Book Description
Change never comes easy so when the news breaks that the new administration oil might be drilling for oil soon in a wildlife preserve in southeastern Alaska, home to P.I. Kate Shugak, battle lines are quickly drawn across the community. But for Kate, who hasn't been able to get back into her daily life ever since her lover's violent death a few months ago, it's a welcome reprieve from doing nothing. Tensions run high when Kate's friend and chief park ranger, Dan O'Brien, is deemed "too green" for them by management and asked to take early retirement. Kate rallies the troops to fight for his job, but before she can really start throwing her weight around, a longtime resident is found brutally murdered. Alaska State Trooper Jim Chopin enlists Kate in the investigation, and it isn't long before she discovers that when it comes to the beauty and danger of living and dying in Alaska, nothing is as simple as it seems....
Customer Reviews:
Not for newbies to Kate Shugak.......2007-07-15
Don't read this book if it'd be your first Kate Shugak novel/mystery. Start at the beginning with A Cold Day for Murder and continue through the series, and then this one will be a better read. I've read the series in order from the beginning and really enjoyed this one, because I liked the increased time spent on the romantic story line.
Consistently awesome!.......2005-09-21
Shugak, the Park, and Alaska politics at the top of their form. Stabenow never disappoints.
Quick and Snappy.......2004-11-15
This eleventh entry in the wonderful Kate Shugak series is very quick, almost an interlude during which the author moves along the plot from the last book to the next book...and that's just fine with me!
At least half of the book is given over to Kate's state of mind, important to regulars like me who know the terrible loss she has sustained and the long healing process she is undergoing (I won't do a spoiler here and say more than that!). We also catch up on all our "Park rats," the regulars who populate each of the novels, and I found that catchup process completely enjoyable.
The second half of this short book is devoted to a shocking and heartbreaking murder of one of our favorites; Kate and Chopper Jim's efforts to solve the murder--and--to Kate's fear and wrath, her growing interest in Jim. I am very anxious to get to the next book to see what will happen!
Fun, fast, and quintessential Stabenow.
A Fine and Bitter snow.......2002-09-07
This is Kate at her very best - Stabenow has a way of grabbing you at the beginning and never letting go. Her characters are believable and keep to their boundaries. One of the reasons, stabenow's books appeal to both my husband and me is that she knows when to end a story. The plots are tight, gripping and when it's over - it's over - Unlike Tom Clancy or Patterson who would have good story lines if they ended their books 3/4 of the way through! This is action packed,holds your attention and serendipitously, you learn something about the real Alaska - stripped of the Romantic notion.
Good feel of Alaska bush.......2002-08-25
When bureaucrats try to force park ranger Dan O'Brian into early retirement, Kate Shugak springs into action, chatting up the locals with political influence to save Dan's job. It doesn't help, though, when Dan is found crouched over a recently murdered body. Kate is certain that Dan is innocent, but she isn't convinced that the crazy Viet Nam vet turned up as an alternate suspect was the killer either. Still, what possible motive could anyone have for killing an aging World War II WASP? Kate insists on looking--alongside too-sexy cop Jim Chopin.
Since the death of her lover, Kate has been trying to get her personal life under control. She isn't sure of much, but she is certain that she doesn't want to be the next notch on Jim's belt. Still, Jim seems anxious to allow Kate to tag along as he investigates increasingly unlikely suspects. Kate is sure they haven't found the killer--but she's also certain that everyone has secrets. And, as Jim points out, no secrets can survive a murder investigation.
Author Dana Stabenow writes convincingly of the Alaska wilds--where 'up the road' means a 70 mile haul and where the only way to stay in touch is by plane. When the close-knit community is shattered by murder, the residents want to pull together and are all to anxious to deny the possibility that the murder might be one of them. Kate's angst over her lost lover adds emotional depth to her character as does her long history with the victim.
