...shake your 'tini?

I was pleased to receive this book recently as a gift and couldn't wait to peel back the front cover and begin seeing what it had in stock for me. The book was a perfect companion as I'd just gotten a set of 4 martini glasses and a shaker/strainer and was eager to put them to good use. But since my nose was too buried in this concise little text, I didn't have any need for the hardware yet. Since "Shaken Not Stirred" also offered conventional and more modern drink recipies - in an effective layout - I was perfectly willing to go back to it to look up a couple of drink recipes once I'd read up on my background info on the drink. I feel like I am now a true martini aficianado and much better informed!

The book was put together by the authors of a website by the same name, who launched their site on Halloween of '95. Soon, they had gotten many suggestions to put the book together - and it turned out to be an unqualified hit. There are many reasons to like this book, it's easy to read and the words flow, plus its something I'd want to read more than once. But perhaps my favorite part about this original idea for a book (it purports to be the first bar book expressly dedicated to the martini, and backs it up by research done by the publisher) is that it's not just a recipe book or just a list of bars. In other words, all you probably ever need to know in a tight little package. It was also neat finding out I'd already visited some of their best "martini lounges" in my city within the pages, but was eager to try the places I hadn't heard of. I'd recommend this volume to anyone interested in mixing their own drinks, or even wanting to learn a little bit more behind the whole martini or "Swingers" culture.

Now then, care for a cocktail? ;)

Oddly enough, I was looking for the novel '99 Martinis' when I came across this book and had to buy it too! I don't consider myself to be a big drinker, but the Martini is so cool and this book represents it in every aspect. It's just a really cool book to leave around the apartment so people can spy it when they drop by. I'm going to find one of those Martini lounges!

All I can say of this book is that it's become the bible at my summer house on Fire Island. I never knew the art and joy of martini drinking, and SHAKEN NOT STIRRED has provided me with an easy and fun introduction. I recommend to both martini and non-martini drinkers alike

Shannon Miller, America's Most Decorated Gymnast is a great easy to read biography. Krista Quiner did an excellent job telling about Shannon's days in the former Soviot Union when she was just nine. This book goes through her first day at Steve Nunno's gym, Barcelona in '92, the days everyone was saying she was past her prime in the sport, right up until the '96 Olympics. Shannon's courage to never give up because she was older than most of her competition won her two gold medals in Atlanta, the team gold and her gold for her balance beam routine. This absolutly the best book written about Shannon Miller

This was the best book that I ever read on Shannon (i have read many). It tells you just about everything you'd ever want to know about Shannon Miller. She is the best gymnast ever and this book is great for fans of all ages. I loved it!

Here's another awesome gymnastics bio from Krista Quiner! This was a terrific, nice and detailed book about Shannon Miller's life. From the minute she was born to the end of the '96 Olympic Games, this book is the ultimate one to learn about Shannon Miller. The book had plenty of great information, and you learn tons and tons of stuff about her. There were also tons of awesome pictures too! This is a must-read for all gymnastics fans.

EVENING OF PALE SUNSHINE, WRITTEN BY KEN MILLER, WILL CAPTURE YOUR INTEREST AT ONCE. THE PLOT ENCOURAGES A LARGE RANGE OF EMOTIONS IN THE READER. LOVE, DANGER, COMPASSION ARE CLEVERLY WOVEN THOUGHOUT THE STORY.YOU READ ABOUT THE HORRORS OF WAR AND ANGRY MEN WHO CONTINUE TO TORTURE OLD MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN.THE MAIN CHARACTER, AN AMERICAN OFFICER, FALLS DEEPLY IN LOVE WITH A BEAUTIFUL FRENCH-VIETNAMESE WOMAN. HE MUST FIGHT TO FIND HER AFTER SHE IS KIDNAPED. HE ASSEMBLES A MOTLEY GROUP CONSISTING OF A LEGLESS BEGGAR, A LITTLE ORPHAN GIRL AND
AN ENEMY SPY TO HELP HIM WITH THE RESCUE...KEN MILLER IS A POTENT WRITER. HE IS A TALENTED WORDSMITH AND DRAWS ON A LIFETIME OF TRAVEL AND EXPERIENCES. DON'T MISS THIS ONE. NOT A MAN'S BOOK, NOT A WOMEN'S BOOK, BUT A BOOK THAT EVERYONE WILL ENJOY. I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN. I LOVED AND LIVED THE ENTIRE STORY.

