Book reviews for the young and the old. This site reviews children, teen, and adult books with a few interesting things thrown into the mix. Check out the labels on the right hand side for specific genres or topics.
Monday, November 27, 2023
Son of the Sea by Andrew E. Kaufman
Friday, November 24, 2023
Second Chance Inn by Marlayne Giron
Genre: Adult, Amish Fiction
Source: I received an advance reading copy. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I usually read this author’s books in one to two days. However, I have been sick for almost a month. I had finished the first half of the book and got sick again. I am glad I was finally able to finish it. My husband said he knew how sick I was when I didn’t even feel like reading. I am sorry it took so long to finish this wonderful book.
Marlayne Giron is a very talented writer.
In Second Chance Inn we meet Rachel Wilson and her daughter Karen. It is
obvious from the start that they don’t get along and Rachel isn’t sure how to
make it work. After her husband dies Rachel and her daughter move to
Pennsylvania. She has bought a farmhouse belonging to an Amish widower. The
idea is to turn it into a bed and breakfast so everyone who stays can have a
full Amish experience. The only difference is there will be electricity and inside
bathrooms.
Samuel Miller has sold the farm to Rachel
after losing his family. He stays on to work with the animals and continue to
be a part of his Amish community, even if he has had a falling out with God. We
see the way God uses both adults to help the other heal. We see a teenager who
lived in the world of social media and immediate gratification embrace the Amish
lifestyle and turn from being an angry teen to very pleasant young lady. We see
Karen’s attitude toward her mother completely change. It is obvious that God is in the details here.
Marlayne has obviously done a lot of research into the Amish lifestyle. Her
characters are well developed and her setting puts you right in the middle of
the story. I hope Marlayne continues to write in this genre. She is natural at
it. I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
Sunday, July 30, 2023
Awakening Avery - Laurie Lewis
Genre: Adult, Romance
Source: I received a copy from Bookfunnel. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Grief is different for everyone. For the main character in
this book, it is obvious that she is stuck.
She is a famous author who can’t seem to move forward because she is
still grieving the loss of her husband a year before. Her grown children are worried for her. As
she tries to move forward she finds herself swapping houses with a gentleman
who knows all too well what grief is like. He had to raise his daughters on his
own after he lost his wife. I loved this for many reasons. I live in Sarasota,
Florida and was familiar with many of the places in the book. This was not a mushy, gushy romance. I hate
those. Instead we find two people dealing with the loss of their spouses. They
are also dealing with grown children who always think they know best. I loved
how Gabriel changed. He realized that all he had done by raising his daughters
on his own was spoil them. When he decides to swap houses with Avery it means
kicking his daughters out of the house as well, where they will need to learn
to stand on their own two feet. This is a great book, with a great message and
one I recommend.
Sunday, June 11, 2023
Shelve Under C: A Tale of Used Books and Cats by Jenny Kalahar
This is a wonderful book. I love cats and books and thought, why not.? Mr. and Mr. O'Malley own and run a used bookstore. They buy and sell used books. With no children of their own they welcome orphaned cats into their bookstore. These aren't just any cat's. They work with the local animal shelter and foster cats where they would have a great chance of interacting with the public and then become adopted. This bookstore has two cats ready for adoption. Stomper who reminded me in personality of Garfield. He was grumpy, wanted to be left alone and learned how to steal food from the small fridge inn the front room. Buglit is the most recent addition. She had belonged to an older lady who had passed away. She hated the shelter. When brought to the shelter, she felt a connection to Mrs. O'Malley. Both cats have their own personality. There are a variety of humans who play a big part in this book as well. You have the man who owns the music store down the street. There is young Kris who loves spending time in the bookstore. His love of books is obvious. It seems to go beyond the normal love of reading. He and Mr. O'Malley become very close. Like Buglit and Stomper he is a foster kid. Read this book to see how the three of them, Stomper, Buglit, and Stomper help each other through the ups and downs of everyday life.
