Baby-Sitters At Shadow Lake is a very exciting super special of the BSC. It is when they spend vacation at Mr. Brewer's cabin. They find the vacation impossible to resist. Exciting, fun, laughter, and enjoyment will fill your mind when you read this book.

A simply great book, lifting up reader's minds. This storybook tells of Kristy and her gang, who were at Shadow Lake in Kristy's father's cabin. They never knew what they were gonna get!!! Dawn, totally "mystified" over the "monster" in the lake, finally finds the answer to her questions. The rest find romance, (especially Stacey who hooks up with Sam) laughter, joy (spending a night alone!), and of course - fun! Together with the younger kids (Karen, Andrew, etc.), they form a splendid story one must never miss

Robert Irvine has created a detective named Moroni Traveler who has a love/hate (perhaps mostly hate) relationship with the Mormon Church in Salt Lake City. The author, in creating the setting for his novels, takes us into the history of the Mormon Church and its relationship to Utah political power. The characters are interesting and likable and the background is interesting. In Baptism for the Dead, the detective is hired to find a missing person and winds up, somewhat unwillingly, assisting the Mormon Church in its battle against a local cult. Robert Irvine can be counted on to deliver a well-written and enjoyable mystery. Baptism for the Dead is worth reading.

I've long been of the opinion that the distinctive feature of the great hard-boiled private eye story is the hero's vulnerability. He's physically vulnerable because both the crooks and the cops distrust him. As a result of which, he frequently ends up being beaten and battered. He's emotionally vulnerable because he's alone and prey to falling in love with clients or other women he meets in the course of the case, or at least caring too much about the people whose lives he finds himself involved in. As a result of which, he frequently ends up heart broken. Such are the Quixote-like characteristics that have defined the genre.

Unfortunately, in recent years there's been a tendency on the part of authors to give their detectives permanent girlfriends and overeager allies in law enforcement, which serves to allay both vulnerabilities. Call it the Robert Parker effect. This trend has been so pervasive that only a very few really good writers have been able to buck it : Loren Estleman, Jonathan Valin, and a few others. Meanwhile, the most interesting new detective fiction has featured investigators in authoritarian countries, where their vulnerability is greatly magnified : Martin Cruz Smith's Arkady Renko series and Philip Kerr's Bernie Gunther series spring to mind, the one set in the USSR, the other in Nazi Germany.

Which brings us to what I think is one of the best, and most unusual, private eye series of the modern era. Robert Irvine managed to create a fairly traditional private eye, an ex-football player, ex-soldier, with the unlikely name of Moroni Traveler, and only gussy him up with a few emotional ties : a father who may not be his biological dad, and a couple of street characters for friends. Then he borrowed a page from Smith and Kerr and set the stories in Salt Lake City, where Moroni's investigations often run afoul of the Mormon Church, which essentially controls the state. In addition to providing dramatic tension, this setting in the land of the Latter Day Saints offers Irvine, himself of Mormon descent, an opportunity to work Mormon history and beliefs into the narrative.

The resulting books are really fascinating, though I find them a tad too anti-Mormon, and Moroni and his cronies are immensely likable. They aren't all still in print and, though I couldn't find much information online, I believe I recall reading that Irvine died a few years ago, but if you can find the books, they are terrific.

GRADE : A

Story's first guidebook in the 'Bicycling America's National Parks' series (California) is an excellent all-around cycling guide (and general guidebook) for the Golden State. It's concise, thorough, and balanced, presented in personable, witty language. He includes a variety of road and mountain bike routes for virtually every riding level. His lodging, shopping, and especially dining suggestions are first rate. It includes almost all the information a would-be tourist (as I was) needs for a bicycling trip to CA. Story also throws in some nice tidbits about natural and cultural history of each park, as well as description of fauna and flora (plants and animals), and worthwhile less-known attractions.

This guide from Story features most of the same attributes as his previous guide. He includes a variety of rides that highlight the nearly infinite geographical and ecological diversity of Oregon and Washington. Once again, he includes abundant, but concise information and recommendations related to lodging and related travel info, presented in personable language (though he's not as consisently funny). As before, he provides a nice natural and historical background, serving to not just describe, but introduce the reader to each park (or recreational area).

