Open Books

This is a great book about fervently loving. I loved it! It tells us how we should love another even when they don't return their love. This a great book to build up your christian life!

THIS BOOK WAS ABOUT A GIRL NAMED SIERRA,WHO WENT ON A TRIP TO
EUROPE,AND MET THIS REALY CUTE GUY,NAMED ALEX.HE WAS A CHRISTIAN,LIKE SIERRA.HE LOVED EVERYBODY,EVEN WHEN AUNT MARTI TRIED TO SPLIT SIERRA,AND ALEX,FROM SEEING EACH OTHER.THIS BOOK IS A GOOD CHOICE BECAUSE IT IS FILLED WITH ADVENTURE,AND ROMANCE.I WOULD REALLY RECOMMEND A TEEN READING THIS BOOK,I REALLY ENJOYED IT.

I started reading these books when a friend recommended them. I thought they sounded so stupid, but I read the first one and got hooked. Sierra Jensen, along with Christy Miller books seem to bring me closer to the Lord. After reading them, I have a great feeling inside. The best part, is that I relate to every single one of them. The guys they meet are amazing! This is a great series that a Christian or non-Christian should read!!

This book is great! But then again, i love all robin jones gunn's books. Sierra's trip to Switzerland is a blast, and she meets a wonderful person. Christy Miller has to decide if she wants to take sum sorta job in Switzerland as part of like a short term missions project. This book is a must read!

I know that this series is mainly about Sierra, but this is one of the few books that talks about Christy too. Sierra goes to Switzerland with Christy to help her decide if she should go to college there. Christy likes the school and all, but she still isn't sure... Sierra says that she thinks Todd is totally in love with Christy, but not ready to admit it to himself yet. Christy says that she knows she loves Todd too. Todd has always been the catious and slow kind of guy. His parents divorced when he was little and he doesn't want to make any mistakes. He knows what pain it can cause. He told Christy that if God really had meant for them to be together-- meaning they were supposed to get married someday-- being seperated wouldn't change their relationship. It would only make them appreciate each other more. So in the end, she decides to go to school there. The book has a lot about Christy, but of course it's supposed to be mainly about Sierra. I wanted to talk about Christy and Todd though because that's like the ultimate romance. Anyways, it's a GREAT book if you like the Christy Miller series and it's one of the best Sierra books.

This is one of the best books of nonfiction I've read. Not only does it function as a primary-source document for study, but it is genuinely good reading. Subcomandante Insurgente Marcos is a powerful writer, and this book documents a selection of his poems, letters, communiqués and even fables for young children. Marcos, the most wanted man in Mexico, will go down as a major figure in Latin American Literature.

Since reading this book (actually, before I was even halfway finished) I had decided I needed to buy copies for family and friends as gifts and recommend it to pretty much everyone. Marcos is an amazing writer, and the story of the Zapatistas is extremely relevant and intriguing for anyone interested in modern society, politics, Latin America, social movements, civil wars, literature and poetry, what "integrity" means in such troubled times, and so much more. No matter your interest, you will not be dissapointed by this purchase.

Too often those of us who seek social justice for people who have been traditionally oppressed tend to just reminisce on the past.

However, this book proves that there is a great social movement that ordinary people CAN , RIGHT NOW make a diffrence about

The history of Mexico, like the history of Latin America, is a history of pain, struggle, and exploitation.

Marcos shows us a movement that seeks to right some of the wrong, and leads a movement of the oldest of the old, the oppressed of the oppressed: Indigenous campesinos (farmers) of Southern Mexico. Where pictures of Jesus Christ stand right there alongside of.....Che Guevara.

A people that have been traditionally been treated like dirt, for lack of a better word, now taking an inspirational and highly moving stand and demand an end to exploitation and a better way of life.

Through their charismatic and briliant leader, Marcos, he tells us the story of the people known as Zapatistas and their struggle for dignity.

The dignity of a people no longer willing to tolerate centuries of injustice.

What human being cannot be moved by such extroadinary courage?

