Thomas Books

This is one romance novel you won't have to disguise or hide from your friends while you read it. "Truly Inseparable" is a wonderful departure from the "bodice ripper" / melodramatic, overblown romance stories you know from days of old. Up-to-date, realistic story and characters with heart, "Truly Inseparable" by Wanda Thomas lures you in with an attractive cover, mini-hardback format and a dynamite opening. A little warning though, be prepared to care about Shelby and Nelson as people, (I caught my husband reading it to find out why I had a bit of a cry). We both highly recommend this book, and look forward to Ms. Thomas's next.

While I am not an avid romance reader - if for no other reason than I am male- I found Truly Inseparable to easily hold my attention. It kept my interest throughout; wanting to know what happens to the characters next. The characters were well drawn and the storyline was tight. This is a great read for the romance enthusiast.

This is a great story about unconditional love. It shows that people who are in love can endure whatever comes their way. Sometimes traumatic experiences bring you closer to the one you love. I loved the story line and look forward to Wanda's next novel.

I really loved this book. I picked it up and could not put it down until it was completed. This is not only a good love story but it also gives you a lesson on SIDS. The author really put her heart and research into this book.

I will recommend that everyone read this because it will really touch your heart.

Congrates to Wanda on a job well done.

I've read this book several times because I was so touched with this unconditional love story. This couple faced one of the most difficult times of their lives and that's the loss of a child to Sudden Infant Crib Death. The author has done an outstanding performance in writing this story, every page of this book flowed so gracefully with the love and dealing with the loss. Even the secondary characters made this book good; the bookcover for once actually seems to match the description of the couple's love for one another. I strongly recommend to all the readers of romance to read this book, I will say you will not be disappointed by no means. Ms. Thomas, I look forward to your next one, because if you put the same spirit you did with this one, you will have many more fans!

The Truth About Guys

I wish there had been a book like this when I was growing up. Every teenage girl should read this to understand the way boys(and men)think about females - quite eye opening. It brings a Christ-centered way of looking at oneself to bolster girls' self image so that they don't fall for every 'line'a boy may throw their way. It also helps give them the self assurance not to need a guy to feel good about themselves.

I predict that this "must read" will take the nation by storm. This is a crucial, can't-put-it-down message. Don't worry--no embarrassing content; just straight talk--presented convincingly--regarding the practicality and advisability of maintaining personal boundaries.

This author of this book knows just how to "talk" to teenagers. I read the book before giving it to my 14 year old daughter and was very impressed with his writing style. The small amount of references to biblical versus was just enough to remind me (and my daughter) how loved we are. That we have so much love from God that we do not need to "seek" love or approval from others. Being ourselves is good enough. The person who loves us for who we are, not for who we "try" to be is our match. The confidence that this book instills in the reader that they are already loved and are a treasure is wonderful! I recommend for all teenage girls!

My daughter really loves this book! She found it to be very helpful in understanding the male brain and how they think about girls. It made her think about how she was presenting herself in front of guys and what changes she needed to make in order to present herself in order to receive more respect from guys. She wasn't behaving badly, but with our current culture our young women are constantly bombarded with the wrong message, and this book was great to help her see how guys really are and how she needed to change some things so that further interactions will be more positive and less painful. I am hoping that these insights will save her from making the common mistakes that current culture deems normal and OK.

Hey girls! Are you wondering why guys are so confusing? Well in the book The Truth About Guys by Chad Eastham, he reveals everything a girl should know about guys.
In the book The Truth About Guys Chad writes about the differences between girl's and guy's brains. Girl's brains are like spaghetti. They're all interwoven and they can talk about 50 random topics in 1 or 2 sentences. Guy's brains on the other hand are like waffles. Their brains have compartments and their thoughts can't flow. For example, in one compartment may be about his dog. When he thinks about it he will only talk about that one topic, until he stops and remembers another compartment. Chad also talks about how different girls are from guys. For example, girls like to ask guys about their feelings and talk about what they're thinking. Guys would rather not talk about their feelings. They would rather discuss topics along the line of sports, cars, dirt, and fire.
This book is really good for guys as well because they can read it and figure out why girls get mad so easily, and what we are looking for in a guy. This book shares really good tips about dating, communicating, and understanding guys. Find all the answers to all of your questions and know how to have a good and healthy relationship with the opposite gender.

