Book Review: The Checkered War by Aunt Haggis

SYNOPSIS:

A feud is raging between three colonies. Although the Harvesters, Carpenters, and Blood Red Slave Hunters have been fighting since last year, this summer will secure a lasting victory for only one of them. This is the story of war and feast and … no, not famine… more feast! 

And of Willy, our unlikely hero who has been adopted by the Harvesters. He is from the Black-Haired Garden colony and is nothing like them. Small and young, he knows nothing of war. How can he possibly help prepare for the big battle? 

Willy learns that some species are parasites who never work, wandering around feeding off other colonies. Others are thieves and robbers, or killers and cannibals. And it’s always about war. 

Does Willy merely try to survive, or does he figure out how to be a useful member of the colony? Can an insignificant like Willy help to win an unstoppable war?

At the end of each chapter, real science information called “Ant Facts” provide fascinating knowledge about the real lives of different species of ants. 

And they explain why Willy is going to do what Willy is going to do!

AUTHOR BIO:

Aunt Haggis is a published author, photographer, and outdoor enthusiast. She literally grew up on the river studying nature, rafting wild whitewater rapids, basking in the sun, and sleeping under a canopy of brilliant constellations. When she wasn’t looking up to examine the stars at night, she was looking down by day to investigate the most intriguing of creatures… ants. You will find her discoveries in The Checkered War.

Aunt Haggis has previously written seven full-length screenplays, one adult fiction novel, one illustrated novelette (which was a recipient of the Benjamin Franklin Award), a biography (of a famous river runner), and numerous magazine articles under a boring name she is required to use for business. The Checkered War is the debut of her first book for children.

MY REVIEW:

The Checkered War by Aunt Haggis
Didn't think I'd like this book that is mainly written for a middle grade child but I so much enjoyed it on many aspects of it.
The book could be about humans (or ants) and how they go about surviving and how.
Love hearing of the army tactics as we travel cross country once a year to play army guys with out grandson and we are always not only having fun but using strategics.
Love the colony that bake and what they do to gather their supplies so they can win the war with a cake!
So many fun facts about the different types of ants after every chapter.
At times the chapters become confusing because you are not fully sure which colony you are referring to. There are 3 and each have such different jobs for the colony.
Glossary of words used are included at the end.  Love how everybody is good at something and when combined-it's an awesome outcome. Amazing at the end-didn't see it going down like this! Can't wait to read more from this author.
Love the idea of gifting an ant farm to my grandson-think he'd enjoy it.
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.

Books read Apr 26

Year One by Nora Roberts
Book starts out overseas a couple has attended end of the year celebrations with family and return to NY after the first.
The husband becomes deadly sick and gives it to his wife who also dies soon after. The daughter is pregnant with twins and her husband has died from the virus.
The OB and EMT keep the woman going strong. There is another group of newspaper reporters and they strike out to get the real on the street story to report on. There is also another group of people who have strange powers and use them to keep safe.
There is also a group that want the cannies-those with powers - to die. There is no hope for a cure.
Found this book similar to the tv show=revolution except this one has magic. They all learn to survive and all have skills they bring to the table to share with all.
Good read, hard at times with harsh conditions to listen to about.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Pie Cookbook: Delicious Homemade Pie Recipes You Can Easily Make! (Baking Recipes Book 1) by Linda Harris
Starts with a table of contents and different crusts then recipes are in no particular order.
Very short intro then the recipes.
Each recipe starts with a title, ingredients and you might be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low sodium, low sugar and low fat products.
Directions on how to make are included. Suggestions how to serve the pie.
There are NO pictures.  There is NO nutritional informaiton.
Not too impressed with this book, really needs the pictures as they are a bit on the basic side for me.