Without a doubt, Subcomandante Marcos is one of the most important present day writers and activists in the Americas. "Our Word is Our Weapon" is a huge collection of his essays and short stories about the Zapatista rebellion in Chiapas.As such, I highly recommend it for peace and justice activists engaged in Latin American solidarity work, the anti-corporate globalization movement and indigenous struggles. Moreover, it is an interesting study of grassroots participatory democracy in action. Read it and be inspired!

Subcomandante Marcos is not just a man, he is a myth in his own lifetime. The cult of personality that surrounds him is completely deserved. His poetic voice is so sharp and poignant you can not help but feel sympathetic for his Zapatistan cause.

The highlight of the book is the last third which features primarily his writing. The stories and poetry he shares are accessible to almost anyone. He is the antithesis of stuffy. His anecdotes and points are so simple yet so perplexing you wonder how he does it.

I have enjoyed reading and trying the recipe's in the fantastic book. It is the best resource for the Dutch Oven enthusist. If you cannot find the book for a Fair price, check with you local BSA Office. They have the Paperback edition "new" for around $20 as of July '08! Keep Cooking.

My husband LOVES this book! We have one and have bought several for gifts. He loves to collect and cook in cast iron pots. He says this is the BEST book on the subject we own. He loves to cook up the mountain man breakfast from the recipe inside. It has a prominent place in our kitchen and we use it all the time. Great photography, useful information and super recipes!

This is a fantastic book. Not only does it have well wuiten recipies, it is layed out in such a way it is an enjoyable coffe table book. If you need a gift or a thank you for scouting, it is a perfect choice.

I read it like a 'book'. Great recipes. I've tried a few on the stove. I can't wait to get to the woods.

There are several excellent recipies that will be used in my Boy Scout Troop. We love to Dutch oven cook. All the boys are interested in trying some new ideas. This can be used at home or at camp. Great book!!!

I know I am REALLY dating myself, but this book was originally published the year I was born. I remember reading it in the school library a few times in elementary and I NEVER forgot it.
I now have 2 four year old daughters who ADORE this book! It has colorful pics in it, and it's repetitive phrases have them basically verbally reading it along with me. It is short and to the point, easy to read, and very enjoyable!

This is one of my all-time favorite books and was how I "learned" to read - really, I had all of the words memorized because it was read to me SO much. Even if you're not a Sesamee Street, you'll still love this book.

I bought this book for my grandson because my two grown kids both had loved it. The only thing I recommend (my opinion only) is to think about getting the book without the popups (The Monster at the End of this Book, is the same one). Since this is his favorite book, he always wants it with him. It took him no time for him to destroy it. I had to rely on my kids' old one with the dog-chewed corners.

I remember loving this book as a kid. We came upon it at the library and my kids haven't put it down. It really is such a fun book, especially when it's read animated.

This was one of my favorite most memorable books from when I was a little girl. Now I bought it for one of my girl friends daughter, who is 6 and she loved it also!

Gordon H. Clark once wrote that Brand Blanshard was the most important American philosopher of twentieth century. Why would Clark (a staunch Calvinist) say this about Blanshard (a signer of the Secular Humanist Manifesto)? Well, read this book.

Blanshard was a rationalist who disagreed with the dominant empiricist trend in philosophy. Like just about everyone prior to Hume, Blanshard had a full-orbed conception of reason. Philosophy is not limited to describing "linguistic conventions," but actually tell us something about the nature of the world.

REASON AND ANALYSIS starts with a discussion of traditional conception of reason (and its recent enemies) and then begins a full-scale assault on analytic philosophy. There is a particularly excellent discussion of a priori reasoning, which demolishes logical positivism and also demonstrates that logic is neither a linguistic convention nor the arbitrary creation of the mind.

My only complaint with this book is its length: 500 pages. Considering that much of what Blanshard destroyed has gone the way of a 1970's sitcom, this might seem excessive. On the other hand, if you are interested in learning about the differences between the early Moore and the later Moore, the early Russell and the later Russell, logical atomism and logical positivism and the like, you get something of an encyclopedic approach to the issue. It's tempting to ignore all the differences in nuance in various schools and thinkers, but the attention to detail only magnifies our appreciation of this work.

