*Betty Sweet Tells All* is the sequel to *Maggie Sweet* by Judith Minthorn Stacy, and I loved them both. Betty, Maggie's mother, picks up where Maggie left off in the first novel. When Maggie leaves her husband of nineteen years for no apparent reason, Betty tries to take on the responsibility of fixing everyone's problems. The novel is humorous, sweet, and sentimental all at once. If you liked the first novel, definitely pick up a copy of this one.

The novel, set in 1985, follows the lives of a small-town family and their day-to-day crises. Maggie's working on finding normality after leaving her husband, Steven, a my-way-or-the-highway guy and reuniting with Jerry, her high school boyfriend. Nobody can understand why Maggie's up and done something so foolish, but Betty tries to understand and forgive Maggie. When Betty realizes that she's been trying to fix everything in their lives, she decides to take time out for herself and maybe fall in love.

The novel was a lot of fun and well-written. Each character seems to have a story of their own, and I hope Stacy will continue the series by focusing on Mama Dean and Maggie's twin daughters, Jill and Amy. Enjoy!

The book is very informative. It may not be the most interesting but it definately taught me the dances. Now I am pretty good at them.

Bobby Short, a quintessinal storyteller in song, is also capable of telling the story of his life in prose, in his own way, thank you very much.

Like his show, it's delightful. Bobby began playing piano in local saloons, went on to entertain in roadhouses, bars, nightclubs, cabarets, always with his eye on the audience. And now the "saloon singer" has performed for almost three decades in the Cafe Carlyle, not exactly your typical saloon ambiance. He learned a lot along the way.

First there's the talent. Then there's the inate sense of style, that sent a talented little boy in white tails, going off to make a living for his family by playing piano. He made a career for himself, honing his personal panache and learning from good and bad that came his way. The good included hearing jazz by the best, Art Tatum, Dorothy Donegal, Mabel Mercer, his idol, Duke Ellington. The bad was the bad all black performers knew in those days. Yet, he managed to meet and befriend the most sophisticated, talented, interesting people of every color. It all left its mark.

Bobby Short today, still has his focus on his audience, catching and keeping the attention. That is the important thing. It might be the secret of his success as a legendary interpreter of the American songbook.

-Elizabeth Ahlfors

This novel is set during World War II. Brother and sister Simeon and Ruth are living in China with their missionary parents. The year is 1942, and the Japanese are bombing parts of China. Ruth (who is telling the story) ande Simeon (her younger brother) are sent to an emergency school, as their normal school has been closed and the students and teachers have been put into concentration camps by the Japanese. As bomings increase, the children are sent to India. The story touches on poverty and racism. The sequel is Leaving point. I enjoyed both!

Until I read the manuscript of Betty Lou Leaver's "Bouquets of Bitterroots," I thought Bitterroots was just an odd name pinned to a mountain range in Montana. The conflagration that scorched those mountains a few years ago raised my consciousness about their stunning, irreplaceable beauty, just as Ms. Leaver's pithy book elevates the eponymous flower to a superb metaphor for learning from adversity and cultivating empathy. The thread running through her personal anecdotes, each a jewel-like epiphany, is that faulty thought patterns need not lead to self-defeating behaviors. Protesting, perhaps too defensively, that she is not a Pollyanna, Ms. Leaver demonstrates over and over that you can be your own cognitive therapist, though she would never such lingo. The little half-scenes, scenes, anecdotes and stories that propel "Bouquets" forward show that it is possible to turn dysfunctional thoughts and awkward situations to your advantage by developing the tools to challenge them. Her strategies focus on problematic thoughts, emotions, behaviors and underpinning belief systems. Adept at making the best play with a badly dealt hand, Ms. Leaver suggests, through concrete examples, that one can learn to identify and correct the thoughts that make us feel anxious or even helpless. She demonsrates, through her intensely peripatetic life as a teacher, that you can improve your interpersonal relationships by thinking logically, looking for the best outcomes (the glass is half full) and becoming more assertive. You come away from her pages admiring her pluck, ingenuity and maturity, attributes not taught in any school. "Bouquets of Bitterroots" is illustrated, in black and white, by Zhenya Yanovic, a young immigrant from Siberia. His life story, encapsulated without sentimentality by Ms. Leaver, is a triumph over incredible adversity. As it happens, I have seen color reproductions of his work; his paintings are magical, mysterious, mythical and altogether charming. Read Ms. Leaver's book and seek out Zhenya's paintings; you won't be disappointed.

