Book Review: Courageous

Set during the Crusades, Courageous is the third book in Sleiman's Series Valiant Hearts. This book is written for Young Adult readers, however I found myself drawn to it after reading her previous books in the series.

This book is sure to hold the attention of its audience as it combines action, romance and history. This time period has never held great interest for me, but the research put into this book and the viewpoint of this book helped me to dive in. She covers the different reasons some chose to go on the Crusades and the different groups of people involved. She also showed us some of the background and difficulties encountered along the way.

Sleiman has such a gift in the way she writes and I have enjoyed this entire series. I know that hers will be a name I will look out for in the future.

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

Book Review: Buying Samir

in the book Buying Samir, Jasmina was saved from a life of slavery. She now want to do the same for her brother. To do this she had to leave the missionaries and go out on her own. This is the touching story of this girls trek and danger she faces out of love for a brother.

This book is a very intense subject and I feel that it could be read, as a family, as a discussion center, to help teens understand the world of human trafficking. Even though it was a rough subject, the writer was able to keep the graphics out of it.

This is a good book embracing a topic that is difficult to face.

I received this book from NetGalley and BJU Press in exchange for my honest review.

YA Book Review: the Kingdom of the Sun and Moon

I love this story of courage. There are two small mice in Long Meadow and their names are Nesbit and Sommer. Sommer is the oldest and is placed in the Konig's guard which is what he always wanted. However, things are not always what they seem. emperor Wolfsmilch plans on taking over the country which makes it harder to know where trust can be found.
Nesbit, meanwhile must leave Long Meadow, due to trouble he has gotten himself into. A fugitive and enemy of the king, he must be careful about his next step.

I feel young adults who like fantasy, kingdoms, adventure and mice would love this book. In fact, I wouldn't just limit it to young adults. I am an adult and I fell in love with the entire world.

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

book review: Whippoorwill

Oh my, I loved this book. Clair is a young girl who is raised by her father. The Stewarts are the neighbors next door. They neighbors also have a dog, Wally, who is always chained in the backyard. When Clair decides to do something for this dog things begin to happen which change lives.

This book is written for young adults, but I enjoyed it also. It is a book that tugs at the heart while it makes it sing. I cannot sing this book's praise enough.

I was given this book, in exchange for my honest review, by NetGalley.

Book Review: Travels with Gannon and Wyatt: Ireland

Written by Patti Wheeler and Keith Hemsfreet, this installment of the adventures of these two brothers have them traveling through Ireland. While here they see many of the historic sights such as castles, the Cliffs of Moher and the Blarney Stone. Soon they find that the farmland in Ireland is beset upon by a blight. While looking for the cause they find themselves running in fear of their lives.

This is such a good book for the young adult reader. The pace and the adventures throughout the book keeps the reader involved, while they are learning about the history of Ireland.

As a huge fan of Irish history this book immediately appealed to me and I can see how I would recommend it to my nieces, nephews and the students that I used to teach. I highly recommend this book and am glad that NetGalley had it available for me to review. Thank you.

Book Review: Evil Fairies Love Hair

Evil Fairies Love Hair, by Mary G. Thompson, and published by Clarion Books, is such a funny book that pulls the reader in from the first sentence.

Several kids find a tricky fairy who will give each of them one wish. However, the rules they must follow to get these wishes, and the ways the children try to meet them, will have the reader rolling on the floor with laughter.

This book may be written for the young, but anyone who wants to read a funny book should read this one. 

Book review: Shadow Hand by Anne Elisabeth Stengle

Shadow Hand by Anne Elisabeth Stengle

Anne Elisabeth Stengle weaves together a tale of fantasy that draws the reader in. In this tale Daylily is to wed Foxbrush, her cousin. This is not the man she loves, but she told him that she would wed him if he never professed his love for her. On the morning of the wedding, these feeling slip out in the form a letter which was not to have been delivered to her. Unfortunately, it was and the events that occur following this are magical.

Daylily escapes to a magical, dangerous world, followed by the man that she loves and the man that loves her. This tale twists and turns and makes it impossible to put down.

I was given this book by bookfun.org and by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review