Product Description
Romance readers have taken to Maggie Brendan's softer romantic style that perfectly captures life on the American frontier, introducing them to rugged, independent souls and their inner spiritual struggles, and the quest for love that makes for a satisfying read every time. Set in 1890s Montana, The Jewel of His Heart finds Juliana drawn to a handsome, gentle sheepherder--but sparks fly when he considers mining, the occupation that lured her father away from his family. Both Josh and Juliana must make a choice--the world's riches and promises, or the eternal value of love.Praise for Maggie Brendan's first book:"You won't want to set this book down."--Romantic Times, 4½-star review"This gentle romance set among the rugged beauty of the Colorado foothills will warm readers' hearts."--Kim Vogel Sawyer ... Read more

Customer Reviews (31)

Frustrating, and a little exhausting...
When I first started reading this book, I was certain that it was going to be even better than book one (which I loved).I really liked the characters of Julianna and Josh, and a lot of the secondary characters (especially Shebe).I really cared about them and was routing for them to get together and be happy. I loved the cover, and for the first time ever, I allowed the characters in my mind to look like the cover images.
The couples relationship started developing really nicely, but... somewhere in the middle, it took a turn for the worse in my opinion.It became such a frustration to me that every time this couple might have minute to get to know each other, it was always interrupted with tragedy and high drama...you look forward to a nice little romantic reading, and we get instead, fires, explosions, and ant infestation.I did like the dramatic story line, but not at the total expense of the characters (and we as readers) getting to know each other, and having a genuine basis for being/falling in love. I think the 'ant bit' was supposed to be funny--but if something like that has ever happened to you--you know how truly horrible that is.
The tragedy was so constant (fire, burning sheep, explosions, dying men, dying dog, head wounds...etc), I never felt like I got a chance to just catch my breath and enjoy the love story...because if they weren't involved in high drama, then Julianna was being immature (she was, after all, merely 17) and was treating Josh badly.I must admit that I would have enjoyed the romance more, had Julianna been, say, two to three years older.I know too many 17 year old girls--and 'girls' they are-- to really lose myself in the idea of a 17 year 'woman' with a 30 year old man.And I was SO disapponted for Julianna that her father turned out to be...well...a loser and a criminal.
So anyway...unfortunately...I started out absolutely loving this...then halfway through it just fell apart for me, and I couldn't wait until it was all over.
And now I am left with a lingering problem.And that is, that I disliked Wes Owen so much, and envisioned him as such a repulsive character (right down to his chewing tobacco rotting teeth), that I am really going to have a hard time with him being the romantic lead in book 3.OOPS. Ms. Brendan really should have given us a few reasons earlier on to 'sort of' like Wes--to not think he was an ugly, creepy, slime-ball of a guy, like I was imagining him to be.
2.5 stars.Josh and Julianna deserved better.

Whow - what a book
What a story.Julianna Brady is poor at the beginning.This is something I can relate to growing up poor.I know how it felt to not want to have someone come in your house and see how little you have.
Julianna loses her Mother at the beginning of the story.She desires to know why her father left her when she was young.But the way she ends up connecting with her father is God sent and hard for her to deal with.Because of her father's leaving, she doesn't trust men.
Her story from her Mother's death to end builds her up in fatih in God, growth in her character, and finally trust in one man, Josh McBride.She is also priviledged to get a great job at the newspaper.
Josh is a sheepherder.His story starts with someone painting a picture of him and his dog.I loved way it worked into the story.He discovers some rare stones on his land.For a while he thinks of going into mining until something happens that changes his mind.Josh is alone accept for Andy, his cook, and his sheep dog.
He comes to the point he has to chose between wealth or the greatest Jewel he has found, Julianna.
A beautifully woven story of heartache, grief, tragedies, and love.All throught God's plan unfolds.
This book was such an encouragment to me as I deal with hurt by a family member so I could very well feel for Julianna's feelings about her father.

3 stars
A very sweet romance novel that is good for when you are in the mood for an effortless read. What I appreciated was the Christian aspect of the novel. Many Christian fiction books haven't incorporated the real Christian paradigm to their characters like Brendan has.

Ahhhh Another wonderful historical western romance!
After reading the first book in the series "No Place for a Lady," I immediately downloaded to my Kindle "Jewel of His Heart." I found myself reading this one nearly straight through. I just couldn't wait to finish it--but yet did not want the book to end! I have had just a delightful week -- spending it with the people of Lewistown. This book, also, is Christian fiction, but not in the preach-y sort of way!

Jewel of his heart

This was an excellent book and a great series.

GG ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (3)

Series Fan
My daughter loves the Rainbow Magic Fairy series.These books are great for girls to read independently.Most are 3rd to early 4th grade level.

Your princess will love Lucy the Diamond Fairy
I put these in goodie bags for my daughter Lucie's birthday part and they were a huge hit!We love all of the fairies (rainbow, gem, weather, etc).Yeah for Rachel and Kirsty and all of their adventures.

Lucy's in the sky, with a diamond
This slight chapter book is a nice finale to the Jewel Fairies series, but it doesn't stand on its own. It keeps referring back to the previous adventures of `tweens Rachel and Kirsty, who in earlier books (see below) have recovered jewels from a queen's crown. The seven books should be read in order for the story to make the most sense.

This time around, the Queen's magic diamond has been hidden in the sky with all the stars. The culprit? Series bad guy Jack Frost, who hurls bolts of ice at the girls to try and stop them. With a lot of help from Lucy the Diamond Fairy and the winged horse Pegasus, Rachel and Kirsty grab the jewel from the sky and save the day.

The series makes for an easy introduction to chapter books for young girls, but a laziness in the writing keeps it from, well, shining. The same words and phrases are used multiple times. For example, in this bookFrost lets out a "roar of rage" more than once.

Every page is illustrated with expressive line drawings.

Here are the other books in the series:
Sophie The Sapphire Fairy
Emily The Emerald Fairy
Amy The Amethyst Fairy
Chloe The Topaz Fairy
India The Moonstone Fairy
Scarlett The Garnet Fairy ... Read more

Product Description
Seven hundred years ago, a Black Widow witch saw an ancient prophecy come to life in her web of dreams and visions. Now the Dark Kingdom readies itself for the arrival of its Queen, a Witch who will wield more power than even the High Lord of Hell himself. But she is still young, still open to influence-and corruption.

Whoever controls the Queen controls the darkness. Three men-sworn enemies-know this. And they know the power that hides behind the blue eyes of an innocent young girl. And so begins a ruthless game of politics and intrigue, magic and betrayal, where the weapons are hate and love-and the prize could be terrible beyond imagining...Amazon.com Review
Anne Bishop's debut novel, Daughter of the Blood, islike black coffee--strong, dark, and hard on delicate stomachs. Withinthe Blood (a race of magic-users), women rule and men serve, buttradition has been corrupted so that women enslave men, who seek todestroy their oppressors. Female children are violated before they canreach maturity; men are tortured and forced to satisfy witches' sexualappetites.

Bishop's child heroine, Jaenelle, is destined to rulethe Blood, if she can reach adulthood. Her power is hidden; her familybelieves her mad. Saetan, High Lord of Hell and most powerful of theBlood males, becomes Jaenelle's surrogate father and teacher. Hecannot protect her outside Hell, where he rules. She refuses to leaveTerreille, risking herself to protect or heal other victims ofviolence. Can Daemon, Saetan's estranged son, keep her safe from themachinations of the evil High Priestess? Or will he lose his battle tocontrol his destructive urges and endanger her?

Readers may findsome aspects of Bishop's world confusing; not least that most of thegood guys live in Hell. But her protagonists are compelling,sympathetic characters who overcome terrible adversity. If you like Anne Rice or LaurellK. Hamilton, try this one. --Nona Vero ... Read more

Customer Reviews (270)

Black Jewels Series - One of my favorites!
This story follows several characters, the main ones are: Saetan, Lucivar, Daemon, and Janelle.In this world the most powerful people are those that are "Jeweled"/"Blood".The darker the Jewel the more powerful that person is.There is a hierarchy for the "Jeweled" people as well, "Queen" being the highest (there is no male equivalent).The "Jeweled" people have a strict code of honor amongst themselves, but it has become warped over many centuries.Some characters that have lived long enough to have seen the differences, Saetan for instance, dream of the old ways and wish for a "Queen" to follow that embodies those old ways.There are many dreamers - both human and animal/Kindred (animals with Jewels and intelligence).From their dreams comes a new "Queen" but not everyone recognizes her for what she is.

Ew. Just...ew.
okay, I AM writing from a religious point of view and as someone who is an avid reader of the fantasy genre.Generally, I take fantasy with a grain of salt - I understand the author is creating a violent, sexy world that has magic; isn't that the point of reading fantasy? But this series should be trashed.Its not edgy, its not artistic or enthralling - its incredible there is even a market for this crap.I am MYSTIFIED why this series is so popular.Its right up there with the Twilight series; like the person writing this never got over adolescence and the obsession that apparently angst/torture equals sexy hot characters.I couldn't read the whole book and I've even read other books of this series and tried to read Sebastian (which was so stupid I laughed myself sick after one chapter and tossed it away)with the same reaction; this is substandard, LONG, drawn-out, graphic, sadistic, so obviously satanic crap and it bodes ill for all of us if THIS is what women are looking for as inspiration in a book. how do things like this even GET published?

