On My Bookshelf:Light Up New York

                                                 

Light Up New York (Glimmer Girls Book # 4) by Natalie Grant with Naomi Kinsman

Little description: Join twins Mia and Maddie and their sidekick little sister, Lulu, as they travel the country finding adventure, mystery, and sometimes mischief along the way. Together with their famous mother, singer Gloria Glimmer, and their slightly wacky nanny Miss Julia, the sisters learn lessons about being good friends, telling the truth, and a whole lot more.

In this fourth book in the Faithgirlz Glimmer Girls series, the Glimmer family is headed to the Big Apple—New York City! Gloria has been asked to perform a concert in Times Square and the whole family joins her. Miss Julia immediately starts planning a sightseeing trip for the sisters that will be better than all the rest, but plans never turn out exactly as they imagine when the Glimmer girls are involved. So what happens when sibling rivalry, random acts of kindness, and a little mystery all meet up at some of the most famous sights in New York City?

Genre: Christian Fiction/ Children’s Book/ Mystery

Find the book on Amazon here.

My thoughts: 5 stars out of 5

The Glimmer girls did it again! They manage to find a mystery wherever they go… This time the detective bug followed them to New York, where they started a hunt on the mysterious Snow Angel… With all the exciting things and sight seeing in NY, they chose to unveil this Snow Angel persona, but in the process they managed to become one…

Interesting and engaging story of young-detective girls who have their peer questions, battling the jealousy and putting other in jeopardy.

Provided by BookLook Bloggers as a complementary copy for my opinion and review.

On My Bookshelf: Easter Blessings

                                       

Easter Blessings (Really Woolly) by Bonnie Rickner Jensen

Little description:Winter’s nap is over, and new life is all around!

Flowers are blooming. Birds are chirping. And the Really Woolly characters are discovering God’s goodness all around them. Curl up with your little one, and join the fun while learning about the hope of Easter and springtime!

Adorable rhymes, sweet Bible verses, and prayer starters will make reading time a special moment for you and your child—to connect with each other and with God. 

Genre: Christian/ Children’s Book

Find the book on Amazon here.

My thoughts: 5 stars out of 5

Find Really Woolly cute and cuddling characters prepared to explore the outside, with a nature waking up from the winter’s slumber…. With adorable rhyming stories, little ones will enjoy the time to discover how the flowers grow back and the leaves appear on the trees, but most importantly, learn the true story behind the Easter and what it meant for the Relly Woolly bunny, sheep and birds….

Beautiful artwork and illustrations…

Provided by BookLook Bloggers as a complementary copy for my opinion and review.

On My Bookshelf:The Elusive Miss Ellison

                                               

The Elusive Miss Ellison (Regency Brides: A Legacy of Grace, Book #1) by Carolyn Miller

Little description:Pride, prejudice and forgiveness…
Hampton Hall’s new owner has the villagers of St. Hampton Heath all aflutter–all except Lavinia Ellison. The reverend’s daughter cares for those who are poor and sick, and the seventh Earl of Hawkesbury definitely does not meet that criteria. His refusal to take his responsibilities seriously, or even darken the door of the church, leave her convinced he is as arrogant and reckless as his brother–his brother who stole the most important person in Lavinia’s world.

Nicholas Stamford is shadowed by guilt: his own, his brother’s, the legacy of war. A perfunctory visit to this dreary part of Gloucestershire wasn’t supposed to engage his heart, or his mind. Challenged by Miss Ellison’s fascinating blend of Bluestocking opinions, hoydenish behavior, and angelic voice, he finds the impossible becoming possible–he begins to care. But Lavinia’s aloof manner, society’s opposition and his ancestral obligations prove most frustrating, until scandal forces them to get along.  
            
Can Lavinia and Nicholas look beyond painful pasts and present prejudice to see their future? And what will happen when Lavinia learns a family secret that alters everything she’s ever known?

Genre: Christian Fiction/ Historical Romance

Find the book on Amazon here.

My thoughts: 5 stars out of 5

She believes that everyone needs grace, except for him… He came into Lavinia’s life recently, but managed to ruin hers long time ago, breaking apart the only family she knew. How will she need this grace when she would learn that all the needy of the village can be helped, their house can be rebuilt again. She quickly learns that everything seems not what it is. The known is not the very life she came to know. The secret that not only powerful enough to bring the family together, but also defuse her love to shreds. Will she choose to cower and accept her grandmother’s wishes in reality, or will keep going with her heart.

A story of hope, grace, and family bonds, and hidden secrets…God’s extended grace can reach and heal the brokenhearted, even the earl’s soul.

Simpleton with a kind heart, a servant with great inheritance.

A lovely story;so much have been said, so much wrong have been done.

Provided by Litfuse as a complementary copy for my opinion and review.