Chasing the Music by Mark Alan Leslie
Book starts out with Dan and he's just discovered a miracle tablet of information on the archelogical dig. Soon others with weapons are tearing through the site and he escapes, tumbles down hills on his way to the highway and maybe safety. He gets injured and shot and makes a call to another doctor but she's hours away and gives her a hint of what he found.
Her car is dead and she grabs a ride with Max who has connections with the police to get them to the site and they arrive to Dan waking up on his way to the hospital.
Lots of action and love the information about the achealogical dig and what was uncovered. Lots of praying throughout the book along with quotes from the bible.
Love all the travel and the trouble they find along the way as others are tailing them....
Received this review copy via TBCN from Amazon site and this is my honest review.

Past perfect by Steel_ Danielle
Cybil and Blake married almost 20 years and they have 3 kids-2 in high school and one in first grade, born and raised in NYC and love it there.
Blake gets an offer in San Fran and goes out to check it out-there is nothing that will keep him from going there and making tons of money-he has to persuade his wife and kids to go also...
Not only did he take the job but bought a huge house, very old for them to move into.
20,000 square feet 1902 house with storage that included all art and furniture. Cybil loves the place and the move will give her time to finish writing her book and still do design work if the offers come.
They all arrive with their high tech devices and it's quite the contrast to what the house is all about...
Eathquake occurs and things are moved to new locations prior to that.... Youngest keeps thinking there are hidden passages and ghosts...
Cybil had seen the prior residents as ghosts and tries to explain what she saw when she sees the pictures on the walls.
She reads the family historical book and finds out who they all are and calls in someone who specializes in ghosts and he tells her they feel comfortable there and she wants them gone!
Like how the families meld but i still think it's very weird. What Cybil finds in the book and acts on it is really weird! Servants think the whole family is crazy talking to themselves as they can't see the old family.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

The Beach Club By Hilderbrand_ Elin
Hotel on the island and many come to work there to find love and other things.
Quite the mix of people work and come to stay for a bit during the warm summer months to be waited on hand and foot.
So many to follow and all the drama of the island.
Interesting to learn of all the jobs the men have to do prior to the sun rising so guests will have everything ready when they wake up and want to hit the beach.
Lovers, some cheat on spouses, one looking for a man to father her child, others looking for huge tips so they go out of their way to please the guests.
Things go awry and people leave as the summer goes on-some run off to other countries, some bail on the bill, some leave to try new ventures and then a hurricane is forecast to hit-only a little bit, or will it hit them full on?
Surprise ending for all.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

Spur of the Moment by Marcia Lee Laycock
Enjoyed this book because of the contents. Most of the chapters are spoken of real things that happened, a moment in time that got the author to link them to a passage in the Bible.
Devotionals, there are so many in this book! They are broken up into chapters of like things devoted to the headings.
Loved hearing of all the adventures the author and her pastor husband have taken around the world.
Author bio at the end.

Freestyle 2018 CrockPot Cookbook: Get in Shape Now! with Delicious WW 2018 Freestyle Crock Pot Recipes for Extreme Weight Loss (Freestyle Cookbook) by Wendy Wilson
Wanted to read this book, not for the weight loss at all but good food.
It's a weight watchers slow cooker book. Each recipe starts with a title, prep and cook time, and servings.
List of ingredients and you should be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low sodium, low sugar, low fat products.
Directions on how to make are included also with other inforomation on points:
pointsplus, smartpoint, flexplan.
There is no nutritional information. There are few color photos in the book.
Some recipes do include some nutritional information: calories, fat, sat. fat, carbs, sugar, fiber, protein.  Not all recipes contain this-not sure why the format is NOT the same for all recipes.
Other recipes include choloesterol and sodium levels.
Don't condone the use of canned beans-they contain too much sodium-make them fresh.
Not all recipes start at the top of a new page. Some of the book does, not all of it.

CROSSOVER(Christian Adventure) (THE CHASER CHRONICLES Book 1)
Starts out with the PI and he's taped to his chair, big headache and something, a ghost shape is in front of him telling him he will have a choice to make.
He learns a few days later he can either follow Jesus or go after the runners and make them crossover. There are chasers and this ghost wants him to become one...
This book is out there as far as my beliefs but was a good read because the author describes things in such detail you feel as if you are there.
Loved all the action, adventure and investigating as we got to go visit in several places.
Received this book free on Amazon and this is my honest opinion.

Make Artisan Bread by Daniel Isaccs
Book starts out with a table of contents and tips and basics of bread making.
Different terms and different breads are explained.
Recipes include a title, list of ingredients and how to make. There are NO pictures.
There is NO nutritional information.
Very thorough resource book.

Say Please, Little Owlet: (Children's book about the Little Owlet Who Learns Manners, Rhyming Kids book, Bedtime Story, Picture Books, Ages 3-5, Preschool Books) by Ellie J. Woods 
Colorful rhyming children's book about Owlet and their life in the tree house.
Love what granny owl does-it'd be what i would be doing and am doing. Show the owlet and his other friends playing games.
Like how it teaches manners-something today's kids also need to learn before the words are forgotten.
Other works by the author are highlighted at the end.

Book Review: Dishcloths to Crochet Fun Designs to Brighten Your Kitchen! by Pat Olski

 
Dishcloths to Crochet Fun Designs to Brighten Your Kitchen! by Pat Olski
Wanted to review this book because I crochet and I continually make dish cloths as gifts and am looking for what's available now.
Book starts with a short introduction and then a gallery of desings with names and brilliant colors and shapes. So many cute things to make. Lobster would be one of my favorites and penguin and crab-I live on the coast in New England. 25 whimsical animals and such.
List of abbreviations and basic instructions for common things are included.
Each pattern starts out with a title, finished size, yarn required, notions, gauge, stitch glossary and how to make the stitches then instructions for the item along with a color photo.
There is no level of expertise mentioned but with all the instructions for these dish cloths even a beginner would have NO problem making any of these. 
Conversion charts for hooks are provided at the end. Super fun book now to get busy making them.
Received this review copy from Dover Publications via Netgalley and this is my honest opinion.
#DishclothsToCrochet #NetGalley

Books read Apr 20

Cuban Recipes - The Ultimate Guide by Brenda Morales (encore publishing)
Starts with a ttalbe of contents where dishes are broken up into meals.
Each recipe starts with a title, ingredients which you should be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low sodium, low sugar, low fat products.
Directions are given. There are NO pictures.
There are NO servings and there is NO nutritional information.

EASY AND DELICIOUS LASAGNA FOR EVERYONE. 25 BEST RECIPES. by Tim Allen
Free book offer. Table of contents where meals are not in any order but grouped by same like main ingredients.
Short intro. Each recipe has a title, total time to make, servings, Color photo and list of ingredients which you should be able to substitute for your healthier ditary needs: low sodium, low fat and low sugar products.
Directions in how to make are included.  There is NO nutritional information.
Lots of variety to choose from.

Mason Jar Breakfasts: Quick And Easy Recipes For Breakfasts On The Go (Mason Jar Meals Book 1) by Amanda Rossi
Book starts out with other works by the author and a table of contents that is broken up by food groups.
Intro about two breakfast and what this bbook is about.
Info about mason jar meals. Like the list of things you should be using for your breakfast items. Each recipe starts with a title, summary of the dish and ingredients you will need. They are on the healthy side: low fat, low sodium, low sugar products.
Also directions on how to make along with some nutritional information-not sure what servings size is: calories, protein, fat-NOT broken up into good or bad and carbs. NO sodium is mentioned either.
There are no pictures.

Burgers: A cookbook full of delicious recipes for the grill or kitchen by a true cookery nerd: A recipe book where you might find the perfect burger by Michael Thomson
Short intro about how the book came about and table of contents, not listed in any order.
Interesting names!
Each recipe starts with a title and brief summary of the dish. List of ingredients and it does call for low fat or reduced fat products. you should be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low sugar, low fat and low sodium products also.
Directions are given and there is no nutitional information and NO pictures.
Lots of choices to make.

