Product Description
This 60-day prayer experience will guide you to ask God to mentor you in your life’s purposes. Included are insights from modern-day role models, examples of biblical characters, specific questions for reflection, and an eye-opening analysis of your life patterns and purposes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

lifechanger
This book has had great impact on my life.The daily focus helped me find insights I probably would not have otherwise.Simply and insightfully written.Great for changing the direction of your life.Full of penetrating questions that demand an answer.Highly recommended.

I love it!
Every day I look forward to the questions that this stirs up, as well as the bible reading and the prayers at the end of the daily passage.This is a great tool for self discovery while searching for life's purpose.I wish I'd found it sooner!

Bowing to Purpose Through Submission
This book was a disappointment. I expected guidance through a relationship with God, encouragement in life and relationships. What I got was a step by step method to recognize all my possible shortcomings, my incredibly sinful perceived ways, and lack of submission to the man in my life. There are questions to respond to and most of them left me less than guided and more than a bit angry at the author.

Perhaps this would be a positive purchase for a woman who sees her role as the support of her powerful, God-filled husband. This is not where I am in my relationship with the Lord. My prayer filled life is rich, with submissiveness to God's leadership, not the path outlined in this book. It was a disappointment.

Looking for your purpose?
I know I am looking for mine...I am only 6 days into the 60 day plan but have found it to be short and sweet and to the point...great journaling tool...and hopefully by the end of the 60 days I will have a better handle on greater direction for my life.

book
I received the book in a timely manner but have not had a chance to read it. Im sure it will be very enjoyable. The purchase and shipment process was just fine! ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (31)

very finely written book
The author deserves much commendation not only for the succinctness of her literary style, but also for her refreshing lack of sentimentality. Her overtly objective manner of exposition reveals significant emotional involvement in all aspects of the subject - and there is not a single boring page.

In my view the most sympathetic and respectable personage in the text was the piano tuner Verne Endquist, who was portrayed as not only being highly skilled in his vocation but also have the patience and faith of the proverbial Job to satisfy the uncompromising demands of Mr. Gould. His life story in the Saskatchewan chapter, outlining his family's great financial challenges during the Depression, combined with his blindness, is very moving to read - all the more so given the author's editorial restraint. It is unfortunate that when Mr. Gould changed piano companies from Steinway to Yamaha, which necessitated a replacement in tuners, that Mr. Endquist was not treated better after 20 years of distinguished service. The whole book sheds a lot of light on the much underappreciated art of piano tuning and voicing.

While the author was not pursuing any kind of agenda with Glenn Gould, and simply writing historical material, I was left with deeply mixed feelings, that his artistic quality was even greater; as a person, while not being dishonest by any stretch of the imagination, his behaviour left much to be desired. Although there has been much speculation on his possibly having Asperger's Syndrome - and the author rightly did not pursue this - I think a case can be made for the pianist having a very controlling nature. This influence is arguably beneficial in his studio recordings, and a social obstacle elsewhere. Hanging up on someone because he or her has a cold borders on irrationality. As suggested on the front cover, obsessiveness was a dominant influence in his life.

The history of the piano CD318 and of the Steinway company is also very compelling reading. To be sure, the book was exhaustively researched.

This book, complete with its elegant cover in spite of the cosmetic condition of the chair, is most warmly recommended.

Not Just for Fans of Gould and Classical Music
This is an excellent read for anybody looking for a fascinating story about a singular genius, Glenn Gould, and his quest for a unique piano. It's a story that encompasses a wide variety of topics, from the making of a Steinway to the art of piano tuning to the quirky personality of Gould himself. The characters, many who seem to exist on that nebulous boundary between normalcy and genius, are a joy to read about. And finally, Katie Hefner's writing is spot-on; you can sense her enthusiasm and excitement about her chosen subject throughout the work.

Read this!

In, but not OF this world.
The title of this book was taken from a phrase attributed to Gould himself. His life was a love affair with the piano and the interpretation of Bach. To bring his interpretations to their highest potential he searched passionately (did Gould do anything any other way?) for a Steinway that had just the right touch, tone, response, and voicing. His presence, always welcome by Steinway & Sons of New York, was frequent and persistent, until he found C318. (He sued them because a technician "touched" him too enthusiastically. Gould is photographed in the book in an upper-body cast.)

C stands for Concert, as this model D (8'10.5") is the instrument used to soar above the orchestra; 318 was its paddock number and it was found, strangely, in the back of a department store in Toronto. This 1945, 1,325 pound Steinway (serial #317194) was the pianistic love of Gould's life (second only to the Chickering of his youth). Thirteen years his senior, they met in 1960.

Speaking of loves, it was an absolute delight to read of Gould's ten-year love affair with Cornelia Foss. For those who thought he was a homosexual, this dispelled that rumor. But homosexual, bisexual, heterosexual, unisexual, asexual...what does it matter? Hypochondriac, obsessive, reclusive, fearful of physical contact, ritualized behavior, obsessive hand washing, socially awkward(or so they say; he certainly loved to talk in interviews.) Gould was in this world but not of this world; thinking of him in terms of sexuality or his behavior within "norms" is so mundane and he was so arcane!

To round out the trio (it IS a romance of three, after all) Gould finds a gem in Verne Endquist, a piano tuner/technician with a 90% vision loss, from Alaska. (An interesting statistic from the book: "The largest population of mental asylum inmates in the early 1900's were piano tuners. And it's no wonder; with a piano in every home they were required to tune five and more pianos a day.)

There's too much to say about Gould in such a small space. Let him speak and SING for himself. One of the complaints about his many recordings is that we hear him singing along with his playing. And what a beautiful voice!
Watch him on youtube (dot) com

Elizabeth Wallace, author/illustrator of Jesus Christ In His Own Words

SUPERB !
I must admit that I am one of Glenn Gould's admirers and have tried during the last years to purchase many of his disks.Listening to him playing is like getting a fresh shower each time.Gould was eccentric,odd,bizzare,strange-you name it.But he was a genius.One day,while being in a shop, I met a couple who were looking for a recording of Brahms' Piano Converto Number One.They asked for my advice. I suggested that they buy the 1962 historical -andfor many the controversial -recording Gould has made with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra under the conductor Leonard Bernstein.They refused telling me that this pianist "always hums and sings while playing"!
What a typical thing to say about Gould! Gould was indeed strange and used to wear a hat and coat and sometimes gloves in the warm summers because he was afraid to catch a cold or had a phobia of germs.He was also extremely anxious about hurting his fingers and ,as Katie Hafner demonstrates in this gem of a book, he did not hesitate to sue someone who accidentally tapped his shoulder,causing him to stop playing for a while.
The true story here is not just about Gould but concerns a menage-a-trois:Gould,his almost blind piano tuner and a grand piano known as CD318.In this remarkable and fantastic rich story Katie Hafner lets us know a lot not only about the three afore-mentioned, but also about the way piano tuning has evolved from the eighteenth century onwards.What did Steinway and Sons produce during WW2 came to me as a surprise.
This is a story about a genius,his obsessions, his eccentricities,his love affair,and the way he wanted to achieve perfection.Gould ended up tragically and his legacy is here to stay forever.So is Hafner's book!

A gem
Although I'm not a musician, I am a lover of music and of books about musicians.This looked like an interesting diversion, and I'm so pleased I bought it.There is, of course, a lot of the standard bio information about Glenn Gould, but with quite a lot of "I didn't know that" items and anecdotes.What I found really interesting was the technical detail about the components and construction of a concert grand, and the number of variables that go into the sound that finally comes out.There was also a very revealing description of the skills of a tuner / piano technician, and what a godsend the career has been for so many blind people. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
Paen Scott is a Dark One: a vampire without a soul. And his mother is about to lose hers, too, if Paen can't repay a debt to a demon by finding a relic known as the Jilin God-in five days. When he hires half-elf private investigator Samantha Cosse to help him, he sets her elf senses tingling. Which makes it pretty much impossible to keep their relationship on a professional level. Especially since Sam is convinced that she is Paen's Beloved-the woman who can give him back his soul, whether he wants it or not... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (41)

Better than usual, but the heroine still annoys and the plot falls short.
In some ways this book is the best in the series - the heroine annoyed me far less than Katie's heroines usually do, and the half-elf spin and added supernatural elements were well done. The hero was stereotypically appealing, and there were some good humourous moments and some hot sex. I enjoyed it, overall, but there were still little moments of annoyance with the heroine. Also, the plot was convoluted and contrived - had it (and the ending) been more solid, I would have probably given this 4 stars.