In this novel within a novel, Australian author Thomas Keneally returns to the political themes which won him prizes for The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith, Voices from the Forest, and Schindler's Ark. Keneally has always been at his best depicting ordinary people facing extraordinary pressures, especially from governments bent on totalitarian rule, and this contemporary allegory is no exception. Taking place in an unnamed oil-rich country in the Middle East ruled by a tyrant who calls himself Great Uncle, the novel centers on a man calling himself "Alan Sheriff," a short story writer given one month to write an "autobiographical novel" for which Great Uncle will take full credit. Sheriff, we learn in the opening chapter, is telling his story to a western journalist from a detention camp in an unnamed desert country, where he has languished for three years.

Keneally increases the impact and universality of the story through his clever use of western names. As Alan Sheriff tells the journalist, it is important for his credibility in the west that he be like a man you'd meet on the street, which is much easier with a name like Alan--"not, God help us, Said and Osama and Saleh. If we had Mac instead of Ibn." Alan believes his "saddest and silliest story" will interest Americans, despite the fact that his country and the US are now enemies.

Through Alan's story, the reader meets Mrs. Douglas, whose nephew, not careful enough of the pH level of Great Uncle's swimming pool, has been shot and hanged from the ramparts; Mrs. Carter, whose son has been missing for six years; Alan's beloved wife, Sarah Manners, an actress who has become unemployable; Matt McBride, another writer who becomes head of the Cultural Commission where he works for Great Uncle; and Louise James, an American who would like to get Sheriff to come to Texas as a visiting professor. All these characters contribute to a stunning conclusion as Sheriff tries to write the required novel.

Easily the best Keneally novel in over a decade, this serious and thoughtful novel has significant political ramifications. The characters are "ordinary people," much like the rest of us, caught in extreme situations, and Keneally builds up enormous suspense as the long tentacles of the tyrant grab everyone in their path. Though most readers will recognize the unnamed country and the tyrant, it is a tribute to Keneally that their specific identities are totally irrelevant to his themes and plot. The author makes it clear that a government's manipulation of the people's perceptions through staged events is not limited to the Third World. Mary Whipple

Keneally vividly conjures up the dilemmas that the artist in a repressive regime faces. "The Tyrants Novel" alows the reader to fell the vise closing in on Alan Sheriff as he is forced to work with the regime that is destroying his homeland.

"The Tyrants Novel" avoids the stereotypical scenes of repression - physical abuse, direct threats - in order to spin a web of gnawing anguish. A few scenes in "The Tyrants Novel" will remain with me for years to come - not because they are rendered so graphically, but because they are presented in a plausible manner that makes them even more disturbing.

One thing that Keneally does is to give all of his characters - in what is clearly Iraq - Englich and Irish names. At first, this seems bizarre, but the sad fact is, westertn readers will more readily identify with characters named "McBrien", "Sarah" and "Andrew" than they will with "Abdul" and "Mohammed".

A great novel and one that has sent me serching out Keneally's other books.

THE TYRANT'S NOVEL is at once ingenious and innovative in its ability to mirror recent world history events without disclosing vital identities. While reading it is difficult to not think of current geopolitical events. When we first meet protagonist Alan Sheriff he is being held as a political prisoner in an undisclosed Western nation. While being interviewed by journalists Sheriff explains his tale of how he ended up in his current predicament and his former life in an anonymous nation suffering from U.S.-led oil embargo and is ruled by a ruthless dictator. As the narrative unfolds the similarities between Sheriff's home country and Saddam Hussein's Iraq is quite uncanny and difficult to overlook.

