Dayton Books

If you need help, this is where you'll find it.
The CD that comes with it is a lot of help too.
Worth the price.

This is another in the WOW series and even though it's for the last interation of photoshop (CS2) there is a wealth if info here. It's all in color, clearly explained. It gives you an overview of how much you can do in this amazing program and helps you develop the chops to put it to use. Nicewly structured so you can pick and choose what you need at the time if you don't want to read it cover to cover. You won't need every technique here but it gives you the tool to apply in other ways for whatever you want to do. One of the easily accessible and useful books on the subject.

This book is to me the bible of Photoshop. It's so thorough and thick, and it's large number of illustrations, screen shots, and photos make it work whether I am carefully following a book example on my computer, or sitting and reading without the computer.

Let me begin by saying that this book is BIG, slightly bigger than a hard backed dictionary or textbook. If you plan on carrying this around in a backpack or ferrying it between school/work and home, don't.

This book has a humongous, colorful wealth of information. I guarantee that this book will show you how to do ANYTHING you could possibly want to do in Photoshop. Whether you plan on reading it straight through or using it as a reference book (I recommend the latter), you will appreciate the collection of tips and tricks this book has to offer.

Covering everything from picture touchups to full fledged graphic design, this book is artfully written and painstakingly thorough in its design. With pictures demonstrating everything, along with the helpful and easy to follow text, this book is great for those wanting to really get into Photoshop. If you're a graphic artist or have a job that requires the use of Photoshop, this book will expand your knowledge and understanding of Photoshop. Whether you're new to photoshop or a professional, this book is definitely a wise investment to help further your Photoshop skills.

This is your Photoshop Bible that you should keep with you at all times! I just hate that I paid $65 for it at Borders, when I could have gotten it here for MUCH less!

I really wish I had discovered this earlier! I received it yesterday and have already fell in love with the wide array of add-ins that are included on the cd. The book is a great tool to quickly identify the effect that I want. This is a must-have for anyone who has Photoshop Elements!

The book isn't worth much, but the plugins are great. The one click stuff is a great time saver for me, and it really does make things look more snappy without too much hassle. Well worth it for the CD full of plugins!

I love this book. I've already used alot of the layer styles already. Lots of examples. Tons of ideas.

I have had Photoshop Elements 2 for over a year, but until I got this book and CD ROM I had no idea just how creative I could be with the program. There were a lot of effects that I tried to apply to my art but did not quite get the results I desired. This book has helped me unleash my "creative genius". As graphic design student, I have found it to be the best investment I have made besides my computer components. You will find the book helpful, as well, to view the layer styles before applying them to your art. I had found at first that I spent a great deal of time applying and deleting styles and effects before finding the right one, and then I read the book (duh!). I found full-color samples of all the different presets contained on the disk scattered throughout the chapters. It is a small book, but it is very content-rich.

I had used Photoshop 7 in the graphic design lab at school , but I could not afford to buy it. This book and PSE 2 together cost less than $100, and I have no problem duplicating lessons and completing projects at home that are supposed to be done using PS 7.

When Adobe introduced Photoshop Elements it had a low-end program for newcomers to digital photography. It based the cut-down Elements program on its expensive and complex main Photoshop program. However, when you buy Elements you are actually installing quite a lot of the main program (even though no menu commands exist to use new features), and people have been finding ways to exploit the advanced features of Photoshop that Adobe thought would be too complex for Elements users.

Several web sites and two books supply software to advance the capabilities of Elements. One book lets you use some of the professional-level features of the main program, and the other provides some wild effects. That book is the One-Click Wow book I'm reviewing here (the other one is Richard Lynch's The Hidden Powers of Photoshop Elements).

Years ago I wrote a book on Photoshop version 3, and even without enhancements Photoshop Elements 3 is close to being equal to it. The effects in One-Click Wow can be done in several steps in the Main Photoshop program, and in fact that's how they're produced. Unfortunately the effects are of the "take it or leave it" variety - there's no way of altering them - but luckily Jack Davis has produced effects that will appeal to most people.

