General Books

the amount of detail differs. The books each contain five chapters of straightforward, sequential text, a scattering of sidebars, and a time line. They are liberally illustrated with portraits, reproductions of paintings and portions of documents, and detailed maps. These titles have less coverage of African Americans' and women's involvement in the war than Daniel Rosen's Independence Now (National Geographic, 2004), but they include more events and people, giving them a slight edge for reports.

Jeffrey combines clear texts with endearing full-color photographs. Better for young researchers than the "ASPCA Pet Care Guides" (DK, 2001), these books include history, advice on choosing a pet, taking care of it, and preventing problems. Photographs appear frequently along with inserts of fast facts or pointers. Some bias against pet stores is evident, and readers are encouraged to spay or neuter their pets. They are told never to hit their pet in Cats, where the author insists that felines can also be trained to come when called and possibly even to use the toilet. In Dogs, only praise techniques are recommended for training, using sophisticated vocabulary like "eliminate" and "separation anxiety." Horses includes information on the expense of buying and housing a horse as well as feeding and caring for one. Bias is again reflected in advice on having a vet euthanize an old or ill animal. Information in all three titles is more focused than in entries in the "Nature's Children" series (Grolier) or "Perfect Pets" series (Marshall Cavendish)

From the banks of Texas's Buffalo Bayou to the blue waters of Hawaii, this powerful novel from acclaimed author Anita Bunkley tells the story of one resilient woman's fight to save a family legacy--and create a future for herself and her daughter. . .

When tropical storm Allison hits Houston's historic black community, it nearly wipes out Camille and Max Granville's hard-earned home and restaurant, Vendora. But it is just a foreshadowing of the disasters to come. Without flood insurance, the Granvilles' bills pile up, while their savings dwindle. Desperate to save Vendora and pay their daughter Jaiden's college tuition, Max takes a risk that involves turning over control of Vendora to a slick Los Angeles businessman with a shady past. Miraculously, the move pays off. Once again, the Granvilles' future looks bright--until a celebratory cruise turns tragic.

When a fire on board separates the couple and takes Max's life, it rests with a grieving Camille to regain Vendora--and deal with a rebellious daughter who blames her for her father's death. Yet just when all seems lost, astonishing information about Max's last act surfaces from the depths of the catastrophe. The details of what happened in Max's final moments could change everything for Camille, for Jaiden, and for Vendora--if Camille can find out exactly what happened and how. But Camille's good fortune may mean someone else's ruin. Someone desperate enough to do anything to stop her from getting to the truth. . .

Praise for Anita Bunkley and Mirrored Life

"A breakout. . .Anita Bunkley's believable characters and absorbing story will take you through a journey of mistakes and second chances you won't be able to put down." --Tananarive Due

"So well crafted are Bunkley's characters. . .that their appeal is universal." --Booklist

"Entertaining, fulfilling and a joy to read." –Connie Briscoe

Anita R. Bunkley has spent more than a decade writing fiction and nonfiction, while lecturing on topics related to career advancement, personal promotion, attitude adjustment, and making dreams come true. She is the author of eight novels, two novellas, two nonfiction books, and a short story written exclusively for the Internet. She is also an NAACP Image Award (2000) nominee for her contribution to the anthology, Girlfriends.

Life in Atlanta's suburbs becomes a hot topic for a mom-to-be who knows more about news than diapers in Wax's bittersweet potboiler. After investigative TV reporter Vivien Armstrong Gray gets shot in the butt while chasing a story, she becomes an overnight sensation, but that doesn't keep the newsroom from adding attractive new talent to her department. Seeing the writing on the wall, Vivien quits, but soon learns that finding a job isn't so easy for a newly pregnant 41-year old. She relocates to suburban Atlanta and lands a column writing about suburbia from an outsider perspective. She finds plenty of fodder in her family, but her questions about the death of her sister's husband may have serious consequences. Vivien's an easy protagonist to love; she's plucky, resourceful, and witty—the perfect outsider's guide to the SUV and bake sale zoo.

Barbara Kafka, author of such important and popular books as Roasting: A Simple Art, Party Food, and Microwave Gourmet, doesn't just speak with the voice of authority when she addresses anything that might have to do with food, she speaks with the voice of the woman who invented fire. It's right there, that voice, deep in her soul. And it calls out loud and clear in page after page of what has to be one of her best books ever.

