Customer Reviews (1)

Could have been better
Being a devoted fan of Joyce Adams, my expectations to this book were great. Unfortunately, they were not fulfilled.

The book stills gives you that good feeling inside while reading it, in addition to some funny incidents.... ... Read more

Product Description
This book synthesizes current scientific knowledge of the Australian Zebra Finch, a bird popular with scientists and teachers in physiology, behavioral development, and evolutionary ecology, as well as professional and amateur ornithologists throughout the world. It builds a complete picture of the biology of this colorful species, integrating thirty years of findings from the laboratory with those from the wild, with emphasis on behavior and ecology. This new understanding of the Zebra Finch's adaptation and life history will further enhance its value to researchers and students in various fields. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Gold mine for zebra finch fanatics
written by Richard A. Zann, School of Zoology, La Trobe University, Australia Zebra Finches are among the most studied birds. Scientists all over the world have been using zebra finches as subjects for laboratory research. Field biologists have also been studying the wild zebra finch in depth. Now, Richard A. Zann from La Trobe University in Australia has written a book compiling a veritable gold mine of this information about our favourite bird. Topics covered in the book include distribution and habitat, feeding, drinking, breeding behaviour, social behaviour, vocalisations, imprinting, etc. For instance, did you know that several studies into the water requirements of zebra finches have shown that under certain conditions zebra finches can survive for many months without access to water at all (don't try this at home!). Or did you know that although wild zebra finches pair for life, DNA fingerprinting of nestlings and their parents does not always show the expected relationship (which, of course, is why we bird keepers don't recommend colony breeding when accurate breeding records are essential). Sometimes just one of the parents are related to the nestling, and sometimes zebra finches will even go as far as to drop an egg in someone else's nest. This book is fascinating information like this, non-stop. The book is written mainly with other scientists in mind, but still in relatively easy to understand English (on some occasions, I could have used a glossary, but English is not my first language). Some behavioural aspects, such as courtship, are illustrated with expertly drawn line drawings and much of the statistical data is presented in very informative charts and maps. If you are only interested in breeding and showing your birds for the sport of it, then you don't need this book. The information about domesticated zebra finch varieties is somewhat limited. However, if you are at all interested in the behaviour of the wild ancestor of your zebra finches then this is a great book which you should consider getting. In fact, I can only see one reason why not all people would go out and buy this book: the price. Specifics: Title: Zebra Finches - A Synthesis of Field and Laboratory Studies (click here for more information) Author: Richard A. Zann Published by Oxford University Press 1996 335 pages, hard cover Black & white line drawings, maps and charts. (review also published at my homepage http://www.geocities.com/Athens/2187/index2.html ... Read more

Product Description
Discusses the characteristics and habits of zebras and describes the life of a new little zebra at a large open-air wildlife park in New Jersey. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

animal photography
What a stunning book. Almost every page is filled with beautiful, medium to large, photographs. As an artist looking for source material I couldn't be more thrilled with this book. It will make the perfect addition to any collection of books on wildlife. ... Read more

Product Description
James Braedon's brusque manner hides a passionate soul who is searching for the perfect lover. A spirited young woman vows to find that person for him, but she has already stolen his heart herself. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Wonderful character development; Great storyline
Wow, I don't often think a book deserves a 5, for most have something that is not quite up to par.I cannot find anything to pick at in this one.James is a riveting character, unloved by his father and heartbroken by the disloyalty of his mother and death of his stepmother.He guards his heart and treasures his privacy, never letting his generosity show or sharing affection with anyone.His responsibilities are enormous involving an ill (and ill-tempered) father and several siblings that pop up, or are mentioned throughout the story.

Along comes Marguerite, a Frenchwoman, with lies, laughter and burdens of her own.She touches him as no one else ever has and she takes on the role of housekeeper during a time of crisis.The main house has been burned by his father and the ruin must be picked through, servants must be supervised and life must go on.Marguerite takes on the tasks and breathes life back into Braemoor.But can James trust her?Will he let her in his heart?Will she be "his last lover?"The romance is compelling and sometimes I despaired of it ever ending happily!Not light-hearted, the emotions this novel evoked were incredible.

A "must-read" and a keeper.I am off to find other Mary Blayney books - there are those other siblings I mentioned!

IT DEOSN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS!!!
I have no idea when this bok came out or how long ago but all I know is that it was the very first romance novels I had ever read. NOw since then I have read over 100 novels (much to my mothers dismay)and I have found that this is one of the best. The way the charaters work together in this story and learn to depend, listen to, and love each other really makes this story bueatiful.

Now most people would probably think what deos a 14 year old girl know ? Well when that 14 year old girl reads during class, after school, on the bus, at swimteam pratice and during american idol(which every mother cant get their teens away from) I would say she knows a whole lot.

From: an avid and respectical romance reader at age 14

a must read!
With this second installment in the Braedon family chronicles, Mary Blayney (the authour) completely lived up to my expectations and delivered an interesting and engaging novel that is (spectacularly) well written to boot. This time around, the hero of the piece is the eldest (and much despised) son, James Braedon, Viscount Crandall.

