I bought this book for my Grandchildren and I hope they like it.

This book is good for a starting rock guitarist. It teaches you many things on playing good music. It teaches you rock guitar. This is a great book for starting people.

Zagatsurveys attempt to rate the best restaurants in a particular city and surrounding locale. The ratings, which include food, cost, service and decor, are based on surveys compiled by independent restaurant attendees. This guide is useful for both visitor and resident, enabling one to make an informed choice from the plethora of restaurants in San Francisco and its neighbouring area. Personally, I have found the book to be reliable and consistent, although not exhaustive. Excellent restaurants are omitted, particularly lower cost ones; its focus tends to be on expensive establishments. Another criticism is that the restaurant descriptions are too brief.

I just finsihed reading this latest book from Ms. Krentz. It took little more than a day. It neatly wraps up the Harte/Madison saga. Unfortunately it is done a little to neatly. It was a very predictable read. The outcome was easily foreshadowed in the book. It was a loose "who dunnit" plot with a romance that lacked "punch". Where is the conflict of the characters? Where is the plot that has you guessing? Sadly it is not in this book. If you have read the other books in the series it is worth the read. If you haven't read them you can skip this book. Sorry Ms. Krentz but this tale fell flat.

Although this is not the most spectacular of romance novels, I couldn't help but be intrigued by the character development. To be perfectly honest, I picked up this book on a whim at an airport while waiting for a connecting flight, and I didn't really think much of it. I have never read the first two books in the trilogy, I found myself surprisingly engrossed in the novel. I read the book in one sitting... (Alright, I'll give it was a very long sitting while waiting for a plane with nothing better to do with my time), but honestly I was pleasantly surprised. I truly fell in love with the "Nick Harte" character, in spite of the fact that there were several occasions in which I'd have loved to slap him right across the face. After all was said and done, there are limited scenes of sensuality, but the point is made. Not all romance novels have to be steamy and plotless. I really enjoyed this novel, and I've definitely been turned onto Jayne Ann Krentz. I'd be pleased to read another of her books, though I'm not sure I'd back track through this trilogy. My advice to all those interested is definitely invest the seven dollars on this one, especially if you've never read JAK. She's definitely got a way with words.

The conclusion of the cheerful Eclipse Bay trilogy ties things up nicely. The hero and heroine, Nick Harte and Octavia Brightwell don't have quite the richness of the earlier book's characters (especially the delightfully droll Gabe Madison of Dawn in Eclipse Bay, the best of the series) but they are more than adequate. The best thing about this series (and many of Jayne Ann's books) are the quirky,almost Capra-esque supporting characters. The grumpy grandpas, the deliciously loony Arizona, the dumb-as-dirt n'er do wells who pick a fight with Nick and his pal Jeremy, Winston the World's Classiest Schnauser, all make the book worth reading. The plot is practically non-existent, but Jayne Ann excels at making nothing into very entertaining nothing.

SCM and Software Release Management encompass a broad spectrum of activities and practices that ultimately determine the quality of the product and the control of the product release. Software configuration management (SCM) and Release Management may sound the same; 'Software Release Management' by Michael E Bays lucidly provides an insight into what are the nuances.
Software configuration management is a key process area, which holds a significant importance in determining the control and success of the delivery process. Right from source code control, build management, defect tracking, change management, to multi-platform product releases, determines to a great extend the release process management methodologies that gives a structured approach to software development, that ensures that the efforts of the development team doesn't go wasted in providing the right versions and a more complete solution to the end-users.
The significance of software release management comes more to light in large projects involving large team, multi-site and multi-platform development. Full life-cycle projects which usually reflects wide gaps and variations between what is initially defined and what is finally delivered, demanding stringent and documented processes which control the requirement changes, defect fixes and change control mechanisms to the minutest possible detail. Michael E Bays captures in the most simplistic coverage, how this can be executed by proper release mgt methodologies. This calls for an efficient defect tracking and configuration mgt systems, to determine whether 'what we believe, is what we achieved'.

This book goes far beyond traditional books on SCM by providing a methodical, complete view of the capture, versioning, build and release process.

While the author focuses on what must be done to safely release a software product into production, he also provides the necessary steps to assure product quality and integrity. Key milestones covered include defect tracking, change control and release tracking. These three areas, to the best of my knowledge, are not covered in any real depth in most SCM books, and are welcome additions to the applications delivery body of knowledge.

I like the way the material is presented. As a consultant who has developed processes and procedures in support of release management I can attest to the fact that describing the capture, versioning, build and release process is not an easy task. The author has done a remarkable job of separating out the pieces, focusing on each piece as it relates to the whole, and crafting a big picture that you can drill down into for details. Another thing I like about the book is the standalone nature of each chapter - you can safely skip to whichever chapter interests you the most without getting lost.

Who should read this book? The following come immediately to mind: Build and release managers, software configuration managers, developers who need to understand the processes for which they are responsible for complying, production services personnel who receive applications into production after the release process is complete (actually, this group participates in the release process), SQA professionals and project managers who also need to be aware of the release management process.

