Scott Books

The May Day Murders kept me in suspense all throughout the story. Like Wittenburg's first novel, the characters are believable and the reader is drawn into the story from the very beginning. The small town setting in the Midwest was a great setting for such an edgy thriller/mystery! I highly recommended this mystery novel!!!

This is truly one of the best murder mysteries I've ever read! Right from the start, I was drawn in to this story and couldn't put it down! I highly reccommend Wittenburg's novel to anyone who likes an intriguing mystery with characters you can relate to (and fear)!

A really good mystery/thriller full of great tension. As in Katherine's Prophecy, Wittenburg paints the environment nicely with his visually-inspired writing style. Impossible not to get caught up in the story. Hard to put down.

I consider this novel a great contemporary work of mystery - a jewel in the treasure which such a genre is.
The plot of a mystery novel is probably the most important part of it - and here Mr Wittenburg provides the reader with a hard but coherent puzzle of events which is always thanked. But the plot is nothing without characters, and characterization is what I appreciate the most in this book. The author has given their characters a realistic psychological depth - even subject of a comparison with Jung's archetypes - and that is what makes the reader enjoy it. We can easily identify ourselves with the fictional people of the book, and I would say that Sam Middleton has much of autobiographic.
Doubtless, this novel is something that the fan of mystery literature will enjoy.

Rafael Pascual.
Granada, Andalusia, Spain.

This book was written in 1866, while the memories of the War Between the States were still fresh in Von Borcke's mind. A lot of the personal accounts I have read were written years after the war and were not as accurate as they could have been had they been written sooner. But, most of the veteran's had a lot more to contend with, than writing a book. Von Borcke,sometime lieutenant of the 3rd Regiment of Dragoon Guards, came to Virginia from Prussia at the beginning of the war to offer his services to the Confederacy. Seeking adventure in the new land, he fell in with Jeb Stuart and found all he needed. Jeb Stuart made Von Borke one of his aides. Von Borcke writes about a lot of small details of Virginia at that time, that someone who was a native Virginian, would not have made note of because of already being familiar with these. He also has written of many humorous events that took place in camp and on the battlefield. Gives a good account of Stuart from someone who was close to Stuart in the good times and bad times. You will not regrett taking the time to read this to read this book.

In his personal narrative of his time spent with General JEB Stuart during the Civil War, Heros von Borcke gives the reader excellent insights into the war from the Cavalry rider's point of view. Additional background knowledge of certain battles does prove helpful has Heros does not always give a clear description of battle or the lay of the land. Maps would also aid greatly when he speaks of riding from town to town. Overall, the book was well worth the read. His vantage point enables him to faithfully detail to the reader an accurate picture of General JEB Stuart which makes the read quite intriguing. Borcke places the reader in middle of major battles and brings him along on his daring expeditions with Stuart. He gives his account of the war vividly and memorably, inserting those things that must have been mundane to him like the humor of others and the weather conditions.

This is a wonderful memoir of the author's year and half of active service on the staff of the legendary Confederate cavalry General, J. E. B. Stuart. Von Borcke was an aristocratic twenty-six year old former Lieutenant in the Prussian Army when, in 1862, he took passage on a blockcade runner to Charleston. With little command of English, and having burned all of his letters of introduction just prior to his vessel's inspection by Yankee blockaders, Von Borcke presented himself at Richmond unknown and friendless. He was eventually placed as a civilian adviser to Stuart, and soon became a commissioned officer on the staff, and one of Stuart's closest confidants. A giant of a man--he weighed 220, and must have been very tall--he was a gallant and chivalrous fighter. He seems to have been in the thick of every melee, and was often entrusted with special courier assignments by Stuart. Through this, we get wonderful glimpses of many of the great heros of the Southern side, including Lee, and especially of Stonewall Jackson, who shows a wonderful sensitive side to Von Borcke, not often seen by others. The author lyrical prose is delightful, especially when describing the beautiful Northern Virginia countryside, and the many fine families than dwelt in the area. The brilliant, and wonderfully-readable prose is more the remarkable due to fact that this book is in translation from the original German. No where did I find the translator's name, but whoever did it deserves high praise indeed. I have never read a Civil War memoir that was better, though Henry Kyd Douglas' "I Rode with Stonewall" deserves mention for its merit also. This is a wonderful must-read, and would be an excellent book for even those who are but casually interested in the history of the Civil War.

