5 comments about Dark Horse.

1. The title itself both refers to the main character, ex-cop Elena Estes, and the main plot that revolves around the exciting and sometimes deadly world of equestrian dressage--a sport of precision, skill and mastery.
   
   Drawing from Hoag's own skills and training as a competitive equestrian, and occasionally using the names of real people and horses, Hoag manages to propel you into the dark and often deadly world of professional equestrian sports. Step into a world of the ''ultra rich and the very poor'', where horses are exploited, misused, abused, drugged and even killed--all for the 'love' of the sport.
   
   Protagonist Elena Estes is a 'dark horse', herself. Living in self-imposed exile after a life-shattering decision ruins her career, Elena finds herself drawn to the plight of a young girl, Molly Seabright. Molly's older sister, Erin, is missing, and the twelve-year-old has come to hire Elena as a private investigator to find Erin and bring her home.
   
   Masquerading as a spoiled socialite, Elena enters the lavish, decadent world of equestrian sport and encounters deception and murder along the way. Filled with rich, powerful men this novel will throw you into Elena's past and present at a galloping speed...and if you don't hold on for the ride, you may just be thrown off.
   
   Tami Hoag has consistently and persistently come up with unique storylines, fast-paced plots and intriguing characters. She is one of the most talented female suspense thriller writers there is, and once you read one of her novels, you'll be begging to read more.
   
   This is perhaps one of my favorites! I found it truly interesting and very unique in plot.
   
   Tami Hoag's Dark Horse is an intense read...one you won't WANT to put down!
   
   ~ Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author of Whale Song (2007 Kunati Books)



2. Cleaver story and writing! Elena Estes is a wonderful witty character, I hope Tami Hoag brings her back--maybe as a PI officially? From what I've heard, Tami Hoag is an accomplished rider and I loved her descriptions of horses and the circle that follows them. A very quick read and you will fall in love with her client Molly.



3. Elena Estes is a strong female character that is a good role model for all of us. This book is definitely a page-turning thriller that will keep you guessing about the kidnapper/murderer until the end. Estes such a well developed character that I believe Hoag will be crazy not to write another story about her and Landry! Great Book!



4. This is the first book that I've read by Tami Hoag, and it certainly will not be my last. The main character was feisty and likable, and she social commentary well with some suburbia dysfunction, romance, deceit, jealousy, tragedy, corruption, murder, and more! I can't even list all the elements she blended to create a wonderful suspense story. I look forward to reading more by this author.



5. This book was much better than I had thought it would be. The twists and turns kept you guessing about who did what. Especially good reading for horse lovers.

No comments about Dangerous Plays (Nancy Drew: All New Girl Detective #16).

5 comments about When The Lion Roars.

1. This is a story of passion. Passion for a country and a people in pain. Passion for children in a war-torn place. Passion for a God who leads heroes into desperate, dangerous places and provides their protection.
   
   And it is the story of one woman who is brave enough to stay in a country not her own.
   
   When Paul Farid lands a plane packed with food and medical supplies in war-ravaged Sudan, he is surprised to learn that his contact, Dr. Larson Kerr, is a woman - a light-haired American woman.
   
   With the dying and wounded all around her, Dr. Kerr's days are brightened only by two Sudanese children, inspiring sixteen-year-old Rachel and protective twelve-year-old Nyok, who help her in the straw-roofed medical clinic.
   
   Dr. Kerr discovers much about herself as she attempts to fight off the God she once knew. But what secret from Dr. Kerr's past continues to torment her? And will Colonel Ben Alier of the Sudanese People's Liberation Army, a man who hates Paul Farid because of his past, tell her of Paul's true identity?
   
   Although I knew nothing about Sudan before reading this book, Mills' colorful imagery brought this African nation to life for me. I could almost smell the "cup of hot sweetened karkaday tea, made from a variety of crushed hibiscus."
   
   DiAnn Mills has told a gripping story. One I hope will stir up support for today's heroes. For the men and women who are brave enough to minister to the physical and spiritual needs of those living in war zones. Many still fight to survive the danger which lurks in the darkness, but God's light shines when the lion roars.
   
