Reviews Written By: A2VZP50FSYD6COprovided by Amazon.com |
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 | Died in the Wool : A Knitting Mystery | |
 | "Shows some promise" | 2009-07-29 |
| The last thing knitting store owner Ariadne Evans expects to find when she opens her store one morning is a dead body - strangled to death with yarn from her shop. The police have plenty of suspects and Ari thinks they'll solve the case soon but she is none too happy when suspicion quickly falls on close friends of hers. Ari knows they are innocent but she needs to convince Detective Joshua Pierce that he needs to look elsewhere for the murderer. Soon Ari is heavily involved in investigating the murder - but as she gets closer to the truth she herself may be in real danger. "Died in the Wool" is an okay first book in a new cozy mystery series by Mary Kruger. While Kruger does follow some traditional cozy mystery "rules" - notably a police detective as a potential love interest - she does shake things up a bit. The book is written in the third person, not the first, and from the viewpoints of both Ari and Joshua - a unique device that works most of the time. While having a mystery set in a yarn store is also a familiar cozy mystery device, Kruger again takes it up a notch with the addition of hand made yarn and the work that goes into it. The characters - Ari, her friend Diane, her Aunt Laura, Josh -are all well done (although Laura comes close to being a cliché). For the most part the mystery is well written with plenty of suspects and red herrings. However, the mystery does have some moments where plot turns are awkwardly written and a second murder is telegraphed way ahead of time. Finally, while the identity of the killer will come as a surprise to most readers, the motive for the murders is totally unbelievable. "Died in the Wool" is an okay mystery and I suspect subsequent books in the series will be better as Kruger gets a real feel for her characters and setting. | ||
 | Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder, 60-Minutes (White) | |
 | "Inexpensive, yet good quality videos" | 2009-07-27 |
| The Flip Video Camera is an inexpensive, pocket sized digital video camera. It is lightweight, very easy to use and records up to sixty minutes of footage that you can immediately review either on the camera itself or you can load it up to you computer in a few short minutes. What I Like: The Flip Video Camera is very easy to turn on - you just slide the power switch on the side of the camera. The camera will shut itself off after several minutes of inactivity. While filming, you have the ability to zoom in and out use the + and - keys. Once you've finished filming you can immediately view the footage on the camera using the play button. If you don't like the footage you can immediately get rid of it using the delete button (you can't accidentally delete footage because the camera asks if you are sure you want to delete the footage and you have to press the "yes" button to get rid of it). The camera holds up to sixty minutes of footage and you can easily scroll through the videos to find what you are looking for. The USB connection on the side of the camera is a bonus since you don't have to worry about where you put the USB cable when you're ready to upload them. It is very easy to upload videos to your PC and the picture is remarkably clear. What I Don't Like: The recording button on the Flip Video Camera can be hard to turn on until you get used to it. When watching a video on the camera, there is no rewind, pause, or fast forward button. While you can edit the flip videos on your computer using the flip video program, you can only edit where the video begins and where it ends - you can't delete any footage in the middle or otherwise edit it. However, you can edit the videos more thoroughly using other software, which is what I do. The limit of only one hour of footage may be off-putting to some. Bottom-line: While it has its limitations, the Flip Video Camera is inexpensive, yet gives good quality vides. Recommended for those who want an inexpensive, yet effective digital video camera. | ||
 | Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder, 60 Minutes (Pink) | |
| "Inexpensive, yet good quality videos" | 2009-07-27 |
| The Flip Video Camera is an inexpensive, pocket sized digital video camera. It is lightweight, very easy to use and records up to sixty minutes of footage that you can immediately review either on the camera itself or you can load it up to you computer in a few short minutes. What I Like: The Flip Video Camera is very easy to turn on - you just slide the power switch on the side of the camera. The camera will shut itself off after several minutes of inactivity. While filming, you have the ability to zoom in and out use the + and - keys. Once you've finished filming you can immediately view the footage on the camera using the play button. If you don't like the footage you can immediately get rid of it using the delete button (you can't accidentally delete footage because the camera asks if you are sure you want to delete the footage and you have to press the "yes" button to get rid of it). The camera holds up to sixty minutes of footage and you can easily scroll through the videos to find what you are looking for. The USB connection on the side of the camera is a bonus since you don't have to worry about where you put the USB cable when you're ready to upload them. It is very easy to upload videos to your PC and the picture is remarkably clear. What I Don't Like: The recording button on the Flip Video Camera can be hard to turn on until you get used to it. When watching a video on the camera, there is no rewind, pause, or fast forward button. While you can edit the flip videos on your computer using the flip video program, you can only edit where the video begins and where it ends - you can't delete any footage in the middle or otherwise edit it. However, you can edit the videos more thoroughly using other software, which is what I do. The limit of only one hour of footage may be off-putting to some. Bottom-line: While it has its limitations, the Flip Video Camera is inexpensive, yet gives good quality vides. Recommended for those who want an inexpensive, yet effective digital video camera. | ||
 | Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder, 60-Minutes | |
| "Inexpensive, yet good quality videos" | 2009-07-27 |
