White Books

I found this little book to be /Inspirational/Funny/Sad/I wonder is that how God really is. Bob seems to have a much better undestanding of the "spiritual world" than most.That is why I enjoy reading his writtings so much.Thank You again Bob

I liked a lot of things about this book. It's a short read in that it's a series of statements by folks with 'answers' from God in bold below them. Each statement/answer then is a stand-alone thought that can be read and appreciated for itself. I think that God watches Judge Judy on occasion. One person says, "God, I feel like believing in you is a complete waste of my time." God answers, "I know the feeling." Another statement hit home strongly with me. A man tells God that keeping his pickup truck from starting won't stop him from going out & getting drunk that night. God tells him the truck will start after he's gone back inside to say goodbye to his mother who won't be there when he gets back from the tavern. His Mom dies in his arms, in the house, 2 hours later and the man has not had a drink since.

Unfortunately, for me personally, there are several examples of answers from 'God' that perpetuate the 'fire and brimstone,' "You're going to burn in Hell forever" God that turned me off to Him years ago. Fundamentalist Christians will love them but I tend to take that kind of statement with a grain of salt and look for the loving message that I know underlies it if it's really from God. I highly recommend this book as something to have handy for a quick pick-me-up since you can open it almost anywhere and find a useful inspiration of some kind. Even the ones I disagree with make me think and that's not all bad. It was worth the price to me.

I am an avid reader.Having read many books through the years Christian and Non-Christian.I have been helped and blessed by some,entertained by others,but I found this book to be Inspired.I could give this to my teenaged grandsons,best friends,or my mother and all would be able to enjoy and relate to it. It is refreshing and insightful.It will allow you to chuckle,touch your heart and your soul.Give you peace of mind and spirit. Each home would profit by having this book accessible to family members and friends.Its message is profound and I would recommend it as a wonderful gift .

A friend knowing my feelings about God, sent me this book. Be it a real or an imaginary God in this book, it is a God I can believe in. It feels good not hating television evangelist. It was the first time anyone had laid it out so clearly.

There are advantages of being a fulltime pastor for forty-three years. Then there are the disadvantages. I try as best I can not to dwell on the disadvantages. But the one that did bother me the most, was not being able to answer the questions of children. Adults seldom ask really hard to answer questions, like, “What is God’s favorite color?” or “Are their toys in heaven?” or “Why is everything that is fun to do a sin?” I remember this one well, “Why did God choose the Jews instead of us?” Forty-three years I have been talking about God, only to learn that I knew very little about Him. This book is The Spirit at work. A Minister who has not read this book is unlearned regardless of their education.

Hotep, I'm halfway through this book. I know brothers from PKV and am generally a regular attendee at their lectures in the D.C. area. I believe that this work is very crticial. As I watch the DVD's its becoming more crystal clear that this has an inordinate effect on our race and culture. Why have traditional black leaders have not looked into this menace. I've learned this weekend that a Pedophile has infiltrated a Rites of Passage program. If we think that these HOMO/BI/Pedophiles which are the SAME are not destroying our community then we have to wake up. I would like to know though how can the so called Christian right think that this is not a part of European Culture when everything that they believe in at the highest levels that is the highest goal? From a political position I'm tying to understand why so called Democrats are seen as the party that supports Gay rights and while Republicans do not, i.e. appearingly? The new website is up on this book. Check it out!!

War on the Horizon is the most compelling and currently relevant book I've read in 2007. The detriments that homosexuality has on our community are being covered and shown through smoky lenses. This book is the "20/20 vision" to help you see the system clearly. This book should be past down for generations.

I started reading this book this morning; I finished it this evening - this book kept me locked in position. Now that I am finished, I can only imagine how many Black people don't have clue that our culture... our very peoplehood is being wipeout by homosexuality and other tools of racism white supremacy. The Irritated Genie has done a phenomenal job researching the origins of homosexuality and explaining its impact on Black people. We are battling for our minds, our souls, our lives. The Irritated Genie is calling us to action. Thanks to this brother for bringing this information to the people.

