Customer Reviews (1)

We need more books like this
Elizabeth Taylor, an actress and sex symbol who is one of the most sought-after celebrities by the media, has published several books during her lifetime. Elizabeth Takes Off: On Weight Gain, Weight Loss, Self-image & Self-esteem is one of them. I first picked up this book because of the words "self-image & self-esteem" in the title, rather than the "weight gain, weight loss" portion. Well, it turns out the book would be an excellent source for those who want to lose weight, but that was not what I was interested in.

Nevertheless, the book itself is highly commendable. Even if you're not planning to go on a diet - like me - the first half of the book is still worth a read. Miss Taylor writes briefly and frankly about events that occurred in her life which affected her self image and consequently, self esteem. She writes how being a senator's wife caused her to divulge into a period of extreme inactivity and boredom which unintentionally turned her to overeating. She also mentions the dire effects of binging, nibbling, or "grapple-snapping". Unlike those strictly diet-focused books, Elizabeth Takes Off offers insightful explanations and reasons for weight gain while also presenting a dietary method which to me looks superb.

If the first half analyzes the impact of events in Miss Taylor's life, the latter half offers diet menus, recipes and exercises that could help keep your body in shape. The Taylor-made recipes mainly consist of nutritious food, notably fruits and vegetables that have low calories. Her daily menus seem reasonable, diverse and easily followable because it is not a starving course, but a replacement for your typical diet. The exercise portion contains several beneficial stretches which, again, are also simple and effective.

Overall, I found this book to be a smooth, easy read. I also found myself nodding to many of the things that Miss Taylor says in this excellent book - which needs to be more in circulation today. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

one of the best!
once i began reading this book,i could not put it down.it is so very fascinating to read the life of elizabeth as written by elizabeth jenkins.this author is brilliant!
i think what makes this book so special is,the author's eloquence with her words and her description of history. this biography is rich,full,and rounded.this book is A MUST for anyone interested in queen elizabeth the first.do not pass up this book!!!

Wonderful Biography
This is a fascinating look at a fascinating and complex woman. Jenkins's theories as to why Queen Elizabeth never married are interesting and feel much more plausible than the idea that the Queen was continually frustrated in her attempts to marry. That she had a deep-seated fear of marriage and never intended to marry feels more "on the mark," given Elizabeth's experiences as a child and teenager. By the time Elizabeth was eight, she had already attended two executions, and her mother and first stepmother were both beheaded long before Elizabeth was grown.

Jenkins does gloss over or barely mention some important historical events, but she explains why in her preface: she wanted to focus on the world immediately surrounding Elizabeth. As a result we get a lively account of a woman who ruled England with a velvet fist. Jenkins also does an artful job of bringing alive the people who advised Queen Elizabeth, and the motives of both the Queen and the people who surrounded her are shown fully. Her romantic yet platonic love affair with Robert Dudley is dwelt upon a great deal, and - despite Dudley's shortcomings - it made me sad they never married and bore children together.

I did have a little trouble following some events. After Dudley is made Earl of Lieceister, this is the way Jenkins refers to him. She changes the names of other characters also as they move up in rank in the military or become Earls. She also occasionally goes into great detail about an event without reference to what event it actually is (or makes the reference in passing), and I had to read certain paragraphs a couple of times to understand what she was referring to.

But the challenge of that doesn't detract from the writing; the book reads like good fiction. The intrigue, negotiating, and secret plots are more complex and better than any novel, because the peril to Elizabeth's life was real. Jenkins also presents a stellar bibliography; it's evident she researched the subject matter thoroughly. I can't wait to read more by Jenkins.

Wonderful biography of the first Elizabeth
I have an old copy of the book, which I have reread a couple of times.This is the most readable biography of Elizabeth I that I have read.

One of the best books ever written
This book is incredibly well written. It also has the ring of truth. It is not just a biography of Elizabeth I, though it does that superbly, with great insight and scholarship, and always with documentation so that there is a tie-in to actual happenings. But this book also writes in depth about the key people around Queen Elizabeth, so that they too come alive, and sets them all firmly in a vivid and well-described background. This book is fascinating, literate, and a great read, especially for those of us who have an interest in this period in history and its characters.

A Fitting Portrait of England's Greatest Queen
A truly excellent book for someone who, like me, wants to find out not only about the events of Elizabeth's life but also what Elizabeth was like as a person.The writing style is clear and very enjoyable and makes Elizabeth seem alive again.As a schoolboy in England, I studied the Tudor Period, but this book goes way above and beyond what one is taught at school level.I learned so much more about Elizabeth's life and personality, that it has given me a whole new level of respect for someone who I had already held in high esteem.Highly recommended. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great Read
I read this because I am a female pre-med student wanting to go into surgery. Dr. Morgan recounts the struggles she had to go through to be a woman in field dominated by men. No matter how tough it got, she stuck with it. This book is inspiring to me as a woman, fascinating to me as a pre-med student, and entertaining to me as a book lover. Dr. Morgan begins from her undergraduate days and goes through medical school, internship, residency, and then ends with her practice. She describes surgical procedures in detail, but not in a way that people don't understand. She also shares views on co-workers and patients. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in surgery as a career or even just has an interest in it!

