Ball Books

I enjoyed the first book in this mystery series featuring search-and-rescue dogs, Smoky Mountain Tracks, so I picked this one up. I just ordered the third book in the series, Gun Shy.

Rapid Fire brings the mystery a little closer to home for kennel owner, dog trainer, and search-and-rescue officer Raine Stockton: her college boyfriend, Andy Fontana, is back in the area, wanted by the FBI as a known terrorist and suspect in recent eco-terrorism crimes.

He'd disappeared ten years ago when he was suspected of bombings, but Raine's never believed he's guilty. Now they think he's back, looking for his payment for that job--a cache of diamonds.

Raine's faith is tested, however, when she keeps finding rainbows--Andy's nickname for her, and the symbol of the eco-terrorism group he's suspected of heading. Still, she believes in him and it's a race to find him before the authorities.

Rapid Fire is a more intense book than its predecessor, both because of the personal connection and emotions and because the issue isn't black-and-white. Raine has to reevaluate her former and present relationships, and has to decide where she draws the line between her views on the environment and the law.

And of course there are the dogs. One subplot involves Raine entering a dog in an event for which he's unsuited. The dog training echoes and clarifies larger issues in the plot and in life in general.

The first book was simply entertaining. This one is deeper. I'm looking forward to finding out where the series goes from here.

Donna Ball is a great author. Her books are well written and I think its great the way she incorporates the animals into the story, from the many dogs to the bears. I highly recommend her books. They are enjoyable from start to finish.

"Rapid Fire" is the second in the Raine Stockton Dog Mysteries by Donna Ball. Ms. Ball's writing is improving as she goes along, as the second is better than the first -- and the first was a solid three star. We're back with Raine Stockton and the dog she finally accepted in the first book. Although the dog is puppyish and gets into his share of problems, when the fewmets hit the windmill he does his job. The story is a good look at the dog training world but a better look at relationships between people and how politics and the U.S. current Soviet-style government will make even Americans turn on their neighbors and family members. The reason I don't give the book 4 stars is because the main character, Raine Stockton, is going backwards. (SPOILER ALERT) In the first book she was a woman coming into herself and her own independance, after twice marrying and divorcing the local sherrif for his infidelities ... with just about every woman in their small, mountain town and a few passersby just for variety. By the end of the second book Raine has played doormat to the government MIBs and sucked up betrayal from just about everyone *except* the fellow who's supposed to be the bad guy. At the end of the book, she's not just sucked it up but shacked up with ... you guessed it, her cheatin' ex. This disappointing ending made Raine a lot less likeable and left me with the urge to smack her upside the head and demand, "What are you thinking?!" Not a good way to end a book. Also not a good way to encourage me to buy the next in line.

I personally liked the book as I could relate to the main character's issues with dog training and tracking. Sometimes, dogs just don't do what's expected but "trust the nose, as the nose knows". If a reader likes dogs and mystery together, then the reader will find this a good read. The ending was unexpected which is always good in a mystery. Characters in the book were well rounded and made the reader care about the trials and tribulations they went through.

If you love dogs and very few people don't, this new series by Donna Ball is a treat. In this the second book in the series, Raine Stockton is still employed as a part time "consultant" and search and rescue officer with the Forest Service. Her own kennel business, Dog Daze Boarding and Training Facility is doing well and her free time is spent at various dog competition events. Her life is disrupted when her almost ex- husband, Deputy Sheriff Buck Lawson, visits her home with the FBI.

Raine's old college boyfriend, Andy Fontana, is wanted by the FBI as a known terrorist and has been on the run for 10 years fleeing from a bombing charge. The FBI insists he's back in the area and they suspect that he's trying to retrieve a huge cache of diamonds that he once hid in the vast forest area surrounding Raine's house. They also feel that Andy is responsible for the recent eco terrorist crime spree and the murder of a Mexican construction worker who was working for the construction company hired to clear part of the forest for a huge resort.

Raine is loyal to her memories of Andy being a good man, and she firmly believes in his innocence no matter what Buck and the FBI tell her about his criminal history. In order to prove his innocense she must (with the help of her golden retriever, Cisco) find the real killer in order to help the man she once loved. Her determination causes a rift between her and Buck, and the FBI begins to suspect she is helping Andy.

This is a great Donna Ball mystery. Anyone who loves dogs, wonderful descriptions of the Great Smokie Mts., an interesting plot and well developed characters will enjoy Rapid Fire. Raine and Buck are people you will want to continue reading about and I'm eagerly waiting for the next title in the series.

