The Devil's Cold Dish by Eleanor Kuhns

Genre: Adult, Mystery, Historical Fiction
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

This is the fifth book in this series. I have not read the first four. However, this clearly read as a stand-alone book. One of my favorite genres is mystery. Take that genre and add in a historical time period and I am all set. Will Rees is one of those people who tries to always do the right thing. This makes him a target of some in his town. His wife is pregnant and accused of witchcraft. Two people, he has argued with have ended up dead.  Someone seems to be going to a lot of trouble to set him up. Who is it and why?

Reese is a weaver by trade. He has one son from his first marriage that ended with his wife's death. His second wife is pregnant. They have adopted five other children.  Now that someone has tried to set his family up, Reese helps his family flee then returns to figure this mystery out.

The author has done a lot of research into this time period. It is quite evident in her writing. She has also created characters that are very believable. I loved the way this story carried me along from beginning to end. I definitely need to check out the first four books in this series. I have found a new author to love

A Bend in the Willow by Susan Clayton-Goldner

Genre:  Adult, Realistic Fiction
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I love reading a book where it is written in layers. In this story we find things out one layer at a time. It added such depth to the story and made it a compelling read.  I had to ask myself what I would do for my kids. Would I risk my marriage and my own freedom?  I would like to think I would. I think most parents feel that way.  There were so many messages the reader could take away from this book. Messages about being truthful no matter what the cost. The message that child abuse is never okay and should be dealt with. I know this is easier said than done. Trust was a big part of this book. Catherine/Robin’s lack of trust, or fear of trusting completely. This book touched some tender spots in my own life which made it a compelling read as well as a hard read.

Catherine the main character is facing every parent’s nightmare. Her son’s leukemia is killing him. Without a bone marrow transplant he will die. The best chances for a match is through family. This is where the story gets really interesting. Catherine must face her past if she wants to have a chance at saving her son. This is a past so horrific that she fled twenty years before, legally changed her name and moved on with life. Throughout the telling of this story as we learn about her past she paints herself as weak. We the reader can draw on how much strength it took to leave. The guilt over the years has eat her up. Her father, a drunk died in a house fire. She watched him burn. She did nothing to save him. There is no guilt about that because the family secrets died with him. However, after searching the house and making sure her brother was not there she runs away. Fear of being arrested for not helping is one of those issues. She carries the guilt of having never located her brother and then changing her name and moving on. Then we learn of a son born nineteen years earlier. She must contact him and try to find her brother if she has a chance of saving her son. When she locates her brother her guilt comes back double. Her marriage is in jeopardy because she had to tell her husband about her past to try to find her family. He reacted the way she thought he would. She no longer cares about the consequences of possibly being arrested for her father’s death. She is spurred on by her son’s dire situation. Then she meets Her brother’s wife and daughter. Can this small child save them all?  I really wanted to leave this with so many questions that anyone reading this review would have to read the book to find the answers. I sat and read this book from cover to cover. I just could not put it down. It was absolutely awesome.

Two Middle Grades and Seven Children's Picture Books

Purple Pup -Karl Steam
Genre: Middle Grade, Science Fiction
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
This book exceeded my expectations. I loved the premise and the book didn't disappoint. Imagine a lab that is experimenting with genetics. Imagine one of those genetically modified animals is a purple puppy. I'd love a purple puppy. This lab has created a new set of animals. Two of the dogs have a heightened sense of smell and hearing, not to mention having camouflage colors. You know that if the military is involved that all cannot be good. What happens when the purple pup escapes and finds a family that treats him with love? When the purple pup is seen and put on the news things change. He is returned to the lab where he helps several of his friends escape. The adventures this little pup finds keeps you turning the pages. It was a quick read. I sat and read it in about two hours. This is one of those books that make you think how cool it would be to have some of these animals. Then you have to think about how fair it is to the animals.  This would be great to read in conjunction with a science unit on genetics. The possibilities for conversations with students about genetically modified things could bring about some great discussions.  Not only do I love this book because of educational reasons, but I love it because it is well written and sure to keep young and old alike reading.






