Irish Chain (Benni Harper Mysteries)

Customer Reviews:

Irish chain.......2007-07-13

I have really enjoyed reading her books they make me feel like I am in the story. I laugh and cry out loud. I really would recomend this series to someone who likes love, hate and mystery all rolled in to one. The characters to me are funny and real

I had expected much more from this author.......2004-04-08

This is my first by Earlene Fowler, and as a quilter, I was really looking forward to a quilting mystery. It wasn't. QUilting was extremely tangential to the plot and in fact, there's not a lot of mention of quilting at all. I could have forgiven that, but there's too little time spent on the mystery, in my opinion, and too much time spent on our heroine's love life, most of which seemed to consist of passionate urges and fights with her boyfriend (and frankly, he had my sympathy as much as she did).

The plot involves two residents of a nursing home found dead in a room. Our heroine Benni Harper gets involved because she discovers the bodies (the night of a prom she's putting on in the nursing home). Her boyfriend is Acting Chief of Police and warns her not to get involved, that it's dangerous and it's not her job to solve this murder. If she had listened, the book would have ended there.

For not very good reasons (mainly, that she's stubborn and doesn't listen to anyone), Benni begins poking around investigating these murders. At the same time, she re-establishes relationships with a couple of men who have reappeared in town, including an old flame (who is, of course, one of the prime suspects -- but does that slow her down any? not our Benni -- she continues to find herself alone with him despite her boyfriend's warnings.)

The book was good enough that I kept reading it and finished it in a few days, but to be honest, I was disappointed because I'd heard such good things. Maybe people who like a lot of romance and not much quilting or mystery will like this book a whole lot more than I did.

The Past Can Be Murder.......2003-01-22

Benni Harper is busy with many projects. Thereýs a new exhibit going into the artistýs co-op, sheýs writing up the story of Japanese-Americans from the area during World War II, and sheýs helping put on a senior prom at San Celinaýs retirement home. As the dance draws to a close, she finds two of the residences murdered. What did they have in common that would lead to their deaths? Meanwhile, old flame Clay OýHara is back in town. His status as lead suspect starts to come between Benni and Gabe. Benni finds herself drawn into solving this case no matter what Gabe says. If she stays alive long enough to do it, will this end their relationship?

Once again, Ms. Fowler has written a captivating story told with real emotion. Itýs hard not to be drawn into this world and really care for the characters. I found myself choking up on more then one occasion, yet also smiling and laughing at many of the lighter moments. The plot seems to get a little sidetracked near the middle, but picks up speed and reaches an interesting and satisfying conclusion.

Anyone looking for a mystery with strong characters and interesting stories will love this series. I wonýt be able to stop myself from picking up the next to see what these people, I mean characters, are up to next.

I'm hooked!.......2002-11-24

It's so much fun to read about many of my favorites... I love California, love quilts, love murder mysteries and fun characters! I liked this one so much I bought the rest of the series....

Murder, History and Love.......2002-07-31

In this story Benni Harper is sponsoring a dance at the local retirement home. Clay O'Hara, a handsome man from her past is in town to visit his retired uncle and wants to resume a relationship with Benni. Of course she's flattered, but she has been dating Gabe Ortiz, the Acting Police Chief for several months and they may be on their way to some type of commitment. When two of the residents of the retirement home are killed, Chief Ortiz suspects Clay of the murders. Benni's defense of her old friend Clay, causes a rift between her and Gabe.

Due to the fact that one of the murdered victims was involved in helping the local Japanese community, the author gives us the very fascinating and tragic story of the Japanese Americans who were sent to internment camps during World War II.

Customer Reviews:

It's a great quilt..........2005-11-04

I loved the Irish Chain but it took me a lot more time to complete than a day. I am not a big fan of her quick turn method for putting the batting into a quilt "pillow Case". I gave it a try and it was a mess. I will always use the tried and true way of layering and binding the quilt.

Disappointed.......2005-09-01

I ordered this book and was so disappointed with the quality that I returned it. I thought the printing was so crude that it looked like it was printed on a mimieograph machine. In my opinion the book "Time For A Chain: The Irish Chain Updated" is much better quality, easier to understand and is laid out better.

Irish Chain In a Day.......2003-04-25

I didn't do it in a day, but the instruction is pretty easy to follow. Color pictures. Highly recommended.

Great for beginners.......2002-01-24

This is like most of Eleanor's books well thought out. A very easy step by step approach to the quilt, with good directions and fabric amounts for just about any size quilt you care to make. I use this book in my beginning quilt classes.

