Category Archives: Five Stars

YouTube Favorite Video Series: “Laura’s Prairie Summer” July, 2020 Recorded Live from Walnut Grove, Minnesota

Posted on July 26, 2020 | 3 comments

Hi All,

I enjoy watching movies and TV Series based on books. I believe the characters have more depth and the plots more developed when books drive the creative process of screen play creations.

My featured YouTube Video series for COVID-19 2020 Summer is “Laura’s Prairie Summer”. It is free for a little while and I hope you take the time to check out the series from the banks of Plum Creek.

This series is is straight from Walnut Grove, Minnesota and features people from all over the US that have studied or read the Laura Ingalls Wilder Books and one interview in the series was from one of the actresses that started in the “Little House on the Prairie” TV Series. The play scenes include actors from the community.

Here are the links to the shows:

Laura’s Prairie Summer Episode 1

Laura’s Prairie Summer Episode 2

Laura’s Prairie Summer Episode 3

Laura’s Prairie Summer Episode 4

Laura’s Prairie Summer Episode 5

Laura’s Prairie Summer Episode 6

I hope I have all the links correct but if in doubt just search YouTube for Laura’s Prairie Summer and all the videos will come up for you.

It’s a well done series by local people in Western Minnesota in a small town where farming is the main source of income so anything you can contribute toward the efforts to keep the Laura Ingalls Wilder museum going along with the theater group will be appreciated.

The shows are for the whole family with new scenes included – every year the community puts on a pageant with an outdoor play that is very well done. Tune in and let the kids see entertainment for the whole family. Stay safe everyone.

Photo taken on a July 26, 2014 Trip to Walnut Grove, MN Book Signing event.
Photo taken on a July 26, 2014 Trip to Walnut Grove, MN Book Signing event.
I met Sarah Uthoff featured interviewee from “Laura’s Prairie Summer Episode 2” at this July 26, 2014 Book Signing event while waiting in line
I also met Alison Arngrim at the July 26, 2014 Book signing event in Walnut Grove, Minnesota she was featured in “Laura’s Prairie Summer Episode 5” this July 24, 2020.

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Posted in 2020, 5 Stars, Book Based Movies, Book Based Plays, Book Based TV, Book Signings, Books, BookSignings, Community Theater, Education, Family Entertainment, Family Reading, Fans, Five Stars, Fun, Hope, horses, Inspire, July, July, 2020, Laura, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum, Laura Prairie Summer, Laura Prairie Summer 2020, Little House on the Prairie, Plum Creek, Readers, reading, Uncategorized, Walnut Grove, Walnut Grove Theater, Walnut Grove, Minnesota, Youtube

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Share Love of Books and Enjoy Wonderful Accommodations at Inn BoonsBoro

Posted on April 1, 2018 | 2 comments

Hi All,

I’ve had the beautiful opportunity of staying at the Inn BoonsBoro in Boonsboro, Maryland, last September, 2017.

The rooms celebrate some the great literary works of our times. In keeping with the book stylizing, the guest rooms stay true to the building’s original function and design as an Inn for travelers from 1700 Maryland.

They also have modern conveniences with free refreshments, baked goods and common area activities from games to movie/TV viewing to chatting about what we all love that visit Boonsboro for Book Signing events – books and those that make them possible the authors.

Next door you can get 5 star food at Dan’s Restaurant and Taphouse or across the street is a really terrific pizza or pasta place at Vesta Pizzeria and Family Restaurant.

For me I found the Inn a wonderful place to rest and share my love of books and have some freshly backed chocolate chip gluten free cookies, after a long hike at Antietam and the National Civil War Cemetery. Both National parks are within a 15 minute drive from the Inn. To see pictures from my September trip follow this link to my photo blog: September, 2017 Maryland Vacation Trip Highlights In Pictures 2 – Antietam National Cemetery 150th Anniversary & Inn Boonsboro Stay

The bathroom facilities were awesome too, 5 headed showers with a rain head – just like being in a gentle rain. They also had a full bath with a place to prop your book while you soaked away the days cares.

I hope to go to the Inn again in 2018. It’s a magical place attracting book and history loving people. Maybe I’ll see you there some day.

Check out this link: InnBoonsBoro 18th Century Inn and More for more event information for the Spring and you can sign up for their Newsletter too. A bit of peace and dreaming for your weekend reading.

