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Texas Winds by Dana Wayne – Review by Kerry Carr

Texas WindsTexas Winds by Dana Wayne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a very heartwarming and at times heartbreaking western contemporary romance. The author does an incredible job with the characters and I love how it is told from both main characters points of view. The authors use of descriptions really brought the characters, their situation and feelings to life.
My heart was captivated by Jake and Lexie and I was gripped by their story right from the start. I wasnt able to stop reading.
Jake has had his heartbroken. Not only did he lose his wife but he also found out she was having affair. Since she passed Jake has taken on raising the baby but he is left with nagging doubts. Is the child actually his or the other man’s?
Not wanting to risk getting hurt again he keeps everyone at arms length including the little girl.

Lexie has had a bad time with romance too after she was left at the alter. Now she’s determined to move on and refocus on herself. The last thing she wants is romance but when fate plays it’s hand and she lands in the lap of a handsome man and his adorable daughter will she be strong enough to resist?

Neither Jake nor Lexie want romance but they can’t deny the instant attraction and connection and as Jake feels his heart slowly starting to mend because of Lexie will they both be brave enough to take the leap of faith, not only for themselves but for a little girl that wants to be loved?

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Perfect (Perfect Series) by Tricia Copeland – Review by Christie Mitchum

Perfect (Perfect, #1)Perfect by Tricia Copeland
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wow! What a delightful and different take on a contemporary romance!!!

The book opens with our MFC at college and struggling with leaving her high school boyfriend hours away. She breaks things off when he shows up unexpectedly and reveals his plans without consulting her. Thus begins her long journey to finding her own HEA, which has taken many years.

I really enjoyed the way Chloe’s character was written. She is a strong female lead who doesn’t give up on her dreams yet is determined to find her own happiness. All the characters, even Chloe, are flawed, making them relatable.

From the synopsis, I wasn’t sure what a treat Copeland had in store for me. I was a bit confused at the beginning. Once I realized what exactly she was doing, everything became clear. The reader rarely gets to determine their desired ending, but Copeland gives us just that. I thoroughly enjoyed this contemporary romance and look forward to reading the other books in the series.

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4 R’s: Roped, Risked, Rescued, Romanced (4 R’s Series) by Julie Castle – Review by Barbara Bohls

4 R's: Roped, Rescued, Risked, Romanced4 R’s: Roped, Rescued, Risked, Romanced by Julie Castle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is an amazing set of 4 books in one. I love that I was able to keep reading story after story. I didn’t have to wait for the next one to publish and that made the material fresh in my mind. These book flow together and all contain the same intensity throughout them. These books are quick reads because the words jut flow off the pages. I felt like I just sat down to read them and then they were done. Each book focuses on a different set of characters. These characters all have growth and have experiences that help create the story line for the book. They have different tropes to the books, those include enemies to lovers and forced proximity. The steam is in each book but it is different in each as well. I just can’t get over how good these books are. There is spice, suspense, laughs, shocked moments, and push and pull with emotions throughout these books. If you are one that loves reading series, this would be the best way to do it. I recommend having a day free because once you start reading this, you won’t want to stop. So good.
Reviewed by: @bbohls

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Breaking Apart (Finnerty and Liccione Mystery Series) by Wanda Venters, MD and Mary Rae, MD – Review by Brandy Vaughn

Breaking Apart (A Finnerty and Liccione Mystery, #2)Breaking Apart by Wanda J. Venters
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the second book in the series. I was drawn into the plot in the first chapter. This medical thriller is right on target about the PTSD and traumatic brain injuries our veterans face. The characters were flushed out well and made the reader invested from the beginning!

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Stop that Lion (Kingdom of Mir Series) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Natalia Gonzales Castrejon

Stop That Lion: A Tale of Friendship Love and Peace (Kingdom of Mir)Stop That Lion: A Tale of Friendship Love and Peace by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love this book! I loved that there was an issue that clearly needed to be resolved. I loved that the little girl overcame her fears and decided to give it a try and actually did it! She helped the issues on both sides and we love to see that!

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Break Bone Fever (Finnerty and Liccione Mystery Series) by Wanda Venters, MD and Mary Rae, MD – Review by Brandy Vaughn

Break Bone Fever (A Finnerty and Liccione Mystery, #1)Break Bone Fever by Mary Rae
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is book one in the series and if to a great start. I am pulled into the action with twists and turns. This novel is a fast-paced, medical mystery that will keep you reading deep into the night. I found a new medical thriller series!

