Posted in 5 paws, Christian, Craft, fiction, Giveaway, women on October 4, 2021

 

 

Synopsis

 

A knitting group’s change of scenery changes lives in unexpected ways

Margaret, Rose, Jane, and Fran had a good thing going: meet every week in the quiet of their peaceful chapel and knit prayer shawls. No muss, just ministry. That is, until their pastor boots them out of the church in his last-ditch effort to revive the dwindling congregation.

Uptight Margaret isn’t having it. Knitting prayer shawls where people can watch is the most ridiculous idea she’s ever heard of, and she’s heard plenty. Prayer belongs in the church, not out among the heathen masses. How are they supposed to knit holiness into these shawls if they’re constantly distracted by the public? But with no choice, the others embrace the challenge. They pack their knitting bags and drag Margaret—grumbling the whole way—to the mall with them. She can’t wait to prove them all wrong when it fails miserably, and show the pastor that she always knows best.

Without the familiar mold, the group has been stuck in, their own losses, pain, and struggles rise to the surface. And the people and situations they encounter every time they try to sit quietly and knit are taking them a lot further out of their comfort zone than they ever imagined. Can they find the courage to tackle the increasing number of knotty issues they learn about in the community–or will the tangle be too much to unravel?

Sharon J. Mondragon’s debut is warm and delightful, full of real laughter, grief, and personality. It beautifully illustrates the power of women across generations to reach people for Christ.

 

 

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Praise

 

The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady is a delight! With scenes as vivid and lively as a cozy PBS drama and characters so real they feel more like neighbors than anything else, this book was a joy every moment I spent with it. More than once, I found myself so absorbed in the story that I completely forgot I was reading. Laced with mercy, encouragement, and hope, this novel is a brilliant and lovingly written debut.”  ~ Susie Finkbeiner, author of The Nature of Small Birds and the Pearl Spence novels

 

“I love this book. Extraordinary things happen when ordinary knitters reluctantly move a congregation’s prayer shawl ministry from a quiet chapel to a busy mall. Their encounters with people they would not normally meet made me chuckle, occasionally weep, and finish the story feeling a gentle nudge from the author to ‘go and do likewise.’”  ~ Patricia Sprinkle, author of Hold Up the Sky

 

 

Review

 

I loved this book and devoured it pretty quickly. Sometimes a book just hits you at the right time and that was this book for me.

Four women make up the prayer shawl ministry at a local church and their pastor has set them out into the community to knit their shawls while the chapel is being repainted. Needless to say, Margaret is not pleased with this change. Margaret is something of a control freak and this upsets her strict routine and feels that knitting in public will not allow them to pray over these shawls for those that will eventually receive them. I think we all know a Margaret in our lives and sometimes change is good. The other ladies are more flexible and they don’t let Margaret try and run roughshod over them and change the date or make it a more private location.

While Margaret is the driving force, the other ladies, Fran, Rose, and Jane, are a solid contribution to the group and the story. All four of these women have their own demons to battle and those play into the story and how it brings people to them and how they can all make a difference one person at a time.

I loved how these ladies end up at the mall doing their knitting and that while they may think that they do not bring attention to themselves, they really do and others are curious about what they are doing and why. What these ladies don’t realize is that they did bring their ministry to the people and they were receptive to prayers and even being brought into the prayer shawl ministry circle.  I was encouraged at how they were accepted by the number of prayer requests they received from employees at the mall and it reminds us that even a small change can bring bigger changes to our lives.

The story flows and while there are some “tense” moments between characters, it also shows us grace and mercy, that forgiveness is powerful, and that we all need someone in our lives to be in our corner and root for us whether we know it or not. There are some sparks of love, protectiveness of parents, and getting through to one Dragon Lady that life is too short to hold onto anger and fear and that feelings need to be shared now and not later when it is too late.

This is a feel-good book that will be enjoyed by many. And if you are a knitter, there is even a pattern at the end if you want to give it a whirl. I have to say, this book made me want to try my hand at knitting!