The novel opens with James returning to Braemoor (the family estate) only to find it in flames. It is believed that his father, the Marquis of Straeford, may have started the estate on fire during one of his deranged episodes. Now, James is faced with trying to rebuild the house, maintain the estate as well as care for a cold and uncaring father whose bad humours are going from bad to worse. On top of it all, half the staff seems to have decamped, refusing to work anymore for the evil and mad marquis. Desperate to hire a housekeeper in order to alleviate some of the burdens of maintaining the household, James (reluctantly) hires a young Frenchwoman, Marguerite Voisson to the post. The last thing he expected was that Marguerite, who has experienced more than her fair share of trouble and heartache, but, who nevertheless seems to have maintained a rather optimistic and pragmatic way of looking at things, would affect him so, and pierce through the careful armour of indifference that he had erected to keep the world at bay. Or that her charm and warm nature would awaken a yearning in him. But James had always vowed that he would never allow an emotion such as love to affect him. What then of his feelings for Marguerite? Will James open his heart to her? Or will he decide that he has suffered enough heartache in his life and rebuff the love that Marguerite is offering?

This is a romance novel to be read and savoured. A lot of the novel deals with both how Marguerite settles into her job and wins the approval and affection of all those around her, and how her relationship with James progresses from sympathy and empathy to love. Quite a bit of the novel also deals with James's background and why his father hates him so. As such, if you're looking for an 'easy' read all about tea parties and flirtations, this may not be the book for you. The storyline for "His Last Lover" is much more serious in nature, and the tone is also much more sombre. But it was written in a sensitive and intelligent manner that it made for compelling and riveting reading. I loved "His Last Lover." You really get to appreciate what a wonderful storyteller Mary Blayney is with this novel. And other than to note that the story unfolds seamlessly (though at a moderate pace), and that the characters were all brilliantly and vividly painted, all I'm going to do is recommend that you go out and buy or borrow this book.

A very enjoyable Regency
James Braedon arrives home to find his house on fire. When his servants inform him that his father is to blame, James is not surprised. His father has been disturbed since the death of his second wife, and an apoplexy further incapacitated him. James's relationship with his father has always been troubled, but now matters deteriorate even further. And to make matters worse, James's housekeeper quits, leaving no one to supervise the salvage of the house.

Enter Marguerite Voisson, a French lady whose own house was burned by an angry mob during the Revolution when she was a child. She takes on the housekeeper's job and soon puts his house in order and brings an unexpected joy into his life.

The topic of mental illness in the Regency period adds an interesting dimension to this story. Marguerite realizes that the father's stroke has caused him to mix up common words, which aggravates him further, and James agrees that the latest medical research confirms this diagnosis.

But most compelling is the way the hero and heroine overcome their troubled pasts and open themselves to love. This is a fine story of a wounded hero and the unusual lady who helps him heal.

This is the sequel to His Heart's Delight -- brother Morgan Braedon's story -- though it's not necessary to read the first to enjoy this one. As an avid Regency reader, I'm always pleased to discover a promising new author. I look forward to the next installment. ... Read more

Product Description
What better way to remember the branches of the facial nerve than the mnemonic Two Zebras Borrowed My Car! This is just one of the many mnemonics created by the author to help you remember facts you may need in your exams and medical career; see inside for the alternative version considered too risqué to print on the cover
A new edition of this fun pocket-sized guide featuring mnemonics and study tips to help you retain those all-important medical facts! An essential read for every medical student Mnemonics And Study Tips For Medical Students will also be invaluable to students of pharmacy, nursing and allied health subjects. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Easy Read and Very Useful
I purchased this to primarily help remember anatomical references and it's a great read so far! It's very simple and to the point with loads of mnemonics, some of which I thought I made up on my own (iPmat for mitosis). My favorite mnemonic so far is "ABCD Bitches!" lol. It's a mnemonic to help recognize melanomas.

This book is not designed to teach or explain information, but only to help you remember the facts that you have been taught. There are 3 sections: Basic Sciences, Clinical Sciences, and Study Tips. Each section is further divided by science or specialty, then further organized where appropriate like General, Ortho, ENT, and Optho for the Surgery Chapter. There are a few small drawings, but it's pretty much a list of mnemonics with maybe a 1 or 2 sentence explanation for each memory aide.

I'll admit, I read many that I was familiar with like ('APGAR' and 'Point n Shoot'), but it's nice to have them condensed in small book. To sum it up, this is one of those books that would be useful through-out all of medical school and probably other allied healthcare schools. The price was't too bad either, though $10 would have been perfect.

Useful book and small enough to carry around
I'm a medical student and I found this book very useful. It's small enough for me to carry with me in my clinic coat pocket and review when I'm not shadowing other students who are seeing patients.

Excellent!
I love reading this book.It provides various mnemonics for one thing to be learnt!Definately a fun way to remember stuff.I would recommend this to every medical student from year one to four! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Winning Wager
Forced to marry the unwanted ward of a nasty gamester to avoid bankruptcy, Trevor stiffens his upper lip and honors his debt.It apparently doesn't occur to him that Caitlin is somewhat less than overjoyed at the prospect of marriage to him until after the ceremony.This is almost a Regency coming-of-age story.Evidently Trevor was a bit slow to mature--7 years seems a bit excessive.The true pivotal characters are Caitlin and Aunt Gertrude.Caitin's warmth, common sense, and patience in the face of adversity (especially husband related) give the book depth and interest.I frequently found myself wanting to give Trevor a swift kick, but he finally realized that he was a man and could afford to tell his parents "no."The manner in which his sister Melanie resolves the question of the child's paternity is delightfully humorous and devious.Well worth reading--more than once.

Forced Marriage
Trevor Jeffries is young male who feels responsable for the death of his twin brother and their best friend.While drunk at a card game, Trevor loses alot of money and becomes engaged to marry theoppent's niece.Trevor being a gentlemen, marries the girl, and takes her up to an estate he owns.He leaves her there while he is summoned to London by his family. (They never knew about the marriage)They inform him all of London knows he was tricked into the marriage and the girl is already with child from another man.Trevor believing his family agrees to go away for two years so they can arrange for a divorse.

