You Are Special by Suzanna Lynn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Buddy the Blue Corgi is a cute story about being different and still being special. This puppy is cute in his uniqueness and special because that is the way God makes everyone. Different but special.
Sweet, short story with a big message.
Forever to Fall by Libby Kay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Oh how I missed Buckeye Falls and it’s people ! It’s good to be back 🥰
This was almost too much for my heart to handle but in a good way 😉 Mallory “married “ Beckett in their family orchard 15 years ago and the Ruby ring , which was a family heirloom was on her finger and she’s always dreamed that their childhood wedding would become a reality , Beckett had always owned her heart ❤️ now reality has come to shake things up when her brother Evan wants to propose to CeCe with “ her ring” …., do you feel my anxiety !?
Beckett left Buckeye Falls but his memories never left him and as he heads back home after his grandpas passing he wonders if Mallory also remembers but the heart always will remember my dear 🥰 and he feels what Mallory’s feeling as they prepare for the wedding of friend and family 🥰🙈
So she’s maid of honour and he’s best man so there’s no way they can avoid each other and poor Beckett is fraught that his friend won’t approve his relationship with his sister 🙈
I know I could’ve read this in a shorter time span but I really dragged it out to make it last 🤣❣️📚
I loved each page and being around these characters that just make you feel like you’re home ! I can’t wait to come back again to Buckeye Falls🥰
Lapidius by Matthew Runals
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
4 Stars
“Story lovers and justice seekers, I present a tale of Lapidius, a school nestled in the valleys and forests of the land of Novum Albion. Once filled with mystery, adventure, and knowledge, Novum Albion was now a sad place of former greatness and forgotten dreams that no longer held the position of power it once had in the world. As its people settled for what they were told they could accomplish, hope and dreams became vacant in Novum Albion.
At one time, the country had been the world’s melting pot, where cultures, intellect, ideas, and even freedom defined the young nation. Yet, many no longer had the hope that once defined Novum Albion. Sadly, inspiration and confidence drained from the land. Hope became nothing more than feeble happiness, and happiness turned to selfish desires. Selfish desires turned into greed, and greed turned into numbness to life. Many citizens of Novum Albion were trapped in their own minds, yet they were still filled with pride, though they accomplished nothing.
Worth of life was held relative, and the meaning of words like honor, morals, and ethics were seldom taught. Even truth was held passively. As the young of the land grew ignorant of their identity and past, the very fiber of the home started to unwind, and uncertainty and ignorance in every aspect of life began to grow.
Lapidius was still a mysterious place, considering it was a military school for children. It was not a school built to train children for war but designed to teach military discipline. Children of all ages would leave their siblings and parents behind and find mysteries upon mysteries at Lapidius, which they would eventually call home.
Yes, though it would be hard for some to think a school could be home for its students, it was just that for many. And the most challenging and formative experience Lapidius had to offer was The Game. The Game was what made Lapidius unique…”
Lapidius is the first book in A Nation Found series by Matt Runals. This is a fabulous YA dystopian adventure story with a coming of age/journey of discovery element, mystery, action, politics, agendas, challenges, high stakes, family/friendship, finding purpose, magic, monsters, courage/bravery, survival, war/battles, intrigue, fantasy, emotion, humour, morality/honour, betrayal, and hope.
I set off on the adventure and found myself engrossed right from the get-go- joining Joey, Kyle, Brian, and Lucas through all the highs and lows of Lapidius- a military school which will bring challenges and experiences that none of them could have predicted.
The characters were really well-developed individuals with their own unique personalities, quirks, and flaws. They were easy to like and invest in. I loved watching them develop and grow over the course of the story.
The story is quite detailed and descriptive, which made it easy to ‘visualise’ the scenes, the world, and all the developments as they unfolded.
This gave me all the Divergent/Hunger Games/ The Maze Runner/ Harry Potter-esque vibes- but with its own unique identity.
The story finishes leaving room for more to come – so I look forward to seeing where we go from here.
Happy Reading…
Thank you, Matt Runals!
Reviewed by @angelahayes
You Are Special by Suzanna Lynn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Out of all of the books in this series that I have read so far You are Special is probably my favorite. Buddy feels so different because he is the only pup in the whole litter that is a blue corgi with a spot over his eye instead of the tan and white coloring that makes a typical corgi recognizable. Nelly the horse makes that sound like such a bad thing. Buddy’s momma comes to the rescue and helps him to understand that he is different only because he’s so special. I love that these children’s books are based off of real life characters and that they offer a Bible verse at the end of every story that helps to explain and guide our little readers today. Great pictures as well!