Just terrible.
I could not finish this book, I could not bring myself to read anymore... I do not want to read about children being abused, this is not entertainment, its sick. this was a blind purchase and has made me rethink getting a book on a whim without reading a review (or the dust cover) first. never again.

My fave book.... seriously
I read this book when I was 16 I am now 27 I can say I have read this book at least 20 times I loved it. It had me from the first paragraph on I wish Bishop could capture me again with her other novels sadly this is not the case BUT the Dark Jewels trilogy had me and contiunes to keep me traped in the twisted magical world of the Blood.

A Walk on the Dark Side of Fantasy
Three things you should know before getting this book.It's very dark and very mature, and if those things are okay with you, the author will take you on a wild ride through the world she created.

The darkness of the book comes from the world it's set in.Some of the characters have names we are familiar with... Saetan, Daemon, and Lucivar... however their names have nothing to do with their namesakes.This is a fantasy world that has nothing to do with ours.To be honest it could have been easier to just name them something else, yet since those names come with connotations, they impress upon us the dark/evil nature of these men... sortof.For instance, Saetan is the High Lord of Hell, yet he's an old man who walks with a cane and acts more like a grandfather.I'll admit it took me a good hour to become comfortable listening to the book because of the names and circumstances, but it was worth it.

The mature content is pretty much everything under the sun, tho it could be worse.There's graphic violence and those who take pleasure at watching it, some not-so-graphic sex scenes, the bad guys of the book have a thing for young girls, and the women are uber-sexual females that use some males of their kind as pleasure slaves.However, all that said, the way the book is written, not all of it is smiled upon... it was almost as if the author was showing a world caught up in the worst part of itself.How it needs to be saved.And there's a promise of a young witch who just might.

The world is really well imagined and will definitely appeal to those who like the darker side of novels.There are some moments of revenge that you are hoping will happen, and there's even room for a bit of humor.Imagine two really tough brutal guys falling head over heels for a young girl, one becoming a father-type, the other a protector, both having no clue how to handle someone so powerful and so innocent.

If you're a fan of the dark side, it's a worthy read.
... Read more

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Customer Reviews (5)

SO COOL!!!!!
OMG I'm 10 but I LOOOOOOOOOVVE THE JEWEL FAIRIES AND ALL THE TYPES OF FAIRIES FROM RAINBOW MAGIC AND OMG AMETHYST IS MY BIRTHSTONE AND THIS BOOK WAS RIGHT AFTER MY FIRST ONE OF THESE BOOKS IN THE JEWEL FAIRIES SERIES!!! THIS BOOK IS MAYBE A LITTLE CHILDISH FOR SOME AND ITS ONLY 1ST GRADE LEVEL BUT OMG I LOVE THIS!!! IF YOU KNOW ABOUT THE PLOT OF THESE BOOKS YOU'LL LOOOOOOOOVE IT SO BUY IT!!!!!

Children's book
I bought this book as an addition to other fairy books my 5 1/2 year old granddaughter has.She LOVES them!She actually can read them by herself. We didn't see much of her once she got the books in her hands.She now has about 10 of them and is begging for more.

My daughter loves these books!
My 7-year old loves this series of books!We've read all of the Jewel Fairies so far and can't wait to continue on with more like it.She loves the simple graphics on each page and often looks ahead at the pictures so she knows what is going to happen.She is also starting to read from these books on her own.We will definitely read more of these books!

Addictive Book
Amy the Amethyst Fairy is about two girls named Rachel and Kristy.They are asked by the king and queen of Fairyland to help them and the other jewel fairies get their jewels.Jack Frost stole them and took them to his Ice Castle.But fortunately for Rachel and Kristy, but also unfortunately for them, the jewels' power started to melt his Ice Castle and he angrily threw the jewels into the human world.Rachel and Kristy have helped India, Scarlet, Emily, and Chloe.Now in the Tipington Manor playground they help Amy get her jewel back.

This book is adventurous.It's part of the Rainbow Magic series and it's easy to get addicted to them. (Trust me I've read 15 of the Rainbow Magic series books.)I recommend this book for ages 6-12 especially for kids with big imaginations.

by Clare

Great series for young readers
My second grade daughter absolutely loves this entire series and everything by Daisy Meadows.She has become an avid reader since discovering these books last year. ... Read more

Product Description
Queens' Jewels is the result of a ten-year quest into the highly secretive realm of the collections of royal families throughout the world.The author has discovered the most precious jewels in existence - symbols of power and love - traces of a lost world.This lavish book relates the grandiose history of royal adornments, from the lost jewels of the last queen of Italy and the bloody odyssey of the Romanov crown to the story of the sapphire of the Countess of Paris and the treasure of the Catholic queens of Spain. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Great book overall
The Info has several errors of spelling and research. But the photos are wonderful and beatiful. A Great book overall and a good add on to your collection.

As Luxurious As The Subject
This magnificent book is so finely put together. The information is fascinating and the extraordinary photos are printed with such high quality. The author has created a work of art in itself.

Reader from the south-east US
Hi
I'd be interested to know which typos, grammar errors and careless proofreading you found in Queens' Jewels.

Too many flaws in the text
A feast for the eyes, of course, but so many typos, grammatical errors, and careless proofreading should never be permitted by any publisher, much less one with such a distinguished subject.Were there no editors?

INTERESTING! GOOD EFFORT, BUT WITH SOME FLAWS.
This Vincent Meylan's "Queens' Jewels" makes an interesting read. It did a good job on the English aristocracy/monarchy. The same applied to the French, the Scandinavian, and the Russian overlords. Its chapters were well-grouped and well-sectioned: thus making it easy for readers to select whatever interests them with great ease.
Sadly, little effort was made as to improve the quality of the included photographs. Also, some of the information which Mr. Meylan presented were flawed. And, the details of some royal treasures, (particularly those of Italy, Austro-Hungary, Netherlands, Spain, and Portugal) were scanty.
Overall, this is a good book (if one ignores its pardonable errors and omissions). ... Read more

Product Description
The first volume in Paul Scott's historical tour-de-force opens in 1942 as the British fear both Japanese invasion and Indian demands for self-rule. In the Mayapore gardens, Daphne Manners, daughter of the provincial governor, leaves her Indian lover, who will soon be arrested for her alleged rape.Amazon.com Review
"Ah no, waste no pity on young Kumar. Whatever he got while in the handsof the police he deserved. And waste no pity on her either. She also gotwhat she deserved."

August 1942. World War II is reaching its apex, with the conflictconsuming almost all of Asia and Europe. In Southeast Asia, the Japanesehave driven the British army out of Burma and are threatening India, whereBritain's beleaguered forces find themselves facing an increasingly hostileIndian populace tired of decades of unfulfilled promises of freedom. On adark monsoonal night in the town of Mayapore, amid an outbreak ofanti-British rioting, a gang of Indian men rape a young British woman.Through this rape, we are introduced to a cast of characters engulfed andsubsequently carried away by the storm of events. Paul Scott's The Jewelin the Crown is part historical novel, part mystery, part love story,part allegory. But to reduce it to any of these elements is to miss itsirony, poignancy, and beauty. Full of complex characters and rich inatmosphere and symbolism, this is a novel that works on many differentlevels.

The events unfold through the eyes of a varied cast of characters--bothBritish and Indian--united by their inability to escape the straightjacketof race and social roles, no matter their class, education, or politicalviews. This is particularly excruciating for the rape victim and the youngIndian man accused of the crime. These two are drawn to each other by theiralienation from the roles they are expected to play. Englishwoman DaphneManners finds herself increasingly estranged from her countrymen, whileHari Kumar, an Indian who has lived in Britain for all but two years of hislife and is so anglicized that he doesn't even speak Hindi, can't abide hisnative land. Their struggle with the identities and constraints thatsociety imposes on them and the manifestations of their conflict form thecore ofthe novel, providing the timelessness and richness that make itone of the great novels of the 20th century.

The Jewel in the Crown, originally published in 1966, is the firstof the Raj Quartet, the sweeping epic that looks at the collapse in the1940s of British rule in India. It was followed by The Day of the Scorpion,The Towers ofSilence, and ADivision of Spoils. --Jonathan King ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

book Jewel In The Crown
Purchased the book for my wife who wanted a personal copy of the novel after she watched the series by the BBC. The book was a discarded copy from a public library. Large print, showing normal shelf wear. The condition of the book we received, was accurately described by this vendor. It sold at a very good price and delivered promptly.

A demanding, but engrossing and mature epic's beginning
"The Raj Quartet" dwarfs even Tolstoy in length; like him, Scott wanders where minds captured within historical events and longing bodies yearn for understanding and release. He contrasts the English view of dividing heaven from earth with the Hindus for whom "the material world is illusory and Heaven a name for personal oblivion." (Everyman's edition 2007 ed.: 75) Lady Lili Chatterjee continues: "on this difficult journey from illusion to oblivion 'anything' counts as practical, because everything is speculative."

Out of such contradictions and resolutions, Indians, both British and native, must find reasons to carry out or shirk their duties, as administrators, soldiers, compromisers, rebels, or comforters, during WWII. Scott brings us behind the scenes as suspects are interrogated, idealists silenced, and dissenters tracked down. The Japanese have defeated the Crown in Burma, the Congress Party in India has fomented uprisings while Gandhi seeks withdrawal of troops and non-violent non-cooperation with the Empire. Scott explores a handful of characters reacting to two vicious attacks on Englishwomen, the elderly Miss Crane and the young Miss Manners, from various angles, altering his prose style subtly or dramatically, as an unnamed, unseen narrator collates these testimonies.

