Love Overboard

Book Description

Dear Reader:

In a previous life, before the time of Plum, I wrote twelve short romance novels. Red-hot screwball comedies, each and every one of them. Nine of these stories were originally published by the Loveswept line between the years 1988 and 1992. All went out-of-print immediately and then could be found only at used bookstores and yard sales.

I'm excited to tell you that those nine stories are now being re-released by HarperCollins. Love Overboard is second in the lineup, and it's presented here in almost original form. I've done only minor editing to correct some embarrassing bloopers missed the first time around. And I changed the title because I thought the original title ( Ivan Takes a Wife) was boring!

Love Overboard is a romantic tale about a handsome ship's captain; a wary wench from Jersey City; a hundred-year-old, two-masted schooner; and an entire town of shoemakers. There's some getting naked, some blueberry pie, more getting naked, and at the end . . . Okay, I won't tell you about the end, but it's really good and it'll make you feel happy.

I took my family on the road trip from heck to research this book. When we finally got to Maine it was all worthwhile because we fell in love with the boats and the people who sailed them.

Enjoy!

Download Description

Dear Reader:

I'm excited to tell you that those nine stories are now being re-released by HarperCollins. Love Overboard is second in the lineup, and it's presented here in almost original form. I've done only minor editing to correct some embarrassing bloopers missed the first time around. And I changed the title because I thought the original title ( Ivan Takes a Wife) was boring!

Love Overboard is a romantic tale about a handsome ship's captain; a wary wench from Jersey City; a hundred-year-old, two-masted schooner; and an entire town of shoemakers. There's some getting naked, some blueberry pie, more getting naked, and at the end ... Okay, I won't tell you about the end, but it's really good and it'll make you feel happy.

I took my family on the road trip from heck to research this book. When we finally got to Maine it was all worthwhile because we fell in love with the boats and the people who sailed them.

Enjoy!

Customer Reviews:

Rocky Road to Stephanie Plum.......2007-07-26

I guess there's a reason these books "surfaced" well after the Stephanie Plum series was well on it's road to success. I read "Love Overboard" and "Rocky Road to Romance" but couldn't quite get myself to purchase "Back To The Bedroom" as was recommended by Ms. Evanovich as the obvious next choice. The first two were almost clones of one another. You begin each book by learning right off the bat the male lead in the story is in love with the female lead character. Very predicatable. Same story - just a different setting. The success of these books she wrote in "her previous life" before "the time of Plum" have done well "now" due to the name she made for herself writing the Stephanie Plum by number books. For me, there is no comparison and I'm very happy that I "cut my teeth" on the Plum series because I never would have read past "Rocky Road to Romance" based on these earlier works. There's just no comparison. In fact, I picked up "Love Overboard" simply because it was an Evanovich book. Read and learn, I guess. They aren't not worth reading if you don't mind knowing how the book is going to end - you just can't miss the fact it's her early work. Keep the Plum books coming!!Funny mysteries are by far Ms. Evanovich's best undertakings.

Great book!.......2007-02-13

Janet Evanovich wasn't really meant to write romance books, perhaps this explains why she wasn't originally published during her first years as an author. She's just far too good at coming up with a plot line, mysterious events and comedic timing. After the revisions or her original books, this, among others was re-released and are better than ever. Her characters are sweet and funny and the story has a deep plot, even too deep for a love story because you'll feel satisfied at the ending, but like all of Janet Evanoviches books, you want more and more. All of her stories are great! Much recommended!

Early work - should have stayed forgotten.......2007-02-05

The good news is that this early work shows that by the time Janet Evanovich got to Stephanie Plum, she had honed her talents quite a bit. The bad news is that because the Stephanie Plum series has been so popular, they have exhumed several of Evanovich's early works assuming that her name recognition can sell almost anything. Well, sure enough since I am holding the book in my hands right now. This book has a not-well-enough-drawn to be sexy captain who falls in love with a proto-Plum - a screwball heroine for whom everything goes wrong. There's a not-very-scary supernatural twist, and, spoiler here, the guy gets the girl at the end. If you are home sick in bed this could be a better bet than daytime TV, but be warned.

Love Overboard.......2006-11-05

Another great book by Janet. I just love how she writes the characters in each book.

Quick, Fun Romance Novel.......2006-10-07

Stephie Graf...Janet Evanovich...they're all good!

At first I thought this was supposed to be a period piece and I wondered how I was going to like it, so I was so glad to read that it was in current times and just aboard a renaissance boat.

