The Perfect Paragon (Agatha Raisin Mysteries)

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Agatha's Detective Agency Deepens Its Capabilities

Have you heard from Agatha lately?

Going downhill...such a shame

My 2 Cents Worth

The Perfect Paragon

The Perfect Paragon (Agatha Raisin Mysteries)
M. C. Beaton
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Minotaur
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

British Detectives | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
Women Sleuths | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
Beaton, M.C. | ( B ) | Authors, A-Z | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
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The Deadly Dance (Agatha Raisin Mysteries)

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Agatha Raisin and the Haunted House (Agatha Raisin Mysteries)

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Agatha Raisin and the Love from Hell (An Agatha Raisin Mystery)

ASIN: 031230448X
Release Date: 2005-07-14

Book Description

'Outwardly bossy and vain, inwardly insecure and vulnerable, Agatha grows more endearing with each installment.'-Cleveland Plain Dealer After being nearly killed by both a hired hit man and her former secretary, Agatha Raisin could use some low-key cases. So when Robert Smedley walks through the door, determined to prove that his wife is cheating, Raisin In-vestigations immediately offers to help. Trouble is, Agatha hates divorce cases-especially when she's been hired by a pompous jerk like Smedley-but she has a business to run now and she's not about to turn away a paying client.

Customer Reviews:

Agatha's Detective Agency Deepens Its Capabilities.......2007-10-03

Although this is the 16th mystery in the Agatha Raisin series, you could enjoy this book as a stand-alone if you don't want to go back. Of those earlier books, I do especially recommend the first one, Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death.

Agatha Raisin had a rough start to her detective agency in The Deadly Dance. She learned she didn't really know all that much about detecting, that getting and keeping good help are hard, and that the police don't like amateur detectives who set up agencies any more than they like amateur detectives.

As The Perfect Paragon opens, the detective business is operating more smmothly . . . if only there were more business to operate. The money is in divorces, but Agatha has tried to avoid those cases due to having been recently divorced. But when business is slow, she agrees to check on Robert Smedley's wife, Mabel, who has shown an unusual (for her) tendency to act independently of her husband. Who is she buying those new clothes for? At the same time, Agatha has the usual run of missing teenagers and dogs where she normally makes good progress.

Agatha's agency soon makes a hash of the Smedley assignment, and after that she's off the case for other reasons. When a missing teenager turns out to be a murder victim, the obvious suspects seem to be unlikely killers, and Agatha is at a loss to figure out what happened . . . until Mrs. Bloxby gives her a hint as to motive. Before the story is over, crimes are spilling out in all directions.

Agatha adds a new staff member who brings some pizzazz to Agatha's investigations, and Agatha gets occasional help from her old detective partner, Sir Charles Fraith. Being as insensitive as ever to others, she virtually destroys her relationship with Bill Wong in the process of trying to find the killer and accept Bill's hospitality.

The story has a few weaknesses that are unfortunate: The investigation is turned into more of a circus than is really needed to make a good story, agency people make more dumb mistakes than seem likely, and there are a few too many coincidences in how the key facts are turned up.

The actual mystery is better developed and hidden than in many earlier books. And Agatha mostly avoids being her most annoying self.

I think these detective-agency cases will be the saving of this series, even though M. C. Beaton couldn't resist having Agatha fall for yet another handsome man.

Consider all the circumstances if you want to get at the truth!

Have you heard from Agatha lately?.......2007-04-03

This latest (16th) entry into the long running Agatha Raisin series opens as Agatha is seeking advice from her friend, the vicar's wife, about her new detective agency. Business is slow and Agatha is having doubts about the whole thing. She is surprised when the advice she is given is not to scale back but rather to hire a new employee. Reluctantly Agatha agrees and soon finds herself with more cases, and staff than she had ever imagined. She is even working with the local police! And being Agatha there is a new romance on the horizon.