This is one of the most painstakingly argued philosophies I have ever encountered. Blanshard is obsessive-compulsive in his maniacal destruction of the philosophies of Wittgenstein and Bertrand Russel. Brand Blanshard is a man on the warpath; he will not be satisfied until every aspect of the aforementioned philosophies has been ground into dust. And indeed they are ground into dust. I do not see how anyone could be taken in by the concepts of Russel and Wittgenstein after reading this book.

All of this is not to say that Blanshard is a parasitic writer. There is more to this book than simply the destruction of other peoples' life's work. However, after reading _Reason and Analysis_, I realize that I have not seen this many instances of abuse of a corpse since the infamous "tri-state crematory scandal" in north Georgia. Blanshard simply will not leave these poor guys alone! Wittgenstein has rolled over in his grave so many times that he's gonna need to have his tires rotated. Anyway, this does not really detract from the book as a whole. It is actually a very valuble resource in terms of getting up to date with recent philosophical movements. Blanshard does an excellent job at summarizing previous movements, to the extent that you could get by without reading any of the authors he mentions. Blanshard's detailed synopses of these philosophies is almost as good as reading the original works themselves. A book like this can save you the trouble of having to read many early to mid-twentieth century philosophers.

To summarize, the factual content of this book is nearly inarguable. Blanshard's arguments are very convincing and very meticulous. Overall, this work is utterly fascinating, well written, lucid, and clear. But I will leave the reader with this one last piece of advice: ONLY READ THE FIRST 200 PAGES. That's all you need to get the gist of Blanshard's philosophy. Once you get past the first 200 pages, Blanshard seems to do nothing other than give endless additional examples to uphold an argument that was already convincing enough. The argument had been completely outlined by page 200, and meticulously argued to the point of catharsis. Those who read further must be devastated adherents of Wittgenstein who can only watch with shock and horror as their life's studies go up in smoke. I will not deduct a star for the run-on ending of this book simply because the first 200 pages are so spectacular and so potent that nothing could possibly detract from these initial arguments. This book is easily worth the price of admission ten times over simply for these first 200 pages - I'm only trying to save you time by warning you about the redundncy of the latter part of this book. So by all means go ahead and buy _Reason and Analysis_ - with my condolences to the adherents of Wittgenstein and Russell.

Brand Blanshard's work in defence of Reason is incredible. This book was published in 1962, and, given its length (especially at a time when there were no word processors), must have been in the works for some time before then.

Blanshard mostly takes on the philosophical schools of logical positivism and linguistic analysis in this volume, and is an opponent of any school of thought that denies or subverts the role of reason and logic in the acquisition of knowledge.

So what makes this book so good? It is a perfect example of scholarship (similar to George Reisman's "Capitalism"), given its topic. What do I mean by perfect?

1. The author gives a historical overview of the material to be presented. This allows a person to place ideas and positions in
thier historical context, and to understand the nature of the
debate that has preceded the material to be discussed.

2. The author explains the position of the viewpoint that he is in disagreement with. He cites references and quotes individuals.

3. The author demolishes the arguments of the opponents to the greatest extent he probably can, and in a systematic way. This ensures that all variants of the doctrine he is against are taken care of, and that any attempt to resurrect the doctrine in the future can be addressed with the arguments that he has already proposed. He totally refutes logical atomism and other aspects of logical positivism, and shows that linguistic analysis, as well as logical positivism, is self refuting.

4. The author then realizes that it is not enough to destroy - one must also replace the edifice that one has destroyed with a better one, or garbage might find its way onto the site where the old edifice once stood. The author outlines the his view of reason and aspects of it in the final chapters of the book.

A note for Objectivists: Brand Blanshard also rejected the Analytic-Synthetic Dichotomy in this volume and was legendary enough to merit a place in the Library of Living Philosophers series.

It is very puzzling (and a statement about what is going on in the world today) that Blanshard's works are mostly out of print, while people who could not explain thier positions with the clarity and consistency that he did are worshipped as philosophical legends. He dissects and makes thorough mincemeat of Wittgenstein's writings, showing that they are anything BUT logical(ly consistent). However, I can't find Blanshard's books in any local bookstores, but I can find loads of Wittgenstein's writings.