Below are some pictures from my stay in September, 2017. Sincerely helpful staff and beautifully appointed guest rooms and shared areas make for a wonderfully restful visit. There’s a special Gifts Inn Boonsboro Inc right across the street – so be sure to stop in and get some special art, pottery or nicknack to remember your visit. All very well done and worth the trip.

Enjoy.

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Posted in Books, Boonsboro MD, Brick and Mortar Business, CivilWar, Events, Five Stars, InnBoonsBoro, Uncategorized

Endorse “Neighing with Fire” by Kathryn O’Sullivan 3rd book in the Colleen McCabe Series Release Date May 5, 2015

Posted on March 29, 2015 | Leave a comment

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I’m thankful for the opportunity to review this book before the official release.  Kathryn O’Sullivan brings us mysteries with a new flair but true to the tradition of Agatha Christie – great plots with engaging dialog.

Firefighting Chief Collen McCabe shows how well a woman performs in positions of authority and leadership. Chief McCabe not only fights fire but crime as well and still finds time to nurture a budding romance.

The story begins with the author, Kathryn O’Sullivan, breathing life into a piece of plastic sheeting from a construction site. The plastic carries the reader into the story in a kind of ballet as the sheeting takes us to a long buried crime scene. The body found is just the start of the mystery that Colleen and her friend, Sheriff  Bill Dorman, work to solve as the story unfolds.

There’s  drama in the North Carolina’s Outer Banks community between those that support the Wild horse habitat and the piping plover shore birds as well as those that would see all habitat taken up with new construction.  Colleen has a fight with Denny Custis, a ruthless land developer about these subject not long before he turns up dead at one of Chief McCabe’s fire scenes.

There’s too many that have issues with Denny and the battle over land for wild habitat versus resorts to make solving the case easy but Colleen has a hunch that the long buried body and Denny’s death are connected now all she has to find out is how.

This excerpt from”Neighing with Fire” demonstrates the compassion Chief McCabe feels for her firefighters:

“….She [McCabe] was anxious to find out how her men were doing – particularly Chip and Kenny, who had been inside the burning structure. …”

Chief McCabe shows how capable a woman is when making life and death decisions without hesitation. I hope strong women both young and old read the Colleen McCabe Series as an inspiration to aspire to the jobs that are in their heart to pursue.

Another great part of the story is the beautifully written scene depicting the picturesque setting of the Outer Banks Village of Corolla, where wild horses still roam free and fire fighters enforce no feeding laws as well as putting out engine fires for cars unfamiliar with driving on Carova Beach.

The message I take from the Colleen McCabe Series is follow your dreams, listen to the message of inner truth and strive to be the best you can be.

I’m looking forward to reading more books from the Colleen McCabe Series. I enjoy mysteries that have a message similar to the one underlying Elizabeth Peters work, highlighting Amelia Peabody’s* books, women don’t need a man to succeed they just need to believe in themselves. These books are also very well written with emphasis on the mystery.

I’m hopeful the writing of Kathryn O’Sullivan continues with many more rewarding reading experiences.

Where to find out more about the books and the author on GoodReads:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6539561.Kathryn_O_Sullivan

Author’s web page here:
www.kathrynosullivan.com

KathrynOSullivanFBPic

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Amelia Peabody

http://www.ameliapeabody.com/

Other books in the Colleen McCabe Series are:

“Murder on the Hoof” #2

http://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250049469

“Foal Play” #1

http://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250026590

 

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Posted in 5 Stars, Amazon, Amazon (Kindle), Colleen McCabe Series, fire fighters, Five Stars, Foal Play, Inspire, Island, Kathryn, Kathryn O'Sullivan, KOBookReviews, Library, murder, Murder on the Hoof, MurderMysteries, mysteries, Mystery, Nature Conservation, Neighing with Fire, North Carolina, O'Sullivan, Outer Banks Village, piping plover shore birds habitat, Resorts, Wild Horse Habitat, Woman Detectives, Woman Sleuth, Woman with Authority, women empowered, Writing

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Recommend JD Robb’s Survivor In Death

Posted on October 12, 2014 | Leave a comment

I’m traveling to Boonsboro, Maryland for the November 1st book signing event at Turn The Page Bookstore Cafe see this link for further details:   http://ttpbooks.com/category/VB.html

I’ve been listening to the In Death Series on digital audio and just completed book 20 in the series.
SURVIVOR IN DEATH AUDIO (select for prices)

This title is available via this link:  http://ttpbooks.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Store_Code=TTPB&Screen=PROD&Product_Code=1AUDIOJDRa20

