Product Description
What's at stake in our worship? Everything.Worship is the dangerous act of waking up to God and God's purposes in the world. But something has gone wrong with our worship. Too often worship has become a place of safety and complacency, a narrowly private experience in which solitary individuals only express their personal adoration. Even when we gather corporately, we often close our eyes to those around us, focusing on God but ignoring our neighbor. But true biblical worship does not merely point us upward--it should turn us outward as well.In this prophetic wake-up call for the contemporary church, pastor Mark Labberton reconnects Christian worship with biblical justice. From beginning to end, worship must pursue justice and seek righteousness, translating into transformed lives that care for the poor and the oppressed. Labberton shows how to move beyond the comfort of safe worship to authentic worship that is awake to the needs of the world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Great Teaching Poorly Written
In The Dangerous Act of WOrship, Rev. Labberton correctly (in my opinion) calls the American/Western Church to remember that worship is not just a feel good exercise on Sundays.Worship is the outpouring of a life renewed by God that leads to and is fulfilled in action.Action again injustice, poverty, and oppression.I completely agree with Rev. Labberton's sentiment, and have attempted to live out the essential teaching of this book in my own life by spending a year in South Asia working on human rights issues.All that to say, I do not give a three star review because I disagree with the content - but because I believe the book was poorly written.Rev. Labberton seemed to start a thought or analysis, only to change course 75% of the way to the finish.I found the book difficult to follow because of this, and often felt that he was on the brink of a great insight but finished just before he finished the thought.Generally, I am able to put together an outline of a theological book fairly quickly to follow the arguments; however, I was unable to do that with this book.To me, the book seemed to have no consistent logical organization.I greatly appreciate the teaching and the call Rev. Labberton is making to the Western church, and hope that the teaching within this book will be taught in more pulpits and followed more faithfully.

I, personally, enjoyed Gary Haughen's "Good News About Injustice" much more and would recommend that as the first book to read when considering the intersection of worship, God's Justice, and our world.

Good News About Injustice, Updated 10th Anniversary Edition: A Witness of Courage in a Hurting World

Must Read
This book is messing me up! - in a good way. It is a book you cant put down and go about business as usual. This is a must read. I bought one for a friend having only read the first 2 or 3 chapters!!!

WARNING: Don't Read This Book If You Like Cozy Church
Want church growth? Interested in luring in hordes of big givers with the right kind of hip music, catchy sermons, comfy pews, hearty handshakes, and big grins? Then don't read this book.

Like the prophets of old whose hearts burned with love for God and love for God's people, Mark Labberton issues a passionate invitation to enter into life-changing worship. He's talking about "proskuneo," a kiss towards God that thrills God heart, the loosening of chains of injustice, setting the oppressed free, sharing our food with the hungry, clothing the naked, and caring for our own flesh and blood (Isaiah 58:6-7).

Labberton's rich cross-cultural experiences and relationships with the oppressed and suffering are evident throughout, so beware: this isn't a Hallmark Card read to make you feel fuzzy about being a North American Christian. But if you want to step outside the comfort zone in worship and see a bit more clearly, buy this book.

Why, in a world of so little, do I have so much?
This books answers that question..."In order to give what you have away."

Let this book reorder your worship...the way Jesus says to do it!It's well worth the read.A favorite excerpt:"For all our apparent passion about God, in the end much of our worship seems to be mostly about us.We presume we can worship in a way that will find God but lose track of our neighbor."

This book feels like a cold splash of water on your face in the morning...let us wake up to God's call to justice!

Thoughtful
The strength of Labberton's book is that he touches on the great omission of the American church: that we happily worship God while ignoring the things that God most wants us to do.Perhaps the most representative anecdote in the book is an incident in which Labberton watched a worship lead so ecstatic about his own experience of worship that he ignored the fact that he kept stepping on the toes of everyone standing near him.American Christians of all genres seem to be enjoying their experiences of worship, even fighting about worship styles, while ignoring the toes that are being stepped on.

In this, then, Labberton joins a chorus of modern voices critiquing the movements of church growth and innovation.David Fitch and the emergent groupies criticize them for missing substance.Labberton is doing something similar but not the same, criticizing them for missing the call to justice.What's particularly appealing about this is that Labberton is the Pastor of a dyed-in-the-wool evangelical church, the First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley.This is a church that has historically gathered around biblical preaching and evangelical values.Labberton is further confirming the movement of the evangelical churches into the heretofore taboo world of social justice, a movement pioneered by Ron Sider, Tony Campolo, Gary Haugen and the like.

The strongest chapters are 3 and 4, the "false and true dangers" of worship, the substance of his critique.What is NOT a risk of worship is that it isn't sufficiently entertaining, relevant, or pleasing.What is dangerous is that it puts us in touch with a restless God who is not afraid to rattle us.

The only real weakness of the book is that for a subject matter that has the power to foment revolution, he's awfully calm and circumspect about it.I wouldn't have been offended if Labberton had wanted to yell at me about his content in order to do what he says in chapter one must be done: to wake up the church.Of course to expect yelling from a Presbyterian might be asking much.

It's a worthwhile read with important content.

James W. Miller is the author of God Scent ... Read more

Product Description
Cracking the ACT brings you proven techniques from the test prep experts! The 2009 edition includes 2 full-length practice tests in the book and exclusive free access to an additional practice test online. In Cracking the ACT, we’ll teach you how to think like the test writers and

·Test your knowledge with review questions for each topic
·Ace the English Test by learning how to spot errors in sentence structure, grammar, and punctuation
·Score higher on reading comprehension and science reasoning problems by learning to zero in on main ideas, topic sentences, and key words
·Employ our preparation strategies to write a strong essay on the Writing Test

Cracking the ACT also includes a rigorous review of math, including arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and trigonometry as well as detailed explanations for all example, drill and test questions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

A Great Resource for ACT Prep!
As an ACT Tutor, I have found this book most helpful to use with my students. From math strategies to punctuation technicalities, this book covers it all. The Science section is extensive, and very helpful as it is bursting with strategies. The practice tests provided in the book are of moderate difficulty. I recommend this resource to any student who wants to be prepared for all 5 test sections and get inside the heads, per say, of the test writers. As the ACT is very time pressured, learning Princeton Review's strategies would be very beneficial to students. I also recommend this resource to any tutor or parent that is looking to help a student prep for the ACT exam. ACT prep can be rather arduous, but is always rewarding--good luck!

Stacy Padula, Author of Montgomery Lake High #1: The Right Person

Many errors
I am currently teaching the ACT to a group of students, and going through all the questions, I found a lot of mistakes in the book.Would not advise buying.

Worst Book Ever
The strategies provided are downright awful. After reading the ACT reading section in the book, i felt that their way of doing it was shaky, and what do you know. I took it and scored 5 LOWER on the reading, my science score went DOWN 1, and the others stayed the same. Score went from a 26 to a 25. Had I just stuck to my old strategies, I wouldn't be missing out on a $8,000 scholarship and ability to attend an honors college that I am now. I honestly couldn't be any more disappointing with this book. Do not buy it. It is a waste of time.

Good strategies, practice tests not like the real thing
I feel like I have been through nearly every ACT prep product sold on Amazon. I have been working to get a 99th percentile ACT score without spending big bucks on private tutoring or a prep class. I figured I should post a review with my feelings about these products to prevent other students from having to do all the shopping around that I did.

I used this book, The Real ACT Prep Guide: The Only Official Prep Guide From The Makers Of The ACT,Boost Your Score! The Unofficial Software Guide to the Real ACT,The ACT For Dummies, a Kaplan book, andMcGraw-Hill's 10 ACT Practice Tests, Second Edition (McGraw-Hill's 10 Practice Acts) I took the test in June and September and I have been studying since last December.

Here is how I felt about this book. Overall, I thought the strategies were great. This book focuses a lot on sneaky strategies, such as how to eliminate wrong answer choices even if you don't know how to solve a problem. For example, they teach you how to eliminate answers to the reading passages that are just too friendly or a little too extreme. They also teach you a lot of good strategies for the math section, like how to eyeball diagrams and work backwards from the answer choices.

However, I would have liked to see more practice material. I also found that the practice tests seemed MUCH easier than the actual ACT tests. After skimming other buyers' reviews, I see that many others agree with me on this point. I think that anyone preparing for the ACT can't just use this book and be fully prepared. I felt most confident using this book for the strategies, but also focusing on the materials out there that use official ACTs. Aside from this book, the products I found most helpful were the The Real ACT Prep Guide: The Only Official Prep Guide From The Makers Of The ACT and Boost Your Score! The Unofficial Software Guide to the Real ACT since those are products that use official ACTs. After learning the strategies in this book, taking the real ACTs in the Prep Guide, and working through the resources in the Boost Your Score software, I got a 34 on the September test.

