The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles

This story is set in 1939 during the war years.  Different characters have their own chapters.  A lot happens on these book pages...

Atria Books sent me an ARC of this book to read for review (thank you).  It will be published on June 2nd.

France thinks they will be safe from the Germans.  They are at first.  Then the Nazi's come to town.  They take what they want, look for Jews and can kill you for anything they take as a slight.

Brothers and sons die.  Even good friends can find one betraying the other if they don't watch what they say to who.

The library is the focal part of the story.  They send books to the soldiers.  When the Jews must stay home. library volunteers take them books to read.  There are checkpoints everywhere.  If you are not careful, you could be jailed.

This story is a bit depressing but you feel the characters and their anxiety and fear.  There are some love stories but not all those end happily ever after either.

This is a historical novel with facts thrown in here and there.  This was a time of war and loneliness.  You couldn't be sure who to trust...

The Girl and the Witch's Garden by Erin Bowman

Her father has cancer and is dying, so he sends her to stay with her mother and grandmother.  She doesn't mind her grandmother but her mother walked away from her and her father while she was just a baby.  She doesn't like her.

Simon and Schuster Books for young Readers and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published May 26th.

When she arrives and goes to the door, she's amazed to be greeted by another child.  Then she finds out there are more.  Her mother wouldn't even raise her but she's fostering kids!

When she speaks to her mother, she finds she's not nice at all.  Mom doesn't even want to be around her.

As she gets to know the children, she discovers they have magic.  That's why her mother took them in.  She wants a bottle of elixir that's been hidden in the garden.  Piper wants to find it so she can save her dad.  She and the other children look for clues.

Piper thinks she has no magical powers, then she realizes she can make herself invisible.  She doesn't tell her mom.  When she asks where grandma is all her mother says is away.

Poor Piper has more disappoints coming but her friends stand by her.  There is more than one mystery to solve, riddles, and more.  Somehow it all comes together in a bittersweet ending.

This is not a boring read!

Willow the Wildcat by Lynne Rickards, Kirsteen Harris-Jones (Illustrated by)

Scottish wildcats are small, beautifully marked, and good at hiding.  The kittens are precious.  Here's a snippet of life for you...

Kelpies and Edelweiss gave me the opportunity to read and review this book (thank you).  It will be published May 19th.

Willow has two kittens and they are always fighting.  She calls them to come home and they ignore her.  Then they see a dog approaching and they are back like a shot!  Unfortunately, the dog knocks down the branches that were sheltering them and now they need to find a new home.  As they look, they also look for food but the boy scares the fish away and the girl isn't fast enough too catch a mouse.

Their mother hides them in the roots of a tree and goes hunting.  It's a good thing she came back when she did.  Something was hunting the kittens!

Off they go to find a safe home.  The kittens are learning to work together instead of fighting each other.  Will they find a safe place?

The Unbelievable Oliver and the Sawed-in-Half Dads by Pseudonymous Bosch, Shane Pangburn (Illustrated by)

Oliver is new to magic but he wants to do a rehearsal so he can perform at the wedding.  His bunny talks talks to him.  It's a magic bunny.  He comes up with a great idea!

Puffin Books and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published May 12th.

He's going to saw the box in half and then bring the man out, unhurt.  So he goes to the magic store to buy the trick and props and find out how.  They buy the cheapest unit since that is all the money they have.  He's going to do the trick at the rehearsal dinner.

There is all kinds of activity and people there, but the trick works perfectly.  Until the second half is opened and it's empty!  Where did Simon go?

They frantically search and then get a ransom note.  Who could have captured Simon?

This book is busy, all the characters are interesting, and it's fun to read.  Wait until you see how they manage to find Simon...

Meet Monster : The First Big Monster Book by Ellen Blance, Ann Cook, Quentin Blake (Illustrated by)

How could you not be taken with this big, tall, skinny, PURPLE monster?

The New York Review Children's collection and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published May 12th.

