Brownie

Written by Christopher Menkhaus

The author targets this book for a middle-school audience but I would say it is a book for all ages.

It follows the journey of a kitten named Brownie which takes readers on an emotional journey. Brownie is separated from his mother and that is when his troubles begin. Will he become a house cat or a stray? Who will take care of him until he is old enough to fend for himself? Can he trust humans? Will Brownie overcome stronger cats who want to bully him?

The book is an emotional journey that pulls the reader into the characters. The author is perceptive and weaves a compelling narrative with appealing feline characters. Recommended for cat lovers of all ages.

WANT MORE BOOK REVIEWS

SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG FOR NEW REVIEWS EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY.

The Forgotten Horse – Book 1 in the Connemara Horse Adventure Series for Kids. The perfect gift for children age 8-12. (Connemara Adventures)

Written by Elaine Heney

This is Book 1 in a series. The author has trained thousands to develop and care for their horses. She also creates films featuring the human equestrian relationship.

Primarily intended for a middle-grade audience, Heney creates beautiful characters. Readers learn about a close-knit Irish farming family that faces hard times. Clodagh immediately falls in love with the grey pony that she names Ozzie. Clodagh knows one day she will work with horses.

The book is filled with issues that usually pop up for its target audience like bullying and learning to cope with school peers determined to look down on her. Throughout the book, Clodagh reveals her steadfast determination to overccome these obstacles and find a way to keep Ozzie.

Highly recommended for any reader who loves horses and down-to-earth family stories.

SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG FOR NEW BOOK REVIEWS EVERY SUNDAY AND WEDNESDAY.

10 SECRETS TO A BESTSELLER: AN AUTHOR’S GUIDE TO SELF-PUBLISHING

Written by Tim McConnehey

McConnehey provides all the essentials for the budding author. He writes in an easy-to-follow style that is more readable than most how-to books.

The author states exactly what he will be covering at the beginning of the book.

Can you turn your great idea into a book?   
What are the steps you need to take, and in what order?
How do you complete your book?    
What resources do you need: a cover designer? Editor? Fact checker?    
How do you distribute your book, and how do you make sure people know it’s out there?
How much should you sell it for?

He also suggests using his company, Izzard Ink, as a hybrid publisher for those who find the process too arduous a task to tackle alone.

I would have found this book extremely useful at the outset of my writing journey and would recommend it as a good tool for the new writer.

SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG FOR BOOK REVIEWS EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY.

Blood of a Gladiator: (Leonidas, the Gladiator Mysteries, Book 1

Written by Ashley Gardner

Leonidas is a gladiator who knows nothing about survival. He is tired of fighting and wishes to die. When he is mysteriously freed by an unknown benefactor and gifted to a scribe who used to be a slave, Leonidas must learn to survive in ancient Rome with no marketable skills.

The two major characters could not be more different. Combined with an assortment of minor characters, their journey is unpredictable and touched with tinges of mystery. The author does an excellent job of researching and describing historical details of life in ancient Rome.

This is the first book in a series. It certainly has my attention and I want to read other books in the series.

SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG FOR BOOK REVIEWS EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY.

Victorian San Francisco Novellas: (San Francisco Novellas)

Written by M. Louisa Locke

If you are looking for a few quick reads and like history, this book may be your cup of tea.

The characters are secondary characters from the author’s mystery series. There is a good amount of historical detail about the Victorian age in San Francisco. These stories revolve around the working class and life in a boarding house. They tell about lives often forgotten and the struggles of the poor in San Francisco during a time when the needs of the poor were overlooked.

Fast reads with interesting plots and characters.

SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG FOR NEW BOOK REVIEWS EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY.

What the Valley Knows

Written by Heather Christie

This novel is presented from three separate points of view. Ann, a mother, who moves into the town for a new start, her daughter, Molly, a high school senior, and Wade, the star football quarterback.

It is a coming-of-age story, touched by a budding romance, and the problems of bullying and adjusting to a new home. Each of the characters faces challenges and struggles. Drama is added with a mystery that needs to be solved.

The book will appeal particularly to young adult audiences. It is a pleasant change from the dark fantasy and paranormal often found on young adult reading shelves.

SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG FOR NEW BOOK REVIEWS EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY.

I Escaped the World’s Deadliest Shark Attack: The USS Indianapolis Disaster: WW2

Written by Scott Peters and Ellie Crowe

A powerful story of a historical adventure narrated through the eyes of a sixteen-year-old survivor. Josh enlisted with forged papers to avenge the death of his father at Pearl Harbor. He is straight out of boot camp serving on the USS Indianapolis when the battleship is struck by a Japanese torpedo. He struggles to escape the burning ship, but that is just the beginning of his troubles. No help is in sight; sharks infest the waters, and the survivors begin to turn against each other.

This book is a powerful story filled with raw emotions, adventure, and history. The authors provide readers with an action-packed tale filled with interesting facts about sharks and military history. It contains actual photographs, maps, and hand-drawn illustrations.

The book is little more than one hundred pages. Reluctant readers can easily navigate the short chapters with graphics. Targeted for middle grades but just as appealing to young adult and adult audiences.

SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG TO GET NEW BOOK REVIEWS EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY.

Pigeon in the Pinewoods: a shifter paranormal adventure (The Hinterland Chronicles Book 1)

Written by Kevin George

Book One of this series begins with the birth of Niko and the disappearance of his mother from the hospital. The author describes Niko in such a way that readers immediately empathize with him. They follow him on a long journey that involves his bouncing from one home to another.

Niko is no ordinary child. He possesses strange abilities and powers. For middle-grade readers who enjoy adventure and the paranormal, this book is a good choice. Niko is a shifter, the scenes are done tastefully with just enough of a edge. Children who enjoy magic and fantasy but also a bit of the darker side should enjoy the quick read.

The author does a good job of moving the plot along. Short chapters contain much dialogue but no illustrations. Older readers will not be disappointed.

SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG FOR NEW BOOK REVIEWS EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY.

In Light of the Summit

Written by Jamie McGillen

A unique blend of genres melded into a young adult adventure series. This is the second book of the series, and while not necessary to read in sequence, readers will better understand the complexity of the main characters if read in sequence.

Anna and her best friend, Emily, are opposites. Anna embodies the traditional values of a woman living in 1890 Seattle, while Emily fights for the rights of an untraditional woman who struggles to fit into nineteenth-century society. Anna has her sights on climbing to the top of Mt. Rainier. Lots of details about the history of the period and the beautiful natural setting of the Pacific Northwest. As one reads about nineteenth-century expectations of women and Anna’s struggles, one is reminded of the struggles women have faced and overcome. Readers can expect elements of outdoor adventure, friendship, and romance weaved into the stories of these two women.

A quick and interesting read for young adults and adult women.

SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG FOR NEW BOOK REVIEWS EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY.

The Lost Girl from Belzec, A WW2 Historical Novel

Written by Ravit Raufman

A complex historical holocaust novel based on a true story. It explores the complex psychological relationship between a mother and her daughter.

The Nazis thrust Ruthie and her daughter Noga into the Belzec concentration camp in Poland. Ruthie desperately wants to save Noga, so she smuggles her out of the camp. The author narrates the saga from both their points of view and alternates back and forth. While the author creates well-delineated characters in heartbreaking situations, this dual arrangement can be confusing and annoying.

For young adults and adults who enjoy carefully researched historical novels or those that explore complex psychological issues, this book is an excellent choice. The characters struggle to survive and experience pain and suffering through physical and mental torture. Readers should expect that the book will make a deep impression on them.

SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG FOR NEW BOOK REVIEWS EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY.