Women Books

While I agreed with most of what this author had to say about our relationship with God, the topics covered in the book (divorce, eating disorders, sexual abuse)did not apply to me so it was difficult to keep reading.

This book is amazing! Cynthia really knows what she is talking about! You can tell from reading this book that she is a very caring, experienced councellor! The book hits home for me and I know for a lot of women, whether you've suffered from abuse, a divorce, a painful past, an abortion, or whatever, it will hit home for you!

There are so many self-help books out there, but this one stands above the rest. Cynthia, a counselor, speaker, mom, and wife, takes us on a personal journey as she shares her own personal story, as well as stories of others who have found themselves caught in the trap of shame. Cynthia doesn't just offer stories, but practical help through spiritual, emotional and tangible steps that take you from guilt, pain or emotional conflict to freedom. This book is a keeper as it contains a timeless message that will help all who want to start fresh and see themselves as they truly were meant to be.

Cynthia Spell Humbert has written a powerful book on shame. It offers hope to those who suffer from shame and gives understanding to those who relate to someone who is dealing with it. She describes shame as an extremely painful internal wound that can cause a woman to believe she no reason to exist. The desire to cover the shame from people and God leads to various hiding patterns in behavior. She identifies places and circumstances that lead women to put on masks to cover their shame as inauthentic churches, dysfunctional families, addictions, sexual abuse, sin, eating disorders and loss of love. Cynthia points out that a woman has great worth in the Lord's eyes and that He used broken, weak and sinful people in the past to serve Him and that He will continue to do so. She also points out that it is never to late to come to God and allow Him to heal and to change the destructive patterns brought about by shame. She balances truth with grace as she covers the need to forgive in such a way that the reader does not feel beaten down but drawn to God's love. Her honesty about her own struggles with shame and how God's using that in her life will also make it safe for the reader bound by shame to be real about their own struggles and to seek help. Thank you, Cynthia, for addressing such a widespread issue.

Many thanks to Cynthia Spell Humbert for writing a book that has been much needed in the church. Working with women in ministry over the past 12 years, I have found that there is a deserate need among women to understand who they really are in Christ and how much they are desired by God. "Deceived by Shame, Desired by God" is the book I've been waiting for.

Cynthia brings to the table a wealth of wisdom gleaned through years of counseling in a clinical setting, but more importantly, she brings the wisdom gained from dealing with the issues of her own heart. Cynthia helps us understand our human condition and then takes us to the cross of Christ to find the power to break through to the life God wants for us.

Cynthia pulls no punches as she explains how the enemy can decieve our hearts, choking out the love from God that we so desperately need. Thankfully she doesn't leave us there, but takes us straight to the truth that will indeed set us free. We are desired by God!!

The real life stories will intrigue you, the truth of God's Word will liberate you, and your heart will be drawn to the God who desires to lavish his love on you.

Here is a great articulation of the problems in law firms and other service firms, many of which no one, until now, has had the courage to point out clearly and effectively. And here is the roadmap for change. Anyone involved in a service firm should read it carefully and follow Lauren's lead.

In her thoroughly researched and heavily footnoted book, Lauren Stiller Rikleen examines this troublesome issue: why many female lawyers still have not achieved the same professional success as their male counterparts. Rikleen delves into the challenging topics including part-time work, and what happens to the careers of women who opt for that route. She also explains other factors that contribute to the success of male lawyers' careers (being mentored, and becoming rainmakers) and discuses why many women don't enjoy the benefit of those.

Rikleen, who is well versed in the advancement of women lawyers, concludes her book with a call to action. She argues that law firms need to make a dramatic culture shift from the top down; firms should choose management which understands and values the contributions of women attorneys (not just those who fit the traditional, full-time mold). Rikleen also hopes that law firm compensation will change to reward cooperative client development efforts, among other things.

Towards the end of the book Rikleen notes that it's not just childbearing female lawyers who seek a more manageable work/life balance; Generation X and Y lawyers of both sexes are also seeking the same. She encourages law firm leaders to redefine their firms' cultures (as happened at her firm) in order to keep their talented lawyers, both male and female.

