Flyte by Angie Sage

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is the second book of the Septimus Heap series, and I found it as enjoyable as the first book, Magyk.

I enjoy these books for Sage creates a believable fantasy world with believable characters. She tells a story with just enough suspense to keep the story moving without creating fear and worry for a child. This book has a nasty older brother Simon, and a mother and teacher who do not believe Simon can be as nasty as Septimus tells them he is. Septimus has to rely on another brother and friends to help him set things right.

Parents can read this with younger children. Middle readers can enjoy it by themselves.



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Reader's Digest Scenic Wonders of America by Reader's Digest Association

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is still a good reference book for the scenic wonders of America, and that is why it gets 5 stars even if this edition is 30 years old.

The book describes 50 regions in the United States with excellent text and beautiful pictures. A feature of this book I like is "Within a Day's Drive". After approximately 8 pages about the scenic wonder, there is a map and nutshell descriptions of many other scenic areas that may be paid attractions, state parks, or federal lands. Museums in the area are often listed. At the end of the book are campground listings. This book gives you enough information for the reader to do internet searches to continue vacation planning.

I will continue to keep this book for reference and armchair travel.


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From Dictatorship to Democracy by Gene Sharp

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I had trouble with the download of this book showing up in my first edition Nook. A call to customer service helped me put it on my Nook for PC so that I could read what I purchased. They said it was a formatting problem. The problem must be fixed, for several days later after I updated my library again, the book appeared on my Nook.

I watched a documentary on Current TV about the work of Gene Sharp, and I wanted to read this book of his because it seemed to have influence the news of April Arab uprisings in 2011. He suggests the best stategy to go from dictatorship to democracy is the removal of power from the dictatorship through nonviolent resistance and political defiance. Armed conflict often destoys the infrastructure that the people will need. There has to be a grand strategy so that a democratic government is ready to make its transition so that another dictatorship does not come to power during the struggle.

I recommend this book to all for it reminds us that we must continue to participate in our own democratic institutions in our local, state and federal levels to keep them open and strong due to the participation of many. I recommend this book to students of history.


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The Apothecary's Daughter by Julie Klassen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was introduced to this book and author by BN.com's Free Fridays. This ebook is no longer free. I enjoyed the book enough that I will look for others this author wrote.

It is a well-researched historical fiction, and I know this for pharmacy was my former career. The author uses her knowledge to create a setting and to move the story along the plot line. I did not feel she imposed any amazing fact upon her reader that was not necessary. This book may be shelved in a Christian fiction category, and yet it does not preach to the reader. This book is an entertaining romance set around 1810-1815 England.

I recommend this book to readers of romance, historical fiction or Christian fiction as an entertaining selection.

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Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


When I requested this book from the library, my ebook request was 60th in line and the hardback request was 355th in line. Evanovich has the readers who eagerly anticipate the releases of her Stephanie Plum mysteries.

The book continues to entertain the fans of the series because we readers want to know what funerals Grandma has been going to and what outfits Lulu is wearing. It is not the best of the series and it is not the worst.

Your friends are going to ask if you have read it yet, so you might as well read it.





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Wilderness Empire by Allan W. Eckert

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I rate this book with 5 stars for the work that Eckert has done in writing his series, "The Winning of America." He takes historical facts and builds a narrative so that I may understand the people and their choices that explains the French, the English and the Indians from July 23, 1715-July 11, 1774. In addition to the narrative, Eckert provides his Principal Sources, Chapter Notes, List of Indian Characters, and an Index.

The main character is the Irishman William Johnson who came to America for a job as the agent of his uncle and who was adopted into the Mohawk tribe as a full member and a member of the Iroquois League. The setting is the land west of the Hudson River and along the Great Lakes. These lands will become what we know as New York, western Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan.

I rate this book V for Violence for Eckert describes what happens to captives taken during raids and battles. He describes the battle injuries which maimed and killed officers and chiefs. It can also have a U rating for Unhealthy for there were many fevers and dysentery. It is not a book to be read while you eat your lunch.

This is an excellent book for adult students of history.


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You Can Do It!: The Merit Badge Handbook for Grown-Up Girls by Lauren Catuzzi Grandcolas

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I looked for this book for I watched an interview with a sister of the author on Veria TV. The two sisters saw this book through publishing after the death of the author on United Flight 93 on September 11, 2001.

