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What Do the Plants Say? (Alex, the Inventor) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Tanya Wall, May 2023

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What Do the Plants Say? (Alex, the Inventor)What Do the Plants Say? by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What I love about Ms. Wickstrom’s books is that she uses girls as inventors and science lovers. This book fits right in with that! Alex listens to the beautiful purple flowers, finds a way to talk with them, and then invents how to allow them to fly into the sky! Alex has perseverance and never gives up. She is exactly what a scientist is – someone who tries and tries again until the end result is found. Beautiful illustrations, a quick story line, and the plot takes you where Alex wants you to go!

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The Promised Plan by Sharon Hughson – Review by Tanya Wall, May 2023

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The Promised PlanThe Promised Plan by Sharon Hughson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a story of loss, grief and rebuilding relationships. It is not an easy read as it tears at your heart – knowing that sisterbond, and mother daughter bond can so easily be broken. I liked how the author shows us all sides of the story through the short chapters from each perspective. It helps to understand what all the characters are feeling, thinking and going through and it really shows that we don’t know deep down what someone else is going through – even our own sister. The setting of the story is beautiful – I especially liked the garden the visit in Canada.

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Raising Elle (Sweet Valley Series Book 1) by S.E Reichert – Review by Tanya Wall, May 2023

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Raising ElleRaising Elle by S.E. Reichert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First off, living in Wyoming made me like this book a little more! Small town romance, good characters and a story line that keeps you reading is what you get with this story. I liked Elle’s determination and desire to keep the ranch going. The romance between her and Blake was made even more deep with the family history that you learn. This is a sweet little romance if you like romance!

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A Spot of Earl Slay (Tea Time Troubles Book 1) by Aubrey Elle – Review by Tanya Wall, May 2023

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A Spot of Earl SlayA Spot of Earl Slay by Aubrey Elle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this mystery book – it was a quick read that kept me engaged! I mean, who doesn’t like a book where the main characters find a corpse in their storage shed! Fayette seems like a quaint town that is the epitome of small town life – everyone knows everyone else and the gossip cycle is live! The characters were well developed and I found myself really liking Naomi and her neighbors. This is the first in a series and I think I will pick up book two!

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A Monster for Meg (Giants and Monsters) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Tanya Wall, May 2023

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A Monster for MegA Monster for Meg by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sue tries to explain what a monster is to her sister Meg. Meg is visually impaired. Meg decides that the traits that Sue describes sounds just like Sue. In the end. Sue says that monster hugs are really the best thing about monsters and she gives Meg a big giant monster hug. This book is very descriptive and the illustrations are great!

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Brave Kids: Short Stories to Inspire Future World Changers by Janice Pratt – Review by Tanya Wall, May 2023

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Brave Kids: Short Stories to Inspire Our Future World-ChangersBrave Kids: Short Stories to Inspire Our Future World-Changers by K.J. Kaschula
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a book of short stories highlighting different ways kids can be brave. It give kids a view ways to cope and be brave during trying times in their lives. The stories are relevant and based on real life issues that our kids face in today’s times. I think every parent can find something in this book that will help explain or to help their child relate in order to start talking about sensitive issues such as bullying, anxiety, a new sibling, loss, or lack of self confidence.

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Cabin Eight (The Millersville Series Book 3) by Susan Specht Oram – Review by Tanya Wall, May 2023

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Cabin Eight (The Millersville series)Cabin Eight by Susan Specht Oram
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

At the start of this book it gave me vibes like Willy Wonka and Chocolate Factory or Alice in Wonderland. I felt like the message throughout the book was that Miranda needed to face her wrongdoings in order to have a happy life. BUT, then I realized the intended message was more about the ethics behind what the company was doing to people without consent. Miranda was put in many interesting situations, but I felt they were very unrealistic and that could be that the timeline went SOOO fast. I did like that the ending found Miranda making apologies and that things were wrapped up. I also think that this book brings up many interesting ethics questions. So, overall, this one was just okay to me.

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Small Fry by Stephenie Wilson Peterson – Review by Tanya Wall, April 2023

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Small FrySmall Fry by Stephenie Wilson Peterson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a great chapter book that tells the story of how awful middle school can be for those who are different. Silas is small for his age, due to a growth hormone deficiency. He is new the the school after having to move away from where he grew up – and that includes away from his best friend, his grandpa. As the new kid at school, Silas finds that he is an easy target for the bullies of the school. Unfortunately, that isn’t just the kids – it includes a teacher. He has to deal with all of this, while coming to terms with his Grandpa’s alzheimers diagnosis. It is a hard start to the year, but Silas finds his voice and his ability to stand up for what is right.

