Pacific Books

This guide makes it so much easier, because in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, I would need numerous individual maps, instead of this single book.

If you live in the L.A. area or spend significant amounts of time here, you need this book. Sure, you can get free maps from yahoo, mapquest or google, but when you're heading through El Monte and the 10 is blocked up, no website is going to help you find an alternate route.

It's also handy for locating a nearby post office, or most significant landmarks (the major stores at malls are identified by code, even, which helped my wife find a nearby Sears when she needed to make an exchange).

My only complaint is that the included CD-ROM version of the maps is Windows-only. They're considering a Mac version, but it'll likely be a year or two before we see it.

Since I started driving many years ago, I have always had a Thomas Guide. Even with the advent of GPS technology (a bit too expensive for me now), the Thomas Guide is invaluable. The latest version of the LA-OC guide has all the latest updates, which is very important with all the new construction in the OC. My 2001 guide was getting outdated, so I bought a new one.

One of the greatest features of the current guide is the CD included in the back. I installed it on my laptop, and it saves me time as I travel. When I need to go from one location to another and I don't have Internet access, I simply use the Thomas Guide CD.

I just spent two weeks in L.A looking for places to live. This street finder quickly found all the addresses I was looking for. And I could easily navigate from one place to another, even when crossing several cities.

I bought this product 99% for the guide as I've used previous versions in the past and have liked very much. As I've just moved to Orange county and found that the area I live in doesn't exist in prior guides (1999) I needed an upgrade. 2005 seems to have it all.

Only problem, I tried installing the software from the CD on 2 of my computers running WinXP and it was a no-go. Ended up installing all these funky .dll's and then the program wouldn't even boot when executed. Bummer as I was excited to have the guide available on my computer.

I picked up this book because my grandfather was a WWII destroyer sailor (DD-727 USS DeHaven II, not the Sterret), and I wanted to get a sense of what the war must have been like for him. I think this book does an excellent job of this and "Cal" Calhoun has to be commended for pulling together the story of this destroyer.

Of course the book follows one particular destroyer but it focuses on the daily life of the sailors and officers, giving you a good concept of what their working lives and their missions were. The Sterret also had a particularly distinguished career, especially during the Third Battle of Savo in which the author took part. The Sterret engaged a Japanese cruiser, battleship, and sunk a destroyer at point blank range at night while receiving 14-inch shells, and makes for some of the best combat writing I've ever read.

The book takes you from the Sterret's comissioning, training in the pacific before the war (including adventurous attempts to try to capture turtles by steering the ship), early duty with the British home fleet in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, and then on to its amazing career in the Pacific from Guadalcanal to Okinawa, and, last, its return to New York for decomissioning and scrapping.

The author had to leave the ship shortly after the action in around Savo and so about two-thirds through the book the style of storytelling necessarily changes. Despite this the book is still an excellent read throughout. At only 160 pages or so of text it's also an easy read yet still does justice to the ship, her crew, and all who served on destroyers in WWII. Definitely recommended.

Like a previous reviewer, my father also served on a WWII Pacific destroyer. This book helps to capture what life on a destroyer must have been like. Interestingly, it follows the life and action of this ship from it's beginning in the shipyard; through its exciting sea battles, and then to her decommissioning. Thankyou Capt. Calhoun for a book well done.

The only problem with this book is that the author didn't stay on the Sterett past 1943 so the book could have been longer. Very good reading. Hard to put down.

I have read many books on destroyers during WWII. This is the first book that put me on the deck during a night surface battle, and I could SEE what was going on. There is no hype, no "I was a hero" type of comments, just the facts. You can feel the pain he felt when he saw a fellow sailor dead on the deck. It almost brought me to tears.
If you want to SEE what life on a destroyer was like in WWII, this is a MUST READ book!

The book had special meaning for me in that my father was aboard the Sterett from October 1941 to October 1943. Although he had often explained many of the events aboard ship, the connection for me between the war and it's lasting affect on the men who served, was not realized until I read the gripping tales recounted by Captain Calhoun. In a well researched history enhanced with the credibility of first hand knowledge, Captain Calhoun related the Sterett's experience. Every child, grandchild, and great grandchild of every sailor who ever served during WW II on any ship of any kind should read this book and well-up with the pride of having known, or have in their lineage the brave men who stood in harms way to preserve our freedom. My regret is that I had not read it prior to my father's passing on December 10, 1999 and let him know how proud of him I am. Thank you Cal wherever you are.

