Chasing Happy by Ann Lee Miller

Genre: Adult, Christian, Realistic Fiction
Source:  I received a copy to facilitate my review.

From Goodreads: 
After an epic fail in the hetero world, Ash Jackson heads cross country to Arizona to figure out his bisexuality and make peace with himself and God.

Nashville Star Samma Templeton’s music career bankrolls her future husband’s political campaigns. But she throws up before every concert and feels relegated to an item on the senator’s calendar.

When Ash moves into Samma’s apartment building their childhood friendship resurrects, and Samma must choose between promoting a political agenda that will benefit millions or following her heart. Ash must face his inner demons for the girl who was his past and feels like his future.

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this book.  Ash's father walked out on his family when Ash was in sixth grade. He had announced he was gay.  This was horrible for Ash. Later on in life he fears he is gay. Since he was a small child he has loved Samma.  Samma has loved him.  She is engaged to Storm. She has always felt she was supposed to support his campaign with the money she earned from her concerts.  What happens when you are no longer sure what God wants? 

This author is definitely not afraid of subject matter that most will not talk about. Learning not to be judgmental and let God do the judging is a lesson most Christians need to  learn. This book came at they right time for me. I have a good friend who recently ann0unced they were gay.  My first gut reaction was to pass judgment.  I worked hard, prayed a lot asking God to help me not judge and to be a friend. This book should be read by both Christians and nonChristians.  I am pleased to recommend this book.

Blaze by Ginger Lee Malacko

Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy

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

From Goodreads:

Nathan and his wayward angel crew are back in this thrilling, action-stuffed, sequel to SPARK - and so is the king demon, Wrath, and his army of minions. When the entire county around Temple Hills is threatened by Wrath's smoke-spewing technology, the misfits of Section #71 finally get the promotion they've been working for. But life is hardly a slice of Heaven as Nathan is drawn ever deeper into the mystery of Lazarus' failing strength and the meaning of his own alarming premonitions of the future. 

With the help of a mortal who can see angels and an army of special agents, Nathan and his friends embark on their dream job only to discover it's not he exciting adventure they had hoped for. Perilous missions, dangerous secrets, and a possible traitor in their midst wreak havoc on the section as the angels of Mount Ember go to war. 

Nathan will need much more than courage and a good curve ball to halt Wrath's plans for world domination and restore the balance between good and evil.

My Thoughts:

Nathan and his crew are not the top of the list angels. As a matter of fact they are considered the misfits of the group. In a demonstration they show off what they as a group are able to do when it comes to battling demons. They are doing things they shouldn’t be able to do.  They have been working in secret honing their gifts, working for a promotion. The question is, when given the promotion are they really prepared? He has got to stop Wrath’s plan to not only stop him from taking over Temple Hill but the hold world. I thought it funny that after Nathan and his crew worked so hard to get recognized, he actually had second thoughts about whether they had gone too far trying to get a promotion. He knew he previously had issues and got into all kinds of trouble. He didn’t want go back to his former self. He had truly changed.  This showed his character growth. I think that is what makes these books so good. The author does a great job of not only keeping the pressure on so that you have to keep reading, but they also do an excellent job of making sure the characters are growing and changing.  This was another page turner. I definitely recommend this to anyone who loves middle grade reads and can’t wait to recommend it to my sixth graders this year.

Kitty Hawk and the Mystery of the Masterpieces by Iain Reading

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

This is by far my favorite of all of the Kitty Hawk books. Kitty Hawk finds herself in Rome as she makes her way around the world in her De Havilland Beaver seaplane. She meets up with her friend Charlie and once again finds herself involved in a mystery.  This time she makes some new friends in Rome. While in their house she is admiring some paintings hanging on the wall in their father's house.  She recognizes one of the as being a painting that was stolen from a museum in Amsterdam. Mateo and Vega her new friends call their sister who brings an art expert. She declares that all of them are original pieces of art. One is a Van Gogh, one a Pissaro, and one a Monet.  None of them have any idea where their father could have possibly gotten them.  They call the police and spend a sleepless night waiting for the police to show up the next day.  When they return from dinner the next night Charlie hears a noise. As he proceeds down the hall a portion of the wall springs open and someone runs out, knocking everyone over. None of them knew of the secret room.  One mystery is solved when they hear the voice again and realize it is coming from a radio.  Growing up in the house Mateo often told of hearing a scary voice. Because of his great imagination no one believed him. The room and radio backed up to his bedroom.  That is the least of the mysteries.  This book will take them into multiple places in Germany.  Will they find the answers they are looking for to help Mateo and his sisters learn about their deceased father's part in all of this?  You will need to read this to find out.  I love mystery books and this one involved code breaking. For this, Kitty will call on her friend Richard who we met in the last book Kitty Hawk and the Tragedy of the RMS Titanic. He will help her break the code.  For me one of the fun things, even though she gives the answer in the book was working the code. I loved it.  There was even a musical code that was related to the people involved. I actually went to my computer and opened a virtual piano to play the codes so that I could hear the songs.  I had so much fun, and learned so much from this book.  That might be why this is one of my students' favorite series on my mystery shelf.  Pick up this series and travel the world and have a mysterious adventure with Kitty Hawk and her friends.  You won't regret it. This is the best mystery series out there that actually teaches history in a fun way.