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Marshmallow Rabbit by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Megan Rea

Marshmallow RabbitMarshmallow Rabbit by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the tale of the game between Mr. Bonbon and Annabelle where Mr. Bonbon has to come up with a way to get Annabelle to stop stealing the candy from his candy factory. Annabelle is always outsmarting him and she does it again this time. I like how Wickstrom’s stories always have a lesson to be learned in her stories; however, with this story I feel that the lesson is subtle and could possibly be missed by kid and misconstrued into a not-so-nice lesson. I was hoping at the end Annabelle would be remorseful about stealing the candy and she and Mr. Bonbon would be able to figure things out, but that’s not the case. There is a lesson to be learned, but it’s not really done in a way that I feel is appropriate. I really like the illustrations in this story. They are bright and colorful and they follow the story really well.
Reviewed by @meggs1717

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Marshmallow Rabbit by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Shelly Kittell

Marshmallow RabbitMarshmallow Rabbit by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this story. The owner is trying to teach the young girl about stealing. The story is entertaining, fun and tries to teach a lesson. The characters are witty with their conversation in trying to catch each other. I read this with my grandson. He gave it a 5. I also give it a 5. This is probably our favorite yet. We are still talking about ways to help protect the candy from thieves and how the little old ladies could have helped. It’s a fun story and a great conversation starter to jump start the imagination.

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Oscar and Emmy Foster Kittens (Oscar and Emmy Series) by Terri Sabol – Review by Shannon Fowler

Oscar and Emmy Foster KittensOscar and Emmy Foster Kittens by Terri Sabol
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oscar and Emmy’s humans, Abby and Charlie with the help of Mom, discover how to care for newborn kittens. The family learns what it takes to prepare and foster kittens until they find their furever homes.

Cute story that tells about the responsibilities of fostering kittens. Age-appropriate pictures and wording.

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Texas Winds by Dana Wayne – Review by Shannon Fowler

Texas WindsTexas Winds by Dana Wayne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My first book by this author and I am hooked. All the feels in this story.

“It humbled him to realize he’s spent so many years wallowing in his own pain and grief to see how he neglected his child. He saw to her basic needs, of course, but neglected the most essential one of all. The one he, himself, just realized was missing from his life. The need to know you are loved.”

Almost all of my reviews state this very thing. We all want to be loved, we all want to be accepted and valued and just plain loved.

Jake and Lexie are too cute with their beliefs about love and the things they want in life. Their situation is almost too good to be true. I was afraid something or someone would come along and try to ruin their inta-attraction. I am happy with the way this author handled things for these two and their loved ones.

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Finding Cheer (Magical Emerald Hollow Series) by Heather Schneider – Review by Dawn Daughenbaugh

Finding Cheer (Magical Emerald Hollow #2)Finding Cheer by Heather Schneider
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5 Stars
Finding Cheer (Magical Emerald Hollow Series) by Heather Schneider

Finding Cheer is the second book in the Magical Emerald Hollow Series. The is a sweet Romance that once you start reading its hard to put down. I highly recommend reading the first book if you haven’t already started it. You can read as standalones but you get a better understanding of what has been going on and you get to know the characters better Holly and Sofia are iback and it’s starting to feel and look like Spring time in Emerald Hollow. Sofia is very skeptical of the mystery man and his not remembering anything. The more she gets to know him the more she questions if she can trust or not. I highly recommend reading this book to find out what happens next. I’m eagerly waiting for more from this author.

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Touched: Elemental Passions Book One by Skye Turner, Sloane Nicole, April D. Berry, C.J. Pinard, Danielle Jamie, Darlene Tallman, Julie Morgan, Livell James, Machelle Hanleigh, and Melissa MacKinnon – Review by Hannah Porter

Touched (Elemental Passions #1)Touched by Skye Turner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book has a lot of authors. That’s what I found super unique. You know the book was gonna be good If all of them had to sign off on it. After I dove in, I knew I was right. This was the first book of Elemental Passions stories, and honestly it sucked me in from the beginning. I could not put this book down. I felt like I flew through this book, because I just had to know what happened next. Like with fae, centaurs, werewolves, drama, trolls, danger, adventure and elemental powers (fire , earth, air, and water) just to name a few what’s not to love. I also loved Aeris and Callums forbidden love at first sight lmao. The suspense and ups and downs in this story had me on my toes. Also it taught me something I didn’t know of before, a Sylph. So i highly recommend this reading this book
Omg and I can’t wait for the next books!! Bring them one I’m so ready to go back into this creative magical world these authors have built.

