This series just keeps on rolling. I love how Mae seems to handle her breakup with Hank by working and being with her friends. Of course again she helps to solve a murder and all of her friends are as quirky as ever. This series never disappoints. I especially love the ending of this book. I can’t wait fir the next one. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
I give this book a five out of five stars.
PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION
The last thing Normal needs is Dottie Swagger or Mary Elizabeth Moberly as the Ms. Blossom Festival Queen.
I thought I had my hands full when Dottie Swaggert and Mary Elizabeth Moberly entered the Ms. Blossom Queen Beauty Pageant for seniors but when I witnessed a fight at the festival between Carrie Patillo and Jason Dresser, Carrie’s daughter’s accused killer, I knew Jason was wrongfully accused for the murder and set up. How was I going to prove it before the trial started?
Easy. Gather the Laundry Club Ladies and use our unique sleuthing skills. Right?
Wrong!
After we uncovered some evidence of blackmail and head on over to tell Jason what we found out. . .we found out something alright. The true killer got to Jason first.
If that wasn’t enough to deal with, Bobby Ray Bond found his real mama. With her impending arrival, we Laundry Club Ladies have our hands full with Blossoms, BBQ, & Blackmail.
If you like to read about WWll you will love this story. I loved that it all took place in Hawaii and told a little bit of what happened around Pearl Harbor. Then I love that it told about the women that were brought in to man the radar stations since most of the men were sent to fight. I think this was the first book I have read that took place in Hawaii during WWll. I loved the characters and how the women were first treated and then how everyone learned that the women were good at math and science. I laughed and cried while reading this story. I received a copy of this book from Harlequin for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
I give this book a five out of five stars.
Radar Girls
Sara Ackerman
On Sale Date: July 27, 2021
9780778332046
Trade Paperback
$16.99 USD
368 pages
About the book:
WWII historical fiction inspired by the real women of the Women’s Air Raid Defense, RADAR GIRLS follows one unlikely recruit as she trains and serves in secrecy as a radar plotter on Hawaii. A tale of resilience and sisterhood, it sees the battles of the Pacific through the eyes of these pioneering women, and will appeal to fans of Kate Quinn and Pam Jenoff.
An extraordinary story inspired by the real Women’s Air Raid Defense, where an unlikely recruit and her sisters-in-arms forge their place in WWII history.
Daisy Wilder prefers the company of horses to people, bare feet and saltwater to high heels and society parties. Then, in the dizzying aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Daisy enlists in a top-secret program, replacing male soldiers in a war zone for the first time. Under fear of imminent invasion, the WARDs guide pilots into blacked-out air strips and track unidentified planes across Pacific skies.
But not everyone thinks the women are up to the job, and the new recruits must rise above their differences and work side-by-side despite the resistance and heartache they meet along the way. With America’s future on the line, Daisy is determined to prove herself worthy. And with the man she’s falling in love with out on the front lines, she cannot fail. From radar towers on remote mountaintops to flooded bomb shelters, she’ll need her new team when the stakes are highest. Because the most important battles are fought—and won—together.
This inspiring and uplifting tale of pioneering, unsung heroines vividly transports the reader to wartime Hawaii, where one woman’s call to duty leads her to find courage, strength and sisterhood.
About the author:
USA Today bestselling author Sara Ackerman was born and raised in Hawaii. She studied journalism and earned graduate degrees in psychology and Chinese medicine. She blames Hawaii for her addiction to writing, and sees no end to its untapped stories. When she’s not writing or teaching, you’ll find her in the mountains or in the ocean. She currently lives on the Big Island with her boyfriend and a houseful of bossy animals. Find out more about Sara and her books at http://www.ackermanbooks.com and follow her on Instagram @saraackermanbooks and on FB @ackermanbooks.
I loved this book of suspense and romance. I loved Liana and Kent. There is suspense and romance and great characters. I could not put this book down because I had to find out who committed the murder and why. This is a great story. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
I give this book a five out of five stars.
PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION
She’s found peace living alongside the Amish…
But she can’t escape her past.
