Book Description
If you are concerned about estate planning you may be surprised that, even with a will, the probate system can eat up as much as 10 percent of an inheritance and delay the process two years. In The Living Trust, noted living trust authority Henry Abts presents a simple, inexpensive legal alternative that eliminates the costs and delays of probate and ensures that your loved ones will receive their inheritance promptly and exactly as you intended. This new edition has been completely updated to reflect the federal tax codes and up-to-the-minute developments in the legal system.
Customer Reviews:
Disorganized, repetitive and much too long. .......2007-08-23
This book contains quite a bit of good information but only after you wade through about 90 pages of sales pitch for living trusts. When you finally get to the part of the book containing actual information about trusts it is disorganized and repetitive to the extreme. Much of the book appears to be excerpts from trust seminars given by the author which are strung end to end to bulk out the book. A good rewrite and editing would make this a more readable, concise and useful book.
The Living Trust.......2007-05-15
This was a gift for my grown daughter. She says it is very useful.
The Living Trust: The failproof way to pass along your estate to heirs.......2006-11-10
It is an excellent guide book IF you have a Living Trust. There are a couple other books that Mr. Abts wrote that precede this one which are all very good and information everyone should know about, if you do not want to go through the expense of lawyers and probate. I am very glad that we had our's drawn up back in 1992. My husband passed in 2001, and this has been a great help to me, along with the help and support of an excellent Trust and Financial Advisor. The Living Trust is valid in every state in the Union.
A popular estate planning alternative in easy to understand book.......2006-08-19
As principal of a financial planning and wealth management firm, an important part of my service is to help clients coordinate their estate plan with other aspects of their financial picture, such as investments, retirement planning, insurance and tax issues.
The key to making the right decision is information about the potential advantages and disadvantages of each option for their particular situation. I highly recommend this book to my clients, which provides a clear and concise overview of the living trust and other wealth preservation vehicles.
In The Living Trust, Abts does a good job of exposing the drawbacks of probate, including complexity, cost, lack of privacy and delay. He explains why the living trust is an alternative for many people and for many reasons, including greater organization, greater assurance of complete probate avoidance and lower total cost than probate.
If you are interested in the fundamentals of trusts, estate taxes, and the administration of an estate, this book will answer many of your questions.
If you are interested in setting up a trust, this book will make you an educated client before meeting with a professional advisor and/or local attorney to set up your trust.
The BEST BOOK on this subject - Period! .......2004-07-24
Henry Abts is the foremost authority on the workings of a Living Trust in the nation. After researching more I learned that Henry was basically the pioneer of hte living trust industry and has collected the best legal minds to help him in his handling of this important subject.
This book is the best and most easily understood reference in print today. Henry has a special and unique talent of taking a complex and difficult subject and then break it down so that it is both understandable and interesting.
After reading this book twice, I did a lot more research and everything else I learned was already addressed by Henry. He also has another book on settling the Living Trust that helped me greatly. This is my way of saying thanks to a great author and educator. You will not be disappointed in this book.
rh from California
Book Description
It's five years after Return of the Jedi: the Rebel Alliance has destroyed the Death Star, defeated Darth Vader and the Emperor, and driven out the remnants of the old Imperial Starfleet to a distant corner of the galaxy. Princess Leia and Han Solo are married and expecting Jedi Twins. And Luke Skywalker has become the first in a long-awaited line of Jedi Knights. But thousand of light-years away, the last of the emperor's warlords has taken command of the shattered Imperial Fleet, readied it for war, and pointed it at the fragile heart of the new Republic. For this dark warrior has made two vital discoveries that could destroy everything the courageous men and women of the Rebel Alliance fought so hard to build. The explosive confrontation that results is a towering epic of action, invention, mystery, and spectacle on a galactic scale--in short, a story worthy of the name Star Wars.
Customer Reviews:
Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03
Some years after the events in the Star Wars movie, the New Republic is
beginning to encounter political problems, and having to deal with
governing and routing out rebels.
Along comes something nastier. A grand admiral of the Empire, with
a very potent battle fleet at his command, and a very impressive
ability to utilise it.
The beginning of the publishing of 100 billion books of what I suppose you could call '21st century pulp'.
This series is pretty decent, however.
awful.......2007-08-23
i can't believe people like this book.it's realy awful.and i bought this book when there was no new star wars books out and i was starving for something new from star wars.i would keep reading the old brian dalye or alan dean foster books.but i guess being spoiled by those writers reading zahn's book coulnd only be a dissapointment.and i really wanted to like this book.he just copies too much from the other writers instead of making something new.i mean an old jedi master.hey people use your brain trying to make another obi-wan character,sheesh!.
best of the Star Wars stories.......2007-06-24
Heir To The Empire is part one of The Thrawn Trilogy by Timothy Zahn. This trilogy is set 5 years after Return of the Jedi. Han Solo and Princess Leia are married and are expecting Jedi twins. The Empire, lead by Grand Admiral Thrawn (best villian since Vader), plan to capture Leia and turn her and her twins to the Dark Side of the Force. Very highly recommended.
The Thrawn Trilogy consists of:
The Heir To The Empire
Dark Force Rising
The Last Command
Readable but annoyingly written continuation of original trilogy.......2007-06-13
My curiosity finally got the better of me, so I decided I would read the official continuation of the Star Wars story post Return of the Jedi. It starts out familiarizing the reader with a glossing over of the post Death Star V2 Emperor defeat happenings and jumps right into the activities of the new self appointed head of the Imperial forces, Admiral Thrawn who has been successfully raiding New Republic bases and supply lines. He has a plan to reinsert the Empire into their previous spot as bully overlord of the galaxy and Heir to the Empire is the jumping off point for this story, which takes three books to wrap up.
First off, it's an easy read. The story flows at a pretty good pace and seems to match the films in this respect. There are plenty of new characters that are realized relatively well and only seem out of place sometimes by name more than anything else. Some of the names of the characters just don't seem appropriate for Star Wars and it can be a little distracting, but not terribly so. What is more distracting however, and what makes these books less successful for me, is the lazy writing of the author. He can only describe moods with lip characterizations and most of the time, it's of the "so and so's lip twisted" variety, like...
Han is mad: His lip twists
Luke is worried: His lip twists
Leia is frightened: Her lip twists
Luke is determined: His lip twists
C3PO is acting dandy: His... Just kidding (Zahn probably had to hold himself back none the less)
He also comes up with new ideas of how to describe things and just starts using them all of a sudden but doesn't go back to insert them into earlier parts of the book. It's just weird when a character starts using a phrase all of a sudden, frequently, and they never used it for the first half of the book. How hard would it be to go back and place it in earlier parts of the book to make the character's use of language consistent?
