Virginia Books

Three stories by three very good writers, woven around a family spinning wheel.
SPOKE OF LOVE, by Cathy Marie Hake
Samuel Walsh didn't believe in owning another human, but he couldn't turn his back on the abused woman being offered for sale. He paid the price and took her back to his home. Sold for her husband's debts, Garnet Wheelock first believed the kind stranger might be different from the others, but common sense and a lack of trust convinced her she had to be wrong. Garnet had been through so much that her terrible experiences had rendered her mute. She communicated with Sam through sign language. Garnet was a hard worker, and was adept at using the spinning wheel that had belonged to his first wife. Against his better judgement, Sam found himself becoming the protector of the comely widow, but love was out of the question. Or was it?

SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL By Vickie McDonough
Alone, and with no place to go, Amy Rogers has come prepared to throw herself on the mercy of her cousin, Kathryn Walsh. Kathryn is in labor with a difficult birth when Amy arrives, and she finds herself pressed into helping. Kathryn dies, leaving Amy to care for the newborn baby girl. Micah, Kathryn's husband, has been trapping for furs in the Appalacian Mountains. Unaware that Kathryn was pregnant, he's looking forward to being reunited with his wife and young dughter. Intead he finds that Kathryn is dead, and a stranger is running his household and caring for his two daughters. Amy works hard, but Micah doesn't want her in his house. However, God has plans for both Amy and Micah.

WEAVING A FUTURE By Susan Page Davis
Harry Cooper just wants to buy horses, but then he meets high-spirited, strong-minded Sadie McEwan. It's clear Sadie is attracted to the handsome stranger, and he seems interested in her too, but she has a serious problem to contend with, and he'll soon return home. Besides, she isn't being exactly truthful in their business dealings.
Three delightful stories, by three very accomplished writers. They know exactly how to involve the reader from page one. Fans of historical romance will want this one.

Three books spun around a family's spinning wheel in the Shenandoah Valley. All through these books you are uplifted, encouraged and feel for the people involved. These three stories are hard to put down. I carried my book everywhere and even read while at computer.
Made me almost want to go back in time to the time when work was hard but people could survive with less money.
In Spoke of Love a widower Samuel Walsh sees an indentured servant, Garnet Wheelock, being mistreated by the person who brought her over to sell her as a bride. His compassion reaches out to her and he takes her home. Thus he is able to bring his daughter home from her Aunt's where she has been since his wife died. Both Samuel and Garnet are dealing with a lot of stuff from their past and it takes time to heal and begin to feel they can trust each other. Broken lives are mended and healing takes place.
In Spinning Out of Control, Micah Walsh returns home to find out his wife died in child birth and her cousin, Amy Rogers, is there taking care of his children. As Amy does not know who Micah is, she hits him over head when he returns to protect the children. Amy stays on to continue caring for Micah's children but Micah keeps her at arms distance. Little by little the two strangers learn to trust each other. You can learn about trust and how sometime's harsh circumstances can bind two people together.
In Weaving a Future, Sadie McEwan falls for a horse trader Harry Cooper. When he comes to her farm to buy horses from her father to breed, she wants him to court her. But before he returns to pick up his horses, her father dies and she tries to hide it to protect herself and her freed servants. When Harry finds out her secret, they separate because of mistrust but robbers come and try to rob from Sadie. The servant's son goes to get Harry as he knows he is in the next town because he left his mares behind. Finally Harry and Sadie are able to solve their differences and move forward in forgiveness and love.
These books are books you cannot lay down.

The book is good I have not gotten through all of it. I enjoy what I have read so far.

First let me note that this review is for the book "Virginia," NOT "Virginia Brides." When looking into purchasing the latter I decided to read the reviews. To my shock I saw that my review for "Virginia" was posted there. The synopsis' written are for the novellas in Virgina. Now...

I loved, loved, LOVED this book. All the stories were well thought out. They were a perfect combination of drama and lightheartedness.