I highly recommend this book! Evening of Pale Sunshine is a compelling love story mixed with actual accounts of the Vietnam War, which reveals the true hardships endured by the people who lived through it. This novel truly leaves an indelible impression.

A fascinating story of love and adventure in a foreign land. Reminds me of the novel, Sand Pebbles, in its historical significance, character development and emotional intensity. I look forward to this author's next book.

There is no doubt that this man is a hero. I am sure he has many heroic deeds and tales that Uncle Sam will not let him tell. That was the nature of Special Forces duty. I have read many books that are better written, and I wish Miller would have chosen a different person to document his story, but I am sure he had his reasons. The stories themselves are fantastic. I had to read the book in one sitting, I could not put it down. Someday I would like to meet Miller face-to-face, buy him a beer and hear him tell the story first hand.

A book about a real warrior. CSM Miller's life story has been one of inspiration to me throughout my military career. His stories of heroism remain in my mind constantly. Although, sadly I was never able to meet him in person, his stories were always there to keep me motivated. I cannot count the number of times I have read his book. It was always a favorite wherever I went. It would be passed around the platoon on every deployment I went on. I was saddened to hear of his death, this country has truly lost a great hero.

This is an amazing book. It runs a little over two hundred pages, but is so engrossing that you'll probably blow through it in one sitting (like I did). The recounts of battle are vividly written and capture the terror and exhileration of combat better than any other book I've read. The non-combat stories, however, are just as engrossing and often laugh-out-loud funny. If you have any interest at all in war memoirs, buy this book now while you still can. This is one of the few books that demands more than one reading.

I very, very highly recommend this book.It is filled with wonderful recipes. The special tips offered by Stew Leonard are an excellent addition. I very much enjoyed seeing the photos of the store and how food is prepared . It was also very interesting to see how the store developed from its humble beginnings to one of the country's most amazing culinary shopping experience. This is a must buy for anyone interested in cooking, or a really fun look at Stew Leonards!

THIS BOOK ANSWERS MANY QUESTIONS THAT MOST COOKBOOKS DO NOT ADDRESS.THE FORMAT IS EASY TO FOLLOW. THE SIMPLICITY OF THE RECIPES FOR THE 2 PERSON WORKING FAMILIES ADDS TO ITS APPEAL.RECIPES TAKE A MINIMUM AMOUNT OF TIME. MANY CAN BE DONE AHEAD OF TIME,AND FINISHED AT MEAL TIME. ALL INGREDIENTS ARE EASILY AVAILABLE. IT'S A FUN AND INSPIRING LOW PRICED COOKBOOK.

This is an unusual cookbook. Filled with 300 recipes and great tips about cooking. Lots of pictures and a tour of the World famous food store, Stew Leonard's. Easy to read and a definate for your library.

This book deals with events from 1835 to 1845 and is principally concerned with John Quincy Adams' fight over the House rule which forbad the reception of petitions about slavery. This may seem like a narrow issue to be the subject of a 556 page book, but this book is flawlessly written, and has great humor--exposing the idiocy of the slavery upholders--and at times brought tears to my eyes. A dropback to the stirring events of 1775 and 1776, found on pages 155 to 157, is as good a writing as I have ever seen evoking the sheer drama of those days. This is a nigh flawless book for one as interested as I am in congressional history and the years before the Civil War.

Miller presents a detailed history of a remarkable period in U.S. Congressional history leading up to the Civil War. Miller describes the battle waged in the U.S. House of Representatives, led by John Quincy Adams, to preserve the right of citizens to petition their government, and his efforts to keep the issue of slavery before the House. I finally saw one of the important effects of the infamous 3/5's rule, which was to create a power imbalance in Congress in which slave holding states dominated the House due to the additional Congressional Reps. they gained by virtue of their large slave populations. It was this imbalance that hindered Congress from a full debate regarding the abolition of slavery. Extremely informative, very well researched and documented, and Miller weaves a witty commentary throughout that is most enjoyable. This is a book that should be read in every high school American History class. It is at times dry (big surprise as Miller details Congressional proceedings) but nonetheless fascinating. I have a new appreciation of the contribution of Adams to the battle against slavery.

Try discussing the relative role of slavery in the American Civil War, and the discussion will likely turn on its ear quickly, with little generated other than heated words. So often, it seems, we cannot discuss this subject except with anesthetic prose, or highly spirited points of view. Not so with William Lee Miller's Arguing About Slavery. The author, Thomas C. Sorensen Professor Political and Social Thought at the University of Virginia, has crafted a wonderfully expressed story of the battle over slavery in the 1830s and 1840s on the floor of Congress.

