Death Books

Dawn Rochelle has lukemia and her 15th birthday is comming up she starts wondering if she will live to see it.Then she gets a big surprise her big brother comes to town Dawn soon finds out that teddy is getting married Dawn is so excited.When her lukemia takes a turn for the worst how much time will she have before her big 15 or the wedding or will she even live to see it?

I love the Dawn Rochelle novels. I love how the author goes into good detail.

For the past year, Dawn has been in remission. Though she has to be in remission for four more years to be declared "cured", Dawn's blood tests have been coming out positive, and life continues to go on. Then Rob, Dawn's older brother, arrives home from college with great news- he's getting married! His wife-to-be, Darcy, is pretty and nice. But Dawn senses that Darcy doesn't like her because of her cancer. At first Dawn wonders if maybe she's just feeling jealous of Darcy's perfect life and attitude, but when Dawn's cancer returns, with only a bone marrow from her brother to save her life, Darcy becomes more and more upset, which causes her brother to become upset, too, and Dawn is afraid that she is ruining her EVERYONE'S life with her cancer. But that won't last much longer if the transplant doesn't work...

This book was very touching. It talked about the closeness between Dawn and Rob, and Rob's loyalty to her in this rough time, when death is waiting at Dawn's door. It was very interesting, and was a page-turner for me. I ended up reading it from beginning to end in only one morning. Like the last book, it also talks about cancer, and is educational if you want to know what cancer really is. I recommend it to girls who love good books!

The second book of the Dawn Rochelle series...it was astonishing. The book is one true pageturner, and not only that, it brought me to tears. I cried twice in one day, as I've gone on directly to continue with the second book in the series since I got to read the first one.
Lurlene McDaniels has an unbelievably hypnotizing gift with words; she's truly remarkable. Once again, I recommend everyone who has the slightest bit of feeling in them to read it.
It's wonderful and heartbreaking.

I Want to Live is a really good book. I like this book because it tells you what it's like to have cancer. I don't think this book could be any better. If you were looking for a book I would recommend this one especially if you were a girl.

Dawn, the main character, was in remission, but then she needed a bone marrow transplant. Your going to have to read it yourself to find out what happens.

All About Ruby
Love Ruby Lavender was the most outstanding book I ever read. I liked this book because it has excitement drama and a whole lot of other things to. The reason I did not like this book was the part when they put the diary entrees in there I did not like them because I do not want to know why they miss each other. Another part I did not like was when Ruby's grandpa and Melba Jane's dad died and Melba makes it seem like its Ruby's grandpa fault and that makes Ruby sad and like it her fault.
This book takes place in a beautiful city, Halleluia Mississippi. It is a small city with a lot of heart. The conflict in this book is Ruby's grandma Miss Eula is going to Hawaii and Ruby is jealous and misses her and does not what to have a new cousin. She fixed that problem by growing up and went on with her life even though she missed her grandma. I did not like how Ruby acted when her grandma left.
I think this book had a really good ending. It was about how Ruby grew up and made other friends. I like this ending because she starts to act more mature and acted more like her age.
There is this one event that happens at the beginning of this book that I think is really cool when Miss Eula and Ruby steal chickens and drives them away in a get away car to rescue them so they can have little chicks.

Here are some of the things that happened in the book are Ruby mom always cooks the same food over and over and Ruby does not like that food. Melba Jane and Ruby be come friends and they help each other all the time. One of the chickens had eggs but then they all died but one of them lived and had a good life by its self.
They wrote lot of letters to each other here is one of them.
Dear Ruby
I am flabbergasted! I am stupefied with joy! Bemmie has laid an EGG?? Oh joy and happy day! How lovely that Bemmie and Herman are sweet on each other-Bemmie is woman after my own heart. (Of course, Herman seems to be sweet on just about anybody. Somebody's going to have to talk to that man. He has no decorum.)
Love,
Your (so happy I could go surfing-I think I will!) grandmother,
Miss Eula
So as you can see they really missed each other and keep in touch with each other.
Here are all the main characters in this book:
Miss Eula
Ruby Lavender
Melba Jane
Ruby's Grandpa
Melba Jane's Dad
Uncle tater
Aunt tot
Bemmie
Herman
Dove
Miss Mattie
This book was outstanding and I hope there is another one the author of this book has a good use of words. By. Anthony Brown

Love, Ruby Lavender, is a realistic fiction book. It was written by Deborah Wiles. The story took place in Halleluiah, Mississippi, in the early 1900's. The characters lived a simple life and had ordinary problems, just like we do, today.