A FINE AND BITTER SNOW is enjoyable reading, but has a few holes. I would have liked to see a little more motivation for Jim to invite Kate along on the investigation--surely sexual desire wouldn't be enough to allow him to drag her along in that way. Also, although fans of the series may know, readers of A FINE AND BITTER SNOW have no idea what Kate does for a living or how she manages to find so much free time to spend rescuing friends and investigating murder. I would have appreciated a bit more of her motivation--and some concept that her life extends beyond chosing boyfriends and chasing killers.
Product Description
Change never comes easy so when the news breaks that the new administration oil might be drilling for oil soon in a wildlife preserve in southeastern Alaska, home to P.I. Kate Shugak, battle lines are quickly drawn across the community. But for Kate, who hasn't been able to get back into her daily life ever since her lover's violent death a few months ago, it's a welcome reprieve from doing nothing. Tensions run high when Kate's friend and chief park ranger, Dan O'Brien, is deemed "too green" for them by management and asked to take early retirement. Kate rallies the troops to fight for his job, but before she can really start throwing her weight around, a longtime resident is found brutally murdered. Alaska State Trooper Jim Chopin enlists Kate in the investigation, and it isn't long before she discovers that when it comes to the beauty and danger of living and dying in Alaska, nothing is as simple as it seems...
Product Description
Unabridged 6 CD audiobook.
Product Description
Suspended between life and death for over six hundred years, Genevieve Dieudonné is beautiful, powerful, resourceful and courageous. In the crowded cities and dark forests of the Warhammer world, Genevieve and her companions battle the forces of evil and insanity. But the vampire blood running through her veins means she must constantly fight the urge to surrender to the evil within her. The Vampire Genevieve collects all the tales of Genevieve and her unusual allies in one thrilling volume.Genevieve joins a young prince on a quest to find Drachenfels, the Great Enchanter, and put an end to his reign of terroran adventure that both ends and begins at the Enchanter's fortress, where a playwright intends to stage a recreation of Drachenfels' death. But the castle hides secrets that may close the curtains on Genevieve and her friends forever. In Genevieve Undead, three linked novellas offer up the dark secrets of the Old World, as Genevieve's adventures take her from the daemon-haunted passages of an old theatre to the spell-ridden maze of an accursed mansion to a unicorn hunt in an enchanted forest.In Beasts in Velvet, a disgraced watchman comes out of retirement to hunt down The Beast, a serial killer who dispatches women on the streets of Altdorfand who seems to be two creatures in one body. Also included is Silver Nails, a collection of five tales, plus a new introduction by the author.
Customer Reviews:
Fantasy with "DaVinci Code" pacing...........2007-01-15
As good or beter than Newman's previous Warhammer novel, "Drachenfels". A nobleman, a psychic and a police detective must track down a "Jack the Ripper" style killer who is praying upon prostitutes in a fantasy city. The action is fast, the chapters short and the tension steadily mounts. There are plenty of red-herrings and plot twists which keep the reader guessing until the very end.
Very innovative. Bears more in common with thrillers like "Red Dragon" or "DaVinci Code" than "Lord of the Rings" or "The Wheel of Time". Also very humerous. The detective is named "Filthy Harold" and he's clearly modelled after Dirty Harry. Instead of a Magnum, Harold carries a "Magnin"--a large throwing knife made by "Magnin the Steelsmith".
One piece of advice. Read "Drachenfels" first. Although not a direct sequel, this book refers to the events of "Drachenfels" and gives away the ending of that book.
Gifted storyteller tries his hand at the gothic macabre........2003-07-04
To my opinion plots are overrated. Almost everyone in this genre is stealing from his predecessors. Even the great Tolkien borrowed from the Nordic myths and other sources (anyone who feels offended can ignore the last sentence). But no matter how chewed down or trivial the plot is an adequate author will make the difference. Jack Yeovil scores far above adequate.
The story is a gothic mystery / detective style, embedded into the fantasy world of Warhammer. There is a maniac woman-slaughtering beast (jack the ripper style). A noble protecting his brother, an uncorrupted green cop, a psychic and a tough ex-cop trying to bring him to justice. Around them there is a score of minor colorful characters to serve as the prime suspects. Even though we have seen this kind of detective story a thousand times or more (on books and on TV) and even though it is not too tough to figure out the killer, the story still manages to capture the imagination. Jack Yeovil knows how to draw vivid likable characters and how to keep up suspense and intensive rhythm. There was even a nice and an unexpected twist at the end as a bonus.
