Illegal by Eoin Colfer, Andrew Donkin, Giovanni Rigano (Illustrated by)

They are trying to run from Guana to Europe.  The older sister went first.  The two boys went later.  They were all lied too and have hard times along the way.

Sourcebooks/Jabberwock and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published August 7th.

The tales are a bit the same info matter where you run.  You need a way through, you sell your goods, they take your goods, they sell you.  Some you save, some you lose.  All you can hope for is life at the other end.  Some make it, some don't.

The graphics are heartwarming and sad both.  This is the world today and it's not pleasant.

Best Beach Ever by Wendy Wax

This author has never met a normal family.  Or she only writes about the odd ones...

Berkely sent  me a copy of this book to read for review (thank you).  It has been published so you can grab one now.

Ms. Wax always has tons of drama and tension in her stories.  There are back stories, new romances, and even international intrigue involved.  She keeps you reading and wondering and you work on keeping up with characters and tying to figure out the current plot.

This is huge family with almost more characters than I could track.  They aren't nice people either.  If you like busy books with a revenge for base, you'll love this one.  Bitsy doesn't give up...

Four Funerals and Maybe a Wedding by Rhys Bowen

Georgiana has given up her title for love.  Their love match is all they could have wished for but death seems to be dancing on the doorstep of their new home.

Berkley and Net Galley allowed me to read this next book in the series for review (thank you).  This will be published August 7th.  In the meantime, there are several earlier books you can grab to catch up on the series.

Georgiana isn't the smartest girl but she does have good connections.  So does her future husband.  With their combined skills, mix of friends, and a desire to make everything well before their wedding, things appear to be working out.  Georgiana is just worried about Darcy, as he is worried about her well being.

With queen and her family involved, burglers, relatives from the past and more, you never know what is going to come up on the next page.  That made it a great read.  And I don't think getting married is going stop them from snooping!

Don't Look Now by Max Manning

What a fascinating look at life.  If a killer posts a picture of death and you click on it, would you click on the next picture of a different victim?

Sourcebooks Landmark and Edelweiss gave me the opportunity to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published August 7th.

The detective finds the murder's fans offensive and wonders if he's hiding in that batch of fans.  If not, how's he going to track him down?

Mr. Mazzing writes very suspenseful work with touches close to death and subtle clues that seem to lead no where.

You see her alive, you see her dying and you see her dead.  All the cop can do is envision catching her killer.  Will he?

The Daisy Children by Sofia Grant

When she unexpectedly inherits part of her family's heritage  home, she also inherits a bit chunk of heritage no one wants to talk about.  Since she's meeting a cousin she barely knows they decide to check it out together...

HarperCollins and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be listed August 7th.

Many years ago, a grade school blew up from a gas leak and wiped out families.  They all agreed to have more, to have a celebration to honor their deaths, and to move on through life.  They didn't share info with their children, some had PTSD, and some made it and some didn't.

This is based on non-fiction and tugs your heart strings.  The down south ladies were tough and silent.  You won't forget this batch of fiction.

The Little Old Lady Behaving Badly by Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg

They are a group of comfortable pensioners looking for ways to help those less fortunate.  The worst part is that they aren't doing it traditionally.  They prefer to do it like Robin Hood...

HarperCollins and Edelweiss gave me permission to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published June 26th.

They start with robbing a bank with a garbage truck.  She gets building plans, looks for the parts that aren't upgraded yet, and sucks the money out of the vault.  Then things go south.  No matter how bad things go, they look for a way around it and don't give up.

They get even more determined to right wrongs and start stealing from those who live on those proceeds.  They even get into hacking.  Everybody wants them but they are not going to give up.  Even a very determined retired cop has met his challenge.  What's most important, justice or love?

Some of the story is a bit silly and overboard but I could relate to how people think about old people.  I'm slowly turning into one but I'm done yet.  Neither is this group... 

The Lost Books: The Scroll of Kings by Sarah Prineas

His father wants him to be a warrior but Alex knows he is a librarian.  He runs away to become one but finds that doesn't work out.  The queen who hired him even wants to keep duplicates of grocery lists!

