Travel Books

I bought this gift as a present for a friend who lives in LA. What a great guide! Very thorough, but brief and to-the-point, summary of every beauty service you could need. My only wish is that they would give a price range for the salons, not just a low/medium/high rating. I hope they come out with one for the Detroit area!

while i do not live in la, this is a useful tool to have when traveling for work/pleasure, etc. similar to a zagat guide for dining, this is excellent. the summaries are short, sweet and to the point. women & men can trust that the research is accurate & reliable. please come out with a nationwide head to toe - we need seattle, dc, chicago, nyc, boston, miami, minneapolis, dallas and many more!

head to toe is incredible. I just have moved from New York to LA and use the book all the time. I found out about the book from an article in Vogue's August issue. It breaks down every beauty service by price with a review. No need to wonder anymore about the best beauty places just for you.

I just received my first client because of this wonderful book. I have a facial salon inRedondo Beach and I never knew someone came in to "check me out" ...how wonderful to find out that they reviewed me in their book and gave me some great advertisement. Thanks for everything Sirrell

Head to toe has been an unbelievable tool in finding the most perfect places to get any beauty needs. The reviews are so detailed with all the information from prices to hours of operation. I would recommend this book for locals as well as tourists who are visiting the Los Angeles area.

Brian Lane presents clear and concise information on hiking in the Grand Canyon. The fact that he has focused on the Bright Angel, South Kaibab, and North Kaibab trails--the popular trails to Phantom Ranch--is a boon to anyone going on their first backpacking trip in the Canyon. With his book you learn the necessary info to have an enjoyable and successful journey into the mile-deep gorge. His detailed and easy-to-read text provides info from his years of experience about your drinking water requirements, protection from the sun, conditioning prior to the hike, and desert safety. Lane's beautiful photographs of many of the scenes along way is a pleasant bonus--his fine art quality photos are stunning. Lane has created a classic backpacking guide book with the specific aim to get people into the Canyon--and back out again--while having fun.
Grand Canyon: The Vault of HeavenThe Fun Guide to Exploring Grand Canyon National Park (Grand Canyon Association)Grand Canyon Map and Guide[[ASIN:189386099X

Excellent book, answers lots of questions ranging from temperatures, sunrise/sunset times, elevation gain, appropriate equipment and trail conditions to what to eat (and avoid eating) and how to avoid health problems and how to treat them if they occur. Although for a trip to Phantom Ranch (our plan) one wants to consult a number of sources, this is the best I've seen so far at answering questions. Practical, easy reading and worth more than the price.

This little book is packed full of useful information for anyone planning to hike the Bright Angel Trail (as we are) or other Grand Canyon trails. It is well written, has some great pictures, and provides excellent advice. I really liked this book!

Fantastic photography, great maps, very informative! Awesome for anyone
who loves hiking. I have not yet visited the Grand Canyon, but when I do
this guide is going with me. It's a great size to carry hiking and you
can't beat the price either. A friend of mine also stated that she
wished this guide had been available 2 years ago when she visited the
canyon. This book is definitely a must read!

I would have expected a guide as well done as this to be twice the price. The author has taken some stunning photographs and backed them up with consise trail information. Makes me want to go back again soon. Excellent book.Hikernut's Grand Canyon Companion - A Guide to Hiking and Backpacking the Most Popular Trails Into the Canyon: Bright Angel, South Kaibab & North Kaibab Trails

I'm heading to Bali this month and this book provided a great intro to the customs and nature of this island. I'm even more excited to get there after reading it.

I am Balinese and live in Ubud, about 10 minutes walk from where Colin McPhee stayed, when he came to Bali in 1931. My aunt worked for him.

He heard a record of gamelan music in New York and couldn't wait to get to Bali to listen to the real thing.

He stayed in Bali for almost 8 years and set about documenting gamelan music. Much of his research was carried out in a village near Ubud where my Villas are. There are still old people in the village who remember him.

His book is beautifully written and tells stories of his adventures and life in the village and his encounters with the local Balinese. It's not necessary to understand technical music matters to enjoy this book - it is totally accessible.

