ISBN: 0976717204

The following review was contributed by: NORM GOLDMAN:  Editor of Bookpleasures. CLICK TO VIEW  Norm Goldman's Reviews

To read Norm's Interview With Glenn and Dale CLICK HERE

Assemble some of the finest travel writers in the business, give their creativity free rein, mix in some stunning photos contributed by some outstanding photographers et voilà you have succeeded in publishing a coffee table guide book pertaining to the Caribbean that, as the French say, it is “extraordinaire!”

This is precisely what has been accomplished with the premier issue of Caribbean Escapes that includes writers who are well-known from their contributions to such publications as Conde Nest, Travel and Leisure, Departures and The Robb Report. In addition, there is also the brilliant photography of Greg Johnston, a former photographer of the year as chosen by the Society of American Travel Writers.

Any first-rate guide-book should begin by being highly readable and informative, and the Caribbean Escapes is that and more.

These well-known travel writers and photographers have used their experienced and talented voices to dazzling effects as they describe in pictures and words the exotic islands of Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Curacao, Grenada, Jamaica, Panama, Puerto Rico, St. Barts, St, Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St Martin/St. Maarten, St. Vincent & The Grenadines, Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

As the editorial director, Dale Leatherman, states in the introduction, “the gifted writers know how to describe every nuance of a place so that you can decide it's for you.” Moreover, the richly visual format as evidenced the awesome photographs, evoke a starling wealth of a variety of islands that would probably never even grace an art gallery or museum.

Each section dealing with a particular island provides the readers with a well-rounded picture meticulously detailing its uniqueness and attractiveness . This is subsequently followed by two page descriptions with vibrant images that showcase one hundred up-scale resorts that are scattered on the various islands. The writing is engaging, seamlessly transporting the reader from island to island without loosing a beat.

In addition, in order to publish a successful guide-book, it is vital that you explain and point out some important, useful and pertinent facts. Caribbean Escapes accomplishes this with its special fascinating sections pertaining to food & drink, golf, high adventure, history, shopping, romance, and spas.

The contributing writers and photographers illustrate that these magnificent islands are hardly limited when it comes to history, geology, flora and fauna.

For example, the special section focusing on the history of the islands contributed by writers Cindy Kilgore and Alan Moore reveals that the shifting of the earth's tectonic plates twenty-five million years ago sprouted volcanic islands that formed the Caribbean chain. We are also apprised of the fact that it was Columbus who was the first European to endorse slavery in the region, and that the British land owners were able to enjoy the profits from the sugar cane industry while remaining in Europe.

These and other tidbits provide the readers with a background and historical framework with which to appreciate the extraordinary beauty of the Caribbean. Although this coffee table book is somewhat weighty, and as the authors states excessively oversized, it is nonethess a magnificent undertaking splendidly executed.