..;L Books

This is a seat hanger and seat hugger book for anyone to read and enjoy. It starts out with a phantom black fist blocking Anna Mae, Malcolm and Raul from getting into school. It ends with them finding the fabled lost gold treasure of Jefferson Davis, but with a bit of a twist. A paranormal mystery for anyone who loves their adventures served in a roller coaster read. Heartily recommend it!

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R8I0YVNG7L9FP This is my video review of this great, well written book!

The Anna-Mae Mysteries: The Golden Treasure is a multi-cultural mystery novel for young adults. Twelve year old Anna Mae Botts, her eight year old brother Malcolm, and Anna Mae's best friend Raul Garcia encounter a ghostly black fist on their first day of school. It drops paper clues about Jefferson Davis' lost Civil War treasure, and later a school fire occurs. Paranormal events multiply, and the young people are led along the same trail that Jefferson Davis once took with his gold-laden wagon train. A fascinating story of uncovering history's secrets as well as hidden wealth, The Anna-Mae Mysteries: The Golden Treasure is sure to captivate the imagination and is a welcome addition to young adult library collections.

Anna Mae Botts, the spunky heroine of the title, is at an awkward age and burdened with slightly more than the average quantity of angsts for her age. She has a tag-along younger brother, an eccentric grandmother who believes absolutely in ghosts, voo-doo and weird and smelly charms, and a best friend named Raul - who may become more than just a best friend, as Anna Mae grows up. She also has the enmity of the class bully and his circle at her middle school, who insist that it was Anna Mae who set a fire which almost burned the whole school down. On top of it all, Anna Mae has a very personal haunt, a great black disembodied fist, which materializes at the very worst of times, and appears to be trying to direct Anna Mae on a quest. The quest is a search for a missing gold treasure, a fortune in gold ingots and coin, which vanished during the last days of the Confederacy. Led by Anna Mae's visions, ably assisted by her little brother and Raul, and driven by her grandmother, at the wheel of a battered automobile which everyone admits is too much of a wreck for anyone to ever consider stealing, Anna Mae and her allies use every resource they have to track down and unearth the missing gold.

The charm of Anna Mae and her adventures are undeniable, launching as they are from a school experience that is as fraught as I recall my own being... except for the ghosts, the visions and the floating chalk scribbling messages on the blackboard. Anna Mae is relatively unflappable, brave and determined to get to the bottom of it all. Another of the charms is that she is stoutly assisted - and believed - by certain of the adults around here, which is a pleasant switch from the sort of story which often pitches a child hero or heroine against a wholly uncaring adult world.

Lillian Cauldwell has written an imaginative, multi-cultural, adventurous mystery with a riveting twist. The young and inquisitive heroine, Anna-Mae, along with her brother Malcom and their best friend Raul want to change the status quo at school and so they stir the pot with their curious antics and with grandmother's sage advice. In her endless quest to be understood, Anna-Mae teaches us courage, acceptance and resolve through her paranormal interactions with a mysterious ghost with a message. This coming of age story allows us to understand how fear and struggle with school friends are resolved by tapping into the available energy of supernatural forces. Lillian breathes life into this heartfelt mystery through her creativity and intelligent metaphors. It fills up our senses and guides us through an emotional roller coaster that we cannot ignore. If Harry Potter read this book he would want to take a class from Anna-Mae.

Anna Maria Prezio, Ph.D.,
Best Selling Author of "Confessions of a Feng Shui Ghost-Buster"

Susan has drawn her spirit. Drawings with feelings always touch the soul.

I just finished reading your book last night - I loved it. It was beautiful. I don't think I've ever read anything so open and honest before. It was very inspiring and encouraging to experience your pain and struggles with you and to be brought into healing. Your story brings hope to us all. Your side columns are incredible. Even though most were written in prose, it's some of the best poetry I've ever read. Very haunting! I love your art work. With one glance, one can grasp the emotions in your pictures. Pete Richardson, artist and author of "Dance on Fire."

This book offers a chance for you, the reader, to become empowered to take control of your life. Sue eloquently and vividly points out that if only one side of a person is treated, then the treatment is not complete. Sue shares how she learned each person is a triad - body, soul, and spirit. To treat one and not the other two is like having only one leg on a three-legged stool; it will soon tip over. Mark Lanyon, MHS, CAAC, Brandywine Counseling Service

I have just finished your book and wanted to let you know how I felt about it. The thing that most struck me about the book was your ability to articulate the feeling and depth of your own suffering in such a readable style. The experiences you write about are more universal than people realize. It's amazing to me that you could continue to search in the midst of so many negative influences. It makes me realize how very important a supportive partner is in the mental health of the other partner. Although I didn't know you during most of this time, I feel that now, having read your words, I can recognize the new person I do know as one who is stronger and more complete for the work she has done. Donald M. Pruden, Executive Director, Center for the Creative Arts

Sue Heisler has emerged from a very deep darkness. She never gave up on herself. She searched everywhere for answers; searched with all her heart, and has proved to all of us that there is hope. She tried all the methods, and then went beyond it all into a new place of healing for her soul and spirit. Well done!

