What is JacketFlap

  • JacketFlap connects you to the work of more than 200,000 authors, illustrators, publishers and other creators of books for Children and Young Adults. The site is updated daily with information about every book, author, illustrator, and publisher in the children's / young adult book industry. Members include published authors and illustrators, librarians, agents, editors, publicists, booksellers, publishers and fans.
    Join now (it's free).

Sort Blog Posts

Sort Posts by:

  • in
    from   

Suggest a Blog

Enter a Blog's Feed URL below and click Submit:

Most Commented Posts

In the past 7 days

Recent Comments

Recently Viewed

MyJacketFlap Blogs

  • Login or Register for free to create your own customized page of blog posts from your favorite blogs. You can also add blogs by clicking the "Add to MyJacketFlap" links next to the blog name in each post.

Blog Posts by Tag

In the past 30 days

Blog Posts by Date

Click days in this calendar to see posts by day or month
new posts in all blogs
Viewing Blog: Miller's Musings, Most Recent at Top
Results 1 - 25 of 35
Visit This Blog | Login to Add to MyJacketFlap
Blog Banner
Sherry Ann Miller, award-winning author, shares book reviews, genealogical insights, writing tips and foibles, and other noteworthy observations
Statistics for Miller's Musings

Number of Readers that added this blog to their MyJacketFlap:
1. The Taming of Lady Kate by GG Vandagriff

Jack Bailey-Wintersham, Marquis of Northbrooke, meets Lady Kate Derramore in an auspicious manner, but their fortunate meeting is soon overshadowed by espionage, kidnapping and betrayal. Regardless of how they met, Jack falls almost instantly in love with Kate, but in addition to all the many pitfalls he encounters, including being wounded (twice!), he finds Kate high-spirited, willful and almost foolish  - well, downright foolish when it comes to her attempts to "save" Jack from being killed or thrown into dangerous situations which his occupation demands of him.
Set in historical England, near the same time frame as Jane Austen wrote, and with a similar flare, The Taming of Lady Kate is a fast-paced, engrossing tale of Lady Kate and her desire to marry for convenience. She will not inherit her father's fortune until she marries well. To complicate affairs, her younger step-brother, whom she adores, has been sent off to boarding school where she fears he is being mistreated because of his stutter, and she will not gain custody of him until she marries properly. She is, therefore, motivated to pursue matrimony with the handsome Marquis, Jack Bailey-Wintersham. Kate is also surprised to find herself drawn to Jack in ways she never would have expected. But, how could she love Jack? She had thought herself to be in love with an Italian whom her father had completely and utterly refused her to marry and had threatened that such an unworthy marriage would bring about her disinheritance of her father's estate entirely.
The plot is thick with surprises and twists and turns. Yet it is surprisingly easy to follow and flows from one scene into another at such a quick pace that my heart raced a little faster with each turning page.
GG Vandagriff has hit the mark with The Taming of Lady Kate and has given her readers a story they will enjoy from cover to cover.

0 Comments on The Taming of Lady Kate by GG Vandagriff as of 9/18/2012 4:26:00 PM
Add a Comment
2. One Last Gift . . . FREE June 15-16, 2012

Don't miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! One Last Gift will be available for FREE at Amazon's Kindle for two days only. June 15-16, 2012.



If you don't have a Kindle, don't worry. You can get a Kindle App for your smart phone, iPad or computer. 

Please SHARE this information with all your family and friends.

Click here to go to One Last Gift on Amazon.com

Circle your calendars, it's only a week away!

One Last Gift, first book in the Gift Series: Kayla Dawn Allen gave up religion ten years ago to pursue a lifestyle completely foreign to her upbringing. When she receives a disturbing telephone call from her father, Mont, she reluctantly leaves her fiancé, her sailboat, and her challenging career in San Diego, and hastens to her childhood home high in the Uintah Mountains. Her return stirs up questions from her past she thought she'd buried years before: Why does Mont tenaciously cling to his faith, regardless of his daughter's denouncement of it? Isn't God just a crutch people use when they don't understand science? Does her mother really live in the Spirit World, as Mont insists? Kayla conquers one issue after another until she faces the greatest obstacle of her life in a desperate race for survival. Will a tragedy turn Kayla's analytical heart back to God, or will it take a miracle? Can lovely Kayla be rescued from her own scientific disposition, her infatuation with Ed Sparkleman, and even more desperate and dangerous elements in One Last Gift?

You’re going to love all five novels in Sherry Ann Miller’s popular Gift Series, which take you on the individual sojourns of Kayla Dawn Allen and the six men who have influenced her life for good: the Sparkleman boys, Ed, Abbot, Tom and William, who grew up with Kayla on the Bar M Ranch; and the seafaring Clark twins, Joshua (who loves Kayla more than life itself) and Hans (who is always one step behind in finding his soul-mate). Each novel will plunge you into a miraculous, spine-tingling journey about life, love, heartache and triumphant joy. If you’ve a thirst for suck-you-in adventure, drama, action and romance, you’ll want to read all five novels in Sherry Ann’s award-winning Gift Series.


Note: The Gift Series can be read out of sequence without losing continuity, except for The Refiner’s Gift, which should be read last.


3.

Étude, by Melinda R. Morgan, is a promising new novel, the first in a series called The Birthright Legacy. Once I had invested some time into the story, I could not put the book down until I'd read through to the very last word. Spellbinding is not a word I often use to describe a novel, but Étude is good enough to deserve the word.

Based on the premise of "immortals among us," Étude weaves its story around Elizabeth Anne Arrington (Beth), an intelligent young woman in her last year of high school, who had to skip her senior year in California due to an auto accident (with mysterious undertones) that destroyed not only her ability to play piano, but her life's dreams, as well. Told in first person, Beth begins her journey on a train to Andersen, Wyoming, where she will live with her Uncle Conner and his new wife as she attends her senior year at high school, yes, a year older than the other seniors there. Her father is abroad, serving with the military's special forces and her mother was killed in the auto accident that maimed Beth's left hand. Beth has not fully come to terms with what happened to her mom, nor has she fully accepted the fact that her left hand is useless to her.

Drawn to a remarkably talented pianist named Jonathan, who has startling secrets of his own, Beth soon begins to have feelings for him that she hadn't expected to find in Andersen, Wyoming. From that point on, the story deepens and swells with action, adventure and mystery. Forces beyond Beth's understanding are at work in Andersen, and she is terrified and confused by the startling series of events that make her doubt everything about the accident that happened in California and the terror that followed her to Wyoming.