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A River of Crows by Shanessa Gluhm – Review by Tanya Wall, April 2023

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A River of CrowsA River of Crows by Shanessa Gluhm
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

To be honest, I was skeptical about this book, but found that I thoroughly enjoyed the story, the writing and the characters. It is a page turner for sure. I found myself not wanting to stop reading to find out where the story was going. There was a point where I figured out the twist, but it didn’t detract from my enjoyment. Sloan and Ridge were likable characters. I really loved the addition of Dylan and seeing Sloan and Noah find friendship again. I had a love hate relationship with Mom and Dad – you’ll understand that when you read the book. I’m glad a took the chance, picked up the book and gave it a chance!

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How to Make a Flying Carpet (Alex, the Inventor) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Tanya Wall, April 2023

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How to Make a Flying Carpet (Alex, the Inventor #2)How to Make a Flying Carpet by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a great children’s science book on how magnetism works. Alex finds uses for a broken kitchen magnet – and from trying out and experimenting with different objects in the house, she realizes how magnets work. Lois Wickstrom is great at using children’s stories to teach about different scientific processes. Highly recommend for a classroom library shelf or a home library.

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Non-Verbal by Molly Zenk – Review by Tanya Wall, April 2023

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NonVerbalNonVerbal by Molly Zenk
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a GREAT story that gives you insight into the life of a young girl with autism. I liked that it gave perspective from both the parent/outside view and the thoughts of Emerson. It is easy to make judgements based on behavior, but we forget to think about the frustrations of a person with Autism. The author did a nice job of telling Emerson’s story.

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Other People’s Money (The Madeline Dawkins Series Book 7) by Cynthia Hamilton – Review by Tanya Wall, April 2023

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Other People's Money (The Madeline Dawkins Series Book 7)Other People’s Money by Cynthia Hamilton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a part of series, but I read it as a stand alone. It was the first of this author’s books that I read. It is full suspenseful and mystery. I enjoyed the characters. Maddie and Mike are married and both are private investigators. In Other People’s Money they are working to solve three different cases. As they work through each case, they find something new and it adds more twists and turns. I didn’t figure out the ending until the end- which is a plus!

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Little Red, the Detective (Science Folktales) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Tanya Wall, April 2023

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Little Red, the Detective: a science folktale (Science Folktales)Little Red, the Detective: a science folktale by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Little Red is going to visit her grandmother. Grandma asked her to stop to find coneflowers on her way. So Little Red sets off with her identification booklet. Just as in the original story, a wolf meets up with Little Red and plays his tricks. I love reading Lois Wickstrom’s childrens books as she ties in learning with great stories and fabulous illustrations. Highly recommend her books if you have little ones that you are reading to at home or at school!

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Ten Thousand Shells and Counting: A Memoir (Teenage War Survival Book 1) by Nadija Mujagic – Review by Tanya Wall, April 2023

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Ten Thousand Shells and Counting: A Memoir (Book 1) (Teenage War Survival series)Ten Thousand Shells and Counting: A Memoir (Book 1) by Nadija Mujagic
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is an emotional read. I remember the war in Sarajevo – I was a teenager. It made reading this hit close to home. The take on the war from a teens perspective is interesting – having to stay home, often inside without windows and doors open, not being able to see friends and family, wondering where the next meal will come from is not something most teens have had to face. I appreciated the candor and realistic view of this story.

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Pulling Together by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Tanya Wall, April 5, 2023

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Pulling TogetherPulling Together by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lila’s grandmother knits a poncho for Lila. At first Lila thinks grammy made a mistake – there were three neck holes! She puts it over her head and arms and heads out to see her friends. She hopes that certain neighbors don’t see her… but they do. During her interactions with each of the kids in the neighborhood, they learn that if they “pull together” things work out much nicer for each of them. Lois Wickstrom uses this great way to show the idea of working together is better than working against.

