Rebecca Hill
More twists and turns than a wadded up roll of duct tape.... which in this case, could have been extremely useful!
Warning.... there are spoilers..
Vernie Stordock was a family man, respected police officer and all around great guy - until the night he was murdered. It was not just murder... it was the slow systematic wiping out of any life he might have had before he met Suzanne. His niece, Dorothy and his daughter Shannon have had theories and questions for years. Dorothy finally decides to see if she can get to the bottom of the story, and begins to unravel the mysterious surrounding involving Suzanne, her children, and of course - how in the world a professed murderer gets only 11 months in a mental hospital to be “cured” and released.
Now the juicy parts of the story. You are going to hate Suzanne. You have to. The entire story reeks of narcissistic/pathological issues that you can see building through the fabrics of the relationships she had before she met Vernie. It was Suzanne or the highway.. her way or no way. Somehow, she always got exactly what she wanted. She used her body, she used threats, and when it came down to it - violence (for real, exactly how MANY bodies have to accumulate around someone before it gets questioned). But I digress, we are discussing the Vernie situation here..
Suzanne admitted her role in the murder, explained how she did it, and then somehow manipulated the system to barely spend any time in prison, walk out smelling like roses, and managed to claim the entire estate of Vernie, and then some. She was not happy to walk away with the life insurance, she had to hurt his first family by taking half of everything they had, just because she could.
This book... this book is a hard one for me to rate and review. I liked it, I hated it, I questioned the author and her true motives. I wanted more. I wanted to see more answers from the departments involved, the DA, the ADA (who was disbarred), the Sheriff, and most of all, the doctors who allowed this woman to outsmart them. She played each and every person like a fiddle and they sang the exact tune that she wanted. Beethoven would have been proud at the master theater production she managed to concoct and have everyone swaying to her own personal waltz.
I had to admit, I got a little irritated with all the “we had an instant connection” “they were wearing a....” moments. I don't care what someone is wearing. This book is not about clothing and fashion, or the sound of someone's voice. It was a fact, theory expounding, nail the murderer of her uncle book.
I honestly could not tell if the author was satisfied with the findings of the case by the time the book closed. It felt to open to me. Why was David never fully questioned? How in the world could they not go back and amend the charges? There is no statute of limitations on murder, and the fact that the person they suspected was now dead had nothing to do with it. Suzanne was a liar, and that was enough to throw everything out the window and start again. Sadly, the records from the case have mostly been destroyed and many of the people who knew anything are also passing away. This case is a huge miscarriage of justice, and the family of Vernie Stordock never got full closure. As I worked through the case putting the evidence together, it never fully fit to me that Suzanne was the person who pulled the trigger. She was a master manipulator, and would get anyone else to do their work for them (i.e. she even used her own step-daughters research for her thesis/dissertation). Suzanne was not mentally ill, she did not have a lapse in judgement, and I very highly doubt that her husband was ever violent towards her, unless he was protecting himself from her. She manipulated each and every situation she was in. Full blown narcissistic behavior, and more probable, a high functioning sociopath. This woman was the very epitome of evil, who used her children to get what she wanted, and ignored them the remainder of the time. For them to have stuck with her as long as they did, I was surprised, but then again - manipulation goes a long way and when you have been conditioned since childhood with it, there is not much you can do to get away from it.
Like I said above, I had a hard time rating this book. I felt it was really rambly in a lot of ways (kind of like my review), but I think she started off on the right track. If she had stuck to the case, and not let emotion sweep through (hard because it was family), it would have made a more cohesive read. I wonder now about the family of this master manipulator, and how much they truly knew about the “unfortunate situation”.
Chester and Harold are on the trail of a mystery again! Bunnicula is missing from his cage, and there are mysterious white vegetables turning up around the neighborhood. With the help of their new sidekick Howie, they set out to solve of the mystery of the missing bunny and save their humans from the vampire bunny.
I love these books! They are so much fun to read, and Harold and Chester are such a great team! Kids LOVE these books!
Danger, wonder, secrets, family, and forgiveness. This book is a MUST HAVE.
Elle has done a good job of managing life. Her mother is certifiable, and the mood swings can take a toll on her. However, life has a way of taking a detour, and Elle is fixing to stumble on a huge secret - one that her mother has kept buried for years.
When Anna Marie was growing up, she had a rather dysfunctional childhood. Her father was a long haul trucker and her mother - well her mother lived in a world all her own. Gertie lost many of her children, and they were all buried in the backyard. David would weave stories for his little daughter, weaving a fantasy world that will stay with Anna Marie for the remainder of her life. As much as she loathed her parents, she used that same fantasy world with her daughter Elle.