Summerset shines in this continuing story of the crime busting, Lieutenant Eve Dallas.  10 year old Nixie Swisher finds solace with Summerset when Lieutenant Dallas needs to keep her safe in the fortress Roarke built.
JD Robb writes several moving and vivid scenes in “Survivor In Death”.  The most memorable was the trip to the morgue to take Nixie to say goodbye to her murdered family.  Every time I read this section of the book I cry.  It reminds me so much of those I’ve said goodbye to as a child and adult.  The crowning scene though is when Nixie goes back to Lieutenant Eve and Roarke’s house and sits with Summerset.  Brings tears to my eyes just remembering the moment between them. Take some time today and experience these touching scenes.  This story is also a great Fall book – I love how Peabody describes the falling leaves and how bare the trees are after all the leaves have gone before the first snow falls.  So true to the mid-west and New York too. May you find comfort for any loses you’ve experienced as you read “Survivor In Death”. Peace.

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Posted in 5 Stars, Audiobooks, BookReviews, Books, BookSignings, Brick and Mortar Business, BrillianceAudio, Child Grief, fantasy, Five Stars, JDRBookReviews, JDRobb, Mystery, New York, Overcoming Grief, Romantic Suspense, Turn The Page Bookstore Cafe

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Recommend JD Robb’s Festive In Death

Posted on September 29, 2014 | Leave a comment

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I recommend “Festive In Death”, by J.D. Robb.

Trina needs to tag Eve in this story when a friend finds herself in a situation that demands the services of a murder cop.

J.D. Robb delivers in this fresh In Death tale of double crossing lovers and a conniving personal trainer.

I didn’t figure out who did the murder until the very end.  The journey to finding the murderer is brilliantly interwoven with Christmas shopping, and preparing for the annual gala thrown at Lieutenant Dallas and Roarke palatial home.

J.D. Robb  is an artist painting a word picture with fantastic dialog and narration that is completely engrossing.  The world and characters that make up the In Death series is maintained and consistent with each new release.  Festive In Death develops Trina in a new way without taking away from the core players that all fans love so well.

Susan Ericksen, In Death narrator in the audiobooks, does an excellent job bringing each character to life with her voice inflection and flowing delivery of the script.  I purchased my copy with my iPhone at the iTunes store.  Listening to the reading is like attending a play.  Every move, feeling and expression is represented during the telling.

I appreciate both the hard copy and the audiobook each have their own gifts to bring to the story and reader.

Thank you J.D. Robb for writing another best seller that stays true to the beautiful characters you have created over the years.  I also appreciate the signed copy – you know how to treat your fans and I’m happy to be one.

Turn The Page Bookstore Cafe http://ttpbooks.com/ is also something I’m grateful for – offering book signings both on site and virtually.  I know it takes a lot of work to track all the orders and get them safely to their destinations.  Thanks to one and all.

Peace,

In Death Series Fan,

Melissa Blanchard

 

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Posted in 5 Stars, BookReviews, Books, BookSignings, Bookstores, Brick and Mortar Business, Five Stars, JDRBookReviews, Lt Eve Dallas, MurderMysteries, Mystery, New York, Nora, Nora Roberts, NoraRoberts, Novel, Turn The Page Bookstore Cafe

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Book Reviews Coming Soon

Posted on August 1, 2014 | Leave a comment

Hi All,

I haven’t forgotten my book reviews just have to make the time to write about the fantastic books I’ve read recently.

THE ROYERS OF RENFREW by Marie & Maxine Beckroyers

Just finished this book from a Nora Robert Book signing event and available at ttpbook.com at this link http://ttpbooks.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Store_Code=TTPB&Screen=PROD&Product_Code=tBMM_ROYERS1

This is a wonderfully written account of one family’s experiences for one year living in the 1800’s in Pennsylvania USA.  Ups and down’s of growing up before there was indoor plumbing, electricity and hard wood floors.

I’ll write more about this book soon.  Catching up on all my blogs and finding it a pleasure to share my thoughts on the books I love to read.

All your comments are welcome.  Keep on reading and writing both lift the soul and spirit to learn, share and grow.

