And Then She Fell by Dreena Collins

 

And Then She Fell by Dreena Collins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A mother's love knows no bounds but as a mother, how well do you know your children? Catherine Keely's daughter Susie died a year ago. She was on holiday with her boyfriend Daniel and some friends when she fell over a balcony. Was she drunk? Some say she was. Was she pushed? It's pretty suspect. Catherine travels to Crete to try to get to the bottom of her daughter's death. There are so many questions that she has. As she meets with Susie's friends, her former boyfriend, and people who were present on the night of Susie's death, different pictures emerge. All of them have some layer of truth to them but what really is the truth? She's presented with ten different scenarios and the reader is challenged to choose the correct one.

This is another new-to-me author and I found her writing style to be very easy to read. She has a way of drawing the reader in to her story and not letting go even after the last words are read. This book is full of intrigue and lots of twists and turns. I hope you'll enjoy this great little short story!

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The Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch by Julia Brewer Daily

 

The Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch by Julia Brewer Daily
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book took my pleasantly by surprised. This is a new-to-me author and I fell in love with her writing from page 1. This is a dual told story from the perspective of Josie (the mother) and Emma (the daughter). I didn't want this story to end!

This is a story of the love between a mother and daughter and how that love is deeper than most. The Thorn Ranch has been run and managed by a very successful line of strong Rosales women. Emma is the heir to the ranch and is a bit of a wild heart. She's out on an adventure when her horse becomes injured and she's a three-day ride from home. That adventure escalates when she discovers a whole new group of people on her land. Will Emma ever make it back home to her distraught mother?

I can't say much more without giving away too much of this book. If you're looking for a great adventure read, give this one a chance!

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If I Had a Magic Wand by Melissa Lavi

 

If I had a Magic Wand by Melissa Lavi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a very sweet book that would make a beautiful gift for a baby shower or the birth of a new baby. It is written in flowy poetry and features a wand that is passed around. As the wand is passed, the person holding it bestows a wish on the young one. It's very sentimental, inspiring, and sweet!

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Murder on Oak Street ( A South Shore Mystery Book 1) by I.M. Foster

 

Murder on oak street by I. M. Foster
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you love a good mystery full of plot twists, this one is for you! The author keeps you guessing right up until the very end, which will keep you engrossed in the story.

Daniel O'Halleran is tired of people overlooking theories and facts regarding murders. What point is there in working a case if they are going to come to the conclusion that they want regardless of the actual events? When his fiance stands him up at the altar, Daniel knows it's time for a change. When he starts looking into a two year old murder case for a new acquaintance, he realizes it's the first murder he ever worked and nothing seemed right about it to him. Then another murder takes place, practically in Daniel's backyard and it's just too uncanny for him.

This is a new-to-me author and I wasn't sure about this book at first. I'm so glad that I gave it a chance as it's highly enjoyable, and as previously mentioned, will keep you guessing on the mystery of these two murders.

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Amaleigha and the Big Idea by Janice Pratt

 

Amaleigha and the Big Idea by Janice Pratt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Amaleigha is an adorable 5 year old girl who wants to change the world. Imagine if 5 year olds ran the world!! There would be all sorts of fun activities and that's just want Amaleigha wants. She goes off running barefoot through the woods, laying in the grass looking up at the sky, playing in water...she's become one with nature and loves how it makes her feel. It's her desire to share that with everyone so one night after dinner, she shares her plan with her family and they wholeheartedly support her.

This is a great book to inspire confidence in a young mind. It also goes to show that you can do anything you set your mind too. This book, while it features a young girl, could also be applied to a young boy as well.

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The Kidnapping by Linda Burson

 

The Kidnapping by Linda Burson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Linda Burson is a new-to-me author but not for long as I will be looking for more of her books. I love her writing style!

Jenna has recently left her fiancé Steve. All he wanted was her money but she wanted so much more. Jenna starts scoping out new hangouts and finds a bar where no one really knows who she is or how much money she has. She's sworn off men but then Andy walks in the bar. Andy's minding his own business but finds Jenna to be an interesting and slightly attractive woman. Jenna reciprocates the feelings. It's when Andy is handed an envelope that things start to change for these two strangers. Inside the envelope is a note with a significant amount of cash. Andy has to make a decision as to what to do with this envelope and the knowledge that he now has.

This is the where they mystery begins. I'll not ruin anything but the reader will be in for a pretty wild ride with these two and this envelope.

