Rowe Books

Oh, Spike in San Antonio. It's so hard to believe that sexism exists, isn't it? I'm not sure where your numbers come from, as your logic seems tenuous, at best, but according to that left-wing, liberal think tank known as the US Census Bureau, Rowe-Finkbeiner is right. And it's getting worse.

The Census Bureau reported in August, based on the Current Population Survey, that women's real median earnings fell by $171, or 0.6 percent, from 2002 to 2003, while men's increased by $336, or 0.8 percent. (The increase for men was not statistically significant, but the decrease for women was.) The gender wage ratio thus fell to 75.5, compared with 76.6 in 2002. In addition, a U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released in October of 2003, controlling for changes in education and work experience over time, concludes that women¹s earnings have remained stagnant, relative to men's, for an even longer period--17 years--with a gap that cannot be explained by measurable differences in education and experience.

If you actually read The F-Word, you might find cited cases like this: Although women make up nearly 3/4 of Wal-Mart's workforce, men hold 90% of management positions--despite female employee's receiving better performance evaluations overall--and female employees are paid lower wages than male employees for the same jobs. None of this is disputed by the corporation. Why? According to Wal-Mart, because men are there for a career, while women are working for pocket money. I wish I could say your attitude was merely naive--but the truth is it's far more dangerous and insidious. Thanks to Rowe-Finbeiner for telling it how it really is.

I just watched Ms. Rowe-Finkbeiner on the Dennis Miller Show, and she trotted out the trusty "women only make 76 cents for the same work a man gets paid a dollar." This is another of the patently false statements used to divide men and women. It has clearly been debunked by multiple studies which block for age, marital and parental status, and years on the job. But even if the proof weren't there, I challenge you to put this to a simple logic test. Most businesses operate on a very thin margin. CEOs are given huge bonuses if they can improve the bottom line by 1-2%. What do you think they would get if they could save 24% on labor costs just by trading their male employees for female employees? If this canard were true, males would NEVER find work in this country.

This is one of those books I'd like to put into the hands of all my friends - I found valuable insights into the plight of women's rights in every section of every chapter, and if every section didn't apply directly to me, it did apply to someone I know. Because the women's rights movement has been ongoing for so long, and the bra-burning days are mercifully behind us, lots of people (both male and female) seem to think it's all better and women don't have any more problems balancing work, family, and life. This book does a nice job of exploring the issues women still face, with a particular emphasis on issues facing young women, those of us who grew up after the main thrust of the movement.

The first few chapters cover the history of the women's rights movement, up to the present day, which Rowe-Finkbeiner characterizes as the 'third wave'. She then turns to a discussion of the issues that face women on college campuses, in the workplace, and at home with partners and children. The last few chapters explore how these areas of women's lives are influenced by our government, specifically, the legislative process and its products, and how young women can (and must) become more proactive in the process.

One of the other reviewers commented on the repetitive preachiness of Rowe-Finkbeiner's message, that is, that women, especially young women, must understand the importance of the political process in their lives, and then must channel that importance into taking action. It is true that most sections close with that idea - but that's the idea. If reading even one section of one chapter can make a person think, "hey, that applies to me," and then make them want to become more aware about political issues, then the book has done its job.

I found the book to be extremely readable. It stayed on point within each topic, and was full of real-life examples of women facing the situations being discussed. Each chapter is narrowly focused, but the topics flow together seamlessly from one chapter to the next. The ideas are thoroughly researched and engagingly presented. Another thing I really like are the grey boxes scattered throughout the book, chok full of resources and quick information relevant to the main topics. And in the back, there's a guide for reading/discussion groups, an appendix titled "how to run and win", and another appendix of contact information for activist organizations, government resources, political parties, and research groups. All in all, this is truly recommended reading for all young women.

The F-Word made me wake up and realize that I can make a difference. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to know what is really going on with today's American women. It was great to peek into other women's lives and see what is important to them and how they handle day-to-day issues big and small. Those who are interested in learning about modern feminism and the "third wave", along with the historical context of equal rights in our nation will also be happy with this book. The reading group guide in the back makes this a great book group pick.

Though there was much about this book that I enjoyed, Rowe-Finkbeiner's tendency to end every segment with "which could be accomplished by getting more young women to vote and increase the number of women in politics. . ." got very old very quick. Do I disagree? No. However, asserting that every feminist plight could be solved as easily as this is single tracked and disappointing. Furthermore, it made it a very predictable and almost boring read.