Brennley, Elle's best friend and roommate is also a fellow nurse. Together they weather the storm of losing patients and battling the emotions that come with it. Brenn and Elle balance each other out. While Brenn knows the background of Elle's mother, their past is as much of a secret to her. One of her patients, a man dying of cancer, becomes more than just a patient. Brennley is becoming more and more attached to the lonely older man. But as they become closer - a bit of Elle's past is opened. Brennley calls her, reading a letter that David has written. She believes that Elle is the granddaughter of the man in the hospital bed. Elle does not think so, her grandparents are dead - it is what she has always been led to believe. But secrets have way of reaching the surface and this one is about to put her entire family on a roller coaster that is going to take many twists and turns. Buckle your seat belt, and get ready for a story that will literally knock your socks off!
A missing child, an imaginary friend, and the secrets of the past have come back to haunt Elle. As she listens to the stories that David tells her from his hospital bed, she believes that they are made up - at least at first. As her mother becomes more and more unhinged, Elle begins to wonder what really happened, and who Bella really was.
By continuing to delve into her mothers past, she begins to push against the history that she has been told, and comes to not only love her grandfather, but wonder what her own future is going to hold. But before her world entirely gets turned upside down, there is one major secret that her grandfather has been hiding - and it could entirely destroy her mother.
OH MY GOODNESS. When you sit down to read this book - do not start it late at night! Book hangover material! The twists and turns that Steena Holmes weaves will keep you guessing, and wondering. As the story progresses, you begin to really feel sorry for David. Choosing between a wife or a daughter is not a decision any person should have to make, but when you are hiding an even darker secret - life becomes a torment. Elle is determined to find the truth, but her mother is becoming more and more unhinged.
This book is one that will make you laugh, it will make you angry. It will leave you horrified and mystified. Ya'll this book has it all! There are no disappointments, no letdowns, just page turning electricity.
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.
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.
If your child has an interest in Sharks, then you must get this book! We absolutely LOVED this one! As we read through the different (and some new) sharks, we got quite a bit of information! My boys love marine biology, so this book was heaven-send on a cold afternoon.
Full of facts, fun, and smiles - this book is perfect for kids of all ages! Grab this book now, and get ready for lots of questions from your kiddos - in retrospect - read the book first, you can wow your kids with all your impressive shark knowledge!
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.
Francis I of France has long been overshadowed in history. He lived through the times of Henry VIII and Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. Leonie Frieda breathes life back into one of the major players in European policies and military movements, in such a way that you feel as though you are walking through the halls of the french palaces.
Francis was not born with the promise of a great future, but through his mother and her endless working and dealing, he claimed the French throne. As he sought to bring France into the newer Renaissance era, he also managed to make himself one of the most enigmatic figures of the time. While he lacked Henry VIII's flair of marrying and throwing off of wives, Francis did his maneuvering through military show and treaties. Eventually, much of this backfired on the monarch, who was seen as unable to carry through with the majority of promises. Most monarchs at the time would have dealt with the treaties the same way, Francis almost took his to extremes. He wanted to prove himself time and time again, and that lack of faith in himself could have lead to the loss of throne more than once.
This book was a fascinating read. I was hooked from the beginning. Not only does the author lay out the life and death of Francis, but she also ushers in the next era, laying the groundwork for some of the more disastrous events that will befall France. Francis may have been the founder of the modern era in France, but it was his daughter in law that brought that dream to full fruition.
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).
Murder Most Foul - with a witty sense of humor If you have a weak stomach, can't handle real life situations or bad language – then this book is not for you! This book gets down to the real life, dirty, heinous side of life that police officers deal with on a daily basis. This book will not sugar coat, give you warm feels, or wrap you in teddy bear hugs. Lt. Joe Kenda breaks it down, and takes you on an inside view of what his life on the police force was like.
I will start off with saying, I admire Lt. Kenda. I have been watching his show on TV for the past couple of years, and have enjoyed each and every case that he has presented. I like his honesty, and the brutal assessment that he uses. He has a no bar hold view and for me that says something. This is a person where you know where you stand, and if he is coming after you – you can run but you will not get far. He is relentless, and he will do whatever it takes to bring you in.
We see the glamorized view of police work on television all the time. Life must be good, right? Well, think again. Each of these cases stick with the police officer. Each face, each horror show is different. As you work through the book, you are confronted with many different facets of life. Homeless victims, murdered children, suicides, and so much more. This book takes you on a walk that is much different than many that have been published, and it is definitely not for the squeamish. Each smell, each fear, each new scene is described so you feel as though you are walking through the crime scene yourself. You will also experience many different emotions through this book. Anger is the one that you are going to experience the most. Many of these cases leave you wondering WHY. They are finished, closed, and put away. But the motives, the cause and effects can leave you scratching your head at times. There are cases where they for sure had it coming, and you are almost cheering for the person who finally took them off the street, or out of the way, but the innocent victims are the ones that stay with you.