This is one novel I couldn't put down, even though I wanted to cover my eyes and only peep at it a few times. At the conclusion, I was ready to scream, "Isn't the next one out yet?"

Melinda R. Morgan has a way with visual imagery that most authors only dream about. I could see, feel, taste and hear every last terrifying note played out in her remarkable novel, Étude.

Would I recommend Étude to others? After my glowing review, you need to ask?

1 Comments on , last added: 6/4/2012
Display Comments Add a Comment
4. Victoria's Lullaby - - Now available on Kindle

Victoria’s Lullaby is a balance of light-hearted drama in a delightful time-travel, comedy-romance. Don’t miss the fun as Victoria travels from 1893 to the twenty-first Century, dramatically impacting the life and heart of Ian McClary and his family.



Here's a condensed version of excerpts from the first chapter:

In the year 1893, after reading a passage from Pinkerton’s Book of Enchantments, a great rushing wind surrounded Victoria Langford as she forced her hands to clutch the skirts of her velvet dress, holding them down so as not to expose her pantaloons.


Her lovely hat and parasol blew away and she had the distinct impression they had arrived out of thin air into an older woman’s bedchamber, frightening the woman into a complete faint.


Victoria’s long, flame-red hair came loose from its pins and swept about her face, blocking her vision as it wrapped around her head. She would not abandon her grip upon the lifting skirts of her dress to repair the disheveled damage to her hairstyle when she was whisked forward in time within the whirling vortex of a tornado.


At the exact same time of day, yet more than a century later, the architect, Ian McClary, poked his head around the bedroom doorframe to see what had caught his young brother, Charlie’s, attention. Ian’s mouth dropped open and he watched in wide-eyed wonder as a small tornado seemed to fill the center of the spacious room, growing in size until it was about five feet tall and had the color of a dark, green forest.

Charlie squealed in delight and jumped up and down upon the bed, his arms waving Pinkerton’s Book of Enchantments around like a flying fish trying to escape the restless sea. “It’s working! Ian, it’s working!”

When the whirlwind dissipated, a woman wearing a floor-length, velvet gown, complete with bustle, appeared out of nowhere. She was bent over, her thin arms and hands holding the green folds of the dress down, the fabric still trying to blow away from her slender ankles. A small, drawstring handbag dangled from her left wrist. Her long, curly red hair hung disheveled around her face and the look in her emerald eyes was nothing short of absolute astonishment.

“Oh, Charlie,” Ian moaned as he leaned against the door frame. “Now, what have you done?”

You won't want to miss this one. Here's the link to the Amazon Kindle edition of Victoria's Lullaby:

0 Comments on Victoria's Lullaby - - Now available on Kindle as of 4/10/2012 1:27:00 PM
Add a Comment
5. Kindle Editions Now Available, including Sariah's Back Door

How happy I am to announce the arrival of my novels and novellas on Kindle, including my new novel, Sariah's Back Door:

When Sariah Brown, a woman with a secret past, finds a skeleton buried in her back yard, she calls upon Dr. Reuben Sands, a renowned archaeologist, to help her unearth it. While Sariah makes contact with a young Native American from the 1500's, she must also determine what her mission is regarding him. As she prepares to begin another journey to ancient America, one question haunts her: Will Reuben join her?

Lured into a web of mystery and danger, Reuben’s heart is torn between his attraction to Sariah and his logic for the laws of nature. Entangled in matters that defy science and sanity, Reuben must learn the truth about Sariah’s Back Door, or die trying. His discovery throws all his previous beliefs into an unfathomable abyss, leaving him shaken to the core. What he does with this newfound knowledge will impact his life in ways he never imagined possible, if only he has the courage to believe . . . .

Sariah’s Back Door is a compelling, inspirational, time-travel mystery-romance.

All of my other novels, written prior to 2008, are also available on Kindle.
Be sure to look for:

One Last Gift, first book in the Gift Series: Kayla Dawn Allen gave up religion ten years ago to pursue a lifestyle completely foreign to her upbringing. When she receives a disturbing telephone call from her father, Mont, she reluctantly leaves her fiancé, her sailboat, and her challenging career in San Diego, and hastens to her childhood home high in the Uintah Mountains. Her return stirs up questions from her past she thought she'd buried years before: Why does Mont tenaciously cling to his faith, regardless of his daughter's denouncement of it? Isn't God just a crutch people use when they don't understand science? Does her mother really live in the Spirit World, as Mont insists? Kayla conquers one issue after another until she faces the greatest obstacle of her life in a desperate race for survival. Will a tragedy turn Kayla's analytical heart back to God, or will it take a miracle? Can lovely Kayla be rescued from her own scientific disposition, her infatuation with Ed Sparkleman, and even more desperate and dangerous elements in One Last Gift? At the supremely satisfying conclusion, you will be left with the question, “What about Ed?”

An Angel’s Gift second book in the Gift Series: Ed Sparkleman meets his match when Alyssa drops in on the Bar M Ranch (literally!) and disrupts his life forever. As ranch foreman, Ed is responsible for keeping his men in order, but with Alyssa around, all the ranch hands begin to act oddly out of character, especially Ed. Is Alyssa truly An Angel’s Gift sent straight to him from heaven? If so, what about his brother, Abbot?

The Tyee’s Gift third book in the Gift Series: Set in the picturesque Pacific Northwest, adventure meets Abbot Sparkleman when he discovers the greatest archaeological site of the century and falls in love with the beautiful and mysterious Bekah. The Tyee’s Gift will bring tears of laughter, joy and heartache while Abbot learns where much is given, much is required.

Charity’s Gift fourth book in the Gift Series: When Hans comes face to face with a ferocious shark, it strikes less fear than vivacious and attractive Charity, who throws his heart into a spiraling nose-dive deep in the Pacific Ocean. The only way he can salvage their crumbling romance is to find her missing father, who's been absent from Charity's life for almost twenty-five years. Charity's Gift will touch your heart forever.

