Stop and Smell the Rosemary is beautifully written and also makes a wonderful coffee table book. The recipes are easy to follow and the tips listed in the margins are great. This has been a favorite of mine to give as gifts, and has been very well received.

You must try the Mango Margaritas, they are festive and great for a change from the standard lime. The Tortilla Soup is the best I've ever had! There are far too many great dishes to name them, and my dinner guests have never been disappointed!

I love this book, and am very impressed that it was put out by a "non-professional" publisher (the Houston Junior League). The recipes are easy to follow & clear, the graphics are crisp and fine, and the food that I have made from the book has been well-loved by the lucky eaters in my circle.

I fancy myself a bit of a domestic goddess-- ask anyone who knows me if they would turn down a dinner invitation. I originally bought this book to give to a friend for a wedding gift, and eventually had to buy it for myself. I traded in a more "famous" trendy cookbook which was not well done for this one and have not looked back.

It's both complex enough for experienced cooks and simple-to-follow enough for the beginner-- plus includes some "everyone ought to know this" tips and charts on things other than the nuts and bolts of recipes. Buy this book; you won't regret it, and you're supporting charity work, as well.

I have been inundated with Jr. League cookbooks over the years, and most resemble nothing more than a cookbook of typical, unimaginative recipes compiled by housewives with nothing to do. I would rank them equal to the typical church group cookbooks that are published day and in and day out. Stop and Smell the Rosemary sets a new, refreshing standard for cookbooks of this nature. This book is truly a class act. Each recipe I have tried has been nothing short of amazing and wonderful.

I have read upwards of twenty book about W W I I. This ranks at the top of all lists. I read it at age 17 and was overwhelmed. I read it at age 62 and was overwhelmed.
This is a first hand account of a paratroop division that fought the Nazis for two years, sometimes going for several weeks under fire without beds, warm food, clean clothes or water to bathe in. The hardships are stated simply and frankly without embellishment and they are chilling. The sudden death, the casual and astonishing acts of bravery and the mass murder of war are all presented the same way. And yet there is literature.
The author never speaks of his own conduct in war, he only observes. Fewer than half a dozen men he started out with came back alive. He died of cancer shortly after finishing this book. One of the survivors of his unit visited his grave with the author's brother and said, "The bravest man I ever knew is buried on that hill."
This is as close as you can come to understanding war without being there. The feats of the common men that Ross Carter served with are feats one would only expect of a superman. They laughed about it, lived with it and died with it. The book compares with "All Quiet on the Western Front" by Remarque, with "To Hell and Back", by Murphy and with "Her Privates, We", by Manning.

History books rarely get into the everyday lives and thoughts of soldiers during war. This book does that and more by chronicling the exploits of Company C, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division during its 6 European Campaigns during World War II. The book is a little rough around the edges because Ross Carter, a member of Company C, died of cancer in 1947 before he could rewrite the original draft. Still, it conveys the thoughts and actions of this elite force like no history book can. Especially compelling is the Battle of Cheneux during the Battle of the Bulge which has been compared to the final battle in Saving Private Ryan but with many more casualties.

In two years of researching my father's involvement in the Second World War, I found Carter's personal history to be by far the most honest account of combat I've ever read. In telling the story of himself and the men in his platoon, the author provides the reader with an up close and personal look at the comraderie, the terror, and the horrors of war. From North Africa, to Sicily, Italy, France, and Belgium, where he is severely wounded at The Battle of the Bulge, Carter tells a deeply moving story of a small group of brave, honorable men of the 504 Parachute Infantry Regiment. Casting his fellow soldiers as simply young men doing their jobs, the author's account will bring to frequent tears any reader with a sense of duty, honor, and country.

Absolution is a true story of horror, love, the vulgarity of war, and the nobility of the warrior. Between 1960 and 1975, hundreds of thousands of young men were thrust into the barbarity of an Asian civil war. Inadequately trained for jungle warfare (and initially armed with defective weapons) the men of Charlie Company acquired their "killer skills" by instinct and imagination. Transformed by necessity, these young men became quickly transformed into brutal gladiators. "What's your body count"" commanders asked their soldiers each evening -- as if the war were sport, and if a scorecard named the winner. Exacerbating the soldier's dilemma was a powerful and biased news media which created a myth of the Vietnam-era solider as a misfit, a perverse example of a military machine gone awry, wreaking havoc and destruction upon innocent civilians. Absolution is the true, candid, unflinching story of Charles J. Boyle, a man who commanded a platoon in combat in Vietnam, and at the outbreak of the Tet Offensive, was selected to command Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 22nd Infantry. Absolution is an invaluable, eye-witness account and an outstanding contribution to the growing library of Vietnam military history.

