Rebecca Hill
Nancy Drew sets off on her own in her very first case. As she tries to find the lost will of old Josiah Crowley. Along the way she runs into some old classmates who have given her a hard time.
As she tries to find the missing will, she comes across many who were promised money from the older gentleman, but have been left out in the cold by the will that was produced by the Topham family. Knowing that an newer will has to be around somewhere, Nancy is determined to find it.
Along the way, she runs into some rather unsavory characters....
What a fun read! I had forgotten how much I had enjoyed these! I read them while I was younger, and jumping back into these was a fun foray into the past. I might have to find a few of the others and enjoy another walk down memory lane.
Did you ever stop to think what your money can do for you? Jesse Mecham has come out with his book “You Need A Budget” and helps to lay out a working system for budgeting your money. This book is an eye opener for anyone who feels as though they are living paycheck to paycheck.
Whether you are just starting out or are established already in your job - putting a budget together is not a bad idea. The economy goes up and down, jobs end abruptly, and life takes turns that we are not always prepared for. Living paycheck to paycheck can be exhausting and stressful. It can cause fights, and bitter feelings - especially when you want to do something special, but the money is not there. Now, you can budget for everything! Jesse takes you through step by step on building a better budget, but this is not your run of the mill plan. YOU make the decisions on where the money goes. You are in control of everything. What is important to you? Where do you want your money to go?
Asking yourself these questions, and putting the effort into building a life that you want, while getting out of the rat race of the paycheck to paycheck system, you can start seeing results and building the nest egg, or planning for those special events or vacations that you are wanting to take.
The biggest theme through this book is YOU.
Budgeting is such a hard thing to do, but necessary in this day and age. There are many who get hit with government shut down, lay-offs, health issues and more. Budgeting now can help to ease the burden when it comes to having to cut back, or wait. This has never been my strong point. In fact, my husband and I have been discussing the need to budget out more, especially as we are attempting to tame the dragon known as student loans. I have quite a few, and we have slowly been chipping away at them, but having a better plan in place, would allow us to not only chunk down a little more on them, but plan for the things that we are wanting in the future. We have to start thinking college funds for two kids, eventual moves, car issues and more. While we can put a little away here and there, it seems that something always pops up to demolish what we have set aside. By using this system, I feel more confident in moving forward and building a stronger future.
The legend of Arthur is one that has lived through history. Mike Weatherley brings the legend back to life in the form of a military officer who lost his entire family. While wishing for death, he remembers the stories that his father told him when he was younger. As he heads off in search of the raiders who killed his family, he hopes for death wishing to get back to his wife.
As he works through the countryside, he comes to another military unit, one that bears his family name. He and his brother do some quick talking, and Ambrose manages to pull the ancient sword from its sheath on the alter. Everyone is silent, as they stare at the man who has become their new Arthur.
Leading the troops through the countryside, they come to the rescue of the countryside who have been harried by the Anglo-Saxon pirates. Ambrose is after just one though, the one who left a silver horse in his wife's hand. He found it on her body as he prepared her for burial.
While Weatherley is a little wordy, the book was really good. There were a few places that were slightly historically inaccurate, but the book in itself does a great job in setting up the legend of Arthur to take off on another spin. Get ready for another dive into folklore. I cant wait to see what follows this one!
The war for Independence has long been glorified in our history books. However, Nathaniel Philbrick looks through the layers and brings us a untarnished view on the history of the war.
George Washington and Benedict Arnold were two men that became legend during the war. While the war raged on, the two men could not have been more different. Washington worried about the army as the whole and suffered from indecision. Arnold thought of himself and what he could gain from the war. Two men who had greatness before them, but who could not have been more different in their mindsets and goals.
Benedict Arnold became one of the greatest traitors in the history of the United States, and his defection could have demoralized the entire army. However, Washington had been turning the war around, and those who had once been detractors of the Commander in Chief were realizing that he was the only one who could effectively lead the army. Arnold wanted to enrich himself, and come out of the war as a hero, but his actions can speak to anything but. Instead of working toward the betterment of his country, he became a turncoat, and began to work with the enemy, with the urging of his second wife, Peggy.
This is one of the best books on the American Revolution that I have read. While Benedict Arnold and George Washington are the two main characters, there is so much more present. The highs and lows, the good and the bad are all played out on the pages, and no one is spared. From the Continental Congress, to the French allies - every leaf is overturned to give a comprehensive view and greater understanding of what lead to the defection of Benedict Arnold.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a deeper understanding of the war, and the men who's names have become entwined in history.