This book, hands down is the read of the year...the read of a life time. The Irritated Geni(us) tackles the suddenly taboo topic of so-called homosexuality head on. He confirms what most Black people are thinking: so-called homosexuality is unnatural destructive misbehavior. The author does a superb job of the analysis of so-called homosexuality and its role in racism-white supremacy, providing both current and historical documentation to support his accurate analysis. In a time of mass deception and confusion, War on the Horizon - Black Resistance to the white-sex Assault serves as a beacon of Truth to light th path of Black Liberation. It is imperative for you to read this book for clarity, and true enlightenment.

This book compels every Black person to confront our history and removes the lies that we have been force fed for hundreds of years. The author's research is accurate and eye-opening; he uncovers the most heinous acts of racism white supremancy commited against Black people. The Irritated Genie deserves praise for bringing this information to the forefront.

Although some reviewers list this book as over 500 pages, it is actually only 144 (see Amazon's Book Description). It has excellent illustrations, however, there is very little text. The introduction is approximately 15 pages and each illustration is accompanied by a short paragraph of text. If you are searching for visuals this is definately a good choice. However, if you are looking for information you may want to purchase an additional book (or different book). I am a art history student looking to broaden my knowledge of Egytian art and this is a great first step for those looking to do the same.

Wonderful Book
This book is a gorgeous and lavish catalogue of selected, exquisite, and little-known works of Egyptian art dating from the Old-Kingdom. I truly love it, and I recommend it to anyone interested in ancient art. I particularly loved the special devotion to fragments of statues and small works of art not usually seen, but as beautiful if not more pronounced than the usual art seen in other books. An masterpiece of art in itself.

You don't have to be an Egyptologist to appreciate the exhaustive research that went into the compilation of this catalogue that accompanieD a blockbuster exhibit at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

The amazing work of Old Kingdom (c.2650 - 2150 B.C.E.) artists is splendidly displayed on glossy fact filled pages.

The aim of the book is to capture the many artifacts of the old kingdom. in this regard, its aim is not to be informative by being detailed on the old kingdom history - there are many books which attempt to do this.

having stated the aim of the book, i should judge it on the quality of the pictures: they are superb!! one of the best pictures i have seen, especially considering that they are indoor pictures! the grain is non-visible, this makes a difference for such a relatively pricy book.

Many of the pictures fill the whole page and this creates a striking image! It is a great buy if you want to collect good pictures on egypt!

One minor disappointment is that they omitted some of the most interesting pictures or artifacts of the old kingdom, which you find in other books. For example and most importantly the bas relief of king djoser at the ny metropolitan museum. yet, i probably know why..

This magnificent volume devoted to the approximate 500 years that made up Egypt's Old Kingdom period(2649-2150 B.C.), is truly unsurpassed in information and artifacts that were brought together from collections in Egypt, France, Italy, Britain, the United States and elsewhere for a unique travelling exhibition titled: "Egyptian Art In The Age Of The Pyramids". As a lover of all things to do with Ancient Egypt I was amazed by this wonderful work that had as its focus not the frequently photographed treasures of Tutankhamen or the Valley of the Kings but instead on this much earlier period of Egyptian history that saw some of Egypt's most wonderous works of art and building accomplished.

For those not able to see the exhibition this book is a wonderful guide and source of information that can be enjoyed by people just developing an interest in early Egypt and also by those with a fairly advanced knowledge of this civilisation and its wonders. I was amazed by the terrific attention to detail and especially by the fact that many of the items featured have not been widely seen or examined in detail before. The volume begins with some detailed maps of the different regions of Egypt in the Old Kingdom period so that the reader can get a feel for where the various items featured originated from. A brief run down on the six dynasties of the Old Kingdom and their history including the Pharaohs who reigned during them is also included and certainly helps to give the items a proper time frame and place in the overall history of Egypt. The first chapters of the book cover specific areas of interest and vary from a detailed examination of the incredible Step Pyramid of King Djoser through various tombs of officials and court dignitaries to an examination of royal statuary, furniture of the old Kingdom, and the excavations that have taken place at old Kingdom sites. Each of these chapters contain a detailed commentary of the topic under discussion by various world wide experts and each include breathtaking colour and black and white photographs, maps and drawn ilustrations of tomb reliefs and wall paintings. The text in these chapters is clear and concise and easy to follow while still being incredibly informative with much background information included. These chapters really are a great introduction to all facets of cultural and religious life in the Old Kingdom.