It contains a beatiful selection of arias and songs. Amazon really offered and excellent price for this book, $13.57 and I took advantage of the free shipping!

As someone new to the singing scene, I find this volume to be my "go to" resource for my voice lessons. Purchased on the recommendation of my voice teacher, it has all the tenor arias you need--wherever you are on the singer's journey...The major repetoire is represented; all the major langugages. From "Amor ti Vieta" to the more recognizable arias, I expect this volume to be with me for years to come.

The book is a great collection. The book was in excellent condition, priced aptly, and delivered promptly. I can trust Amazon.com...

I use this book constantly in my teaching. I love it.

"Arias for Tenor", a G. Schirmer Antholgy(opera), is a plended collection of originally keyed scores of tenor arias from some of the most famous works of all time. Layouts of "Don Giovanni" and "Rigoletto" are just a couple of classics sung by the greats of opera that are obtained by purchasing this book. Whether you are a professional vocalist or an aspiring opera singer, this is definitly a valuable and sound investment.

Sylvester Allen
Greensboro College, NC

I always have trouble thinking of what to talk about on dates. This book gave me great ideas for conversation and great insights into the dating scene.

This is definitely a five star book- a laugh a minute, plus great info. I can keep reading it over and over again.

I couldn't stop laughing. The jokes are fabulous. It was also very informative. I really learned alot about dating and marriage. It's a must read for everyone.

Wow, , I'm giving this book to every "single" person I know. I think I'll give it to marrieds also. Even if their having a rough time socially, they can have a good laugh.

I loved it! Dating is pressure but at least this book helps you laugh while you are going through it. It's a great book to take on a date. It gives you what to talk about and what to laugh about.

ISBN 0316114537 - Arthur, as a TV character, is a long ago favorite. No one here watches anymore, leaving me no excuse to plunk down and watch along. For that reason alone, I like Arthur books. Add in the fact that kids like Arthur and that entices them to read... and I like Arthur a lot more!

Arthur has gotten a new puppy. He's named him Pal and is determined to train him to be a good, obedient dog. D.W. spends most of the book scoffing at the idea and gently mocking her brother's hopes. Because Pal is afraid of being alone in the garage, he is allowed to spend a couple nights in the house, as long as Arthur remembers to close the pet gate. Of course, Arthur forgets and Pal proves to be a real terror, ripping apart the kitchen and living room and peeing everywhere. Not only that, he runs whenever he sees his leash! Arthur's friends tell him stories of other dogs who have been sent away because they were too much trouble, sending Arthur into a flurry of training activity. Will he get Pal trained before it's too late? Or will he come home from school one day to find that his pal is gone?

Author and illustrator Marc Brown is fantastic, as usual, but this is one case that I'm not totally pleased. Portions of the story are told only in the illustrations, which I find a negative because I think the images should complement the text, not replace it. The story, however, is one that all little pet-desiring children ought to enjoy and their parents will like taking advantage of the chance to explain how much work a puppy can be before the family considers getting one. The relationship between D.W. and Arthur is perfection: they don't get along 100% of the time, but they're never really mean to one another.

Check out more Arthur Adventures, among them, Arthur's Birthday, Arthur's April Fool (Arthur Adventure Series) and Arthur's Eyes: An Arthur Adventure (Arthur Adventure Series).

- AnnaLovesBooks

Can Arthur keep his new pup from being sent away?

In a story that many young readers will identify with, Arthur has a new puppy who misbehaves, as puppies often do! Arthur sets about training him, and brings about a wonderful transformation that amazes everyone, with a fun twist at the conclusion.

If your children are fans of the wonderful TV series, this book is sure to appeal to them.

I liked this book because it has lots of laughs. The story is about a new puppy who really needs trained, but in the end he's well trained.If you like stories like these then read Arthur's New Puppy.It's a tail wagging story.

I liked this book because I really like dogs. And when I get my owen house I am going to get a dog. I loved reading this book. You should buy this book becuse you can lern how to take car of a puppy.

