About the book:
Title/Author: Frankie Dupont and the Science Fair Sabotage / Julie Anne Grasso
Genre:Middles Grade Mystery
ISBN:9780987372598
Publisher: Julie Anne Grasso
Date of publish: May 2015
Pages: 134
Recommended Ages: middle Grades
Purchase Links: Amazon Frankie Dupont And The Science Fair Sabotage (Frankie Dupont Mysteries) (Volume 3) / Goodreads / Barnes & Noble / Riffle / BookLikes

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Book Review:

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Frankie Dupont is the only soon to be eleven year old with a private eye in training certificate. He fits the part well with retro trench coat and fedora. On this day his parents are heading out of town for an awards ceremony and he is holding down the fort at his dad’s detective agency. He has been roped into going to a local sustainable science fair by his cousin Kat and her best friend Amy. It turns out that his presence is needed their after all, when it is revealed that Amy’s brothers have had the microchip from the robot project swiped. Frankie goes into full detective mode and investigates each of the other children competing. They all have reason to want to take the hi-jinxing twins down a peg.

This was my introduction to Frankie Dupont, but since I got hooked on Encyclopedia Brown in the fifth grade, I have had a soft spot for Tween detectives. The story delivers with clues and red herrings. It filled with larger than life characters who jump off the page and fantastic inventions that only middle graders would actually think up. There is nothing pretentious about this story and middle graders will enjoy reading about a science fair judged by Ms. Ubersyentist, and a police inspector named Inspector Cluesome.

This book is perfectly suited to its audience.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

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Goodreads Summary: Frankie Dupont is less than impressed when he has to attend the sustainable science fair with Kat and Amy. Upon his arrival, he learns that Amy’s brothers have had their robotics chip stolen.

Keen to recover the chip, Frankie questions the kids in the competition, but everyone seems to have a motive.
When baffling clues start rolling in via “Snap-Goss” instant messages, Frankie realises it will take all of his detective muscles to solve this case.

An illustrated mystery for ages 8-12

 

Author Info: http://www.julieannegrassobooks.com

 

With a background in paediatric nursing, Julie Anne Grasso spent many years literally wrapping children in cotton wool. Every day she witnessed great courage and resilience from the tiny people she cared for, which inspired her to write stories about a little girl elf just like them.

She has a degree in Nursing from Queensland University of Technology and has been published in her nerdy nursing specialty in medical journals, but her true love is writing about elf worlds that usually involve cupcakes. The new love of her life is Frankie Dupont, an illustrated middle grade series.

 

About the book:
Title/Author: Frankie Dupont and The High Seas Heist / Julie Anne Grasso
Genre: Middle Grade Mystery
Publisher: Julie Anne Degrasso
Date of publish: July 2015
Pages: 131
Recommended Ages: Middle Grades
Purchase Links: Amazon Frankie Dupont And The High Seas Heist (Frankie Dupont Mysteries) (Volume 4)/ Goodreads / Barnes & Noble / Riffle / BookLikes

 

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Book Review:

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Once again Frankie Dupont is on the case. His dad has been put on a security case on a cruse ship. Frankie and his assistants are there to provide a cover story. There is an expensive chocolate sculpture and its recipe at risk and Mr. Dupont is set to guard against international thieves who have already stolen some of the world’s best chocolate recipes. In addition Frankie finds himself on the hunt for a missing person. He has to solve the mystery before the sculpture goes missing.

This is second adventure with 11 year old Frankie for me. I enjoyed this one a bit more than the last. Frankie and the girls make a great investigative team. They are up to their usual hi-jinks with fun detective gadgets and pure sleuthing power, all set on a luxury cruise liner headed to Antarctica. It is fun to connect with old friends, the wonderful quirky characters of Frankie’s world. Plus, we get to meet a few more. Not even the villains are boring in this series. Middle grade mystery lovers are sure to enjoy this book.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Goodreads Summary: Frankie Dupont seems to catch odd-ball cases in the most unlikely places. You would think he would be used to it by now.