I am really getting a lot from the content of this book; the exercises are fun and very effective. But at the same time I'm so disappointed in its quality--I've only had it a few days and almost all the pages have come loose. To use a book like this one must hold it open, turn pages back and forth, etc.; in other words, it should be made to be handled. This is not.

This book is easy to read and understand for introducing the user to the various types of exercises on the Pezzi Ball. The author has divided each set of exercises into Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced so that all users can choose the regimin that best fits them. The author has also taken the time to explain the benefits of muscle strength, flexibility, balance & coordination, posture, body awareness, playfulness, and cardiovascular conditioning...all foundations of any exercise on the ball. I personally gained valuable knowlege after a major back injury from this book. This is a "must read" for anyone interested in better Back health or for anyone in the Physical Therapy & personal training arena! There is also a link in the book to order your own Pezzi Ball.

This book is great for working out on your own with the ball. It gives very clear directions, and even lets you know what muscle groups you are targeting so that you can really focus on getting the most out of each exercise. This is the best ball book that I have bought (I also have Pilates on the Ball, which is good but this one is better).

I got my BRAND NEW copy of Balance on the Ball yesterday. When I read a book, I READ a book, but I have never before had a book self-destruct within 24 hours. Such a large number of the pages had pulled off the binding, most partly, some totally, that I have already torn the whole thing apart, punched holes in the pages, and have put it in a ring-binder. I can't say I wasn't warned - other reviewers had commented on the low-quality binding. Aside from that, this book is desperately in need of an index, as another reviewer wrote. The sample workouts are too short, in my opinion. I would have preferred longer workout sequences with at least small picture reminders next to the name and page of the exercise, OR for the book to be organized sequentially into beginner/intermediate/advanced workouts like some of the other exercise books I have, because that is the most user-friendly organization style I have come across. This is all quite unfortunate, because otherwise, this is a beautiful book with very nice exercises. Because of all the work I have had to do to get the book into a two-ring binder, as well as writing up my own index and work-outs, I can only rate this as a two star, and that is being generous. Amazon, shame on you for selling a book that many people have said falls apart fast - here is another dis-satisfied customer (the other books I received were fine - I'll continue to purchase from Amazon because it's fun and convenient).

Like a couple other readers, I also got a book with poor binding. The pages started falling out as soon as I opened the book. But instead of just complaining about it, I contacted the publisher who sent me a brand new copy for free - and the binding seems to be fine. I was told that there had been a "bad batch of books" printed and that the distributor made a mistake in sending the wrong ones out. I'm really happy with the way this got resolved and with the company's customer service, because it really is a great book. I've enjoyed using it a lot!

I have absolutely loved DBZ for 13 years now. Having seen many different manga and anime this one still stands alone for its phenomenal character development and bone crunching action! I also like the fact that Viz put out a 'big edition' so one does not have to buy each chapter separately (expensive). My only two problems with this edition is that (1) it is edited- middle fingers/swear words are changed or edited out and (2) the original cover art is included but not all of them are in color. Other than that it is a good edition of the greatest shonen manga ever made!

The Dragon Ball Z manga is a piece of art and should be in every collector's hands. This DBZ #1 is actually Dragon Ball #17 of 42, but this part of the story is fine to begin with; backstory is not a problem, since DBZ is a different stage of the lives of the characters. It is 160 pages of fun and wonder. Besides, for only $8 why would anyone pass up this opportunity? I guarantee this story will have you hooked. To buy more for less expensive prices buy used versions on Amazon, or buy new at ShonenJump.com

The first volume of DBZ is actually the continuation(not sequel) to the humorous dragonball series(vol.1-16)This one is really volume 17 in the overall story.The manga is vastly superior to the anime since it doesn't drag for too long the battles.Toriyama's original work let's you follow the plot,character development,and fights all in one package.I give this one four,because it only contains the first 10 chapters of DBZ and not twelve which is the average chapters per volume.The first two are in dragonball vol.16 since it closes that anime final arc.

Over the past few years, manga has been exploding into popularity. 'Main-stream' series, such as Pokemon, Yu-gi-oh, and Dragon Ball Z, are becoming scorned by more widely-read fans due to their overly-hyped status. Nevertheless, Dragon Ball Z still stands to be one of the most unique and fascinating action series in the shonen genre. If you aren't too tired of the anime, and have a taste for epic action, neat and yet detailed artwork, a suspenseful storyline, and villains who just won't die, then this series is for you. Dragon Ball Z was one of my first manga series, and later introduced me to the rest of the shonen genre.

