I began reading books and articles on death and grief more than 20 years ago, and after a while, I found they all said the same thing, more or less. Then I read Don't Let Death Ruin Your Life. I was delighted to find a book that reflected what my experience working with grieving people has shown -- that while painful, our relationship with loved ones continues and grief provides the opportunity to learn about life and living with greater purpose. Jill Brooke provides a new framework for the stages/phases of grief and offers everyone hope. I recommend it highly, both to those who are grieving and to those who are working with grieving individuals. And as I think about it, I recommend it to anyone who is interested in living a better life.

Jill Brooke has written a compassionate book that will be a source of great comfort to all of those who read it. Jill deals with the subject of loss in a way that is sure to help make anyone feel better about their personal situation. One can never escape being touched by death during the course of one's life, but a book like this eases the pain and allows one to focus on the positive that is left behind when a loved one passes. I would highly recommend this book to everyone.

...It was with great interest and relief that I read the book, Don't Let Death Ruin Your Life, by Jill Brooke. It's filled with insights, wisdom, and compassion. What I like most of all about it is the fact that it gives us permission to miss our loved ones--in a healthy way--for the rest of our lives if we want to. Brooke assures us that it's okay to 'keep our loved ones close by and honor their memory while integrating them into our lives that have now been changed by their physical absence.'

"Some of the ways that she shares how to do this is to notice how our loved ones live on in our beliefs and our feelings, and to tell stories about the positive ways they affected our lives. In doing so, we continue to have a meaningful, significant relationship with them while, at the same time, moving through our grief to a brighter place and reclaiming our happiness.

"This is an amazing book, and one that I'll be buying for others and sharing with people for a long time to come...

Talking Dollars, and Making Sense is a very enlightning book. It covers all aspects of finance and how to save money. Brook Stephens does her homework and uncovers the history of how slaves struggled to build wealth with the many obstacles they faced. I learned lots of tips on how to get my own financial house clean, and I am glad I invested my time to read Talking Dollars, and Making Sense. It was truly a wake up call to start to pay myself first. Anyone thinking about reading it should pick it up as soon as possible! It will save your financial life!!

I have purchased several financial advice books in the past year to get on the road to financial success, especially the books by author Suze Orman, who is an excellent author. But this book tackles the same issues with an African-American perspective that is very beneficial. Ms. Stephens really gets to the "real reasons" why collectively, African-Americans do not have the financial security and the clout that we should have in this country. My grandparents who have always been ardent investors always said the old saying "Black people put their money on their back, whereas other races put it in the bank." I am so glad that the author addressed this phenomena that is so prevalent in our community. We all know people in our community who have this problem..for example, when I attended Howard University, I knew numerous students that could barely get financial aid for school but they would work three jobs to pay for a leather coat and a Gucci bag, but the international students who were strapped for cash would work three jobs to pay for SCHOOL. This book should be required reading for all children and their parents!!!!!

I was elated to read a financial book by a saavy African American female who knows her stuff. This is a book I would recommend to everyone,especially those of of us in the Black community. We need to hear this message, that offers us a provocative look at our hangups with money, spending habits, etc. It provides a rich historical background along with the necessary steps to build wealth. The focus is on changing the mindset of our community from income to wealth. It is written for laymen and is easy to grasp. There is no reason for us to remain ignorant about money when we have the kind of sensible knowledge that Ms. Brooke Stephens has given us in this exceptional book.

This is an awesome book! Amy is really good with horses,and herbal remedies. I love the joining up part where she connects with the horse.Lou, her older sister tries to be helpful, but sometimes messes up.She has to decide to stay at heartland or go to Chicago with her boyfriend, Carl. Lou gets a job mysteroiusly as soon as Carl mentions Chicago. Spartan, the horse in the accident acts really dangerous whenever Amy approaches him has to be put down.But Amy is not ready to give up yet! She joins up with Spartan and cures him. They locate his owner but is rejected because the stallion was gelded and no longer able to be used for breeding. Amy is looking for an owner for Spartan and meets the prevois owner's grand daughter who wanted him back. They give Spartan to the girl who rode him in the show. At a barn party Lou organized Lou realizes Carl set up the job in Chicago so she would go with him. She stays at Heartland and kicks Carl out.