Good Things Take Time by Suzanna Lynn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Good Things Take Time, literally, things that mean the most to us are never immediately attainable, and sometimes that causes us to get frustrated, nervous, or scared, but it all works out in the end. I love how the characters are based off of real life characters. I also enjoy that these are good, wholesome, Christian stories with Bible verses that help teach children as well as the wonderful lessons in each book.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/215351060
Decisions Matter: A picture book about learning right from wrong by Suzanna Lynn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What a cute story about how the choices you make can affect other people. Buddy is trying to do the right thing and catch the trash bandit, but every single time the bandit disappears and Buddy is left to take the blame. Salem realizes how much he is really hurting his friend and starts to make better decisions and take the blame as he deserved it. The illustrations were great too.
Murder in Prospect: An Eve Sawyer Mystery by Jane Suen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Eve Sawyer has been working her way through college toward a journalism degree and does some sleuthing on the side. Her fellow classmate, Bob, recently lost his uncle Will to what has been said was natural causes. Once they arrive in his hometown of Prospect he feels that something isn’t right. Eve has yet another opportunity to put her sleuthing skills to good use and try to uncover the truth. They have very little to go on when things take a turn and a guest at the inn winds up dead. Is Will’s death truly from natural causes or is his death related to the new case? All of these books have been good reads. Sleuthing right along with Eve as she solves these cases is a fun way to pass some time.
Andrew’s Armor by Jill Monaco
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Andrews Armor was a book that shared about God’s love and how that’s all the armor you need in life. Young Andrew and his friend were dressing up in armor, slaying dragons, and saving the day when he fell, his friend made a comment about how Andrew might not be so tough after all. Although he knew better he didn’t feel so tough either. After a little cajoling from his dad and a few well worded notes Andrew began to realize all the armor he needed was God’s love and strength behind him to accomplish anything he set out to do. I liked the list of activities and Bible verses that were listed in the back of the book.
A Pig and A Poke by Tricia Gardella
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A Pig and a Poke showcased a young girls determination, and perseverance after being called a wimp by a bully. I thought this was a cute book. I’m from a small town where greased pig chasing contests are done yearly at the county fair. This year was extra stressful because of the animal ‘activists’ that were protesting it, so it was an extra timely story that I enjoyed.
Andrew’s Armor by Jill Monaco
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Although I hadn’t read anything by this author before, I picked it up because the cover was cute. I’m always looking for more books to read with my kiddos, and this one took me by surprise. It’s a heartwarming and inspiring children’s book that beautifully blends spiritual guidance with storytelling. We all remember how fun childhood was, but it was also confusing with a number of highs and lows. My kids said this made Andrew very relatable because they both brought up experiences that made them feel not so brave as well. The illustrations are wonderful and add depth to the narrative as well. While I’m not a religious person, I enjoyed reading this book to my kids and teaching them about kindness, vulnerability, and forgiveness. I think this would be a great book to share with the younger ones in your life.
Reviewed by @shannlynn
Murder in Prospect: An Eve Sawyer Mystery by Jane Suen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I had only read one other book by this author before, but the cover caught my attention which prompted me to grab it! I didn’t realize this was the fifth book in the Eve Sawyer Mystery series, so I hadn’t read any of the previous books. I didn’t feel lost at any point through the story though, so you can definitely read it as a standalone. I enjoyed it so much that I am circling back to pick up the rest of the series! Something that stood out to me in this book was the astounding character development. Even the secondary characters added more depth to the narrative which made me feel like every piece was perfectly placed. Eve was such an incredible main character that shows that vulnerability is a strength. If you enjoy cozy mysteries that will keep you guessing and have you in suspense, this one is certainly worth picking up. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!
Reviewed by @shannlynn
Andrew’s Armor by Jill Monaco
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is such a great book for growing young boys. There is another book (Miranda’s Mirror) that is more catered to girls, but both are great reads for kiddos! This children’s book teaches about spiritual armor but also about being strong, brave, and courageous. You follow young Andrew with a toy chest his parents got him before he could even walk. As he gets older the toys change. One day there is armor in the chest. He puts it on and feels brave and strong. His parents even say so. He and his friends have great adventures wearing their armor. They climb trees, they fight a dragon, they rescue a princess, and they even have a fort! Andrew feels like a warrior. One day he falls and hurts his knee. This causes him to start questioning everything. Is he really brave? What about strong? He’s not so sure anymore so he puts his armor away. His dad helps him learn about the armor of God and trusting in him. He gets his armor back out and he is kind, forgiving, and helpful. It’s such a wonderful book!! The end is super cute too as Andrew has his own family and he passes down his armor! I can’t wait to get the other book for my daughters! There are activities in the back of this book as well as some scriptures to help teach young children more about God’s truths (Example: You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14).
