I enjoyed this book tremendously and refer to it often. Until recently, I was somewhat hesitant to try curved piecing and felt that sometimes my quilting lacked imagination. McDowell's book helped me on both counts. I'll be using this book for a long time and will wait hopefully for another book from her soon.

Really, the best primer I've seen on curved & angled seams. Even includes a review of basic straight seams. Ruth's a great technical writer and instills confidence that you can achieve her results (and you really can). Would make a great gift for the quilter who wants to branch out into more complex seamwork. Thanks Ruth B!!

Sally Carleen has penned a witty tale of love and laughter with Porcupine Ranch. Hannah, clearly not of houskeeping stock, must find a way to survive on the south Texas ranch amid rough and rugged cowboys and reconcile her hero with his long lost grandfather without losing her heart in the bargain. Hannah's exploits are pure delight and Porcupine Ranch is splendidly written.

Fast paced and funny!

If you like quirky heroines and rugged heros then Sally Carleen's Porcupine Ranch is for you. A must read for lovers of traditional romances

This book "hooked" me at chapter one when the author recounts her story about how she got into the field. After you read the first chapter, you get the impression that once you enter the world of LD, you have entered the region of the damned, regardless of whether or not you are a student w/the diagnosis, a parent, or a teacher. LD carries a "stigma" that is akin to having the mark-of-the-beast, in some circles. Students are treated like second class citizens, or as if they were going to school in a third world dictatorship, parents are dissed and disregarded, the teachers never get the materials, respect from admin. or peers, and the administrative support they need to make sure these dear children have a decent shot at success.

The Pretenders will open your eyes into this little understood world. At times, it may even make you cry as you reflect upon the pain that students and parents (and adults w/LD) have to endure on a daily basis.

This excellent book is a must for those with family members suffering from ADD and LD problems. Such readers will recognize a thread in common with the adult "pretenders" whose stories the author artfully presents. Each vignette recounts a heroic struggle to succeed against imposing odds. A good read!

Ronald Hoffman is an excellent historian who has brought great knowledge of Chesapeake social and cultural history to this biographical work that places three generations of the Carroll family within their colonial context. It is a wonderful biography that gets the reader into the minds and lives of these three Charles Carroll's. But for me the best thing was the number of times it made me think, "Oh, that's how it was." I have read enough colonial history to know that there were lots of tenant laborers and not just slaves in the region, to know that Catholic Maryland quickly became Anglican Maryland, and to know that the Revolution was not just about ideas but also about social change. Ronald Hoffman's narrative, however, really brings these facts home. His book is not about any one of these issues in particular, but in telling the story of three generations of Carroll's in Maryland he brings home the greater circumstances of the colony better than many historians who have set out to make a case for one of the above arguments, or many of the other fascinating takes on early Chesapeake society contained in this highly readable book. I have not read any book lately that I enjoyed more.

I was originally attracted to this book out of a simple curiosity about the last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence (Charles Carroll outlived Adams and Jefferson by about six years, or about 56 years after 1776!). On a deeper level, I hoped to learn more about the kind of early capitalist that would be attracted to signing on to the American Revolution in general. What this book helped me discover was a family that had over time become focused, almost obsessed, with making a buck under fairly adverse circumstances (namely, continuing in their Roman Catholic faith that made it difficult for them to thrive, even in an enclave as seemingly sympathetic as colonial Maryland, with its relatively large Catholic population). But when the time came for this family to rise above its simple wealth building and to champion the cause of the Revolution, it did indeed rise to the occasion, however brief and painful the process might be. (Hoffman attends to both the private and public lives of the Carrolls.) The history of the Carrolls is a part of the history of the magic that was the American Revolution. It is not surprising that the book ends abruptly with the death of Charles Carroll's father and his wife, about 10 days apart from one another in 1782 (though there is a brief summing up of Carroll's remaining 50 years and the attention attracted by his death in 1832). The story is told, the dynasty pretty much complete.

What's the book like? At times it seems downright willfully prosaic, and the story proceeds much like a carefully written doctoral dissertation - all conclusions fully supported and made in as logical a context as possible, all contentions politically correct for our time. Hoffman's goal is of course to be scholarly and thorough, not to be entertaining or controversial. Thus the sweep of this history must emerge and coalesce in the mind of the reader. Leave being beaten over the head with the broader conclusions inherent in the narrative to more popularly written histories.

Suffice it to say, if you're a municipal library and you need to beef up your Revolutionary War material, this is a prime buy. If you're a true history buff, this would be an excellent choice to work into your reading list. It has the effect of immersing you into the spirit of the times and providing you with detail you could not have imagined you would find interesting (but you do). If you're a casual reader, just be advised - this is heavy stuff. It's not an easy read, but it is ultimately a rewarding one.

As a small business owner, the topic of Public Relations has seemed overwhelming. I'm a work at home mom who runs an accounting business, how can I possibly tackle working with the media or justify spending a small fortune to hire a PR expert? With this book, I found out I don't have to!

Each topic is explained in a easy to follow format which is presented in a direct manner and geared toward small to mid sized businesses. There are several worksheets and lots of space provided to record your thoughts and ideas.

It is written in a positive, uplifting tone which provides encouragement for other business owners like myself who lacked confidence in this area.

Written by someone with years of PR experience, I wholeheartedly recommend this book!

This book gives practical advice in no-nonsense terms. Slack puts to rest the myth that small business can't handle public relations without a PR rep.

My children and I LOVE this wonderful, imaginitive story. Snarly Sally and her dog Tangles are so adorable; they have become part of our night time reading ritual. We are looking forward to more fun adventures with these two very special characters!

VERY CUTE STORY. THE ILLUSTRATIONS ARE VERY VIVID AND CUTE. I LIKE THE MINI POEMS BY SNARLY SALLY SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE BOOK ALONG WITH THE REGULAR STORY. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT BOOK!

Steven Kellogg is wonderful telling the story of Sally Ann from her birth, her running, and the bear battle, to meeting and marrying Davey Crockett. Very strong woman. This folklore tale has excellent color illustrations. I would highly recommend this one for reading to and by the K through the 8th grade, along with a recommendation for teachers and parents, also.

This was a great book especially for young girls. It tells the story of a female hero and all her adventures. Even after marrying Davy Crockett, one of the most famous folk hero's, Sally Ann remains independent and the greatest hero in the book. I highly recomend it to anyone, especially those interested in folk tales.

One of my students discovered this book and loved it. It's now on my "great reads" list--books that every student will enjoy. The book moves fast and is at just the right comprehension level, without skipping any of the science. Sally Ride is truly an inspiration. The cover's a little blah and the photos are black and white, which may put off some kids, but once they start reading, they won't stop.

If you have school age girls (or boys for that matter) they should read this book. If they have an interest in science, its a must read. I could feel the vibration at liftoff

This was one of my favorite books when I was younger. I really loved how the furniture in the room came alive and wanted to be clean. I had the book on tape to listen to as I followed along, and I listened to it all the time. Maybe that's why I always try to keep my room as clean as I can! I highly suggest this book for any parent to get for their child.

Delightful book! Parents and kids alike will enjoy this silly story with a lesson in it about being able to find your stuff when you need it.