5 comments about Enslaved.

1. I enjoyed this book because it immediately "enslaved" my imagination. If you are looking for a book to read just for pure enjoyment then I suggest this book. I also implore you to read it with the intention and realization that this is fiction, meant to be nothing more...nor nothing less.



2. You know i sometimes wonder if people are reading the same book i must admit that some of virginia henley books are a little out there but anyway...
   
   
   LOVED IT i detest time travel romance and this was a kind of getting my feet wet to it..the concept was good it was almost like a kismet thing.I think the heroine held her own and not too many heroines can say they lost their virginity twice and loved both Marcus/Mark...good story you know historical romance novels it goes with the time and period of how they would act.
   
   its like i always say a bad reivew can really downplay a good book and a good review can really up play a bad book, because of some of the bad reviews for this book I almost didn't read it but i'm glad i change my mind



3. I adore this book. It is my favourite historical romance novel. I totally fell in love with the heroine and the hero. Diana is the epitome of femininity and sensuality and Mark/Marcus is the virile Roman conquerer. If I were a story book character I would want to be Diana who is portrayed as a perfect goddess. Mark/Marcus is a dream lover come to life when you turn the pages of this treasure. I was deeply touched by the way the love unfolded between the two characters, how their mutual contempt turned to passion and lust then into love.



4. This book was so high rated on Amazon I had to read it myself. The story had some very high moments, but some not so great ones as well. I wasn't happy with the way the romance played out, it was very unsatisfying to me. Also, there were too many sex scenes in the book. Yea, one when the characters get together is very satisfying, but the book verged on soft core porn. I also wasn't thrilled by some of the things our Hero did, though he seemed to redeem himself... at times. Allin allthe story was great, but I wasn't thrilled with the results. I wouldn't want to discourage anyone from reading this book, there were moments that were great, it just wasn't my cup of tea.



5. This is definitely one of the best romance books I've read historical or not. It is the story of Lady Diana Davenport who lives in regency England and is totally dismissive of men of her age as fops and fools. But this is all about to change; Diana is transported back in time, where Bath was ruled by Romans! She becomes the prisoner of General Marcus Magnus, a hardened soldier who is certainly not a fop but someone she could fall for if only he wasn't so arrogant and infuriating. But the passion between them is to much for either of them to ignore so we are treated to some very explicit love scenes (this is a Virginia Henley book after all, so it was expected). But the tension and the growth of feelings between them are palpable, not just descriptive and this is what saves the book of being just an erotica. Henley does a wonderful job at describing them as soul mates and the troubles they have to face until they get together(mainly caused by Marcus brother in the past as well as in the future) only add to the incedible suspense and tension.
   
   This is a lovely book, so please do not dismiss it as another erotica. I have read many "proper" romances where the feelings of the heroes and the situation bringing them together are of much less concern than in this book and if you get past the intense love scenes (the story can stand perfectly well without them), you won't be able to let it out of your hands.

1 comments about Day & Overnight Hikes in West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest, 2nd (Day & Overnight Hikes - Menasha Ridge).

1. I just used this book to navigate through the Dolly Sods Wilderness loop last weekend. The book was an invaluable tool because of the (somewhat) detailed trail maps it offers and the elevation profile of the trail. I did find the 2-3 page description of the trail to be pretty good, but I felt that it was too vague in spots.
   
   Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to get started hiking in the Mon. After a few trips, you might even start making your own loops with knowledge you soak up from this book. I digg.

No comments about West Virginia: An Explorer's Guide (Explorer's Guides).

5 comments about Bicycling the Blue Ridge, 4th: A Guide to the Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway.

1. It's so easy to pass facilities, accomodations and attractions along the Blue Ridge Parkway! This book lists them all, campings, B&Bs, country stores, and more, along with the best way to get there. A real must for anyone planning to have a great trip on the Blue Ridge and Skyline Drive. And the elevation maps are a great help too.



2. I just returned from a weekend riding the 105 mile Skyline Drive in VA. The Skinners' book was an invaluable resource to me in preparing for & executing my trip. The advice is practical, the information invaluable as you plot out your journey. I am already planning my next weekend trip (Afton Mt to Roanoke) using this as my Bible! If you have any interest in cycling all or part of the BRP/SLD, this book will first whet your appetite, then serve as your guidebook/Bible.



3. There are many cycling guides, but this is one of the most practical and well-organized. As other reviewers state, the real value of the book is its collection of information on camping, nearby hotels, access points, points of interest, etc. The authors also have a wonderful "you can do it" attitude in their narrative style. Their encouragement inspired me to ride the Skyline Drive last fall, to my great enjoyment. I would quibble, by the way, with their elevation profiles. I certainly discovered hills that they don't tell you about! Supplement your planning with one of the fine topographic map products for a better sense of what awaits you.



4. I have been a long distance cyclist for about 40 years on and off -
   since long before I could drive. Though I've lived in Virginia for
   20 of those years, for some reason I never thought about the Skline
   Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway! Amazing - since I've ridden up and
   down parts of the East and West coasts, to the midwest, and through
   parts of Europe and Australia.
   
   My brother suggested I ride the lengths of the two parkways, and I bought
   Riding the Blue Ridge, plus several other books, to help my planning.
   I just returned from riding 550 miles on those two roads.
   
   Though my riding style is different from
   the Skinners', I travel on a racing bike carrying minimal equipment
   plus credit cards, I found their book by far the most helpful, and
   its pages, which I tore out and then discarded after passing through
   various sections, became the Bible of my trip.
   
   The descriptions of the ride and places along the route were accurate
   and brief enough to fit into a portable and readable book. A good
   example of how the brief descriptions were so apt is the small hotel
   and store at Benge Gap: the book mentions it's easy to "zip by" -
   and given that the rain and wind were fierce as I approached, I
   really did not want to miss that stop. Those few words of caution
   did the trick - I found it no problem but otherwise would definitely
   have zipped by! Like all the places they mention, the description of
   what was there was 100% reliable and accurate.
   
   Besides my background in long distance riding, I have also raced and
   I am still a strong hill climber. I found the greatest inaccuracy of
   the book that it does not adequately describe the difficulty of this
   ride. I appreciate that the book is written by people who are
   accomplished riders, and that a mission of the book is to introduce
   this ride to a wider group of people. But, for instance, the book
   might leave the impression that riding from, say, Front Royal to Big
   Meadows is a reasonable stage on the bike for the average tourist who
   takes her time. While that may be true for some, I would suggest
   it mention explicitly that this ride includes over 5000 feet of total
   climbing, most of it at grades greater than 5%, and should be considered
   difficult.
   
   As another example, the ride going South from Volunteer Gap to Peaks
   of Otter is among the most challenging anywhere in the East including a single climb of over 3300 feet at a steady 6% grade. There is no mention in the book that this segment is difficult even for highly capable cyclists.
   
   I feel the book could be improved by, for example, adding a separate
   section describing the level of challenge involved in the rides, as
   is done in many hiking and cross-country ski guides. Not to scare
   the reader or create some elitist idea about riding, but so that
   people are prepared both in their training and in their daily
   planning. Any rider is advised to plan fewer daily miles along these roads than
   they are accustomed to.
   
   I used the book to engineer each day's ride, and to make reservations
   for each evening. It was immensely helpful and I'm truly grateful
   to the authors and for the book - it made my trip possible and
   enjoyable.



5. Two years ago, a staff writer for the Richmond Times-Dispatch wrote about biking the Skyline Drive in Virginia and my interest was peaked. My son turned 16 so I wanted to plan an unique summer trip for the two of us. We decided to bike the Blue Ridge from Afton Mountain (MP 0) to Blowing Rock NC (MP 302). We bought the Skinner book and searched the Internet for ideas.
   
   The Skinner book proved to be exceptional; every page was "dog-eared" by the trips' end. I discovered the book contained more information than the first couple readings revealed. A few things, the Skinners give detailed advice on the location of stores, and unfortunately, due to recent hurricane damage a couple shut down, so did a restaurant we relied on for a stop, but found a new one further down the road. I plan to offer the "findings" to the Skinners for the next edition. Second, reserve your lodging in advance. A motorcycle convention in the Meadows of Dan took up all the lodging for a 15 mile radius, ten days prior to our trip. Third, the Blue Ridge ride is extremely demanding. The Skinner's sound like seasoned riders, but it was a struggle for me. (I had to walk a portion of the steep grades.)
   
   Much can be said about the wonderful resource the Blue Ridge is. My best advice is to take a couple day trips to learn your limits and and develop realistic expectations. Then bring a good camera and enjoy!

1 comments about A Canoeing & Kayaking Guide to West Virginia, 5th.