   I recommend this book - a very worthwhile read.



2. Set in the very real civil war in Sudan, this book pulled on my heart. I fell in love with the main character, and enjoyed reading uplifting bits of Christians offering comfort and hope. A definite must-read!



3. Award-winning author, DiAnn Mills, brings humanity and the sweeping power of God's love to life in this riveting story set in Southern Sudan during the ongoing civil war, where three very different characters (an American physician, an Arab-born Christian, and a commander in the Sudanese People's Liberation Army) must put aside prejudice, fear, and pride in order to find and rescue the commander's 16-year-old sister who has been captured by slave traders. After reading this novel, you will never think of the struggle and sacrifice in Sudan in the same way.  It will no longer be simply a headline or a news story in the daily paper.  You may even make a decision in invest some of your time and money to bring hope to this suffering population.



4. I found this a riveting story, based on factual happenings in Sudan. The characters were so real they literally walked off the page into my heart. This is a book that will entertain you but also change your perspective and make you care about the plight of others. Highly recommended!



5. "We are blessed," Joseph said with a smile. "God is good, and He continues to meet our needs. My prayer is that He will touch the hearts of those who are able to give, so these refugees can have some sort of dignity and hope for tomorrow."
   The situation Paul left at the refugee camp settled heavily on his heart. The age-old question swelled within him: Why must the innocent always be the ones to suffer?
   
   
   
   Not a light-hearted romance, When the Lion Roars draws it's readers into the current conflict in Sudan. Torn by greed and separated by the continuous clash between Islam and Christianity, the Sudanese in this eye-opening novel endure famine, torture, and disease.
   Three very different characters are drawn together when the warring Northern Sudan Army attacks and takes a precious girl into slavery
   Dr. Larson Kerr is on the run from God only to find that even the darkest regions of Africa house the Almighty.
   Paul Farid, a former Muslim and persecutor of the faith, seeks to appease his conscious by putting his life on the line to aid those he once despised.
   Colonel Ben Alier, consumed with hate for those who seek to over-run the oil rich Southern Sudan, fights with more than just holy wrath. Can God reach his hardened heart and draw him back into fellowship with Him?
   . DiAnn Mills takes you on a journey through violent battles, lion attacks, crocodile infested waters, and the ever-present spiritual battles that plague Christians of all walks the world round.
   This tremendous novel provokes the reader to pray for the situation that is still unfolding in Africa. A line from a beautiful song comes to mind upon reflecting the lessons learned from this book. "Though wars never cease, I am at peace with God."

5 comments about The President's Daughter.

1. In 1969, Jake Cazalet saved the life of a Frenchwoman in Vietnam, and a brief passionate affair ensued. Years later in Paris, he was introduced to another beautiful young woman, his daughter. For many reasons, their relationship remained a secret. Some of these reasons include that fact that Cazalet is now the President of the United States. The American populous does not take kindly to illegitimate children when it comes to politicians. As I said before, Cazalet is now the president of the United States. Somehow, someone has discovered the truth about his daughter, and she is seized by a vicious extremist group. This group of men call themselves Macabees. They believe they are going to free Israel from its oppressors as Judas and his Macabees did in the fifth century. If the president does not comply with the kidnappers' demand, or uses any of America's security agencies to track them down, they will execute her. This forces Cazalet to make the toughest decision of his life. However, he only has ten days to decide. Desperate he turns to British operative Sean Dillon and Brigadier Charles Fergesun. If these two men cannot find hi daughter, the president will have to make the toughest decision of his life. He must choose between his daughter, whom he loves more than anything, and doing his duty to his country and not complying with terrorist demands. This is a great book for anyone who likes action and suspense. I would recommend this book to anybody, the reading is very easy and the story is never dull. This book forces you to keep reading.



2. Hey fellow readers, this is another of Jack Higgins action-packed thrillers. It is not Tolstoy and it was never intended to be. How do you think Higgins got so many of these things published? He sure doesn't spend a lot of time on them. These books are to action adventure fans what popcorn and Coke are to theater goers.

