Bay Tables is a fabulous cookbook sure to impress any guest. My favorite recipe is the Sweet Red Pepper and Crab Bisque. It is just like something from a Gulf Coast restaurant! The cookbook has beautiful photography and wonderful recipes. Bay Tables makes an excellent gift for the holidays!

All the recipes I have tried in this new cookbook have been easy to prepare and delicious! The ideas for presentation are elegant. The photograpy in the book makes it an excellent gift item. Sidebars provide interesting tidbits on food preparation as well as gulf coast history!

This is a beautiful book full of fabulous recipes! I have tried many of the recipes and they have all turned out very well. This is an especially good resource for shrimp and all other types of seafood recipes as well as recipes for wild game. This book also includes many easy and elegant side dishes.

This is an excellent book. Finally an author speaks out against "Camelot." America's love affair with the Kennedys is sickening. The CIA has gotten a bum rep because of the Bay of Pigs and this book finally points the finger in the right direction

This is the story that should have been told long ago. However, as usual our country prefers to lie to its people and the world to save embarrassment. Grayston Lynch gives us the truth, from first hand experience. I have spoken to many of the men that were there on that doomed invasion. I have read numerous books on this subject from others that were there and some that were not. However, Mr. Lynch is the only one that I am aware of that was not only there, but was privy as to the decisions that were made in Washington, why they were made and by whom they were made. It's almost incomprehensible that the original plan designed by true warriors, that was as close to perfect as could be would be changed so dramatically by someone that had absolutely no clue as to what he (they) were doing. (Not incomprehensible to me since I too have had first hand experience with people like these.) It's actually down right scary! This is the one to read on this subject. Grayston Lynch is a true American. Thank you my friend, for risking your life for us, the Cubans and for risking your life for us the Americans. Most of all, thank you for telling the truth!!

An exceptional portray of actual events, which led to the betrayal of extraordinary, patriotic, and courageous men. Lynch's unmasking of "Kennedy's Camelot" reveals heart-wrenching facts, which continue to stir emotions among Brigade 2506 veterans. This book is clear, concise and above all...Factual! "Decision for Disaster" is a sanctuary for readers and historians seeking the truth about the Bay of Pigs Invasion.

Growing up in Montara just a few minutes north of Mavericks, no one I knew even talked about surfing there. The surfers from the coast surfed the Jetty, and the stronger surfers went to Montara. There were many places around that one could surf, but no one considered Mavericks a surf mecca. No one mentioned it's name.

Seeing is believing. If you have NEVER seen big wave surfing except in pictures you are missing out!...

Enjoy the book. It is a great piece of history about the location and surfing in general!

Look for DVD's and Videos of Mavericks at [their website], taken by locals Eric and Kurt at Powerline Productions.

This book captures the unique world of big wave surfing better than any I've ever read. It's really cool the way it goes back and forth between the relatively recent discovery of Maverick's and the general history of big wave surfing over the last 50 or so years. The research that must have gone into portraying the various characters that make up the strange world of big wave riding is really impressive. It's got some really great photos too, although not just the typical big wave wipe-out shots. It's good looking enough to sit on your coffee table, but unlike most coffee table books, its full of great writing.

The book "Maverick's The Big Story of Big-Wave Surfing" by Matt Warskaw is one of my favorite books. This book is about surfing and its mishaps and adventures. The title of the book is Maverick's, this relates to the book countless times because it is a gigantic storm of waves in California that come every year. There are many different stories, some that are good and some that are sad or not that interesting. This book talks about how surfing has changed over the years. Also how far it has come since 1914. It has some very fascinating stories from surfing a 25-foot wave to drowning and having your last ride. I would rate this book a 5 out of 5 because of how interesting it was. I would also recomend this book to all ages because it is such a good book.

