Maryland Books

I loved Lisa Samson's wonderfully flawed human beings. They are well rounded and interesting people with problems and hang ups, just like I have. It gave me hope. If they can hang in there, so can I!

This book came recommended by a good friend, one who knows I don't usually like books with "Christian" themes. However, Women's Intuition quickly won me over. It's an awesome read--I loved it and was sad to finish the book. The characters are quirky, funny, honest and compelling. They struggle with fear and with how to have faith in the midst of painful circumstances. The writing is lively and reminds me of Elizabeth Berg or Anne Lamott. I've already recommended this book to three of my friends! Lisa Samson is an up and coming author and I can't wait to read her next book.

I don't ever read books with Christian themes; they tend to get a bit preachy for this non-Christian. However, the Christianity of Samson's characters is so skillfully interwoven with their personalities that it's easy to "forgive" the preaching.

I appreciate faith, and the fact that her characters are so deeply flawed and not harp playing angels makes their faith and application of that faith a very lovely read.

It's nice to read about people overcoming their hamartia, it lends such hope to the rest of us. What Samson portrayed was a God who uses all things to his own ends, the fire, the lies, all of it, and that Romans 8:28 is a universal truth.

Aside from Lark making me want to slap her for being so backwards (she made me nervous and I wondered how she could be such a good Christian if she didn't even trust her God to take care of her when she left the house.)...LOL I truly enjoyed this book and will buy it for my mother who loves books with Christian themes.

Lisa Samson has succesfully created a work of fiction that will touch every facet of your life. She weaves a tale with love, laughter, fear, and joy that anyone would love to wrap themselves up in. Brew a pot of coffee and enter Lark Summerville's complicated life. You won't want to go back home.

Reading a Lisa Samson book is like diving into a refreshing literary river--clear, clean prose that carries you along in waters delightful and deep, funny and profound. Women's Intuition is no exception. I am not usually a "women's fiction" reader, but I read Samson because I love good writing, and find she transcends the same old-same old. Join the delight. Discover Lisa Samson for yourself.

Similar to past works of Gallagher's, this book contains invididual chapters written by popular Civil War historians keying in on battle concerns, myths, strategies and political concepts during the campaign. I really enjoyed reading William Blair's chapter on how Marylanders caught in the middle of political unrest viewed the campaign and Lee's invasion. Brooks Simpson's chapter on how the Army of the Potomac was McClellan's bodyguard according to Lincoln really made me understand the political frustrations the Lincoln party had in regards to McClellan's slow moving and cautious approach to battle. Keith Bohannon's view on Confederate logistical problems was very informative and really brought forth information as to Lee's reasons for invading the north and also his retreat.

These chapters are just some of the great amount of information brought together in a very fine book. I would recommend this book to someone who has already read a book on the battle itself before reading this one. This book contains some fighting information but isn't one for coverage on the entire battle. It is one for understanding political unrest, commander motivations, strategies and little unknown and sometimes unclear myths that surround the entire campaign in September 1862. 5 STARS!!!

Early in September, 1862, Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia crossed the Potomac River into Maryland in what became the Confederacy's first invasion of the North. General McClellan received command of the Union troops following the disaster of Second Manassas. In a daring move, Lee divided his army in an attempt to capture Harpers Ferry, and McClellan had the good fortune to recover Special Order No 191 detailing the movements of the Confederate units. McClellan pressed forward, albeit cautiously, and the result was the Battle of Antietam (or Sharpsburg) on September 17, 1862, the bloodiest single day in American history. Following the battle, President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. Antietam, rather than the more famous Battle of Gettysburg, is increasingly regarded as the pivotal moment of the Civil War.

The Maryland Campaign and the Battle of Antietam have provoked no end of controversy. This excellent collection, "The Antietam Campaign", edited by Gary Gallagher, consists of ten essays by as many different students of the Civil War examining in detail various aspects of the Antietam campaign. The essays are thoughtful and provocative and will cause the reader to rethink commonly held assumptions about Lee's first invasion. The book is part of a series edited by Gallagher titled "Military Campaigns of the Civil War".