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White Picket Fences by Kyle Ann Robertson – Review by Tanya Wall, April 2023

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White Picket FencesWhite Picket Fences by Kyle Ann Robertson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this story. It portrayed what many mothers/wives go through – how often we give everything of ourselves to our families, friends, jobs and lose a bit of ourself in the process. This story tugged at my heart – I could feel what each character was feeling and just wanted to help make it all better. Julie and Micheal had a great start to their married life – twin girls, a son… but when death takes someone from our life at an unexpected time, it is hard to pretend that things were okay before the death and that they can go on after. The family each has their own grief and guilt to work through… but it is even more than that. It is realizing that letting go, giving space, and finding yourself is what keeps you together.

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Chicken Little Investigates (Science Folktales) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Tanya Wall, March 2023

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Chicken Little Investigates: a science folktale (Science Folktales)Chicken Little Investigates: a science folktale by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

We all remember the story of Chicken Little from our childhood. This is a story that follows the same pattern but has a bit of a different take. Chicken Little gets hit in the head by a fallen acorn. Once he investigates what hit him, he shares his news with several of his friends. They all test out the theory with something of thier own idea. Together they head to see the King to find a name for their theory. On they way, they meet up with a fiesty old fox who tricks them into coming to his house to be a bit to heat. Luckily for them, they are ingenious and use their clever brains to outsmart the fox and get to the King’s palace. This is a cute story, with great illustrations to make a good read aloud for small children!

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The Summer I Went Crazy by Laura Koerber – Review by Tanya Wall, March 2023

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The Summer I Went CrazyThe Summer I Went Crazy by Laura Koerber
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Summer I Went Crazy is a thought provoking story that wrenches your gut. When a high school boy is witness to a rape at a party – one that his friends participated in… what does he do? How does he rectify that act within his own heart and mind? The story is hard to swallow because the content is so real – things like this happen more often than we like. The characters in the story hook you in- I could feel their angst and I just wanted to help. This is an emotional read, one I was hooked into right from the first pages.

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What Loretta’s Katydid Did (Loretta’s Insects) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Tanya Wall, March 2023

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What Loretta's Katydid didWhat Loretta’s Katydid did by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loretta gets an orange tree from her grandma. The tree had aphids on it, but also another surprise – an mantis and a katydid! She learns that the mantis takes care of the insects so that the tree stays healthy. This is a great young children’s book for kiddos interested in science and bugs. I love Lois Wickstrom’s books!

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Deadly Intentions by Anise Storm – Review by Tanya Wall, March 2023

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Deadly IntentionsDeadly Intentions by Anise Storm
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book was just okay for me – it was hard for me to get into. The story is a romance with a lot of suspense. There are mafia ties, violence, and danger. The characters were well developed, but I just couldn’t connect with them or the story. Viviana has a vendetta against the people who killed her best friend – this is where the storyline begins. It takes us on her attempt to get revenge. There are some very spicy scenes in the book – for those who like that.

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Saving the Gingerbread House by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Tanya Wall, March 2023

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saving the gingerbread housesaving the gingerbread house by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Hansel, Gretel and their dad go on a walk through the forest to have a picnic. Gretel loves to draw the wildlife she sees. As they are walking, they ask their dad about the witch that lives in the forest. When Hansel and Gretel go on a walk by themselves they happen upon a gingerbread house and meet the old lady who lives there. She is not happy that Hansel, Gretel and the forest animals have eaten some of her house and make Hansel and Gretel stay to fix the house. The house is in a contest later that she wants to win. Gretel comes up with an idea to lead the animals away from the house and to find her dad. It takes a few tries, but is successful – and guess what?! The old woman wins the contest. The illustrations in the book are cute and it is a great new way to tell the story of Hansel and Gretel.

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The White Knight Cowboy (The Studs of Clear Creek County) by Stacy-Deanne – Review by Tanya Wall, March 2023

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The White Knight Cowboy Stacy-DeanneThe White Knight Cowboy Stacy-Deanne by Stacy-Deanne
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a short romance set back in 1895. A young black woman flees her job after her boss is killed and find refuge with a 40 year old white man who she thinks is a safe person. She offers her virginity to him in exchange for safety. He maintains his gentleman state at first, but gives into temptation. I liked the overall idea of this story, but struggled with the sex. The book starts off with a history of where and when the story is taking place which helped me to understand the time period. I think if you like romance with open door sexy, you would like this – it just isn’t my cup of tea.

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Loretta’s Caterpillar (Loretta’s Insects) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Tanya Wall, February 2023

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Loretta's Caterpillar (Loretta's Insects #4)Loretta’s Caterpillar by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loretta’s Caterpillar is a great book for classroom teachers to have for science/lifecycle lessons. Loretta is a very inquisitive young girl who wants to learn about the world around her. This time, she finds an egg under a leaf and watches as it goes through hatching into a caterpillar, who then turns into a beautiful Monarch Butterfly. Loretta is a role model for all young girls who are interested in “sciencey” things – if you have a little one at home, this would be a great addition to their library!