Signs in Life: Finding Direction in Our Travels with God by Deanna Nowadnick

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

From Goodreads:

SIGNS IN LIFE begins with a late night encounter with law enforcement. In the harsh glare of a flashlight, author DEANNA NOWADNICK learns the consequences of speeding through a stop sign. Other incidents follow. All are linked to the divine signs she's encountered in that bigger journey through life.

Join Deanna as she shares humorous anecdotes and inspirational lessons from her travels with God. See the signs in life. She might be speeding through a stop sign--yet again!--while you're carefully navigating a busy street, but together we're all part of a bigger journey, a greater purpose. We're all part of God's great story.

My Thoughts:

What an inspirational book.  I found myself reading along thinking, Yeah, I’ve missed that sign.  Deanna’s look at her life direction through the use of signs she’s missed in her life will have anyone reading her book wondering what signs they have missed.  I found myself identifying with her situations in so many ways.  I often find myself asking God to help me, only to say to him, “here let me show you how.”  At the end of each chapter she has a set of simple questions to ask yourself.  I can guarantee you that if you read this book there is no way you will not be changed. If forces you to take a good hard look at your life  and to look at those sign we often speed through trying to do things our way.  This is a book that I think will benefit anyone and one I highly recommend.

THE BEST PENCIL SHARPENER YOU WILL EVER USE

 Recently I was on Pinterest looking at classroom supplies when I came across the strangest looking pencil sharpener.  Fascinated by its looks and curious as to why it looked that way I clicked on the link for Classroom Friendly Supplies.  I watched a video that showed how to use the pencil sharpener.  That video explained why the pencil sharpener looked so strange. The front pulls out. There are two knobs on the top. When you squeeze the knobs together you open the first hole where you stick the pencil through. The pencil then goes into the hole in the sharpener. The first hole has tiny teeth that hold the pencil in place.  Why is this important? Simply because that leaves the pencil holding hand free.  You can place your free hand on top of the pencil sharpener or you can use the small bar that allows you to attach it to the edge of any surface. The magic happens when you sharpen the pencil. One thing I've always hated about electric pencil sharpeners is that students often stand there shoving the pencil in, removing it, looking at it, then  repeating that step over and over again.  With this pencil sharpener you begin to sharpen the pencil and watch the part you had pulled out in the front, slowly move in as the pencil sharpened.  You can't over-sharpen the pencil. That is where the magic comes in. The hand crank will begin to turn super easy when the pencil is sharpened enough.

My husband hates when I sit down to write because I interrupt him, (his desk is opposite mine), by constantly sharpening  my pencils with our electric sharpener. I can't write if the pencils are not real sharp. I prefer writing with pencils over pens. I just love the feel of the graphite grabbing the paper. I feel I have more control.  So, it wasn't enough for me to use this wonderful tool. I needed to test it out with some kids.  My grandson Jacob and granddaughter Haylee spent the night with us and I had Haylee try it out. She's going into fourth grade and has her own desk in her room. I was thinking this would be an awesome gift for her. She cranked away and then got her pencils out of her writing portfolio she keeps at my house and sharpened every single one.  Jacob wanted to try it. He is almost 5.  So, I demonstrated it for him and then told him what to do step by step.  He sharpened the rest of my pencils. It was easy and he thought it was fun.  My son came the next weekend and I showed it to him.  As a former draftsman he knows the importance of sharp pencils. He had so much fun, he called his wife in to see this wonder. He kept breaking pencil leads so he could sharpen them. Then he broke two more and had his wife sharpen  them. You know it is a cool item when your grown children tell you they want them for their children for Christmas.  I plan on spending quite a bit of money buying several of them this year. I will definitely need one in my house to replace the electric pencil sharpener I will place in my husbands work shed. I think they will make great gifts to the 3 new teachers in my department this year.