Artist Liana Mann is stunned to learn her husband, missing for ten years, has been found murdered. Now Officer Kent Olson seeks to solve the cold case–with Liana’s help. The faster he unravels the mystery, the sooner he can return to regular duties. Liana wants nothing to do with the police, yet Kent intrigues her. But will digging into the past create new problems?
I so enjoyed this cozy mystery. This was my first book that I have read by this author but it will not be my last. Even though I have not read the books that came before this one I was able to figure out who all the main characters were but I hope to read the other books in the series. I really liked Maddie and her Grandpa. I love that this shows cat cafes and how they help get cats adopted. I received a copy of this book from Minotaur for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
I give this book a five out of five stars.
PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION
In Claws for Alarm, the fifth book in Cate Conte’s delightful and cat-filled series, it’s the heart of the busy season, and JJ’s House of Purrs is booming–until a killer is let off the leash.
Maddie James has finally given in to her friend Katrina’s pleas to open up her cat cafe to more than ten felines: they’re now up to fifteen purring friends. In fact, JJ’s House of Purrs is making such a splash that she’s getting national attention. The East Coast Animal Rescue League is quite interested in the cafe, and so Maddie accepts a request to meet with Jillian Allen, the executive director. Jillian shows up at the cafe and asks Maddie if they can partner on a fundraiser to support the local rescue efforts–and she offers up her celebrity endorser and her celebrity cat to sweeten the deal. Maddie, caught up in the prospect, offers up her sister Val to help plan the event.
But when Val shows up for a site visit at the venue, she finds Jillian strangled with a fancy cat leash–a piece of swag they were intending to use for the fundraiser–leaving Maddie with a lot of questions to answer. Was her death a tragic one-off event, or is there something more sinister going on? Maddie has to figure it out fast, before anyone else in the rescue community is jeopardized.
If you like cats, magic and intrigue you will enjoy this new book in a new series. The characters are wonderful and they learn a few good lessons along the way. A great start to a new series. I received a copy of this book from Whiskeredmysteries for a fair and honest review that I gave of my own free will.
I give this book a four out of five stars.
PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION
My name is Moss O’Malley, and I’ve just been sentenced to three years in the Magical Corrections System. Thanks to my thieving ways—or rather, the fact I got caught—I have to live the next three years as a cat, unable to shift back to my human form or use magic of any kind.
Just when I think I’m about to lose my mind for good, an agent breaks me free on one condition. I have to help her with a case. So now I must serve and protect, using my criminal wiles to catch others doing the same kinds of things that got me locked up in the first place.
It beats languishing at the cat rescue—sure—but will I be able to catch the super-powered bad guys without having any powers of my own to call on?
This is a very emotional story. This story shows how hard it was for people living in East Berlin right before the wall was built and how hard it was for people living in West Berlin to understand why anyone would want to stay in the East. There were a few laughs but there are a lot of tears in the story. I love the photos that are included in the book. These showed how different but also how alike many parts of the world can be. I received a copy of this book from Algonquin Publicity for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
I give this book a five out of five stars.
From the opposing sides of the Cold War, cousins Drew and Matthias begin to overcome the ideological walls between them to become wary friends, but their loyalties will be tested in ways that will change their lives forever.
“Elliott both fills in the historical background—aided by Behm’s mixing of period photos, contemporary news, and pop-culture notes—and crafts a tale of rising tensions that culminates in a suspenseful climax… A sensitive exploration of cogent themes in a richly detailed historical setting.”
—Kirkus, Starred review
WALLS
by L.M. Elliott
“Elliott’s latest is set a year prior to the unexpected rise of the Berlin Wall, incorporating all kinds of historical context, including science, world events, politics, and entertainment, through pictures at the beginning of each chapter, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the period. The portrayal of events is first-rate, creating a poignant yet lighthearted read.”
