The Ball Player

The Ball Player~a novel~ by Clay Snellgrove

This is a book about a man and his love for baseball. The Ball Player began playing baseball in high school and then played for the Minor Leagues hoping for the chance to make it to the Majors.

I am not a real baseball fan and maybe because of that, I really learned a lot about the people involved in the game. A lot of emotions are tied into this book and I could see the Ball Player cared for what happened to those he loved and cared for as well as what he did with his life. The reader could feel the tension as the

player prepared to bat, run or catch a ball. I learned a lot about baseball and the players; moving from team to team must be hard as well as emotional. The book describes the game, talks about drugs, sex and ups and downs in life. Dreams are an important part of the novel and what it takes to get them. The death of his best friend hits hard for the Ball Player and to a reader like me.

Clay Snellgrove was raised by caring parents and this was apparent in his book with the respect for the parents in the book. He did play for the San Diego Padres and played six seasons in professional baseball. Clay and his wife, Erin, live in Tennessee. At first I thought he was from Round Rock, Texas because it was mentioned a couple of times. I lived in Round Rock for ten years and they do have a baseball team there. He also mentioned Midland, Texas for a ball game; Midland is 52 miles from my hometown. The Ball Player is in first tense but so different in the writing that the main character answers are never in quotes.

F word only used two times and other language was not bad. Sorry, I do not personally care for a lot of foul mouth language so I add this to my reviews. It is a love story that also carries a lot of "what do I do?" in the book. I give it a 4 1/2 star rating.

You may reach Clay at www.claysnellgrove.com or find his blog at claysnellgrove.blogspot.com. His email is : clay@claysnellgrove.com.

I have a complimentary paperback copy of The Ball Player from the author. Readers may also purchase a Kindle version on Amazon.

I will post this on my blog. LibraryThing.com, Amazon and goodreads.com

Leona Olson

mnleona.blogspot.com

Serendipity by Carly Phillips

Faith Harrington was a girl of privilege in the town of Serendipity until her father ended up in prison for a Ponzi scheme. Ethan Barron was the bad boy who left town after his parent's death in an accident. Both have come back home to restart their lives. A teenaged sister Ethan never knew he had has entered the picture and he is now the big brother who has to take care of her along with his two estranged brothers. Faith has some close friends and a somewhat connection with her mother.


I liked this book for a quick read that connected family and friends. Ethan bought the mansion where Faith had lived and wants her to decorate the place. This is a good start to her business but emotional.

The book is "sexually charged" as the author has described at one time in the book.

I will give it a 3 1/2 star. I borrowed Serendipity from my library.

When You Wish by Lori Handeland

When You Wish
by Lori Handeland

A story of Doctor Daniel Chadwick and Grace Lightfoot competing for a grant on the projects they both feel are important. The grant will come Mrs. Cabilla who will make the final decision.

The challenge comes when the two main characters are supposed to work together for two weeks before it is decided who will get the grant.

Grace has a different outlook on life than Dan; she is free spirited and he is reserved. Her project is Project Hope and his is a medical research project.

Dan's family has disinherited him because he went into the wrong field of medicine and Grace was still angry at her father for letting stress kill him (my feelings). He was Ojibwe and his wife Irish. The Ojibwe believed in taking care of family and so he took care of his three sisters who loved in the same house as Grace. They are wonderful characters and I really see them as characters. There is also Olaf, a Norwegian, who protects Grace from "bad men".

Again, the author brings the flavor of her home state of Wisconsin. I live in Minnesota but was not raised here so I had to learn these things of Minnesota and Wisconsin. The lab for Daniel is on a old Boy Scout Camp in Wisconsin; my sons went to Tomahawk Scout Camp in Wisconsin. There is Lake Illusion in the book and Wisconsin is full of lakes. Lutefisk is mentioned in the book and it is a cured fish eaten traditionally by Scandinavians. Mosquitos are thick when there is a lot of rain and so true. I learned in one of her book why Wisconsin is called the Badger State. I like this type of information in books; it makes the book more personal.

I think that Lori Handeland does a good job of her descriptions; the reader is almost there.

The story is about an oil and water mixture from the two main characters they get along and then don't get along. The reader wants to know what really is going to happen at the end. Some steamy kissing scenes but not bad.

A good read for the airplane or sitting outside. The authors's site is www.lorihandeland.com.

This will also be posted on my blog:www.mnleona.blogspot.com and www.librarything.com

I received a complimentary copy of When You Wish to read and review. The opinions are my own.

Leona Olson

The Little Women Letters

Gabrielle Donnelly has brought the Little Women of the late 1880s into contemporary times with letters from the past. This is a book about the Atwater family and the ancestors of Fee and her daughters. The daughters, Emma, Lulu and Sophie are all different as were the March girls. The March family lived in Boston and the Atwater family live in London.

Lulu has gone into the attic to find family recipes for Great Aunt Amy who lives in Boston. As she goes through old papers, she finds letters written by Jo. I will say the letters are so real, there is a lot of emotions while reading them. For those who have read the books and watched the movies on the Little Women, the reader will go back into time. The Letters make the book.

The book is based around the family and even though the girls, all women, have sarcastic remarks to each other at times, I personally see a great family closeness.

The parents of Emma, Lulu and Sophie were at one time hippies. David is a publisher and travels a lot; Fee is interested in her garden. Emma is planning her wedding, Sophie is a upcoming actress and Lulu is still looking for her place in life. Charlie is a close friend that is like a member of the family and Matthew is the boyfriend of Sophie. There are other characters in the book and the author fits everyone into place.

The book goes back and forth from letters that Lulu reads in secret while in the attic to the modern lives of the characters in the book. The "crisis" might be shoes, food or where to live.

I have been to London and so liked the references to the different areas. This is an easy read and also a fun read. Very entertaining.

I liked The Little Women Letters and find it is a re-read for me.

I will give it four star. I wish to thank Gabrielle Donnelly for the complimentary copy of The Little Women Letters.

A Lady Like Sarah

A Lady Like Sarah

Reverend Justin Wells was a minister in Boston but now is heading to Texas to become the minister in Rocky Creek, Texas.

He finds a U.S. Marshal and his prisoner on a trail and the marshal shot. As hard as they try to help him, the marshal dies but Justin had promised him he would take his prisoner to Rocky Creek and her fate is the gallows. Along the journey, they find a dying mother that had been attacked by Indians and her baby. Justin takes the baby, Elizabeth, and Sarah and Justin continue.

Sarah Prescott has three brothers who are Wells Fargo stagecoach robbers. Sarah has never robbed but she is condemned by a judge in Rocky Creek for the death of a passenger on a stagecoach.

The journey has a lot of twists and turns but Justin has faith in God and has an answer for almost everything.

This is my second book I have read by Margaret Brownley and both are good reads. A Lady Like Sarah is a Christian romance book and the trials God seems to put them through.

Some of the sayings that I liked are Monkey Wards, for Montgomery Wards (my father who was from Oklahoma and Texas, where I was raised, used to always say this). Noah was the pack mule, Moses, and his horse, Noah. When someone died, Justin said God received them with open arms, he did not say they had died. Longhorns, quilting bee,hand cranked sewing machine, grasshoppers, mail order catalog, Barnum's Circus, click of the tongue (to encourage a horse) and pulling my leg are some words that Margaret Browning uses that add to the descriptions of the story. Something I never thought about was where did bone china get the name and the answer is partially in this book. Longhorn cattle bones were collected to be sold and used to make the china. http://www.visitdodgecity.org/documents/Visitors%20Guide/2012%20Visitors%20Guide.PDF see page 3.

A Lady Like Sarah is an easy read and I look forward to her other books.Find Margaret Brownley on Facebook under Margaret Brownley Books and also her site margaretbrownley.com

Leona Olson

mnleona.blogspot.com

Splendid Summer by Mary Matthews

Splendid Summer by Mary Matthews

This is a short mystery novel set in the 1920s.

Grace Wentworth has returned to Coronado, California after completing Finishing School in Europe to find her Uncle Charles has died. He was the caretaker of her and her trust after the death of her parents. His wife, Aunt Alice is concerned about herself and one's lineage.

Grace has met Jack Brewster on the train; he is a Pinkerton detective. Jack has a deaf, Persian white cat named Tatania, who seems to have her own "magic". She is one of the main characters in the story.

Both Grace and Jack try to find who killed her beloved uncle.

The setting is on Coronado and the area. Mary Matthews has put the reader back into the 1920s with all the references: Studebaker, Packard, permanent wave aroma, Charles Lindbergh, U S Grant Hotel, Great War, long skirts, Martson's Department Store, Rexall Drugs, Ponzi scheme (named after Charles Ponzi) and the prohibition.

I will give this a four star.

I received a complimentary e-book from the author and Amazon.com. I wish to thank Mary Matthews for a quick and fun read.

See www.splendidsummer.com

Leona

www.mnleona.blogspot.com

Chasing the Sun

Chasing the Sun by Tracie Peterson

Hannah Dandridge is in Cedar Springs, Texas near Dallas awaiting for the return of her father John, who has gone to Vicksburg, Mississippi to see his dying mother. His partner, Herbert Lockhart, has told Hannah he has been probably been taken prisoner by the Union and may be dead. This is in the middle of the Civil War, October 1863. Herbert Lockhard had been wanting Hannah to marry him but she does not love him. The siblings of Hannah by her step-mother are also worried about their father; Andy is 8 years old and Marty is 5 years old; their mother died at Marty's birth.

They came to Texas after the death of Hannah's step-mother because John Dandridge had become depressed. The ranch they now owned was confiscated by the government because the Barnetts left to fight on the side of the Union.

On the ranch there is also Berto Montoya and his wife Juanita who worked for the Barnetts. They have two children, Pepita and Pablo.

