Dearly Depotted: A Flower Shop Mystery

Book Description

Abby has her hands full at her cousin Jillian's wedding as florist, bridesmaid, and grandma-sitter-all while wearing a hideous dress. Then the groom's 90-year-old grandmother goes missing from the reception. On her search, Abby finds the corpse of guest Jack Snyder. Now she must find out who killed Jack in the pulpit.

Customer Reviews:

Good and easy read.......2007-07-23

A pleasant and a quick read. The characterizations seemed a bit shallow at times, and the language and plotting seemed a bit "square," for lack of a better word. I think Abby and the series have potential, though, and I think the B and C stories could be developed into something cute and interesting, too. I'll try another in the series for sure.

Another fun read.......2007-05-10

In book #3 of the Flower Shop Mysteries, Abby gets the job of doing the flowers for her cousin Jillian's wedding. Unforunately at the wedding, Abby stumbles across the body. Was it a guest at the wedding who is the murderer? Abby will find out, if only to get Jillian out of her town on a honeymoon!

Well written and fun to read.......2007-03-25

I've now read all the books in the Abby Knight Flower shop Mystery series and all are well crafted, intriguing little mystery stories. The plot lines are realistic and easy to follow - yet complicated enough to keep you guessing. I never figure out the "who done it" - in these books - a good sign of a well written mystery. Nice, light reading that will entertain and keep you guessing - I love this series!

The most appealing part was the Cover.......2007-03-20

Having recently started reading cozy mysteries, such as Diane Mott Davidson and Cleo Coyle, I thought the Flowershop series sounded interesting but was sadly mistaken. I ordered this book on-line and have never been able to finish it. It is just not cozy enough. The appeal of such authors as Davidson is her characters grab you right away and your drawn into the small town life wonderful recipes and overall "feel" of the book.This is not the case with the flowershop mysteries. In fact the titles and the pastel covers are the best things about these books.

I Smell Sweet Success for this author!.......2006-11-21

I just finished Dearly Depotted by Kate Collins, my first time reading this author. I found the book to be a great read and would recommend it to anyone that enjoys mysteries with humor and a bit of "spice".

I look forward to finding out more about the protagonist's main interest, besides flowers, Marco and the rest of her crazy family.

Ms. Collins does a good job keeping things together and giving the reader a surprise ending.

I have ordered more of her books and I recommend you do the same.

One recommendation; lose all the carnations - too cheap and most people prefer more exotic flowers(just a suggestion)from one florists to another.

Average customer rating:

Dearly Depotted: A Flower Shop Mystery
Kate Collins
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000L7C9Y2

Book Description

Young Adult. Folklore. Oral History. Edited by his friend Vaugh Ward, Harvey Carr's tales establish him as "the representative northern woodsman." Ranging from "Hello, I'm Harvey Carr" through "Real Bears and Not Real Bears" to "So Long, Etc." These short pieces are charming stories, deceptively sophisticated in their earthy simplicity. "If I'd kept on tellin' the truth, I'd never have gotten into these thing! You get in the right group and everyone adds something ... If people laugh, they're not mad, they're not cryin'. They're going to be feelin' better." (Introduction). An excellent book for children from eleven up, as well as anyone interested in the truth about the Adirondacks. Illustrations by Deborah Delaney.

Book Description

Illus. in full color & full-color photos. "The story of Apollo II's historic flight, from lift-off, through 'The Eagle has landed,' to splashdown and quarantine. Donnelly does a good job of setting the stage with chapters on the history of the idea of flight to the moon, astronaut selection and training, and look at the flight's effect on people in general."--School Library Journal.

