Just Imagine

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With the Civil War over, Kit Weston, a.k.a. Katherine Louise of Risen Glory Plantation, South Carolina, travels to New York disguised as a boy to eliminate her newly named guardian and regain control of her beloved plantation. Unfortunately for Kit, Baron Cain proves difficult to kill, and when he discovers her identity, Baron promptly stashes her in a New York finishing school for young ladies.

Three years later, Kit returns to Risen Glory to find that Baron has restored the plantation to its former prosperity. Baron scarcely recognizes the hoyden he remembers in the mature, 21-year-old Kit. The instant passion that flares between them is unwanted by both and equally undeniable. Pushed to the edge, Baron threatens to banish Kit from her beloved plantation, and she commits an impulsive, nearly unforgivable act. Baron's response is equally impossible and thrusts the pair into an intolerable situation. Wild and willful, passionate and wary, the two lovers must somehow find a way to overcome pride and distrust before there can be any likelihood of a loving resolution.

Readers who love Phillips's highly successful contemporary romances will be just as enthralled with this historical romance. Lush landscapes, complex characters, a charming cast of secondary players, and a subplot that takes a look at the effects of slavery and racist attitudes in the Old South all add up to an excellent novel. A rewrite of an early title, Just Imagine is classic historical romance at its best. --Lois Faye Dyer

Book Description

Believing that Kit's a boy, Cain offers the grubby rapscallion a job in his stable. But he has no idea what he's in for, and it's not long before the hero of Missionary Ridge discovers the truth. His scamp of a stable boy is a strong-willed, violet-eyed beauty who's hell-bent on driving him crazy.

Two hard-headed, passionate people . . . Two stubborn opponents with tender souls . . . Sometimes wars of the heart can only be won through the sweetest of surrenders.

Download Description

The War Between the States may be over for the rest of the country, but not for Kit Weston. Disguised as a boy, she's come to New York City to kill Baron Cain, the man who stands between her and Risen Glory, the South Carolina home she loves. But unknown to Kit, the Yankee war hero is more than her most bitter enemy -- he's also her guardian. And he'll be a lot harder to kill than she's figured on... Believing that Kit's a boy, Cain offers the grubby rapscallion a job in his stable. But he has no idea what he's in for, and it's not long before the hero of Missionary Ridge discovers the truth. His scamp of a stable boy is a strong-willed, violet-eyed beauty who's hell-bent on driving him crazy. Two hard-headed, passionate people....Two stubborn opponents with tender souls....Sometimes wars of the heart can only be won through the sweetest of surrenders.

Customer Reviews:

Not up to her standards.......2007-07-05

I have loved all of SEP's books, EXCEPT this one. This is the only historical book she has written, and while the period information is not very believable, the change in era is not the real issue. The characters do not seem in the least realistic, the chemistry between them is not very strong, and the story development is weak. I also did not like the secondary characters in this novel. Overall, if you are a fan of Ms. Phillips, stay away from this one, so your pleasure in her work remains unblemished.

Not one of her better books.......2007-06-08

I usually like SEP but this was drivel. Sorry. I'm just not currently into historical romances.

Not your typical SEP book.......2007-03-14

I have read nearly everything Susan Elizabeth Phillips has written and really like her work. I, however, did not enjoy this story, as I am not a big fan of historical romances, so I just couldn't finish it. If you're a fan of SEP's contemporary romances, just be aware that this isn't one of them. I also don't enjoy stories where there is so much aggression from the male protagonist. I know SEP typically shows hostility turning to warmth in her heros, but I had an especially hard time liking this guy, even after only reading the first third of the book. I guess I just don't like to see women getting walked on, and it definitely happened here. Read it if you like historical romances, but I don't recommend it to the typical SEP fans.

Loved It!.......2007-02-21

I am a huge fan of GWTW and historical fiction set around the Civil War. GWTW is my all time favorite book. There were some similarities but not in a way that you felt she was copying the GWTW story line. I loved this book. I read it in one day and I have a two-year-old to chase around so that is saying a lot. The story kept me hooked and that hasn't happened in awhile. I am looking forward to reading other books by this author.

