Virginia Books

This is a great book and I relied on it heavily when I lived in Virginia Beach. It is written in a friendly and inviting way, almost as if you are talking over the fence to your neighbor.

Its month by month "to do" lists were especially helpful in keeping me on track and reminding me that the garden works on its time, not mine.

We moved to Northeastern North Carolina four years ago from southern New York where we had successfully grown vegetables, roses and flowering shrubs and perennials for many years. Relocating to a new climate and different growing season was nearly an unsurmountable challenge until we purchased Stiffler's book. His month by month "to do" list plus gardening tips and procedures have helped us establish a most satisfactory year round garden. Stiffler categorizes shrubs and trees by level of maintenance required, soil conditions conducive to growth and also includes interesting historical and background information about individual varieties such as the history of the crape myrtle in the South. We have recommended this book to fellow gardeners as well and we all have found it an indispensable guide to gardening.

Chatty, easy to read book about hiliarous escapades with members of The American Winds Concert Band through the heart of Europe. Recipes, gathered from family kitchens in small pensions, assure inovative ways to provide adequate amounts of lycopines - one of the most important anitcarcinogens. The book is endorsed by one of Florida's leading gastroentrologists, Dr. Joseph S. Spano, of Naples, Florida, where the author also lives. After photographing the author at a book signing, and hearing comments from fans, I felt compelled to revise my review.

Very chatty and easy to read. She is a warm writer/cook. Talks about her family with love and includes easy receipes that do not cost an arm and a leg. It is like having dinner with her and her family The author lives in Naples, Florida.

This is a delightful story for reading aloud or for a beginning reader. My daughter has read it countless times, and loves the fact that it is such a small book that she can put it in her pocket and take it wherever she goes. She delights in examining the pictures for every little detail. We love Martin Waddell and enjoy all his books.

This book is a true masterpiece,delightful in every respect as are all of Virginia Austins childrens books.Not only are the illustrations exceptional but the story is complete and the lessons are easily understood and digested by young minds.

All Scot-Americans and, in fact, all Americans who are interested in the founding of this great nation will thoroughly enjoy this entertaining and instructive story of the early settlement of the people, who not only gave this nation its basic principles, but who also provided the majority of the patriots who fought and died to establish the first democracy
in world history.
Today when our nation is threated with terrorism and American patriotism is being greatly challenged, it is interesting to review the beginning of our revolutionary concepts of freedom and democracy which are now under attack throughout many parts of the world. What a great and timely review this is of the spirit and the meaning of American patriotism!

The author begins with the history of Scotland and the Scottish people, their heavy settlement in Northern Ireland and the Great Migration of about 300,000 Ulster Scots to America. As mainly frontiersmen they helped win the French-Indian war then from their Presbyterian churches they not only were the first to call for freedom from Great Britain but they also constituted the majority of the patriots who fought and won the Revolutionary War.
Truly, the Scots of Virginia were America's greatest patriots!

SEA WITCH hooked me in from the first sentence until the absolute last word. Virginia Kantra did a masterful job at world building the paranormal elements until I totally believed the Children of the Sea could be living here in my own seaside town. Caleb was mega yummy and Maggie completely enchanting - what a hot couple! I love, love, loved this book! Can't wait to get my hands on SEA FEVER. For a sure fire page turning beach read, submerge yourself in this sexy, mystical adventure!

I am not a big fan of the paranormal romance novel. I think there are so many of them that calling them cliche is too mild a term. What is worse is that so many of them seem like it is the same story written over and over again.

But Sea Witch (Children of the Sea, Book 1) gives the subgenre a nice boost in the right direction.

Caleb Hunter is a former soldier and big city policeman. Understandably, he has returned home to an island off the coast of Maine called World's End. He's come back because he wants a simpler life.

Margred is a child of the sea. Literally. She's a selkie who is 700 years old and she comes to shore in search of sex and she chooses Caleb as her target.

The story opens as simple as that. She wants him, she lets him know, he backs off but can't quite forget her. He searches her out again and they have their tryst. After that, it is she who can't quite forget him.

And that's where the main narrative begins and Ms Kantra does a wonderful job of keeping the balance between explaining the mythical (and making it seem plausible), a believable romance, and a small town murder mystery with distinctive characters.

The story is well paced and never overdone. Events that unfold are described in such a fashion that it never feels rushed or convoluted. Secondary characters are given enough distinction that they don't feel like props to the main characters.

