Customer Reviews:
Essential.......2007-10-05
This is the one book I would not be without.
It is very informative and helpful.
I am a soapmaker and use the information re: the essential oils to make aromatheray and therapuetic, skin softening soaps.
too general.......2005-10-10
Gives uses for many plants and the essential oils but no complete details for making the remedies with the oils. Eg. how much of each oil to put into the natural remedies?
Encyclopedia of Essential Oils.......2005-08-17
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils is a wonderful book to add to a collection of knowledge of Aromatherapy. It contains very detailed properties of each essential oil - easy to understand and great for reference for all to read, learn and practice. If you can't find what you are looking for specifically for an essential oil, you will most definately find it in this book.
Your Aromatherapy library is not complete if you don't have the book.......2005-08-03
If I had to have only two books in my Aromatherapy Library, this would be one of them, along with The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy, by Salvatore Battaglia. I have been an Aromatherapist since 2003, I know - a relatively short time - but a productive time, and I could not have accomplished what I have without this book. It is a very complete list - if not the best list - of essential oils available in book form, with all their properties, chemical breakdown, methods of extraction, history, ancient uses for the plants and oils, modern uses, toxicity and as if this wasn't enough - the photos are marvolous and extremely helpful in identifying plants and the oil colour. Every plant gets a whole page and the format repeats and is so easy to follow. What makes this book stand out among its peers is the ease of use with an excellent index, glossary of terms, botanical index, botanical classification and references (just because a book has these thing doesn't mean they are always good or useful).
The most toxic of essential oils, which are hardly mention in other books , or, we are merely warned to stay away from for aromatherapy use, are also covered in Ms. Lawlwess' book, and I am glad for that because I want to know the "why" of everything. Why is it bad? After all - this is meant as a reference book, not a "how to". It is one of the most important books on essential oils and you are cheating yourself not to have a copy. I don't know if Ms. Julia Lawless is alive, and if she is, when she will come out with an updated version, but I sure hope so.
Illustrated Encylopedia of Essential Oils.......2005-08-02
I love the wonderful pictures and illustrations. This book is great and will get let you see the physical properties of herbs and oils. Great reference guide.
Book Description
Post-Civil War prosperity has transformed the nation. The Kents thrust themselves into the daring occupations of our country's most reckless and corrupt era. . .feverish speculation in the east. . .the cattle boom in the west . . .rip-roaring Abilene and Deadwood.
The disreputable Louis Kent has died in ruin. Jephtha Kent's vow to reunite his family has fallen to his son Gideon. But when Gideon draws Louis's widow, the fiery Julia, back into the fold, he fans the embers of an illicit romance that scorches the Kents for generations to come.
THE LAWLESS is seventh in the Kent Family Chronicles following THE WARRIORS.
Customer Reviews:
One of the best of the series action, murder, and romance.......2005-09-22
I have to say this is one of the best of the series so far. The book has lots of action and romance. It's a faced pase book not like the last few books which have been slow. The story starts out with Matthew Kent, son of Jephtha Kent, is in Paris, pursuing the life of an artists. He is forced to leave the country after some incodents( I will not say you ahve to read). Then there is Dolly the women Jephta loves becomes pregnant and insists that they marry to avoid the stigma of bastardy for their child.There maragie dosent survivve do to many incodents. Gideon has an affair with his dead cousion's wife. Gideon's daughter Eleanor raped then she joines an acting group. This book is great and the second to last book. Now on to the last of the series.
Murder,mayhem and rape !!.......2003-04-23
Matthew Kent, son of Jephtha Kent, is in Paris, happily pursuing the life of one of the new "bohemian" artists and befriending many of the new and promising artists of the time-Cezanne, Manet etc. and rather daringly having a live-in mistress.He becomes involved with a sadistic and violent agent of Bismarck (chancellor of Germany)and is forced to flee the country. Dolly, his mistress, becomes pregnant and insists that they marry to avoid the stigma of bastardy for their child.Their marriage doesn't survive so Dolly takes their son Thomas with her to India where she is employed as an English teacher.Matt returns to America briefly but decides that his future lies in Europe. Gideon makes an implacable enemy of millionaire businessman, Thomas Courtleigh who does all he can to destroy Gideon and his business by attacking his family, causing the death of his wife Margaret. On the same night, Gideon's daughter Eleanor is pack raped , causing irreparable damage to her self esteem. Eleanor leaves home at an early age, joining an acting troupe,and therebye relinquishing respectability as it was known in that era.After Margarets death Gideon is able to marry his longtime mistress, Julia Kent, widow of his cousin Louis and takes on the responsibility of her son Carter.
