Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Book review:Jacob's Ladder Reading Comprehension Program Grade 4

Jacob's Ladder Reading Comprehension Program appears to be a good resource for homeschooling teachers who are looking for a curriculum to help them build confidence in their own skills. The introduction gives background on the reasoning behind it,plus it shows the ladder concept which helps childrens' comprehension to grow.

Some of the genres include myths, poetry and non-fiction.

I was given this book by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Friday, September 8, 2017

book Review: 67 Shots: Kent State and the End of American Innocence

In my house, we talked very little about Vietnam, or the violence with the IRA. I suppose that is why certain days live in my mind, this is one of them. I was only ten at the time but I remember this violence in my home state. Three days of protest, more students than I could count and then the National Guard. It was so hard to believe in 13 seconds, 67 shots could be issued and four lives killed.

The author, Howard Means, did a good job with the oral-history collection and interviewing to relay this story from those who were there. I feel he was able to describe the tension and the anger surrounding this time. Not only of those there but across the nation. From the President, the Governor, the Mayor and so on, each are examined to help us to reflect on that day and, hopefully, stop it from happening again.

Very good. I was given this book by NetGalley and Perseus Group Books, De Capo Press in exchange for my honest review.

This book may be purchased HERE! at Amazon

Saturday, September 2, 2017

Book Review: Twenty-eight and a half wishes

Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes (Rose Gardner Mystery, Book 1) by [Swank, Denise Grover]This is another one of those books that is hard to put down. It is so much fun.

Rose Gardner works at the DMV. One Friday afternoon she sees a vision. In the vision she is dead. This is not unusual, having visions, but they are usually mundane everyday occurrences. this is the first one she has had of herself. Her mother, a person who never showed much love to Rose, is murdered. This leaves two problems: the blood stain and Rose is considered the victim.

With her vision and her status as being a suspect on her mind, Rose decides that she has wasted 24 years. So she makes a list of 28 things she wants to do before her vision comes true. Her neighbor, Joe, helps Rose with the list, except number fifteen - do more with a man. Soon, even though he is new in town, Rose realizes that he has secrets.

Rose has also discovered that someone thinks she has something that they want. They have threatened her, broken into her house, murders someone else, in other words they will do what they have to in order to get the item back again.

The cover pulled me into this book and I was hooked by the middle of the first chapter. The characters are well filled out. We find out about Rose's mom and how she has affected Rose's life. Every character shows imperfections which will make you want to scream at them at times, but if you keep reading the next sentence may make you smile again. The situations which Rose gets into are so hilarious. But there is also a mystery to solve throughout the book.

I feel like this is a fun read that many would enjoy, if you enjoy a cozy mystery this will be a nice additions, also.

I was given this book by the author, Denise Grover Swank, in exchange for my honest review.




Book Review: The Assault, harbingers cycle two

The Assault (Harbingers): Cycle Two of the Harbingers Series by [Peretti, Frank, Myers, Bill, Hunt, Angela, Gansky, Alton]I have loved each of these authors individually, so I was hoping for the best when they appear in one book. It began as a game with just a few rules. Each of the authors, Bill Myers, Frank Peretti, Angela Hunt and Alton Gansky would write their entry as if they were one of the characters. The second rule stated that they would write it like a television series. So there would be one storyline over all where each person would place their story, from their character's point of view. They were successful with their first attempt and this is their second.

Each of these stories involve four gifted people who are fighting a growing darkness. Bill Myer's "The Revealing" has them in Rome looking for the mystical spear Hitler once had. This was also the spear that pierced Christ's side. This led them to many places they did not expect. Frank Peretti wrote "Infestation" where a microscopic evil was released on the world. This evil deceives, blinds, kills and then moves on. Angela Hunt's "Infiltration" has the team barely staying together. They have been injured and separate. Soon they realize they are now in dangerous situation. "The Fog" by Alton Gansky has a supernatural mist that is unleashed. Dangerous things are in the fog. These things kill the things or people they find. One of the members of this group realizes that the ultimate sacrifice is called for.

Such an exciting and gripping book. I had not read the first book in the series, but I am on the lookout for it now. I did not have any issues coming in with this book. I caught on very fast as to who was who and what was going on.

It is amazing how even though each of these stories are individual stories, they come together so well. A huge advantage to this is one of the stories in here can be read alone, yet you know when the book is picked backup it will continue from a different point of view.

I found this an exceptional project. I highly recommend it especially to those who enjoy episodic stories

I was given this book by Bethany House and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.



    Friday, September 1, 2017

    Book Review: Bringing Maggie Home

    Bringing Maggie Home: A Novel by [Vogel Sawyer, Kim]It has been a while since I have read a novel by Kim Vogel Sawyer. I am so glad that I picked up this book. It was like seeing a friend who you haven't seen for a long time.

    In Bringing Maggie Home, the main character is Hazel DeFord. When she was ten, her sister, Maggie, who was three, disappears while the two girls are berry picking.

    Now, almost seven decades later, it is still a mystery as to what happened all those years ago. Hazel has kept this as a guilt as she feels responsible since she was the older sister. This feeling has kept her from becoming close to her own daughter, Diane. Diane does not understand why her mother was almost paranoid about her protection. Diane's daughter Meghan, loves her grandmother, including all the attention.

    Meghan takes a leave-of-absence after a car accident which makes all three women living together for a while. While there the secret guilt of Hazel's comes to the surface and causes Meghan to wonder if she will be able to solve this case.

    What good writing. I wanted to continue reading to the end so I could find out what happened all those years ago. I love it when this happens. It really touched my heart, even with a subject which almost made me not read it. This story changes points of view throughout, plus time periods. This is handled in such an effortless manner which shows the skills of the author. I felt like I was a part of each life.

    This book is one that I thoroughly enjoyed and I highly recommend it. I was given this book by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.