Product Description
Baby Sign ASL Flash Cards (set 2: Around the House). We love these flash cards! Set Two includes these 25 cards focusing on food and items around the house: Bread, Cake, Cereal, Cheese, Bike; Cracker, Grapes, Meat, Orange, Spoon; Ice cream, Popcorn, Potat
Customer Reviews:
Sign Babies.......2007-09-24
I purchased these flash cards to help my family learn ASL as I have two hard of hearing children who are learning at school. The children like the pictures and often look through them on their own practicing the signs. My one complaint is that some of them have been simplified to be easier for small children with poor motor skills and the card does not show the correct sign.
Worth the Money.......2007-01-09
These cards are great for learning basic signs with your kids. Older kids learn fast from the cards, and toddlers enjoy them too, but be sure to laminate them because they bend and tear easily in toddlers' hands. The pictures can also be used for communication before the signs are memorized because a child can point to what they want by finding the picture card.
Nice & Easy.......2006-05-29
These cards are excellent. Cards are big and instructions in back SIMPLE! I have started using some of the signs with my 6 month old and she is already signing back! Love it!
Love these Cards.......2006-04-26
I think these cards are great - I love them - I love the description of the sign - I don't think think the picture description part is the best but the black and white part of of the description of the actually signing is perfect and understandable.
Sign Babies Cards/Subject Unclear in Picture.......2006-03-26
I really think these cards were a rip off. The drawing of the baby in the cards is enormous so its really difficult for the child to see what word he or she is supposed to recognize or sign. Big waste of money.
Book Description
It's Friday night and you're on a red-eye to the city of sin. Strapped to your chest is half a million dollars; in your overnight bag is another twenty-five thousand in blackjack chips; and your wallet holds ten fake IDs. As soon as you land in Las Vegas, you are positive you are being investigated and followed. To top it all off, the IRS is auditing you, someone has been going through your mail -- and you have a multivariable calculus exam on Monday morning. Welcome to the world of an exclusive group of audacious MIT math geniuses who legally took the casinos for over three million dollars -- while still finding time for college keg parties, football games, and final exams.
In the midst of the go-go eighties and nineties, a group of overachieving, anarchistic MIT students joined a decades-old underground blackjack club dedicated to counting cards and beating the system at major casinos around the world. While their classmates were working long hours in labs and libraries, the blackjack team traveled weekly to Las Vegas and other glamorous gambling locales, with hundreds of thousands of dollars duct-taped to their bodies. Underwritten by shady investors they would never meet, these kids bet fifty thousand dollars a hand, enjoyed VIP suites and other upscale treats, and partied with showgirls and celebrities.
Handpicked by an eccentric mastermind -- a former MIT professor and an obsessive player who had developed a unique system of verbal cues, body signals, and role-playing -- this one ring of card savants earned more than three million dollars from corporate Vegas, making them the object of the casinos' wrath and eventually targets of revenge. Here is their inside story, revealing their secrets for the first time.
Master storyteller Ben Mezrich takes you from the ivory towers of academia to the Technicolor world of Las Vegas, where anything can happen -- and often does. Bringing Down the House launches you into the seedy underworld of corporate Vegas -- deep into the realm of back rooms, ever-present video cameras, private investigators, and the threats and tactics of pit bosses and violent heavies. Equipped with twenty different aliases and disguises, the group of young card counters struggles around these roadblocks to live the high life -- until one fateful day when Vegas violently follows them home to Boston. Suddenly, there can be no more hiding behind false identities; the high life folds like a bad hand of cards.
Filled with tense action and incredibly close calls, Bringing Down the House is a real-life mix of Liar's Poker and Ocean's Eleven -- and it's a story Vegas doesn't want you to read.
Download Description
"It's Friday night and you're on a red-eye to the city of sin. Strapped to your chest is half a million dollars; in your overnight bag is another twenty-five thousand in blackjack chips; and your wallet holds ten fake IDs. As soon as you land in Las Vegas, you are positive you are being investigated and followed. To top it all off, the IRS is auditing you, someone has been going through your mail -- and you have a multivariable calculus exam on Monday morning. Welcome to the world of an exclusive group of audacious MIT math geniuses who legally took the casinos for over three million dollars -- while still finding time for college keg parties, football games, and final exams. In the midst of the go-go eighties and nineties, a group of overachieving, anarchistic MIT students joined a decades-old underground blackjack club dedicated to counting cards and beating the system at major casinos around the world. While their classmates were working long hours in labs and libraries, the blackjack team traveled weekly to Las Vegas and other glamorous gambling locales, with hundreds of thousands of dollars duct-taped to their bodies. Underwritten by shady investors they would never meet, these kids bet fifty thousand dollars a hand, enjoyed VIP suites and other upscale treats, and partied with showgirls and celebrities. Handpicked by an eccentric mastermind -- a former MIT professor and an obsessive player who had developed a unique system of verbal cues, body signals, and role-playing -- this one ring of card savants earned more than three million dollars from corporate Vegas, making them the object of the casinos' wrath and eventually targets of revenge. Here is their inside story, revealing their secrets for the first time.