You have got to go to www.classroomfriendlysupplies.com and check them out.
Read through her site.  This pencil sharpener was created by a teacher. Watch the videos she has. Part of every sale goes to several different charities. Please check out that page as well. I guarantee you that you won't find a better pencil sharpener for your classroom or office.

Weed and Water: Bringing the Resources of God to a Teenager by Ian Dexter Palmer

Genre: Adult, Young Adult, Christian, Inspirational

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

From Goodreads:

A mysterious stranger helps a teenage boy called Ethan rescue his mentor, an elderly father-figure, from drowning when their canoe capsizes in a flooding river. A star athlete, Ethan later gets involved in unsafe sex, which leads to drugs, and gets him blackballed by jealous and gossiping team-mates. The boy is going down, and at times hates himself for it and for hurting his mom who is a caring, loving, and beautiful woman.

After another disastrous episode, where Ethan might have died, the river-stranger turns up again to confront him about his life choices. However, even after rehab, the boy’s condition is marked by a yo-yo attitude which causes massive emotional heartache for his mom.

The river-stranger, after sharing his own amazing history, suggests taking the fight to another level which draws on the resources of God. This begins a new and fascinating sequence of events, including a tornado, which get Ethan’s attention.

The book is a captivating story, packed with adventure in the desert Southwest and in the rivers and lakes of the Midwest USA. But it is also a goldmine of spiritual wisdom for teenagers. The mystery that permeates the story is compelling, and the thrilling ending may call for a tissue or two.

My Thoughts:

This is a book I definitely want to put on my shelves at school.  This book is as real as it gets for a fiction book.  Ethan is a young high teenager who is headed down the wrong path in life.  Lucky for him, his single parent mother and a good friend of the family’s they call Popper are there to help him.  I absolutely loved the way the author took real life events, added stories from the Bible and lessons from life in general and put it all together in this one book.  About the time I thought Ethan was cracking and was finally on the right track, something else would happen to him. I became distressed because I saw him harden his heart each time.  I know that God won’t win them all because we have free choice.  I saw how hard Satan was fighting to draw Ethan away from God.  He was willing to take Ethan’s life if that was the only way he could keep Ethan.  But God is victorious.  I love that this book can be enjoyed by Christian and Non-Christian alike. I found the advice offered by the different characters in the book could be applied to so many teens today.  Anyone who reads this book will find themselves in this book somewhere along the line.  I’m not sure there are enough stars in the heaven to give to this book.

About the Author

Ian Palmer lives near the mountains in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He has a PhD in physics from Adelaide University, Australia. By profession, he is a petroleum engineer, who consults all over the world. As a Christian, Ian has always been fascinated by the interface between faith and science. Of special interest to him are the powerful concepts of grace, forgiveness, and insights from God. In his local church, he has taught Sunday school classes on a wide range of inspirational but practical topics.

Ian’s six grandchildren are a source of joy when he plays tennis or basketball or goes skiing or hiking with them. His hobbies include hiking, dancing, tennis, eating out, and stimulating conversation. After a dinner of cheese enchiladas with green chiles, Ian can sometimes be found two-stepping in the local country-and-western dancehall.

28 Days of Solitude - B.L. Bruce

Genre: Inspirational

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

From Goodreads:

Written during her twenty-eight-day stay in a small cabin in the remote mountain forests of Northern California, author B. L. Bruce chronicles the daily life of a writer at work.

In the wake of her award-winning poetry collection, The Weight of Snow, 28 Days of Solitude moves the focus away from the creative work and toward the often-overlooked creator. Offering insights into her personal thoughts of the craft and its importance in her life before and during her residency, Bruce’s memoir aims to give readers a glimpse into the psyche of a writer.

My Thoughts:

This is written almost like a daily journal. Each entry explains what the author’s intentions were for that day. She then tells us about the struggles she has with her writing. I’ve often wanted to be dropped at a cabin in the middle of the woods somewhere to write.  Having read her journal I know I would face a lot of the challenges that she faced.  She would often get up and begin her writing, only to realize she wasn’t getting anywhere with it.  She tried going different places to relax and get I spired.  I understood her writing struggles.  I believe all writers go through those same struggles.  On page 41 she said “There’s no pretense or judgement when you write.”  I feel that those very words are the reason writers write. We create, and the paper and words don'’ judge us.  I enjoyed this book because I was able to relate to it.  I’m not sure someone who is not a writer, or has no desire to write would really understand the message behind it. I will recommend it to those I know are writers or want to write. Maybe it will give them an idea about what real writing is about.