Because this is a "cheat" and not an officialy approved set of program extensions, you have to manually copy the extensions from the CD to your hard drive. If Elements is running you need to reboot, and then you'll find them listed in the menus for Layer Effects and other places.

One set of extensions work on photographs, and as well as those allowing you to change the appearance of the whole photograph there are other effects that let you add frames or edges. There's a whole series of effects that allows you to change a photograph so that it looks like a painting.

The major set of effects works on graphics and type. They'll change your designs and words to look like chrome or many kinds of natural materials, as well as plenty that look like neon signs. In fact there are several hundred effects, as well as extra brushes and patterns.

It's easiest to see this product not so much as a book, but more like a software add-on with an instruction manual that gives examples of almost every effect - in full color. There's even a multi-page tutorial in using the effects which should explain all you need to know about how to use them.

Davis has been producing the Photoshop Wow books of effects since the beginning of the main program, so the effects here will make a major difference to your pictures. What I've also noticed is the way Davis crops his pictures which is a tutorial in itself - he crops very tightly and you can see the improvement.

So if you can see a copy of this book before you buy it, take a look because what you see is what you're going to get. For most people it's a no-brainer buy, especially since even if you had the main Photoshop program you'd have to do numerous activities on your pictures to equal what you get here.

For the price, it's an amazing bargain for the extra powers you get. I have both this and The Hidden Power of Photoshop Elements, and the two of them make Elements a much more powerful and worthwhile program.

This book came to my attention through a class told by Crown Financial. I have recommended "Your Money Counts" to numerous people and purchased a copy for my son. It is an excellent tool in learning how to budget and be a good steward of the money we possess.

This is a great book. It really doesn't tell you anything you don't already know, but it reminds us of where we are and what we should be doing as stewards of His belongings. I am a Financial Planner and I give it to my clients as gifts and they love it !

This is a fantastic book. It's easy and enjoyable to read. It tells you all those common sense things about money that we often lose sight of in this world's culture of materialism and 'gotta have it now' attitudes. I've read it multiple times and it just keeps driving home those truths you need to be reminded of like figuring out contentment, the value to giving and saving, etc.

I teach a seminar at our church on the Biblical approach to managing one's finances, and I use this book as a starting point. My students love it (one said she needs to go back and "marinade" in each chapter. Another pointed out that the while the title is "Your Money Counts", what he got from the book is "Y our Money Counts.") The bottom-line is that this book is an easy-read and makes it clear why God cares about our money matters, and it is equally clear how to apply those principles to succeed financially. I teach it once a year, and so far 90 students would vouch that what this book teaches works!

Two parts warning about the corrosive effect of debt, one part encouragement that such slavery can be overcome, Howard Dayton's manual to a better way of living is an almost constitutional document in the Christian financial ministry movement. Dayton is the founder of Crown Financial Ministries, the benchmark institution in what has become an effort to counteract the personal indebtedness that increasingly pervades Western economies.

The book's subtitles cover the topics presented in seventeen brief, topical chapters. Dayton's no-nonsense style is softened by his transparency regarding his own one-time disorganized financial style. A box on the 'contrasts' between secular and biblical notions of finances and another on 'commitment' conclude most of the chapters, crystallizing the teaching that preceded them and adding a practical feel to a book designed as a guide-book towards D-Day ('Debtless Day'). Dayton is convinced that Christians can and should make that journey. The webpage of Crown Financial Ministries (...) provides additional information and tools.

This is a great book! I felt like I was in New York City. It is so nice to have good Christian fiction to read. My thanks to the authors!

This is by far the authors' best work to date - I couldn't put this one down. It was so easy to identify with Jane and root for her character along the way. I especially loved the character, Coates...(I usually try to put actor's faces to the characters I am reading and I could totally picture Patrick Dempsey in this role :))

It was much more emotional than I expected - more so than any other chick/lit book I've read...I was actually sad to see it end. Here's to more from Dayton & Vanderbilt!

