This is one of those books you will not want to put down. It is an excellent written, historical novel for schools and libraries. Book clubs, you do not know what you are missing if you haven't read Mama Rose.

I truly appreciate Coleman's sophisticated writing style.

This is one you shouldn't let get away. Ms. Coleman had done a spendid job in the telling of this unique love story. The author artfully crafts the perfect picture of devotion, admiration, and true love between Mr. Ford and Rose, in a way that holds a reader captive until the very end. If you long for a romantic, vivid read, I highly recommend this one, folks. You won't be disappointed.

Imagine being a young woman running scared and being alone, unfortunately this was a reality for young Rose. Rose is an orphan running away from an abusive family that had taken her in. So with fear in her heart, she went to the only place that she could, the woods. One day Rose decides to rest in a shed that is beside a shed, her intention is to get some rest and then be gone before the owners of the farm can discover her. Fortunately for her, she oversleeps and is discovered by the Turner family who will change her life forever.

The Turner's took Rose in and raised her to be a fine, strong, and hard working woman, it is her work ethic that leads Rose to the love of her life. One day while returning from work in town, something terrible happens to Rose. Her rescuer comes in the form of Jesse Ford, a farmer and former soldier in the Union Army. Jesse tends to Rose until she is well enough to return to her family.

After having spent a short length of time with Rose, Jesse discovers that he has fallen in love with her. There is only one problem Rose is black and Jesse is white. This novel is set during the Reconstruction Era and blacks and whites were supposed to be separate from each other. And marriage was completely out of the question because it was against the law for the two races to marry. So when Jesse and Rose marry they do so before God and their families but there was no legal documentation filed. Life for them is not easy and they often have to endure threats from angry whites in the area and visits from the law, who want to break up their home. They endure triumph and tragedy and have a large and happy family.

Mama Rose by author Bernadene High Coleman is an enlightening and exciting story that kept me turning the pages of this book. I am not a fan of historical fiction, but this book may have changed that. I was further fascinated by the fact that this book is based on the lives and experiences of Ms. High Coleman's great grandparents. I look forward to reading more books by the . On the RAW scale Mama Rose is a 5.

Reviewed by Simone A. Hawks

Walking the Perfect Square evokes the late 70's in New York City, and I mean the real city as only a real "five-borough" New Yorker can know it. What makes the main character, Moe Praeger, so compelling is his intensity of desire -- for a solution, for the truth, and for thin-lipped tough Catholic girls. Reed Farrel Coleman commits no technical fouls weaving his intricate plot to this reader's immense narrative satisfaction and delight. I look forward to more.

Moses 'Moe' Prager, the protag. of Reed Farrel Coleman's "Walking the Perfect Square" is a real stand up guy. He measures up with the best characters from the Noir canon.
An ex-cop with one bad leg and too much time on his hands makes the kind of p.i. you can count on. He's seen a lot and can put two and two together. Hey you do the math!
If you miss the "Rockford" or "Columbo" type mysteries, love NY or just want a story that goes down smooth give this one a spin!

This is my father's book! He worked so hard,I hope you will read this great book!

I found this book to be Average. The writer is honest in his confessions I'll give him that, but I lost all interest in the reading after about 100 pages. Missing spirituality, not compelling.

this is a classic tell-all, coming of age story in 1700's europe: rousseaus' mother dies at an early age, and through his imagination and melancholic pursuits, and once his father's hands-off approach ensues, he is left to seek beauty and justice elsewhere.

rich with detailed observations of life, people and his place in the world, it is a wonderful introduction to the man rousseau.

persecuted for later writings and publishment of his philosophy, i.e. the social contract, among others (and much like de sade and huxley} he still found a small niche of support in his time.

other related authors/books i would recommend: the first man, albert camus; aldous huxley; mario vargas llosa.

Rarely have I read such a relevant and sophisticated thinking in a book centuries old. While Rousseau is not one of the world's most famous political and social commentators, his impact and the quality of writing should convince everyone to read his book. In Confessions, he gives a wonderful literary performance, running the gamut from humorous cultural commentator to serious political theorist. It is just a wonderful book to read.