Authors of series novels are faced with some difficult choices. Should their main character age as the series progress or stay the same? How many murders can a person just stumble on to? If the author chooses not to age the character then how to keep the series fresh? Criticisms begin about the stories becoming boring, formulistic etc. If the character does age or change in anyway the complaints are that he/she is not the same. In my opinion Beaton has reached a happy compromise with Agatha who ages slightly with each novel and her personality also matures slightly as time goes on. In the later books Agatha is beginning to realize that she must consider other people's feelings, that the traits that brought her success in the London business world are not serving her well in a small village. To solve the problem of how many bodies Agatha could just happen on to, Beaton has had Agatha open a detective agency so the mysteries will be able to present themselves in a more straightforward manner.

These books could be read and enjoyed in any order but due to the on-going story arc of Agatha's personal life it would be better to read them in order.

Going downhill...such a shame.......2007-03-23

Alas, I don't refer to our Agatha's arthritic hip or thickening waist, but to the series. I have delighted in reading Agatha's adventures. Have rolled my eyes at her vanity, shaken my head at her desperation, sympathized with her worries, admired her courage and been completely captivated. The characters, in general, became as familiar and as loved. Roy, Bill, Charles and Mrs. Bloxby, even Miss Simms, all have very human strengths and flaws.

Unfortunately, this latest entry begs comparison with Lilian Braun's "The Cat Who..." series in which the books became carbon copies of each other, progressively blurrier. I must agree wtih the reviewer who commented that the characters were too good to be true and poorly developed, that guesses turned out to be facts and obstacles were too easily overcome. The book was too brief and felt hurried and formulaic, as if Ms. Beaton was under pressure to throw something together quickly.

I'm glad to see Agatha growing, changing and, for that matter, aging. It would simply be too frustrating if she didn't. I'd be content to accompany her on her adventures whether she remains single or enters into marriage. (Although I usually wanted to box James Lacey's ears) What I can't bear is to see is Agatha and the village of Carsely degenerate into the mystery genre's version of fast food, i.e., flavorless, empty and simply there to fill space. I sincerely hope for better things in the next installments.

My 2 Cents Worth.......2007-02-03

I just finished this book, the last of the series (except for the new one in hardback) and am going through withdrawal symptoms. I have read the series straight through and have developed a soft spot for the irrascible Agatha Raisin. While Agatha's going pro is an inevitable progression of the series, I don't like the dissipation caused by too many characters. Other changes are evident in this book. Agatha now cooperates with the police (most of the time) and the police sometimes give her tips. This is the first book where Agatha herself is not in personal danger. Her character has softened somewhat and she's now just understanding the meaning of friendship, which requires giving as well as taking. She's still vain and men obsessed, but doesn't get much satisfaction in this book. Because of that, a melancholy mood has settled over her and she fears loneliness and old age. Speaking of age, the author is going to have to age Agatha a bit. How many years can she spend in her "early 50s"? I love this series and can't wait for the new book to come out in paperback. In the meantime, I'll give the Hamish McBeth series a try.

The Perfect Paragon.......2006-08-05

I have always loved Agatha Raisin. As a matter of fact I got my mother and sister hooked on her also. I was very disappointed in this book. Agatha has lost her spark and fiesty disposition. She needs to drop the detective agency as it makes the story too scattered. Even the love interest fizzled before any fire started. Hope the next one is a gem!

The Perfect Paragon: An Agatha Raisin Mystery

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The Perfect Paragon: An Agatha Raisin Mystery

Manufacturer: Not Avail
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1405636432

Perfect Paragon: An Agatha Raisin Mystery

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Perfect Paragon: An Agatha Raisin Mystery
M C Beaton
Manufacturer: ST MARTINS MINOTAUR
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000WLZJO4

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The Perfect Paragon: An Agatha Raisin Mystery
M. C. Beaton
Manufacturer: Minotaur Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000KU8NWW

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The Perfect Paragon: An Agatha Raisin Mystery

Manufacturer: Not Avail
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1405636424

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An impressive first effort...

for the younger reader only

A fantasy adventure novel that is a cut above the norm

I really liked this one

A Very Enjoyable Adventure
Silverlance
Peter Thomas Crowell
Manufacturer: Peter T. Crowell Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0974029092

Book Description

"Misrule magic, Midwinter's magic... this is no ordinary day," says Darius Thorn to his grandson, Byron. "There's a magic in the air I've never felt or heard tell of... and a full moon to boot..."