Every book I've read by these authors gets better and better. I was pretty disappointed by Emily Ever After, as I felt that he protagonist was unlikeable and hypocritical. But I saw enough positives in the writing to check out their next book, Consider Lily, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I picked up The Book of Jane the following week, and I absolutely loved it. Jane was real, relatable, and likeable. The plot is a contemporary retelling of the book of Job, and is an encouraging read for anyone who knows what it's like to question your faith when life seems to fall apart. There were actually moments in the book that made my eyes well up: just little kernels of wisdom in there that spoke to my heart. I highly recommend this book, and look forward to the next novel by these authors.

Jane had it all. Great job, wonderful boyfriend, good apartment. Everything was going well for her. But then it all comes crashing down. Her boyfriend dumps her. She loses her job. Her apartment gets halfway destroyed. Rumors are spread about her. And she has this weird rash on her face that won't go away. It's enough to make anyway jump off the deep end. But thanks to her faith in God and a cute guy who seems to pop up at the right moments, Jane learns how to get through it all.

Christian chick lit just keeps getting better and better these days. It's great to read about stories about young women who are Christians with strong faith yet still like to shop for shoes and hunt for guys. Dayton and Vanderbilt's characters live like real people do without being all high and mighty or overly trying to witness to others. They show their faith by their actions, not trying to convert everyone they see. This book was tons of fun to read. Jane is a great character, very multi dimensional and easy to relate to. I felt for Jane especially during the scene where she tries to call her friend for help. Curse words would have uttered out of me at that point. I love the scenes in the hotel. I felt happy that something finally good was going for her. The storyline is a chick lit parable of the book of Job, but luckily Jane doesn't have it half as bad as he did (although the rash on her face would cause her to think she did). She handled things better than I would have in her situation. I would have been faced with the urge to throw something at the perpetrator of all the rumors about her. And her boyfriend: ARGGGHH! I have no complaints at all about this book. I couldn't stop reading it and now I want everyone else to. A funny hip read with a strong message about faith and belief in God. This is a book I could pass along to others even those who don't normally read Christian fiction. Highly recommended for a good time.

I enjoy "chick-lit" that is light, fun and entertaining. And if the aforementioned novel has an uplifting message to boot... well, that makes it perfect. The Book of Jane is a modern-day look into the Bible's book of Job, and the novel enthralled me, touched me, made me smile and at times laugh out loud all at the same time. Twenty-eight-year-old New Yorker Jane Williams has it all. She has a chic apartment in the Village, a fabulous PR job, a great boyfriend, wonderful friends and an awesome hobby as a leader of the Girl Scouts. She is also a devoted Christian. But it's easy to be a Christian when one's life is going well. Will Jane's faith falter if she were to suddenly lose it all? Well, she's about to find out. Jane goes through a tough road to self-discovery, and with an arrogant and coaxing jerk like Coates Glassman to test her, the road gets even bumpier.

I LOVED reading this! Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt know how to fuse an inspirational, Christian message with a fun and sassy voice without being preachy or judgmental. Most people are under the impression that Christians are a strict, joyless bunch. A novel like this proves them wrong. Jane is a great character. She is sweet and grounded. Her flaws and cries for help humanize her. She is a character that all women could relate to. The secondary characters are wonderful as well. I loved Lee, Jane's next door neighbor and best friend. I thought Matt, the movie star, was a tad stereotyped, but that was the one of the very few flaws in this book. The novel starts out a little slow, but it soon becomes impossible to put down. Yes, The Book of Jane is a modern take of Job and how God tested him, and the results are wonderful. Dayton and Vanderbilt are authors whose work I'll look closely from now on. In the meantime, I highly recommend this gem.