   In this action adventure thriller, Higgins reprises former IRA enforcer Sean Dillion, Brigadier Charles Ferguson and Scotland Yard Chief Inspector Hannah Bernstein. Later on in the book, the author also recalls from retirement that old IRA legend Liam Devlin. His cunning, wit and skill (despite his advanced age) were a welcome intrusion into the story line as it moved toward its conclusion.

   The President's Daughter is another one of those Higgins stories that really requires a major suspension of disbelief. The plot's premise is that the US President, as a young Army officer in Vietnam, met a beautiful French woman who was searching for her husband thought lost when ambushed by the NVA. It just so happens that the woman is married to a French Foreign Legion captain who retains a noble title and significant wealth. Thinking her husband dead, she has a one night affair with young Lt. Jake Cazalet. The very next morning, she finds out that her husband, Captain (Count) de Brissac is alive and out of a sense of duty, returns to him. Jake is heartbroken but the two of them agree to part. What neither one knows is that the one night liaison has resulted in the conception of a child. After the child's birth, the Comtesse de Brissac convinces her husband that the child is his and life goes on.

   As the years pass, Jake Cazalet returned to Harvard where he completed his doctorate and law school. He enters politics and eventually becomes a Senator. Later, he is elected President. After he becomes President, Jake finds out that the Count de Brissac, a former French general, has passed away. He eventually meets his long-lost love and she tells him a secret, her daughter was not 'the general's daughter,' but his own. Jake's wife, who had died years earlier of leukemia, had never been able to bear children and now the POTUS has one 28 years old, who he cannot acknowledge.

   Enter the complication. Someone else finds out Marie de Brissac's identity and they kidnap her. The kidnappers are not the usual PLO, IRA or former Communist thugs Higgins has employed in these roles in the past. They are Israelis who want to force the President to sign an order that will result in the nuclear destruction of Syria, Iran and Iraq. They give him a time limit and with that clock ticking, the tension also starts to build.

   In his own way, Higgins chooses to involve Sean Dillon, Brigadier Ferguson and Hannah Bernstein. He also introduces a new character, Blake Johnson, an FBI agent who runs "The Basement" in the White House. He is the President's special action team and as a result of the kidnapping, he and Dillon join forces. Readers will meet him again in THE WHITE HOUSE CONNECTION.

   While the entire premise for this book is truly far-fetched, the way in which Dillon and Blake Johnson resolve the crisis is what makes for the most interesting reading. It is in the problem solving stage where Higgins provides most of the action, tension and enjoyment. That is why he has so many fans around the world. This is not great or memorable literature. What it is is an enjoyable, mindless, escapist way to pass some time.

   Higgins is spare with his wording and his details. That is also another factor in why his books are so quick and fast paced. If you're looking for a quick way to escape your everyday existence, then Higgins (and this book) is a good place to start. Sean Dillon and the rest of the characters in these books have become like old friends. It's always good to visit with them every once in a while.

   Higgins fans will like this installment. It's full of everything they expect from this extremely prolific author. Cast aside the critical eye. Sit back, put your feet up and visit with old friends.




3. The scenario : an extremist pro-Israel terrorist group has access to the most sensitive Intelligence of the UK and the US, and also the US President's secret - an illegitimate daughter. They kidnapped her to force the President to launch surgical nuclear strikes against Israel's primary adversaries in the Middle-East.

   Then, the plot just went on a completely wrong angle. They kidnapped Sean Dillon to act as their messenger to the President. Though what happened later were not bad for an action thriller, I keep wondering why did they want to get a man like Sean Dillon, and more importantly, Charles Ferguson, involved. They could have convinced the President they got the girl and they mean business without involving people who eventually caused their downfall.




