This is the best collection of delectable recipes EVER! I depend on it for everything now. The first recipe I tried was the cheesecake, and my husband looked at me and said: "to die for." The pecan pie is without equal. I prepared the food for 250 guests after our daughter's wedding, and every recipe came from this book. The chocolate raspberry truffle brownies were the biggest hit! The finger foods were wonderful! The thing that cooks will like the best is that they can be assured that every single recipe will turn out great--that they've all been tested and chosen as winners. No more leafing through and trying to decide IF something will be a praisworthy dish; now you KNOW! Love this book!

I have reviewed every recipe in this book. They all are quite simple and am sure they are delicious. I rated this book with 5 stars for "delicious". This book harks back to a time when America was much more active. 95% of these recipes contain pints of cream, cups of oil, butter, sour cream, bacon,and sugar. Fat makes everything great. If you need great recipes for special occasions that are easy to prepare, buy this book. If you made these a part of your every day diet, if you have high blood pressure, and or are obese, it would probably take years off your life. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

This book is a great book for the budding chef or the experienced culinare. I bought it for my wife because she wanted to learn to cook more american dishes. she is IMO not very experienced at being a careful cook. We have tried 5 recipes from this book and they have all been repeat hits for my family. The recipes ARE easy to make, no complex instructions and they All seem to be delicious. there are various categories to choose from and something that everyone will enjoy. this is not a picturesque step by step book like more extensive volumes which i have read. but the instructions are so easy that it needs no more.

This is a ghost story with an absorbing historical edge. To be honest, Michaels has treated this theme better in other of her novels and the characterizations are a bit superficial. Nevertheless, these are petty qualms in the face of such an entertaining work. The novel is set in the late 70s or early 80s, and some of the characters' ideas, not to mention the dialogue, are ludicrously out of date (actually, I enjoyed this for nostalgic reasons, but younger readers may be bewildered and/or roll their eyes a lot!). I have read this novel three or four times, and although I don't love it now as much as I did upon my first reading, I still highly reommend it. Michaels is simply a master of suspense, and this book will grip you and not let go until you turn the very last page.

Walker in the Shadows is a book that is timeless in it's intensity and thrilling from start to finish. Imagine yourself in an old, historical home, complete with things that go bump in the night. Out of the corner of your eye, you see a whisp of smoke, curtains blowing with no breeze to sway them, a glowing light with no apparent source...well, you get the idea! Ms. Michaels has wonderful three dimensional characters to go along with her chilling tale that takes you from the present to the past, with all the mystery and intrigue you can possibly desire. Walker is a wonderful book to cuddle up with on a dark, stormy night...but do yourself a favor...you may want to leave the night light on after you read it!

I started reading Barbara Michaels' (aka Elizabeth Peters) novels a loooong time ago. Of the three spookiest, this is one, along with Ammie Come Home and The Crying Child. Every time I re-read one of these three, I get the cold shudders. The atmospheres are wonderfully creepy, and the characters are like normal, real-life folks who find themselves in seemingly impossible situations. Grab this author's books wherever and whenever you can, and turn on all the lights in the house before you start reading!

This book is fantastic. In her simple, straightforward and lucid style, Reverend Barbara Crafton shares several stories drawn from her personal and ministerial lives. The stories are brief, their impact is not. She has a unique gift for being able to see the grace and meaning in simple incidents and to convey it without getting in the way. Although I loved all of them, the one about the eggs and the one entitled "Men are Delicate" especially touched me. A wonderful book.

This book is quite simply the best book I've ever read. It is a series of essays about everyday things and events, written in such a way that you will be entertained, provoked to thought, amused, deeply moved. The writing style is plain and straight-forward and extremely clear and effective. Almost everyone to whom I have recommended this book has read it and then bought it. In fact, many of its readers have bought it for their family and friends - I know I have!

My wife and I have been honored to call Barbara our friend; nevertheless, we apply no bias in expressing our love of this book. Barbara fills her books with uncommon wisdom and heart-on-her-sleeve humanity. Without fail, every story she relates makes me glad for having read it, even when the subject matter is grim. Anyone needing a boost of their spirits would do well to turn to any page of this book, and take in what Barbara has to share.

Forever Friends is a delightful look at the close relationship between a pet dog, Petey and his boy companion, Skip. The text is warm and concise and reads aloud very well. The playful illustrations match the writing precisely in both spirit and content; an essential criteria for a great book in my children's estimation.

My nine year old opened the book initially thinking it was for "babies" but found herself highly amused that the story is told from an animal's perspective. She re-reads it often. We love Forever Friends!

Yes, children 2-8 will love this quiet book about friendship between a boy and his dog. Rolls are blurred and we're never sure who is taking care of whom--not that it matters. This book makes a great gift with which to celebrate an adult friendship. Especially one that has surmounted role reversals and faded boundaries.