Heartland is a place where horses go to be cured. In Heartland #2, Sparten a horse that had been in the accident that killed Amy's mother, has come to Heartland. Sparten is not the same after the accident. He is ill-tempered and when Amy tries to come near him he snaps at her. Ty thinks Amy is the only one that can help Sparten to be the kind,gentle horse he was before th accident. Read this book to find out if Amy can earn Sparten's trust back before it's too late.

when i fist read Heartland,it was hard 2 put it down, it was a sad, but exciting novel; as a young horse trainer,i train horses through patience, respect and love also! this book is excellent for any one who loves horses. it doesn't matter what age they are!

This once again is a great hit! I love it! This time Amy is faced with more emotional pain. Lou is trying to get in touch with their father! Amy kinda FREAKS OUT! And I would too! But she is forced to put that behind her. One horse named Melody is pregnant and she must deal with it, but after an accident once she arrives happens, Melody or her baby may be hurt, badly. But once again Amy comes through, but you will have to find out how. It's a great book! Read it!

Since Amy's sister Lou has been trying to contact her longlost father, Amy has been trying to concentrate. With a pregnant mare named Melody in the barn and a newborn foal coming soon, Amy has alot to deal with. But when the foal is being born, it develops complications. Amy has to believe miracles can happen at Heartland. Will she let her faraway father come into her life again? Or will the newborn foal be ok? Read this great book by Lauren Brooke, Come What May.

As I have read all these books from Heartland so far I am greatly enjoying them! I love horses with all my heart and since I get the greatest privalege in life to ride them, I know that Heartland's words are really true! All the descriptions are trully amazing. In this book Amy faces yet another delema in her already ruind life, but a glimmer of hope still bears inside of her. She continues to live on her life and doesn't slow down because of a few cracks on the road of life. To all horse, or even normal people alike read this insperational book and be amazed!

This would have to be my favorite book out of the Heartland series. Probablly one of the better horse stories I've read in a while.
The book is about how Amy and Lou's long lost father is paid to have a vist at Heartland while he is on a buisness trip. Amy is all freaked out about having her father coming to town after he had her mom and sister when she was little. It's a whole story about how Amy come to terms with her father and tries to build a relationship of trust again. You have to read the book to find out how the story ends up.

I really love this book. I couldn't put it down. I was reading this book for two hours straight. I really loved when Tim(Amy and Lou's dad)came back. I hope they talk about him in #9. I think Ty and Amy should hurry up and admit their feelings for each other. I think all the books in this series are great. Number one being my favorite and Thicker Than Water my second favorite. A must read for Heartland fans.

All of the Heartland Books are wonderful! I've read the complete series and can't wait for the next two for Christmas. If you havn't read any, then I suggest you start with #1. But for all the people who are thinking about this one, here's a little about it:

"Heartland is a horse farm nestled in the hills of Virginia, but it's much more than that. Heartland is a place like no other - a place where the scars of the past canbe healed, a place where frightened and abused horses learn to trust again.

"It's been a long time since Amy has seen her father. Twelve long years have separated them, and she doesn't know if he could ever really be her father again. As she waits for his arrival, Amy wonders if he will understand who she is and what matters in her world. Amy's life is Heartland and its horses; her father's life was once very much the same as hers. With all that's come between them, can their love of horses bring them together again?"

I reccomed the book to horselover's, or people who just want to read a good book.

Heartland is a place Amy's mother started after nursing her husband's show jumper, Pegasus, back to health using alternative remedies and therapies, due to an accident that the horse and rider were both injured, and Amy's father leaves to recover. She started to take in other problem or abused horses and helped them to learn to trust again. When she died, Amy and her older sister, had to take over everything, and tried to keep the place going. Amy finds she has the same horse-whispering talents as her mother, and struggles to take over the work her mother had done so well. Amy works hard to keep Heartland in business and to overcome the sadness of losing her mother, to realize it was not her fault her mother died. This book was very emotional and descriptive, written very well. You could feel Amy's sadness at losing her mother in an accident that she felt was her fault, for she had convinced her mother to go out in a storm to rescue an abandoned horse, Spartan. I recommend this book to everyone who has some connection with the world of the horse, or anyone who loves reading at all. This book has everything- romance, adventure, drama, action, and tragedy that will keep you blowing your nose and crying your heart out until you take the trip to the library or your local bookstore to pick up the rest of the series, when it will start all over again. The entire series is wonderful and heartbreaking, and I highly recommend every single book that is included to you. The rest of the series deals with Amy adjusting to her new life without her mother and her sister's new ideas to keep Heartland up and running, and to face the horse that is the subject to all Amy's fears and heartache, Spartan.

