Rebecca Hill
Claudia Lucretia, the daughter of Pontius Pilate has led a very sheltered life, but she longs for something more. Not content with just the frivolities, she dives into educating herself. As they make their way to their new home, she is fixing to find that the world is not always as safe as she thought it was, and that even she can become prey to some men who would see her father fail. As they stay with the Herod's, the royal family in Judea, Claudia has a young guard named Judah, whom she finds very interesting. She is also given a young slave, Nebela to use while they are in the country. She doesn't like the young slave girl very much, but they seem to have intertwined fates. Nebela has fallen in love with the Tribune who is to become engaged to Claudia, and she is determined to make him her own. But she knows that she has to help Claudia get the young man that has caught her attention as well, in order to move them both out of her way. Nebela is ambitious and determined to get what she wants to matter the cost.
As Claudia travels to be with her parents, she is ambushed and kidnapped by the guard she trusted and the gang of Zealots. They want to see all Romans expelled from the Israelite lands. But they never counted on falling in love with each other. Returned to her family, she longs for the company of the young guard. Judah though, has some secrets of his own. As much as he is enchanted by the young roman aristocrat, there is still a plan to be followed, and he is doing his best to follow the orders Barabbas has laid down. When he meets Jesus though, his entire world is turned upside down and he has some difficult choices to make.
Fiona Veitch Smith has done a good job of weaving together the story of Jesus, John the Baptist and other historical figures into something new. A bit of romance and storytelling bring new life to characters who have been relegated to bylines and dusty pages. I'm not a huge fan of romance, but the historical side was well done, and the book overall was a great read!
Save the world and survive!? Nothing to it! Join the Kane siblings as they work through another harrowing adventure and save the world from being engulfed in Chaos.
Apophis is close to escaping the prison that he was cast into thousands of years ago, and the Kane's have to find the three parts of the Scroll of Ra to prevent it from happening. Only thing is, they have to find Ra as well and awaken him from the sleep that he was put into by Isis in favor of her son Horus. But they know they have one chance, and they cannot fail or the entire world is finished.
Sadie and Carter have some differences of opinions at times, and both are just as determined to get their way. Sadie wants a day off, (right in the middle of the world falling apart), so she takes off for her birthday, and ends up in trouble instead. But when Carter decides to follow a clue to find Zia, it could not have come at the worst time. The window for what they have to do closing fast, but he runs off to find her,and get a couple of surprises in the process.
As Sadie and Carter reunite to find Ra, they know they are almost out of time, but they have to do everything within their power to keep the world from falling apart, and keeping Menshikov from unleashing a power worse than what they have faced before...
This book was GREAT! I loved reading through it and was captivated from page one! I cannot wait to dive into the next books to find out what happens next! Next couple of years, I will start reading these aloud to my boys, I think they are perfect adventures with a little history thrown in.
Interesting glob of ghost stories from all over the world. The writer does a fairly decent job at fleshing out the stories, but at the same time, writing is not this authors strong point. If you are interested in tidbits of history, royal ghosts and don't mind jumping around a bit, then you will really enjoy this book. From Great Britain, France, Switzerland, Germany and more, there are some age old tales and some new ones thrown in that you might not have heard before!
As stated above, writing is not the authors strong point, and there are several sentences that made my brain tingle, but overall, I enjoyed the stories that were laid down in the book! Some of them are rather short, while others are a bit longer.
Want to read the Iliad but not ready for the full version? You are going to want to read this one! Rosemary Sutcliff breaks down the story, to an easy to understand version just for kids! Get the full emotion of the story, but at the same time, retains the classic version of the story.
Join Helen of Troy, Paris and Hector as the battle for Troy erupts and then drags on for several years. This amazing retelling will have your children feeling as though they are in the city of Troy or the Greek encampment as they learn about the Fall of Troy!
The Perfect Father... or the Perfect Terror Ryans life is semi-perfect. Husband, father, Naval officer, and adventures, it is what every person dreams of. But under the idyllic look, the cracks appear. His wife has never been faithful, his daughter loathes him, and when he is captured in the desert of Iraq, the remnants of his family fall apart.Told he is not wanted, and a divorce pending, Ryan is adrift. But when his daughter is kidnapped by the serial killer known as the BoneMan, his entire world is turned upside down.All he wants is for his daughter to survive, and he will do whatever it takes to ensure her safety. Hunted by the FBI and the District Attorney of Dallas, Ryan flees, making contact with the BoneMan to try and get his daughter back. What he gets is an angry DA and arrested. He is being held as the prime suspect in the murders of all the young women the BoneMan has claimed. But when the DA is murdered while Ryan is in custody, one FBI agent shares her doubts that Ryan is actually the BoneMan. Everyone else seems content to let the evidence fit, no matter who it is. But when Ryan escapes custody and is again captured by the BoneMan, there is only one father that will walk out of that basement alive....This was a really good read! I LOVED this book! I have been meaning to read it for the past five years, but finally got around to picking it up! Oh my goodness! This is a book that will keep you on your seat! While the unfaithful wife bothered me (honestly, I wanted to slap the wife silly), as it plays to often into the scenarios that many military members face, reading and understanding the character of Ryan helped put into reality why it can happen, and of course, how you could avoid it. BUT, aside from that this was a fantastic and enjoyable read! Definitely one that I could see being read again in the future!