When his next case lands him on a luxury cruise liner full of devious chocolatiers with ulterior motives, Frankie will be expected to solve the crime, even before it’s committed.

Although his mind is certainly up for the challenge, Frankie realises his stomach is yet to find its sea legs.

Book 4 in the Frankie Dupont Illustrated mysteries

 

Author Info: http://www.julieannegrassobooks.com

 

With a background in pediatric nursing, Julie Anne Grasso spent many years literally wrapping children in cotton wool. Every day she witnessed great courage and resilience from the tiny people she cared for, which inspired her to write stories about a little girl elf just like them.

She has a degree in Nursing from Queensland University of Technology and has been published in her nerdy nursing specialty in medical journals, but her true love is writing about elf worlds that usually involve cupcakes. The new love of her life is Frankie Dupont, an illustrated middle grade series.

About the book:
Title/Author: Gurued Out: Parenting When Parenting Gurus Fail / Gabriel Diamond, Sarah Diamond
Genre: Parenting, Self Help
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services
Date of publish: January 2016
Pages: 114
Book Links: Amazon / Gurued Out: Parenting When Parenting Gurus Fail
/ Goodreads / Barnes & Noble / Smashwords / Riffle / BookLikes

 

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As the mother of a special needs child, I find that I am always eager to read up on the “next” big theory that might make life easier for him. There was once a time when I would have fit right into the Gurued out label. Even a time when my husband and I blamed our son’s issues on our inexperience as parents. We know differently now and a huge weight has been lifted. Our home life is an ensuing struggle for typical, but our pendulum is swinging in the right direction.

Whilst I have to say that I found parts of this book to have a bit of a preachy tone, I also recognize in it the absolute joy a parent feels when they have found something that works and that need to share it with those who could benefit from it. The best parenting advice I have ever received has been anecdotal in nature and often stuns my son’s medical team as something so simple that can have far reaching effects. As always it doesn't work for everyone, but when it does, it is a wondrous thing.

This book advocates for a Feingold style elimination diet, one used by the Royal Prince Albert Hospital in Sydney Australia (referred to throughout the book as the RPAH diet). Even when diet is not the underlying cause, a healthier diet is always a better choice for children as well as their parents and the authors do a good job of laying out this diet plan. The first few sections of the book deal primarily with making it work. Ways to ascertain what dietary issues a child might have and even a few seemingly simple recipes. Of particular note are exhaustive tables outlining foods in various areas of sensitivities. Also helpful is the detailed information on ear infections and reflux issues and how they can affect children and their behavior along with ways doctors can miss what should be easy diagnoses in these areas.

This book does take into account that no two children are alike and I do especially enjoy the advice to trust your instinct as the person who knows your child best. I personally have discovered that when the professionals and I disagree most they most often find for themselves that my initial reaction was the correct one. Also important is the advice to parent your child as you see fit and not worry how you look to outsiders. Not always easy in a culture of many special needs issues, mommy wars and experts at every turn.



I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review in conjunction with a promotion package.

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Goodreads Summary: Gurued Out is for desperate parents around the world, whose children are failing to thrive and few can understand why.
Right now if your infant or child is suffering from a combination of:
• Eczema
• Re-flux
• Constant flue like symptoms with a snotty nose, red inflamed lips and cheeks
• ADHD type behavior where they experience volatile emotions
• Impossible to get to sleep
• Speaking and learning issues
Then you need to read this book. It tells the story of Gabriel and Sarah Diamond whose children were failing to thrive despite consulting 16 different doctors, numerous specialist doctors, sleep consultants and endless books and websites. Upon the failure of prescribed drugs, procedures and their third live in sleep consultant, the desperate couple finally become “Gurued Out”.
The couple instead seeks to address the root cause of their children’s failure to thrive, not merely the symptoms, like the inability to sleep or eczema. Through the assistance of a doctor with a passion for children and research conducted by one of the world’s leading immunology centers what they discover is both startling and simple.
By making subtle diet and lifestyle changes and working with medical professionals on how to better diagnose some issues, they witness their children begin to thrive overnight.
Whilst heavily referenced, the book is easy to read and provides a logical reason as to why your child is not thriving and more importantly how you may help your child thrive.
A must read for all desperate parents.

