No comments about Afghan Hounds (World of Dogs).

No comments about The Complete Afghan Hound.

3 comments about Afghan Hounds: Everything About Purchase, Care, Nutrition, Behavior, and Training (Complete Pet Owner's Manual).

1. This book tells it like it is. Direct to the point on owning an Afghan hound. As a difficult breed to raise, all prospective owners owe it to themseles to read this book first, then make the decision on if they really want this breed. It needs more care and attention then most dogs, as the book points out. A must read book .



2. A must have for any Afghan Owner or for potential ones. Good illustrations and good sound advise from an obvious expert, who is not afraid to point out the Afghan's weakness's. Excellent photography. The book is organized excellently; Easy to read start to finish.



3. An ABSOLUTE MUST READ for anyone considering an Afghan Hound! Coile's book is straightforward, full of excellent information, a "quick, easy read," and will help you decide whether an Afghan Hound is the right breed for you. Afghan Hounds are not for everyone. Please, before you purchase an Afghan Hound, read this book. Sherre Christiansen, Afghan Hound Rescue

5 comments about Whiskey Straight Up: A Whiskey Mattimoe Mystery.

1. I'm always looking for a new mystery series, and I just happened upon this book. I'm definitely hooked. I loved the main character, and I also loved the small town setting. I think the supporting cast was great, and I even liked them more than the mystery.The novel itself is fast paced, and it revolves mainly around Whiskey's lost charge, Chester.



2. Whiskey Mattimoe rides again (and helicopters, snowmobiles, ice-skates) in this funny and action-packed sequel to Whiskey on the Rocks, and it's fabulous! This time the smart, sassy realtor (and reluctant guardian, stepmother, and dog-owner) finds herself up a--frozen--creek, when a Winter Jamboree complete with ice-fishing and snowball fights, offer a far more chilling event: murder.
   
   Add kidnapping, the return of the ex-con who shot her late husband, the romantic attentions of her first husband and an animal-activist vet . . . plus the antics of the irrepressible afghan, Abra, with her pup Prince Harry, and you can bet Whiskey finds herself in a blizzard of trouble.
   
   The resort setting of Magnet Springs, replete with quirky characters from the (seriously) "magnetic" Chief of Police, to the staff of Mattimoe Realty, and the New Age local entrepreneurs, remain as charming and offbeat as ever--the perfect cast for this great comic mystery.
   
   Pull on a parka, pile up the snowballs (and a few dog biscuits), fix yourself a hot toddy--and settle in for a great read. Nina Wright has another winner!



3. I can't believe that an author would write a book about a main character who is so clueless about children. Even though the author creates a very self-sufficient boy, it's the actions of Whiskey that are off-base. When Whiskey finds out through a note she receives from a ex-con that the boy who is in her care is missing, does she start looking for the kid? No, she goes back home and gets drunk and half-naked with her ex-husband. In the morning when the kid still hasn't shown up, does she start looking for him? No, she and her equally clueless employee go on a helicopter ride, where she finally sees the kid being pulled at by a stranger. I know this is purely fiction, but even in fluff like this, one doesn't expect the main character to be that stupid.



4. I took this book to the pool on a recent 115 degree day. The cover alone helped cool things down. And Wright's rapid-paced tale of kidnapping and murder made me forget the heat. The scene where a certain body slides into frozen Lake Michigan is as thrillingly written as any action sequence I've ever read.



5. Whiskey has her hands full in this 2nd mystery in the series. She's not only got 2 dogs (Abra got into trouble and had puppies), but she also has 2 step grandchildren(her stepdaughter also got in the same trouble). She brought in a new character that I really liked, a super nanny that used to work for the coast guard. The nanny plays a big part here and it's fun watching her controlling not only the babies but the dogs and humans alike. The action goes so fast that you will have to stay on your toes to keep up with all that is going on, but it's worth it because the writing is so smooth, the characters so likeable, and there's a lot of humor. There's some romance but not much, as Whiskey lusts after the wrong man...the father of her stepdaughter's twins. Whiskey reminds me a lot of Sue Grafton's main character. Not enough time to fool with romance. That's ok, I had rather have the mystery and humor and forget the romance altogether. If you read these, it would be good to start at the beginning of the series. It helps you keep up better.