Peace,

Melissa Blanchard

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Posted in 5 Stars, BookReviews, Books, BookSignings, Bookstores, Education, Family Reading, Five Stars, Fun, G Rated, Marie & Maxine Beck, Turn The Page Bookstore Cafe

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“The Ornament” by Zeke Changuris

Posted on June 28, 2014 | Leave a comment

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What sets “The Ornament” by Zeke Changuris apart making it a must read novel for all ages?  This is the journey of a young photojournalist striving to be the best when the woman of his dreams starts working at the same TV news station.  The courtship of Amy and Sam is full of all the detail of what goes into being a good news anchor and photojournalist along with all the personal struggles these two face living life.

Zeke shows us how a single frame of video captures the emotions of a moment out of time.  He brings to sharp focus all that goes into being human from dating, marriage and finding the courage to say what’s in you heart to a woman you’ve loved all your life.

“The Ornament” allows us to see inside the TV news profession in a whole new way.  Zeke details the ups and downs in a news anchor’s and photojournalist’s personal as well as professional life.  The journey takes us to Hagerstown, Maryland  to Operation Freedom in Iraq and back to Washington, DC.

Zeke Changuris writes from the heart about a profession he loves and how hard it is to find and keep true love.  Zeke’s characters are easy to imagine as well as the places they inhabit.  Vivid descriptions as only a photographer can capture are brought to life in Zeke’s dialog and narrative.  Beautifully and poignantly written.

Reading to me is finding something new about the human condition that is both inspiring and helps me see myself a little more clearly.  “The Ornament” does this and more.  It pulls the emotions out of me.  I feel for Sam and I have a better understanding of what a man experiences as he travels through life.

Thank you, Zeke Changuris for sharing these beautiful characters with me and all readers that enjoy a story that celebrates living life to the fullest.  Keep on writing from the heart, Zeke, you have a gift to not only bring characters to life off the page but to also share the complex emotions that make up each and everyone of us.

I bought my copy at the following link:  http://ttpbooks.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Store_Code=TTPB&Screen=PROD&Product_Code=ZC_ORNAMENT

From Turn the Page Bookstore Cafe at a Nora Roberts sponsored book signing event.  I hope you all take a few minutes to check out this book and order from TTPBooks.com a safe and secure way to get books quickly and in great condition all over the world.

“The Ornament” is a must read book for our time for all ages.  My book reviews are my own.  I only strive to help readers find books that I’ve enjoyed and found some new insights into the human condition.  Comments are welcomed.

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Posted in 5 Stars, BookReviews, Books, BookSignings, Bookstores, Changuris, Emotion, Five Stars, Giving, Hope, Inspire, Novel, Passion, Photography, The Ornament, Turn The Page Bookstore Cafe, TV News Profession, You Make a Difference, Zeke Changuris, ZekeChanguris

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“Beyond Bridalveil Fall (Dwellers of Ahwahnee)” by Sheryl Seal

Posted on June 21, 2014 | Leave a comment

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I found this book on Twitter when Sheryl Seal (@sherylseal) tweeted the cover art.  It is amazingly beautiful.  When I found out it is the cover art of a book I knew I had to read it.

What’s so special about “Beyond Bridalveil Fall (Dwellers of Ahwahnee)”?  It takes us on journey into the spiritual part of our being.  Into that part of us that makes us part of the universe.  Sheryl also introduces us to the consequences of unharnessed emotion and the price we all pay when we fail to control our thoughts and feelings.

“Beyond Bridalveil Fall (Dwellers of Ahwahnee)” shows us why it is so important that we get to know our inner selves.  Sheryl delves into what makes us human and unique.  She demonstrates how important it is to be straight with ourselves and others.

Any young adult to senior citizen (rated G for wholesome family reading) will find “Beyond Bridalveil Fall (Dwellers of Ahwahnee)” engaging and inspiring.  Sheryl writes from the heart and pens imagery like the cover art that moves us to try and capture all the beauty that is around us.

“Beyond Bridalveil Fall (Dwellers of Ahwahnee)” is fantasy that has roots in reality.  All that experience life will find moments from Oria journey to womanhood that connect with their soul.  Keep on writing Sheryl Seal you have a gift that speaks to the heart.

I purchased my copy for iPad Kindle on Amazon at this link:

Paper back copies are also available.

Adding these 2 to my must read list:

Oria Falls 3rd

 

 

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Posted in 5 Stars, Amazon, Amazon (Kindle), Beyond Bridalveil Fall (Dwellers of Ahwahnee), BookReviews, Books, ebook, Emotion, fantasy, Five Stars, Hope, horses, Inspire, Sheryl, Sheryl Seal, SherylSeal, Soul, Spiritual, Uncategorized, Universe

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