Anne Books

Broyles, Anne. Priscilla and the Hollyhocks. Illustrated by Anna Alter. Charlesbridge. 2008.

This is a poignant story about a young quadroon slave girl who loves hollyhocks because the flowers represent one strong memory she can hang onto of her mother who was sold away from her when she was a very young child. An old slave on the plantation "recollected me `twas Ma planted hollyhocks along the white picket fence by the cow pond" and shows Priscilla how to make the hollyhock dolls her mother enjoyed creating. Every Sunday, Priscilla hides among the hollyhocks, and lets her flower dolls "dance `cross the pond. My smile escaped at the joy of it." One day, a Mr. Silkwood who is visiting the plantation speaks to her; and then sadly pronounces that he does not believe in slavery, "A child like you deserves more." When her first owner dies, Priscilla is purchased by a Cherokee master, "Another plantation, same life. I learnt my duties in the Cherokee's house", and eventually ends up on the Trail of Tears with him when his family is forcibly evicted from their plantation. One day, Priscilla spots Mr. Silkwood standing outside a hotel in a town they are passing through, and asks him if, "there'll be a school for me where they're taking us?" She tells him that she needs "the promise of learnin' to help me walk those weary miles." Later that evening, Mr. Silkwood arrives at their encampment, and buys Priscilla from her Indian master. He sets her free, and she joins fifteen other orphans to become part of the Silkwood family. Lovely illustrations are created in acrylic: some show beautiful hollyhocks amid serene landscapes but one heartbreaking scene shows the brown hand of Priscilla's mother emerging from a wagon as she is being driven away from her daughter. The page opposite shows a half-frame with Priscilla standing sad and stunned- just watching as her mother vanishes. One double-spread shows people marching through deep snow, a soldier holding a gun with bayonet marches alongside. An author's note provides the historical context for this touching picture book that manages to juxtapose some of the horrors of slavery with the incredible facts of a happy ending for one young slave. Simple instructions for a hollyhock doll are included.

Anne Broyles infuses the true story of a young slave girl with emotion and hope. This book makes a wonderful gift for anyone with young children, local elementary schools, and local libraries as the story illustrates a very real chapter in American history and gives life to one of the many stories of children who were affected by this history. The book's illustrations are beautiful and add to the depth of the story.

Priscilla and the Hollyhocks is one of those rare stories which weaves together the horrendous capabilities of people with the strength of spirit and goodness people possess. As a parent, I find this story important for children so that conversations will ensue and so that we may never forget what we are capable of--both good and bad. A remarkable story of truth indeed.

Priscilla and the Hollyhocks by Anne Broyles, illustrated by Anna Alter
Anne Broyles has written a wonderful tale, based on a true story, about an African American slave torn from her mother's arms when only four years old. We follow Priscilla's childhood as she is sold to family after family as easily as one would buy new furniture. The only thing that gives her comfort, are the hollyhocks that remind her of her mother. In each new home, she plants hollyhock seeds and creates a refuge to hide in. She makes hollyhock dolls and floats them across the water, dreaming of home. But even when her Cherokee Indian master is forced to leave his own home and travel the "Trail of Tears", Priscilla remains their slave. It is only when she sees a white man from her youth, Basil Silkwood, that she sees an opportunity for a better life. She remembers that he had once told her that she should be in school. She runs to him, introduces herself and tells him, "I still want to learn". Mr. Silkwood buys Priscilla and sets her free, adopting her into his own large family of fifteen children.

Anne Broyles discovered the story of Priscilla while doing research for a YA book on the Cherokee Trail of Tears. It's a story of courage and strength as Priscilla plants her hollyhock seeds as she travels across the country.
"Wasn't much I wanted to `member from my first home but Ma. Pink hollyhocks kept her livin'. Surely if I thought on her, she might think on me, too, where'er she was."
Anne has done a wonderful job of capturing a complicated story in simple phrases and uncomplicated language. We fall in love with her character immediately while learning about how complicated slavery could be in America.
Anna Alter does an amazing job with the illustrations, creating a gentle folk art style, while still giving illustration to a horrific time in our history.

