Book Review: Nutmeg Streets Egyptian Secrets

Nutmeg Street: Egyptian Secrets
(A Botanic Hill Detectives Mystery, #1)
by Sherrill Joseph

Acorn Publishing LLC
Middle Grade | Mystery & Thrillers
Pub Date 01 Feb 2020


I am reviewing a copy of Nutmeg Streets Egyptian Secrets from Acorn Publishing and Netgalley:


If you have a middle grader who loves Mysteries or Thrillers the. Nutmeg Streets Egyptian Secrets is just the book for them.



Dr.Winston Thornsley a world famous Egyptologist died in disgrace a couple of months prior.  Ida Thornsley his Widow does not believe her husband would have ever stole that burial urn that he discovered the previous summer.  But the local as well as Federal law enforcement officers are stumped.



Out of desperation for andmswers no one seems to be able to find Mrs Thornsley calks in her thirteen years old neighbors, the Botanic Hills detectives, twins Lanny and Lexi Wyatt, Moki Kalani, and Rani Kumar. The exciting mission they are called on is to find the urn, and the person that really stole it so Dr Thornsley can be exonerated, the real criminal brought to justice, and Dr Thornsley's good name given back to him.



The savy teens will face a roomful of venomous snakes, an Egyptian ponds that's poisonous, and a dragon pit man are just some of the challenges awaiting these tech savvy teenagers.  Just as the detectives begin to unravel the sinister plot, the mystery takes a dangerous turn. The answers are at their fingertips but first they must convince their parents to let them solve the case.


I give Nutmeg Streets, Egyptian Secrets five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

Book Review: What Unbreakable Looks Like

What Unbreakable Looks Like
A Novel
by Kate McLaughlin

St. Martin's Press
Wednesday Books
Teens & YA
Pub Date 23 Jun 2020


I am reviewing a copy of What Unbreakable Looks like through St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books and Netgalley:


Due to the sensitive subject matters and rough language in this book I would not recommend this book to anyone younger than fifteen, with the exception of those who have been the victims of sex trafficking or who have had loved ones in that situation.  Child Sex Trafficking is a very hard subject for most adults let alone youngsters to grasp.




Lexi was trafficked, and they changed her name to Poppy.  She was kept in the hotel room with other trafficked girls, after the girls are rescued she's not sure how to be Lex again.



After moving in her aunt and uncle she knows that for the first time in a long time she's safe.  The problem is she doesn't trust the feeling, Doesn't trust her new home, her new friends or her new life.  Instead she believes that she is not good enough to have these good things.


After Lexi is sexually assaulted by her so called boyfriend and his friends.  Lexi is forced to deal with what happened to her, and come to the realization that though it was sadly something she became used to in that hotel room, does not mean it is okay.  Soon she is thrust into the limelight and comes to realize she has the power to help others.  First though she'll have  to confront the monsters of her past with the help of her family, friends, and a new love.


I give What Unbreakable Looks Like four out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

Book Review: Hollow

Hollow
by Rhonda Parrish
Tyche Books
Horror | Teens & YA
Pub Date 24 Mar 2020


I am reviewing a copy of Hollow through Tyche Books and Netgalley:


Sixteen year old Morgan's family is shattered when a car accident kills her brother, leaves her Mother paralyzed in more than one way, her Father is always at work and get seven year old sister Amy is trying too hard to salvage everything she could. 




Not only does Morgan  have to deal with the Hell she is going through at home, but Highschool is it's own kind of torture.  She has an ex boyfriend who seems to take great pleasure in spreading rumors that only serve to rip her reputation to shreds and make her feel like a loser.





After finding an old camera in an creepy abandoned hospital, things go from bad to worse.  It seems that Everytime Morgan takes a picture of her classmates, or anyone else, the camera steals the goodness of the one.




When Morgan's Sister Amy uses the camera to take a Selfie, Morgan is determined to do what ever she can to reverse the effects so she can get the good part of her sister back.



If you have a young adult reader who likes horror fiction, that isn't to gruesome I would recommend Hollow.