Bee Helpful (Sunny Bee Books Book 3) by J.W. Edwards III
Very colorful children's book, a fairytale of sorts. It's hard to read some of the words as they are black on dark backgrounds.
Sunny the bee meets lots of different beautiful flowers as she tries to heal them by giving them water. Many others help also. Very dark pictures towards the end.
Love how they all help.

Instant Pot Vegan Cookbook: The Simply Vegan, Fresh, Plant-Based Recipes by Tina B.Baker
This book starts out with a table of conetnts which are broken up by food categories and meals.
Free bonus ebook offer. Intro about eat healthy and the instnat one pot.
Has listing of foods  that are vegan and hwo long to cook them in the Pot.
Each recipe starts with a title, prep and cook time, servings. List of ingredients which you should be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low sodium, low fat and low sugar products.
Directions are included and some nutritional info per servings: calories, fat, NOT broken up into good or bad, carbs and fiber. No sodium is listed.
There are few pictures.

Instant Pot Whole 30 Cookbook: 2018 Ultimate Whole 30 Instant Pot Cookbook by Stuff Whole
This book starts out with a table of contents which has chapters on different food categories.
Intro and one about whole30 with lists of food you should eat and a list of those foods you should not be eating.
Lots of medical information to help guide you. Chapter on a lot of information about the instant one pot and how it works.
Lots of charted food items and how long it will take to cook them in the pot.
Each recipe starts with a title, servings, prep and cook time. List of ingredients and you should be able to substitute and stay within the plan and your healthier dietary needs: low sodium, low sugar and low fat products.
Directions are included. Some nutritional info per serving: calories, fat (NOT broken up into good or bad) carbs, and protein. NO sodium is listed.
Very few photos.
Although I don't follow this lifestyle I do like the different combinations of vegetables and how they are cooked.

The Front Porch Magazine
Read stories from many of the contributors for this months magazine and enjoyed them all.
Light reading and there's a lot to them as you are only given a small piece to sample.
Easy to read and up to date topics and subjects. Authors grab your attention with just one chapter with detailed descriptions. Can't wait to read more from them.
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.

Think Green! Think Green! (Rhyming Children's Picture Book About Caring for Our Planet) by Sally Huss
Colorful children's book about spring and the green things that will come to life.
On the tablet you are forced to read the book sideways. Mother explains what going green means and how they can help.
Not only food sources but trash things. Very descriptive pictures show what words say.
Other works by the author are highlighted at the end.

The Mediterranean Diet Cookbook: 50 Simple Recipes for a Simple and Delicious Alternative to Healthy Life by Tina Lee
Table of contents where there is no order to recipes.
Intro about the diet itself, great listitng of good food groups and what are in them to eat and a pyramid showing the amounts.
Each recipe starts with a color photo, title, servings, prep and cook time.
List of ingredients and you should be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low sodium, low sugar, low fat products.
Nutritional info is provided: calories, fat-NOT broekn up into good or bad, carbs and protein.
Like how fresh ingredients are used and NOT canned one.

More Mothers by Scott Cramer
Story of Morley and he needs a bat for the game. Other siblings disturb the mothers concentration on Motley.
He wishes he had more mothers....and he dreams about just that happening!
When both of them get too busy he wishes he had another....Funny where all the mothers had to sleep because the house was too small...

Country Crock-Slow Cooker Recipes (Delicious Recipes Book 11) by June Kessler
Table of contents where the chapters are broken up into same meat/chicken recipes.
Intro about slow cooking. Recipes do not start at the top of a new page so it might be hard to actually locate them.
Each recipe starts with a title and summary of the dish.
List of ingredinets which you should be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low sodium, low sugar, low fat products.
How to amke and servings and a tip is included.
THere are NO pictures. there is NO nutritional information.
Other works by the author are highlighted at the end.