I bought this sires from amazon and I just got hooked on them. But this book chaught my eye. A truly interesting book.

S.E.G.A. 3rd Grade says - A good book for people who like dogs. It is also good for people who like funny books. The main characters are Neil, his sister, his dog Sam and a Dalamanation named Dotty. There's a part of the book when Dotty jumps on her owner and he falls into the mud! Dotty's actions make it a funny book. The author uses good descriptions and the illustrations are good. We think the illustrations would be better if they were in color. Overall, we give it a B+.

I love this book! Its's sad when Dotty has to stay at the kennels and when Buttons missies her owners! If anyone loves animals or Puppy Patrol Books read it! It was a very cool book!

I own this book and love reading it. It is an enjoyable book for me because dogs are my favorite animal and I went crazy when I heard about "Puppy Patrol", I just had to get some Puppy patrol" books. Wright now I own 5 of these great books. I think people who like this serries should Read " Animal Ark" books, I love animals and want to be a vet so I think all anoimal lovers and future vets should read "Puppy Patrol" and "Animal Ark" books.

WOW! That is all I have to say! I mean this is such a great book, that after reading it, I ordered the whole series! I think you should try to order the whole 45 puppy patrol series. It is so great because it keeps you at the edge of your seat whenever you read one of the books. You Never Knw What Will Happen Next! Great book for all ages. I hope this review really helped you!

I would just like to join the chorus of praise offered by the other reviewers: Rowe's presentation of the standard topics in the philosophy of religion is remarkably clear. He manages to make the logical structure of these issues brilliantly explicit, even for philosophical novices. Anyone who has to teach these topics should consult Rowe's book as an aid to the preparation of lectures and hand-outs, even if they do not choose to use it as a course-text.

The first edition of Rowe's introductory text, PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION, was one of my textbooks as an undergraduate. Rowe's presentation of the issues is great for beginners. I was also impressed by the balance in his treatment. This was nowhere more evident than in his discussion of the problem of evil: although Rowe pioneered the influential 'evidential' form of the argument from evil for atheism, he carefully and fairly lays out the issues in the debate over that argument.

I highly recommend the book to anyone interested in the phil. of religion.

The author is not only a scholar, but a teacher who conveys difficult concepts with admirable clarity. This volume contains the best chapter I've ever read on the Ontological Argument. I was surprised that this book contains no discussion of Divine Hiddenness, Pascal's Wager, or the incoherence of the concept of God outside time--expanding the book to include these topics would be very valuable.

This book is pretty useful in introducing the subject of Philosophy of Religion as separate to Theology or Religion itself. It covers most of the major problems pertaining religion. For a neophite in these like myself, it gave me quite a broad understanding of the major issues concerning the philosophy of religion. It also contains a list of books to review the subject in more depth. I like the last chapters, the first chapters are different proofs of the existence of God, and they may become somewhat tedious.

William L. Rowe's book is the best introduction to philosophy of religion in the universe. It's comprehensive, the writing is clear, and Rowe is fair to both sides of an arguement. If you want a solid introduction to philosophy religion, look no further than this perfect little book; everything else is an inferior copy.

Also recommended: The Gospel of Arnie

Storm Warning by Jack Higgins a tale that makes you think about what exactly is important in this life. The basic faith in and responsibility to humanity regardless of politics and nationality is ever present in this novel.

This story begins with a group of German nationalists who commandeer a 19th century sailing ship to try and sail from Brazil to their families in war torn Germany, by the way of the North Sea at in the final year of World War II. The vessel is the Deutschland, Captained by Eric Berger. The crew includes members of the German Kriegsmarine (Navy), an ambassador and his wife and a group of nuns all looking to go home. Then we have an American Admiral who is convalescing on the Scottish Hebrides island of Fhada where we see a Scottish community so far removed from the front yet very affected by the ravages of war in that they now only have old men and many women widowed or waiting in the village. The young are at war and some never to return. Add to this the young American crew of a Gunboat on patrol around the islands and a German U-Boat Captain who is a POW in Britain. All paths collide in the seas off Fhada and all sides shift to the age old battle of man against the sea.