Having survived three years in a law firm (and survive was the key word), I could definitly relate to the stories in this book. The only shocking part is that I was in a law firm over 10 years ago, and nothing seems to have changed. Ending the Gauntlet, however, is more than a compendium of stories of women being mommy-tracked. It looks at the structure of a law firm itself and how that contributes to the workplace issues for everyone, not just women. I particularly loved the Prologue (worth the price of the book itself, especially if you have my warped sense of humor), because it describes how a bizarre sort of company is run where performance for all employees is based solely on money they personally earn for the company; the managing director/CEO is only "part-time" because he too has to earn money to keep his title; turnover is high; management is minimal or nonexistent; and people are given management positions because they are "least objectionable" to others; part-time is extended but discouraged as it cuts into billable hours ... and you finally start to realize that while the rest of the world has moved foward, law firms are relics of days gone by

Ending the Gauntlet was a powerful read -- it provides a very practical and realistic view of law firm culture for women and what needs to change. I could not put it down.

As a former corporate executive who now consults with law firms on sales and leadership effectiveness, Ending the Gauntlet provides the roadmap for change -- at both the individual level for women and at the firm level.

A good, hard look at today's law firms, Ending the Gauntlet: Removing the Barriers to Women's Success in the Law tackles tough issues comprehensively and fairly. Lots to recommend about this book, but particularly helpful for those who care about law firm profitability are the practical recommendations Lauren Stiller Rikleen makes in the second part of the book.

My work is with women, however, and I found the discussion of gender stereotypes and how they impact women to be consistent with my research and observations. Rikleen is right -- most of the time, behaviors that hold women back aren't motivated by bad intentions, merely cluelessness. Yet these behaviors hurt women and, consequently, the legal profession. Rikleen offers a blueprint for law firms who want to get better; the smart ones will follow it.

I enjoyed reading this and passed it on to my kids who are visiting the Loire Valley this summer and living with a family there. Proper etiquette is always noticed, and a general knowledge of fine wines can only add to their experience.

Highly recommended! The audio format is a great idea! It makes learning very easy and the information is all relevant. This is one lesson that is interesting and easily finished.

This was my first wine book, and it is still the best beginner's reference. It covers everything you need to get started. The real benefit, however, is the audio format. You actually get to hear the narrator (who is fantastic!) pronounce the names of the various grape varieties, wines and terms. This is a huge benefit and something that cannot be replicated in the written word.

A good etiquette book should sit on every professional's bookshelf alongside "how to win friends" and "7 habits." I purchased this book along with Essential Etiquette Fundamentals, Vol. 1: Dining Etiquette and The Etiquette Edge: The Unspoken Rules for Business Success to cover all the bases. These books do an excellent job covering the important etiquette skills often overlooked in today's environment. Although often underappreciated, exhibiting proper etiquette signals to others (especially your boss and clients) that you are well educated, care about detail, and have respect for others. I highly recommend these books for anyone new to the business world or for those of us who may need to brush up on the basics.

Although drinking good wine isn't difficult, learning about wine can be. Once on a winery tour a vintner explained that there are 15,000 different choices that can be made from grape to bottle. Sometimes picking out a wine can seem daunting. Food Scholar's Wine Selection & Etiquette does a superior job of teaching those of us who would like to learn more without the information being overkill.

While there are more comprehensive books out there on Wine, I really like this book because it excels at being written for the average person. The book is divided into logical sections. I also like that the effect of climates in a region on the grape are covered. This is an easy way to tell what kind of wine you are getting just by looking at where the grape was grown.

This book will enhance your knowledge as well as your ability to pick out wines that you and your guests may enjoy. I would highly recommend this book to those who want to learn about wine, as this book does an excellent job of giving a basic education about many of the wines of the world.

i was amazed at the photos. i could not help but to wonder if any of these women and men could be my ancestors. you see so many similarites in the faces on the pages to people you see everyday. i wish there were more in the captions to explain the photos. but when you consider the time that many of these photographs were taken, the captions are in the faces and the demeanor of the subjects. why? is probably the question that could never be answered. and if a reasonable explanation could somehow be given it wouldn't be enough. no matter how broken the mother, father, sister, brother in these photograghs looked. i wish they could all know that their unbearable weight, sorrow and pain helped to develop a strong, defiant, capable and proud race of people.

This book covers generations of history. The pictures are
breath-taking....it gives you a sincere sense of purpose.

This book covers generations of history. The pictures are
breath-taking....it gives you a sincere sense of purpose.

The visual imagery in this collection is terrific, enabling readers' memory, longing, wisdom, regret, sorrow, enormous admiration (of the subjects and all that they represent)- and wonderment. The people and the settings resonate. These are important images. You might well be moved to tears. There is no shortage of emotional appeal to the viewer. One cannot be unaffected by this collection, and all that it represents.