Much worse than useless
As a person who teaches two AP Physics classes and uses these books I gave my son this book to prepare for his ACT.The practice tests he had no trouble with and scored 34 composite.On the actual test the questions on the math sections were wildly harder (and contained errors) and the English tests were wildly different in type and format.

The troubles he had are coming from a person who already has 5s on the Calculus exams and 800 SAT so I don't think he was unprepared.The errors on the math test and in the book slowed him down some, but the Enblish test being totally unlike what was in the prep book made him just mad.
... Read more

Product Description
A full life doesn’t always leave room for extensive prep. That’s why Kaplan designed an ACT guide for those who want a good ACT score but are short on time. Kaplan ACT Strategies for Super Busy Students 2010 Edition features a completely redesigned interior for easier and faster use, and includes proven time-management tips and the most important ACT review concepts.

Doing well on the ACT is more important than ever before. A great score can help students get crucial scholarships and financial aid packages, and gain an edge over the competition to get into a top college. Across the country, more and more students are taking the ACT exam and Kaplan is helping them score higher. Our guide includes:

• 15 easy-to-follow steps to master the Math, English, Reading, and Science sections of the ACT
• Kaplan’s exclusive, time-saving and time management strategies
• A super busy student checklist for staying organized and on track
• One full-length practice test with detailed answer explanations
• Targeted review and realistic practice for every section of the exam
• Kaplan’s 4-step method for ACT essay success
• Kaplan’s proven stress-management tips

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A Commentary On The Book Of Acts
A walk through the book of Acts like no other commentary. Volume 4 of Ellen G. White's 5 volume Conflict of the Ages series, insight beyond any other non-Biblical writer. Try reading the entire series from beginning to end for an astounding experience.

From Sin to Minister in the Name of Christ
This book, being among a set of 5, reveals the nature of Sin and its far-reaching impact on all.As with all Ellen White's books, she conveys the way toward the abhorence of sin and to the Grace of a righteous life in Jesus.From the book, "Patriarchs & Profits", to "The Triumph of God's Love" (now titled, "The Great Controversay"), I have personally experienced steady growth in the Spirit of Christ Jesus.Thank God for Ellen White!

From Sin to Minister in the Name of Christ
This book, being among a set of 5, reveals the nature of Sin and its far-reaching impact on all.As with all Ellen White's books, she conveys the way toward the abhorence of sin and to the Grace of a righteous life in Jesus.From the book, "Patriarchs & Profits", to "The Triumph of God's Love" (now titled, "The Great Controversay"), I have personally experienced steady growth in the Spirit of Christ Jesus.Thank God for Ellen White!

A Wonderful Commentary on Acts
If you want to read a wonderful, general commentary dealing primarily withthe events of the book of Acts, read this book.Here is a great quote fromthe chapter Transformed by Grace. "Prayer is heaven's ordained meansof success in the conflict with sin and the development of Christiancharacter....For the pardon of sin, for the Holy Spirit, for a Christliketemper, for wisdom and strength to do His work, for any gift He haspromised, we may ask; and the promise is, "Ye shall receive."(Acts of the Apostles, p. 564).

Here is another wonderful statement."Your sins may be as mountains before you; but if you humble yourheart and confess your sins, trusting in the merits of a crucified andrisen Saviour, He will forgive and will cleanse you from allunrighteousness." (Acts of the Apostles, p. 566).

This book waswritten years ago and you might find the style somewhat quaint, but youwill be blessed if you are seeking for deep spiritual refreshment. ... Read more

Product Description

Suspense fiction’s most dangerous and unpredictable hero is back—with a vengeance. This time bodyguard-turned-fugitive Atticus Kodiak goes underground to protect the woman he loves and the country he may have to betray to defend.

It begins with a brutal ambush and the murder of a friend. Now Atticus is taking lessons from the world’s premier assassin, a.k.a. Drama. If he’s going to survive, he’ll have to become exactly what they’re accusing him of being: a stone-cold killer. From Eastern Europe to the Montana wilderness, Atticus and Drama will uncover evidence of a secret so explosive, it could shake the foundations of a nation . . . so shocking, their ruthless pursuers don’t care how many bodies it takes to bury it forever. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (32)

The best of the series
I bought this book for my son who is reading all of the series and he says this is the best, lots of action, suspense and intrigue! This 17 yr old carries Mr Rucka's books everywhere, and reads every chance he gets.

What a shame
I, too, was looking forward to this book having read each of the previous A.K. titles twice and aching for the next installment.While I have no gripe with the character of Alena, nor the romance with Atticus, the books just don't have the same feel that they used to.The complete work felt forced.My biggest gripe was the amount of four-letter fillers that seemed completely gratuitious and speed-bumped much of the dialog for me and left me wanting to stop reading, only to complete the book out of loyalty to the character and the author.

A blustery penultimate chapter in the Atticus Kodiak series.Greg Rucka's worst work.
To start, I'm a fan of Greg Rucka's work.While I felt Keeper was generic, I felt Finder, Smoker, Shooting at Midnight and Critical Space were exceptional thrillers.While this title is suspenseful, it is incredibly shallow, with an ending that falls flat.The chapter involving the faked assassination is case in point, and the fallout from that is a stretch.Even the characters in the book remarked on how paper thin the plan was.
Rucka also seems to make it a habit of killing off someone important in each book in the series, which is getting old fast now that it's winding down.I liked Shooting at Midnight because instead of offing someone to create drama, he actually used the characters to create drama.
While I still enjoy the characters, note that if you wish to see any characters outside of Atticus and Alena, this book isn't for you.Brigitte and Erika are nowhere to be found, and from the plot of this book and Critical Space, they're never coming back.Robert Moore might make an appearance, though I doubt it.
I like the relationship between Alena and Atticus, though I seriously think he falls in love with anyone in his proximity.In that regard, I hope they flesh out the why's between Alena and Atticus, because while I think Rucka writes the relationship to be genuine, he didn't explain any reason why readers should feel the same way.
I don't hate it though, but probably because I like Rucka so much.

Sadly lacking
It is unfortunate that this book lacks any real character development.This is the first of Ruckas's I have read and probably reading the earlier adventures of Atticus Kodiak would have given me the background I needed, but I am just reviewing this book as a stand-alone novel and it failed.

After such a long wait, I was hoping for more!
The "Atticus Kodiak" series (Keeper, Finder, Smoker, and Critical Space) by Greg Rucka is one of the best around with regards to mystery, suspense and action.Instead of turning the protagonist into the usual run-of-the-mill private detective, Mr. Rucka made our hero a professional bodyguard and took the reader into a world that few know about, including myself.Things, however, changed drastically in Critical Space when the author had Kodiak protecting one of the world`s top assassins, Alena Cizkova, and then falling in love with her before they eventually joined forces to fight the trained killers hired by the United States government to silence both him and her.I suspect many of Rucka's fans were scratching their heads in confusion with that one (though it was still a great novel), wondering about the direction the series was now headed in.

It's taken seven years for the newest "Atticus Kodiak" novel to finally come out, and it continues where Critical Space left off.In Patriot Acts, Alena and Atticus are still on the run, but this time a close friend of Atticus' is killed while attempting to protect them from a government hit.From that point on, the story deals with Atticus and Alena seeking revenge over a four-year period, traveling across Easter Europe and the United States, and then achieving retribution from the man who ordered their deaths...a man who works inside the White House.

I wanted to enjoy this novel.I really did.After all, it had been a long wait for the return of Atticus Kodiak, but something just didn't click for me.My feeling was that the author had lost some of the passion he'd originally had for the characters.I had trouble with most of the shootouts that take place, not buying how they were set up and then executed on the written page.They simply didn't ring true to me.The escape of Atticus and Alena from a motel room in Montana (or was it Wyoming?) when the place is supposed to be surrounded by a S.W.A.T team had me rolling my eyes in disbelief.I also had problems with the fact that Atticus sustains a number of physical beatings throughout the book, not to mention gunshot wounds to his body; yet, he somehow manages to heal quickly and then return to his normal activities.I guess it's because he's in such great shape from yoga and healthy eating.Strange as it may seem, I found myself enjoying the quiet times between Atticus and Alena and the love that grows between them more than I did the action scenes.I was also surprised by which one of Atticus' closest friends is chosen to die at the beginning of the novel by the author and then what happens between Atticus and his dead friend's father at the end.Though what happens later is explained, I kept scratching my own head and wondering if the author really expected his readers to buy it.It idn't make sense to me.

