This book overall was a good book for any favorite Fanticy lover.
this book is about a young man who is a mail diliver in the land of Dionotopia. He dilivers mail on the back of a skybax. A sky bax is a dinasaur. it can fly long distancsis.
The young man goes on a joueney to find his feonca. Along ther way he meets up with carnavorious dinasaurs, grumpy hermits, and some nomadic tribes of humans and dinosaurs.
I recomend this book to those who can read well. their is some chalanging gramer and some going frome one person to another.
For the most part the book really held my attention. i didn't want to put teh book down. i kept telling telling my self just one more chapter, but i ended up reading 3 more chapters.

You would love to read this book if you are a science fiction kind of person. It couldn't really happen but it is cool to think it could. If you have read any of the other Dinotopia books, you will love this one.

I loved this book! the writing was descriptive and this book was written in great detail. I can't wait to read the others!

The stories, though cute, could have had a bit more humor. I thought they had a sort of dull sheen to the characters, more fuzzy in concept than what would really satisfy the reader. The Dean should take a lesson from A.C. Doyle on how he described the private dick, Sherlock Holmes. Amos should be given a more sharply delineated character, especialy in a short story omnibus like this one. I thought F.P. Wilson's short stories had more versatility (The Barrens and Others) than Dean; and Joe Lansdale's tales can kick Dean's characters and humor flat in a New York second.

Well, the ONLY book I ever stole actually. As an extra on the a TV set that was supposed to be a Sci Fi convention I slipped this book into my backpack on camera to be funny... Amos ended up coming home with me. I loved reading this book. It's a collection of short stories revolving around Amos Mallone, whom some call mad. (He's not really mad. He just knows a lot that normal people don't, he seems, to them, to be so.) Amos is a Mountain Man in the days when such men were growing rare. Amos' ability to handle the other worldly problems with style and know-how over brute force and hocus-pocus makes this a great book for people who play the RPG "Deadlands". (The first story/chapter where Amos takes care of a problem much like "Portrait of a Hero" in "Once upon a Time : A Treasury of Modern Fairy Tales" is a good example of Amos' way of thinking and sets the tone for the rest of the book nicely.)

This is a terrific read - funny, action-packed, and a stretch for the imagination! My 80+ year old dad (avid Louis L'Amour fan) loved it! I'm a long-time science fiction fan and I loved it too. Mad Amos is addictive - he reminds me of Lazarus Long in some ways.

We just returned from Maui, having taken the family there for 8 days. We also took 3 guide books, so I was able to compare all three books in real time while on the island. We disliked Fodor's book, but found Frommer's to be very good.

The information is well-organized, up-to-date, and very helpful while on the island. But the best of the tour books was: "Maui and Lana'i : Making the Most of Your Family Vacation (8th Ed)" by Early and Stilson. This is the book I recommend.

This book has a great clor map and online travel directory.

Traveled to Maui for our Honeymoon in January 1999...the Frommers 1999 Maui guide gave us the scoop on the entire island. Because of this book we learned all about the hidden waterfalls and took pictures of awesome "off the beaten path" paradise spots on the road to Hana. We now buy Frommers books for all of our vacations!

Sara Reichart is a sixteen year-old girl who looks forward to entering her junior year with her best friend, Dulcie, a Korean adoptee. However, Sara is no ordinary girl in that she is living with a foster mother, who is a widow with a twelve year-old daughter and a six year-old son. Sara was taken out of her parents' custody when it was found out that her father was sexually abusing her. "I only did it to save Suzy (her younger sister)" she says. Sara has been in many foster homes before, and for some reason or another, it has not worked out. She has also been in hospitals for struggling with depression, suicide attempts, and self-mutilation. Clearly, she is a very confused and very misunderstood young teenager, who has to deal with flashbacks (even when a boy just touches her) and feelings of anger and rejection, and the difficulty of being the odd girl in a close family, in addition to normal teenage angst.