Simply and engaging written by Barbara S. Cohen, Forever Friends is a warm, highly enjoyable children's picturebook about a young boy and his dog - forever friends, as seen from the pooch's point of view! Easygoing, simple caricature color artwork by Dorothy Louise Hall illustrates this delightful picturebook book for young readers ages 2 to 8 -- and most especially for boys and girls just learning how to read.

Full Frontal Murder was one of the most suspenseful mysteries I have read. The characters were good, and the plot was well done. A great continuation of the Marian Larch series.

Rita and Hugh are in the midst of a nasty divorce that includes child custody of their four year old son Bobby when someone tries to snatch the child. Only the quick intervention of a police officer stops the abduction from being successful. Though each parent accuses the other of orchestrating the incident, the lad's wealthy grandfather believes that a true kidnapping for ransom was attempted. The NYPD assign Lieutenant Marian Larch to investigate the case.

Before Marian can dig deeply into the investigation, the case unravels as the lead suspects, the parents, are murdered. Still, Marian inches closer to solving the case when her lover, private investigator Curt Holland is kidnapped. His abductors want her to drop her investigation or they will torture their victim till he dies. Marian, who has always feared a commitment, now has a new fear to deal with: the potential loss of her beloved, who will certainly be killed if she does nothing.

Barbara Paul has written numerous mysteries, but her Marian Larch series is by far her best. Marian is the complete woman of the nineties as she struggles with her ambition and independence Vs a commitment to her lover. FULL FRONTAL MURDER adds much insight to Marian's motivations as her personal and professional lives crash together. The Larch books are one of the finest police procedural series because it takes readers to the inside of Manhattan through the senses of a fantastic multi-dimensional protagonist.

Harriet Klausner

Jilly Cooper says that Barbara Pym's books remind her "of what is true.....about English life". In the case of A Glass of blessings, this refers to a very small, but significant part of 1950's English life in the 1950's, and Barbara Pym portrays it beautifully. Her characterisation is excellent, as are her descriptions. She must have been a very observant woman. To say that she is snobbish is unfair. She portrayed her part of the world as she saw it. And note that the very implicit sexual backdrop never has to be referred to explicitly at all.

Whetehr the fifties were "better" than now is open to doubt: but if you want a picture of a small part of 1950's England, then this is an enjoyable way to find it.

This is the most entertaining book I have read in a long time. I happened upon the Barbara Pym web page and there was a page of quotations from her novels that were very amusing, kind of off-the-wall. Usually, humor from another era seems very tame or just doesn't hold up. I looked for a copy of one of her books and came across an old paperback copy of this one at the public library. The perceptions of the lead character, Wilmet Forsyth, a 33 year old childless married woman with a lot of free time on her hands, make up the book. I could describe some of the events in the book which involve men she finds attractive and men who find her attractive, church functions, a homosexual relationship, etc. but I won't bother. Sex is never overtly mentioned or contemplated by Wilmet in this book. The portrayal of a gay couple in England in the 1950's fascinated me. Wilmet is so cautious and careful in her observations even though she is opinionated. I was happy she wasn't harsh toward these gay characters even though she is heavily involved in her church. Wilmet is not a really deep thinker, but she's funny and kind. Anyway, it's a fun book you should seek out.

i just read this book for the third time. i liked it just as much as the times before. this book is about a girl named abby winston and a boy named tyler crane. after tyler's dad commited suacide, his crazy mom goes to live with aunts. tyler goes to the lack to live in his best friends families trailor for the summer. he loves it there. then he meets abby and he relizes that he does have someone who cares for him other than his best friend rod. Abby is from a very wealthy family(her dad is a congress man). when tyler dissapears, abby is determind to find him. She discovers a lot about her family as she goes along, and figures out what love means.

when i read this book, i was only in the 4th grade. then just tonight, out of no where,it comes up in my head, and i was searching for it. i completely agree with everyone else that this book is really mysterious, kind of creepy even. it has a great plot, too. plus your never too young or too old to read this. i highly encourage you to check this book out, you totally won't regret it!!

This is a great book. It ties in teenage romance, suspense, and has a great ending. It keeps you reading, you won't want to put it down. It is written carefully, with a good style and several view points. I would highly reccommned this book, there's something in it for everyone, guys and girls of all ages.

What an unexpected turn of events. This isn't your average run of the mill thriller. Meg fights to discover who has been sending her threatening letters and ancient pieces of jewlry before the threats made come true. The most likely suspects are not who they seem, but neither are the least likely. A must read!

Barbara Michaels pens two kinds of thrillers -- lackluster and dull with unsympathetic characters, and sparkling, vivid and populated by "real" people. This, thankfully, is one of the latter, a delightfully twisted mystery that sparkles as much as any of the gems.