Heros Van Borcke brings alive life in the Confederate Calvary. From battle to battle, the personal emotions and the devotion to a cause of a country that he was not native to. Van Borcke is able to capture the intimate details of living day to day in the army, his relations with commanders and emotions the people of the South and the death of the gallent people around him. If you appreciate the sacrifices of those who fought and died in this conflict, this book is a MUST!!

I think this book is the best I've read in a longtime. Fans of Armin Shimerman will love this. It is his first I've read outside of his Startrek books, but it won't be the last!

I admit, it's been a long time since I've picked up a science fiction book with the intent of reading it. I've been disenfranchised with the entire genre as a whole since I tried stomaching a few bad novels. But, lo and behold, this one made me sit up and take note! There is hope yet!

This novel in particular I was pleased with because of its historical accuracy to the Renaissance period while being unafraid to drop in a bit of alien involvement here and there. The main character, John Dee, is also particularly endearing. While he's easily recognizable as the protagonist and the one who is supposed to "save the world" (such as it is) he's still a bit of a scoundrel and a villain. I would, without a doubt, recommend this novel.

Stripped down to essentials, the plot is the basic "hero must save the earth." However, it's well embellished with a fast paced narrative and enough twists and turns to hold my interest throughout the book.

The main character, Dr. John Dee (who bears at least a passing resemblance to Armin Shimerman's "Deep Space Nine" character, Quark)is very much a Renaissance man--alchemist, astronomer, mathematician and spy--and he's not averse to taking a profit on the side. When Marie de Medici imprisons him in 1575 he is saved by an alien benefactor, Dyckon. Dyckon is a member of a long-lived alien race, the Roc, that has come to observe the evolution of humans. Saving Dee, though, is in direct defiance of regulations prohibiting contact between the Roc and the humans. Dyckon has no real idea what to do with Dee and places him in suspended animation. As Dyckon's career progresses, though, the evidence of his past indiscretion becomes too great a political liability and he resolves to dispose of Dee. Instead of simply killing Dee, though, Dyckon first revives him and Dee persuades Dyckon to release him on earth. Despite the passing of years (it's now 2099), Dee is certain that human nature will not have changed and his survival skills will serve him as well in the twilight of the 21st century as they did in the 16th century. The catch, though, is that the earth is headed toward either annihilation or slavery within the next two years. If Dee can't avert the disaster, he will share that fate. The final two-thirds of the book detail his efforts to defeat Royal Newton, whose attempts to develop an energy source using anti-matter give rise to the impending disaster.

I found Dr. Dee to be an enjoyable character--like Quark, he's something of a good-hearted scoundrel. While he always strives to advance his own interests, he's loyal to his Queen and his friends. He's self-confident, observant and clever, a quick study, but when faced with a situation from which he cannot extricate himself by his wits alone, he kills efficiently, without hesitation or remorse. Royal Newton, on the other hand, is greedy, arrogant, and abusive to his subordinates. However, he's not a madman, intent on destruction--he genuinely believes he's developing a power source which will make him wealthy, not a weapon which will destroy his world. It's measure of his arrogance that he never gives serious consideration to the possibility of destruction. (Or perhaps it's a measure of his lack of complexity--but this story is driven more by plot than character.)

Although I did enjoy the book, it felt a bit like it had been rushed into publication. There were several minor inconsistencies--a creature that's hatched rather than born reminiscing about his birth mother; a facility in Puerto Rico is attacked and Newton starts talking to his security chief about insurgents in Costa Rica; Newton's grandfather, R R Newton was born in "abject poverty," but later it's stated that his great-grandfather was sufficiently wealthy to begin amassing the large Newton art collection (OK, could have been on the other side of the family, but it needed a bit more explanation than was given), and even after binding two broken fingers together with a kerchief, Dee is able to put on gloves. It's minor stuff, to be sure, but it's the kind of thing that should have been caught and corrected. And I couldn't help but be surprised that, while the Stock Exchange was still going strong, the SEC was obviously defunct and without a successor.

