Book Description
For years Howard Storm lived as a successful art professor and painter. Suddenly he was in excruciating pain and awaiting surgery in a hospital, realizing that death was a real possibility. As an atheist, he was convinced this would be the end. Instead, he found himself out of his body, staring back at his physical form. Drawn into fearsome realms of darkness and death, he experienced the terrible consequences of a life of selfish materialism. He also traveled to regions of light, where he conversed with angels. But the Lord of Light sent him back with a message of love. This is the story of a near-death, recovery, and transformation — of lessons from spiritual beings about the future, the meaning of life, life after death, the role of angels, and much more. Includes eight pages of illustrations.
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“This is a book you devour from cover to cover, and pass on to others. This is a book you will quote in your daily conversation. Storm was meant to write it and we were meant to read it.”
—From the Foreword by Anne Rice
Customer Reviews:
Descent into?.......2005-05-23
I first heard Howard Storm's amazing story on Coast-to-Coast AM (http://www.coasttocoastam.com), with Art Bell...so I purchased the book - big mistake. I had expected that the story of his amazing journey would be more eliborated upon, instead, after being drawn into the book I read "I haven't described everything that happened. There are things that I don't care to remember.". This was a total let down. As I said I expected to read about the entire journey into death. Instead the book went on and on about how Love = God. Everyone has their own beliefs and everyone has their own experiences. I don't disbelieve Howard's personal journey, however I don't think that everyone has to become part of a catholic religion or even believe in something called "God" to be a good person or to carry out love and goodness in their own actions within the world. This book was a let down.
From Darkness to Light ... Good over Evil.......2005-02-28
From atheist to evangelist, Howard Storm's DESCENT takes the reader on a personal journey from the bowels of darkness to the heights of spiritual enlightenment & ultimately the victory of good over evil / light over darkness. The style of writing & wonderfully descriptive scenes allow for an easy read that moves the reader along on a pace that makes NOT turning the next page impossible. I applaud the author's courage to open his life & soul for all to examine & the ultimate triumph he experienced and now shares with others to show them the hope & light that is theirs to have as well. If you enjoyed Mr.Storm's journey of good over evil, light over darkness, I recommend MANHATTAN MESSIAH, another excellant read.
Skeptical.......2005-01-18
NOTE: I HAVE NOT READ THIS BOOK YET
...but, I'm skeptical to it's significance because on the hardcover edition Anne Rice has written the Foreword. If this guy is supposed to be a pastor and a christian then why is he letting this "vampire author" tarnish his book and message!
Boo!
Validates the MESSAGE of All Other Near Death Experiences.......2004-08-08
I heard of this book only recently, and was glad to find it still in print. I read the whole thing in one day. I am not a strong Christian, but did know in advance that this book (particularly the second half) was written from a strongly Christian perspective. However, I did not find this a turn-off, and I can recommend this book to others of ANY religion, including atheists, as was Storm, before his experience.
The important message from this book was that God DOES exist, and that we ARE here for a REASON. That reason is to learn to LOVE one another, which was the message of Jesus, and the message of every major religion. Storm points out that the same truths are in every religion, and even that the idea of God has been given to beings on every planet where there is intelligent life. But it is up to each individual to accept or reject God, here, or on any other planet.
I did not find a lot of totally new ideas in this book, having read several other books on near death experiences. But I did really enjoy reading about Storm's experience, and seeing that the message of his book conforms closely to the message of others' near-death experiences, from multiple cultures. It is an interesting read, and I HIGHLY recommend it to EVERYONE.
Great, inspiring but left me with questions.......2004-06-04
Well, this book did affect me . As a lapsed Christian, it made me think about God and Jesus . It gave me a clearer picture of Jesus.I thought it gave a more personal clear picture of Jesus as a being, as he relates to people.The descriptions of Heaven were just... wow.
There are a few things that trouble me. He said he was dragged off to hell not by fallen angels commonly known as demons but by mortal people who died and rejected God. He said he was told by the angels that there are other intelligent beings in the universe, other worlds.
All that goes directly against Christian theology which leaves me very confused.My confusion probably stops me from being able to give a deeper more vivid review of the book.I have no doubt he is being sincere. His truthfulness shines from the pages,but I'm just having a hard time processing that.
