Vacations Books

This is the first book I have read by this writer and I look forward to reading many more especially the sequel to this. Four friends go on holiday to Jamaica each one with major issues.
Lisa - happily married,invited her sister and 2 friends to Jamaica to tell them a sad and terrible secret, will she have the courage to do it?
Kayla - single mother, with major self esteem issues. Holding on to a married minister despite the good man that comes her way. Will she wake up and smell the Pastors bull before its too late?
Nadine-is in the closet, in fact she refuses to accept there is a closet. And hopes that a holiday fling with a man will help her get over the fact that she is love with a woman.
Renee - younger sister of Lisa, twice divorced, married woman who does not love husband number 3 so cheats on him regularly. Loud mouth, brash, sexually confident, legs open like 7-11. But is all this a front to hide a childhood hurt?

The book is good a bit too long, 80 chapters tho most of them are short. I did not understand why Renee was written in the first person and took up most of the book. It would have been better to hear more of Lisa's story. Only 2 of the characters get closure, so one must read the sequel to see what happens to the other 2.

this book was a page turner, you will not be able to put it down, it has everything from down and dirty sex to finding yourself. If you need something to keep you interested this is the book for you.

After reading mixed reviews about this book I decided to buy it anyway. It wasn't the worst book I've ever read but it wasn't all that great either. The main character, Renee, was immature and irritating, which it made hard to get into the book since the story mostly revolved around her. And the other 3 charcters weren't very well developed either.

The author dragged what was supposed to be a 7 day trip into like 300 pages. And then the book ended so abruptly like she was tired of writing. The women didn't change or mature at all, so I'm not sure what the lesson was supposed to be, if there even was one. I definitely wouldn't reccommend spending money on this book. If you feel the need to read it, borrow it from the library or a friend.

I picked this book up thinking I was getting a good sister story, just you know a quick enjoyable read.

Well that couldn't be further from the truth! I am not sure what people look for in a story but the repetitiveness in this book drove me up a wall! 448 pages of the same story chapter after chapter, only to end and nothing changed! There was no growth in any of these woman, none of their stories it didn't have to be a fairy tale ending but for it to be a year later and they were all still crying over the same things the whole book to end the same way come on! I am not being mean I am just being honest. It started off interesting enough you wanted to know what would be their defining moment's pugh!!!!!!!!!!!! There never was one. Please don't take this wrong I am not saying Ms. Daniels doesn't have talent, I am saying this could have been broken down in 200 pages maybe and maybe a little more something in between instead of the same thoughts each character had over and over and over.

I found the book hard to put down. It was fun. It was a great read from being to end!!!

We used this book (along with Petswelcome and the Internet) to help find accommodations for ourselves and our rambunctious German Shepherd puppy during a move across country. It was extremely helpful in finding possible places to stay in cities that we were not familiar with. Of course, we called all of the places to confirm that they took pets, the rules and the extra fees, before making a decision on any one place. Each place we ended up at was pretty well described in the book and our dog loved his first road trip!

We use the book often, and successfully because we take the authors' advice which is to call ahead and confirm that the property still takes pets. We also go to their website (www.petsonthego.com) to check for updates as well. This is the only pet travel guide, that we know of, to offer both a print version and online version for updates. It really makes it easy for us.

I work in the hospitality industry and know that hotels change policies on a whim -- I think Pets on the Go does a great job of responding to those changes by offering both an easy to use print guide with updated online information! Thanks.

I took this and another pet travel book on a cross country trip to my folks house with my dog. I found this to be the least useful, as many of the entries were wrong (it was a HoJo, not a Ramada as listed) and the information was wrong (there was a $10/night charge and the book didn't mention it). All in all I wasn't too impressed.

This book covers it all for us -- tells us about pet friendly places to stay, gives us the website addresses to check them out in advance and provides us with the details about pet policies and amenities. We use a combo of the book and the Pets on the Go website (www.petsonthego.com), as the book is easy to look through and carry with us, while the site has book updates and is packed with other information about pet travel trends, cool new hotels, and recreational activities.

Good find!

The main reason I purchased the book was because I wanted the Hotel locations show on road maps. There isn't a single map in the entire book. For some reason I assumed this aide would be included in the printed version. In larger cites this would be a great help as I try to avoid going out of my way when traveling to find a place to stay. Its basically an outdated printed version of the Web site. Great to have along if your travel plans change and you have no internet connection but of limited use if you do.