While the anime has poor quality animation, a sluggish yet exhaustingly action-driven plot, and very little in the way of plot twists, the original manga more than makes up for this. There is much more evidence of a -storyline- (gasp! DBZ has a storyline??!) it is much more humorous, and the plot moves quickly without losing its pacing and flow. I have read the entire Dragon Ball series (the precursor to Dragon Ball Z) and have to say that I much prefer DB for its emphasis on character and humor, but still DBZ is a great series. Don't let the hype fool you: this is a series that deserves every bit of it!

Now I know alot of people are thinkin Dragon ball z is so boring. But if you read the graphic novel that just may change. You see since cartoon network doesn't play DBZ on tv anymore, its hard to see the first episode. But when I bought this book that changed and thinking it boring changed too.

I came to like it alot! its a perfect starting manga for any new manga fan. Since I just got into manga it was perfect for me. Now before you buy this book I should warn you there is some bad language in this book. So I would really recomend this book for any child 10 and up. Funny,action cool,martial arts, its got it all Dragon Ball z VOL.1 BUY IT NOW!

well written and oftentimes riveting account of an undersized punk trying to get his...and does. very illuminating spotlight on the sneaker companies, their camps and the exploitation of talented black youths. If you like basketball, this is a must read.

I read this book in one day so that should tell you something. It read quickly and wasn't too boring. Unfortunately it wasn't too exciting either. As a college and professional basketball fan, I enjoyed learning more about what goes on behind the scenes. I learned a lot about how competitive high school basketball is and how crazy recruiting works. I found Sebastian to be a fairly likable guy, but found his family somewhat greedy and money-hungry. I borrowed this book from my local library and wouldn't recommend anyone to pay money for it unless they are related to the author or a member of Sebastian's family. If I owned this book, I likely would NEVER pick it up again, much less read it.

The book puts you behind the scenes in Bassy Telfair's last year in high school. Great writing! The author keeps it moving, gets out of the way of the story (unlike Adrian Wojnarowski's St Anthony's book), and makes you feel like you're there. I understood more about this scene from this book that any other. A couple of minor frustrations: 1. He jumps around a little in time without explcitly saying what year he's talking about; and 2. After mentioning that Telfair repeated 4th grade, he doesn't remind us that he's a year older than his grade would suggest even though that's probably important for some stories.

At some points it seems like the author wants us to see the folly of making a big deal out of kids' basketball, but here he is writing a book and making money off of it. All in all, though, O'Connor doesn't preach, he just tells the story and lets us decide what to think about it. One of the best-written basketball books I've read.

"The Jump" is Ian O'Connor's excellent behind-the-scenes account of Sebastian Telfair's leap from New York City high school ball to the NBA. I recall that when Telfair arrived on the cover of Sports Illustrated as a generously-listed 6-foot guard from Lincoln High in Coney Island, he (as opposed to media phenom LeBron James the year before) seemed to explode into national prominence out of nowhere. O'Connor's book shows you that the author and other savvy talent spotters had tabbed Telfair as a potential NBA lottery pick 12 months or more in advance (indeed, O'Connor shows that people were annointing "Bassy" as NBA-grade as far back as fourth grade).

You've really got to hand it to O'Connor for having the prescience as a journalist to start following the kid, then watch his subject lead his team to third straight NYC title, land on the SI cover, sign a mega-deal with Adidas and become the first small high-school guard to be tabbed in the draft a lottery pick (Portland Trailblazers at #13).

All in all, a great read about the hidden (and rather seamy) side of the many, many hands in the circle trying to position and push an 18-year-old kid into the NBA. Through it all, Telfair comes out looking and sounding like a pretty good kid. From the tone of the book, it sounds like O'Connor would attest to that conclusion. It's amazing that with a veritable maelstrom around him all year, Telfair basically blocked out most of it and played some really fine ball in all-star settings, thereby sealing the lottery deal.

One can't help read this book and wonder how two recent events are going to forever change the the type of scenes O'Connor describes in 'The Jump'": David Stern's decision to increase the minimum draft age to 19; and Adidas' decision to buy Reebok (O'Connor demonstrates that the escalating "sneaker wars" are in large part driven by the fierce three-headed competition between Reebok, Adidas and Nike.).