In addition, historically important works of art (engravings and paintings) are reproduced - although unfortunately none in color. The captioning is - for a work of this scope and size, and for illustrations of such power - inconsistent and therefore disappointing, though.

Because it's published by an academic press, I expected a more careful and rigorous treatment. Books of this scope and ambition are few and far between, and one treasures the illustrations - the historic visual record - in and of itself. It's dicey to criticize a collection that has as its focus such a compelling (and neglected) subject: the history of African American women.

The subject matter is terrific - but the book is less so. One wishes that the editors had had an editor. (Why, for example, is the "b" of "black" capitalized? To my knowledge this is not conventional usage, and it detracts.)

So what happened? At times the work seems rushed. For example, three people are photographed, two are identified by name, the third called "unknown." In fact, the writer means "unidentified." Accompanying a photo of a shoeless farm worker is the caption telling one, redundantly, that she is barefoot. A number of captions identify the subject as "Unidentified woman, [location, date.]" That seems lifted directly from states' historical societies' archives. One expects more - or less - but not words that merely interfere with one's experience. One does not need to be told that a photograph is a "photograph."

Occasionally, the editors engage in assumptions regarding the illustrations that, in my view, interfere with the power of the imagery, and reduce the value of this compilation. Guessing as to the subjects' activities in a photograph by Jack Delano, they write that a woman and several children are "possibly waiting for the husband and father to get his hair cut." In fact, one cannot know, and do not need to know, what the people were doing that day. The photo is about much more than that. Another incredible photo of a woman and a girl is accompanied by more guesswork as to the relationship of the subjects (mother and daughter?). There is wordiness to many of the captions. Worst case, there is sometimes unintentional patronization: subjects are identified as "lovely young women," (p. 81) or "fashionable," "attractive" (p.4). The end result is a sense that this book was rushed, and that - despite the impressive pool of archival material from which it was assembled - some corners were cut. The editors use interesting and illuminating quotations in places - but meagerly. There is brief index of names of subjects, and names of quoted women, omitting place names and more.

I wish that the authors of this work either done more, or less. Mostly, I wish that they had more convincingly respected the ability of these powerful and important illustrations to speak clearly to the reader, and had also trusted readers to make the connections between text and visual imagery that is so satisfying and essential to the meaningful experience of organized archival material.

This is a marvelous and moving selection of visual moments, carefully chosen and elegantly captioned. It is refreshingly free of the stuffily convoluted prose one would expect of a book from an academic press. Although the pictures could be said to speak for themselves (and sometimes they can), the information supplied by the gracefully literate writer(s) is helpful and interesting.

Groups of photographs can be wonderful to look at. This collection rises far above what it might have been by means of the exquisite care that was taken in its selection and the highly accessible captioning that accompanies the images.

I must say this book was extremely well written and was an uncomplicated read. The reader feels the emotions of the characters. I felt sadness at all the difficult situations presented to Kate and relief when she was blessed with good fortune and luck. I hated to finish the book. I learned a lot about the early settlers in Australia and the harsh elements endured during and after the cruel ocean crossings. I always enjoy learning history with a fictional cast of characters. I look forward to reading the sequel.

This book was very good. I enjoyed reading it very much. Kate is only 15 years old when she is sentenced and convicted because her employers son raped her. So she is sent to Botany Bay. Which almost assurdly means death. The long journey on the ship is horrible. It takes almost a year many die on there way there. Once getting there she finds herself the mistress of Jeremy Kendrick and when he drinks he beats her. Kate does make good friends but her many years are filled sad and dark days. Does she ever find true love and a good life for herself? This book was well written and I found myself liking this brave young woman Kate and wanting only the best for her. I would recommend it."

I couldn't put this book down, and finished it in less than 2 days. Sanchona has a captivating writing style that pulls you in as the characters grow and develop. There are plenty of reviews that sum up the story for you, so I will suffice it to say that I eagerly await the next book in this series. And the next... and the next.

I met Sanchona on MySpace and read a bit about "A Family of Strangers" there. After I checked out the reviews on Amazon and found that a number of people had enjoyed the book, I decided to purchase a copy. I wasn't disappointed.

