Florida Books

I think this may be my favorite of all the books on Southern lighthouses that I have seen. Beautiful photography. Substantial factual information. Our paperback copy is falling apart in our library, I need a hardback copy and it appears they aren't available or are they?

First, this book is chocked full of Bruce Roberts' beautiful photographs of the lighthouses in this region. The photographs are nothing less than SPECTACULAR! Combined with the revised and updated information on each makes this regional lighthouse guide a requirement you won't want to be without whether you're visiting the region or a life-long resident. The text contains full, rich descriptions of each lighthouse, too.

I have many lighthouse books and all of Bruce Roberts' and Ray Jones' regional guides. I've read them all and used most of them while traveling. I've found them to be first rate, an excellent choice for people who want everything lighthouse between two covers. A joy to look at and informative to read.

First, this book is chocked full of Bruce Roberts' beautiful photographs of the lighthouses in this region. The photographs are nothing less than SPECTACULAR! Combined with the revised and updated information on each makes this regional lighthouse guide a requirement you won't want to be without whether you're visiting the region or a life-long resident. The text contains full, rich descriptions of each lighthouse, too.

I have many lighthouse books and all of Bruce Roberts' and Ray Jones' regional guides. I've read them all and used most of them while traveling. I've found them to be first rate, an excellent choice for people who want everything lighthouse between two covers. A joy to look at and informative to read.

Struggle for the Gulf Borderlands is the best single book on the often-overlooked Gulf Coast Theater of the War of 1812. Well written and researched, Struggle for the Gulf Borderlands brings to light several little understood aspects of the War of 1812. First, it illustrates the previously overlooked interrelation of the Creek War and the bearing it had on the outcome of the War of 1812.

Secondly, it details all military and political actions on the Gulf Coast leading up to the Battle of New Orleans. Most books focus only on the events of the battle, ignoring the many actions that had a direct influence on how the Battle of New Orleans was fought. Struggle for the Gulf Borderlands describes these events so one can understand thier impact on the outcome of the battle itself.

Lastly, Struggle for the Gulf Borderlands brings to light the divergent Southern opinion that the War of 1812 was a great military victory. From the Southern perspective, victory was nearly complete; the Creeks had been destroyed (opening more land for settlement); the Mobile territory had been annexed; and a major British invasion had been decisively stopped. The book contrasts this Southern perspective to the typical Northern view that the War of 1812 was at best a draw, which is the general view put forward by the majority of books on this subject.

Overall, the book is readable and informative. It is important for the new ideas and information it brings to the history of an area and a period. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in either the Creek War or the War of 1812.

Dr. Owsley tells the story of the Gulf area during the War of 1812 in a very readable manner. His work is quite thorough and includes a lot of detail about the skirmishes and battles. I recommend this to anyone with an interest in the War of 1812 and the Creek Indian War. The research done was well documented and any student of history will find this a great source.

For decades to come this will be the standard reference work on this topic. Superbly researched utilizing not only the usual American sources, but the previously untapped archives of Spain and Great Britain. Owsley has integrated the Creek War into the larger framework of the War of 1812 causing the reader at some point to pronounce "Eureka" as you begin to acquire a whole new perspective on Andrew Jackson and the conflict with Great Britain.

This may easily be the best history on the Creek War of 1813-1814. What could have been a completely altered history of the United States - if Andrew Jackson had not been in command, if he would have hesitated only weeks from the crucible campaign concluding at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend, if the British would have landed the state-of-the-art muskets, artillery, military advisors/trainers, and cavalry accoutrements several weeks earlier than they did, if the Spanish had been more pro-active than they were for the Creeks, etc. - would have prevented us from our Manifest Destiny! I never before have read all of this with such fervor, explanation, and detail. Owsley makes the point that too many of our historians have belittled our accomplishments in these two interrelated wars and downplayed their significance. Often we have been led to believe that the War of 1812 was a "draw." He makes the point that it was on balance a resounding victory.