A Kent Family success.......2003-03-05
One of the more successful Kent books. The sons of Jephtha Kent -- who is conveniently (and oh too quickly) killed off -- reap what they have sown. The lawless Kent of the title is Jeremiah, the gunslinger-gambler. Jakes cleverly manipulates other members of his cast to come in contact with Jeremiah without knowing who he is; first Julia on her suffragist tour of the Wild West, and then brother Gideon, with tragic results. The travails of Matthew Kent allow Jakes to explore nineteenth-century Paris, but the author is more successful detailing the great Chicago Fire of 1871 and early union uprisings than the Parisian bohemian art world. Gideon Kent's story takes up the bulk of the book: his wife's madness (which I have trouble buying, even though her father was a drunk and alcoholism is supposed to be hereditary), his affair with Julia, his estrangement from his children, his pro-union sympathies, and his conflict with the railroad giant Courtleigh. Gideon's descent into conservatism is less abrupt than Philip Kent's in The Seekers, and therefore more realistic, but equally annoying. The abrupt about-face by Dolly when she decides to leave Matthew seems out of character: I feel like Jakes is setting up her son Thomas to take part in raj activities in India for a future book never written. Eleanor the budding actress is also a believable character, but her last-minute reconciliation with Gideon is even less convincing. The Lawless has less in the way of canvas and sprawl than The Warriors (for instance), and Jakes seems to be truly interested in character development over episode, perhaps for the first time in the series. Unfortunately, none of the characters is as compelling as Amanda Kent in The Furies --and Jakes chooses to relegate the women to a secondary position.
awesome, read all 8, the story gets better and better...........2002-03-10
maybe my favoite of the 8, it is hard to decide, they are all great and together an awesome read....
awesome, read all 8, the story gets better and better...........2002-03-10
read all 8 and you will feel like a kent yourself....
Book Description
The book is designed as a text for undergraduate and graduate courses in sensory evaluation and as a reference for industrial practitioners. It covers all the basic techniques of sensory testing, from simple discrimination tests to home use placements for consumers. It provides a practical guide to how tests are conducted and, for the reader who wishes a deeper understanding, provides the fundamental psychological and statistical theories that form the basis and rationale for sensory test design.
Statistics used in sensory evaluation are demonstrated as integrated applications in the context of appropriate sensory methods and are also presented as a stand-alone material in appendixes. Statistical applications are tailored to common and relevance are obvious, and space is not wasted on designs or analyses that are not suitable for data collection from human observers. The text presents divergent philosophies in a balanced manner. Chapters are constructed so that beginning students who want only practical aspects of conducting sensory tests will find clear instructions on how tests should be conducted. Advanced students and practitioners will profit from the detailed section on rationale and sensory evaluation issues.
"It covers the entire spectrum of sensory analysis. I have read many books on this intriguing subject, but this is the Rolls-Royce."
– Aubrey Parsons,
governing council member, International Union for Food Science and Technology
Average customer rating:
- Sue Grafton Mystery
- Flimsy, disappointing characters and plot -- a chase and travelogue, not a detective story
- Slow paced
- L is for Lawless
- L is for Lovin' It!
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L Is for Lawless
Sue Grafton
Manufacturer: Fawcett
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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K Is for Killer (Kinsey Millhone Mysteries)
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M Is for Malice
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J Is for Judgment
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N Is for Noose
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O Is for Outlaw
ASIN: 0449221490
Release Date: 1996-07-31 |
Amazon.com
Both new readers and old fans will welcome this 12th Kinsey Milhone adventure in the "A" is for Alibi series by Sue Grafton. In this case, Kinsey agrees to do a favor for a friend of a friend and gets herself into so much trouble that she promises at the outset never to do such a thing again without careful consideration.
Henry Pitt, her longtime landlord asks her to help a fellow neighbor find evidence that his grandfather served in the military during the Second World War. With such proof, the man can be decently buried, courtesy of the U.S. government. It seems such a simple thing, but with Kinsey, it rarely is. Before long she finds herself entangled with an eccentric and quarrelsome family as well as a long lost buddy who has turned up just in time to get himself beaten up in a robbery attempt of the alleged veteran's apartment. It seems there is a reason the Armed Services have no record of the dead man's service. Kinsey sets out to determine what he might have been doing instead of fighting against the Japanese and why someone might think his shabby apartment worth a burgle.
Typical of the series, the mystery is not the central point of the story, but rather a starting point for Kinsey to become embroiled in a suspenseful (and delightful) search-and-rescue operation, usually against her better judgement. In this case, a gun-toting, arthritic octogenarian and revelations of the inner workings of bargain-rate motels are all part of the adventure. This is an easy and enjoyable read, and a solid addition to Grafton's string of alphabetical hits. --K.A. Crouch
Book Description
"THIS IS ONE OF GRAFTON'S MOST FUN-TO-READ BOOKS. . . . One of [Kinsey Millhone's] wildest adventures yet."