I have finished reading Charles J. Boyle's, Absolution: Charlie Company, but I know this book will never be finished with me.

There is a great healing that needs yet to be done is this country; a great open wound that lies on the national soul and in the wounded bodies, minds, hearts and souls of those who we sent there. It does not matter where you stood, or stand, on the conflict called the Vietnam War; what matters now is resolution. That is what Charles Boyle has provided in Absolution. I have read hundreds of thousands of words penned on all sides of this so open wound, but none that I have read before have so touched heart and soul. There were times when I had to put the book down to process what these men, our sons, fathers, husbands endured in that time and place that is still so much with us; times when I felt weak with sharing their pain, awed by being witness to their courage. Boyle has taken us there, absolutely there; step by step, hour by hour, day by day as our young men grew, against all odds, despite betrayals from above, into men of courage, into comrades in arms, in a time and place, in a war often without explanation or understanding. Boyle graces us with witnessing the turbulence of mind and spirit when all that has been learned before is challenged in young lives, in blood, terror, conviction, fortitude, and courage. Be prepared for a great adventure into tears, into outrage, into anguish, into great pride. If you are prepared to face the beginnings of finding resolution, if you read only one book on the conflict called the Vietnam War, read Absolution: Charlie Company. "Falcon Six, this is Charlie Six. We're moving." Do move to read Absolution; it is time for the healing and it can begin here. Welcome home, Charlie Company.

No one has told his heart and the agony of Vietnam as has Charles Boyle in "Absolution". In telling of his time there, he lays bare his soul, what his effort was all about. He tells the how and why of his dedication to America and what Vietnam was all about to the US soldier. A great book -- one that should be required reading for all highschool students --- required reading in colleges.

Have no illusions about this book -- Bill Barnett delivers on his promise! We tend to make life more complicated than necessary! Bill strips away all the fluff and gets to the point on what works in the real estate investing business. This book is
truly a manual to get you on the road to wealth.

ARE YOU DUMB ENOUGH TO BE RICH is a candid "HOW TO" book on becoming rich by investing in real estate. Mr. Barnett (while using amusing antecdotes) explores and explains how to avoid the common pitfalls the that can destroy the novice real estate investor. Fortunatly he does not stop there, Mr. Barnett details the process and procedures (including scripts, formulas and templates) for obtaining quick loans for the purchase of real estate, how to find and aquire properties from motivated sellers and, once purchased, how to sell these properties quickly and for a predetermined profit. ARE YOU DUMB ENOUGH TO BE RICH is An excellent book for the novice and a great resource for the experienced investor.

Best Real Estate Book I've Ever Read.
Two Thumbs Up, a must read for any Real Estate Investor.
Thanks Bill
Sam

During the 2nd WW, I spent a good deal of time selling newspapers in the days before vending machines took over. I now live in Huntsville, Al. so thought I should read something by this author,who is best known for "Rocket Boys." However,when I came across this title, I decided to go with U-boats. It was a subject which had great news exposure in the papers I sold . Well I never realized how close the sea war really was to our shores in the early going. This is an well documented account of Nazi sub activity which was apparently kept quiet at the time. As a matter of fact there are so many accounts of ship sinkings that I almost gave up reading Torpedo Junction; rather like having to endure a losing football team for several seasons. This all changes at about p.200 when Hickman proceeds to give a most exciting account of a battle twixt the 'Icarus'(coast guard cutter) and U-352 which was the first German submarine sunk by our side . If you are interested in this aspect of the war which was a critical effort in which we were losing badly, this is your book. For those who like their desert first, start on p 200 of the paperback edition. If you are a "senior" like me get the nore expensive edition with larger type!

this book is for you. Homer Hickam is an exceptional writer and a great researcher. This true story reads like an exciting adventure novel. It focuses on the tiny coast guard cutters that fought the German U-boats that attacked the American east coast during World War II. Thoroughly documented, the reader will be introduced to a huge, bloody battle that took place just off American shores (including the Gulf coast). This is the same Homer Hickam who wrote October Sky and The Coalwood Way. He actually dived on the U-boat wrecks and the freighters and tankers he writes about. Highly recommended for the World War II buff or if you just like adventure books. Every bit as good as The Perfect Storm. It reminded me of that book.

The only dry part to this book I saw was a necessary review of World War II U-boat activities up to December 1941. After that, with the arrival of the U-boats off New York and then the bloody carnage off Hatteras, this book is a gripping, bloody true tale of American and British courage on the high seas against a determined German onslaught of the American coast. Read it for knowledge and for its fascinating personal stories of seamen at battle. You'll feel like you've also rode on the deck of the little coast guard cutters as they battle the U-boats and, at the end, you'll never forget the unsung heroes who fought and died so close to our shores.