This book includes instructions for making a hollyhock doll and an author's note that talks about the true story of Priscilla Silkwood. To celebrate the book's release, there will be some partying going on for those of you in the Boston area.
Saturday, February 9, 1 p.m. (Anna and Anne)
Book launch--Wellesley Booksmith, Wellesley, MA
Saturday, February 16, 3 p.m. (Anna and Anne)
Book launch--Jamaicaway Books Jamaica Plain, MA
Wednesday, February 20, noon (Anne)
Boys and Girls Club, Lawrence, MA
Saturday, March 1, 12-2 p.m. (Anne)
Borders Books, Methuen, MA
Tuesday, March 4th, Time TBA (Anna)
Valente Branch of the Cambridge Public Library
Wednesday, March 5, 10 a.m.-noon (Anne)
South Elementary School, Andover, MA--SAIL event
Saturday, March 15, 11a.m.-1 p.m. (Anne)
Book signing at Annie's Books, North Andover, MA
Saturday, March 29, 2 p.m. (Anne)
Multi-Author Book Launch--First UU Church, Belmont, MA
Saturday, April 12 (Anna)

Priscilla is a worthy successor to SHY MAMA'S HALLOWEEN. Anne Broyles has once again created a compelling character, made all the more captivating because the story is based on fact. Anna Alter's illustrations beautifully represent the pain and sadness and later hope that Priscilla experiences throughout her incredible story. This book is chock full of mini-lessons waiting for the classroom teacher to share with students. An added bonus for the happy readers and listeners is the description of the hollyhock doll and how to create one. This is the perfect book for a read-aloud cum craft project. Kudos to Broyles, who has done it once again. Marina Salenikas, Children's Librarian, North Andover, MA

This book is a real blessing for anyone at all (because everyone has relationships). It is filled with the most wonderful true stories of the Lord's powerful provision and intervention in hurting lives. Too often today in marriage, people take what looks like the easy way out by divorce, thinking it is for the best. They do not realize how important and relevant covenant and commitment are for themselves and their children.
Anne and Don Bloch are an outstanding couple. We have known them for years now and treasure them and their friendship tremendously. We have been waiting for this book to come out and are thrilled that it is here at last. May they write many, many more. They have had such a rich life with the Lord (and with each other) that they have so much to share of Hope and Joy. Having had difficulties in former marriages before they met and married each other, they are such sensitive and caring prayer counselors to hurting and confused people everywhere. Their discernment and walk with the Lord is clear and singleminded. You cannot be with them without also being in His Amazing Presence filled with Love and understanding and comfort and strength.
The titles of the chapters of the book are clever,insightful and straightforward. The authors do not minimize that there is conflict and cost in marriage, and that there is work involved (like learning how to communicate with your spouse). But, they add that there is such celebration in the love joining a man and woman in Holy Matrimony and joining them in that covenantal sacrement with the Lord. I found that the thoughts to ponder at the end of each chapter were very helpful. My favorite chapter is the last one about the most essential "C" --- Jesus Christ.
I love their approach to marriage counseling, and study before and after marriage. And, the Lord has truly given them great ideas for avenues in which to help people talk about and look at their own situations from a Godly perspective. Since marriage (and who will be your marriage partner) is the second most important decision you will ever make (the first being to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior), this book is a must. And, for those of us who have sustained great wounds through divorce, this is a most powerful and healing book as well.
Buy a copy and let it minister to your heart, and your life !!!

Etched from the Father's Heart, this book oozes His unconditional love throughout. Each page you read gives evidence of a couple that have written what they have lived through. By example they give tools for living and biblical methods for a healthy marriage by letting Jesus be the centre, bringing hope and healing and restoration.

Martin
Scotland, UK

I read and thoroughly appreciated Ann and Don's perspective having a healthy relationship. Their perspectives help to see how different male and females view circumstances. They offer sound advice and guide you in the right direction to deal with conflict in a constructive manner.

Sailing the Seven C's of Marriage really hits you like a ton of bricks. The Bible is my personal owner's manual but this book serves as my Marriage Owner's Manual.

If you are like I am, you read Motivational books and are always browsing the self help category in the book stores. Manuals, books, or magazines based on relationships are the last categories that I would look into reading! I have the husband part down...RIGHT?!?