The second section of "Egyptian Art In The Age of The Pyramids", deals with each individual artifact that was included in the travelling exhibition. Each item is accompanied by a beautiful colour illustration photographed often against a neutral background for maximum effect and also includes any other available photos that may have been taken when the piece was being excavated or from the site it was found in . Each item also has a detailed description and a background history and includes which dynasty of the Old Kingdom it comes from and who the reigning Pharaoh was at that time. Measurements and the loaning museum are also included to give a very detailed run down on the modern origins of each piece. The marvel of the items as stated is that both well known and quite rare items are included in the volume. We get to see such diversely famous pieces as the blue tile wall decorations from the under ground chambers of the Step Pyramid of Pharaoh Djoser, and the majestic twin statue of Pharaoh Menkaure and his Queen, through to the extremely rare Silver and Turquoise inlaid braclets belonging to Queen Hetep-Heres, the mother of Pharaoh Cheops, and the extremely touching statue of Queen Ankh-Nes-Meryre nursing her young son, the boy Pharaoh Pepi II. Less well known pieces such as vivid wall paintings from some of the nobles tombs, wooden statues of farmers and alabaster vases in the shape of monkeys from unknown sources really bring to life the everyday existence of both the priviledged and the general population during the six dynasties of the Old Kingdom.

As an amateur Egyptologist I would dearly have loved to see this original exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art however having missed that this splendid book is a perfect way to enjoy the wonderful artifacts that were included and to learn in a detailed but user friendly way much about Egypt during the Old Kingdom. "Egyptian Art In The Age Of The Pyramids", is one of the most tresured books in my personal library and I highly recommend it to all readers interested in ancient history and in early Egypt in particular. This volume itself is a true treasure just like all the precious items it so lovingly features in its pages. Enjoy!

To add to the ranks of the surprised ones... It was boringly browsing the other day through my landlady's bookshelves, and I found an intriguing volume of prose called "Seasons at Eagle Pond" by a name that rang a bell but didn't quite make it to my conscience... This was only a few weeks ago. I began an incessant search for Donald Hall's poems within my collection of anthologies, local libraries and the Internet. Then I purchased "White Apples and the Taste of Stone" and my embarrassment for not knowing Hall previously only yields now to the pleasure and comfort of having, at last, come across him. These are human poems; they speak to you and befriend you; later they may haunt you... Among them you will find pieces that are witty, fast, meditative, funny, horrific, mad and yes, very very sad. This collection exudes the world and vision of a keen observer of life. It will leave a reek of charged life around you! Simply great.

Donald Hall, past Poet Laureate of the United States, has had a long and fruitful career. This compilation is well done - hardcover, good paper, clean printing and attractive typeface, and includes Hall's best work. His poems can make you laugh, or sigh, or weep. This is a "must have" for anyone who loves and values poetry.

Having met Donald Hall and reading his poems, I am convinced he is a modern day Robert Frost. If you love poetry read this book. If you love New England read this book. If you truly love life as Mr.Hall does, read this book!

Even a baseball fan , such as myself will love this collection of Poems. I knew Donald Hall from his baseball writings and love of the game. Now as U.S. poet laureate, I had to see more of hime as evidenced by this book. Not a one night read, but a pleasure to pick up and dwell on and savor slowly.
Ernie Grassey

I feel somewhat embarrassed to say that Donald Hall was not a poet I was familiar with until just recently. And what a great thing I have been missing. I realized that Donald Hall was in a very old anthology I have from 1963 called "The Modern Poets." There is a jaunty photo of him smoking a cigar. The Bio does not mention his wife Jane Kenyon.

What a powerful effect these poems had on me. The come alive in a way I cannot accurately describe. They bring me closer to things I seem to remember, and with simplicity and depth, deliver the earth to my feet. Don't take my word for it. Take a look into this world for yourself.

Excellent and well written. A collection item for university level instruction and home library.

William H. Watkins writes about the power of education and how it "can be used both to oppress and to liberate." (pg.1) Watkins shares with us how research and science in the last century validated the belief that Whites were the superior race. This belief has played a great role in the development of the school system and curriculum we have today in America. The "White Architects" have used the school system to keep races of people oppressed. He clearly defines who the architects were and the role they played in orchestrating the school system we have today.

I believe that in order to see more success among minority students in schools today we have to restructure the whole school system. Watkins book strengthens my belief. He states "public education was product of historically, politically, and socially constructed ideas." These ideas need to be updated and remade to include all races equally.