Unfortunately for Dole, Richard Ben Cramer tells the story of Dole's rise from small-town poverty to near-fatal war injury better than the Dole campaign did last year. The author paints a portrait of the 1988 presidential candidates that is vivid and human, making them more than the caricatures that we see in our television screens and newspapers. I worked for a Democratic candidate during the 1988 campaign. Cramer's storyline and energetic, somewhat frantic writing style both mirrors and reveals the hectic, seize-the-day atmosphere of a presidential campaign. His greatest contribution, however, is the tremendous insight he gives us of the men who wanted to become the best known and most powerful person in the world and believed they could do it within a matter of years by traveling to small towns and big cities as they meet with ordinary citizens the wealthiest Americans. They are both crazy and courageous and Cramer tells us how they became so as he digs through their personal histories from grade school to the present. Dole may no longer be a player on the American political scene. But Al Gore, Dick Gephardt, Jesse Jackson, Pat Robertson, and Jack Kemp still are. Thus, this book is still relevant. Above all, it's a good read. For those who want to know what it's really like inside a presidential campaign or the head of a presidential candidate, this is the best book and most unique book written since The Making of the President 1960 by the legendary T.H. White.

Every American should read this book to understand what the Presidency has come down to, not just what happened in 1988. This book takes us behind the scenes of that election to reveal the character and personal histories of the men who ran and the qualities a candidate must have in order to endure this tough and nasty form of marketing. At the same time the reader comes to see the effects of that process on the candidates and their families. Cramer doesn't pull any punches, casting a scrutinous and unmerciful eye on the role and motives of the media and the ignorance of the American public. What drives these men to run for this office? Cramer gets at the truth and heart of the matter with reporting that is tough, intelligent, sometimes hilarious, often shocking, and always pleasing. We are left with the sad knowledge that the good man doesn't always win, and thus neither does America.

"What It Takes" is simply a stunning book. The life stories of six 1988 Presidential candidates (Bob Dole, George Bush, Joe Biden, Mike Dukakis, Dick Gephardt, and Gary Hart) are told here, but Cramer's book is more than a simple biography. Their stories are told in deep, meaningful ways with more insight shed upon their beliefs and thoughts than a 1,000 dull press clipings. Cramer's prose is nothing short of brilliant. He has a natural writing voice that is beautiful to behold.

In terms of personalities, I particularly found the passages about Dole & Biden illuminating.

This is just a terrific book, filled with humor, wisdom, pathos and adventure. The author poignantly describes his childhood descent into blindness, his efforts to ignore it, his initial rebelliousness, and his gradual coming to terms with his handicap. Before long, the reader, like Erik, no longer sees blindness as a handicap, but as one of many hurdles life tosses in our way. It is certainly less of a burden to him than was the sudden, tragic death of his mother, which he movingly addresses and comes to terms with. He finds purpose to his life, he finds love, and he finds friendship and adventure on the mountains that he climbs. Buy this book and give it to any friend who has an inclination toward self-pity, and it may change their life. Read it and be inspired by the resiliency and strength of the human spirit.

This is a must-read for crowds of all types. Touching, humorous, moving, the story of Erik will inspire many. Being blind myself, I can totally relate to situations Erik describes such as the "shaking" vision, wanting to be accepted among peer groups of any age, and the comical remarks that must be made to lighten up a situation. I especially enjoyed the adventures in dating and picking up women. Blind people too want to know what a person looks like and it was great to hear someone else echo the embarressment of mistaking a voice for a "sexy" woman only to find out it's a "girly" man. Those mistakes are made and have to be laughed off. It's just a feature of life, just like blindness is only a feature of a person, NOT THE WHOLE person. I strongly suggest this book to anyone looking for information or coping on blindness. Read it and you'll never be the same.

This is an ease read but surprisingly soul-awakening book for me. There are statements on life lessons strung together like jewels hidden everywhere in this book, from the start to finish, mostly on self-assumed constraints that are common to everyone, sighted or not. I found vicariously the family love, friendship, and community support invigorating. I sensed the humor, strength, commitment, and perseverance Erik W carries with him daily, not just to the mountain top, which makes this book an absolute page-turner. Thanks Erik W for writing this book and share intimately with the readers the details of your journeys and the poeple in your life, we all have a lot to learn and draw from your experiences touched by the top of the world.

I went to college long before Steve Hofstetter was born, and I never lived in a dorm. But I saw a copy and thumbed through it and laughed out loud. I'm sure I won't understand all of it, but there are enough funny parts to make it worthwhile. If you ever went to college, or if you know someone in college, BUY THIS BOOK!