The Left Behinds: Abe Lincoln and the Selfie that Saved the Union – David Potter

Genre: Middle Grade, Science Fiction, Historical Fiction

Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Want a fun way to teach some history? This is the book you must read. Imagine three kids traveling back in time through a phone app. That is what happens to Mel, Brandon and Bev. There is a first book to this series. I will need to read it and add it to my shelves. Don’t let me misguide you with my first statement. This is one of those fun books with just enough history to make kids the inquirers we want them to be. An added bonus is the author notes at the end of the book that five you so much more information. I know my middle school students will love this one because it has history and technology. What a great mix. These three children are left behind at their boarding school and use the app one of their professors invented to escape back in time. They must stop history from being changed. This is such a fun premise. Yes I am a lover of time travel books and a lover of history. What could be better? The only thing that could be better would be reading the first book, and then the next book in this series.

The 30 Most Amazing Geography Facts – Nuhh Adams

Genre: Children’s, Picture Book

Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

This book is a combination of geographical facts and science facts. This will give readers a basic knowledge of our planet. I would even go so far as to say this would be a great resource for classrooms, especially for parents who homeschool. There are many other books in this series. I would recommend you check them out.

Dr. Ella Has a Surprise – Alon Tamir

Genre: Children’s Picture Book

Source:  I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

This is a cute book that shows three kids with three ailments. Then we meet Dr. Ella. The repetitive stanzas demonstrate to readers that there is nothing to fear when they go to the doctor. A list of items doctors use helps familiarize children with the doctor’s office.

Gracie Lou and the Bad Dream Eater – Danielle A. Vann

Genre: Children’s Picture Book

Source:  I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Gracie Lou has a problem. Every night a bad dream monster keeps her awake. She wakes her parents up until one of them sleeps with her or she crawls into their bed. Her dad and mom are tired of getting no sleep. Dad decides to become the Bad Dream Monster Eater. Will his plan work? This is a wonderful story to read to children who fear going to bed alone at night.

The Very Tall Tale of Ranger the Great Pyrenees and his Adorable Friend Miss Keys – Danielle A. Vann

Genre: Children’s Picture Book

Source:  I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

This is a strange story of a friendship between a great Pyrenees dog and a very young skunk. When Miss Keys’ momma skunk goes off to join a circus, she leaves behind her daughter. She and Ranger become great friends and travel all over the place. But, what happens when they become homesick and meet up with Miss Keys’ momma” A cute book that shows no matter how different we are there should be nothing to keep us from being friends.

A Kooky Spooky Stroll by Stephanie K. Adams

Genre: Children’s Picture Book

Source:  I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

This fun rhyming story follows two young children as they are out at night on Halloween. They walk through many scary things to go trick or treating. Can you figure out how scared they will get?

Nola – Stephanie Lisa Tara

Genre: Children’s Picture Book

Source:  I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Nola is based on the real rhino named Nola. She was a rare rhino. She was taken to a zoo to protect her because her species was almost all gone. For me, the information from the zoo keeper, and the back of the book, made this a wonderful book.  Oh yes, there is also all those cute illustrations of Nola.

Autumn Snow by Flitzy Books

Genre: Children’s Picture Book

Source:  I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Ginger is excited for the “autumn snow”. She takes her younger brother Tommy outside to enjoy the autumn snow. I grew up in Indiana on a farm. We had lots of maple trees nut trees. We had a lot of different types of leaves and my sisters and I loved to play in them. I could identify with Ginger. It took me back to my childhood. I live in Florida and the falling leaves is one thing I really miss up north. I loved the way the author incorporated photos into her illustrations a wonderful and heartwarming book.

