Alec MacKenna is building a name as a trainer for himself among racing circles until an accident that ruins his reputation. Well, it wasn't really the accident, but punching out the owner afterwards, but the end result remains the same...no one wants to work with Alec. An old friend gives him a last chance--a horse named Legends Lake. The horse has all the makings of a true champion, but there's something spooking it. Alec needs to help the Legends Lake overcome its fear in order to get his life back on track. That journey takes him to Ireland.

Kate O'Sullivan spent years in a horrible marriage, but now her husband is gone, and she's rebuilding her life for herself, her children and her horses. When Legends Lake comes home to where he was bred, it's Kate's job, along with Alec, to help the horse overcome his fear and find his true potential. And while they're both helping Legends Lake, maybe they can help each other overcome their fear and find their true potential...a potential that is stronger when they include the other in that future.

JoAnn Ross crafts a powerful story of the healing power of love as she returns to Castlelough, Ireland--a place where magic and love walk hand in hand.

In Florida, horse trainer Alec MacKenna informs owner Douglas Wellesley that his thoroughbred Lady Justice should not run today. Douglas forces the issue and the steed is injured in what will turn out to be the last race for this champion horse. Alec's concern for the horse's best interest costs him his thriving career as a leading trainer as the industry blames him for the accident and for his angry behavior towards the obstinate owner.

Alec gets a second chance when he is asked to work miracles with talented LEGENDS LAKE, a horse that is lightning fast, but tends to jump the oval fence. He takes his new charge to Kate O'Sullivan's horse farm in Ireland so that the original breeder can help him understand the horse. As they work together, Alec and Kate begin to fall in love although her use of Druid magic to help her horses confuses him. However, he has a hurting stepdaughter still in mourning for the death of her mother (his wife) and she is legally married to a nasty sort making a relationship between them impossible.

LEGENDS LAKE is an entertaining contemporary romance with a bit of magic and plenty of relationship drama to include the title hero. The story line is fun though the horse racing saga of LEGENDS LAKE asks the reader to run quite a stretch. Still, the interpersonal relationships are well designed so that the audience obtains insight into the feelings of several players. More than just the $2 better or the casual Derby follower will enjoy JoAnn Ross' Triple Crown winner.

Harriet Klausner

I thought this book was excellent. I bought this because of my love for horse racing. The characters are well devoloped and it is a good example of how sometimes our lives and horses' lives are not alwayz perfect. Legends Lake's problem is well devoloped and it doesn't obsess on it. It was very realistic and injoyable. It doesn't focis on just horse racing either, it also focises on how Kate was abused by her x-husband and what Alex did about it. You'll like this book even if you don't love horses. Nice job Joann!!!

The fitz wreck happened 1 day after my 10th birthday and because of gordon lightfoot's tribute song i have alwayshad a strong interest about this ship.I have seen lots of documentaries and have books about it. This so far seems to be the most informative. This book gives a pretty good description of the Great Lakes especially Lake Superior background information on the crew and the investigation. The only thing I did not really like was some of the description of the feelings and the things the crew were going thru I felt there may have been a little to much speculation on ths part.But all in all are great book. The one part that always seems to really stay with me that maybe kind of haunting is the phrase from Gordon's song that says does anyone know where the love of god goes when the waves turn the minutes t hours

I am an avid student of the "Edmund Fitzgerald", Great Lakes shipwrecks and Great Lakes lighthouses. I have studied the "Edmund Fitzgerald" for several years and have attended ceremonies, held each year on the anniversary of the sinking of the "Edmund Fitzgerald", at the Split Rock Lighthouse in Minnesota. I have read several books about the shipwrecks in the Great Lakes, as well as many books about the sinking of the 'Edmund Fitzgerald'. Also, I have visited exhibitions in Duluth, MN and White Fish Point, Michigan. The 'Edmund Fitzgerald' is a passion of mine and I strongly & wholeheartedly recommend "Fitzgerald's Storm...The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald' by Dr. Joseph MacInnis. This book will not bore you with endless and insignificant details, but will enthrall you. Dr. MacInnis has written a book suitable for both the casual armchair reader and the serious student. When you read this book you can understand the nightmarish hell that the 'Fitz' and crew went through on that last voyage. You will be able to comprehend the fury of the storm, feel the helplessness of the doomed sailors and experience the grief and emotions of the families the crew left behind. If there is only one book that you will read, about the 'Edmund Fitzgerald', READ THIS ONE! Then, go to White Fish Point, Michigan and visit The Shipwreck Museum. I would rate this book higher than five stars if I could. It is just a good book, that will hold your interest and rivet your attention. Read it!