For Byron Thorn, it's the start of a quest that will lead him into friendship and danger, down dark tunnels and up windy heights, to wake a sleeping kingdom and find a forgotten king.

Customer Reviews:

An impressive first effort..........2006-12-01

Darius Thorn knows that something evil is brewing when a strange magic begins floating through the air, accompanied by a full moon. He tells his grandson, a young satyr named Byron of this peculiarity, and soon his worries come to life. For in no time at all, a sign of an ancient prophecy appears to the people of the Woody Deep, and hysteria begins. Byron, however, knows that Misrule's Day is not just a birthday accompanied by no rules. No, to Byron Thorn, Misrule's Day is far more than meets the eye. For it is on this particular day that Byron will begin his quest. A quest that will introduce him to new friends, and dangers that the average person would be unable to imagine. For on Misrule's Day, Byron sets out through the winding, windy mountains, and dark tunnels, in an attempt to find a king that has been forgotten, and awake the sleeping kingdom. It is in this forgotten world that Byron must journey to a land occupied by centaurs, and satyrs, griffins and dwarves, dryads and humans, and giants and wolves. A place where each race lives amongst one another. During this adventure, Byron will follow the call of Silverlance, and rely on the help of the unexpected to defeat the enemy, and restore peace.

I have owned SILVERLANCE for a few years now, but had it buried away, unread. When I stumbled upon it recently, I decided to give the fantasy novel a whirl, and must admit that I was pleasantly surprised by the outcome. Peter Thomas Cromwell has drawn inspiration from best-selling fantasy novels such as HARRY POTTER, THE HOBBIT and THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA, in an attempt to pen a tale about his own world. A world where human beings and mythical creatures live side by side. Cromwell's characters are richly drawn, and interesting to learn more about. The adventures they encounter on each and every page are well-written and in-depth, and make the reader feel as if they are on a harrowing journey alongside the hero and his companions - traipsing through a mythical world they will never want to leave. An impressive first effort that will appeal to middle readers.

Erika Sorocco

for the younger reader only.......2005-03-16

"Silverlance" is Peter T Crowell's debut novel and the first book in "The Tales of True Adventure". At the moment I'm not sure how that series is going to be constructed because "Silverlance" felt to be a standalone novel with a complete story. We'll see where this series goes from here. "Silverlance" is intended for a Young Adult audience, probably in the 9 - 12 year old age range.

With "Silverlance" the reader is introduced to Byron Thorn, a young satyr who is coming of age on a midwinter's night. When he sees a new star in the sky, young Byron knows that it is his destiny to follow the star. Alone he sets off and quickly gathers a group of young like-minded creatures including a centaur, a griffin, and two dryads. Together they face danger and adventure in their quest to follow and find the star and perhaps find the returning god/king Silverlance.

I didn't spend too much time describing the characters or the story because, to be honest, there isn't much to describe. "Silverlance" moves along at a fairly fast pace, which is good for the younger reader, but there isn't any real development of the characters. I no more have a sense of who Byron or any other character is by the end of the book as I did when each character was introduced. That's fine, the book is aimed at a different audience and for what it intends on doing, it does well. "Silverlance" does a good job at telling a story of "True Adventure" which younger readers are likely to get completely wrapped up on. But while stories like "The Hobbit" or "Harry Potter" can be enjoyed on a different level by adults, "Silverlance really is just a children's book.