Customer Reviews:

A very interesting and engaging book!.......2006-12-20

I read this to my 6-year-old, and we were both mesmerized. The story is told exceptionally well. First there is some "action," then some history, then more action. Practical details about rockets and space travel will fascinate kids and adults alike. And after reading this book, no one will forget the meaning of the words, "The Eagle has landed" and "That's one small step...." It sounds silly, but I actually got choked up at the climax (moon landing).
This is a great book for any kid interested in the original development of the space program, up to the first walk on the moon. I can't make a pronouncement about the reading level (maybe third grade?), but you could read it to a 5-year-old, and I think even most adults would like this book. I'm going to be looking for other books by this author.

From a third grade reader in Goodyear, AZ, May 18th, 2000........2000-05-19

Moonwalk, The First Trip to the Moon, by Judy Donnelly and Dennis Davidson, was based on the United States Space Program in it's attempt to out do the Russian program. The U. S. wanted to put 2 men on the moon and after numerous tries and a few fatalities the U. S. Space Program succeeded. Apollo 11 was the first rocket to land on the moon. I found this book very exciting. I learned much about how the space program worked and what it took to get to the moon and back again safely. I encourage other young readers to read Moonwalk. It will inspire many readers as it did me to study more about the future of space travel and our space program.

The Distance to the Moon: A Road Trip into the American Dream

Average customer rating:

no matter where you go there you are
Better than I thought
A Roadtrip into Middle-Aged Hornliness
Fussing and Fretting Across the USA
A car buff shares his love of the Boxster

The Distance to the Moon: A Road Trip into the American Dream
James Morgan
Manufacturer: Riverhead Hardcover
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Popular Culture | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 157322135X

Amazon.com

In his early 50s, James Morgan yields to a restless urge and hits the road in a fast car. In The Distance to the Moon (a title owing to the speculations of John Updike, who wrote that every 17 years, the average American male drives the distance to the moon), Morgan takes the reader from Miami to California via America's fast lane of dreams, into what he calls a love story, where "the affair is between us and our automobiles." The vehicle? A new silver Boxster on loan from Porsche, of course. The envious crowds soon form, and throughout the journey, Morgan wrestles with his new identity--going from a "two-van man" to a driver who regularly gets the approving thumbs-up.

Morgan's story is well-researched and intelligent, as well as introspective. He sets himself knowingly in the American literary genre of great road trips--among Kerouac, Steinbeck, Pirsig, Least Heat-Moon. But these authors all traveled back roads looking for America, Morgan notes. The America Morgan sought during his 47-day trek "was a moving target, one traveling faster than the speed of reason. The other real America." Along the way Morgan explores the changes the auto has brought to the country, and talks with urban planners, historians, psychologists, and scores of others. "For us," Morgan writes, "the beauty of a road trip is the travel that takes place inside ourselves.... we can drift into a place where we're finally the person we might have been, could be, maybe still will be if things work out right." As such, though the narrative is wonderfully entwined with Morgan's life, and the journey and its ponderings are truly his, they are also often ours--even if his speedy Porsche Boxster is not. --Byron Ricks

Book Description

A critically acclaimed writer drives a Porsche across the United States, investigating how the automobile has shaped our lives and defined the American psyche.

According to John Updike, every seventeen years the average American male drives the distance from the Earth to the moon. But the average American male doesn't get to do it in a sleek silver Boxster on loan from Porsche. Fulfilling his lifelong fantasy, James Morgan took the Boxster, a model so new it had yet to be driven in America, and hit the road, often following the same trail (sometimes at speeds over 130 miles per hour) that Lewis and Clark took on their early crossing of the country.

The Distance to the Moon is about the American love affair with the car and the open road--what James Morgan calls "the epic entanglement that's defined this century and reshaped the face of America." Morgan takes us from Florida to Oregon, stopping at sites such as Carhenge (think Stonehenge, with cars, in Nebraska) and interviewing everyone from the old car ad men--who knew what it was Americans yearned for--to car collectors, automobile designers, psychologists, and city planners in an attempt to find out why we're obsessed with our automobiles.

