Off Season

Book Description

Tourist season may be over...
but the killing season has
just begun.

There's nothing like Martha's Vineyard on these crisp autumn days, after the season has ended. Now that the "off-islanders" are finally off the island, ex-Boston cop J.W. Jackson is free to relax, fish, and make future plans with his lady love Zee. But the natives are getting seriously restless this fall, with animal rights activists squaring off against deer slayers and environmentalists butting heads with land developers. Things have reached the boiling-over point -- and it's not long before verbal arrows become real ones. And when a most unlikely victim is caught in the lethal crossfire, Jackson can't just sit by idly with a fishing pole in his hand. Someone has to lead the hunt for a killer, and J.W.'s the man -- even if there's a chance that he won't live to see next summer.

Customer Reviews:

great winter cozy in Martha's Vineyard.......2007-05-10

This book has animal rights protestors vs hunters, a gangster connection, a shady politician, sexual peccadillos, romance among a widow and widower, and kittens. Snow is falling all over the island during Christmas season, and Nash Cortez is stirring up trouble with the animal rights protectors. Later, a dead body is found, and our hero is hired by the girlfriend of the deceased to find the killer. He warns her, she might not like what he finds... a premonition of what is to come. This book was full of enjoyable aspects, and every chapter was a pleasure to read. As with all of Philip Craig's books, you will work up an appetite salivating over the food descriptions too. Thumbs up!

Off Season.......2007-01-05

I always enjoy Philip Craig's writing. His characters are real to life and fun to get to know. I have read almost everything about J.W., Zee and the kids. Also enjoy his collaboration with William Tapply. I like the way the characters age from book to book. First, just dating, then married, the children arrive and we get to watch them grow. It is like having very nice neighbors next door. The introducing of the recipes is great too and I have tried some of them and they are as good as they sound in the books. Fishing will never be a hobby of mine but J.W.(via Philip Craig) makes it really sound like fun. Shall look forward to many more books in the future.

very good mystery.......2004-08-01

This mystery series is ivery very good. I think that they are almost as good as the Dirk Pitt series. Anyone who is a fan of Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt series will like them or anyone who grew up reading and liking Nancy Drew/The Hardy Boys will like them. I sugest the series for those who have outgrown the Hardy boys or read all of the series and are looking for a new good mystery series to read.

I have lived on Martha's Vineyard in the off-season........2002-09-19

I lived on Martha's Vineyard for several years year-round, during the bustling summers and what is known as the "off season." Philip R. Craig's novel captures perfectly the sense of community that year-round Islanders enjoy. He also gives a realistic account about how everyone knows everyone else's business in a closely-knit environment. His characters Mimi and Nash are true to life. His descriptions about how people eke out a living scallopping and fishing in the off-season are also quite accurate. Craig also mixes into his cast of characters a few professional and business people, and their interaction with the native Islanders is key to his story. The suspense in "Off Season" is great, and I could not guess the outcome until the final pages of the book. I also love this book because it contains so many evocative passages about Martha's Vineyard. I feel like I am living there again when I read Craig's (a/k/a J.W. Jackson's) descriptions of my beloved Island. I know every secluded beach and back road about which he writes. When he writes about Wasque Point, I can almost see the sun setting westward over the beach in the late afternoon and feel the salty spray on my face from the crashing waves. Reading this book was like taking another vacation on the Vineyard!

LIKE TAKING A MINI VACATION WITH EACH BOOK!!!!.......1998-08-23

L LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE THESE BOOKS!!!!! A very dear friend introduced me to this marvelous series a couple of months ago and i'm completely, totalllllly addicted!!! i think it would be great to have a recipe section at the end of each book...i'd love to try j.w.'s bluefish pate! as i was reading the earlier fantabulous books, i wondered how martha's vineyard would be 'off season' and lo and behold, that was the very next book in the pile to read....never, ever stop writing about j.w. and zee and their crazy adventures....i'd love to have this great couple as next door neighbors!!!! thanx for so many wonderful hours savoring the incredible descriptions of places and recipes!!!!! i'm simply thrilled that i have 3 more books of this fun series in order to catch up to the present!!!! and when i'm reading something else, i actuallly miss j.w. and zee....crazy, huh???

