Killian's once beloved husband has turned into an abusive, jealous man. Under the threat of another violent attack, Killian and her 5 year old son flee into a foreign land, exchanging a dangerous situation for one of unknown peril. Set in Scotland in 1691, the history and culture are rich with tradition, feuds, and castles.

While this period in history had not been my typical choice in fiction, I had been impressed with the author's Brides of Culdee Creek series. I was pleasantly rewarded with a enthralling tale of mystery and love. Morgan's versatility as an author is
astounding. Morgan has a gift in weaving a story that exposes the soul of its characters, draws in the reader and wraps them in authentic culture and history. At the same time, the story presents the way to true, abundant and everlasting life. Amazing. A book worth experiencing.

I picked up this book in a store, not really knowing why. By the time I finished reading it, I had found my answer. This book deals with everyday struggles that keep us from having a deep, personal relationship with God. I would recommend this book to anyone. It was great!

I picked up this book in a store, not really knowing why. By the time I finished reading it, I had found my answer. This book deals with everyday struggles that keep us from having a deep, personal relationship with God. I would recommend this book to anyone. It was great!

This book is as real to life as possible in its discription of the events from Windover to Tinian and on to History. My grandfather served under Tibits and is pictured and mentioned several times in this book. As I turned the pages I was reading what I had heard first hand for several years from my grandfather spelled out across the pages. The attention to detail and recreation of the stories, events, and emotions capture the readers attention and draw you in. The various perspectives of the events also allows the reader to understand the magnitude of the bombings and the enourmous undertakingas that transpired prior to the event.

This is a must read for those who are interested in WWII History. I will pass this book along through the generations as the most accurate account of what transpired for my Grandfather and the men who served along side him.

I read the authors Voyage of the Damned a long time ago and really enjoyed it. So when I found this book I had expectations. And they were easily met.

The authors take you along with Col. Tibbets and the rest of his squadron - through training, hellraising and more. The book reads like a novel even if it is based on well documented facts. They also cover both sides of the story including the experiences of Hiroshima survivors.

All in all a good and enjoyable read.

From the very beginning this narrative grabs your attention. It wasn't until one hour away from Hiroshima on August 6th, 1945, that Enola Gay's pilot, Paul W. Tibbets turned around and announced to his crew that they were about to drop the world's first atom bomb.

The crew was handpicked by Tibbets. Their training was so secret and compartmentalized that they didn't even discuss it among themselves. They all "knew", but they didn't "know" until they were told. Survivors of "Little Boy" were also interviewed for this story.

Another book recommend is Flight of the Enola Gay written by her pilot, Gen. Paul W. Tibbets. This is the story from his perspective. Excellent.

Michelle deBreuil Farrell - Military Aviation Photojournalist.

Morgan-Cole's book goes beyond the cliche, and beyond the Biblical narrative. She answers questions I have wondered about. What was life like in an Asian harem? Did Esther really want to be there? She is celebrated every year as a heroine. But who was she? An interesting plot, butressed with historical research and a female perspective, that leads you to admire Morgan-Cole's Esther, and the many women of her era who's names we never learn.

This is historical fiction at it's best. Meticulously researched and accurate where possible while at the same time totally captivating.

It's the story of a young Hebrew girl living in Persia c. 480 B.C.E. after her people had been exiled from Jerusalem. King Xerxes sends his men to find beautiful women for his harem and Esther is taken by force from her family. As the story of royal harem life and firey politics unwinds Esther finds herself more deeply involved in the King's life than she ever dreamed. Her strength and courage as she saves her people from annihilation give the reader cause for contemplation and make you fall in love with her.

Esther herself is enchanting but the whole cast of characters is skillfully developed. Before you know it you are floating along in the story and living in the 5th century B.C.E. The descriptions and history mesh perfectly with the fictional elements to create a spellbinding story of intrigue, mystery, murder, and romance.

The best part of the book for the true historical fiction fan is the part where Trudy Morgan-Cole details how she researched the book. She explains which parts are true, which parts are probably true, and which parts are pure fiction. She touches on the difficulties of researching historical figures from over 2000 years ago and explains her reasoning in using the 'version' of history she chose.

It's truly a splendid book that will delight the reader all the way through!

Thought provoking and truly an amazing story!

This is a really useful book for those who are approaching death and those who are critically ill and don't know what the outcome will be. I'm not Episcopalian, but felt really supported in terms of ethical and spiritual help when my father was dying and I read it.

When confronted by potentially controversial ethical issues, such as those surrounding death and dying, churches rarely distinguish themselves. There are a number of pitfalls. Knowing that they cannot please anyone, they may simply remain silent, abdicating their responsibility to provide moral guidance. Worse, they may make pious-sounding, but vague, pronouncemnts that address issues without actually saying anything. When take clear positions, they may have a hard time making a convincing connection to their own tradition. This work avoids all those pitfalls. The Episcopal Church's End of Life Task Force addresses issues such as assisted suicide clearly and concisely even as they respect the human anguish and moral ambiguities involved.

Although specifically Anglican in perspective, the early chapters offer an understanding of death and its place in human life--including theologically appropriate uses of medical treatment/resources--that will be of value to all Christians (and others interested in what religious traditions have to say). After discussions of mourning, the church's role, and social policy issues like access to health care and the importance of palliative care, the book provides several very helpful resources for use in local parishes. This book by a distinguished panel of clergy, ethicists, physicians, and attorneys (not to imply that any of those categories excludes any of the others!) can serve as a useful resource for all who want to make the end of life a more faithful experience, both for themselves and for others.

This book serves two purposes. Young children love to have it read to them. Older children like the humor of Minerva Louise's judgement errors. It's a very enjoyable book, ages 2 to 10.

I read this to my Kdg students. They noticed there weren't any quotaions marks in the text..yea for them! They wondered why and would like to write to the author! help!! what a great language activity!

Such a simple little story with a winsome little heroine. After meeting her in a bookstore I fell hopelessly in love. I will admit that visually she struck me to the heart and of course there is her name. My granddaughter reads about her adventures every night and she understands that even though she gets to hear the stories the books are still Grandma's. If she is properly respectful of Minerva Louise I will pass her along one day. Not yet. This charming little hen must stay with me for a while

I just have to say that, this is an awsome book. A different kind of Romance novel that gives you all. It gives you obviously the romance, fantasy, and an unfogetable adventure. The characters of this novel, base their actions on what they value and what thier beliefs are. It's a book that reminds you what your heart is capable of. Laws that bound you to your actions are proven wrong and is faught by the power held within your heart. This is the first time, I read a sort of fantasy futuristic novel, and I think i'm hooked now! :)

By far the best romance novel I've ever read. Kathleen Morgan illustrates why she is, without a doubt, the Queen of Futuristic Romance. A prequel to Heart's Lair this is the story of Morigan and Rissa. He is the leader of the exotic Cat People of Agrica and she is the daughter of his greatest enemy, the Lord Commander of Bellator. Their duel of hearts is fast paced, emotional, and deeply moving and it will keep you glued to your seat. Don't start this book unless you have time to finish it because I promise you will not be able to put it down. And make sure to keep a box of kleenex near by because this one will pull at your heart! Rissa is determined to hate the savage Cat Man who has forced her to mate with him. Morigan is resentful of having to take to his lair a woman who is part of the very race that is trying to destroy his people. But, inspite of them both, a passionate bond develops that neither can resist, but many try to destroy! If you've never read Futuristic Romance, this is the one to try. If you are all ready a fan of the genre, this is a must have for your collection!