Jackson's being in the right place at the right time for the Battle of New Orleans would not have occurred but for his role in the Creek War and the overwhelming victory achieved. We would not have had the experienced and trained troops in place under his command but for the Creek War. And, inasmuch as the British did not recognize the validity of the Louisiana Purchase, if they had won the Battle of New Orleans then the Treaty of Ghent signed in December 1814 would not have applied to any claims that they would have asserted over New Orleans, Louisiana, and their planned buffer states under the Creek Indians and their allies. The frontier would have been inflamed and we would have had strong buffer Indian states with which to contend and two mutually supportive European powers. All of this was prevented by Andrew Jackson and his juggernaut victory at Horseshoe Bend. The sheer quantum of international intrigue taking place at Pensacola and throughout the Gulf area is enlightening.

This book is highly recommended by this reviewer. You will receive a whole new perspective on Andrew Jackson and his brave Tennessee and Georgia troops in the Creek War.

Tampa Treasures is a beautiful book! From the cover to the creative, but simple recipes, the Junior League of Tampa did a supurb job on this one!

This cookbook is loaded with great recipes! I love the fact that the preparation and cooking time is listed after each recipe. It also includes color pictures! There is such a wide-range of recipes from all over the state of Florida such as Greek, Spanish, Italian and Cuban cuisine. As a member of the Junior League of Tampa and the Cookbook Chairman, I love this book!

After several outstanding meals at my friend's home, I asked for a few of her recipes . . . when she informed my that they all came from "Tampa Treasures," I decided to try and get my hands on a copy. I've now made several of the recipes and have found that each one is easy to prepare and outstanding. The Junior League of Tampa has indeed been very generous in sharing their culinary best!

Tombigbee is a collection of poems which will touch your soul. Langhorne writes about his childhood, his career as a cardiologist and his travels. He opens his heart to those in physical pain in a way that you hope all doctors would. Langhorne paints a picture in each poem so that you can feel and see what he is trying to tell you. He is a great observer of life.

The poet strives to say that poetry sustains our lives, and our freedom, through the imagination. This is a book about childhood in a small Southern town and the influence of a river on the rest of his life.

Tombigbee is a collection of poems which will touch your soul. Langhorne writes about his childhood, his career as a cardiologist and his travels. He opens his heart to those in physical pain in a way that you hope all doctors would. Langhorne paints a picture in each poem so that you can feel and see what he is trying to tell you. He is a great observer of life.

We just returned today from our Universal Orlando adventure. We found the book very helpful since we had never visited Universal before. The summaries of each attraction and food/shopping in each park were great. We used it to plan our daily schedule and even to choose our seats on each ride to maximize our enjoyment!

For anyone planning a vacation to Universal Studios Orlando, this book is a must! With so many guide books on the Orlando attractions, USO gets only a brief mention. So when I found this book, I was thrilled. It covers everything you need to know when planning - when to go, where to stay, where to eat. It lists each attraction and show in great detail. There is a section on each hotel on the property, which is very detailed and very helpful, as well as a section just on City Walk, the entertainment area of USO. Even if you've been to USO in the past, I think this is a great book to keep you up-to-date on the parks and hotels. Very well written by Kelly Monaghan!

This is such a great book if your trip to Orlando is going to feature a trip to the Universal Parks. It is so hard to find a book that has quality input on any park other than Walt Disney World. For the families who are planning to venture beyond that park and into the world of Universal Studios, this guide book is a must. It has exciting descriptions of all of the rides, great input on dining and lodging, and will get you pumped up and ready to go!!

A satisfyingly convoluted tale that transports the reader back to 1920s Miami Beach to follow the adventures of novice real estate salesman Frank Hearn, a street-smart New Jersey guy who ain't exactly a saint, but nevertheless pursues his version of the American Dream in a way that is equal parts Horatio Alger and Benny Binion.

Frank's on the level, though, mostly. It's just that every time he skirts the law a little, he becomes a trouble magnet. And that's when the fun begins.