For anyone who is fan of Warhammer this is an excellent buy to your collection
Amazon.com
Beyond child development theory and experts, beyond the "shoulds" and the "don'ts" that guilt-ridden parents constantly hear echoing in their ears, there's Vicki Iovine, America's favorite "girlfriend" and mother-in-the-trenches. In The Girlfriends' Guide to Toddlers, Iovine's third addition to her parenting panoply (The Girlfriends' Guide to Pregnancy and The Girlfriends' Guide to Surviving the First Year of Motherhood) Iovine focuses, for the first time, more on the child than on the mother. (Toddlers always get all the attention, don't they?) Iovine is wise, and not just because she's read all the current parenting literature (she has) or heard it from her famous mythical "girlfriends." Iovine knows what she's talking about because she has four young children and she's been through it all. In her ongoing vision of parenting, humor and a network of friends play an important role, bribery has its place, discipline is sensible and loving, and advice is grounded in the practical rather than the theoretical. From "Eating (or Not)" to "Discipline" to "The Comfort Zone" (Binkies, Bankies, Loveys and Thumbs) to Potty Training ("What's the Big Rush?") to "Sleepy Time" to "Fashion" (yes, it's an issue for toddlers), Iovine continues her mission to inform the contemporary parent, to tell the truth, to boldly go where many child development experts have gone before, and to keep her readers laughing while she does it. --Ericka Lutz
Book Description
With a combined total of over 300,000 Girlfriends' Guides in print, Vicki Iovine offers the kind of tongue-in-cheek humor and straight-from-the-hip advice that has made her one of today's most popular authorities on child rearing. Now she takes the next step in the Girlfriends series by helping mothers deal with that mysterious, baffling, often adorable and frequently alarming being their baby has become--a toddler.
Customer Reviews:
Vicki does it again!.......2007-02-14
Another great installment for those of us who don't yet know what to expect out of motherhood... Funny, heart-warming, and truthful... A must-buy for any mom of a toddler!
Laughed out loud.......2007-02-12
Yet another great book by Vicki Iovine. Right on point, easy to read, and very easy to relate to.
Not a whole lot of usable info in this book........2007-01-30
I do agree that the book is funny and it is nice to know that someone else actually made it through the toddler years with a smile on their face, but at the end of the day there is very little information that you can really use. The advice on sleeping was non-existent and right now I am reading about discipline, and again no real actual techniques or ideas on how to handle these situations. And any advice that is given is very "low class". For example, under the 10 things to do when your toddler is driving you nuts include things like "Turn on the TV" and #1 on the list is outrageous...says something about "Go Away" and beg someone to come and watch them. I realize that she is trying to be funny but some of us actually buy parenting books to find usable advice. I agree with the other reviews that say to go for the books based on research and facts rather than a memoir of ONE mother reliving her baby days. I bought it because it seemed worth it...not so much once I read it. I am happier with the advice I got from the Supernanny book that includes step by step advice for many different techniques.
Fun to read.......2007-01-04
All her books are great and I enjoy laughing everytime I read them
Would not have survived without this!.......2007-01-03
I have had two toddlers, and will be back in what Iovine calls the "toddler trenches" within a year or so after this next one turns 1, and I fully expect to read and love this book again and again, especially during the potty training crises that inevitably arise.
I am a bit more into the whole co-sleeping/nursing thing than she is, but I see no reason to discount the overall message and advice just because we differ on a few technicalities. She captures the essence of parenting toddlers in this book, and with each run-through I have gotten something new and helpful out of it. I love her sense of humor, and as anyone who has been down this particular parenting road should know, sometimes that is the only thing that keeps you afloat.
I routinely give this as a gift to mom friends on their child's first birthday (along with, of course, a nice gift for the child) and will continue to do so as long as I can find copies. Mine is falling apart, the front cover is taped on and both my kids have scribbled on some of the pages, but that just shows it's a well-loved, well-used book, as it deserves to be.