Average customer rating:

Beautiful!
Absolutely The Best!
The REAL Woman's Martha Stewart.
Wonderful Book!
More than a recipe book

Vineyard Seasons
Susan Branch
Manufacturer: Little, Brown and Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

Heart of the Home: Notes From a Vineyard Kitchen
The Summer Book
Christmas from the Heart of the Home
Autumn from the Heart of the Home
Girlfriends Forever

ASIN: 0316106321

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful!.......2005-09-10

I recieved this book as a wedding gift almost 10 years ago, and I really love it. The recipes are fabulous, and the book itself is just beautiful, with poems and ideas for each season. A cookbook you can browse through over and over again.

Absolutely The Best!.......2004-08-31

This was my first Susan Branch book, of which now I have several, but I had no idea when I purchased it what a treat was in store for me! Each and every page of this, and all of her books, are chock full of the most beautiful artwork imaginable; thoughtful, inexpensive ideas, delicious recipes (although I'm not much of a cook) and beautifully written as well. I enjoy picking up one of my Susan Branch books and read it from cover to cover; absorbing each and every emotion that she puts into her work; it is all so very obvious how much she cares. Eventually, Susan Branch will feel like an old friend to you. I highly recommend each and everyone of her books, and enjoy giving them as gifts, too!

The REAL Woman's Martha Stewart........2003-02-16

I very much enjoy all of Susan Branch's books. This one was the first one I bought and it is well used. The book's recipes are simple recipes with many ingredients that you would already have in your own cupboard. The book is handwritten by Susan and she also does all the illustrations. It is filled with pictures and quotes and personal notes. Susan has a sunny style, the pictures are colorful and the books are wonderfully upbeat-as much fun to read as they are to cook from. I always read them first and tag all the pages with sticky notes on what I will try. I now own all of her books, and have found all of them to be wonderful. These books would make great gifts as well as a wonderful addition to your own kitchen.

Wonderful Book!.......2001-11-05

The recipes in this book are easy to follow. They do not require a lot of unusual ingredients which you may not have in your pantry. It's also a treat to look at; the illustrations are fun and fanciful.

More than a recipe book.......1999-09-12

This book made me feel so good that I wanted to move to Martha's Vineyard to experience Susan Branch's seasons and possibly be neighbors with her! I am no homemaker type, cooking is hard for me and normally I am cynical about these kinds of books. But what a happy surprise this book was. Great ideas for parties and the details of entertaining, not just how to make the food. I certainly love my copy - especially the section on Fall - made me feel all warm and halloween-ish!

The Vineyard Kitchen: Menus Inspired by the Seasons (Cookbooks)

Average customer rating:

Thank goodness for the talented sanity
tried two recipes
enjoyable reading...
A Useful Book for Entertaining with Food and Wine
I highly recommend this cookbook!

The Vineyard Kitchen: Menus Inspired by the Seasons (Cookbooks)
Maria Helm Sinskey
Manufacturer: William Morrow Cookbooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

The Cakebread Cellars Napa Valley Cookbook: Wine and Recipes to Celebrate Every Season's Harvest
From the Earth to the Table: John Ash's Wine Country Cuisine
the girl & the fig cookbook: More than 100 Recipes from the Acclaimed California Wine Country Restaurant
Sonoma: A Food and Wine Lovers' Journey
The New Cook's Tour of Sonoma: 200 Recipes and the Best of the Region's Food and Wine

ASIN: 0060013966
Release Date: 2003-09-02

Book Description

In this age of celebrity chefs and rarefied ingredients, it is a great pleasure to publish this creative and wholesome collection of recipes, The Vineyard Kitchen, by Maria Helm Sinskey. In her debut book, Maria shares the homey yet sophisticated recipes that have made her one of America's most celebrated chefs and a culinary star. Though Maria lives in the Napa Valley, she was born and raised in the Northeast, and her recipes capture seasonal availability and flavors, no matter where you are cooking.

