No comments about Greetings from Old Newport.

1 comments about Whitman (Images of America).

1. Author David Hickey is a member of the Whitman Historical Society and resides in Whitman. His previously published books The Babe in Red Stockings and The Proudest Yankees of All were inspired by his love of sports and history. With the cooperation of many organizations and private citizens, he has assembled this fascinating compilation of the historically-rich town of Whitman.

No comments about Map-Greater Portland, ME.

1 comments about English Journey.

1. Priestley travels around the UK and in his dependable prose examines aspects of British life and landscape. His passage about the mythical 'Rusty Lane, West Bromwich' is a superb piece of writing. Occasionally he over-sentimentalises but mostly he stands up for the disenfranchised in the nation. Softer in tone than Orwell's Wigan Pier but similar in intention. A great read.
   The book reminds me of Louis Theroux's Kingdom by the Sea or the work of Bill Bryson although it details a more innocent age.

No comments about An Outdoor Family Guide to Acadia National Park (Outdoor Family Guides).

No comments about A Mug Up with Elisabeth.

3 comments about Vineyard Days, Vineyard Nights: The Romance of Martha's Vineyard.

1. I live on Martha's Vineyard and I have seen many books of photographs of the island. This book is just not very good. The matte pages are an unnecessary affectation and they tend to make the photos look like old postcards. The author drops names of boats and celebrities, but some of the pictures are blurred or show their subjects from the back. Surely these folks didn't pose for these obviously quick fan snaps. Not the quality one would hope for from a professional photographer. Oh, by the way, the romance of this book also escapes me. Please think twice before spending so much money on such a slapdash enterprise.



2. I am a resident of Martha's Vineyard and I find Nancy Ellison's book the best photography book ever done on the island. She treats her subject matter, be it people or landscape, with great integrity and respect. Her composition shows a wonderful artistic talent and her use of matted paper gives the reader a sense of paintings not photographs. It is a book no lover of the Vineyard can be without.



3. GAVE THIS AS A GIFT TO A FRIEND WHO LIVES ON M. VINEYARD. SHE LOVES IT AND DISPLAYS IT AND WE ALWAYS LOOK AT IT. GREAT THOUGHT! JOYCE

5 comments about Consummate Connecticut: Day Trips with Panache.

1. We love this book. My husband and I are life-long Connecticut residents residing now in Cheshire. We just got the book and have already discovered things about our own town that we never knew! When the weather cools we are going to go see the waterfall. We love to take day trips, particularly in the Spring and Fall -even the winter- and this book is perfect for that. It's well organized and jam-packed with all the information you need to make a last-minute day trip with panache. I HIGHLY recommend this book for anyone living in the tristate area or who plan on coming to New England for vacation. It should definetly be in the personal library of all Connecticut residents.



2. CONSUMMATE CONNECTICUT: DAY TRIPS WITH PANACHE BY STACY LYTWYN MAXWELL Even reading this delightful book from far away (Texas ) made me want to pick up the phone and make reservations for a trip to Connecticut now! Stacy has a fresh personable way with words and entices you not only with beautiful descriptions of the sights, but also with t he aromas and the feel of the places she describes. Her extensive research into history and customs, festivals, and fun is a wealth of information, and her recommendaitons can be trusted because she has not received payment from any of t he businesses mentioned. For any resident of Connecticut, this book should always be in your car! For any visitor to the area, day trips or longer stays, the book should be your first consultant in planning your trip.



3. What an accessible guide to touring Connecticut. There are so many ways to choose your trip for the day: there's the alphabetical index for a quick check on a restaurant, museum or whatever; the more detailed index by town, listing specific details such as annual events; a table of contents listing the towns by region and county; and a thorough introduction on how to find your way around the book. Historical questions at the beginning of each town pique your interest, and the events in each town are listed by month. It couldn't be an easier or more interesting and delightful guide, in fact it's a tour by itself.



4. Whether you are interested in the history of Connecticut or in its vistas you will find this book of uncommon value. Champion shoppers and gourmets will delight in the listings and the descriptions of malls and shoppes found within. Well resarched and written, this book will appeal to longtime residents of the state as well as casual tourists.



5. How could you pick up this intensively researched labor of love and not want to run on up to Connecticut or go exploring in your own backyard?It's ALL in here -- the leafy byways, eccentricities, history, the quirky and remarkable places, people and traditions that give this southernmost New England state that is also tied to NYC, a short train commute away,with its unique character. As the owner of ConneCTions Receptive Tours - out of the ordinary tours for groups in CT, I thought I knew it all, but I was wrong. I've been happily telling my tourism industry colleagues about this remarkable resource.

2 comments about Maine's Golden Road: A Memoir.

1. Being one who visits the Golden Road almost yearly, I purchased the book with enthusiasm. My experience was mostly positive.

   Gould demonstrates vast knowledge about the area. He describes: the realities of the Maine woods experience, personalities of the inhabitants, varieties of visitors, wildlife, history and industry.

   One area of disappointment was Gould's frequent choice of vocabulary and references. While reading, a dictionary had to be at my side. Also, frequently used french, latin and some historical references made reading more difficult and not fun.