Eleanor Burns does it again!.......1999-11-25

Eleanor makes this complex-looking quilt simple. Cutting and assembling the fabrics in strips makes the chain pattern come together beautifully. Might be too much for a beginning quilter; perfect for someone who has already made a quilt or two.

Average customer rating:

Great books!
A Fast Dependable Quilt!

Irish Chain in a Day
Eleanor Burns
Manufacturer: Quilt in a Day
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1891776177

Book Description

The Irish Chain is one of the most universally known patterns dating to pre-American Revolutionary War times. While evidence is lacking that this pattern came from Ireland, it has been suggested that the Irish Chain pattern may have been inspired by a similar Irish weaving pattern. Whatever the origin, the Irish Chain is a timeless pattern that continues to delight quilters today.

The original Irish Chain in a Day was first published in 1986 in a black and white format. While this book remains a best seller, Eleanor wanted to update her book and add balance to the quilt.

Customer Reviews:

Great books!.......2006-09-23

The Irish Chain is a fun quilt to make. With Eleanor Burns' strip quilting technique, the top piece comes together extremely fast. The single Irish Chain is an excellent quilt for beginers, and the double Irish Chain is good for people who have made a quilt or two before looking for a new challenege. I higly recommmend this book to ALL quilters!

A Fast Dependable Quilt!.......2005-08-10

I took a class using the book years ago - which probably helped me understand any difficulty with the pattern - yet, I think, that the book is very clear. I have used these instructions to make ten different gifts for family & friends. It is amazing how fast you can finish a "top," by using these fast piecing instructions.

Average customer rating:

there are two other editions of this worthwhile title

Bury the Chains
Adam Hochschild
Manufacturer: Macmillan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

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Slavery & Emancipation | World | History | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0333904915

Customer Reviews:

there are two other editions of this worthwhile title.......2005-09-10

alternative editions (enter or paste the 10 digits into the Book
Advanced-Search ISBN field, or into the Amazon.com Search box):

ISBN: 0618619070 2006-02-10 trade paper (softcover edition)
ISBN: 0618104690 2005-01-07 trade cloth (hardback edition)

You can read Amazonian reviews and editorial reviews of these by
visiting the amazon.com online page(s) which give a free overview
of either book.

BTW the same way Amazon has a SIP Statistically Improbable Phrase
the same way I have noticed THIS personally shocking factoid:
"a time when roughly three-quarters of humanity lived in some
sort of bondage, be it slavery, serfdom or indentured servitude".

FYI you can find a parallel situation WHICH STILL LIVES ON TODAY:
fatimacrusader.com/crrosnov/toccrrosnov.asp Scroll DOWN to "List"

Irish Chain Quilts: Single, Double and Triple (Dover Needlework Series)

Average customer rating:

Good value
Very Informative

Irish Chain Quilts: Single, Double and Triple (Dover Needlework Series)
Sharon Cerny Ogden
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Applique | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0486269620

Book Description

Here is a unique way to cut and piece together the time-honored popular Irish Chain quilt quickly and easily. Quilters learn to cut fabrics into strips, sew the strips together by machine, and then cut this fabric into blocks. 10 full-size quilting patterns are included along with easy-to-follow instructions.

Customer Reviews:

Good value.......2006-02-19

Once you get past the black and white line drawings, the information about Irish Chains is solid and easy to understand. This book explains the differences between the three types and simplifies their construction. Not much money for a book discussing this very specific type of quilt piecing. It is humorous to find that the author prefers to mark the cloth and cut with scissors instead of rotary cut. None the less, directions were easily modified to my preferred method.

Very Informative.......2000-05-25

The book was very informative about the art of irish quilt making. Each step was very well documented. However i would have liked to see color pictures.

Average customer rating:

Irish Chain-Barbara Haworth Attard
An Excellent Story about the Tragic Halifax Explosion!
Very Well Written!!!!!
Awesome! A must read!