The first and last stories were more dramatic. The characters in these had their share of struggles. In the first story, a 19 year old is taking care of her younger sister (decieved into a false marriage) and baby and their much younger brother. They are starving when they find the "husband's" brother (who believes someone posed as his brother). The last story takes place during WWI with a decendent of theirs comes back injured from war. He is bitter and angry and seeks solace in their old family home. As he rebuilds it he meets a German neighbor and is forced to deal with his prejudices.

The 2nd and 3rd stories are very quick reads with lots of humor and no dark secrets or pains. They are fun, quick page turneers.

Stories of faith and mercy- beautifully done. I will save this book for another rainy day and read it again!

this holiday i decided to make the recipe for monkey (pull apart) cake from this cookbook. it's been a hit everywhere! (so far i've made 4 cakes for 4 different functions).

the best thing, is that it's super easy to make. i don't cook, so i appreciate easy to understand recipes.

that's the good thing about all of these recipes. they're simple and straight forward. with all the recipes i've tasted from the JWC cookbook, i haven't been disapointed yet. yum!

The Virginia Hostess is a fabulous guide for anyone! Whether you are an experienced chef or a novice, this cookbook is more than the average collection of recipes. It features themed chapters with beautiful historic sketches from Virginia. Each chapter has complete menus for different occasions, including showers, children's parties, formal dinners, picnics, holiday occasions and more! An educational and comprehensive wine selection section is included. I highly recommend this beautiful and resourceful cookbook and entertaining guide!

The menus ideas are terrific! I enjoyed all the recipes and was glad to have a cookbook that covers most any occasion. The layout is superb and makes a great bridal or hostess gift. This book has really made my life a lot simpler when I am called to entertain. I own a lot of cookbooks but this one is well worn and used often.

I've owned this book for a couple of years now, and have reallyused it alot! It has great recipes in it, but in addition, it hasmenu and entertaining suggestions, a list of Virginia wineries, and even ideas for kids' parties. (Who knew how to make face paint?) I also like the fact that it comes from a community service organization, so I know part of my purchase price went to a good cause.

I would recommend this book if you're looking for something with great pictures and a brief narrative. The photos were good in that they weren't all taken in the summer, as in most books of this type. It was nice to see these historic homes in the spring bloom, fall colors and winter white-scape. Of course the summer shots were also beautiful. A good book for your own or for a gift.

Gleason really excelled in books of this kind, he really knew how to capture these old grand buildings. This book is first rate and it covers all of the well known homes as well as some that may not be so familiar. All of his books of this genre are consistantly top notch. The colors are vibrant and just pop off the page. I recommend this book to anyone interested in the grandeur of the Old South, it's just amazing how many of these houses survived the Civil War, with battles often within earshot of the veranda.

Beautiful photos, good text, but awkward size (doesn't fit on book shelf)

In my opinion this coffee table book is the one by which all others should be judged. Gleason is one fine professional photographer who needs to expand into yet more regions on this same subject of old plantation homes

WOW
In the last 3 yrs I have: ended a 22 year marriage, then lost 2 jobs... This wonderful book has given me much solice, comfort, personal insights and loving encouragement. It's also very readable. I highly recommend it and hope Virginia will have at least one more loving sequel !
One of my favorite's is:
OPEN DOORS
Creator God, how pleased we are by open doors. As we stand outside they paint a picture of invitation, welcome, and warmth. Yet how fearful we are of open doors when we stand inside. They make us vulnerable, allowing the unknown to enter and the precious to leave. Help us see you, God, standing in all doorways, as both host and guard. Then we can go out in glad confidence and come in to untroubled rest. ~ Amen.
- An encouraged person in Minnesota.

This is a book that I use in worship liturgies and pastoral care notes -- AND it is wonderful gift for homebound folks.

Thank you, Virginia.

The prayers in this book are incredibly eloquent and thought-provoking. My favorite is "thank you for things bent," for which a song was composed. Any thinking Christian will love the guidance and support of these prayers. Great gift for any event.

Virginia has a great depth of spirituality. This volume, her first, covers a portion of it. I am looking forward to having this book for many years, and know it will speak to me for a long time.

