On a scale of 1 to 10, this book is definitely a 20! Ms. Mason truly outdid herself in writing this romance story. It was completely awesome on so many levels. It's a great love story, enough to make you laugh and cry over and over, and it's a great story of family and friends. The love scenes were too hot to handle!!!!!! Probably the best romance I've ever read!!!!! YOU'LL READ IT OVER AND OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you have never read a romance novel or if your sick of all the unrealistic ones and are looking for a good one.Than this is the book for you.Felicia Mason is a fantastic writer.She doesn't disappoint fans with this one.The realistic characters are just one of the high points to this book.It's also filled with enough passion,along with the hurt from the past and seduction mixed with good quality writing.Kendra and Malcolm will still your heart with the everyday problems with combining families and relationships.This is definitly the book for all the real romance lovers.

This is a very touching, romantic love story. I found myself laughing, crying all at the same time. Felicia Mason is OUTSTANDING!

This is so much more than just a how to book. Yes, Karen does take you step by step through Charlotte Mason's methods.She uses examples of how her own family emplimented narration , nature study,copywork ect. ect..
The real meat of the book is in the chapters about the philosophy of Charlotte Mason.The ideals behind the methods.
Charlotte Mason's original works are a little difficult to read.The Companion captures the very heart and soul of the original books and in a very modern , easy to read manner.
Reading this book has brought a sense of renewed purpose to my homeschooling efforts.

After reading some of this authors' magazine columns, I read this book as my introduction to the Charlotte Mason method of home education. Overall the tone of the book is very serious. This is not a fast read by any means. It is not difficult to understand but I found that I was savoring the words and reading it slowly. Some of Andreola's statements were so profound that they made me stop to ponder the ideas. At the end of each chapter is a listing of questions for further thought or discussion. These would be great to use for group discussion such as at a homeschooling support group meeting.

Andreola is very interested in the Charlotte Mason method and her passion for the method comes through clearly. She is very thorough in her discussions about ways to put into practice Ms. Mason's theories. One of my favorite things about this book is that first and foremost it focuses on the importance of a happy and healthy home and family life for raising children. The backbone here is teaching the children respect, values, and virtues. Once those foundations are in place then it is time for introducing "school subjects".

All the components of the over 100-year-old Charlotte Mason method of homeschooling is here: using living books instead of textbooks, using narration instead of testing, teaching reading, writing, music, nature study, poetry, history and music. This book is so well written. It is not a quick read manual of how to implement the Charlotte Mason method; it is a well-thought out series of essays and personal reflections. Many times while reading the book I wanted to highlight passages and makes notes in the borders. This is a book to buy and keep for future reference. Even if you are homeschooling with Charlotte Mason's method as an inspiration this book is useful. The book heavily refers to Christianity but if that is not your belief system I feel you can still apply everything to your homeschooling, just ignore the references to Christianity.

Andreola repeatedly states that she didn't intend this book to be a replacement of Charlotte Mason's original books and she urges the reader to go on to read Mason's books as well. I think Andreola's book is a great introduction and if you want more then go on to read Mason's works.

Addendum: This addendum is being written 18 months after my original review was posted. Even after reading this book I felt a little confused about the day to day planning of how to homeschool with this method. This missing link was bridged by attending a workshop given by another author/homeschooling parent named Catherine Levison, which was an oral presentation of the information presented her book called "More Charlotte Mason Education". If you want a quick read that focuses on the bare bones of how to do the Charlotte Mason method (not theory) then I suggest reading "More Charlotte Mason Education".

If you are looking for a faster read about the theory of Charlotte Mason education then I'd recommend either Catherine Levison's "A Charlotte Mason Education" or Susan Schaeffer Macaulay's "For the Children's Sake". Andreola's book "A Charlotte Mason Companion" is wonderful reading when you have the time and desire to ponder over her thought-provoking passages.

I am now in a book discussion group where we are reading Andreola's "A Charlotte Mason Companion" together and discussing it. We read the sections aloud and stop to discuss our thoughts, and when the chapter is finished, we discuss the questions that Andreola provides at the end of every chapter. This discussion group has been enjoyable and an invaluable source of support and fellowship between other mothers homeschooling using the Charlotte Mason method.

This is a beautifully written and thorough introduction to the Charlotte Mason philosophy. What makes Karen Andreola's book so magnificent is that she not only tells you what to do and how to do it, she tells you WHY!!! That made all the difference to me. She also demonstrates a very strong command of the English language, writing with spectacular elegance and ease.

Andreola has also taken a very personal approach in this book. You feel as if you are taking tea with a trusted friend as she reveals her personal testimonies, and narratives. I thought this was a crucial underlying strength in this work, because I found Charlotte Mason's philosophies to be complicated and arcane at first glance; whereas reading this book quiets your spirit and makes this an enjoyable journey. I also found tactful admonition for the preconceived notions I conjured up about Charlotte Mason and her so-called "gentle learning" approach. Take my advice, don't believe everything you hear on a chat board. Peruse this marvelous overview to get the facts, and then make up your mind as to whether this makes sense for your home school.