Brian is on his way to visit his father when the plane that he is riding in crashes. The pilot suffers a heart attack, and he and Brian are lost to the wilderness. Brian knows that he has to survive, and he needs to do what it takes to get through the days until he is found. He begins to build a shelter, learns to make a fire, and then learns to hunt for the food that he needs to survive where he is. He is not sure how long he is going to be there until someone finds him.
As he works through the days, he finds the ups and downs of being alone. He learns to rely on himself, and the inner strength that he did not know he had.
It is not until a tornado rips through the area that he is able to finally see the plane again, and then he remembers, there is a survival pack. He works to put together a raft and then swims out to the plane to see what he can salvage from the wreck. He is not sure what he will find, or if he will be able to get out of the plane again when he gets in....
This was a great read! I am looking forward to reading this book out loud to the boys!
Mary promises her mother on her death bed that she will go stay with her Aunt Patience after she is gone. When Mary heads out to Jamaica Inn, where her aunt and uncle reside, several try and talk her out of going there. She refuses to listen to them, and continues to make her way to the inn. But when she gets there, she finds that things are not as they seem. Her aunt has changed from a wonderful, vivacious woman, to a nervous wreck. Her uncle strong arms anyone to comes across him, and he warns her against meddling in his business. As time passes, Mary catches wind of the activities that are occurring, and she is determined to bring her uncle down. When she meets his brother, she is not sure whether she can trust him or if he is mixed up in the same business as his brother. There is one person she feels she can trust, and that is the vicar from Altarnun. She has bared her soul to him several times, and she feels that she can rely on him.
When her uncle drags her along on one of his “missions” she sees the awful truth for herself, the truth that he had only spoken about in his drunken rants. All it does is strengthen her resolve to bring him down and get her aunt as far from Jamaica Inn as she can.
But things do not go as she planned, her uncle seems to be two steps ahead of everyone and its not looking like her aunt will ever leave the Inn...
This was an awesome read, and I enjoyed every page of it! I was not ready for it to be over, but enjoyed the way that the author wrapped up the ending. If you are looking for a quick and fun read, this is it! Daphne du Maurier never disappoints!
Have you ever been invited to a short weekend away, only to find that you are playing for your life!? Ten people are invited to an island, some for work, and some under the guise of visiting with old friends and acquaintances. However, once they arrive, they learn that they are being charged with crimes that could not be prosecuted in the courts at home. As they begin to die one by one, the nursery rhyme that hangs in each of their rooms becomes real. Will they be able to survive the island.. or each other??
Join Agatha Christie as she spins a web so complete and evasive that you begin to wonder if you really did figure out who did it, or if it was just your imagination. No book has ever been able to captivate you this way, or keep you enthralled from page one until the very last sentence is complete. Her mysteries are of the finest caliber and should be celebrated for their genius and foresight. She is the reigning queen of mystery! Grab your copy and dive into Indian Island for your weekend stay!
Paul and his classmates enlist in World War I. As they move through the days, the trials and the heartaches that they endure are something that will define them for the remainder of their lives, however long or short they might be.
As the war progresses, the shortfalls that the army is suffering become more apparent. The lack of men, ammo and other necessities. Paul notates as they move through the days that they have been trained to die, and they are good at doing that.
This coming of age story of these young men is something new. This story tells of the camaraderie that each of them felt, the bonds of friendship, and how hard they fought to stay together, no matter what. This story is something that all should read!
When a young boy finds a treasure map in the chest of a dead pirate, he is all set for a grand adventure. However, loose lips and unscrupulous men lead for an adventure bigger than Jim and his small company bargained for.
When the squire hires men for a trip, he cannot help but talk about the treasure that they are going to find. As they sail through the seas, Jim overhears a conversation between two of the pirates, as they plan their mutiny. As the plan comes out and the pirates begin to take over the ship, Jim and his companions are not sure what will happen to them.