Maria offers 40 menus, 10 per season, with more than 180 recipes to enjoy all year round. From her kitchen in Napa, where she runs a vineyard with her husband and raises her two young daughters, Maria looks out onto a landscape whose seasonal bounty is reflected in each recipe. Emphasizing quality ingredients, her dishes are simple and pure, focusing on the freshness and flavor of each element, rather than on fussy or complicated preparations. These are dishes that celebrate the unique offerings of each season and that perfectly suit our shifting appetites as the days go from short to long and as our dining table moves from fireside to patio.

Delight in summer with the annual ritual of shucking fresh corn, and transform the harvest into a velvety Sweet Corn Soup with Rosemary; savor the summer-only treat of White Peaches Poached in Vin Gris with Raspberries. When the weather turns wintry, you won't feel deprived with Maria's soothing Nutmeg Custard or with a stunning meal of Parsnip Soup followed by Duck Confit with French Green Lentils. Complete with wine pairings and seasonal shopping tips, The Vineyard Kitchen is a friendly, comprehensive guide that will help you create distinctive, tempting dishes throughout the year.

Customer Reviews:

Thank goodness for the talented sanity.......2007-07-02

I'm so OVER cookbooks that try to impress and then merely confuse. I loved this cookbook, because the author/chef is so aware of what truly matters in cooking well...fresh, in season ingredients and preparation that enhances these ingredients. There's nothing pretentious about any of the recipes...some may seem a bit intimitating to novice cooks, but each recipe is very well written in order to guide and instruct. I always check out interesting cookbooks from my library to see if they are worth the investment before I buy...this one definitely is. Kudos to Maria Helm Skinskey...a great cookbook.

tried two recipes.......2004-04-15

Tonight I tried two of the recipes in this book and both turned out so absolutely delicious that I believe it is my obligation to write a review about it. I made the roasted tomatoes with olives and cheese along with the oven-roasted potatoes and shallots. I served these dishes with steak. Browsing through this book (which I borrowed from the library), I see a few must-try recipes that use the minimum of quality ingredients needed to produce an outstanding dish. In general, I don't have the patience for recipes that use up tiny amounts of expensive (likely to be used only once) ingredients. For example, the butternut squash soup uses squash, onion, honey, sage, stock and creme fraiche (easily reproduced with cream and buttermilk). Simple yet different all the same. Based on my thorough browse of this book, Amazon can expect another book order from me.

enjoyable reading..........2004-01-15

I am the "Cookbook QUEEN" and decided to borrow this cookbook from the library instead of adding it to my collection right away.
The recipe for almond paste was excellent.
I made the fig spice cake and it was outstanding. However, there should have been more explicit directions about flaming the rum. I thought it would be brief and over - no way.
It had a substantial flame and I was glad I asked my husband to do it or I honestly think I would have panicked and burned the house down.

The flames were high and lasted well over 3-4 minutes.
The warning not to burn one's hands and face was good advice, but more detail was certainly in order.
Otherwise, some interesting recipes and good reading.

A Useful Book for Entertaining with Food and Wine.......2004-01-05

Maria Helm Sinskey is a professional chef who does ?culinary direction? and teaching at her husband?s vineyard. The book is a collection of ten menus per season where each menu consists of three to five dishes, three being the most common. The most typical menu consists of a recipe for soup or salad, a main dish, and a dessert. The introduction to each menu gives suggestions on pairings of wine with the food, depending on method of preparation.

I know very little about wine and food pairings so my opinion on this subject is pretty thin. The advice includes a very wide variety of wines, including my favorite Rhine and Mosel area wines including wines from the Alsace, as the author?s family originally came from the Alsace (Strasbourg). The author seems to show the proper amount of respect for pairing wines with vegetables, especially the dreaded artichokes and asparagus and varies the recommendation by method of preparation.

