The combination of this book plus Sunset's Western Garden Book will arm the southern California garden enthusiast with all the tools and experience necessary to give a green thumb's up. A true plant geek will find validation and a friend in Smaus' and will read the book saying "been there, loved that". Activities like hoarding plants bought from the Huntington Garden's May plant sale struck a familiar chord.

A transplant to Southern Cal. will quickly gain the inside track to where to go and what to plant to make the best of this unique climate.

Coming from New England I needed a lot of advice on what to do with the clay soil and arid climate in Southern California. The Sunset Western Garden Book along with this selection is a great combination for those new to gardening in Southern California. (Try the soil amendment recipe, it worked wonders form me!)

Thank You Mr. Smaus ! Finally a book that talks directly to the Southern California gardener. If you live and garden in the So. CA area this is the book you need. Maybe I won't have so many failures in the coming year. This book opened my eyes wide.

As an animal lover I could relate to many of his pets. It is a book that would be enjoyed my many age groups.

Everyone who admires and loves Earl Hamner, will love this book. It is a real good insight to his life after he leaves the Mountain for New York City and then on to Hollywood California. Being an animal lover myself, I just love his stories about the different living animals that where in their lives. It starts with his meeting Jane and it is their love of animals from there on in. How they both taught their children the same love. Also He made the family of both seem so real I felt I knew them. The humor was quite effective and I found myself laughing out loud. Quite different from his other books. I know any fans of Earl Hamner will just adore this book. I am sure everyone will want to pass it on and after reading it, they will want to search him out and have there own copy signed by Earl. You can find him in Schuyler Virginia at the Museum for "The Waltons' Series" check the web site www.the-waltons.com Most Sincerely and with Love Dorothy Phillips

I am an animal lover and will probably give this book to my mother for Mothers Day. Mr. Hamner really knows how to tell a story.

On a par with Francine Rivers, Ms. Noble takes my breath away with this wonderfully written novel. Once I started the first page, I literally couldn't put it down. The story of Quaid, Emmeline and Merci and they're walks with God were so moving, I found myself on the verge of tears many times. Especially with Merci's story. To watch her go from tragedy to redemption was awe inspiring. Ms. Noble knows how to touch the heart with a deepness that leaves me truly touched. Not overly preachy, any non-christian will find this book very entertaining and won't help but be touched by it. Superbly written.

Diane Noble delivers a beautiful escape that takes us from Washington D.C. to sunny and wild Southern California. The characters are real. They have the same problems we all have. I saw myself in each of the three main characters...Merci with her struggle with who she really is, Emmeline with her determination and struggle with her place in life, and even Quaid with his struggle with his own desires and the desires of others. Ms. Noble weaves a tale that is sure to thrill the heart of every reader. Number three cannot come out soon enough.

Emmeline Amity Callahan has always been an outcast. Not pretty and vivacious like her half sisters, she is also socially inept and ill-at-ease with the Washington, D.C. social scene that is part of her world as the stepdaughter of Senator James Dearbourne, who readers will remember from WHEN THE FAR HILLS BLOOM (1999).

When her step-grandmother Sara Dearbourne, offers to give her the family rancho, she jumps at the chance. Sara's offer is only good if Emmeline can show a profit she does some research and plans an orange grove on the land.

She arrives in California after having gone to Brazil where she obtained Bahia orange seedlings. Meeting her train is Quaid Dearbourne, the son of her stepfather's brother, Spence and his wife, the former Aislin Byrne whose family owns the land adjacent to the Dearbourne's. His grandmother Byrne has just made a similar proposition to Quaid, she will give him the Rancho de Paloma land if he can show he is able to make it profitable. His cousin, Merci Byrne, daughter of his mother's sister Brighid, is disappointed when she isn't the one to inherit the rancho. However, Merci has a far more serious problem to deal with when she discovers the secret to her heritage - that her birth was the result of her mother's rape. Thinking of herself as being unworthy since she is the product of evil, Merci flees the rancho to go to Los Angeles.

In her quest to find work and to be independent of the Byrne family, Merci puts her life in danger. When she is forced into prostitution, she accepts her fate as a daughter of evil. She believes herself to be unworthy of anyone's love, including God's.

Meanwhile, Quaid and Emmeline are involved in a battle of wills. Eager to find a way to provide needed water for her orange grove, Emmeline discovers what may appears to have been someone falsifying water rights maps. Quaid, who has the most to gain from this, is the prime suspect. Emmeline whose feelings for Quaid has evolved from friendship to love, is devastated.

