Florida Books

It is difficult to describe all the reasons one might be taken in by this story about necrophilia, but it is a wonderful read indeed. Insightful and hilarious, creepy and serious all at the same time. The protagonist, Warren Piece (pun intended, like many of the other names, puns and pranks in this book), pushes and pulls the reader in his quest for loving the dead. Imagine a cross between Ignatius O'Reilly from Confederacy of the Dunces, Ben Flesh from The Franchiser, a dash of Dorothy Parker and a frolic through Freud's Civilization and Its Discontents. I love this book!

Excellent! I couldn't put this book down until it's done. With its dark humor about human nature and their tastes for oddities.
Mr. Bent has hit the spot about a person's shocking love of dead people.

This book is beyond sick and distrubing (especially the detailed descriptions of the main character's post mortem [nec]romances). It is also one of the funniest, sharpest, wittiest books I have ever read. Love him or hate him, the main character's observation of the living is just as detailed and on the money as those of the dead. This book is not for the week-stomached. If you like the dark humor of "Six Feet Under", you'll dig this novel. Cannot recommend it enough!

Don't let the cover of this book fool you! This COMEDIC novel is the "bizarrest-of-the-bizarre" and is the only book I have ever read that has actually made me LAUGH OUTLOUD. With Warren Piece (pun intended) as the Protagonist, "Silent Partners" is a guaranteed escape from the fast-paced world of our everyday life. Put your nose in it and read it.

Wow! As wild as I thought, but funnier than I expected. This book is like nothing else. I tell my friends I really enjoyed reading about a guy who makes love to dead people, and they think I'm crazy. You have to read it to understand what I mean.

I am so impressed with this Junior League Cookbook! As everyone else says, it is beautiful, but the recipes is what makes it even more appealing to me. You will find the recipes in categories such as:
Appetizers and Beverages, Breads and Brunch, Soups and Salads, Side Dishes and Vegetables, Entrees, Seafood, and Desserts. It has 191 Pages of Scrumptious Recipes such as: Miniature Pastry Shells with Shrimp, Stuffed Mushrooms, Country Ham Rolls, Green Chili Bites, Blue Cheese Biscuits, Chili Bacon Breadsticks, Smoked Salmon Spread, Crab Cheese Dip, Black Bean Dip, Mango Salsa, Hot Mocha White Chocolate, Chocolate Cherry Banana Bread, Blueberry Bread, Mexican Corn Bread, Bacon Cheddar Scones, Almond Coffe Cake, Macadamia Banana French Toast, Artichoke Quiche, Crustless Crab Quiche, Basil Breakfast Strata, Breakfast Pizza, Cheesy Hash Browns, Homemade Granola, Mediterranean Seafood Stew, Pasta Fagioli, Chicken Corn Chowder, Chicken Lime Chili, Wild Rice Shrimp Salad, Cobb Pasta Salad, Asian Chicken Pasta Salad, Summer Corn and Black Bean Salad, Wasabi Potato Salad, Barley and Mushroom Casserole, Corn Souffle, Ratatouille, Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Zucchini, Stuffed Chicken Breasts, Mexican Chicken, Turkey Stroganoff, Shredded Pork, Bodacious Blue Cheese Burgers, Lemon Shrimp Casserole, Linguini and Clams, Baked Tilapia with Vegetables, Lemon Stuffed Baked Trout, Kahlua Cake, Molten Chocolate Cakes, Pumpkin Cake Roll, Cream Cheese Pound Cake, Iced Pound Cake with Chocolate Filling, Kahlua Brownies, and so much more! This is such an Excellent Cookbook, and if you have a chance to pick one up, I would definitely do it! It is worth every penny! You just can't go wrong on this Junior League Cookbook!

I think this book is the most beautiful cookbook I have ever seen. The organization of the cookbook is so helpful. My favorite part is the beautiful photographs from the area, as well as the helpful hints to cooking at the bottom of the pages.

Not only are the pictures gorgeous but it actually has recipes that are easy to prepare and look like you spent all day in the kitchen. A wonderful gift for all of your family and friends. Everything we have tried is absolutely delicious and your guests will leave wanting the recipes. This cookbook is one you can definitely use for years to come.