The focus on the seasons begs one to compare this to ?The Arrows Cookbook? and the focus on menus offers the comparison to Emeril Lagasse?s new restaurant(s) cookbook. The commitment to the menu style is better done than with Emeril?s book and I suspect the recipes are just a bit more discriminating than in Emeril?s book. The realization of the dedication to the seasonal is less convincing than in the Arrows book. It is a lot easier to take seasonal thinking more seriously when you are in Maine than when you are in California.

Due to the organization by menu, where every menu has one or more desserts, you are getting many more dessert recipes for your money than you get from a more conventional organization, especially when the extra recipe (fourth or fifth) is often an additional dessert.

With forty menus, you are also getting about 15 salads, 10 soups, and 15 dishes, which can best be identified as appetizers. These ?starters? seem to have a high percentage of dishes, which are richer than what I may like to see (high concentration of oils, cheeses, and cured meats). This and the dessert population both contribute to the fact that this book is NOT for dieters. I also noticed a bit of repetition among the starters recipes. Some looked suspiciously like others two seasons past. Very odd for seasonally timed dishes.

The main courses continue the tendency toward the fatty. The 40 dishes cover protein with:

Beef 9
Fowl 8 (several of duck and goose)
Lamb 5
Fin Fish 5
Pork 4
Shellfish 3
Vegetarian 6 (mostly pasta or risottos with lots of mushrooms and cheese)

The 20% shellfish seems odd in today?s healthy eating environment, but lets be clear that this book is about seasonal eating with wine, not loosing weight. Many of the main dish recipes such as coq au vin, pepper encrusted New York strip, and bouillabaisse are old friends, so you may have several of them already.

The quality of the recipes, the headnotes, and the cooks notes accompanying them is quite high. The author seems to give all the right cautions in all the right places. It?s interesting to note where the author takes some special effort and where they gloss over things. The gloss on an easy couscous method would make Paula Wolfert cringe. On the other hand, the recipe for homemade cr?me fraiche is more detailed than any I have seen to date, including instructions on how to vary the tangyness of the product. The coverage of pastry doughs (Pate Brisee) falls somewhere in the middle. The basic recipe is sound, but not as detailed as you may find in a book on pastry. The author also uses the same Pate Brisee for conventional pies, tarts, and galettes. I know some picky pastry chefs who have separate doughs for each.

I found one misprint in a recipe where the text put a quantity of sugar, but neglected to put the unit, so you are unsure of whether it is teaspoons, tablespoons, cups, or pounds. Fortunately, from the context, an experienced cook will know which it is. Very annoying. Tends to put me on my guard for other mistakes.

The ?seasonal? card will never sell a book to me, since it has become so hackneyed it has become nothing more than a blurb word on a dust jacket for many books, accompanied by the obligatory endorsement quote from Alice Waters. On this book, Alice is joined by Bobby Flay and Charlie Trotter, both highly respected and both well paid for their opinions. But a Foreword by Thomas Keller! This is an entirely different cup of tea. Keller is risking his Olympian reputation for a few bucks to lend his name and thoughts to the reputation of this book. I think the book almost lives up to his recommendation.

As many people such as Nigella Lawson have pointed out, the ?local and seasonal? dogma may be good selling points for high end restaurants, but in an age when my local market up the street has fresh summer vegetables from California in January, I will eat them and enjoy them in January. I will even not turn up my nose to hothouse tomatoes. Therefore, the author has failed to sell me on her seasonal mantra. In fact, her rather starchy, rich menus in winter point up some dangers to following the seasons.

I like the book and it taught me some things I didn?t know before. It is a good source for entertaining menus, although I suspect some of the menus may be a bit fatty or a bit dull with too few green vegetables.
Recommended, especially at the very reasonable price.

I highly recommend this cookbook!.......2003-10-14

I am not an experienced cook by any means, but I found the recipes to be clear, easy to follow and delicious!
Many cookbooks that I buy tend to be a bit intimidating. But not this one.
The Black and Blueberry Cobbler recipe was a huge hit at my dinner party.

