Amazon.com
Why don't zebras get ulcers--or heart disease, diabetes and other chronic diseases--when people do? In a fascinating look at the science of stress, biologist Robert Sapolsky presents an intriguing case, that people develop such diseases partly because our bodies aren't designed for the constant stresses of a modern-day life--like sitting in daily traffic jams or growing up in poverty. Rather, they seem more built for the kind of short-term stress faced by a zebra--like outrunning a lion.

With wit, graceful writing, and a sprinkling of Far Side cartoons, Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers makes understanding the science of stress an adventure in discovery. "This book is a primer about stress, stress-related disease, and the mechanisms of coping with stress. How is it that our bodies can adapt to some stressful emergencies, while other ones make us sick? Why are some of us especially vulnerable to stress-related diseases, and what does that have to do with our personalities?"

Sapolsky, a Stanford University neuroscientist, explores stress's role in heart disease, diabetes, growth retardation, memory loss, and autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis. He cites tantalizing studies of hyenas, baboons, and rodents, as well as of people of different cultures, to vividly make his points. And Sapolsky concludes with a hopeful chapter, titled "Managing Stress." Although he doesn't subscribe to the school of thought that hope cures all disease, Sapolsky highlights the studies that suggest we do have some control over stress-related ailments, based on how we perceive the stress and the kinds of social support we have.Book Description
Renowned primatologist Robert Sapolsky offers a completely revised and updated edition of his most popular work, with nearly 90,000 copies in print Now in a third edition, Robert M. Sapolsky's acclaimed and successful Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers features new chapters on how stress affects sleep and addiction, as well as new insights into anxiety and personality disorder and the impact of spirituality on managing stress.As Sapolsky explains, most of us do not lie awake at night worrying about whether we have leprosy or malaria. Instead, the diseases we fear-and the ones that plague us now-are illnesses brought on by the slow accumulation of damage, such as heart disease and cancer. When we worry or experience stress, our body turns on the same physiological responses that an animal's does, but we do not resolve conflict in the same way-through fighting or fleeing. Over time, this activation of a stress response makes us literally sick. Combining cutting-edge research with a healthy dose of good humor and practical advice, Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers explains how prolonged stress causes or intensifies a range of physical and mental afflictions, including depression, ulcers, colitis, heart disease, and more. It also provides essential guidance to controlling our stress responses. This new edition promises to be the most comprehensive and engaging one yet. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (38)

Not for avarage person
This was a little to complicated for me. Everyhting was explained by science etc. I don't think an avarage person would enjoy this at all.

Science even a Poly Sci Major can understand
Sapolsky presents a complex subject inlanguage that a most people can understand, right along sidethe technical text.Thus, this old Poly Sci major finally understands the biology behind stress eating, even if I don't understand all the 12 syllable words in the next sentence.This is the way text books should be written.This is the way other books should be written -- understandable by people of many levels, not just the other specialists.

Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers
I agree with DR. Oliver Sachs who said on the back of the book, Dr/Professor Sapolsky is the best writer if physical science today. It is not for the faint of heart. He makes the subjects very clear, but it helps if you already have some science background because he brings you up to date on the current causes of the plagues of modern civilization (stress filled lives leading to the heart, cholesterol, diabetes, obesity etc. problems.

Awesome writing for a text book.
This book was chosen as the text book for a college course I took. It was awesomely written, very factual and easy to understand. And funny... Let me tell ya. I would gladly have read this for recreational purposes, but the fact that it was required to read it and it was so easy made it that much better.

Haven't read yet

Got the book quickly but am reading so many other things right now I haven't had a chance to read this one but I'm looking forward to it! ... Read more

Book Description
In the eighth installment of Alexander McCall Smith's endlessly enjoyable, bestselling series, the judicious Precious Ramotswe comes to discover what is true, stable, and genuine in an ever-shifting world.

There is rarely a dull moment in the life of Precious Ramotswe, and on Zebra Drive and Tlokweng Road many changes are afoot. Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni wants be put in charge of a case involving an errant husband, and Mma Makutsi is considering leaving the agency, taking her near perfect score on the Botswana Secretarial College typing exam with her. Meanwhile, Mma Ramotswe has been asked to investigate a series of unexpected deaths at the hospital in Mochudi. Along the way, she encounters other tricky mysteries, and once again displays her undying love for Botswana, a country of which she is justly proud. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (104)

Great condiction, fsst shipping
Loved the whole series of books, this was the last.Great condiciton, fast shipping

The Good Husband of Zebra Drive
Recommended reading.It is a humorous story about the gentle and kind man who is husband to the head of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, woven in with the details of cases and training apprentices.The author does a good job describing details of life in a small town with humorous events that take place.

more stories about gentle souls
Alexander McCall Smith has done a great job of putting Mayberry, North Carolina in Botswana, with a cast of characters that live life at an easy pace with gentle loving spirits.But there is a bit of restlessness down at Tlokweng Road, where both Mma Makutsi and Charlie, the older apprentice start to think about new employment.And Mr J. L. B. Matekoni wonders if his life needs a new bit of excitement.The reader knows that all will work its way out, as it always does in these precious stories.Humerous endings occur to the mysteries brought to the detectives.Another excellent entry in this outstanding series.

# 1 detective agency series
I had borrowed the last in the series - The Good Husband of Zebra Drive from the library.When I had one disc to go, the audio booklet fell out of my car, and I didn't discover it missing until I had returned home.Was happy to find it on Amazon so I could get it back to the library in a timely fashion.Love the series- this one is no exception.Colorful charachters - fascinating mental meanderings especially poignant to me after a recent trip to Southern Tanzania.

