Stone Cold: A Gripping Pacific Northwest Female Sleuth Crime Thriller (Logan McKenna Mystery Series Book 11) by Valerie Davisson

 

STONE COLD: A Gripping Pacific Northwest Female Sleuth Crime Thriller by Valerie Davisson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Logan McKenna is at it again! I have really enjoyed this series and recommend reading all the books in this series to get a grasp of what's brought Logan to where she is today. It seems that Logan comes across some of the most difficult cases yet she has a knack for solving them fairly efficiently. That doesn't mean that she doesn't encounter issues of her own though!

If you're looking for a great crime series with a strong female lead, check out this book and this series!

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Ten Little Axolotls (Ten Little Adventures Series) by Kim Ann

 

Ten Little Axolotls by Kim Ann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My favorite part of this book is the illustrations!! They are bright, colorful, and very eye catching! Kids will love learning more about everyone's favorite rare little "water dog", the axolotl. This book teaches counting skills and it can also be used to teach colors, words, and concepts.

A great book for several age groups, depending on reading level/skill.

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Showdown at Recess by Lois Wickstrom

 

Showdown at Recess by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"You can't always win."
"You can't always break even."
"You can't ever stop playing the game."

These are statements that Max and Jo Jo's teacher posts on the board and tries to instill into her students. When there is a class bully (Jo Jo), it makes it hard to understand these statements. One day, Max decides to give Jo Jo a run for her money and is able to win the race to start the tetherball game. The lesson is that winning isn't everything.

This is a good story written by one of my favorite authors. This isn't my most favorite of her work but it is still a worthy story to share with children. Read this one together and have a great discussion on how winning isn't the be all end all.

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Old Flames (Pinegrove FD Novel #2) by Libby Kay

 

Old Flames by Libby Kay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am a big fan of Libby Kay and this book and series is no exception! She writes clean, quirky romance novels with great characters and plot lines. I'm loving this series because of the focus on emergency personnel, specifically fireman and firewomen this time around.

JJ has spent a good deal of time travelling with the Peace Corps and now she's realizing just how lonely she is feeling. Smithy is a Firefighter/EMT and loves his job but feels that something, or rather, someone, is missing from his life. An unfortunate event finds Smithy unable to work and JJ at his bedside. If they are given a second chance at love, will they take it?

If you're new to this series, it's not necessary to read the first book before reading this. There are characters that make appearances that you may want to know the back story on though. Prepare to fall in love with Pine Grove and it's residents too! It's a place I'd like to visit (if it actually existed) and JJ and Smithy are people I would definitely hang out with around town.

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Mouse Visits Yosemite National Park by Tricia Gardella

 

Mouse Visits Yosemite National Park by Tricia Gardella
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Through a rhyming story, we learn of Mouse's adventures to Yosemite National Park. He's on the hunt for waterfalls and along the way runs into some new friends.

This is a cute book that talks about the waterfalls at Yosemite and also highlights some of the Park's other features. The illustrations are bright and attractive too!

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Forgiving What You Can't Forget: Discover How to Move on, Make Peace with Painful Memories, and Create a Life That's Beautiful Again by Lysa TerKeurst

 

Forgiving What You Can't Forget: Discover How to Move On, Make Peace with Painful Memories, and Create a Life That's Beautiful Again by Lysa TerKeurst
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A very well meaning friend sent me this book to read, knowing that I have been dealing with some issues. I found this book to be insightful and helpful in a few ways. There are practical tips, as well as many Bible verses, to bring a new perspective on forgiveness. The author is writing from personal experiences she's been through and giving practical advice from those situations. She's not a licensed counselor but I found the information to be helpful. This is a book that I'll keep handy and will probably read again at some point. I'm not one to write in books but I do think I'll be taking notes and highlighting areas when I read this again.

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An Independent Innocent: A Sweet Regency Romance by Meredith Bond

 

An Independent Innocent: A Sweet Regency Romance by Meredith Bond
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lady Victoria Barrett is fearful she may never marry. Her parents have dismissed every suitor that has come her way and she's battling to find her way in life. The Lady inherits, rather unexpectedly, a country estate and she's finally feeling like she may be able to break free from her parents.

Her neighbor Thomas, Earl of Brentwood has an estate that is flooded and unfarmable. He's hoping to purchase the abandoned estate next door when Lady Victoria moves in. Life changes pretty quickly for the two of them and they find themselves unable to stay away from each other.

This is a great read that shows the independent nature of Lady Victoria. There are bits of wit and humor scattered throughout, and of course, a romance!

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