This book has been over-rated. Promoted as the "summer of 1977" this picture book is apparently the result of one or two afternoons (a Cleveland day game). Don't expect any pictures of baseball or the White Sox (there are 2-3), even though 1977 was one of the most exciting years in their history. While the pictures capture some of the parks' essence, they are very depressing. 90% are shots of forlorn fans that look like they are watching a last place team, when in fact this was a first place team. Old comisky had a lot of beauty that was missed here. I was there that summer and it didn't look like that.

This book has nothing to do with baseball and everything to do with people and community and one unique little corner of the world as it looked 24 years ago. I enjoyed it and I wasn't there. Looking at it with someone who was is even more fun.

As a lifelong Sox fan it was a real treat to open this book and be swept back in time to old Comiskey Park. Looking at the pictures gave me a chance to appreciate and enjoy what I never had paid much attention to at the the time- other fans around me. The place was a dump and we all loved it anyway. With such great detail in the photos I felt right away like my godfather and I were watching one more game together. Thanks for the book Mr. Elliott, for me it's a memory album.

I bought this for my grandson and granddaughter, who have just finished the third and fourth grades, in hopes it would help them keep up the skills they learned and get them a little ahead for next year. I also bought the 1-2 for our just-finished first grader.

Having observed what it took to get our oldest grandson through the school system and prepare him to compete for the best colleges (he won a scholarship to West Point), and having raised and educated four children of my own, I'm probably (dare I say it?) more qualified than a teacher to judge what's best in terms of academic materials. (I have also taught at the elementary level as well as in college.)

This material is too repetitive in terms of lessons already learned. It doesn't provide enough new material to be interesting, much less challenging. Reading to and with them provides more in terms of education than these workbooks. They're just too easy.

To be fair, the book did half of what I'd hoped. It does help them keep the skills they acquired. It doesn't, however, move him ahead. I will have to provide exercises to do that on my own.

The competition for top-notch colleges today is fierce. It will probably only get "fiercer" in the future. I'll be looking for -- and developing -- other sources to help my grandchildren excel in their schoolwork.

Engaging for the child. Mostly math and language activities of differnt types, styles, and complexities. Tasks get progressively harder toward the new school year. A good general purpose review and prep to keep skills fresh and build a few new ones before schools starts in August. Moderately well-illustrated. Encourages independent reading and offers a suggested reading list--though parents should review any of these books for appropriateness for their child. Books off this list that increase vocabulary and reading skill without frustrating your child are also very appropriate. The key is for the child to enjoy reading challenging materials--let your child choose what interests them as much as possible.

The Summer Bridge Activity series of books is an excellent way for kids to have fun and learn during the summer. I have used the book with three of my children at different grade levels. My children have continually entered the school year tops in their classes. I would recommend these books to any parents who are interested in their childs learning abilities. Great books.

I bought this book at a remaindered book sale and I can see why it didn't sell. I am a huge fan of southern authors, but this book is far below the quality of people I'm used to reading - Ellen Gilchrist, Richard Ford, Bobbie Ann Mason, etc. I thought t was forced - at times Bekkah sounded 12, at other times 35. The characters were very unrealistic. Effie, for instance, varied between being a mindless piece of fluff to a responsible, enlightened citizen with a social and moral conscience. Nadine, Alice, Greg were so stereotypical as to be one-dimensional. I only finished this because I wanted to find out the ending. The mystery was alluded to on the first page and resolved at the end, but lots of what went on didn't further the story or heighten the mystery. I suppose this is intended to be a coming of age story, but it's been done so much better by so many others - Carson McCullers, for instance.

I am from the small town of Lucedale, Mississippi ( the town on which I believe "Jexville" is based), and after reading "Summer of the Redeemers," I have to say that not even Anne Rice or Stephen King could make the hair stand on the back of my neck like Carolyn Haines does.

Her writing is exquisite, her characters real and believable and the subject matter hits so close to home that it makes her stories all the more believable and realistic to someone who has grown up in a Southern small town.

I do not want to spoil the book for anyone, but "Redeemers" is definately something to get now ( I see that at least the hardcover edition is out of print), before it is too hard to find. Luckily enough, I bought all of the existing Haines books for my mother a couple of years ago as a Mother's Day present, and am just now getting around to reading them.

Believe me...it was worth the wait. I'm ready to read "Touched," and then move on to the "Bones" series.

I think Mrs. Haines did a great job. I am a Mississippi teen, and can really relate to this book. It kept me interested all the time---there wasn't a dull page! I read a lot, and I really enjoyed this book better than most! It was really an enjoyable read!!!

Four romance novelists got together to write a short story that shows the beauty of Scotland. These stories involve clueless women who get their foot stuck somewhere and gets help out of their predicament by a long-haired highlander. At first they cannot stand each other and near the end of each story fall madly in love.