Toward the end of the book, Lt. Kenda briefly describes some of his nightmares. I read through them, walked away, and then came back and read through them again. I laughed at the reaction of the doctor that he went to see (and I hope he got his money back from that visit), but I sat back and had to combat the “mom feels.” The terror, the horror, and the relentless feeling of pursuit is something that won't go away, but hopefully through the telling of these stories, and the gut-honest truth portrayed on these pages, some peace of mind will be found.
I absolutely LOVED this book. I loved each case, each moment, each “GOTCHA” scene. Like I stated at the beginning – this book is NOT for everyone. This is very much a mature audience only read, and one that should not be taken lightly. Read at your own risk!
Elizabeth I was the glittering jewel in her court, and she was unwilling to share any of the limelight with anyone. As her reign progressed, she made her feelings on marriage well known, and many in her court were afraid to ask her permission to get married. Some married in secret, and for those unfortunate souls, the effects were long reaching and dire.
Robert Dudley was the favorite of the queen. They doted on each other, and there was fear among the queens Councillors that he would persuade her to marry him. After the death of his first wife, his name was tarnished enough that she could never give him much credence in his suit, but he continued to pursue her for years. Finally realizing that his dreams would never be realized, he set about to find a wife that could provide him with heirs for his landed estates and title.
Lettice Knolly's was a close relation of the queen, whether it was remarked on or not, and her role in the court was tenuous. Given her mothers relationship with the queen, she was given a court position, but marriage and motherhood kept her from the court much of the time. Upon the death of her husband, and the massive debts that he had incurred, she began to make plans for her future. Whether she and Dudley had been more than friends for many years is a point of conjecture that we will never fully have an answer to, but she waited the required amount of time for mourning before considering marriage again. Her marriage would be the cause of contention for decades to come. Lettice might be well loved by the queen, but she threw it all away for the love of one man - and the one man that no one else in the kingdom had dared to make any designs on. He was the queens favorite, her darling, her right hand. That Lettice and Robert dared marry in secret, and then continue to hide it from the queen make it all the worse for the pair when it was finally outed to the monarch.
Dudley was forgiven, but Lettice was never again fully welcomed at court. She was banished from the sight of the queen, but the long drawn out spite was not to be forgotten. There could be only one and the queen was not about to share with anyone.
Lettice is quite a enigmatic figure. That more has not been written about her prior to this is a shame. She was a woman to be reckoned with, and one that did not back down no matter who was on the other side. While her family would find their tempers caused them lucrative positions at court, they always managed to come back up around. Fortunes wheel doth turn and turn. This is one book that I would read again - as there is so much information presented, that it is hard to take it all in at once, but it would be a good one.
The journey that Milton Kleinberg takes us is one of survival and danger. At a young age, he and his family were forced to relocate, simply because of their faith, during World War II. Born in Poland, he grew up knowing a life of hunger, fear, and fighting to survive from day to day.
As they journeyed through the Siberian landscape, their father left the train one day to look for food, and never returned. Milton's mother did the best she could, caring for three little boys, doing her best to keep food in their mouths through the meager rationing they were able to get. Since his father had all the ration cards with him, there were times they were turned away, but there were times the guards gave them their rations anyway. Through his mother's tenacity, and the hard fought lesson of survival, Milton grew up to enjoy a different life. While one brother died as an infant, and the other was lost after becoming sick in one of the schools they were in, Milton refused to give up. He continued to fight, forging alliances with other boys on the playground, and pushing the limits on being able to steal enough food to keep hunger at bay. While the school fed them, for growing children, it was never enough to completely make the hunger go away. His mother did her best through bribes and gifts to the school officials and guards to make his life better, the war made it hard for all. Having only a few articles of clothing, shoes that were worn out, and one pair of socks, they made do. When the war ended, he was reunited with his mother, and surprisingly of all, with his father. His father had remarried, and had two little girls with his second wife. When his mother found out, she was livid, and went through the proceedings with the Rabbi to get a divorce from her unfaithful husband. On a chance encounter on a bench, she met Milton's stepfather, who never treated him as if he was anything other than his son. After their relocation to America, the family settled down to rebuild and reforge the bonds that had been tried and strengthened through the war.
