THE JEWELS OF THE DUCHESS OF WINDSOR 1st edition,is a lush vicarious view of the golden age of royalty. The illustrations are breathtaking, done by some of the world's most famous photographers including Lord Snowdon..a marvelous addition to any collection.

I adore this book! It's an oversize publication which increases the beauty of the photography. The photos of the Duchess'jewelry are breathtaking, and it also provides a full account of the famed auction, including the amounts paid for the jewelry. There are great pictures of celebrities who purchased some of the pieces. There's even a stunning photo of Liz Taylor wearing the Prince of Wales Plume Pin for which she paid over $500,000. It also recounts the story of their lives along with pictures, including copies of newspaper clippings during the abdication. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Duke and Duchess or the forthcoming auction of the Windsor's household possessions at Sothebys. This book is the jewel in my collection of royal books!

If you are looking for a book that is easy to understand and detailed this is it. I spent some time in a few of the major book stores and just was not satisfed with what I saw in the way of books on koi. I ordered this book on a recommendation here on the web, from some other person. I can not tell you how impressed I am with this book. I highly recommend it. Great colored photos of all the different strains and the proper care of koi. Order it and you will like me, not be disappointed.

I have a pond business, and I not only keep koi myself, but I have read several books on koi. This book is absolutely incredible. It has just enough of everything to be educational without being overwhelming. The material is presented in an easy to understand format, from the origins of the hobby to the present, and the pictures are spectacular. Each variety of koi is beautifully represented, and the chapters on nutrition and water quality are enlightening. I loaned my copy to a friend and have not gotten it back yet!

This is the only book that contains everything one needs to know about sub sonic wind tunnel. For students doing a project or a course in experimental fluid mechanics, or those whose work involve aerodynamics, this will be a good reference. Anyone who has been through fluid mechanics courses during their undergraduate years know the importance of wind tunnel testing. This book covers topics from wind tunnel designs, to measurements, boundary corrections, testing procedures and the nonaeronautical applications of wind tunnel.
However, as wind tunnel is initialy design and most widely use in the study of aeronautics, one needs to have some knowledge in aerodynamics in order to fully understand and appreciate this book.

The original is the one book everyone in the wind tunnel test area had open on their desk. It covered everything from overall theory of aerodynamic testing to details of wind tunnel design. The revision brings it up to date with use of computers and digital test gear.

If you are looking for a Viking epic and a love story extraordinaire then you have found both in this fabulous book by Penelope Neri - but be prepared with tissues handy as it will tear at your heart as obstacles so overwhelming seem to be thrust in the way of true love.

It starts with a very brutal Viking leader Thorfast a cold and brutal man, raiding a Saxon stronghold. After witnessing her husband and two young sons viciously slain, the pregnant chieftain's wife bargains for herself and her unborn child's life by agreeing to pleasure him willingly in bed. Thorfast agreed to this but on the way back to his ship sent one of his men back to dispose of her thinking that the 'unborn pup' would surely seek revenge some day. Sven, the man sent back, could not complete the deed.

It is 879, twenty-three years later Freya the only child of Thorfast, unwanted because she was not a son, is leading a raiding party in an attempt to finally gain some notice and acceptance of her existence by her father. She's buried all traces of femininity in order to be the fierce warrior her father had wanted and expected of a son. Because of a traitor in her raiding party she was taken captive by none other than Alaric, the grown 'unborn pup' of the woman whose life had been spared. Alaric will see his hated enemies daughter debased and humiliated as a bedchamber slave in retaliation for the carnage that her father had left so many years before.

Freya is made Alaric's slave - and after many bedroom skirmishes and her unsuccessful attempts at escape, they find that the hatred each felt for one another has turned into love. All might have worked out, if not for the jealous madness of Alaric's brother's wife, Kendra. Kendra had always wanted Alaric rather than his gentle brother. After many ploys to make Freya look bad in the eyes of the Alaric, Kendra kills her husband and sets it up to make it look like Freya murdered him. Never realizing that Alaric's brother was a twin, Freya thinks that Kendra has killed Alaric flees. After an adventuresome journey north, Freya meets up with her childhood friend, Olaf. Suspecting that she is pregnant and in a weakened state she agrees to marry Olaf, only to find out much later that Alaric is alive.

Quite historical in nature, during the reign of Alfred the Great in the early years of England, this novel is an epic love story that will sweep you into the lives of Alaric and Freya where you will experience all the horror, lust, betrayals, and joy as you enjoy this emotionally charged roller coaster of a novel. The many characters were all interesting and richly drawn out. It was, in a word - superb! This is an out of print book but if you are lucky enough to find copy - I highly recommend that you pick it up! A solid 10 rating!