This story was funny, quick paced, and fun to read. It had a bit of mystery and intrigue with ghosts and flying corpses. It has some romance and some denial of sexual attraction. It makes for fun reading and is classic Evanovich.

Average customer rating:

A sailing instructor's view
Very Beginning Level- Not all that great
Outstanding Followup to Sailing Fundamentals book.

Cruising Fundamentals
Harry Munns
Manufacturer: International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0070015198

Book Description

Cruising Fundamentals provides the tools necessary to make the transition from basic sailing to competent coastal cruising. Sailors interested in learning how to sail and live aboard a 30 foot to 50 foot auxiliary-powered sailboat will find a wealth of practical skills in this book, from simple instruction on plumbing, electrical, and mechanical systems to navigation, weather prediction, and anchoring techniques.

Cruising Fundamentals is the official American Sailing Association guide to intermediate coastal cruising and bareboat chartering. Sailing schools, yacht clubs, and other educational institutions throughout North America use this book as a text and indispensable resource in their teaching. Unlike other books on similar subjects, Cruising Fundamentals presents material in a chronology that has proven effective with thousands of developing sailors. Readers progress from "Getting Acquainted" to "Getting Familiar," "The Voyage," "Arrival and Living Aboard," and finally "Emergencies and Trouble Shooting." Each of the first four sections has review questions to help sailors evaluate their comprehension. Cruising Fundamentals is more than a book; it is a complete course that can benefit any sailor who desires to enter the exciting world of sailboat cruising.

Customer Reviews:

A sailing instructor's view.......2003-09-13

It is a big step for an intermediate sailor to go to the Caribbean and bareboat charter a 40' vessel. We use this book to take the intermediate sailor to this level. Cruising Fundamentals contains a vast amount of detailed information and yet it is organized in logical steps to bring students to the desired level of competance without overwhelming them. This book contains many excellent photographs and sketches. The basic navigation information is excellent without going too deep and the review questions are good for self evaluation (am I really getting it?)
I particularly like the way systems are presented and compared. For example, the House DC system vs the shore power AC system, diesel engines vs gasoline engines featuring the differences and types of cooking fuels discussing the advantages and disadvantages of each.
This is an all round excellent book that can be read straight through or used as a reference. I understand the second edition is in the works and I look forward to getting it.

Very Beginning Level- Not all that great.......2003-06-28

I have never been cruising and really did not find this book to be very enlightening. It was VERY basic. You can expect things like "This is the hull, this is the sail" kind of stuff. I was really looking for more advanced topics like weather, emergency situations, planning a long distance cruise, etc.
This book is really for those of you thinking about buying a sailboat for cruising and have absolutely no boating experience. It touches on basic troubleshooting (and I mean basic) but does not really go in depth. I also purchased SAILING FUNDAMENTALS by Gary Jobson (Author), and found this book to be worth every penny. I would only recommend Cruising Fundamentals to those of you dreaming of cruising in the future, not very useful for anyone actually doing it.
I would rate this book at a high-school reading level.

Outstanding Followup to Sailing Fundamentals book........2000-08-04

This is American Sailing Association textbook for more advanced sailing topics and the the second of a series. The major plus of this book is that it teaches you how to sail with all the information you need to learn in the proper order you should learn it.

There is an advantage in learning the material in a time tested manner. Every time an instructor like the author, Harry Munns, teaches a course it gets better. This book gets the benefit of his tried and true, tested methods of sailing instruction. It works well.

This book follows "Sailing Fundamentals : The Official Learn-To-Sail Manual of the American Sailing Association and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary"

Get them both.

Each book follows the ASA Basic Keelboat, Basic Cruising, and Bareboat charter courses.

Reading the books and then taking the courses will give you a jump start on your sailing skills.

Most sailors have knowledge like swiss cheeze--with lots of holes. The books will give you knowledge like American Cheeze--no holes.

Buy both books--you won't regret it. Read them and then take the courses for maximum effectiveness.

Book Description

"I begin, knowing that what I write may never be read...that law and the possibility of scandal may erase forever my name and account for fear of threatening what society deems decent. In matters sexual I am aware only of truth, though because this truth of which I write cannot clearly be expressed in 'the language of a lady', I know my story may be more than public morals can bear. So be it." -- From the memoirs of Susanna, Lady F.

Customer Reviews:

Pure Cheese!.......2006-10-17

I read The Story of O (which was phenominal, I couldn't put it down) the night before I read this one and I was so diappointed. Don't get me wrong, there is plenty of eroticism but the story line is so cheesy and unbelievable! The Story of O was much better!

