Curtis Books

AS an aviation enthusiast, I can tell you this book provides a great look into the world of "Black Projects", aircraft like the U-2 spyplane and the SR-71 Blackbird, many of which played an important role in strategic reconnaissance throughout the Cold War and continue to do so to this day. Included in this book are such notable aircraft as the F-117 Nighthawk Stealth fighter and the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, and their beginnings as black projects. Recommended to any aviation enthusiast.

This book is a reasonable introduction to the world of aviation 'Black Programs', but use it as a stepping stone to titles such as Ben Rich's or Jay Miller's books on Lockheed's Skunk Works.
Competent rather than outstanding

As one who couldn't tell you the difference between a J57 engine and RJ-43-MA-11 ramjet, I'd still highly recommend this to any reader who wants to more about Black Projects but is leery about buying a book because they don't want to be confused by technical humdrum.
Peebles book is quite the contrary and it's very entertaining for both an aviation novice reader like myself as well as any aficionado of aircraft (a friend of mine who is currently getting his pilot's license also read it and enjoyed it). Granted, you must have a little understanding of military aircraft. If you would be unable to decipher between a P-51 Mustang and F-4 Phantom, it may be too much.

Peebles writes with colorful narrative on some of the US's most astonishing and mysterious aircraft in the last 50 years. Included in his book are chapters on the first US jet (XP-59A Airacomet), the spy plane Francis Gary Powers made famous (U-2 Aquatone), the birth of the stealth fighter (F-117A), 'borrowed' MiG's flying in the Nevada desert, reconnaissance drone vehicles, the Star Wars-like A-12 Oxcart, as well as the current Black Project plane - Aurora.

In each chapter, Pebbles writes on what precipitated the need for a new secret aircraft, how the craft took shape behind closed doors, its test flights, and how it performed in action. He includes a plethora of colorful stories on how the U-2 was named, how a US Navy aircraft carrier was 'captured' by the US Air force, and tales of gorillas smoking cigars and flying in the southwest desert.

Pebbles also goes into great detail about two controversial topics of today - Area 51 and the Aurora. Throughout the book, Peebles gives the history of Area 51, how it originated as a base at Groom Lake all the way up to the flying saucer tales of today. Conspiracy theorists will be disappointed as well as many Black Ops devotees looking for proof that the Aurora exists.

In conclusion, I thought Peebles book was a great, intriguing look into some of our nation's biggest secrets of the Cold War that's also a quick read (only 292 pages of text) and I highly recommend it.

A wide ranging historical survey of once classified material. We know we're not getting the whole story, but the author has enough to satisfy. From stolen (actually borrowed) Russian jets and unmanned space probes, to our own unmanned D-21 Mach-3 spyjets, the authors go for it all. Some of the information is pretty suprising (the mysterious Col. Tomb, thought killed in the now legendary Vietnam airwar dogfight with Driscoll and Cunningham, may have been misidentified) while other stories seem tedious (like the use of Hound-Dog cruise missiles as first generation remote spyplanes). I would have preferred the authors concentrate on the really mysterious jets (I get the sense that the authors felt they owed each story equal time), but what comes out is an eye-opener nontheless.

I had picked up "Dark Eagles" primarly because it was one of very few books to present information on "Have Donut" and similar projects in which the United States tested captured MiGs and other Soviet aircraft. I was pleasantly suprised to find that the rest of this book is as superbly researched and detailed as Peebles' glimpse into the testing of foreign equipment.

Peebles discusses, in amazing detail, the developments of such famous aircraft as the U-2, A-12, SR-71, F-117, "Have Blue" and "Tacit Blue." Peebles also delves into the history of the less-glamarous unmanned platforms such as the trisonic D-21 ("Tagboard") and various models of the Model 147 Firebee, used extensively in Vietnam.

This book is a must for anyone interested in black project aviation. It is well written and thoroughly researched, and is engaging to both the causal and technical reader.

A very illuminating book from a designer artist who shows how one can learn on the way. It is more philsophical than technical - about the attitude to creating rather than just a lot of technical facts

This is a very lightweight read regarding the process of production. It's more of a personal journal, blog-style account than anything substantial a reader can learn from. However, it does have merit in that respect. So, if you're a newbie and want to get your feet wet, this may be a book you'd like to read to get yourself into those baby steps.

