"This is a great book by a great author...it should be part of everyones collection."

"I TRY TO READ THIS BOOK ONCE EVERY YEAR. THIS BOOK GETS INTO A DEPTH THAT NO OTHER AUTHOR I HAVE READ EVER HAS. THIS BOOK GIVES YOU A DIFFERENT LOOK AT WHO GOD IS. IT ALSO TELLS US WHO WE ARE IN RELATION TO GOD. PINK WAS NOT A POPULAR WRITER IN HIS TIME, BUT HAS BECOME ONE OF THE GREATEST THEOLOGIANS EVER. I HAVE MANY OF HIS BOOKS. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK FOR EVERYONE, BUT ESPECIALLY FOR NEW BELIEVERS. IT WILL HELP THEM GET A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF GOD."

"Benjamin Carter Hett's 2008 excellent biography of Nazi political victim and eminent young German Lawyer Hans Litten (1903 - 1938) is obscurely named CROSSING HITLER: THE MAN WHO PUT THE NAZIS ON THE WITNESS STAND. Other than its uninformative title, the only other major defect in this well documented historical study is the book's lack of a single map of Germany. The location of key cities in Hans Litten's life, e. g. Halle, Koenigsberg, Berlin should be presented there in one or more maps, as well as the various concentration camps where the young man was held for five years, ending with Dachau, where he died, ostensibly a suicide. *** Litten's fame rises steadily in Germany and Europe. But he does not yet have the popular appeal of the young Dutch Nazi victim Anne Frank. Therefore, specialists in German legal history are the most likely readers of CROSSING HITLER. Nonetheless, the man was talented, brave and multi-faceted. Some contemporaries compared him with Francis of Assisi, others with another lawyer, Saint Thomas More. *** Author Hett lays out three main stereotypes that have emerged of the man as martyr for one or other cause: Hans Litten, (1) religious, (2) political, (3) lawyers' lawyer. To his Lutheran mother Litten died for Jesus, yet Hans himself emphasized his father-derived Judaism, while venerating the Blessed Virgin Mary. Politically, he described himself as far to the left of the Communists he defended, while revealing a strong authoritarian streak. As a lawyer, he was accused in the Berlin of the Weimar Republic of badgering witnesses, yet became a hero to law associations of both East and West Germany. He also had a photographic memory and was widely and deeply read in literature and history, in spite of his busy legal career. *** CROSSING HITLER showcases 28 year old Hans Litten's 1931 examination of criminal trial witness Adolph Hitler about Nazi dedication to violence. At the time Hitler was wooing the German middle class by asserting his complete dedication to purely legal opposition to the Weimar democracy. The book gives a good feeling for the interaction in the years just before Hitler's supreme power between political street gangs, police, courts, lawyers and politicians. The book is well researched, clearly written and has a well laid-out and evaluated bibliography. -OOO-"

"HIRING YOUR FIRST EMPLOYEE by Attorney Fred S. Steingold lives up to its sub-title: A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE. The author takes a sole proprietor from making up his mind whether he really needs his first employee and the calculations of pros and cons through the latter's first day on the job. To anyone who has hired employees whether just for himself or for a larger oganization, this book offers a fine review of familiar turf. An old manager might read Steingold to see if his own insisted upon practices are there: such as an accurate job description, honest performance evaluations, recognizing good work. Yes, they are, along with many, many more good hiring practices and caveats. This straight from the shoulder, clearly written and illustrated manual has the feel of a first rate check-list that a pilot and co-pilot attentively go through while preparing for takeoff. Following all of Fred Steingold's recommendations does not assure success in hiring, but not following them makes a first-time employer more likely to face law suits, profit losses and general grief. *** Some readers might complain that a whole psychic dimension is missing: looking into the potential employee's soul to divine his or her soul's makeup, into intangibles like loyalty, trustworthiness, devotion. Well, the book is a check list, not an encyclopedia. What occurs to me by way of broader context is that there is some theoretical moral risk in ever hiring anybody at all. I wonder if Immanuel Kant specifically brought up hiring a helper as an example of immorally treating a fellow human not as an end but as a means to your own end? Hiring someone to disappear into the maw of a faceless giant like the Bank of America or the Pentagon might mask that moral risk. But hiring someone for a day by day face-to-face collaboration -- the subject of HIRING YOUR FIRST EMPLOYEE: what is that if not downgrading a person with equal human dignity to being just a means to your end? Candidates would remain your social equal were you to select them to join your Lodge or Rotary Club. But to be your salesmen? Your receptionist? -OOO- "