HarperCollins and Edelwiess let me read this story for review (thank you).  I'm glad!  It will be published June 26th.

When he runs to the next library,  he finds the old librarian dead.  It seems there's something wrong in the libraries and some books are dangerous.  It doesn't take long for them to find him and begin a campaign to get rid of him.  It's a good thing he gets along with this queen, sort of.

This boy's fascination with books equals mine and he's willing to fight for them.  Others want to burn them.  He has multiple people to fight with his mind and with swords and no one wants to give up.

This is a rooting tooting story with lots of action, magic, and fun characters to love.  I highly recommend this one to young adult readers! 

Somebody's Daughter by David Bell

It's time for their tenth anniversary and the last person he expected on his porch was his ex.  She says someone has stolen his child.  He didn't even know he had one.  And the more he learns, the less he's sure about what's true...

Berkley and Net Galley shared this book with me for review (thank you).  It will be published July 10th.

He's almost positive it's not his.  The dates don't match but he left the birth control to her.  Now he and his current wife are trying for one desperately and the ex says his has been kidnapped.

Everyone knows pieces of the total but no one knows the whole story...

As you follow the trail of clues and try to paste the truth together, you find out why those ahead of you haven't done it yet.  It's not a sweet tale, but it will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Wide as the Wind by Eward Stanton

We've all heard of Easter Island, right?  How about Vaitea?  They are the same Island.

At the request of PRBy the Book, the author graciously sent me a copy of his book to read for review.  I'm very glad he did.  This was an an excellent mix of the history of the time with well-thought-out-characters.  They marry who they must for their tribes, not who they love.  They have conflicts in their own tribes; warriors and and farmers don't agree on policy.  You can pick up a copy now.

This island is vacant.  Maybe if we read this story it might help us see where we are going now...

Even the peaceful are strong people who follow traditions.  The warriors would rather kill and take than farm.  It finally breaks out into civil war and young and old and fight and die.

Let history show you war is not a good thing and even winning isn't a victory.  This is well written and young readers won't realize they are getting a history lesson on the way.  I highly recommend it.

Inside a Dog'a Mind (Jacob's Journey) by Michelle Holland

Jacob is a new puppy going to a new home.  He loves his owner, his mother, and his siblings.  He can't wait to meet his new owners.  He's going to regret this wish.

The author sent me a copy of this book to read for review.  The book has been published and you can buy it now.

I was expecting a story of sweetness and kindness but Jacob's male owner is abusive.  He sounds a lot like dog owners in this area.  It's never the person's fault for lack of food, water or exercise.  It's the dog's fault.  I'm almost crying by the time the poor dog is taken in by the pound.  At least they have have room and time for him.

The most heart warming part of the story is watching the two women who have adopted him retrain him.  He's a sweet pup who meant no harm and he loves them but is afraid of him.  They take the training slowly, comfort and encourage and never yell at him.  It takes time but he gets well.

Do you have a puppy or kitten you're trying to rehome?  Get some hints here!  How could you not love Jacob?
 

Trial on Mount Koya (A hiro Hattori mystery) by Susan Spann

Master ninja Hiro Hattori and Portuguese Jesuit Father Mateo travel to a Buddhist temple at the summit of Mount Koya.  They are carrying a secret message but have no idea they are entering a murder plot and will not be able to leave right away...

This Kindle edition was shared with me for a review (thank you).  It will be published July 3rd.  

This story is set back in the 1600's and shares the many historical interests of those days.  Ninjas, priets, buddahists and more, who all have their own interests and beliefs don't mix well.  Fights are not fights in a temple.  They lose their tempers but hold them well until night time.  Then they find the abbot knifed to death.  Who and why?

Since Hattori and Mateo are new, they are suspected.  So are those who disagreed with the victim.  There are plenty of suspects but he was praying alone.

I found the whole story a bit confusing.  With no Japanese background and no historical knowledge to depend on, it got a bit hard to follow.  At the end, justice prevails and almost everyone is dead.  Ninja are dangerous!

Lulu Is A Rhinoceros Jason Flom, Allison Flom

I love dogs.  They have a great sense of humor, refuse to change their minds about things they believe in and sometimes what they believe in comes true.  Just follow LuLu for a while.

