Books

The Enchanted Forest Chronicles: Dealing with Dragons / Searching for Dragons / Calling on Dragons / Talking to Dragons

Average customer rating:

dealing with dragons review
decent fantasy
4.5, actually, for a set of cute stories
Fantastic Fantasy
Don't Slay the Dragon! Great Fantasy novels written for young adults, but enjoyable by all!

The Enchanted Forest Chronicles: Dealing with Dragons / Searching for Dragons / Calling on Dragons / Talking to Dragons
Patricia C. Wrede
Manufacturer: Magic Carpet Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0152050523

Book Description

Collected together for the first time are Patricia C. Wrede's hilarious adventure stories about Cimorene, the princess who refuses to be proper. Every one of Cimorene's adventures is included in its paperback edition--Dealing with Dragons, Searching for Dragons, Calling on Dragons, and Talking to Dragons--in one handsome package that's perfect for gift giving.

Customer Reviews:

dealing with dragons review.......2007-04-19

I like this book because of the adventure. it was interesting, the dragons are cool.if you like dragons and olden time books then this is the book for you. I liked when the wizard made the parts of the clif disipear . I liked the partwhere cimorene ment the dragon.

decent fantasy.......2007-03-09

The Enchanted Forest Chronicles is a decent fantasy novel that turns everything upside down, and wrongside up, and will more than once make you laugh out loud. A good read for any dragon and wizard fan.

4.5, actually, for a set of cute stories.......2007-02-16

I originally bought each of these books individually, and it was quite a pain finding all of them. This is a convenient way to purchase these very cute, very fun fantasy stories.

The first book, "Dealing with Dragons", is a very witty, very cute book about the improper princess who decides to live with dragons rather than get married to someone she doesn't even like. Cimorene becomes the dragon Kazul's "princess", doing her chores for her, cleaning out her library, and cooking for her. The story has a lot to do with the relationships between wizards and dragons and in a sense, everything mocks the "real" view. Throughout this book, Wrede is practically laughing at every fairy tale ever written, and it is hilarious.

Book two, "Searching for Dragons", introduces a new character. Mendanbar, King of the Enchanted Forest, needs to go talk to the dragon king (and there's a new one from the last book!). Unfortunately, the dragon king has been kidnapped, so he and Cimorene go looking for her. It's more action filled than its predecessor and has a lot more magic going on.

"Calling on Dragons" is clearly the weakest book in the bunch, though it's. It's least memorable of them all, its new characters are the most boring, and the plot is more of a preview for the final book, "Talking to Dragons".

And speaking of, "Talking to Dragons" once again brings us the fun and excitement the first two books brought. While each of the other books had a gap of time that stretch across a year or so, the gap between COD and TTD is much bigger... Sixteen years! We've got a whole new generation of characters, whether its the cats, the fiery girls, or our (!) narrarator! Yes, TTD is written in first person, which is a first in this series. We truly get into Daystar's head, which is fun and enjoyable. In a sense, TTD continues where COD left off, but obviously much later, and many things have changed.

So if you like rather mocking fantasy stories that are both fun and cute, you'll love this. If you love witches, evil wizards, cool dragons, and awesome characters, than this is a great set to pick up. Just remember that COD is more of a transition book and all will be well.

So go join Cimorene, Mendanbar, Kazul, Daystar, Morwen, the cats, those evil wizards, and the lot by buying this great set!

Fantastic Fantasy.......2007-01-15

I had originally read "The Enchanted Forest Chronicles" 10 years ago, but somehow lost it. I remembered how very much I loved it and simply had to read it again. If you love fantasy this is one fantasy that's so captivating and mesmerizing that you'll find it hard, if not impossible, to put down. The author has the unique ability to capture and own your imagination for as long as the book is in your hands, and long after you've put it down as well. An excellent read, I'm very impressed (again), which is not surprizing at all, this book, or series of books, is a true work of art!

Don't Slay the Dragon! Great Fantasy novels written for young adults, but enjoyable by all!.......2006-11-23

Patricia C. Wrede breathes a little life into the young adult adventure/fantasy genre with her series "The Enchanted Forest Chronicles".

Fiction and Fairy Tales collide in these entertainingly witty and unique novels, chronicling the adventures of Princess Cimorene as she deals with Dragons, witches, warlocks, and more!

The series starts off with my favorite book "Dealing with Dragons", in which a young princess rebels against the societal expectations placed upon her. Princesses from all over the world are expected to be "captured" by dragons in order to be rescued by a Prince and run off to get married and live happily ever after. However, Cimorene has other ideas. She runs away, willingly goes to live with the Dragons, and refuses to let a Prince rescue her! She is happier serving the Dragons than living a hum-drum life in a castle somewhere. She would rather have excitement and adventures than be stuck blindly obeying princess protocol and attending balls.

Although the books are set in a middle-ages kind of environment, where women were not equal to men, and princesses were meant to do nothing except look pretty and get rescued, the character of Princess Cimorene reflects a strong, independent, intelligent feminine role model ideal in todays setting. She doesn't adhere to what society dictates she can and can not do, and she chooses to follow her own path, which is admirable and makes for a very interesting journey.

Each book in the series contains strange and interesting new characters, and follows a unique storyline. The "Enchanted Forest Chronicles" would be a perfect gift for anyone who enjoys "Harry Potter", or "The Chronicles or Narnia". The imagination involved in each story is incredible, and can be enjoyed by people of all ages!

Debbie Brown's Enchanted Cakes for Children

Average customer rating:

3-D Cakes
Maravilloso
easy to follow
Debbie Brown is surely an artist!!
Enchanting!

Debbie Brown's Enchanted Cakes for Children
Debbie Brown
Manufacturer: Merehurst
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1853918490

Book Description

Enchanted Cakes for Children contains over 20 endearing characters and scenes, including familiar characters from favorite fairy tales such as the Snow Queen, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella. You'll also meet several new characters from the world of make-believe, such as friendly elves and bewitching mermaids playing with sea creatures. Clear, step-by-step text is complemented by color photos of each cake. Cake decorators of all levels of experience will soon be producing delightful cakes that will enthrall children and adults alike.

