I had never read a novel like this beofre but had heard others talk about them all of my life (40+). Most of the time, I'm reading technical. legislative or scientific documents and needed to take sometime out to read something non-work related. This book has kept me riveted in my hotel rooms at night, criss-crossing the country in the air and finally in my own bed at home. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am anxiously awaiting the release of Barbara's next book.

A wonderful historical romance. Dark, sexy. I'm a sucker for heros who are society outcasts. Pierce's hero is fabulous. She combined him with a bold, interesting heroine, making for a great read.

.....Meet Stan Sloan . . . Spent a few tours working for the US Army in Korea, home to scores of GI camp towns, providing those basic amenities ranging from seedy bars, easy women, leather shoes to handbags. A battered survivor of a failed marriage and predatory divorce lawyers, Stan's only problems are the politics within the army's Third Signal Brigade, headquartered in Seoul. But this problem is minor compared to those that will soon engulf him when his Korean-American friend talks him into a partnership. Together with his friend and his friend's crooked Bible thumping Korean in-laws as partners, Stan buys an overpriced vacant lot in Hawaii just as the Japanese bubble economy is ready to explode in his face. With land values crashing and the land deal falling apart at the seams, Stan invites more trouble into life by agreeing to help a young bar girl seeking refuge from her mamasan. Now as the girl is abducted, and he faces losing everything in that land deal, he must make a terrible choice. Will he choose to save the girl, or instead, will he choose the lot?

This well-written tale will keep you turning the pages to find out what happens next as the unwitting protagonist places his trust in others and ventures into the purchase of real estate in Hawaii. His problems multiply as time goes on and he has to make one of the most important decisions of his life. Will his decision be a humanitarian one or one of greed? Ben Pierce, in his debut novel, shows a real talent in characterization and plot. This is one of those books to curl up in a comfortable chair and enjoy while the snow flies. I highly recommend it.

Linda Picciotto gives a ringing presentation to teaching in this book. I would strongly recommend this book to beginning teachers and veteran teachers. This book answered some of those questions that I had about how to organize a classroom as a beginning teacher. She gives countless tips to first year teachers in the afterword section. Her words of wisdom have tryly inspired me to implement some of her strategies into my own future classroom. The samples of students' work and responses makes her strategies workable and believable so that is why I would highly recommend this book to all teachers. Good Luck with teaching!

Linda Picciotto has done a wonderful job explaining her program and ideas for managing a classroom in a holistic fashion. I enjoy teaching "themes" in my classroom. Linda has an interesting way of approaching the concept of themes.I think this book would be useful for beginning teachers as well as veteran teachers. Why? We are always striving to get better and better in our teaching practices regardless how long you have been teaching!This book will stimulate ideas for you.

I have followed the life of MacKenzie and read carefully all of the military records on his life, both public and private. The book is right up there with the best. It is entertaining, fast paced and factual, and I believe, historically correct. I appreciate the honesty regarding the cause of MacKenzie's death. This book is well worth reading and will be an important addition to your historical book shelf.

If you are interested in the post Civil War history of Westward expansion, Colonel MacKinzie's exploits are "must reading". He was one of the most effective Army commanders to serve in the southwest Texas theater of operations. You can agree or disagree with the way it was done, but it is important for us to understand the things that really happened. Hollywood has it all wrong! Good reading and I recommend it highly.

Rock Priest is a very challenging and inspiring book about evangelism among the "Global Youth Culture"! It has challenged many, many people to do more to reach out to the darkest corners of secular society. A highly recommended read.

This is one of my fave Christian books, as david writes with such honesty and warmth. His adventures in missionary work are astounding, and he makes us all give Thanks to God and be humble. David and his family have survived many harrowing and dangerous moments while spreading the Word of God, and this book is a very personal account of David's purpose and strength in the Lord.

My ongoing professional development involves a commitment to read books that have nothing to do with my profession. I chose this book for two reasons: It is the textual basis for a faith-sharing program in which I am involved at my church. I also thought its subject was far a-field from my job as a preceptor/facilitator.It appears I was mistaken on the second reason.

Gregory Pierce is in the publishing business, he's a husband and father, and he's active in his church and civic communities. The subtitle, "10 ways to balance your life on the job" is really what the book is all about. As he puts it, "It is pretty clear that God is present on our workplaces. Yet the workplace is a difficult place to 'be spiritual.' It is noisy, crowded, complex, competitive, materialistic, tiring, frustrating, dangerous, busy, [and] secular. To find God there, we have [to work hard at it], and most of our traditional spiritual disciplines are not well designed to help us do that."

This is the belief that forms his thesis and Pierce's life experiences provided the motivation for his writing. The writing is crisp and clear, and, unlike similar spiritual books, is not aimed at changing one's belief systems about God, but it's rather a 'how-to' book on achieving a higher level of spirituality in the workplace.

Pierce establishes some common language for us about work, defines spirituality, and he adds some ground rules about how he wants us to focus on what he refers to as spirituality disciplines. He presents ten disciplines, or practices, for spiritual improvement and invites our examination in the context of what we do with each area daily.

