Review: The Lost Princess

The Lost Princess by Connie Glynn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it (but read the rest of the series first)

In this 3rd book in the Rosewood Chronicles Series, Lottie and Ellie attend summer school in Japan while still attempting to figure out who is behind Leviathan.

They meet a variety of characters in the Japanese boarding school. They also appear to find themselves while there.

I enjoyed the story, but it was a cliffhanger... I can't wait until the next book in the series is released!

View all my reviews

Review: Like the Willow Tree: The Diary of Lydia Amelia Pierce: Portland, Maine, 1918

Like the Willow Tree: The Diary of Lydia Amelia Pierce: Portland, Maine, 1918 by Lois Lowry
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3 out of 5 stars - It was ok

I think I would have given it 4 stars, if the narrator had been a little different. You could tell she was reading in a child-like voice, to match the age of the character. That part was fine. I had issues with the singing, to be honest. It was louder than the rest, so I'd have to quickly turn it down. There were also times it wasn't quite sounding right... Just my $0.02.

The story was an interesting one. It told about the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918 and the story of how the Shakers took in orphans to raise them in the faith throughout history.

Lydia and her brother are orphaned when the Spanish Flu kills her parents and baby sister. When it is determined that her uncle and his family cannot take them in, Lydia and her brother are taken to the Shaker community and raised there. Lydia has to learn all sorts of new rules, customs, and religious beliefs.

I didn't know much about Shakers, and I loved this historical information shared at the end of the book. I also did a little extra research on my own, and I hope that someday I can visit Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village where this book was set.

View all my reviews

Review: Lu

Lu by Jason Reynolds
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it (but read the other 3 first!)

I really enjoyed how this series wrapped up nicely. A story line from book 1 came full circle and was concluded in this book.

It's also a great way to explain about the drug problem in America in a way that younger people can grasp (to a point). A cautionary tale of why drugs are bad, and all that.

The narrator was great.

View all my reviews

Review: The First Time We Met

The First Time We Met by Jo Lovett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it.

This book was a great way to get away from the world for a little while. It's a story of missed connections, right place and wrong time.

When we first meet Izzy, she's working in a greasy spoon diner trying to make ends meet while she's pursuing her dream of being a speech therapist. She's serving breakfast one morning, when she meets "The One", Sam. The chat, they flirt, and he goes on his way. She runs after him to ask him out, only to learn that it's the morning of his wedding.

There are a few other connections between the 2 over the years, but it's never the right time for them to get together (for various reasons). Then, after years of not seeing him, Izzy gets an email asking for help with Sam's son's stutter. This reconnection is just what they both need at that point in their lives, and it's interesting to see how it all unfolds.

Thanks to Bookouture & NetGalley for this Advanced Reader's Copy.

View all my reviews

Review: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it.

I listened to this book, and I really enjoyed the narrator.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is the story of Francie Nolan and her life growing up in Brooklyn in the early 1900s. The story spans from before entering school until she is starting college, describing the triumphs and struggles of her, her family, and the country.

When she was young, Francie's family was struggling to get by. Her father drank away a lot of his income and her mother worked as a cleaning woman to make up the difference. Francie and her brother collected rubbish to trade for pennies each week. Francie's mother realized that education was necessary for her children to rise above their beginnings.

View all my reviews

Review: Hope Never Dies

Hope Never Dies by Andrew Shaffer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it.

This was a fun, light-hearted, crazy romp of a mystery. Joe Biden is sitting around at home after the 2016 election, missing his friend Barack. Suddenly, Barack appears from nowhere and tells him his favorite Amtrak conductor is dead!

Amtrak Joe is on the case! With the help of Barack Obama and a Secret Service Agent, Joe is determined to find truth and justice in the death of his friend. The humor in this book made me laugh, but the mystery kept me on my toes!

View all my reviews

Review: Princess in Practice

Princess in Practice by Connie Glynn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 out of 5 stars - If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it.

I really enjoyed learning more about Lottie's family history in this second book in the series. We get to discover the history and provenance of her family crown, the one with the moon on top. We also get to learn a little about other historical princesses in the lands.

We also continue with the mystery that was brought forth in the first book. Who is Leviathan and what do they want? While we don't learn ALL the details, we do learn a little more.

I will definitely read the 3rd book in the series when it's available from the library!

View all my reviews