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Sharon J. Mondragón writes about the place where kindness and courage meet. Her debut novel, The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady (originally titled The Heavenly Hugs Prayer Shawl Ministry) was the 2017 winner of the American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis award in the Short Novel Category, and she has also been recognized by The Saturday Evening Post where her short story, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” was an Honorable Mention Awardee in the 2014 their Great American Fiction Contest.

Mondragón has been active in prayer shawl ministry since 2008 and currently serves as facilitator for the prayer shawl ministry at her church, St. Paul Episcopal in Waxahachie, TX. She also knits with the Circle of Healing at Red Oak United Methodist Church. She is a Level 2 Certified Knitting Instructor through the Craft Yarn Council and teaches beginning knitting at a local yarn store.

Mondragón is the mother of five grown children and has four grandchildren. After 26 years as an Army wife, she has settled in Midlothian, TX with her hero/husband, her laptop, and her yarn stash.

 

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Posted in 5 paws, Book Release, Review, romance on October 2, 2021

 

 

Synopsis

 

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Sharon Sala delivers her first holiday romance in the Blessings, Georgia series, where the glow of a small-town Christmas and excitement of a winter love story will warm your heart!

It’s been years since Wade Montgomery stepped foot in Blessings, Georgia, but the Blessings Christmas spirit is just like he remembers it. The whole town has come together to help his uncle after a disaster nearly destroyed the family business. Being back in Blessings reminds Wade of everything he’s been missing, especially when he runs into his old flame, Birdie Knox.

Bridgette “Birdie” Knox isn’t so eager to jump into the holiday season. Every year, she’s reminded of the secrets that tore her family apart. But with Wade Montgomery back in town, Birdie is starting to believe in Christmas magic. There’s no guarantee Wade will stick around, but if Birdie had her wish, she’d never have to say goodbye to him again.

 

 

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Review

 

I always love my time in Blessings, GA and this read is no exception. This book picks up where the last one left off and with the sister of Hunt. They have been dealt some blows and she and her siblings are finally moving on with their lives and now it is Bridgette aka Birdie’s turn. She is given a second chance at love with Wade and it just takes a little convincing on his part and stating his intentions for her to get fully on board moving forward together.  Their relationship moves at a pretty good clip, but since they know each other it isn’t as if they have to start from scratch. There are some really great scenes including one with a mouse that pretty much steals the spotlight away from all of the other characters. I didn’t know I could laugh so hard.

While Blessings is a wonderful town, it isn’t without its share of heartaches and hardships. Josh is caught stealing money which nearly destroys his life until one man steps in to help him realize that the path he is traveling down is not the one for him. Josh is given his own second chance in life and I admired his determination to not waste this chance.

There is also a heartwarming story of a young man trying to right a wrong for his dad who was accused of stealing some jewelry from one of the residents many years ago. Duff is a sensitive young man and he worked hard to give his dad another chance in life as well. However, Duff took too much of it to heart and blamed himself for things that he couldn’t have known happened at the time because he was six and his parents shielded him from what was really going on. Despite all of that, Duff sets off on a mission to clear his dad of these crimes.

All of this happens right around Christman time and it reminds us to not take things for granted and to reach out and help others and Peanut and Ruby do at the end of this tale.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Sharon Sala has over 125 books and novellas in print. First published in 1991, she’s a RITA finalist, winner of the Janet Dailey Award, RT Career Achievement winner, National Reader’s Choice Award, Colorado Romance Writer’s Award of Excellence, Heart of Excellence Award, the Booksellers Best Award, RWA’s Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award and the Centennial Award for recognition of her 100th published novel. Her books are New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestsellers. She lives in Oklahoma.

 

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Posted in 5 paws, Giveaway, Historical, Middle Grade, Review on September 29, 2021

 

 

 

ONCE UPON A CAMEL

 

By Kathi Appelt

 

 

Categories: Middle Grade Fiction / Historical / Friendship / Ages 8-12

Publisher: Atheneum / Caitlyn Dlouhy Books

Pub Date: September 7, 2021

Pages: 336 pages

 

Scroll for the Giveaway!

 

 

 

 

Zada is a camel with a treasure trove of stories to tell. She’s won camel races for the royal Pasha of Smyrna, crossed treacherous oceans to new land, led army missions with her best camel friend by her side, and outsmarted a far too pompous mountain lion.

