A Knight of the Word by Terry Brooks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the second of The Word and the Void section of the 24-book Shannara series. The story of John Ross and Next Freemark continue in this book.
It is entertaining and page-turning. It is set in a pre-apocalype era with warnings to us readers that homelessness and domestic violence are problems where our society should provide assistance or don't be surprised that demons and feeders grow in power.
I recommend it to fans of the series.



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The Desert Realm by National Geographic Society
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is one of many books on my National Geographic Society shelf, and I read all the text which accompanies the amazing pictures of the seven major desert regions of Earth.
The text teaches without boring. This was published in 1982, and some of the questions about the promise of jojoba oil seem dated. The Landsat photos were wonderous at the time, and now we have earthobservatory.nasa.gov available on our home computers.
If this book is still on your bookshelf, I recommend the text and the pictures.

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Dark Legacy by Anna DeStefano
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Free Friday from Nook 6-17-11, and I did not finish reading it. The synopsis was interesting, but the author did not execute the story-telling well enough for me to finish the book. I was constantly jarred out of the fictive dream because the author named one of the male leads, Jarred. I don't think changing the spelling of his name to Jared would be enough to keep me reading.

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Exploring America's Scenic Highways by National Geographic Society
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I ownh a shelf of books by National Geographic Society, and now I have the time to read them cover to cover instead of only looking at the pictures or reading only a chapter while planning a vacation.
I appreciate the writing by the authors: Leslie Allen, Toni Eugene, Christine Eckstrom Lee, Tom Melham, Cynthia Russ Ramsay, Gene S. Stuart, Jennifer C. Urquhart, and Suzanne Venino. Their different voices tell the different stories of the distinct American scenic highways. The principal photographers are Terry Eiler, Dewitt Jones, and Steve Wall. These photographers had to do more than stop at scenic overlooks to capture the regions of continental America. I have been fortunate enough to travel four of the eight, and this book whetted my appetite to travel the rest.
I recommend this for armchair travelers and all those ready to explore.

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Final Sail by Elaine Viets
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoy the books by this author for she does a good job of capturing the local Florida observations about its people and the economy. In 20 years, this book may seem dated; but it is spot on now.
This is an entertaining cozy mystery,even with its three murders.
If you want a fun summer read or you are already a fan of Elaine Viets' book, I recommend this.

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Heart of the Witch by Alicia Dean
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This was a Free Friday selection for Nook May 20, 2011. Once again, I had the opportunity to try a new-to-me author and paranormal mystery is genre that I would be unlikely to try if it was not free.
I dislike books with a woman in jeopardy plots, and our heroine is the sixth woman kidnapped and tortured by a serial killer. It was a fast read for me because the plotting of the scenes was predictable and I could quickly skim to the next scene without missing any clues.
I recommend it only to readers who can't get enough of this genre.

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Living with the Himalayan Masters by Swami Rama
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a Free Friday selection Jan 14, 2011 for Nook. It is listed in the classic section.
It only gets 3 stars because I will not recommend it to any of my friends because I think they would not have an interest in it. If you have an interest in reading about spiritual seekers or comparative religions, you may enjoy this more than I did.

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The Winds of Khalakovo by Bradley P. Beaulieu
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was Free Friday selection May 27, 2011, and it is no longer free. I like Free Fridays from the Nook store at BN.com so that I may try new-to-me authors and genres different from my favorites.
This fantasy novel will be more for readers who enjoy Russian literature more than I do. There is a cast of characters at the beginning of the book, and yet there is not a list of all the family names and nicknames associated with that character. As with Russian literature, there were times I had to wonder if I was being introduced to a new character or a new name for a previously introduced character. I also would like a glossary for the words different from my world, such as those of the many spirits. The author does not build a world for the reader as much as the reader is placed in a different world.
This book gets 3 stars from me because I do not want to discourage a new reader from trying this if fantasy is a preferred genre.

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Smoothies for Good Health by Marie Roy
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book was offered for free. Twenty recipes are included and the text suggests the ways these ingredients may be healthful. Both fruit and vegetable smoothies are included.
My favorite recipe is number 3, and it is made with frozen strawberries, strawberry yogurt and orange juice.
I recommend this as long as it remains free.

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Preserving America's Past by Gene S. Stuart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This has been in my home library for years, and I read the text that accompanies the pictures.
The essays are well-written, and they can be quickly read in order to finish the book over several days or a week. It is not a how-to book with instructions to preserve the history of your town or crafts that have been replaced by factories. The essays are a glimpse into the people who do such preservation.
I recommend reading this book to those who find it has been on their shelf of books published by the National Geographic Society.

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Elegy for Eddie: A Maisie Dobbs Novel by Jacqueline Winspear
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was eager to read this book because I am a fan of the series.

I recommend it to fans of the series.

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