This book is so charming! I received it as a gift from a dear friend many years ago and I re-read it every Christmas! Recipes, ideas, and holiday thoughts pulled together with Susan Branch's truly unique artistry make this a favorite.

I am now ordering my third copy of this book to give to another relative who wishes a copy. I have had the book for more than 5 years and use it every year for Christmas cooking. Every Christmas Eve, I prepare one of Susan Branch's recipes and everyone's mouth waters in anticipation. This is the best book a Christmas lover could have. It's also a wonderful recipe book for those who are not fond of complicated Christmas recipes. This year, I made the Bread Pudding with Whiskey sauce for the first time and it was out of this world. The illustrations are fun and by now, I know the text better than Ms. Branch. Highly recommended.

I have collected all of Susan Branch's books over the years and have found them all to be delightful. I especially like the Christmas Book for it's ideas, illustrations and of course the recipes. Please convey my best holiday wishes to Ms. Branch and your company for continuing to produce such quality in her books. Sincerely yours, Nancy Goff

I was only part way through this book...which was only the second Wiggs book I've read....and I ran out and bought every other SW book I could find. She has quickly climbed up my list of favorite authors till she's very near the top. In "The You I Never Knew", she takes the reader through the heart wrenching separation of Sam and Michelle as teens, leads us through their unsatisfing lives until fate in the form of her dying father brings them together again seventeen years later. Can they recapture the magic they once had when they have an extra element in their relationship they didn't have before? The "element" is the son Michelle raised without Sam ever being aware he was a father. Wiggs weaves a fascinating story about how lives can take twist and turns and still start and end with one ingredient still in place. Love. She's a master at concocting a fabulous story with that ingredient.

I read "The You I Never Knew" over a day ago, and I'm still trying to get my hands around this book. So different than Ms. Wiggs other work, this caught me by surprise. Michelle Turner returns to Montana to help her father, save her son and find herself. What she finds is the father of her child and the love of her life. I enjoyed this work, (except--sorry Ms. Wiggs--Cowboys in Montana don't wear Levi's--they wear Wranglers!) I'll need to re-read to grasp the whole of the work. As expected Ms. Wiggs delivers complex women, facing real issues. She delivered me an even greater surprise in the form of Sam McPhee. I would have liked to see a greater level of "heat" between the two characters. Not for romance sake but to capture the reality that these are two characters sixteen years down the road. She misses an opportunity to carve out a moment of sweet understanding between these two characters, when faced with the harsh realities of time and childbirth, they don't share something profound. I really did like this novel. I think I will like it even more the second time around. I urge Ms. Wiggs to continue to write fresh work no matter the genre. Please don't fall into the trap of Danielle Steel, big money but the same old books. This is a unique and special novel....

Seventeen years ago, Michele Turner fled Crystal City, Montana, vowing never to return. Michele was in the small town for just a few months to live with her father, former Hollywood star Gavin Slade following the death of her mother. She fell under the hypnotic spell of rodeo star Sam McPhee, became pregnant, and wound up in Seattle by herself raising a boy. However, over the years, Michele became a full partner in a successful advertising agency.

The only reason she returns to Crystal City is because her father needs a kidney transplant to live and she plans to be the donor. When Michele sees Sam for the first time in all these years, she knows she still loves him. Sam was not ready to settle down then as the rodeo beckoned and has never met his troubled teenage son Cody. Now the retired champion wonders if he chose the wrong path all those years ago. He now realizes he has a second chance to rectify matters.

Susan Wiggs is the recipient of numerous awards especially for her fabulous historical romances. Her current tale THE YOU I NEVER KNEW is a powerful contemporary tale that shows the depth of talent this best-selling author has. The story line is filled with angst as the four key charcaters struggle with life, relationships and love.

Harriet Klausner

I have been a chef for the past 19 years, and in the last three years i have been living with my father. He has found my chef books a little hard to understand, then i found out The Good housekeeping Cookbook. This has been a life saver; Dad,enjoying recipes, easy understanding of the text too.My father puts on the table enjoyable meals, competing with me of course!. Well done for a book that anyone can understand and enjoy

Darren Clarke New Zealand

When my husband and I got married we realized that between the two of us we had well over fifty cookbooks, and, of course, we each had our favorites. We still have a running rivalry between "Good Housekeeping Illustrated" and "Better Homes New Cookbook" for Best Basic Cookbook. While each of these books has its strong points, my pick is "Good Housekeeping."