And don't get me started on the Mynocks! "The thingy took off like a Mynock with a scorched tail." "It fell to the ground like a clipped Mynock." "He chortled like a bemused Mynock." "She ate like an anorexic Mynock."... and on and on.
Additionally,these characters, and maybe this was unavoidable but I don't think so, live completely in the past that is the 3 prequels. They are not given much of a life before them, in memory, so all of their recall harks back to the films (like we need to be reminded what happened) and that gets old real quick. Everything is "this is just like it happened on the Death Star" or "don't you remember what he did at Mos Eisley?" or "Luke thought back to the cave on Daigobah." Where's that extra mystery of the stuff we didn't see? It's like sitting around a bunch of people who only reminisce about a small period in their lives... Enough!
Well, I guess I'm trying to say that Heir to the Empire is not very well written, but the story is relatively interesting, easy to read, and, well, it tells us what happens to Luke and all of the rest after Return of the Jedi. I imagine a lot of people don't expect to find something literate in a book like this, but, maybe just once, I would like to be surprised.
Best of a shot-in-the-dark lot.......2007-05-27
Star Wars novels are often hit or miss, with many of them being completely unappealing to non-star wars nerds. Speaking as one of those nerds, I've read quite a few of the Star Wars novels, and the entire Hand of Thrawn trilogy is one of the few that stands on it's own not just as a good Star Wars series, but as an excellent general science fiction story as well. Timothy Zahn has an eye for detail that escapes most authors of any genre, and has carefully crafted a fantastic story that has something for every reader to enjoy.
The trilogy focuses both on the difficulties of setting up a new government to replace the old Empire, the number of things still mysterious and unknown even in a well-known universe, and the artful style with which a true strategist could use the resources of the Star Wars universe.
If I could rate it higher than five stars, I would.
Book Description
Davis and Isabella Bunn combine their complementary skills and experiences in crafting the compelling stories of the HEIRS OF ACADIA historical fiction series. John Falconer, a hero readers can believe in, was introduced in Book 3, The Noble Fugitive. Along with Book 4, The Night Angel, these last three novels of the series can be appreciated on their own. John Falconer, known to most as simply Falconer, is a large, powerfully built man whose gentle spirit shines through the physical and emotional scars of his previous life as a slave trader. His redemption has brought him full circle to the anti-slavery cause and a personal mission to free every slave he possibly can. After the events recounted in The Night Angel, Falconer settles in a Moravian community on the Underground Railroad. He cherishes his new wife, Ada, and her son, Matt, whom he loves as his own. Falconer finally has discovered peace, within and without. When the unimaginable happens, he and Matt face a loss so searing they can barely endure another day. Falconer finds himself back on board ship—this time with a father's responsibilities and an assignment of rescue rather than capture. His course takes him from the eastern seaboard of America to France, from Marseilles to the shores of North Africa. But enormous danger, risk of failure and even death challenge him on the high seas and in the desert’s strongholds. He has conquered many of life's storms, but none as vast as this. All the while, those inner bondages that have gripped as powerfully as iron chains are gradually loosening their hold. And a new hope begins to stir within… The story of character forged in the fires of grief, loss and faith
Customer Reviews:
I loved the journey!.......2007-09-01
Falconer's Quest probably will be the final story in this saga. I wish that it would have ended more decisively, but that is a personal view. I loved traveling with through the many twists and turns that start almost immediately. One more book would be great, to wrap up some things and to see where Matt's life choices take him.
ILoved reading The quest.......2007-06-02
I try to read everything written by Mr. Bunn and now his wife. Reading about the "Quest" was exciting and I was very captured by how the authors rendered this sequel. It shocked me to read that the main character's wife Ada died very early in the book, but I was pleased to see how healing came to so many as the story unfolded. The details about life on a boat/at sea were informative and very descriptive. There were so many times when I read and re-read sections to re-live the excitement and action. I look forward to other works by this author team of husband/wife.
Falconers Quest (Heirs of Acadia #5).......2007-05-18
I highly recommend this book. It is a great Christian fiction read. This entire series takes you through the lives and trials of multiple characters and it has been a joy to read.
terrific exciting high seas adventure thriller.......2007-04-05
In the 1830s in Salem though he mourns his loss John Falconer tries to move on following the death of his beloved wife of eighteen months Ada so that he can be there for her son Matt whom he promised to raise as his own. Already tight as a father and son though not the lad's natural sire, John and just turned ten Matt become even closer than most biological parents are with their children as they turn to one another for comfort.
A friend Reginald Langston asks John for a favor for him and his wife Lillian as they are at their wit's end to free his willful adult stepson Byron from slave traders; John agrees. With Matt at his side, John sails from their Moravian home across the Atlantic to France; from there they continue their quest across Mediterranean to North Africa seeking the deadly abusive pirate Ali Saleem, notorious for leaving slaves and crew better off dead than alive from his beatings.
The latest Heirs of Acadia historical tale is a terrific exciting high seas adventure thriller that never slows down from the moment Reginald makes his request until the final confrontation. However, as always with this strong series it is the characters, in this case John, who make the novel fun and inspirational. John has reasons to say no as he grieves his loss, but instead he says yes because his friend needs him. His fortitude will be tested by a vile pirate as the Bunn writing team provides a wonderful stand alone that will send the audience seeking previous saga works especially NOBLE FUGITIVE.
Harriet Klausner
Book Description
Finish well. That is what we are called to do in Scripture, but where will our money and possessions finish? The Bible has the principles that provide answers to the challenge of parenting and passing along an in heritage. Within the next decade, over ONE TRILLION DOLLARS will change hands from one generation to the next. Individuals with adult children will need to transfer that wealth without ruining their heirs' lives.Ron Blue, an authority on personal and business finance, will help:~Identify exactly how much money would be transferred were the reader to die today~Identify the need for creating a will~Identify tax-wise financial planning~Teach the way to leave money without creating an unhealthy dependence
Customer Reviews:
A seasoned financial planner talks with a religious bias about the tedious process of determining the beneficiaries of your will.......2007-09-26
This book was OK. I didn't particularly like it, but I didn't dislike it either. It certainly could have been a little more straightforword in the early chapters with regard to what it was actually about. What this book is about is how a religious Christian can evaluate her options when considering to whom or what to leave her wealth upon her death. This book is about choosing beneficiaries to your estate - not about how to minimize estate taxes that will be due if you leave your wealth to something other than a church or other tax-exempt entity.