Irish Chain
Barbara Haworth-Attard
Manufacturer: HarperCollins Canada
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Literature & Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0006392156

Customer Reviews:

Irish Chain-Barbara Haworth Attard.......2005-10-16

"Irish Chain" centers on Rose Dunlea, a 13 year old girl living in Halifax in the 1700's. Rose lives a content life with her family, yet still has a few problems of her own. Her major struggle is her dyslexia-in those days, dyslexia was unknown so people who had trouble with reading and writing were labelled "dumb" and "slow." Rose dreads school and has already been held back twice,and is threatened to be held back yet again. Rose is friendless and picked on severely by most of her teachers. During troublesome times like these, she turns to her Irish Chain quilt, made by her grandmother, and the stories of its patches give her comfort. One day Rose prays to God that she should not have to go to school anymore. Her prayers were answered on December 6, 1917, when two ships, one loaded with explosives, crash in Halifax's harbour. The crash destroys nearly the entire North part of Halifax, and resulted in the greatest human tragedy Canada had ever seen. Throughout the turmoil,grief-stricken Rose must find her remaining family members, face the pain of loss, and gain inner strength and courage from the stories of the quilt patches to piece her life back together. A wonderful story!

An Excellent Story about the Tragic Halifax Explosion!.......2003-10-29

When my mom got me this book for Christmas, I must admit I was reluctant to read it. I had never heard of that horrible halifax explosion, so I put it aside till Febuary. And I got right into it, believe it or not. It even got me to watch the recent documentry on the halifax explosion.

The book starts off in the winter or 1917, and the main character Rose Dunlea is worrying about her problems, and wishing she was perfect. Don't we all? But her problems wasn't her wishing that she was a supermodel, like other books. True she did mention once or twice that she wished she could be a little prettier. Her problem was that she was dyslexia, and in 1917 a person with dyslexia was slow and dumb! Dyslexia for those don't know is a difference in the brain. They are as intelligent as the average person, they just have trouble with what is seen or heard. For Rose, she was the seeing problem. Numbers and letters seem to jump and move when she writes them. Her da won't let her drop out of school because he wants his kids to have the education he never had. Rose has already been held back twice and has absolutely no friends. In these times she turned to the irish chain quilt. Each patch has a story of her ancestors. These stories are told throughout the book.

She wishes she never has to go to school again, or so she told God. Then on December 9, 1917, two ships crash in Halifax harbour, one of them was carrying explosives. And they explode destroying buildings and kill and wound so many. This would go down as the worst Canadian disaster perhaps ever to happen. Rose convinced that it is her fault (remember her praying to god wishing she doesn't have to go school anymore) is grief-striken. She goes around and tries to find all her family and friends. Many of her loved ones are dead, or seirously injured...but still there are some who alive. This story is a heart warming story that shows that the human spirit still endures through all catrosphes(sorry about that misspelling).

If this book had any major faults, I failed to catch them. The characters were all vividly delinated(drawn)in words. It makes you cry, wonder, cheer and wish that you could shake hands with Rose Dunlea. Then again I'm canadian, so maybe this book meant more to me then it will to others from different countries.

Also at the end of this book is a lovely worthwhile author's note by Barbara Haworth-Attard, photos of the halifax explosion and a step by step instructions on how to make your own irish chain quilt. Enjoy!

Very Well Written!!!!!.......2003-02-23

Barbara managed to "weave" together a very well written story of the largest man-made explosion outside of Hiroshima. Rose Dunlea is a girl living in Halifax struggling with reading skills. She prays to god that she won't have to go to school ever after being humiliated in front of the class. But when two ships collide in the harbour, an earth-shaking disaster strikes, and Rose Dunlea does not have to go to school. While plagued with grief, Rose sets out trying desperately to find the courage of her great -grandmother Rose: the creator of the Irish Chain quilt, and the missing members of her family.

Awesome! A must read!.......2002-12-31

When you read the first few chapters of this book you seem to think that Rose`s life isn`t too bad a little ruff aroung the edges mabye but still liveable. When tragedy strikes you become part of the story unable to put it down. I would definetly recommend this book to everyone although it might be a bit much for younger readers.

Triple Irish Chain Quilts (Quilt in a Day)

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Triple Irish Chain Quilts (Quilt in a Day)

Manufacturer: Quilt in a Day Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0922705933

Irish Chain: A Benni Harper Mystery (Beeler Large Print Mystery Series)

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Irish Chain: A Benni Harper Mystery (Beeler Large Print Mystery Series)
Earlene Fowler
Manufacturer: Thomas T. Beeler Publisher
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Literature & Fiction | Large Print | Formats | Books

Mystery & Thrillers | Large Print | Formats | Books
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ASIN: 1574902598

Andromeda's Chains: Gender and Interpretation in Victorian Literature and Art

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Andromeda's Chains: Gender and Interpretation in Victorian Literature and Art
Adrienne Munich
Manufacturer: Columbia University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Women in Art | History & Criticism | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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Building Radar: Forging Britain's Early-warning Chain, 19351945

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Building Radar: Forging Britain's Early-warning Chain, 19351945
Colin Dobinson
Manufacturer: Methuen Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This is the first detailed study of the patterning and design of Britain's early-warning radar stations of the Second World War, without which the Battle of Britain could not have been won. The book draws upon extensive new research in wartime papers.