Guest Post by Larry and Carolyn Watts

HISTORY AND COPS

Cop stories are some of the most written about and filmed topics in the shelves of bookstores, the television programming guide and at the movies.  They are either glamorized and worshipped as heroes or demonized and castigated as part of what's wrong with our society.  Neither the defenders nor the detractors look for middle ground.  But looking back at history can tell a very different story.  Once the emotion of the time and the news media attention has subsided, which sometimes takes many years, a different story emerges than that reported and discussed at the time of the events.

Our book, Dishonored and Forgotten, is an attempt to take a fresh look at an old news story that had political and law enforcement leaders in Houston, Texas engaging in a fierce battle with the federal government and some of its own officers.  A police chief, who media and courtroom testimony accounts labeled as an abuser of illegally obtained codeine, lost his job after his department was embroiled in a narcotics scandal that left one detective shot dead and others with permanent blemishes on their reputations.  But years later the City of Houston named its new police academy building in his honor.  Some never accepted that there were criminal acts by high ranking Houston cops. A single detective was sent to prison, causing some observers to believe he was the sacrificial lamb. 

More than sixty years later, Dishonored and Forgotten is an attempt to tell the story of Houston's first major police narcotics scandal with a dispassionate voice, reconstructing from actual documents and newspaper accounts of the time a story of what might have really happened.  Certain people who were considered traitors then are cast in a more positive light; some of those who defended the actions by officers involved in the scandal get a second look without the pressure of having to defend what they may have been involved in themselves.

As we are overwhelmed today with news accounts of officers being attacked, and others caught on camera mistreating and even killing citizens, a look at history will remind us that in real life heroes are flawed and nearly all villains have some redeeming value.  As you read Dishonored and Forgotten, try to remember that more often than not, the true story is usually somewhere between the two extremes promoted by those who have agendas.

Larry and Carolyn are Texas authors who have teamed up as authors for the first time to write Dishonored and Forgotten.  Larry’s career in law enforcement began in Houston, Texas, as a police officer. He became active in police labor issues and served on the board of directors of the Houston Police Officers’ Association and the National Association of Police Associations.  He retired after 21 years and began working for a state-wide association representing law enforcement officers throughout Texas, eventually becoming the chief of staff.

Carolyn worked for Continental Airlines for 16 years.  She was a flight attendant scheduler early in that career and worked in Continental's Public Relations Department before returning to school to attain a BS in Psychology and an MS in School Psychology. Her professional career has spanned positions in education, a non-profit counseling center and shelter for victims of domestic violence, and a private practice that enabled her to fulfill her desire to work with couples and their children. 

Dishonored and Forgotten is their first team venture. Larry and Carolyn live on the Texas Gulf Coast where they spend their time writing, enjoying family and attempting to capture all that life has to offer.

Website URL: www.LarryWatts.net & www.CarolynWatts.net

Blog URL: blog on website

Facebook URL: https://www.facebook.com/LarryWattsnovels/

Twitter: @LarryWatts2

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larry-watts-3800a336?trk=hp-identity-name

            https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolyn-ferrell-watts-06184a53?authType=NAME_ 

Buy link for Dishonored and Forgotten

https://www.amazon.com/Dishonored-Forgotten-Larry-Watts/dp/1533524629/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1484177587&sr=1-1&keywords=dishonored+and+forgotten

Wonderful Books for the Imagination

Can you See the Magic by Chris Stead  Artwork by Els Dirickx
Genre:  Children's Picture Book
Source:  I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

In my opinion, children's books should not just tell a great story, but they should spark the imagination. This is by far my favorite children's book of the new year. I have shared it with several teachers and students at school. It was great fun watching them look around the room and see the owl in the wood grain on my door or the dragon that is on theirs. This book  is great for ALL ages.  I teach middle school and my students loved it. Chris Stead has taken the artwork created by Els Dirickx, and created a story where you must use your imagination to see the magic around you. In this story two young children convince their father to walk around the farm with them to see the magic. The father, like most adults tells them there is no such thing as magic. The children assure him there is. They look at rusty old cars, and burnt pieces of wood.  This has reignited my already big imagination. I have always seen the magic in things. I used to drive my mother crazy with statements like, “Look at the face in the tile mom, it’s an old man with a droopy hat.” Our imagination served us well when we were growing up on our farm. We spent hours looking at the clouds and other items for the magic in them. I am already a fan of Chris Stead’s books. He worked his own magic when he paired up with this artist who creates something she calls Arikai Reverse art. The word Arikai is made from the names of two of her grandchildren Ari and Kai.