None of the four stories give a feeling about Scotland. It relies heavily on stereotypes and the lack of scenic pictures in the book does not help at all. One gets so upset with the female protagonists that the visual imagery of the their location gets lost in the text. One of the most poorly edited stories in this anthology is Connie Brockway's LASSIE GO HOME. Devlin Montgomery is helping American Toni Olson to find a kidnapped dog by giving her a ride on his motorcycle. Dev is physically attracted to Toni in her jeans and her seductive cowboy boots. One night they are staying in a room where they wind up playing strip poker. Toni has apparently lost her pants and is about to lose another hand. Devlin is staring at her thinking, 'If he won another hand, what would he ask her to shed - shirt or fantasy-inducing boot?' My question is the following, have you ever taken off your jeans while still wearing cowboy boots? It is near to impossible without having them removed first.

There are probably better stories that bring the essence of Scotland into their plot but this is not one of them. This book might seem like a good idea at the time but apparently too little time was given in the making of it.

If you want to think deeply, which most people don't when they settle down with a romance, this isn't the book for you, but if you want a light and pleasant journey to an idealized Scotland, you'll be happy with this book. The four stories are enjoyable, although I personally found "Sinfully Scottish," about a devilish and manipulative millionaire, much too fake and saccharine for my taste. My favorite was "Lassie, Go Home," which had a fun and spunky heroine. All of the stories have an American woman visiting Scotland, meeting a sexy Scot, and deciding to stay. It's a fantasy a lot of us enjoy, and who can beat the settings that always involve a castle? I don't think I'll be rereading these stories, but they were definitely a nice diversion, like a dip in a cool stream on a hot day.

Courtesy of The Best Reviews

Lassie, Go Home by Connie Brockway
Toni Olson is an American woman in Scotland to bring home a Beautiful Border collie she bought in hopes to advance her own breeding program in the States. Devlin Montgomery is the owner, reluctant to sell his beloved dog. When Dev's overseer, Mr. MacGill, takes off with the dog, Toni and Dev must track him down. Along the way they find a lot more than and old man and a dog.... They find a love that just possibly may last a lifetime.

This was a cute story full of laughs and more than a little sexual tension between the primary characters. Ms. Brockway has drawn a fun tale, just the right length for a relaxing summer evening (or a cold winter night!) The end of the story was a bit different and fits the story's theme perfectly.

Sinfully Scottish by Patti Berg
Emily Sinclair is a national bestseller of cookbooks full of her own decadent desserts, set against stunning backdrops and passionate tales. Colin Dunbar is a reclusive Scot, famous for his family's unique recipes for whiskey. Emily and Colin make an intriguing wager, allowing her to photograph his castle for her next book and search for a secret, forcing them into living arrangements which generate far more heat than his strongest blend of whiskey.

This was quite a steamy story, the passion between the characters exploding off the pages. The heat radiating from this one is enough to burn the reader's fingers while turning the pages. A unique premise here, Ms. Berg has penned a delightful story.

The Maddening Highlander by Debra Dier
Ann Fitzpatrick is an archeology professor come to Scotland on a quest for treasure and a legend. Iain Matheson is something of a playboy, known as much for his adventures with the ladies as his advances in his film production company. The two team up to solve the mystery of some hidden family treasures. But they uncover a lot more than that... they find a hidden passion as well.

This was a classic theme, revolving around a common legend of the Highlands, but it still works. Nothing new in this one, but it was fun anyway. It is a lively tale just right for some light reading.

Castle in the Skye by Kathleen Givens
Maddie Breen is a New Yorker, working in a high profile career, who is desperate for some time off. She heads to Scotland for the birthday party of an old family friend. Here she meets Iain MacDonald who is restoring an old castle for her friends. The sparks are immediate and electric between them, igniting a passionate blaze. But will they overcome the hurdles to their once in a lifetime love?

This was probably the favorite story in this collection for this reviewer. Plenty of tension from the moment Iain and Maddie meet. There was even a good dose of intrigue, with a subplot involving the castle renovations.

All in all, a very fun book to read. The common theme of American women going to Scotland for some summer fun and finding true love in the process. There was plenty of passion in each story and a good dose of comedy as well. This is definitely a perfect book for a hot summer night...or a cold winter one that needs warming up.

This review is for the Audio version. I would not recommend this tape to anyone! The narrarators are soooo dramatic - for instance in the first story ( I can't even remember the title, it was so bad) the person reading the story emphasises every last word of the sentence, whispers and has to take a breath every few words. It is very annoying. I couldn't listen to any more than 20 minutes of the story - that's how bad she got on my nerves. The second story was not much better - she should have skipped the accent and I was disapointed in the storyline - Susan Wiggs is usually much better.

Maybe reading the book instead of listening would make a difference. But I will never know because there is no way I would waste more money on these short stories.