Immensely enjoyable and valuable guide. Karen Andreola truly is the perfect Charlotte Mason "Companion"!

5 Stars.

I would love to find a copy of this book as it is one of a few books from childhood that still stands out vividly in my memory...I loved the story of generations of a family, living in the same place on Smiling Hill farm, from the first settlers up to the present (at that time in the 50's). Especially about the first family, and the stories of how they lived, making their own clothes, building their own house, making soap, cooking at a big open fireplace. I see the granddaughter of Miram Smith has entered her own review... lots of us it seems who have fond memories of this wonderful story.

One of the most memorable childhood books for both my sister and me. We read Smiling Hill Farm while living in Guatemala in the early 1960's; the images of family life in the in rural America are wonderful. Interesting that a few of us reviewers didn't live in the USA as children.

I have been telling my wife about this book "Smiling Hill Farm" for years.My teacher in grammer school read this book to our class and I think it was wonderful.I keep trying to find a copy so I can read it again after all these years.At least thirty.It warms my heart.

Four years ago my Vietnam Vet husband of 26 years invited me to a new VA couple's group through the PCT clinic. The director tried his best to give us the resources and help he could. He offered me a copy of Patience Mason's book. There is so much knowledge through information & personal accounts; I believe anyone who reads it will find "the light shining in the darkness" of living with a PTSD survivor. I have highly recommended it to all spouses, family members, friends, clergy, and therapists, as well as the Vets themselves who are looking for insight and support. Even better that it's now available in an affordable paperback!

This book is an excellent counseling tool for the spouses of combat veterans who live with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I have given this book the many spouses. Many say that the greatest thing the book does for them is help to show that they are not alone in their experience with the veteran PTSD sufferer. Patience Mason gives the spouse an understanding of what is going on that leads to a sense of comfort and the courage to continue the battle. The battle, is to find a way to stay with their vet and at the same time preserve their own sanity. This is the best book out there for contents and ease of reading!

This book was so helpful to me... I keep buying it and giving it away! It is the best book I have read on coping with PTSD, and I have read them all. It tells you what to expect and why. Who to contact in the VA for help. What forms will need to be filled out and how to deal with all the government agencies. Also lists several self-help groups. Everything from A to Z. It will give you a whole new understanding of your father, brother, husband, or significant other.

My main objections to this field guide were the illustrations. Artistic renderings are often beautiful, but fail to portray the animal in question with accuracy. Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius)is a case in point. Although I have not observed this animal at sea myself, I spoke with a number of fellow fishery biologists who have spent time at sea as marine mammal observers and no one has ever observed a bright yellow Ziphius in the field. All observed a base color of grey with this genus, at least in the northeastern Pacific. The Tasmacetus rendering is most likely based on the J. Mammalogy (1976) paper by Watkins wherein an unidentified ziphiid whale (probable Tasmacetus) was observed from a bluff overlooking the sea in New Zealand. Useful plates were those showing all similar cetaceans together; eg. all oceanic dolphins without prominent beaks, all oceanic dolphins WITH prominent beaks etc. The ziphidae plates show male Mesoplodon characteristics, but that is to be expected since solitary female ziphiid whales, especially Mesoplodon sp., could be virtually impossible to identify. My own field guide preferences use photographs rather than artistic renderings. Other problems: The distribution maps to not reflect the full distribution (extralimital observations/strandings) of many species. An example: Psuedorca is shown as a species with a distribution much further south than observations/stranding records indicate. The text does suggest that 'numerous records' exist outside of the more tropical distribution shown in the map. Note also that many of the dolphin renderings are positioned so that the dorsal fin is right where the pages meet. We did get a chuckle over the photograph showing what you should wear when watching whales, but that can be explained by our 'silly scientist' bias. One note for potential whale-watchers: do not allow your binocular strap to lie right on the skin of your neck while at sea as you can wear painful wounds into your neck through a day of whale-watching. Make sure your shirt collar or other clothing lies under that silly strap! Voice of experience!

My title sums it up. This is the ultimate book to bring on a field trip to watch whales and dolphins. The illustrations are clear and crisp and would aid anyone (even an expert would have a need for such a book) in the identification of any species (and it covers all the known ceteceans).