Author Info:

We are the parents of 3 beautiful children. Both of us hold MBA’s with Gabriel being an Engineer and Sarah a Physiotherapist, and now a health-care project manager.
In raising our children we consulted an endless number of professionals from GP’s sleep consultants to a variety of medical specialists like allergists and pediatric dermatologists. We even tried alternative treatments like child chiropractors and naturopaths. Nothing worked as our children continued to sleep poorly, suffer eczema, reflux and ADHD type behavior.
Finally we focused instead of on our children’s symptoms but their cause.
We are passionate about the health of both children and empowering parents to trust their own instincts when parenting. We feel parents are inundated with advice, which ultimately dulls their confidence in their own parenting instincts.
Our book seeks to reaffirm faith in a parent’s instincts and empower them to take charge of their child’s issues.

Author Links:
Facebook / Goodreads

Death of an Alchemist
(A Bianca Goddard Mystery)

2nd Book in Series
Mystery – Women Sleuths
Publisher: Kensington (January 26, 2016)
Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1617737121
E-Book ASIN: B00X2EOZRU

Book Links: Amazon Death of an Alchemist (A Bianca Goddard Mystery)
/ Goodreads / Barnes & Noble / Riffle / BookLikes

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Review:

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Alchemy conjures up for me the fantastic. Stories of dragons and knights or of wizards, ancient and contemporary. I had never given much thought to the idea that an alchemist may have been more than just a plot device in great fiction. The amount of detail about alchemy along with the science and spiritual standing of the time in question was staggering and added weight to the story beautifully.

I truly enjoyed reading “Death of an Alchemist” by Mary Lawrence. It is a book that is hard to place in a genre; historical fiction: Tudor England, to a fine degree, making the reader see, hear and mostly smell what it was like to live in that time period. A mystery thriller: with a thrilling mystery, without the egoistic grandstanding of typical mysteries, that never loses sight of the brilliant story underlying all. How about just great fiction.  

Just as the textures of daily life are omnipresent in this novel, so are the contextual vagaries of the various relationships between the characters. Bianca and John are obviously in love, however the author doesn’t choose to sugar coat it, they are also a married couple with all the hills and valleys that implies. Parent/Child relationships are the crux of this tale. They are dysfunctional and imperfect, yet unbreakable bonds that lead parent and child to do the unexpected. The interactions between characters offered realistic presentation, that further conveyed the typical of the time period.

I have not read “The Alchemist's Daughter,” book one of this series. This story stands alone quite nicely and all the information the reader needs to know is beautifully woven into this tale. I will make it a point to be on the lookout for anymore books forthcoming.


I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review  

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About The Book:

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In the mid sixteenth century, Henry VIII sits on the throne, and Bianca Goddard tends to the sick and suffering in London’s slums, where disease can take a life as quickly as murder. . .
For years, alchemist Ferris Stannum has devoted himself to developing the Elixir of Life, the reputed serum of immortality. Having tested his remedy successfully on an animal, Stannum intends to send his alchemy journal to a colleague in Cairo for confirmation. Instead he is strangled in his bed and his journal is stolen.
As the daughter of an alchemist herself, Bianca is well acquainted with the mystical healing arts. As her husband, John, falls ill with the sweating sickness, she dares to hope Stannum’s journal could contain the secret to his recovery. But first she must solve the alchemist’s murder. As she ventures into a world of treachery and deceit, Stannum’s death proves to be only the first in a series of murders–and Bianca’s quest becomes a matter of life and death, not only for her husband, but for herself. . .