--San Francisco Examiner
When Kinsey Millhone agrees to do a favor for Henry Pitts, her lovable octogenarian landlord, she literally gets taken for the ride of her life. The family of a recently deceased WWII veteran wants her to find out why the military has no record of his service. All Kinsey has to do, she thinks, is cut through some government red tape. But when the dead man's house is ransacked and his old army buddy is beaten up, she quickly realizes he was not all he seemed. Before long Kinsey is trailing crooks halfway across the country, impersonating a hotel maid, tangling with a baseball bat-wielding grandmother, and running from one very dangerous character. With her money almost gone and her nerves frayed, Kinsey's got to solve a decades-old crime and make it back home in time for Henry's wedding . . . if she can make it back at all. . . .
Customer Reviews:
Sue Grafton Mystery.......2007-10-04
Haven't read this one yet - service was terrific. Book received in the condition it was advertised. Great seller!
Flimsy, disappointing characters and plot -- a chase and travelogue, not a detective story.......2007-07-11
As soon as I read her earliest books, Sue Grafton became one of my favorite writers of light, straight, credible detective fiction. She can be a terrific storyteller. Unfortunately, after rallying from the skimpy, disorganized "G" and "H" stories with stronger efforts in "I," "J," and "K," the "Lawless" book dropped right back to the bottom of the barrel.
"Lawless" worried me from the start, because it recalled not only the light-weight "action" or "chase" approaches of the "G" and "H" books but also a trait of the weakest of Marcia Muller's work: a small-potatoes, penny-ante case, here an investigation into getting VA burial benefits for a neighbor's friend. Unlike Muller, Grafton usually manages to build something bigger out of such mundane beginnings of a story. Not so here.
"Lawless" is merely a fast-paced legwork/chase story about a supposed hidden treasure. It involves a small circle of characters (65-year-old Ray Rawson, his estranged daughter Laura, his aged mom Helen, and his nemesis, Gilbert Hays; Rawson, in jail for the last 45 years, and Hays, who snitched and got out early, along with a now-dead Asian named Johnny and three others robbed a bank in Louisville decades before).
There are no suspects and no suspense about what is going on or who is doing it, no serious legwork or detection. The story simply involves running away from Gilbert and for the money, with Millhone whining all along the way (as constant and tedious as Roderick Alleyn about his lack of official authority in "Death And Dancing Footman") that she's not getting paid for anything. The only thing that kept any interest going at all was what sort of treasure it would be and where it would be, with two keys conveniently turning up along the way to help provide the answer.
A double meaning of "Lawless" and a reference to the rag-tag 65-year-old, his raggedy daughter, and his old mother as being something like a "family" to Millhone is a mildly interesting intersection of the case and the personal, but that is about all there is to recommend this book other than its breezy readability. It is hard to believe how relatively complicated and consequential the "K" book is compared to this one.
"Lawless" is nothing more than a ride-along buddy tale. And because the whole story pretty much takes place on the road, there is nothing interesting to be learned about Millhone or her environs, just a travelogue about flights from Santa Theresa to Dallas and drives from Dallas, through Arkansas, to Louisville, in tow with some not-very-interesting marginal types. Contrary to simplistic, happy-talk reviews that seem unable to come to grips with the weaknesses as well as the strengths of Grafton's work, the book cannot be given a pass simply because of its supposed "humor" or any other strained, contrived excuse. The book is a very flimsy, disappointing effort that ranks with "G" and "H" as Grafton's worst.
Slow paced.......2006-07-29
I recently read "I", "K", and "L" in succession. Compared to "Innocent" and "Killer", I found Lawless to be slow paced (even though this edition finds Kinsey spontaneously traveling across the country) and the plot twists less surprising. With others I've read in the series, I am usually hooked relatively early in the story line. I was 1/3 of the way through this iteration before becoming mildly interested in the outcome. Even the subplots were not overly attention grabbing (Kinsey has little contact with immediate family, ergo she substitutes others in her life--Henry, Rosie, Pitt family, the criminal elements in this book--as her family...). I also found it hard to believe that some of the characters that appear in "L" could be so dim-witted on one page, and great possessors of vast knowledge with incredible powers of deduction on the next. Anyway, there are others in this series I would recommend more highly ("M" being one of them).
L is for Lawless.......2005-09-10
I have read or listened to everyone one of the alphabet series and always look forward to the next one. I travel a lot and these tapes have brought me a lot of entertainment on the road. Judy Kaye has an amazing voice.