It's a bit refreshing to read a guy's perspective when it's not full of posturing and bravado. The author has a more self-nurturing tone and approaches the work with humility, which again isn't bad for a newbie.

The bottom line is: don't expect anything that is going to turn you into a video producer overnight. Admittedly, it's a hard profession, technical, requiring time, money and connections, and is very competitive. This is not a strong technical manual.

I have a BA in Film/Video and make educational videos/multimedia for a living, so my perspective is a bit skewed.

For anyone wanting to create a short film, web or otherwise, this book is a great starting point. Curtis takes you through some of his works and offers insights into projects - success and not so successful. The candid approach to the work runs more like a one man show of dialogue. Do not expect a How To format. Curtis is all about letting you in on his experiences.

Curtis these days is trying to re-invent himself from a designer to a digital video producer from a web designer (an a darn good one at that). Being one who is starting to dabble in video after I picked up my dvd palmcam last year - I appreciated being shown the path by one who has been there before.

This is a very good book. I didn't think too highly of Hillman before this book, and was under the impression that he was sort of a hack, and happened to be in the right place at the right time for much of his design career.

But I bought this book because I wanted to give him a chance, and I am glad I did. He is able to point out his successes as well as his mistakes, and graciously tries to offer his own humble insights to his process. It is a valuable book for designers, and will look into more of his work.

This is a superquick read comprised of simple sentiments, casually expressed and ultimately well-tuned to the author's professed mistakes and mediocrity. A typical Curtis film relies on others' art to cover for his lack of artistry: stills of great posters cover for a bad video shoot; a great song drives an edit; a great film is the subject of dialogue within his own film.

The result is sub not meta but that's not so terribly bad and it looks so terribly easy. Bravo for offering one way in.

Cheaply produced and bound -- and the typesetting is shockingly poor. There are no indents after paragraph breaks, italics that were in the original are missing in this shoddy edition. I have to purchase yet another copy because this fly-by-night publisher can't be bothered to typeset an out-of-copyright text properly.

In PUBLIC OPINION, we have 1 of the foundational texts in the forming of present day public relations. According to all I've read on Walter Lippmann, he was the most influential pundit of his era, so to read his assessment of the public's opinion & what it's worth & how it must be tamed, we (the readers) are being given access to the core elements that lead to what we know today as government & business propaganda.

Lippmann was part of the Creel Committee, whose job it was to sell the idea that America should get involved in World War I to the American people...so the importance of peeking into the thought processes behind that campaign of pro-war propaganda is a priceless opportunity.

If you wish to understand what those in power actually think of the public's importance in a democracy (or democratic republic), make sure you read this book...twice!

In the last few pages, the author starts writing about hope and remedy for the current problem.

Until then, this book requires a lot of patience. The analysis of how people understand public affairs is appliacble to the present world (also applicable to Japan where I live).

I had the good fortune to meet Walter Lippman growing up, as my father was his children's orthodontist (overbites all). Through this, Lippman and my biological mother, the receptionist, began an affair that lasted--on and off--for several tumultuous years. While Lippman the intellectual is to be respected, I cannot recommend his book without reservation. I mention this on accout of the extent to which his shenanigans with my biological mother resulted in a great deal of cruelty and psychological trauma to her fragile working-class psyche. If Lippman were around today, I would ask him about this. As I cannot, I am simply leaving this review here so others may read the "full story." You cannot judge a book by its cover, but you can judge an author by his actions in the world.

Lippmann's thorough analysis of public opinion serves as an intriguing contemporary counterpoint to Edward Bernays' "Propaganda" (though both books are in many ways timeless).

An interesting read - I'd highly recommend it to anyone interested in politics or group psychology.

Byron Curtis is a well-prepared kayaker who paddles down much of the Mississippi. Other than the scale of the trip, he takes few risks. And since he rarely gets out of his boat, and never for any length of time, he relates few interesting experiences. The terrorist attacks which happened while he was on his trip could have provided something to write about, especially later in his trip when people seem increasingly suspicious of him. However, he never explores this or any topic in depth here.

Someone may find the campsite coordinates and packing list useful, however that content itself doesn't seem like enough to justify a full-length book.

