Unlike the author's earlier book, Even Eagles Need A Push, this book is about survivors and thrivers. The Thriving Inventory at the start of the book is an exercise well worth doing honestly. The score will give some perspective to your level of thrivership.The rest of the book is devoted to each of the seven components of thriving. To find value from the book, it would be useful to do all the exercises in the book. The book is an excellent workbook to discover more about yourself, your capability, talents and view about life. A useful companion to the author's earlier book, Even Eagles Need A Push.

I had my technical writing class (11th-graders) read this book--they loved it and thought it was very worthwhile. It was a great springboard for discussion.

Like most people, I let the day to day issues of life sweep me away. As a longtime student of spirituality, I know better than to get into the chaos and negativity around me. But alas, I'm human. It requires constant discipline to move from participation in dysfunction to focusing on what we really want for our lives. When I read David McNally's first book, EVEN EAGLES NEED A PUSH, I found it to be just what I needed to get through a difficult divorce. Now, I'm again in life transition, considering a radical career change and possible cross-country move. I'm blessed to have found THE EAGLE'S SECRET. It is almost as though this book was written especially for me. We all need to be reminded that although we don't have control over the circumstances around us, we DO have control over our thoughts. I'd like to make this book mandatory reading for everyone who is still breathing!

An understated, profound guide to inner peace. I first picked up this miniature tome over fifteen years ago; but I wasn't ready - then - to appreciate it fully. Only now - at age 38 - am I beginning to grasp what this book describes: a meditation on thought life guided not by self but by the spirit of God. The pithy descriptions of that inner life - frequently at tension with self will - gently bring the reader to that wonderful state described in the book's title: The Quiet Mind. Anyone seeking to live his or her life along spiritual lines will treasure this book.

Where is this White Eagle guy these days? In the age that we live in, described so well in James Gleick's "Faster", who among us could not use a reminder to slow down, breathe, and have a little inner peace? I myself have long been subject to panic attacks, and this book has helped me out on numerous occasions. I recommend keeping it next to your bed, ideally somewhere near your head so it's easier to reach for if you ever wake up suddenly out of a nightmare. This is a lot like Kahlil Gibran's stuff, but I like White Eagle better. He is less in-your-face about his mysticism, and really tries to help people. Basically every page of this book has, I would say, at least three little nuggets of wisdom that most of us would never think of on our own. That reminds me -- when I was a kid, I used to have a lot of fun playing "Dungeons and Dragons". I always had a hard time, however, understanding the difference between "intelligence" and "wisdom", both of which are qualities a character in that role-playing game must display... If I had this book available to me then, I strongly suspect that I would have had a much better understanding of the difference between those qualities, and of how important that difference is for happiness... You really should check this one out, O Reader.

This is in a category all its own. You don't just read it, you live it. You carry it with you. You use it like spiritual vitamins. It is a place to hang on in dark nights of the soul. I can't imagine life without this book! Linda Schiller-Hanna

I LOVED Walks The Fire, and so I rushed out to get Soaring Eagle, and I'm really glad I did. I liked it ever better than the first book in the series! I'm eagerly awaiting the arrival of the third book, Red Bird, and can't wait to get my hands on it either. Whitson is one of the best, if not the best, Christian Historical Fiction authors out there!

First of all, if you haven't read "Walks The Fire", you really need to read that first or you will be lost with "Soaring Eagle".

Soaring Eagle, the adopted son of Jesse "Walks The Fire" King and half sister of Jesse's daughter Lisbeth, discovers that in a battle with the White man he has killed his sister's husband. This story follows Soaring Eagle and Lisbeth in their journey to forgiveness; Soaring Eagle and Lisbeth each discover the faith of Walks The Fire, and Lisbeth learns to love again.

Once I began this book I absolutely HAD to finish it, reading it in meetings, at work, even in the bathroom. This one has everything -- tragedy, action, romance -- you'll love it!