Just a heads up, do not start this book unless you plan to stay up all night and read. This is one that you cannot start and put down to come back to later. You are going to be stuck until you know the absolute truth. Ms. Willig's writing reminds me of Daphne du Maurier.
Georgie has no illusions about the future, and what might be waiting for her. Memories of the past are just that, and she is determined to keep as far ahead of them as she can. Not all memories are good, and the ones that Georgie is running from would make another person cringe with fear. Not that she is not afraid, but she built up a wall - refusing to allow anything to get under her skin. She thought she could handle anything, but she did not count on Bayard Van Duyvil. When this sweeping young man comes into her life, she is anything but gracious. That he is rich is one thing, but men are always after just one thing. Bay is determined to prove her wrong, and over the next several weeks courts her quietly. While she wonders why he really is interested in her, her own feelings overwhelm her rational. Before long, they marry and prepare to return home, to face his formidable mother.
While they settle into their new lives, Georgie has restyled herself as Annabelle Lacey. While she hopes to meld into society easily, she is not one for normal convention, and neither is her husband. Having grown up under his mothers withering glare, he is slowly discovering his own independence. Stuck at home with their mother is his sister Janie. She has yet to find her means of escape. But when Bay is found bleeding to death on the ground of his new home, and his wife missing no one knows what is going on. Wild rumors spring to life, and the papers are running with the story.
Janie, as quiet and mold-able as she is, has a hidden stubborn side. While her mother has relegated her to the background as unimportant, Janie is determined to see that her brother gets justice, and his name cleared of the rumors that are swirling around him and his wife. Enlisting the help of one of the journalists, they embark on a journey of truths, mystery and dark secrets that have been lurking in the shadows for far to long.
While they begin to untangle the webs that have molded their family name, the truth might be something that no one can deal with, and leave some newfound truths in their wake...
Seriously enjoyed this book. There are some adult themes in the book, so not something that I would recommend to anyone under 18, but this story draws two worlds together and fleshes them out. Secrets, lies and half truths have been overlooked, and squirreled away all to protect a family name. The matriarch of the family is one that will go to any length to protect their good name - and perhaps even some lengths that others are not aware of - all to keep their standing within the community.
As I stated above, do not start this book if you have any plans on sleeping, it is one that will draw you in and keep you turning pages until the very end.
Godwine has risen from humble beginnings to become one of the most powerful men in England, but with power comes jealousy.
Godwine finds a wandering Dane in the woods and taking him back to his house, they feed the man. Come to find out he is a Jarl for the Danes. Godwine ends up leaving with the Jarl, taking him back to his own ships, and then sailing away with them. As he watches England fade into the distance he wonders where his future will lead.
Coming into manhood in the service of the Danish king, he grows into positions of power. Serving through the kingdoms of FOUR kings, he incurs the wrath of Edward. Fleeing England, he waits for the correct timing to return, and make his position clear. He is hoping to regain his lost earldom, correct the wrongdoings in the nation, and rid the nation of the unwanted Norman advisors which are turning the king down the wrong path.
I really enjoyed this read, it was fantastic and kept me hooked from start to finish. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
Engaging read!
Margaret Beaufort is a woman who knew what she wanted and was not afraid to work for it. Her entire life was spent working for her son, who she finally saw sit on the throne of England as Henry VII.
I will admit, I have never been a fan of Margaret Beaufort. I find her to be a woman who would use any means to get what she wants, no matter the cost. She used any means at her disposal throughout her lifetime.
But Samantha Wilcoxson has made her into a person, one that you could almost pity for. I enjoyed reading the book, although I did find that my personal feelings on her did not change.
Enthralling, engaging, torturous, and delightful... Get ready to be in for one thrilling read, and not be able to put it down until you are completely finished! Book hangover material has returned!
Liz has a scared past with the place of her youth. Surviving a flash flood which claimed the life of a friend, she has been careful to avoid the location for years. But returning to the house that her grandparents owned has given Liz and her husband Owen a new start. She is studying to be a lawyer and he is helping to develop a new program that will land him millions. Everything is going perfect, until Liz accidentally hits their neighbors child.
