Middle Grade Review: Each and Every Spark

 

Penny's family moved to Paris for a year. Instead of being excited, she's miserable and lonely. Her mother has a new job and Penny misses the time they spent together. When her mother and Penny see a hidden painting, Penny spies a letter. She steals the letter, which leads her to research the sender.

Penny discovers the story of two sisters during WWII in France who were scared, hungry, cold, and missing their father. These girls joined the Resistance. Life was never the same.

My Thoughts: I loved this dual POV and dual timeline. The two different timelines kept me turning the pages. I loved the story about the two sisters trying to survive the war. I felt terrible for them and all they experienced. i loved seeing Paris and wandering the streets. I love how the two stories came together in the end.

Cover Thoughts: I love how they captured both characters

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your school and public library.

Warning: This book might make you want to wander the streets of Paris too!

Middle Grade Review: Europa

* Book 7 in the City Spies series * 

There's a chatter of a major attack coming. Tru asks her team to review the evidence. Her adult agents are looking at an attack on London, but the City Spies think it's happening in Paris. They have a way of looking at things a little bit differently. It helps that they're teenagers. Could this be the work of a threat they thought they contained?

My Thoughts: As this is book 7, I don't want to say too much. But I loved it! I loved the moments with Tru - and her puzzles, games, and history. I liked learning more about the history of spies in England. I even learned about art. I love books that make me research, and I did look up some of the art mentioned. This series is fantastic and honestly, I never want it to end. 

Cover Thoughts: Perfect

Source: Book sent for review

Library Recommendation: A must have series for your public and school library's collection. 

* this book comes out tomorrow

Romance Review: The Spy and I

 

Dove is mistaken for her sister and her whole world changes instantly. She's an excellent hacker that just happened to quote a movie line back to a man in a restaurant. He has a briefcase with intel. Within minutes, he's killed. Someone pushes Dove out the door. 

Mendez claims to be her sister's partner. Madison works for the CIA but she's been missing. Mendez poses as a reporter to get close to Dove to see if she knows the whereabouts of her sister. Now they're both stuck trying to unravel a mess of a situation. 

Dove's thrown into the deep end, as she looks similar to her sister. She can pose for Madison if the contacts haven't met yet. Nothing seems to go ask planed - including her developing feelings for Mendez.

My Thoughts: I really loved this book. It was the perfect blend of spies, action, and romance. There was lots of action and danger and plot twists. I loved the hacking bits - especially the Taylor Swift shout out! I'm very much looking forward to the next book. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute!

Source: Purchased

Library Recommendation: A fantastic romantic thriller for your public library's romance collection

Middle Grade Review: The Spy Ring

School is out for the summer and best friends Rachel and Joon can't wait to spend the summer together. But Joon's family has to move. They can't find any houses close by, so they've widen the search. It's possible they won't be spending the summer together. 

But they overhear Rachel's almost stepfather talk about an old family heirloom. The ring supposedly belonged to Anna Smith Strong. According to local legend she was the only female member of the famous Culper Spy Ring. 

After a little cleaning of the ring, Rachel and Joon discover there's a clue in the ring. The clue leads them on scavenger hunt through town and through history.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. Yes, it's a modern story but it's also set in history. I love books about the American Revolution. I love how they saw pieces of town differently because of their hunt. They paid more attention and noticed pieces from the past.  I love how determined Rachel and Joon were to uncover the truth about Anna "Nancy" Smith Strong. It hasn't been historically proven that Nancy was a spy for George Washington. I loved going on the hunt with these two friends. 

Cover Thoughts: Love it

Source: book sent for review

Library Recommendation: A fantastic historical modern mystery with lots of action and moments of friendship. Highly recommended for your school and public libraries.