There is one minor shortcoming, relative to Story's National Parks/California book. That guide contained abundant supplemental information related to dining and other special attractions within or near each park. While this guidebook has some info. of that nature, it seems much more sparse. This might be because many trails in Oregon and Washington are in fairly rural areas far from any major (or even minor) population center. This considered, this guidebook still doesn't seem as complete as his California edition, which provided that reader with virtually everything we'd need to plan our trip. This isn't to say this guide is poor, it just doesn't quite match up to the standards of Story's previous guide. Once again, it would be helpful if Story included a general map of each park (this was the only minor problem I had with his CA edition).

Even if it doesn't quite measure up to Story's California guide, Oregon/Washington is still far superior to most other cycling guidebooks available (even allowing for it's uniqueness). It's an indespensible tool for anyone planning a cycling trip to or near the national parks/recreational areas of Oregon and Washington. It's a perfect starting point, though you might want to research the areas more before heading out.

I purchased this book after reading a glowing review of it from the San Francisco Chronicle. I'm very glad I purchased it. This latest addition to the Bicycling America's National Parks series is informative, helpful, and truly captures the ambience of the different national parks it covers. It's not just national parks, but national recreation areas, and national monuments too, and you really get a sense of where the great bicycling opportunities are in places that also have national-caliber scenery and attractions. After reading the book, I'm definitely planning on using it for a Hells Canyon National Recreation Area trip later this summer. The chapters on Crater Lake, Olympic National Park, and Mount Saint Helens totally appealed to me, cause I've been to those places and wondered about biking there. The author does a great job of showing that the myth that you can't ride offroad in national parks is just that-- a myth. (All the rides are legal, though some do take place just outside park boundaries.) The book presents everything you need to know in a clear, often funny way. The pictures are great too. That's about all I ask from a guidebook.

The substance of this book is very good, if too wordy. There is no doubt that the authors have a firm grasp of their subject; now they just need to be concise in discussing it. As stated in the book, the book is designed for readers who have a basic familiarity with BizTalk -- however note that readers are expected to be familiar with MS operating systems and some scripting and programming languages. Not having this knowledge will make this book difficult to follow, especially in the examples.

Since the advent of the spell checker, no one proofreads any more. The book is rampant with errors. For example, the text will state that five parameters are required, then list six. In one case the publishing tool boldly inserts "ERROR! Reference source not found" when the text references a figure... Still, I'll give it high recommendations for content.

As a developer, I bought BizTalk Unleashed to evaluate the capabilities of BizTalk Server 2002. Specifically, I looked at how it can be used in EDI transaction processing and how to use .NET (VB.NET/C#) and I was impressed because the book has excellent examples, from general overview to step-by-step guide, on how to use every tools and technologies that BizTalk has to offer. Most importantly, the examples on how to use .NET (VB.Net/C#/) in developing COM+/COM/Web Sevices is very valuable. Not only they are valuable, all the examples I tried just worked which in itself saved me from frustrations!

I must say that with this book, I clearly discovered many great capabilities of BizTalk and I am confident that I can accomplish anything that involves BizTalk using BizTalk Unleashed!

By the way, the review just reflects my satisfaction of the book.

Boundary Waters: The Grace of the Wild is a true to life essay of being in a great wilderness area. I have recently been in the Boundary Waters. My experiences along with Gruchow's seem to coincide. This book is a must for any traveler to the Boundary Waters. For those that have not, it's a great way to leave the "rat race" of everyday life and discover an enchanting wilderness. Boundary Waters: The Grace of the Wild will help you to stop and discover what your true priorities really are. Gruchow will help you reach your full potential in every thing you do and find your personal meaning of life. Or for just an hour at a time. I recommend this book to whom ever can read! You will enjoy it. I know I did!

Whether you're an old voyager with a canoe paddle as worn as a river rock or someone who's just curious about the Boundary Waters of Minnesota, Gruchow's book will speak to you. The book is well-crafted, and each word must have been hand selected, but the stories still have the feel of a campfire yarn told softly over dying embers. Like the Boundary Waters, and nature itself, this book is at times profound, often educational, frequently beautiful, personally revealing, surprisingly hilarious, and always captivating. The Boundary Waters don't disappint, and neither does Gruchow.

Storms, shipwrecks, waterfront characters --- all on Lake Superior, the world's largest freshwater lake. This is a fascinating story of a chilly frontier of water and weather. Sail magazine rated this sailor's previous book (In the Teeth of the Northeaster: A solo voyage on Lake Superior) as "...fascinating." I hope other readers will find it so, too!