Sebastian Telfair was born into a poor family that lived in a bad neighborhood filled with violence and drugs in Brooklyn, New York. His dad was in and out of jail throughout his life and his mother struggled to work. The only provider he truly had was his older brother, an athlete who failed to make it to the next level, who failed to bring in the wealth like his now famous cousin Stephon Marbury did just a few years before. With Sebastian being one of the last children growing up in the Telfair family he was made into the last hope at a luxurious lifestyle.
Sebastian Telfair had always avoided the dangers of his neighborhood. Instead of being up to no good like some of his peers, he just played basketball all day long. Eventually Telfair became skilled in the sport like no other his age. In fact, as a 10-year-old he was actually ranked the best 4th grader in America Throughout his teen years he continued to persevere in his basketball dreams by winning numerous basketball tournaments and then excelling at Lincoln High School. After his four year run there, he came to an important decision in his life. Should he go to college or straight to the NBA? At first he said he would attend Louisville but the money was just too tempting and Telfair went straight to the NBA as the 13th pick by the Portland Trailblazers. As a rookie Telfair struggled; many of his critics claimed he should have gone to college to become more polished. Now he's getting prepared for his sophomore season hoping to make more of an impact.
The Jump was very descriptively written. Almost everything talked about in the book had some kind of background information included with it so that the reader would never be unaware of something. The story of Sebastian Telfair's life has its share of drama, so naturally his biography will too. From his past coaches trying to follow him to glory, to people trying to pressure him into life changing decisions, just about every page was filled with dramatic situations. Another factor that made me enjoy this book was all of the detailed basketball action that made it seem as though I was actually watching the game. For readers of all kinds, especially sports fans, this book will be a very appealing.

O'Connor did a great job of implementing detail into this biography. Not only did he elaborate extensively on Sebastian Telfair's background, but he did the same for almost every other person Telfair knew or encountered. For example, when writing about Sebastian as a junior high student playing for the Juice All-Stars of Brooklyn he described the coach, Ziggy Scaginano, and his past fully. A reader can really tell that O'Connor has done his research by all the information provided.
Probably the most interesting part of the book was all of the drama. The story of Sebastian Telfair's life written in The Jump seems perfect for a day- time soap opera. His dad and his brother were constantly having run-ins with the law while his mother had to stay home to care for all of the children. Telfair's cousin Stephon Marbury, who lived almost next door in their Coney Island apartment complex, made it to the NBA, taking his family with him, while leaving the Telfair's to remain in the projects. Sebastian's brother, Sylvester, had a great college basketball career, but when draft day came he and the rest of the Telfair's were left severely disappointed as not one team felt they needed him. Then when it comes time for Sebastian to make the most important decision in his life, everyone, including people he's not familiar with, tries to tell him what to do. There are so many different storylines involved that the reader can't possibly put the book down without hesitation.
Another part of the book, which will be mostly appreciated by basketball fanatics, is the amount of description during parts where basketball is played. In fact, O'Connor uses this to draw the reader's attention at the very beginning of the book when writing about Sebastian Telfair playing a championship tournament game at Rucker Park. The reason why these parts of the book succeed so much in catching the reader's attention is because of the elaboration put into them. The author describes the actions of the players and emotions of the crowd so well it makes you feel as if you were actually watching the game instead of reading about it.

The drama and basketball action complemented each other well in providing an entertaining book; while the detail made sure that the reader could fully understand and indulge in it. To a sports fan The Jump is a must-read book because of all the basketball action and related storylines. To the casual reader The Jump is an interesting book to pick up because of its descriptive and detailed writing, along with its addicting drama.

-C. Duncan

Lucy's shows have been analzyed in book form so often that you would think that one of the actual writers of the show would produce a book of incredible new insight into the comedian. But instead this is a dull, ego-centric going-through-the motions memoir that produces little new material.

The author brags a lot about her involvement with Lucy's various series but brings little depth to the standard stories that are told. For example, a chapter is "devoted" to "Lucy Isn't Pregnant, She's Expecting." You'd expect there to be a fascinating story of the battle over using the word pregnant but instead it's just nine paragraphs devoted to the entire second season which included the pregnancy. She does reprint the original script wording that was censored, but then admits that she doesn't remember when the "edict came down" to change the word pregnant and doesn't recall the details of when or why it was changed!

When it comes to the major flop "Life with Lucy" (which she wrote), she almost ignores the show. Near the very end of the book she spends FOUR WHOLE PARAGRAPHS on it and spends most of her time praising it! She obviously doesn't get that the series is considered one of the biggest sitcom flops of all time.

She also offers the small tidbit that she was married to Quinn Martin, one of the greatest TV producers of the 60s and 70s. Yet she onlys mentions him in FIVE SENTENCES. (She does spend more space on her second husband.)