Just like the title says, the recipes in this book are simple, yet creative. I'm not a gourmet cook, but these wonderful recipes can make others think I am. I have a nice collection of League cookbooks and this may be the most beautiful, visually, and is certainly one of the best for variety of recipes. I've had success with a couple of desserts already and have made selections to serve on Christmas Day. Highly recommended and a great gift idea too.

If you collect cookbooks, this may be your favorite too. The pictures are frame-worthy, but the recipes are what keeps this book off my coffee table and in my kitchen.

I was charmed by the characters, the feeling of the Keys, the sparkling dialogue. Cant wait for the next DINAH -- please hurry up!
A bargain -- and a good read, too.

I read Barbara Arau's novel in nearly one sitting because I loved it! The dialog is so authentic and the people so believeable (maybe she knew people like this???) She had me laughing throughout. My only comment to the contrary is that, as a 300-pounder myself, weight shouldn't necessarily be a hinge for humor.

Someone's in the Kitchen With Dinah is a great "whodunnit".
Humphrey Bogart's "Key Largo" is the setting for this adventure on fictitious Webb Key. It's well written with subtle clues that keep you guessing! I was unable to put it down because I just HAD to discover who the real villian was.
Barbara Arau has an uncanny ability to put you in the shoes of her protagonist; you can smell the ocean, see the palm trees, the docks, the boats...her descriptions really transport you to the Florida Keys. I think it would be a wonderful movie: a fast paced nail biter during the hurricaine scene. Get it. You won't be disappointed.

I couldn't put it down. A real page-turner. One of the most entertaining books I've ever read. I definately would like to read more from this author. Very sexy!!

I loved this book! The zany characters were a delight, albeit a bit "off-the-wall" (not unlike reality in the Keys...) and truly kept you guessing. As a native Floridian, I have experienced many hurricanes. I can tell you with absolute certainty that I would not want to be stranded on the Keys during one of these Big Blows. This of course, only added to the suspense and intrigue. A very good read. I hope there will be more of the same, forthcoming from this Author.

A most fabulous and descriptive book about South Beach Art Deco. The photography is beautiful and each page is a treasure and a pleasure to enjoy!

I regularly vacation in Miami Beach and LOVE visiting South Beach with its pastel deco buildings, pristine beaches, beautiful people, trendy restaurants and open-till-dawn night clubs. I just finished reading South Beach Deco: Step by Step, and I have a new appreciation for my favorite vacation spot! The author, Iris Chase, really knows her town from the inside out. And the photos are absolutely beautiful! The next time I travel south, I will definitely have this book in my suitcase! This terrific book is a must! Have fun travelers!

I visited South Beach recently and was at a loss of what to bring back as gifts for special friends. "South Beach Deco, Step by Step" was perfect. I got one for myself so I didn't have to take a lot of photos because this book has a great variety of pictures, many of the Art Deco Hotels which were a highlight of my trip. Aside from the great visuals, the text gave me all I needed to know to have a great time; it was like a companion who filled me in on everything - - the best things to see, the coolest places to eat and where to just relax and enjoy the scene. The book made me comfortable that I wasn't missing out on something ("what you didn't see..."). There are also some fun maps that are easy to read. All in all, an A+ and something I pick up and look at because its interesting and beautiful, and reminds me I want to go back to South
Beach.

If you really want a book of color photos, get Iris Chase's new book South Beach Deco: Step By Step. Susan Russell took an amazing amount of great photos of South Beach.

Iris is the resident artist at the Art Deco Welcome Center smack in the middle of Ocean Drive and as she says it is "Miami Beach Art Deco 101."

She's written an easy-to-read good introductory text that lays out all of the areas, describes the fun aspects of hangin' out at The Beach, and has a modest bit of history. It's large size 8 1/2" x 11" makes it a big large to carry around but having it before hand will make it easier to find a hotel and figure out the sights and things you might want to do while there. And after you come home it will have all of the wonderful photos to help jog your memory.

South Beach Deco: Step By Step is for anyone who wants to remember SoBe as it is today (2005).