On Mma Ramotswe and her good husband
This was the first book of Alexander McCall Smith I read and I liked it immediately. Mma Ramotswe, who runs The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, is in this book married with Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni. Preceding books in the series have seen the courtship leading up to this marriage slowly develop (as I learned later, by reading other books in the series), and here they are finally solidly married and living with their two adopted children (how they got the adopted children is very amusingly, but also touchingly, described in "Tears of the Giraffe").
What I appreciated immediately were the observations of Mma Ramotswe on men attached to their old cloths and/or hat (one such man is even buried with his hat), the subtle replacements of the cloths of her husband (without her husband noticing), and the description of her husband's dreams about spark plugs instead of dreaming about her.
In this book both Mma Ramotswe and Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni go through a number of difficulties with their employees. The most comical one of these is perhaps the short-lived venture of one of Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni's garage boys into the taxi business. But also Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni ventures into something new, which is doing some detective work by himself, with something one could call a mixed success.
I was pointed to this detective novel because of the investigation of the "mysterious hospital murders", since this had some bearing on a recent miscarriage of justice in the Netherlands in this respect (the Lucia de Berk case). The outcome of Mma Ramotswe's investigation is rather unexpected and treated by her with great subtlety. As usual there were some side-plots which were also rather interesting. Recommended reading! ... Read more

Amazon.com
A thoroughly Seussian tweak of the alphabet-book tradition, On Beyond Zebra is about all the letters that most people ignore--the ones that come after Z.Our hero (instantly recognizable to most Seuss fans as the boy who captured Thing One and Thing Two in The Cat in the Hat) takes his young friend, Conrad Cornelius O'Donald O'Dell, on a guided tour of all the weird creatures that begin with letters such as Yuzz, Wumbus, and Glikk. "And Nuh is the letter I use to spell Nutches, Who live in small caves, known as Nitches, for hutches." The message is pretty simple: the alphabet pins down boring old "reality," but if you explore further afield there are more interesting worlds to discover. "So, on beyond Z! It's high time you were shown, / That you really don't know all there is to be known."Explorers in need of guidance will even find a table of useful new letters (a beyondabet? a WumbaGlikk?) in the back. (Ages 4 to 8) --Richard FarrBook Description
Illus. in color. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Altered perspectives for life
This book introduced "paradigm shifting" into my intellectual vocabulary before I even knew what such a thing was.

Many, many, many years ago (Nixon was President, I think) I read this and was changed. I can remember the the images, the textures, the smells (Ah! The ditto machine and its purple perfume!) and all my surroundings. I was sitting in the elementary school library, facing northwest toward the door. Lured by the title and the premise, I had taken the volume to my assigned seat ("Library" was a class back then, as it should have been) and quickly devoured it.

The concept - that our 26-letter alphabet was an arbitrary collection and not a universal constant on a par with gravity - had never entered my cartoon-addled mind. It sparked an awareness of similar cultural and philosophical constrictions that I have expanded and retained to this day.

Hats off to the Dr.!

Left quite an impression...
Loved this book as a child. Fast-forward thirty-some years, I am a computational linguist with a fascination for exotic writing systems. Coincidence? In think not.

Best of Seuss
A fun book for kids, with some deeper insight as well.

"When you go beyond Zebra,
Who knows...? There's no telling
What wonderful things
You might find yourself spelling!"

A frequently overlooked Seuss gem !
This was my favorite book as a kid & still is.I now have ownership of our family's 'ancient' copy (copyright date 1955, Mom's written inscription: Christmas 1962 for my oldest brother who was age 6).I recently read it to my 6 year old son and he also was taken with this book. I am getting a new copy for him for Christmas as the original is pretty fragile now. This book belongs in every family's collection along with The Lorax, The Sneeches, Bartholomew Cubbins, Horton and the rest of the classic/original Seuss stories.

Awesome...its the Dr.
Actually got this for my new tat, but I love this art ... Read more

Book Description
Readers young and old will be enchanted by this imaginative and appealing book. With provocative questions and strikingly beautiful artwork, this book will surely trigger valuable family discussions about the joy of embracing and celebrating the magnificence that is inherent in our diversity. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

delightful book on prejudice for children, if your family believes in God
As a whole, I would highly recommend this beautifully illustrated book on racism and prejudice. It is fun to read and an excellent way to address the topic with the youngest of children.

The only thing that I think should be mentioned is it does (briefly) include religious context that might not be appropriate for all families when it concludes that it is god who was smart enough to make the zebras the way they are. While not promoting any specific god, this does make it inappropriate for a public school setting or for families of certain religious beliefs.

Good Book!
I work in a residential facility with different nationalities/ ethnicities of children.The issue raises quite often and this is a simple lesson that because people "look" different doesn't mean that we can't like one another and be friends.The end is a bit unrealistic that black and white come together to form one, but I truly believe that people can come together and form a cooperative, respectful union without becoming the same...differences are good and there doesn't have to be conformity.

An important message for any age
It's never to early to teach your child the importance of harmony and tolerance and this little book is a great place to start.When some zebras lose their white stripes and others their black stripes, they must look inside themselves and each other to learn to get along.

I especially appreciated the very last page which placed the zebras with many children of different races and nationalities so that my 5-year old and I could talk about the differences in people, too.

Awesome!
My 5 year old loves this book and it has a very positive message!

Top Priority Message
What If Zebras Lost Their Stripes gives you a perfect occasion to open young minds to how adults of different colors and nationalities -- and kids -- should think about their diversity.With just a little thought, kidswill get this top priority message instantly.A great contribution. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

I love this book
I love this book good from beginning to end. Worth reading very original and interesting.

Great read!
I'm not one to read love novels, but this one had me captivated.Many details in the story offered more for my imagination and I am excited to read Diana Cosby's next novels!Her characters were smart, had depth and went beyond the flacid 'love novel' stereotypes.

Captivating English/Scottish romance admist rebellion
On the English/Scottish border, in the year 1296, Sir Alexander MacGruder, a Scot, is assigned a task by his brother. To kidnap an English Baron for ransom. The money is needed to pay for arms to help the rebels in the fight against English occupation. Upon gaining stealth entry into the castle, the Baron is nowhere to be found. Instead, in a split decision, Alexander decides to kidnap the nobleman's sister. Lady Nicola Westcourt is outraged and frightened by the dangerous and seductive Scot. As a mere pawn, Nicola is wary of Alexander's assurances of her safety. With revenge of his fathers death upper most in his mind, he cannot entangle himself with the enemy. But as everyday passes on their journey back into Scotland, a deep attraction for each other comes to light. Pushing their emerging feelings aside, they both must resist this deadly passion.

What a wonderful book! A really good *romance* centered romance. I say this because sometimes the love story is overshadowed in romance books (crazy I know!) and not given enough space (pages) to develop. Not here! The reader can actually *see* the deep love budding & building between the H/H. I ached for Alexander, torn for his love for Nicola and his duty to his homeland. And Nicola's frustration with her treacherous feelings. Each emotional scene between these two was tinged with sadness, knowing that this could be their last. A relationship that was doomed to failure from the beginning. I had no idea how Cosby (author) could resolve this problem, but this is a romance, so of course there is a happily-ever-after-ending. An ending which is quite clever, I might add, and completely believable.

Since most of the book focused on the romance, little was spent on the historical aspect. I would have liked have read a little bit more about the Scottish rebellion and Sir William Wallace.Those snippets were very interesting.