A great read
I love this book and I couldn't put it down. I finished it in one day and I loved every minute of it.

Fun Book to Read...!
If you like Vampire stories, this book is a excellent light read, and very FUN...!

Great Book
I stumbled upon Katie MacAlister books and I'm HOOKED.They are all fun adventures with humor and a little sizzle.This one is no exception.If you like fun vampire books, you'll love this one.This is just one in a series.Read them all.

Loved This Book
I have just found MacAlister as an author and I have to say this book made me laugh a lot. I enjoy some of the "lighter" vampire books and this one did not disappoint. ... Read more

Product Description
Finally, there's a fun and funky way for today's single women to escape the chaotic and stressful dating scene-the patch! Filled with colorful illustrations, catchy advice, and four sheets of "patches" (stickers in the four patch designs), this entertaining book follows a thirtysomething everywoman down a new dating path. Fed up with the usual singles scene, she's given up on finding Mr. Right, but she doesn't want to abandon all of the feelings associated with relationships. Now, thanks to the revolutionary Stuck on You patch process, she doesn't have to! Each step in the patch program delivers a new level of dating emotions:

Step 1-Anticipation. This fuzzy, pink heart-shaped patch will have single girls giggling, blushing, and waiting by the phone.
Step 2-Connection. This shiny, red lightning-shaped patch leads to new lingerie and lots of time in the bedroom.
Step 3-Commitment. This dull olive patch plants women firmly on the couch, wondering why they watch so much TV. And where did their sex drive go?
Step 4-Reentry. This sparkly, blue star-shaped patch will have single girls remembering their relationship searches with renewed eagerness, ready to tackle dating once again!

For any woman who's looking for a relationship, or simply fed up with the one she already has, this parody of self-help science is guaranteed to stick with her through all the ups and downs of modern dating. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

When you're going through a rough patch, dating-wise. . .
Light-hearted fun for the broken-hearted or those who are merely tired of the same ole same ole dating encounter. A really unique concept! A book with never a dull moment!

Great fun...no commitment required
I saw the movie "Shopgirl" last week, and I was just thinking:
If Claire Danes' character had read and taken to heart "Stuck on You" then used the appropriate, supplied patches inside the book's back jacket, she and Steve Martin's character could have preempted much of the plotline. One was obviously looking for more in the other than preppy, wealthy and quirky.
As an appreciator of gender communication, relationship preservation and quick, fun, clever reads, this is a winner of a stocking stuffer. If you end up playing "Dirty Santa", it's bound to be the most sought after and most prized claim of the party.

I saw myself in this book!
Katie and Tim are really on to something here - after coming out of the Summer of Hell Ex-Con Closet Case Pervert Dates, this book helped me begin to slowly heal through some of the worst, most devastating, not to mention most disppointing encouters in my life.I look at the stickers as humorous band-aids that will hold our hearts, minds and souls together until we are whole enough to find someone that is our true equal.Everytime I wear a patch, it serves as a reminder that I am okay, and that I will never have to settle for less than I desire!All the while laughing, and thank heaven I can now because of Katie and Tim BRAVO!(When's the next one coming out?)

Stuck on You: Do-It-Yourself Patches for the Single Girl
I saw the book, and the artwork caught my eye.I perused it, I bought it, I read it.I thought it was so good, funny and original and witty.I thought well now i will take a break and date myself for awhile and see how I feel.I put on the reentry patch and I was good to go.Now go buy the book and have fun.Joanne Resnick

I'm doing it myself!
A witty take on the whole dating scene. Patches aren't just for the nicotine addicted anymore! Now we can rid ourselves of the biggest addiction of all - men! A cute gift for a friend in frustration or to share during a girls night in! And it comes with the patches so you don't need to buy anything else! :) ... Read more

Product Description
Incisive and often biting cartoons give Hollywood something to laugh at, paste on bulletin boards, and fax to others. ... Read more

Product Description

Church is church, right? Well, not so much, as any Baptist teen will find when visiting a friend's Episcopal church, or any Lutheran visitor to a Pentecostal service will discover. So what's the difference? Why are there any differences at all? Though churches are as individual as the members they serve, Katie Meier clears up some of the confusion regarding the basic Christian denominations.

Written for everyday teens (rather than, say, theology majors) this guide clearly spells out the unique qualities of each sect, while at the same time underlines the unifying principles of Christian faith. Practically, it takes the scare out of accompanying a friend to a different church; but even better, and maybe more importantly, it inspires a greater understanding of and love for fellow Christians.

Customer Reviews (3)

29 Christian Churches in a Brief Review
This is a good - ok - review of some Christian Churches.

There were some issues that were not detailed but, maybe that is for another book. The book gave some points about these churches that could appeal to a teen and whether they would even entertain the idea of visiting these types of churches. My personal experience of visiting some 45 different Christian Denominational churches in 2005, might enhance the authors knowledge. But, as this book was written for informational purposes only, it is a good - quick guide.

As an added note: The book did offer a brief view of the origins of each denomination listed, (Church History)!

Don't pollute young minds
In response to the last reviewer, I can only say that before you attack other Christian churches you should first read the Bible and understand what Christianity is first.What did Jesus say about baptism?No, Catholics do not "worship" the Pope (where did that come from?).The essence of our pluralistic society is that we have many different Christian denominations.Allowing our young people to see what we have in common with each other will create a society built upon respect for our diversity and not promote useless ignorant misunderstandings to perpetuate.

Avoid Buying
This book, although covering some denominations that are not usually mentioned, is dangerous because it makes certain cults seem like valid paths to eternal life. For example it puts Catholics and the Churches of Christ in a good or neutral light (which is bad because true Catholics worship the pope, which makes it a cult, and the Churches of Christ teach that you must be baptized to be forgiven, which is false.)

Interestly the author doesn't seem to pander to all Christian denominations, such as the Jehovah's Witnesses, 7th Day Adventists, and Mormons, which is one of the main reasons I didn't give it one star. ... Read more

Product Description
Brussels sprouts--yuck! The dentist--blech! And worst of all . . . bedtime! That can really ruin a kid’s day.You have to stop playing and brush your teeth and put on your pj’s, and you just know your parents are going to have a big party as soon as you’re asleep.Aren’t they? The feisty girl in this book is determined to find out! Katie Davis takes a fresh, funny look at an experience that is familiar to children and, of course, their sleepy parents. The surprise ending, with its playful resolution, will banish the bedtime blues and is sure to have youngsters scrambling to get to sleep!
... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Oh, so true!
My daughter found this book irresistible.Even though she's 11 now I'm sure she still suspects that all kinds of exciting grown-up things are happening after she goes to bed.

Mom and daughter agree
This is one of those rare books that has adult humor, but still seems to be written for the children. My 3 1/2 year old asked me to read it a second time (which is rare), and my 1 1/2 year old enjoyed the bright illustrations. And well, I had to chuckle at the familiar story line. It's so nice when one book meets all of our needs.If your child is young and hasn't started this behavior - don't let that scare you away from buying the book - out of fear that it will teach them something bad.Believe me, these instincts are dormant in your child.Eventually, he/she will start the bedtime stall just because...