This woman appears to have allowed success to go to her head and uses much of the book to brag (she claims to have broken down barriers for women in the business, when in truth there were previous TV female pioneers like Gertrude Berg and Irna Phillips), yet she provides no insight into why these series were successful. There are a few interesting stories but much of this is actually covered better in many of the other books about Lucy.

It's always great to read about the behind the scenes of the I Love Lucy show...I knew most of what I read already, but REALLY enjoyed the photos from the author's collection.

I was in my 20's when Lucy and Desi first aired. It is simply
the best comedy show ever and that includes the writing. I always
wondered just who these superb writers were. Now I have found out
due to this excellent book. The show was so very funny, you do
wonder what people wrote the lines but then you also know that
they had to have Lucy. Her timing was better than I ever seen in
any actor and actress. Thank you, Madelyn, it was indeed a joy
to read your rememberances.

A good biography of one of the brains behind the Lucy factory. Knowing the limitations and talents of Lucy helped make the Lucy icon what it is today. Giving Desi credit where it is long overdue, and busting a few myths that Lucy herself liked to perpetuate, this is a good read of behind the scenes and one of, if not the first, female comedy writers.
Her trials as one of the first female writers doesn't seem to stop her excellent comedic writing abilities and reminds all of us how hard it was for those first female TV writers. Perhaps this is one of the reasons Lucy was so funny - because she had Ms. Pugh there to bring the male writers up (not down) to reality.

Having read tons of other books on everything tied to Lucy, I was especially happy to come across this memoir of what I consider to be one of television's best writers. Ms. Davis writes succinctly but thoroughly and entertainingly about many of her memories associated with what many people consider to be television's all-time best sit-com. It is a great, fun read for anyone interested in "I Love Lucy."

This is a great book- the illustrations are very helpful and it is easy to follow.

I got this book to learn how to use an exercise ball. It was good for such basic knowledge, but I have to buy another book for more advanced exercises on the ball. This book does have a few exercises that are a bit challenging, but not enough.

The best part was the exercise on the the book's cover: draping yourself over the ball. It really helps to expand my spine so that it cures a backache in minutes! Amazing but true!

There's a DVD in the back of the book. Those exercises are even more easy than the ones in the book. If you want really easy exercises (why do them?), this is the book and DVD for you.

I found this book to be a comprehensive, complete workout. I like the fact included is flexibility, balance as well as strengthening and toning. The pictures accompanying the exercises are well illustrated and match the description perfectly. I also really liked the variation options and pro tips. I would highly recommend this to my clients and those needing a comprehensive, safe routine at home. Very well done.

This book is great for the price. If you like to do ball exercises my wife says this is a great one.

I like this book & especially the DVD. Within 35 minutes the DVD covers your warm-up, segments that exercise each area of your body,
and the cool down. It gets to the point & is very effective.

The book cam quickly in the mail and was exactly as described. Thank you!

I am impressed by the organization of this phonological awareness program. I have just started using it with Kindergarten children who need more help developing PA. They love the game-like, quick exercises and are learning the difference between a sound and a letter name. I use a dolphin puppet for Fix-it which the children look forward to seeing every time we meet.

I am the parent of a 9 yo 3rd grader, recently diagnosed as dyslexic. Unable to get appropriate help from the school district, I have a tutor I am working with who suggested I use Road to the Code to help with phonemic awareness. It was very easy to follow and I was surprised how much my older child actually enjoyed the games. He recently finished the last lesson as has made significant progress with his short vowel sounds and letter recognition. He is also beginning to understand there is a logical "code" to attack words with. There is practically no skipping around a paragraph, looking for a "clue", like he was doing prior to this instruction. Now that he is on to more advanced curriculum, he sometimes asks to do some of the "Road to the Code" exercises for fun. I will definately use this program with my (non-dyslexic) kindergartener. The use of only the 8 most frequently used letters, the repetition, and variety of exercises are highly effective and simple. All materials are very low cost and easy to make. I wish they would have used this for him in kindergarten!!!!!

I am a Reading Specialist and certified Reading Recovery teacher. I find this to be an excellent resource for helping Kinder. and beginning 1st graders (can move at a faster pace) develop phonemic awareness. I use this 4 days a week with a group of three 1st graders who have been identified to be most at-risk for reading failure (NOTE: I did NOT use DIEBELS to assess. DIEBELS only screens and it's scores are based solely on the speed in which a child can supply answers. Not enough information if you want to teach children to recognize their strengths and become strategic readers and writers. In fact, DIEBELS does not even consider a child's ability to encode words onto a page. I got all the info I needed from Marie Clay's Observation Survey, CLEF, last year's teacher, and current classroom teacher).