The Refiner’s Gift: the fifth and final novel in the Gift Series, should be read last in

0 Comments on Kindle Editions Now Available, including Sariah's Back Door as of 1/1/1900
Add a Comment
6. The Price of Gold by Alison Palmer

Alison Palmer has a knack for pulling a reader into a story and keeping their interest all the way through to the very last sentence. The Price of Gold is such a novel, and it kept me going page after page. Admittedly, I know very little of Egyptian mythology, but learned a great deal while reading The Price of Gold.

An engaging story of two teenagers, Cassie and Met, I felt drawn into Cassie's life more than I had anticipated. She is a very sympathetic character and one I wanted to understand better. Her ingenious way of staying alive, surviving against all odds, made her a loveable person, almost real . . . to me. I ached with Cassie, felt hunger with Cassie, and craved someone to care about me, as Cassie does throughout the story.

Met, the dominant male in The Price of Gold, is the descendant of the ancient Pharoahs and a fascinating example of an Egyptian legend in the flesh. His ability to change from human to bird form I found completely absorbed by, and his interest in Cassie, while bordering on stalking in the beginning, soon revealed something far more worthwhile . . . a budding romance and an eternal compassion for a beautiful girl who wanted nothing more than to be loved and respected, which Met does admirably.

While their relationship starts out a little rocky, mostly because Cassie doesn't seem to trust anyone (understandably so), it soon grows much stronger and steadier, until Cassie discovers Met's secret quite accidentally. Then, she is thrown into a nose dive, and is torn between wanting Met in her life and knowing she doesn't belong in his.

An intriguing tale from start to finish, I read the entire book twice before writing the review and found it equally as fascinating the second time through. Alison's strengths lie in POV, visualization and her keen ability to keep the reader's attention page after page.

While I enjoyed The Price of Gold, it has one serious flaw: it was not well-edited. There were numerous typo errors, which stopped the flow of the story, a problem which Alison will, hopefully, correct with future issues.

3 Comments on The Price of Gold by Alison Palmer, last added: 10/16/2011
Display Comments Add a Comment
7. All That Was Promised, by Vickie Hall

All That Was Promised by Vickie Hall brought me quickly through its front page to 1847 in Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales. I was immediately interested in this LDS novel because my grandparents were from Llantrisant, Glamorgan, Wales. The backdrop has always fascinated me, which only added to my being "hooked" by Vickie's engrossing tale of conversion and persecution in and around Cardiff. Vickie weaves a beautiful story of love and betrayal within the pages of her book, along with backstory from the point of view of many of her characters. The reader empathizes with the Latter Day Saints plight, struggles as they struggle, rejoices as they rejoice, fear as they fear . . . .

Not only does Vickie have the ability to catch my interest, but she kept that interest in the engaging tale in All That Was Promised. I found danger, humor, concern, anger, laughter, compassion and a multitude of other feelings as she captivated me at each new turn in the road.

Richard and Leah Kenyon are the main characters: a young Methodist minister and his wife, who had already known disappointment and bereavement in the loss of their unborn children. It seemed as though the very gates of hell had opened up its wide mouth to consume them, yet they came through the Refiner's fire with conviction and spirit.

Add to the Kenyon's fiery storms a deranged brother (and his evil wife), a niece caught up in a terrible drama, a missionary whose family suffers tragedy of their own, a barmaid who ultimately cleaves unto the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, a deluded murderer who would kill all "Mormons" if given the opportunity, and you have All That Was Promised . . . an engaging story that doesn't let you up from its absorbing pages until the very last word is spilled out.

Would I recommend the book to others? Yes, it was a tale that needed to be told . . . in a beautiful country, the county of my own ancestors.

That said, please be aware that the book is seriously flawed with a multitude of POV changes within each scene, something its editor(s) should have pounced on from the very first page.


0 Comments on All That Was Promised, by Vickie Hall as of 1/1/1900
Add a Comment
8. Chocolate Never Faileth by Annette Lyon

Annette Lyon has outdone herself this time. From the moment her book, Chocolate Never Faileth, arrived in my mailbox, I have spent hours perusing the book and going over the recipes in great detail, including all the lead paragraphs introducing each recipe. Chocolate Never Faileth opens with important notes on non-chocolate ingredients as well as vital information on chocolate, itself. For goodness sakes, don't skip these two sections as they will be well worth your time.

Afterward, Annette dives right into Chocolate Cakes, one of the most daunting experiences (for me). Making a great homemade chocolate cake is something I've never achieved in my half-century of baking experiments. But, Annette makes it sound so easy; she actually starts this section with Devil's Food Cake and moves on from there to Chocolate Oatmeal Cake, then Cockeyed Cake, which is merely dumping all the ingredients into the baking pan and mixing it well with a fork before baking it (I'm sure I can make this one as it seems so simple a child could easily do it. Just wait until you reach Annette's Hot Fudge Cake (ooh, sounds so yummy!). She doesn't skip out on cheesecake, either, which is a true classic. The 3-Minute Microwave Chocolate Cake, which would be a great holiday gift to give with cute Christmas Mugs (microwave safe, of course), with the dry ingredients already stirred inside, and a little bow with a label that instructs on the wet ingredients to add and the baking/microwave directions.

Don't get me started on the Cookie section in Chocolate Never Faileth, with 14 cookie recipes ranging from delicious Chocolate Chip Cookies to Chocolate Coconut Macaroons, and a dozen more in between. The Brownies, Bars & Other Single-Serving Bliss recipes follows the Cookie Section, and covers Chocoholic Lemon Squares, Gooey Turtle Brownies, and several more heavenly bar recipes that sound so simple to throw together, I know even I can make them.

Annette's directions are clear and precise and the side notes are laugh-out-loud funny, such as on page 73, where it says, "Inside some of us is a thin person struggling to get out, but she can usually be sedated with a few pieces of chocolate cake." So true in my case.

The section on Mousses, Pies, Puddings & Stuff in Bowls is yet another chocolate treasure to lick your way through, and assures the reader: "Countless numbers of people have eaten chocolate for breakfast and gone on to lead normal lives." This section contains recipes like Luscious Chocolate Tart, White Chocolate Filling and Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream. Annette offers "Classic Chocolate Mousse in this section and it is positively as yummy as her Easy Chocolate Pudding, which is pretty much foolproof. Chocolate Cherry Cordial Ice Cream is one recipe I plan on trying this summer when we have one of our family get togethers because I've now learned the recipes within the pages of Chocolate Never Faileth are completely trustworthy. And, Annette's pie recipes, of which there are several that tempt me almost too much, including French Silk Pie, are too yummy to even attempt to explain.