This is also the time of the Comanche raids in the area.

Andy has left the ranch as a Longhorn has wandered. He comes across a soldier who is coming home after being wounded. As they are trying to free the animal, a young Indian warrior comes towards them but his horse is spooked and he falls to the ground. Andy brings both home to the ranch; one is William Barnett and the other is Night Bear of the Comanche tribe. The author uses the word Numunuu which is what the Comanche's name for themselves. (All the books I have read, this is the first time I have seen this name. The author uses respect in this book for the Tribe.).

The book is one I have found to be very emotional and also fun such as the birth of a calf. The Civil war was a hard time for our country but the book is also about hardships in this time period. There is love, friendship, hardships, death, greed, family and history. This is a Christian Romance book. I give it a five star.

I have been to Vicksburg, Mississippi and have seen the graves of many soldiers who died. It is a startling fact and very somber.

I was given a complimentary copy of "Chasing the Sun" by Tracie Peterson from Bethany House to read and review. The opinions are my own.

A Kingdom's Cost

This book is about James Douglas of Scotland when he was eighteen years of age. A Kingdom's Cost begins in the year 1300 in Paris and ends in Scotland.

There are historical characters such as William Wallace, King Edward l of England (who was known as Longshanks), the Bishop of Andrews, William Lamberton (who crowned Robert de Bruce as King of Scotland), William Douglas the Hardy, father of James and there is Isabella, the love of James.

James is the main character and the book is about his struggle for Scotland, with others, to become free of England and for James to regain his rightful land.

The beginning chapters are filled with historical facts and the time frame moves quickly. It took me close to one hundred pages to really get in to the personal part of the book. I know little of Scottish history and did learn a lot from A Kingdom's Cost and the war between England and Scotland during the reign of Edward l. As far as I could read with my extra research the author was close to the facts.

There was so much fighting and war, I kept wondering why so much. I got my answer on pages 196-197: "For Islemen and highlanders, war was a sport they savored".

This book will give the reader a big nudge to learn more of the history of Scotland. I have been to Scotland and know some of the area and some history. I even went to Inverness but Nessie did not show herself that day.

I look forward to reading more by J. R. Tomlin. I want to thank her for the opportunity to read A kingdom's Cost.

I received a complimentary copy of this e-book to read and review. The opinions are my own. I will post this on my blog: www.mnleona.blogspot.com, Smashwords and LibraryThing.

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/46734?ref=mnleona

The Bridge of Deaths

Review of The Bridge of Deaths by M. C. V. (Catalina) Egan
A quote from Carl Sagan at the beginning is:
Somewhere,
something incredible
is waiting to be known.
Carl Sagan
1934–1996
American astronomer, writer, and
scientist. (page ix)
This book took me about three or four chapters to really get into it. I did not care for it at the beginning but as I got into it, I was very impressed. The book is in the third person. Catalina Egan has taken historical facts and turned them into a novel. I liked the characters, even with some faults they had.
There is Maggie and Bill, who live in London and the lady from Florida, Catalina, who connect on the Internet and use Skype and emails to communicate.
Bill has been transferred to London where he has recurring dreams about a past life. He meets Maggie at a bookstore and they click right away. They begin to search what is happening to Bill and why.
Catalina is searching for clues to the death of her grandfather, Cesar Agustin Castillo, a Mexican, who worked for Standard Oil of New Jersey and died in an British Airline airplane crash off the coast of Denmark on August 15, 1939.
There were four other passengers that died in the crash; a member of British Parliament, Anthony Crommelin Crossley, a conservative; another employee of Standard Oil of New Jersey, Samuel James Simonton, an American; a German Corporate Lawyer, Erich Bruno Wilhelm Beuss and a crew member for the airline, Alfred Stanley Mardsin Leigh. The pilot, Clifford Frederick Cecil Wright survived.
Catalina has been researching for almost twenty years and the facts she has acquired are very detailed.
There were so many facts, I had to stop reading and give my mind a rest. It is like when I do the genealogy for my family, I need to clear the mind of facts and names. I found myself checking the Internet for more information.
Bill felt he had a past life; Maggie and Bill began to search for answers. They consulted with a hypnotist as well as other means such as the Internet. "Hypnotist's job was to help Bill separate who he was today from who he had been in a past life." (page 302).
The book leads you into the past of many well known names in history. Winston Churchill, Nevile Chamberlain, Ronald Regan as well as many books and movies.
Anyone into genealogy, an interest in World War ll, history and mystery will like this book. Most of the characters are real.
I wish to thank the author, M.C.V. (Catalina) Egan for the complimentary e-book to read and review.
I give this a five star for all the research and facts that are in The Bridge of Deaths. The opinions are my own.
Acknowledgements on page 327
Bibliography on page 335
Films on page 346
Newspaper and Magazine Sources on page 347
Flight Magazine on page 349
Internet Sources on page 350
Archives on page 354
Author Biography on page 355
Epilogue on page 313
There are pictures of planes, people and scanned documents.
Find Catalina Egan at: thebridgeofdeaths.com and facebook.com/mcv.egan
Go to:
http://suzannevanrooyen.com/2012/01/23/guest-post-by-author-maria-catalina-egan/ to read an interview with the author.
Leona Olson
mnleona.blogspot.com ( )

Five Dances With Death, Dance One

Austin Briggs has written a good historical/supernatural book about the Aztecs of Mexico. The book begins in 1516. It also relates to the Spaniards as well as the Mayans, Olmec and Toltecs, people of Mexico. The "outlanders" are the Spanish who came in ships. The Aztec Empire is called "One World".

Angry Wasp is searching for his daughter, Dew, who was captured by his enemy, Talon. The beginning of the book has Angry Wasp and Talon at the ballcourt for the game to get Dew back . I have seen the ballcourt at Chichen Itza and was told there were sacrifices for the losers.

There is gore but anyone who has studied these cultures will not be surprised at the violence. The names in the book have somewhat been changed because they are hard to read; for me, I did not have much of a problem. I am glad I have studied the Maya, and also taught school children about them, and I have studied the Aztec somewhat, because it made the book more interesting and easier to read. Many of the words and happenings were familiar to me. The language of the Aztec was Nahuatl. I recommend the readers copy the Notes at the beginning of the Five Dances With Death which has a Quick Pronunciation Guide, Names of Places and Tribes, Historical Names and Gods so when they read they will have as good guide. I would have liked a map to help locate the area.

This is a supernatural book and Broken Plume, wife of Wasp, is a sorceress from Blue Cloak Mountain. She sends Wasp into the Void where he becomes a "twin" of himself where he can have a out of body experience. Plume has warned him not to go too far.

There are a number of characters and they all blend together, Wasp has his father, his wives and children as well as other leaders form other clans. The book begins with the search for Dew but somehow she is not the main part of the story. The book is fast track and there are many twists and turns. The language is fine and no sexual portions.

List of some characters are: Angry Wasp, his father Angry Wasp the Elder, His first wife Broken Plume, Talon, his enemy, Stern Lord ( Montezuma) who was leader and ruler of the Moonnwalk People and One Grass of Sacrifice, a young woman. Some gods are Feathered Serpent (Quetzalocotal), God of Rain (Tlaloc), and Smoking Mirror (Tezcatlipocal).

This is the first book of a series and the end of the book will leave you wanting to see the next "chapter".

I give it a five star. There is a quality of writing and I did not find any typos. Five Dances With Death is in the first person with Angry wasp as the person; I think it helped make the book personal. I will recommend this to my local library because they have recently acquired the option of e-books for the patrons.

The reader will learn something about the ancient cultures of Mexico.

http://austinbriggs.com/aztec-history/who-were-aztecs/

http://austinbriggs.com

mnleona.blogspot.com

Leona Olson

The Twilight Garden

Twilight Garden by Molly Dean. Publisher is Wild Child Publishing in Culver City, California.
Daniel Weston, his Aunt Margo and her daughter, Sabrina (Bree) are spending the summer at Daniel's Great-Aunt Delilah's home. Daniel and Bree are city raised in Atlanta and the country will be boring to them, they have determined. Bree is 14 years old and has become a "brat" according to Daniel who now calls her mother by her first name, Margo. She is into poetry and wants to live in Paris.
Daniel meets Kat, Katherine McDougal, who is 11 years old at the beginning of the book and they quickly become friends. Daniel, who is 10 years old, does not tell Kat his age.
Aunt Delilah had gone to Ireland she says to find her long-lost granddaughter, Maggie Dell who has been gone for years. Kat said she is dead and is a ghost. Delilah has left instructions for Margo to take care of her 8 cats, which Margo detests.
Delilah had a beautiful garden years ago where Kat and Daniel spend a lot of their time. Daniel learns a lot about the flowers from Kat. The cats are a big part of this story also.
Adults seem to be a problem in this story and I am not sure they realize it. Dan's parents are separated; his father very business like and his mother more easy going. Kat's mother is on her step-father number six. Bree wants to be with her father who has not been in her life for a long time.
The characters are:
Delilah- the Great-aunt who is said to be in Ireland
Daniel Weston
Kat McDougal
Margo Hollister - Bree's mother and Daniel's aunt
Glen- the father of Dan
Ariel Bannister- a friend of Delilah and becomes a friend of Margo, he talks about his travels around the world
Franklin- Bree's mysterious father;
Colonel Nicolas Pepperidge- described as an old coot who does not have much of a memory left
Cary Bowman- the young handyman who becomes a good friend of Bree
Maggie Dell- red-headed granddaughter of Delilah
The kids make their own summer fun and activities. The garden is important and I will let the reader find why it is important to the children and why Colonel is also important to the story.
A good and sensitive read for adults and children of the ages of 9-13 (I am guessing at the ages). This story might help some adults remember when they were a kid and take life a little easier and be more patient. Daniel's father was a good example of this. ( )