Customer Reviews:
Non Fiction.......2007-09-03
A look at the ever growing sophistication of the duel between casinos and the professional card counters who realise that they do, indeed, have an edge at blackjack.
Technology and increased surveillance is slowly and surely bringing this to an end. Where it doesn't, there is still the good old beat up the winners technique if you fancy try it in Uzbekistan or somewhere.
Great Book.......2007-08-04
If you like Vegas, Money, and an awesome time, read this book. I read it in 2 days, and I hardly read.
Dad's fathers day gift.......2007-07-22
Amazon website wouldn't let me type in a zip code; website defaulted the zip based on city name and the zip was incorrect. As a result, package couldn't be delivered. I was issued a full refund (I think).
Fiction.......2007-07-19
A reviewer below who gave this book 5 stars noted that it is a dramatization based on real events. There is a label for those types of books--fiction. It bothers me tremendously that this book is billed as non-fiction and was listed on non-fiction bestseller lists. As soon as it became obvious to me that the book was fiction (which should happen very quickly if you approach the book with any sort of a critical perspective), it became difficult for me to enjoy the book. If you can suspend disbelief and are interested in a story based on events the general framework of which I'm sure are true, then you will probably find this to be a quick, entertaining read.
I get it.......2007-07-08
This is an interesting story, but it would have been better as a feature article in a magazine, not a 257 page book. It was a ballsy thing for these geeks to do, but we didn't need to hear about every trip, and every close call. And where were the serious consequences besides getting banned from casinos, and audited by the IRS? I kept waiting for some real trouble for Kevin.
Book Description
As magnetic stripe cards are being replaced by chip cards that offer consumers and businesses greater protection against fraud, a new standard for this technology is being introduced by Europay, MasterCard, and Visa (EMV). This cutting-edge, new book provides you with a comprehensive overview of the EMV chip solution and explains how this technology provides a chip migration path, where interoperability plays a central role in the business model.
The book offers you a better understanding of the security problems associated with magnetic stripe cards, and presents the business case for chip migration. Moreover, it explains the implementation of multi-application selection mechanisms in EMV chip cards and terminals, and shows you how to design a multi-application EMV chip card layout. This first-of-its-kind resource also discusses the organizational and management issues in connection with the EMV chip migration and the use of EMV chip cards in e-commerce and m-commerce transactions. An excellent reference for today's IT/e-commerce professionals and post-graduate student alike, the book helps you fully understand this emerging, complex payment card technology.
Customer Reviews:
Not for Me........2006-02-28
This book is written for technical people. The overall tone is dull and pedantic. The contents will be difficult to follow for those who do not have mathematical or programming background.
Anyone who has an overall understanding of the EMV specifications will have very little use for the material in this book. There is nothing of note with respect to specific card schemes.
Business people can get much of the non-technical information in the book for free from other sources.
Average customer rating:
- A great book for studying and teaching about masculinity
- A great book for studying and teaching about masculinity
- Finally something intelligently written!
- Acadamia runs amok, to make sensational, exaggerated point
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A House of Cards: Baseball Card Collecting and Popular Culture (American Culture (Minneapolis, Minn.), 12.)
John Bloom
Manufacturer: University of Minnesota Press
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Instant Expert: Collecting Baseball and Other Sports Cards (Instant Expert (Random House))
ASIN: 0816628718 |
Customer Reviews:
A great book for studying and teaching about masculinity.......2000-06-29
Bloom's well-researched study of baseball collectors in the 1980s is a wonderful text for studying and teaching about masculinity and popular culture. His book raises important questions about the crisis of masculinity in the latter part of the twentieth century, and the ways that popular culture practices like baseball card collecting both challenged and, ultimately, shored up traditional gender boundaries between men and women. Bloom's work also focuses extensively on the issue of nostalgia, particularly the idealized memory of 1950s American boyhoods. An accessible and engaging tone makes this a fine text to use in popular culture classes or in gender studies classes.
A great book for studying and teaching about masculinity.......2000-06-29
Bloom's well-researched study of baseball collectors in the 1980s is a wonderful text for studying and teaching about masculinity and popular culture. His book raises important questions about the crisis of masculinity in the latter part of the twentieth century, and the ways that popular culture practices like baseball card collecting both challenged and, ultimately, shored up traditional gender boundaries between men and women. Bloom's work also focuses extensively on the issue of nostalgia, particularly the idealized memory of 1950s American boyhoods. An accessible and engaging tone makes this a fine text to use in popular culture classes or in gender studies classes.
Finally something intelligently written!.......1999-02-01
As a baseball card collector for over 20 years, I have read countless articles in countless publications about baseball cards and card collecting. Almost every one of the has focused on either the financial aspects of the hobby or on how great it is to be a collector. John Bloom has written a thought provoking and academic book which examines WHY we collect.
While I do not agree with some of the authors positions, specifically about race and homoerotocism, I feel that they are well thought out and presented. His description of the MCC, a card collectors club, is very similar to my own experiences in the two clubs to which I have belonged in the past, and offers a unique look at the pettiness and power struggles that often arise in these organizations.
Many collectors and hobby writers came out very strongly against this book, but I think that many of them looked at Blooms' conclusions as an attack on the hobby of card collecting. They are not.
