Synopsis

 

Teddy Crutcher has won Teacher of the Year at the esteemed Belmont Academy, home to the best and brightest.

He says his wife couldn’t be more proud—though no one has seen her in a while.

Teddy really can’t be bothered with the death of a school parent that’s looking more and more like murder or the student digging a little too deep into Teddy’s personal life. His main focus is on pushing these kids to their full academic potential.

All he wants is for his colleagues—and the endlessly meddlesome parents—to stay out of his way.

It’s really too bad that sometimes excellence can come at such a high cost.

USA Today bestselling author Samantha Downing is back with her latest sneaky thriller set at a prestigious private school—complete with interfering parents, overeager students, and one teacher who just wants to teach them all a lesson…

 

 

 

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Review

 

This is quite a twisty tale told from multiple POV. Because of the multiple POV, we know for the most part who is doing what and who is involved in the deaths of the teachers, but we don’t always know the why. Plus, there are a few other mysteries floating around such as where is Teddy’s wife? Is she alive? Who is poisoning the students and staff?

This book is filled with many unlikable characters. I’m not sure too many of them had redeeming qualities. The school is filled with privileged students that don’t usually want for anything, faculty that are former students, and helicopter parents. All except for Teddy who feels somewhat snubbed and feels like it is his place to teach the kids a lesson, especially the ones that he thinks are cheaters, whether they truly are or not. As I said, not many likable characters.

The story has a fast pace and engaged me from page one. I was curious how things were going to turn out and as some truths were revealed, it was quite a jaw-dropper for me. We may know the truth, but is it really the whole truth? The characters don’t reveal everything at once, it is handed to us pieces at a time and just when you thought you might like a character, you are broadsided with another piece of evidence that could sway you the other way.

I have enjoyed this author’s books and this one is no exception. If you are looking for a psychological thriller, you won’t be disappointed.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Samantha Downing currently lives in New Orleans, where she is furiously typing away at her next thrilling novel.

 

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From award-winning chef and Food Network personality Scott Conant, a cookbook of restaurant-quality Italian meals that you can make easily in your home kitchen

Thirty-five years into an illustrious career of restaurant openings across the country, widespread acclaim, and frequent appearances on the Food Network’s Chopped and many other shows, Scott Conant has returned home to create his most personal cookbook yet. Meals cooked from simple, fresh ingredients were staples of Conant’s childhood in a New England family with roots in Southern Italy. From his grandparents’ garden to the dinner table, he learned early on to appreciate the nuances of different flavors and ingredients, and the strong connection between food and family.

Focusing on these foods Conant grew up with and the ones he makes for his loved ones today, Peace, Love, and Pasta compiles simple, fresh, and flavorful Italian recipes for the home cook to bring to their own family’s table. These recipes are built on the art of cooking for love, fascination with flavors and ingredients, and the simple pleasures of taste and conviviality.

 

 

Amazon * Abrams Books

 

 

Review

 

This is my 4th year as part of the Abrams Dinner Party which is great for me as much as I like to cook and try new recipes. Pasta is always a good fallback because there are so many amazing things that can be made and this new book from Scott Conant will delight everyone because it is so much more than just pasta. There are beverages, soups, meat dishes, sweets, and even a Turkish section. It is all about simplicity and I can tell you from the few dishes I have made so far, they are definitely not complex and great for any level of cooking skill you might possess.

When I first opened the book, it opened to the Roasted Garlic, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and EVOO Spread. I happen to LOVE garlic so I knew this was a MUST to make. Now you can put it on crostini or use it as a dip, but I knew it would be delicious spread on some chicken and put under the broiler to finish off the dish. Let me tell you, it was divine!  I didn’t use as much EVOO as it called for since I wasn’t using it as a dip and didn’t need it running out all over the dish. This is definitely a spread that I plan to make multiple times in the future. This is a photo of that spread, my mouth is drooling just looking at it right now.

 

 

 

The second dish I tried was the Sausage and Porcini Ragu. This is another simple dish that I happened to have all of the ingredients on hand. It came together pretty quickly and the taste was outstanding. I am not a mushroom fan but it worked in this dish (plus there were not a lot of mushrooms). This dish is going into our rotation.

 

 

 

I have several other recipes bookmarked including one of the Turkish dishes, Sigara Börek. It is a pasta dough filled with feta cheese and pan-fried. I found the Yufka dough at a Middle Eastern grocery store and plan to try it out very soon.

Overall, this cookbook has a lot to offer everyone from the amateur to the more professional chef. Plus the recipes are great for bringing family together to try new dishes and even cook together.

