Life Is a Lark at Willow Grove Park
586760
This is a well-documented book on the origins of amusement parks, movie theaters and their common roots in the electric streetcar/interurban industry of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A bit more detail and a few more photographs would have been useful, but overall an excellent history. Long live Willow Grove Park!
1548419
Since I left my childhood many years ago, most of the time I am absorb with reading books which are intended for adult audience. I am extremely happy that this time I made my decision to skip the routine and jump to the children's classic "Wind in the Willows". I found this little piece of art to be remarkable charming, poetic and sweetly enjoyable read. I simply couldn't put it down. Every time I was passing through pages, I found myself in the country dreamland, almost feeling the breeze in the reeds at the river's bank. I could see vividly the bubbling, clear water and hear all animals talking. I fall in love with all the characters in the story and their little adventures - such a pity that I miss this one during my childhood years.
1712650
Will please a reader with good humor, family bonds and the connection between true friends. I enjoyed it from the minute I started reading it. The small town setting with it's beauty and charm makes you want to be included in the population.
1121128
I heard tales about this guide from two of the park rangers that we met in Algonquin Park this fall. If you love Algonquin Park you'll love the stories told here.
4243381
Love this book! The illustrations are beautiful and fun, they feel like a walk in the woods. The cute dog, only a presence in the illustrations (not the text) brings a real personality to the pictures and can be fun to find in some of them. The thing I love the most about this book is that it's set in and explores wilderness and the cycle of seasons. Lyon's words, as ever, delight the heart and mind.
890827
Sheila Roberts takes us back to Heart Lake, the small town we got to know in Love In Bloom, and introduces us to three interesting women: Sarah, Jamie, and Emma.

Sarah is in her 50s and married. Her grown children live out of town and she needs to feel needed. She's the owner of a bakery and decides to use her skills to do a good deed. Sarah's niece Jamie is a chocolatier and business is good. She's glad to be busy and doesn't need to have a social life unless it involves the "Have a Heart" campaign. Emma, owner of a quilt shop, is Jamie's friend. She has mostly given up on her own "happily ever after" so in her free time she watches old movies and lives vicariously. She has a good heart and can't quite figure out why things don't work out in real life the way they do in movies. I enjoyed all three characters but found Sarah to be a bit of a kindred spirit - we're in the same age demographic. She has a good sense of humor and I related to her feelings about her kids living too far away.

The "acts of kindness" program is a lovely theme that brings people together at the perfect time of year - the holidays. No matter how small, an act of kindness can have a huge effect on people. Each of the women find out that it can have a positive effect or it can produce a totally unexpected result.

There are serious as well as funny moments as the plan is put into action.  Angel Lane is an entertaining and heart-warming novel - perfect for the holidays or any time of year. I feel inspired by this novel and more aware of my own ability to do random acts of kindness. I recommend Angel Lane.
436447
FLYING SHOES reminds me what belonging to a community is all about. Im laughing and having a good time with some of the other reviewers: some of us didn't know quite what to expect. The books description speaks of an old child molestation and murder case: something dark that needs to be solved. Butthen. We hear how Krogers has better produce; an Acid Reflux Pillow sells for $59.99. We hear about the family: everything about how they keep their rooms to the secrets they keep. We hear about the neighbors, and the people down the block, and the people across town. Its lovely.

So yes, this book is not for everyone. There are several characters involved here. Each of them are unique and whacky; each of them totally believable. The quality of writing from Lisa Howarth (of Square Books, Oxford, MS fame) ties it all together wonderfully. One after another: metaphors, analogies, and even some hyperbole. Its all personable, fun, andagainlovely.

I think you get the picture. This is a tribute to who we are. Whether the community is a small town in the Midwest (such as where I grew up), a group of book bloggers and reviewers, friends on Facebook, co-workersanythingtheres always something going on and something to get into. We all bring something special to the table. In the end, the big issues may not get solved, but weve got plenty else to consume our time and talents with.

So, don't read this for the mystery or thrills. Just come on down and visit for a while. Youll enjoy the zany individual stories and interconnectedness of it all.

Thanks to Bloomsbury for offering a digital version of this book for my review.
1528289
The novel starts in the 30's and ends in 1971 when the Park closes. The main characters are the Stopka's: Eddie, Jack and Toni. The story features the families' ups and downs and how they handled what came their way. The book has WWII, some parts in Hawaii, high-diving, and other interesting places. The main feature, however, is Palisades Park--- the concessions, rides, Midway, acts and the famous salt-water pool.
This book brought back so many memories that I had of the 50's and 60's. I've been to the Park, been on the rides, played the games, went to the arcade, the pool and ate the fabulous food. Those French fries were the BEST I've ever ate! They were thick-cut and in a white paper cup; I liked ketchup on them, even though there was vinegar, too. I remember the free-act stage where I saw Cousin Brucie. I was in the front row to see Fabian . Missed the day they had some other rock and roll groups and Murray the K. -- The writer mentioned he used to live in the area; and he has also done his research of places, roads and towns. i recognize alot of them because i lived up there during those times. Most books after I read them I trade or give away, but not this one. It is a keeper !!
2592911
Loved the book. I need to research the relationship of Laura to Flora. The descriptions of the field with wild flowers were well done. I could see them in my mind's eye. Also loved description of Larks Rise with its winding paths in which one can get lost.
657362
All the wild creatures that Louise captures and lovingly observes must go back to their natural habitats by sundown. This is a rule made by her gentle father who works for the Park Service and writes articles about nature.