It was 7:30 PM on November 10, 1975. While we were watching Monday Night Football from the comfort of our homes, 29 sailors were fighting for their lives in a storm on Lake Superior. They were the crew of the ore-carrier S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald and they would eventually lose the battle. Dr. Joseph MacInnis led a 1994 expedition to the wreck and produced a television documentary on the subject. His book is the account of the wreck exploration and also a history of the ship. He tells the complete story from the ship's launching in 1957 to the sinking in 1975 and the search for answers in the 1990s. The primary question was how could a ship sink in the era of modern navigational technology and weather forecasting? This question and many others are examined throughout the book. The ship and crew have been immortalized in a 1976 song by Gordon Lightfoot. Dr. MacInnis uses his book to show the importance of learning from the disaster and keeping the memory alive.

This story is a touching recollection of painful experiences. Through Yvette's story the reader is taken through a series of emotions. Native Women coming from a matrilineal clan systems will surely relate to the expressed feeling of attachment to family, land, sprirituality and harmony.

Although the reader is taken through a complex array of ceremonies, the content is described with specific simplicity , as to not disrespect the traditional ceremonial purposes.

The book encourages women everywhere to take adversity in ones life and face it with courage, vision, and spiritual growth.

Like many of the readers I couldn't put the book down until I read it from cover to cover. While reading the story I found out these people were my extended family! I know everyone mentioned in the book. As a youngster I remember the crusade of Aunt Desbah, Uncle John and others in finding the twins who were stolen as babies. I wept at the end when Yvette participated in the holy Hozhoji ceremony to be reunited with her birth place, family, culture, and environment. Very moving!

Aunt Betty, Yvette's biological mother lived a very brave life as she longed and searched everyday of her life wanting to be reunited with her twins. May God bless her soul.

I read this book from cover to cover in a few hours and wished it had gone on and on. It is a poignant yet heartwarming story of an American family. For many years our Native American people suffered immesurable pain as their children were stolen from them and often lost forever. This is a "happy ending" story of a joyful reunion! The emotions in all of the family members are deeply felt. Lost children are returned to their roots and the depth of love of these family members for one another is beautiful. This book is wonderfully written!

It is no wonder that Lori Lake's books are best sellers. Her characters are deep-bodied, multidimensional, and convincing. Her plots unfold like pedals on a flower, coming to full bloom at just the right moment. Ricochet in Time is no exception. When Dani and her lover Meg are victims of a hate crime at the beginning of the story, it is anybody's guess how the plot will develop. Will the killer get away with it? Will Dani be able to pull herself together enough to pursue justice for her slain partner? Or will she run away as she has from trouble in the past? The interesting point, here, is that this particular plot element becomes the background for a much more interesting story. Meet Ruth and Estelline, Grace, Bryce, Cleve, and a whole host of distinct characters, all of whom interact in various important ways with Dani as she fights her way back to full health from her physical injuries and emotional pain. You'll have to read the book to see if the perpetrator of the hate crime is brought to justice. The outcome is far more surprising than you can guess. Ronald L. Donaghe is the author of The Blind Season and a professional book reviewer for Foreword Magazine.

I can't believe anyone wouldn't like this story. I found it to have well-developed, very believable characters with a plot that, including the ending, is very plausible. I wanted to read this book because I had read Gun Shy by Ms. Lake. I have to say that this story is better written, and frankly, Gun Shy was one of the best books I had read all year. Everyone should read this book.

Having already read Lori's "Gun" duo, I wasn't sure what to expect from "Ricochet". I was not disappointed, because the book deals with a horrible crime with multi-layered characters, legal realism and consequences that have far-reaching effects. The book opens with action that grabs the reader right away, one can see the outcome but we go along for the ride, and then we watch the fall-out begin to affect so many more lives than just the main characters. It's been said by another reviewer that the characters are under-developed but even Dani's father is more than just cardboard! I could see Estelline right there, I could envision Ruth, and Grace, and I could definitely feel Dani's frustration during her first physio appointment!
The main thrust of this story is the aftermath of a hate crime, but it is so much more than that. Simply put, this is a story that will amuse, anger, sadden and grab you on so many levels, you'll be hooked.

