I was hooked from page one! The House on Briar Lake is a heartwarming romance you won't be able to put down. I've added it to my keeper shelf, and Roxanne Rustand can add me to her list of fans!

Roxanne Rustand has another winner in The House at Briar Lake. Lauren McClellan is a woman with a past she doesn't deserve and the mother of a very troubled little girl. House sitting and caring for an eccentric friend's menagerie of animals, the last thing Lauren needs to deal with is jaded big city lawyer, Michael Wells--a man who wants to know what Lauren is so desperately trying to hide. But when a fire forces them to reside in the same house for an entire summer, more than just the temperature outside heats up. Ms. Rustand has done a beautiful job of creating complex characters and a richly draw plot that will make you laugh and cry. I can't wait for more from this very talented author.

You'll love this heartwarming tale about a disillusioned lawyer who falls for a quirky house-sitter with a troubled daughter and a dark past. The author paints a compelling picture of two lonely souls thrown together by circumstance who overcome seemingly insurmountable problems to forge strong family bonds and a love to last a lifetime. Love the humor provided by the disruptive menagerie that serves as 'chaperone'. A very moving and uplifting book. Don't miss this one!

My son recieved this book as a gift and he simply loves it! He's not quite 2 and he knows all the fish in the book and has even made up a few (he insists the spotted fish is a "giraffe" fish!). But - the real proof of the learning value of his book happened just yesterday. We were at the Nature Center, and they have a salt-water tank. As soon as he saw it he raced to it, pointing, excited and telling me, "Mama! A lionfish! A lionfish!" And sure enough - there was a "stripy-spiky lionfish", just like in the book! I couldn't believe at his age that he could make the connection between the picture in the book and the real thing, but he did! Obviously, this book has real educational value. I recommend it to ALL parents! And I'm here to buy a few other "Nature Trail" books today...

What a GORGEOUS book! "Little silver dolphin" is lost; join him on an underwater journey of discovery as he searches for his family. This book is instantly engaging mostly due to the tactile treasures and OUTSTANDING illustrations, but the prose is pleasing and educational too. "The tiny, SHINY flying fish go swimming through the air. Now lift the flap and you will see what else is leaping there." The reader lifts the flap, "A sailfish with fins of BLUE. And Mother Dolphin's somewhere too!" In smaller print, the author includes lessons on numbers and counting, "How many flying fish can you count?" and "Can you find the mother dolphin?"

This is a "touch and feel" book with lessons on marine life, colors, numbers and counting. The images, beautifully rendered, are beset with pattern and fine details, not to mention the union between the "touch and feel" items and the illustrations on the "half-page flaps" are exceptional. Additional textures include: FURRY sea otter, SCALY shinny fish, PRICKLY pink coral, LUMPY lobster shell, NEON darting fish, SMOOTH skinned shark, and SOFT silver dolphin. Recommended for 4 to 8 years old, but my 1 year old adores this book and finds the textures and images irresistible. "In the Ocean," is a fantastic book!

We found this to be a delightfully illustrated book that captivated our three year old daughter. The book follows the journey of a young dolphin as it searches for its mother. On the way the dolphin encounters colorful fish and sealife. The book encourages counting, has beautiful textures incorporated with the illustrations, and overall is very interactive. Be prepared to read this wonderful book over and over to your child!

Southern, scarey, beautiful, mysterious, but never boring are the words which come to mind. But enough about my wife (cha boom teesh). This is a wonderful book! Dr. Williams skillfully draws you in and holds you tight, like a needy orangutan, to this wonderful story of relationships and dreams draped over a musical chair, called the Trybald Trio. The hard, raw emotions of this story remind me of Mississippi's Larry Brown and I was captured by the subtle beauty of Williams' clear voice describing the band's desire to play great music in the cesspool which is the music business. A great read.

"Lake Moon" is a story of shattered dreams and unrealized greatness. Superbly crafted with rich, moving passages this novel defines a period of time in the south when a generation of rock musicians came of age. Told with deep feeling and subtle humor, this book is a powerful work of fiction with memorable characters. Author John Williams has firmly established himself as a gifted storyteller following in the tradition of the great southern writers Pat Conroy and James Dickey.

Anyone who has played in a rock band--and taken the music seriously--will appreciate this saga of a group of musicians who should have captivated audiences throughout the Southern counterculture of the '70s. Just why the Trybald Trio failed is the subject of this eloquently written novel. Musicians and serious fans will recognize that the plight of the Trio was the plight of many real bands that transcended race and class differences and played stunning music--but who were no match for the egomaniacs, sharks and leeches infesting the entertainment business. Highly recommended.