—Booklist
The New York Times bestselling author of ten young adult novels, L. M. Elliott has long been known as a master of historical fiction that humanizes and illuminates contemporary issues, steeping readers in the eras of World War II, the Cold War, and the American Revolution. Now, in the unofficial follow-up to her 2017 Suspect Red, which followed two teenage boys swept up in the 1950s Red Scare, Elliott turns her attention to the espionage-riddled standoff between America and Soviet Russia in WALLS (Publication Date: July 27, 2021; Ages 12 – 18; Hardcover; $19.95). Set in the tumultuous year leading up to the surprise overnight raising of the Berlin Wall in August 1961, and punctuated with real-life photographs, headlines, and personalities of the time, WALLS explores the budding friendship between two cousins on different sides of the communist/democracy divide and the very real dangers their growing bond presents their families.
Drew is an army brat, a hotshot athlete poised to be his high school’s star pitcher, when he has to move for the sixth time in fifteen years—this time to West Berlin, where American soldiers like his dad hold an outpost of democracy against communist Russia in Hitler’s former capital. Meanwhile, in East Berlin, his cousin Matthias has grown up in the wreckage left by Allied bombing during World War II, on streets ruled by the Communist Party’s secret police. From the opposing sides of the Cold War, Drew and Matthias begin to overcome the many ideological walls between them to become wary friends. They argue over the space race, capitalism, socialism, and even the American civil rights movement, and bond over rock ’n’ roll—music outlawed in Matthias’s part of the city. As the political situation around them gets all the more dire, Drew and Matthias’s loyalty—to their sector, their countries, their families, and each other—will be tested in ways that will change their lives forever.
“My hope with WALLS is to provide a compelling, suspenseful read about whether two teens can learn to trust and care about one another, despite what they’ve been fed about the other’s world. Showing (I hope!) in a poignant, relatable way the importance of forming your own opinion based on personal experience and reflection. Not swallowing propaganda, disinformation, unsubstantiated conspiracy theories and innuendo, or demeaning slogans and stereotypes,” says Elliott, whose works have been recognized as NCSS/CBC Notables, Bank Street College of Education Best Books, and Grateful American Book Prize winners. “The set-up of two boys—each fervent believers in their diametrically opposed political philosophies who come to understand the other’s point of view—felt a potent way to humanize the effect of the Cold War’s dangerous polarization on the day-to-day lives of ordinary people. And given the narrative’s relevancy to some of today’s frictions, to spark some thoughts about readers’ own lives.”
Moving by month through a historically monumental year, WALLS sheds light on a troubling, often overlooked chapter of history, and brings to vivid life the heroic and tragic choices of the Cold War.
L.M. Elliott was an award-winning magazine journalist in Washington, D.C., before becoming a New York Times bestselling author of historical and biographical young adult novels. Her works include Under a War-Torn Sky, Suspect Red, and Hamilton and Peggy.
“Elliott both fills in the historical background—aided by Behm’s mixing of period photos, contemporary news, and pop-culture notes—and crafts a tale of rising tensions that culminates in a suspenseful climax… A sensitive exploration of cogent themes in a richly detailed historical setting.”
—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“Elliott’s latest is set a year prior to the unexpected rise of the Berlin Wall, incorporating all kinds of historical context, including science, world events, politics, and entertainment, through pictures at the beginning of each chapter, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the period. The portrayal of events is first-rate, creating a poignant yet lighthearted read.”
—Booklist
Praise for Suspect Red
A NCSS/CBC Notable * A Bank Street College Best Book * Grateful American Award Winner * TLA Tayshas High School Reading List * PA Young Readers Choice Finalist
“A tense, engrossing story that effectively captures the suspicion and paranoia that prevailed during American history’s darkest chapters. . . This historical novel revisits the anxious, fearful time of the Cold War, when blacklists, political profiling, and guilt by association ruined the lives of thousands of innocent people and deeply divided the nation.”
—Kirkus
“Riveting…Author Elliott’s technique and methodology are superbly appropriate. She begins each chapter — each month — with a detailed description of actual events from that month…Lessons for all of us — particularly in this case young readers — abound: of the use of fear tactics to motivate destructive behaviors; of the all-too-tempting trap of fighting tyranny with tyranny; of the tragically unfortunate effects of herd mentality. . . And so arises the sad implied question: can we really hope to ‘make America great again’ by returning to the practices and beliefs and traditions of the ‘fabulous fifties’? Before answering that question, consider the lessons of Suspect Red.”