Somewhat Painful..........2006-04-23

This book left me with a slightly unsettled feeling -- not exactly what I'm used to feeling once I finish reading a romance novel! Although I felt it was well written and empathized with the characters, the many pages of hateful relations between Kit and Cain were miserable, and the reunion at the end felt forced and insincere. Lastly, any allusions to "Gone With The Wind" are self-congratulatory on the publisher's part and completely unwarranted! GWTW is in a class all its own.

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Informative read on a great escape
Not the Same Old Story
I could taste the wine and cheese
Better than A Year in Provence or Under the Tuscan Sun
Sign Me Up For A Cruise!

Just Imagine: A New Life on an Old Boat
Michelle Caffrey
Manufacturer: Lulu.com
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1411671414

Book Description

After 30 years in the computer software industry, Michelle and Paul Caffrey relinquished their careers determined to reinvent themselves. The fifty-something couple sacrificed everything they owned to buy a converted 1906 Dutch barge, Imagine, to seek a new livelihood in the boat charter business, "Barge and Breakfast." The memoir is packed with the adventures - and misadventures -of their first year with the barge as they travel from Holland, through Belgium to France. A must-read for boaters, European travelers or would-be travelers, anyone who has reached a crossroads in life, those looking for pre-retirement inspiration, and everyone who has wondered what it would be like to live out a dream.

Customer Reviews:

Informative read on a great escape.......2007-05-12

Like many of us, the Caffreys have a gipsie hidden deep in their soul. They were able to set theirs free. I'm extremely jealous. I've lived in Europe before and would love to find a way to return for extended stays. Barging is a recent lifestyle discovery for me and Just Imagine, has shown me the way to return to the old country and free my inner gipsie.
As something of a technical geek, the descriptions of the boats they looked at and the buying process they went through to find Imagine was of most interest to me. I now have a better idea of not only what kind of boat to buy but how to go about finding one. I did enjoy reading about the places and people they met but I'm also an explorer at heart, looking forward to my own discoveries. Their sense of entrepreneurship in starting Barge and Breakfast was also of interest as my wife and I both are involved in teaching entrepreneurship at Colorado Mountain College. My exposure to Roma people in Eastern Europe taught me that if you are going to be a gipsie, you also better be an entrepreneur. Sharing my boat with strangers in close quarters is not my idea of fun but it works for them. Proving that there are many ways to fund your dreams if you are creative. Seems like that is what "Just Imagine: New Life on an Old Boat" is all about anyway.
If there are any criticisms of the book it would be that the closer I got to the end of the story, the more grammatical mistakes I found. Not serious stuff but an indication that maybe barging is really more fun than writing about it.
Sail on friends. Some day we will gather by a campfire on the same riverbank to share a bottle of fine wine and a story or two.

Not the Same Old Story.......2007-03-08

Most books of this nature are re-hashes of the same story, but "Imagine...." goes a few steps further. It is well written and, for me, it was a good one-day read; not because I couldn't put it down....because I wouldn't put it down. It was that enjoyable. If you have ever thought about owning a barge, a boat, or even an RV, you will be able to enjoy this tremendously. This is a story of their first year. I hope there is a follow-up coming.

John Hardman

I could taste the wine and cheese.......2006-04-28

I have been to france many times and Michelle's story brought it all back to me. Her descriptions of the trials and tribulations made me wonder if I could ever be as brave as they were to take all this on. It was fabulous as her words helped me to remember the beauty of the landscape and the thoughts of the food and wine made my stomach growl. What a great story and a very easy and fun read.

