5 comments about Dead Watch.

1. John Sanford's Dead Watch presents another hero in Jake Winter. From the first page, Sanford has his reader. With clever, fast paced writing, Sanford carries us from Madison Bowe's search for her kidnapped husband through a political maze of characters with enough motive to do what they can to get what they want.
   
   Jake Winter is the new hero...he limps, he gets beat up, he goes on. And on. He thinks. He is the intelligent woman's hero.
   
   Winter's search for answers takes him through Virginia's countyside, Washington D.C. 's elegant Georgetown and Illinois' small towns. The cast of characters is rich with the horsey set, the Armani set, the hunting set and the political set. Like a Russian doll, one secret lies within another.
   
   Every page carries the reader totally captivated till its' end. And then the reader is left with one desire...More Jake Winter, please.



2. Page 345, "some of it sounded like a dialogue from a bad novel"
   Methinks Sandford was talking about his own novel with that very appropriate line. Huh.
   It takes forever for this thing to start moving, and except for a few pages of a shootout in the woods near the end, nothing much really happens to keep interest at a fever pitch. Lots of filler, and not much substance moves this slow, draggy novel right along. If the man cant find enough real substance to write with, why bother? huh. After devouring Lincoln Childs "Deep STorm", which was an excellent example of what a suspense novel should be, I thought id carry the excitement along for this one as well. ummmmm, nope, huh.
   
   "I woke up. I got coffee. I fixed some eggs. I brushed my teeth.
   Then i went for a walk. And decided to call Madison. We talked.
   She laughed. She thinks im cute. I think shes fantastic."
   
   And this sort of inane descriptions of mundane, boring activities seem to dot this novel from beginning and even til the end. huh. The really good writers normally have the readers involved in what i call the rollercoaster part of the book, which is usually in the last 100 pages or so, when everything comes together at a breakneck speed for the conclusion, huh. Not With "Dead Watch" though. Oh no, within 50 pages of the end, the reader is treated with yet another DAnielle Steele like sex scene, along with the obligatory gushy romance. When will these authors realize that when youre writing any sorta thriller or suspense, that most readers care little or nothing for romance, especially when it does nothing to further the plot, huh.
   I havent read any of the DAvenport series, and although ive heard good things, not really sure, after this joke of a novel, if i want to experience Sandfords dull writing style, especially if its the same as this one, huh.
   Maybe before he decides to write another political thriller, SAndford should read and take tips from the really good writers of the genre (Daniel Silva, Vince Flynn), huh.
   
   If you havent read "Dead Watch" yet, then im sure youre confused by all the "huhs", but if you have, then you know exactly what im being sarcastic about.
   
   Huh.



3. This was my first John Sandford novel and it was fantastic! I was not at all disappointed! I plan on reading everything he has written and continue as long as he keeps writing!



4. Former U.S. Senator, Lincoln Bowe gone missing. he was last seen getting into a car with three men. Then his body shows up, days later, tied to a tree, and missing its head. Why was he killed, and who was behind it?
   
   Former Army Intelligence officer, Jake Winter, is called in by the President's Chief of Staff, to find out what really happened.
   
   I felt this book was fairly well paced, with a solid enough cast of characters. There is a few twists on the way, as we learn more about the dead Senator's personal life, and about his friends and enemies, as Jake Winter delves further into his investagation. Overall, a fairly good read.



5. This is John Sandford's first foray into political thrillers, and it's thoroughly enjoyable; it has all of the intriguing, realistic touches of Sandford's other work. "Dead Watch" introduces a fascinating new character, Jacob Winter, who is a specialist in "forensic bureaucracy."
   
   This novel isn't as dense or complex as a typical Baldacci or Meltzer novel, but Sandford's plot is a little more plausible and believable that what those guys usually produce. I also appreciated that the storyline takes Winter outside the D.C. area and into the Midwest (an acknowledgement that politically important things do happen in "flyover country").
   
   Sandford actually had me wishing that Jacob Winter's book, "Winter's Guide to the Inside," was real!

1 comments about The Antique Story Book: Finding the Real Value of Old Things.