Wicked Cow Studios LLC and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published June 26th.

Lulu is a bull dog but she can tell by looking in a mirror she's a rhinoceros.  She tells everyone this but only one little bird listens.  That little bird listens and then decides to take her to the zoo to meet the others.  They go by all the "NO" signs into the rhino pen.  And Lulu finally feels at home...

The illustrators do an excellent job of showing the dog sneaking about, the animals sniffing each other offer and a great new meeting between big friends and little.  This is a sweet little book showing off bulldogs.  Do you have a secret weapon at your house?  Just tell them to watch out for your dinosaur!  (Could you make him a dinasour horn?)

Give him a big hug from me!

Girl with a Gun by Kari Bovee

She's fifteen, an excellent shooter from hunting for family food and someone is trying to kill her.  She doesn't know why and she can't stay where she is.  So she escapes by joining Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show...

Spark Press and Edelweiss gave me the opportunity to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be be published June 19th.

Annie Oakley is young and pretty.  She finds she shares her tent with an Indian girl and her baby and she enjoys that.  She also enjoys the attention of Frank Butler.  But the other two women on the circuit don't like her.  She's competition for the acts and for the men.  All Annie wants to do is feed her family.  And her older brother is stealing that money!

As she learns how the Indians are treated, what the women will do for money, and about the world, the less Annie feels she knows.  She can't even trust her feelings any more.  Will there be any happiness for Annie?

This is almost an autobiographical of Annie Oakley's life and she's someone I admire.  You have to stand up for yourself and do what you have to do to get along in life and Annie does.

The Language of Spells Garret Weyr, Katie Harnett (Illustrated by)

Maggie is an unusual girl who can see dragons.  It takes her a while to figure out that the others don't.  That enabled a wizard to hide the bad ones away.  But no one knows how to get them loose.  They don't want them to die there.  Can Grishna help her?

Chronicle Books and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will published June 26th.

When other people don't understand you and don't see what you do, how do you communicate with them?  Even the languages are different.  But Grishna wants to help her, she loves Grishna as a friend, and her father who loves her is willing to help.  Will that be enough?

I love dragons, friendship and well thought out plots.  I hated her loss (what she had to trade for the magic), but I have hope for the future.  This story isn't done yet...

What Happened That Night by Sandra Block

She doesn't remember.  She doesn't want to remember.  And when things start popping into her mind, she's horrified!  That can't be true, her classmates wouldn't be that mean, would they?

Sourcebooks and Edelweiss gave me the opportunity to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published June 5th.

This school's high school party for seniors is a put down on women in the worst possible way.  Those that don't say yes are roofied and raped.  Even as she tries to deny this happened to her, she remembers others from the past who looked like they just got of a war zone.  Many didn't complete school.  

She's different though, she has proof.  But she'll hurt so many.  What, her hurts don't count?  Especially this many years later?

This is a very unpleasant subject of power, money, getting even and winning in an ugly way.  At least many of these go to jail.  Too many get away with it.  I hate sad stories, even if it's true.  Let's all live happy every after in a fairy tale...

Little Big Love by Katy Regan

Zac wants to make his mother happy.  There's only one way to make mom happy and that will make his grandparents unhappy.  What should he do?  

Berkley and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published on June on June 12th.

Zac finds his mother's love and finds he loves him, too.  But he also finds out why his mother's brother died that night and how much his mother loves and how sometimes a small love can be very big.

When the whole truth comes out, who is going to be left standing?  Who will love whom?  Will there be a family any more?  For Zac there will.

A Thousand Beginnings and Endings by Ellen Oh, Elsie Chapman

Here's a great collection of Asian Fairy Tales that are different from our tales.  They have many gods, mountains, demons, animals and their stories are unusual.

Greenwillow Books and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published June 26th.

There are fifteen tales here and all of them were entertaining.  I especially enjoyed the first and the last tales.  In the first, a man falls in love with the princess of the mountain.  It's a good thing she didn't know what really happened to him.

In the last tale, a man falls in love with a kitsune and the day before his wedding, he is killed.  His killer is going to be real sorry for his bad judgement.