The author apparently likes to write about things that are on his mind. He describes in the book how at different periods in his life he wrote certain books that seemed to coincide with what he was doing professionally at the time. In 2004 when this book was published the author was in his 60s and he was in the process of changing his will. Clearly he had a lot on his mind because the instant book resulted at 200+ pages.
I think the instant book could have been really good if the author had kept his Christian values out of the mix. It can be a very challenging process to figure who to name as beneficiaries of your estate and how much to leave each beneficiary. And good coverage of such a topic could easily go far beyond 200+ pages and be well worth the read. However, this book comes across as preachy and relies on Scripture too much for support of the author's point of view.
The author seemed to be pushing the concept of leaving one's wealth to the church instead of to one's kids. He makes a lot of arguments why you shouldn't be leaving your wealth to your kids. Unfortunately, all the arguments fall flat because the reader can see (or should be able to see) the author's agenda: give to God.
People typically leave their wealth to those they love or causes they cherish, OR BOTH. Of course, any sane person does not want to waste their wealth unncessarily. And if the kids don't need it, then the church can greatly benefit from those funds. And if the kids will squander their inheritance, then the church or some other worthy charity can greatly benefit from those funds. But to promote giving your estate to the church to the exclusion of your kids to me is ludicrous. 3 stars!
Want a quick summary of this book? Here ya go ..........2004-08-24
Leaving money to kids is stupid. It will make them lazy and profligate. Instead, leave your money to charities. Like the ones run by the people who write glowing endorsements of this book. Whatever you do, don't leave money to any wicked organizations that promote abortion or free thought.
There. I've just saved you a couple of hours' reading time and a lot of aggravation. You're welcome. LOL
Recommended but not without its problems.......2004-05-03
"Splitting Heirs" is an appropriate title for this book and the problems it deals with. So often people fail to plan for their eventual death and everything they have spent years accumulating ends up in the hands of the court system, lawyers, and others. Even when they do plan it often ends up in the hands of their children who may or may not be mature enough to handle the windfall. The parable of the prodigal son often comes to mind as children squander their inheritance.
What can you do to make sure that your interests and your desires are foremost when it comes to passing on your inheritance? That is the subject of this book. How do you provide for children and grandchildren while still teaching them the value of money and the responsibility that comes with it? How do you deal with the expectations of in-laws, stepchildren, and grandchildren, provide for church and ministries, avoid family conflict and avoid sibling jealousy?
Author Ron Blue delineates a clear process for dealing with these issues. The process is basically to first determine why you should want to transfer your wealth, then to whom you want to transfer it, how much you want to transfer, when you want to do it, what you want to transfer, how you can do it, and communicating all the above to the appropriate people. The advice is sound and he makes several good points that any financial planner would also advise you to do. The only real problem with the book is that parts of it appear to be inconsistent with each other. For example, on page 45 and again on page 154 under the heading of Tools and Techniques he notes the "Trust Principle" which he states is "Never use a trust because of a lack of trust". However, he never really defines what he means by that comment. If it is "never use a trust because you really can't trust the trustee to do what you want" then that is not consistent with his suggestions on pages 167 through 174 where he suggests the use of a marital trust, an insurance trust, and possibly charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts, etc. On the other hand if he means that you should not use a trust as a vehicle to control a child's access to money because you don't trust the child then that is different but still not necessarily consistent with the basics of the rest of the book. If the child is not mature enough to handle money then having it in a trust with someone who can is responsible stewardship. Items like this make parts of the book questionable simply because the reader can't really tell what Mr. Blue is trying to say much less determine if it is sound advice.
Another problem with the book is some of the people he holds out as examples. On page 50 he mentions Andrew Carnegie as an example of a person determined to give. While this is factual and he did give away most of his fortune and supported many charities, he amassed his fortune through ruthless business practices that can hardly be considered as respectful of others. To be fair to Mr. Carnegie most of his practices were not inconsistent with others of his day and it is unfair to compare his work ethics with those of a more worker sensitive environment of today. I'm sure that Mr. Blue would not want people to draw the conclusion that it is okay to abuse others if the resulting income is given away to charities. There are just better examples, some of which he does include (such as S. Truett Cathy).
Along a similar vein, it would have been better if the quotes used on the inside and dust cover were not from people who stood to benefit from increased contributions to charities and churches (a position highly promoted throughout the book). Of the 13 people quoted only three of them are not directly connected with an organization that would benefit directly if more people contributed to charitable organizations or churches in their wills. This does not make the advice any less sound; it just establishes a credibility gap. The people quoted are all from Christian organizations and so one would hope that they can rely on an honest assessment of the book, but it still raises questions of independence. The book is good enough that there should be ample positive reviews from people who are not officers or founders of charities or churches.
Although I obviously have some problems with this book, taken as a whole it is one of the best basic guides to Christian oriented planning and wealth transfer. The advice includes all the basic guidance you would receive from most competent financial planners - give it to your heirs while you are alive, use marital trusts if appropriate, use life insurance trusts, plan to use your wealth in ways that are consistent with your beliefs and goals in life. He also does a good job of pointing out that the tools and techniques should be near the end of the process instead of at the beginning of the planning process. It just makes more sense to first determine your goals and then to use the tools and techniques that get you there. While I believe it could be better with better writing and more carefully chosen examples, the basic tenets of the book are financially solid and Biblically sound. "Splitting Heirs" is one of the best books available to understand the problems of wealth transfer from a Christian perspective.
Best book I've read about true wealth.......2004-04-16
This book can be read in a night but contains wisdom for a lifetime. Expecting another book about estate planning, I was pleased to find only the essential data needed to introduce the subject and the bulk of the content about thoughtfully (and prayerfully) making the six decisions about wealth transfer. This is the first book I have read by Ron Blue but I suspect it is one of his best. Intertwined between the chapters teaching us about the six decisions of wealth transfer are sole searching questions, historical examples of heros in philanthropy, and humorous cartoons introducing each chapter. But the real treasures in this book are the biblical references with reminders of the definition of stewardship in nearly every chapter - "God owns it all"
Book Description
The Prophet Mohammad brought his vision of the word of God to the Arabs, and within a generation of his death, his followers—as vivid a cast of heroic individuals as history has known—had exploded out of Arabia to confront the two great superpowers of the seventh century and establish Islam and with it a new civilization.