Now, Patriot Acts isn't a completely bad novel.I've read worse, plus I did manage to finish it.The problem is that the book could've been so much better after a seven-year wait.I think a large number of the fans were hoping for the same thing.

... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (24)

A shameful act
You might like to read the article at [...] for a review that criticizes this book. The article has very good point indeed.

Nice propaganda from an Armeniyan from a Huge Lie
This a shamefull propaganda book prepared to attack Turks. Looking at the cover justifies it well. This is a way of and the strategy of Armenians to handle things (hitting below the belt). Now, they are trying to pass failed Independence Movement in WWI as a Genocide is not only a Lie but a Joke.

Great book, great author
This is an excellent documentation by a Turkish historian about Turkish history from a Turkish perspective.

It challenges modern nationalism (built on the ruins of the Ottoman Empire) and also pulls into question some modern political theories, regarding Turkish ethnic policies.For this reason, some nationalists will resort to attacking the author but its obvious that they haven't read the book, because the issues and reasoning isn't offensive except to those who have knee-jerk reactions to certain ethnic issues.

And in fairness, the modern Turkish nation has quite a bit of ethnic issues with its own citizens, so of course their nationalists will not like this book (or their own national hypocrisy).This book is written for reasonable Turkish people, who can think for themselves...its not for those who want to believe the government line regarding its national policies.

Details, Details, Details!
This book gives details about a quiet and horrific moment during WWI.The Orthodox Christians in eastern Turkey--formerly, historic Armenia--were systematically exterminated by the Turkish army.Today, Turkey denies ever having done any such thing:government officials have stated on camera interviews that the entire event is a "myth."Here, the author, a Turk, himself, organizes documentation of the planned elimination of both Christian Armenians and Greeks from Turkey. The author has stepped into dangerous territory for himself, bravely writing out the details.It is amazing that the Turkish government cannot accept responsibility for their acts.The content is not for the faint-hearted.

Akcam&Dadrian
Taner Akcam's book speaks for itself"However,it soon became clear during the 1919 Paris Peace Conference that the arrest and prosecution of individual members of the war time Ottoman government would be no easy task since many of those involved in the genocide remained in power.It also quickly emerged that the Allies had divergent political interests in the region, which directly caused serious differences over the prosecution of war criminals" Why is that? Why were they still in power? Although, French, British, Russia issued a declaration that sublime Porte will be hold responsible for any wrong doing to Armenians.What might have been the political interest of the big powers that prevented them to punish the war criminals. Of course NO ANSWER. I think that he adopted his master's wring style. You claim something without convincing evidence or even without evidence. We know his master Dadrian, who is notorious todistort historical evidence in order to support his genocide these.If your master is Dadrian I would be careful about what I am reading. If anybody wants to find out how he distorts the documents or misinterprets writings etc. I strongly advise to ready the book writen by Guenter Lewy"Armenian massacre in the Ottoman Turkey"
I am also not surprise that he can easily find employment in the nationalist Armenian infested Genocide centers in the united states.
I have read dozens of books about this issue including Armenian writers. In my opinion, Armenians lost WW1 but cannot accept the result but blame turks. Armenians claim that they were oppressed under the turkish rule and demanded reform but history speaks differently. You cannot rule dozens of multietnic and religious societies for 6 hundred years by oppressing them all the time.I do not mean that everyboy was equal in the sense we understand today. But bear in mind, black people were not able go to the same restaurant 50 yars ago in the united states.I think that the fall of the city of Van was the turning point that CUP decided to take action. The government realised that there is a fire in the house and decided to escape by breaking the doors. They were desperate to escape from the fire. Someone can argue today that they should have escaped from the windowbecause they didn't have to break several doors inside the house and it was a lot easy to escape from the window. But one thing is clear. We lost our country men forever.
... Read more

Product Description
Praised by critics, a thriller by an Edgar Award-winning author stars a Native American woman who uses ancient wisdom and modern street smarts to help fugitives cover their trails and begin new lives. Reprint. NYT. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (41)

Too much revealed in dreams.
This book is the first I have read in the Jane Whitfield series. She specializes in helping to hide people who need to disappear from abusive husbands, gangsters, whatever. I don't know about the other books in the series - yet - but the man she is helping in Vanishing Act has no trouble finding her, has lots of skills that would appear to help him hide himself, and comes with bags of cash.This one however, turns out to be the opposite of her usual client.

One criticism of the book might be that it waffles between being an escape thriller and a didactic lecture (hmmm, is that redundant) on Native American culture and history. Whitfield is Seneca and while I found the discourses and snippets of Indian language interesting, they seemed totally out of place with the rest of the book.On the other hand, once you get past some of the dream sequences, which reveal ALL of the rationale and motivations of the other character (that was a bit much,) her use of Indian lore and skills to overcome her adversary in the woods, was intriguing.Loved that part.

disappointing
A heroine who's half white, half Seneca, and helps criminals "disappear" is inexhaustibly energetic but not too bright, it turns out.The plot alternates between long passages of exposition and fairly good sections of flight/pursuit writing.The "Indian lore" scattered around the pages--well, if you take that seriously I have a bridge to sell you.I read this on the recommendation of a friend, and was grievously disappointed; I felt manipulated by the author in bad ways.

Another terrific read from Perry
As strained as the premise may be, Perry makes Jane Whitefield and her adventures (and misadventures as in "Vanishing Act") come to life - a compelling read.As in many Perry novels there are certain ruminations that go on a bit too long but that's why they make books out of pages - just keep turning until she is back in action.On the other hand, Jane's somewhat mystical connections to her Native American past are intriguing - a shot of anthropology and history.No reason to spoil the plot other than to say that it is always follow Jane's ingenious solutions to the various obstacles placed in her way.Western NY is an unlikely setting but in a sense, it grounds the rather implausible plots.All in, Perry writes well and provides enough twists to keep you reading.4-stars versus 5 only because of my feelings about the over-long digressions.A 5-star review otherwise.

Couldn't Put it Down!
This is not your typical murder mystery. The heroine helps people enter their own version of "the witness protection" program. This book is one of the best of the series because it shows some vulnerability in Jane along with unexpected plot twists.And the action is non -stop. Loved it!

A very good introduction
I listened to this audio while I was on vacation and traveling by train.I am glad I picked this book for the trip, as it was just about right for my travel time plus waiting around for my train to get in.I am glad I was able to listen in 2 sittings, because after getting almost halfway thru the book on the way to my vacation spot, I could not wait to leave again so that I could finish the book.Its a very interesting concept, Jane the Guide, who "takes people out of the world".Rather different than the regular old private detective, and nice to see a lady lead who is not some silly flirty girl overly worried about her hair and makeup.I am usually one of those people who figures out who the killer is very early on, but this one suckered me.Figuring it out early on does not take away from most books, but I always enjoy being surprised at the end so much more.The only thing that bothered me a little was the audio quality.While the reader's voice was good, I had some trouble with keeping my earphone volume just right.There should be a difference between SHOUTING and whispering, however with most books I do not have to adjust the volume to hear either extreme once I find a comfortable middle.With this book I found myself taking it up a few notches to hear softly spoken lines, then being blasted out when loud action broke out shortly after.Other than that one inconvenience the reading was nice, and the book itself was very good. ... Read more

Product Description
This book covers such topics as nutrition (how do nutritional supplements affect your sex life?), fitness, sexual desire (does sexual desire actually reverse with age?), male impotence (psychological and physical causes, including a discussion of Viagra), female hormone drugs (the effect on desire), menopause and hysterectomy sex, first-time marriage after 40, and much more.Amazon.com Review
The Act of Marriage After 40: Making Love for Life by Tim and Beverly LaHaye with Mike Yorkey is a practical, no-nonsense guidebook that will teach married couples to have a more satisfying sex life in middle age and beyond. A follow-up to their successful Act of Marriage, the topics covered in this book are based on the results of a comprehensive survey investigating the sexual issues that are most important to older Christian couples. Although the LaHayes say their research indicates that "the frequency of sex is reduced by advancing age," they make a convincing case for their belief that "the meaning of the act of marriage can be enriching, more satisfying even with the passage of years." Each chapter of the book explores topics such as menopause, erectile dysfunction, breast cancer, prostate cancer, and the temptation of extramarital affairs. The LaHayes also provide a number of strategies for jump-starting stalled sex lives. Some of these strategies are atmospheric (men will learn that "items that stir a woman's senses are a bouquet of flowers, a bowl of fresh fruit, or 100-gram bars of Swiss chocolate (chocolate has been known for its aphrodisiac qualities for centuries)." Other strategies are more technical. (Various sexual positions are described, and although the LaHayes "do not personally recommend or advocate oral sex," they "see no biblical grounds to preclude two married people from enjoying the practice.") The Act of Marriage is a passionate exploration of an important subject, and its advice will help many married couples practice sexual faithfulness to one another as an expression of Christian faith. --Paul Power ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

The Act Of Marriage After 40
Once again Mr.& Mrs. LaHaye have written a book that has changed my whole attitude toward making love to my spouse. My wife has never been exposed to this much information on sex during marriage. She is very excited about the book, and about the fact that we are reading it together. I would reccommend it to any couple. No mater how long you have beem married.