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Mis-Spelled (The Stellaluna Chronicles Book 1) by TH Leatherman

 

Mis-Spelled: Book One of the Stellaluna Chronicles by T.H. Leatherman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a super fun, sometimes hilarious, young adult featuring fantasy and loads of fun! One day, Evan is evading the bullies at school, the next he finds himself jumping over a ravine and he's in a strange land. A land filled with fairies and goblins and the Elven Queen who might be his only chance to return home. In order to return home, he must complete three specific tasks given to him by the Queen. The tasks may sound easy but in reality, they are quite challenging! And if he fails? He owes ten years of service to the Queen. However, time in this new mysterious realm is not like the time we know. Can he complete the tasks and go home? What lessons will he learn along the way?

This is a fun book to read that is pretty entertaining. I look forward to reading more books in this series!

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Scepter of Flint (The Lord Hani Mysteries Book 3) by N.L. Holmes

 

Scepter of Flint by N.L. Holmes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Many times when a book is picked up for the first time in the middle of a series, it can be difficult to navigate what has been missed out on. This being the third book in the series and not having read the other two previous books, I wasn't sure if I could follow the story or not. However, the author does a great job of "catching up" the reader making this book able to be a stand alone. I'll be looking forward to going back and reading the first two books though since finishing this one!

This book is set in Egypt, not a setting you see a lot in today's literature and features tomb robbing and the plague. Lord Hani is tasked with finding out who's behind all the robberies while trying to keep everyone safe from the plague. It can be a difficult job when his witnesses keep coming up dead!!

Enjoy this fantastic historical read!

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Super Enemies by Lois Wickstrom

 

Super Enemies by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"Mira and Carl are enemies. They are also brother and sister."

This book focuses on the mutual love that is shared by siblings. By mutual love, I mean the torturous kind where one tries to outdo their sibling(s). Things like fighting over where to sit in the car, what book to read, what activity to participate in, etc. Mira and Carl find that they have so much fun that they want to do it again tomorrow!

This is a cute kids book and another one by a favorite author! Small children who have siblings will be able to identify with Mira and Carl and their daily antics. This book shows who a person can be individual but yet still participate in the activities and lives of others.

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Ghost Talker (Madame Chalamet Ghost Mysteries Book 1) by Byrd Nash

 

Ghost Talker by Byrd Nash
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When the opening line of the book reads "Dead bodies interrupted my dessert course" the book can't be anything but good!

Elinor Chalamet is a "ghost talker" and she's been trying to solve her father's death for many years. When a local incident arises where a ghost talker might be helpful, she's summoned and finds herself at the Duke's residence...held prisoner. The Duke keeps getting in her way and preventing her from doing her due diligence with these ghosts. The Duke is also relying on Elinor's knowledge of precious gems to help him find a missing piece of the royal gems. Will the Duke move out of the way and allow Elinor to do what she does best?

This was a short little novella that I understand is part of a 6 book series. I look forward to reading more of Elinor's adventures and seeing where the love interest goes.

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After She Became a Lady by Wareeze Woodson

 

After She Became a Lady by Wareeze Woodson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

She's at the tender age of 17 years old but Laurel Collingsworth knows without a doubt she wants to marry Lord Robert Laningham. Her aunt is beside herself because this just isn't how things are done! However, aunt Betsy relents and Laurel and Lord Robert are married. Just as soon as they arrive at their manor, things start to challenge their marriage. First of all, Lord Robert failed to sharing his upcoming nuptials with his twin sister, Rhonda. Let's just say that Rhonda does not handle this news well at all because now there are two Lady Laninghams and Rhonda's not ready to share that title with anyone. Then, just mere days after their marriage, Lord Robert is called away to fight in the war, leaving his new wife with his hostile and, dare I say, crazy, sister. Will Laurel ever be able to adjust to this new life and deal with her sister-in-law?

This book was enjoyable and kept to a lot of historical speech. I found myself laughing at some of the language used, as it's not heard anymore and sounded funny. There were parts of this book that were never resolved but maybe that wasn't necessary because in the end, it's about Robert and Laurel. I'd have liked to known how certain situations would have fleshed out though. This is a fairly clean read with some romantic scenes, but they are not overly descriptive and could be appropriate for mature teen readers.

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Dream-Shifter by Lois Wickstrom

 

Dream-Shifter by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.75 stars

I have read quite a few Lois Wickstrom books lately and she has become one of my favorite authors! Most of the books I've read by her were for the younger group but this one is more geared for 7-12 year olds. It's the perfect length for this age group and the story is very engaging!

Gwendolyn has a special inherited trait from her grandmother. When Gwendolyn falls asleep, she becomes a dream-shifter. If she dreams about elk, she becomes one with the elk. Most of the time, she wakes up as a human girl but one night, there is a fire alarm at her home. She's awakened suddenly to find her home on fire. Being awakened so quickly, Gwendolyn did not have time to revert back to her human form and is now stuck as an elk. She only has 3 months to fix this or she will be an elk permanently. Desperate for answers, Gwendolyn and her family start searching for any answers that might help them out, including finding the local wizard. Can she survive elk season and become the girl she was?

