Book Review: She Laughs

She Laughs

Choosing Faith over Fear

by Carolanne Miljavac

Barbour Publishing, Inc.

Shiloh Run Press

Christian , Religion & Spirituality

Pub Date 01 Jan 2020

I am reviewing a copy of She Laughs Choosing Faith Over Fear through Barbour Publishing and Netgalley:

She laughs in the face of poverty, brokenness, grief, despair Disaster. Hopeless Situations. Life’s Struggles.  And this book reminds us that we can laugh in the face of these things too! 


In this book Carolanne Milijavac is on a journey of joy.  


Carolanne believes with all her heart laughter is a gift, that it can provide a little bit of distraction from whatever it is you might be facing.  It offers relief from the pain you might be suffering.


Despite having a life dotted with disaster, she found strength and the courage to go on in laughter.  She found the courage to persevere and joy for the journey.  In this book Carolanne will help you see how laughter can help you through your own painful circumstances.


I give She Laughs Choosing Faith Over Fear five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

Book Review: Women of Courage: Sojourner Truth

Women of Courage: Sojourner Truth

All Men (and Women) Are Created Equal

by Compiled by Barbour Staff

 Barbour Publishing, Inc. 

Barbour Books

 Biographies & Memoirs  ,  Christian 

Pub Date 01 Feb 2020  

I am reviewing a copy of Women of Courage: Sojourner Truth through Barbour Publishing and Netgalley:


In this book we learn of Sojourner’s Truth’s commitment.  Despite not being able to read Sojourner Truth dictate The Narrative of Sojourner Truth to a friend allowing others to know how she had been freed from slavery determined to use her story to help others, she also realized that not only slaves needed liberation though, but women did as well.  Sojourner Truth joined the movement in the late 1840’s.  At first the Abolitionist and Women’s Movement’s joined forces until the separatists wanted to split the movements.



Sojourner Truth became popular in the Anti-Slavery and women’s right movements after her autobiography.


By the Mid 1850’s, Sojourner Truth had become known all over the United State.  She wasn’t the only black woman whose anti slavery efforts drew attention.  During this period, Harriet Tubman, the poet Frances E. W. Harper, and the abolitionist Sarah Remond often addressed women’s antislavery conventions and women’s rights meetings as well.

As Sojourner Truth  continued to speak out in favor of the end of slavery, she insisted that freedom for blacks must be accompanied by freedom for women.


Sojourner Truth had a way of captivating her audience with her electrifying presence, her nearly six foot frame, her powerful and heartfelt, Biblically based speeches cemented her place in history as a woman of courage.

I give Woman of Courage: Sojourner Truth five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: The Gray Chamber

The Gray Chamber

True Colors: Historical Stories of American Crime

by Grace Hitchcock

 Barbour Publishing, Inc. 

Barbour Books

 Christian  ,  True Crime 

Read an Excerpt

Pub Date 01 Jan 2020

I am reviewing a copy of The Gray Chamber through Barbour Publishing House and Netgalley:

Blackwell’s Island New York a hospital was built, built so that it’s patients never left.

Edyth’s Uncle has her committed to the Asylum so he can have control over her fortune, but will she be able to show them that she isn’t insane, that her Uncle only wants her fortune and will stop at nothing to get his hands on her inheritance.

so he uses her indulgence in egocentric hobbies like Cycling and Fencing to have her committed. 

Finding a loophole in the will, though, her uncle whisks Edyth off to the women’s lunatic asylum just weeks before her birthday. And Edyth fears she will never be found.
 
At the asylum she meets another inmate, who upon discovering Edyth’s plight, confesses that she is Nellie Bly, an undercover journalist for The World. Will either woman find a way to leave the terrifying island and reclaim her true self?

Will Edyth find her freedom, before her Uncle succeeds in having the doctors erase her memories?

Find out in The Gray Chamber,

Five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: The Big Buna Bash

The Big Buna Bash

by Sara C. Arnold

Brandylane Publishers

Belle Isle Books

Children's Fiction , Multicultural Interest

Pub Date 05 Feb 2020  



I am reviewing a copy of The Big Buna Bash through Brandylane Publshers/ Belle Isle Books and Netgalley:


In this beautifully written and illustrated Picture book, Almaz get's embarrassed by the mistakes she makes in school, and the way that others don't understand her Ethiopian Culture, so she comes up with the idea to have a Big Buna Bash,  in a Buna ceremony the coffee is boiled, poured into another vessel and back into the decorative pot, boiled and poured again, and over and over again.  Three cups are served to each guest, each representing something different.


If you are looking for a book to help your early elementary school age child understand one aspect of the Ethiopian Culture better then I would recommend The Big Buna Bash.


I give this book five our of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: Star of the Show

Star of the Show

The Totally Secret Diary of Dani D.

by J.M. Klein

Enslow Publishing

West 44 Books

Children's Fiction , Middle Grade

Pub Date 01 Feb 2020




I am reviewing a copy of Star of the Show: The Totally Secret Diary of Dani D through Enslow Publishing and Netgalley:


This book is geared towards Hi/Lo Middle Grader Readers who may struggle a little bit with reading, but the book is fun and is sure to draw the interest of Middle Grade Readers:


Dani D decides to try out for the school play, determined to show everyone that she does have talent.  She discoveres that remembering her lines is harder than she first thought, and she would rather be dancing.  Does Dani take what it has to be in the show?  Find out in Star of the Show:


I give this book five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

Book Review: My Name is Konisola

My Name is Konisola

by Alisa Siegel

Second Story Press

Children's Fiction , Middle Grade

Pub Date 03 Mar 2020

I am reviewing a copy of My Name is Konisola through Second Story Press and Netgalley:

Konisola and her Mother step off a plane and into Canada on a freezing cold winter night, having fled Nigeria. They were running for their lives as at home they were under the threat of a family member who wanted to harm them.


But when it is discovered that Konisola's Mother is sick with Cancer, and is hospitalized, Konisola must stay with strangers, at first a lady who never lets her leave the house and go to school. but soon she is sent to Darlene's a lady who gives her everything she needs especially love, but the question arises if she will be allowed to stay in the country, and with Darlene after her Mother dies>


Will Konisola be allowed to stay with Darlene and her family, find out in My Name is Konisola.


I give My Name Is Konisola five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

Book Review:The Great Upending

The Great Upending

by Beth Kephart

Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing

Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books

Children's Fiction

Pub Date 01 Apr 2020

I am reviewing a copy of The Great Upending through Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing/Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books:

Twelve year old Sara has Marafan syndrome, and when she was ten and started getting tired all the time her Mother decided it would be best to homeschool her, but she tells her Mom it would be more fun if her younger brother Hawk was homeschooled as well.

Now at twelve, Sara and her brother are told not to bother the man, the Mister that moved into the apartment on the farm.  It doesn't matter that they feel they want to know something about this strange man that rides a Unicycle around, and if they do bother this man they will be in a whole mess of trouble, but Sara has bigger troubles now.  Marafan is causing issues with her heart, and she needs surgery to fix the problem, unfortunately they are not bringing in much money from the farm, due to a drought, and no one wants to loan them the money for the operation.

But when they discover The Mister is a well loved author of Children books, Hawk cooks up a scheme.

I give The Great Upending five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Children's Fiction

Pub Date 01 Apr 2020