While the academic tone of the book can make it difficult to read at times, the insights that it offers and the fact that it at least makes the reader THINK about the nature of collecting are reason enough to read "House of Cards".
Acadamia runs amok, to make sensational, exaggerated point.......1997-08-23
Collecting baseball cards evokes memories of crisp wax paper; the assault of a preadolescent nose with the aroma of sickly sweet, often stale, powder-sugar coated bubble gum; the thrill of your first Ted Williams card; and of clothes-pinning your sixth Pedro Ramos in your bicycle spokes.
In stark contrast, Bloom's book portrays collectors in the angry, white man role; discusses the collector's insecurities about their rapidly declining social position; their disturbing attitudes toward blacks and women; and their apparent inability to get a date in high school. Why is Bloom saying such disparaging things about the people who collect baseball cards?
Bloom spent some time in the late 1980s attending baseball card shows in Minnesota. His observations at the shows, sports card shops, interviews with hobbyists, and secondary research, form the basis for this adaptation of his doctoral thesis.
Baseball card collecting can evolve from a children's hobby to an adult's business. But the hobby took on an entirely new dynamic during the Reagan years. Many American boys collected cards, and in the economic boom of the 1980s, price's escalated, and collectors found (if mom hadn't gotten there first) treasure troves in long-forgotten, old shoe boxes. Unfortunately, many believed, including Bloom, that the newfound wealth corrupted the hobby.
Bloom's typical adult collector is white, male, and lower-middle class. In turn, Bloom blames these card collectors for failed marriages, deceit, deception, the manipulation of children, the exclusion and derision of women, and distancing the races.
But is the assertion valid that adult collectors are sexist, merely because the majority are male? Similarly, are they racist because a majority are white? Is the fact that Mickey Mantle's 1952 Topps rookie card sells at a higher price than Willie Mays' 1952 card, justifiable evidence of racism among the collecting enthusiasts as the author brazenly maintains?
The impact and social ramifications of collecting baseball cards appear to be stretched beyond the realm of plausibility to make an alarming, though questionable, point. Is it possible that collecting bits of cardboard, emblazoned with the images of childhood heroes, really be the cause of this much social discord?
But the author has missed a critical point. Bloom states that the cards, in and of themselves, "are of no real consequence." Most collectors would vehemently disagree. Baseball cards derive their value by resurrecting the reminiscences of the collector's youthful heroes. There is a collective social memory which envelops the collectors and their cards. The fact that trade guides indicate that selected cards may have some extrinsic value is nice, but for the majority of collectors, not paramount. The same native affinity does not permeate collecting spoons, stamps or coins, or even football or basketball cards. The fact that these collectibles are baseball cards matters a great deal.
Customer Reviews:
Fascinating non-political book on White House history.......2007-01-12
People my age were taught citizenship in school and were taught to respect the President. I have always been fascinated with the personal lives of the Presidents and the folklore of the White House. This book does not disappoint if you like the "behind the scenes" information on the White House and its past residents. I also recommend the one written for children by the same author. This puts politics aside and restores some pride in the institution of our Presidency and their families.
A Wonderful Resource........2006-03-01
Season's Greetings from the White House is an excellent source of presidential Christmas/holiday items from the early part of the twentieth century to the present. Each President's holiday greetings along with staff gifts are shown. Mrs. Seeley has written an superb book which continues to grow with each new edition. The quality of photographs and the amount of them in the book make it worth the price. I highly recommend this book for anyone who has an interest in not only presidential items, but for anyone who has any interest in the holiday season.
Rich in history and nostalgia .......2005-01-20
Mary Evans Seeley is an expert on Christmas celebrations in the White House. Several years ago, she decided to share her knowledge and research dealing with personal First Family recollections and the result is the wonderful book "Season's Greetings from the White House."
It is a book for historians, Americana fans, Christmas collectors and art lovers. More than just behind-the-scenes stories, this richly illustrated volume shows, in full color throughout, the actual cards, prints and other Presidential gifts of sterling silver, pewter, glass, wood and leather. Most of the gifts were designed for distribution to White House staffers.
Seeley, who resides in Tampa, Florida, shares with the reader, the personal experiences of the wide variety of artists whose works came to grace Presidential cards and gift prints. To bring in historical color, the author interviewed a number of First Ladies and children of First Families.
The book's frontispiece displays the magnificent Neapolitan Baroque crèche in the White House East Room in 1963. The photograph was selected by President and Mrs. Kennedy for their Christmas card scheduled to be sent in December. Less than 30 were personally signed by both the President and First Lady prior to their fateful Dallas trip. These dual-signed Christmas cards are among the rarest of all Presidential Christmas memorabilia.
The photos of Seeley's historical collection of White House Christmas cards offers an interesting glimpse of our nation's culture and its values through the years.
It's no matter if you look upon the book as a major scholarly effort or simply a beautiful insight into the traditions of our First Families, "Season's Greetings from the White House" makes an excellent gift for the holidays and is a wonderful reference book for historians who are seeking the human side of Christmas in the Presidential Mansion.
All White House Christmas Books will be measured by this one.......1999-09-23
All White House Christmas books will be measured by this one in the future. It is incredible. A must for all collectors of White House Christmas memorabilia. Every home and office should have this book on display during Christmas time.