To find out more about Chris' books go to: http://oldmatemedia.com/

To find out more about Els Dirickx's artwork go to: http://www.arikaireverseart.com.au/

Morty's Travels by Anderson Atlas
Genre: Children, Science Fiction, Adventure
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

This is a strange and fun adventure story. Morty likes to play pranks on his dad. One morning he goes outside to find a slug to put in his dad's shoe. Instead, he finds a strange flower. The pollen from it causes him to sneeze and he is transported to another planet. He meets some friendly adventures and even finds a pet. This would make a great bed-time story. The pictures are wonderful.
Find out more about Anderson's work at: http://andersonatlas.com/

My Sister’s Mother: A Memoir of War, Exile, and Stalin’s Siberia by Donna Solecka Urbikas

Genre: Adult, Memoir

Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

After reading this book I was able to see that this type of thing is still going on today. Donna’s mother and sister lived in Poland during World War II.  They were plucked out of Poland and sent to a hard labor camp in Siberia. They grew very close as they fought to survive day by day. The experienced starvation, sickness and hard labor.  Years later after they had made it to the United States we learn that they have a relationship that Donna doesn’t have with either of them. The reason is that their time in Siberia created a bond that children to come later could never form with either of them. Their lives and the lives of those to come later were colored by those very experiences.  Now when I see the news and read about the refugees who were forced to flee their land I understand that those experiences will color their life. Those are memories that they will always have and will always influence future decisions as well as future children. I don’t think I ever considered how events like this would affect children not yet born.  It was eye opening to say the least. This is a very good book, yet at times tough to read. It made me realize how good so many of us have it with the freedoms we take for granted and the relationships we build with our families. I whole-heartedly recommend this book.

A Second Reading Challenge - Alphabet Soup Reading Challenge

I have chosen a second reading challenge to participate in this year.  I had planned on doing this unofficially last year. I didn’t read one single book on my list. The reason is simple, if not an official challenge then it gets pushed to the back. I need that accountability.   So to help me with my backlog of books, especially those I agreed to review and found myself behind. I am officially joining this challenge.  You can find all of the rules for this simple challenge at the blog Escape With Dollycas. Just click on the blog title and you will be taken to her page for this challenge. The great thing about this challenge is that you don’t have to read the books in order. Most of the books on this list are books I’ve had for a while that I was supposed to read and review for the author. I can read them in the order I need to. As I read them I will link the books on this list to my review. You will be able to find them on my reading challenge page.