Amazon.com
Just had a baby? Lie down, rest your weary womb, and muster up a rousing cheer! (Shh! Don't wake the baby!) Now, from the author of The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy, comes the book all new moms have been waiting for, whether they know it or not. Vicki Iovine talks turkey ... and stitches, and weight loss, and depression, and sex (trying it for the first time after labor and delivery? "Inebriate and Lubricate"). Vicki--yeah, I know I'm calling her by her first name but after reading this book you'll be on a first-name basis with her, too--is funny, informative, and utterly (udderly?) irreverent. New mothers have never had it so good.
Customer Reviews:
Love her.......2007-08-27
These books are hilarious. They give you a funny, honest look at childbirth, the first year, pregnancy, etc. She is great!
Not as funny as the Pregnancy Guide.......2007-08-19
I'm a first time mom and I read this book when my son was 3 1/2 months old. I enjoyed it quite a bit. Yes, it probably would have scared me before the baby was born, but I feel that this was her honest assessment of the first year of life. This book was NOT as good as the Pregnancy Guide, which I loved, but it provided me with some good laughs as I compared my experience with hers (and noted many similarities!)
An honest perspective.......2007-08-18
First of all, I have to explain that I am the mom of two children ages 8 and 5. I started reading this book because I was considering it for a girlfriend of mine who is expecting her first child any day now. I really enjoyed reading "The Girlfriend's Guide to Toddlers" a few years ago when my 8 year old was in that stage so I was interested in reading this book with the intention of buying it for my girlfriend.
I decided to go Amazon to see what the price was for the book online, and was quite surprised to read so many scathing reviews. What surprised me most was how meanspirited and angry some of the reviews were, as if they were personally affronted by the author, Vicky Iovine's, viewpoint. That, I don't quite get. Why get so personal about it. It is just a book, and she is not your "girlfriend", but an author sharing her perspecives on motherhood. But some of the comments of reviewers I did consider to have quite a bit of merit. And after thinking about the reviews for an hour or so, I concluded something and decided to write my own review.
Here is what I have concluded and what jives with what some of the other reviewers have said. I think this book is humorous and biting at times and totally realistic and the realistic part may be why some newer moms do not like the book. I think it hits too close to home, is too much truth for some new moms to take, and perhaps is not a book that most moms of brand new babies, especially first time moms, can relate to.
As much as I loved my new baby, as a first time mom, I did have many trying moments. And I also totally lacked perspecive. I think that is what this book really offers - perspective. The author has it because she has had 4 children that are out of the baby stage and onto their childhood years. She can offer an honest perspective because of this and because she has come to terms with what her life has become since motherhood.
My conclusion is that this is a book that many moms of 2 or more children, and especially those with older children, would enjoy or get a chuckle out of because I can honestly say, looking back on the first year with my first child, what Iovine says really does ring true in many respects. Now, would I have wanted to have heard all that at 2 months post-partum? Maybe not. Perhaps like many, I was still in the phase of thinking I could be a perfect mom if I just tried harder, that I could someday have my old body back exactly as it was, that my husband would be superdad (which he has BECOME, over time). This book reminds me of those early days, and I believe truly does offer an honest perspective of how it is, if one really wants to hear it.
Did She Really Say That?.......2007-08-02
New motherhood comes with it many pressures. The pressure to take care of a newborn and yourself, for starters. There is also a societal pressure, it seems, as we strive to be the perfect mother. We feel everyone is questioning our every "mother-move." Vicki Iovine's book is a help in this regard. Written with honesty and humor, it gives new mothers a glimpse "behind closed doors" to the "real" world of new motherhood. Knowing that you are not alone is always a help! My favorite part is Iovine's honesty. It is refreshing to hear an opinion, agree or not.
Claudine Wolk "It Gets Easier I Promise and Other Lies We Tell New Mothers"
Pretty Funny.......2007-07-21
good read overall. must be read BEFORE baby is born. helps you to realize you are not crazy. would recommend to first time moms.