Aphrodite Overboard.......2006-07-10

Is this fiction? The way the story is told, in that lovely "bygone English" - it makes it all seem so very believable and real.
"Erotic" appears in the subtitle and erotic this novel is! Sex in all its lovely forms. Heats the blood and gets it headed to all the right places ......... it did for me. 170 pages of delicious eroticism: kinky and straight but always beautifully handled. Susanna is sweet, Susanna is insatiable. Sinful (and beautiful) writing Mr./Ms. Raiment.
Julius
P.S. Are drawings available for that chair? Nobody's 'playroom' should be without one!

Beyond Expectation.......2006-07-07

I can't say enough good things about this novel. As I read I was transported back in time by both the story content and Raiment's style of writing. The vocabulary he uses as well as the style of punctuation and grammar serve to hold the reader in the Victorian era. It is a wonderful story with some very interesting twists and you are left to wonder, even hope, that it actually is a true account of one woman's great life adventure.
Beyond the story itself, you also sense the author's strong feelings regarding the make up of today's society, the unwritten rules of our culture that often limit us as human beings. He offers up an idyllic alternative to tease your imagination.
In my opinion this novel is destined to become the "Fanny Hill" or "Lady Chatterley's Lover" of our time. A book not to be passed over.

Going Overboard: The Misadventures of a Military Wife

Average customer rating:

A Greatly Enjoyed Read
Funny but not hilarious
Great Read
Going Overboard: The Misacventures of a Military Wife
Entertaining and Moving

Going Overboard: The Misadventures of a Military Wife
Sarah Smiley
Manufacturer: NAL Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0451218515

Book Description

In 1999, Sarah was a typical bride-to-be, flustered with wedding details. Then the groom called. "I don't want you to panic, but I might not be able to come to our wedding..."

So began Sarah Smiley's life as a military wife. As a former Navy brat herself, Sarah knew better than anyone that weddings and funerals-even childbirth!-take a backseat to Uncle Sam. But just as the young syndicated columnist gets comfortable with the military wife's routine, her husband is sent away for unexpected deployment. What follows is a true test of strength and wit. From getting locked out of the house in cowgirl pajamas to wrestling with the temptation of infidelity, Sarah exposes it all with candor, heart-and knowing humor.

Download Description

A former Navy brat and present-day Navy wife, Sarah Smiley knows better than anyone that weddings and funerals-even childbirth!-take a backseat to Uncle Sam. And it seems that every time the young, nationally syndicated columnist gets comfortable with her routine, her husband is sent away for an unexpected deployment. What follows is a true test of strength and wit that even Sarah's nit-picking mother-in-law couldn't have prepared her for. From raccoons in the attic to getting locked out of the house in cowgirl pajamas to developing a crush on her handsome doctor, Sarah learns that growing up means taking a leap-and sometimes going a little overboard. In this memoir, she exposes it all with candor, heart, and a whole lot of laughs.

Customer Reviews:

A Greatly Enjoyed Read.......2007-06-29

A friend passed this book along to me, and while I was leery at first, I was thoroughly impressed with Sarah Smiley's account of the partner side of deployment. I am the long-time girlfriend of a military man and have experienced two deployments with him. I could whole-heartedly relate to many of Sarah's experiences and found her description of deployments from the spouse's perspective right on in many respects. What I appreciated most about her book was the humor with which she wrote. Not only was she able to make me, the reader, laugh at her actions and beliefs, but I could tell she was laughing at herself. This author truly has a fine gift of storytelling. Though I thought the book wrapped up and resolved her issues rather quickly, by the end, I found myself wanting to read more by this author about her life. I highly recommend this book, and I hope the author has another out soon.

Funny but not hilarious.......2007-06-09

It was a good read of displaying life as a military wife. I am an army wife but i was able to relate it her adventures an navy wife. It was funny but not hilarious like people made it seem. But all in all i would recommend it. I finished it pretty fast

Great Read.......2007-04-09

This is NOT a guide so if you are looking for a guide or how-to book this is NOT the one to pick up. This is a humorous look on the life of one military spouse during the deployment of her servicemember. It details her goofups and her smart moves. Great laugh and definitely an easy read. You want a guide don't get this book but if you want something to giggle over and read to pass away the time then pick up this book. You'll be surprised at how real she is and how it seems she is talking directly to you detailing her anecdotes from her experience during a deployment.