This is a beginning chapter book for young readers.  There are lots of illustrations, not much text, and it's a silly but fun story.

Monster is looking for a new place to live.  He visits the city and decides he could stay there and play in the park with the children.  First thing he has to do is find a place to live.

He picks a long tall house and moves in.  He cleans it up.  Then one day he finds a boy on his doorstep.  He invites him to stay with him and now he won't be lonely anymore.


When the boy looks out the front window, he sees a girl monster jumping rope and runs to tell him.  But he's vacuuming and can't hear him...

This is a fantasy tale that is fun to read and ends happily ever after.  What more could you want?

Pets: An Anthology by Jordan Castro

This anthology is a series of essays by various authors.  These aren't cutesy stories.  Some have sadness but they are all about animals of one kind or the other.

Tyrant Books sent me an ARC of this book to read for review (thank you).  It will publish on April 28th.

The various authors included are:  Edited by Jordan Castro with contributions by Ryunosuke Akutagawa, Ann Beattie, Raegan Bird, Blake Butler, Ryan C. K. Choi, Michael W. Clune, Patty Yumi Cottrell, Annie DeWitt, Chelsea Hodson, Yuka Igarashi, Kristen Iskandrian, Mark Leidner, Tao Lin, Scott McClanahan, Sarah Manguso, David Nutt, Precious Okoyomon, Sam Pink, Nicolette Polek, Kathryn Scanlan, Christine Schutt, and Mallory Whitten.

The stories are interesting and happy tales make me feel better.  But there are sad ones, too.  Reading these tales will give you some idea what owning a pet is like.  I've had pets my entire life and some of these sound familiar.  Even a story about a bad dog reminded of one I knew in the past.

How many do you recognize as you read the stories?

The Great Pet Heist by Emily Ecton, David Mottram (Illustrated by)

Their owner slipped in the kitchen and knocked herself out.  The ambulance crew took her away and Bob the maintenance man isn't sure she'll be back.  He's already talking about putting the animals in a shelter.  The animals aren't going to put up with that!

Atheneum Books for Young Readers and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published May 12th.

Butterbean is a long haired wiener dog.  Walt is a cat.  Oscar is a bird.  Marco and Polo are two pet rats.  Since they can't get jobs, they decide to do a heist to get money.  They know there is a man with coins living in the apartments.  They send the rats into the vents to spy after Butterbean has located the room.

They actually manage the heist with the help of an octopus.  Then they find the man has taken their young sitter captive because he thinks she stole it.  It's much harder to hive back.

This was a very lively read with all kinds of animals protecting each other and those they love,  It has an exciting and joyful ending.  Young ones will love it!

Who Rescued Who by Victoria Schade

When she's fired from her job over something she said, she's at loose ends.  Then she gets a phone call from a man who tells her he's her dead father's brother.  She's not sure she believes him but when he invites her to come and visit, she decides to go.  After all, she nothing holding her at home.

Berkley and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you).  It's being published today.

She sees similarity between him and her father so it must be true.  He tells her he'll explain what happened later.

When they reach the house, she enjoys meeting Trudy, his wife.  Then he shows her his painting studio, which is a barn.  He asks her to help organize his pictures.  He wants to show them off in a galley.  She agrees.  She's not sure what to do when he sets up an easel for her with paints and brushes.  It's been a long time since she painted.  But she finds herself beginning again.

Then she finds a puppy in the woods.  She picks her as her human and she brings her joy.  She also meets a man that she falls in love with.  But despite all the positives, back home in America is where her job offer comes from.  She hates leaving but she must if she's to acquire the job.  She goes back but she's not fond of the games they are creating.  And her heart hurts for what she's left behind.

Will she listen to her heart or will her head win?  

Cut to the Bone by Ellison Cooper Series: Agent Sayer Altair (#3)

She's still grieving the loss of her fiance but she's working harder than ever.  When she's called out on a death, she finds a schoolgirl in a strange setting.  She has baboon statues around her and it looks like it means something.  It does.  It's Egyptian.  Where are the other children on the bus?