In a world where everything stopped, where technology is avaliable to few self-selected ones, in a world where crime is just another usual happening, Patera Silk tries to find his way. Unaware of the hidden political intrigues, of the corrputed offices of the (we may call it) Holy church, unaware of the mythical creators of the interstellar ship which he calls his home, Patera Silk tries to bring back some kind of balance beetween 'gods' and people. And how and did he succedees in it is yet to be revealed. Nightside the long sun was long and boring book, book that was used as an intro to this 'brave new world'. Lake of the long sun is more quick-paced, and better written than the first book. There are no more endless monologues, just a well designed scheme of thought and conversation. If you read the first book and didn't like it, read this one, you'll be kindly surprised

LAKE OF THE LONG SUN is the second volume of Gene Wolfe's The Book of the Long Sun, an epic story of revolution, political intrigue, and Christian allegory that is linked to his acclaimed work The Book of the New Sun. The first volume, NIGHTSIDE THE LONG SUN, was a slow and simple introduction to the Whorl, the giant starship sent out from Urth, and its inhabitants, including the protagonist young Patera Silk. LAKE OF THE LONG SUN picks up the pace significantly, and much is revealed.LAKE OF THE LONG SUN consists of several plot threads that dance around each other but never quite touch. The morning after another theophany occurs in Viron, Silk goes to a remote shrine at Lake Limna in order to confront Crane and extort money from him to save his manteion. Through a coincidental occurence, Silk is lost in the tunnels beneath the city, tunnels that go to the very outside of the Whorl. There, he meets an enigmatic woman who remembers the creation of the Whorl, and for the attentive reader the story's link to The Book of the New Sun is revealed. Meanwhile, back in Viron, political intrigue continues and everyone but Silk himself is certain that Silk must become Caldé of Viron. Auk and Chenille search for Silk at Limna, and Chenille has a run-in with another goddess.The Christian allegory is slight in LAKE OF THE LONG SUN, and the most touching moment is when Silk speaks to Crane of a scene revealed to him in his enlightenment from the Outsider. The next volume, CALDÉ OF THE LONG SUN, is the most visibly Christian of the work, but LAKE has its moments, too.

The roller-coaster ride of a story that Gene Wolfe began in "Nightside the Long Sun" not only continues in this second book of the tetrology, but actually picks up speed. The politics and the personalities get more complex. The characters gain depth as we discover flaws in the "good guys" and virtues in the "bad guys". As soon as you finish this book, you'll want to pick up the next one in the series. For all related books, search under Gene Wolfe's name for all titles with the word "sun" in them.

This is one of the finest books I have read about Alaska. This is a spare, unsentimental portrait of what life in Alaska is really like--both beautiful and harsh. This is not a book that romanticizes homesteading or the poverty of these homesteaders' lives; instead they come alive through the Brice's crystaline prose and her use of defining detail. Here is real life--people struggling to make lives for themselves in a country that is neither easy nor forgiving. The stark, black and white photographs that accompany the book add a beautiful and moving element. If you want to know what life on the frontier can really be like, read this book.

The author presents a thoughtful and thought provoking look at an oft misunderstood concept: homesteading in the wilds of Alaska. The reader is held in awe at the tenacity of these latter day pioneers who have chosen a lifestyle far removed from the experience of most of us in the lower forty-eight.

Intimate but respectful study of a unique breed of modern day pioneers in one of the last really remote places in America. Well done glimpse into a world of determination and dreams that most can only imagine.

Peter Leschak's style of writing tales of life up north is both immediate and reflective. He starts out philosophically sounding a bit like a contemporary Calvin Rutstrum, but avoids being "preachy" by moving quickly into interesting but everyday stories of rural life. I am glad he has written other books: I plan to read them all!

Peter is one of the best authors I've read. The reason I address him by his first name is because *know* him.. Lives quite close to me. I've read each of his books several times over...and as for the feeling of "being" in the north woods, I sent a copy of this book to a friend in Texas--and she said she felt as if she were here. I promise--once you read this books, you'll be hooked, and want to go one with each of them...

If you've ever spent a winter in the northwoods, and even if you haven't, you'll enjoy this book. He accurately chronicles living in a small town in northern Minnesota. His writing in excellent, and as you read you will feel that you are standing next to Peter as he sees the wolves and the northern lights

This a great book to read if you are really into the Great Lakes and lighthouses. I read this book during this winter and it makes a great way to spend a cold and snowy evening! You won't be disappointed. Buy it now before it goes out of print.