An Uplifting Struggle
I read this book for a book report and really got into the plot line.It is a fantastic story about a young women's struggle in a man's world.It was fascinating and enthralling.A great book for people of all ages. ... Read more

Product Description
The Mom Economy offers hands-on exercises; guidance from career counselors, psychologists, and human resource professionals; and valuable advice from more than 100 working mothers with family-friendly employment, in an indispensable guide that can help women:

€ Know what they must earn
€ Understand how employer-sponsored benefits may help
€ Evaluate employers
€ Negotiate for flextime, part-time, or telecommuting
€ Establish a network
€ and more

A large majority of women work today-but in many cases, it's still up to them to negotiate terms of employment that suit their lifestyles and allow them to meet their kid's needs. This practical volume helps moms get what they need most from the workplace-and find the work that works for them. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Not helpful
Suggested negotiating with boss tricks and looking for opportunities that offer flexible hours. Nothing I didn't know already.

So Helpful
I bought this book when I decided to go back to work after a couple of years at home with my kids. I was honestly a bit scared about selling myself and convincing an employer to take my skills seriously, but The Mom Economy gave me the tools I needed to prove my worth, which also gave me confidence. I started a new job recently, and so far, it's all manageable. Anyone who's going back to work should use this book - it will make you feel like you have support in the process.

Hands on
Elizabeth Wilcox has managed to address almost every issue that faces a mother who needs or wants to work. After reading this book, I was able to come up with an unusual way to make my job fit with my family obligations, and my boss ended up being impressed with the way I handled the discussion. I could do it because the book gave useful tools and taught me how to be prepared. It is rare to find books that are actually practical and how-to in this area, so this one really stands out. ... Read more

Product Description
A probing account of the lives of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip reveals the miserly habits of the Queen, Prince Philip's battles with King George VI, and the unsuccessful attempt to kidnap Princess Anne. Reprint. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

UGH UGH UGH
So much of what's in this book has been proven untrue (Charles was virgin when he got married?The Queen Mum liked Diana?) that I regret wasting my time with this book.If you want to know the "authorized story of theroyal family" and a whole lot of political background which hasastonishingly little to do with the story of Elizabeth and Philip, this isa great book for you!

Propoganda at its finest!
So much of what's in this book has been proven untrue (Charles was virgin when he got married?The Queen Mum liked Diana?) that I regret wasting my time with this book.If you want to know the "authorized story of theroyal family" and a whole lot of political background which hasastonishingly little to do with the story of Elizabeth and Philip, this isa great book for you! ... Read more

Product Description
A shattering new novel of suspense from the acclaimed author of For Edgar.

His debut novel For Edgar was named by Kirkus Reviews as one of the Ten Best Mysteries of 2005, and hailed as "prose worthy of Poe." In The Boy With Perfect Hands, the Hollywood Reporter found "plenty of chances to shiver." Now, Sheldon Rusch returns to plunge his brave protagonist, Illinois State Special Agent Elizabeth Hewitt, into a new series of crimes, each more shocking than the last. Estranged couples are being beheaded by someone with a twisted agenda-a violent secret ceremony, to which Hewitt has been invited. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

exciting police procedural
On the day she became engaged to Brady, Illinois State special agent Elizabeth Hewitt is assigned to what will prove to be one of the most horrific cases of her career.She and the daughter of her mentoring Captain has is daughter Jen Spangler job shadowing her. They are sent to the house of Rita Vandermause.There they find her body in a pool of blood, but her head is nowhere around.The obvious first suspect is the victim's estranged husband Joe, but he is found dead with his head missing too.

A second couple is soon discovered dead with their heads missing.Elizabeth and Jen seek the common threads and learn the latest pair was estranged and like the first duet went to Big Shoulders Therapies for marriage counseling; the other commonality is psychiatrist Dr. Gerald Boccachio.Matters turn bizarre when pictures of the dead couples dressed up for a wedding are sent to Mundelein Dispatch owner Byron Biffle, whose father was murdered several years ago in a still unsolved case.Elizabeth has quite a list of suspects so she sends Jen to interview the person she considers least dangerous; her assessment will prove wrong.

SEPARATED AT DEATH is an exciting police procedural showcasing an experienced cop mentoring a criminology student who starts off shadowing her but eventually persuades her teacher to allow her some independent field work.Both women are believable as bright and independent role models.There is plenty of action in this complex mystery, but the heart of the tale is the strong cast because this makes for a credible and terrific investigation by the two dedicated sleuths.

Harriet Klausner

An intriguing story
A new engagement ring adorns the hand of Elizabeth Taylor Hewitt. Liz Hewitt, Illinois State Special Agent, has just become engaged to Brady Stephen Richter, who is also a detective. Weddings and marriage is the main theme of Separated at Death but in the most gruesome way imaginable.