Highly recommended.

I first heard Gamelan was coming out of the oldest temple on the Island of Bali, near Ubud, and was reading this book at the time. I purchased the book at the Jakarta airport and was hooked by the first paragraph. I think that this is a wonderful, insight into the island, the music, it's people and culture. If you have a love for exotic music and or artform, this historical work is a captivating read. My only regret is that Colin McPhee never went back to his beloved Bali.

It's a very interesting book in regards to what I have actually read. It seems to have accounts on Balinese culture. I found it enjoyable and interesting to read because it not only talks about Balinese culture but about the conflict and clashes within the village like the little dancer named Sampih and his dance teacher Nyoman Kaler.

Colin McPhee conveys many interesting things like when bad luck happened in his home in Sayan and how they had to do a purification ceremony in regards to dispel the demons, witches and evil spirits. His wanderings in Bali to record music and study their music like the rare gamelan angklung and gamelan selonding from Tenganan who were the Bali Aga. Colin McPhee was drawn to the scintallinating sounds and metallic shimmer from the gamelan. At times there are humours accounts of what goes on between him and his friends that happen in the village or when they are touring around Bali. I found it enjoyable because, he seemed to have fitted in well with the Balinese people without too much problems compared with other writers before them spoke of barbarity and the animal like behaviour of the Balinese at certain functions. He writes with passion about what goes on and how things have changed with the colonial rule of the Dutch. The loss of autonomy by the Rajas who were reduced to poverty at times and how their obessions with cockfighting led to their ruin. Yet in times of despair and hardship they are always humble to him.

Overall the book contains a few photographs of his friends and colleagues. I found it wonderful and intriguing and as well as captiviting at times which he covers so many topics like the temple functions like Galungan, Wayang Kulit (Shadow Plays), the music club etc... This book you will grow to love like the book written by Miguel Corrovabias "Island of Bali".

Even as the art & tradition of classical gamelan music fades in Java, gamelans are built & organized in America & Europe, the music is studied & taught in universities. This has occurred since the 70's, when recordings of gamelan music became widely available, particularly in a major series on Nonesuch Explorer. For many people, hearing gamelan for the first time is not only a delightfully exotic experience, the music unlike anything one has heard, but there is often also a strange shock of recognition, as if one somehow already knew the music, although where & how remains a mystery. Perhaps this is what happened to Colin McPhee. For McPhee in 1930, as for so many western musicians since, hearing gamelan inspired something like a religious conversion.

I was given an old copy of this book shortly after I heard gamelan for the first time, & so I was able to follow McPhee on his great adventure to find where the music came from. When he arrived in Bali, he discovered that although the culture was vibrantly alive, much of music was in danger of being lost. He met, befriended, & studied with some greatly talented Balinese musicians, old masters & several younger composers & leaders, including Wayan Lotring & Made Lebah. They set about restoring a Semar Pegulingan gamelan. The task of bringing this music back to life is the "plot" of the "A House In Bali." McPhee quickly realized that his western musical training was of limited value, because the "values" of music - technically & culturally - in Bali were so different. Music had popular, ritual, & concert functions, as in the West. But the music was inseparable from the instruments, & each collection of instruments - each gamelan, was unique. Compositions were learned by rote, in phrases, with the gamelan functioning as a kind of all-ages social club for men. McPhee had to become, as best he could, a person of Bali, a villager, someone with a place & a role in the life of the community. He recounts his immersion in Balinese life, As strange as Bali was for McPhee, he was the "stranger," the outsider, & he remained one, oddly indifferent to what the Balinese thought of his lifestyle. Most inexplicably, he seems not to have become a gamelan musician. One wonders not only how he resisted this experience, but also why?

McPhee later attempted to translate Balinese music into a western idiom using pianos & a symphony orchestra, with beautiful results, but losing what he had learned in the process, Sadly, when he returned home, he had left the most important stuff behind.

This is a great book chock full of "to the point" advice.
I like the fact that you can use it not only as a "reading" book but also a "reference" book.

This book is great and doesn't treat you like a "dummie".....it
was delivered much quicker than I expected. Excellent!

