I love Tracie Peterson but with James Scott Bell, something happens. I couldn't lay it down. Just had to finish it before anything else got done. Great insight into the Courts at the turn of the 20th century. Can't wait to read the others in the saga.

This book was super. Kit Shannon arrives in Los Angeles, eager to begin her law career. However, due to the time period, she encounters several obstacles before she can find a job practicing her profession. While assisting her employer with a murder trial, she keeps a deep faith in God which is refreshing, and helps keep the story vivid and real. I'd recommend this book to anybody who likes historical fiction with a good inspirational plot woven into the story!

This book was very unique and intriguing. It was set in the 1900's in the city of L.A. and contained a little bit of everything; murder, courtroom drama, romance, and happy endings. I love Tracie Peterson and this book was just as good as many of her others. This is the first book by James Scott Bell that I have read, and now I want to read more. I can't wait to read the next book!

If you think you can bring a parrot home and toss him in a cage and throw him a few vegetables and seeds everyday, and he will entertain you in return, guess again. Parrots are smart, and you are setting yourself up for a very large hassle if you don't take the time to find out just how smart they are (they can talk and understand what they say). D'Arezzo and Shannon-Nunn reveal just how smart these birds are by providing a very good overview of what bird owners need to do to keep their pet parrots entertained. That's right, the bird may entertain you, but the price you will pay or suffer the consequences is entertaining the bird. PARROT TOYS AND PLAY AREAS includes all sorts of toys-noisemakers, destructible and non-destructible toys, puzzles, preeners, push-'n-pull toys and plenty of other items that will lead you to believe you don't own a parrot, you own a three-year-old going on 12.

Not all toys must be hand-made. The bird owner can find toys ready made at a local pet supply outlet. Some items made for other purposes also serve as parrot toys. Dog rawhide, whisk brooms, and cotton mop heads can be purchased at your local grocery or pet store. Wireless clothes pins are a little bit more difficult to locate, but can be found in craft stores. Plastic chains can be found in hardware stores. The list of toys provides a clue. Parrots like to dismantle things. D'Arezzo and Shannon-Nunn suggest if you don't provide them things they can destroy you can expect them to destroy other things-like your furniture for example. Bringing a parrot home is not so different from bringing a puppy home.

I am an owner of 5 parrots. I especially love golden rule #6 and I exercise this daily with my birds (patience and understanding with creativity). Having a guide and help with daily issues allows us to have a happier bird and less behavioral problems.

Overall, I appreciate this book and its pratical approach. The steps are easy to follow when making toys and play areas. I love the humor and cartoons that are included and feel that all suggestions are at a level anyone can accomplish with ease and patience.

I would like to thank the authors for bringing us a very down to earth book for parrot owners.

Jeannette Cadorette Colorado

This is one of the most useful parrot books I have purchased for day-to-day life with my parrots. "Parrot-Toys and Play Areas" breaks down toy ideas into different groups based on the parrots size and play style (play styles, as used in this book, are fully explained). Finally some ideas for my little guy who doesn't seem to like toys! And plenty of new things to try for my bigger birds that are hard to keep in toys - without breaking my budget! There are many wonderful sites on the internet for making parrot toys, this book will help you choose the toys that are best for your fid (feathered kid). "Parrot-Toys and Play Areas" will also serve as a springboard for your own new ideas. It will earn it's place on your bookshelf many times over - a must have for people owned by parrots!

This book digs up the dirt on the medical establishment saying that heart surgery can nearly kill you and do you no good in the end, all done with a whopping price-tag. Drugs are favored over herbs since they can be patented and sold to patients for great profits. Dick Quinn gives his personal testimony about nearly dying from heart surgery, but finally getting well by taking Cayenne, Garlic, Onion and other herbs, but mainly Cayenne. He scoured the earth looking for the hottest Cayenne he could find to burn his insides out! But no matter how much it burns, it's all good for you. He started his own herb company servicing mainly heart conditions which had a lot of loyal customers until the FDA... shut him down because his cure was effective and cheap, and the medical establishment did not profit. I ran out and bought some Cayenne and popped several daily. I really didn't get the energy boost he got, but I suppose they're helping. The book tells his story first, then describes some herbs secondly, and then ends with the disadvantages of heart surgery. There are sage quotes about the medical establishment and goodness of healing herbs throughout the book from distinguished men. The book seems somewhat disjointed as it goes into its different, but inter-related parts written by different authors. Quinn's story is short, skims the surface, and has some drama, but certainly is not a candidate for an Oscar winning movie. The writing style is direct, conversational, and informative and skips all literary flourishes to get the news out that herbs can heal. I found particularly interesting that drugs like aspirin merely synthetically imitate the healing effects of herbs, such as aspirin being derived from Willow Bark.