I've been reading this guy's column on collegehumor.com for 2 years now. His sense of humor reminds me a lot of Dave Barry. When I heard he wrote a book, I knew I could count on him to make me laugh throughout the entire thing. He did not disappoint! There's even a forward from Rider Strong (boy meets world), but that's only the beginning.

Buy this book for your friends in college, friends on their way to college or your friends graduating from college. Even if you've never been to college, you'll definitely relate to sections such as his "Math of Dating."

Keep watching this guy. I heard he's writing more books. I want more now!

For anyone who has ever been to college, this is a must read book. Steve puts everything that is typical college into this book with a sarcastic spin that you just can't help but agree with and laugh. It is the best of his column for collegehumor.com. It is just a plain old fun book

Detective Sergeant Samantha Casey has a "gift" from her Native American heritage. She is able to speak with the dead. Not words, but images. When a man's body is found encased in a cement pillar in a burb of Chicago, she is called in. The dead man has a golden pin shaped like a lightning bolt clutched in his hand.

Sam, with a little help from Jake and Tim (a boy computer genius/hacker), she unravels a complex case which dates back to the Korean War. The case gets worse as it connects to the death of her own father years ago.

I did not think this one would be good. A detective that is able to speak with the dead? Never work! I was wrong! This was an interesting book from the first page. The case gets more complex than I let on. Very good reading here!***

In this first Sam Casey series mystery, Chasen Heights detective sergeant Samantha ("Sam") Casey uses psychic powers inherited from her Lakota medicine-woman mother to solve a Korean War era crime. During a Chicago rush-hour traffic accident, a car plows into a cement pillar, cracking it open, and revealing a body that's been entombed there for so long it has turned to a soap-like substance. The first time she touches it, Sam is tormented with visions of the African American man's violent death.

The action-packed story weaves together sub-plots involving illegal gambling in high social circles, historic racism in the supposedly integrated US Army in Korea, and police departments' eternal political struggles. And, if that's not enough to hook readers, Sam very reluctantly falls in love with another cop -- one who seems to be out to get her kicked off the force. Tooley's characters are memorable -- even minor ones like the big-breasted blackjack dealer who mesmerizes male gamblers.

This book will leave you wanting to know more -- about bodies that can turn to soap, race relations in the 1950s Army, Sioux medicine women, and especially Sam Casey.

What fun!

When The Dead Speak by S.D. Tooley will hold the reader's attention riveted until the last page is turned. With a foundation of Native American mysticism blended with a solid murder mystery, Tooley creates a masterful tale of love and murder. A freak accident where a semi swerves to collide with the concrete columns of an overpass in Chicago. As chunks of concrete fall away, a body is revealed encased in its concrete tomb. In his hand is a gold pen shaped like a lightening bolt, and a clue that spans the world reaching into Korea and the racism that American soldiers perpetrated against their own. The corruption of the evil done in Korea has spread on American shores to the highest levels, and even ties to Sam's own deceased father. Detective Sergeant Samantha Casey has a gift inherited from her mother, a Sioux medicine woman. Using her hands, Sam can hear the voices of the dead. When she touches the mysterious golden lightening bolt, she witnesses the ravaged, bullet ridden bodies, and she smells the blood and gunpowder. From a corpse dead twenty-one years, Sam hears the screams of battle and senses the fear and terror. If you enjoy Alex Matthew's series with the heroine Cassidy McCabe, then you will find Sam Casey equally satisfying and yet uniquely different. When The Dead Speak is a rocket paced, addictive novel that is impossible to put down. The heroine is sexy, gifted, and imperfect, with just enough vulnerability to keep the reader hooked. While it reaches a satisfying conclusion, When The Dead Speak also leaves just enough untied and interesting loose ends to lead into the sequel, Nothing Else Matters.

Cindy Penn, Reviewer

From the minute I started to share in the life of a simple yet complex story of a southern girl's evoluntionary journey through life, I begin staying up too many late nights, just to find out what was going to happen next. Once, I almost missed my stop on the rapid transit I was so caught up in Mary J's story. I highly recommend this book to not only young/ or maturing women but to men, also. It is "a must read".....

From the minute I started to share in the life of a simple yet complex story of a southern girl's evoluntionary journey through life, I begin staying up too many late nights, just to find out what was going to happen next. Once, I almost missed my stop on the rapid transit I was so caught up in Mary J's story. I highly recommend this book to not only young/ or maturing women but to men, also. It is "a must read".....

From the minute I started sharing in the simple but complex story of a country girl's evoluntionary journey through life , I begin staying up too many late nights just to find out what was going to happen next. Once, I almost missed my stop on the rapid transit, I was so caught up in Mary J's story. I highly recommend this book to not only young/or maturing women, but to men, also. This is "a must read".