I am a world-wide traveler and have a large collection of guidebooks that I usually purchase prior to taking trips. I purchased 'South Beach Deco,Step By Step' after I visited Miami Beach because it made me feel good about the times I had there and supplied information that I will use on future trips to South Beach. Ordinarily I skim a book until I find a particular area of interest, but I found myself reading this book straight through. It is fun to read and so informative at the same time. I loved the explanations of what tropical deco is, and I enjoyed gazing at the photos that are quite plentiful and vibrant. There is nothing boring about this book and it just makes me want to return to that part of the world as soon as possible. 'South Beach Deco, Step By Step' leaves the other books I have read on this area in the dust (or perhaps I should say sand). The reason being is that it has an excellent balance of information-- just enough history so that it never becomes boring, a sufficient but not overwhelming amount of recommendations so that it is not confusing, easy to understand definitions,and a smattering of humor which makes one smile. I will take it with me on my next visit.

Caribbean foods and their recipes are versatile and different. I have tried many Caribbean recipes but this book had some more surprises for me. I like this book because it has some very nice recipes, has some interesting inforomation about the recipes and background to them and they are pretty simple to make. Recipes I have tried are" chicken in lime sauce (9.6/10); butternut squash in lime (9.4/10); fried tomatoes (9.4/10); banana grumby (9.4/10)Singapore scallops (9.6/10); curry tuna creole (9.4/10). I have many more to try (there are 350 recipes). You'll be glad you will have tried some of the recipes of your choice.

Having lived in the Caribbean, I am hard to please when it comes to our dishes...they have to taste "just right" and be authentic. This cookbook definitely has many recipies that are very familiar to me. True island cooking at its best! You will not be disappointed with this purchase. Gwaan an enjoy it!

My wife loves the fact that I like to cook. Our kitchen shelves are filled with cookbooks and most have a few recipes that I like. Tropic Cooking is one that I consistently use and everyone, including my kids, loves the results.

The Florida Avocado Dip is wonderful, I usually leave off the olives though.

Pork Chops Negril is a sweet treat that just takes a few minutes to create. It's perfect for an evening when you're strapped for time.

Potatoes Bonaventure is always a hit at pot lucks, I think it's the pastrami that catches peoples attention as well as tickles their tastbuds.

If you can get fresh ripe tomatoes that don't taste like cardboard then one of these two recipes are wonderful.

Broiled Tomatoes with Mushroom Bits.

Fried Tomatoes.

I wish I was more of a dessert person because some of these sound wonderful. Cicely's Baked Bananas was an experiment once for a dessert party and it was very well received. I took home an empty plate which is always a good sign.

I highly recommend Tropic Cooking!

I have a libary of cookbooks and "Tropic Cooking" is the one I constantly use.

Love this cookbook. Recipes are from the Caribbean, as well as a number of Florida's best restaurants. I use this book all the time and have for years. It's fun!

It was very knowledgeable. Told about most of the activities going on in Tampa and St. Petersburg.

A full update of this guidebook, previously called the Adventure Guide to Florida's West Coast. This book takes in all the cities, towns, nature preserves, wilderness areas and sandy beaches that grace the Sunshine State's western shore. Covers Tampa Bay to Naples and Everglades National Park to Sanibel Island. Canoeing the Everglades, hiking on Gasparilla Island, exploring the history of Tampa's Ybor City - it's all here! Plus it has good town and regional maps.

"These useful guides are highly recommended... " Library Journal "[Adventure Guides] direct you away from the theme parks and into the great outdoors... the information on trekking routes, canoeing, wildlife refuges - even golf courses - is well researched." The Sunday Telegraph "...intended for the adventure-minded travelers with special affection for the outdoors and nature. Each Adventure Guide packs in outdoor-oriented activities set in different regions. There's something for nearly everyone." Midwest Book Review

"This second edition of Walton's comprehensive guide... is a must for visitors." Bon Voyage

Chelle Koster Walton's third edition of Tampa Bay & Florida's West Coastis out, and it updates all the basics on accommodations, restaurants, natural areas and historic sites alike. This adventure-oriented guide outlines the best in inland and water trips, includes museums and shopping, and provides an outdoor focus and budget-minded focus which will appeal to trip planners.