Mr. Watkins walks us through an historical and turbulent era of education that continues to have ramifications in our present educational system. Watkins journey through the maze of black education exposes the political and socioeconomic influences of the dominnant and affluent white culture of the north. He reveals to the reader the influences of the corporate magnets of the north who wanted cheap labor and subserivent workers. They used their philanthropy and the educational system to imposed their own philosophy of education on the black population;while promoting subserivent lifestyles for those who participated. Mr Watkins is able to convince the reader about the political and economic hold that the corporate world imposes on the black population and the disregard these men had for how the black population wanted their education to progress.
Mr. Watkins continues to show us the need for continued political and socieconomic justice for all people and warns us of the continued influence that corporate America has on all of us.

William Watkins pointedly and proudly explains how people other than the African Americans have guided the principles of Black education in the United States from the Reconstruction era to post World War II. Whether these people acting philanthropically as John D. Rockefeller or as "evil geniuses" (Chapter 6), they have shaped Black education then and some would argue for all time.

In his writing, Watkins shows that there is a view of the history of American education that does not come from the larger culture. Watkins view is from the "other side of the fence" that is not written by the victors but rather a survivor. This view is equally important as it establishes the fact there are always two sides to every story. "History is made by people in struggle" (p.179).

Generalizations tend to pervade Watkins' writings as the use of the words "few" and "many" are consistent. But this is understandable considering little or no empirical research was being conducted regarding Black education during this time period.

Pointing to the past for blaming is not the purpose of Watkins in his book, but rather an enlightenment of the history presented by a survivor of slavery, segregation and racial inequalities that have existed for generations. Truly, Watkins has offered a view of history in which we can reflect upon and use to help guide a new generation of architects.

William H. Watkins is subtle in his story of the "white architects" who developed Black education beginning in 1865, just at the end of the Civil War. Watkins shocks you with his "scientific racism" platform that he explains "presented human difference as the rational for inequality" and that it "can be understood as an ideological and political issue" (pg. 39). The reader senses a calm attitude about the author as he speaks of the Philanthropists, beginning with John D. Rockefeller, Sr, who was most concerned about "shaping the new industrial social order" (pg. 133) than he was for providing a useful education. "The Rockefeller group demonstrated how gift giving could shape education and public policy" (pg. 134). In their support of Black education, by 1964,the General Education Board (GEB) spent more than $3.2 million dollars in gifts to support Black education. This captivating book begins with a forward written by Robin D.G. Kelley who reflects that she learned one lesson from Watkins, "If we are to create new models of pedagogy and intellectual work and become architects of our own education, then we cannot simply repair the structures that have been passed down to us. We need to dismantle the old architecture so that we might begin anew" (pg. xiii). Why don't the school reformers who mandate educational laws experience such an awakening?

(...) I thought it was wonderful. Set in a once-upon-a-time or maybe distant-future, Princess Tasha must rescue the precious documents that prove her father's wishes and escape to help the resistance before she is caught.

Is there ever going to be a sequel to this book? The ending is so exciting that I really want to know what happens next!

Although at times the dialogue in The White Dove was a little dull, overall, it was a great book. I loved the book and am eagerly awaiting for a sequel...and possible some romance between Marki & Tasha? I don't know, I'm a sucker for a love story. If you have any affection at all for historical fiction or fantasy or just books in general, read The White Dove.

Lois Bartholomew is a great writer. When I read the book I started it and couldent put it down. It is so great to see how tasha and her friends tried as hard as they could to achieve a goal. What a great Book. I would recommend this book to anyone!

Tasha and a small band of wanderers flee a repressive kingdom and Tasha is determined to return to her father's stronghold to get to the bottom of his secrets in The White Dove, a story of adventure and a girl's bravery. Tasha's affection for her father's kingdom and her struggles to defy a dictator make for absorbing reading.

Even though I love fantasy novels, and the author said right up front that this wasn't a fantasy, the story caught me up and kept me going until the last page. I hope this isn't the only story about Tasha and their resistance movement. When she was in her father's house--which has been taken over by a thoughtless, uncaring dictator, just like the kingdom--my heart was pounding. This is a terrific adventure story, full of hope and all the right ingredients--READ IT!