Seasons of the Vineyard: A Year of Celebrations and Recipes from the Robert Mondavi Winery

Average customer rating:

Seasons of the Vineyard: A Year of Celebrations and Recipes from the Robert Mondavi Winery
Robert Mondavi , Carolyn Dille , and Margrit Biever Mondavi
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

Spirits | Drinks & Beverages | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

Harvests of Joy: How the Good Life Became Great Business

ASIN: 0684807580

Book Description

Every year, hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world visit the Robert Mondavi Winery in California's Napa Valley for tours, tastings, concerts, festivals, and other culinary and cultural events. In Seasons of the Vineyard. Robert and Margrit Biever Mondavi invite you to share the bounty of their table with more than 100 glorious dishes from the Mondavi family, the Vineyard Room chefs, and the great culinary talents who have cooked at the winery.

The Mondavis live the time-honored traditions that value family and community, with food and wine as partners that contribute to well-being and happiness. Their pleasure and their mission have been to deepen their own understanding of the food arts and to share their knowledge with as many people as possible.

The menus and more than 100 recipes in this book, beautifully illustrated by more than 75 photographs, are arranged according to season and use ingredients at the peak of their flavor. Any of the recipes in the book can be combined to create meals that suit you best, with the best ingredients that are available to you.

Book Description

Martha's Vineyard is home to ex-Boston cop J.W. Jackson, his adored wife Zee, their toddler Joshua, and newborn daughter Diana. For others, the picturesque vacation spot is a relaxing escape from a world filled with trouble. But there is no escap for Julia Crandel and Ivy Holiday, two Hollywood actresses staying in the Vineyard town of Oak Bluffs. Their arrival has incurred the wrath of a pair of local gangsters, and a deadly stalker from out of the young ladies' past has found out where they are hiding. Twin hurricanes are about to slam the idyllic island -- one a natural climatic disaster, the other an all-too-human catastrophe -- and it looks as if J.W. is going to get caught in the middle. And since his conscience won't allow him to abandon two frightened, helpless visitors to the fury of the coming storm, he stows away his fishing gear, sends his loved ones off-island ... and dives headfirst into the tempest.

Customer Reviews:

different.......2007-07-04

If you have read other Vineyard books from Philip Craig, then you will note the tone of this one is edgier. I didn't particularly like the extremely dangerous nature of the Vegas brothers running around the island causing mafia like terror in paradise. You may also note early in the story that one of the two Hollywood actresses doesn't seem to be nearly as concerned about a stalker and the danger surrounding her as the other actress, which is curious. I would say this is a fine book, but I bumped it down to 3 stars mainly because it wasn't quite the Philip Craig style I have grown to love.

Go away Zee.......2007-04-01

I fell in love with J.W. and his Vineyard several books ago. Recently, though, I've found Craig's stories weak to the point of boring.
With the wife came responsibility and predictability. J.W. has changed, and he just doesn't offer the excitement he used to. Now that he has two children, the sleuth is just another dad, lugging car seats and buying ice cream. It's interesting, almost funny, how precocious Craig makes these little darlings, shaking hands and exhibiting perfect manners, even to the bad guys. I couldn't help but think, every time these kids refer to their parents as "Ma" and "Pa", that I was back to "Little House on the Prairie". Maybe that's a better title..."Little House on the Vineyard."

Please, Mr. Craig, get rid of this sugar-sweet family. They could all fall off the boat and drown. They could be kidnaped by terrorists and never returned. Anything. Just bring back the old J.W. and his adventures - minus the missus and the diaper bag.

An Old Friend Revisited.......2007-03-10

This is the first published novel I've read by this author and it was like getting acquainted with an old friend both literally and figuratively. I was a collegue of Mr. Craig's many years ago when we both taught at a college in Boston. We became friends and I was privileged to read an unpublished manuscript he had of a novel set in the Southwest prior to the contact of Europeans in that area. It was skilfully written, excitingly plotted and full of fascinating fact and fantasy.

During that time Phil invited me down to his summer place at Martha's Vineyard and he and his lovely wife Shirley were gracious informal hosts and showed us around the island.