BUY AND TAKE THIS BOOK TO HEART NOW!
Why wait until your marriage is not working out as you planned?
Remember that day you first excepted Jesus as your savior?
Remember that first great conversation with your Spouse?

This book is the best self help book you can find today! I am living on fire for Jesus and keeping that "horizontal relationship" on fire with my wife.

I can't even imagine how great the feeling my wife will have after she finishes the Seven C's of Marriage!

With many of their own testimonies, Don and Anne show others how to keep a marriage going and growing. Marriage is a covenant between a husband and wife and God. And, like the Christian life itself, no one said it would be a simple easy life. But Don & Anne, through their Seven "C's", show you how you can keep growing closer to each other and to God each day. Thank you for your excellent prescription for a long and healthy marriage.

Interesting. Half of our book group did not like the book at all. But upon discussion we learned that it was the central character that they disliked. The discussion was very lively which proves to me that it is a book very much worth reading. We are not supposed to like everyone we encounter in a given book, we are supposed to find characters so well drawn that we can actually form opinions about them. I thought the writing was truly elegant and I recommend it without reservation.

In October, I was spending my vacation in Sweden and Denmark. Before my trip I ran across this book and thought it would be interesting. I was spending some time in Scandinavia and wanted to read something with a different view of the world-so why not a Scandinavian author?

Upon my second night in Sweden I began reading this book. I was suprised at how the story pulled me deeper into the book. Sometimes the book seemed complex; but the story flowed so well. It's now January and I still think about this book!

This book was a great find. I hope the US publishers will print more of his books. If they don't, Mr. Grøndahl's books have been translated into German and many other languages; so I will just read the others in German.

While in Copenhagen, I made sure my friends bought the book as well for their holiday in India. This was the only English book by the author I found while in Copenhagen.

This book ranks with Norman Rush's Mating and Tim Parks's Destiny as a deep and absorbing portrayal of a relationship viewed from the inside of one person's psyche. The main character is a man in his forties at a turning point in his marriage whose story is told very narrowly in the first person. I don't think the reader ever even learns his name. We are never told anything objectively about his experiences but Grondahl brilliantly puts us inside his head. This book requires some concentration to read since the story is so internalized but the effort is more than worth it.

I was so gripped by 'Silence in October' that I was compelled to finish it in two days. With themes similar to that of the film 'My Dinner with Andre' and the poetry of American writer jani johe webster, this profound novel addresses the core of our being with beautiful and unrelenting questions on meaning and being. The prose is clean, and the content brings this novel into the circle of truly great literature.

The narrator's meditation on the departure of his wife, the meaning of that relationship and other 'defining' relationships, resonates with our own experience of the mystery of intimacy. Do our relationships over time define and create us, and who is the person still within, the person who might have existed had these relationships perhaps not (randomly?) happened? As the narrator reflects so astutely of his wife, 'When did it dawn on her that there was still an unknown woman trying to draw breath through her nose and mouth, a woman I had never set eyes on, behind her familar features?' The narrator, who, for undoubtedly metaphorical reasons, remains unnamed, also reflects on the passage of time, the inadeqacy of words, and most powerfully, the nature of projection onto another: 'I thought I was writing about Astrid, or about Ines and Elisabeth for that matter, but in fact I was only writing about myself, and when conversely I tried to recall my own thoughts and feelings through the years, I merely interpreted the fleeting shadows that an Elisabeth, an Astrid, and an Ines in turn threw on the valud of my skull's mumbling loneliness.'

One cannot help but read this novel and think of Andre reiterating the most essential human questions of 'Who are we? Where do we come from? And where are we going?', or the line from jani johe webster's powerful prose poem 'the weariest river,' in which she writes, 'and if there be no self discover, but rather a collection of aped masks, fastened to a dangling puppet, what then? we all have to make this search, do you think, before death nudges us for the last time?' And like the film 'My Dinner with Andre' and webster's poetry, there is, in this novel, both a disturbing, haunting element, and yet also an element of the possibility of emanicapation from our illusions.