Kate's story is the story of Australia. It brought to life all the things I'd learned in history about how Australia was populated by convicts. Kate's story allowed Sanchona to make real the way people lived, worked, and spoke, the hardships they encountered, and their hopes, fears, and heartbreaks. The action moved along so nicely, that I kept thinking that someone should base a movie on 'A Family of Strangers". So if you're a movie-maker, pay attention!

I highly recommend this book. :)

I found Sanchona's first book "A Family Of Strangers" to be an engrossing and enthralling read...I found myself caring deeply about the characters and their travails to the point that I wondered still about those characters who left the story. Kate is but a teenager when she is falsely accused by a British Nobleman who has her shipped off to a penal colony in Austrailia...how she wends her way and carves a life for herself and those for whom she cares proved to be a story that left me hoping that Sanchona will quickly supply us with another fine tale and another, and another....

I was really surprised reading of this massacre. I do not remember ever hearing of this until I saw a short clip on TV of facts related to this massacre. I know the story was fiction but was based on facts. Very interesting reading.

I thought I liked this book well enough until I read "Red Water" by Judith Freeman. If you enjoyed this book and want to read more or just get another viewpoint of the horrible Mountain Meadows Massacre, read Freeman's book. It's written from the perspective of three of Lee's wives, who, I believe, really lived. Freeman does a much better job of getting inside of the women's minds who were married to Lee than Grimmett does.

THANK YOU, Gerald Grimmett, for your absorbing, thought-provoking novel, The Ferry Woman. Grimmett's words clearly show an intimate familiarity with the land, history, and culture of the southern Utah region. The many evocative passages in the novel mesmerized me, learning the haunting and tragic tale of the Mountain Meadows Massacre as told through the main character, Emeline Buxton Lee. It is a sensitive portrayal which allows the widest range of human emotions to shine through.

I highly recommend The Ferry Woman; it is a story that will stick with you. I also look forward to future writings by this gifted and talented author.

Those who aren't members of the Church of Latter Day Saints, better known as Mormons, may not be familiar with the issues of the Mountain Meadows Massacre. I had never heard of this event, myself.

In Ferry Woman, Gerald Grimmett tries to shed light on the role of John Lee, the man who bore the brunt of the blame for the historical massacre.

The author creates a fictional character (the Ferry woman) --one of Lee's wives. It is through her questioning eyes that the reader sees the events unfold. John Lee is hardly a pleasant character, the Mormons don't come off at all well. Even though Lee's role is toned to "participated" rather than "instigated", Lee is not exonerated in the least. We also get a very gritty glimpse of the less-attractive side of life in Utah during the early days of the Morman settlements, and it seems pretty accurate. Life was, as is the familiar quotation, nasty, brutal and sometimes short.

I didn't know about this historical event (I guess my history of that part of the West begins and ends with the Mormons being run out of Nauvoo and the Donner Party.) So I didn't particularly have an opinion about this massacre. As a historical novel, it is well written and interesting. If you are a reader seeking a romantic-style historical novel, this isn't it. If you like realistic historical novels, you might really enjoy this book.

When I heard about this book, I went to the Washington County, Library in Utah. I asked questions about the Mountain Meadow Massacre and the prima nd proper openly Mormon Librarian brought me more and more information on alleged crimes vs the Mormon Church. Not what I had asked for.

I asked about Geral Grimmet and the response was "Oh him".
This response peaked my interest even more. I am a New Yorker that has lived in Utah for a few years and has seen first hand
life behind the "Zion Curtain."

Gerald Grimmet is writer that has been ahead of his time. This book has done a tremendous job in using a fictional charachter to expose the dreadful Massacre of innocent pioneer families who were struck down in cold blood by the orders of Mormon leader Brigham Young and the cover up that has lasted over 150 years.

Americas first 9-11 attack on innocent people was led by a treasonous Brigham Young who had used his power to gain control over Utah and spread his Mormon Cult.

Gerald Grimmet does a remarkable job telling the story of John D. lee from a womans perspective. The fictitous wife of John D. Lee.
This is one book that you will not find on the Mormon reading lists in Utah Libraries.

Geral Grimmet is a pioneer on the literary scene and tells and extraordinary story about that tragic day in American History.

I was offered this book by a friend as something to fill my saturday afternoon. As the book began I thought to myself 'Oh here we go, just another story that has no relevance to me'....but mate was I wrong!!! This book taught me a lot about faith, relationships,forgiveness and obedience. If you are looking for something to uplift and replenish the soul and also inspire you to think 'Maybe their is someone else out there' then this is the book for you. I am definitly looking forward to reading book no.2.