Sheriff was once a member of the elite middle class largely unaffected by the devasting economic repercussions of the oil embargo. But despite his social standings he has created a reputation for his literary skill he is ordered by the tyrant to write a novel about the chaos that has burdened his country to be published under the tyrants name and released in time for a forthcoming G7 summit. Sheriff's been provided a very short deadline and in order to complete this unthinkable task he must battle personal demons that plague him.

Thomas Keneally performs a superb job in creating this fast-paced thriller that failed to lose steam at any given time. I was immediately hooked by the opening paragraph and couldn't wait to reach the end. Recommended.

In this novel within a novel, Australian author Thomas Keneally returns to the political themes which won him prizes for The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith, Voices from the Forest, and Schindler's Ark. Keneally has always been at his best depicting ordinary people facing extraordinary pressures, especially from governments bent on totalitarian rule, and this contemporary allegory is no exception. Taking place in an unnamed oil-rich country in the Middle East ruled by a tyrant who calls himself Great Uncle, the novel centers on a man calling himself "Alan Sheriff," a short story writer given one month to write an "autobiographical novel" for which Great Uncle will take full credit. Sheriff, we learn in the opening chapter, is telling his story to a western journalist from a detention camp in an unnamed desert country, where he has languished for three years.

Keneally increases the impact and universality of the story through his clever use of western names. As Alan Sheriff tells the journalist, it is important for his credibility in the west that he be like a man you'd meet on the street, which is much easier with a name like Alan--"not, God help us, Said and Osama and Saleh. If we had Mac instead of Ibn." Alan believes his "saddest and silliest story" will interest Americans, despite the fact that his country and the US are now enemies.

Through Alan's story, the reader meets Mrs. Douglas, whose nephew, not careful enough of the pH level of Great Uncle's swimming pool, has been shot and hanged from the ramparts; Mrs. Carter, whose son has been missing for six years; Alan's beloved wife, Sarah Manners, an actress who has become unemployable; Matt McBride, another writer who becomes head of the Cultural Commission where he works for Great Uncle; and Louise James, an American who would like to get Sheriff to come to Texas as a visiting professor. All these characters contribute to a stunning conclusion as Sheriff tries to write the required novel.

Easily the best Keneally novel in over a decade, this serious and thoughtful novel has significant political ramifications. The characters are "ordinary people," much like the rest of us, caught in extreme situations, and Keneally builds up enormous suspense as the long tentacles of the tyrant grab everyone in their path. Though most readers will recognize the unnamed country and the tyrant, it is a tribute to Keneally that their specific identities are totally irrelevant to his themes and plot. The author makes it clear that a government's manipulation of the people's perceptions through staged events is not limited to the Third World. Mary Whipple

Thomas Keneally's The Tyrant's Novel opens in a refugee holding camp of sorts in a Western nation. The initial narrator tells a brief story of meeting one of the refugees held there, Alan Sheriff, who is seeking political asylum and whose story makes up much of this enjoyable novel. Alan was a very successful novelist, with an American publishing contract, in a fictional country that is a thinly-disguised contemporary Iraq. His life is ideal, or as much as that can be when living under a despot's rule, when it pretty much crumbles in front of his eyes. His beloved wife dies suddenly and he is subsequently 'asked' by the Great Uncle, the tyrant of his country (and a dead ringer for Saddam Hussein) to ghostwrite a novel for him. The request is not just for any novel, but one which is so wonderful and moving, one which so exposes the effects that economic sanctions are having on his country that the world's superpowers will be convinced to removed those sanctions. Part of what makes Keneally's novel so wonderful is that it is both a politcal novel and a novel about writing and the creative process. Keneally masterfully, seamlessly blends these two genres into an enjoyable whole. The novel is at once a politcal allegory and a story of symbolic writer's block. It is an excellent, heart-breaking story, well-done and compelling. Enjoy.