Soup is the blood in Barbara Kafka's veins. "When I am tired and want comfort," she writes, "or when I want to share happiness, or just when I want something full of flavor, my first desire is soup." It is through soup that Kafka embraces the generations of her family, her husband's family, the families of her children's spouses. It is through soup that Kafka embraces the world. "Every culture has its soups and the soups may be said to represent them."

The book begins with a brief overview of technique ("How to Boil Water"), then drops right into a section she calls "Family Soups." Here are the soups Kafka identifies with her grandmother and mother (Chicken Soup and Split-Pea Soup, respectively), her husband (Winter Duck Soup), her own youth (Gazpacho), her adult nature (Veal Soup with Fennel), as well as soups linked to other members of her family. It's as personal as looking through the Kafka family photo album with the author at your side.

From that base, Ms. Kafka moves on to the world of soups, be they of a vegetable nature, or those that rely on various birds or meats or seafoods. She winds down with stocks, noodles, dumplings, sauces, and the like.

It's a masterful production: simple, clear, uncluttered, direct, and thorough. It's a book that opens the senses to the world much as the steam rising off a bowl of lovingly made soup.

From the controlled beauty of classical ballet to the vivacity of salsa dance can be found in nearly every culture on Earth. Shall We Dance is the result of Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Brian Lanker's year of travel across the United States documenting the huge variety of styles (from tap to tango salsa to swing) and dancers he encountered. What began as a photo-essay for National Geographic soon expanded into a vast documentary project which includes interviews with dancers from all corners of the globe. Shall We Dance celebrates dance's diversity of culture and capacity to express every emotion imaginable. Featuring a foreword by legendary writer and former dancer Maya Angelou this volume is a treasure trove of dance from around the world.

Cooking good food from scratch is a skill that can save you money, keep you healthy, and make you and your family and friends happy. What I've tried to do in this book is pick a whole load of meals that we all love to eat and break them down to make them as simple as possible. There are plenty of clear instructions and step-by-step pictures, so whether you're an accomplished cook or a complete beginner, you'll be able to enjoy cooking and achieve great results in the kitchen.

This book is inspired by all the people I've met who thought they could never and would never learn how to cook. I believe that good home cooking is one of the most essential, fundamental skills that every single person on this planet should have in order to look after themselves, their families, and their friends. This food revolution is all about people learning how to make a recipe, then teaching that recipe to their friends and family . . . if enough people do this, pretty soon everyone will be cooking. So cook something today, then PASS IT ON!

As the Baghdad bureau chief for the Washington Post, Chandrasekaran has probably spent more time in U.S.-occupied Iraq than any other American journalist, and his intimate perspective permeates this history of the Coalition Provisional Authority headquartered in the Green Zone around Saddam Hussein's former palace. He presents the tenure of presidential viceroy L. Paul Bremer between May 2003 and June 2004 as an all-too-avoidable disaster, in which an occupational administration selected primarily for its loyalty to the Bush administration routinely ignored the reality of local conditions until, as one ex-staffer puts it, "everything blew up in our faces." Chandrasekaran unstintingly depicts the stubborn cluelessness of many Americans in the Green Zone—like the army general who says children terrified by nighttime helicopters should appreciate "the sound of freedom." But he sympathetically portrays others trying their best to cut through the red tape and institute genuine reforms. He also has a sharp eye for details, from casual sex in abandoned offices to stray cats adopted by staffers, which enable both advocates and critics of the occupation to understand the emotional toll of its circuslike atmosphere. Thanks to these personal touches, the account of the CPA's failures never feels heavy-handed.

This book is a collector's special that provides a fascinating insight into the colourful world of Hindu deities and places of worship. The book explores the deep symbolism that lies embedded in the iconography of Hindu Gods and Goddesses and interprets the underlying messages that have been projected so intelligently and thoughtfully through the form, shape, colour, attire and attendant paraphernalia of different deities, by the sages and seers of ancient India. In the process it also unravels some of the important myths related to different deities and the festivals celebrated in their honour. The deeply researched text of Hindu Gods and Temples: Symbolism, Sanctity and Sites and its lucid presentation take the reader on an unforgettable journey into the wondrous world of Hindu religion and the Supreme Truth behind the apparent multiplicity of Gods and Goddesses. Why does Ganesha, the god of wisdom, have an elephant-head? Why does Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, travel on an owl? What is the symbolism of Krishna's flute? Why does he wear yellow? What is the Bhagwad Geeta? What are the legends behind the foundation of some of the most famous Hindu temples and shrines of India? Hindu Gods and Temples: Symbolism, Sanctity and Sites is a first publication that brings together some of the most popular Hindu images, legends, beliefs and places of worship within the covers of a beautifully designed book with an informatively engrossing text of over 23,000 words.