Jean Jacques Rousseau was born in 18th century France, to a middle class family that was wealthy enough to give him a chance at schooling. Rousseau has an amazing ability to find sponsors to fund his education and continued way of life. The man is quite the rogue however, and he is constantly running from town to town, getting in some outlandish situations. The narrative includes plenty of social critiques, anything from the effect of religion on society to the class system. Through Rousseau's social life, you see deep into the world of Bourbon era France. A clever mind can pick up on satirical and damning indictments the young Rousseau makes on the existing system, as he becomes aware that rather drastic changes are needed. Of course, the story also takes us through Rousseau's sexual adventures, which make for fun reading alone.

With all the frivolity of the narrative, it is important to remind ourselves of the importance of this book. Rousseau and his philosophy, outlined in Confessions, was one of the driving forces behind the French revolution, especially among the Jacobins. It is said that Robespierre claimed his allegiance to Rousseau in the moments leading up to his execution. While one can doubt Robespierre's real allegiance to the true ideals of Rousseau, it does highlight the emphasis many French intellectuals put on Jean-Jaques. To the modern reader, the philosophy of Rousseau can teach us all a lot about government and the nature of its relationship with the people. A great book.

Loved the book. I can easily imagine the fate of this book could have been that of a dry and boring read. But, thanks to the writing style of the author the book is fantastic. It starts out slow and you wonder if all the intro info is really needed - but you later find out that it was all important background info. Once the book gets going it's hard to put it down.

This is not quite a great book but it is a great story. It is the story of a man, Jay Carsey, who walked away from his life -- his job, his friends, his responsibilities, his wife. He didn't do it the way most people would, by quitting his job and getting a divorce. He just walked away, after months of planning, telling no one, and leaving no forwarding address. And he didn't do it for any of the obvious reasons you might first imagine. He and his wife had no children so he wasn't trying to avoid child support. He was the president of a local college but there was no embezzlement of funds, no crime he was running from. If that story appeals to you, or fascinates you, if you want to understand it, or if part of you thinks you already understand why someone would do this, then you will like this book.

You learn early on (and so it's not giving anything away) that he was eventually found, and much of the book deals with where he went and the life he led. And, of course, why he left in the first place. The author, Jonathan Coleman, had almost complete access to the people involved in the story. Everyone had opinions and everyone talked. People who thought they'd been close to Carsey for years were shaken by the fact that he could leave so easily and so abruptly, and they struggled to make sense of it, giving one psychological piece of the puzzle after another.

Coleman also interviewed a private detective who says that this sort of thing is more common than we like to believe. If that's the case, I think this would have been a stronger book if Coleman had taken a step back from this one story and devoted a chapter or so to other occurrences of people walking out on their lives. He could have interviewed experts who have some understanding of why a person might do this. Relying on just the people in Jay Carsey's life yielded little understanding, probably because Carsey himself didn't understand his own reasons and after a point this became exasperating. I found myself wishing the book had been written about someone with more insight into himself. But then again, in a way this is the truest kind of story: the guy is found but still there remains a mystery.

"Exit The Rainmaker" is a mystery that unravels one page at a time. Even more exciting: it's a true story, full of twists and turns and unexpected events. The human mind is a complex and compelling puzzel -- we think we know ourselves, we think we know others close to us. This book explodes the myth that we truly know anything about human behavior and the cycle of life. The plot of "Exit the Rainmaker" is thought-provoking: could any of us seriously plan our own disappearance so thoroughly and so meticiously without guilt, without thoughts for those who love us, and with such abandon? The "Rainmaker" in this story did, and we are taken in by the journey he undertakes, the decisions he made, and ultimately the consequences to everyone he knew. I found this book to be the ultimate horror story, but also fascinating and riveting. We are somehow made to care about the characters, even the Rainmaker himself, thanks to the writing of Mr. Coleman, the investigative reporter who chooses to delve into this story and find out the how, and more importantly, the WHY of planned disappearance. This book is for everyone, but especially for those who have ever fantacized about just "taking off" and leaving it all behind. I've recommended this book to many, many people and each one has thanked me profusely. I had to buy another copy because the last person I loaned it too kept loaning it out to his friends!