But those stories were from before. Now, Zada wanders the desert as the last camel in Texas. But she’s not alone. Two tiny kestrel chicks are nestled in the fluff of fur between her ears—kee-killy-keeing for their missing parents—and a dust storm the size of a mountain is taking Zada on one more grand adventure. And it could lead to this achy old camel’s most brilliant story yet

 

 

 

Simon and Schuster~ Bookshop.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What an enticing tale to encourage young readers. I think this is a book my great-niece would enjoy with the characters, history, and the stories within the story.

This adventure follows Zada, a camel that has made her way to Texas from the middle east. We learn about Zada’s life growing up in Smyrna and what happened to her once she arrived in Texas and how she came to be in Texas. This is all told through stories to two Kestrel chicks that have been separated from their parents during a haboob or windstorm. Haboobs aren’t common to Texas so we would call it something else but that brings in a new word for the reader. As Zada and the chicks take shelter in a cave, she has to worry if the mountain lion will be there and decide to attack or if they will be able to ride out the storm in peace. Thankfully, it is the former, but this is when the stories really begin and there is even a story that involves the lion that Zada wisely saves for when it is needed to protect them.

The two Kestrel chicks are a hoot and are constantly bugging each other and it reminds me of any family with children that complain about someone touching them, or crossing a line, or just basically bugging their sibling. However, Zada is able to bring calm and peace to the situation with her stories and keep the chicks safe while entertaining them so they don’t get into trouble.

Each story is magical and I loved the illustrations that accompany the book. I appreciated the dates at the beginning of each chapter so I knew if this was Zada’s past or more of her present.

This is not only an entertaining book but one that is educational as well. I learned things about camels, weather, birds (especially Kestrels), history, and so much more. I really enjoy it when a story incorporates history in a fun way that you don’t realize you are learning something new.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kathi Appelt is the author of the Newbery Honoree, National Book Award finalist, and bestselling The Underneath as well as the National Book Award Finalist The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man SwampMaybe a Fox (with Alison McGhee), Keeper, and many picture books including Counting Crows and Mogie, the Heart of the House. She lives in College Station, Texas, with her husband and five gifted and talented cats.

 

 

 

 

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9/29/21 Book Trailer The Clueless Gent
9/29/21 Review StoreyBook Reviews
9/30/21 Excerpt That’s What She’s Reading
9/30/21 Review The Plain-Spoken Pen
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10/4/21 Review The Page Unbound
10/5/21 Guest Post Chapter Break Book Blog
10/5/21 Review Stories Under Starlight
10/6/21 Review Julia Picks 1
10/7/21 Scrapbook Page The Adventures of a Travelers Wife
10/7/21 Review Reading by Moonlight
10/8/21 Review It’s Not All Gravy
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Posted in 5 paws, Book Release, Family, fiction, women on September 24, 2021

 

 

Synopsis

 

From the Amazon Charts bestselling author of Whisper Me This comes a witty, magical story about improbable connections, difficult gifts, and the unexpected events that heal us and bring us together.

Jailbird. Klepto. Spectacular failure to launch. Nicole Wood’s sticky fingers have earned her many names, but it’s not that she’s stealing—some objects just need to be moved elsewhere, and the universe has chosen her to do it. Still, being a relocator of objects isn’t easy. With her marriage on the rocks, no real-world skills, and the threat of prison hanging over her head, Nicole is determined to change her ways.

Things seem to be looking up, thanks to a godsent job with her sister’s housecleaning business—until she encounters a seemingly harmless paperback that insists on moving from one client’s home to another’s. Nicole hopes no one will notice, but the action stirs up long-hidden secrets and triggers a series of fateful events that threatens to destroy the life she’s creating and hurt those closest to her. She’ll need to embrace her unwieldy gift and take a chance on love in order to unravel the mystery and fix what’s gone wrong.

 

 

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Review

 

I have read a lot of books this year but so far this one tops the list of my best reads for 2021! I don’t know if I can pinpoint exactly why I enjoyed the book so much, in fact so much that I stayed up until nearly 2 AM finishing the book. I had to know what happened next and how the story might end.