We begin our time together with Road to the Code and then move into some quick "extensions/reviews" (hands-on activities, phonem. aware. based songs or poems, etc.), followed by a guided reading lesson that is Reading Recovery based (this of course includes independent and share-the-pen writing). This gives the children an authenic opportunity to apply what's been learned in Rode to the Code.

It is very well organized and these ladies REALLY know what they are "talking" about!

Road to the Code is just loaded with information and ideas for use in the classroom. Begins at the beginning with phonological awareness activities and prodeeds forward. Great source for instruction and differentiation. Super !!!

Snow Ball is an amusing crime novel with plot, subplot, and sub-sub-plot elements that the author manages to keep track of without overburdening her prose. Starting off with two crime boss wives who could have stepped out of a Lake Woebegon skit, it neatly skewers the agendas of various small-town players who are scheming to get ahead by taking advantage of a young woman whose husband has mysteriously disappeared. A fast and lively read that will keep you guessing until the end.

This is the second April Hamilton novel I ready and I enjoyed it as much as the first one I read. I found myself reading at every free opportunity I had. I didn't want to book to end. I can't wait for the author's next book. Great job pushing the Indie Author movement, too. I have a friend who has been trying to sell a great novel. I gave him your information.

To my taste, this novel is nowhere near as good as her second one, "Adelaide Einstein," which I would give five stars. It's almost as though "Snow Ball" and "Adelaide Einstein" were written by two different authors. I not only found it easy to put this novel back on the shelf, so-to-speak, but I just kept hoping the story would hurry up and end. I gave the novel three stars, rather than merely two, because the author used clever dialogue at times and gave evidence of having researched several topics more than superficially.

snowball
verb: To increase or expand suddenly, rapidly, or without control: explode, mushroom.
v.intr.: To grow rapidly in significance, importance, or size: "problems that snowballed by the hour."

In this highly entertaining novel by April Hamilton, the reader is drawn into a story that begins quietly, without fanfare. Once it gets rolling, however, there's no stopping it. The clever chapter titles ("The Winter Games," "Flakes") are consistent with the tone of the novel, which manages to present the most bizarre goings-on in a matter-of-fact manner.

Hamilton's descriptions of how various TV shows would cover the story are hilarious and her observations about human nature are spot on. This is a fun read that also gives pause for thought in the most unexpected places.

Snow Ball Hits A Target

I am giving this book five out of five stars not in comparison to all the other novels I have recently read, most of which have better covers, higher production values, and stronger substantive editing, but in comparison to what I thought a self-published novel would be like to read.

I "met" April L. Hamilton on the Amazon Breakthrough Novel forum, where we soon found we disagreed on the way serious fiction writers should view the option of self-publishing. I argued that self-publishing by definition diluted writing quality, because self-published books had not been subjected to the kind of editorial scrutiny and attention that a publishing house provides. I felt that self-published novels should continue to be ignored by literary awards programs and major books sections, firstly because no qualified selection committee had chosen to publish them, and then because they had not benefited from the quality editorial input that forms part (ideally, at least) of the standard publishing process. Without some screening mechanisms, book reviewers and awards-selection committees would soon be buried in drivel.

April argued that with the advent of easily accessible on-line print-on-demand publishing, and the availability of good editors for hire--not to mention designers and layout artists--the self-published author today can obtain the same quality input on their work as a publishing house provides. She also made a strong argument that with the ongoing mega-sization of the publishing industry and loss of mid-range houses, most writers who were formerly referred to as "mid-list" authors would probably never see their books in print at all if they left their destinies to the establishment. Their only certain course of action, according to April, was to go independent (or "indie," as she calls it).

My thinking has been changed by my exchanges with April and others of her mind-set. I still will not self-publish my own fiction, or recommend that others do so, no matter how hard it is to find a publisher and an agent these days. But now at least I can see why some people with actual writing talent might choose to go this route, with no detriment and possibly some advantage to their careers. Self-publishing today is not the same as "vanity" publishing used to be--or at least not necessarily the same. Even if most bookstores will not stock self-published books, they can still be marketed and sold on-line, and thereby provide some income--as well as attention--to their authors. I have seen self-published books reviewed in major papers, and one recently won a literary prize. In the case of print-on-demand, their authors are also doing a favour to the environment.