1. This is more than a book about antiques--far more. Each chapter is a mini history lesson, written in Schwerdt's terse, entertaining, and informative style. So don't expect a heavy, catalogue-style listing of what's worth what. Expect instead an enjoyable trip through time that explores the why and how of the antique market. I know I'll never look the same at my wife's Blue Willow china collection. Now I know what some of those patterns mean.
   
   I can't imagine anyone not breezing through this easy-to-read book. And it's loaded with interesting little facts that will never leave you. Did you know that "credenza" is Italian for "trust?" It was where food and wine were placed during the Renaissance so servants could taste first, lest their masters be poisoned. Now there's trust for you!
   
   And why does Schwerdt suggest that a common 19th century soap salesman may be in large part responsible for America's rise to greatness? In a few short pages, he'll explain Elbert Hubbard's place in American history. Schwerdt just may be right.
   
   This book reads fast and reads easy. I venture to say that you may even read it more than once. It's that interesting.
   Whether you're an antique lover, a history lover, or you just like to read good books, The Antique Story Book is worth your time.

No comments about American Spoons: Souvenir and Historical.

2 comments about Forties Fabrics.

1. Reprints from popular catalogs and many color photographs provide a good resource for historians, collectors and crafters. Sorted by design style, there is a noticeable lack of children's and conversation prints of the era: those prints most sought by textile lovers. But the bright, well-illustrated style compensates for this.



2. This book is a great look at the fabrics in fashion during the forties, with large photos and great patterns. Order this book at Schiffer Publishing's website and you'll have it shipped in 48 hours, guaranteed!

5 comments about Star in the Storm (Aladdin Historical Fiction).

1. Maggie and her friend get in a fight.Maggie's best friend thinks
   that Maggie's dog Sirius caused her best friends lamb to fall off the cliff and die.But later in the book Maggie's best friend and her dad are standing outside waiting on the boat,
   which the dads other daughter is on with her new born baby.But the boat see's an iceburg blocking the harbor.They could wreak
   and it would kill evrybody.But something else happens.Read it and find out.I liked the part where Maggie's best friend and her dad decide not to hurt Sirius.I did not like the part where they were going to hurt Sirius.



2. Harlow, J. H. (2000). Star in the storm. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks.
   
   Synopsis: Twelve year old Maggie Wells has the biggest dog in her village. Sirius is an enormous black Newfoundland, with a white star upon his chest, named after the brightest star in the sky, which is in the constellation Canis Major-the Great Dog. Sirius is an invaluable family member who hauls wood, dives for fish and saves Maggie from a stranded iceberg. When non-sheepherding dogs are outlawed from the rocky coastal village on Bonnie Bay, Maggie has to hide her beloved Sirius from everyone. The spiteful Tamer Rand, daughter of the wealthiest and most powerful man in the village, hates Maggie and Sirius and is bound and determined to have Sirius put down. Sirius is worth saving at all costs! When one hundred lives are put at risk on an ill-fated steamship, Maggie must decide between allowing Sirius to save their lives and risking having him seen by the Rand family, who has been hunting him down. Will Sirius be able to prove his worth by risking his life in the frigid ocean water?
   
   Evaluation: Harlow writes this eloquent novel for children ages 9-12. The picturesque descriptive text allows readers to immerse in the striking scenery. Harlow develops the characters of Maggie and Sirius very well. Readers find themselves gasping as each character puts their lives at risk. Set in 1912, just months after the disaster of the Titanic, Maggie and her family live in coastal village just off the shores of Bonnie Bay in Newfoundland. Throughout the story, Maggie struggles to save her beloved dog, Sirius. Harlow writes this novel based on actual events; however the characters and circumstances are fictional. There are stories of people rowing out to the huge icebergs floating in the ocean and bringing the pure cold water back to their villages to help family/village members that had fallen ill. The Newfoundland dogs abilities are factual as well. It is well known that Newfoundland dogs can save people from the ocean and perform hard manual labor. In addition, the author researched the language, superstitions and folklore from all over Newfoundland to add to the authenticity of her novel. This amazing story of rescue and love will resonate in the hearts of all those that read this text. Educators will find that the writing of this novel is an exemplar model of superb writing. Exposing students to such elegant writing with a strong story plot, well developed characters, set in a historical context, will likely motivate them to write strong stories themselves. Teachers will likely use this text as a read aloud in grades 2-6. This heartwarming story of a hero and heroine keeps readers engrossed from start to finish and is worth reading again and again.