Going Overboard: The Misacventures of a Military Wife.......2007-03-31

Wonderful! So true! Your husband doesn't have to be a pilot for a wife to have this happen. My husband is with the Air Nat'l Guard and a fireman and is in Iraq for a 4month deployment "we" volunteered for! All those feelings happen! It was so reassuring first to know I wasn't alone and second to know that reservists and national guardsmen go through the same feelings too! God Bless the military and God Bless their spouses and families for supporting them and what they do! Tammy Schnitker

Entertaining and Moving.......2007-03-30

She's been billed as "the Erma Bombeck of the homefront," and in her nationally-syndicated column, Sarah Smiley certainly uses humor to convey truth about life as a military wife. But in "Going Overboard," Smiley serves up something different.

Tracing her husband's year-long overseas deployment, she offers a candid, unapologetic look at her own insecurities and idiosyncrasies and, in the process, allows us to accompany her on a perilous journey from dependant (as the military calls spouses and children) to independence. The book jacket insists it's funny, but I didn't laugh - I cried. Several times. I'm guessing you will, too.

Average customer rating:

I Didn't Hate It
In Need of a Good Editor!
Gone Overboard
good quick read
A Wonderful De-Stresser!

Going Overboard
Christina Skye
Manufacturer: Island Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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philosophy hope in a jar daily moisturizer

ASIN: 0440235758
Release Date: 2001-04-10

Book Description

Carolina Sullivan needs a man's body bad....

Only the most gorgeous hunk will save fast-track photographer Carly Sullivan's job, but finding the right man isn't easy when you're on a ship in the middle of the Caribbean and the model you hired turns out to be a disaster.

With her hopes sinking faster than the Titanic, Carly spots the most beautiful man she's ever seen. Ford McKay swears he's a rancher from Wyoming, but Carly has her suspicions. Then all hell breaks loose in their island paradise and the sexy stranger is all that protects Carly from a hail of bullets.

Ford McKay knows that mixing business and pleasure can be murder, and he's not about to compromise his current mission for an obstinate redhead who can't forget her camera for a nanosecond. But when Carly is wounded, the rugged Navy SEAL can't just walk away.

As fate forces the two into excruciatingly close quarters, Ford finds his heart taking a tumble. Soon the straight-arrow SEAL discovers that with the right woman, going overboard can be unforgettable.

Customer Reviews:

I Didn't Hate It.......2007-07-23

This was my first Christina Skye book and I would have to say that overall I enjoyed it. However, I do agree with some other reviews that it jumped around a lot and you were never sure where the characters were; first they were on a cruise ship, then the island, then Paradise Cay, then someone's guest house, back to the cruise ship and finally held hostage somewhere, there was too much moving around. I also found the ending a little hurried; it went from of course beating the bad guys to "I Love you Forever" to eight months later to an epilogue still later.

In Need of a Good Editor!.......2007-07-09

First, there's the place where the author refers to "President Franklin" - you know, the guy on $100 bills? Let's see, what number was he?

Then there's the silver Audi that follows the heroes - this is on an island in the Caribbean, mind you - that turns out to be "registered to a couple of tourists from Iowa" - who, naturally, shipped their precious car down to an island so they could drive it around on their vacation.

Flaming stupidity like this makes me laugh in all the wrong places. Not that I expect that much from romance novels - they're meant to be easy, escapist reads - but the errors in this one were egregious.

Gone Overboard.......2005-03-24

I found this book a light delightful read with many funny scenes in it.. I loved the way that the Ms. Skye went about putting these two charcters together and then the times that they had.. This was my first book by Skye but it will not be my last.. The title of this book really fit well as you will be taken overboard with laughter when you read this..

good quick read.......2004-11-28

This is the first book of this author's that I have read and thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved the banter between the characters. I loved the vivid descriptions of the characters and the exotic settings. The action kept the story moving. I couldn't put it down. I'm a big fan of military romance (Navy SEALs in particular). I didn't give it a 5 star rating because it doesn't compare with others I have read. If you like military romance, you should read this book. It's middle of the road between being really weak and too heavy. If you're looking for something a bit heavier, or with a bit more action with the romance, I suggest Suzanne Brockmann's SEAL Team16 series.

A Wonderful De-Stresser!.......2003-05-31

If you are looking for a romantic getaway (in your head, anyway) then Going Overboard will be hard to beat. The energy and sparkle starts from the very first paragraph and never lets up yet gives you enough breathing space to absorb the characters' personalities. This isn't heavy stuff so if you need something to lighten up your day or even complement the mood if you really are going on vacation, then Going Overboard will be just the thing. The protagonist, Ford McKay is incredible as far as the looks department goes but Skye has also made him an articulate, caring male. Not just an overload of testosterone who thinks the way to a woman's heart in this day and age is by being a jerk (for some inexplicable reason, these creatures seem to proliferate the romance genre these days!) An unexpected development - Daphne, Carly's best friend, turns out even more attractive a person than the heroine and begs to have a book of her own! I can't wait to know if this is to be!