[...]. It is a good book for kids because it helps kids read. It is funny. Arthur gets a new puppy because his mother said he could. Arthur had to give five dollars for the puppy. Arthur was happy to have a puppy. He had been watching a puppy that gave birth to a litter of new puppies and Author got to keep one. I think everyone would enjoy this story, especially if you like puppies!
The end

Gary Thomas is a gifted writer and communicator who presents classic foundational truths in a fresh and understandable way. This book represents another work that will cause the reader to think past a stereotypical walk with Christ.

If I could give this book more then five stars I would. "Authentic Faith" was very convicting, and really made me think about some things in my life. I am a fast reader, but there were days that I could only read a couple of pages because I had to take time to think about what Gary Thomas said.

Thomas starts off his book by talking about laying new groundwork for what defines authentic faith, which is a life centered around God and not ourselves. Authentic faith developed by "authentic disciplines" such as contentment, suffering, persecution, waiting, mourning, humility and forgiveness. These disciplines are different than traditional disciplines such as fasting, praying, studying the Bible etc., because they are not initiated by us but rather by God. Whereas on the other hand, traditional disciplines are initiated by us to help build our faith. Although, they are worthy of our initiation they can sometimes foster religiosity, pride and self sufficiency.

One of my favorite chapter was about the discipline of suffering. To think about suffering as being a good thing seems ironic, but Thomas quotes another writer named Thomas Watson who says it so well, "Sometimes a sick bed can teach us more than a sermon". This made me think of sufferings I have gone through, that haven't been on a sick bed, and yes they did teach me more than a sermon could. Thomas also shares in this chapter about how our refusal to suffer can lead to addictions and physical breakdowns, which I have never thought about before. I would recommend that anyone suffering from an addiction should get this book, because how he explained the process of addiction and physical breakdowns made so much sense.

The other chapter that I found helpful was about the discipline of mourning. Thomas talks about the importance of letting ourselves mourn, and not necessarily in the sense of mourning someone's death, but in repenting over sins in our life. To allow ourselves, to look at the sins in our life, and start associating them with pain and not pleasure.

There are so many other great things about this book that it would take several other paragraphs to explain. So, all that I can say is this is a must read book.

This is one of the best books I've ever read! Thomas address areas of faith that most people never talk about (the difficulties that we can't control). I recommended it to all my friends. We even used it for our women's study bible stuy. Every one of my friends who've read this book has also loved it. It's challenging, and it makes you uncomfortable with the comforts of your own faith. This book is convicting, but it also helps to transform your thinking and test your faith.

I absolutely enjoyed this book...but what I enjoyed even more than the book itself was the amazing resource of classic authors and texts through Gary Thomas' extensive footnotes...it is always a joy to find a book that sends you on a long and wonderful trail through the greatest thinkers/theologians of all time...a must read!

This book is a blessing. I recommend any of Gary Thomas's books. His writings are well focused but dynamic enough to keep your attention. This book covers a wide range of issues facing contemporary christians. I particularly like how easy it is to identify with his examples. Definately highlighter worthy!

Pema Chodron makes Buddhist tenets accessible through her wonderfully clear writing. The pocket size of this book is very pleasing.

I love Pema's philosophy. This book just helped me to remember to practice spiritual practices in my daily life. She helps me to remember to soften my heart and not get triggered over situations, people, etc. that I have no control over.

You are right next to my pillow and before going to sleep, I daily read some of your insightful words. You make my heart glow!! In loving kindness to a wonderful teacher.

This tiny book is an abridged version of "Wisdom of No Escape," Ani Chödrön's first major work. Ani is a title for Buddhist Nuns or Bhikshunis. She is spiritual director of Gampo Abbey (named for the medieval master Gampopa). However, only 4 chapters were excluded. Its size is conducive to carrying it around with you for inspiration or to share with others (I tend to give away books after reading them). Its major points include: not preferring samsara (the usual, relative world) to nirvana (the ultimate world), integrating taught and experienced Dharma (teachings), (p. 122): playfulness-learning to play like a raven in the wind, Tonglen (sending and receiving practice), Bodhichitta (compassion), and the wheel of life. It includes some less than obvious observations such as:
p. 28: "the desire to change fundamentally a form of aggression toward oneself...If you throw out your neurosis, you also throw out your wisdom."
p. 60: Life is such a miracle, and a lot of the time we feel only resentment about how it's all working out for us."

It also includes some of her wonderful teaching stories:
pp. 65-7: samurai who asked a master to explain heaven and hell
pp. 75-7: God with ½ red and ½ blue hat walking down the middle of a street.

So, you can read "Wisdom of No Escape" for completeness, but consider owning a copy of "Awakening Loving Kindness" too.

I picked this up on whim from my local library and was far from disappointed. I've been getting into a lot of the pocket classics lately, and this one is top five for me.

