The Enchanted Forest Chronicles: Dealing with Dragons / Searching for Dragons / Calling on Dragons / Talking to Dragons

Book Description

Collected together for the first time are Patricia C. Wrede's hilarious adventure stories about Cimorene, the princess who refuses to be proper. Every one of Cimorene's adventures is included in its paperback edition--Dealing with Dragons, Searching for Dragons, Calling on Dragons, and Talking to Dragons--in one handsome package that's perfect for gift giving.

Customer Reviews:

Whimsical and Humourous.......2007-09-12

these stories are wonderful. i laughed through half of the books, and then i had some of my elementary age cousins read the series as well. they were able to comprehend them easily, as well as finding them enchanting.

Great books for a wide range of ages.......2007-08-03

This is a great collection of books with a strong heroine and a good sense of humor. They are an excellent choice to read out loud due to the fun characters and the whimsical nature of the writing, and the recurrent message of non-conformity is carried out well without feeling too didactic.

Other reviewers have given capsule summaries, but I would recommend against reading them if you can resist. Part of what was delightful about reading these books for me was seeing the story and Patricia Wrede's pattern unfold.

That being said, I will immediately contradict myself, and note that the third book is, in my opinion, the weakest of lot. I think this is because when I read the books, I was reading out loud. The third book has more fractured conversations and irritating voices popping up all over the place, and the pattern gets in the way of the narrative. Additionally, compared to the other books, the ending is unsatisfying, merely setting up the action for the fourth book. For what it's worth, my wife (who also loved this series) recommends skipping the third book altogether and allowing the story of the fourth to slowly fill you in on what happened in the third.

One other note that I will add is that the vocabulary used in these books is advanced enough to make them a better pick for 10+ year olds, in my opinion. I mistakenly recommended them to the 8 year old daughter of a friend and she struggled to read the first couple paragraphs. The first couple of pages use: philosophers, fashionable, periodic, prosperous, etiquette, etc. Nothing unheard of, obviously, but these are probably better read out loud to early readers. These younger kids will still love the story and the characters, though I guess they may miss some of the humor.

With the discounted Amazon price, this box set is a lot of story for the dollar. I highly recommend it.

dealing with dragons review.......2007-04-19

I like this book because of the adventure. it was interesting, the dragons are cool.if you like dragons and olden time books then this is the book for you. I liked when the wizard made the parts of the clif disipear . I liked the partwhere cimorene ment the dragon.

decent fantasy.......2007-03-09

The Enchanted Forest Chronicles is a decent fantasy novel that turns everything upside down, and wrongside up, and will more than once make you laugh out loud. A good read for any dragon and wizard fan.

4.5, actually, for a set of cute stories.......2007-02-16

I originally bought each of these books individually, and it was quite a pain finding all of them. This is a convenient way to purchase these very cute, very fun fantasy stories.

The first book, "Dealing with Dragons", is a very witty, very cute book about the improper princess who decides to live with dragons rather than get married to someone she doesn't even like. Cimorene becomes the dragon Kazul's "princess", doing her chores for her, cleaning out her library, and cooking for her. The story has a lot to do with the relationships between wizards and dragons and in a sense, everything mocks the "real" view. Throughout this book, Wrede is practically laughing at every fairy tale ever written, and it is hilarious.

Book two, "Searching for Dragons", introduces a new character. Mendanbar, King of the Enchanted Forest, needs to go talk to the dragon king (and there's a new one from the last book!). Unfortunately, the dragon king has been kidnapped, so he and Cimorene go looking for her. It's more action filled than its predecessor and has a lot more magic going on.

"Calling on Dragons" is clearly the weakest book in the bunch, though it's. It's least memorable of them all, its new characters are the most boring, and the plot is more of a preview for the final book, "Talking to Dragons".

And speaking of, "Talking to Dragons" once again brings us the fun and excitement the first two books brought. While each of the other books had a gap of time that stretch across a year or so, the gap between COD and TTD is much bigger... Sixteen years! We've got a whole new generation of characters, whether its the cats, the fiery girls, or our (!) narrarator! Yes, TTD is written in first person, which is a first in this series. We truly get into Daystar's head, which is fun and enjoyable. In a sense, TTD continues where COD left off, but obviously much later, and many things have changed.

So if you like rather mocking fantasy stories that are both fun and cute, you'll love this. If you love witches, evil wizards, cool dragons, and awesome characters, than this is a great set to pick up. Just remember that COD is more of a transition book and all will be well.

So go join Cimorene, Mendanbar, Kazul, Daystar, Morwen, the cats, those evil wizards, and the lot by buying this great set!

Debbie Brown's Enchanted Cakes for Children

Average customer rating:

this book is AWESOME
3-D Cakes
Maravilloso
easy to follow
Debbie Brown is surely an artist!!

Debbie Brown's Enchanted Cakes for Children
Debbie Brown
Manufacturer: Merehurst
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Cakes | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1853918490

Book Description

Enchanted Cakes for Children contains over 20 endearing characters and scenes, including familiar characters from favorite fairy tales such as the Snow Queen, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella. You'll also meet several new characters from the world of make-believe, such as friendly elves and bewitching mermaids playing with sea creatures. Clear, step-by-step text is complemented by color photos of each cake. Cake decorators of all levels of experience will soon be producing delightful cakes that will enthrall children and adults alike.

Customer Reviews:

this book is AWESOME.......2007-08-25

It's exactly what I wanted...I love it cause the cakes come out looking more like ceramic than edible. Thank you so much for such an easy step-by-step instructional book as well.

3-D Cakes.......2007-03-08

The instructions in this book are easy to read and easy to follow. Beautiful and whimsical cakes can be created with ease.

