Book Review: The American Dream

The American Dream?
A Journey on Route 66 Discovering Dinosaur Statues, Muffler Men, and the Perfect Breakfast Burrito

by Shing Yin Khor

Lerner Publishing Group

Zest Books ™

Comics & Graphic Novels , Teens & YA

Pub Date 06 Aug 2019

I am reviewing a copy of The American Dream through Lerner Publishing Group and Netgalley:

In this unique book Shing Yin Khor chronicles her solo journey along the iconic Route 66 written and illustrated in a fun easy to read manner we learn of Shing’s trip.

As a child growing up in Malaysia Shing had two pictures of America one was the s of Hollywood and it’s glitz and glamor , the other was more of The impoverishment of The Grapes Of Wrath.

There were aspects of this books I loved, and aspects that I just really didn’t appreciate, and honestly it seemed to be lacking.

I give The American Dream three out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: The Brave Princess and Me

The Brave Princess and Me
by Kathy Kacer

Second Story Press

Children’s Fiction , Historical Fiction

Pub Date 10 Sep 2019

I am reviewing a copy of The Brave Princess and Me through Second Story Press and Netgalley:

The year is 1943, and by then the Nazi’s had control over the majority of Europe.

Princess Alice Of Greece who was born deaf has a reputation for kindness. Having been born deaf she knows what it was like to be discriminated against.

As the Nazi’s invade Greece all the Jews are in danger including young Tilde Cohen and her mother, Rachel. On the run, they are in search of a safe place to hide. When they arrive unannounced on Princess Alice’s doorstep, begging her to shelter them, the princess’s kindness is put to the test.

I found The Brave Princess and Me to be a beautifully written and illustrated Children’s book, that would be helpful in in teaching a child about the Holocaust.

I give The Brave Princess and Me five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: The Spies Of Shilling Lane

The Spies of Shilling Lane
A Novel

by Jennifer Ryan

Crown Publishing

Crown

Historical Fiction

Pub Date 04 Jun 2019

I am reviewing a copy of The Spies Of Shilling Lane through Crown Publishing and Netgalley:

Mrs. Braithwaite is the self-appointed queen of her English village, and finds herself unwanted following her husband’s selfish divorce petition. Never deterred, the threat of a family secret being revealed sets her hot-foot to London to find the only person she has left—her clever daughter Betty, who took work there at the first rumbles of war.

When she arrives Betty’s timid Landlord Mr Norris informs her that her daughter Betty has not been seen in days, and the fact that bombs have fallen and destroyed villages has Mrs. Braithwaite deeply concerned about what might have happened to her daughter.

Mrs. Braithwaite Storms into the London Blitz dragging along a reluctant Mr Norris along as an unwitting sidekick as they piece together Betty’s unexpectedly chaotic life. As she is thrown into the midst of danger and death, Mrs. Braithwaite is forced to rethink her old-fashioned notions of status, class, and reputation, and to reconsider the question that’s been puzzling her since her world overturned: How do you measure the success of your life?

If you are looking for a novel with a lot of twists and turns along with a quiet humor you will love The Spies Of Shilling Lane!

Five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: Talk the Walk

Talk the Walk
How to Be Right Without Being Insufferable

by Steve Brown

New Growth Press

Christian , Religion & Spirituality

Pub Date 03 Jun 2019

I am reviewing a copy of Talk the Walk through New Growth Press and Netgalley:

This book points out that to often Christians see non Christians as the enemy. We are reminded too that we as Christians are not required to be fixers.

We are reminded too that real truth is practical.

In this book Steve Brown reminds us that though Christianity is true on the aspects of Salvation and Theology that we may in-fact miss the less articulated truths of humility, love, and forgiveness.

We are reminded too that we live in a society that is getting increasingly hostile towards Christians and there beliefs, and Steve Brown gives us some of the tools that may help to in some ways to bridge that gap.

I give Talk the Walk five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: My Sister is Missing

My Sister is Missing
The most creepy, fast-paced and gripping thriller of 2019

by Carissa Ann Lynch

Harper Impulse and Killer Reads

One More Chapter

General Fiction (Adult)

Pub Date 08 Feb 2019

I am reviewing a copy of My Sister is Missing through Harper Impulse and Killer Reads and Netgalley:

If you are looking for a powerful, fast paced, on the edge of your seat thriller My Sister is Missing is just the ticket.

Will a VHS Tape depicting a horrific crime, help solve a twenty year old crime.

There are neighbors who have something to hide, as well as a sister who is Missing.

Is her sister Madeline the victim or the one to blame?

I found My Sister is Missing to be a well written, fast paced, suspense novel, that kept me engaged from first word to last!

Five out of five stars!

Book Review: Amanda in Holland

Amanda in Holland
Missing in Action

by Darlene Foster

Central Avenue Publishing

Children’s Fiction , Middle Grade

Pub Date 03 Sep 2019

I am reviewing a copy in Amanda in Holland through Central Avenue Publishing and Netgalley:

Amanda is in Holland with her friend Leah, where they see all the sites. They go to see the Tulip Fields, Windmills, Canals, Anne Frank’s House, even a wooden shoe factory.