The authors didn't fail to include plenty of Trek references, though. I particularly liked the juxtaposition of the Gutenberg Bible with the original "Star Trek" script. Then there was the research facility run by Marconi Alimo...and lots of others that Trekkers will enjoy spotting. (There are also quite a few Shakespeare references--a nod to another of Shimerman's interests.) All in all, I liked the book and found it quite readable.

Co-authors Armin Shimmerman and Michael Scott have done an *excellent* job in creating a believable, though often bleak, view of Earth's near future. This is good, solid science fiction, with aliens, advanced technology, societal commentary, the threatened end of the world as we know it -- all the best SF elements. Better still, the characters and dialogue are *fantastic* -- especially the hero, Dr. John Dee. An incredibly complex person, admirable yet by no means a saint, strong and self-sufficient yet sympathetic. The supporting characters are also intriguing and well developed. If this could be a series of novels, I'd love to see and learn more of Dr. Dee... on the other hand, after his amazing feats of derring-do in this book, any further adventures would run the risk of feeling anti-climactic! The "Star Trek" references scattered here and there through the story are certainly fun -- but you don't have to like "Trek" to appreciate this book. It's a though-provoking, self-contained story in the best traditions of classic SF -- and Dee is a unique, exciting hero. Don't miss this one!

As you read MicroBranding, you start to think, "I knew that, but I have not been doing it...why?" It's the type of book you immediatly want all your employees and co-workers to read. Scott Gross has a great sense of humor, and he uses it to drive home points that are criticle for success in any career. The idea may not be revolutionary, but it sure is relivant!

A "microbrand" is a product brand that is related to, or which sits atop the foundation of, a larger national or global product brand name. Micro Branding: Build A Powerful Personal Band & Beat Your Competition by microbrand expert T. Scott Gross is a straightforward, step-by-step, "how to" guide to building a profitable local or personal microbrand brand. How to manage and uphold the good reputation of the newly established microbrand, the option of adopting a theme, training employees, gems of advice and much more make Micro Branding a superbly presented and highly recommended business reference. Scott Gross' basic message for the entrepreneur and corporate manager is "Don't *try* to be the best brand in the world. Be the best brand for the world, and the market will reward you richly." Reading Micro Branding will show you how to go about doing just that!

This is a great book, easy to read and packed with ideas to help individuals make their mark. Until reading MicroBranding, I had never thought of myself and how others see me as a brand. Yet I am amazed at how T. Scott Gross' information pertains to all areas of my life. In both my career and personal relationships, I have unique qualities and I need to be able to articulate them to others if I am to be successful. T. Scott Gross also recommends that we develop personal mission statements to keep ourselves focused on our goals in life. He gives lots of examples and stories and is quite entertaining. Lots of great networking tips and ideas too!

As with Mr. Gross' previous book Positively Outrageous Service, I found Microbranding to be extremely well-written. It is not only grounded in apllicable, impactful content, but also written in a manner that is entertaining and fun!

In my business (and my personal life), I have found that we often complicate issues until they either become too big to tackle or lost in the confusion. In MicroBranding, Mr. Gross clearly explains that this need not be the case when building a personal or local brand. Using real-world examples, he illustrates that building a powerful microbrand is both attainable and necessary. Understanding that you simply do not need a global brand to compete in your niche is one of the powerful pieces of information I gained from reading this book.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It helped me realize that I rush through life and I need to slow down and enjoy as many moments with my children as I can. I keep it as a reference to help me remember to take life more slowly and savor more moments with my children. My husband picked up the book and couldn't put it down! He even started inventing his own sayings for the adorable things our children do that we usually don't take note of! I highly recommend it as required reading for parents in the 21st century who are so busy, they don't pay attention to the most precious moments!

This book is amazing! It has helped me to appreciate my children and my family and to live in the present. It has taught me how to focus on my children and how to deal positively with stressful situations. I am much more relaxed and much easier to live with!

I'm one of the least mindful folks you could imagine....very goal driven, type-A, go-go-go. I've tried meditation without much success, and was pretty nihilistic about my ability to truly slow down and live in the moment. Then I read this book. First time, cover-to-cover in one evening (there's my go-go-go thing again), and then again, slowly, over a few weeks, letting it settle in a bit. And then, i actually started to utilize the verses in the morning with my daughter (i'm the get-her-dressed-fed-taken-to-school dad in the AM), and was surprised...ok, maybe amazed...that even I could actually find that moment, and really 'be' with my daughter in that time. I rush her less, which i'm thinking she's happy about, but more so, I really savor our time together in a more intense way than previously. Life changing? no, at least not yet (baby steps, eh?), but this book taught me, by utilizing verse to help me be more mindful, how to begin this process. And knowing me, that's actually a pretty amazing feat. I'd recommend this book to any parent who could use a little guidance into being a more mindful, particularly with their kids.