Gr 4-8-A topical overview of the second decade of the 20th century. In the section on lifestyles, the standard of living is discussed along with the many conveniences introduced during this time such as indoor bathrooms, electric lights, vacuum cleaners, washing machines, and telephones. Fashion trends, music, Prohibition, recreational activities, talkie movies, the Harlem Renaissance, the Lost Generation, and sports are touched on, as are the political atmosphere in the United States and abroad and the beginnings of the Great Depression. There is a wide array of information to give students some insight into this era.

Grade 2-4?Three series entries that introduce the history of their respective holidays and how they are celebrated. The well-written texts aptly describe the traditions and customs and capture the flavor of the festivals. The open, spacious format makes the books accessible, and the full-color and black-and-white photos lend interest. However, some of them are more filler than substance, and the captions add little or no information. Additional purchases where needed.?Pamela K. Bomboy, Chesterfield County Public Schools,
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information,

Grade 6 Up–Pasachoff details how Rutherford rose from early childhood poverty in rural New Zealand to become one of the world's greatest scientists. His groundbreaking discoveries include elements' mutability and radioactivity and the nuclear structure of the atom. The experiments behind these discoveries are carefully explained, making readers aware that Rutherford was painstakingly researching phenomena he could not see. By using innovative chemical and physical methods, he did prove his theories, though. This originality in experimentation yielded him a Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1908. Pasachoff skillfully interweaves Rutherford's accomplishments with the recurrent themes that education, study, and perseverance create opportunity. The text is complemented by 11 black-and-white captioned illustrations and an activities section. The index is incomplete; for example, Guglielmo Marconi is discussed in the book, but not listed. Despite this shortcoming, the book will be useful in science curriculums as contemporary biographies about Rutherford for this audience are rare. J. L. Heilbron's Ernest Rutherford: And the Explosion of Atoms (Oxford, 2003) is for a slightly older audience. Pasachoff's book not only introduces students to nuclear physics and the life of Rutherford, but may also instill in them the joys and rewards of learning.

No matter when and why this comes to your hands, I want to put down on paper how things started with us.

Written as a letter to her children, Kelly Corrigan's Lift is a tender, intimate, and robust portrait of risk and love; a touchstone for anyone who wants to live more fully. In Lift, Corrigan weaves together three true and unforgettable stories of adults willing to experience emotional hazards in exchange for the gratifications of raising children.

Lift takes its name from hang gliding, a pursuit that requires flying directly into rough air, because turbulence saves a glider from "sinking out." For Corrigan, this wisdom--that to fly requires chaotic, sometimes even violent passages--becomes a metaphor for all of life's most meaningful endeavors, particularly the great flight that is parenting.

Corrigan serves it up straight--how mundanely and fiercely her children have been loved, how close most lives occasionally come to disaster, and how often we fall short as mothers and fathers. Lift is for everyone who has been caught off guard by the pace and vulnerability of raising children, to remind us that our work is important and our time limited.

Like Anne Morrow Lindbergh's Gift from the Sea, Lift is a meditation on the complexities of a woman's life, and like Corrigan's memoir, The Middle Place, Lift is boisterous and generous, a book readers can't wait to share.

Grade 9 Up–Teens will revel in the juiciness of this fictional exposé. In The Nanny Diaries (St. Martin's, 2002), McLaughlin and Kraus took on the world of the rich and neurotic. In their first novel for teens, they expose the malicious underbelly of the reality-TV industry. When Jesse O'Rourke gets chosen to be part of the cast of a new documentary series, The Real Hampton Beach, about seniors dealing with the real world and real issues, she has considerable reservations, but the offer of $40,000 in college tuition is too good to turn down. It sounds easy enough–pretend to be best friends with people you despise, wear designer clothes you cannot afford, and give up any semblance of privacy–right? If only it were that simple. Between the phony friendships, the staged fights, and the product placements, Jesse can no longer differentiate between what's real and what looks good on television. She and the other players are just pawns in the network's moneymaking game. However, that changes when Jesse gets dirt on the network's president of programming. Now they have the upper hand and can finally regain control over their lives. This book is far more entertaining than most of the so-called reality programs on television. The authors have a natural ability for digging up the dirt and bringing it to the surface.–Robyn Zaneski, New York Public Library