This is one of the best books I have ever read. It is very sad and emotional, but it leaves you feeling satisfied and hopeful.
I would recomend it mostly to kids 11 and up, (I'm thirteen and I loved it) but I think anyone would enjoy it. It is perfect for horse lovers (like me) but I think even people who don't like horses will end up crying for the horses anyway. This book is very realistic, and describes Amy's feelings to where you feel like you really are her.
Amy and her mom were in an accident on their way to save a horse. Amy survives but her mom has died. She is left with Heartland, with very little help to keep it runnig.
I think that anyone that reads this will think that it was one of the best books they've ever read.

Amy lives on a farm where her mother helps abused and "problem" horses using join-up and alternative therapies. Amy plans to follow in her footsteps and learns more each day. However, she has some problems, such as her sister Lou refusing to visit, even for Amy's birthday. That all changes on a stormy night. Amy and her mom go to rescue a stolen & starved horse and end up, for Amy, in the hospital, and for her mom, in the grave. Now Amy must deal with the guilty feeling of killing her mother, her sister's new ideas, arguments, and the burden of carrying on with her mom's work. Will everything turn out for the best or will Heartland close down?

I just got done reading this book, and like all of the others, it is very very good. I'm glad Amy and Ty are together (finally!). Its interesting because for the first time, Ty and Amy really aren't getting along. So Amy goes to a Native American for help. It was really cool how she learns to wait for the answers to come to her. It's a neat book to read because Amy isn't at Heartland for most of the book. I was glad to see that she and Ty work things out. I think they are a great couple. I can't wait for the next book to come out so I can see what happens with Amy, her father, and their new horse!

Well Lauren Brooke has done it again! What a great book !!!
Amy can't help a horse named Mercury, Once a great showjumper Mercury, has lost his will to jump, Amy just can't find out what to do so against Ty she goes to the man who had taught her mother everything she had known can Amy and the horse hearler cure Mercury or not YOU GOTTA READ THIS BOOK

I've been waiting a long while for this 9th book to come out, and I'm happy to say that I was not disappointed. "Every New Day" was very entertaining, the main reasons being that the plotline gave off a different atmosphere oppose to the other Heartland books, and it was greatly interesting, as I finished it in about an hour!

Another reason I liked it was because there were a good deal of Amy and Ty moments, which I enjoyed a lot. ^_^ They are, in my opinion, the best couple in the story!

Also, I liked the fact that the setting wasn't only at Heartland, but centered at other locations as well. The conflicts, events, and characters always keep my interest throughout the story, too!

Lauren Brooke is a great writer, and I'll be waiting for the next Heartland book, "Tomorrow's Promise," coming in December. I can't wait to read it! ^_^

~KS~

I know that writing a review before you read a book is kinda stupid, but I just wanted to share my thoughts. First I have like memorized all the Heartland books I have read them so many times. Second I really hope that there is some kind of romance between Ty and Amy in this book, since it was hinted that Ty likes Amy in the first book. And Third I hope Lou finds ends up with Scott, but also that she finds their father. I am hoping that maybe the father can be entered into the storyline, but if he can't I suppose I wouldn't really mind, it would be a little bit of a let down though. But thats ok, her books are some of the best I have ever read! I just hope she doesn't do what K A Applegate did at the end of Animorphs. I suppose I can see her point in ending it like that, but I think she could have made it way better. Heartland is one of THE BEST series I have ever read. Lauren Brooke, don't let me down!