 

 

Synopsis

 

Jolie Hogan likes coffee black, panties lacy, and tequila neat. She’s a cop, turned journalist, turned private investigator. People say she’s ballsy. Truth is, her courage is a recklessness that stems from her troubled past.

Jolie is currently in a mess of trouble. She’s been set up for murder by a powerful criminal attorney. The murder victims are the attorney’s wife and Jolie’s husband, Lucas. Jolie will do whatever it takes to clear her name. Including selling her soul to the devil. In Jolie’s case, the devil is a wickedly hot detective who brings the past back to haunt her.

 

 

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Review

 

This is not your average Ashley Farley novel that is sweet yet fraught with emotions. No, this is a grittier mystery (romantic suspense) novel with flawed characters and the search for the truth.

As is with all of this author’s novels, I was drawn in immediately. Who wouldn’t be when Jolie is hired to find out who a client’s wife is cheating with and it turns out to be her husband. And then they both end up dead and Jolie is caught in the middle of the situation. This is where her training comes in handy as she ferrets out the truth, which doesn’t come easy.

I really enjoyed this story and there were some twists I didn’t expect but they fit perfectly with the story. There is a wide variety of characters with motives that range from the pure to the extremely devious. Only Joie and those closest to her will be able to figure everything out, but will they do it in time? The action kept me glued to my seat and I think I stayed up just a little too late reading this book.

Pick up this book as soon as it releases and you won’t be sorry!

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Ashley Farley writes books about women for women. Her characters are mothers, daughters, sisters, and wives facing real-life issues. Her bestselling Sweeney Sisters series has touched the lives of many.

Ashley is a wife and mother of two young adult children. While she’s lived in Richmond, Virginia for the past 21 years, a piece of her heart remains in the salty marshes of the South Carolina Lowcountry, where she still calls home. Through the eyes of her characters, she captures the moss-draped trees, delectable cuisine, and kindhearted folk with lazy drawls that make the area so unique.

 

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Synopsis

 

Sometimes, the one you’re saving is really saving you.

Harley loses everything when his master dies — his home, his best friend, his reason for living. Day after day, he trudges the streets, trembling from the biting cold, whimpering from the gnawing hunger.

Across town, Rachel has an alimony hearing looming and a make-or-break deadline hurtling toward her, yet they aren’t her biggest worries — her autistic son has withdrawn so far into his own private world, he barely acknowledges she even exists.

Luckily, the magic of life is in the surprises no one ever sees coming…

If you crave a story of love and loss, of compassion and belonging, of friendship that knows no bounds, you need to read When the Skies Cry.

 

 

Amazon * Amazon UK * Amazon CA * Amazon AU

 

B&N * Apple * Kobo * Google Books

 

 

Review

 

Have tissues on hand, this book has all the feels running through it.

This book (really the series) is a must read for all dog lovers. While this story is a stand alone, there are some bits and pieces from As The Stars Fall that you just might recognize while reading this book.

This book is told from two points of view – Harvey, a dog that is not sure what happened to his owner, and Rachel, a single mom with a special needs son that isn’t sure how she is going to handle everything. That is until Harvey shows up in their lives and she sees the impact that he makes on her son. Harvey is also looking for something to fill his life, he needs a job because he is a working dog. It is the little things that he does that makes an impact in Rachel and Wes’ life.

I enjoyed watching the interaction between all of the characters, the fierceness of Rachel when protecting her son and eventually Harvey, and the touching moments throughout. Now, there are a few “mean” characters but thankfully they don’t get very far in this story. The ending had me in tears which is why you need some tissues handy. Actually, you need those tissues throughout the whole book, so many moments that will touch your heart and soul.

I also related to Rachel as a cancer survivor and what she had to endure.

Apparently, there are now two ending options available, but I only read the original and didn’t have the chance to check out the other ending. I think you probably can’t go wrong with either one as both will strike a chord with different people.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Apart from animals and writing, Steve’s passion is travel. He’s visited 58 countries and enjoyed some amazing experiences, including cage-diving with great white sharks, sparring with a monk at a Shaolin temple, and watching a turtle lay eggs on a moonlit beach. He’s explored Machu Picchu, Pompeii, and the Great Wall of China, yet for all that, he’s a man of simple tastes — give him an egg sandwich and the TV remote control, and he’ll be happy for hours!

He lives in the North of England with his partner, Ania, and two black cats who graciously allow Steve and Ania to stay in their house.

 

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SINCE YOU’VE BEEN GONE

 

Restoring Heritage Series #3

 

by

 

TARI FARIS

 

 

Genre: Fiction / Christian / Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Revell

Date of Publication: September 7, 2021

Number of Pages: 336 pages

 

Scroll down for giveaway!

 

 

 

 

With her vision and his know-how, this thing just might work . . .

