Top Ten Tuesday: Authors

 This week's topic is authors I would love a new book from.

I don't have 10, just the big three:

Jane Austen

Louisa May Alcott

LM Montgomery 

Wouldn't it be amazing to have a new book discovered by these authors? 

Middle Grade Review: Unstuck

 

Lyla is stoked that her English class will be spending time creative writing. She can't wait to start her fantasy novel. She might even make it part of a series. Lyla even creates the perfect opening sentence. But after that, she can't seem to write a single word.

Nothing is helping. Her teacher is trying by giving her all kinds of helpful hints. They don't help.

To make matters worse, drama creeps into the rest of her life. Her best friend attends another school and they are drifting apart. Her sister is applying for college. Dahlia isn't sure she wants to go to college.  

Most of her life, Lyla has been second to her perfect sister. For once in her life, Lyla could eclipse her sister. If only she could find the words.

My Thoughts: A fantastic book about writing and more importantly the process of writing. I spend a lot of time thinking about writing too. I loved the moments between the sisters. Things were tense between them as secrets are spilled. I felt bad for Lyla and her friendship drama. I enjoyed her moments with Journey. I loved the moments of Lyla in the library - and I loved that it was a place of sanctuary for her. I love that. This was a great blend of drama: friendship, family, and writing. Barbara Dee does it again!  

Cover Thoughts: Perfect

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A must have middle grade book for your school and public library collections! 

Review: The Housemaid

 

* First Book in a trilogy * 

Mille's out of prison and out of a job. When she lost her job, she lost her apartment. Millie's been living in her car. She needs to find a job pronto - or risk going back to prison. She stumbles across a job opportunity where she would work as a housekeep as a live-in maid. She thinks it's a dream come true.

But her boss, Nina, is nothing like she seemed in the interview. She's moody, jealous, makes giant messes, and lies. Millie thinks she's losing her mind with the whiplash. Can she last long enough to create a life for herself?

My Thoughts: I loved this book. I read it quickly, unable to put it down. There were twists and turns that I never saw coming. Just when I thought I had a handle on the story, everything changed.  I don't want to say too much without spoiling things. If you slept on this book like I did - go forth and pick this one up immediately!  I can't wait to read book 2. 

Cover Thoughts: Love it

Source: My Library 

Library Recommendation: A must have trilogy for your library.

We are passing this author's books all around the library. And there are so many people waiting to read her books. 

Library Joy (2)

I have always been a great and terrible library patron.

I have memories of taking home stacks of books in high school. I lived across the street from our local library. In middle school, the books in the library jumped from children's books to adult books. I went through Mary Higgins Clark, Victoria Holt, and Phyllis Whitney. Those three authors kept me reading for ages. I walked home with as many books as I could carry.

And I haven't stopped taking out library books. I take out too many and never have time to read them all. 

Do you take out more books that you can read?

Vacation Photos

Last weekend, we traveled to visit some friends. It was a long overdue visit.

Here are some pictures:

We took a few hikes to see some waterfalls:

We went to a winery:

we explored some caves:

and we saw the Northern Lights:

Such a fun trip!

Picture Book Wednesday: A Mouse on the River

Mouse is headed down the river - follow him on his journey.

This is the second mouse book (Mouse's Wood) and it's equally charming. The illustrations are soft and gorgeous. There are dye-cuts and tabs that give the reader a closer look into both nature and inside homes and boats. The story winds along the river along with the main character. 

These delicate features mean this isn't a book for the library collection, but one for personal collections. This book makes a great gift. 

* This book was sent for review

Top Ten Tuesdays: Authors that Make Me Laugh

 This week's topic is about book quotes. There are so many great quotes, but I stopped writing them down a while back. So - here are authors that always make me laugh.

Here are some of their books:

New to me authors that make me laugh:

Do you read these authors? Do they also make you laugh?

Middle Grade Review: Dangerous Allies

 

* Book 4 in the Forgotten Five series * 

Things are heating up in the war of the Supers. The Forgotten Five are feeling the pressures of betrayal and attempting to heal from the trauma their parents inflicted. It's not easy sorting through emotions, especially when you feel alone. They're struggling to know who to trust. They're also trying to answer one of life's biggest mysteries: can people change? 

My Thoughts: I love this series - there's lots of action, danger, and secrets shared. This book has lots of feelings - feeling of betrayal and working through trauma. The ending of the last book surprised me, but I enjoyed how that played out.  I can't wait to see what happens next to this group. 

Cover Thoughts: Great

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A must have series for your library 

Elizabeth Park

Last weekend, we visited Elizabeth Park to see the flowers. 

This was my favorite on there. 

This gazebo looks like something out of the Hobbit. 

And it's even charming inside

We spend a pleasant morning walking through the park. 

Library Joy

 

Last week, I met Mychal the super librarian who spoke about library joy.

And it got me thinking of early library memories.

When I was five, we lived in a different place for a year. I remember getting my library card there, tickled that my last name was the name of the library. It was no relation to me, but I thought it was the coolest thing ever. 

I also remember loving this one book and taking it out over and over again. I have no recollection of the book itself. I think it might have been sad. I just remember how important I felt having the same last name. 

I'll be sharing more of these stories over the next few weeks, but what is your earliest library memory? 

Review: Beast of Skull Rock

Book 4 in the Monsterious books 

Simon and Jade are visiting their grandfather in Maine during the summer. Their grandfather runs a curiosity museum. The tourist town is having a bit of trouble with rumors of break-ins. Simon and Jade are curious about them, but their grandfather is being strangle tight lipped. 

Simon and Jade hear strange sounds at night. But their grandfather dismisses their fears. He warns them to stay upstairs rather than wander the museum at night. Simon and Jade feel betrayed, but they are also determined to get to the bottom it this mystery.

They go searching for the creature that could be stalking the town. They camp out in the museum. Nothing they do seems to change anything. The break-ins are getting worse. Can they solve the mystery?

My Thoughts: I really enjoy these books, even though I'm not a scary stories person. The books aren't connect except in the idea of spooky and monsters. I loved Simon and Jade - how they were determined to figure out the puzzle. I loved the moments in the bookstore. I enjoyed going through the museum. The ending was great. I do hope there are more of these books on the way. 

Cover Thoughts: Fantastic

Source: My Library

Library Recommendations: Highly recommended for you school and public libraries! 

Honored to have been in the acknowledgements! 

Picture Book Wednesday: The Yellow Bus

A yellow bus winds it's way through town carrying important cargo. The cargo makes the bus happy. But things change and times moves on and the bus changes along with the times.

This is not a school story - but a fascinating history of one yellow bus and what makes her happy. This book is beautifully illustrated - I love the bright colors against the black and white illustrations. There's an author's note at the end of the book that explains the inspiration behind the story. 

Take a look at the making of this book:

* This book was sent for review

Top Ten Tuesday: Flower Covers

 This week's topic is all about May Flowers - this after the rain post in April (April showers bring May flowers). Here are some books with flowers that I'm excited to read. 

Just a few flowers here on the curtain: