I love this book with all my heart. It always makes me smile and laff. It is like magic.

Mrs. Bean's daughter grows to be tall and strong like the vegetables in her garden, and her efforts in her garden produce wonders which become a family affair in this story of gardening delights and a small girl's special talents.

Good folksy fairy tale where the protagonist is a girl not scared to get her magical green fingers dirty. My two year old immediately loved the story of a young baby growing into a little girl and "doing something wonderful." I like that there are lots of opportunities to identify and name vegetables in the exciting if not overly refined illustrations. Also, I really recommend this book for its sense of community -- when the village comes together to harvest and eat Scarlette's giant vegetables, it's great to notice that women drive forklifts, priests sit down to eat with tattooed bikers and neighbors come in all shapes and colors. These details are not at issue in the content of the story, but added for discovery in the ilustrations.

The first thing I look for in a mystery is a well-crafted character; I find this in the works of the greats: Raymond Chandler, James Lee Burke and Walter Mosley. The second is a believable and absorbing atmosphere; again, one finds these in abundance in the works of these writers.

Karen Rose Cercone is now another author I can add to the list. "Steel Ashes" is a wonderful book, and its sequel is even better. As a professional social worker who works with the poor, it is very gratifying for me to see a heroine who is also a social worker (something she denies in the book's sequel, but is nonetheless) at the very dawn of the social work profession. In the character of Helen Sorby, Cercone has crafted a heroine who is admirable and very real; not a few readers will, I suspect, fall head over heals for her.

The book's context illustrates the injustices of industrialism at the beginning of the twentieth century, reminding us that economic change (with which we are always contending) always brings with it human suffering. By placing the action in a time when few people believed that such suffering should be alleviated by the government (much like our own time), Cercone is able demonstrate the misery that occurs when such inaction is tolerated. These are the kind of injustices that brave reformers like Helen will not tolerate.

Helen's idealism is tempered by the worldly-wise Milo, a policeman who has had to conceal his Armenian heritage in order to become a cop. Milo is, like Helen, a victim of the prejudice of society; but like her, he refuses to be content with whining about it as an excuse for inaction. Even so, the differing responses of the two protagonists -- and their irresistable attraction to each other -- are what give the series its dramatic tension. The fact that then, as now, the book highlights very real and very current social problems is what makes it, like the work of Burke and Mosley and Chandler, more than just another mystery.

A delightful first mystery by Cercone on the Steel City and some of its less than wealthy residents at the turn of the century. The mystery was suspenseful but more to my liking, the sparks really flew between Helen Sorby and Milo the police officer. Definitely awaiting the sequel.

This was a fantastic book. It was different and fascinating because of the year it took place and what you learned about early Pittsburgh. It was great because of the wonderful characters, and it was fantastic because it was a mystery that kept you guessing until the very end. I would highly recommend this book.

I have read all but 2 of the books that r out & i stay up until 1;30 in the mornig to finish it in the 1st sitting! I totally recommend this book 2 EVERYONE! I u r looking for exciting reading than go from the 1st through the last ASAP!

This book is a thriller because there is suspense since it is hard to survive in a place full of alligators and snakes. This is the best Survival book of the series and it has one hilarious part: Phillip getting attacked by the "stick snake". This is Simon signing out.

This is the story of a wealthy twelve-year-old boy lost in the bayous of Louisiana in the 1850s and the poor Cajun girl who attempts to rescue him. It was a very exciting story filled with historical details. I also really liked the character of Lily. She was a very strong, determined girl who didn't let her handicap stand in her way!

Karen Shoff produced a guide that did not exist before. This should be required reading as a part of everyman's life education: like how to swim, how to be a decent parent, how to do CPR and how to prepare for end of life infirmity. Let's face it: Modern medicine, safer cars, non-smoking and weight watchers are all conspiring to help us live longer. Great! So when we all succeed, then what? Read this book. It answers the question.

Where will you spend your old age? Will you live in a nursing home? Will they take you for walks when you want to go out? Will they help you reposition yourself in bed every couple of hours to help you avoid getting bedsores? Will they be able to get to you on time when you need assistance using the facilities? Will you miss you home?

What if you could stay in the comfort of your own home, with round the clock care if need be, with your choice of caregivers? What if this option was not only for the fabulously wealthy, but was in fact available to anyone and everyone at a fraction of the price of a nursing home? It is not as farfetched as it seems. It just takes some careful planning.