4. Ever since I read "The Eagle Has Landed" in the 70's, I have been a fan of Jack Higgins. Sean Dillon returns in "The President's Daughter". The President of the United States, Jake Cazalet, fathered a child during a brief affair while he was in Vietnam. Only he and the child's mother knew her true paternity, or so they thought. Almost thirty years later, the president's daughter, Marie de Brissac, is kidnapped by Israeli terrorists who hope to get Cazalet to support an effort by the US government to bomb Arab countries like Syria and Iraq. Cazalet opposes the initiative, and calls on Sean Dillon, ex-IRA enforcer now working for the British to try to find Marie and rescue her. In the meantime, this group kidnaps Dillon's colleague, Chief Inspector Hannah Bernstein. After finding out where the women are held, Dillon and American Blake Johnson stage a daring rescue. The suspense is taut, and I found it impossible to put down this excellent novel by the master of the thriller, Jack Higgins.



5. I have been a Higgins fan for a long time, but I am somewhat mystified as to why I still read him at this point. I think it's because I was so enthralled by "The Eagle Has Landed" years ago, and some of his other older books and the quick read that you get. However that being said, Higgins follows the same formula for every book and if you have read at least 3 of his books, then you know what is coming at every stage of the game. "The President's Daughter" is no different from a dozen other Higgins novels I have read. What I do appreciate is it's a quick read that's entertaining and doesn't make you think hard. If you want to give one Higgins book a shot, then read "The Eagle Has Landed", this was when he was at his best and is a quality novel. If you are a Higgins fan, then you'll read this book regardless, just don't be surprised that it doesn't stand out from many of his other books.

   So what's the recommendation overall. If you are looking for a quick mindless read with adventure, then this is for you. If you want a book with a lot more substance and a believable adventure tale, then you need to look elsewhere.

4 comments about Budgie the Little Helicopter.

1. Budgie: The Little Helicopter is wonderfully illustrated and catches the child's eye with all it's bright colors. The story is intriguing and my two children, 5 & 6 at the time (now 7 & 8) were totally absorbed by it. My son slept with the book for weeks.



2. My Granddaughter received this book for Christmas two years ago when she was two. She still enjoys hearing the stories about Budgie. It is a throughly enjoyable book for children. The video is great too. Wish there were more of them.



3. This was the first book I can remember loving. I'm not sure whether I memorised it from hearing it so much and went from there, but Budgie taught me how to read at the age of 3. Sadly I haven't read it since, but I highly recommend it to children as the characters are so easy to love!



4. I bought this book because my 2 year old is in love with helicopters. I didn't bother reading past the first couple pages because I figured it had to be tame since the Duchess of York wrote it. I was wrong. The first few pages are fine, and then I found out what the story is about. A little girl is kidnapped and Budgie needs to help rescue her. There is even a picture of two men chasing after a little girl in pigtails. I stopped reading as soon as I realized what the story was about and deposited it straight in the trash. This book is inappropriate for children. Based on the pictures I just can't figure out what age group this would be appropriate for. I personally don't want to send my son to bed with nightmares.

2 comments about Hot Blood (A Dan Shepherd Mystery).

1. In HOT BLOOD, Stephen Leather's fourth book in the Dan "Spider" Shepherd series, Spider, an Ex-SAS trooper now a Detective Constable with a ultra hush-hush undercover unit within London's Metropolitan Police tasked with missions otherwise impossible,leaves the relative safety of the UK on an unauthorized leave of absence from his day job to take the point position on a mission into Baghdad's most anti-Western sector.
   
   Back in his Army days when Shepherd was chasing the Taliban in Afghanistan, Dan's life was saved by fellow trooper Geordie Mitchell. Now, while working for a private security company in the Iraqi capital, Mitchell is kidnapped by Islamic insurgents. In a video broadcast to the world, Mitchell's captors display their hostage and threaten his execution in two weeks if their demands aren't met. With virtually no leads as to Geordie's exact whereabouts or the identity of his abductors, Spider and three other former Sassmen, led by their old boss SAS Major Allan Gannon, must extricate Mitchell from his dodgy predicament before his throat is literally put to the knife.
   