Louise tells her own story, and this preteen's first-person voice is perfect. She's an unusual kid, especially by today's standards, because she has grown up living in a nearly wilderness setting. In clear detail, she talks about her love for the crows who communicate with her and each other. Like her carnivorous cat, crows are not all sweetness and light. But she loves both cat and crows with her whole heart. So it's very hard for her to spend the summer with her aunt and uncle in a community for retirees, where she is probably the only child. Her father is on a writing assignment in Brazil, and she doesn't even have the comfort of her beloved cat; he's been left at home to be cared for by friends. Louise feels trapped in her aunt and uncle's beautiful house. When she goes exploring nearby, she discovers small remnants of the natural world  even in this suburban area. Louise also makes a good friend, a girl her own age. But she still misses her dad, the crows, and her cat.

The cover illustration on the book depicts a dead crow, visually foreshadowing a darker side to the story. Louise's aunt and uncle had a daughter who was killed in a horseback-riding accident, and Louise suffers her own loss during this summer. She finds comfort in her love for nature but also realizes that she needs to accept and appreciate the very supportive people in her life.

Although this is what's called a "quiet" book, it kept me totally engaged. Louise is such an appealing character, and her situation feels quite real. Children who are fascinated by creatures - from spiders to jaguars - will see themselves in Louise. Others may discover in THE SUNDOWN RULE a whole new and wonderful perspective on the natural world.
300457
K'Lar and D'Ree are a pair of hawks that have left their summer home of Mexico to return to Canada. They want to find their old nest before D'Ree lays her next clutch of eggs. However, they arrive at their old nesting area to discover it has been destroyed to make room for human buildings. As they are desperately trying to find a new home, an older hawk, T'Nal, offers the use of his hunting area. He is widowed and alone. He quickly becomes family to the pair of hawks and their new brood. The story continues with the day-to-day activities of the hawks as they teach their young fledglings about their world. They learn about humans from a wise, old owl who teaches all the young animals in the hunting area. They learn about Mother Nature and are taught to respect all life. They learn how to hunt for food and stay away from humans. The rest of the book follows the lives of the hawk family and the adventures they have as they migrate to their winter home in Mexico.

If you have a love for animals, this is definitely a book for you. I was impressed with the writing style. The author writes from the hawks' point of view, while giving the different animals human emotions and qualities. The animals each have distinct personalities. The story is captivating and moves at a quick pace. The author shows us a look at the world around us from an animal's point of view.
810908
Everything changes when the  quiet, serene community of southeast coast of Newfoundland, Canada, is shaken up by the murder of Amy Parsons, a champion rower in the Women's Championship Race at the St. John's Regatta. And suddenly nothing seems to make sense anymore. What was the purpose of the Chinese tourists, led by a Russian tour guide earlier in the year? The discovery of a pink mobile phone with the numbers of prominent public officials including a judge and a Member of the House of Assembly, and senior police officers from both the RCMP and the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary are kept a secret. Possible exposure will have several heads rolling; people are nervous; and sergeant Windflower is center to all the mayhem which secretly rages through the inner circle of power and privilege. Loyalty and friendships are tested. Yes, some powerful people are looking to bury this stuff deeper than the mines on Bell Island and sergeant Windflower's sense of fairness is in the way.

Through it all, Windflower is bombarded with weird dreams, which only his uncle Frank, a dream weaver, can interpret. A new world of voices from the past opens up for Windflower.

 It is as much a community story as it is a detective, murder mystery; just as much a love story as it is a celebration of Canadian customs and cultures, a travel journal. Informative, yes. A gentle, dignified approach to serious issues. The combination of all these elements ensures that the community of Grand Bank won't be forgotten. I loved the opportunity to be back and enjoying their company again. This book is the next best thing to living there!

 A much enjoyable read.
1149184
This book was recommended to me by the Howells book club . I could literally not put this book down! I like that the characters are carrying through book to book. It is nice to imagine what Willow Creek looks like from the descriptions given by the author. Awesome job!
4331432
This book was filled with sarcasm, witticisms, and those everyday moments we all wish we could remember to share with others. A delightful peek into their adventure across the parks, the personal arguments and inner narratives providing color to an otherwise fairly normal multi-park journey. I highly recommend it for a quick fun read
3850502
Oh, how good this series is for its love of life!  The characters are genuine and endearing; the stories rich and full of wisdom and insight; the setting  particularly beautiful and pleasing to one accustomed to suburban life.  You will be taken up the Land of Lark Rise and Candleford, made the richer for it, and gently return from one episode to the next with a bit more gentleness and understanding.  And perhaps that will become your one strength...and weakness.
2069297
I have en joyed Hearthland Volume1.  You meet some charters, like Willow, Chad and more that you have already know from ".Past Forward".You also meet new people that are interested on Willow life style.  Ralph is trying to make that life style happen in a community form. Look forward to the next Volume.
328440
Colorado Winter Moon is Book 6 of 7 in the Peakview Series.  Even though I had not read the previous 5 books in the series, I was drawn by the title and cover of the book.  Jill Haymaker brings us to an adorable little town in Northern Colorado where we are introduced to one of the main characters, Sam Philips.  Sam is not only the local lawyer, but also the owner of the local hardware store.  We learn that Sam is a widower and his daughter lives in California.  As luck would have it, Sam is introduced to a fellow widower, Vickie Dalton during a wedding in Peakview.  I am sure some of the characters were introduced at some point in the earlier 5 books but I never felt that I was lost while reading.  Ms. Haymaker does an excellent job with the character development and I was never second guessing who was who.  The relationship between Sam and Vickie was a sweet one.  I felt myself cheering them on hoping that they could make the distance between their homes in Colorado and Wyoming work.  Overall, a quick and easy weekend read.  I would definitely read more from the author.