Rebecca Hill
A quick glimpse of Henry VIII, and his reign over England. Instead of dwelling on the wives, like many do, this simply deals with the man himself. A rather interesting listen if you have the time. I found this copy on Scribd.com
The Perfect Father... or the Perfect Terror Ryans life is semi-perfect. Husband, father, Naval officer, and adventures, it is what every person dreams of. But under the idyllic look, the cracks appear. His wife has never been faithful, his daughter loathes him, and when he is captured in the desert of Iraq, the remnants of his family fall apart.Told he is not wanted, and a divorce pending, Ryan is adrift. But when his daughter is kidnapped by the serial killer known as the BoneMan, his entire world is turned upside down.All he wants is for his daughter to survive, and he will do whatever it takes to ensure her safety. Hunted by the FBI and the District Attorney of Dallas, Ryan flees, making contact with the BoneMan to try and get his daughter back. What he gets is an angry DA and arrested. He is being held as the prime suspect in the murders of all the young women the BoneMan has claimed. But when the DA is murdered while Ryan is in custody, one FBI agent shares her doubts that Ryan is actually the BoneMan. Everyone else seems content to let the evidence fit, no matter who it is. But when Ryan escapes custody and is again captured by the BoneMan, there is only one father that will walk out of that basement alive....This was a really good read! I LOVED this book! I have been meaning to read it for the past five years, but finally got around to picking it up! Oh my goodness! This is a book that will keep you on your seat! While the unfaithful wife bothered me (honestly, I wanted to slap the wife silly), as it plays to often into the scenarios that many military members face, reading and understanding the character of Ryan helped put into reality why it can happen, and of course, how you could avoid it. BUT, aside from that this was a fantastic and enjoyable read! Definitely one that I could see being read again in the future!
Do you have a kid interested in history?? You need to check out this book! Inside Out Egyptian Mummy: Unwrap an Egyptian Mummy layer by layer, takes you on a unique journey. This book breaks down the entire process so that kids ages 5-12 can gain an understanding of the way the Ancient Egyptian burial rites were practiced for thousands of years.
I have a son who is as interested in Egyptian history as I am, and this book was something that he absolutely loved! He was enthralled with the photos, and the information snippets that are provided along the way. He kept saying, “check this out, check this out!”
I completely recommend this book for those with younger kids. This is perfect for a immersion into a different time, without completely scaring kids off. The facts are not overwhelming, and you can gain a sense of direction with the easy step by step process used within the book. Colored pages help to drive home the points that the author is wanting to get across, and the fun facts keep kids entirely engaged.
Thank you NetGalley for an early copy of this book! I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Join the Binkerton twins and their little sister, Libby as they go back in time to Ancient Egypt. As their adventure unfolds, they learn all about life in ancient Egypt. Life on the Nile was a lot more grueling than modern day life.
As the trio work through their book, their brother is taken to work on the pyramid for the pharaoh. As the sisters try and track him down, they find one adventure after another. When they finally reach their brother, they have to make a quick escape, but not before Libby decides to take a little detour into a pyramid...
This was a really cute read, and one that my kids really enjoyed. We learned how a pyramid was built, how the mummification process worked, and so much more! As we read through the book, we found that life in ancient Egypt was quite a bit different from life today. We had some fun comparing how meals are prepared, homes are built and furnished, and so much more! I would highly recommend this book to all, and especially to kids who are interested in history. The easy to follow facts at the bottom, coupled with the kids on their adventure made the entire book enjoyable, and almost made my kids forget they were actually learning something!
Engaging read!
Margaret Beaufort is a woman who knew what she wanted and was not afraid to work for it. Her entire life was spent working for her son, who she finally saw sit on the throne of England as Henry VII.
I will admit, I have never been a fan of Margaret Beaufort. I find her to be a woman who would use any means to get what she wants, no matter the cost. She used any means at her disposal throughout her lifetime.
But Samantha Wilcoxson has made her into a person, one that you could almost pity for. I enjoyed reading the book, although I did find that my personal feelings on her did not change.
Short review for now
From its beginnings to the end of its tumultuous queen Cleopatra - Dr. Fletcher, brings this fascinating history to you.
I could not put this book down! From a lover of Egyptian history, there were so many things that I had forgotten, or simply had not heard before (especially in some of the earlier times) that I was hooked from the start.