Ruby was a nine year old girl, who lived on a chicken farm with her mother and grandmother, who Ruby called Miss Eula. Ruby and her grandmother were very close and spent lots of time writing notes to each other. Ruby loved her three hens very much and spent time in the hen house, which she called the pink palace. Tragedy happened to Ruby's family when her grandfather died in a terrible wreck. He drove his truck off a bridge, killing himself and another man. The other man who died in the wreck had a little girl named Melba Jane. She did not like Ruby and tried very hard to make Ruby's life miserable.

I thought, Love, Ruby Lavender, was a good book to read. I liked it because it talked about family, friendship, helping others, and caring for animals. Ruby's life was not perfect and she learned to work through problems, forgive others, and find happiness in her life. I think girls, ages 9-12, would like to read this book. We can relate to different topics in the story.

Love, Ruby Lavender by Deborah Wiles is about a girl with fire-red hair named Ruby Lavender. The plot mostly revolves around Ruby and her grandmother, whom she calls "Miss Eula." Ruby lives in Halleluia, Mississippi.
The book begins when Ruby Lavender and Miss Eula drive over to a chicken farm. They plan to just snag a few chickens for keeping. They just drive away with three chickens just as the owner of the farm sees them driving away with the chickens, whom they later name Ivy, Bemmie, and Bess. The chickens become a big part of the story.
Miss Eula and Ruby do not like to use regular mail when writing to each other. They use a knothole in a big, old oak tree that is perfect for climbing. Ruby and Miss Eula write their notes on bright, pink paper and stuff it into the knothole. Every time they walk past the tree, they check their special mailbox for letters.
When Ruby's grandfather dies, Miss Eula and Ruby paint Miss Eula's house shell-shock pink. Ruby lives with her mother, but is closer to Miss Eula than anyone else in the family. Her grandfather loved gardening, so now Miss Eula and Ruby tend to the garden. Miss Eula and Ruby are very close, and so when Miss Eula has to go to Hawaii to visit Ruby's aunt and uncle who are expecting a baby soon, she feels as if the world is going to blow up. Ruby is hiding in her other Aunt's store when Miss Eula gets on the bus to go to the airport. She does not want to see her leave.
Now with Miss Eula whisked away to Hawaii, only Ruby is there to tend to the chickens and work in the gardens. But when the new teacher's niece, Dove, comes to visit until the beginning of school, Ruby's summer gets just a little bit more interesting. Maybe Ruby will survive Miss Eula's going away.
When you are reading this book, you will be amazed about how realistic the book is. You'll think that nine-year-old Ruby is telling the story to you. Deborah Wiles has really out done herself!

As I read Deborah Wile's Love, Ruby Lavender, I laughed and cried all at the same time. This simple, yet complex story about a little girl who faces the harsh reality of death, the challenges of friendship, and the joy of quite possibly the world's best, most-loving grandmother had me hooked from the beginning. One of the coolest parts of this book is the way Ms. Wiles weaves letters from Ruby to her grandmother throughout the story. Ruby writes with such spunk, honesty, and wit that I was disappointed I couldn't write her a letter myself! If you read this book, you will love Ruby Lavender!

This book I think is the best book ever. Deborah Wiles is a great author. and I can say by only reading one of her books. I now want to read more of her books. also if there was ever a sequal I would read in a millisecond. This book caught my heart in the storyline. It made want to keep reading more. this is also a multigenre book. There are letters, and newspaper articles as well as a normal non-fiction story type of writing. i would suggest this book to anyone. Hands down. So heres some advice to you read the book LOVE RUBY LAVENDER.