—Huffington Post
Praise for Hamilton and Peggy
Bank Street College Best Book * Honorable Mention, the Grateful American Book Prize
“Elliott combines a flair for fiction with masterly research… the book presents day-to-day life during the Revolutionary War through the eyes of a young woman witnessing some of its most momentous events, detailing both the ordinary and extraordinary through her perceptive point of view. Well educated and sharp-witted, Peggy is a strong and appealing protagonist…. Elliott does a remarkable job of humanizing important historical figures.”
—Publishers’ Weekly, Starred Review
“Peggy is the Jo March of this family. Intelligent and fierce…(using) her razor-sharp wit and cleverness to make her mark… Elliott has accomplished something wonderful here, and this is an absolute must have.”
—School Library Journal
“An engaging novel that navigates the challenge of maintaining historical accuracy while upholding the personalities popularized by the musical.”
—Booklist
Praise for Under a War-Torn Sky
“It’s packed with action, intrigue, and suspense, but this novel celebrates acts of kindness and heroism without glorifying war.”
—Booklist
“Hank is a smart, strong, and courageous character.”
—School Library Journal
“Elliott’s fluid style is woven together with vivid historical details from WWII, appropriate for adolescents who seek suspense-filled adventures. Inspired by true stories of WWII, Elliott captures the courage, self-sacrifice, and bravery of the French Resistance forces (helping American pilots escape Hitler’s forces). Fans of history, culture, language, or just good storytelling will definitely want to read this.”
—Book Page
“An emotional, action-packed gem… An engrossing thrill-ride.”
—Kliatt
“A powerful debut novel of adventure and salvation. Readers, young and old, will be moved by this fine book.”
—Children’s Literature
Praise for Flying South
“This is both a poignant mother-daughter story and a comforting tale of the affection between a lonely young girl and an irascible but devoted old man. Doc’s gems of insight invigorate Alice and shape her outlook on life. Readers will find poignancy, humor, and history in this story.”
—School Library Journal
“Elliott creates a strong sense of the time and place, with issues of feminism and civil rights woven into both plot and characterization. The rose-garden metaphor is subtle, but the hurt and comfort implicit in the thorns and flowers will stay with readers.”
—Booklist
“Elliott’s sure hand explores a complicated chapter in America’s ambivalence toward race.”
—Kirkus
“The story is as beautiful as the roses that symbolize the tale of rebirth between mother and daughter.”
—VOYA
Praise for Annie Between the States
A New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age * IRA Teachers Choice *
A PA Library Association YA Top 40 * Virginia Readers Choice finalist
“Fiery, intelligent Annie remains a heroine to relish, and YA readers who encounter her story will find themselves pondering the soul-wrenching questions she asks.”
—Booklist
“Scenes are so powerfully drawn that readers will be engaged from chapter one. A rich experience for Civil War history buffs.”
—Kirkus
Praise for Give Me Liberty
“Elliott’s engaging and highly readable novel is well researched and sprinkled liberally with renowned patriots of the period. Particularly noteworthy is the way in which Elliott handles the paradox of colonial Americans fighting for their independence from England yet clinging to the practice of enslaving other human beings. She does not provide pat answers, and Nathaniel’s inability to reconcile what he sees around him promises to provoke thoughtful discussion. A rich and robust piece of historical literature.”
—School Library Journal
“Elliott’s vivid descriptions and in-depth research make it easy to envision revolutionary-era Williamsburg and the impassioned leaders who led the American colonies to chose “liberty or death.”
—VOYA
“Filled with action, well-drawn characters, and a sympathetic understanding of many points of view.”
—Booklist
Praise for A Troubled Peace
“In this sequel to Elliott’s acclaimed Under A War-Torn Sky (2001), nineteen-year-old bomber pilot hero Henry Forester is back home in Virginia, suffering PTSD (then known as battle fatigue) and (decides) to go back to France and search for the young boy who jeopardized his own life helping Henry escape. Returning and new readers alike will find gasp-producing action, well-developed characters, and deep details about the privations war brings. Similar to The Book Thief (2006) and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2006).”
—Booklist
“A Troubled Peace will keep both male and female readers pulling for Henry’s success. Teachers of U.S. and European history classes will also appreciate having another quality book to recommend.”
