Book Review: Yankees New England Adventures from the editors of Yankee Magazine

Yankees New England Adventures, from the editors of Yankee Magazine, offers readers a go-to source for in-depth travel information, with the photography and practical know-how that Yankee readers have come to expect. Whether you are interested in exploring the vibrant culture of tiny villages or big cities, eating outstanding meals in colonial inns or vintage diners, rambling through art museums or up steep wooded hills, this is the guide for you. An island stuck in the 19th century? A walk-in, stained-glass globe? A place where you can eat Thanksgiving dinner every day of the year? From the golden dunes of Nantucket to the alpine tundra of the White Mountains, from the blue waters of Lake Champlain to the green grass of Boston Common, travelers and residents alike will find over 400 local secrets, out-of-the-way places, and unique experiences in all six states of this remarkable region of America. Live the Yankee lifestyle and get on the road with Yankee’s New England Adventures.

Yankees New England Adventures is a lovely book for those that live in New England (like myself) and wonder what fun or beautiful things they might have missed over the years, and for those planning a visit. I am glad to say that I have visited most of the listed locations for my home state, and a good number of the locations in the others. I enjoyed seeing the photographs and reading the practical and succinct descriptions of locations that are familiar to me, and some that I have yet to visit. While not all of the information is absolutely correct, for instance Sleeping Giant State Park is still mostly closed- but who involved in publishing this book could have predicted a crazy tornado hitting Connecticut and causing the amount of damage it did to the area. However, I still think this is a great resource for planning a day trip or staycation if you are local, or a lovely time away for those coming from further away. I enjoyed the information and images, and the ideas the read gave me about where I can drag my family the next time I get the urge to explore.

Book Review: I Dream of Dragons by Ashlyn Chase

I Dream of Dragons is the first book in the Boston Dragons series by Ashlyn Chase. While this is the start of a new series, Chase fans will recognize the Boston location and several characters from the Strange Neighbors series. It can stand on its own just fine, but readers that are caught up on the entire reading list from Chase might see some of their favorite characters have a cameo here.

When Rory Arish and his two fiery dragon siblings are run out of their ancestral Irish home, it seems their luck has run out. That is until they arrive in Boston and find a paranormal-friendly apartment building. There is only one problem; Rory's new lair has simultaneously been rented to an infuriating woman who is as stubborn as she is beautiful and will not leave 'her' apartment matter how steamed he may be. Amber McNally is a down-on-her-luck flight attendant. She needs this apartment, and not even a fire-breathing dragon with his Irish charm and scorching good looks is going to scare her away. Holing up in their respective corners, a battle of wills ensues. Who will be the first to blink, or give in to their off-the-charts chemistry and decide to make this unorthodox living arrangement a little more permanent? 

I Dream of Dragons is a great weekend read. Rory and his sister have been falsely accused for theft by leprechauns and banned from Ireland. Amber is looking for a new home and a new start in life. When the two desperate renters clash over an apartment and more things get heated in more ways than one. I like that we also get a look at how Rory's sister settle in and the leprechauns search for the missing gold. This might be a fun, light hearted read with plenty of humor and hot moments. However, it is not simple. There is plenty going on and it kept me eagerly turning pages and looking forward to see what crazy thing was going to happen next. Supernaturals of all sorts, including ghosts and muses, keep things very interesting. I got a kick out of the book and am fast becoming a fan of Chase.

I Dream of Dragons is a fast and fun paranormal romance. I like that there were several interesting new characters introduced and I wonder where Chase will take the dragons and residence of the paranormal club from here.

Early Book Review: Wildflowers of New England by Ted Elliman and the New England Wild Flower Society

Wildflowers of New England by Ted Elliman and the New England Wild Flower Society is currently scheduled for release on March 9 2016. This book is a comprehensive guide which describes and illustrates more than 900 species of wildflowers commonly encountered in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. It includes perennials, annuals, and bulbs; both native and naturalized. The plants are organized first by flower color and then by petal shape.  this helpful guide boasts thousands of color photographs.

Wildflowers of New England has thousand of color photographs showing the details needed to positively identify any of the over 900 included species. There is a good amount of introductory information for those using the guide. This information includes an explanation of plant parts, keys to the plants, and information on plant names. Each plant's photograph is paired with the scientific and more common information about the species such as state they are found in, whether parts of the plant are toxic, and so much more. There is so much information included in each entry, and the organization and detail make this a wonderfully helpful guide for anyone interested in identifying the plants that might spring up in their yards or that they might discover on a hike or while foraging.

Wildflowers of New England is a great tool for those looking to identify plants, and to get detailed information on the species that they see around them. 