The character development of this story is great and the glimpse into the everyday life of each leaves you wanting to know more. Each person is real, tangible and believable. My personal favorite is Old Murdoch Macleod, Coxswain of the Fhada Lifeboat and self made conscience of the islanders. I could smell the peat burning and smell the whiskey. Captain Berger and his crew aboard the Deutschland battle all the elements, dodge allied navies and over come doubt to strive forth. With each page turned you try to will them on all the way to their homes. Great story telling and exceptional tale.

This is truly a classic tale of heroics, patriotism, adventure, and even romance. It is great. Jack Higgins has done it once again with this novel. I, myself, have only read the Readers Digest condensed novel, but even it was excellent. I have always been looking for a great Navy adventure, I think I have found just that. I would recommend this book to everybody and anybody, because it has something for every one. Carey Reeve is a great main character, and the action scenes are quite suspenseful.

I have always liked this author; I can always count on him for a good story. I was a little disappointed in this effort. Maybe it is because of the high hopes I had after reading some of his other works, but this book just did not hold my attention. He did a good job with an interesting story, one that I think he had to work more on due to it getting away from his standard fair. The characters drive this book and are done well. I guess I was not looking for a sea story and that is what this book is.

This is a reprint of a novel originally published in 1976. The story is set in August-September 1944. A group of German naval officers and seamen, stranded in Brazil, steal the aged 3-masted barkentine "Deutschland" and, using false Swedish papers, set out on a voyage from Belem, Brazil, in an attempt to reach Germany. They have unexpected passengers - a group of five German nuns from a nursing order attempting to return home. Their biggest danger is the weather as storms batter the sailing vessel (they neglected the fact that September is the peak season for Atlantic hurricanes). The voyage becomes an epic battle against the elements, and leads to heroism, sacrifice, tragedy, and unexpected compassion. I personally believe that this is one of Higgin's best novels, if not the best. There are some intertwined plots as events come together to reach a final climax to the story.

As a fan of naval adventure fiction, I usually follow the Forester, Obrian, Kent novels of nautical derring-do in the Age of Sail. Thus the jacket blurb on this Higgins book attracted me. I was not disappointed. Briefly, the book involves the fates of passengers and crew of a 19th century three-masted barkentine as it tries to return German nationals from Brazil to the homeland as Germany faces certain defeat. It's a five-thousand mile journey to round the Shetlands to enter the Skageraak and head for home. The Atlantic is controlled by the British and American fleets. This danger, however, is not the main enemy, which is the sea and the weather. The amazing seamanship exercised just to hold the creaking 60-year old vessel together in the teeth of terrible storms may stretch credulity; however the nautical exploits are convincingly described and it's obvious that Higgins knows his naval details down to the way in which sails had to be reefed, masts lashed, hulls braced, etc. The passengers include an admirable collection of nuns who must abandon the order in Brazil due to the fact that Brazil has just become a formal ally of the United Nations effort to defeat the Nazi regime. The stifled romance between a wavering novitiate nun and a strongly etched member of the ship's crew is well drawn, not too maudlin and deftly handled. So too are the British and American characters on a remote island in the Hebrides, who are to become entangled in the fate of the imperiled _Deutschland_. Even the captured U-Boat commander Gericke avoids the usual black and white "German = Nazi" stereotyping.

I would have liked to see the subsequent fate of the surviving main characters brought to light. Any screenplay based on this novel (which is a natural for the cinema) should try to tie up these loose ends.

Highly recommended.

Jessie is the most unusual dog Neil has ever met.She is expertly
trained and a tracker too!Jessie`s owner is very spooky you mite
say.The rell qustion is has she rely been Abandoned!?

Jessie is the MOST UNUSUAL DOG Neil has ever met. Left at the kennles late one night by her mysterious owner, she soon proves to be expertly trained and an excellent tracker dog too! Neil suspects Jessie's owner is up to something sinister. Will he ever return for Jessie-or has she realy been abandoned forever?

One of the best puppy patrol books yet! Though it is sad when Soldier the Doberman dies. Otherwise it is a great story blended with mystery, saddness, and all that other stuff readers like. Jessie is an odd dog. Her owner hasn't come back for her, she is an excellent trcker, and knows tons of tricks!But is her owner up to some thing sinister, like robbing jewlry? Each page is filled with susspence while looking for Jess's owner, and the truth. If you love mystery, dogs, or puppy patrol books, this one is a must read! And that's the doggone truth!

