Being a lover of islands and the ocean myself, I was obviously intrigued by Turtle in Paradise, a quirky, full-of-character book that takes place in Key West, Florida. I quickly fell in love with Turt…
Along the River is a quick read that explores the importance of art and the challenges of growing up. Author Yen Mah offers vivid descriptions of ancient Chinese life during the Song Dynasty. Rea…
Tisha: A Young Teacher in the Alaskan Wilderness is another example of how truth can be stranger than fiction. This non-fiction book relates the adventures of 19 year old Anne Hobbs i…
THE ICE CASTLE, the second book in the Lexicon Adventures series, has many necessary ingredients that would entice young readers, i.e. adventure, fantasy, family member who don't get along, social com…
I'll admit—on first seeing the description, I wasn't sure what kind of story to expect from this unique little book. Its plethora of glowing reviews, however, convinced me to give it a try, and boy, a…
Jamie Ford's debut novel has all the elements that make for a successful and engaging read: top-notch characterization, conflict, tension, star-crossed love, and hope. Although it has a hi…
Mr. Churchill's Secretary is fantastic mixture of fact and fiction, set in London during World War II. The story begins rather slowly, with lots of political dialogue. Readers shouldn't dismay; once t…
Sweet Talk definitely has a lot of things going for it. Drawing you in from page one, this novel is full of adventure and action. It is plot-driven and will keep you on your…
I've been a huge fan of Ann Shayne's non-fiction for years, so I was thrilled when I learned she'd branched out into fiction writing. I also heard her say in an interview that she wanted to write a ro…
Too Close to Home is the first book in the Women of Justice series. This book is not a nice, easy comfort read. It is about evil people doing really bad things. While many of the characters profess…
My Fair Godmother is book one of a two book series (left open for more) and accidentally reading this book after My Unfair Godmother (book two) was no issue. Only the fairy godmother a…
The Jimmy Fincher Saga continues with A Gift of Ice by James Dashner. Jimmy goes to Japan to search for the Second Gift in his quest to defeat the "Stompers," facing new challenges and meeting some v…
