The detectives in toga are back! Ever read the first one? You should; this is a rare things: a sequal as good as the original.

This time, it's Caius that's in trouble (read the book to find out just how and why). It all started when the boys decided to buy their teacher a birthday present, and got him (they think) a deaf and dumb slave named Udo. That's just the start of their troubles, because Udo is more than he seems, and they suddenly find themselves in a web of intrigue and murder, when they stumble on a plot to assassinate a famous senator. It could be one of their fathers!

In this novel, we learn more about the boys, as they display their loyalty and courage. Caius, for one, isn't the same brawny wannabe Hercules he was in the last one, but shows his brave side.

It all takes the same wit, hair breath'd escapes, razor-sharp logic and good sense and you have yourself another wonderful novel!

The Mystery of the Roman Ransom was one of the best books I have ever read. One of the reasons it was so good was that it had a huge amount of mystery and suspense. It was also very good because it got you interested in the story right away. I also found the story engaging because the main characters were about my age. The main characters are seven rich Roman boys and their tutor Xanthos. In the beginning of the book, which is set in ancient Rome, the boys give Xanthos a slave for his 50th birthday, but he is very angry, so the boys must keep the slave. Through him they find out that one of their fathers is going to be murdered. Their fathers are very important senators who run the government. The plot of the book is trying to find and prevent the assassin(s) from killing Cacius's father. The boys' very realistic adventure in ships, houses and through alleys of Rome help them gain courage. The boys are very clever because they have to figure out who is going to murder Cacius's father. Their bravery helped them get through every dangerous task set before them. The only downside to this book is that there is hardly any historical information in it. It is a really great book.

I liked it cause it was in depth. They told all about the characters then they told the story.

Lots of falling snow, warm muffins, children's choirs ... and a few dead bodies are laced into this satisfying mystery that makes it just right for a cozy read by the Christmas tree.

Mystery traditionalists will enjoy Hunter's careful plotting and thrills of a chaste and purely cerebral nature.

The relationship between Ransom and Charters is almost as much fun to read as the mystery plot. If your Christmas holidays are always uneventful or unsatisfying, read about theirs. It was lots more interesting.

My three boys -- 7-year old twins and a 5-year old -- love this book. They laugh when the boy king sends Sir Gordon on a quest to find a dragon, and they loved meeting all the different monsters encountered along the way. The illustrations are wonderfully detailed, giving the boys new things to look at when re-reading the book (they each had to read it to themselves the night we got it). Excuse me, are you draggin' your feet about whether or not to buy this book? Buy it!

I bought this book for the colorful illustrations, and the "theme" of fantasy animals. My almost-4-year-old daughter loved the story, and will even play at being Sir Gordon, "galloping" up to her father or me and asking "Excuse me, are you a dragon?" My only real complaint is that it is FULL of typographical errors! I look forward to seeing more from this author/illustrator. (I wouldn't mind if he found a better editor, though!)

I was caught by the title and the wonderful art of this book and got it for my 4-year-old daughter, thinking it would be something for when she was a little older. Instead, it is now one of her favorite stories. The whimsical storyline of Sir Gordon's quest, and the amusing, colorful illustrations capture her imagination, while the many jokes keep me laughing. And there's a great message here for both parents and kids: just because a child wants something, doesn't mean it's a good idea to give it to him. I sincerely hope that Mr. Pennell keeps writing and drawing for children -- he excells at it!

God and the Virgin Mary in a miracle contest? Gators that eat bullies and poor old ladies' poodles? Birthday parties that turn into demon-exorcisms at the drop of a hair-doily? What the heck IS a hair-doliy, anyway? If God is really Catholic or even Fundamentalist, then this author is going straight to hell...but hopefully he'll write a few more knee-slappers like this intelligent, campy poke at human hypocrisy before he's burned at the stake...hee hee. Be warned; this one ain't for your aunt Nellie, especially if she lives in the South.