As they come upon the island where the treasure is buried the pirates make their move. But there is more to the small company of companions than the pirates give them credit for...
Any child will fall in love with this story! Let their imaginations take flight with these pirates and sail the seven seas in search of treasure and spoils galore!
Johnny Tremain is the apprentice to a silversmith in Boston, and he is very proud of his work. He knows that he is the best apprentice in the area, and many people are trying to get him to come and work for them. One day while pouring silver, the crucible that he is using busts, and he is unable to continue as an apprentice. As he wanders aimlessly through the town, he wonders what will become of him. But he also makes friends with Rab.
As things in Boston begin to heat up with the start of the American Revolution, Johnny is fixing to learn that crippled hand or not, he can make a difference..
This was a great book and one that kids will enjoy! History without being boring, and a good story line to go along with it! I highly recommend this one!
Well, this was an interesting read. I was overtaken quite a few times on the very selfish nature of Birdy. She writes about her father as though he cares nothing for her, puts her brothers down, and even describes her mother as less than perfect. Ah, well, so do many teenage girls.
While the times call for the marriages of girls to bring their family better prospects and money, Birdy is completely against the match that her father finally puts together for her. She does nothing to help this, by driving away all of the suitors that come for her. She cares for nothing but her birds, dogs, and herself. While her take on life is very narrow, she does not do much to change that either. The entire book is spent complaining about her life, until the end, when the chances that she might lose her mother make her take a second look. But her views on her family really do not change.
I am not quite sure how I really feel about this book yet. I thought I would enjoy it more, but honestly it is one, that I will never read again, and really do not recommend out.
Horrible crime, which was prompted by a need for drugs. This “book” could have been written quite a bit better. There were so many typos, and other grammatical errors in the book, as well as it being terribly dry.
The author should have written a better account, while still giving the details, but not writing as though it were a school assignment (and if it was, there is no way that it received a decent grade).
Louie Zamperini was a kid who was always into trouble. Until he found a way to harness his energy, thanks to his brother Pete, he was on the verge of going to jail. As time passed, he began to dream of an Olympic career, and began to push himself more and more.
Eventually war broke out and he became an airman in the US Army. After a several successful missions, they were tasked with finding a downed plane, but became down themselves. Many of the crew were killed and those that survived were in a raft. While they were out in the ocean, they were injured, without food, and very little water. They were unsure they were going to survive being in the ocean, if they would be found, and what their fate would be.
When they are found, there are just two of them left, Allen and Louie. They are claimed as Japanese POW's and sent off on the most horrific aspect of the war yet. The terrors and the horrors they faced would stay with them forever. But it would be the hope and the survival mode that kicked in that would keep them alive. Even though their families were told they were dead, they refused to believe it and held onto the hope that their sons would be found and returned home. Little did the know of the horrors that their sons were enduring at the hands of their captors. But life in the camps was never boring. There were networks of spies and information gathering, maps, food, and encouragement flowed as it could. Hope was kept alive, but it was fading, and all the POW's could do was hope for liberation before they were lost forever.
This book was such a great read! I was enthralled from the first chapter, and had a hard time putting it down! Definitely one that should be read by everyone!
Follow Susan, Peter, Edmund and Lucy as they travel into the land of Narnia, and join with Aslan to fight against the Wicked Witch.
While they begin their journey, they are betrayed by Edmund, who only has thoughts of the treats and honors that the witch promised him if he would bring his siblings to her home. But as they learn more about Narnia and the prophesy which told of their coming, they are unsure as to what they will find. As they meet with Aslan and finally get their brother back, there is more brewing than just the witch not getting her way.
Will the four siblings be able to fulfill the prophesy and save the land of Narnia, or will it forever remain under the witch's spell?
What a great read! I loved this book and the many adventures that they went on, as well as the professor who believed every bit of their story. This is a great read for kids!
Three girls, two countries, one purpose. Bring countries closer together, and build allies. Three sisters, three queens, but only one will come out on top.
Margaret Tudor is sent to Scotland, to be its queen, and to bring a peace to England and Scotland that will hopefully endure.
During her time there, she learns that her sisters, Queen Katherine of England and Dowager Queen Mary of France, are united, and most of the time, she feels as though they are against her. Katherine is responsible for the army that kills Margaret's husband and the bitterness inside her begins to build. As the years move forward, the bitterness comes and goes, but she never forgets that they are sisters, they are queens, and therefore, they must try and remain united. Through the trials that her second husband puts her through, and the rise and fall of her fortunes, Margaret never forgets her place or who she is. She is determined to remain on top and hold on to power no matter what she has to do.