In particular, the SQA group will find the chapter on defect tracking extremely useful for developing a strategy for metrics capture, analysis and action. Project managers will find the entire capture, versioning, build and release cycle description in the book useful for adding appropriate tasks and deliverables to project plans. If you follow the author's cycle you will make sure that every milestone, task and deliverable in a development project is accounted for. It is also invaluable to production services staff who will be receiving applications into production

This book easily earns five stars for the following reasons: (1) it is the only book of its kind, (2) it is complete and covers every imaginable detail, and (3) it addresses topics that are of interest to a wide audience.

This book integrates SCM and application delivery/service delivery promotion and release processes in a single book. The highlights include: (1) clear descriptions of software configuration management processes and strategies, (2) exit criteria for release of software into production, and the macro view of all of the relationships between and among development, QA and production.

Chapters I particularly like include 5, Defect tracking, which can be used as the basis for an integrated issue management system specification; 6 and 7, modularized system integration and change control, which ties together the processes necessary to interface development and production - two different aspects of IT that seem to be on different planets, and 8, release classifications and numbering, which provides a sane and logical numbering strategy.

As a 25+ year veteran IT professional I learned much from this book, and found the material equally suitable for IT professionals across the full spectrum of skill and experience levels. This is a one of a kind book that bridges development and production, and will give practitioners in both organizations a common vision and insights into the challenges and requirements that are unique to each group.

This is the latest installment in a series starring the Moscow investigator Arkady Renko. For those familiar with this series, this book is most similar to the second installment, Polar Star. Like all of Cruz Smith's books, this is a well written and capably plotted mystery. As with all the books in the series, the plot involves murder, political intrigue, and official corruption. Neither Havana Bay nor its two predecessors approach the quality of the original book in the series, Gorky Park. That book was a particularly stylish and imaginative variation of the classic American detective novel developed by Raymond Chandler in which the protagonist is the only decent individual, or at least the only individual interested in the truth, in a corrupt milieu. In Gorky Park, Renko's preoccupation with finding the truth makes him into a virtually heroic figure in Soviet Moscow. In the subsequent books, Renko appears more passive. This is particularly true in Havana Bay, where the suicidal Renko's grip on life has become tenuous and his interest in the truth seems more a matter of habit than passion. Cruz Smith does not apparently have the ability to make Renko's despair realistic enough to make the characterization compelling. The most interesting character is Renko's Cuban counterpart and love interest, a female detective caught in the contradictions of her idealism and the reality of post-Cold War Cuba. Still, this is a decent read and better than most books in this genre.

Who am I? A guy who likes well written literary mysteries -- and I do mean *well written*. You can have your Cornwells and Graftons and their ilk -- they're hacks. But for brilliant prose, intricate plots, an appreciation of theme, of place, of culture....you gotta look elsewhere. In my opinion, the last really great literary mystery was THE NAME OF THE ROSE by Umberto Eco. And before that? GORKY PARK by Martin Cruz Smith.

GORKY PARK was simply a great great great book. And to Smith's credit, he hasn't allowed the succeeding Arkady Renko novels (POLAR STAR, RED SQUARE, and now HAVANA BAY) to get bogged down in regurgitation, like so many lesser writers. Each book is fresh. HAVANA BAY is the freshest of the lot -- Arkady finds himself in a dramatically new locale, and his new adventure has a very fresh flavor. And the mystery is riveting.

Martin Cruz Smith is a brilliant writer -- head & shoulders above everybody else in the mystery genre. Do yourself a favor and read each of the Renko novels -- GORKY PARK, POLAR STAR, RED SQUARE and HAVANA BAY. And then check out Smith's other books, including the haunting ROSE.

The most recent (fourth) in the Inspector Arkady Renko series in Martin Cruz Smith's top notch series of "Russian" mysteries. We can only hope Smith will come up with more Renko mysteries. Since he is one of the most interesting protagonists in fiction today. Unfortunately Smith only writes a book on average of every FIVE years).
Many writers today find a successful formula and stick to it... over and over. The only thing the same from Martin Cruz Smith's works are their high level of excitement, interesting characters and plot development. Havana Bay lives up to Smith's past work. What he does best is gives the reader an insiders' view of a society totally different than what the audience is used to. Whether it be Cuba in this novel, Japan in December 4th: A Novel, or the Soviet Union in Gorky Park, with his characters on the verge of an exciting adventure for the reader to be a part of.
Another fun read from Smith. I enjoy Smith's books!
John Row

Change Your Attitude is rich with examples and interactive exercises for the reader. The authors do an excellent job of providing comic relief at regular intervals, some of which works. The active, participatory style of this book makes it more engaging than other books in the motivational genre. Much of this vitality comes from the impressive amount of research that went into it. The authors reference well over one hundred books, magazines, and newspaper articles, bringing readers a lively cross-section of ideas. The book's simple failing: Few of these ideas are new. Nevertheless, we at getAbstract recommend Change Your Attitude as an entertaining book that covers all of the motivational standards.

