Lucca wishes for nothing other than to become a nun. But her father has other plans. He ships her off to Cuba for an arranged marriage. Her ship is attacked on her way and she finds herself the prisoner of Captain Morgan Scott. She puts on her nun habit hoping he will have moral issues with forcing himself on a nun. When Morgan meets Luca he is powerfully attracted to her. He does not believe she is a nun, and he is determined to find the truth and make her want him like he wants her. There were things I liked and disliked about this book, so I decided on three stars.

~I liked the fact that the book takes right off from the beginning, and the story moves forward without lagging. I finished this story in an afternoon, and could not stop until I was done. I had to know what would happen next. There's lots of action.

~I disliked the fact that the characters were flat and pretty two-dimensional, and the style of writing is very simplistic. The hero hates everything Spanish, because he was made a slave on a Spanish ship. Although he is strongly attracted to Luca, he cannot get over the fact that she is Spanish. Most of the story deals with Morgan trying to accept Luca despite her spanish heritage. This got tedious in the extreme. This woman had absolutely nothing to do with what had happened to him and it seemed like he blames her for the sins of a Spanish Crew.

Taken By You is an entertaining read. I would recommend picking it up and giving it a try.

This seems to be a rewrite of Ms Mason's Pirate, which is a much better book. I found myself skipping ahead in places and rushing through others. The story is ok and if I hadn't read Pirate so recently I may not have noticed. Others may enjoy this book very much. The rest of Ms Mason's books have been wonderful.

I really enjoyed reading this book. One thing I could describe about this book is engrossly entertaining!!!

Mike Mason begins his book by stating: "One day in contemplation there came to me the phrase 'the practice of the presence of people.' And with it came this thought - why not take all that I've learned about knowing God through contemplative prayer and apply it to knowing people." Not a bad beginning, but it gravitates toward the bizarre.

His previous book, "The Mystery of Marriage" was a wonderful treatise on marriage, and as he says, he once wanted to become a monk, but he fell in love, and the insights he brought to that topic are far superior than this foray.

He says that this book is a series of reflections, 5 categories compared to the fingers on a hand - 1. People; 2. Self; 3. Presence; 4. Practice; and 5. Friendship. He says that being united to people means overcoming all our fears and judgments so that no sin or imperfection stains our fellowship. Not a bad theory, but it is flawed. We are sin-stained people who need the grace of God, Mike.

He goes on to say that "people reflect the presence of God in the world," based on an experience he had with a woman in whom he saw the "glory of the Lord" on her face. Now maybe that's true, and I don't discount anyone's experience, but to go and come to some other conclusions which are tantamount to heresy is questionable. For instance:

"God's prayer life consists of practicing our presence."
"We gain access to earth by believing in people." He seems to believe that all people are good, in the face of the fact that Jesus has stated that only God is good, and the prophets have stated that the heart is deceitful. He continues in later chapters to say that the practice of the presence of people is the answer to all our problems. (Really, Mike?) Maybe we should inform the President and Sadam Hussein. This is serious stuff, here, apparently.

He interjects quotes from Nelson Mandela, Agnes Sanford, Thomas Merton, Paul Tillich, and Will Rogers, in what is a home-spun theology not based so much on biblical truth, but Brother Lawrence, and at one point, he believes that if Brother Lawrence was alive, he would be writing Mike Mason's book. And what about these gems"

"Intimacy is 'in-to-me-see'".
"Let God be God and He'll let you be you."

He goes on in a number of ways and takes Scripture out of text, in particular James 3:17, in the wisdom passage, and he arrives at the conclusion that "get enough relief happening in your life, and you will fill up with the love of God." Then he goes on to say that "Friendship is the proof of the gospel's pudding." This is heretical, especially in light of 1 Corinthians 15:1-8. He also proclaims that "Hence, in John's gospel, the great commission to the church is not to go the ends of the earth and make disciplies, but to become the house of God by being friends with one another." This is incredibly lunacy.

Then the icing on the cake is as follows:

"Friendship is the message Jesus wanted to preach. Jesus Himself did not accomplish what He did alone. He chose to work with friends. What did Jesus' friends do for Him? I believe they helped Him (as heretical as this may sound) to be more human. After all, humanity was something Jesus learned about as He went along..."

I can't review this anymore, because it is ludicrous!! Maybe Mike has meant well, but he should stick with marriage books, or sink his teeth in the Bible, or get mentored by someone with a grasp of the truth. "Oh, God, may you open the eyes of your child, Mike, and grant he be filled with true wisdom. Amen."

Please...if you get this book, read with the wisdom of above and discernment, and especially compare what you read with the Truth.

This is not a recommended book, and I'm pulling it from our church library.

