Wild Life by Keena Roberts

Keena Roberts is a girl divided. Some of her time is spent in Botswana on an island camp, but she also spends time at a Philadelphia private school. While in Philadelphia she is inundated by preppy school rules and hierarchy. This is the same girl that can sleep, and cook at a campsite and lives close to a baboon colony so her parents could study the animals.
This girl who enjoys dreaming and going on adventures isn't sure how to fit in with spoiled kids. She would rather be in Botswana where her primatologist parents taught her how to make bread and to carve bird whistles from palm nuts. 
This is a wonderful touching memoir by Keena Roberts. It shows how this girls America life influences her life in Botswana and vice versa. It is very funny at times but yet has its tender moments. It tells the story of a girl, coming of age, who is trying to find where she fits in. I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys nature and travel. This is a fun, educational book. 
I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. 

Book Review: Girl on the Leeside

Such a moving book. This is the story of Siobhan Doyle, who was raised by her Uncle Kee. Her mother was killed in an IRA bombing which has led Kee to be protective of Siobhan. These two share a love for the lough, the Leeside, their pub, and Irish poetry.
Kee come home filled with the exciting news that a literary scholar from America is coming to stay. This fills Siobhan with mixed feelings. She has no love for Americans and does not want someone to come and destroy her idyllic life.When he appears Siobhan realizes that there is so much more life away from Leeside and her uncle. Then she discovers that her father is still alive. Now she is filled with questions when it comes to her future.
This book grabbed me from the prologue and the introduction of Kee and his sister's mother and their early life. This gave me a feeling of truly knowing this family and to feel the ties that Kee and Siobhan would have.
The author was able to create a world that was so well-written that I could visually the world surrounding Kee and Siobhan without any effort. Plus the poetry that is inserted effortlessly throughout helps further draw the reader into the magical world that is Ireland.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I give it a high recommendation.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

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Book Review: Siren's Song

This is the third book in The Storm Siren Trilogy. Because of this, I had a little difficulty getting into the story and characters. Once I got into the book, I was amazed at the writing and the way Mary Weber was able to create this world of magic. She also created amazing characters, which were fun and complex.

I believe I am going to go back and purchase the first two books of the series so I can be caught up into this world from the beginning. I would also recommend this to anyone who is interested in reading this book. Overall, I ended up loving this book.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Thomas Nelson - fiction in exchange for an honest review.

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Book Review: Flood

Laura Brooks left Hannibal, Missouri years ago, now she is coming back. She doesn't tell anyone she is coming. When she get there she tells everyone that she is only going to be there for a short time and to attend her high-school reunion. Soon, her friend Rosie pulls into her divorce proceedings, and her former fiance, Sammy McGuire is there.

Laura had left this town at eighteen because she felt she was drowning in the town's past, both the ties to Mark Twain, and the cultural and economic.

I felt that the author knows about her hometown, Hannibal and conveys this knowledge very well to the reader, in a contemporary way. I enjoyed this novel. I felt like she was able to create real characters, flaws and all. I enjoyed the details that she included throughout.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Faithwords/Center Street in exchange for my honest review.