"As we travel the waves of change, Divine Source continues to deliver incredible support, and keys to transformation and enlightenment. Soul Communication by Dr. and Master Sha is the epitome of these timely gifts. I felt immediate peace and inner relaxation just holding this book! The profound yet succinct, simple language delivers expansive understanding, keys to soul communication, and opening one's spiritual channels. Page by page, I was filled with Hope, Joy, and ongoing Gratitude. These overflowing partners for success come at a time, in the history of man, when communication with soul, guides, angels, the divine realms, health issues, and even pets, is a greatly needed blessing and gift. "

"Jay Umble has created a book that should be of great interest to guitarists, teachers, students and all musicians regardless of their instruments or level of accomplishment. Books like this one are beginning to appear that not only reflect a solid theoretical base, but also demonstrate the principles with very musical sounding examples. EVERYTHING in this book sounds great and everything is PLAYABLE! Thanks for documenting your ideas for all of us who love the guitar. "

"The subtitle should have read, Every Negative Fact and Innuendo I Could Dredge Up Although he was not particularly unkind to me in the book, I found virtually every page to be a smart-alecky and snide diatribe of the worst order against the Great Books, Adler, Hutchins, et al. Plus the book is replete with errors of commission and omission. As an effective antidote, I prescribe Robert Hutchins' pithy essay, The Great Conversation. If the Great Books crusade is as bleak as Beam purports, then happily, not many will read his invective book. Max Weismann, President and co-founder with Mortimer Adler, Center for the Study of The Great Ideas Chairman, The Great Books Academy"

"ISBN 0590629700 - While the multitude of kids' series books are nice, it is always fun to come across the periodic stand-alone story. That The Wish in the Bottle is likely to appeal to both boys and girls is an added plus in my eyes. Lani, Laurie and Mark are siblings: Lani is the oldest, then Mark and, last but not least, Laurie. Their family is spending the summer at Lincoln Pond and today, finally, the children have been allowed to row across the pond alone to picnic. While the older children bird watch, Laurie slinks off with Mark's butterfly net and spots a very unusual looking butterfly. Capturing it and putting it in a jar, Laurie keeps her catch hidden from her siblings until that night, when the glow from the jar keeps her awake. The three children find that Laurie hasn't caught a butterfly at all - she's captured a fairy! Not just any fairy, either. Ocavia is Queen of Avia and she must get home to protect her people from the bats who have been eating them, so a deal is struck: the children will get three wishes and Ocavia will get her freedom. Simple enough? Sure, if things had gone that smoothly! The only real negative for me was the similarity of Lani's and Laurie's names, which - since I just met these characters - sometimes made it difficult for me to remember which was the oldest and which was the baby of the family. There's nothing particularly novel in the "three wishes" story, of course, but MacLeod does a great job of weaving the ongoing story of the fairies and the bats into the story of the children who (aside from an early slip) plan to think very carefully before wasting their wishes. What they learn, the reader learns, so there's a message in here, for parents who look for those, and a fantasy adventure for the kids who look for those. The illustrations (no illustrator listed) are nice pencil sketches, not numerous enough to make an older child feel like he or she is reading a "baby book", but enough to please the younger ones. The back cover says RL5, ages 7-12. -AnnaLovesBooks"

"If you are happy with the way that humanity is in the world today, do not read this book. The information contained in "The Chalice and the Blade" can cause a serious paradigm shift in your view of what it means to be human. My only regret is ignoring friends' advice for years and not reading it until this year. It should be required reading no later than high school. After reading this book, go on and read her others on partnership, sexuality, education and the economy. Then take action to help the partnership movement succeed in transforming the face of the earth!"

"ISBN 0590424017 - A fan of James Herriot and Lassie (among others!), I was excited to read true dog stories for children. And the inclusion of a talented "bad" dog, in Grip the thief, was a pleasant surprise. Five very short dog stories, each told in a few pages. Dox, a police dog in Italy, is bought by a policeman who just happened to pass a pet store. He'd had no thought of buying a dog at all - but he did it, and then he turned him into a superb detective. Grip, owned by a thief and a successful thief himself, leads a life of crime until his owner is caught and Grip gets a surprising new owner. Author Alfred Payson Terhune's dog, Wolf, lives with many other dogs at Sunnybank Farm. He isn't very sociable, but he does watch out for the other dogs, right up to the very end. Barry is one of the very special St Bernards living at a monastery in Switzerland. The dogs are trained to rescue people, and Barry is even a little more special than the others. Balto is a sled dog in Alaska when Nome calls out to the outside world for help. They need medicine and the only way in is by sled. The town is in terrible trouble, but Balto comes to their rescue. The stories are all true, and the reader can follow up most of them by reading longer books and stories about these dogs. That's a nice thing, a way to encourage reading, and answer some questions that the book leaves unanswered - like why there's a statue of Balto in New York, when his heroic actions were in Alaska. Not superbly written, but the author is hampered by the attempt to keep the stories short. The back cover says RL2, ages 7-9, and that's the only thing I have to disagree there. The stories seem to me to be better suited for younger children. - AnnaLovesBooks"