Going down the list chronologically, you get an idea and sense of the pride, wealthy, and the not so lucky pharaohs who ruled. Each monarch's history is given, as much as can be within the space of one book, but you walk away with a complete feeling, not lacking in anyway. While some of the histories can be drawn together, and the tapestry of the genealogy can be somewhat messy, Dr. Fletcher easily navigates the murky waters.
Highly recommend this book for anyone interested in history. Be sure to plan time to sit - this is not a fast read!
Godwine has risen from humble beginnings to become one of the most powerful men in England, but with power comes jealousy.
Godwine finds a wandering Dane in the woods and taking him back to his house, they feed the man. Come to find out he is a Jarl for the Danes. Godwine ends up leaving with the Jarl, taking him back to his own ships, and then sailing away with them. As he watches England fade into the distance he wonders where his future will lead.
Coming into manhood in the service of the Danish king, he grows into positions of power. Serving through the kingdoms of FOUR kings, he incurs the wrath of Edward. Fleeing England, he waits for the correct timing to return, and make his position clear. He is hoping to regain his lost earldom, correct the wrongdoings in the nation, and rid the nation of the unwanted Norman advisors which are turning the king down the wrong path.
I really enjoyed this read, it was fantastic and kept me hooked from start to finish. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
Follow the journeys of Gero and the quest he is on to save the Templar Knights. While we watch the tragedy of the extermination of Templars about to unfold, we start out in the prisons of France. Torture is being used on the knights, as they seek information about the order, and those who are in leadership positions. One item holds special significance, and one knight is in a position to spill its secrets, but he has placed conditions - which will be met once the other knight, and his family are released and returned home.
Gero is determined to save the knights Templar, but the item in his possession has magical properties, and he is catapulted into the future -where he is overwhelmed by his surroundings, and the massive changes that have occurred. Help comes in the form of the female lead, Hannah, and she teams up with Gero to try and solve the mystery, all while trying to uncover the truth of what really happened, and try to figure out how they might prevent the Templars from being eradicated.
I cannot say I loved this book. I found much of it to fantastical, and not always fitting well into the narrative. The scene mentioned above in the prison is one that really stuck out to me as unbelievable. The romance was a bit over the top, and could have been muted to stick more to the theme of the book.
England is home to many of the most haunted places that we read about. Mark Egerton takes us on a tour of the countryside around his county. Places, legends and more are brought to light we travel village to village.
From royal legends, long standing building, and buildings that have been gone for years, there are some very interesting stories within this book, but there are also stories that you almost feel don't quite make the cut to be included. I like that he was able to interview some of the current owners, but many times I felt that some of the legends were being stretched and marketed into something that might be more believable, but fell short.
While this has the potential to be a great book, there needs to be some massive editing done. Quite a few of the sentences are redundant, and with some rewriting and proper editing - this book could do quite well. There is a lot of information included, and some great photos! There are many places where the sentences repeat themselves, words are misspelled, and some thoughts just fall off with no conclusion.
Four Mary's sent to be of service to Mary queen of Scots as she prepares to leave Scotland and start her new life in France. Married to the dauphin, she is expected to be the queen of France for many years to come.
When the young King dies early, the young queen returns home to Scotland, she is hoping she can slip back into the land of her birth, but she soon finds that there are factions within the country that are not quite as happy with her return.
As their lives progress, they will all soon learn the value of friendship, and the secrets that can circulate around the court. None of them are quite as safe as they appear to be...
The story of the four Mary's was a fun read, although some of the facts seemed a little more skewed, Sarah Gristwood pulls together the story of the four ladies who stuck with their queen through thick and thin and did all that they could to keep their queen safe. The main character is Mary Seton, and her tales weaves from the leaving of Scotland, to the end of Seton's life. A fun and interesting read!
If you loved the Scarlet Pimpernel, then you are going to love this book.
Julia Dandridge is back to visit friends in the state of Virginia. Around them, the Civil War is raging, and many families have been torn apart by the ravages of war. As she attempts to fit back into the mold of familiar surroundings, she is struck by the coldness of her once dear friend Landon Graham. Instead of welcoming her back to the home she lived in as a child, he seems angry that she is even there. Living with the weight of the death of his brother, Landon cannot seem to rejoin the world that he once so enjoyed. Instead he drinks heavily and hides himself away in his room.
With Julia there, small snippets of the past seem to slip through, only to be replaced with the cold contempt that has become his norm.
