Regardless of what you're looking for - simply a good read or something more -- " Lenegrin's" narrative is so engrossing and the writing so well-crafted that I can unreservedly recommend this five-star book.

Lenegrin offers readers an exciting vision of another world. Jonathan has become my favorite writer of all times! He is incredibly insightful and creative! After reading Lenegrin, I felt that I was returning from an amazing journey that has enriched my imagination as well as my knowledge of my own self. I cannot reccomend any other book as highly as I reccommend Lenegrin!

This is a first, folks! Middleton Books is a brand new independent press, and Lenegrin is their very first title. It is Middleton Books' intention to publish books of a non-traditional fantasy genre. By this they state that the genre is allegorical based on language use, but not tied to any religious connotations. Jonathan Scott was born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, and has studied traditional tales used for teaching purposes for twenty-five years. He has published several short stories, and Lenegrin is his first novel.

Lenegrin is the tale of a man who has lost his memory, but finds himself in the middle of an enemy camp, brought there cold, bloody, and hungry by an old woman. He has no idea of his identity, but quickly learns he is some type of warrior. He flees after killing a man who threatens him, only to find himself in the company of a strange group of companions. He only remembers the term "Lenegrin."

"When it was light enough, I was able to see my traveling companions. On my left sat a tall, think man of early middle age with a beaked nose and a lifeless expression on his face. Next to him, a ragged adolescent girl was sitting with her mother, who was even more ragged than the daughter. The Mother held a baby on her lap and clutched a large basket holding a pair of birds inside. Sitting across from me was a frail ancient-looking man, with a shock of snow-white hair. He had a sack with a strap slung over his shoulder. None of them seemed to pay me any attention.

Jonathan D. Scott accomplishes many things with Lenegrin. First, he employs language and myth to create an "every man" type of character. He also entertains us with a great story of searching, self-doubt, and ultimate redemption. But he leaves enough shrouded in mystery to captivate and bemuse his readership. At the end of the tale we are thirsting for more. Just when we begin to understand what Lenegrin the place is all about, Scott pulls down the curtain. Hopefully this is just a tease for the sequel he has in mind. Lenegrin could be another "Lord of the Rings". We're not sure. We'll just have to wait and see.

Shelley Glodowski
Reviewer

I've always been a fan of Scott's, I believe he was the best actor the U.S. ever produced. However,even as a kid I can recall having heard that this was a very intense man. This book explains why. He was a heavy drinker most of his adult life. When drunk he could turn on the woman he was with. Those stories are supported by other bio's I've read about Ava Gardner & Collen Dewhurst (twice married to Scott). But the book also gives insight into the man & why he may have had this problem. He was by all accounts a kind person when sober. But the Hyde side took a serious toll on his private life. (& sometimes his professional life as Truesdell- Riehl's book points out). It is a very well written book for a first time author also , very good read. Especially if you happen to be a George C Scott fan.

On camera George C. Scott was the man that every woman wanted & every man wanted to be. Off camera he was a man who wrestled with bitterness & insecurity. He harbored anger ever since his childhood & when he became an adult he took it out on everyone close to him. He dealt with his insecurities by trying to control & manipulate the people closest to him. The people who loved him tolerated his behavior & still wanted to be with him costing them their own peace of mind & in Karen's case, a promising career in theatre. Even after his brilliant success in theatre & movies he remained insecure & bitter. It makes your heart ache for Scott & those whom he hurt.

This is a compelling & sad story. Karen Truesdell Riehl does not hold back but tells the whole story; warts & all.

Love and Madness is not only a titillating story of a celebrity's secret love life, it is a penetrating look into the heart of a woman who had to live with the scandal of an out-of-wedlock birth during the 1950's, when women caught in those circumstances were considered sluts. Truesdell Riehl's courageous and well-written story will remind you of how far we've come since those days, when living in a home for unwed mothers and following your heart when your head knows better were matters to be swept under the carpet and shared only in whispers and knowing smiles.