This is a challenging book about how so many people - including Christians - have become desensitized to sin. The "vanishing conscience" is a part of our entire culture. We make excuses for sin. We rationalize sin. Sadly, we even overlook some sin and don't even realize it is there. This book really hit home with me - because it has shocked me in the last few years how "open" sin has become even among Christian people.

Besides "theory", the book is also very practical with ideas on how to overcome sin in our lives and live a consistently holy life. There is danger in thinking we have reached a high plane in the Christian life, and won't sin. Be suspicious of your own spirituality! Maturing Christians should never become smug or satisfied with their progress. (It is precisely then that we will likely fall!) It is the paradox of true holiness: the more we put away sin, the more we notice sinful tendencies that still need to be put away. The holier we become, the more frustrated we are by the stubborn remnants of sin that still remain in our life.

MacArthur is Calvinistic, and unfortunately in one part of the book he makes some extreme Calvinistic statements which I simply can not agree with... Other than this, I recommend this book.

John MacArthur does a remarkable job of closely examining the cancer of the U.S. society losing its ability to recognize sin and to differentiate right from wrong. He examines that sin has been relagated to a problem of having too much guilt, being a victim, an attack to one's self-esteem, etc., rather than something that one is accountable to. The author also examines that due to this lack of ability of society to properly recognize sin and be accountable and responsible for one's actions, society's conscience has been weakened to the point that there is no absolute right or absolute wrong, only moral relativism. As a result, there is rampant crime, business misconduct and scandals (Enron, Arthur Anderson, MCI-WorldCom, etc.), teenage pregnancy, rising rates of STD's and premarital sexual activities among teenagers, etc. After examining this cancer in society and its rammifications from a Biblical point of view, Mr. MacArthur offers very insightful solutions to this problem by addressing the nature of sin, how to handle sin, and the redemptive power of being freed and saved from the bondage of sin by the Power of God, Jesus Christ, and The Holy Spirit. I highly recommend this book to anyone (Christian or non Christian) who is concerned about the breakdown of moral standards and the chaos in our society. This book is a must read for any Christian, regardless of denomination, who is genuinely concerned about America's declining moral standards and the chaos that has been caused by it.

John MacArthur pinpoints a terrifying tendency of American society. Today, no one is guilty. Everyone is a victim of his environment, his upbringing or his DNA. Thus, no matter what you do, there is always someone else to blame. The author demonstrates the insidious nature of this problem both for society and for the spiritual welfare of individuals. If there is no guilt, there is no need for repentance. Without repentance and faith, there is no salvation.

MacArthur gives many examples of the victim mentality. Some would be humorous if the subject were not so serious. He also thoroughly debunks the victim syndrome and shows that a sense of guilt over sin is healthy and helpful. It's like the oil light that comes on. The light isn't the problem. It's a signal that you better stop the car and fix the engine. A sense of guilt serves the same purpose as the oil light.

John Macarthur makes a very good case against the horrible turn western society has taken in the last century towards heathenism. This problem is not a laughing matter, and John obviously agrees. He takes a serious stance against sin. He shows a powerful comparison between the spiral of moralty shown in Romans 1 and the spiral of morality the United States has been rapidly taking.
He doesn't just point to the world, but he also looks at the church, who is supposed to bring light into a dark work, and exposes the many dangerous doctrines floating around concerning sin. (i.e. we should get over our guilty feelings rather than repenting of sin)
This is a good book that really exposes a bad problem. Whatever your denominational preference, this book is for you - as long as you don't have a problem with sin being called by its true name!