A full update of this popular guidebook, previously called the Adventure Guide to Florida's West Coast. This book takes in all the cities, towns, nature preserves, wilderness areas and sandy beaches that grace the Sunshine State's western shore. Covers Tampa Bay to Naples and Everglades National Park to Sanibel Island. Canoeing the Everglades, hiking on Gasparilla Island, exploring the history of Tampa's Ybor City - it's all here!

A co-worker asked me what this book was about. At the time, I was about 150 pages into the book...I looked at her and was stunned to realize that i could not describe this book with only one summary. This book is about a lot of things and depending on what you take from it, may find more stories within than I did. What a great deal ! Normally,I would have had to buy 3 or 4 books to get the content I did out of this one.

After just a few pages you begin to feel for Jackie Brooks. He is a boy trying desperately to grow into a man, but with bad decisions and lack of guidance he lives a life many of us have or would have fallen into. You find yourself wanting to reach out to Jackie in the same way others have done in our lives. You will see yourself thru Jackies eyes, some of us were just lucky. Some of us were not so lucky. All of us have experienced the UNFAIRNESS of the world around us. Jackie brings this world and it's tribulations home to our very souls.

This is a compelling story about one boy's struggle to escape a dysfunctional home life. However through the influence of a friend, he was catapulted into a life of petty crime. Rather than finding a better life, young Jackie instead served a prison term. This book catalogs Jackie's trials through lost love and free life after the gate bangs shut. After his prison term, Jackie goes on the road to end his inner turmoil and finally find freedom. The style of this book resembles that of the talented Jack Keroauc in his famous novel,"On the Road". The audience will be engaged with the author's adept use of local color and the unforgettable characters he created. Can't wait for more from this very promising new author.

This is a compelling story about one boy's struggle to escape a dysfunctional home life. However through the influence of a friend, he was catapulted into a life of petty crime. Rather than finding a better life, young Jackie instead served a prison term. This book catalogs Jackie's trials through lost love and free life after the gate bangs shut. After his prison term, Jackie goes on the road to end his inner turmoil and finally find freedom. The style of this book resembles that of the talented Jack Keroauc in his famous novel,"On the Road". The audience will be engaged with the author's adept use of local color and the unforgettable characters he created. Can't wait for more from this very promising new author.

This is the story of the coming of age of Jackie Brooks. All Jackie wants at age fourteen is to leave his unhappy home where his father is a drunk and his mother is bedridden. One day he tells his classmate of his plans to leave and is offered the opportunity to score enough money to leave home--by breaking into a local gas station and breaking into the safe there after hours. The young boys are amateurs and leave fingerprints all over the office. Jackie is caught and sent to a reformatory while his partner is free---for awhile.

We follow Jackie's experiences in the reformatory and prison...then the gate bangs shut behind him as he leaves the prison for freedom...and a fascinating journey--both physically and spiritually.

An awesome first novel from a talented author!

being a veteran and a rabid reader of Vietnam I now know I have read the best book ever written on the war. The ways of the men are just as they were and the discriptions of actions and non actions were perfect. It may be fiction but it is fact and any man that has served knows it to be. I certainly hope he can write another book as his abilitys are wonderful.

I begin by admitting that my comments must be taken with a grain of salt. I wrote the book: I'm expected to like it. If I didn't think it was worthwhile reading for everyone, I would not have submitted it to the publisher. but some comments may be helpful to the potential reader/buyer.

First, the setting of the book is early Vietnam (1966), before the craziness that occurred later (1969 on) and became the focus of the media and therefore of the war as a whole. None of that craziness existed when I served there in 1966 and again in early 1968. I suspect some who have read the book assume that because a story about the early days of that war contains no references to drugs, racism or the fragging of officers (note US Senator Max Cleland, D-GA) it must necessarily be some sort of whitewash of the "truth" which the national media created and promoted. I assure the potential buyer/reader that ALONE IN THE VALLEY presents an accurate, though fictionalized, account of that war as I experienced it. For my perspective on the craziness of the later years, you'll have to convience someone to publish the sequel. The reader should also understand that the book containes none of the Hollywood exaggerations which, in my opinion, render every movie about Vietnam unwatchable. I believed when I wrote it, and believe now, that war accurately portrayed is sufficiently exciting to hold readers attention. If I did not know for a fact that something actually happened, it is not included in the story.