Abandoned is a great book!! It is only my second Puppy Patrol book I have read, but it is my favorite so far (the other was Puppy School)
Jesse is mysteriously dropped off at night at King Street Kennels. Neil took Jesse out for a run and finds she is excellently trained and is well behaved. After a couple of nights (after her owners said they would keep her there) Neil wonders why someone would abandoned this intelligent dog. Will Neil find out what is wrong with Jesse's owners? Read to find out

Abandoned is one of the best puppy patrol books i've read. It involes excitement, mystery, and some sad parts. I loved it and couldn't put it down (I read it in one day). So if you like Puppy Patrol books, I highly recomend Abandoned!

It's the second century AD. A body has been found and circumstances are suspicious. Enter Libertus, now a freeman and works as a pavement-maker.

In "The Germanicus Mosaic," Rosemary Rowe begins what we hope is a series featuring Libertus, a sharp, level-headed, determined man with a nose (and a mind) for detection. His patron Marcus Septimus enlists his help. The case seems quite obvious. A slave is missing--the case is cut and dried. The body is that of a centurian, Crassus Germanicus, which, of course, means that particular attention must be paid to finding the murderer. This should be easy. Not so fast, however, as Libertus soon discovers that there are several people with plausible--and likely--motives. Conflicting clues, hidden agendas, deceit--all now combine to cause concern. Libertus himself is preoccupied. He has been searching for years for his wife, from whom he was separated when they were both Roman slaves and he has just recently heard that she may have been seen in a local slave market. Alas, his personal quest must be put on hold while he solves this other mystery. Rosemary Rowe introduces us to a most interesting character.

The author seems well-versed in historical detail and her style of writing is evenly paced in this first-person narrative of Roman Brittain. An excellent read--and hopefully Ms Rowe will grace us with another installment!

186 AD, Britain is the northernmost province of the Roman Empire, the British tribes have settled into a peaceful co-existence with the Roman conquerors.
Libertus the main character of the book is a freedman who lives in Glevum, (modern day Gloucester). By trade he is pavement maker or mosaic artist. By inclination he is a sleuth who is usually called upon to help his patron Marcus. A body is found in a nearby villa and is identified as that of a retired centurion. Libertus is called in by his patron to help solve the murder. . . At the same time Libertus is trying to seek out his wife from whom he was separated while he was a slave.
My kind of book, not much more to say.

In this mystery debut, the author has chosen 186 A.D. Roman Britain to set her mystery. Her protagonist is Libertus, a freedman and pavement maker, whose mentor, Marcus Septimus, occasionally asks for favors. This time, Crassus Germanicus has been brutally murdered, and Marcus wants to know by whom. As Libertus begins his investigation by interviewing Crassus' slaves, he begins to suspect that each slave is only telling him enough to satisfy his immediate questions. As he digs deeper, he finds several slaves with either the motive or the means, but not both. In addition, more bodies turn up further muddying the waters. As he closes in on the murderer, his life is in danger, too.

Rowe's debut mystery is a page-turner. The fact that it is not set in Rome as the other two major series (Lindsey Davis and Steven Saylor, authors)are is a plus. Libertus is an interesting man with much to lose if he is not successful in finding the murderer and not much to gain if he succeeds. Rowe does not let her history interfere with her story, and yet the fear the slaves face is palpable. There is much to learn of Roman Britain from this book. The relationship between Libertus and his own slave is interesting, and will, no doubt, be expanded upon as the series progresses. All in all, a very interesting read. In addition, it augurs well for the series.

The "hero" in this mystery is a freedman turned mosaic maker who is uncreatively called "Libertus" a name that basically just means "freedman". The mystery and the way it is solved isn't particularly complicated; it seems more a matter of luck and logic than investigation as is the case in books by Steven Saylor. Unlike characters in Lindsey Davis' books, the "hero" and his own slave, Junio, are both likeable and you want them to succeed. Rowe has done a good job of trying to explore how Romanization affected distant parts of the Roman Empire as well as exploring the reality that slavery was a social institution embraced and used by everyone, ex-slaves and freeborn, wealthy and poor. What would be truly interesting and difficult to do would be to have a slave who is a "hero" in these ancient mysteries, someone who could really explain this darker institutioin that seems so favored to modern authors yet so distant from their experiences.

