One amazing word: union. At times, believers may think they are living life on their own and gaining "help" from God when the going gets rough. Life doesn't have to be like that!!!! When someone is in union with something else, your life is not separate. It is together, it is "one." If you are a child of God, you are "one" with God. I needed to hear that and this book was used instrumentally in revealing that truth. I trust God will lead you to read this as well.

This is a must read for every Christian. The book is easy to read and will open your eyes and heart to the truth of the whole gospel. We are "more than conquerors" and who we believe we are in Christ makes a difference in our walk and relationship with God and others. I can't possibly express the value of the content of the book.

The book deals with a subject that is virtually untouched by pastors and preachers. I believe the reason is that one cannot teach on a subject where they have never been.

Through many years of Christian life, the author knew something in his Christian life was missing and as it was revealed to him, he did a superb job in short, concise chapters of conveying his experiences to others. In the American culture, too often we take our identity from the "things of the world". Then, when we become Christians we are confounded to learn the world in which we live is not reality in the eyes of God.

Stone explains the necessity of taking upon a new identity and living a life of faith out of that identity. He gives us an eternal, biblical perspective from which to learn the thought processes which leads to true life, the abundant life. The book is for true believers who are tired of the pablum dispensed from pulpits. I have gone through the book personally, been in a small group where each chapter was discussed on a weekly basis and I am currently leading a small discussion group with enormous success. It is a subject matter that can be engaged with knowing you will gain better insight in how God sees you and, as a result, experience the life of faith as it is intended to be. It is definitely a "gotta have" book.

This book had eluded me for years, ever since I first read it (at 13) and after reading it voraciously, lost it. I am not a fan of romance novels, but this book lured me in from the start -what a delicious read! It's one of those books that you'll put down with a satisfied sigh, and a month later, pick it up to begin again. I should know, I read "Roommates" over and over. Now that I've found out who the author is to this book, I am anxious to discover more of her work!

This story touched on a lot of heavy subjects, such as war, murder, rape (and reactions to it), anorexia, kidnapping, and poverty. However, the story itself was not depressing. The plot centers around Carrie, who has just started college at Stanford, and falls for Jake. Jake is her brother Stephan's roommate. Stephan and Carrie's roommate, Megan, fall for each other. But the story is not a simple romance, Jake feels his secrets should keep him away from Carrie, and Carrie ends up with other boyfriends, and gets engaged. Stephan marries Beth, who doesn't realize her business partner, Jon's adoration of her.

Usually in a story where more than one character's romance is told, I favor one's story more than the others, but this was not the case in this novel, I loved reading all their stories, and it wasn't confusing or hard to keep track of.

A reviewer mentioned that the ending was too storybook, but I really don't agree. This was a romance, so the ending was a happy one for pretty much all the characters. However, the characters weren't riding off into the sunset, they were happy with the ones they love, but there was still the unknowns of Jake's leg, Mark's reaction to Carrie calling off the engagement, Stephen's relationship with Megan's secret, and how Beth and Stephan will handle their new lives.

This was one of the best Katherine Stone books I've read (and I've read all of them), it was a touching, heartwarming story, and I completely recommend it to everyone.

I read this book more than 10 years ago. I had never been a reader, but, something drew me to it. I have read other authors but, never found one that kept my interest the way that Katherine Stone novels do. The book is moving,inspiring, and she writes to a wide variety of readers. She doesn't focus on the rich and wealthy, and doesn't write only about the common person. This book is my all time favorite, and I am a devoted fan of her work to this date.

This could of been the greastest book since Mr. Bump. Its a classic that is a must read for all. Currently I am 17 years old and have read this about 42 times. I must say its still invigorating, to the point that I will explode...

Stone Soup is very fun reading. This is a great story because it keeps you interested from start to finish. This story tells of a young man who is off on a long walk and gets hungry. He goes to a little old lady's house and asks to be fed. After she turns him down he offers to make stone soup for them both. So the two boil a stone but soon add onions, carrots, beef bones, barley and many other things to make it taste better. The two then go on to share a very nice afternoon together before the young man heads out for another long walk. I really enjoyed the parts where the little old lady gathers all of the fancy things needed to make the soup. That's why I think that most other people should enjoy this book too.