I was a member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church for about six months before re-locating to the Atlanta area. I however did not have the pleasure of meeting Ms. Coleman or any of the women of Mt. Olive. I did share a brief relationship with Rev. Rae Brown and was delighted to see her picture on the back of the book. Ms. Coleman's book bought back a memory of a childhood friend of mine that I haven't seen in years. After reading this book, I wrote her a letter telling her how much I would love to see her and find out how she is doing. And that I hoped to hear from her soon. This book is a quick and humorous read or simply a good gift for one of your "girlfriends." It has good ideas for get togethers and it also has the warmth of loving that we should have for one another. Very positive and encouraging.

Really enjoyed this celebration of that special relationship of girlfriends. In various women's own words the transformative and healing power of these connections are validated and described. Hooray for this book and the author. It's a definite feel good book.

I found this book to be very uplifting and had many rewards for myself and others that I shared it with. I was able to focus on the word Girlfriend. I want to salute Chrisena and I'm holding on tight for the next book and books to come. Thank you Girlfriend :-)

Well-written and well-researched, with a lovely romantic touch. It would be nice to have a sequal to it, and also to resolve the question which has been raised of whether or not they were married, as Ms. Elder stated in several interviews.

I enjoyed this book as I have few others. The story of Kate had me completely captivated and I could not put it down. I knew little of this fascinating woman before reading the book, but Jane Candia Coleman makes her live. She makes it so believable and real that I could almost feel myself on the trail to Dodge with Kate and Doc. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys history.

Jane Coleman has written a wonderful book on Kate Elder. Most importantly, even though the book is clearly labeled historical fiction, Jane's sources and research makes even the fiction ring true, and presents new facts as it goes. I normally don't read fiction but could not put down Doc Holliday's Woman. George Laughead Jr., President, Ford County Historical Society, Dodge City, KS (it goes without saying that Karen Holliday Tanner's book, Doc Holliday: A Family Portrait, is also a must-read for anyone interested in the Old West--but everyone else has already said that!)

Even if you've recently bought a huge, great new book about Windows XP, I suggest you get this one too. Because of the way it's organized, you can easily and quickly find the steps to perform any everyday task. The writing is clear, concise, and to the point, and information focuses on how to get things done, not why things work a certain way. A must-have for all users of this new operating system. I keep it right beside my new Windows XP computer.

If you are new to Windows XP, the first book you need to buy is Windows XP A to Z. It's the book you keep on your computer desk and refer to whenever you can't remember how to do something in a previous version of Windows or is a task that belongs to a feature set that is new in Windows XP. This isn't the be-all and end-all book. If you're a system administrator or a power user, you'll want one of the thousand-page tomes as well. But for everyday use, you'll need Windows WP from A to Z.

The Windows XP operating system is just different enough from previous versions that you'll find having a quick reference like Windows XP From A to Z is a high-value, low-cost investment. This book does not use cute graphics or chatty anecdotal sidebars to fill space. Instead, it is filled with informative, instructional text that's written in an intelligent, straightforward manner for readers who have a working knowledge of Windows. Pat Coleman shows you how to accomplish specific tasks using the new XP interfaces, and the a to z format of the book makes this information easy to get at. Coleman emphasizes the importance of understanding and taking advantage of Windows Explorer for organizing files and folders, and she also includes discussions of Internet Explorer and Outlook Express. You're bound to learn some new skills with the help of this book and end up feeling that you got your money's worth.

Truly a must read. The Cappellan Confederation is stronger now than it had been since the devastating 4th Succession War. As the old ways are swept aside by the new Chancellor Sun-Tzu Liao, the Cappellan state has used its recovery to take back what is theirs. With new weapons, ships and units that are better trained and motivated. The Cappellan Confederation is poised to reinvent itself as a new power. Although the manual did not discuss the impact of the Trinity Alliance with the Magistry of Canopus and the Taurian Concordat, the lack of information on the Maskirovka still could not blunt the book from giving the Confederation an impressive standing.