Under the heading Snacks & Gifts, Annette gives us a large variety of fudges, including Orange Fudge, and "Symphonic" Peanut Butter Fudge, and of course, the best Perfect Chocolate Milk.

Annette's section on Molded Suckers & Mints will surprise you with the ingenuity and eye-appealing recipes found there, including Cherry Cordial Popcorn, Gourmet Gorp, and Hot Cocoa Mix.

An entire section is devoted to chocolate delights in the form of Pastries, and another for Icings, Toppings & Dips. Annette even includes a section she calls Fancy (But Easy) Bliss, which includes among its many recipes Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries, Chocolate Pizza, and even Chocolate-Dipped Boxes.

The last section, which entirely surprised me, is called Non-Edible Chocolate Bliss, which gives a number of body products such as Body Scrubs, Play Dough, Lip Gloss .

2 Comments on Chocolate Never Faileth by Annette Lyon, last added: 12/17/2010
Display Comments Add a Comment
9. Books by Laurie Alice Eakes

I've been reading Laurie Alice Eakes' novels lately. She writes for Heartsong, and her novels have become rare treasures to my bulging collection.

The first novel of Laurie's that I read was titled, Better Than Gold and tells the story of Lily Reese, who can't wait to escape Browning City, Iowa, for the big city. She can't see the loving family of townspeople around her for the stars in her eyes for something larger and grander. It takes a humble Ben Purcell to teach her to recognize that the grass isn't always greener on the other side of the fence. Included within the pages are the rumors of a long-lost cache of gold somewhere in the building where Ben Purcell resides. The readers will soon find themselves face to face with danger and intrigue . . . which melds beautifully into the romance budding between Ben and Lily. Better Than Gold is set back in the 1870's and each scene is reminiscent of that time frame, for Laurie has done her research well. It is such a delightful story, and one I will always recommend.

Next, I read Laurie's novel, The Glassblower, which I didn't believe (at first) could come close to capturing my attention as eagerly as did Better Than Gold, however, I was pleasantly surprised. From the very first page to the very last, I was engrossed and could scarcely put it down. The story is about Meg Jordan, daughter of the wealthy owner of Jordan Glassworks. Meg dreams of becoming a teacher for the poor, local children in Salem County, New Jersey, and not the wife of Joseph Pyle, whom her father seems set on her marrying. Set in the early 1800's, The Glassblower, also known as Colin Grassick, arrives at Jordan Glassworks from Scotland, where he has mastered the art of blowing glass into intricate and beautiful pieces, and he quickly becomes the lead glassblower for Meg's father. When Meg and Colin first meet, it is apparent that he captures her heart as quickly as she captures his. But Colin will never qualify as suitor to Meg because her father has a much wealthier man, Joseph Pyle, in mind for her. But, Meg's heart is quickly stolen by Colin and she begins to see Joseph Pyle in a much more sinister light than she could have imagined. Mystery, intrigue and an enduring romance are all key elements of The Glassblower and it is another of Laurie's novels I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.

Enter The Heiress, which takes place a few decades later than The Glassblower and I am just now beginning this third novel by Laurie Alice Eakes. With Laurie's two earlier novels under my belt, I'm looking forward to reading The Heiress, with just as much enthusiasm as I did the first two. Somehow, I know I won't be disappointed.

2 Comments on Books by Laurie Alice Eakes, last added: 11/15/2010
Display Comments Add a Comment
10. True Miracles with Genealogy, by Anne Bradshaw

Within moments of the book, True Miracles with Genealogy, arriving at my doorstep, I was lying on my bed reading it. Being an avid family history nut, I found the stories Anne Bradshaw compiled both compelling and inspirational. Of course, two of my own stories are found within the pages, which gave me an extra advantage in wanting to read the others. To my delight, I found all of the other stories drawing me in (although I was quite disappointed when each story ended, as I wanted to read more and more from each author).

My only regret is that the volume wasn't a thousand stories long, as I am sure there are many, many more delightful experiences out there just waiting to be told by others.

Anne has a real knack for gathering and compiling stories that touch the heart and enlighten the mind, and True Miracles with Genealogy is no exception. I hope Anne compiles another one just like it, only hundreds of pages longer. I could read such inspirational stories all day long!

Great work, Anne! Thanks for sharing this remarkable little book with the rest of us.

0 Comments on True Miracles with Genealogy, by Anne Bradshaw as of 1/1/1900
Add a Comment
11. IMPRINTS by Rachel Ann Nunes

I loved the cover for Rachel Ann Nunes new book, Imprints, and quickly found myself unwilling to put it aside for very long. It is a fascinating read and a great novel.

Quoting from the back cover: A young woman is missing. In desperation, her parents turn to Autumn Rain for help. Autumn reads imprints -- emotions mysteriously left behind on certain treasured objects. But will this ability enrich her life or destroy it?

The first two paragraphs caught my attention and the rest of the story kept it. I felt myself drawn to Autumn Rain, a remarkably kind woman with an ability to see the past through objects she touches. Autumn's adventures begin to unravel when she follows her instincts and joins a group she believes has brainwashed two women and is, perhaps, holding them captive against their will. Of course, she hopes to free the women, but how can she fight against the evil Dar and his mob?

Earlier, Jake entered her life. Jake is an uncommonly caring man whose devotion to Autumn is apparent from the very beginning. But, there's also Ethan, for whom Autumn feels a strange and exciting attachment. Will either man be "the one" to make her fall in love, or are both just toying with her emotions?

The chapter endings scream at the reader to "hurry and turn the page," as though the book has imprinted on us and we are lured into the story and absorbed by it. Even with the surprise twist at the ending, Imprints holds the reader to the page much like the spider lures the fly, until we have no choice but to be startled just when everything seems safe and sane again.

Imprints is one book you won't want to start late at night because you won't want to put it down until the very last word. Even then, you'll want to go back for a second read because the story has so many twists and turns that leave the reader breathless.

Two thumbs up for Imprints! Rachel is to be applauded for this truly captivating story.