This brand is perfect. Concise, yet without sacrificing any information. This book helped us navigate Los Angeles, and see exactly what interested us. Also this gave hints at off-the beaten-path "must-sees".

Do not buy another book, this is the one.

I took this guide book with me on my first visit to LA recently. I was interested in doing all of the typical tourist things. This book was indispensable. I also bought Frommer's guide book and I never opened it.

I rented a car and traveled through LA. I was driving alone and the maps in this book were a huge help. They are very detailed and held up through being thrown in the car and in and out of bags. The pictures are great. The decriptions are short and to the point. I also loved the size of this book. It is small enough to easily carry in a larger purse or backpack.

I didn't use the Top 10 book to plan my trip - only what to do and where to go when I got there. A more detailed book might serve you better if you need help decided where to stay and what hotels to use.

You can't go wrong with this guide book - it is really the only guidebook you need for LA.

During the past few years, I've become increasingly convinced that L.A. is one of the most interesting cities in America. Unfortunately, much of what is there is overshadowed by ersatz "attractions" like Disneyland and Universal Studios.

This guide overcomes that problem by focusing upon different areas of interest and then listing the top 10 attractions within each area. Yes, Disneyland and Universal Studios are still covered, but so are the numerous museums, architectural landmarks (this book first made me aware of the Bradbury Building), parks, restaurants and hotels.

Despite the enormous amount of material covered, the guide is compact enough to easily fit in a pocket or purse, yet still offers attractive graphics and intuitive organization. I bought Fodor's guide at the same time, but despite its greater amount of text, found that I used the Top 10 Guide virtually exclusively.

The 10 to 12 pages on Pasadena are quite good. Pasadena is a city worth a visit, especially the Norton Simon Museum which offers a fine collection of art in a peaceful, uncrowded setting. Highly recommended.

Since "The Loved One" has just come out on DVD, I especially wanted to visit Forest Lawn, the cemetery satirized in that film. Interestingly, none of the guide books I scanned provided directions, although the Top 10 Guide does provide directions to the Hollywood cemetery where some of the top stars are buried. As it turned out, there are six Forest Lawns scattered about the LA area, with the Mother Church being on the west side of Glendale along I-5 [Los Feliz exit]. Well worth a visit.

Since I visit LA on a regular basis, I plan to use this book a lot in the future, but to augment it with other, special purpose (e.g., architectural) guides.

If you can find a copy, there's a fine book about LA, L.A. Lore: A Scintillating Exploration of Los Angeles by Stephen Brook, that provides a narrative overview of the city. Brook is an English journalist who came to LA in 1990 with an excellent list of contacts, and visited virtually every section of the city. His observations are intelligent and generally unbiased.

I bought this guide along with the Frommer's guide to LA and I must say, it's hard to say which is better. Obviously, there is less text in this version, but the essentials of a trip to LA are laid even more bare in this pocket-sized guide. And the pictures get you excited to go!

If you're interested in experiencing a typical LA tourist-style vacation, I can vouch for this guide as a must-have! Use it by itself, or supplement it with one of the larger guides.

We visit the LA area two or three times a year.

This is simply the best compact guide to LA that we've seen.

It's quite usefully organized around several different communities in the LA area. This is the only way that's useful in LA since, if you're staying in Santa Monica, reading about a great restaurant in Pasadena isn't all that helpful.

A very dense collection of useful information. It's introduced us to hotels (e.g. Magic Castle Hotel) and restaurants (e.g. Newsroom Cafe) that we've really enjoyed.

Hopefully they'll be able to keep this updated every couple years or so.

If you're going to LA, buy this. It's a steal.

This was a great easy, quick read. if you follow this guide, you should be able to maximize you visit in San Diego. i liked it so much, that I bought everyone on our trip one.

Again, I bought this for a friend that is moving to that area and she was so ecxited to get something she could use for a place she knows nothing about.

I love DK books and this one is no exeption! It was everything I expected from DK and more. I bought this book for a trip to San Diego that my husband and I recently took. This book was a lifesaver! The maps in the book were clear and easy to follow, the information on different sites was great; we carried this book with us in the camera bag and refered to it often. The maps were clear enough that we used them to successfully navigate through the city (I also had seperately purchased a very expensive laminated map of the city which proved to be useless and a waste of money). If you want the basics (top 10 everything) and a really good set of maps, this is definately the book for you! The book refers to the sunsets at Point Loma - don't miss this! They were absolutely breathtaking! By talking to the locals, we found several great restaurants that were not "touristy" and therefore not listed in the book. We were pleased with all recommendations, but Fish Tacos at South Beach Bar in Ocean Beach is a must! Inexpensive ($3 & $4), fresh and delicious!