I generally don't read a lot of fiction unless something original about the story captivates me. I picked this one up for no particular reason and found the subject matter compelling - the odd dynamic in relationships whereby you can spend years with someone and share all levels of deep intimacy and yet still not really know them. Grondahl's work on a pure story level was incredibly satisfying, exploring the complexity of the human psyche and portraying the protagonist's deep introspection and trains of thought with wonderful skill. The story was also written in the first person with no real interference from any all-knowing narrator - no small feat.

All told, this is a thoughtful and thought-provoking piece of work. It is a book you cannot (or should not) read quickly; rather I found myself getting through chapters or even different scenes within chapters and having to stop and think about what I read.

Highly recommended!

At one time, publishing firms battled with top dollars to obtain the latest horror manuscript from best-selling author Braxton DeFoe. Several of his novels have been turned into popular movies. However, Braxton seems weary and unable to produce any more as the fast lanes of Southern California have taken its toll. Heeding his wife?s advice that they all need a change in venue, Braxton and his spouse Piper flee decadent Los Angeles for the idyllic North Carolina mountains.

Braxton hates the rural locale even after a warm welcome to Crooked Creek from their neighbors Mary Beth and Ren Wyatt, who is the local Storyteller. Ren turns into a catalyst of sorts as Braxton sees him as a rival in storytelling and for the affections of his wife. No one yet realizes the evil or is it jealousy that is now taking over Braxton?s every thought and action.

The STORYTELLERS is a powerful drama that keeps the reader in a perpetual state of bewilderment between supernatural possession and insanity. The psychological or parapsychological tale works because the characters seem authentic, which turn their activities and interrelationships into quite a plot. Fans of psychological horror need to provide plenty of time to finish Julie Anne Parks? one-sitting novel because they will want to keep reading in order to decide whether Braxton is a lunatic or in need of an exorcist.

Harriet Klausner

I particularly enjoyed Parks' skillful evocation of the Blue Ridge Mountain milieu, and the sense of contact -- through the storyteller's tales and the events of the book alike -- with both human and elemental forces from times past.

At one time, publishing firms battled with top dollars to obtain the latest horror manuscript from best-selling author Braxton DeFoe. Several of his novels have been turned into popular movies. However, Braxton seems weary and unable to produce any more as the fast lanes of Southern California have taken its toll. Heeding his wife?s advice that they all need a change in venue, Braxton and his spouse Piper flee decadent Los Angeles for the idyllic North Carolina mountains.

Braxton hates the rural locale even after a warm welcome to Crooked Creek from their neighbors Mary Beth and Ren Wyatt, who is the local Storyteller. Ren turns into a catalyst of sorts as Braxton sees him as a rival in storytelling and for the affections of his wife. No one yet realizes the evil or is it jealousy that is now taking over Braxton?s every thought and action.

The STORYTELLERS is a powerful drama that keeps the reader in a perpetual state of bewilderment between supernatural possession and insanity. The psychological or parapsychological tale works because the characters seem authentic, which turn their activities and interrelationships into quite a plot. Fans of psychological horror need to provide plenty of time to finish Julie Anne Parks? one-sitting novel because they will want to keep reading in order to decide whether Braxton is a lunatic or in need of an exorcist.

Harriet Klausner

Storytellers is a suspense filled, fast-paced book that is hard to put down. Every reader can identify with Piper, the main character, who is torn between the way things are supposed to be and the way they really are. It's crisp yet brooding, almost poetic at times, while still raising goose bumps. I didn't want it to be over, even though the climax (totally unexpected) was very satisfying. All in all a completely entertaining book, and I'll be watching for more novels from this author.

Julie Anne Parks shows flashes of brilliance with STORYTELLERS--with characters developing layers of intriguing sub-text. The plot is expertly paced, driving toward a riveting conclusion. I couldn't help liking this book. Why not five stars, then? Let me explain.

Julie Anne Parks loves the English language--that much is clear. She can turn a pretty phrase with the best of them. Unfortunately, this first-time novelist gets a little too wrapped up in "pretty." I found myself wishing she would skip the too-clever similes and get on with the story. I wanted to know more about her characters...particularly Ren (the male protagonist) and Keysa (his Tlingit Indian shaman mother.) I wanted to care about Braxton, the antagonist (who takes on the spirit of a spectre from Indian folklore) a little more than I did. While we saw glimpses of humanity in his character, I wanted to feel that the evil force controlling Braxton was the proverbial "bad guy," and not Braxton himself.