I found the secondary characters, mostly Alex's brothers, intriguing and hope to read about them in a sequel. The light-hearted rogue Duncan and the serious Earl would make great hero's.

So all-in-all good characterizations. Ample sexual tension. An old plot device made fresh. Mixed in with some action which makes this a captivating (ha ha -couldn't help myself!) Scottish romance debut.

Wonderful New Author Rocks!
Sir Alexander MacGruder was a man on a mission. He wanted revenge on the bloody English who murdered his father. He wanted to defeat the English Lords from taking away any more rights and lives from his homeland, Scotland. Thus decided, he was to kidnap the Baron of Monceaux, an adviser to King Edward, and hold him for ransom. His path was clear, but a lovely English lady caught him unawares: the sister of his enemy, Lady Nichola Westcott. What was a man to do in this situation? Why not take the Lady instead, and hope he can withhold his heart at the same time.
This new author has told a tale of love and hope, when Scottish were against the English. Ms Crosby is a true talent in storytelling. She writes a prose so well, that this reader did not want the story to end. I can't wait til the next one. Bravo!
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Fabulous Teaching Resource for all Elementary School Grade
I use this book in elementary classrooms as an anticipatory set for thinking about patterns before we make a math pattern game.It works as well with 6th gradeers as it does with 3rd graders.They begin to look at their surroundings using a different paradigm! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

why is this case considered closed??it should still be open
considering just how limited/censoredthe info on this case is, Zebra is an OK read, I wish it was more from the police perspective as the killer perspective has to have some serious conjecture.Why this case was never fully solved is astounding ,they convict a few people for a 14 murders, when there were perhaps dozens of killers and 70+ confirmed murders,the pattern was Black Muslims, so how hard could it have been to pursue that avenue.

Incredible story, compelling characters
I simply cannot understand why the media covers up stories like this but gives stories that are far less provoking front page news.It is frightening to know that many of the ideals revealed in this novel still exist today.I highly recommend this novel for anyone interested in true crime.It was so well written, it was easy to foget that these events actually happened.

Why Have We Not Heard Of These Murders?
I read somewhere on the internet a few weeks ago about the Zebra murders and wondered what the heck was that about, and how it was said that the main-stream-media had ignored this huge news item and then the book about it.BINGO!I knew I had to read the book right away, and did!It is true, like any good crime story, once you start reading it, you can't put it down.The chapter about the tracing of the gun was an interesting short story in itself.

The murders occurred in 1973 in San Francisco, and I talked to some people about it and they never heard of it, and neither did I ever recall hearing anything about it myself.But, basically these murders held a terror siege on the city of San Francisco for nearly six months!The brutality of these murders was shocking!Who they were committed by, for, and against was just as shocking.The story ends each chapter with a short memorial of each victim as the body counts begins to build up.

Though the story is well-written by a capable author, I must say there was one part in the book that was confusing and I thought the author could have stated it better.It read, "While the white family had its picnic and Ward Anderson visted his friend, the two black Muslims known an Skullcap and Rims had a philosophical discussion on the subject of murder".This part had me thinking that Ward was talking to the two Muslims as pals and I only realized this was a mistake several pages down as the story wasn't making any sense.

So, why was this book and and essentially racist crime news ignored by the big media?Sigh... somethings never change (look at today's current events).It involved race and religious beliefs, something the Left and the MSM won't touch unless it coincides with their agenda.This time it didn't, and thus, the deafening silence.

Chilling Tale of Mass Murder and Savagery
This book recounts the horrifying crime spree known as the Zebra killings that happened in the Bay Area in the early 1970's.This spree, committed by black members of an offshoot of the Muslim religion, was done in an attempt for the murderers to win "Death Angel" status.This dubious honor was given to any "true believer" who murdered a certain number of white children, white women, or white men, or a combination of the three.(One received more credit for slaying a child or woman than a man supposedly because it would take more fortitude to do it.However, the author believes [with good reason, I think] it had more to do with the murderers being cowards afraid of anyone who might fight back.)Taking place over several months, the killers took several lives and wounded others in their barbaric attempt to win Death Angel wings.The author does a splendid job in recreating the events as well as allowing the reader to get inside the head of the people who actually believed it to be an honor to murder others.What is even more chilling than the specific Zebra murders is the fact that other Death Angels supposedly existed in California and could be walking the streets even today.For those with a strong stomach wishing to find out about a savage wave of crime (a wave that has strangely been forgotten), this is a must read.

A Bone Chilling Incredible Horror Story
This is a book everyone should read.It is a factual account of deeds ordinary human beings would not even dream of doing to one another.But these people were evidently no more than animals.Their thoughts and actions proved beyond doubt that our society has elements within it that should not be free to prey on others under any circumstances.In fact, in my mind, these kinds of people should not even be allowed to live.I cannot imagine that the media never reported these atrocities as racist crimes -- yet they certainly were.Of course this would have been politically incorrect then as it is today.The entire thing is almost impossible to imagine taking place, but it did.How many of these killers were executed for their beastly murders?How many did the taxpayers have to continue feeding in prison cells?How many are back on the streets today?How many more like thinking Blacks are roaming the streets looking for a chump to kill.This book will certainly make the reader ask such questions.It should open the eyes of many. ... Read more

Book Description
As a group of African animals hang out at the local watering hole, they share funny stories about how the zebra got its stripes. At the end of the book, fun facts explain why zebras really have stripes. For any child intrigued by zebras, this colorful, informative book is a must! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Fact and Fiction
This book moves through several legends of how the zebra got it's stripes, then ends with some scientific facts. Really great illustrations with an entertaining documentary/Interview style aimed at young children.

Two year old likes it
I bought this book for my son's two-year birthday.He loves Zebras, and so I thought he would like this book.When I opened the book for the first time, I was a little concerned because there are many words.I didn't think it would hold his attention.But to my surprise he loved it.The reading involves dialogue from other animals, so you can make cute voices.That along with the many pictures in the book...my son enjoyed it.He even requests us to read it now..."zebra book". ... Read more

Book Description

The renowned, iconoclastic head of the Acorn Fund shares his profit-maximizing, risk-minimizing investment advice in a book as irreverent as it is smart.

When USA Today asked a group of prominent professional portfolio managers whom they would choose to manage their personal wealth, the person most often cited was Ralph Wanger (Warren Buffett came in second). Hailed by both Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report as the "dean" of small-cap investing, Ralph Wanger explains the principles of investing in small, rapidly growing companies whose stocks will yield well-above-average returns.