Customer Reviews:

3-D Cakes.......2007-03-08

The instructions in this book are easy to read and easy to follow. Beautiful and whimsical cakes can be created with ease.

Maravilloso.......2005-10-24

Este libro es precioso, unas ilustraciones bellísimas y un trabajo espectacular. Está explicado paso a paso y realmente vale la pena comprarlo, es un dinero muy bien invertido; todos quienes se dediquen por profesión o por pasatiempo deberían tenerlo. La autora es realmente encantadora, se le puede escribir por e-mail y contesta rápidamente.

easy to follow.......2005-10-11

This is an "easy to follow" instructions book. With many pictures, and some details I could reproduce the little sugar sculptures.

Debbie Brown is surely an artist!!.......2005-08-30

Absolutely love the book, it is filled with imaginative cakes with lovely moulded figures.

I love to sugar mould so I really appreciate this book. Good one Debbie

Enchanting!.......2005-04-15

This book is great and has lots of colored pictures. I rec'd my book last week and was inspired to do the *moon* cake minus the witch and bats. It was very easy to do. Not including baking time for the cake, it took me less than an hour and a half to finish (again minuse the witch and bats).

This was super fun and my kids loved it!

Average customer rating:

A very confusing deck
Interesting and worth the purchase.
The Enchanted Tarot -Book and Cards
Fantastic deck!
A Quick Note

The Enchanted Tarot: Book and Cards
Amy Zerner , and Monte Farber
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0312050798

Book Description

Enter an enchanted realm, a world of myth and magic.

The Enchanted Tarot is for everyone who loves fantasy and fairytales. The 78 cards, specially designed by award-winning artist Amy Zerner, are richly detailed, each one a miniature work of visionary art.

Based on the ancient traditions of the Tarot, this contemporary Oracle is a remarkable system for self-counseling and understanding. Used with the accompanying book by Monte Farber, The Enchanted Tarot can illuminate and inspire our innermost being and will allow any seeker of guidance direct access to the wisdom of his or her Higher Self.

Contents:

-22 Major Arcana cards
-56 Minor Arcana cards
-192 page book illustrated in color

Customer Reviews:

A very confusing deck.......2007-02-01

I will say I do not hate this deck- its art is beautiful, but I've never had a more impractical and confusing (and just plain confused) deck in my collection.

The cards are oversized- a problem for handling and shuffling; and shuffling is further complicated by the rigid stock of the card. Expect to have to do some careful bending and shifting of cards well before ever shuffling them to make them supple and not prone to tearing midshuffle.

And now...the confused part. This deck cannot seem to decide if it wants to be a Thoth, a Rider-Waite...or a playing card deck. I am well aware of the occasional swapping out of suites among the cards (wands/rods, coins/pentacles and so on)- but this is the first time I've seen someone opt to substitute the cups with hearts in what is intended as a divination deck.

Now, in the art content itself...the images are fantastical and certainly lovely to the eye- but they have almost nothing to do with the actual card meaning. Still more seem to draw inspiration from the Waite style decks, others are using what's plainly Thoth inspired imagery...and others are just..art.

The book is nicely bound but ultimately useless for divination. This follows the trend of ignoring reversed cards, and even its given meanings of upright cards are...strange at best. People have spoken of this deck honestly being intended more for working tarot spells than divination: they're right. The attending book is pretty much all about the spells some use for tarot or inspired by the tarot.

It deserves to be noted that this set also comes with no box or bag for the cards, and the one it is shipped in is useless for storing a fully assembled deck in. If you wish to purchase this, you may want to buy a bag to go with it.

If you're new to tarot or you're looking for a good divination deck: I advise you heavily to find another deck. If you're looking for beautiful art and a very unusual piece of work to add to a novelty collection: by all means, this is very much your deck. You'll be hard pressed to find another like it.

Interesting and worth the purchase........2006-11-13

This deck is very colourful and full of imagery. It appears to be almost art deco in style and full of symbols and images. The book is a high quality hardback with a bookmark attached, which is a lovely touch. This is more than just tarot interpretations, it centers on enchantments or spells that go with the cards. I have not used the deck for reading yet, but do use the book for ideas. Worth the price, interesting.

The Enchanted Tarot -Book and Cards.......2006-11-06

I have wanted these cards for a long time and they are just as beautiful as I had hoped. I like the practical infromation in the book it is not riddled with doom and gloom like some tarot books are. I love this set, Amy Zerner's art is very unique and beautiful and I really enjoy Monte Farber interpretations of this very old form of divination. I am very happy and definetly recommend this to others looking for a tarot set. They have their own website too so you can look all the divination tools they have to offer. The best prices were at Amazon!!

Fantastic deck!.......2006-07-05

I'm really impressed with this deck. The artwork is just gorgeous! Additionally, the cards seem very sturdy and well made.

A Quick Note.......2006-03-31

I haven't really had the time yet to really get to know this deck, but I wanted to make a quick note for others interested in it:

One component of the deck is a spell or ritual associated with the card. Not all tarot readers are involved in that kind of thing, so I thought I would give them a heads up.

I'll come back and update this review as I have, well, more of an opinion.

EDIT:
In the end, I just couldn't connect with these collage images. While many of them might make a lovely quilt for the wall, I found them difficult to decode.

Enchanted: Erotic Bedtime Stories For Women

Average customer rating:

Perfect for Couples
Not very erotic
Best Erotica
My First!
Thrilling

Enchanted: Erotic Bedtime Stories For Women
Nancy Madore
Manufacturer: Spice
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0373605099

Book Description

Allow yourself to be drawn into a fantasy world like no other…where a beautiful princess is seduced into a love triangle with a handsome prince and her winsome maid…where a mysterious gentleman's young bride is deliciously disciplined for her unchecked curiosity…where a naive daughter is married off to a beast of a man whose carnal appetites awaken her budding desire….