Maravilloso.......2005-10-24

Este libro es precioso, unas ilustraciones bellísimas y un trabajo espectacular. Está explicado paso a paso y realmente vale la pena comprarlo, es un dinero muy bien invertido; todos quienes se dediquen por profesión o por pasatiempo deberían tenerlo. La autora es realmente encantadora, se le puede escribir por e-mail y contesta rápidamente.

easy to follow.......2005-10-11

This is an "easy to follow" instructions book. With many pictures, and some details I could reproduce the little sugar sculptures.

Debbie Brown is surely an artist!!.......2005-08-30

Absolutely love the book, it is filled with imaginative cakes with lovely moulded figures.

I love to sugar mould so I really appreciate this book. Good one Debbie

Average customer rating:

Wonderful
OK deck
Enchanted Tarot
A Review for the book ONLY!
A very confusing deck

The Enchanted Tarot: Book and Cards
Amy Zerner , and Monte Farber
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | New Age | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0312050798

Book Description

Enter an enchanted realm, a world of myth and magic.

The Enchanted Tarot is for everyone who loves fantasy and fairytales. The 78 cards, specially designed by award-winning artist Amy Zerner, are richly detailed, each one a miniature work of visionary art.

Based on the ancient traditions of the Tarot, this contemporary Oracle is a remarkable system for self-counseling and understanding. Used with the accompanying book by Monte Farber, The Enchanted Tarot can illuminate and inspire our innermost being and will allow any seeker of guidance direct access to the wisdom of his or her Higher Self.

Contents:

-22 Major Arcana cards
-56 Minor Arcana cards
-192 page book illustrated in color

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful.......2007-08-06

This is my first tarot deck, and although I am far from understanding all there is to know about the art of tarot, these cards make learning easy. The artwork on the cards is beautiful, all of the pictures are very discriptive in their own way. I think anyone would be happy to own this deck.

OK deck.......2007-08-03

While the tapestries are somewhat pretty, the cards are just so busy that it takes away form really interpreting them and getting a good reading.

Enchanted Tarot.......2007-07-21

The ad said book and cards, when i received the order, all i got was the book with a comment that said no cards were included. If the ad says book and cards, It should be book and cards. Very Displeased.

A Review for the book ONLY!.......2007-07-18

I recieved this amazing hardcover book from ebay when I bid on an auction for a tarot book. The auction had no picture or title of the book, but it was like .99 including shipping. I'm so happy I took a chance! I liked the diffrent divination meanings, I thought them original, not "strange". I like the ideas for workings, medititations, etc., that are listed for every card. I haven't bought the deck itself yet, but I can't wait until I do!

A very confusing deck.......2007-02-01

I will say I do not hate this deck- its art is beautiful, but I've never had a more impractical and confusing (and just plain confused) deck in my collection.

The cards are oversized- a problem for handling and shuffling; and shuffling is further complicated by the rigid stock of the card. Expect to have to do some careful bending and shifting of cards well before ever shuffling them to make them supple and not prone to tearing midshuffle.

And now...the confused part. This deck cannot seem to decide if it wants to be a Thoth, a Rider-Waite...or a playing card deck. I am well aware of the occasional swapping out of suites among the cards (wands/rods, coins/pentacles and so on)- but this is the first time I've seen someone opt to substitute the cups with hearts in what is intended as a divination deck.

Now, in the art content itself...the images are fantastical and certainly lovely to the eye- but they have almost nothing to do with the actual card meaning. Still more seem to draw inspiration from the Waite style decks, others are using what's plainly Thoth inspired imagery...and others are just..art.

The book is nicely bound but ultimately useless for divination. This follows the trend of ignoring reversed cards, and even its given meanings of upright cards are...strange at best. People have spoken of this deck honestly being intended more for working tarot spells than divination: they're right. The attending book is pretty much all about the spells some use for tarot or inspired by the tarot.

It deserves to be noted that this set also comes with no box or bag for the cards, and the one it is shipped in is useless for storing a fully assembled deck in. If you wish to purchase this, you may want to buy a bag to go with it.

If you're new to tarot or you're looking for a good divination deck: I advise you heavily to find another deck. If you're looking for beautiful art and a very unusual piece of work to add to a novelty collection: by all means, this is very much your deck. You'll be hard pressed to find another like it.

Enchanted: Erotic Bedtime Stories For Women

Average customer rating:

Beautiful
Literary Erotica
Refreshingly Innovative
EXCELLENT
Perfect for Couples

Enchanted: Erotic Bedtime Stories For Women
Nancy Madore
Manufacturer: Spice
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Adult Fiction | Erotica | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Erotica | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Romance | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0373605099

Book Description

Allow yourself to be drawn into a fantasy world like no other…where a beautiful princess is seduced into a love triangle with a handsome prince and her winsome maid…where a mysterious gentleman's young bride is deliciously disciplined for her unchecked curiosity…where a naive daughter is married off to a beast of a man whose carnal appetites awaken her budding desire….

With a unique and decidedly adult twist on thirteen classic fairy tales, Nancy Madore intrigues and arouses with her titillating, sizzling anthology of erotic stories guaranteed to keep you up late into the night.

You'll never look at fairy tales the same way again.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful.......2007-09-02

These are beautifully written stories that I truly enjoyed from start to finish. I would recommend this to anyone who likes to read short stories, romance, erotica and fairy tales.

Literary Erotica.......2007-08-16

I was enchanted with this bunch of fairy tales. The stories were re-told brilliantly. I could not put it down. Nancy Madore incorporates an erotic fantasy into each fairy tale and you would never think for a minute the stories were not intended to be told this way. For example, in her "Beauty and the Beast" which was my favorite, Beauty falls in love with a half man, half beast and the story really heats up without a single dirty word. Madore also takes every opportunity to show compassion for her characters while never missing a chance to score a point for women. An example of this is "Mirror on the Wall" where she re-writes the story of Snow White's evil step mother with enormous empathy for what a woman goes through during the aging process. This book made me feel good in more ways than one. I immediately put in my order for her new book, "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" and I can't wait to see what she does with that story, which is one of my favorite fairy tales of all times.