The book alternates POV between Nicole, Hawk, and Andrea. Nicole is called a thief and a kleptomaniac, but that really doesn’t define what she does with the objects she takes. She actually relocates the items. It is sort of magical for Nicole because items “speak” to her to let her know they aren’t happy where they are but she doesn’t always know where they want to be right away. Take some money she took from her husband, $10k to be exact. All she knew is that the money needed to be somewhere else and she needed to safeguard it until such time that the true owner would be revealed to her. I like the fact that she never lies as long as you ask her the right question. You don’t ask her if she stole anything, you ask if she took anything for relocation.

Hawk is a PI that is hired to follow Nicole to find out where that money is and how her husband could get it back. Needless to say, Hawk isn’t wild about the husband and is suspicious of his intentions. It doesn’t hurt that he is intrigued by Nicole and perhaps a bit enamored with her.

Andrea is running from her past and is afraid of what she might find should the truth come out. She lives in fear of those around her and being discovered for who she really is. As the story unfolds, Andrea learns a lot from Nicole and that perhaps trusting people is not a bad thing.

I really enjoyed following the story and seeing different angles of what each character was going through and how it was perceived by others. Nicole’s husband is a jerk and it is a shame that her past leads her family to trust him more than her. The story is also about family, forgiveness, and truth, and that without these things, there is no relationship that will ever work out the way it should.

This book dives into the lives of the three main characters in a way you might never imagine. I highly recommend picking this book up and escaping for a while.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Kerry Anne King (who also writes as Kerry Schafer) is a Washington Post and Amazon charts bestselling author who writes compelling and transformational stories about family and personal growth. She loves to add in mystery, humor, and an undercurrent of romance and celebrates when she succeeds in making readers both laugh and cry.

Kerry Anne has been chosen as the 2020 Writer of the Year by the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Association. Her most recent novel, Everything You Are, is a finalist in the Nancy Pearl Awards hosted by the Pacific Northwest Writers Association. She is enthusiastic about encouraging and supporting other writers and is the host of Tell Me Your Secrets, a videocast/podcast featuring lively, informal interviews with authors and other people involved in bringing books into the world.

When not absorbed in creative pursuits, you’ll find Kerry Anne hanging out with her real-life Viking on their little piece of heaven in rural northeastern Washington.

 

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Posted in 5 paws, Book Release, Review, Romantic Comedy, women on September 24, 2021

 

 

Synopsis

 

“Do you believe in love at first sight, or should I hit you with my bike again?”

Can a vacation romance turn into a happily ever after?

When a bike runs me over while I’m walking in Greece on vacation, I look up to discover a Greek god staring down at me. Wavy brown hair, sparkling dark eyes, and olive skin – where do I sign up for a holiday fling?

Turns out my Greek god is a Dutchman named Nico, but I’m not picky.

Two days on the Greek island of Rhodes turn into a long-distance relationship, but I want more than occasional visits. So, I give up my life in Wisconsin and move to Holland to be with Nico.

Except when I arrive in Holland, Nico ghosts me. Maybe I should have told him about my grand plans of us living happily ever after in The Hague before I moved across the ocean?

Welp. I’m here now. Time to figure out what’s going on.

I just need to gather a bit of Dutch Courage first.

This holiday romantic comedy features a woman who doesn’t bother looking before jumping into the deep end, a man who’s hiding a pint-sized secret for stupid reasons making him the world’s biggest idiot complete with a trophy and everything, a group of friends who always have their girl’s back, a scheming best friend who seems to know everyone’s secrets before they do, and a super sweet HEA.

Each book in the Love in the Lowlands romantic comedy series can be read as a standalone. (but I recommend reading in order to understand all of the characters and their relationships)

 

 

Amazon

 

 

Review

 

I have really enjoyed this series and getting to know each of the characters and their struggles to find love in Holland or at least their perception of troubles. While this series does not have to be read in order, I highly recommend doing so since the characters carry over from each book and you might understand their back story a little better having read the previous books. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed!