Better than A Year in Provence or Under the Tuscan Sun.......2006-03-31

With exceptional skill the author narrates a life transition from the world of enterprise software to being an established entity providing personalized travel experiences centered on a classic barge located in historic and epicurean Burgundy.
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To state that the first half year and first fifth of the book covers learning how to pilot a barge, then purchasing and converting a barge is true, but gross understatement. Through Michelle, the reader experiences the steep one-week learning curve of steering, mooring, navigating, and keeping everyone on the barge safe. There are just hints of future problems with freight barges, hotel barges, irascible lock keepers, smaller pleasure boats and fishermen. The essence of living in Burgundy starts to unfold.
- -
The couple finds what may be perfect for their requirements; a private owner's living space, two guest cabins each with a private bath and toilet, a home-like main salon, deck space, and classic Dutch clipper lines. Converting from the purchased barge to these essential needs drags agonizingly slow for these two Americans, slowing adapting to the pace of rural Europe.
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The maiden voyage-from the Dutch outfitting yard near the North Sea to the chosen home waters of the Saône River and Burgundy Canal-is in every sense a shakedown cruise. In spite of the leisurely pace and initial friendly guests, a problematic engine, running aground (bad information from a waterways "expert"), near collisions with both an unyielding freight barge and an overlarge hotel barge, and a few charming lockkeepers comparable to the provincial tax-collectors receptionist, the voyage continues the couples stress-filled and learn-now education.
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The reader and author start to appreciate the subtle differences between personal guests in one's home and paying customers. With nuance and detail, we realize towards the end of this memoir much more of the true beauty in the region and lifestyle. This then is a love story involving a new life and a quieter existence; the boat is a bit more than catalyst, but not much.
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Caffrey's honest, transparent, barge-diet lean prose flows similar to the Saône with ripples and eddies to the homeport and a successful transition.
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Inevitably, I must compare this book with Peter Mayle's A Year in Provence (ISBN 0679731148) and Frances Mayes' Under the Tuscan Sun (ISBN 0811808424). Just Imagine: A New Life on an Old Boat now stands as the benchmark.
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Of course, Oprah could transport 70 tons of Imagine and the author to the show in Chicago. The real story is in Burgundy and the author's soul.

Sign Me Up For A Cruise!.......2006-03-21

Baby Boomer Alert! Here is one boomer that you can be proud of! Changed her life, changed her world and wrote about it! Loved the narrative and the clever descriptions and detailing made me feel right there with her and "Imagine". If you are bored with your life, read this book! It is inspiring and educational.....just might make you do something extraordinary too. Bravo, Michelle!

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A rhyming children's picturebook about the incredible power of imagination unleashed
Just Imagine...

Just Imagine
John M. Thompson , and George M. Schultz
Manufacturer: Illumination Arts Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

ASIN: 0974019062

Customer Reviews:

A rhyming children's picturebook about the incredible power of imagination unleashed.......2007-05-13

Just Imagine is a rhyming children's picturebook about the incredible power of imagination unleashed, which can transport one and one's friends to swamps, the seas, the depths of space, or the top of a rainbow. The extravagant illustrations show young children embarking upon one dream journey after another, yet always held in great, metaphorical safe hands. "Imagine / Exploring the mighty / Ocean, / Sails billowing tight / Into the wind and spray. / Land is out of sight. // We're free!" A delightful adventure to warm young hearts and lift up the spirit.

Just Imagine..........2007-01-05

How lucky are the children in this wondrous and magical story! As you begin to experience this book, you will immediately notice the beautifully illustrated loving hands. I know they are LOVING hands because they always have the children cupped in one hand and sheltered with the other as they embark on many flights of fancy. In that trusting environment, these children are empowered to allow their imaginations to run free with no limitations because they are always surrounded by love and nestled in safety.

Whether their fantasies send them on a magical trip to the moon, or allow them to explore the swamps and the seas in their very own boat, they find that they can, without apprehension, do anything they can fantasize. How wonderful that feeling of safety must be and how glorious each adventure becomes! From the vantage point of their tree house or the gentle motion of their special swing, these children can still dream, and they can become, whatever they dare to dream. What an idyllic childhood...

***** This gloriously illustrated book from Illumination Arts, is more than just a story; it is a life lesson. Within its wildly colorful pages, every child will understand one fundamental truth - that they only need to be able to picture themselves accomplishing their dreams to truly achieve their dreams.

Enchantment, fun, and challenging experiences await all children who venture into the pages of Just Imagine.

Reviewed by Ruth Wilson of Huntress Reviews.