Books read April 19

Dash Diet Crock Pot Cookbook: Easy and Wholesome Dash Diet Recipes to Satisfy your Healthy Appetite! by Lisa Harrington
Talbe of contents where recipes are not in any order.
Each recipe starts with a title, ingredient list-which you should be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low sodium, low fat and low sugar products along with fresh vs canned items.
Directions are included but there is no nurtional information.
There are NO pictures.
Very basic easy recipes.

 Zachary and the Great Potato Catastrophe By Junia Wonders and Giulia Lombardo
Have to hold the book in landscape mode using a tablet, not able to enlarge the words which are hard to see.

Instant Pot Cookbook: The 5 Ingredients or Less Instant Pot Cookbook- 110 Simple And Delicious Pressure Cooker Recipes For Your Instant Pot Cooking At Home Or Any Occasion( Instant Pot Crock Pot)  b Olivia Fisher
Table of contents of history of the instant pot and how to use it along with recipes broken up by food groups.
Each dish starts with a title, servings, prep and cook time. Suitable for different groups with food allergies. List of ingredients and you should be able to subsitutute for your healthier dietary needs: low sugar, low fat, low sodium products along with using fresh rather than canned products as they contain too much sodium and you can't just rinse that away.
Directions are given.
There are NO pictures.
There is NO nutritional information.
cooking timetable for various foods. Table of healthy foods vs. unhealthy foods.
Conversion measurement table. 

Instant Pot Cookbook: The Easy 5-Ingredients Or Less Instant Pot Cookbook  by Jessica C. Waston
Table of contents about what an instant pot can do for you and how to use it.
Recipes broken up into food categories along with abbreviations for gluten free, dairy free, etc.
Each recipe has a title, servings prep time and list of ingredients which there are only 5 of listed.
Directions are included along with servings ugggestions.
No pictures, NO nutritional ifnormation but you should be able to substitute for your healhiter dietary needs: low sodium, low fat and low sugar products along with fresh instead of canned.

T

THE PONY THAT HATES MACARONI by Tim Zak
Tablet you are forced to read the book in landscape mode. Colorful children's story about a pony who does not like macaroni.
One day the school is to have pizza but that's not right. Others love the macaroni so they finally give it a try themselves.
Cute story.

Totally Thai: Classic Thai Recipes to Make at Home by Sarah Spencer
Table of contnets where chapters are broken up into food groups.
Offer of free books. Each recipe has a title, servings, prepa nd cook times.
List of ingredients which you should be able to substitute foryour healhiter dietary needs: low fat, low sodium and low sugar products.
Directions are given and some nuttirional  information is given per servings; calories, carbs, fat NOT broken up into good or bad, sodium, protein and sugar.
There are NO pictures.
Converstion charts and oven temperature charts are included along with other works by the author.

Slow Cooker: One Month Of Make Ahead Meals Including Carnitas, Jambalaya, And Chicken Slow Cooker Recipes-Just Drop Everything In The Slow Cooker And Sashay ... Recipes, Make Ahead Meals, Freezer Meals) by Rebecca Herbertson
Table of contents where chapters are broken up into food groups.
Free bonus recipes.
Intro about slow cooking. Each recipe starts with a title, brief summary of the dish and list of ingredients which are listed as low sodium and fat free products.
Servings and how to make are included.
Nutition facts-not sure if it's by servings: calories, fat NOT broken up into good or bad, carbs, and protein.
There are NO pictures.  Should be using fresh rather than canned products as the sodium will be present with a rinseing.

Slow Cooker for Two Cookbook: The Top 100 Healthy Slow Cooking for Two Recipes by Cindy Anderson
Free book offer. Table of contents where cahpaters are broken up into food groups.
Intro about healthy slow cooking. Each recipe starts with a title and total time and servings.
Ingredient list is included and you should be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low sodium, low fat and low sugar products.
Directions are given and some nutritional info per serving: calories, fat - NOT broken up into good or bad, carbs, sugar, protein and cholesterol.
There are NO pictures.
Chart of dietry dozen and clean 15 are included at the end-pesticide data.
Measuremnt converstion tables are included and also offer for free books.