This is no doubt the funniest book I have ever read. Totally hysterical from start to finish and the best thing of all is that it sounds like there's going to be a sequel. The author is making some very strong statements about religion and values and human "illusions" in this story, but I laughed so hard I almost cried. The story starts off with this main character, Karma Jones (born with the name "Elmer"), who is a bit arrogant, a bit lonely,a great deal too intelligent for his own good, perhaps, and UNBELIEVABLY witty. Karma/Elmer is from a little hick town in Florida, and when he was a young man he escaped his looney family to become a cartoonist in California. But, as things turn out, he becomes a restaurant owner and a "frustrated" cartoonist on the side. He is surrounded byall sorts of wacky characters: a film producer, a self-help guru who's really just a total mess, a gay theater owner who is making a play about Avenger drag queens, an actress with HUGE problems but a heart of gold, and many others. Karma is losing his faith in ...everything. So he decides to go home to see his mother on her birthday, as if this will shed any light on his trials! This character has almost the same kind of pompous, cutting view of the world as Ignatius Reilly did in Confederacy of Dunces, but updated for the year 2000. Underneath it all, he's really just a big kid. This is evidenced by the chapter called "Hush Puppies and Gator Tales," where Karma narrates this zany childhood memory of a gator attack on some children in Busco, his hometown. Very wistful but SO funny. From then on the antics just pile up one after the other. The characters in this book really take the cake. The mother, the sister, the glue-factory brother-in-law. And Lurloo. God, that Lurloo! The prayer-meeting/birthday scene practically made me wet my pants. I still laugh when I think about it, but this Ransom obviously has some problems with religion (who can blame him?) and he nails it without mercy in the formof comedy. The other thing that impressed me about this oddball novel is the intelligence of it. The writing is smooth and rich and definitely invites you into the story. But it's very perceptive and wise, too. Very unique book. Also, another great feature is that Karma jONES'S cartoons appear at key times in the story,(about four of them) and they will make you roll on the floor. Each one has something to say about where karma is at on his journey back home, and the characters or issues he is struggling with. The God/Virgin Mary bit had me snickering, but the SuperDena battle with the Drag Queens took the cake. Don't eat or drink anything while you read this book, because you'll spray food everywhere due to laughing. This book is full of surprises and laughs on literally on every page. Irreverent for sure but oddly endearing. I personally await whatever this author does next with interest.(And I think Creme Brulee is the best name for a stripper I have ever heard)!

If your sense of humor ranges to the outrageous and irreverent - This is the book for you! I found myself laughing out loud as each "scene" in this book takes anti-hero, Karma Jones, through situations peopled with unforgetable characters and hilarious debacles as he searches for his lost faith. Big girl Dena Overton-Cromp's quest for a film career will touch your heart. Who hasn't been seduced by an info-mercial Queen like Deandra DeLucca and a flight on Amiable Airlines with Miss Jeannie is not so much fiction as fact of life in today's beleaguered skies. Jake Ransom writes with a satiric wit that bites like the title fish and that will leave you questioning the values of the new millennium - after you dry your tears of laughter! The surprise inclusion of fantastic, hilarious "cartoonery" throughout the story make this a truly unique book. Jake Ransom's ability to evoke insight into the human condition, question "values" and press a finger on human "sore spots" - all within the context of a rollicking romp - prove him a novelist (and artist!) of extraordinary talent!

This is a really warm book! Jeanie Franz Ransom has that something special about her gentle humor and sympathetic style that puts Grandma U over the top. You can always tell when a writer truly loves children as opposed to just showcasing a story. I was delighted to follow the rhythm and the emotional flow of this witty situation, and I wouldn't mind seeing Grandma Molly McCool in a whole series. Wish this had been around when I was teaching school. And Lucy Corvino's pictures are a perfect complement, wry and colorful.

This is the perfect baby boomer Grandma gift. A grandma-to-be takes classes on all the stuff that's changed since she was a mom--throwaway (exploding) diapers, emailing your grandkids, etc. etc. The pictures are priceless.

If someone you love is about to become a first-time Grandma, this is the book for her! Catchy storyline but the real treat are the illustrations . . . be sure to notice the small details and the expressions. I sense this illustrator has a wonderful sense of humor.

I truly love this book! I remember when it was almost midnight and I couldn't get sleep. I thought that probably I should read something and then I would get sleep. I took this book from my self and I thought that this would be boring. And this book was so good! Finally when I finished it, it was morning. I wasn't tired at all! I went to library that day and got there the second part of this series "My Sister the Traitor" and the third part "My Sister the Creep". I love this book the most. You have to read this book! Why? Because this will become one of your favorite books!! If you won't believe it, then you don't know what you are missing.

I can't believe it! This was the best book ever and this isn't even bestseller! Candice F. Ransom, you should be very proud of yourself! This was great book! "My Sister the Traitor" is better but this is like so great book and I will promise that before I die I will advertise this book as much as I can!

All the people who had read this, please e-mail to me! I'd like to share thoughs!

I found this book at the library. It looked good so I picked it up. Turns out I really liked it. This book explores the problems sister siblings have. Especially when one is a SOMEBODY and the other one is a BIG NOTHING! Does Jackie get into the "I LIKE BOYS CLUB"? Well read on!

OMG! This is the best BEST book out there. It has everything passion, pirates, humor, and most of all love. It is a very sweet story that you won't be able to forget. Plus the ending was so sweet I cried!