We briefly met Charlotte in the last book, she moved to Holland for a guy she met on vacation. However, now he is ghosting her and she doesn’t know why and can’t get any straight answers. The answer is somewhat surprising because of the whole situation of how he ended up there. Thankfully, Charlotte doesn’t hold too much of a grudge.

This story is more than just about love. It is about girl gangs, friendship, and learning how to survive anything with the help of those women that surround and support you no matter what.

While this is Charlotte’s story, Abby, Avery, and Mia are all here and contributing to the situation. I love how they just barge in to each other’s homes without question and the men in their lives accept it. Don’t mess with the sisterhood! These women represent what we should all have in our lives, a pack of friends that will go to the ends of the earth to make sure no one is harmed in any way. And they aren’t beyond pranking those that need it or barging into the lives of their friends or pestering for sex life details.

There are so many wonderful things I am learning about Holland and I want to visit one day to see all of this for myself.

We give this book 5 paws up and suggest picking up this series. We get a sneak peek at book #5 and a new friend, Sofia. I can’t wait to see how they disrupt her life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

I grew up reading everything I could get my grubby hands on, from my mom’s Harlequin romances to Nancy Drew, to Little Women. When I wasn’t flipping pages in a library book, I was penning horrendous poems, writing songs no one should ever sing, or drafting stories which have thankfully been destroyed. College and a stint in the U.S. Army came along, robbing me of free time to write and read, although on the odd occasion I did manage to sneak a book into my rucksack between rolled up socks, MRIs, t-shirts, and cold weather gear. After surviving the army experience, I went back to school and got my law degree. I jumped ship and joined the hubby in the Netherlands before the graduation ceremony could even begin. A few years into my legal career, I was exhausted, fed up, and just plain done. I quit my job and sat down to write a manuscript, which I promptly hid in the attic before returning to the law. But practicing law really wasn’t my thing, so I quit (again!) and went off to Germany to start a B&B. Turns out running a B&B wasn’t my thing either. I polished off that manuscript languishing in the attic before following the husband to Istanbul where I decided to give the whole writer-thing a go. But ten years was too many to stay away from my adopted home. I packed up again and moved to The Hague where, in between tennis matches and failing to save the world, I’m currently working on my next book. I hope I’ll always be working on my next book.

 

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Posted in 5 paws, Cozy, Giveaway, mystery, Review on September 23, 2021

 

 

 

 

Burden of Poof (Bonnie & Clyde Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Cozy Queen Publishing LLC (September 15, 2021)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 254 pages

 

Synopsis

 

An amateur sleuth named Bonnie and her kitty companion Clyde, with names like those, what could possibly go wrong?

Life hasn’t sparkled too brightly for Bonnie Balfour over the past few years, but a heart-breaking divorce has brought her back to her small rural hometown of Bliss, Georgia, and things are starting to shape up.

The proud new owner of Bless Her Heart—a second chance dress shop and boutique on the town square—Bonnie thinks thirty-eight might not be too late for a fresh start in life after all.

Until a grouchy old widow turns up dead in a pile of donations meant for Bonnie’s shop, and the town’s new detective pins her to the top of his suspect list!

To save her shop, dream and reputation, Bonnie must coordinate clues and stitch together the truth about her innocence, but the unreasonably handsome detective and prying eyes of the local gossip mill are fast fraying her nerves.

When a series of anonymous attacks begin to hem her in, Bonnie fears the real killer is fixing to make her his next victim. Can this amateur sleuth measure up?

 

 

AmazonB&N ~ Kobo ~ Google Books ~ IndieBound

 

 

Review

 

I love this new cozy series. small town, interesting characters, romance waiting to happen…and of course murder.

Bonnie has moved back to her hometown of Bliss, GA, and opened a second-hand shop for clothing and household goods. She requests donations from anyone she meets. She had recently requested items from Viola, a somewhat crotchety resident of Bliss, and was turned down until one day Viola shows up with gowns and such and says she has more for her and for her to swing by and pick the items up from her home. What Bonnie doesn’t expect is to find her dead at the bottom of the stairs and to be swept into a murder investigation by the “on loan” detective, Mason Wright. As is with most mysteries, Bonnie is the prime suspect and has to uncover clues to prove her innocence all without ending up dead herself.