Geling Yan's White Snake and Other Stories depicts life during the Cultural Revolution in China, mainly through the experiences of Chinese women. Yan herself was born in Shanghai and inducted into the People's Liberation Army at age twelve, where she served in both ballet and folk dance troupes. Yan is well known in China where she has won a number of literary awards. She was a news correspondent in the 1970's covering the Sino-Vietnamese war, and when her tour of duty ended, she began writing creative works. She has published five novels, three short story collections and several screenplays including Xiu Xiu, The Sent Down Girl. White Snake was the first of her works to be translated into English. She now lives in the San Francisco Bay area.

Yan is a gifted writer. Her descriptions of scenes and emotions are so well developed, the reader is genuinely transported to scenes in China. Her stories build a tension that remains high until the ending. Her character development and grasp of the intricacies of relationships are so realistic that the ending truly affects the reader. Her stories are rich with deeper meaning and almost mystical in presentation, perhaps influenced by her being raised on Chinese folklore. The title novella "White Snake" describes the transformation of a celebrated ballet dancer imprisoned for spying following a love affair with a Russian dancer. The story of Sun Likun's fall from grace ironically mimics the Chinese folktale of the White Snake, her signature role. The mythical White Snake struggled against her own fate when she left the heavens because of her love for a mortal.

The book's other short stories each explore different aspects of Chinese life and relationships. "Celestial Bath" is a tragic tale of a teenage girl sent to the countryside to perform her required government service and then trapped by local government bureacrats into prostitution to buy her ticket home. "Nothing More Than Male and Female" explores the feelings of a woman who moves into the family home of her fiance months before the wedding, and then discovers she has fallen in love with his brother - a sensitive, semi-invalid not expected to live long. "Siao Yu" is about a young Chinese woman who is forced to marry an elderly man so she can stay in Australia long enough to achieve permanent status and then marry her young Chinese lover. The only story with a male protagonist, "The Death of the Lieutenant," conveys the hopeless case of a man from an impoverished village, who joins the army in hopes of bettering himself and then kills an officer accidentally. A female news reporter is disturbed by his calm acceptance of a sentence of execution.

The common theme in this book of stories is the mortal person, flawed, hoping for something better, but struggling along to survive with whatever is dealt to them. The women in particular in her stories are oppressed by hundreds of years of Chinese culture and even under the Revolutionary regime must still fend off men who want to use them for sex and the societal expectation that they will marry. Her female characters are strong and independent despite their circumstances.

To review these short stories demands the shortest of comments. Geling Yan thankfully has been translated so that for those of us who can only read 'English' have not been denied stories, which once read cannot be forgotten. I truly cannot praise the quality,emotional content, technical structuring,linguistic texture, etc. etc., sufficiently highly. I can only suggest that you read these short storiesand discover their wonder.

I was a bit surprised when my husband first handed me my copy of 'White Snake and Other Stories'. I had never read any Chinese literature in my life and was quite unfamiliar with Lawrence Walker and Geling Yan as a translator author team.
What a wonderful surprise my husband's gift turned out to be! The writing style was so sensitive, thoughtful, creative that I felt I was literally being transported into another time and another culture. I feel that what I learned about China in the short time it took me to read this book is priceless, not to mention the true enjoyment of reading good, creative original literature like 'White Snake'. My congratulations to both Geling Yan for writing this marvelous book, and to Lawrence Walker for doing such an incredibly brilliant job at translating what must have been an unbelievably difficult work. He made it so easy to read that one would have thought it was written originally in English. And Geling brought to me her China in her own wonderful way!

Geling Yan's WHITE SNAKE AND OTHER STORIES is an excellent collection of the author's 6 short stories. "White Snake" is pyschologically and emotionally most subtle. The story derives the theme allegorically from an ancient fable of love for its plot, and it transforms that faithful love into a very subtle and complex human experience that deserves various interpretations. As in her other stories, "White Snake" leaves room for the reader's imgaination to explore and appreciate its meaning. It is poetic! "White Snake," "Celestial Bath" and "Siao Yu" are also political. The author is skillful to portray an individual's life in the context of a large and powerful world of political entity. "Celestial Bath" and "Siao Yu" actually depict a tragedy of the Chinese nation. Hemingway-like detachment is the author's approach, even in "The Death of the Liutenant" in which the woman writer is apparently the author's alter ego. Lawrence Walker's translation is fluent, faithful to the original and very readable. Yan's style, however, is so sophisticate that no translation can do justice. (This is the problem for all translations). This collection of Yan's stories is a suitable text for a contemporary Chinese literature course.