"HOW TO OPEN A FINANCIALLY SUCCESSFUL COFFEE, ESPRESSO & TEA SHOP" by Elizabeth Godsmark, Lora Arduser and Douglas R. Brown.

Coffee is a huge industry across the country and around the world. In the introduction of "How to open a financially successful coffee, espresso & tea shop" the authors point out that the coffee industry is a $5 billion industry, which is growing more and more every year.

Anyone who is interested in starting his or her own coffee, espresso, or tea shop is going to be fascinated in this book. The authors start at the beginning with developing a business plan. The give examples and even offer a CD program that has preformatted documents. Licenses, business name, choosing suppliers, and equipment requirements are all discussed in the opening chapters.

Many aspects of running a successful coffee, espresso & tea business are discussed throughout this book. The authors have done a tremendous job in giving an introduction to opening this type of business. They talk about profit planning and advertising, as well as choosing the best equipment and managing your operating costs.

Without a doubt this is a definite must have book for anyone even thinking about starting this kind of business. The author's are able to skillfully introduce all the major concerns with opening a coffee, espresso & tea business. They provide a wealth of information that will help clarify a person's views of what is actually required to open, operate, and run a financially successful coffee, espresso & teashop.

Lots of good information. Some things I would never have thought of. I was very glad that I purchased this book and continue to use it frequently.

This is the best book if you are serious about opening your own business! They thought of everything. LOVE IT & recommend it completely!

I bought this book because our family is planning a summer vacation to Montana. We wanted to refresh our memory of the Lewis & Clark Expedition. We all enjoyed the diaries and illustrations in the book. It is the right amount of information to keep the story moving and keep all readers interested. It is full of interesting details of this famous journey.

We ordered this to complete a reading requirement for my child's project. It was packed with information yet illustrated nicely and easy to read.

Wow! This is a wonderful book. An engaging layout, colorfully descriptive illustrations, captivating text, and numerous extra little tidbits of information all combine to make this a most enjoyable and informative book. And that's not all! Perhaps the best feature of all is the fact that the text, while slightly adapted for the younger reader, is taken from the original writings of Lewis, Clark, and other members of the Corps of Discovery. All in all, this is a can't-miss resource for studying the Lewis & Clark Expedition with children. My 12-year-old enjoyed it every bit as much as my 9-year-old... although I'm not sure how either of them could have enjoyed it more than I did!

The adventure and thrill of the Lewis & Clark Expedition is brought to life here in a story that both children and adults could appreciate. In beautiful and carefully rendered folk-style illustrations, and with descriptive text from the actual journals of the participants, the book has the appearance of something that almost could have been written in the early 1800's, when the expedition occurred. Rosalyn Schanzer's personal interest in the subject, especially the journals and the Indian tribes, seems to bring out the best in the storytelling, which primarily illustrates the first 1 1/2 years of the Corps of Discovery's journey to the Pacific Ocean. The story is accessible and easily understood, yet the attention to detail should satisfy those trying to learn, and even researchers in this important chapter in early American History.

A very good book about the Lewis & Clark expedition. The illustrations were vivid and the best part of the book. I would recommend this book

What a story, Entertaining and thoughtful. Gives a snapshot of Nashville as seen by a West coast person. Great splashes of humor, Wonderful photography.

Wonderful! Reading this book was an adventurous experience by itself, very real. Nashville seems like a very romantic, historic place. I feel like visiting it right away. Very nice photographs!! Loved it!!

This reads very easy -- like a rather funny travelogue / description of Nashville sent to you by one of your literary friends. Complete with pictures and personal experiences from the point of view of an Asian Indian immigrant.

This is an excellent book to learn about Nashville from the eyes of a new comer. good photography, excellent choice of words. absolutely loved it!!

I loved the symbolism in snow flakes! Very moving! The book is full of humor, and yet is very literary. As others have said, the author uses photography to accentuate his writing, very impressive!