I PURCHASED MY BOOK 3 1/2 YEARS AGO THE WEEK AFTER MY HUSBAND OF 34 YRS DIED FROM ALCOHOLISM WITHOUT KNOWING THIS WAS TO BE MY MOST INSPIRATIONAL BOOK. I HAVE BEEN IN RECOVERY ABOUT 4 YRS NOW AND I HAVE GIVEN AWAY 10
OR 12 BOOKS. I ALWAYS KEEP AN EXTRA ON BECAUSE I KNOW I WILL MEET UP WITH SOMEONE WHO CAN USE IT.

I picked up this little gem of a book and cant put it down. I refer to it again and again because it has so much insight on all kinds of issues people may have..it really speaks to you and I found it so comforting during difficult times. I will treasure it for a long time!

I love this book of daily reflections. It is very thought provoking and the quotes are memorable.

I love this book and read it daily. It is so ironic when you are going through something and you open the book right to an affirmation that pertains to that very situation. I bought several copies of Daily Affirmation for Forgiving and Moving On and give it out as gifts to friends that I know will benefit from it.

I own this & have gone through it. I liked it so much I picked up a copy for a friend's daughter who has just lost a significant other. Comprising of 366 pages & designed to be read one page each day. The book is an excellent tool for a healthy direction for one's getting back on track. Gentle affirmations reveal true sources in one's feelings. The book does go a long way in dealing with the loss of a relationship

I did my dissertation on the Scopes "Monkey" Trial, so I had no problems passing the quiz on the back of "Reaping the Whirlwind: A Trent Tyson Historical Mystery." I am overly familiar with the details of the trial and the various incidents that Rosey Dow works into her story, and have visited Dayton several times. Of course, my interest in reading "Reaping the Whirlwind" is because of my interest in the bizarre-yet-true trial of John Thomas Scopes, and my judgment of the book ends up being more from that perspective than from that of the mystery elements.

The story begins in Dayton, Tennessee on a rainy Monday evening in the spring of 1925 when the chess game between Deputy Sheriff Trent Tyson and Dr. Adam St. Clair is interrupted by a concerned neighbor calls to say that Mrs. Ida Johnson is not answering her door. An investigation discovers that the woman has died, apparently of a heart attack. But then the medical examiner finds that the woman was poisoned by tansy weed. Did she take some by accident or was the old woman murdered? When the next person shows up dead with the same symptoms, the answer seems obvious. But there is no obvious connection between the victims and the more Tyson investigates their lives the less sense it all makes. Meanwhile, the town is gearing up for the Scopes trial as William Jennings Bryan, Clarence Darrow, H.L. Mencken and a horde of others descend on Dayton. None of these famous people become part of Tyson's murder invesigation, so Dow is able to stick to what they actually said instead of having to make things up for them to fit into the main plotline.

Ironically when I started reading this book I kept wondering when we were going to get to the trial (the meeting in Robinson's Drugstore where they hatched up the idea for the trial does not take place until page 136) but once the trial was underway I kept thinking that Deputy Tyson was spending too much time at the trial given that there is a serial killer running loose in Dayton. The Scopes Trial is basically the backdrop for the last third of the book, but you know that there has to be some sort of connection, albeit indirect, between the idea of prohibiting the teaching of evolution and these murders. However, the link is not obvious, so I doubt you will see the ending coming.

Dow does a good job of picking highlights from the Scopes Trial, both in the courtroom and on the streets of Dayton, to include in her novel. She pays attention to the speech on admitting the scientific testimony by Dudley Field Malone, which I greatly admire and which Scopes called the dramatic highpoint of the trial (and not the celebrated cross-examination of Bryan by Darrow). Malone is usually largely ignored in accounts of the trial, so every little bit of giving him his due helps. Dow's perspective on the trial and the subject of evolution is made clear in the materials before and after the story, but those beliefs do not intrude on the story, especially since there are characters reflecting both sides of the argument being played out in the Rhea County Courthouse.