Investors are like zebras in lion country: They must settle for meager pickings by sticking in the middle of the herd, or seek richer rewards at the outer edge, where hungry lions lurk. Wanger shows investors -- whether they are investing in mutual funds or buying stocks on their own -- how to achieve the right balance of safety and risk to survive and prosper in the investment jungle. Destined to become a classic in the field of investing, A Zebra in Lion Country is as entertaining as it is instructive. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

One to buy, keep and re-read...
I bought this book when it first came out.It is an easy read, but the insights are timeless.I probably read five or six investment books a year.Of those, I re-read very few.This one I re-read every two or three years because it just reinforces the basics and it is enjoyable. Books like this are very helpful in understanding market psychology and volatility.I am a basic fundamental investor, but not understanding fear and greed will impact your successes and losses when dealing with Mr. Market.Do yourself a favor, buy it and read it.

Easy read, broad concepts - for the mutual fund investor
If you are looking for a book on how to pick small cap stocks, this book is not for you.

If you are looking for reasons why mutual funds are better off than picking stocks on your own, this book will offer you many such reasons.

Mr Wanger invests in what I would conclude as a fundamental-value style and indeed there are certain principles that a reader may be able to extract and apply to his own stock picking approach, eg investing in themes, buying value etc.

However, the more I read, the more the book seemed to promote mutual funds for the lay investor. Depending on your personal preferences, that may indeed be the way to go for some of you.

I offer the following quote from page 237 as a summary of this book:

'Don't overpay, no matter how much you like a company. Invest in themes that will give a company a long-term franchise. Invest downstream from technology. Think and invest globally. Find stocks to own, not trade.'

Learn What the Big Boys Know
A must read if you plan on investing in this very competitive market. Mr. Wagner picks his brain for us for his knowledge of this special market.

Ralph Wagner explains how to invest in Ralph Wagner
The subtitle claims this book explains "how to invest in small rapidly growing companies".

Well, it turns out that, according to this book, the best way to accomplish this is to invest in small, rapidly growing companies.In all seriosness, there is almost no useful advice in this book about how to pick stocks.

What this book does explain, in extravagent detail, is why you should not pick stocks, you should use a mutual fund, and while we are on the subject, the Acorn fund (which is run by Ralph) has made lots of money.Also Acorn lost some money here and there, you shouldn't get the impression that the author is claiming infallability.

In all fairness, this was a fairly interesting read, and provided some good general insights into investing.But as far as useful insights into choosing small, rapidly growing companies, the reader is left with the impression that this can only be done by professionals.A legitimate viewpoint, except for the fact that this is exactly what the book promises (fraudulently, in my estimation) to explain how to do.

Excellent book
One of the best books I've read in investing. I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Book Description
The Dolphin, pride of America's nuclear fleet, is the only submarine capable of attempting the rescue of a British meteorological team trapped on the polar ice cap. The officers of the Dolphin know well the hazards of such an assignment. What they do not know is that the rescue attempt is really a cover-up for one of the most desperate espionage missions of the Cold War -- and that the Dolphin is heading straight for sub-zero disaster, facing hidding sabotage, murder . . . and a deadly, invisible enemy . . . ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

Probably MacLean's Best
First, Alistair MacLean is not one of my favorite authors.He recycles his plots over and over again.The Golden Rendezvous and Sanatorini are excellent examples of this.However, this book was the second MacLean novel I read, and thus the plot was completely new to me and fortunately, utterly original for MacLean.I was interested in the film version (this is much better) and was trying to find out what the storyline was.I had previously read Where Eagles Dare which I had found to be tasteful.Ice Station Zebra blew me away.I did not know at first what kind of book I was reading.I assumed that it was an action-adventure flick like Where Eagles Dare.It's not.It's much more.There is only one person shot in the entire book, but this is not the conflict.The conflict lies in fighting against the cold, a death of drowning, and an invisible enemy who is stalking you at every step.Like another reviewer said, this book shows that a legitimately good spy novel can be made without gratuitous violence and sex.There is no female element is this novel (sorry ladies) and the violence is realistic, yet not overdone.One of the things I loved about this novel is the way MacLean tells the story in the 1rst person, but still manages to not let us know everything that is going on in the main character's head.Thrilling read.Crisp Dialogue.The Perfect novel.Nothing was lacking.One of those few books that I have read more than once, and it never gets old.

Not Free SF Reader
A British meterological station is in danger, and those staffing it will soon be dead without help.An American nuclear sub is sent out to help them, along with a doctor that is an expert in the sort of afflictions they may have developed.

However, this American sub also has an underlying spook mission to go along with the rescue.This hidden agenda causes a hell of a lot of problems and casualiies throughout.

Murder On and Under the Ice
Alistair MacLean's 1963 Cold War thriller "Ice Station Zebra" opens with a British doctor named Carpenter trying to talk his way aboard the American Navy's nuclear submarine "Dolphin" in a lonely harbor in Scotland.His announced mission is to organize the rescue of the crew of a British meteorological station on an ice island in the Arctic, victims of a deadly fire.As with many MacLean novels, neither the leading characters nor the mission are quite what they appear to be.

"Ice Station Zebra" traces the Dolphin's exciting run under the polar ice pack to reach the last know location of Ice Station Zebra.There, Dr. Carpenter and a group of volunteers from the crew of Dolphin will dare the weather and the ice pack to find the station and rescue its stricken crew.Carpenter quickly discovers that the fire at Ice Station Zebra was no accident; among the surviving members of the Ice Station is a ruthless killer who will stop at nothing, including holding at risk the Dolphin, to achieve his mysterious purpose.Carpenter himself proves to have a very personal stake in the outcome of the struggle with the killer.MacLean's brisk prose and sardonic dialogue keep the suspense crackling to the very last page.

By the time he wrote "Ice Station Zebra", MacLean had become a highly proficient story-teller.If parts of this novel seem a little contrived, the wise reader will relax and enjoy the ride.This novel is highly recommended to fans of the Cold War spy story and to fans of Alistair MacLean, master storyteller.

I could not put this book down!
This was the first work of Mr. MacLean's that I read and it left me spellbound up to the last page. I saw the movie first, but the book far ourweighed it for suspense, intrigue and action. The author's style of writing is similar to that of the "Quiller" novels, yet he has his own "fingerprint" that kept me guessing how the Dolphin was going to fare out. I will be reading "The Secret Ways" and "Circus" next...I highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoy's a thinking person's thriller.