The Distance to the Moon is the story of one man whose dream came true--and how it changed him. It is for everyone who has ever shared Morgan's fantasy of jumping in a fast car and hitting the open road, never to return. James Morgan has been praised as a writer and craftsman who understands the American psyche. With him in the driver's seat, we enjoy every second of the ride.

Customer Reviews:

no matter where you go there you are.......2007-02-27

I remember reading this book and thinking how interesting it would be; but I found his comments a bit grating after a while. I'm sure it was a terrific trip, but I feel this might have been more judiciously edited.

Better than I thought.......2007-02-25

I was initially worried that this book would be too much about the car and not enough about the road...or Florida for that matter. It seemed as if the book took FOREVER just to get out of Florida. I was also worried that this book would be too much of a male fantasy. Luckily that part turned out not to be true and made for enjoyable reading.

But once the author got into Utah and places north and west of there things picked up. He met interesting people in bar and restaurants, saw a few oddities along the way.

The author unwinded as the journey continued. He talked about his previous cars, his previous wife and his previous jobs. Strife between his current wife was obvious from the start and I wonder if this trip was an excuse to mull over the end of his marriage. One never finds out.

The trip ended upruptly on the west coast. I thought it was a bit of a letdown; perhaps disillusionment seeped in and the author resided to his fate. He dropped off the Porsche in Portland and the love story with the car was over.

A Roadtrip into Middle-Aged Hornliness.......2003-10-06

We've all seen this guy at a stoplight and cringed. Ballcap pulled down to conceal creeping baldness, wraparound sunglasses in place to allow maximum "leerage," arm propped self-consciously atop the steering wheel -- a reminder that adulthood for some is just a sad continuation of high school, a pathetic attempt to prove one's sexual desirability by dressing the part. The saddest aspect of this ego trip are those left behind, particularly the author's third(!) wife, who clearly recognizes (present tense) that she can't trust him around other women -- women he approaches throughout the text as "possible scores." Gross book.

Fussing and Fretting Across the USA.......2002-01-13

Here's the life lesson this book confirmed: if you're going to share a long road trip with a companion and a car, best select both carefully. The Porsche Boxster featured in this book is obviously a primo vehicle for the journey. Alas, James Morgan is not the companion of choice, and this book -- whose premise of a Interstate journey from Miami to Portland atttracted me to it -- lost a star about every fifty pages. Ruminating on whether Americans as a people (and we are basically talking men here -- women exist mostly as ornaments impressed by cars) long most for the open road or the comforts of home, Morgan tells car stories, but not enough of them or particularly interesting ones. He worries about the designs of people he meets along the way and how much he spends on the motels where he stays. Earrings, scruffy beards, long straggly hair on those he meets seem to evoke in him images of horrors about to be inflicted on his person, although these folk invariably offer him kindness both small and large. Frequent flashbacks to his adolescence -- wink, wink -- hint strongly at the seductive qualities of cars he owned in his early driving years. He quarrels with his wife before embarking from Miami and too many pages are spent alluding to this quarrel (details of which are never shared) and the in-trip visit and numerous telephone calls that only seem to exacerbate it. On the evidence of this book, Morgan's trip brought more bother than pleasures or answers, and he writes of it with prose that is neither original or engrossing. My advice: don't subject yourself to his angst. Instead, take a fast car out for an open road run.

A car buff shares his love of the Boxster.......2001-06-14

James Morgan describes driving a Porsche Boxster from Miami to St. Louis to Portland to San Francisco. Morgan seems like the sort of person who experiences life as a series of car stories, and during the journey, he tells his life history with an emphasis on the automotive angle. The pivotal part of his road trip is in Portland, Oregon, which is famous for its anti-car, pro-transit policies that are known as the "new urbanism." Morgan attacks the new urbanists, and wonders why anyone would choose to stand on a windy rain-drenched street waiting for the bus when they could be driving their own car instead. It's particularly ironic when Portland planning specialists use contorted rationalizations to explain why they drive to work instead of taking the public transit that they're forcing down the throats of their fellow residents.