Written with sensitivity to the quilt and the quiltmaker, exploring not only what inspired the art form but the necessity of the art form. A real sense of understanding both the textile and history of the textile emerges as one explores the lives of the women who quilted for both pleasure and need. This is a must have book for the person who wants to understand history and art form and the production of textile and how it relates to the finished product, as well as the importance the quilt played in the the lives of the women who made them. A valuabe addition to any libary.

This book provides a wonderful history of quilting and quiltmakers and is also inspirational for quilt design ideas. It is well-written and engaging, making a quilt documentation project very interesting to others. I highly recommend this book and it makes a perfect gift for any quilters.

This is a marvelous book. Readers in other states will come away from it with new or changed views of West Virginia and its history. Author Fawn Valentine recognizes quilts as historic documents and is most persuasive in explaining and using material culture methodology to prove this. Yes, West Virginia quilters live primarily in rural areas, and many needed quilts as warm bedcovers. However, they also produced elegant silk quilts as examples of fine, decorative needlework.

As a quilt researcher in the adjacent state of Ohio I am fascinated by the similarities and differences between quilts in our two states, and Valentine's convincing explanations for them. Most of the quilts documented by the West Virginia Heritage Quilt Search-even the oldest ones-were found near the places where they were made. The reason, she explains, is that West Virginians didn't move around much; they love place and family. They also had a strong desire to maintain traditional skills, which are "family ways."

Some quilt patterns were found only in discrete regions of West Virginia. Others (crazy quilts, for instance) continued to be made much later than was true in other states. Through extensive interviews with quiltmakers, the WVHQS learned of quilt pattern names and quilt-related language not found elsewhere. Through their oral interviews they also learned of a system of "barter economy" West Virginia quiltmakers used.

Most intriguing is Valentine's discovery of different quilting style, aesthetics, and designs associated with the quiltmakers' ethnic backgrounds: German-American, British, Scotch-Irish and Welsh. She presents this information early in the book, preparing the reader to recognize and identify the ethnicity of quiltmakers whose work is included later.

A series of appendices, including a summary of data and an extremely important timeline are helpful, as are the state maps included with almost every quilt, clearly identifying the counties where the quilts were made. As we discovered in the Ohio Quilt Research Project, Ohio is also a county-conscious state, so I felt right at home in West Virginia!

West Virginia quilts documents quilts from the 40's and older, and the lives of those who created them. I picked up a copy of this book at the library and was quite fascinated by the beautiful quilts and the history surrounding them (a young 23 year old married a 79 year old and had several children, can you imagine?). The pictures are interesting and the stories fascinating. I particularly appreciated the absence of modern quilts as I'm not a fan of modern art style and the overuse of batiks. This is a wonderful book for fans of quilting and those who love quilt history.

I first met Jim Clark at Cacapon Institute's RiverFest '95. I invited him to do his natural history slide show, Highland Overture. I heard he was good, but never in my wildest dreams did I expect the impact his show had on me. When the lights came back on, I found myself among others wiping away tears. Jim's slide show, set to music, brought me back to my childhood when I took the time to experience the beauty of the more detailed, subtle intricacies of nature, from the box turtle's eye, the wings of a butterfly, to the magnificent view from atop a West Virginia mountain. His book continues to do nothing less than that, and better yet, I can pick up the book and view Jim's images whenever I want!

Naturalist and native West Virginian, Jim captures the natural history of our area in a way that will touch your heart. Unlike photographer, Arnot Hyde, who in his book depicts West Virginia as cities and buildings, Jim's book portrays what to me is the essence of the state - its vistas, streams, plants, animals and insects.

Jim begins his book in the spring and gently walks you through the seasons. His writing style is descriptive and captivating. It's full of fascinating history and pours nicely from Jim's heart. In his introduction we learn about the encounters and hardships of early settlers, and the devastation wreaked on these mountains by the invention of the Shay steam locomotive. As we move through the text we learn bison and elk graced our forests. And we learn about species that continue to abound in special places throughout these hills. As autumn unfolds from the colors on the pages, Jim teaches us about geological formations and the premier heights from which to appreciate these colors throughout the Highlands. Finally we find ourselves in winter. We feel its beauty and we learn what bothers Jim when he thinks about the future of West Virginia and the hopes he sees rising from the work of groups like Cacapon Institute.