No comments about Afghan Hound Champions, 1987-2003.

1 comments about Afghan Hound (Comprehensive Owner's Guide).

1. As always, the best reference books to fast and absolute knowledge about your dog. No competitors on sight, specially for this hard-to-find-get-and-raise breed.

5 comments about Whiskey on the Rocks: A Whiskey Mattimoe Mystery (Whiskey Mattimoe Mysteries).

1. This is a great book. While I love Whiskey and the situations she encounter, I love Abra, the dog, even more. She really keeps Whiskey on her toes. A very enjoyable read, especially if you like "cozy" mysteries.



2. I checked out this book at the library and LOVED it!! I'm so happy to find another new GREAT mystery writer. I plan on buying the rest in the series. I donate all my books to the library so eventually they will have her whole series for someone else to enjoy!!



3. This was my first contact with Whiskey and her Afghan. Mysteries galore keep you guessing throughout. The story moves at a fast pace, with a light and humurous touch. I was left wanting more and will certainly be reading other books in the series.



4. I bought this book because of all the positive reviews. I have been running our local mystery book club for over three years and there is no way I would recommend this book. There are cute and amusing parts to it, but then she adds in a character that abuses dogs by having sex with them and it taints the whole story. The author thinks that a complex plot means throwing all kinds of characters in at the end that all of a sudden relate to each other. The premise to the story is weak at best and she tries to dress it up with descent character development but it just isn't enough for me. It is too bad; I really wanted to like this book. There were some parts that were fun - but not enough - I ended up throwing this in the trash - which I have never done before but I couldn't in good conscience give the book away.



5. I love the author's style of writing. It's easy to read and she can make you smile a lot. I got off to a rocky start though because everyone seemed to have a nickname and I thought I was reading about men (because all the characters seemed to have men's names). When I figured out they were all women, I started book again and I'm so glad I did, because it was great. Some parts make you laugh out loud...like everyone thinks the purse snatching Abra is a goat and describe her as "that goat that looks like Sarah Jessica Parker." The mystery was a little confusing so you have to keep up with the clues. And I think the reference of the one character that slept with dogs was in poor taste and disturbing for us dog lovers. But all in all, you will like all the main characters and you will smile your way through this fast paced mystery. I couldn't put it down and sit up all night reading it. I'm so glad I went ahead and ordered the next three in the series so I can start on another one tonight!

5 comments about Whiskey with a Twist: A Whiskey Mattimoe Mystery.

1. I'm a fan of this series, and yet this installment took me by surprise. It has all the suspense and laughter you'd expect from a Whiskey Mattimoe mystery with Abra in fine form as the hilarious Bad Example at an Afghan hound show. But it also takes Whiskey's personal life in a shocking new direction. No spoiler here! Read it for yourself. Enjoy!



2. okay, i admit i'm a reader who will laugh out loud if something strikes me funny. and i mean out LOUD. well, i actually kept my husband awake when I was reading this book in bed because i laughed so much. between whiskey and chester and jenx and avery and fleggers and all the dogs, well, how could i not laugh? it's also a really intriguing mystery that kept me guessing all the way to the last chapter. i love the twist at the end. oh, and if you haven't read the other 4 whiskey mattimoe mysteries, you can read them in any order. Whiskey with a Twist: A Whiskey Mattimoe Mystery