What starts out as a simple accident quickly escalates into a tangled web of deceit. While Liz does her best to console her friend, the guilt is eating away at her. Little does she know the secret that her husband is harboring, and the lies that are being spread. She can barely hold herself together, and would rather just tell the truth, but her husband keeps her at bay. Feeding her pills and wine to keep her sedate and somewhat calm, she slowly unravels even further. As her neighbor relies on her more and more, Liz is doing her best to keep everything under control, but the pain of what she has done is eating her alive. As the days tick by with no news, she begins to wonder what has happened to the little boy they so carefully smuggled out of the neighborhood.
As time goes by and Carole becomes even more unraveled, Liz knows that she cannot hang on for much longer, but the truth of what really happened to little Charlie will leave everyone in Bend Oregon scratching their heads at the truth...
What would you do if you knew that you were dying? Would you take your fate and hope for the best, or try and make a deal?
John and William are two brothers who are living through the black plague. As people die around them, they work on getting back home, just hoping that they can make it alive. As they pass the dead and dying, John wonders about his soul, and whether he would make it to heaven or not. As they pass a young couple on the road, John notices a baby, and he refuses to leave the child even though the parents are dead of the plague. As they carry the screaming babe through the night, William curses his brother, but John could not allow the child to die alone on the side of the road. They head to the home of an acquaintance, who is nursing a child of her own and can at least feed the child until they can read their own home. But as they enter the home and the woman goes to care for the child, it is discovered that he is plague ridden. The brothers leave the home, and are soon sick themselves, but John heard a voice telling him to go to a certain spot.
Once there, they both hear a voice, although it tells them different things, they are given an amount of time, each day will be 99 years in the future, and they can see the changes that are coming. As they set out, the changes are shocking, and dangerous.
This was an exciting read. I had a hard time putting it down. As John and William work their way through the different centuries they remember home, and do their best to make the most of their situation. As time goes on, and the days dwindle, both are ready for death and the end of their suffering. John suffers through the choices that he has made, wondering if anything he did made any difference.
This shows the good and the bad of each century. While there are some who enjoy the suffering of those around them, there are those who are determined to do good, and to try and make the world around them a better place. Hope and chance - the ability to work through the challenges of what life throws at you, and the eventuality of what the choices of one person in the past could have on the future generations.
Get ready for a read that will make you sit back and shake your head...
The Sultana was a ship that should have had a long and glorious career on the Mississippi river. During the Civil War, shipping along the river was slow, but it could be done. Danger, excitement, and money drove the trade during the war years.
After the war, there was even more money to be made, and many boats made money by taking soldiers that had been POWs during the war home. They were to be mustered out of the Army and sent home. Many of them were sick, weakened during their time in camps such as Andersonville that housed thousands more than it was originally constructed for. But the needs outweighed the risks. Many, men like Colonel Hatch, found ways to make money during the war. It was these men that created more risks, and opened the door for later criticism from the public.
The Civil War was a defining time for the United States. The Sultana was something that should have never been relegated to the back pages of history, but time and circumstance conspired to bring this tragedy to an almost unknown portion of history. When the tragedy struck, President Lincoln had just been assassinated. The hunt for his killer was front page news. As the nation mourned the loss of its President, hundreds of families mourned their lost loved ones. Men, women, children were all victims of this explosion. Soldiers, families, lives and careers lost in the blinding explosion that ripped through the early morning hours.
Families along the Arkansas shores woke to the screams and cries of the wounded. Many sprang into action, saving hundreds from a watery grave. Others slipped from their reach and were lost to the murky waters of the river. The explosion on the Sultana claimed more lives than the sinking of the Titanic, but due to its placing in history, has been lost to the annals of time.
While the public cried out for someone to pay for the loss of life, investigations continued, but no one would pay for the loss in full measure. Few were blamed, and those who should have carried the cost were lost to the military tribunal, simply by having resigned from the army before the investigation was concluded.
This tragedy is something that should not be lost entirely. The sinking was a tragic wake up call to those who sailed the river, and those who traveled along its banks. While the Sultana has been found and mostly reclaimed from the depths, the mystery still remains as to what could have caused the explosion. Sound theories have been put forth, but none have permanently answered the question satisfactorily so far. While the Sultana is once again reclaiming its history and time is allowing us the chance to find and know the names of those who were on board, we may never know its full answer. We might never get the entire list of names of those were lost, and those who survived. To this day, there are families of those who were lost aboard the Sultana and those who survived who still meet yearly. They are determined to not allow history to swallow this tragedy. For as someone once said “as long as someone remembers my name, I am not entirely lost to time.”