This cookbook is extensively illustrated with photographs and line drawings, and features basic dishes as well as more complicated recipes to challenge those who master the basics. If there is any possibility of confusion concerning a method, this book presents words and drawings to guide the user precisely through the process. I also like the fact that there is a photograph of each dish--so you know what your hard work is SUPPOSED to look like!

"Better Homes" does seem to have a slightly larger number of basic recipes, and I'm glad that we have both books in our home now, but when I have to choose just one to give at a bridal shower or to a recent graduate, I always choose "Good Housekeeping Illustrated."

This is the cookbook I grew up using. When I got married, I knew I had to have one in my own house! Not only does it have very challenging recipes, like a huge wedding cake covered with candy flowers: it also contains the most basic instructions, such as how to prepare scrambled eggs or how to prepare steamed broccoli. I am a busy mom with many commitments and I frequently find myself with a few random ingredients and no dinner: this book always bails me out. Plus, the recipes (over almost 20 years!) always taste great, and looking at the pictures is very helpful. People are always impressed with my creations. I love this book!

When we started out in Book #1, the narrator, Charles Ashworth, was still fairly young. In this novel, he is again the narrator but he is elderly and the bishop of Starbridge. Being this age, he can wind up everyone's story. There is his whole generation of people and their families in the Anglican Church plus his childrens' generation of people. Of all the books, I'd say this one you better read as #6 and not out of order. There are simply too many stories which are wrapped up here that won't have the same impact on you if you haven't read books 1-5. This novel has its share of worldly problems with: gay priests (2), the ghost of Jardine appearing in the cathederal, an exorcism of the cathedral, a possible embezzlement by Dean Aysgarth from cathedral funds, a suicide, death of a spouse and finding another spouse. It also has combined therapeutic-spiritual sessions again with Jon Darrow as spiritual director for both Ashworth and Aysgarth. Once I started any of the 6 books, I couldn't stop reading till the end and this one was no exception.

Everyone looking for depth, entertainment and a real spirituality boost should read this book. Everyone looking for an intellectual challenge should read this book. I just have to say it - everyone should read this book! Absolute Truths is actually the sixth book in a series, but like the other five stands fine on its own. It deals with the Church of England and in particular a few specific members of the church, in the 1960's. It deals with what is going on in society, what is going on with "regular" people and what is going on inside the Church of England and with its members. It focuses on one particular Bishop, Charles Ashworth, and shows him faults and all as a regular human being as he deals with the ups and downs in his personal, professional and spiritual life. There are terrific discussions of religious, spiritual, artistic and socio-economic ideals. This book will stretch your mind into thinking things you never thought would enter your grey matter. It's highly recommended by most of the people I know that have read it. And it's also recommended that you read the other books in this series. This book will change your life.

Although this is the last book in the Starbridge series it is actually set in time before its immediate prequel, Mystical Paths. Howatch obviously had good reasons for doing this; no other book could have rounded up the series so perfectly, and certainly it was a delight to return to Chares Ashworh as narrator, who began the whole series. This time Charles is at the evening of his life. He has been the Bishop of Salisbury for some years.. Some of those nearest and dearest to him have passed away and he has to come to terms not only with the sense of loss, doubt and lack of direction, but also with his wayward Dean, Neville Ayesgarth, who still insists on going off on a tangent in affairs of the Cathedral. As in Scandalous Risks, scandal seems only around the corner and Charles has to develop very strong spiritual muscles in order to bring matters to an outcome worthy of a Christian.
I must not forget to mention that in this novel Starbridge Cathedral itself - in the other books merely a background stat - becomes a major character, and a star player during the Grande Finale The climax of this book is not only deeply moving, it is also absolutely perfect. As is the entire series.