I believe one of the authors concerns in writing this book was to asess how the Church and individual Christians both view and deal with sin,and then to look at how the maintenance of a good conscience can help the Church of Christ have a greater influence in the world. The author sees one of the Church's weaknesses (not being a lack of effort and involvement in our society)but that the Church often becomes more influenced by the world's values than the reverse. The Church must not get sidetracked into thinking its purpose is to reform society. The Church should be salt and light but its purpose and commission Pastor MacArthur points out in the intoduction is to proclaim the gospel, God's message of salvation to save those who will repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. How our society deals with guilt and the Biblical remedy are quite different. If we are thinking Biblically guilt exists because of sin. Our society wants to rid people of guilt but not by dealing with sin God's way,that is repentance. Our culture's way is to remove personal responsibility and accountability by promulgating a victim mentality. Another way our society deals with guilt P.23 "is by classifying every human failing as some kind of disease."This seeks to remove guilt (by getting rid of personal responsibility)by making sin to be sickness. Pastor MacArthur has so much insight as to what ails our society and how that can be remedied.
In Chapters 2 and 3,what the conscience is and how it functions is an invaluable part of the book. A weak and seared and healthy(or strong)conscience are very clearly distinguished. Chapters 5 through 10 are concerned with various aspects of sanctification(The believer being set apart for God and how to Biblically deal with sin).Some of the specific areas which are addressed are:Temptation(Chap.8), Mortification of sin(Chap.7) and keeping the mind pure(Chap.9). There is an abundance of practical help to enable Christians(by God's grace) to live a more godly life.
John MacArthur gives the best definition of the conscience that I have seen on p.37"The conscience entreats us to do what we believe is right and restrains us from doing what we believe is wrong...It is a human faculty that judges our actions and thoughts by the light of the highest standard we perceive."
The conscience is an important gift that God has given to man. The reality is that the conscience in the thinking of modern man is given very little thought or relevance.To better understand what it is and how it works is of great significance to individual believers,the Church and society at large. Having said that, there are relatively few books in our day that deal with the conscience specifically(or the devastating effects of its diminished influence,as this book does) and this elevates the importance of Pastor John MarArthur's valuable contribution on this subject.

My mom was born and raised in Northport and I bought the book for her. We spent many summers in Northport and Leland, staying in the old cabins of my mom's family and hiking up and down the bluffs. My cousins and I have very fond memories of Leelanau county and this book brought it all back to me and especially to my mom. It's a wonderful book.

This is an absolutely wonderful book about Leelanau County history, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and northern Michigan tourism of days gone by. It's a must have if you vacation up north and would make a very memorable gift for those who visit that area. I highly recommend it. I wish a book like this existed for the entire west side of Michigan.

The sand I tracked onto the floor of my father's Buick Roadmaster wasn't from Leelanau, but the images of Michigan's beaches, summer homes and lake culture make this beautiful book much more than a history of someplace you may not have been. Vintage Views of Leelanau County will connect with anyone who remembers when family vacations were taken with the car windows rolled down and eyes peeled for Burma Shave signs. Hey! After swimming let's go get some ice cream!

This superb collection of views from Leelanau County is a delight for anyone who has spent summers in northern Michigan. It's rich with hundreds of beautifully reproduced real photo postcards, supplemented with maps, early tourist ads, and an informative text constructed from Byron's and Wilson's research and excerpts from travel literature.

"Vintage Views" is a must for Leelanau County lovers and postcard collectors alike. You'll spend many enjoyable hours with this book, traveling from the comfort of your favorite chair.

Everything about VINTAGE VIEWS OF LEELANAU COUNTY is a spectacular journey. Anyone with a nostalgic bone in their body must view this book? For me, it "conjured" up so many memories of vacations to resorts where being with family and enjoying the area was the "why" you were on the trip.

This novel opens in Sydney, 1845, with the German explorer Voss preparing to cross the Australian continent. This physical aspect of the novel is loosely based on the ill-fated expedition of Ludwig Leichhardt.

Prior to leaving Sydney, Voss meets Laura Trevelyan. Laura is the niece of one of Voss's patrons and is perhaps the only person apart from Voss himself who perceives that his journey is a challenge of will as much as a geographical journey of discovery. Voss and Laura, despite only meeting four times before he departs, form a spiritual bond which strengthens during the course of the novel.

The novel is about discovery, about triumph and about failure. The physical elements of the journey describe many of the challenges facing explorers within central Australia at the time and combines elements of human suffering and religious metaphor.