The Author's Note at the front of the book makes it clear that Trent Tyson and Dr. Adam St. Clair are fictional replacements for Dayton's constable and one of the town's doctors, and lists the people who were actually in Dayton in the summer of 1925. Of course the victims and Tyson's family and friends are completely fictitious. The back of the book includes three appendixes that provide an excerpt from Bryan's undelivered address, evolutionary proofs offered by trial experts with refutation, and Bryan's questions for Darrow and his replies that appear in the press after the trial. Most unusual for a work of fiction but appropriate in this case, Dow also provides a Bibliography of the books she used for details about the trial and an Index that allows me to look up all of the books references to Dudley Field Malone or whatever (or whoever). So if you picked up this novel because you like historical murder mysteries, do not be surprised if you feel the urge to find out more about the Scopes Trial when you are done.

This book is so well written, so riveting, and so historically significant, it is truly one of the rare books for all seasons and all literary tastes.

Rosey has managed to bury the villian and expose the facts about the Scopes Trial-of-the-century so masterfully that the reader will surely misjudge the outcome and gain an invaluable history lesson without even being aware this could be a textbook. In fact, were I an American history teacher, it would most certainly be on my list of required reading.

It really should be on yours.

Rosey Dow adeptly wove truth and fiction together in this extemely interesting and informative novel, Reaping the Whirlwind. While the mystery keeps the reader engrossed in the plot, he is learning historical truth as well as seeing the tragic consequences of embracing the lie of evolution. I would probably not have chosen to read an account of the Scopes trial, although this would be an important thing to do. Rosey made it `easy' for me to gather truth I needed to know while thoroughly enjoying a gripping plot I could not solve!

Rosey Dow writes a compelling mystery set in Dayton, TN during the infamous Scopes "Monkey" trial. If you saw or read "Inherit the Wind" prepare to be shocked with the truth! There's a serial murderer on the loose, and the murderer subscribes to the natural outcomes of accepting Darwin's theory.

Believable characters, tense drama, unique plot twists, and a puzzling series of murders keep you reading page after page--long past the time you needed to go to sleep! Don't miss it!

And parents, get this for your high school students. They have to read novels for their English classes anyway, why not get them one that's fun to read, and challenges their critical thinking? This book fits the bill--they'll learn history painlessly. Great addition for school libraries--consider donating one to your child's school. Excellent resource for homeschooling parents--combines history with literature.

Highly recommended.

This book kept me guessing until the end. In fact I smugly thought I had it figured out until the last chapter. Loved the intrigue, the sweet romance, and the painless history lesson!

Sovereign's Hold is a fantastic adventure! Following the lives of this unique cast of characters I found myself on a journey through incredibly cerebral heights and horrifyingly harsh depths as each of their individual quests intertwined. Incredibly rich in texture and imagination this book is a thrilling blend of adventure, action, political intrigue and romance woven together in a story that captivates the spirit as well as the mind.

And hats off to Arwen Dayton for creating strong *and* sexy female characters whose powers of seduction are only surpassed by their skills in combat - think Sigourney Weaver in "Alien" or Demi Moore in "G.I. Jane" - yeah! ; )

This story is so good that I didn't want it to end. I want Arwen Elys Dayton to write more tales about Shall, the floating city. More intrigue, more danger, and more quest. Another book please! If you like a good story, you will like this book. If you like a great story told from a unique point of view about a strangely familiar time and place, you will love this book!

Sovereign's Hold is a fantastic adventure! Following the lives of this unique cast of characters I found myself on a journey through incredibly cerebral heights and horrifyingly harsh depths as each of their individual quests intertwined. Incredibly rich in texture and imagination this book is a thrilling blend of adventure, action, political intrigue and romance woven together in a story that captivates the spirit as well as the mind.

And hats off to Arwen Dayton for creating strong *and* sexy female characters whose powers of seduction are only surpassed by their skills in combat - think Sigourney Weaver in 'Alien' or Demi Moore in 'G.I. Jane' - yeah! ; )

Sovereign's Hold will capture you. From the very first chapter I found myself intrigued, finding it difficult to put down the book. I was truly carried "out of this world" and into several fascinating worlds that Ms. Dayton had created. The characters are rich and the several threads of their lives are skillfully woven. The author has a mastery of the art of suspense and puts a great deal of action into the narrative. The traditional subject of the conflict between good and evil is put forward with a subtle understanding of the "human" character. There was never a moment when the book's momentum flagged. The book is written simply and directly with all the subtle details of description and action that one finds in a great writer. I can recommend this book to young as well as old readers. I was surprised to learn that this is Ms. Dayton's first novel; I am looking forward to more books from this imaginative mind.