Back Cover description: Second Thoughts. It was love at first sight for Britannia Smith when she met Professor Jake Luitingh van Thien and she shamelessly followed him to Holland, hoping to see more of him. She succeeded--and to her joy, he proposed! But just when all seemed perfect, she met Madeleine de Venz. In every way Madeleine was right for Jake, and Britannia became more convinced that to go ahead with the wedding might ruin Jake's life.

I almost didn't read this one. The back cover description makes it seem as if she is a stalker. She winds up in Holland, but she goes with a friend. The story is filled with descriptions of the area, clothes and food. It is the same story as always--a bit of Cinderella--but always enjoyable. Britianna is strong and likable. Jake is a prince--what more do we need.

Waldorf schooling is the fastest growing non-sectarian school movement in the United States. Based on the philosophy of Rudolph Steiner, Waldorf education seeks to engage the mind, body and heart of its' students. A Child's Seasonal Treasury is beautifully bound, with practical suggestions, recipes and ideas for helping children escape the commercialism of many of holidays today, and return to simpler (yet no less FUN) times. As my own children grow, we can always find something new here to enjoy, and to reflect on.

I can't comment on the educational value of the book, but as a Rescue Rangers fan I can say I like it. It's reasonably drawn, despite thickly drawn lines (targeting the young audience?) Gadget's name is probably a nasty little introduction to silent consonants. ;)

I loved the page where Dale asks about the safety of Gadget's boat (which does indeed look like it's full of leaks!) and Gadget's dismissal of his concerns. Generally, everyone is as in character as they can be in a book like this. Nicely done.

This book was a present to my children from my mother for Christmas. She was very excited about it and said it reminded her of her childhood. It gave me and my children great insight as to what it was like for my Mother and her family growing up in the 30's. My Mother read it aloud to my children when she gave it to them. The part about Christmas morning made us all cry. The book told about a Southern Family in the 30's preparing for Christmas. But it was more than that, the love that was felt between the family members and the simple pleasures that were enjoyed during the trying times of the 30's was touching and ment a great deal to me and my children. We were able, for the first time to explain to our children what it was like to grow up back then, to do without and to make do with what you had. It amazed my children that people could be so happy with so little. I would recommend this book to any Grandparent to give to a Grandchild or to anyone who has parents or relatives who grew up in the 30's.

This inspiring book relates the story of Betty Shiver Krawczyk from her humble beginnings in Southern Louisiana to her 'retirement' to the picturesque coastal region of British Columbia. Ms Krawczyk, with eloquence and humour, honesty and insight speaks of her three marriages (and eight children), her emerging political and philosophical awareness and her willingness to stand strong in support of her convictions.

Her sense of justice prevented her from slipping into oblivion when she retired to ten acres of quiet forest in the Clayoquot Sound. When logging companies threatened the majestic old growth forests of her backyard, Betty joined protesters on the front lines. Her actions led to an arrest, trial and eventual conviction. Before her ordeal was over, she had spent four and a half months in BC prisons.

Despite the subject matter which, at times, is grim, humour and a fine flair for story keep the reader fully engaged and entertained. This is an inspiring book for all of us who have ever wondered in the face of systemic evils, 'but, what can I do?" Here is one woman, who on the strength of her convictions, has done an awful lot to make this world a better place. Her story deserves to be read widely and is a testament to the power of individual strength and determination in the face of tremendous odds.