This book revealed more about leadership than I first imagined. Woven into each discussion on each of the disciplines are anecdotal quotes concerning how each person practices their spirituality and why it's important for them to do so. Although he didn't use the term servant-leader, Pierce shares this from a social worker who was talking about her boss:
"She was direct and honest but never disparaging of others. She was strategic but not conniving. Her power came from her vision, not just from the authority she held by virtue of her position. She was gentle in her correction or direction of others- affirming not mushy. [She] was passionate but not emotional, smart, tolerant of other views but always clear about her own. She treated others like she wanted to be treated, and others who worked for her eventually began to behave that way too." This reflects that notion of Robert Greenleaf's servant leadership plus the "modeling the way" espoused by Kouzes and Posner.

These ten disciplines remind one of Stephen Covey's Seven Habits, especially Pierce's last discipline entitled "Engaging in Ongoing Personal and Professional Development." This was almost a carbon copy of Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw. The book is simply constructed, with just enough thought provocation on each spirituality discipline followed at chapter end by a section prescribing real-life methods of practicing each discipline discussed in that chapter. Great stuff!

This was a well-conceived and well-researched book by an author who convinced me that he had experienced the same kinds of issues and problems faced by those searching to practice spirituality at work. I recommend putting this book on your leadership bookshelf for the practical lessons it teaches and for the timelessness of the author's prescription for a balanced life.

This wonderful little book could be aptly subtitled "Spirituality for the rest of us." Pierce, who confesses himself "piety-impaired," has written a practical, day-to-day handbook for discovering the divine presence as it lurks in some of the places we may least expect it.

This is not a book about how to cope with jobs that overwhelm and diminish us. It is rather a step-by-step set of instructions, which Pierce terms "disciplines," through which we may actively transform our daily grind (whether we're priests or poets, doctors, lawyers, butchers, bakers or candlestick-makers) into our own best crack at co-creation of the world. It is not a book about getting away from the world, but rather a book about getting really into the world with our spiritual wholeness intact, about remembering to remember that God is present among the daily hum and rattle, if only we have the personal discipline to look. Not a book to read and put away or pass along, you'll want to keep it desk-side, a User's Manual for the spirit, available for ready reference.

Alanna of Trebond, whom we saw in the books, In the Hand of the Goddess and Alanna:The First Adventure, returns in this third book in the series. This is as good as others, but I (Only me! You might like it) found this book sort of boring. I think it is sort of like a rest from all the action, but I LIKE actions (Especially if that is of Alanna *^^*) Pierce continues the action in the last book, the Lioness Rampant. It sort of doesn't feel so exciting, and I think excitement and action is the best kind of material for Alanna (and her famous redhead temper!) In all, this book was satisfactory for me, at least, though it was not absolutely great.

Women have been portrayed as weak, conniving, and inferior. Alanna breaks all of the typical stereotypes to become the first female knight in over a century after eight years as disguising herself as a boy. Alanna is made the first female shaman of the Bloody Hawk a tribe of the Bazhir, natives of the Tortallan desert, and this book describes her journeys, her her triumphs, her losses, and even newfound love. I definetly enjoyed it, and I will read all of Ms. Pierce's books if they meet the standards Woman who Rides Like a Man has set.

I wasn't expecting much when I picked up Sandry's Book (due to my dislike of the Lioness and Immortals Quartet) but was pleasantly surprised.

Sandry's Book is a light and fun fantasy read, lacking the somewhat crude and generic elements to be found in in the aforementioned quartets. The characters-- Sandry, Daja, Briar and Tris are interesting, if slightly flat, protagonists and show more realistic character development than did Alanna. The plot, while basic (wary characters becoming friends and saving the world, etc.) is nicely expanded upon and contains little typical swords-and-sorcery. If the characters never really show any idiosyncracies and their talents are fairly obvious to start off with, well, it's forgivable in a fun story. Try it for summer reading. If you'd like to see more subtlety, better developed characters and a thoroughly original plot, however, definitely give Sherwood Smith's Crown and Court Duet a try.

I didn't expect Sandry's Book to be much, but after I started reading it, I couldn't stop! I luv the new characters (am I the only person who gets tired of the same people over and over?) and the new world. This book tells more about magic and mages, and shows different life styles, like the difference from a noble and a thief, or a trader and a merchant. In her other books, the main characters mostly were always with the upper class, but in this book it tells about everything. Now, about Sandry. I've read all the Circle of Magic books so far, and she's my favorite character. In this book she really ties them all together (if it weren't for her, Disipline would be chaos!) and even saves them all at the end. And she was the first one to figure out that Niko had brought them all to Winding Circle Temple. Ok, now the ONLY parts I didn't like, and its nothing big. Their ages. In Tamora's other quartets, the characters are more my age or older, but in this one, they seem to be a lot younger. And on the cover, it shows Sandry's craft to be water. But she has nothing to do with water! She's thread! But I suppose it would be strange to have a picture of thread for her! Thats all I have to say about the most awsome book ever! I hope they get older as the books continue (even though by the looks of it they won't). This is an awsome beginning to an awsome quartet!