Merci, in the meantime, has fled from the control of the man who had her working as a prostitute and has found refuge in a central California mission and although she now feels somewhat safe, she still cannot accept the fact that she is unclean. Her mother and her Indian friend search for her but when they get close, are told by a wise friend that perhaps Merci needs to find her own way and come back on her own terms. Reluctantly, they return to the rancho. Fortunately for Merci, she finds an ally in another former prostitute who has found shelter at an abandoned mission. And, although Merci still doesn't accept that she is a child of God, she does agree to stay at the mission for a while.

Quaid has always cared for Merci, as their respective parents' only children, they have always been as close as sister and brother instead of cousins. Knowing the danger Merci still faces, Quaid decides it is up to him to find her and bring her home. Merci, though, feels hopeless. Will Quaid find her before it's too late?

THE BLOSSOM AND THE NETTLE is a complex tale, beautifully told as only someone of Diane Noble's talent can. As with WHEN THE FAR HILLS BLOOM, Noble's love of her native California is readily apparent. Readers will not be able to put this book down once they begin. Those who are looking for a compelling, inspirational read need look no further. Ms. Noble is able to skillfully integrate details of life in 1880s California with the story in such a way as to make the reader feel a part of Emmeline, Merci, and Quaid's world.

Readers will anxiously await the third book in the California Chroncles, trilogy, AT PLAY IN THE PROMISED LAND, the story of Emmeline and Quaid's daughter, Juliet Rose Dearbourne.

You need to have this book if you need to take mini-vacations away from your stressful routine. This is a wonderful book. Beautiful design, beautiful photos, excellent narrative. Of my 100+ design/decorating books, this is in my top 5 favorites, a position it has held for over 2 years. Like another reviewer, I also appreciate knowing the homeowners' names. Sometimes I see their homes showcased in other books published after this one, with different photo angles, or perhaps updated accessories, and I feel like I'm keeping in touch with old friends.

This is perhaps my favorite interior design book. Each space featured has a warm, unique and personal style that is not usually seen in the typical glossy interior coffee table books. Many of the homes are vacation or weekend cottages but they all share a feeling of great comfort and individual charm. I not only enjoy the beautiful photographs but the text reveals the personality of the owners and how the spaces reflect their lives. "California Cottages" brings a refreshing view of eclectic, somewhat bohemian living spaces that feel intimate and real. It's also nice to have a West coast perspective among the many interior design/style books that tend to favor East coast locales.

I highly recommend this book if you like the relaxed, and simply elegant cottage look.

Nowhere in the history of our planet has one place given the world's population such a bounty of harvest like the San Joaquin Valley has. Rollin Pickfords paintings are a historical record of this place; a place where beauty may not always be apparent, but nonetheless, exists. This is not only the work of an artist, but the work of someone who truly sees the world around him. A true lesson.

Mark Arax and Joel Pickford capture the spirit of Rollin Pickford's work and the connection with that great valley. The technical information on Pickford's work is interesting, but I find the biographical and background info on the valley and how Pickford's paintings and life are intertwined with it the most fascinating. It is a life lived well. Not only is it a wonderful treat for the eyes, but a good read as well. The valley is a hard sell; this book makes me want to go back.

This astonishing book contains 120 watercolors selected from more than 12,000 Pickford works spanning 60 years, creating a painter's workshop of styles and experiments. A collaboration of owners, art lovers and even commercial photographers and printers (using digital techniques), it is professionally edited by the artist's son, Joel, himself a photographer, writer and filmmaker. The quality could not be higher. I wish I had had this book open in my house when my children were growing up.

I first read Diane Noble's writing when I read Promise Me the Dawn under the name of Amanda MacLean. Ms. Noble is an excellent author. She does an excellent job of finding new areas to write Christian Fiction about. I enjoyed this book's characters and their search for the love that God has for them. This book has an excellent message of waiting upon God's timing, even if difficult situations. I look forward to the next two sequels and seeing what lays ahead for the characters.

Far Hills has joined the list of my all time favorite books. If you're looking for romance, spirituality, adventure, and suspense, this is the novel for you. With well-crafted characters that stay with you long after reading the final word on the last page, and an uplifting testimony to God's grace, mercy, and love, Ms. Noble has written a moving and gripping story, one that I will read again and again.