What a great read, spiritual, uplifting, romantic... and maybe a bit ober the top sometimes. But I didn't care... I loved it.

I really liked this book. It is on my "favorite books" list. Anita Stansfield is one of my favorite authors. The book keeps you interested and takes major turns that you would not expect. The author did a really good job at showing how the character felt and was really descriptive while she was doing it. She kept me hooked and she kept me reading, in other words I thought it was a real page turner. I would recomend this book to all my friends, because I loved it so much and I really loved all the ones before it. over all i think Anita did an amazing job writing this book and I would read it again.

I love how this woman writes. She manages to express things I have felt and gives me hope for the future. Her writing is clear, easy to read, full of emotion and yet not sappy. This is the book that hooked me on her writing. You come to love the characters and feel they are part of your family.

I love the story of Michael and Emily Hamilton. This is an outstanding book and one you will have a hard time putting down!

One of the things I like best about Anita Stansfield's books is that she keeps bringing back the characters from previous books into the stories of later ones. It feels so good to "check up" on favorite people from former stories.

It is, therefore, most enjoyable to read Anita Stansfield's books in a certain order:

1 - First Love and Forever
2 - First Love, Second Chances
3 - Now and Forever
4 - By Love and Grace
5 - A Promise of Forever
6 - Home for Christmas
7 - Return to Love
8 - To Love Again
9 - When Forever Comes
10- A Christmas Melody
11- For Love Alone
12- The Gable Faces East
13- The Three Gifts of Christmas
14- Gables Against the Sky

Anita Stansfield has written other excellent books, but these 14 are somewhat linked because they keep bringing back characters that you grow to love from her previous books.

I would highly recommend this book to everyone that said they were sexually abused. My oldest son was in residential treatment, my husband was never home and he cheated on me. I wanted love, to feel special and to be number one in someone's life. This book is a remarkable testimony of strength and extraordinary courage. My husband also read Grace's book and could not put in down until he finished it. He was amazed and just couldn't believe that she was still standing and in one piece after it was over. It also opened his eyes to the comparisons in my life and the lives of so many others abused by Health Care Professionals. His understanding of the complexity of the sexual abuse suffered by many, including myself, was eye opening for him. A must reading for all those contemplating litagation.
Marilyn - Chicago Survivor

This review first appeared in the ipnosis journal no. 17, Spring 2005. See www.ipnosis.com.


Fish in a Barrel is a remarkable book by Grace Tower which describes in detail the true story of her exploitation at the hands of an abusive therapist. In the first half of the book, Grace describes the way the relationship between herself and therapist Rick developed. Initially, she contacted him for help with her two sons, who both had behavioural difficulties. Rick was pioneering biofeedback techniques which looked like a promising treatment for the boys. Grace was experiencing marital problems at the time, and was initially impressed by Rick's practice, and so she decided that she would have some talk therapy with him, too. Little by little, Rick inveigled his way into Grace's psyche, and into her heart, gaining more and more control and becoming more and more manipulative. The control he held over her soon became physical, and over the course of a few years a single hug had developed into a full-blown sexual relationship.

One of the unique, moving and important features of the book is that Grace eloquently describes this process as she was experiencing it at the time, rather than with any retrospective analysis or judgement. The result of this is one of the most informative and moving first hand views that I have ever witnessed of how seductive and undefendable this kind of abuse can be. It helped me to feel how easily any one of us, even those of us with knowledge and expertise in the field, could be the victim of a predatory practitioner.

The second half of the book relates events that took place after Rick suddenly and brutally terminated their relationship (both therapeutic and personal). I wonder, then, if Grace would ever have reported him had she not had a conversation with her general practitioner which went as follows:-
"I need to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases. My relationship ended, and he never used protection."
"When and how did it end?" Dr Paulson asked.
"Yesterday. He said our expectations weren't the same."...
"Are you going to be all right? Are you still seeing Rick Draco in therapy?"
After a lengthy pause, I replied quietly, "Not as of yesterday."
(pp 109)

Dr Paulson immediately told Grace "If you don't write a letter [to the grievance board] in the next week, then, as a doctor, I'm mandated to report it." And so Grace wrote the letter, and a very long, harrowing, painful legal process was initiated which involved both a criminal and civil case. The whole procedure lasted many years. Whilst justice was served, and Grace gained much support and validation during the time, at best her life was put on hold, and at worst one might say that her ordeal was deepened and extended over a much longer period.