Forever to Fall by Libby Kay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I absolutely love this series!! I love all the characters and Buckeye Falls sounds like the kind of place that I could find a forever home in.
I love the story of Mallory and Beckett’s childhood. It’s one that girls dream of. You “marry” your best friend and just love life. Such an innocent type of love. Does that kind of love really exist though into adulthood? Can it grow into something more? Beckett is coming back to the farm for his friend Evan’s wedding. Beckett remembers how he felt about Mallory, but does she? So many unanswered questions as these two are then thrust into best man and maid of honor duties.
I wish I could visit Buckeye Falls and get some of those apples they keep talking about!
An Ember of Hope: War of Destiny by Theresa Van Spankeren
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I absolutely loved this series. I read all 5 books one after the other and could not put them down. This is Matthew’s story and everything he has gone through. I don’t suggest reading this book until you have read the rest or you will be thoroughly confused. I loved the writing style as everything flows wonderfully together. A lot of inner dialogue in this story so I did have a harder time connecting with this one. The author definitely pulls at your heartstrings with the torture and pain Matthew is going through. It was a very interesting read and will always pick up anything from this author.
The Places We Call Home: A picture book to remind us that home is where all love begins. by Kim Ann
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was such a cute story. It shows little ones that one matter where we might live, that love is the common thread. We loved the illustrations as they were bright and vibrant and caught your attention. This would be a great way to learn to read for a beginner.
Forbiddenly Yours by Anise Storm
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Anise Storm does it again. Another wonderful and complex story to bite my teeth into. This book did have some sensitive topics as the subplot in regards to cancer. It tore at my heart but was done in a beautiful manner.
The relationship between Callum and Nicole was very in depth and had you cheering for them. A few twists kept me reading late into the night. Love this second book in the series. Can be read as a standalone.
Andrew’s Armor by Jill Monaco
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Andrews Armor is a children’s book designed for children between the ages of 4 to 13 years. It is a story of a little boy named Andrew who has a toy chest filled with toys. Each toy takes him on a new adventure and transports him to new wonderful worlds. When Andrew discovers a suit of armor in his toy chest, he puts it on, and it makes him feel courageous and strong. One day he is having a bad day, and he does not feel brave or strong. That is when the notes start to appear on his mirror each day with a new bible quote. As Andrew reads each one of the new notes, he is reminded that strength comes from within, and from God. This was a heartwarming story about forgiveness, kindness, finding strength from God, and that serving others is where true courage, strength, and bravery come from. The illustrations are bright and colorful and really helped bring the story to life. I love how at the end of thew book Andrew has grown up and is now passing on the armor and valuable lessons to his own child. The quotes from the Bible are beautiful and included at the end of the book is an activity guide as well as scriptures suggestions to make sticky notes for your child.
Forever to Fall by Libby Kay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Mallory Lawson once “married” her bother’s best friend, Beckett, when they were kids. Now Beckett is back in Buckeye Falls and Mallory has feelings for him still. This book is a page turner and kept me wondering if Mallory would find the love of her life. This is a great addition to a series I have come to love.
Murder in Prospect: An Eve Sawyer Mystery by Jane Suen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Eve is asked to help find out if her friend Bob’s Uncle Will died of natural causes. I enjoyed this book as Eve finds herself involved in another murder mystery. I loved the characters and am looking forward to the next book in the Eve Sawyer mystery series. Enjoyed it thoroughly.
Midnight Falls by John (ronin) Evans
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Midnight Falls by John Evans. This is a super dark vampire thriller that will keep you turning pages late in the night. I do admit I got a little scared reading this at night and I loved it! Its the story of Josh who has chosen to move to Midnight Falls and he got a job as a freelance writer for the local newspaper. He becomes quick friends with his neighbors Joey and Brad as they are new to Midnight Falls as well. Josh starts to settle in even finds himself a girlfriend, Lizzie. The only problem he really has is the sheriffs son, Jarrod who wanted to buy Josh’s car and Josh told him no. He doesn’t seem to take kindly to being told no and the Sheriff even threatens Josh. Josh also has his faithful companion Nimrod his dog and Nimrod has saved Josh more than once. I really enjoyed this book. It was scary at times but also had a great storyline! This was my first read by this author but it won’t be my last!