1. I just recently discovered this book when a friend loaned it to me, and I can't wait to order my copy. This is a nice reference book that will stay on my coffee table from April to September. I do a lot of canoeing/fishing on the rivers in the summer, and this book has already led me to a lot of great floats that I didn't know about, even though I'm a native West Virginian. It's not going to tell you what to expect around every bend, but it does list the more notable areas of each river, including the dangers and problems you may encounter.

   The first section of the book has basic information on canoeing and kayaking, terms and definitions, dealing with locals, phone numbers and other sources of information, and more (Much of this is written in a humorous way, reminding me somewhat of Pat McManus).

   The book then lists each river basin, and after a short description of the area and a little history, it breaks it up into sections. The layout for each section is as follows:

   1.TABLE - Contains capacities and ratings of the section including rapid classes, river gradient, water volume, scenery rating, time of trip, and river level.

   2.MAPS - List of the names of the USGS maps and county maps that cover the section area.

   3.DESCRIPTION - Describes the river, the scenery, and any other noteworthy aspects of the trip.

   4.DIFFICULTIES - Notes any dangerous areas or other problems you may encounter along the way.

   5.SHUTTLE - Suggests put-in and take-out spots or if there are any shuttle services provided.

   6.GAUGE - Notes locations of river level gauges, phone numbers to call for river level information, or just basic references to gauge the level of the river for navigability. (I especially like this. Many times it goes something like, "If there are three stones showing on the so-and-so bridge, you should have no problems from point A to point B." This is nice since so many of our rivers have isolated sections that are nearly impossible to scout.)

   If you live in West Virginia and want to canoe or kayak, or if you are planning a trip here for some river sports, this book is a great buy for the money.

5 comments about Guide to the Blue Ridge Parkway.

1. Why is the origin of the name French Broad River? Who was Art Loeb of the Art Loeb trail? Why is the falls that you can see from Mile Post 361.2 called Glassmine Falls? It does not look like glass. This guide has an overlook-by-overlook explanation of the treasures on the Parkway prefaced by a good introduction on the history and geology of the road. I only wish the authors had added the altitude at each overlook. One appendix lists a blooming calendar and the overlooks most likely to have the flowers. Another one has contact information for all the enterprises on the Parkway from the Shenandoah National Park to the Biltmore Estate.

   It is a beautiful book with gorgeous color pictures. Text boxes detailing a particular subject such as rhododendrons or Daniel Boone are sprinkled throughout. But why did they have to use black text on a dark purple background for these boxes? They are so difficult to read. Except for that shortcoming, this book is meant to be used, not to be left on the bookshelf. I take my copy wherever I think I am going to be on the Parkway. As for the answers to the questions above? Check pages 120, 129 and 108, respectively.




2. I was on the B.R. PKWY and needed something more than the simple park map to figure out where the interesting hikes and views were. This book does it and does it well. I have been on the pkwy many times, but some of the history had eluded me until I got to glance through this guide. My buddy liked it so much, he bought his own just because I was always reading it. If you are going to drive the pkwy, I would recommend this book to help you get the most out of your trip.



3. This book was so much more than I expected. It is very detailed in any and all aspects. All sites along the drive are marked by mile markers right down to the tenth of a mile. There is a brief section that tells about the history of the area. Other sites, stops, overlooks and points of interest are well documented. There are also sidebars to the wildlife that are native to the region. There is a section dedicated to what plants and flowers are in bloom(Bloom Calendar)from Jan. through Dec. Campgrounds are marked by mile markers and they specifically tell how many tent and/or RV sites are available as well as the elevation. Trailheads are marked by state. Tunnels are also marked by mile marker and length. However, the height clearance was not. A must have book for first time and repeat visitors. I also recommend "GUIDE TO THE NATCHEZ TRACE PARKWAY". It is by another author but has the same format.



4. If you want to know that the overlook at milepost xyz.a is scenic, this is the guide for you....all 200 or so overlooks are so described. If, on the other hand, you want to learn abut the history of the BRP, about historical events (e.g. civil war battles)that took place nearby and offer worthwhile side trips, or restaurants and lodging within easy on/off reach of the BRP, this is not the guide for you. Mindnumbingly boring, repetitive, without a scintilla of originality! A waste of money, especially if you are driving the BRP south to north, in which case you have to read this guide backwards.



5. Having researched and planned trips for clients over the past few years, I have come to rely very heavily on this book and "Blue Ridge Parkway Guide" Volumes 1&2. This one offers lovely photos and interesting details of each overlook. You can get some of the same info online but it is not any easier to follow. Hikers may need more back country info but if you are riding the parkway on 1 or more wheels and you can only get one guide, get this one!