Scott's craft's amazing. He can create sinously periodic sentences that build up magisterially, or simple prose that transmits Indian versions of English pithily. He notes how in English, the written word attains flexibility, confidence, and evasion; "a way of gaining time and winning confidence." (217) But spoken, it's crueler. Hindi's spareness, by contrast, adds beauty missing from English, which " cannot be called truthful because its subtleties are infinite." Out of such elusive speech of the conqueror learned perforce by those ruled who must deal with the Crown's forces of law or arms, Scott builds his saga.

It's not romantic. A returning Hindu, educated in English public school, recoils at his native land's filth. Kumar reflects on a scene outside the hovel to which he's returned as a young man. Scott cleverly allows us, therefore, to see in an acculturated Indian's eyes the same scenes the same way that the British also view poverty when they come to this struggling land. "The milkman comes in the morning and milks his cow outside the house, near a telegraph pole. To this pole he ties a dead, stuffed calf which the cow nuzzles. This keeps her in milk. The calf was starved to death because the cow's milk was taken by the milkman to sell to good Hindus. Since I knew that, I take only lemon or lime in my tea when Aunt Shalini can get them from the bazaar." (243)

You also get a sense of the differences of India, of course, from the British characters. Miss Manners confides: "Behind all the chatter and violence of India-- what a deep lingering silence. Siva dances in it. Vishnu sleeps in it. Even their music is silence. It's the only music I know that sounds conscious of 'breaking' silence, of going back into it when it's finished, as if to prove every man-made sound is an illusion." (476) From these types of thoughts, the actions that the British and Indians engage in, violent, heroic, compromised, or confused, arise. Necessity, the pressure of war and revolt, and the demands to do something make all those whom Scott introduces complicit in the failed enterprise that was colonial India.

There's an analogy that sums this up. Scott as a military man in India captures in Brigadier Reid's memoir sharply the precise, pedantic, composed tone of officials he must have known intimately during this period. Travelling in a car, he notes how: "My batman was a Hindu, but the driver was a Muslim. I thought how salutary a lesson it was to those who talked so readily of 'differences' that in the car there could be found-- travelling in perfect amity-- a representative of each of the three main 'powers' in India-- Hindu, Muslim, and Christian. The journey itself, however, seemed endless. In the dark, with all these troubles freshly behind me I pondered the immensity, the strangely compelling beauty of India." (336-7) Reid's tone shifts between the obvious symbol, the Englishman's materialism, and his straining towards what he cannot as easily articulate, what distinguishes the mystery at the core of this plot. In all of its perspectives, all of its reports, we still close it wondering. Perhaps the next three books will bring us closer to solutions, or perhaps, given the collapse of British hegemony after the war, not.

Man Without A Country


An Indian father brings his small boy to England and raises him there. When the boy reaches 19 in 1942, circumstances require him to return to India. Once there he finds that he has nothing in common with the Indians, and he is accepted by neither the Indians nor the British. He then develops a relationship with a British girl that heads toward a disaster.

This is an unusual book that often proceeds so slowly that you sometimes think you are reading a novel written by Proust. The first 63 pages, for example,focus on a British woman teacher who then all but vanishes from the rest of the book. Much of the story is told through the reflections of different characters who see things from different viewpoints.

The beauty of the novel is its immersion in a period of Indian history that is just 5 years short of the country's independence. Some knowledge of Indian history will help the reader to appreciate the period in which the novel takes place. On the other hand no real historical acquaintance is necessary to enjoy the story.At one point in the book an uprising takes place in one of the towns, and we see this incident from the viewpoints of a British Brigadier, and a British administrator. This section is an excellent illumination of the British philosophy, civilian and military, toward the rule of India.

This is an elegantly written book, the first of the Raj Quartet. I should perhaps stress once more that its pace is quite glacial. When you do finish it, however, you will have assimilated an interesting aspect of the final years of British rule in India.

The decline of the British Raj in India
In the India of 1942 two rapes take place at the same time - that of the English girl Daphne Manners in Mayapore and that of India by the British. In each physical violence, racial animosity and the domination of the weak by the strong all play their part, but playing a part too are love, affection, loyalty and recognition that the last division of all to be overcome is the colour of the skin. As the story unfolds the whole spectrum of Anglo-Indian relations is vividly evoked in a flurry of emotions, personal clashes and historical reasons which eventually prise India - the Jewel in the Imperial Crown - from its setting.
The two virtues of the novel are the colourful range of characters it skilfully portrays and its powerful evocation of the last days of British India, now quietly slipping away into history.

Jewels or Paste?
I know this is a classic, I know it made it to Masterpiece Theater, but I just cannot grab hold of the story.It is our book club's choice this month and I struggled to read the entire book but only made it half way through and was easily distracted by many other books.

My perception is of an old and fussy book, much like the main character. It's dense and slow and just couldn't hold me. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (15)

Jewlery Design Projects
This book is very easy to follow as far as her instructions to create your own projects similar to hers.She's included a supplies list and instructions for many different pieces of wearable jewelery.I think it is great!

doesn't teach ANYTHING!
Yes, this book is full of great ideas and pictures of re-using old costume jewelry, but the author doesn't even talk about the best way to remove a pendant clasp or a clip-on earring backing.In addition, there is no list for supplies at the end.Very pretty, but not very useful.

inspirational
Loved this book. Great photos and instructions. It gave me some wonderful new ideas for ways to put together my jewelry designs. Is a great book for anyone with basic soldering and wire wrapping skills.Also great ideas for anyone with a nice collection of vintage or antique jewelry tidbits who needs some creative insight. A must for your design library.

Beautiful book by a beautiful person
Loved reading about the author's early inspirations, and looking at the gorgeous photos. If you haven't been to her web site to see her lovely clothes, go to [...] - beautiful things, and great music plays as you are browsing!

high inspiration
Amy Hanna's Rejuvinated Jewels:New Designs from Vintage Treasures rates "high" on my inspiration list of jewelry books. She has taken bits and pieces of vintage jewelry and combined them to make some outstanding necklaces, earings and bracelets. Readers may not be able to find some of the treasures that Amy has found, but you sure can have fun looking through your stash of old jewelry through a "new set of eyes", and if you enjoy the "thrill of the hunt" through antique and vintage shops as much as I do, you'll be charged up and ready to shop!! Check out Amy's blog for lots of interesting posts full of charm and beauty.[...] ... Read more

Product Description

[Siren PolyAmour: Erotic Sci-Fi PolyAmour Romance, F/M/M/M/M, M/F/M, M/M, Multiple Partners Sharing, Public Exhibition]

Customer Reviews (1)

4 1/2 Hearts From TRS!
"The Family Jewel is a sensual, emotional, and poignant love story that will captivate the reader, holding them hostage to the explosive delights page after page. Ms. James has a talent for depicting events and character experiences in a detailed way that captures the imagination and enhances the story for an added enrichment to this flawless romance. The heroes are honorable, intelligent, and men full of humanity. Shantay is a strong-willed, tender, courageous, and feisty heroine who really is the ultimate prize. The mesmerizing sensuality and passion between Shantay and each of her men are unforgettable scenes to savor. The sexual tension and heat are vibrantly delightful and sizzling with an understated sensuality and a depth of emotions that will take the readers breath away. The interaction between the characters is realistic, intense, and touching. The Family Jewel weaves threads of vengeance, danger, suspense, and revenge making everything seems even more soul searing. The ending is truly magical!"

"Ms. James outdoes herself with this stunning example of why readers love romantic stories so much! Absolutely a beautiful and delectable story to cherish!" - Shannon ... Read more

Product Description

The first in the newly repackaged Kensington Chroniclesseries, The Hawk and the Jewel  sweeps readers from the tapestried halls of Victorian England to the alabastercourts of Arabia.

Everyone thought little Sunny had perished with LadyGallagher in storm–tossed seas off the Arabian coast, but the beautiful toddlerhad been found, taken to the palace of Darhabar,and raised as the ruler’s own child. Now the emir, Ahmad Khan, is sending herhome, and Sunny’s uncertain, new life is completelyin God’s hands.

This classic series, which has sold more than 375,000copies, has a fresh, new look sure to please Lori Wick’s longtime fans andreaders just discovering the treasure of a great story.

Customer Reviews (52)

Doubt I'll read again . . .
I have to say I'm genuinely surprised by the positive reviews this book is getting. I feel as though maybe I missed something when I read it, because I when I look over the glowing reviews here, it's as though they are reading another book!

As much as I treasure good, clean, Christian fiction that weaves God and the Christian faith into a story (which Wick does here, and quite lovingly), that is about the only thing I thought was done well here.

I feel awful saying this, but I was really very bored reading this book! I'm not much of a romance fan, but I took up this book knowing Christian romance is what Lori Wick is known for. I expected some "mushy" stuff, but I have to say, this book doesn't even really contain that much romance.

Instead it contains a predictable plot with very flat, two-dimensional (if that!) characters who I find are hardly memorable either in speech or description. Sunny is memorable only in name, eye-color and the fact she is so stubborn initially. Otherwise, I cannot remember a single line of her dialog, or a scene she was in that I particuarly thought was riveting.