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Stop that Lion (Kingdom of Mir Series) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Hannah Porter

Stop That Lion: A Tale of Friendship Love and Peace (Kingdom of Mir)Stop That Lion: A Tale of Friendship Love and Peace by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book reminds me of the books I use to read when I was younger(the artwork style, even the story plot),very nostalgic. I loved it. We usually read this author for story time at night. Which we always enjoy tremendously. It’s always a fun learning experience for them. There is always something you can take away from reading the author’s stories. Like in this we got ‘’ keep trying til you find a the solution ‘’ but your takeaway might different from ours 🥰🥰 can’t wait to continue more of Lois Wickstrom stories

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Stop that Lion (Kingdom of Mir Series) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Alyssa McLean

Stop That Lion: A Tale of Friendship Love and Peace (Kingdom of Mir)Stop That Lion: A Tale of Friendship Love and Peace by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The illustrations in this book are beautiful and detailed. There’s just the right amount of text to keep kids hooked without overwhelming them. My son was very into the story and was asking questions and guessing what was going to happen next. It’s a book we would read again for sure!

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Texas Winds by Dana Wayne – Review by Lorralei Hoerner

Texas WindsTexas Winds by Dana Wayne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5 Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Texas Winds is a fantastic clean, contemporary romance and I loved every page of this story. Angst, romance, heartwarming and heartbreak with the push and pull between two people…I loved this book so much. The story telling that Dana Wayne gives is tremendous…and feels so real.

When two hearts whom went through unimaginable heartbreak in the past with be able to find love? Lexie and Jake discover that love can heal and bring them together when they least expect it. Lexie is left at the alter and discovers she needs a fresh start. Taking a leave from work to get away is just what she needs to clear her head and figure out what she wants in life. Jake is still reeling from the death of his wife and raising his daughter on his own….and closing his heart off once and for all. When an unexpected chance as Lexie and Jake meet on circumstance…the instant spark is undeniable. With cautious hearts and a little girl to think about….Lexie and Jake embark on a chance to make this connection real and letting go of the past is not always easy.

This is a fantastic romance….I very highly recommend this book….I love the heart warming moments between Lexie, Jake and Katie (Jake’s daughter) along with Biscuit (Lexie’s dog).

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Queen of the Fairies by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Alyssa McLean

Queen of the FairiesQueen of the Fairies by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The illustrations were bright and beautiful. My son was surprised by the ending. The story didn’t flow as smoothly as her other books, but it still held his interest. We’ll definitely read more from this author.

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Kris & The Missing Prince (The Adventures of Kris) by Art Blegen – Review by Toni Sellers

Kris & The Missing Prince: The Adventures Of KrisKris & The Missing Prince: The Adventures Of Kris by Art Blegen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Not every girl wants to be a princess, some girls want to the knight. Another wonderful Adventure with Kris. My grand kids love to read about Kris and her adventures, and this one was a hit. So well written that it is easy enough for young readers to follow along but enjoyable for the kids and for the adults. The illustrations are great. Filled with Magic, gnomes, fairies, elves and more. I love that it encourages kids to use and explore their imaginations. Also, the importance of friendships and family. I think it’s perfect for 6-10 yr. olds.

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Drag Me Down (Full Throttle Cyborgs Series) by Landra Graf – Review by Ayla Phipps

Drag Me Down (Full Throttle Cyborgs, #4)Drag Me Down by Landra Graf
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mars, gang-towns, racing, secrets. Love the worlds Landra Graf creates. While this is the fourth book in the series I mostly did fine with understanding the story the only confusion in some ways was not fully understanding the past of some of the other characters in relation to the female lead of this book. As she says at one point in the room with all four male leads of the series so far, Snapper, Jack, Hemi and Drag, “she has left her mark on all of them.” Primarily told through the perspectives of Drag and Bridget.
Twelve years have passed since Drag lost everything. His gang, his home, and the only woman he ever loved, not to mention his arm. Now he is about to be at the same place again, the Mars Racing Championship. The night before the big qualifying race his past comes back asking for the mother of all favors. In the time since “that” day Bridget hasn’t been able to be herself, to drop the act. To be herself she risks losing everything, including herself. Now is her chance, all she needs is him and she can have her cover to get the proof she needs to rid not only herself but the entire planet of Mars of the monster that is Moag Cheatham. The sponsor that truly ruined her entire life and the future she and Drag had planned for themselves, together. Both feel betrayed. Both feel that it’s a trap that will close in around them at any moment. Moag wants to replace Briget if she continues to decline his proposal, to bring in someone more subservient who he can control. Drag wants to revive his town to its former glory, to help his people and thrive once again. Is this real or just another act?
Will Bridget get the proof in time? Can they let go of the past and accept the present? Who will come out on top? Everything in this world is mostly relatable, minus all the cybernetics, but realistic in nature. People often have their own hidden agendas and are willing to do whatever it takes to come out on top. All they wanted was each other, to be together and build a future together. Everything was flipped on its head and twelve years later flipped again. Together, will they finally find their happily ever after?