A WONDERFUL COLLECTION!.......1998-07-08
Anyone who has ever been interested in Christmas and what it means to the residents of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue MUST get this book. A treasure that will be loved forever....a history that is important to America! Mary Evans Seeley has it all here! Thanks! Chis Allen
Book Description
All of London knows the story of the vanished Lady Charlotte Endicott and the handsome reward that will accompany her safe return. Scores of blond-haired, blue-eyed impostors have tried their luck at Jack Endicott's casino claiming to be the girl, only to be turned away-but Queenie Dennis just might be the one. Fate takes a turn when she returns to London posing as a dressmaker fresh from France. Queenie quickly becomes the talk of the town, catching the eye of the handsome Lord Harkness. As her love for him grows, Queenie's lies begin to catch up with her. Will Harkness call her bluff, or does love hold the winning hand?
Customer Reviews:
the last of the series is the best.......2007-06-30
She seems to at last have conquered the longer novel with this one. A more relaxed writing style, smoother more in depth descriptions. I still think Metzger's best at the short Trad Regency--she's the absolute Empress of the genre--but I did enjoy this book.
too long.......2006-08-01
Boy, hate to be the spoiler with all these positive reviews, but QUEEN OF DIAMONDS by Barbara Metzger, the final book in a trilogy that features the Endicott Family, was very diappointing. I love Ms. Metzger's books. Her books have a signature wit with great character development and these qualities were certainly were present in this book. But I think she forgot that this book was the last in the story of the two two brothers, who made a promise to their dying father, to search for their long lost half sister Lady Charlotte. Problem is that the story is too long, with 343 pages and I could not believe that Queenie does not actually get to meet the brothers until page 331!!!! The books are the brothers story with the search. Book 3 begins with the accident that killed Queenie's Mom, so as the reader, we know exactly who the long lost sister is. There is no mystery in that. In fact, we met her in book 2 so we knew she was heading to France and, when she returned, was planning on trying to contact them. How disappointing that the story did include more of the family getting together and rediscoving each other. When Queenie does meet and her story confirmed, how silly was Jack, practically ready to call poor Harry out because he was obviously "with" Queenie? He said he was inclinded to darken his daylights for taking liberties with his little sister. And Alex frowned when faced with Queenie and Harry getting married. He said not so fast because no one had asked his permission. Are they kidding? That was just plain dumb. These two men had not seen her in years and to think that on day one, they would take over regulating her life? She certainly was not some milk and water miss, not to survive on her own that way. How arrogant was that? It would have been fun to find out, for instance, what happens with Lady Jennifer and her Butler? How did Queenie's intro to society go anyway? After all, no matter how you cut it, she was in trade and was sort of shady so what happens?
So, for me, in the end, you do not actually need to waste your time reading book 3. Just know that yes, after reading and reading and reading, she does go to see Jack and Alex (as she planned to do in book 2) and she gets married to Harry 9 pages later...
Absolutely perfect!.......2006-06-30
A real achievement. Astonishingly good. While this finishes a trilogy (and please don't read the spoilers in the reviews!) you don't need the other two books to follow the story. While the first two books were solidly enjoyable reads, Queen of Diamonds is an instant classic on it's own merits. I've read all of Barbara Metzger's work and I was still unprepared for the emotional impact of this novel.
What sets Queen of Diamonds apart is more than solid characterization and excellent plotting. The heroine is unlike any stock character you've read this year. She is an independent woman through the entire book. She is a real person with plausible reactions and conflicts, her actions make sense and lack the foolishness a lesser book requires to move the story along. The aspects of Regency life she experiences come alive in a true way rarely achieved in genre fiction. Her Cyprian Ball isn't an excuse to get someone half raped or a 'steamy' scene underway. It's a place her characters would go, and the event is treated as sincerely as a night at Almacks. (In fact, if you're looking for a sex laden read, move along. The steam in this book is achieved through the relationships of the characters rather than heaving bosoms or throbbing anythings).
And what characters! None of them are a plot device or a waste of space - each one adds interest and depth to the tale. Maybe once a decade I'll read a genre book that actually causes me to tear up. I'm cynical like that. This one got me. I bought into the story like it was an autobiography. The hero and heroine are people of conviction making the best choices they can. Both grow and learn from their experiences. You know, I think it's better than Whitney, My Love. You need to read it and decide for yourself.
The final in a trilogy.......2006-06-25
QUEEN OF DIAMONDS by Barbara Metzger
June 24, 2006
Rating: 4 Stars
QUEEN OF DIAMONDS by Barbara Metzger is the final book in a trilogy that features the Endicott Family, and two brothers who are searching for their long lost half sister Lady Charlotte. The story begins with the actual accident that kills Charlotte's mother, who was also Alex and Jack Endicott's stepmother. Young Charlotte survives the accident and is immediately taken in by a woman who begins to call herself Molly Dennis, and the two live together for many years, with "Queenie" thinking all along that Molly is her birth mother. It isn't until Molly's death that Queenie, who was formerly Lady Charlotte, learns that she is truly an orphan, as she has no idea who her parents really were.