I never expected Soaring Eagle to be better than Walks the Fire, but it was! I was totally caught up in the physical and spiritual journey of Soaring Eagle. His struggle to admit his connection to not only white people, but also to Christians, was enthralling. To add even more drama, Whitson has Soaring Eagle interact with Lisbeth's husband in a secondary plotline that will keep you spellbound. Normally I am not an emotional person, and I was actually sobbing out loud by the time that I read the last word of Soaring Eagle. I am a prolific reader of Christian fiction, and Whitson far outclasses her more well-known counterpart Lori Wick. The Prairie Winds and Keepsake Legacies series are likewise far above anything that I have read by Oke, Wick, Glover, or Peart (and I have read them all). My only complaint is that Whitson is not writing them fast enough!

This book is an emotion-filled treasure! I am a HUGE Kathleen Eagle fan. I find she has the greatest romances EVER with strong... meaning loyal characters. The struggles are many, but you never doubt the love the characters feel for one another! Cleve and Susan were unforgettable! Another must-read. Write faster, Kathleen Eagle!

I found "This Time Forever" to be a very satisfying and refreshing romantic read. The characters of Susan and Cleve are three-dimensional - very real, very human, and, in ordinary circumstances, perhaps even unremarkable. It's the extraordinary circumstance which bring these two together -- Susan, a white woman, serving on a jury that convicts Cleve Black Horse, a half-breed Indian and former rodeo champion, of murder -- which sets the stage for a remarkable and touching story that will stay with you long after you've read it.

Susan tries to cope with the knowledge that she may have helped send an innocent man to prison; Cleve, wrongly accused, has to pick up the pieces of his shattered life and learn to forgive and trust.

Another extraordinary circumstance brings Susan and Cleve together again, and the seed of bitterness slowly and sweetly blossoms into friendship and then love in a most natural way. A beautifully touching and unforgettable story.

This book is one of the best books I have read in a long time. I have encouraged everyone I know to read it. The characters are well thought out and pulled me into the story right away. The story also makes you think about times past and "what if's" of history. If you enjoy being entertained, while learning, this is a definite must read!

Anglophiles who are historical fiction buffs will enjoy each of Cynthia Harrod-Eagles' Morland Chronicles. They tell the story of the Morland family of northern England as it struggles to prosper as the world changes. Characters are not static and are interesting. Historical facts are well researched and provide a real background for this ongoing story. Read them all!

I have all twenty one books of this series from volume one upto twenty one. I started collecting them approximately sixteen or seventeen years ago. The stories are great the characters are facinating, but it is her historical bases for these novels that is so brillant and makes them very readable. I look forward to every new episode of this story that comes out, and I am waiting with baited breath for the next installment.

They start off set in the Wars of the Roses and in the most recent book the American Civil War has just ended. Ms Harrod-Eagles must be one of the most talented and dedicated authors around as the historical detail is impeccable and when you couple that with the characters it makes for compulsive reading. These are my favourite books ever - I try to read the whole series at least once a year. What I love most about it is the way the author creates such strong female characters - Eleanor, Nanette, Annunciata, Jemima, Lucy, Charlotte, Mary - they're wonderful and I love reading about them. Volume 22 is coming out soon and I can't wait for it. The only bad thing about these books is having to wait a whole year for the next installment!

If anyone wants to email me to discuss the books go ahead - I don't know anyone else who reads them.

I read this years ago when I was in Junior High. I am so glad they are reprinting it. As I remember I was the only one who bothered to read it and I felt as if I had found a treasure. This is a great gift for a boy that he will remember for life. I look forward to reading it again myself.

I was thirty when I picked up this book and I can tell you truely it was one of the best reads I have ever had.

The story is compelling, the characters are real and it just works on every level.

Fathers out there, are you looking for a good series for your sons to read? Then this is it. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten the girls but I just think boys will get very valuable lessons from this book about courage, comraderie and how adversity builds character.

Buy this series!!

With the Eagles was a great book, and it was great because this past school year we learned about Latin, Rome, Etc. The book takes place in B.C. 54. It's about Mandorix, an Aeduan, whose parents were killed, and his brother ans sister killed or enslaved. He joins Caesar's army and rises through the ranks gaining respect and the friendship of the lowest decurion to even the great Caesar. There are some great battle narrations, diagrams of roman bases, and tons of latin words and phrases. Have a good time reading it!