Macmillan and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published July 14th.

Then another dead girl is found.  They are getting desperate about saving the girls.  Then they get a tip for where the bus is.  All the cops needed help in the raid but there is no bus.  It was a false lead.

It seems her supervisor is setting her up for failure.  He even pulls her team off the case.  That doesn't mean they quit working the case.

Then she finds her love is not dead.  He has been following her around, so she braces him in his car with her gun.  He wasn't dead, he was working undercover.

As they get one of the girl's wounded but alive, they learn where the bus is.  They also figure out where the next death will be:  the snake house at the zoo.  They get there in time to save the girl but Jake gets killed protecting her.  Her heart is broken again. 

Jake thought he had enough evidence to put her boss away.  Did he or didn't he?

Call It Magic : A Spellbound Falls Romance by Janet Chapman

Katy hid away for a while before emerging in Spellbound Falls.  She's there to accept the job the chief offered her.  But the chief has retired.  The new one looks at her suspiciously and asks questions she doesn't want to answer.  Katy has secrets.

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

She finds herself more attracted to him than any other man.  She doesn't know her friend was using him to try to find her.  That's how he knew she was missing.  She's a good paramedic, she can "see" what's wrong.  Somehow he's always where she is.  She's won over most of the crew but when he shows up to watch how she treats a patient again, she goes to his office and tells him off

When she tells him her secret, he feels bad for her even when she admits she killed the man.  Can he heal her broken heart?  Will she let him?

The Good Wife by Jane A. Adams

The doctor's wife saw some friends and went to visit with them.  He stays with the couple they came with.  They had just finished having a picnic.  Then the cops show up and report a death in the stables.  The doctor goes with them to see if he can help.  He's shocked to see the dead woman, it's his wife!

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

During the autopsy, they discover how she died and that she's pregnant.  When they share that with the husband, they find the baby isn't his.  They loved each other deeply and married but they had no marital relationship.  So whose baby is it?

She's not from around there, so they check on where she worked and what she did there.  The private detectives took pictures of her in compromising positions with the man so they could get out of their marriages.  That's not a pleasant business.  But she did meet some rich men that way.

She was a good wife.  She helped her husband with his business, participated in social groups that helped people and more.  How could this have happened to her?

She played life to close to the edge.  Then her husband was killed.  The cops finally find what she was hiding and it gives them some clues.

Just because men are rich, it doesn't make them nice...

Eight Princesses and a Magic Mirror by Natasha Farrant, Lydia Corry (Illustrated by)

These are very much the same as fairy tales but they have a twist that makes them more enjoyable.

Norton Young Readers and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published on May 5th.

An enchantress sends an enchanted mirror out into the world.  Each girl that finds it uses it for their quest and then loses it again.

Princess Leila of the desert protects her people from the king with the black-and-gold banner; Princess Tica takes a crocodile for a pet; Princess Ellen explores the high seas; Princess Abayome puts empathy and kindness above being royal; and in a tower block, Princess saves her community’s beloved garden from the hands of urban developers.

The mirror helps them do it. I enjoyed this flight of fantasy.

What If Soldiers Fought with Pillows? True Stories of Imagination and Courage by Heather Camlot

I found these stories very fascinating.  There are non-violent solutions to ending war.

Owlkids Books and Net Galley shared this book with me for review (thank you).  It was published March 15th.

This is an easily readable book that should interest children.  I learned about movements I'd never heard of in this book.  At least one of those movements is still alive. 

One man wanted to be a conscientious objector but he was denied.  He fought the war but would not use a gun.  He saved many and survived despite the odds.  He even got a medal for his actions.  All without a gun.

Music has stopped fighting.  Fighter pilots carrying seeds instead of bombs also made a difference.  Some of it happened in the past, some of it is going on today. 

This is a good way to see how senseless war can be...