Five years later, Trevor arrives in London, and encounters a beautiful woman in the park and at the opera.It turns out to be his wife, Caitlin.Then more shock comes when he finds out he has a daughter.At first he still thinks she is tricking him but finally see the resemblance to his sister and the date of the child's birth.When they finally arrive at the estate he left her, he doesn't know what to think.The place has been turned around, making money not just for him but his tenants.And they breed horses, who are making an name for themselves with the ton. He can't believe his wife did all this, then he starts to suspect she got help from one of her admires.

They finally work things out, his father, sister and one brother accepts Caitlin and their daughter.His mother is the mother-in-law from h---, so she'll never admitt to a mistake but they live with that.

The story was good, the characters okay, I can't give it a 5 star but I can recommended it to read.

a wholehearted recommnedation
This is one novel that I can wholeheartedly recommend without any reservations! Wilma Counts has written a really good regency romance that also manages at the same time to cater to those of us who need for our heroines to possess at least some 21st century sensibilities!

The Honourable Trevor Jeffries, wrapped in grief for having caused (in his mind anyway) the deaths of his twin and his best friend, has been doing his level best to lose himself in a whirl of exceesively disreputable behaviour. The end result of which he finds himself losing everything at cards to Baron Fiske. The only way that the Baron will allow him to cancel his debt is if Trevor agrees to marry Fiske's young neice, Caitlin Woodbridge. Trevor of course agrees, and in no shot order finds himself wed to a young and awkward girl barely out of the schoolroom.

Trevor takes Caitlin to his estate in East Anglia, an estate that is falling apart and badly in need of funds. However neither Trevor nor Caitlin have any money, and they are finding it hard going trying to run an estate and make their marriage work. And when summouns arrive requesting that Trevor attend his parents in London, Trevor leaves after having quarrelled with Caitlin yet again. Once in London Trevor's family work on him to leave his wife and to apply for an annulment; they manage to convince him that he was gulled by Fiske and that Caitlin is probably an adventuress already carrying someone else's child. Trevor listens to his family and escapes by enlisting for the Peninsula.

Seven years go by, and while the Jeffries still refuse to recognise Trevor's marriage to Caitlin or the daughter she has borne him,Caitlin has managed to rescue the estate and has succeeded in making it a profitable enterprise. And when Trevor finally returns from the Peninsula, he realises that not only does he still have a wife (and a wife that has blossomed into a very attractive young woman), but that he has a daughter as well. Trevor decides to try and mend his marriage with Caitlin. But it is not easy: he has to contend with the rather nasty rumours that surround his wife, her distrust of him, and his suspicions that she is an adventuress. Will Trevor and Caitlin be able to mend their marriage or will the Jeffries succeed again in driving the two apart?

I liked this novel primarily because of Caitlin. She is a worthy heroine: brave, practical and warm hearted. But the main reason this novel met with my wholehearted approval was because Wilma Counts makes Trevor work at earning Caitlin's trust and love. Trevor keeps jumping to erroneous conclusions and frequently makes an ass of himself. However Caitlin doesn't fall on his neck and accept his treatment just because he apologises! Trevor is a young man that needs to grow up an become his own person, and in this novel we see that. And that's what makes this novel such worthwhile reading. ... Read more

Product Description
A New York Times bestselling author investigates the fascinating behavior and emotional lives of animals.From the elegant, lithe, and yes, friendly cheetah to the diminutive and faithful sea horse, and from the giant and surprisingly warlike hippopotamus to the majestic gorilla, animals have long fascinated humans. In this appealing book, Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson draws from his wealth of knowledge and a lifetime of fascination with the animal kingdom to present little-known facts and thorough explanations for behaviors of animals both familiar and lesser-known. Presented from A to Z, each entry is accompanied by a beautiful, full-color photograph. Readers will learn from someone who knows these animals and loves them as much as you do. 101 color illustrations ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Entering a magical world we barely know exists.
Jeffrey Masson presents a world of animals like none we've ever known. Although we may have heard the names of most of the animals in this compendium, even read articles about them in a science magazine, Masson opens our minds to each animal's startling beauty, quirkiness, or clever sophistication. It's hard to believe they inhabit the same one dimensional planet to which we're accustomed. The book is frequently brightened with anecdotes, mostly involving the author's childhood relationships with different animals, or reactions of his own children to the animals they encounter. The book makes the reader all the more acutely aware of the tragedy of the impending extinction of these extraordinary animals through our unthinking environmental practices.

Great Book about Quirky Animals
I really loved this book. It has fascinating information about a lot of quirky animals. Jeffrey Masson has had many bestsellers on animal emotions. I loved his book about Dogs. This book also has gorgeous illustrations. ... Read more

Product Description
Steve and Lily Bailey continue their work to bring God's Word to troubled villagers with the help of their new Cessna airplane. ... Read more

Product Description
He followed the trail of an outlaw...

In rough-and-tumble Arizona Territory, the desert sun burned hotter than Pinkerton agent Gabriel Winter's need to bring an elusive stagecoach robber to justice. There, he quickly encountered a formidable obstacle—Megan Kearney, the suspect's daughter. He wondered how such a rare beauty had avoided marriage in a town crawling with bachelors...Until he discovered she was holding out for true love. On top of that, the spitfire spinster hotly defended her father's innocence. For some reason, Gabriel wanted to believe not just her naïve claims about her father, but her outlandish romantic notions as well. Still, no outlaw had ever slipped through his fingers, and he wasn't about to risk that hard-earned reputation for the pleasures promised in Megan's fiery gaze...


