L Books

The story has just gotten better through the second in the series. The combination of individual personal turmoil, battle action, and political intrigue makes for some compelling reading.

Mr. Stephen has proven himself adept at weaving an engaging and exciting story that is difficult to put down for fans of any genre.

Unfortunately, now I have to wait for the next book, but some things are worth the wait.

This novel picks up where the original in the series leaves off. It's just as fast-paced, moreso even, and offers serious twists to the story line that the most experienced of readers won't expect.

Mr Stephen's ability to force your own emotions out into the open WHILE reading is noteworthy. The book challenges your own beliefs, imagination and decision-making process. You're forced to empathize witht he protagonist, and you learn that the antagonist is more than you initially imagined. The depth of the characters is exposed, and it's impressive.

From the military terminology, the chain of command, the strategery to the specifics of each culture personified - this book hits on all cylindars.

Incredible read. You'll be salivating with each page and left feeling lonely at the end - waiting for book 3.

Very well done, Mr. Stephen!

Outlaw Trigger is a dark glimpse into the psychology of loss and the resulting crisis of faith.

Lee Stephen has outdone himself with this excellent work. The hero of Dawn of Destiny, Scott Remington, continues his journey as a soldier of EDEN defending the Earth against alien aggression. Written in a straightforward, comprehensible style, Stephen uses his the Epic Universe as a sandbox to explore the dark side in all of us. I'm loath to say much about the plot of the book, lest I give away an ending that is as rewarding as it is surprising, but trust me when I say that it is worth every page turned.

Remington is still stationed in Siberia; the EDEN base there is still firmly in the grip of General Thoor and the Nightmen. Although their ferocity in battle and their ability to repulse alien attackers is unmatched, all is not well. The leaders of EDEN come together to try unconver a conspiracy surrounding the disposition of troops and material in Siberia (adding a nice, political element to the story that was somewhat missing in Dawn of Destiny), leaving Remington in the center of future action there.

Once again Stephen is unapologetic in his use of Providence in determining the course of an individual's life. The themes of faith, redemption, and righteousness run deeply throughout both novels in the Epic Universe, but never in such a way as to be misplaced within the worldview of the characters. In fact, Stephen's touch with these themes is surprisingly deft given the readable style. The questions he raises are both deep and visceral, leaving me questioning my own reactions if I were in a situation similar to the characters. Real strength is shown by doing what is right; refusing to listen to the dictates of conscience has its own rewards...or punishments. It is exceedingly rare that military science fiction is this thought provoking, but Stephen has delivered in spades.

The only problem that I have now is that I have to wait for Book 3.

Outlaw trigger picks up shortly after dawn of destiny left off. The assault on Novosibirsk is over, and things seem as normal as can possibly be for Scott and the others. However, things are about to abruptly change. "They say every man has a breaking point." Those are the first words written on the back of outlaw trigger. How aptly they describe the whole of the book.
Scotts life is badly damaged in the early stages of the book, when something traumatic happens at a time and place no one would expect. From then on out, his faith in God weakens, and he plunges into a depression that ultimately leads to a shocking end. Many of the old characters are involved as well, and more than one may not make it to the end of the novel alive. Bonds and enemies are made, and destroyed, and the bleaker and more uncertain side of all of Unit 14 begins to show. Will they comeback from this low, or will Scott and all of Unit 14 break up and fall into chaos? The overall storyline of Epic is beginning to move now, and I for one eagerly await to find out where it's going.
Many of the old characters are back, and some new ones as well. Everyone is still fun to read about, and there is even some new info about a few of the characters. Outlaw Trigger is as enjoyable as Dawn of Destiny, and I can't wait to see where the story goes from here.

Outlaw Trigger - By Lee Stephen

Great job Lee! This series just keeps getting better! Fast paced, good character building and thought provoking at the least. This series for those who haven't yet experienced it follows the career of young Scott Remington who leaves his normal life behind to defend his world from alien invaders in Dawn of Destiny. Instead of being a clichéd rehash of so many sci-fi novels, this work explores the basic good versus evil battle that is ever present in life. Our young hero experiences everything from the thrill of achievements that most could only dream of, to a devastating fall to the blackest depths of despair. The second book in the series Outlaw Trigger continues the exploration of Scotts character development and the subsequent testing of his faith. I won't give away critical information on the paths the story takes, I will instead encourage each of you to buy the book and be enthralled as I was with the story. I look forward to the continuing unfolding of Scott's saga in future books. I think I know where the story is going, but I thought that before and was mistaken. Buy it! Read it! Enjoy it. Jim Seals - Tuttle OK

A recommended read!

What a wonderfully inspiring and uplifting story...


Can you imagine existing on a cup of rice and two bowls of boiled weeds each day? After being held as a POW in North Vietnam for six and a half years Colonel Ed. Hubbard brings a unique perspective to life that most of us can benefit from. This isn't a story about the horrible atrocities that he and his fellow prisoners endured, Instead it's a story about the amazing potential that exists inside each and everyone of us, if only we realized it...