Various aspects of the Battle itself are examined in three essays in the volume. Robert E.L. Krick's article, "Defending Lee's Flank" explores the role of Confederate artillery in holding off the initial Union attacks early in the morning on the Confederate left in the vicinity of Dunkers' Church and the infamous Cornfield. Robert K. Krick's essay takes a close look at the Union's attack on the center of the Confederate line on what has become known as the Bloody Lane. Lesley Gordon's "All Who Went into that Battle were Heroes" is an essay in history and memory. It examines the fate of the 16th Connecticut, a unit of green volunteers, which had the unenviable task late in the battle of meeting a counter-attack by A.P. Hill's troops, after Union General Burnside had finally crossed "Burnside's Bridge" and was pressing the Confederate Army to cut-off its line of retreat.

An additional essay in the collection, "We didn't know what on Earth to do with him" by Peter Carmichael covers a little-known aspect of the Maryland campaign. A small component of Union troops attacked the rear of the Confederate Army of September 19, 1862 in an attempt to harass the retreat. Confederate artillerist "Parson" Pendelton failed to hold the line, but the small Union force was, even so, rebuffed with great loss. Carmichael, as are most scholars, is highly critical of Pendelton's role at Antietam and in the War.

The remaining six essays in the collection offer broader views of matters related to the Maryland campaign. Three essays focus on the Confederacy. Gallager's own essay, "The Net Result of the Campaign was in our Favor" explores Confederate reactions immediately after the battle. Confederates looked to the capture of Harpers Ferry, the victory at Shepherdstown, and the hard draw at Antietam as evidence of their Army's prowess, and were motivated to continue the long, hard fighting of the Civil War. Keith Bohannon's essay, "Dirty Ragged, and Ill-Provided for is, together with the essay by Carol Reardon, the finest in the collection as it explores the difficulties faced by Lee's Army resulting from lack of supplies of basics, such as shoes, rations, and ammunition, as a result of the South's inadequate logistical system. In "Maryland, Our Maryland", Brooks Simpson examines Confederate hopes that the Maryland campaign would bring the Bay State into the Confederacy. It examines the strong efforts President Lincoln made to hold Maryland for the Union. Simpson concludes that the Confederate failure to rally Maryland to its cause worked as a defining moment for Southern identity in the conflict.

Two essays take a close look at the Union side of the line. Brooks Simpson's "General McClellan's Bodyguard" challenges the view held by many students of the battle that McClellan was at fault for not pressing the attack on September 18. Simpson maintains that McClellan did about as well as could have been expected under the circumstances. Scott Hartwig's essay, "Who would not be a Soldier" compliments Simpson's in that Hartwig looks closely at the composition of the Union Army that McClellan led to meet Lee. Much of this Army consisted of raw recruits who had not had basic training, learned to march, or even to fire a weapon. These troops swelled the size of McClellan's Army but proved a liability in the heat of battle.

The final essay in the volume, "From Antietam to Argonne" by Carol Reardon takes a close look at Antietam from the standpoint of the United States War College and its studies of the battle prior to WW I. Students were given detailed summaries of the actions in the Antietam campaign and, in addition, toured the battlefield. They were asked to comment on the command decisions of Lee and McClellan, as well as subordinate officers, and on the performance of the troops on both sides. The results, as Reardon explains them, were fascinating and provide a searching look at the campaign and its leaders. For me, Reardon's essay was the highlight of an excellent volume.

This collection illuminates greatly the Antietam Campaign and shows how much can be gained by careful scholarship and the willingness to rethink received opinions. Readers coming to this book will benefit by a strong prior background in the Civil War and by a basic familiarity with the Battle of Antietam, as can be gained in works by James McPherson, Steven Sears, or James Murfin.

Robin Friedman

Just like previous reviewers, I agree that this book is a fine addition to the on-going series about the Military Campaigns of the Civil War. This installment about the Battle of Antietam is particularly strong because of the quality of scholarship included and the distinguished group of historians that Gallagher gathered for this edition.

Each author includes an interesting essay that details a specific aspect of the battle. Some examples of topics that are covered include: the supply challenge the Confederacy faced, how new Union recruits reacted to the carnage of Antietam, the role Confederate artillery played, and why McClellan failed to pursue Lee after the battle. I found that every essay presented a compelling argument and really offer the reader a detailed analysis that you will not find in other books about the battle.