Keillor is probably best known in the Midwest where his tales of the imaginary town of Lake Wobegon are heard on many radio stations in that region. This book is set in a variety of real Minnesota towns and depicts life in the rural Midwest. Those from these stomping grounds will easily relate to the short stories contained in this book. But even if you dwell in a California metropolis you will still find a warmth, perhaps uncommon, yet very appreciated. Take, for example, the following exerpt quoted from The Notebooks of Carl Krebsbach:
"It was the annual January thaw, nature's way of arousing false hopes and tempting the good people of Lake Wobegon to let lown their guard and not wear a scarf so that nature can kill them. A form of natural selection to reduce the optimist population and promote the survival of embittered stoics who believe that fate is against them. Which it is.
The thaw means that snow on the roof melts and freezes on the overhang of the eaves, forming a dam to back up the water so it can get under the shingles and freeze and gradually rip our house apart, which is nature's goal, to obliterate us. Nature is not benevolent towards us, it wants us out of here. It's good to know this. In summer, you can almost believe otherwise.
Luckily, summer is soon over. As it turns cold, our mood improves. we're excited. Cold is a stimulant. So is danger. It's good to have nature to deal with. That's why self-pity declines in the fall. People don't sit around and anguish over what to do with their lives. Instinct tells you. You're a mammal. Stay warm. Stay close to the food supply. Shovel the roof. Make babies. Make a few extra in case the wolves get one. And then on a cold night in January, you walk out in the moon light and agsinst all reason, beyodn all expectation, you're utterly happy."

In addition to Keillor's down-to-earth story telling this book contains wonderful photography by Richard Olsenius. I actually bought this book because I am a fan of photojounalistic photograghy. Great writing and great photography, a bookshelf is incomplete without this volume.

I was what you would call a "Noobie" to all of Garrison's work until recently. I picked up this book at a college library after speaking to my mother about the Minnesota author project I was recently assigned. She was familiar with his work and suggested that I look into it....so I did. I never thought that this would open up such big can of worms, and I mean this in a good sense. After reading the book from cover to cover, I went on the internet to find out more about Garrison's work and turned up some very interesting search results. I then read it again and now I guess you could say that I'm hooked on the Lake Wobegon saga and I am planning on picking up a couple of his earlier writings related to Lake Wobegon.
I really enjoyed reading this book and I would recommend this book to anyone who has vast, little, or no knowledge of Lake Wobegon.

I was what you would call a "Noobie" to all of Garrison's work until recently. I picked up this book at a college library after speaking to my mother about the Minnesota author project I was recently assigned. She was familiar with his work and suggested that I look into it....so I did. I never thought that this would open up such big can of worms, and I mean this in a good sense. After reading the book from cover to cover, I went on the internet to find out more about Garrison's work and turned up some very interesting search results. I then read it again and now I guess you could say that I'm hooked on the Lake Wobegon saga and I am planning on picking up a couple of his earlier writings related to Lake Wobegon.
I really enjoyed reading this book and I would recommend this book to anyone who has vast, little, or no knowledge of Lake Wobegon.

Fans of Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion" are already an imaginative sort. We know what Arlene Bunsen looks like, or Pastor Inquist. We've got a good idea how Roger Hedlund has been rotating his crops, and the main goings on on Main Street. We don't need pictures of this area because we already know it by heart--we've seen it on the radio. This book does exactly what it should...it doesn't dispel our images of Lake Wobegon, but gives us pictures of its neighbors and people living their lives in rural Minnesota. All the images are sepia toned. With a few exceptions, the subjects are unposed and candid, getting ready for the prom, or readying the field for corn.

The composition of the shots are superb. The short prologue gives a first person retelling of how Keillor invented the town that "time forgot and the decades cannot improve." That introduction, however, is so short that it's almost unfair to say that this is a Garrison Keillor book. He essentially wrote the foreword (although it's not titled that way), and the pictures tell the real story.

My only disappointment is that there isn't any color. Certainly sepia tones give us nostalgia the way we'd like to remember it, but sunset on a farm is something you can't appreciate in shades of brown. Rural life has its monochromatic moments, to be sure, but there's enough color and life to help us remember that not everything is nostalgia.