L is for Lovin' It!.......2005-04-15
This is another good story in the line of alphabet mysteries by Sue Grafton. Her few "detours" from great writing in previous "letters" seem to have been a minor bump in the road and she now returns to a good plot and strong characters.
I have to admit that one of my favorite characters in this series is Henry Pitt, Kinsey Millhone's landlord and friend. I enjoyed the Henry who wrote crossword puzzles and tried them out on Kinsey before he sent them in for publication. I enjoyed the Henry who always had something baking in his kitchen. And many times I have wondered why some sexy senior citizen hasn't snagged this wonderful catch of a man!
This story gives us a little more insight into Henry than we've seen in the past. Henry convinces Kinsey to help a friend of his on a simple matter - she needs to show that Henry's friend served in the military during World War II so he can be buried as a veteran. Such a simple request and it should have a simple solution, but as we've seen with Kinsey in the past, nothing is an easy task, so the plot thickens...
The family of the deceased is too busy fighting among themselves to be much help to Kinsey. Then an old friend shows up and gets attacked at the dead guy's apartment. Once again we're on a race to see what's around the next corner for Kinsey and to find out why the government has no record of this veteran serving his country.
There's a little bit of mystery, but more suspense in this book. And more laughs than we've seen in the past with Grafton's other books. I'd recommend this easy read to anyone wanting a few hours of enjoyment as it's definitely one of Sue Grafton's better books in this series. I only hope she will continue with this quality and not hit any more bumps that throw her off to only mediocre writing!
Book Description
Without a doubt, Americans are increasingly aware of the dangers of toxins and pollution in our environment. To many of us, that simply means the outside world. But studies have shown that our indoor environment can be up to 10 times more polluted than our external one. Some of the biggest contaminants are toxic molds, chemicals released from carpeting, gasses released by manufacturing building materials, and conventional paints. Enter The Natural Paint Book, a comprehensive guide to making 100% organic, all-natural paints and finishes at home. The ingredients required, like gelatin, clay, and linseed oil, are readily available around the home or from your local home improvement store. Step-by-step instructions and detailed full-color photographs throughout show readers how to prepare the paints in their own color palette. There are also decorating tips on how to apply the paints to create a variety of rich, stylish-and health-conscious-finishes. Bonus material offers readers design advice for transforming their home into a personal sanctuary, and there is a full product directory at the end of the book.
Customer Reviews:
wall paining for starts.......2005-07-20
This book was very much what I thought it would be, clear and direct and most useful.
Average customer rating:
- Western cliches with romantic formula overlay
- A WESTERN TO LOVE
- A cute classic from a much-loved author
- Really loved this book.
- i.m.
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Lawless
Nora Roberts
Manufacturer: Harlequin
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Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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philosophy hope in a jar daily moisturizer
ASIN: 0373835922 |
Book Description
Half-Apache and all man, Jake Redman was more than a match for the wild Arizona Territory. Sarah Conway, on the other hand, was an Eastern lady who belonged anywhere else but on the rugged land Jake loved. Still, the stubborn beauty was determined to make Lone Bluff her home . . .
Though Jake was annoyed to find himself playing guardian angel to this tantalizing innocent, he was even more disgusted to find he liked it. Because beneath Sarah's ladylike demeanor beat the heart of a true pioneer, a women he yearned to make his own.
Customer Reviews:
Western cliches with romantic formula overlay.......2007-09-17
In this novel Nora Roberts uses just about every western fiction cliche imagineable and mixes the cliches with her romantic, softcore romance formula. It doesn't work. At least, it didn't work for me.
There's the stylish, educated pretty young woman just arrived from the East to visit her sourdough Daddy, except he just died when his gold mine collapsed (or was there foul play?. She's all alone in the Arizona desert with no one to protect her from Indians, from mysterious killers, from someone who wants her land (could there be gold in that mine?, worthless as it seems. But wait, there is someone to look out for her, a steely eyed Lochinvar gunslinger, faster than fast with his Colt 45, and he is smitten, as if I didn't guess the first time he came into view. Guess what happens. If you've read any other Nora Roberts novels, you already know.
Usually Ms. Roberts takes the reader to a time and place with great skill, but having read some really good westerns, I wasn't along on the ride this time. Saving the pretty orphaned maid from those who would cheat her out of her land is a plot line that has been done to death. Let it go. I'm sure it probably happened a couple of times in actual fact, but it has happened way too many times in fiction.
As a postscript--I may have lost track of the times that Sarah's one-fourth Apache gunslinger saved her life, twice from Indians, once from another gunslinger, once from a demimonde in the local saloon, from unscrupulous land grabbers, etc. It was nice of him.