As always, this type of book is not aimed at telling the history of what happened at Antietam. If you are looking for a general narrative of the battle - this is not the right book. On the other hand, it is designed for those who are somewhat familiar with the battle and are looking for the most current research from a find group of historians. I highly recommend the book for people who fall into this category. It will greatly enhance your understanding of key aspects that affected the battle which has been the bloodiest day in US military history.

Gary Gallagher has written/edited a number of books on the Civil War. This book is an edited volume, focusing on several aspects of the sanguinary battle at Antietam, fought in 1962. All told, there are ten essays in this volume, with Gallagher contributing the lead essay. As with all edited volumes, some of the works may not be up to the same standards as others. But, overall, this is a useful volume. It might best be used by reading it alongside one of the better histories of the battler, such as Stephen Sears' "Landscape Turned Red: The Battle of Antietam." Let's take a look at some of the essays to illustrate what the book is about. . . .

Gallagher begins the book with an essay on how the south saw the aftermath of the battle. He notes that, in the final analysis, southerners were more likely than not to see Antietam as a plus for the cause. In the aftermath of the Peninsula successes of General Robert E. Lee and the remarkable victory by the Confederate forces at Second Manassas, this was seen as the denouement of a stretch of marvelous fighting by the Army of Northern Virginia.

Brooks Simpson authored a more positive than usual account of Union General George McClellan's leadership at Antietam. McClellan was often accused of "the slows," because of his seeming inability to fight aggressively. Simpson argues that some of McClellan's arguments made sense, such as logistical problems associated with the movement of the Army of the Potomac toward Antietam.

The last chapter is a nice counterpoint, examining how Antietam was used by the Army for training/education before World War I. This battle was one example used at the Army War College to prepare officers for command. They would go over maps and scenarios (e.g., what if McClellan had hurried toward Antietam after finding Lee's orders as opposed to his rather movements). The students and teachers were pretty much unanimous in concluding that McClellan had not generaled his forces very well--up to Antietam and at the battle site itself.

Other chapters speak to addition key issues, such as: how poorly supplied Confederate forces were, the Confederate cavalry's and artillery's role in protecting the Confederate flank, the action at Bloody Lane, and the ineptitude of Confederate artillery chief William Pendleton.

For those interested generally in Civil War history and, specifically, the battle at Antietam, this will be a welcome volume. While there is some unevenness across the chapters, all in all this is a solid volume.

Once again, Gary W. Gallagher has compiled a wonderful collection of essays in this latest volume of the Military Campaigns of the Civil War Series. Each chapter or essay focuses on a different aspect of the campaign and is written by a different author. This allows for a new perspective on the campaign with each chapter. Among the topics covered by the various essayists are Confederate perception of Antietam as a victory or defeat, Confederate logistics, Confederate artillery, the use of the Antietam battlefield as a classroom for military leaders in the 20th century, the impact of new recruits on the Army of Potomac's effectiveness, and the experiences of individual units.

All of the essays are well-written and contain wonderful insights into their selected aspects of the campaign. Due to the focus of the series on military events, other important issues related to Antietam are only briefly mentioned. Most notably, issues related to emancipation and foreign intervention are mentioned in passing. This, however, is a result of the decision by the editor and the press (University of North Carolina Press) to focus on military aspects. Despite this weakness, I would highly recommend this and all other books in the Military Campaigns of the Civil War series to anyone with an interest in the Civil War.

This is the story of what a dog show dedicated to one single breed is like from the point of view of a participant: i.e. a dog owner/breeder/exhibitor who is also becoming part of the family of people who run the national organization in support of that breed. Oh, it is also a story about the death of a woman and the solution to the mystery of who did it, why, and what are all the mysteries surrounding it.

For those who have read the previous Melanie Travis mysteries, this is no surprise. However, for the benefit of those who might consider picking up this book as their first foray into the series, here is some of the background you should know:

Melanie Travis is a single mom in her early 30's who is kinda engaged to Sam Driver. While Melanie's day job is to be a special education counselor in a private school, her after work hours are consumed by her son - Davey; her dogs; her lover; and her unfortunate predilection to get involved in - and solve - murder mysteries. In this novel, Melanie is out of her element in a sense. She decides to take a vacation and participate in the week long poodle show that is the apex of the poodle showing world. She has her own puppy to show - a standard poodle puppy that she bred named Eve; but the main point of her foray is to get away from her normal environment and kid and enjoy a week's "vacation" at the dog show. Sam comes to join her mid-week and their romance is part of the storyline as well.