The book is about a 12 year old kid named Joey. Joey and his family go on a vacation near a lake. They stayed in a cabin real close to the lake. One night in his room before he went to sleep, he heard voices in his head. The voice said," There's a door in the lake!" It repeated in his head until the sun came up. Joey was curious about this door, so he goes to the lake and sees this unusual thing in the water. It was really colorful. Joey goes to it. He hears a strange noise and Joey gets abducted in a blink of an eye. When he opens his eyes, he realizes that he was abducted by aliens. I'm not really a sci-fi fan but this book was ok. I learned more about aliens in this book. If you're a sci-fi fan, it's your book.

The book is about a 12 year old kid named Joey. Joey and his family go on a vacation near a lake. One night in his room before he went to sleep, he heard voices in his head. The voice said,"There's a door in the lake!" It repeated in his head until the sun came up. Joey was curious about this unusual thing in the water. It was really colorful. Joey gets abducted in a blink of an eye. When he opens his eyes, he realizes that he was abducted by aliens. I'm not really a sci-fi fan but this book was ok. I learned more about aliens in this book. If you're a sci-fi fan, it's your book.

Outstanding book for 10 and up. Great vocabulary usage. Nice use of important science concepts. Very interesting, holds interest of reader. Flowing sentences. Thought provoking book. Makes one wonder about possibilities. Highly recommended.

Perfect for parents to read along with and get reports chapter by chapter on what is going on.

Surely the best test of a good travel book is that it makes you want to go the same places, while still describing them in a way that makes you feel like you have already been there. Even though it is now 20 years since Seth made the journey that he records here (and much would have changed) reading this book still made me want to make the same journey, even with all the hardship that it entailed. Another aspect that makes this book exceptional is that the commentary doesn't just focus on descriptions of the trip but wanders off into discussions of political and social issues prompted by the surroundings. One telling comment (especially for westerners) occurs on the last page when he writes of India and China, "the fact that they are both part of the same landmass means next to nothing. There is no such thing as an Asian ethos or mode of thinking". My only disappointment with this book (and the reason that it only gets 4 stars) is that, while Seth regularly describes taking photographs of various sights, none of them are included in the book. Seth's descriptions are amazing, but some of the visuals would have been even better. If you are interested at all in travel in China and Tibet read this book (and then Paul Theroux's `Riding the Iron Rooster' for a very different viewpoint).

From the author of two best selling novels "A Suitable Boy" and "An Equal Music" this travel book is something very different. It is a delightfully written story created from the journals kept by Vikram Seth during his hitch-hiking traverse of China from Nanjing to Tibet. For most people, certainly for most westerners, this is about as far off the beaten track as it is possible to get.

We sympathise with Seth as he endeavours to obtain the myriad of visas necessary to cross communist China. These include, entry visas, travel visas, permits to stay in a certain village/area/precinct/canton and of course, exit visas. The bureaucracy is simply immense and yet nobody has any real authority, always having to revert up the seemingly endless chain of superiors. Overcoming the man made hurdles is only part of the story as rain, floods, swamps, swollen rivers, altitude sickness, extreme cold, washed away bridges and difficult terrain pose further obstacles along the journey.

During the narrative, Seth breaks off occasionally to discuss the Chinese political system and interestingly compares it with the Indian political system. The Chinese dictatorship virtually removes free will from the people whilst the wheels of Indian democracy slowly turn in a very different form of bureaucratic inefficiency. "One overwhelming fact" says Seth "is that the Chinese have a better system of social care and distribution than we in India do. Their aged do not starve. Their children are basically healthy. By and large the people are well clothed, very occasionally in rags." He goes on "The fact that we have elections every five years means that the government is afraid to undertake projects that are unpopular but beneficious in the long term. The Chinese government is not thus fettered".

Throughout his travels, but particularly in Tibet, the smashed temples, buildings and works of art, to say nothing of the ruined families, present evidence of the destruction which was wrought during the cultural revolution. How ironic that I was reading this in April 2001 whilst the Taliban were destroying fifth century carvings of standing Buddhas in Afghanistan.