If you are interested in NDE's get this book. Its different from a lot of ones out there on the same subject. Not many are told from a converted Christian point of view.
Book Description
With his rugged-cowboy good looks and the kind of smile that makes a lady's pulse race, Trey Calder could have his pick of women. But he's been holding out for someone special, and the minute he lays eyes on freelance photographer Sloan Davis, he knows he's found her. The attraction between the two is immediate and charged as heat lightning, even if they are as different as can be. But Trey's fierce passion may blind him to a terrible threat.
Within weeks Trey and Sloan are married, settling into a new life together at the Triple C. For the orphaned Sloan, being welcomed into Trey's family is a dream come true, and with a baby on the way things couldn't get any better…until Trey makes a startling discovery about his new wife, one that casts doubt about just who Sloan Davis is and what she's really after. Rumors are spreading about Trey, too. Soon passion turns to suspicion. A dangerous game is set in motion. And the stakes are high—everything the Calders have worked for over the generations is on the line.
A formidable enemy has been waiting for the perfect time to strike. Someone who has sworn vengeance on the Calder family. Someone who will use whatever means necessary to control their land, their lives, and their legacy forever. Someone who would even kill to make it happen. All his life, Trey Calder has been trained to take over his family's ranch, to protect what is theirs. Now the time has come for a Calder son to make a stand and hope that his way is the right way after all…
Filled with passion, suspense, heartbreak, and hope, Calder Storm is an enthralling story about an unforgettable American family as bold as the land they love.
Customer Reviews:
Wonderful Book.......2007-03-29
Any book by Janet Dailey is wonderful! I read it in one setting. A must have!
Calder sage still strong.......2007-03-09
The characters come to life, just as in her past books about the Calders.
Janet Dailey has done a great job in staying consistant with the Saga.
Family ties and the people involved, the scenes that she describes makes you feel like you are there.
Pretty good, but disappointing ending .......2006-08-26
I have read every book in the Calder series in the order they were published. (By the way, for newcomers, they are meant to be read like this: This Calder Range, Stands A Calder Man, This Calder Sky, Calder Born-Calder Bred, Calder Pride, Green Calder Grass, Shifting Calder Wind, Calder Promise, Lone Calder Star and Calder Storm.) I read This Calder Sky first, just as Ms. Dailey wrote it. She then went back in time to write the two prequels. I still believe that book was the best.
I have reviewed the four most recent books here on Amazon, and I couldn't help expressing my disappointment with them. Thankfully, I think the last two are a step back in the right direction.
All the Calder books have two basic elements, romance and danger. Ms. Dailey excels at the romance part. We love the Calders, and we love it when they fall in love. Each story also includes a plotline where someone is greedy or jealous of all the Calders have built, and that's where the mystery/danger comes in. I, and many others, have criticized Janet Dailey's penchant for killing off characters. I don't want to spoil anything for readers, but a couple people die in this one, too. Personally, I didn't feel too broken up about them. This book was mostly about the love story, and I think that's why it was good. Trey and Sloan's romance starts quickly and burns hot. Sloan is a likable character (unlike Trey's twin sister, Laura, who was the heroine of Calder Promise).
The thing that drives me crazy, in this and the last few books, is the way the author plays with time. She employs the standard soap opera trick of rapid aging to get maximum story out of the family. I guess without it we wouldn't have all the books, but it just bugs me. Every book reads like it's set in present day, but Dailey deliberately makes no specific references to time. I suppose next year we'll be reading about Trey and Sloan's new baby, Jake, taking over the ranch!
This was the first Calder book in a while that I had a hard time putting down, but I must say I found the ending disappointing. Still, I do recommend it to all Calder fans and newcomers, too.
Good, Relaxing Read,,,.......2006-08-26
I have read all in the Calder Series and will continue to read for as long as Ms. Dailey continues to write about them. This was a nice addition. Not as emotionally engaging as the first 3 or 4 but worth the time.