For the reader, this part of Fish in a Barrel offers a lucid and fascinating insight into the kind of legal processes associated with therapist abuse in the USA. Many aspects of it made me feel uncomfortable, particularly on Grace's behalf. This insight, coupled with the often disturbing events described in the earlier chapters, makes this, in my opinion, an important book for anyone involved in therapy.

As I read it, I could not help comparing Fish in a Barrel with Mockingbird Years: A Life in and Out of Therapy by Emily Fox Gordon, which I had finally got around to reading just a few months before. The two books are quite different in that one (Mockingbird Years) is a general autobiography of someone who happened to spend a lot of time in therapy, whereas the other is a specific account of a particular relationship in the author's life. But they are similar in that they are both novel-style memoirs, rather than cerebral analyses. From that angle, whilst Mockingbird Years is arguably a technically superior piece of writing (not that I am any expert), I found Fish in a Barrel a much more engaging read. Whereas Fox Gordon's memoir impressed me and interested me, I did not feel I got to know the author or really understand what makes her tick. Grace Tower's aim, on the other hand, seems to be to tell the reader what happened, simply, clearly and succinctly, and thereby to try to reduce the risk of it happening to other people. Her style makes one feel like a friend to whom she is relating the tale whilst sharing a bottle of wine in front of a warm fireplace one winter evening.

Fish in a Barrel: A True Story of Sexual Abuse in Therapy by Grace Tower, Millenial Mind Publishing, Salt Lake City, 2005. ISBN 1-58982-212-9.$19.95. www.fishinabarrel.org.
Mockingbird Years: A Life in and Out of Therapy by Emily Fox Gordon, Basic Books, New York, 2000. ISBN 0-465-02728-8. $14.00.


© Yvonne Bates, 2005.

Ms. Tower opens up a new understanding to the meaning of victimization and the power a sexual offender posing as a therapist has over their clients. This book will allow other victims to better understand a very unique situation that is occurring in the helping profession, but is rarely talked about.

This courageous book is an unique aid to understanding how unsuspecting people, already distressed and hurting, are betrayed by the professional that they trust. The extreme cruelty of Ms. Tower's predatory abuser, who had no qualms about exploiting her, her children and her insurer is clearly revealed. Ms. Tower tells her story in a straight forward and compelling way, and is brutally honest about her own feelings. So professional readers and survivors alike can see how a victim of such abuse becomes trapped, viewing the professional as a powerful parent-like figure who must be obeyed.

While the circumstances of author Grace Tower's emotional and sexual abuse by a psychotherapist are unique to her, her book, "Fish in a Barrel," also gives wonderfully useful insights into the vulnerabilities, sense of isolation and abandonment, and struggle to heal that are experienced by virtually all of us who have been exploited in similar settings.

Vivid descriptions of Grace's suffering at the hands of a cruel predator, Rick, coupled with a disastrous marriage and two adopted children struggling with attachment disorder, makes this not an easy book to read. For those who have been abused, much of her painful story is likely to be triggering.

But this is also a hopeful book. Time and again, Tower demonstrates insights into her anger and fears. How much of this is attributable to hindsight and how much was in real time is unclear. What is clear is that her ability to pull aside what to most would be an impenetrable iron sheet of confusion and insanity in which she is enshrouded by those who used her to serve their own sick needs, allows her to continue to function, take action, and ultimately to heal.

"Fish in a Barrel" steps us through her subsequent treatment by Jessica, an ethical therapist. "My rage and sadness about Rick abruptly terminating my therapy," she writes, "generalized to a fear of Jessica. She could fire me, too....I couldn't afford to antagonize her too much. Perversely, I sometimes tried to anger her,...but Jessica held fast....I trusted her enough to act out my sullenness but, deep down, I didn't trust that she would stay with me for the duration." (pp 139-140)

Tower's descriptions of both criminal and civil actions against Rick are useful and encouraging. The norm is that defendant's lawyers, knowing their clients are guilty, generally draw out the processes as long as possible through every legal means. This was most certainly true in Tower's case, but at sentencing she realizes the critical lessons in her attorneys' agreement to seemingly endless postponements. "Now," she writes, "...I understood that all of the excruciatingly painful delays, throughout the entire process when I thought Rick was winning, were actually beneficial to me. Upholding Rick's rights by granting all of the defense's requests throughout and taking care to make no technical errors during the process lessened his grounds for appeal." (p. 213)

In the end, Grace Tower prevails legally and emotionally. She writes, "I have the ability now to think my way from feeling victimized to feeling strong and happy." In doing so, Grace Tower demonstrates that taking back one's personal power and life is, with work and time, attainable.