Refreshingly Innovative.......2007-07-21

An absolutely wonderful book. Along with Suzie Van Aartman's 100 Percent Erotica, (which was so sexually explicit that I had to change my underwear after reading it) must probably rank as two of the greatest books of erotica ever written. Nancy Madore's book gives us another unusual and refreshingly different angle on erotica, fitting the stories within our favourite fairy stories is a brilliant idea and gives a whole new dimension to the genre. It works and it works very well. Plus, they are short stories, so you can take them for a few minutes at a time, or as long as you like, whenever the feeling arises. I've always favoured the short story format over the sometimes long winded novel, some of which seem to take ages before anyone gets into bed. So this book gets my five stars and very deservedly so. Highly recommended for getting you in the mood for love, maybe you could even read it to your partner to get them in the mood as well. Bedtime Erotica is well worth looking at also.

EXCELLENT.......2007-07-12

This is the best idea! Fairy tales for adults! When I read the stories I knew it was meant to be. This is a fun book to read. It was really done right and I agree with the author that it is for women. I had no trouble relating to each of the stories. They are very racy, but not in a derogatory way. This is a book that I will read again and again.

Perfect for Couples.......2007-06-21

This is the first time I ever wanted to share an erotic book with my husband. The stories excited without being insulting, degrading, or embarrassing. Both of us loved these well written sexy fairy tales and we have read some of the stories over and over again. The author says she wrote it for women but my husband was excited by the stories too. We had so much fun reading them together. We loved every story and we can't wait for Madore's next book to be available.

Average customer rating:

ella enchanted
Ella Enchanted ROCKS!!!!!
A New Spin on Cinderella - Bookwyrm Chrysalis Review
A Sweet Cinderella Story
Still my favorite....

Ella Enchanted (Trophy Newbery)
Gail Carson Levine
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Royalty | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0064407055

Amazon.com

At birth, Ella is inadvertently cursed by an imprudent fairy named Lucinda, who bestows on her the "gift" of obedience. Anything anyone tells her to do, Ella must obey. Another girl might have been cowed by this affliction, but not feisty Ella: "Instead of making me docile, Lucinda's curse made a rebel of me. Or perhaps I was that way naturally." When her beloved mother dies, leaving her in the care of a mostly absent and avaricious father, and later, a loathsome stepmother and two treacherous stepsisters, Ella's life and well-being seem in grave peril. But her intelligence and saucy nature keep her in good stead as she sets out on a quest for freedom and self-discovery, trying to track down Lucinda to undo the curse, fending off ogres, befriending elves, and falling in love with a prince along the way. Yes, there is a pumpkin coach, a glass slipper, and a happily ever after, but this is the most remarkable, delightful, and profound version of Cinderella you've ever read.

Gail Carson Levine's examination of traditional female roles in fairy tales takes some satisfying twists and deviations from the original. Ella is bound by obedience against her will, and takes matters in her own hands with ambition and verve. Her relationship with the prince is balanced and based on humor and mutual respect; in fact, it is she who ultimately rescues him. Ella Enchanted has won many well-deserved awards, including a Newbery Honor. (Ages 9 to 14) --Emilie Coulter

Amazon.com Audiobook Review

Every child longs for the day when he or she will be free from meddling parents and bossy grownups. For young Ella, the heroine of Gail Carson Levine's Newbury Honor-winning debut novel, this is more than a fanciful wish; it could be a matter of life or death. Placed under the spell of a blundering fairy, she has no choice but to go through life obeying each and every order--no matter what the consequences may be. "If you commanded me to cut off my own head, I'd have to do it."

Eden Riegel (As the World Turns, Les Miserables) uses her youthful, energetic voice to lead the listener into a familiar world of fairy godmothers, wicked stepsisters, and handsome princes. But this imaginative retelling of the Cinderella story comes with a welcome twist. Instead of a demure heroine patiently awaiting a prince who will carry her off, this Ella is a feisty ball of fire with the courage and ambition to take matters into her own hands.

Riegel narrates in a youthful, energetic tone that is perfectly suited to Ella's character. Her voice adds charm and immediacy to a wonderful story already rich with excitement, adventure, romance, and mystery. (Running time: 5.5 hours, 4 cassettes) --George Laney

Book Description

How can a fairy's
blessing be such a curse?

At her birth, Ella of Frell was the unfortunate recipient of a foolish fairy's gift--the "gift' of obedience. Ella must obey any order given to her, whether it's hopping on one foot for a day and a half, or chopping off her own head! But strong-willed Ella does not tamely accept her fate. Against a bold backdrop of princes, ogres, giants, wicked stepsisters, and fairy godmothers, Ella goes on a quest to break the curse--once and for all.

In this incredible debut novel comes the richly entertaining story of Ella of Frell, who at birth was given the gift of obedience by a fairy. Ella soon realizes that this gift is little better than a curse, for how can she truly be herself if at anytime anyone can order her to hop on one foot, or cut off her hand, or betray her kingdom'and she'll have to obey? Against a bold tapestry of princes, ogres, giants, wicked stepsisters, and fairy godmothers, Ella's quest to break the curse once and for all and discover who she really is is as sharply funny as Catherine, Called Birdy and as richly poignant as Beauty, and has all the marks of a classic in the making.