CHANDLER 13

I liked this book well enough. I think Sunny was truly unfair to her mom. I would have stuck right by my moms side. I can see why Dawn got mad at Sunny. She is incredibly selfish and VERY boy-crazy. I liked the other California Diaries a lot better. Thats why i gave it 4 stars. P.S. Maggie is my favorite character.

I think this book was poorly written. It made Sunny seem selfish and stupid. She was incredibly rude to Dawn. Also, she was treating Dawn's house like her private hotel. Also, she acted terrrible to her mom. She could have been there for her mom, knowing she had cancer. Another thing is, Sunny had so many boyfriends in this 1 book and she only cared about what they looked like. Not there personality. All in all, this book was pretty good.

Read betwee the lines

Dr. merwin has stopped talking about good signs and her mother iws never getting better.

Sunny is a selfish, boy-crazed lunatic who doesn't realise that DAWN and MRS. WINSLOW and MR. WINSLOW NEED Sunny to HELP them. SURE she DOES have her OWN PROBLEMS, that's fine, but DON"t MESS EVERYBODY else UP, Sunny, and expect everyone to FORGIVE and FORGET the way Carol, Mrs. Bruen, and Dawn's dad did about the stew pot that YOU LEFT UNATTENDED while CAROL and an unborn BABY were in the house. SUNNY IS SELFISH, STUBBORN and CONCEITED. she doesn't realise that in this time of heartbreak and upset (her mother's illness) she is NOT the only person SUFFERING. Everyone NEEDS to PULL together and SUNNY IS NOT HELPING THIS by running away with loner 17-year olds and nearly burning people's houses down!
DAWN IS THE GREATEST FRIEND< a person always there to help. I can see why she doesn't understand SUnny - sunny is so oneminded and stubborn. Dawn is just TRYING to HELP sunny and bring her back to sanity, but SUNNY PUSHES EVERYONE AWAY aND is that DAwn's fault, i think not!

Sunny #6 was a good book; it was the book in which the fight between Dawn and Sunny REALLY begins; it showed both sides of Dawn and Sunny's personalities; good and bad.
Sunny is a troubled teen dealing with the fact that she may lose her mother to cancer; she has a lot of anger, pain, and sadness to deal with. She, unfortunately, solves her problems by, as Dawn pointed out, running away; and this isn't the greatest thing to do; although one aspect of it is good; you learn from your mistakes and work on solving your problems in a different way; so truly; Sunny is experimenting with how to deal with her pain and grief. This is what Dawn, Sunny's long-time best friend; doesn't see. She sees Sunny as being stubborn, selfish, a changed person; and a person who doesn't visit her mother at all.

I would just like to point out here that Ann M Martin; the author, has done a fantastic job of making us feel sympathetic towards Sunny in this book; so much, that by the next book, Dawn #7, we feel resentful towards Dawn. Great work, Ms Martin!

Anyway, back to the Dawn and Sunny Saga : Dawn is also experiencing grief, she has a close friend and 'second mother'in Mrs Winslow (Sunny's mother), and is just as saddened by Mrs. Winslow's illness as Sunny is. Dawn is also experiencing confusion as her stepmother, Carol, is carrying her father's baby. One interesting thing is this; Dawn visits Mrs. Winslow more often than Sunny does, but Sunny gets on a LOT better than Dawn with Carol. It's almost as if they had switched mothers; and this adds to the tension and rivalry between the two girls.

I think that there are a lot of aspects to this fight; really, i don't side with either Dawn or Sunny; i just try to understand their problems and what they're feeling; the way Ducky does with Sunny.

However, i do believe that Dawn could be more understanding; she could see that Sunny doesn't know how to act because of the situation she's in; Dawn could try to understand Sunny better and empathize, not criticise. Dawn doesn't seem to realise that when people are faced with a tough problem/situation, they don't always know how they'll act; after all, when it boils down to it, this is SUNNY's mother and SUNNY has the bigger problem; her mother is dying. And Dawn may feel equally saddened by this but; she has Carol and her mother in Stoneybrook. So Dawn doesn't TRULY know how Sunny feels...she just THINKS she does.