There are so many factors to this book that I adored – the characters, the town, the philanthropic endeavors of Bonnie when it came to the young ladies and prom, and Bonnie’s desire to succeed with this new shop, a black rescue cat named Clyde who has a bit of a thieving issue in the store (which works out on Bonnie’s behalf later in the book). I seriously got tears in my eyes reading about her plans to make sure all young ladies had a dress for prom, definitely a feel-good moment. Bonnie’s best friend, Cami, is a hoot and engaged in revitalizing downtown Bliss. As you can imagine, in a small town people may not be aware of changes and shop away from town; and Cami is working hard to change this mindset.

The mystery portion is engaging and I honestly had no idea who to suspect of killing Viola. There are several possibilities and when the killer was revealed, it was not someone even on my radar. I found part of the justice quite interesting but you’ll have to read the book to find out what.

There is a blossoming romance between Bonnie and Detective Wright (once he determines she is not the killer), but at the same time, Bonnie is still trying to finalize her divorce, and while that relationship may have been over long ago, should she hold off and build a friendship with him before anything else? Only time will tell in future books.

This is a fantastic new series and I can’t wait to see what happens next for Bonnie & Clyde and the rest of Bliss. We give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Julie Anne Lindsey is an award-winning and bestselling author of mystery and romantic suspense. She’s published more than forty novels since her debut in 2013 and currently writes series as herself, as well as under multiple pen names, for Harlequin, Kensington, Sourcebooks, and Crooked Lane Books.

When Julie’s not creating new worlds or fostering the epic love of fictional characters, she can be found in Kent, Ohio, enjoying her blessed Midwestern life. And probably plotting murder with her shamelessly enabling friends. Today she hopes to make someone smile. One day she plans to change the world.

 

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Giveaway

 

 

 

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Posted in 5 paws, fiction, Relationships, Review, women on September 20, 2021

 

 

Synopsis

 

Three women wake up to the consequences of one impulsive pact in an insightful novel about friendship, love, and fulfillment by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Jamie Beck.

While at a casino to celebrate her birthday, Jessie Clarke proposes a pact to her reserved sister, Liz, and their childhood friend Chloe: the three women will say yes to any adventure that comes their way. Jessie is mourning her recent divorce, so the other two reluctantly agree. Twelve hours later, they awaken to the shocking consequences of their behavior.

A viral video throws Liz’s career and reputation into question. A major loss at the craps table rocks the foundation of Chloe’s staid marriage. And Jessie’s desperate bid to unblock her artistic creativity results in a life-changing choice. Staring down the crossroads, each woman finds her relationships—with herself, with each other, and with loves both old and new—tested. At every turn, they struggle not to let fear decide their fates. Will they give in, or will their misadventures lead to the greatest fulfillment of all?

 

 

Amazon * B&N * IndieBound

 

 

Review

 

Jamie Beck writes beautiful novels about women and the challenges they face in their lives and this book is no exception. We meet Jessie, Chloe, and Liz, who get together for a birthday celebration at a casino. Events from that night throw their life in directions they never expected.

I became invested in each character and would get angry at Chloe’s husband for not being supportive of her, surprised at how Liz is treated at her job as an online morning show host after a drunk video surfaces, and Jessie’s inability to move on after her divorce. However, this book shows the growth that each lady exhibits after handling the situations at hand and the support that they give each other as they venture out on new paths in their lives. I think that there are characters in this book that anyone could relate to and not just the three women. Jessie & Liz’s parents are workaholics and seem to expect perfection, or at least their father does from them. There is some resolution to thoughts and events from previous years for each of the sisters that helps to close the circle on any bad thoughts or feelings.

This was a fast read for me but there is so much to take in and I enjoyed every page. We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

National bestselling author Jamie Beck’s realistic and heartwarming stories have sold more than two million copies. She’s a Booksellers’ Best Award and National Readers’ Choice Award finalist, and critics at Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, and Booklist have respectively called her work “smart,” “uplifting,” and “entertaining.” In addition to writing, the author of the Cabot novels, the Sterling Canyon novels, and the St. James series enjoys dancing around the kitchen while cooking and hitting the slopes in Vermont and Utah. Above all, she is a grateful wife and mother to a very patient, supportive family.