It's 1860s California and the Byrne family is about to lose their home, Rancho de la Paloma because they have had to use all available finances to fight to prove its boundaries. Aislin Byrne has been friends with Jamie Dearbourne from the neighboring rancho all her life and it was always believe they would marry, so when he asks for her hand just before he leaves to go fight in the Civil War, no one is surprised. But when word comes of Jamie's death, it seems it will be necessary for Aislin to marry Jamie's brother, Spence, in order to help save both their ranchos. Then, when word comes that Jamie might not be dead after all, Aislin joins in the search and will be honor-bound to marry him even though she has found it is Spence she really loves. Aislin's father doesn't realize that his supposed friend, Hugh Dearbourne, father to Jamie and Spence is actually sabotaging his efforts to save his home and everything he has worked so hard to achieve. Jamie and Spence soon join forces to break and deliver wild mustangs to the army in order to save the rancho and in doing so, attempt to find out the truth about Jamie as well.

This is an outstanding novel, superbly crafted and richly textured with may surprising twists and turns. Published by Bantam's Christian/Inspirational imprint, Waterbrook Press, this novel will appeal to historical romance readers everywhere. Although the character's beliefs are quite evident, they never overpower the story, and simply help motivate Aislin, Spence, and others to keep going even though the going gets tough. Diane Noble is one of the best writers of "inspirational" romance today. Her thoroughly researched, compelling stories are worthy of a wider audience than they will receive simply marketed as "inspirational" novels. This book shouldn't simply be read by the "Christian" audience as the beliefs expressed by the characters are universal. I understand its the first of a trilogy, but this one certainly stands on its own.

This is a good hiking book to have along with the Robinson California hiking bibles. Jerry Schad is an experienced hiker who has done all the hikes described within the text. He has a nice little ranking system for each journey, from ranges from one star for easy treks and 4 stars for the strenuous ones. I do think his ranking system is just a trifle soft. Some of the hikes that get 4 stars aren't really that difficult, nor do they have exceptional elevation gains. But this is a minor criticism.

The maps are OK, nothing exceptional, but he does adequately describe how to drive to each trailhead. As all hikers know, this can make or break a hike, especially ones you've never before attempted. Schad does a good job in getting you to the trailhead with the least amount of hassle. There is an over-abundance of hikes in the Santa Monica and Santa Ana mountains and not a particular emphasis on the better hiking adventures in the San Bernardino wilderness areas. His descriptions of two classic Southern California hikes are both flawed, however: the venerable San Gorgonio is described only from the Vivian Creek trailhead and (a more egregious omission)- the Mt. Baldy hike is described only from the ski lift way. The other approaches to Baldy are much superior, but are omited. This is a curious error.

All in all, a good book and one which every hiker in the L.A. area should own.

Jerry Schad is the author of numerous outdoor recreation guides among which are his popular 'Afoot and Afield' books for Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties. This book includes favorite hikes from all three of the previous guides, and a few others from Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

What makes Schad's guides so terrific are the rating system he gives each hike (1-5 stars, based on difficulty) and the nice sketch maps he provides. Tables at the end of the book help one to easily locate a trails with varied physical features. Finally, like all Wilderness Press guides, this one is full of natural history and a fun read.

If this book can be faulted at all, it is that it draws too much material from Schad's previous works. Relatively little space is devoted to the San Bernardino and San Jacinto ranges (5 hikes and 3 hikes respectively). Both of these areas deserve more detailed coverage. Perhaps Schad can be induced to write another book. Until then, this guide gives an excellent survey of some of the best hiking Southern California has to offer.

I've test-hiked 7 or 8 of Jerry's hikes. His descriptions and directions are quite accurate. Now I've only got 90-something left to go!

I grew up in SoCal, and found it easy to get into a rut, always hiking in the same places, only during the summer. This book provides interesting hikes in the coastal foothills for the spring and autumn, hikes in the desert for the winter, and mountain hikes for the summer.

His descriptions of the hikes allow the reader to match their adventure to their level of physical fitness. He includes enough information to determine how much water should be carried and even whether to bring the point-n-shoot camera or the 35mm SLR with a macro lens for wildflowers.

Whether you're new to the area and want a few good hikes, or a long-time native looking to break out of a rut, this book is for you. (I even find it enjoyable armchair reading, the fantasies about being on the trail are fun!)

...for the real facts. This book was one of the first Beach Boys bios to be published. Leaf is a fanatical Beach Boys expert, friend of the band to this day, and a frequent consultant on BB-related projects. His writing is not critical, but it is factual, and he tells the story well, illustrated with hundreds of vintage photos (reproduced from magazines, for the most part, so the quality is as dubious as the obscurity of the material is welcome). It is almost exclusively devoted to Brian. This is out of print, but due to be reprinted (hopefully in a radical update) soon.