While at the dog show, Melanie is put to work helping out two elderly sisters who run the annual raffle that raises much money for the club. On the very first day of the show, one of the two sisters is killed in a suspicious way and Melanie spends the rest of the show splitting her time between helping the surviving sister; prepping and showing her dog; and getting involved in a whole bunch of storylines that inevitably lead her to the killer and their motive.

However, the real meat of this book is the annual poodle show. Around 90 to 95 percent of the story is really a description of what this event is like. Since Melanie is Peg's niece, and Peg is on the board of directors of the Poodle club of America (PCA), we get an insider view of what takes place at such events and what takes place behind the scenes to make these kinds of events work and succeed.

The author is clearly very much in love with the whole dog show scene and lovingly describes each activity and event. I did find it funny to notice the semi-derogatory mentions of obedience and agility events as well as the hyper focus on the conformation parts of the show - but that is a minor nit. The author clearly prefers the pageantry of the conformation circuit where the Champion titles are won and very accurately describes these kinds of events. To those of us who are not quite as accomplished at understanding what happens, she gives very nice descriptions of what the judges are doing; why they are doing these things; and even throws in some descriptions of some of the theatrical elements that take place.

The mystery elements are clearly a secondary offering, but that matters very little to me. All the clues as to what is going on are there for you to notice and I figured out reasonably early on who the killer was and why, so there were no real surprises in that part of the story. There are a couple of side stories thrown in to confuse you and they resolve themselves neatly at the end of the book.

I like this entry in the series and would certainly recommend it to those who have read previous books. To those who have not, I would suggest reading this one after some of the others so that the complex relationships between Bob, Sam, and Melanie; Frank and Bertie; Peg and the gang, etc. do not confuse you. All in all, this is a keeper.

This is my first Laurien Bereson Book and I know I'm starting in the middle of the series. However, I have read reviews of the first ones to know enough of what the characters are about. I made a choice to start where Sam and Melanie are back together. I perferred not to go through all the previous books to get to this point. I will continue on now with the series. I enjoyed all the characters in the book from Aunt Peg to all the enjoyable canine characters. I did get a little bored with the dog show and found myself skimming some of that. I have 2 dogs and enjoy the books with a mystery and the dogs a part of it but am not real interested to all the goings on at the PCA. However, that didn't really distract me from what was going on. I would reccomend this book if you want a light fun read. There is humor, some mystery, a little romance and lots of dogs. The writing flows right along and yet not one you can't lay down and come back to. There are some so suspenseful that you just can't quit reading. This one is a change of pace for me and I did enjoy it. I just finished a whole series by Lee Charles Kelley (dog trainer/detective)and that was a fun series if you're looking for more dog mystery books. His has lots of humor and dog training tips (though I don't fully understand his technique). I just find all of the books with man's best friend in them delightful. Even some of your more suspenseful writers (Nora Roberts, Karen Robards, Linda Lael Miller) have learned that you can lighten the book some by including a dog or cat. I'm looking forward to more of LB's books and reading of Melanie, Sam and Davy and of course all the canine friends. _

I loved the book. It's a great mystery, with colorful characters. I love the whole series. It's also a fun book, and it's not full of dark or gruesome scenes like some murder mysteries. I would recommend to anybody who likes mysteries.

The PCA (Poodle Club of America) is having their annual dog show in Maryland. A national specialty is a huge event that draws people from all over the country. Naturally Aunt Peg is involved in the planning and Melanie is drafted into helping out with the raffle. The two odd sisters that run the raffle are interesting, they have a dog that is a contender for the best in show prize, although another exhibitor will do anything to stop them. One of the sisters is found dead on the grounds of the hotel, and whether or not it is murder is up to the police, and Melanie to decide and solve.

This latest in the Melanie Travis series was alot of fun. The descriptions of a large dog show are right on, down to the snobbish attitude of the breed exhibitors towards the obedience competitors (Terry makes a particularly nasty and inappropriate remark here, but some breed people are like that, thank goodness not all). Melanie and Sam's relationship is touched on, nice to see it back on track. The solution to the mystery is not readily apparent, lots of red herrings. All in all, another great mystery.