A Log Cabin Christmas Collection

This is A Collection of Christmas Christian Romances. The chapters are about 50 pages each and easy to read. Very heart-warming stories. The stories really tell it how it was in the Pioneer Days of the 1880s.
Chaper 1 : "Snow Angel" by Margret Brownley. Maverick, Texas, 1885.
Chapter 2: "The Chistmas Secret" by Wanda E Brunstetter. Allentown, Pennslyvania,1880
Chapter 3: "Christmas Traps and Trimmings" by Kelly Eileen Hake. London, England, October 12, 1811
Chapter 4: "A Star in the Night" by Liz Johnson. Franklin,Tennessee, December 3, 1864.
Chapter 5: "The Courting Quilt" by Jane Kirkpatrick. Oregon, 1867
Chapter 6: " Under His Wings" by Liz Tolsma. Camp Twelve, Wisconsin, 1875
Chapter 7: "The Dogtrot Christmas" by Michelle Ule. East Texas, June 1836
Chapter *: "A Grand County Christmas" by Debra Ullrick. Colorado.
Chapter 8: "Christmas Service" by Erica Vetsch. Minnesota North Woods near Grand Rapids, December, 1875 ( )

The Endless Waltz

"Having just been promoted to Captain, Bret De La Cosa finds himself sailing back to England from the Caribbean, ready to enter into a new chapter of his life with his Fiancée Isabella. He doesn’t get far as Davey Jones sets his eyes upon Bret, destroying his ship, and casting him down into the depths of the Locker below. After learning that he is still alive, Bret must make his way through the Dead City, fighting off Pirates and Marines alike in an attempt to find a way to escape the Locker and make his way back to the surface. Through his journey he encounters Romans, The Flying Dutchman, and the mighty Leviathan, all leading up to his final encounter with Davey Jones himself."

This book caught my attention at the beginning with Barbados and the winds. I have been to Barbados and I find it different from other Caribbean Islands and I do remember the waves and wind.

There is a lot of action and I think one for a teen or young adult to read and enjoy. Religion is part of the book and shows Bret as a caring human being. I got lost through some of the book; I think I needed more imagination. Jacob Marc Shafer does have a good imagination in his descriptions and the activities in the book. The characters were ones which the reader could connect and get to know and like or dislike; there are good and bad characters. I found emotion in the book and personally, it helped me know some of the characters.

The opening description of the book describes it very well. I only wish the book had better grammar and not so many misspelled words.

I will give this book a re-read. I am not sure the title is the best for the book but does become apparent near the end of the book.

Anyone interested in the sea, Davey Jones and his Locker, adventure, something different and pirates will like The Endless Waltz by Jacob Marc Shafer. Find him at www.jacobmarcschafer.com.

I received a complimentary copy of The Endless Waltz to read and review. The opinions are my own. I will give it a 3.75 rating. To a person of a younger age, I am sure it will get a 4 or 4.5 rating. No bad language or sex which is a big plus in itself.

Dawn Comes Early by Margaret Brownley

Dawn Comes Early by Margaret Brownley

Katherine Tenney has arrived in Cactus Patch, Arizona in 1895 on a Southern Pacific train from Boston. She has answered an ad in the paper that was "Looking for a woman of good character and pleasant disposition willing to learn the ranching business in Arizona Territory. Must be SINGLE and prepared to remain so now and forever more. Will be given ownership of ranch. Eleanor Walker". Because Kate had a history of disappointment from men, like her father and grandfather, also from her mother, she knew she would never marry. Kate was a writer of "dime novels" or potboilers as they were called here but her last book had been banned in Boston and she had nowhere to turn. Both parents had died and she was alone.

Her arrival was at a bad time as she arrived while Cactus Joe ( I pictured Jack Elam, one of my favorite actors), was causing problems again and most people were in hiding. The man who was to take her to the ranch had left when the problem occurred but the blacksmith, Luke Adams, took her to the ranch.

Luke's parents had died when he was young and his aunts, Lula-Belle and Bessie, raised Luke and his brother, Michael.

Her "training" to become a heiress began the next day and it was grueling. Breakfast was served between 4 AM and 5 AM. At 5 AM the ranch hands said their daily prayer and always asked for rain.

Kate had ridden a horse in Boston, but not like these horses. When Ruckus took her to get a saddle, he asked her "Western" or "Mexican" and Kate though as a blonde, she would think he would know she was not Mexican. This was a new world of words for her. She was college educated and used long words which confused the men. When Ruckus told her horse's name was Decker, she asked if it was for the English author, Thomas Deckker but Ruckus told her it was because he was the slowest horse and was on the "bottom of the deck".

The names of the ranch hands had barn names: Ruckus, Stretch, O.T. for some. Eleanor Walker was " the Boss Lady"; for a man it would have been "Old Man". The one name that surprised Kate was for God; He was called "Forever Man". She was dubbed "Goldilocks" by Ruckus.

Ruckus was in charge and even though he gave Kate lots of hard chores, mucking the barn as one of her first chores, he seemed to be on her side. This was not going to be easy to become the heiress; some who answered the ad only lasted for a day or so.

Luke is the main male character in the book. His aunts are concerned he has not married and he is already 30 years old. Michael is younger and more interested in writing than helping Luke in the blacksmith shop. Bessie is married to Murphy and Lula-Belle is married to Sam, who taught Luke about blacksmithing. I really liked these two wonderful mother-hen aunts.

This is such a good feel book and a well done Christian love story. This is a part of the country where God and the Lord is important to people and they are not afraid to show it.

There are some sad moments but lots of laughs and also confusing moments.

God invented night said Bessie so "we older folks can enjoy the benefits of youth without seeing how awful we look". They were discussing perfumes and satin unmentionables because the aunts had been reading Kate's banned book, Miss Hattie's Dilemma, which Lula-Belle had ordered. Bessie does not want to look like a painted lady and does not want to wear satin items. Lula-Belle has decided to order hers from Montgomery Ward; she wants to bring some spark back into her marriage. This book becomes part of the story in the book.

Other words that connected with me personally were dust storms or Arizona dusters; in West Texas we call them sandstorms. My high school, Monahans, school paper is called the Sandstorm. I have not heard the term.,"You best watch it" in Minnesota (where I now live), I "fancy" you, I have a "hankering" for you, a bowl of "fluffy white potatoes" sounded like something my father, who was born in Oklahoma, would say, "chipped cup" sounded so in place where Kate was at one time and Monday is washday. Uncle Murphy said "a drop (of rain) every 6 inches. My mother used to say " we had ten drops of rain" in Monahans; she was form Colorado where they had lots of rain. Ruckus says "Us western folks are easy to understand. You ought to know that by now. We may not always say what we mean but we always mean what we say".

There is a Reading Study Guide at the back of the book. This would make a good book for book clubs. I am recommending Dawn Comes Early to a friend who winters in Tucson and also belongs to a book club there.

I wish to thank Thomas Nelson Publishers, booksneeze.com and the author, Margaret Brownley for this complimentary book to read and review. Because is such a good read and not a complicated book to read, I am giving it a 5 star. Dawn Comes Early is one of a series of A Brides of Last Chance Ranch Novels.

Leona Olson

mnleona.blogspot.com

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

This book was recommended on one of my social networking sites. I watched the series on TV recently and decided to read the book also. I am glad I watched the series first because it made the reading easier. I can get the TV series from my library and will probably watch it again. I will say after I read the Preface and saw the author did not believe in God, I almost did not read the book. I am glad I made the choice to read it.


The book is full of history about England and building of cathedrals and the people of the times. Hardships and good times were part of their life in these trying times. The building of a Cathedral is the main topic of the book.

The main characters of The Pillars of the Earth are:

Prior Philip- Prior of the Kingsbrdige Priory

Tom Builder- the master mason building the Cathedral for Philip

Alfred-son of Tom and Agnes

Martha- daughter of Tom and Agnes

Jonathan- son of Tom and Agnes

Agnes- first wife of Tom

Ellen- second wife of Tom

Jack- son of Ellen

Aliena- daughter of Earl of Shiring

Richard- son of Earl of Shiring

William- son of Percy Hamleigh

Regan- mother of William

Francis- brother of Philip

King Henry- the first King Henry

Maud- daughter of King Henry

Stephen- nephew of King Henry

Waleran Bigod- Archdeacon and then Bishop of Kingsbridge

This book is full of history. For those who have seen some of the great cathedrals of Europe, this is a reminder of their majesty. I remember seeing many cathedrals of Europe and in England and they all have the special feelings of something great.

There is love, hate, jealously, fear, rape, greed, religion. love of God and family, heartbreak and murder in this The Pillars of the Earth book of 973 pages. Some of the rape scenes were graphic as some of the battle scenes and I scanned over them.

The chapters are:

Prologue- Year 1123

Part One- Years 1135-1136

Part Two- Years 1136-1137

Part Three- Years 1142-1145

Part Four- Years 1142-1145

Part Five- Years 1152-1155

Part Six- Years 1170-1174

I give this book a definite 5 star.

Leona Olson

mnleona.blogspot.com

It Is Dangerous to be Right When the Government Is Wrong By Judge Andrew Napolitano

It is Dangerous to be Right When the Government is Wrong ,The Case for Personal Freedom is a thought inspiring book by Judge Andrew P. Napolitano. He is on FOX News (FNC) and FOX Business (FBN) as a consultant and also has his own show on Fox Business, Freedom Watch. The Judge is a Libertarian.