Premeditated Myrtle by Elizabeth C. Bunce

Myrtle is twelve but she's already solving mysteries.  Her father is the prosecuting attorney and he keeps trying to tell her to be careful.  She doesn't listen well.  Then her next door neighbor dies.  She was an old woman and they think it was a heart attack.  Myrtle doesn't.

Algonquin Young Readers and Edelweiss gave me the opportunity to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published on April 8th.

She sneaks over to visit with gardener but doesn't learn much.  She wanders around and finds that all the lilies have been destroyed.  She also finds footprints and evidence that the old woman had been out there.  She thinks the gardener might be guilty and the cop agrees and arrests him.

In the meantime, she gets the coroner to test for poison.  The gardener confesses and says he killed her with arsenic.  But the post mortem shows she died of digitalis. She asks the gardener why he confessed when he wasn't the killer.  He won't answer.

She goes on investigating and then she thinks the young lady who inherited it did it.  After all, she found newspaper articles telling of her murders.  That was another false lead.

Then they kidnap her father.  She's to come alone, but doesn't.  It's an exciting ending with an unusual killer.

I really enjoyed reading this!

The Last Scoop by R. G. Belsky

Martin Barlow was Clare's first editor.  She's with a different station, he's suppose to be retired, but he tells her he's on a big case.  He wants to get together to talk about it, but she has her own work to do.  The next thing she hears is that he is dead...

Oceanview Publishing and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published May 5th.

She goes to visit his daughter and express her condolences.  The son-in-law appears to be glad he's dead.  She asks to visit his room.  The granddaughter takes her up.  She asks if she may take is computer and some of papers.  She searches through the computer files.  One is password protected.  She sees he's been visiting serial killer sites.  He's found 20 so far.  She begins working for the FBI as well as doing her journalist work.

She eventually figures it out.  However he also knows she knows.  Will she survive?

Of Mice and Minestrone by Joe R. Lansdale, Kathleen Kent, Kasey Lansdale

Hap is a young white boy who has Leonard, a black young man, as a best friend.  They have several adventures together.  Many of them includes fights.  These guys are tough and don't back down.

Tachyon Publications and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published April 30th.

The laws have changed and the black can now enter restaurants they were banned from before.  But the attitudes haven't changed.  They get nasty comments.  Some people don't want to serve Leonard but they do.

This is an anthology of stories.  Two of them stood out to me.   One was about boxing.  The owner paid them to fight the men they were training.  When they are called again to spar, the young man really has no fight in him.  They plan to put him in a fight with someone who could kill him.  They know what will happen, so Leonard steps in for Ty.  The owner doesn't like that but he does have to have the fight.  Leonard wins and when he asks for the prize money they refuse to pay him.  The beaten fighter decks him, raids his wallet, takes his share of the money and gives the rest to Leonard.  Leonard gives it to Ty for college.

The other story I liked was about a camping trip.  Leonard is back from Vietnam and the other man just got out of jail.  They are not good boys but they have good hearts.

Besides the stories,  the last part of the book is full of Southern recipes.  They are down home recipes so they should be good.

The Sand Elephant by Rinna Hermann, Sanne Dufft (Illustrated by)

Paul has no one to play with.  He plays in the sand and draws an elephant.  He takes a nap against his trunk...

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

The elephant starts to talk to him and puts him on his back.  Then he says certain words and he finds himself transported to a castle filled with sand animals and children.  What fun!

They all play together and have a great time.  Then it rains and everything is gone but the children.  One little girl says the magic words and the animals reappear.  The elephant tells them they are always there but they might come back different.

He plays a bit more and then lays down to rest.  This boy has an active imagination!

Five Sisters by Stephanie Campisi, Mădălina Andronic

A couple moved into a home and planted trees around them.  They took care of their forest and it grew well.  They wanted a family but it didn't happen.  They were sad...

Familius and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you.  It will be published May 1st.