Into the arms of a forbidden woman
Megan had to find her father before Gabriel did—which meant monitoring his every move. Accompanying him amid the saloons and brothels crowding Tucson's dusty streets, Megan intended to clear her father's name—even if it meant using her feminine wiles to charm the city slicker detective. She would prove that the maddeningly self-assured Gabriel had underestimated her resolve. But Megan soon discovered that she had underestimated the powerful feelings one man could arouse in a heart that ached for passion...and everlasting love. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Wish I could rate this a 10*. It deserves it!
I read this book in one evening (stifling giggles at 5 a.m. so I wouldn't wake my sleeping hubby). It was funnier than all get out with a different plot, likeable characters and great dialogue. A pinkerton agent (gabriel winter) heads to a stage station in arizona to arrest a thief. Instead he encounters the alleged thief's high spirited, devoted, full of hell daughter who not only does not believe her papa's guilty but does everything she can contrive to prevent gabe from finding and arresting him. Gabriel is a "facts" and "by the book" lawman who doesn't "believe" in people so megan's loyalty is perplexing to him. Especially since her papa had stolen her hard saved nest egg
and gone off to gamble it away already. Megan, at 28, is a tough on the outside, vulnerable on the inside gal who no one has ever loved....except her papa. And she will do anything to help him.
The story issimple and cute (although both characters eventually share their very traumatizing youth which gives you pause)but the predicaments Megan gets herself into and the craziness gabe goes through to undo her many plots is truly funny. I absolutely enjoyed every minute. I had started by reading lisa plumley's "the outlaw" and never finished it because I didn't care for it, but am so glad I gave this author a second chance. The lawman is plain fun. (oh, the one thing I hated.....which the authors have no say in, is that the guy on the cover doesn't look like gabe...don't you hate it when the publishers don't take an extra minute to at least match hair color with the characters!!!!) Perhaps if we mention it enough, some one will catch on... ... Read more

Product Description
A classic Lew Archer mystery from a Mystery Writers of America's Grand Master. Archer is on a long, wild journey up and down the coasts of California and Mexico trying to find the killer of two--more or less--innocent people. The zebra-striped hearse is just another hazy piece in this sinister puzzle facing the intrepid gumshoe. Previous publisher: Bantam. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

Revenge for Love
Ross MacDonald's THE ZEBRA STRIPED HEARSE has Lew Archer searching for many threads and being fired to be rehired on the same case as he gets closer to the truth.
Before Colonel Blackwell arrives for his appointment Lew gets a visit from his wife Isobel on a mission to help her step-daughter find happiness against her father's obsession that the groom in question is after the young woman's money.
Did Burke Damis leave behind his identity, and two murders to trap Harriet Blackwell into marriage to support him so he has the time to find his grove as an artist? Lew is hired by Blackwell to discover the background of the young man and prevent the marriage.
Harriet is determined to have Damis as a husband. Who will win in the deadly duel of goals and desire?
A great read by a master.
Nash Black, author of TRAVELERS.

ROSS MACDONALD'S "THE ZEBRA STRIPED HEARSE"
DO NOT THINK OF ROSS MACDONALD AS A MERE MYSTERY WRITER; HE IS A GIFTED STORY TELLER WITH A STYLE THAT IS SIMPLY WONDERFUL. HE DRAWS YOU INTO THE STORY PAGE BY PAGE, WITH FASCINATING CHARACTERS, CRISP BELIEVABLE DIALOGUE, AND LINES THAT OCCASIONALLY SOUND LIKE POETRY, SUCH AS, "I HAD STARRED GLIMPSES OF THE LAKE BETWEEN THE TREES, LIKE POLISHED STEEL CATCHING THE DROPPINGS OF INFINITY." CAN'T WAIT TO READ EVERYTHING THE MAN WROTE, ESPECIALLY THE LEW ARCHER NOVELS.

Unabridged reading with a full cast of actors
Retired colonel Mark Blackwell hires private detective Lew Archer to ivestigate his daughter Harriet's new fiancee, painter/layabout(/murderer?) Burke Damis, in The Zebra-Striped Hearse. (The title vehicle actually has a pivotal but otherwise tangential role.) It was the tenth in the popular private-eye series by author Ross Macdonald (the pseudonym of Kenneth Millar), widely considered to be among the top handful of best writers of detective fiction, especially of the hard-boiled noir variety.

Archer begins the case rather simply, but it soon becomes increasingly complex as questions lead to uncovered murders that relate to the case. The deeper Archer gets, and the more people he talks to, the more connections are made until there's a veritable web of links for him to sort through. (At one point, I actually wondered if it were possible for everyone to be guilty, much like a famous mystery set on a train.)

This is a different kind of audiobook and one I'd like to see more of: a full, unabridged reading of The Zebra-Striped Hearse performed by a cast of forty actors, with about a dozen of those tackling multiple roles. Some names may be familiar: Ed Asner plays Colonel Blackwell, with Kathryn Harrold as his wife Isobel, Jennifer Tilly as Harriet, and Joe Pantoliano as Burke Damis.

Prolific character actor Harris Yulin directs and carries the main role of Lew Archer. Yulin grounds the production with his solid portrayal, always in the foreground, but never getting in the way of his supporting actors. Other than Yulin, Asner and Harrold shine the brightest, though Tilly's turn is surprisingly earthy. Pantoliano, unfortunately, is given little to do -- even "understated" would be an understatement here.