Fans can learn more about her on her website, www.jamiebeck.com, which includes a fun “Extras” page with photos, videos, and playlists. She also loves interacting with everyone on Facebook.

 

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Posted in 5 paws, Middle Grade, Review on September 6, 2021

 

 

Synopsis

 

When compared to her nearly perfect little sister, Phoebe Paz Petersen feels she doesn’t measure up in her parents’ eyes. Okalee is smart and beloved for her sunny disposition, but if Phoebe can get picked for the coveted solo in the school choir, she’ll stop being a middle-school nobody and finally get her chance to shine.

The sisters have one very special, secret tradition: River Day—when they hold hands and make their way across the cold, rushing Grayling River to celebrate the first hint of spring. This year’s River Day crossing, however, goes horribly wrong, and Phoebe’s world is suddenly turned upside down.

Heartbroken and facing life without Okalee, Phoebe is more determined than ever to sing the solo in the school concert as a way of speaking to her sister one last time. But Phoebe’s so traumatized by what happened, she’s lost her beautiful singing voice.

Kat Waters wants the solo for herself and is spreading a terrible rumor about what really happened to Okalee on River Day. If Phoebe tells the truth, she fears her family will never forgive her and she may never get to sing her goodbye to Okalee

Missing Okalee is an empathy-building novel about the unbreakable bond between sisters and finding the courage to do what’s right amid heartbreak and tragedy.

 

 

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Review

 

This book is aimed at middle-grade readers but as a warning, the book deals with death, guilt, grief, bullying, and other heavy topics.

Phoebe and Okalee are close sisters and while they might fight or argue on occasion, they are a strong support system for each other. That is until River Day and Okalee dies in the river. What follows is Phoebe’s attempt to deal with what happened that day and the guilt she feels about the situation.

The story is heavy and my heart breaks for Phoebe and everything she has to deal with including a bully that spreads rumors and has Phoebe questioning what really happened that day. Did the events occur as she remembered? Did someone see what happened? We also see how the death of her sister impacts her parents, especially her mother who spirals down into depression.

I like how Phoebe does realize that she needs to talk to someone about the situation and talks to the school counselor. It reminds us that we cannot bottle all of our emotions up and sometimes talking to someone else helps us through a tragedy or to sort things out in our head. The guilt has also impacted Phoebe’s ability to sing which only delights the bully since she wants to sing the solo in the school pageant that Phoebe rightfully earned. I was disappointed that the school didn’t intervene more regarding the bullying but I am not sure how much they really knew since Phoebe doesn’t report the acts.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and it brings to mind that life can be hard and that it is ok to ask for help and to grieve a loss. This may not be for everyone but would be a great book to discuss with younger children and how they might handle certain situations. We give this 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

LAURA OJEDA MELCHOR is from Montana and grew up in a Spanish-speaking home that celebrated her family’s Cuban culture. She is a self-described bookworm who graduated with an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She lives in Alaska with her husband and son.

 

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Posted in 5 paws, Historical, Review, Time Travel on September 3, 2021

 

 

Synopsis

 

From the author of THE LANE BETRAYAL, THE FAIR, and SEA SPRAY comes the fourth novel in the Time Box saga.

Months after stealing two time machines, the Lanes, a modern family of seven, make a stand against the unhinged software mogul who wants them back. They travel to 1941 Oahu to eliminate the billionaire’s mercenary, an assassin who has chased them through time.

While son Jordan, a former intelligence officer, stalks his unknowing foe in the streets of Honolulu, his parents, younger siblings, and pregnant wife settle in the village of Laie, where love, friendship, and opportunity await. All seek refuge from the perils of time travel.

Hitman Silas Bain has his own agenda. He hopes to alter the events of December 7, 1941, and indirectly save a brilliant German physicist, his employer’s grandfather, from certain death. He has prepared for every contingency, except the charms of a beautiful heiress.