3. I really love the Whiskey books for the humor and quirkiness. I would be hard pressed to think of a betting setting for a humorous mystery than a dog show. Since I am REALLY missing Laurien Berenson's Melanie Travis mysteries, I was delighted to see that Whiskey was headed for a dog show (even though it was to compete for WORST in show!). This book brings some interesting developments in Whiskey's personal life. She is back together with her ex-husband and that relationship gives rise to all sorts of drama. Plus, her employees/friends have some secrets of their own. The mystery is not super complex, but there are still a lot of red herrings and surprises. The best aspect of the books is, as always, how absolutely hilarious the dialogue is and Whiskey's perspective of the world around her. The only thing that started to irk me enough to give four stars instead of five is how incapable Whiskey acts at times. I know Whiskey's character is that of an "unlikely" hero and inept pet owner, but by now I think it would be more realistic if Whiskey got her act together with Abra and in general.



4. I am a big fan of the Whiskey Mattimoe series but, having just finished "Whisey With A Twist", I have to say that I am an even bigger fan! This was, in my opinion, the best book in the series so far! Of course, all of the wonderful folks from Magnet Springs are there to enjoy (it's like revisiting old friends) and that bad girl Afghan hound Abra is still running rampant. However, I enjoyed watching Whiskey grow emotionally and take a new direction in her life (I'll never tell!). And, of course the suspense, laughter and twists and turns in the plot were all there to enjoy. Keep up the good work and I hope for many more "Whiskey" books in the future!!



5. I loved the first two books of the 'Whiskey' series, but found this one disappointing. I believe stories are more interesting to keep reoccurring characters when the books are based on a series, even tho there were a few in this book. The cast in Whiskey with a Twist, lacked personality or likability. The repeated scene of who was next to have hugs & kisses behind 'the curtain' became dull and silly. I would give the ending to the book 3 stars, but it took a long time to get there! "NINA, keep Abra and Whiskey home in Magnet Springs!"

5 comments about Boots on the Ground by Dusk: My Tribute to Pat Tillman.

1. This book is incredibly heart wrenching. A great read. Wish I could have known Pat after reading this book.



2. The most intriguing and troubling part of Mary Tillman's book about Pat Tillman is found at the back of the book. It seems that journalists had used the Freedom of Information Act to obtain from the Pentagon, no less, a copy of the Army doctor's autopsy report on Pat. While the Army doctors state that they virtually never before questioned the official versions of events given to them, this time they did. They said that after Pat had been shot in the legs by three or four of his own men, and fell to a crouching position, he received three bullet holes to the forehead. The doctor's said the spray pattern was so close together, that the machine gunner had to be very, very close. 60 to 120 feet away, not the much greater distance that the official version stated. The doctors said the gunmen were so close, they may have known who they were shooting, or should have - so they asked for a homicide investigation - and were turned down by Army brass. Pat's younger brother, Richard, states in the book that he believed Pat had been murdered.
   
   While the official version is that three of the snipers were shooting from a moving vehicle, Bryan O'Neil, the 18 year old Ranger by Pat's side, clearly stated that he was sure all four, including the driver, were on the ground, firing at Pat.
   
   When the sniper that shot Pat with the S.A.W. machine gun was asked why he shot Pat when he was waving his arms over his head, he said he saw Pat waving his arms, but decided to shoot him anyway. When a sniper was asked how he could not see who it was, or his Ranger uniform, he claimed he had laser eye surgery the week before, and could only see "shadows and silouettes". Most if not all of the Rangers with Pat were waving their arms and yelling "cease fire!". The men shooting at Pat all claimed they had "tunnel vision", and did not see all the Rangers waving their arms or the Ranger vehicles nearby. Bryan O'Neal, the Ranger next to Pat, and another Ranger just behind him, both stated that the men that killed Pat were no more than 120 feet from him, or less - in broad daylight.
   
   The driver of the vehicle, Kellet Sayre, claimed he knew "within a split second" of coming out of the canyon that there were Rangers and Ranger vehicles ahead of him, yet he failed, in the two lulls in firing at Pat, to tell his three passengers firing at Pat - or to turn the vehicle around and drive away, rather than to keep advancing.
   