This review would not be complete without a mention of the yaks which form part of the scenery along Seth's route. Whilst alive, the yak is an efficient machine converting grass into milk, butter, cheese and yoghurt. It provides a convenient means of transportation and delivers dung for fuel and fertiliser. Finally, the meat, bone, pelt, fur, hooves and tail provide sustenance, clothing, leather and material for tents and awnings.

So, please read and enjoy this unique travelogue by an educated, eloquent and observant man, multilingual Vikram Seth, also known as Xie Binlang in China. You won't be disappointed.

It was not the book I wanted to pack for my vacation reading but it was in my luggage when I got there... so there, and thanks god. It was the first book that I read by him so I could not compare to his other works. That being say, I really enjoyed this unique travelogue. In it, Seth took us on his journey, revealing the landscape, the people, the political systems, and make-ups of the ever-evolving-but-ancient china that up until now has not exposed to the outside world. I learned a great deal, and it was a story because of Seth's unique background I don't think anyone could tell it but him.

I've read and greatly enjoyed Wolfe's "New Sun" series. In that series, the writing is complex, but a lot of surprises are in store by the end of the series. Unfortunately, in this series, there are not many surprises. The major problem with the first story is that it plods along rather slowly. Events that are seemingly trivial to the reader are covered in agonizing detail. The second story ("Lake of the Long Sun") is a bit better, as things start to pick up a bit. If you haven't bought any of these books yet, though, see my review of the fourth book, "Exodus from the Long Sun".

Some Wolfe fans find the Long Sun books disappointing. At first glance, the writing doesn't seem to be of the same beauty and complexity as that in the books narrated by Severian; the philosophical and metaphysical insights here seem less breathtaking. However, this is a Gene Wolfe novel, so appearances are expected to be deceiving. Patera Silk alone is worth the price of admission, and the plot of Long Sun is Wolfe's best yet, intimately connected to the presentation of the varied and fascinating cast of characters. THE BOOK OF THE LONG SUN rewards rereading perhaps even more than most of Wolfe's work.

The story is of Patera Silk, a devout priest whose future is enmeshed with the gods he serves, takes place within the Whorl, a giant, cylindrical starship that has traveled for generations and is faced with political rebellion and war. Through a series of strange events, Silk finds himself caught up in intrigue and espionage, running against a major crime lord, befriending a cyborg soldier, and encountering at least one of the gods of Mainframe. All of the characters are rich in detail and truly engaging. Oreb the talking bird is my favorite! The books of the Long Sun stand on their own but is also part of the universe of the books of the Short Sun.

The mysteries in the Book of the Long Sun are clear (though abstract at times, rewards the reader with repeated reading). THE LONG SUN gradually introduces a plot that will later shakeup the city of its setting and by the end of the four-volume work totally change the Whorl in which the characters live. The transformation of Silk from naive dogmatic priest to a secular authority of sophisitication is interesting and enlightening. These stories are a part of me and will stay with you too long after you've read them. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

Reading "The Spy Who Loved Me" is like being trapped with a dull guest at a bad cocktail party. While you're waiting for Bond to show up, the heroine has you pinned in the corner, away from the drinks, telling you all about her sad childhood and her leaving home. While your eyes are scanning the room, she is telling you about her love life, her sexual exploits, the men who have used and discarded her, and a lot of other stuff you don't really want to hear about.

To be honest, I'm not entirely sure what else she talks about, because my attention started to wander. Instead of making an excuse about going to the bathroom, I began skipping chapters, looking for Bond. He showed up a third of the way through the book, wiht an excuse involving a case he'd just finished. This was by far the most excruciating part of the book, because, by this point, the contrast between the interesting exploits Bond recounted and the painfully dull book itself is just heartbreaking. Of course, by that point in the book, "A Field Guide to Birds in the West Indies" probably would have read like "Goldfinger."

Eventually, the book decides to take up the, um, plot. It's not worth the wait. Let's just say that, for a guy who's singlehandedly averted world war on more than one occasion, Slugsy and Horror -- yes, those are the villians' names -- must seem like a doozy of a step down. I won't spoil whatever surprises the book has by revealing their plan, but you can safely assume it falls just a tad short of stealing a nuclear warhead or destroying the gold in Fort Knox.

In short, this is, by far, the worst of the Bond novels. There's a reason why the movie has nothing to do with the book. You should do likewise.