A WESTERN TO LOVE.......2007-09-15
Found this old book by Nora in a used book store. Love westerns and a Nora Roberts book is hardly a waste of money! This book was fun to read. Many smiles. A sweet,innocent Easterner and a toughened 'breed'. Nora's men are to die for! Butting heads; locking lips.
Lots of action, love and excitement. Read the book in one day by the pool. Enjoyed this oldie!
A cute classic from a much-loved author.......2007-06-30
I'd been steering myself away from historical romances, particularly westerns, which is probably why this one languished on my bookshelf for so long. I should have read it sooner, because it was very engaging! Surprising, I enjoyed it better than the contemporary story that it is based on, Loving Jack (Love by Design). Sarah and Jake were well-drawn characters with great chemistry - I liked the way they interacted with each other. I also liked the sisterly friendship between Sarah and Liza.
Really loved this book........2007-04-12
Read it twice in Paperback, which I purchased twice because I lost my first copy and now I'm going to get it in hardback to add to my collection.
Great book, funny, heart wrenching and believable (as much as a romance novel can be). I personally think it's a great read, characters have depth and you can feel the love they have for each other.
i.m........2007-04-05
I loved this novel.It was heartwrenching and romantic.It gives the reader a great feel for the western towns in the late 1800's.Nora did a great job of presenting Jake and Sarah with their different personalities. I highly recomend it to a romance lover.
Average customer rating:
- At best, it is a poorly written high school term paper.
- Disappointing.
- Great
- Deadwood Lite
- Please, do not wast your time.
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The Real Deadwood: True Life Histories of Will Bill Hickock, Calamity Jane, Outlaw Towns, and Other Characters of the Lawless West
John Edwards Ames , and
John Ames
Manufacturer: Chamberlain Bros.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Deadwood: Stories of the Black Hills
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Deadwood
ASIN: 1596090316
Release Date: 2004-08-31 |
Book Description
Supported by strong ratings and a rich history, The Real Deadwood provides background and historical accuracy for the figures depicted on the hit HBO series, and takes a broader look at the times that spawned them. Covering law and order, politics, journalism, and early medicine, and examining some "historical guest stars" who may play a factor in future Deadwood episodes (Teddy Roosevelt was an acquaintance of series protagonist Seth Bullock and made several visits to the lawless town; Bullock turned away Wyatt Earp when he offered his services as a lawman)-The Real Deadwood will allow readers to traverse the unpaved streets of an outlaw town without ever getting their boots dirty.
Customer Reviews:
At best, it is a poorly written high school term paper........2007-05-31
One person reviewing this book wrote that if you're a fan of the Deadwood television series, you should avoid this book. Let me go a little bit further. If you've got any sense at all, avoid this book. It's easily the fluffiest 128 page book you're likely to read this year (or next). The content in the book could fit in a high school student's term paper, and I suspect that is actually how the book may have originated.
It's filled with lots of information that seemed lifted from various web sites I've seen, although I suppose that it is possible that various web sites may have lifted their content from this book, although why anyone would do this, I can't begin to contemplate.
To be perfectly clear, avoid this book. It is a clear attempt to cash in on the popular Deadwood TV series. (The series started in March 2004. This book came out in August 2004.) Go to your local Borders or Barnes and Nobel to glance at a copy before you decide to buy it.
If you are a fan of the TV series, "Deadwood: Stories of the Black Hills" is a far better choice.
If you are into getting down as close as you can to the real history of the town and it's periods of boom and bust, then I highly recommend you consider, "Deadwood: The Golden Years." (Published in 1981, 23 years before the TV show.)
Disappointing........2006-11-10
The book references the tv show "Deadwood" much too often. I didn't know if I was reading about the "real" Deadwood or the tv version. I was very disappointed.
Great.......2006-11-10
The book give more insight to the tv show Dead wood....I wish they would not have canceled it....Any way I enjoyed the book quite a bit..and found the grave of one of them...here in St Louis....
Deadwood Lite.......2006-03-01
If you're looking for a fast, easy read about Deadwood with little detail, insight, or depth, this is the book for you. The book offers nothing new or interesting for those of us already familiar with Deadwood's history.
I also consider the strong tie in to the HBO series (which is, by the way, my favorite show) generally ill advised. The positive aspect of doing so is the author makes it clear early in the book that the series is not completely factual, the writers, producers, etc. do not intend for the show to be completely factual, and the book addresses some of these characters, events, situations presented in the series, and "corrects" the facts. Unfortunately, in a few cases, the author discusses fictional characters/situations from the series, it's important to understand the context and details of the reference, the context and details are not included in the book, so only readers who've watched the series would understand the references. I'm sure there are a lot of people interested in Deadwood and it's history who haven't watched or have no interest in the series. Overall, I found the constant references to the series annoying. I love the series, I wanted to learn more about the real Deadwood, I didn't want to read about the series, I didn't get what I wanted or thought I'd get from this book.