All in all, this is an enjoyable read. Time with Julie Parks' STORYTELLERS is time well spent. I'm looking forward to future novels as this writer matures in her craft.

I have no words to explain this book but alwsome

I read this book back in 8th or 9th grade and did a paper on it for my English class. I choose this book because the writer is my great aunt, and back then, I thought it was cool to have someone kind of famous in the family. It wasn't until I reread the book again several years later, that I was truly impacted by my great aunt's life story. This is definitely a book that is hard to put down once you start reading it. I'm so glad I had the chance to know Anne and experience her great talent for writing. I definitely recommend this book!

This is one of my very favorite books. It is one that I have read, at least, once a year for the past 10 years. The story of three orphans thrown about from foster home to foster home makes you cry for their unhappiness, but then makes you cry even harder at the end when their luck seems to finally change. I tell eveyone I know to read it, and have lent it out several times. It will soon fall apart because it has been loved so much...I hope that I can find another copy when it does. : )

I read this book for the first time when I was in the 3rd or 4th grade. That was back in 1982 or 83. The author, Anne Hall Whitt came to my school in Silver Spring, MD to talk about her experiences growing up. This is a touching story and I highly recommend it.

I thought that this book was the best book ever and Ann Hall Whitt did a wonderful job on her autobiography I thought it was wonderful. I even cried at the end. I thought it was so sad but I figured the book would be good and trust me it sure was. I had been wanting it all year at my school library and I finally got it and read very quickly because I just couldn't put it down! I think u should read this book because it is just wonderful, I give it 5 stars and 2 thumbs up

This book has given me the tools I need to discipline my 7-year-old daughter without damaging her self esteem. It gives you EASY, practical steps that don't require loads of paperwork and they're easy to remember! My daughter's attitude has changed considerably since I began to incorporate this book into our every day routine. Even if you don't feel like you have time to try something new, you do have time for this! It's an easy read, and your life will be better for it!

Now in a throughly updated and expanded third edition, JoAnne Nordling's Taking Charge: Caring Discipline That Works At Home And At School continues to provide a model for classroom educators of a step-by-step process for successfully managing the misbehavior of children and teens, whether in the home setting or at school. Taking Charge is a practical "how to" guide for parents and teachers meeting together in groups to resolve discipline problems and develop child management skills based on JoAnne Nordling's more than forty years experience parenting, teaching, and counseling. Each chapter has a "Review" and a "Discussion" section, plus exercises to reinforce the concepts and raise issues for group discussion. Charts and worksheets are also provided. There is a complete curriculum kit based on Taking Charge available from the Parent Support Center in Portland, Oregon (JoAnne Nordling is its co-founder) which includes six videos, a wall chart, a syllabus, and guidelines.

THE book-finally-to focus clearly on parent/child problems and to present fair, workable solutions. After 25 years of serving families, parents and children, I'm delighted to recommend highly this excellent and very readable resource. Costa Columbus, Ph,D., Counselor

I don't know any parent who would not get something of enormous value from this book. The techniques are practical and effective, and ever mindful of building and respecting the child's self-esteem. This book is particularly necessary for new parents who were themselves raised in more dysfunctional families, and who don't want to unconsciously pass on that dysfunction to the next generation. Nordling never frames the discussion in these terms, but she clearly illustrates how to 'take charge' in a way that is not shaming, but builds your child's self-esteem. It is also brilliant on pitfalls to avoid (Nordling calls them self-sabotage) and how to identify and deal with specific types of misbehavior. These are lessons that adults raised in dysfunctional families may not have learned instinctively. The book is great beyond words, because if you practice what is in its pages, it will transform your life and your household. Both parents should really be on board with this program. (I am a dad. My wife and I have both benefitted from reading this book.) I do not think it is exaggeration to say that our world would be completely transformed if Taking Charge were required reading for all parents.