Where the Confederation will strike next is uncertain. With the Federated Commonwealth on the verge of Civil War, I am sure Sun Tzu will take advantage of the opportunity and exact his revenge.

This Field Manual will show you just what he has as his tools.

The Capellan Confederation is going through a "Xin Sheng" movement, which means "Rebirth" in Chinese. Led by the wise and, surprisingly, sane Sun-Tzu Liao, the future is bright for the Capellan Confederation.

The Field Manual includes information on Capellan Confederation Units (including Warrior Houses and the Death Commandos), the St. Ives Compact and the Free Capella movement. Along with this are a load of new MW 3rd Edition things, like the St. Ives Compact affiliation, loads of new life paths (like Warrior House aspirant or Death Commando covert tour).

Plus, the new Stealth Armor, new missile munitions, new 'Mechs and 'Mech variants, and the Feng Huang Cruiser.

Buy this, even if you aren't a Cappie! Its so cool!

This is a must-have for anyone who reads the Battletech novels. This catches you up on all the events that are going on that the authors don't write about in the novels, including the Death Commandos, who are a fearsome unit that get very little novel space.

I found this book disappointing. The characters were too simple and the story too fairy-tale. Jake is simply rotten, Nan is simply perfect, Ben is a perfect gentleman... everyone seemed very one-sided. Girl meets boy and they are "deeply in love" within a couple of days, she has the money and support to leave her bad marriage and move straight into "perfect" love - a little too Harlequin romance-ish.

I took longer than I would have liked to read this book, but it really hit home. I too was in an abusive relationship for 26 years. I tried like Nan to make the best of everything. She went through so much and I could relate to almost everything she went through. Most people will ask why did you stay? Well Nan and I know how difficult it is to get out and away. She made me cry, and she made me cheer. Every Woman and Man should read this, and really try to understand what happens in these situations. I too now live in the Southwest and have found a wonderful life here, and a wonderful Husband. No one should go through what Nan went through. I hope Jane never stops her writing. She really knows how to keep the reader interested.

Thank you Jane
Karen

The title of this review is based on the reaction to the reading this book by Hollywood Agent (Selleck/Elliott) Bettye McCartt.

Psychological battering is very real and so much a fact of life for the victims that they think it is simply something they have to bear, like whipped dogs, as this book makes graphically clear. This form of abuse is subtle and insidious, but nonetheless equally as painful as beatings, perhaps more destructive of the soul.

As this book emphasizes, the first step needed for a woman to escape to a normal life is to recognize that she is abused. (Of course women are not the sole victims of psychological battering – or abuse, as it’s more commonly called – men are sometimes abused as well, both physically and mentally, but not as often as women.)

This book is a primer, based on real-life experience by a prize-winning author who recounts a parallel to her own story in the novelized form for which she is well known. This is fiction, but based on solid first-hand knowledge.

The first “desperate act,” is the suicide attempt of Nan’s teen-age son, Jamie, who has become desperate enough to do anything to escape the constant abuse of his father. This awakens Nan to her responsibility to save someone beside herself – the next generation. Only then does she fully comprehend that the primarily abused people have perhaps greater responsibilities to help their children escape and gain a hope for a normal existence. Yet, even with this incentive, she is paralyzed with fear of her husband, Jake.

She is driven to her own desperate act, the pivotal point of the book, after she is subjected to an outrageous cruelty when she is almost too ill to move. Still fearful, Nan braves up to the huge first step, which is to get a lawyer and discover her options. Writer Coleman makes clear how important this first step is, since most abusive husbands have convinced their wives that they can’t live without their support – can do nothing on their own, have no rights.

Even after she files for divorce and flies to a distant hideout, Nan is still afraid. She wonders if she can support herself and her son. She meets a man she is attracted to who appears to be everything she wishes Jake had been, but wonders if she can ever trust love again?

Jake told Nan, who was actually a stunningly talented writer, that her writing was trash and she could support herself as nothing better than a paper grader in some backwater school if she left him. She had her doubts, but never quite believed him despite his hold over her. However, his almost complete hypnotism of her is something she must overcome, and although she realizes it, and sometimes almost overcomes it, it recurs and she constantly has to fight the fear that he is right, or that he will follow her, make her come “home.”