The Heirs of the Prophet Mohammad is a swaggering saga of ambition, achievement, self-sacrificing nobility and blood rivalry. In it, acclaimed historian Barnaby Rogerson recounts the lives of the handful of individuals--the first four Caliphs, the Prophet's widows and the conquering generals--who led and influenced Islam after the death of Mohammad.
Within this fifty-year span of conquest and empire-building, Rogerson identifies the seeds of discord that destroyed the unity of Islam and traces the roots of the schism between Sunni and Shia Muslims to the rivalry of the two people who best knew and loved the Prophet: his cousin and son-in-law Ali and his wife Aisha.
Customer Reviews:
The First Four Caliphs.......2007-08-13
This is an extremely well-written book that details the history of Islam during the 30 or so years after the death of the Prophet. Not knowing much about this religion, and particularly the reason for the animosity betwen Shia and Sunni, I was compelled to read and learn. I must admit that the author handles all of the history and the main characters quite well, and never denigrates their view of the faith. Having read this book, I'm really at a loss as to why there is this split in Islam, for the differences between the two sides appears to be extremely minor. Of course, Chirstianity has split over many more trivial items of doctrine, the most conspicuous of which is the use or non-use of "filioque" in the Creed. To learn about one of the world's great religions, and its early leaders, this book is an essentail read.
Great help understanding the Shia, Sunni Divide.......2007-08-10
Reads like a mystery. The geography, paganism, sectism, perversity, mercantialism- and not to forget treachery,blood and gore, make this book a great read. Connects the dots from heir to heir to the leadership of ancient Islam. identifies the Prophets wives and tells you enough to get to know them. Most importantly, I grew to understand why the Shias think they were so hard done by.
The heirs seem to prefer age over 'ability,' not that anyone was obviously better than the next. The Shia- followers of Ali- were 'meritocratic'. I see why they think Ali paid his dues first, took great risks, was the first male convert e.g. while the elders, Abu Bakr, Omar and Uthman, seemed to inherit the leadership in chronological order. However each did a great job while Caliph
Growth of misogyny after the death of Mohammad evolved from subsequent leaders.Mohammad loved and respected women- he appears to have married about a dozen.
Heirs of a Faith, Creators of an Empire.......2007-06-24
THE HEIRS Of MUHAMMAD by British journalist and travelogue author Barnaby Rogerson is both a thoroughly researched and quite enjoyable recounting of nascent Islam's first century and the origins of its split into Sunni and Shi'a factions.
Rogerson has gone to great lengths with this book to show that Islam, like all mass movements, was troubled by factionalism and in-fighting even before the death of the Muhammad. In Part 1 he details the rivalries amongst the Prophet's wives (called here by their respectful title, "the Mothers of the Faithful"), the roots of Aisha's lifelong hatred for Ali, and the rise in importance of such former adversaries of the Islamic faith as the Umayyad clan of the Quraysh and various other families, clans and tribes, who were now jockeying for leadership in the growing Muslim state.
Part 2 opens with the death of Muhammad and the institution of the politico-religious office of leadership known as the Caliphate. Abu Bakr is chosen over Ali as Muhammad's successor - and thus the origin of the Sunni/Shi'a split. Rogerson also recounts another event little known to most non-Muslims: the Ridda Wars. Also called the War Against Apostasy, these were a series of battles fought to bring rebellious Bedouin and settled Arab tribes back under Islamic rule. It is here that the author shows the complex political and religious makeup which existed in the Arabian peninsula: Arab clients of the Roman emperor in Constantinople, Arabian tribes under Persian cultural and political influence, or tribes and clans who desired not only to revert back towards indigenous pagan cults but also to the Christianity that they had only recently adopted before adopting Islam itself.
Most noteworthy also is Rogerson's history of the wars which would ultimately lead to the Arab conquest of the Mediterranean and the Middle East.
The Arab victories over the Roman Empire and its eventual conquest of Sassanid Persia -at the battles of the Yarmuk (636) and al-Qadisiya (637) respectively- altered forever the racial, religious, and political developments of not only the Middle East, but of Christendom (and thus Western civilization) as well. Suprisingly, however, very little has been written on these two supremely major events for the average reader of history. So, for his detailed account of these battles alone, Rogerson's HEIRS Of MUHAMMAD, is an exceptional and worthwile read.
With the long-awaited election of Ali as caliph, Rogerson illustrates the new religion's rising tensions in philosophies and practices. Would Islam -born out of strife- remain a religion of conquest? Or would it nuture and encourage its more spiritual and universal aspects, best exemplified in the personalities of Ali and his sons Hasan and Hussein.
The political rise of the Machiavellian Mauwiya upon the death of Ali and his Umayyad Dynasty's subsequent persecution and many attempts at the annihilation of the Prophet's very bloodline should help to answer these questions.
Barnaby Rogerson offers an excellent and fair-minded history of Muhammad's later years and the early Caliphate. Writing it filled with all the drama and intrigue, war and conflict of an epic. For this was a time filled with the people and events which utterly define the word of epic.
holds the reader's interest throughout.......2007-06-22
We don't have many books relating to this era which are not only completely unbiased but also encompasses all the major personalities of earlier Islam in a narrative which holds the concentration of the reader through every page. This book accomplishes all of it. It expertly shows how Abubakr firmly established the writ of the Caliphate over Arabia, and held the budding nation together. Omar in addition to bringing down the main world powers of that era, also established a system of justice rarely seen ever since. Uthman despite all the accusations thrown on him, did not flinch from his principles till the very end, sacrificing his life rather than shedding anyone's blood. Ali was the true model of piety. Another great aspect of this book is showing the gradual disintegration of Muslims-not only politically but ethically as well, illustrated by the events of Prophet's own grandson losing his life to people belonging to his own faith, and the attack on the holiest of sites in Islam-the Kaaba-by a group of Muslims themselves.
great book for even muslims.......2007-06-06
i thought i knew islam but apparently humbled by this author who seems to be an excellent authority.
a must read for all to understand islam. what the movie THE MESSAGE did for muslims and non muslms, this book too ultimately lays the foudations for understanding and dialouge between faiths and cultures. since islam is the fastest spreading religion on the planet i would like all recent converts to also read this book so as to get an idea of the system and history of the religion. this religion was bullt on GOD sending down the WORD but then there was statesmenship, inspirational leadership of the likes that unfortunately we are not destined to see either in the muslim or the non muslim world... take a look at bush and blair....