0 Comments on IMPRINTS by Rachel Ann Nunes as of 1/1/1900
Add a Comment
12. Hanging by The Thread by Donald B. Anderson

Hanging by The Thread is the kind of novel you want to start early in the day because it will suck you in and keep your interest until you've turned the very last page. It begins with a presidential assassination and leads you through a series of bombings and potential bombings by a secret organization (calling itself The Thread) hiding amongst numerous government agencies. When an innocent young man finds a lost document that outlines The Thread's plans to blow up the state capitol building, he turns to his uncle, an FBI agent, to help him overthrow the plot and restore peace to the USA.

Donald B. Anderson's fast-paced novel is both intriguing and interesting. With numerous twists and turns, the reader is left guessing how the story will ever turn out when lives are in danger and the government is truly hanging by a thread. At the conclusion of the novel are a series of lectures on economics by one of the characters in the novel, giving a rich background into just how gullible we've really become and how easy it would be for such a group as The Thread to infiltrate our ranks.

Hanging by The Thread is one novel I heartily recommend to my readers.

0 Comments on Hanging by The Thread by Donald B. Anderson as of 1/1/1900
Add a Comment
13. Chesapeake Weddings by Cecelia Dowdy

Chesapeake Weddings contains three novellas under one cover. Written by Cecelia Dowdy, there are three stories within the pages:

1. John's Quest, the endearing tale of Monica Crawford, who becomes the guardian of her sister's blind son, Scotty, when the mother abandons him unexpectedly. The heartaches and concerns Monica feels for the child are tender and empathic, and are only enhanced when John French arrives on the scene to tutor Scotty, who is woefully behind in academics due to his biological mother's neglect. Monica can't quite decide whether or not to trust John French, but as they learn to know one another, her fears are put aside and she allows herself to fall in love. Does he learn to love her back? Well, I'm not going to spoil the story for you here. But, do read it.

2. Milk Money begins when Emily Cooper meets Franklin Reese. She is elbow-deep in the birthing process of one of her favorite cows. Not recognizing Frank as the accountant sent to audit the farm's books, she puts him straight to work helping her with the complicated birth. What ensues is a down-home romance that will kindle warm hope in any reader's heart. Complicated sub-plots regarding Emily's step-mother and two step-sisters only adds drama to the measure, so it's sure to be a story you won't soon forget.

3. Bittersweet Memories are all that Karen Brown has left. Karen, a character first introduced in John's Quest, returns home to live with her mother because her fiancee has disappeared, along with his "other" girl friend and a small fortune stolen from the church's treasury. She arrives at her mom's heart-broken and distrustful of men in general. Instead of her mother, Karen finds Keith Baxter, her mother's next-door-neighbor, working on the kitchen plumbing. Karen is a little snappy with him, but soon apologizes and a friendship ensues. But, can the friendship ever become romantic when Keith has sworn off marriage and is still unhappy with his brother, and Karen doesn't know how to trust another man in her life, especially one whom her mother has apparently told "everything", leaving Karen with very little to share with him in the way of conversation. This story has its own twists and turns, but the reader will be surprised and pleased at the outcome.

All three novellas are Christian-oriented and, while not being preachy, they present a way of living that coincides with Bible-centered study. Cecelia Dowdy has woven into her characters their flaws and failings, then allows them to lift themselves out of the rubble and begin anew along a Christ-like path. At the conclusion of Chesapeake Weddings, the reader is asked to choose a favorite between the three novellas, and mine is Bittersweet Memories, though it was difficult to decide. I like the obstacles both main characters overcame in the story and I liked the family dynamics, as well.

2 Comments on Chesapeake Weddings by Cecelia Dowdy, last added: 5/28/2010
Display Comments Add a Comment
14. Summer in Paris, by Michele Ashman Bell

Having sailed many a summer aboard the Shoosey-Q, I was particularly interested in reading Summer in Paris . . . Paris, Idaho, that is. . . a charming town just north of Bear Lake, which sits on the Utah/Idaho border and is claimed by both states. Michele Ashman Bell captured the town delightfully in her story about Kenzie Williams, who is sent to Paris to live with an aunt, uncle and two cousins while her parents go through some financial and marital difficulties.

At the opening, Kenzie is portrayed as a "spoiled rich girl" from New York City, whose summer in Paris, Idaho, teaches her about a whole new world previously unknown to her. For instance, she had no idea how shallow her friendships were back in the city, where she was accustomed to chauffeurs and unlimited credit cards. While spending the summer in Paris, Idaho, Kenzie discovers that true friends are treasured people who actually care about her.

In Paris, Kenzie learns the value of work as she tends her aunt's garden and does odd chores around the house. Amazingly, Kenzie is surprised that soiled laundry doesn't automatically appear cleaned and restocked in her dresser drawer every day, like it did back home.

But, there's also a mystery within the pages of Summer in Paris, and romance. Being the kind of reader who likes to guess who the criminal is, I found myself entirely surprised at the outcome, and thoroughly satisfied with the conclusion. And, being a hopeless romantic, I couldn't help hoping for a certain someone to come through for Kenzie.

Mystery and romance aside, I was also pleased with Kenzie's determination to fulfill her dreams . . . dreams that started in New York and are realized in Paris.

If you enjoy laughter, fun, friendships, love and intrigue, Summer in Paris is the book to read this summer.

3 Comments on Summer in Paris, by Michele Ashman Bell, last added: 5/13/2010
Display Comments Add a Comment
15. LATEX Allergy Awareness

Snowball commented on my not posting in a while. To be truthful, I've been a little irate. I received a comment to my last posting, "STOP! Don't EAT that LATEX!" and it upset me for a while. Dr. E. Yip wrote to criticize my stand on latex use in the food service industry. I pondered Dr. Yip's criticisms quite seriously (as I always do). Then, I googled Dr. E. Yip and found that I needn't have bothered. Here is a general idea of the criticisms and my responses:

1. Dr. Yip stated: "[latex allergy] Prevalence in the general population is only about 1% and less, although it is somewhat higher among the healthcare workers . . . "

Miller's response: As of April 7, 2010, the US population is estimated at over 309 million people. According to Dr. Yip's statement, over 3 million people in the USA have latex allergy. I don't call this a small percentage, even at "only about 1%." In the healthcare profession, the percentage is much higher (more than double that amount would be much higher). Washington State gives the prevalence of latex allergy in the health care profession as high as 8%. The states that make up our country give varying ranges of prevalence, from 3% to 10% among healthcare workers. I do not know if there has ever been a study showing how many food service workers have developed latex allergy due to latex glove exposure, but I am reasonably certain it would be nearly equivalent to that of healthcare workers. At any rate, three million people in the USA with latex allergy is three million too many.