SUNDAY SAUCE - When Italian Americans Cook: Secret Italian Recipes & Favorite Dishes by Daniel Bellino-Zwicke
Book starts with intro about the format of the cookbbok and table of contents where meals are set up as described prior.
Talks about what each section means to Italian Americans.
Each recipe starts with a title and summary of the dish, ingredients which you should be able to substitute for your healthier dietary needs: low sodium, low sugar and low fat products, also fresh instead of canned products.
Directions are includedThere is no nutritional information.
There are NO pictures. Locations in ny of best places to get different variety of Italian foods.

THE WORM WHO HAS A PERM! by Tim Zak
On the tablet you are forced to read the book landscape mode.Cute, colorful, rhyming children's story about a worm who has hair like bushy and vibrant colors.
The others make fun of him but he ignores them. Others come along who are diffeernt also and they bond together. Other works by the author are highlighted at the end.

Fruit Pies: Practical Guide to Homemade Baking by Melissa Teigen
Book starts with a table of contents where dishes are not in any order.
Each recipe has a title, short sentence of the pie and list of ingredients where it also states total time and servings and calories.
List of ingredients are actually all jumbled together.
Directions included prep and cook time, and ready in minutes. Also how to prepare the dish with a tip.
Nutrition info per servings: calories, fat-NOT broken u pinto good or bad, carbs, protein, cholesterol and soidum.
There are NO pictures. Format changes often in the book. Nutritional information changes also-there is no uniform pattern: Nutrition: calories, cals from fat, total fat, sat. fat, transfat, cholesterol, sodium, potassium total carbs, dietary fiber, sugars and protein.
Not sure why the format keeps changing, should be one throughout the book.

Book Spotlight: The Daughters of Riverton Series, Book 1 and 2 by Dawn Kinzer

Free for signing up for author's newsletter: http://www.dawnkinzer.com/p/contact-me_11.html  bottom right hand corner
Maggie's Miracle
Riverton, WI 1918
Memorial Day celebrations and we find Maggie Winters with her friend Louise and she feels like she's going to faint. There are so many there, to hear her sing.
Very descriptive details as to the weather and surroundings to make you feel like you are there with them.
Prayers to the Lord along the way to help her get through it all, she needs a miracle. She is to perform a song she wrote, to commemorate all those who fight for the freedom of citizens of US.
Maggie runs into a man, confesses things to her that make her feel proud of what she's done after talking about his time during the war and it makes him feel brave.
Very short story but you get the gist of how this author writes and what's impoartant. You will like the rest of her works below.
I received this review copy by the author via Book Fun (The Book Club Network) and this is my honest opinion

AUTHOR BIO:

Dawn Kinzer writes fiction because she believes in the power of story to comfort, challenge, and inspire. 

Her work has been published in the Christian Fiction Online Magazine, Backyard Friends magazine, The One Year Life Verse Devotional, A Joyful Heart: Experiencing the Light of His Love, and featured on the radio ministry, The Heartbeat of the Home. 

Dawn’s historical romance series, The Daughters of Riverton, takes place in the early 1900s. The setting and some of the characters were inspired by her rural Wisconsin hometown. Sarah’s Smile is the first story in the series, and Hope’s Design is the second. A third novel, Rebecca’s Song, will be released in 2018.

A mother and grandmother, Dawn lives with her husband in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Favorite things include dark chocolate, cinnamon, popcorn, strong coffee, good wine, the mountains, family time, and Masterpiece Theatre.

Readers can find her at www.dawnkinzer.com.