Alphabet Soup Reading Challenge

A -  Abe Lincoln and the Selfie that Saved the Union by David Potter

B -  Book of Nonsense by David Michael Slater

C - Coming Apart by Diane E. Robertson

D - D.E.M. Quid Pro Quo by Lee Ness

E - Egmont Key A History –by Donald & Carol Thompson

F - Fear Not  by  Sue Baker

G – The Guttersnipes by Scott Eric Barrett

H - Hearts of Fire by Gracie Burnham

I - I Never Knew Him by Marie Waltersbill

J - Jex Malone by C.L. Graber

K - Killers by David Dawson

L - Liberty by  Darcy Pattison

M - Meritorium by Joel Ohman

N - Ninelands by K.E. Boyer

O - OK is Great by David Tiefenthaler

P - Picaroons and Pembertons by J.A. Knighted

Q – Qumran by Jerry Amernic

R - Rocky’s Road by Rocky Kuznik

S – The Secret Key of Mim by Nan McAdam

T - Theo and a Horse Named Rocket by W.H. Raymond

U - Up From the Sea by Leeza Lowitz

V – The Viking’s Apprentice by Kevin McLeod

W - Wand-Paper Scissors: The Amazing Adventures of Harry Moon by Mark Andrew Poe

X -  Xavier: St. Griswold College for Abandoned Boys by E.M. Cooper

Y -  Yellow Star by Jennifer Roy

Z – ZZZZ by Catriona Crehan

Keyword Reading Challenge

Here we are the seventh day of the new year and I have finally decided to join a reading challenge.  Several years ago I would participate in all kinds of reading challenges. Then I started writing. It became too much to handle along with my full-time teaching job.  I noticed this last year that I struggled to reach my Goodreads reading goal.  As I sat and thought about what had changed over the last few years the answer came to me. I was no longer participating in reading challenges. See I do very well when I have time constraints put on me. It pushes me. So I looked through lots of reading challenges and decided I was going to participate in a few. For some of them, the books can count for other challenges. However, I am so backlogged on books I need to review and books I purchased to read for me, both physical and for my kindle. So the solution was easy, join some reading challenges. I actually went through my list of books to see if they would fit in the challenges I have chosen. I am happy to say that I had more than enough books to fit.  The first challenge I chose to participate in is a new one for me. I am real excited for this one. 

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This Can be found on the blog My Soul Called Life. Just click on the name of the blog to be taken to her site. This is a unique challenge. For each month she has a list of keywords. You find a book with one of the keywords in the title and read it.  She has instructions for joining the challenge on her site so I won't put it here. Like I said, click on the title of her blog to be taken to the instructions.

I did snag her keyword list from her blog, so here they are:

Here Are Your 2017 Keywords 

JAN- Court, Fall, Of, Way, Deep, Thousand 

FEB- And, Rose, Promise, Every, Deception, Blazing 

MAR- Shall, Go, By, Silence, Her, Saga 

APR- From, Trigger, Tale, His, Crown, Mist 

MAY- Four, Wind, All, Fury, Days, Shade 

JUN- Without, Know, Good, Watch, One, Have 

JUL- Before, Final, All, Freedom, Life, Dream 

AUG- Sun, Infinite, Big, My, Wherever, Most 

SEP- Sand, From, Between, Ever, Reasons, Clash 

OCT- Darker, You, Ashes, Out, House, Sea 

NOV- Place, War, Heart, Why, Give, Meet 

DEC- Forget, Twilight, Only, Crystal, On, Will 

Here is the list of books I will be reading for this challenge. Each month I will come back to this page and create a link to the review of that book.

JAN- Deep Shadows by Vannetta Chapman

FEB- Waves of Deception by Hope Callaghan 

MAR- The Saga of the Brothers Mountain by Michael W. Mountain

APR- The Tale of Crucified Blunt by Areesh Fatmee

MAY- A Righteous Wind by Janice Daugharty

JUN- The Chosen One by Nicole Storey

JUL- Out of a Dream by Rosemary Hines

AUG- My Daylight Monsters by Sarah Dalton

SEP- Smugglers at Whistling Sands by George Chedzoy

OCT- Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt

NOV- A Monstrous Place by Matthew Stott

DEC- Don’t Forget to Breathe by Cathrina Constantine

Five More Wonderful Books by Chris Stead

Genre: Children's Picture Books

Source:  I purchased copies

  

A Very Strange Zoo by Chris Stead

This is a very cute and creative book. On an island faraway lives an inventor. He was so noisy that all of the other people who lived on the island moved away. He became very lonely. As he walked along the shore he saw a lot of garbage that had floated in. One item in particular sparked his imaginations. It was a book about zoos.  How could this young inventor solve his problem, clean up his island and start inventing again.  The drawings are wonderful.  For me the idea of having a conversation with my grandkids about what they can create our of junk lying around is more valuable to me because it causes children to use their imagination, which is something I see as a middle school teacher that many of my students don’t know how to use.