Essential Reading for Married Couples over 40
Let me start by saying that I'm really amazed that this book has so few reviews because it has a lot of new information that is essential to having a wonderful sex life after 40. Since I just read "the Act of Marriage" by the same authors I feel qualified to compare the two books effectively. The first book is geared towards newlyweds and this book is for couples who are noticing changes in their sex lives after being married for quite a few years. Anyone who says the two books are the same hasn't read them and is providing incorrect information to the public.

This book begins with a discussion of perimenopause and then dives right into menopause. There is advice about using estrogen creams and a discussion on whether or not to consider estrogen-replacement therapy. There is a short discussion on natural alternatives like plant-based estrogens. There is also information on black cohosh to ward off hot flashes and soy foods may help to prevent breast cancer. There is also an entire chapter on breast cancer and the authors advise women to think about eating more soy products.

The chapter on male menopause is a very frank discussion which men will appreciate. Tim Lahaye gives advice about taking saw palmetto and eating more tomatoes to prevent prostate cancer. This is all very helpful advice that could be life-saving. The seven steps to prevent ED (erectile disfunction) is also very informative and will increase pleasure for men. While there is plenty of information for men, satisfying their partner is also discussed numerous times. There is even a list of accelerators to increase sexual desire in women. To motivate women in that direction there is also a discussion of the physical benefits of having sex at least once a week.

There is a brief discussion of aphrodisiacs and a chapter dedicated to eating healthy and talking vitamin supplements. Of course after reading this book you should discuss anything you want to try (supplements) with your doctor. This book is filled with information and just one idea could make your life more enjoyable. I can highly recommend this book to anyone over 40 who is married. If you are a newlywed then I can recommend The Act of Marriage.

~The Rebecca Review

Excellent!
I found this book to be very informative about middle age and beyond, marriage, physical problems, exercise, health, E.D., and, especially, sex life.It includes a section on hygiene, sexual positions, and sexual techniques, and everything is written from the Christian point of view.I found it very helpful and interesting. I would like to read the original "The Act of Marriage" to complement it.

You already know what it's going to say.
News Flash: this book is exactly the same is everything else the LaHayes have ever written. Don't let the 'over 40' fool you. The advice is only marginally different from what they tell the under 40 marrieds.

Here, I'll save you the cash : "Keep adhering to scriptural principles throughout your entire life"

Now take the money you saved and give it to the needy. ... Read more

Product Description
It is ten years into the future and the nation is nearing economic collapse. A professor of economics has convinced a small, but exceptional group to act. They believe dictatorial powers will soon be claimed by Washington's political aristocracy. "Ours is the only form of revolution now possible. But it has an advantage. Our method requires only the lives of the individuals that have stolen our liberty, our lives, and our property." Congress is given three days "to approve a Term Limits Amendment to the Constitution and send it to the people for their approval. Or the long term incumbents, unless they first resign, will be term-limited in the only way you leave us."The Department of Justice begins a vengeful and bloody hunt for the terrorist group. But when the first senator is term-limited it is clear the terrorists will not be easily found. They are inside the federal government.In this novel, the same questions asked throughout history are asked again. Is deadly force justified to defend liberty? Who decides? Under what conditions? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

An act of self defense
What an impressive first book by this author.His case for term limits is presented in a carefully crafted non-partisan thriller making it thought-provokingreading for anyone. Readers will be challenged to consider carefully with whom they place their confidence and votes while our liberties are consumed by the impersonal beast of large government. This book gives an inside view of political arrogance and the amazing will and sacrifice of those who would seek a better country for their children.

"An Act of Self-Defense" by Erne Lewis
It is amazing to me that this is a first novel for Erne Lewis.What a talent!This book flows with skill and confidence as from a seasoned, award-winning writer.- I found it to be all at once thought-provoking, eye-opening, prophetic, exciting and inspiring.I believe that Thomas Jefferson is thinking Mr. Lewis has done a great job "carrying the torch" for the "land of the free and the home of the brave".I was not able to put down this fast-paced, gripping, political cliff-hanger.I shall be sending copies to thinking, open-minded family members, friends and acquaintances who love our country and Liberty.It would make a great film!!!I sincerely thank Mr. Lewis for this exceptional and timely literary piece.

An Impressive Debut Novel
Erne Lewis has given us a startling first novel, one that is timely and relevant to our current governmental and political situations. Whether one's sympathies and interests lie far to the right or to the left or somewhere in the less extreme middle, the characters in An Act of Self-Defense will manage to engage your interest and your emotions. The members of the small Term Limits Revolution secret organization are sincere anddesperately devoted to their goal of influencing Congress to vote term limits for its members. Individual Senators and Representatives begin being assassinated. Members of the government's Department of Justice, FBI, CIA, National Security Agency, and the Secret Service are pressed into service to find and capture the TLR members. Suspense heightens as government officials close in on the suspected members. Characters supporting and opposing the Patriot Act and its subsequent enhanced interrogation methods (as well as the term limits issue) are pitched in a life-and-death struggle, with tension building as time runs out during a Congressional vote. This fast-moving tale, with a powerful ending, would lend itself to an action-packed film. And new fans will be waiting for Erne Lewis's next book.

An Act of Self Defense
At a time in our political history when such a large portion of the American voting public is frustrated (fed up)with those in our congress who we have elected time and time again, Lewis's "An Act of Self Defense" effectively presents a strong statement for term limits in a manner that generates not only a positive feeling as a solution but, at the same time gives us a 'have to keep reading' mystery that show cases political research and detail, in the vein of Michael Crichton's scientific research for his great books. The mystery will grab you early and keep you not wanting to put it down until you are at the end. It takes a strong book to keep me up until 3AM and this book has what it takes.

An Act of Self-Defense
An Act of Self-Defense is an edge-of-your-seat ride from beginning to end.This political thriller provides tense moments and tears and really makes you unable to put it down until the end.

The characters are well thought out.The sensibilities of the main players, which ebb and flow with the events keep you wondering what their next act will be - agents who may or may not commit treason; freedom fighters who may or may not give in.It makes you wonder how far you would go yourself and truly think deeply about the direction our country is heading in the present. ... Read more

Product Description
A new mystery featuring ancient imperial Rome's only private detective finds Marcus Didius Falco in Syria on a mission for the emperor, where he finds a corpse, loses a lady, and joins a murderous theater troupe. Reprint. LJ. PW. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Great read
I loved this one - one of my favorite Falco stories. I had just visited Petra, so that made it even better.

Not Free SF Reader
Killer entertainment.


Falco is undercover for the Emperor again, and Helena is along for the ride. A disappeared muso lands our intrepid Informer in the middle of a travelling theatre show, and murder isn't far behind.Even worse, Falco tries writing his own.

A reasonable book, but if you have no theatre interest at all you may not enjoy it as much with all the jokes there.


3.5 out of 5

About Amazon
I have not recieved this book and have ordered it twice. My review is that Amazon should not sell things they do not have and cannot get. I have been trying to read the series in order of printing.

Last Act, but not for Falco, I Hope
Quite a number of authors have jumped on the sleuth in Ancient Rome bandwagon, but Lindsey Davis is probably the best of the lot. Her leading character Marcus Didius Falco has been sent out of Rome on a dangerous mission to spy out the Lands of the East. An Imperial order sends him and his girlfriend Helena Justina, the daughter of a Senator to the rose red city of Petra. There they discover a murdered playwright.
Falco feels obliged to investigate the murder and soon becomes embroiled in more murder and mayhem, making him wish he had not left his beloved Rome. All the author's books have been entertaining and of a very high standard, this one is no different.