Our society has acknowledged that surviving old age takes preparation. Retirement funds, social security, and well-stocked shelves of volumes upon volumes of do-it-yourself guides are evidence of these sentiments. It is a wonder that amidst all the excitement, most people fail to prepare for illness and incapacitation.

But Karen Shoff of Santa Monica California has vowed to make this ignorance a thing of the past. In her compelling and essential new book, There's No Place Like A Nursing Home, she details in a surprisingly fascinating manner the problems inherent in institutional life, and offers a step-by-step solution. The fast paced text is only enhance by the stories she masterfully tells. As a former Social Worker and Gerontologist, she was witness to the horrors of institutional life. Her experiences in institutional life fueled her passionate commitment to protecting her family, friends and clients from those very facilities.

Her goal is to help ensure each and every American a life of dignity, security, and comfort. She details steps that if taken, will free one from worry, and doubt. She tells her reader how he can stay in the comfort and dignity of his own home, while at the same time receiving care far superior to that offered in any institution for significantly less. Her solution is a combination of Long Term Care Insurance, careful planning, and a slew of incisive, original suggestions. As one of the foremost experts in her field, her book is invaluable. Our society owes Karen Shoff a debt of gratitude for opening up her vast expertise and experience for our benefit.

Don't wait any longer. There's No Place Like A Nursing Home will change your life.

Mrs. Shoff has written a clear, convincing, heart-felt, elegantly organized treatise on how to age responsibly. It has rearranged and brightened up a very confused and bleak picture of what it means to age, derived from countless visits to nursing homes over the years. Instead of a sense of victimhood, I have caught a (liberating) glimpse of what it might mean - for me and my dear friends - to have a hand in determining our own destinies!

I am amazed at how great this tiny book is. It's packed with great recipes and lots of fun tea facts and history. It has no pictures, and usually I'm a staunch photo advocate, but they're not needed, as the directions are very easy to understand and follow.
You do need a food processor for many of the recipes, as tea sandwiches often use a pureed filling, and the assembly required for most is not for the faint at heart. You need time and dedication to carry out most of these, although some quick breads, cookies and sandwiches are an exception. But if it's an impressive spread you want, this book is a great buy. (I have other tea-time books that are bigger, more lavish, much more expensive, and not near as useful as this one!)

This little (?) book has been a favorite. But since going to England, it has become an even bigger must have for me. The recipes are as authentic as I have seen. We stayed at a B&B and she used ones nearly identical - at least I couldn't tell by the taste that there was a difference! We also had tea at Sally Lunn's and the recipes from there are truly right on. I am so glad I had this before I visited. Now I would be "lost" without it. A must have for anyone who loves tea!

This little book with the attractive cover is a great source for making teatime eatables. Sandwiches, scones, buns, and pastries are doable with these easy recipes.
I had heard of Sally Lunn bread and Welsh Rabbit and here is a recipe that combines both. And the gingerbread cake brings back memories when my mother used to bake us gingerbread cakes.
You can pick this little book at gift shops, gourmet food shops as well as bookstores. Can stand with the best of my tea accessory books.

My only complaint with this book is that it's obviously the lead in to a sequel. Well, the title does say Book 1, but I wish authors wouldn't use this ploy to sell more books. This story is strong enough to stand on its own. The characters are engrossing, especially TJ Meridian. How many novels do you read where the heroine starts out paralyzed? It's a very reaffirming story though to believe that you can find love even if you suffer from a terrible handicap. I think too many unknown relatives are popping up just to provide a story line, but the story itself is engaging. You'll like this book, but you'll have to be prepared to buy the sequel when it comes out to get the end of the story.

I found that the author's pulled you into the story from the very first chapter. The main characters are flawed people dealing with their everyday lives. This story shows that each person is indeed unique and that you should not judge others based on what your family is known for. The ending was not complete to me. I am hoping the reason for this is that another book is in the works. These characters can continue to keep me reading about them in other books. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to see love transform another human being into a happy person despite the difficulties.

Set in the vast open spaces of modern day Texas, True Colours revolves around the life of a small town veterinarian and the crippled daughter of the most hated man in Meridianville. The reader follows how these two very different people face several tough trials together, and through it all build a loving lasting relationship. The proud rich TJ Meridian draws the reader in as we watch her struggle with her inner demons and her attempts to clear her name in the town her father all but destroyed. With the help of gentle Dr. Mare Gillespie, who faces a family struggle of her own, TJ finds hope and possibly the miracle she needs to get rid of her inner demons forever. True Colours is the kind of book you want to read on a lazy afternoon, entertaining and satisfying at the same time. The characters of TJ and Mare stay with you long after the book is finished.