DK Eyewittness always produce great travel guides especially there 10 ten sites. Its easy to read, small enough to carry around and has little gems of advice in there.

Top 10 San Diego is a small little travel resource that fits nicely in a pocket, purse, or backpack. There are plenty of maps included in this book. All are full color and fold out large enough so that the lost tourist can actually figure out where they are going. I can't stress this point enough. I've been stuck too many times on public transit or while negotiating a busy street while flipping through some oversized travel guide to find that one black and white map that I need a magnifying glass to read.

I also like the whole top ten notion. Before reading this guide, I had already done a good deal of research on the places I wanted to go, where I wanted to stay, and what activities San Diego had in store for me. Top 10 San Diego gives me a good reference that I can use to get to these places no matter what area of the city that I happen to be in at the time. Looking through these lists, I was also pleasantly surprised to find a few more little gems that I hadn't previously known. I was particularly impressed with the various sections on restaurants, shopping, performing arts venues, and offbeat activities.

Oh Yes, now this is the kind of western I remember reading in the 50's and 60's when the bookstores all carried many westerns. If you remember Walt Slade or Jim Hatfield and enjoyed them then this is for you. Even if you don't remember them I really suggest you try this book. This was the first book by James Griffin I've read but I'm definitely going to buy all of his books and add them to my collection. This is just a great all out exciting western with lots of action and adventure and no sex or swearing. There are only a couple authors writing westerns today that I enjoy and Jim Griffin has now been added to that list.

Wonderfully paced novel. Griffin uses good characterization and a deft use of dialogue to capture a style of western storytelling gone by. The mood and style of this book is very reminiscent of the Pulp Era Western tales of the 20's through the 40's and after. An intersting turn is having the hero attractive to women, but very devoted to his wife, child and his God. He also has an intelligent horse (SAM) who is more than just a prop to talk to, or a plot device to save his bacon. Sam is an equal partner and is treated with love and respect by Our Hero. This is surely a departure from Western Fiction and a good one at that.

Worth every nickel, this book packs a good story and lots of action between its covers. Enjoy this one and look for upcoming books from Griffin.

The author,James Griffin, has captured in this book the true feeling of the West of years gone by. From the first page to the last I was not able to put this book down for fear that I would miss the next adventure with Texas Ranger Jim. There was just the right amount of intrigue, gun fights, and romance without the use of foul language or explicit sexual encounters. I thoroughly enjoyed this well written western novel and recommend it to all who enjoy a good, clean read with lots of action and a little romance to spice things up. Looking forward to another Texas Ranger Jim Blawcyzk novel to come along.

Anyone who remembers any of the Jim Hatfield, Texas Ranger stories from vintage magazines and paperbacks will enjoy this actionful novel with its band of ranger heroes. Unlike the traditional loner of the older tales, though, the hero of this one is happily married with a family back home while he risks his neck tracking down railroad saboteurs. A bonus is that the author knows his horseflesh, and treats the horses as characters in themselves. All in all, a fun read for old-fashioned (and some new-fashioned) western fans.

Trouble Rides the Texas Pacific is a good old-fashioned shoot 'em up in the best style of the Western writers of years past. Ranger Jim Blawcyzk is a straight-shootin' lawman, tough on outlaws, but devoted to his wife and son. The action in this book comes fast and furious, as Blawcyzk fights an outlaw gang that will stop at nothing to destroy the railroad. If you like lots of gunplay, and a very rugged hero, this is the book for you. I highly recommend it.

This is a COMPREHENSIVE BOOK that should be read before going to LAS VEGAS for the first time. It should give much value to the reader, i just find that it sometimes is too THICK and have many unnecessary information inside, maybe just slimmering it a bit will be much better... We enjoy the MYSTERE recommendation and went to see it with great satisfaction... AND AMAZON is the PLACE to buy this kind of difficult to get (HERE in INDONESIA) books of special interest.

Great deal of info, particularly in the areas of planning and saving money, finding the cheapest deal, etc. Great overview and opinionated review of hotels, restaurants, buffets, casino, etc., and a good general intro to all the casino games. Areas that are just a tad weak: Comps (or freebie's for players), lighter weight treatment of outlying casinos that aren't on the Strip or downtown, and perhaps a little bit out of date for this fast-changing city. But despite all these the book is highly recommended.