Young Trey has fallen in love and fallen hard. Truly, if ever there was love at first sight, this was it. Sloan, his love, was a little slower in getting there but could not escape the magic for very long. They got married and then old Max Rutledge starting his campaign to tear this young couple apart - quite successfully.
Ms. Dailey tracks how this fantasy love slowly dissolves as it falls prey to distrust, innuendos, malice and old wounds ending with Sloan leaving Trey for the enemy's camp. It is a little disconcerting that Sloan would and could not believe the Calders unless she had heard directly from the "horses mouth" what he was up to. Love alone would not have conquered all. Sloan did not go through the same process that Dallas in Lone Star did in which she concluded that her love for Quint was the most important thing. All's well that ends well however as soon Sloan returns to her home and the genuine love and care that the Calders have to offer.
Some other observations: I read my first Calder book (Stands A Calder Man) at 17 so I have been growing up with them. I found that I could not quite relate to Trey as a true hero. Despite Ms. Dailey struggling mightily to equate the physical and the physique to the legendary Calder's indomitable spirit, Trey came across at times (just sometimes now) as indifferent at best and downright shallow at worst. Yes he was young but so was Chase when we first met him. Ty was even younger.
I was also deeply troubled by the callous way JD dealt with Tara's death. Yes, I know that she was meddle-some, arrogant and over-stepped the boundary but she has been a part of their world for such a long time that she deserved more. Firstly, she was minding her own business in her own house when Sloan came and asked for her help. She did not hesitate. She instinctively sacrificed herself for the baby. Yet as she lay dying, instead of reflexively attending to her, these two were busy kissing and was kissing for such a long time and in such an absorbed way that it was only the baby that brought them back to awareness. It was Laredo who came offered help. And then after she died, they just left her there. At the big re-union at The Homestead nobody even mentioned her. I was most disappointed. But that bespeaks more to Ms.Dailey's mindset than to these two. She nonchalantly and happily kills off people whom we have come to love for absolutely no reason. Here she not only kills off Tara but does it in a most disgusting way. There is absolutely no reason why Tara couldn't have survived in today's world. Seems she is not happy unless some-one dies.
Again, I would definitely recommend this book.
fine Calder entry.......2006-07-05
In Montana, Trey Calder, heir to the Calder Cattle Company and its vast Triple C Ranch, meets photographer Sloan Davis at the Miles City Bucking Horse Sale known locally as the "Cowboys Mardi Gras". The pair is attracted immediately to one another and sees each other even after everyone has left Miles City for their homes. After a short courtship and a warm welcome to the family-less newcomer, they both know they are in love and marry.
Paradise collapses shortly after Sloan learns she is pregnant as each soon finds a reason to distrust the other. Trey has found about a secret that Sloan kept from him about her past, a link to Fort Worth's Maresco CEO, Max Rutledge, who blames the Calders for the death of his son. Sloan begins to hear that Trey is having an affair, drug trafficking, and the family plans to bury her reputation with dirt including some that is made up if they fail to uncover enough to do a real nasty spin.
Though a bit slow paced, the latest Calder saga tale grips fans of the series due to the heat, passion, and anger between the fifth generation and the outsider orphan. Rutledge provides a powerful realistic threat as he gradually spreads his venom while the support cast, mostly family members and of course the Big Sky Country, add depth to the best entry in several years.
Harriet Klausner
Average customer rating:
- Not very Romantic
- Even the ending stunk!
- Intense Erotic Romance
- What was SJ thinking?
- Not your normal "romance"
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Love Storm
Susan Johnson
Manufacturer: Fanfare
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
 Johnson, Susan | ( J ) | Authors, A-Z | Romance | Subjects | Books
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Customer Reviews:
Not very Romantic.......2007-04-23
If you like reading about heroines enjoying being raped, sex slaves, infedelity and orgies, than this is the book for you. I threw this one in the trash. Not even worthy of one star.