Melanie is leaving her son behind in Connecticut with his father while she and her Aunt Peg travel to Maryland to attend the annual Poodle Club of America event. Melanie is going to show her puppy Eve while her aunt is going to make sure everyone knows their job. Melanie's lover Sam Driver is also going to be at the dog show and Melanie hopes to have some quality time alone with him.

Aunt Peg ropes her niece into helping the Boone Sisters, Edith Jean and Betty Jean into selling raffles. Although the sisters are eleven months apart in age, they look like identical twins. When Melanie walks Eve in the designated area of the hotel, she hears a scream and when she and others look to see what happened they find Betty Jean lying dead on the ground. When the police start investigating, they discover she was murdered but this time Melanie vows not to get involved, a promise that doesn't last the full week of the conference.

There are plenty of suspects who could have wanted the victim dead but readers won't be able to figure out this complex, multi-layered who done it until the author is ready to reveal the identity of the killer. Members of the audience may have fragments of the solution but Laurien Berenson holds back one shocking, unbelievable fact that changes the whole picture and the best part is that the clue is hidden in plain sight. BEST IN SHOW is a mystery and dog lover's delight.

Harriet Klausner

As a Baltimorean born and bred, I grew up with vivid stories of Baltimore's and Maryland's roles during the Civil War, including some of my own family's exploits. I confess that much of it confused me. Marylanders owned slaves, and all of the state lies below the Mason-Dixon Line, yet Maryland remained in the Union and is called "The Free State." The riots that broke out on Pratt Street as Union soldiers marched from one station to the other (experiencing one of the joys of traveling through Baltimore in those days) clearly belied any notion of Maryland's solid loyalty to the Union. My great grandfather followed Stonewall Jackson around the South even as his brother was busy smuggling an abolitionist rabbi from Baltimore over the Pennsylvania line before his congregation tarred and feathered him.

So where did Baltimore's and Maryland's loyalties really lie? What was it like to be in Maryland from 1860 to 1865, and what forces were at play?

Charles Mitchell has done a masterful job of weaving the overarching plot from the strands of personal memorabilia and biography to paint a living picture of a state that was in some ways a microcosm of the larger war. And for anyone like me who was raised with conflicting notions, his painstaking historical detail helps flesh out not simply the internal conflict but also the essential stability that kept Maryland in the Union. Contemporary letters and articles demonstrate not only immediate reactions but also the evolving mindset of the people in power, the citizenry, and the fringe element, all of which helps one get a sense of the dynamic of the times.

The last section, "Freedom," is made all the more moving by its acknowledgement that racial strife would continue in Maryland for another century. The Baltimore of my childhood in the '40's and '50's still had separate water fountains and bathrooms, and the local amusement park was closed to blacks. Much of Maryland--especially southern Maryland and the Eastern Shore, but also parts of Baltimore and Anne Arundel Counties and even a few neighborhoods in Baltimore City--retains some of the feel of the Old South to this day, though its political majority makes it dependably "Blue." MARYLAND VOICES both captures and explicates that paradox in a way that leaves us newly enlightened not only about the state as it was 150 years ago but about contemporary Maryland, as well.

My summer reading this past year was never so vivid! I found Charles W. Mitchell's Maryland Voices of the Civil War to be a perfect complement to simultaneous readings of, David McCullough's John Adams and James Michener's Chesapeake. Like these books, Maryland Voices of the Civil War presents known and little known historical facts and details which impart keen insights into the historical development of our young nation. Mr. Mitchell's collection of original source writings describes everyday life of blacks and whites, from the poorly educated to the highly educated, with a wide range of viewpoints regarding the national conflict in their region. Through reading their diaries, articles, and letters, I felt as if I walked among these individuals, just as I walk among neighbors! I reveled in the 1860s vernacular of these written communications which coupled with photos, drawings, and posters create historical authenticity in the mind of the reader. I could readily imagine the clandestine activities on Baltimore's cobbled streets, the raucous troops and their sweltering, smoky campsites stationed in the neighboring localities, all a stones throw from my reading chair on the back porch! Maryland Voices of the Civil War recreates through public and private writings the personal nuances, as well as authoritative perceptions of the age, the environment, the varied attitudes and trepidations of Marylanders while under the allegiance to the Union. How appreciated it is to know the genuine origins of each and every writing. I'm left wondering if our contemporary writings could ever reveal modern times as clearly to future generations, as these writings of the 1860s that Charles Mitchell presents throughout his Maryland Voices of the Civil War!