Sandry's Book was what started me into the Circle of Magic series. How could you not like it? It seems that when Tris won't tell of her backround and what happened before she ended up at Winding Circle, you are the only person to know of what she went through. I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone who loves Tamora Pierce, no matter the age. This book introduced me into all of Pierce's wonderful books. I haven't stopped reading her books and I can't wait for her to write more. The way she wrote this book to include all of Discipine's inhabitants is wonderful. You don't only get to read about Sandry but her many friends as well. You not only learn about Sandry but also Tris, Daja, and Briar. This book is a great way to start off your own Tamora Pierce collection!

I think this book was all right, though not as memorable as the first novel of Ms. Pierce's other series. I agree with what someone said...a central villain is needed...several steps further than the bullies among the pages and the 'Stump.'

However, I strongly disagree with what some readers are saying: that Kel is boring. She isn't boring at all... she just lacks the awful temper and sharp tongue that most of Pierce's previous heroines have. As for how one person said she lacked strength...not at all! It must take a lot of guts to be the only girl among so many boys, and be ridiculed by them. And about Kel being a 'nice girl.' I think Daine is a fairly 'nice girl' (even if she has a temper), and nearly everyone thought she was a great character. I like Kel's more predictable temperement, for a change, and I am very glad that she doesn't have any magic. (Alanna had TOO much magic, in my opinion, for instance.)

Pierce still has her bad habit of elaborating too much on unimportant details. We don't NEED to know exactly what the pages ate for dinner, or every article of clothing that Kel put on for a certain day.

I thought the ways that the bullies thought up of ways to torment Kel was clever, especially the weighted lance.

The plot was a little slow. Kel is still a page at the end of the book, and she'll be a page in the next novel (I suppose, considering the title -Page-.) Maybe Pierce should speed things up a little (though I understand that the author needed to emphasize the trouble Kel went through).

My other complaint is that there are too many names being thrown at the reader. It gets confusing at times. Some of the names we don't even NEED to know.

Overall, -First Test- was a good book, with a solid character and a nice lead.

I read the Alanna books several years ago and thought they were ok. A little bit too light for my taste, but clever and funny nonetheless. I tried reading Tamora Pierce's other stuff - the series about Daine and the Circle series, but could never get into them.

So it took me awhile before I convinced myself to give the Protector of the Small series a try. I gotta admit I'm glad I did. I've only read First Test so far and am half way through Page, but am finding that these books are better written than the Alanna series. First, the characters seem more developed. I love Kel. She's a true herione because she is real. She has her insecurities and weaknesses, but is willing to fight through them and do her best. The plot is also thicker in this series. I like the fact that Kel doesn't turn into a Knight for 3 full books. And the book maintains the cleverness, charm, and humor that was abundant in the Alanna series.

Not that the book is perfect. I wish Tamora Pierce would stop creating bad guys who you know are bad from the beginning and who never change or develop. In the Alanna series, it was the Duke. In this series, it is Joren (I think that's his name). I kept wishing and hoping that Joren would grow up into a more sympathetic character. He doesn't have to be a good guy, but just have more shades of grey. But I'm told by someone who has already read the books that Joren remains the same evil badass throughout...

And this is a minor complaint, but what the hell. Why don't Tamora Pierce's characters ever end up with the guy that I like? I loved prince John. Alanna dumps him to be with the other dude. I don't even remember his name. Oh wait...its George I think. And now I bet Kel will go for someone other than Neal. My bet? She'll go for someone way older than her. That seems to be the pattern of Tamora Pirece's heroines. Oh well. Neal is the man. But I look forward to seeing their friendship grow.

Overall, Kudos to Tamora Pierce. She's done a great job...

Ten-year-old Keladry wants to be a knight like her hero Alanna the Lioness. After she rescues some kittens from a spidren monster, she becomes more determined than ever to go to knighthood-training school, so she can learn how to protect the weak and small. Kel is the first girl page since Alanna (who was disguised as a boy at the time), and the odds seem to be against her: The training master thinks girls shouldn't be knights; some of the boys play vicious practical jokes on her, trying to get her to drop out. Kel shows her courage when she is the first student to stand up to the school bullies. As always in Tamora Pierce's fantasies, there are plenty of good, likable characters, such as the Shang Wildcat, Daine (who converses with animals), King Jonathan, the mage Numair, good old Sir Myles, Neal of Queenscove, and Lord Raoul. And then there are the animals: Kel's faithful horse, Peachblossom, and the sparrow Crown and her flock, who prove quite dangerous to Kel's enemies. There are some exciting confrontations with immortal monsters. "First Test" is the first book in Ms. Pierce's third Tortallan series, Protector of the Small, and it's just as much fun as the two earlier series. I'm now looking forward to reading the next book, "Page."