Amanda is also hoping to find out more about her great uncle who never returned from the Second World War.

What Amanda does not expect is to find a and fall in love with an abandoned puppy named Joey. When she is looking for a home for Joey, she meets Jan, a Dutch not who offers to help, a suspicious gardener, a strange woman on a bicycle, and an overprotective goose named Gerald.

Follow Amanda around Holland as she encounters danger and intrigue while trying to solve another mystery in a foreign country.

If you are looking for a good action packed book for a middle grade girl Amanda in Holland is one I recommend!

Five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review:Dear Scott, Dearest Zelda

Dear Scott, Dearest Zelda

The Love Letters of F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald

by F. Scott Fitzgerald; Zelda Fitzgerald

Scribner

Biographies & Memoirs

Pub Date 23 Jul 2019

I am reviewing a copy of Dear Scott, Dearest Zelda through Scribner and Netgalley:

Scott and Zelda met in Montgomery Alabama, Zelda’s hometown in July of 1918, likely at a country club dance.

In August of 1918 Scott sends Zelda a chapter from his novel The Romantic Egotist.

For over twenty two years Scott and Zelda remain devoted to each other through her mental illnesses and his battle with alcoholism.

Dear Scott, Dearest Zelda includes three hundred love letters that were collected to show why their love story was called one of the greatest of the twentieth century.

I found Dear Scott, Dearest Zelda to be a beautifully done and well researched glimpse into the lives of two people who through the best and the worst. A true love story, by two of the greatest literary influences in the twentieth century!

Five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: Broken Strings

Broken Strings
by Eric Walters; Kathy Kacer

Penguin Random House Canada

Puffin Canada

Children’s Fiction

Pub Date 10 Sep 2019

I am reviewing a copy of Broken Strings through Penguin Random House Canada and Netgalley:

In 2002 in the aftermath of 9’11 and the death of her very much loved Grandmother, Shirli Berman’s intention is to move forward. As the best singer in her Junior High School she auditions for the lead part in the musical, but learning she was given the part of the Old Jewish Mother and not the coveted part of her sister. On the plus side though her “husband” is none other than Ben Morgan, the cutest and most popular boy in the school.

Shirli Bergman throws herself into the role, she looks for props in her Grandfather’s attic. It is then that she finds an Old Violin in the corner, what makes it strange to her is that Zaydee never seemed to like music, never even going to any of her recitals. When she shows it to her Grandfather leads to her Grandfather showing an anger in him she never saw in him before. Shirli keeps trying to connect with her Zayde and discover the horrible reason behind his anger. A long-kept family secret comes to light and Shirli learns the true power of music, both terrible and wonderful.

I found Broken Strings to be powerfully written with strong characters, they managed to tell of difficult times in history in a way a child can comprehend.

I give Broken Strings five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: The Secret Letter

The Secret Letter
by Debbie Rix

Bookouture

Historical Fiction , Literary Fiction

Pub Date 22 Jul 2019

I am reviewing a copy of The Secret Letter through Bookoture and Netgalley:

In Germany in 1939 thirteen year old Magda is devastated by the loss of her best friend shy and gentle Lotte who was snatched away from her and sent to a concentration camp, wearing a Star Of David, Sean to her faded brown coat. Magda realizes she’s not like the other girls in her village as she hates the fanatical new rules of the Hitler youth, leading Magda to secretly join The White Rose Movement. She begins to rebel against the world around her.

When an English RAF Pilot Lands in a field near Magda’s house she finds herself having to make an impossible choice to risk the lives of her family or to save a stranger and make a difference in a war she wants to end.

In England in 1939 Imogen is a fifteen year old girl is taken from her family and evacuated to the Lake District what is believed to be a haven of safety even with war raging all through Europe. All she has to connect her to the bombs and the battles are the letters she writes to her loved ones. What she does’t know, on the other side of the enemy line, her fate rests on the actions of a girl who will change her life forever…

I found The Secret Letter to be a powerful and well written novel…

Five out of five stars!

Book Review: The Express Bride

The Express Bride

by Kimberley Woodhouse

Barbour Publishing, Inc.

Barbour Books

Christian , Romance

Pub Date 01 Jul 2019

I am reviewing a copy of The Express Bride through Barbour Books and Netgalley:

In 1860 Jacqueline Rivers manages a Pony Express Station, taking over after her Father’s death. Jacqueline deals with the daily stresses placed upon her after this unconventional role and now she has been asked by a government official to help find a counterfeiter.

After Elijah Johnson passes through the stage while on an exhausting quest to find his bosses heir he doesn’t want to leave the station manager. But he may never leave when he finds himself caught in the crossfire of criminal activities in the territory.

Jackie has trouble making up her mind if Elijah is friend or foe. Will she remain strong when the secrets of the past and present are finally unearthed?

I give The Express Bride five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!