With a unique and decidedly adult twist on thirteen classic fairy tales, Nancy Madore intrigues and arouses with her titillating, sizzling anthology of erotic stories guaranteed to keep you up late into the night.

You'll never look at fairy tales the same way again.

Customer Reviews:

Perfect for Couples.......2007-06-21

This is the first time I ever wanted to share an erotic book with my husband. The stories excited without being insulting, degrading, or embarrassing. Both of us loved these well written sexy fairy tales and we have read some of the stories over and over again. The author says she wrote it for women but my husband was excited by the stories too. We had so much fun reading them together. We loved every story and we can't wait for Madore's next book to be available.

Not very erotic.......2007-06-12

After reading one story and then another and finding them not very erotic, I put the book away for a few days. I tried again on several occasions and found that none of the stories I read or skimmed put me "in the mood." So I put the book in the "return" pile (and unfortunately forgot to send it back). It was very disappointing.
I am a huge fan of the Best Women's Erotica series. My appreciation of The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty by Anne Rice, led me to believe that I might enjoy this book. I was really disappointed. I do not recommend this if you are a fan of true erotica.

Best Erotica.......2007-05-31

Everything about this book impressed me. First, the fairy tales provided the perfect backdrop for the erotic fantasies used. Another thing was that the fairy tales (the ones I remembered) were consistent with the originals in plot, content, etc. This made them feel right. The most amazing thing of all was that BOTH the erotic level and the literary level were way above average. I thought this was interesting, since most erotica is often not very well written. These stories had the feel of a classic novel but with the desired erotic effect. Madore states in her introduction that her writing is directed at women and in this too I was impressed. She found many ways to incorporate the woman's point of view in the story (as a example she tells one part of the Snow White story from the POV of the step mother in a way that most woman can relate). Madore makes these points without apology, just like the classic writers did (I was reminded a number of times of Oscar Wilde). But besides all the extra side dishes that you get with this wonderful little book of fairy tales you get an entertaining and stimulating reading experience.

My First!.......2007-05-15

Erotica is a new genre for this literature professor.

As a woman, I was looking for something titillating for women, but hetero. I found the early stories to fit the bill; however, as I ventured on into the collection of stories, I realized that the stories weren't so much "for women" as they were traditional MALE fantasies (more than one story featuring the woman in question enjoying either serial or simultaneous sex with several men at once, for example).

Not that there's anything wrong with that, if that's what you want.

But I was expecting something more. . . .woman-centered --not so much man-engulfing.

So to speak.

Thrilling.......2007-05-09

It is exciting to finally find a woman who knows how to write erotica for women. I have been disappointed in some of the 'women writing erotica' collections. They were either boring or annoying. These stories are entertaining and when your finished you want your sig other to read it too. The sex was just kinky enough and the storytelling kept you on pins and needles. But the most exciting part: there are so many good points in here about women and sex that afterwards you feel good. My favorite is Snow White. I hope Nancy Madore will be writing more of these?

Average customer rating:

Better than the Movie
A spectacular retelling of Cinderella
Fantastic!
Absolutely enchanting!
Better than the movie, this book is a real "charmer"!

Ella Enchanted (Trophy Newbery)
Gail Carson Levine
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Amazon.com

At birth, Ella is inadvertently cursed by an imprudent fairy named Lucinda, who bestows on her the "gift" of obedience. Anything anyone tells her to do, Ella must obey. Another girl might have been cowed by this affliction, but not feisty Ella: "Instead of making me docile, Lucinda's curse made a rebel of me. Or perhaps I was that way naturally." When her beloved mother dies, leaving her in the care of a mostly absent and avaricious father, and later, a loathsome stepmother and two treacherous stepsisters, Ella's life and well-being seem in grave peril. But her intelligence and saucy nature keep her in good stead as she sets out on a quest for freedom and self-discovery, trying to track down Lucinda to undo the curse, fending off ogres, befriending elves, and falling in love with a prince along the way. Yes, there is a pumpkin coach, a glass slipper, and a happily ever after, but this is the most remarkable, delightful, and profound version of Cinderella you've ever read.

Gail Carson Levine's examination of traditional female roles in fairy tales takes some satisfying twists and deviations from the original. Ella is bound by obedience against her will, and takes matters in her own hands with ambition and verve. Her relationship with the prince is balanced and based on humor and mutual respect; in fact, it is she who ultimately rescues him. Ella Enchanted has won many well-deserved awards, including a Newbery Honor. (Ages 9 to 14) --Emilie Coulter

Amazon.com Audiobook Review

Every child longs for the day when he or she will be free from meddling parents and bossy grownups. For young Ella, the heroine of Gail Carson Levine's Newbury Honor-winning debut novel, this is more than a fanciful wish; it could be a matter of life or death. Placed under the spell of a blundering fairy, she has no choice but to go through life obeying each and every order--no matter what the consequences may be. "If you commanded me to cut off my own head, I'd have to do it."

Eden Riegel (As the World Turns, Les Miserables) uses her youthful, energetic voice to lead the listener into a familiar world of fairy godmothers, wicked stepsisters, and handsome princes. But this imaginative retelling of the Cinderella story comes with a welcome twist. Instead of a demure heroine patiently awaiting a prince who will carry her off, this Ella is a feisty ball of fire with the courage and ambition to take matters into her own hands.

Riegel narrates in a youthful, energetic tone that is perfectly suited to Ella's character. Her voice adds charm and immediacy to a wonderful story already rich with excitement, adventure, romance, and mystery. (Running time: 5.5 hours, 4 cassettes) --George Laney

Book Description

How can a fairy's
blessing be such a curse?

At her birth, Ella of Frell was the unfortunate recipient of a foolish fairy's gift--the "gift' of obedience. Ella must obey any order given to her, whether it's hopping on one foot for a day and a half, or chopping off her own head! But strong-willed Ella does not tamely accept her fate. Against a bold backdrop of princes, ogres, giants, wicked stepsisters, and fairy godmothers, Ella goes on a quest to break the curse--once and for all.