I'd lost track of Phil until a year or so ago when I found out he had published all these murder mysteries set on the Vineyard, so I ordered a couple.

I chose to read Vineyard Blues first because I am musician and in fact Phil and I have been know to pound the odd chord, and raise our voices and a glass or two in merry or melacholy lament. It was such a treat to revisit the Vineyard through Phil's clear descriptive prose, and I did enjoy the story and the character's.

Before I started writing this review I read a dozen or so other reviews posted on one of the big bookseller websites and was interested to see the comments of readers who have been fans of JW Jackson and are not happy with the addition of a budding little "perfect" family.

Well I haven't read the earlier books yet but I probably will. I guess Phil should be flattered to have created a character that people care about. I read a lot of popular fiction and a lot of "Murder Mysteries", I'm not a particular aficiando of the genre I just like stuff that is easy to read but engaging. This book certainly fills the bill or should I say, "Phil's the bill."

I'm halfway through "A Fatal Vineyard Season" and enjoying it just as much.

A well developed plot.......2001-01-17

This novel is a good mystery with some unexpected twists at the end. An actress shows up on Martha's Vineyard with a friend from the island, saying she wants refuge from a stalker in California. It is out of the frying pan and into the fire when she attracts the attention of a local psychopathic hoodlum. J. W. Jackson becomes more involved than he intended when he takes on the task of carrying out an investigation. His own life is endangered when he, in turn, draws the hoodlum's attention. Saying more would give away the plot.

This book, like some of the author's other books, has recipes in an appendix. It also has the usual map of Martha's Vineyard for readers unfamiliar with the island, and some side accounts of fishing.

Go away, Zee.......2000-09-28

I fell in love with J.W. and his Vineyard several books ago. Recently, though, I've found Craig's stories weak to the point of boring.

With the wife came responsibility and predictability. J.W. has changed, and he just doesn't offer the excitement he used to. Now that he has two children, the sleuth is just another dad, lugging car seats and buying ice cream. It's interesting, almost funny, how precocious Craig makes these little darlings, shaking hands and exhibiting perfect manners, even to the bad guys. I couldn't help but think, every time these kids refer to their parents as "Ma" and "Pa", that I was back to "Little House on the Prairie". Maybe that's a better title..."Little House on the Vineyard."

Book Description

Jean Stone is a gifted writer of romantic tales that capture the unique feel of New England while introducing characters who live in readers' hearts forever. Her latest novel is her most moving work to date, the story of a woman who gave up everything she had for the man she loved -- but must now find the strength to stand by him during his darkest hour....

Once Jill McPhearson had a life any woman would envy: a successful career as a television anchorwoman and a handsome fiance. But she gave up everything to start anew in her childhood home of Martha's Vineyard.

For Jill, carving out a new, lower-profile career on the island is a struggle. But falling in love -- and then marrying -- local carpenter Ben Niles feels natural and seamless. It feels right. Steady, rugged Ben...the man who makes Jill feel she has it all -- or at least all she really needs.

But when Ben is accused of a shocking crime, Jill's world turns upside down -- and everything she thought she knew is called into question. The small-town island life Jill loves is suddenly unbearable, as Ben and Jill try to hide their terrible secret from everyone they love. And now Jill must ask herself: how do you recapture a life that may never have existed in the first place?

Customer Reviews:

Awful, ridiculous.......2007-08-15

I cannot understand the good reviews. Jill is completely ridiculous in her behavior towards her husband whom is a sweet, caring, good man. Immediately she is unsupportive & continues to be this unjustly way. At the beginning she almost cheats on him too. She apparently is too weak & selfish to be able to handle any of life's conflicts even though she's been lucky enough to have a pretty nice life. I liked her in the first book. But Ben deserves way better. I'm normally very anti-men because the majority of them are lacking. Ben is quite the opposite and any woman would love to be his partner. He shows his weakness as well which is quite understandable & this is when he needs a strong partner to step up to the plate. Jill doesn't appreciate what she has in Ben and her friendship with Rita. She doesn't know what true uncondtional love is & yet she has it from both as well as others.