Asian tales are not nice and often have much room for regret and sorrow.  But the tales are so tantalizing you can't help but read them and see the magical pictures that come to life. 

This is nice collction of tales for old and young.  Share them with you family!

The Boy, the Boat, and the Beast by Samantha M. Clark

What if you washed up on the beach and didn't know how you go there or where home is?  Could you hind your way home?

Simon & Shuster/Paula Wiseman Book and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you)  It will be published on June 26th.

The only sign of home is a light that shows up every night.  He decides he will find his way back home no matter what.  He doesn't anticipate how hard it will it will be or how much of a challenge it will be but refuses to give up.  Does he have enough fortitude to make it?  Will he or the beast win?

I enjoyed reading this and felt like this boy when small. I've been scared...

Yosemite Fall by Scott Graham

Chuck is going back to an old Indian goldmine to investigate a 150 year old pair of murders.  He's taking his family and he intends to do some rock climbing there.  He never expected to get caught up in a new murder while there...

Torrey House Press and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published June 12th.

Chuck's daughter is extraordinarily talented on the rocks, making the right decisions and remaining calm.  Her little sister is her cheering section, and Mom loves Chuck a lot, just like he does her.  Now all they can do, if they can, is keep her calm and away from romance during events and she has a chance.

In the meantime, besides the two old deaths, there's a new one and one pending.  It's only a four day weekend, what's going on?  They were experience mountaineers even if they were out alone.  Who wanted them dead and why?

As always money is at the back of it, a need for power, and emotions from the past,  and positions no one wants to lose now.  Chuck is just at the wrong place at the wrong point at the wrong time and he's going to have to fight hard to keep his family together.

C'mon, Chuck, you can do it!

Harry's Trees by Jon Cohen

Harry loves his trees.  He knows all their Latin names and he lusts over getting another for his collection.  That's why his wife is standing there waiting for him on the way to the movie.  And that's why the freak accident gets her.

MIRA sent an ARC of this book to read for review (thank you).  It will be published June 12th.

This was a different read.  There's Harry grieving for his wife and hiding in the woods and there is a young woman searching for her Dad.  She sees Harry but avoids him.  As time goes on, they get a bit more comfortable about each other but not about death.

This story drug on a bit for me.  Don't repeat sequences again and again.  It loses my interest.  I prefer conversations around the dinner table.  I also prefer pleasant conversations.  Even at the end I wasn't quite sure what I thought.  Give it a read and tell me.

Brief Cases by Jim Butcher

This is a mixed bag of short stories about Harry Dresden, Chicago's only professional wizard.  Harry does things the way he wants with those he likes to work with.  Needless to day, that doesn't go over well in a professional society...

Ace and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published on June 5th.

I found this collection very interesting.  It's full of pieces.  Beginnings and endings and even some way before with other characters.  You might be reading some pieces that sound familiar but even they have chunks of odd new information that ties to another story.  Jim Butcher never bores you.

The most interesting part is that these stories are written by other authors who were influenced by his work.

This is a mess of taking on quests that no one is quite sure about to accomplish they're not sure what and how to is unknown.  You need more than that to be drawn in?

The Hawkman by Jane Rosenberg LaForge

This is an eerie tale that seems to repeat itself again and again in wartime.  He's been so battered and bruised even when he was innocent he gained the nickname "Hawkman."

Amberjack Publishing and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published June 5th.

Along the way he meets a Jewish school mistress who wants to save him from himself.  As the tale goes on and on, few things alter.   He moves in with her and they hide together.  Half the time he still hides from her.  War damaged people take a long time to recover.

With a bit bird magic, war stories from the past, and the future to get through, these two poor souls keep trying to help one another.  The ending was a real surpise and I'm still trying to understand it.  What did you think?

A Stone's Throw: An Ellie Stone Mystery by James W Ziskin

When a building burns on an old property, the sheriff barely checks it. He calls it arson and closes the case.  But a reporter finds two dead people in the barn...

Seven Street Books and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published June 5th.

