Vineyard Shadows: A Martha's Vineyard Mystery

Book Description

J.W. Jackson abandoned Boston for the tranquil pleasures of Martha's Vineyard, hoping to leave the violence of the big city behind. But when the past comes looking for him in the guise of two brutal thugs, the former cop knows it is time to put down his fishing pole and start opening doors he'd hoped were closed forever. And when the man the hoodlums were searching for -- a face from Jackson's yesterday -- turns up seeking help, J.W. realizes that personal revenge should be the least of his concerns. Because the shadows darkening the island are longer and deadlier than he ever imagined. And if he can't stem the dark tide lapping at the shores of his beloved Vineyard, the new life he loves and everyone in it will be changed forever.

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Returning home from a clamming expedition on a beautiful June day on the Vineyard, J. W. Jackson notices the blood on the grass and the ambulance in the driveway. His first thought: something has happened to his wife Zee and young daughter Diana. He's right, but not in quite the way he imagines. Diana is unharmed, but Zee bears the bruises of a struggle that led to the fatal shooting of an intruder. The dead man and his wounded accomplice weren't common burglars. They were muscle-men, tracking down a man named Tom Rimini, the troubled husband of J. W.'s first wife Carla. Torn between his desire to help Zee through her emotional trauma and the tug of poignant memories of Carla, J. W. must broker a delicate truce with some of the most dangerous men ever to cast a shadow on his beloved Vineyard. Revealing complexities we've not yet seen in J.W. or Zee, Craig probes their most cherished ideal, while delighting us again with enchanting summertime entertainment.

Customer Reviews:

JW is out of his usual character.......2007-08-25

The story is intriguing (why is JW's ex-wife's husband hiding on the Vineyard?) but fails to deliver a big finish. What really disappointed me was JW's character flaws, as exhibited toward his ex-wife and some of the harsh words he had with his kids. Zee performs admirably, becoming an early heroine in the story, yet torn in her soul over what she had to do. Much of the mystery regarding Tom Rimini, Sonny Whelen, Graham, and Grace was somewhat fun to think about during the unfolding of the story, but the ending was a wimper, rather than the bang I was wanting.

Southeast winds.......2007-07-07

J.W. Jackson used to be a Boston cop. As the book opens pale June people are on the island. School is out. Vacationers have arrived. Zee, J.W.'s wife, is a natural marksman. She is going out to practice when two men appear. In self defense and in defense of her daughter Diana she shoots them. The newspapers have a heyday with stories describing a housewife shooting mobster intruders. It seems the men are enforcers from Charlestown.

Clearly this opening is dramatic. Reader interest in the outcome has been stoked. The issue presentedd is how far is the reach of the bad guys. (In our community two or three police officers are school board members and another moonlights as a substitute teacher. They are community activists of a sort. They seek to insure harmony. One senses that J.W. Jackson is cut from the same cloth.)

The men from Charlestown are looking for J.W.'s first wife's husband. In the scheme of things there is no reason for the intrusion-- there never is. New England mobsters and the rackets are part of the story. The Boston mob seems to be, in this reader's mind, the preserve of Robert B. Parker, but there is room for other aspirants.

I like this writer for presenting the seaside and small town as a setting for the series. Also, spending time with with J.W. and Zee and their children is a pleasure. Craig really does a great job with his portrayal of J.W.'s two small children. Casting J.W. as a house-husband and the narrator inserts the children into the foreground. Additionally, I learned in this book that the expressions Down East (to Maine) and Up to Boston derive from sailing terminology, the prevailing southeast winds.

Shoot-out on Martha's Vineyard.......2006-06-18

The 12th installment in the Martha's Vineyard Mystery series starts out with a bang. The tranquility of Martha's Vineyard becomes broken for ex-cop J.W. Jackson and his family. Leaving his wife, Zee, and young daughter, Diana, at home while he takes his son, Joshua, with him to go clamming, J.W. is looking forward to a peaceful June day. While he is gone, two hired thugs show up at his house, intent to find a man that Zee has never heard off. After giving her a beating and holding Diana at knifepoint, Zee still maintains that she has no idea who the man is. Zee is able to get to her gun, and being a great shot, she is able to stop the assault on herself and her young daughter. When J.W. returns home to find his battered wife, he instantly is determined to put an end to the violence to his family and on his island home.