Can't afford a new couch? Cover it with pillows! Every interior decorator worth her measuring tape knows the easiest not to mention cheapest way to transform a room is with fresh, colorful cushions. For this beautiful sewing book, veteran crafter shannon okey created more than 25 patterns for every room in the home. Projects range from beginner friendly throw pillows, shams, and bolsters to more advanced bench pads, ottomans, and oversized floor cushions. We've tucked ready-to-use (no photocopier enlarging here! ) pattern pieces into a pocket and used wire-o binding for easy reference while sewing. With photographs and designs inspired by the hippest looks, the pillow book is just the fix for quick and easy home makeovers.

What could be grosser than reaching into a tub of popcorn and discovering a Bola Spider or putting your foot into a fuzzy slipper and crunching down on a Hercules Beetle?! This delightfully disgusting new book reveals just how fascinating icky insects can be. By placing some of the worlds most rare and vile insects in some of life's most ordinary situations (for example, maggots in a hotdog bun), Creepy Crawly Creatures is a reading experience that is part thrill ride and part science expedition.
>br>Conjuring up hair-raisingly revolting situations, Creepy Crawly Creatures will speak to fans of gross-out fun everywhere. Full of repellent yet accurate information including scientific facts, and natural history tidbits, Creepy Crawly Creatures is a visually striking and stomach turning adventure through bugology!

Krupp, style expert for the Today Show and former beauty director for Glamour, offers easy-to-follow, tried-and-true fashion advice for women well beyond their 20s. Presented in eye-catching, highly skimmable, fashion-magazine style, here's how to trade in the things that scream old lady (simply OL in the book) for a look that's younger and hipper (Y&H). Krupp is straightforward about the physical shortcomings of older age. Aptly (and sometimes rather brutally) she steers readers away from these OL pitfalls. She is quick to point out that fashion that works on 20-somethings looks ridiculous on older women (i.e., bare midriffs, go-go boots and tattoos). As much about what to do as what not to do, some of the tips are as easy as wearing pink lipstick, a bra that fits properly and hair with bangs. Others take more thought, time and money—like Botox shots, chemical peels and hair extensions. Whether high or low maintenance about their beauty routine, women of a certain age who want to compete in our youth-obsessed culture will treat this easy read with interest. (Jan.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

PHENOMENAL PRAISE FOR THE NOVELS OF NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHORS NEWT GINGRICH AND WILLIAM R. FORSTCHEN

PEARL HARBOR

“A thrilling tale of America’s darkest day.” —W.E.B. Griffin

“Begins what will be a fascinating alternative history of the war in the pacific.”—Roanoke Times  

“The authors’ research shines in accurate accounts of diplomatic maneuvering as well as the nuts-and-bolts of military action.”—Publishers Weekly

“The authors skillfully mix historical and fictional characters in an enjoyable and thought-provoking tale.”—Library Journal

"Masterful storytelling that not only captures the heroic highs and hellish lows of that horrific day that lives on in infamy—it resonates with today’s conflicts and challenges.”—William E. Butterworth IV, New York Times bestselling author of The Saboteurs

“A politician and a novelist, each an accomplished historian in his own right, are emerging as  master authors of alternative history.  In this “what if” treatment of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Newt Gingrich and William Forstchen combine their talents to make the diplomacy as suspenseful as the combat, even for readers who know what happens next–or think they know.”
—Dennis Showalter, former president of the Society of Military Historians

“This book is not only a great read, it is a fascinating historical story that applies today in Iraq as it did in the Western Pacific in the late 30s and 40s.”—Captain Alex Fraser, USN (Ret.)