This book includes three stories all revolving around one location, San Juan Islands in Washington State. One author started the stories by setting the scene, then two other authors continued with Debbie Macomber's story in the middle. I have enjoyed much of Macomber's work, so I selected this novel to a quick summer read. I truely enjoyed the combinations of the three authors, and all three stories were enchanting.

Putting authors Jill Barnett, Susan Wiggs and Debbie Macomber together at Rainshadow Lodge was a brilliant idea - and what a gift for readers. For three women, Catherine Winslow, Beth Graham, and Dr. Rosalinda Galvez, the old Victorian summer house on a remote island in Puget Sound is a sanctuary, a place to draw a deep breath, rest, re-evaluate their lives, and heal. None of them expected to find love. For Catherine, love comes packaged in the shape of her first love - and wow, have the years been good to him! Rosalinda discovers a workaholic boss that needs shaking up - so she teaches him the Macarena and raises his blood pressure. Beth finds a man whose teen-age daughter just may give them both grey hairs before they get around to saying "I love you".

These may be stories set in a summer place, but they'll keep you awake, smiling, any time of the year.

Este ha sido uno de los mas completos libros que he visto sobre coleccionables de Coca Cola, aunque la mayoria de ellos nunca los haya visto en mi pais. Muy recomendable para darse cuenta del amplisimo mundo de los productos relacionados con esta marca.

This beautiful 304 page hardbound library volume with colorful laminated covers will be a welcome addition to every Coke collector's library. There are more than 1,400 full-color, large, sharp photos, thousands of listings and more than 3,000 up-dated prices. Many of the items included are new to the guide and a joy to look at. Topics range from signs, art plates, mirrors, carriers, radios and clocks to menu boards, door pushes, wallets and dispensers, etc. etc. Sufficient descriptions are provided. It is a treat to see many of the signs, variety of paper goods, and wallets that I never saw before. This is an updated, quality book, Coke collectors are sure to enjoy. Enjoy, Enjoy.

I was very happy to receive this book. I know many people go only by the Alan Petretti price guides, but I do not think this one should be overlooked. While the Petretti guide has more total info, Alan himself says he ignores certain items and de-emphysizes others simply because he isn't interested in them. I believe that does a disservice to the collectors out there who may have other tastes. That is why I believe that the new Summers book is so important. Aside from being all color and very beautiful to look at, it allows collectors to get estimates for items they couldn't find anywhere else. Just because certain items have been produced in the past 30 years, it doesn't mean that some of them are not extremely collectible, as Summers demonstrates. I believe that any serious Coca-Cola collector needs to add this book to their library to be able to round out their references. Thanks again B.J. for another job well done!

It is totally beyond my comprehension how or why ANYONE could want this woman as a source of spiritual enlightment, information, or admiration after reading this book! I was so totally disgusted, shocked and angry. Her justification of guns and giving hate back at unkind people made my mouth fly open! Where is LOVE? Where is compassion? Where is insight? AND, where is "what goes around comes around". I think Mary Summer Rain is a disgrace as any kind of teacher or role model in any type of spiritual capacity. She, and her entire family, came off as angry, bitter, mean spirited lowlife's to me.

Mary Summer Rain has written a very enlightening book on her personal life. To me, that takes courage; to lay yourself bare like that. Nowhere in this book did I find any hate.

...MARY SUMMER RAIN, IS THE MOST VALUABLE SOURCE, I HAVE FOUND,FOR INNER PEACE, AND FINDING A SENSE OF PURPOSE, IN THIS SENSELESSWORLD.

I was very excited to read this book and I was highly disappointed. The content was great but the editor and author needs to be slapped. The layout was ridiculously confusing, the chapters had no flow, pictures didn't correspond with the stories, some of the interviews bordered on the foolish, etc.... The was a two paragraph mention about black male models. what about children models? What about the effects of we are portrayed in advertisements through history? Where is the history? A chronological timeline? I've read articles in white mags about black models that gave more information that this book. Don't buy it.

The author has spent admirable energy collecting images, interviews, and historical data. But she has been ill-served by her editor and publisher. The text and images are made incoherent by not having been shaped, as if the author's note cards had spilled on to the page in no particular order (a simple chronological narrative might have been best). Sadly, the result is a book about beauty that is not beautiful. The publisher seems not to have hired a book designer; the images neither flow esthetically nor relate integrally to the text. Even the index shows lack of care for the material, with the font unadjusted to distinguish between pages with images and those containing only text. Black beauty deserves better than this. And yet, since this is the only book of its kind, it is still worth buying... It is a joy to see these fantastic women all in one place. Kudos to Barbara Summers for introducing them to each other and to us.

This is a first and the most compelling, comprehensive and enligtening book on the subject. I applaud the author and publisher for their vision, tenacity and courage. A must for every library. Kudos!!