   It's only been in the third and fourth installments of the series, i.e. this volume and Cold Kill (Dan Shepherd Mysteries), that the Spider character has matured in the sense that he's being pitted against the Islamic jihadists that are causing so much grief across international borders in the name of Allah rather than the self-serving criminals of his home country out for just money. With this wider world view, Shepherd is made more interesting and the plots as a whole more relevant to a wider readership. It also means that Spider might get out more in the wake of his wife's death three years previous and perhaps, as here, even get lucky. I hope the author maintains this direction in future books.
   
   For the reader, a consequence of the plot, likely intended by Leather, is a mental debate as to the methods by which the West should fight the jihadists that would see us destroyed. Does one "play by the rules" as Spider's conscience urges, or do whatever's necessary, no matter how cold blooded and brutal, as Yank CIA officer Yokely is more than happy to demonstrate during his "information retrieval" interrogations? Because, as Yokely explains the futility of American and British forces in Iraq:
   
   "Maximum terror, minimum risk. It's a hell of a lot easier to recruit a guy to plant IEDs than it is to recruit a suicide-bomber. I tell you, they can fight like this for ever. It doesn't matter how many troops we send, how much equipment we give them, we can't win. Because the enemy is untargetable. Overwhelming firepower is all well and good, but in Iraq we've got nothing to shoot at ... Imagine the havoc devices like that would wreak on our freeways. Or in New York City. Or London."
   
   My sentiments exactly.
   
   The only minor criticism I have with HOT BLOOD is the home-grown, British terrorist plot that Dan and his police unit are infiltrating when old SAS loyalties summon him away to rescue Geordie. In his absence, the investigation lapses and is eventually given somewhat short-shrift by Leather, who presumably thought there was no need to further pad the storyline with ancillary action. Perhaps it might have been better had he not introduced that subplot at all, but left it to develop into the primary plot of a later book. But who am I to nit pick? If first-rate thrillers were easy to write, everybody would be doing it, including me perhaps.
   
   I was especially delighted with the red-headed, freckled, South African mercenary character that the author introduces at the bottom of page 269 of the Hodder and Stoughton paperback edition. Hey, Stephen, perhaps you could build a whole new series around him, you think? A new action hero replete with Babes and hi-tech gadgets for the 21st century. Think of the movie deals!



2. Hot Blood
   Hot Blood (ISBN 978-0-340-92169-2 Hodder and Stoughton 2007) is a new release from the prolific writer Stephen Leather and the fourth in his Dan (Spider) Shepherd series. Leather also spends much time in Thailand, and has been seen writing chapters of his books while sitting quietly in the corner of Jameson's Irish Pub. Perhaps this is the reason that Dan Shepherd's favorite drink is Jameson's and soda.
   Shepherd is an undercover British policeman who works for a shady section of the constabulary known as SOCA, the Serious Organized Crime Agency, and this book revolves around his attempt to release a hostage taken in Iraq. A hostage who had previously saved Shepherd's life.
   This particular captive was being held by a totally bloodthirsty group of Islamic extremists, who had killed their previous captive, graphically described by page 12. By then, you know you are in for a no holds barred and hard hitting thriller.
   There are three intermingled plots as Dan Shepherd traces local British terrorists, and at the same time is attempting to rescue his friend who is the hostage in Iraq, while an Iraqi sniper is very systematically killing any white face that he can.
   The detail in the book is meticulous, and brought me up to date with various weapons and such terrorist offensives as IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices).
   The hero, Dan Shepherd, is portrayed as a very human character and the book delves into the principle of `do the ends justify the means?' This is a concept that Dan Shepherd struggles with throughout the entire book. After physically interrogating a suspect, Shepherd "wasn't proud of what he'd done, but he wasn't ashamed either. The man he'd assaulted was a terrorist." But this then led to questioning the morality of what the undercover operatives really do. It is an intellectual expose, not cops and robbers - it is a psychological thriller. Shepherd saying, "There's no honor in what we're doing, and I think it's time to stop."
   Being set in Iraq for the bulk of the book, the war situation is examined, right from the pre-invasion: "What had happened in Iraq was everything to do with money and virtually nothing to do with religion." However, after occupation and the civilian unrest and carnage, author Leather through his characters opines "on the surface the issue in Iraq is religious, but at the end of the day it's about power." This discussion of the political and moral debate over Iraq makes the book very current, and also makes the plot and characters even more believable.
   The pace of the book is kept up with the short chapters, but towards the end, as Shepherd gets close to his man, the pace is such that you truly cannot put this book down. An overly used phrase I know, but in this case totally justified. You will not be able to put it down either.
   At an RRP of B. 395 this is a veritable bargain thriller, and at 536 pages a damn long read. So much more than a detective yarn, Hot Blood is up to the minute entertainment and thought provoking. Get it!