Average customer rating:

overboard review
Overboard
Overboard
Overboard
Overboard

Overboard
Elizabeth Fama
Manufacturer: Laurel Leaf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0553494368
Release Date: 2005-02-08

Book Description

Fourteen-year-old Emily boards an over-crowded ferry in Sumatra. When the boat sinks, she’s trapped by hundreds of panicked people. She finds Isman, a terrified young Muslim boy, floating in a life vest. Together, with Emily’s physical strength and Isman’s quiet faith, they swim for their lives.

“Fama conveys the elemental struggle and shows how Emily finds strength she didn’t know she had.”—Booklist

“Each moment brings. . . new problems—cold, hunger, sharks, a whirlpool, fear—and actively holds readers’ interest. An author’s note describes the inspiration for this unique book—a real ferry accident off the coast of Sumatra in 1996 when only 40 of the 400 passengers survived.”—School Library Journal

An ALA Best Book for Young Adults

Customer Reviews:

overboard review.......2007-01-15

Review On Over Board

"It won't open. This is what it's like to die, but don't worry it will be quick." That's the voice of Emily's (the main character) mind as she is trapped in a locker of a sinking boat. This book is called Over Board By Elizabeth Frame. This book is about Emily and a young boy she finds floating in the ocean. They go through so much like being attacked by sharks to escaping a whirlpool!
"You may not have the strength to keep going but, a little voice inside you says to keep going even if you die trying." That's not from the book, but it's my opinion that goes through my head as I read what Emily and Isman have to do to stay alive. So I think the theme is strength because they need the strength to keep on going. It may be hard, but just think of the ones who care.
There are two main characters. Emily and Isman. Emily is eleven and she was crossing to Indonesian Sea to see family when the boat over flows with people and sinks. Isman is a six year old who Emily finds in the sea. His parents and sibling died. There are also Richard and Catherin who cared and watched over Emily when they were fighting for their live's. Then later in the book Emily finds Isman and they drift away from Richard and Catherin. They later find someone dies. I'm no going to tell you who dies because I want you to find out and read Over Board.
There is not a place; the whole book is mainly in the Indonesian sea. Where Isman and Emily fight for their life.
Finally, if you like sad, scary, adventure books this is for you.

Overboard.......2006-11-18

Overboard is a great book for young children and adults because it teaches all families a lesson about faith.

In this story 14 year old Emily lives with her mom (Olivia) and her father (James) in Indonesia.
The conflict is Emily almost drowns trying to swim back to land.

The events are:Emily tries to teach a lady who is suffering how to swim,The lady drowns herself,Emily busts out of the locker.

Overboard.......2006-11-18

This story is a great book for children around 4 or 5 years old.

It teaches children about faith.
In this story 14 year old Emily lives with her mom(Olivia) and her father(James) in Indonesia.
The problem is she gets locked in a locker on a ferry.
She teaches a lady how to swim,the lady drowns, Emily gets out of the locker.

Overboard.......2006-11-18

Overboard.......2006-06-14

OVERBOARD is the kind of book that is relatively short, but goes on a little too long. It relates the story of a teenage girl who must figure out how to survive after an Indonesian ferry she's been traveling capsizes.

The plotting in the first half is terrific -- with excellent middle school vocabulary; accurate characterization of the protagonist, and well-timed pacing of story. The second half seems to go on and on though with this girl swimming and swimming and swimming (more than she would if she were in an Ironman competition). The rising action and ensuing complications towards her finding safety eventually seem over-plotted and highly coincidental. In trying to write a nail-biter, I'm afraid the author took us too far; the mounting tension slowly becomes increasing frustration.

The exposition at the top of the novel works, but by the end I believe the reader would have been hoping for more character development for Emily (the protagonist).

On the positive side, Ms. Fama writes very well; her turn-of-phrase allows the reader the develop some real momentum. I enjoyed the book, however, I don't believe I'll come back for a second read.

I do recommend this book with no reservations.