Menemsha Madness.......2001-06-17

Jean Stone is an extremely gifted writer. Here she takes up one of the most vexing social issues of our times: the ease with which innocent people can be ruined by false accusations of child abuse. For all that, I'm a bit baffled that the creator of the inspiring Jess Bates Randall and the ensemble in Sins of Innocence and its brilliant sequel, Tides of the Heart, devotes her powerful talent to chronicling the fortunes of the uninspiring Ben, Jill, their families, friends and neighbors.

The tale is a comedy of sad, unintended errors on the part of people who, for all their wealth, privilege and success, seem rather shallow and surprisingly inept. They make all sorts of assumptions about one another that they never bother to check out, seem to have slight insight into their own motivations and, though they want to believe they have faith and trust in one another, they really don't. ...

A melodrama that has a lesson to teach and a story to enjoy.......2001-02-15

Everyone who knew Jill McPhearson wonders why she gave up her TV news anchor career and her engagement to Christopher "the sexiest man alive" Edwards to return to her home in Martha's Vineyard. Jill knows that behind the façade of the contented anchorwoman was an unhappy person. Her move turns blissful when she falls in love and marries carpenter Ben Niles.

However, a serpent enters Eden when the police arrest Ben for child molestation. The alleged victim Mindy is not even a teen, but is the granddaughter of Ben's enemy Dave Ashenbach. Ben and Mindy know the truth, but will his beloved Jill trust and believe his cry of innocence or will she join the horde of so-called friends and neighbors ready to guillotine Ben?

OFF SEASON is a great tale that treats its dual serious topics, genuine child molestation and the off shoot of false accusation of that ugly crime, with the proper perspective. The story line brings home to the reader the repulsive nature of a real incident as well as the impact of a false accusation. The plot works on may levels because the characters and their interrelationships feel just like neighbors to the audience. The aftermath of Mindy's accusation leaves the audience feeling empathy towards Ben and Jill, and sympathy towards the little girl. This awesome author leaves no stone unturned in providing an exciting, educating novel enlightening that will bring the writer many kudos and awards.

The Off Season -- a thoughtful, well-crafted romance.......2001-02-10

What is interesting about the "Off Season" is that it examines a relationship that is already established. We know from the beginning that Jill and Ben, the main characters, are in love, married and living a rather idyllic life on Martha's Vineyard. Jill is a former television celebrity, who runs a production company. Ben is a carpenter and builder. Their children, both from former marriges, are grown and doing well. By all counts, they seem to have it all -- a great relationship, interesting careers and steadfast friends. All of that changes in a heartbeat when Ben is accused of a horrible crime that involves a young girl. The strain on the marriage immediately becomes apparent. When the characters start discovering there are things that they didn't know about each other, their relationship starts to unravel. In the process, the true characters of Jill and Ben are revealed. This book is a romance that has nothing to do with how broad the hero's shoulders are or who perfectly heart-shaped the heroine's face is. It's about seeing the people we love as flawed and imperfect and loving them anyway, and being redeamed in the process.

The Off Season -- a thoughtful, well-crafted romance.......2001-02-10

The Four Seasons of Italian Cooking: Harvest Recipes from the Farms and Vineyards of the Italian Countryside

Average customer rating:

absolutely amazing book
Authentic and Outstanding
Most unusual Italian cookbook AND travellog
The best book on really authentic Italian cooking
a terrific cookbook, travel book and picture book all in one

The Four Seasons of Italian Cooking: Harvest Recipes from the Farms and Vineyards of the Italian Countryside
A. J. Battifarano , and Alan Richardson
Manufacturer: Time-Life Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

Seasonal | Special Occasions | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0783553285