With its cast of noirish characters, its compelling historical backdrop, and Hearn's improbable escapes from the brink of disaster, "The Up and Up' would make a great movie. Think "Chinatown" in Florida. (Nicholson, in his day would have made a good Frank.) It would probably be too expensive, though, to re-create the setting with as much detail and realism as Irby provides here.

Add in a crisp prose style and swift pace, and you've got a "beach book" that is in a different league than what you would traditionally expect from the genre.

The Up and Up was a great read. I couldn't put it down - it is fast moving, entertaining, historically informative and clever. A great summer book. I like the way Lee Irby puts the reader right back into the 1920s with his use of the lingo of that time and his descriptions of the Miami of the 20s. As he did in his predecessor novel 7,000 Clams, Irby has woven historic people and facts and his fictional characters and story into a novel that is both sophisticated and exciting. In the Up and Up, Frank Hearn, the principal character from 7,000 Clams, moves to Miami in hopes of improving his fortunes so that he may win the approval of his sweetheart's parents, but this star-crossed lover always seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. His adventures keep the reader totally engrossed.

I wasn't sure if I would love a book set in the 1920's, but The Up and Up immediately transported me to a time of glamourous movie stars, swanky speak-easys, and questionable land deals. Set in Miami, the Up and Up takes the likable hero from Irby's last book (7,000 clams) and follows his journey to try and win back the woman he loves while trying to avoid jail. I enjoyed the fast paced plot, the witty dialog, and the attention to detail. I'll also add that there are several spots where I laughed out loud. There is a back story about Joseph Kennedy and Gloria Swanson that is extremely interesting. I knew very little about either, but now I want to read more! This is the perfect book for your summer get-away or for just an escape without leaving town.

Visions of Florida is a breathtaking journey through a parts of Florida that few Floridians get to see, let alone tourists. Mr. Walters has done a masterful job in bringing out the true color of the people in his black & white images. This fine art book sits alone in it's perpetual home on my coffee table. There is seldom a day that I don't pick it up to be momentarily transported to another world. House guests will often spend hours lost in the splendor of these pages. I am anxiously awaiting Mr. Walter's next book.

WOW! What an amazing book to compliment the knowledge gained from a meeting with Woody Walters. It is always great to have someone who is excited about his work and loves to share that excitement with others.

as an amateur photographer of florida, i am constantly looking for beauty in my surroundings w/ no such luck. i was at an exhibit for florida's coastal waterways by todd something and went to the gift shop to buy his book, right next to woody walter's, and left with this one instead. although it's b&w, one does not need color to see through the eyes and lenses of mr. walters. your mind fills that in. you're standing on the beach in the photographs or you're face to face w/ his animal subjects. even the quality of print is perfect. the transition from negative or slide film onto carbon copy makes no difference at all.

We took this book on our return trip to Disney. We hadn't been there in 6 yrs and didn't want to miss anything that was added since our last trip. This book was great! It had information on everything from how to get there, where to stay,getting familiar with the area, dining out, all about Disney, exploring the rest of Orlando, and Orlando nightlife. It finishes up with 2 top ten lists, "Top ten cheap alternatives to the parks." and "Top ten fitness activities". It had an adult review and a child's review of everything. It had several game plans for seeing everything you want to see, including how to take advantage of fastpasses and what were the peak times in each part of the parks, restaurant reviews and prices, everything. It wasn't just a book about Disney. When we say it had everything, we mean it! We highly recommend this book for getting the most out of your vacation to Florida.

Living only two hours away from Disney, we visit the Orlando area attractions several times a year, so this book is the perfect companion for getting the most out of each trip. Not only does it include the most up-to-date information on the Magic Kingdom, it also covers Animal Kingdom, Universal Studios, Epcot -- even the non-Disney parks and nightlife and dining. (After all, the trip isn't just for the kids!) The writing is easy to read, entertaining and clear, too. A definite must for anyone planning a daytrip, a weeklong vacation or a monthlong holiday.