Man Overboard: Confessions of a Novice Math Teacher in the Bronx

Average customer rating:

NYC Public School teacher telling it like it is
Well Written Autobiography
Man Overboard
Man Overboard -- Sad but True
AVID (Authentic, Vivid, Interesting Details)

Man Overboard: Confessions of a Novice Math Teacher in the Bronx
Ric Klass
Manufacturer: Seven Locks Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1931643865

Book Description

Ric Klass' varied career ultimately led him to become an urban high school math teacher. His book, Man Overboard, chronicles the sad, comical, frustrating and occasionally frightening daily routine endured by a change-of-career do-gooder. Klass's portrayal of his "Crash and Burn" attempts to help underprivileged inner city kids is inspiring. Despite the tortuous obstacles inflicted by school administrators, the little darlings themselves, and his own uncontrolled anger--Klass eventually finds salvation for himself and some of his students. A candid tale, Man Overboard, will take you on an eye-opening ride into our misguided public educational system. You'll find out why our schools don't succeed and why only teachers who are a little overboard themselves jump into the fray.

Customer Reviews:

NYC Public School teacher telling it like it is.......2007-05-23

This author speaks for all of us teachers who are struggling every day in dealing with hoardes of unruly students. After only reading a few pages, I felt like I could have written the same book. The fact that it is in diary form makes it all the more real and frightening. Reading it is definitely helping me get through the end of this horrific school year. I have highly recommended it to my colleagues.

Well Written Autobiography.......2006-10-09

Man Overboard is a very witty and poignant autobiography about the experiences of a new second-career math teacher (actually ninth-career in his case) spending his first year teaching high school in the Bronx. On one level, it explores in an absorbing and meaningful way the various problems in the world of Bronx high school culture. On another level, Mr. Klass is also writing about his career aspirations, and how it feels to have frustrations meeting his goals of helping some people who need it. The book connects with the reader very well on both levels. I particularly liked how the drumbeat of daily problems is punctuated periodically with reflective essays, cast in italics, which are full of common sense and practical, logical analysis and suggestions. It is a very well written and enjoyable book, and I would highly recommend it to all.

Man Overboard.......2006-10-05

Ric Klass, with humor and a clear, purposeful writing style, took me into his math classroom in an inner city high school in New York. I found myself empathizing with his desire to do someone some good; to make the world a better place. It was easy to understand his frustrations with all the barriers he had to get around to try to fulfill his dream, and just as easy to rejoyce in some small hint of success.
As well as being a good read, this book has an important message for us. We must make some changes in the way our children are being taught, especially those students who need to escape from a seemingly hopeless environment. I recommend this book to anyone who cares about children and our future as a nation. I'm telling all of my friends about it. JL in SD

Man Overboard -- Sad but True.......2006-10-03

Ric Klass' tale of teaching in an inner city school in the Bronx is an open, honest account of his experience. It's humorous and sad at the same time. It's engaging and fun to read. Educators will recognize its truths; others should read it to find out just what goes on in public schools and not only in New York.

AVID (Authentic, Vivid, Interesting Details).......2006-09-30

This is a must read for everyone not just teachers, although teachers will really identify with the range of emotions described in this book. Whether you're inclined to empathize, cringe, advocate, or counsel after you read this book, its' a vivid snapshot into the life of a neophyte teacher. The fact that Ric was effectively thrown into an untenable situation with no techniques on how to reach/control/manage children in a school with no uniform discipline policy in the era of "No child Left Behind" makes one wonder if NCLB should be renamed "No Classroom Learning Begins" until the whole system changes, beginning with parents in dysfunctional families. This is an easy read, but enduring this year of teaching with Ric is not.

Average customer rating:

What a Great Book
cute
Kids will go overboard for this title at storytime
This is wonderful! Children love it!

Overboard!
Sarah Weeks
Manufacturer: Harcourt Children's Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0152050469

Book Description

Sweet little baby bunny is as cute as can be, but turn your back for just one minute and--uh-oh, he's throwing everything overboard! The peachy peaches are going overboard! Squeaky, leaky rubber ducky? He's overboard! And so are the jammies and the diapers and everything else within reach. And when it's finally time to settle down for bedtime, the baby bunny has one last surprise!

Sarah Weeks's charming rhythmic text and Sam Williams's sweet appealing illustrations have come together in a book that mischievous toddlers will want to read again and again.

Customer Reviews:

What a Great Book.......2007-01-09

Both my kids, age 4 and 2, love this book. Something about seeing the little bunny making a mess just cracks them up. I find the book fun to read as well; the author and illustrator have really captured the spirit of a toddler and it makes me smile to see so much of my kids in the character.

cute.......2006-12-12

All babies seem toEnjoy throwing things down to seeif us adults will pick them up. The bunny in this picture book is no exception. He throws all sorts of stuff overboard. From his food to his toys he love the "drop game"!

It seems to be just the right length for the picture book crowd.