Even the ending stunk!.......2007-03-07
Okay. I made myself keep reading this book hoping, praying, that the ending would be worth it. I read about the adultry, the alcoholism, the using & trading of women, the orgies, the kidnapping of a pregnant woman, the almost horrifying sexual display in which the hero takes part (instead of going commando & kicking some .ss to drag her out of there), the rape scene-which I agree has no place in this book- especially even alluding to the fact that she enjoyed part of it, all trudging along hoping that the ending would make it worth all my pain. I was counting on the #1 rule of the romance novel, that the heroine can bring the hero to his knees, that she can tame him, make him change his ways...all for her. What a disappointment. Not only did she effortlessly fall back into his arms, but he suffered no pain, showed little emotion, and shed no tears for crying out loud (no pun intended). Yes, the ending was just one more in a giant series of downers in this book. Not only would I not pay for this book, but I wouldn't read it for free either.
Intense Erotic Romance.......2007-02-05
Love storm is a story of intense lust and passion about the handsome Russian Prince Alexander Nikolaevich Kuzan and the young, innocent, beauty, Zena Turku, the daughter of Baron Turku. Alex has a past of hard, cold-hearted women in his bed and life and has learned to use women as a means to only warm his bed, not his heart. He rescues Zena as she is running away from a forced marriage with the revolting, aging General Scobluff. Thinking she is a courtesan, he takes her innocence and then attempts to justify his action by taking her into his protection. Zena has been raised to be a lady, and although she feels the passion and desire that Alex has awakened in her young body, her heart becomes more involved and she begins to fall deeply in love with Alex. She soon discovers that she is carrying his child and knowing that he can never offer her the love she so desires, she flees, only to be captured as a love slave in a harem. Alex begins his search and rescues Zena once more while in this erotic sensual captivity. As Zena is with him once more, he continues to take her in passion and lust while struggling with his hard heart and unrecognized feelings of love. Finally her family discovers the relationship and insists on a marriage, which causes further conflict as a marriage of convenience is anything but. This is not a story for the light romance reader. The sex scenes are intense and many times rough, as intense and rough as the emotional relationship between these two intensely passionate individuals, time and place. The story twists and turns and sweeps across Russia and the harems of Turkish sheikhs and beys while Alex fights his love for Zena. Zena continues to give into Alex time and again. Some readers may have problems coming to terms with the intense sex and Zena appearing weak, but in a period of history where women did not have much power, in this character's defense, Zena begins the story as a young, weak girl, who at the end becomes a strong woman winning the love of a man who seemed incapable of ever loving. The story is well-researched and developed, as the reader is swept away in the beauty and history of the Russian aristocracy. It is a pleasure to see this reissue of an epic erotic romance destined to be part of a new generation of romance collections.
What was SJ thinking?.......2006-12-09
I totally agree with ALL of the negative reviews here. The story line started off okay ... young heroine seduced by (what we think is) a caring and devoted "rake." However, it turned sour fast after her first attempt to escape this spoiled, overbearing, sex addicted, alcoholic. I thought "you go girl" -- enthused that she was finally getting some mettle and was leaving the scumbag (because as you go through the book, you realize there are no redeeming qualities at all about the hero). No such luck! During her flight, she gets sold as a harem slave, drugged and put on display (in the buff) for this group of disgusting lechers (which includes the hero). And then she marries the scumbag!! After they're married for a few weeks, she tries to run away after realizing he's just never going to change his lecherous, alcoholic ways. I thought okay now she'll really make him pay for treating her so badly! Alas -- NOT!! After this 2nd attempt to escape, she's raped (which I too didn't see why this scene had to be added to the storyline) and in the end, she docilely goes back to him for the final "happy ending." I have never read a book where I kept crossing my fingers hoping the heroine did not "end up" with the hero!! Throw your copy away -- better yet, don't buy this horrible book!
Not your normal "romance".......2006-07-05
I thought it was a good book because it didn't have the male turning into a "whipped" moron in the end. I mean if the man lived his whole life getting what he wanted and bedding who he wanted, why would he all of a sudden change? Wouldn't he struggle with it? I found it refreshing that for once the main hero of the book said to hell with the herion and went along doing what he did best. She was too clingy and he wasn't ready yet. I liked that he knew he felt something for her but didn't want to give in to it. Wonderful book and not your mother's romance novel!