Sarah's Smile (The Daughters of Riverton, #1) by Dawn Kinzer
Riverton, WI 1902
Book starts out with Sarah and she's working in the store when she meets Peter's child. They had grown up and knew one another since the age of 8 and he left for college and met Lilly and married her. She had died and he decided to move back to town and stay with his sister with his child. He's now a pastor and Sarah's path crosses his often as she also leads groups in the religious learnings.
We learn about Sarah's past and she feels she's living her parents past and looked down on over the years as her mother had left her for her grandmother to raise her.
Lvve hearing the passages from the Bible and how they help to justify the decisions and outcome. She needs to overcome the hurt she's feeling and move on.
Like how she wants to match the music at the service with his sermon.
She has plans to follow other missionaries to Africa very soon... Like the connection Peter's sister Ellie have with Sarah and how he choose Rebecca the school teacher to tend to daily needs of his daughter.
Like that Will is also interested in her besides the pastor and he doesn't want her to leave the area.
What I do like are unpredictable scenes.
Asking for forgiveness-what a great way to make friends.
Easy to keep character straight as there are a handful of them. Like hearing of the everyday life and work they each do and their past-helps to understand why they have strong feelings towards different subjects.
Love how he's able to talk to the blacksmith and hear how he works his problems out.  Love also how Sarah helps others with money by sharing her plants at home.
When her whole world falls apart she continues to listen to God for guidance. She has her faith still. What I like about his section is that it's similar to things that continue to happen today, being bullied and how they overcome it.  Never saw this ending coming as it did.
Discussion q&a at the end.  Author bio included. Other works by the author are highlighted.
I received this review copy by the author via Book Fun (The Book Club Network) and this is my honest opinion

Hope's Design (The Daughters of Riverton, #2) by Dawn Kinzer
Riverton, WI 1904
What I like from the very start is that Hope is a talented fashion designer and Ben, a secret has some hidden talents as well.
They are thrown together as his brother Jake likes Annie-Hope's cousin who she will be staying with for an extended time.
Like hearing of the Panama construction and the descriptions of what goes on there.
What I also like is connecting with others from the previous book, but you are brought up to date, not left in the dark about them.
I also am a fashion designer so this book is fascinating for me.
Hope has a huge secret that she doesn't want others to learn about-Annie knows and will keep her confidence.
Love how color strikes Hope and Ben also and it's a large part of the things they see in daily life.
Daisies-I also grow them myself and with my blue ktichen they fit perfect.
They find many of the same interests but she has to keep her distance because of her past secrets-she doesn't want to go through them again.
Hope becomes upset when Ben didn't stick up for others fighting...Jake informs her it is up to Ben to tell her....
Love all the discussions of the library and the fashion industry (Butterick and tatting, even memories of playing pinochle) and how Ben knows combinations of colors that go well together...through her tears (happy ones) she finds what he was hiding.
Like how they bring Rebecca into their circle. 
Hope takes it upon herself to promote Ben's work......then her ex fiancée shows up....
Love hearing how the youngest are kept busy along with everyone up to the elders in the community.
Thanksgiving holds special memories for those gathered around the table...
Discussions q&a at the end. Author bio included. Other works by the author are highlighted.
Free offer: Maggie's Miracle.
I received this review copy by the author via Book Fun (The Book Club Network) and this is my honest opinion

Book Review: What Happened at the Lake by Phil M. Williams

What Happened at the Lake by Phil M. Williams
Have read the author's otther works and love the style he has of describing things to make you feel as if you are there.
This one starts out with a scene from the war. Next it's onto a family vacation in TN and I had forgotten about kudzu-wanted to bring some home to RI with us once.
There are a lot of people, couples and those who are single and not everybody gets along with everyone. Brett is the college bound boy who's hot on Kirstin who is still 16 and is holding out for marriage years down the road. He wants sex now.
Matt had some words with others after his return from the war and they all try to avoid one another. Alex, married to Emma is the brother who set up the whole thing and he enlists Matt to keep an eye on Brett.
Seth and Rachel are engaged to be married... Love the setting and how it's all described. Gwen and Jeff had recently got married.
Love hearing of all the fun things they are doing: rope swings, pontoon boat, kayaks and discovering the islands.
Frightful horrendous events occur...family handle sit all and then some.
This book has something for everyone-travel, mystery, thriller, romance and family life. So much action and adventure. Unpredictable, full of surprises.
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.