Queenie's adventures continue overseas, where she learns a trade through a master fashion designer in Paris, and when she finally returns to England, she changes her identity to that of Madame Denise Lescartes, in honor of the family whose money her "mother" stole over the years. Denise/Queenie vows to repay the Carde estate, not knowing that she is actually their long lost sister.
While the main plot involves the brothers search for their sister Charlotte, Queenie is trying to avoid being found by Ize, one of the men that was involved in the original plan to blackmail her father by kidnapping her. Of course Queenie has no idea who Ize really is, only that he is a dangerous man and she tries her best to hide from him, with the help of her best friend. At the same time, a gentleman by the name of Lord Harry Harkness is searching for his brother-in-law, who has stolen the family diamonds and has caused great suffering for Harry's sister. Harry also is a friend of Jack Endicott, who runs a gambling house. It is this connection that has Harry cross paths with Queenie, who also arrives at Jack's gambling house in order to return the blackmail money to the family. Neither encounters Jack, but Queenie and Harry meet, and soon Harry is involved with Queenie (or Denise Lescartes), helping her to find potential customers among the ton, since Queenie is now trying to start up a business in fashion designing.
While the novel does sound a bit convoluted, it's actually a lot of fun. What keeps Barbara Metzger's fans happy are the many interesting characters that one encounters. In QUEEN OF DIAMONDS, these characters include a cute poodle that is as endearing as the young boy that Queenie unofficially takes under her wing, a boy that had been pickpocketing to make a living, but is now loyal to Queenie and her friends. Queenie's best friend Hellen is also quite the personality, helping lend some comic relief to the story.
And of course Harry falls in love with Queenie (Denise), not knowing what he is getting himself into!
QUEEN OF DIAMONDS was yet another enjoyable novel by Barbara Metzger. While it was a tad too long and could have been edited in some places, overall her writing always entices me to pick up yet another book by the queen of regencies. They all seem to have some sort of soap-operaish story line, which is all part of the fun.
Fabulous!.......2006-06-07
Everyone knows the story of the vanished Lady Charlotte "Lottie" Endicott and the huge reward for her safe return. At the age of three, Lottie was the only survivor of a stage coach ambush. Everyone was supposed to have died, including little Lottie. Instead of finishing the deed they were hired for, Dennis Godfrey and Ezra "Ize" Iscoll, decided to implement an exotic extortion scheme. Dennis has his spinster sister, Molly, take the child far away to raise as her own. Every few months Molly would quietly collect blackmail money from a special bank account. Lottie became "Queenie", whose father died while serving his country. As only a child can do, Queenie adapted and, therefore, forgot all about her previous life. Molly loved Queenie as if the child was her own daughter. She devoted herself to bringing up Queenie as a proper lady, having her educated as such too. Molly even made sure that a dowry would be ready when Queenie was due to wed. Queenie had no idea that it was all a lie until Molly whispered, on her death bed, that she had never really been married.
Alex, the Earl of Carde, and his brother, Jack, have never given up hope on locating their sister, Lottie. Queenie actually returned to London for a short time after Molly died. She spent much of that time with her friend, Hellen Pettigrew, who is the daughter of a "kept lady". Ize has Queenie convinced that she had been adopted by Molly and was supposed to be part of a con to make the Carde family believe she was their lost daughter so they could collect the reward money, but when the scheme fell through, Molly kept Queenie as her own. Queenie felt bad for the Carde family and planned to tell the current family about the con that never happened and about the rumor she heard long ago that little Lottie had died. But Ize kept her from doing so. When news spread that the Carde family was looking for a lady going by the name of Queenie in town, Queenie fled to France, thinking she would be sent to jail.
Now Queenie returns again to London. This time she is known as Madame Denise Lescartes, a dressmaker fresh from France. Hellen is still her best friend and joins Queenie as she opens her new shop. Lord Harking is in town, hunting down his sleazy brother-in-law who has stolen the family heirlooms (diamonds) and left his sister. While searching, Madame Denise catches his eye. Queenie is soon the talk of the ton and her business begins to boom. Yet as Queenie's desire for Harking grows, her lies begin to catch up with her.
***** Absolutely outstanding! The author, Barbara Metzger, has succeeded in creating a tale within a tale. I was hooked on the very first page and unable to tear myself away. Queenie is a strong role model, doing what has to be done to survive in one of England's roughest eras for women. Watching meek little Queenie transform into a strong businesswoman is spectacular. In no way could the author have possibly made this story any better. Full of wonderful characters that I could not help but love or hate (depending on who they were), lots of action, drama, tension, and simply fantastic! Highly recommended! *****
Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.
Book Description
The pleasure planet Liantac was once the greatest gambling resort in the Unchartered Territories. Even now, having fallen on hard times, it remains a spectacle of glitz and greed. Astronaut John Crichton and his fellow interstellar fugitives see Liantac as the source of much-needed supplies--except for Rygel, whose boundless avarice is tempted by the promise of easy riches.Imagine his shock, then, when he loses their starship, Moya, in a game of chance!To discharge the debt, and liberate their ship from the planetary authorities, Crichton, Aeryn, and the others must take on a number of challenging assignments. But all is not what it seems, for treachery and deadly intrigue hides within this....House of Cards.