   Mr. Gould did at times poke fun at his intellectual perspective. However, his choice of words does not seem suited for most.

   All in all, the book is a positive experience. One can take a trip to Maine's Golden Road, from their favorite arm chair.




2. As always, John Gould's dry-as-a-bone wit made me laugh out loud while reading. This memoir of his long friendship with his son's father-in-law deals with their shared annual vacation trips, through many years, into Maine's paper company owned north woods. The basic absurdity of a place where Maine residents rarely worked because they literally "couldn't get there from here" - it was easier for French Canadian workers to come in from Quebec, thanks to the lack of public roads - sets the tone for much of the book's humor. I found it a quick and easy read as well as a thoroughly delightful one.

5 comments about Knights.

1. This book is the first Linda Lael Miller's work I read. I loved time-travel theme and Ms Miller did a nice job for this plot. However, while reading it, I ,sometimes, felt a bit bored.The story started out good and interesting. A little girl named Megan time-travelled to medieval England and was raised by a rich merchants. She was given a new name, Gloriana. At the age of seven, Gloriana was married to the fifth baron of Kenbrook. Thirteen years later, Kenbrook returned home after battle. In stead of coming back to claim his bride, he brought a french beauty back with him and intended to annul his marriage. With a lot of help from brother and sister-in-law, Gloriana finally won her husband's heart. I enjoyed this part of the book greatly. However, the story after this part telling about Gloriana's time-travel back to modern day world. This part of the book is a bit confusing, specially, the same plot was repeated twice (time-travel back and forth). Because of this, it makes this book a bit less appealing. Although all the flaws indicated above, I found myself couldn't put this book down until the end. Well, this tells you something, doens't it? So, If you need something for a stress-free day, pick up this book and enjoy.



2. Didn't start like a time travel at all & some things struck me as not essential to the story. I couldn't grasp the characters, Dane wasn't likealble at first - even in a good 'bad' way. Gloriana was introduced as a tomboy which was not even a part of her character throughout the rest of the book. Took awhile to get to know the couple. It finally got interesting and I managed to finish it.



3. The book started out enjoyably enough, we were introduced to Megan/Glorianna who traveled back in time. However, I didn't really understand her character. She was described as a "tomboy" and "willful", but it seems like all she did was dociley obey everyone and try to submit to her husband, who didn't want her. I never really understood their attraction, as they magically fell deeply in "love" with each other after they had sex. I didn't quite buy it.
   
   When Glorianna is transported back to time, I was kind of confused about how her disappearanced wrecked Dane's life, as they had maybe liked each other for 2 days, and all of their contact was related to sex. Then, when she comes back, what's the first thing they do?? Have sex. There is way too much (bad) sex in this book, such as - "He tongued her in one long, lapping stroke, and she uttered a lusty shout, blah blah blah". They don't really seem to have a personal connection other than the booty.
   
   After they got together and she went back to the future, I kind of lost interest. The whole plot is a little too contrived, and her old life as Megan never came back into play.
   
   The first half of the book is fun, the second half is a bit dull. This book is much cheesier than her others.



4. From the back cover:
   
   In medieval England, Gloriana, Lady of Kenbrook, awaits her husband, Dane St. Gregory, whom she has not seen since childhood. She is stunned to discover that he has returned with a betrothed; beautiful Gloriana is to be cast into a nunnery. Dane's mysterious sister-in-law, Elaina, counsels her to win Dane's heart or see the entire Kenbrook line imperiled.
   
   Entranced by her passionate will, he cannot resist Gloriana's potent charm, while she falls ever more deeply in love with Dane, her valiant swordsman. But their newfound happiness is brief--suddenly, Gloriana is swept across the chasm of time to a dazzling future. Trapped centuries apart, Gloriana and Dane suffer the torment of their longing, knowing that only their love for one another and the strength of their desire can reunite them at last.
   
   And my review:
   
   I can't see the big deal about this book. I was so bored that I couldn't make myself finish it.
   
   My biggest complaint was with the heroine. The author keeps stating that Glorianna is a strong woman, but I saw no sign of it. Any "strength" she showed came across as childish petulance. And what I really didn't understand was what she saw in the hero. He was so mean to her! I mean, I know that sexual attitudes were different in medieval times, but this guy was a complete and utter jerk. I'm supposed to believe that because he's gorgeous and great in bed the heroine is willing to put up with being treated like garbage? I didn't buy it.
   
   I never saw any tenderness or love between Gloriana and Dane. It was nothing but lots and lots of sex. I have no problem with sexual attraction between the leads (in fact, it's necessary for a good romance), but there needs to be more drawing them together than just overactive hormones. It was just "I hate you, come here, let's jump into bed".
   
   I find this author's books are either full of sex, or are sweet with only a wedding night scene at the end. I've often thought that a pen name to distinguish between these two very different styles of romance writing would have been a good idea. I don't recommend KNIGHTS, unless you want a book that's only about sex and not about real love.



5. A lovely historical romance with the hidden gates of time travel. I really enjoyed it.