In this incredible debut novel comes the richly entertaining story of Ella of Frell, who at birth was given the gift of obedience by a fairy. Ella soon realizes that this gift is little better than a curse, for how can she truly be herself if at anytime anyone can order her to hop on one foot, or cut off her hand, or betray her kingdom'and she'll have to obey? Against a bold tapestry of princes, ogres, giants, wicked stepsisters, and fairy godmothers, Ella's quest to break the curse once and for all and discover who she really is is as sharply funny as Catherine, Called Birdy and as richly poignant as Beauty, and has all the marks of a classic in the making.

Customer Reviews:

Better than the Movie.......2007-06-28

Up until recently, I had only seen the movie staring Anne Hathaway. I was pleasantly surprised to read a story that was so far from the movie. I am a fan of J. R. R. Tolkien and enjoyed the fact that Gail Carson Levine created her own language for her characters in this novel. I also enjoyed all of the extras that came in the book. Most helpful was the dictionaries of Abdegi, Gnomic, Ogrese, Elfian, and Ayorthaian.

I never get tired of hearing old fairy tales brought to life in new ways with clever retellings. This is a new and exciting way to read the story of Cinderella.

A spectacular retelling of Cinderella.......2007-06-03

Harry Potter turned me on to the world of young adult fiction and the more I read, the more I find that the best writers out there aren't writing for adults, they're writing for young people. This book has the excellent characterization typical of such high quality youth novels. The underlying themes about friendship, loyalty, and self sacrifice are lovely.

As the mother of a young daughter, it thrills me to find a book with such a clear depiction of a young woman believing in herself and using her brain to get her ahead. I've loved this book for years before I even had a daughter and it makes me very happy to know that it is one I will be able to gladly share with her. Truly a wonderful book.

Fantastic!.......2007-05-07

I bought this because my students were reading the book. They usually like to read it themselves, but we only had one week to read it. They absolutely loved listening to the cds. The reader did a fantastic job of distinguishing the voices. The only disappointment my students had was that she was not Ella in the movie. They also hated the movie because the reader made the story so real to them, they actually asked me to turn off the movie because it ruined their memories! My highest recommendation!

Absolutely enchanting!.......2007-05-02

A couple of years ago, my daughter watched the movie "Ella Enchanted". She liked this spin of the Cinderella tale and I liked the fact that the while the young lady lived happily ever after in the end, she had to work a bit for that happiness. It seemed a bit more real life to me. I didn't know the movie was based on a Newberry Honor book.

A few weeks ago, my son saw the book on DVD at the local library and we checked it out. Right away I knew there was a lot more to the book than had been in the movie. I believe the movie runs about 1 1/2 hours. The book was listed as being 5 hours and 42 minutes long.

It was fantastic! We were enchanted from the beginning when we meet Ella and her mother and learn of the fairy curse which makes Ella be obedient to all who order her. We went through the sadness of Ella's mother dying and then we were taken on a magical journey complete with ogres, fairies, elves, handsome princes, centaurs and more. Ella tried time and time again to break her curse. She tracked down Lucinda who had given her this 'gift' but Lucinda only told her to be happy to be obedient. Ella made a huge sacrifice, but in the end it was her love and sacrifice that overcame the curse.

I was a little disappointed when Ella ended up with glass slippers, was attending three royal balls and had to be home before midnight when the coach would turn back into a pumpkin, but the ending overcame this well worn section and we were immensely satisfied with how things turned out. I recommend this book either to read yourself or to listen to. If you haven't seen the movie already, it is very, very different from the book and of the two stories, I like the book best.

Better than the movie, this book is a real "charmer"!.......2007-04-03

This book is better than the recent movie. You weep, you laugh, you cheer! The characters have spunk, and the land in which they live is magical. Enough adventure to draw you in; enough injustice to make you angry; and enough self-reflection to make you grow. A good lesson about obedience, attitude, and giving.

Average customer rating:

Charmed AND Enchanted
Enchanted, also
Totally Charmed
Another Witch's Tale that is Charming!
Charmed & Enchanted

Charmed & Enchanted: Donovan Legacy
Nora Roberts
Manufacturer: Silhouette
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Customer Reviews:

Charmed AND Enchanted.......2006-10-31

This was a reread for me and an enjoyable one.
These are the final 2 stories in the Donovan Legacy. A family of witches, each with their own specialty.
In Charmed we have Anastasia story. She is the cousin who is an Empath. She is also a healer because of her strong empathatic feelings. After be turned away by her first love when he found out what she was, Ana has stayed away from men to protect her heart. Then widow Boone Sawyer moves in next door with his young daughter. She fears telling him what she is, then fate steps in. This was my favorite out of all the Donovan stories. It is so good. Emotional and loving.
In Enchanted we have the story of Liam Donovan a witch and a shape shifter. He goes to the woods to be alone to think about an important choice he is going to have to make. Rowan Murray goes to the woods to find herself. They find eachother and she discovers so much more about herself. This story had a lot more "magic" in it. It was fun and the characters wonderful.

Enchanted, also.......2005-12-12

This is the 3rd AND 4th book, but no one has mentioned "Enchanted". It is about Liam Donovan and takes place in Oregon. It is a nice story too; for entertainment. Rowan Murray is a schoolteacher who needs a vacation and befriends a golden-eyed wolf. Hint: her name is Irish, too...

Totally Charmed.......2005-11-16

I absolutely loved this story. I thought it would be cheesy mixing magic into romance, but I was SOOO wrong. This was a wonderful tale that I'll enjoy reading again and again. The Anastasia and Boone are great together, and Boone's daughter is priceless. To bad I can't say the same for the series. The idea of the Donovan legacy is genius, but all four books were not. Captivated was just moderately good, and Entranced was terrible. Please skip that one. But Charmed and Enchanted are totally enjoyable. Hey, 2 out of 4's not bad. Kudos Mrs Roberts.