Sunny, in turn; could also be less stubborn; she definitely let her guard down when she went out to flirt with that guy, putting Carol and her unborn baby in danger, by leaving the stew pot unattended; Sunny was definitely pretty selfish when she did this; but one thing has come of it, Sunny realises her mistakes and apologises. But i do feel Dawn's confusion that Sunny, Mrs. Bruen, Dad and Carol are all sitting around having a friendly chat just hours after Sunny made that tremendous mistake; while Sunny seems to be 'off the hook'. I can also understand Dawn's annoyance that when Sunny makes a mistake, everyone blames it on the turmoil caused by her mother's illness; again, Sunny off the hook...

I do think that Sunny needs to see what a great friend she has in Ducky; after all, he always listens and understands and doesn't judge her by her actions. He's a terrific friend, but Sunny needs to be a good friend back to him. In the book, an example of this was when Ducky was majorly upset about his depressed friend Alex, and Sunny listened for about half a second, cut Ducky off, and started chatting about her upcoming date with another guy. She asks Ducky's fashion advice in the middle of Ducky explaining a serious problem! The ONE time Ducky needs desperate help, and asks Sunny for it, she won't listen. I have to admit that when you don't help a great buddy like Ducky, that's pretty low...

However, Dawn comes across as a patron saint, as Sunny describes; Dawn blocks Sunny's view of Mrs. Winslow and starts spouting 'lies' (as Sunny thinks), "You're looking so GREAT today, Mrs. Winslow, what can i do for you, Mrs. Winslow? Today's such a pretty day, you're looking better than ever, Mrs. Winslow! Come on, Sunny, let's get your mom some food, call the nurse, give her flowers..." I can definitely see how this could REALLY get on Sunny's nerves.

So as you can see there are two very different sides to this fight...keep reading all of the California Diaries to see how it goes! And, oh; by the way, Sunny Diary Two #6, 'Waiting. Watching. Crash." is a great book, definitely worth buying, and an important milestone in the Dawn and Sunny Fight: you can't miss it!

Wonderful! Age appropiate. My horse loving pre-teen is really enjoying them. She started with the #1 series. We are ordering 5 series at a time.

Bought this for my 15 year old daughter. She loved it and actually read it. Which is always nice to have a teenager read!

Amy has decided to take in a horse named Spartan, which is the horse that they went to save in the big storm. Spartan was in the same car wreck that Amy and her mom were in. Spartan is still scarred from the wreck. When he comes to Heartland he remembers Amy, and he doesn't like her because he remembers her from the wreck. Amy has to start working with Spartan, but it is dangerous because he keeps trying to hurt her because he is scared. At first Amy didn't want to work with Spartan, but then after a couple of weeks she decides that she will work with him. She goes into his stall and he starts kicking and raring up at her, but Amy doesn't get hurt. Amy's sister and grandpa just happened to see it all happen. They don't think that Spartan is a safe horse and they want to put him to sleep. Amy doesn't want that though, because she knows that Spartan will get better. Amy's Grandpa and Amy's sister decide to go to the movies and invite Amy to come. Instead Amy acts like she is sick and stays home so she can join up with Spartan, which means she is going to try to get him to trust her again. When they leave to the movies Amy goes to Spartans stall and takes him out to the round pin. She starts lunging him. Then she takes the lunge line off and Spartan doesn't do anything and he doesn't try to hurt Amy. When her grandpa and sister got home she showed them that Spartan wouldn't hurt her. That changed their mind about putting him to sleep. Amy started working with Spartan more and started taking him to some shows. At one show Amy finds Spartans old owner, Larry Boswell. Larry see's how good Spartan is doing and decides that he would like to buy Spartan for his grandaughter Hannah to show. And he did, and Hannah ended up showing Spartan after he was healed at Heartland by Amy.