Customer Reviews:

ella enchanted.......2007-10-09

Ella Enchanted
By Gail Carson Levine

Ella only wanted to be a regular girl. But instead the day she was born, a curse was bestowed upon her. The gift of obedience. The fairy Lucinda does not think before she gives these silly curses and so when Ella is told to do something, she has to do it. If someone told Ella to kill herself she would have to obey. When Ella's mother gets very sick and dies, Ella is left with Mandy her cook that is her fairy godmother and her father. Ella's father traveled all the time and he doesn't know about her curse. Just like her mother said "Don't tell anyone about your curse." Ella had to obey.
But when Ella's dad introduces her to Dame Olga and her dreadfully bossy daughters, Ella realizes that the elder one, Hattie knows that Ella will do anything she says. Hattie commands Ella to give her the necklace that Ella's mom gave to her. But there is a silver lining on the story. Ella becomes dear friends with Prince Charmont, or as his friends call him, Char. Just when Ella thinks that Char and her are becoming great friends, Ella's father ships her off to finishing school so she can become a true lady with Hattie and the spoiled Olive (Hattie's sister).
Finishing school is the worst place for Ella. She must obey every command no matter how awful or difficult. When Ella cannot stand it anymore she runs away, and decides to quest for her fairy godmother and reverse the spell. But Hattie had forbidden Ella to see Char. So how will she be able to tell him how she really feels when he thinks she never wants to see him again?

Ella Enchanted ROCKS!!!!!.......2007-09-06

I really like this new twist of Cindrella! I don't like the fact that Dame Olga, Hattie, & Olive force Ella to be their slave! My friends & I read it all the time! Really good choice for girls & boys of all ages(that can read chapter books)!

A New Spin on Cinderella - Bookwyrm Chrysalis Review.......2007-08-12

Ella of Frell received a fairy gift as a baby, the gift of obedience.

Anything she is ordered to do, she must do, as result of the gift. If she is ordered to jump into an ogre's pot, she will. If she is ordered to kill the prince that she loves, then she must.

Ella Enchanted is the story of Ella's journey to find a way to break her curse, to find the fairy who gave her the "gift," and most of all, to find herself. Filled with ogres, elves, a stepmother and stepsisters who just might be of the evil variety, or at least the self-indulging kind, and a prince who might just be charming, this book puts a new spin on the old Cinderella tale.

This is a classic book in the retelling of fairytales genre, humorous and containing a strong heroine. Ella is kind-hearted and independent, fighting against her curse in every way she can think of. Ella will delight readers of all ages and surprise them as they discover everything that leads up to the famous ball and glass slippers.

Now in its third edition, Ella Enchanted has just been re-released again as a hardcover. The new cover (above) features a real girl and shining gold trim, which matches the other re-releases of Levine's books. All the books have been re-done in honor of her newest book, Fairest. Personally, I like my beat-up copy that comes from the movie release, with Anne Hathaway on the cover. She makes an excellent Ella, and her picture tends to attract an older reader. Even though Ella is fifteen for the majority of the book, the two non-movie covers feature girls who look about twelve. Personally I find this misleading, and I originally avoided the book because it seemed to young for me.

A Sweet Cinderella Story.......2007-07-26

I read this book for a class I took on fairy tales and really really loved it. This is a fantastic read for children and young teens and a great way to give young people a different, more empowering fairy tale heroine story.

The book follows the daughter of a travelling salesman, Ella, who is under a curse from an unpredictable, showy, fairy that 'blesses' people with her poorly thought out birth or marriage greetings. Ella is blessed with the task of obedience, meaning whenever someone gives her a direct command, she must respond to it - although she can find loopholes to get out of doing what people ask her to.

The plot of the story mirrors Cinderella, but also gives explanations for all those things you were ever wondering about the original Cinderella story. After her mother's death, Ella's father realizes he is quite poor and needs to either marry Ella off, or get married himself before other people figure it out as well. He charms a widowed woman with two daughters and they make plans to get married - meanwhile, Ella is sent off to charm school with her stepsisters, one of which figures out Ella's condition. Ella realizes she needs to find a way to not only break the spell, but find a way to save her father from his marriage by entering into a relationship with someone she already has romantic feelings for - the local prince, Char.

Plenty of excitement and drama unfolds as Ella escapes charm school and is united with all sorts of magical beings, Char himself, and the workings of her family. Again, a great telling that adds a bit of logical (if you can suspend your disbelief in the magical setting) sense to this classic fairy tale!

Still my favorite...........2007-07-19

I read this book about three or four years ago, and it still hasn't gotten old to me.

It is also MUCH better than the movie, which completely sucked. If they made the movie exactly like the book, it would have been a hit.

Anyways, I say that anyone should read this! It is and will always be for sure my most favorite book.

I also reccomend books by Meg Cabot, she rocks!

$Charmed And Enchanted: Charmed\Enchanted (Donovan Legacy)$
Average customer rating:

Charmed AND Enchanted
Enchanted, also
Totally Charmed
Another Witch's Tale that is Charming!
Charmed & Enchanted

Charmed And Enchanted: Charmed\Enchanted (Donovan Legacy)
Nora Roberts
Manufacturer: Silhouette
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

General | Contemporary | Romance | Subjects | Books

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Entranced
Captivated (Silhouette Single Title)
$The MacKade Brothers: Rafe And Jared: The Return Of Rafe MacKade\The Pride Of Jared MacKade$ The MacKade Brothers: Rafe And Jared: The Return Of Rafe MacKade\The Pride Of Jared MacKade
$The MacKade Brothers: Devin And Shane: The Heart of Devin MacKade\The Fall Of Shane MacKade$ The MacKade Brothers: Devin And Shane: The Heart of Devin MacKade\The Fall Of Shane MacKade
Born O'Hurley (The Last Honest Woman / Dance to the Piper)