Viewed from San Francisco, China, its people and culture have been an integral part of this city and its history since the Gold Rush. Like most San Franciscans and I daresay most Americans, while I am curious about the country, for the most part my knowledge is superficial and limited to glimpses of what really makes China tick. Chinese American cuisine and frequent trips to Chinatown have given me only a suggestion of the culture and life view of the Chinese.

White Snake and the characters depicted gave me an insight to the Chinese mind in the way that few other books have. Celestial Bath in particular, is one of the most poignant stories of unrequited love I have ever read. My wife and I have re-read it several times and always are moved by it, particularly the closing scene.

A gifted author who draws on her own experience in China, Geling Yang has helped me to bridge the cultural divide between America and China. I look forward to reading more of her works to continue to deepen my knowledge of China and her people.

Larry Walker's translation of the collection - always a challenge - is a tour de force.

I just recently bought your book for my 7 year old daughter. She has a lot in common with your book. Her older brother is packing to leave for college and my daughter, Brooke, is really having a hard time adjusting. We sat down the other night and I watched as her brother read her the book. Brooke now understands that she has a "Wiggles" inside of her and that "Wiggles" will take care of her heart while her brother is gone.

My name is Korey and I am 6 years old. My mom bought Wiggles for me. My daddy went on a work trip and I was sad and my mom read Wiggles to me so I wont be sad until he gets back.

Wiggles is a fantastic book for any child. The book tells a story of a journey of a white blood cell that makes it fun and easy for kids to understand. Whether it's for a bedtime story or anytime reading, this is a book you will want to add to your child's collection.

My mom bought me Wiggles the White Blood Cell and it is a wonderful book. I am six years old and the book has helped me learn how our bodies are fixed. I enjoyed listening to wiggles travel through the body and I loved to here that wiggles home is in the heart. I am very excited to bring this book to show and tell at school. Thank you!

Brielle Clark,
Winter Haven, FL

I just bought your book for my 5 year old son. It really captured his attention and found myself enjoying reading it to him as much as he did looking at the pictures.

This book is a little different than I expected because it is very abstract and ambiguous. I expected a little more focus on ways to apply letting go rather than theory. All the same I do think it is a very good product and would recommend it for anyone trying to change their perspective along with a few other good ones.

Here's an example of a daily insight from this lovely book: "In the same moment you can see there is nothing to talk to yourself about that is worthwhile listening to - you will feel the faint stirring of a sweet new silence within you that braces the soul with a strength unexpected."

To start each morning by reading an insight like that, and work with it all through the day, is to invite something new into your life!

This is a great book. It's jam-packed with quotations from Guy Finley--one for each day of the year--designed to help people wake up to real life. A person could take any one of these exercises and change his or her life in a very profound way. The format of this new book gives us something new to work with every day. I definitely give it 5 stars.

What is great about this book it is that it helps me to remain steadfast in my wish for spiritual growth. For example, even though one day I may feel "spiritual" and another I may not, the simple intention to read and quietly work with the day's meditation every morning opens up new possibilities that I wouldn't have seen without it. Also, 365 Days to Let Go is very different from other meditation books I have seen as the words seem to hit a deeper place of Truth. Bottom line - You can't go wrong with this book, and because of its unique size and healing contents it also makes a great gift.

Over the years I have used many "daily mediation books". To have something positive to start the day is comforting. When I first heard about this book, I was very exited that the Truthful words of Guy Finley would be used for the daily meditations. A constant reminder of Truth is rare to find in this world. Also, Guy, in his unique way, ties together the movement of the seasons as a guide to our inner journey of letting go. The illustration of the seeds being let go with the little parachute is a perfect illustration of the nature of a universal truth that nothing is wasted, but is transformed.

This book provides the means for a daily "encounter of the Truthful Kind".

This book is very emotional and touching. It's a about two people whose hearts and lives are empty and they come together because they both need someone in their lives.
Karen White writes with a light touch so that you feel for both characters and by the end of the book there is no doubt that these two people belong together.