You don't have to agree with everything in this book to gain from it. Nothing is swept under the rug, and it is quite possible to honestly disagree with some points of view. However, any flaws in the book are unlikely to be attributed to wilful dishonesty on the part of the author by the reader, but will definitely vary, depending on the view point of the reader on certain philosophical issues. However, anybody committed to rationality will find a lot that is good in this book.

It is a good volume and there is lot to be gained by anyone who wants to investigate the lines along which thinking is done.

I claimed in my last review that Blanshard rejects the "Analytic-Synthetic" dichotomy. This is not totally true - he simply clarifies what Kant did intuitively (and puts it on a solid logical foundation), tosses away the terms "Analytic" and "Synthetic", and then uses his clarified form of the ideas to refute the assertions of logical positivism that no truths can be deduced without verification in sense.

Reading of this book continually reveal more and more insight to me. I give it my heartiest recommendations.

And rationalism wins.

Rationalism has endured a storm of sustained attacks throughout the twentieth century. The faculty of reason, which Blanshard calls the function of grasping necessary connections, is met by skeptics at every turn - men who deny the nature and use of reason and would severely limit the scope of its application. Amidst these attacks, rationalism has of course had its defenders, as woefully few as they were. Brand Blanshard was one of the most lucid defenders of reason in recent times, and this volume is one of the most powerful defenses of reason as a source of genuine knowledge about the nature of things. (the other volumes in the trilogy, _Reason and Belief_ and _Reason and Goodness_, are also excellent and worth hunting down.)

Blanshard's book unfolds much like a story, covering the cornerstones of Western philosophy's history. He examines the role of reason in western thought and describes the key intellectual events that gave rise to its nemesis, philosophy of analysis (linguistic analysis and logical positivism). This is the framework under which he carries out his defense of reason. After an informative dose of philosophical history, he turns to his critique. Chapters are devoted to logical atomism (the theory that the universe is comprised of particular facts not bound by necessity), the verifiability theory of meaning (the cornerstone of positivism, averring that to ascertain any fact we must appeal to our senses), the positivist account of a priori knowledge (it is analytic; knowledge about own concepts but not things), and early and later forms of linguistic analysis (looking to language to solve philosophical problems). His exposition of his opponents' philosophies is very generous and thorough, careful to understand that which he seeks to unravel. In fact, his thoroughness might be called "overkill" - there is hardly a point on which these anti-rationalist philosophy's are unchallenged. Wittgenstein, Russel, Ayer, Ryle, and numerous other key figures in analytic philosophy are demolished at every turn. Yet, Blanshard's fastidious demolition of their philosophies is carried out with utmost tact and intellectual generosity. Truthfully, logical positivism does not seem to require the attention Brand Blanshard gives to it. Rationalism is vindicated merely by asking what sort of proposition is the central positivist thesis: that all meaningful statements are analytic or empirical, but never both. One is invited to ask, of course, what sort of statement is this thesis? Clearly it is not analytic -- it obviously purports to be more than simple explication of our own concepts and words. Yet it is not empirical, at least not in the sense that its validity can be apprehended by our senses. Thus, it must be synthetic a priori, yet on the positivist's own terms this renders their thesis meaningless. This is a grave philosophical error. Despite the wanton overkill, if you savor poignant intellectual argument, Blanshard is among the best and his work is a pleasure to read. His criticisms, where not essential to the destruction of his opponents' position, is brimming with important insights.

With the fortresses of analytic philosophy razed, Blanshard sets out a positive case for reason. He explicates rationalist accounts of formal logic, arithmetic, and geometry, and puts forth an original and compelling theory of universals (that only specific universals exist, but not generic or quantitative universals).

I received this book from a dear cousin of mine during a time in my life when I was going through a rough patch. It was hard to read at first because of my fragile emotional state--that being said however, it also helped me to read some of the stories because they opened up a side of me that had stayed hidden for a long time. It took about 2 months, but I finally felt ready to read the whole book and it was truly wonderful. It was an emotional roller coaster--but an inspirational one that I needed.

I think this book was great cause it told stories that inspired me and some made me feel happy and some mad me cry. I just think the auther writes wonderful stories that touches other people's hearts. Great Job!