Truesdell-Riehl's story of her 30-year clandestine love affair with George C. Scott is a gripping tale, beautifully told. The author met and fell in love with Scott when she was in her freshman year at Stephens College and he was a theatre instructor. After acting with him in summer stock following her graduation, Truesdell-Riehl gave up a promising acting career to go to New York with Scott, working as a dental assistant, while he pounded the pavement in search of acting jobs. Her story, written with both wit and wisdom, provides insight into the tormented life of this international film star and the woman he called the love of his life. It's a page turner I couldn't put down!

Everybody knows the star of Patton was a brilliant actor but not exactly a warm and fuzzy human being. Ms. Truesdell Riehl's account of her relationship with Scott is a compelling story of his destructive influence on innocent lives. There is no self-pity here, though. The author's narrative is laced with warmth, wit, and the wisdom that comes only from hard experience.

Jacalyn Royce, in Shakespeare Bulletin, Volume 22, Number 4, said this about Mastering Shakespeare:

"Mastering Shakespeare places Kaiser in the company of John Barton, Cecily Berry, and Patsy Rodenburg: master teachers who have applied scholarship and practicality to develop methods through which contemporary actors can achieve lucid and physically honest performances of early modern characters-and written smart, inspiring, and useful books about the process.

A review of this book, written by Jean Schiffman, appeared in Back Stage West in May of 2004. Here in an excerpt:

"Scott Kaiser, Oregon Shakespeare Festival acting coach, has come out with an eminently readable new book: Mastering Shakespeare: An Acting Class in Seven Scenes (Allworth Press). Constructed like a play set in an acting studio, it's both entertaining and instructive. Kaiser presents a Stanislavsky-based rehearsal method that he dubs "orchestration." Devised over years of teaching, this approach to on-your-feet script analysis demystifies Shakespeare and makes the acting of his plays seem downright accessible....Kaiser illuminates the whole art of acting Shakespeare, from clown to king, in a way that's sure to appeal to many heretofore intimidated American actors."
-Back Stage West, feature article by Jean Schiffman, May 20, 2004

Scott Kaiser's text covering fundamental issues in acting Shakespeare draws on both drama and literary basics, revealing a method whereby contemporary young actors can hone their art of Shakespeare plays. From pronunciation and focal points to learning how to 'speak a score' to an audience, Mastering Shakespeare is packed with important insights.

This is a great book for actors because it intelligently draws connections between what you already know and what you need to know. The workshop-style format in which it's written veryh insightful into the thought and exploring processes of finding the meat of Shakespeare's characters. As an actor, I highly recommend it for anyone who is serious about the Bard.

This book is so useful! As an actor graduating with my MFA in May, I have already successfully used the tools outlined in this book for auditions, scene work and in performance. The information is fresh, clear and really accessible. I would recommend this book for actors of all levels, as well as for teachers looking for simple, practical advice to offer their students working on Shakespeare.

Maybe We Are Flamingos is an adorable picture book about two baby flamingos who are troubled by the way they look and wonder if they're in the right flock.

When baby flamingos Flora and Fernando are born, they're surprised to see that, while all the other flamingos are pink, they are white. How could this be? To make matters worse, they later turn grey. Is something wrong with them? Why aren't they pink like the other beautiful flamingos around them?

Full of fear at what the possible answer might be, they decide to ask their mom.

To their delight, they find out that it's only a matter of time before they'll turn pink like the others, and that looking the way they do now is completely natural.

Later, they also learn why flamingos are pink, making this book not only entertaining but educational as well.

In sum, this is a delightful and deftly written picture book that young children ages 3 and up will love to listen to again and again. Thurman chose each word in the story carefully, the prose flows so well. Collier's illustrations are a splash of color on the pages, transporting the reader to a warm, tropical place. Maybe We Are Flamingos would make a beautiful gift to any young child and is a sweet book I'd highly recommend to add to your child's bookshelf.

If you are looking for a charming, delightful story for your youngster, then you'll find it in "Maybe We Are Flamingos".