Over the past few years I have visited several of the resorts listed in this book. I've found the management and conditions excellent. I like the resorts so much that I wouldn't want the mass market or other wrong-headed persons to visit. That makes me hesitate to promote these spots too much. However, in the face of the curious pans on some of the resorts from other Amazon readers, I felt compelled to make note of my own times at these Best All-Inclusives! I'd also like to mention my absolute favorite but that I'm going to keep a secret of course!

We bought the book because it seemed thorough and well written at first glance. Both my wife and I eventually read most of it -- it was entertaining and well done. We used it to select the kind of vacation we wanted and the particular resort. I found it to have a lot of diverse, interesting choices with great detail. We traveled to a resort in the Bahamas that the Parises recommended and found it to be exactly as described -- and in some ways even better! We have since lent it to a neighbor with our high recommendations. I know places can change for the better or worse quickly, but we definitely were pleased --

We visited two of the so-called 'Best' all-inclusives in this book, and they were terrible (neglected, unkept, terrible food). I wouldn't trust this book, and certainly would not use it to plan a hard-earned vacation.

Despite the title this is almost entirely about the US and its' near neighbours. Europe and Asia get a cursory glance. The resort coverage itself is sparse and there are few illustrations.

From the "100 Best Resorts" series by The Globe Pequot Press. The
authors point out that travelers save up to 25 percent of vacation
costs when booking all-inclusive stays. Rates start at $800 per week, per person; the average cost per couple is $2,500 per week. In addition, all-inclusive travelers often receive airfare discounts; for instance, Club Med (the original all-inclusive) has exclusive deals with airlines while the owner of the Sandals chain also has a controlling interest in Air Jamaica.

All-inclusive resorts offer one price for all services, gratuities, food, and lodging. If nothing else, it is an amazing peace-of-mind feeling to go on vacation knowing the exact cost. There are no surprises, especially in cost, with all-inclusive resorts; consistent quality is another trademark. The resorts were originally designed for singles but now cater to couples and families, too.

This book excludes European properties, in spite of Club Med starting there some 50 years ago. The rankings and the book have a very US-centric focus. 84% of the properties are in North America, including US, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. In fact, this book could serve as a useful guide for someone choosing between resorts in Jamaica and Mexico (27% of the listings).

Contact points, including toll-free telephone numbers and Web sites, are provided for each listing. Check with either or both for package deals, specials, or other additional information. Prices for most properties are listed per person, per day, even though the Introduction indicated that most stays are for one week. It would be nice to have weekly rates listed, especially if they are different (that is, less) than the daily rate times seven. Another silly inconsistency that bothered me is that airports (and other information) are listed in different formats;
perhaps because the authors merely duped the information provided by the resorts. For instance, the closest airport for most of the Jamaican resorts was listed three different ways, although it was the same airport (Donald Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay). Also, airports are listed in time, distance, or both from the resorts. This would probably bother only me.

Reviewed November 2001 by Charles McCool ...

Although well-written and interesting, the whole thing is stupid. WHat makes the BSC so special that they can travel the world like that? Why, when I was in school they wouldn't even let us go to Eastern Washington (which is only a few hundred miles from where we are in Western Washington. It hacked me off!

I liked it. I mean, yes, they do go on lots of holidays, but HEY, they're books, and I like reading them!

This book wasn't very good. First of all, the fact that an entire school is going to Hawaii for no reason whatsoever is COMPLETELY unrealistic. Next, the adventures of the babysitting weren't that exciting-not even Stacey's. She was on a helicoptor that crashed, but her adventures mainly focused on walking back to where they were supposed to be. What really bugged me about this story is that there was almost NO plot. The whole plot is: The baby-sitters go to Hawaii. They do stuff. They come back. That's what most Super Specials are about, but other ones are written better and the adventures are actually realistic (since when do 13-year-olds act in commercials by pretending that they're 18, and having everyone believe them?). If you're a die-hard BSC fan, then you'll probably like this book. Otherwise, stick to realistic books that actually have a plot.

The Baby Sitters are going to hawaii. Mallory can't come so they let Logan join along with abby stevenson. What i really liked here was when abby got her high flying adventure that she will never forget!