Please, do not wast your time........2006-01-27
This was a very quick read, and not a very detailed book. I would wish the book to go into more detail, and not have so many references to "Deadwood" the HBO show. If I wanted to know all that, I would watch the show.
I would not recomend buying this book. It does not go into detail at all, is very basic, and leaves you hanging.
Once you find a part that actually interest you, it comes to an abrupt end and seems like some of the pages detailing the story fell out.
Book Description
How Does an Established Church Grow?
Many church leaders have attempted the "latest" approach to growing a church, only to find the methodology is ineffective and the church members are divided. Sometimes the methodology is wrong. Sometimes the methodology is right but the pace and the timing are wrong. Internationally-recognized authorities Thom Rainer and Chuck Lawless have written Eating the Elephant to show that a church can change and grow if you move at a pace that fits the church's situation, if you eat the elephant one bite at a time.
"Unfortunately," the authors write, "many 'traditional' churches have been divided and demoralized by attempts to move the church too quickly toward relevancy. Is there a way to implement change without destroying the church in the process? We believe there is." For most of America's church leaders, that's an invitation to tie on your napkin and pull up a chair.
Customer Reviews:
Wise Counsel Has Become Even Wiser.......2006-07-10
After having read the first edition of this title by Thom Rainer, I was curious to see what kind of changes would be present from the input of Chuck Lawless. What I found was that the wise counsel of Rainer has become even wiser when accompanied by the spiritual warfare/prayer expertise of Lawless. The theme of this volume is that church growth principles must be implemented in a congregation slowly, over a period of time. While American churches are dying for lack of godly change, too much change too quickly can make a bad situation even worse.
This revised edition offers a much stronger emphasis on prayer, which is the bedrock of any positive congregational change. He also describes doing a prayer walk through the church's community, which hints of a spiritual warfare mindset. Again, this addition is a welcome one.
The first edition of this book was good, the revised is even better. For any pastor wanting to employ principles of church growth/health into a traditional congregation, this title is a must-read!
An encouragement to forego quick-fix growth strategies........2005-06-17
The familiar adage asks, "How do you eat an elephant?" Answer: "One bite at a time." How does a pastor encourage a plateaued or declining established church to grow? Through small, incremental changes.
Such is the advice from Rainer and Lawless who chide church leaders for rushing from one quick-fix method to another searching for the right formula to bring growth. The key to facilitating growth in an established church is the willingness of the senior pastor to commit to staying for the long term. A pastor's greatest effectiveness begins around year seven. Unfortunately, most pastorates last less than four years. The book's greatest value comes from the encouraging examples of churches and pastors that stayed the course and made the necessary changes gradually over time. Don't expect any magic formula from this book; just encouragement to do the hard work most church leaders already know how to do-like pray, love, train, serve, and fight the good fight.
Book Description
Joanna Kasimir, an old friend of Jane Lawless, left Minneapolis years ago to make it big in Hollywood and, unlike so many others, she succeeded. Unfortunately, her stardom came at a price. Early in her career, Joanna was involved with a man who quickly went from being an idle interest to a dangerous stalker. Nearly a decade has passed since she sent him to prison, but just as she is about to leave for her hometown to star in her friend Cordelia Thorn’s production of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, she receives one of his ominous calling cards.
Joanna refuses to let him control her life—she can’t. Not again. Tired after ten years of fear, ten years of hiding, she calls on Jane, restaurateur and amateur sleuth, and former homicide detective A. J. Nolan, but they may not be able to protect her from a man who refuses to be anyone’s one-night stand.
And when they find out that Joanna may not be the only one on the run, their investigation quickly spins Jane into a deadly game of cat and mouse. Night Vision promises to be one of Ellen Hart’s best mysteries yet.
Customer Reviews:
Visiting Old Friends.......2007-09-23
Let me preface this short review by saying that I own all of Ellen Hart's books. I have a great fondness for Jane Lawless and friends and Sophie Greenway and friends. When I read one of Ellen's books, it's like a return to my hometown where I get to catch up with some of my favorite people.
"Night Vision" demonstrates that Ellen's story-telling is only getting better with each book. There is an element of tension in this tale that makes it hard to put down. There are three or four story lines that are skillfully juggled and a surprise or two that ... well .. came as a surprise. Usually, I've got things figured out, but not this time.
I can't wait for December to get here, so I can purchase her newest work.
Intensely dramatic!.......2007-02-27
Jane Lawless' life is going well. She has a girlfriend, her dog Mouse and a new club that is going great. Her best friend Cordelia Thorn has settled into being `Mom' for her niece Hattie and now a long-time friend of Cordelia's is coming to town...to star in a play at the theatre where Cordelia works.