Recently I was having dinner over a friend's house and the side dish being served was Brussels Sprouts. I never liked them as a child and the thought of eating them now, as an adult, was just as appealing as it was back then. Not to insult my host, I tried some. To my amazement, I LOVED them! I had to have the recipe (Caper Lemon Brussels Sprouts). The delicious side dish comes from the Junior League of Oakland - East Bay's cookbook, California Fresh Harvest, A Season Journey Through Northern California. The book contains recipes of Northern California's famous delicacies including Dungeness Crab, Cioppino, Butternut Squash Soup with Sage, Sizzling Shrimp, Goat Cheese Tart with Lavender Honey, Asparagus and Bell Pepper Risotto, and Mediterranean Penne Pasta to name a few. There are also many recipes for chicken, beef and lamb to give some variety to your usual dinners. The book even gives you menu ideas taken from recipes in the book for such special occasions such as Valentine's Day dinners and Mother's Day Brunch. The main body of the book is split into four main parts, Spring, Summer, Fall & Winter, containing menus, recipes and commodities in each section. The recipes are dishes you would find in the best restaurants but so easy to make even the most inexperienced of cooks, such as I, can make them. Moreover, the recipes do not contain those hard to find ingredients that you need to travel the world to find! I have not tried any of the desert recipes yet but they look awesome. I love the book so much I bought one for my mother and sister-in-law. This is one cookbook that does not just sit in my kitchen for looks

I originally received this cookbook as a gift. I was so delighted with it, I subsequently ordered four additional copies to give as gifts. The recipients are still thanking me! First, the recipes are creative and delicious -- fully enhancing the flavors of bountiful, diverse, fresh ingredients found in the San Francisco Bay Area and Wine Country. (It's hard NOT to eat well in this region!) Second, the cookbook itself is uncommonly successful in evoking this spectacular setting with gorgeous photos, sidebars of interesting sidetrips, local restaurants and wineries, and mind-boggling facts regarding the abundance of local agriculture. Food preparation tips, background information on local food and wine festivals/events, and delicacies such as Meyer Lemons are also highlighted. While it's fun to simply browse through this beautiful cookbook, it's even better to sample the Junior League's trade-mark "home cooking with flair." Full menus are offered here. My personal favorites are the Baja Guacamole, Savory Polenta w/Asiago Cheese, Garlic-Roasted Chicken, Pork Tenderloin w/Apricot Ginger Sauce, and Cherries & Berries Compote w/Crispy Puffed Pancake. The Chocolate Caramel Shortbread Bars are worth the price of admission all by themselves! I'm not surprised this cookbook is winning national rave reviews and awards. They are very well deserved! It is so beautifully rendered, it puts most commercially-produced cookbooks to shame.

This beautiful cookbook is organized by season, with four fresh produce items featured for each season. This allows even the most novice cook to find simple recipes using the freshest of ingredients. This book is a great place to start to add seasonal produce to your menues.

The recipes are not limited to those contributed by Junior League members, but also include recipes from notable California restaurants.

A bonus: this book is so attractive that it could practically be a coffee table book. The photographs and information about Northern California are exceptional.

It's a sweet story of a 'simple' stuffed rabbit amidst the more 'complex' modern toys in a boy's "toy collection". The rabbit starts to believe that in order to get the love of the boy, he needs to appear 'real', or be able to zoom about like the motorized toys...
(And I'm not going to tell you the end hahahahaha!!!)
It was great having that read to me, while I was hugging my stuffed animals in bed.
But -- in a way, at first glance it looks like a simple story, but it is actually a surprisingly complex story. Leave it on your child's bookshelf as he/she grows up and he/she will reread it again and again as he/she questions issues such as "who am I?", "what does it mean to be 'real'"?, "what is my role in this world?", and even "what is death"?

I make sure I use this book with each class I teach--3rd and4th graders. They always get it--that love makes us real, too. Theymake the connection between the Skin Horse becoming shabby and people getting old. I always bring in my stuffed velveteen rabbit I bought years ago and it starts making the rounds and popping up on different children's laps. It is a pleasure to see them become attached to the rabbit instead of "mechanical toys that were very superior, and looked down upon everyone else." They also relate to the lessons the Velveteen Rabbit learns from the Skin Horse about how becoming real is a painful process sometimes and can take a long time.