Literary Landmarks in New England; Tour 9 Legendary Locations to Literature

Literature fans might want to see where famed writers Louisa May Alcott, Herman Melville, Samuel Clemens and Henry David Thoreau composed their most influential works. Enjoy these sites as individual day trips of on a literary pilgrimage through the area to satisfy your curiosity and find your own inspiration.

The Harriet Beecher Stowe Center in Hartford Connecticut is where this author lived from 1873 until she died in 1896. Stowe is most regarded for writing Uncle Tom's Cabin, however she wrote over thirty books.Uncle Tom's Cabin challenged the nation to really think about slavery and still resonates with many as a great work of literature and protest. The center has her spindle, rare manuscripts, books and several kinds of personal artifacts on display. There are specialized tours available for each season as well as dedicated tours for children and garden fans.

The Mark Twain House in Hartford Connecticut is where Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, lived from 1874 to 1891. He wrote The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,The Prince and The Pauper and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court while living in this home. The site houses a museum with rare manuscripts, artwork and personal artifacts from Clemens life. There is a two thousand square foot gallery with exhibits, which are changed regularly. There are daily tours and special scheduled events throughout the year. Tickets for seniors are $13, $15 for adults and $9 for children between six and sixteen. Parking is ample and free. While the main floor and museum is handicap accessible the full tour of the home includes navigating three flights of stairs.

Monte Cristo Cottage in New London is the last Connecticut stop in the literary landmark legacy. This home is where Nobel Prize winning playwright Eugene O'Neill spent his formative years. He set two of his most famous plays in the area, 'Long Day's Journey Into Night" and his comedy "Ah! Wilderness". There are multimedia exhibits, memorabilia and artifacts on display. The site is run by the O'Neill Theater and is only open from Memorial Day through Labor Day each year, so I suggest always checking ahead before planning to visit the museum.

The Emily Dickinson Museum in Amherst Massachusetts is comprised of two separate homes. The Homestead is Dickinson's birthplace, and where she called home for her entire life. The historic home next door was home to her brother Austin and his family. The furniture in both homes is true to the era and lifestyle of the Dickinson family. There are three different tours available for visitors, each to fit different sets of interests. The site is closed in January and February as well as on a few holidays. The homes are both handicap accessible on the first floor, but due to the historical nature of the grounds there are no elevators for access to the second stories and air quality may be an issue for those with respiratory complications.

Longfellow House in Cambridge Massachusetts was home to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow from 1837 to 1882. The site has books, portraits and historic furnishings on display. The house was also headquarters for General George Washington during the Siege of Boston in July 1775 through April 1776. This site offers many layers of literary and historic value for visitors. With this in mind there are a variety of tours available, I suggest calling ahead to see when tours for your interests are being given. If you are planning on including this stop keep in mind that the only on site parking is for handicapped visitors. However, there is abundant metered parking nearby.

Herman Melville's Arrowhead in Pittsfield Massachusetts offers visitors a glimpse at the view that is said to have inspired the white whale in Moby Dick. The view from his study window is the imposing Mount Graylock. Visitors can tour the authors two story home and the restored barn where he enjoyed conversations with Nathaniel Hawthorne. Learn about Melville's daily life, journeys at sea and enjoy walking the same paths he once trod. The site is open from Memorial Day through Columbus Day for daily tours, however off season tours are available by reservation. 

The Orchard House in Concord Massachusetts is where Louisa May Alcott lived from 1858 to 1877. Visitors can see the small desk shaped like a half moon where she wrote Little Women. Tours of the home really make scenes from the book come alive. Guided tours of the Alcott family home offer visitors a chance to see objects of great importance to the family as well as a home that still looks much like it did while they lived there. This site is open year round, but hours vary depending on the season.

Ralph Waldo Emerson Memorial House in Concord Massachusetts is a frame home in which Emerson lived most of his adult life and wrote Self Reliance and The American Scholar. He was a great influence of other American thinkers in his work and lectures on morality, the abolition of slavery and personal responsibility. Personal artifacts of Emerson are on display in the house. The site is open from the middle of April through October each year, although calling ahead is advised. Unfortunately the home is not handicap accessible.

Robert Frost Stone House Museum in South Shaftsbury Vermont was Frost's home from 1920 through 1929. It is where he composed "Stopping by Woods on a Snowing Evening" which was part of his New Hampshire volume of poetry which won his first Pulitzer Prize. The timbered barn which Frost had written about in his poetry lies within the seven acre estate. Exhibits and lectures give visitors the feeling that they really know Frost and how he lived. There is also space dedicated to the work of J. J. Lankes, who did the beautiful wood cut images that decorated Frost's books in the 1920's. The museum is only minutes away from Frost's grave in Bennington Vermont. The site is open from tours daily from May though November.