I am the parent & buying this book for myself - I LOVE IT
For anyone looking to purchase this book it is a must! When I first checked this book out in the library for my 2 year old daughter I found Ikept reading it to her for bed- over and over again. Even if she was donehearing it. I laughed every time Iread it. My absolute favorite partswere "I am practically positive my parents are having a party"& "Luckily the water idea ended up being a two-part plan. Afterdrinking it, I got out of bed again and said I had to go to the bathroom(while her duck slippers are looking up and holding an umbrella)". Theillustrations are brilliant, even though my first glace impression was notsignificant. I adore this book. Every parent needs to own Katie Davis's Ihate to go to bed. Brilliant!

good buy
My 5 year old son and 2 year old daughter love this story about a girl stalling to go to bed. "Go to bed" is repeated throughout the story, and now we all say those parts together.A good buy!

Review of: I Hate to Go to Bed!
I don't think there is one child that has never put up a fight about going to bed.The book I Hate to Go to Bed is about a little girl that refuses to go to bed because she is afraid that she is missing something while sheis sleeping.She believes that every night after she goes to sleep herparents throw a huge party and just pretend that they don't.The bookexplains how this girl comes up with different ways to catch her parentshave this "party".She first pretends to be really tired and pretends tobe asleep.Then she sneaks out of her bed, but her parents catch her. Another plan was to get up because she was "thirsty", but her parents sawright through that trick because, "apparently it had been tried before". This plan actually ended up being a "two-part" plan.She then thinks thatshe catches her parents having a party.She thinks that her father is in acostume and her mother is putting up streamers.In reality her father wasin his pajamas and her mother was flossing her teeth.This is when thelittle girl decides that she is going to have a party herself.Her partyis going to be the best party ever; it is going to be a party in herdreams. This is a children's book that tells a creative and yetentirely believable story through both the language and pictures provided. This picture book describes a story as told through the eyes of whatappears to be a five or six year-old girl. The story line is believable forboth adults and children.The characters of both the girl and the parentsreact and behave the same way that any person would think.The way that itwas written and the pictures that were provided are enjoyable for a personof any age. This book was both written and illustrated by Katie Davis. It was written in 1999 and published in the United States.There is onepart in the book that is not "original work".There is one excerpt in oneof the pictures of the lyrics "these boots are made for walking".Otherthan that the book is an "original work" and, according to me, of highexcellence. I gave this book five stars because of the way I foundmyself captured in the story.While reading this book I remember when Iwas young and didn't want to go to bed for fear of what I was missing.Ithink that this book is amusing to all because children can relate to itnow, while adults and looks back and remember what it was like to be fiveyears old and "hate to go to bed!" ... Read more

Product Description
In Loving What Is, bestselling author Byron Katie introduced thousands of people to her simple and profound method of finding happiness through questioning the mind. Now, I Need Your Love—Is That True? examines a universal, age-old source of anxiety: our relationships with others. In this groundbreaking book, Katie helps you question everything you have been taught to do to gain love and approval. In doing this, you discover how to find genuine love and connection.

The usual advice offered in self-help books and reinforced by our culture advocates a stressful, all-consuming quest for love and approval. We are advised to learn self-marketing and manipulative skills—how to attract, impress, seduce, and often pretend to be something we aren’t. This approach doesn’t work. It leaves millions of walking wounded—those who, having failed to find love or appreciation, blame themselves and conclude that they are unworthy of love.

I Need Your Love—Is That True? helps you illuminate every area in your life where you seem to lack what you long for most—the love of your spouse, the respect of your child, a lover’s tenderness, or the esteem of your boss. Through its penetrating inquiry, you will quickly discover the falseness of the accepted ways of seeking love and approval, and also of the mythology that equates love with need. Using the method in this book, you will inquire into painful beliefs that you’ve based your whole life on—and be delighted to see them evaporate. Katie shows you how unraveling the knots in the search for love, approval, and appreciation brings real love and puts you in charge of your own happiness.


“Everyone agrees that love is wonderful, except when it’s terrible. People spend their whole lives tantalized by love—seeking it, trying to hold on to it, or trying to get over it. Not far behind love, as major preoccupations, come approval and appreciation. From childhood on, most people spend much of their energy in a relentless pursuit of these things, trying out different methods to be noticed, to please, to impress, and to win other people’s love, thinking that’s just the way life is. This effort can become so constant and unquestioned that we barely notice it anymore.

This book takes a close look at what works and what doesn’t in the quest for love and approval. It will help you find a way to be happier in love and more effective in all your relationships. What you learn here will bring fulfillment to all kinds of relationships, including romantic love, dating, marriage, work, and friendship.” —Byron Katie ... Read more

Customer Reviews (50)

simple and profound inquiry
Byron Katie's simple and profound method of inquiry , coupled with great wisdom , warmth and compassion , make this a very valuable starting point for the reader's own inquiry . The book targets one of the most anxiety-producing areas in emotional life , and points the way to understanding , wisdom , harmony and independence . Through reading the dialogues , the reader can start to look at the areas in which he is stuck , caught-up , and causing himself pain . In my opinion , this book canbe used as a guideline for doing the Work .

I need your love, is that true?
This book was bought for a neighbor, who needed to learn the truth about what love is all about and how to find her true self, after being in 3 abusive relationships!

Love this women.
Indispensable and relevant regardless of where we are in our relationships.At one point my only regret was not picking this up earlier.However i may have not been able to fully integrate the wisdom here with my state of yesterday. I look forward to seeing Byron later this year and would recommend this book to anyone who wants bring forth the higher truths from misguided innocence. This may well be the book to allow courage and that willingness to set into a non position.The key is an all loving state.I am now able to see and love those closest to my heart regardless of how they see me in their ''way'' rather then my own description of how i feel i should be interpreted.Walking lightly.So take self a bit less seriously!

To sound off..

''To think that I know what's best for anyone else is to be out of my business. Even in the name of love, it is pure arrogance, and the result is tension, anxiety, and fear. Do I know what's right for me? That is my only business. Let me work with that before I try to solve problems for you.."Byron Katie

Flawlessly brilliant, indispensably useful.
I have read a plethora of spiritual books, and not a single one of them has been so incredibly useful and applicable as this one. I barely know where to begin raving about it.

First of all, anyone can pick up this book and get as much out of it as I did. Whether they are new to The Work, to Byron Katie, to spirituality, heck, even to reading, it can still make a big difference. It is written in a tone that is simple to comprehend, flows smoothly, and has a profound impact on the reader. Within a few pages, the reader is completely up to speed on The Work's Four Questions and can witness it in action through the dialogues and examples throughout the book. For someone who is well versed in The Work, personal development, and spirituality, the book still manages to be completely fresh, offering priceless insights into where we're deluding ourselves out of happiness in the realm of love and relationships.

I read this in the thick of a challenging on-again-off-again relationship, and did each exercise wholeheartedly. The Work subtly loosened the grip I had on my beliefs around needing this man's love, and over the next couple of weeks, I felt a noticeable shift around how I was relating to our situation. I was able to relax, experience happiness, and not worry so much. Out of all the various 'transformational' and personal development tools in my toolbox, for me, this one cuts right to the heart of the matter in a way none of the others can.

I often send copies of this book to friends who are in pain over a relationship or breakup and can't recommend it highly enough.

Loved the book. Yes, that's true!
Byron Katie soars in this book. Rather than just talking about it or thinking about it, Katie provides meaningful tools to stop seeking love, approval and appreciate and start finding them - but the key is you have to actually do it. It's not magic and it doesn't happen by osmosis. Do The Work. It works if you work it. ... Read more

Product Description
Katie Arnoldi's critically acclaimed debut novel Chemical Pink launched her onto the bestseller lists and so burrowed itself into the public's consciousness that its title was the answer to a double Jeopardy question. Now, seven years later, her second novel, The Wentworths, arrives, delivering a fascinating, erotic, dark, and savagely funny page-turner that will both satiate her fans and appeal to new readers of all stripes.

