This book is just in time for vacation. Good entertainment especially if you are a bit interested in those who have special senses. Kate, the main character, "sees" things happen to people she doesn't know. Mix up a bit of murder, mystery and romance and you have a good read!

To please her friend, Kate McGuire agrees to partake in a parapsychology study at the local university in the Piedmont area of South Carolina. Nobody is more shocked than Kate is when she touches a headband and receives visions of a woman being strangled by a powerful man. The professor conducting the study tells her that the headband belongs to a woman that has been missing for a few days.

When the police find the body in a place that is exactly like Kate described reporter John Gerrard prints the story and includes the psychic's name. The killer reads the paper and decides to kill Kate before she can reveal his identity. John who has come to care for Kate, tries to protect her but the killer is determined that nobody gets in his way.

HAUNTING REFRAIN is an exciting amateur sleuth tale starring a reluctant psychic who sees her gift as a curse that frightens her. This weakness endears her to the audience because they can empathize with the heroine. The protagonist's romance with the reporter is a clever plot device that eases the level of tension caused by the killer's attacks. Ellis Vidler is a gifted storyteller who deserves a large following for her wonderful romantic mysteries like this one.

Harriet Klausner

I have just recently read this book, and was truly delighted with it. It has a little bit of everything mystery,woo-woo, romance which is not overdone. I will come back for all the Ellis Vidler books.

John Constantine, the character this series is about, is a man who looks like any other man. Despite of his overconfidence, constant smoking and the trenchcoat he seems to be joined at the hip with. But Constantine practices magic and had words with about every demon in hell. He's an expert and he's cunning to boot, although alcohol seems to be more of his interest. This book collects #62-67 of the series, which isn't a standard "good vs. bad" title but deals with characters who all are somewhere in the middle. Along the way their private lives are not ignored neither.

The cover-story, which runs through 4 of the 6 issues, is about 'The Snob', formerly known as the archangel Gabriel. While John is very much in love with Kit, Gabriel is doubting his faith and the faith people have in him. His associates aren't happy with his behavior because of it and since it all leads back to something John once said, they're decided to make his life hell. Apart from that there are also stories about John trying to talk his niece out of getting into magic and about John's fortieth birthday (in the very first Vertigo Hellblazer issue).

Better than the earlier Ennis Hellblazer collection ("Dangerous Habits"), which wasn't bad either. The strength lies, next to interesting storytelling, in the fact that the story-arcs aren't out of the blue. They seem logical phases in Constantine's life and blend in with his everyday reality. Good and fluent Steve Dillon art in all the issues. Although it's before he realized his art doesn't need sketchy lines in it (as shown in 'Preacher'), it's close to what it is today. One of the best Hellblazer collections so far. Prior knowledge of the title is a pro, not a must.

Fear and Loathing was the first comicbook I read about John Constantine after I'd decided I'd take up collecting Hellblazer. And afterwards I sat on the sofa not knowing what had hit me. This bundel has such an impact I'd put it on the hazards list of heartpatients. Constantine's character is so human that it is very easy to identify yourself with him. Though I still think Ennis took all the bad things that can happen in life and made them happen to one person to see how long he'd be able to stretch such a persons life. Really great tradepaperback! We need more of these!

I'm surprised that there are no other reviews of this book, so I'll give one. It's actually a very simple chapter in John Constantine's life. It shows everything that Garth Ennis gave him, his humor, his horror, his ability to fight and be fought and to win out in the end. His roguish charm which takes him through so much, is shown not to be able to take him through everything that life throws at him. It is the perfect prelude book for Garth Ennis's run on the title.

This is a comprehensive book that covers (in five good sized chapters) the origins and influences of the Arts & Crafts style, hallmarks of the style, furniture, objects and accents, and case studies. I am a woodworker and I use this book quite frequently for inspiration and reference. For those interested in this period I highly recommend this book.

An arts and crafts website recommended this book as the place for beginners in the movement. Following their lead, we purchased the book and have not regretted it.

The advice is true. This is excellent background for the movement, giving it a skeleton which can be used to hang more and more on, including sources, wonderful photographical examples, and resources. We're finding it is desirable and so, so useful to restoring our bungalow to have a wealth of books on hand such as these to give ideas for restoration and decorating.