“Gingrich and Forstchen have done it again. Building on their successful collaboration on their Civil War trilogy that so skillfully combined real history with fiction, they have with Pearl Harbor happily inaugurated another new series. You will not want to put it down, but when you finish you will look, as I do, with great anticipation to the next book.”—Chief of Police William J. Bratton, Los Angeles Police Department

Gr. 3-6. Twenty years ago, children marched in the annual Frogg Day parade, the city's most important celebration, but they aren't allowed to do that now. Hazel Green wants to turn back the clock. Why not let children participate in the festivities? After all, famous citizen Victor Frogg was born and grew up right in her own building. Accomplishing that is easier said than done, however, but Hazel perseveres and eventually learns about building floats, community, and friendships, including those that cross generations. Australian-born Hirsch has created an imaginative, outspoken protagonist for his charming tale, which evolves in a lyrical, descriptive, third-person narrative that has a subtle hint of fairy tale about it. Diverse characters, neighborhood life, and Hazel's actions and lively thoughts are related with wit, whimsy, and heart. An entertaining story as well as a creative portrayal of a community. Shelle Rosenfeld
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Developed by weight-loss experts Drs. James O. Hill and John C. Peters, co-founders of America on the Move™, The Step Diet Book is a motivational walking program that will help millions of overweight Americans lose weight and keep it off forever.

Combining a book and pedometer--in itself a $20 value--plus conversion charts and dozens of fat-burning Step Recipes, this is a complete package. At its core is a simple concept called energy balance. Calories come in, calories go out--and when intake is greater than output, you gain weight. The Step Diet Book attacks the problem from both ends. First, use the pedometer to figure out how many steps you take in an average day, then raise the number by 2,000--it's as easy as pacing while talking on the phone, or parking at the far end of the lot. Second, eat one-quarter less of your food--which counteracts our tendency to supersize meals. Once balance is achieved, get fit and lose weight by adding more steps to your day. You can even enjoy a guilt-free lapse by knowing exactly how many steps to tack on at the end of your day.

Who knew that horseradish was an aphrodisiac? Not Michelle Nelson. She signed up again to help promote her hometown’s annual Horseradish Festival out of the goodness of her heart. No one said anything about a major publicity stunt, a romantic local legend, and prize money for the team voted “sexiest couple.� And she is absolutely sure no one mentioned her new partner in this dubious event: Ryan Slater, a guy rumored to be an aphrodisiac for a lot of satisfied women. Yeah, right. Michelle and Ryan shared one disastrous evening together—a romantic catastrophe if ever there was one. There’s no way this former Miss Horseradish is going to suffer that humiliation again. But Ryan—every denim-clad muscle and wicked, grinning, I-know-what-you’re-thinking inch of him—is equally determined to get another chance with Michelle. And once the hunt is on, there’s no turning back… --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

America's all-time favorite food made easy, delicious-and healthy.

Pizza Anytime serves up more than 200 recipes, from appetizers to main courses, and even desserts, of America's favorite food, pizza! Now pizza lovers can enjoy this treat any time of the day. From Tex-Mex Appetizer Pizzas to filling meals of Irish Potato Crust Pizzas, and such dazzling desserts as the Caramel Apple Pizza Pie, JoAnna's tasty pies are quick to create-and healthy to consume.

Starred Review. Parents will find this compulsive page-turner from Edgar-winner Coben (The Woods) particularly unnerving. A sadistic killer is at play in suburban Glen Rock, N.J., outside New York City, but somehow he's less frightening than the more mundane problems that send ordinary lives into chaos. How do you weigh a child's privacy against a parent's right to know? How do you differentiate normal teenage rebelliousness from out-of-control behavior? When and how do you intervene if suicidal signs appear? Other issues include single parenting; career versus family; marital honesty; and how much information you should share with a child at what age. Coben plucks each of these strings like a virtuoso as Mike and Tia Baye try to deal with the increasing withdrawal of their 16-year-old son, Adam, after a friend's suicide. A pair of brutal, seemingly senseless killings, punctuate the unfolding domestic troubles that ratchet up the tension and engulf the Baye family, their friends and neighbors in a web of increasing tragedy. The this could be me factor lends poignancy to the thrills and chills. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

At long last, a fresh take on color! Jesse and Joe, stylists to the stars and fashion consultants on The Oprah Winfrey Show reveal their secrets for finding personalized palettes for each individual woman's coloring. No longer will redheads be relegated to earthtones. No longer will women of color assume they look good only in bright colors. Instead, Jesse and Joe offer 20 highly personalized colortypes to choose from. Using quizzes, questionnaires, hundreds of photos, color swatches, before-and-after shots, and photos of celebrity style icons, they make it easy for any woman to determine her best colors, brighten her look, and leave a lasting impression.