-Joe Sherry

A fantasy adventure novel that is a cut above the norm .......2005-01-07

Silverlance is the rather impressive debut title for Peter Crowell's "The Tales of True Adventure" action/fantasy series. Crowell has created a detailed world where centaurs, satyrs, giants, griffins, and other such mythological beings live alongside humans. Byron Thorn is a young man who doesn't really consider himself a hero, but because there is a new star in the heavens invoking the legend of "Silverlance", he finds himself embarking upon quest resulting in a series of unexpected adventures, complete with somehwhat unusual allies and committed enemies. Silverlance is a fantasy adventure novel that is a cut above the norm due to author's deft usage of myth aptly blended with the kind of storytelling that immediately engages the readers attention from the very first page, and then holds it tightly through unexpected twists and turns right down to the final page. Enthusiastically recommended for readers with a penchant for high fantasy, Silverlance will leave them looking eagerly toward the next "tale of true adventure" from the mind and imagination of Peter Thomas Crowell.

I really liked this one.......2005-01-04

Silverlance was a book that was refreshing, in my opinion. I was reading some of the reviews and found that some people didn't really like it, but I look forward to reading more. I felt that something very interesting about it was that Silverlance was a king that actually wasn't human. I'm not going to tell you what he is, for the sake of not spoiling the book, but it was very unique in my opinion.

Sure, there are many stories with kings that are not human, but never the one that is destined to save the world from the darkness that it has become. Some of the characters were also a breath of fresh air. None of them were powerful beyond belief, they all had faults and flaws... they were relatively normal, if you know what I mean. Many fantasy stories have at least one character that seems practically all powerful, and that's fine, but it doesn't have to be every one.

All in all, I felt that it was a really good book, and I hope that he continues with another one.

A Very Enjoyable Adventure.......2005-01-03

I really enjoyed this book. With some books I found that the beginnings were very slow. I don't really like slow beginnings, unless I know it's going to lead up to something really interesting. Silverlance was interesting right away. It is somewhat like The Lord of the Rings meets The Chronicles of Narnia.

After the first chapter or two I could hardly put it down and I wanted to read it all the way though, I ended up finishing it in two days. All the characters have lovable qualities and you get extremely attached to all of them. I liked the dryads the most, I thought they were probably some of the most interesting characters in the book. I liked Shilo a lot too, mostly because of her ability of talking to animals. I'm a total animal lover so I found myself wishing I could talk to animals just like Shilo.

The story-line shows you that if you believe in something, then it doesn't really matter what anyone else says. I thought this book was really enjoyable and I can't wait till the next book Dwarvenhearth. I am eager to see what it has in store for all of the characters of this book.

Customer Reviews:

A Lukewarm Effort.......2004-06-29

"Time Scout" revists the theme of time traveling explorers and tourists coping with the inherent hazards of taking jaunts to the past. Such a premise has already been deftly explored by Poul Anderson in his "Time Patrol" series and Robert Silverberg in his novel "Time Gate." Asprin's effort, however, falls somewhat short. While he creates a plausible and somewhat intriguing society, his main characters are one-dimensional and obnoxious (especially Margo, who is an annoying brat). While the narrative is fast-paced and mildly interesting, it ultimately never captivates us. A decent novel, nothing more...

As always, amazing.......2004-01-04

It seems that no matter who Mr. Asprin writes with, his books continue to be funny & fun to read. The surprises thrown in are fun & frequent. The historical trivia dropped in so casually throughout the book left me feeling like I'd been there with them. A must read!

And so it begins...............2002-08-08

Here for the first time we the readers meet the honorable and tough as nails time scout Kenneth "Kit" Carson.

I have read all the other books in the series (see my reviews) and I like this one most of all for 2 reasons
In "Wagers of Sin" we see the story from Skeeter Jackson's perspective and in "Ripping Time" we see most of the story from the point of view of Marius (the ex-Roman slave) in this book a much more of a kaleidoscope effect is achieved you are everywhere at once by it up or down time.

Entertaining.......2001-03-09

Time Scout is an enteratining tale. The writting pulls you through and leaves you with a finished feeling; you know that there will be other adventures, but it doesn't leave you hanging.