Rosemary's Rowe's Libertus mystery opener is a neatly styled murder mystery. `The Germanicus Mosaic' centres around the murder of the ex-centurion Crassus Germanicus who is found under his hypocaust at his villa after a procession at Gleva and the disappearance of his personal slave, part time impersonator, Daedulus. Germanicus is an altogether unsavoury character who delighted in tormenting people (such as beating his barber slave, Paulus, for nicking him during shaving, forcing the tenured slave musician Rufus to both watch and listen as he abused Rufus' slave love and constantly fining the head slave, Andrethus)
We meet many other assorted characters:the gatekeeper Aulus (an apparently inept informer for Septimus), Germanicus' brother, the newly christian Lucius and hear about his ex-wife, Regina, amongst others.
All in all we end up with many people at the villa with a motive to murder the man but lacking opportunity. Into the mix steps Longinus Flavius Libertus, a self-deprecating sleuth, ex-Celt who was taken into slavery, then later manumitted and now works as a `pavement' specialist (had to wince at that as he is really a mosaicist) under the patronage of the senatorial class Marcus Septimus, client of the governor Pertinax. With Libertus is his slave, Junio, and the pair of them set about unravelling the complexities behind the motive in true Holmesque manner - with a fine eye for detail. With Marcus' constant hasty desire to approportion blame at the first sniff of a linked motive and suspect it falls to Libertus to remove the web that implicates other innocent parties and discover all of the events leading up to the night in question. As he succinctly puts it `one murder leads to another' as we discover that Regina was also murdered and buried under the very librarium mosaic that Libertus had lain some weeks earlier. So, by the time we figure out the truth we are running fult tilt to catch up with the culprit(s) before another innocent dies and Libertus manages to get the protagonist(s) to ingest the poison meant for him. Poison is a common theme throughout.
As a first offering, Rowe has not done too badly. Admittedly, the plot moves along simply, but the characterisation and sleuthing is excellent. Libertus is constantly under pressure to discern reality and lies lest innocent parties take the blame so the novel is almost screenplay in its delivery. Nevertheless, the promise is there and I have no doubt as Libertus' continues to sleuth that these mysteries will become a delightful addition to the genre. If you're a fan of the genre, certainly worth delving into. It is only a pity I did not spot this novel when it came out four years ago.

While some of the essays were good, I found the overall content of the book disappointing.

The most powerful women in the world are also the most powerful people in their own home. "The Maternal is Political: Women Writers at the Intersection of Motherhood & Social Change" is a look at the women who change American lives every day with their politics and writings, and how they bring up their children. With writings from figures such as Nancy Pelosi, Anna Quindlen, Gayle Brandeis, and others, "The Maternal is Political" reveals how raising a family and raising a country are not entirely different things. "The Maternal is Political" is an ideal piece for discussion among feminists and other politically oriented groups.

This is a smart, hopeful and soulful offering by the brilliant Shari MacDonald Strong (& Co.). After reading three-quarters of the book in one afternoon, I found myself engaged in a conversation with my roommate who informed me that the cosmetics industry is worth billions of dollars per year...to which I replied that indeed, women are economic power-houses; we've just been distracted too long by the inane when we could be out getting political and changing the world. This book made me want to get off my duff and make the world a better place for our children. Send this book to every mother you know...our kids are counting on it.

This anthology offers great writing, cover to cover. It's all here--gender politics, sexual politics, school politics, adoption politics, religious politics, body politics, community politics, family politics, social politics--but with a mix of tone and approach that makes the book a real pleasure to read. Rather than weighing you down with the utter importance of it all, these essayists--who range from politicians (Nancy Pelosi, Benazir Bhutto), activists (Cindy Sheehan, Rebecca Walker), and other terrific writers, both known and less well-known-- make you want to think critically, get up off the couch, make a phone call, sign a petition. Do good in the world, and teach your children how to do good, also.

And that part's not so hard, really. These essays remind us that our children are our constant witnesses; we should take subtle advantage of that while they are still at home, and also teach other's children when they're in our company.

Share this with the mothers you know, and their partners, friends, and children, and remind them: it's time to get political.

In this collection, Shari MacDonald Strong and well-known contributors such as Nancy Pelosi, Benazir Bhutto, Barbara Kingsolver, and Anne Lamott remind us that the most basic things in our lives - food, clothing, shelter - are a matter of political concern. These essays are lively and well-written and cover a variety of issues that are of interest to mothers, and that should be of interest to all. In some of my favorite essays, Jennifer Graf Groneberg writes about defending her right to homeschool her son who has Down syndrome; Helaine Olen remembers mean mothers; Ona Gritz owns her disability, Violeta Garcia-Mendoza writes about international adoption, and Sarah Werthan Buttenwieser ponders the ethics of hiring a Republican babysitter.