Rereadable...
Anyone with a taste for naval warfare, mysteries and the Arctic in general will find this a fascinating read. I first read this book in my teens. I still return to it occasionally and never find it boring. I haven't watched the 1968 movie version of this book. ... Read more

Product Description
All children deserve an appropriate educational challenge but frustrating barriers and unexpected surprises often prevent this from happening. This is why parents need to speak up and effectively advocate for their children. In Infinity and Zebra Stripes, Wendy Skinner shares her family's story of struggle and eventual success in working with the school system to meet her children s needs. Enlightening anecdotes of the author s experience demonstrate strategies for minimizing parent-school conflict.Learn how to build trusting relationships with teachers and administrators, and how your voice can change your child's life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Infinity and Zebra Stripes

"Infinity & Zebra Stripes: Life with Gifted Children" by Wendy Skinner is a must read for teachers, parents of gifted learners and school counselors. Skinner's book lets us walk in the shoes of the parents of two highly gifted children as they celebrate and support their children's intellectual and emotional growth in public school settings.

Parents, educators, and counselors will enjoy Infinity & Zebra Stripes for its candor, insight and humor.

a captivating account of life with highly gifted kids

Infinity and Zebra Stripes is a very personal account of a family's struggle to find an appropriate educational situation for their two exceptionally gifted children. Mom Wendy Skinner shares her parenting joys and challenges with a candid and often humorous delivery.Topics touched on include intelligence and achievement testing, perfectionism, the reluctant writer, depression and anxiety, sensitivities, intense interests, and social relationships.

The writing is very honest and gifted anecdotes ring true.Seven year old Ben's exploration of the concept of infinity is a wonderful illustration of the profound thoughts that can occupy gifted young minds.Jillian's conversations on God and Santa Claus show extremely high levels of curiosity and inference. A particularly poignant section concerns Wendy's reaction upon hearing that her young son is way beyond the gifted threshold.The professional test administrator discloses where Ben falls on the gifted spectrum, and Wendy reacts physically. She relates, " My eyes and breath were caught and frozen by this statement.It was as if I had a sudden shock.I was aware of a solid thumping beneath my ribs." Many parents of highly to profoundly gifted children seem to share this feeling of panic, with thoughts spinning off into worries about how the child will ever be educated, make friends, or find a compatible mate.

Statistics put children like the Skinners in the top tenth of one percent, which means it's very unlikely they will encounter a true peer in their classroom or their neighborhood.It's no wonder that some parents describe coming to terms with the label of highly gifted plus as similar to working through the stages of grief.Children this gifted do indeed have special needs.

Skinner's open manner and focus on educational teamwork eventually lead to successful full grade acceleration for son Ben and daughter Jillian. Parents currently struggling with advocacy for their own gifted learners may find Skinner's example encouraging and informative.Her emphasis seems to be on polite persistence and an assumption that teachers and administrators share the common goal of finding the best situation for each individual student.

The book ends with an up-to-date list ofterrific parent resources. Highly recommended!



... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Adorable and creative
I just loved this book! I think it's an adorable and creative story. I enjoy reading it to my kids as much as they love listening to it!

Greedy Zebra
Great book for animal lovers.Enjoyed passing the story on to
children in my classroom ... Read more

Book Description
Mercy Clarke had no trouble getting a hundred head of cattle to Abilene. Getting back home through five hundred miles of untamed frontier is something else again, especially with a handsome gambler like Thad Buchanan tagging along. He swears to pay her in gold if she guides him to Fort Victory, but she doesn't quite trust his fine manners and gentlemanly ways. And then there's that look in his eyes—he could make her forget that she's sworn off men for good...

As Thad sees it, the same rules apply to playing poker and loving women: it's all about knowing when to hold `em. And come to think of it, a pretty lady like Mercy Clarke would fit very nicely in his arms. Now, if she could be persuaded to put down that rawhide whip and tell him exactly what she has in mind, he has no doubt they could come to an agreement that will satisfy them both. No doubt at all... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Loving Mercy and Adoring Thad!!
Love a story with a big sensitive guy and a great plot I will be loving forward to reading many more great westerns from this author.If this book was great then Loving Miranda the second in the series was fantastic.Both books are well told with strong female characters.

Oh yeah, and the cover was to drool over, lol.

Love the cover.Like the story
This is another historical in the Zebra line that has such promise.(the books - and the line.)I don't normally read Westerns since I cut my teeth on the Longarm series and Louis Lamour and Robert Kammen and that ilk.Not exactly romance but that was a long time ago.I've got to say since reading Ms. Bodwell that I like Western romance a lot.I liked this one.I just couldn't quite get into it.Not all the way.I certainly like the cover.Ms. Bodwell did a great job selecting that.I spent a lot of time turning from the words back to that cover in order to gaze at it.There was a bonus, too.The Thad on the cover matches the Thad in the book.Here's a handsome soldier-turned-gambler-turned bodyguard and a take-charge heroine?What a fun premise.It just didn't hold my complete interest.Will I read other novels by Ms. Bodwell?Well... Loving Miranda is already in my TBR stack.

Everlasting.
Prowling through Chapters, Canada's largest bookstore, I suddenly saw it - Teresa Bodwell's LOVING MERCY.Was it the author's name that stopped me cold? No!Was it the title?No!Was it the rave reviews?No!

So what made me stop?

That cover!That fantastic cover!

Mercy Clark is a rough and tough woman. A western lady who wears a forty-four strapped to her hip.A no-nonsense woman determined to run her life, her ranch and the men who work for her. Her Christian name is Mercy, but this lady knows precious little about the meaning!Mercy Clark is a woman who is quick to judge, quick to condemn and can hold a grudge better than most!

Thad Buchanan is determined to get to Colorado. He feels obligated to see his sister again. He hopes that this journey will enable him to start over, to fulfill their Papa's dreams. After all, Papa's sons were the family's future. Sons meant the continuation of the family name and the family heritage. Now all Thad Buchanan has to do is to find a little woman to marry. A little woman who will provide sons, support the family future and continue the Buchanan legacy!


For seventy-five dollars, Mercy Clark will guide Thad Buchanan to Fort Victory, Colorado.

Teresa Bodwell's heroine is difficult to enjoy.Mercy Clark may be admirable, but romance heroines should be a little more delicate or MAYBE a little more breakable.A strong heroine is always meaningful, but strength should not rely on: slugging a man in the stomach, dispensing relentless orders, and making every important decision!Such behavior, in romance reading, grows tiresome and annoying . . .

Oh, but that cover!That glorious cover! A bonus star added just for that cover!

MaryGrace Meloche.

Have Mercy...
This story was as interesting as tying my shoe.As I write this, I can't even remember what the heroes name was or anyone else for that matter.It was a long drawn out book and we saw where it was going from page one.Seemed an awful lot like a Maggie Osborne novel without the spark.