"Kit" Carson is a retired "Time Scout", but he's still considered the best of the best in the profession. A girl, who's middle name should be Trouble, shows up full of hero worship and begs him to teach her the profession. Like a lot of people she takes the easy way and it lands her in trouble. The story travels through Ancient Rome, Victorian London, and South Africa around the 1540s. While this story won't change the world, it was a fun read and I look forward to the next book in this series.

Pretty darn good..........2000-09-27

Anything by Robert Asprin is worth reading, and this book is a side of his work different than anything else of his I've read. While the style of the writing is a little stilted and sometimes sounds very unedited and choppy, his world comes through to the reader. And a neat world it is, too.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent!.......2002-09-21

I could hardly stand to put this book down. Time travel books are all starting to look alike, but I found the idea of time tourism to be fascinating. The small community overrun by tourists was a great place to start, and with the wild clash of the vastly different cultures from all different times and places, it was absolutely stewing with adventure. The writing was smooth, with plenty of exciting, tense moments but also plenty of humor. I felt by the end of the book that I really knew the characters.
I never read series out of order, but this was the first book I'd read out of tis series and I never would have known it wasn't the first if I hadn't started looking for more books by the same author -- it is a completely independent book from Time Scout. I highly recommend it for anyone aching for a fast paced adventure.

I love this book.......2002-02-10

Provides a very interesting theory what if time travle was possible?

Preety engaging and very fun now I have to find the first book in the serise someplace.

More of the same.......2002-01-21

This is one of those sequels that only seems to present more of the same. I'm afraid I trudged though about 1/3 of this book and fell asleep. For me it was one of those books that once you put it down, you can't pick it up again. I may have to come back in 10 years or so and try again.

A Fun Book.......2001-03-18

"Wagers of Sin" is the second book about the Time Scouts from La-LA Land (Time Terminal #86). The story flowed well and kept my interest, I have ordered the next book in the series, "Ripping Time".

In this story Skeetor Jackson gets into a wager with Goldie Moran over who can scam the most money in a month. The bet causes a series of problems. One result of the bet is Skeetor and Marcus being sold into slavery while in Ancient Rome. Margo and malcom chase an art thief through the Old West and we finally learn about Skeetor's mysterious past.

The first book in this sereies was "Time Scout", Next came this novel, then "Ripping Time", the fourth book appears to be "The House That Jack Built". The entire series is worth reading.

Nice sequel..........2000-09-27

Rarely do authors bring the same energy and life to sequels, but just as with the Myth tales and Phule's Company, Asprin has written a book almost as good as its predecessor.

The sentences, paragraphs and chapters flow much better in this book than in the first, as if they've been more thoroughly edited. Asprin also keeps interest in the plot because he's exploring a whole set of characters who were only a part of the background in Time Scout. It certainly makes you want to reread the first book, and gives it a whole new dimension when you do. The plot itself is a little limited, but still quite enjoyable.

Book Description

This book captures the life and times of Jerry Potts, the one man who best represents the turmoil of the western frontier and the clash of two cultures. Born to a White father and Blood mother, Jerry earned the name Ky-yo-kosi (Bear Child) for his pluck and bravery. He had a reputation in two distinct worlds. To the Blood and other tribes in the Blackfoot Confederacy, he was known as an invincible warrior, a relentless enemy, and a great hunter. To Whites he was a valuable scout, an uncanny marksman, and a wily horse trader. Potts saved the ragtag red-coated Canadian police force from near starvation and served the force for 22 years. The author has added substantial new information and rewritten significant portions of original research completed by Bernard D. Fardy for his 1984 book Jerry Potts, Paladin of the Plains.