The intense relationship between Laura and Voss develops during the course of the journey, and is conducted both through letter and telepathy.

This novel can be read as a simple story of an ill-fated expedition. Alternatively, it can be read as one man's challenge to the physical world, and of the good and evil in each of us.

By the end of the novel, the discovery seems clear, the triumphs and the failures are obvious. Or are they? Perhaps it depends on which viewpoint you choose to adopt.

I recommend this novel to anyone who wants to read well written literature which, under the guise of telling a story, invites the readers to confront their own thinking. The choice is yours.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

This is a deeply sad story of tragic love in Australia's colonial times. Voss, "The German" and Laura, a young Sydney woman, are societal misfits who meet quite awkwardly in drawing room one day. Soon after this meeting, Voss begins his epic journey into the unknown Australian outback. As the journey progresses he realizes his love for Laura and writes her a letter asking for her hand in marriage. She accepts his proposal and a love affair of the minds begins. More letters are written but never received by either party. Amazingly, their love blossoms for each other in a small minded, petty, and class driven society. Sadly, in the end their love is tragically never to be.
I found this book to be extremely well written and deeply moving. I believe that this novel is on par with Bronte's Jane Eyre and I do not understand why it is not on any classical reading lists. There are parts of the book that move somewhat slowly, but each part has its purpose in bringing you deeper into the story. The insights into the human soul are incredibly poignant. If you do decide to give Voss a chance read it slowly and in quite spaces. Soak up the meanings within the writing and enjoy this sad, sad tale.

This epic about a man's journey into the heart of the Australian desert and into his own heart and mind is a classic of modern literature. Johann Ulrich Voss, though he remains always just beyond the reader's grasp as a character, is as memorable as any great figure in modern literature. If Marlow and Kurtz in Heart of Darkness were one man, this would be him.

The novel is also a love story about two people who go beyond the mediocrity of their surroundings to embark on interior journeys where they learn to know themselves and unite with each other in spirit.

For 80% of the novel I was gripped, running home from college to read more and more. My only qualm would be the ending, as the tension dissipates and the last 80 pages or so peter out under the excessive Christian symbolism. But there is no way that a potential reader should be put off by this assessment

Sentence for sentence, word for word, Patrick White is as good a prose stylist as I've ever read. The phrase "tour de force" could have been invented for this book.

Patrick White gained fame as the Australian Nobel prize winner in literature, and as a person with a prickly or what some call a difficult personality. He was educated at Cambridge but then settled and wrote in Australia after World War II. He has about a dozen novels and I have read two of them, the other being The Tree of Man which is set in rural but agricultural Australia, not in the Outback as is Voss.

This is a good novel, and it deserves 5 stars. After a dozen pages or so it becomes clear to the reader that White has an unusual style and he is a gifted writer. There is no question about his writing ability.

This particular story starts off in Sydney in the mid-19th century, and White uses real street names and locations in central Sydney, just east of Darling Harbour. Since the same streets still exist today, his setting and references to the city bring a high degree of realism to the story.

The plot is about a man and a woman who become engaged by mail after meeting. Voss is the man, and he leads a voyage of discovery into the Outback, north and west of Sydney. The plot involves the hardships of the trip, the interaction among the characters travelling with Voss, the natives, and what takes place in Sydney with his fiancee while Voss is away on the trip.

The discouraging feature of White's writing is that the characters seem stiff or cardboard, a bit lifeless. Voss is not a man to show much emotion or talk. So, there are many passages where White simply describes the activities. That gives the book - especially in the middle - a dry feel. This was reinforced for me when I read The Tree of Man where White has a similar strong male protagonist, the farmer; but there, White goes into much more depth with the man's personality in the novel.

The tale has a strong and a surprise ending, and the novel picks up as the story closes.

Overall, I enjoyed the read and would recommend the book. It is not a quick read nor is it compelling stuff to digest, but it is an interesting and well written novel.