The whole venture is underscored by a piano- and trumpet-based soft jazz score that lends the perfect "lonely gumshoe" feel typical of the films of the genre. And film is the word of the day, because unlike single-reader audios, The Zebra-Striped Hearse is really a movie for the mind -- it combines the best parts of unabridged narration and old-time radio. What a terrific way to be introduced to such a legendary series; I only hope the print versions can match up.

Brilliant by Chandler's Once Famed Heir
Why on earth are these former best sellers almost forgotten? The Lew Archer series gives my personal favorite (and that of an sizable number of mystery fans), Raymond Chandler's superb Phillip Marlowe, a run for the money. Ross MacDonald was a major name in the business for decades, and this story, spellbinding and with a smart and satisfying conclusion, is just terrific. Try it!

Another stellar novel in a spectacular series
The bad news about this wonderful novel is that it is not Ross MacDonald at his very best. The good news is that it is still far better than most mystery novels that have been written. Of the three great masters of the American hardboiled detective novel, MacDonald never achieved the brilliant prose style of Hammett and Chandler, but neither of those two came close to the meditations on the vagaries of the human soul that MacDonald made his subject over and again. All of MacDonald's novels deal with the consequences of original sin, of an evil that seems to be greater than any individual human being, an evil that constantly threatens to overwhelm human beings when they least anticipate it. Frequently, we discover in MacDonald that, as in the Old Testament, the sins of the fathers have been visited on the second and third generations. Often in his novels, the roots of the crimes of the present lay twenty or thirty or forty years in the past. In this novel, Lew Archer at one points explains to his client, "The past is the key to the present," thus stating explicitly one of the fundamental principles underlying all of MacDonald's fiction. Ironically this novel extends less into the pass than almost any of his other novels. One of his truly great novels such as the incomparable THE CHILL or THE INSTANT ENEMY will extend decades into the past, which MacDonald brilliantly links to the present. Often one gets the sense that MacDonald's is revealing the secret history of his character's lives. This one does as well, but instead of going forty years into the past, he goes merely a few years.

I loved the locales of the novel. Although I wish he physically described the areas Archer visits, MacDonald was always more of an ethicist than a sociologist. He was always less interested in communities and the way society worked than in the way that humans worked and how the decisions they make ripple down through the lives of other human beings. Thus he visits Lake Tahoe, but there is a kind of timelessness to the area he described. In reading Chandler, on the other hand, there is often a deep consciousness of the character and nature of the places where the stories occur. These technique benefits both authors, by providing a concreteness to Chandler's stories that is often missing in MacDonald's, while lending a sense of timelessness to MacDonald that is impossible in Chandler. Most hardboiled writers have tended to follow more in Hammett and Chandler's footsteps than MacDonald's, though James Ellroy is one notable exception.

Though this is not one of MacDonald's best novels, it is still exceptionally enjoyable. It is also one of his least typical. Some people survive you anticipate meeting violent ends (the body count for his central characters is usually quite high). As always, he unrolls his plot skillfully. The characters are all vividly drawn. And unlike many of his other novels, there is more than one unexpected twist at the end. This is as fine a place as any for any newcomer to MacDonald to start, and any MacDonald veteran who has not read it certainly should. It may not contain the glories of his great masterpiece THE CHILL (which more than one critic of the genre considers to be the supreme novel of the entire detective genre), but it is nonetheless a very fine book. ... Read more

Product Description
When an elderly relative passes away, the last thing Sir Michael Stewart expects is a bequest - especially a lushly attractive young woman determined to move into his home! The old lady's former companion and housekeeper, Catriona Grant has promised to take care of him now, but Michael doesn't need her help: The stubborn lass has far too many ideas about letting the sunshine in and chasing the doldrums out. Widowed and content at his remote and admittedly rather bleak estate on Scotland's coast, Michael has only one solution - finding Miss Grant a husband of her own. But letting her go isn't as easy as he imagined - especially when he discovers that what passed for contentment before has been shattered by fantasies of the sweet tilt of Catriona's lips, and the soft curves of her body... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

To Tempt A Gentleman
Clever plot, with stimulating dialogue makes this a book I would re-read.Not your usual characters who retain your interest in what happens to them, throughout the book.

Annoying and ridiculous story
I was surprised to read the other good reviews after reading this book.I would never consider this good writing.The whole story is ridiculous.At the beginning of the book Sir Michael and Catriona are constantly fighting and getting on one's nerves but in one page they go from annoyed to stating that they were only acting annoyed because they were both madly in love with each other.I know that this is common in romances but most romances are able to pull it off with some aplomb. Usually characters have time to warm to each other.The change was too quick in this book. One minute she's annoying and he only wants her out of his life forever and the next minute she is the woman who has secretly been in love with for years.

The author also seemed to not be able to decide how old Sir Michael actually was.The book states that he is not yet 40 years old but he has two grown daughters who have been married for years and everyone is constantly referring to him as a old or part of the older generation and "of an age".A man in his 30's is hardly old. Then he constantly tells Catriona that he is old enough to be her father. The problem with this is that the book also clearly states that he is 10 years older then her.She argues that a 10 year age difference is hardly old enough to be her father.DUH!It was absurd that the only thing that he kept bringing up to her was that he was old enough to be her father when he is only 10 years older then her.This continues until almost the last page of the book.

The other absurd part of the book was her family's reaction to her meeting an old love and their assumption that she still wants to be with the man, which she does nothing to dissuade them of this notion.Catriona is bossy and never fears speaking her mind but this time she doesn't tell her father that she doesn't want to marry her old interest and wants to marry Sir Michael. She manages to get her father and family to go all the way to Scotland without telling them who she wants to marry.They assume that its the old interest and are very vocal about their assumptions.She says NOTHING which of course leads to problems.