Flora and Fernando are concerned because they don't look like the rest of their flock. Maybe they really aren't pink flamingos after all. But some thoughtful words from Mum assure them they will turn pink in about a year and stay pink because of the food they eat--which leaves these young birds much relieved and happy enough to draw a few pictures of what they might look like if they ate pineapples and watermelons.

Thurman has created a wonderful and humorous story with "Maybe We Are Flamingos". Kids will love reading how Flora and Fernando go from scared and unsure to happy and silly. Thurman's gift of imagination shines through brilliantly when Flora and Fernando draw pictures of what they might look like if their diets were a bit different.

Kudos go out to Kevin Scott Collier for bringing this charming story to life with his beautiful illustrations. I was already a fan of Collier's work prior to this book, and he doesn't disappoint the reader this time around either.

My daughters, ages 6 and 4, absolutely loved "Maybe We Are Flamingos" and have asked for it to be read over and over again. They've also had great fun making up their own stories to match the illustrations--a true sign that this book has touched their hearts.

"Maybe We Are Flamingos" is a must have for every young reader!

Flora and Fernando are two baby flamingos. They are born a beautiful fluffy white. As they grow up they turn gray. They worry, we aren't pink like everyone else, are we really flamingos? Follow them on their hilarious adventure as they learn how flamingos get their color and wonder what they would look like if things were different.

"Maybe We Are Flamingos" is easy to read and understand. Sue Thurman is a gifted storyteller. She weaves facts about flamingos into a truly enjoyable story. Kevin Collier's artistic skill makes the words come to life. You know exactly how little Flora and Fernando feel and see what great imaginations these two baby flamingos have.

This is one of those stories your children or grandchildren will beg you to read over and over. This will be a treasured addition to any child's library.

"Maybe We Are Flamingos" is a fascinating, brightly colored children's picture book written by Sue Thurman and illustrated by Kevin Scott Collier. This book provides entertainment, humor and education- -three main ingredients in the best children's picture books. Two flamingos, Flora and Fernando, hatch from their eggs, soon to discover that "...their soft white feathers made them look like fuzzy snowballs." Noticing that the other flamingos are pink, they begin to worry that maybe they aren't flamingos. When their feathers turn gray, they worry even more. Finally, they anxiously ask their mother about it, and she explains to them that it "takes flamingos a year or more to turn pink" and that the color change results from the foods they eat. From there, the reader learns factual information about flamingo foods and is treated to some really great giggles as the baby flamingos imagine themselves looking like anything they might decide to eat, including whole pizza pies, cheeseburgers on buns, and tacos. This book is perfect for reading aloud to children.

The Fisherman's Son
The City of the Golden Sun
Return of the Golden Age

I read Maybe We Are Flamingos to my in-home daycare children (ages 4-8) and they loved this story! I heard lots of giggles when Flora and Fernando speculated about what they might look like if they ate only certain foods. The illustrations are adorable! As a follow-up activity I had the children use a coloring page of a flamingo to make it look like it might if it ate only their favorite food. We had a strawberry flamingo, a watermelon flamingo, pepperoni pizza flamingo, among others. We also practiced standing on one leg to see who could hold the pose the longest. I will incorporate this book into my lesson plans for next year when we learn about letter "F". Not only is this story amusing, it's informative and has an important, but subtle message.

Lori Z. Scott created Meghan Rose, the bounciest girl in the world, in a series that begins with this book. Reading it I giggled and learned a bit, along with Meghan Rose, about patience.
Meghan needs, needs, needs a pair of K-K-K-Kangaroozies, shoes that will help her bounce even higher than her usual light hearted stepping. Since the shoes are expensive, she attempts to make herself a pair, with hilarious results. After time in prayer, Meghan aims to earn the money to buy them herself, in a fun scheme involving a bag of potatoes, that she transforms into Spuddy Buddies.
The book has directions for fun activities in a section at the end.
Ages 4-10.