Even the title of the book ends up being hardly tantalizing. Never mind the age diference; as soon as you meet Captain Brandon "Hawk" Hawksbury, and a crew member aboard his ship remarks that Sunny is "a jewel", you can pretty much see how things are going to end up, no matter how many times Sunny and Hawk argue, find other love interests, and generally misunderstand each other over the simplest of things. The rest is just not very interesting and ends in an agonizingly slow, frustrating pace as Sunny comes up with excuse after excuse as to why Brandon's love just can't be genuine. At first I could understand her hesitation. As a bit of a mistrustful person myself, I can see how she would be afraid to believe that something so wonderful as Hawk loving her just couldn't be possible, but I mean, come ON woman, how many times does he have to tell you before it SINKS IN?!

Wick's writing style is not something I would have expected. I'm a bit of a writer myself and can say that I found her description of characters and places often lacking, vague or extremely cliche. On the flip side, when she did choose to describe a feeling, an expression or a place, she tended to use very odd, purple prose that didn't really get any type of image across to me at all except that it sounded corny. She forgets the prime rule of writing a book: Show, don't Tell. Too often I find Wick simply tells you: "So-and-so did this. She then felt like this. She then proceeded to do this, that, and the other thing, even though she felt miserable about it." I'm sorry, but for all Sunny or whoever is feeling, I'm simply NOT caring because this description is SO detached it does not encourage me to connect to Sunny in any way about anything. Show me how frustrated or miserable she is; take the time to slow down and describe how awful this feels. Bury me in it so I'm right along with Sunny, wishing better things for her and cheering when she gets them!

Alas, all her characters sound the same, like cardboard cutouts. No one has a distinct "voice". They all very freely talk about their feelings and thoughts, because, frankly, which is good I suppose because none of them are developed enough for them to be cared about if they don't constantly tell me why I should be caring about them at all.

I find this really sad and genuinely disappointing.I'm currently reading "Wings of the Morning" and am liking it only slightly more than this book.

For exceptional Christian fiction, I recommend Gilbert Morris. He usually (although not always!) produces fantastic Christian fiction with great storylines, memorable characters and even sweet (but sparing) romance woven throughout a well-constructed story. My favorite is his Dani Ross mystery series. :)

I'm hoping I'll come across a Lori Wick novel that will change my mind but right now I'm a bit burned by this experience, sorry. :(

The copy I have is worn from rereading!
What is so spectacular about this book is that it is a great love story about a vivacious, headstrong young lady who is an unlikely- yet perfect- match for a young duke who isn't aware of his own pride issues. Over the years he tries to forget about her, to replace her in his heart- but alas, he fails and learns the heart cannot be tricked or blinded. Some misunderstandings keep them apart for a while, and in the end a very satisfying conclusion is delivered to the reader. I love this book; I have read it at least ten times. It is a bit slow when she first arrives in London, with all the historical details about clothing and propriety and what not during the time period (if you read much historical fiction you'll take this all in stride)- but well written so that the reader feels s/he is the one being rebuked and learning how to act and dress and carry on. This book made me laugh and smile, and I anticipate you will enjoy it immensely!

The Hawk & the Jewel
I read this book for a book club.It is not one I would have chosen to read by myself.It is NOT my style.Moreover, there were several areas where I thought the author totally missed out:
This is the story that starts with a 23 year old ship captain's being sent from Victorian England to some exotic Arabian port to bring home an almost 13 year old girl who had been "kidnapped" and kept there.No women were otherwise present; this young captain escorted her home to England by himself (in the company of his ship's crew.)Sorry but it would NOT have happened, NOT in Victorian England.He is a friend of her siblings but is put in charge of her financial affairs--despite the presence of a couple of her brothers who were successful businessmen.The captain has to teach her some "manners" including how to dress and how to use silverware.He actually teaches her to use her knife and fork in the American way, NOT the European way!
I thought this author, who is supposedly quite notable, demonstrated a trait of laziness in NOT thoroughly researching her subjects.I likely will NOT read any more of her books.Give me a good murder mystery (Connelly, Jance, White) anytime!

How lovely!
The only bad thing about this book is the name of the lead... Sunny.Now, that is saying something!Because who cares what her name is!!!

This is such a great story.The beginning is intriguing, the middle is a combination of emotions, and the end is thrilling!!

The beginning: An English toddler lost at sea to grow up in Arabia as Shani, the beloved daughter of the Emir?OOOOOOOOOOOH!!!Her "father" forces her back to her English family with nothing but a short note and an odd gift???Wow!!I'm intrigued!!

The middle:She is scared and unsure of English customs.She went from Shani to Sunny overnight?Poor girl!Strange family, strange customs!Wait, these men only have one wife each?And they seem to LOVE their mates?And every man in the country seems taken in by her beauty and she is afraid of "enslavement" by marriage!

The end:She loves WHO?WHO loves HER?WHOA!This is thrilling!!What's going on... this is all so exciting!!

Okay, so those are some of the thoughts and emotions you will have while enjoying this very well written, well thought out book.Everything ties together.All of the characters, and I mean ALL, are wonderful.Even secondary characters are well developed.

After a very disappointing try at reading "Cassidy," I was a little apprehensive about trying out another WIck book.I am so glad I read this and threw caution to the wind.This is spectacular.

The Hawk and the Jewel
I think that Lori Wick has outdone herself in this series.Loved the book and I've read it several times since buying it 3 months ago. ... Read more

Product Description
Highly informative and lushlyillustrated. An unbeatablecombination for pleasure and learning. --Children's Book Review Service The illustrations and the vocabulary will delight small eyesand ears. --School Library JournalQ&A - Ruth Heller - A Paperstar ProfileRuth Heller - Profile How did you become interested in writing books for children?I loved reading to my own children, and when they started school, I became the P.T.A. librarychairman. I was the one who got to pick and choose and spend a nice fat budget for the elementary school library. I feel as though I've been surrounded by children's books for years. I suppose this and my strong art background are what prompted my trying to write.What is the biggest influence in your style of writing, and how has it changed since you first began?Hillaire Belloc, Gilbert and Sullivan, Edward Lear--I grew up reading all of them. I love their- Ruth Heller - A Paperstar ProfileHow did you become interested in writing books for children?I loved reading to my own children, and when they started school, I became the P.T.A. librarychairman. I was the one who got to pick and choose and spend a nice fat budget for the elementary school library. I feel as though I've been surrounded by children's books for years. I suppose this and my strong art background are what prompted my trying to write.What is the biggest influence in your style of writing, and how has it changed since you first began?Hillaire Belloc, Gilbert and Sullivan, Edward Lear--I grew up reading all of them. I love their rhythm, and I loved reading Dr. Seuss to my children. No question, these were my influences. I think I've become wordier, not quite as minimal and succinct as I used to be.What made you decide to write a series on the parts of speech?Take a peek at the back end paper of the hardcover edition of A Cache of Jewels. You'll see that Icommitted myself, in print, to writing a book for each part of speech. Here I am, ten years later, thankfully completing the very last book in this series. It will be publishedin 1998.Do you begin with the words or pictures when you are developing a book? How does the second part come together?The first step is to decide what I am going to say on each page. Then I can begin to visualize my illustrations. The words dictate what the illustration will be, but that still gives me many options. Sometimes the two come together easily, sometimes not. If not, I pursue new research material until something clicks. Did you learn anything new about the parts of speech while writing these books?I learned many things I had forgotten, and some new information and rules that I had never known.I also learned that the textbooks that I used for research were difficult to understand and somewhat boring, and that I am guilty of frequent misuse of the English language.How do you choose the images in your book? An art teacher once told me to fall in love with whatever I was drawing. So I choose images thatI love: candy, ice cream, butterflies, sea creatures, carousels, jewels, etc. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Adorable and Insightful All At Once!
This book is a wonderful adventure into the world of language for young children.I am an ESL teacher for grades K-2 and this book is one that engages and teaches the function of nouns as well as providing beautiful illustrations. The kids love them and it provides a valuable toolfor enhancing reading and writing skills. I discovered these books in a graduate level class and they are all a wonderful addition to any classroom teacher's library. Ms Heller is truly an artist and an author that captivates a young child's creative spirit.

Gorgeous illustrations!
In addition to being a great way to learn about what groups of objects are called (I even learned a few new ones) the vibrant colors of the illustrations are incredible.I even got a used copy to take apart so I could put some of the pictures up in my son's playroom - they are that nice.

Cool Grouping Terms, For Kids To Learn
Good fun for 3-8 yrs. Everybody knows that a group of fish is a school, or a bunch of ships is a fleet. But what do you call several peacocks, or agroup of kittens, or a gathering of witches? Puzzeled?

This is the firstchildrens book I have come across that could answer those questions forchildren, with many more collective nouns to spare. Good illustrations,relatively quick read, and interesting and easy for children to follow.Mega points for originality!