Jim closes by stating that "the mountains instilled in me a tremendous strength to endure whatever obstacles were placed in my path, and they forged in my heart a passion for life". I don't think there is a person who has experienced the trails, meadows, and mountaintops of this state who hasn't been touched by their experience here in some profound way. Jim captures this state in its grandness, beauty and wonderment and his writings will help you appreciate that each of us plays a part in protecting this beautiful land. His book belongs on the coffee table of every person who's ever marveled at a West Virginia sunset, appreciated a falling leaf, squinted at a drop of water on a spider web, or felt the joy of a clean river.

I purchased this book as a Christmas gift for my father, sight unseen, based on the description here at amazon.com. After he opened this gift, I had a chance to see it. I could not have been more pleased. The photography is amazing. It truly depicts the beauty of West Virginia. I liked the book so much that I have now ordered a copy for myself, which will be on display in my home in Washington, D.C.

"West Virginia: The Allegheny Highlands" is an absolutely resplendent volume. Nature photographer and biologist Jim Clark masterfully captures the colors, features, and animal life in the wildest and most remote region in the Appalachian Mountains. Clark takes us through four seasons in the Alleghenies. His 100 full-color pictures are as winningly composed as they are iridescently rendered. Clark is one of those rare photographers who can truly give you a sense of grandeur in his work. In "New River Bridge, Fayette County," he doesn't just capture the forminable span of the bridge. He includes the giant (yet tiny!) boulders in the river below, so that you can get an almost stunning sense of the reach and height of this engineering marvel. But Clark is just as adept with smaller scenes. Witness "Maple Leaves in a Stream" and the almost paint-like "Reflections, Branch of the Potomac River, Grant County." And Clark's prose is nearly as penetrating as his photographs. Of a winterstorm, he writes: "The first thing I notice about the snowstorm is how still it is. Nothing is moving; the only sound I hear is the wind whispering through the trees." Don't miss this rich and captivating work.

If you have any interest in photography, natural history or West Virginia then this book is a welcome addition to you library. Jim has a unique ability to capture in words and images the experience of actually being in the Allegheny Highlands. I know because after I read the book it inspired me to go there.

The images are very well done from an artistic perspective. The words in Jim's own hand make the book an experience to enjoy again and again.

i found this book, to be a good read. i just didn't like how Teely felt under David's charm so quick.

A White Romance by Virginia Hamilton is about a black girl (Talley) who goes to an all black school called Colonel Glenn High until they start busing in white students. Talley doesn't think anything will change drastically, but she is so very wrong. Talley meets Didi, a white girl who becomes her best friend. Didi is dating Roady, a black boy, and Talley has her eyes on a white boy named David. Although Victor is in love with her, she won't have anyone but David. Didi tries to tell Talley she doesn't love David, but she decides not to listen until things take a turn for the worst.

I thought this book was very good and it teaches a lot of good lessons. The text was a little confusing at times, but other than that, I really enjoyed the book. I'd say it's a pretty easy read.

Personally, I loved this book. Poor Talley falling for the bad boy. come on, girls, you know the old story. You say no, your heart says yes, you fight it it til you give in. It's love, it's life. It's crazy. It's real. It raises many new questions also in the readers mind about the skin their in, the life they lead, the lovers they have . . . . If you were Talley, you would fall to for the David with charms until you grow up and see the true thing-Victor Davis in this case-to be for you. :))

This book is a wonderfully written book. Its realsim is astonishing.I recommend this book highly.

This book is geared toward the 4-8 year old set and accomplishes its task nicely through realistic, colorful pictures and concise text. While reading the book, I found the progression of the story lends itself beautifully to sequence. In addition, as soon as the students realize one animal is following the next, it's easy to ask them to make predictions as to what animal they think will appear next. As the story reaches its ending, you realize that there is a moral to this story as well---working together as a team can solve problems faster than working alone. The story and the match of the illustrations to the story make it an excellent picture book to use when teaching sequence, prediction, social skills or values. It would make a nice contribution to the literature in a unit about farm animals, grandchildren or cooperation.