It is discovered that the man wanted by the men from Boston is the husband of J.W.'s ex-wife, Carla. He was a schoolteacher in Boston, and J.W. cannot fathom why two men would come looking for him at their home on Martha's Vineyard. He goes to see his ex-wife, and quickly learns that the schoolteacher was involved in more than academics.

I have enjoyed all of the books in this series, and was not disappointed by this latest offering. Every time I read one of these books, I feel like I have been transported to beachfront property. The characters are strong, and I enjoy the interactions between J.W. and Zee. The children are a bit too well-behaved (I wish all kids were so well-mannered), but I do not feel that it diminishes the writing in any way. This book is a great beach or vacation read.

The first book in the series is called "A Beautiful Place to Die". Enjoy!

Vineyard Shadows.......2005-02-25

I read "Vineyard Shadows" by Philip R. Craig because one of my favorite mystery writers, William G. Tapply, had written a Brady Coyne/J. W. Jackson novel with Craig, and I wanted to get to know J. W. before I read their joint effort, "First Light". J. W., his wife Zee and their 2 children, Joshua and Diana live on Martha's Vineyard. The book opens as 2 thugs come to J. W. and Zee's house looking for Tom Rimini. When Zee tellsl them she knows of no Tom Rimini, the thugs attack her, and she shoots them, killing one and wounding the other. When J. W. returns from a clamming trip, he learns that the thugs were looking for Tom Rimini. J. W. knows that Rimini is the husband of J. W.'s ex-wife, Carla. It seems that Rimini owes gambling debts to Sonny Whelan, a Boston mob boss. When Rimini does come to J. W.'s house, J. W. agrees to hide him out at a neighbor's house more to help Carla than Rimini, whom he dislikes. There was little mystery and the plot was a bit thin for my taste. I liked the characters, but certain things about this novel annoyed me. The children who are small act like they are 10 years older than they really are, and are more polite than most children. This novel was average, and certainly not up to par with the Brady Coyne novels by William G. Tapply. At least when I read "First Light", I will know about J. W. and his family.

Annoyingly stupid parenting in .......2005-01-10

This installment of the J. W. Jackson and family adventure continues the slow degradation of this series and provides another disappointing read. The plot is weak, the action limited, and the toddler age children talk like adults. The whole combination makes for a disjointed novel that is not at all close to an average read.

Years ago (and many novels ago) J. W. was a cop on the mean streets of Boston. He was shot in the stomach and the bullet nestled itself against his spine a hairs breath away from permanent paralysis. During the gun battle, he managed to shoot and kill the female thief that had shot him. The resulting trauma of the shooting, caused him to take his pension and disability benefits and move to the tranquility of Martha's Vineyard. There he was able to find peace and solitude as a year around resident. He eventually met and married Zee, a nurse at the local hospital. By the time this novel opens, they have two toddler age children, Joshua and Diana who do not act or talk like real children in any sense of reality.

As this novel opens, J. W. and Joshua went off clamming while Zee got ready to take the younger child, Diana, to the local gun club so that Zee could practice her shooting. As a healer, she is conflicted about the competitive target shooting, but has slowly discovered that she likes it and is quite good at it. Those skills come in quite handy when strangers appear at the house. After asking repeatedly for someone Zee does not know, violence erupts. To save her child's life as well as her own, Zee kills one assailant and seriously wounds the other.

J. W. comes home to find his injured wife and daughter being loaded into an ambulance in a front yard full of police and chaos. There is a good reason why Zee never recognized the name of the man the men were looking for but J. W. knows of him. Tom Rimini is the schoolteacher J. W.'s wife left him for after he was gunned down. She could not handle the life of a policeman's wife and wanted someone safer and more stable. They clicked and after the shooting, Carla made sure J. W. was physically okay and then announced she wanted out.