A literate and fun exploration of collective nouns
This is a great way to teach about collective nouns.It also makes a great starting point for students' own writing pieces and word collections. ... Read more

Product Description
A young couple survives World War II and rebuilds their lives by benevolently purchasing family jewels from war survivors and beginning their own gem business. Reprint.Amazon.com Review
Birthdays are a time for reflection, especially for Sarah, Duchess ofWhitfield, who is awaiting the arrival of her far-flung family. Yearsearlier, reeling from her pending divorce, Sarah Thompson is force-marchedthrough Europe on the grand tour by her concerned parents. Disinterested inthe sons, grandsons, and nephews paraded before her by well-meaningacquaintances, Sarah chances upon William Whitfield, the Duke of Whitfield,14th in line for succession to the English throne. Disarmed by hiswit and intrigued by his intellect, Sarah allows William to become hercompanion in London, warning him they can only be friends. Undeterred,William dismisses Sarah's protestations that her divorce makes herunsuitable to be his duchess and finally convinces Sarah to marry him.While honeymooning in France, Sarah and William happen upon Chateau de laMeuze. Enchanted, the Whitfields buy and set about restoring the estate.But World War II looms, threatening their idyllic existence. Following thebirth of their first child, Phillip, William joins the RAF when Englanddeclares war on Germany. Reluctantly, he leaves Sarah and Phillip at thechateau. German troops, led by the courtly commandant Joachim von Mannheim,take possession of the chateau to establish a hospital, removing Sarah andPhillip to the caretaker's cottage.

When the war ends, William, after being imprisoned for three years and barely surviving the torture that deprived him of the use of his legs, returns to his family. The Whitfields pick up threads of lives strained, but not broken, by war. Soon, they are approached by others who lost everything during the war except a few secreted heirlooms. But jewelry can't put food on the table, and the Whitfields begin purchasing jewelry to provide neighbors with much-neededcash. When William jokingly suggests opening a Paris store, a legacy isborn: Whitfield's, Jewelers to the Crown. Over the next decades, whichbring three more children, two more branches of Whitfields, and the deathof her husband, Sarah is molded into a force to be reckoned with, capableof handling her willful children and a highly successful internationalbusiness with equal aplomb. Steel paints a portrait of a family, imperfectas they may be, and the powerful matriarch who reminds them of the bondthat transcends titles, money, and borders. --Alison Trinkle ... Read more

Customer Reviews (38)

Enjoyable
This story starts as Sarah Whitfield stands waiting for her children on the eve of her 75th birthday. We are then taken through the memory of her life.

Her first marriage to Freddie is a disaster as he regrets marrying her. finds her boring and is not ready for marriage anyway. Her parents take her on a trip round Europe when she divorces him to try and get over the trauma. When she gets to London she meets William, Duke of Whitfield. She falls in love with him and they buy a French chateau. When they are parted by war Sarah waits for Williams return and her chateau is taken over by the Germans, so she spends the war years living side by side with the Germans and befriends a commander.

We are taken through Sarah's 75 years and I preferred the first half of the book, ie pre war and war years to the second half ie after war. I found Sarah children completely unlikable, but then, I think there supposed to be. Especially Philip, what an ass. I thought Sarah was pretty shallow towards the end also, she didn't like her grand kids cause they were boring and pale skinned. She felt sorry for Philip because he had to have affairs because his wife was boring, much like Sarah with her first husband. Also it was ok for Emmanule to have an affair with minister because his wife was sick and they were doing no harm! For the first 2/3 s of this book, definitely 5 stars, last 1/3 3 stars.

Depressing book.
How could anyone enjoy this book?You take a great woman and a great man, and they get married and have four kids, and the kids are all a mess.How does that work???I found the last third of the book just awful--I kept hoping someone would redeem themselves, but that was a long time coming.She should have ended the book after the War. I also found the shameless spending kind of gross.I like a good escape now and again, but these people just weren't fun.I enjoyed Danielle's older romance novels, but this was just over the top.I wish I could write mindless books like this and have them be bestsellers ...

EPIC...EXCELLENT...HEART WRENCHING AT TIMES
Superbly written over five decades of love and loss and triumph. I especially like the history of WWII era and of course the European setting. Great Read...set aside some time for this one.

Comparing The Good Life Abroad with America in the 1930s.
As all of the Danielle Steel devotees know, she writes always about the rich and famous in a never-ending series of life among the wealthy, the ups and the downs.Sarah grew up in Manhattan in the 1930s and was exceptionally beautiful; like Evelyn Hazen, she was lured into a sordid marriage which she found distasteful.Unlike Evelyn, she had parents who cared enough to take her on the 'Queen Mary' to Europe to get over the embarassment and pain of lost love.Evelyn's parents had money and a big plantation just outside town, but she was left to wallow in mental turmoil and unjust treatment by the man who took advantage of her.All Knoxville men tell lies to get what they want, and go their merry way after they have hurt young girls.Evelyn lived in disgrace but after the trial of breach of promise held in Kentucky, she eventually became the assistant to the Head of the English Department who wrote t he Harbrace Handbook, used by English teachers everywhere.

Sarah met her destiny one afternoon at a luncheon a periperial member of the British monarchy and, like the King, he gave up his office to marry a divorcee from America.There is some accounting of Wallis Simpson and the similarity.Both (or should I say, all three) were scandals, but when a man loves a woman he will give up his throne to be with her in Paris.William Duke of Whitfield was much older than the lovely Sarah but he tookher to France on the honeymoon (like Tom And Katie) and stumbled upon the perfect "dream house," a historic chateau which they renovated.Katie was a princess who married in an Italian castle after having her lover's baby girl.Sarah soon had a son to raise and another child on the way when the war intervened and William is forced to join the allied forces.

The Germans took over her castle and turned it into a medical facility as the Civil War did here in America, confiscating plantations, even the courthouse in downtown Knoxville for their wounded soldiers (the Union did).William has apparently been killed as Sarah is bereft with grief when he is not located; after the war, however, she finds him and brings him home to the chateau in France and nurses him back to health.They go on to have two more children.

This book encompasses fifty years and is a lot like A WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE with the matriarch calling a family gathering on her 75th birthday to decide who gets her business dealing with jewelry.Sarah and William bought the family jewels of the war survivors to sell to the crowned heads of Europe.It is the basis of commerce, to take from the poor and sell to the rich.It goes on all the time.Here where I live, there was a well-planned burglary in which the most expensive antiques, including three large heavy mirrors were stolen from the hallways on three of the eleven floors.Had the thieves been able to get into the apartments, they wouldhave taken money, jewelry, medications to sell on the streets, and anything else they could grab and some of the old people would have been hurt.This place has bad management, and the theft did not reach the newspaper -- probably was not even reported to the police, as this is run by a "Christian" organization (more like a Hell with a monster office manager who mistreats the elderly and steals from the rent money).But Sarah lived to enjoy the fruits of her labors and had to decide who would inherit the jewels along with the family company.It is a hard decision, as Emma in Woman of Substance chose her granddaughter because of the bickering within the group-up part with dissension and finger-pointing.She had an extraordinary marriage, even though the husband was much older, as opposed to Evelyn Hazen who was afraid to marry or love any man ever again.Such is the substance of life versus fiction.

Probably my favorite Steel novel
"Jewels" is a generation spanning, romance driven, nail biting (and all the other cliches) extravaganza that involves all the standard familiar tools of romance writing: the heroine stuck in a loveless marriage... the dashing gentleman (with an accent) who saves her... a war that separates them... and so on.Outward appearances would make one believe it is your old run of the mill romance novel.But Ms. Steel succeeds in creating a very likable and sympathetic heroine, as well as, a truly chivalrous and charming leading man.Though I found the story to slow a bit when the focus was placed on the children, it is not enough to cause the novel to lose momentum (or rating stars).As I said, it is one of her best and truly enjoyable! ... Read more

Product Description
The invitation is signed “Jaenelle Angelline,” and it summons her family to a special soirée. But when her guests enter the house, they find themselves trapped in a living nightmare created by the Black Widow witches—and if they try to use Craft as protection, they risk being sealed in the house forever.

But Jaenelle did not send the invitation. And now she and the rest of her family must rescue the others inside—and then find out who has created such a place, and why... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (63)

A fun read, but something of a letdown to the Black Jewels world
Tangled Webs felt like a book written simply to indulge the authors idea to play around with the characters once more. The plot itself is very weak and simple, and whilst the characters are as wonderful as ever, there seems to be a frequent usage of sex that I don't recall being so heavy an influence in the other books. The sheer amount of sex bothered me to such a point that at times I found myself thinking "Not again" and hoping the characters would just hurry up and get on with moving the plot forwards.

The nice thing about Tangled Webs is that it's an easy book to read. The pages passed by very quickly, and I was certainly absorbed by the characters, if nothing else. Though the spooky house didn't have the effect on me that I think the author would have liked. What really bothered me was the original premise of this story. Jannelle's idea to create a spooky house was fun for about a chapter at the most, but then I felt the whole story felt a bit immature.

Ah well. Tangled Webs is still a fun read, and it certainly did pass the day pleasantly. I think it's a rather poor contribution to the Black Jewels series though, and I feel a bit letdown by that.

Lighter and not as good
This wasn't a bad book, but it wasn't a great book either. It was just alright, and pretty forgetable. The story didn't add much to The Black Jewels universe, and while it was nice to see some of the characters again, and there were some parts I really enjoyed, Bishop has gotten herself into rut with the fact that everyone who could be an interesting antagonist was taken care of in the original trilogy, leaving the post-trilogy books filled with minor antagonists, and family/relationship stories, which don't interest me very much. In my opinion, Bishop does best when her tone is dark, and struggles on lighter moments, which I felt was most of "Tangled Webs."

decent read
Love Ann Bishop and anything black jewels but this volume was not one of my favorites.