Spies, Scouts, and Raiders: Irregular Operations (Time-Life The Civil War)

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Spies, Scouts, and Raiders: Irregular Operations (Time-Life The Civil War)
William C. Davis
Manufacturer: Time-Life Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Collections, Catalogues & Exhibitions | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0809447169

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Ahead Of Their Time
Boy Scouts of America
Manufacturer: G P Putnams Sons
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Boy Scouts | Sports & Activities | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000JC4492

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A Big Box of Memories (Pee Wee Scouts)
Judy Delton
Manufacturer: Yearling
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0440415284
Release Date: 2000-03-07

Book Description

The Pee Wees have to fill a time capsule to earn their last badge of 2000. But what one tiny thing will leave a lasting impression for scouts of tomorrow? It's not an easy question, but the Pee Wees are up to the challenge--and eager to make their mark on the future.

It's time for another story: (an ABC of story-telling for cubmasters)

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It's time for another story: (an ABC of story-telling for cubmasters)
J. B Gearing
Manufacturer: Boy Scouts Association
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0007JSRAE

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Jamboree Time in Washington
Boys Scouts Of America
Manufacturer: Boy Scouts of America
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000VNIVXE

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Juliette Gordon Low (Women of Our Time)
Kathleen V. Kudlinski
Manufacturer: Viking Juvenile
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0670822086

Average customer rating:

Not the best...

Great Fondue for Grownups!

Excellent food history lesson and delicious recipes

No photos needed!!!

Dip It Fun Food Cookbook

Fondue: Great Food To Dip, Dunk, Savor, And Swirl
Rick Rodgers
Manufacturer: William Morrow Cookbooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Sauces, Salsa & Garnishes | Cooking by Ingredient | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Special Appliances | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0688158668

Amazon.com

There was a time in America (the dark ages of the 1960s and early 1970s) when fondue was synonymous with cubes of white bread dipped in melted Velveeta. After a brief craze, fondue went the way of lava lamps, shag carpeting, and leisure suits, its pot and skewers retired to the back of a high kitchen cupboard where they're forgotten until the next garage sale. Now, however, fondue is making a comeback, and--like Barbie--it's gotten a whole new look. In Fondue, Rick Rodgers takes the three basic fondues--cheese, chocolate, and fried--and mixes in the flavors of the '90s--everything from sun-dried tomatoes to espresso. He even adds a fourth category, Asian fondue, for those fat- and calorie-conscious cooks who prefer their food simmered in broth. Swordfish Fondue with Tapenade Mayonnaise; Gingered Curry and Cheddar Fondue; Vietnamese Beef Fondue with Rice Vinegar Stock and Anchovy-Pineapple Sauce--the '60s were never like this! In Fondue, Rick Rodgers proves that, once again, it's hip to dip.

Book Description

Fondue is back, bigger and better than ever, popping up in kitchens everywhere! Rick Rodgers presents more than fifty sensational recipes that combine the newest tastes with traditional favorites, creating versatile and mouth-watering fondues that will thrill fondue lovers.

Rediscover the pleasure of cooking food at the table with your friends and family as contemporary flavors and ingredients -- roast garlic, fresh ginger, sun-dried tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, and espresso-are stirred into today's fondue pot. This is great food that is simple to make and perfect for entertaining.

If you love the classic cheese version, try dipping cooked shrimp or artichoke hearts into Italian Fontina and Porcini Fondue; or vegetables and apples into Gorgonzola, Port, and Walnut Fondue. Dunk focaccia or Italian salami into Sun-Dried Tomato Pizza Fondue, bite-sized cubes of bread or even chicken breast into Classic Swiss Fondue, made with three cheeses for a deliciously authentic masterpiece.

Meat lovers will go for Fondue Bourguignonne, where chunks of table-fried meats (or poultry or fish) are dipped into a variety of quick-to-make sauces. Serve boneless leg of lamb with Balsamic Vinegar-Mint Sauce or turkey breast with Cranberry-Lime Mayonnaise.

Many Asian cuisines have their own versions of fondue that are popular choices for communal meals. Known as hot pots, they're an exotic mix of ingredients in a special savory stock. Try the famous Japanese version, Shabu-Shabu, with paper-thin slices of beef and a sesame dipping sauce, or the Classic Chrysan themum Hot Pot, composed of a variety of meats and fish to be dipped in a soy-sherry sauce.