There are several books that enlighten you, and this is surely one of them. Then there are books that change you, books that you take with you for the rest of your life, and these you must share with fellow seekers. These are the books that have unconditionally inspired me to be a better person and that I recommend to anyone searching for inspiration. The first is "The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho" this book is all about a shepherd trying to find his treasure. In the end he realizes his treasure was the journey, the people he met, the souls that touched him(How beautiful!) The second is "Siddhartha by Herman Hesse" A brilliant tale of a man who gives up everything for a journey of enlightenment. On his journey he meets the Buddha, he meets ascetics, and he meets his...(I wont spoil it for you). The last one is for kids, but it is still beautiful. "The Butterfly by Jay Singh" is a tale about a caterpillar in search of her smile! One day this caterpillar realizes she can no longer smile anymore because she is living an inauthentic life. She musters the courage to leave the Silk Palace to find her smile and discovers a whole new world that was hidden from her. Buy them, read them, be inspired!

This collection of stories was an amazing celebration of womanhood, including stories of love, life, and tragedy. This compilation covers all the bases of a woman's life from poverty and love in the heart-wrenching story "Christmas in the Silver Egg" to the humorous "I'll Never Understand my Wife," which deals with marriage. A Second Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul is satisfying, refreshing, and warmhearted.

These stories are heartwarming and encouraging, and even better because they are true. They are all wonderful stories. Some of my favorites are "Safe-Keeping", "The Baby Blanket", "The Wallet", and "Truly Free".

My eleven year old sister bought this book and I borrowed it because it seemed like a good read. Once I started the first chapter, I couldn't put it down! I recommend this book for people who like mystery or sports. However this book appealed to me even though I am not much of a sports fan. I found the characters to be funny and real. If you're looking for a fun, pleasing read, definitely purchase this book. I can't wait to try some of his other books!

This is an excellent middle-school level book! While it looks like it's all about tennis, it's really not. It's a who-done-it book! Fast read for higher readers and an excellent recommendation for reluctant readers!

I had to read this book for a class. At first, before I read it, my fellow classmates said, "Oh, it was a good book," So I thought ok. As a sports person I thought it would be definitely something I would want to read. I started reading and it seemed to be alright, it got better towards the middles, but I was really dissapointed with the ending because it didn't seem real exciting, more just so-so. I would not recomend this book to any of my friends because I know they would like an exciting ending like I do.

In Vanishing Act by John Feinstein, the main characters, Steve Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson, both have a deep love of sports and are sports reporters.

When Nadia Symanova, a tennis player, vanishes at the US Open Tennis Tournament, Steve and Susan Carol try to unravel the mystery. Has she been kidnapped because someone wants her to stay a Russian citizen and not become an American? Did she run away? The FBI, media and Steve and Susan Carol all try to find Nadia.

The story is written in current time in New York City at the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament.

The themes of the story are bravery, sacrifice, sports and hope. The moral of the story would be to always work together.

I loved the story because it's sports related and it shows the meaning of friendship. Steve and Susan Carol's actions in this book, where they save each other, help each other out on their stories and always work together is a great example of what I would want from a best friend. This story is the sequel to the story Last Shot. If you love this book, you will love Last Shot almost as much.

The best book I read this year was Vanishing Act by John Feinstein.

The main characters are Susan Carol and Stevie Thomas who become kid reporters when they win a National Writing Contest. Susan Carol is a 14 year old from South Carolina and is a sports fanatic who seems to know everything about everyone. Stevie is a 13 year old from Philadelphia and plays basketball.

In this story they are sent to cover the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament with a friend reporter, Bobby Kheller. While they are waiting for a match to begin one of the players is kidnapped. When Susan and Stevie dig a little deeper they find that it was all staged to make a movie deal. They must stop the plot before it is too late.

This all takes place in New York City in modern day times.

The themes for this story are Bravery- for continuing the case after being threatened to stop their investigation. Friendship- for when Susan and Stevie stuck together to solve the case. Finally Money- because if the crooks got away with it the movie deal would give them 21.5 million dollars and more if the movie did well.

I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone. I loved it because it included mystery, sports and it was a pleasure to read. This book keeps you guessing and leaves you wanting more.