Arnoldi's searing portrait of a wealthy Westside, Los Angeles, family, is a true binge read--boldly dramatizing the disfunctionality of the modern American family.Comic and horrifying, sadistic and hilarious, tragic and funny all at the same time, The Wentworths is a shocking yet redemptive tale that will have fans cheering. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

It Sucks You In
I was pleasantly surprised by how good this book was.I bought it looking for a "beach read," and ended up enjoying it more than I thought I would.I think Arnoldi has a nice writing style that flows well and makes the book an easy read.I am looking forward to reading her other books (which I've already ordered).

Worth every penny. . .
The Wentworths by Katie Arnoldi is amazing.Arnoldi has a great way of telling the reader the story without using "fluff" or unnecessary details.This held my attention to the wild story because it did not get side-tracked.This book incorporates humor, sex, drama, violence, suspense, well you get the point.I am not sure what this book doesn't incorporate which makes it one of my all time favorite novels.You will not be disappointed with this one.The Wentworths is like a literary drug for your mind, your mind will thank you for the journey.

Where is the "brilliance?"
This book was not the scathing portayel of dysfunction I was hoping for.It was like someone read The Corrections, and decided to dumb it down considerably.The characters in this book are so one-dimensional, they read like a description from a film treatment and not a novel.Throughout I kept picturing the dramatic Lifetime made-for-television movie it would make.Cold and conniving waspy wife?Check.Philandering, drunk patriarch?Check.It is a quick read, probably because it should have been a mediocre short story, and not a novel.Satire is only successful when it is smart, and this book is definitely lacking.

Don't waste your time
If you like books that are a quick read, the characters are highly stereotyped and boring, the ending predictable and ties up all loose ends like a sitcom, then this is the book for you. The only reason I continued reading it was I expected (HOPED) it would get better. The Wentworths failed to deliver. I am glad it was such an easy read because I didn't waste as much time. Sadly, that is a few hours of my time that I will never get back.

Absolutely loved it
I have just finished the book and I want to pick it up and start all over again.Great plot, great characters and so funny.I look forward to reading Chemical Pink next. ... Read more

Product Description
A moving first novel that sets the burgeoning creative and romantic life of a young woman against the backdrop of the art and history of Florence

Jo Shepherd grew up in the Pacific Northwest under the loving care of her grandfather, Frank. After spending months nursing him through his final painful illness, Jo receives a glorious vision of the Virgin Mary, who tells her to head to Italy to live out her dream of becoming an artist. In doing so Jo must leave behind her childhood sweetheart, Jack, facing the prospect of losing him forever.
        In Florence, Jo's intense artistic visions begin to find fruition, but her magical odyssey is complicated when she meets two extraordinary young American men, Chad and Walter. By day, Jo paints--women in a marketplace, a street musician near the Duomo, the view of the Arno from the Piazzale Michelangelo. By night, she sketches in a tavern, while Chad and Walter vie for her attention and pay for her meals. As the lives of these three friends become more deeply entwined, the revelation of painful secrets threatens to destroy their delicate balance. In one heart-wrenching scene, one of Jo's paintings is badly damaged, and the ensuing heartbreak causes her to flee Stateside. In New York City, and eventually back in the Pacific Northwest, Jo begins to face up to the legacy of her time in Italy, and to her future with or without Jack.
        All We Know of Love deftly blends themes of female spirituality, creat-
ivity, and romantic awakening. Along the way there is love left behind and love regained; a bloody fight and a ruined painting; miraculous visions and a child lost. Alternately lyrical, engaging, and funny, this is a remarkable achievement by an evocative new voice in women's fiction. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

choppy but justifiable...
At first I thought this book was going to be a struggle to get through.The writing seemed choppy to me.But as Joanna develops the choppy writing is very much like her mental state.I felt as the story progressed the writing always reflected Joanna's temperment and feeling.The story was good.I would have liked to see Joanna work some more things out in her mind, and thus related it to the reader.The absolution from all the troubles seems to be too easy without hearing her work it out for herself. I am not sure if I agree with other reviewers about this author being comparable to Barbara Kingsolver.But I don't like to generalize and compare with other books, each stands alone in my mind.

Did I not get it or what?
I love Barbara Kingsolver's works...so I expected to enjoy this novel as touted.The prose sometimes appeared so simplistic as if a junior high or high school "girl" had written it...I just could not appreciate it.There is a story and definitely some insights but a page turner ... not... and unfortunately I pass on to other readers with reservations.

Wonderful, lyrical
I don't think that it is particularly the story that I love about this book , though it is a good story. The way the book is written, in this lovely, lyrical prose is captivating and engaging. This book is a wonderful rainy-day treat...and it will remain on my bookshelf for years to come.

A lovely read
It's only been minutes since I've closed the book, WHAT WE KNOW OF LOVE, by Katie Schneider. It's her debut novel, but it has been sitting on my to-be-read pile for months, so maybe she has published another since. I hope so.
It's a lovely novel about a woman who had been raised by her beloved grandfather after her mother died in a car accident. She's an artist. She grows up in Spokane, Washington, but at the urging of her first true love, she goes to Italy because there's nothing more for her at home. She meets a cellist, Chad, with whom she becomes romantically involved. But before the relationship progresses toward romance, she is part of a triangle, another friend, Walter is their companion. Walter is secretive and hides certain aspects of his life from his friends. When the truth is revealed, it's revealed in an explosive argument which destroys one of Jo's sacred paintings.
The story switches between Spokane and Italy, between past and present. As the story progresses, it's like putting together a magnificent puzzle. And although the story comes to a satisfying ending full of hope and promises of love, it was sad to finally finish the novel.
~Rita Marie Keller
author of Living in the City
ISBN: 1-59113-202-9

Not for me
I did not think that the story of the characters were compelling.I was bored by the prose. The story affected a magical realism flavor that did not feel true.I thought the heroine was overly romanticized and had too pristine a character.The book needed more juice. ... Read more

Product Description
Nothing is more comforting than a home-cooked meal. And the best home cooking starts with fresh ingredients found close to home with foods that are local, seasonal, and organic. Raised in her grandmother's Southern kitchen, Katie Lee Joel comes from a "family of great cooks and big eaters." And she knows exactly what appeals to the home cook: recipes that are delicious, easy to follow, quick to prepare, and made with readily available seasonal ingredients.

In The Comfort Table, Katie dips into her archive of family recipes and updates all the classics from her childhood growing up in West Virginia, and also creates some inventive new favorites. This mouthwatering assortment of more than 125 recipes includes Southern staples like Fried Green Tomatoes, Chicken and Dumplings, Peach Cobbler, Meatloaf, and the quintessential Pulled Pork BBQ, which stand alongside contemporary classics like Roasted Carrot and Ginger Soup, Citrus-Tarragon Mahi-Mahi, and Dijon and Pistachio-Crusted Rack of Lamb.

But The Comfort Table is about more than just good old-fashioned home cooking. It's about sharing delicious, healthful meals -- made with love -- for friends and family. Katie's rich assortment of recipes for starters, salads, soups, entrees, side dishes, breads, breakfast, desserts, and drinks, is accompanied by entertaining tips and anecdotes to delight the modern foodie. The Comfort Table is a comprehensive, unpretentious, refreshingly accessible guide to creating unforgettable meals for occasions big and small. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (58)

A great cookbook!
I bought this item primarily for the recipes from West Virginia. Katie Lee is true to her heritage. A great cookbook, as well as a good coffee table conversation piece.It is an interesting read even if you never do any of the recipes. But, hey, ya gotta try the Logan County Burger. It is a different twist on the American favorite. Morrison's Drive Inn in Logan County still makes their hamburgers this way!! Try It!

Our go to cook book
I first picked up this book to kill some time on a shopping trip with my wife that felt like it wound never end.I was fully prepared to hate the book, thinking she only got a cookbook by marrying a famous husband.However, much to my chagrin, I fully enjoyed the book.It has now become our go to cookbook for family gatherings. The banana cream pie (its especially easy if you use aprepared vanilla wafer pie crust) baked beans, peach cobbler and pesto salad have become family staples.Everything we have made is easy and we have yet to be disappointed.We have about 60 cookbooks, yet we always return to this one, it would also make a great first cookbook.I have bought multiple copies as gifts, everyone loves it. My only regret is not getting it on amazon where it can be purchased much cheaper than in stores What can I say? it was an impulse buy.