Submitted by DJ Snyder December, 2007

I originally found this book in Maryland magazine. Bought it for my brother-in-law who is a civil War buff.

As a native Marylander and a reader of civil war history I was pleasantly surprised to learn so much from this book of Maryland voices. Reading about these times through the minds and hearts of individuals who were on the scene was enlightening. The author brings out the political differences between the eastern shore counties through Baltimore to the western counties through letters. The chapter on the confederate army marching through Frederick was particularly good and did I hear someone writing about the cattle lowing as they followed the troops through the city? I never realized that cattle were part of an army's supply but I do now. The contrast between the handsome soldiers on horseback through the minds of young girls and their grief as to the later casualties. The chapters on the slave issues were very livid and the inequities forced upon a race of people who had very little recourse to a better life. The court system in the "southern counties" and its brutal adherence to the southern way was very informative. Many Maryland families are mentioned in this book and if I were from one of them I would not miss reading this excellent treatise. I highly recommend this book to all and congratulate the author for his diligent detail.

This is a beautiful book and I'm happy to find myself mentioned in it as part of an end-note on page 530; however I'm not happy that Mr. Mitchell did not look closely enough at my publication "The Complete Chronicles with Abstracts and Works Cited" (Fukuoka Jo Gakuin, 2001), because it clearly states on page 122 the needed citation to clear up his confusion about the details of Joseph Shaw's murder in Westminster, Maryland, on Monday, April 24, 1865. Shaw was not "lynched" as Klein's "Just South of Gettysburg" states (echoing Scharf's misreporting of the matter in his "History of Western Maryland"), but was stabbed in the left armpit and left to bleed to death on the tavern floor of Zachariah's (Anchor) Hotel on Anchor Street, Westminster. The Baltimore Sun under the title "Trial of the Parties Charged with the Manslaughter of Joseph Shaw," reported the details of Shaw's murder by Henry Bell and three others, in its Friday, June 2nd, Saturday, June 3rd, Monday, June 5th; Tuesday, June 6th; Wednesday, June 7th; and Thursday, June 8th, 1865 editions. These newspapers were all available on microfilm to Mr. Mitchell had he taken the time to look. Instead, he offers this bizarre comment on page 460, as if the details of a man's death were a mere matter of "either/or": "Accounts vary about what next transpired: Shaw was either hanged by the mob or, on April 24, shot and stabbed by four men at Zachariah's Hotel in Westminster." Does Mr. Mitchell discount The Baltimore Sun paper's on-the-spot reporting as a source? (To this and any researcher the Baltimore Sun would be the best source of all!) Moreover, The Baltimore Clipper, as well as other newspapers unavailable to Scharf and Klein reported Shaw as still being alive after the Westminster mob destroyed his presses. And finally, nowhere in my publication did I say that Shaw was shot. In fact, I indicate that it was rather miraculous that he hadn't been.

Please Mr. Mitchell, go back and check these sources. They're not hidden away, but freely available to anyone who takes the time to thread microfilm through a viewer. While I hail your book as a great addition to the studies of Maryland's involvement in the Civil War, I am greatly puzzled as to why you didn't do the work of an historian in this case and report what the primary records show.

Finally, a book to which I could relate. Rather than tell a pretty story about 30- or even 40-somethings, Toby Devens focuses on women over fifty, their real-life concerns and anxieties, and ultimately, their triumphs. Devens uses just the right combination of humor and tears to bring the characters to life, and in the process, paints a realistic picture of what it's like to be in the "sandwich generation."

I was particularly moved by the relationship between Gwyneth and her father Harald. Her struggle to deal with and finally accept his Alzheimer's condition brought tears to my eyes. It's something so many of us must deal with.

Devens does not soft-peddle the aging issue - and sometimes, it's not pretty. But she gives us hope and reinforces the idea that in the end, it's our female friends who will be there for us, no matter what.

I loved this book and hated to see it end. I hope she does a sequel.

"My Favorite Midlife Crisis" is an engrossing read. The characters are engaging and I felt as though I really knew them. I'm in my 40's and I enjoy books with a little more substance that also make me feel good while I'm reading them.

While this book celebrates being in midlife, it also acknowledges the challenges that we might face during this time.