Monday, April 17, 2023
The Hills be Shaken by Michael Stewart
Genre: Adult, Thriller
Source: Purchased
Wednesday, March 29, 2023
The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel
Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction
Source: I own a copy
During World War II Eva Abrams and her family live in France. She was born there, but her parents came from Poland. Eva, on her home one day is stopped by a friend and warned she and her family need to get out of France. Over dinner she tells her parents. Her mom believes that things will change because the Jews have done nothing to the Germans. Her father tries to tell her that fliers have been placed under their door for a couple of weeks and that it is possibly a ploy by the Germans. After her mom has retired to her bed, Eva’s father joins her in the library. He makes her promise him that if something happens to him and her mother that she will get out. He has already paid for fake papers. She promises. She and her mother are watching the children of a neighbor who had to take care of her sick mother. The irony is the mother can’t stand them because they are Jews. She hears a knock down the hall and watches as her father is arrested by the Nazis. She finds herself in a position where the man her father paid has not completed the job because he fears what will happen to him and his family if he is caught helping the Jews. He reminds Eva that her father told her one day her artistic talents would help her. He convinces her that she can complete the forgery of the documents. She is determined and does just that. She and her mother escape. She finds herself in a position to help children using her talents.
This is the fictional story of
forgers who helped people by forging documents for them. The author tells a compelling
story that you can’t put down. Your emotions are so high you feel as if you
have been transported back in time and are working alongside Eva. This is a must read for people who love to
read about World War II. I loved the fact that I learned something new from
reading this fictional book.
Saturday, February 25, 2023
Student Saturday: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Student Reviewer: Omar G.
Genre: Adult, Mystery
In the book “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho, I have learned about a boy who was a shepherd. His name is Santiago, and he has been leading his sheep for almost two years looking for water and food. Later on there is a sentence I found interesting. It states “the secret of happiness is to see all the marvels of the world, and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon.” It’s confusing without the background, but it basically explains to enjoy the big things but not to forget the little things, I think this relates to my life because I always feel as if I can’t enjoy the little things.
This book strongly relates to my life where it talks about
how Santiago went on this journey to find treasure but found something greater.
But in reality, what’s actually happening is he is heading toward
self-discovery learning who he is because of this journey. I think this relates
to me because I feel as if this journey I am on, me living will lead me to self-discovery,
just like Santiago on his journey. Another thing the book talks about is how
when Santiago is presented with a new change he isn’t scared off, but instead
sees it as an opportunity to learn from it as he did from his previous
experiences. In my life as I grow I will have positive and negative experiences.
Regardless I will learn from it and use that to my advantage in the next
challenge.
In the book Santiago is presented with many obstacles. Some which
almost made him quit his journey. He had a rough moment that almost made him
quit but instead he decided to settle down an reevaluate his plans for his
journey. This shows he doesn’t let this fear hold him back, but instead pauses
to rethink before deciding to quit. This relates to me; for instance I have had
my fears and things that have made me quit something I am aiming for, but there
are times when I decide to just sit back and think, reflect on what to do.
Sunday, February 5, 2023
The First Time She Drowned by Kerry Kletter
Tuesday, January 3, 2023
Autism Goes to School by Dr. Sharon A. Mitchell
Source: Adult, Realistic Fiction
Genre: I purchased a copy
As a teacher I have taught students
with varying levels of autism. Most of them were higher functioning. I have not
been trained to work with them. However, I have had a couple of parents, and
even the students themselves that have helped me understand people with autism
a little bit more. This helped when my own grandson was diagnosed with autism.
When my daughter would call me frustrated with her son’s meltdowns I thought I
recognized the signs so I checked with another parent who told me to have her
son tested. He is very high functioning. However, I now know things not to do
and how to help him. So let’s get to the book.
This book is fiction. We have Ben
a man who learned just three years before that he had a son and that he had
autism. Jump forward to present time. Ben receives a call from his son’s mom.
She can’t deal with their son Kyle. She is pregnant and engaged; she is
dropping Kyle off to live with him. Knowing nothing about autism, Ben does
everything wrong. He was under the impression that the therapy he had been
paying for over the last three years would cure his son. On the first day of
taking his son to school he witnesses the class his son will be put in. He
berates the teacher for her methods only to learn that is the class his son
will be placed in. Ben truly wants what is best for his son, as does Kyle’s
teacher.
I loved that autism was treated accurately in this book. We saw
children of varying levels. We saw what happens to parents who hold their children
back out of fear of the world hurting them. I found that this is the first book
in a series. I most definitely will get the others to read.