I would give this book 10 stars if I could! I suffered a major heart attack in 1989 at the age of 41. Shortly after that I came across this book purely by accident. It was very believable. Purely on an act of faith (since I was also suffering from a severe, sometimes bleeding, ulcer) I went to health food store and bought cayenne capsules. I took them. Within three days my 10 year old ulcer was completely healed...and since my original heart attack, have been symptom-free of coronary heart disease to this day. I am now 52.

I credit this book and the healing properties of cayenne for saving my life. In fact, I use the word cayenne in my email address as well as naming my commodity trading company after the red pepper...just so people ask me why, and I get the chance to recommend the book and cayenne. Simply amazing...

This title caught my eye while on a search for another book called "The Cure For All Cancers", an equally challenging book. Especially to the medical profession. I am pleased that the authors of both of these books were willing to speak out in regard to the underlying drive in much of our medical world.

Having had a heart problem myself, but not to the point of open heart surgery and all its dangers, (I only had angioplasty which I will never risk again)the book really hit home.

My cardiologist has urged me to "let him go back in and check", but I think you know my answer. I did do what Mr. Quinn recommended - start taking Cayenne Pepper and garlic NOW - because after nearly 7 years I was having chest pains on exertion. After only a few weeks of taking these items I'm happy to say that those pains are gone.

I strongly recommend this book to anyone who is at all concerned about their health, and that they can get by all the "brainwashing" and accept what Mr. Quinn says - and follow his recommendations.

This book has beautiful pictures, interesting recipes of salads, juices and sauces, and helpful information on just about everything you need to know about raw food.

It is a great book for someone looking for recipes on salads, juices and sauces. However, I was looking for raw recipes that would be similar to traditional main courses, because I need help in that area. I don't have a problem making delicious salad type meals and juices, but have a difficult time with preparing a main dish that has a traditional "look".

This is a wonderful book, but it wasn't what I was looking for.

The very first thing you will notice about this book is the absolute beauty of the photographs. Edmond Fong captured the smell and taste of the food featured on every page.

After reading and testing recipes, I have found this book to be a must for every cook of every level of food savvy. Anyone would be able to prepare these recipes and the ingredients are readily available in most grocery and/or health food stores. The level of preparation runs from beginner to the gourmet.

This is the book we use for entertaining our friends and neighbors. The teenagers even like to browse through the photos and pick out something to prepare.

"The Raw Gourmet" is truly the recipe and instruction book for the cook who wants to impress friends or the food preparer who wants to help her/his family make dietary changes to become healthy and happy.

I have followed healthy eating habits for about 10 years with great results. I began with "transitional" type cookbooks and gradually became more raw over time. Great tasting and easy to follow recipes are contained in this eye appealing book. For the beginner in this type of eating some of the ingredients may be a bit challenging to find if you don't have access to a quality health food store. A little perseverance is well worth the effort.

Faye has written a touching and uplifting story about her struggle with bipolar disorder. She appears to have been afflicted with a pretty severe variety of the disorder, perhaps Bipolar I would be the proper diagnosis. The writing isn't as good as in the finest mental illness memoirs, such as "An Unquiet Mind" or "Girl, Interrupted", but she is still able to tell her story vividly and honestly. The reader is likely to find himself cheering for her, hoping she can get her life back together. Anyone with bipolar disorder should read this book. Avery Z. Conner, author of "Fevers of the Mind".