| The Flip Video Camera is an inexpensive, pocket sized digital video camera. It is lightweight, very easy to use and records up to sixty minutes of footage that you can immediately review either on the camera itself or you can load it up to you computer in a few short minutes. What I Like: The Flip Video Camera is very easy to turn on - you just slide the power switch on the side of the camera. The camera will shut itself off after several minutes of inactivity. While filming, you have the ability to zoom in and out use the + and - keys. Once you've finished filming you can immediately view the footage on the camera using the play button. If you don't like the footage you can immediately get rid of it using the delete button (you can't accidentally delete footage because the camera asks if you are sure you want to delete the footage and you have to press the "yes" button to get rid of it). The camera holds up to sixty minutes of footage and you can easily scroll through the videos to find what you are looking for. The USB connection on the side of the camera is a bonus since you don't have to worry about where you put the USB cable when you're ready to upload them. It is very easy to upload videos to your PC and the picture is remarkably clear. What I Don't Like: The recording button on the Flip Video Camera can be hard to turn on until you get used to it. When watching a video on the camera, there is no rewind, pause, or fast forward button. While you can edit the flip videos on your computer using the flip video program, you can only edit where the video begins and where it ends - you can't delete any footage in the middle or otherwise edit it. However, you can edit the videos more thoroughly using other software, which is what I do. The limit of only one hour of footage may be off-putting to some. Bottom-line: While it has its limitations, the Flip Video Camera is inexpensive, yet gives good quality vides. Recommended for those who want an inexpensive, yet effective digital video camera. | ||
 | Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder, 60 Minutes | |
| "Inexpensive, yet good quality videos" | 2009-07-27 |
| The Flip Video Camera is an inexpensive, pocket sized digital video camera. It is lightweight, very easy to use and records up to sixty minutes of footage that you can immediately review either on the camera itself or you can load it up to you computer in a few short minutes. What I Like: The Flip Video Camera is very easy to turn on - you just slide the power switch on the side of the camera. The camera will shut itself off after several minutes of inactivity. While filming, you have the ability to zoom in and out use the + and - keys. Once you've finished filming you can immediately view the footage on the camera using the play button. If you don't like the footage you can immediately get rid of it using the delete button (you can't accidentally delete footage because the camera asks if you are sure you want to delete the footage and you have to press the "yes" button to get rid of it). The camera holds up to sixty minutes of footage and you can easily scroll through the videos to find what you are looking for. The USB connection on the side of the camera is a bonus since you don't have to worry about where you put the USB cable when you're ready to upload them. It is very easy to upload videos to your PC and the picture is remarkably clear. What I Don't Like: The recording button on the Flip Video Camera can be hard to turn on until you get used to it. When watching a video on the camera, there is no rewind, pause, or fast forward button. While you can edit the flip videos on your computer using the flip video program, you can only edit where the video begins and where it ends - you can't delete any footage in the middle or otherwise edit it. However, you can edit the videos more thoroughly using other software, which is what I do. The limit of only one hour of footage may be off-putting to some. Bottom-line: While it has its limitations, the Flip Video Camera is inexpensive, yet gives good quality vides. Recommended for those who want an inexpensive, yet effective digital video camera. | ||
 | Coraline CD | |
 | "Deliciously Creepy" | 2009-04-13 |
| Young Coraline's family has recently moved into a new house and she is just starting to explore the house and getting to know her neighbors, Miss Spink and Miss Forcible and the old man who lives upstairs with his pet mice. She hasn't met any other children in the area yet so she has plenty of time to explore the house. But she gets more than she expected when she steps through a mysterious door in the house and finds another house almost exactly like hers and another mother and another father who look just like her parents. But they really aren't like her parents at all and soon Coraline is in a fight to return to her ordinary life and her ordinary parents. "Coraline" is Neil Gaiman's delightfully quirky book that is aimed at readers ages eight and up but can be enjoyed by readers of all ages. While Gaiman creates a bizarre alternate world once Coraline goes through the door, the real world she lives in is a bit odd as well. Her parents basically ignore her, Miss Spink and Miss Forcible are obsessed with their dogs and the man upstairs is obsessed with his mice. Once she is through the door, Gaiman creates a world that seems familiar to Coraline but gets creepier the longer she stays there. Gaiman does a great job of creating the parallel world (I love what he does with Miss Spink and Miss Forcible and the talking cat). Coraline (not Caroline - nice touch) is a strong heroine who grows stronger throughout the course of the book as she has to save several people, including herself from a horrible fate. The world Gaiman creates is deliciously creepy but may be a bit too scary for younger readers. "Coraline" is a wonderfully dark book for readers of all ages. | ||
 | Dead Man Docking: A Bed-And-Breakfast Mystery | |
| "Good but over the top cozy mystery" | 2008-12-31 |
| Bed and Breakfast owner Judith McMonigle Flynn badly needs a vacation and when her cousin Serena (Renie) is invited to go on a free 1930's themed cruise, Judith agrees to go along. But murder has a habit of finding Judith and before the cruise can even get underway, the body of their host, Magglio Cruz, is found stuffed in a piano. With nothing else to do until their ship sails, Judith and Renie, along with the help of fellow passengers Rick and Rhoda St. George, decide to investigate the murder. They better find the killer soon - dead bodies are starting to pile up and none of them wants to be the next victim. "Dead Man Docking" is a good, if over the top cozy mystery. Author Mary Daheim takes the 1930's cruise theme to the extreme creating characters straight out of a 1930's movie. Rick and Rhoda St. George (and their dog Asthma) are the best examples of this as they are thinly disguised takeoffs on Nick and Nora Charles. All of this is very amusing but not very believable. Daheim seems to have had a lot of fun writing the book which makes it fun to read, although the humor can be a bit much (Daheim relies a bit too much on puns at times and some of the characters, like the maid are stereotypical to the point of being offensive). The murder mystery elements are fine, although it's hard to believe people would open up as easily as they do to Judith and Renie. Also Judith and Renie tell people that are practically strangers far too much information when for all they know they could be talking to a murderer. There are plenty of suspects (and dead bodies!) and readers will have fun trying to figure out who the killer is. Unfortunately the scene where the killer is revealed is, like most of the book, way over the top and totally unbelievable. I was hoping that Daheim would put in a twist regarding the killer, but she didn't take any chances in this book which is too bad. "Dead Man Docking" is a good but over the top cozy mystery. | ||