Another Witch's Tale that is Charming!.......2005-08-19

Charmed is Nora Roberts' third book in the Donovan series, which focuses on a family of witches. Captivated led the series off and featured Morgana. Next came Entranced which introduced us to Sebastian, cousin to Morgana. Charmed features Anastasia, yet another cousin to both Sebastian and Morgana. If you read the series, you'll get the entire family breakdown including the cousin's parents, an eccentric bunch to say the least!

Each of the cousins are hereditary witches (born with elfin blood) and each have their own gift or special powers. Anastasia has the powers of healing. I have to admit my ignorance in knowing exactly what "powers of healing" entailed or meant, but now have a much better idea after finishing the book. While reading the first two books in this series, Anastasia was always growing herbs so I did know that herbal remedies played a part in her powers. What I didn't know was the depth of this power.

Anastasia has new neighbors move in next door to her Monterey beach house and soon meets a young girl who instantly wins her love and affection. Jessie is adorable, innocent and very social as she bounds through the hedge separating the two homes and introduces not only herself to Anastasia but also her new puppy. Jessie's father, Boone Sawyer, soon comes to retrieve his daughter and meets Anastasia.

This is your typical romance plot line but with a twist. Man meets woman, sparks fly, attraction becomes love and then ... The "and then" portion of this book is what sets it apart from other romance books. When Boone asks Anastasia to marry him, she asks for a week to make the decision. She has to try to figure out how she can tell him that she's a witch and not lose him. The decision is taken out of her hands when Jessie falls off of a ladder and is critically injured. Anastasia puts her powers to work to save the girl's life and Boone is caught off-guard and mesmerized by the special gift bestowed on Anastasia, even though he doesn't really understand what is happening. When Jessie is saved and Anastasia exhaustedly falls into an unconscious state, Boone doesn't know how to react. When Anastasia awakens, Boone doesn't handle the situation well and pushes her away. I won't tell you any more or the ending will be spoiled and this conclusion is definitely worth reading.

Charmed isn't for someone looking for a book that will make the brain work overtime, it's pure enjoyment and entertainment value only. It's a very quick read and can be accomplished in an afternoon.

If you'd like to take a break from the active world, sit back, relax and enjoy a tale, this would be a great book to spend the afternoon curled up on the couch with in front of a fire in the fireplace.

Charmed & Enchanted.......2005-07-20

both books are very riveting. I kept reading until I was done with both in 2 days. The ideas and people are very realistic and charming.

The New Enchanted Broccoli Forest (Mollie Katzen's Classic Cooking)

Average customer rating:

Peanutty-Tofuey-Broccli(y) Deliciousness!
Beautiful and inspiring
Recipies not good
A cute title but I expected more....
awesome cookbook!

The New Enchanted Broccoli Forest (Mollie Katzen's Classic Cooking)
Mollie Katzen
Manufacturer: Ten Speed Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

The New Moosewood Cookbook (Mollie Katzen's Classic Cooking)
Mollie Katzen's Vegetable Heaven: Over 200 Recipes for Uncommon Soups, Tasty Bites, Side-By-Side Dishes, and Too Many Desserts
Sundays at Moosewood Restaurant: Ethnic and Regional Recipes from the Cooks at the Legendary Restaurant (Cookery)
Moosewood Restaurant Cooks at Home: Fast and Easy Recipes for Any Day
Moosewood Restaurant Low-Fat Favorites: Flavorful Recipes for Healthful Meals

ASIN: 1580081266

Customer Reviews:

Peanutty-Tofuey-Broccli(y) Deliciousness!.......2007-02-11

This spring I went over to a friend's house and his mom graciously made me a vegetarian dish from this book. I'm not sure of the exact name but it is amazingly good. Try it - now!

Beautiful and inspiring.......2007-01-15

Although not as practical as other cookbooks in some regards, this is definitely among my favorites. As other reviewers stated, some of the recipes are lengthy and best suited to weekends when you have a lot of time to do a major cooking session. What I love about this book is the whimsical nature of it, and the way Katzen conveys such love and joy at preparing the dishes. The hand-lettering isn't always super-easy to read, but it is such a treat! The illustrations, such as the comic-style guide to bread making, are fun. Also, it includes a really helpful guide to grains, including history, where to find it, how and why to use it, and especially, how to cook.
This book is a great addition to a vegetarian's cookbookshelf, though probably not ideal for a first book on veg cooking.

Recipies not good.......2006-10-15

Sorry to say but the recipies in this book are yukky! I don't know what Mollie was thinking, she however is not the good cook people think she is.
You will be much better off sticking with the Moosewood cookbooks...every single one is truly wonderful. And the other reviewer was right, what's so special about the title recipie...nothing. Don't waste your money, I threw my copy out!

A cute title but I expected more...........2005-12-25

A fun cookbook to look through but when you start making the recipes, its actually a disappointment, especially considering how many gazillllllion copies have been sold of Ms. Katzen's books. Shows what the right marketing can do. The recipes that I tried were VERY hearty but not in a good way, too much fat and rich ingredients and strange combinations of these ingredients too . The Enchanted Broccoli Forest recipe is just a dish of rice with broccoli stuck into it, nothing special. I gave up after the 3 or 4th recipe. This is NOT one of the best veggie cookbooks out there, in spite of the hype!

awesome cookbook!.......2005-12-05

i have many vegetarian cook books (ive been veg for over 7 yrs) & i use this one the most frequently.
it's simple, delicious, & lots of cooking basics, like pie crust & the (BEST, EASIEST) Indian flat bread, that most veg cookbooks leave out. We have also made delicious enchiladas, upside down vegetable cake, and more. My boyfriend is not vegetarian but he loves the delicious food too. The recipes in this book hold up even with major improvisation & experimenting which I love to do. There are also wide margins to write your cooking notes right next to the recipe.

