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Book reviews for "Smith,_Sharon" sorted by average review score:

Foundations of Maternal-Newborn Nursing
Published in Hardcover by W B Saunders (15 February, 1998)
Authors: Emily Slone McKinney, Sharon Smith Murray, and Trula Myers Gorrie
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easy to understand-makes me glad to have in my references
this is a great review for my nursing classes and career choic

Nursing Student Review
This is the best book we've had in my RN, BSN program so far. The content is very easy to read. The sentences are kept short and to the point. The content is repeated over and over in different places in the chapters as well as throughout the book, making it easier to remember the main points. The summaries at the end of each chapter really focus on the main points and great for last minute updating. I wish all of our books in nursing school were this good.


The Orchard Mason Bee
Published in Paperback by Knox Cellars Pub (01 November, 1999)
Authors: Brian L. Griffin and Sharon Smith
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Well written. Illustrations could be better.
Given that I haven't actually used the information, and I never intended to even before I bought it, the text seems complete. It manages its completeness without being overly academic. I'd consider it more of a "technical" book rather than an "engineering" book: a brass tacks "how-to" rather than physiology, theory, etc. My biggest "complaint" are the illustrations. They seem to be a bit on the "cutesy" side. Perhaps that was what was intended in order to keep the subject light but I would very much have liked to see some detailed top/front/side views of both the male and the female subject - academic quality. Even jumped on Knox Cellars' website hoping for the diagrams but no such luck. Despite this, keep in mind, I feel this book is more than adequate to get anyone up and running with these little pollinators. The previous review does a sufficient job of summarizing so I won't here.

O what a lovely book!
This book tells all about orchard mason bees (and some other native pollinators), what they look like, what they do, why they're particularly good at it, and most of all how we can help.

Orchard mason bees are not honeybees but a small, modest, hard-working, solitary little bee native to the New World. They mind their own business and do a whale of a job pollinating. My blueberry bushes have doubled and tripled their yields since I started putting homes out for the orchard mason bees.

The pictures of the bee-faces in the section on telling the difference between the boy bees and the lady bees are cute. But the text, while not heavy in the least, is serious. Here is a man who believes in his bees and in ways in which we can acknowledge our part in the natural order by helping offset the pernicious effects of excess urbanization. The text is written at the layman's level; no technical knowledge is required to read and understand, but there are references for people who want to get more deeply involved with technical issues.

Here is everything you will need to know to decide whether you would like to harbor orchard mason bees and how to go about it if you do.

I got my first bee block from Knox Farms several years ago and upgraded to a bee condo last year. This year I took my courage in my hands and carefully changed my bee-full nesting tubes for clean ones to wait for spring. It was fascinating handling those tubes stuffed with beneficient bee life! I think this would be a great thing for kids to get involved with. (I'm fourty-something, and I think it's great).

If you are interested in giving a hard-working native bee a hand, and benefitting all of the fruit and berry plants in your neighborhood, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Easy to read but packed with information!


The Pocket Idiot's Guide to Betting on Horses
Published in Paperback by MacMillan Distribution (1999)
Author: Sharon B. Smith
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The Pocket Idiot's Guide to Betting on Horses
You will no longer fall under the "idiot" category once you read this book. It is for those who do not know much about betting on horses or horse racing. It is handy, simple, and informative, as well as fun to read.

The Information Junkie's Guide to Horseracing
I always wondered if these idiot books are really intended for idiots or for someone else. Now I know that, if the series can be judged from this one small part, the title is meant ironically and facetiously. But an even better title would be Information Junkie's Introduction to Horseracing, which, incidentally, describes this little tome exactly. Packed with facts and authoritative guidance to betting on the nags, this work summarizes in a compressed modern pellet that large gaseous cloud of legend and fokelore that surrounds the sport of kings. So if you don't know the difference between a thoroughbred and a quarter horse, if you can't tell exactly how an exacta differs from a quinella, if you think eight furlongs is longer than a mile, then this is the book for you. Betting systems are adequately described and the novice should come away with an idea or two on how to work their own box or wheel, or progress the bets, or even go dutch. The only section I had trouble with was about reading the racing form. Whole books could be done on that subject, but even the small amount presented here was unclear and occasionally misleading. Some benign editor who didn't know much probably corrected some of the author's post positions to past positions especially when we are told past position is important and usually coming out close to the rail is an advantage. Also not quite up to the high quality of the rest of the book is the section on drugs. The author might profit by reading about the pharmacology of Lasix. And cocaine is not found in horse urine. If it is found in a post race urine, it simply means that the groom or the stableboy assigned to get the sample became impatient and peed in the cup himself. Such samples usually also have lots of nicotine and caffeine and always have a sky high chloride content that identifies with silver nitrate testing that the urine in question is of human and not horse origin. In the world of horses the big worry about what's stuffed up the nose is not cocaine: It's a sponge to block the favorite's breathing.