When my husband and I agreed to take on our troubled 14-year-old granddaughter for the three months of her summer vacation, we were worried about our ability to handle her, because she was known for being hyperactive, undisciplined and uncooperative. A friend recommended the book Taking Charge, by JoAnne Nordling. We both read it and agreed that we'd follow the book's advice on handling children. The summer was a greater success than either of us had dared to hope for. After several weeks of enforcing consistent rules, using small rewards and punishments, having family meetings, providing plenty of attention and a balance of work and play, our granddaughter settled into a comfortable routine. She obeyed with few complaints and became a secure, happy, cooperative person. She even gained pride and self-esteem in her accomplishments. I would recommend the book to any parent or guardian.

The book is pretty detailed and talks about many different laws that back up special students in education. It also talks about all the different types of special students that one ca n have in the general education classrooms. Overall I recommend this book if you have little or no knowledge of what is classified under Special students and how to go about helping them in their Education.

The book I received was brand new at an excellent price and the delivery was surprisingly speedy! I would definitely recommend this seller!

The book arrived quickly and in perfect condition. I consider this book to be a good resource for new teachers.
I have no complaints.

I've been a faithful user of the Lewis & Doorlag book since its first edition. Each subsequent revision has added substance and useful information that makes buying it worthwhile. Of all the introductory texts on special education, this one is the most concise, reader-friendly, practical and up-to-date. It has invaluable teaching strategies and resources to inform the practice of special educators and diagnosticians. The only downside that is consistent across all editions is the unevenness of its content. In virtually every chapter about a given exceptionality, say mental retardation, more emphasis is placed on nature of the disability and teaching strategies than on its causes. Therefore, when using this book as a teaching tool in college, it has to be supplemented with other resources that do more justice to the etiology of each special need.

I am a contract instructor who uses this book for an undergraduate level "Exceptional Children in the Classroom" class. I chose this text because it is practical and not as dry as Heward, another widely respected author of special education texts. Many strategies are provided for meeting the needs of students with disabilities as well as gifted students, those who are at risk, and those who are linguistically and culturally diverse.

I thought this book was extremely enjoyable. Women are often neglected in the historical narrative. So, it was nice to read a book that told the story of these women of the gold rush through their own words and through a colorful narrative by Jo Ann Levy. My only criticism is that minority women are rarely mentioned in this book, which gives an incomplete picture of the history of California women during the gold rush.

In her book, They Saw the Elephant: Women in the California Gold Rush, Jo Ann Levy weaves letters and journal entries into a picture of the lives of women during the California gold rush.
Coming by covered wagons or ships these women wrote about their journeys' across mountains, deserts, oceans, and jungles. The excitement of an adventure and the beauty of the land was not the whole story however; misery and death joined them on their journey. Inadequate provisions, brutal storms and sickness were common themes. And once these women reached the promise land of San Francisco, the streets were not paved in gold as they dreamed, but littered with trash.
The belief that there were only prostitutes or actresses was also not true; many women ran boarding houses or mined for gold. Some left after the gold ran out, but many women stayed in the cities that they helped create.
Though this book it is not organized in to one story, it is an insight into the women who came to California during the gold rush. You will be amazed by their bravery as they left their comfortable lives and uprooted their families for adventures unknown.

This book is great!
A person wouldn't even need to be interested in history of the gold rush days to thoroughly enjoy reading this book. I don't have alot of free time to read, so when I pick a book it has to be worth my while. This certainly was. And it's an easy book for reading a few pages at a time, like I do just before going to bed. I love how it organizes the accounts and groups the stories into chapters of a particular theme. Fascinating!

In They Saw The Elephant, Jo Ann Levy has combined women's journals and letters with newspaper articles of the gold rush era into an articulate, shining gem of historical writing. Her purpose was to dispel many of the common assumptions and general characterizations made in earlier histories about the women who participated in the California gold rush. A number of the early twentieth century histories of this monumental American event imply there were few women in California, and that a majority of those women were of questionable social standing. Levy's placement of her chapter on prostitution is wisely situated in the second half of her work. She admits there is little written record concerning the lives of these women, particularly those of Chilean and Chinese descent who came to the gold fields. The author does not fill in the blanks with supposition or fiction. By the time the reader gets to the chapter on prostitution, it is already clear that women were contributing far more to the Gold Rush than physical pleasure for males.