For a Futuristic romance book... I would have to choose Kathleen Morgan !! This is my all-time favorite... What a page turner. I couldn't put this book down. I just love the way Ms. Morgan displays her characters; I feel like I have jumped back in that time era and I have become Rissa. We jump back in time to the first duel of hearts between Cat Man and Imperium beauty. Sigh.... Morigan put a silencing finger to his lips, rose, and walked over to Rissa. "Come," he said, offering his hand. "Naren sleeps. A breath of fresh air would be most welcome now." Rissa eyed his proffered hand warily before accepting it. In a quick, effortless motion, he pulled her to her feet. The blankets fell away, but for several breathless seconds they continued to stand there staring at each other. His eyes blazed hot and scalding, holding Rissa in a heated prison of bitter confusion and fearful desire. Something heavy, smothering, encompassed her, squeezing her chest until she could barely drag in a breath. Her heart pounded. A crazed urge to step closer to Morigan filled her. To join bodies, to feel the hard length of him press against her. To taste his mouth... With a gasp Rissa jerked back, her eyes gone wide, her throat dry. His hand, however, maintained its grip. "What's wrong, femina?" he demanded in a silky, seductive voice. "Having trouble dealing with your desire for me, are you?" Rissa flushed crimson and twisted frantically in his grasp. "I feel nothing for you but disgust! You're just so...so fascinatingly ugly----" Morigan wrenched her up against him. "Disgust? Ugly?" He gave a low, harsh laugh. "Sorry, femina, but those were hardly the emotions I saw in your eyes or felt emanating from you. You forget I can look into your mind----and I know a woman in heat when I see one!" "In-in heat? Why you-you----" Before Morigan could guess her intent, Rissa's free hand lifted. Only the quickest of Cat reflexes saved him from a stinging blow to the side of his face. He caught her hand only millimeters away, hlted it, then slowly brought it to rest along the length of his beard-stubbled cheek. His fingers entwined in hers, imprisoning them there. Morigan turned his head then, bringing his mouth in contact with the palm of Rissa's hand. At the touch of his soft, full lips, Rissa gasped. Fear rocketed through her. Fear of his intent, of the unknown---and fear of the intense surge of emotions his action had roused. His lids lowered, her head sagged back, and her woman's curves, almost in some instinctive response, pressed against his own tautly strung frame. He was seducing her, in as much with the strength of his unique psychic powers as he was with his body, and she didn't want it. Gods, she didn't dare let herself want it! "P-please," Rissa breathed. "D-don't. I don't want----" "You don't know what you really want, femina," Morigan groaned softly. "And I ... I know this is not at all what I should be wanting." His lips slid down the length of her hand, alternately caressing, then gently nipping her with his strong white teeth. "But I'm a male, and I have male's needs. Needs that haven't been satisfied in over a----" He stopped short, went rigid, then pushed her slowly back from him. The most intense battle raged in his eyes. A battle of wild desire and raw anguish. After a time Morigan relaxed, the bow-strung tension easing from his body. With a ragged breath, he released her and stepped back. "We were going outside, were we not, before we became sidtracked?" Morigan managed a tight little smile and motioned her ahead of him. "Would you still like to do so?" "Y-yes." Rissa turned and hurried down the short tunnel that led outside. Stepping from the cave, she glanced around her and, with a deep sigh of relief, threw back her head. Stars, brilliant pinpoints of light in the ebony canopy of the heavens, twinkled back at her. Two moons, one full and high overhead, one rising close to the horizon, little more than a slender cresent, filled the night sky. The third apparently had yet to rise. Alien and so vvery different from the nighttime display back on Bellator, the scene was still strangely comforting. At least there were still few things in life that remained constant, predictable. Not like her perpetually changing emotions when it came to the Cat Man, Morigan. Rissa wheeled around, acutely aware of his presence directly behind her. Less than a meter away, he stared at her, his expression shuttered. In the light of the single full moon, an eerie green glow seemed to emanate from his eyes. She shuddered. Morigan stepped closer. "What's wrong, femina?" She clasped her arms about her and fiercely shook her head. "Nothing. Nothing's wrong. I've just seen so much violence and bloodshed of late. And now ... " Her voice broke. Her head dipped. She inhaled an unsteady breath and forced herself to go on. "And now, Naren." Her gaze swung up to his. "If things don't go well you mean to kill him, don't you, before you leave here?" Morigan's mouth drew into a tight, forbidding line. "If absolutely necessary, yes." Utter disbelief filled Rissa. "You haven't a shred of compassion or mercy in you, have you? In your own way, you Cat Men are as brutally ruthless as you claim we Bellatorians are. How can you call yourself Naren's friend one minute, and then the next speak of murdering him?" The Cat Lord's hands fisted at his sides. His shoulders went rigid. "How? Because, my short-sighted little femina, if we were forced to leave him behind and he was captured, the Bellatorians would use their most painfully efficient ways of extracting infornmation on him. Eventually, no matter how valiantly Naren resisted, they'd discover the location of our lair. To preclude that eventuality, all of us, Cat Man and Woman alike, have taken a vow to kill ourselves if captured. It's the only way to protect our people. "So speak to me not of our brutality," Morigan snarled, his anger a heated, palpable aura about him. With the survival of his kind hanging in the balnce, the new leader devises a daring plan to kidnap Bellatorian brides to insure the propagation of at least some form of the species. What he doesn't expect is to find the taking of a human wife in anyhting but a duty.The firery Rissa touches is heart in spite of himself... This book is a very dreamy book and captures every woman's heart. It did mine.. So can they find happiness before their enemies find a way to destroy them? (BR)

This book is great for all parents...even if they choose not to homeschool. It gives great advice and ideas for cutting corners in "regular" life to allow room in the budget for homeschooling. I am new in my research of homeschooling but I have read at least 10 books in the last 6 months on the topic and this is tie for first place on my list! A MUST for anyone concerned about "finding" the money to homeschool!

I loved this book so informative. This book is for anyone feeling they dont feel they would be able to homeschool. It gives alot advice and how to live on one income, starting your own library, and information on college. It also gives alot of freebies or low cost alternatives. This book may be the one to convince my husband that homeschooling is the right choice.

This book is essential for all home schoolers that desire to or must watch the budget. Tons of practical tips on freebies and low cost activities and teaching aids, as well as other tips to make home schooling doable for anyone who wishes to educate their children at home.

This book is so much better than I had imagined it might be. It's great, it's literature, not just another book. I enjoyed it immensely.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. All of the principal characters are brought to life in a deeply compelling way. It's unfortunate that so few readers appear to be aware of this extraordinary work. It is as evocative as the best stories of Nevil Shute and H. E. Bates. Superb.

My 5 year old received this for Christmas and it is her new favorite book. She practices the dance moves shown in the pictures while wearing her own pink tutu...the story is delightful, the pictures bright. Great for any dance lovers...

I bought this darling book for my granddaughter, aged 4 ... and then decided I should recommend it to my clients. I'm an EQ coach and I love the attitude of this book. We should all have our dreams and wear our tutus everywhere -- if not in reality, in our minds. Who knows what you can grow up to be if you keep envisioning your dreams, and it's never too late, and you're never too old.

For every little girl starting at age 1. I can't stop reading it to my 3 year old. It's very up to date in the illustrations and has cute tones! Just change "Mama" and "Papa" to "Mommy" and "Daddy" and it's the perfect story to read to your little one. Short and sweet.