"M. C. Beaton is one of several pen names of Marion Chesney. Beaton has so far produced 24 HAMISH MACBETH novels. DEATH OF A CHARMING MAN is the tenth in the series. *** In all three of the 24 HAMISH MACBETH mysteries which I have read the same formula occurs. I call it "the evil outsider." A really perverse man or woman intrudes himself/herself into a small town or even smaller group of reasonably normal people. Soon (if not before the outsider dealt himself in) the outsider knows key weaknesses of the group. He plays on those weaknesses, arousing strong hatred among several or all of the people he has infiltrated -- enough so as to motivate a murder. *** The Charming Man of this detective story is stunningly gorgeous Peter Hynd, an affluent young Englishman. With no explanation that anyone believes, Hynd moves to the tiny, depressingly grey northwest Scotland fishing village of Drim. He sets to work refurbishing a house he has bought and the local women head for him like hummingbirds toward red flowers. They flood the small beauty parlor. They revive exercise classes at the community center. They shed pounds. Peter encourages them and enrages their husbands. *** Sergeant Hamish Macbeth, based in nearby Lochdubh, feels in his thumbs that "something wicked this way comes." He warns Peter Hynd that Highlanders are proud, vengeful people and that he is asking for big trouble. Hynd laughs off the warning. But not long after, Peter Hynd disappears. By all accounts he was seen by a lawyer, a banker and a real estate broker just before he presumably left town -- to arrange sale of his still uncompleted house. *** Hamish Macbeth's police higher ups see nothing to be alarmed about. But Hamish goes on vacation, trains down from Inverness to London and environs and begins to understand what made Peter Hynd tick. In the end Macbeth unravels what happened to this English Adonis, in an ending full of surprises. -OOO-"

"I just read "Jesus, the Man Who Loved Women". Through tears, laughter, and awe I feel the love Jesus has for me...for the first time! You will read about yourself in these pages and discover a Jesus you may never have known. You will completely fall in love with Him!! This book will completely change your heart and understanding of who Jesus really is. He is unbelievable! Someone I never ever thought I'd find. I feel for the first time in my life the giddiness, excitement, and breathtaking joy of love! He is the kind of man every woman desires and every man strives to be. Read this book and find Him too!!"

"Very nice love story"

"This book was awesome!!!! If you love Dee Henderson like i do you will not be disappointed by this book. I enjoyed the characters, and the courtship of Bruce. "

"An author's family fascinates me. In this case the author is Jesuit Cardinal Avery Dulles, Roman Catholic theologian, grandson of a Presbyterian minister and nephew of the fifth CIA Director of Central Intelligence (and its first civilian head), Allen Welsh Dulles. Book titles also fascinate me, especially when one seems to echo another. In 1963 legendary spymaster Allen Dulles published THE CRAFT OF INTELLIGENCE (ISBN 1-59228-297-0). Three decades later, nephew Avery published THE CRAFT OF THEOLOGY in 1992, added to in 1995. Is there a connection? I really don't know -- yet. *** Both are fine books. Both make a case for the transparency and "learnableness" of one's professional craft: intelligence, theology. Avery Dulles's message is not complex in outline, though it is dense in detail. For a century and a half before the Second Vatican Council (1962 - 1965) the way Roman Catholic theology was officially done was called "Scholastic," essentially the way of the High Middle Ages, and especially of Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225 - 1249). Rooted in the thought categories of Aristotle and the pre-printing press ways of medieval university classrooms, the Scholastic method was to state a general principle (e.g. "there is no salvation outside the church"), give a "state of the question" including the history of the principle's coming to be and opinions pro and con of its truth. The lecturer or writer would then defend the principle against all attacks and move on to conclusions rigidly deducible from the principle. If there were six interpretations of a principle, in Scholasticism only one would be right. Once the teacher proved his point, the other views had to be false. *** By contrast, Avery Dulles in THE CRAFT OF INTELLIGENCE argues that propositions and principles are indeed important. But they are best grasped through "models." And if there are six good models, then we must use them all simultaneously and not reject five of them altogether simply because we prefer one above the rest. Dulles had taken a similar approach in his book MODELS OF THE CHURCH (1974, ISBN-10: 0385133685). *** Dulles goes on to generalize this method and contrast it with the Scholastic way which it has rapidly replaced. Avery Dulles notes that many post-Vatican II Catholic theologians have rushed wildly off in all directions at once, applying various models with abandon. The craft of theology is in danger, he argues, of becoming unmoored. He makes a case for his own favored approach: creating as he goes a theology of communication. By this he means stressing the ways God chooses to communicate with his creatures and they with him. Not just through Scripture and ritual but through the natural world all around us. It is full of clues that God invites us to solve. -OOO- "