—The ALAN Review
“With our own country currently at war, this compelling book proves especially timely. Elliott vividly captures the turmoil, fear and hope of the times and the sense of trying to pick up the pieces and rebuild. ‘War ends,’ she writes in the afterword, ‘and the battle for peace begins.”
—Children’s Literature
Praise for A War-Tossed Sea
“Likable protagonists and a fascinating historical backdrop combine for a story well-told.”
—Kirkus
“Elliott uses the backdrop of World War II and the horrors of Hitler’s plans to illuminate an entirely different picture of the racial divide in the United States. At every turn in this well-plotted novel, readers see an example of prejudice and preconceptions. The author’s attention to detail is evident, as the facts of World War II come through clearly in each chapter, just as they did in Under a War-Torn Sky (Hyperion, 2001). This historical novel would be a perfect fit for any collection seeking to engage readers in conversations around race, culture, and equality in America.”
—School Library Journal
“Elliott leads us through a series of misadventures and straight-up adventures as the boys go hunting, hold a haunted house, contribute to the war effort, and even conduct a few acts of outright heroism. Serious issues of intolerance (religious freedom in Europe, racism in America, cruelty to German POWs) permeate the story without overwhelming it, making this a breezy and enlightening read.”
—Booklist
Praise for Da Vinci’s Tiger
“Renaissance Florence breathes through this delicately beautiful novel, bringing readers to a fuller understanding of the portrait, the era, and an indomitable young woman.”
—Publisher’s Weekly, Starred Review
“This mysterious figure is the subject of one of Leonardo da Vinci’s earliest groundbreaking masterpieces. In Da Vinci’s Tiger, Elliott imagines Ginevra’s story, based on known fragments from history and the only surviving scrap of her poetry. Ginevra’s story is captivating, empowering, and beautifully told, as she navigates Florence during the Renaissance, a time women were to be seen and not heard.”
—ABA’s TOP TEN Indie NEXT GREAT READS
“Elliott meticulously researched the 15th century to bring alive the affluence, art, and clothing Florence was known for—fully immersing readers in the time period. In many ways this intriguing novel is a feminist piece. . . Ginevra learns that her empowerment comes from within, despite the limitations put on her sex. VERDICT: add this gem to round out collections skewed toward 20th-century history.”
—School Library Journal
“Rich in historical detail. Descriptions of well-known works of art, complex societal protocols, and political power plays allow the reader to understand both the beauty and restrictions of Ginevra’s world. Fans of historical fiction will find Italy’s Renaissance fascinating.”
—VOYA
Praise for Storm Dog
“Storm Dog approaches like a gentle rain shower and then whirls into your heart like a wild frenzy. Thunder and music, dogs and dancing, Storm Dog is ultimately a story about loyalty, about longing, and no one can teach humans those two things better than a pack of fuzzy frolicking pooches. Storm Dog will make readers dance!”
—Kristin O’Donnell Tubb, author of A Dog Like Daisy and Zeus, Dog of Chaos
“I love Ariel for her resilient spirit! She honors the comforting premise that our sense of belonging in this world comes of extending ourselves to others—human and canine! Laura Elliott has crafted
an engaging and relevant story.”
—Leslie Connor, author of The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle and A Home for Goddesses and Dogs
This story will make you cry and laugh. This was so sad for me to read about. I did not know that so many teenagers rode the rails during the depression. This book tells about Robert and his journey to try to find a job to help his mom. I enjoyed learning about what some of the people that rode the rails did to find jobs. Most of what happens is very sad. I received a copy of this book from the ireadbooktour for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
I give this book a five out of five stars.
Desperate times. Danger on the rails. A journey to save a family.
It is 1933 inside a sweltering courtroom in Macon, Georgia. Fifteen-year-old Robert sits on a bench awaiting sentencing after being picked up for vagrancy and spending a night in jail. He left his home in Illinois with a neighborhood friend to ride the rails and find work to help their families. The friend turned back, too afraid to face the perils ahead. But going back empty-handed isn’t an option for Robert.