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About The Author:

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Mary Lawrence studied biology and chemistry, graduating from Indiana University with a degree in Cytotechnology. She won the Celtic Heart Golden Claddagh Award for historical fiction, and was a finalist in both the RWA® Golden Heart contest, and the Gotham Young Adult Novel Discovery competition. Along with writing and farming, Lawrence works as a cytologist near Boston. She lives in Maine. The Alchemist’s Daughter is the first book in the Bianca Goddard Mystery series. Visit her at marylawrencebooks.com.
Author Links:
Webpage /  Facebook /  GoodReads / Twitter / Pinterest /  

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Rafflecopter Code:  Rafflecopter Giveaway

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About the book:
Title/Author: Bad Luck / Pseudonymous Bosch
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Date of publish: February 2016
Pages: 288
Recommended Ages: middle grades to young adult
Book Links: Amazon  Bad Luck (The Bad Books)
/ Goodreads / Barnes & Noble / Riffle / BookLikes

 

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I will admit, I requested this book from Netgalley based on the author’s name alone. It is about Earth Ranch, a summer camp for kids with magical abilities set on volcanic island with an obscure history and a personality of its own. In this tale the campers must solve the mystery of certain cave drawings and discover a bit of history about their island because outsiders know about it, and them, and are after something, no one has dared to believe might still be there. It is up to Clay, with his new found magical ability, and his friends to stop them anyway they can.

This is the sequel to Bad Magic. I was not aware that this was a second in a series and it stood alone very well. The ‘Author’s’ narration and delightful footnotes are more than enough to recommend this book. This is the kind of book that will catch a kid’s attention and hold on to it right until the last page. There is not a single insignificant character in the entire story and it is quite magical how each of them seem to leap off the page and make the book more than just a reading experience. The set up for book three is spectacular. I can’t wait to catch up on this series and then move on with the next books.

I received this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Goodreads Summary: At Earth Ranch, things can get a little magical (some might say strange). Intrepid readers will discover a runaway boy, fishy cruise ship, strange cave paintings, dragon-like footprints, and other mysteries that Clay and his friends need to solve. Danger, adventure, mischief, mystery, llamas, and a delightfully irreverent and hilarious narrator make bestselling author Pseudonymous Bosch's anticipated new novel irresistible. 

 

Author Info: http://www.pseudonymousbosch.com / Twitter

 

Pseudonymous Bosch is the anonymous pseudonymous author of the Secret Series and The Bad Books. Not much is known about him other than that he has a passionate love of chocolate and cheese and an equally passionate hatred of mayonnaise. Rumors of Boschian sightings are just as frequent and about as reliable as reports of alien abductions. If you ever meet anyone claiming to be Pseudonymous himself he is almost certainly an impostor. The real Pseudonymous is said currently to be hiding in a cave in a remote jungle (although there are contrary reports that he is somewhere in Greenland).

About the book:
Title/Author: Strange Luck / Amie Irene Winters
Genre: Paranormal Fantasy
Publisher: Create Space
Date of publish: May 2015
Pages: 210
Book Links: Amazon Strange Luck
   / Goodreads / Barnes & Noble / Smashwords / BookLikes / Riffle

 

 

Daisy is not happy. What she wants more than anything it to travel the world and be a writer. Instead, due to her father’s failing health, she must take over the family business, a curio shop for strange, haunted and paranormal items. Not only would she rather be anywhere else, but she just doesn't believe in the supernatural. She must test that disbelief when she comes across an old map of a Utopian paradise that may lead to cure for her father. She and her best friend, Roger, set out to find it. Getting there is just the beginning. For all of its beauty and wonder, they quickly realize it is a trap, a prison where memories are stolen and going home again isn’t an option, even if you remember that there is home to go home to. Though they meet the occasional friendly denizen, and many not so friendly, along the way, their only real ally in this fantastical realm is a wizard from childhood stories.