"A beautiful story about a woman lost in the present while her mind is haunted by the past. Wonderfully descriptive recollections of the artwork at the Hermitage Museum give hope during the siege of Leningrad. “The Madonnas of Leningrad” perfectly intersects the life of a young Russian woman during World War II with the life of the same as an elderly woman gripped by Alzheimer's. An unforgettable first novel. "

"I feel as if I am in mourning today. For Edgar and Almondine. For the unfortunate end of their story. A story filled with such passion and fury and loneliness and longing. A story I foolishly believed would come to it’s conclusion long after I lost interest and was ready to read the happily ever after and move on to the next. There is no moving on from Edgar Sawtelle. He will be with me now for the rest of my days. I can only envy David Wroblewski who completed his life’s purpose with depth and beauty"

"When Blanche starts college two years ahead of her classmates she is drawn to the only other student her age, the charismatic Christa. Blanche's parents are delighted that she finally has a friend but Christa is not the ideal friend for a girl like Blanche and soon seems set to take over her home and her family and Blanche must find a way to fight back or risk vanishing from her own life. I borrowed this book from a library, loved it and searched for a long time to find my own copy before discovering one on Biblio.com. I'm delighted to have a copy, received in excellent condition and very promptly, and would highly recommend it as a fantastic book."

"This book takes place in the current time period but reminds me of the old black & white movies with the witty remarks,it actually quotes old movies. I love the characters and can relate to most of them, they make you want to visit them and stay for awhile. It is a fun book that I've read at least four times and I bought the audio book which I absolutely love."

"I think Mrs. Johanna needs new editors. I have read every book she has ever written. An though she got away from her historical and ventured into the future (?), it was well done and very entertaining. The only problem I have is when I read a book that is so good and find simple mistakes in the actual writing and plot that throw it completly off. If Mrs. Lindsey needs someone to read her books, let me know. I have found the same problem in many other books and have also alerted the author to them. They sincerely thanked me. One thing I will say, when you write to her, which I did years ago, she actually wrote back, in person, no less. Great way to keep your readers."

"Excellant book, even if geared to film. The information presented is universal and,therefore, completely usefull across the board. It does an excellant job of explainining techniques without being overly technical. JMS"