5 comments about Forgotten (Jennie McGrady Mystery Series #13).

1. I have been reading the Jennie McGrady series since I was 12. Along with the Helen Bradley also. I find both series very interesting. Patricia Rushford writes beautifully. I only wish I had her talent. Not too long ago I got to meet her personally. She visited me and my family to come talk to my school about being an author. Along with writing books. She is a wonderful bubbly person who has an excentric personality and energy to do anything. I found that she is a lot like her characters. The first book I ever read was #3. It was addicting. I had to start from the beginning. So I did I have now read every one except for her latest McGrady book. I know that I will also enjoy this one as well. So please read her facinating books. All of the series!



2. I really loved this book! The more you read into it, the less you can put it down! It takes twists and turns in the plot that you would never expect, and holds your attention the whole time. I read it in less than 24 hours! I loved the way that the mystery started out as something sort of small, and then built right up to the climax. It's a MUST READ!!!



3. "Forgotten" has got to be the best so far in the entire Jennie McGrady series. I first started reading these when I was 11 I am now 19 and although this may be a little old to be reading them I think they are a great series especially considering the disgusting rubbish that is around these days for teenagers. The books are a good clean exciting christian read. "Forgotten" had that extra element of excitement and interest for me the idea of making Jennie lose her memory was a really good idea and kept u on the edge of your seat. It also gave me an insight into what it must be like to lose your memory especially when she was trying to remember her family. I really hope that Patricia continues this series. An excellent read!!!!



4. This book is one of the best books in the series. It is a frightning but also entertaining book. A great read. I recomend that no one under about 8 or 7 years old should read this. I am 9 years old, and it was a tiny bit scary in some parts like when.. oh I probably shouldn't tell you if you're going to read it, and those of you who aren't, well you'll have to find out for yourselves! Enjoy!!



5. I honestly think this is the best book yet! This spellbinding book had me on the edge of my seat the whole time! I really appreciate Patricia's hard work and effort in writing this series. Keep up the good work!

5 comments about Ransom: The Untold Story of International Kidnapping.

1. A while back I picked up Robert Pelton's absolutely fascinating "World's Most Dangerous Places, 4th edition". After reading his intrepid accounts of kidnapping in places like Colombia, I was intrigued & wanted to learn more. I bought "Ransom" expecting the same engrossing level of detail that W.M.D.P. provides. Instead, what I got was a patched together, overlong work that purports to give us the "inside scoop" on international kidnapping and instead is a series of chapters verging back and forth between fawning profiles of counter-kidnapping professionals (sans any real insight into what it is they *do*) and melodramatic tales of victims in Kashmir. I'm sure Auerbach meant well, but her book does not provide enough interesting information to be worthwhile; her style is overblown and windy, and her reporting is not up to par. If you're really interested in this subject, my advice is to save your money and pick up W.M.D.P. instead-- you'll be glad you did.



2. If Robert Ludlum wrote non-fiction, this would be his kind of book. Ann Hagedorn Auerbach gives us the inside story of the global kidnapping crisis. Despite what the tourism industry would have us believe, the problem is not limited to - or even done mainly by - political terrorists. Auerbach, who is quoted in this week's People cover story, shows us that most kidnappings are motivated by money. That fact tells us volumes about the growing gap between rich and poor. The globalists tell us that a WTO-dictated economy is raising all boats. But Auerbach - who, in Crichton-like fashion, weaves an action-packed story with a broader lesson - shows we are merely creating a small rich elite in third world countries. The chickens will come home to roost on all of us - world travelers or no - if we do not insist that rights for workers and small farmers, and our need to preserve our small planet's environment, become universally respected.