I enjoyed this book. It gave a rather interesting look into some of the lives of the men who survived the Civil War - living through the horrors of the prison camps, only to lose their lives while headed home. We get the before, the during and the after in this book. We see what could have caused the explosion, the overcrowding which brought the number of the dead to horrific highs. This is a pretty decent book, and one that allows for those who want to do more research a great jumping off point.
Happy Reading!
Fortune's wheel doth constantly turn, and the turn of the wheel does not guarantee anything...
Ten men, ten fortunes, ten ways that history could have been changed in ways that we can only imagine today. Looking back on the lives of the those who were cut short, the ramifications on the next generation can clearly be seen.
Taking a look at the lives of Edmund, Earl of Rutland, Edward of Middleham, Edward, Earl of Warwick, Arthur Tudor, and more, we see the unraveling of things that could have been. While we can say “could have, should have” now, it was not as cut and dry in those days. The mortality rates were high, and infant loss was normal. But these were not infants cut down before their life started, they were young men on the verge of breaking onto the international scene. Whether by illness or death in battle, we can look back at their lives and picture “what might have been.”
Amy Licence does a great job in showing the dynamics of their lives, and of the lives of those around them. She fleshes out every aspect that she can find, while showing the courses that might have been open to them, had they lived. Henry Fitzroy was one of the most speculated characters. His father was setting him up for a bright future. Illegitimate or not, Henry VIII was determined that his son would have a glittering future, whether that be adviser to his future ruling children, or setting him up to be king in his own right. There are so many avenues that could have been taken, but death once again intervened, cutting short yet another life.
I enjoyed this read. It was something that I found to be interesting, but also provokes a lot of thought. The “might have been's” are prevalent, that they really make you think what history would have held if these young men had been able to fulfill their full potential. The one downside to this book was that there are some heavy biases in the text. While I can say as a historian we all have our biases, this book comes out with them extremely heavy in many cases. I would have enjoyed the book a bit more had they been a little more muted.
The Grand Duchess Anastasia, has easily become the most famous of the Romanov royal family. Pampered, loved, princess, prisoner, missing person. She and her entire family were held in different locations, until one night, they disappeared entirely. Rumors began to surface that they had all been shot, and their bodies disposed of, but Russia was in war, and there was not enough man power, or willingness to look for them at the time.
A few years later, a young woman appeared who claimed to be the lost Anastasia, and the world exploded. Many believed her, many more did not. Court cases, interviews, movies, family members coming forward claiming she was someone else, but through it all the woman we called Anna Anderson stuck to her story that she was the lost princess Anastasia. True, she knew things that most people outside the royal circle would not know but that was not proof enough.
Until her death, she clung to the claim that she was Anastasia. She would not budge from her story, and she refused all offers of buy-outs from the existing Romanov family in Europe.
The story of Anastasia has long captured imagination, brought to life in numerous books and movies. But the true story behind the heartbreaking loss of the entire royal family was not put to rest until the 1990, and the early 2000's. While questions still remain, we know that none of the family made it out of the Ekaterinburg prison alive. The stunning performance by Anna Anderson, which lasted almost 50 years was not put to rest until several years after she herself had passed away.
While I enjoyed this read, I found it somewhat difficult at times to follow the extremely wonky timeline laid out by the author in the book. We were forwards, backwards, backwards some more, and then jumping forward, to fall backwards again. I found myself re-reading bits, to make sure that I had not missed anything, trying to piece all the information together. I have read on Anastasia before, but this almost felt more like a mish-mash of information, not as well laid out as it could have been. Still an enjoyable read, just be prepared for tangled webs, and the feeling of confusion as you read through.
Short review for now
From its beginnings to the end of its tumultuous queen Cleopatra - Dr. Fletcher, brings this fascinating history to you.
I could not put this book down! From a lover of Egyptian history, there were so many things that I had forgotten, or simply had not heard before (especially in some of the earlier times) that I was hooked from the start.
Going down the list chronologically, you get an idea and sense of the pride, wealthy, and the not so lucky pharaohs who ruled. Each monarch's history is given, as much as can be within the space of one book, but you walk away with a complete feeling, not lacking in anyway. While some of the histories can be drawn together, and the tapestry of the genealogy can be somewhat messy, Dr. Fletcher easily navigates the murky waters.
Highly recommend this book for anyone interested in history. Be sure to plan time to sit - this is not a fast read!