The only person that could have sent Tom to J. W. would be Carla. Soon, Rimini contacts him and spins a story about gambling debts, the mob, and a cop seeking a conviction against a powerful mob figure. It has been fifteen years since J. W. last saw Carla, but he still has strong feelings for her and he agrees to do what he can to help Tom. Of course, Zee is less than thrilled with this arrangement and it strains their relationship a little more, but she has learned that J. W. will do what he feels right.

Unfortunately, this novel sounds better on paper than it actually is. This latest effort continues the weaker plots, less action, and unrealistic kids of the last several novels. Joshua and Diana are portrayed as miniature adults in action and dialogue and for any parent; it simply does not ring true. Kids just don't act this way and with the kids being a large focus of the last several novels, the books are weakened considerably. As in the last several, J.W. takes his kids to crime scenes and other places that no rational parent would. My suggestion would be to skip this one and start with the beginning ones and work your way forward. You will know when to stop.

(...)

Average customer rating:

The Shadow Box
An Interesting Above Average Thriller
Not sure it deserves a good recommendation
Not His Best, But Still Better Than Average
Maxim's best

The Shadow Box
John R. Maxim
Manufacturer: Avon Books (T)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0380973006

Amazon.com

Manhattan investment banker Mike Fallon is having a bad time in the big city: First his Uncle Jake is beaten to death, next his lover is killed during a holdup, and finally Fallon himself gets fired and is almost pushed in front of a subway train by muggers. Things in Martha's Vineyard, where he flees, aren't much better -- because those events weren't random occurences at all but rather ghosts from Fallon's tangled past catching up with him. Maxim makes a smooth segue from his own past as a writer of spy stories like "Bannerman's Law" in a book that will keep you gripped and guessing.

Book Description

Michael Fallon has it all: devoted friends and family, a beautiful fiancee, and a great career. But a series of inexplicable and violent events begin to rob him of everything he loves. First the man who raised him is brutally murdered. A few days later, Michael's fiancee is gunned down during a convenience store hold-up. Finally he is fired from his job with no explanation. And now it seems strangers are trying to kill him.

Fleeing to the island of Martha's Vineyard, Michael hopes for a new beginning--and possibly even a new love with the enigmatic Megan Cole. But little does he know that his entire life has been built on lies--and a vast conspiracy of corruption. And his pursuers are about to strike again. . .

Customer Reviews:

The Shadow Box.......2004-11-19

The Shadow box is the one of the best books I read. It's trilling, and it will keep you on your feet to the very end of the book. It's about a man who is losing everything and everyone he knows to what he thinks is a cruel city. He is getting tired of running, and he's making a stand. In this thriller there is many little twist and turns in it. So, if you're into a good twisting and turning in a book you should read the shadow box.

An Interesting Above Average Thriller.......2002-05-06

Maxim writes well and I enjoyed this book. Although this novel is a "thriller" by definition, the parts of Maxim's writing that I enjoy most are not the action parts of a book. It is the character deveopment, the location descriptions, and the love story that I really like. The author does an excellent job with those things in this novel. Just the right length too; not stretched out nor too thin. You will enjoy Maxim's other books if you like this one. I did and do.

Not sure it deserves a good recommendation.......2001-05-14

Amazon's book recommendations suggested I read this and I am not so sure I can replicate the logic that those who shared my previous preferences liked this book. Okay, that sounded very convoluted, but that may describe some of my frustrations with Maxim's story. I was curious about the venue of Martha's Vineyard and toward the end I did find myself anxiously turning pages. Maybe that was to bring it to a merciful ending. Still I have reservations about a very positive review. For example, I did suggest it to someone in the pharmaceutical industry, but with some trepidation. It seems to be an action/adventure, but the action was stilted and I think the adventure would have been just as forced if the hero had spoken dialogue as apposed to... Well I don't want to give that away in case you do choose to read this book. The bottom line is that I am always looking for additional authors whose books I will enjoy, but I don't think Mr Maxim is one.