Great book & great condition
Fun book with great recipes--if you're looking for simple, great cooking, & recipes that don't require 50 ingredients then this is your book.My wife is just learning to cook--she has looked through at least two dozen cookbooks including many bestsellers, but this is the first one she has wanted to own.

Seller was great, pretty fast shipping, better deal than we expected.

great cookbook for easy recipes
This book has great recipes that are easy and stress-free.It's the right book if you're just starting out or looking for casual comfort recipes.I love how this book has wonderful pictures for almost every recipe, I find that very helpful when cooking.The book includes wide range of comfort dishes from fiesta wontons, gorgonzola and fig crostini, meat loaf, dijon-pistachio crusted rack of lamb, tarragon-citrus mahi-mahi, baked beans, buttermilk pancakes with caramelized bananas, quiche with broccoli, peppers and goat cheese...and much more.I made the fiesta wontons and gorgonzola and fig crostini for movie night and they were a hit.

LOVE LOVE LOVE!
This cookbook is fantastic for the working lady/wife/mom (or the non-working... it's just fabulous!). The recipes are interesting but not too complicated. The ingredient list on most of them is pretty short, which is perfect for quick assembly. I've made more than a dozen of the things in the book since Christmas and each one has been a HUGE hit w/ my husband (and me!), our friends and family. The pork is so, so delish. A great staple in my cookbook collection w/ simple steps and tasty food... ... Read more

Product Description
Poor Bill! He is a bull with a passion for fine china. But, as we all know, bulls and china don't really go together too well - or is that just prejudice? In fact, Bill is a perfect collector of the most charming china cups, and only starts to break things when he is made to feel nervous. This is a delightful book about a bull, a china shop and three very kind old ladies. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Tea Time Favorite
Bill in a China Shop is a wonderful take on the phrase: bull in a china shop.For, of course, Bill is a bull.A gentlemanly bull who just wants a nice cuppa, beautifully portrayed by the illustrator in natty attire.The rhymes are fresh and catchy.Perfect for families who take tea together, or for reading at a tea party for children.Just delightful.

I love Bill
This book is such a wonderful delight. I've read this book to mydaughter countless times and it still affords me a chuckle every time I read it. It's a sweet story and the text is clever. What a darling book!!

Two boys' review: Beautiful illustrations bring Bill to life
Based on an idiom and written in verse, this story is an unusual picture book - a hidden treasure - that could get lost among the pirates, dinosaurs and other more common characters found in the children's book section.

Bill is an endearing character of contrasts: with top hat and cane, he strikes an elegant figure despite his large figure. And yet, you know, there's trouble ahead when Bill enters the china shop.

The real treat here is Tim Raglin's pictures. The cover illustration is representative of the beautiful work contained within. Sometimes, children's picture books try too hard, slipping beyond "colorful" and falling down to a "garish" description instead. Raglin's illustrations bring Bill to life, so much so that on repeated readings my sons were able to cover up the verse and tell the story themselves.

Our sons love picture books at bedtime but it isn't easy to find one that appeals to both a 6-year old and a 4-year old. We published an Amazon list titled "Young boys' bedtime books" to share our best discoveries with other parents.

In summary, this story makes a nice addition to your children's picture book collection. The rhyming verse is easy to read and follow, however it is Raglin's depiction of Bill that makes this book memorable.

Beautiful!
This is a great book. Very witty and the pictures are fab. My 18 mo old daughter and I love to read it together, we never tire of it!!

I'd give it 6 stars if I could.
I can't recommend this book enough.It is, without a doubt one of the best books for children that I've ever come across.My kids love it, and so do I.The story is cute, the artwork is great and the verse is written in rhyme.Rhyming books can be difficult to write.The words have to be appropriate and make sense without bogging down the plot and characters.This book is almost genius. ... Read more

Product Description
On a trip north, Mayme is forced to ride in the last car of the train--the colored car. But when the train reaches Philadelphia, Mayme--and the entire Negro coach--are missing. Has Mayme been sold to Caribbean slavers? Katie and Deputy Rob Paxton embark on a rescue mission...and a courtship. Meanwhile, the KKK plans to burn beloved Rosewood to the ground, forcing the family into a terrible decision: Save Rosewood--or themselves? Carolina Cousins, Book 4. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Another Great from Michael Phillips
Having 5 girls, books that are wholesome but have depth are very important. I want my girls to enjoy the story, to be transported, but I also want them to increase their vocabulary and their own strength of character through the literature. That's a lot to ask of a book! Michael Phillips makes it possible with all of his titles, and this is no exception.This book will be crucial for anyone who's into the Carolina Cousins series.We will continue to collect his books.

Michael Phillips - Miss Katie's Rosewood
I absolutely love this Christian author.I have the entire collection in the series.Each book is as intriguing as the next.When I finished reading the first novel, I had to get the others.I had read one out of sequence, but later bought them all and read each in sequence.I am presently reading the Soldiers Woman.I cannot wait for the next book in the series.I also give this particular series as gifts to friends in hospitals, and to youngsters.There is so little in the area of reading for young ones that is safe and balanced.I have purchased the books in bookstores at retail prices, but now I order them only from Amazon for half the price.If you are looking for historical fiction that is suitable for teens, young adults, and mature adults this is the series.The books have no occult themes, and the author handles historically delicate matters with such dignity.I would love to have this book on the required reading list at schools.Most of the books we have on the school reading list are chalk full of inappropriate and mature topics that are depressing, occult driven, violent, and manic.

docpop
This series is a wonderful searies, learningabout history in the context of the fictional characters and community.

Miss Katie's Rosewood
I have thoroughly enjoyed Micheal Phillips cousin series, this one being the last one. These books would be good also for young readers.They really help point out what is important in life.

False Teaching
I have read all of the other books in this series, and enjoyed them; sadly, however, Michael Phillips uses part of this one as a platform for proclaiming his false views of God and Scripture. The book promotes universalism and a false view of God, including the idea that all of God's attributes (such as His holiness and justice) are subjected to His goodness and love. The book also denigrates and wrongly explains the penal substitutionary view of the Atonement, that Christ propitiated the Father'swrath against sin. Altogether, I was extremely disappointed in this book, because of the false teaching presented therein. The story was nice--the heresy was not. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (12)

LOVE this book
My daughters (7yo & 4yo) and I love love LOVE this book.Katie is just so charming!!!The illustrations are wonderful - simple ink lines, colored in, convey a whole world of emotions.You really FEEL it when Katie is ashamed of herself.She means so well!Naturally, any child can identify with Katie, a dog who means no harm but yet keeps creating chaos.Katie is exuberant (aroo! aroo!) and the kittens are cute as a button.I would recommend this for any toddler or preschooler.

Review from Books That Heal Kids
I am an elementary school counselor and just started using this book as an important social skills lesson. Katie Loves the Kittens is delightful, adorable, and even teaches an important social skill - self-control!! I can't even remember how I found this lovely little piece of kid-lit but the first time I read it I couldn't stop giggling! Katie the dog is having the hardest time controlling herself and can't stop howling at the kittens with absolute joy and excitement. The kittens want nothing to do with her and are a bit freaked out by her behavior. I've read this to all of our K-2 grades and the concept of self-control has been so EASY for me to teach thanks to Katie and her impulsive ways. I bring up the word self-control in the middle of the book and I have the kids repeat it. They are total pros now on the concept of controlling oneself and why it's so important. I love the ending to this story. Katie wakes up with the kittens fast asleep and they are snuggled up to her. The picture of her trying to keep it together and not start howling is so cute. I also love how the illustrations show her getting revved up with the wagging of her tail. I ask the kids, "Why isn't Katie howling?" And they say, "Self-control!"

Great Book
This is a great book. I use it in my pre-k classrooms. It arrived quickly and in perfect condition. I would definitely buy from this seller again.