This durably jacketed guide to all known cetaceans contains easy to use identification information and illustrations. This is THE take-along field guide to use if you are going whale watching or traveling anywhere you want to know about the whales, dolphins/ porpoises you are seeing, as well as some explanation of behaviors and how they live. We used it in Antarctica; it's field tested. José Kirchner

I have read this book three times. I know what an extraordinary story this is and have tried to turn others on to it.
Bob Mason's transformation from eager pilot trainee to jaded combat veteran/burnout, while probably not anymore remarkable a story than any other pilot's is well written and that is what makes it great! After reading the book I felt as though I know Bob Mason. Not a bad thing.
When Mason describes the deck inside the chopper,covered in blood you can almost smell it.
Serious life and death stuff with some of the funniest stories of human screw ups wrapped up in a truly memorable account of one
helluva chopper pilots' experience in Vietnam.
It's like I say:" 'Chickenhawk' is the best damn war movie they never made!"

I first bought and read Mason's book Chickenhawk in the mid-eighties. I recently got the urge to reread a number of 'Nam books, so I bought a new copy. Keeping in mind that the war in Vietnam was ever-changing, and that each time period made for a different environment, Mason gives a good account of the early period of the war. This is one of maybe the three or four best books written on the vietnam experience or, for that matter, combat flying. I recommend it highly.

While not as action-packed as Mason's first book, Chickenhawk, this sequel is still a fine read. The Kirkus Review calls the book "flat-footed." Before I read this book, I probably would not have been surprised to hear that the sequel to what is probably my favorite book of all time does not live up to the first installment. Chickenhawk is mostly a war story, rich in detail and technical information about the helicopters Mason flew. I am fascinated with helicopters and that is probably why I like Chickenhawk so much. I approached Back In The World with skepticism. I doubted that it had any chance to be as interesting as Mason's first book. But as a fan of Chickenhawk, I was happy to discover that Back To The World does not really try to stand by itself. In many ways, it is just the story of how Chickenhawk was written. It is the story behind the story.

The Kirkus Review makes it sound as though this book is dull, and belittles the significance of Mason's incarceration and his description of the way Chickenhawk was recieved by the public. Personally, I thought Mason's imprisonment was conveyed in a style reminiscent of Henri Charrier's Papillon, another of my favorites.

The point is, it is impossible to fully understand or appreciate Chickenhawk as a description of the Vietnam Experience without reading this book. If you liked Chickenhawk, this is a must-read.

This book was very hot! It was difficult to choose which story to read first because I like everything these ladies write especially Brenda Jackson and Cindi Louis. Each story was could have been a full novella on its own. The characters and their stories were well written and I couldn't put the book down. I would like to see these ladies write another book like this one. This is one of the best anthologies this year that I have read. Great Job ladies!! -JaT

"Strictly Business" by Brenda Jackson. Houston writer Gina accepts an assignment to interview her former husband Mitchell. Gina still loves her spouse, but believes his only love is his business. Mitchell craves his second chance to prove to Gina that she is everything to him.

"Catch Me If You Can" by Cindi Louis. In Lovebug, Texas, Lonzell and Leesa plan to marry just before he goes overseas serving in the military. Leesa becomes pregnant but she is unable to contact her beloved. Several years later he returns home to find single mother Leesa raising their son and learns how his mother kept them apart.

"Promises and Vows" by Felicia Mason. After three years of marriage, Jerome and Elise head towards divorce as both pushes their respective careers before their relationship. They sleep in separate rooms until his voodoo-practicing Aunt arrives for a visit. Jerome vows to use any form of magic to save his relationship with his beloved.

"Kidnapped" by Kayla Perrin. In Fort Lauderdale Jamal plans to prove to Nia that she is marrying the wrong man. Jamal crashes the wedding, abducts the bride before vows are exchanged, and blackmails her into spending an evening with him in Key West.

These are fine contemporary tales with strong plots starring lead protagonists whom seem real though the males appear a bit nerdy when it comes to commitment. Fans of well-written modern day relationship anthologies will want to read THE BEST MAN because it is one of the sub-genres better collections.

Harriet Klausner

This book was awesome. The first novella, by Brenda Jackson was excellent. I could not put the book down to rest. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I love the continuation of characters Ms. Jackson develops. It is always good to read about previous characters. The other authors were great.
Buy the book. It is worth collecting

I have been a fan of Connie's for years. I read everything she puts out, usually over and over again. That's what I did with this book. I orginally read it years ago and recently found it again and was just a thrilled this time. Connie has a way of making even the most fierce heros vulunerable and the weakest heroines strong and courageous. Her characters always compliment each other so well that if they were real we know they'd be together always.

"The Lion's Bride" starts off right after William the Conquerer has taken England. One of his knights,Lyon, who saved his life, has now been charged with the Protection of Cragmere, the home of Ariana. Ariana is determined not to let William's Lion rule her. But Lyon is under orders to Marry the wench and take control. He does but then sends her to a convent for 5 years until he needs his wife. Ariana goes thru with the marriage and retreats to the convent but conspires with her former betrothed, Edric.