Customer Reviews:
Discovering the joy of being enjoyed by God!.......2000-02-26
No one goes to the zoo to see sparrows, yet Jesus says that not one, not even ONE, falls to the ground apart from the will of God. He didn't talk about eagles, hawks, falcons, storks, He talked about the most insignificant one of all - the sparrow. If God takes time to oversee the life of this tiny bird, how much more indeed must He watch over YOU, even if you feel insignificant and unnoticed! This is just one of the incredible examples Sam Storm gives, of God's amazing passion for His creation. The idea of God singing... well - you'll just have to read it! What a great antidote to shame! I loved it, and I'll read it again!
Book Description
Committing themselves to at least a six-month contract with the Fred Harvey Company in 1908, four young women are determined to make a new start in Arizona while waiting tables at a restaurant along the rails near the Grand Canyon. Olivia has lost all the wealth she had growing up. Edie, looking for adventure, is greeted by a train robbery. Lillian seeks a rich husband. Katie is running from a dangerous past. Can these women maintain their respectable jobs, tame the west, and find a haven for their hearts? Are there any men civilized enough for them?
Customer Reviews:
Wonderful Historical Christian Romance taking place in a restaurant near the Grand Canyon.......2007-06-21
If you enjoy reading love stories about Christians that take place in different time periods, than this is a book for you! It takes place in the mid 1800's. There are four short novellas in this one book. About 90 pages per story and it is real easy reading.
The first story is about this girl working at the Harvey restaurant, yet she seems to be in no need of money, or is she? She caught the manager's eye first because she was a lousy waitress, second because she was beautiful and helped him ti take care of his daughter. What is her reason for working there? What is she running from?
The second story invloves another waitress from the Harbey reataurant only that she witnesses an attempted train robbery and falls for the ranger on the train. She struggles with her love and the question of how can they live with their situation.
The third story is about a young girl who wants to provvide for her family. Except shedoesn't plan on doing it as a waitress, she is on the search for a wealthy man to come find her and take her away from the Harvey restaurant and marry her. The only problem is she fell in love with the one man who wasn't wealthy, or was he?
The fourth story is about this sad woman who keeps to herself and ran away from her husband, whom she is afraid of. His brother comes looking for her and wants her to come back to they family. Does he have his own reasons for this? What happends when she finds out the reasons she hasn't been feeling well? What will her husband do to her for running away? Why did she run away in the first place?
These novellas were all so enjoyable, but keep in mind if you don't want to read about faith, God, and salvation, these books aren't for you. They have Christian undertones, not sermons. But great sources of inspiration.
Grand Canyon Brides.......2006-11-05
I would love to read more historical Christ centered short stories such as these with the same authors
Book Description
One of the most beloved writers of all time, Rosamunde Pilcher is the author of such internationally acclaimed bestsellers as The Shell Seekers and September.
The Empty House is about being in love with the wrong man;
The Day of the Storm is about discovering family—and its secrets; and
Under Gemini is about deception. A wonderful new omnibus edition of three full-length novels by one of America's favorites.
Customer Reviews:
Lavishly romantic, 3 from the 1970s.......2003-01-18
Three absolutely delicious tales from Rosemunde Pilcher, re-released but all with copyright dates in the 1970s. For the most part, the stories have aged well - though this is a different millenia, a different century, and certainly different times.
Under Gemini -- Improbability, coincidence and pure fate take center stage as identical twins separated at birth come upon their mirror image quite accidentally while in a London restaurant. After a night spent puzzling through the bizarre circumstances of their lives, jet-setting sister Rose takes off to Greece -- leaving her much more down-to-earth twin Flora to deal with a recently dumped fiancé. Somehow Flora is convinced to accompany the fiancé to Scotland to comfort a grandmother who is supposedly dying. The drama mounts, as does the dishonesty, and Flora finds herself living a life she never imagined. When the house of cards begins to collapse, will the friendships survive the betrayal? And, has the right sister fallen for the wrong man? A bit of a relic, but cozy as a cup of tea on a cold and windy Scottish coast.
