My comments: Clipston ended this series of books very sweetly, but not without some anxious moments and feelings of injustice. The very likeable characters of Katie and Seth were matched by the very unlikeable character of Katie’s dad. Most of the way throigh the book, Katie’s mom was unlikeable as well. Katie and Jake faced a real dilemna – one that’s a little difficult to swallow in our Englisch world, but very real I suppose (since I don’t have first hand knowledge) in the Amish world.

It took a little while to fully engage in the book, but once I did, my emotions were on a roller coaster.  I love books that cause me to shed a tear or two.  Some questions were left unanswered, so I’m wondering if another series picking up these story lines is in the works.

Some of the recipes from the bakery are included in the back of the book, which I always appreciate.  They seem simple and tasty – I haven’t tried any yet, but hope to soon.

Amy Clipston writes great books – I highly recommend this series.

Zondervan will release this book the middle of June.  I obtained a free review copy.  Thank you!

One woman, an impossible dream, and the faith it took to see it through.

German immigrant and farm wife Hulda Klager possesses only an eighth-grade education—and a burning desire to create something beautiful. What begins as a hobby to create an easy-peeling apple for her pies becomes Hulda’s driving purpose: a time-consuming interest in plant hybridization that puts her at odds with family and community, as she challenges the early twentieth-century expectations for a simple housewife.

Through the years, seasonal floods continually threaten to erase her Woodland, Washington garden and a series of family tragedies cause even Hulda to question her focus. In a time of practicality, can one person’s simple gifts of beauty make a difference?

Based on the life of Hulda Klager, Where Lilacs Still Bloom is a story of triumph over an impossible dream and the power of a generous heart.

“Beauty matters… it does. God gave us flowers for a reason. Flowers remind us to put away fear, to stop our rushing and running and worrying about this and that, and for a moment, have a piece of paradise right here on earth.”

My Comments:  When I requested this book to review, I thought the synopsis sounded interesting, although I was not too sure about the cover of the book.  Well, don’t let the cover dissuade you.  The book is quite engaging.  In fact, I read this book from cover to cover in two days.  Jane Kirkpatrick wrote this fiction book based on the life of a real person, Hulda Klager.   I love that concept – writing fiction based on a real-life person.  Ms. Klager seemed to have so much energy – I so envy that.  She accomplished quite a bit in her  life.  Her generosity touched me – not sure I could ever be like her, but it would definitely be something to strive for.  Even though Ms. Klager achieved only a formal eighth grade education, she was creative, smart, and a huge risk-taker.  Her husband supported each endeavor and they had a model marriage.  Her life wasn’t always easy.  In fact because she lived at the first half of the 1900′s, life indeed was difficult and women lived a much different type of life.  Women were stifled of their creativity in many ways – expected to work in the home only.  Where Lilacs Still Bloom introduced us to several talented career women.  We saw both men and women interested in gardening and creating new plants.  The descriptions in the book made it possible to visualize Ms. Klager’s garden.  I could smell the lilacs!  This book would be classified as Christian fiction.  If you are interested in historical fiction and love a great story – this is a book for you to read!

I received this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Visit the author’s Web Site:  www.jkbooks.com                        Read the author’s bio:  http://bit.ly/KDL0jQ

Chicken Little may have thought the sky was falling but Peter Pika is sure the glaciers are melting and is off to talk to the Mountain Monarch about it. Joined along the way by friends Tammy Ptarmigan, Sally Squirrel, Mandy Marmot, and Harry Hare, they all wonder what will happen to them if the glaciers melt. Where will they live, how will they survive? When Wiley Wolverine tries to trick them, can the Mountain Monarch save them? More importantly, can the Mountain Monarch stop the glaciers from melting?

4-6 pg For Creative Minds educational section in the back

40-60 pg cross-curricular Teaching Activities and 3 Interactive Quizzes available free on the book’s homepage

eBooks with Auto-Flip, Auto-Read and selectable English and Spanish text and audio

My Comments:  My Southern California second graders and I enjoyed this book as we do all of Sylvan Dell books.  It was somewhat hard for them to relate to since they have little to no experience with cold weather, ice, or glaciers.  Nevertheless, it presented great teaching opportunities.  The illustrations were colorful and realistic.  Illustrations are always one of the most important aspects of a children’s book (especially non-fiction).  While reading the children picked up the “Chicken Little” resemblance of the story.  I knew it was familiar, but they nailed the title of Chicken Little.  This aspect made the story more engaging for the children.  It also made it fun to read. The Accelerated Reading level of this book is 3.6, and the interest level is ages 4-9.  We have yet to find a Sylvan Dell book we dislike!

***CONTEST ALERT! *** The publisher ,Sylvan Dell, would like to give away a copy of this book.  If you leave a one sentence comment sharing one topic you would like to see addressed in a children’s non-fiction book,  you will automatically be entered into the contest to win a copy of this book.  Easy, easy, easy!  The contest will close on May 31, 2012.

A Promise for Miriam, the first book in a brand-new romantic series from popular author Vannetta Chapman, introduces the Amish community of Pebble Creek and some of the kind, caring people there. As they face challenges to their community from the English world, they come together to reach out to their non-Amish neighbors while still preserving their cherished Plain ways.

Amish schoolteacher Miriam King loves her students. At 26, most women her age are married with children of their own, but she hasn’t yet met anyone who can convince her to give up the Plain school that sits along the banks of Pebble Creek. Then newcomer Gabriel Yoder steps into her life, bringing his daughter, an air of mystery, and challenges Miriam has never faced before.

