In her revealing book The Me I Knew I Could Be, Crystal Phillips shares her extraordinary journey of how she first began to gain weight as a young woman, to the period in her life where she binged her way to some 292 pounds, to the things she did to get down to a size 6.

This book is more than about dieting tips; Crystal gets very transparent when she admits her passion for food and how she had to discover the root of her problems that made her want to binge. Through entries from a journal that she maintained, Crystal discusses her former marriage and how she knew they shouldn't have wed; she discloses the hurt she felt when her brother died from an incurable disease; and she tells the challenges she endured when she wanted to make a lifestyle change; how she learned to love herself for who she was.

Inspiring, humorous, shocking and at times sad, The Me I Knew I Could Be will read like a novel with its conversational tone. It will answer inspire you to believe you can achieve anything (not just losing weight). The book is positive, sparkles with hope, and will empower you to find and live your life's purpose.

A little flakey at times, but what do you really ecpect. Best when paired against a more 'practical', physical examination of the skulls, for the sake of fact-checking and drama-reduction. Overall, very interesting.

From the back...
There were some things a woman just didn't do! Amanda envisioned so many special items to buy, little touches to add, to make the Double Bar ranch house uniquely hers and Brock's. But how could she continue to make costly decorating investments when she and Brock still weren't married, and there was no sign that they were ever going to be? His dreadful aunt Millie did have a point. The man was almost forty years old. If he was as in love with her as he said, why wouldn't he marry her?

In my Opinion...
Brock, Amanda, and Alvin first came to us in a 'New Way to Fly.' In the earlier story we saw the love between Brock and Amanda grow. In this book we know that they still love each other, but are still not married. Amanda and Brock are still fixing up Brock's family home. And when his aunt Millie shows up she is not at all pleased to see all the changes in the house. His aunt is even more upset that some city-girl girlfriend of Brock's, is making all the changes to the house, like she owns it. Amanda does not understand why Millie takes an instant dislike to her, but Amanda must admit that Millie is right about one thing. Amanda is not the lady of the house and Brock has not made any move to change that. Brock has his own reasons for not marrying Amanda. We can only hope that he realizes how foolish he is being before it is too late. We are also introduced to a new couple in this book who find themselves in danger with only Alvin, the dog, to save them. This is a nice addition to the Crystal Creek series.

Amanda Walker made a brief appearance in an earlier Crystal Creek book. Now Amanda is back and she has opened her own business in Austin. She is a personal shopper and tries to help others to look their best. Rancher Brock Munroe hates Amanda's job, but that still does not stop him from trying to see her. To Brock, Amanda is the woman that he has dreamed of all these years. Brock does his best to get close to Amanda, but many things stand in his way.

Amanda, to me, seemed selfish, self-centered, a bit uppity, and full of herself. Brock is one of the nicest most hardworking people that she may ever meet, but to her he is just a rancher. The worst was when she put Brock in the same room with her ex-boyfriend just to compare the two. She wanted to prove to herself that her New York boyfriend was a much better catch than Brock. The terrible thing was that Brock realized before he left what Amanda was doing. Brock was so hurt that I do not know how he could ever forgive Amanda for what she did. Bubba's wife Mary plays a big role in this book. I think that my favorite character was Alvin the dog. This was an interesting addition to the Crystal Creek series.

From the back...
In the beginning, Cynthia McKinney was attracted to J.T. because he'd loved his first wife so deeply. The man obviously took love and marriage seriously. Now, with a new baby to care for and the responsibilities of running J.T.'s household, Cynthia's feeling overwhelmed. She's in no mood for comparisons with the Perfect Pauline.

But then, Cynthia learns a thing or two about her uncompromising husband and his fairy-tale first love. The truth is startling, but liberating. For starters, J.T.'s second marriage was no shotgun affair...

My Opinion...
I was surprised at the turn this story took. It ended up being a story based on the love and marriage between J.T. and his first wife Pauline. Cynthia is distraught over all the comparisons that others seem to make between her and Pauline. Carolyn, who is Pauline's sister sits with Cynthia and tells her the story of J.T. and Pauline. The story gives much insight to the man that J.T. has become. I still think that, as usual, Cynthia blew things way out of proportion at the beginning of the story. I enjoyed reading about Pauline-the woman we have heard so much about. At first I did not think that I was going to like her, but soon her determination and spirit made me see what a wonderful woman she grew to be.