This is not a book easily read without getting upset. Although, I do not agree with the Judge on many views, he is so right, as far as I am concerned, that our government is over the edge. I think this book should be in college or high school classrooms for discussions. The book is dedicated to Congressman Ron Paul, a Republication from Texas, who is now running for president. I found it somewhat hard to concentrate sometimes on the content because it got technical and I thought lawyer "talk".

For those who watch the Judge, you will see his finger pointing and hear his loud voice but you will not hear his laughter. Judge Napolitano has his opinions and they are in this book.

These are the chapters and they identify his views.

Author's Note: Is Freedom a Myth of a Reality?

Introduction: Where Do Our Rights Come From?

Chapter 1: Jefferson's Masterpiece: The Declaration of Independence

Chapter 2: Get Off My land: The Right to Own Property

Chapter 3: Names Will Never Hurt Me: The Freedom of Speech

Chapter 4: I Left My Rights in San Francisco: The Freedom of Association

Chapter 5: You Can Leave Any Time You Want: The Freedom to Travel

Chapter 6: You Can Leave Me Alone: The Right to Privacy

Chapter 7: Hands Off: You Own Your Body

Chapter 8: Sticks and Stones Will Break My Bones: The Right to Self-Defense

Chapter 9: You'll Hear from Me: The Right to Petition the Government for Redress of Grievances

Chapter 10: War...War...What is it Good For?: The Right to Enjoy Peace

Chapter 11: When the Devil Turns Round on You: The Right to Fairness from the Government

Chapter 12: A Dime Isn't Worth a Penny Anymore: The Right to Sound Money

Chapter 13: Theft by Any Other Name: The Right to Spend Your Own Money

Chapter 14: A Ride on Dr. Feinberg's Bus: The Right to be Governed by Laws with Moral Issues

Chapter 15: Ignoring Stupidity: The Right to Reject the State

Acknowledgements

Notes

Index

About the Author

Some notes I have taken are: The role of Government is to protect us (page xii); Liberty at last (xiii); Natural Law (page 197); Due Process (page 178); Wavier of Rights (page 179); Silly Laws (page 182); Tripartite nullification (page 196); Cartel (page 209); FDIC (page 211); Taxation violates natural property rights (page 222); Government is the negative of liberty (page 249) and Our natural rights (page 259).

I received a complimentary copy of It is Dangerous to be Right When the Government is Wrong, The Case for Personal Freedom to read and review from Thomas Nelson Publishers and booksneeze.com. The opinions are my own.

I will give this book 5 star rating.

Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran

Cleopatra's Daughter

This was a good historical fiction book that starts with the deaths of Marc Antony and Cleopatra on August 12,30 BC.

The three children of Cleopatra, Kleopatra, and Marc Antony are taken to Rome after the death of their parents. Cleopatra's Daughter is Kleopatra Serene and Serene is the narrator of the book. Her twin brother is Alexander Helios and the youngest of the children is Ptolemy. Serena and Alexander are ten years old and Ptolemy is six years old. They are taken to Rome and paraded before the Romans wearing golden chains. The children go to live with the sister of Octavian, Octavia, who was the former wife of Marc Antony.

I do want to give more details because I did not know that Cleopatra and Marc Antony had children even though I have read a lot about history and watch the archaeology programs. (Learn something new every day). The details in the book are close to history, even though this is fiction and the author has taken some liberties in her writings.

This is my first read by Michelle Moran and I am really impressed in her knowledge and research. She has many tidbits that bring the reader into the era. I was a volunteer at a Pompeii exhibit and I appreciated the descriptions of the people, clothing and living areas as they were so simlar.

Maps are in the beginning of the book and always an added bonus for me as a reader. There is List of Characters and a Timeline front of the book and a Glossary, Afterword, Historical Notes and Acknowledgements in the back.

I give this a five star. It is certainly a re-read for me because of so much history.

I am now reading Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran.

You can find her on www.michellemoran.com

Leona Olson

www.mnleona.blogspot.com

When Midnight Comes by Lori Handeland

When Midnight Comes by Lori Handeland

A short story that moves quickly and emotionally. The story is based in New York City in 1869. Jack has been murdered and wants a second chance at life. His love, Lucia, comes to him and walks him through what he did wrong to achieve his accomplishments in life. It reminded me of Mr. Scrooge and his past, present and future. Being alone and unloved is the biggest punishment when one is alive is a part of the book that seemed so true to me. This is a story of emotions, love, punishment, selfishness and a second change which most of us would like. There is a religious tone in the story and I think a Catholic one such as Purgatory.

A good read. There is one sexual portion of the story so I recommend this one for adults. I personally think some of it could be left out of the story and have it a great read for young people because of the theme of the story.

A reader can purchase this e-book on Amazon.com and Smashwords.com for .99.

Find the author at www.lorihandeland.com and also on Facebook.

I want to thank Smashwords.com and Lori Handeland for the complimentary copy of this e-book and the opportunity to read and review this story. The opinions are my own.

Leona Olson

www.mnleona.blogspot.com

The Box of Rocks

Box of Rocks by Karla Telega

This is a mystery/adventure and "where am I in life" type of book. Two women, Maggie Gorski and Cheryl Anderson are at a mid-life crisis and need something to keep them busy. They have made a list of things to do such as rock collecting, a book club, ghost hunting and target practice. Maggie is married and Cher is divorced. Both have a dog that are also part of the book and I think helped make the book with the extra activities that dogs bring to daily life.

Maggie and Cher head for the hills to search for gold and find themselves involved with a murder.

A college associate of Paul Lakeland has been murdered and Paul is arrested for the murder. Paul found a clay jug that he believed was Native American in a cave and wanted to do his thesis on it for his doctorate degree in archaeology.

Twists and turns keep the reader surprised. There are laughs and also some serious matters.

I liked this book, it was an easy read and kept me interested. The f word was only used one time and I could have done without the almost sex scene. The characters, Maggie and Cher, were like friends one might know; a little eccentric but likable characters and the reader can relate to some problems the women had.

I would have liked to see more of the characters who were brought into the book with no ending for them. Possible they might be in a future adventure of Maggie and Cher.

I liked the descriptions of the area of South Carolina because I am not familiar with the state and it's history.

I give Box of Rocks a four star for a different and fun book to read..

I wish to thank the author, Karla Telega and Smashwords for the complimentary copy of Box of Rocks and the opportunity to read and review. The opinions are my own. This will be a great series of books on Maggie and Cher and their adventures.

You can find Karla at www.telegatales.com

Leona Olson

www.mnleona.blogspot.com

http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/mnleona

The Swiss Cheese Theory of Life, How to Get Through Life's Holes Without Getting Stuck in Them

Review of "The Swiss Cheese Theory of Life, How to Get Through Life's Holes Without Getting Stuck in Them" by Judith A. Belmont, MS and Lora Shor, LSW.

I received a complimentary copy of this e-book to read and review from the authors. The opinions are my own.

The acknowledgements tell a lot of the authors of this book and you can personally get to know something about them. Both authors are speakers and counselors.

The purpose of this book is to help one get their lives together, no matter how you feel about what is happening to you or those you love and know. We all have our ups and downs.

The chapters are The Ten Digestible Slices of Life.

Chapter One: An Introduction to Swiss...With All Its Holes.

Chapter Two: First Slice; Fondue Can Never Turn Back Into a Block of Cheese. Giving Up the Habit of Regret.

Chapter Three: Second Slice; There is No Such Thing as a Perfect Slice of Cheese. Transforming Mistakes and Failure Into Success.

Chapter Four: Third Slice; No Whine With the Cheese, Please! Healthy Thinking for Life!

Chapter Five: Fourth Slice; If the Cheese is Ripe, DIG IN! Be proactive, Not Reactive!

Chapter Six: Fifth Slice; Living Whole Despite the Holes! Mindful and Spirituality

Chapter Seven: Sixth Slice; Enjoy the Wine and Cheese Party! Making People Connections

Chapter Eight: Seventh Slice; Cheese Lite! Welcoming Wellness for a Healthier YOU!

Chapter Nine: Eighth Slice; The Cheese Wheel of Life- How Do You Slice It? Achieving Life Balance.

Chapter Ten: Ninth Slice; Mastering the Cheese Wheel of Change! How to Be a Stress Manager...and NOT a Stress Carrier!

Chapter Eleven: Tenth Slice; Smile and Say Cheese! Forgiveness, Gratitude and Optimism.

Chapter Twelve: An Extra Slice; You Can't Miss With the Swiss! Final Words From Our Guides.

Bibliography.

There are many quotes from people of all walks of life. Some are Ghandi, John F. Kennedy, Eleanor Roosevelt, Robert Louis Stevenson, William Shakespeare, Julia Child, Helen Keller, Plato and Henry Ford. Two quotes I chose : "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That is why they call it the present" from Eleanor Roosevelt and "Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs" from Henry Ford.

There are color cartoons mainly from Randy Glasbergen that certainly adds to the book and it gives the book a sense of humor.

This book has three "personalities" that speak to the readers. The Swiss Wiz which is usually wisdom, the Swiss Cheese Fairy of Life that is comforting and the Stinky Cheese that is negative. The Stinky Cheese says "Misery Loves Company".

The following are some notes I took as I read:

1. Opportunity is NOWHERE. What do you see as the reader? Opportunity is NOW HERE or Opportunity is NO WHERE?

2."I" is in Illness and "W" is in Wellness.

3. Even small steps can get you to your goal if you move forward.

4. Jack LaLanne began the fitness center we know as Ballys.

5. Serve others, smile and give of yourself.

6. Stress is not good or bad, it just IS.

7. Spend 15 minutes a day reading something positive.

8. Add a Smiley sticker to things.

9. Put a can on your desk or table to show you can.

10. Happiness is a choice.

I enjoyed this book very much. It is a good book to give as a present to one that needs some help.

