This is a TEN-STAR book!
346911
As in all of her books, Louise Penny writes beautifully and brings us into the hearts of her characters.  Her imagery is unique yet accurate.  In all her books she makes us long for the "Three Pines" village and the comfort of its characters -- or, to live in Quebec--safe--knowing that Inspector Gamache cares about people and their souls.  If you don't like Penny's books -- well, seek professional help!
497146
And can say without reservation, Tall Chimneys is definetly in the top ten !  I simply and honestly, could not put it down. The characters are so real and the authors descriptive writing makes them human.  This is a real jewel and I will reread it !
2644021
This book is as good as any author can possibly write!
1128022
This is a 10 star book!! It grabs your attention and you are consumed to the very end.
2767457
This is such a wonderful book and I loved every word of it!  My enjoyment was on so many levels and, for sure, all the humor in the story was definitely one of those levels.  Between Teresas droll outlook on so many things and the crazy, zany things her dog Red comes up with, I broke out laughing many times.  The book is very different from all the other books out there and makes you indeed believe Teresa has the ability to mind-speak with her dog.  Ill be curious to see if Teresas powers increase in future books.  And, indeed, based on this book, Im now adding ALL of T. Hammonds books to my TBR list.  Shes a fantastic author!

I also really liked the earthy, delicious, fun enjoyment of sex which is covered just enough, and in just enough explicit detail, to be thoroughly satisfying.  I love the way the author can suggest things without being explicit as well; Im definitely hoping for more in future books concerning Teresas nightstand and the contents in that lower drawer.

The many other characters are also well done and I enjoyed them almost as much.  Janey and Ken (spoiler alert:  hes NOT gay) are wonderful and hilarious as well.  The book is a complete story and, although there are definitely glimpses of whats to come in future books, this book is not a cliffhanger and the author wraps it all up very nicely.  One tremendously satisfying read!
4532293
Christina & Lauren rocked this OUT OF THE PARK!  If there was a 10-star rating, this book gets it!  BB was phenomenal, but hang on every word of this "Beautiful" gem.  From page one, you won't put it down until you're finished.  As an avid romance reader, I must say this is going to be my best book of 2013.  Whoever came up with 'Petal' deserves some serious kudos.  That was a wonderful term of endearment.  The writing in this book is so captivating, you can feel the photos, the love, the nervousness, the elation, the surprise, and Max's belly laughter.  Please give us more!
233072
I've just begun reading this book, but it's been fascinating from the very beginning! What a story!!! I'll re-rate when I finish reading. If the writing continues in the vein it's begun, I'll be looking for 10 stars!
919716
I thought this book earned five stars and if there could be more stars I would give the book ten.
3775715
I want to give this book TEN beautiful stars!!!  This book, oh my goodness....I LOVED it SO much!  The feelings I had from reading were amazing; this Author can break my heart like no other, but then she puts it back together and I just have to let out a sigh.  This book is absolutely beautiful!!  It broke my heart, but at the end I was smiling and sighing out loud.  I wish this book never ended; I highly recommend it.  Yes, your heart will hurt at times, but it is well worth it in the end.  Amazing!!!
2426790
This book is wonderful! The charactors really seem to come to life through Williams' vivid detail and imagenitive plot. My all-time favorite book!  I give it ten stars!
2477756
Wow! What an amazing, delightful book! Lynn Byk, Mr. Bs daughter-in-law, has written a fabulous memoir of a first-class example of a man of the Greatest Generation. We see almost of a century of tremendous mechanical and technological changes through the eyes of  literally  a rocket scientist. The first year of sharing Mr. Bs home, his son Paul and daughter-in-law Lynn were gifted with an entirely different experience than anticipated. Each has received a precious treasure.

Paul and Lynn must sell the home they have so lovingly put together. Lynn was forced to give up her dream for that home due to the neighbors and lack of cooperation from the City. They moved in with Pauls father, Joe Byk, who has lived in his home for over 40 years, the last few living alone after the loss of his beloved Maudie. Lynn noticed the effect of many little, cumulative changes from recent months showing a sad trend for Mr. B. He looked so frail, and was taking less care of himself, his home and garden.

Mr. B was less than thrilled to have people move into his home, and didn't want any changes made to the 40+ year old dcor, including floor coverings and paint colors. It was challenging for each to accept the parameters, yet it is Lynn who spends the most time with Mr. B. What she and Mr. B learn and share through these circumstances is tremendous, demonstrating yet again what a priceless treasure of wisdom, history, and love can be learned from seniors of any age.

The book is written in journal form, showing just over a year of entries. This reader was invited into it from the beginning. While I understood very little of the math and mechanics that Mr. B shared, they are very short in nature and shown step by step. Lynn also shares brief thoughts from various scripture verses that are meaningful to their situations. While Mr. B does not share her faith, it sounds like he is softening when hearing more about her relationship with Jesus in lieu of having a religion. Overall, I learned about a man who lived some of the American Dream, the son of immigrants who is brilliant, has been self-motivated to learn more about what he loved to do so he could stay employed in a competitive environment, and has made significant contributions to the history and future of aviation and space programs in the United States. I enjoyed the drawings of what he has worked on, and particularly a photo of Mr. B looking into Lynns black box.