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Queen of the Fairies by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Cindy Rushin

Queen of the FairiesQueen of the Fairies by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a cute little story about a little girl exploring the world of fairies and trying to write their story. The little girl wanted to make sure she did not make anyone mad because of her story, so she took her time to write a nice story. I found the little twist at the end to be really cute. I enjoyed the story and recommend this story for any little girl who loves to read about fairies.

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Finding Cheer (Magical Emerald Hollow Series) by Heather Schneider – Review by Anantha Rusum

Finding Cheer (Magical Emerald Hollow #2)Finding Cheer by Heather Schneider
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A very delightful fantasy with a blend of mystery and romance, this book follows the story of Sofia who lives in the magical land of Emerald Hollow. This is the second book in the series, I have not read the first one. But this was an easy read . Sofia has had a bad tryst with romance in the past, so when she meets a man with amnesia on a hiking trail, she is very doubtful . She tries to unravel the mystery about the past for him, at the same time trying to resist her growing attraction towards him. She does not want to be hurt again and who knows where he came from?

A very nice romance with a mystery element involved. I would recommend this book.

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Unicorn, Don’t Do That! by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Julie Johnson

Unicorn, Don't Do That!: It's okay if a Unicorn poops on your doorstepUnicorn, Don’t Do That!: It’s okay if a Unicorn poops on your doorstep by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The kids are going to love this one!!!

First of all, I love the illustrations in this story! They are so colorful and bright!

This story, like many of Lois Wickstrom‘s stories, has a great moral. This book is also very funny, most especially to little boys! They will want this book read to them and they will want to read it to you over and over again! Dinosaurs, unicorns, and poop….what’s not to love?

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Queen of the Fairies by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Shannen Kern

Queen of the FairiesQueen of the Fairies by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another marvelous read by Lois Wickstrom! I read this with both of my kids, and we all truly enjoyed ourselves. It was definitely one of the more interesting books that kept us guessing which had us going ‘AHA!’ on the last page. We even read it twice more on the same day to get more of an appreciation with the full picture in mind! I loved the illustrations throughout as they are bright and add much more to the story as both of my kids liked going slower to see each picture clearly. As with most other books by this author, there are underlying life lessons that show up throughout the story. I highly recommend bringing this book into your home to share with your kiddos or even the classroom to get creativity flowing!

Reviewed by @shannlynn

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Stop that Lion (Kingdom of Mir Series) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Shannen Kern

Stop That Lion: A Tale of Friendship Love and Peace (Kingdom of Mir)Stop That Lion: A Tale of Friendship Love and Peace by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was an absolutely wonderful story to read with both of my kids, ages 8 and 12. Lois Wickstrom is one of our favorite authors, and anytime I bring a book home, my entire household gets excited! We go on such adventures, and this one was no different. The illustrations are a little different from others I’ve read before but still incredibly gorgeous nonetheless. The main character, Wynnie, is such a magnificent role model for a kid’s storybook. She is confident in herself and thinks a little outside the box, which is a great point to encourage in young ones. We enjoyed the creativity displayed in the book, and it sparked some great conversations in the house about our own ideas to problems we encounter. I highly recommend this for not only your classroom, but also to read at home with any kiddos in your life!

Reviewed by @shannlynn

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra – Review by Francis O’Sullivan

Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral MysteryRhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rhapsody in Black is an intriguing ballet-themed mystery. Elena del Carral has returned to the ballet company she grew up with to participate in a Gala Performance. She reflects on the reasons she left the ballet company (and the country!) in the first place. Her return is complicated by the secrets she holds, and the array of secrets the other dancers are keeping.

I found this story immersive. The descriptions of dances might paint a clearer picture for those familiar with ballet terminology but I still enjoyed imagining the costumes and dances. Then there is all of the behind-the-scenes details, from rehearsals and preparations for performances to the administrative side of the ballet.