The Oregon Trail opened in 1847. Levy includes some of the women's stories from this trek even if their final destination was not the gold fields. This is a plus. The reader understands that women had started emigrating west for reasons other than gold and the journals and letters used to demonstrate life on the trail were vivid.

The variety of women discussed in this book was a cross section of society at the time. I laughed out loud while reading about how some of the highbrow, educated women reacted to the primitive society of San Francisco. These women adapted, and most made a good living as boarding house keepers and cooks.
Levy does an excellent job showing us the ingenuity of the women who went west. Living aboard abandoned ships in the bay, renting out rooms in, and using wood and goods from those ships are details about day-to-day life often lost in the telling of the human experience of the gold rush.

Perhaps the strongest statement Levy makes in her book is found in the Postscript. Women who went west during the gold rush continued their lives long after the three- year bonanza. Most didn't stay in San Francisco. Most didn't even stay in California. Their toil was but another blip on the radar screen of their lives. They didn't crawl back east to their families as broken women. They had seen the elephant, but had no desire to own the circus.

Several of the accounts made me chuckle and realize how little life has changed. One letter describes how quickly houses were being built in San Francisco. It goes on to describe the shoddy workmanship including gaps in the walls large enough to see through. I live in the fastest growing metropolitan area in the country. Houses go up over night here, literally. We joke about housing developments growing as quickly as mushrooms in the forest. The only reason the cracks in the walls don't allow light in now is chicken wire and stucco. Little has changed in the last 150 years.

Women civilized the wild California gold rush society. Some used the money they had made from the miners and started churches, schools, and hospitals. Others became heavily involved in various societies. In general, they went west with their husbands, to support their husbands in search of a better life, and they brought their civilized mindset with them.

This is an excellent book, appropriate for all audiences. It flows well, and contains a great deal of authentic information

As a writer of both fiction and non-fiction, I found tremendous value in "They Saw The Elephant." For the general reader of non-fiction, this book reads like a novel! The stories of these valiant women grab the reader and never let go. You feel that you are with them, as they face the unknown perils and triumphs of the Gold Rush in California of the mid-19th Century. The words of these wonderful women have the special ring of Truth to them. I cannot overstate my admiration for the author and her work in presenting this important book.

"Time to Quilt" is beautifully written and illustrated. The projects are easy to follow even for a novice quilter. I have turned to the book often for inspiration.

I loved reading this book. It's gorgeous to look at, and the quilt projects all look easy enough to actually finish! The author has a delightful writing style. It's a great gift book, and I've already given one to my sister-in-law. What a treat!

Time to Quilt not only shows you how to plan a quilt retreat with your quilting friends, but offers resourceful solutions to make more time to quilt at home without feeling guilty. I followed the books advise and scheduled time for my quilting by putting it on the calendar, planning ahead to have the kids and husband busy with their own activities out of the house. Then I indulged on my pleasurable project in good conscience.

Time to Quilt has a wide variety of quilt designs and projects from large to small, with suggestions on what to do with leftover blocks too! My favorite is the playful ice skate table runner as the quilting makes a "figure 8". Can't wait to make the footwarmer soon.

Everything about the book is beautiful: the photography, graphics, friendly writing style. The book has a positive, open feeling to it. Really clear and easy to follow instructions with good illustrations. Terrific tips on basic skills as well as how to put a group quilt together when blocks are not quite the same size.

The book has recipes peppered throughtout. My favorites are the mix-in cookies and Scrapsoup. For the Pollo con Salsa recipe, you don't even need to defrost the chicken. It was so easy, it gave me more time to quilt!

Anne Moscicki's work is a joy to see...fresh, creative, unique. A great resource!

Fun quilts for all ages are presented in Anne Moscicki's Time To Quilt: Fun Quilts And Retreat Ideas For 1 Or 101, a very special and highly recommended needlecrafter's title which covers a variety of projects for all budgets and skills levels, from quick weekend projects and scrap quilts to full quilting projects for the advanced. Tips on assembly and quick production make for a practical guide especially appealing to newcomers.