Friday, December 30, 2022
Tortured Souls Series By Ron Ripley
Source: I purchased the first six books in this series. I won the sixth book from LibraryThing. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Genre: Adult, Horror
Dan Tate lives in a
historical school house and takes care of Coffin Cemetery attached to it. He
was a former journalist who suffers from PTSD. While interviewing a young high
school girl she is shot by an active shooter, along with several other students
and teachers. Dan is helpless to do anything except hold her as she dies. His
inability to move on from this event cost him his family, his job, everything. When Eli, a young ghost living in the
cemetery comes to him and explains what Janet is doing he agrees to help.
Ron Ripley has created a
wonderful world filled with ghosts and a great plot line to go with it. I
purchased this and the next four because I had won a copy of the last book. I
am one that needs to read the whole series if possible. It is a good thing that
I have spent my Christmas break doing exactly what I told my principal I would
be doing, reading. Can’t wait to read the rest of the books in this series.
Something that is very important for the reader to know is that the story takes place in Anger, New Hampshire. Dan is still battling Janet and her ghosts. However, things are getting a lot hotter on the ghostly front. The evil seems to be growing. I kept wondering if Dan would be able to handle it all with everything he was going through. He still battles his PTSD. He has the help of the local sheriff who is also a distant relative to the young ghost boy Eli. They ban together to try to save the city that is being terrorized by the ghosts that Janet has unleashed on them.
It seems like each book in Ron Ripley’s “Tortured
Souls” series is getting better. That is definitely what I enjoy in a good
series.
Dan continues to restore the school
house and work out his issues from being involved in an active shooting at a
high school. Unfortunately, he has made a big time enemy of Janet Ladd and the
ghosts she has set after him.. She is the local medium who is using the ghosts
to take people’s money. Unfortunately, Dan is the target of Janet’s latest
ghost. Someone who is very evil and will do anything to Dan, including killing
him.
We are introduced to a cannibal ghost in
this book. That should say it all. This book is very gruesome. Good thing I
like gruesome books. It is very
important that Dan keep on his toes in this book. I am finding that I have to
read from beginning to end because this is not a book you can start and then go
to bed only to pick it up the next morning. I am looking forward to the fourth
book in this series.
This is the fourth book in the Tortured Souls series by Ron Ripley. I am enjoying this series immensely. We are introduced to Olivia. She is a ghost who is determined to kill Dan. Part of the reason is Mary's house. Dan has inherited it and the ghosts want it for the power it has. Each book seems to bring the tension up ten-fold. The ghosts get more violent and evil and Dan and his friends become more determined to stop Janet and her ghosts. Each book ends in a way that makes you yearn for the next book. I'm not sure I would have stuck with this series had I started it when the first book came out and then had to wait so long for the next book in the series. If you like ghost stories then this series is a must read.
Monday, December 26, 2022
Rise: Book one of the War Witch Saga by Cain S. Latrani
Tuesday, October 11, 2022
𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲: 𝐏𝐨𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐲 & 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐖𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐲 𝐂. 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐥𝐞
Genre:
Adult, Poetry
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
When I was asked to read and review this book I didn’t know what to expect. I had never heard of this author. I enjoy reading poetry. This book however was something different, something that resonated more personally with me.
The book is broken into four parts; Body, Mind, Heart and Soul. Each section seems to be a picture of a part of her life. Through her poems we learn a little about her, but as with most poetry we learn to look within ourselves. With many of the poems I found a piece of myself brought to the surface, or I found healing within her words. Books like these are hard to describe. It is not a work of fiction, but a look into the authors, life, thoughts and the way she has dealt with it all. It is open, honest and at times raw.
Her
poem “Battle” spoke to me, about a me that lived some thirty years ago. I
wondered how she knew me so well. “Off the Grid” resonated with me. My thoughts
of wanting to just be a hermit, by myself with no one or nothing to possess me.
This poetry and musings shows a path I traveled so many years ago. My faith in
God is what carried me through just as it did the author. I believe sometimes
we have to cross paths with a book such as this to remind us of the journey God
has walked with us. To remind us that no matter what our circumstances he is
there for us. I looked up the word Synergy. In its easiest definition it is a
collaboration between two things that make the outcome so much better. In this
book you see the collaboration between the author and God and how she has come out
a better person because of that relationship. No matter where you are in life
this is a wonderful book to read. I highly recommend it.
Friday, June 24, 2022
Sin Series Books 1 – 3 by A.I. Nasser
Genre: Adult, Horror
Source: I won a copy from LibraryThing. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Book 1 - Kurtain
Motel
I will say that this is definitely not
the book to read during a storm at night. After car trouble Patrick is picked
up by a priest and due to a storm they stop at a creepy motel. The setting was
a perfect setup for this story. The “guests” find themselves plagued by their
deepest sins. Something wants them to confess these sins. If you really want to
creep me out then add in spiders. They are my biggest fear. This is told from
multiple points of view. I happen to be
someone who likes this. I don’t think I would ever want to be in a motel like
the Kurtain Motel. This is just the first
book in his Sin series so it ends a little bit differently than I liked,
but set things up to make me read the next one. If you love creepy books then
this book and this author is the one for you.
Book 2 - Refuge
Okay,
book 2 of A.I. Nasser’s Sin series is just as creepy as the first
book. Three people have escaped the
Kurtain Motel. They end up in a town called Refuge. I am a strong believer that
names in books are often a story in themselves. It made me wonder why the
author would name the town Refuge. Just when they think they have their lives
returning to normal the creep factor is turned up once again. We still have a
theme of “confessing their sins” running throughout this series. This author
knows how to make everything about his book creepy. Definitely one of my
favorite horror authors. Now on to the third book in this series.
Book
3 - Purgatory
Patrick and Jimmy have been on the run since
they left the Kurtain Motel. They are trying to find Jimmy’s mom who was
possessed by the evil that haunted them at the motel. They find themselves in a
town called Darville. Something is definitely wrong in Darville. Evil lurks
there. Once again those creepy spiders
make an appearance. All I kept thinking as I read this series is that it would
make an awesome movie, spiders and all. I do feel that the series left me with
some unanswered questions. Was that enough to make me not enjoy the story? Definitely not. I need to check some of the
other books by this author. But please, check out this trilogy, you won’t be
disappointed.
Wednesday, June 8, 2022
Catherine Dickens: Outside the Magic Circle Heera Datta
Genre: Historical Fiction
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The
opinions expressed here are my own.
I can’t remember a time when I couldn’t wait for Christmas
to come to watch “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. After reading this
book my feelings toward the author have been tainted. While I saw him as a wonderful and successful
writer, I never knew who he was. To understand who he was you must understand
the Victorian time period he lived in.
Imagine you have married the man of your dreams only to have
him blame you for everything that he doesn’t like in your marriage. Imagine
your young sister who lives with you to help you with your children, suddenly
sides with your husband. You are removed
from your home, while your sister and your children stay with your husband.
This is for the most part a fictionalized account. We know
for a fact that Charles Dickens was separated from his wife. We also know that
even though he wrote terrible things about her. She kept her mouth shut. Part
of this I believe was because she loved him, and part of it was because that is
the way things were handled during this time period. Women pretty much had no rights. She was publicly humiliated through his
writings. Up until her death she pretty much kept quiet. Yet she made sure her
daughter received letters Charles had sent her to be sent to the Smithsonian.
It was her way of letting the world know he really wasn’t all that bad. She believed this until her death. Maybe that
is what helped her survive this situation.
Even though this story took place in the 1800’s this could
be anyone’s story today. I believe that is why it is such a good book. It is so
applicable to present time. A great book
to be read by anyone wanting to know more about the real Charles Dickens.
Monday, March 21, 2022
After the Fall by Craig DeMartino
Source: I purchased a copy
This book is amazing. This is the
story of a man who fell 100 feet while rock climbing. By all accounts he should
have died that day. A few miraculous things happened that prevented that. First
he struck a tree that slowed his descent. Then he managed to twist his body in
a manner that when he landed it didn’t kill him, but messed him up big
time. There were several other things
that played a part in his fall and rescue. He landed in the one place that they
were able to get cell reception. He had his phone on him instead of in his car.