New author, Arwen Elys Dayton, proves to be a dynamic and creative writer with her first novel, Sovereign's Hold. This intergalactic adventure follows the lives of five people as their paths eventually meet while they journey to the Sovereign's Hold to fulfill their individual quests. What impressed me about this author is her ability to create such interesting characters who live and breathe in the pages of her book. I found myself thinking about these people long after I put the book down and wondering what they were up to in their daily lives. The fast paced plot really grabbed my attention, and I was reluctant to stop reading until the final page. I was sorry to be done, yet I realized that the author left room at the end for another adventure to begin. A sequel would be great!

I personally think that the book remind us to be back to basic on money matter. It remind me of the wording in the US dollar - IN GOD WE TRUST. It is for everyone regardless your religion as long as it can help you achieve your financial freedom. Highly recommeded.

Very helpful chapters, with insight and practical applications in organizing your finances.

If you are looking for advice on how to get out of debt, then you want to read this book.

The author uses solid Christian principles to explain how he, and others have moved from a debt laden lifestyle, to a debt free portfolio.

Howard breaks his program down into "destinations". The text is easy to read and does not require a financial understanding. He takes you through each step, and provides suggestions and resources to help you along the way.

My wife and I (married for 2 years) just read through this book.

It can be a little corny at times in the way the conversations take place, and it makes something as big as paying off credit card debt seem like a 2 week ordeal.

However, it does have a lot of good examples and is based on sound principals. I highly reccomend any engaged, single, or newlyweds look at this book as early as possible.

The purchase of this book will more than pay for itself with the informtion it contains. It is good for anyone at any stage of their life and is truley a blessing.

The world has known the American West as the wild and untamed land of cowboys and Indians that Hollywood brought along with it's movies. The real story of the West is much more amazing than at first sight. Ward's story is beautifully illustrated with magnificent text that makes it a worthy successor to the movie series. He tells the story through the eyes of those who lived it and that is something very important in the history of the west. Without first hand accounts our knowledge would be vague, but this book captures the essence of all the west had and has to offer: adventure, a beautiful landscape, and a great mysterious past...

This book is well organized and written. It would make a
perfect reference for a class project. There are vivid scenes
from the American West; such as, a majestic portrait of
the legendary Davey Crockett. The Devil's Tower is depicted
in a picturesque Wyoming scene. There are beautiful still
photos of a Snake Priest and Hopi dancer. The author researched
this work thoroughly. It is representative of the early
West. The purchase is recommended as a top rated historical
reference book well-suited for students of all ages and
backgrounds.

The promos for "The West" series on PBS seemed to imply that Ken Burn's following up to his incredible "Civil War" epic would be as good as the Civil War was.

And it was. Burns was able to capture the whole panorama of the history of the West, and left no stone unturned. Here was the saga of the pioneers, the cruelty of the buffalo hunters, the tragedy of the Native Americans, the bravery of Custer - and of Crazy Horse and Chief Joseph, the terrible "die up" where thousands of poor cattle froze to death in the Montana blizzards, and the courage and perserverence of settlers like the Loves. The musical score too was perfect, capturing every dramatic movement, every nuance just right.