Every word in this wonderful book rings true. As the song says, "What the world needs now is love, true love; that's the only thing there's just to little of...". This is a book that puts shoe leather to that pretty saying. Want to really understand people? Want to build stronger relationships? Then this is the book for you. The bonus is that Mike Mason is an accomplished writer who chisels every sentence. I have purchased three copies and given them to each of my college-age children. Now I need to get another for myself!

This book does more than challenge us to love the way God intended us to love; it shows us the way. It's easy to love from a distance, in "Practicing the Presence of People", Mike Mason shows us how to love close up. Maybe I needed that lesson; my copy is worn and tattered. Buy this book...no, buy two and give one to a friend!

yuck, blech, couldn't get it in the trashcan fast enough.

Over the years I've bought books by the hundreds. But to tell the truth, very few have captured my imagination as much as Darwin Porter's Rhinestone Country. It's true: I bought it for the sexy cover, and there's plenty of sex here--more than the average reader can handle. But what I found was that I got caught up in the storyline. Peter Riddle and his sons, along with long-suffering Rosacoke Carson, lived an incredible story that began in the months before World War II and stretched all the way from Nashville to Hollywood in the decades that followed. Pete and Rosacoke exploded into show business like Elvis. But the tale fed to their adoring public concealed closeted, tragic, but always exciting lives, none more so than what happened to their son Buster. Even though it's not set in New York or Hollywood, Rhinestone Country is the most exciting show business novel I've ever read, and I've devoured dozens. It is also the most compelling bedtime tale I can recommend to any hot-blooded male. If you like sex, but sex with a compelling story, rush out to buy this one. It's hot, hot and hotter!

Before country super star Pete Riddle's untimely death, he made women swoon, but it was the male groupies he adored. Any male-- he begins to love his teenage sons just a little too much. And his wife gives new meaning to the phrase "Stand By Your Man." Guess which C&W star from the 40s Darwin Porter based his singing superstud on!

This is the 24th Perry Mason novel I've read (the 5th in the series), and it's Perry Mason at his best--or worst. For this is not the sanitized Perry Mason of television. The real Perry Mason routinely manipulates, suppresses, and, in this case, even plants evidence. Two eyewitnesses saw the bride kill her husband. She herself claims she did it. But she's Mason's client, so she couldn't possibly be guilty, right?

This is the 24th Perry Mason novel I've read (the 5th in the series), and it's Perry Mason at his best--or worst. For this is not the sanitized Perry Mason of television. The real Perry Mason routinely manipulates, suppresses, and, in this case, even plants evidence. Two eyewitnesses saw the bride kill her husband. She herself claims she did it. But she's Mason's client, so she couldn't possibly be guilty, right?

I am a big fan of all Perry Mason books but this one is definitley one of the best. There are many twists and turns in the plot. You never know who is lying and who is telling the truth. Some characters are telling the truth but not the whole truth others are totally lying and a couple are telling the whole truth. That makes it a very suspenseful and intriguing book. All in all is a book that keeps you on your toes and you can't put it down.

This book isn't for people who want in-depth coverage of schizophrenia. It's very conversational, written as a series of interviews, and is meant to introduce people who've been diagnosed with schizophrenia or who have found out that someone they know is schizophrenic, and has no idea what it's all about. As an introdruction to the disease, how it affects people, the medications prescribed, etc., it does a pretty good job of being informative without being scientific, and avoids being dumbed down. But for people who already know about schizophrenia, the contents should be familiar.

As a member of the general public I found this book very
enlightening as much of it exposes schizophrenia from the perspective of those who have the disease. It shows the disease
as it filters through a variety of personalities. It also aims
to help patients cope with their problems by offering much
helpful advice about dealing with their medical as well as everyday lfe problems. It was very easy to read and has broken down many stereotypes I had about schizophrenia.

Understanding schizophrenia is a difficult task. By reading this wonderfully written book, the reader can enter into this world and develop an appreciation not only for the complexity of this illness, but it also provides direction and inspires hope.

This is an okay primer, but there's not enough to it.

If you're interested in learning poker and don't know much if anything about the games, this is the book for you. It is a nice foundation to build more advanced skills on. Also, it is great to aid in figuring out what form of poker that you'd enjoy most. Now to poker? Get this book!

I have purchased three of these books by Malmuth/Loomis: "Fundamentals of Video Poker," "Fundamentals of Blackjack," and "Fundamentals of Poker." These books are remarkable because they are such slender, unassuming volumes. If you play poker at anything less than the professional level, you should add this book to your library. It covers Hold 'em, Seven Stud, and Omaha as well as variations of these games. The discussion of how to play the games are brief and concise. The strategy sections are fundamental, yet powerful. There's not a lot of fat here, just clear writing and practical tips. This book will not make you a world class player, but will give you a solid foundation on which to build a serious and sucessful study of the game. Buy this book.

my favorite story was ms.byrd's One In A Million. iloved whitney and gregory's story and how they were able to rekindle their love and become a family with product of their love from so long ago their son. his sickness is what brought them together but it was worth it.

ms.mason story was nice about a man who has grieved for so long that he doesn't even know how to love anymore after losing his wife to a tragic car accident.that is until he meets Sun a woman who makes him love all over again. Ms.Johnson's story was nice for a father and son relationship;however i didn't feel the romance between michael and jeanne.michael and bruce father son relationship was bitter in the start, but at the end their relationship was wonderful.