When I read this book I loved it! It's about Amy a girl who lives on a horse farm- Heartland- which gets bussnies by curing horses from their scars ( Scaredom, bad beahvior, and Treating badly) In this book Amy is working with a horse called Melondy which has just given birth to a foal named Daybreak. Anyway Ashley Grant - Amy's emeny- invited Amy and all her friends to a big christmas party, Amy doesn't know why intill she sees Ashley trying to get Ben- one of Heartlands 2 stablehands- to notice her. Amy then knows why Ashley invited them. Amy's best friend Soyna likes Ben too so she's very disipointed that Ashley likes Ben too.
At the Christmas part Ty- The other Heartland Stablehand- and Ben pick Soyna and Amy up- When Amy's and Ty's hands touchs she blushish, Amy doesn't know why. Ty's been Hearland's stable hand for a long time. At the Grant's party things get worse! Matt- one of Amy's friends- pulls her on the dance floor to slow dance! Amy doesn't like this, she knows Matt likes her but she just wants to be friends not boyfriend and girlfriend. But when she trys to tell Matt he goes away. Amy, Soyna, and Ty rush over to Matt when they find him dancing to not anybody but Ashley! After some time Amy and Ty dance together Amy feels strange- She just doesn't know why it was Ty she was thinking of- Ty the person who worked many years at Heartland since he was 15.

At Tys birthday he makes sure Amy's safe when Amy's older sister-Lou- is trying to find the farther who abanded them, and Amy's babysister is going on a vet meeting with Heartlands vet and Lou's boyfriend- Scott (also Matt's older brother)- When the opened Ty's gift they almost kissed! Arm to arm mouth to mouth- They were porbaly going to when the phone rang. It was a nurse at a hosptial. You see Amy's grandpa was sick. The nurse said her grandpa was geting really sick, and so Ty and Amy rush off.

If you want to find out the rest about Amy's grandpa and about Ty and Amy how now there going to get along, and about if Amy and Matt will make up and much more get the book!

I really like the Heartland series, and I've read all of them up to book 6. I love them all, but this one was my favorite. It was absolutely wonderful, and I couldn't put it down until it was finished. Even after it was finished, I didn't want to put it down- I wanted to find out what happens next.
This book is so exciting. Every page is interesting.
This book is a mixture of feelings- sometimes it makes you want to cry along with Amy, or sometimes it makes your heart pound in your chest.
All in all, I loved this book and all the other ones I've read.

I don't like to tell what happens, because then it sort of takes away some of the excitement or surprise when you come to a part you already know. The end is like the best part.

If you're looking for a good horse book, but one that's really realistic, you should read the Heartland series. Especially this one. This is one of those books that really deserves 5 stars...
I simply can't wait to read #7... I really want to know what's going to happen between Ty and Amy!

Anyway, if you haven't read this book already, you'll make a wonderful decision by reading it- NOW!

Thank You for taking the time to read this. It's really a wonderful book~ love horses

This is a great introduction to Pilates with good photos and clear instruction. The best part is the enthusiasm instilled in the reader as you follow and the visualizations. I started with this book and a video and now I go to a regular mat class once a week at a Pilates Studio.

I contend, however, that this book is not clear on how to protect your back and how to really keep the core stable. There is a figure in the beginning of the book that shows good and bad form. I swear that it is hard to know which is right at first! At the studio, I finally learned the true meaning of "core stablization." It is key to know how it feels and how to protect your back while doing some of these exercises. Now I go back to the book and see it in a new light.

I understand that a studio may not be in reach for all, so all I am saying is to spend a little extra time on the basic protection of your midsection so you won't get hurt!

As a beginning Pilates student who isn't in a position to take classes or get private training, I found an approach that is working well for me. First, I made a decision to stick with "official" Pilates materials. That meant that several different books and videos were available explaining exactly the same exercises. If it something is unclear in one, it is often clarified in another source. The Pilates variations don't offer that benefit. Second, I realized that a combination of a book and a video worked well. The book gives me the details, tells me which muscles to work and what pitfalls to avoid. The video gives me a sense of pace and answers a lot of questions that just can't be answered in the book. Third, I went through all the Pilates books I could find until I found the best one: Brooke Siler's. I also ordered a video directly from the Pilates Studio in NY which shows Romana K..(sp?) teaching the routine from beginning to end.