Stone Soup is a classic story brought to life through the pictures by Winslow Pinney Pels. A young man, a pauper, spies a house that looks like plenty of food could be found there. The old woman who owns the house tells him to go away, she has no food in the house, no food in the garden. The young man asks her for a stone. "A stone, what do you want with a stone," she curiously asks the pauper. "Ah," says he, and he knows he HAS her. As the story unfolds, the young man has the woman adding more and more ingredients to the stone soup the young man is making. Completely duped, until possibly the very end, the old woman is the young man's accomplice in tricking herself into providing the pauper with a "feast for a king." And what will become of the stone, read the story, and find out! You'll enjoy it!

I picked up Jan Eliot's first collection of "Stone Soup" by chance, and was impressed enough to order the next two. This, the third volume, collects strips that follow the adventures of the Stone family. There's Val, who raises two kids while struggling with workaday woes and finds sudden romance with a motorcycle cop. There's Holly and Alix, Val's daughters, who struggle as kids do against Val and against each other. There's sister Joan, who tries to raise two-year-old Max while running a copywriting service from home. There's Gramma, who lives with the lot of them and offers a constant critique of their lives and lifestyles. There's neighbor Wally, who, after a long and epic struggle, has at last made the romantic connection with Joan. A bunch of finely-drawn characters---in both the "literary" and "cartoon" sense.

It deals with any number of hot button nineties issues: the nature and place of women, life at work and home, the struggle to make ends meet, modern romance, child-rearing. Turn to nearly any page, and you're sure to find something profound and thought-provoking. Plots spin out over several pages, and one-strip gags are frequent. Certainly it held my interest.

My only regret: trying to catch up to the presently-running strips. I can only hope there will be further volumes.

Oh, and did I mention it's extremely funny? It's extremely funny...

Jan Eliot has put together quite a strip with Stone Soup. It's the story of a widow raising two young daughters. The comic strip depicts the day to day tribulations and challenges of being a struggling single parent who must balance her career and family without going crazy. Eliot's portrayal is funny because it's accurate--everybody will remember how hard it was to be a teenager. The family is not perfect--they quarrel and fight--but at the same time really do love each other, and Eliot is able to portray this with sincerity but avoids phony sentimentality. The name "Stone Soup" is taken from the old folk tale about making something out of nothing, which is appropriate for the strip. I believe Stone Soup will become one of the most popular family strips in the funny papers. Did I mention the art work is excellent too?

You must read this!! The story of two single mothers,always broke, three children, a grandmother, and a dog girl hyperactive interacting with the boyfriends of the two young mothers can be very boring or an amazing fun. You will start reading from page one to the end, and them try desperately try to buy the other two books of the collection. Remember that you can take a daily peak on your newspaper, and if not demand the editor to publish it.

The Stone Woman is the third book of writer and filmmaker Tariq Ali's "Islam Quintet". Emotional, lyrical prose is the hallmark of this superbly crafted novel, which presents daily life under Islam as well as conflict and challenges. Also highly recommended are Tariq Ali's previous books in the "Islam Quintet", Shadows Of The Pomegranate Tree (0860916766, ...) and The Book Of Saladin (1859842313, ...).

A friend recommended this book, and i am so pleased that she did. What a novel i am absolutely swayed by it. Stone Woman my first of Tariq Ali, but certainly not the last. I read with initial resistance, but was lured to it from the first page. Mystically he draws the attention with the words which encapsulates the reader as a silent observer witnessing the developments in the palace of Pasha. One is drawn away from present times and transcends to the era of Ottomon empire's decadence.

I found the characters in this narration to have immense depth, which is delieved in part by confessions. Confessions are made to a small rock resembling a pagan goddess. Secrets are divulged to the goddess which sheds a light on the mental and emotional state of the character. Another luring aspect of this novel are the discussions by the characters. Rational, religion, philosophy and the creation of the future republic to be carved from Ottomon Empire are debated.