I had heard so many wonderful things about this book from reviewers on Goodreads and was excited to be asked to review it myself. I was not disappointed. This book has all the fun stuff, fairy creatures, wizards, magic and the power of imagination. The curio shop sounds as if it belongs in its own reality tv show. It would be a fun place to work, I think. Utopia is a truly wondrous scary kind of place with many strange creatures. It me think that Alice’s Wonderland meets wizard of OZ. I loved how the relationship between Daisy and Roger grew, in spite of the twist. I also enjoy the message that she doesn’t have to give up her dreams just because life has thrown up a few obstacles. Lifealso doesn’t to be lucky, but it helps. I seriously enjoyed this book.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for am honest review

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Goodreads Summary: A mysterious letter. An idyllic world. And a peculiar collection of antiques. It all waits to be discovered in Strange Luck, an imaginative novel that mixes fantasy and mystery for a thrilling reading experience. Hopeful that her father can be saved from a chronic condition, seventeen-year-old Daisy sets out to find a cure, but accidentally lands in a wicked world called The Nameless. As Daisy explores the moaning caverns and encounters people who refuse to go above ground, it becomes clear that the world’s inhabitants are more than just strange. They may be keeping a dark secret. They may have been lured and trapped here for a reason. And somehow—impossible as it may seem—they may still have a chance to regain what has been taken from them.

A daring adventure complimented with vivid imagery, Strange Luck will delight adults, teens, and anyone who can’t resist an imaginative escapade.

Author Info: http://www.amieirenewinters.com/ Twitter

 

This tale follows Cornell professor, Robert Johnson as he is mysteriously pulled from his classes to head up the project for a major archaeological grant set up by the head a worldwide High Tech firm, Walter Falone. Johnson has worked with him and the company before to great success, but something about this venture just seems off. He soon realizes that he and his team are the cover story for a race to find missing technology lost in the wilds of Mongolia. Before it is over the adventure will include international spies, a Navajo Windtalker, the best in high-tech cyber technology and Russian fighter planes.

If you were ever curious about how a research grant works, then professor Johnson and his assistant Abby, will put that curiosity to rest. As the main reason for the team to be in Mongolia, studying in a very specific place, reveals itself, the team takes up the time with outlining the scientific needs of the Mongolian academia. Also through the various team members, like Sumo, a retired wrestler with a way for negotiation and the heart of a professional Foodie, Mongolian park rangers , a young goatherd and sociologists on the team, you meet the Mongolian people and learn a great deal about their way of life and history.

Through negotiations with the various institutions, ministries and as things tense up between the team, with its high-tech counterparts and Chinese cyber-spies, the readers are given glimpse into the ongoing power struggle between Russia and China over Mongolian interests.

What I take most away from this book is a real feel for Mongolia. Everything from the most parts of the cities to the rugged inaccessible areas of the national parks were described in such in depth and vivid detail, supported by beautiful illustrations, that it really was like being there. The amount of research that went into this book must have been staggering.

4 stars
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the story of Teddi and Clint. Their parents were involved in a scandalous incident that left both children orphaned, though their experiences were very different. Clint grew up in a orphan boys home, he comes to terms with the fact that his friends and the townsfolk treat him differently than before he was orphaned and he holds on to a hate for the Donovan family, until he meets Teddi and realizes she is as much victim as he is. Teddi’s family by contrast is quite wealthy. While her material needs are being met, she can’t help but feel an outcast in her own family. She is held hostage to family secrets that could eventually tear her life apart. The book follows the two characters from childhood, where they can’t help but be friends despite their differing circumstances and the disapproval of her family and the townsfolk. In their teens they fall in love as only teens can, but reality butts in and things don’t always work out they way one might hope. The culmination of the story takes place in the era of World War Two. Teddi and Clint are adults and must make their own choices, but the truth of what happened that awful night and a town full of secrets, ingrained social biases and prejudices, will work hard to tear apart their relationship once and for all.

This is a beautiful story with characters so fleshed out it is as if you aren’t reading at all, but living it. This is at the top a love story, but it is set against a background of such an intricate elements of life in this small town, that it provides an intense emotional narrative. The amount of detail is such that it will hook you from the first line and keep you turning pages until the final words. It is wonderfully evocative and beautifully written and not at all what I expected. This is a perfect book for book groups.

5 stars
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

This novella has six short stories about couples in love and how they spend their Valentine’s Day. The typical Valentine’s Day story involves cynical singles, wary of love and complaining about it. These stories were refreshing in that all the stories were about couples, mostly married, who are in love and still in lust, with all the ups and downs that implies. That was nice to read about.