This is the one!
At every book fair I find a hit book! This time, this February, the BIG hit is "Katie Loves the Kittens!" Oh--my--goodness!! Katie is the most adorable dog! Look at that cover! Katie appears to be chasing the kittens, but not so, oh no! Katie LOVES those kittens. In fact, she is so excited to have them in her house that she must, no MUST howl her approval. Of course, that howl reaches the mythic levels, the archetypal levels for those kitties--the archetypal level of the BEAST! They are terrified! Katie the BEAST!

Simply put, the above paragraph tries to show the reactions of two groups of critters upon contact with each other: Katie the fat, happy, established dog and three little kittens, newly adopted, newly taken from their mom. Three little kittens a bit fearful, a bit timid, but at least with each other. Safe, so to speak--UNTIL Katie howls at them. Yikes!

Oh, I could go on and on simply relaying the reaction of the kitties and the dog upon meeting each other. John Himmelman, an illustrator new to this librarian, has become a big hit with both students and mothers. During the week of book fair I read this book to two groups of students, who in their turn, wanted to share the book with their friends. If a mother asked for a "good" book to buy, I showed this book. It sold out! Everyone fell in love with Katie and the kittens!

If you have ever seen a comedian imitating the difference between dogs and cats, you know that they show a dog being so excited, tail a-wagging, tongue a-licking, playing the I'm-so-glad-to-see-you routine dogs use to greet their humans. On the other hand, a cat will sway its body a bit for some lovely petting, but act as if she is saying, "Yo, Human. Aren't you glad to see me?" So, keeping the dog scenario in mind, please open the book to "Katie Loves the Kittens."

There's Sara Ann, the human, showing the three unaware kittens to Katie, who already is on her hind legs, tail wagging, yes, already so excited. "As soon as she saw them, she howled, 'AROOOOO! AROOOOOO!' She always howled like that when she was very happy!" The next page shows the sleepy kitties now WIDE AWAKE and scrambling in all directions: climbing a lampshade, the curtains, scurrying to get under a table.

Sara Ann gathers up her terrified kitties, now snuggled in her arms, safely away from the beast. Their little expressions are so apropos and so pertinent! One is clinging in abject fear to Sara Ann, one is horrified, the third is hilarious--scowling indignantly (now that she is safely ensconced in the human's arms). There's Katie, banished to her bed, and ever so sad. "She did not want to scare the kittens."

And so the book goes, one episode after another, showing poor guileless Katie, trying to get close to the kitties, being punished for scaring them. I think the funniest is the time she crawls in the open window in the dead of night just to get a sniff of them, just to be near the sleeping kitties and Sara Ann. Imagine waking up in the middle of the night to a joyfully howling dog!

Spoiler alert:
After several times being returned to her bed, her island of punishment, her island of shame and embarrassment, Katie wakes up to find the three kitties asleep--on top of her. What joy! What bliss! She wants to show that joy by howling and running--but! She doesn't. She even licks the kitties and earns praise from Sara Ann.

I'm pretty sure Katie is a Jack Russell terrier, making her self-control all that much more impressive!

I cannot praise Himmelman enough for capturing such canine and feline emotions, putting the two animals together in such a delightful, joyous story! Personally, my heart is glad -- and the librarian who lives in my skull? She is thrilled to find such an excellent book to share with students for a long time to come!

Did I forget the artwork? Together, we looked at the cover. What you see there is what you get inside. The art is fairly simple, but nothing more is needed in conveying this sweet story.

Personal note: DB, you must add this book to your substitute arsenal! It's just your kind of book!

Entertaining, Fun and Heartwarming
This book is the current favorite in our household, with a 3-year old and 5-year old who ask for it almost every night.It's a simple story, well told, with illustrations that are extraordinarily successful at conveying the emotions of the characters, particularly Katie, the dog who just loves those kitties so much, and struggles with impulse control.Highly recommended!
... Read more

Product Description
In her first two books, Byron Katie showed how suffering can be ended by questioning the stressful thoughts that create it, through a process of self-inquiry she calls The Work. Now, in A Thousand Names for Joy, she encourages us to discover the freedom that lives on the other side of inquiry.
Stephen Mitchell—the renowned translator of the Tao Te Ching—selected provocative excerpts from that ancient text as a stimulus for Katie to talk about the most essential issues that face us all: life and death, good and evil, love, work, and fulfillment. The result is a book that allows the timeless insights of the Tao Te Ching to resonate anew for us today, while offering a vivid and illuminating glimpse into the life of someone who for twenty years—ever since she “woke up to reality” one morning in 1986—has been living what Lao-tzu wrote more than 2,500 years ago.
Katie’s profound, lighthearted wisdom is not theoretical; it is absolutely authentic. That is what makes this book so compelling. It’s a portrait of a woman who is imperturbably joyous, whether she is dancing with her infant granddaughter or finds that her house has been emptied out by burglars, whether she stands before a man about to kill her or embarks on the adventure of walking to the kitchen, whether she learns that she is going blind, flunks a “How Good a Lover Are You?” test, or is diagnosed with cancer. With her stories of total ease in all circumstances, Katie does more than describe the awakened mind; she lets you see it, feel it, in action. And she shows you how that mind is yours as well. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (85)

My favorite book
Let me lay it out for you very simply: if I had to choose only one book to keep - it'd be this.I mean it. (Incidentally if I had only one musical album it'd be "Beggar's Banquet".)The most modern and enlightened thinker I have ever read.People will be reading this book 500 years from now, I kid you not.I cannot think of any other modern spiritual thinker where that is the case.If you like Eckhart Tolle understand that Katie is a tad like that - only ten times better.If you are not familiar with The Work check out the namesake website.And congratulations, you are about to get much, much happier.

Astounding
This is the book that is giving me the guts and the grace to handle each day with far greater peace and joy than I thought possible. Katie shows us how to live fearlessly. Seeing life through Katie's clear-minded vision is motivating and comforting. I'm reading it over and over and questioning each stressful thought. Poof - no more stress!

Aside from The Work, some of Katie's statements are beautiful, poetic and even shocking. I don't understand everything Katie says on an intellectual level, but the poetry of truth penetrates. It renders my argumentative mind speechless and grateful. This is a book about living completely in love with life. What could be better? What could be more important?

On the subject of LOVING CANCER, perhaps we can question whether hating cancer is helpful or healing. Some say that hate, itself, is cancerous to the mind and the body. If that's true, then to argue for our right to hate cancer might be, ironically, an argument for continued emotional and physical illness. If it's possible that hate can be a cause of disease, is it also possible that love - even loving cancer - can be a cure?

This book is full of such radical viewpoints - enlightened viewpoints. I don't see the point of staying stuck in what doesn't work! This book shows the way out of suffering.

My favorite book
This is very simply my favorite work of non-fiction.

Eckhart Tolle's THE POWER OF NOW and A NEW EARTH come in a close second.

A THOUSAND NAMES FOR JOY is one of those books I can read over and over again. Like the music of J. S. Bach,
it is new and revealing every time.

The book is an amazingly intimate portrayal of the state of loving what is.

a celebration of life book
A Thousand Names for Joy helps me relax in the moment, trust, celebrate my life just as it is.It helps me enormously. I reread it often.I am grateful to Byron Katie beyond words. Her one sentence, "Because I don't believe my mind, I'm free," saves me from my own insanity over and over.I have bought copies of this book for five dear friends, with the accompanying Tao translation by Byron Katie's husband, Stephen Mitchell.Best gifts I can give.