Chodron has helped me enter a simple kind of meditation called 'tonglen.' Unlike many forms of meditation we hear about, this one is very practical and beneficial in many venues. There are many useful sections in this book. A must bye for pocket classics fans.

In September 1971, the Army closed down the Army-Lockheed YO-3A silent aircraft night recon program and shipped it home. To bad the YO-3A planes were not involved in the An Loc battle that occured 7 months later. Many lives could have been saved with this Stealth Forward Air Control Plane. The YO-3A operated at 1,000 feet at night, flew slow, was silent had advanced night vision equipment, infrared illuminator and laser target designator and impervious to heat seeking weapons. In 14 months of operation in Vietnam, non of the 9 YO-3As were ever shot down or took a round. But the YOs sure could see what was going on in the night when the VC the NVA were moving stuff. Check out the website www.yo-3a.com

I was a YO-3A crew chief and sure would like to make contact with the author of this book.

Also see Kit Lavell's book Black Ponies that has a section on how the YO-3A located the largest Russian Trawler in South Vietnam and was instrumental in directing fire and sinking the boat.

Excellent detail of one of the most important battles during the latter stages of the Vietnam War. Focus is obviously on the ground troups. I was somewhat disappointed with the lack of detail with regards to the "gun ships" of the Navy.

I participated as a C-130E co-pilot (374 Tactical Airlift Wing) during the Battle of An Loc. I greatly appreciate this book, helping me to understand what else was happening on the ground and in the air throughout the battle. As a participant, I vouch for the excellent accuracy and honesty of the book. The book starts out a bit slow, describing the organizational structure of the Army of the Republic Vietnam and its deployment. On page 37 it goes to high intensity with the Battle of Loc Ninh, a neighbor of An Loc. Willbanks gives you great empathy for those on the ground at Loc Ninh and An Loc, who were in a desperate struggle for their lives. It was hard to put the book down, once I got to the Battle of An Loc. The book slows down again in the last two chapters and epilogue.
I am sorry that seventeen C-130E crewmembers died in the battle. I am sorry that some of our airdrops missed the drop zone and fell into enemy hands. But the airdrops that were recovered by the ARVN were an essential part of the battle.

"The Battle of An Loc" by James Wilbanks. A must have book for anyone with an interest in Viet-Nam. This is a very good read. The author, James Wilbanks, was present and wounded at An Loc. This is not only his account, but gives insights from the North Vietnamese and US Advisors after action reports plus other communist documents. The role of the unending US air support, the bravery of the US air crews, and the orchestration by the Forward Air Controllers to the battle's victory for the ARVN and US Advisors is covered in warranted great detail. The inability of the NVA to have armor and infantry work together in more conventional warfare is clearly brought to light and documented. Wilbanks gives insights into Richard Nixon's Vietnamization's perceived success by the politicians and its ultimate failures. This is a must have read and must have addition to the library for anyone with interest in the war in Viet-Nam.

Excellent book!!!


Anyone who has some basic military experience but never served abroad, and only seen movies about war or heard tidbits, would
appreciate what is in this book. The book reveals the strategy of battles, the 'mechanics' of battle (orders issued to battalions, and their officers' reactions to situations, etc) It's the real thing! And even better than the movie Platoon!

Most of us grew up believing that the Civil War ended the moment Robert E. Lee surrendered to U.S. Grant at Appomatox Court House in Virginia. One can only assume that this came about as a part of the deification of Lee and the promotion of the 'Lost Cause' doctrine that was so popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Historically, most things regarding the Confederacy have always begun and ended with Lee. Thanks to the scholarship and hard work of Mark Bradley, we now have a much more accurate picture of how the war ended and the major roles played by Joseph Johnston and W. T. Sherman well after Lee's surrender.

'Last Stand in the Carolinas' along with Bradley's later work 'This Astounding Close' combine to create an extremely satisfying description of the last days of Southern resistance. While complimentary to each other, either volume succeeds very well as a stand alone work and each book is a tremendous asset in its own right.

If you want a comprehensive blow-by-blow description of the battles of Averasboro and Bentonville, read 'Last Stand in the Carolinas'. For a valuable capsule summary of the battles, combined with a complete history of the negotiations leading up to the surrender, 'This Astounding Close' fills the bill wonderfully!

Maybe I've read too many of these histories now but it just seems that these guys are using the same book of phrases to get to the required number of pages. It's boring. So many sound the same that if you took the author's name off the cover of a dozen books I bet most of us couldn't match them up with their works. Mr Bearss may find it a "barnburner" but I had trouble finishing it.