I read the story to my 6 year old son, and now when I try to tuck him in at night, he "hides" under his blanket and makes me guess where he is. It gives us one more game to play in the evenings, and is creating some good memories for the both of us. He can't wait to pull this on his own Grandma when we visit her this Thanksgiving.

Who's Under Grandma's Quilt? Is full of fun and subtleteaching. We don't know who is under there until the end, but a littlechild will wonder right away as a helpful chick wants to lift it and see, an anxious pig says " You better not" and other animals express a range of reactions for a child to ponder. "Whom are you talking to under grandmother's quilt?" says a goose. Rachel Waterstone has toughtfully written a wonderful book for children from two to five. It is original at the same time that it uses a traditional Chicken Little, or Braemer town Musicians line of animals to move the story forward. First Story Press has chosen illustrator Virginia Esquinaldo with the same good taste as they chose this first time author. Congratulations and thank you to all of them. This book is a great choice for young children.

The "quilt with a bump and a lump that thumped" phrase is very catchy and something I'm sure kids of all ages will remember. The author has a unique writing style that flows naturally and suggests the personality of the characters nicely. I could almost hear the different voices saying the lines as I read it

Excellent guide to the wildflowers in my region of Southwest Virginia. Good pictures and descriptions.

Nice guide targeted at our area. Each page is on a specific plant - there is a large photograph covering the first 2/3 of the page with a short description below. The photos are excellent - very useful for identification (or at least narrowing in on the id) if the plant happens to be in bloom at the time. The descriptions are quite short - only a few sentences but do tell if the plant is native or introduced, if they're common or not, where they're likely found, the family they're in, and some description of unique aspects of the plant. I've found this to be a very useful book as I walk around our yard which was once an old farmers field and is now grown up with trees and thickets and other plants that were deposited by birds or brought in by the wind. Having the photos made identification easier. Also being focused on just plants of our area takes a lot of guess-work out. I then can use other books or online resources for more details such as benefit to wildlife etc.

This book is an excellent summary of wildflowers you can expect to find in the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah Valley. The full color pictures are beautiful and organized to make identification of flower names easy for the beginner.

This is a non-technical field guide, designed for people with all skill levels. Wildflowers are organized by blossum color and illustrated with color photographs. A very useful book when searching for that elusive flower name in the Shenandoah Valley or Blue Ridge Mountains. The authors have written a similar book on Trees and Shrubs in the Shenandoah Valley.

With the loss of Colonial Homes magazine, Christmas ideas with a American colonial theme are becoming rare. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation along with Libby Hodges Oliver and Mary Miley Theobald have created not only a historical account of early American celebrations, but a beautifully designed and photographed book. Decorating starts outside with simple wreaths and pine roping to more elaborate fruited creations. Inside the greenery continues along with ideas on table decorations,the Christmas feast and best way to spoil Christmas guests. Chapters cover candles to Christmas trees along with colonial revival and twenty first century interpretations. This book will be a welcome inspiration for anyone looking for Christmas ideas and traditions.

With its lively, readable text and beautiful photography, Williamsburg Christmas is a must have book for anyone who enjoys Colonial history and Williamsburg. It makes you want to make that visit to Williamsburg during the Christmas holidays.

Informative (and occasionally surprising!) text accompanied by exquisite photographs of the holiday decorating style known as Colonial Williamsburg.

The text is coordinated effectively with the photographs to which it refers, making this a helpful guide for those interested in recreating or adapting the patterns for their own decorations. Lists of fruits and greenery that are or are not historically valid as well as diagrams for constructing bases for fan-style and pyramid decorations are both practical and helpful. For those preferring merely to look rather than do, it's still a lovely holiday visit to Williamsburg.

You don't have to like Williamsburg to like this book. Decorations can be used in contemporary homes, colonial or traditional homes. Good thoughts on how traditions such as the first Christmas tree began. I am giving the book to family and friends. It makes a great Christmas present.