Three years after the loss of beloved wife Harriet, Joe Warner meets a feisty out of towner who gets his blood running. He tries to stay true to Harriet, and has suspicions that Suzanne is hiding something from him. He helps get her on her feet, finding lodging at his best friend and brother in law's rental unit.

It turns out that Suzanne is running from her abusive ex-husband, Anthony. She stops in town because the necklace her mother gave her before she went into foster care has an inscription and a label of a jeweler located in Walton, Georgia. She never intended to get involved with the town's sexy and brooding mayor or his offspring and the townspeople. And despite both being reticent about getting involved with each other, they manage to steal a moment or two together and find themselves falling in love.

No small feat considering that Joe is juggling his job as a teacher, town mayor, raising six kids, dealing with his teenage daughter insecurities, and salvaging his re-election campaign to keep a progressive growth candidate out of office.

"After the Rain" is a great follow up to Karen White's excellent tear jerker "Falling Home," and provides follow up to the many colorful characters introduced in the first novel, which you must read first.

Suzanne Paris is on the run. She doesn't care where just so long as it's away from her ex-fiance, Anthony. So she hops on a bus. She's looking out the window when it stops in a small Georgia town called Walton. She reaches for her necklace and reads the inscription on the back. R.Michael Jewelers.Walton. The necklace was a gift from her mother before she was placed in foster care at 14 years old. This could be Suzanne's chance to find out more about her. Suzanne has always been able to hold herself apart from others but the townfolk, and a certain mayor, are making it hard for her to guard her heart. And she'll put their generosity to test when her past mistakes catch up with her.
Suzanne doesn't make the greatest first impression with Mayor Joe Warner. But despite that he helps her find a place to stay. Being a widower for three years, Joe is very put-off by his attraction to Walton's new visitor. Joe's instincts tell him there is more to Suzanne than what she is letting him see. With the re-election coming up, Joe can't jeopardize his chances of winning. His opponent, Charles "Stinky" Harden, is not the most moral of character. Joe knows Stinky has ulterior motives for wanting to be mayor and suspects it's not in the town's best interest. Throw in his six children and that alone should keep him too busy to fall in love, right?
After the Rain is a great book about relationships, choices-right or wrong, and new beginnings. The residents of Walton are wonderful, making the town very three-dimensional. I couldn't wait to see whom Suzanne would meet next. And how they were going to make it harder for her to leave. I finished with the hopes that Karen White has already started writing the next book to take place in Walton.

This is the first book I read by Karen White and I hope to see more from her. Her writing style is starkly and humorously descriptive. An example is when one of Joe's children hands Suzanne his toy airplane and "she reacted as though he'd handed her a large insect." Perfect! Wonderful. I can both see and feel that reaction. Just what I want from an author. Good story, not too sappy, not really that predictable, a little non-believable in parts, but an overall good read. I didn't realize this was a sequel and I'm glad I didn't. I like the mystery surrounding Suzanne and Joe.

A woman on the run, photographer Suzanne disembarks the bus on a whim, choosing to stay in Walton, Georgia. Unused to children, her comment regarding leash laws and children captures Joe's attention. Introducing herself as Suzanne Paris, she quickly learns that Joe is the town mayor who also happens to be the widowed father of six children. While she knows she cannot remain in Walton long without endangering her safety, Suzanne quickly finds herself falling in love with the citizens of Walton and their mayor.

Unlike the citizens of Walton who proudly cling to their deep southern roots, Suzanne is a drifter without ties to her past. Her alcoholic mother had disappeared when she was a teen, leaving behind only a necklace with the inscription, "A life without rain is like the sun without shade." Foster homes and emotional damage have exacted their toll, but Suzanne soon discovers the rain and the sun of Walton. Suzanne blossoms under the warmth of new friends and longs to linger in the healing atmosphere and near Joe and his remarkable children.

Author Lisa Plumley pens an elegantly enchanting southern novel in AFTER THE RAIN. Fans of FALLING HOME will welcome the return of favorite characters the beauty of Plumley's evocative prose. Indeed, readers will find themselves chuckling and tearful as the powerful characterizations sweep them into the marvelous small Georgia town and its memorable citizens. As the town conspires to protect Suzanne from threats of the past, she finds redemption and healing in the most unexpected of ways. Readers will be extremely reluctant to depart and will be clamoring for yet another sequel. AFTER THE RAIN comes very highly recommended.