Book Review: Where Hope Begins

Where Hope Begins by Cathy West is a powerful, life changing novel. From the moment you read the first sentence of the first chapter, you will be hooked. Rarely have I read a book about such serious issues without needing to stop and get a breather. Not so with this novel. It is written in first person and puts you right there in the middle of the action, in all of its raw pain and vulnerability. Ms West has a unique ability to weave threads of hope into this novel and it never feels too overwhelmingly sad or hopeless. Buy this book and give copies to your loved ones. This book may be a work of fiction, but it has the power to change lives with its emphasis on never ending hope. I highly recommend this book! I also recommend reading it somewhere where you can cry without an audience— learn from my mistake! I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review. All opinions in this review are my own.

Book Review: Perilous Riptide by Christy Barritt

Perilous Riptide by Christy Barritt is book 5 in the Lantern Beach series.  Cassidy has never been a natural to living quietly while awaiting to testify in a high profile case.  She keeps getting pulled into local investigations, often because she is so much more qualified than the local police. In this book, there is no way that Cassidy could stay out of the investigation, because she is trying to prove her boyfriend's innocence while he is behind bars.  With Ty in prison, things are even more dangerous for Cassidy.  Will she be able to free Ty and prove his innocence?  Ms Barritt's Lantern Beach series is full of wonderful suspenseful reads.  Don't miss this one!  But get them all, because once you start reading, you will want to read one after another!  I received a digital copy of this book from the author with no obligations.  These opinions are entirely my own.

Book Review: The Theory of Happily Ever After

Looking for a summer beach read?  I've got the perfect book for you!  The Theory of Happily Ever After by Kristen Billerbeck is such a fun book!  Dr. Maggie Maguire is the expert at the science behind happiness, but after a breakup and betrayal by her ex, she is absolutely depressed.  When her friends drag her on a singles cruise where she is supposed to pull herself together and give a lecture as the expert she is, absolute mayhem ensues left and right.  I thought this book was an absolute delight to read.  Overall, it's a fun, light read that's perfect as a summer beach read. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher.  These opinions are entirely my own.

Book Review: The Lost Castle

The Lost Castle by Kristy Cambron is a novel set in many different time periods.  To be honest, at first I found it difficult to follow the three stories in this book, set in three different time periods.  I had my doubts about this book, but I am so glad I kept reading!  The mysterious castle links the stories and the three women together.  The castle itself almost becomes another character in this book and takes on a life of its own.  I loved the bits of history in the book along with its incredible settings that came alive without tedious descriptions.  The characters themselves were strong women, and I loved that.  This book is full of romance and mystery and real historical events.  It is the story of overcoming the odds and rising up again.  I highly recommend this novel.  It will keep you up later than you want to stay up!  I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher.  These opinions are entirely my own.

A Colossal Treat

As a first grade teacher for many years, I have always loved Ron Roy's A to Z Mysteries.  I often read the first book, The Absent Author to my class as a read aloud and I loved seeing how it hooks children in reading.  Well, I have my own first grader at home this year and I have to tell you that the genius of these books is even more clear to me now.  This year I have read more than half of the series with my son and each one is highly addicting and fun in a unique way.  We recently discovered the Super Editions as well.  These editions seem slightly higher in reading level but even more mysterious!  Also, we loved figuring out the hidden message buried throughout the book in its illustrations. Decoding the secret message was so much fun that the whole family got involved.  Well, we just picked up Ron Roy's latest Super Edition (#10) Colossal Fossil.  It does not disappoint!  Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose are on vacation in Boston while tagging along on a parent's business trip.  While there, they are spending the night in a museum that features large dinosaur skeletons.  Don't miss this fun book!  I highly recommend it and all of the rest of the books in the series.  If you have a struggling or disinterested reader at home, pick up these books and start them as family read alouds.  You will have your child (and you!) hooked in no time!  The only problem our family has with these books is putting them away at bedtime.  There is always a plea for just 1 more chapter!

The Lacemaker by Laura Frantz is a book set just as the American Revolution begins in Williamsburg.  This book has characters with great depth and a setting so vibrant that it makes the time period come alive.  This book is so much more than your basic love story or just a historical novel.  This is a book about struggle and finding your own way despite many difficulties.  It is a book that brings the American Revolution to life with realistic characters-- it brings you right into the action where brothers fight against brothers on different sides of the war.  This is the first book that I have read by Laura Frantz, but it will not be my last!  I highly, highly recommend this book to anyone who loves great storytelling and loves being immersed in a story deeply.  I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher.  These opinions are entirely my own.

Book Review: We Stood Upon the Stars by Roger W. Thompson

We Stood Upon the Stars by Roger W. Thompson is a memoir by an author who loves to travel.  In this book, he takes readers along for the ultimate road trip. In this book, he writes various vignettes, organized by location.  Each one explores his family background, relationship with his family, and what really matters. The author has a great ability to bring readers along and make them feel present on his adventures.  While this is a Christian book, I would say that it is more about life lessons and finding out what really matters than it is about finding out truths about God.  This is the perfect book for those who love adventures and outdoor exploration.  However, it is difficult to read through this book in one setting.  Chapters can be read one at a time and have little to do with each other.  I think this book would be great to keep and read a chapter before visiting the place mentioned.  Overall, this is a good book, but it is very choppy and hard to read in one setting.  I received this book from Blogging for Books.  These opinions are entirely my own.