Joanna Kasimir is famous, talented and troubled. Just as it seems she may be recovering from a traumatic experience in her past, Joanna learns that the person who caused this trouble is back. Back and hell bent on taking up where they left off. Why? Are they doing it for kicks? Or do they feel that Joanna `owes' them something and they want to collect?
Along with Joanna's arrival in town, Jane gets her own visitor, one she didn't know was coming...Joanna's brother David. David is a guy Jane knew in college and a person she holds dear to her heart. Trouble seems to run in David and Joanna's family however. David is running from something and comes to the one person he knows can help...Jane. Why didn't he run to his sister? Who is he running from?
Just as they think they have the answers, someone changes the questions when a man is found murdered. Who did it? The number one suspect is Joanna's brother David. Even though Jane knows he couldn't have done it, there are several things about David's behavior that even she can't explain.
Then, to complicate things even further, Cordelia's sister, Octavia, Hattie's mother, reenters the picture stirring other things up. After so long, why is she in town now? Cordelia's very much interested in that answer herself. It's now a three-way race for Jane and Cordelia - can they solve the mystery about David, discover why Octavia is really back and keep themselves from being the killer's next victims?
Ellen Hart is one of the truly great fiction writers. From her first book in the Jane Lawless series, Hallowed Murder, all the way through to the current one, readers are locked into a dynamic, suspense-filled journey as our heroines' work to discover clues to mysteries, escape from killers and find love.
Hart Keeps Getting Better.......2007-02-03
It took me a while to discover Ellen Hart's award winning Jane Lawless mystery series. The Iron Girl had just released and I grabbed it up because of the great reviews it had garnered. While it was the 13th in the series, it was the first that I read, and I was hooked. I devoured every one in the series after that over a four month period. Then I anxiously anticipated Night Vision, the next in the series, and the wait was well worth it. This tightly written page turner was so enjoyable that it can be reread many times over.
Hart sets up the intrigue from the first pages. Actress Joanna Kasimir's stalker is back after a 10 year absence and jail term. He has raised the stakes this time and is more terrifying. At the same time Joanna's brother, David, an old high school chum of restaurateur Jane Lawless', goes missing for a month. We are led to believe that his disappearance may be related to his sister's stalker, but while Joanna is in Minneapolis starring in a theater production, David shows up unexpectedly. Both are seeking refuge but for different reasons. Hart though does not give away any details too early, and we must read on to uncover the mysteries. Private Investigator AJ Nolan is hired by Joanna. He makes Jane an offer she can't refuse, and she is on the case, trying to get to the bottom of the puzzling clues.
Night Vision floats effortlessly back and forth between the present day action and the stalking history between Joanna and Gordon Luberman, an ex-boyfriend. What Luberman is capable of has a chilling effect on the overall story. Hart's description of their disturbing history generates an element of dread and moves the plot along at a fast clip.
All is not foreboding though in a Jane Lawless mystery. Hart balances the story by peppering it with subtle Midwest humor. The continuity of characters in the series gives the reader a sense that we are visiting old friends. Her storytelling is clever, but not simple. She does not confuse the reader and leads us straight down the path to the logical conclusion, if we pay attention.
Night Vision was a fun Sunday afternoon read, but don't wait until Sunday for this entertaining story. I highly recommend any Jane Lawless mystery especially the latest, Night Vision.
Night Vision: a penetrating look.......2007-01-31
This continuing line of interesting and thoughtful mystery novels is extended yet again by this author. Author Hart has been writing a long time and she knows the game well. Unlike many genre authors, she shows no evidence here of tiring of either the mystery culture or her principal characters, Jane Lawless and Cordelia Thorn.
The relationship between these two women, long time friends, is unusual in that they are quite different. Lawless is bright, quiet, introspective, protective of her personal space and many of her beliefs. One could be in a room for a good while with several people and not even be aware that she was present. Her good friend, Cordelia Thorn is another matter. Thorn is mostly over the top and that's where she lives. Loud, flamboyant, caustic and sometimes thoughtless, she dresses with flair and you'd know when she entered a room, even with fifty people already present. Thorn plays an important part in the novels as a sounding board for Lawless as she puzzles out the mystery, but sometimes you want to throttle her.
As is the case with all Hart's books, characters and their relationships, kind, warm, angry, distorted and dangerous, are at the heart of this novel. They drive the characters to and fro with passion, with cold calculation, sometimes to disastrous ends. This novel is darker, more convoluted and more complicated than Hart's earlier books. The back story alone could be an entire novel, yet such is Hart's skill as a writer, the back story of celebrity stalking is the trunk that supports the rest of the novel.