This book made such a difference in my life. I have an easier time dealing with stressful events that used to drive me crazy, even after they were over. I feel more compassion toward my child when she gets challenging, and as a result, it's easier to deal with. Most of the verses and meditation techniques are easy to learn and then do on my own. The verses only take a few seconds to do during the day and I even made up one of my own which I now recite with my child.

This book is an excellent resource for those seeking a well established alternative to the pathology/deficit/disease focus of traditional 12-Step programs. I believe the reviewer who rated this book with 1 star was confused on its origns. Audrey Kishline is the founder of Moderation Management while Insoo Kim Berg (a contributor) & Steve de Shazer (both out of Milwaukee) are the founders of the Brief Solution Focus Method of Therapy. MM was founded as self-help group. BSF was developed by educated and trained therapists with practical experience. The Brief Solution Focus Method serves as the foundation for this book. A couple of it's main points are: there is hope for the future and there is no "one size fits all program." It is an excellent read whether or not you accept its premise.

wcdancer appears to be under the impression that Audrey Kishline is somehow associated with this book. In fact, though, her book was a completely separate one and she is not one of the authors of this book at all. Potential readers should weigh wcdancer's opinions accordingly. :-)

This book presents common-sense methods for changing your life, essentially by beginning to live the life you want to live eventually. It's not the single best thing I ever read, but it's a breath of fresh air compared to the dreary old advice to abase yourself, label yourself defective and diseased, and turn your entire life over to "God as we understood Him."

If you're a devoted 12-stepper, this may anger or even frighten you. If you're looking for a more positive approach which doesn't condemn you to obsessing over alcohol for the rest of your life, you might like this. It's certainly worth a read.

I read this book after pretty much exhausting every other possibility for recovery from alcoholic drinking. Berg and Kim present an approach that is radically different from any other I've encountered. Their main thesis seems to be, "Start acting as you expect to act when you're sober, but do it NOW." The idea is that by incorporating healthy habits into your life immediately, you can actually begin to learn how to be sober before hitting bottom. The book is very clearly and forcefully written, with helpful case studies to illustrate the main ideas. I was able to make substantial progress on my own behavior through the methods described here. I highly recommend it!

I have bought several copies of this book to hand to clients. This is a program that works for those who are not interested, for whatever reason, in attending 12-Step meetings. I have had the privelege of attending workshops on this subject by both authors, and feel that the book completly and concisely presents their point of view on the subject of stopping unproductive behaviors of any kind. A "must have" in the library of any therapist dealing with addictions and of any person trying to control their unproductive drinking habits.

This is a delightful picture book sure to be loved by young children! Composed of three different stories and an activity section, The Misadventures of Rooter & Snuffle will keep kids entertain for a long time.

"Share, share, share! Why do I always have to share?" says Rooter, the oldest raccoon brother, in the book's first story, "Rooter's Rule". Rooter is supposed to share his acorns with Snuffle, his little brother. But why should he? It isn't fair... or is it?

In "Danger at River Bend", Rooter tries to teach Snuffle how to skip rocks in the riverbank... a dangerous place where they have a fright! If only they had listened to their mom!

In "The Search", Rooter scurries from the campsite in search of his favorite meal, butter beans and ham. In doing so, he loses sight of his little brother. Desperate, he forgets about food in order to look for Snuffle.

The stories are engaging and the artwork vivid and vibrant with bright colors. This is a great book to read to kids at bedtime, one that will not only teach valuable messages but also induce happy dreams. The activity section includes a word scramble, wordsearch, counting, and picture seek & find.

--Mayra's Secret Bookcase

We loved this book! The pictures we're colorful and the stories really cute. My younger daughter reads this book over & over. As a Mom it was fun to read to my children ages 7 & 9. This was a great way to subtley remind my children of the "Golden Rule"...even as adults we sometimes forget. I was very pleased to find copies of this book in our childrens school library. We have since given this as a gift to my friends son...he loves these naughty racoons (I think he can relate, ha, ha, ha). Enjoy The Book!