Bonuses in this story are the parallel experience of Nan's lifelong girl friend with an unfaithful husband, which she valiantly concealed for sixteen years and the experience of Nan’s black maid and supportive friend with a troublesome man.

Nan and her lifelong girl friend are amazed to discover how successfully they veneered their misery in order to keep it from the public. Nan’s uncomprehending mother, a stereotype of proper upbringing, and her demanding mother-in-law contribute to her daily slavery. These older generations are at the root of fear of scandal if one’s marital misery is exposed. The feeling is always there for conventional wives, planted by the old ladies in their worlds, that perhaps there actually is “something wrong with them,” as their sick husbands keep telling them. The reactions to Nan's final desperate act of her mother and mother-in-law provides some of the most surprising scenes of this story.

Jake's obdurate belief that he is normal and everyone else is aberrant, and his antics to avoid facing himself are instructive.

It is not clear at any point whether Nan will fail or succeed in recovering her identity, and what her destiny will be. Author Coleman skillfully maintains the tension over this dual possibility of tragedy or redemption until the final pages. Nan’s story could be a tragedy or a success story, as she is all too aware, and the outcome is solely up to her right up to the wire.

This is a book that could have a great effect on correcting a barely recognized, widespread tragedy by alerting the public to the true nature of a mental problem of alarming prevalence. Too many women are alone and desperately afraid, for their lives and those of their children, unaware of the fact that there are houses of refuge for them. There are men who – dependent on an insane domination of women – try to recover by any means, including violence, their wives or “others” from such shelters – a horrifying but true fact.

This book is an eye-opening shocker and should also be read by ALL MEN. It obviously would be a waste of time, however, for Jake’s type, who cannot see themselves as less than perfect, but facing reality would be a delightful punishment...

This book is much better than it looks like. I thought that this whole book would be completely easy to figure out, but it was actually a lot better. This is the first history mystery I read and in it there is a young girl who is african american and one day in the middle of the night her brother, her father and the girl, Bessie herself all have to go to New York City. Soon Bessie's father begins to go places late at night and come back late in the afternoon. One day Bessie sees her father hugging a lady and she becomes suspicious. What has happened to her mother? And who is the lady her father is with? Where is her father going that he has to stay for such a long time? This is all part of this book, and no it isn't the best book you can ever read, but it's better than it looks!

My daughter and I have completed another "history mystery". This one takes place in 1928. It begins with Ed Coulter taking his daughter, Bessie, and his son, Eddie, away from their North Carolina farm in the middle of the night, but leaving his wife behind. Bessie and Eddie soon find themselves living in their aunt's house in Harlem. Their father is hardly ever around and nobody will explain to them what's going on. Bessie is afraid that her family is breaking up, especially after an attractive, well-dressed woman picks her father up in a car one afternoon.

My daughter rates this one about average for this series and I can see why. The mystery isn't the most compelling. There is little sense of danger and no pirates, secret tunnels, or dark forests with unseen characters lurking just out of sight. On the other hand, my daughter didn't see through it, so it maintained her interest right to the end.

Personally, I found this one more humorous than any of the others. There are several funny situations, like when Bessie finds herself forced to eat oatmeal from a dish she had secretly had a big, slimy slug in earlier and had put away without washing. The situation surrounding Flo, the neighborhood hoodoo woman is also amusing.

Like the others in this series, this story is good for kids. It includes real historical information and characters, and it has positive messages and role models. Originally, I gave the whole series 5-star ratings. In my opinion, however, the Harry Potter books are the heavyweights in this genre, and though I still recommend the "history mysteries", they aren't as good as Harry. So, in the interest of consistency, I've changed my "history mystery" rating to four stars. This one, while not the best of the group in our opinion, certainly isn't inferior to the rest, either. I recommend the entire series to girls in the nine to twelve age group.

This book keeps you on end and you don't know what is going to happen next! There are a lot of twisting bends in this book. I thought the dad was cheating all the way but you will have to find out what happens! This was a great book and I think it deserves six stars!!1