There are not enough stars for the award this book deserves. If you pay attention, this will be a life altering read. God Bless the Col. & all he represents.....

Yesterday I attended a sales conference hosted by Ameriprise Financial and Col Ed Hubbard was the key-note speaker. As I listened to his testimontial I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. The stories of defeat and triumph, discovering the potential within the (his) human spirit to get him through a long and arduous stint as a POW. What a story . . . needless to say I'm in the middle of his book and can't put it down. I would recommend this for anyone who has ever had a bad day and would like to know what that really is - and how you are responsible for the outcome - when you put it in it's proper perspective all that is happening in the world. FANTASTIC BOOK!

I heard Col. Hubbard tell his story a few years ago. At the luncheon I received one of his Escape From The Box books. I could not put it down until I finished it. It is a powerful presentation and will change your life. After almost four years the impact remains. "Everything we do, or have done, we can do better" is the powerful message transmitted by Col. Hubbard and his book.

A very thought provoking book. In many cases, Col. Hubbard reinforces lessons which my parents taught me, however, his experiences as a POW in North Vietnam lend an unparalled level of credibility. A must read for anyone in leadership roles, from industry to parenthood.

What a great book! Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge (The Book of Mnemonic Devices) will come in very handy in my 7th grade classroom. I always try to find new ways to help my students with their study skills - this book will be tremendously helpful with that task. I especially find the Spelling section to be an excellent array of mnemonics to assist them with the difficult task of remembering how to correctly spell the most common misspelled words - myself included. Thank You Dr. Evans!

Dawn L. Clark
Midlothian, VA

I have spent hours meandering through this maze of mnemonic devices, and yet I find a new and clever one each time I look. There is something for everyone to enable us to remember things we never thought we would.

The section on Spanish verbs will surely come in handy. I particularly like the mathematical and technical sections. After Dr. Evans's book, how can one remain content recalling the speed of light so imprecisely as 300 megameters per second?!

I consume with relish every one of this prolific author's books that I can get my hands on, and I encourage others to do the same. This book contains gems for persons of every age group, occupation, and avocation.

Memory is a fickle friend for me -- a vital piece of info often seems just beyond timely recall. Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge is a great antidote for that lost, wandering, out-of-control queasiness that so often visits in those moments of weak memory.

The mnemonics catalogued here are encyclopedic - a great start on specific things to remember, in a long list of 45 useful categories from astronomy to zoology. For me the most useful categories are cooking, geopolitics, math, music, religion, and time & calendars (I'm constantly using "thirty days hath September, April, June & November...). Though I won't be using the psychology aids much, they sure offer an interesting, concise glimpse into human behavior and some of its disorders!

But just as important as the catalog is the broad view of how to remember things. With the perspective from this book on the many types of mnemonic (memory-aiding) tools available, I can construct my own mnemonics for the things I will learn tomorrow, or that are discovered or invented next month. Highly recommended.

This book is by far the most comprehensive collection of mnemonic devices I've ever seen. I regularly use the spelling section and find the geography, history, and math sections quite useful. The great thing about this book is that it will be useful from first grade through grad school. Finally, the bibligraphy and the list of online sources will be useful to both teachers and students.

What I truly love about this book is the comprehensiveness. It covers more than two dozen subjects, including large sections on math and spelling. The spelling section contains about 1000 mnemonics for the 1000 most frequently misspelled English words(200 more mnemonics than the classic book "Demonic Mnemonic"- which is also excellent).
From a teacher's standpoint, the math, history, geography, and spelling sections will be of great value for any student. What is more, some of the material is sophisticated enough for the Miller Analogies Test (MAT), a graduate admission test of vocabulary and cultural literacy.
It was amazing how quickly I warmed up to this book, and I am not surprised that it's been endorsed by not only two Scrabble champs, but also Brad Rutter (the guy who beat Ken Jennings and everybody else in Jeopardy's Ultimate Tournament of Champions).
Heaps of praise go to Rod Evans, and because the book is both entertaining and inexpensive, I see it making a great gift book as well.

I read this chapter book as a bed time story to my then 5 year old twins.
They really liked the different worlds at the top of the tree.
It was one of my favourites as a kid.

Short, self-contained, well-written chapters keep my children's attention. There are many characters for a young children's book, but the characters are very well described and each have their own special kirks. Great for reading aloud to young children.