 | Eater's Choice: A Food Lover's Guide to Lower Cholesterol | |
| "Has Some Useful Information" | 2008-08-19 |
| "Eater's Choice" is a book filled with tips on how to lower your cholesterol. It has chapters describing what cholesterol is and how to lower it; how your heart works; making the right choices; other risks for coronary heart disease; ensuring a balanced diet; and cholesterol guidelines for tots to teens. The book also includes one week of meal plans; recipes; and food tables that contain both saturated fat calories and total fat calories for a wide variety of foods and products. There is also a section that tells you what food items you should always have in stock. The back of the book has Appendixes that explain how to keep a food record; explanatory notes for guidelines; a glossary; and a table of equivalent measures. "Eater's Choice" is a good book for people who want to lower their cholesterol through diet. The book is evenly divided between information on cholesterol, health tips, recipes, and the food tables. The main goal of the book is to help readers lower their cholesterol and their risk of heart disease. Until I read the book I thought the only way to lower cholesterol was by eliminating cholesterol in my diet but "Eater's Choice" focuses on eliminating fats and saturated fat from your diet and not the cholesterol content of foods you eat. My copy was last updated in 1999 and I could not find a newer edition. The book could use a further update since the food labels they show as illustrations do not include trans fats. While I found the entire book to be interesting, I found the recipes in the book as well as the food table to be the most useful. But, while I want to lower my cholesterol, I'm not convinced that diet is the way to go since other members of my family eat the same meals I do and do not have high cholesterol. Nor am I all that good about following a good plan. Still, "Eater's Choice" gave me several pointers and is a good first step towards lowering cholesterol. | ||
 | The Wrath of Mulgarath (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 5) | |
| "Good End to Series" | 2008-08-15 |
| After their encounter with goblins, dwarves, and elves, Jared, Simon, and Mallory Grace realize they have to tell their mother about the faerie world surrounding them. But they may have waited too long and it will take everything they have plus help from some friends to make everything okay. "The Wrath of Mulgarath" is the exciting conclusion to the five book series "The Spiderwick Chronicles". The book picks up right where "The Ironwood Tree" ends and is filled with non-stop action. There is the return of old favorite (Thimbletack and Hogsqueal) and not so favorite (Mulgarath) characters as well as more than one surprise along the way. The book is full of twists and turns and not everyone and everything is what they seem to be. There are moments filled with real suspense and even some humor along the way. While the climactic battle scene has plenty of action, I was a bit disappointed because certain events seemed a bit anticlimactic. Since this was the fifth and final book in "The Spiderwick Chronicles" series, everything is neatly wrapped up in the end. Readers will love reading what happens to Jared, Simon, and Mallory, as well as Thimbletack and Hogsqueal, and even Aunt Lucinda. Her ending is the most bittersweet of all. "The Wrath of Mulgarath" is a great ending to a wonderful series. | ||
 | Summer of '49 (Perennial Classics) | |
| "Excellently Done" | 2008-08-04 |
| "Summer of `49" focuses on the rivalry between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees as they fought for first place during the Summer of 1949. This was before the days of the wild card and first place meant a trip to the playoffs while second place meant a trip home. The two teams fought for first place all season long and (perhaps fittingly) it all came down to the last game of the season. "Summer of `49" is an excellent book about baseball, the men that played it, the men who ran it, the men who called the games on the radio, and the fans who loved the game. Author David Halberstam focuses mostly on the players (rightfully so) and does an evenhanded job of portraying players on both teams. Halberstam provides a fascinating glimpse at players such as Ted Williams, Bobby Doerr, and Ellis Kinder of the Red Sox and Yogi Berra, Phil Rizzuto, and Vic Raschi of the Yankees. Equally interesting to read was the relationship between brothers Joe and Dom DiMaggio (Joe played for the Yankees while Dom played for the Red Sox). Also featured in the book are the managers of the Yankees and Red Sox - Casey Stengel and Joe McCarthy. Another person I found fascinating to read about and wish I had been able to hear announce games was Mel Allen. Halberstam also provides an interesting insight into what the game of baseball was like during the 1940's. It was an age when starting pitchers pitched entire games whenever possible and relief pitchers were not specialists; a time before the designated hitter; and a time before the wild card. I was not alive then, but as a once long-suffering Red Sox fan (2004 changed all that), I could picture how frustrating that year must have been for Boston fans. Halberstam does a good job of describing game action and I could feel the anguish of the Red Sox players and fans after that final game. Published in 1989, "Summer of '49" is a bit dated at the end (both Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams are still alive at the end of the book and Williams is developing a relationship with and yet to be manipulated by his son John Henry), but it is excellently done and I highly recommend it. | ||
 | The Mensa Genius Quiz-A-Day Book | |
| "Challenge Yourself" | 2008-07-18 |
