These "Sisters in Crime" have come up with a knock-out collection of short-story mysteries which kept me reading the whole book in one sitting. The plots are cleverly entwined with an intriguing variety of mayhem madness. Heckman pens a skilled tale of murder among horses, and Wheat carries on with a mysterious Black Hawk Chinese ginger jar whose mystery is solved by "The Wild Bunch," cat-sitting felines. Other tales involve some of my favorite foods, especially Cream Puffs by Searles. Her sleuths, Mrs. Millett and Mrs. Hawk, discover a way to solve crimes through their favorite pastries. Shall look for her novels to see if she continues to combine the excitement of murder with great food. Fun to stick in your purse or glove compartment for dipping purposes.

Luscious photographs from 18 U.S.museums & home interiors, 150 floral designers explain their flower selections & arrangement symbolism. This 20yr trend in art museum special events gets thorough presentation. Author tips on creating ART IN BLOOM at home are superb. This is THE book!

This book is the exhibition catalog of the exhibit by the same name that is traveling around the US, but if you can't make it to the exhibition, this is the next best thing! With 4 essays giving background on Victorian art and history, a chronology of major art events during Queen Victoria's reign, mini-biographies of all the artists, and the 76 works of art from the collection (plus a few extra thrown in!)all beautifully reproduced, this is definitely a collection worth owning. The works are all from the Royal Academy of Art collection and were donated as each artists' best work in order to be granted full academy status and it shows. Many familiar artists are represented such as Alma-Tadema, J.W. Waterhouse, and Millais, but there are a few unfamiliar names, also. If you've never sampled this period's art, this makes for a great beginning. If you don't already own a book on Victorian art, this is a great book to own. And if you do own a collection of Victorian art, it wouldn't hurt to have this on the shelves also.

I've been a regualr swimmer for about 30 years - 4 to 5 times a week, an hour or so each time. About 2 years ago, a friend gave me a book about the Alexander Technique to read, saying it might be of interest to me and my swimming. I was quite interested and managed to attend a workshop where I got some hands-on experience with the work. One evening, a group of us went to the pool with one of the teachers and she showed us how to apply some of the ideas to swimming.

I couldn't believe how much of difference that little bit of information made! I realized that I had been using too much, and the wrong kind of effort, particularly with my back stroke. I'd always loved to swim, and the feel of the water, but now swimming became a whole new experience for me. Much more fluid and with less effort, and yet just as invigorating. Several friends have commented on the change.

The Art of Swimming is, as far as I know, the only book devoted specifically to swimming and the Alexander Technique. I found it very readable and I think it would make a good introduction to the ideas of the Technique for swimmers. I'd also recommend the book that got me started by Rickover, called "Fitness Without Stress - A Guide to the Alexander Technique". Also a book called "The Authorised Summaries of the Four Books of F.M. Alexander". END

Clair Fletcher takes her first vacation in eight years to go to Elk Creek, Wyoming and make amends to the past. While she was busy becoming Chicago's most recognized account executive, her younger sister ran away from home. Kristen hadn't told Clair that she was pregnant when she insisted on dropping out of high school during her senior year. Hitchhiking across the continent had taught her about the dangers on her own, and the fact she couldn't care for herself, never mind a child. So Kristen agreed to a private adoption to Bill and Kim Miller, who would have adopted her as well, if she had let them. They helped her find college scholarships and make a good start after the baby was born. In their wills, they specified if something ever happened to them, Kristen be given a second chance at raising her son.

An icy patch of ice took the Miller's lives, leaving behind two-year-old Willy. When the lawyer attempted to fulfill their last request regarding their son, he learned Kristen had perished in a fire. Assuming that she was still estranged from her family, he notified the family of Kristen's death. Clair was shocked to learn that she had nephew. While her father was uninterested, Clair insisted on gaining custody of the child. But when she arrives in Elk Creek, Willy's guardian disarms her. Jace Brumley is a natural parent, easily handling the stubborn two-year-old whether it is in a doctor's office or working the ranch. He makes pizza from scratch, using his own home canned tomatoes. He had become daddy by default, since he was like a brother to Bill and made a solemn vow to raise the child in his place, should the worse happen. And it won't give the child up. Besides, there are far more pleasant things he would like to do with Clair than fight a custody battle.

As custody battles go, BABY BE MINE provides a rather light treatment, handling the emotions without the legal battle. Author Victoria Pade provides rather interesting and unexpected characterizations. Clair is not a natural mother and is clueless as to how to bond with her nephew. Her attitude that blood should supersede a currently stable home is gently, but effectively challenged as she learns to cope with her guilt about the past. Jace is a marvelous father who disregards his lawyer's advice because, while it might legally in the child's best interest, it is not in the child's moral best interest. His integrity and parenting skills make him an irresistible hero. Further, at no time does this stubborn two-year-old easily capitulate to the new strange woman in his life. Instead, he behaves just like, well, a two-year-old. Very highly recommended.

As a new Backpacker a friend of mine told me this was the guide to have. The book is very well written and enjoyable to read. The lists of different equipment is very helpful. This is a book I would recommend to anyone wanting to learn more about backpacking.

Backpacking: Essential Skills To Advanced Techniques clearly explains every aspect of the outdoor experience of hiking on foot through the outdoors. The planning section details all the options for picking the best trails to fit ability, time and interests. There is a useful section devoted to those who dare to embark on serious long-distance hikes. The reader is provided with all the information needed to safely and competently select the gear most appropriate to the hiking project from the hi-tech equipment available to today's outdoor enthusiast. Backpack also offers sound and practical advice on pacing oneself, crossing streams, hiking in snow, using a map & compass, finding a good camp, setting up a kitchen, as well as maintaining and repairing equipment. Very highly recommended for the outdoor enthusiast, Backpacking is an ideal introduction for the novice, and offers a wealth of information, tips & techniques that even the more experienced backpacker will appreciate and benefit by.

This is a wonderful collection of poems, prayers, and quotes from many sources, ancient and modern. This book can be picked up and read a little at a time or all at once. It can be read simply for your own enjoyment or used in prayer services, classes, meditations.....

This book not only gives a comprehensive understanding of Baudrillard's concepts of reversion and simulation, but deals with practically every criticism of Baudrillard systematically and concretely. The explanation of the implications for feminism are clear and weaved skillfully throughout the book, though anyone interested in Baudrillard for non-feminist reasons should try this book.

10 hairy hunters are out trying to catch a bear... but shhhhhhhhhh bears friends are on to them. They keep sneaking away a hunter. Its a counting book and its got great illustrations.