Book Description
Vicki Iovine and her passel of friends tell mothers-to-be when to skimp and when to splurge, and which hand-me-downs are safe and which are sorry. Readers will get advice on...
€ Where to get what you need
€ Crib and car seat dos and don'ts
€ Wardrobe musts and misses-for mother and child
€ Stocking the nursery and the rest of the house
€ What every new mom should have on hand for herself
€ Which brand names are the best
€ The Master Shopping List-don't leave home without it
Customer Reviews:
Quick and fun, while unbelievably helpful.......2007-10-06
I ordered this book in the midst of one of my "oh my god how am I ever going to be ready to take responsibility for another life form" freakouts. The idea here for me was to get something that would be constructive and distract me from the anxiety of impending motherhood (the rest of the time I'm fine I swear) long enough to get a registry started.
This book not only got me started on the right track, it helped me learn what items I wanted to research a little more before getting out there, and I actually built up some much needed "I'm going to be an awesome mom" confidence. When we went to the baby superstore (you know the one) it didn't seem as frightening, with all the choices for everything you never knew you wanted or needed. I was able to lead my hubby around the store with opinions I had formed myself as a result of the recommendations made in the book (they rarely make a specific recommendation, rather they tell you the options for you to weigh what is important to you).
The book is funny, quick to read, easy to skim back through as a reference, and here's the bonus: despite the name I actually got my hubby to read parts of it and he even said it was pretty good! From a guy who hates all things girly, that is a pretty strong recommendation.
A must read for 1st time moms-to-be.......2007-09-17
I found this book to be one of the most helpful and comprehensive lists of must-haves (and splurges, if you desire) for first-time parents.
Great for first time moms!.......2007-08-16
I read this book cover to cover and really enjoyed it. It has lots of helpful tips about what to buy and what to avoid.
Very good book for a new parent!.......2007-08-02
I am due in December and I wanted to get a headstart on researching baby products. I am a new parent, fresh out of college and married, and I was very apprehensive about what products to buy on a limited budget. This book is very helpful and categorized very well and loaded with major educational websites and emergency numbers every parent should have. Very thorough on how to baby-proof and prepare your home as well. If anything, take this book with you when you go to register!
Good if you have lots of money.......2007-01-10
I found that Baby Bargains was a much better guide... a lot more prducts to choose from.
Book Description
A mouth-watering guide to more than 350 cheeses from every region of France, this definitive reference captures a vast array of savory fromages. Designed for both amateur enthusiasts and serious gourmets, this easy-to-use book enables readers to appreciate the flavors and the process of cheesemaking. Organized alphabetically, each cheese, its seasonal availability, regional origin, and properties are described concisely and clearly. Accompanying the entries are invaluable photographs of the cheese in its various states, both outward bulk and sliced through, for easy identification. In addition, every listing offers wine recommendations by international connoisseurs Robert and Isabelle Vifian, and includes tips for storing, serving, and sampling. To meet the needs of vacationing Epicureans who wish to truly taste the flavors of France, a detailed region-by-region listing of cheese producers, shops, and markets is featured. Additional chapters focus on the origins and history of French cheese, and follow the cheesemaking cycle throughout the year. A special glossary of French terminology related to cheese and its production is included. From recognizing more than a dozen blue cheeses to enjoying fromage frais, this book is an ideal quick reference to selecting and identifying French cheeses at home, in your local cheese shop, or, better yet, while traveling in France.
Customer Reviews:
For reference more than "reading".......2004-06-05
Living in France, I am always making the acquaintance of cheeses I had never before known existed. I always scurry to find this book, and look up the tasty morcel I've just consumed. It's great for learning the basics about various cheeses -- and, as noted by other reviewers -- the photos are divine, but it's not the sort of book one takes into the bath to pore over for hours at a time. Put it on your shelf next to your dictionary and thesaurus; it's that useful!
A great reference.......2004-03-05
As mentioned in previous reviews, this book does a great job of referencing hundreds of cheeses from France, providing photographs, descriptions, and wine recommendations. In these areas, it does a fantastic job. I've learned a lot reading it and I can't wait to take it with me on my next trip to France.