Overall this book makes me not want to try any other Kate Huntington novels.

What a Pleasure!
Normally, I consider romance novels a guilty pleasure.However, this particular romance has all of the pleasure without any of the guilt.How refreshing!The story begins with Catriona being willed to neighbor Sir Michael Stewart after the distant cousin she has been taking care of passses away.Sir Michael Stewart is a widower and confirmed bachelor with two grown daughters.He eschews fashionable society and instead enjoys his farm and solitude until Catriona's arrival disturbs his peace.Catriona establishes herself as his housekeeper and is intent on keeping her promise to her late cousin.She won't leave Sir Michael's until she has made his house respectable again and helped him find a wife.To Tempt a Gentleman is filled with fast-paced, witty, acerbic dialogue.About half-way into the book the plot really begins to thicken as we discover Catriona's history and full identity.The plot may be a little bit too contrived at times, but the dialogue more than makes up for the occasional choppiness in the plot.Also, I appreciate that the author manages to convey sexual tension and chemistry without compromising moral integrity.This novel is simply a pleasure.

Another fun one by Huntington
I love this author!She is so clever in her dialogue between her characters.I loved the whole story line and thoroughly enjoyed Sir Michael and Catriona.It was another one of Huntington's that I couldn't put down!I definately recommend this book.

Excellent!
This is a great story! The characters are wonderful, and I absolutely loved Sir Michael and Catriona. The dialogue is very funny and I was curious to see what would happen as the story progressed. Very clever, very witty dialogue, interesting descriptive passages, and just a whole lot of fun! There are a lot of funny comments in this narrative; if you like words and a funny turn of phrase or description, you'll enjoy this story. ... Read more

Product Description
When her father dies, leaving her penniless and without prospects, Elizabeth Medford is faced with a horrible future: marriage to the utterly vile Harold Wetherby. Her family thinks he's brilliant choice, but Elizabeth has witnessed Wetherby's cruel nature and knows a life with him would be a miserable one. If only he didn't want to marry her...But for that to be the case, she would have to have a damaged reputation, and despite her father's missteps, Elizabeth's own name is pristine among society. So far...A brilliant plan is hatched: Elizabeth will organise her ruin and escape the betrothal, leaving her old life behind. The only hitch is the man she hopes will do the ruining - irresistible Alex Bainbridge, Duke of Beaufort. But he has secrets of his own that make Elizabeth Medford a woman he should avoid at all costs - for both their sakes. He insists he will have no part in her crazy scheme...no matter how tempting she may be. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Did not Deliver
On the surface this novel looked like a good buy. It had a low price and several 5 star reviews.

By two thirds of the way into the book, however, I discovered the error of my thinking. The book plodded along and became quite tedious with mundane descriptions. Probably the hardest skill to master in novel writing is setting the scene. Most writers compensate by keeping this aspect brief. Not so in this case.

The lead female character Elizabeth, also became the dominant voice of the novel and increasingly irritating. Why do so many intelligent females (we are told so - so it must be true) act so stupidly?

The moral voice of the book was also questionable. Scandal was silenced through lying. Whilst there is no love for the ton, they are pandered to. Debts to creditors are not settled (I take it that the sisters benefitted from the excessive spending of their father) and traders left possibly bankrupt even having the affrontary to seek payment in person. Yet there is always money for frocks and hats and jewels etc. But of course the duke shouldn't have to settle his dead father-in-laws debts after he worked so hard for it, or should I say won it at cards.

Well, as long as the ton are bowing and scraping and making her feel important, why bother about the little people.

I expect more from the leading characters. I expected more from this book. I won't be buying the next in the series.

Very Annoying Heroine
The book started off slow and I skipped multiple pages. I was really put off when the Hero thought how little in common he had with the heroine. What? Well how are we supposed to believe that he falls in love with her, when it is apparent that all he does is lust for her? Then, after the Hero rescues the woman and married her, the Heroine can't even ask him * SPOLER ALERT** if he was involved in her father's death or not! She acknowledges that he must care for her.. but still the contrived doubt and then the BIG misunderstanding were just so ridiculous. The sex scenes were not that great either. I don't think I will buy a book from this author again, and I plan on donating it to the library instead of keeping it for my collection.

Strong Characters - Great Romance - Wonderful Debut!
Elizabeth's family is forcing her to marry an evil little man named Harold Wetherby.Elizabeth decided that if she is ruined that Harold won't want to marry her. So she approaches Alex Bainbridge, Duke of Beaufort but he refuses.Then Elizabeth goes from one plan to the next to save herself that marriage...Alex and Elizabeth life is intertwined through out the story - lost of romance and great plot... Enjoy!

Looking forward her second book Nothing But Deception-- due out Aug 3, 2010.