To those of us in the late twentieth century, the idea of petitioning to consider a prayer for action, the Constitutional sanctity of the act, and the relative abuse of the privilege by Congressmen both North and South seems the actions of an almost foreign government. The nearly maniacal desire of Congress to avoid any discussion of slavery in toto also seems incredible in light of government today. Using Congressional records to retell the story in the words of the participants, Miller weaves a fascinating tale as forces in the North try to ensure the rights of their petitioners, as well as deal with continued efforts to stop them dead in their tracks.

There are three major areas to the book: the opening of the slavery issues in Congress, with the presentation and fights by Southern radicals to keep any admittance of them from even appearing in Congress, the development and passage of the "gag rule," in which any attempt to place a petition in front of Congress regarding slavery was "gagged," and finally, the story of former President John Quincy Adams in these fights, and his efforts to support the rights of American constituents in these battles.

The story of Adams is the centerpiece of the book. In laying out the man who would not back down to both Southern and Northern Democratic interests, Miller brings back to life an American figure who is likely lost to many of our generation. Adams, already in his sixties as the slavery battles began, was an unlikely hero. Having served in nearly every capacity he could prior to agreeing to run for Congress after his presidential term, he brought a dogged determination to duty that is hardly recognizable in today's terms. Adams was not an abolitionist, but he was determined that the voices of his constituents, should they be of an abolition ideal, should be heard in the halls of Congress. To that end, he battled for a decade to make those voices heard.

Making use of Adams's massive personal diary, historical context, as well as the Congressional Globe coverage of the proceedings of Congress, Miller delivers the story of these battles in the words of those who were there. Thus, we can see the fanatical words of South Carolinian planter James Henry Hammond: "And I warn the abolitionists, ignorant, infatuated, barbarians that they are, that if chance shall throw any of them into our hands he may expect a felon's death," and Waddy Thompson, Jr.: "In my opinion nothing will satisfy the excited, the almost frenzied South, but an indignant rejection of these petitions [calling for the end of slavery in the District of Columbia]; such a rejection as will at the same time that it respects the right of petitioning, express the predetermination, the foregone conclusion of the House on the subject -- a rejection, sir, that will satisfy the South, and serve as an indignant rebuke to the fanatics of the North." And finally, we see and hear in our minds eye the torture of Adams as he struggles to balance his personal devotion to his country (he was a strong Unionist) with his obligations and duties to his office. Looking at war as a possibility between the two sides of the Union, he concludes in his diary: "It seems to me that its result [that of war] might be the extirpation of slavery from this whole continent; and, calamitous and desolating as this course of events in its progress must be, so glorious would be its final issue, that, as God shall judge me, I dare not say that it is not to be desired."

Much more than just a chronological narration of events, Miller weaves in background of the events and personalities in order to make his subject come alive. Arguing About Slavery is a book outside the mainstream of standard Civil War book fare, but a must if you have any desire to understand the people, events, and stories that led to the great conflict beginning in 1861.

If you are looking for a book that tries to analyze Patsy Cline from a woman's perspective, read Margaret Jones' biography. If you want dirt and hack writing, read Ellis Nassour. But if you want to know Patsy Cline, read this book. Patsy wrote it herself with a guiding hand from Mike and Cindy. Patsy tells us in her own words what kind of a woman she is and she shares her dreams and disappointments in a way no other writer can touch.

Mike and Cindy let Patsy tell the story, intruding long enough to clarify a point or identify an obscure reference.

When I first heard that this book was being published, I awaited patiently but eagerly. My patience was rewarded with a truly sensational personal account of the real Patsy Cline. The letters tell of an ordinary woman and an aspiring young country singer with the hopes and dreams of making it in the country music field and the closeness and personal relationship that occurred between Patsy and Treva Miller Steinbicker. The photos included depict a beautiful, vibrant young woman. Mike Freeman and Cindy Hazen has made it possible for me, in Patsy's own words, to have an up close and personal feel of the young woman with the tremendously powerful voice that I have admired for so long. This book is a definite must read for anyone who has and always will love Patsy Cline. Thanks Mike and Cindy, for a gift that will grace my library.