3. *Remember that I am not the target audience for this book, so younger adults will probably enjoy this novel.
   
   "Star in the Storm" takes place in the historical events when Newfoundland had to outlaw dogs due to several unknown mongrels slaughtering livestock. That means many innocent dogs have to suffer, but not unless a certain person fights back. Thus is the story of Maggie Wells, a young girl who tries to hide her Newfoundland dog Sirius, a dog who is well-trained and will never harm a fly. With danger and possible eviscerating of her precious dog from his hiding place by a vicious girl named Tamar and her father, eventually, Maggie has to make the ultimate choice to bring her dog out of hiding when a ship sinks out into the distance, and Sirius, the only dog capable of saving lives.
   
   Plot-wise, it was good, but the writing sucked. Even for a nine to twelve year old to which this book is targeted, it's not that good. I got this book when I was young, and I remember putting it down and picking it up, never really wanting to finish this because the suspense was never there, and I never felt that Sirius was in any danger, so bland the whole outlaw-dog law was. I wanted to feel that there are no more dogs in the houses of owners, something to make me fear for Sirius, but it was never there. The characters were bland, and there was no real threat. Everything was predictable from the get-go. And the wicked Tamar and her rich father end up seeing the error of their ways and embrace the dog for saving lives in the end. Still, some people might like this story. I just wish it gave us the `briskly paced' and `suspense' promised in the reviews.



4. I teach 3rd grade and my students were absolutely enthralled with this story. It also inspired students to take a closer look at the remote island of Newfoundland. I found the book with its accurate Newfie dialect and interesting historical details to be a great read-aloud. My students immediately wanted to follow this story with Hiatt-Harlow's next book "Thunder of the Sea".



5. Set in Newfoundland in 1912, some months after the TITANIC disaster, this Girl-and-Dog story is an easy and pleasant read, with gradually-increasing literary tension. Twelve-year-old Maggie Wells adores her black Newfie, named Sirius because of one white "star" on his chest. Her family lives in peace with their Bonnie Bay neighbors who are mostly fisherman and sheep owners. When one pregnant ewe belonging to the irascible Rands is harried off a cliff by a stray dog, Tamar Rand immediately blames Sirius, though Maggie knew he was with her and would never harm a sheep. Tamar sets the plot in motion by appealing to her hot-tempered father, who has been campaigning for a law to ban all but sheepdogs on the island.
   
   Terrified of losing her beloved pet Maggie must find a safe place to hide him or think of a creative but legal way to keep him openly. When her cousin, Vera, falls dangerously ill, Maggie attempts a cure beyond her power-revealing her moral courage in the face of serious danger.
   
   The story climaxes as Maggie is forced to make a desperate decision when a steamer founders in storm-tossed, glacier-blocked Bonnie Bay, while the whole town watches in helpless terror. Will Maggie be guided by typical Island superstition or will she rely on prayer and hard work to find her inner, moral courage? Based on an actual incident and several unrelated canine anecdotes, this story is a must-read for any dog lover--delightfully sprinkled with unusual Newfoundland words. Why does the young protagonist keep counting the number of black birds she sees? Although the ending is satisfyingly "happy," many of the characters behave/reform in unrealistic manners. Still, a worthwhile read and an excellent introduction to a vanishing lifestyle in distant North America.

No comments about Illustrated Catalog of Chinese Coins, Vol. 2: Gold, Silver, Nickel and Aluminum (Illustrated Catalog of Chinese Coins).

3 comments about Quarters: Plain (Official Whitman Coin Folder).

1. What a great way to collect the new quarters with the states on the back. You can collect them as you go!



2. The Plain Quarters folder is a good way to store the new 1999 State Quarters. However, I wish Whitman would publish a folder specifically for the new Quarters



3. These coin folders make it an easy way to store your coins, they are easy to insert, and hold the coins securely. These booklets specifically are a good way to store the new state quarters.