Check their site: theswisscheesetheoryoflife.com where you may purchase the book as well as on Amazon.com.

I want to thank the authors, Judith Belmont and Lora Shor for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I will post my review on LibraryThing.com, Amazon.com, mnleona.blogspot.com, SparkPeople.com and bookblogs.ning.com. I will post the information on Facebook.com also.

Leona Olson

mnleona.blogspot.com

The Map of Time by Felix J. Palma

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author, Felix J. Palma and Simon & Schuster to read and review. The opinions are my own.


The book has been translated from Spanish to English by Nick Caistor.

I was first interested in this book because the cover said the book would have characters such as H. G. Wells and Jules Verne, two of my favorites.

Interesting read but a little confusing at times. I actually was reading this book and put it aside then began to read again. The review is just a touch because the reader must read the book to get the real details and content of the book or "Tale(s)" as the author has said.

H. G. Wells was one of the main characters in this book. His book, The Time Machine, was all the rage in Europe.
There are three parts of this book. Part One goes into the past, Part Two goes into the future and Part Three goes way into the future as well as a lot of this section stays in the book's time period of the late 1880s.
Andrew Harrington in Part One wants to go into the past to kill Jack the Ripper before he kills his love, Marie Kelly by using the machine that took the character, George, into the future with his Time Machine which is described in the book written by Wells, The Time Machine. Andrew is suicidal and his cousin, Charles, takes Andrew to see H. G. Wells so Andrew could travel back to the past. Marie is a prostitute in the Whitechapel area in London. I did some research and find the names I checked are the women Jack the Ripper killed except the name was Mary Kelly, not Marie. This section is very descriptive in the gruesome acts of what Jack the Ripper does to the women.
Part Two of The Map of Time journeys us into the future and time travel. Gilliam Murray has developed a program that takes men and women of London area from 1896 to the year 2000 and it is called Murray's Time Travel. The passengers are transported into the fourth dimension on a tram where they find automations are trying to take over the world in a legendary battle between humans and automations. The hero is Captain Derek Shackleton and his job is to defeat the king of the automations.

Claire Haggerty has decided to go to Murray's Time Travel with her friend, Lucy, but makes plans not to return to her time period. Claire has decided that the century in which she lives is boring and she has no interest in men in her time era. She believes the future holds more for her. When the passengers are getting ready to depart, Claire hides and see Captain Shackleton without his helmet, which had hidden his face during the battle. She tells him she loves him and wants to be with him in this time period. The man in charge of the group finds Claire and tells her she must leave with the rest of the group; Derek Shackleton rushes out of sight.

The tale is interesting and there are many details of people and events. H.G. Wells and his wife, Jane, are brought into the tale closer to the end.
Part Three has a Scotland Yard detective who believes that someone from the future is committing murder in London. This section is mainly about Wells but also has Henry James and Dram Stoker. H.G.Well's book, The Invisible Man, is part of this tale.

This book is difficult to read because there are so many different occasions happening and the book seems to jump into different areas but the author still brings the tales together. It is a page tuner and so many details and people are in this book, even if only a mention. After I started the book again, I started with Part Two and went back to Part One. The "Map of Time" is described in Part Three and well worth waiting for the meaning. It pulls the book together.

Some names are Jules Verne, Dram Stoker, Henry James, German chemist who developed aspirin (Felix Hoffmann) in the late 1800s and the chemist who invented Coca Cola.
Felix J. Palma has done a remarkable job on The Map of Time. It seems like he is in London and for the readers who have been to London, it puts the reader there but in another time era.

Anyone interested in time travel will find this a good read.

I have to give this a five star plus because of all the details in the book/tales.
Leona Olson

mnleona.blogspot.com

A Most Unsuitable Match

A most Unsuitable Match by Stephanie Grace Whitson.


The story begins in St. Charles, Missouri in 1869 and takes us to Montana. The main characters are searching for family, Fannie Rousseu is searching for her aunt and Samuel Beck is searching for his sister. After the death of her mother, Fannie and her servant, Hannah, take a riverboat to Montana to find the twin sister of her mother. The sisters were estranged and Edith is the only family member Fannie has left. She meets Samuel on the Delores, the riverboat, where he is working for passage. He is searching for his sister, Emma, who left home after their abusive father came home drunk again.

The journey takes them through loss of loved ones, accidents, sorrow, storms and new friendships. The descriptions of places in the book are great and the characters in the book make you feel you know them personally.

A most Unsuitable Match has Bible verses at the beginning of each chapter. Samuel carries his mother's Bible with him and reads as much as he can. He influences many people who not otherwise be exposed to the Bible and it's teachings.

Some other main characters are Hannah Pike, Lamar Davis, Abe Valley, Doctor Edmund LaMotte, Patrick LaMotte, Captain Otto Busch, Lame Bear and her best friend Minette who is in St. Charles.

Patrick and Minette are blind and this story tells how they overcome some of the problems of being blind.

No f words, no a** words and no sex. What a pleasure to read a love story of a man and a woman and love for others. Keep a tissue close to you in this heartwarming and sometimes sad book.

I give this a five star and look forward to another book by Stephanie Grace Whitson. I wish to thank the author, Bethany House Publishers for the complimentary copy of A Most Unsuitable Match to read and review.

You may reach Stephanie at www.stephaniewhitson.com and www.footnotesfromhistory.blogspot.com and contact her at Stephaanie@stephaniewhitson.com .

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Kashi Cinnamon Harvest Cereal

I received a sample of this cereal today and we snacked on the pieces. Tasty and light on the cinnamon. I will buy next time I need more cereal. Organic whole grain wheat, organic evaporated cane juice, organic cinnamon, natural cinnamon flavor.

J. R. R. Tolkien

J.R.R. Tolkien by Mark Horne is a small, 5 " X 7 ", powerful book about the author who wrote The Lord of the Rings and more.


Mark Horne begins this book when John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was in South Africa as a child of three years of age. Tolkien was born in South Africa on January 3, 1892 and he dies on September 2, 1973. The book takes Ronald, as he was called by his parents, through his young years, college years, his time spent in World War l, his marriage to Edith Mary Bratt, his children, his writings, his Catholic religion, his being a professor at Oxford and his close friends. There is a lot of information about World War l and how some of the war influenced some of his writings.

The author does a good job of using the names of Tolkien's associates and dates of activities. Tolkien knew several languages and liked to read a book in the original language when he could. His mother, Mabel Tolkien, home schooled Tolkien and his brother, Hilary before they entered formal schooling.

Because this book holds so many details, I am listing some names, places and occasions.

Beowulf, Viking Club, The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, Book of Lost Tales, Midgard of Norse Mythology, Middle English, Icelandic Language, Merton College, Oxford, England, Fredo and Sam, Fairies and Elfs, World War l and World War ll, C. S. Lewis, Germanic mythology, Father Francis Morgan, T.C.B.S. Club, Beren, Luthein and so much more.

Chapters are:

1. Between the Shire and Mordor, Part One (1892-1909)

2. Between the Shire and Mordor, Part Two (1892-1909)

3. Coming of Age (1910-1911)

4. Growing Up in Oxford (1911-1914)

5. The Coming of the Shadow (1915-1918)

6. Language and Legend, Part One (1918-1925)

7. Language and Legend, Part Two (1926-1937)

8. Hobbits and Epic Heroism (1938-1948)

9. The Worldwide Best Seller (1948-1973)

10. Legacy

Notes

Appendix: Bibliographical

About the Author

I liked this book and will give it a five star. There were so many details, I feel the author has encouraged the reader to read more on J.R.R. Tolkien and other writers that are mentioned in the book.

I received a complimentary copy from booksneeze to read and review. I wish to thank Mark Horne, Thomas Nelson Publishers and booksneeze for the opportunity to read and review. The opinions are my own.

Find Mark Horne at: hornes.org/mark

Leona Olson

Petra: City of Stone

Petra: City of Stone by T. L. Higley


First, I would like to thank the author for the complimentary electronic version of the book, this is my first time to read T.L.Higley.

The book begins with Julian leaving Rome because of religious persecution and the next chapter is about Cassia who has left Damascus with her son Alexander because of the death of the father of her son, Aretas. Cassia knows that Aretas is from Petra and wants to find his family.

Julian and Cassia meet at the Nymphaeum Fountain in Petra where Alexander and Julian quickly become friends. Julian also meets Malik at the fountain; Malik plays an important part in the lives of Cassia and Julian.

Cassia is robbed and attacked the first night in Petra and awakens to find herself and Alexander under protective care of Malik and his followers. It is here she finds that her son is the grandson of the king, Rabbel and heir to the throne. Alexander's father was the estranged son of Rabbel. Rabbel's first wife, Gamilath, Aretas' mother died; King Rabbel remarried and had a son with Hagiru.

Cassia takes Alexander to the Royal House to see the King but his wife, Queen Hagiru, refuses to let them see him because she said the King was unavailable; later the King comes into the room and does acknowledge Alexander is his grandson. Hagiru is upset because she thought her son, Obadas, would be the heir to the throne. The King leaves the room and Hagiru tells Cassia her son would be raised by them and she should leave Petra.

Julian finds Cassia injured and takes her to Malik. From there the story is based on trying to get Alexander back to Cassia and the finding of Christianity for Cassia.

I liked this book and the history of Petra was evident. I thought it would be more on archaeology but found it is based on Christianity. My major is Anthropology/Archaeology and I always have an interest in this subject. I read somewhere that Petra:City of Stone is a book for adults but would highly recommend it for young Christian adults. This is a good book for a book club for a church group or one interested in history.