Now 5 years later Ariana has grown into a beautiful woman and Lyon has need of his wife. Lyon is to return to Cragmere and help prevent a rebellion. So he sends for his wife, hoping to find her docile. Well that's not to be. Ariana is a strong willful woman who speaks her mind. Lyon is struck with her beauty but cannot trust her not to betray him or his heart.

Ariana is also amazed when she returns to find that the man who she has hated for years is stirring feelings in her that confuse her. Together they must follow their passions to wherever they lead or else they will burn out.

The book is filled with Connie's famous erotic love scenes that could make the book erupt in flames. You can always count on her books to do that.

I found this book to be very enjoyable and as always i look forward to others by Connie.

Connie Mason is by far, my favorite romance author. I have read "The Lion's Bride" about ten times now! It's a great story and the characters are to die for! You fall in love with Ariana and Lyon. The power, love and passion is just amazing and well told! Connie Mason is not only a fantastic author, but a person who appreciates her fans. I have written to her many times and I always receive a response, book marks and even hand signed book plates for my novels. Her books are excellent and worth your reading time! A+++

When I first heard about a book called The Lion's Bride by Connie Mason, I thought 'no way it can't be good!'.Then I read all the reviews on this web site and I knew I had to get theis book. I am glad that I did.

The way Connie Mason writes this book is absolutely fantastic. I have read many of Connie's book and this is one of my favorites.
The relationship between Ariana and Lyon is so explosive that you get burnt just by reading it. The plot of the book is just amazing.

If anyone sees this book, don't think twice; BUY IT!
I could not put this one down and I look forward to reading many, many more.

Summer of Love is an important American literary contribution that may very well have a strong and viable fan base. Where are you? Join us!

This novel is loads of fun to read. The majority of the characters are hippies from the 1960s who meet a stranger from the future who's looking to save his world. This fellow, Chiron, needs to find a troubled adolescent teen named Susan Stein (a.k.a. Starbright) for a very compelling reason. The book has a great deal to offer: swift action, lovable characters, spiritual insight, and well-chosen primary documents such as essays, poems, and news articles which round out the reader's understanding of the worldview of the novel.

I think Summer of Love has excellent potential for a wider audience. I hope it continues to enjoy a healthy amount of sales in the used books market on this site. I wish even more for it to be in wider circulation. Some books talk about the sixties. This novel IS the sixties, thanks to the spirit and scholarship of its author. And, as one reader aptly put it, "the sci-fi stuff is just plain off the hook." Get a copy. Most people who have read it seem to respect it and enjoy it every bit as much as I do.

This is a wonderful book for anyone who's ever dreamed of time travel. It also showes you a first-hand view of the Summer of Love. Mason does an excellent job of describing her characters and how they feel, even when under the influence. Her view of the future seems realistic enough, (Although we'll never know) and the way she twists the plot around Chiron, Starbright, Ruby, and the other characters is quite clever. All in all this is a book that I will read many times.

The funky rainbow cover of this book was what caught my eye at first, then the title began to resonate in my hippie soul. Summer of Love is about a runaway girl who calls herself Starbright who goes to the Haight-Asbury district during the summer of 1967, looking for her friend Penny Lane. She meets a time traveler from five hundred years in the future, who is looking for her as the key to resolving a rift which has occured.
The vivid texturing of the historical situation at the time alone makes this book well worth the read. I also recommend the Golden Nineties as a sequel to this great book.

This book is a great self help tool not only in the area of memory - but in using the power of positive thinking.

Right from the start the exercises give you power to enhance your memory by teaching techniques to pay attention, to associate and to accept your own abilities.

For anyone who has a tendancy to forget, you can learn your strengths, boost your weaknesses and even smile at them. If you fear Aging, Alzheimers, Dimentia or Senility - there is an explanation that is understandable. Medication, Depression and other factors that can alter one's memory are also described.

I would recommend this book to anyone who suffers from or knows someone else who has concerns regarding his or her memory.

I'm writing this review because I really liked a lot of aspects of the book. I recommended it to my friends, so I figured I'll recommend it to internet users as well. I've read some other books on memory improvement, but I think this book was more engaging. It includes most of the principles found in the other memory books I've read, but this book seemed to make it more cohesive. I think the other aspect I enjoyed was the emphasis on personal attitudes. It honestly left me with a new perspective on growing old. Also I felt the book spoke well to some of the sometimes-negative feelings I've had about growing old (to be honest I was surprised by just how many negative perceptions I had that this book revealed to me - and corrected, so to speak). Actually, the more I think about it, the more I can say I really liked the book and do highly recommend it. Enjoy

The Memory Workbook is a must for anyone over the age of 40. It explains in a way that anyone can understand how memory works and what to expect as you age. It helped me to feel better about myself and my memory and helped me to realize that occasional forgetfulness is ok. It also help me to realize that a particular medication that I was on was actually affecting my memory. So I conslulted my doctor and my memory has greatly improved. I really recommend this book!