When Dulcie falls in love with John, his traditional parents don't approve of her Korean nationality, while her parents don't want her to be dating a sophisticated, popular boy. Even Sara, herself, is originally suspicious, but soon grows to care for John and his friends. When Dulcie finds out that she is pregnant, she feels at a loss because her parents will be furious, and John's have thrown him out of the house already. Feeling abandoned and alone, they make a suicide pact to die together, and Sara, not wanting to be alone, decides to join. I won't spoil the ending other than to say that it is both hopeful, yet painfully realistic.

This book takes the form of back-and-forth e-mails, not-quite-fictional stories Sara writes for her English class, and journal entries, which Sara pens to the French artist Toulouse-Lautrec, which sounds far-fetched, but when you realize that he painted the degraded women of France's underground, you can see the connection. The book is well-written and you can really empathize and feel close to Sara, who seems so talented and gifted, yet so horribly exploited. My biggest disappointment with this book was that the subject of incest was dealt with so subtly. The story focused more on Sara's present with Dulcie, rather than her past at home. There are only a couple of phone calls to her home which reveal the dynamics of Sara's family. Still, I appreciate the author's showing the painful aftermath of sexual abuse and a Social Services removal of a child, unlike most pat "everything will work out" portrayals. I give the author so much credit for tackling this ambitious and sensitive subject! "Love, Sara" is a must-read.

I absolutely loved the way this book was written. Mary Beth Lundgren pieced together peices of Sara's life so beautifully. I enjoyed reading her diary to a famous artist and her IM conversations and her creative writtings. I thouroughly enjoyed the way that Lundgren usedd other author's writting styles for Sara's english assignements. And I LOVED all of the poems and quotes. I ached for Sara and her friend as they progressed into the pain of life. And I couldn't help but cry at the end....it's a must read!

Oh, my gosh. I read this book a few days ago, and the pages are tearstained. It is such an amazing book, and EVERYONE should read it. It's unbelievably realistic--all of the book is Sara's computer entries (e-mails, journal entries, etc). Yet it still gets its point across powerfully. I was nearing the end and just HAD to write a song about its message, called "Aqua Pain Drops." It's so sad. I love this book.

Dana has been working for R.J. Maitland for years...and quietly nursing what she thinks is a hopeless love. She thinks that she is plain, boring and has nothing to capture her handsome boss's attention. On the contrary, R.J. has begun to notice his quiet secretary, and he is hatching a plan to solve all of his problems...

R.J. has been accused of being the father of the mysterious baby that showed up on his doorstep. His reputation, as well as the reputation of the clinic, is suffering badly. Due to his father, the black sheep of the family who abandoned his children, R.J. cannot stand others thinking he is the same. His plan? Marry his secretary to rid the public's perception of him as a carefree bachelor. He offers Dana a position as his wife...in name only. She agrees, but with one stipulation: she wants him in bed as well. He is dumbfounded by her unexpected assertiveness but he agrees. Together the two must learn to balance a professional and personal relationship as they race to save the clinic as well as his reputation.

I did not read the first two in the Maitland series and I had no problem following along this storyline. It was truly a great book, but I did have to check and make sure that it was a book by Lori Foster. The trademark humor and quirkiness was missing (in other words, there were no naked men in the kitchen--check out SAWYER). The emotion and insight into the characters, both R.J. and Dana, was great though, and perhaps even stronger than previous Foster books. R.J. might sound a little thick-headed, but he thoroughly redeems himself. The sexual tension was there, and perfectly balanced: the scenes advanced the storyline very well. I wasn't disapointed at all, and it was a wonderful way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Dana has been R.J. Maitland's right hand for years now. He depends on her, just like he depends on the Sun to rise the next morning. R. J. is trying to keep his reputation in tack. Because of this mysterious baby that showed up on the doorstep at Maitland Maternity. There are rumors now that the baby might just be his. He wants to try to squash the bad press and he thinks the best way to do that is by getting married. He can't get married to just any old body, it has to be someone that will go along with the marriage with no strings. He decided to ask Dana, his secretary. To his surprise, she agrees, but only on one condition, she wants to share his bed!