The narration has an expanse of seduction, rebellion, confessions, betrayal, rational, arguments, religion, treachery and conspiracy. It is to these reasons i find the text rich in prose.

The Stone Woman is an exquisite microcosm of life in a decayed empire. Tariq Ali's most recent segment of his Islamic Quartet is the best so far. The novel reads like an epic poem, but with all the drama and intrigue you would expect from a Latin American soap opera. The rich tapestry of one wealthy Ottoman family's story unravels through the clandestine reports made to a pagan statue near the summer residence of an exiled forbearer. The interconnecting details are told through a headstrong daughter who has returned home after a long absence. Ali's gifts are especially evident as he slowly unpeels the layers of this family's compelling and often-cursed history. Meanwhile, Ali wraps in the politics surrounding the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the so-called "Sick Man of Europe," on the eve of the Great War. The sometimes tedious subplot about the proto-revolutionary movement in the Empire is the novel's only weak point. As a student of Ottoman history, I found it interesting, but it takes away from the true brilliance of the novel. For fans of Ali's other two works on the often violent but always spellbinding confrontation between Christianity and Islam, this book will be a godsend. It is quite similar to Ali's first book in the series, Shadows of the Pomegranate Tree, in that it focuses on the life and times of patrician family. But this work deepens the focus on family and creates a vast array of memorable and believable characters where Pomegranate had only a few broadly drawn archetypes.

Now, I'll admit, I was skeptical about a the new role playing game, Agent X, when I first heard of it. A table top game with a system that flawlessly translates into live action game play, that sounds too good to be true, right? Too good or not, its the truth. Agent X's simple and realistic mechanics made all the games I've played in run smoothly and only aided in establishing a mood of mystery and suspicion that kept players coming back for more. If you're looking for a new kind of game with all the right stuff look no further than Agent X.

Finally a game that allows players to step into the world of Agents like Scully and Mulder. A must buy for all X-Files fans. Why only watch the show when you can experience the world of the X-Files through this game "Agent X"? I am surprised that Fox hasn't approached these folks about licensing it as the Official X-Files Role Playing Game. I had a great time playing it at ConQuest and will be looking for Agent X games at all the cons I go to.

Agent X has a great new system that differs from all current roleplaying games on the market. It a must buy for any serious gamemaster looking for a new genre for their group, and an even more important buy for the first time and long time roleplayer looking for a new style devoid of fantasy world play. The content addresses the more realistic side of roleplaying giving you the rules you need to play a real government agent. A must try.

I bought this as a gift for someone and now I wish I would have also bought myself a copy! The pics are great, as is all the information regarding gargoyles. Only drawback for me, I thought it was going to be bigger, it's no bigger than maybe 10x10 or so.

This book is one of the best books I got from amazon. I got the two books Holy Terror's and American Gargolyes... it was a great deal. The book is loaded with pictures of gargoyles from across america and desrcibes what type of gargoyle and where it is located in america. The photographs are beautiful and descriptive through out the book. If you gargoyles get the two books for the price of one. Highly Recommended!!!!

I was a little skeptical when I first picked up "American Gargoyles: Spirits in Stone" but a friend had reccomended it so I decided to read it. Boy, am I glad I did! If I hadn't I would have missed out on the wonderful details, breathtaking pictures and an all around fascinating history of American Gargoyles. The pictures are well shot, and I have to admit, were the first thing that caught my eye. But, when I sat down to read the text the author shared all these captivating little details about the gargoyles which I loved! The author tells you the story behind a particular gargoyle and if there is anything special you should look for when you see it. This book was so fascinating that I was inspired to take a trip to some of the sights mentioned in the book and check out the gargoyles for myself. I reccomend this book to all readers, it appeals to all audiences.