Meg Venturi becomes the heiress to a jewelry fortune when her grandfather unexpectedly dies; among the conditions of her grandfather's will are that she must take over half of the ownership of his respected gem and jewelry store. The other half is the domain of his partner, a dark, silent, mysterious man named Riley, whom the townspeople suspect of having killed the elder Venturi. Meg is unsure about Riley, but she does know that he is brilliant with jewelry.

But then strange, sinister happenings begin to occur around Meg. As she tries to unravel the dark mysteries that destroyed her grandfather before his time, she becomes the target of a killer with a mission that stems back to a scandal many years before...

"Into the Darkness" has many of the best attributes of a Barbara Michaels novel: the witty dialogue, subtle characterizations, strong heroine, unusual romance, and a wide range of supporting characters who are never what they seem. Readers who enjoyed lessons on roses, maze gardens, and old Gothic novels will enjoy the informative lessons on jewelry and gems. As she always does in her best books, Michaels includes plenty of information that will stick in the mind without being annoying.

Meg Venturi is a standard Michaels heroine: tough, no-nonsence, mildly sarcastic with a bit of trauma in her background to add extra dimension. Riley is more of a dark horse: it's hard to tell what he's thinking or why, from his first scene onward. Supporting characters like the despicable wimp Candy, her boor husband, the seemingly fragile Mrs. Venturi and hearty Uncle George are all well-rounded from the start, but with hidden depths that are revealed as the book goes on. Even the grandfather is a very alive figure, despite the fact that he dies at the beginning of the novel.

This is more of an "Elizabeth Peters" mystery than a Barbara Michaels one, as there is virtually no supernatural influence, no cults or ghosts or werewolves or anything of the sort. But it is an excellent mystery for those of you who like a little sexy pizzazz, past scandal, and a lesson or two with your guilty pleasure.

I've read all of the book by Barbara Michaels that I can find and I love them all. This was the first one I read and it's definitely my favorite (and the only one I've checked out of the library 4 times). The character and plot development are terrific. The ending is unpredictable (as with many of Michaels' other books). I liked the storyline and all of the characters. Overall, this is a good book and I would recommend it to anyone who likes mystery, romance, or jewelry.

Delinski is the best romance author. While reading this book, you actually feel the drive up the coast to the beach, you can actually feel the mist of the ocean while sitting on the rocks behind the cottage on the beach. Here's a story of a marriage that, again the husband is just too busy to take time with his wife and enjot the simple things. Wonderful story and a very unpredictable ending that made the book even better.

I am a Delinsky fan, having read 17 of her books thus far. I read at bedtime, and hated when my eyes forced me to sleep. Still I read it in 3 nights and it was good all the way through. The main character, Danica, is a lonely, wealthy woman. The daughter of a senator and wife of a self-absorbed businessman. She buys a house in Kennebunkport, Maine, in the hopes of having some time alone with her husband and improving their marriage... but he apparently isn't interested in the personal side of their marriage, and rarely goes there. She meets a neighbor on the beach, a male author, and the story takes you through the cultivation of their friendship and how it affects both their lives. The story and characters are believable, and make you feel like you personally know them - The book has a little bit of everything... it isn't just a love story, it's about personal growth, loyalty, a little politics - how it probably really is for wives and family of politicians, the big-business world and more - it keeps you turning those pages. If you like to read about women growing strong and fighting for what really matters in life, you'll enjoy this.

This is my favorite Delinsky book. I enjoyed Michael's struggle to be included in Danica's life yet not to be the cause of the breakdown of her marriage. Danica is conflicted and tormented by a desire to do the right thing. They grabbed me from their first meeting and I was rooting for them until the end of the book. Passionate and engrossing - an excellent story.

My mother bought this book for me after I got married, and it is great for busy families. The recipes are simple (and easy to jazz up if you so desire), and the food is straightforward and tasty. My mother-in-law saw so many recipes she liked, she purchased her own copy!

I have read the review from the reader in Philadelphia, Pa. that stated what an odd book this was. But having gotten several other Quail Ridge Press cookbooks that have become my favorites, I decided to see what this person was talking about.
After trying several of the book's desserts, I have to say that every one is a winner! The recipes read well, have easy-to-follow instructions, and rave-review results. The titles of some are not "European-cuisine" perfect, but these recipes came from small communities all across America from people who used packaged mixes sometimes and started from scratch sometimes, have never set foot in a cooking school, and maybe don't title things just right. But the results are outstanding! It's a tribute to hometown America cooks. The Philadelphia reviewer should stick to gourmet cuisine. This one is perfect for everyday people who want to make delicious desserts that will bring rave reviews. I LOVE this cookbook! And so will you.

Gwen and Barb have done it again! They've published a cookbook that lives up to its name - so many quick and easy recipes that I still have pages earmarked with recipes to try. Coming up with a menu that a family of six will enjoy, yet be easy on the pocketbook and fast in the kitchen, is challenging. Quail Ridge Press made it easy with this one.