Not His Best, But Still Better Than Average.......2000-07-24

As someone who has read and enjoyed "Mosaic" and "Time Out of Mind", I delved into "Shadow Box" with great anticipation. Alas for my expectations! Maxim seems to have been having a difficult time writing this novel. Most jarring of all are the "jumping tenses," by which I mean literally within the same sentence the verbs will change from present to past to future tense. Maybe this is some literary tool that's supposed to make the tale more suspenseful; I found it annoying. Also, some of the plot devices has the hero seemingly unusually thick-headed (I'm thinking, 'for Pete's sake, man, it's called a contact lense!') just so his heroine can be brilliant and explain the whole thing to him later.

That being said, the relationships between the characters are extremely convincing and well-developed, the motivations behind the bad guys' actions are mysterious and revealed masterfully, and I also especially enjoyed the character of Moon (he should have his own book!). Maxim's worst is still better than the majority of books written in his chosen genre.

Maxim's best.......2000-06-28

Super development of admirable characters (who you wish you knew)with brilliant story development, thrills, surprises and emotional grip. I've read all of JRM's fiction -- even some that are difficult to find in print -- and this is my favorite.

Vineyard Shadows: A Martha's Vineyard Mystery

Average customer rating:

Vineyard Shadows: A Martha's Vineyard Mystery
Philip R. Craig
Manufacturer: Avon Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000TRIK0G

Book Description

Since the day her father's fishing boat returned without him, Peri and her mother have mourned his loss. Her mother sinks into a deep depression and spends her days gazing out at the sea. Unable to control her anger and sadness any longer, Peri uses the small magic she knows to hex the sea. And suddenly into her drab life come the King's sons-changelings with strange ties to the underwater kingdom-a young magician, and, finally, love.

Customer Reviews:

Simply Incredible.......2006-12-31

I just adored McKillip's novel. A wonderful story, combined with excellently developed characters, and descriptive wirting that takes you soaring through her world, make this novel one of the most memorable you will ever read. For lack of a more fortified adjective, it was amazing. I've read McKillip before and been a bit disappointed, to be honest; but this was just a lovely, lovely, lovely book, one to cherish forever.

Reading that goes beyond age limit.......2006-07-08

This is the first McKillip story I ever read, the book that got me hooked to this author's writing. Patricia is an inspiration to writers, and a continual source of entertainment for readers. I know the listing says juvenile, for readers ages 6-12, but that is just wrong. I enjoyed this story at age 23 and I'd enjoy it just as much now at 44.

Everyone should read this book, no matter what your age is!

My favorite book of all time........2006-02-28

I am so glad they reprinted this book. For years it was out of print and incredibly hard to find.

I found this book when I was in 5th grade, and read my copy till it fell apart. If I had a spare day, I would just sit down and read it, wrapping myself in its words like a warm blanket. I still read it once a year.

This book really saved me as a kid. It taught me that even though I was young, and poor, and hurting, I had the world at my feet. It gave me the courage to stand up and take on the world.

Delightful.......2006-02-21

This is a delightful story of love, magic, and healing. It's not the typical fantasy story of good versus evil. It's simply a story of a girl struggling with the world around her until she can find a place in it for herself.

WONDERFUL!!!!!.......2006-01-02

oh my...i loved this book!! i read it in one day. i couldn't put it down. It is definately one of McKillip's best, in my opinion. I also enjoyed reading her other books The Forgotten Beats of Eld, and Ombria in Shadow. But of those three this is most definately my favorite. The romance and mystery of the magic in this book is what kept lighting my interest and imagination. She uses words in wonderful ways to spark your imagination and wraps you in the story with the flow and rhythm of the sentences. I loved this book and want to read it over and over again. Definately one of my all time favorites.