Customer Reviews:

A book of thought and not of style.......1998-11-25

This book is really amazing when you finally sit back and think about the era in which it was written! There are, of coarse, scientific inaccuracies, but it is clear that Mr. Verne did his homework before writing this book - something that is clear in all of his books! Unfortunatly, despite the amazing conjecture that is put forth by this book, it is not as well written as most of the other classics. However, if you like science than this book is most likely a must read!

From the Earth to the Moon: Including the Trip Around It

Average customer rating:

Free SF Reader
A Science Fiction Classic
And interesting ride...
An Obsolete Translation--Barnes&Noble ISBN:0760765197
A Good Read

From the Earth to the Moon: Including the Trip Around It
Jules Verne
Manufacturer: Quiet Vision Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1576465381

Book Description

Jules Verne (1828-1905) is best known for his science fiction stories, at the time called "tales of imagination", even though he also wrote several historical novels.

As one of the first science fiction writers, his novels show the basics of good science fiction - good plot, good characterization, sound science, and good projections of scientific trends.

His ability to project the future of science was remarkable. Among his projections were the modern submarine, television, guided missles, satellites, and the airplane. His accuracy was not only in the invention but in the uses to which they were put.

Download Description

Jules Verne's classic tale of the first trip from the Earth to the Moon.

Customer Reviews:

Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

Unfortunately, From the Earth to the Moon always struck me as being on the rather dull side, so it took me a while to get through it the first time I read it. I can't really recommend this to many, except perhaps those interested in the history of science fiction, or really big Verne fans. The story of the first trip to Earth's satellite.

A Science Fiction Classic.......2007-03-11

Jules Verne, the father of science fiction, made several predictions
that came true in this book. The book is exciting from cover to cover.
It deserves more credit than it seems to be getting. It was written over
one hundred years ago. I would recommend this book to any science fiction
fan. Danny Fleming, author of How to Prove The Collatz Conjecture.

And interesting ride..........2007-01-10

I love the way that Verne ended the book! His sense of humor is so subtle, and yet so great.

An Obsolete Translation--Barnes&Noble ISBN:0760765197.......2006-06-11

This translation, one of the Barnes and Noble "Classics Editions", is the 1874 English translation by Edward Roth, a Philadelphia school-teacher. In no sense a translation, it is more a parody or retelling of the French original with many embelishments and additions by the author. The editor is Aaron Parett, an English professor from Montana. In an appendix the editor mentions that for furthur reading one might try the complete translation by Walter James Miller, "The Annotated Jules Verne: From the Earth to the Moon" published by Crowell: 1978 and reprinted by Gramercy: 1995. (In reading reviews, make sure the review applies to this ISBN: 07060765197)

A Good Read.......2005-08-09

My boyfriend bought From the Earth to the Moon, and since he is an Astrophysics student I expected that he would have enjoyed finding about people's conceptions about going to the moon at that early time. He however summed up the book by saying that it contained a lot of basic things didn't make much sense. Well, from a layman's perspective I found from the Earth to the Moon engaging. It goes into the technical aspects of going to the moon and involves a reasonable amount of logic, Physics and Astronomy. Even from my scientifically deprived perspective, a lot of things in the book didn't make much sense, such as the actual method of getting to the moon, but this doesn't really take away from the book - it adds greatly to its appeal. The book contained some bizarre bits of humour and its whimsical nature never bordered into the ridiculous. I was kept wondering how much of this was actually going to work, and what these poor souls were going to come up with next. Compared to Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and even Journey to the Centre of the Earth however, From the Earth to the Moon is noticeably less imaginative. Verne uses everyday objects and ideas to make his ideas a reality, and much unlike his other works, doesn't stray far from the earthly. Some people may feel cheated by the predictable conclusion, but all in all From the Earth to the Moon is a good read. If you drop at the sight of f(x) = y, then this book is not for you because it involves some logical thinking, Centripetal forces and the like which may be hard to assimilate. If you really know your Physics theory then you may not appreciate the book either because of the theoretical meanderings that may have limited basis today. If you, like me are somewhere in the middle of these two extremes then From the Earth to the Moon is definitely worth your time.