Some tag words I found are Jesus, one God, sandals, amphitheater, death, sacrifice, suffering, strength, stone sculptors, power of Jesus, figs, triclinium, incense, siq and gods which bring you into the time era of the book. Some historical names are Petra, Damascus, Jerusalem, Nymphaeum Fountain, Temple al-Uzza. Petra and Paul of Tarsus. Faith and love are two words used quite a bit. Jesus is very involved with the characters in the book and the reader could sense that with feelings. At one point the "faces" are described as peaceful and there was singing from the Christian group.

I found the last chapters of the book more powerful and emotional as Cassia and others try to rescue Alexander from the evil Hagiru.

The book definitely has history and encouraged me as the reader to do more research on Petra. Check out some sites on the Internet for more information. I did find T. L. Higley (Tracy) on Facebook. She has traveled through Greece,Turkey, Egypt, Israel, Jordan and Italy to research. I look forward to reading more of her books. ( )

Nov 20, 2010

Talon of the Unnamed Goddess by J. R. Tomlin

Talon of the Unnamed Goddess






This was not a good read for me. I hate to begin negative but felt there were so many names and I tired of the war scenes.



Aisha is a Talon, one who is prepared for war and protection of others. Aisha is contracted to protect Rhiannon who is the heir to the throne of the kingdom of Grayna. She has been prepared for the challenge by training for ten years; one of the few women who accomplish this. I found her a strong character and very qualified in her tasks. The book focuses on protecting Rhiannon and helping her to regaining the kingdom of Grayna after the death of her father.



The book has plenty of descriptions of the battles and wounding and death of the warriors. There are no heavy intimate scenes and what was there was well done.



I liked the main characters of the book but would have liked more personal and less battles. I think the book was well written and good descriptions on places, food, herbs and people.



I give this 3 stars.



This is my opinion and hope I do not prevent others from reading this. I have enjoyed other works from the author but not this one as much as I had hoped. I want to thank the author, J. R. Tomlin, for the opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions are my own. I received a complimentary copy from Smashwords, LibraryThing and J. R. Tomlin.

The Hardest Thing to Do

The Hardest Thing to Do by Penelope Wilcox


This book is the fourth in a series about a 14 Century Monastery and the lives of the monks that lived there. This is the first of the series I have read but did not take long to know the characters. When Father Peregrime was described in the early part of the book, my mind pictured the High Lama in Lost Horizons, portrayed by Sam Jaffe. The author has the names of the characters in the front of the book and their positions at the Abby; this helps connect the characters. She also has a glossary of terms and a Liturgical Calendar in the Catholic Church's year. This book dates the time between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. The preparation of Easter and the food and sacrifice one does during Lent walks the reader through some of the requirements of Lent. Food was a major factor and I loved the descriptions of the types of foods and herbs.

Brother John now is the new abbot and is now called Father John or Abbot John. The old abbot, Father Peregrine died and John in now in charge and working at preparing himself to serve as he feels an abbot should serve God and run the Abby at St. Alcuin.

There is a monk from an Augustinian religious order that has come to St. Alcuin for refuge. He is Prior William from a nearby monastery, which had burned down; a place that was more evil than good (as I read into the story) and a problem to the St Alcuin Abby; not all the monks welcome him and he becomes a big factor in the story. One monk uses the word "hate" for his feeling for Prior William. The book has emotion and feelings that brought me, as the reader, into the book.

There are so many human factors in this book such as forgiveness, hate, love, compassion, work, family, death, sin and Church; it keeps the reader interested in the story and the men at the Abby. I appreciated the Latin because it is no longer used in Mass and I for one, miss that. I would have never called a Priest by his first name, taught to us at an early age, and this was new to me to read. I found the book easy to read and a page turner for me. Not too much religion but enough for any faith to read. This would be a good book club choice.

I found what I personally think the Hardest Thing to do was but I will let the reader determine what they feel is the Hardest Thing to Do would be for them.

I received a complimentary copy of The Hardest Thing to Do from Net Galley to read and review. The opinions are my own.

I wish to thank the author, Penelope Wilcox for the opportunity to read and review The Hardest Thing to Do.

Leona Olson

mnleona.blogspot.com

Thyroid

"Good Housekeeping says thyroid's just the "disease du jour", a TSH under 10.0 doesn't warrant treatment, and women should refuse treatment and instead drink more coffee, do puzzles and take spinning class to deal with Hashimoto's hypothyroidism". This is from www.thyroid.about.com. i wish coffee and puzzles would help me because I had surgery and part of mine was removed. www.thyroid.about.com is a great site for people who have thyroid problems.

Fiber One 80 Calories Cereal from General Mills

I recieved a complimentary box of Fiber One 80 Calories Cereal from the Psst General Mills Program to eat and review.
I liked this product and so did my husband. The smell is nice when the box is opened and the cereal is tasty. I could taste the touch of honey, the cereal was crisp but not too hard and 3/4 cup satisfied me. This can be a snack eaten without milk. General Mills' cereals all are whole grain which means all three parts of the grain are used.
Fiber One 80 has 80 calories for 3/4 cup, 1 g fat, 25 g carbs,10 g dietary fiber and 3 g sugar. Fiber One 80 Calories is naturally & artificial honey flavored.
Look for it on your grocery shelves. The box is colorful and shows a bowl of cereal with strawberries (4 strawberries is approximately additional 25 calories) and shows the Daily Value of Fiber is 40 %. The box is also marked NEW!.


The following is from General Mills:
10 Tips to Get your Daily Fiber

Most Americans are not getting the recommended 25 grams of fiber each day. With Fiber One cereal, it's easier than ever to increase your daily fiber intake. Try using these 10 simple tips to help reach your fiber goals.
1) Scan for Bran
Look for “bran,” “whole grain” and “whole wheat” on product packages and ingredient labels. These ingredients can help boost fiber intake.
¾ cup Fiber One® 80 Calories = 10g fiber
2) Grab the Whole Food
Munch on a whole piece of fruit in place of drinking a glass of juice. You’ll get the nutrients and the fiber too.
1 medium apple = 3g fiber
3) Savor the Skins
Eat fruit and vegetables with the skin on. Eating the skin helps to bump up the fiber, plus it provides texture and a bonus of other nutrients.
1 medium baked potato with skin on = 4g fiber
4) Screen for Beans
Replace your typical side dishes with high-fiber dried peas and beans, such as kidney, pinto, lentils or black-eyed peas. These fiber-packed legumes make it easier to meet daily fiber goals.
½ cup canned red kidney beans = 8g fiber
5) Go Nuts
Jazz up salads, vegetables, snacks and desserts with almonds, sunflower seeds or soy nuts. Nuts and seeds add fiber and fun-to-chew crunch to foods.
1 ounce roasted almonds = 3g fiber
6) Be Berry Wild
Choose raspberries, blackberries and boysenberries to add variety to your cereals. These berries have twice the fiber of many other fruit selections.
½ cup fresh raspberries = 4g fiber
7) Bring on the Brown
Use brown rice instead of white. Switch to whole wheat pasta, whole wheat flour, whole wheat breads and whole grain crackers instead of regular white versions.
1 cup brown rice = 3g fiber
8) Skip the Chips
Select snacks that are a good source of fiber. Instead of potato chips, go for low-fat popcorn, whole-grain pretzels or oven-crisped whole-wheat pita triangles.
3 cups popcorn = 4g fiber
9) Drink Up
Water is a healthy beverage choice—especially as you up the fiber. Your body needs more water to help process the added fiber you eat.
Aim for eight 8-oz glasses of water each day.
10) Sneak in Some Fiber One cereal
Incorporate Fiber One cereal into your favorite side dishes or use to top yogurt, salads or oatmeal.
¼ cup Fiber One Original cereal for sprinkling = 7g fiber

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http://www.fiberone.com/

Downy Unstopables In-Wash Scent Booster

I recived a complimantary container of Downy's new Unstopable In-Wash Scent Booster from Vocalpoint.
There are two scents, Fresh (Clean, Airy, Crisp) and Lush (Luxurious, Relaxing, Romantic) and I received the Fresh. They are little pellets that dissolve in the water; put  in before the water, add the clothes and it may be used with or without Downy fabric softner.  Safe for all colors, fabrics and loads; great for active wear and  towels.  I really like this product and will use it especially for whites and towels.

Iron House by John Hart

Iron House is the orphanage where Michael and Julian lived as small children, After the death of one bully by Julian, Michael takes the blame and leaves, His story of living on the streets of New York end when he is taken in by a mob boss, Otto Kaitlin. Michael is a killer but has never killed for hate but always because of a reason, he feels.


Elena is the pregnant girlfriend of Michael and does not know of his past life. Michael wants out of the life he now has and wants to marry Elena and begin a new life. Otto Kaitlin has died and now the mob wants to kill Michael.

Julian has been adopted by Abigail, a senator's wife. She had gone to Iron House to adopt two boys that had certain criteria but Michael had already left and she adopted Julian, a fragile and weak boy.

Both become adults in different ways; Michael is strong and Julian is weak.

This book is filled with surprising twists and turns; about the time the reader thinks they understand what is happening, there is someone or something added. Everything falls into place and the reader finds the connections. As a reader, I could feel the emotions of the characters, good or bad ones.

"Iron House" is full of violence and death; it is also filled with loyalty and caring.

I personally do not care for the language or violence in books but it seems to fit the characters and it is what helps makes "Iron House" such a thriller.

This is my first book by John Hart and I did like the book and the suspense it held for me.

I wish to thank John Hart for the opportunity to read and review "Iron House".

I received an Advance Reading Copy of this book from the author to read and review. The opinions are my own.