Really wanted to love this...
I really wanted to love this book, but I found myself annoyed.

First of all, the characters needed more fleshing out. The descriptions of their pasts are too slow in coming, and you never really "feel" their strife, at least not enough to endear you to them. The hero was wonderful, but then it's mentioned that he's 23. That number took the "man" right of him for me. I had to pretend from that point on that he was older. The heroine was different, running a ranch and ordering everyone about. It wasn't bothersome; you just never really care enough about her.

Second, we hear constantly the same thoughts on both their parts as to why they couldn't be together. I can't stand the constant repetition of feelings. It was 3 nights of trying to read as fast as possible to get to something good.

While this book offered a little of everything, all of the aspects came across as mediocre. Instead of a strong passionate love story, or a lot of exciting action, it's just ho-hum. Not a keeper.

If you enjoy Historical westerns, a laugh-out-loud one is "Nobody's Darling" by Teresa Medeiros, and for a more gripping read, anything by Dorothy Garlock, especially her "Wind" series. For something sweet try Julie Garwood's "Prince Charming" & "For the Roses," which is part of a series. Also: Johanna Lindsey's "Angel" which is also connected to two other stories. ... Read more

Product Description
Jonathan Rowson, author of the highly acclaimed Seven Deadly Chess Sins, investigates three questions important to all chess-players:1) Why is it so difficult, especially for adult players, to improve?2) What kinds of mental attitudes are needed to find good moves in different phases of the game?3) Is White's alleged first-move advantage a myth, and does it make a difference whether you are playing Black or White?In a strikingly original work, Rowson makes use of his academic background in philosophy and psychology to answer these questions in an entertaining and instructive way. This book assists all players in their efforts to improve, and provides fresh insights into the opening and early middlegame.Rowson presents many new ideas on how Black should best combat White's early initiative, and make use of the extra information that he gains as a result of moving second. For instance, he shows that in some cases a situation he calls 'Zugzwang Lite' can arise, where White finds himself lacking any constructive moves. He also takes a close look at the theories of two players who, in differing styles, have specialized in championing Black's cause: Mihai Suba and Andras Adorjan. Readers are also equipped with a 'mental toolkit' that will enable them to handle many typical over-the-board situations with greater success, and avoid a variety of psychological pitfalls.Chess for Zebras offers fresh insights into human idiosyncrasies in all phases of the game. The depth and breadth of this book will therefore help players to appreciate chess at a more profound level, and make steps towards sustained and significant improvement. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Help for the improving adult
I have been a near master for the last 4-5 years. With a full time job, kids, etc. I have all the built in excuses necessary. Chess for Zebras, by Rowson, is one of the best books I have laid my hands on, and I have plenty. My issues are not in the strength of my play, my opening prepation, my physical preparation, or my lack of tactical ability. My shortcomings, and I venture to guess some of yours as well, come from my study methods. I work hard, know enough opening theory, but I do not play enough games. Consequently I am not in enough "real-life" situations to help me improve on my ability to concentrate. This book is helpful in that it opens up your mind to new possibilities, knew ideas on how you can make yourself concentrate better, enjoy the game, and just play Chess. Rowson's style is very captivating, and he has created a work that sheds a different light on the subject of Chess. I am determined to make master, (even in my mid to late 40's)and after reading this book and his other great work, The Seven Deadly Chess Sins, I have gained 36 points in my last two tournaments, with my only loss coming to a GM. With a 50 percent score against NM and FM's I have to believe that I am playing better. If I am playing stronger due to an illusion Rowson has helped me create, then I can summize that his book hashad the intended result. I strongly urge anyone to pick up the book, but I would suggest that the target audience is more for players that have "hit the wall." Players with ratings north of 1800 will benefit the most from this original work.

Very Interesting
This thought provoking collection of essays spans many subjects,
including chess improvement, chess psychology at the board, and White's
advantage of the first move.There is decent practical advice, for
example, to emphasize training over knowledge, to adapt your frame of
mind to the type of position on the board, and to avoid what he calls
the "noble apprentice" syndrome.Rowson writes skillfully and
humorously, and his message is not without substance.Still, I have
doubts about many of Rowson's speculations (that is what they are), and
this was a bit of a missed opportunity in light of the growing body of
research into chess and cognitive science.

How to improve when you have hit a plateau for years!
If you have been playing chess for years and seem to have stopped improving for awhile then "Chess for Zebras" may be for you. Sometimes you have a set way of thinking and even with good books on games with analysis, tactics, chess traps and more you don't improve. Well, these may be great books (certainly I recommend all of them), but you may need to add to your collection a book that gives a a "different point of view". That is "Chess for Zebras". Okay, some of the ideas may be a little questionable, but you need to do what works for you! And, as with any book, you don't need to take everything as gospil. Use your own mind, and decide for yourself!

An Important Book That Can Make A Difference
I love chess books and have a large and growing collection, even though I'm a very lowly class player.Most "general" books are filled with conventional advice, repeated over and over; then there are the "specialist" books that concentrate on specific opening lines, endgames, etc.

There are two problems here for the class player.One is that the specialist books are, well, specialized, and especially for the books on opening theory, hard to apply by lowly class players (like me).The second problem is with the general books; they tend to say the same things over and over, and while the reinforcement is a good enough thing, there is again often a problem with specific application.When playing over the board, it's often hard for us "lower class" to see where the glittering generalities apply.

Rowson takes a completely different approach in this book.Like his previous book, Seven Deadly Chess Sins, he looks into why we do things.In the present book, he starts out by considering why chess is "hard" and "hard to learn" and most importantly, why beyond a certain point we have trouble improving.He draws on his background in psychology (most aptly) and philosophy (most entertainingly) to make his points.

And those points are well worth noting.I found an important insight into my own lack of progress in the first half hour of reading, one of those obvious but hard to realize things: I study too much!Rowson's discussion of how learning is applied, or more often not applied, is bound to help nearly anyone achieve a balance of study, and what I will call, based on the book, "applied play."Now, stop and reflect for just a moment how important this is, namely, learning how to balance study (and what you study) with actual play, so that your study can truly apply to your play.I have not seen such a good and useful treatment of this issue in any other book.

His further discussion of moods, approaches, and attitudes is equally revealing, especially his treatment of the "noble apprentice" syndrome --- the idea that it's fine to lose as long as you learn something.I have always believed this, and still do, but Rowson points out how this can fatally sap your will to win.This is but one of the many gems in the first half of the book.