Average customer rating:

Trips to the Moon
Lucian
Manufacturer: Dodo Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 190543295X

Trip to the Moon: Busy World Richard Scarry #8

Average customer rating:

5 year old gives stellar review.

Trip to the Moon: Busy World Richard Scarry #8
Richard Scarry
Manufacturer: Simon Spotlight
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0689808062

Customer Reviews:

5 year old gives stellar review........2000-05-19

I like how this book is written and how the pictures are drawn. For any kids interested in space, this is a fun book. Huckle and Lowly fans will enjoy this. I like that they go to the moon.

Average customer rating:

A Rocket Trip to the Moon
Russell Geraldine
Manufacturer: Golde Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000LB7THK

Average customer rating:

Babar's Moon Trip
De Brunhoff L
Manufacturer: Random House (Merchandising)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Alley Oop; Volume 3: First Trip to the Moon

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Alley Oop; Volume 3: First Trip to the Moon
V. T. Hamlin
Manufacturer: Kitchen Sink Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0878163514

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Babar's moon trip (A Pop-up book)
Laurent de Brunhoff
Manufacturer: Random House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Average customer rating:

GOOD BOOK

Best that's out there on the subject...I love this book!

Greatly disappointed

Good, but the definitive guide is yet to be written

Yes, you *can* become a tamalista!

Tamales 101: A Beginner's Guide to Making Traditional Tamales
Alice Guadalupe Tapp
Manufacturer: Ten Speed Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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Tamales Tamales

A Gringo's Guide to Authentic Mexican Cooking (Cookbooks and Restaurant Guides)

The Great Salsa Book

From My Mexican Kitchen: Techniques and Ingredients

Salsas That Cook : Using Classic Salsas To Enliven Our Favorite Dishes

ASIN: 1580084281

Book Description

Tamales 101

A Beginner's Guide to Making Traditional Tamales by Alice Guadalupe Tapp

Corn-husked bundles of fresh masa plump with wonderful combinations of sauces, meats, and vegetables—tamales are a simple and delicious staple of Mexican and Southwestern cuisine. Alice Guadalupe Tapp has perfected the art of tamale making, and in TAMALES 101 imparts her knowledge and passion for this comforting treat. TAMALES 101 will show beginners how to make masa dough as well as fold and steam tamales to perfection. Then, once you've mastered the basics, you'll be whipping up batches of Chicken Tomatillo, Chorizo Potato, Vegetable Curry, and Greek tamales in no time. With recipes for nearly 100 traditional, vegetarian, vegan, and specialty tamales and sauces, TAMALES 101 will send you on a culinary adventure that's sure to delight and impress your guests.

Customer Reviews:

GOOD BOOK.......2007-01-18

Saw book at Indio Tamale Festival and got it at Amazon cheaper

Best that's out there on the subject...I love this book!.......2005-01-05

I love this book. The author brings enormous experience from her own highly beloved tamalaria in S. Calif. and makes it possible to create excellent tamales on your own. Not as easy a subject as it might seem. I found her presentation thoughtful, with clear, thorough explanations and instructions that are well-presented. Her detailed description of the different types of masa and masa prep., of tamale wrappers and wrapping techniques, of ratio of filling to masa, of the tradition versus popular taste in saucing tamales, of all matters related to general preparation, cooking, storing etc. are all excellent, especially considering that it is a rather small book. Unlike another tamale book out now by a famous chef, these recipes are down to earth and wonderful, and span a wide range of tamales...including adaptations for vegetarians, special occasion tamales and much more. Great sauce recipes. Different versions of many recipes (such as mole sauces, chicken tamales, and much more). The author has a nice personable style, sharing customs and her own family lore along with her valuable insights from running a tamaleria in a trendy So. Cal beach town...and that is a really daunting challenge: to appeal to everything from a large solid Mexicano population to surfers to L.A.'s celeb-types etc. etc.