Nothing But Mixed
Nothing But Scandal was a good book. On an overall basis, the book was entertaining. The book starts off with the indecent proposition made by the maiden to the most notorious rake of a duke that was definitely eye catching. It was interesting to see how the relationship unveiled itself for the two individuals. It's a riches to rags story and of course back to riches for the girl as she marries the extremely wealthy duke 75% into the book. Unfortunately, the author does fail to be a bit realistic when the maiden is kidnapped by a scorned suitor & distant cousin just weeks before the lovers' marriage for the lame reason that the maiden's family connections will help him rise up the ranks when her reputation had already been ruined by her rumored involvement with the Duke. The author further attempts to portray the villain into a vile human being that starves and beats the maiden while in captivity until she is rescued at the church altar by the Duke himself. The Duke proposes to the maiden; however they must set her reputation straight by lengthening the betrothal another couple of weeks in order to reinstate the maiden into respectable society. Later after the marriage, the Duke seeks to financially ruin the vile suitor which ends into the villain's accidental death. With all the circumstantial events taking place, the heroine begins to doubt her Duke, but she always came back to knowing that their love is great and contradicts her emotional position on the Duke, which is extremely unrealistic and hence the reason why the heroine's behavior has been so questionable to the Duke. It seems that the author was not left with either enough time or plot after the two lovers marry and thus weakening the story's ending. The suspenseful events were entertaining, including the dialog between the main characters. The dialog with her best friend Bea is a bit irritating as although being married herself, this character came out a bit naive and inexperienced and hence very unrealistic. However, it was a good love story between the awkward maid and a duke and their romance was given good detail.

Nothing But Scandal by Allegra Gray
"Nothing But Scandal" is the first book by Allegra Gray.It's a charming historical with passion and a bit of intrigue and I found it a fairly quick read.

Elizabeth Medford's father died recently, leaving her and the rest of the family broke.Although she's always been the dependable one, she just can't quite bring herself to willingly wed her despicabledistant cousin Wetherby.He's cruel and seems to enjoy her fear and hurt.He only wants to marry her to improve his standing in society, so Elizabeth decides to ruin herself quite publicly, therefore taking herself out of his sights.But the rake she chooses just won't cooperate!

Alex, Duke of Beaufort, can't get the beautiful Medford chit out of his thoughts.Was she actually serious about ruining herself?Or was her suggestion another piece of her late father's plot?Unfortunately, the more he sees of her, the more he realizes she is just the Duchess he's been looking for...if they can avoid yet more scandal.

Not the most memorable historical, but for a first book I was much entertained.Allegra Gray is, for me, an author to keep an eye on as she gains experience. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Hilarious!
Book description:
Beautiful and reckless,the loversall women have been notorious for loving unwisely and all too well, But Cara, now the widowed Lady Norwood, refuses to follow family tradition. Instead, she is quite happy rusticating on her estate in the Cotswold, tending to her garden...until the day her brother arrives requesting her help. It seems that her niece, in the manner of all true Loversalls, has developed a most unsuitable tendre. And the object of her affection? None other than Mannering - the most irresistible, infuriating, indecently handsome rake in all of London.

Nicholas, Lord Mannering can have any woman he wants except the one he really wants - Cara. So he devised a shameless scheme to lure ger back to London. Alas he never counted on Cara's niece being so devilishly determined to hold onto her prize.

This book was extremely enjoyable! I laughed till my sides hurt. I also loved the author's writing style and she certainly knows how to keep you turning the pages with the exciting storyline! I was never bored reading this book and I couldn't wait to pick it back up whenever I had to put it down. I loved the fact that Clara's niece really wanted Nicholas and it kept you on your toes to figure out how the story would come to a conclusion with a happy ending. Did I mention how funny this book was?! I don't normally read these type of regencies without any love scenes, but I'm so gald I picked this one up, and I will definitely read something else from this author!

The Story took a backseat to the Setting
I found the general concept of the story intriguing enough for a buy, yet once you open the book, the writing was just too much. There was an influx of flowery description that by the time you finished reading the paragraph on a vegetable garden, you forget that indeed, she was describing a vegetable garden. I found myself skipping several pages because MacKeever just couldn't get out of her detail-oriented fix. I have an inkling that perhaps without those tedious pages, this book would have been a lot shorter. If only she just focused on the storyline, gave it as much dedication and depth, it would actually be a story rather than a guide to how people lived during Regency England. ... Read more

Product Description
Primrose by name, wallflower by nature - the shy younger Dunsworthy sister would rather study ancient Egypt than endure the ton's endless scrutiny. In Rupert Jordan, Lord Fortenbury, Rosie has found a companion with a passion for history and disdain for the marriage mart. The handsome aristocrat's easy smile might be irresistible to some, but friendship is all Rosie desires...isn't it? Asking Rosie to visit his estate for his brother's wedding seems such a sensible plan. Rupert can show her his hieroglyphic tablets, and Rosie's presence will deter the attentions of a tiresome husband-hunter. Yet every moment spent in the company of lovely Rosie, with her red curls and bright green eyes, leads Rupert to suspect that marriage may be underrated. In fact, the prospect suddenly seems quite wonderful... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Ferguson at her Best!
Can a girl from the country who has never been to town outmaneuver society's princess to win her own Prince Charming or will nice girls always finish last? A PRIMROSE WEDDING is the much awaited sequel to THE PERFECT BRIDE.Ferguson never fails to delight her fans by create engaging characters in her stories, and A PRIMROSE WEDDING is no exception. ... Read more

Product Description
Zebra finches are very close to wild birds in their behaviors, and the natural history and behavior of these birds is discussed in detail. Zebra finches mate for life and do not do well living alone, so most often they are purchased in pairs. The book takes this into consideration right from the start, and all care and handling information is offered for two or more birds. This includes detailed information on breeding, which is extremely popular with owners of exotic finches. Proper housing, routine care, and in-depth information on nutrition and feeding are included. Possible health problems are also covered.

A Resource section provides information on birds clubs, books and magazines and useful Internet sites. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Great little birds
This book was highly informative and entertaining.It covered all the areas I needed to know about my little zebra finch and also showed pictures of other breeds of finches that are available. Secondly, it was great value for my money and the company I purchased it from shipped it so fast I was highly pleased.

simple and easy guide
it contains value information about zebra but the mutation and types are not cleary defined

A good finch book
We got this book to help us with our finches and it's a good book with nice illustrations too. It's not real technical but it is adequate for a first book on finches and as it turned out the only book we needed.