The Empty House -- An anachronism in the form of a delightfully romantic fairy tale. From the cliffs of Cornwall to a near castle in Scotland, our not-so-modern-day fairy princess finds herself (at age 27) the widow of Prince Not So Charming. Despite the fact the deceased Prince was unfaithful and domineering and only married the young girl to achieve his inheritance, it is still a little tough feeling sorry for the Poor Little Rich Girl, who has never worked a day in her life (nor will she ever have to). Finally, she is free to be herself and she ships her young children off with Nanny to her mother-in-law in London. She then returns to the Cornwall coast and the memory of a few chance encounters of her 17-year-old self with a local farmer. Rejecting the comfort and pampering of friends, she leases a modest home near Porthkerris, fires the Nanny and reclaims her children. But can she do it? And can the combine man of the cozy hearth really win the heart of the Pampered Princess? This is an early Pilcher, with very idealistic (and out of touch) plotting but the heavenly glimpses of home and heart and her beloved countryside quite save the book.
The Day of the Storm -- After a very unconventional upbringing, Rebecca Bayliss has found bliss in her dull life working in a London book shop and living in a solitary flat she is slowly furnishing. For once she is in control of her life, and quite content. But her mother's latest lover writes that her mother is dying, and Rebecca must hurry to Ibiza. There Rebecca finally learns of her family in Cornwall and the famous artist grandfather she's never known but whom she feels compelled to inform of his daughter's death. The story is full of unusual coincidences (sometimes called fate?) and makes several abrupt turns before reaching a surprise of an ending. While Pilcher lavishly paints the background of her books, a map would have really been lovely in this one.
The ultimate romantic page-turner !.......2000-05-27
If you're not familiar with Rosamunde Pilcher yet, waste no time and buy yourself a sample of her spellbinding work ! It has it all : the warmth, the cosiness, the romance, and even the suspense. In "Under Gemini", meet sensible Flora, who discovers she has a twin sister she had never known about, the glamorous Rose, and suddenly finds herself in a whirlwind of deceipt, drama, confusion, and... love. And you will be mesmerised by "The Empty House" and "The Day of the Storm", two compelling stories about love and the pursuit of happiness. PS : The good news is : Rosamunde Pilcher has published lots of other novels and short stories : you have hours of cosy cocooning ahead of you !
Average customer rating:
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Moments Together for Weathering Life's Storms (Moments Together)
Dennis Rainey , and
Barbara Rainey
Manufacturer: Regal Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0830733299 |
Book Description
Moments Together for Weathering Life's Storms-focused readings chosen from the best-selling Moments Together for Couples-puts its focus on faith: what biblical faith is and what it means to have faith in God. By embracing an unwavering trust in the Lord, a couple can stand together daily and combat life's adversities. In life, it is our duty to put on the armor of faith and fight the battles with which we are repeatedly faced-knowing that the spiritual war has already been won, and God has the victory!
Customer Reviews:
Great devotional.......2007-09-17
This is a great little devotional for couples. Easy to get through and just the kind of support you need for the difficult times in life.
Amazon.com
It's clear reading Allen Noren's haunting travel memoir, Storm: A Motorcycle Journey Around the Baltic Sea, that some trips just weren't meant to be. Yet take a really good writer, expose him to adverse conditions, toss in tragically bad weather, and what do you get? In this case, a beautifully written, stirring story that gets better and better as the journey worsens. A diehard traveler, Noren had been exploring the far corners of the world for years when he and his girlfriend, Suzanne, pinned a map of the world to their bedroom wall and plotted out an adventurous, three-month route around the Baltic Sea. They considered traveling by kayak, by car, and eventually settled on the idea of riding a motorcycle. (Or rather, Noren settled on the idea and managed to convince his girlfriend that the bike would be the way to go.) Sadly, while Noren is completely exhilarated by the challenges presented by their used BMW, and indeed, feels totally one with the machine, Suzanne--surprise--hates it from the get-go. Screaming down the Autobahn in the driving rain at 85 mph, stumbling upon a motorcycle rally full of crazed, alcohol-induced biker revelers, and camping out nightly after long days on the road doesn't hold the same appeal for her that it does for him. The tale works on many levels, but at its best Storm is a poignant account of two people whose dreams have begun to diverge. It is also an exploration of the reasons we travel--and how those reasons can change, subtly at first, and then more dramatically, as we do. And finally, it is a descriptive travelogue, full of wonderful passages that bring the landscape of Sweden and Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland to life. In short, this is a compelling book about a tumultuous and complicated journey. Storm is required reading for anyone even thinking about taking that round-the-world trip. --Kimberly Brown
Book Description
Allen and Suzanne were seasoned travelers, and when Russia's Baltic states opened up for visitors in 1993, they eagerly embarked on a trip there. What they couldn't foresee were the record-breaking storms, desolate landscapes, and most significant, the cracks in their relationship that the trip would expose. Part love story, part edgy travelogue, and at times darkly humorous, Storm shows the fragility of human connections in the face of unexpected forces.