Snow Ball surprised me for the quality of its appearance. It is not up to major publishing-house standards, but I'm sure that within a few years CreateSpace-type companies are likely to overcome the current shortcomings in this area. I was also surprised with the quality of the copy-editing: there were a few typos here and there, but that happens even in books by major trade publishers. But I was especially surprised with the quality of the story April L. Hamilton has written. It was complex and well-structured, effective and absorbing. Snow Ball is a is a social commentary on the "celebrity" phenomenon as much as it is a light-hearted mystery about a man who suddenly disappears and the woman he leaves behind. The irony and sardonic humour of the social observations don't detract from the fun of the story itself and, although it would have benefited from substantive editing (as would this "review," I surmise, now that I see how long it's grown and how little of it is actually a review), the novel was well paced and interesting.

With her Indie Guide to Self Publishing, April L. Hamilton has become a standard-bearer for writers looking for a sure route to publication. With Snow Ball, she shows what can be achieved by an author who would rather publish her own novel than never see it in print at all. I still believe that most of the people who will take advantage of the new technologies to self-publish their fiction are simply going to create drivel that we'll have to wade around in--hoping we can find signposts to the good and possibly even excellent before we are completely buried. But as well as being enterprising, April is a careful and imaginative writer, and when I add together her writing abilities with her determination, I have no difficulty giving her five stars... even if she is being judged in a category in which she is almost by herself, at least for now.

Most people know of Liz Applegate through her informative monthly nutrition columns in 'Runner's World.' In terms of this book in particular, I came to know about it an odd way - Dr. Applegate was injured in a bizarre incident in which her shoulder was torqued by a radio talk show host who had somehow engaged her in an impromtu, on-air arm wrestling contest (Applegate makes a veiled reference to the incident in the book's intro).

Anyway, for those following the saga, the book was an outcome of the changes she was forced to make to her exercise routine to accomodate the injury. Certainly not the typical path to authorship, but I'm pleased this book made it to the market.

While the text of the book is geared towards women readers, I'll point out that these are exercises and routines that can benefit both sexes. Using the ball as your anchor simply takes the drudgery out of what used to seem like work. Even achieving a sense of balance on some of the recommended routines is a challenge and a workout in itself. The exercises are clearly described, and the accompanying pictures really help you envision what you need to do once you're over the ball trying to put an idea into practice.

Frankly, to date I've ignored the sections of the book concerning nutrition (about half the content) and focused solely on the exercises. That's the only reason why this book gets four stars instead of five. I'd rather have paid half the price to get the half of the book that corresponds directly to the title. The nutrition part seems like an ill-fitting add-in to me (although I'm sure some readers will appreciate its presence).

There is a lot of interesting information in this book, especially the explanation of why female fat cells are so hard to conquer (none of my other exercise books cover that subject). Others have said they were not as interested in the food section of the book as the exercise section - somewhat ironic since the author apparently is a nutrition professor. I bought the book for the exercises, but found they were not as rigorous as some other books I have combining weights and balls. This, however, has turned out to be a good thing, since I am currently recovering from a surgery and needed a less taxing exercise program than my usual one. Come to think of it, weren't these exercises designed by the author when she was recovering from a shoulder injury and surgery? My surgery was in that general area. Anyway, based on other reviews, I wasn't expecting much from this book, but it has actually turned out to be a pleasant surprise.

I found this book after being in a workout rut for most of my life. I thought it was just another worout book, until I realized how much fun it is to do. I am only in my first week of the program and already my body is feeling all the benefits of using the exercise ball. If you want to have fun while you weight train this is the book for you.

The information provided in this book is great. I've never been disappointed with Liz Applegate's books or articles. I do, however, think that a spiral binding would have made this book much more user-friendly. Also, when I looked at the web site that goes along with this book, I realized how much nicer color, quality photos would have been. I ended up printing out the few exercises from the website to use as a quick reference. In hindsite, I wish I investigated the website before I purchased the book.

This book is a great reference for people who want athletic ball exercises (as opposed to Pilates- or yoga-based exercises on the ball, which seems to be very popular). Applegate writes that she started using the ball herself as part of her recovery from a shoulder injury and then surgery and felt that she was in the best shape of her life afterward. This is a common story, but very impressive coming from someone who used to compete in triathalons.

If you've done strength training before, have any experience with ball workouts or yoga or Pilates, you may find the exercises she details for the first two weeks less challenging. The exercises for the next two phases of the program (weeks three and four and then weeks five and six) are more demanding. I worked up a sweat on the core exercises and then humbly admitted that I wasn't ready for a few of them. While "sexier" is highly subjective (I just hate when fitness books promise that), I have no doubt that one will be firmer and functionally stronger if they stick with the program for the prescribed six weeks.