If your interested in a Mississippi River trip, Byron Curtis certainly
lends a hand with his book "Bluffs to Bayous". A very good armchair adventure or a motivator to plan your own river trip.

A real life saga of one man's journey down the "Mighty Mississippi". A confirmed river rat, he brings to life the joys and dangers of his solo expedition. Byron did a great job in carrying you along with him every step of the way. I found my heart pounding, muscles aching, stomach cramping but also excited, awed and lifted in spirit. Definitely a must read and would make a great gift for the adventuresome spirit.

This would be a great read for book clubs! The author does a nice job of providing a frank, honest perspective on not only life on the Mississipi, but the personal struggles he faces as well. The narrative style of the journal leaves you peeking around each bend and cautiously navigating through the thick fog right with Curtis. In our fast-paced, rush to get-ahead world, it was refreshing to read about someone who took the time to do something he always wanted to.

This book provides an excellent guide to the Mississippi River, and I liked the list of supplies at the end as well as the daily lat/longs indicating his starting locations. The story itself is a quick read, not very deep, but more of a narrative of simple experiences that occurred on the trip.

I would suggest the book for anybody preparing to canoe or kayak the Mississippi, but not for anybody looking to get a deeper meaning of life on the river.

Having been familiar with the briefest of facts regarding the cave art in France, I was not sure what to expect when I read this book. Let's face it - this is not a frequent part of conversation today.

But what a wonderful book this is. There have been many discoveries now, and the time is right for a well-informed introduction to this subject. Sometimes the questions that are provoked by observation of the art and history is just as rich and revealing as the discoveries themselves.

Were these people of 30,000 years ago merely scribbling on the wall, or are there indications of a higher purpose and underlying structure? The answer is subjective, but the well-written narratives of Mr. Curtis allow your mind to consider questions such as who were these people? Did they dream, have friendships, travel beyond their usual territory? Why did they draw some of the things the way they did? What happened in the huge gaps of time when no-one visited the caves?

If a person 32,000 years ago created art in Chauvet, when another person came along 10,000 years later, were they shocked? Did they suspect intruders, or did they eventually realize that the art before them may be from their ancestors? There weren't that many other people around, so that conclusion is possible. Art was rarely defaced or overlapped. And how did these sites survive, in some cases, tens of thousands of years without being destroyed by later people or the elements?

The writing style of this book is easy to follow, and very well done. It is at the same time well-grounded in the facts and personalities of the subject, while frequently asking the right questions and not afraid to journey into unexplored territory.

Enjoy!

an entralling and fascinating book -the most balanced treatment of prehistoric cave paintings and why they may have been painted that I have read.

Reviewed by Cerri Ellis

The late nineteenth century was a time of innovation and invention, but also a time of exploration into Earth's distant past. As a result, the public's fascination with ancient artifacts produced many amateur archeologists. Don Marcelino Sanz de Sautuola had been at the world exhibition in Paris and became intrigued by an exposition of ancient objects. Fueled by the fire of imagination, he returned home and set out to excavate a cave known to be on his property. In 1879, Sautuola's young daughter Maria, turned her father's attention from the cave's floor to the ceiling in one of the dimly lit "halls," calling out `Look, Papa, oxen' as she pointed above.

The discovery brought ancient cave paintings to widespread public attention, and started what was to become an intense debate about their origin and meaning that still lingers today.

In The Cave Painters: Probing the Mysteries of the World's First Artists, the author shares his own awe and fascination for cave paintings and discusses the various theories held among the scientific community. What was the purpose of the paintings? Were they part of some hunting or fertility ritual? Perhaps they were created for shamanistic purposes? Or were they merely part each artist's own clan folklore-their version of an oral storytelling tradition?

Curtis' book offers more than hypothesis, it allows you to partake in the wonder, the reverence and beauty of perhaps humanity's earliest artistic creations. The book includes both black and white illustrations, and an 8-page color insert on glossy paper.

Armchair Interviews says: Ideal book for anyone intrigued by these early storytellers.

I found this to be a very helpful and readable book. It traces the work of the lead cave painting archeologists for over 100 years. And it presents the evolution of the thinking about why all this was created. I now have a better sense of the flow of the discovery. And more insight into the capabilities of my Paleolithic ancestors.