AnimalSign TO You. Imagine! Signing Is Not Just For Primates Anymore

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AnimalSign TO You. Imagine! Signing Is Not Just For Primates Anymore
Sean Senechal
Manufacturer: BookSurge Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1419636227
Release Date: 2006-11-09

Book Description

This book explains a ground-breaking approach to human animal communication--treating animals as language learners. The approach teaches animals a new sign language for them to use to communicate. The language is AnimalSign that Senechal created with her animals. It extends beyond the natural body language animals already use, into new learned gestures. The first part of the book is about AnimalSign Language, its origin, development, structure, and dialects. The second half has a 'how-to-section' for dogs and horses. It shows pictures and stick sketches of the gestures. A teacher, Senechal has a future vision of uses and benefits of animal signing. She describes new and expanded careers for signing animals and people. An explorer, she believes that we just don't know whether animals can learn a new productive language--as until now, no one has tried to teach them in such a focused manner. The author discusses criticism of her approach, and is cautious about making claims of true language learning. She states that capability won't be known for years. Senechal seems comfortable with whatever the outcome. She believes animal signing is useful and fulfilling, and enhances the personal and professional lives of humans and animals. If her vision is fulfilled, Sean Senechal will have initiated a major revolution in our approach to, and expectations for, animals.

5 Titles By Susan Phillips - First Lady - Just Imagine - Breathing Room - Ain't She Sweet - Match Me If You Can

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5 Titles By Susan Phillips - First Lady - Just Imagine - Breathing Room - Ain't She Sweet - Match Me If You Can
Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Manufacturer: various
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Romance | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000MGSKZO

Product Description

5 Massmarket Paperback Titles By Susan Elizabeth Phillips - First Lady - Just Imagine - Breathing Room - Ain't She Sweet - Match Me If You Can

Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating the DC Universe - Book 3

Average customer rating:

Proves that Kirby and Ditko did it all for Marvel.
interesting
I need negative stars
Stan Lee and DC Comics do not mix....

Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating the DC Universe - Book 3
Stan Lee
Manufacturer: DC Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1401202284

Customer Reviews:

Proves that Kirby and Ditko did it all for Marvel........2005-08-06

It has long been rumored that Jack Kirby actually wrote all those classic Fantastic Four comics and Steve Ditko wrote all the classic Spider-Man stories, then Stan Lee put his name on them. Jack Kirby explictly said so on many occasions. Well, this book pretty much proves it, because we see Stan's actual writing ability.

To put it simply, he can't write at all.

These stories are unimaginative hack-jobs that are infinitely inferior to the regular DC versions of the characters in every way, and shows none of the writing ability that made Marvel great in the day.

I guess Jack Kirby told the truth about Stan not really doing the writing, didn't he?

interesting.......2004-03-16

I'm not much of a DC fan and I am a big fan of Marvel, so I thought that this would be interesting, getting to see Stan Lee "create" the classic DC characters. And it was interesting if not great. I think he did a great job with Batman, though he's the one DC character that needs no tweaking. The Wonder Woman story was pretty interesting, though not something I'd want to see a whole lot of (though certainly better than her original version). His Superman was weak. There isn't a whole lot you can do to change Superman, so Stan Lee was sort of doomed from the start. His Green Lantern was basically Silver Surfer. Beside what can you do with Green Lantern. It was all very interesting though.

I need negative stars.......2002-10-03

This is the second graphic novel I've needed negative stars to adequately express my feelings for in the last two months. I really was taken aback by Stan Lee's writing. "He created my favorite comic superhero, Spider-man, how bad could this be?" was my thought when I bought this. The story lines are really bad. I guess the best way to describe it would be to compare the stories to the mostly bad 70's comics. This isn't something that I'll ever reread due to the poorly written stories which is a shame since I respect most of Stan Lee's work. My true review of this would be about negative 2 stars. I hated it but I didn't throw it away which I was very tempted to do with Frank Miller's DK2 travesty.

Stan Lee and DC Comics do not mix...........2002-08-20

This was a really awful book. Needless to say that the creative ideas of Stan Lee and the world of DC Comics do not mix. The character designs were weakly conceived as well as badly drawn and written. They emerge as little else then wasting space on the page, Aside from it being a publicity story, It served little purpose, I do not see what Stan could have done different with these characters, when they are all big joke ideas that come from a big joke company that is Time Warner.

Average customer rating:

OK, but a little cloying
Charming
More for older kids.