| "The Mensa Genius Quiz-A-Day Book" contains 366 puzzles (including one for leap years). The puzzles cover a wide variety including cryptograms, picture puzzles, math puzzles, riddles, palindromes, Tom Swifties, and more. The book is divided into months and at the start of each month there is a description of how the month got its name and some other interesting facts about the month. The answers are at the back of the book and each answer tells what percentage of Mensa members got the right answer for that particular puzzle. "The Mensa Genius Quiz-A-Day Book" is a good book for people who want to keep their mind active by doing at least one puzzle a day. The puzzles are varied in such a way that if you find a puzzle tough one day, the puzzle the next day won't seem as hard. My favorite puzzles are the word puzzles (palindromes, anagrams, riddles, mini-mysteries, etc.) while I'm not too fond of or particularly good at the math puzzles. For the most part, the book is evenly divided between the types of puzzles, but there are a few times when it seems like there are several of the same type of puzzle in a row. Although the book says Mensa, you don't have to be a Mensa member to do the puzzles (I'm not). The answer section gives a detailed explanation of each answer, which ultimately helps you solve similar types of puzzles. By the end of the book you should be able to solve or at least have an understanding of how each puzzle works. "The Mensa Genius Quiz-A-Day Book" is hours of challenging fun for everyone. | ||
 | The Spiderwick Chronicles: Lucinda's Secret by Tony Diterlizzi, ISBN 0689859384 | |
| "Charming" | 2008-07-16 |
| There's been nothing but trouble for the Grace children (Jared, Simon, and Mallory) since they found the book "Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You". More than one monster wants the Guide and Simon and Mallory are eager to destroy it, but Jared isn't so sure that's a good idea, so they go to their Great Aunt Lucinda to see what she can tell them about the Guide. Lucinda will tell them some of her secrets and they will discover even more as they try to solve the mystery of the Field Guide. "Lucinda's Secret" is the third book (of five) in "The Spiderwick Chronicles" and picks up where the first two The Field Guide (The Spiderwick Chronicles) and The Seeing Stone (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 2) left off. Authors Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black have already filled the books with magical creatures such as goblins, griffins, trolls, and boggarts and add even more in this book - fairies, elves, ogres, a unicorn, and more. Not all of these characters are benevolent and there is a delicious underlying sense of danger throughout the book and series. Some of the best creatures in this book include the unicorn, the shape shifting and cryptic speaking Phooka, the fairies, and the elves. The three children continue to grow as characters throughout the series, especially Jared who is maturing as the adventures continue. The addition of Lucinda in the book adds much to the story as she can explain at least some of what is going on, although her character isn't in the book nearly enough. Since "Lucinda's Secret" is the third book in the series, it sometimes feels a bit like filler with only a little plot development. Still, it is a charming book in a charming series. | ||
 | Lucinda's Secret (Spiderwick Chronicles) | |
| "Charming" | 2008-07-16 |
| There's been nothing but trouble for the Grace children (Jared, Simon, and Mallory) since they found the book "Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You". More than one monster wants the Guide and Simon and Mallory are eager to destroy it, but Jared isn't so sure that's a good idea, so they go to their Great Aunt Lucinda to see what she can tell them about the Guide. Lucinda will tell them some of her secrets and they will discover even more as they try to solve the mystery of the Field Guide. "Lucinda's Secret" is the third book (of five) in "The Spiderwick Chronicles" and picks up where the first two The Field Guide (The Spiderwick Chronicles) and The Seeing Stone (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 2) left off. Authors Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black have already filled the books with magical creatures such as goblins, griffins, trolls, and boggarts and add even more in this book - fairies, elves, ogres, a unicorn, and more. Not all of these characters are benevolent and there is a delicious underlying sense of danger throughout the book and series. Some of the best creatures in this book include the unicorn, the shape shifting and cryptic speaking Phooka, the fairies, and the elves. The three children continue to grow as characters throughout the series, especially Jared who is maturing as the adventures continue. The addition of Lucinda in the book adds much to the story as she can explain at least some of what is going on, although her character isn't in the book nearly enough. Since "Lucinda's Secret" is the third book in the series, it sometimes feels a bit like filler with only a little plot development. Still, it is a charming book in a charming series. | ||
 | The Ironwood Tree (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 4) | |
| "Tremendous Fantasy" | 2008-06-11 |
| For a couple of weeks, things have been almost normal for the three Grace children (Jared, Simon and Mallory) - there have been no faerie sightings. But that changes quickly at Mallory's fencing competition and soon Jared is in serious trouble and he has a hard time explaining his actions. But there's even more trouble for Jared and Simon when Mallory disappears. Their search for her will take them to places they never imagined and they begin to wonder if they can fight the monsters by themselves. "The Ironwood Tree" is the wonderful fourth book in the children's fantasy series "The Spiderwick Chronicles". Authors Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black step up both the action and fantasy elements in this, the fourth of five books. They add more fantastical creatures including dwarves and metal dogs as well as some mysterious beings (who was that girl rummaging through Mallory's bag and who was the boy that got Jared in trouble?) All three children are in real danger in this book - danger that will have children eagerly turning the pages to find out what happens next. Mixed in with the fantasy elements is a dose of reality - Jared is still having anger management issues and the thing that gets him in trouble in the book, while not his fault, happens all too often in the real world. "The Ironwood Tree" is a well-done fantasy book for children of all ages. | ||
 | Briar Rose | |
| "Very Moving" | 2008-05-27 |
