"Secrets of the Wine Whisperer" is an informative, enjoyable and Very Funny chronicle of an innocent couple's descent into wine appreciation. From "how to select a wine glass" to "is a cork really needed" to "how the wine ratings work," the book is filled with vitally useful (and often hilarious) information for both the wine newcomer and experienced enthusiast. The "Wine Whisperer" is not in the wine business and does not make a living from the wine trade. His "ordinary person's" voice brings a sense of discovery that will touch and amuse both the wine beginner and confirmed collector.

Wine culture is a complex phenomenon of increasing importance in modern society, and it combines the joys of wine appreciation with the frustrations of trying to verbally communicate sensory impressions. While wine appreciation is traditionally characterized as joyously convivial in its social dimension, sensory impressions remain eminently private. This contrast explains why the language used to represent wine, or winespeak, is the object of increasing crossdisciplinary interest. This book analyzes the many different forms / many of the different forms of representing wine in present-day society, with a special emphasis on winespeak, starting from the premise that such study demands a genre approach to the many different communities involved in the wine world: producers/ critics/ merchants/ consumers. By combining the methodologies of Cognitive Linguistics and discourse analysis, the authors analyze extensive real-life corpora of wine reviews and multimodal artifacts (labels, advertisements, documentaries) to reflect on the many inherent difficulties but also to highlight the rich and creative figurative strategies employed to compensate for the absence of a proper wine jargon of a more unambiguous nature.

“TRACY HOGG HAS GIVEN PARENTS A GREAT GIFT–the ability to develop early insight into their child’s temperament.” –Los Angeles Family When Tracy Hogg’s Secrets of the Baby Whisperer was first published, it soared onto bestseller lists across the country. Parents everywhere became “whisperers” to their newborns, amazed that they could actually communicate with their baby within weeks of their child’s birth. Tracy gave parents what for some amounted to a miracle: the ability to understand their baby’s every coo and cry so that they could tell immediately if the baby was hungry, tired, in real distress, or just in need of a little TLC. Tracy also dispelled the insidious myth that parents must go sleepless for the first year of a baby’s life–because a happy baby sleeps through the night. Now you too can benefit from Tracy’s more than twenty years’ experience. In this groundbreaking book, she shares simple, accessible programs in which you will learn: • E.A.S.Y.–how to get baby to eat, play, and sleep on a schedule that will make every member of the household’s life easier and happier. • S.L.O.W.–how to interpret what your baby is trying to tell you (so you don’t try to feed him when he really wants a nap). • How to identify which type of baby yours is–Angel, Textbook, Touchy, Spirited, or Grumpy–and then learn the best way to interact with that type. • Tracy’s Three Day Magic–how to change any and all bad habits (yours and the baby’s) in just three days. At the heart of Tracy’s simple but profound message: treat the baby as you would like to be treated yourself. Reassuring, down-to-earth, and often flying in the face of conventional wisdom, Secrets of the Baby Whisperer promises parents not only a healthier, happier baby but a more relaxed and happy household as well.

An extensive, easy-to-read guide to growing healthy orchids again and again, perfect for beginners, as well as experts looking for new tricks. Orchids are more popular than ever but can be intimidating in their exotic beauty. In this start-to-finish guide, acclaimed orchid expert Bruce Rogers demystifies the growing process so you can watch your plants thrive and bloom year after year. The Orchid Whisperer outlines: · How to buy orchids: What to look for, how to get the most for your money, and what questions to ask for · Essentials for orchid care: Watering, fertilizing, repotting, and common myths · Popular easy-to-grow orchid types and what to know about them · Creative decorating ideas: Choosing containers, displaying orchids, and how to create centerpieces and garlands · And much more Packed with expert advice and helpful tips and featuring more than one hundred beautiful color photographs of breathtaking plants, The Orchid Whisperer is a must-have for orchid lovers of every stripe. Praise for The Orchid Whisperer “In layman’s language, Rogers shares his recommendations for plant selection, repotting, watering, and fertilizing most of the tropicals you will find at local markets. Sections such as “Orchid True and False” and “Location, Location, Location” share practical advice with a splash of humor.” —Marin Independent Journal “An eminently intelligent and attractive book for beginning orchid growers. Rogers’ language is engaging and humorous, and strikes the right balance between being easy to read and needing a science degree to understand. . . . The Orchid Whisperer is one to put on the holiday list for novice orchidists.” —Orchids

Unnerved by the ceaseless demands of your toddler? Concerned that your two-year-old isn’t developing on schedule? You clearly need to spend some time with Tracy Hogg. Nicknamed the “baby whisperer” by grateful parents because of her extraordinary gift for understanding and connecting with children, Tracy became internationally famous after the smashing success of her New York Times bestseller Secrets of the Baby Whisperer. Now Tracy is back with the same winning blend of common sense, uncanny intuition, and results-getting guidance in her new book, Secrets of the Baby Whisperer for Toddlers. Yes, the toddler years have their stresses and challenges for both parents and children–but with Tracy at your side, you’ll find that this can also be the most fascinating and rewarding stretch of parenthood. As in her hugely popular first book, Tracy brings her vast experience to bear on the issues and dilemmas with which all parents grapple during toddlerhood. Starting with the simple but essential premise that there is no such thing as a “typical” child, Tracy guides you through her unique programs, including: • H.E.L.P. (Hold back, Explain, Limit, Praise): the mantra that will remind you of the four elements that are critical to fostering your child’s growth and independence. • Using T.L.C. (Talk, Listen, Clarify) to communicate with your toddler, to figure out what she is really thinking, and to best help her express herself. • R&R: the Routines and Rituals that give structure and predictability to daily life and a sense of continuity to holidays and special occasions. • Rehearsals for Change: ways of preparing your toddler for new experiences by encouraging her to practice her skills in the safe, controlled setting of your family. • Conscious Discipline: a way of teaching your toddler how to behave and manage his emotions, while being mindful of the lessons you teach with your own behavior. Tracy knows that your child is special–a one-of-a-kind individual with her own gifts and needs–and she has dedicated this marvelous new book to helping you appreciate and respect your child’s uniqueness. Whether it’s making new friends, mastering potty training, or eating at the family dinner table, your child will do it in her own way and at his own pace. With Tracy as your guide, you can share in the achievements of toddlerhood every step of the way. Practical, reassuring, and written with wit and energy and boundless enthusiasm for real children and their everyday behavior, this book will be your constant companion during the magical, challenging toddler years.