2. Dr. Yip stated: "Latex allergy is due to repeated exposure to an older generation of latex gloves with high levels of residual proteins, particularly in the late 1980s and 1990s in particularly the healthcare setting. Today's low-protein gloves have drastically reduced the glove's protein content, and many hospital studies have in fact shown the use of such improved gloves has markedly reduced the incidences of allergy in work places . . . "

Miller's response: Latex allergy is due to repeated exposure to latex, regardless of whether the latex is found in gloves, or on food or in the air. As stated in my earlier blog, I did not get latex allergy from my work in the health care industry, nor from wearing latex gloves with high levels of residual proteins. I was never a doctor nor a registered nurse. My exposure is unexplained by Dr. Yip's statement. To markedly reduce the incidence of latex allergy in the work place would be to slash it in half . . . great job, now only half as many are developing latex allergy. The point is, latex allergy is STILL developing in people who are exposed to latex on a daily basis. But, look at this from another point of view: If you were allergic to peanuts and Dr. Yip stated that "today's low-protein peanut butter has drastically reduced the peanut butter's protein content," would you would go ahead and eat peanut butter . . . or let your child eat peanut butter, if your child were allergic to peanuts? Of course not.

Oh, yes! I forgot to mention that Dr. Yip is associated with MREPC, which stands for the Malaysian Rubber Export Promotion Council. Dr. Yip has a vested interest in promoting that everyone is safe eating food prepared with low-protein latex gloves.

3. Dr. Yip stated: "As for food service gloves, there is insufficient scientific and clinical evidence to show that handling food with latex gloves could elicit allergy reactions in consumers through food ingestion -- a conclusion of the public meeting held to examine this issue by a panel of experts of the U.S. Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition of the FDA in August 2003. It was also commented that the ban of latex gloves in food handling in the three states, Rhode Island, Arizona and Oregon, was not science-based.
According to the FDA, although self-reported cases of food-mediated latex allergies received earlier from consumers, they were not clinically verified through medical records and

4 Comments on LATEX Allergy Awareness, last added: 4/9/2010
Display Comments Add a Comment
16. STOP! Don't EAT that LATEX!

For years I have fought the battle of latex allergy. The medical professionals say up to 10% of the US population who wear latex on a regular basis may develop this devastating affliction.

What astounds me most is how naive many of the food service establishments still are when it comes to latex allergy. Hospitals nationwide have switched to a safer form of glove use to protect themselves and patients, and it is now rare to find a hospital using latex on a daily basis. But, the food service industry still acts much like an ostrich with its head in the proverbial sand (if they don't see the widespread reach of latex allergy, they won't be affected. Hmmpf!).

Yet, I didn't get latex allergy because I worked in the health-care industry. I was never an RN or a doctor, nor did I ever wear latex gloves on my hands on a regular basis (which is how most people believe latex allergy develops).

For some people, the exposure comes from partaking of latex on a regular basis, which is what happens whenever you eat at a restaurant, cafe or bistro where the workers wear latex gloves on their hands. I've had latex allergy for over 20 years. I don't need a scientific researcher to tell me that when latex touches my food, particles of latex can transfer onto the food. It's called cross-contamination. The anaphylaxis I've had eight times told me that much. Now, I avoid latex like a plague.

My plea to you is this: STOP! Don't EAT that LATEX! Don't risk developing latex allergy yourself because you are ingesting latex every time you eat in a food service establishment where the workers wear latex gloves when they prepare the food. Up to 10% of you (that's 1 in every 10 people) may develop latex allergy because of it!

STOP! Ask the restaurant, cafe, diner, bistro (etc.) where you plan to eat whether or not they wear latex gloves when they prepare their food. If the answer is yes, tell them why you won't eat there, then DON'T eat there! If enough of us adopt a latex-free attitude, fewer of us will develop latex allergy. And, soon more food service establishments will switch from latex to latex-FREE! In my opinion, going latex-free is every bit as important as going green, perhaps moreso because it just may save your life.

In the USA, there are states that regulate latex use in the food service industry. Many states recommend a safer alternative, some states have initiated a Latex Awareness Program, but Oregon has adopted the strictest ban against latex use in the food service industry to date. I have traveled the USA extensively and have found many states are woefully unaware of their potential for causing latex allergy events. Washington State, where I live, unfortunately has made little effort to protect employees or consumers from latex exposure (nor have several other states). Even NIOSH recommends a safer alternative in the food service industry than latex.

Unfortunately, many do not heed the warnings.

However, some do. I walked into a grocery store in Maine a few years back and asked if the meat department wore latex gloves when handling their meat. I was told, "Are you kidding? Latex kills people." Bravo!

Many food chains provide latex-free gloves for their employees, some of these include Applebees, Dennys, Red Lobster, Olive Garden, McDonald's, Burger King, etc. Also, many food manufacturing firms (perhaps 70%) wear a safer alternative than latex. So, the word is spreading . . . but not fast enough.

Now, it's up to the consumer. When people refuse to eat where latex gloves are used, restaurateurs will soon get the message and switch to something safer. I hope they do so before many are sued. There have been employees who developed latex allergy because an uninformed employer provided latex gloves on a regular basis. Some of these lawsuits have granted extraordinarily high compensation to the employees who sued.

Remember, as many as one in every ten people may devel

0 Comments on STOP! Don't EAT that LATEX! as of 1/1/1900
Add a Comment
17. The Pizza Gang/Facing the Witch by Maureen Hume

Joe, Ben and Katie debut in Maureen Hume's children's novel, The Pizza Gang/Facing the Witch, and are a delightful trio attempting to solve the mystery of a long, lost hat and a love letter that went astray more than fifty years ago. Finding the sender is the first mystery, but the intended recipient is even more tricky. A delightful tale for ages eight to twelve, The Pizza Gang, first in a series of stories for pre-teens, contains all the concerns and humor inherent to the age, and Maureen Hume does an excellent job of bringing the children together. I will highly recommend this engaging tale to my pre-teen grandchildren and others of their age group.

