Book Review: The Glass Bottom Boat (Flight to Freedom Book 1) by Laura Thomas

  

 

The Glass Bottom Boat (Flight to Freedom Book 1) by Laura Thomas

story starts with Madison and she's attending her sister's wedding in Jamaica. The groom has his brother along for the best man, Luke.  He is a missionary and she enjoys his tals of how he does his job in Mexico. It's so hard for Madison to be there surrounded by water as her parents had died in a plane crash into the water. She's always had the fear of drowning herself. Luke is gentle with her and gets her used to the water alongside her and she's getting the hang of things. She's a runner and enjoys her first in the morning runs. On one morning she finds a glass bottom boat and she has nightmares about it and her ex boyfriend. Party festivities continue during the week with rehearsals.

One morning she didn't return from her run and everybody is frantic. Luke finds her phone on the furthest part of the beach and other clues. With help from others he's able to determine where she is and with the amount of glass bottom boats he's getting closer to finding her. In the meantime we learn of her captivity and who is holding her against her will. She is able to escape one time but they caught her. Next time as she's been stretching her muscles she's able to leave again and we follow her at every turn.

What a thriller, romantic, mysteries and fers all come to light and combine to make this an escellent read. Can't wait to read more from this author, so very descriptive and keeps you on the edge of your seat.

 

May 22 Children's Books reviewed

  
 

MMM...Marigolds!: A yummy book for picky eaters by Veronica Saretsky  

colorful children's book about eating the right foods.

every day the mother deer takes her baby to the garden and she always picks marigolds. The baby tries everything but the marigolds. says they are yucky.

 one day there is only marigolds left and the baby tries them and ....

cute story.

lots of other things to do in the book, check at th eend.

 

The Five Little Bees Family: Goes Canoeing by Carolina J. Blooming

Cute colorful children's story babout a family of bees. they look like regular people but after a while you realize they are actually bees. they go out for a day canoeing on the river.  Things don't always go according to plan but they get in synch to make the canoe go where they want it to. Love how everybody pitches in to make  things work.

Love tips at the end of the book about bees.

 

Book Review: The Cart Pusher by Phil M. Williams

 
 

 

The Cart Pusher by Phil M. Williams

This story is about Scott from when he was young to his teen and older yers. Love this book because of the relationships through his life and those life's he touched.

Love hearing of his mother and sisters and how they realize later in life that the money she was controlling of theirs was spent, not on what they wanted it to be spent on.

Scott was working a cart pusher at the big mart when he realizes he just needs to work a lot of hours so he can earn the money he needs to get the rest of his college degree. Like how he is able to help others along the way also. Hate when people use others for their own gain.

Love hearing of the older characters in the book and the impact they left on others. Love how Scott with Henry's help he is able to reinvent his life where it has more purpose.

Did not believe how this ended but glad he was able to make a difference in others lives.

Fascinated by his journey with crypto and the decisions he made over the years.

Mystery, romance, self help, adult situations and so much more, something for everyone. 

Book Review: My Lord Protector (The Beresford Adventures Book 2) by Cheryl Bolen

  

 

My Lord Protector (The Beresford Adventures Book 2)  by Cheryl Bolen

This story starts out with Charlotte and she's discovered one night her landlady which is more like a real mother to her has been killed. She grabs her belongings and heads to get a ride from the fishermen to a new location. She has the ladys journal which will point to a murderer and hidden secrets.

Once she arrives in London  she heads to a lady friend who has an agency and she refers her out to Lord Devere who needs a companion for his younger sister. She is the last of the sisters and this one is proving to be a bit difficult. She loves her animals, all kinds of them. The women get along just fine and Carline also finds out the Lord will buy her all new clothing and she is to be treated as a family member. He does not know much about her background but is fascinated with her and often attends the dances with the women. 

Like that the murdered is also conniving and has plans to track her down and he thinks he has located her.

On one outing the women's carriage is stopped and Caroline is stolen away. They threaten her life with the whereabouts of the journal. 

Luckily Harriet had sent a neighbor boy to track down those who stole her companion and he hads back to the estate to confer with lord Devere.

Lots of travel, romance, mystery, and twists and turns. What amazes me is that this book is under 200 pages and tells wicked good story. So descriptive especially the fashion and foods. Can't wait to read more of this author's work.

Good health prayers to you Mrs. Bolen.. 