Leah Williams is back in the quaint town of Heritage, Michigan, and ready to try again to make her business a success. But blank slates are hard to come by, and a piece of her past is waiting for her there. Heir to the Heritage Fruits company, Jonathan Kensington is the guy who not only made Leah’s past difficult, but he also seems determined to complicate her present as well.

In order to avoid forcing a buyout of Leah’s building, Jon will have to strike a compromise. Can the two of them work together? Or will their troubled past set the tone for their future?

 

 

 

Amazon ~ ChristianBook.com

 

Other Revell Affiliates

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking for a sweet, Hallmark-style romance? Then look no further than this series. While this is the third in the series, I am now intrigued and will have to go back and read the first two books. This book totally stands on its own, you would just learn more about some of the other characters that play a minor role.

We meet two couples in this book (or soon to be coupled) Jon and Leah and Colby and Madison. All but Colby grew up in this area and knew each other in school. That doesn’t mean that they liked each other, you know how petty high school can get. But that is the great thing about time, we all mature and that includes these characters. They also become better versions of themselves due to more life experience and the realization that maybe life isn’t so bad as they remember it from years gone by.

I loved the wit, sarcasm, and friendships that emerged from this story. Leah is one tough nut to crack and is very determined (perhaps rigid) when it comes to revitalizing the WiFi shop her grandparents owned. She has a great idea but being stuck in the past is not the way to move forward and create a successful venture. Jon only wants to help, but sometimes his pride, or maybe it is his love for Leah, gets in the way. Not that he doesn’t have a lot on his own plate including a sister that is acting out after the loss of their parents, and an Uncle that might be undermining the business he inherited from his father. He definitely has a lot of plates up in the air and it would only take one to bring them all down. However, that is where friends come in and help balance the load.

Madison was a troubled youth and while she is back in town to clean up her father’s estate, she is ready to leave at the first opportunity. That is until she meets Colby, a disgraced singer looking for refuge in Heritage for the time being. Madison is a prime example of someone that has changed and needs understanding and guidance so that she can realize that maybe if she opens herself up to others that she might find acceptance.

There is even a little bit of a mystery with Otis the hippo statue that moves and then disappears. I loved the story that emerged from the history of that statue and how and why it disappeared. It definitely kept the town guessing.

I enjoyed all of the characters and the interactions that expanded the story and brought dimension and depth. There is an underlying theme that faith will make all things possible if you only trust in a higher power. The story flows well between the two interconnected love stories and those that surround them. This is a perfect book for those that are looking for a book that is sweet, Christian, and romantic.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tari Faris is the author of You Belong with Me and Until I Met You. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers and My Book Therapy, she is the projects manager for My Book Therapy, writes for learnhowtowriteanovel.com, and is a 2017 Genesis Award winner. She has an MDiv from Asbury Theological Seminary and lives in the Phoenix, Arizona, area with her husband and their three children. Although she lives in the Southwest now, she lived in a small town in Michigan for 25 years.

 

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ONE WINNER:

A copy of the whole Restoring Heritage series,

a $10 Starbucks gift card,

and a bookish sticker pack!

(US only. Ends 10/22/21.)

 

 

 

 

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Visit the Lone Star Literary Life Tour Page

For direct links to each post on this tour, updated daily,

or visit the blogs directly:

 

10/13/21	Author Video	Missus Gonzo
10/13/21	BONUS Promo	Hall Ways Blog
10/14/21	Review	Bibliotica
10/14/21	BONUS Promo	LSBBT Blog
10/15/21	Character Spotlight	Book Bustle
10/16/21	Review	Chapter Break Book Blog
10/17/21	Author Interview	Forgotten Winds
10/18/21	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
10/19/21	Top 5 List	All the Ups and Downs
10/20/21	Deleted Scene	It’s Not All Gravy
10/21/21	Review	Reading by Moonlight
10/22/21	Review	Carpe Diem Chronicles

 

 

 

 

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Synopsis

 

April 18, 1906 – A devastating earthquake rocks San Francisco and Templeton Morehouse fears her husband is lost forever. A powerful and compelling story from
USA Today bestselling author Bette Lee Crosby

Chances were a million to one that a girl born and raised in Philadelphia would encounter a stranger from California on the trolley and fall madly in love, but that’s what happened. Templeton was not only taken with John Morehouse, but also with his tales of life in San Francisco. As an aspiring fashion designer, the dazzle of a city called the Paris of the West, with its towering department stores and European couture was too much to resist.

Despite her family’s objections, she and John are married and, on their way back to California, before the month is out. To ease the heartbreak of such a move, Templeton promises to return for a visit every summer. She intends to keep that promise, but when her design business grows more demanding, the trips back to Philadelphia become less frequent and she makes foolish choices she will come to regret.