And the main characters are likable without being too perfect. Caleb is no rich man. He lives in a one bedroom apartment. He has issues with his father. He has a limp he acquired from his stint in the Iraq war. He has a few nightmares too. Margred is a selkie who is forced to be a human for an indeterminate amount of time. She's fairly sure she doesn't want to stay that way. She has moments of cowardice and indecision.

But these quirks of theirs never overpower or overtake Caleb and Margred's innate goodness. The quirks just make them accessible and relatable and easy to spend time with.

So easy that I read this novel in one evening. The story flow was simply that smooth and enjoyable.

And already I'm looking forward to more from Ms Kantra and the good news for me is that her next Children of the Sea novel, Sea Fever (Children of the Sea, Book 2), is coming out in August 2008. Based on the quality of Sea Witch (Children of the Sea, Book 1), I can't wait!

A family in South India notices something is wrong with the ocean and runs to higher ground. A young boy becomes frightened and instead runs into his house. His dog perseveres in getting the boy to leave the house and run up to higher ground. A nice introduction to the Tsunami of 2003 which many children were too young to remember or not born yet.

Written by award-winning author Virginia Kroll and illustrated by Xiaojun Ji, Selvakumar Knew Better is the true story of a boy who survived a devastating tsunami with the aid of his faithful dog, Selvakumar. Seven-year-old Dinakaran didn't understand the tsunami alarm, and sought shelter too close to the shoreline - but Selvakumar would not let him hide, barking and insisting that he flee toward the hill where his mother and father fled. Selvakumar's insight saved the family's oldest son, in this miraculous tale brought powerfully to life with earth-toned art. A portion of the proceeds from Selvakumar Knew Better will be donated by the publisher to the Tsunami Recovery Fund.

It's hard to imagine how much work went into the research of this book. To find the details and documentation is mind consuming. The story puts flesh and blood onto a part of history that was forgotten and lived only in bits and pieces. Truly the work of a dedicated individual.

Shadrach who?? This book provides amazing insight into the experiences of an unlikely hero whose story should be taught in grade school. A terrific amount of information condensed into a readable, enjoyable package--I can not imagine how difficult it must have been for the author to gather such little-known information. I only regret that I hadn't known the book or its main character years ago.

Lloyd Douglas' daughters offer an enlightening biography of their loved and esteemed father. These devoted daughters narrate the story of a Christian man who journeyed from Congregational minister to renowned author of The Robe and 17 other books or stories. Virginia and Betty Douglas travel to towns where Rev. Douglas ministered and lived and interview friends and former acquaintances. They avail themselves of letters to and from Rev. Douglas that reveal his personal triumphs and struggles in ministry, writing and family life. This is a revelatory account of how God used a man to bring the gospel to life to a generation. Rev. Douglas had such a tangible respect for the gospel of Jesus that it pervades all of his work and is the theme through this book.

I also enjoyed being transported in time to the early 20th Century through the stories shared in the book. I feel eager to read all of Rev. Douglas' works now that I know the man behind the books.

Lloyd C. Douglas truly made history when he wrote The Robe, a book to which he devoted years of his life. Bible sales in America went up because of Lloyd C. Douglas, and I enjoyed this gentle portrait of him by his daughter. He became something of a mentor to me as I read about his spiritual development and his growing commitment to his Christian writing. A comforting book about a fine man of incredible courage and dedication.

Mary Ingles was courageous! I read it in one night and I'm going to read it again. I'd read about Mary Ingles in the book Follow the River, but I didn't know she lived in Lancaster or that her parents were Scotch Irish. This book tells about her whole life including escape from the Indians. That's the most exciting part though when she hikes 800 miles through rivers and mountains to get home and see her family. I think this is a very good book so I gave it five stars!

This book and the book Follow the River are both excellent depictions of the life of my ancestor. She was a heroic woman who shall be remembered and honored by me and all my family members. We are proud of her and are happy to have such excellent books to share.

Once again the author has put together a fantastic tour book that contains all of the highlights of the area in one easy to follow guide. I own several of this series and have not been disapointed in any of them. Very well written, accurate and complete. I have been studying the Shenandoah Valley history for about 18 months. This books is a detailed summary of all that I have been able to find in that time. I wish it would have been available when I started my research, it would have saved me much time!

We just returned from a driving trip through the Shenandoah Valley. Picked up this guidebook in New York City before we left. It was perfect. All the recommendations for things to see and restaurants were just as described. Driving directions were also good. Based on the author's recommendation, we decided to stay at the Long Hill Bed and Breakfast in Winchester, VA and it turned out to be the highlight of our trip. A very worthwhile travel guide.