The Zebra Finch : An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet
Excellent book in great condition ordered on Thursday recieved it the following Monday.

A Must-Have for Any Zebra Finch Beginner!
This book is extrememly helpful, with great insight into the basics of Zebra care.I purchased most books available on Zebra finches, and this one by far stood out on top.I would strongly recommend any beginner purchase this book. ... Read more

Product Description
The vast, dense forest and murky lake that surround Cairncroft Abbey aren't the only menacing elements that envelop the estate. For a dark history lies behind its walls - where secrets and evil still linger...Catherine Weston arrives at Cairncroft Abbey to visit her childhood friend Madeline St. Aubyn whose health seems to deteriorate with each passing day. Even stranger, Madeline appears to grow more nervous whenever she is in the presence of her cousin, Gabriel. But Gabriel has quite a different effect on Catherine - stirring a longing deep within her...Gabriel St. Aubyn is haunted by the curse that has plagued his family for decades. Living with the constant torment that he too will succumb to it one day, he has resigned himself to a solitary existence. Yet when he meets Catherine, he cannot resist her company - or his growing desire for her. But when a young woman is found dead, Catherine cannot ignore the link between this horrific crime and Gabriel. Is he the tender, charismatic man she loves - or a sinister stranger waiting to make her his next victim? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

You won't put this down once you start reading....
As a kid, I loved those tame gothic romances.As an adult, I need more- more twists, more suspense; and more spice in my story.This book covers all the bases, as well as having a twist at the end that surprised me.I love when that happens. This is Eve Silver's best story yet.Be advised that it is dark (that's what a gothic is about) and the hero and heroine had to endure horrible experiences in their pasts.You are drawn into wanting them to find love and healing, as well as retribution for the killer.The story keeps you on the edge of your chair, and culminates absolutely PERFECTLY!Can't wait for Eve's next book.

Dark, dark, dark, dark
I love Gothics and Eve Silver can write some of the best, but her latest, Seduced by a Stranger, really is dark.I thought it started well, but the further I read, the ickier I felt.I'm not going to summarize the story but just say that with all the baggage Catherine and Gabriel had, I can't see much happiness down the road for them.I know there was an epilogue, but I felt it had a twinge of sadness to it.I loved the description of Gabriel, and felt he could be a great hero, but his background was horrendous.Catherine's background was just too much for me. I don't see how she could ever get past that.There was just bad stuff all around--no matter where in the book, something awful had happened.I felt the violence was really graphic, also.I know I had a bad feeling as I read and know I won't want to ever re-read this one.3 stars for the writing (well-written, despite the darkness) and for Gabriel.He needed a fresh young miss to brighten his life, not the scarred Catherine.

Grabbed me from the first Line
There are a lot of positive reviews here about this book.There is not really anything I could add that has not been already said.But when I enjoy a novel as much as I did this one I feel as if I owe it to the Author to write a review.

This is a great Gothic Romance/ Murder Mystery. It grabbed me with the opening sentence and I had a hard time putting it down.It's price on the Kindle is a steal considering how good this novel is.

I would also add a cautinary note to tanyone who does not enjoy reading graphic descriptions of violent acts.There are several of them in this book described in gory detail.If that bothers you then don't read this book.

Mystery with a side helping of romance
For about the first quarter to half of this book, I was puzzled about the book being deemed a "historical romance". It seemed more along the lines of a dark mystery with a possible romance side plot. This was my first book by Eve Silver and boy, does she know how to ramp up the spooky factor using atmosphere.

There are several mysteries going on throughout this book:

1. The heroine, Catherine, has a horrible secret and harbors a deep pain. What is her secret?
2. Catherine's friend, Madeline's, health is deteriorating and she seems quite delusional one moment and sane the next. When she is warning Catherine of danger lurking around every corner - is she sane or is it a side-effect of her paranoid delusions?
3. There is someone killing and taking apart women that Catherine knows... who is doing the killing and for what purpose?
4. The hero - again, he didn't seem much like hero material for most of the book - Gabriel, is cold and harbors secrets even more successfully than Catherine. Can she trust this man? Is he the killer? Are Madeline's ramblings about him true? What're his secrets and what has caused him to become so cold and in control of his emotions?

I formulated a guess early on in the book as to who the killer was and I was right. But this didn't disappoint me because when the story behind the killer is revealed late in the book, I was surprised. The mysteries in this book were very solid. The end did come pretty abruptly, but it was still a good book.

I had two minor problems with this book which caused me to lower the grade from 5-stars to 4-stars.

1. Again, deeming this book a "historical romance" is misleading. In my opinion, this book is more mystery than romance. Yes, there is romance and some sexing near the end of the book, but it really doesn't seem to be central focus of the novel.
2. The author included the killer's POV when he was doing the killing. These were very disturbing parts of the book because the murders are graphic and sick. The killer is sick and the author really captured his joy at torturing these poor women. The descriptions could have been scaled back and the story wouldn't have lost anything.

And on that note, I would like to finish off with a warning for potential readers: This book contains scenes of explicit violence against animals and women. Not for the faint of heart who are bothered with dismemberment, torture, and sadistic descriptions of violence.

My Favorite Eve Silver Book So Far
I loved this book and hated for it to end.This was my favorite so far from this very talented author.Her stories are dark gothics but she always adds in heartbreaking well written romance.Both of the characters were damaged yet found each other and connected in a honest and believable way.Great way to spend an evening. ... Read more