THE CAVE PAINTERS: PROBING THE MYSTERIES OF THE WORLD'S FIRST ARTISTS BY GREGORY CURTIS: It was a special day when Gregory Curtis was vacationing in France with his family and entered some famous caves. When he gazed upon the unique cave paintings for the first time, this book was born. The Cave Painters is a two-part story: one small part the story of the rise of Cro-Magnon, modern humans, and their painting abilities; the rest the history of those people who first discovered the paintings and how they proved their finds to the world.

In the first chapter, Curtis starts right at the beginning with the first non-ape hominid to evolve and make their way across Africa as a being that would one day be known as human. He then takes the reader on a journey evolving through different generations of the Homo genus up to Cro-Magnon, better known as Homo sapiens. Curtis also discusses the merits of whether the Neanderthals were "wiped out" by the arrival of Cro-Magnon, leaning more towards no, since the population numbers that are being discussed here are in little more than the thousands. These two different groups of people would rarely have had any contact with each other at all. Nevertheless, it is clear that Curtis has gone all out with the research, making sure that it is clear and up to date, and to put forth multiple ideas that are currently supported, and not just the one he supports.

While the reader is left wanting much more in this area, this is sadly where Curtis essentially leaves it, now taking up the history of those special people who discovered the cave paintings of Western Europe. Though in some ways this is just as moving and tumultuous a story as that of the Cro-Magnons and Neanderthals. These people, for the most part French since the largest number of caves with paintings are located in France, have their story told starting in the nineteenth century. Some were shunned and mocked and even had their careers ruined by others when they told the world of these cave paintings that were over ten thousand years old. Curtis takes the research right up to the present day with what is currently being done with the cave paintings; how probably the most famous caves at Lascaux have been recreated in a separate building due to the deterioration of the paintings by the large number of visitors.

The Cave Painters is an incredible story where the reader first learns a detailed evolutionary history of humanity, and then a detailed biographical history of the famous discoveries of specific cave paintings throughout Europe. Recently released in paperback, the book features numerous copies and illustrations of the cave paintings to aid Curtis's discussion, as well as a selection of colored plates. It is a short book that will educate the reader greatly.

[...]

This is a wonderful book that describes the business side of literary agencies, publishing houses and the relationship between the two that makes the publishing wheel go round. He offers loads of contractual tips and explainations of your rights - which is very important.

I read his book when I was shopping my own book Never Trust A Man In Alligator Loafers. I still refer to it and brush up on contract knowledge and rights.

If you're wondering if you need a literary agent - my answer is yes!

The title is a bit misnomered since in effect an author cannot be his own literary agent and to access editors at the major publishing houses the screening of a representative is now required by most. That aside, the book is a treasury of essential insider information for not only the newbie but for an author like myself who after having seven books published is still struggling to get his work into print.

How to Be Your Own Literary Agent by Richard Curtis

The first two chapters of this book give the basics of the way the publishing industry operates and how to submit your manuscript to literary agents and editors. And the information is very outdated, circa 2000. Much has changed since then and yet the latest update of this book, the 2003 edition which I purchased, is very outdated. (It was originally published in 1983 and gets "revised" every ten years.) So, the remaining twenty-six chapters are contract basics and negotiations, for both fiction and non-fiction. How up-to-date the information in those 26 chapters is, I don't know. Among my published and non-published writer friends, the consensus seems to be most of it is a bit outdated. The internet and e-publishing has dramatically changed the marketplace and what rights are salable and how they're sold. So, on both counts, this book didn't live up to the hype. And what useful information is given, is very BASIC. I said BASIC. Not much detail here.

Since the title is grossly misleading, I was disappointed. I was looking for a book to explain the industry better and tell me how to be my own literary agent or how to get one. This did neither. A huge portion of any agent's job is to get her authors published or at least get their manuscripts into the hands of editors. Does this book tell you how to do that? NO! Not even close. Curtis just tells you how to format your manuscript, print it, put it in a box, and have it sent first class to a specific editor at a publishing house that sells similar types of books, that's it. And I've heard that information for free from various literary agent blogs and websites, as well as AgentQuery. Nothing new there and nothing worth buying the book for.