Customer Reviews:
Viva Las Vegas!.......2004-10-19
This was a pretty good book. A lot better than Dark Side of the Sun was. And it made the time between the end of Season Four and the new Miniseries that premiered 10/18/04 that much shorter. I just wish they could make a real Farscape novel. A story vast that went on for 600 pages or so. That would be so good!
Anyways the story was really good and the author really got the characters and what they act like down pretty good. I loved how Jon Critcton spent the whole book trying to remember the lyrics to Viva Las Vegas. that was great. We got Chaiana's thieving slinkyness down and D'argos anger down and Rygel's greed down. He ends up losing Moya in a card game and the crew must go through many twists and turns and also avoid death and imprisonment to get Moya back.
This was a fun book, if too short to read. I've read it to tatters waiting for a return of Farscape. And it has come back. If you build it, they will come. The fans have persevered over the dorks at the scifi channel who were probably on drugs when they cancelled it. Anyways, good book!
Poor.......2004-05-16
I love Farscape. The acting, the sets, the story, everything about it. This book, however, is not very good.It's very awkward, the characters aren't like them selves. They say odd things and the whole book is kinda silly. The story is poor and feels like a VERY bad suspense movie. This book is only for people who are obsessed with Farscape(like me) and will read it once and then keep it on your shelf. I recommend reading it, but it's not worth reading over one time.
Nicely Done.......2004-01-05
DeCandido was fairly spot on with characterization. Easy read. Afterward you felt like you had just experienced an episode. Pick it up!
You Can't Always OutCheat the Cheaters!.......2003-12-19
While testing his Farscape module, the astronaut John Crichton is shot through a wormhole and deposited in another part of the galaxy. While floating powerlessly in space soon thereafter, a freak accident finds him killing the brother of a Peacekeeper commander and running with a ship (a living ship) full of escaped Prisoners and one (thanks to him) Peacekeeper that can't go back to her ranks. Add in a person they've rescued along the way, some changes in the enemy but not in the "run away" premise, and you've worked your way up to the book.
Liantac is a gambler's paradise and one of the crown jewels in the middle of nowhere. According to Rygel, expert on all things fun, he's always wanted to go there and would have gone before except for a slight problem. There's been a little woe that wouldn't allow for travel to the planet with ships. After being sought after, told they'd be paid well for taking someone there, and reassured that biomechaniod ships function in its atmosphere, the crew agrees (some reluctantly) they can get supplies while planetside. Taking a deposed figurehead into a place like that can result in some problems, however, just like taking an Ex-Peacekeeper can drudge up some old problems. Yeah, its just like old times.
One thing I liked about this in light of the series and its departure is that this captured the Farscape feel rather well. Keitch R. A. DeCandido seems to know the series, and he certainly understands the motivations behind the characters. While reading along, he briefs you on the people therein much like the show would do, keeping them feeling like the series always does. He also knows his timeframe, too, and must have followed the series while working on this book. According to the author, it is set toward the end of season 2, between the episodes "Won't Get Fooled Again" and "The Locket." Knowing that and watching a few DVDs from that timeframe helps plugs into it rather well.
If you're like me and you still miss Farscape, then this isn't a bad way to find a little more of your fix. Its not the dynamic of the television cast playing out with a nice budget and some special effects, but it really does feel like the shows from that time often felt. It even does one of the things that the shows are notorious for, adding in a little "Earth humor" into the Crichton equation and letting him interpret many of the things he's seeing for you. Coupled with a nice outing by the always-troublesome "Sparky," a little Nebari moving, some Luxan added to the fray, and into sets the mood and the timeline really well.
To note, if you are new to Farscape then you need to watch the series up until the points mentioned and let it do the introduction for you. This is merely an installation in the saga and works well as an add-on to the DVD sets. While it could be understood without the background, picturing the faces and knowing their woes ahead of time lets this have more effect because the author does something I like, treating me like a viewer of Farscape and not a bumbling fool in need of constant reminders. Too many books do that when tied to a spin-off.
Like watching an episode.......2003-10-12
I found "House of Cards" to read pretty well. It's not literature, but you don't want it to be. Farscape's been cancelled and you need a fix. This is it. The author seems to be familiar with the characters and the series and this shows in the writing. I hope there are some other good Farscape novels out there.
Book Description
Never did Alexander "Ace" Endicott, the Earl of Cards, imagine himself to be thrice-betrothed against his will by the doings of three desperate debutantes. So he escapes London to his property in the country, where he follows through with his deceased father's last wish-to find his long-lost step-sister. His search takes a detour and leads him to Nell, who piques his interest. Now, Ace may have to reconsider his rejection of marriage and see if two mismatched lovers can make a royal pair.
Customer Reviews:
Laugh out loud fluff.......2006-07-18
This is not the usual strong writing from Ms. Metzger but if you want something quick and fun to read - this would be it. This is pure fluff and wonderfully hilarious ... thus the four stars. This is not a book to be read somewhere quiet; too many great laughs.