5 comments about Newcomer's Handbook for Moving to and Living in Washington, DC Including Northern Virginia and Suburban Maryland.

1. If you are relocating to DC, don't do it until you've read (or at least skimmed) this book. I haven't even moved yet and it's been helpful. First it explains different neighborhoods and why you may or may not want to move to that location. It also gives you helpful hints and good questions to ask regarding a place to rent or buying a home. Included are the daily life information such as where to buy a couch, find a veternarian, or the location of the closest park. All in all the book covers many issues that I would not have thought about before moving to a new place.



2. This book is devoid of any of the information I really needed, like where to get my car inspetected (and the whole process of getting a DC driver license) or even where the good playgrounds are.



3. THE NEWCOMER'S HANDBOOK FOR MOVING TO AND LIVING IN WASHINGTON DC is a great book for people relocating to the area, but even people who are not moving there can enjoy it. It talks about where the best neighborhoods and schools are in the District itself, as well as in Maryland and Virginia, mentions where the shopping malls and other stores are, and it even goes into detail about the town of Columbia, Maryland, which other books about the Baltimore-Washington DC area fail to do. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who is proud to say "I'm an American."



4. For all you hear about the benefit of living near a metro, I expected the metro locations to be shown on street maps. They weren't, and the other maps were of little use as well. For guidance on finding a safe area, they suggest asking local police.
   
   If you don't care about either of those, most of the other info was okay.



5. I moved to the DC area two years ago and found this book immensely helpful. It not only had information about fun things to do in the area but it also had answers to the most practical situations. I read one of the other reviews that said that it didn't tell him where to have his car inspected. It doesn't go into the minute detail but it will tell you what the requirements are and how to find out where you need to go. I now work in an HR office and we are giving this to new hires that we relocate to this area. All of them have really appreciated it and remarked on how helpful it has been. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone relocating here.

2 comments about Hikes in the Virginias (Exploring the Appalachian Trail).

1. Before I read "Exploring the Appalachian Trail - Hikes in the Virginias", I thought you could only experience the Appalachian Trail on an extended backpacking expedition. Man, was I wrong! Even if you only have a few hours to spare, you can still enjoy hiking on the AT - this book shows you how. One of a series covering the entire trail from Georgia to Maine, this book describes a wide variety of dayhikes in Virginia.

   With this book, I've explored many beautiful sections of the trail in that state - including McAfee Knob, Grayson Highlands, and Shenandoah National Park. You can bet that I will continue to use the "Exploring the Appalachian Trail" series in planning future hikes on the AT!




2. PLEASE NOTE: THERE are NOT 170 hikes in the book. The whole series must contain that many.
   
   I own 3 books in this series. The Southern Appalachian, the Virginias, and the Mid-Atlantic States guide. I have found these books to be a great aid in planning hikes, especially 2-3 day backpacking trips. Since most of these hikes are either one-way or round trip (as opposed to circuit hikes) you either need to have two cars or plan on seeing the same sites twice. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, but other books have better circuit hikes.
   
   This series IS very informative, not only with regards to the actually hike, but also the history both natural and otherwise of the area you are hiking in.
   
   I have done approx 10 of the 46 hikes in this guide, including both out and back day hikes, as well as 4 day 'thru-hikes' combining 2 or more of these hikes strung together, and this book has been very informative during these hikes. The maps could be a little better, as they are topographical maps with a green line for the trail.. They are adequate, but I've seen better.
   
   All 46 hikes come with a description, a map, an elevation profile, and an itinerary, as well as various other information.
   
   When planning for a hike I do tend to use this book in conjunction with other books, but I usually take this book (or copies of the pages) on the actual hike itself. The fact that the pages are so small allows for easier handling and storage of the laminated pages during the trip.
   
   So if you enjoy hiking and are near the AT while in the Virginias, you may want to take a look at this book. It is well worth the money.

4 comments about Hiking Virginia, 2nd: A Guide to Virginia's Greatest Hiking Adventures.

1. For anyone looking for great hikes in VA, this is a great place to start. The book contains detailed descriptions of 35 of the best hikes in VA and also list 64 honorable mention hikes. The length of the hikes vary from short day hikes, to 3 day backpacking trips.
   