Excellent and inspirational advice
If you suffer from anxiety or a deep fear, you are not alone; this is a part of the human condition. But we don't have to suffer endlessly because anxiety has an internal structure in the form of negative thoughts and beliefs powered by emotional energy that has become frozen in place. Uncover these patterns of negative thoughts and you are on the way to making significant change. As a mindfulness-based psychotherapist, I use mindfulness as the primary tool for doing just this, and I would recommend anyone to learn more about the therapeutic use of mindfulness in conjunction with good self-analysis. I also recommend 'The Path of Mindfulness Meditation' available through Amazon. ... Read more

Product Description
Orphaned at age six and taken in by a heartless couple, nine-year-old Katie Rose spends her days doing chores and dreaming of going west to find her Uncle Jack. Then Mr. Stevens brings home an unbroken Mustang, and Katie's world changes. Katie is drawn to the horse's wildness, and he seems to sense her need for companionship. So when Katie learns that the Stevenses plan to join the expansion West&150without her or the Mustang&150she makes a desperate decision to go on her own. And she will not leave the Mustang behind. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Check out this series!
Katie is traveling west to find her only living relative, her uncle. The trip is long and hard, but as long as Katie has the Mustang, it seems as though she will be fine in the end.
The treacherous trip started when she heard her caretaker, Mr. Stevens, and his wife were going west without her and the Mustang. Katie was going to be left in the hands of another caretaker and Mr. Stevens left the orders for the Mustang to be shot.
I loved this book. Any horse crazy girl would. The book is the second in the trilogy. It is suspenseful and even though Katie is a mere character, it seems as though you were traveling west with Katie and her Mustang.
Kathleen Duey has written many other horse stories and all the ones I have read are awesome. She comes highly recommended on my list.

-Gracie Eakin

Ordered a book, "Katie and the Mustang Book 4
I ordered this book and received it promptly and in excellent condition.

A lovely book for any girl who loves The American Girls
I finished this book in one day, and found it to be incredibly engrossing and educational. It reminded me a lot of The American Girl Books, which showcase real girls in a historical setting. That is the same purpose with the Hoofbeats series. Set on an Iowa farm is the laste 1800's, the book paints a very vivid picture of life for Katie, a 9 year old girl recently orphaned. I would recommend this book strongly to anyone with a daughter who loves horses, history, and reading altogether. This made for a very enjoyable afternoon!

Engrossing New Series for Middle Readers
The year is 1847, and nine-year-old orphan Katie Rose is ecstatic when Mr. Stevens brings home a wild Mustang, for it's the first bit of happiness she's felt since an epidemic wiped out her family three years ago, causing her to be forced to live with the evil Mr. and Mrs. Stevens. Katie finds herself drawn to the Mustang, and realizes that he trusts her to a certain extent, and even lets her work with him. Soon, Katie and the Mustang have a strong bond with each other. Then comes the news. Mr. Stevens plans on following the Oregon trail, which is perfect for Katie, for she will be able to find her Uncle. But then she finds out that Mr. Stevens plans on sending her to an orphanage and killing the Mustang before they leave. Now Katie and the Mustang, with the help of a ranch hand named Hiram, have decided to runaway, and escape their terrible fate before it's too late.

Kathleen Duey has created an extremely enjoyable new series for fans of historical fiction, and horse lovers. Her characters are kind, and intriguing, and paint a wonderful picture of what growing up in the year 1847 was like. Katie is a sweet character, whom readers will feel an instant bond with, and readers will feel the same way towards the Mustang. Filled with wonderful descriptions and adventures, this is a book that cannot be missed.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

Good new series from Kathleen Duey.
Young Katie, orphaned in an epidemic, is taken in by Mr. and Mrs. Stevens, a childless couple. But then she learned that they planned to kill the mustang horse she had befriended and take her to an orphanage in St. Louis. With the help of Hiram, the farmhand, Katie is able to escape the Stevenses and take the mustang with her. Hiram, who has no family of his own, feels he must protect Katie and offers to take her on the long journey west so she can live with her relatives in Oregon. But just the journey to Independence, Missouri -- the starting-off point for the Oregon Trail -- is difficult and dangerous, and the mustang still doesn't trust Katie fully.

Young readers who enjoy historical fiction will be sure to enjoy this series for its setting, and fans of horse stories will love Katie's bond with the mustang. A sweet story that I highly recommend to young readers. ... Read more

Product Description
Everyone who is anyone in the barnyard is going to be at the party. But one blue ant didn't get his invitation. No wonder he's blue! How could his friends have forgotten him? Or have they? . . .
You are cordially invited to join this bunch of animals for the wildest shindig of the year. It won't be over till the cows come home!
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Katie Davis' Signature Animals Party Down!
Using her signature BOLD colors and fanciful animals, Katie Davis has created another eye-pleasing picture book about one of children's favorite topics--birthday parties (and surprise birthday parties at that).Kids will love being in on the secret withheld from One Blue Ant...and counting right along with all the animals in the barnyard as they prepare for the big surprise. ... Read more

Product Description
What is the connection between today’s to-do list and God’s ultimate mission for our lives? This how-to-guide, filled with true personal stories,provides stepping stones through the challenges of not only discovering your universal purposes but also discerning your unique purposes in this life. With discussion guide. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (24)

Pathway to Purpose
This is an awesome and inspiring book.It speaks to the heart and soul. I am energized and motivated with each page that I read.

Es un libro incredible.Muy biblico y alientador.
Es un libro incredible.Muy biblico y alientador.La autora es muy honesta y comparte de su corazon.Es bien organizado.Me gusta mucho el hecho que cada capitulo tiene mucho apoyo biblico.

Not sure she quite "gets it"
Even through Chapter 7 of this book, I really didn't get a clear perspective on her about purpose. I was looking for this book to help me hunker down on purpose--what it means for us, what it means for God, how God enables purpose, and how to get it--I'm not sure that Brazelton is trying to write that kind of book. Therefore, if that's what you're looking to read about, keep looking for another book.

Satisfied
Received book in a few days. It was in the condition it was advertised as. Very satisfied.

Put My Wife to Sleep and Drove Her to Drink
Not really, but she opted not to finish it due to the word choice of the author.I go out of my way to buy books at Barnes & Noble so that she has an easier way to return them if she does not like a book I buy. ... Read more

Product Description
As she heads toward college graduation, Katie's life begins to change and she must decide what to hold on to and what to let go of. The second book in the Katie Weldon series renews the bond between Katie, Christy, Todd, and Rick as they embrace adulthood. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Excellent book and service
The book makes for great reading, particularly for later teens/twenty something.Delivery time and condition exceeded my expectation.

On A Whim
The second book about Katie was incredible. I couldn't put her story down because I was excited about what would happen in Katie's life. I felt her pain, her joy and became truly excited at the way the ending turned out. Robin Jones Gunn has an amazing way of bring God into the picture in the most unlikely ways. I am looking forward to reading the third book in this series to see what happens next.

A Worthwhile Read!
As an avid fan of Robin Jones Gunn, I've read every series that she's ever written. However, out of this genre of her novels, the Katie Weldon books are clearly her best works.
Katie Weldon, a relatable college undergraduate, is doing her best as an RA at Rancho Corona University. She has finally moved into the "fast lane" with her boyfriend Rick and has made new friends in her dorm. However, life gets complicated in the dorms when Katie meets Rick's roommate, Eli, who has an odd vested interest in her, and when an unexpected call comes from Katie's mother, and as Katie recieves some unwelcome news about her long-lost brother. However, through it all, Katie looks to God and keeps hope.
I would highly reccommend this series. Katie is a lovable and complex character, who is easy to relate to and interesting to read about. In my opinion, Robin Jones Gunn is keeping up her reputation as a highly inspirational writer for teens.

Feels just like college again
I enjoyed the writing style and Katie's struggles remind me so much of college.I felt like I was there again.I admire Katie's spunk and earnestness, and especially her decision to commit her finances to the Lord.

I feel as though I'm missing something in Katie's history because I haven't read the Christy series. (I picked up the Katie Series because I had enjoyed all the author's Glenbrooke Series.)Apparently, Rick is a reformed player and so he is trying to be careful with his relationship with Katie.He appears so reserved that it makes me wonder if he has deep enough feelings for her. I could understand where her insecurities come from in their relationship because he seems to be holding back his feelings.She seems to be settling for so little from him.In fact, I may be voicing an unpopular opinion here but I thought Eli was a better fit for her, more relaxed.

