Maple & Willo Apart

Maple & Willow Apart

Lori Nichols

 Maple and Willow love playing together. But they must make the most of their play time together, because Maple starts school on Monday. Willow misses her sister while she is gone. So she makes a new friend named Pip. Maple returns from school excited and full of stories. So Willow tells her sister all about Pip and the fun that they have had all day. Maple soon becomes jealous of Willow's new friend. Thankfully Pip has a large family and Willow is willing to share.

The story is told with the younger sister's point of view in mind. The illustrations bring the words alive and help show the reader what is happening. Children will be able to relate to the two sisters and the feelings they are experiencing. The book would be a perfect fit for young children who are experiencing school for the first time or their siblings who are experiencing the loneliness of being left behind. It would also make an excellent addition to a school library. The bright, colorful illustrations and whimsical plot lines will make this book a favorite with young readers and parents alike.

I received this book free of charge from Children's Lit in exchange for my honest review.

Drawing Fire

Drawing Fire

Cold Case Justice Book 1

Janice Cantore

Abby Hart has been searching for clues to her parent's murder for 27 years. But first on her plate is a serial killer that has been murdering elderly women. Her only possible witness is a private investigator named Luke. Abby isn't fond of Luke and his showboat antics, but she needs his help with the serial killer. Imagine their surprise when they both realize they are also working the same cold case. Luke's uncle was killed in the same fire that was set to kill Abby's parents.

I really enjoyed this story. The characters were flawed, but likable. The plot flowed well and kept me interested the entire time. The plot revolves around the main character and her emotions and thoughts as she deals with finding who killed her parents. The book ends with some ends not completely tied up. So I was very glad to see that there is another book coming out soon. Not only did this book keep me engrossed the entire time, but it also really had me thinking long after I finished. I would definitely recommend this author and will be adding her to my list of favorites.

I received this book free of charge from Tyndale in exchange for my honest review.

Princess Charity

Princess Charity

Sticker & Activity Book

Stickers, coloring, and princesses are all things that most little girls enjoy. Combine the three and you have a colorful and fun activity book that will delight young girls for hours. The book starts out like a story and each activity is centered around one of the princesses, Charity, who lives in a castle. The activities are geared for ages 4-8. 

The book would be a great compliment to a church bag to keep girls entertained during the sermon. I have some positives and negatives. The positives - It's bright and colorful, the are plenty of stickers, the activities are age appropriate. The negatives - There isn't much to the book (although the suggested price does reflect this), there isn't a story line, the book doesn't describe the positive attributes of the name to the young reader. Overall, I liked it and would purchase it for my daughter.

I received this book free of charge from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review.

Love on a Deadline

Love on a Deadline

An August Wedding Story

Kathryn Springer

MacKenzie grew up in the small town of Red Leaf, but was eager to leave. She was pursing her career in journalism when her father suffered a mild heart attach. Mac returns home to help out her father, but plans to return to the city when he is better. In the mean time, she's suffering at the local paper writing stories about garden clubs and town meetings. Her boss sends her to cover the wedding of a local celebrity who is about to get married. Mac isn't thrilled, but then she meets the bride's brother - again.

I've read a couple of books by this author before and enjoyed them. This was no exception. She has a refreshing, sweet way of writing that draws the reader in and puts them into the story. The scenery was beautiful and the secondary characters helped make the story entertaining. I'd read another novella with some of these characters and so it was a nice surprise to meet them again. The romance was clean and focused on the importance of family. I look forward to reading more by this author.

I received this book free of charge from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review.

Sunshine Brightens Springtime

Sunshine Brightens Springtime

Charles Ghigna

 

Sunshine makes spring better for everyone. Join a little kitten and puppy as they explore their world and enjoy the springtime sunshine. They encounter all sorts of animals and spring weather as they romp and play in the sun. Puppy and kitten will learn all about spring run through the countryside.

Bright, colorful illustrations fill each page. Large font, rhyming lyrical words, and simple vocabulary make this a fun to read book for young children. The story is told with the illustrations and tells the reader all of the things that the sun does to make spring special. At the end of the book, the reader will find interesting and fun facts about sunshine. The publisher has included additional resources online. The website has projects, games, and more that children can access to learn more about the subject. Parents will enjoy the rhythmic reading style and the education the children are learning while having fun. This book would make a great addition to any classroom and could be used for science or story time reading.

I received this book free of charge from Children's Lit in exchange for my honest review.

A Flying Affair

A Flying Affair

Carla Stewart

Mittie is in love with two things - horses and flying. But flying is her passion. She's currently helping her father at the farm while he recovers from some health problems. But what she's really like to do is buy her own airplane and fly. So when two men enter her life that have a love of flying, Mittie is in heaven. But she must trust her faith and her instincts to make the right decision when it comes to choosing the man who will have her heart.

The story is rich with the history of flying and brings the era to life. Since the main character lives on a horse farm there is also parts about horse races and the life style that includes. The author did a great job of creating the main character and having her be likable and relatable. Since my husband is a pilot, I enjoyed reading more about flying in its infancy. The story is more about the main character and her path into flying than romance. But she does have two love interests and the romance is woven into the plot. Her romantic story was a little bit confusing for me. I was unable to feel the connection she had with either man and couldn't see how she chose the one for her so quickly in the end. But overall, it was an enjoyable read that I know fans of flying and history will enjoy.

I received this book free of charge from Book Club Network in exchange for my review.

What a Bragger!

What a Bragger!

Lee Ann Mancini

Melissa likes to brag. She's always comparing everything she has to everyone else and announcing that what she has is better. Her friend, Corey, is angry and frustrated with Melissa. But his mom reminds him to pray for Melissa and treat her with kindness. Corey learns that Melissa is bragging to cover up her poverty. So when the teacher plans a birthday party he enlists his friends to help him make Melissa feel loved and special. As an added bonus to the story, there is a little fish symbol that children can look for on each page.

The bright, colorful illustrations fill each page. The vocabulary fits well with the intended age group. The story is sweet and entertained my children. The messages were faith based and my children were discussing them long after the book was finished. I also enjoyed the book, but especially appreciated the message of Christ-like love that was mixed in with the story. The story is rich with teachable moments. Parents and teachers will be able to use this book to teach messages about people who are different from us, having compassion, treating others with kindness regardless of their actions, thankfulness, and so much more.

I received this book free of charge from BookCrash in exchange for my honest review.