The hero - Ace, who is an Earl - is a rather disappointing character. He seems to think running away from his problems is the way to solve them ... though to be fair, I too might run away if I had three people claiming (at the same time) that I was their fiancé. Ace has all of the power, wealth, and privilege of his position, and yet he is almost childish in the way he handles things. He has some wonderfully hilarious bits which will have readers snickering and chuckling (if not actually laughing out loud). These are what save the character from being a complete disappointment.
The heroine - Nell - is a bit stronger and typical of the era. Ms. Metzger makes too many references to the fact Nell is thin; it grows tiresome after the first few times. She is your usual Regency spinster with the miserly brother who keeps her at home for his own selfish reasons. The saving grace for Nell's character are the laugh-out-loud parts which are truly marvelous.
There are several flaws in the story. One of the most obvious is when Nell suddenly becomes "Lady Bountiful" to the tenants. She breaks into her brother's strong box whilst he is absent and uses the funds to help effect repairs and other things which were needed for quite some time but of which she was not aware. How could Nell not realize these problems existed when she, at times, collects rent and goes to these cottages? A roof does not fall into disrepair in a few months - even if it is thatched.
Cast of characters includes Ace, Nell and her goose, Nell's pinch-penny brother, her aunt (who talks to the spirit world), a Duke's daughter (fiancée wannabe # 1); the Duke's daughter's dog, the Duke, the Earl's mistress (fiancée wannabe # 2), the Earl's neighbor and daughter (fiancée wannabe # 3), the Earl's valet, missing people, and assorted staff from several households.
All in all, this is a good book to read once and share with someone else you know in need of a good laugh. I have not read the others in the series (they are on the way) so cannot comment but will hope they are better written ... if not, then I hope they are as funny.
Had very High expectations.......2006-07-10
After reading other books by Ms Metzger like "The Duel" I was absolutely confident that I would immediately fall in love with this book but I was utterly disappointed.
The book lacked everything I would have like to read in a great book except for it's accuracy for the Genre.
There was absolutely no passion, the plot for the storyline was VERY poorly developed and wanting and I don't believe I have read about a more weak minded and unattractive Hero, who's solution to every problem was to literally pack his bags and run from it.
There was also an older woman in the book who "talked" to ghost which was very irrelevant to the plot. Most of the secondary characters were thrown in I believe the make up the 300 or so pages the book consisted of.
Unfortunately since I'm a sucker for wanting infinity to all my regency romance stories, I also purchased the other two books in this series (Jack/Queen), but I have no intention of reading them anytime soon if this first book is any indication of what to expect. It is my personal opinion that the plot was left under developed and unfinished so that it would lead into the next book in the series, BUT any good author's books in a series should be able to stand alone. This book does not, and it forces you, if you are desperate enough to get it's sequel. Fortunately like I stated before, I always get all books in a series so that I can read them all at once, but unfortunately this first book did not dampen my appetite enough for the follow up.
I have stated this before in my other reviews, when you have read other high quality REGENCY ROMANCE novels, you begin to expect nothing less and unfortunately within the first few pages of a bad novel you are instantly on alert thus destroying any hope of enjoyment.
I wanted to take my frustration of reading books by Elderly authors on Ms Metzger, since the book lack ANY type of passion for a romance novel, but I will be fair and non prejudice by saying this is the first one of her books I've felt this way about and not all Elderly authors are less open to writing about love making in their books.
The review of the book is on the product review page, but don't expect much, this book will be really hard to give a synopsis on because of the weak plot.
Clever, charming, sweet, dear, whimsical...........2006-06-08
I'll admit it: I'm a huge fan of Barbara Metzger.
She probably is the finest author of Regency romances alive today.
Her stories are gentle but very clever, clearly requiring a great deal of research on her part. She is whimsical, she is subtle and she is witty.
ACE OF HEARTS is Metzger at her best.
This romance has everything a reader could want, and more: A hero who is so hero-like that half the women he meets are trying to marry him...a dog who deserves better...and a tender heroine who deserves better, too.
Of course, being Metzger, there is some bite to the plot, involving highwaymen and kidnapping and other dastardly acts. After all, it's a Regency romance and this is very much in keeping with the genre.
Since it is Metzger at the controls, the whole tale is unfolded deftly, and with great restraint. As always, her language and her characterization strike a perfect chord; as always, she exhibits great humor as well.
ACE OF HEARTS is the perfect kick-off book for a romance series.
Fun and Funny.......2006-04-03
It is a pleasure to read a quality written novel where you laugh out loud and enjoy the characters relationship throughout.
In ACE of Hearts you don't have the constant bickering between hero and heroine. Of course there are obstacles, but it is an entertaining ride to the romantic feelings shared by each.
It's refreshing to not have to deal with bickering to the end where they finally get together. I recommend this book and it's follow up in the series, Jack of Clubs.
Barbara Metzger is one of the most talented humor/romance authors I've read.
Book Description
Written by the holder of several Guinness World Records for cardstacking, this is the first complete, fully illustrated guide to the art of building mind-boggling, multilevel structures with ordinary playing cards.