This book was fantastic!;-) Whenever I am bored I re-read this book! I love this book because it focuses on all the babysitters and even Robert, Stacey's boyfriend. Almost all the baby-sitters go to Hawaii and love it. All who went said they left too early. There are some funny, exciting, and scary chapters in this book. This book touches your heart in many wonderful ways! You must read the greatest Baby-Sitters Club book ever!:-)Good job Ann M. Martin!

I remember reading this book as a child over and over. At the age of a young reader, I clearly understood the humor and irony. To this day, as I depart on every vacation, the first words of this book ring in my head, "Hurray, hurray. We're on our way. Our summer vacation starts today." Classic...how can you beat that?

Poor, poor Papa Bear... In THE BEARS' VACATION, by Stan and Jan Berenstain, Small Bear gets taught a few simple rules for when you're at the beach. And although this seems harmless, for every rule Papa Bear recites, something happens to him. For instance,Rule number six is to keep a sharp lookout whil you are out on a boat. Easy enough, right? Well, as Papa Bear 'keeps a look out' for Small Bear, a huge ocean liner comes up from the opposite direction than the way Papa Bear looks. All in all, I found this a fairly humoring story. I gave it a 3 out of 5.

This book is a humorous account of the Bears on vacation. When the Bears arrive at their vacation house, Papa Bear points out all of the dangers and things to avoid. But he promptly ignores his own advice, with fearful consequences. The book has some tension, but it's not too scary. Some children may pick up on the message that when a parent advises against doing something, there is usually a good reason and that those who ignore the advice may get hurt. The text is presented in rhyme, and there are about 550 words.

I give four stars to this book because it is very fun.I choose this book to tell you how good this book is.The most thing that i like is when the bears'family were going to a vacation. And I liked it when the dad of the little Bear was showing the little bear all the rules of the beach.I think other students would like to read this book and review this book it is very good and very fun I recommend you to read this book.

I searched and searched the attic of my parents home but could not find it. Now that I have a son of my own, there was no way his library was going to be without Bears' Vacation. It is a treasure to me, and hopefully one for him, as the humorous yet deeply affectionate relationship between father and son is evident. It was probably the colors, the illustrations, that drew me to the Berenstains works as a child. Now my favorite in the series is my son's to keep as well.

Book was obviously well used from library with old cracked protector and just not something you want in your personal library. Also whole story was disappointing after her other 2......my first negative experience so no big deal

I do not want to waste my time on this lengthy form and am only prepared to say whether the buying experience was good or bad. Please do not ask me to review any more or I will take my shopping elsewhere.
Thank you
Zandra Mountford

I love this author. I have read all three of her novels now. I wish she were more popular in the US.

This is one of those books when you just wish it didn't have to end.

Though it is not a book of action, excitement and cliffhangers, the simple lives of English villagers and that of the mystery guest to their town, manages to be a compelling and thoroughly enjoyable read. The characters are written well and you can't help but warm to them as you find yourself absorbed in their lives. The story moves towards a twist at the end which, if you didn't pick up on it, makes you review the book in a different light as it provokes an interesting way of thinking.

A cleverly written book which you will have you savouring every word as you find yourself engrossed in story, though you may regret having to finish it.

I agree with the reviewer who has been recommending this to everyone. It's brilliant. Clever, funny, wise, deeply profound and highly original. Ms Vickers writes in a quiet, understated Brit way. Don't be fooled. There's a savage understanding beneath that decorous facade. And the ending is a tour de force. Bravo, Ms Vickers and may you continue to 'go lightly'!

I'm a bit mystified by the comments below that seem to implicate this book and its author in what the Hamptons have become. To the contrary, Weekend Utopia celebrates happier days pre-mega mansions: when culture and architecture and some fascinating characters created some truly exceptional houses, most of them modest in scale. In fact, today's Hamptons home-builders could learn a lesson or two from this book (like small can be very beautiful), and stop the further despoilment of what the Hamptons used to be: something Weekend Utopia shows with great clarity and style. This wonderful book is certainly no apologia for the mess that awaits you at the end of I-495...

I agree with the reviewer who said that the Hamptons were ruined long ago -- by the very succession of waves of development that this book touts. I do love looking at some of the quality design of the past that this book shows, but the new reality is overbuilding and, even worse, tasteless building. The feeling of getting away to a charming, easy-going, and low-key place with rural roots is gone forever in the Hamptons. We left because of the continuing intrusion of the nouveau riche who are more interested in showing off than in quietly relaxing-----peoplewho have now made the Hamptons a decidedly UNCOOL place to be.