Attention all Heartland Lovers! I have made a website dedicated to everything about Heartland. It is filled with info on all the books and the author. You also may review a book and log into the chat room. There is also a weekly poll that changes every week. I also have a little section for Chestnut Hill. The URL is http://www.freewebs.com/horse_lvr13/ . Come check it out.

This book is a very good but I think it could of had a better ending because it would be so sad to see someone read this amazing bookand end not finshing it because it is so sad and such a bad ending. Most people like a ending where the person who really wants something it better when they get it.So if you ever read this book you should finsh it to the end because there is no story better than a sad story because it exspress you r true emotions

but unlike the passage from 1 Corinthians, Eleanor Cooney's perception and view of Alzheimer's disease is clear, unmuddied and unlike any that I've ever read. As the disease clouds the memory and behavior of her mother, the range of emotions that I felt as a reader and witness were sometimes too much to bear.

This is a book that I first read when a condensed version appeared in a Harper's magazine article in 2001. I purchased the book shortly thereafter since my own mother had been diagnosed with the disease a year earlier at the age of 58.

I still pick up Death, in Slow Motion every few weeks. I can't tell you what a comfort it has been to me as I journey through the dark and twisted tunnel of care for my own mother. Although our circumstances are different, and the case of every Alzheimer's patient is truly unique, I felt and still feel as if I have met someone who is willing to hold up that mirror and tell me what I am in store for - but in a comforting, compassionate and very honest manner.

Eleanor Cooney has written the most eye-opening and honest account of Alzheimer's that I have ever read! I was a caretaker to my Mother who also had Alzheimer's and much of this mirrored our experience. It felt like someone was finally telling my story: I'm broke, I'm exhausted, I can't take it, I'm abusing substances, I love her, I sometimes wish she'd die, I miss her....I hate myself!

I don't always find authors or experts that have her down to earth way of relaying the real nitty-gritty experience of caring for someone with Alzheimer's. She's an intellegent, strong woman who jumped head-first into the role of caretaker of her Mother, Mary who was beginning the long decline of Alzheimer's. This is a task many children take on and barely survive. Eleanor Cooney is definately a survivor and a brilliant, funny, brutally honest author.

But Eleanor Cooney is also a wonderful storyteller. I feel like I have been in these Connecticut neighborhoods and homes, and have met this cast of characters that tell the exciting story of Mary Durant's life. I especially feel like I've met someone special, Mary. It's hard to remember the person that's inside that Alzheimer's shell. Eleanor has done her Mother proud and left a loving memory of a very beautiful, creative and unusual person.

As the author remarks of Alzheimer's: "you will never be the same once it's paid you a visit." I have not been the same since I've read this book! Do yourself a favor and take this journey!

I bought this book because I had to for a Psycology class report. I read this in 1 day and was pulled in by the true, raw emotion described in this real story about the author and her mother. It is the kind of book you want to read about a subject you want to look away from. I recommend this for anyone who has a loved one suffering with Alzheimers, in the medical feild, or just someone who wants a gripping, powerful read.

p.s. I bought this book used.....wonderful condition...used is the way to go for any college student! low $$$$

This superbly interesting book reads like a story. She has done something major for anyone taking care of a person with Alzheimer's Disease. Her amazing honesty is like a breath of fresh air, and the book helped me more than any other book or support group.

This book is required reading for Alzheimer's caregivers and anyone else who wants to understand what Alzheimer's truly does to the patient and the family. Ms. Cooney gives voice to the myriad emotions the Alzheimer's caregiver experiences. Her down-to-earth style draws you into her harrowing world. This book is a valuable addition to the Alzheimer's genre!

After our fourth daughter was stillborn January 2008, I thought that no one or nothing could relate to how I felt. I was wrong after I read this book. This book accurately describes
my feelings of guilt, helplessness, fears, etc. It is very comforting to know that I am not crazy for thinking the way I do.I have read a lot of books on this subject (which is so sad for it happens way too often to so many people) but this one is the best so far. I am going
to recommend it to a local hospital for anyone who (god forbid), has this tragic event in their lives as well. Deb Davis writes knowing my thoughts
and my questions, realizing at the same time that we will never know the answer why after 36 healthy weeks, her spirit was chosen to leave this earth. I love you so much...... and miss you...... we will meet again someday.