Trouble At the Zoo

Bernard the zookeeper had a very tough job. He had to clean the cages, feed and play with the animals. When he was finished he laid down and took a nap. It was at this point that the baby elephant took his keys and let all of the animals out so that they could go on an adventure.  What will happen when Bernard wakes up?  The fun thing about this book is that if you ask that question of children and then read the rest of the story to them they get a big surprise. Things don’t end the way you would predict they would.  I liked the unpredictability in this book.

My Birthday Cake Needs a New Home

A young girl celebrates her birthday. She gets lots of presents. Her mom bakes her a ginormous cake. When there is so much left over she must find it a new home. It won’t fit in the refrigerator. She can’t put in on her shelf, or in her dad’s car. She tries to push it into her body because her mom said she can’t eat anymore. Will she be able to solve this problem and find her cake a new home.  This was such a cute book. You could imagine this young child trying all of these things to give her cake a new home. She is quite the problem solver.  I absolutely loved the ending of this book.

Follow the Breadcrumbs

This is the second book in the Willy Nilly Series. I really enjoy Willy Nilly. He has a lot of cool ideas, but like most kids he doesn’t think them through all the way. This seems to get him into trouble. Willy wakes up one morning and his mom tells him he has to clean his messy room. Once he has done that he can go to the lake and feed the ducks.  This is something he loves to do.  Once there he gets a bright idea. What if he had a lake in his own back yard. Then he could feed the ducks in his own back yard. Willy goes to the bakery and gets all of their stale bread and creates a trail of bread crumbs to his back yard. Then he digs a lake. When he wakes up in the morning Willy realizes he has created a problem and he is I so much trouble with his parents. How will he get out of this situation?  I think I like this character because he is so genuine. I could see his wheels turning in his head and it made me think of my own grandkids and how they think of things like this without thinking of consequences.

The Fastest Kid in the World

This is the third book in the Willy Nilly Series.  Willy loves to pretend to drive his dad’s car. He pretends to go really fast and do lots of jumps. One day his dad bursts into his room and asks him if he would like to build a billycatr. When they finish building the car they take it to the park. Unfortunately, his dad can’t push the car fast enough for Willy.  Willy’s dad tells Willy they will go to the real car races the next day. During the night Willy gets a bright idea about how to make the billycart go faster.  Will this end well for Willy? How much trouble can he get into with his billycarT?  Another fun and adventurous book about Willy’s adventures.  These books are so fun. I do hope the author continues with this series.

To find out more about the author go to his website Old Mate Media  there is so much there to learn.

Two Fabulous Books by Murielle Bourdon

Genre: Children's Picture Books

Source: I purchased copies

This is just two of the books in this series.  This is a wonderful series that should be read by parents, grandparents and teachers to their youngest children. Such positive and powerful messages within, without preaching.

Sami the Magic Bear: No To Bullying 

 Bullying is and always had been a problem. In this book we meet Thomas. He is very smart. For this reason he is picked on by Victor and his friends. On his ninth birthday Victor takes Thomas’s birthday hat and pushes him down. Thomas is so embarrassed that he lies to his parents. He is surprised to see his grandparents have come to celebrate his birthday. After dinner he opens their present and finds a stuffed bear named Sami. Will Sami be able to help Thomas solve his bullying problem?  This is a wonderful book on the effects of bullying, why bullying might occur and the proper way to handle it.  Highly recommended to all parents and lower elementary teachers.

Sami The Magic Bear: A Trip to the Hospital! 

Laurie is a young girl who is very active. She has trouble sitting still in class after she finishes her work. She is captain of her soccer team. One day she doesn’t feel as energetic. She gets so sick she can’t go to school. Her mom takes her to the doctor and they discover she has leukemia, a blood cancer.  She ends up in the hospital for a long time. Her class makes her a giant card and a gift. Sami the bear.  She is so tired she just wants to give up. Can Sami help her learn to fight?  Great message of never giving up. It is a lesson kids need to learn whether they are fighting an illness or fighting to learn something new.