Customer Reviews:
not sure what to make of this one.......2005-12-31
As a motorcyclist and adventure tourer, I had hopes for this book. I find it poorly written, tedious, unfocused. What to call it? It's not detailed enough to be travel writing, not deep enough for journal writing, not engaging in the least. The people and places are two dimensional and boring, and even the author's attempts to describe 'living hell" come across as "living heck." I find myself not caring what happens to the author and his traveling companion, nor would I want to visit any of the places that he describes, though I'm willing to believe that they could actually be interesting outside of the author's stewardship.
There are many good motorcycle adventure books (The Long Journey Home, Ten Years On Two Wheels, Chasing Che) to be had. This is not one of them.
More than a motorcycle journey.......2005-03-21
I've been feeling trapped in a dull northeast winter and went on a buying spree of motorcycle travel books since I can't ride. I fully accept that most won't be that well written but they stave me over until the weather turns and I can resume my own travels. This book, however, stands on it's own merits and is a great read. Anyone who's ridden a trip when the "magic" just didn't work will relate to this couples differing ways of trying to recapture it - bail or forge ahead. The relationship dynamic keeps the book from being a "then we went here and saw this, then we went here and saw this..." like say Jupter's Travels, and it's also down to earth and not full of itself as say "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintainence". It relates the discovery of travel and touches enough on riding to appeal to both rider and non and he doesn't insult the reader along the way. I kept putting it down in an attempt to make it last longer.
Fractions.......2004-07-09
This book is 1/2 travel journal, 1/4 relationship journal and 1/4 motorcycle journal. Noren's longtime girlfriend requires comfort (physical and otherwise) along with maturity, and riding a motorcycle through whipping rains and wind on dangerous roads, cars passing you at warp speed, provides none. The journey is an eye opener for him and a confirmation of his girlfriend's adult life needs. The passages describing the colorful European characters are great fun to read, while the relationship passages are just the opposite, albeit transposed in a good way. The ending leaves a bit of a tease. Noren's writing voice draws in any gender reader; he's not a macho Hog-riding hardass, nor is he the other extreme, "the sensitive male." There is enough of the relationship aspect to satisfy female readers, and enough of the description surrounds riding the bike, satisfying to motorcycle enthusisasts. If you enjoy reading motorcycle journeys, this is a good one, with some added aspects that others miss, making it entirely unique.
Wonderful.......2002-12-11
A friend gave me this book as a gift and it sat on my desk for several months. Admittedly I was put off by the motorcycling aspect, but I'm sad now that that stopped me from opening it sooner. Last Sunday night I was going to file the book in my bookshelf but decided to read the first page before I did so. Needless to say I couldn't put it down. It's a wonderful tale of adventure, a dream and its reality, love, and, yes, ego. The story transcends the motorcycle and in that way is much more than a biker book. The motorcycling aspects are excellent, however, because the author is not one of those leather clad oafs with a humongous midlife crisis on his back. Rather, the descriptions are beautifully written and invite the reader to feel what it was like too. Well done.
Rain and resentment vs. ego and compulsion.......2001-10-18
Storm
By Allen Noren
I am an avid motorcyclist, but I found this story very frustrating. It is not so much about motorcycling or traveling as it is about ego and obsession. The author is driven by his compulsion to complete The Trip, despite the horrendous, record-breaking stormy weather, over 6000 miles of northern European roadways. He presses on, focused on all the details of the challenge of coping with a bike in the most extreme weather conditions. But his girlfriend, the pillion passenger, has nothing to do but suffer. She has nothing to occupy her mind but resentment. Cold, wet, allergy riddled, bored, pissed, frustrated... this is what we see of her. She exists on this trip, to hear Noren tell it, like another natural curiosity to be observed while traveling, like the lakes, seasides, forests and of course the storms.