The characters are also great! Elena has a good group of friends who are happy to be reunited with her, and there are some interesting rivalries and personality clashes between the dancers. I’m interested in Elena’s brother, the film composer. I hope he gets to make an appearance in another book!

This book gets five stars from me! I’d recommend it to ballet lovers who are mystery fans, and mystery readers who are interested in learning more about ballet.

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Will You (Pretend) Marry Me (Swan Cove Series) by Christi Barth – Review by Lisa Helmick

Will You Pretend Marry MeWill You Pretend Marry Me by Christi Barth
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this from the beginning! That scone stealing scene was great! What made it even better was the group of friends she met knew all about it and said “ oh you’re the scone stealer” when being introduced. Just perfect!

The theme of this was interesting to me. We have a international Pop star who has a double life. I loved a sneek peek into her Pop stat lifestyle. The concerts, the Stalkers, the clothes changes, the different teams and large amount of employees make me okay with not being in that life. When she becomes a music teacher she sheds a-lot of that and tries to blend to the normal side.

Each of these two MC have past issues that get dealt with along the way. Filled in with laughs and eye opening discussions. The friendship group they have are the best! I really enjoyed meeting them as they amped up the level of the story. The interventions they come up with are awesome. Just trying to help out a couple who should be together.

This is the first book I read in this series and was saddened to find out it is the last. I was looking forward to Wyatt’s story as well as a few others. The bight side is I can grab them to read now.

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Queen of the Fairies by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Shannon Fowler

Queen of the FairiesQueen of the Fairies by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This story is a very whimsical and silly story told by a child. It is cute and easy to read with great pictures. I like the way the storyteller weaves the story and questions all the what ifs that could happen. I believe children aged 6-8 would enjoy this story. I look forward to reading to my granddaughter one day.

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Will You (Pretend) Marry Me (Swan Cove Series) by Christi Barth – Review by Crystal Jimmo

Will You Pretend Marry MeWill You Pretend Marry Me by Christi Barth
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This story really had me going. The chemistry between Abigail and Everett was sparking. Every time they clashed I had a hard time not laughing. Two people living secret lives and trying to hide it was amusing. The chemistry, and storyline was great. The pacing was well done and I didn’t feel like the story was being rushed. I love how Abigail is trying to be her best as a student teacher, but not quite making the mark. But she has no problem being a popstar. Does she continue her singing career or does she go on to be a teacher? Everett is trying to be a good vice-principal and an analyst, but does the juggling fail? or does he succeed?

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Queen of the Fairies by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Santana Hicks

Queen of the FairiesQueen of the Fairies by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was a cute and simple book about what the narrator thought fairies were like. She wants to write specifically about the Queen of the Fairies but doesn’t want the other fairies to feel left out. The narrator writes about good fairies and bad. She wonders what would happen of the Queen of the fairies got ahold of her book and read it. Would she like it?

I have said it before and I will say it again, I wish Lois Wickstrom was around when my son was younger. He would have loved all of their stories I have read so far.

It is a very simple and easy to read book making it great for kids of a younger age.

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Stop That Lion: A Tale Of Friendship, Love And Peace (Kingdom Of Mir) by Lois Wickstrom and Timna Green – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Stop That Lion: A Tale of Friendship Love and Peace (Kingdom of Mir)Stop That Lion: A Tale of Friendship Love and Peace by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There are two Kingdoms, the Kingdom of Mir and the Kingdom of Sher and these Kingdoms have something in common and that is a Lion, each night, the Lion comes from Mir to Sher, however, the problem is that it eats the sheep which belong to the families who live in Sher.

One day the King of Sher announces a competition in which the losers have to give up their most prized possession and the winner will become his Royal Advisor and all they have to do is come up with a plan to “Stop the Lion” from entering the Kingdom of Sher, the solution has to be fair and all entrants must be able to carry out their solution immediately.

What solutions will the contestants come up with and who will win? This is an inspiring tale of the importance of thinking fairly, kindly and peacefully which is told in a charming and beautiful way and will make young children develop their use of imagination to think of what solutions they can come up with to the King’s problem.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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Stop that Lion (Kingdom of Mir Series) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Melissa Fink

https://www.amazon.com/review/R20C0N0IENYS89/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

Stop That Lion: A Tale of Friendship Love and Peace (Kingdom of Mir)Stop That Lion: A Tale of Friendship Love and Peace by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Stop That Lion was a great childrens book. The pictures were cute and went along with the story. I would say this book is great for kids no older then 8 years old. The world building was amazing. The plot was well thought of. I highly recommend this book be read to little children.

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https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/2862780132