2 Comments on The Pizza Gang/Facing the Witch by Maureen Hume, last added: 2/9/2010
Display Comments Add a Comment
18. The Country House Courtship by Linore Rose Burkard

A truly enjoyable read, The Country House Courtship, third in Linore Rose Burkard's "Inspirational Romances for the Jane Austen Soul" shines through all the twists and turns in the road for Ariana Mornay's sister, Beatrice Forsythe, who considers setting her cap toward Mr. Tristan Barton, a deceitful and despicable scoundrel, unless she is allowed to go to London to find a suitable gentleman of good breeding and fortune.

However, five years earlier, Beatrice had promised Peter O'Brian she would marry him, but she was young then, too young to know what she was really promising. And Peter, who had disgraced himself in the second book in the series, The House in Grosvenor Square, has changed from the selfish, improper man he used to be, and is now a gentle, kind, understanding curate with a Christ-like love for mankind, living on a very meager salary. Peter's financial stability (including his ability to marry and raise a family) now depends almost entirely upon Ariana's husband, Phillip Mornay's, generosity. Phillip is not known for his ability to forgive, and Peter's behavior in book two prevents Phillip from trusting Peter completely.

When Ariana becomes gravely ill with a contagious fever, Beatrice sees Tristan Barton in his true light, and wonders in amazement at Peter O'Brian's compassion and empathy. But, will Barton allow a mere clergyman to marry the woman he already has designs upon? What follows is a romance worthy of its billing, a tuly inspirational romance for the Jane Austen soul.

Well done, Linore! I may have to read this once twice!

0 Comments on The Country House Courtship by Linore Rose Burkard as of 1/1/1900
Add a Comment
19. The House in Grosvenor Square by Linore Rose Burkard

Ariana's romance continues in Linore Rose Burkard's book, House in Grosvenor Square, but this time the elements of mystery and kidnapping are included. Billed as "Inspirational Romance for the Jane Austen Soul," it missed the mark as a true romance novel, as Ariana is already engaged at the opening and happily married at the close, it does make room for lots of mystery and intrigue in between. One has to wonder, however, how many times one woman should be the victim of attempted and actual kidnapping in one novel, and this issue is stretched a little too far. The story did capture my attention and held me there through to the end. While I liked the story, I was very much annoyed at the head-hopping within the book, although Jane Austen did quite a bit of this herself. Abrupt point of view (POV) changes were quite irritating at times, and in one paragraph I counted four POV changes, which made the story a little difficult to follow. While Jane Austen may have been able to pull this off in the Regency era, for our modern writing it would have been better had the POV changes been confined to scene changes. That said, I felt the story a likeable one; I have and do recommend it to others. And, I will continue to read Linore Rose Burkard as I believe she has real talent in crafting Regency era novels.

0 Comments on The House in Grosvenor Square by Linore Rose Burkard as of 1/1/1900
Add a Comment
20. Before the Season Ends, by Linore Rose Burkard

Before the Season Ends, by Linore Rose Burkard, was given to me as a Christmas gift this year (along with its sequel, The House in Grosvenor Square) and I spent most of Christmas Day and half of the next day reading it. I couldn't put it down at any point. It's being billed as "Inspirational Romance for the Jane Austen Soul" which made me particularly intrigued, as I love both the Victorian and Regency Time Periods (Jane Austen is one of my favorite authors), and Inspirational Romance is often what I write.

Before the Season Ends begins with Ariana Forsythe's family sending her to London to escape a suitor they consider unsuitable (for good reason), hoping some culture (museums, theatres, the ballet) will help round out Ariana's education and take her mind off her suitor. But, her aunt (and now her chaperone and guardian in London), Agatha Bentley, has another idea: marrying Ariana off to a rich and elegant bachelor of the highest rank. When Ariana first hears of Phillip Mornay, she decides he is perhaps the least likely candidate for a husband because he is ill-tempered and too rich to associate with anyone beneath his own station, besides being incredibly handsome. However, Before the Season Ends, Aunt Bentley is determined to make the match possible. What ensues can be scandalous, comical and laugh-out-loud delightful, especially considering Ariana, while endowed with the ability to be graceful and charming, has a tendency to let her temper flare and her outdoor manners run wild.

One of the important facets of Before the Season Ends is Ariana's devotion to God, and the role He plays in her every day life. Of course, she wants her future husband to feel as close to God as she does, but Phillip Mornay is not known for any pious inclinations, which makes his suitability, in her eyes, impossible.

If you have any leanings toward Jane Austen, the Regency Era, or just plain fun reading, you've got to read Linore Rose Burkard's book. I thoroughly enjoyed Before the Season Ends, and recommend it heartily. Thanks, Linore, for a joyful and captivating read!



0 Comments on Before the Season Ends, by Linore Rose Burkard as of 1/1/1900
Add a Comment
21. Thoughts on Christmas

As I prepare to celebrate the holiday season with my sweet husband, I am reminded of one particular Christmas more than 2000 years ago when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. What a day it must have been for Mary and Joseph! What a choice experience to parent the Christ Child! Who could have guessed that from such humble beginnings as His birth in a lowly stable amongst the animals we would receive the greatest exemplar ever to walk upon the earth?

Jesus was more than a mere man, he was a promoter of peace, compassion, empathy, divine power and humility. He taught hope, peace and kindness to all mankind; He was a shield and a protector of our own everlasting happiness; He promised us eternal joy if we would but follow Him. He counseled us, "Fear not."

In today's world of commercialized Christmas, of disbelief in the Savior of the world, and the notion that keeping Christ in Christmas is a politically incorrect idea, perhaps it is time to step back and assess the impact Jesus Christ has had upon our own lives. He has taught us it is better to forgive than to harbor ill will, better to give than receive, better to choose kindness and patience than to allow anger into our hearts, better to look after those around us, to help and protect those less fortunate than us, and to walk in righteous pathways.

The Christ is so powerful and dynamic that mankind has even gauged time around His humble birth in Bethlehem. The sun rises and sets under His command, the stars sparkle, the moon shines, the tides ebb in and out, the earth orbits, the animals and plants obey . . . all Heaven dashes about in answer to His command.

If time, space and all forms of matter respond so eagerly to his beck and call, why is it only humans who disobey or deny Him? We would be nothing if not for the Savior's power and His eternal plan for us.

As for my part, I will declare to the world that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the Living God, and it is right that we should celebrate the birth of such an exemplar as the Savior was and is and remains forever. Joyfully, I would sing with the angels in Heaven, "Joy to the world! The Lord is come!"