This book breaks down at the same place that their relationship breaks down. He is a rider, she is a passenger. Never will the passions of the two be comparable. Noren never gets to this point, though. The entire story is told through his obsessive self-centered perspective. We barely get a glimpse of her thinking, and when we do, it is interpreted through Noren's crazed compulsion: she betrays him by losing her connection to The Trip. But he avoids the point that a pillion passenger is passive and detached from the essence of motorcycling, with no control, and a feeling of literal and figurative coat-tailing to the rider. It IS his trip, and she becomes ever more an afterthought to him, as her alienation metamorphoses into her own obsession to have the trip just be over.
It is inevitable that the reader grows ever more sympathetic to her plight, and ever more convinced that he is little more than a neurotic jerk.
All that said, the writing is quite good. The book reads quickly. The style is engaging and the observations are unique and interesting. Noren does an excellent job of detailing the inner workings of a motorcyclists' mindset.... As our loved ones will attest, we are all a little obsessive, a little insane.
The lessons for me: avoid taking my wife on very long trips as a passenger (something I already knew). Make your mate get her own bike, so she can see the trip through the same eyes that you do. Oh, and buy good rain gear and heated clothing, too!
Customer Reviews:
Great Love Stories centered around God and Lighthouses.......2007-10-07
This is a historical Christian romance. It contains four short novellas about less than 100 pages each. These books are about people finding their faith and finding love.
The first story is about a girl who believes her call is to tend the light. But when Ian falls in love with her and she falls in love with him, she begins to question what she is supposed to do with her life.
The second story is about a widowed captain who is ready to retire to a life on land. His daughter and him make through their last ride only because of the lighthouse keeper. She turns out to be the same person who has volunteered her house to him because the hotel was full. She has a few secrets of her own and Cade is willing to help her solve her problems.
The third story is about a couple in love. The boy is from a rich family and his fiancee is not. He works for his father as a captain. He goes on one last trip but does not return in time. Will he return alive? Will his family disown him? Will they never get alone with his choice bride?
The fourth story is about a widowed mother who married to early in life and was diwowned by her parents. She has no friends until a captain comes by to thank her for tending the light. This captain falls in love with her and her son, but he resolved never to marry. Does he have a choice when he finds out she went home?
These novels are filled with Christian lessons. If you do not enjoy reading romances that have Christian undertones, this book is not for you.
I recommend because the stories are endearing and informative of the life of a lighthouse keeper.
Customer Reviews:
Storm Over the Lake & To Love and Cherish.......1999-12-24
Storm Over the Lake: Three years ago, reporter Dana Meredith had ruined--and lost--the only man she'd ever loved. Now, brilliant, enigmatic businessman Adrian Devereaux seemed bent on revenge against the woman who'd cost him his empire--and his heart. Intensely tender and suddenly kind, Adrian had already attacked...with sweet intent.
To Love and Cherish: Shelby Kane wasn't about to let her friend's bossy brother run her off his family's ranch again! Kingston Brannt kept a tight rein on his emotions, but made it clear he resented her presence--and the passion she stirred in him. Ruggedly handsome and impossibly stubborn, this lonesome cowboy was about to learn a lesson in love from the woman he scorned!
Books:
- My First Five Husbands..And the Ones Who Got Away
- Navy Brides: Navy Wife\Navy Blues\Navy Brat
- NO STRINGS ATTACHED - WWW.GIRL-GEAR (Blaze, 32)
- O'Hurley's Return: Skin Deep\Without A Trace
- On the Road with Rabbi Steinsaltz: 25 Years of Pre-Dawn Car Trips, Mind-Blowing Encounters, and Inspiring Conversations with a Man of Wisdom
- Once an Angel
- One Special Summer
- Paula Pryke's Flower School: Mastering the Art of Floral Design
- Play Like a Man, Win Like a Woman: What Men Know About Success that Women Need to Learn
- Ravished
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