Babies and toddlers will both enjoy this being read aloud.

Kids will go overboard for this title at storytime.......2006-08-13

The quintessential read-aloud book, OVERBOARD chronicles the adventures of "one little bunny who likes to fling things." He tosses peaches overboard. Favorite jammies? Overboard! Bunny wipers and bunny diapers? You guessed it! And, of course, youngsters (and even oldsters) will want to join the chorus, chanting "overboard!," as each item is flung to the ground. The text has strong rhythm and rhyme, helps children ages 2-3 start developing phonological awareness, so this book is more than just a fun read; it's a good choice for encouraging early literacy skills. The illustrations are as fun as the book, with bright colors within strong black lines. Sure to be a hit in storytime and for one-on-one reading.

This is wonderful! Children love it!.......2006-04-08

Baby Bunny likes to throw things. Peaches? Overboard off the highchair! Favorite pajamas? Overboard out of the crib! Rubber Ducky? Overboard from the tub!

If it isn't tied down, Baby Bunny throws it overboard. Nothing is safe...not even himself when he decides to go up high.

OVERBOARD is the cutest little picture story book for ages 2 to 5. When I read the write-up on Amazon, I thought I sounded too adorable for words...and it is. My three-year-old wants to hear the story over and over. OVERBOARD is her new favorite book.

My one-year-old is equally transfixed by the tale, studying the colorful pictures with complete fascination. OVERBOARD is sure to be a hit in other homes with small children. Pick up OVERBOARD today for your favorite toddler or preschooler. You won't be disappointed.

Armchair Interviews says: Written in a quirky engaging manner, this book is a winner..

Cooks Overboard: An Angie Amalfi Mystery (Angie Amalfi Mysteries)

Average customer rating:

Brain-Dancing With Grey Cloud Finesse
Ridiculous!
Have to love Paavo and Angie
Author overboard
How not to spend your vacation--funny stuff!

Cooks Overboard: An Angie Amalfi Mystery (Angie Amalfi Mysteries)
Joanne Pence
Manufacturer: Avon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0061044539
Release Date: 2006-03-28

Book Description

In this 6th delightful culinary mystery from Joanne Pence, dilettante chef Angie Amalfi plans a romantic cruise with her hunky boyfriend, but hits rough water when murder becomes part of the itinerary.

Food writer and culinary entrepreneur Angie Amalfi imagined a high seas cruise aboard a ship bound for Acapulco with her homicide detective boyfriend Paavo Smith would be heaven. With no crowds or pending police business, it might even provide Paavo the perfect opportunity to propose.

But Angie's "Love Boat" fantasy starts springing leaks almost immediately, beginning with the cook's bizarre attempt to jump ship...in the middle of the ocean! Add an oddball collection of fellow passengers, yawningly unimaginative onboard meals, Paavo's increasingly bizarre behavior, and the fact that someone's been rifling through her luggage, and Angie's soon ready to leap overboard herself. But it's not until she offers to help out in the galley and murder is abruptly added to the menu that Angie finds herself heading into very dangerous waters indeed.

Customer Reviews:

Brain-Dancing With Grey Cloud Finesse.......2005-08-09

This novel opened with a dramatic, brow-puzzling change in Paavo's character.

The change was so perfectly etched into flawless syntax and so absolutely unexpected, it zapped the buzz wizz chaos of my reality, welded it into a reading focus, and snapped me into the book before I could get a clue on what hit me. I was glued to Paavo's every lifeless word and rare thought as Pence polished his presence as a lackluster blob of nothingness.

Who was this guy dragging around a dead attitude of non-investment-in-anything-suspicious, shuffling around with a drool-grinning acquiescence of whatever slithered up to him?

Due to the effective hook of this Paavo puzzle, COOKS OVERBOARD was more fast paced than some of the other novels in Joanne Pence's Angie Amalfi series. I was compelled to surge my reading speed because I absolutely had to know what had caused Paavo to become to this lost soul, sleepy non-entity.

Angie's antics sidestepping around and hot-footing into Paavo's dead-weight dullness was entertaining; her lively spirit was used well with poking, prodding attempts to re-connect to a Paavo who seemed to no longer be THERE. If I didn't have a feel for the outer limits of Pence's parameters for ozone travels into the paranormal realms, I'd have wondered if Paavo's body had ingested an alien being, or been possesed by an evil spirit. I was given just the right amount of access to Paavo's thoughts, in just the right amount of plot spacing to be strung along nicely without becoming impatient.