Ellie Stone finds this isn't a new story.  Thoroughbred horse-racing can be deadly and can be rigged by those good at writing.  Somehow a jockey from Canada has been working in New York under another name.  He was declareded dead long ago and now they think he's the man who died in the farm.

If you like reading about horse racing, this book will fascinate you.  I learned a lot about how races are held, how private interests are put forward and just what people will do for money.  Women as well as men.

I didn't find any characters that I wanted to befriend but I fell in love with a horse.  I especially liked the way it turned out for the horse but I've always told you I love animals more than most people.

This isn't a neat well-composed mystery.  It's a rough, stony road with trips and falls and meanness all around.  Welcome to the races...

The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz

A woman goes into the funeral parlor to plan her funeral.  She wants it done her own way.  Six hours later she's dead.  Someone strangled her...

Harper and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published June 5th.

This is an odd little tale.  An ex-policeman offers a book deal to a writer.  He wants to write about this investigation that he intends to solve and get 50% of the profit.  The writer hasn't written true crime before but the case interests him.  The only problem is that these two get along like oil and water.  The ex-cop is not being very cooperative about give and take but his insights keep the writer going.

The crime is tied back to two incidents in the past.  One was an accident where one boy died and other suffered brain damage.  The family has never forgiven her.  The other incident is related to her son's past and it's much more elusive to find.

Mr. Horowitz writes good thrillers and always confounds you with his mysteries but he never writes about nice people.  It seems everyone has private agendas and their own reasons for their cooperation.  But the ending is traumatic and dramatic and you almost quit breathing while you read it.  It's also a surprise...

The High Climber of Dark Water Bay by Caroline Arden

Lizzie is an orphan who lives with her sister and her husband.  The depression is making money short for everyone, so when her uncle writes and offers to give her a job for the summer, her sister makes arrangements to send her.  Lizzie isn't excited to be sent to a logging camp but she has no choice.  She also has to travel by herself...

Turner and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published June 5th.

Her uncle was to meet her but he's not there when she arrives.  She does see the name of the camp on a truck and asks for him there.  The two men tell her they will take her to camp and their boss will contact her uncle for her.

Living in a logging camp is a real education for a twelve-year old.  They do amazing things, have their own terms for things and they start early in the morning.  She's adjusting while waiting for her uncle to send for her but then she finds out the owner is holding her for ransom!  He's no friend of hers.

A lot happens at the camp while she's there.  She makes friends with some of the men, even has a chance to play high climber.  When her uncle finally sends for her, she's not sure she wants to go.  And when she visits them, she finds her idea of a good life is no longer living in a nice house.  She has one more decision to make...

Fire in the Hatch by E.C.R. Lorac

He's a wounded war veteran who wants to rent the Little Thatch long term.  He plans to marry in the future.  He likes living alone and minding his own business.  That still didn't keep him from getting killed...

Poisoned Pen Press and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review.  It will be published June 5th.

The thatch burns down and takes him with it.  Everyone believes it was an accident except his previous superior and the neighbor renting to him.  Finally Inspector Mcdonald is called in.  He finds various odd facts but nothing that amounts to proof.  But he doesn't stop digging.  More hints show up with further fact finding. He finally finds himself confronted by a madman, who confirms his theories and plans to kill him...

It takes a lot of dogged police work and a very persistent detective to get to bottom of this murder.  There was even another murder done before it was over.  But it's finally over. 

Neverworld Wake by Marisha Pessl

Her boyfriend died in his senior year.  She mourned him for months and now a friend of hers has asked her to come stay with them at an old house close to the quarry.  Does she know her friends as well as she thinks she does?  She knows he didn't commit suicide even if that's what the police think.

Delacourte Sent me an ARC of this book to read for review (thank you).  It will be published June 5th.

This is a strange story.  Beatrice and her six friends are caught up in a circle of time.  They have so much time awake and so much time asleep.  They keep living the same moments over and over no matter where they go or what they do.  They've been told they all die in an accident but one survives.  They have to decide who the survivor will be and it has to be unanimous.  They don't manage a unanimous vote, so they are stuck in the circle.

The longer they are there, the more secrets come out.  Many of them are ugly secrets.  Even her boyfriend had some.  Then they learn how to reverse time and go into the past.  She decides to go back to the evening her boyfriend and see how it happened.  She finds much more than she expected...