This book has a wonderful compilation of ideas, rooms and history to inspire one to run out to the antique mall. The details of every type of room done in this fashion gives a wealth of ideas for bringing this style into your own home.

Almost all practical commercial deployments of Java involve hooking to a back end database. Of the latter, relational databases are the dominant form. The first version of JDBC arose soon after Java was released, because of this compelling need. Since then, Sun has extended the functionality while still striving to keep its learning curve shallow, as compared to Microsoft's ODBC. Indeed, the latest Java 1.4 Standard Edition includes JDBC 3.0 in its entirety.

To document JDBC 3.0, Sun has put out the third edition of this book. The maturity of JDBC is reflected in its heft. The reference portion is voluminous. The tutorial section is like aged whisky; it goes down smoothly. Sun has had plenty of time to sandpaper rough edges and, based on user feedback, to add popularly requested capabilities.

The attraction of this book is that it describes a mature and stable product. In corporate terms, it is safe and conservative. In other words, you can develop with JDBC according to the book and be highly confident of success. At least insofar as your Java GUI conversing with the database. (The design of a GUI or a database is outside the purview of the book.)

Whether you are a beginner, intermediate, or advanced JDBC programmer you will find useful information in this book. The book is divided into two sections. The first section is a tutorial on using JDBC which makes up four chapters. The tutorial starts with a look at JDBC 1.0. The next chapter looks at the additional features added to JDBC in 2.0 and 3.0. The third tutorial chapter looks at metadata. The final chapter examines the RowSet interface, which is complex enough to need its own chapter.

The remainder of the book (about 800 pages) is a reference containing a chapter for each class or interface in JDBC. Each chapter contains an overview of a class or interface, sections on anything of either special interest or complexity, and then a list of all the methods of the class or interface with complete descriptions. If a section applies to a particular version of JDBC, the version it applies to is clearly marked. The information contained in the reference is much more than you can find in the APIs. The reference section itself is well laid out to make the information you need easy to find.

This is probably the only JDBC book you will ever need. No matter which version of JDBC your database drivers support, you will find your answers in this book. The book is well written with clear explanations and plenty of code samples (which can be downloaded from the Sun web site) . Anyone working with JDBC will want this book by their side while they are coding.

If you are an experienced or intermediate programmer this is the only book you will need. Almost every bit of the JDBC is explaind. The API in the second part of the book is also very good, it is filled with explanations that the javadoc lacks.

It's hard enough going to the hospital. When the bill comes, it's overwhelming. I spent 3 weeks in the hospital and received a 20-page bill when my insurance tried to deny my claim. Using Pat's advice, I scrutinized my bills and medical records. I found billing errors (totalling almost $11,000) a huge medication error (we're filing a lawsuit about that one) and other "fun" surprises. It's amazing that they can run a business like this!

Some of the writing is pretty sensationalistic, which is annoying, and sometimes he takes 3 pages to say what he could have said in two paragraphs. But the information is valid and useful to someone like me who knew nothing about hospitals and billing. It only takes a few hours to read this book. It will open your eyes, help you take control and may even save you some money.

Everyone who pays medical bills will benefit from the easily-understood information contained in this book. This is a giant step toward the Patient's Financial Bill of Rights. THANK YOU, PAT!!

If your or any of your friends or relatives have been into a hospital lately, you have noticed that as a patient you were probably treated well, but as a customer you were treated horribly. You would be hard pressed to find any other business that could survive the sort of gross arrogance and incompetence in the way it bills and collects from its customers.

If you assume that everyone--hospital administrators, doctors, and insurance companies alike--would genuinely want their bills to be correct and accurate, you are very very wrong.

This little book shows you through the experience of others, how you too can get your pocket picked, but even more important, it shows you how to protect yourself.

The author shows you how to: how to get a detailed itemized bill, how you can learn their language, how to recognize and reduce excessive charges, how to recognize and remove duplicate charges, how to recognize and reveal hidden charges, how to recognize and reject undocumented charges, how health insurance works today, how to fix some problems before they arise, how to recognize and reverse insurance denials,

Also included, are very helpful chapters on: helpful websites, and a directory of people who can help you get your money back.