This is the first Chicken Soup for the Soul book that I have read, having recently lost my job this past year to the economy. I can't say enough how these stories able me to keep a positive outlook and attitude on my life and career. Broken into eight convenient chapters: Love, kindness, parent and parenting, teaching and learning, death and dying, personal perspective, overcoming obstacles and eclectic wisdom. I even shared several of the Holiday stories with my family this year since Christmas was a little bare. Needless, to say that this past Christmas will stick with us more than the more past prosperous years, due largely I think to these stories that I shared. A sheer joy to read, I look forward to more books in the series!

I would sit down to read these books, I couldn't help but to read the stories, and share them with who ever was around...they are inspirational, and uplifting. I have read them all and wait anxiously for more to come.

were can i buy this book at other than you store as you see I am having hard times because my wife has cancer, and not to much left to work with, I understand that it is a very good tape to listen to, as that is what she like to listen to are tapes, they seem to have arelaxing efect on her. thanks for taking the time to read this, and answer this. J Boot

I thought it was a really good book. All the stories about people forgeting their problems and helping others with theirs. My favorite story was "Snowed In", it was about a three year old girl who needed a liver transplant. The day a liver was available to her ended up in the middle of winter. The snow was over two feet deep. She needed to get to Omaha within the next twelve hours. All the people in the community (tired from shoveling their own driveways) pitched in to clear a parking lot so a plane could take off to get her there. I liked this story because it was about people helping others, even when they were tired or cold. All the stories show some kind of hope, love, inspiration, compassion, or understanding to show the best in who we (the people of the world) really are.

This is a wonderful book with uplifting stories that often left me with wet eyes. I learnt a great deal about life, love, kindness, parenting, death and dying, perspective, overcoming obstacles and wisdom. The book really warmed my heart, strengthened my spirit and improved my outlook on life.

The stories in the book are short and crisp and very powerful. After reading a story, I would spend some time pondering and reflecting on the enormity of the lessons I would have just learnt and how I can use the lessons to be a much better person.

The book is well written, well laid out and is a pleasure to read. This is recommended for all people that are seeking wisdom so that they can live more meaningful lives.

Dada Nabhaniilananda has done a wonderful job of making the ancient practice of meditation accessible to everyone in an enjoyable yet highly informative book. The beginner will find exactly what he or she needs to understand what meditation is, how to get started and stay with it without being discouraged. The experienced meditator will find renewed inspiration and new ideas of how to inspire others. This book should be read by and on the shelf of every yogi and meditator of any stripe.

Nabhanillananda's introduction to meditation is a wonderful gift for Westeners who want to learn Eastern meditation techniques. Nabhanillananda, a New Zealander, is able to translate his passion for and deep understanding of the yogic practices he describes into a vernacular that speaks to the Western ear, without diluting the message that he wants to share. This book both inspires and challenges -- Nabhanillananda's joy is infectious and makes you want to keep reading, and by the end of the book you feel you have no excuses left for not trying meditation for yourself. It's a great introduction for anyone who has wondered what meditation is all about and why it's worth pursuing.

I found "Close Your Eyes and Open Your Mind" to be authentic, practical and inspiring. Dada Nabhanilananda is a monk who has dedicated his life to his spiritual practices and work. Yet he is also a musician, a world traveler, and one who fights for justice, environmental protection and social change. He shares spiritual practices that have personally worked for him and for others he knows. He is authenic.

The book is full of practical exercises and suggestions that you can do immediately - and suggestions of where to go when you need more guidance.

And when you read the stories, think through the ideas, and actually sit down and try the meditation, that is inspirational!

This book serves as an EXCELLENT introduction to what meditation is all about! It is specially good for those who are newly beginning the practice and art of meditation. It is also highly valuable for those who have been practitioners for a long time.

Dada brings the lessons and meanings of this ancient science to life by interspercing interesting stories and memorable quotes along the way. It is an easy and never boring read!

As a teacher of meditation, I have shared this little gem with many. It is universally enjoyed and benefitted from!

I have ordered several copies of this book after reading myself. This very accessible introduction to meditation is now being sold at our center, Prama Yoga Studio in Queens, NY and it has very popular. Thank you for sharing your wisdom Dadajii. Namaksar.