Amazon.com

The Four Seasons of Italian Cooking is a handsome reminder of the simplicity and splendor of rustic Italian food. To demonstrate the regional nature of Italian cooking, A.J. Battifarano traveled around Italy and met with fascinating characters in Tuscany, Umbria, the Piedmont, Lombardy, Campania, and Apulia. In each region, we learn the story of families and individuals involved in the food industry, perhaps as a farmer or as the owner of an inn or restaurant. Meet Franco and Esther Carnero, a couple who restored an old house in the Piedmont region of northern Italy, developed a vineyard and garden, and then opened a small inn, La Luna e i Falo, or the Moon and the Bonfires. Here Esther serves dishes based on old, local recipes (which she shares with us), including roast veal accompanied by a sweet red pepper and fig sauce, and a hazelnut cake made with the locally grown crop of nuts. Throughout this Italian adventure, we are introduced to satisfying, yet simple to prepare, dishes. Misticanza is a splendid example--a dish of dark leafy greens, just boiled and simply dressed with extra virgin olive oil and fresh lemon juice. In addition to 125 charming recipes, and personal narratives, Battifarano also presents expert advice for storing and preparing fruits and vegetables from the four seasons. In true Italian fashion, it is the flavor of each ingredient that matters. This means the freshest ingredients are required for reproducing the profoundly satisfying flavors of Italy's farmhouse cooking. --Dana Jacobi

Customer Reviews:

absolutely amazing book.......2007-08-22

As Catalans we love cooking and (specially) eating. This book is just the perfect balance between exquisite recipes, excellent presentation and informative reading. Do not miss the chance to get it

Authentic and Outstanding.......2003-09-28

I just returned from a lovely stay at La Luna e i Falo, and enjoyed six nights of impeccable meals prepared by Elena and Franco. Our meals included all of the recipes from this cookbook, and I must say, not one of them disappointed! I was able to read this cookbook while at the farm, and made a note to immediately try to find it when I returned home. Amazon is the only place to get it, since it is now out of print. It was only released in America, so you can't even find an Italian version of the book. The other recipes from other cooks featured in the book look equally as good. You can't get more authentic, regional recipes than those that are found here. I highly recommend it!

Most unusual Italian cookbook AND travellog.......1999-08-12

I love this book. It is the most unusual cookbook.I have travelled the Italian Countryside many times and this book reflects much of its uniqueness. I bought four copies for friends.

The best book on really authentic Italian cooking.......1998-11-30

In this world inundated with tomes devoted to Italian cooking, this wonderful book stands out. The author spent years researching, collecting and testing authentic, seasonal farmhouse recipes (from all over the country) made with only the freshest ingredients. (The recipes are full-proof!!) This is one of the few books that allows everyone to make some of the most appetizing Italian dishes--just as the Italians do. Everything is explained in detail--from ingredients to techniques to customs to mail-order sources--in one of the most complete books ever written on the subject. And if this weren't enough, the flavor of the food is beautifully captured in some of the most exquisite photographs ever taken of Italy and its food. This book is a MUST for anyone who likes to cook and/or eat the most mouth-watering Italian cuisine!!

a terrific cookbook, travel book and picture book all in one.......1998-11-19

This is a great Italian cookbook, very different from most of the cookbooks you see. Not only does it have great recipes but it also tells great stories about all the various farms the authors visit. And it also tells you how you can visit the farms yourself. The pictures in particular are very interesting. They are not the usual slick shots. It seems like they were all done on location and they have a feel of food photo-journalism. This book has great recipes and great heart and soul.

Average customer rating:

Martha's Vineyard: Seasons
Paul Rezendes
Manufacturer: Tide-Mark Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 1594901244

Average customer rating:

Marthas Vineyard: Seasons

Manufacturer: Tide-Mark Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Collections, Catalogues & Exhibitions | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

North America | Travel | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1594901139

Product Description

Through these photographs, Martha's Vineyard shares itself and reveals its unique sense of place. Visiting this remarkable island in the sea is endlessly renewing and Martha's Vineyard Seasons can take you these in every season.

Off Season : Poems, Paintings and Photographs of Martha's Vineyard

Average customer rating:

Off Season : Poems, Paintings and Photographs of Martha's Vineyard
Brooks Robards
Manufacturer: Summerset Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0964525038

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