I figured that this was part of a series. What I didn’t realize is that the couples appearing in this book, are recurring characters from previous books. I simply love that idea. It does what it is supposed to do, it makes me want to read the rest of the ‘On Dublin Street’ books and just about anything else written by this author if I am honest. If you are looking for steamy Valentine’s read with characters that are easy to connect with, this is a great way to spend the afternoon.

Caroline is a photographer who is on assignment to interview ex-patriots around the world. It is her dream job, and the chance to break free of a life that was stifling her. Sweden is her first stop and will last only weeks before she off to a new country. Niklas is a former NHL hockey player, currently playing for the Sweden national team. He has a temper and a past. Neither is in a place where a relationship makes sense, but they are drawn to one another nonetheless.

The best part about this book is the setting. Caroline is new to world travel and Stockholm. It is terrific to see the city through her eyes. That she tends to see it through a camera lens just makes it all the better. All the little details of daily life in this country add so much to the story. The main characters have a lot of potential, but tend fall a bit flat. Caroline is trying a little too hard to break free of men ruling her life, it is an old saw that was brought up a bit too much. Niklas is a stereotypical hockey player with anger management issues and his constant withdrawal at times leaned toward tedious. Still the love story itself was sweet and the ending was unexpected. I am looking forward to continuing the story in the next book.

Typically I wouldn’t review a book this old for a holiday spotlight, as I would prefer to showcase newer books or books by authors with new books coming out soon. I chose to include this book though because I was intrigued by how it was written. Books by many authors is nothing new, however they are generally an anthology of short stories and this particular story was written in a round robin style. This is a popular online forum game that my son and I have played since he was old enough to make up stories, but I have to say there is nothing game-like about how this story turned out.

It is a short story, the culmination of two previous stories about the main characters, Luke and Rachel. In previous stories they meet and fall in love. In this story they are to be wed in a Valentine’s Wedding in a mountain resort. It wouldn’t be much of story ( or a wedding) if everything went smoothly. A freak storm has blown up delaying the flights of the guests, the Groom is missing, the Maid of Honor and the Best Man don’t seem to like each other and the hotel where the wedding is to take place is running on back up generators that have been damaged by the storm. At least the cake is perfect.

I kept reading expecting to see where one author leaves off and another begins and I couldn’t tell. It was a delightful, against the odds, romance story from beginning to end, with no obvious seams. The writing exercise that produced this story was a success and I am happy to have read it. Despite part of an on-going saga, this stood alone very well.

Sheriff Garrett Brand wakes up to a baby on his doorstep and note that says its his. Having raised his younger siblings on his own, he is no stranger to have young ones around the house, but this little one’s mama is in trouble.

Chelsea, grew up in home filled with violence. It is a past her sister hadn’t escaped. As Chelsea identifies her sister’s dead body, she once again is certain that she will never allow a man to have control over her life. She wants to find her sister’s son and make his father pay for what he has done.

I have a soft spot for rancher romances. Garrett Brand, of the Texas Brands, should be a cliche. He is a large, soft spoken, gentle man with a big heart, who has already proven himself a capable family man as he has raised his young siblings. In other words, too good to be true. Truthfully though, he isn’t. Instead he is the perfect hero for a story like this. He is just the right amount of swagger and confusion when dealing with the fairer sex. Chelsea should be a typical man-hating cynical heroine… wait, that is exactly what she is, though she comes around nicely in the end. Her character is a bit formulaic, but there is plenty of character in the Brand family. Each sibling is fascinating in his or her own way, and a story waiting to be told. The interaction between themselves and Garrett is heartwarming. It is obvious that little “Bubba” will have a place in that family if his aunt can get herself set straight The story itself was terrific. The great blend of cowboy, suspense and romance. I picked up this book as part of a set and I am looking forward to reading about the Oklahoma Brands. I actually have a few books from this author on #TBRList. She obviously can craft a story, she deserves a read for her Goodreads bio alone.