Murder in Prospect: An Eve Sawyer Mystery by Jane Suen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Murder In Prospect (An Eve Sawyer Mystery) by Jan Suen. I love this series and I love Eve Sawyer. She is so confident and truly believes that she can solve any crime. While on Spring Break in Prospect her friend Bob is dealing with the death of his Uncle Will who he’s been told it was natural causes. Bob doesn’t believe it was natural causes so of course Eve has to investigate. As Eve investigates she doesn’t believe it was natural causes either and she stirs up all kinds of trouble. While Eve continues to investigate another murder takes place so Eve is for sure Bob’s Uncle didn’t die of natural causes because they are all connected. These books are so fun and don’t have to be read in order. I always recommend reading them in order to get a better feel for the characters and story. Let’s hope Eve can solve this mystery before more people end up dead.
Midnight Falls by John (ronin) Evans
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
3.5 – 4 stars
“Midnight Falls” is a dark and interesting horror narrative that delves into the chilling world of werewolves, and I found it to be an intriguing read. I have not read any of Jonh’s work before and I was pleasantly surprised. His descriptive words take you into the story and have you easily imagining the scenes he sets.
The story centres around Josh, a disillusioned college student who returns to his quaint hometown. However, upon his arrival, Josh quickly senses an air of malevolence permeating the town, he grapples with feeling like an outcast in his own community, Josh is confronted with the difficult decision of either confronting the looming menace or turning his back on it all.
This book has the feel of horror of old when true horror was around. I wholeheartedly recommend “Midnight Falls” to fellow enthusiasts of the horror genre; it’s a well-crafted and absorbing narrative, and I find myself eagerly anticipating the unravelling of further books.
Reviewed by @jennadb
The Places We Call Home: A picture book to remind us that home is where all love begins. by Kim Ann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Places We Call Home: A Picture Book to remind us that home is where all love begins. By Kim Ann. This is such a wonderful children’s book and I’m getting a copy for my new Grandson! Its a book that has beautiful pictures and tells us that no matter where you live if there is love it can be classified as home. We all live differently but the result is the same. You can live in the city or the country and its still a home. Even animals live in different places and they are still called homes. Such a fun children’s read!
A Pig and A Poke by Tricia Gardella
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Another really cute story from Tricia Gardella about learning to stand up for yourself and continuing to try again when you fail. I really liked how Gardella intertwined her lessons in the story with a kiddie pig chase (if you’ve ever done 4-H…you know). I loved this colorful illustrations and they go along with the story fantastically. This is definitely a story you want to add to your kiddos library!
Reviewed by @meggs1717
You Are Special by Suzanna Lynn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
From the moment we started reading this book, I loved the message behind it and what it is trying to teach kids. I think this really resonated with me because I could see how my daughter related to it. She is at the age where she understands that people look or act different, but doesn’t necessarily understand why. This book was a great way to build the foundations of these teachings and reinforce that everyone is special as they are.
I loved the story that went with this book and the illustrations really brought it to life. Everyone of us in our house enjoyed this story and we are really looking forward to other books by this author.
The Secret Aftermath: An Urban Fantasy Thriller by Gloria Oliver
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is a brilliant follow up to the first in the series and, I think, even better than I was expecting it to be. I was pulled straight back into the story and the adventure of Julia. In this book, it really felt like Julia was discovering even more about herself, building on all that had happened in the first book.
The storyline was really exciting. I was hooked straight away as soon as I started reading and I felt myself being swept along with the story. There is so much going on in this book. It is full of adventure, suspense, action and was such a thrilling read. This is shaping up to be such a strong series and I cannot wait to read more.
Master Bistrita by Sylvia Black
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
If you are looking for a world where Vampires meet Fifty Shades of Grey, here it is! Master Bitrita is the perfect Christian Grey, while Chara serves as Anastasia. This book has the perfect push and pull budding romance that will keep you on your toes. Steep rivalries between Vampires, Shifters, and Witches come to a head, in this fast-paced war. The author keeps things moving, while leaving bits up to assumption without going into too much detail. A quick enjoyable read for anyone looking for a fantasy romance, with limited spice.
A Pig and A Poke by Tricia Gardella
A Pig and A Poke By Tricia Gardella
5 Stars
Read this with my littles and they enjoyed it. Lots of laughs and giggles and talk about catching the pig. Angela reminds me of my own daughter being very determined. I liked this book a lot and look forward to reading it again with the kids. Definitely going to keep an eye out for more books by this Author!
Good Things Take Time: A picture book about learning patience by Suzanna Lynn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Good Things Take Time: A Picture book about learning patience
By Suzanna Lynn
5 Stars
Very cute book! Loved the illustrations and storyline! Buddy is so adorable. This was read with my littles age 4, 3 and 1 yr old. My older 2 liked it and asked questions, the one year old liked to point at pictures in the book. One of the pages says “I knew I was different, but Momma taught me that God made me different, and that I’m special” I loved that part because I try to show my kids that being different is ok.
Great read