About the Author

BRI BRUCE holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in post-modern literature and creative writing from the University of California at Santa Cruz and has conducted extensive post-graduate work with UC Berkeley’s professional editing program. Currently a writer, photographer, publisher, and both a freelance and professional editor and graphic designer, her work has appeared in over fifteen anthologies, magazines, and literary publications, including Celebrate!, The Sun Magazine, Tattoo Highway, Ampersand, Red Fez Entertainment, The Cossack, The Avocet Review, Atom Magazine, Northwind Magazine, The Soundings Review, The Monterey Poetry Review, and Third Wednesday. She was named Featured Poet of Homebound Publications’ holiday issue of The Wayfarer (Vol. 2, Issue 4, Dec. 2013). Most recently, seven of her poems were selected to be included in Tayen Lane Publishing’s Poems from Conflicted Hearts alongside Poet Laureate Alice Shapiro, and she was the recipient of PushPen Press’s Pendant Prize for Poetry for her haiku series published in THREE with Poet Laureate Erica Goss. Bruce is the award-winning author of The Weight of Snow: New & Selected Poems, published February 2014 by Black Swift Press.

Specializing in book publishing, Bruce's professional work has given her the opportunity to work with dozens of authors, assisting with editing, book cover design, and marketing. Many of her clients’ books have gone on to win awards.

Six Inspirational Picture Books

United States Air Force Pilot for Kids - Eric Z
Source: I received a copy to review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
If you have ever had a desire to be an Air Force Pilot, then this is the book for you. It is full of wonderful information as well as great pictures. The author makes it clear you must meet certain requirements to be accepted as a pilot. As a teacher I really liked the fact he made it clear how important getting an education is. I never knew how much was involved in becoming a pilot of any type. I also had no idea there were so many types of Air Force aircraft.  This is sad because my brother retired from the Air Force. He was one who loaded cargo planes.  There is information on the types of guns and missiles each carry, and how fast they can go. The book tells you what each type of aircraft is used for.  This is a book I would be proud to give to kids. If it ever comes out in physical format it will be a welcome addition to my nonfiction shelf in my classroom. The author did a phenomenal job of gathering all of the information and putting it in a format that will entice anyone.

Alexander Pig Goes Camping - Eva B. Kids

Source: I received a copy to review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Alexander Pig, Mycroft Zebra and Pim Hedgehog live in the Littel Green Forest. The three friends decide they need to go on an adventure. They decide teh best place to go is camping at Dog-Rose Camp. There are no dogs there. They go home to pack. Mycroft and Pim wait at the train station for Alexander. Finally a taxi arrives and Alexander steps out in a fancy suit.  They get to the camp and set up the tent. While Mycroft is drinking a cup of tea, Pim goes to get firewood. Alexander takes out a lobster to eat. The lobster pinches him.  He keeps making up stories and when they finally go to bed he has a nightmare and sleepwalks.  What will happen to Alexander?

Alexander Pig and the Terrifying Hedgehog Napper - Eva B. Kids
Source: I received a copy to review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
One day Pim the Hedgehog decides he needs to go grocery shopping. He leaves his house a mess.  Alexader the pig and Mycroft the Zebra decide they would like to go fishing and they go to Pim's house to invite him.  When they get there the house is unlocked. They see the mess, a story on the table about a kidnapped sheep and then they can't find Pim. They decide he must have been Hedgehog-napped.  What will they do to get their friend back?  A very cute book about friendship.



Jack's Song - Ayala Saar

Source: I received a copy to review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Jack is a very talented young boy. He plays multiple instruments. He plays the trombone, the piano and the guitar.  Everyone thinks he will be a star one day. He doesn't care about being a star. He writes his music for himself. It is what takes him to other places. They are his words. His father gets sick and ends up in the hospital.  He writes special music and brings it to his father and his father begins to get better faster. He starts to play music for others in the hospital. When they go home he decides to play for the people.  He has learned that his music is special and can do amazing things like help people heal both physically and mentally and can bring back wonderful memories.  This book is great at teaching how special music can be.

Santa, Is It Really You? - Marilyn Harkrider
Source: I received a copy to review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
This is an absolutely wonderful book. Santa has been delivering toys for years.  He is disappointed that he no longer gets to meet with the boys and girls. One night when he is delivering his last gift to his last house he sees a young boy peeking around the corner.  They sit and talk for a long time. Ben gives Santa ideas on gifts.  The next year Santa not only meets Ben, but he wakes up a couple of children. He does this for years. Finally, Ben gives him the idea that he can meet more children if he goes into the stores around Christmas time.  He begins this but soon he and everyone at the North Pole are stretched to the max.  How will Santa solve this problem?  Will Ben be able to help him?  This is one of the most charming Christmas stories about Santa I have read in a long time. I will be recommending it to everyone I meet.  My all time favorite Children's Christmas Book is the "Polar Express". This book has now become my second favorite.  This is the type of book that I will buy for my children to read to their children. I can't recommend it high enough.