   Kevin Tillman, Pat's brother, who was in a vehicle behind the vehicle load of Rangers that shot up Pat, was not told what happened and quickly shipped out.
   
   Mary Tillman and family were also told by Army brass that there were no bullet fragments left in Pat. The Army doctor's report said there were fragments in Pat.
   
   Later, Ranger Kevin Tillman, was told he would be assigned to the same squad as three of the snipers that shot his brother, and sent to Iraq. He told his superior that he refused to serve with them. Bryan O'Neal, the Ranger with Pat, was sent back to Ranger school, then to the same squad as the driver of the vehicle. This driver tried to convince Bryan that it was Pat's own fault that he got shot. Strange set of circumstances, to say the least.
   
   It is interesting to note, that Pat was not shot during just one rapid targeting sequence. He was shot at, then the shooting stopped, supposedly to reload, as stated by one of the gunmen, Sgt. Baker. He was again shot at, and he threw a smoke grenade. In addition, a sergeant on the ridgeline shot a signal flare. The firing stopped again. Pat assumed the smoke grenade signaled that they were Rangers, and again stood waving his arms, yelling, " It's Pat F... Tillman, Frinedlies! Cease fire!", when he was shot first in the legs. When he fell to a crouching position, he was then shot in the chest and three shots to the forehead,by Stephen Ashpole, actually destroying his head. Nevertheless, they claimed he had CPR twice, so they could burn his body armor and clothes. Army regs require you to be alive in order to destroy the clothes as a biohazard. If it was acknowledged he was dead, the evidence, by regulation, could not be destroyed. The first person assigned to an investigation, which was later "lost", saw the body armor shot up. The four gunners also shot the platoon leader and the radio operator. All bullets found in anyone or any vehicle were "green tipped" - meaning U.S. issue.
   
   When Mary Tillman questioned the Army brass on why the Ranger snipers fired a third time at Pat, after he threw a purple smoke grenade, they stated they were wrong about telling her it was purple, that it was actually white, and the snipers thought the massive amount of billowing smoke was just "dust be kicked up by the bullets". Mary Tillman said she was at the Ranger graduation ceremonies, where smoke grenades were used for theatrical effect, and found that hard to believe.
   
   It doesn't help that Pat, with his enlistment almost up, had made an appointment with an M.I.T. professor, Noam Chomsky, a highly regarded intellectual who was against the Iraq invasion, to talk. In the minds of many, this adds cynical overtones to the story. You also have to ask why Pat was given more psychological evaluations than any other Ranger he knew.
   
   What is all the more shocking and amazing is that people like Glenn Beck and O'Reilly never seem to read or look into things like this, and report to the American public. Is it simply incompetence, or calculated omission on their part?
   
   The question at hand is, you must ask yourself if this was unintentional homicidal negligence - or was it intentional homicide? The homicide investigation requested by the Army doctors who did the autopsy report, and did not know it was "friendly fire", was refused by higher ups, so we may never know.
   
   My heartfelt condolences to Pat's wife and family. Mary Tillman is a courageous woman who somehow managed to write this book and have the names of the people responsible brought out into the court of public opinion, including those who know them well, such as relatives, friends and others in their social circle. They must live with what they have done, whether they were active in the shooting or the coverup. There is a certain justice to that.



3. Unlike many other reviewers, I was not aware of Patrick Tillman until his death and its subsequent coverup were reported in the Australian media. I was immediately struck by this extraordinary man's story.
   
   Boots on the Ground by Dusk is one of the most difficult books I have ever read. Written by his mother, Mary, the book intersperses the story of the family's search for the truth with stories of Patrick's life before the army. Although I felt a great deal of admiration for him before reading the book, my grief at his loss is now even more profound.
   
   It is often said that only the good die young. In the case of Patrick Tillman, this is certainly true. He had a strong desire to live a meaningful life. His death at the hands of lessor men is tragic and unjust. The government's attempt to coverup the circumstances surrounding his death is simply outrageous. Patrick Tillman and his family deserve better.