Easily the best $14 we could have invested before our trip! The reviews were candid and witty and right on target. We followed the authors' advice and were extremely pleased with restaurants, casinos, and especially shows. If you take only one book with you to Las Vegas, let this be the one.

If you're heading to Las Vegas, this book is a must! It provides more detailed information than any book I've read. It gives honest reviews of hotels and restaurants and great tips on touring. Unlike most guides that cover one or two restaurants, this one provides reviews on virtually all of them including many that are NOT in casinos. Also, if you're on a budget, it will help you use your money more effectively when selecting shows to see. Every year, we buy the latest edition because it always includes something new

I've read this book cover to cover and find it a wealth of information. Describes hotel accomodations, entertainment, things to do without gambling, side trips, rates a tremendous amount of the shows. I plan on taking it along on my trip to Las Vegas next Month. Well worth the $

Being a native Californian, I was immediately attracted to this book. When I opened it, I fell in love with the wonderful little watercolor illustrations and personal journal format. I agree with a previous reviewer who made the comment that this is a nice little souvenir book. It's definitely a worthy addition to the bookshelf of any Californian or someone who just loves California.

I live in California and I am often asked how I can stand the crowds, traffic, smog, whatever? The fact is California is a very nice place to live and visit, and Ms Gessler catches the essence of this perfectly. You can easly read the book in about an hour, but will find yourself going back again and again to enjoy the little watercolors of plants and wildlife and special places that caught her fancy, it is a fun read.

This book is very cute and an inspiration to anyone who loves to sketch or watercolor. The artwork is well done and the accompanying notes that the author wrote are humorous. Hollingsworth Gessler's trip from north to south in California and her journaling of the trip made me want to go visit towns that I've never seen before. I really enjoyed this book, so much so that I decided to buy the other book by Diana Hollingsworth Gessler called "Very Charleston". Perhaps it is because I'm a Californian that I think this book is better than the "Very Charleston" version, the watercolors in this book seemed more appealing.

A delightful read. Not a serious word in this little book of California - absolutely adorable. The illustrations are whimsical, the text is full of humor. I was right beside her experiencing everything and that which wasn't familiar I long to visit.

Diane Gessler has written (and painted) the perfect travelogue of her trip through California. It won't serve well as a guide book, even with the maps included, but her watercolors and anecdotes capture perfectly the mood and the spirit of the places she and her husband have visited. If you have been to California, this should make a much nicer souvenir than the standard-issue t-shirt with the cable car picture, and if you live here, it's the perfect reminder why one might be willing to endure the rolling black-outs or the excessive housing costs. Aside from that, the watercolor illustrations are very, very nice and made me think of taking out again my own watercolor set. Highly recommended!

In a way this wonderful book reminds me of The Mists of Avalon. It is more fantasy novel than historical novel and seen through the eyes of a heroine rather than a hero. What are the forbidden secrets of the priestesshood? How are young girls prepared and trained sexually and romantically to take their place in this paradise of a society. How does a woman thus trained rise to become an actual goddess to her people and deal with the cataclysmic natural disaster that threatens to doom them all? Will she have to give up her true love to save her people? You will be surprised how this dynamic and clever heroine Leeshandra contrives to keep her honor but "have it all."

Judith Hand's well-planned novel, successfully recounts the last days of the sea people of Ancient Keftiu (Crete). Called by Sir Arthur Evans, the Minoans, little is known about this ancient yet advanced society who as far back as 1680 BC actually had such modern innovations as the first drainage system with flush toilets. More importantly, these people had created a system of non-aggressive egalitarianism with religious and sexual freedom that has yet to be rivaled in our so-called modern age of equal rights and tolerance.


Although the writings of these sea people have not as yet been deciphered by historians, Hand makes good use of the religious interpretation of scholars with regard to the meanings behind the pottery, frescoes and other artifacts that have been unearthed on Crete and its satellite island of Santorini to reconstruct the lives of these first civilians of Western Civilization. She weaves a rather intricate cautionary tale of a peaceful weapon-free society challenged by its more aggressive and bellicose mainland neighbors who under the guise of religious differences covet the Keftian's wealth.


