Charming froth, I don't suppose I have ever read a Regency - or known any distinction between them and the American bodice-ripper - and this was an absolutely exquisite introduction. I have thoroughly enjoyed the almost anti-romances the author writes as M.C. Beaton in the Hamish MacBeth and Agatha Raisin series. Ms. Chesney/Beaton is deliciously clever, is a master of the setting, and is absolutely merciless with her characters. And she must write these books with her tongue firmly in her cheek.

If only Sir Charles Digby hadn't kissed her, perhaps Delilah Wraxall would not be in the spiteful habit of declining so many marriage proposals. In that one impassioned kiss, she had learned the enchantment of true love-and the fury of a woman scorned when Sir Charles vanished without an explanation. Now she breaks hearts with glee, wreaking havoc amongst the surplus of suitors vying for her hand-and driving her father to desperate measures. the only hope for his flirtatious daughter rests in the capable hands of Amy and Effy Tribble and their reputable School for Manners. but subduing Delilah proves a monumental challenge. For as she steps into London's social limelight, she's concocted a plan to pique Sir Vharles' jealousy. And she's already got the season's most roguish bachelor wrapped around her little finger... This book would have been better if there was more to the story. 165 pages isn't enough to bring out a good story.

[This is a draft review]

Escapade really starts in Calais, France and ends up near Canterbury, England. The ending was too burlesque for me to rate this very highly, but the beginning and middle were superb. Maria, Lady Carleton, the childless widow of a much older man (one of her father's friends, of course) is walking her sister-in-law's obese dog when she spots a balloon ascension about to take place. Believing that the balloonist is Madame Blanchard (widow of a famous balloonist), she draws closer hoping to see the lady. Instead, when the dog is tossed into the basket with an inebriated English gentleman, she climbs in to rescue the dog - and finds to her dismay that the gentleman's friends have let the balloon loose. The ill-assorted and woefully unprepared party of three - a gentleman, a lady, and a dog - are floating across the Channel.

There is a prequel to this of course. The hero has fled England, after being named in the memoirs of a notorious courtesan. He is thus not the best person with whom to be marooned (inflight, as it were). When the couple make land (at the Cliffs of Dover!), they end up at an inn with no money. Enter an inquisitive and possibly blackmailing journalist, enter old acquaintances of the hero. The couple flee the inn for one of the hero's smaller estates. So far, so good.

Unfortunately, once the couple arrived at the estate, things took a turn for the worse (in more ways than one). Firstly, Maria discovers a child being mistreated by his uncle at the estate, and intervenes decisively. Secondly, the hero's fiance shows up with her cousin (who loves her) believing him to be dead and intent on purloining the best portrait of him. Thirdly, the hero's friend (the one who arrived at the inn) shows up, needing money as usual. And then the blackmailing journalist also arrives, completing the party - no wait, the hero's fiancee's father also arrives.

The last part of the book was a bit too much. It is true that everyone believes that the hero drowned in the Channel, but the antics of the hero in the last part reminded me more of a burlesque or a farce, than of the wry tone in the first two-thirds of the book. I did appreciate the companionship between the young child and the overfed dog, and the loyalty of the incredibly patient servants. But the ending did not quite satisfy me, nor did the reasons why the hero fled England make a lot of sense to me.

Grade = B-

Ever feel like the ugly duckling in a room full of swans? I'm sure we all have, and the heroine of this story has a simple, yet extraordinarily noticeable problem... she's very, very tall. Sent off to the "School for Manners" her parents hope she will "stumble" her way into a suitable match. Prospective suitors take one look and run, not to mention the trouble coming her way from envious ladies of the competition.

Ed Link was one of the great twentieth century inventors. He came to national renown after his invention of the flight simulator became a mainstay of World War II, and went from near rags to considerable riches. He then moved into the world of oceanography building some of the world's most sophisticated deep ocean submersibles, including the one that years later discovered the crew cabin of the sunken Challenger spacecraft, on the ocean bottom. He invented and personally tested the first deep ocean lock out chamber, now in common use throughout the world.

He discovered a sunken city in Jamaica, and contributed a great deal to ocean archaeology.

All this from a man who dropped out of high school and made a living as a daredevil pilot in the early 1920's.

This excellent book, written by a colleague of Ed and Marion Link, tells the tale of this inventive American from his barnstorming pilot days as a pilot to his invention of the flight simulator from an attic of player piano parts and a working knowledge of air pneumatics discovered in his father's out of business player piano factory, in the 1920's.

This is a great tale of success and achievement by an inventor who contributed a great deal to technology on both land and sea. I had the good fortune to meet Mr. Link when he was in his seventies, and I was in my twenties, and I was pleased to see this book, telling his life's story, published and bringing to light many never before known details.

- Mike Weiner

I first encountered this book while looking for information on marching bands (my number one passion). It was very informative and showed me a lot on how to improve my marching skills. It gave definitions, drum major commands, how to march, how to create formations, and more.

Even though this one is currently out of print, it is worth getting your hands on a copy of this book, as many of the state by state directories of nurseries in New England are still current, as is the Gardener's Calendar of Events and areas which feature the year's award winners for fruits and vegetables.

This book was like a high school course, without the distractions of school. It is the best GED prep book I've used so far.

well written and has good comments and contents. alot of slangs and the history of this boy Craig Shergold who contracted a brain tumour at the age of seven. He knew that there was 'water in his ears'' but no one believed him until a nurse probed his ears with cotton pads and they came pout damp. it also brings us to the question that we do not always need edvidence to prove that something is amiss it shows alot of the lives of people and thaeir families sufferring from from serious illnesses. good bokk. I 've read it at least 10 times and even suggested that my son's school use it as a textbook for literature.

There's no such thing as ghosts... are there? Poor abused scullery maid Alice makes a plea "I wish you were here now sir" to the portrait of the Eight Duke of Haversham (Gervase) -and suddenly there he is! Surprised to be alive, he promises to meet Alice again later and begins his hedonistic after-life, stealing food, loving women (four a night!) and causing havoc in the Tenth Duke's home. He is an unusual ghost in that he eats, loves and can make solid objects pass through walls. But back to poor Alice! After almost being raped by the "Groom of the Chambers," she calls on the Duke again and he appears in time to save her. Then he whisks her off to a secret room where he comes up with the idea of making her into a lady. Dressing her, teaching her French to cover her accent and gathering buried jewels he remakes her into the Comtesse de la Valle-Chenevix. Alice is Cinderella to a specter "Godmother." She even gets to go to the ball - well a masquerade.

Gervase wants her off his hands and married. Acting as her Uncle, he sets her up in London with a companion who paves the way among the ton. Then back to his former estate to write his memoirs. But all is not ending happy for Alice. Her piteous call to him results in saving her from an unsavory fiancée. Then she is set up with a new companion and a new love interest quite different from the first ones. Is this the end? What of the love she still harbors for her handsome ghost? I shall leave you to read the ending for intrigue and trouble still follow our hapless heroine. And what is the story behind the strange new companion? Can a dead man love again?

Spellbinding story! Worth reading because it is so unusual - and ends unusual also. Quick and smooth reading with just enough trauma and wonderful romance.