Rachael Abbott is on the run after an attempted drowning, and she is heading to the only person she can trust, her uncle Gillette, in remote Slipper Hollow, Kentucky. Just outside of the nearest town, her car breaks down, and she witnesses a plane crash. Rachael helps rescue the pilot and passenger, who turn out to be FBI agent Jack Crowne and Dr. MacLean, a psychiatrist with influential patients who has escaped several murder attempts. The good doctor is suffering from a type of dementia that has him inadvertently divulging his clients’ secrets. After another attempt on Rachael’s life, she tells Jack, his boss Savich, and Savich’s wife and fellow agent, Sherlock, that she believes her would-be murders are her newly found relatives. Rachel only recently learned that she is the daughter of a slain senator. The twelfth romantic thriller featuring agents Savich and Sherlock is one of Coulter’s best, delivering her trademark quips and nonstop action as the heroes chase bad guys from Kentucky to Washington, D.C. --Patty Engelmann

The author of The Bikini Diaries now invites readers to an erotic hotel where sensual satisfaction is the main amenity...

Mild-mannered Jenna Banks never considered sex a recreational sport-until she wins a two-week stay at the notorious Hotel Erotique, where every sexual fantasy comes true-in room after room, with stranger after stranger. Even more unnerving for Jenna is Brent Powers, her wildly sensual personal guide who can't wait to put his degree in sexual psychology to work. But with the steady seduction of Jenna come feelings that neither expected. Where will the ultimate fantasy take them?

A 12-month plan for surviving diabetes

The most frightening moment for most people with diabetes is when they are first diagnosed. They are filled with questions: What can I eat? What should I do? Is there a plan for me to follow? While some people get a plan from their doctor, most people do not. Your First Year with Diabetes is the plan for everyone. It walks you step-by-step through a first-30-days survival plan, then shows a month-by-month program for what comes next. Everything from a basic explanation of diabetes, what you can eat right away, and instructions on how to check glucose to a deeper knowledge about diabetes nutrition, avoiding complications, and better management. Your First Year with Diabetes also anticipates and explains problems such as depression, illnesses, and needing to lose weight.

In this historical crime thriller, Ariana Franklin (the nom de plume for British writer Diana Norman) introduces the compelling Adelia—abandoned as a child, adopted by doctors, trained in Salerno (a center of learning), and now a woman of modern sensibilities. Critics agree that Mistress is an unusually smart and intriguing story. Franklin perfectly recreates the barbarous culture of the Middle Ages and the Crusades—an era of religious persecution and idealism that clashed with the burgeoning importance of science and the rule of law. Grisly forensic details, combined with whodunit suspense, fascinating characters, timely themes, and even a little romance make for an excellent read. Watch out for Adelia's return in next year's The Serpent's Tale.
Copyright © 2004 Phillips & Nelson Media, Inc.

Set in West Berlin in 2001, Winger’s debut novel chronicles a turning point in the lives of two suffering souls. Hope is an American who followed her economist husband to Berlin after a tragedy at home. Walter is a German actor, famous in his youth, who now spends his days dubbing Tom Cruise’s lines in box-office hits. After glimpsing each other around the building in which they both live, Hope and Walter officially meet when Hope, homesick and lonely, knocks on Walter’s door. As their friendship unfolds, so do their stories: Hope’s unhappiness in her marriage, her failed pregnancy, her struggles to fit in as an American in Berlin; Walter’s recent breakup with a young and successful actress, his fear of aging, his troubled connection to his parents and his past. Winger’s novel bravely takes on themes of remorse, regret, and responsibility, both social and personal, as the story unfolds on dreary winter streets burdened with the weight of history. The plot sometimes feels pushed, but Winger’s compassion for her characters makes her a writer worth watching. --Heather Dewar

As a scene-scooping, style-setting annual, "Food & Wine 2010 Cocktail Guide" always keeps tabs on the hottest nightlife trends. The more than 150 cocktails presented were chosen by 10 of the world's best mixologists. These are the cocktails making a sensation in the hippest eateries and bars around the world; the drinks bartenders get asked for again and again. And amateur mix-masters won't find better recipes for traditional favorites. Each chapter focuses on a particular spirit, and every page highlights one or two special cocktails, along with interesting anecdotes about these cocktails. There is a 'Cocktail Clinic' that offers tips on stocking the bar with essential glassware and tools, as well as a list of the country's best resources for bar staples. An index in the back has the names, addresses, and phone numbers of the top 100 bars in the world. Plus, there's lots of exciting new material, including a whole chapter on the most classic cocktails; a directory of the best liquor stores in the country, so readers can source all the ingredients for these amazing drinks; an expanded spirits lexicon; and, delicious bar food recipes! This title offers more than 150 of the best cocktail and party-food recipes.