The novel is not without its problems. I wanted more examination of parasomnia and its effects on one of the characters, and I was troubled by a few of Cordelia's more caustic quips. Still, as with all her later novels, readers will be drawn to the characters and will live out this story with them. The swirling tensions and suspicious motivations of these well-drawn characters are compelling. This is a strong, novel, with a logical and complete resolution that will keep readers going and waiting eagerly for Jane's next adventure.
I remind readers of this review that the author is a friend of mine and we frequently tour together. Nonetheless, when you read Night Vision, I'm confident that you'll agree with my assessment.
Ellen Hart does it again!.......2007-01-28
Jane Lawless and her friend Cordelia Thorn make a return appearance in Ellen Hart's Night Vision.
Joanna Kasimir is a friend of Jane and Cordelia. She left Minneapolis as a young woman, determined to become a famous actor. Unlike so many others who flock to Hollywood with big dreams, Joanna succeeded in achieving fame.
The price of being a celebrity was steep. Her choices in men were not the best and after two failed marriages, she found herself involved with a man (Gordon Luberman) who, when she left him, wouldn't accept the demise of the relationship and began stalking her.
Joanna is about to return to her hometown to star in Cordelia Thorn's production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? when she receives flowers and a note from Gordon. He's been released from prison and is stalking her again.
Determined not to succumb to her fears and allow Gordon to control her life again, Joanna enlists help from Jane and private investigator A.J. Nolan.
It's not just Joanna who is experiencing problems in Night Vision. Joanna's brother, David Carlson, has been missing for a month and turns up in Minneapolis with a dangerous secret. Cordelia's sister Octavia arrives, intent on interfering with the relationship between Cordelia's and her young niece Hattie. Add to the mix some wacky neighbors and a crazy would-be journalist--and there's big trouble brewing in Minneapolis. Jane's life is spiraling out of control, just when she's trying to cement a long distance relationship with her love interest, Kenzie Mullroy.
Ellen Hart's novels just get better and better. Her plots are complex and compelling, the characters rich and dark and fully drawn and there's enough action to keep you turning the pages. In Night Vision, a twist at the end, suggests there's going to be a continuation of Cordelia and Hattie's story. I can't wait!
Armchair Interview says: Highly recommended. And pick up Iron Girl by Ellen Hart. It's delicious!
Book Description
Based on a national study, this book shows how churches can move both new and old members into ministry by implementing effective new members’ classes.
Customer Reviews:
invaluable tool.......2007-03-08
Chuck has done a marvelous piece of work evaluating the processes of successful churches. It is an easy and enjoyable read. Personally used it for a small group discussion and also enjoyed giving it to a friend that is in the process of beginning a church. kudo's Chuck!!!
Excellent -- Loaded WithHelpful Information!.......2006-06-28
This book is THE book to own for a pastor or church leader who needs a resource on new member classes. I've seen several approaches described in various places, but nothing until now that brings the numerous concepts together in one cover. In addition to sound advice in the narrative, there are 15 appendices that offer sample forms and outlines for nearly every step of the new member assimilation process.
Lawless has hit a "home run" here -- for me this title is a keeper!
Insightful and practical.......2005-09-28
I've known Chuck since he was my grader in Thom Rainer's "Introduction to Church Growth" class at Southern Seminary in the Fall of 1995. During my own M.Div. and Ph.D. work, he became more than a grader. Chuck became my friend.
I'm currently serving as chairman of my home church's Long-range Planning Committee. One area in which we've identified a great need for improvement is in our new member orientation and current member commitment and service. I consider it providential that in researching books to aid in our task, I came across Lawless' work on those very subjects. I read "Membership Matters" over two days, taking copious notes in the margins and underlying liberally.
Few books address membership classes and church member assimilation. Thom Rainer's "High Expectations" called churches to ask more from members as a means of increasing church health and commitment. Lawless' book moves a step further by providing a practical guide for church pastors and leaders to design and implement membership classes, not only to better incorporate new members, but also to inspire older, non-serving members to get involved in ministry service.
Buy this book. Digest it. Discuss it. But more importantly, put its suggestions into practice.
Books:
- The Large Scale Structure of Space-Time (Cambridge Monographs on Mathematical Physics)
- The Lightkeeper
- The Mislaid Magician or Ten Years After
- The Mystery of Marriage 20th Anniversary Edition: Meditations on the Miracle
- The Perfect Rake (Berkley Sensation)
- The Red Hat Society Cookbook
- Thick Face, Black Heart: The Warrior Philosophy for Conquering the Challenges of Business and Life
- Ultrasound of the Eye and Orbit
- Until Forever
- Where We Lived: Discovering the Places We Once Called Home
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