Wow - this is a hot, steamy, graphically sexual book. Surprisingly, and much to my delight, there is a lot of substance behind all the sex. The female protagonist is a social worker at a woman's shelter, and the male protagonist is a cop investigating the robbery of Christmas donations there. Their investigation takes them to a quirky, over-the-top town that oozes Christmas that makes for an interesting setting, as does the Santori family's Italian restaurant. I'm left wanting to know the story of the other Santori brothers!! Do sexy, kind men like them really exist?

Surfin' U.S.A. this past Christmas instead of Jingle Bells because the North Pole had to have melted when he gave the Mrs. this new book by Leslie Kelly. I have loved her writing for years and know I can count on a fantastic story from her every single time. I always hurry to read it and then I'm bummed when it's over. All I can say now is BRING ON THE NEXT ONE!

Noelle Bradenton detests Christmas because her memories are all bad. Her opinion is proven when apparently Santa Claus robs the donations given to the Give a Kid a Christmas that her center is running. Chicago Police Detective Mark Santori investigates the theft; he also feels Yuletide is a downer as he finds the holiday season a big hypocrisy with the capitalists owning the season. The robbery fits into his mood; this is an all time low in disgusting human behavior with some Scrooge stealing from needy little kids.

As Mark investigates the theft, he and Noelle are attracted to one another. Noelle figures sex with the cop will be the perfect present for her while he dreams of unwrapping her clothing as the ideal Christmas Eve activity. Neither expected to want the other permanently under a mistletoe, but who will open the box filled with love first.

This humorous passionate contemporary holiday romance is fun to read because of the antics of the "bah humbug" lead duet. Each rejects Christmas until they meet one another and begin to see little miracles all around them. Fans will want to open this terrific blazing inspirational tale long before Christmas arrives.

Harriet Klausner

I got this book as kind of a "gag" gift at a work party, and I am so glad I did!!!!! I loved this book so much I went right out and started finding other books by this writer, and other Blaze books too.

The main character Noelle is a really funny kind of sarcastic woman who I could relate to. And I only wish a man like Mark Santori would fall into my dressing room one of these days.

Talk about steamy, this book was among the sexiest I've ever read but it still had such cute, sweet moments too that I was smiling the whole time I read it.

I never wrote a review before but I loved this book so much I wanted to see what other readers thought. I decided I had to jump on board with the other reviewers who gave this book rave 5 star reviews because it absolutely does deserve them. If you like super-sexy funny romance novels you will like this one. Only the "grumpiest" scrooge wouldn't agree.

Christmas is over but you definitely don't want to wait until next Christmas to enjoy this funny, sexy story.

DON'T OPEN TILL CHRISTMAS by Leslie Kelly

Was the month before Christmas, when parties are held and presents are bought.
Noelle could not believe her ears when a stirring in the next dressing room had her blushing.
And when the hunk came crashing into her room, Noelle had nary a stocking on.
But she doesn't care, as she hopes he will come knocking at her chimney.

The children were hanging their stockings with care, when Santa stole their money.
Yes, Santa danced away with money meant for Christmas sugar-plums.
Lo and behold, and lucky for all, Chicago Cop Mark Santori puts on his cap and is on the case.

A ride to the town of Christmas is the call.
There he meets Noelle, his lady from the dressing room.
There was a clatter as she recognizes him, but when he whistles and dances, she knew.
Like a flash, they sprang to bed, going to the moon and back.
More rapid than eagles they came together.
Will their affair be just a flash or is it forever

One by one, the inhabitants of Christmas are introduced. Sue, her belly full with child
And Randy, her devoted husband.
Jeremy, the louse who dare jilt Noelle on Christmas Eve past.
There are many others, who are all in the Christmas spirit.
But who may also be thieves.

When the investigation is met with obstacles in finding the Santa thief, who but St. Mark mounts to the sky, with a sleigh full of toys.
Then in a twinkling moment, he realizes he loves Noelle.
Will he solve the caper
And win the heart of Noelle.

It is Christmas Eve, but there is love and laughter in the air.
Happy Christmas to all
And the best is saved for last.
DON'T OPEN TILL CHRISTMAS is the best present of them all.