Marlin Bree has authored an outstanding book about sailing on Lake Superior. Call Of The North Wind: Voyages & Adventures On Lake Superior is the story of Bree's crisscrossing Lake Superior in his home-built 20-foot wood sailboat and a 35-foot catamaran. Call Of The North Wind weaves stories of adventure, travel and history along with reconstructions of unusual shipwrecks and doomed crews, voyaging the lake on a Viking ship, tracking a sunken vessel, watching another boat sink, facing storms, and meeting interesting people living alongside the lake.

I think his best effort has been Red Fox, that book is truly a five. This good is a close second but does not have the tension and great mystery that Red Fox had. This author writes tight, slick books that keep you interested through out. This is an interesting book that combines espionage with a murder mystery. You are never in need of additional details with this author, he really fills the pages up, and for some I think this can be too much. This really is a book that has two - three very well developed and written plot twists that makes you stay on your toes. I have reread the book and it is something how well he places the road signs. This is a great book; unfortunately he was not able to keep up this form into his next.

I have read 3 of Hyde's books: Formosa Straights, China Lake, and The Red Fox. I think he is, either, the best or second best American thriller/spy story writer currently working. (His only competition is Alan Furst)

I also think Formosa Straights is his best book. He is a wonderful writer, has complex plots, and is able to communicate a sense of place that is hypnotic.

I only hope he publishes another book soon!

It is a fine line between awe and naivete. Here the anonymous writer exposes his inner thoughts and observations without reservation. A wonderful look at all he could observe and experience without the distraction of other people. He explores many topics with a literary if not a philosophical bent. Who is this secret sharer? A mystery to be resolved at one level, since as you read you learn much about him--and also you learn about yourself, your perspective, and what motivates you. I have been to Clam Lake. I was brought there by my oldest brother who interned at the Natural Resources Camp from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. The site is deserted now. The impression left on those who have been there, spent some time there, is indelible. You should visit Clam Lake, too. Spend some time there.

A stranger in a cabins in the woods is poetry in action. This slender volume is a writers thoughts on the role of metaphor,language, art, thought and human awareness. Each simple reflection opens petals in the rose of consciousness.

Crater Lake is very good. These outlanders are again on the road trying to make the Deathlands a little bit better. But... The greatest threat since skydark is at hand and..

you can visualize every move that is made in the whole series james jumps from place to place excelent audio book for the sci fi lover

#1's plot summary is generally correct, although she is confused about the time and manner of Nell's discovery of the corpse. I do not agree, however, with her conclusion that Gillian Linscott "writes outside the sub-genre box". I think DEAD MAN RIDING gives the classic English country house mystery an interesting twist while hewing faithfully to its conventions.

Linscott has placed her story in an earlier era -- the last year of Queen Victoria's reign. It begins at a student production of Love's Labour's Lost, a clue to what will happen when an idealistic group of Oxford students set off to spend their summer break studying Plato in rural Cumberland. Not the kind of motivation that usually draws characters in a murder mystery to an English country estate. The country estate is very different too. A rundown house with no spare bedrooms for the guests, with outdoor plumbing, and scant meals of rabbit stew and oatcake.

Linscott showers the reader with clues and suspects galore, in the classic mystery tradition, while obscuring their true import until the very end. Her evocation of Cumberland circa 1901 is brillant and the mind-set of her late-Victorian characters is entirely believable.

I take this to be a prequel to Nell Bray's later adventures as a sleuth. If so, it is a very attractive beginning.

At the turn of the twentieth century, Nell Bray attends Somerville College at Oxford University with her best friends Imogen and Midge. The three female pals are also close to Alan, Nathan and Kit. So when Alan invites them to his uncle's home near Skiddow during the summer break, they gratefully accept. Also, going on the trip is Oxford Don Michael Meredith, a brilliant scholar who wants to take part in the group's planned philosophy discussions.

The villagers openly detest Alan's uncle with some believing he is a murderer because he shot at a mob on his property and one of the participants Arthur Mowbry turned up missing. One night when Nell takes a walk, she stumbles upon Alan's uncle's body, which is tied to his horse. Nell desperately wants to believe it was suicide or that someone she doesn't know killed him but she cannot close her mind to the possibility that one of the people she calls a friend is a murderer.

DEAD MAN RIDING is more than just a mystery; it is a story about the friendship and the lives that bind people together. At the same time the background is at a point in history when women realize that they are the equals of men and deserve the same rights. The heroine is the most intellectual of the group because she is determined to obtain answers despite the fact that she might not like them. Gillian Linscott is a talented storyteller who writes outside the sub-genre box.

Harriet Klausner