Right wing Christian fundamentalist mothers would probably hate this book, but others will no doubt find themselves stirred up enough to vote for change.

Lots of good laugh-out-loud moments in this one, but not at the expense of a wonderful romance. My heart ached for her characters when it looked like it wasn't going to work out for them. Stephanie Rowe definitely made her way onto my must buy list with this book. ,-)

This story is pure fun! It's also wonderfully romantic and filled with characters I adored. With a hero and heroine who are often hilariously neurotic, the author taps into the insecurities and vulnerabilities -- along with the strength and honor -- that live inside everyone, so that readers will discover a bit of themselves within these delightful pages.

A cute, giddy read, with plenty of laugh-out-loud lines. Portrays the very common self-doubts of women with a wink and a smile.

Stress and the City by Stephanie Rowe
October 11, 2004

Courtesy of WWW.loveromances.com

STRESS AND THE CITY by Stephanie Rowe is part of the Harlequin Flipside series, books that have a lighter, humorous edge to the romance novel. In this book, the female lead character, Cassie Halloway, has just returned from the Bahamas, having gone on her honeymoon alone. She had decided to call off the wedding after she had found her fiancé with another woman, but because she couldn't get a refund, she goes to the Bahamas by herself.

She's now back in the States, it is New Year's Eve, and Cassie and her best friend, Leo (Leonore) are at a party being held, of all places, in a school gym in Gardenbloom, Connecticut. She tries to have a good time, but unfortunately she spots ex-fiancé Drew Smothers at the party as well. The good thing is, Cassie has just met a very eligible bachelor (or so she thinks) and when Drew walks up to her to say hello, the bachelor, Ty, intuitively notices that Cassie has no desire to speak to Drew. As Drew tries to worm his way into the conversation, Ty wraps his arm around her waist, pretending to be her date. As Drew continues to blather on, Cassie can see no other way out of this situation, and plants a big kiss on Ty's lips, to Ty's and Drew's surprise.

And so starts the hilarious "relationship" between Ty and Cassie. Cassie finds out soon enough that Ty happens to be her newest client. She is a stress-management consultant, and feels she's the best there is. Ty is obviously under some stress, since he had sought out her services, but now that he knows who she is, he tries to back out of his appointments. Cassie loves a challenge; she also can't stop thinking about him and that kiss. Convinced that it's her duty to fix Ty and make him "stress-free", she pursues him like a shark and does her best to finish the job he hired her for.

Her main problem with this job, however, is that he won't tell her what is making him stressed. She does learn one thing about Ty, however, and that happens to be the fact that he's engaged to a woman named Alexis. Cassie doesn't let on how much she hates this mystery woman, but she puts all feelings aside and tries to be the professional that she is. Alexis is coming "home" to Ty in a few weeks, to finally move in with her beloved. It is up to Cassie to make sure that Ty is ready for Alexis' arrival, but deep down she hopes that Alexis never shows up. So, Cassie spends a lot of time devouring tons of chocolate to relieve her OWN stress.

STRESS AND THE CITY was a near-perfect romantic comedy, except for one blaring error. While the author chose to set the story in the United States, the characters are obviously British. It is never stated but one assumes the characters are American because of the location of this story, but when a character says the words "sod" and "ducky", they are not American. It can make one feel slightly disoriented for a few minutes. But other than that, the book was very enjoyable. Chocoholics will appreciate Cassie's addiction to the substance in times of stress. Lovers of romantic comedies will appreciate this book. If the rest of the FLIPSIDE series are as fun as STRESS AND THE CITY, this reviewer is definitely going to invest some time and money into the remaining books in the series.

Stress management consultant Cassie Halloway feels good though her relationship with her cheating former fiancé Drew Smothers is over. At a New Year's Eve party in Connecticut, to prove to her best friend Leo, a nagging Drew, and especially herself that she has moved on, Cassie shares a kiss with Ty whom she just met. However, the lip pairing proves a shock to her system greater than any she had with her former beau and Ty feels as if his blood turned into a tsunami.