Splash Down: Adventures in Firefighting by James McDonald and Brooks Watson

Source: I received a copy to review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
These two authors are firefighters in real life. They have written a story about a young boy and his mother who visit their uncle at the firestation where he works. His uncle lets him sit in the fire truck, turn on the lights and then has him help him with the hoses. He teaches him many things about the hoses and how difficult it is to learn to use it the first time. When he talked about hanging up the hoses to dry I asked my husband, a former firefighter about it. He said not all of them do. Some of them lay them out to dry. He said they need to wash the dirt and ash off and let them dry to make them last longer. I hope there are more stories about the life of a firefighter. These are perfect for young kids who think they would like to be a firefighter and for those like me who just like to learn new things.

Death Row Apocalypse - Darrick Mackey

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

From Goodreads:
On homeland soil, a terrorist group tears up suburban life as they leave thriteen dismembered girls in their wake, and the CIA employs a vicious serial killer to eliminate the cell as the number of corpses rises. Trapped in a maze of corridors and hunted like vermin, a small group of visitors desperately seek and exit from a maximum security death row facility. Murders, rapists, and prison guards alike turn zombie and pursue the desperate gorup as their small number dwindles. Double-crossed by the CIA and sentenced to death by lethal injection, Blaine Wilken finds himself exercising his talents as he seeks a way out of the facility. When destiny laughs in the face of horror and forces the group to place their faith and trust in the most lethal serial killer in US history, one has to wonder which predator to fear as they enter the deepest shadows of a Death Row Apocalypse.

My Thoughts:
It’s funny that when I was first asked to review this book I turned it down. Zombies are just not my thing. I was curious so I read the summary. That was all it took to make me contact him and tell him to send me a copy. I will say this book is not for the faint of heart. There is plenty of blood and gore. The setting of this book is quite unique. The main character is a former CIA operative who was betrayed, tried for murder and is awaiting execution by lethal injection when he finds he and everyone else has bigger problems. Before he was betrayed by the CIA he was one of their most lethal killers for hire. That is what it seemed so appropriate that everyone in the prison who wants to survive must depend on him. How ironic. He must fight zombies if they are to survive. If you are a lover of zombie movies and books then you will love this take on the zombie genre. If you fear reading about blood and gore then stay away from this. It is fast paced. From the minute you pick it up to the minute you finish it the action keeps going. I have to say that zombies are still not my favorite, but throw in something unique like this and I’ll be more apt to read it.

The Heart is Where the Angels Sing by Kenny Miller

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

From Goodreads:
Have you ever wondered what it is like to live in a small town in the American Midwest? Maybe you grew up in one and moved on. Would you like to take a little break and go back there for a while?

You can with The Heart Is Where The Angels Sing. It's a warm, often very emotional book about life in a small town during the 1950-1960 period. Get ready for the Beatles. Go to camp with the Boy Scouts. Be part of a school's first band. Be there as Walter told us about the dreadful events in Dallas and the loss of a President who was putting us on a new path to the moon.

The Heart Is Where The Angels Sing will grab your heart so have some tissues close by. It's a journey in time where you can take all the time you want to enjoy it. Each story takes you to a new place. You won't have to keep reading to find out what's next. It's the perfect night stand book that will send you off to bed with a smile on your face or maybe, a tear in your eye.
Either way, you will have a wonderful journey into the heart of America. Welcome home.


My Thoughts:
Although this book starts out a little slow it is still a very good book. It is a collection of short stories about a boy’s life as he grew up in a small Nebraska town. From polio at a young age the possibilities of his life are laid before him. I liked the way his father always believed he could do anything. He had a lot of encouragement throughout his life and learned some great life lessons along the way. I was born in the late fifties and grew up on a farm in the Midwest. I could relate to so many of his “memories”. It made me stop and think about those times and how they shaped me just like they shaped him. This is a good book to read for many reasons. It gives you a peak through memories of that time period. It especially showed how kids were raised so much differently then and often had more freedoms. We had the freedom to experiment with life and learn lessons often the hard way. It also showed that a lot of the experiences kids have today are not so different from how he grew up. A great look back into times gone by.