"Tangled Webs"
After reading some of the other reviews about this book, i decided to write my own. Many of the reviews i read were very negative and critical, but personally, this book did not disappoint me in the least. I have read every one of Anne Bishop's novels in The Black Jewels Series, and have yet to read one that i didn't absolutely love. This novel, just like the five previous ones in the series, was amazing. The story was full of suspense and went very quickly, and I think the negative reviews are very misleading. I hope anyone who enjoyed the other novels will not hesitate to read this one, it is worth it.

Why?
Really, that's all I want to know.

Was there a meeting over at Roc in which the staff said, "how can we suck yet more money out of the cooling corpse of the Black Jewels Triology? Oh yes I've got it let's set a Scooby Doo episode in Bishop's universe. S&M + little kids + totally unintelligable plot and characters, how could this possibly go wrong? Oh yes and let's keep in all of those repeated phrases to the point that it seems as though we are trying to spark off the world's saddest drinking game."

Are they trying to run off the last of the middle of the road fans? I suppose that's not such a bad idea, get the fence sitters out of the way, make this a really all or nothing sort of series. But honestly, this has to be one of the most disapointing books I have ever read. I know that professional authors are trying to make a living by churning out as many volumes as possible but this thing should never have made it past the editorial phase, let alone been published in hardback edition. I'm serious about this being a poor idea because of the alienation of a chunk of her original fan base. I, and a number of my friends, have been into this series from '98, that's eleven damn years of our lives and believe me we were devoted to the original trilogy. After this book not one of us are going to purchase another one of her books, nor are we recomending them to people I've discovered.

I know we all have to grow-up and move on from our teenage sci-fi/fantasy favorites but I wish the break had been a bit less painful. Wait, no I still love Jack Whyte and Frank Herbert. There was no excuse for the book to be this awful whomever is responsible should be ashamed of themselves. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Family Jewels
Great book, it goes into total detail about what to do and how to do it safely!

Good Book For Beginners
Very simplistic yet informative. I would suggest it for any cbt beginner looking for a bit more information before taking that brave cock and ball busting leap! ~Winks~

Enjoyable and Informative
I found this book to be easy to read, well organized and very informative for the beginner.It covers safety issues and guidelines, as well as offers suggestions for play.Im glad I purchased this book!

Very helpful
My wife loved the book and has found it very informative.She was not aware that she knew so much through our trial and error methods, but now more errors....just more fun.

Mistress enjoyed this book
I Purchased this book for my Mistress.She read it entirely in one sitting!She very much enjoyed the look on my face as she described what she had read. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (4)

Wonderful Introduction to Chapter Books
These books were the first chapter books I read to both my son and daughter. They both really enjoyed them. The length is just right for a first chapter book. The predictable plot helped my children feel safe about the drama that occurs with Jack Frost. My sensitive children needed to know that they good guys win. We really enjoyed these as our first read aloud chapter books and my son enjoyed them as some of the first chapter books he read to himself.

daisy meadows fan
My daughter loves the Rainbow Magic Fairy series of books.They are geared to 3rd and early 4th grade reading level.She owns the basic seires, the jewel fairy series and the weather fairy series.She is starting to read the pet fairy series.

My daughter loves these books!
My 7-year old loves this series of books!We've read all of the Jewel Fairies so far and can't wait to continue on with more like it.She loves the simple graphics on each page and often looks ahead at the pictures so she knows what is going to happen.She is also starting to read from these books on her own.We will definitely read more of these books!

Seven year old LOVES these
YOU will find these simple, but for my reluctant reader they are magic! She can talk about fairies all day now, and looks forward to getting more of these books.She also loves to color the pictures in. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (51)

A few pitfalls, but overall interesting and worth reading
I found Maureen Lindley's book about Eastern Jewel (later known as Yoshiko) a very interesting piece of historical fiction. Given the large gaps in our understanding of the real woman, Lindley has a lot of freedom to fill in gaps of motivation and experiences, and I thought that she made some extremely clever and interesting choices, though there were a few decisions that I was somewhat ambivalent about.

Lindley has a wonderful eye for detail, giving the reader a peek at the world that Eastern Jewel moved through as one of the last Manchurian princesses. At times Eastern Jewel's voice sounded almost a little too, well, European, but I think that Lindley balanced this by choosing to set the book up as something that Eastern Jewel wrote while awaiting execution, therefore allowing the reader to accept that the later European influences on her life filtered through to her own writing.

I think that Lindley made a bold decision in how she presents Eastern Jewel -- despite the sexual exploitation of her childhood, Eastern Jewel never sees herself as a victim. Instead, she sees herself almost as a predator herself, and views herself as a willing participant. It was a very interesting character point that I think really added an unexpected turn to the book. Lindley also allows Eastern Jewel to be far less than perfect -- Eastern Jewel is a character who often makes selfish decisions, and whose primary loyalty is to herself. It works for this character, situation, and book.

A banquet of writing, a feast for the senses
Snake and Chrysanthemum Soup. Longhua Peaches and Sake. Airag and Russian Tea with Salt. Champagne and Pickled Ginger. Yoshiko, aka Eastern Jewel from the lush epic "The Last Emperor" lives, parties, seduces and eats her way through a time when women were expected to be demure. It's her tragedy and her triumph. Unlike her emperor-in-exile cousin Pu Yi, who she must spy on, Eastern Jewel does not wait for power. She takes what measure of power she can find.

The evocative writing, sexual intrigues, food, and characters such as Eastern Jewel's maid Sorry and her AAmerican lover Jack Stone as well as her Mongolian first husband make this an epic journey. Eastern Jewel herself is the star as well as the heroine, a Chinese Scarlett O'Hara who smokes and dresses as a man or a woman, depending on her whim. Yearning for respectability and love, she nevertheless chooses danger and scandal. In so doing she becomes eminently fascinating. Maurren Lindley makes us root for her to be "bad," and at the same time, to find happiness and belonging.

I liked it and here's why
"In 1914, at the age of eight years, I was caught spying on my father Prince Su as he made love to a fourteen-year-old girl." This is the opening sentence of a remarkable novel: the fictionalized account of a real life Chinese princess who became a Japanese spy in the 1930s and 40s and finally died by the executioner's sword in a Chinese prison camp.

Banished to Japan for her childish indiscretion, she finds herself trapped in the loveless household of Baron Kawashima, a powerful and ruthless man who rapes her repeatedly. Her response to this is not the expected one. She enjoys the rough sex and, far from seeing herself as a victim, she learns to use her beauty as a weapon. Throughout her life, sex will be a tool of her trade as well as an anodyne for the depressions and nightmares that haunt her. She also develops an early taste for opium, alcohol, and male dress--not wanting to be a man but to enjoy a man's freedom and power. The ruling passion of her life, however, is Japan. She admires Japanese strength while she despises Chinese weakness. And her youthful predilection for spying will now be employed in Japan's interest. The requirements of her masters will send her to Mongolia, Manchuria, Shanghai, and Peking--always living the high life and leaving behind a string of lovers. But her own heart is broken too, and her depressions become deeper. Her motto had always been: "We are all animals and to survive well should be each individual's aim."But when Japan is defeated and her own life is in ruins, one supremely selfless act redeems her.

It is Eastern Jewel's self-knowledge and complete honesty that rescue her story from sordid tragedy. Lindley's writing is subtle and sensitive and every page shines a light into some dark corner of human nature.

Eastern Jewel is a difficult character to like.
Born the daughter of a concubine and a Chinese prince, Eastern Jewel never really fit into the mold of what a lady should be in the palace of the Emperor.When she is caught spying on her father with his concubine, her father- at his wits end- sends Eastern Jewel to his brother in Japan.

however, in exile, she eventually finds her footing.Headstrong and determined to live a life of excitement, Eastern Jewel takes her sexuality, the only weapon a woman of that time and culture has to control a man,into her own hands and does as she pleases... more or less.Used by every man in the household, she is eventually thrown away in an arranged marriage in far away Mongolia.

But don't feel sorry for Eastern Jewel- now known as Yoshiko- she's about to take her first steps to freedom and she's very aware this marriage is the key.

With her usual machinations, Yoshiko escapes the otherwise less than glamorous existence as a Mongolian Prince's wife to Tokyo, where she almost accidentally falls into becoming a spy for her adopted homeland Japan.

Finally Yoshiko's found the excitement and independence she's longed for, but will it mean the end of her life?

Rebellious to the point of stupidity, Eastern Jewel was a difficult protagonist to like.Although I admired her boldness and determination I could not grasp the truth behind her choices and that became a bit frustrating.Despite her assurances that she was one the using men, not the other way around, I felt pity rather than admiration for through most of her story.

(I want to add here that while Yoshika is not shy in detailing her bedroom exploits this book is in no way erotic in its explicitness so don't shy away from this novel for that reason.)

In the end I'm giving this book a 3 out of 5.I found that her story made me curious as to what would eventually happen to this stubborn woman, but in the end I felt indifferent about whether she lived or died. More insight into her psyche would have went a long way in helping us become emotionally invested.

Inferior to Lillian Lee's "The Last Princess of Manchuria"
I selected The Private Papers of Eastern Jewel: A Novel because I remembered enjoying an earlier novel about the same historical figure, The Last Princess of Manchuria, and in order to make a better comparison, I reread the older book before I read this one.Unfortunately, as I point out in my review title, it turns out that the older novel is the better one.