Engaged and faithful to his "little sister" Alexis though he does not love her, Ty Parker finds his stress level off the barometer since the kiss. His plan to avoid Cassie fails when he is her client showing him how to reduce his tension. Ty realizes that Cassie will not succeed as his sex stress level has exploded off the Richtor Scale since he desires her more any woman he has met including his future wife. Cassie abates her own problem with the chocolate therapy solution, but those sweets do not compare to the sweetness of Ty's lips.

Except for Drew, the cast of STRESS AND THE CITY is an intelligent caring group that the audience will appreciate especially the lead couple, his brother Zach, Leo, and Alexis are fully developed warm people. In spite of love and sexual need, Ty behaves honorably (in contrast to that dope Drew) by staying faithful to the woman he is to marry even if it hurts. Readers will enjoy this amusing frolic and expect a wilder Rowe with the tale of Leo vs. Zach.

Harriet Klausner

when julie and her dog , ben move to compton they don`t exactly make friends with their neighbour Mrs fitz and her dog , but when it snows mrs fitz`s dog goes missing not long after that ben goes missing aswell. not long after neil and emily are on the case will they find the two dogs alive ? get the book and find out ha ha ha !

This is a good book to read because Mrs.Fiz thought Ben was a bad dog but Mrs.Fiz found out Ben was good.

The theme of the story is never give up if it's really important. This story is believable because the dogs ran away, which is something most dogs do. The characters in Big Ben were kids who went out searching for their old English Sheepdog and Mrs. Fitz's Poodle. The characters were believable because they cared enough to go looking for the dogs, and not waiting for the dogs to come home on their own. The setting was very real, and could have taken place anywhere in the U.S. I thought this book was interesting because parts of the story surprised me. Iwould recommend this book to anyone who likes animals.

Big Ben was a good book and was exciting, but was not among my favorites of the Puppy Patrol series. Well, if you like big cuddley sheepdogs and little pampered poodles, this may be your favorite Puppy Patrol book.

This is absolutely one of the all time very best books ever written about our Chicago blues! A real must for all readers who want to learn about this music and it's great musicians. Great rare photos and stories. I have over 200 blues books and this is one of my favorites. Enjoy it! Buy it Read it!
www.barrelhousechuck.com
Chicago blues piano player

one of the best on the subject, a classic standing on its own, many cds sleeve notes and other publications have as their source the stories and information in its pages,Highly Recommended Some books have a built in obsolessence in them as time goes by, this book as all the best works on a given subject will never be less than essential.

This is an important book for Blues fans, but it had the opportunity to be so much more in terms of size and detail, as most of the artists mentioned in this book were still alive at its initial publish date in 1973. Though many of the artists are quoted, it appears from the skimpy Source section in Chicago Blues that most of the quotes were obtained from Blues Unlimited magazine or from Mike Leadbitter's book, Nothing But The Blues, which also sources Blues Unlimited.

If author Mike Rowe actually had gone to Chicago, Memphis and various cities in Mississippi to personally interview the artists in this book, Chicago Blues would still be the definitive book on Chicago Blues today. Sadly, all but a handful of the artists referenced in this book are deceased today, thus rendering it impossible for another author to attempt to document first and second hand accounts of the shaping of Blues music in Chicago. Rowe may never have intended this book to be the definitive piece on Chicago Blues music, so it may be a bit unfair of me to chastise him for not taking advantage of the availability of the artists and presenting a greater work.

In addition to my disappointment of what this book could have been, I take exception with some of Rowe's artist assessments. He incorrectly dismisses Billy Boy Arnold as only an "average talent" and tends to gloss over those with exceptional talent. Blues music was at a dreary point in the early 70s and combined with Rowe's personal biases towards or against artists, influenced the tenor of this book.

Though Chicago Blues has its shortcomings, I am going to order a second copy as my 20 year old copy is worn.

This book is one of those 'text' books that reads well. It isn't really a text book but it contains more information about Chicago Blues than I have found in a single book anywhere else. It covers the standard demographic changes and other things that lead to the development of the music, but then it walks you through the artists, big and small, the different labels, big and small. From Muddy Waters to Mighty Joe Young, Chess to Jax. Also included are billboard rating charts, and a very comprehensive discography by artist. The only limitaion I found was that it does not cover the more modern artists, leaving off around the mid seventies. For someone who loves blues and wants to know more, this is a great guidebook for a journey though a great musical tradition.