| Growing up, Rebecca listened to her beloved grandmother ("Gemma") recount the story of Briar Rose countless times. As Gemma lies dying, she tells Rebecca that she (Gemma) was Briar Rose and asks Becca to promise that she will look into Gemma's past. Becca agrees and embarks upon a journey to Poland that will open up past wounds but will also lead to a new beginning. "Briar Rose" by Jane Yolen is a powerful novel about the Holocaust. Set in the present day with flashbacks to the Holocaust, it is an unforgettable story. Yolen skillfully weaves Gemma's recounting of the Briar Rose story with what really happened and it is heartbreaking and moving. The novel is filled with great characters - Becca, who agrees to find out Gemma's story and pledges to do so no matter what; Stan, her editor who encourages her to do so; Magda, the irrepressible Polish girl who helps Becca; Josef Potoki, who fills in many of the blanks in Gemma's life (his story is one of the most moving parts of the book); and of course Gemma herself as her story unfolds. Also playing a powerful part in the novel is the visit to Chelmno - not only the place itself but the reaction of the people living near there to the visitors. Gemma and Josef's stories are moving in many ways - a reminder of how much people lost during the Holocaust. The discoveries that Becca makes about Gemma and also the ones that she is unable to make are heartbreaking, yet heartwarming. "Briar Rose" is a powerful work of fiction. Highly recommended. | ||
 | yy | |
| "Very Moving" | 2008-05-27 |
| Growing up, Rebecca listened to her beloved grandmother ("Gemma") recount the story of Briar Rose countless times. As Gemma lies dying, she tells Rebecca that she (Gemma) was Briar Rose and asks Becca to promise that she will look into Gemma's past. Becca agrees and embarks upon a journey to Poland that will open up past wounds but will also lead to a new beginning. "Briar Rose" by Jane Yolen is a powerful novel about the Holocaust. Set in the present day with flashbacks to the Holocaust, it is an unforgettable story. Yolen skillfully weaves Gemma's recounting of the Briar Rose story with what really happened and it is heartbreaking and moving. The novel is filled with great characters - Becca, who agrees to find out Gemma's story and pledges to do so no matter what; Stan, her editor who encourages her to do so; Magda, the irrepressible Polish girl who helps Becca; Josef Potoki, who fills in many of the blanks in Gemma's life (his story is one of the most moving parts of the book); and of course Gemma herself as her story unfolds. Also playing a powerful part in the novel is the visit to Chelmno - not only the place itself but the reaction of the people living near there to the visitors. Gemma and Josef's stories are moving in many ways - a reminder of how much people lost during the Holocaust. The discoveries that Becca makes about Gemma and also the ones that she is unable to make are heartbreaking, yet heartwarming. "Briar Rose" is a powerful work of fiction. Highly recommended. | ||
 | War and Peas (Jane Jeffry Mysteries (Paperback)) | |
| "Good, light cozy mystery" | 2008-05-12 |
| It is the annual Pea Festival in Jane Jeffrey's hometown and Jane and her friend Shelley Nowack are participating in a number of activities including sorting through items at the Snellin Museum and taking part in a Civil War reenactment. Jane thought the reenactment would be interesting, but she wasn't expecting museum director Regina Price Palmer to be murdered during the battle. Jane's boyfriend, police detective Mel Van Dyne, is investigating the case, but Jane's work inside the museum gives her a good way of also investigating the murder since most of the suspects are involved in the museum. When there is a second murder, Jane is even more eager to solve the case before there is yet another victim. "War and Peas" is an enjoyable, yet somewhat light cozy mystery. The book gets off to an interesting start with the Civil War reenactment and having the murder take place during the battle is a great touch since it provides plenty of suspects. Having the novel set around a pea festival and a pea museum is a very funny touch and not meant to be taken seriously by readers although the characters in the book are serious about it. There is a nice gentle sense of humor throughout the book with a few laugh out loud moments - one involving notes Jane's children leave her and when Jane cleans out her car. At this point in the series (this is the eighth book in the series) Jane is a fully developed and rich character as are the supporting characters in the book. The mystery is well written and well plotted and readers will have fun trying to figure out who the murderer is. "War and Peas" is another nice cozy mystery by Jill Churchill. | ||
 | Ted Williams : The Biography of an American Hero | |
| "Nicely Done Look at a Complex Man" | 2008-04-30 |
| From the beginning, Ted Williams was a larger than life personality - a great player on the field, the last baseball player to hit over .400 - and a player off the field as well, married three times, but never to the true love of his life. His antics on and off the field were legendary, as were his breaks from baseball to serve in both World War II and Korea. And, of course, his relationship with his children, especially son John Henry, led to headlines long after his career and life were over. "Ted Williams: The Biography of an American Hero" by Leigh Montville is a wonderfully written look at the colorful Williams. Montville covers all aspects of Williams's life, from his childhood and troubled relationship with his parents (especially his mother), his career in Boston, his tumultuous relationship with Boston sports writers, his life after baseball, his troubled relationship with his children, and of course his controversial freezing after his death. Williams was a complex man and Montville does his best to show what made Williams tick. It's not an easy task, Williams was prickly and had two sides to his personality - the public Ted and the private Ted. By the end of the book you will both love and hate Williams - you'll love the public Ted that associated so well with fans (at least off the field and especially the young ones - Williams was instrumental in helping the Jimmy Fund, which supports young cancer patients, get off the ground) and hate the private Ted, who made life difficult for those around him. For the most part, Montville is objective in his writing, treating both the private Ted and public Ted even-handedly and making no excuses for his behavior. But his objectivity slips near the end of the book when he discusses Williams's son John Henry. It's clear that Montville doesn't like John Henry. As much as your feelings for Ted may waver throughout the book, by the end you can't help but feel sorry for him and the way his family treated him the last few years of his life. "Ted Williams: The Biography of an American Hero" is an interesting look at a complex man. | ||
 | The Seeing Stone (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 2) | |
| "Good but Scary" | 2008-03-06 |
| Jared, Simon, and Mallory Grace are still adjusting to their new life after their parents' divorce. Not only do they have to adjust to a new school (Jared especially is having a hard time with this) but they are living in a house and area inhabited not only by humans but hobgoblins, trolls, fairies, and griffins. When Simon's cat disappears he goes looking for it and soon he also disappears. Jared and Mallory set off to help Simon, but they'll need some help in order to find him in time.