I think the only reason I became an avid reader was because I was introduced to Enid Blyton books as a child. Born and raised in the tropics(part of the British Empire at one time), I found it hard to believe that I coudn't find them easily at bookstores here in the USA when I wanted to buy them for my daughter. I would say the first books I chose to pick up for her to read were the Wishing Chair series and the Faraway Tree series. I think they really represent what Enid Blyton's books are all about. Her books are not only imaginative and entertaining they contain good values and an appreciation of nature. For those children who are not ready for spine tinglers and chillers, her fairy tales create a warm, comforting setting with just the right touches of fun and humor to encourage even the most reluctant of readers to continue turning pages and asking for more. My daughter and I have since collected over 250 of her books. This year, I donated extra copies that I owned to her elementary school because I really believe that her books can reach out to any reluctant reader. My daughter said that she even found teachers reading them during their spare time. If you have spare copies of her books, please consider donating them to schools. Most school libraries are rarely able to obtain them.

I agree with Veronika that it is a shame that the book was changed. I am a teacher and read the original to a class and every child wanted the book. I ordered them copies from Amazon in the UK and the children were very disappointed with the new names, etc. They loved the book, however, and most of them read their copy many times and/or their parents read it to them. The four stars is for this edition, not the original. If you can get a copy of the original (used) I highly recommend it. There are some things in the original that I would recommend discussing. An example of this is Dame Slap and why we, hopefully, wouldn't see her slapping a student today and why.

I just received my copy of this book today.

I grew up with the Enid Blyton stories (in Australia) and adored the Faraway Tree collection.

My only problem with this collection is that it has been updated for "political correctness". No more Jo, Bessie and Fanny - it's Joe, Beth and Frannie. No [...] it's Rick. Saddest of all, no more Dame Slap. Nope, instead of slapping (from my quick glance at the book) she makes Rick put his hands on his head and stand in the corner. It's a bit of a shame we live in an age where people won't accept a classic story for what it is and need to change the author's own words for political correctness.
However, this being said. I think every child in America would benefit from these highly imaginitive stories from a wonderful author. To me, Enid Blyton is as good as J.K. Rowling (and I LOVE Harry Potter books too).
I'm sure my 3 daughters will love these stories as they get older, just as much as I did, and still do.

This book might be the most widely read among Bloch¡¯s works who is the pioneer of Annal school. This book typifies the methodology of Annal school. History as a science took off in the 19th century. But Bloch argued that it was not history but just chronicles of events and political episodes. Bloch posed the fundamental questions: ¡®What is the history?¡¯ and ¡®What does history serve for?¡¯ To be a science, the object of history should be not the particular but the universal. Bloch did not think the universal law is possible in history. Then, the object of historical research should be the relation which may refer not to the law but to structure. This structure sets the boundary (or in Braudel¡¯s word, the possible and the impossible) on the everyday life, and has the not-so-easily changeable long-term duration (or in Braudel¡¯s term, longue duree). Whereas Braudel¡¯s trilogy, ¡®Civilization and Capitalism¡¯ is about the capitalism as longue duree (for more detail, see my reviews on those volumes), Bloch¡¯s ¡®Feudal Society¡¯ is about the feudalism as longue duree.
Marxists and others maintained the feudalism originated from the sudden and violent collision between Roman society and German society. It¡¯s the child born from the violent and coercive marriage. But Bloch argues that resulting form of feudalism had its origin not directly in German invasion but in subsequent invasions of the Moslem, the Norman, and the Hungarian. These added up to the uncontrollable chaos all over Western Europe, and ended in the collapse of effective ruling of the state. Feudal system as we know emerged in this stalemate which Frank empire and other states of the time faced. State apparatus could not be maintained for state could not pay bureaucrats salary. Frank empire pioneered the alternative system which was later known as feudalism. What characterizes feudalism is the unique social type based on the principle of subordination and custody. The principle is similar to the patron/client relationship of Roman age. But feudal one is based on the principle of contract which is premised on reciprocity. Put another way, feudalism is the network of reciprocal relationship of rights and responsibility from king to serf. Ruling class could not wield power over serf in unilateral way. In this vein, feudal system is both social (between classes) and political (among ruling class) relationships. Bloch maintained this relationship should be called as feudalism. It¡¯s a social type which is not limited to the economic terrain as Marxists argued.

I suppose I should be of two minds about Marc Bloch's "Feudal Society," a French work from the late 1930s which became available in English in the early 1960s, and was still fresh and exciting back when I was taking a freshman course on "Western Civilization." In theory, the book (and it is one book, although published in paperback in two volumes) has two major drawbacks. In practice, I find it solid, admirable, and well worth reading.

One drawback is the author's romantic glorification of the medieval peasant -- Norman Cantor has called attention to this in his "Inventing the Middle Ages," pointing out that Bloch gave it Marxist trappings. I call it romantic because I suspect that Bloch owed at least as much to Jules Michelet's nineteenth-century historiography, initially with a veneer of "science" added. Of course, Bloch actually went out and did fundamental work in the archives, and tried to get a real picture of how, in the long term, life had been lived by ordinary people, instead of relying on Michelet-style suppositions. (Yes, Bloch's "Annales" school is supposed to be the antithesis of the enthusiastic Michelet; but, while Bloch established its methodology in reaction to existing approaches, in Bloch's last book "The Historian's Craft," Michelet is still among "our great forebears.")