This gripe doesn't detract from the beauty of this book, though. Thankfully we never see Lake Wobegon, only hints and shadows. It allows us to preserve our preconceptions, but gives us a deeper feeling of connection with the area. If you're a fan of APHC, you probably already own this book (or you should). If not, take a look at a lifestyle that might be foreign to you.

From the Central Minnesota prairie, in beautiful black and white pictures and picturesque prose, here is the Genesis of Garrison Keilor's magical mythical Lake Wobegon, site of "A Prairie Home Companion." Here we get to *see* the strong women, good-looking men, and above average children of and for whom he speaks on Saturday nights. Accompanying Richard Olsenius' stunning photography (how can the viewer not be deeply moved by the picture of the veterans at the St. Wendell cemetery on Memorial Day?) are excerpts from the Radio Show, interviews with inhabitants, and essays and musings from Keilor - like this:

"Culture isn't decor, it's what you know before you're twelve. It sticks with you all your born days. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. You can try to wrestle free of it, like those geese who trail the V-formation, trying to look as if they aren't part of this bunch, as if flying south were a personal decision on their part, but your feint towards independence only makes it clearer who you really are. Some people like hot dish better if it's called cassoulet, or pot roast if it's pot-au-feu. Fine. Suit yourself. Same difference."

Whatever you call those culinary delights, you'll like this book. Come see Father Kleinschmidt's Annual Blessing of the Snowmobiles. Ja, you betcha! Reviewed by TundraVision.

The Bond Lover's Bible is how I would describe this book. It is highly detailed (with references to Bond books and films)and exceedingly well-structured, whilst looking up references around the capital is simplicity itself. The book should be far more widely known than it is - not only because it is so very good, but because its companion volume, the almost completed "James Bond's Britain", is apparently unlikely to make it into print on the strength of sales so far for "James Bond's London". Highly recommended!

As a James Bond fan, having just gotten home from a trip to London, I have to say, having this book with me was truly indispensable. I found myself looking up the places where the Bond films were shot, and the book give you the details on how to get there, including subway stops. As one person said, a map would have been real helpful, but the information is pretty extensive without it. I highly recommend it.

An excellent compendium of places and locations that have played a part in both Bond Books and Bond Films. The detail and descriptions are impecable and Gary's research has definately paid-off.

Particular note goes out to the two introductory writers, Peter Hunt and Christopher Lee, who both offer excellent background and depth.

One downside is that a map would have been quite effective to achieve the sense of geography and distance to these locations. As only a one-time visitor (so far!) to London, I don't quite know the relationships to the districts and locales, etc. In this case a map would have been quite helpful.

James Bond and London, the capital of Britain, go hand in hand. A James Bond adventure, whether it is cinematic or literary, would hardly be complete without some form of patriotism towards Mother England and off hand I can only think of a few adventures (mainly short stories) where no scenes talk place in Britain. This simple fact, coupled with the fact that every man wishes to be like James Bond, gives good reason for a book such as James Bond's London to be written.
Gary Giblin took up the challenge of writing such a book in January 1998. I shall not go into full details here as they're covered in Jordan Charter's interview located here. However, what started as a book entitled James Bond's Britain eventually had to be subdivided into two books. As a result of a lot or hard work James Bond's London was published in December 2001.

To begin with, James Bond's London isn't your average book, nor is it what I originally envisaged it would be; but that's not a bad thing, quite the opposite actually. What Giblin has presented is a travel guide to the world of James Bond in London. Quite simply, the book is the most useful source for anyone who wants to travel in the footsteps of James Bond, something, which could easily seem a mammoth undertaking.

Giblin has been very particular in the material that he has covered. By his own admission in an interview with CommanderBond.Net he has omitted literary material not written by Ian Fleming; of course indicating he is a purist to the work. Giblin has also omitted non-EON Productions cinematic material; again a sign of purity as there is only one true James Bond film series.

That said, the amount of material Giblin has included is still amazing. There a literally hundreds of locations that can be found in the novels and in the films. What is most amazing about the film locations is how many of them were used for non-British locations in the films. For instance the car park from Tomorrow Never Dies is actually in London and not Hamburg. Also, aside from locations that we read of and watch are locations where significant events of the Bond world took place. For instance, the birthplace of Ian Fleming or the former offices of EON Productions. If it's Bond related and it's in London you'll find it in "James Bond's London".