He takes a walk out to the peaceful grove and sits.  The tree asks him what's wrong and then gives up a branch.  He takes the branch home and carves five daughters out of it, each one smaller as he goes.  His wife treats them like daughters and their home is happy now.

Then the woods warn him of danger.  He runs home and finds a huge smoke wolf trying to steal his children.  He scares him away and then they take the children back to the tree. When they put them in a hole in the trunk something amazing happens...

Ranger to the Rescue by Renae Brumbaugh Green

She lost her fiance two years ago.  He was a ranger and was shot and killed.  She wants nothing to do with anyone in that field now.  Her heart couldn't take it.

Wild Heart Books shared this with me for a review (thank you).  It will be published April 14th.

She's a journalist and the only way she gets to write interesting stories is to go find them herself.  Someone is sabotaging the fishing boats and the fisherman thinks it's one man and his sons.  They leave early and always come back full of fish.  When the sheriff jails him, Evan takes over as his lawyer.  There's no proof it was him but he's a foreigner.

Amelia gets involved by talking to the fishermen and writing her story.  Evan tells her she's only showing one side of it.  So does her boss.  So she talks to the man in jail and a few more fisherman.  They won't identify who they think the culprit is.

She and Evan decide to hang out at night to see if they can catch who it is.  They do and it's no real surprise.

Evan begins going to lunch with her everyday.  They are falling in love with each other.  Then the rangers are called out to help with a gang and his brother-in-law makes him a temporary ranger to cover the town when they are gone.  That upsets her so much, she breaks her engagement.

Then she and Evan's sister are kidnapped by a man who wants revenge.  Evan goes after them.  With alligators and cottonmouths and men with guns, it's no treat to play in the swamp.  Can Evan get them back before they are killed?

The Talented Mr. Varg : A Detective Varg Novel (2) by Alexander McCall Smith

Ulf is the lead detective in the Sensitive Crimes Division.  He takes on the odd cases.  A wife asks him to check out who her husband is being blackmailed by.  When the victim won't cooperate, it's hard to find the blackmailer...

Pantheon and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published April 28th.

Ulf follows the man.  He eventually finds out it's not blackmail.  It's payment for promotions on his books.

Then his detective lady he has a crush on asks him to see if her husband is screwing around on her.  She found another woman's earring in his shorts.  He sees him meet up with a woman and kiss her and hold hands.  It looks like her suspicions are true.  Then something happens and he struggles to know what to tell the woman he loves...

Then his vet tells him there is a guy who brings his dogs in and they look like wolves.  He thinks the man is selling them as wolves, which is fraud.  He knows who talk to and finds the truth in that case also.

Ulf is a busy man...

One Fatal Flaw : A Daniel Pitt Novel by Anne Perry

A desperate woman comes to Daniel's desk asking him to defend a young man accused of murder.  Since he's the low man on the totem pole, he has to ask the older lawyer if he can take it on.  The older man tells him he'll learn a lot doing it but not to be disappointed if he loses.

He talks to everyone he can gathering clues.  The head lawyer in the group has a daughter that is into forensic investigation and she suggests a man who mat help the case.  He's a famous doctor and he does get him off.

Then two months later, the freed man dies in a fire just like the first one.  The doctor is willing to testify again.  He agrees to have him testify.  He states the head injury was due to the intensity of the fire.  But then Daniel is introduced to another doctor who points out the injury wouldn't be where it was if it was fire related.  She is also an expert.  She testifies.  The jury believes her and finds Daniel's client guilty.  He's glad.  He knew she was guilty and was trying to claim leadership of the gang.

Then a woman comes in and asks him to clear her husband's name.  He was hung when he was innocent.  The same doctor got the dead woman's husband off on charges with that same defense which has now been proved wrong.   He takes on the case but he has no idea how vindictive the doctor is.  He'll find out...

Shake Down by Kendel Lynn

She's getting ready for a big event at the beach.  Her best friend is getting married and she's doing all the planning for her.  It's all going fine until the maid of honor goes missing.  Where could she have gone?