this book analyses why we have the sunni and shiite, why so similar and yet so dissimilar so as to want to kill each other. i am sunni and i have actually understood more about the shiite and sympathise wholeheartely with them for ali. we all love ali, hussain and hassan. the only thing is if we did not venerate the prophet why shall we worship and ascribe supernatural powers to mere humans. after all they were killed by humans and they bled and died. obvioulsy this scjizm is not going to stop..its time for the shiite to put aside their hate for the sunnis as they believe they are the ali and his family killers. what they dont understand is that the sunni too are in remembrace and in pain for the horrible killing of ali and his family. but its politics and yes we remember ali, mourn with the shiite on muharram as it is our new year but we cast it as a black day. there are many of us who mourn on that day too. does that make us more shiite or any less sunni. ridiculous this division between us. the superimposition of extra quranic injunctions is the real reason that the sunni seethe at the shiite audacity of even supplementing the quran.that is one area where we are billions of miles apart.
geting back to this book i actually learnt alot of detials that i had no chance of learning in this busy technological world. wonderful book and great information.
well till a better time where faith, equality, liberte and fraternite resonate together for all mankind.
peace
Book Description
Heirs of Montana book 2, the sequel to the bestselling Land of My Heart. With the love of her life missing in the Montana wilderness, a young woman must manage a ranch on her own. 1870 Montana ranching proves to be a hard life for Dianne Chadwick. Her fianc, Cole Selby, has yet to return from his journey east. Unbeknownst to her, he has been captured by Indians, and Takes-Many-Horses, who also loves Dianne, must decide whether or not to let him live. When her uncle is attacked by a grizzly, Dianne is left to care for his family and manage the ranch. Can she hold on to her faith and ride out the storm?
Customer Reviews:
Love this series!.......2007-06-14
This book was just as good as I thought it would be - maybe better. It's a great picture of why why can't allow bitterness to creep in to our lives and of how to let God handle any wrongs done to us.
too much grief for enjoyment.......2005-09-09
I usually love Christian fiction - but this one just overflowed with misery. I couldn't stand it.
War looming, Indians being rounded up....can ranch survive? .......2004-08-13
Victories but more heartache, disease and accidents threaten the ranch in spite of its' growth and the various families love for each other. Diane has LOTS of responsibility and with it the emptiness for Cole. Three men are in love with her, but she loves only one and he is the absent one. Koko is lonely and torn. Is she Indian or is she White? What about her brother?
A mystery woman travels through and so far, Tracie has not made known what part she will play in this series. Her entrance and quiet exit left a big gap and lots of questions.
Trenton comes back into the book with his infamous past. Horrible tragedies threaten the very existance of the ranch and the town. Can this extended family and friends survive with anything less than a miracle from God? I am anxious for book three. Thank you Tracie Peterson for an historical, Christian book that continues to intrigue the reader.
Another book in a good series.......2004-07-15
Having just finished the book The Holy Road which is the sequel to Dances with Wolves, it was interesting how well Tracie Peterson in The Coming Storm gives a different perspective about the same time period. I like historical novels that are so true to the time they are written about. I also liked how various family members were again included in the story such as re-introducing Trenton Chadwick in a greater role. Diane is truly a woman of faith and courage as she continues to face life on the frontier. This is not a 'happily ever after' kind of series so it's refreshing and encouraging to read how one woman faces all of these adversities in her life. Looking forward to reading the third book.
Average customer rating:
- The Best Yet!
- Fantastic Historical Fiction Based During the Civil War
- Great Book Must Read
- What a wonderful story!
- Hunt highlights women in history
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The Velvet Shadow (The Heirs of Cahira O'Connor Series , No 3)
Angela Elwell Hunt
Manufacturer: WaterBrook Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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The Justice
ASIN: 1578561310
Release Date: 1999-02-16 |
Book Description
THE HEIRS OF CAHIRA O’CONNOR SERIES - BOOK THREE It is said that as Cahira, daughter of the great Irish king Rory O’Connor, lay dying of a wound from a Norman blade, she lifted her hand toward heaven and beseeched God that others would follow…breaking forth from the courses to which they are bound to restore right in this murderous world…
To Kathleen O’Connor, Cahira’s story was nothing more than a legend–until research divulged that the tale was true. Stunned, Kathleen realizes she herself bears Cahira’s mark. Is she destined to continue the legacy? To find the truth, Kathleen must delve into the past to find the truth about The Heirs of Cahira O'Connor…
When Flanna O’Connor, a young medical student in Boston, is cut off from her family in Charleston at the start of the Civil War, she decides to disguise herself and move south with the Union Army. While in disguise, she must prove herself as a soldier and a doctor, both to her messmates and to Major Alden Haynes, brother to the man she has tentatively agreed to marry. But when Flanna and Alden are trapped between two armies, can Flanna trust God with her future…and with the love she has sought all her life?
Customer Reviews:
The Best Yet!.......2007-01-10
Book Three of the Heirs of Cahira O'Connor was my favorite of the series. I enjoyed the setting - the Civil War - and the development of Flanna's understanding of the real issues of the war. The aspect of a woman doctor in a time when they were not accepted was very well done. Love, loyalty, faith - it has it all...
Fantastic Historical Fiction Based During the Civil War .......2006-05-16
This book is the 3rd in "The Heirs of Cahira O'Conner" series. Although I haven't read the 4th, so far this one is my favorite. Not that the first 2 are not good, they are terrific, it's just that this one gripped me from the beginning. I read this 400 page novel in just 24 hours!
Flanna O'Conner is finishing up medical school in Boston when the Civil War begins. She longs for her family in Charleston SC and disguises herself as a soldier in her effort to return to the south. Although Flanna's character has depth from the beginning, her travels deepen her character and trust in God. This is a profound story of sacrifice, loyalty, and how the effects of this war dramatically changed so many lives. These people gave up virtually everything (their lives, family, homes, & work) for a cause they believed in.
Flanna's experience and what is shared in this book really brings significance to the heroism of those who served in the Civil War. The author does an excellent job of researching our country's culture and circumstances during the mid-1800s. At the end she writes two pages on her references. I had no idea that there were 400 women who actually did pose as men in order to serve in the Civil War.
What I love about historical fiction is that it gives me a heart for the people who lived during the time, and a desire to learn more. What a great way to learn about history!!