ASIN: 0373285027

Customer Reviews:

Charmed AND Enchanted.......2006-10-31

This was a reread for me and an enjoyable one.
These are the final 2 stories in the Donovan Legacy. A family of witches, each with their own specialty.
In Charmed we have Anastasia story. She is the cousin who is an Empath. She is also a healer because of her strong empathatic feelings. After be turned away by her first love when he found out what she was, Ana has stayed away from men to protect her heart. Then widow Boone Sawyer moves in next door with his young daughter. She fears telling him what she is, then fate steps in. This was my favorite out of all the Donovan stories. It is so good. Emotional and loving.
In Enchanted we have the story of Liam Donovan a witch and a shape shifter. He goes to the woods to be alone to think about an important choice he is going to have to make. Rowan Murray goes to the woods to find herself. They find eachother and she discovers so much more about herself. This story had a lot more "magic" in it. It was fun and the characters wonderful.

Enchanted, also.......2005-12-12

This is the 3rd AND 4th book, but no one has mentioned "Enchanted". It is about Liam Donovan and takes place in Oregon. It is a nice story too; for entertainment. Rowan Murray is a schoolteacher who needs a vacation and befriends a golden-eyed wolf. Hint: her name is Irish, too...

Totally Charmed.......2005-11-16

I absolutely loved this story. I thought it would be cheesy mixing magic into romance, but I was SOOO wrong. This was a wonderful tale that I'll enjoy reading again and again. The Anastasia and Boone are great together, and Boone's daughter is priceless. To bad I can't say the same for the series. The idea of the Donovan legacy is genius, but all four books were not. Captivated was just moderately good, and Entranced was terrible. Please skip that one. But Charmed and Enchanted are totally enjoyable. Hey, 2 out of 4's not bad. Kudos Mrs Roberts.

Another Witch's Tale that is Charming!.......2005-08-19

Charmed is Nora Roberts' third book in the Donovan series, which focuses on a family of witches. Captivated led the series off and featured Morgana. Next came Entranced which introduced us to Sebastian, cousin to Morgana. Charmed features Anastasia, yet another cousin to both Sebastian and Morgana. If you read the series, you'll get the entire family breakdown including the cousin's parents, an eccentric bunch to say the least!

Each of the cousins are hereditary witches (born with elfin blood) and each have their own gift or special powers. Anastasia has the powers of healing. I have to admit my ignorance in knowing exactly what "powers of healing" entailed or meant, but now have a much better idea after finishing the book. While reading the first two books in this series, Anastasia was always growing herbs so I did know that herbal remedies played a part in her powers. What I didn't know was the depth of this power.

Anastasia has new neighbors move in next door to her Monterey beach house and soon meets a young girl who instantly wins her love and affection. Jessie is adorable, innocent and very social as she bounds through the hedge separating the two homes and introduces not only herself to Anastasia but also her new puppy. Jessie's father, Boone Sawyer, soon comes to retrieve his daughter and meets Anastasia.

This is your typical romance plot line but with a twist. Man meets woman, sparks fly, attraction becomes love and then ... The "and then" portion of this book is what sets it apart from other romance books. When Boone asks Anastasia to marry him, she asks for a week to make the decision. She has to try to figure out how she can tell him that she's a witch and not lose him. The decision is taken out of her hands when Jessie falls off of a ladder and is critically injured. Anastasia puts her powers to work to save the girl's life and Boone is caught off-guard and mesmerized by the special gift bestowed on Anastasia, even though he doesn't really understand what is happening. When Jessie is saved and Anastasia exhaustedly falls into an unconscious state, Boone doesn't know how to react. When Anastasia awakens, Boone doesn't handle the situation well and pushes her away. I won't tell you any more or the ending will be spoiled and this conclusion is definitely worth reading.

Charmed isn't for someone looking for a book that will make the brain work overtime, it's pure enjoyment and entertainment value only. It's a very quick read and can be accomplished in an afternoon.

If you'd like to take a break from the active world, sit back, relax and enjoy a tale, this would be a great book to spend the afternoon curled up on the couch with in front of a fire in the fireplace.

Charmed & Enchanted.......2005-07-20

both books are very riveting. I kept reading until I was done with both in 2 days. The ideas and people are very realistic and charming.

The New Enchanted Broccoli Forest (Mollie Katzen's Classic Cooking)

Average customer rating:

Peanutty-Tofuey-Broccli(y) Deliciousness!
Beautiful and inspiring
Recipies not good
A cute title but I expected more....
awesome cookbook!

The New Enchanted Broccoli Forest (Mollie Katzen's Classic Cooking)
Mollie Katzen
Manufacturer: Ten Speed Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Vegetables & Vegetarian | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1580081266

Customer Reviews:

Peanutty-Tofuey-Broccli(y) Deliciousness!.......2007-02-11

This spring I went over to a friend's house and his mom graciously made me a vegetarian dish from this book. I'm not sure of the exact name but it is amazingly good. Try it - now!

Beautiful and inspiring.......2007-01-15

Although not as practical as other cookbooks in some regards, this is definitely among my favorites. As other reviewers stated, some of the recipes are lengthy and best suited to weekends when you have a lot of time to do a major cooking session. What I love about this book is the whimsical nature of it, and the way Katzen conveys such love and joy at preparing the dishes. The hand-lettering isn't always super-easy to read, but it is such a treat! The illustrations, such as the comic-style guide to bread making, are fun. Also, it includes a really helpful guide to grains, including history, where to find it, how and why to use it, and especially, how to cook.
This book is a great addition to a vegetarian's cookbookshelf, though probably not ideal for a first book on veg cooking.