The people who came to rescue him were familiar with the area and made it in
record time. This is a book about not
just a man’s journey to survive and heal, but more importantly a man’s journey
back to God and the purpose God had for him. Before the accident Craig and his
wife were Christians, but didn’t live very close to God. After the accident
Craig had to rely on God for so much. He started question God as to what his
purpose was in all of this. I am a firm believer that sometimes God has to hit
us over the head with a two by four to get our attention. The fall was Craig’s
two by four. Casually sharing with people how God helped him not only that day
but every day after became a first step. Learning to step out on faith when he
had his badly damaged leg amputated and then having the courage to begin
climbing again is another example. Yes,
we know that this book and climbing could be a metaphor for the mountains we
often have to climb to get back to a relationship with God. However, this is
just straight forward, ‘look what God has done with my life and how he has blessed me after my accident. Look
how he has taken something I deemed so bad and used it for something good.’ This is one of the most inspirational books I
have read this year. I highly recommend it. You don’t have to be a rock climber
to enjoy this book. It is inspirational in the fact that it shows us how much
we as Christians need to hold tight to God, to keep our priorities in order. It
shows us that no matter what terrible thing happens that God is there to walk
with us on that journey.
Sunday, March 20, 2022
Beyond the Storm by Carolyne Zane
Genre: Christian, Romance
Source: I purchased a copy
The idea of this story was great from the beginning. It is the story of a tornado that ripped a town apart. But, it is much more than that. The storm could also be seen to represent the storms or trials in our lives. Through the making of a quilt made from scraps of fabric found by the local hairdresser after the storm. We see how each piece of fabric helps make sense of the tragedy and the part the person played in the lives of those in the town. Creating the quilt, putting it together piece by piece is the way we have to put our lives back together after we weather our own life storms. The center patch belonged to a man who made Jesus a part of his daily life. It is the interconnectedness of those he touched along with the interconnectedness of the quilt pieces that make this such a wonderful book. The book doesn’t come off as preachy. It is a demonstration of a life lived the way Christ would want us to live life. Just another reminder that in life’s storms we need to turn to and rely on God. He is truly the only one who has control. This is the first book in this series and was by an author I was not familiar with. I am looking forward to reading the others in the series.
Monday, March 7, 2022
What Hurts the Most by Willow Rose
I love the setup of this book the
chapter titles are dates. The book switches back and forth between past and
present and the dates help keep you from getting confused. Mary is a journalist with a young son. She
has been fired from her job. When she learns her brother has been arrested for
murder she returns to Cocoa Beach Florida to try to solve this crime. The
tensions run high in this book. In the beginning she stays with her father and
her step-mother. There is definitely no love lost between Mary and her
step-mother. Then there is her
ex-husband and all of her old friends. Together they set out to try to prove
her brother’s innocence. One thing is
for sure, Willow Rose does an excellent job of creating a variety of well
fleshed out characters. Each of them have their own quirks, some of them very
annoying. Be sure this book will keep you on the edge of your seat reading
until the end.
Sunday, January 23, 2022
The Robber Girl by Franny Billingsley
Genre: Middle Grades, Young Adult, Adult, Fantasy
Source: I purchased a copy
Tuesday, January 18, 2022
The Twisted Road to You by Barbara Longley
Saturday, January 15, 2022
Witness: Lessons from Elie Wiesel’s Classroom by Ariel Berger
Genre: Adult, Biography
Source: I purchased a copy
The conversation started like this, “I was reading the most wonderful book last night and I finished it in class today. I will let you borrow it if you like.” Any time someone starts a conversation like this I know it will be a book I must read. This statement was made by my co-worker. Together we teach a holocaust unit on different grade levels. We have both taught “Night”. Had it not been for her I never would have known about this book.
The author, Ariel Burger was a student and
friend of Elie Wiesel. The book is written from notes, conversations and
lessons he had learned over the years from this man. This book is a look at
life, faith, doubt and so much more as seen through Elie’s eyes and through the
lens of the lessons learn through the holocaust. In this book we see how the
past affects and shapes the future. It
makes us question our beliefs no matter what our religious beliefs. It is through
questioning that I believe we learn more about ourselves and about our beliefs.
This book made me do exactly what I tell my students I want them to do. It made
me think about the past and make connections to the present and to the future.
It made me question my religious beliefs. So many times I had students tell me
they don’t know what they believe. I never understood that until I read this
book. I don’t think they were saying they didn’t know, so much as they didn’t
really understand their beliefs. One of
the questions asked in the book was whether faith and doubt could co-exist. I
thought about Thomas in the Bible. He was called doubting Thomas because of his
doubt, yet his faith was strong. No
matter what your religious beliefs I believe this is an excellent book to read
and I definitely recommend it, especially for
those who have read Elie Wiesel’s books.