Reunion at Mossy Creek (Mossy Creek)
Published in Paperback by Bellebooks (2002)
Authors: Deborah Smith, Sandra Chastain, Debra Dixon, Virginia Ellis, Nancy Knight, Martha Shields, Carolyn McSparren, Dee Sterling, Carmen Green, and Sharon Sala
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Bravo!
Being from a small town in Georgia myself, I completely bonded with the characters in both Mossy Creek books. These authors have done a wonderful job continuing these delightful stories and I look forward to reading more.

A beet too sad reunion in Mossy Creek
I have waited for the new mossy creek book very much, but I was a bit dissappointed. It was great meeting the old wonderfully exentric characters of the first book, but the reunion was laced with pain and hurt. The book concentraed around the question who burned Mossy Creek's old high school 20 years ago? The question unearthed secrets from the town's past. Some of the stories were really great like the love story between shy Josie M. and bigfoot, but while the first book was all along touching and fanny and a just a little bit sad, the second one had too much hurt people in it. But still I want to hear about the residence of mossy creek so I will buy the next book, I just hope it will be uplifting as the first.

series of humorous and sad tied together vignettes
With the twenty-year reunion at Mossy Creek, Georgia coming soon, Creekites wonder who burned down the town's high school back then that has forced locals to attend nearby rival Bigelow High School? Apparently the arsonist is taunting the Creekites by having sent to the town the ten cent fortune telling machine used during that homecoming day when the fire changed so many lives.

Though not even born yet, wallflower Josie McClure knows the impact of the fire because her mother was the homecoming queen who never celebrated her victory and forced her to compete for the Bigelow High School Homecoming Day Queen, which she humiliatingly lost. Rainey Ann Cecil thinks back to that fatal day in 1981 when she was twelve and with Robert Walker and Hank Blackshear believed they caused the fire. Amos Royden is now the sheriff and would like to solve the case that his now deceased father always felt blemished his law enforcement record. Other are impacted by either the fire or the upcoming reunion. Will the reunion complete the destruction of the Creekites or refurbish the civil pride of being a Creekite?

Written as a series of vignettes tied together through the reunion, the story line is humorous and sad focusing on how a pivotal event can change lives forever. Though an ensemble, the characters come across as genuine leaving readers to understand their pain, loneliness, and their need to belong. Fans will enjoy tremendously REUNION AT MOSSY CREEK and want to read the previous slice of small town southern living, MOSSY CREEK. Both novels colorfully and cleverly illustrate small town southern living.

Harriet Klausner


The New Bernese Mountain Dog
Published in Hardcover by Howell Book House (1995)
Author: Sharon Chesnutt Smith
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Not what I expected
This book has quite a bit of information for those wanting to show their Berner. I am not interested in showing and was quite disappointed. It does not talk a lot about simple pet training or other issues and has only black & white picture. I find the book quite boring and not too practical.

One of the best on Berners
This is one of the best books on Bernese Mountain Dogs. It has terrific information on the history of the breed and physical structure of the dogs. It contains excellent information on health problems which is critical to anyone who owns a Berner.

This is not a coffee-table book so don't expect color photos. This is not a book about how to train a dog; check out clicker training books instead. This is a book about Bernese Mountain Dogs and is for people who are committed to knowing all they can about the breed.

Great for owners and new buyers of Berners.
This was my second book on the Bernese Mountain Dog and by far the best. It gives great background info. It is so in detail about what to look for if you plan to show your dog. Not only in writing but in pictures. I refer back to this book alot. All beginners should have this book in their collection. I can not praise the Author enough. It's such a fine job of writing


The Affordable Horse: A Guide to Low-Cost Ownership
Published in Paperback by Hungry Minds, Inc (1994)
Author: Sharon B. Smith
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This book is well written and great for beginners.
This is a great book which offers many affordable options for a first-time horse buyer or someone interested in buying a horse. It details many different ways to approach buying your horse, depending upon your interest and inclination. Very informative book.

Your dream of owning a horse can come true!
This is a great book for those who don't think they can afford their own horse. The author provides very useful information regarding all aspects of owning your own horse affordably. The author includes some great money saving tips. I am so thankful to have found and read this book!!!

Informative and helpful
This book provides the basics of finding a healthy horse for an affordable price and also covers the other costs involved from feed to veterinary care. As someone considering the purchase of a horse in the near future, I found this book very helpful in making an informed and realistic decision about ownership.


Treasure Island (Enchanted Tales, No. 4)
Published in Paperback by Harper Mass Market Paperbacks (1996)
Authors: Sharon Holland, Len Smith, Robert Louis Treasure Island Stevenson, and Enchanted Tales
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Yow!!!
How can you even review the ultimate pirate book of all time? I read it when I was 9 and loved it. I read it again when I was 34 and loved it again! (Actually, I read it several times between, as well.) Long John Silver is arguably one of the most Macchiavellian characters you will ever find between the covers of a book. (I'm mainly reviewing it to raise the average rating. Anyone who thinks this book is boring has to have a screw loose!) From the arrival of the mysterious Billy Bones, to the attack on the inn, to the sea voyage, to the mutiny, to the battle for the island, to the treasure hunt, even to the final fate of John Silver, this book is a stunning rollercoaster of suspense and adventure! I'd give it ten stars if I could.