THE PSYCHIC ZONE: Book (1) One: Mindfire; Book (2) Two: Changelings; Book (3) Three: Alien Sea; Book (4) Four: Rewind; Book (5) Five: Alien Circus

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THE PSYCHIC ZONE: Book (1) One: Mindfire; Book (2) Two: Changelings; Book (3) Three: Alien Sea; Book (4) Four: Rewind; Book (5) Five: Alien Circus
Mathew Stone
Manufacturer: Hodder Headline
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Changeling Sea
Patricia A. McKillip
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OV8JXK

Average customer rating:

The Changeling Sea
Enjoyable for all ages
A Great Book

The Changeling Sea

Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Magic & Wizards | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 9992354488

Customer Reviews:

The Changeling Sea.......2003-01-07

When I began reading I wasn't expecting much. I didn't think much of science fiction books and was hoping for something more realistic. Yet once I started I couldn't put it down. I love all the elements Patricia McKillip weaved into the story. The way she described the sea and the island caused me to long to be there. Then once she made the sea come to life and the magic happen I couldn't put it down. I love how she wrote about Kir, and the feeling that made Peri seem so alive. I definitely recommend this book.

Enjoyable for all ages.......2000-08-05

While written with an audience of children in mind, this book has lifted itself out of the sometimes mediocre world of children's literature with the pure prose and gorgeous language that Patrica McKillip consistently and consciously employs throughout her stories. The plot, while not amazing, still manages to be imaginative and lively and keeps the reader engaged throughout. But indeed, if you are looking for a lovely book filled with imagery and word pictures, then you have found it in The Changeling Sea, and you won't be sorry that you spent your hour and a half reading this delightful story.

A Great Book.......2000-07-13

When Periwinkle's father went out fishing and never returned, Peri began to hate the sea. Desperate, she hexed it, hoping it would never take over the land. After she throws the woven hexes into the ocean, a red dragon with transparent streamers rises up. Bound to it, is a chain of gold. The townspeople look at it with greed in their eyes. They hire a magician to get the chain off and make them rich. After he makes the chain disappear, the gold changes to flowers. "Oops" says Lyo the magician. Meanwhile, Kir, the son of the king, is trying to get into the sea because that is where he belongs. Now that he is unchained, the dragon comes out of the water every night and becomes human. Peri is one of the few that knows the whole story, and must try to help the King, Kir, and the sea dragon. I found this book to be great, and I couldn't put it down. I would reccomend this to anybody, even if they don't like fantasy. I don't like it, but this book appealed to me just the same.

Average customer rating:

The Changeling Sea
Patricia A. McKillip
Manufacturer: Puffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OJI6IK

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The Changeling Sea
Patricia A. McKillip
Manufacturer: Atheneum
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000P19N70

Average customer rating:

Wonderful Book!

very interesting and educational

THE book for vegetarians to argue their case

A must read for anyone thinking about vegan/vegetarianism

An interesting perspective

MAD COWBOY: Plain Truth from the Cattle Rancher Who Won't Eat Meat
Howard F. Lyman , and Glen Merzer
Manufacturer: Scribner
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Diets | Diets & Weight Loss | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Nutrition | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Healthy Living | Personal Health | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
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Tanita BC533 Glass Innerscan Body Composition Monitor

Clif Bar Nutrition Bars, Crunchy Peanut Butter, 2.4-Ounce Bars (Pack of 12)

ASIN: 0684854465

Book Description

Howard Lyman's testimony on The Oprah Winfrey Show revealed the deadly impact of the livestock industry on our well-being. It not only led to Oprah's declaration that she'd never eat a burger again, it sent shock waves through a concerned and vulnerable public.

A fourth-generation Montana rancher, Lyman investigated the use of chemicals in agriculture after developing a spinal tumor that nearly paralyzed him. Now a vegetarian, he blasts through the propaganda of beef and dairy interests -- and the government agencies that protect them -- to expose an animal-based diet as the primary cause of cancer, heart disease, and obesity in this country. He warns that the livestock industry is repeating the mistakes that led to Mad Cow disease in England while simultaneously causing serious damage to the environment.