The second is the concept of "Feudalism" itself, which these days makes anyone with a serious background in medieval studies very uncomfortable. A very good case can be made that "Feudalism" is largely a set of modern constructs, re-invented several times since the sixteenth century to suit different legal, political, and social purposes, and presented as an "Historic Fact" alongside contemporary and later "discoveries" such as "Anglo-Saxon Liberty," "The Norman Yoke," and "Our Ancestors the Gauls." (A short, pointed, introduction to one aspect of the problem is J.G.A. Pocock's "The Ancient Constitution and the Feudal Law: A Study of English Historical Thought in the Seventeenth Century.")

If it means anything for modern-day historians, the term applies to how control of land, and its revenue, was linked to social status, political authority, judicial functions, and reciprocal military obligations -- a large, messy, topic. So the feeling is growing that the word is best avoided, as carrying too much baggage, and too likely to be invoked as a substitute for thought.

Indeed, as picked up by Karl Marx, Feudalism, equated largely with landlord-tenant agriculture instead of sub-divided political and judicial authority, became a theoretical concept to be applied to a variety of extra-European societies, as a stage in an inevitable social evolution. In this role, it produced, or at least became a part of, bitter, and literally murderous, disputes over the nature of Russian and Chinese society, among others.

Even with all this in mind, and many years after first reading it, I find Bloch's emphasis on the material basis of medieval society refreshing, and think that he carried it out with reasonable consistency. Whatever his agenda, he went looking for real data, and adjusted theory to match it, which is where he parts company with both Michelet and Marx. That later work has revealed a more complex, and in some ways different, picture does not discredit his effort. And having the hardworking peasant as a sort of collective hero helps hold together discussions of things like field rotation, strip cultivation, and plough-teams, which most readers will not find all that gripping on their own.

More important, in some ways, Bloch presented feudal *society* -- not some imaginary entity called "Feudalism" or "The Feudal System" -- as a whole set of ways of ordering people and institutions, and making resources available to various parts of a diversified ruling class. The unsystematic nature of actuality is not denied, but it is classified in terms of common elements.

This getting down to practical realities may not sound so impressive, but a couple of generations of scholars had been smacking each other over the head (in this case, figuratively) in an argument of whether "Feudalism" was *really* Roman or Germanic, with partisan sub-divisions on whether either origin was a Good Thing or a Bad Thing. Somehow, figuring out how it worked had seemed less important than what Mircea Eliade called "The Prestige of Origins" -- a form of mythical thought as much as a topic of historical research.

So instead of a broad theory of a single "origin," we get "The Growth of Ties of Dependence" (volume one of the paperback edition), followed by "Social Classes and Political Organization," showing the extent to which the pattern of rural hierarchies did, or did not, carry over into "higher" or "more advanced" developments.

Although probably much more accurate for France than for other parts of Europe, and for some centuries more than others, the book does manage to present a (by and large) convincing picture of how Europe re-organized itself between the collapse of Rome and the High Middle Ages. A reminder of the people who made it all possible, but were usually left out of the chronicles, and certainly are missing from most of the chansons de geste and romances, is not a bad basis for a book.

Still, largely for reasons of documentation, Bloch is sometimes rather better at explaining how the military aristocracy was supported, than at presenting the daily lives of the people who were doing the work. His analysis of how some knights and officials had "fiefs" which were simply stipends, or even what we might consider cafeteria privileges, is an interesting sidelight to "life on a medieval manor" approaches. It also reveals that methods of supporting the clergy and the nobility were not all that different, which shouldn't be a big surprise, given the limited options available.

So I continue to think of Bloch's "Feudal Society" as a valuable contribution, to be read and pondered, although not taken at face value, by anyone seriously interested in medieval European society, or supposedly comparable systems elsewhere. Since it has also generated a half-century of follow-ups, attacks, and defenses, it is also a good book to have read as part of getting acquainted with a wider literature.