The first problem I believe was the choice to make this one a first-person narrative, told as if the title character had written out her memoirs while awaiting execution.Besides providing opportunities for ludicrous gaffes, in which the main character comments knowledgably about European style decorations and their resemblance to the originals she's never seen, this backwards looking narrative feels detached and stripped of all energy.By comparison Lillian Lee (real name Li Puk-Wah) produced a more conventional third-person narrative that despite mostly being told in flashback was told in the present tense.

However, the biggest problem is Maureen Lindley's reimagining of Eastern Jewel's motivations.With so little known for certain about the real person, I'm willing to cut an author a lot of slack in telling or changing her story but while Lillian Lee portrays a wronged woman driven to using sex in order to gain power and revenge, Maureen Lindley portrays a sex pervert who does wrong in order to orgasm with greater frequency and variety.Given her devotion to the cause of restoring the Qing Dynasty, carefully cultivated by both of her fathers from her youth, the Last Princess' alliance with the Imperial Japanese was inevitable, but Eastern Jewel clearly could have been a loyal Chinese...

if the sex had been better.

Another problem is Eastern Jewel's (contentment is the only word) with severe mistreatment.Her youth in Japan is basically a chronicle of being raped and pimped by her foster father and grandfather, but it is "OK" because she enjoyed it, and there must be a clinical term for her in laymen's terms "sick and twisted" relationship with her foster mother.That the result of all this is unswerving loyalty to the "sick and twisted" culture that allowed it, even encouraged it (although she naturally prefers in most cases to be the one giving rather than receiving abuse) might be comprehensible to a trained psychotherapist, but she fails to make it understandable to laymen readers who will react with disgust.

Now the book is not a total failure.If the main character is unengaging, if the male characters amount to mostly a parade of sadists, weaklings, and assorted national stereotypes whose attractiveness to Eastern Jewel is inexplicable, several of the female characters are a lot more interesting: her mother, her servant Sorry brought from home, Mai the concubine, the America loving widow Tamura Hidari, and her Peking commander's mistress Kim Yee.In addition Ms. Lindley's chronicle of Eastern Jewel's espionage career has the greater ring of truth, especially her explanation for how she ended up being captured after the war.

Still, it was a disappointment overall; if psychotherapist Lindley gained any true understanding of Eastern Jewel, she neglected to share it with her readers. ... Read more

Product Description
M/M; Sci-fi; Futuristic; AdventureLength: Novel (67,000 words)Kenji doesn’t know who he is or where he came from, only that he woke up one day, naked and alone on Terran A, possessing nothing in the world but a golden statue. All he knows is his survival, hosting roughnecks in Spike’s bar for a living. The one bright spot in his life is Jake Fallon, a cop with Interstellar Patrol. Though Fallon is only another customer, Kenji senses something different about him, something that inspires Kenji to trust Fallon with his body and his life. When Kenji is attacked and pursued by a vicious bounty hunter one night, Fallon also becomes his only hope.Fallon’s passion for Kenji mixes with his desire to rescue the beautiful man from danger. He’s already more than half in love with Kenji and falling deeper as the bounty hunter’s pursuit takes them from galaxy to galaxy. For the first time since his first partner was killed, Fallon dares to surrender his heart again. However, as their race for survival uncovers Kenji’s true origins, Fallon may have to let Kenji go in order for Kenji to fulfill the very purpose of his existence…Excerpt:A gust of cooler air breezed through, pulling Kenji from a fantasy. He looked in the direction of the door, which had just opened, closing in the wake of yet another brawny patron.Kenji’s heart beat a little harder.The man—a stranger to him--checked his weapon.Tall. Broad shoulders. Muscular chest straining against a white T-shirt. Dark, close-cropped hair, nice sideburns.This one was different. Kenji’s mouth went dry.This one was hot.By his clean-cut appearance Kenji guessed he was a cop. That was nothing unusual in this place. But there was something about the way he moved—deliberate—smooth, relaxed yet tightly wound, like he could spring in a second, that kept Kenji’s attention riveted.At that second, the guy looked up. His eyes made a brief yet slow survey of the crowded room. And then they landed on Kenji. Kenji couldn’t tell what color they were from this distance, but he could feel them. They seemed to burn down into his very soul. They seemed to know who he was even when Kenji himself didn’t know.Everything in the roomful of rowdy tattooed, leather-clad space junkies, space cowboys and bounty hunters receded. He was more captured than he was during one of his visions.And then he began to walk toward Kenji, his eyes never leaving Kenji’s, his brawny torso flexing with each step. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Fallon's Jewel by Sedonia Guillone
Kenji is a young beautiful man without memory living in a post apocalypse out of Earth planet. He has no memory of his past but one thing he is sure of, he is waiting for Mr Right: world can crash down, millenniums can pass, but Mr Right is still the strongest force to motivate the people with a pure and innocent heart.

Even if Kenji is working as bartender in a lap dance bar and bordello, he seems detached from what happens around him; he is kind and gentle with everyone, but, even if he has desires, like any other young man, he can't bring himself to satisfy them, at least not until Fallon enters the bar. Kenji is always dreaming of an handsome fellow who is saving him, and Fallon seems to perfectly play the role. An Intergalactic Space Patrol officer, Fallon has just arrived in Terran A during his usual lap; recent widower, his partner has died in an accident two years before, Fallon is not really searching for solace, but Kenji is sweet and tempting, like a forbidden fruit. After only one night together, Fallon knows he will do everything to protect his "jewel", his beautiful and precious Kenji.

This is your classical adventurous romance, with the protective hero, Fallon, who has to play his role with the damsel in distress, Kenji. Fallon is not exactly an Alpha man, he is not so stubborn and callous, and actually sometime he is more Han Solo than Luke Skywalker, but in the end he is able to do the job. The story has also its funny moments, especially when we "meet" Fallon's parents, a Manchester housewife with the body of a quarterback and her "couch potato" husband: Fallon has not exactly aristocratic origins, all the opposite of his refined and gentle lover, Kenji, that even when has no memory of who he is, is able to behave, and even dress, like royalty.

The author has for sure a fascination with everything from the East, culture, religion, fashion; it's clear in her description of Kenji and Kenji's people custom: she put it in contraposition with Fallon's culture, highlighting how Kenji represents peace and balance, but Fallon is strength and passion. A mix of both of them, represented by their relationship, is the perfect solution. Fallon has to protect Kenji, and what Kenji represents, even at the expenses of his own happiness.

Even if this should be an adventurous romance, with the crash-bum-bang of intergalactic fights, sometime it seemed more a video game, with the easy safety exits if you play the bonus; I haven't really had the feeling that Fallon and Kenji were really in danger, it always seemed like they were able to find a way to escape. And then, both of them seemed more interested in what they could share in bed, then what actually was happening outside. In any case, even if the sex was plenty and good, the romance was always more, and romance "kisses", with the damsel running into his hero arms, were plenty available all along.

Sensual
Kenji and Fallon meet and immediately connect in the bright, sensual manner I associate with this author. I find her books very healing to read when I'm tired or having a rough day. Tender and hot lovemaking, a protective guardian in Fallon, make this an enjoyable SF romance. ... Read more

Product Description
Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose visit New York City! Dink's uncle is the curator of a museum with a dazzling new treasure--a statue of a jaguar cradling an emerald between its front paws. But when it's discovered that the emerald has been replaced with a fake, Dink's uncle is the chief suspect. He'll go to jail if Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose can't uncover the real thief! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

a-z mysterys The Jaguars Jewel
I think this story is exciting, thrilling and very good. I thouroughly enjoyed this book was what my nine year old boy had to say.

Where is the Real jewel?
The question the three children must answer in this mystery is what happened to the real jewel and where is it?

This mystery is a great one for young children. The books seem to be written with a second/third grade reading level and directed towards children that like mysteries between the ages of 7-9.

The children in this book are believable and are the types of children you want to have as friends for your child. They exhibit positive character traits.

The mysteries have kept my son guessing and he keeps asking for more of these books.

Good mystery....
I had to help my [...] daughter understand what happened after each chapter to keep her entertained in the book. The storyline is great, but full of rich content that can throw the small reader off if they are not fully immersed. This book may be better for an [...] old or better. Although I do feel it was a very good book.

Series Review
The "A to Z Mysteries" is very good.The series is about 3 kids: Dink, Josh and Ruth Rose.The author is Ron Roy.The kids solve mysteries.Book 10, "The Jaguar's Jewel," Book J, is my favorite.It is about Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose.They go to see a museum in Manhattan.There is a golden jaguar statue with gleaming red eyes.It has an emerald between its paws.Read the book to find out what else happens!The books are a little creepy.They have titles like "The Zombie Zone," and "The Deadly Dungeon."

Book J is my favorite because I love to go to museums.I enjoy this series because I have a Detective Agency.I enjoy my Agency.

by Grace L.

Where is the Jaguar's Jewel???
I didn't like this book . I disliked it because it was not a good book for a fifth grader.It's a good book for a first or second grader. The illustrations were my favorite part. They almost looked like cartoons, though they were a lot better looking. The illustrations were very suitable for the story. As you read it, you can tell it's fantasy. ... Read more

Product Description

From the Publisher
Born Aisha bint Abi Bakr in seventh century Arabia, she would become the favorite wife of the Prophet Muhammad, and one of the most revered women in the Muslim faith. Married at the age of nine, The Jewel of Medina illuminates the difficult path Aisha confronted, from her youthful dreams of becoming a Bedouin warrior, to her life as the beloved wife and confident of the founder of Islam.