A low point in an otherwise enjoyable series
I have been happily ploughing through the Falco series over the past few months.This entry was most disappointing.It has Falco traipsing all over the far eastern reaches of the empire through town after town.Nothing much happens as Falco searches for a murderer in his midst and inevitably finds him.I found the travel to be repitious and I was bored by several pointless side plots.

Also, is it just me or is this book particularly crass with language and blantant profanity?I'm not adverse to "realism" in my reading, but the tone of the books seem to have changed for the worse with this entry.

I have the next in the series, Time to Depart, and am hoping for a return to form. ... Read more

Product Description
This is Dr. Roberto Assagioli's second book on the psychological system he formulated known as Psychosynthesis. It continues where his first book left off and delves into the important process of willing as a psychological function based on a higher self rather on guilt or determination as in the Victorian concept of the will. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Review of Act of Wil
I've not finished this book as it a bit difficult to read, but with excellent sunbject matter!

The Act of Will Review
Robert Assagioli book Act of Will is a transformational book.
The material is easy to understand and apply.
The book has great exercises and Robert gives many ideas on how to be creative in strengthening the will.

Excellent

what happened to the will??
This book outlines a theory and practical method of instruction in developing true will thoroughly.the strong will, the good will, the skillful will, the transpersonal will, and its various qualities, are covered in detail.to recognize the ego as will itself, is the culmination of this book, through exercise, meditation, disidentification, affirmation, etc.I would like to recommend three other books, and the exercises in particular I believe to be most effective:
1. magical tattwas, jonn mumford
the pre-skrying exercise of exploring one's favorite room, and performing the blackboard writing on the ceiling.note the use of multiple colors.utilize will affirmation for every imaging act.
2. on love and psychological exercises, A.R. Orage
the exercises in here, when done on the blackboard from above, even just the numbers, when using multiple colors and will affirmation, may bring a person to identify with the self as will.the essays might aid in understanding differential psychology.
3. undoing yourself with energized meditation, C. Hyatt
using the methods outlined here, strengthen the will, increase meditative success, integrate and satiate the needs of both the superego and id, potentially tap into the transpersonal will.
Current scientific investigations in the realm of psychology and psychiatry have attempted to debunk the legitimacy of the subjective experience of the will, and its potential, to manifest objective results.a well informed investigation of the claims made in this book, i believe, may increase knowledge of why the techniques work.instead of reiterating an endless debate.

A True Classic
There are few books that truly rank a 5 Star rating, and there are few books which come close to this one's significance in the history of modern psychological thought. Freud and Jung have been overrated and over-idolized, but as their contemporary RA deserves a much wider following -- and his work as the father of Pschyosynthesis has a much more integrative view of the deeper human psyche's recesses. This is both a treatise of fundamental ideas and a practical book for practioners of psychotherapy and psychiatry, as well as social work, education, and human sciences (sociology, history, anthropology, etc.). RA had none of the fears that many others had of seeming to be a kook - because he wasn't. This was a man whose personal life story (blind, etc.) stands as testimony to what he was capable of, and this book only reinforces the gorwing (buut still largely unheard view) that he will become on the most important dead-but-still-important psychological thinkers/doers in the coming decades. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (5)

Just Beautiful
This was a beautifully written story which I was sad to see end.It truly touched my heart.I was totally transported into these people's lives.The stories were so different, yet the same--the journey we call life.I can't wait for Scheinmann's next book.Bring it on!

Engrossing
This wasn't a book I would have chosen...possibly because the title had the word 'love' in it and possibly because it was a Judy and Richard recommendation (they DO review some good books, but the fact that they never seem to dislike any...whereas I do....puts me off).
However, it was picked for the reading group I belong to and... I loved it!!

Love does play a major part , but not in a soppy way. The book begins with Leo who wakes up in hospital in South America to the realisation that his girlfriend Eleni is dead...then the chapters alternate between Leo's story and that of Moritz Daniecki a young soldier caught up in WWI on the Russian Front. In between the chapters are journal pages which include factual information on the trials of love in the animal kingdom; from crabs to elephants...sounds odd but is relevant and interesting.

This book is stunningly realistic, whether it's the battle of Gnila Lipa and the graphic description of war, backpacking in South America or the fun and friendship of university.
Roberto was fascinating, I can't have been the only reader considering researching quantum physics can I? ;-)

Overall though, it makes you realise the importance of having someone to talk to who understands, the knowing that you're not the first person to have known grief and...the realisation that life does go on.

Humourous...sad, heroic, brave, inspirational...a book to cover all emotions.

Parallel stories eventually hook up
When I'm desperate for a good book, I turn to Book-of-the-Month Club, one of the best sources for mid-list writers who don't get a lot of promotion. That's where I found Danny Scheinmann's RANDOM ACTS OF HEROIC LOVE.

RANDOM ACTS is really two parallel stories. In 1917, Austro-Hungarian soldier Moritz Daniecki escapes from a Siberian prison and walks seven thousand kilometers to find Lotte, the girl he left behind. He has several near-death experiences but his quest for Lotte keeps him alive. This one is based on Scheinmann's grandfather's experience. The second story jumps ahead to 1992. Leo Deakin's wife, Eleni, is killed in a bus accident in Ecuador.He blames himself and has an awful time getting over her death. Leo's thread takes some time to develop; he's a doctoral candidate, studying ants. Lots of people try to help him overcome his grief. Perhaps the most interesting is Roberto Panconesi, a physics professor with a unique perspective on the afterlife. Leo attends his lectures and keeps a notebook with illustrations. They're included in the book. I began to look forward to them; they're about love occurring in the natural world. Red ants mate in mid air. The Arctic Tern circumnavigates the globe to breed in the Arctic. It takes Scheinman almost three hundred pages to connect the two stories.

I chose this book because of the POW story and wound up loving it because of the Leo story. Roberto Panconesi shows Leo that colliding atoms are irretrievably connected until another relevant collision occurs.In other words, Leo won`t get over Eleni until he finds another girl.

Phenomenal book that deserves to be read
I bought this book on a recent trip to England, where it is available everywhere in paperback.For a good part of the book I was happy to be reading a well-written, enjoyable story (or two stories, as it seems), and it was only at about 2/3 of the way through that the hyperbole surrounding the book became obviously justified.When I was done, all I could think was "wow" and wish forlornly that there was still more to read.A truly wonderful little book, that deserves publication and mass distribution in the U.S.

2 beautiful love stories...
Five stars are not enough! 'Random Acts of Heroic Love', is an incredible debut novel from Danny Scheinmann. A labour of love in itself; in his acknowledgements the author says it took six years and numerous drafts to get it right, but all that painstaking work has paid dividends. It's a wonderfully rich, insightful and wrenchingly emotional novel.

The story begins in 1992 with Leo, a young PhD student, waking up in an Ecuadorian clinic to find that his girlfriend Eleni is dead. Eleni. His soulmate. The other half of his whole. She's been killed in a bus crash they were in - the only victim of the crash. Leo's loss, and his attempt to go on living, picking up the pieces of his previous existence, without Eleni, is just one half of the book. Leo turns to Physics to try and find some answers and interspersed throughout the pages of the novel are facsimile pages from a journal Leo was keeping to help him get through Eleni's death... One of the quotes Leo finds is the one I used for the title of my review.

The other story, which picks up at chapter 3, is every bit as heart-wrenching. It is the story of another young man from Galicia, Moritz Daniecki, caught up in the war on the Russian Front as a soldier from 1914 through to 1917. In 1914 before the outbreak of war, young Moritz meets the love of his life, Lotte, and they declare their love for each other before Moritz goes to war. During the war he suffers unbearable conditions before finally escaping from a prisoner of war camp in Sibera. Moritz tells the story of how he is driven across the Siberian wilderness by his everlasting love for Lotte. It is her memory and the letters that he writes to her that keeps him going on his journey... not knowing what he will find at the end.

The two stories are truly beautiful. Both young men are kept going through each and every day by their memories of love, and the connection between the two is revealed at the end (if you haven't already guessed). Superbly written. The harshness of a Siberian winter and First World War horrors are vividly brough to life by Scheinmann. The book takes you on a non-stop emotional roller coaster and only those with cast-iron feelings will remain unmoved! An exceptional book.
... Read more

Product Description

Second Acts is a guide to reinventing your life. Whether you wish to change careers, move to a more desirable part of the country, start a business, write a novel, or drop everything to pursue a life dream, Stephen Pollan offers a powerful message ofhope and guidance that has benefited his own clients.