The author is a leading consumer advocate for patients, and she gives you the knowledge that you need to fight back. The MEDICAL BILL SURVIVAL GUIDE will help you get back what's yours--and make sure you'll never have to spend an extra, unnecessary dime on the care you deserve, ever again.

In this book you can find both a very brief and clear introduction to the theoretical picture of Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) and lots of phenomenological applications. It contains descriptions and data of many particles processes as some important exact calculations. It should be of interest to graduate students who intend to work in QCD. It is suggested knowledge of elementary particles physics and field theory. I liked this book because it gave to me a comprehensive overview of the physics of high-energy colliders.

This book is for graduate students and researchers in elementary
particle physics. It covers how experimental results from
high energy particle colliders are related to the theory, with
an emphasis on the theory of quantum chromodynamics. The authors
are three of the leading experts in this area. In my opinion, the
book isn't perfect, but it's very good.

Please note that the authors maintain an update and erratumpage at www.hep.phy.cam.ac.uk/theory/webber/QCDupdates.html END

A Gentleman's Wager is the story of Bella Rushdale's attraction to Lucerne Marlinscar, with sexy complications. Her rival for his affections, another man with whom Lucerne had shared intimacy with during earlier times.

I had a chance to preview this book before it came out on shelves and I was blown away by the amount of sex scenes that were well written. Madelynne Ellis's way of creating dynamic characters that people will remember is unbeatable. From Vaughn, the deviant of the threesome to Bella's heart tugging inner struggle once she's been given her choice, the reader is taken on a journey from all of the main characters.

This was the second erotic historical I've read and I enjoyed it. The back cover of the book says "A wonderfully decadent piece of historical erotica with a twist" and that it sure was.

Bella knew from the first moment she saw him that somehow, some way, she was going to seduce Lucerne. As she watched hidden from view, he caressed his own flesh, and she was hypnotized by the sheer sensuality of his actions. No matter what, she was determined to have him.

Once formerly introduced to her handsome neighbor, Bella set about making it known to Lucerne that she was attracted. She started to make headway, when another suitor for the handsome landowner's attention arrived: Marquis Vaughan Pennerley.

While the idea of two men and herself making love appealed greatly to the promiscuous miss, Vaughan was intent on forcing Bella out of the picture.

Determined to get her man, Bella stood up to her rival and found a passion she never counted on - a passion that could very well consume her, as well as Vaughan and Lucerne. For Vaughan wasn't willing to share, Lucerne wanted them both, and Bella wasn't going to let go without a fight.

In the end, someone would have to compromise - it was only a matter of whom.

Black Lace's intent is to provide quality erotic fiction written by women for women, but A GENTLEMAN'S WAGER is a delight that should be enjoyed by both sexes, provided the men have some attraction to other men. Fiercely passionate, sexually opinionated, and determined to get their own way, the three main characters fairly leap off of the page. Each has their own section of the story to tell and aren't shy about sharing the most intimate details of their sexual exploits and private thoughts.

Madelynne Ellis has woven a truly intricate tale of a love triangle, loyalties and passions divided, and strong willed characters. This is definitely one novel where the author shows you the character's world - instead of merely telling you their story.

Review © Michelle Houston

Don't take anything at face value. Like the intriguing characters within, this book refuses to conform to the stereotypes of its genre. You may think at first that you're reading a historical bodice-ripper with the usual cast of rogues and gentlemen, but it's far too smart to live down to your expectations. There's a great story of love, lust, deception and obsession, some brilliantly witty dialogue that certainly made me laugh out loud and enough historical detail, description and mood to really bring the book alive. But what really kept me reading was the depth, complexity and humanity of the characters ' from the enigmatic, alluring and wicked Vaughan Pennerley to Charles Aubury, the lecherous squire with the soul of a poet. I really found myself caring what happened to all of them, and when each gets their moment of redemption you get a real feeling of warmth.

For a historical novel, it's written in a modern enough style to make it completely accessible. The heroine is headstrong but likeable and easy to identify with, the story moves effortlessly along, and I loved the way that it plays with the images and set pieces of historical romance, but always with a unique kink.