Recipies not good.......2006-10-15

Sorry to say but the recipies in this book are yukky! I don't know what Mollie was thinking, she however is not the good cook people think she is.
You will be much better off sticking with the Moosewood cookbooks...every single one is truly wonderful. And the other reviewer was right, what's so special about the title recipie...nothing. Don't waste your money, I threw my copy out!

A cute title but I expected more...........2005-12-25

A fun cookbook to look through but when you start making the recipes, its actually a disappointment, especially considering how many gazillllllion copies have been sold of Ms. Katzen's books. Shows what the right marketing can do. The recipes that I tried were VERY hearty but not in a good way, too much fat and rich ingredients and strange combinations of these ingredients too . The Enchanted Broccoli Forest recipe is just a dish of rice with broccoli stuck into it, nothing special. I gave up after the 3 or 4th recipe. This is NOT one of the best veggie cookbooks out there, in spite of the hype!

awesome cookbook!.......2005-12-05

i have many vegetarian cook books (ive been veg for over 7 yrs) & i use this one the most frequently.
it's simple, delicious, & lots of cooking basics, like pie crust & the (BEST, EASIEST) Indian flat bread, that most veg cookbooks leave out. We have also made delicious enchiladas, upside down vegetable cake, and more. My boyfriend is not vegetarian but he loves the delicious food too. The recipes in this book hold up even with major improvisation & experimenting which I love to do. There are also wide margins to write your cooking notes right next to the recipe.

Yes, many of these recipes take longer than heating up a veggie burger in the microwave but if you are concerned enough to eat vegetarian you should be interested in how to eat right, and sometimes that takes time.

There are 2 things I dislike: 1)the "prep" time listed for a recipe is too short in many cases- but once you make it you get an idea of how long it takes for next time. 2) the pages are regular paper, not glossy, so splashes always seem to find their way onto my book. However, its cheap enough & it dries fine, so just buy it & find your new veggie favorites :)

Enchanted Love: The Mystical Power Of Intimate Relationships

Average customer rating:

Spirituality & Love
EXCELLENT READ
Lots of heart-felt statements on the state of romance but ..
Important points
Insightful and At Times Divinely Inspired

Enchanted Love: The Mystical Power Of Intimate Relationships
Marianne Williamson
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Interpersonal Relations | Relationships | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Love & Romance | Relationships | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | New Age | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Occult | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Spirituality | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0684870258

Amazon.com

"Romance is one of the sacred temples that dot the landscape of life," writes Marianne Williamson (A Return to Love, The Healing of America). "We tend to lack humility toward love, to patronize it rather than bow before it, to put mundane considerations before the emotional need to hold someone in our arms." When we make routines and practicality more valuable than love, we deny ourselves the opportunity to experience true enchantment and a deeper connection with God. Ultimately, Williamson offers a compelling invitation to overcome fear of heartache and enter into the whirlwind mystery of romance. Chapters include topics such as "Removing the Ghosts," "Grace and Forgiveness," "Marriage, Monogamy, Safety and God," and "Bodies and Soul."

Some readers may find Williamson's theories about male-female dynamics validating, while others may find them offensive. For example, Williamson believes that males are natural-born hunters, which means men need the thrill of the hunt during courtship and beyond. "A man should never have to totally stop working to figure out his woman, not if the woman wants him to remain interested," she claims. In fact, she believes that a fascinating woman is like a "Mercedes" or "Jaguar"--she is "high maintenance and doesn't apologize for the fact." --Gail Hudson

Book Description

Three of Marianne Williamson's previous bestsellers -- A Return to Love, A Woman's Worth, and Illuminata -- explored the issue of relationships. Now, in this deeply personal collection of essays, prayers, and self-reflection, she turns to romantic love.

In Illuminata, Williamson wrote that "we experience God to the extent to which we love, forgive, and focus on the good in others and ourselves." Now, in Enchanted Love, she writes that "enchanted partnership begins with the conscious understanding, on the part of two people, that the purpose of their relationship is not so much material as spiritual, and the internal skills demanded by it are prodigious." High romance, she says, "is not about past or future. It is not about practicality. It is not about society or worldly routines. It is an audacious ride to the center of what is, at the heart of every person. It is a bold and masterful inquiry into what two people really are and how we might become, while still on earth, the angels who reside within us."

Customer Reviews:

Spirituality & Love.......2005-12-11

I am now reading this book for the second time and I love it just as much now as I did the first go around. Marianne Williamson really understands how spiritual contact with a Higher Power influences and shapes the kinds of love we initiate and sustain in our lives. I particularly like the way she describes the relationship dynamics between men and women in the midst of intimate relationships and just how much spiritual work needs to be done. The prayers that she intersperses through the book are beautiful and moving.

As for those who try and insult her work just because she hasn't been married to 'Joe Schmoe' for 25 years with a whole troop of kids and grandkids...might I remind those that true love does not always take the traditional conventional route. Some of the greatest loves of my life have been men I never married and never would, the real point is that they were all still worthwhile and valid experiences that contributed to my growth and knowledge as a person. Also just because someone manages to stay married for 25 years in no way means that relationship is healthy, happy or worth emulating.

With that being said this book has to be one of her more underrated works yet in my opinion I found it to be the most poignant and moving. It has definitely deepened my emotional and spiritual capacity to feel and accept love into my life.

EXCELLENT READ.......2005-07-30

MS WILLIAMSON HAD A SLOW START BUT WARMED UP VERY QUICKLY. SHE GAVE A LOT OF INSIGHT ON GETTING OVER PAST HURTS AND BECOMING WHO YOU REALLY ARE. THANKS TO HER, I REALIZED HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO PREPARE FOR A RELATIONSHIP BEFORE I ACTUALLY HAVE ONE (I'VE BEEN DIVORCED 3 TIMES). I EXPERIENCED A VERY DEEP SENSE OF SERENITY THROUGH HER STRONG BUT GENTLE SPIRIT.