May 17 Children's books

 

 

SAILING THE ABCs: An Alphabet Adventure Story for Children by Ophra Ashur 

This book is not your typical Ace stands for something and b stands for something it is a mixture it's all about the different colors that you can find. So each letter does have a color associated with it that starts with their letter. Very colorful educational book for children. There are so many activities that you could create out of this book at the very end they show you how to make an origami sailboat so you can create your own words from letters that have colors associated with them. There are also other things you can do at the end of the book. Love this book it's so challenging.

 

aWhatever You Do, Don't Fall Asleep!: A funny and interactive book for kids (Whatever You Do, Don't series)! by Ashlee Ridlon 

This book is a colorful, children's book and Bruno the Bear does not want to hibernate just yet. He figures he has a few days left but he's having a hard time staying awake. he does not want to fall asleep. You are asked lots of questions and you can't be in your bed with a nice soft fluffy pillow and blankets that are nice and warm. Have to be able to keep the bear moving around and not fall asleep til the first snow falls. Kind of a silly book but it's a fun one.

Spring is My Favorite Season: A Rhyming Picture Book Celebrating Spring for Kids (My Favorite Seasons with Doppy and Friends)

by H.R. Manske

This book starts with Doppy and friends and they all have different birthdays different times of the year. each one tells you their birthday and what they like. Story starts out with this rhyming colorful pages.  On each page, the picture shows what the words are saying. There are so many things that they like about spring. Lots of colors and pretty things. Good educational book.

  

 

Mealtime at the Zoo: Jungle Bites & Delights

by James Williamson 

This book starts with an animal and he's sitting down having a peanut butter sandwich. This is a rhyming colorful childrens book. As you turn the page and come to other animals you can see what they are having for a meal. I like this idea and I also love the recipes at the end of the story.

 

May 14 Bull Rider’s Baby Surprise: A Small Town Rodeo Roma...

  

 

Bull Rider’s Baby Surprise: A Small Town Rodeo Roma...

Book 3 of The Telfords of Montana by Sinclair Jayne

In this story Cash is handed his child that he didn't even know existed and the woman leaves along with the receipt of everything she ordered that the baby would need. Madelyn is nearby she's an assistant and intern on the rodeo with reports of events and other things that occur.

He gets an idea to head to his father's house who he's never met along with his brothers and sisters and the whole family.

Love how they are greeted in Marietta with familiar places I am used to.

Everybody is waiting on the paternity test to see where the truths lie. 

Maddie plans to leave to head back to NY for her job. She wants no part of Cash and the baby but then they name the baby and they both become very close.

great read, love catching up with the others I've read about prior.

Received this review copy from Tule Publishing via BookSprout and this is my honest opinion. 

May 12 The Pawn Book 2 of The Lemaster Files by John David

  

 

The Pawn Book 2 of The Lemaster Files by John David

Enjoyed this book because it's so realistic and things similar are happening in the US.

A friends uncle has been detained overseas where they cane people who disobeying their laws.

The man has been held in prison and he states he didn't plant the drugs in his luggage.

Love hearing how the reporters go about uncovering the situation, how it all really went down and how they are gearing up to help the man go to trial in the foreign country. 

Exciting, fast paced at times, slow at times that let you to think about what you've read as strategies kick in.  NEVER saw the ending as it was, wow!

Like the characters and how they react with one another, in different fields but still connected. Can't wait to read more from this author.

Received this review copy from Tule Publishing via BookSprout and this is my honest opinion. 

Book Review: The Tao of Poison by Isham Cook

 

The Tao of Poison by Isham Cook

Interesting culture and a country I am not familiar with. Like story but not so much how the poison is transferred to another and it does make them die.

Story follows a young girl and an event in the neighborhood causses a man to die and some are  brought to justice. The young girl must leave and her parents head in a different direction from her hoping to meet up again one day.

We find out how the girl has been taking a poison for her whole life and she's very knowledgably in the herbs of the world and what they can do for one.  She is able to survive because of her skills. Others see her as another and some welcome her to join them. Like the different cultures that are mixed up in this story and learning about them. So much danger for a young woman in the world as she tries to reach destinations she's heard about.

Brutality, mysteries, mystical occurrences, travel, and so much more in this story.

Like the strategies during the battles and the outcome. Entertaining.

Received a review copy from the publisher and this is my honest opinion.

Book Review: Grow Together by Charles Dowding

  

 

Grow Together by Charles Dowding

Love reading this book asw I've yet started my seeds for this year due to packing and moving into a new area of the US.

There are so many combinations of plants to make it so the plants themselves help the other plants. Some produce nitrogen, some other minerals that plants need to flourish.

