Book Review: Winter of the World

Winter of the World is the second book in the Century Trilogy by Ken Follett.
This book begins soon after the Fall of the Giants ends. We still have the American, German, Russian, English and Welsh families as they each face the start of the Third Reich. The story continues through World War II and into the beginning of the Cold War.

Now we are discovering the children of the families. Carla von Ulrich has a German father and English mother. Faced with the Nazi world that in engulfing her she decided to commit an act that took bravery. Woody and Chuck Dewar are brothers who have secrets. Their story takes one of them into Washington, while the other goes to the Pacific. Lloyd Williams is a student who faces the Spanish Civil and he wants to fight Communism and Fascism. Daisy Peshkov wants to be popular, that is until the war changes her. Volodya is Daisy's cousin who is able to work his way into the Soviet intelligence.

Each of these lives are connected, yet they may not know each other. Follett has created such diverse characters that the reader may not always like, but does not want to see their lives end. The second book in the series has kept my attention and made me want to continue reading the series.

I cannot rate this book high enough. I most highly recommend it.

Book Review: The Cat Who Moved A Mountain

The Cat Who series centers around Qwilleran, a reporter who always seems to come across crimes, Koko, a Siamese cat who has amazing talents and Yum Yum, another Siamese cat who is loved by the other two. In this book Quill rents a house on Big Potato Mountain. The house is owned by J.J. Hawkinfield. Hawkinfield ends up pushed off the mountain by someone that call Big Potato Mountain his home. Qwill is not sure that they have the right man and soon the three are on the trail of the crime.

This is the second time I have read these books and I enjoy them just as much as the first time. The author, Lilian Jackson Braun now how to captivate her readers with crimes that have twists and turns before coming to an end. Qwill, Koko and Yum Yum work their ways into the heart without too much difficulty. Altogether, I recommend this book, and series, very highly.

The Jacob's Ladder Reading Comprehension Program all aim toward those students who show they have high-ability in reading comprehension. The program is an inquiry based program which leads students from understanding to the ability to critically analyze texts. After completing the lessons, students should have the ability to understand and analyze other passages.
The book begins with a Teacher's Guide to the Jacob's Ladder Reading Comprehension Program. It introduces them to the ladders which show the goals and objectives. These include consequences and Implications, Classifications, Literary Elements, Creative Synthesis, Expressing Emotions and Understanding Words. It also helps the teachers with the process of Jacob's Ladder. This includes modeling by the teacher so the students learn the inquiry and feedback system.
the Short Stories suggested in this book are: Ella Sarah Gets Dressed; Flotsam; The Red Book; Kitten's First Full Moon, A Sick Day for Amos McGee; Mrs. Katz and Tush; The Hare and the Tortoise; Owen; I Love Saturdays y Domingos; Big Red Lollipop; The Tiny Seed; Noah's Ark; The Boy Who Loved Words; Sylvester and the Magic Pebble; Iggy Peck, Architect; The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing; Make Way for Ducklings; The Polar Express; The Ants and the Grasshopper and Where the Wild Things Are.
The poetry included are: Be Glad Your Nose Is On Your Face; The Crocodile; Clouds, The Eagle; Fire in the Windo; The Caterpillar; My Shadow; Wynken, Blynken and Nod; Whether the Weather; I Am Beautiful.
This is good material whether in a classroom or homeschooling. Especially for those who are not familial with creating an inquiry based program.
I was given this book by LibraryThing in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: How to Window Box

This how-to book is great for those who love window boxes or would like to try one, or more. There are box ideas for both indoors and out along with a variety of plants.

To begin, they discuss what to consider for either the outdoor box or the indoor box. This includes the amount of sun a site received and what constitutes full sun, part sun, part shade, or shade. The tools required, how to buy plants, whether a plant is an annual, perennial or biennial, different planting medium, surface materials, watering and so much more. There are even hint boxes throughout which talk about different things like sun deprivation.

From here they show and talk about different kind of window boxes, such one for sand loving plants, herb gardens, or perhaps a tropical box.

I found the illustrations and directions throughout the book to be helpful. They take the reader through everything needed for a box from location to feeding.

I recommend this book to the do-it-yourself person or anyone that enjoys plants.

I was given this book by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: The view from Rainshadow Bay

Time flew by as I read this lovely book by Colleen Coble.
The View From Rainshadow Bay centers around Shanna. She lost her husband, unexpectedly, has a son and a helicopter charter business. Shanna is trying to handle all of this but it isn't easy. Then her partner in her business is murdered. His final words make her believe that she could be a target also. She turns to the one person that she blames for her husband's death, Zach Bannister. Together they learn to deal with the death as he helps Shauna and her son to stay safe.
I saw a friend read one of Colleen Coble's books last year and she loved it. I have to agree. This is the first that I read but I can see coming back to this one and reading others of hers in the future. I found myself turning pages and not putting this down and the mystery and romance advanced.
I highly recommend this book to lovers of mystery and suspense.
I was given this book by Thomas Nelson publishing in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: Miller's Valley

This book is set in a valley that is in turmoil. Years ago, the government decided to build a dam to help stop the flooding in this area. Unfortunately, they discovered that they placed the river in the wrong place, so it didn't help at all. Now they want to relocate the people that live here so they can flood the area. Now there are roots set down and lives that are not sure what to do.

This story is told in the honest voice of Mimi Miller. She is an observant girl and the only daughter in a family that scrapes by. By listening through the vent in her bedroom, Mimi discovers many secrets concerning her family and the valley.

Quinlin was able to pull me in with the prologue. Then I did not want to put this book down. I felt Mimi had such a strong voice that she was sharing the secrets she learned with me. The story is a reminder of the pull that the place we grew up has on us all of our lives.

I have a feeling that I will turn to this book several times in my life as a reminder of the lesson that I learned.

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: Stone Painting for Kids

This is a book designed to help each child be creative with something as simple as a stone. Published by Dover Stone Painting For Kids is filled with ideas for paining many different shapes of stones or seashells.

Inside parents and children can find: Geometric Shapes, Numbers, Letters, Hearts, Faces, Multipebble Flowers, Mushrooms and more. Plus there is a bonus section where it shows how to use this creativity to build skills in mathematics, science, themes, storytelling and spelling.

It goes through the steps of choosing and preparing the stones and then the supplies that will be needed. The pictures and directions are clear and large. I can see my granddaughter and grandson using this book quite a bit.

I believe it is a great book to help fill the time when the creativity cells need a little nudge. I love this book and I believe that it could find a good home in a family, a school, a daycare, almost anywhere.

I was given this book by Dover in exchange for my honest review.

Evening With Tozer: Daily Devotional Readings

I feel like I have lived my Christian life growing with A.W. Tozer. I have read other books by him and they always leave me reflecting and refreshed. This book, Evenings With Tozer does the same.

This book includes a reading for each day of the year. Each entry is composed of an overall thought, a verse and reflection which work together. I come away from each reading feeling even closer to God and his creation. I see this as an individual or a family devotion, a way to help a family feel a connection to God together. They speak to my heart the way they always have. Each entry helps a person grow in their Bible time and is meant to enrich this time.

Tozer began as a street preacher who became a self-educated man who spent his life reaching others as a a pastor, teacher and as a writer.

I was given this book by Moody Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

Find this book at Amazon, Christianbook.com, and at Barnes and Noble.