   What is nice about the book is that for the featured hikes, there is a brief description. Then a ton of information: difficulty rating, available maps, trail contacts, and fees or permits required, available camping etc etc. The book then goes on to describe in detail what you will see on each hike. Each hike contains not only a map, but an 'elavation profile' so you can gauge just how hard the hike will be.
   
   I would recommend buying this book, and when you choose a hike, make a copy of the corresponding pages and laminate them. It will save wear and tear on your book as well as give you a water proof map.. Besides, it's also a lot lighter to carry 3 pages rather then a whole book!!!!
   
   My favorite hikes in the book have been Mount Pleasant, 3 Ridges (a difficult hike) and the hikes around Mount Rogers and Grayson Highlands.
   
   UPDATE: I recently did a few more of the hikes in this book(14, 18, 19). DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT follow the authors' advice for the Old Rag hike, #14. Instead of their route, either 1) Hike the fire road up and down (this is the easiest way) or take the rock scramble up and the fire road down. There are two problems with the route suggested by the authors. First, on crowded summer days you will have a hard time getting down as the trail is jammed with people going up. Second, I went during the week when it wasn't as packed and ran into a gentleman going up the scramble as I was going down. He told me that 90% of the people they carry off of the mountain with broken bones are trying to descend using the 'rock scramble' route. So if you are going to climb Old Rag (and YOU REALLY NEED TO, it is amazing) then PLEASE, use the routes I recommended above, and if it's a weekend during the summer, be prepared for a long climb up if you take the rock scramble, as people get jammed up in the narrow crevices.
   
   Good hiking everyone!!!!!!



2. This book is by far the best hiking guide you can buy for Virginia. This edition picks off from the original "Hike America Virginia"



3. This book is your complete hiking guide to Virginia, whether you're a novice or a pro. There are maps, detailed descriptions of every step of the trails, elevation guides, and even colorful anecdotes from the authors that give each hike an emotional feel. We've brought their step-by-step guides to great fruition on several of the hikes, and hope to do more.
   
   One word of caution: while crowded Northern Virginia is well represented, the best hikes fall along Virginia's spine, from the northernmost part of Shenandoah National Park, down the Appalachian trail, into Washington and Jefferson National Forests and then southwestern Virginia and Mt. Rogers. Residents of Front Royal, Harrisonburg, Staunton, Lexington, Roanoke and Blacksburg will be able to access the best hikes the easiest. As residents of a DC suburb, it's an hour to Shenandoah National Park, 2 hours to some of the great hikes further south, and 6 hours to Mt. Rogers National Recreation Area.



4. I have used this guide twice so far for short hikes. Directions to both the parking areas and on the trail were missing crucial details [e.g. I had problems with both for the Scott's Run Nature Preserve in the DC area]. Unless you have extra time and food and water, it is best to have a topo for even the shortest routes. This guide also lacks the grouping section that the VA Mtn Biking guide has [Best Short Hikes, Waterfalls, Views, Weekenders, Multi-day treks] and is grouped only by geography.

5 comments about Weird Virginia (Weird).

1. This is a fun book. It did not have a couple of things I was looking for, but it DID have many things I hadn't thought about in Virginia.
   I ordered the book to give to my son in college for Christmas as a laugh, but I ended up reading almost the whole thing myself! I am going to order another copy to give as yet another gift for someone else.



2. Weird Pennsylvania (Weird)
   I purchased the 'Weird' book for my 10 year old grandson, Jacob, who enjoys weird things and reading about them. I looked through the book before I gave it to him and was pleased that it was full of colorful pictures and illustrations and was easy to read. After giving it to him, I asked him if he had read it, and he indicated 'from cover to cover'. I have since purchased several more. I think this series of books are educational for him because it links his curiosity about 'weird' things with different places in different states.



3. I got this book for my husband for Christmas- and I read it first! I really found it interesting- as we have been in VA for 22 years and didn't even know some of this stuff existed. And my son is in the book in the section on wrestling-which I didn't know! I'd like to read other states by this author.
   
   A fun read- interesting facts.



4. This book is great it taught me myths and history in my own state worth buying to learn about where you are from and things that go on... I only wished they had more stuff that was directly in my area.



5. Growing up in Virginia, I never knew all the fascinating myths, legends and folklore that existed in this area as well as the real and unusual that this book explores. Truly an entertaining book - one that you would want to keep on your coffee table for others to enjoy! Before I vacation this summer, I will probably pick up a corresponding book on the State I visit for unique sights and attractions along the way. Highly recommend to all just for the entertainment factor!