But the war is not one where women sit silent. Many women are involved in listening to the conversations around them and gain valuable information that can be used for military intelligence. Julia has been told that her brother is being held in prison, and that he will be hanged as a traitor if she does not help figure out who the Lion of the South is.
The Lion of the South has been raiding behind the enemy lines, making off with prisoners and officers alike. No one knows where he will strike, and he seems to come and go like a ghost. Julia is offered her brothers life in exchange for the Lion of the South. As she prepares to give the information, she finds that someone she is extremely close to may be involved, and may cause her to not only lose a brother, but the love of her life as well.
I enjoyed reading this book, but from the middle of the book on, it read just like the Scarlet Pimpernel in a different setting.
Thank you to Netgalley for an early copy for my honest review.
Sammy is a little boy who does not have a lot of friends and feels quite alone. When he finds a snail, he decides to take care of it, so that he can have someone to talk to. But then the snail goes missing, and he discovers that his mother has thrown him away. Sneaking out of the house, he finds the snail in the garbage can and hides him in the dryer overnight. When he goes down to find the snail in the morning, his neighbor agrees to snail-sit for him during the day. After school, he helps him get a small home set up so that the snail does not escape again.
Sammy decides to take his snail to the show and tell at school, and wins the award for the most unusual pet.
This was a cute little story, and one that I think my son is really going to enjoy!
Great review of the classic beasts of the ancient world. This is easy enough for kids to follow and learn from. It was a fun hour spent looking through the book and learning about different creatures from the myths that we have been reading.
Great for kids grades 2 and up!
This is a great book! As I was reading through this, I was taking notes on places that I would enjoy visiting. While we live in a historically saturated state, many of the hiking trails are overlooked.
Bryan MacKay does a fantastic job of taking you through several trails all over Maryland, including the wildlife and the plant life that you can expect to encounter along the trail. The decline of some wildlife is also noted. The history and use of the lands are commented on, which is something that you don't get in normal hiking guides. For historical uses, this will be perfect. Pictures are given through the book, and will be helpful for visual guides while on the trails.
I am excited to get out and hike these trails, taking along this guide for some handy notes and “what to see and expect” along the way. I am planning to use this guide extensively with Scouting and hoping that our scouts will get some fantastic information out of the text as well. For anyone that is wanting to discover some hidden gems in our state, then this is book that you need to start with.
Kate Carey is the daughter of Mary (Carey) Stafford, and niece to the queen of England. While she chaffs under her mothers care, angry at the world, she longs more than anything to be at court with her aunt, where she is sure that she will be more loved than she is at home.
Mary Stafford wants nothing more to protect her daughter from the intrigue at court, but she is holding secrets of her own, that Kate knows nothing about.
When Kate finally gets to court, she is blown away by the secrets and the scandal that seem to run rampant through the court. Her aunt is unhappy, and seems preoccupied with everything but her niece. Kate begins to wonder if coming to court was a good idea.
As life in the palace begins to calm to a norm, there are more issues that arise, and her aunt, Queen Anne begins to fear for her life. Factions at court are working to bring her aunt down, and Kate finds that her loyalty is pushed to new heights, defending and comforting her aunt.
As the road for leads to the Tower for Anne Boleyn, Kate is more determined than ever to stick next to her aunt - until whatever the end might bring.
Great read, and very enjoyable! This is one that will keep you engaged from page one. Definitely worth the read. While I am not a fan of the Tudor's, I enjoyed this book told from the perspective of a fourteen year old girl, while learning an entirely new way of life.
I received an ARC from NetGalley for a fair and impartial reviewThank you NetGalley for the chance to read this book.
Most people are familiar with forensic evidence and the impact it has on cases today. No case goes to trial without strong evidence, and of course, forensic evidence to back up their facts.
The story of Canadian Inspector Vance was engaging from the beginning to the end. He started out as a analyst for food and beverages, but was asked to help on cases when law enforcement was stuck. His analysis of blood evidence, by using science, was groundbreaking in the 1920s. As he began to build a name for himself, he was called into other crime scenes, both in Canada and the United States.
I absolutely loved this book. It was fun to read and learn about some of the cases that until now, I had never heard of. Some cases were mentioned only in passing, while others were expanded and given quite a bit of information.
Through his efforts and his relentless pursuit of the truth, we have one of the first pioneers into the field of Forensics. Based on his notes, and his tireless work, many criminals went to prison. Some though, still escaped justice.