Second, after the book was published I received a few letters from readers. The two which surprised and pleased me the most were from women who thanked me for presenting a story which at last enabled them to understand why some relative of theirs was unable to cope with the aftermath of service in Vietnam. Service in combat, whichever and whenever the war, has always made veterans different from other people. I am pleased beyond measure that my efforts have helped some people better to understand their sons, brothers and fathers.

Third, the potential reader/buyer should know that ALONE IN THE VALLEY was translated into Dutch and published in the Netherlands. It is an odd feeling to hold a copy of a book I wrote but cannot read. Perhaps less odd is the fact that the Dutch edition has sold more copies than the English edition, less odd because the Dutch people were spared most of the media coverage of Vietnam. Apparently they have a greater appreciation of the story I told. I mention the Dutch edition to inform those who read this that I am currently a published but unknown novelist on two continents.

Finnally, I urge everyone who enjoys a good book to read ALONE IN THE VALLEY because I sincerely believe thay will be both accurately informed and effectively entertained. Those were my only intentions in writing it.

Kenneth Waymon Baker

2/8th Cav (Abn), 1st Calvary Div (airmoble), Nov '65-Nov '66, RVN

1/505th Inf (Abn), 82nd Airborn Div, Feb-May '68, RVN

BSEd, UGA '70

MEd, UGA '72

Great book,a boy goes to war and comes back a man.Mr Baker has written what the daily life was like for a young man coming to grips with becoming a man.War is not just a shoot-im-up game but a very real day to day experience.You feel as if you are there with Daniel.When you are done you will have a better idea of what these young men went through.This book is more realistic than most.I know,I was there.

I've seen 100s of war movies and read several war stories, but for the first time I feel I've gained at least a basic understanding of what it was like for the average "GI" serving in Vietnam and thus have gained a better understanding of the few veterans that I personally know. I have also personally met Mr. Baker (the author) and have had many long conversations with him. Although the book is written as "fiction", 90+% of the story comes from Mr. Baker's experiences in Vietman during his two tours of duty, not as a hero, but as a kid thrown into a frightening situation. I feel the book is valuable reading for anyone who has a friend or relative who has served in the armed forces in a combat situation or anyone who would just like a glimpse into that world which only those who have served can truly understand.

This author knows not only the perils of the battle zone but the interpersonal pressures of enlisted men in situations of conflict - a rare view with a vocabulary that rings true.

'Bad Beekeeping' isn't really a beekeeping book, at least not in the sense of how to keep bees. Rather it is more of a memoir of the author's life during the time he was a commercial beekeeper.

It is very well written and Ron Miksha has a wry sense of humor. 'Bad Beekeeping' is a fun and interesting book with interesting insights.

Instead of "Bad Beekeeping," Ron Miksha's book could have been called "Portait of the Beekeeper as a Young Man," since it is all about his growing up as a commercial beekeeper in the 1970's and 1980's. Working the canola bloom, his summer beekeeping operation in Saskatchewan, and working citrus, his winter beekeeping operation in Florida, Ron had a unique run as a beekeeper that is simply not possible today. Regulations, rules and differing concerns on opposite sides of the U.S./Canadian border made his operation a one-of-a-kind, as well as one-of-an-era.

His story is a roller-coaster ride of great successes matched with spectacular failures. His calcuations and plans meet with the unexpected and that is the fun of his tale. Although no longer a commercial beekeeper; instead now, a geophysicist and entrepreneur, he remains a hobbyist beekeeper in Alberta. As beekeepers, we have not lost one of our own.

Nothing bad about this book, Ron has given the beekeeping world another cracking good read. There is every thing here, history fun information and entertainment. Also a very good read for those people who do not have the insanity to employ millions of buzzing workers, with potentially very hot tails! An excellent book.