Big, powerful novel by a skilled storyteller, a master of the Australian landscape and peoples. In the 1800's the German settler Voss meets Laura Trevelyan in Sydney once or twice, then together with an ill-assorted ragtag of followers he sets off on an ill-fated expedition from Sydney westwards through the Australian desert.

Voss's purpose seems to be to get to 'love the land'. Laura waits in Sydney; she's a thoughtful person, different from the others, aware that Australian white society in those days could be shallow and not in tune with deeper things. When Voss and Laura are not together, the relationship takes place in the mind, with some sort of sixth sense resulting in a synchronisation of feelings. The is cleverly done and works well.

Aboriginals figure strongly - they are part of the land, timeless, noble. But, in the period set in this novel, there is a dark side; through and through they come across as bestial savages. They could help and save Voss, who reaches out to them, but instead they thwart and eventually kill him.

Patrick White won the 1973 Nobel prize for literature, and it's not surprising. But his style in Voss is not always easy; he's always invading his characters' minds and trying too hard to explain every nuance of their thinking. This slows it down. Ideas about 'point of view' have to be put on hold in this novel.

Ultimately though it's an indelible experience, and one is left with haunting images of Australia.

This book was most enjoyable--An historical and literary voyage through history until it capsizes--here, at our feet and on our shores on the California-Mendocino Coast.

WOW what fun, work and incredible research the author had to dive through. THIS IS GREAT READING!

The Voyage of the Frolic is a readers dream. Bostonian History, Maritime life, Chinese trade, the Coast of California and our indigenous Indians all rolled into one well written and enjoyable read. Thank you Professor Layton for unraveling the past and placing it in a wonderful china bowl for all of us to peruse and get to know.

Layton is a master at pulling you in and teaching you a thing or two. I'd love to learn more about the Chinese connection.

A model of the Frolic is on display at the Cabrillo Lighthouse, Mendocino, CA. Before you visit the area, read this book. The book covers the entire history of the Frolic, those who built it, the course it took for its short 6 year life -- before sinking off Pt. Cabrillo. Its history includes its involvement with the Opium War, American incursions in China and exciting trade run with opium, Chinese ceramics and silks. A must read if you're interested in international history and the ships that created commerce and connection with the rest of the world.

Oddly enough, our book group chose Voyage of the Frolic and what great fun and an education it has been. I've always dreamed of going on an archeological expedition and here, without the dirt, pan, screens and brushes, I've discovered another layer of the past. What an eclectic history California has.

If you're on the fence and/or leaning toward accepting Christ-Like living as your life's guide, this will probably help you.
Not so much 'something new' , but a definate support vessel.

Peace & Love to all!

For Christians who desire to make Christ first, this book is an oustanding tool.

After reading First Things First by Covey, for me and perhaps other Christians this is a great next step in the journey of prioritizing and surrendering each day to His purpose and His glory.

Even if you feel you have lost that burning desire, Patrick Morley's humble approach can rekindle the freshness of Christ.

Reading this book without a highlighter is like picking strawberries without a bucket. "We seek the God we want instead of the God who is", writes Morley. All too often, our "American Gospel has evloved into a gospel of addition without subtraction. It is the belief that we can add Christ to our lives without subtracting sin". Morley's beginning with this approach leads the reader into an assortment of convictions that furrow the brow with, "Wow! That's the way I feel, too." This book should be required reading for all Sunday School teachers and Pastors. The writer's insightful brevity provides exciting illustrations and supportive connections to Scripture's truths.

I picked up this treasure for a quarter at a garage sale! It was brand new & I'm sure the owner had never read it, or they would have kept it. I wanted to see if others felt the same as I do about it, so I logged on here to read the reviews. It is so relevant to everyday living, so refeshing, so easy to read, so real, etc, etc. I will be recommending it everyone I know!

Reading this book literally puts you right in the face with the details of our life that are either hidden or ignored. It takes courage and longing to want to make a difference in life to go beyond the title of each chapter. However, once past that, you will find a life changing process taking place within.