This book is a simple work of art. Its beauty in itself is virtually indescribable. When I was little, it was my favorite book. In fact, I've had it ever since I was born. It is about a boy who owns a stuffed rabbit, and longs for it to be real. Eventually, because he loved the rabbit so much, his wish was granted. The book is so well written that it brings tears to my eyes almost every time I read it. It is definitely one of my all-time favorites.

I received this book as a gift and it will always be very special to me. I know it will be a book I will read more than once. The story line is interesting and fun. The characters are lovable and wonderful each in their own way. It would be hard for me to choose a favorite, because there is something in each character I connected with, even Haddoxes. And as for Clover Bay - well, I can only say I would love to live there. I can't wait for the next book from Dr. Haley.

The entire family loved this book. It kept you captive from start to end. I didn't want to put it down (just had to know what was going to happen next). I'm only sorry it took me so long to place my review because I truelly enjoyed this book. I am anticipating the release of the next book.

Wow, what a wonderful and great book! I really did not want to read another new hopeful author but for a promise to a close associate I determined to give it a quick perusal. So out of obligation, I finally picked it up and could not put it down. After placing several inquiring to noted colleagues in New York and Hollywood, I learned that the author has several other books out there to be published and this one to become a movie soon. My sources say that he is the hottest new author in years. I look forward to the other books and the movie. Haley is certainly in a league of his own. I am now a fan for life.

I am really finding myself enjoying many of the new entries into the extended Little House family, this book included. However, I did not like it quite as much as others in the series (and of course not as much as the originals, but that goes without saying!). I don't think this is the writing, but perhaps just the setting, more urban than any of the others, so not as full of descriptions of self-reliant country life. This book is well written, and I do look forward to following Charlotte's life and seeing how it fits into the big story of the Little House family! I especially enjoyed the description of school life in the early 19th century Boston area.

I really enjoyed the book, but it's the shortest "Little House" book ever written. The story ends abruptly when a family friend leaves to join the war; I would have liked to see the story continue on, like maybe what happened to the friend, whether he was killed in battle or came back to marry his sweetheart, etc. I'm assuming there just wasn't enough information available.

Like all the others of the Little House books, it was wonderful. You can't compare it to Laura's writing, but it is pretty close. Melissa writes wonderfully and puts some thoughts in your heads. I really loved the book as much as the others. Keep on reading.

As I read this book, the thing that kept running through my mind was how much research the author had to do. That is the difference between this book and other biographies, especially when you think that the two best sources of information - Vince and wife Marie - have long since passed away. I commend him for his efforts as not just a writer, but as a researcher. I will say this though, there are volumes and volumes of information about the Packers and Lombardi, making the writer's job not easier, but less time-consuming because of the availability of all the information out there.

As for the writing, I loved the way he blended Lombardi's day-to-day life with the football seasons. Just when you thought he was going to give you some boring play-by-play, he took you in another direction, describing Lombardi's relationship with a player, an assistant coach, a business leader, even his secretary, and he did so in a thorough and fascinating manner. He then took you back on the field for the play-by-play, and as a reader you felt like you never left.

You don't have to be a sports lover to love this book, because to me it's not really a sport book. Instead, it is a journey into the psyche of a man who was driven to succeed in everything he did. Chapters on his personal appearances, business ventures and other interests were nearly as interesting as the tales of his obsession with football. Lombardi was truly driven to be the best at everything he did.

The title of this book says volumes because to Lombardi pride did matter. Everything he did - except perhaps his relationship with his immediate family - he did with the intent of showing others that quality mattered to him.

I loved the book and despite his many shortcomings, I love Lombardi.