In addition to be carried into the plot by curiosity about Paavo's personality switcheroo, I easily slid into the vicarious venue of being aboard a freighter rather than a cruise ship. Lacking the garish, boorish, carnival brightness of the typical cruise mood, the no-frills freighter developed quickly into a surprisingly full-bodied fictional world. Pence made good use of the ambiance variances of the freighter Vs cruise setting by detailing the dining locations, types of menu, cabin arrangements, passenger interaction, etc.

The vignettes of subplots off ship were woven into the ocean going machinations in a Sidney Sheldon like manner of kaleidoscopic alternation, in a style similar to that in TOO MANY COOKS, yet with an even deeper development of each alternate scene.

With the freighter's ambiance being naturally grey and grim (no cruise-ship forced-color or pushed-pace), and with Paavo's focus being so off (more like lost in a fog), and with the sinister vignettes given more plot space than Angie's typically hilarious romps, the resulting gestalt was intriguingly darker than prior books. The cloudy, grey-scale worked fascinatingly to keep me anesthetized into the story. It almost felt like I lived the plot in an equal intensity as Angie and Paavo.

If I were to conclude that Pence's storytelling talent is multifaceted in mood management, I would be making such an understatement, the conclusion might cartwheel into a kaleidoscope.

(If you can make sense out of that statement you may be a literary Black Belt. I've gone overboard in desperation to prove my own writing skill, and seem to have made a splash in the pan of discontentment. But, hey. I've got steam. Wanna hear me hiss? My mood is so sour sugar has gone on strike. Or maybe it was vinegar that made the vignette off the scene.)

With the above conclusion about Pence's multifaceted mood management having fallen into the miasma of my dysfunction, I'll conjure another wrap by mentioning the bonus in this novel:

In addition to all the above, this mystery is a Russian-accented, spy-thriller. Yet, even with the humor and well done "v" lisps, COOKS OVERBOARD is too capturing, too grey-scale, too well-done to be called a spoof.

Maybe what this work does best is prove Pence's ability to brain-dance through a repertoire of fast-steps (what she accomplishes is not mere wordsmith-ing) which choreograph into a plot complexity and character metamorphosis "to die for."

Jaw open-and-shut in chirping amazement, I'll always be ready for more engrossing twists of sentiment, or even "more of the same" from Joanne Pence.

Linda G. Shelnutt

Ridiculous!.......2005-02-10

I actually read the books previous to this in the series- but this book I had to resort to skimming because so much was farfetched. Having Angie randomly spout theory about science... which so conveniently happens to tie to the mystery? I appreciated the attempt to actually have Angie to the rescue instead of Paavo, as usual, but it was so ridiculous that this book made me wonder how much Pence thinks readers can suspend our disbelief and just swallow all this craziness. She again tries to draw out some other characters but they are shallow and forgettable. And Pence must realize it- the next book is A Cook In Time which is when she begins adding a couple of Angie's recipes at the end of the book to try to make up for how full of holes her stores are starting to become. Maybe she was trying too hard to go the Evanovich path. This book is probably one of the worst in the series.

Have to love Paavo and Angie.......2001-06-28

While not my favorite of the series, still a good book. I really like how the characters are developing and the sense of reality you get from reading the book. Particularly Paavo. Joanne's ability to make you understand and feel for him increases with each book.

Author overboard.......2000-02-27

Witless and unrelievedly dreadful. So bad it could have been the basis for a late 70's Disney movie. I've found more convincing plots and more compelling characters on the backs of cereal boxes. Even a "no-star" rating would be too high -- Amazon should have a "black hole" rating for books like this one.

How not to spend your vacation--funny stuff!.......1999-03-23

Enjoyed watching Angie's plans for great vacation turn to disaster. Also some great scenes when she's mistaken for world's most deadly female assassin. Highly enjoyable.

Earth Warrior: Overboard With Paul Watson and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

Average customer rating:

Uplifting story based on fact

Earth Warrior: Overboard With Paul Watson and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
David B. Morris
Manufacturer: Fulcrum Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1555912036

Customer Reviews:

Uplifting story based on fact.......2006-03-28

This book is one of the few uplifting stories based on reality and not fiction. It's the story of a tag-along onboard Paul Watson's sea vessel. Paul Watson is a modern-day pirate who patrols international waters and interferes with/or shuts down illegal fishing and hunting. The concept is interesting by itself, but this book puts that idea into a real world situtation involving confrontations in the middle of the ocean where there are no laws. Watson is an inspiration for our generation... who else do you know that attacks Japanese whaling ships?

Some of the story-telling by the author is sub-par, but the content definitely keeps you going. Definitely recommend.

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