Through a series of exercises, you will develop a comprehensive "script" for your second act—a step-by-step action plan that will lead you to the life you’ve always wanted. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (27)

"Second Acts" turn into "Second Choices" for you
Stephen Pollan and Mark Levine have written a book "Second Acts" that lets you know that Second Choices are available. This does not mean that any of your "first choices" were the wrong ones, just that you have a chance to make another choice - it is not too late. The book has numerous examples of people who started their second acts - many times after an unfortunate or tragic event in their lives.

Part 1: Setting the Stage for Your Second Act. The first four chapters show you that YOU CAN have that dream you have always wanted.

Part 2: Opening the Doors to Your Second Act. These 8 chapters give you numerous topics to review so you can see why and how to get your second act going.

Part 3: Opening Night. The final two chapters give you that final pep talk on getting started on your own second act.

I highly recommend reading this book if you are considering a job change, including retirement. You might find the encouragement you need to make that decision to step out; take that first step toward your second act.

Best wishes,
Stuart Gustafson, Author
www.stuartgustafson.com

Inspiring, Wise, and Creative
It is obvious that the author lives on positive energy. This text motivated and inspired me every time I flipped the page. I think it was well structured, and the exercises were well-conceived; they really helped me internalize the information.

Essentially, this book is about how you can have a second career, or even a third. It also explains why you would want to, it empowers you to believe you can, and provides a few kicks in the pants for those of us who need it.

Stephan Pollan created a second act in his own life before writing this book. He is Michael J. Fox's father-in-law, so he has observed Fox's second act blossom. And he also went out looking for other examples of people who have successfully pulled off a second career. Therefore, this is not a fluffy book pulled out of the author's imagination...or pulled out of anywhere else. This is a practical and inspiring guide based on the experiences of many.

Opening Closed Doors
There are many books on life planning. There are many books on reinventing a life. I keep coming back to this one as a gold standard among the many instruction manuals out there. It's simple. It's well-written. The examples are clear. There are no gimmicks. The authors encourage introspection and self-reflection without making this seem scary and they offer simple guidance in indentifying and obercoming obstacles. This is one of a handful of books that I've used myself and highly recommend to my coaching clients.

In Transition? Thinking About Quitting? or Retiring?
Better read this book. Whether you are leaving a job to go to another one or thinking about hanging it all up, you ought to spend $10 and get this book.

I like a book where the author has actually had "fate" push him into the abyss and he had to figure out how to climb out of the darkness. This author lost his a good job thru no fault of his own, had a bout with TB (and was happy because it wasn't lung cancer), had no savings (alright how he had no savings is beyond me - but I am sure Mr. Pollan covers this in another book and will keep you from making the same error)and had to start all over. He tells you how he started all over, where he "wanted to go" and where he eventually wound up.

The author is sincere, honest, humble and writes like a person talks (which is always a good thing because it makes you feel he is sitting right next to you).

If you lost your job and are not sure what you want to do - pick up this book. The book provides ideas and I think more importantly a roadmap to uncover or discover what you want to do now that you're all grown up. BUT EVEN MORE IMPORTANT, is the book gives hope, a sense that there is a future and that things will and can get better - as soon as you decide to.

Another good book is some of Brian Tracy's books especially his two books Maximum Achievement and Change Your Thinking and You Can Change YOur LIfe. These two books are similar to what Mr Pollan discusses around the way you need to think, and how you can control your destiny.

My best of luck to you in your search for happiness and peace and success!

Superficial, irrelevant, and irritating
Let's see - I graduate from law school at age twenty, work as an attorney, a real estate developer, venture capitalist, and a banker over a span of about thirty years. Then I get sick and am out of work. When I am ready to return to work, I, through a large network of past contacts, just happen to get a job teaching college courses, which leads to writing books and appearing on national TV shows, and which, in turn, leads to forming consulting businesses including life coaching. And, of course, my advanced degreed wife takes a well-paying job at a magazine as a cushion. Then I hold myself up as an example of how the typical person can launch a second career and put it all in a book, SECOND ACTS. So the reader learns early on that the author cannot distinguish the irrelevant from the situation of most attempting to make a career change. Furthermore, it is an irony, which the author little sees, that he did not depend on the exercises that he recommends to others in finding a second career. He actually stumbled into most of what he calls a second career. Is that the real message: get lucky.

Of course, what would a self-help book be if it didn't have any number of exercises that must be followed to find a second career. First of all, one is to write about their dream: passions, strengths and weaknesses, interests, needs, and the specific dream. And then there are the typical obstacles of which one must be cognizant: age, money, duration, consent, location, physical condition, education and training, timing, esteem, fear of failure, fear of success, and fatalism. There is a subtle message here that failure to launch a second career may be due to your failure to overcome these obstacles - like they are not really obstacles after all.

This is the wrong genre to look for a realistic description and assessment of the world of work and training and education for it. If employees were actually empowered and if students could get educated and trained without tremendous amounts of extraneous hoop-jumping, perhaps all of these books about how to deal with work and workplace unhappiness would not be necessary. Issues such as obsolescence and downsizing could be dealt with realistically taking into account the interests of all parties. Changing the content of one's current job would be possible.

Chances are those who are doing what they absolutely love: painters, writers, wood carvers, etc aren't reading this book. For those who have struggled in the world of work, the typical self-help platitudes are here. Their help is doubtful. The author can hardly change workplace realities. When careers or jobs are changed, there is a very real possibility of experiencing the same limitations as before, just in another guise.

Adding to the irrelevancy of the book - the author insists on adding numerous mini-biographies of celebrities which have absolutely nothing to do with finding a second career as most would understand the concept. Furthermore, those writing a serious book on general employment need to keep their personal lives out of it. If one wanted to read memoirs, one can find plenty.
... Read more

Product Description
The Buckthorn Brothers: Casey
As a teen, Emma Clark was the girl with the bad reputation -- and trying to get Casey Hudson into bed hadn't helped! Not only was he the cutest guy in town, but he was also the only one who'd really seemed to care about her -- so much so that the usually hot-blooded teen had resisted all her awkward advances. Now, eight years later, it's a different story . . .

Caught in the Act
When a robbery goes bad, undercover cop Mick Dawson can't believe Delilah Piper (aka mystery writer Lela DeBraye) was just in the wrong place at the wrong time -- and neither do the perps. The only way to protect her while he investigates what really happened is to stick with her 24/7 -- and try not to fall for the object of his investigation!

Two Lori Foster favorites in one. Don't miss it! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Is there a book after Caught in the Act?
I enjoyed the Buckhorn books.I would like to read the next book after Caught in the Act. Is it a series?

Good but not fabulous
I purchased Casey's story as an individual E-book so I don't know anything about 'Caught in the Act'.

Casey has matured into a great man over the Buckhorn Brothers series, which I consider one of my favorite series, but I'm not sure whether he is the same guy we have grown to know and love.

I felt as though I was reading about three separate Caseys and not three parts of one hero. 17 year old Casey is generous, slightly controlling, and adorable. He was my favorite. 27 year old Casey #1 was cold and jaded. 27 year old Casey #2 is protective, in love, and overall a respectable guy. But the transition from one Casey to the next just wasn't smooth enough.

The only other part of Foster's writing here that slightly discomforted me was her failure to follow through. Casey always referred to his cousins as neices and nephews but no one corrected him. At least he recognized that his brother was still his brother despite being 17 years apart in age. I'm a numbers gal so when authors screw up the math I get overly irritated. Gabe who is approximately 39 by my math, could not have a 9 year-old daughter because when Emma left EIGHT years ago, Elizabeth (Gabe's wife) had not yet announced her first pregnancy. Also in Gabe's book, its aknowledged that Gabe and Ceily went to high school together but here Ceily is implied to be in her early thirties. If I was wrong to infer such a thing then well I would have liked Foster to aknowledge that most women in their late 30s would show some distress over dating a younger guy. I am not saying that it should or would stop them just that there is usually some internal turmoil.

Lastly, the ending was sort of cheesy. I will not give it away but it was predictable and nothing special. I did appreciate Foster's turn on the girl who returns to her hometown changed. At least there was no cliche grand make-over. This book was good but not fabulous.

Casey is a Winner!
The fifth of the Buckhorn brothers is as good as the previous books -- love these guys!