Here's a bit of information you other readers might enjoy: the meaning of the pirates' song--

Fifteen men on a dead man's chest Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!

The real-life pirate, Edward Teach (Blackbeard the Pirate) once marooned 15 of his men on a small island named Dead Man's Chest. He put them ashore with no weapons, equipment or supplies--just a bottle of rum.

Accept No Substitutes!
Giving Treasure Island five stars is like declaring Helen of Troy homecoming queen. It's too little,too late. This is the classic tale of pirates. Its' themes have been worked and worked again,but it remains untouched. Stevenson is a master storyteller at the top of his form. From beginning to end the plot never lags,and the characters possess a richness and depth rare in an adventure story. Every reader of English ought to make their acquaintance--Jim Hawkins,Billy Bones,Old Pew,Silver,and the rest--at some time in his life,preferably when he is young,and his heart still believes it can find that treasure. Treasure Island has been francised,moppetized,filmed,and abridged,but never bettered. Accept no substitues! Read the entire book. There is plenty here for children and adults. Like all great literature,it works on more than one level. Dominating the whole Story is the figure of Long John Silver. As his name implies he has a lunar quality. He is attractive,facinating,powerful,but with a dark side. Again,he is murdering,lying,and infinitly self-seeking,yet like Jim we cannot help liking him and wanting him to like us. At this level Treasure Island is a study in criminality that asks: Why is it that the best,the most full of natural power, often turn their gifts to evil? And why do we find evil so attractive? A word about editions. There are many,but by far the best is the hardcover featuring the illustrations of N.C. Wyeth. No one has succeeded as he has in capturing the spirit of the tale. If you are looking for a cheaper paperback edition that won't blind you with cramped layout, or ruin the whole experience with goofy illustratons,choose the Puffin Classic. It's unabridged,sturdy,and features a beautiful cover illustration.

Real World Writing
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson is by far one of the best adventure stories I have ever read. This book deserves all five stars, it has everything you could ask for such as, suspense, comedy, action, drama and a great plot line. R.L. Stevenson puts a lot of detail into his main characters such as Long John Silver and Jim Hawkins just to name a few. He describes the scenes with such great detail that at times I had to remind myself that it is only a book. I spent more than 2 months reading this book and I enjoyed every part of it. I could RARELY find a paragraph that was dull, the book was very exciting overall. This book is fairly easy to read and I would recommend it to adults and children of all ages. The book moves at a very good pace, not too fast, not too slow. This book is anything but boring, something new happens in every chapter for instance, when Jim witnesses a murder and when he gets into bar fights, those are just some of the many things that happened. I was very surprised myself when I read this book because it seems a little childish but in fact it's quite the contrary. I highly recommend that you go out and read this book!


Savoring San Francisco: Recipes from the City's Neighborhood Restaurants
Published in Paperback by Sasquatch Books (2000)
Authors: Carolyn Miller, Sharon Smith, and David Wakely
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Okay
I would have prefered a few more recipes for the staples such as chicken, beef etc. Most of the recipes seemed a little esoteric to me and unlikely to be included in my every day cooking. Perhaps thats the intention of the book but I think they could have found a better balance.

right in your own backyard
Wonderful, expertly written, and extremely helpful in pin pointing exactly what you are looking for in dining in every neighborhood in S.F. Thanks..

More than just a cookbook
This book is fabulous. Even for people who don't cook, the book is a great restaurant guide to San Francisco. I love the historical backgrounds of the neighborhoods. Very well written, with a sense of style, opinion, and irreverence. Very SF! I also find the layout, type treatments, and color very pleasing and easy to navigate. The beautiful black & white photographs give a great sense of the neighborhoods without being clichéd.

Ron Rifkin, Oakland, CA


Retraining: Teaching New Skills to Previously Trained Horses
Published in Paperback by Hungry Minds, Inc (1998)
Author: Sharon B. Smith
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wide range of information
Sharon B. Smith does a great job or covering a wide variety of equestrian activities. Driving, english, western, dressage, etc... It is especially useful for retired Standardbred and Throughbred owners. It helps you understand the previous life of any retrained horse. I like the fact that Sharon includes a chapter on the unbroke adult horse. All of the unformation is broad, it does not go into very close detail into western speed events. She teaches how to go from neck reining to direct contact, and back around. I like how she tells you how your horses conformation can better suit him for a particular sport. This book is a must for anyone wanting to try a new sport, or someone that acquired a horse that rides, and you want to drive, or the other way around.


Studying for History (Studying for Series)
Published in Paperback by Pearson Education POD (1997)
Authors: David Pace, Sharon L. Pugh, and Brenda D. Smith
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Great book, but will students use it?
I think this is a great book and I'll be using it myself here when I teach two courses called "Learning Strategies for History. While I found it very useful, I'm wondering how useful a student attempting to use it alone would find this book. The suggested exercises are good but without feedback some motivation may be lacking. So, if you thought of getting this for your child or spouse or whoever who is having difficulty with a history course, do it but be willing to read it with them and give them feedback as they try to put some of the suggestions and information into practice.


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