Will Gabe be able to let go of the past that haunts him? He thinks he just wants to be left alone, but the loving and warm community he and his daughter have moved to has other plans for him. After a near tragedy is averted, he hesitantly returns offers of help and friendship, and he discovers he can make a difference to the people of Pebble Creek—and maybe find love again.

My Comments:  This book includes several sub plots and just when one is completed another begins.  I loved it!  Instead of several short novels, A Promise for Miriam is one meaty book (over 300 pages).  The Amish in this story are quite conservative.  They utilize outhouses and do not have indoor plumbing.  Yet they survive and thrive in this environment.  Gabe and Grace come to Pebble Creek and quickly adjust after being in a more liberal group in Indiana.  Miracles seem to abound in this quiet community.  Friends and family are extremely supportive, which Gabe quickly discovers.  Amish romances seem especially sweet to me – no pretense, just sincere, hard-working people.  I’ll add this to my list of favorite Amish novels!

Follow the photo journal of Carolina, a critically ill loggerhead sea turtle, as she is cared for and nursed back to health at the Sea Turtle Hospital of the South Carolina Aquarium. Just like hospitalized children, Carolina goes through a variety of emotions and procedures during her care and recovery process. When she first arrives at the hospital, she is too sick, weak, and confused to understand what is happening. She has blood drawn, x-rays taken, gets shots, and is fed through an IV…just as ill children may be! As she gains strength, she begins to interact with her caregivers and to, begrudgingly, understand that they are really trying to help. Join her as she interacts with her many caregivers and her sick or injured roommate turtles. Celebrate the happy day she is released back into the open arms of the ocean – a healthy and happy sea turtle! The “For Creative Minds” section includes a craft, game ideas and information on sea turtles. The author and photographer donate a portion of their royalties to the Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Program at the South Carolina Aquarium.

My Comments:  My second graders LOVED this book.  We read it together and it enabled so much great discussion about illness.  Children, of course LOVE animals and since we live in Southern California and not too terribly far from the Ocean and Sea World, many of the children have seen turtles.  We couldn’t believe how large Carolina was!  The illustrations were superb.  The information was age-appropriate and these books are so educational!  They include other information you can use in the classroom (would be really awesome for homeschoolers too!)  The appropriate age for this book is: 4-9

The Accelerated Reading Level is: 3.6

***NEW ALERT*** The publisher (Sylvan Dell) will be giving away one copy of this book through The Friendly Booknook.  All you have to do is leave a comment telling me  what your favorite sea animal is and why – nothing long, just ONE sentence.  The winner will be chosen at random.  You will have until May 31 to comment on this blog in order to win a copy of the book.  I know you will enjoy it as much as my second graders and I did.

Read chapter 1

A young architect at a prestigious Chicago firm, Bethany Quinn has built a life far removed from her trailer park teen years. Until an interruption from her estranged mother reveals that tragedy has struck in her hometown and a reluctant Bethany is called back to rural Iowa. Determined to pay her respects while avoiding any emotional entanglements, she vows not to stay long. But the unexpected inheritance of farmland and a startling turn of events in Chicago forces Bethany to come up with a new plan.

Handsome farmhand Evan Price has taken care of the Quinn farm for years. So when Bethany is left the land, he must fight her decisions to realize his dreams. But even as he disagrees with Bethany’s vision, Evan feels drawn to her and the pain she keeps so carefully locked away.

For Bethany, making peace with her past and the God of her childhood doesn’t seem like the path to freedom. Is letting go the only way to new life, love and a peace she’s not even sure exists?

My Comments:  This book hooked me right in, got slow in the middle and ended well.  I was looking for a little more “scandal” in parts – at least that is how my predictions went, but it was clean throughout and believable problems with faith.  The faith issue was resolved a little easily for me – maybe mine was similar and I felt I struggled more than Bethany, but again believable.  The message on faith was clear and not preachy.  People lived out their faith.  I like that.  Struggles vary in the story, peoples’ experience with faith differs throughout.  Some relationships were not resolved which may possibly result in a series instead of a stand-alone story.  The setting of rural Iowa brought back great memories of living in Iowa for eight years.  This refreshes me after living in Southern California for 9 years!  I look forward to more books from this author!

I received a free review copy from WaterBrook Press.  This book was released on May 8, 2012.  See link above and read chapter 1.

Eighteen months after the tragic Grove Street Fire took the life of her husband, David, and four other heroic firefighters, Susan Marlowe thinks she’s finally beginning to heal.

But then she discovers that David carried a secret to his grave.

A secret that changes everything she thought their marriage had been.

For the sake of their sons, can Susan forgive the unforgivable?

Andrea Morley lost her closest friend in the fire. But she has no right to mourn him. Instead, she must forever grieve in silence—because her dearest friend was someone else’s husband. Peter Brennan carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. As Hanover Falls’ fire chief, he was responsible for the brave firefighters

who lost their lives that awful November night.

Can he ever shake the feeling that he should have somehow prevented the tragedy?

As he tries to rebuild the team at Clemens County’s Station 2, it seems he might find comfort in the arms of the woman he least expected.

My Comments:  I thought this a perfect ending to the series!  In the other two books, it seemed that Susan Marlowe was almost perfect.  She reached out and ministered to others after her own husband died.  This books shows she was flawed and had problems just like everyone else.  Her life was not perfect and neither were her children.  She struggles with issues like everyone else in the story – hers, however, are secret and not known to all.  Pete Brennan struggled as well – not perfect – just human with human faults and frailties.  I hated to see this series end, but it did so neatly and happily.  Most questions were answered and I like that – not to be left hanging at the end of a series.  Ms. Raney is an interesting writer capturing real human emotions.  I look forward to reading more books authored by her!