Hey, you have got to trust me on this one, get the book. It was really a steamy one. This book is the best in the Maitland Series so far.

Wow! Romance really explodes in this book. A classic romance of boss gets virgin secretary it's not!! The female character really comes into her own right when the boss needs a convenient wife to bolster his professional image. Who do you think surprises who in this new relationship?? Passion really comes to life! Want an imtimate book? This is it!

THE CINDERELLA SOLUTION:

Have you ever wanted a complete makeover, where the 'after' pictures belong in a glossy magazine? Charlotte Taylor, tomboy extrordinnaire, had no such aspirations. Comfortable with her life, she was always ready for a football game and hanging out with the guys, especially with best friend Gabe Donofrio. But Gabe sees her as "one of the guys" and not as the kind of woman who could garner a marriage proposal within a month. Charlotte, never one to resist a bet, starts the makeover and is already planning on how to spend Gabe's thousand dollars.

Even though the bet was his idea, Gabe is already resenting it. Since Charlotte has started her makeover agenda, her dating life has perked up, leaving little time for him. When Charlotte starts dating Jack Landor, the most eligible man in America, Gabe is more than ready to call off the bet. And to top it all off, Charlotte is looking better and better to Gabe's eyes, leaving him with the question of what to do when you're attracted to your best friend?

Yardley provides her readers with memorable characters and an uncomplicated, yet endearing, story. Charlotte and Gabe are struggling to either remain as platonic best friends or to step the relationship up to the next level of intimacy. A sweet story and a fast read, THE CINDERELLA STORY will touch your heart and leave you with a smile on your face.

SAY YES:

Lori Foster delights her readers with SAY YES, a modern twist upon the old saying "Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?" After finding her fiance in her bed with her neighbor's ex-girlfriend, Sara Simmons decides love and marriage isn't for her. But a girl can have a wild fling, right? And who better to choose than her sexy next-door neighbor, Gavin Blake?

But Gavin's looking for more than sex, he wants a full-fledged relationship with Sara. Since the first day they met, in the house Gavin was finishing and Sara fell in love with, to the day he finds a 'for sale' sign in front of the same house, Gavin has known that Sara is a special lady. Now he just needs to find a way to convince her that she can have her fling and her man, for keeps. So Gavin fabricates a reason to move in with Sara, not expecting to find her underwear in the kitchen drawers (the only drawers in the house) or the growing menagerie of orphaned animals, including a depressed dog and the cat from hell.

Foster's unique style of red-hot stories blends seamlessly with the humorous qualities of SAY YES. The conflict is honest as Sarah struggles to resolve her desire for a family and her need to protect herself emotionally.

SAY YES is definitely a page-turner that will keep you involved from the beginning. Foster enchants readers with this sexy and romantic romp, a worthy contribution to the fun-filled Harlequin Duets line.

--Reviewed by Julie Shininger for Escape to Romance Reviews

This particular "Duets" offering combines two charming stories, one by established author Lori Foster and one by newcomer Cathy Yardley.

In "Say Yes" by Lori Foster, Sara's sworn off men after finding her weasel of a fiance in bed with another woman. But friend and neighbor Gavin's been waiting for her, and he's not taking "No!" for an answer. This is a really sweet story, with the good writing we've come to expect from Lori Foster. It doesn't have the heavy sensuality of some of her other stories, but the characters are appealing. Sara's big heart and her continual adoption of unwanted pets will win the heart of any animal-lover, and Gavin's patient kindness certainly deserves the reward he gets at the end. My only quibble is that, after such a wonderful build-up, the ending seemed both forced and rushed.

"The Cinderella Solution" by Cathy Yardley doesn't feature an especially novel concept -- a tomboy throws out her sweats for tight-fitting dresses and her ponytail for a sleek new hairdo, and as a result of her new-found confidence catches the eye of all kinds of men, including her befuddled best friend! But Yardley writes well, and she makes her characters extremely appealing and funny. The transition from friends to lovers can be a difficult one, and Yardley writes well about the fears and feelings that come with such a transition. The secondary characters also add to the tale.