The tension never lets up.  To me, it seems the ending was a bit flat.  You won't guess how it all works out, though, so it was an interesting read.

Dreams of Falling by Karen White

When Larkin gets a phone call saying her mother is missing, she leaves New York and goes to find her.  She's been fragile lately and she wants to be sure she'd OK.  It's been nine years since she left and she'd rather not go back but she has no choice...

Berkley and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published June 5th.

She was totally mortified by a boy she had a crush on and her father was having an affair.  She left for the big city where no one would know the past and she could create a new future.  She has.  She has a good job and earns good money.  That's enough for now.  But there are secrets at home...

She finds her mother in the old burned out house that is part of her heritage.  She fell through the floor and is badly injured and in a coma.  As they wait for her to recover or pass on, the aunts who helped raise her rally around.  But when she starts asking questions about the fire and the woman who died in it, no one will answer them.  She starts snooping around to see what she can find because the last email her mother wrote was to her about something important she found out and she wants to see what it was.

Her mother has left plenty of clues in her paintings, photos, and hidden written letters.  They are hard to find and her aunts aren't helping. They want to leave the secrets hidden.  But secrets have a way of coming out...

Seven Bad Cats by Moe Bonneau

I'm a cat person.  I have two Bengal cats we both love (they picked their humans) and they're charming, amusing and keep you entertained.  So do the ones in this story!

Sourcebooks Jabberwocky and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published June 5th.

A little girl heads out to go fishing.  When she gets in her boat, the cats follow her.  They're no help.  They eat her bait, try to nap on the oars, shred her sails, and when it seems like they've done all the damage they can, they manage to turn over her boat.  The bad news:  She might be a sailor and a fisherman but she doesn't know how to swim...

The cats gang together and save her and that's just like a cat.  They frustrate you, get in your way and play with things you don't want them to but they also love you and will help protect you.

If you have cats in your family, your family will love this book.  If you don't, I bet your child will still really like this story.  It's great.

Tiny Crimes by Lincoln Michel, Nadxieli Nieto

This is a collection of short short stories.  It's an eclectic grouping of odd stories that will make you think.  If you don't follow them closely you might not get it.  And some really had no ending.  It's an unusual interesting read.

Black Balloon Publishing and Edelweiss gave me the opportunity to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published June 5th.

The first story is the most confusing and the most ironic.  There are four characters all named John.  They are planning a heist.  The manager is the one planning it.  The John's working for him plan to steal from him.  How it turns out is very interesting.

There's sure to be something in here that talks to you.  With all kinds of tales to choose from, it's hard to pick out which one appealed the most.  See what you think.

Sawdust in His Shoes by Eloise Jarvis McGraw

Joe has grown up in the circus.  He's a bareback rider who lives to perform.  He knows he's good, and he's hoping he can become a star attraction.  When he rides out hearing the crowd cheering for him, he's on a high.  He knows good things are coming.  Then he hears the big cat's growling...

Edelweiss and Plough Publishing House let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published June 1st.

His father is big cat trainer and he's also the victim of a big cat attack.  All of sudden, Joe is all alone in the world except for his friend, Max, who is a clown.  Max tries to get guardianship for him but he ends up in a home for orphaned children.  He doesn't stay there.  But while he runs and heads for Portland, where the circus is currently performing, he jumps over a fence and gets his leg caught in barbed wire.

A family helps him with his leg and asks him to stay.  They know he carries secrets but they also want to trust him.  He's not prepared to trust them.  They aren't circus people and they just don't understand.  But he stays for the time being.

What he finds is that everyone can be nice and loving, as well as mean.  He works on the farm, is given a horse, and still longs for the circus, but it's not on his mind as much.  Then he has an opportunity to join the biggest circus around.  Does he want to leave the family he's grown to love?  Who will help them if he goes?

As a child, I thought it would be cool to belong to circus and travel the land making friends along the way.  Reading this story I found that most circus people don't trust the civilians.  That's OK, the civilians don't trust them either.  Joe matures in this story and it works out well.  It was an enjoyable story.