This book doesn't rate a perfect five-stars, unfortunately. The book spent more time than I would have liked on nutrition and the "dessert diet". While I found Applegate's overall approach sensible, I also thought it was a little bit simplistic. Also, I felt that the "workbook" section she provided to track the six-week progress was too much- I would have preferred a sheet to copy, or maybe a reference to a website. The workbook section was almost 100 pages, and some of it could have been cut down. Also, while I appreciate that she took the time to add customized routines for various athletics, most of them were two or three exercises. In addition, Applegate could have (and should have) included more stretches to use with the ball. Finally, and this was most troubling to me, I didn't like that she seemed to play into the stereotype that women will "bulk up" by using heavy weights in order to convince her readers to use the heavy balls instead of dumbbells- or her ball program instead of traditional strength training. While some women will bulk up, most will not, and many women don't necessarily find that look unattractive.

In summary, this a good reference guide for ball exercises and programs, but you may want to take some of the other information with a grain of salt.

This is the kind of book that gets many people hooked on reading in the first place. Calling it a page turner might sound cliche, but a well timed cliche is right at home amongst its pages. With characters that show up in your imagination in black and white, By the Balls makes you check the inside cover to see when it was 'really' written. Lets hope there are more like it on the way!

Superb. This book makes me wanna head to the nearest dive bar, sink a few stiff ones and hop into my time machine -- destination: 1942. The only reason I don't is, well, time travel and booze don't mix. So I make due with By The Balls.

For men, this book literally grabs you by the balls from the first page and never lets go (for women, this book figurativly grabs you by the balls, etc.). The character of Ben Drake is the kind of hard drinking, hard talking, hard detecting detective you just don't see anymore but really should. The mystery is pure old school P.I. with a nice dash of modernism mixed in for a concoction that sure packs a wallop. Please, I beg of you, read this book.

If only as much effort and thought had gone into the writing of this book as into the design, Ugly Town might really have had something. The covers and illustrations, the intro pages- heck, even the size and weight- are darn near perfect in exactly the retro way they intended. But the writers have a background which includes scripting comics for Dark Horse, and that's how this reads.

It's a meatless tribute to all things hard-boiled, featuring prose written in a spare (much too spare) style. Descriptions are sorely lacking, and the dialogue, while it talks "tough," is un-creative.

There is really only a couple of instances of good dialogue. Here is one: "There's nothing like a mourning widow. And [she] was nothing like a mourning widow. More like a morning window, and I could see right through her." Not classic stuff, but if the rest had at least attempted this style the book could have attained a kind of punny vitality. But no. It doesn't attempt real spoofery, and it certainly is not authentic.

It's like boys playing in sandbox much too vast for them. Descriptions of drinks and cigars give the impression that the authors just wanted to feel naughty, while a scene where the hero talks his way out of being killed by a thug is especially contrived, obvious and amateurish. Other aspects detract as well, but suffice it to say, Red Harvest this is not.

I really can't see true pulp fans being fooled by this, but give it a try... after you've read Chandler and Hammett and James Cain and Paul Cain and Whitfield and Burnett and Daly and Browne and Brown and Huggins and Brackett and Cave and Whittington and Fischer and Ballard and Bellem and Latimer and Martin and MacDonald and Gault and Spicer and Miller and Dewey and Woolrich and Nebel and Gardner and Adams and Davis and Spillane and Kane and Chase and Albert and Halliday and... you see?

There are much better out there. Lots of 'em. Then check back with the authors of this book after they've gotten some practice. Maybe they should check the above list, too.

Tom Fassbender and Jim Pascoe (alias Dashiell Loveless), have invented the worlds first time-travel conveyance out of paper and ink, and heavily fueled by Ketel One Vodka! (read this books' "About the Authors" page to decode that statement) Would you like to know more? Grab "By The Balls", their first collaborative publication from UGLY TOWN PRESS. This short, tittilating, and thoroughly engrossing trip to the world of Testacy City will grab you by the you-know-whats, and squeeze until it hurts! The shady denizens of this crime-noir fiction evokes black and white images of Turner and Harlow, Cagney and Bogart, with a nice touch of 90's Pulp Fiction thrown in to sweeten the kitty! The dialogue sings, the imagery lurks, and the whole kit-and-kaboodle works magically to revive a genre not seen since the 1940's. By the time I finished it, I swear my clothes smelled like cigarettes, and my breath like cheap whiskey! Can't wait for more!