Book Review: The Dream Keeper's Daughter

Ever since Max Adair has gone missing, his girlfriend, Isabel Griffin has tried to keep going, for her and her expectant baby's sake. Previously, in her life another loved one disappeared, her mother, when Isabel was 16. Her father was overtaken by the drive to find his wife while neglecting his daughter.

Isabel does not want this to repeat with her daughter, Fin. An archaeologist, Isabel is on a dig when she receives a call from someone who sounds like Max, however the call was disconnected before she could make sure. Now she is not sure what to do next.

I enjoy books dealing with time travel, however, I did have a hard time staying with it. It may have been because of the main theme of the story, people missing, is a difficult matter for me to read. However, if this is not an issue for other readers, I would encourage you to try this book.

This book was given to me by NetGalley and Random House Ballantine in exchange for my honest review.

It may be found at Amazon HERE or at Barnes and Noble HERE!

Book Review: Taking the Fall

Brenna Battle is an Olympian in judo who is just wrung out. She is ready for a new adventure in a new place. When she and her sister begin their new life, Blythe see a no-good reporter and fall for him immediately. When he is found murdered, the weapon is discovered to be Blythe's hair brush.  Brenna is wanting to transform a ballet school into a dojo, so she can share what she loves with others.

One local police want to make one of the sisters pay for the crime while another in interested in Brenna in another way.

I loved this book and I highly recommend it to anyone that enjoys cozy mysteries.

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

This fun book can be found at Amazon HERE and on Barnes and Noble HERE

Book Review: William Daniels: There I Go Again: How I Came to Be Mr. Feeny, John Adams, Dr. Craig, KITT, and Many Others

William Daniels is one of my favorite actors. I was thrilled when I saw that this book was being offered by NetGalley and University of Nebraska Press for my honest review.

To read his story from all of the shows that I have seen in him was fantastic. This book was wonderfully written and I loved each page. Thank you for allowing me to become better acquainted with you Mr. Daniels.

Also thank you for NetGalley and University of Nebraska Press for allowing me to receive this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book may be found on Amazon HERE! and on Barnes and Noble HERE!

I received a free electronic copy of this autobiography from Netgalley, Bill Daniels, and University of Nebraska Press, Potomac Books, in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all, for sharing your work with me.

William Daniels is one of those actors you 'know' as soon as you see their face, you can do the whole filmography by heart, but the name.... Not fair, is it, but he played an important roll in the lives of us baby boomers. The respect is there, for the memories and life lessons learned, even if the name escapes us. This memoir brought back lots of those memories, and lots of laughs, as well. I managed to skip TV most of the 80's and 90's so I will be catching up on Dr. Craig soon if Netflix carries it. I do remember KITT though I saw few of them, as well. My memories go to films, The Closer and Grey's Anatomy - and he was in a bunch of them. Thank you, KITT - Dr. Craig - John Adams, for the memories....

I received a free electronic copy of this autobiography from Netgalley, Bill Daniels, and University of Nebraska Press, Potomac Books, in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all, for sharing your work with me.

William Daniels is one of those actors you 'know' as soon as you see their face, you can do the whole filmography by heart, but the name.... Not fair, is it, but he played an important roll in the lives of us baby boomers. The respect is there, for the memories and life lessons learned, even if the name escapes us. This memoir brought back lots of those memories, and lots of laughs, as well. I managed to skip TV most of the 80's and 90's so I will be catching up on Dr. Craig soon if Netflix carries it. I do remember KITT though I saw few of them, as well. My memories go to films, The Closer and Grey's Anatomy - and he was in a bunch of them. Thank you, KITT - Dr. Craig - John Adams, for the memories....

Book Review: Best Poems of the Bronte Sisters

I enjoy the works of the Bronte sisters and I am a poetry lover, so this title called my name. The Best Poems of the Bronte Sisters is published by Dover Publications. This collection contains work from each of the sisters and whereby their style is similar, their differences also speak out through their poems. Charlotte's poetry is based on her reflections of her sisters. Where Emily's are on the darker side of life.

I feel this is a good collection of poetry which represents each of the sisters well. Those who enjoy poetry, especially that which is written in the 19th century should turn to this book. It will become a welcome addition as a collection of great poetry.

I was given this book by Dover Publishers and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This book can be found at Amazon HERE! and Barnes and Noble HERE!

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Book Review: Delicious and Suspicious

This book is set in Memphis, at Aunt Pat's barbecue restaurant. Aunt Pat is actually Lulu Taylor's Great aunt. Lulu runs this restaurant which has a reputation for great ribs. Now, however, there has been a murder.

The victim is Rebecca Adrian, who came to the area for the Cooking Chanel Show. She was hoping to find a restaurant with great barbecue, now she is dead. Everyone is sure that her death was the doing of Aunt Pat's restaurant, so Lulu decides to investigate to put their reputation to the good again.

I love a good cozy mystery, and Delicious and Suspicious fit the bill perfectly. Riley Adams filled this book with Tennessee charm and made my mouth water for a taste of the barbecue from Aunt Pat's restaurant.

I felt like the characters were complex and real, plus, it kept me turning the pages to find how the mystery was solved.

Book Review: The Hidden Thread

Anna Butterfield is living with her uncle since the passing of her mother. Her uncle, a silk merchant, lives in London. While there her uncle is supposed to find a match for her. Someone who can support her father and sister, also. Henri is a French immigrant. Working as an apprentice weaver, he dreams of one day being a master weaver. When the weavers protest for a better wage, Henri becomes involved.

