Merry Irving, an itinerant pet-sitter, is glad that her current job has taken her far from the scene of a terrible murder. She knows that she was the intended target. Her job involves three rambunctious dogs to try to distract her worry. When a dead body is found next door, she fears that she has been followed.
Semi-retired police detective Dave Brady has befriended her. He’s among the police officers working the scene. Is she innocent? Why do so many people end up dead when she’s around?
This cozy mystery grabbed my attention. Real, believable characters. The heroine seemed too trusting at times. Sometimes the author allowed scenes with the dogs to release too much rising tension.
Even so, this book was a page turner for me. Surprising twists bring real danger. I was worried for the heroine’s safety and read quickly.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
This book is about a boy named Bob. He calls himself Average Boy, or AB for short. He gets into one scrape after another. Often his attention is elsewhere, which gets him into trouble. He maintains a positive attitude no matter what happens, which makes him very appealing.
The story begins on the last day of school before summer break and goes throughout an adventurous summer. His best friend Billy is often with him on his adventures, but he has some fun family occasions too.
He has several goals for the summer. One is to build a treehouse with Billy. Another is to invite everyone in his small town to church.
The author doesn’t mention Bob’s age, but he seems to be in upper elementary. It’s an engaging story that will captivate boys 8-12.
I ran across this inspiring true story for children while attending a writers conference.
Manjhi lives in a poor village where the children have a very long walk to school. Families have a long walk to see a doctor, go to the hospital, or shop at the markets.
The village on the other side of the mountain has nice houses, markets, and a hospital.
It didn’t seem fair to Manjhi. If only the two villages were closer together, the families in the poor village would be able to send their children to school.
Then Manjhi has an idea.
This is a delightful and inspiring book for children 6-12.
I ran across this book of fairy tales by Louisa May Alcott while researching books for children written in the 1800s.
I hadn’t heard of this book by the beloved author of Little Women, a book I read several times as a teenager.
Flower Fables, published in 1854,is Alcott’s first book. She dedicated it to Ellen Emerson, the daughter of a family friend, Ralph Waldo Emerson.
These stories were probably read to children of the day. They are allegories. The creative, descriptive stories include strong moral messages, such as treating others with kindness.
There are nine stories in the collection. I think children’s imaginations would have been captivated by them.
Patience Abbott leaves England with her brother at their father’s urging after their mother’s death. The siblings board a ship to Boston to reunite with their father, whose job as a sailor had kept him from his wife and children for months and even years at a time. Patience learns the shocking news that her father has remarried. She and Will now have a stepmother and stepsister. Patience wonders if it’s possible to be close to her father again.
Blacksmith Josiah Wagner watches as the Eleanor pulls into the harbor with a cargo of tea. He has no family, yet his active, peaceful membership in the Sons of Liberty for the past four years has given him a greater purpose. He and the other patriots aren’t happy to see another boatload of tea, but meeting Patience searching for someone at the docks is a pleasant surprise. Her lost look reminds him of his arrival in Boston at the age of eleven, an orphan. He shows her the kindness no one showed him, something that impacts both of them.
Her brother soon decides to support the patriots’ cause while Patience struggles to understand all that is happening. Her loyalist father runs a shop that sells tea shipped from England. She believes Josiah sides with her brother. The man her father wants her to marry, Edward Cunningham, shares his views. Who is right?
Both the hero and heroine have suffered significant losses, which give them a deep yearning for family and belonging. I was drawn into their struggles and the gentle romance unfolding, and the story grew to become a page-turner for me.
The author does an excellent job of showing the escalating tensions that divided families and neighbors even before the American Revolutionary War. Readers learn a bit of history as a natural part of the story.
Recommended for readers who enjoy novels set in colonial times and for those who enjoy inspirational historical romances.
At thirteen, Roxi McKay never wanted to sail around the world with her grandparents. This is her mother’s choice to send her daughter away for two years so she can concentrate on her acting career. Roxi will call her mother at the end of the first year to tell her if she’s ready to come home. Will Mom want her? Roxi has overheard people talking about her rotten attitude—she can’t seem to help herself.
Mama Carol prays this trip will draw her closer to her granddaughter—and draw Roxi closer to God. Sailing around the world is her and her husband’s dream to share with Roxi, but Roxi’s snarly attitude makes close quarters difficult. They all make friends among boaters on the same adventure.
This young adult novel is filled with sticky family relationships, beautiful scenery, island settings, and dangers inherent to sailing the ocean. Unexpected twists and the appeal of beautiful settings kept me turning pages. The story is told from the viewpoint of Roxi and Mama Carol.
An interest in our country’s 250th Anniversary has led me to read several books on the topic this year. I check out a variety of books to aid my understanding.
This nonfiction book is written for teens, yet it is also good for adults. The author chronicles the battles that began in April of 1775, and lead on to victory in Virginia.
The author’s explanations of customs and descriptions of battle locations deepen the reader’s understanding.
A timeline of events is especially helpful. Maps and a glossary are included.
By 1852, Eleanor Foogleman’s family had lived in Indiana for months. Because her mother is bedridden while waiting for her baby’s birth, Eleanor has helped her father build the cabin as well as the household chores. There have been several miscarriages, making Pa angrier by the year. Only Eleanor and her five-year-old sister have survived. When Pa takes Eleanor to town for the first time, he warns her not to catch any man’s eye. Of course not. Pa’s not giving up her free labor for nothing.
The shy girl captures the attention of James Hadley, the town’s blacksmith, but it’s clear that her pa doesn’t approve.
Unbelievable tragedy awaits Eleanor.
The main character has difficulty trusting men because of her father. That is demonstrated very well in this novella. Tragedy, unexpected events, and sympathy for the main character kept me turning pages. Understandable themes are mentioned, yet are not fully developed, themes that would have deepened the story.
Autumn Brown is thrilled to join the small staff at the SS Spotlight Theatre. She’s even happier to be hired without anyone knowing of her connection to her famous grandmother. Unlike the well-known actress whom she hasn’t seen in years, Autumn prefers spreadsheets over the bright lights. Her job as production manager is her dream.
She loves the team and longs to be part of the theater’s family, especially since her estranged grandmother is her only surviving relative. Then her grandmother pays an unexpected visit…
The lovable cast of characters, along with unexpected twists, made this book a page-turner. The love and friendship between the owners made the barn theater an appealing place to spend time. The story is told from the viewpoint of Autumn and one of the owners.
As a reader, I was quickly drawn into the world of the theater. The author’s understanding of the various jobs involved in putting on a production shines through in this book. A glossary of terms at the beginning was very helpful in understanding the lingo.
An enjoyable read! I want to spend more time with these characters and go back to read the first book in the series. Hopefully, there will be a Book 3!
Recommended for readers of contemporary women’s fiction.
Sandra Merville Hart 