Bad Beekeeping is not a bad book at all! It is hilariously funny and packed fun of really neat things everyone would like to know. It's all about bees and beekeeping, but all about lots of other things, too. This is such a great book, I started on Friday evening and read all weekend long. Couldn't put it down. Best book I've read!

The author's account of his career as a beekeeper will appeal to a wide variety of readers. It is a delightful blend of both humorous and sobering personal anecdotes and exhaustively-researched facts about honey. You can't help getting drawn into Ron's life and the diverse personalities he encountered across North America. His engaging writing style makes this book one you'll want all your friends to read.

I anxioiusly awaited this fourth in the series of Luanne Fogarty mysteries. I was not disappointed! I think I like Luanne because, unlike me, she is not afraid of the swamps and cave dives necessary for her work as an adjunct diver for the Sheriff's Department. The thought of walking through, or swimming/diving through the areas that Alam describes gives me the creeps. Thankfully, Glynn Alam has given us someone to believe in...someone truly not afraid of the swampy environment and its unusual residents. The short chapters keep you turning the pages as you try to discover the murderer and the reason for the murders. I must also add that the pictures chosen for the cover add a lot to set the stage for the story. I hope Luanne continues to help us understand that mysterious and haunting area near Tallahassee.

This was another great book by Glynn Marsh Alam. She definaley knows how to create a atmosphere that is true to the swamps and rivers of Florida. Once you pick this book up, you won't be able to put it down until you find out "who done it". I actually stayed up until 4 a.m. a few nights because I was so wrapped up in the plot.

4th in the Luanne Fogarty series, which take place in the northern, swampy areas of Florida. Luanne is an assistant professor in linguistics at the nearby University, but she supplements her living by diving for the sheriff's department in the rivers and caves that penetrate North Florida. Luanne prefers her privacy, like most of the denizens of the swampy area. The mystery begins with the disappearance of a teenage boy whose family is influential in the area. The authorities are searching the river for the boy when they happen upon an old boat - with a skeleton. Suddenly they are working on more than one case. Luanne is trying to deal with her lover from the sheriff's office while at the same time trying to help her former lover recover from a diving accident, which is causing a little bit of tension. Add into the mix a crazy naked lady appearing haphazardly in different parts of the swamp, and you have an intriguing, descriptive mystery to enjoy.

"Bilge Water Bones", the fourth of Glynn Marsh Alam's Luanne Fogarty mysteries, builds very nicely on the previous stories, taking the reader into yet another aspect of life in the swamps of north Florida. The characters are well developed and the narrative is wonderfully descriptive of the natural environment as the mystery unfolds. Alam has created such a vivid world that I was immediately transported to the murky and mysterious ways of the folks who reside there.
I enjoy Luanne, an independent, feisty woman who is understandably burning out from her job as a University professor. As a scuba diver working with the Sheriff's Department in her off-time, Luanne is called upon to assist in a growing mystery involving a missing teenager, bodies in the waters, and homeless people who are making a life in the swamps. With her humorous observations that arise as the story evolves and a nice fondness for the eccentrics who live "off the radar", Alam's writing makes for great entertainment with a very satisfying conclusion.

Tommy Hanover, teenage son of a rich family has gone missing after a boating accident. While searching for his body, Luanne finds a skeleton with a third eye in a sunken boat. Trying to identify the bones leads Luanne to a mysterious graduate student. What is he up to in the swamp? Who belonged to the bones? And will they ever find Tommy?

I've been looking forward to this book because Glynn always weaves a great tale with wonderful writing. I was not disappointed. As always, the writing is atmospheric, and I felt like I was diving in the springs right beside Luanne. I've grown to love the characters, and it's always nice to spend more time with them. I especially enjoyed the sub-plot of Harry trying to get comfortable with diving again. That's been a multi-book arc that has enriched the series. And you've got to love Pasquin, Luanne's swamp neighbor. The plot seemed to slow down in the second quarter, but picked up again at the half way point and kept moving until the end.

This series combines mysteries, diving, great characters, and captivating writing. Each book in this series should be savored.