I must admit, before I read this book, all I knew about the Battle of Bentonville was that it was fought in North Carolina by Joseph E. Johnston and William T. Sherman. But this great book has opened my eyes on a little-known campaign and filled an empty hole on my book shelf.

Bradley's accounts of the battles at Monroe's Crossroads, Averasboro, and Bentonville are priceless. His writing is quick-paced, yet easy to follow. Another great part of this book are the maps, which are some of the best I have ever had the pleasure to see. Lastly, Appendix A of the book, which contains pictures of the battlefields (Averasboro and Bentonville) today, with captions. I recommend purchasing this book with Mark Moore's guide to the battlefield, which I did.

It is my opinion that no Civil War buff's library is cpmplete without this book. Get it!

Bradley's book on the last major (and often overlooked) battle in the Civil War is a gem. Although, I am somewhat biased since I am a North Carolinian, the book has an engaging writing style and is full of superb maps.

Some Civil War books I have read were difficult to follow due to either/or the lack of maps or quality of maps depicting troop movements and the theater of operations. Not so with this title! The maps are numerous and easily clarify troop movements and the flow of battle.

Bradley also does an excellent job of describing the little known battles of Averasboro (General Hardee did a commendable job of delaying Sherman's advance) and Monroe's Crossroads (Kilpatrick was almost captured and his force ambushed).

The next time I visit the battlefields I will certainly have Bradley's book with me to serve as the ultimate guide. Bradley's writing style is technical in describing troop movements and engaging in supplying ample anecdotes on the campaign's participants. Overall, a nice balance of not being too technical (and dry) and not too basic.

The book will always be special to me since I spent my early years in Eastern North Carolina close to the battlefields. Visiting these battlefields as a little boy sparked a life-long interest in the Civil War.

Bravo, excellent job! May more such studies be written on other battles!

Of several accounts I have read about this March 1865 battle, this is definitely the most complete study of the battle to date. Finally a battle narrative with enough detailed maps to follow the action. Unlike many battle studies that toss in a map every hundred pages, Mark L. Bradley includes military movement or troop disposition maps anytime there is a significant movement of troops. At times there are maps every other page.

Bentonville was, in many ways, the Confederacy's "Battle of the Bulge." Southern General Joseph E. Johnston was reinstated to command of scattered Confederate forces in the Carolinas during the last months of the Civil War. That he was able to weld together an army at this late stage is a miracle in itself. Fully realizing that there was no way to stop the inevitable, Johnston and his generals snapped back at Sherman's advancing columns to buy time for the Confederacy.

The Bentonville Battle is not one of the more familiar accounts from the War Between the States. Indeed, many sources summarize or bypass the battle as if it were a mere skirmish. In my case, I knew little more about the battle other than there were one or two highway signs on Interstate 95 for the exit to reach this battlefield. In 1986, while spending several weeks at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, I used one of my free weekends to visit the site. At the time, a majority of the battlefield was located on various private properties. After a trip to the visitor center and some blatant historical trespass through a cornfield or two, I realized that this battle was much bigger than I realized. At the time, the only book available on the subject from Fayetteville's Cross Creek Mall bookstore was a volume titled SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE CAROLINAS. Fortunately a good portion of SHERMAN'S MARCH was devoted to Bentonville.

At the time, my only regret (one that has been repeated at other historic sites) was that I read the book after I visited the battlefield and then moved on to another military assignment in a different state.

As fate would have it, fifteen years later I found that I would be back in the neighborhood of Bentonville and began ordering additional books on the subject. Mark L. Bradley's book was one of them. I only wish that his book had been available way back in 1986. The book has a lot of detail, yet it is enjoyable to read. The volume is so meticulously researched that a full 150 pages are devoted to tables of organization, endnotes and indexing.

On the other hand, this is not a book to attempt to read the night before you plan to visit Bentonville. The four hundred plus pages and maps will keep you busy a couple days before you reach the last page. If you are looking for an overview of the battle, this is not the book for you.

However, if you thirst for the detailed events leading up to and including the Bentonville Battle, I recommend you add this book to your collection.

I liked the book, but most of all I liked Ryan, the co-author of The Beanie Encyclopedia. I got a chance to meet him at a book signing while I was on vacation in Florida. He looks so cute in person. I LOVE YOU RYAN

This book was great. No other Book has taught me so much. Thanks Dr. Carey and Ryan

It even has Attic Theasures

I was impressed with the accuracy and the way that it gave such great information, this is a must for all Beanie enthusiasts like myself, and I must agree Ryan is soooo cute.....xoxox

Absolutely wonderful. The authors really know their stuff. There isn't a more complete Beanie Anthology available anywhere! A perfect companion to my book.