Publisher: Shadow Mountain

After the Crescent Strike by A.L. Sowards

Spectacular Start to New Series A. L. Sowards is a great author and she’s really done a spectacular job this time. This prequel to a series does exactly what a prequel is supposed to do—make you anticipate the release of book 1! I cannot wait!! This is a historical medieval novella, set during the war between the Turks and the Serbs. I love the writing style. From page one, I was captivated by the characters and plot. There are moments that are sweet and others […]

December 28, 2024 | 0 Comments

The Art of Us by Julie Wright

Realistic Teen Issues Handled with Compassion and Respect Julie Wright has a real talent for capturing the teenage voice. The focus is on Ireland, Cal, and Mara—seniors in high school finding their way through a complex world while trying to keep their secrets hidden. The story addresses abandonment, homelessness, betrayal, violence, abuse, perfectionism, and several other issues that teens have to deal with. What did I think? I loved this book. It hit all the feels and twisted my heart in so many ways. I […]

December 18, 2024 | 0 Comments

Trials of the Trash by Tyler Whitesides

Trash Transformers for Middle-grade Readers Landon, Jade, and Sabra, along with their magical pets and teachers must work together to fight the Megalajunk and Thingamajunks—evil beings made out of trash and junk from the landfill. The story is funny, the thingamajunks are fantastically unique, and the ending is a surprise. (Okay, really. Got a 10 or 11 year old who likes Transformers? This tells you all you need to know about the book.) There’s some fantasy violence as the kids fight the monsters with brooms […]

September 5, 2024 | 0 Comments

Rakes and Roses by Josi S. Kilpack

Jerk to Hero? A case in Character Development Josi Kilpack is a wonderful writer and always includes deep insights into character and motivations. I didn’t think I’d care for this story as much as the other ones in this series because we’ve encountered Harry in previous books. He was a jerk. When I started the book, I did not care at all if Harry made a love match—especially with Sabrina because, in my opinion, she was too good for him. But then Josi’s writing led […]

May 5, 2020 | 0 Comments

Daisies and Devotion by Josi S. Kilpack

Marry for Money or Love? This is a tough question when you’re on the fringes of regency society and you don’t really have a lot of money. Sometimes you have to make the hard choice—and sometimes you get both. The premise of this series is that a wealthy uncle is attempting to set his nieces and nephews up with an inheritance—if they find an appropriate marriage partner and act respectably. Some of them are already respectable but others, not so much. Timothy has always tried […]

November 10, 2019 | 0 Comments

Promises and Primroses by Josi S. Kilpack

Heartbreak, Resentment, Forgiveness, and Redemption I know I say this every time I review a Josi S. Kilpack book, but I love her stories. They are so character-driven, and include themes that speak to all ages and time periods. Promises and Primroses is the start of the Mayfield Family series. Years ago, Elliott inherited the family estate. Ashamed of the behaviors of his family members, he made it his mission to improve both the estate and the members of the family—breaking a heart in the […]

September 5, 2018 | 0 Comments

Miss Wilton’s Waltz by Josi S. Kilpack

So Much More Than Two People Falling in Love! I’ve followed Josi Kilpack through her Women’s Fiction, her Cozy Mysteries (I miss Sadie), and even though I’m not a huge Historical Romance fan, her writing compels me to read those as well. I am never disappointed. Josi’s romances have so much more to them than two people falling in love. There is always something of depth to them—a social issue or personal trial that must be overcome—and her characters are very relatable. Miss Wilton’s Waltz is […]

April 12, 2018 | 1 Comment

Pumpkin Roll by Josi S. Kilpack

Josi Kilpack is on a roll! Okay, so puns are lame—but I couldn’t help myself. Last weekend, I had three books I’ve been dying to read sitting on my nightstand. It was a very, very tough decision as to which to read first. But because Josi S. Kilpack has NEVER failed to entertain me, I decided on Pumpkin Roll, book 6 in the Sadie Hoffmiller Culinary Mystery Series. And yes, Josi did it again! If you like culinary mysteries, the Sadie Hoffmiller series is my […]

November 8, 2012 | 63 Comments

Key Lime Pie by Josi S. Kilpack

This is book #4 in the Sadie Hoffmiller series—and while you don’t HAVE to read the books in order, I recommend that you do. Because I haven’t reviewed the previous books in the series, here’s a little synopsis: Lemon Tart #1: Cooking aficionado turned amateur detective Sadie Hoffmiller tries to solve the murder of her beautiful young neighbor, a single mother who was lured from her home while a lemon tart was baking in her oven. At the heart of Sadie’s search is the woman’s […]

October 29, 2012 | 3 Comments

The Hourglass Door by Lisa Mangum

Abby is a senior in high school, with her life all lined up. Then she meets Dante—and her world turns upside down. He’s cute, mysterious, and odd things happen when he’s around. I really liked this book. In fact, the only thing I didn’t like was I felt Abby abandoned her girlfriend to a guy she at first knew was a bad influence, and later learned was downright evil. The consequences to her friend were pretty shattering. I would talk to my kids about this […]

September 22, 2012 | 0 Comments

Farworld: Water Keep by J. Scott Savage

I was one of the lucky ones to get an ARC of Farworld: Water Keep by J. Scott Savage. I looked forward to reading it because I’ve really enjoyed his Shandra Covington series (House of Secrets and Dead On Arrival). I love fantasy so when the package came, I ripped it open and started reading right away. I’ve had to wait to post my review—and that’s been hard because I’ve wanted to share the love for the two main characters in this book. Water Keep […]

July 8, 2008 | 3 Comments

Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow Plague by Brandon Mull

Grip of the Shadow Plague by Brandon Mull is book #3 in the Fablehaven series. I didn’t get reviews posted of either of the first two books, but I gave them both a 4.5 out of 5. I really like this series and suggest it for middle grade readers and people who love simple fantasy. I felt this book could have been edited just a bit tighter, losing maybe 50 pages. There were a few places where it went on longer than needed. Also, I […]

May 12, 2008 | 0 Comments

The 13th Reality: The Journal of Curious Letters by James Dashner

[This is going to be a positive review. I promise. Just bear with me.] Before I review The 13th Reality: The Journal of Curious Letters, I have to say something about the only other James Dashner book I’ve ever read. I didn’t like it. While the basic plot was good, there were a few places where it got cloudy and confusing. I didn’t care for his writing style—it sounded too much like an adult trying to talk like a kid. There were also some typos […]

May 1, 2008 | 6 Comments

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

I loved this book! This is a debut book and there are a few little glitches. It starts a little slow and sometimes gets a little silly. But really, I thought it was a fun and clever read. I loved the idea of a preserve to protect magical creatures—and the fact that Kendra and Seth have visited before and had no clue about the secret life of their grandparents. I loved the set-up, the discovery, the magic. The fairies were great and the satyrs were […]

September 15, 2007 | 0 Comments

Sheep’s Clothing by Josi S. Kilpack

*While there is nothing explicit in this book, it does deal with the harsh reality of internet predators, kidnapping, and assault. If your children have access to the Internet, you need to read this book. If those children are over the age of 12, they need to read this book. I liked the Prologue, which sets the tone and foreshadows events to come. I liked the way Josi started each chapter with e-mails between Jess, Emily and Colt. It was unnerving to see how subtle, […]

June 29, 2007 | 2 Comments