So the primary aim of this book is to "Be Your Own Literary Contract Negotiator", which would have been a better title. Even there, the information was elaborate in areas I could care less about (movie and TV deals, creative control, collaborations, book packaging, auctions, bookstore chains, taxes, titles, book luncheons, etc.) while it was incredibly weak and general in the areas I wanted to read the most (e-publishing, permissions, rights). The Basic Deal was probably the best part of the book and weighs in at 20+ pages. Is it worth buying the book for that one chapter? NO!

While I appreciate the humor that Curtis has added to the reading, it lengthens the book without giving added information. The only useful information in the first two chapters could have been reduced to ten pages. Soooooo, if you're misled by the title into thinking this will help you sell your book, or get an agent, DON'T buy it. Don't even waste your time reading it. I already had two books on negotiating deals and contracts, but this book seems to have more of that information in one place. I just hesitate to recommend it because it's outdated.

Writers, find out about the business-side of writing with this easy read.

Find out how Agents decide which projects to take on and which to return with note: "sorry, not interested." And if a publisher wants to make a deal with you, find out how to understand the contract.

Best,
Shalla
www.shalladeguzman.com

The title "How to be Your Own Literary Agent" may be misleading for some people, who may take it to mean that by reading this book, one can skip the need of querying for agents. It doesn't help you get published; it says you still have to have agents to get into big publishing houses, but it does give an insider detailed view of the agent business and the publishing industry.

For the aspiring writer, most of the information is interesting but not useful, as the book itself admits - who in the world dares to bargain with the editor anyway, when he is ready to kiss the editor's feet for agreeing to publish his first book? However, for people who wish to become professional writers, such knowledge will certainly come in handy after one becomes published.

The book reads smooth and is extremely funny, making it a pleasurable bedtime reading. I finished it around 3 a.m. with a sore neck. For example, Mr. Curtis mentions this client who claimed to be a mafia hit man. As a result, he had little trouble getting his royal check on time - he'd simply call the publisher and say "if my royalty check ain't ready by noon tomorrow, I'm gonna marry you to a plate-glass window." (p.114)

As one can imagine, the publisher was quick to meet this guy's special needs. Then one day the poor guy was found shot dead outside some motel. Mr. Curtis didn't think the publisher did it.

I highly recommend this book to any writer.

As always, Ms Higgs takes the reader on a delightful journey with her warm, friendly descriptive writing. In this offering, we actaully accompany her on a trip through the lands of her fiction books....(which I adore so much that I have TWO sets in case one I lend out doesn't make is't way back to me...)and where her characters live, and love, and fight for life.
For a wonderful journey this winter, snuggle up with a copy of this book.

Liz Curtis Higgs portrays her love of Scotland in this delightful book, as she takes the reader on a virtual tour of the beautiful country and its greatest charms. Higgs has always had a wonderful way of making her readers feel as though they're right there with her, and this book is no different: throughout it, she refers to you as her companion and even encourages you to buy a particular scarf on a shopping trip! Her charming wit and exuberant spirit shine throughout and held my attention the whole time: I couldn't get enough of her descriptions and stories of historical events!

Sprinkled throughout the book are beautiful lines from all her Scottish novels and quotes from the Scottish poet Robert Burns. Vivid black and white drawings accompany her descriptions and serve to further breath life into the experience. This book is a new favorite for me and I recommend it to everyone! Enjoy, lads and lassies :)

It was my fault, as I did not pay attention to the description. I was sooo excited that she had written another Scotish historical fiction, that I just ordered it.

This is a very unique yet enjoyable book. The author writes to the reader as a personal friend, invited to accompany her on a 10-day vacation rambling through the Galloway region of Scotland (the setting for some of her novels). The author draws upon her extensive knowledge and research of the region, as well as her personal travels, to take the reader along on a detailed journey, including packing bags, airline flights, car rentals, road conditions, language idioms, money, etc. on an imaginary trip through the sights and attractions of the area. The reader gets to vicariously meet people and see sights along the way, including experiencing jet lag, attending a local church, eating in wayside nooks, shopping, etc. and encounter Scotland "off the beaten path" as only a well-traveled companion could reveal the area. The book is enhanced with numerous evocative illustrations of the sights/scenes encountered, as well as a map of the area so you can follow along.

I greatly enjoyed this book - for some pleasant hours, I felt like I WAS in Scotland. The "journey" was all too short, and I hope that this book might start a new genre, not only from this author but from others...