"This review is about Cardinal Avery Dulles and his 1946, 1996 book, A TESTIMONIAL TO GRACE AND REFLECTIONS ON A THEOLOGICAL JOURNEY ISBN 10: 1556129041, ISBN 13: 9781556129049. *** Ten years ago my wife and I first read the now 90 year old American Cardinal, when we led adult education discussions in our parish community of Avery Dulles's best known work, MODELS OF THE CHURCH. Years went by until, throughout 2008, I immersed myself in Father Leonard Feeney, SJ and his "Boston Heresy Case" of 1948. This research soon led me to rediscover Cardinal Dulles, who, be it noted, is the son of Eisenhower's "brinksmanship" Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles. For Avery Dulles (1918 - ), in early 1941 as a recent Harvard University graduate and convert to Roman Catholicism, co-founded the Saint Benedict Center in Cambridge, MA which later became Father Feeney's launching pad for noisily and publicly reminding (not entirely unsuccessfully -- witness the growing body today of ultra-conservative Latin Mass Catholics)the people of Boston that all Catholics had been taught for centuries as dogma that "extra ecclesiam nulla salus": i. e., "outside the church there is no salvation." *** A naval officer in World War II, Avery Dulles spent time just after World War II working briefly but intensely and co-operatively with Father Feeney and associates before Dulles went off to a Jesuit novitiate. He always admired the radical priest, who would be excommunicated (not for heresy but for disobedience) by Pope Pius XII in 1953. Avery Dulles even wrote a powerful, appreciative eulogy of Feeney on his death in 1978, for years reconciled to Rome without having to retract a word of his narrow doctrine of no salvation for Protestants, unbaptized Jews, pagans and other non-Catholics. Dulles writes of Feeney and Saint Benedict Center in his 1946 spiritual memoir, reissued and updated in 1996 as A TESTIMONIAL TO GRACE AND REFLECTIONS ON A THEOLOGICAL JOURNEY." *** For a brilliant, famous man and Roman Catholic cardinal, theologian Dulles is modest and unpretentious in both his voluminous writings and in his self-presentation in A TESTIMONIAL TO GRACE. Deeper, I believe, than his modesty are Dulles's serenity and balance. He can love and honor a radical Roman Catholic schismatic like Leonard Feeney, present his views fairly and without passion and then politely disagree. Watch this style at work in A TESTIMONIAL TO GRACE as Protestant Dulles absorbs and synthesizes the world views of his Professors at Harvard, and of his much later partners in Lutheran-Catholic ecumenical give and take. Like Aristotle, Dulles is serene. Like another of his masters, Saint Thomas Aquinas, Dulles learns from everyone: from orthodox and heterodox, from conservative and liberal. These qualities cannot be missed in the warm, almost conversational pages of a now 90 year old Prince of the Church. He is now retired, feeble, but still keeping abreast of this world and trying his best to make his master, Jesus of Nazareth, speak to today's secular society in the contemporary language that it speaks and, Dulles argues, has every right to expect to be spoken to in. -OOO-"

"Unparalleled Erotica! No other erotic romance writer can seem to equal or be as unique as P. F. Kozak. In her debut "Sins and Secrets" this talented writer took the reader on an erotic adventure above and beyond expectations by allowing the reader to choose which sensual path they would like the characters to take....and in "Take Me There" this writer successfully does it again! The main character in this story, Journalist Presley Knowles discovers the answer to the question if a woman could love two men, but as always, pushing the erotic envelope further, P. F. Kozak adds a touch of paranormal....can a woman love a man and a ghost? Vadim, a lover from another life Presley lived centuries ago enters her life after a fatal near-death accident. When Presley wakes up in the hospital after having a strange sensual dream, it is sexy Dr. Daniel Hanson she sees standing by her bed, patiently waiting for her to quickly get well so that he can have from Presley what he witnessed as he watched her dream while caring for her. As Daniel and Presley's wild sexual relationship begins, suddenly Vadim enters Presley's life again, as well as Presley and Daniel's bed by bringing another surprise... another woman, Ezra, who happens to be Presley's sister from her other life, which Daniel just happens to be sexually drawn to as well. Will this threesome, suddenly turned foursome's love, love that is both physical and emotional, survive from the past to the present and beyond to the future? This author just keeps getting better and better with each book. "Take Me There" is so much more than beautifully written sexually explicit love scenes. Once again, like this author's other books, it has a storyline with quality characters that keep the reader glued to the pages. If you are a fan of a well-written erotic romance, don't miss this or any other book written by P. F. Kozak! This reviewer is patiently waiting for the November 2008 release of "Do It To Me." - Beverly Meiner, Beverly Romance Books "

"As a Christian teen who grew up around books, I know how hard it is to find ones that can really be trusted to stay true to the Christian values, especially in the fiction genre. I almost did a dance when I stumbled upon "Raising Dragons" in my local Christian bookstore, and read it for the first time. Not only has this author successfully presented Christian themes alongside fantasy (almost completely unheard of at that time), but he has done so with a storyline and characters that are genuinely enjoyable, even for an older teen like myself. Parents, you can feel safe letting your children lose themselves in these pages. And for anyone older, don't pass this one up either!"