The writing was so finely crafted that I hated to come to the end of the book. Speaking of the end, I won't give it away, but it was very well done.

You can't go wrong buying this book if you like to read. I'm looking forward to the next book by Ms. Devons.

This book was well written, easy to read, and compelled me to not want to put it down and eager to finish reading it! I loved the characters! Very realistic, charming, and fun! Please write more books!

Yes I agree with the reviews already written below, even as someone who's not near her midlife crisis yet. This is a good book, well written, and a fast read.

Hurray for female characters in their fifties who don't come off like over-the-hill harpies. These women are bright, brave and funny. The book is about Gwyenth Berke a gynecologist and her two friends, Fleur and Kat as they discover life isn't over at menopause, it's just beginning. I really loved it. It made me laugh out loud! But I was also touched by Gwyneth's relationship with her dad and I cheered for the women as they came to Gwyn's rescue in a hysterical scene. I was sorry to see the story end. Let's hope there's a sequel in the works.

I love that all of the recipes are triple tested! My favorite recipes are the sugar cookies and the poppyseed chicken. This cookbook is a must!

This is an excellent cookbook that I've used as a gift for business associates and customers. The book is "coffee table" quality that contains not only great regional recipes, but stories and pictures that even a disinterested husband will pick up and read. We have also given this cookbook to friends and family which reminds them of us.

What a great cookbook! The recipes are easy and delicious and range from a quick meal for the kiddos to a gourmet meal for guests. The photos are beautiful and capture the section themes perfectly. And, it is actually fun to read...with great information on the history and traditions of Annapolis. I have tried a new recipe each week since I bought it, and I have never been disappointed.

Junior League cookbooks are invariably good, and this is no exception. Chock-full of wonderful recipes, and none too complicated. I get overwhelmed when I look at a recipe with a long ingredient list and time consuming instructions, so this one is just my speed.

This Junior League cookbook is wonderful! I love that recipes are from real people like myself and not someone with years of culinary training. The book looks great on a coffee table or on the kitchen counter.

I bought this as a beginner hiker. It's great and easy to read and follow. It has hikes for all levels, from 1-2 hour hikes to camping overnight. This is a great book to have if you enjoy the outdoors and live in or around maryland.

Although I live in Charleston WV, I find myself going to hike in Maryland a lot, and this book is the best of the guides I've found. You can tell by the descriptions that the author has actually hiked all of the places he sends you to (the book cover says he uses a surveyor's measure wheel to get accurate distances). When I'm alone, I look for some of the more rugged hikes he describes; when with family we look for some of the easy 1-2 hour trips.
What I really like is the book provides a lot of background information on the area you will be hiking in--history, plants, animals, and not just telling where they are but lots of tidbits about plant and animal life.
Get this book and you will find some great places to enjoy the outdoors and the reasons as to why you are enjoying it so much.

I live in neighboring wv and am happy to finally see a good guide to MD. I travel there often and was becoming frustrated about not being able to find good hiking information. This book is it--better than any other I've used and full of wonderful background information on the places it directs you to. Hikes range from easy jaunts suitable for families with children to some good overnighters.

What a great book. I've lived next door to Maryland all of my life and never realized all of the wonderful outdoor opportunities it has. This book brought me to many different places, from beach walks to mountain treks, from isolated locales to hidden spots near Baltimore and DC. What I really liked, though, is that it is much more than a "here's a hike and here's how to get to it" book. The author provides dozens of bits of inofrmation on the human and natural history of the areas you hike through--and does it in an entertaining and enjoyable style of writing. Thanks to him, I now have a complete year's worth of hikes to look forward to.

The book is excellent for getting you to and around many good hikes in Maryland. It is an excellent resource for those of us you love the outdoors but live near the B-W corridor.

A most inspirational book...every page you turn the patterns are more beautiful than the last. The techniques taught are done so visually and written. A real 'classic'....and a 'must' for every person who appliques...or wants to....or wishes they did!

Gorgeous Book, to make these types of quilts in 3-D is amazing. Directions are straight forward and work well. Will use for a multitude of different color ideas. Highly recommend.

The blocks are beautiful. I am a new quilter and found this book so easy to understand. It gave clear and easy directions for the techniques used for each flower, leaf & stem. As well as the basic stitches. I have now completed my fourth block. I love it!