"The Seeing Stone" is the sequel to The Field Guide (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 1) and is the second book in "The Spiderwick Chronicles" series and for the most part it is pretty good fun. Children will love the fantasy elements of the goblins, trolls, fairies, griffins, etc. especially the rhyming Thimbletack. The Seeing Stone (which helps them see the Goblins) is a nice addition to the series and authors Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black invent a funny if somewhat gross way for the children to see the goblins without the seeing stone. What kept me from entirely enjoying the book is that I felt some of the scarier moments were a bit too scary for young children. I found the goblins especially bothersome with their cages full of kidnap victims. And the hint of what might have happened to Simon's cat may be traumatic for younger children. "The Seeing Stone" is a good fantasy but parents may want to read it first to make sure their children can handle it. | ||
 | This Pen for Hire: A Jaine Austen Mystery (Jaine Austen Mysteries) | |
| "Funny, Well Plotted Cozy Mystery" | 2008-03-04 |
| Like her namesake, Jaine Austen is a writer, but a freelance writer, meaning she'll take just about any job that will help pay the bills. So when geeky nerd Howard Murdoch shows up at her door asking her to write a love letter for him she agrees although she doubts gorgeous aerobics instructor Stacy Lawrence will agree to go out with him. Much to Jaine's surprise, Stacy agrees to go out with Howard on Valentine's Day! Alas, Howard's triumph is short lived when he shows up for the date and finds Stacy's murdered body. Detective Timothy Rea is convinced Howard is the killer, but Jaine's not so sure and sets out to clear his name. She has plenty of suspects, including Stacy's neighbors, coworkers, and ex-boyfriend. She needs to find who the killer is before she becomes the next victim.
"This Pen for Hire" is an extremely funny cozy mystery. The humor starts with the name of the heroine, Jaine Austen (her mother was a bad speller), and continues from there with the fact that the modern Jane is a writer but no, well no Jane Austen. Some of the funniest bits in the book are the writing she does for various companies. Jaine is a good heroine - struggling not only to find writing jobs to pay her bills but struggling with her weight and a bit insecure because of that. Her friend Kandi, a writer on the cartoon show Beanie and the Cockroach, adds to the humor in the novel as she is always looking for "Mr. Right". Of the rest of the characters, I'd like to see more of Jaine's nosy neighbor Lance. Because the book is on the slim side and heavy on the humor, I was afraid the mystery elements would be underdeveloped, but I was pleasantly surprised. The murder was well plotted, with a good motive, plenty of suspects and some nice red herrings along the way. The writing is nicely done as if Jaine were talking directly to the reader and very enjoyable. "This Pen for Hire" is a laugh out loud funny cozy mystery. The next book in the series is Last Writes (Jaine Austen Mysteries). Enjoy! | ||
 | Better Off Wed: An Annabelle Archer Mystery | |
| "Just Okay" | 2008-01-25 |
| Wedding planner Annabelle Archer knew the wedding she was working on would be difficult, but she certainly wasn't expecting the mother of the bride to be murdered during the reception. The murder not only hurts Annabelle's reputation as a wedding planner, but her friend Richard Gerard, a caterer, is a major suspect. When there is a second murder which makes Richard even more of a suspect, Annabelle knows she has to work fast to clear his name. She has plenty of suspects but will she figure out who the killer is before she becomes the next victim?
"Better Off Wed" is an uneven cozy mystery. The unevenness comes from the characters as some of them are well written and others barely register as characters. Annabelle is well done - good at her job and concerned about her friends. Caterer Richard is also well written and author Laura Durham deserves credit for having readers discover Richard is gay without stating the obvious. Too bad she doesn't do the same with Annabelle's assistant Kate and her habit of mangling familiar sayings - Durham points every single one of them out, which is too bad because it was one of the humorous aspects of the book. Outside of Annabelle, Richard, Kate, and Annabelle's elderly neighbor Leatrice, the rest of the characters aren't well written especially the murder victim's family. Because of this, the murder mystery aspects of the book aren't that interesting and it's hard for readers to try to figure out who the murderer is, which is part of the fun of reading cozy mysteries. And when the murderer finally is revealed, the motive for the murder is unbelievable. "Better Off Wed" is just an okay debut cozy mystery novel. | ||
 | The Field Guide (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 1) | |
| "Fun Fantasy for Young and Old Alike" | 2008-01-22 |
| After their parents divorce, Jared Grace, his twin brother Simon, their older sister Mallory, and their mother move into their great-aunt Lucinda's run down house. People think Aunt Lucinda is crazy because she insists that little men bring her food. But soon the Grace children are discovering mysterious things in the house including nests built into the wall, a secret room, and a puzzling letter. When pranks are pulled everyone think it's Jared acting out and he tries to convince his family that he's not the culprit. Soon the Grace children find out the house is more mysterious than any of them realized.
"The Field Guide", the first book in "The Spiderwick Chronicles", is a delightful fantasy. It is aimed at children seven and up but readers of all ages will enjoy it. The idea of an old house filled with secret rooms and fantasy creatures will delight young children. The book isn't all fun and games - the divorce has hurt the whole family and is treated realistically in the book, especially the reaction of the children who have had to switch schools and the mother's worrying about money. All of the children are well written and well developed, especially Jared from whose viewpoint the story is told. Jared took the divorce especially hard, getting into fights at school and is blamed for being the mischief-maker when things start happening around the house. The relationship between the three children is well done - they love each other, but still have their petty fights. The illustrations in the book are wonderfully done. "The Spiderwick Chronicles" was originally designed as a five book series, although the authors have started a "Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles" series. The next book in the first series is The Spiderwick Chronicles (The Seeing Stone, Volume 2). Enjoy! | ||
![Blades of Glory [HD DVD]](product_images/4932000/4932396_thumb.jpg) | Blades of Glory [HD DVD] | |
| "Funny Take on Figure Skating" | 2008-01-21 |
| Jimmy MacElroy and Chazz Michael Michaels are long-time figure skating rivals. They are complete opposites - Jimmy was adopted by a man who trained him from a young age to be a champion and is germophobic; Chazz is a boozing sex addict. For the most part, their rivalry is only on the ice, but when they get into a fist fight at a competition they are both banned from skating for life. When a loophole is discovered that will allow them to skate together as pairs, they try to put their rivalry aside to compete again. But not only do they have to try to get along, at least on the ice, they have to deal with their main rivals, brother and sister team Stranz and Fairchild Van Waldenberg who will stop at nothing in their quest for gold.