Janet W. Wohlberg, EdD, Williamstown, MA
Janet Wohlberg is a co-founder of TELL, Therapy Exploitation Link Line (www.tell@advocateweb.org), a resource and networking organization for victims/survivors of abuse by psychotherapists and other health care professionals. She is the author of nine books in the field of organizational behavior as well as more than a dozen papers on the dynamics of abuse in power-imbalanced relationships and the subsequent treatment of victims.

A captivating mystery with a bonus of a wonderful "trip" to my hometown of Ft. Worth. It wove just the right balance of innocence, intrigue and nostalgia to keep me reading until the book was finished! Comfortable, readable writing style. Can't wait to read the next in that series, Grinning in His Mashed Potatoes.

This is one of the best mysteries I have read in a long time. I can not wait to read the rest of the series.

This is one fun book to read. Moseley's knack for off the wall dialogue and wry, sharp humor is evident in this mystery. Honey Huckleberry becomes a reluctant sleuth after a phone call from one of the three Stevens she knows is really a 4th Steven she doesn't know. From thereon out, Honey finds her rigidly organized life as a book seller representative in a tizzy. And now she has about four men in her life---her secret lover; a handsome if dense cop; a smoothly exotic gardener, and an old friend from school who is now a movie director. In the first half of the book, I can't count the times I laughed aloud at Honey's escapades, especially her paranoia and fear about the pantry in her parents' home. I hope I can find some more of Moseley's Huckleberry adventures; I just loved this book!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Holly Huckleberry lives alone in a house left to her by her parents. She lives her life on schedule, with each week of her sales trips to bookstores carefully planned, even down to what her wardrobe will be. Her life is all carefully planned until she receives a call from The Fourth Steven. She already knows three Stevens, each one of whom is an important part of her life. This Steven recites the line from a poem which Holly knows well, and she also knows that she is to respond to him with the next line. It's a game she plays with childhood friend Steven Hyatt, but this is someone else altogether. This Steven refers to a murder, and that's where all the trouble begins. We follow Holly on her travels around Texas, down to South Padre Island where she visits her boyfriend Harry. No matter where she goes, however, Steven's calls follow her. Who is this stranger and how does he know so much about her? Finding out the answer to that is what the book is about and it's an enjoyable adventure.

I picked this book up expecting another ho-hum female PI, and barely enough going on to hold my attention. Instead, I got a real pleasure that i carried around until i had finished it (same day I started). The characters are interesting and a little eccentric, and eccentric without being stupid. The plot is good, but really secondary to the interplay of the charcters. First thing this morning i logged on to order the rest of Ms. Moseley's books. I highly recommend this book

Every morning I read it along with my Bible, then I speak in tongues and am set to go Spirit filled with fire in my bones, ready to preach the Gospel to anyone... This is really a good devotional especially for those who want to acquire and strenthen your faith. The Copelands came and preached at my Church and they really are great teachers of the Bible and NOT religion or traditions of man. Great book!

What an excellent devotional! The best of many I have read because it is scripturally sound, based on truth, dares you to challenge and increase your faith and it's brief enough to easily handle daily.

I cannot recommend this more strongly. I read this Devotional everyday and it is the most uplifting thing you can do first thing in the morning.

It starts out with a scripture. Then Gloria or Kenneth expand on that scripture with faith, power and authority. It then gives you further bible reading for the day.

The Copeland's are real Faith preachers! It is all WORD, WORD, WORD!

If you are hungry for some spiritual meat, you can get it right here!

I love the Copeland's. God bless them!!

I love this book so much that I have purchased it for many of my friends. I read this book faithfully, and it is my favorite daily devotional!! Faith to Faith will inspire you!!

this book has been a tool that helped guide me thru life with my daily struggles and decisions. it is a good mental reference for me because everything in this book is so positive and on point. it gave me knowledge and wisdom that i could understand and incorperate into my daily life because its seems so real and todate. i read this book years ago and bought it for a friend, just like someone did me, and the person always tells me that they see a bit of me in every page of the book. its amazing how a daily reading tool could not only stick with you but rub off on to others. i offer this book to anyone who is searching for all the good things that influential words can bring. i promise you it wont be a waste.