Bill Slider keeps getting better and better and his police crew are also growing and maturing. They are half the fun in these stories. This series should be read in order because the development of the characters is so well laid out from one book to the next. In this book Bill is trying to find out who raped and murdered a well-known journalist. Don't forget to read the chapter headings because Ms. Harrod-Eagles is still in fine form with the puns. Even her titles have hidden meanings which you will discover when you find out who committed the crime this time. There are lots of red herrings and lots of interference by principles in the crime to help keep the murderer a secret until you near the end. Very good series! My only complaint is the way this book leaves the reader hanging at the very end regarding Bill's and Joanna's relationship. Now that Bill's divorce is final, things should be going smoothly for him and Joanna, but that unfortunately is not the case. We'll have to read the next one to keep up to date on that relationship.

This gal is the real goods, she delivers. Cynthia has the knack for reconstructed cliches and malaprops. There are lots of chuckles, out loud laughs and guffaws. For some of the fun you have to have a frame of reference, a history, of course, but you will not be disappointed even when you don't know what you are missing. The plot is nicely constructed and the conclusion credible, which is not true of much of the dreck on the market today.

I'm so glad I stumbled across Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, a prolific British writer I'm guessing not well known here in the colonies, despite her portfolio of some 30+ books counting both these mysteries and over two dozen historical romances. I've only tried Bill Slider so far, but he's a wonderfully low-profile hero in the style of Dick Francis' leading men: guys you either want to be like (men) or want to be with (women). That our author can get that feeling so consistently over eight stories is impressive, despite plots that are entertaining and often complex enough to bewilder til right near the end.

The series is best read in order, because part of the fun is following Bill's personal life as his somewhat flawed marriage is tested (uncharacteristically for our straight arrow) by a lovely violinist that turns his head. His unattached "playboy" sidekick Atherton has much the same "trouble" and the interplay between these two men makes interesting counterpoint to the thorough police work otherwise on display. Indeed, we have come to know and like many of the precinct's supporting players beside our leading men.

I'm guessing Harrod-Eagles has either real life experience in an orchestra or a close friend in one, because her description of the lives and times of the players, and the politics and "affairs" in the symphony, are right on. (If that's "just" the result of research, I'm astounded!) Maybe best of all, some personal dilemmas for Joanna (our musician) add some real kick to the story, right up to a cliff-hanger ending that can only be resolved in the next book -- hopefully being penned as we speak!

So "Blood" seems to have it all: a mystery and plot that leads us here and there right to the end; compelling developments between Bill and Joanna that make us worry; and story that entertains on almost every page. Sounds like 5-stars to me!!

Everett Alvarez was shot down almost immediately after the Tonkin Gulf "incident." Immediately captured, he endured the next 7 and a half years of captivity while being beaten, brutalized, humiliated, and tortured both physically and mentally. While captured, he had to endure sporadic communication with his family back home, including a marriage that broke apart, and the treatment of fellow POWs who were friends, and family, to him.

Accompanying illustrations help to show how dramatic the story is. Since it is not written in a complex manner, it can fairly retell the story of what he went through before, during and after his ordeal as a POW to any audience.

I recommend this book to my students who want to learn about this painful chapter in American history, and am very impressed that any human being can absorb that which men like Alvarez and John McCain were forced to do.

On August 5th, 1964, Lieutenant j.g. Everett Alvarez Jr. was shot down over North Vietnam and became the first U.S. aviator to be taken captive in the Vietnam conflict. Held in confinement for eight and a half years, he would be recorded as the longest held POW second only to Army Captain Jim Thompson.

Spending the entire Vietnam war as a POW, Alvarez was held at different times in the Hanoi Hilton, Briarpatch, and Zoo prison compounds. It would be a year until he finally had contact with other American POW's and much of that first year was in solitary confinement.