The rise and fall of these three women is told mainly through Margaret, who is rather petty and very shallow when it comes to her outlook on life. A pampered upbringing and very sheltered existance does not prepare her for what she will face when she reaches Scotland and the many trials that she will endure there. I loved and hated this book. I felt that it was rather unfair to all three ladies at some points, but then it would turn and redeem itself. It was a rather interesting read and did not take me long to get through, although I had to set it down and walk away for a bit when I had enough of the attitude that Margaret held throughout the book.
Enter the world of librarian Jacqueline Kirby, and into the realm of murder. Wherever she goes, a mystery is sure to follow! As she spends the weekend with a friend, and a pro-Ricardian meeting, something begins to go wrong. First guests are attacked and left in different positions, all in ways that they supposedly died during the days of Richard III. But something is wrong, and Jacqueline is determined to figure out what it is before someone gets seriously hurt.. or killed.
If you are a fan of Sherlock Holmes, you are going to LOVE these books! I got hooked on her books with the Amelia Peabody series, but these are just as good! Grab a book and a cozy afternoon and sit down for some fun!
Elie Wiesel gives us his story with the telling of life within concentration camps. As the war nears closer, and all Jews are rounded up, first into Ghettos and then transported out of the city, the haunting images that this book brings up are sure to bring you to tears.
As we move through the war years, and the daily struggle to stay alive, this story shows the stark reality, as well as the emotions that one felt as they were herded through. The struggle to keep clothing items, food, the daily basic functions that one takes for granted are all laid out here with the haunting and chilling reminder that life is but fleeting, and the cruelty that can be inflicted from another human being.
When you go to read this book, make sure you have tissues. I found myself in tears more than once while reading this. Should become mandatory reading for everyone.
Kit is new to the American colonies. As she flees from the future awaiting her in Barbados, she shows up at her Aunt's house, not really knowing what to expect.
As time moves forward, she finds herself not being able to fit in, and everything that she does is never good enough. Her cousin Judith seems to resent her, her uncle wishes she had been a boy, but Mercy and her Aunt Rachel seem glad to have her. While she does her best to adapt to the new lifestyle that she has walked into, she learns that she must tread carefully.
When she befriends Hannah Tupper, the widow who lives on the edge of the swamp, her aunt expresses her desire that she not go there at all. Her uncle forbids her to do so, but Kit keeps returning to the rundown shack. Hannah seems to understand her, and she feels more comfortable there than she does in her uncles home. When many in the town fall ill with a fever, some of the townsfolk go after Hannah, believing her to be a witch. Kit knows that she isnt, and so forming a quick decision, she runs to the cabin and alerts her to the oncoming danger. Having secured her with Nat, the son of the Captain of the Dolphin, Kit returns home. Shortly thereafter, she is accused of being a witch. Taken into custody and awaiting the trial that can determine whether she will live or die, Kit is scared to death. Her aunt steals to make sure that she is alright, but Kit knows that there is really no one who can help her. But sometimes help comes in the smallest of packages, and hope for a future that might have been lost is once again rekindled.
I really enjoyed reading this! I should have read it years ago, but never did. I am looking forward to sharing this with my boys, and hope that they enjoy it as much as I did!
Aimee is on top of the world. She is fixing to marry the man she loves, and everything has just been perfect. She has plans to open her own restaurant, and it seems nothing can destroy the happiness that she has... until James takes a last minute business trip.
When he does not come home, the search is on. But instead of celebrating her wedding, she is attending his funeral instead. But when someone tells her that he is not dead, she begins to wonder if he is still alive, and if he is, why has he not come home?
Her journey will take her through every emotion that she has, and some that she did not realize that she could feel. As she begins to rebuild her life, and put the pieces back, she knows that she has to find the answers to all the questions that have been plaguing her. But what will she find, and will she have peace when its done?
This was a roller coaster of a read! It was hard to put down and there were some scenes that I honestly felt could have been left out. I enjoyed the book overall! What a read.
There is some sexual content in the book, not recommended for anyone under the age 21
What trouble could three brothers get into, especially when one of them is a genius and always looking for a way to make a quick buck?
This little story is one of brothers who can get into all sorts of trouble, and usually talk themselves out of it. But kids will also come away with the knowledge that with each action comes a consequence, and that sometimes those consequences can be dire. John, the youngest brother, seems to be the one to fall victim to his brothers, more than the other kids in the small town they live in, but there are times when others are the ones being taken advantage of. Tom, the middle brother and genius, always finds a way to talk himself out of whatever trouble he gets himself and the others into.
Cute little book, that we all enjoyed. I have bought a few more in the series to read with the boys as we move through the school year. Kids who are fourth grade and up will enjoy this delightful little tale!