I read this book for a contemporary historiography class. As has been told by other reviewers, Marc Bloch is the founder (together with Lucien Febvre) of the Annales school. As a non-historian, I won't comment on its importance for historiography, but as a very valuable read for non-historians who want to understand the history of Western civilization reading the best books that have been written on the subject. This is my first book on the middle-ages and, although it took me quite a while to finish it (about a month) and it is definitively not an easy read, since it is an extraordinarily erudite work, it is a very worthwhile read. It provides a fairly good picture of how the feudal society developed after the Hungarian, Muslim, and Scandinavian invasions, which allowed it to flourish. I would point out two basic concepts that were of particular interest to me (although not explicit in the text). First, the concept of sovereignty. It is particularly interesting visually, since land was divided among an infinite number of lords as a bottom-up chain starting from the lowest peasant through the prince or monarch. So land belonged to everyone and to no one at the same time. This is a very original idea of sovereignty, rather opposite to modern sovereignty. The second concept is that of the "hommage", which I would call contract. The hommage between serf and lord was not that of subordination entirely, but it was neither that of equals--such as the contracts of the bourgoisie were, that we can trace back to the XIIth century, and personally I was moved by Bloch's analyses of this first contract among equals--, and it was originally voluntary. According to Bloch, this hommage influenced many other contracts we know of, namely marriage, courtois love, and even representative parliamentary governments.
To conclude with, I would say that my historiography teacher told me this is the best work on the middle-ages, so I decided to read it, and it wasn't easy, it took me a while, but it was very rewarding. I don't recommend it for people who don't read a lot, but if you enjoy history and want to know what the feudal society was all about, this is a very rewading book as an introduction to the middle-ages. I strongly recommend it.

Bloch's work is one of the ten most important and influential books on medieval Europe. Bloch displays true excellence in sholarship and narration. Nothing is stated without factual documentation to support it, and no information is carried beyond its logical conclusions. It is essential to read this two volume work before moving too deeply into medieval studies. Combine this work with Strayer's Feudalism (out of print, unfortunately) and you will have a good understanding of what society was like in a good portion of the Middle Ages.

Certainly an undeniable classic in the field of "history of the middle ages". As other reviewers have already noted, Bloch was one of the initial members of what grew to become the "annales" school of western history, though, to be fair, he died before you could call it a "school" or "movement".

Volume one of the two volume set looks at the growth of feudalism in western society, and by western I'm talking about Northern France, Western Germany, England and Northern Italy. Bloch's main concern in this volume is setting the conditions which led to the developmen of feudalism from 800 AD to 1000 AD and then describing the various forms that feudalism took.

The book is well translated, and I found it hard to argue with much of the thesis. I too have read Norman Cantor's "the Making of the Middle Ages" where he calls Bloch a Marxist (and maligns the entire Annales school). I've also read more recent productions from the Annales school. I have to say, based on this particular book, I don't really see where Bloch is a)romanticizing the peasant (another Cantor criticism) or b) a marxist.

It seemed to me that Bloch's explanation for the growth of feudalism was, basically, that central government decayed to the point where various muck a mucks needed to find an alternative way to "rally the troops" in the face of frequent small to mid size invasions. Feudalism, with its emphasis on individual obligation and quid pro pro, was an attempt to remedy the lack of communication over long distances and lack of central authority.

The peasants didn't really figure in this book at all, except near the end. Certainly, one wouldn't accuse this book of being filled with marxist/post-modern/decontructionist gobbeldy gook. This is a must read for those interested in the field, especially lay men.

My 5 year old would read this book every time we went to the doctor's office. A must have for little firemen!

First of all the pictures are well painted. Our son who is not yet 3 can finish the sentences from memory for each letter as we read together. This one was well worth the purchase.

This book is a great ABC teaching tool for children fascinated by the big red fire engines racing past. Learn some of the key terms and aspects of what firefighters do to save lives.

Young children will enjoy learning about the very exciting and dangerous aspects of being a firefighter. With the imagery and vivid colors, children will certainly get the message that fires are serious and dangerous business that should be left to professionals (and trained volunteers). It is a great book to approach the topic of fire safety with young children.

This is a really nice book to learn about firefighters. The pictures are bright. The fire is really vivid and a couple of the pages might scare really young children. It would be a good tool for teacher's to use during Fire Prevention Week.

My almost three-year-old son Devon loves fire engines. He gets so excited whenever we're out and one goes roaring by, siren screaming. He loves books too and he already knows his ABCs, both upper and lower case and this book shares the credit with a few others and his loving and attentive parents for giving him this gift of the Alphabet as such an early age. He'll be reading by Kindergarten.

In addition to being a very good ABC book, this book tells the story of firefighters fighting a fire, something guaranteed to hold the interest of any little boy (and a lot of little girls too). All of the letter pages have beautiful, action filled illustrations that seem to draw Devon right into the book. No wonder he can sing that ABC song so well.

Jack Priest, Dad in Training

This book is really cool I read it in 1 week, I also want to read another one, but in unfortune it's only a book project and I don't have one. In school surly that there are more so I'll keep reading until I finish all Goosebumps book. I'm going to see if they can lend me some books to readed in my house. I liked the part Fred (the monster one) was so strong he could take a car, also when he was good at soccer.

This book is spooky. Ghost in the Mirror (Goosebumps Series 2000) is a good book. Everybody should read it. My favorite part was when Buzzy the dog attacked the main character. It had a lot of excitement because the dog was acting so strangely. I was worried that the main character was going to die. Read the book to find out the rest!

