Reviews

The Farm Chicks in the Kitchen is filled with recipes, craft projects, and personal stories aimed at those who want a little of the country life.   Recipes are divided up into four broad categories: Breakfast, Appetizers, Lunch, and Dessert.  The ingredients, measurements and directions are clearly presented, and most have interesting tidbits or helpful hints in the margins.&nbs

Anita Shreve's novels usually require patience on the part of the reader, and this book is no exception--in fact it can be quite demanding!  But the deeper the reader can get with this particular book,  more intricate and rewarding levels are mined.

This novel was found on Michael Crichton’s computer after his death. How convenient! Steven Spielberg has bought the film rights and I understand why. Every conceivable adventure that could happen to a pirate in the 1600’s of the Spanish Main does so- hurricanes, battles at sea, fortress attacks. There is even a “cracken”!

This is a YA Mystery, is the second one in the Death series. The main character is Aphra Connolly a teenager who lives with her dad on a island.  Aphra goes to find her mother, Natalie, in Seattle, but what happens there is one big adventure. This is a fast-paced mystery with a flare of chick lit.

Ex Machina: The First Hundred Days follows New York City superhero Mitchell Hundred as he decides to retire when he realizes he can effect real change by becoming Mayor of his city.

I have often enjoyed reading books in which the author uses letters or diary/journal entries to weave a story. These Is My Words by Nancy Turner, Letters From Yellowstone by Diane Smith, and Letters to Callie by Dawn Miller were good reads that used this type of plot development.

Ever try to climb Mt. Everest when near the top you nearly die and then sense an uncanny invisible presence pushing to you survive the climb? No? Recent climbers have named the phenomenon the third man factor, but they’re not the only ones to describe it.

In 1904, 25-year-old Carrine Gafkjen traveled to bleak, blustery North Dakota to stake out a 160-acre homestead. After living alone for 6 months, barring her door against coyotes and walking 10 miles weekly for drinking water, she meets the conditions of the Homestead Act, and the land is hers. This is just the beginning of a remarkable true story of pioneering courage.

A new, highly desirable, carefully controlled commodity is about to be introduced to Europe’s markets. Miquel Lienzo is a trader down on his luck, who believes this new gold –“coffee”- could re-establish his credibility – if he can find the funds necessary to carry out an audacious plan.

Always in search of a new great mystery/thriller that will keep me reading through the late night hours, I discovered The Last Child by John Hart on the Edgar Awards website.  John Hart's first novel was nominated for Best First Novel, his second won the Edgar for Best Novel, and his third one, The Last Child, is a 2010 nominee for Best N