Even adults struggle with learning patience. How do you teach patience to a young child? From watching the television, Meghan Rose has been lured to want the latest shoe crazy. Throughout this well-written story, she tried different "schemes" to get these shoes yet doesn't succeed.

In the final pages, Meghan prays, "Hello God, I'm back. Listen, I understand making someone wait a long time for something important like a baby, although that still bothers me a little. But why should we wait to buy things our parents can get right away? Why wait for anything?"...As she considers the answer to her questions it comes, "I bet waiting helps you learn patience. And patience helps you control yourself."

Whether your child is starting to read or loves to hear you read aloud, I recommend MEGHAN ROSE HAS ANTS IN HER PANTS. Author Lori Z. Scott has written a fun book yet slips in a powerful message for the 6 to 9 year old target market.

The Meghan Rose series by Lori Z. Scott is the next "Junie B. Jones" books with a spiritual twist in children's early reader books. Lori Z. Scott has done a wonderful job bringing children into the world of Meghan Rose, who is a first grader learning life's lessons, one step at a time.

In the second book, Meghan Rose Has Ants in Her Pants, Meghan learns what it means to have patience. After seeing a commercial on TV advertising shoes that make you extra bouncy called K-K-K-K-Kangaroozies, Meghan decides she has to own a pair. When she asks her mom, Meghan gets the dreaded "Maybe". Later Meghan finds out her best friend, Kayla owns a pair. Now Meghan is really having a hard time getting Kangaroozies off her mind. Her pre-test in spelling is affected, she can't sit still, and nothing Meghan does seems to convince Mom to buy them. Meghan comes up with different plans to get a pair, or make a pair, of her own. In the end, Meghan learns, after a thoughtful talk with God, that sometimes waiting teaches us a life lesson.

Warning for those who don't like to read books with a spiritual take, praying and talking with God is mentioned. For those who are not religious, it's done in a very tactful manner, and only adds to the storyline about learning to wait. At the end of the book, you'll find a Q &A. This is a great tool to get children thinking about what they learned in this fun-loving book. Also, Meaghan Rose shares her craft ideas from the book. Kids will enjoy making them just like Meaghan Rose did.

Stories for Children Editor, VS Grenier

I enjoyed this book very much. It teaches lessons that apply to kids today about wanting things and being patient and practical. In addition to providing important messages, this book is also very fun to read. I couldn't put it down once I started reading it. Absolutely awesome!

My 9-year-old granddaughter just finished Meghan Rose has Ants in Her Pants and wrote a letter to the author. Here's an excerpt from her letter: "I would like you to write some more [books] if you don't mind. I love your books, and I think other kids would too. Maybe you could write 18 more if you have time to. I hope I could get them all." So Meghan Rose is a hit with my granddaughter!

Having read Jack of Hearts I was immediately interested in "A million would be nice." You don't need to read Scotts first novel to enjoy this but I was glad I had. The story features Donavan Smith who is as bad as they get but attractive in his evilness. From start to finish I was captivated by the storyline and events which are in tandem with Scotts first book but in my opinion, that little bit better. Plenty of action and drama written in a smooth manner with plenty of twists and turns. The book lasted forty eight hours until I had to sadly hit the last page and I would suggest it as a definate suggestion for the book collector.

Ken Scott has done it again. A MILLION WOULD BE NICE, THE sequel to JACK OF HEARTS, takes us back once again, to the roller coaster life of Bob Heggee. Just when Bob thinks he has a calm life after winning alot of cash and robbing a bank, he meets up with a cold-blooded character named Donavan Smith who turns the novel into a spine-tingling journey through Paris, Spain and Cannes, where Donovan kills, blackmails and kidnaps, all for the sake of a million bucks.
The action and story-line makes this suspense thriller a page turner. Mr. Scott did a great job of weaving the lives of all the characters into a fast-paced story that is parallel to one of Stephen Kings best novels.
I highly reccommend this novel for those who love suspense, hate putting a good book down and those who keep thinking about the characters long after the book is read.