"Blades of Glory" is a silly, goofy, at times raunchy comedy. It pokes fun at both skating (the costumes, music, routines) and its fans (who act more like they are at a football game instead of a skating competition), but it's not all that edgy. In fact, while Jon Heder at times plays Jimmy as being a bit effeminate, the movie skates around the issue of homosexuality in figure skating by making Chazz a sex addict usually surrounded by several women and giving Jimmy a female love interest. None of the movie is meant to be taken seriously and figure skating purists should ignore everything the movie gets wrong about figure skating (perhaps intentionally). None of the actors are going for Academy awards in this movie and much of the acting (and action) is over the top, but all of the actors seem to be having fun, especially Will Ferrell, Jon Heder, Will Arnett and Amy Poehler. The skating aspects are so-so (no doubt due to the limitations of the cast) but I wish the movie had shown more of the JFK/Marilyn Monroe routine - that could have been hilarious. There are a lot of real life figure skaters in the movie although most of them - Dorothy Hamill, Peggy Fleming, Sasha Cohen, and Nancy Kerrigan - have brief cameos. Scott Hamilton is a riot playing himself announcing the pairs competition. "Blades of Glory" is funny, but definitely not for a younger audience as it is full of raunchy humor including throwing up after drinking and plenty of crotch shots. | ||
 | Silence of the Hams (Jane Jeffry Mysteries (Paperback)) | |
| "Enjoyable Cozy Mystery" | 2008-01-09 |
| Jane Jeffrey's oldest son is growing up. He is graduating from high school and working part time at a local deli to earn some money. Jane thinks the only thing she needs to worry about Mike is that he be careful while driving the truck she gave him as a graduation present. But when obnoxious attorney Robert Stonecipher is murdered at the opening party for the deli, she's not sure she wants Mike working there. But he insists he'll be okay and Jane relents. When there is a second murder, Jane can't help investigating the deaths even if her boyfriend, homicide detective Mel VanDyne, doesn't like it.
"Silence of the Hams" is yet another great cozy mystery by Jill Churchill. As always, what makes the Jane Jeffry series so enjoyable is not necessarily the mystery but the details about Jane's family life. Jane's kids are growing up as the series progresses and Mike especially has grown. With his father's death he considers himself the man of the house and Jane is learning to treat him as an adult. Some of the best scenes in the book involve Mike, either directly or indirectly. One of those scenes is when Jane buys the truck for Mike. Her friend, Shelley Nowack, is great at wearing down the salesman and it is a very funny part of the book (wish I could take her with me next time I buy a car!) Equally well done is Mike's graduation party which sounds like a lot of fun. Jane's other children, Katie and Todd, are also well written, Katie especially so as she is going through the growing pains that come with being a teenager. Churchill does an excellent job of capturing the little things that make up life in the suburbs. The mystery itself is okay. Parts of it were a bit unbelievable and it's pretty clear from the beginning who the murderer is. But it's still a fun mystery to read. Cozy mystery fans will enjoy "Silence of the Hams". | ||
 | Double Play | |
| "Good Look at Baseball and Jackie Robinson" | 2007-12-17 |
| It is 1947 and Jackie Robinson has broken baseball's color barrier, but it has not been easy. The Dodgers decide he needs a bodyguard and they hire World War II Vet Joseph burke to protect him. Burke's wife left him while he was in the hospital recovering from war wounds and since then he hasn't cared much about anything or anyone except his job. Lauren Roach comes closes to stealing his heart, but she's trouble. Burke knows guarding Robinson may be dangerous but he doesn't realize that working with Robinson will change Burke's life in ways he never imagined.
"Double Play" is an enjoyable change from Robert Parker's Spenser series. There are some similarities - the relationship between Burke and Robinson will remind readers of Spenser and Hawk - but the fact that the novel is based on real life events adds a lot to the novel. The book starts off slowly, Robinson isn't introduced until almost halfway through and I didn't find Burke all that interesting a character, but once Robinson is introduced the book picks up. For the most part, Parker does a good job with the historical parts of the novel and the prejudice on both sides is eye opening. However, Parker isn't into deep writing and the book is mostly dialogue driven. Since the book is from Burke's viewpoint, readers do get a sense of what makes him as a character, but he's not a deeply layered character and his relationship with Lauren didn't move me in any particular way. Robinson is not as deep a character, which is a shame because I would have liked to know more about what he was thinking and feeling during that tumultuous first year. Outside of reminiscences by "Bobby" (no doubt Parker himself, and which I could have done without since they don't add to the plot) and some box scores, the baseball aspects of the book are surprisingly thin and I wish they had been better developed. "Double Play" is a good, if somewhat light read about baseball and Jackie Robinson. | ||
 | Double Play | |
| "Good Look at Baseball and Jackie Robinson" | 2007-12-17 |
| It is 1947 and Jackie Robinson has broken baseball's color barrier, but it has not been easy. The Dodgers decide he needs a bodyguard and they hire World War II Vet Joseph burke to protect him. Burke's wife left him while he was in the hospital recovering from war wounds and since then he hasn't cared much about anything or anyone except his job. Lauren Roach comes closes to stealing his heart, but she's trouble. Burke knows guarding Robinson may be dangerous but he doesn't realize that working with Robinson will change Burke's life in ways he never imagined.