I too started the book as a football fan, and ended the book as a fan of the man and his principles. From childhood, through minimal success on the field, then to enormous success as a leader in America in the 1960s. You get a sense of the true values and character of not just Vince Lombardi, but America during a time of national change. I was only 10 years old when he died, but the stories of the Lombardi Packers are still cherished in the midwest today. But that misses the point. How a man can lead every team he touched to the top is studied and presented and you can almost see into his mind. It was sad to see the family suffer through years of anguish, mixed with with pride, love, and loyalty. The author's style and storytelling were excellent.

The historical underpinings from the immigrant Italian family living in Brooklyn, cutting through WWII, stopping at West Point and continuing to Green Bay, Wisconsin is nothing short of a historical education of America in the 20th Century. Vince Lombardi's range of experiences through his involvement in the sport of football constructs a timeline of how rapidly the world has changed in the last 100 years. Maraniss delves into the life of Lombardi to discover what made him the legend he is in the society of sports people. Lombardi's strength of character sprang from his upbringing. Maraniss does such a fine job of detailing Lombardi's childhood that you can see where the strong influences of church and family guided his sense of duty and passion in life. The reader will be providing herself or himself an outstanding education of a facet of society that covers more than just the renaissance man named Vince Lombardi. Anyone who enjoys biographies MUST read When Pride Still Mattered.

If I hadn't been too lazy to review _Sing It To Her Bones_ when I first read it, I would have given it 5 stars. I loved the fact that it was really a book about people and relationships and that the mystery just fell into the rest of the book. I particularly enjoyed the complications of Hannah's relationship with her husband, and all the intricacies of her role as mother. So I thought the book was very readable, and couldn't wait to pass it on to my mother (my mom is Hannah's age; I'm Hannah's daughter's age).

But then I read Marcia Talley's second Hannah Ives book, _Unbreathed Memories_. It blows _Sing It To Her Bones_ out of the water. Since she doesn't have to start at the beginning with Hannah's history, Talley has more room for plot, and the story is much more interesting. I stayed up all night reading it and couldn't turn pages fast enough.

If you're wavering about buying this book, BUY IT! But you should also buy the second one, _Unbreathed Memories_, because you shouldn't miss it either. I wonder when the third Hannah Ives is coming out?

Marcia Talley was the winner of the 1998 Malice Domestic Grant.

I am certain when you open the cover and read the excerpt titled, Swan Song, you will instantly take a liking to Hannah Ives. She comes across as an honest, witty, and courageous character.

After surviving surgery and treatment for breast cancer, and a job lay-off, Hannah goes to stay with her sister-in-law, Connie, at the family farm near Pearson's Corner, an old fishing community on the Truxton River in Southern Maryland. While there she discovers a body in a well. Being the person she is, Hannah feels since she is the one who discovered the body, she has an obligation to the victim to solve the murder. This is one obligation that leads her and Connie in to some dangerous waters....

Marcia Talley is coming out of the chute strong with her first mystery. I understand this is to be a series and I'm glad to hear it. I'd like to see more about her husband, daughter and son-in-law. IMHO, Hannah Ives is going to be one of our favorite protagonists and Marcia Talley will be one of our most talked about writers.

Sing It To Her Bones was an excellent mystery. I couldn't put the book down once I started reading, the pace is fast and one is never bored. It is a great book for an airplane flight for the hours do fly when reading an intense mystery such as Sing It To Her Bones. The answer is not revealed until the very end and the result is satisfying.

This book kept my attention from the very first page. I had difficulty putting it down and read it all in two sessions. The characters seemed very real. The suspense kept me interested and wanting to see what happened next, especially since it was based on a true story. I look forward to Mr. Ramsey's next book.

I read this book from cover to cover in a day and a half. I just couldn't put the book aside. Being a mother of two daughters, I had to know what the out come would be. It truly frightened me knowing this was a true story, however, it has made me more aware to always be on my guard. You just never know. I'm looking forward to Mason Ramsey's next book.

In short...I could not put this book down! Mason Ramsey's characters were touching, real and horrifying... Although, I do not usually select books of this genre I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good read. Truly, I am looking forward to Mr. Ramsey's next book and hopes he does not keep us waiting too long.