Thank you Mike and Cindy for sharing the personal letters of Patsy Cline with all of us. What better way to get to know someone, then to peek into their letters written to someone very special. Not only are the words that she writes very intimate and from the heart, but the paper they are witten on and the way they are written(phrasing and penmanship) give you insight into Patsy's feelings and personality. Since reading this great book, I have become an REAL Patsy Cline fan.

Its hard to believe this a debut novel. The detailed plot and clean writing style makes this political thriller an excellent read. More importantly, Mr. Miller takes the time to develop the characters and story to allow the reader to really get to into the action and intrigue. I'm already looking forward to his next novel.

What a read! Nice tempo and character development, carefully researched, and quite frankly hard to put down. On a number of levels, there is quite a lot here. Peppered throughout with thoughtful political insight, one would have to be unconscious not to recognize a number of past and present political figures (from both sides of the aisle), complete with their strengths, weaknesses, and not insignificant personal flaws. On that last note, and excepting the quite corrupt bad apples Miller examines in depth, the work is very thought provoking on what we expect from our elected officials. Suggestions abound that perhaps we don't demand enough in some areas, and at the same time have unreasonable expectations in other areas. I thoroughly enjoyed Miller's treatment of Dan Henry and his journey, his private demons, his renewal, and his . . . . . . well, you have to read it yourself! I anxiously await another effort from Miller.

An engrossing, fast-paced tale of politics, ambition, suspense, love lost and found, rebirth and redemption. The depth of plot and characters - including their symbolism to recent political figures - was such that I felt transported to the various venues that Mr. Miller described so succinctly. Dan Henry's determination was unyielding. This was a tough one to put down, taking me well into the late night. Hard to believe this was the first novel for Mr. Miller - great summer reading!

For many years I have been planning on getting around to reading the "Secret of the Ruby Ring" I always forgot to order it, or buy it. When I finally bought it over the holidays, I eagerly opened it and from the first word to the last I was not only thoroughly satisfied, but I also knew it was worth the wait. I felt disgusted at first with the young protagonist named Lucy, but as the book commenced, and Lucy began to understand her life and the history of her country a bit more fully, I was in awe of her. I would never think to do things she knew automatically, yet I would have done things she didn't think of as quickly before she did them. I found myself connected to the characters, who in the beginning I had loathed, and I myself had more of an appreciation for not only MY life, but for those who lived in a time in Ireland that history books in the U.S. shallowly mention. A good book for anyone who loves to learn about history without learning directly, loves novels, or just thinks it sounds magical and exciting. It lives up to every readers expectations and more!

I am a 9 year old girl (named Morgan) starting 4th grade. I liked this book because its about a girl going back in time and she meets a lot of friends, especially the children who live in the castle in Ireland. Its an exciting book and was hard to put down. After a few chapters, I wanted to read the whole thing. I also learned about life in the 1800s.

This is a wonderful story. It was a little slow to get into, but after the second chapter I found it hard to put down. (I also read Emma and the Magic Ring.)I highly recommend this book.

This is a very informative book. I especially like the section on rub-lines and how Greg clears up misconceptions about scrapes and rubs (and rub-lines). I think the chapter on rub-lines is the most important. There is alot to learn in the rest of the book. E.g. chapters on hunting small tracts of land and performing "small" drives. If you want more information on rub-lines, check out Greg Miller's "Rub-Line Secrets" -- that one is a 5 star book.

Greg's passion for whitetails and his knowledge and experience are quite moving in this hard to put down book. I have read many books on hunting the whitetail, and none come close to delivering the way this book does. I was particularly intrigued by Greg's strategies and ideas concerning rub-lines. I also liked the fact that Greg is not a professional hunter but a guy with a regular job and regular responsibilities. This made the book a better read, as I felt Greg could more easily relate specific strategies to meet my needs. He didn't dissapoint!

Aggressive Whitetail Hunting is a superior book on hunting trophy whitetails. Frankly, I'm tired of books were the authors spend 200 pages telling me how great they are by recounting their exploits on fully guided hunts in hunting preserves.

Greg Miller is a true outdoorsman who hunts on public land and small farms in Wisconsin. His helpful tips, especially on hunting rublines are sure to make you a better hunter. As someone who must hunt heavily pressured public land I figured I would have to use Aggressvie Whitetail strategies to be successful. I applied the lessons learned in this book and bagged a nice eight point buck on public land.

If your a begginer, or someone who wants to bag a bigger buck this is the book for you.