Part autobiography, part personal philosophy, and full of practical advice for women of all ages, Raquel: Beyond the Cleavage is a book that skimps neither on entertainment nor on good plain advice.

She didn’t hatch out of an eagle’s nest, circa One Million Years B.C., clad in a skimpy fur bikini. She didn’t aspire to fame as a sex symbol. Yet, for many years after making her Hollywood entrance as every man’s fantasy, Raquel Welch was best known for her beauty and sex appeal. A private person, she allowed people to draw their own conclusions from her public image. Now, Raquel Welch is ready to speak her mind. And, with the luxury of hindsight and the benefit of experience, she has plenty to share about the art of being a woman--even men will find it enlightening to read about what makes her tick.

In Beyond the Cleavage, Raquel Welch talks, woman to woman, about her views on all that comes with being a member of the female sex--love, sex, style, health, body image, career, family, forgiveness, aging, and coming of age. Looking back on her life, she lets women in on her childhood, dominated by a volatile father; her first love, marriage, and divorce; her early struggles as a single working mother in Hollywood; her battles for roles and respect as an actress; and her daring decision never to lie about her age. Looking forward, she offers women a compass to guide them at every crossroad of life, from menopause through the empty nest years, to dating younger men and beyond. Along with bringing baby boomers into her confidence--she offers essential tips for staying motivated and positive past fifty, as well as divulging her secrets for fabulous hair and makeup--she even talks to today’s younger generation of women about the importance of carrying themselves with dignity and self-respect.

With warmth, humor, conviction, and honesty, Raquel reveals her approach to preventative aging, her life-changing commitment to yoga, her recipe for eating right, her skincare regimen, her flair for fashion, and much more. Deeply personal (Welch wrote every word herself--no ghostwriter), Beyond the Cleavage is Raquel Welch’s gift to every woman who longs to look and feel her best, and be at peace with herself.

Syphilis, alcoholism, infidelity, and indeterminate parentage may seem improbable touchstones in the back story of one who didn't so much portray as embody the blithe Maria in The Sound of Music. But as this memoir of her formative years makes clear, there is more gravitas to Andrews than meets the eye. From her childhood in rural England and initial forays into British theater, to her first massive successes on Broadway and in the West End--notably as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady--Home puts her celebrated career in context. While arguably offering more detail about the Andrews family than necessary, it nevertheless dishes wonderful anecdotes about legends and Andrews contemporaries like Noël Coward, Rex Harrison, Robert Goulet, Richard Burton, and Rodgers and Hammerstein, in prose as crisp and immaculate as the author herself. It also offers a revealing look into the intricate, exhaustive craft of performing--skills often taken for granted in tabloid times. Since the book ends just as Andrews is about to launch into the celluloid stratosphere, can Volume II be far behind? After Home, it would be most welcome. --Kim Hughes --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Mazes don’t come more magical than this! Rather than the usual flat drawing, these 24 playful clay creations make solving just a little bit more challenging…and a lot more entertaining. Help a hungry mouse sneak past dozens of adorable cat-napping kitties so he can get some cheese. Untangle the intertwined bowling lanes to discover the lucky one where someone got a strike. And wander through some soapy, sudsy bubbles to reach the croc’s tub toy, since bathtime wouldn’t be the same without it! Kids will have hours of fun.

Thanks to Meryl Starr author of the best-selling Home Organizing Workbook and go-to gal for Real Simple, InStyle, and a host of premier media outlets organizing those buried desks, overstuffed handbags, and mysterious-yet-important papers wedged in the glove box is only a book away. The Personal Organizing Workbook teaches the fundamentals of managing time and clutter, offering tips, quizzes, and checklists to help create a personalized organization system that will really see some use (unlike that pricey PDA now gathering dust). It also outlines skills for sticky situations such as declining a post on the PTA or being honest with a time-hogging friend. Under Meryl's guidance, dreams and priorities finally get their due, old friends are seen more than once a year, and Christmas cards beat Santa to the door. And because being organized means staying organized, there's a special section dedicated to getting back on track. Packed with information, with a chic and practical concealed spiral binding and easy-reference tabbed sections, and brimming with gorgeous photography, The Personal Organizing Workbook will inspire readers to take control of their time, their stuff, and their lives.