While most people try to forget a painful past, Faye has done a great service in sharing hers with us in her book. It took a lot of courage to delve back into the pain and humiliation brought on by her illness. In doing so Faye gives hope to others who have to deal with this disease. Her proactive approach in dealing with being Manic/Depressive is beneficial as well as her on-going work getting information out on the disease. She is one determined crusader who is helping remove the stigma of mental illness and letting people know they aren't alone in fighting this disease.

EXCELLENT book!

I am the webowner of Bipolar Disorder Sanctuary and I had a very difficult time putting this book down. Faye easily captures your interest and you want to know what happens next.

Faye openly discusses her life - before, after and during manic & depressive episodes. She reveals the tremendous negative impact the BP has had on her life, and those around her. This was really important for me to read as I have the bipolar disorder myself and I felt much less alone when I read her story. I related so much to what she experienced.

I really believe that this book will comfort many and help educate those with the disorder and for the families as well. It is a first class read.

I really enjoyed this collection of violent mystery tales. I really never read anything quite like it before. It surprised me and let my jaw drop a few times. Good. Looking forward to another story about this character. Dack Shannon is an excellent anti-hero for a new century.

It was great to hold a copy of Dack Shannon stories on paper, not just reading them online. Each story is terse, dark, moody and darkly funny. I really enjoyed it. The novella at the end, Burden of Chic Melancholy, is some of the crispest, coolest work Shrews has done. The characters are wild, amusing and never dull in this collection. There is real personality to the writing. I think Shrews is a great pulp writer and can't wait for more work by him to see print. Buy it folks, it is a cool ride for paranoids folks, horror fans, or mystery buffs. Dack is a cold character. Go find the albino dude in the dark!

It was rewarding to read these on paper. I really liked the newer versions of these stories and material never published before. The novella was terrific and the stories selected arranged well. Dack Shannon is a super character and these stories scratch the surface. I liked the pace and it was very funny overall, while being disturbing too. ENCORE!

This was a great book to read.Because of the illustrations.The duck wanted tosee how it was to ride a bike. So he got one then started to ride it. Then he came up to some of his friends and showed them what he could do on a bike. Then all his friends started to ride bikes.

As a children's librarian, I am always searching for the next perfect book to read for preschool storytime. I have read this book to several groups now and always have had an enraptured audience--both children and adults love it. Duck decides to ride a bike for the fun of it and greets the animal on the farm as he passes by. It might sound trite, but in this book, it is all magical.

The full bleed illustrations are bright and colorful while the story is humorous and engaging. Don't miss the last page either. All the kids love it. This has become my favorite picture book this year and I will be disappointed if it doesn't receive a Caldecott nod. Add this one to your child's library or give it to a favorite child as a gift. Then sit down and read it together. Neither of you will be disappointed! A great companion book also out this year is "Do Like a Duck Does" by Judy Hindley.

"One day down on the farm, Duck got a wild idea. "I bet I could ride a bike!" he thought. He waddled over to where the boy parked his bike, climbed on, and began to ride..." So begins David Shannon's creative and silly picture book, Duck On A Bike. In no time Duck's mastered the art of pedaling, and is zooming around the barnyard waving and calling to his friends. The cow thinks it's silly, and the sheep is sure Duck will hurt himself. The dog thinks it's neat, and the pigs think Duck is a big show-off. Mr Goat isn't so interested in riding, but would like to eat the bike, the horse just wants to remind Duck that he's still faster, and the cat is so self-involved, he doesn't even look up as Duck rides by. And that's when it happens...a whole gang of kids come riding onto the farm, park their bikes, and go inside. And in just a matter of seconds, Duck discovers he isn't the only animal riding around and around the barnyard..... Mr Shannon's engaging text begs to be read aloud, and is full of animal sounds and clever asides. But it's his bold, bright, and busy illustrations that really make this book sparkle. Each two page spread is filled with endearing oversized animals, marvelous facial expressions, and hilarious details. Perfect for kids 3-7, Duck On A Bike is a joyous, manic romp that little animal lovers and bike enthusiasts shouldn't miss.