Have you ever desired to visit Scotland? If you love Scotland, but can't afford the trip, there's no better way to visit that My Heart's in the Lowlands by Liz Curtis Higgs. This armchair travel guide is written more like a novel than the non-fiction reference book one would expect. Higgs makes you feel that you're part of the story, part of the events happening all around you.

Liz Curtis Higgs makes traveling to Scotland with her a realistic experience as she describes each step of the journey. She doesn't miss a detail - from her description of a Scottish church service to enjoying second breakfast - you'll feel like you're right there with her.

The areas of Scotland that you visit in this book were also the settings for Higgs' historical novels. Dumfries and Galloway will win your heart all over again as you learn more about the places that captured your imagination in Thorn in My Heart, Fair is the Rose, and Whence Came a Prince.

Award winning author Liz Curtis Higgs takes readers on a new type of adventure in My Heart's in the Lowlands, an armchair travel guide like no other. You'll have to remind yourself while reading that this is true to life because you'll feel like you're in one of Higgs' amazing novels.

Review by:
Jill Hart, CWAHM.com

this book needs a MAP!With such a geographical intensive subject as this, i feel that a map would have helped me get a feel for were the missions were flown and the vast distances that they covered.Other than that ,this is a great read, curtis peebles has really done his homework on this one.It basiclly covers the SECRET flights between the late 40's and early 60's. Just remamber,have an atlas by your side when you read this one.highly recomended.

I had to read this book for a research paper about the Cold War, and must admit, found a great deal of enjoyment in it. It explains, down to the smalles detail, what took place in terms of aerial reconnaissance in the 1950, and at the same it is neatly divided into small sections so that its easy to find information quickly

Shadow Flights examines an already well-covered subject with rich detail and plenty of new information. The reader gets the "feel" of the pilots' experience flying these dangerous missions and offers interesting details about flights over China that aren't covered nearly as much by other works on the subject.

Peebles has always been one of the best writers on intelligence matters, in my opinion, and Shadow Flights is no exception. It's definitely worth the read.

I am a great reader of war and cold war books and this is quite good.

The US needed intelligence on the Soviet Union. There was no way using traditional intelligence methods that she could do this. As such she developed air reconnaissance to a new degree.

The writer write very well about this development. He gives an great history of the development of these planes. I found it fascinating.

As too the political problems that emerged around these flights. The arguments for these missions that despite the large political cost that eventually occurred (as the result of Gary Powers capture showed) were worth paying.

You can feel what the pilots on the missions felt though their stories on the missions that they flew. I felt the excitement that the pilots must have felt on their trips.

I look forward to reading more from this writer.

As in "Dark Eagles," Peebles again demonstrates in "Shadow Flights" an amazing amount of research and insight into the world of classified and black-project aviation during the Cold War. Unlike "Dark Eagles," "Shadow Flights" is a much more integrated read, but is no less informative. Peebles accurately and conscisely recounts the history of Cold War reconnaissance flights and methods in a manner that is interesting to both the informed and casual reader. In so doing, Peebles covers everything from the development history of the U-2 to the shootdown of a USAF C-130A, s/n 60528, over Soviet Armenia in September 1958, including enhanced Soviet gun camera photos of the doomed ELINT aircraft.

Though the book lacks the detailed minutae of "The Price of Vigilance," it also covers a much larger subject and does so superbly. Reading this book immediately before Norman Polmar's slightly more recent U-2 history, "Spyplane," I found Peeble's style to be more accomodating to the average reader, and "Shadow Flights" in general to be more informative and accurate.

This is my favorite Bad Girls book so far! It is more applicable to real life for me.

Excellent book! It was very encouraging to see how even the "best girls" in the bible made mistakes, overcame them, and how God loved them and helped them through their mistakes. Loved it!

I always get a lot out of Higgs' materials. Her wit and wisdom (thru her own Bad Girl experience) never fail to show me new ways to grow in my faith.

Oh, I cannot stress how WONDERFUL this book is...I am not a 'reader' I tend to find books, read a couple chapters, and then put them down...usually never finishing them...but I COULD NOT put this one down. It was GREAT! God really spoke to me through this book...it was humorous, serious, remarkably enlightening, and easily the best book (besides the BIBLE) I have read! I HIGHLY recommend this book!