Absolutely essential 4 Beach Boys & Brian Wilson fans, this is the 1st & best BB biography, full of great photos, terrific PET SOUNDS- & SMILE-era stories & background info, & Leaf doesn't short-change hard-core fans on the post-"Good Vibrations" era. Includes interviews with Brian's PET SOUNDS collaborator Tony Asher, Dennis Wilson on Charles Manson, Van Dyke Parks on his involvement with the band & Brian, & much more U can't find elsewhere. Full of great details, this was the 1st place where we got an up-close look at Brian & the Boys, & it remains the best look at this enduring American institution -- hey, they INVENTED California!

I was one of those fortunate people that purchased this book when it was in print. There are two editions, the original and an updated one. Get the updated one if you can find it. (there is not that much of a time frame between the two, but it is an important time in the history of America's Band). And no sorry I am NOT willing to part with my copy. David Leaf is today still close to Brian Wilson, I have seen him at many of Brians recent concerts I can only hope that a revised edition or a new book is on the offering. David also wrote most of the liners notes for recent Beach Boys re-issues from Capitol records with one huge exception, the Pet Sounds Box set. He did the original booklet notes but if you know the Beach Boys then you know who blocked it and demanded a re-write by someone else. Dont "screw" with the formula indeed.

I am an adoptee and I'm currently in a stage of my life where I'm becoming more curious to find out about my birthmother and my background. I was kind of scared and didn't really know where to start, but this book really helped me to realize that I CAN do something about it and that it's really nothing to be scared of. It gave me the perspective of the birthmother as well, wanting to know about the daughter she gave up. I have a feeling that when the time comes to contact my birthmother, she'll be more receptive than not - something I was very unsure of before I read this book. Jean Strauss and her book have kind of helped me to get the ball rolling and start seriously thinking about contacting my birthmother.

If "beneath a tall tree" doesn't tug at your heart and bring tears to your eyes, go see your doctor for a checkup. Strauss bares her soul in this fascinating adventure about her life. Besides being enormously helpful to adoptees, it provides a deep, raw look into the mindset of an adoptee. Her fluid style makes this an easy read.

Having recently been involved in a reunion with a sister that we did not know existed, this book (as well as other Jean Strauss books) gives valuable insight into the feelings of the adopted individual as well as some of the feelings of the other members of the family circle. Jean's struggle and sometimes blunt feelings toward her birth mother open up a new area of human feeling. How should we relate to this new person in our life and all these new relatives? All the details of the reunion and building a new relationship with siblings and her mother over the years gives valuable knowledge to others involved in their own reunion process. Jean shows us that a "blended" family can happen. She has not forgotten her adoptive family that raised her, but she also appreicates the family ties of her natural family. This book illustrates that you can have more than one mother/father. You can have many siblings and extended family and make it all work. We have done this in our family situation. This book is well worth the read. I highly recommend it to anyone in the reunion/adoption process.

Forrest combines history with suspense and comes up with an interesting and very readable instalment in the Kate Delafield Mystery series. An unpopular tenant is poisoned in a slightly seedy apartment block peopled by Hollywood employees of the forties and fifties. These eccentric and enchanting characters bring to life the era of McCarthyism and the House Un-American Committee, as well as nostalgia for the glamorous Hollywood of that time. Of course, lesbian detective fiction wouldn't be complete without romance, and Kate Delafield finds that in the Beverly Malibu. This novel has a strong story line and keeps you guessing until the last moment - I recommend it.

Owen Sinclair, a B-movie director is murdered in a hideous manner. This makes Kate Delafield think the murder was one of revenge. Through sleuthing, she finds that Sinclair was a "friendly witness" during the McCarthy witchhunt era. He spoke to HUAC (House un-American Activities Committee), which was the House arm of McCarthy's own Senate hearings. Hollywood was especially vulnerable at this time. Forrest skillfully weaves in information about that period through her characters but never allows it to overshadow the mystery. There are red herrings galore and Kate lets herself get emotionally involved with several of the people and there's even a romance in it for the lonely Kate who feels that she must protect the people she loves from the horrors of her job. She is also isolated because she is gay and must remain closeted to be able to do her job. The LAPD has a policy not unlike the military: Don't ask, don't tell. Every Delafield book reveals a new facet of Kate and this is no exception. If Forrest wrote mainstream detective mysteries rather than mysteries with a lesbian heroine, she would probably be as popular as P.D. James or Ellis Peters or Elizabeth Peters. It's unfortunate because all her mysteries are first-rate. As I said, the politics never get in the way of the story, although this book did introduce me to Scoundrel Time by Lillian Hellman, which I later bought.

This, along with Nightwood, is one of the best reads in the Delafield series. The murder plot and details are simple, as opposed to those in Apparition Alley or Liberty Square, and the story of the new relationship is unforgettable.