As a employee of municipal government I have finally found a book that relates the true trials of public life and the politics of public service from the inside. This book was a joy to read and I found it difficult to put down once I had stared the first chapter. I only hope readers will develop a true appreciation of how non-fiction the incidents and events in this book appear to be. It appears all of the events were based on true incidents and only the names were changed to protect the guilty and innocent.

Five Star Rating...If you enjoy police drama..intrigue..suspense to the very end....buy it!! Chief Rick Stone tells it like it is...even though it fiction...it makes you question if it is.

Rick Stone's new book kept me on the edge of my seat. I especially enjoyed the behind-the-scenes details of professional police work. I admire those special relationships that exist among the cops on the street which are at the core of this scintillating novel.

Reminiscent of a spicier Lloyd Alexander, Geraldine McCaughrean weaves a spellbinding tale with bits of Celtic lore, excellent writing and amazing lead characters.

Phelim, a young boy living in post World War I Cornwall, lives with his emotionally abusive sister; his mother is dead, his father is simply gone. But Phelim's life takes an unexpected turn when a bunch of scraggly prehistoric dwarves and something called the Domovoy invade his house, pursued by the sinister Black Dog. They force Phelim out, saying that he is Jack O'Green and has to deal with the Stoor Worm.

Before long, Phelim encounters mad Sweeney, a veteran of the Napoleonic wars who lives in perpetual terror in the trees; the Obby Oss, a delightfully goofy specter; and Alexia, a shadowless apprentice witch who fled her courses in the Dark Arts. So Phelim, the Maiden, the Fool and the Horse all set out (Phelim only half-willingly) to destroy the Stoor Worm, who was wakened by the guns of the first world war. And the heat from the wakening Worm is causing strange things to hatch from stones, and roam throughout the British Isles. And Phelim will encounter soul-stealing merrows, the hideous Noonday Twister and the bloodthirsty cornwives, skinless nuckelavees, maddened human beings, and finally the monstrous Stoor Worm itself...

McCaughrean does an excellent job with his book; with the slightly clueless hero, magical and sharp-witted heroine, and a pair of odd but poignant sidekicks, it reminds me of Lloyd Alexander's books. She also, unlike most authors, harbors no romantic illusions about "Old Ways" and how mean they could be. She is unafraid to weave the spectacular and the everyday, with a few subtle comments on the human condition.

Her writing is extremely evocative, very descriptive as children's books go; she devotes more descriptions to the oddities like the Oss than to ordinary things like the reapers. The dialogue is also very believable. McCaughrean also adds new spins to old ideas, such as the faeries; these are not innocent little sprites, or Elf-like Sidhe. Readers won't forget these faeries in a hurry.

A darker, bittersweet feel permeates the later chapters, where Phelim loses his innocent mindset, glimpses what he is capable of, and does something that readers may initially condemn. However, I applaud Ms. McCaughrean for having him do that, simply because his remorseful response after the fact is admirable and very true. But while everyone makes mistakes, and his feelings are certainly understandable, she also makes no excuses for what he did or felt; there are consequences to no longer being "ever-good." This is extremely rare in books of any kind, and to see it in a kids' book is excellent.

By an author with less talent, Phelim might have been a real pain to read about; he spends over half the book denying that he is Jack O'Green, and often responding wrongly or needing to be helped out. But his confusion and fear (especially after seeing his shirt being washed by... well, you'll see) over the things that he has seen and what he is expected to do is well written and understandable. Alexia initially seems like a fairly ordinary character, but her traumatic past adds an extra dimension and strength to her. Same with Sweeney, who initially seems like he will be an entertaining character, but his fear and guilt make him almost a tragic figure. The Oss is simply fun in an overall serious adventure. You just can't get him down, and he remains a source of emotional support and entertainment.

A tight, fast-paced and immensely imaginative fantasy story, this is a great read for kids and adults alike.