This book was recommended to me over a year ago when I lost my daughter. It has taken me that long to get around to ordering it, I wish I had of much earlier. Fantastic book.

After our son was stillborn in April of 2006, we were looking for any support we could find. We went to the beach and I read this book out loud to my husband cover to cover in 1 day. Everything we were feeling was covered in this book. It was to the point and very validating. We referred to this book daily. I have purchased several of these for our support group and the hospital where our son was born. We felt like this was something parents should leave with and for that matter a book the nursing and hospital staff should have as required reading. During our darkest days this book helped us work through the many emotions that come with the death of a child. If you have suffered the same fate or know someone who has I highly recommend this book.

Our first child, our son Wyatt, was stillborn and it has been the most devastating event of our entire lives. I bought this book after a fellow angel parent recommended it and absolutely loved it. It is so "nice" to see all the thoughts and feelings you have after losing a child right there in print. It makes you realize you're not going crazy, that those thoughts and feelings are legitimate, and that you are not alone. I carried this book everywhere with me and would highlight phrases that were personal to me. It really helped me understand the loss of our son and give me strength and courage to go on with our lives while still keeping his memory alive. I'm so sorry to those of you having to look at this book, but I hope it can help you as much as it has helped me.

After the stillbirth of our first and only child, we bought or were given a raft of books relating to infant death and stillbirth. Of these, Empty Cradle is probably the best known.

I found it comprehensive and extremely focused on affirming the emotional journey of the parents. For me, it was perhaps a little bit too affirming. I found that in the end I preferred the more matter of fact tone in a book like A Silent Sorrow than the more emotional point of view in Empty Cradle. Still, it is one of the better books on the topic, and would be particularly valuable to people who are really struggling with what emotions they should be feeling at a time of loss.

I also really appreciated the comprehensive and categorized bibliography that Davis included with the book.

Last year, I went down to Houma, Louisiana, to help with hurricane relief. Entering bayou country was a US experience like none other I've seen. I came back and read this book. Tidwell's reporting paints a detailed picture of a unique American life fading every day into history. Wetlands the size of Manhattan are disappearing daily. Tidwell vividly explains why that matters as much as the preservation of the Amazon Rainforest or ANWR -- both environmentally and culturally.

The language, food, family life and environment are all captured dead on in this book. Often, it is a depressing read, especially when you remember that this book pre-dates hurricanes Katrina and Rita. There also is very little here about New Orleans, which I appreciated. If you can look past the bright white light of New Orleans, you'll see that Southern Louisiana is so much more than party beads and booze.

Sitting in a Plantation-Roker chair, on a wrap- around pourch ten-ft. off the groung below, gentile motion and the incoming sea-breeze's off the Gulf Coast at the edge of Biloxi Beach,Mississippi. Looking across the blue water of the bay so far till it touches the sky, framed in silhouette, the ever moving of fishermen and their shrimp-boats and small skiff-sails, darting back-n-forth. The Ole-House is post-war period 1800's southern design, with quarters in the back yard, and a rear entrance for delivery's. Our Bedroom is just behind me through a screen shuttered door's, with the orignal guillotine window's next to a Bolster- canopy bed. Full private bath to the side claw foot tub and pedistal sink's, window looking to our west onto the courtyard below and limbs extend up from the three-hundred yr. old oak tree...Aug.10,2004;Just-a-memory now!!! Thank's,Sully 08'.

Thank you for your quick shipping. I needed it right away and it came.

I flew through the book in about 2 hours. The author offers no real depth into the causes of the problems related to the sinking eroding bayou country. This is mostly a personal uninteresting account of travels through the area. If you want accurate well researched information related to the Mississippi and it's flood plain and delta, read Rising Tide by John Barry.