I have really enjoyed working through four of the blocks in this book. It has made dimensional applique come alive for me. The instructions are clear and the patterns are all delightful! It is a book worth owning, particularly if you are wanting to clarify some of the techniques used in Elly Sienkiewicz's books.

This book would appeal to a new quilter as well as an experienced quilter. Step by step directions are given in order to get the beginner ready to applique. The slightly experienced quilter may have never begun the dimensional aspect of applique, so this book would appeal to that person. Very much similar to any other Baltimore Album book, but nicely done.

I came across this book by accident and I found it so page-turning that I could not put it down and I didn't want it to end! The stories of the cats and other animals of the Thistle Hills farm are so heart-warming and touching - they made my eyes welled up with tears and they also made me smile. This is indeed my favorite cat book of all - and I have read many cat books! The Thistle Hill farm is my idea of heaven, not just for the animals who lived there.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is a very warm and tender true story about all the cats and other animals that live on Mr. Caras's farm. I can hardly wait to read another of his many books.

Roger Caras, a very talented writer and animal lover, takes us on a tour of Thistle Hill, his farm in Northern Maryland. Anyone who loves cats, dogs and other animals will love this book. Its gentle humor and compassion are quite absorbing. I must confess to a certain amount of jealousy, though--I would love to have a home like Thistle Hill Farm!

In the Cats of Thistle Hill, Roger Caras writes a story that is like reading about the peaceful environment of Ann of Green Gables on Prince Edward Island, animal version. Besides feeling the peaceable nature of Thistle Hill and its environment, you read about the lives of different cats living at Thistle Hill, their personalities, and finally if you have ever thought about the philosophy of cats, you will have that conversation with Roger Caras in this book. Especially, note Teddy, a scarred cat rescued from the streets of San Francisco, who won't have anything to do with other animals until he discovers Emmy. Teddy goes on to become a single parent father of three kittens whom he mothers, protects and loves Teddy's story not only is an interesting true story, but it makes the point that animals have feelings. There are other equally beautiful stories of cats, a llama, dogs, a burro etc. in this book.

This is an outstanding, well written, entertaining book. Cat and animal lovers should all enjoy it. The book has a beautifully illustrated cover and nice pictures inside of various animals. The book covers not only various adventures of different animals but also shows their intelligence and emotional natures. Roger Caras, the author, writes in a clever, down-home, folksy way. The author also shows his deep caring, respect, and understanding for his many 4-legged friends.

My vet loaned me her copy. I like it so well I plan to buy my own copy and also one for a friend. I look forward to reading other books by Roger Caras. He has written over 60. Nancy Allen, Ada, Oklahoma

I see children fight cancer day in and day out, as a pediatric oncology nurse. I picked this book up one day at the book store because of the pictures. However, once getting it home and reading it...it depicts a very realistic look into childhood cancer. It is currently on my bookshelf, however, I have read and reread it many times.

I am one of Eli Kahn's sister's best friends, and as someone who carpooled with the Kahns' every day for three years straight, I got to find out just what it was like to go through. Nowadays, when I go over the Kahns' house, Eli has no signs of anything happening to him - and he always beats me at Nintendo 64!

I am friends with Eli Kahn and his sister, and ever since kindergarten, I have liked Eli and have experienced what this happens. I remember going to his house in the morning and seeing Eli. It made me worried what would happen to him. Now, just seven years later, I sometimes go over their house, and Eli's just a normal eight-year-old. This book is very touching, and it's a good one too.

Being a mother of a son who died from childhood cancer who was treated at John Hopkins, I was drawn to the book for the topic only. I was hoping to see some familiar faces and certain settings that would keep my son in the forefront of my memories. I was suprised that the emotions were captured very realistically, through pictures and words. I felt many of the same feelings and emotions. Remembering how the first few day until the end felt. I recommend this book to anyone that has been touched by childhood illness, especially those who have experienced cancer.

This book explains the "ups" and "downs" of childhood cancer.Three children were followed along "their journey" and, luckily all of them survived. Although people may not know that childhood cancer is a big part of life, today-IT IS. Many more kids are being cured because of new medicines, but it's still a big problem, and children are still dying from it. If you don't read this book, you're missing out on three children's important, breath-taking stories of childhood cancer.