Great Book Must Read.......2004-08-29
I love this book. Even though I'm just 15. I thought is had an amazing plot and a wonderful ending. The only reason I'm giving it 4 stars is because of the beginning. It was incredibly slow and boring. But I'm so glad I decided to keep reading!
What a wonderful story!.......2002-05-23
This book is moving...I thought that it brought a new eye to the Civil War. Flanna is in Boston, studying to get her medical degree so that she can return to Charleston and help her father in his practice. However, the Civil War breaks out and Flanna is forced to figure out how she will get home. As in the other Cahira O'Connor books, she dresses as a boy and becomes a soldier.
I thought this book was very well written from beginning to end. The death of the professor is Kathleen's impetus to get back to work on the story of the heirs of Cahira O'Connor. What she finds leads her to wonder what HER role in this will be.
I highly recommend this book to anyone, but please read the other 2 books in the series first. This book will make you want to rush out and pick up the 4th.
Hunt highlights women in history.......2000-05-24
Novelist Angela Elwell Hunt has done it again! Her exciting historical women's fiction series shines with complex stories of gifted women seeking to make a place for themselves in a world, dominated by narrow ideas of women as little more than man pleasers.
Velvet Shadow is the third in a Cahira O Connor series. Flanna O'Connor a Southern bell who defied convention to study medicine in Boston Mass on the eve of the Civil War. Her hopes to take her degree back to the south are shattered by the outbreak of war, cut off from her family she tries to enlist in the Army as a Doctor and prejudice turns her back.
This theme runs throughtout the story as the wealthy Bostonian abolitionists bemoan the fate of slaves, while mistreating their Irish servants. Her keen eye for hypocrisy in society is entertaining. I had not known that some freed blacks also had slaves. Her devotion to research illuminates the Zeitgeist (ruling ideas) of the times. When an aspiring politican pursues her to marry him and forsake medicine, Flanna, like her ancestor and many actual women in the Civil War impersonates a man to join the Union Army. She hopes to make her way home to the south and desert but her destiny as a Doctor calls her to steal supplies to treat the wounded, in spite of threat of exposure, court martial or worse. As a surgeon she becomes the Velvet Shadow who saves men who would have perished without her. Hunt has captured the misery and mismanagement of troops, supplies etc in this heartbreaking war that redefined the history of our country. Again, we are led through a series of heart breaks and changes the character must conquer to survive and thrive.
This book will spark your appetite to read the earlier books in the series that began with The Silver Sword, set in 1400's Anika of Prague must pretend to be a knight in order to escape unwanted attention of a nobleman's son. She plays in integral part in story of Jan Hus, burned at the stake for his religious beliefs.
In the second book, the Golden Cross opens in 1642 when Aidan O'Connor penniless after the death of her father at sea ekes out a living in the slums of Colonial Batavia while her spirit longs for artistic expression. A master cartographer recognizes her talent and senses God leading him to train her. Aidan enters the aristocratic world as apprenticing artist and is coached in fine manners of high born women. She longs to learn and become a wealthy artist to lift her friends from the web of wharf poverty and degradation. Aidan casts aside the brocade to masquerade as a cabin boy aboard the exploration vessel of Captain Tasman to pursue her dream. The voyage is fraught with danger, slaughter and brings Aidan to cling to God. Aidan's voyage leads to unexpected danger, treasure and you'll need to read the book to find out if she settles or succeeds.
As readers we learn in pursuing the talents God has placed within us, we can experience Kairos time creative expansion of time, versus everyday chronos time. This writer broadens my view of the past and gives inspiration to my future.
Book Description
1886 Montana stands on the brink of statehood, and Dianne Selby finds her world turned upside down. Cole takes her and the children to Kansas to care for his dying father, but after the funeral, Cole's mother insists he stay and take over his inheritance. Unable to deal with her mother-in-law's cruel treatment, Dianne takes the children back to Montana alone. There, blizzards devastate the area, trapping a now pregnant Dianne at the ranch. Through the twists and turns of life and nature, Dianne comes to realize that the hope within-Jesus Christ-is the only hope that lasts. Book 4 of the bestselling Heirs of Montana.
Customer Reviews:
Pull Out The Tissues..........2006-07-23
Having read the entire 'Heirs of Montana' collection, this was one of my favorites out of the four books. Although the plot twists of book 3 were amazing, this book took on a different tone.
For most of the book I was crying right along with Dianne, angry at the treatment by her husband, Cole (no matter how honorable his intentions). However, the plot twists were still present with Mayra's unbelievable faith and outspokeness in her 'pursuit' of Zane. Peterson also left what seemed like an unlikely coupling from the beginning in the characters of Joshua and Ardith alone without any pressure. I went on to recommend this book to my mother, as she often encounters in-law 'issues' so to speak, so now she can compare the fictional in-laws to her own experiences.
I highly recommend this to anyone who has read the series, and for those that haven't, start at book 1 (from having started at book 3, trust me, you'll get more fun out of it!) but be sure to finish it out with this book! This is one of those classic books when you need a good cry.
I Couldn't Put it Down.......2005-09-23
I love this series! "To Dream Anew" is perhaps the best book in the series, but this fourth book is just as enjoyable to read. I hope there will be more to come!
The only aspect of this book that bothered me was the situation between Cole, his mother and sisters, and Diane. While Cole struggles to take care of his mother and be loyal to his wife at the same time, he really chooses his mother over his own family by making the decision to stay with his mother.
Diane is the one who lead Cole to Christ. He has known her and her faith for years; yet while they are living with Cole's mother, Cole seems to believe his mother, who curses God, over his own wife. The fact that he didn't see Diane hit his mother yet believes she actually could have seems a bit out of character.
Also, Diane later apologies to Cole for leaving his side, stating that a good Christian wife doesn't leave her husband's side, "no matter how ugly the situation." Cole's mother was abusing Cole and Diane's children! To allow that to continue in the name of being a "good Christian wife" is absurd. To not protect your children is not being a good Christian parent!
Other than this character flaw, the book is remarkable!
Hopefully not the last of this series.......2005-03-31
Dianne Selby, strong, determined Dianne, faces her worst trial yet. Their ranch has burned and they are "temporarily" living in town which she hates..in fact, she fears Cole is going to force her to stay there and she starts turning bitter against him....and their marriage falters...then word comes of the impending death of Cole's father in Kansas.