Extensively researched and elegantly crafted, The Jewel of Medina presents the beauty and harsh realities of life in an age long past, during a time of war, enlightenment, and upheaval. At once a love story, a history lesson, and a coming-of-age tale, The Jewel of Medina provides humanizing glimpses into the origins of the Islamic faith, and the nature of love, through the eyes of a truly unforgettable heroine. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (42)

it would be less creepy if it werent almost true
reading the forward in the book i thought to myself "how can the story of a 9 yr old girl and a 50 yr old man be the greatest love story ever told?" referring to how the author described it. at about page 100 i give the book a break and settle in to take a nap thinking "this is a really really weird book"
that said, if it were possible to write fan fiction about the quran, this might be the closest thing to it. all i wanted was a little , i dunno, truth? aisha is portrayed as a out of control kid with violent tendencies and daddy issues (she doesnt want to have sex with mohammed, or does she?) and mohammed is portrayed as a pussy with a soft spot for war widows. none of these descriptions could be further off the mark than columbus trying to find his way to india and ending up in america. if you know the quran, the hadiths, and a history of the founding of islam, then your going to think the same thing as me "weird weird book". and if someone wants to say "could you have written it better?" my answer is YES!

The Jewel of Medina
This was a very interesting book.It came quickly and was as described.Would order again from this vendor.

So impressed with A'isha!
This book has been banned, forbidden, and hated, and I can't understand why.I know very little about Islam and Muhammed, and this book was my first serious insight into the culture and the religion.It is interesting and well-written and Muhammed comes across as a fascinating, complex, and sympathetic character.Not to mention A'isha, who I adored. The religious fanatics who ban this book should embrace it.It shows a fascinating, if fabricated, perspective on Muhammed and A'isha.

Not that great.
The book 'Mother's of the Believers" by Kamran Pasha is a far better book to read.

love, love, LOVE this novel!!!
I am thankful for the controversy surrounding the initial publication of "Jewel", otherwise, I may not have crossed the path of this wonderful book. I find that most books, including authors that I enjoy on a regular basis, leave me bored in spots, skimming ahead, etc. Not so with "Jewel of Medina." I simply hung on every word, and was very sad when it was over! I will probably reread it, which is a rarity for me. Sherry has a clear-cut style of writing that allows the reader to focus on the plot and not get lost in overblown "novel-y" overuse of words.
As a Christian, I loved getting a glimpse, albeit fictional, of Mohammed, his wives, their lifestyle, and the birth of Islam, and it's struggles. "Jewel" isheartwarming and a lovely piece of work.Two thumbs up and five stars. Simply the BEST! I am looking forward to its sequel and anything else Sherry writes! ... Read more

Product Description
Young and beloved sister of King Henry, Princess Eleanor is widowed at a tender age and swears never to marry again. But when legendary war lord Simon de Montfort marches into England, a reckless desire ignites them both. They share a passion that erupts in scandal and rocks the embattled realm with the rapture of all-consuming love. Original. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (40)

Lots of Fiction, Not much Historical
If you want a steamy, fun book, this is it.But do not use this book as a basis for your History project.

But for enjoyment on a cold wintry night -- it is perfect.

Disappointing
***spoiler warning***The first part of the book was totally unnecessary. I don't want to read about her husband if I know that he's going to die soon and that the bigger part of the book will be about another man. I had some problems seeing Simon as the hero because of this. And then, when they were together... There was no love, there was only fighting and f***ing - not making love, because there was no love! And all the talk about how very small and dainty and delicate and beautiful she was and how great and big and gigantic and handsome he was - it made me sick. And his male parts - OK, I get it, his thing was so big she had to have 10 orgasms before he could put it in... All those sex scenes were so very over the top! And the heroine was a spoiled, selfish brat who thought that she was always right. And the hero thought that women were good for only one thing, and he wanted to order her around all the time. I didn't like either of them. Well, there's no need for me to go into details, but believe me when I say that you are better off not reading this book.

The Dragon and the Jewel
WOW WOW!!!!! This book is one of the best books I have ever read!!! I am still half in love with Simon and Elenor is the greatest woman ever!!!!This book is so well written but what else would you expect fron Virgina Henley she is a Fablous author. 5 stars are not a high enough rating!!!!!!

A fun, but rather lengthy romance
There are good and bad things about this book. The story is a bit lengthy and sometimes the history lessons get to be a bit tiresome. The story establishes two separate romances which becomes a bit exhausting because by the time Princess Eleanor's first husband is out of the picture, you still have more than half the book to go and a lot of new character developments and histories to learn before you move on to the second romance.The characters were well developed and interesting. I would have preferred the characters to be a little bit easier to relate to. How many of us are stunning attractive 4 ft women who are with stunningly handsome 6ft 8 men? It almost made me feel like a man had written the book simply because of the character's size difference. Some of the sex scenes were pretty hot, but there was just too much in my opinion and I kept laughing through most of it. It was just too ridiculously written to be taken seriously. I mean really, "manroot", "women's center". Things unfurling like beasts. I mean, COME ON! How is anyone supposed to get lost in the writing when it keeps yanking you out of your reverie with how absurd it is?! Overall a fun book, but be prepared to have a good laugh during moments that aren't necessarily appropriate.

trash... at its finest!
classified as 'historical romance' i must say that the 'dragon and the jewel' is pretty much void of any historical fact, the only thing ringing true is that Simon de Montfort and Eleanor Plantagenet were real people. however we are talking about Virgina Henley and although she's rather good at writing housewife porn in an historical setting, she does tend to stray from fact (if you are at all interested about Simon's life and want to read something with abit more substance try Sharon Penman's "Falls the Shadow").DATJ is basically your typical, formulaic romance, complete with stubborn, insolent heroine and ruggedly handsome, narrow minded, oh-so-good in bed hero. the exception: the bedroom scenes in this book are switched on to overload (to the point where it just gets ridiculous). the dialogue between the two lovers is both crass and corny. there were times where i just found it so trying to read this book because i was either laughing too hard at all their ridiculous attempts at declaring their love for one another (for example Simon telling Eleanor "i plan to f*ck" as a way of making ammends after one of their many superficial arguments) or just rolling my eyes ( eleanor calling simon her "black-eyed devil"). also i found Simon's tendency to lick bodily fluids before and after their love-making to be most distastful... its was almost gag worthy - i mean, sure they like getting on the hobby horse, but is it really necessary to go into such unnecessary detail? by the way, there are also some weak battle scenes, a deceitful bishop (who also happens to be a kiddy-fiddler), some verbal sparring with the king and a horny helper which act as filler between Simon and Eleanor's bed hopping. so if you are looking for some brain candy with a plot that is not complex and doesn't require alot of thinking with a hero who's looks sound way to be good to be true (perhaps this should be catergorized as fantasy?), this book might be for you. just don't take anything from DATJ as educational. ... Read more

Product Description
Rosewyn is the young Princess, daughter of Rosalynn andHerron.Unlike her quiet and gentle mother, Rosewyn is foreverclimbing trees and drainspouts, knocking down boys who bully her, andgetting into trouble.Ready for adventure of any kind, she stumblesinto a secret plot against her father's crown.

With help from her beautiful, powerful grandmother, she escapes fromthe castle and begins her adventures in exile.After she and hergrandmother are chased by their enemy, the young Princess finds refugein a village of miners.While among these new friends, she seeks tojoin her grandmother in a last attempt to save the real King andQueen.But a new threat from assassins forces the Princess to fleeagain.All of her courage is put to the test as she fights to saveher family and her kingdom. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

So many memories!
When I was a kid, I went to a private school with a tiny little library. Once I was poking around the back shelves when I found this book! I read it and loved it. It's about an unruly princess named Rosewyn who finds herself caught in the middle of a scheme to steal the throne and must rescue her parents from the usurper in question. Most of the books I read when young are boring to me now, but not this one...so if you have a kid, this would be a good choice for her (or him) to read!

"Enchanting, (but read the 1st one first)."
This book is the 2nd in The Bracken Trilogy, the 1st being The Bridge, and the 3rd being The Two Collars.

The story follows Rosewyn, a youngprincess and daughter of Rosalyn of the first book. Rosewyn is fiesty,loves adventure and gets herself into trouble. One day she gets caught upin a real adventure when assasins plot to murder her parents. With the aidof the Wise Old Woman she sets out to foil the plot and keep herself out ofharm's way. All the while discovering maturity and strength in herself.

IHIGHLY recommend this series to any young reader. Or any adult (likemyself) that loves charming engaging books. This is a quick read of only154 pages, but a deep story. And is in no way childish.

Please read myreviews on the 1st and 3rd books also.

I've lost track of the number of times I re-read it!
This is the second book in the Wise Woman trilogy by Jeri Massi and this one concerns itself with the daughter of the heroine of the first one. This one keeps the kid-saving-the-kingdom plot, but adds a plot to overthrow theking and queen, a secret passage, miners, slavers, and a dog. Of course,the Wise Woman is back, saving another princess (her granddaughter) and notseeming to have aged at all. Again, the religious overtones are light andthe story and characters are interesting. This is better than The Bridge(in fact, if Crown and Jewel is read first, The Bridge is a bit of adisappointment), and can be read well beyond the recommended age group. ... Read more