It's always interesting to buy a compilation or "duet" and see how an author I haven't read before matches up against the established author I bought the book to read. In this case, I bought the book to read Foster's contribution (and wasn't disappointed!), but ended up enjoying Yardley's quick wit and charming characters as much, if not more!

A funny and appealing read - great for summer beaches and airplane trips!

Rarely do I enjoy a reading a book more so than with Say Yes. The opening scene--the opening page!--hooked me in. The two leads, Sara and Gavin, are interesting, believable characters - with a twist: Gavin is the one who wants to settle down, get married and Sara is the reluctant one. What follows is an amusing--and sexy--story of one man's attempt to 'get' his woman.

Ms. Foster has blended the right amount of humor and sensuality in this story. And the addition of several members of the animal kingdom give the story an added element that many readers will enjoy.

I think the author has found her true calling in romantic comedy. I can only hope her publisher feels the same. Say Yes is the perfect book for a lazy summer weekend, so Say Yes and put this book on your To Be Bought list.

The book "Girlhearts" by Norma Fox Mazer is a great book. When Sarabeth's mom dies of a sudden heart attack at 29, Sarabeth must live with her mom's friend. Uncomfortable and unwelcomed, Sarabeth has to do some soul searching to find out where in life she really belongs!

It has always been just Sarabeth and her mother Jane who had Sarabeth out of wedlock as a teen; when Sara's mother has a heart attack and dies, the orphaned Sarabeth (used to be fairly independent) is forced to live first with friends of the family who come to resent her, and then with a friend's family until they make it clear she is overstaying her welcome. Unsure of where her place in the world is, she runs away to meet the family that disowned her mother for having her before settling on a permanent place to live that will become a home for her.
This sequel to Silver (Morrow, 1988) is a stand-alone novel about relationships: between girlfriends, between mothers and daughters, between families. Although this book seems tame compared to some of what is being published these days for teens, Mazer still has a handle on the problem novel, creating a believable protagonist, real emotions, and a realistic plot. My one criticism is that Sarabeth is occasionally a passive character ' much happens to her ' but she finally breaks outs and takes action to act for her own best interests, since no one else seems willing to do it.

When I bought this book, I didn't know how touching it would truly be. The main characters; Sarabeth, Leo, Pepper, Cynthia, Billy, Jane Silver, and many more, really get to you whether or not you can empatize with their pain. It's one of those situations where you think the main role in the story has been through enough already, maybe too much. But of course, the author has to give an upgrade on the suffering. Who would suspect a 29 year old mother to die of a heart attack? The sudden death changes Sarabeth's entire heart and soul, but she finds that everything happens for a reason, and maybe the truth of tragedy can shine through.

Since receiving Mind your Manners I can't tell you how many times we've read through this great book! The details and writing are fantastic! I really like how this book presents manners and good behavior. The situations introduced are excellent! This book was very intelligently written and thought out - exceptional on many levels! Mind your Manners is a very special book in our home!

Kitty in the City is such a wonderful series! There are several moments in Mind your Manners that really ring true. I think this is an excellent book for all and would certainly recommend it! Great writing and illustrations make Mind your Manners a real keeper! I just love the sensibility of this book and the way that it introduces manners. We plan to continue reading Mind your Manners often and are very much looking forward to other books in the Kitty in the City series!

We really enjoyed Mind your Manners! I highly recommend this one!

Although other reviews praised this book, I found it to be lacking in stimulating the senses of African American children and other cultures although the concept was great. As I began reading this book to my African American grandchildren, I didn't get past the 5th page before they were bored. They were not able to identify with any of the children displayed in this book, not even the children that were too busy to meet the king. I believe when we send an important message to our children through writing, that every child should be able to identify with that message. I am very sorry that I purchased this book for ($$) and if it is returnable, I will be sending it back. I definitely do not recommend this book for families looking to teach their children life's messages through cultural diversity.