4. I loved this book as well as Jon Krakauer's "Where Men Win Glory". It seems interesting that Pat's legacy is growing stronger five years after his death then when it initally happened. I for one solely hope he lives on eternally. What a stud both physically, mentally and emotionally. The consumate in everything he did. Mary Tillman's tribute to Pat Tillman is a very touching and moving piece about a Mother's love for her Son. In this case, a wonderful human being. The entire Tillman family is in my view the epitome of the American way. I would still love being able to see Pat Tillman knock the snot out of people on the gridiron, but he has certainly left an indelible mark and as much as it pains his family as well as pepole like me not to see him anymore, his passing is affecting many more people in positive ways than imaginable.



5. Having just read Jon Krakauer's "Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman", I felt like I learned more about this man than just what the media presented --- from a distance. That biography was insightful and did a fine job of paralleling the on-going middle east conflict with Pat Tillman's life --- and the infamous decision he made to leave a multi-million-dollar NFL career to serve his country in the Rangers following the events of 9/11. A nice job --- but did not have that "personal" touch.
   
   When reading, "Boots On the Ground By Dusk: My Tribute To Pat Tillman", you see the man not just through the eyes of his mother but through an entire family that grieved for his senseless death while continuing to battle for vindication of his name over the suspicious circumstances surrounding his being killed in action. Instead of reading like a straight-narrative of Pat Tillman's life, Mary Tillman jumps right into the adult Pat not long before the decision that would ultimately cost him his life. The better part of the novel focuses on the effects Pat's death initially had on those who loved him --- including a heartbreaking chapter covering his wake with all eulogies printed in their entirety. The family does not have long to grieve before their emotions shift right through anger and into action. This action is spurred by the disgraceful military cover-up over the circumstances of Pat Tillman's death at the hands of his own troops. Not only did the military (and ultimately the government) capatalize on his death for the purpose of propogandizing the war, but evidence may have surfaced that point towards the fact that Pat may actually have been murdered in an effort to become a martyred face of the U.S. conflict in Iraq & Afghanistan.
   
   While not all is proven cleanly --- the battle still wages on for the truth --- the chapters breeze along neatly, angering the reader with each passing page. I applaud Mary Tillman for adding the appropriate "personal" touch needed for this book while remaining neutral enough to present the entire picture and allow the reader to sit right beside her as she deals with the horror of losing her heroic son.
   
   Long live the memory of Pat Tillman!

5 comments about Tunisian Crochet: The Look of Knitting with the Ease of Crocheting.

1. I just got this book yesterday and I have to say that I am wowed. This is the most comprehensive "how to" tunisian book that I have been able to find. The beginning section is very clearly photographed and easy to understand. There are a variety of patterns and they are beautiful. I would have given five stars but I did have a few problems. First, there are only a couple of easy patterns. Second, she uses a variety of novelity yarns that (at least in my area of the country)are very difficult to find and once shipping is factored in very very expensive. But overall a good addition to my crochet library. I love the Frosted Stitch Afghan, the Have it Both Ways pillow and the little girl Jumper that I will be making for my daughter when I am more comfortable with the craft.



2. This type of crochet has intrigued me since I am a knitter at heart and have started crocheting
   recently. To be able to do both in one sitting seems a plus. One of the problems for me has
   been to find local stores that carry the tunisian hooks. It takes a while to get the hang of it,
   but I love the look and am anxious to try out some of the easier patterns.



3. The directions are easy to follow, a great addition to my Crochet library to try new techniques.



4. I'm so excited to get started making something with this cool technique. The instructions are really great. Lots of pictures. I wish the patterns were a litte more interesting but they do allow you to practice the stitches. I think I'll start w/ the sweater vest for my dad.



5. I'm just learning tunisian crochet and this book is extremely helpful. It not only has beautiful patterns but many suggestions, stitch reviews, great photos, and well written.