All the books by R.L. is (I can tell) done quickly and after each chapter, there is always a I gasped,or I screamed, whatever. It is not that scary and all there is is fun. The books are fun to read but not scary. Not by a little. Don't get me wrong here. I mean, he wrote a lot of Goosebumps~!

This captivating tale of a mysterious and mesmerizing "haunted" mirror is a gem in the Goosebumps series. The climax is as strange as it is exciting, and the enjoyable characters, including the mirror as one, provides page-turning reading fun. ut R.L.Stine seemed eager to end this one, making this the shortest Goosebumps book yet. Parts of the story seem routine and rushed insomuch that I wish R.L.Stine had took his time, but kudos on an excellent series and good book.

When Jason Sloves had a new mirror all was fine to him. When Fred came to his house, Jason let him see the mirror. when Jason was getting something, Fred vanished. But when he came to school, he saw a-not normal Fred. When he was injuried because of Fred he went home. That night, he saw something in the mirror. He saw Fred, pleading for help. When Fred let Jason in the mirror, they had a long time exploring the mirror. It was like HOUSE OF MIRRORS. At the ending, Jason and Fred got out but the mirror was shattered!

This is a great, hilarious read. Forget trashy, slushy romance, this is a comedy romp with some love interest on the side. Horror stories have more sex and romance than this book! The heroine is a great character with some snappy asides and life observations. I'm not a romatic novel reader normally, but I have to confess that I used to work with the author's husband and I always promised to read her work. Well he left the firm I work at, and then I happened across the book (wish I'd got his wife to autograph it - she feels like a rising star) and having just finished my latest stack decided to give it a whirl. What a pleasant surprise. I couldn't put the book down. This is really great beach book material. The plot is hilarious, the characters are a hoot and in all you kind of feel you're at an old time musical hall. Read it. I promise you won't regret it.

Kiely Davlin really should be going to New York casting cattle calls, but when her friend Lida Rose is hired to direct a remake of a 100-year-old melodrama, Lida Rose cons Kiely into helping--both as an actress and as choreographer. Kiely knows that Lida Rose has matchmaking plans, but Lida Rose always has matchmaking plans and there's no way Kiely is moving back to Dallas permanently. Still, Lida Rose needs a favor and a paying job sounds like a great way to spend the summer.

Once in Dallas, Kiely discovers that Lida Rose wasn't kidding about the sexy men on the stage--all of them apparently straight. The sexiest of them all is Rafe Montez--who plays the villain and who just might have been typecast--what, exactly, is he doing all that snooping for? Did I say the sexiest? Well, that doesn't include the ghost of the former villain, shot dead in the theater on opening night half a century before, the last time the play was run. That ghost seems interested in Kiely, which would be nice if he wasn't quite so dead--and he didn't need to warn her so often that something terrible was about to happen.

Author Flo Fitzpatrick combines a strong chick-lit and humor feel with paranormal elements and romance to delive a strong story. Her writing kept me smiling as Kiely stumbled from misadventure to misadventure, the play got in worse and worse trouble, and interfering owners, her friend Lida Rose, and curious newspaper reporters glommed onto the so-called curse the play labors under. Fitzpatrick clearly knows and loves the theater and dance, and these elements add richness and texture to the novel.

GHOST OF A CHANCE was a surprisingly mature novel for a first-time novelist. Fitzpatrick doesn't mind breaking the rules (how many times are authors told to stay away from the theater, to keep the hero and heroine on the page at all times, and to definitely ensure that the heroine doesn't do evil things like drink?), but her rulebreaking adds up to a really superior novel. Well done--I'll look forward to reading her next book.

I met the author online through her writing (notes, not books) and almost at once thought "I can't WAIT to read her book."

It's such a relief to know that her wit, charm and laugh-out-loud lines fill the heart of her story too. The setting of a small town theater's production is perfect (for a production of "Bad Business on the Brazos" a wonderfully campy play). First person is perfect, too. A delicious combination of mystery, ghost story and chick-lit with a heart.

Ghost of a Chance is a fast-paced, witty novel that is sure to entertain. The characters are down-to-earth, and by the end of the novel, they feel like friends (or sometimes annoying co-workers). Flo Fitzpatrick also does a wonderful job of creating the kind of chemestry that really does go on back stage in a theatre production. If you've ever been in a high-school play or community theatre production, you'll love this book!

After reading Hot Stuff by Flo Fitzpatrick and enjoying her bright writing, I just had to snag this one. And I am glad I did (and thank you Amazon Prime for free speed ship!!). Fitzpatrick has an easy, Chit-Lit, breezy humor that is great fun to read and clearly marks her as a writer to watch.