I gave this book 4 stars because I haven't read it
yet, and I didn't want to skew the average, one way
or the other. Basically, I just wanted to post a
rebuttal to what another reviewer wrote.

To the charge made by another reviewer, that the
illustrations are Euro-centric, and children of
colour might find them dull and boring:

Regardless of their ethnicity, children MAY find the
illustrations dull and boring....But, content matters
more than style. The moral of the story is what one
hopes they will remember.

As a person of colour myself, I would feel more
comfortable giving my kids a Christian book, than
I would say, a "Little Bill" book.

Would you take poison if it came in candy wrapper?

Not to belittle "Little Bill," but Christian books
like these are all too rare, to worry about issues
of "cultural diversity" in illustrations.

That said,...Max Lucado, if you ever get a chance to
read this, you may wish to consider teaming up with
the following artists:

Mark Salisbury - A Trip to the Hospital

Andy Mastrocinque - A Visit to the Dentist

Jennifer Oxley - We're Going to the Zoo!

JUST THE WAY YOU ARE is a wonderful story that any child will enjoy because we all want to impress people--it's human nature. It is about orphans finding out they are going to be adopted by the king. They are very excited and don't know what to do. The townspeople tell them they need to prepare fine gifts to "impress him when he arrives," so each one begins working fervently preparing his/her gift. One of the orphans can't think of a skill/gift she has and goes to each of the other orphans asking for help. Each one is abrupt, sending her off saying they are in a hurry and don't have time to help her. The girl feels she has nothing to give and is very sad.

The king comes dressed in common clothes and the orphan who has no gift greets him and feeds and grooms his donkey. She sees that this man is very tired and offers him a place to rest. When he wakes up he then goes out to find his orphans and later returns to the girl caring for his donkey, disappointed because everyone was too busy to see him.

The king tells the orphan girl she gave the best gift of all...

There is so much beauty in this book. A valuable story for children to hear, understand and apply to their lives. I give JUST THE WAY YOU ARE a very high recommendation.

Soaring Heart

Let me start by saying that I actually rather like Spellsinger as an individual book. Most of what other people have said about it is true. My major objection is that it led me into a series that lasted far too long before I gave up on it - and I got nowhere near through the series. If you can read one book of a series and leave it at that, then go ahead and read Spellsinger, it's an entertaining funny read with great characters. On the other hand if you're like me, and tend to want to read all of a series, even if it goes downhill, don't get started with this one.

I have to disagree with a previous reviewer in one regard. I do think that the animals in the book are cute and funny. Granted, the animals act in realistic, sometimes noble, but more often crass ways. Part of the fun in this book is the sheer absurdness of the animals and the world at all.

I think you have to treat the book slightly humorously. I think humor was a great par of Mr. Foster's intent. The original cover has a bespectacled turtle on a boat with two humans and an otter. The turtle has drawers in his shell which open. I laughed quite hard the first time I looked at the cover. The hero gets to the fantasy world after smoking marijuana. The hero wins his battles and creates magic by playing and singing rock and roll.....BADLY.

A very fun book but also treat it as fun and not high fantasy.

The Spellsinger is the best of the series. It has all the things that make a great fantasy novel: the battle of good against evil, an unwilling hero who reaches within himself for his inner strength to overcome great adversity, lots of twists and turn before the conflict is finally resolved. What makes the Spellsinger different is Foster's use of common things (music, talking animals) to achieve these goals. I got the sense that the author has put a lot of himself into the main character of Jon Tom. The animals, as humans in animal form, have great personalities. There's none of the Disney cuteness about these creatures and that gives this book the spice it needs to keep it from becoming too contrived or too precious. I read this book when it first came out years ago and I re-read it periodically and recommend it to my friends. While The Spellsinger and all it's sequels will never be accused of being great "literachoor", you will enjoy reading it.