This is a journal to read slowly, savor the nuances of the Byk family, American history, and Lynns spiritual journey. One can appreciate the changes to the garden and the correlation between the garden and the relationship of Mr. B and Lynn. For anyone who has been a caregiver as a profession either inside or outside their family, these memories will resonate. Everyone needs to find their purpose if they are to flourish. Even 98-year-old rocket scientists and a middle-aged couple who have left their home. This is a remarkable book of wisdom garnered from a Greatest Generation gentleman. It is a beautiful memoir, one that honors Mr. B and his family. It is also about a renewed relationship with the Lord that I hope continues to have positive influence on Mr. B. I highly recommend this as a not-to-be-missed memoir.

From a grateful heart: I was given this eBook by Book Fun (The Book Club Network) and here is my honest review.
2011784
I can't put this book down! Unlike some celebrity books, this one's author has really done the research necessary and possesses the writing skill to make the elements weave together for an entertaining, thoughtful, and at times humorous book. It is above all else engaging, telling the story of the century's most pertinent couple. Some of it is more familiar--from the the heartbreaking confirmation of Diana's knowledge that Charles only had eyes for Camilla from Day 1, to how that has impacted Wills' (and his family's) behavior and beliefs throughout his upbringing and how it has affected his relationship with Catherine Middleton--and why she is SUCH an incredible woman and addition to the royal family.

The details aren't just more-intense revelations about the tabloid fodder; you'll also read about details of dinner at Oak Acre, Wills' motorcycles and everything in between. It really gives you an excellent understanding of what the people involved are really like--their development over time, certainly, but how even little details can reveal so much more about a person's thoughts and feelings, from the way the Queen opens her mail to Camilla's relentless insistence on trying to control Charles' and the princes' lives.

A must-read for any fan of the couple--put it at the top of your reading list!
4581668
I can't recommend this book enough! It does more in 414 pages than most books does in twice that number of pages. It's funny, it's sad, it's interesting and it makes you both think and feel.

My one complaint, if I had to pick one, is that I would like to know what happened after the story ended. I mean you are left with enough clues to fill in the blanks yourself but it would still be nice to see how some characters story ended.

All in all, this book is a ten out of ten. Well done, sir! Well done.
2822386
I saw Brene Brown's U-tube vidio on "Vunerability" and knew I had to have more of  this author's work!  This book is amazing and so on target for what we all need to consider about ourselves and our responses to life, to family and friends as well as how we respond to ourselves.  I learned more about myself In this one book than I ever thought possible from any book.  Some people retire to play golf.  I retired to read and I am an avid reader and this book exceeded all my expectations.  Good is a fine word. Great is even better.  But daring greatly is a challenging and exhilarating way to live and now i can.  Ms. Brown's writing is poignant, amusing at times, very real, and a gift to the reader.  It deserves all five stars plus one!
2374320
What an EXCELLENT read! If Amazon offered a 10-star rating system, I'd give it all 10! I read two-thirds of the book before I could put it down, then I finished it the following morning. The author was a photo-journalist who took his newsreel-camera into war-torn areas of Rhodesia, Sudan, Iraq-Iran war (1980s), Lebanon, Israel, Vietnam, Saigon, Iran, Cambodia, Cuba, Taiwan, and had interviews with German COL Otto Skorzeny, Cuba's Fidel Castro (just before he seized power), Iran's Imam Khomeini, and many others. He has many harrowing tales to tell, and he tells them well: you can almost feel the sizzling heat of Yemen and the buzzing of bullets just barely missing him in several different sweating situations. (This book appears to be the first British edition in late 1990 [with better quality of paper stock and photographs], just before the American edition was published as: "Shooting Wars: My Life as a War Cameraman" a few months later in early 1991.) Just his chapter detailing his life and escape as a young teenager from Nazi-Austria at the end of WWII is worth the price of this book alone! RUN to a bookstore to get this AWESOME fast-paced, ADVENTURE-thrilled packed book!
4870509
If I could give this book ten stars, I would.  Nick Trout has thoroughly created a community where each character is fully developed and believable.  I am including the animals in this statement as well.  His form of writing is enjoyable and makes for a wonderful experience.  I have already purchased the next book in the series and am going to began reading it immediately.  Thank you, Nick Trout, for sharing your love of animals and people with the reading public!
1861849
I absolutely LOVE this book!  Dr. Cohen's book is filled with so much VALUABLE information; you can actually help protect and keep your pet safe and healthy by reading this book.  Even if you don't own a pet, you will be entertained by the amusing stories, and you'll impress your pet-owner friends with the information you will be able to share.

Some stories give you an inside look at what goes on in an animal hospital (VERY interesting!), and other stories tell about some amazing experiences in the life of a veterinarian.  A very funny story about an Iguana had me laughing out loud, while reading about the hectic rush to save a dog who ingested poisonous antifreeze had me on the edge of my seat!

The entire book is an enjoyable, easy read - I almost felt as though Dr. Cohen was sitting across from me, engaging in a good conversation.

Highly Recommended!