Colin Dobinson is a renowned British historian and archeologist.

Customer Reviews:

An interesting book, although not one of her best........2001-10-09

I'm a huge fan of Llywelyn, and have read most of her books. This one isn't one of her best, although it does have some interesting information about 12th century Ireland. The book is historical fiction based on Richard "Strongbow" and his Irish wife, Aoife.

The book is written in the first person, alternating between Strongbow and Aoife narrating a chapter. This can be a bit hard to follow at times.

The reading is relatively easy even with the first person writings. Unless you are an avid Llywelyn fan buy one of her other fantastic books.

Strongbow.......2001-01-30

Despite the negative reviews about the alternate chapter writing, I belive it was a well written book and the chapters were very easy for me to follow. If I, a junior high school student, can foolow this story i would think that just about anny literate person should find it enjoyable and inspiring. The story plot is set in Ireland/England in the 12th century. Richard de Clare, AKA Strongbow, is the son of a very popular warrior. Aoife, AKA Red Eva, is the daughter of a very important leader. I would recomend this book to anyone that enjoyed Brian Boru or who has an Irish Background.

A quick, disappointing read.......2000-05-01

This was not the best Llywelyn book I've read. The novel, if you can call it that, was brief (more of a novella). She did not develop the main characters at all. It was like reading a biographical sketch of Richard de Clare and Aoife. Each of them tells a little of the story every other chapter. This style would work for a well developed story, but here it seems as though the characters have never met and they are supposed to be in love! The ending comes quickly and is not satisfying. A happy ending is not necessary, but with so little story it was a big disappointment. However, this book would be a good read for a young adult (7th-8th grade) and an introduction to Llywelyn and historical fiction. The back drop of the story was authentic and Llywelyn is an eminent historian. Still, if you are an adult, avoid this one and read another LLywelyn book such as Lion of Ireland or Red Branch.

I couldn't put it down!.......1999-10-19

It was a very interesting book, with a lot of cool irish mythology, and even historical facts. It made me want to read more of Morgan Llywelyn's books. It was a very entertaining book, that kept me reading once i started.

A Quick Easy Read.......1998-06-27

This my first book I've read by this author. Like others have stated, every once in a while the alternating chapters can be confusing. I think that I will try another of her books, but try out this book for yourself.

Average customer rating:

looking for strongbow; swims oceans; walks deserts

Strongbow: The Story of Richard & Aoife
Morgan Llywelyn
Manufacturer: O'Brien Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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The Greener Shore: A Novel of the Druids of Hibernia

ASIN: 0862782740

Customer Reviews:

looking for strongbow; swims oceans; walks deserts.......1999-08-18

I am looking for a fictional book which I believe is about Strongbow. The book has a stylized "strongbow" figure on the cover in yellow or gold. The story is basically this: the main character (Strongbow? or someone deluded into believing he is Strongbow?)gets tired of life, strips naked and leaves to travel the world while attending a party for the Queen. Once in the middle east, he swims oceans and walks across deserts while deep in thought. He enjoys a simple nomadic life with a bedouin wife and fathers children by her. If I remember correctly, he has a very long life .. or does not ever die. Don't know authors name, nor the book's title. Can anyone help me find it? I read it in 1986 and gave it away .. not realizing I really enjoyed and should have kept it!

Strongbow: The Story of Richard and Aoife

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Strongbow: The Story of Richard and Aoife

Manufacturer: Tom Doherty Associates
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000HKN4O2

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Strongbow: The Story of Richard and Aoife

Manufacturer: Tom Doherty Associates
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000HKI6SG

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Strongbow: The Story of Richard and Aoife

Manufacturer: Tom Doherty Associates
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000HKLSZY

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Strongbow: The Story of Richard and Aoife

Manufacturer: Tom Doherty Associates
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000HKLGV0

Strongbow: The Story of Richard and Aoife A Biographical Novel

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Strongbow: The Story of Richard and Aoife A Biographical Novel
Morgan Llywelyn
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OTT09Y

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