Kate Genovese
author of TWO WEEKS SINCE MY LAST CONFESSION
WWW.KATEGENOVESE.COM

Ken Scott's book is well worth the read. Like many of you, I have a stack of books on my nightstand and sometimes I read two or three simultaneously, choosing whichever one matches my mood. Occasionally, I'll start a book that demands attention and won't allow time for the others. "A Million Would Be Nice" is one of those books. I couldn't divert from it until I was finished. It was much better than others I've read in this genre of crime thriller/suspense. Scott writes with intensity, and he is able to shift gears and thrust us into the warped thoughts and motives of various characters. While the main character is not traditionally sympathetic, there is no doubt about the origins of his sexually charged, murderous arrogance and cold-heartedness. What makes this book curiously different is that despite a few academic literary flaws, the intense writing style carries the story and lifts it above the others. Therefore, I can easily recommend "A Million Would Be Nice." I didn't want to stop reading, which is the best measure for any fiction, regardless of genre.

To offer a disclaimer, I feel compelled to inform you that I bought "A Million Would Be Nice" because it is published by Libros International, the same company that will publish (or has published) my own novel "Where the River Splits." Often, as with any reviews, I don't necessarily agree with nor understand the high ratings and sometimes befuddling raves. However, I truly enjoyed this book and can without hesitation recommend it.

Jeff May, askwritefish.

I don't read many books that claim membership of a genre. In my humble opinion, a work of fiction should aspire to create its own world, describe it, communicate it and then live in it. I want a book's characters to inhabit the events that are portrayed, events that are clearly influenced by the character's presence, but which are also usually bigger than any individual's contribution. Wars don't exist unless people fight them. Crimes are not committed without criminals. Love stories are made by lovers and ghosts don't exist.

For instance, in my own book, Mission, there are four wars, but it's not a war novel. There are at least three love stories, but it's not a romance. There are several deaths, one of which is a murder, but it's not a crime novel or a thriller. And then there's a character who comes back from the dead to haunt an old man, but it's not a ghost story or a fantasy. In short, it's Mission, a novel set in Kenya.

So I approached Ken Scott's crime thriller, A Million Would Be Nice, as a reader unused to the genre's codes and forms.

Unlike general or literary fiction, I recognise that learning what happens in A Million Would Be Nice is one of the main reasons for reading the book. My review, therefore, cannot reveal too much of the plot. Suffice it to say that there has been a bank robbery. It was an inside job and the scenario for its execution is carefully concocted and inventively created. The perpetrator gets away with it and scarpers with the loot to live it up in Spain.

On an apparently separate thread, we meet Donavan Smith, a quite incredibly vile piece of humanity from Newcastle, of which I hope he is not representative. He's a successful young thing, a kind of nouveau riche moron, who apparently defines his identity by surrounding himself with requisite items of designer consumption, clearly knowing the price of everything and the value of nothing. He has everything, does our Donavan, but he is never satisfied. He wants more.

There isn't a lot to endear us to Donavan Smith. He's a misogynist, and occasionally indulges in some quite bizarre behaviour in the bedroom. He justifies everything with quotes from the Bible, a source of justification that was beaten into him by an abusing mother. He lets nothing get in his way. He has his ideas, knows how to achieve them and then ruthlessly destroys anything that might resist. In some ways, he is quite creative.

But one of his conquests becomes an accomplice, because she has inside information about that money that went missing in the bank raid. He needs her and together they visit people all over the prestigious bits of Europe, Paris, Cannes, London, the Costas, Newcastle, to pursue and realise their dream. And believe me, this Donavan is nothing if not resourceful and he certainly has a knack when it comes to making things happen.

The story moves at a fast pace. Different characters are drawn into the thread and many are inevitably cast aside by Donavan Smith, our single-minded, calculating anti-hero. And that is as much as I will relate. A Million Would be Nice claims to be a crime thriller, and a crime thriller is exactly what it is, fast paced, and packed with greed, obsession and ruthlessness.