First, I was given this book my NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark in exchange for an honest review.

I found this book very interesting. I thought I knew a lot about English history but I had never heard of the silk riots. Set in the 1700s, I found the author's description of silk weaving interesting. I believe her research into this time and the silk business to be extensive.

This historical fiction includes areas that fascinate me, including silk, honor, hope, love, vision, and so much more. I highly recommend this book.

This book can be found at Amazon HERE or at Barnes and Noble HERE!

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Book Review: Two Nights by Kathy Reichs

If a book is written by Kathy Reichs, it will be good and it will be a thriller. This is no exception.

Sunday Night, Sunnie, has demons she needs to conquer. Physical and Psychological ones. She has a very independent, perhaps reclusive live, however, when there is a bomb explosion, followed by a little girl who is missing, she cannot turn down the family's request for aid. While helping, Sunnie realizes facing her own  secrets may help her to figure out many puzzles.

This was such a thrilling book, but it is not for the faint-of-heart. There is violence. As I was reading it the writing was so vivid and the plot was so clever. It is not a book that I could put down easily.

I received this book from NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Ballantine in exchange for my honest review.

• • This book may be found at Amazon HERE or at Barnes and Noble HERE

Book Review: Reading With Patrick: A Teacher, a Student, and a Life-changing Friendship

After she graduated from Harvard, Michelle Kuo decided to join Teach for America. this sent her to Helena, Arkansas. This part of the country is poor and still feels the effects of slavery. She finds one student, Patrick Browning, who she decides to mentor, in addition to her teaching. She discovers that this broken school has a truancy and gun violence history.

Patrick is in the 8th grade at the age of 15, however, he is doing so well under Michelle tutelage. After two years, Michelle decides it is time to go to law school. After this grueling schedule, just as she is about to graduate, she finds that Patrick has been accused of murder. She feel responsible so she goes back to finish Patrick's schooling, while he is in prison. She can see his education is making a difference in this young man's life. What she wasn't expecting was the change it would make inn her life.

As an educator, I knew exactly what Michelle was talking about. I often was amazed at how much one-on-one teaching could change the student and myself. I felt she was able to relate this so well, with such a beautiful writing style. Others who read this book could also see that this does not only speak to teachers but each one of us and the impact we can have on  others.  What an inspiration.

I recommend this book highly.

I am so glad that I was given this book by NetGalley and Random House in exchange for my honest review.

This book can be found at Amazon HERE!
This book can be found at Barnes and Noble HERE!

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Book Review: Gathering the Threads

This is the third book in The Amish of Summer Grove series. This book finds Ariana back in the world she loves. The world of the Old Order Amish. She spent month in the English world but finds she this world feels like a better fit. Now she has to take what was learned in both worlds and see if she can mesh them. She is not my herself in figuring this all out, Quill Schlaback, a long-time friend who is an ex-Amish, wants to help her. This is difficult when changes in Ariana are plain.

Skylar Nash is also hoping that the appearance of Ariana will not threaten the place she has found here.

This story is so filled with God's love as these two try to find who they are through His love.

I had not read the previous books but I was able to feel like I fit into this world almost from the beginning. I found the world Cindy Woodsmall made to be just like the communities I knew when I was growing up. The characters were rich and made you feel you had an investment made in them and when finished, they become a part of the reader's life.

I was given this book by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

This book may be found at Amazon HERE!
or at Barnes and Noble HERE!

 

Just Sayin'

Jennifer and Trent were going to be married making a combined family with Jennifer's daughter, Cassie and Trent's children Nick and Julie. Now that they are broken up, the kids decide to do something. Nick and Cassie, through letters, are trying to figure out what happened to their parents' relationship and how they can change things.

They also try to figure out how to get on The Last Insult Standing, their favorite game show. Through all of these letters, the children learn the importance of the words they use.

I loved the way the three children love each other, even though they may make fun of each other in every letter. This is a touching, silly book that will make the reader realize the importance of watching the tongue.

I was given this book by Tyndale House Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

This book can be found HERE at Amazon,
or HERE at Barnes and Noble

Book Review: They say we are infidels

As a Christian, I believe in intercessory prayer. However, with this book it opened my eyes to places I could be aiming my prayers besides my standard places. Mind Belz was able to tell the story of the Middle East as if an objective reporter. She talks about the plight of the Iraqi Christians from the time immediately before Hussein fell through 2015. These Christians face torture that we do not know, whether here or in their homeland. In Iraq they could be killed, raped, kidnapped and more.  This book also tells how being on the run from ISIS is in the Middle East. At the very least Christians should be called to prayer for these fellow Christians or even more. We could become involved politically or at a local level.

I found this book very moving.

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

This book may be found at Amazon through HERE!
Or Barnes and Noble through HERE!

Water My Soul Ninety Meditations from an Old Order Mennonite by Darla Weaver

I love this Christian Devotional. I grew up in a town with Old Orders around us and I love the lifestyle and the faith of these people. Each of these entries show Darla Weavers love for the Lord and all of his creations. There are also entries about her life in general including her children, friends and family. Each devotions has a reading, prayer and journal prompts. There are even ways to actively respond do the devotions.

I will keep this devotion and look upon it time and again.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Herald Press in exchange for my honest review.

This book may be purchased from Amazon HERE!
or from Barnes and Nobel HERE!