As a victim of HOA (CID) bureacracy, I purchased this book in the hopes that it would give me some legal advice on how to fight back. Rather, the author espouses a home-spun philosophy of working within the system. If your HOA problem is rather trivial in nature (such as a dispute over whether or not you can have a clothesline in your backyard, for example), this book could be very helpful. It's basically a collection of anecdotes and situations taken from the author's own real-life experience (she's the president of her HOA), as well as those of others involved in HOAs. One of the biggest hurdles in attempting to make any changes in the HOA scenario is that, typically, bylaws mandate that a minimum 3/4 majority of homeowners (voters) must concur for any proposals to take effect or board members to be elected (or removed.) Greenwalt gives some practical suggestions on how to galvanize support and make changes in your HOA despite this 3/4 requirement. All fine and good, but for someone like myself (who has been gouged for over $5000 in fines and legal fees over an orginal debt of $500 in overdue association dues), it's too little too late. After reading the book Privatopia, which outlines the history of HOAs, and--more significantly--exposes the reasons why they exist and proliferate, I've come to realize that there is nothing about HOAs that is designed for the benefit of the homeowner. (Even the goal of maintaining property values--ostensibly the primary reason for HOAs in the first place--is in place to satisfy the demands of the lending institutions that finance the developments, not to protect the homeowner's investment) Ironically, the author does make a brief quote from Privatopia, so one would assume that she has read it. The knowledge that HOAs are here because they maximize the profits of developers with no concern for the homeowner doesn't seem to dampen the author's enthusiam in regard to the HOA lifestyle. (Nor do the multitude of horror stories contained in her book and Privatopia) If you're resigned to living in an HOA (or even LIKE it, which perhaps some do), then I would recommend this book. Personally, I plan to sell out someday and seek residence outside of what is essentially a privatized enclave of socialism.

Did you ever wonder if you're alone in your feeling toward the Homeowners Association? Did you ever wonder what kind of people LOVE to run one? Did you ever wonder what you could do to make it better? One answer BUY THE BOOK. I live in an HOA that is run by people who have absolutely no regard for their neighbor's rights.
This book lets you know what CAN and HAS happen with an HOA. Some of the stories in the book are exactly what is happening in ours now. You should read this book while sitting down, this way you won't have to far to fall when you hit the floor. This is what happens when your neighbors nose doesn't end at their fence. The most freighting part is HOA's are getting bigger,stronger and growing fast. Lawyers and management companies love HOA's and the author tells you why. The author understands what many people don't, the HOA is a mini-government.
To see what CAN happen to YOU and HAS happened to OTHERS I think this book isn't a purchase, it's an investment.

Finally we have a book about homeowners associations viewed from the inside - how homeowners experience living in common-interest communities. A major theme of the author is that a widespread feature of this form of housing, which is founded on binding covenants, is rigid and intrusive regulation of homeowners' use of their property - for which she provides abundant and lively case material. In equal measure, she offers both broad principles and specific methods which association boards of directors can apply to foster civility and fairness in these communities. A natural audience for this book are the people who live in or plan to buy homes in homeowners associations; but the practitioners who provide services to associations would do well to read this book to learn about association life from the vantage point of homeowners who live in them.

Samuel Pratt, Ph.D and Lois Pratt, Ph.D; President of Common-Interest Homeowners Coalition of New Jersey

This story is catalogued as a book for teens and young adults,
but I found it great reading for an older audience. It was
written as a result of research done by twenty-year-old Shannon
Lanier, a direct descendant of Thomas Jefferson and his slave
Sally Hemings. With slavery as the backdrop, this book is an
attempt to combine the history of one American family. Amidst
the controversy surrounding the biography of Thomas Jefferson
and his offspring, Shannon shares his family's story.

Many descendants of Martha Jefferson and several generations of
historians have resisted the claims of kinship to Jefferson by
Hemings' offspring, and they feel these claims will tarnish his
legacy. But the information collected by Shannon is not a myth,
and it is his belief that he has found the final piece of puzzle
to complete the search for the the Hemings' family tree. Shannon
never intended to bring shame to Jefferson's legacy, but he is
aware that his research will show an unveiled look at a man many
feel is beyond reproach.