I HAVE ANOTHER OF HER BOOKS ON THE WAY AND CAN'T WAIT UNTIL IT ARRIVES.

DON'T LIKE BOOKS ON AUDIO SO I RETURNED THE CD IN EXCHANGE FOR THE BOOK.

THANKS

MOLLIE ARCHER
237 NOONDAY CHURCH ROAD
TWIN CITY GA 30471

478-237-0933

Lots of heart-felt statements on the state of romance but .........2005-01-23

Williamson really can put her pen to task with heart-touching words woven to get your heart stirring. Enchanted Love is quite the achivement of a literary celebration of mystical love thanks to insipirations from Marianne's interpretations of A Course in Miracles. Although the content is endearing I must ask the question ... why is Williamson preaching such lovely tones of enchanted romance ... and not achieving it herself. the proof is in the pudding. No one is perfect but if you're looking for love advice, ask Joanne Woodward or another successfully married woman who been with her best pal a long time through ups and downs. Would you ever get diet advice from someone who is obese or still walking around at least 10 pounds overweight? Williamson openly admits that numerous men have left her, she is a single mother, and was apparently once married for under 6 months years ago. She may be a true warrior in the love and romance trenches but if her whole life is dedicated to L-O-V-E ... why does she attract but not hold the romantic love she finds? Enchanted Love makes for beautful prose but that's about it. The material is very fantastical at times with lyrical verbage but if you're seeking romantic results in your favor ... keep seeking elsewhere. Enjoy this book for what it can provide because it is positive. If you want to access advice from someone who writes about love and is successful in love ... try Drs. Gay and Kathlyn Hendricks. They have been married over 22 years and have used their marriage as a testing ground for conscious relationships. The Hendricks must be doing soemthing right because they are still together with children and grandchildren to boot.

Important points.......2004-02-26

Marianne Williamson makes some important points about how love, and relationships in particular, can help us in our spiritual growth. Relationships, whether we see them as negative or positive experiences in our lives, teach us a lot about ourselves. And isn't this what life is all about?

Insightful and At Times Divinely Inspired.......2004-02-09

Love relationships can be our greatest joy and our greatest sorrow! Ever wonder why some lovers run from us while others choose to stay? Williamson gets to the heart and soul of what lies (or often "lurks") below the surface of intimate relationships. In this book, she uses her own past relationship experiences as examples and gives examples she's gleaned from friends and couples she has worked with professionally.

After perusing the following excerpt from the book I knew this was a book I had to read.
"Often upon seeing the weaknesses in each other, we have the tendency to go "Yuck!" and walk away on some level. But often it is not a change in partners but rather a change in perception that delivers us to the love seek. When we shift our view of the purpose of intimacy - from serving our own needs as we define them to serving a larger process of healing - then an entirely new opportunity presents itself. Our wounds have been brought forward, not to block the experience of love, but to serve it." Later Williamson writes, "The purpose of an intimate relationship is not that it be a place where we can hide from our weaknesses, but rather where we can safely let them go." and, "We unconsciously seek the relationships that challenge us to deliver on our most soulful selves, as well as tempt us to fall into our most neurotic patterns."

I cannot recommend this book strongly enough. It should be used by parents, teachers, ministers and counselors to help young adults and couples of all ages understand what's really going on when people unintentionally touch their partner's emotional wounds.

Book Description

This book is a diverse tale of science fiction, fantasy and folklore mixed with important human values and notably set in New Mexico, home of the 1947 Roswell UFO Incident. Join Chilton Bear Claw, his best friend, Mac, and his retired racing Greyhound, Emily Running Deer, on a summer adventure of planetary proportions. Chili, Mac and Emily have never seen a UFO, interacted with an alien or met animals that could talk. But this summer that will change as a talking owl chooses them to be part of the elite Zozoan Force - a mission that they and the reader will find fascinating and unforgettable. 'Enchanted Lands - The Mission' is funny, spellbinding and truly out of this world! "An enchanting tale...as compelling and page-turning as 'Alice in Wonderland' and 'The Chronicles of Narnia'." - New York Times best-selling author Ellen Tanner Marsh

Customer Reviews:

Enchanted Lands - the Mission.......2007-07-18

Great mix of fun, history and adventure. Native American "Harry Potter" series in the making. Loved it.

Enchanted Lands : The Mission.......2007-05-01

I thought that the book was very unique.I also thought it was a very interesting story.It also was very good.Not alot of authors use their state's culture with fiction.I think that the author,Mary Moore is very creative.She used creative words, such as Yappy-Yo-Yo,and Fantamarific.The culture was in her hometown.I recommend that you read the book.
by Kathryn Ross
Sierra Middle School

Teachers will love this........2007-04-28

Mary Moore is a masterful writer. As I was reading Enchanted Lands, I gave my students updates on the adventures of Yappy-Yo-Yo. They were enthralmazed. I am in deepmiration. The word play was such fun to read, and tempting to imitate. I can see a whole series. It must have been fun to write. The references to the Indian Tribes gives it that special little hook that other novels lack. I loved the book. I hope Mary Moore is cranking out the next adventure of the Zozoan Force?

Home grown Harry Potter.......2007-04-02

Harry Potter, move over! Chili Bear Claw is a new preteen hero on the scene of fantasy/science fiction books. But Mary and Stephen Moore's book is unique because of the large helping of Native American lore in the story. The "mission" in Enchanted Lands: The Mission is to get Roswell, New Mexico's famous aliens back to their home planet. To accomplish this, Chili, his buddy Mac, and Emily the talking greyhound, have all sorts of wild adventures. Talking animals, Apache reservation ceremonies, travels beneath earth's surface via the heart-stopping "whurzle," and magic stones are only parts of this exciting, clever book. Middle schoolers can read it for themselves, and it's a great read-aloud for upper elementary. This is a book parents and grandparents will enjoy with their children. Smart, funny, thoughtful. Highly recommended!