This book is a must read for all politicians, Louisianians, environmentalists, engineers and concerned citizens. The author does an exceptional job in portraying the life of families inhabiting Louisiana's coastline and the devastating impact the leveeing of the Mississippi river has had not only on the people who earn a living fishing these waters, but the devastation of this ecologically fragile zone. The loss of land to the ocean is staggering! The solutions are simple to implement (let the mississippi overflow its banks) but phenomenally costly. Do read this book and come to Louisiana to see a vanishing world.

I love this series. From the very first page I was completely hooked. Highly recommended!

I picked this up hoping for some good escapist fiction while nursing a cold. Sorry, but this was completely unbelievable in every way. Trust me folks, homicide detectives don't discuss cases with civilians and don't drag them along to interviews. Ms. Collins' lack of credibility in her subject matter is further revealed in Sybee's not guilty in the murder trial. If a person is in the commission of a felony such as drug dealing and a person is killed, that person is just as guilty as the triggerman. Annie is an idiot who magically seemed to win in physical combat against the bad guy but lost to a two year old, who incidently had perfect diction.

Ms. Collins appears to have very little general education. Perhaps her knowledge of Christianity is better. In that case, maybe she should stick to Christianity as the sole subject. She's not winning converts with her uneducated, ignorant fiction writing.

This was a great book. I stumbled upon this author and now have read almost everything she writes. Good christian fiction.

Erin Willit witnessed what no 12 year old girl should: the murder of her murder. The killer is running free, and Erin is the only witness to the heinous act. Erin is so distraught by this event that she can't give the police any help in identifying the murderer.

Neighbor Annie Kingston is a veteran courtroom artist, and the police have asked her to work with Erin to put together a composite sketch of the killer. Annie has recently moved her family to Grove Landing to find some peace and safety. Now she finds herself immersed into a living nightmare as she discovers more about the killer and his motive.

This is the first installment of Collins' Hidden Faces series, and what a way to begin! The story is told from Annie's first person point of view. She juggles the demands of motherhood and a dark family past, all the while striving to find a killer before his trail grows cold. Brandilyn Collins holds her own as a suspense writer and she effortlessly guides readers along as the pages simply fly by. She also effectively weaves themes of faith and purpose throughout that add to the richness of this story. Readers will be encouraged by the spiritual awakening of Annie's character.

This is gripping, chilling, and downright entertaining reading and I'm eagerly anticipating the next installment.

I give this an A+ for suspense and police/forensic details! I do prefer books with more character development (I want to really know what they're feeling, etc), and this one didn't "grab me" that way. Otherwise, this is a great Christian suspense, worth the read!

I read this book in adolescence and it has stayed with me since then--over 20 years. I have thought of Eric's story many times over the years, especially now that I have my own son. I think that I will read this book again and add it to my permanent collection. It is very touching albeit very sad.

Eric is the heartbreaking, inspirational true story of Eric Lund, a seventeen-year-old boy who is diagnosed with Leukemia just days before he is set to leave for college. This book is a memoir written by his mother, Doris Lund, about Eric's unwavering will to survive, and about how his cancer affects not only himself, but everyone around him.

When it's a story about a terminal illness, there can be no unexpected twist. As soon as I read the description on the back cover of the book, I knew basically how it was going to start and how it was going to end. But it's what happens in between that makes Eric Lund's life so interesting. What makes him different than many whose lives have thrown seemingly indomitable obstacles at them is that Eric refuses to give up. Even when the doctors, despite their greatest and heartfelt efforts, can offer only ominous warnings, it doesn't prevent Eric from living his life to the fullest. In this way, Eric isn't just the tragedy of a boy whose life deteriorates little by little. Instead, it is the motivational story of a man whose confidence, positive outlook, and exceptional will to live bring hope and joy to everyone around him.

Of course, Doris Lund doesn't leave herself out of the picture. A lot of the book is focused on her own hopes and fears instead of Eric's, on which she can only speculate in many instances. She is also honest about her rocky relationship with Eric and the difficulties that they sometimes had communicating, which is something that most teenagers and their parents can relate to. I couldn't help noticing that there are places in the book where Doris Lund interrupts the flow of her writing, perhaps with a misplaced or awkward metaphor, but then she quickly remembers that this story is beautiful and memorable on its own without too many fancy words and phrases to distract from it.