Thankfully, for those of us not well versed in travelling around London Giblin has an explanation of how to get to each location. Not only does he include the standard address, suburb and postcode but also details for getting there via the London Underground. As a part of this he's mentioned the platforms and the stations one should use and once leaving the station which streets one should follow.

The locations in the book are also well categorised. Rather than organising the locations by film, novel or perhaps relation Giblin has taken the initiative of organising them by location. So one could simply spend a day in a certain part of London and visit several Bond related locations. The guide makes it that simple.

As for the detail on each location Giblin has included quite a lot. To describe each location Giblin has used icons to begin with; for instance a clapperboard icon represents a film related location. As a part of the textual description for each location Giblin has not only included Bond related information but information on the locations non-Bond history. Readers will not only learn a great deal about Bond but a great deal about London too.

In passing good comments about the work that Giblin has done one must also highlight downfalls to "James Bond's London" - something that is not an easy task let me assure you. While I can find no fault in the material that Giblin has presented I must say that I was disappointed to find that the book was not offered in a hardback edition. However, in saying that one can definitely appreciate the fact that Giblin and the Daleon, whom published the book, made all attempts to keep the prices low. My only other complain is about one of the icons in the book; the skull and cross bone. The icon is disproportionate and according to Giblin this is a problem that occurred at the printers.

All in all James Bond's London is a must have for any Bond fan of any calibre. Gary Giblin has researched extensively into all aspects of the locations and the films and help from Bond legends such as Peter Lamont have made this a completely unique and factual reference guide.

This book gets high marks as it is invaluable for discovering exact London references to buildings (hotels, restaurants, etc) associated with James Bond (the films and Ian Fleming). The reviews that others have written about this book are right on the mark. Congratulations Gary.

Also of interest is Gary's Alfred Hitchcock's London. Check it out.

Harriet Williams (Hattie) is an artist from Chicago. She gets a job creating illustrations for the Museum's Egyptian curator Thomas Harris' new book about Ancient Egypt. The illustrations are progressing quite well except for the face of Hatshepsut, a female Pharaoh. In order to get her in the right frame of mind Thomas allows Hattie access to an ancient necklace that once belonged to Hatshepsut. However, upon touching the necklace, Hattie is transported to Ancient Egypt where she must pretend she is Hatshepsut in order to save the Pharaoh's stepson and heir apparent to the Egyptian throne from a traitor that threatens to murder the boy.

Lady of Two Lands is a wonderfully entertaining time travel romance. The author does a lovely job of showing contrast in daily life, attitudes towards women, and material possessions between modern day and Ancient Egyptian times by integrating interesting bits and pieces of real history into the story. Moreover, whenever the author deviates from these realities, she explains how these deviations could have occurred. These aspects add an extra aspect of depth and realness to the storyline and add a deeper understanding of the reasons that the romantic relationship is forbidden further increasing the anticipation of the potential romance.

Elizabeth Delisi's LADY OF THE TWO LANDS is an interesting time-travel that takes us back to the time of Hatshepsut and her royal architect, Senemut.

The story plays off the true facts of the female pharaoh's reign and the suspected romance between her and Senemut.

Research shows that Hatshepsut did indeed rule the two lands of upper and lower Egypt, and her temple was one of the most beautiful ever created, though after her death, many images of her were destroyed in an apparent attempt to erase her memory from history.

What Ms. Delisi tells is her version of the rule, and concentrates on the relationship between the female pharaoh and the man she trusted more than any other, Senemut. It is a very carefully rendered insight into the lives of both and the relationship that ensues.

LADY OF THE TWO LANDS is a well-researched story that will take you back in time to an ancient Egypt where magic was never doubted and the impossible made possible.

Sheri L. McGathy
~:.*.:~~:.*.:~May the magic always brighten your world~:.*.:~~:.*.:~

Harriet "Hattie" Williams was an artist. She was hired by the Egyptian Curator of a museum to sketch illustrations for his book about Hatshepsut, the first female Pharaoh to rule ancient Egypt.