I really enjoyed reading this book. In fact I read it in one sitting. I am a bit embarrassed to admit that it sat on my shelf for about two years before I got around to reading it, simply because I did not know what to expect when I opened the cover. I was hesitant to read it, for many reasons. Stories involving children are hard for me - they force me as a mother to look at my own sons and wonder what I would have done to protect my children. They make me examine myself and wonder if I would have the fortitude to stand up to what these families went through, and what these mothers endured for their children. I finally decided to set the book for a book club that I was doing, and sat down to start reading. There were tears, there was laughter, and some anger in a few parts. But I didn't stop. I read through to the end, and then I read the authors notes.
When it comes to a book, sometimes you have to start with the authors note. It can give you an idea of what you will expect inside. Let me tell you - I was in for a surprise. I thought when I read through it, I was going to see some finger pointing, maybe some blame cast, and perhaps a “should have could have” segment. There was none of that. What I found was hope. A hope for a better future, hope for the remembrance of the past, and a hope for the newfound country that the author found himself living in. He loves America. Why? Because, in his own words “I have seen the rest of the world. And the more I have seen and experienced the rest of the world and its history, the more I have come to venerate America and the great nation it has become. (page 196) ..The idea here in America is that you don't have to live or die how you were born. You can move, you can advance, you can change your attitude, and, by doing so, you can change your circumstances.” (page 204).
I sat back and thought about all that he had been through, all that he had seen, suffered, and lost. That he can sit here, and not point fingers at the ones that were responsible (not that he has forgotten - or ever will forget), but his willingness to not let the past hold him back. He pushed forward. He survived. He wrote this book so that others will know what happened, and learn from the past.
Read this book! You will not regret it!
William thinks that he is to old for the castle that Mrs. Phillips gave him. Granted he has had it for a few years, and he is now twelve. Her birthday present is a mystery to everyone but William - he knows exactly what it is, and he is itching to get back to the castle and use it.
Telling Jason the story, the boys make plans to go back to the castle, and see what adventure is awaiting them. They are in for the journey of a lifetime, but they do not know it yet!
But now, they must defend the castle against a force of rats, who are unlike any rats anyone has ever seen. Whether or not they are going to succeed depends on the strength of those inside the castle and whether or not they can find a way to survive until help comes...
Great book! I am going to read this one outloud to the boys, and see what they think of these characters.
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.
FANTASTIC! If you are interested in the myths and legends of any culture, this book should be at the top of your list!
David Bowles goes through the history of Mexico, reaching back to its furthest myths and bringing them all into one book - from their creation story through the conquest by the Conquistadors.
Mexico has some fascinating myths, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading them. Through the pages of this book, I was able to travel through a country I have never visited, and gain some insights into their culture. From the beginnings, journeying through the land of the dead, and then of course the glorious heroes and heroines who fought to save their people - I could NOT put this book down!
Some of the stories held me a little more than some of the others, but this chronicle was well done. Told in chronological order, the rise and fall of each of the nations who roamed, cultivated and dwelt, and eventually fell is told. The gods are brought forth and explained in such a way, that a high school student who is looking to find information on this civilization would do well to start here.
Understanding the myths and legends behind each of the cultures of this world, is one way of unlocking who the people are today. Each culture, each country has their own legends to fall back on, but the mighty warriors of Mexico have been preserved, passed down from generation to generation.
Get to a bookstore and reserve your copy today! You will not be disappointed with this book at all! Easily broken down, this will allow for lighter reading, or for those who choose to power through, you can read through the entirety within four to five hours.
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.
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.
This story is spread out between three women - three women who are strong willed and unwilling to conform to the world around them. They fought, loved, and lived through some of the most troubling times in history. Aveline who has her life arranged for her by her family, but wants something different. Vi, who refuses to sit back and watch the world change around her. Ellie - who wants to unlock the secrets of her grandmothers life, but unwilling to budge on what she sets her mind to.
Ellie wants to know about her grandmothers past, and the secrets that are locked within the confines of her mind. Alzheimer's has ravaged the once clear and brilliant mind, leaving her millions of miles away - not always knowing her granddaughter, or where she is. The secrets that haunt her grandmother send Ellie off on a search for the answers - all the way to France.
Once there, she encounters Quinn, who holds almost as many secrets as her grandmother. As the stories flip between Aveline, Vi and Ellie, the past comes to life once more.
Aveline's story really spoke to me. The French Revolution was a dangerous time. But her concern was not the money or the social standing. She bucked convention and tried to help those who needed it the most. Instead of marrying the man that was set before her, she found love in one of the most unlikely places, with someone who was willing to look past the scars and accept her for who she was.
Vi was someone who wanted to do her part in the war, no matter the cost to her, because she believed in what they were fighting for.
I really enjoyed reading through this book. It held my attention throughout, and the flipping back and forth was not really hard to follow at all.
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.
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!
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.