It will be interesting to see what happens in the next book. Ms. Gunn always ends her books well so I'm looking forward to it.

It's like reading about my own life
Katie Wheldon is now in her senior year of college and she thinks she has everything planned out.She especially thinks she's ready to take her relationship with Rick to become more serious. Rick is ready too but his work schedule works havoc into making their intentions happen.So Katie steps back and lets things go more slowly.However after a midnight trip into the desert to do some star watching with Rick's roommate and events like Baby Hummer dying,Katie becomes confused about how her future should be planned out.

Reading about Katie Weldon is like reading the story about one of your close friends.I grew up reading the Christy Miller and Sierra Jensen series so reading Katie's books is a must. I definitely miss being an undergrad student living in the dorms when I read this book.Dorm life is something everyone should experience. The adventures Katie has in the dorms just bring back a lot of memories.I loved the whole flower mystery. I was kind of worried about the way Katie and Eli's relationship was going.I don't want anything to compromise her relationship with Rick.The trip out to the desert, while breathtaking, did have grounds for concern from Christy and others.While totally innocent, I could see why eyebrows might have been raised especially at a Christian college. I do love reading about her and Rick's relationship.It's great to see Rick evolve from the high school jock who tried to get Christy to this really nice grown up guy who cares very much about Katie.I just do not understand Katie's mother.It seems that no matter what Katie does, she cannot please her.I would go absolutely berserk if she was my mom, but Katie handles her very well. She would be an interesting mother in law for whoever marries Katie. The whole story is just something almost every 20-something goes through.I, myself, could totally relate with Katie throughout her choice, decisions and feelings. I get excited every time I read a Robin Jones Gunn book because I know it will be a good read.I really love the characters she's created and I hope she'll never stop writing about them.I cannot until book 3 comes out! ... Read more

Product Description

All her life, Addy's heard stories about the McMahon family curse. Her mom says the stories are just jokes, but Addy isn't so sure. In fact, she's got evidence. Like the fact that her archenemy saw Addy shopping for a training bra with her mom. Or that Jonathan, her mom's g-ross boyfriend, is moving into the guest room.

Customer Reviews (12)

This book was good
This book was about Addy McMahon, who has blamed her unluckiness on a four-generation-long fairy curse.She does not like her mom's new boyfriend after her father died two years ago, and she records her story in an autobiogra-strip, which is an autobiography with pictures.The book was good, and it was touching.She went through a lot of stuff, like losing her best friend, and her mother getting married.P.S. I am an eleven-year-old boy who likes to read.

One of my top 20 favorites
Addy McMahon, a twelve year old girl who goes through quite a lot of misfortune, has blamed a period of unlucky times on a family curse. Barely anyone besides herself believes that there even is a curse.As Addy goes through this page-turner, a series of unfortunate events occur.To rid herself of her guilty thoughts, she keeps assuring herself that it was caused by her great-grandfather who supposedly inflicted a never-ending curse on Addy and her family by angering some fairies.Addy's arch enemy, Marsha Pittel, whom Addy and her best friend, Jackie, like to tease about her last name, is every so often involved in creating Addy's misery.Addy has a secret diary that she often writes in throughout the book.Well, it's not really a diary, but it is secret.She calls it her autobiogra-strip, because it has her life story in it so far, yet it is in the format of a comic strip, though it is not particularly funny.

I found this clever novel a treat to read.I read it in two days.I could not put it down.I would rate this book in my top 20 favorites.I thoroughly enjoyed the unusual and unexpected twists.Katie Davis is an amazing author and her writing is unique and fascinating.Throughout the book I found myself laughing, and nervously waiting for Addy McMahon to make difficult decisions.The style of writing helped me find an Addy McMahon in me, and I found myself feeling the feelings of the main character and some other characters briefly too.I would recommend this book to girls age ten and up, because many of the most important characters are female and because it talks about the unique situations that young girls experience in middle school.

Laughed, cried and loved this page turner
What fun I had reading this story... in two sit downs I was drawn in and couldnt wait to hear how this sweet and challanging girl would develop. It was driving me nuts how she just wouldnt take responsiblity for her own actions...but then she does and thigs really begin to blossom for her. Near the end I found myself crying like a baby.... what a joy

Courtesy of Mother Daughter Book Club.com
Be sure you have plenty of time when you pick up The Curse of Addy McMahon by Katie Davis--you might not be able to stop turning pages to see what happens next. On the other hand, Davis's clever use of graphic illustrations interspersed in the narrative provide clean breaks if you just have to put the book down now and then.

Mother-daughter book clubs with girls in 6th to 9th grade will find a lot to like here. Addy is convinced she suffers from a family curse, rendered against her great-grandad in Ireland by fairies. And she's got mounting evidence to suggest she might be right. Her mom's boyfriend is moving into the guest room "temporarily," her worst enemy saw her shopping for a training bra, and her best friend, Jackie, is mad at her because she accidentally emailed a copy of a nasty fake interview with Jackie that got all around school.

But Addy does have a lot going for her. She helped create a school newspaper and she's on the editorial staff. She interviews interesting people and creates graphic drawings to illustrate the stories she writes. People love her interviews, and they let her know it.I found myself wishing I had experienced that kind of good luck when I was in middle school.

The illustrations punctuating the narrative should make The Curse of Addy McMahon attractive to reluctant readers as well as those who devour books. The presentation is unconventional, and so is some of the narrative. It was quite interesting to read Addy's thoughts about her father, who died from cancer he got from smoking. And the subject of parents entering the dating/relationship world after the death of a spouse is also very thoughtfully written.

Here's an activity idea to go with the book: have girls and moms both draw their own autobiograstrips like Addy's. Share them at a meeting and see what discussion ensues.

A witty novel!
Reviewed by Rachael Stein (age 15) for Reader Views (6/08)

Addy is convinced that she is a cursed girl. After all, her mother's boyfriend Jonathon is moving in, her worst enemy saw her shopping for a training bra, and her father died of cancer. And even when she has good intentions, such as surprising her best friend Jackie with the spectacular interview she wrote about her, things gets messed up -- Addy made the mistake of attaching the wrong document to an email and now best friends have become ex-friends. So, it's either all the bad luck in the world heaped onto Addy or that family curse that is causing Addy's troubles in the form of a father's absence, an unwanted house guest, an ex-friend's cold shoulder, and an enemy's spiteful attitude. Addy doesn't know how in the world she's going to get out of the mess she's in, but she does know that writing and drawing cartoons make her feel a whole lot better - until they get her into trouble, that is. In the midst of all her troubles, Addy has to learn to take responsibility for her actions and risks to get a reward.

I believe "The Curse of Addy McMahon" is aimed at the middle-grade audience, but even older teens, such as me, can really enjoy this clever and humorous novel. Towards the beginning of the novel, Addy comes off as shy and immature, but that's to be expected of a sixth grader. However, as the story progresses, Addy matures greatly, which surprised me for a character so young. I really enjoyed reading from Addy's point of view; even though she constantly complains and is really stubborn, she's also funny, honest, and very talented in both writing and drawing. Katie Davis does a wonderful job of developing Addy's character, and I really felt I got to know her personality as if she were a real person.

The ending of "The Curse of Addy McMahon" was very cutesy and perfect, but it made a very satisfying ending to a sweet story. I also really liked the illustrations from Addy's "autobiogra-strip" and other comics, and that's saying a lot because I usually don't enjoy reading comics or manga. I felt that the pictures added to Addy's characterization and the overall cuteness of the book. The novel's messages were well presented, especially at the end of the story, and were honest pieces of advice anyone can use: no reward comes without taking a risk; it's okay to give people a chance, and you need to know when to swallow your pride and apologize, among others.

I recommend "The Curse of Addy McMahon," by Katie Davis, more for middle-grade readers, especially the girls, because I feel that they would be able to relate more to Addy's experiences than older teens. However, anyone looking for a fast and funny read will enjoy this witty and entertaining novel.

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