Books
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Picture Book Review: Almost a Minyan
ALMOST A MINYAN by LORI S. KLINE ARTWORK BY SUSAN SIMON Genre: Picture Book / Jewish Traditions Publisher: Sociosights Press Facebook Twitter Date of Publication: April 5, 2017 Number of Pages: 40 Scroll down for Giveaway! Will she be the one to take Grandfather’s place? According to Jewish tradition, a quorum of ten adults is required for public worship. Almost a Minyan traces the story of a young girl whose father and grandfather are regular participants in the town’s minyan – until her beloved Zayde passes on. Without him, it is even harder for her father to find enough people to make a minyan. Then one day, he brings Zayde’s…
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Book Review: The Orphan’s Tale
I’m always intrigued by fact-based historical fiction and The Orphan’s Tale was inspired by two stories from WWII: that of a German circus who hid Jews among their performers, and one of the Nazis filling rail cars with Jewish babies from their families. One tale heroic, one horrific, both inspired an amazing book. If you haven’t read Pam Jenoff before, you are in for a treat; she is a master at creating characters and stories from factual accounts and histories. Read on for my review of her newest book, The Orphan’s Tale. The Orphan’s Tale Publisher: Harlequin (US & Canada) Genre: General Fiction/Historical Fiction Pub Date 21 Feb 2017 336 pages Synopsis A powerful novel of…
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Review: Debris & Detritus, The Lesser Greek Gods Running Amok
Someone once tried to convince me that anthologies were books for people with short attention spans. I prefer to think of them as a word buffet, with a multitude of delicious varied tastes, and I appreciate them because I can also devour them in small bites (if I can show self-restraint). If you feel the same, I have just the book for you: Debris & Detritus, The Lesser Greek Gods Running Amok. And much like me viewing a dessert buffet, complete with chocolate fountain, I wasn’t able to resist devouring this in one sitting. Debris & Detritus, The Lesser Greek Gods Running Amok Authors: Patricia Burroughs, Michelle Muenzler, Robin D Owens, Irene…
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Reviewing Foy: On the Road to Lost
FOY:ON THE ROAD TO LOST by GORDON ATKINSON Genre: Literary Fiction Publisher: Material Media LLC Facebook I Twitter Date of Publication: March 1, 2017 Number of Pages: 194 Scroll down for Giveaway! Gordon Atkinson, of the popular blog RealLivePreacher, brings us Foy, a recently- divorced, recently-resigned pastor in the midst of redefining personal meaning. As Foy travels to New Orleans, hoping to find a new identity separate from the church, he keenly observes the everyday, rendering ordinary moments unexpectedly significant. Atkinson’s own background as a preacher and blogger inspires Foy’s confessional voice, the voice which characterizes this story about how our own experiences impact the universal search for…
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Two Twisty-Turny Psychological Thrillers
When the world feels upside down and my anxiety is through the roof, a fast-paced, tense roller-coaster of a psychological thriller through which I can funnel and filter that anxiety is often just the thing I need. Forget a gentle, happy book. I need to work through my jitters and restlessness. In this case, I have just the books for you. Set in London, both books have the kind of eye-opening endings that will make you look back at everything you read. Both will have you looking over your shoulder – but you’ll forget all your other concerns! I See You Author: Clare Mackintosh Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group Genre: Mystery & Thrillers Pub Date 21 Feb 2017 372…
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Book Review: The Bear and the Nightingale
This book…oh, this book. Magical, rich, and lyrical, this book was just gorgeous. Who says fairy tales are for kids? I didn’t want this one to end. The Bear and the Nightingale is one of those finds that make me appreciate the diverse array of books and authors that NetGalley introduces to me, because this is a gem. Curious? Read on… Genre: Literary Fiction Publisher: Del Rey Books Release Date: January 10, 2017 Pages: 336 Synopsis At the edge of the Russian wilderness, winter lasts most of the year and the snowdrifts grow taller than houses. But Vasilisa doesn’t mind—she spends the winter nights huddled around the embers of a fire with her beloved siblings,…
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Book Review: Under Rose-Tainted Skies by Louise Gornall
I’ve been on a YA/Middle School reading binge (and a horror/thriller binge, and…fine, I’ve spent most of the past two weeks with my nose in a book.) This was simply a remarkable, fun, smart, painful (at times, in a good, “I feel her pain” kind of way) read. Let me introduce you to Louise Gornall’s Under Rose-Tainted Skies. Title: Under Rose-Tainted Skies Author: Louise Gornall Publisher: Clarion Books Release Date: January 3, 2017 Pages: 320 Synopsis Norah has agoraphobia and OCD. When groceries are left on the porch, she can’t step out to get them. Struggling to snag the bags with a stick, she meets Luke. He’s sweet and funny, and he just caught her fishing for…
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Book Review: Life in a Fishbowl
I’ve spent most of the past week reading, and several of the best books I’ve read all year were those read over this weekend. Len Vlahos’ upcoming release Life in a Fishbowl was one such book, read in one sitting, with eye gritty at 1 a.m., but I simply had to finish it. It just bowled me over, it was that good. Take a look at this wonderful book, due to be released on January 3, 2017: Title: Life in a Fishbowl Author: Len Vlahos Genre: Juvenile Fiction Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens Release Date: January 3, 2017 Pages: 336 Synopsis: Fifteen-year-old Jackie Stone’s father is dying. When Jackie discovers that her father has been diagnosed with…
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Book Review: A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig
I’ve read and reviewed plenty of stories so far that were set in Christmas, but only a few that were about Christmas itself – and none for kids. That was a situation that was more than rectified by Matt Haig’s book, A Boy Called Christmas – easily my favorite of this season. This story will delight both kids and adults alike. Title: A Boy Called Christmas Author: Matt Haig Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers Release Date: November 1, 2016 Pages: 224 Synopsis Before there was Santa Claus, there was a young boy who believed in the impossible. Eleven-year-old Nikolas–nicknamed “Christmas”–has received only one toy in his life: a doll carved out of a…
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Book Review: For the Record by Regina Jennings
FOR THE RECORD by Regina Jennings Genre: Historical Romance / Christian Publisher: Bethany House Date of Publication: December 6, 2015 Number of Pages: 336 Scroll down for Giveaway! Rather Than Wait for a Hero, She Decided to Create One Betsy Huckabee has big-city dreams, but nobody outside of tiny Pine Gap, Missouri, seems interested in the articles she writes for her uncle’s newspaper. Her hopes for independence may be crushed, until the best idea she’s ever had comes riding into town. Deputy Joel Puckett didn’t want to leave Texas, but unfair circumstances have made moving to Pine Gap his only shot at keeping a badge. Worse, this…