This book focuses on acceptance, love, and science, of which Lois Wickstrom puts into all the books she writes. It makes science more fun and interesting and this time, with a bit of a magical spin. I look forward to reading more of these longer novels by one of my favorite authors!

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Bycatch by Alexander Blevens

 

Bycatch by Alexander Blevens
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"Bycatch": the portion of a commercial fishing catch that consists of marine animals caught unintentionally. -Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged.

Rex Thompson made a huge mistake while serving in Vietnam and Nguyen Duc Dung not only witnessed the mistake but paid a huge price for it. Many years later and a world apart, their lives would come together again.

Rex wasn't the best husband, father, employee, or friend and he's trying to change that. Or at least he thought he was. Ruled by the bottle, Rex ends up making even more mistakes and one day escapes his two teenage sons to try to make amends. Little does he know that Jake and Pigeon are going to follow in his footsteps in an even worse manner.

Dung ends up dead one day and everyone is pointing the finger at Rex, except that he's nowhere around. The only other logical conclusion is that his son's have sunk the boat that they fell in love with, but lost, when their dad ran away.

Rex finally returns home to learn of Dung's death and this stirs up many thoughts of the past. Did this have something to do with him afterall or is he just the bycatch?

This was an enjoyable novel full of mystery and intrigue. I found myself liking Rex from the beginning even though I knew he was not the most reputable person. This is a story of hatred and love, forgiveness and abandonment, of redemption and saving.

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The Dwarves' Dilemma (Science Folktales) by Lois Wickstrom

 

Dwarves' Dilemma, The by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Queen Mabel is regarded as the fairest in the Kingdom of Aleta. She judges fairness by using a mirror to see if the eyes of those asking for a ruling had the Sparkle of Fairness. Several people come to the Queen to see if she thinks certain situations are fair or not. One day, the Queen defers to Snow White, who is sent out to investigate the dilemma that the dwarves are having with Pippa. Snow White makes a discovery that alarms Queen Mabel. She vows from that day forward to make some corrections!

This is a super cute book that focuses on the science of mirrors, as well as the moral trait of fairness. The illustrations are very well done and young readers will recognize some of the characters from more popular fairy tales. Not to mention, there is a dragon! Another great read by this author!

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Soliloquy by Janet Fogg

 

Soliloquy by Janet Fogg
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This beautiful novel reads like a well-mastered symphony. I was intrigued by the first page and could hardly put this one down!

Erin's aunt recently passed and she and her sister have inherited her wealthy estate. One day, a young man comes to Erin to deliver a box. Erin thinking that she's already received everything is very perplexed....even more so when she opens the box to find very beautiful dolls inside. What could her aunt have possibly meant by leaving these dolls behind? There is a note and Erin is still rather confounded by these dolls but soon, she'll be on an adventure that could change her life.

When one of the dolls falls and smashes to smithereens, Erin finds herself in another place and time. A place of danger, toil, confusion, love, and forgiveness. Erin's a prisoner but only so her friends can survive. She's willing to try to meet the demands of the Oberst but not willing to give up her beloved Soliloquy...or is she? Can Erin find her way back home where she belongs? What about those she might leave behind?

Arick is a pilot who's shot down that Erin and her friends come across. Do they take the chance to harbor him, knowing that if they're found out, they'll all be gone or do they send him on his way, injured and possibly without hope? What can Arick do to help this family, if anything? What about the fact that Erin feels like he should know her? So many beautiful angles here!

This is a new-to-me author and I'm hoping for a sequel to this book. I believe a door may have been left open for another story! The things that Erin experiences in this story are pretty realistic during that time frame of WWII. I enjoy reading these period pieces and this one has a time travel aspect to it as well.

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Pardon Me, Please by Lois Wickstrom

 

Pardon Me, Please by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Albert is a turkey on a turkey farm and it's November. He's becoming very concerned that all the people looking him over see him as food and not a pet. Albert would love to live a long healthy life making people happy but not on the dinner table! Then, Albert sees some hope. The President has just pardoned a turkey and wished him a long life. Maybe, just maybe, Albert can be pardoned too!!

This is a super cute book that is very timely! It discusses how turkeys are traditionally eaten at Thanksgiving, which gives the reader and opportunity to discuss with others or think for themselves about other options for a meal besides turkey. It also discusses voting, which also happens in November. The illustrations are very well done with lots of vivid colors. This is one of my all-time favorite children's authors now that I've read several of her books. These are great to share with your kids/grandkids/daycare/preschool/etc and would make a great holiday gift!

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