I recommend this book to any one who likes to read and have a cliffhanger at the end of a chapter or two. Also, anyone who likes historical fiction would like this book. One example is when the Coal mine collapsed in Pennsylvania in 1859. Also, I recommend this book to any one who used to work in the mines because it is very realistic. The main character, Liam, said, "You should never light a match in a mine because the coal dust is very flammable." Also, I recommend it for anyone who thinks that girls can't work in the mine, because they can do the same amount of work that the men do only they do it more efficiently. Liam said "he saw a little bit of mischief in Rory's eyes." Rory is a girl who subbed for Paddy, Liam's brother. I learned that the mine could be a dangerous place to work, not because it could cave in, but rather that your boss might abuse you, such as hitting you with a broomstick.

Rory Hamilton hates the mines that took her father and brother away from her, never to return. Now she and her mother make ends meet by running a boardinghouse for miners. Rory is friends with a boy her age named Liam Quinn who, along with his younger brother, Paddy, and widowed father, works in the mines saving money for his sisters to come to America from Ireland. One day Liam's brother gets sick and is in danger of losing his job if he stays home. Even though she is terribly afraid of going in the mine, Rory disguises herself as a boy so she can take Paddy's place until he is better. Rory picks the worst possible day to enter the mine, since it's the day of a terrible cave in that traps Rory and Liam underground. If she is to survive, Rory must face her worst fears. A great survival/adventure story set against a historical background.

This is a great adventure story with non-stop action. Being trapped in a cave is for some their worst nightmare. This is as close as most will ever want to be to going into a cave. For more underground adventure stories don't miss Steward's, "Tales of Dirt, Danger, and Darkness."

I liked this book because I like magical creatures like the tooth fairy. If you like magicals creatures, I would suggest that you read this book. I told my mom and my dad and my sister to read it and they all really liked it. I think it was one of the best books I ever read.

My favorite part of this book was the friendship a girl in the book had with the Tooth Fairy. I liked it because I got to read the letters the girl wrote to her friend, the tooth fairy.

I loved it. It was about a little girl named Alex . Alex and the Tooth fairy were close freinds.(sort of like penpals.) The title the T.F letters stands for the Tooth fairy letters.If you havent read this book yet you really should beacause this book is great!

I had a student working on a report (actually it was his mother doing the inquiring, he was contemplating "other things") VEGETABLES.
The last part of the project that was being worked-on was for a recipe. His topic was carrots. I hate to tell you what transpired during the
recipe search, but he did not like carrot cake. The mother insisted that he did not need make it. He did not care whether he had to make
it or not, he sure did not want her to include that recipe!
I wound-up ordering the attached list of books. They came into the library a week ago. What a great little series. Do take the time to
peruse Amazon. They are a real "repast!"

I just got my book yesterday and I see so many deliscous looking recipes that I just can't wait to get started on!!! And they do not look difficult at all. This is definately a keeper in my avid collection of cookbooks! You wont go wrong with this one!

This is an excellent cookbook! After buying it on impulse at a book fair, I found I couldn't wait to start baking after flipping through some of the recipes. The book is divided into several sections, such as Classic Muffins and Party Muffins. I made 4 different recipes in one night. The Blueberry Buttermilk Muffins were light and delicious and the Caramel Apple Muffins were a big hit with my collegues at work. I also made the recipe for the Chocolate Sour Cherry Muffins with out the cherries and they were still delicious as were the Raspberry Cheesecake Muffins. As the book states, many of these muffins could substitute as cupcakes at children's parties or in lunch boxes. For the inexpensive ... price, I think this book is a must-have for all muffin lovers!

These vibrant stories of such phenomenal women who Dared to be Different and accomplished such awesome feats against so much adversity will inspire you to reach higher goals, regardless of any obstacles of the times! These outstanding women are incredible to study and this book is an excellent volume of heroism and unique personalities! Kudos!

This is a great read about 20 remarkable western women of whom some you will know and others you will meet for the first time. From Sacagawea who accompanied Lewis & Clark, Georgia O'Keefe, a revolutionary in the art world to Sandra Day O'Conner, the first woman on the Supreme Court Justice, these snapshots demonstrate the tenacity and inspiration that guided these women to design their own lives. An excellent read that will inspire you to look deeper into the lives of these amazing women who helped shape the American West.

A great book for learning more about women who made a difference in the frontier and later days of the West. Some subjects were familiar to me while others were completely new.
The author organizes her information in a easily read, informative manner. Each subject was well researched.
A good read!!