Finally an author who tells it like it is. In Aftermath, Anne Cameron writes brilliant, funny, and sometimes overwhelming social commentary on the ins and outs of abusive families and the child welfare system in Canada, and presumably, around the world. No stranger to the subject, this is one of several books Ms. Cameron has written focusing on strong matriarchs who attempt to take back control of their lives and their extended families. Set in British Columbia, the book opens with Fran and Liz growing up, and coping in their own ways with their experiences, through years of denial, bad choices, healing and moving on. Meanwhile, social worker Anna Flemming tries to cope with working in a system that works for everyone except the children who need it. This is not a feel-good book about the modern day self-help recovery culture, but a reality-based, cynically optimistic version of life for those of us who choose to move through the world without years of primal therapy and Prozac. A slice of life novel for the rest of us. This reviewer would like to put Aftermath in the hands of every senior bureaucrat in the child welfare system.

To Love and To Honor is a collection of four stories.

The first story is Bargain Bride written by Stella Cameron. Love blossoms between a headstrong English miss and a dashing knight who rescues her from an unwanted marriage. But has a secret plan of his own. Funny and sensuous!

The second story is The Bride of Wildcat Purchase written by Judith E. French. A half breed Colonial sends for a mail order bride but his request turns out to be a sensual woman who turns his world upside down. Watch the sparks fly!

The third story is Store-bought Woman written by Linda Lael Miller. A young lady sets out for America after being jilted at the altar. She agrees to marry a total stranger only to find herself strangely attracted to her intended's brother. A sweet and heartwarming story!

The last story and my FAVORITE is The High Sheriff of Huntingdon written by Anne Stuart. The story centers on a convent bred daughter of an earl who is wed quite unwillingly to a handsome somewhat wicked lord. Some say that he is the spawn of a witch and the devil. Men who have angered him and women who have not pleased him wind up missing never to be seen again. Yet, despite these warnings, Elspeth remains and slowly begins to unravel the mystery surrounding The High Sheriff of Huntingdon. The chemistry between Elspeth and Alistair was electrifying. He is the epitome of a brooding, tortured hero and she is a perfect balance for his darkness. Elspeth was funny, courageous and loving. Quick - RUN and buy yourself a copy!

The author has succeeded in providing a wealth of information in a highly readable manner. Banking history has the potential to be extremely dull, but this book, through the use of numerous anecdotes, manages to avoid this. The book still offers the reader considerable insight into Scottish economic history and is a good complement to Richard Savile's more academic history of the Bank of Scotland.

If you are truly into New Mexico cooking and are willing to cook, this book is great. There is no pretense as to the recipes -- just tried and true New Mexico cooking. This book has less "fluff" than its followup cookbook.

THIS BOOK HELP PEOPLE GET THAT CHANCE TO RECEIVED THAT SPECIAL GIFT THAT THEY RECEIVED IN HIGH SCHOOL THAT THEY ALWAY DREAM OF IN LIFE.

Lee calls for those who clamor for "family values," especially evangelical Christians, to step back and take a look at what they're actually promoting. Lee contends that "values" can change, and can mean one thing for a lesbian couple with children and another thing for a traditional heterosexual couple with children. He also argues that evangelicals and other conservative Christians have made an idol out of the family, placing it even above church. Many of those same Christians also have bought heavily into our therapeutic, materialist, divorce-oriented culture, and "family values" even reflect some of that. That church community, Lee says, is where our priorities ought to lie and from which our direction ought to come. While he acknowledges the key role family plays in Christian faith, he argues that Christian families are simply part of the Christian Family, namely, the Body of Christ. Lee promotes Christian virtues -- in particular, faith, hope and love -- as those things to which Christians should aspire, and it should be the local congregation modeling these virtues, he says. Christians are called to be salt in the world, Lee points out, and this is accomplished not through political victory but through cultural engagement and by giving priority to the Kingdom of God. While much of the book gets weighed down in academic language and can be a difficult read at times in its opening chapters, Lee's central message still comes through clearly, especially toward the end -- and it's a challenging message. It's also one that the "family values" crowd needs to hear. Sure, Christians should have certain "values" to which they adhere, but these values have deeper roots, and it's those roots -- Christian virtues -- to which Lee is encouraging them to return.

This is a well done book putting a nice spin on the life of Daniel Boone. It brings together historical facts from the time of this early pioneer and adds a host of interesting fictional characters and adventures. Nothing like a 12 month trapping and hunting excursion to make a guy homesick...well, at least for a couple days or so.

I was impressed with this book. Definitely a recommended read.

Jed Keller came to make peace with his sister and the man she married. When he arrived at his sisters ranch, her ranch was burned and his sister was dead. Jed sets out to find his sister's killer. Action packed, enjoyable read.

sensitive treatment of a difficult subjec

"Byzantine and Early Islamic Near East : Land Use and Settlement Patterns (Studies in Late Antiquity and Early Islam, Vol 1" has GOT to be the funniest book I've ever read. It's lovable characters (I loved Colonel McBern) and engaging story-line make this comedy a MUST READ!