"Double Play" is an enjoyable change from Robert Parker's Spenser series. There are some similarities - the relationship between Burke and Robinson will remind readers of Spenser and Hawk - but the fact that the novel is based on real life events adds a lot to the novel. The book starts off slowly, Robinson isn't introduced until almost halfway through and I didn't find Burke all that interesting a character, but once Robinson is introduced the book picks up. For the most part, Parker does a good job with the historical parts of the novel and the prejudice on both sides is eye opening. However, Parker isn't into deep writing and the book is mostly dialogue driven. Since the book is from Burke's viewpoint, readers do get a sense of what makes him as a character, but he's not a deeply layered character and his relationship with Lauren didn't move me in any particular way. Robinson is not as deep a character, which is a shame because I would have liked to know more about what he was thinking and feeling during that tumultuous first year. Outside of reminiscences by "Bobby" (no doubt Parker himself, and which I could have done without since they don't add to the plot) and some box scores, the baseball aspects of the book are surprisingly thin and I wish they had been better developed. "Double Play" is a good, if somewhat light read about baseball and Jackie Robinson. | ||
 | Double Play | |
| "Good Look at Baseball and Jackie Robinson" | 2007-12-17 |
| It is 1947 and Jackie Robinson has broken baseball's color barrier, but it has not been easy. The Dodgers decide he needs a bodyguard and they hire World War II Vet Joseph burke to protect him. Burke's wife left him while he was in the hospital recovering from war wounds and since then he hasn't cared much about anything or anyone except his job. Lauren Roach comes closes to stealing his heart, but she's trouble. Burke knows guarding Robinson may be dangerous but he doesn't realize that working with Robinson will change Burke's life in ways he never imagined.
"Double Play" is an enjoyable change from Robert Parker's Spenser series. There are some similarities - the relationship between Burke and Robinson will remind readers of Spenser and Hawk - but the fact that the novel is based on real life events adds a lot to the novel. The book starts off slowly, Robinson isn't introduced until almost halfway through and I didn't find Burke all that interesting a character, but once Robinson is introduced the book picks up. For the most part, Parker does a good job with the historical parts of the novel and the prejudice on both sides is eye opening. However, Parker isn't into deep writing and the book is mostly dialogue driven. Since the book is from Burke's viewpoint, readers do get a sense of what makes him as a character, but he's not a deeply layered character and his relationship with Lauren didn't move me in any particular way. Robinson is not as deep a character, which is a shame because I would have liked to know more about what he was thinking and feeling during that tumultuous first year. Outside of reminiscences by "Bobby" (no doubt Parker himself, and which I could have done without since they don't add to the plot) and some box scores, the baseball aspects of the book are surprisingly thin and I wish they had been better developed. "Double Play" is a good, if somewhat light read about baseball and Jackie Robinson. | ||
 | A Highland Christmas | |
| "Quick, Enjoyable Christmas Read" | 2007-11-19 |
| It's Christmas time in Lochdubh, Scotland, although it doesn't feel like it. Christmas decorations have been banned in the village, at least outside decorations. Constable Hamish MacBeth isn't too happy but he has his work to keep him busy. Someone has stolen some Christmas trees and lights from a nearby village; a lonely elderly woman has lost her cat and seems afraid of someone or something; and a young schoolgirl seems to be hiding some secrets. Hamish's methods may seem unorthodox, but he will solve these problems by Christmas day.
"A Highland Christmas" is a very good but light entry in M.C. Beaton's Hamish MacBeth cozy mystery series. It's a slim book, a little over one hundred pages and there are no real mysteries in the book, outside of the missing Christmas trees. Despite the brevity of the book, M.C. Beaton still squeezes in all the elements that I love about the series: Hamish's ability to outwit Detective Chief Inspector Blair; his pining for Priscilla Halburton-Smythe; his mooching free meals; and the various characters that make up Lochdubh. In many ways the book feels like a Christmas gift for Beaton fans (a stocking stuffer, perhaps). Everything in the book is wrapped up neatly as Hamish solves the small mysteries and manages to bring happiness to several people. The ending is particularly delightful and I couldn't help but smile as I finished reading the book. Readers will love the Christmas gift Hamish gets. "A Highland Christmas" is a quick and enjoyable read - perfect for this busy time of year. | ||
 | A Highland Christmas | |
| "Quick, Enjoyable Christmas Read" | 2007-11-19 |
| It's Christmas time in Lochdubh, Scotland, although it doesn't feel like it. Christmas decorations have been banned in the village, at least outside decorations. Constable Hamish MacBeth isn't too happy but he has his work to keep him busy. Someone has stolen some Christmas trees and lights from a nearby village; a lonely elderly woman has lost her cat and seems afraid of someone or something; and a young schoolgirl seems to be hiding some secrets. Hamish's methods may seem unorthodox, but he will solve these problems by Christmas day.
"A Highland Christmas" is a very good but light entry in M.C. Beaton's Hamish MacBeth cozy mystery series. It's a slim book, a little over one hundred pages and there are no real mysteries in the book, outside of the missing Christmas trees. Despite the brevity of the book, M.C. Beaton still squeezes in all the elements that I love about the series: Hamish's ability to outwit Detective Chief Inspector Blair; his pining for Priscilla Halburton-Smythe; his mooching free meals; and the various characters that make up Lochdubh. In many ways the book feels like a Christmas gift for Beaton fans (a stocking stuffer, perhaps). Everything in the book is wrapped up neatly as Hamish solves the small mysteries and manages to bring happiness to several people. The ending is particularly delightful and I couldn't help but smile as I finished reading the book. Readers will love the Christmas gift Hamish gets. "A Highland Christmas" is a quick and enjoyable read - perfect for this busy time of year. | ||
 | Leslie Sansone - Miracle Mile: Walk 1 Mile | |
| "Truly is a Miracle" | 2007-11-15 |
| Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2FUN11RN8Z36R When I first started exercising, I was pretty much out of shape and had a hard time not only building up my stamina, but finding exercises that I could do. The Miracle Mile was the first exercise routine I found that was easy enough for me to do, yet still helped me get in shape. I've increased my workout level now, but I still do the Miracle Mile every so often when I only have a few minutes to exercise. | ||
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