Kiely Devil has been on tour for nine months, so she is really looking forward to a little down time in the Big Apple. Only, her best friend from hell Lida Rose Worthington has plane tickets for waiting for her at the airport and she has to take the next flight to Dallas. Frankly, I'd shoot any friend that did it to me, but it makes a fun premise! Once there, things don't get any brighter. Lida Rose informs Kiely she has to perform in the remake of the classic (must have missed that one...lol) "Bad Business on the Brazos". See it's the One Hundredth anniversary gala event and Lida Rose is in charge. Kiely is worn down by the one-woman force Lida Rose, especially when she tossed in three-meals-a-day of the best Tex-Mex, so she agrees. As fast as you can say Pace Salsa, Kiely is trodding the boards under Lida Rose's direction.

The East Ellum Theatre where the production is being put on is rumored to be haunted by one Don Muller. An actor, he was killed on stage a half a century ago. Kiely scoffs at the notion of Don's ghost still trips the light fantastic before the flood lights, until she comes face-to-face with him! As the play's rehearsals go along, Kiely slowly begins to inquire in to what really happened to poor Don fifty years ago. Suddenly "things" begin to happen to Kiely. Pray could it be someone doesn't want the riddle of Don's death solved?

Kiely also falls for Rafe Montez, playing the role our dear departed Don played fifty years before. While he won't believe in ghosts - men are never good about these things!! -
he does see things are happening to Kiely that calls for his protection, which he is only too eager to provide!

Fitzpatrick is a delight at weaving this amazing tale of paranormal, off-beat Sleuth and sexy romance. She vividly brings to life the frantic backstage madness of a play being produced. It's funny, it's sexy.

Fans of Katie Macalister should check her out.

My family was given this book when my mother was dying of cancer. Since that time, I have no idea how many times I've opened it up again and browsed through it. The version I have is leather bound, and has thin pages like those you'd find in a Bible. It came in a box, which has helped it stay nice through the years. I personally would recommend buying the leather edition rather than the paperback; It makes a better looking, more sturdy gift.

I have so often used this book when trying to think of appropriate verses to add to the letters and cards I send to others. I plan to buy a couple copies to give to people who are going through trials right now.

For the most part the verses are organized in a helpful manner, and I enjoy reflecting on them when I feel discouraged, anxious, etc. There are 9 sections, with numerous sub-sections. For example, under the section titled "Jesus is Your ...", some of the subsections are "Savior", "Lord", "Love", etc. Other sections include: The Bible is Your ... What to Do When You Feel... What to Do When You Are ... What To Do When ... What the Bible Has to Say About ... Truth From the Bible About ... What You Can Do To ... God's Plan for Salvation.

Personally, my husband and I believe that a few of the verses, especially those found in the sections relating to Physical Sickness and Finanical Trouble, are not always applicable to us today. In some cases, they are taken out of context. (We are not promised that He will physically heal our ailments today the way Jesus and his disciples healed people while on Earth.) However, I would not let those few verses deter me from giving this as a gift.

This was purchased as a gift. The person who received it read it through in a single sitting- it beckoned her so! Now she is reading it on a daily basis.

I love this book as it is a handy quick reference book for when you are helping others and need a certain Bible verse to comfort, encourage, etc. Bought one of each of my 8 children to have! Many different topics to look up to help in times of trouble. A must have and small enough to carry with you, but print is nice size also.

The compiler of this book (Dr. A. L. Gill) has crafted the single most powerful book of God's Promises. First, the Scripture is primarily drawn from the King James Version of The Bible. Newer "Living" translations, while they may be useful, occasionally change the meaning and context as a by-product of "updating" the language. With King James Version Scripture, you can't go wrong. Second, this is a reference work organized in a primarily situational manner. If you have a need, the book guides you to Scripture that addresses that need. Finally, other than the organizational text, it's 100% Scripture. Too often authors of "Promises" books add their own agenda and interpretation. Depending upon the author, this can cause more harm than good. This book places God's word in your mind and in your heart and lets you decide what He is trying to communicate to you. I consider this to be an essential book for any Christian seeking a deeper understanding of God's Word.

This book is a topical reference for finding Bible verses according to what the verse is about. The topics such as love, suffering, grace, etc are listed alphabetically and are followed by one or more verses that pertain to that subject. This makes it easy quickly find a verse for every occasion and important topics covered in the Bible.

Even better than the original, "Book of Love," digs deeper into the true passions of the goomba--from food to cars to oh, woman, of course.

What are some goomba characteristics?
It's already pre-determined that the real old-school East Coast Italian-Americans must drive Caddies, wear Fila jumpsuits and sport gold chains. But these "traditions" aren't just done for the hell of it. There are reasons why the guido does certain things...

CLOTHES: Most Italian goombas wear colorful Fila track outfits as casualwear because having an easily recognizable matching uniform is essential. Also, because most guidos are a little on the heavy side, the Filas flatter the body shape and are comfortable all year round. Of course Fila is an Italian company so that is always the best brand. Guido dress-up attire is usually a dark matching suit (with either a tropical print silk shirt underneath or a dark shirt with brightly patterned tie for real formal events). The guido likes to stand out and always lives by the credo that tasteful gaudiness is classy.