The second half of the book looks at things like hard positions, and how you mentally approach them; there are then interesting chapters about white's advantages and black's advantages, expressed again in terms of how we approach them.The actual chess examples interspersed throughout are well annotated and apt, and contain discussion of thought process, approach,and attitude which reinforce the points made in the text.

This book is really different and really stands out.If you are a class player, lowly or not; or even a higher species of chess player, this book will matter and make a difference.Delay for a bit your purchase of "10,000 Terrific Tactical Tactics" or "Secrets of 20... Qa3 In The Przybylski Declined" and read this book first.... but only if you want to really see a difference in your play.

Gambit's First Bad Chess Book
If you're expecting another gem like Rowson's "Seven Deadly Sins" also by Gambit Publishing, forget it! Here Rowson gets lost in a lot of pop psychology, introspective musings and psuedoscience that passes itself off as philosophy. His reach into nonchess domains does NOT resolve confusion or produce insightful questions but creates confusion and misunderstanding.

I've the feeling that because of "Seven Deadly Sins" Gambit editors decided to let Rowson's intellect roam free in "Chess for Zebras". They made a terrible mistake. "Chess for Zebras" reads like a rotten first draft in extreme need of extensive editorial oversight. Don't waste your money on this conceptual trash heap. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

If you've ever dreamed of stepping into the pages of a book then this one is for you!
Andi Lofton-Hale's romantic life leaves much to be desired.None of the men she knows measure up to the ones she finds in Regency romance novels.Her latest heartthrob is Nathaniel Chamberlain from a 1910 copy of Wedgefield Hall.When Andi bought the book last week, the dealer gave her a `wishing stone'.A cute little trinket that couldn't possibly grant her fondest desire, or can it?

Nathaniel Chamberlain is the hero in Louisa Rawlings book Wedgefield Hall.He believes very strongly in following along with the writer's storyline and takes great offense when minor character, Alexandra Lofton-Hale, doesn't follow along with Louisa's storyline.Her defiant behavior puts them at risk of being written out of the book.

Andi's stunned by the appearance of her own name in the book she's reading.She comes up with all sorts of possible reasons for this phenomenon, but none of them truly make sense.When instructions for the wishing stone fall out of the book, Andi takes them to heart. She rubs the stone and speaks the words aloud that will in fact turn her into Alexandra Lofton-Hale and take her into Nathaniel's life.The only problem is that Alexandra is a minor character and Andi wants Nathaniel for herself.Dare she defy the writer of the book and try to alter the plot?Nathaniel warns her of the dangers involved in toying with an author's writing.Does Andi have any hope of winning Nathaniel's heart?

Dawn Calvert's debut novel HERO WORSHIP gives readers an enticing look at what it would be like to step into the pages of your favorite book and assume a role which you may have coveted.The twist is that the character Andi assumes is a minor character and she refuses to accept that she isn't destined to win Nathaniel's heart.I was fascinated by how the story has scenes that take place while Louisa is writing the centuries old book, then takes on a whole other life for the characters when she takes breaks, only to resume right where she left off when she retuns to writing again.I had to marvel at each of these scenes and how they added a delightful new aspect to the book and give life to the characters beyond what you'd normally expect as a reader.Beautifully written Ms. Calvert, this is a wonderful book that fully captivates the imagination!

Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies

I loved it!!!
5 stars! Andie, an English teacher, settles down with a nice Regency romance. She makes a wish to be in the book so she could meet the hero, but little did she know her wish would actually come true. However, there's a catch. Andi is only a minor character in the book and not the heroine the author has destined to win Nathaniel's heart. Can Andie change the author's plot and make Nathaniel hers?
This is a book you can't put down! Great workMrs Calvert! I can't wait for you to publish another book!

fanciful romance
This is the first romance novel I have ever read.I think it was very well written and creative.

Not exactly hero worship
Truthfully I purchased the book because of the cover. Yummy!I found the premise interesting however, it erked me to no end that the lovelorn buttinsky female character did not interact with the author who was merely protrayed as one who must be allowed to finish the book so everyone can go on with their lives. (Must stop hand of death, do NOT throw book at wall!!!) This was a tiring exercise, I don't usuall skip ahead but I just HAD to and was able to adequately reconstruct what happened from that point without losing much of the story itself. All in all not a book to spend 7 bucks on but I will get at least half back in credit at the local book nook.Yay!! ... Read more

Book Description
On the night of October 20, 1973, a white couple strolling down Telegraph Hill were set upon and butchered by four young black men. Thus began a reign of terror that lasted six months and left 15 whites dead and the entire city in a state of panic. The intent was nothing less than an attempt to instigate a race war. With pressure on the San Francisco Police Department mounting daily, and the murders showing no sign of abating, young homicide detectives Prentice Earl Sanders and his colleague Rotea Gilfordboth African-Americanwere assigned to the cases. The problem was: Sanders and Gilford were in the midst of a trail-blazing suit against the SFPD for racial discrimination, which in those days was rampant. The backlash was immediate. The force needed Sanderss and Gilfords knowledge of the black community to help stem the brutal murders, but the SFPD made it known that in a tight situation no white back-up would be forthcoming. In these impossible conditionsthe oppressive white power structure on the one hand, the violent black radicals on the otherSanders and Gilford knew they were sitting ducks. Still, they set out to find those guilty of the Zebra Murders and bring them to justice. This is their incredible story. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

Great Service Again
As usual book arrived in record time in great condition. Very interesting good read about a horrifying true subject!

Madness and murder in San Francisco
ZEBRA MURDERS: A Season of Killing, Racial Madness, and Civil Rights by Prentice Earl Sanders and Bennett Cohen is the true story of serial killings that took place in San Francisco in 1973 and 1974. The killings were racially motivated during a period when the United States was being forced to treat African Americans in a more equal manner. Although the Brown v. Board of Education decision had been made several years earlier, apartheid still existed. There were angry African Americans - some who were ready to step outside the law.

The atmosphere surrounding the murders included the kidnapping of Patty Hearst, the birth of the Black Panther Party and continued segregation in the work place. Early in the police investigation, it was noted that all the victims were white and black men were seen running from the scene of the crime. Two police officers, Prentice Earl Sanders and Rotea Gilford, who were fighting their own racial discrimination battle with the San Francisco police department, were assigned to the case. All black men who were out after dark were stopped, searched and questioned. This behavior brought lawsuits to the city. In addition, the two black officers were concerned there was going to be a white backlash and so they pushed hard to solve the case, sometimes staying up for days on end. The killings were upsetting the entire city and Sanders and Gilford were afraid the 'racial profiling' was only serving to make matters worse.