"Enoch's Ghost continues the stories from Dragons in our Midst and Eye of the Oracle following Walter, Ashley, Karen, and Thigocia on their adventure. This book isn't about Billy and Bonnie but that doesn't make it any less worth reading than the rest of the books! The day I got this book I finished it because I couldn't put it down! I have read Enoch's Ghost over and over again and every time I have noticed more things that I missed the first time I read it. The Dragons in our Midst and Oracles of fire series never get boring no matter how many times you read them! "

"Uniting familiar characters with delightful new ones, “The Rise of the Wyrm Lord” chronicles the further adventures of Aidan Thomas as he readjusts to life in our world, the Mirror Realm, as well as detailing the journeys of headstrong Antoinette Reed. When the teenagers meet at school, they quickly discover a mutual love for King Eliam and his ways. Convinced that Antoinette is being called to the Realm, Aidan secures her promise to search for Robby’s Glimpse and persuade him to join them while he tries to persuade him in their own world. Never dreaming of the trouble it would cause, Antoinette gives her word and soon her adventures in the Realm begin. Like “The Door Within,” “The Rise of the Wyrm Lord” works with a broad cast of twelve knights, each with different strengths. This book introduces my favorite character, the herbmaster and pyromaniac knight Sir Oswyn. Batson manages to keep his main characters—both the Glimpses from each other and Antoinette from Aidan—very distinct so that we do not lose track of characters for the number of them. Teenagers who enjoy fantasy will love this second book in the Door Within trilogy. Woven within the fast-paced tale is a lesson of trust and obedience—and the consequences of ignoring wise counsel. The only problem with the book is that it is the middle of the sequence. The ending leaves one wanting more! And that is hardly a true problem. "

"Imprisoned in the fortress of Paragor, Antoinette Reed still tries desperately to convince Kearn that Paragor’s promises are empty. Meanwhile, Aidan loans the Scrolls to Robby in hopes that they will convince him that The Realm is real and that King Eliam is the one to follow. But Robby is not easy to convince. In The Realm, Kaliam readies Alleble for the assault by Paragor’s forces that is sure to come, bringing all of those loyal to King Eliam under the protection of the city’s walls. But with the ancient Wyrm Lord and the Seven Sleepers on Pearagor’s side, will the walls of Alleble be enough to with stand the storm? “The Final Storm” brings together the best characters from the two previous books and introduces us to still more. Each of the three travelers from the Mirror Realm—Robby, Antoinette, and Aidan—have their own strengths and weaknesses keeping them from becoming copies of each other. The Glimpses too are clearly defined. While the characters retain their boisterous natures from previous books, the looming war tempers them making this my favorite of the trilogy. Amid the darkness of war, there is hope. Beneath the shadows of ruin, there is life. These concepts and more are a foundation to this story of Alleble’s great stand against the evil of Paragor. I love the way Batson illustrates the fact that though evil times will come, there is only one place to put our trust—In the King of kings. He will see to it that the evil will be used for good, no matter how bleak things may be. “The Final Storm” reminds us all that the end is only the beginning. Teenagers will love this gripping conclusion to the Door Within trilogy. "

"Bloodthirsty pirates. Buried treasure. Mysterious monks. Hidden islands. Daring escapes. Perilous searches. All these things and more are found in “The Isle of Swords.” As Captain Declan Ross tries to discover a way to leave piracy behind, his daughter tries to persuade him to let her join the crew and his newest deckhand tries to recover his memory. A strange monk offers Captain Ross his chance to escape piracy if he will grant him passage to an island no one has seen. But the ruthless Captain Bartholomew Thorne also wants the treasure and will do anything to get his hands on the map now in Captain Ross’ possession. I had a little trouble at first with the manner in which Batson constantly shifts the point-of-view from which the story is being told. Hearing from half a dozen different characters who I barely knew was a bit confusing and frustrating. However, as the story progressed, I quickly lost sight of the point-of-view changes and lost myself in the story. “The Isle of Swords” is first and foremost an action and adventure story populated with memorably quirky characters. Secondly, it is a tale of what is really important in life—not the adventure, but those family and friends who share it with us. The message is smoothly interwoven into the story with the same skill Batson has shown in his Door Within trilogy. Nearly every reader should be enthralled by this fast-paced story set on the high seas. "