Rooter is such a fun main character, being a curious raccoon, and his misadventures really draw the reader into each story in this book. I especially liked how Rooter's relationship with his younger brother, Snuffle, was portrayed. The illustrations are bright and engaging, too. We enjoyed reading this aloud, and my youngest has been reading it over and over to herself, too.

Wife got this for me for xmas (to read to the grandkids)so last weekend I read it to the little ones. They really loved the subjects of the book and how they acted! They took on a life of their own. Also illustrations were great!

Poignant story of a brother and sister who find love and courage amidst a recent trauma they can't escape. Touching, heartfelt, sure to sting an eye or two.

I came across a new memeber of a msn group and thought I'd take a look at her work... after reading the synopsis, I ordered the book. Fantastic! It isn't overly literary, it isn't pretentious, it's a wonderful story, plain and simple. Ms. Scott captures the emotions and personalities of her characters with such insight, you feel as though you can hear them speaking. Catagorized as a romance, it holds enough mystery to tempt a much larger audience. This is an author definitely worth keeping an eye on. Best POD book I've ever read!

Missouri in a Suitcase is a great story with appeal for everyone. When Lizabeth and Tommy's father suddenly dies, they pack up and move to Colorado, leaving bad memories - and secrets - behind. But, as often happens, bad memories - and circumstances - tend to creep up on you, particularly when you least expect it. Of course, so does romance. Enter Gabe, the ruggedly handsome neighbor with a secret of his own. Mystery piles upon mystery, as Lizabeth attempts to unravel the story behind the death of her father, her little brother's emotional problems and a budding romance. This book will keep your interest well past the first few chapters! A crackling good read!

Lizabeth Porter thinks her life has come together until the day her father dies. When her brother refuses to speak and her fiance becomes unbearable, she moves to her grandparents house in Colorado with her brother and his battered yellow suitcase in tote, looking for a new beginning. She finds more than the new beginning she hoped for when she meets Gabe, her good looking neighbor who possesses the power to help her put her life together, or tear it apart. Gabe is exactly what her brother needs to overcome the hurdles of his life, but how much does she need him? A real page-turner sure to bring out your emotional side!

An immensely beautiful book. Awing in its sensitivity, delicacy, and completeness of language - "sculptured in the heavens," one thinks as one looks up. On every page, in every paragraph, there is caring for - more than caring, a love affair with - its subject.

But I can add little beyond admiration to Eileen Berton's fine little sketch of it below.

This book is remarkable for its breadth and depth, and for its fluid and totally enjoyable narrative. Montgomery brings a scholarly, well-organized, imaginatively catholic mind to his study of the moon, as mapped, observed, and imagined by Western minds. His enthusiasm for his subject is contagious. He discusses the early cartography so important to popular conceptions of the moon, the moon's complex and changing relationship to Christianity and Judaism, philosophy, mathematics, literature, and art. Importantly, he provides an orderly and very interesting history of Western conceptions of "the first modern planet." The Arab contribution to astronomy is detailed. The relationship of mathematics to astronomy is also explored, fluidly and appropriately for the lay person. Galileo, Copernicus, and scores of lesser-known astronomers and scientists come to life in this book. "The British Contribution," a chapter on sixteenth century lunar pioneers Dr. Wm. Gilbert and Thomas Harriot, is excellent. Montgomery also analyzes cartographic evidence - and provides commentary. This book combines scholarship with a fine and elegant narrative, the bibliography is terrific, and I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in this subject, which becomes downright thrilling in this book.

This book is remarkable for its breadth and depth, and for its fluid and totally enjoyable narrative. Montgomery brings a scholarly, well-organized, imaginatively catholic mind to his study of the moon. His enthusiasm for his subject is contagious. He discusses the early cartography so important to popular conceptions of the moon, the moon's complex and changing relationship to Christianity and Judaism, philosophy, mathematics,literature, and art. Importantly, he provides an orderly and very interesting history of Western conceptions of "the first modern planet." The Arab contribution to astronomy is detailed. The relationship of mathematics to astronomy is also explored, fluidly and appropriately for the lay person. Galileo, Copernicus, and scores of lesser-known astronomers and scientists come to life in this book. "The Britsh Contribution," a chapter on sixteenth century lunar pioneers Dr. Wm. Gilbert Thomas Harriot, is particularly well-told. Montgomery also analyzes cartographic evidence - and provides commentary. This book combines scholarship with a fine and elegant narrative, and I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in this subject, which becomes downright thrilling in this book.