Just Imagine with Barney
Mary Shrode
Manufacturer: Lyons Group Incorporated
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0782901379

Customer Reviews:

OK, but a little cloying.......2006-02-13

This book is OK. It has some nice things in it (Barney talks about how things that are hard to do can help you to grow as a person). But, if things like Barney saying "You loved me SO much, your love made me real!" perturb you, then you will also find this book a little wanting (what kind of message is that to send... does that mean my son doesn't love his dolls enough, that they're not real?).

It gets a tiny bit cutesy and cloying. Overall it's OK... my son likes it and the illustrations are nice.

Charming.......2003-07-20

In this charming story the beloved purple dinosaur helps a little girl use the positive power of her imagination to ease the anxieties of moving to a new town. My kids loved it.

More for older kids........2000-04-05

I got this book when my son was around 2 years old. He would never sit through it. It is a story and requires some time to read. At 2 yrs old he did not have time for it. Unlike all his other Barney books, this one is an actual story and is not one sentence or word per page. Now, he is almost 4 and the book is a favorite. He loves to hear the story of Barney and his friend.

Average customer rating:

simply awful
Interesting, but SAVED by the art!

Just Imagine Stan Lee's Wonder Woman
Stan Lee
Manufacturer: DC Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1563898241

Customer Reviews:

simply awful.......2003-04-29

I was expecting some sort of an Elseworlds scenario in this title, but this Wonder Woman by Stan Lee is totally far-fetched. I'm glad WW was created by William Moulton Marston and re-created by George Perez. DC succeeded in selling this short-lived title, but now I wish I had never bought it!

Interesting, but SAVED by the art!.......2001-10-20

I bought this along with the Just Imagine Superman title, primarily out of a love for the characters and a nostalgic fondness for Stan Lee. Avoid the Superman title (look up my review on that page) but this one is worth the money.

Lee's writing is broad and under-nuanced, but at least with Wonder Woman he doesn't have a checklist of mythical elements he feels compelled to include. This frees him to write a more compelling and breathable story. That's not to say it IS a compelling story - it's just a MORE compelling story than the Superman title.

What saves this book is the breathtaking art by Jim Lee, with the amazing production values and special effects that he is an expert at utilizing. The character design is excellent, and Jim Lee gives Stan Lee so many more panels to work with that Stan is actually able to write a good amount of text. The back cover by Adam Hughes is stunning, but the backup feature "On The Streets" is fairly blah.

Customer Reviews:

Interesting but very familiar!.......2005-07-20

A very interesting take on the "Bat" taken by Stan Lee, interesting but unspectacular. It all seems very similar but lacked the "iradiated" bat bite. Stans Bat character seems the polar opposite of the original and is therefore worth a look.

A Return To A Kinder, Gentler Era Of Comic-Books........2002-05-29

Comics legend Stan Lee teams with fellow icon Joe Kubert to give a new spin to legendary DC character Batman. (Lee was the co-creator of such Marvel Comics as Spider-Man, Thor, The Hulk, etc.) This is Stan's first attempt at doing DC characters, and the result is a nostalgic mixture of Modern DC and classic Marvel.

Stan gives us Wayne Williams, an inner-city teen framed by gangster Handz Horgum. Wayne languishes in jail, building his body and mind, waiting for the day when he can have his revenge.
Of course, he adopts the guise of a bat.....and in a tip of the hat to Spider-Man, Batman becomes a world-famous professional wrestler.

The only place where the story really stumbles is when Stan tries to lay the groundwork for the rest of the series by introducing another villain. It doesn't really fit with the tone of the book.

Fans of Stan Lee's classic Marvel work will find this first chapter of Just Imagine a trip down memory lane. (And how great is Kubert's art?)

I would think twice before buying.......2001-09-14

I bought this book thinking that Stan Lee would be re-creating Batman with some spark so you could go WOW but once you have read it was more like OH the story as to how he became Batman was crap, the Batman costume was disgusting there was just nothing that I liked about it, I was very disapointed with it, I would really think twice before buying this book. I hope that I have helped you.

Average customer rating:

Amazing Creatures (Just Imagine)
Tamim Ansary
Manufacturer: Walch Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0825149703

Product Description

Amazing Creatures: Bats, Ants, Locust, Dolphins, and cats with strange powers.

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