Major plus point: this is great erotica, and Ellis's writing manages to be sensual rather than mechanical or just toe-curling like a lot of its peers. Also, every scene has its place in the narrative, rather than being crudely pasted in as an obligatory shag-every-ten-pages. If you've read much Nexus/Black Lace, you'll know what I mean. Also, this book will really appeal to you if you're at all male or female bi-curious, but it's not essential. There's a good mix for everyone.

This book took me back to 1st grade when we were still allowed to sing "God Bless America" and other historic songs that kids today don't even know because they mention the word GOD! A wonderful little book, it reminded me of how far we've come and how high we've climbed but also how far we've come down the other side of the hill. I truly wish that our kids don't have to be ignorant of the heritage that allowed the foundation of this great country of ours, and that heritage is grounded in the Bible. This book is a gentle reminder of that basic truth. I'm glad my wife picked this book up for me, she picked a definite winner.

This little book is wonderful. I have used it for inspirational programs for the American Legion Auxiliary. Anyone who has faith in the USA should have a copy. It will restore your faith in God and in this great land of ours. Makes a great gift, too.

We need to put this book in the hands of every student in Elem., High School and college. This book tells of the heritage of our country, and why God has blessed America. If we want America to continue being blessed by God we need to heed the lessons from history.

I can't quite give it the rave reviews that other readers have given, but it is probably the best book currently available on the subject. It does have quite a bit of useful information, though I didn't find it all that well organized and the author even repeats himself in places. I would have loved more detailed information on the trains themselves (from a passenger's perspective) and some illustrations if not photos. The author seems overly preoccupied with alcoholic beverages and I found his frequent references to the subject annoying. His few recommendations for accomodations were somewhat bizarre: five star hotels and low-budget places with almost nothing in-between. I'm not quite sure why he bothered with any.

As a long-standing fan of the Indian rail system, I find this book a guide which will be very useful for any foreign tourist who plans to travel by train in India. Packed with many useful tips, especially about the numerous regulations which one needs to know about. However, the writer errs somewhat in describing rail officials as being universally friendly and helpful; I am sure that most frequent travellers (Indian or foreign) might not agree with this. Strongly recommended to anyone interested in India's railroads.

It's been very useful in planning our trip, gives you types of service available, how long it takes from A - B and how to cope once you get there. We are purchasing tickets through a guy in Wembley, UK, that they recommended and it's all been true so far It's nice to get some specific advise, especially when you're trying to work out a route and timetable.

Mild-mannered DCI George Felse, who prefers to solve English country crime without the aid of the Yard, finds himself near the Welsh/English border--first on vacation, then on business. He is abruptly shaken out of his appreciation of Midshire's
natural beauty when confronted by a manorial/monastic mystery--complete with curse. Could monks gone amuck at the time of the
Dissolution actually influence lives (i.e., cause death) in this century? What is the fatal attraction of a curiously-wrought knocker on an oaken door, which was hung first in a church, then in a private wine cellar, but has since been donated back to an ecclesiastical setting?

Ellis Peters, known to aficionados as the creator of the Brother Cadfael series, weaves a delightful web of suspicious characters, cryptic legend and mundane motives into a contemporary thriller, with medieval over--or rather, undertones. Her fans will recognize her penchant for incidental romance: in this case an unexpected but platonic love affair at the end. Socially-conscious in her own time, she raises poignant commentary on the role of impoverished aristocracy, dying out gracefully (?) for lack of cash and new blood...apologies for the ill-chosen expression. Will the Manor be saved by the Trust or is this the end of the line for the Macsen-Martel family? Will the sins of the philandering patriarch be visited upon future generations? Anything by Peters is sure to please; savor this novel as her literary premonition of a medieval Welsh monk dabbling in mystery. My advice: beware of the cowl in the mist and don't knock first!

Being a fan of Ellis Peters's brother Cadfael series, I decided to try her earlier mystery series, featuring detective inspector George Felse. The Knocker on Death's Door is a good, light read, with interesting historical details, although the solution to the mystery will be obvious to most experienced mystery-novel readers. The plot centers around the restoration of a medieval door to its original place in the village church, and the secrets the door holds, which reveal a long-hidden murder. There's a sweet, innocent romantic sub-plot woven through the detective story, and George Felse is a delightful investigator. Overall, a good read for fans of the traditional English-cosy mystery.