ACCESSORIES: Most Italian goombas wear tons of gold because it makes them look like they have some money, even if that's not the case. The money that the guido does carry is in a roll with a rubber band around it with the big fazool (a ten spot) on the outside. Bracelets, watches, pinkie rings, and of course, necklaces are always worn. The religious emblems (Christ on the cross, Holy Mary) are usually around the neck because most guidos are Catholic.

CARS: Most Italian goombas drive old Caddies and Lincolns because they are big, powerful and roomy. Other guidos may pick a Monte Carlo or Mustang or another flashy sportscar but traditionalists will go for the Caddie. Most Mafiosos drive Caddies because they are flashy and represent luxury to the fullest but regular guidos who can't afford brand new ones go for second-handers and spice them up with tints and sound systems. And of course, the red horn is hung from the rearview mirror and the Italian flag decal is on the back bumper. I don't know about guidos outside of my neighborhood, but Jersey guidos never drive Japanese cars, only American cars.

FOOD: Most Italian goombas eat Italian-American food, not Olive Garden garbage but food from old-fashioned local spots run by fellow guidos or better yet, from Mama or Nonna. Meatballs, macaroni, eggplant, pizza, gabagol, and other old-fashioned goodness. Why? Because it tastes the best of course, and is the most filling. The guido will eat other non-Italian foods at times (it must be satisfying) but none of this modern new wave kind of eclectic cuisine is eaten, and an Italian meatball is always chosen before an American meatloaf if the option is given.

ENTERTAINMENT: Most Italian goombas like Joe Pesci and other Italian actors because they are the most relatable. These guys come from the neighborhood and talk, act and look like the local guido. That's why every Italian guido from Jersey thinks they can be on "The Sopranos." The guido has a fascination with the Mafia because of the similarities but also adores non-gangster portrayals as well, like Rocky Balboa and the all-time King Guido: Tony Manero of "Saturday Night Fever." Music is a huge part of the guido lifestyle. Anything Italian from Sinatra to Bon Jovi to Angelo Venuto are listened to. The music is usually light and danceable, none of those deep Celine Dion ballads or country tunes.

ATTITUDE: Most Italian goombas are from the East Coast so they have that "numero uno" attitude. Guidos haggle when buying something to get the best prices, are outgoing, do everything to the extreme, and show pride in all of their interests-the main one being the Italian-American heritage. Guidos never back down from fights and always go after what they want, whether it's a job or a girl or a calzone. Guidos talk with their own slang, use hand gestures, and strut. The guido's life is a constant hustle, book smarts are not always top priority when Italian charm and quick wit can be used instead. And when all else fails, God and mama are always there. The guido loves all the guido stereotypes, plays them up and doesn't give a damn what anyone thinks.

HOME LIFE: Most Italian goombas are married to a guidette who can cook and look hot doing it. Guidettes can give their men agita and turn them on at the same time. The guido-guidette relationship is always emotional, and the harder the fights are the harder the you-know-what is. The bedroom has a Crucifix above the bed, the sofa is protected with plastic and the house must have a leather recliner, a crystal chandelier, a white and red checkered tablecloth, a mini Tower of Pisa statue in the backyard, and an Italian flag on the front lawn. The kids are junior guidos and guidettes of course, and will grow up to be adult guidos and guidettes. There are always cousins and other relatives dropping by. The closeness of family and friends is always evident and the high level of drama exists because the guido is emotional and passionate about everything.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a few good laughs over a few good dumps. What else can a Goomba ask from a book sittin' on the back of the cammode.

I knew guys like this growing up! This book is HILARIOUS!!!

I loved this book. I found it to be very funny (..). Great entertainment.

Well known to countless fans of television's The Sopranos as Bobby "Bacala" Baccilieri, Steven Schirripa turned to the world of books and penned "A Goomba's Guide To Life," a top seller not only for Sopranos aficionados but others who enjoy smiles mixed with neighborhood sagacity.

Now, Mr. Schirripa follows with "The Goomba's Book Of Love," read by the only voice to share this wisdom - Mr. Schirripa himself.

Love in the goomba lexicon refers not only to the attraction between male and female but his undying love for his mother and her pasta sauce, deeply felt affection for his children, and his car (he cautions that no one better be caught eating in it).

The goomba, it seems, is a veritable wellspring of love - for his neighborhood, his friends, his extended family and, of course, broads. The criteria for a real goomba broad? "She'd go to the chair for me."

For the uninitiated, the dictionary defines a goomba, also "goombah" as the senior member of a criminal gang. Also, for the uninitiated, "The Goomba's Book Of Love" is pure entertainment. If you want sex tips, consult Dr. Ruth. If you want laughter and good humor, listen to this.

- Gail Cooke