""Isle of Fire" picks up shortly after the conclusion of its predecessor, "Isle of Swords". Cat is staying with the Brethren Monks, training with them while trying to regain his memories of his past life. But he isn't all that certain that his past is something he wants to remember. Meanwhile, Captain Declan Ross and his daughter Anne sail the sea recruiting pirates for his "Wolf Pack," a group of former pirates paid by the British Government and the Brethren to hunt down other pirates. Villains, new and old, make their appearance quickly as well. Some are brutal and heartless, consumed by their desire for revenge; others are more subtle, content to wait until the proper moment to strike. Wayne Thomas Batson paints a broad, sweeping tale that spans the Atlantic Ocean in this tale of treachery, truth, and tempests. Things are not always what they seem--even chapter titles can be deceiving. One rarely sees the newest--and cruelest--villain, The Merchant, but his influence is felt nonetheless. As in Batson's other books, some of the secondary characters are so much "larger than life" as to feel almost caricatures of reality and yet they seem perfectly real at the same time. However, the main characters internal dilemmas are as clear and real as their external ones. Overall, I preferred "Isle of Fire" to "Isle of Swords". There were fewer extreme characters--or perhaps I just knew the characters better and so they felt more real--and the story is less obvious. One knows the good guys have to win, but how is very much uncertain. Also, I liked the fact that Declan, Anne, Cat, and the others, aren't searching for treasure but rather truth. And they all find Truth and therefore, true treasure. I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys adventures on the high seas. But make sure you read "Isle of Swords" first! "

"Eye of the Oracle is my favorite book out of the whole series! Not only does it leave you with the answers to questions you had left over from Dragons in our Midst, it starts another story blending new characters into the Dragons in our Midst story. Eye of the Oracle is kind of like behind the scenes for Dragons in our Midst. It starts all the way back at the flood and comes up to Bonnie’s story so you’ll find out what happens before raising dragons. But Eye of the Oracle isn’t just about filling you in. It’s packed with just as much action as the rest of the books in the series that will keep you up reading all night long!"

"ISBN 1568990782 - While not exactly non-fiction, Manatee Winter is educational, which is always a plus. The involvement of the Smithsonian Institution is a good thing, too, but not quite good enough. A mother manatee and her calf head to warmer waters for the winter, encountering the dangerous propellers of fishing boats along the way. One specific encounter separates the two, scaring Little Calf into weeds which he can't escape on his own. Mother must help him and continue encouraging him so that they can reach the safety of a warm spring, where Little Calf will meet other baby manatees for the first time. Illustrator Steven James Petruccio did a very nice job; the problem isn't his work but the general boring-ness of the relatively accurate images. A manatee under water looks like a manatee under water and there are few images including anything else. In the back of the book, there is a list of "Points of Interest" that name pages where you can find specific things. For pages 22-23, it says "egret, red mangrove trees", but the egret's head is mostly cut off at the top of the page and the trees are represented only by roots. Author Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld did a very nice job, as well, and the book is best, in my opinion, as a vaguely educational text. As a storybook for young children, it's a little boring. - AnnaLovesBooks"

"A swashbuckling drama from the best-selling author of Isle of Swords and The Door Within Trilogy, Wayne Thomas Batson. A long line of the evilest men in history, The Merchants, have funded and planned the worst catastrophes in the world... it's time to for them to strike again. The legendary blood-thirsty pirate Bartholomew Thorne has convinced a group of technologically advanced heathen Vikings to help him burn London. It's up to Cat, struggling with his terrible past, and Declan Ross's crew of extremely entertaining pirates to stop them. Add a hurricane, Greek-fire, a particularly nasty group of Berserkers, a gullible king, and a strange, bald lad named Hopper, and you've got the best book since Isle of Swords! For anybody who likes bang-bang action and plenty of pirates. ARG!"

"The book has dealt with the aspects of MCDM which is so important to solve complex problems involved with decisions specially when dealing with spatial patterns and give the best alternative and optimized solution. The worst situation is: this book is "out of print". I hope the publishers would better reprint this book. Thanks"

"If you thought Raising Dragons was good then you HAVE to get The Candlestone! The thing about the Dragons in our Midst series: the books keep getting better as the series progresses and Mr. Davis comes up with a whole new idea for each book. This is the kind of book that you will want to read again, and again, and again… "

"Circles of Seven, another book to add to my absolute favorites list! Mr. Davis has done an amazing job of writing a book that is like no other in the series (or the entire bookstore) and in my opinion even tops the first two books. As soon as I got this book my parents didn’t see me until I finished reading it and I couldn’t wait for the next one to come out! But before you read Circles of Seven make sure you get Raising Dragons and The Candlestone and read those first. You will be able to understand and enjoy the Dragons in our Midst series much better all together."