Overall this book kept me engaged. There were times that I stumbled through, as many of the words are missing letters, so deciphering what the word should (or could) be could take a little doing. The author tends to jump a little bit back and forth, so if you are not paying careful attention, you might find yourself flipping back a few pages to figure out where you are and where she is heading with the information provided.
Are you looking at getting your kids more involved with history? Want them to learn and not be overwhelmed with all the information? GRAB THIS BOOK! It is a great way to get started, and give kids some of the basics of the subject, which will allow them to look deeper into the areas that they are interested in.
A quick overview, but highly sufficient to get a young mind working! Photo's and drawings are clear, and fun to look at.
Logan Corelli takes us on a journey through the heartland of America and some of the ‘ghostly haunts.' There is great history here and a decent background of the areas provided.
While I enjoyed the book, I felt as though much of the perceived evidence was forced or exaggerated. I enjoy a good ghost story, so I appreciated the historical background of the houses, as much as could be provided, which is a great jumping off point for anyone who wants to do some background investigation on the locations named (all but the mysterious church which has no location).
Lady Darby and her husband Sebastian Gage have been called to his ancestral home with an urgent message from his grandfather. Making all haste to leave Ireland and head back to England.
When they arrive, they find the household unprepared for them, and more than one mystery lurking in the shadows. The heir to the estate Alfred had gone missing, and Kiera and Sebastian are trying to find him. But they are finding that everyone in the house is less than forthcoming with any information at all. While they try to make sense of all of the tidbits of information coming their way, they come up with more questions than answers.
When the heir presumptive (after the original heir) also goes missing, and looks to be the one behind all the attacks and pranks in the house, the case takes another turn. The time for answers has come, and no one is going to be left alone.
Join Kiera, Sebastian and their trusty servants as they work to get to the bottom of the mystery before tragedy strikes....
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was fast paced enough to keep me enthralled, but yet kept you guessing through the majority of the book as to who the real culprit was. I began trying to figure out who might be behind the attacks, and it was not until the last chapter that all the information began to come together.
Walter knows that changes are coming, but for a six year old boy - he is not really sure what is going on. All he knows is that his family is quiet, and they must be prepared to run at any time. The reason? His family is Jewish, and the German Army is moving closer to their location. Hearing what is happening to other Jewish families, they prepare to move as many times as they need to, leaving everything behind.
Walter's father owns a shop, and as they get ready to leave, the butcher who works close to them comes with a proposition. He will work the shop and keep it open while they are gone, and send the money as he can until they can get back. Walter father's hesitates briefly, before signing over his shop to the kindly butcher.
As they move from place to place, learning to live in quiet and in secret, Walter shares his story through letters he writes to his grandmother. These letters are very vague, but they show the terror and fear that each person felt as they waited.
The war drags on, and the family is separated for a time. While they wait to be reunited, Walter keeps writing, recording his thoughts and daily activities in his notebooks and letters.
This book was an amazing read. Told from the perspective of a young boy growing up amid the terror or WWII, the struggles, fears and survival are plain to see as we move through this book. This is one that I am looking forward to reading with my boys. The ingenuity and those who risked their own lives to help many of the European Jews hide from the incoming German soldiers was astounding. These brave people risked everything, sharing their food, supplies and any information they could glean from listening to those around them. Some were captured and executed, but many survived.
This book is a must read!
Fantastically written!
This book takes on the history, or lack thereof, of the women of the Amazon. I enjoyed the read! Not only do you get the myths, the legends, and the stories passed down, but what history is there is shared. John Man did a great job with this book, and I look forward to getting a hard copy of this book, to re-read and make notes in the margins! Great jumping off book for those who are looking to do some research or wanting to gain a deeper understanding of these warrior women.
If you are looking for a different type of Bible story to read, then you are looking in the right place! Jonathan Schkade has outdone himself with this book. The stories are easy to read, and delightful enough to share with kids. At the end of each section he has a bonus feature, which has some great information for those who are looking for “like” stories in a more modern setting.
As I sat and read through these, the majority of the stories I knew from childhood. There were a few that were a bit more rusty than others, but he does a great job of telling the story, telling why its in the Bible, and then of course we get the sweet additional Bonus Features.
I have to admit, I was not sure what to think when I first saw this book. I was a bit timid to open the cover, but I was amazed and delighted with the book. This is one that I plan on sharing with my boys, and giving them a bit of a refresher on some of the stories within the Bible.