I give Hollow four out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

Book Review: Veiled in Smoke

Veiled in Smoke
by Jocelyn Green

Bethany House
Bethany House Publishers
Christian
Pub Date 04 Feb 2020


I am reviewing a copy of Unveiled Smoke through Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley:


This book takes us to 1870's Chicago where Meg and Sylvia Townsend manage the family bookshop and care for their Father Stephen a former Prisoner of War of the Civil War, who is still suffering from in mind and spirit from his time as a POW.  But when the great fire sweeps through Chicago they will face a greater loss than just their store.





After the sisters are separated from their Father and make a harrowing escape from the fire and flames that went after everything in it's path with the help of Chicago Tribune reporter Nate Pierce.  After the smoke cleared away, they reunite with Stephen only to later find out that their family friend was murdered the night of the fire.  What is even more shocking is that their Father is accused of the crime and is committed to the Cook County Insane Asylum where he is treating appallingly before even being given a fair trial



Despite being injured, homeless, and unemployed Meg must try to gather the pieces of hers and her sisters life, as well as do everything she could as well as prove her father's innocence before the asylum truly drives him mad.


I give Unveiled Smoke five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

Book Review: How May I Offend You Today

How May I Offend You Today?
Rants and Revelations from a Not-So-Proper Southern Lady
by Susannah B. Lewis
Nelson Books
Thomas Nelson
Christian | Humor
Pub Date 25 Aug 2020



I am reviewing a copy of How May I Offend You Today through Nelson Books and Netgalley:


 Susannah B Lewis has millions of fans who flock to her take no prisoners rants about the pet peeves she had in every day life.



In Everyday Living Susannah B Lewis turns her humor which is one of her trademarks to the everyday events that grate on her nerves from people who wear inappropriate and offensive t shirts to very public displays of affection in Lowe's plumbing aisle.  Lowe's--while keeping a wry eye on herself



This book weaves together anecdotes from her distinctly Southern life with frequent references to the Bible.  In this book Lewis reminds us too that it is important that we stand firm in our views. 


How May I Offend You Today is filled with witty but down to earth banter.  This book is uplifting and inspirational and therefore I find that it is worthy of five out of five stars.



Happy Reading!

Book Review: Unburdened

Unburdened
Stop Living for Jesus So Jesus Can Live through You
by Vance Pitman
Baker Books
Christian
Pub Date 21 Jan 2020


I am reviewing a copy of Unburdened through Baker Books and Netgalley:


Does following Jesus feel impossible to you?  Does trying to hard to be a good Christian leave you overwhelmed and exhausted?  In this book Vance Pitman reminds us that it is important to find how living with Jesus is not complicated, that in fact we need to let Jesus live through us. 




This book reminds us too that we are aiming at the wrong target when we get so wrapped up in the busy work of Christian living that we neglect to see the simplicity of letting Jesus live for us, that in fact we make something that is so simple, far more complex than it needs to be.




In Unburdened we are reminded that we can get so lost in the busy work of Christian living that we loose the personal time we need. 



We are reminded too that attending Church is not something we have to do but should in fact be something we want to do, because as a Christian the church is part of our community and going to the house of God is a privilege we have to get closer to God and to grow in that relationship, and we have the privilege of fellowshipping with our fellow believers.





We are reminded too that following Jesus is about following our fellow believers but also to go out into the world in order to share God.  We need to have that kind of relationship to the world.




If you are looking for a powerful book that will encourage you to grow closer in Christ then I highly recommend Unburdened.



I give this book five out of five stars....



Happy Reading!

Book Review: A Different Kind of Love Story

A Different Kind of Love Story
How God's Love for You Helps You Love Yourself
by Landra Young Hughes
Baker Books
Christian
Pub Date 04 Feb 2020



I am reviewing a copy of A Different Kind of Love Story through Baker Books and Netgalley:




A Different Kind of Love Story is about a love story we all play a role in, the love story we all have a part in whether or not we realize it.  It is critical that we stay in tune with this love story, no other love or the lack of love has the potential to make you stronger or break you than the love we have for Jesus and the love we have for ourselves.



In this book Landra Young Hughes has a radical and different approach, a radically simple message that is to give up, that is to give up on the need to control how we are seen by others.  In this book we are reminded to let God's words not the words of ourselves or others define you.



This deeply personal and moving book helps you to grow in the knowledge that who we are is not defined by how we see ourselves or how others see us, but it matters how we are seen by God.




I give A Different Kind of Love Story five out of five stars.



Happy Reading!