Even if you don't usually read this kind of literature, I still recommend Eric. It may be depressing, but it's not cynical, and it leaves you with the kind of hope that Eric held on to his whole life.

I have probably read this book 8 times since it first came out. The first time I read it was shortly after my brother had been diagnosed with a form of leukemia. This book is a wonderful tribute by Doris Lund to her son, and I highly recommend it to anyone.

This story is just a good read, and such a testimony of a young man struck with lucemia, his spirit his valor...emotions are stired to beyond words.

I hate to be the skunk in the five-star garden party, but I remember reading, or rather trying to read, this book when in high school some *cough* 20 years ago. I could barely get through it. Apparently I wasn't alone, because someone else had graffitoed on the (soft) cover, "This book sucks. Don't read it."

Sometimes I think there should be a moratorium on grieving parents writing about their dead offspring. Aside from one brief moment when Lund catches her son checking out girls in a hospital corridor or waiting room, I don't remember a single aspect of Eric's personality aside from "Mama's Little Angel." And although my memory is vague on this, I seem to recall the book contains a fair amount of delusional mumbo-jumbo about "God's will" ('scuse me while I barf).

If you want to read a superb book by someone who lost a child to cancer, read "Death Be Not Proud" by John Gunther. That book preserves every quirk of his late son Johnny's wry sense of humor and considerable intellect, and actually makes you regret that the son didn't live to take up the father's pen. Not only that, but Gunther deals with hard questions of mortality and loss without resorting to the kind of sticky sentimentality you'd expect from Oprah or the "women's channels" on cable TV. Cripes, even Marie Killilea's books about her handicapped (no, NOT "differently abled") daughter Karen are better than Lund's book.

The entire genre, for obvious reasons, is for the most part manipulatively mawkish, but that's what sells, I guess. If you have an "I Believe in Angels" bumper sticker on your car, Thomas Kincaide "paintings" on your walls, and every CD Whitney Houston ever recorded in your music collection, go ahead and order "Eric." You'll cry your eyes out and write a five-star review.

I bought this book a few years ago, and I often still think about Hannah and her story. It was so touching, and I cried through most of it. This is a book that I felt compelled to pass to a friend. I almost wish that I hadn't, so I could read it again.

I got a great price for this book and it arrived with in 2 weeks from the date of purchase. I was a little dissappointed when i opened the package because the cover and binding was damaged. It looked like they had tried to bend the book. Besides that the book was okay. You get what you pay for.

Oh boy, this was beyond tear-jerker for me. This was such an emotional story. I read this book in one day, while my husband was away. I was glad he wasn't here to tease me about sobbing all the way through this book. Maria Housden is a such a strong woman, what a horrible ordeal she and her family went through losing Hannah.

Hannah's Gift is the story of a remarkable little girl and her fight with cancer.

From the moment she was diagnosed, to the moment of her death, Hannah treats her disease and her fight for life in a unique, touching way.

Despite being only three years old, she appears to understand the cancer fully and is not scared of death, instead, she asks her Grandmother - 'Grandma, when I die, promise you wont forget me?'

Hannah lived her life fully and with no self-pity. I found Hannah's Gift to be less of a record of a families loss, but more a celebration of Hannah's life. Hannah truly brings to life the phrase - 'Only the good die young.'

I loved this book and it really helped me. Some think that Hannah was preceived as the "perfect" child, and I can relate to that. We just lost our Granddaughter on her 2nd. birthday, she had Cystic Fibrous, but died, not from CF, but during a "simple" 15-20 min. procedure in surgery. Two months after her passing I read Hannah's gift. I took care of our little Bethany, while our daughter worked, and they live within walking distance right next to us. We were together every day, so I saw all the same signs. These children ARE so special. They have so much love, they are almost perfect, with very small "wrongs". Like Hannah's mom, I got that feeling, that they know, their time on earth is short,just by the way their eyes will sometimes look at you. They know you love them so much as they love you, but they won't be here to share that love. Yes, Hannah's Gift was a touching story