Henery Press and Edelweiss let me read this book for review.  It will be published March 17th.

As time goes on and the missing maid of honor doesn't show up, they begin to wonder about her welfare.  They create flyers, develop search parties, check with friends and relatives, all to no avail.  She's disappeared,  They find her car at the airport but not her.  They continue searching, even following her boyfriend to see where he's going.  That gets them picked up by DEA agents.  Seems he's a drug dealer.

They find another dead body but it's not the woman they are looking for.  Elliott fears the worse but keeps looking.  Then she has an odd idea and intends to follow up on it.  When she does, she finds the killer.  The murderer's got a gun...  She's all alone.  Now what?

A Murderous Relation by Deanna Raybourn

The Prince is young and he's close to becoming a scandal so Veronica and Stoker are asked to save him.  All they have to do is steal a diamond star from a house of ill repute...

Berkley and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you).  It is being published today.

The house is in an odd part of town and is quite plain looking on the outside.  The evening they visit is a bit like an open house.  Come, see what's offered and see if you want to buy membership.  They are coming to steal, not buy.  But it's difficult.  It's in the owner's private chambers in a safe and the area is guarded.

Before the night is over, the owner has been killed and they have been taken captive by Veronica's Irish Uncle and a corrupt cop.  They can't get out and Stoker gets beat up.  Then they find a way and they take the other prisoner, the Prince, with them as they go.  The bad guys are after them and they run across roof tops and down dirty alleys to escape them.  Stoker's older brother takes the Prince back to the palace, they head home.  But there's a disagreeable smell there.  Someone has shared the dead body with them...

Then a private collector calls them complaining about the animal he bought from Stoker.  He says the glue is coming undone.  But it's a trap and there is a shootout.

Veronica and Stoker are always in dangerous situations.  It makes the story more intriguing.  I really like this series.

City Spies by James Ponti

Sara is a hacker.  She's only twelve but she's good at it.  Then she's caught and it looks like jail is coming her way.  Her attorney says it's the best deal she can get.  Then a new attorney shows up.  When the original attorney goes to complain, the new man has her alter the court records so his name shows up as her attorney.  She knows right away that something strange is going on.

Aladdin and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you)  It will be published March 10th.

It seems her new "lawyer" is recruiting her to be a spy.  She's been in and out of foster homes and this arrangement seems to be more stable.  He takes her with him and begins her training right away.  She finds that he has a group of other children that are helping him spy but he had lost his hacker, so he's pleased to find her.

She doesn't just know how to get past firewalls, she knows how to write viruses. That's a handy talent.

They go into competition for moneyed prizes.  He doesn't want them to win, just come in fifth or sixth.  It's a test of their talents but he doesn't want them drawing attention.

There's lots of action, various plots, and the kids getting used to each other.  It takes a bit to earn trust.  They accomplished their assignment and this appears to be the beginning of a new series so we'll see more of this bodacious group.  They give each other strength. 

Inspector Ghote's Good Crusade by H.R.F. Keating

Inspector Ghote is called to a murder scene.  A multi-millionaire has died from arsenic poisoning.   He knows nothing about arsenic but he knows this will be a big case.  As he investigates, his list of suspects grows...

Severn House and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you).  It has been published snd you can get a copy now.

There were two men who had access to the building.   One of them is a known killer.  That's who his boss wants to charge with the murder.  But he says he didn't do it and Ghote believes him.  He finds the food is left in a building that is accessible by anyone.  Did they poison the food?  He talks to the boys.  They don't tell him much.

He spends a lot of time trying to make sense of the clues he has but it doesn't seem to do much good.  He's going in circles.  Then he remembers a statement that was made.  That might be why he was killed.

Ghote does get his murderer but it takes a lot of hard work...