Now, when she is on the verge of having everything she’s ever wanted, a devastating earthquake tears across San Francisco and she discovers the father of her baby is missing.

 

 

 

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Review

 

There are a few authors that never disappoint and Bette is one of them. She weaves a tale of perseverance, strength, hope, and happiness of women.

Templeton is not your average young woman for the times. She has dreamed of becoming a designer since she was a young girl. She never expected to meet a man and fall in love and have those dreams tested. That is until she met John on a streetcar and they had a whirlwind romance that has them married within a few weeks and moving to CA from PA because that is where his business is located, specifically San Francisco. It is here that Templeton realizes that it is hard for a woman to do it all – have a successful career and a family. She does her best to balance work and her life with John, but she becomes consumed with her designs and calling on stores to carry her designs. John loves her, but he becomes increasingly frustrated with her. While I understand his frustration, he knew who she was and what she was like when he married her.

This story is fraught with emotion, decisions, mistakes, and most importantly love. Despite everything, the couple does have a deep love for each other and it is a matter of finding the right balance to make their relationship work. They are both tested when John returns home after a visit to Templeton’s family and the devastating earthquake hits. We don’t know if he survives or not until much later as we learn how Templeton reacts to the news especially since she has discovered she is pregnant. As we read about the devastation in the area and what people went through, it is not hard to sympathize with the characters and all that they endured.

I like how real the characters felt and that they didn’t always do the right thing for themselves or others, but were true to who they were. I feel like the historical aspects were well researched and added depth to the story and what they endured.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

USA Today Bestselling Author and Award-winning novelist Bette Lee Crosby brings the wit and wisdom of her Southern Mama to works of fiction—the result is a delightful blend of humor, mystery, and romance along with a cast of quirky charters who will steal your heart away.

 

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Synopsis

 

Emmie let out a huge sob – “It’s not a film set”, she cried. She held onto Jack for a moment, then took a step back, closed her eyes and shouted – “WHERE AM I?”

When Jack and Emmie suddenly find themselves transported back to London in 1940, they find a world both familiar, yet very different. As they dodge falling bombs and over-zealous policemen, they befriend Jan – a lonely Polish refugee. Together, they must work out if the shadowy figure they keep seeing is a spy and unlock the secret of getting home again…

 

 

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Free to read via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

Review

 

Sometimes I enjoy reading middle-grade books because if nothing else, it might teach me a thing or two. In this case, it was an almost teen’s perspective of what the blitz was like for the children of the 1940s. This book also combines a little bit of fantasy and sci-fi into the mix with the time travel aspect of the story.

It starts off with Jack being asked to write a page about what children might have thought or felt during WWII especially during the blitz. He is like any other 12 year old and has no idea what to think or write. Emmie is in another class and they are acting out the same type of scenario but neither really have any idea what those children went through 80 years ago. That is until the bus they are riding on zaps them back to the past and they are dumped into the reality of the 1940s.

This is truly a learning experience for Jack and Emmie. They have to figure out how to fend for themselves when it comes to food and shelter, avoid the police, and they also have to figure out how they were taken back to the past and how do they get back to their time? Luckily, they meet a couple of other young children that they befriend and it is an adventure for all of them. Jan (pronounced Yan) and Stan (short for Stanislaw) are from Poland and were part of the program that took young children from their countries and housed them in England where they would hopefully survive the war. These four form a fast friendship despite some misunderstandings at first.

This was a somewhat fast read for me, but one that was enjoyable because I too couldn’t wait to find out how they were going to get back to the present. Thankfully, there are people that took care of them at times with food, shelter, and friendship. I think this experience definitely taught these two a little something about history and what they shouldn’t take for granted in their own time.

I think this would be a great read for anyone and we give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Glen Blackwell lives in Suffolk, England. He has a career in finance and We’re Moving Where?! is his first book. Inspired by bedtime reading with his 3 daughters, Glen loves to bring stories to life for young readers.

 

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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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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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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

 

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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 Swamp, Maybe 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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GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!

 

Three signed copies of the book

 

(US only. Ends midnight, CDT, 10/9/21)

 

 

 

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Visit the Lone Star Literary Life Tour Page

For direct links to each post on this tour, updated daily.

Or, visit the blogs directly:

 

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
9/30/21	BONUS Promo	LSBBT Blog
10/1/21	Review	Forgotten Winds
10/1/21	BONUS Review	Hall Ways Blog
10/2/21	Review	Missus Gonzo
10/3/21	Video Guest Post	All the Ups and Downs
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
10/8/21	Review	Book Bustle

 

 

 

 

 

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