Worth it for Casey's tale
I read all of the Buckhorn Brother's stories(4 in all) and had to read Casey's story.I didn't think the story line was as good as the first four, due to a lot of rehashing, which I guess is in there for any one who is new to the story line but a little bit much.But I loved finding out what has happened to the brothers and their wives.Worth the money to read the happy endings!

4 stars for Caught in the Act and 3 stars for Casey
This book contains the following two stories.

4 stars for CAUGHT IN THE ACT.
Good, enjoyable romance story.There were a number of good things about this story.Someone took a shot at Del, and the related danger provided interesting conflict.I loved the characters.I was delighted with the heroine's actions at the end.

This is the third story in the series around Dane Carter's detective agency.The anthology Fallen Angels has the first two stories: Beguiled about Dane Carter and Wanton about Alec Sharpe, both private investigators.Caught in the Act is about Mick Dawson, a 26 year old undercover cop whom readers first met in Beguiled, when he was a teenager.

Sexual language: moderate.Number of sex scenes: six.Setting: present day U.S. city.Copyright: 2001.Genre: romantic suspense.


3 stars for THE BUCKHORN BROTHERS: CASEY.
This is sweet, light and fluffy - a nice, pleasant romance story.Emma has problems with her parents and runs away from home at age 16.She returns 8 years later to visit her dad who is in the hospital.Casey had been a friend to her as a teen but missed her after she left.Now he wants her and woos her.Everyone in the story is likeable, generous and sympathetic except Emma's parents and a few jealous females.There is almost too much likeability in this story.

There are at least four other Buckhorn Brothers stories, published separately.These are about Sawyer (Casey's dad), Morgan, Gabe and Jordan.

Sexual language: moderate to strong.Number of sex scenes: four.Setting: present day Buckhorn, Kentucky.Copyright: 2002.Genre: contemporary romance. ... Read more

Product Description
Kaplan ACT English and Reading Workbook provides students with practice and test-like questions that appear on the English and Reading sections of the ACT. Along with information about the structure and format of the ACT test, our book breaks down the specific types of reading passages--prose fiction, humanities, and social studies--that appear for the reading passages on the test.

Additionally, the English section reviews proper grammar, syntax, and punctuation issues that students are expected to know. A brief section on how to approach the optional writing section of the test is included. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Test Preparation Tutor in Wilmette
I am a test prep tutor in Wilmette.My students found this book very useful. ... Read more

Product Description
Noted preacher and expositor James Montgomery Boice has created a unique blend of scripture insight, rich devotional application, and vivid illustration in this commentary on the book of Acts. Now in paper! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

must-have commentary for Acts
If you are going to study the Book of Acts, this commentary by James Boice is a must-have. I searched through a lot of other commentaries in the library and none are as comprehensive, thorough, and pastoral as this one. If you don't have much time and you had to read just one commentary, this one is it.

Precise and Solid Commentary on Acts
In doesn't seem like it has been ten years since James Montgomery Boice went to be with the Lord (1938-2000), and herein is additional material from his outstanding exegetical work. In "Acts: An Expositional Commentary," one discovers the effectual power of the Holy Spirit presented through the ministry of the early church. James M. Boice bequeathed 50 precise and inspirational chapters that trace the advancement of the early Christian community through Dr. Luke's Book of Acts.

This fine exegetical work presents solid expositional indagation concerning:

- The Great Commission (Acts 1)
- The Day of Pentecost (1)
- Early Persecutions (3-5)
- Sign and wonders in the Apostolic-led church
- Stephen's sermon and martyrdom (6-7)
- Paul's conversion
- The Jerusalem council
- Paul's missionary Journey's and a great deal of additional material.

The content is impressive, the format outstanding, the writing splendid, and the expositional work remarkable. Boice's commentary on Acts is a fine modern commentary for the assiduous minister or perceptive bible study leader.

Acts 4:11-12 This is the `stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.' 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

Dr. James Boice was the pastor of Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. He was also president of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals.
One Way to God: Christian Philosophy and Presuppositional Apologetics Examine World Religions

The Real Church
I have been a fan of the late James Montgomery Boice and his many commentaries for about twenty years, and have always found him to be a consistent, reliable, highly intelligent guidepost in expressing the reformed doctrines of the Christian faith.In a time when "the church" around us seems to have so many well intentioned yet culturally corrupted publications on how to "do church," Dr. Boice's Acts commentary is a true breath of fresh air.He returns us to the promised Holy Spirit and His transforming power as expressed through a Peter only recently so lovingly restored by the Savior. He shows us the model of the early church, with itsinternal elements of prayer, worship, mutual love and fellowship in Jesus, as well as its imperative thrust into a world which responds with a persecution that only serves to fuel a wildfire of faith in Jesus Christ that turns the world upside down.When you read this commentary carefully, you see the early church fail without the power of the Holy Spirit and succeed beyond imagination when the Holy Spirit leads the way.Thiscommentary will give you great hope that the church today must, and by God's grace, will get back to the Spirit led basics of the early church.

Barry Duwe
Overland Park, Kansas
10/01/2009

A fresh approach-- adds theology to the Biblical exposition
The most impressive thing about Boice's work here is his ability to interweave historical, orthodox theology with his interpretation of the Biblical text. Too often there is one without the other, resulting in dry, crusty beliefs that lack spirit and passion-- or, on the other hand, a tendency to get lost in the moorings of the Scripture, and getting trapped in one's own agenda or "canon within the canon." Boice articulates the importance of the great beliefs of the faith (the ascension, for instance) and how our neglect of them as influenced our reading of Scripture, our articulation of the Gospel, and, subsequently, the power of the Message we proclaim (or lack thereof). I don't know that this was his agenda when he began writing or not. Nevertheless, it is certainly a welcome by-product of this work and the Church will be the better for wrestling with these concepts.

An authoritative tour of the early church.
Dr. Boice's commentary on Acts will be enjoyed by historians and Christians alike.He lends valuable context to this chronicle of early church history.Along the way, he examines the daily peaks and troughs of life in the first century church, and highlights Luke's own historical accuracy in retelling the journeys of Paul.From Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth, it is an oddesey not to be missed.A must for pilgrims yearning to learn more, or sceptics that would like their hard questions about the accuracy of Acts addressed. ... Read more

Product Description
Designed to help students understand communication processes in relationships and develop specific skills needed to create and maintain healthy ones, the eleventh edition retains the features that have made this book so successful: a theory driven skills-based focus, an accessible tone and presentation, and numerous useful pedagogical tools. Cynthia Berryman-Fink, a new coauthor, brings fresh insights to this edition, which has a contemporary feel that will resonate with today's students and professors.
Well-written and lively, Inter-Act features numerous activities that enable students to relate their everyday experiences to their studies in communication. The text illustrates how cultural, racial, and gender differences as well as electronically mediated messages alter what we should do to communicate effectively. It also emphasizes the importance of ethics in communication and encourages students to develop their analytical abilities as they think critically about the concepts presented in the text.

NEW OR REVISED IN THE ELEVENTH EDITION
* New: Information on relational dialectics and turning points, coordinated management of meaning, the language of cyberspace, intergenerational family communication, and communicating in a diverse workplace.
* New boxed features: "The Gray Zone" offers alternative viewpoints on aspects of interpersonal communication, while "Learn About Yourself" boxes provide students with short surveys to help them understand their own communication styles.
* New: More than 50% of the "Diverse Voices" selections, "Inter-Act with Technology" boxes, and "What Would You Do? A Question of Ethics" boxes are new to this edition.
* Expanded: The in-text CD now features a complete student workbook with chapter outlines, key terms lists, self-tests, quizzes, and numerous activities designed to help students master the material presented in each chapter.
* Revised: The Instructor's Manual/Test Bank (available in both print and electronic versions) contains more effective teaching aids and additional test questions.

Visit the companion website, www.oup.com/us/interact, which provides resources for both students and professors. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great Job
The book arrived on time and was totally in good condition.Would recommend buying from this seller.

about the condition
I purchased this book used and the description did not say anything about what is wrong with it. All of the pages are wrinkled as if the entire book was wet at some point. Can I ever sell this book back? Doubt it now. Its warped. thats it I guess. But for $16 its not that bad.