"Just when I thought Bryan Davis couldn’t possibly have any more ideas left for books out come Tears of a Dragons. Reading other reviews on Dragons in our Midst book you’ll notice most say the same thing: YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PUT THIS BOOK DOWN! And that’s because it’s true! With Tears of a Dragon and all the other book in this series. Make sure you get the whole series at once because once you finish one of the books you won’t ant to wait any longer to start the next one! "

"Billy and Bonnie now journey to Dragon's rest, where the search for a lost loved one. They find a simple dwelling place of people who were once dragons, but remember nothing about their heritage. They attempt to free the former dragons, but are hindered with those allied with evil. Little do they know that the biggest, baddest battle awaits them. This is the final book in Dragons in our Midst. For avid readers who have just discovered the book and fan rereading it, this inspiring series is bittersweet, for it is the end of one adventure (an amazing, adventurous, lesson-teaching, and fantastic one at that!) and it end with a promise of a new, wonderful adventure. I loved this book and highly recommend it to any fantasy lover age 10 and up! "

"I have read this book over and over again and do not plan on stopping any time soon. Raising Dragons starts off the best series you will ever read and once you start reading it you will not be able to put it down! Whether you like reading or not this book is definitely for you. Even if dragons aren’t your thing, they will be after reading Raising Dragons!"

"The evil Bartholomew Thorne has returned! Through forming a deadly alliance with both the Merchant and the Raukar, he takes possession of a terrible weapon that is seemingly unstoppable. Will London survive? Will Declan Ross and Commodore Blake be destroyed? Will Cat turn to his father's evil ways? Find out in Isle of Fire! Isle of Fire (sequel to Isle of Swords) is an amazing book written by the mastermind author Wayne Thomas Batson. It's about pirates, a topic that I have found to be handled strangely in other books, but the author weaves a believable but still spellbinding tale. I love the spirituality in this book, as well. It isn't too in-your-face but can be greatly appreciated by believers, and unbelievers might get curious about God. It doesn't justify the horrible acts of pirates, which I have found to be a problem elsewhere, and doesn't have objectionable content besides some violence which is not explicit. This book is great for about middle school students to adults."

"The reason why i need this book is because i am pursing a teachers education diploma in information technology and this text is a requirement.Furthermore, it is a very interesting book, it broadens my knowledge on various topics in information technology"

"YOU HAVE TO READ THIS BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING ELSE. I hate reading but I Could NOT put this book down at night. I stayed up reading for 4 or more hours."

"ISBN 0590918192 - This series is apparently supposed to be for the 4 to 8 year old crowd, but Huggly will appeal to younger children, as well, if not more. For some of the older kids, Huggly's a nice way to deal with fears that a lot of 7 and 8 year olds don't even want to admit to having, of the monster under the bed. Huggly is a monster and lives under the bed of a people child "named" Sleepyhead. One night, Huggly sneaks out and slips quietly into the room… until he bangs his head on a dresser and causes a drawer of clothes to fall out. Suddenly curious about clothes, Huggly dresses himself and finishes just as Sleepyhead's mother comes to wake him. Huggly's got to hide before he gets caught! Huggly's hilarious, not even remotely scary, which isn't the point of the story but is a nice thing - kids who deal with their own monsters under their own beds will be happy to know that maybe their monster is equally un-scary. His attempt to figure out clothing seems perfectly reasonable, and the illustrations absolutely make the story. Reading "A bright red-and-yellow striped thing had a nice hole for his tail." isn't funny at all if you can't see that the striped thing is a shirt. Arnold's a genius and Huggly's a goofball... You should be warned, of course, that if you read this one once, you'll be required to read it over and over - it's that good. - AnnaLovesBooks"

"From the very first chapter I knew this book was great. i had first picked up Eye of the Oracle and I was hungry for more Dragon Stories with a great message. This book was not a disappointer at all! The reader will feel like they are with Billy and Bonnie on all of their adventures and will love the great message about love, courage, and trust. Raising Dragons begins with Billy Bannister, your average teenager. He begins to notice that he has some strange capabilities. As soon as his true heritage is revealed, he is soon running away from dark knights. He learns about faith, courage, and friendship. On the way he meets Bonnie Silver, a girl who seems to be hiding something. Will they evade the evil villains, who are eager to wipe out their race?"

"A long awaited sequel to Eye of the Oracle does not disappoint. Continuing from where the Dragons in Our Midst saga left off, Enoch's Ghost does not disappoint even though Billy Bannister and Bonnie Sliver are not active. Ashley, Walter, and Karen set out with Ashley's dragon mother as they search for Ashley's brother, Gabriel, but in the process they are hindered by a dragon of old and a plot to connect Heaven with earth. They discover Sapphira Adi, a girl who is thousands of years old who lives deep underground with slumbering giants. With scenes that have you crying, climaxes that have you wanting more, and a great story plot that never ceases to amaze, this book is a must read!"