And the book too, while perhaps not as comprehensive as Geoffrey Ward's earlier "Civil War" volume, provided the viewer with a superb text and many, never-before-seen illustrations. The reader can sense the drama of the Earps and Wild Bill Hickok, can hope that Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce reach Canada and safety (which they didn't) and feel the heartbreak when Joseph was cruelly denied the return to his homeland. The reader can also cheer for the courtship of the Loves, and almost live the toil, the disappointments, and the determination of that family through the text, the first-hand accounts, and the marvellous illustrations. I found myself getting angry over the Mountain Meadows Massacre and the Mormon scapegoating of the Paiutes; being sickened and almost in tears over the slaughter of the buffalo, and the old Native American woman's tale of how the last buffalo went into Mount Scott, never to return; and in appreciating how Buffalo Bill Cody and Theodore Roosevelt did their level best in trying to save the West that they loved - Cody through the Wild West shows, and Roosevelt through his conservation efforts.

It is all here in Mr. Ward's excellent text, and more. There may be other books on the West, but for the perfect introduction to anyone interested in Western History, or even for the grizzled enthusiast, this book is not only the perfect companion to the series, it is also a perfect coffee table pictorial history of a history and a lifestyle that is all but gone.

The West : An Illustrated History by Geoffrey C. Ward, Dayton Duncan has got to be one of the most "Can't put down" type of books I've had the wonderful pleasure of owning, ever! The illustrations, to many to count are of the finest quality I've ever seen in a book not to mention that the editorial choices were perfect. The photos depict the exact expressions that capture those lost moments in time... If you can get this book - buy it! It is for all ages and you could never grow tired reading it, as well. A certain coffee table type book! I rate this book a 5 STAR!

As a book based on a PBS documentary, it's a big coffee table affair with plenty of photos (I had the hardcover version). And there are some extraordinary pictures in there - while much of the period of history they're looking at (from November 1528 with a some shipwrecked Spaniards washing ashore on Galveston Island to the early 1900s) was pre-camera, much of it was post. Moreover there are maps, paintings and photos of relatively untouched landscape to illustrate earlier times.

That being said, there's also plenty of text. And being that they've consciously chosen to largely illustrate the time by retelling the stories of extraordinary and/or typical individuals of the times, there are many engaging and fascinating stories. C'mon, the whole interaction between European settlers and the native Americans is chock full of tragedy, adventure and colour - you'd have to work hard to make this sort of content boring (although it's been done). It's a very palatable way of reading history, not getting bogged down in statistics or alternate interpretations. Of course in their selection of material you're definitely getting only one version of events, and the bias, while generally subtle, is unavoidable. But, hey, given that I hardly had any version before, this gave me a lot more of an idea than I had.

You have to suffer the odd overblown essay thrown in here and there, where guest writers try to outdo each other for sentimentality and bogus psuedo-spiritual flapdoodle about (FX: turn the reverb right up) `The West'. At least it's not quite as silly as the religious fervour some attach to Baseball as some sort of sacred ritual - but it is still silly. Sure, the West is an amazing place, it's more than just some rocks and sand - we get it. You going on in with some gushy mysticism really just cheapens it - let it speak for itself.

Well, that's what I reckon anyway. But, as I said, the self-conscious attempts at grand writing are only aberrations, most of the time you are treated with amazing but true stories. If that's the sort of history you're after, it delivers.

This normally is not the type of book I would read, however found it to be rather enjoyable. The characters were very believable. Almost as if you were truely reading someone else's private email. A good quick read.

The sequel to Chat starts in an extremely one-sided manner, but continues in the same strain as Chat, both in content and in style. Brilliant stuff

This is the first time I found an author who based her stories on a chat line story. An it was so well written that the minute you start reading it, you simply can not put it down!!! It doesn't matter the age, or sex, this serie will appeal to everybody.

I found the whole series of these books to fantastic and well written. They are short but they make great books to read while you are in line at the bank or whatever.

The characters are believable and I could relate with their feelings and emotions very well. I recommend this whole little series.

The second novel of her cyberseries "connect" develops Bev's and Max's relationship, redifining the boundries of their romance. I loved this book but it must be read in sequence. McCarthy uses words and emoticons to express the feelings of each character without the need of introspection, inner monologues or descriptions. The ease with which the characters "speak" to each other is wonderful and natural. Could not put it down. Couldn't wait to pick up the next one and find out what happens to them.