I wish the book gave more guidance on the tastes of the different cheeses and how you might select them. For example, if I like Brie and wanted to try a different nice mellow soft cheese, what might be recommended? This book isn't organized to help answer questions like that.
Overall, an important book for anybody serious about cheese.
WOW.......2003-03-04
I collect field guides and what attracts me to some is the clever layout and design. This volume is in a class by itself and unlike some guides, the text was so informative that i could not put it dowm.
Should receive 6 stars out of 5.
Cheese whiz..........2001-07-28
When I was a child and the milk soured, my ever-frugal mother would set it aside in a bowl and allow it to continue it's transformation into something wild and strange. When the curds and the whey separated, she would pour the contents into a cheese cloth stretched across a strainer and then gather and lift the cloth and squeeze the exess fluid from the curds. We ate the cheese as is...a form of "cottage" cheese I suppose. I was reminded of this when I read FRENCH CHEESES from Eyewitness Handbooks which contains a short history of cheese-making in the front section of the book.
I like this book, and since I am not a cheese expert, I cannot say whether it will make one an expert or not, but it has enlightened me a bit as I continue to experiment with the various kinds of cheeses available in the gourmet section of the grocery stores and the delicatesson in our neighborhood.
I have eaten various cheeses in Paris and other parts of Europe, and thought them better than anything I can buy in the States though I have eaten "fancy" cheeses in some upscale restaurants. I realize the French and others use unpasturized or raw milk in many of their cheeses and the U.S. frowns on the use of untreated milk so perhaps this is a factor. CHEESES identifies cooked versus raw versions.
However, many of the cheeses in this book are not found in U.S. stores because a limited supply exists and/or the product is consumed or sold locally. Generally these are artisanal cheeses (made by hand). CHEESES includes a map showing the farm areas of France and each cheese entry pinpoints the geographic location of the product. You can match the map with the cheese of interest to you and perhaps search for it on your next excursion to the French countryside. In the meantime, the list of producers in the appendix may prove helpful.
Wonderful photographs!.......2000-08-16
I am a big fan of this book since the publication of the original Japanese version titled 'Encyclopedia des Fromages (this includes cheeses from other 15 countries)'. 'French Cheeses' did not only closely follow the original text but also have added wine recommendations, which are very useful.Photographs are beatufifully printed in this version, too. The only problem I have is the large names of 'foreword writer' and 'consultant' on the cover (and the authors' names do not appear on the front). As far as I have compared the two versions, I have not encountered any differences in the text between them. So, what the consultant contributed? Are these 'big names' added because the publisher thought Japanese-written French cheese book would not look attractive? I want to hear from the publisher on this. Anyway, this is a great book for cheese lovers.
Books:
- A Grave Talent
- A Place of Execution
- A Window in Copacabana: An Inspector Espinosa Mystery (Inspector Espinoza Mysteries)
- Airs Above the Ground
- An Unacceptable Death (Munch Mancini Novels)
- Armadillos & Old Lace
- Authorized Personnel Only (Alias)
- Black Betty : Featuring an Original Easy Rawlins Short Story "Gator Green"
- Blood at the Root (An Inspector Banks Mystery)
- Blue Valor
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Our Documents: 100 Milestone Documents from the National Archives
- Lessons I Learned in the Dark: Steps to Walking by Faith, Not by Sight
- Evolutionary Aesthetics
- Green Plants: Their Origin and Diversity
- History: Fiction or Science
- Management: A Competency-Based Approach
- Loving Evangeline
- Aluminium Architecture: Construction and details
- Great Georgian Houses of America, Vol. 1
- The Wrath of Dionysus: A Novel
General
| Mystery
| Mystery & Thrillers
| Subjects
| Books
The Singing of the Dead (Kate Shugak Novels)
A Grave Denied (Kate Shugak Novels)
Midnight Come Again (A Kate Shugak Novel)
A Taint in the Blood: A Kate Shugak Novel
A Cold-Blooded Business (Kate Shugak Mystery)