Wonderfully written and researched. Architecturally lacking photographs, drawings, or any substance for inspiration or idea generation. Cover and size of book suggests more pictorial content, but fails to deliver.

When i saw the cover of this book i thought this would be a great book. I wanted to find pictures of beautiful decorated houses,nice gardens and offcourse the habitants of the mansions. Well, that's not quite what's inside this book. For the most only pictures of houses taken in the 50's and 60's and a lot of text!! I want pictures of Aerin Lauder and the Miller sisters!!

Finally got the chance to sit and read Gordon's excellent text in Weekend Utopia. The book goes way beyond an illustrated coffee book. Gordon manages to weave together stories about the characters who shaped the place (like developer Carl Fisher who created Montauk to be the "Miami Beach of the North")with stories about the flamboyant architecture, post-war artists like Pollock and Motherwell and his own personal memories as a boy spending summers there. While the book has a large format with hundreds of illustrations it is most readable and explains so much about how a rural American landscape was transformed into a resort for show-offs. I loved it and can't comprehend what reviewers from Hong Kong and the Netherlands were talking about. It is neither trying to be a professional book on architecture nor a cheap gossip book about pseudo-celebrities. It is an intelligent cultural history that also happens to be well designed and illustrated. It warmed my soul on a chilly winter weekend and made me want to go to the beach as soon as possible.

this is a cute story about a girl named amber brown who travels to london with her aunt on her way to see her father who lives in france. while in london, amber comes down with the chicken pox, and she never gets to make it to france, but her father does come to london to see her. the story tells about her time in london and her efforts to get her mother and father back together. this a cute book for any young child, especially those with divorced parents. the whole series is great.

This book was an okay book, but thier could have been a little more excitement and adventure, which I think makes this book kind of boring, but the good thing is she had fun in Europe.

Third grader, Amber Brown, has experienced one very trying year. First, her parents informed her that not only were they getting a divorce, but that her father was moving to France to take on a new job. Then, to add even more drama to the mix, her best friend since preschool, Justin Daniels, up and left New Jersey to accompany his family in Arizona where his father had taken on a new job. Now, while Amber is happy to be embarking on the unknown world of fourth grade, she's upset to be leaving her beloved teacher, Mr. Cohen, behind. Mr. Cohen has made learning fun, and his frequent trips to foreign countries with his class will sorely be missed - especially by Amber. Luckily, this year Amber has something to look forward to during her summer vacation. First, she will be flying to London to spend two weeks with her Aunt Pam in England - a place where people drive on the wrong side of the road. Then, she'll be flying to Paris, France, where she'll be spending time with her father, whom she hasn't seen in what seems like forever. However, Amber's plans instantly change when she gets to London and realizes that she has come down with a case of chicken pox. Amber is horrified. With chicken pox, she can't possibly see the sights that London has to offer, or visit her father in France. Amber just knows that her summer is completely ruined, and can't believe her luck. That is, until she discovers that having the chicken pox isn't as bad as she originally thought - especially when you're surrounded by people you love.

In AMBER BROWN IS NOT A CRAYON, Paula Danziger tackled the issue of having your best friend move away. In YOU CAN'T EAT YOUR CHICKEN POX AMBER BROWN, Danziger tackles another issue - even more serious than the last - divorce - yet manages to keep it light-hearted, and easy-to-understand for young readers. Amber Brown, as always, is her usual chatty self, with her perky disposition, and a penchant for finding the humorous side in any situation. While the majority of the tale takes place in a London flat, it is in this location where Amber truly comes face-to-face with the many monsters that are haunting her - from a sudden illness to her parents lingering divorce. The introduction of Amber's Aunt Pam, along with her father are a nice inclusion to the tale. However, they certainly do not take the place of Amber's best friend, Justin, or her mother. The storyline in this particular book is slightly more touching, and a little more heart-wrenching, but Danziger is able to pull it off, and showcase Amber's feisty, upbeat personality - even in the face of sorrow. A slightly somber addition to the world of Amber Brown.

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

I read many of the Amber Brown books with my 7-year old daughter, and generally, we love them. All of the books have a portion dedicated to the fact that her parents have split up and how she is dealing with this situation. Although my daughter cannot relate directly to that, it has lead to some interesting discussions. Most of the books have a humerous story interweaved, but unfortunately, not this one. It is a story of a girl who goes to Europe to visit her father, gets sick, and is bored sitting in her aunt's flat. We were as bored as Amber. While I would highly recommend other books (I, Amber Brown; Amber Brown Sees Red; Forever Amber Brown), I have to recommend staying away from this one.