This wonderful book is a scary magical adventure tale filled with excellent scholarship. It presents the Old Magic legends of Europe, the British Isles in particular, with accuracy and combines them with the every day life of the early 20th century to make a thrilling fantasy. Set in Cornwall following the Great War it follows the efforts, trials and successes of young Phelim who has been enlisted by a strange wildman, Mad Sweeney, a witch girl, and the 'Obby 'Oss to slay the gigantic, continent-sized Stoor Worm who is waking from her anicent slumber and will destroy the world. Why Phelim? Much to his own surprise Phelim is the living heir of Jack O'Green and a Chime Child to boot! This story is masterfully told with humor, suspense, dangerous thrills, and poignant insights into the sufferings and triumphs of human beings. It is colorful and evocative as well as beautifully thought-provoking. It is creative and filled with refreshingly "new" characters even though they are based on the actual legends of old. Geraldine McCaughrean is a renowned scholar on the subject of folklore and she has populated the pages of this book with myriad concepts and creatures from out of the dark and wild past. As she says by way of introduction, "All the creatures, dangers, legends, and magics described in this book were, until very recently, accepted as real and true by ordinary people living and working in a civilized and Christian Europe." Were a reader to investigate the various "creatures, dangers, legends, and magics" found within these pages more fully, perhaps on the Internet, a truly vast treasure trove of nearly forgotten lore would be opened before them. This book succeeds as a purely good yarn, as a coming-of-age story, as myth and legend, and as a very concise compendium of the beings and practices of the Old Magic. I highly, highly recommend it.

Fantasy fans will find a terrific tale and a thrilling reading in this audio version of "The Stones Are Hatching" by noted British author and myth historian Geraldine Mc Caughrean. Stage and film actor Christian Rodska imbues the frightening narrative with appropriate nuances, never resorting to overkill.

Our hero is not a barrel-chested Lancelot but a boy, Phelim Green, who very reluctantly finds himself in mortal combat with merciless enemies - the hatchlings of the dreaded Stoor Worm who would destroy the world.

For company and reinforcement Phelim has a unique trio - a Fool, a Maiden, and a Horse. It is only in following his destiny that Phelim discovers who he is and what he may be capable of accomplishing

Terror and heroism abound in this reading for all but the faint of heart.

Ms. Meier has returned to writing good cosy mysteries! After the boring and rather flat Wedding Day Murder, this book has been received with open arms. Cute, clever, and keeps you guessing. Miss Tilley is an engaging character, and our wonderful Lucy never fails (with the exception of Wedding Day Murder) to enchant!

Birthday Party Murder, one of the best in the Lucy Stone series, could serve as a model for anyone who wants to write in this genre. Heroine Lucy Stone deals with her own spreading waistline, a daughter's co-ed slumber party, a son's first-year college woes, a job on the local paper, a husband who's supportive but busy, an old lady whose newly discovered relatives seem a little odd...and oh yes, she's asked to investigate the murder of a lawyer who had just set up a meeting with that same little old lady.

If you've ever tried to write a novel, you will appreciate the author's skill as she gathers these plot lines together in a seamless whole. Most readers will guess at least part of the outcome but that's part of the fun. Meier evokes the seasons and celebrations of a small New England town and life in a family that's doing well as long as mom brings home a paycheck. Lucy and her husband Bill are a long-married couple and it shows.

A great escape for a dreary day or a plane ride. When you close the covers, you wish you could hang around with them a little longer.

Lucy and her friends are starting to feel their age. Their children are for the most part grown or more grown than their mothers' wish them to be. Miss Tilley's 90th birthday is approaching and they decide to make it a town wide celebration. Miss Tilley's old friend and attorney Sherman Cobb has recently killed himself(or has he)after calling Miss Tilley with a request for an appointment. Miss Tilley has more excitement to come. Her long lost niece and grandnephew have come for a visit. They seem very concerned for the old lady's welfare (or are they?), and limit her visits with friends. Lucy and Pam are suspicious, but don't know what to do, or even if Miss Tilley will survive to celebrate her special day.

I really enjoyed this visit to Tinker's Cove. The characters and story lines are as fresh as ever and I love Miss Tilley. Great read.