They can’t say no to the mistletoe! Easy going event coordinator Katy Costa is called in to sub for her perfectionist sister at a Christmas Eve wedding in Portland, Maine. Nice guy chef Cole St. Onge takes over from his temperamental boss for the same event. The problem? Each thinks the other is their prickly counterpart and anticipate fireworks when they meet. But it’s the sparks that fly between them that’s unexpected—and unwelcome. Katy’s skittish after a bad breakup. Left at the altar, Cole’s sworn off romance for good. They both vow to do their job and stay out of each other’s way. That plan goes awry as troubles mount. A sudden nor’easter snowstorm blows in, forcing guests to stay home. Mix in a stressed-out bride, an accident-prone groom, a power outage, Katy’s deejay ex making trouble, a matchmaking grandma, and lots and lots of mistletoe, and what’s supposed to be a magical holiday affair fast becomes a Christmas disaster. Forced to team up to put out the many fires, the blaze between Cole and Katy burns brighter as the evening wears on. Can they ignore their growing attraction and keep their relationship strictly professional? Or will they give in to the mistletoe and say I do to a Christmas kiss that promises more to come in the new year? If you love a sweet and funny romance with a dash of mistaken identity, then this delicious holiday treat is for you!

The Vine Whisperer is a remarkable story about one man's love for the land and his battle to defend it. Filippo Testa was born and brought up in Palermo, the son of a Sicilian count. A budding musician, he was determined to follow a career as a jazz pianist until his father died and he inherited the family vineyards. Unschooled in the ways of the countryside, spurred on by the challenge of reviving what was a failing and unproductive estate, and driven by a strange but irresistible fascination for the unknown, he launched himself into a world of joy, wonder and fear that was to change his life forever. Based on stories, diary entries and interviews collated by Filippo Testa and Susannah Elliott, The Vine Whisperer interweaves fact, fiction and poetry into a beautiful but spine-chilling chronicle of life in the vineyards of western Sicily.

A heartwarming tale of hope, fate, and folk magic unfolds when a young woman travels to a sleepy southern town in the Appalachian Mountains to bury her best friend. "A feast for the senses. Willa Reece has written a magical, romantic tale about our essential connections to nature and to each other." --Sarah Addison Allen, New York Times bestselling author At the age of eleven, Mel Smith's life found its purpose when she met Sarah Ross. Ten years later, Sarah's sudden death threatens to break her. To fulfill a final promise to her best friend, Mel travels to an idyllic small town nestled in the shadows of the Appalachian Mountains. Yet Morgan's Gap is more than a land of morning mists and deep forest shadows. There are secrets that call to Mel, in the gaze of the gnarled and knowing woman everyone calls Granny, in a salvaged remedy book filled with the magic of simple mountain traditions, and in the connection, she feels to the Ross homestead and the wilderness around it. With every taste of sweet honey and tart blackberries, the wildwood twines further into Mel's broken heart. But a threat lingers in the woods--one that may have something to do with Sarah's untimely death and that has now set its sight on Mel. The wildwood is whispering. It has secrets to reveal--if you're willing to listen . . . Praise for Wildwood Whispers: "Willa Reece has perfectly infused magic, suspense, and a love of nature deep into the pages of this novel. Ultimately filled with hope, love, and the power of growth and resilience, Wildwood Whispers is a thought-provoking, memorable debut." --Heather Webber, USA Today bestselling author of Midnight at the Blackbird Café "I loved everything about Wildwood Whispers. Readers craving a witchy story full of found family, lush nature, and small-town secrets will find it utterly enchanting." --Hester Fox, author of The Witch of Willow Hall

Napa Valley winery manager Nikki Sands is full of Christmas cheer and anticipating an exciting family vacation to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico to bring in the New Year. Along with her husband Derek, his brother Simon, and Simon’s partner Marco they head for sun, surf, and sand expecting to enjoy some serious R & R. However, things turn dark rather rapidly when Nikki uncovers a dead body washed up on the shore. The victim, a woman who goes by the name Dream, was staying at the same hotel as Nikki, and seemed like a troubled soul. When someone who Nikki believes did not commit the crime is arrested, in typical Nikki Sands fashion she goes on the hunt for a killer. This time she not only receives a little help from Simon and Marco, but also—surprisingly—from her newlywed husband Derek. When a second body turns up though, Nikki & Co. begin to realize that they might be in way over their heads on this one, as it looks like a Mexican Cartel could have a hand in the murders. With car chases, masterful disguises, and a couple of Chihuahuas wearing ponchos and sombreros, Nikki will have to find who is behind the murders quick, or possibly find herself and her family six-feet under. This box set contains: A Killer Margarita Dog Gone Dog A Perfectly Purloined Pinot Cooking by the Book