I just finished this story. It is about Amber Brown at school. Her best friend Justin Daniels just moved away. When she came home her parents get divorced. Guess what! Her dad moves to France. She could not believe what happened to her life. Her life was wrecked into pieces! She was heart broken. Then a couple of months later she goes to France. She was so happy to see her dad. France was so cool. But she gets the chicken pox! I thought the book was great! It lots of parts I liked. I don't have a favorite part, though!- By Amanda H. Age 7

On a Skiing trip,The Sweet Valley High schoolers meet Lucas King,a cute Skiing Instructor in which Jessica and Lila both have crushes,but Jessica calls the front desk and cancels Lila's Wake-Up call. Meanwhile,Todd and Cassandra[A divorcee] are trapped in a Avalanche,when a big ball of Snow heads right towards them when Todd and Elizabeth are Skiing.Seperating them.You will never find out who Lucas ends up with.

This book was not the best one in the series. I'm fan of this series but it reeked. Maybe Francine had no inspiration when she wrote this book. The four plots (Elizabeth/Todd, Enid,Jessica/Lila) started to make no sense. They were all tangled up. If you ask me, I would read another book before you make the decision to stop reading the entire series. It does get better than this!

This is a great read. It's so amusing to read about Lila and Jessica making fools of themselves over a guy (which, they always seem to do :-) Watch out for the 'surprise' ending.

I am a Sweet Valley High (and University) fan. This one is called 'Falling For Lucas', and it's a Super Sepcial Edition. It's really good. The Sweet Valley High gang are away on a skiing vacation. Jessica and Lila both fall for the same guy - a cute skiing instructor. Then Elizabeth gets worried when she learns Todd has been buried in a huge avalanche! Can Liz save Todd? Will the guy end Jess and Lila's friendship? Find out by reading this book. The ending may surprise you!

This is so bad..just more guy-bashing crap,that can only hurt.Choose something different.

This book was my inspiration for a beach house I just finished completely cosmetically rehabilitating. The book took me all the way through the process by stimulating me with the beautiful visuals of its photos. I would look through it repeatedly, looking one time at flooring, another at windows, and so on, depending on where I was in my rehab process. I can't imagine it not being a superb stimulus for anyone.

And therein lies the beauty of this book. Yes, some of the homes are older & some are rustic-but there's the sleek & contemporary too. In other words, something for everyone who loves to live by the water (or wishes they did). Buy this book to appreciate the different ways to express loving the natural light & atmosphere in a home that is reflective of the sea. You may not get Decorating Lessons 1-100 - but thats not the point. You can escape thru this book, dream thru it, share it, admire those who have created beautiful spaces in beautiful places - without displaying every obvious "seaside" nic-nac but with much good taste & class. Buy it for those pleasures & of knowing that kind of life does exist & can be lived by those to whom it means the most. To the authors - a beautiful volumn - thank you for seeking these places out & creating an arm chair trip to some incredibly beautiful spots by the water.

A beautiful book that captures what it feels, smells and looks like to live by the sea. If you want glitzy resort style houses then this book is not for you. The houses shown are not show cases for a glossy magazine but places filled with memories and life. It's my favourite beach house book.

I received this book for my birthday last year and still enjoy looking at it. In fact, I was getting ready to order it for a friend for the holidays when I saw an earlier review of this book that also mentioned another vacation home book called Second Home, I bought it, too. I highly recommend both books. This is wonderful dream book, as is Second Home. Second Home also includes pointers (throughout the book) on deciding where you might want to have a second home, real estate shopping tips, and ideas on building and decorating, too. Second Home is as inspiring as Family Houses by the Sea, but it offers the bonus of being practical and talking directly to me about what I can do to actually realize my dream of having a weekend house.

We are accumulating a wonderful little stack of books related to second homes as we plan a getaway of our own. This one is a favorite because of its dreamy photography. I also highly recommend SECOND HOME: Finding Your Place In The Fun, which is a new book that mixes dreamy photos of real homes with some helpful tips on finding a location as well as buying, building, remodeling, or decorating a second home. Like Family Houses, Second Home is a larger hardback book. Gorgeous.