Cole wants to share his wife and children with his family for the first time ever, but when they arrive in Kansas, Diane and the children are treated worse than garbage. Dianne really tries, pulls more than her weight, but finally her strength is gone...and she is pregnant, unknown yet to Cole.
Cole has been harboring a secret fear of restarting the ranch back in Montana and feels it never really was his but Dianne's and more truly, Koko's and her children's.
In his tender moments, he tries to please all the women in his life and finds this is impossible and he loses the most important one. The reader is on their seat's edge for several pages.
So many things are drawn together in this book, we again see Trenton, Ardyth the pianist, the mean and cheating greedy neighbor rancher, the honor driven Indian who really loves Dianne but puts integrity over all...it is he and Koko who nurse Dianne through a near death experience... it seems the author is wrapping up this series.
Please, Tracie, don't leave us hanging.
terrific late nineteenth century Great Prairie family drama .......2005-03-29
1886 fire burns down the Diamond V ranch house and several other facilities forcing the Selby family to relocate to nearby Virginia City, Montana Territory. Dianne Selby hates living in town, but her spouse Cole keeps delaying their return with one pretext after another.
Cole learns that his father Hallam is dying so he, Dianne and their children travel to Kansas to say their last respects starting with his dad meeting his wife and grandchildren for the first time and helping his mother Mary cope with her loss and work the farm. Upon completing the trek, Mary sets the tone greeting Dianne about never visiting when her spouse was healthy. After Hallam dies, Mary pressures Cole to run the family farm he inherited while remaining nasty towards his wife and children; Dianne decides to end her cruelty to her grandchildren by taking them with her and going home though it means deserting her husband.
The final inspirational historical novel in the Heirs of Montana quartet, THE HOPE WITHIN, is a terrific family drama that vividly portrays late nineteenth century life on the Great Prairie especially in Montana and Kansas. The story line is character and geographical-climatic driven as the audience obtains a taste of the era through simple interwoven into the plot nuances; for instance Cole's parents and his wife and children never met before implies distance (communication and transportation). Fans will cherish the finale as the extended cast provides depth and Dianne sees hope that her husband will come back to her and their children as THE HOPE WITHIN her remains strong because of her belief in God.
Harriet Klausner
Average customer rating:
- An excellent first novel!
- A modern cautionary tale that is both gripping and challenging
- Eagerly Awaiting Novel 2
- Book Review: The Heir by Paul Robertson
- Awesome!
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The Heir
Paul Robertson
Manufacturer: Bethany House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 076420324X
Release Date: 2007-03-01 |
Book Description
Wealth. Fame. Power. Murder. Jason Boyer Just Got an Inheritance to Die For The fortune wasn't supposed to befall him. Jason Boyer had known all along his father's business empire would pass to different hands. Which suited him just fine. The money was crooked and the power corrupt. But when an accident claims the old man's life, everyone is stunned by the unveiling of the will. With the passing of the Boyer crown, power-hungry politicians and shady business partners all try to force Boyer's hand. Fighting the temptation of influence and riches, he simply wants to be a better man than his father—but attempting to stand for what’s right soon brings murderous consequences. As those closest to him are endangered—and news emerges that his father’s accident may be something more sinister—Boyer finds himself fighting for his soul…and his life! Is There Any Escape for The Heir? All the money he could ever crave. In the splintering crash of a car plunging through a railing, Jason Boyer's life is changed. All the fame he could ever desire. But the last thing he wanted was the throne of his father's corrupt business empire. All the power he could ever wield. The estate should have gone elsewhere, but the will was changed. And now everything is Jason's. But gaining the whole world just might cost him his life.
Customer Reviews:
An excellent first novel!.......2007-07-05
What an impressive first novel! I was carried away by the well-paced story line and moral dilemma faced by the protagonist. The first-person story-telling with the spoken (and unspoken) sarcastic humor was a real treat, especially during the first half. I can't wait for Mr. Robertson's second book. (On a personal note, I enjoyed the fact that Mr. Robertson lives in Hokie territory -- Blacksburg, VA -- near where I grew up.)
A modern cautionary tale that is both gripping and challenging.......2007-07-04
After losing his loathsome father in a car crash, Jason Boyer inherits the billion dollar empire his father leaves behind. At first, Jason wants no part of the inheritance. He knows what kind of man his father was, and he wants nothing to do with the shady business deals and politics his father was involved in. However, as Jason gets a small taste of the power that he now has, he is quickly drawn into a life he never wanted. As Jason is drawn in by the fame and riches, he begins a moral battle that is seemingly insurmountable. Can he use the power and influence at his disposal to right the wrongs his father committed, or he is destined to be a slave to money, power, and greed?
Paul Robertson's powerful debut is a modern cautionary tale that is both gripping and challenging. The story is told from Jason Boyer's point of view, and this gives the reader a small taste of the temptations and struggles that Jason battles. Robertson's writing is dark and somber, and Jason Boyer's character exudes cynicism. Indeed, this story is full of heartache, despair, and vengeance. However, these elements are used effectively to paint a clear picture of the darkness Jason finds himself in.
This may be the most spiritually challenging novel I've ever read, and there's no mention of Christianity in the novel. Rather, Robertson takes the powerful elements of riches and power and dangles them out there for us to bite. Then Robertson yanks the rug out from under us as he reminds us that all the money and power in the world can never satisfy, and in fact can destroy us. In the end, we are encouraged to look beyond ourselves and realize true contentment lies not in this world. (From Christian Library Journal)
Eagerly Awaiting Novel 2.......2007-06-27
Love the intrigue and suspense in this first novel. The characters were interesting and the visualization was what kept my interest. Awesome job Mr. Robertson--can't wait for #2.
Book Review: The Heir by Paul Robertson.......2007-06-14
As he stares at his father's casket, Jason Boyer has no idea how much his life has just changed. He wasn't all that close to his father and he's not honestly sure that he'll even miss him. Then he learns that, in a twist of fate, his father's fortune has been left entirely to him. The problem? Jason doesn't want the money - or the responsibility that goes with it.
As Jake enters the corrupt world that his father lived in, he finds that he may be more like his father than he would care to admit. Can Jason handle the pressure of being a billionaire? Does he have what it takes to live in this world - or will it cost him everything?
Paul Robertson gives readers a glimpse into the lives of the rich and powerful. He skillfully crafts a story that is both suspenseful and believable. When he's not writing, Robertson is a computer programmer and part-time teacher. The Heir, his first novel, is a powerful start to what will hopefully become a long-term career.