Persuasive, straightforward, and full of the down-home good humor and optimism of a son of the soil, Mad Cowboy is both an inspirational story of personal transformation and a convincing call to action for a plant-based diet -- for the good of the planet and the health of us all.

Download Description

When former cattle rancher Howard Lyman appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 1996 to share his insider view of the danger of Mad Cow Disease spreading to this country, his revelations about the beef industry prompted a group of Texas cattlemen to file a lawsuit charging Lyman and the talk show host with "food disparagement". That wasn't enough to silence Howard Lyman, and in this stirring account of his journey from meat-loving cowboy to vegetarian environmental activist, he tells the whole truth about the catastrophic consequences of an animal-based diet. Lyman is well aware of what goes into our livestock-- high doses of pesticides, growth hormone, and the ground-up remains of other animals. A fourth-generation Montana farmer, he regularly doused his cattle and soil with chemicals. It was only when he narrowly escaped paralysis from a spinal tumor that Lyman began to question his vocation and the effect it was having on people and on the land he loved. The questions he raised and the answers he found led him, surprisingly, to adopt a vegetarian diet. As a result, he lost 130 pounds and lowered his cholesterol by more than 150 points. He is now one of America's leading spokesmen for vegetarianism. Along the way, Lyman learned even more about the alarming dangers associated with eating meat. Here he blasts through the propaganda of the beef and dairy industries (and the government agencies that often protect them) and exposes an animal-based diet as the primary cause of cancer, heart disease, and obesity in this country. In a powerful and original voice, he warns that our livestock industry has repeated the mistakes that led to Mad Cow Disease in England while it simultaneously visits frightful, lasting damage on our environment. Persuasive, straightforward, and full of the down-home good humor and optimism of a son of the soil, "Mad Cowboy" is both an inspirational story of personal transformation and a convincing call to action for a plant-based diet.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful Book!.......2007-08-13

Don't read it unless you're ready to give up eating animals! It's an easy to read, informative look at the dark side of the meat eating US culture and the effects upon our bodies as well as the environment. I would highly recommend it for anyone who is already vegetarian or thinking about becoming one, or for anyone concerned about our environment.

very interesting and educational.......2007-06-28

While overly emotional and more than a little biased at times, I found this book a very interesting read. It makes you look differently at the environmental and sociological as well as medical impact of our society's increasing use of beef. I think this book has a lot of information that people should be told, but that doesn't make it into most mass-media

THE book for vegetarians to argue their case.......2007-06-19

Vegetarians I encounter are of two types. Cultural Veggies like me who grew up in vegetarian households. Then Veggies by choice, who deserve greater respect for following their convictions. Howard Lyman deserves the highest respect for his Ashoka (famous Indian Emperor who renounced Violence) like transformation to the vegetarian cause from being a cattle rancher.
Vegetarians often get queried about their reason behind being one. As Howard points out, there are three ways to go about explaining it. Moral reason, Self/Health Reason and lastly Ecological/Environmental reason. Howard realising that moral reasoning is the most vulnerable one, not easily defendable, ignores it and goes about brilliantly presenting how meat eating habits in America has led to deterioration in health and devastation of the environment, backing up with first-hand experiences and scientific references.

Personally I feel it is not just the meat-eaters who may have to make hard choices. Meat-Eaters may argue that Rice cultivation is also a major cause of Methane (Global Warming) gas and creates strain on resources in terms of land/water. One can argue that the Chinese and Indian demand for Rice may create severe problems in future. But it is hard to deny the Author's assertion: meat-eating diet and hence cattle ranching's negative effects are multi-fold, in terms of health, spread of pandemics, environmental , depriving land of nutrients and are of much more severe and immediate concern to us.