What a wonderful, elegant treatise on the critical importance of "Attitude" in our search for meaning. It's absolutely true, that it's not what happens to us that counts.....it's the attitude we face our challenges with that will determine our happiness. Thank you Tom Bay for this powerful testament to the human spirit. PS I've been fortunate enough to see Tom Bay speak, and if you EVER have the chance, take advantage of it. He's in elite company....Zig Ziglar, Tony Robbins, et.al. He really is that good!

This book is easy reading and delivers a power packed punch! Although it covers basic principles, the book delivers a message that never gets old. It's one of those books I'm eager to share with my family, friends and colleagues......Great Reading!

My first Jack Olsen book and definitely not my last. Read it straight through the night. Although I found the focus on Fay Faron a bit much and would have prefered more pictures of the victims and especially the perps (the better to watch out for them), this book was an excellent read. The outcome is absolutely amazing--proving once again that police politics win rather than justice. Thank goodness that people like Fay Faron exist. Taking into consideration that we all will grow old, this book should be read by everyone.

Jack Olsen is the grand master of True Crime reporting...be prepared to forget everything else once you open one of his books...you won't be able to put it down! Jack's words caress you with their poetic prose...yet, they have the power to cause the hair on the back of your neck to stand up...tingles run up and down your spine. Jack's mastery of creating suspense is unmatched. His latest effort, Hastened to the Grave, was born out of an article he wrote for Vanity Fair; May 1998, titled "Gone With the Gypsies." His fascination with the PI on the case, Fay Faron, head of the Rat Dog Dick Detective Agency, and the string of Arsenic and Old Lace-style murders, led to the creation of the book.

Don't be misled by Jack's literary style of writing that is as fascinating and entertaining as any work of fiction. He is a supreme investigative reporter, and every word is true.

Fay Faron is as captivating as the best Mystery novel herione...well, just look at what she named her detective agency-- Rat Dog Dick!

When the police won't pay attention to her suspitions that a beautiful Gypsy and her family have broken with tradition and are systematically poisoning elderly victims in order to inherit their wealth, the 'Rat Dog Dick' works pro bono to gather the evidence that forces them to listen.

I read ALL of Jack Olsen's books and this one was one of the best! So great, that I visited Fay Faron's website and e-mailed her to tell her how much I admire what she did. SO WHAT that he wrote so much about Fay's personal life. It's a true-crime story, and Fay's true life was part of it for over four years. This book should be read by anyone vulnerable to any type of con game, Gypsy or not. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!

I can not believe I made a mistake and purchased yet another one of her books. The one entitle Tender Heart was bad enough and this one is worse only longer. Characters are never developed fully and the story line is way over the edge. After one day these two fall madly in love and talk goo-goo conversation for the remainder of the book. There are so many good romance novels available for anyone to waste their time and money on this one. Check out Melissa Good, Peggy Herring, and especially Radcliffe if you want some really good romance stories. Don't buy this one or her other book either.

I can't beleive a publisher would charge $... plus for this book. I kept waiting for it to pick up and half way through the book realized it wasn't going to. I wonder if I could get half my money back? For the cost and for your time, I'd recommend against this book.

Bradley Bay:

If you enjoy passionate woman from the start to finish, then this book is for you. The main characters, Kaitlin and Sierra's first meeting is explosive but soon their love is just as explosive. Besides the passion in their lives for their dedicated beliefs in what they do and in each other. The story's main plot is admirable and in places poignant in portraying individuals staying at a luxury resort in Northern Canada that specializes in the care of spinal cord injured people. Different characters with physical challenges, their heart felt comments, their love and life perspective are especially poignant. I thoroughly enjoyed the depth of description and detail of space and places to the point that I almost felt I could feel the beautifully built log cabins and shivered with the coldness and depth of the northern lake water. I was however unaccustomed to the speed of the main characters falling in love and use of frequent use proper names but this seems to be the style of the author.
This authors second book is a bit more enjoyable then her first because it showed growth and provided extra information and detail, including the actions and inter actions of the other characters in the book. The love scenes had just the right amount of erotica to be thoroughly enjoyable for this woman and I look forward to the next book this author will write. As a Canadian reader I especially enjoyed knowing it was a tender love story written by a Canadian in Canada.
BAP, Nova Scotia, Canada

Nothing about the San Mateo area, which is dead center of the SF bay/peninsula area. The title should be "Relocating to the city of San Francisco and/or Palo Alto". The yellow pages were more helpful.

This book has a lot of info about the San Fran area, not as much about the Silicon Valley areas around it and it is not meant for anybody with a family that wants to relocate there -- more of a single person who is moving out there for first time. Gives a brief history of info of the counties around San Fran esp the East Bay, like Santa Clara County but not much of the others and may be slowly outdated by now.

I wish the format was a little different. The book breaks everything down by districts & neighborhoods only, which I realize is very important, but provides little overall info. Apart from this minor flaw, I am really glad I have this book. I could have moved to SF without this book, but it sure helps to have some sort of guide.