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Grace Under Fire (The Anderson Sisters Book 2) by Jennifer Raines – Review by Tanya Wall, February 2023

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<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/75607423-grace-under-fire” style=”float: left; padding-right: 20px”><img border=”0″ alt=”Grace Under Fire” src=”https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1673339881l/75607423._SX98_.jpg” /></a><a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/75607423-grace-under-fire”>Grace Under Fire</a> by <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22577889.Jennifer_Raines”>Jennifer Raines</a><br/>
My rating: <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5380124071″>4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This is a sweet story about Grace, who is fiercely protective of her family ranch land and Ryan, who is buying up land. With their past history, it is difficult for both to forgive and move on, but when current things happening in both thier worlds bring them together, they find a way. All throughout this story, I wanted Grace and Ryan to make peace and and tell each other that their love has grown. I wanted them to put their cards down and fall into each others arms. It was so evident in how Ryan came in to support Grace, how they worked together to save the farm, and how their families were providing opportunity for them to work together that it was meant to be. <br />If you are into sweet romance with some steamy (not too much), this might be a book you could check out!
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True Colors (Landry’s True Colors Series Book One) by Krysten Lindsay Hager – Review by Tanya Wall, February 2023

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True Colors (Landry's True Colors #1)True Colors by Krysten Lindsay Hager
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

True Colors is a novel that is appropriate for middle grade readers – fifth to eighth grades. The story has many issues that kids of that age group can identify with-in fact, when I think back to when I was that age, it is spot on! Some of the issues include the struggle to fit in, cliques and belonging, boy-crazy friends, and lack of confidence. The overall message is that one shouldn’t limit themselves to just one or two friends, but look for something redeeming in all different groups of friends.

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The Muffin Shop Murder: A Delilah Crumbworthy Mystery by Holly Tierney – Review by Tanya Wall, February 2023

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The Muffin Shop Murder: A Delilah Crumbworthy MysteryThe Muffin Shop Murder: A Delilah Crumbworthy Mystery by Holly Tierney
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a cute story, not the best ever, but good enough! It was a quick read with a good ending. I did enjoy the characters – they were fun. I wish that the book had totally drawn me in – it almost did, but just not quite. Delilah drove me bonkers! Even thought it isn’t a 4 star read for me, it might be for you.

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Straight for the Kill (Benoit and Dayne Mystery Book 3) by Winter Austin – Review by Tanya Wall, February 2023

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Straight for the Kill (Benoit and Dayne Mystery, #3)Straight for the Kill by Winter Austin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a great suspense/thriller read. Even though it is book 3 in the series, it is able to be read a stand alone. I love a suspense book that you can’t figure out how it ends, until it ends. This story has that element. I connected to the characters and enjoyed the tie in of a mysterious death to a current case. The idea that the people that are on the force had ties to the past case made it that more suspenseful because I wanted them to find out the answers. I really like the both Elizabeth and Lila’s characters – even though I felt there was some angst between the two, they worked well together to solve the case. I would recommend this book to mystery/thriller genre lovers.

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Caspian’s UnBirthday (Invisible Magic Wand) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Tanya Wall, February 2023

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Caspian's UnbirthdayCaspian’s Unbirthday by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Caspian’s grandpa does it again! This time for Caspian’s unbirthday, he is gifted a pair of brown socks. But as we all know, there has to be something special about them. The boring brown socks give Caspian the ability to fly. So instead of going to school, Caspian and his grandpa go on adventures… they always have fun together. Lois Wickstrom writes great children’s adventure books!

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Arrrgh! Me Hate To Wait! by Mary Bleckwehl – Review by Tanya Wall, January 2023

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Arrrgh! Me HATE To Wait!Arrrgh! Me HATE To Wait! by Mary Evanson Bleckwehl
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What an adorable book with beautiful illustrations! Half-Pint just can’t wait to go too school! She wants to know all the things but when it times come to go… she just doesn’t want to. The names, the word choice and the story line made this book a winner for me! If you’ve been a mom and watched your little ones want to head to kindergarten and then when the day comes they get scared….BUT then the realize how great the day was – you will connect with this book.

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