I've done the 'three sister's from the Pilgraim days and it does work. Nice to see how some plants leaves can protect the younger smaller  crops from the sun or they'd just burn up and die.

Nice to try the combinations for yourself and I look forward to many of them myself. We have a much longer growing season here in TN so thinking with the plant blanket at night I can be growing vegetables to store in freezer up til the first of the year.  Thinking of cold cold frames also as I watched my dad wok with those. Learned so much from this book.

Great resource to keep handy.

Received this review copy from the publisher and this is my honest opinion. 

Book Review: Stranger to the Beautiful by Don Hynes

  

 

Stranger to the Beautiful by Don Hynes

Enjoyed this book of poems for many reasons. Love the seasons in New England and he describes them as true as they can be. Love  common things like water, snow, stones and so much more. Winter is my favorite month so I really resonates with those. Enjoyed the other seasons as well with the words and phrases he uses. Very calming and relaxes, puts at you peace with yourself. mind and body.

Would love to read more from this author.

Received this review copy from the publisher and this is my honest opinion.

 

Book Review: Stoneslayer Book One by Candace Lynn Talmadge

   

 

Stoneslayer Book One by Candace Lynn Talmadge

Did not think I'd enjoy this book and I was wrong, I love it. This book made into a movie would be super awesome. There is so much action and adventure and mystery and magical things happening, and  romance, strategies and so much more.  Starts out with Helen and she is powerful but in the wrong hands she can be deadly to others. Like how the story goes back to her life when she was younger so we can understand what happened then to make her like she is now. Love her healing powers and the stone and it's meaning to her and others. Hate hearing of the devils invading her thoughts as she fights them, along with help from others. Like the different characters in the book and how different they are from us humans of today. Like the relationships of others and how they effect her and how things work with the combinations of characters.

Didn't see them coming out well but the author does an excellent job of keeping it all together.

Would love to read more from this author as the scenes are very descriptive with details and I can picture myself looking from the side.  Great story.

Received a review copy from the publisher and this is my honest 

Apr 28 The Sapphire Sea by Davis Bunn

  

 

The Sapphire Sea by Davis Bunn

This story starts with Colin who is being raised by a housekeeper. His father is the sheriff of the small southern town. One day when he first goes to school he is brought into an office and he has to talk to a woman. End result is he leaves home to live at the school for geniuses where room and board and classes are all paid for. He had feared his fathers moods especially when he had been drinking. His mother had passed away but he never went to the funeral. He finds out later why that was. Love how he excels at what they can teach him. By the age of 12 he's ready for some college classes. Love his math professor because he will be teaching him new things. He is just so much more advanced than anybody thought.

Colin still sees his father at meals with his new wife and her two boys. He fears he will have to go live with them soon as he's heading up the political ladder. 

Colin is quite outspoken and he wants to learn how to swim and the school allows that to happen. Dr. Arnold he treats with respect and he can tell him everything.  Colin knows what he really wants to study he just has to hide it from everybody, for now... Hate that he's really a loner, wish he had a family.

Love the thing that interests him so much and he does his research. He's able to help others financially. Amazing where he goes to from there, he's just so determined.

Love how sea draws him closer to his mother...

Received this review copy from Kensington Publishing via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion

#TheSapphireSea #NetGalle

  

Book Review: A Stone's Throw by Wayne Edwards

  

 

A Stone's Throw by Wayne Edwards 

Love this story. Starts out so tragic. Maggie had grown up with her mother in San Francisco.  Her mother had spells that usually lasted several hours. One day it was longer than the time Maggie was at school so she alerted the next door lady to come help.

She was transported to the hospital. .  Maggie was able to stay with the neighbors until the cost was too much for the family. Maggie was brought up with no father and had no idea who he even was. She then goes to an orphanage and then her grandfather comes to get her and they head back to Ira's ranch where she not only was to do chores but learned how to drive, run the tractors and even took care of the chickens and so much more. There is a neighbor that she likes and even her daughter and they bond. The girls all head to the store to get Maggie ready for 7th grade.

Like how she defends an overweight girl at lunch. Maggie also is so tall that she excels at the sports she's allowed to play. She often can be found playing the boys as they are more competition.

Like school life as she grows older. More heartache with her mom but she keeps busy and keeps her moms dolls around her. She is now old enough to help the local vet and tends to the office details. Love how she adapts so easily just  grasping for more knowledge.

Very descriptive details, love this book and easy going of the family situations she finds herself in.

Would read more from this author.