TRESemme Shampoo and Conditioner for Color Treated Hair

I have tried the TRESemme Color Protection Shampoo and Conditioner. I received a complimentary full size (15 fl oz) from BzzAgent to try and review.  I like the product for my thin hair and color treated hair.  I like this product and find I can buy it at Walmart and Shopko at a reasonable price. I give it a five star. My daughter, who used to be a beautician, highly recommends these products.

The Quotable Rogue, The Ideals of Sarah Palin in Her Own Words

The Quotable Rogue, The Ideals of Sarah Palin in Her Own Words has quotes by Sarah Palin beginning in 2005 and ending in 2010. The book was published in 2011. It is edited by Matt Lewis.


A foreword by Matt Lewis and praises about the book from people such as Tucker Carlson, co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Daily Caller; Ken Blackwell, Former Ohio Secretary of State, Senior Fellow at the Family Research Council and Governor Rick Perry, 47 th governor of Texas and 4 other people.

The quotes come from a number of interviews Sarah Palin had with FOX, CNN, Peoria Journal, Associated Press, Larry King Live, Newsmax.com, The Tonight Show, On The Record With Greta Van Susteren and many, many more.


Some topics are: On living in Alaska, On Barack Obama, On Being Sarah, On Faith, On Family, On Gun Control, On The Media, On Tina Fey and On Taxes to name a few. There are 32 chapters and the quotes are dated and most short.

Some short quotes taken by random: "I was raised in a family where gender was not going to be an issue. The girls did what the boys did. Apparently in Alaska that's quite commonplace" from chapter on Living in Alaska and from Times (U.K.), August 31, 20008; "In politics, there are some candidates who use change to promote their careers. And then there are those, like John McCain, who use their careers to promote change" from Republication National Convention in Minneapolis, September 3, 2008 from chapter On John McCain and also "Americans get it. In Washington, they don't get it" from Orlando Sentinel, March 12,2010 On Washington chapter.

The last chapter is " What Others Say About Sarah Palin" with remarks from Carly Fiorina, Nikki Haley, James Carville, Sean Parnell and many others.

A good read and a good insight into Sarah Palin. I hope liberals will give it a change with an open mind to read what she has to say. No one agrees totally with what someone has to say, but is helps to know the person and how they feel about many topics such as America, Family and Home.

You can reach Matt Lewis at www.mattlewis.org. He is a blogger, writer and commentator based in Alexandria, Virginia and is the Senior Contributor to the Daily Caller.

I received a complimentary copy of The Quotable Rogue, The Ideals of Sarah Palin in Her Own Words from booksneeze to read and review. The opinions are my own. I wish to thank Matt Lewis for the opportunity to read and review this book; I personally liked it very much.

Leona Olson

Interview with Evan Ostryzniuk

The blog, http://allthingshistoricalfiction.blogspot.com/, had an interview with Evan Ostryzniuk about his new book, Of Faith and Fidelity.  You can register to win a copy of the book.

The Lean Belly Prescription Book by Dr. Travis Stork

Doctor Travis Stork is on the TV show, The Doctors. His book is a "prescription" on how to lose weight and maintain a healthy life style.

The contents of the book are:

viii: Foreword by David Zinczenko, Editor-in-Chief of Men's Health and Editorial Director of Women's Health.

x: Acknowledgements

xi: The Killer Fat Within

xviii: The Lean Belly Prescription At-A-Glance

Chapter 1: The Promise of Living Lean

Chapter 2: All Your Weight Worries-Solved!

Chapter 3:Change Your Body, Change Your Life

Chapter 4:Your PICK 3 TO LEAN Prescription

Chapter 5:Perfect Life Belly Foods

Chapter 6:The 24-Hour Fat Burn

Chapter 7: The World's Easiest Exercise Plan

Chapter 8: Countdown to a Lean Belly

Also Sections on: Special Bonus Strategies, The Lean Belly Prescription Kitchen Makeover, Lose Weight 24/7 and Workouts That Don't Feel Like Work

Doctor Stork is an Emergency Room Doctor and sees every possible health problem. His program has benefits such as losing weight and enjoying life more.

The Prescription allows one to choose her/his own plan. The plan is to Pick 3 to Lean and there are 8 options for you to choose. 1) "I love cheese and yogurt". 2) "I love pasta and rice". 3) " I love soda". 4) " I love to graze". 5) " I love breakfast" 6) "I love to snack". 7) " I love milk shakes". 8) "I love fatty foods.". He suggests that you begin with three picks.

There are recipes in the book that comes with the grocery list. The exercises have pictures to show one how to do the exercises and there is a section on 20 ways to stick to your workout. Stock your kitchen and change your life is a helpful and healthy section on page 68-79.

The Conclusion on page 255 is "Where do you want to be 4 weeks from now?". "The investments you'll make today will pay off tomorrow, next month, and for years to come. Now's the time to seize a healthier, happier future- and make it your own.".

I recommend this book, it is a lifestyle not a diet book.

I received The Lean Belly Prescription from Pssst, a General Mills Site when I entered a contest. The opinions are my own.

Leona Olson



"At General Mills, we value the feedback we receive from our consumers and we recognize the importance and relevance of your emails and calls. Pssst…is another way for General Mills to reach out to consumers and tap them for input on our newest product launches. We want Pssst…members’ honest opinions, and we hope they’ll help spread the word to family and friends when they discover various products they like. Pssst membership is free"

No He Can't: How Barack OBama is Dismantling Hope and Change

 How Barack Obama is Dismantling Hope and Change


This is a very factual book and good read for anyone no matter what party they belong or like.

Kevin McCullough has facts on Barack Obama since he became Senator of Illinois. He has dates, figures and statements that the reader may or may not remember.

I did not realize one of Obama's first votes was to let babies die from late term abortions. Page xviii'

Over and over the author the uses the term "We the People" in his book.

There are four sections: Part One: Economics; Part Two: National Insecurity; Part Three: Erosion of Rights and Part Four: Accountability to Caesar. At the end of most chapters, Kevin McCullough has a section of "Time for a Bit of Clarity". The author has facts to stand behind what he is writing.

Cash for Clunker facts on page 25, tells how We the People spend 2 billion for 250,000 junk cars.

On Health Care, CNN/Opinion poll from August 2, 2009 reported that only 23 percent wanted this bill. Page 64.

On page 150-151 is when the Cambridge Police "acted stupidly".

Many name are in this book of people and places and organizations. Some are: Ronald Regan, President Bush. Dick Cheney, Rush Limbaugh, Eric Holder, Joe Biden, Kevin Jennings, bin Laden, John Kerry, Kevin Jennings, Major Nidal Hasan ( Fort Hood), Warren Buffet and Megyn Kelly(page 180 for her toughness). (( I picked these names from the book and they are not in any order-Leona)).

I think this is a book for old and young. Hopefully it can get through some heads that America is We the People. Kevin McCullough is a Conservative and it shows in is writings.

I first saw this book on Huckabee on FOX and requested it from Thomas Nelson Publishers to read and review. This book was complimentary but the opinions are my own. I laughed at the title because I felt it was telling Obama he can't take from us. This is a serious book. Read it and share your opinions.

Mike Huckabee wrote a foreword for No He Can't: How Barack Obama is Dismantling Hope and Change.

Galileo by Mitch Stokes

This is a book about Galileo Galilei and some other men of science. I always thought of Galileo being an astronomer but find he was so talented in mathematics and physics. His father wanted him to be in medicine but that was not where Galileo's interest was. This was a very detailed book on theories and methods of experiments. Math and physics are not at the top of my list so I had problems with some of the details; my husband could understand the physics when I read part of the book to him.




I liked the personal touches about his family and his devotion to the Church; it made the reader understand the man himself. References like: He played the flute which probably reminded him of his father. Galileo had poor health and still continued to write by dictating his books after he was blind. That was so impressive think that someone was so positive in what he believed. Galileo was a faithful Catholic to the end. I finished this book during Holy Week. Galileo was allowed go to Mass during Holy Week but could not talk to anyone; the Church had a lot of control in those days.



Some names in the book that we have read in our history and science books are Aristotle, Euclid, Newton, Plato, Pope Urban Vlll, Archimedes and Copernicus to name a few.



Galileo is a detailed book and there is so much in this small book of less than 200 pages. I think anyone especially interested in science and math should read it. It is a re-read for the readers who have an intetest.



Mitch Stokes is a Fellow of Philosophy at New St. Andrews College in Moscow, Idaho. His classes must be very interesting with the knowledge he has. I look forward to reading other books by him. The book, Galileo, peaks an interest in reading more of the Copernicus Theory.



I received a complimentary copy of Galileo from Thomas Nelson Publishers and booksneeze.com. The opinions are my own. Go to www. thomasnelson.com for a list of the Christian Encounters Series.

Story Teller Magazine

The Story Teller Tymes by Irish Monahan.


I received a complimentary copy of this online magazine to read and review from LibraryThing. The opinions are my own.

I reviewed the October issue about Halloween and things in the Fall Season. Lots of poetry and suggestions to help keep the children safe. There is a small charge for the magazines and can be in print or pdf.

This is also a free site for young children between the ages of 8-12. It is so educational and fun. There are sections for education, parents, exercise and more. The magazine may be downloaded or in print for a charge. There is so much on this site a young child could be kept busy for hours. They use U Tube for exercise and videos (I watched the one on sharks and it is a little strong) but the company suggests that you do his with your child and learn together and the parents can talk to their child/children about the topics.

The Index is: Playhouse News, Story Garden, Learning Center, Entertainment, Coloring Book, Irish's Backpack, Parent's Place and Contact Irish.

I am a grandmother and will check on some of the publications in their Book Shop for Christmas and/or birthdays.

They are looking for submissions.