For the confirmed dessert fanatic, nothing will please the palate more than sweet and rich tastes from your fondue pot. The choices are intoxicating-fresh strawberries, pineapples, and cherries, and chunks of pound cake can be swirled into Classic Chocolate Fondue. A sinful concoction of peanut butter and milk chocolate is made to be savored with bananas or brownies. And who can resist dipping a cookie or two in Venetian Espresso Fondue?

Intense in taste and flavors, innovative in form and preparation, fondue is the way we want to eat today.

Customer Reviews:

Not the best..........2005-08-10

Some of the recipes just don't seem too appetizing.......liked "The 125 Best Fondue Recipes" better!!!

Great Fondue for Grownups!.......2005-02-09

This book is chock full of excellent recipes that would be a hit with any grown-up dinner party. If you are going to have a get-together with friends and are looking for recipes that not only look and taste good but will also be impressive, this is the book for you. I really just wanted a fondue book with tried and true recipes that would appeal to my family. There are a few simple recipes in the book, but most of them have names like Italian Fontina and Porcini Fondue, Welsh Cheddar and Bacon Rabbit Fondue, Lobster Newburg Fondue, Smoked Salmon, Capers and Triple Creme Fondue, you see the trend. So if you are having an adult dinner party with friends and want to have something that sounds trendy or exotic, then this book is the one for you. If you want some simple family-type recipes, I would suggest looking for something different.

Excellent food history lesson and delicious recipes.......2004-12-28

This is my first exposure to Rick Rodgers' writing and I am already looking to buy more of his cookbooks. He is thorough in his explanations of what equipment, chocolate, cheese, etc. to buy without being wordy or condescending. Each recipe comes with a paragraph lesson of its origin (e.g. Swiss, French, Italian) and/or American fondue versions and/or to whom the recipe would appeal. This book has such a variety of recipes that both the more and less adventurous eaters in your dinner party will be gastronomically satisfied. For a real Swiss experience, I recommend the Classic Swiss Three-Cheese Fondue and the Classic Chocolate Fondue. Recipes I'll be trying at my next fondue party are: Italian Fontina and Porcini Fondue, French Gruyere and Onion Fondue, and the Original Toblerone Fondue. This book offers years of interesting entertaining. Rick Rodgers' recipes and dipping suggestions can be trusted to provide a superior dining experience.

No photos needed!!!.......2004-03-25

Since when are photos needed when the book is clear and as well written as this one? In my mind never.
This was my first book for fondue and frankly ALL the others books I either bought or looked at may have had photos but were so lacking in details, originality and interesting recipes I haven't used the two others I bought and haven't bought anymore. This book is simply the best fondue book you can buy, not only does it have good recipes it has clear instructions on how to use a fondue pot the differnt kinds of fondue pots as well as a comprehensive list of cheeses, breads, meats and other ingrediants good for fondue.
Anyone with a fundimental skill in cooking doesn't need a photo to know how to grate cheese or cut bread into cubes.

Dip It Fun Food Cookbook.......2003-12-29

Rodgers is a prolific cookbook writer of all types and sorts, including his Christmas and Thanksgiving 101 books, as well as the more serious and magnificent cookbook on Vienna, et al Bakery.

This is focused on a comeback entry, fondue. Many of us from sixties and seventies went through the rage for this and had not thought of it for awhile. Now this resurrgence, and Rodgers provides us with a quality work to explore this new appetizer, main course and dessert entry.

He provides equipment section, that although brief is usuable and reliable info. Would have been nice to have photos and source info, but these aren't really that vital to this food venue.

His creativity in collected these recipes is what makes this book valuable: feast your fondue spear on such as: Sun Dried Tomato Pizza Fondue; Caribbean Edam and Habanero Chile Fondue; Rosemary Ragna Cauda with Vegetables; White Chocolate and Raspberry Swirl Fondue; and Double-Berry and Riesling Fondue.

Each is helped by a "What To Dip" box with many times dozen and more items suggested.

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