3. The romance of travel today is seriously threatened by the problem Auerbach's book details. People who follow their dreams to beautiful, isolated parts of the world sometimes become pawns in conflicts they had no part in. Auerbach's scrupulous research and moving descriptions form a memorable--and chilling--cautionary tale for globe-trotters and armchair travellers alike.



4. Auerbach's brilliant and prescient book shows us how terrorists-including Osama bin Laden-have been financing their operations all these years: kidnapping innocent tourists and businessmen in a now too-famous part of world. Auerbach's writing is wonderful; the book reads like a thriller. Her reporting is the best of journalism, sensitive and informative. She gets behind the scenes of the private kidnap consultants and the U.S. government that, for complicated political reasons, failed to protect and save Americans in that troubled region. And her message is very important. Your safety is your own reponsibility. No one may be able to warn you more specifically about these terrorists' intent or come to your rescue if you fall into their hands. Auerbach was ahead of her time. But now we all know how right she is. Read the book for your own protection. The kidnap problem is ongoing--and getting worse.



5. This book is just a jumble of disconnected thoughts in incoherent paragraphs, each having nothing to do with any other. I was so excited to begin reading this book. Then, after reading 100 pages, I was so excited to throw it away. Please, please, please don't buy this book. Not buying it will teach the erroneous editors that let it pass, that people want something better for their reading.

1 comments about Guilt by Association (Reissued as One by One) (Danielle Ross Mystery Series #1).

1. I found "Guilt by Association" a wonderful book. It has good morals and an interesting story line. I enjoy many books written by Gilbert Morris because of the content in his books. This is a good example of the many great books he has written. I myself am fourteen years old and this book is a great book for Christian teenagers to read. I love reading books that I enjoy and also help me grow in my faith. If you are interested in other Christian books you should check out the other books written by Gilbert Morris.

2 comments about The Eye of the Warlock: A Further Tales Adventure.

1. Our first grade son really enjoyed this story. We both looked forward to reading it together. It is too advanced for a first grader on his own. We plan to read more by this author.



2. This is our third in Catanese's A Further Adventure Tale series and I have to say, I'm pretty tickled with the idea of not necessarily rewriting the tale of the Brothers Grimm over from scratch, rather Catanese has extended them, taken them in to the future...sometimes the distant future and other time in the near future (as is the case with The Eye of the Warlock). These are fun tales meant to expand (and play with) some of the most popular Grimm Fairy Tales...in the case of The Eye of the Warlock, we are talking about extending the story of Hansel & Gretel. As this story begins we find Rudi and his family (complete with a bumbling uncle and wicked step-mother) living on the edge of a vast, dark forest...the very forest of the original tale...nay, the VERY house that Hansel & Gretel once dwelled within. From this humble beginning, we discover that Rudi's two adopted sisters have suffered the same fate as his distant relatives, long ago. Thus starts Rudi's trials and tribulations in trying to over come what seems to be a case of history repeating itself (with slight variations, since the original witch is quite dead). It is the introduction of a stranger promising Rude the remaining spoils of the old Witch Hansel & Gretel bested many years before that sets the rest of the tale in motion and puts Rudi, Luci, and Elsebeth in danger and seeking desperately to discover the plot of the diabolical warlock who seems desperate to get his hands on the very same treasure...and will stop at nothing to do so!
   
   Overall, it's a good read, plenty of suspense and lots of danger, devious villains, unexpected allies, bullies, friendships in the making, and a grand adventure that might well cost them their lives before all is said and done. I imagine this book (and the series in general) would be popular with boys (approximately age 8-12) as all of the "heroes" of the stories in this series are young or adolescent boys, however, having said that, my 10 year old daughter got a real kick out of this one (and the other 2 we've read also) so the appeal does cross gender lines. I also believe that The Eye of the Warlock would make a fine read aloud for younger readers as the action and adventure would lend itself to a romping