I have read this book lots of times. It is still my favorite after all these years. I saw there is a new version coming out in August, so here is my review. The book is very romantic, funny, fast-paced. Blythe runs her father's mercantile and it is not easy. Until one day she is abducted by the partner of Raider Prescott - a pirate. Raider is a wonderful hero and Blythe a lovely heroine with lots of guts! The adventure begins and ofcourse there are sparks between the pirate and his "woolwitch". I really loved this story and would recommend it to anyone!

I have read most of Krahns books and have enjoyed them allPassions Ranson is no exception. When Raider Prescott tries to sellhis cargo to Blythe Woolrich and she refuses his friend and partnertalks him into kidnapping Blythe and holding her for ransom. Little does he know what he is getting into... This is a great read and I don't want to give away too much of the ending. All i have to say is taht if you haven't read it yet you should go out and find it. END

Highly readable for an academic work. A deep and uniquely insightful perspective on one of the last century's most complex writers. Even casual readers of C. S. Lewis will find this book captivating.

Unlike most literary criticism this book is very rich, perceptive and readable. Anyone who likes C. S. Lewis should get their hands on this book. I look forward to more books by this author.

Tha author has read Lewis extensively, and reads the Space Trilogy in the light of Lewis the man. He sheds new light on the sources of inspiration, and comments on the criticism that has been raised against the trilogy. I have read the trilogy several times, and this study deepened my understanding of it. It is well written and highly readable. I could have wished for a deeper assessment of the "pagan" influences of the trilogy. However, the study is well worth reading for anyone who likes reading Lewis, esp. his fiction.

"Ransom My Heart" is a great book, except for one BIG problem: the hero is a complete jerk. In the prologue that sets up the story, he has sex with the heroine, then casts her to the side for reasons that really don't hold any water for anyone with a brain. We move ahead five years, where the man, Chase McCullar, is hired to find the kidnapped daughter of his one-time love, Samantha Kincaid. Although Samantha is mysterious about the girl's father, the reader already knows who it is the whole time. That doesn't detract from the story, though, as they have to struggle through a danger-fraught trip through Mexico to find the girl, only to discover secret dangers lingering back in Texas... Wilson's action sequences are great, I liked Samantha (especially for putting up with the Big Blond Creep, Chase), but he ruined the book for me. Arrogant, condescending, and insufferably rude, I wanted her to knock him over the head through just about all of the book. Frankly, I couldn't understand why Samantha would even want him, considering the way he treated her, but I guess if the cover art is any indication, she thought his looks were good enough.

This is the first book of Wilson's "Home to Texas" trilogy, and it makes for a good beginning. Unfortunately, Chase plays a prominant role in the other two, "Whisper My Love" and "Remember My Touch," and he's a jerk in both of those too. Fortunately, a development in that last book takes him out of most of it, something that we all can be grateful for. All three books are worth checking out.

This was definitely the best book I've read in ages! While some readers might feel that Chase is a jerk, if you read carefully, you'll know that he didn't mean the things he said, and he knew from the beginning that he loved Samantha with all his heart. This is one of those books where I couldn't wait for the end, and then when it came, I wanted more! Please, Gayle, write another book about Chase, Samantha and Mandy!

We have read almost all of the Harlequin books, and this one interested us the most!!! We thought that Samantha should have told Chase in the beging about Amanda being his daughter.We can understand why Samantha loves him, but why did he have to be such a Jerk to her?! Ugghhh!

This is about a Jewish girl named Hannah Senesh who grew up while Hitler's commands were spreading around Europe. She was a brave girl who wanted to save many people who were sent to the concentration camp so she joined the British Air Force, the most courageous rescuers. ALthough many men were interested in her and wanted to marry her, she wouldn't accept. She was never married and died at a young age. Later she was executed by the Nazis at a camp. She is known to be one of the most brave and courageous women.
I read this book because I thought her story was very interesting. This book was aslo recommended by my mom. She also thought this book was interesting because she likes biography.
This book teaches you that being brave can get you where you want. I recommend this book to everybody.
My favorite part in this book was when Hannah Senesh met her mother at the camp and they sent messages to each other across the room. They were so happy to see each other beacuse they haven't seen each other for a couple of years. The part where I didn't like was when she was taken outside and was executed. She didn't deserve to die because she was inisint and didn't do anything bad she was trying to save her people.

It tells about the life of a Jewish family during World War II, and how they had to leave their home. Hannah joined the U.S. Army a few years later after they left Norway. I read this when I was in fifth grade, and I've remembered it ever since. It had a big impact on me, and now I'm an eleventh grader and I still find myself reading it every now and then. I recommend this book to everybody!

This book is so sad, touching, and gives you a ton of useful information. You should get this book, it is AWESOME!!!