I have read Anne Stuart, this is my first historical by her. I think her contemporary books are great. I think the same of her historicals.
This is a good book. Dark and dangerous, once you start to read it you dont want to stop. For some reason, even though it is romance and a historical, it still falls into its own category. You wont find another author line Anne Stuart, not one that is even close. I wouldnt reccomend this to just anyone though, cant be squemish and think romance books are not ever dark. Those who enjoy those types of books as well are in for a rare treat.

"To Love a Dark Lord" is my first Anne Stuart book. I have to tell you..I'm thrilled that I have discovered her and I cant wait to dive in and read her other stories!! Girls, This book was fabulous!!!..I enjoyed the storyline and the H/H immensely. There were also some of the most wonderful secondary characters in this book!! Killoran is so romantically tortured and Emma is his perfect match..I was up so late reading this..I couldnt bear to put it down!! DEFINITELY a MUST READ!!!!!!

If ever there was a man who needed a good woman it is James Killoran, the hero of To Love a Dark Lord. He is so jaded and world weary that it will take a special, innocent and determined heroine to veer him from his self destructive course. Emma is up to the challenge. Rarely do lovers have the combustible energy of these two characters.

James saves Emma from a certain hanging when she is discovered standing over the body of her dead relative. James vouches for her innocence, not because he believes her story or that he is smitten by her beauty. No, it just amuses him to do so. He really has no other ambition in life than to lead a hedonistic life.

He again comes to Emma's rescue from an amorous employer and realizes that she is the perfect pawn to bring about the downfall of his nemesis. Emma is destitute so she accepts his help knowing that she holds no special place in Killoran's life other than bait to be dangled before an enemy.

Things are not always what they seem, however. Emma has a true longing for Killoran, who has deep dark secrets and he just cannot forgive himself for his past mistakes. Emma is no door mat. She is quite brave and able to defend herself verbally and physically time and again.

Killoran is your wonderful Stuart hero. His intensity comes across every page and his self sacrificing nature is buried under mountains of guilt, anger and ennui. It is impossible not to be in love with him and disillusioned with him at times. Still his charm is ever present and his killer wit and looks are in no short supply. This is the best historical Stuart has ever written. The plot never gets in the way of the romance and the secondary characters are well drawn and thoroughly enjoyable.

This book is my absolute favorite Romance Novel. I have not found any Romance before or since that I have liked better. This book should have been available in hardcover as well as paperback. I really can't say why I singled this book out of all the others that I have read but my fantasy is that one day they will make this book into a movie. I don't understand why this book is no longer in print. I fell in love with all the characters in the book. I cannot express enough how much I love this book.

Anne Stuart is one of my favourite authors, I admit that - but for a very good reason. She is simply one of the best writers around in either Contemporary or Historical romances. In To Love a Dark Lord, as usual, she delivers - this time one of her best Historicals ever!

She is the queen of creating bad boys with blackhearts and souls. This time the scoundrel is James Killoran, who has a heart and soul so black he himself knows there is only one reason to lives, and that is revenge. He once loved a redheaded woman, only to have her destroyed. James could not save the woman he loved, so his only reason for living is vengeance, but he is no where closer to achieving that aim. The road to revenge can be a bloody dull, long and boring reason to live, since he cannot find the right weapon to extract it, so he uses people to relieve the tedium of his ennui. Mostly, he's just drunk and in a fowl mood with his self-loathing.

The book opens with Emma Lagolet escaping a ravishing. Between her graceless attempts at saving herself, and the drunken James tarnished knight in shining armour rescue, Emma escapes. He deposits her where she can find a possession as help, only to discover she must again fight off the advances of her employer's amorous son. James at first thinks it a hallucination as Emma flops over his wooden fence. But the Irish Lord, again, goes to great pains to save Emma - just for the entertainment. Then James is struck that Emma is the perfect instrument to complete his long awaited vengeance. Emma who now loves James will go to any length to win James' love. James, too, is falling for Emma, but he will let nothing stand in his way from his revenge.

It is so funny, with strong characters, proving once again, Stuart is the tops in her field. One of the Best! Why this is not in reprint is ONE BIG MYSTERY!