Epitomizing the almost stubborn reluctance to change the Law of the land in order to halt the encroachment of the Achean mainlanders is Leesander, a maiden/wannabe temple priestess whose sensitive telepathy with the maternal Goddess figure enables her to hear the sacred voice of the Great Mother that leads her to a life in the great temple at Knossos. By her side is Alektrion, seafarer, childhood friend and eventual lover who wisely believes that only through military attack can Keftiu be saved. Through their concurrent narratives, Leesander and Alek plunge the reader into their separate realms; we participate in the intense training Leesander undergoes as a temple priestess from her initiation into the ancient women's mysteries, to the significance of the Cretan bull dance, and to the inner sanctum of the Mother's womb, where like the Pythia of Delphi, the Goddess speaks under the haze of the poppy. Alektrion's vital masculinity and questionable half-breed status allows us to roam the wine dark seas with the more objective eyes of one confused of his status and place in a society unwilling to convince itself of its own imminent demise.


The love story between the two is secondary; Hand neatly builds up to their happenstance re-acquaintance at a good moment in the story although the use of the cave in the rain may be perceived by those a bit jaded as typical romance genre tedium. The real genius of this tale is the recreation of an ancient world of both the male and the feminine essences and its almost metaphorical leaning towards the history being constructed today.



For although perhaps not intended, Hand's sorry story of envy and cultural distrust can be seen in the wake of 9-11 as a metaphor for impending disaster if the lessons of such a history are not heeded in our more modern world. The natural disasters of 1680 BC depicted in the novel, when the island of Kalliste (Santorini) exploded, causing earthquakes, days of black rain and a tsunami the size of which Southeast Asia recently experienced in all its fury, can certainly be appreciated by those of us living in the Gulf where the devestation wreaked by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita will hopefully cause those in authority to reevaluate their proud, stubborn and out-moded fiefdoms of power to better protect the infrastructure of such no-brainer staples as communication and safety that must support the people in the future.


Recommended to all who enjoy dreaming of ancient lands with an eye to understanding the present and to anyone who just likes a good story built from a foundation of good references.

Even if I were not somewhat obsessed with the 18th Dynasty and the Minoan world, Judith Hand's thoroughly researched and re-created sea battles - and the details of private life - would easily have made this one of my favorite reads of the past two years. This is an absolutely delightful first novel, by an archaeologist-author who really does have the potential to become literary heir to James Michener. y

Set in ancient Minoa, Voice Of The Goddess is an epic novel of two lovers who must struggle to protect their island home from invasion from Mainland Greece, and survive the catastrophic 1628 BC explosion of the nearby island of Santorini. Judith Hand has combined painstaking historical research with a flair for dramatic story telling that truly emerses the reader into a time of Bronze Age high culture and a sophisticated society of Mediterranean goddess-worship of Crete as it existed 1600 years before the birth of Christ. Voice Of The Goddess is Hand's debut as a novelist and we can only look urgently for her next venture into historic fiction.

This strongly crafted novel is a compelling love story etched on a lush canvas of competing Mediterranean cultures as the early civilizations clashed on land and at sea¾a conflicted world restless with military adventurism. At the crossroads of contending tyrants, gods, philosophies, religions, and economies stands the serene culture of ancient Crete. Judith Hand invites us there to experience that society's struggle to survive. Her heroes and heroines are rooted in historical construct. In pursuit of their aspirations, they make mistakes, ones that could topple one of the loftiest of ancient cultures. Who then might survive the carnage to carry their examples of harmony and coexistence to following generations?

Confessing a personal bias, as a retired military officer, I enjoyed the shrill authentic ring of gnashing swords, the battered groaning shields, splintered oars and shattered masts so vivid in her battle scenes. War is not pretty. Killing is not a game. To her credit, Judith Hand did not write those scenes as entertainments. The human fear, sweat, blood, exhaustion, revulsion and tears weren't omitted.

I agree with the other two reviews. This book is a wonderful inspirational romance. Filled with laughs and crys and "real" characters with "real" issues in their lives. You really do take the trek with west with them. You see their growth and change and witness heartbreak first hand. Take time to read WALK BY FAITH. Rosanne Bittner has such a wonderful way of writing.

Hey ya'll,

I love this book. If you believe in God and you like love stories then read this book and I promise you won't be disappointed.

It's amazing how the two maine characters change during the journey and how they learn how to believe and love!

I read this book in one day...I don't do that very often! This was a very good read and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Towards the end I cried (won't spoil by telling you why), but the ending was awesome. I plan to read more of Ms. Bittner's books!