Overall, it was very good especially if you can get your spouse to read it with you and actually try the suggestions given. Now if only one of you are reading the book it also works in a viewpoint that you'll understand where you stand and how he/she may be reacting to the discussion, disagreement or whatever. For example, you'll notice that when one of you walks away or stays quiet while the other is trying to solve the problem then instead of thinking he/she isn't paying attention you may say to yourself he/she is now withdrawing so let me put this off until we are both open to listening and discussing the situation. Many points in the book were very helpful in making sense of how men and women view things in a different light of importance. The book is not only good for couples but for singles as well, Marriage is a TEAM that works best when you can communicate and learn that you go from I, ME to US and WE. I recommend it - great insights even better if you can convice the other to join you in reading it together.

This book should be required reading for all couples getting married. If only I had read this book first, I could have avoided a lot of the bumps along the marital journey and saved myself and my spouse a lot of grief. Based on sound research and full of excerpts from real couples' lives, this book is now my favorite gift to newlyweds. It gives you great comfort to know that the arguments you and your spouse have occur in all marriages at different times. I highly recommend this to anyone who is looking at making their marriage last for the long haul!

My husband and I married in our mid thirties thinking we had a lock on good communication skills and knowing we were mature enough to really make this marriage work. Nonetheless, it wasn't long before we were "mired in muck". When a small conflict arose, we found ourselves so caught up in being right and fighting our point to the death that small events escalated into huge issues. We could feel the good things in our relationship slipping away and felt helpless to fix the problem. (This was AFTER reading probably 20 different books on marriage, doing the Barbara D'Angelis program, the Gary Smally Program, attending several couples workshops, etc.). Contemplating calling it quits on our marriage, I happened accross this book, loved it, then went to a PREP workshop. Our marriage is AWESOME. We actually know how to hear and be heard and have the skills to RESOLVE the conflicts. (By the way, note the "I". My spouse hasn't read the book and refused to go to the workshop.) I learned the skills and used them in our marriage and our relationship changed. It even works with kids, in-laws, co-workers.... Yippee!

What a wonderful and comforting book. It has touched on almost every feeling and concern I am having even though it has only been 6 weeks after loosing my husband of 23 years. I was able to feel comforted and assured by each chapter. The "Pastor Says" sections gives scripture to point the way and the "Psychologist Says" helps you realize all the feelings you have are okay and normal. Blending the knowledge from both aspects was so helpful. The fact that both authors have lost a spouse and know first hand the grief process shows through in this book.
The authors have Blended both the spiritual and the emotional aspects into one very special book.

If the Christian scripture approach does not fit with your views on God and religion (it does not mine), don't let that discourage you from buying this book. The psychologist portions alone are excellent. I am not yet on "the other side" of grief, but I'm starting to see glimmers of what the other side will be like. I'm cautiously optimistic, and this book reinforces that optimism. The psychologist's entries give a wonderful, hopeful view of what's possible in starting anew. It helps assuage any lingering guilt you may feel about starting over. A central concept within is that to get to the other side, you must face your grieving head-on and not simply expect time to do the job for you. The book offers prompts for writing exercises that will help you to face and resolve issues in your grieving. It's hard to find the time to write, especially if you've still got children at home, but whatever you can do will help. Here's a motivating quote from the book: "Do not waste your life on what might have been. Deal with the grief. Deal with it now so you can get on with your life." In the early weeks, I wasn't ready to "get on"; instead, I was "holding on." That's normal, as is the change I'm now feeling towards moving on. Grief is strange, and different books and approaches help at different times. When you are ready to think about moving forward to the next chapter in your life, this book will give you the encouragement you need as well as guidance to help you to the other side.

There is no good source to learn how to "do" being a widow/widower. My wife died suddenly three weeks ago, and I was drowning in a sea of platitudes and well-meaning advice from friends. This book has shown me that what I feel is normal, that there are means of getting through it (not "over" it--"through" it), and that perhaps there is light at the end of the tunnel. I have purchased copies for all my adult children, and asked them to place them in their church libraries when they have read them. I highly recommend this for those who have lost a spouse, or other close loved one.