Join the Binkerton twins and their little sister, Libby as they go back in time to Ancient Egypt. As their adventure unfolds, they learn all about life in ancient Egypt. Life on the Nile was a lot more grueling than modern day life.
As the trio work through their book, their brother is taken to work on the pyramid for the pharaoh. As the sisters try and track him down, they find one adventure after another. When they finally reach their brother, they have to make a quick escape, but not before Libby decides to take a little detour into a pyramid...
This was a really cute read, and one that my kids really enjoyed. We learned how a pyramid was built, how the mummification process worked, and so much more! As we read through the book, we found that life in ancient Egypt was quite a bit different from life today. We had some fun comparing how meals are prepared, homes are built and furnished, and so much more! I would highly recommend this book to all, and especially to kids who are interested in history. The easy to follow facts at the bottom, coupled with the kids on their adventure made the entire book enjoyable, and almost made my kids forget they were actually learning something!
Do you have a kid interested in history?? You need to check out this book! Inside Out Egyptian Mummy: Unwrap an Egyptian Mummy layer by layer, takes you on a unique journey. This book breaks down the entire process so that kids ages 5-12 can gain an understanding of the way the Ancient Egyptian burial rites were practiced for thousands of years.
I have a son who is as interested in Egyptian history as I am, and this book was something that he absolutely loved! He was enthralled with the photos, and the information snippets that are provided along the way. He kept saying, “check this out, check this out!”
I completely recommend this book for those with younger kids. This is perfect for a immersion into a different time, without completely scaring kids off. The facts are not overwhelming, and you can gain a sense of direction with the easy step by step process used within the book. Colored pages help to drive home the points that the author is wanting to get across, and the fun facts keep kids entirely engaged.
Thank you NetGalley for an early copy of this book! I thoroughly enjoyed it!
This was a great book! The lost civilization of the Maya is slowly revealed during painstaking trips and excavations - being shared through painted images and some of the artifacts that were brought back.
At first, I was not sure what I was going to think about this book, but the deeper that I got into it, the more I had trouble putting it down. I was entirely hooked, and stayed up way to late to finish reading.
Highly recommend this book if you are a history buff!
“I have spent my life running away from the Tower...“
Margaret Pole was of the old family, the Plantagenet's. Her father was executed for treason. Her brother lost his head for nothing more than his family name. When Henry VIII comes to the throne, it is a new world for Margaret. Her lands are restored, and she is made a countess in her own right. With her husband gone, she is once again on the rise in the world of power and intrigue. But power is fleeting and wealth counts for nothing. As the court of Henry VIII begins to turn on each other for suspicion and the nobleman begin to enter the Tower, there are fears over the safety of the Lady Mary. As the world shifts underneath them and the scenes change, no one can be sure that they will be safe. Family or not, the world of Henry VIII is what he makes it and wants it to be....
A ghost from the past comes back to retell her story..
This was a great read. I enjoyed every minute of it. Margaret Pole is one that has not been written on much. Her story is one of pain and loss, but fortune's wheel must make its full turn. At the age of 67, Margaret is sent to the executioners block. There was no trial, there was no evidence. She was killed for her family name, and the fear of a king. The fear that her family would rise up again and try to regain the throne of England. While she may have been lost to history for a short while, her story has once again come to light.
Thomas Penn gives an highly insightful account of the reign on Henry Tudor. Masterfully written and well documented.
From the beginning of the reign on Henry Tudor, the new king had quite the fight against him. He had to establish his reign, and procure the funds needed for the running of a kingdom. While he works through the beginning of his kingship, he established his right to rule, not through his wife, Elizabeth of York, but by divine right of inheritance. He did not immediately marry her, so as to establish that the throne was his and that the power was not received through his wife.
Many historians gloss over the reign of Henry Tudor, as he ushered in a new era. But many refuse to look underneath the shiny surface that has been painted by apologists and some historians. Penn takes a look at the man himself, and the many shortcomings that he had. He was not the perfect king, or the perfect husband. He was a tyrannical ruler, who ruled through fear, not love. He put many of his nobility into such debt that they could not afford to do much of anything, especially rebel against him. He held power through mistrust and suspicion, not through openness and loyalty.
This was an interesting read. It was much different than anything else that has been put forth on Henry Tudor. I liked the fresh and blunt approach. I learned quite a bit from reading this history. One that I would recommend checking out.