A Small Case for Inspector Ghote? by H.R.F. Keating

Ghote has been recently promoted.  He's hoping for a murder case so he has something to do besides the clerical work his boss has given him.  Every time he gets called to his superior's office he's hopeful.  All for naught.  Then he notices a smell in his office...

Severn House and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you).  It has been published and you can grab a copy now.

When he locates the smell, it's shocking.  It's the head of the peon who is supposed to be helping him in the office.  Someone beheaded him.  When he shows it to his boss and wants to take on the case, he's told no.  Just to dispose of it.  He doesn't want to do that.  He takes the head home and tries to hide it in his apartment.  Then he sneaks out and starts trying to solve the case.His boss gives him a case to work on so he works on both.

He goes to the place his peon called home.  He finds no one there but a man runs away.  The neighbor lady tells him who he is and that he stole her shopping bag.  Ghote knows where the shopping bag is.  It's holding that head.  He and his wife go shopping and pick her out a nice sturdy new bag.

He finally chases down the man he saw.  What he never imagined was who was involved in the mess of a murder that he knew.

The ending surprised me.  It was well done.

The Merchant's Yield (The Leeward Islands #2) by Lorri Dudley

Lottie's mother tells her what to do, how to do it, and how to act.  At the moment she's trying to marry her off, so they go to a big dance.  She has a man that's older then her by years who would like to marry her.  She doesn't like him .  She wants to dance but not with him.  She asks a nice looking man to dance with her.  Her mother doesn't like him, he's from the islands and he's not rich.  He dances well but then someone wants to talk to him.   She sneaks in the library and hides.

Wild Heart Books let me read this book for review (thank you). It will be published March 31st.

She's sitting in a chair reading when someone else comes in the room.  It's not the female friend she was waiting for but the man she was dancing with.  He's meeting another man there.  She set her candle on the floor so he won't see her but that was a mistake.  She sets her skirt on fire.  He rescues her and as he puts her skirt down her parents show up.  They demand he marries her since he's been up her skirt.  They both try to explain, to no avail.  He doesn't want a wife, she doesn't want to marry someone she doesn't know but they are given no choice.  They marry and he takes her home.  He explains that his home has been damaged in a storm and she will live at the local hotel.  The owner is the wife of his captain of the ship and she will explain how island life is.

They don't consummate their marriage.  She tries to get him to stay but he goes home without her.  She decides to take things in her own hands and goes to his home.  He's not there, he's trading goods at other ports.  She moves in his bedroom.  On his return, he sleeps in his sister's bedroom.  One night, she joins him.  Love is in the air.

Then she hears a conversation she shouldn't.  She's taken to be sold.  The pirates take her.  Will he ever get his wife back?

Waltz in the Wilderness (Chaparral Hearts Book 1) by Kathleen Denly

Her mother died on the trail and her father was lost in sadness.  She camped with him while he looked for gold but he didn't find any.  He closes up camp and they go to San Franciso to stay with his half-brother.  They aren't the most welcomed by his wife but her Uncle is happy to see them.  However when she wakes up the next morning, her father is gone.  He didn't tell anyone where he was going, so she can't follow him...

Wild Heart Books let me read this book for review (thank you).  It has been published and you can get a copy now.

Her Aunt keeps inviting single men to dinner trying to get her married.  She's not interested.  Her father needs her.  She decides to go find him.  The last man invited over is close to her age and he knows she can't go alone.  He decides to tag along.  She's resentful at first but soon she knows she needs his protection.

She gets on a boat heading upriver.  The captain gives her some trouble until Mr. Clark shows up.  Soon they are off the boat and trying to find her father.  He's up in the woods, so they set off to find him with a home drawn map.  Before long, they have saved each others lives and set up camp to sleep.  She knows he's engaged but the longer they are together, the more she falls in love with him.  He's having the same problem.

When his fiance shows up, she has a confession, too...

Drugged on Deck by Susan Harper

Hope is back on the cruise ship, working anywhere they need her.  She has hopes of becoming the event leader because the person holding that position is getting ready to retire.  Then she learns they are giving it to a new guy who doesn't even work in the ship!