I pray each of you will have a Merry Christmas, and remember the true reason for the season.

2 Comments on Thoughts on Christmas, last added: 12/22/2009
Display Comments Add a Comment
22. The Journey by J. Adams

When Ciran, princess of Krisandor, is sent from her father's kingdom to Havenwood, her journey begins and her faith is tested. I was instantly reminded of the pre-existence and our own journey here on earth. Quick to point out during Ciran's sojourn that each choice has a consequence attached to it, the analogy to earth life is poignantly detailed in Jewel Adams book, The Journey. The battle is being waged in every life, and each person is accountable for his or her choices . . . so The Journey teaches. This tale of love and loss, flattery and deceit, is as endless as time, itself. There will always be trials that lead us to choose either good or evil, but Ciran's story will touch you in ways that will make you want to choose wisely. The Journey is an interesting, absorbing read and one you might enjoy, too.

1 Comments on The Journey by J. Adams, last added: 12/3/2009
Display Comments Add a Comment
23. Santa Maybe by Aubrey Mace

I should have known from the very beginning. I mean, what reader gets taken in so easily? Oops! It was me. I have to confess that Santa Maybe by Aubrey Mace, sucked me in too quickly, left me laughing too long, and that I should have known from the very first sentence that I was destined to thoroughly enjoy Santa Maybe. After all, how many books begin by explaining, ". . . I fell in love like most people change their socks." Every day? I asked myself. Yet Aubrey manages to explain it all so deliciously (pun intended -- my only regret was the recipes were missing).

Who would expect Santa to actually leave a man under the Christmas tree for Abbie, even when she asked for one? Abbie's situations are just too funny! And, Ben's reason for being under Abbie's Christmas tree . . . almost unbelieveable until the twist, then totally understandable, and all the while endearingly comical.

If you want a really good bout of the chuckles this holiday season, you won't miss reading Santa Maybe. Oh! And, if you're single, you might think of sending Santa your letter, asking him for a man for your Christmas present. You never know what might happen if you do! After all, it happened to Abbie.

Santa Maybe is one Christmas story you won't want to miss! Enjoy!

0 Comments on Santa Maybe by Aubrey Mace as of 1/1/1900
Add a Comment
24. Shudder by Jennie Hansen

Tackling the often hidden issue of spouse abuse, Jennie Hansen shines in her latest novel, Shudder. When two young women, Darcy and Clare, are separated by the devious manipulation of Clare's fiance, Blaine, it seems their lifelong friendship comes to an abrupt end. But, Darcy is devoted to Clare and becomes her lifeline in a relationship that answers the age-old question, "Who can say where love will be found?" In addition to Darcy's concern for Clare, she is unknowingly thrown into an intricately woven web of fear and danger . . . a rippling effect put into play by the skillfully controlling Blaine. If it were not for David's entrance (the romantic interest) into her life, Darcy might have been maimed or killed several times over. This is one story that kept me on the edge of my seat all the way through. Regardless of the subject content and the many twists of plot involved, Jennie Hansen holds true to the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in her engrossing story Shudder. I would heartily recommend Shudder to teens and adults alike. Enjoy!

0 Comments on Shudder by Jennie Hansen as of 1/1/1900
Add a Comment
25. My Tribute To My Brother, Al

On Saturday, October 31st, my brother, Al, was told it would be a miracle if he survives another week. He is in end-stage leukemia, in the blast-stage with complete organ failure. Since he is my second youngest brother, it is especially difficult to see him suffer so. It's hard to understand why someone so young and with a family yet to raise, whose always taken care of his health, was a persistent runner, who never drank or smoked, should be struck down in his prime. I can only console myself in this knowledge: God knows better than I do and His purposes are divine. He, alone, knows the end from the beginning and someday I shall understand all that I have not understood today.

There is great comfort in the knowledge that I know where Al is going, and that place is so much more wonderful than earth life that if we could only see it for ourselves, we would all want to go there. When Al goes "home", he will be with our parents, who've been gone over a dozen years (Dad) and over twenty-two years (Mama). He'll be with our sister, who left the earth in June 1951, almost nine years before Al was ever born. He doesn't remember her, but I do, and I am somewhat envious that he will soon be able to laugh and play with her, and walk in the circle of our parents' arms once again.

If people only knew how real life is beyond the grave, they would have no fear of it. If they only understood that "Families Are Forever" is not just a saying, but a fact of the living and human experience. God loves us, so he gave us family with whom we could share not only mortal life, but time and all eternity. This I know and will testify to forever.

The only reason why we mourn is for our own loss, and the loss to those we love so very much. We shall all miss Al when he is gone, sometimes beyond all reason and sense. And yet, he shall not be completely away from us. When the Lord sees that we have need of him, he will be allowed to come back to visit us, to watch over us.

Sometimes, I have felt closer to people once they have passed than I ever did when they were here. I believe this occurs because the veil that separates earth life from the life beyond the grave is so very thin . . . more thin than we realize. And, there are moments when we will sense and know that our loved ones are very near us.

I had the promise in a blessing that my ancestors would watch over me from beyond the grave at a time when I needed it more than any other time. One morning, during this critical period, I awakened to find my parents' spirits standing in my room near the foot of my bed. I sat up and said, "Dad! Mom! What are you doing here?" Dad gave me the big, broad smile that I love and is his alone as he said, "Oh, you know, the changing of the guard." As my parents vanished from before my eyes, it was then that I understood Dad had been in charge of arranging for my ancestors to "watch over me from beyond the grave." It was his sacred duty and he was fulfilling it admirably.

Al, too, will be given his own sacred duties when he leaves us mortals here. And, like Dad, he will be ever mindful of his obligations. It has always been the desire of Al's heart to serve God and follow His plan for us. That will not change when Al's spirit leaves his body behind him. He will still be Al, beloved brother, husband and father. He will just be living in an immortal state, ever willing and ready to serve wherever he is most needed.

I may not understand God's purposes today, but I see that I will understand with time.

My beloved brother, Al, I love you with all my heart. I ache for you. I would pass through this trial for you if I could. But know this, I shall be with you once again when it is my turn to join our Heavenly Family on the other side.

Dear, dear Al. I love you. and I will miss more than words can ever express.

Love,

Shoosey-Q


View Next 9 Posts