Ed Spangler, Liz's superior, teams Liz up with his daughter, Jen Spangler. Jen is a young single mother who still lives at home with her father. She has decided to study criminal justice at the university. Although her father is not happy with her career choice, he has agreed to allow Jen to shadow Liz and get some experience. Jen's first experience is shocking beyond belief. The first call she goes on with Liz is to a residence where a woman has been murdered. The scene is horrifying but made even more so by the fact that the murderer has removed the victim's head, and it is nowhere to be found.

When Liz and Jen go to talk to the victim's estranged husband, they find that he has fallen victim to the same beheading. Therefore, the two investigators, one experienced, one wanting experience, find themselves going down a strange path. Liz meets with the marriage counselors who have counseled the victims. Big Shoulders Marriage and Family Therapy have a unique assortment of counselors for Liz to study. Jen takes off on her own to follow up a cold case that she thinks might have a connection to the violence currently taking place. Jen meets with Byron Biffle, newspaper editor, whose father was murdered years ago.

Jen and Liz approach the investigation from different angles but finally observe the final ceremony that the killer has planned all along.

Separated at Death will intrigue and shock the reader. I would highly recommend the book for any reader that enjoys an exciting read and is not disturbed by violent acts. This book is not for the cozy reader.

Armchair Interviews says: Highly recommended if you can read a good story that also has violent acts in it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A very thought-provoking read
There was a film released in the 80's of the same name.Without doing any research, one could take a wild guess and say that it was very, very loosely based on this book - except the film completely misrepresents what this book is about.

So what is this book about?An unnamed woman meets an unnamed man in New York in the 70's.She becomes completely enthralled by him.The relationship (which lasts nine and a half weeks, hence the title) is very different from any she has experienced before.She relates the story in a detached manner, neither sensationalising nor downplaying any particular parts of it.

It occurs to her at some point that she is a slave in a BDSM relationship.She states that she had read The Story of O when she was younger but never envisioned that any of it might be appealing to her.

There are the insightful comments into the life of a slave, such as: "I was flooded by an overwhelming sense of relief at being unburdened of adulthood" and "I've gone beyond my limits", which makes one wonder whether this is fact or fiction.

Fact, fiction, fantasy--who cares--this is a truly riveting read and extremely well done, although at times it can be somewhat disturbing.One that stays in the memory long after turning the last page. ... Read more

Product Description
This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing’s Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

Product Description
Now Rusch's heroine, Special Agent Elizabeth Hewitt, comes upon a series of crimes with an unexpected link-the haunting nocturnes of one of the world's greatest composers, stirring a madman with his own visions for beauty, for music, and for death. Victim by victim, note by note, Hewitt is stepping into the darkness to find him-and to experience first-hand the terrifying crescendo of a killer's ultimate inspiration. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A scintillating thriller
I could not put down Sheldon Rusch's THE BOY WITH PERFECT HANDS. This page-turner entertained me with a poetic voice set against crumbling characters and events. I was attracted to the suspenseful piecing together of clues and pushed through the grisly scenes. Hewitt remains a volatile mix of emotion and cerebral control, and I am glad for the messiness. Hewitt's friendships and continuing relationships round out her character and create a richly textured emotional landscape. With Hewitt, the reader can take a moment out of a life and question man's humanity to man as well as within himself. It surfaced with a subtleness and imbued this work with a rich patina of things to come. Why read a horror book? Rusch tugs at how love of oneself and others determines a darkness within or a hope for humanity. Where will Hewitt go from here? I cannot wait to see.

Sheldon Rusch proves he is no one hit wonder
A man is found strangled in his home at the same time a woman is found murdered and posed in an outdoor arena.The pattern happens several times. Illinois State Special Agent Elizabeth Taylor Hewitt is assigned the head up the case.Her new captain is not the father figure like her previous one;, in fact he is more like the evil stepfather who never lets Hewitt forget she slept with a serial killer.Elizabeth has a theory that two different people working in tandem are responsible for the series of murders.

Hewitt's first break comes when she notices that in the house of the male victims, the radio was tuned to the classical station WCLS.On the night of the last murder at 3:03 A.M. Nocturne in E. Flat by Chopin was playing.She thinks the killer got into the apartment and played the song working the victim over just as he did with the other male victims.When she goes over to the radio station, she is shocked to learn that the owner is her old high school friend Jimmy Benson.He tells her that the only disgruntled employee he knows is a radio personality he fired.When Hewitt meets that person her instincts tell her he isn't the killer and she moves the investigation into a different direction one that almost costs her and her lover their lives.

Sheldon Rusch proves he is no one hit wonder with THE BOY WITH THE PERFECT HANDS, a mystery that has luscious rich, literary prose, a likeable "everyman" heroine and a group of suspects that could all be the killers.The investigation progresses naturally from one moment to the next and makes the climax feel very right.The protagonist uses tried and true police methods as well as intuition to crack the case wide open.

Harriet Klausner ... Read more

Product Description
This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more