As a former special forces combat medic in RVN, I can honestly
say this is one of the finest collections of short stories
about Vietnam in the war years I've read. I was suprised by the clarity and honesty of O'Neill's work and appreciated the
humor and intentions to tell a good story. Congratulations to
the author. To those drowning in the Brokaw/Ambrose/Spielberg commercial tsunami of fawning appreciation of the gabbiest generation, this book is a lifeboat. Buy it and read only one story a day.

This collection of fiction shows that Susan O'Neill is a talented writer first and foremost - and not just a woman veteran of Vietnam. O'Neill's stories capture the very essence, the distorted waking dream quality of the Vietnam War. The stories are like the discrete vignettes of a Hieronymous Bosch painting: in one corner a sadistic doctor is torturing a wounded North Vietnamese by giving him insufficient anaesthetic during surgery, in another corner a major's pet monkey is trashing an operating room, further on a Vietnamese ghost squats on an abandoned grave mound next to the mess hall, meanwhile Bob Hope strides the Xmas show stage swinging a golf club. O'Neill encapsulates the haunting horrible aesthetic of Vietnam with more deftness and subtlety than any writer so far. For this reason, the stories gain from repeat readings. O'Neill always treats this war, tragic because of its pointlessness, with seriousness and dignity. My favourite story from the collection was 'Prometheus Burned'. O'Neill's Prometheus is a former pre-med student who is educated enough to understand, not only the Prometheus pun, but also the fact that he is dying from third degree burns. Susan O'Neill's stories are for thoughtful grown-ups, not gung-ho flag wavers. At best, they will turn the latter into the former.

Susan O'Neill's collection of short stories DON'T MEAN NOTHING is more than isolated thoughts about what being in Vietnam as a participant in that bloody political blunder. This book reads like a novel in that the same characters weave in and out of these short thought/experiences and it does begin as a year of combat duty for a nurse and ends as that nurse goes back stateside. Perhaps the term 'Short Stories of Vietnam' references the way life was lived during there - moments in between Incoming shellings, explosions, overwhelming Medevacs, moments when there was time for the simple acts of being alive like sex, comradery in the hooch bars, momentary communication with soulmates dressed/talking/feeling/fearing like you.

O'Neill is a master of terse statement; her economy of words, richly descriptive as they are, can click a photo thought or memory so precisely that even a few pages can burn an experience on your psyche that is indelible. O'Neill knows her material, having served as a nurse in Vietnam in 1969-70. Obviously a bright thinker and writer, she has elected to wait 30 years before committing to paper her responses to that most unpopular of 'wars': that distance adds a more sensitive quality to her stories than would an immediate visceral response after returning to the States, a time when absolutley noone wanted to hear about Vietnam, much less try to understand it from a participant's point of view.

Although the entire 'collection' of stories is well done, there are bound to be tales that hurt the heart more than others. For this reader the Introduction is the most powerful of all, carrying with it flashbacks and images, thoughts and words that are so powerful they re-kindle nightmares. 'The Boy from Montana', 'Medcap', 'Prometheus Burned' are cogent, painful, and magnificent. But O'Neill can also write comedy, especially the sick type of humor that maintained sanity in Vietnam. All of these stories, ending with a terific 'Commendation', flesh out the details of the history of the Vietnam conflict. O'Neill is up there with Philip Caputo, Stewart O'Nan, Tim O'Brien and others who have dared write the truth. Here is not just the feminine input, but the nurses' or noncombatants' view. An excellent book by a sensitive, fresh writer.

Red Sky in Mourning is one of the best written books I've read. The book is not only a beautiful love story, but a tragic love story coupled with a test in survival alone out at sea. Tami's candid descriptions of her horrifying experience showed her strengths and endurance as well as skill. To survive such a terrifying ordeal is admirable!

I really enjoyed this book not only because of the author's harrowing account of her indurance and survival at sea accompanied by her profound loss and grief, but also because it gives an interesting account of her sailing life leading up to that point, together with an honest and intimate rememberence of her relationship and love she shared with her fiance - very personal and reflective. I also enjoyed reading about the friends, lifestyle and beauty of French Polynesia which only added to the richness of the story. A fast read that kept my attention. I highly recommend it.