This is really a great recipe collection, well-presented for the experienced and novice tamale-maker (which I was...), and it is a really pretty publication - rich in colors and beautiful photos. I love this book...I have a very large cookbook collection that I use pretty extensively, and this little book has really endeared itself to me. I think it is a great value.

Greatly disappointed.......2004-10-04

I am an experienced cook and baker, and followed the recipe for Masa Harina Masa. I bought the correct dry corn flour from an hispanic market, and made some excellent chicken stock. The ingredients list called for 12 cups of the corn flour and 7 cups of stock, mixed in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment. and when I placed these ingredients in the mixer and turned it on, it was too much for the mixer to hold. I emptied out the contents of the bowl into another bowl, mixed the contents with my hands to distribute the stock and corn flour evenly, and returned half of the ingredients to the mixer bowl and began to mix. The mixture never reached the "firm pudding" stage as described in the recipe. I had to add more than an additional 4 cups of stock to get to this stage. I don't think the author carefully measured the ingredients when she recorded the recipes. Since this is a recipe that many people will make (the masa is the main part of a tamale) she should have been more careful. However, when I made the Red Pork Chile Tamales the sauce was delicous and my family liked the flavor and texture of the tamales.

Good, but the definitive guide is yet to be written.......2004-03-12

This is a nice little book with lots of traditional recipes and the author is enthusiastic but her fat of choice is margarine, a fact I have trouble digesting, if you know what I mean.

Yes, you *can* become a tamalista!.......2003-12-21

A couple of weeks before Christmas, I found myself facing a luncheon for 15 foodie friends for which I'd promised fresh tamales--and my promised helper, the only person I knew who had made them before, came down with the flu! I was on my own.

Fortunately, I had Tamales 101 in hand. Got a few tips from a guy at the local Tamale Festival, but mostly I just devoured this book, took a deep breath, and started. My masa floated, the corn husks peeled off my tamales easily, and they were firm and delicious! I spent over three days cooking and ended up with a cornucopia of Red Chile Pork, Chorizo-Potato, Jalapeno and Cheese, and two kinds of dessert tamales, plus all the salsa and other trimmings. (I'd made enough to take to three other events, it turned out.) And I *enjoyed* myself doing it.

Making tamales is both harder and easier than you might think. What's hard is the amount of time and effort, but what's easy is the routine you get into after making a few. The day of the luncheon, I taught an early guest how to fill and fold them (using the very easy foldover method illustrated in the book), and she taught everyone else who wanted to try a few. As they say, a good time was had by all.

My tips and observations for those who want to give this a try:

Get *very* organized in advance: ingredients list, timetable, list of accompaniments, etc. A large steamer is a must (I used an oriental two-level steel one, but a Mexican one that looks like a canning kettle works well, too, and both are fairly inexpensive). An electric mixer is also a must. I used a hand mixer, but a stand mixer would have been easier. You *must* maintain several inches of boiling water in the pan (I just about burned mine out at one point), and it is possible to burn both hands at once if you use potholders instead of oven mitts to pick up the upper pan to check the water level.

From the festival tamale maker, I learned that it's important to use all the lard called for (part can be butter or margarine) and also all the salt called for. I read somewhere else that much of the lard is absorbed by the husks, and I hope this is true. From the book, I learned to use fresh masa (easily available here in the southwest) rather than dry, and to whip the lard for at least 5 minutes and then the worked-in masa and broth for another 10 to 15 minutes, and also to use an ice cream scoop to measure the right amount of masa onto the husks/leaves.

I won't be waiting until next Christmas to make more tamales, now that I know how easy and good they are. Just thinking of all the varieties in Tamales 101 that I haven't tried yet has me drooling. Give it a try!

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