This book provides a good amount of reference information related to specific gemstones without going into extensive detail. Therefore, it's a terrific book to browse through or for the novice, but may not contain enough information for a hard-core enthusiast. The index is easy to use, and the writing is pleasing. Lots of photos and illustrations make it a good book for children and adults alike.

KCP offers much analysis of each case, and explains the cases reasonably clearly. However, it is clearly a casebook to be used in a class; trying to read it without professorial guidance can be difficult. This is true of any casebook; though material and ideas are clearly presented here, the material itself is dense and complex. If you're a 1-L and have KCP as your casebook, you'll have an excellent grasp of contract law at the end of the course if you read everything your professor assigns out of the book. But do read it all.

Authors Vicki Lewis Thompson, Cathy Gillen Thacker and Bethany Campbell have made this reviewer a new fan of the delightful small town of Crystal Creek and its charming citizens. As it faces the radical changes of moving into the new decade, Crystal Creek's determination to maintain small town closeness provides a delightful refuge to readers longing to escape the hurried pace and impersonal feeling of big cities.

"I'll Take Texas" by Bethany Campbell: In the midst of May Madness, a stranger moves through evaluating the landscape and its inhabitants. Nick Belyle brings the promise of radical change in the guise of progress with his representation of Castle Enterprises. But his mysterious errand and its consequences promise to affect all of Crystal Creek. Worse, the last thing Nick expected was to confront the girl he never forgot, or the explosive passion they could share if their interests were not so divided by his job.

Author Bethany Campbell pens a powerful tale of lovers caught in star-crossed purposes, confronting the desires of the heart and the demands of loyalty in a story both tender and passionate. Shelby Sprague mistrusts slick men with big city values. Nick is loyal to Castle Enterprises and the miracles the owner made possible. While progress must continue, Campbell pens a solution that shakes the small town of Crystal Creek without destroying it.

"Made for Lovin' You" by Cathy Gillen Thacker: Claire Page left her groom standing at the altar after a stunning disclosure left her unable to marry her blue-blooded fiancé. Now she seeks refuge from the gossip in Crystal Creek, planning to stay away from another relationship until she has time to heal. However, her fierce independence only serves as a challenge to veterinarian Dusty Turner, who cannot resist this sexy city-girl. The more she pushes him away, the more Dusty becomes determined to prove that time has no meaning in matters of the heart.

Cowboys, pick-up trucks and spicy Tex-mix make for a flavorful combination with Cathy Gillen Thacker's pen. Claire wisely refuses to salve one broken romance by springing immediately into a new one. Her feistiness and sassiness make for a lively read, especially when Dusty is equally determined to enjoy the magic of love, despite the unfortunate romantic circumstances that drove them both to Crystal Creek. Thacker presents a lovely tale of small town values, healing and enchantment.

"She Used to be Mine" by Vicki Lewis Thompson: Teague Sloan Jr. returns to Crystal Creek on a traitor's mission. Once an employee of the Hole in the Wall Dude Ranch, now he has been contracted to move their exotic animals elsewhere to prepare for Castle Enterprise's extreme changes. Kendra Lynn Burton fell in love with Teague during their time there, but refused to follow him to the big city when he left. Instead, she makes plans to dig her roots even deeper, no matter how Teague uses his return visit to lure her away.

Vicki Lewis Thompson uses her skills to blend hot passion with tender emotion to great effect in "She Used to be Mine." Teague's carefully planned seduction that goes awry will touch reader's hearts, even as his determination to win the woman he loves puts him directly at cross-purposes with her dreams. With a shared history but different goals, Kendra and Teague seem to find themselves at an impasse that only the charm of Crystal Creek can overcome.

Small town Crystal Creek confronts traumatic change when Castle Enterprises lures sellers with millions. From the first moment Nick appears in town, Crystal Creek will never be the same. Nevertheless, authors Thompson, Thacker and Campbell confront those changes with unique voices even as they all move through the transitions gracefully. Readers who have not yet enjoyed a quiet afternoon in Crystal Creek will treasure its memorable citizens and new friends. Readers who've treasured this town through the previous twenty-seven books will take great pleasure in this RETURN TO CRYSTAL CREEK.

This book was good for me because I am a beginner, but at some points the book was hard to read. I would definately recomend this book to someone who wanted information on scrying, or wanted to know how to select the best tools.

Although the book is meant as a companion to the deck of the same name, I felt that there ought to have been an extended glossary for those who just happend to fall on the book by accident - without the cards.

The rich symolism gleaned from many schools of thought and philosophies means there is something for everone. A particularly visually appetising book - with the splendid colour of the cards. Don't pass this by.