A devotional book that bares our life and demands an honest response from us before the Throne of Grace.

'The Warning' is a fast paced suspense novel.

It revolves around Buddy Korda who is a nondescript assistant bank manager in a small town. He is chosen by God as a modern day prophet to warn about a looming economic disaster. After thousands of people start listening to him and taking his financial advice, some financial power players do everything in their power to discredit and attack him.

Mr. Bunn has some very descriptive writing. In describing some of the financial sharks in New York, he writes the following:

"The mountains of Wall Street were home to their own brand of trolls. Only here they were dressed by Valentino, driven by Porsche, fueled by liters of caffeine. They hoarded their gold and guarded it with bloodthirsty vengeance. They substituted handheld faxes and satellite links for broadaxes, but they were trolls just the same. They even had their own language. Sunlight scared them. Fresh air was as alien as a moral code."

As readers of this review can tell, Mr. Bunn certainly has a way with words. His story in interesting, creative, and thought provoking. I recommend this book.

This book was riveting with suspense and intrigue. I especially enjoyed the author's knowledge of the financial arena and the spiritual insight into the Bible and how God has worked in the past. I immediately read the follow up book, "The Ultimatum"

My first experience with this author was with the Book of Hours. After thoroughly enjoying that book, I perused the church library for another one of Mr. Bunn's offerings.

The Warning, was possibly one of the best books I have read in quite a while. An average Joe, named Buddy Korda, is chosen by God to spread the word about the eminent collapse of the financial markets.

Who will listen to this assistant bank branch manager? At first, very few. But as the story progresses, we see that the Spirit of GOD gets the message out to His flock. While those that are from the Wall Street elite try to set him up, harm him, and make continued threats.

This book is an awesome story of how God chooses people of humble standing so that the message is the focus and not the messenger. Also, no one can stand against the ultimate will of our Creator.

Mr. Bunn's expertise in international banking is evident throughout the book.

This book is a must read for Christians at this turn of the century. The inspiration to follow God's leading in all that he has for us to do and trust Him to provide the strength is the main theme. The exortation to live within our means and be satisfied with what the Lord has blessed us with is the underlying theme. The writing, as always with Bunn, is gripping, hard to put down. I am ignorant of financial jargon, but Bunn even made this part of the book relatively easy to understand. I am a big fan of T. Davis Bunn and this book was up to his usual high standards.

"The Warning" is a fictitious account of a looming economic disaster. God instructs banker Buddy Korda to warn his people of the coming crisis through a series of dreams. Buddy knows that the economy is strong, and the stock market has never seen such high daily closings (sounds very familiar). Will Buddy overcome his doubts and fears to warn God's people? Read "The Warning" to find out!

This book contains recipes that nutitionally conscious people will love -- while using commonly available ingredients. As exciting as the recipes are, the nutritional information makes this a MUST READ cookbook. LOVE IT !! By incorporating these recipes or ideas into my diet (we still eat meat) and beginning moderate exercise (1hour 3xweek) I have cut my diabetes oral medication by half in less than one month !! Doc says 6mo - 1 year to be medicine free !! (after 3 years of gradually worsening diabetes) This cookbook could save your life !

The recipes in this book are some of the best available if you are serious about eating a healthy diet. They are not only vegetarian but they eliminate the refined oils and sugars which are such a major factor in causing diseases like atherosclerosis, heart disease, adult onset diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. They are the recipes used at the Newstart lifestyle program where they get excellent results with just diet and exercise. The recipes are delicious; we use them in our home all the time. I highly recommend this cookbook to my patients.

a solid good cookbook for those aspiring to the vegan diet. the only drawbacks being that some recipies require hard-to-locate ingredients such as vegan gelatin and smoked yeast. Other than that a very worthwhile purchase for those wishing to eat healthy, etc.

adhealthandwellness recommended this as one of the books that was essential for life. Piper de Vries is deep.

Wonderfully Healthy Recipes...... use it all the time!