While holding a necklace that had once belonged to the famous ruler, Hattie's essence was sent backward in time thirty-five hundred years to reside in Queen Hatshepsut's body.

Hatshepsut was poisoned during the funeral of her husband. She searched her relatives through the millennia and selected Hattie to be the one to help her. Hattie was to temporarily BE Hatshepsut. Hattie's duties were to protect the stepson, eight-year-old Prince Tuthmosis, (heir to the throne) and determine the identity of the betrayer. Once done, Hattie would return to her own time and body.

Hattie was not really given a choice. Thus she wanted only to complete her tasks and return home. Hattie found one person she somehow knew she could trust named Senemut. He was the tutor of Hatshepsut's little daughter, Princess Neferure. Promoted a highly honored position and given the title "Steward of Amun", he became not only Hattie's trusted advisor, but also her love.

***** I cannot tell you how WONDERFUL this story is! The author managed to make the story come alive. The characters seemed REAL. The tale is fast paced and the reader will not become bored. It is available in various electronic formats AND in paperback. Highly recommended! *****

Elizabeth Delisi's LADY OF THE TWO LANDS is rich with details of ancient Egypt through the eyes of a heroine, Hattie Williams, who travels through time to become the Pharaoh of the two lands of Egypt. The story captures the romance and intrigue as Hattie and Senemut uncovers the murderous plot against the Pharaoh and Prince Tuthmosis. When reading the story, I felt drawn to the glory of ancient Egypt. I would recommend this book to those who are fascinated with the lifestyles of great Egyptian rulers. Although the plot was slightly predictable, the story was quite engaging and has inspired me to do more research on Pharaoh, Hatshepsut and Prince Tuthmosis.

Reviewed by CCR's Gracia Mason

I just finished reading Elizabeth Delisi's LADY OF THE TWO LANDS. An interesting time-travel that takes us back to the time of Hatshepsut and her royal architect, Senemut.

The story plays off the true facts of the female pharaoh's reign and the suspected romance between her and Senemut.

Research shows that Hatshepsut did indeed rule the two lands of upper and lower Egypt, and her temple was one of the most beautiful ever created, though after her death, many images of her were destroyed in an apparent attempt to erase her memory from history.

What Ms. Delisi tells is her version of the rule, and concentrates on the relationship between the female pharaoh and the man she trusted more than any other, Senemut. It is a very carefully rendered insight into the lives of both and the relationship that ensues.

LADY OF THE TWO LANDS is a well-researched story that will take you back in time to an ancient Egypt where magic was never doubted and the impossible made possible.

Sheri L. McGathy
~:.*.:~~:.*.:~May the magic always brighten your world~:.*.:~~:.*.:~ ...

Toby is the coolest boy because he knows everything and he always saves the girls. I want to go with him on a big advenure so he can save me too. I learned how to draw Toby too because he teaches me that in the back of the book.

Hello. This book is fabulous. I have two boys and I am also a homeschool instructor. I created a lesson plan based on the Toby Digz books and now it has been thrown into our weekly studies.
The publisher of this series seems to have discovered what boys today are looking for because every child in my class adores these characters. (The girls love it too, especially due to the fact that Lauren Lane, Toby's friend is a smart homeschooled girl. Keep these coming, and tell the publisher we need activity books based on the stories.
Ava Warnick

Hooray! My kids love this little boy with the James Bond gadgets. I am pleased with this series. The kids can't get enough. If you are a parent looking for that new book, one that will excite your child and make them WANT to read, then this is your series! We love Toby Digz.

It's about time. My children are smart kids. I have always had a difficult time finding chapter books they would actually engage in, but this new series hit the mark, Toby Digz is a great character and I was so impressed with the format of the book.
The author has gone out of his way to obviously keep the kids interested. When you reach the last pages, there are all sorts of unique charts and games. This man know his audience well! Good job Tommy Nelson! Keep them coming.

I love the Toby Digz books! This book was so fun it made me want to learn more about Egypt. Thanks for writing these books and please write more!!