Approaching 2 years of captivity, Alvarez and his fellow servicemen were subjected to brutal and sadistic tortures amidst inhumane living conditions for the duration of their stay. Forced to eat vermin infested food and given negligible medical care, he suffered frequently from Dysentery, Beri-Beri, Hepatitis, and other afflictions.

Far along into captivity, Alvarez finally received mail from his family concerning events at home. Sadly, he was to learn that one of his sisters had become an anti-war activist and in what must have seemed like one of the worst examples of betrayal and cruelty, his wife divorced him and then remarried.

During the worst of times, Alvarez never wavered in his beliefs of pride, patriotism, and self-determination to survive and continually assisted his fellow POW's as they assisted him. Upon a joyous and welcome return home, he diligently and proudly re-entered society with his honor and integrity intact culminating with his second marriage to a wonderful woman that made his life complete.

Chained Eagle is an exceptionally good book of one man's heroic struggle and endurance in the face of complete despair and hopelessness. Vividly poignant, inspirational, and heartfelt, this book is deserving of much more than five stars and is very highly recommended to everyone.

This was a great story about an American POW who was captured in the Vietnam War (A POW is a prisoner of war). I would recommend this book to every one of all ages. It is a great and moving book about a man who goes through many trials.

The book starts with the main character and author of the book on his ship the U.S.S. Constellation. The author is commander Everett Alvarez Jr. lieutenant junior grade. He starts his story with his squadron going out to help to other ships who where being attacked by PT boats. Later they went and bombed them at a bay farther inland and Everett or Ev for short was shot down by flak. North Vietnamese civilians captured him and turned him into the military. He was interrogated, but would not answer their questions. A man the POWs nicknamed Owl took him to a jail for a time and continued to interrogate him. At the jail he met two men he called Mr. Sea who spoke English and Mr. Blue who didn't. Shortly after arriving there he was moved yet again to a farmhouse and locked in solitary confinement. A few days later they put him in a jeep and drove to Hanoi a large city in Vietnam. There they brought him to a jail that the POWs called the Hanoi Hilton. For several months he stayed there in a room with the numbers twenty-four on it. The Vietnamese fed him a soup with some kind of animal or animal part in it. This caused him to vomit and have horrible diarrhea. He was interrogated often and would always lie. He was able to walk around in an area behind his cell and made a small sanctuary. Ev carved a cross and wrote out all the important dates and a quote to lift his spirits. The food improved later, the Vietnamese were just testing his limits. Owl would tell him they had shot down eight of his planes, but in reality they only shot down two. He tried to prove this to Ev they had eight piles of plane parts, but Ev noticed they were all from two planes. Later Ev was moved to a smaller prison and met Crazy Man. He also started to hear other POWs. Cray Man was a prisoner who went insane he never talked, but would mime everything. Later Ev was moved again they blindfolded him and put him in a truck. In the truck he met three other POWs. They went to a place they nicknamed the Briar Patch and Ev learned a code that allowed them to talk through tapping on the wall they continued to use and teach this to the new POWs. At the Briar Patch the people were meaner and they tortured the people to get what they wanted. They moved again to another place nicknamed the Zoo and were later sent to Hanoi. At Hanoi they had to walk down a street. People crowded around and hit them and beat them as they passed. Ev and the other people kept getting moved around and after eight and one-half years later they were set free. Ev was reunited with his family, but his wife had deserted him. He was soon famous as the first POW of the Vietnam War and did many speeches and such. It was on his way home from Washington that he met Tammy, whom he later married. This was a wonderful book and quite sad.

My favorite part was when Everett got home safely. It is a very happy and funny part and great end. When they arrive at the Philippians and their way home (the POWs I mean) Ev says he has worms and the doctor says to bland foods. However since he had been in captivity he hadn't had good for almost nine years so he grabbed whatever he wanted and told them to go away when they said he couldn't eat it. When he was in his bed nurses came to take his temperature, but when they tried to take his neighbors temperature he bit her on the [behind]. That is my favorite part.