Enchanted Lands-The Mission.......2007-03-19

Delightful! Enchanted Lands- The Mission, is full of charming characters, wonderful cultural experiences and life priciples. The reader will be drawn into a vivid world with unique problems to solve and immersed in a rich vocabulary. This book will captivate young and old readers alike. Mary and Steve Moore have captured the unique flavor of New Mexico and presented a fun, even plausable, explaination of the mystery that surrounds the Roswell incident of the 1940's. Prepare to be charmed and intriqued as you read this imaginative story of friendship, growing pains and courage among an unlikely group of heros.

Extra Virgin: A Young Woman Discovers the Italian Riviera, Where Every Month Is Enchanted

Average customer rating:

Wonderful!!!
A wonderful read
Witty & full of interesting detail
A Sparkling Italian Wine
I loved this book!

Extra Virgin: A Young Woman Discovers the Italian Riviera, Where Every Month Is Enchanted
Annie Hawes
Manufacturer: Harper Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Travel | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0060958111
Release Date: 2002-04-02

Amazon.com

Fed up with cold, foggy London and the high cost of real estate, Annie Hawes is persuaded by her sister Lucy to travel to Italy and graft roses for the winter. The sisters arrive in rural Liguria with some formal Italian, no knowledge of rose grafting, and visions of Mediterranean men and sun. What they find is a town full of hard-working, wary olive growers smack in the middle of an olive oil depression who think these two young Englishwomen are nuts. Extra Virgin tells the story of the sisters' acclimation--theirs to Liguria and Liguria to them--and how they fell in love with a crumbling farmhouse in the hills.

Annie quickly finds that though they are only two miles from the Italian Riviera, it might as well be a hundred. Liguria is an old town full of time-honored peculiarities, especially in regard to espresso consumption (never, ever, after lunch; it will close your stomach) and swimming before summertime officially starts. "Seawater at the wrong time of year is even worse for your health than coffee at the wrong time of day, and the beach is only deserted because, as far as the citizens are concerned, if you put so much as a toe into the water before June you are certain to die within the week from exposure or pneumonia or both," says Hawes. Eventually, the sisters are accepted by the townsfolk, though they find the idea of the women buying the farmhouse and running it themselves (there are 50 olive trees on the land) fantastical.

Extra Virgin draws you in to the heart of Liguria and its inhabitants. Hawes has a knack for drawing characters and especially for describing the luscious meals that they are served--and eventually learn to cook. "Lucy and I are kindly allowed to make the tomato-and-basil salad," Hawes says, "and do our best not to be offended by being complemented on how like a proper tomato-and-basil salad it is." Pour yourself an espresso (as long as it's before lunch) or a grappa (aids the digestion), and then sit down to enjoy Extra Virgin. --Dana Van Nest

Book Description

In 1983, a pale Annie Hawes and her equally pale sister leave England for the sun-drenched olive groves of a small Italian town in Liguria. With fantasies of handsome tanned men and swimming in the sea urging them on, they are hired to work for ten weeks to graft roses -- of which they have little knowledge -- along the Italian Riviera, board and lodging included.

But none of the men seem to be under forty, and Ligurians have particular ideas about life, including swimming ("To go swimming in seawater outside the month of July or August is even worse for your health than drinking cappuccino after twelve noon!"). But Annie and her sister are captivated by San Pietro's quirkiness and beauty, and suddenly their brief stay stretches into years, as they are bemused, charmed, and ultimately accepted by the eccentric inhabitants of their adopted home.

Resonating with captivating verve and humor, Extra Virgin dishes up a sumptuous sampling of Italian life from an irresistible new voice.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful!!!.......2007-07-03

Annie Hawes has a wonderfully detailed and descriptive style of writing therefore this was not a story that could be breezed through but rather something to be read slowly and deliberately, savoring every word. She gave a realistic and honest view of life in the Italian countryside which this Italian-American found to be very enlighting!

A wonderful read.......2007-03-09

Delightful voice, funny anecdotes, cleverly written. You will find yourself chuckling out loud more than once.

Witty & full of interesting detail.......2006-11-12

A great read. Witty, engrossing account of Annie & sister's unplanned purchase of a rundown farmhouse in Liguria on the Italian Riviera, and their (mis)adventures and interactions with the locals. Very funny, affectionately sly observations of human nature and the idiosyncrasies and highlights of Italian village life, olives and the love of good food. And interesting information about local olive farming and wine making and food. I just loved it!

A Sparkling Italian Wine.......2006-10-29

This is a delightful book. Ms. Hawes does a terrific job of bringing the reader into her experience of living in the rural Italian culture as a non-Italian--the confusion, the complications, the hard work, the education and the fun. The characters of her life are not romanticized, but portrayed with both honesty and affection adding an authentic feel often missing in memoirs such as these. Her sense of humor and tongue-in-cheek view of many situations are laugh out loud funny and enhance the pleasure of the read. The cultural misunderstandings between the Italian way and the English way are finely drawn and leave the reader feeling that differences are not only okay, but happy coexistence is all the more interesting because of them.

I loved this book and highly recommend it to others who enjoy Italy and maybe don't have the opportunity to get off the beaten track and really absorb it as they would like. Worth a first read, and a second, too.

I loved this book!.......2006-07-30

I bought it on a whim, and I can't think of the last time I've been so entertained. I've laughed out loud at numerous points. I'm recommending it all over the place, but am unwilling to lend out my copy as I intend to read it again.

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