This was the first Inspector Felse mystery I ever read. After I'd finished all of Peters' Brother Cadfael mysteries, I finally gave in, despite having groused to myself for years that she'd spent time on these when she could have been spreading mayhem through medieval Shropshire for our fun and her profit.

It's a shame I took so long to give Felse a fair chance. Peters was already an excellent writer in the days when this story was written; the Felse stories are good novels, not just clever puzzles. They carry the bonus that they aren't bound to a formula as tightly as are the chronicles of Brother Cadfael.

Felse's turf is on the Welsh border, but in the last half of the twentieth century, and in Midshire, not Shropshire. As in the Cadfael stories, time doesn't stand still for the characters. This, as one of George's later appearances, doesn't feature his son Dominic in an active role in the investigation - Dominic is on holiday abroad, having just graduated from university. This particular story is set in Mottisham, one of the villages near Felse's home base of Comerbourne; the area is also the scene of _Rainbow's End_, for anyone who'd like to see how the supporting characters fared in later years.

The Macsen-Martels, as their double-barreled name suggests, are an old family, but their fires are burning out. The valley, as local Sgt. Moon says, is tribal, not feudal - 'squire' is a dirty word around here. The best they ever did was in acquiring Mottisham Abbey out of Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries. "Count for nothing now. Never will again. Never *did*, for all that much."

Robert senior was a notorious womanizer who sank the family deep in debt before finally breaking his neck in the hunting field. His widow, a cousin whom he married for her money, would never hear a word against him. Robert junior, the elder son, takes after his mother in looks and values, but what in her is aristocratic arrogance has in him been eroded like a medieval carving. He grew up helping her cope with his father's endless debts and paternity suits, and it seems to have taken its toll on more than the family fortunes - he's worn to the bone. Far from being a lord of the manor, he works in a realtor's office. His younger brother Hugh, on the other hand, has his father's energy, but he turns it to a more profitable end as the junior partner of Cressett and Martel, local garage. (The senior partner, Dave Cressett, is only a year younger than Robert, and where Hugh provides flash and dazzle, Dave provides sturdy dependability. Dinah, Dave's younger sister, chips in - a pocket edition, but made of the right stuff; Hugh's got sense enough to be moving toward marriage with her.)

The family can't maintain the Abbey anymore, and they've finally convinced the National Trust to step in. The building must be restored to original condition as much as possible, so they've started by reinstalling the old wine cellar door in the church porch - there's a family story that it belongs there. George Felse, just returning from a holiday after promotion to deputy head of the county CID, passes the time of day with Sgt. Moon while stuck in traffic, caused by the bishop's stately progress of reconsecrating the door. It's a *DOOR* - 7 x 5 medieval oak, flanked by carved angels that were outdated when it was carved and have come all the way around to being modern, and weighing a quarter of a ton. It and its knocker come complete with a Macsen-Martel family legend, which we hear when the younger son, Hugh, takes his Dinah to officially meet his family.

Only a local sensation, not even a nine-days'-wonder; Bunty's comfortable statement that there's nothing to fetch them back for a second look, though, goes into the category of Famous Last Words. At first, it only begins with the regulars of the Sitting Duck taking the mickey out of the small gang of pressmen who turned out for the ceremony. (The pub conserves its home-brewed beer for the regulars, and anyhow such strangers are nature's way of providing entertainment.) Nobody expected Gerry Bracewell, the quickest-witted of the pack, to return a few weeks later in pursuit of a potential story - and still less for Dave Cressett to find him dead in the church porch, head beaten in before the door.

Felse opts to hang onto the case rather than passing it to the Yard; something was significant about the door itself, not the man. All that was unusual about him was that he'd seen the door once before, years ago, when photographing the house for a series of articles on obscure country houses. But what could be so deadly about a door that was already on public display?

The only touches of amateur hour in Felse's thoroughly professional investigation are Dave Cressett's inquiries when he returns Bracewell's car to the widow, and a few scenes from Dinah's point of view. They're adequately explained by the closed-shop attitude of Mottisham's people - when there's trouble, they pull together, but right must be done. Although those psychic researchers are fair game when they show up at the pub...