This is a well-written true story of American apartheid in the San Francisco police department and the ability of two black officers to overcome the obstacles and still solve the mystery. It moves along swiftly while interjecting the needed nuggets of history of segregation and discrimination in the United States. You can feel the frustration Sanders and Gilford felt as they fought the police department in a lawsuit and attempted to solve the mystery of black men randomly killing white people. Enough background was given so that the atmosphere surrounding San Francisco in 1973 was apparent. It is definitely a must read book.

Reviewed by Alice Holman
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Any California collection must have it.
Any long-time resident of the San Francisco Bay Area will recall the Zebra killer, whose racially motivated drive-by shootings terrorized the city in 1973-74, and how they were eventually solved by a team led by two black detectives. This story comes alive under the hand of the city's first Afro-American police chief, who was one of these detectives, and pro ides behind-the-scenes expose information about the reign of terror and its investigation. The underlying politics and discrimination within the SFPD comes to life, as does the time of social turmoil, in this riveting story of a crime spree thwarted. Any California collection must have it.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

I enjoyed the book
"Enjoy" is probably the wrong word for the subject matter.But I found it fascinating. Both my father and my uncle were in the force at the time and I heard stories about the case and the paranoia it caused.I was on offence about the racial controversies described in the book till I saw the discussions both on this site and elsewhere and saw the names of people (all retired SFPD cops) who were bashing the material.Now I think that maybe the authors are not exaggerating... Regardless, I found the book to be very interesting and informative.Good work.

Not a good book!
I bought this book with the hope of enhancing my limited knowledge on this critical time in the city of San Fransico that took place back in the 1970's. I did read Clark Howards book on the same subject about 25 years ago. After reading Mr Sanders version ofthe events I wonder if they were both writing about the same incident. Needless to say, Mr. Sanders book leaves one with the feeling that the real crime was the fact that the Mayor of S.F. and the police were using every means at there disposal to put a stop to these horrible crimes.
One fact that seems to be at odds with Mr. Sanders is the fact that after months of frustration, the police were able to create a crack in the case within a week of finally taking drastic actions in regards to a dragnet in the area where most of the killings took place. This is in direct contrast to the point that Mr. Sanders makes throughout the book which is to say that the then S.F. police department was completely corrupt and unable to solve crimes because they were so at odds with most of the citizens of S.F. A point most everyone else disputes.
I believe the fact that the crime was solved only after the police applied direct pressure speaks for itself in terms of whatit really took to put a stop to these killers.
I would not recommend this book to anyone who is searching for a truthful, insighful and accurate telling of this tragic chapter in the city by the bay. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Really 3 1/2 stars.
Actually, I did like this book although not as much as a lot of the other reviewers. There were just too many things I found frustrating, not the least of which was the fact that the h/h didn't "get together" until about 4/5ths of the way through the book. I guess I just like more "steam" in my romance novels. It was a sweet book, but definately not HOT. And the way the hero IMMEDIATELY fell in love with his wife's daughter seemed just a bit far fetched. I also found it difficult to understand the heroine's hatred of the idea of being married to an aristocrat. The explanation seemed a bit weak. Even with these drawbacks I still must admit it was a good read, just not the type I prefer. 3 1/2 stars. If you're looking for a good debut novel I recommend Sarah Brophy's Midnight Eyes (Zebra Debut). Can't wait for her new book to be released.

Forever Yours
Sophie Treneham lives in the country with her young daughter caring
for an estate that is slowly crumbling. Sophie would rather be there
though than in London's society ballrooms where she would be ridiculed
and judged for her scandalous past. Stephan, Sophie's brother,
desperately wants to see Sophie cared for so he coerces Jagger
Remington to marry her but Jagger doesn't want a wife and Sophie does
not want a husband.

As their feelings for each other slowly begin to change secrets from
their past threaten to destroy their newfound love, and danger and
deceit surround them.

Forever Yours is a lovely romantic story. Sophie is proud and very
strong. Jagger is compassionate and kind. Sophie pushes Jagger away
continually which is understandable and even expected but it's a
relief when they finally come together. Forever Yours is a touching
love story laced with excitement suspense and drama.

Nannette
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

UNBELIEVABLE, AMAZING, AWESOME, FABULOUS, CANT SAY ENOUGH!!!
Every once in a while you are stunned by the debut of a new writer and their work.In this case I say stunned because it is rare for a "first" book to be so moving, touching and so extraordinarily well written.For those of you tried and true historical romance fans that recall the earlier works of Julie Garwood's medievals and regencys and Kathleen Woodiwiss remarkable books such as Shanna, The Wolf and the Dove and The Flame and the Flower... this is going to be right up your alley.

In Forever Yours, you encounter both hero and heroine truly fighting with the remnants of a tragic and tortured past.For Sophie, her "offence" is believing that she was eloping with a man who loved her, though she was just the instrument of a gambling bet as the "groom" pretends to marry her, uses her and leaves her.From the "union" she bears twins and she has to suffer further tragedy when her son dies of a fever.

Jagger, equally tortured by his past and his lack of knowledge as to why his pederast father, brutally beat him and his mother from an early age, returns to England after being in self elected exile in India.

When his mentor and friend Stephen, whom he has always looked upon as a father figure, arrives in India to ask him to marry his sister, Jagger can't refuse, as he owes Stephen a debt of honor.The night that he and his mother were nearly beaten to death, he took his injured mother to Stephen, who took care of her until she died.

The story has every facet that makes a romance a fabulous read - be prepared to suck this one down overnight and be up till the wee hours of the morning...

The story is loaded with mystery, murder, sinister plots and truly evil characters that revolve around the two main protagonists.Both Sophie and Jagger feel that they have been manipulated by Stephen.But after dealing with the resentment and hurt of Stephen's actions, they accept their sealed fates, create a fragile bond and begin to see behind the reasons why Stephen brought them together.

Jagger falls in love with Sophie instantly.Her wounded and stoic demeanor, her fortitude and strength even after the tragic events in her young life makes Jagger immediately assume the role of the Knight in Shinning armor that Sophie never known existed.After the way society has shunned her and what she suffered at the hands of a "man", makes her scorn and mistrust the male species and is quite resolute in thinking that no man is trustworthy.

I fell in love with Jagger - his kindness and tenderness toward Sophie's small daughter, who has been rendered mute after the death of her twin brother. The painstakingly patient, kind and loving,manner in which he draws Sophie into believing that he is an honorable and trustworthy, loving man is truly beautiful, as is the love that they eventually share.