Yes, many of these recipes take longer than heating up a veggie burger in the microwave but if you are concerned enough to eat vegetarian you should be interested in how to eat right, and sometimes that takes time.

There are 2 things I dislike: 1)the "prep" time listed for a recipe is too short in many cases- but once you make it you get an idea of how long it takes for next time. 2) the pages are regular paper, not glossy, so splashes always seem to find their way onto my book. However, its cheap enough & it dries fine, so just buy it & find your new veggie favorites :)

Enchanted Love: The Mystical Power Of Intimate Relationships

Average customer rating:

Spirituality & Love
EXCELLENT READ
Lots of heart-felt statements on the state of romance but ..
Important points
Insightful and At Times Divinely Inspired

Enchanted Love: The Mystical Power Of Intimate Relationships
Marianne Williamson
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Interpersonal Relations | Relationships | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Love & Romance | Relationships | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

A Woman's Worth
A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles"
Everyday Grace: Having Hope, Finding Forgiveness and Making Miracles
Gift of Change
Illuminata: A Return to Prayer

ASIN: 0684870258

Amazon.com

"Romance is one of the sacred temples that dot the landscape of life," writes Marianne Williamson (A Return to Love, The Healing of America). "We tend to lack humility toward love, to patronize it rather than bow before it, to put mundane considerations before the emotional need to hold someone in our arms." When we make routines and practicality more valuable than love, we deny ourselves the opportunity to experience true enchantment and a deeper connection with God. Ultimately, Williamson offers a compelling invitation to overcome fear of heartache and enter into the whirlwind mystery of romance. Chapters include topics such as "Removing the Ghosts," "Grace and Forgiveness," "Marriage, Monogamy, Safety and God," and "Bodies and Soul."

Some readers may find Williamson's theories about male-female dynamics validating, while others may find them offensive. For example, Williamson believes that males are natural-born hunters, which means men need the thrill of the hunt during courtship and beyond. "A man should never have to totally stop working to figure out his woman, not if the woman wants him to remain interested," she claims. In fact, she believes that a fascinating woman is like a "Mercedes" or "Jaguar"--she is "high maintenance and doesn't apologize for the fact." --Gail Hudson

Book Description

Three of Marianne Williamson's previous bestsellers -- A Return to Love, A Woman's Worth, and Illuminata -- explored the issue of relationships. Now, in this deeply personal collection of essays, prayers, and self-reflection, she turns to romantic love.

In Illuminata, Williamson wrote that "we experience God to the extent to which we love, forgive, and focus on the good in others and ourselves." Now, in Enchanted Love, she writes that "enchanted partnership begins with the conscious understanding, on the part of two people, that the purpose of their relationship is not so much material as spiritual, and the internal skills demanded by it are prodigious." High romance, she says, "is not about past or future. It is not about practicality. It is not about society or worldly routines. It is an audacious ride to the center of what is, at the heart of every person. It is a bold and masterful inquiry into what two people really are and how we might become, while still on earth, the angels who reside within us."

Customer Reviews:

Spirituality & Love.......2005-12-11

I am now reading this book for the second time and I love it just as much now as I did the first go around. Marianne Williamson really understands how spiritual contact with a Higher Power influences and shapes the kinds of love we initiate and sustain in our lives. I particularly like the way she describes the relationship dynamics between men and women in the midst of intimate relationships and just how much spiritual work needs to be done. The prayers that she intersperses through the book are beautiful and moving.

As for those who try and insult her work just because she hasn't been married to 'Joe Schmoe' for 25 years with a whole troop of kids and grandkids...might I remind those that true love does not always take the traditional conventional route. Some of the greatest loves of my life have been men I never married and never would, the real point is that they were all still worthwhile and valid experiences that contributed to my growth and knowledge as a person. Also just because someone manages to stay married for 25 years in no way means that relationship is healthy, happy or worth emulating.

With that being said this book has to be one of her more underrated works yet in my opinion I found it to be the most poignant and moving. It has definitely deepened my emotional and spiritual capacity to feel and accept love into my life.

EXCELLENT READ.......2005-07-30

MS WILLIAMSON HAD A SLOW START BUT WARMED UP VERY QUICKLY. SHE GAVE A LOT OF INSIGHT ON GETTING OVER PAST HURTS AND BECOMING WHO YOU REALLY ARE. THANKS TO HER, I REALIZED HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO PREPARE FOR A RELATIONSHIP BEFORE I ACTUALLY HAVE ONE (I'VE BEEN DIVORCED 3 TIMES). I EXPERIENCED A VERY DEEP SENSE OF SERENITY THROUGH HER STRONG BUT GENTLE SPIRIT.

I HAVE ANOTHER OF HER BOOKS ON THE WAY AND CAN'T WAIT UNTIL IT ARRIVES.

DON'T LIKE BOOKS ON AUDIO SO I RETURNED THE CD IN EXCHANGE FOR THE BOOK.

THANKS

MOLLIE ARCHER
237 NOONDAY CHURCH ROAD
TWIN CITY GA 30471

478-237-0933

Lots of heart-felt statements on the state of romance but .........2005-01-23

Williamson really can put her pen to task with heart-touching words woven to get your heart stirring. Enchanted Love is quite the achivement of a literary celebration of mystical love thanks to insipirations from Marianne's interpretations of A Course in Miracles. Although the content is endearing I must ask the question ... why is Williamson preaching such lovely tones of enchanted romance ... and not achieving it herself. the proof is in the pudding. No one is perfect but if you're looking for love advice, ask Joanne Woodward or another successfully married woman who been with her best pal a long time through ups and downs. Would you ever get diet advice from someone who is obese or still walking around at least 10 pounds overweight? Williamson openly admits that numerous men have left her, she is a single mother, and was apparently once married for under 6 months years ago. She may be a true warrior in the love and romance trenches but if her whole life is dedicated to L-O-V-E ... why does she attract but not hold the romantic love she finds? Enchanted Love makes for beautful prose but that's about it. The material is very fantastical at times with lyrical verbage but if you're seeking romantic results in your favor ... keep seeking elsewhere. Enjoy this book for what it can provide because it is positive. If you want to access advice from someone who writes about love and is successful in love ... try Drs. Gay and Kathlyn Hendricks. They have been married over 22 years and have used their marriage as a testing ground for conscious relationships. The Hendricks must be doing soemthing right because they are still together with children and grandchildren to boot.