Peppered with numerous black-and-white photographs and sketches, Wes Oleszewski's Lighthouse Adventures: Heroes, Haunts & Havoc On The Great Lakes is an amazing, informative and impressive collection of stories, technical descriptions, wrecked ships, and heroic acts for readers wanting to learn more about the history and service of lighthouses throughout the centuries. All the stories within Lighthouse Adventures are real, and all the brave people chronicled in its pages truly did contribute their part to the history of these fascinating buildings. Lighthouse Adventures enthusiastically recommended reading for all lighthouse buffs and a welcome addition to nautical studies reference collections.

This is the first book I've read by Wes Oleszewski -- but it won't be the last. "Lighthouse Adventures" transports the reader to another time. A time of everyday heros who place their own lives at risk to save others.

If you've wondered what service in the US Lighthouse Service or the US Lifesaving Service was like before electric lights, radio communications and GPS, this book will take you there.

Illustrated with historic black and white photos (as well as some contemporary photos by the author) and location maps. My only criticism is the reproduction of the photos could have been sharper.

The author's meticulus research and you-are-there writing style makes "Lighthouse Adventures" a real page turner. Those who love the Great Lakes and their rich nautical history as well as lighthouse lovers everywhere will want to add this one to their library. Highly recommended!

This book brought me more reading enjoyment than any I have read in a number of years. Slouka has a talent which only some short story writers possess--the ability to pull you into the narrative with the first sentence or two. The character insights are first-rate and each story is a polished jewel.

A great read!

This collection of essays and short stories is poignant. My eyes frequently teared over. It is rare, I think, to find lovely, melancholy tales that question love and sense of place and are written in a male voice from a male perspective. "Lost Lake", due to the finely crafted writing and the emotional chords it struck, has now been placed in a section of a bookcase where I safely guard two dozen books that are very important to me. Highly recommended for all readers, but particularly for men who see the world with a sensitive perspective, and who search to provide themselves with an emotional sense of time and place.

I was disappointed at first to see that these stories are loosely bound to a 'theme': one locale ("forty acres of water") one family (started in Czechoslavakia, emigrated to NY), and some ... fishing. I needn't have worried, because there is a world of experience and observation in these, along with masterful, thrifty use of language, attention to detail - and much love, yearning, and compassion. The voice is constant and consistent; the stories are told meticulously and with great clarity. "The Woodcarver's Tale," centered on the narrator's father, is heartbreaking. In "Equinox" Slouka combines the mundane and the tragic - seamlessly. A very satisfying collection of stories.

This spellbinding account of a young man's journey into adult-hood will keep you up all night. An autobiography that reads like a novel, Fred Weller takes you along as he unashamedly describes his first humorous and less than satisfying sexual experience. Then ride along with him and a professional hit man on a cross-country odyssey that won't let you put the book down until the finish.

Sometimes frightening, sometimes humorous, and often poignant, Weller tells the story of his struggles as he ventures out into the world to make his way as a man and has you rooting for him while wondering how one twenty year-old can get into so much "stuff."

If you liked Weller's first book, Always Courage, you'll look forward to this one so you can follow the further adventures of this young immigrant. What's next, Fred?

A magnificent display of candor in the author's young adult life! Yes, there's sex; yes, there's language; and yes, there's violence, but it's not gratuitous. It's just honest. It's the story of the author's coming of age in terms of his first sexual experience that is so indelibly imprinted that he gives credit to his "teacher." It's the story of the author's choice of friendships at that age with some very unsavory characters. It's the story of the author's cross-country trip in the grasp of an Irish gangster. It is a sexy, powerful tale that is at once seductive and precarious. There is even some comic relief as he describes his captor's encounter with the United States Border Patrol. The author's life hangs in the balance as he seeks his opportunity to escape--an attempt he knows may only come one time. Gripping, powerful, emotional. I felt I was living it and I just wanted to reach in there and pull him out of that maelstrom.

When I read this book I found it very hard to put down. It caught my attention and it never let go. I felt as though I were in a maelstrom--constantly being buffeted between good, evil, sexual sensations, superficiality and deep, lasting values. It imediately took me back to the time when I was the author's age. I related totally with the author's feelings--his first sexual encounter, his views of right and wrong and his fear for his own safety and survival. It was a most wonderful reading experience for me and I have recommended it hightly to audiences of all ages.