In Stacking the Deck, Bryan Berg reveals the secret to successful cardstacking with his simple four-card-cell structure and expanded grid techniques. Using illustrations and step-by-step instructions, he guides readers on to more elaborate -- and incredibly strong -- creations. He covers a wide range of architectural styles, from classic to whimsical, and various types of structures, including pyramids, shrines, stadiums, churches, an oil derrick, and even the Empire State Building. Since first setting the height record in 1992, Bryan's built awe-inspiring card models of a Japanese shrine, the Iowa State Capitol building, Ebbets Field, and his latest tower, which is more than twenty-five feet tall! This book includes photographs of some of these amazing pieces, illustrating just how appealing and enduring a "house of cards" can be. Stacking the Deck will inspire everyone from youngsters experimenting with their first deck of cards to adults, who can create their own private skyscrapers.
Once you've read Stacking the Deck, you'll never look at a deck of cards the same way again.
Customer Reviews:
The Real Work.......2007-08-14
If you want to learn to build a card castle, this is the book for you. It has all the information you'll need. Excellent book.
Awesome Book!.......2007-03-08
I purchased this book for my daughter. She had a school assignment to build a weight bearing structure out of playing cards. She got some good ideas by reading stacking the Deck.
Method works even for clumsy hands.......2006-03-20
What I found amazing about this book is that within the first few pages, you will learn the basic technique to stack cards and start building some phenomenal structures. And, even if you are clumsy, your structures will still attract admiring comments. My daughter, who is 6, has started building and enjoys it more than lego.
The Only Book About Cardstacking.......2005-08-19
This is very sad that everything that is recorded about cardstacking is merely this one book. Building Houses of Cards is more than child's play. This is a sport; just like Football, Basketball, or Tennis. I wish there was a Cardstacking Club or something like this... Here is what I hope will grow up and become the first Cardstacking Club: myspace.com/cardstacker
Well written book ! Nice detailed illustrations/instructions.......2005-04-16
Well written book. Very clear instructions with a LOT of illustrations -- how to start to finish. Author also added humor to the text by showing how mistakes can happen and how it can all fall apart. Easy for kids to start with the initial tower and then build on it.
Strongly recommend it .. it is fun .. it is different and well worth the price.
Book Description
Years ago, Captain Jack Endicott's half-sister vanished after a carriage accident. He now sets out to honor his father's dying wish and find her. Jack plans to open a lavish gaming parlor and hire only beautiful ladies to deal cards, possibly finding his sister. All he needs is a little luck. Instead he finds prim schoolteacher Allie Silver, who needs a guardian for one of her most precocious pupils. With such an unlikely duo, all bets are off in a wild game of romance.
Customer Reviews:
enjoyable but..........2007-08-29
Overall I enjoyed the book. It was funny, and the chemistry between the characters was steamy without being trashy. I like a regency romances that expand my vocabulary- it makes me feel like reading romances isn't totally wasting my brain. I did feel that the story dragged a little in the middle, and based on other regencies I've read, I think they didn't emphasize enough how beyond the pale it would have been for him to open the Red and Black and at the same time they over emphasized her expectation of still being treated like a lady after becoming a governess. Also some of the exchanges felt too modern.
Still the pluses out numbered the minuses.
Not her best but Metzger's second rate.......2007-06-11
is still my idea of a wonderful time.
The only thing that might keep it from my keeper shelf was the heroine. I got tired of her harping about her Good Name and not being seen with the hero so that her reputation might be preserved. She came across as a ninny. I didn't see what Jack found attractive....She did redeem herself slightly by dealing well with Harriet the demon child and later on, she's less of a pill. I almost put it down, which never happens with Metzger.
But the hero, the secondary characters the fun of the Metzger style make it worth the money.
Very Enjoyable Read.......2007-01-24
Maybe it's because I've read so much pap lately, but when I chanced upon this book, I was delighted. Bright, literate dialogue laced with laugh-out-loud humor, a heroine who stayed in character and was not prototypically gorgeous, and lots of side characters with personality plus - including a child patterned after several I recall from my teaching days. The story line stands alone just fine; I have not read the book's predecessor. Metzger is an author who "gets" the difference between sex and sexy, too, and that fact alone should propel her to the top of the contemporary historical romance list. Check out my Amazon list of favorite historical romance novels and you'll find I just added this book to it.
....partially written .......2006-08-11
The book is lighthearted and a slightly humorous regency.
Although the writing and storyline had me reminiscing about the kind of books that I would have found very interesting when I was in middle school, I still enjoyed the lightness of it.
No strong plot, most of the storyline was dealing with the reputation of a gentle bred woman and her relationship with a debaucher.
Don't expect any hidden secrets or dark past.
There were neither intriguing aspects in the novel nor emotional palpitations to make you not want to put the book down. As a matter of fact it was needlessly easy for me to skim through pages at a time because the same thoughts were repeated over and over again from chapter to chapter. I didn't know how many times or in how many ways one could lament about a soiled reputation.
All in all, because I have enjoyed Ms Metzger's work in the past and I'm a little partial to her I'll rate this book 3 stars. I'm also in no hurry nor do I care to read about the lost Endicott Sister in the last book of the trilogy. But since I do own the book in my library, hopefully when I have no other choice I just might oblige myself.
highly readable.......2006-06-10
Makes sense without having read the first book of the trilogy, Ace of Hearts. Not as strong as that book, but highly readable, exhibiting Metzger's usual humor.
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