Very, very undergrad
A graduate program had the audacity to use this as a text.I would say this is a solid community college level text, or perhaps an intro to communications text for a 4 year course.Most definitely not a graduate course level text.Don't expect to gain any particularly new insight into communication if your grad school assigns this text, although you could probably expect an easy A. ... Read more

Product Description
All you need to know to ace the ACT: Complete review of all Mathematics and Science Reasoning topics. Mathematics Topics inventory. Calculator Tips. Science Vocabulary Lists. Model ACT Problems and ACT-type practice. Cumulative ACT Practice and ACT-style subtests. Diagnostic tests, study charts and 3 model ACT Mathematics and Science Reasoning tests. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

offers explanation AND plenty of practice problems...
I purchased 4 ACT prep books through Amazon for my high school sons, and after using them for 3 weeks, I can say that Amsco's book is the best.There are diagnostic tests to determine areas of weakness, and then corresponding lessons are offered based on the problems missed.There is no guesswork - the book spells out exactly what page numbers to go to for review practice if the student misses a particular problem.In addition, there are around 20-25 problems for the student to practice the concept they're struggling with, along with 5 ACT-type problems that deal with the math concept.I haven't used the science portion of the text yet, but if the math is any indication, I'm sure I'll be pleased.

This Math Teacher Loves This Prep Book
As a high school math teacher, I am very impressed by this text.I wish that it was the primary text that my school is using for our ACT class.Wonderful examples and explanations, broken down by category so students can go directly to the section(s) where they know they are lacking. ... Read more

Product Description
After twenty years of burrowing into the corner of the family couch, eating junk food, and reading science fiction, Indiana mother Delonda Jarvis did something that shocked her family: she went to college. Or, as her younger daughter, Haven Kimmel, writes, she "stood up, brushed away the pork rind crumbs, and escaped by the skin of her teeth."

Despite having no money, no car, and a resentful husband, Delonda managed to obtain a master's degree in English. The former teenage bride also dropped one hundred pounds, learned how to drive, and became a breadwinner. But as she reclaimed herself, her marriage disintegrated.Amazon.com Review
Haven Kimmel's memoir She Got Up Off the Couch might have been called The Further Adventures of Zippy, since it picks up where her bestselling A Girl Named Zippy left off, and is reeled out in much the same vein.The person who got up off the couch is Zippy's mother, Delonda, who for years sat on the titular sofa, ate, read, and watched TV until she weighed 268 pounds and life was nearly unbearable.You would never know the bad parts from Haven Kimmel, who always concentrates on the bright side, even though she lived in a house without heat, food, indoor plumbing, a dependable water supply or even a modicum of cleanliness. Kimmel loves her parents inordinately, even at their most unlovable.

Delonda takes a College Entrance exam, passes it and enrolls at Ball State, where she completes a degree in two years, goes on for a Master's and gets a job as a high school teacher.That sounds fairly straightforward but it wasn't easy.Bob Jarvis, Delonda's husband and Zippy's father, gave her no help at all; in fact, he ridiculed her and ignored her progress.Eventually, he found someone else while Delonda was busy reclaiming her life.We could read this as a tale of the times, where a woman takes charge of herself, loses 120 pounds and, against all odds, gains an education and a livelihood.It is all of that, and more.

Life in Mooreland, Indiana, in the 1970s is not very exciting, but Zippy finds wonder everywhere and often laughed until she "tipped right over."There is an unquenchable spirit in the girl, and then in the woman, that keeps popping up despite a very sketchy upbringing.The neighbors fed and bathed her, she wore the same pair of pants to school every day for an entire school year--without benefit of laundry.Her brother and sister lit out at the first chance they had--though Melinda ends up only a few blocks away and becomes another safe port for Zippy.She is a victim of benign neglect, not malice or meanness.

Her tales of church camp, days with her friends, driving with her Dad, going to a play with her Mother, her love for her niece and nephew and her discovery that her Dad is having an affair are all told in typical Zippy-style:they are humorous, poignant, exuberant, and often breathless.Stay tuned:this book ends when Zippy is only thirteen.Hopefully there's more to come.--Valerie Ryan ... Read more

Customer Reviews (66)

A Delightful Read!
"Prior to this I read "A Girl Named Zippy" by Haven Kimmel and I couldn't wait to get this next installment of her wonderful earlier memoir.Her skill as a writer is just 'brilliant'.She's fun, insightful and her descriptions of the time and place and people in her early life made me wish I had been there and known them too. As a writer myself, I truly appreciate her generosity in sharing so many of the details of her life and presenting them with such great style.

Wonderful story of small town in the Midwest
This is an amazing story by itself, but the wit and charm of Havel Kimmel takes it to another level. It left me wanting to know what happened next. I hope there will be a follow up.

She got up off the couch
Loved this book!As an older college student who was terrified "to get up off the couch", I could completely relate to what Zippy's Mother was going through and applaud her.This book was about every family and highlighted the subtle family dynamics that make every family unique.

Zippy's back, still quirky but a little wiser too.
One of my favorite books a few years ago was A Girl Named Zippy, the prequel to this book, Haven "Zippy" Kimmel's follow up memoir. I am delighted to say that this book is equally as funny and touching, but also a little deeper in its examination of the some of the fallout of a mother struggling to find herself in the women's movement of the early 70's.

When last we left Delonda Kimmel she was riding a bicycle, her first step off the couch where she had spent the last twenty years of her life, reading, watching TV and gaining a lot of weight.This book picks up right from that point, as Delonda takes a competency exam and gets into Ball College, where she graduates in two years, loses one hundred pounds, gets a Master's Degree and becomes a teacher- all without any emotional support from her husband. Zippy manages to go through life, if not oblivious to the turmoil in her family, definitely with an optimistic and quirky view of her unconventional upbringing.Despite living in poverty and often neglected by both her parents Zippy found safe haven with the families of her friends and her older sister, all pitching in to help raise this child. Not once does she offer a word of recrimination towards her mother and father, but imbues this story with all the love a child feels for her parents.

As Zippy begins to understand that her parents' marriage is slowly unraveling she again expertly portrays the feelings of anxiety and bewilderment a young teen feels as her home life slowly comes apart, but also opens as she realizes all the possibilities there are in the world as she begins to understand what it took for her mother to reinvent herself. Delonda also begins to open Zippy's eyes to the opportunities there were available outside of their small town.The ending of the book brought tears to my eyes as Zippy comes to understand that even those you love most in life can disappoint you.A lovely memoir that doesn't cast the people around her as cruel but as what we all are, flawed, despite our very best intentions.

Funny and Insightful
This book held me in its grip from the first page and on. I have read two other books by Kimmel and was really looking forward to this one. Haven did not disappoint. This is a funny book filled with poignant observations by a child who claimed that she is really invisible, otherwise would adults talk in her presence of things that most people wouldn't talk about in the presence of children?

Haven Kimmel picks up where she left off in her first memoir, "A Girl Named Zippy: Growing Up Small in Mooreland, Indiana." This time, she is a little bit older and this time, there are more observations about her parents and siblings. Her love for her family is fierce even if she is downright funny and in some places, bewildering. She writes of her older brother whom she idolized. She writes a lot of her older sister Melinda (Lindy) and her children. She also writes about her parents and their marriage. She writes of her friendships and of going to summer camp where her panty-hose was ripped to shreds the first night because they had to kneel for prayers on the wooden floors of the chapel. (She also mentioned that she was the only child who never went forward to be "claimed" by Jesus that week and maybe in the entire history of that camp.) She writes with humor of a little girl who is so straggly that her mother's best friends were always feeding her, scrubbing her until the gray rings are gone from around her neck and without complaint too. Kimmel's memories show that it does take a village to raise a child, especially one like Zippy who is just untameable and lovable.

Kimmel writes of her mother and how one day, her mother decided to get off the couch where she had spent the last 20 years reading and eating. She got up off the couch and managed to get a college education ... something that she has always wanted to accomplish. In the course of getting the degrees, she managed to lose over a hundred pounds, showed the world that in spite of being married and being a grandma even, she made her own dreams come true. In the course of pursuing her education, Kimmel's mother lost her marriage. Kimmel grows up though heavily influenced by her mother and her mother's love of literature. Kimmel also is influenced by her handsome father who was the love of her life but is also a very overbearing person.

This memoir shows a family that is really like a lot of families in America, especially in the Midwest. No one is perfect and they all have their flaws, but their love for one another shows through in every single page. Kimmel captures the love with grace and humor and sometimes, it is just downright funny and other times, it is just appalling ... what were her parents thinking? (In this case, not thinking!) In spite of all of the flaws that Kimmel's parents may have, Kimmel grows up to be a really neat writer.

I wouldn't hesitate to pick this book up again ... it is just a good read of growing up in Smalltown, America.

11/14/09 ... Read more