He tries to be friendly but all he does is get in her way.  She tells him to leave her alone.  Fellow employees tell her she's rude.  Then they remove her from the dining hall for a while becuse she fought with him in there.

So now she's being a lifeguard.  She has the big family she served in the dining hall down swimming.  Then she notices one in the bottom of the pool.  She goes to rescue him, does CPR and gets him breathing again.  Then he has a seizure and dies.

The doctor says he's been poisoned.  It's not an accident, it's murder...

He was the only son in the family.  His father is broken up over his death.  Did one of his daughters kill their brother?

Hope digs around asks questions and eventually figures it out.  Can she stop the murderer (who plans to kill again) or will the murderer stop her?

Generally Speaking: a Philatelic Patchwork by Lawrence Block

This book covers a series of talks about stamps.  I would never have guessed that Mr Block would be interested in stamps but he knows a lot about them.  I'm not very interested but even talking about stamps can be interesting if you have a good story teller.

He sent me a copy of this book to read for review (thank you).  You can get a copy of it now.

There is a lot of history tied to stamps.  Wars tended to generate more varieties.  He explains markings, grading, where the stamps came from, and what he was willing to buy but that a more finicky collector might not.  Even if stamps aren't my thing, I did enjoy the history, the stories of where he bought his stamps and hearing of his preferences.

I have to admit that Keller is one of my favorite characters of his and he's included parts of his book where Keller was buying and seeking stamps.  That gave me a break between his nonfiction account.

If you like stamps this should give you a basis to get started.  If you enjoy history, you'll learn about that.  And if you just want a visit with Keller, you can find that, too.  This was an interesting story.  Give it a try. 

I Am Awesome by Ryan K Maule, L M Phang

They live in a town where everyone and everything is good.  Grace and Zeal are good friends and do everything together.  When they happen to meet a new robot, who is fishing.  When they ask how it's doing it says, "I am awesome."  They don't understand how it can be.  "Aren't you just good?"  But no...

The author sent me a copy of his book to read for review (thank you).  It has been published and you can get a copy now.

They know the Inventor of everything is awesome, so they go to visit and ask how that robot can be awesome, too.  He explains that everything he creates is awesome and that means they are, too!

The illustrations by L M Phang are charming.  This is an easy way to teach your child about God's messages.  The language is easy to read and the message simple.  The author has done a nice job.

Far Away Bird by Douglas A. Burton

Theodora is a young girl living at home.  She has brothers and one sister she loves deeply.  Her father gets drunk most nights and they stay out of his way.  Then he's killed in an act of war.  They know they'll end up on the street next.  But then a Magister comes and says he can help them.  He knows of a widower who would marry their mother and take over her father's job.  Then they could stay where they were and survive.  Her mother agrees.  But that is not all the Magister wants...

PR by the Book and the author shared a copy of this book with me for review (thank you)  It has been published and you can get a copy now.  The cover illustator is George Frei.

The Magister wants favors from Theodora.  Her mother sends her away with him.  She has no idea what's coming, she's only fourteen.  He has his way with her and she's almost broken by what's happened.  She's conflicted.  It was horrible and no way to be introduced to the act but, on the other hand, it almost felt good.

She eventually becomes a prostitute.  She flies away in her mind and lets the men do what they want.  She even performs in live sex shows.  After all, in this era men own the women and they must do what they are told.  It doesn't take her long before she uses her body as a weapon to get what she wants.

A fellow prostitute works on teaching her how to spy by listening closely and suggesting topics.  Soon she's doing that well.  She has met a man and fallen in love but she's being shipped out to another country.  She has to go but she intends to return.

It takes some doing for her to get back but she does, bringing a friend or two with her.  Will her love be waiting?

This is historical fiction but much of the book has graphic details.  I felt bad for her but she manages to rise even in the terrible environment she found herself in.  She was a fighter.