Important points.......2004-02-26

Marianne Williamson makes some important points about how love, and relationships in particular, can help us in our spiritual growth. Relationships, whether we see them as negative or positive experiences in our lives, teach us a lot about ourselves. And isn't this what life is all about?

Insightful and At Times Divinely Inspired.......2004-02-09

Love relationships can be our greatest joy and our greatest sorrow! Ever wonder why some lovers run from us while others choose to stay? Williamson gets to the heart and soul of what lies (or often "lurks") below the surface of intimate relationships. In this book, she uses her own past relationship experiences as examples and gives examples she's gleaned from friends and couples she has worked with professionally.

After perusing the following excerpt from the book I knew this was a book I had to read.
"Often upon seeing the weaknesses in each other, we have the tendency to go "Yuck!" and walk away on some level. But often it is not a change in partners but rather a change in perception that delivers us to the love seek. When we shift our view of the purpose of intimacy - from serving our own needs as we define them to serving a larger process of healing - then an entirely new opportunity presents itself. Our wounds have been brought forward, not to block the experience of love, but to serve it." Later Williamson writes, "The purpose of an intimate relationship is not that it be a place where we can hide from our weaknesses, but rather where we can safely let them go." and, "We unconsciously seek the relationships that challenge us to deliver on our most soulful selves, as well as tempt us to fall into our most neurotic patterns."

I cannot recommend this book strongly enough. It should be used by parents, teachers, ministers and counselors to help young adults and couples of all ages understand what's really going on when people unintentionally touch their partner's emotional wounds.

Short, thoughtful, compassionate, at times divinely inspired, easy to read and understand, this book rates as one of my top ten.

Average customer rating:

Enchanted Lands : The Mission
Teachers will love this.
Home grown Harry Potter
Enchanted Lands-The Mission
Mission Accomplished!

Enchanted Lands - The Mission
Mary Moore and Stephen Moore
Manufacturer: BookSurge Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Contemporary | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1419644653

Book Description

This book is a diverse tale of science fiction, fantasy and folklore mixed with important human values and notably set in New Mexico, home of the 1947 Roswell UFO Incident. Join Chilton Bear Claw, his best friend, Mac, and his retired racing Greyhound, Emily Running Deer, on a summer adventure of planetary proportions. Chili, Mac and Emily have never seen a UFO, interacted with an alien or met animals that could talk. But this summer that will change as a talking owl chooses them to be part of the elite Zozoan Force - a mission that they and the reader will find fascinating and unforgettable. 'Enchanted Lands - The Mission' is funny, spellbinding and truly out of this world! "An enchanting tale...as compelling and page-turning as 'Alice in Wonderland' and 'The Chronicles of Narnia'." - New York Times best-selling author Ellen Tanner Marsh

Customer Reviews:

Enchanted Lands : The Mission.......2007-05-01

I thought that the book was very unique.I also thought it was a very interesting story.It also was very good.Not alot of authors use their state's culture with fiction.I think that the author,Mary Moore is very creative.She used creative words, such as Yappy-Yo-Yo,and Fantamarific.The culture was in her hometown.I recommend that you read the book.
by Kathryn Ross
Sierra Middle School

Teachers will love this........2007-04-28

Mary Moore is a masterful writer. As I was reading Enchanted Lands, I gave my students updates on the adventures of Yappy-Yo-Yo. They were enthralmazed. I am in deepmiration. The word play was such fun to read, and tempting to imitate. I can see a whole series. It must have been fun to write. The references to the Indian Tribes gives it that special little hook that other novels lack. I loved the book. I hope Mary Moore is cranking out the next adventure of the Zozoan Force?

Home grown Harry Potter.......2007-04-02

Harry Potter, move over! Chili Bear Claw is a new preteen hero on the scene of fantasy/science fiction books. But Mary and Stephen Moore's book is unique because of the large helping of Native American lore in the story. The "mission" in Enchanted Lands: The Mission is to get Roswell, New Mexico's famous aliens back to their home planet. To accomplish this, Chili, his buddy Mac, and Emily the talking greyhound, have all sorts of wild adventures. Talking animals, Apache reservation ceremonies, travels beneath earth's surface via the heart-stopping "whurzle," and magic stones are only parts of this exciting, clever book. Middle schoolers can read it for themselves, and it's a great read-aloud for upper elementary. This is a book parents and grandparents will enjoy with their children. Smart, funny, thoughtful. Highly recommended!

Enchanted Lands-The Mission.......2007-03-19

Delightful! Enchanted Lands- The Mission, is full of charming characters, wonderful cultural experiences and life priciples. The reader will be drawn into a vivid world with unique problems to solve and immersed in a rich vocabulary. This book will captivate young and old readers alike. Mary and Steve Moore have captured the unique flavor of New Mexico and presented a fun, even plausable, explaination of the mystery that surrounds the Roswell incident of the 1940's. Prepare to be charmed and intriqued as you read this imaginative story of friendship, growing pains and courage among an unlikely group of heros.

Mission Accomplished!.......2007-02-26

In their first book, Mary and Stephen Moore have spun a success by penning an intelligent, culturally inclusive story for young adults. The wonderous diversity of the peoples and cultures within New Mexico are seamlessly interwoven into the fabric of Roswell's best loved tale, and the timeless values of friendship, caring, responsibility, and being true to who you are subtly propel the story forward. Without being "preachy," the authors make character "cool."

Enchanted Lands:the Mission threads the reader through time and space with the never to be forgotten Chilton "Chili" Bearclaw and the Zozoan Force. It's a trip you'll long remember for it's clever word-play and engrossing characters - human, animal and alien. The end leaves no doubt: another book is in the works. I bet it's going to be an "ooougey, booougy, wooger, booger," too!