I am an Alamo fanatic, and I make no excuses fof it. Mr Johnstone's story of a young man raised by Indians who becomes one of the Alamo defenders is one of my favorites, and when I saw it offered on tape, there was no hesitation in ordering a copy. My only disapointmentment is in the editing(of course, that's what "abridged" means, isn't it?), and I would love to see a full length version on tape someday. Until then, this is an excellent adventure story that can be enjoyed by anyone not offended by the obvious violence associated with the legendary struggle for Texas independance. REMEMBER THE ALAMO!

Jamie Ian MacCalister orphaned as a boy is captured by the Indians and along with him was a young girl. Together they plan an escape. Whenever they have a chance they bring into their tee pee dried foods and other necessities. They make their get away and, all of this time he and Kate the name of the girl, run into danger, which keeps the story exciting and fast. Jamie grows into a man. They find themselves a home in Texas. And of course Jamie becomes envolved in the battles of Texas. A top notch read and plenty of real events in history.

JOHNSTONE'S TALE OF A YOUNG BOY RAISED BY INDIANS WHO BECOMES A LEGEND IN THE WEST AND A SURVIVOR OF THE ALAMO. A GREAT ADVENTURE TALE AND THE WAY THE BATTLE OF THE ALAMO SHOULD BE REMEMBERED, DESPITE WHAT A CAREFUL STUDY OF HISTORY TELLS US IS THE REAL TRUTH. WELL, FOLKS, I HAPPEN TO PREFER MR JOHNSTONE'S VERSION TO A LOT OF OTHERS CIRCULATING AROUND. HIS DAVY CROCKETT DIES WITH HIS BOOTS ON, FIGHTING THE ENEMY, AND JIM BOWIE TAKES MORE THAN A FEW WITH HIM, TOO. THESE MEN ARE HEROES, AND THEY DIE AS HEROES, AND EACH ONE DESERVES THE HONOR AS SUCH. I KNOW BOWIE WAS A SLAVE TRADER AND A CON MAN, AND DAVY CROCKETT PROBABLY DID SURRENDER, BUT THIS IS A STORY OF LEGENDS. READ YOUR HISTORT BOOKS FOR THE REAL STORY. READ THIS FOR THE PRIDE IN OUR ANCESTORS THAT WE SHOULD HAVE. AND READ IT FOR FUN.

"The Founding," set during the War of the Roses, is the first book of the prolific Moreland family saga. The story opens with the marriage of the ambitious young Eleanor Courteney to Robert Moreland, son of a wealthy York wool merchant. Eleanor, having lived among nobility for most of her life, believes the match is beneath her station and desperately opposes it. The first half of the book revolves around Eleanor's struggle to come to terms with her marriage. As the novel progresses, the family is swept up, for better or for worse, by the tumultuous political tides of the war.
"The Founding" was an enjoyable read, full of colorful descriptions of everyday life during mid-to late fifteenth century England. The author effectively blends her fictional creations with historical events by giving her characters minor roles in the royal households and in significant battles of the war. In doing so, these characters' adventures seem plausible in light of known historical events. The author has also included a family chart, which this reader found extremely helpful for keeping track of the prodigious Moreland family.
I have only a few minor criticisms (the reason for the four star rating). The large gaps in time that occur between chapters can be disorienting for the reader. I also thought the book would have been more satisfying had the author given her characters more depth, rather than emphasizing the same character traits repeatedly.
Despite these criticisms, I felt the book was highly entertaining and am eagerly looking forward to continuing with this saga.

The Foundling begins a series that blows the mind with its historical accuracy. Unlike many other authors, Harrod-Eagles shows the good side as well as the bad, and each character is different. A depiction of real life and what the women (and men) had to go through during that time is written in great detail.

A must read for history fans!!

This is a well constructed book. You really feel for the main charchter and her family. You can feel the force that drives her to make something of her husband and her family. She suffers a lot especially from unrequited love. This book is excellent and the historical detail and accuracy is amazing. This book, the first in the dynasty, was a great starting book. It made me want to go out and read all the others which were just as good.