THE ONLY WAY HOME is the story of one boy’s determination to survive loss and hardship to help his family — and how fate and a violin touch the course of his life.
Fans of Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens and Sold On a Monday by Kristina Morris will love this story set during the Great Depression of a fatherless boy fighting to keep his family together.. BUY THE BOOK: Amazon ~ B&N IndieBound~ Book Depository ~ Abebooks Add to GoodreadsMeet the Author:
As a member of the American Association of University Women, she coordinates the Foreign Policy Association’s Great Decisions discussion group and participates in several AAUW interest groups.
Jeanette and her husband enjoy all that Colorado renders in outdoor activities including hiking and biking. connect with the author: website ~ facebook ~ goodreads
This is a fun cozy mystery with witches and shapeshifters. This is a great small town. I love the characters and this one takes place at Christmas. This is a wonderful family of witches. This is a sweet mystery. You will want to read all the books in this series so you get to know all the sisters and other characters in the series. I love that these have a little bit of fairy tales mixed in the story. I received a copy of this book from the Whiskered mysteries team fir a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
I give this book a four out of five stars.
PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION
This beauty witch has to rescue herself when her hometown gets a close shave with a Scrooge of a thief.
When it comes to hair, my long, silky mane of fairytale renown is the envy of every woman in town. These lovely locks aren’t only for looks—they’re also the source of my beauty magick!
Unlike another long-haired princess trapped in a turret, the only tower I’m hiding in is one of my own makings. An unprincely royal broke my heart during a Christmas Eve past and left my emotions in a tangled mess.
When a thief steals the angel topper from our town’s Christmas wishing tree, I’m forced out of my holiday funk to ferret out the bandit. Soon I get an unwanted fringe benefit—the return of the pompous prince, and he’s determined to help.
No potion or spell will heal my heart, (believe me, I’ve tried), but perhaps working side-by-side with him will. Can I leave my comfort zone and comb the town for the tree’s lost topper and the person who took it? Or will my hair tie me—and my prince—up in a fatal end?
This series just keeps getting better and better. This one had me laughing and crying. Mae and Hank figure out some things between them and Mae solves a mystery of course. As always there are great descriptions of the park and the forest. Again the Laundry Club Ladies are also wonderful. I am really looking forward to seeing what Mae and her friends will be up to next. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
I give this book a five out of five stars.
PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION
Southern Hospitality with a Smidgen of Homicide It creams my corn to think I’ve been accused of murder. I’m a handyman in the Daniel Boone National Park. My main employer is Mae West at the Happy Trails Campground. When I got a phone call to take down some trees on this guy’s property for a side hustle, I jumped at the chance. That’s one of the biggest money making jobs around these parts. Unfortunately I got hauled off to jail after I was accused of being part of an illegal logging crew. Simple enough, I gave Sheriff Hank Sharp the name of the man who hired me, only he was found murdered by one of my tools. Not only am I accused of illegal logging, now I’m the number one suspect in this man’s murder. It just creams my corn to be accused of murder. There’s only one person I trust to get me out of this mess and that’s Maybelline West. I’m sure she, along with her nosy friends, the Laundry Club Ladies, will snoop around to help clear my name.
This is a wonderful story of Amish and Englishers. Eva loved Jake until he leaves the Amish and goes out to the English world. Eva feels she is an old maid and takes a new job at a cafe in a different town. This story is wonderful and has many twists and turns. There is a little bit of intrigue and some romance. I love the characters and I like how the author solves many of their problems. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
I give this book a five out of five stars.
PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION
An Old Flame Brings a Spark of New Hope
En Alt Maedel–an old maid.
At age twenty-nine, that’s what Eva Lapp considers herself. And who could argue with her? Finding a good Amish husband at her age will be next to impossible. Plus, Eva’s unwarranted bad reputation in Lancaster County precedes her. Maybe living the Englisch life would be better.
To Eva’s surprise, her first love, Jake Miller, suddenly returns to Lancaster County. Flooded with emotions and filled with questions about Jake’s past, can Eva trust what she’s feeling?
Jake and Eva face many obstacles in their quest for a fresh start in the community, but perhaps with God’s help, they can find the redemption they both desperately need.