Extra Virgin: A Young Woman Discovers the Italian Riviera, Where Every Month Is Enchanted

Average customer rating:

A wonderful read
Witty & full of interesting detail
A Sparkling Italian Wine
I loved this book!
Good read with a bit of a twist on a familiar story

Extra Virgin: A Young Woman Discovers the Italian Riviera, Where Every Month Is Enchanted
Annie Hawes
Manufacturer: Harper Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

The Hills of Tuscany
A Thousand Days in Tuscany: A Bittersweet Adventure
A Thousand Days in Venice (Ballantine Reader's Circle)
An Italian Affair
Pasquale's Nose: Idle Days in an Italian Town

ASIN: 0060958111
Release Date: 2002-04-02

Amazon.com

Fed up with cold, foggy London and the high cost of real estate, Annie Hawes is persuaded by her sister Lucy to travel to Italy and graft roses for the winter. The sisters arrive in rural Liguria with some formal Italian, no knowledge of rose grafting, and visions of Mediterranean men and sun. What they find is a town full of hard-working, wary olive growers smack in the middle of an olive oil depression who think these two young Englishwomen are nuts. Extra Virgin tells the story of the sisters' acclimation--theirs to Liguria and Liguria to them--and how they fell in love with a crumbling farmhouse in the hills.

Annie quickly finds that though they are only two miles from the Italian Riviera, it might as well be a hundred. Liguria is an old town full of time-honored peculiarities, especially in regard to espresso consumption (never, ever, after lunch; it will close your stomach) and swimming before summertime officially starts. "Seawater at the wrong time of year is even worse for your health than coffee at the wrong time of day, and the beach is only deserted because, as far as the citizens are concerned, if you put so much as a toe into the water before June you are certain to die within the week from exposure or pneumonia or both," says Hawes. Eventually, the sisters are accepted by the townsfolk, though they find the idea of the women buying the farmhouse and running it themselves (there are 50 olive trees on the land) fantastical.

Extra Virgin draws you in to the heart of Liguria and its inhabitants. Hawes has a knack for drawing characters and especially for describing the luscious meals that they are served--and eventually learn to cook. "Lucy and I are kindly allowed to make the tomato-and-basil salad," Hawes says, "and do our best not to be offended by being complemented on how like a proper tomato-and-basil salad it is." Pour yourself an espresso (as long as it's before lunch) or a grappa (aids the digestion), and then sit down to enjoy Extra Virgin. --Dana Van Nest

Book Description

In 1983, a pale Annie Hawes and her equally pale sister leave England for the sun-drenched olive groves of a small Italian town in Liguria. With fantasies of handsome tanned men and swimming in the sea urging them on, they are hired to work for ten weeks to graft roses -- of which they have little knowledge -- along the Italian Riviera, board and lodging included.

But none of the men seem to be under forty, and Ligurians have particular ideas about life, including swimming ("To go swimming in seawater outside the month of July or August is even worse for your health than drinking cappuccino after twelve noon!"). But Annie and her sister are captivated by San Pietro's quirkiness and beauty, and suddenly their brief stay stretches into years, as they are bemused, charmed, and ultimately accepted by the eccentric inhabitants of their adopted home.

Resonating with captivating verve and humor, Extra Virgin dishes up a sumptuous sampling of Italian life from an irresistible new voice.

Customer Reviews:

A wonderful read.......2007-03-09

Delightful voice, funny anecdotes, cleverly written. You will find yourself chuckling out loud more than once.

Witty & full of interesting detail.......2006-11-12

A great read. Witty, engrossing account of Annie & sister's unplanned purchase of a rundown farmhouse in Liguria on the Italian Riviera, and their (mis)adventures and interactions with the locals. Very funny, affectionately sly observations of human nature and the idiosyncrasies and highlights of Italian village life, olives and the love of good food. And interesting information about local olive farming and wine making and food. I just loved it!

A Sparkling Italian Wine.......2006-10-29

This is a delightful book. Ms. Hawes does a terrific job of bringing the reader into her experience of living in the rural Italian culture as a non-Italian--the confusion, the complications, the hard work, the education and the fun. The characters of her life are not romanticized, but portrayed with both honesty and affection adding an authentic feel often missing in memoirs such as these. Her sense of humor and tongue-in-cheek view of many situations are laugh out loud funny and enhance the pleasure of the read. The cultural misunderstandings between the Italian way and the English way are finely drawn and leave the reader feeling that differences are not only okay, but happy coexistence is all the more interesting because of them.

I loved this book and highly recommend it to others who enjoy Italy and maybe don't have the opportunity to get off the beaten track and really absorb it as they would like. Worth a first read, and a second, too.

I loved this book!.......2006-07-30

I bought it on a whim, and I can't think of the last time I've been so entertained. I've laughed out loud at numerous points. I'm recommending it all over the place, but am unwilling to lend out my copy as I intend to read it again.

Good read with a bit of a twist on a familiar story.......2006-06-23

I have read a whole slew of books on living in northern Italy. I have enjoyed them all (well, all except for A Summer in Tuscany by Sandra Swanson). This one is a bit different from the rest, and not for a single reason or two. First off, the book is based on the Riviera, not in Tuscany. Second, it starts with a story of how they are working in Italy for a season, but then becomes a story of living there. Third, there is a more complex attitude toward Italy revealed here by the writer, not a blind love, not cynicism, but a realistic combination of those approaches, and one that I think changes slightly over the course of the book. Fourth, a single woman living with her sister seems to lead to different experiences and therefore make the book a bit different from the others about couples. The authors have some opportunities to interact with the locals but are also given a bit wider berth as might be the case with bringing a single person to a party consisting entirely of married couples. Either because of or in spite of these differences the book succeeds. It was a much slower read than the other were, but also very enjoyable. I recommend it, though the ending does seems a bit rushed and compressed.

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