I enjoyed the novel immensely. The one thing that I felt could have been stronger is the faith aspect. I felt that it could have been a little more deeply developed during the story and better defined in the end. I'm afraid it might leave non-believers with more questions than answers. But, then again, maybe that was the point.
The Heir is well written and the characters are well developed. The reader will feel like they're in the midst of the chaos that the characters are dealing with. In the end, though, hope shines through and the reader will have plenty of eternal questions to think on.
Awesome!.......2007-05-30
What a pleasant surprise! His first novel and it's a great one!
Be forwarned - by the time you get to the last 100 pages, you'll be trying to figure out what you can slack off on so you can keep reading because you won't want to put it down!
I really enjoyed the wit he uses in the book. It is different and quite enjoyable.
If you're worried that you'll be preached to because it is from a Christian publisher, fear not, you won't be. Just get a copy and enjoy a fantastic story that'll keep you on the edge of your chair and guessing who did it throughout the book.
Average customer rating:
- THE SWORD
- Excellent Historical Fiction Set During Medieval Times
- WONDERFUL! Beautiful story and hidden truths on life.
- An Avid Reader
- An inspiring story
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The Silver Sword (The Heirs of Cahira O'Connor , No 1)
Angela Elwell Hunt
Manufacturer: WaterBrook Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1578560128
Release Date: 1998-10-01 |
Book Description
The auburned-haired O'Connor women share a bond far deeper than their striking physical appearance. These courageous, high-spirited women all push against societal limits in this exciting historical, romantic novel that spans generations and countries from 13th-century Ireland to the excitement and mystery of 15th-century Prague.
It is said that as Cahira, daughter of the great Irish king Rory O'Connor, lay dying of a wound from a Norman blade, she beseeched God that others would follow her calling. To Kathleen O'Connor, Cahira's story was nothing more than a fable--until research divulged that the tale was true. As a stunned Kathleen realizes that she herself bears the mark of Cahira, she wonders if she is destined to continue the legacy.
To uncover the answers, Kathleen delves into the past to find the truth about the Heirs of Cahira O'Connor. It is a journey that carries her across generations, from the battlefields of 13th-century Ireland to the castles of 15th-century Prague. It is a past filled with peril, courage, vengeance, love, and sacrifice beyond anything she has ever known.
Customer Reviews:
THE SWORD.......2007-03-16
the novel written by angela elwiwell hunt writes books for everyone who enjoys reading her novels, this novel was extremly well done, but you must read book one this novel gives you the base for this irish charters plot. i enjoyed reading her novel and have read all three almost.
Excellent Historical Fiction Set During Medieval Times.......2006-04-04
I love historical fiction and this novel gives a glimpse of what times were like during the 1400s. Written in the world of Lords and Knights, Catholic Bishops and Kings, it is an enjoyable way to learn more about life and struggles during the Medieval time period. I disagree with a previous reviewer who says this is a predictable story and is written with elementary language. I did not come to the same conclusion. It is enjoyable historical fiction.
The author clearly researched the historical time period and names her sources at the end of the book. Jan Hus, a prominent character in the novel, actually lived and was martyred. One of the popes in the novel also lived in the same time period. A book that is cited, "The Art of Courtly Love", was an actual book used in the time period to educate on courtship.
This book, the 1st in "The Heirs of Cahira O'Conner" series, begins with a college student (Kathleen O'Conner) who, after having a conversation with a Medieval European History professor, discovers she could be related to the royal, beautiful and brave Cahira O'Conner, who lived in Ireland in the 1200s.
Kathleen researches and discovers that Anika of Prague was a fifteen century woman who fought as a knight prior to the Hussite Crusades and is a descendent of Cahira O'Conner. This 1st novel is Kathleen's effort to bring Anika to life, a literature project for one of her college courses.
It is very done and written beautifully. Angela Hunt also writes excellent children's books. One my daughter especially enjoys is "The True Princess".
WONDERFUL! Beautiful story and hidden truths on life........2005-11-22
I love reading, expecially historical fiction. I picked up the book expecting an interesting story, not the deep philisophical themes touched on by Angela Elwell Hunt.
Anika is not your average medieval girl--see can read and reason better than most men. This disappointed me at first because I hate perfect characters. Luckily Hunt gives Anika obstacles of all kinds, rounding out her character. Anika's life goal is to have revenge on the church for the death of her parents. She has her own ideas on how to do this, but discovers that mercy and love trump revenge in all cases.
There is a love story, but it's the charming witty type--not mushy. The characters love each other based on their similar values, and have common struggles together with religion, education, raising children, love of truth, and the role of women in society.
EXCELLENT book with a twisting story line and hidden wise words on life woven seamlessly into the text.
An Avid Reader.......2003-07-13
Due to my insatiable reading appetite, I read over 50 books per year. I enjoy a bit of non-fiction, but for the most part I read fiction. This book reads as predicably as a typical genre historical romance novel. It is very light reading with very little depth to the characters or storyline and written with an elementary vocabulary. Over all, I found the book to be a disappointment.
An inspiring story.......2002-05-07
The story of Anika is one that can best be summed up in one (old)sentence: "If revenge is sweet, why does it leave such a bitter taste?" (this is from the book, too). Anika burns with the thought of revenge against those who have wronged her. As such, she decides to dress as a boy and earn a knighthood. Sir John takes her into his household to learn to be a knight and to serve him as long as he serves the teachings of Jan Huss.
This is a story of not only a young girl fighting for what she believes, but also the history of the church during the 1400s, which was rife with corruption. Jan Huss preached against the things that were wrong in the Church.
The premise to the series is that there are women descended from Cahira O'Connor who rise up to fight against injustice. It should be interesting to read the next 3 books in the series.
Books:
- The Mistress's Daughter: A Memoir
- The Night Before Easter
- The Only Game in Town: Baseball Stars of the 1930s and 1940s Talk About the Game They Loved (Baseball Oral History Project)
- The Patience of the Spider (Inspector Montalbano Mysteries)
- The Pocket Parent
- The Searching Hearts
- The Seducer (Get Connected Romances)
- The Simplest Path to Personal and Planetary Awakening, Step One: FREE YOUR MIND: 10 Keys for Unlocking Your Personal Potential, Achieving Spiritual Awakening, ... of Humanity's Ultimate Cosmic Destiny
- The Still of Night (A Rush of Wings Series #2)
- The Wrong Stuff: The Extraordinary Saga of Randy "Duke" Cunningham, the Most Corrupt Congressman Ever Caught
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