2 comments about Antique Playing Cards: A Pictorial History.

1. This Treasury of playing cards is sparse on text or history, but there is an abundance of beautiful pages full of playing cards to look at and admire. If you appreciate and admire the artwork of playing cards this is a wonderful book.



2. Bought this as a gift for my brother--great color and black and white pictures throughout of "old" decks of cards. He loved it.

4 comments about How eBay Really Works.

1. If you've read Ebay Powerseller Secrets. I would suggest you skip this one.



2. This is one of the few eBay books I've read that really gives the whole picture about eBay--not just relentless cheerleading about how much of a sure thing it is. Half of the book is for new buyers; the other is for new sellers. So there's a lot here for new eBay users no matter what they're interesetd in. I like that the authors use a lot of stories from real sellers and buyers to make their points and keep this fun to browse through and read.



3. 
   
   How eBay Really Works is a latecomer to the How to sell on ebay book category and that's a good thing because it's fresh, not dry and outdated. Back when I was starting there were fewer books about ebay, Most of them were a dry read and had lots of screenshots of ebay web pages. Some of those old books are here on Amazon and sell quite well due to their ratings and longevity on Amazon itself. I've read quite a few of them and I can tell you they are getting stale quickly.
   
   Brad and Deb told me they were writing a new book geared towards the ebay novice, the ebay buyer who wishes to become a seller. I thought, "Boy have they got a job". I thought how could they make it different and better, than the other 100 how to sell on ebay books already pounded out by everyone and his brother/sister who thinks they know how to "eBay". Writers, who have never sold or bought a thing on ebay, yet profess to others in print as if they were experts.
   
   First you get two writers for the price of one! Second you get 352 packed pages of eBay info for only $14.95! Brad & Deb are true hardcore ebay aficionados buying and selling on ebay. If they haven't bought or sold it on ebay they know someone who has! And that is where their strength and expertise lies, when they write an eBay book they harness the power of the eBay community and bring it to life on printed pages, you'll never be bored reading How eBay Really Works, It features quite a few of the best sellers on eBay contributing the best secrets and tips they have, found in no other book. The My Best eBay Sale and My Best eBay Buy stories that end each chapter really pull this book together. There are lots of sidebars, interesting facts and quick start lists sprinkled throughout.
   
   I think every buyer and seller on eBay should have this book! It really does explain how to be the best buyer you can be, how to get the best deals, how to handle a transaction gone bad and how to avoid a bad transaction in the first place. It really is about how eBay really works and in a few places the underbelly of ebay is exposed, something ebay doesn't want you to see. ( eBay is not always a rosy picture, despite how ebay and the media paint it.) This book will help you navigate those pitfalls with hints and advice from top sellers who have been in the reader's shoes.
   
   One of the sections I enjoyed most in the book was setting up a website and moving beyond eBay. I think this section was very applicable for an eBay book and should be one of the first considerations for anyone who wishes to make a living selling online. Ebay is now like the Army, (It's a great place to start). The truth about eBay's Prostores, not to be confused with eBay Stores, is an eye-opener, another must consider section of the book. Ultimately, the message in the book is that you can do it, you can sell on eBay, it's easier than you think, the authors point out all the things you need to know in order navigate ebay SKILLFULLY.
   
   Brad and Deb have written three eBay books
   
   eBay Powerseller Secrets:Insider Tips from eBay's Most Successful Sellers
   eBay PowerSeller Million Dollar Ideas
   How eBay Really Works
   
   I have bought and read all three, each is different, yet all are packed with information you can use. I recommend purchasing this one and ebay Powerseller Million Dollar ideas together, you get a discount and more bang for your buck!



4. As someone who wanted to get started as an Ebay seller, this book was a great resource for me. The buyer section was a little mundane since I've been doing that for awhile, but I still learned pointers that I didn't know before. For the potential seller who is intimidated by the unknown, however, this is a gold mine of tips, hints, and how-tos on getting started as a seller on Ebay.

No comments about Collector's Guide to Postwar Lionel Trains, 1945-1969 (Collector's Guide).