Go to their site www.irishstoryplayhouse.com for more information. There is so much, I cannot put all the information here. This is a wonderful magazine and I do not think a parent or grandparent will be disappointed.

Leona Olson

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Doctor, Doctor by Lori Handeland

Doctor, Doctor by Lori Handeland is a nice romance about the boy and girl who live next door to each other in the small Wisconsin town of Pine River. As adults, they are rekindling their relationship they had as childhood friends.


This is a love story not only about a man and woman but also about love of a parent and a child, love of animals and a lost love. A fast reading book than has some love scenes which, I think, are well done.

Gwen Bartelt has moved to the city of Milwaukee and is an ER doctor. Her father is the doctor in Pine River, breaks a leg and needs her help. She takes over his practice for a month and only for a month she said as she is needed by her fiancee who is also a doctor at the same hospital in Milwaukee.

The boy, or man now, next door is Eli Drycinski who is a veterinarian in Pine River and loves the small town atmosphere. He has always been in love with Gwen and wants her to stay.

I liked the references to Eli's dogs, Elwood and Jake. These dogs, as my daughter's Golden, loves their tennis balls. At one point in the book, Eli is leaving and the dogs are hanging out their tongues and almost saying "Car Ride, Car Ride" and they get into the car.

Lots of memories of the childhood of Gwen and Eli, Gwen's mother who dies when Gwen was 2 years old and the school teacher whose age was unknown.

The story revolves around a number of characters who are all involved in some manner.

The author brings in the personal attributes of Wisconsin: the Polka, beer, families and food. Lori Handeland lives in Wisconsin. I live in Minnesota.

Not a real deep novel but one who most readers can relate. This is different than the author's series of the Moon books. I will give it four star.

You can order the e-book from Smashwords.com for $2.99.

I received a complimentary copy of Doctor,Doctor from Smashwords. The opinions are my own.

Heart of Ice by Lis Wiehl

Review of another Triple Threat Club book by Lis Wiehl with April Henry.

Three professional women in the book all have a personal story which captures the reader's heart and emotions.

Nicole Hedges is an FBI agent, Allison Pierce is a federal prosecutor and Cassidy Shaw is a TV crime reporter. The three met in college and one time shared a Triple Threat Chocolate Cake and so named themselves the Triple Threat Club.

The mystery is not who has done the crimes but makes you wonder how it will end. A page turner with many twists that will keep the reader interested. Elizabeth, or Sissy, is a cold blooded woman whose has a heart of ice as the book title refers. The reader is not sure what she will do next and how.

Murder, conceit, hate, love, tough love, guilt, worry, emotions and prayers and some of the tag words to describe Heart of Ice.

I could relate to the bruised arm in archery, I did that also when I was in high school and that brought back a memory for me, not a good one because it does hurt and sting. I also relate to turning on the TV and FOX comes on; happens in our house all the time.

The author really describes the breast biopsy of Nicole and you are almost with her as she describes the method. Your heart goes out to her.

Lis Wiehl is an attorney and it shows in the descriptions of grand jury and procedures police and the FBI use. I personally like a book when I can learn something.

No swear words (that I remember) or ones that begin with the f word that I am seeing so much now. God is mentioned a number of times and one I liked is when Allison is praying because of her sister, Lindsay, " Lord, give me a loving heart. Help me to see my sister through Your eyes". It is not a religious book and not a steamy book. A good read.

The last book, Hand of Fate, Allison had a miscarriage that broke your heart and in this book, Nicole faces the possiblility of breast cancer. The characters in these Triple Threat Club mysteries leave you with the feeling that these three women could be your sister, your best friend or someone you know at work.

The books, Face of Betrayal, Hand of Fate and Heart of Ice need not be read in order. There is a reading group guide at the end of the book that can be used for a book club.

 I received a complimentary copy of Heart of Ice to read and review from Thomas Nelson Publishers. Reviews are on booksneeze.com. The opinions are my own.

50 th year for Cover Girl

The Ash Spear by G. R. Grove

The Ash Spear is based in medieval Britain in the 6th century, the Dark Ages, and is the third of the series.
The other books are Storyteller and Flight of the Hawk written by G. R. Grove.
Gwernin Kyarwyd is an apprentice bard, or storyteller, and this is a story of his journeys and trials. He is telling the story which begins in his seventeenth year and his second year of being an apprentice to become a harper and bard from his teacher Talhaearn Tad Awen. Talhaearn is the pencerdd (head poet) and harper to Cyndrwyn, prince of western Powys in mid-Wales.
Gwernim has a love, Rhiannedd, who is "the dark-haired delight of my heart" and she is carrying his child.
There are a number of characters in this book that have a close connections and loyalty to each other. Some other characters are Taliesin Ben Beirdd, Ieuan, Ugnach of Caer Sean and Neirin. The names are Welsh and hard to understand at first.
I had to go back and read the first chapters to get the names straight. I have not read the other two books and think they may have helped but this can be a stand alone book. I began to pull the pieces together.
The book is after the time of King Arthur and Taliesin tells the story of when he was the bard for Arthur and the final battle.
One character in the book, Neirin, is going to walk the Dark Path and needs the help of three bards. The Dark Path is a Druidic spiritual rite of passage. It is becoming a true bard. They go to the Island of Mon,
The Ash Spear was "the symbol of warfare and manhood but also stood for awen, the poet's inspiration of the bards". I had to find this on researching because somehow I missed the definition in the book.
I liked the saying after most chapters" O, my children, is a story for another day" which encourages the reader to keep reading. It was like a bard leaving you waiting.
G. R. Grove does an excellent job of descriptions and helps the reader know where the characters are and what they feel. There are emotions, pain, food, drinks, people, daily lives and worry. I really liked this book and look forward to reading her other books. I give it a five star because of the details and leaving me to want to do more research.
Go to the authors blog on treGwernin.blogspot.com to see what she is writing.

Marked by the Moon by Lori Handeland

This is the first boook I have read by Lori Handeland and found it different and page moving. The main characters are Alexandra Trevalyn and Julian Barlow and the electricity between them is very emotional. Alex is trying to klill werewolves and find the killer of her father. She, as her father, belongs to the Jager-Sucher, whose main purpose is to kill the werewolves. Juilan Barlow is the alpha or leader of werewolves who live in Alaska. He makes werewolves, who accept the change, and they are part of his group that live in Barlowsville. Be prepared for some sulty scenes and also some language the author uses. I want to remark that she does a good job using the word, Inuit instead of the common word Eskimo. The book mentions some of the words we no longer use and Eskimo is one of them. (I personally feel it is a matter of becoming educated on words and when people use them, they are used to using the old terms.) Read her book to get a different type of book and "feel" the feelings of the charcters. Lori Habndeland does a good job of bringing the reader into the book. I look froward to reading her other books. Look for her on Facebook.

Precious Moments Storybook Bible Book Review

This is certainly a Precious Moments book with the wonderful illustrations. The stories are from the Bible that can be read to children.
The table of contents has Favorite Bible Classics, Words of Praise and Wisdom, More Stories of the Faith and Songs and Prayers. There is a Family Tree section and as one who does genealogy, I like this. The scriptures are taken from the Bible and are simple for a child. The Lord is My Shepherd on page 70 is in words children can understand.
The stories are not in order but the book does not need to be read in any order. Pick and choose a section to read to your child as they are very short.
This is a wonderful gift for new parents and one they can read to their child when he/she is young.The last chapter has songs and prayers that a lot of us learned as a child. Page 174: God is great, and God is good. Let us thank him for our food. By his hand we all are fed; Thank you, Lord, for our daily bread.
There are 191 pages and the book is 7 3/4 " X 10 1/4 ". The cover is hard.
A recommended book. This copy will go to my 3 year old great-grandson.
Leona

Galveston

I received a complimentary e-book copy of Galveston from LibraryThing and the author P.G. Nagle.
The book is about the Civil War and the personal emotions of the characters in the book; the book works up to the Battle in Galveston, Texas on January 1, 1863 and the retaking of Galveston by the Confederates from the Union.
I also have a new e-reader and prefer a book because it is easier to find a passage in the book when checking details but must say I liked this version because I took it on a cruise and also had other books with me.
I liked this book and since it has been a long time since I had Texas History in school, it taught me something about the Civil War in Galveston and this area. I found the facts in the book interesting and books like this always encourage me to check deeper into the subject. Two examples: Albert Miller Lea has a town in Minnesota named after him ( I now live in Minnesota) and John Bankhead Magruder's middle name is the name of the highway in my hometown of Monahans, Texas; US 80 and now Interstate 20.
The book begins with so many characters, I had to reread the pages to get organized. The Russell family are the main characters in the book and names fall into place; even the horse that belongs to Jamie (James) is named Cocoa. I personally think the names bring you closer to understanding the characters. Emma, sister of Jamie, lost her fiance, Stephen, in the Battle at Valverde and her emotions show in the wiping the tears from her eyes as an example. He is mentioned throughout the book as one really would remember a loved one in real life.
Jamie takes Emma to Galveston to be with the sister of their mother, May, and new characters are brought in to the book. Emma has worked hard on the family farm with her parents and brothers and now in Galveston takes music lessons as well as learning needlework. "She turned over her embroidery hoop and began to pick at her knot with her needle". Anyone who has done needlework knows of this problem.
The actions in the Battle of Galveston felt real and were very detailed. One ship the Harriet Lane is a boat in history and the battle.
The author has a Union Lieutenant, Quincy Wheat, a main character in the book and the chapters go back and forth between the main characters; this gives the reader gets a look into the feelings of both sides.
Reading this book is an opening to gain information about the history of Texas and the Civil War in another area we usually do not think of the war.

Cosmopolitan Magazine

I am doing a campaign for BzzAgent and this is for Cosmopolitan Magazine.