What is it about the Moon that captures the fancy of humankind? A silvery disk hanging in the night sky, it conjures up images of romance and magic. It has been counted upon to foreshadow important events, both of good and ill, and its phases for eons served humanity as its most accurate measure of time. With the invention of the telescope at the turn of the seventeenth century-coinciding with the rise of the scientific revolution-the Moon took on new meaning as a tangible place with mountains and valleys and craters that could be named and geological features and events that could be studied.

Geologist Scott L. Montgomery has produced a richly detailed analysis of how the Moon has been visualized in Western culture through the ages, revealing the faces it has presented to philosophers, writers, artists, and scientists for nearly three millennia. To do this, he has drawn on a wide array of sources that illustrate the changing concept of nature and the significance of heavenly bodies from classical antiquity to the dawn of modern science.

Montgomery especially focuses on the seventeenth century, when the Moon was first mapped and its features named. He explores in depth the literary works of Francis Godwin's "Man in the Moone" and Cyrano de Bergerac's "L'autre monde." But he also carries the story to the present, showing how humanity has over time elevated the Moon to a sublime level.

As Montgomery concluded, humans have always assigned a close approximation of the Earth to lunar ideas. When we ultimately colonize the Moon the irony is that we will be setting up shop on a world steeped in a deep human tradition of imagination and history. This is a superb work that explains far more effectively than other works on the subject, the lure of the Moon for humanity.

I have been buying Morningstar books for mutual funds since 2006. There are a lot of books about how/what mutual funds are, but this is the only kind available for evaluating PAST mutual funds performance. (The other one is from Lipper, which is only available from the web).

Morningstar has a long history to keep track of mutual funds and ETFs data. This gives them an advantage to publish their views on various mutual funds. However, readers must be aware that the ratings are based on historical performance. Nobody can predict the market, but if a fund manager performs well over a long time, it is very likely he/she will perform well in the future.

This book also provide some insight info such as the manager has his/her own money in, and risk data. A plus of the book is that it provides 50 free mutual fund reports downloadable from Moringstar website.

A must have for mutual fund selectors.

I really enjoyed the analysis provided, it seemed to cover most of the bases I wanted to learn about, expenses, tax efficiency, volatility, returns.
Obviously it gets dated. It appears to be published early in the year. Be sure to get the latest.

While many people buy mutual funds because they find them easier than building their own portfolio of individual stocks, in fact buying into these funds is in some ways more complex than buying individual company stocks. How do you know what the fund in invested in (companies and sectors), fees, turnover, who the manager is, what their performance has been, how the fund has performed relative to its peers, and much more? It is not an easy task. This handy book provides you with loads of great information for 500 funds picked by Morningstar.

This isn't to say that you should necessarily buy the funds listed here. Morningstar also includes funds you should probably avoid (you have to make your own choices as to what is right for you). One of the interesting things I notices is that simply because something has a four or five star rating doesn't mean that you should buy the fund. This is due to the past performance versus future return probability. It might well be that a well performing fund is now trading at a high price and that the likely future return cannot justify the price. So, the analyst rating also has to be balanced.

The editors have packed a huge amount of information onto each of these pages. You get a snapshot of governance and management (with a stewardship score), a chart of performance, a graph with an historical profile, a star rating including risk for several periods, a portfolio analysis, and a few paragraphs providing Morningstar's take on the fund, and contact information. In the back of the book are several lists that slice and dice the various funds different ways according to specific criteria.

Since funds do not remain static for the entire year, another nice feature of the book is that you can download up to 50 fresh charts during the calendar year. One word of caution that I learned by hard experience is that if you block pop-ups, you need to make an exception for Morningstar. You will try to download the new chart, your count will decrement, but you won't get the chart because you browser will have blocked the pop-up containing the new chart! That was a tad frustrating.

Terrific and interesting information.

Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Ann Arbor, MI

Great book very informative,a must have if looking to invest in mutual funds