I've found The Pilates Body to be a terrific reference. It's been my Bible as I learn Pilates, much more than even the video. She explains the moves well, with excellent photos to illustrate each move. She tells you which exercises to skip if you have particular injuries, which common mistakes to avoid, and how to make the exercise easier and harder. I found her guidance on how to build up your routine terrific. She offers a sensible "pre-beginner" program, then divides the routine into beginning, intermediate, advanced and super advanced levels. A different model illustrates each level, so you have an immediate key to which exercises should be within your range. Some of the simple looking exercises are VERY difficult, so this is helpful.

I go back to this book after every time I do my Pilates, to refine what I'm doing. It is the best substitute I can find for a personal Pilates trainer.

Brooke Siler has produced a well written, warm, friendly introduction to the world of Pilates mat exercises. I have taken classes in Pilates and explored a couple of other books, and I am convinced that Siler's is easily in the top five, and a worthy addition to any Pilates reference library. Some have complained that the directions and illustrations for the exercises are not as complete as they could be, but I say that this misses the overall style and teaching technique that she uses. The introductory section is lengthy and comprehensive, including directions for the proper technique and posture for all the Pilates moves, which is essential to doing the exercises effectively and safely. It also emphasizes Pilates' overall philosophy of doing the moves utilizing the whole bodily structure rather than isolating certain muscles for the exercises. There are also visualizations for each exercise and in certain instances where necessary (such as the "leg kick" series) she includes directions applicable to the entire series. Brooke Siler is dedicated to empowering the student as much as possible to be in charge of his/her own fitness and health, and that is the focus of the entire book, which is conceived and written with the sure hand of an experienced instructor. She includes interesting photos of Pilates himself (there is one in which, at age 82, he looks more fit than many men decades younger). Comprehensive illustrations for the exercises, friendly, thorough text with an inspiring, can-do attitude make this one of the finest additions to the Pilates information available today, and a book to be bought and used with confidence by beginner and experienced student alike.

I really love this book. It combines the real facts of horses while reminding u that this story is about a 15-year-old girl who goes through the same stuff that other people do. Her relationship with the horses is strong but that's not the only thing. It hinted in the 1st book that Ty (who is a totally perfect!) liked Amy. Finally he kisses her (in the 6th book) and reveals that he loves her and Amy finds out she loves him to. I really wanted something to happen between them, and I won't spoil the rest. It is a great book that really helps u learn about horses. The main focus of the book is about a race horse who is named Gallant Prince who was injured in a stable fire. Amy talks to Prince's former stable hand and realizes that he might be the key to helping Prince. But Ryan, the stable hand has his own problems as he was also injured in the fire and is not exactly up on the idea of seeing Prince again. I won't tell you anything more, you'll just have to read the book yourself! IT'S AN AWESOME BOOK AND YOU SHOULD READ IT ASAP!

This book is exciting and a little bit of a mystery. Any person that loves horses or animals will like this book as much as I did. The story takes place on a farm called Heartland. This farm is like no other farm. A teenage girl named Amy Fleaming takes the job of healing the wounded or curing the scard horses. After Amy's mother dies, Amy feels there is somthing missing from her heart. One day she gets a phone call, the person on the phone wants to bring over a very famous race horse,Gallant Prince. Prince is now scared of everything ever since a disater takes place. Can Amy get the stallion out of his darkness???

As always, Lauren Brooke finds a way to reach the true nub of what all horse lovers want to read. Amy's strategies in facing all her problems may inspire readers everywhere to find a better understanding of life. Horse lovers can relate to her predicaments at Heartland. Teenagers that read this book, including me, always enjoy the parts when Amy and Ty seem to realize that they might begin a relationship. In this particular book, Amy reunites a horse and man that were emotionally impaired after a previous tragedy. Amy held the job of renewing the horse's confidence with humans, but there was no way to get through to him. The only way was to get someone who the horse could relate to...and that was Ryan. Ryan is stubborn and does not want to remember the past. How can Amy stand the pressure of a promise she made to fix this famous horse among all the news reporters and media? Will Amy ever be able to reach out to Ryan? What will become of her and Ty? Only the mechanical energy of your hand turning the pages of this wonderful book may tell...let the eyes roam to the unknown....for the unknown is what you seek.