A must read for anyone thinking about vegan/vegetarianism.......2007-04-28

This book belongs on every animal lover's shelf - a must read, that very easily could make the difference between a hesitant omnivore, and a full fledged veggie!

An interesting perspective.......2007-04-14

Who wouldn't be curious to read about a former cattle rancher turned vegan?

By the time I read this book, I had already done quite a bit of reading on ve getarianism and its impacts on health, animals and the environment. So while I was already familiar with much of the general content of the book, Mr. Lyman's story was a very interesting and fun read.

Mad Cowboy: Plain Truth From the Cattle Rancher Who Won't Eat Meat

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Mad Cowboy: Plain Truth From the Cattle Rancher Who Won't Eat Meat

Manufacturer: Touchstone/Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HKT7VQ

Average customer rating:

Wonderful Food and Lovely Book

Great food with just one little disconnect........

As Delightful as the City of Philadelphia

A True "Blast from the Past" Cookbook

perfect for entertaining!

City Tavern Cookbook: 200 Years of Classic Recipes from America's First Gourmet Restaurant
Walter Staib , and Beth D'Addono
Manufacturer: Running Press Book Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

History | Gastronomy | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | U.S. Regional | Regional & International | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Middle Atlantic | U.S. Regional | Regional & International | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0762405295

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful Food and Lovely Book.......2007-05-20

Having eaten at the City Tavern recently while visiting Philadelphia, My husband, daughter and I enjoyed the food immensely along with the great atmosphere. I purchased the book mainly for the recipe for the the Martha Washington Chocolate Mousse Cake. I was not disappointed. The recipes are all great and I can't wait to try out many of them.

Great food with just one little disconnect...............2006-01-10

I bought this book and read it cover to cover. Great history of the restaurant. I loved the fact that Chef Staiub has used dishes that are historically documented. I gave a dinner party for Twelfth Night this year and used recipes from City Tavern for all but the dessert. Everything tasted great but the portion sizes were more than a little off. Recipes that were stated to serve "6 to 8" would go for 12 easily. The Sweet and Sour Cabbage was delicious but if you follow the recipe and use 2 1/2 to 3 pounds of cabbage you can serve 20! The Pork Roast with Madeira Sauce was fantastic. I only made half; four pounds of boneless pork roast served 12. The portions at City Tavern must be gargantuan!! We had the Wassail and it was perfect. The Smoked Pheasant en Croute starter filling will fill THREE sheets of pre-prepared puff pastry, not just one as the recipe states. I'll continue to use the book but being mindful that I'll need to use my biggest pots and plan to feed a crowd.

As Delightful as the City of Philadelphia.......2005-10-15

First, I rarely cook. I can't tell you how the actual recipes work. However, I love to eat different types of food that aren't the same old meal.

I bought City Tavern Cookbook for my husband and now I get to enjoy delightful Warm Potato Salad, Salmon Corn Cakes, and Poached Pears with Chocolate Sauce.

City Tavern Cookbook is the only cook book I've ever read. The history will inspire you to visit Philadelphia.

A True "Blast from the Past" Cookbook.......2003-12-29

This historic restaurant has enchanted many diners. Such was some friends who bought this cookbook as gift for me after such.

The recipes inside are American, enhanced by European and other world spices and ingredients which have since become central foodstuffs of our heritage.

Unique are many, such as: Chestnut Fritters; Pecan Crusted, Honey-Glazed Roasted Duckling; Pork Medallions with Oatmeal Stout; Tavern Lobster Pie; Orange Ricotta Coffe Cake; Thomas Jefferson's Sweet Potato Biscuits.

Fun of going back to good ole American standards from such a historic place in our nation's past. Neat feature is this history told in very front section of the cookbook.

perfect for entertaining!.......2001-10-27

I just bought this book and absolutely love it.
It has wonderful dishes that are easy to serve up for dinner guests. It also works for a great dinner conversation!
The perfect entertaining book to speak of and cook from.
I was able to meet Walter and rest assured, he is as delightful as his book!

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