This was my first visit to South Cove CA., but I have to believe it won’t be my last. Jill owns a book store, (it is now my fantasy to own a similar one), and her aunt helps her to run it. In the book Jill and her boyfriend have picked up a new hobby, geocaching, and there she meets Kacey, the president of the geocaching club. She is also the estranged wife of Dustin, who had dated Jill’s friend in a previous book. Kacey is going to open the long contested food truck with a gluten free menu, that is until she is found dead. There is no shortage of suspects, Jill’s friend Sadie and Dustin are the most obvious and seemingly have the most to gain. Jill steps in to clear her friend’s name. If that doesn’t keep her busy enough, Jill is being targeted by the city water conservation committee, she has run afoul of close friend Amy and Jill’s Aunt is asking her lie to the man Jackie has been dating. It is a recipe for fun.

I truly enjoyed reading about Jill, her book shop and her hobbies. I would love the chance to read as much as she does for fun. All of the characters in this town are like old friends and even though I haven’t read previous installments in the series I didn’t feel as if I were missing out on anything. This is a terrific afternoon read I can recommend to all mystery lovers.

5 stars

I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair an honest review

The holiday season wouldn’t be complete without at least one Dickens’ style story, that this is set on the 12th day of Christmas or Olde Christmas, is a fun twist. I know nothing about Storm Ketchum, but he sounds just like the grizzled, skeptical PI that makes for great detective fiction. This story makes a pass at detectiving but focuses on leading Ketch through a surreal dream beginning with his ex- wife, followed by a local merchant in his new hometown and ending with a grisly text message that seemed to show, his lonely death. Just imagine what Dickens could have done with technology. The title clued the reader into the homage, still it was a nice way to spend the afternoon.

When Annie Harper’s best friend Marissa calls her from Oahu to tell her that she has found their high school crush while on vacation, Annie heads to the island post haste to keep her friend from doing something stupid. Little does Annie know that it is a decision that will change his life and force her to confront her worst insecurities. If they can keep it together, the future is looking to be a happy one.

This was not a typical “Love” story. Sure it has all the elements of love at first sight, awkward misunderstandings and great sex, but there is nothing shallow or syrupy about it. This is the story about the love of family, the one you are born to and the ones who choose to be in your life. The characters are what drives this story. They leap off the page and shine in such grand detail that they are almost more interesting than the main story. You actually feel like part of the family, any of the families in this story. Intricate little plot twists keep the story fresh and compelling. It was a read ‘til you finish kind of book. Written with emotion and heart, it is sure to appeal to that hopeless romantic in all of us.

For thirteen year old Jamison “Cal” Vandiver anonymity is nearly impossible, first because of his unusual talent for sports, but mostly because of his striking blue eyes that belie his Chinese heritage. Both he and his best friend Lilli were adopted as infants from China. While Lilli is beginning to wonder just what being Chinese means in her All-American world, Cal is content to just be. Unfortunately, it isn’t that easy. He and his friends are sure that he is being watched and when a forged parental permission slip to join the soccer team finds it way to his school, Cal and his friends know they must act quickly to find out who wants to control Cal’s future. What follows is a heart pounding journey that will take them around the world, on separate paths riddled with conspiracies from every angle, that could very well change the world.

This was a memorizing read. While the story is about Cal, the story lines involving his friends keep the tale moving at a quick pace that tie together beautifully in the end. Meanwhile throughout the book the spotlight is on China and the folly of its one child rule that has led to so much heartache and many foreign adoptions. The adoption relationship is the true star of this book. It isn’t easy for either the adoptive parents or the children in this story, as all realize that that the pitfalls of raising a child are amplified when that child is born to a different culture. Sadder still, for all involved, is that the connection between birth parents and adopted children are strong despite the separation, no matter how happy or fulfilling those new lives might be.

Cal and his friends at thirteen, are all extremely mature and well adjusted for their age. I am currently navigating a world filled with eighth graders and I would be hard pressed to find even one that would be clear thinking enough to handle the situations these four children find themselves in. While they all read to me as if they were more like 15 or 16, this book is definitely one that readers from seventh grade up will enjoy reading. My 12 year old son found the topic fascinating. I love the hope that is implicit in this story. This is a 5 Star Read

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review