In St. Louis, her father owned and operated Seaforth's Dry Goods until he died three years ago. His daughter Clarissa took over the store until she met and married Chad Graham. She trusted Chad who she legally named owner of the shop that he ran and gave up her dream of attending Washington University as a nursing student to give birth to their daughter Sophie. She stayed home to raise their little blessing and ignored rumors that her spouse was cheating on her until today, March 16, 1862; Chad deserted her and his offspring to run off with his true love, the pregnant Susan and use the proceeds of the store to obtain a divorce and fund their marriage.

With friends heading to Montana, Clarissa decides to start anew with her beloved Sophie. Former First Lieutenant Dawson Clements who saw plenty of death in Tennessee especially with what happened to his friend Sergeant Bridger, leads the expedition. On the trail with fears over an ailing Sophie, Dawson who lost his faith in God and Clarissa who lost her faith in man become acquainted on the dangerous trek, they fall in love, but can either make that first major step that could prove to be a precipice or forever happiness.

WALK BY FAITH is a terrific inspirational western romance that stars two wonderful protagonists who are pessimistic about life until they meet and bond over their struggles to save a little girl. The story line is character driven though the audience will feel they are on the trek with Clarissa, Dawson, and the others. Still the lead protagonists who need something to believe in are the key to a fine Civil War moving tale.

I am a diehard bittner fan. She has many wonderful books to her credit. This is a story that tugs at your heart strings. Clare, abandoned and swindled by her adulterous husband, takes her beautiful 3 yr old daughter sophie on a wagon train to montana to start over. Her good friends, Reverand Michael, carolyn and their little girl are her constant companions. The train is led by diehard ex army man dawson clements. He has led a tortured life since he was young and has lost his faith completely. He has not purpose in life and heads west to look for a new beginning himself. The trials and travails of those pioneer wagon trains provides the adventure. The dialogue between clare and dawson provides the evolution of their disheartened souls. And the book is enmeshed in love..family, friends, children and finally clare and dawson. There is a great deal of religious dialogue and definitely no torrid love scenes.Except for a kiss or two, no love scenes at all. While I really appreciated the story and liked the book a lot, I think it could have been less wordy on religion, which got a bit redundant, and notched up a tad on the love relationship between clare and dawson.Love relationships don't have to be tawdry and full of sex but even grade school kids have a hotter romance than this one. At any rate, You have to rejoice in the ending.

This was purchased as a favor to a friend who wanted an add'l copy to send to his mom.

Excellent book - practical spiral binding inside a hard cover, so the book will lay open nicely when you are working from the recipes. Beautiful pictures of the foods and various B&B's along with many tasty recipes that are not too complicated for the average cook. Information on several B&B's is included as well. I have given this out as a gift twice already.

I made the Paula's Easy Decadent Chocolate Trifle for a Neighborhood Harvest Party, and I won the award for the best dessert brought! People raved about it and said it was awesome -- beautiful and delicious! One of the neighbors decided to purchase the cookbook to give to her daughter who was wanting an outstanding dessert to serve for a party.

There are so many different and wonderful recipes, it's hard to start. But I have to tell you about the Beer Braised and Balsamic Vinegar Lamb with Rosemary White Beans. Give me a break!!! I couldn't even read the recipe without salivating!! (How embarassing!) It is one of the most unusual orchestrations of flavors I've ever experienced!! This is a special dinner, a night when you polish the silver candlesticks, chill some nice wine, and hope for rain, because you won't want anyone disturbing you at this dinner. The only thing I'd add, are a few of your best friends, then enjoy this elegant culinary event!!

This book contains illustrations, descriptions, and 11 specific items of information about 85 different Bed and Breakfast Country Inns in the state of Washington plus their most requested or favorite recipes. I especially liked one simply called "Bubble Bread" which included nuts, brown sugar, butterscotch pudding mix, and cinnamon in the ingredients!! The book lies flat when opened, has a beautiful hard cover,and is attractively printed in two colors. The authors also thoughtfully included tables of oven temperature equivalents, baking pan sizes, liquid and dry measures (including metric conversions), and high altitude adjustment suggestions. A special feature appearing throughout the book is entitled "Carol's Corner" where one of the authors records hints and happenings which developed during the testing of all recipes submitted. Tantalizing titles of some of the recipes are Banana Blueberry Muffins, Northwest Salmon Pie, Santa Cruz Sweet and Sour Zucchini Salad, Apple Breakfast Lasagna, Comeback Hash, and Paula's Easy Decadent Chocolate Trifle. You'll love the book for yourself and it would make a much-appreciated gift.