I liked the idea of using this book as a catalog of 59 merit badges as a starting point to accomplish something new with a mentor and enough small steps in order to feel as if you had a good introduction to a new activity. Even in those areas in which I already earned a merit badge, this book provided some new information. I learned new ways to remove a stuck wine label from its bottle. There are some new website resources to checkout. If you don't find a badge for a area that resonates with you, you can Make-Your-Own in six steps:

• 1. Envision it.
• 2.Write down the payoffs.
• 3.Find your mentor.
• 4.Interview your mentor.
• 5.Do your homework, and research your badge.
• 6.Plan your steps to create your badge.

Now Do It.

I recommend this book for women who are looking for a new area of adventure or for a way to prove their accomplishments with a tangible merit badge.



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Death on a Platter by Elaine Viets

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Death on a Platter is the seventh book in the Jose Marcus, Mystery Shopper, and I eagerly anticipated its release. This is an entertaining series with believable supporting characters and with fun shopping tips.


Of course there is a mystery to be solved and Viets writes that skillfully. I learn that St. Louis pizza uses Provel cheese, a processed cheese that fuses provolone, Swiss and cheddar. There is a dessert treat called a Gooey Louie cake which comes in fourteen flavors. This particular book combines my preferences for a cozy nmystery and armchair food travel.


I recommend it to fans of the series. It can also be a mystery that stands by itself.


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The Official Unofficial Guide to Using Legacy Family Tree by Geoffrey D. Rasmussen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I bought this .pdf ebook which can be read on my laptop computer, and I don't recommend trying to move this ebook to your Nook for it seemed to mess up my Nook for PC when I tried to move and open it there. Reading it on your computer is a better idea. Read it in a split screen with Legacy FamilyTree software open on the other screen and follow step-by-step instructions to use the software in new-to-me ways. I rate this book 5 stars for I will continue to refer to this book.


This book is a compilation of Geoff Rasmussen's columns on his Legacy blog and from Legacy's newsletter. He discusses the features of the genealogy software and he offers work-around solutions to the questions of the "If it can do that, can it also do this?" variety. I read many of these columns before, so why did I need to spend money on a compilation? For the simple reason that it is indexed and has bookmarks so that I can easily find the information when my research and skill level is ready to use it.

A small problem with this book is not all of the URL links mentioned are still available. It would have been nice if he could have included comments from the readers of his columns. I continue to learn from the suggestions made by other readers.


I recommend this book to users of Legacy FamilyTree software. It can be purchased through their online store.


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Magyk by Angie Sage

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I downloaded this book as a Free Friday selection, and it is no longer free. This was an opportunity to read the first book of a fantasy series by an author that was unknown to me.

I enjoyed the world the author creates in which there are Ordinary Wizards, Extra-Ordinary Wizards, ghosts, witches, a boggart, and many other things. The villians are suitably evil in their world. The story is well-plotted to keep the suspense over the chapter endings until the book can be picked up and read again.

I recommend this book to readers of all ages who enjoy fantasy. It could be read to imaginative youngsters and read by young adult readers.



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Daughter of Joy by Kathleen Morgan

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I received this book as a Free Friday selection from BN.com and its publisher, and it is no longer free. Christian fiction is a genre from which I don't often make my reading selections.

I enjoyed the western-romance story of a widow who becomes the housekeeper to the ranch owner and his belligerent daughter, and the characters are well-drawn in the beginning. My rating dropped from three stars to two stars when the discussions of faith and behavior went from a conversational, character-specific tone to a tone better suited to a sermon delivered from a pulpit. It was as if Abby, Ella and Sally were all reading from the same script. Another small item that brought me out of the fictive dream occurred when Abby poured the biscuit batter into a tin, and I thought to myself,"That's not how I would make biscuits." I would either make drop biscuits or I would roll out the dough and cut them into circles with a jelly glass.

I recommend this book to a reader who enjoys the genre of Christian fiction.




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Deadly Sanctuary by Sylvia Nobel

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This book was my Nook Free Friday selection for Dec 31, 2010, and it is no longer free. This is the first book in the Kendall O'Dell series. This Free Friday selection introduced me to a new author and new series in the mystery genre which I enjoy.

The stoy moved fast and was plotted well so that it held my attention. Kendall is hired as an investigative reporter; but her editor wants to keep her investigations secret so that she does not arouse antagonism from the local sheriff who no longer considers the disappearance of a former reporter to be worth investigating. Kendall accepts the job for reasons that have more to do with her health. She is soon curious enough to investigate her own stories, and new information keeps coming back to the investigation by the former reporter. Supporting characters have stories of their own. There is enough romance that this book could fit into a romance genre too.

I recommend it to readers who enjoy cozy mysteries or to readers who like mystery with a romance. I enjoyed it enough to look for other books written by this author at my local library.



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