Ken Scott's own background as an employee of a major British bank provided him with much of the detail surrounding the original robbery. Since the back cover of the book shows him, like the robber in the book, living it up in Spain, I can only hope that this is as far as the similarity goes. A Million Would be Nice will appeal to readers of thrillers and crime fiction. It has all the elements you would expect and, in the relationship between Donavan and his mother, perhaps something extra as well.

A Million would be Nice picks up the baton from Ken Scott's first novel Jack of Hearts. Bob Heggie is pursued by his nemesis in the form of Donavan Smith. The action is exhausting and the characterization so good you can almost taste the tension. If you don't like suspense thrillers then this is not for you. I recommend starting the book on a Friday, as work will only get in the way of what is a superb book.

I am enjoying this book a great deal. I enjoy the images we get from Hubble and other sources as much as anyone, but understanding comes from math. Things always seem more clear to me once I understand the equations. BTW my math skills are rudimentary relative to professionals scientists.

I am currently teaching graduate cosmology. Modern cosmology is an extraordinarily beautiful piece of physics that has allowed cosmologists to learn from observations fundamental facts about our universe. Graduate students want to understand this beautiful subject themselves. Dodelson's book is the one that delivers that understanding. Of the several graduate cosmology texts out there, this one is unquestionably the best.

The book is uncompromisingly a graduate level text. The material is intrinsically hard, but Dodelson does a remarkable job of taking the reader through it. The problem sets at the end of each chapter (some with solutions) are well thought out, and fill in many gaps. Each chapter concludes with a thoughtful summary and a guide to further reading. If you are going to teach a graduate level cosmology class with this book, then you should impress on your students that the text is not easy, but it's the real unwatered-down thing.

This book is a must-have for the cosmos-curious. Well organized and indexed and excellently written, the author puts difficult information within reach of the student who aspires to understand one of the most complex disciplines. A superb accomplishment by a fine teacher and consummate scientist that should become the definitive text for all would-be cosmologists.

Without question, Dodelson's book beats out a herd of books at the present redshift for the de rigeur text to be bandied about by grad students. I haven't looked back at Padmanabhan's Structure formation in awhile, but it was written before the COBE discoveries, and so it's a bit "old fashioned" now; there are a number of other books worth looking at, of course.

Couple Dodelson with Kolb & Turner's Early Universe text (which has some more in depth treatments of QCD- and high energy-related effects such as the axion), and perhaps with the old -- but still excellent -- Peebles book on large scale structure, and you're ready to hit the ground running in the literature.

Especially commendable aspects of Dodelson's book:

1. A great literature review at the end of each chapter allows you to dip deeper (or clarify things.) Dodelson should also be praised for his evenhandedness.

2. His in depth solutions -- meaning, you and he crunch the algebra together down the page -- are a great antidote to the "it can be shown" attitude of many cosmology papers (and sometimes textbooks!)

PS: this book got a really negative, arrogant review in I think it was Physics Today. The reviewer said we should all wait for Steven Weinberg to rewrite his Gravitation book. No thanks. Look, Dodelson's book is not as poetic as Misner Thorne and Wheeler, and it's not as pretentious as a host of others. It's a practical, pragmatic set of tools. I just want to reiterate that, since this book has been published, nearly every one of the grad students in our department carries it around. The proof is in the pudding: this is a tremendously useful book.

I haven't used another cosmology text for comparison, but have been very pleased with this one. The text is everywhere clear, reasonably concise, and the author uses good judgment in determining which calculations to present as examples and which to reserve for practice, all of which make this a very easy text to read. My only reservations are that necessary assumptions and approximations do not always seem fully justified, and the reader is often asked to wait until later in the text for certain approximations to be justified, which at times disrupts the logical flow of the text. The text is also somewhat incomplete in the sense that Dodelson does not always start from first principles. In my case I considered this an advantage as it allowed for quicker reading and less overhead before important results are presented. The discussion of inflation was less complete than I had hoped, but sufficient to prepare me for the literature.