5 STARS from me!

If you've read the other books in this series, you might understand where I'm coming from... this book goes into such detail, over chapters of the lives of 4 women - where in her other Bad Girl Books it's a new woman each chapter.
B/c I only met and learned about 4 main women, I didn't enjoy it as much, I reached the point where I was like "when will we be done with Sarah." It may have been immaturity, but I loved meeting more women, and seeing more modern stories that I can relate to!

This is one of my favorite uplifting gift books! It contains three beautifully written romantic novellas by three amazing authors. Each novella reads so quickly that they can they be finished in one sitting!

"Fine Print" is Liz Curtis Higgs' contribution to this winning combination. It's the story of a printing magnate, his public speaking coach, and his matchmaking family. The printer, a widower, is terrified of public speaking. When Meghan is hired to coach Hugh through his fears, the romantic sparks fly.

Karen Ball's "Bride on the Run" begins hysterically and keeps the frenetic pace throughout! The runaway bride escapes her nuptials with her nanny in tow to wind up landfill diving and witness God's answers to prayer through flying kittens. This story is heartwarming and hilarious!

In "Sweet Chariot" by Carolyn Zane, two best girlfriends buy a motor home for post-retirement adventure. When their grandchildren insist on helping the ladies pick up the new purchase and driving it back to civilization, the adventure has already begun. The grandkids can't stand each other, and the sweet little old grandmas are convinced that God is in control of all of the mishaps that befall them on the trip.

I thoroughly enjoyed these novellas. Maybe they had an element of "too convenient," but in novellas, there isn't time to develop intricate plot lines. However, the characters were delightful, the dialogue realistic, and all told by great story-tellers. I laughed and I cried, and you will, too. There's a plus in this book...each writer tells a bit about themselves and their own weddings. And Karen Ball's chilli episode really happened!

This collection of authors is incredible. Each one has her own style and tone to love. In Fine Print, a cute love story that includes a widow, a broken heart, and an idea between a fun grandfather and his granddaughter. A twist on common love with the exceptional tale of second chances, courtesy of yellow roses and love notes.
In Sweet Chariot, it answers the joke, "What do you get when you take two adventurous grandmothers, their grandchildren, a beat up RV, and humor?" The answer is LOVE. Meet Jake, a young handsome pilot who isn't set on spending a few days with workaholic Lexie. But when opposite ends of the human race attract, something is bound to happen.
In Bride on the Run, rich heiress, Alexandria, ran from her previous wedding to a man her rich father deems suitable for his beautiful daugther. But when she arrives with her governess to a shelter ran by handsome Evan, something is bound to spark. But what happens if Evan isn;t willing to admit Alexandria's effect on him?
AMAZING book. Definitely a must have for the people who love love!

I wasn't impressed nor disappointed in this book. It is a cute and very sweet collection of short Christian fiction stories. Absolutely nothing shocking or soul-baring in any of them. To me, they are the type of story that just makes you feel better about the world. The book would make a good library check out as something to enjoy in your backyard or on the beach.

Three Weddings and a Giggle is a must read. All of the stories have their flaws (but who doesn't wish that love just came along all of the sudden?).
Fine Print is very cute, although I think that it was my least favorite. Meghan is a speech coach and has to get rid of Hughs butterflies before his big speech. But what happens to their budding love when it's time for her to go?? Guess you'll just have to read!!
Sweet Chariot was most definately my favorite!!! What a hoot!! I laughed a lot during this novella, and I love that Lexie and Jake don't get along at first, I tend to like the stories like this... Jake and Lexie's grandmothers are adventurous... sometimes too adventurous. So Lexie and Jake go along to help their grannies pick up a sorry excuse for a motor home. Neither one knew the other was coming, and they REALLY don't like eachother... so will it be a disaster, or a miracle?
Bride on the Run, is very funny too. Again they all have their weaknesses, but it was a good novella. Alex can't go through with her wedding, so she goes THROUGH her window instead! When she meets Evan (and what a weird meeting...) she hears in her mind "Awake, my love, and come away." What she knew she would when she met "the one" except he doesn't seem so interested in her, in fact, he seems scared of her, not to mention frustrated, and he doesn't trust her with anything... ok there is good reason... but you'll just have to find out, wont ya?

All in all, It is an awesome book, you wont be able to put it down!!