Jim and Cynthia did an absolutely fantastic job on this publication. I have read many reviews and help books and this one is, hands down, the best one ever. The writing style is phonomenal as well as it provides much insight on Florida, Disney, attractions......anything you want to know is in this book in a very in-depth, easy-to-follow, and fun manner.

An asset to any traveller, Disney fanatic, travel researcher...this book has endless uses.

I would highly recommend this book to everyone and everyone whether you are travelling or not.

Fantastic! 10/10

I bought this to help find places my husband and I can go for short 2-3 day holidays. This book has a lot of information about barriers that most able-bodied people take for granted - ie, gravel walkways vs hard surface, etc. It's divided by regions so you can easily find whatever is available in any given area - for example: Horse& buggy rides with lock-downs for wheelchairs, ramps into pools, accessible rental condos, fishing trips, accessible canoeing, water parks with ramps etc. This will be put to very good use this year!! No excuses now!

I was a little reluctant at first to purchase this book because of the price and being disappointed in another access guide I had purchased. Also, I don't use a wheelchair on a regular basis. After reading a review, I decided to give it a try and I am so glad I did. Its detailed descriptions of the tourist attractions made it easy for me to decide if the attraction would meet my needs. I never realized how many activities were available for those who use wheelchairs. It opened my eyes to so many things I had not even thought about doing. And the accommodations listed are not just motels! The list includes campgrounds, cabins, B & B's, houses, condos, even houseboats and an RV. There is also an appendix chock full of helpful resources. Thank you Wheelchairs on the Go. This book is a real gift to the disabled community and a bargain at twice the price!

Wheelchairs on the Go: Accessible Fun in Florida (by Michelle Stigleman & Deborah Van Brunt, 424 pages, ISBN: 9664356-5-6 , USA: $24.95) is a comprehensive guide for any resident or traveler with ambulatory difficulties who would like to have fun in Florida. Michelle and Deborah have covered hundreds of locations and listed the available aids and pitfalls for challenged travelers. You can look up any city or any activity and learn how to adjust or plan your travels, or whether it is not advisable for those with limitations. The authors list so many aids and so many fun activities that anyone who has hesitated to travel because of physical disabilities will want to make Florida a top destination. Every kind of fun activity and attraction is covered, describing the potential barriers and how to overcome them. An EXCELLENT guide book for those who need it, including people who use canes and walkers, or simply can't walk very far. Additions and updates to the book will be posted

Lots of people have ideas and books about what the 21st century church should be like. Because of this, I didn't have high expectations by the title of this book. However, I was soon surprised and excited. The author/pastor is authentic from the start about his testimony and then leads into why & how they started their church, "Without Walls." Many testimonies are shared throughout the pages of people whose lives have been radically changed and who now serve in their church. Great ideas are given as to how to start creative outreaches, helping reach the forgotten in our society. I highly recommend this book! Be prepared to be challenged in your ideas about people and outreach.

The actual title of this book is "Without Walls: God's Blueprint for the 21st Century Church". This book on restoration and evangelism ministries in Tampa, Florida is a great example of what can be done if people will get their focus on the comission of Christ. Recommended reading for any church seriously trying to reach its community with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

A church without walls. What a concept! This book reminds me of a church 2000 years ago that operated without walls. This is not to imply that a church should not own or rent a building (there are other books that do say this), but that church ministry must not take place ONLY within the walls of your facilities. In this awesome story about Randy White, he shares his victories (awesome!) and his failures. He even candidly discusses his marriage failure, in which he never passes the blame on anyone else exept himself. (That greatly impressed me.) I have given this book to several of our key leaders in our church and every one of them has been greatly impacted. The challenge has been accepted...the challenge to step outside our 4 walls and enter into the world...the world of hurting people...and touch their lives. We touch them in practical ways. We touch them in relevant ways. We touch them in spiritual ways. Being a church without walls is a messy mission. It's not neat and tidy like we'd all like. We must count the cost. But the fruit of seeing lives changed...of witnessing hurting people receive their healing...oh man, is it worth the price! Get this book. Give it to your church leaders. Just maybe your church will end up "without walls."