The story is told with a collection of historical essays,
interviews and family photographs, and is wonderfully illustrated
by Jane Feldman. This is not the Thomas Jefferson we studied in
school and there is the strong possibility that this particular
information may never appear in history books. Since there are no
written records of the slaves' birth, and of the period after
slavery was abolished, to substantiate Shannon's claims. The
history during these periods was memorized and told by oral
historians. But in 1998 DNA tests produced evidence that there
is a link between the Jefferson and Hemings families.

If nothing else, this story should produce sensitive discussions
on how we define our country based on the color of our skin. The
introduction by Lucian K. Truscott IV, a fifth generation great-
grandson of Jefferson through their daughter Martha
Jefferson-Randolph, shares his hope that this story will show us
that the worth of a person should not be determined only by what
we see.

Reviewed by aNN Brown
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

In a dignified manner this book offers true accounts of lives that were lived in the shadows of an uncertain heritage. With more and more Americans embracing the Thomas Jefferson-Sally Hemings romantic relationship for the reality (I have longed believed) it was, we are free to enjoy--and to learn from--this mixed-race, talented, loving family.

Few literary efforts make race seem so indistinct and unimportant today as this work by a remarkable young Jefferson-Hemings descendant. Everyone who has felt cheated by historians while attempting to learn the full story of Americans' mixed heritage can make up for that in part by reading Jefferson's Children.

By the way--it's not just a children's book. It's for everyone. It also provides a good historical perspective of Sally Hemings as the half-sister of Jefferson's late wife, Martha, who died 19 years before he became President.

Some people's sense of reality will conclude, rightly I believe, that Sally Hemings was, in his heart, the First Lady of President Thomas Jefferson. I regret the time was not right for open acknowledgment of that. It certainly is now.

I have just finished reading Jefferson's Children:The Story of One American Family, and the stories included here of the Hemings and Jefferson families have given me renewed hope that someday we all will treat each other as cousins and family. I realize that all families don't love each other, but these stories encourage me to believe that we can be more loving toward all people.

While this is catalogued as a children's book (ages 9-12), I believe it is a family book. Parents should read and discuss it with their children and teachers will develop lesson plans around it. I believe that this book will bring us all closer together.

The reviewer below criticizes me for not giving scripture to support my own view. Well, Fenley had a whole book in which to quote scripture. It's not possible to support my view in the space of a small review, so I suggest the book END-TIME PROPHECIES OF THE BIBLE, also available here at Amazon, if you want a book that quotes the same passages Fenley quotes but ALSO quotes the many passages he completely ignores--passages that describe events for Christ's return that clearly never happened around A.D. 70. and need to be dealt with honestly.

"The Second Coming Of Jesus Christ Already Happened"--The title alone should get most peoples attention. In this day of prophetic speculation and "headline" interpretations of Biblical prophecy, Ward Fenley's book is an eye opening, Scriptural based look at what the Bible has to say regarding "the last days."

Like so many others before him, Mr. Fenley demonstrates most effectively that it takes sound exegesis, the historical context, the original audience, and Scripture interpreting Scripture to understand prophecy. With a very thorough and straight forward style, Mr. Fenley proves, from Scripture, that the "end times" the Bible is concerned with was the end of the Old Covenantal Age and not the "end of history."

If someone is interested in an extremely challenging, but balanced and Biblical look at eschatology, i.e., the study of last things, then I highly recommend they get out a Bible, purchase a copy of "The Second Coming of Jesus Christ Has Already Happened," and prepare for an odyssey into one of the greatest blessings ever experienced.

In easy to understand wording with scriptual backing, Ward Fenley walks the reader through the Old and New testaments, with step by step Illumenation, arriving at our destination with sound truth and the title of his book, The Second Coming of Jesus Christ already happened.

I highly recommend this work, be added to the libraries of all bible scholars and student of the word alike, and see a great deal to be gained, by people who have little or no knowledge of who Jesus Christ is and what He did in A.D. 70.

Thank you Mr. Fenley for being truthful and bringing credibilty to the words of Jesus Christ.