This book gave me goosebumps from beginning to end. The story goes as follows: The norman warrior Alaric captures Freya, a Viking maid, when her tribe attempts to gain possession of Alaric's home. He then discovers that she is the daughter of his most hated enemy, on whom he long ago swore vengeance for raping his mother when she was with child, and thus sending her mad. He vows that he will employ Freya to get back at her father by making her his lowly bedchamber slave. All does not go according to plan and the two soon find them selves feeling much more than hatred for one another. I have read a number of books by Penelope Neri, all of which I have enjoyed immensly, but this is the best yet!

This book covers history of Indian subcontinent through the ages that Europeans but specifically the British took interest in East India and increased their influence gradually from protecting mercantile interests, to finally usurping power from the regional monarchs through a combination of treaties, alliances, diplomacies and battles. This book is a compelling and easy reading that engages the reader with its stunning pictures of contemporary paintings of relevance to the subject. Semingly disconnected events are woven together logically and connected to each other which finally reads like a well written novel. The treatment is mostly unbiased though the sentiments and feeings of subjects such as sati, religious conversions, castes, merits and demerits of hinduism, islam and christianity could have been elaborated upon a bit more to provide rationale behind these hotly debated subjects. The attititudes of noted Indo-philes was described in adequate detail and infectious interest, which correctly evokes an awe for an amazing civilization that comes to end and the birth of a newer one reflecting contemporary attitudes and outlooks.

The level of detail is appropriate for those readers above 15 years and above.

This book is part of a great series on history, encapsulating certain time periods in specific volumes with great text and wonderful illustrations. This particular volume lives up to its billing of Jewel in the Crown.

Diana Scarisbrick's "Ancestral Jewels: Treasures of Britain's Aristocracy" is a superb overview of the jewels and jewelry which helped to set the British nobility apart--for better or for worse. Scarisbrick doesn't limit herself to the typical earrings, necklaces, tiaras, and so on--there are bejeweled ceremonial swords, stomachers, chatelaines, cups and boxes, and more.

One of Scarisbrick's real accomplishments is to juxtapose photographs of jewelry alone with a photograph of the jewelry being worn in an oil portrait, or showing a piece being worn first as a head ornament and then later as a necklace (a common practice with tiaras, which could often be broken down into smaller parts and used as earrings, brooches, and so on).

The jewels are fantastic, as is the photography. Although I would have preferred that more of the photographs were in color, that's a small quibble when even the black-and-white pictures are so crisp and filled with telling detail. Beyond this, Scarisbrick is to be commended for providing a concise, accurate, and broad overview of British jewelry history. The book is eminently readable, and the pictures are fascinating.

One of the most fascinating parts of the book is the appendix, tellingly entitled "Where Are They Now? Dispersal, Transformation, and Theft." Here Scarisbrick delves into the sometimes shady, sometimes ignoble histories and reputations of dozens of gem-encrusted objects. She quotes here from Anthony Trollope's peerless novel "The Eustace Diamonds" when she writes: " . . . family treasures were preserved 'not so much for the protection of property but for the more picturesque idea of maintaining chivalric associations. Heirlooms have become so, not that future owners of them may be assured of so much wealth whatever the value of the things so settled may be--but that the son or grandson may enjoy the satisfaction of saying my father or grandfather or ancestor sat in that chair or looked as he now looks in that picture or was graced by wearing on his breast that very ornament which you see lying beneath the glass.' "

Scarisbrick understands, as did Trollope, how the aristocracy works and how it clings to the thought of itself as being somehow better than the rest of the world. Scarisbrick's accomplishment here is to show us a history of a rarefied group of people through the splendid adornments chosen by its very privileged members.

This children's picturebook continues the adventures of Daniel, a young boy allergic to cats, and Boing-Boing the Bionic Cat, his robotic cat that the kindly Professor George made for him. In this story, Boing-Boing gets a new ceramic part in addition to his fiber-optic fur, computer-controlled joints, electronic eyes, and ceramic-sensor whiskers - Boing-Boing can now roar like a lion! Extensive prose at a reading level recommended for ages 7-11 and simple, sketchy illustrations in soft color bring the madcap tangle with a clever jewel thief to life. Also recommended is the first book in this series, which is titled simply Boing-Boing The Bionic Cat.

It's simply the best! Better than all the rest! Candlewick mom and pa know their stuff.

The Nicki Holland Mysteries by Angela E. Hunt are a powerful blend of suspense and character lessons. Hard to put down, yet easy to read, these books are excellent for the most reluctant young reader. Even the advanced reader will find it difficult to put these stories down until finished. The mixture of mystery and moral issues combine to make these books not only entertaining but also thought provoking where traditional values are concerned. Well done, Ms. Hunt

"Choose Your Own Adventure" books ROCK! I rememberspending many a late night in bed with a flashlight reading theselittle literary gems endlessly, trying to make sure I'd tried every possible story option. These books come out once a month like clockwork and I'd be first in line with my allowance to purchase the latest in the series. All the books are terrific, but I particularly remember liking "Who Killed Harlowe Thrombey" and "The Mystery of Chimney Rock". These blooks are long out of print, but well worth the search!