It's been said that Ian Fleming was not fond of his book, "The Spy Who Loved Me". Since he placed a note at the book's beginning, claiming someone left the manuscript on his desk, one can guess that this might be true. Whatever the author's feelings were, "The Spy Who Loved Me" is an enjoyable novel, although it does differ from Fleming's other Bond novels.

"The Spy Who Loved Me" is unique for a James Bond novel, in that the story is told through the eyes of a "Bond Girl". Vivienne Michel recalls her travels, her new job at a motel and the danger she encounters one night at the hands of a couple thugs. Enter James Bond, who is more heroic than ever as he fights to be her savior.

In recent years, the Ian Fleming Bond novels have gone in and out of print. Don't hesitate to pick up "The Spy who Loved Me" and the other Bond books before they become impossible to find!

It's been said that Ian Fleming was not fond of his book, "The Spy Who Loved Me". Since he placed a note at the book's beginning, claiming someone left the manuscript on his desk, one can guess that this might be true. Whatever the author's feelings were, "The Spy Who Loved Me" is an enjoyable novel, although it does differ from Fleming's other Bond novels.

"The Spy Who Loved Me" is unique for a James Bond novel, in that the story is told through the eyes of a "Bond Girl". Vivienne Michel recalls her travels, her new job at a motel and the danger she encounters one night at the hands of a couple thugs. Enter James Bond, who is more heroic than ever as he fights to be her savior.

In recent years, the Ian Fleming Bond novels have gone in and out of print. Don't hesitate to pick up "The Spy who Loved Me" and the other Bond books or tapes before they become impossible to find!

This is a great book about the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald. If you have never read a book on the Fitz this is a great start. The author does a great job of introducing you to the crew and what life is like sailing on the Great Lakes. He takes several of the crew and introduces you to their personality and their history. This helps you to develope feelings for the crew member as they sail on the Lakes. Hemming also does a good job of presenting the facts of the sinking and helps you to understand what the last several hours were like on the Fitzgerald. The book is very inclusive when it comes to describing the factors that lead to the Fitz's eventual demise. The only complaint that I have about the book is that Hemming described vividly the crews last actions immediately prior to the sinking when no further contact was made with any other ships. Since nobody knows exactly what happen during this period of time the author may have created a scinario to keep the book real. He accomplishes this but it may compromise the facts. All in all I learned a lot about the story and I think most readers will too.

I really enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to anyone interested in the "Big Fitz." That ship or is it the song just simply has a way to draw your attention. To the 29 men on board. Rest in peace. You earned it.

I've been fascinated with the Edmund Fitzgerald sinking for many years, partially because I've lived around the great lakes most of my life. This book answered many of the haunting questions about the ship and what happened to her. The examination of the incident by Hemming is excellent and his proposed explanation of the cause is far better than the Coast Guard's excuses. I highly recommend this book on several levels, especially for its writing and research. Thanks to Gordon Lightfoot for bringing this to our attention.

I have read this book and found it very informative. The book is mostly about a ego driven Captain who has never made a mistake. Once you get to page 80 or so, the book is very well written and actually talks about the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Up until this part of the book the Captain tell endless storys about how great he was as a Captain. He does have great evidence on what happened to the Edmund Fitzgerald.

Sure to create controversy, Paquette gives us a new insight into the tragedy. With all due respect for the victims of the tragedy,from his candid assessment of the actions taken by McSorley in his choice of routes on the final voyage to his assertion that McSorley should have demanded investigation of the "wiggling thing" are interesting,at the least. Possibly the authors place more confidence in Burgner than may be warranted, but at any rate it is a real departure from the usual depictions which portray the event as 100% freak accident. I hope he is wrong in his insinuations, but again, a much different perspective for good or for ill.

To all the folks who talked about the ego effect of Paquette I have to say this. He was out there that night and made all the right decisions. He loaded along side of the Fitz, watched her clear the harbour, listened to her radio broadcasts and knew they were going to get into trouble. In my estimation he also has the real reason she sank. I have read and reread this book at least 6 times and belive it is the best read ever on the subject. If you want to know why the Fitz sank, get this book. As for Captain Paquette, my hat is off to him. On this night in particular, it wasn't him who had the ego problem. He brought the Sykes into safe harbour.