I met Tami at the St. Petersburg Sailboat Expo. She was at a table with several other authors talking about their books. She told me a little about "Red Sky in Mourning", and it sounded very interesting, but I moved on. The next day at the Expo, I went straight back and bought the book. I'm very glad I did. The story of this woman's stuggle to survive alone at sea, in what was left of the boat after the hurricane is truly inspiring. This experience alone would have been enough for a gripping adventure novel. But the author very tenderly intertwines her survival with flashbacks of her loving memories of her fiance, Richard. And then there was the voice that was always there to get her back on track when she got discouraged or wanted to give up the fight to survive. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in sailing, the sea, love, spirituality, and adventure.

I've been reading this to my daughter since she was 3 months despite the 18 month advisory. It is colorful, interactive and teaches, all in a sing song, rhymey way. No other book I've read my daughter so far has delighted like this one. Every peekaboo gets her to smile and laugh. On every page is a lift the flap with peekaboo underneath. Her favorite....Who's the tallest in the zoo....Here's a clue.....Peekaboo....under which you find the giraffe, of course. It continues on in this manner until the end with.... Monkey see, Monkey do....I see you...Peekaboo....under which you find a mirror. It's not very clear but my daughter loves it the same. I think it appeals to her because it's shiny. I usually have to read this 2 or 3 times before she's tired of it. It's one I won't grow tired of. I can't wait till she'll be able to enjoy the actual zoo. She might even be able to name some of the animals!!

My 16 month old has loved this book since he was 9 months old. It's colorful, stands up to abuse (pages are thick), and lifting the flaps for peekaboo delights him to giggles. He picks this one out every night before bed.

This is my 11 month old daughter's favorite book, and it has been for 2 months running. The illustrations are very bright and colorful, and the flaps are large and sturdy enough to stand up to much bending and grabbing. The book is suitable for younger babies who like flaps and animals, and there is a more complex storyline to entertain older toddlers.

After seeing so many great reviews of this book here, I borrowed it from the library. The book is a 10-week plan to improved fitness and is more geared to women. Each week, Kathy focuses on one nutrition concept and one body part--for example, Week 1 is "Fat and Abs." After a few pages describing the concepts for the week, there are a series of worksheets to help you keep track of your exercise and eating for that week. This format continues for all 10 weeks, which means that the bulk of the book is made up of the worksheets rather than actual information. At the end of the book, Kathy has included sections on stretches and toning exercises for the entire body. Both sections are nice illustrated with pictures of Kathy performing the moves, and each move is described in detail.

Being someone who has exercised regularly for years and who knows basic nutrition, I didn't feel like I learned anything from this book. However, I did like the idea of keep specific logs of my eating and exercise habits, so I might try to incorporate that from this book. Even though this book wasn't really for me, it would be great for someone wanting to get started on the path to healthy eating and exercise but who has no idea where to begin. Kathy is extremely non-threatening, and she takes you through everything you need to know step-by-step. However, you should be aware that if you follow Kathy's plan, you will need to obtain a separate book that lists fat and calorie contents for foods; Kathy makes several recommendations for these at the start of her book.

I like this book, because by being forced to write down everything I eat, I have for the first time in my life taken a good look at my eating habits, and how I need to improve them. It's also a great way to keep track of your aerobic workouts, and there are weekly weight/toning exercises to follow, so if you don't already have a routine, it's a great way to start. That said, I do have some reservations about this book...the amount of fat that Kathy recommends eating daily is a lot less than the recommendations in the Fat Counter (the book you have to buy as a companion to this one). Cutting fat is a good way to lose weight, but if you cut it too much, it can be very dangerous for your body. I say get this book, use it as a guide, read all the tips in it (most of which are very good) and use it as a food diary, but follow the recommended fat and calorie allowances loosely.

I recently had my first baby and found myself struggling to lose my "baby fat". I wanted a program that was easy to follow, uplifting, and effective...I found the solution in this book! I am only in week four of the program, but already friends and family have started to notice a change, not only in my appearance but also in my attitude toward eating and fitness. I have learned a great deal from Kathy and would recommend this book to anyone!