Filled with romance, suspense, and intrigue, THE REFUGE takes readers on a thrilling and memorable ride through the colorful, magical, and dangerous world of pre-Pearl Harbor Hawaii.

 

 

 

Amazon

 

Free to read via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

Review

 

There are a few authors that know how to do time-travel novels right, and this is one of them. The books are well researched and the descriptions make me feel like I am in that time period experiencing what the Lane’s experience in each novel.

In this fourth book in the series, the Lanes end up in Hawaii, and this time they are chasing their hunter, Silas Bain. However, he has no idea that they have followed him since he is in 1941 on a different mission. While I am not fond of Silas, he does show a somewhat softer side when he meets a woman that could make him happy if he allowed it or changed his direction in life.

Each chapter is told from a different perspective whether it is Mark, Jordan, Jeremy, Jessie, Lane, Ashley, or any other character. I feel like this gives us a better feel for what is going on in each person’s mind, how they react to different situations and their hopes and dreams for their future. Each character seems to embrace the time period they are in whether it is 2020, 1865, or 1941. Each character has their own adventure especially the younger generation. Some are also reeling from situations from previous books and there are some long lasting effects that continue and we see how they handle those emotions.

This book also makes me think about how I would handle things if I were in their shoes and had to jump to the past to escape someone in the present and how to stay off the grid. It is not something to do on a whim!

We give this book 5 paws up but suggest you start with the first book in this series to truly follow along with the characters and the storyline. I can’t wait to see how the author wraps everything up in the final book due out early in 2022.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Heldt-Bio-Mug-3John A. Heldt is a reference librarian and the author of the critically acclaimed Northwest Passage time-travel series. The former award-winning sportswriter and newspaper editor has loved getting subjects and verbs to agree since writing book reports on baseball heroes in grade school. A graduate of the University of Oregon and the University of Iowa, he is an avid fisherman, sports fan, home brewer, and reader of thrillers and historical fiction. When not sending contemporary characters to the not-so-distant past, he weighs in on literature and life on his blog.

 

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Posted in 5 paws, Children, Inspirational, Review on September 2, 2021

 

 

A Child of God

 

by Chantel and Mauli Bonner

 

Illustrated by Morgan Bissant

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

Even with a different name and skin a different shade, everyone’s a child of God. He loves us all the same.

This rhyming, read-aloud book with warm illustrations shares a comforting, faith-filled message from a Black father and mother to their children. Along with the children in the story, your own little ones will think about the ways our skin color, gender, and physical features are all different, as well as the things that bind us all together.

In soothing verse, the father assures his children that everyone can look like Jesus and the angels by the things they do. As the family walks through their neighborhood, the father points out the beauty in God’s creations, from flowers, all unique and different, to all the children in their community. This book will start conversations in your family about appreciating the beautiful differences among all of God’s children, helping your children become better disciples of Christ.

 

 

Deseret Books * Amazon * B&N * BAM * Walmart

 

 

Review

 

This is a great introductory book to teach young children that no matter what you look like, that you are loved by God.

The book is written in a rhyming format that makes it easy for younger children to grasp the message in this book.

The illustrations are beautiful and feature people of all races to show that we are all equal in the eyes of God.

The message is a timely one and I hope that anyone that shares this with young children will realize the importance of the book and the message.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Mauli Junior Bonner is a songwriter and film director from Las Vegas, Nevada. He recently completed production on the award-winning film His Name Is Green Flake

Chantel L. Bonner is a University of Southern California alumna and works as a licensed marriage and family therapist providing trauma-informed care to children in foster care.

The Bonners have been happily married for more than ten years and live in Southern California with their two children, Geo and Ari. The Bonners are dedicated to equality and justice among marginalized communities, and they provide resources to underserved children through their nonprofit, Lift Up Voices.

 

 

About the Illustrator

Illustrator Morgan Bissant is based in New Orleans. She started drawing as a child by copying cartoons and other things around her. She later attended a professional art school, pursuing a career in illustration and design. She received a degree in fine arts at Louisiana State University. She focuses on characters with various skin tones and distinct features, seeking to bring ideas to life and inspire others through illustrations.

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