This collection of anthologies introduces three men who are
learning to embrace fatherhood.

THE DREAMERS by Felicia Mason...
Quentin Wright is bitter because he lost his wife and his dream of
becoming a doctor due to a tragic accident. He is now an absentee father
to his young daughter because she reminds him of his wife. Quentin is
barely living, he uses his trucking business as mock therapy, as he hides
from life. But on one of his many road trips he meets a clairvoyant tour

bus guide named Sun. And she might be just the light he needs to see how
special the bond is between a father and a daughter. And Sun also hopes
to show Quentin about another special bond.

ONE IN A MILLION by Adrianne Byrd...
Gregory Woods has realized his dream, he is owner and president of Tech
Design, a flourishing architectural firm. His home is a masterpiece, but
Greg is still unfulfilled. He dreams of a magical time ten years ago, and
of a woman who haunts those dreams. So when Whitney Jackson shows up in
his office, he thinks he has willed her there. But Whitney is there
because her ten-year-old son needs a bone marrow transplant and she has
come to an unsuspecting Greg because as the father, he is her last hope
for a donor.

FATHER BY HEART by Doris Johnson...
Michael Kinsford wants a family but he hasn't found the right woman.
The only one who has captured his attention is a woman he met at the
local gym. But he misinterprets something he sees and this potential
relationship ends before it has a chance to start. Four months later
they meet again, and as they tip toe through getting reacquainted,
his son, whom Michael has longed to know but has never seen, comes to
live with him. Now Michael hopes Jeanne is willing to understand and
accept the responsibility he has to his son.

This is a timely re-issue of three poignant and unforgettable stories
about a father's love and about fathers in love. They are warm and real,

and they make you want to wish them a Happy Father's Day.

Reviewed by aNN Brown
The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

These well written stories, (especially Doris Johnson's) about three oh-too-real men and their tragic beginnings, have it all - great characters that you care about, romance, sexy love scenes and unpredictable endings.

In "The Dreamers" by Felicia Mason, we meet Quentin Knight, a would be doctor turned trucker after a car accident kills his pregnant wife and badly disfigures his hands. He recovers from the accident, but refuses to fully live again. He forgoes completing his medical training, preferring to stoicly support his parents and brother who is in medical school. Unfortunately, his support and love does not extend to his young daughter, who's birthday is a painful reminder of his beloved wife's death.

Adrienne Byrd's "One In A Million" begins ten years after the end of a summer love affair between college students Gregory Woods and Whitney Jackson. Committed to others, the relationship began as a platonic friendship, but progressed t! ! o a passionate love affair. However, at the end of the summer semester, Whitney returned to California and her fiance, leaving Gregory to marry his fiancee who was away for summer break. Gregory never married and is now a driven, unhappy workaholic, obsessed with making his architectural firm a success. He's shocked and amazed when after 10 years, Whitney re-enters his life with the news that not only did she never marry, but Gregory is the father of her 9-year old son who lies ill in a hospital stricken with leukemia.

Doris Johnson's "Father At Heart" has Michael Kingsford as the hard-working owner of his own accounting firm. But Michael's grieving for the son he has never seen has clouded his life. As an unwed teenaged father 17 years ago, Michael was helpless to stop his teenaged girlfriend and her parents from having his son given up for adoption. Michael has now met and fallen in love with Jeanne Grayson. However, an incredible turn of events may put th! ! eir happiness in serious jeopardy.

Get your copy as soon! as possible. These touching stories of broken-hearted men who find true love may move you to tears.

I wasn't thrilled with this book. I know it's a compilation of articles published individually, but they didn't hold together well as a whole.

I've packed my books away for a move, so i can't tell you exacty what it is, but seem to remember the same phrase in nearly EVERY piece and almost the same exact paragraph over and over. I got sick of it after a while. Perhaps my focus on hold 'em biases me, though. Overall, Mr. Malmuth knows much more than i do about playing poker in a casino and i respect his ideas for that at the very least.

It was a great book and contained much informational essays.

Mason Malmuth in Poker Essays I and Poker Essays II provides the most direct and relevant general information on playing poker. Having played casino poker for a decade and having read and reread most of the poker literature I feel that Malmuth provides the most credible material. The information in both of these books is general, covering all aspects of poker. If you are interested in the world of poker then these books should be part of your global reference. (These books are a reedited collection of magazine columns.)