On My Bookshelf: The Door Keeper {Book and Blog Tour}

                                    

The Door Keeper by Steen Jones

Little description:Adventure. Love. Destiny.

Single mom Eden Saunders has learned that tragedy is simply a part of life. Her mother died during childbirth, and her husband was killed just three years after they married. On a journey to discover where she comes from, Eden inherits the key to unlocking new worlds from her deceased mother—including the world that should have been her home. The only thing stopping her from exploring them is the fear of leaving her daughter behind. Caught up in the circle of legacy, Eden discovers the mother-daughter bond that even death cannot break.

In discovering where she truly came from, Eden inherits a key from her deceased mother that opens doors to different worlds beyond her imagination, including the world that should have been her home. The only thing stopping her from exploring them is the fear of leaving her own daughter behind. T he Door Keeper explores the circle of mother/daughter legacies, and the bond that unites them; a bond that even death can not break.

Genre: Fantasy Fiction

Find the book on Amazon here.

My thoughts: 5 stars out of 5

Spoilers Alert: Precede with caution, spoilers might be spotted here and there. If spoilers are you pet peeves, then disregard this review altogether by going directly to Amazon for a purchase or further examination. 
Without any shadow of the doubt Eden’s story has been quiet great and unique adventure. Bravisimo to Steen Jones’ debut novel. The author outdone with the characters and the plot development. Characters are charming, except the hostility some exuded, and well-placed in the plot. My favorite, of course, is Gabby. For 10 year-old girl, she knows and acts as typical middle school-er with sleepovers, school projects, and questions, but with her own sense of humor, especially around her mom and the new dude, James.
Another favorite is Eden. She comes as one of the main characters of the novel. Her life filled with weird dreams and often reoccurring nightmares, makes life even harder. She still has many questions about her family…
Eden is forced to have a look into her past, which opened the door to her destiny. Unknown key, strange doors had opened up new territories. Will she pass the fear not test and walk into her past, present, and future? 
One of the strong landmarks of this novel are doors which are guarded by the Door Keepers… the different lands, the places realistically subjected to wars and times of peace. With a rightful queen returned to Caelum’s throne, will the life and peace be brought to usual rhythm?
The ways of treason, imprisonment, and more secrets weaved into Eden’s life, threatening to destroy all she knew and cherished. 
Will fear factor ruin the legacy?
I love that the story ended on the sweet mystery. Gabby, Eden’s daughter, went from ten to almost eighteen years-old. But when her mom disappeared again, only Gabby holds the key to the rescue. Will she believe the wild story her uncle told her, and with the mother’s journals will she be fast enough to use her gift to unlock the place of her mom’s disappearance just in time?

Provided by RoyalJamesPublishing as a complementary copy for my opinion and review.

On My Bookshelf: The Kill Fee

                                    

The Kill Fee (Poppy Denby Investigates Book#2) by Fiona Veitch Smith

Little description:Poppy Denby, Arts and Entertainment Editor at The Daily Globe, covers an exhibition of Russian Art, hosted by White Russian refugees, including members of the surviving exiled Romanov Royal family. There is an armed robbery, a guard is shot, and the largest Fabergé Egg in the collection is stolen. The egg itself is valuable, but more so are the secrets it contains within – secrets that could threaten major political powers. Suspects are aplenty, including the former keeper of the Fabergé Egg, a Russian Princess called Selena Romanova Yusopova. The interim Bolshevik Russian ambassador, Vasili Safin inserts himself into the investigation, as he believes the egg – and the other treasures – should all be restored to the Russian people. Poppy, her editor Rollo, press photographer Daniel, and the other staff of the Globe are delighted to be once again in the middle of a sensational story. But, soon the investigation takes a dark turn when another body is found and an employee of the newspaper becomes a suspect… The race is on to find both the key and the egg – can they be found before the killer strikes again?

Genre: Historical/ Mystery/ Crime Fiction

Find the book on Amazon here.

My thoughts: 4 stars out of 5

In The Kill Fee, two main characters dominate the story… Two female personas with strong personalities, past mistakes, brave and courageous in time of trouble, and in love with a mystery. Poppy Denby, the minister’s daughter, running as a reporter at The Daily Globe, finds the  crime following her in every place she goes. Princess Selena Yusopova, one of the keeper of the royal Russian fimily’s treasures, finds the Faberge Egg missing from the exhibition. 

Fiona Veitch Smith write a superb mystery, including lots of historical facts about Royal Russian family. She places two main characters in the London 1920…with lots of action and intricate details that follows Poppy in the investigation.

Lots of political stands occurring at that time in London society, great characters and plot development. 

One thing that was hard for me to follow is the timeline, it was jumping back and forth, confusing me in times.

PS. Ginny K. from Kregel has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.

On My Bookshelf: The Story Travelers Bible

                                 

The Story Travelers Bible by Tracey Madder and Tim Crecelius

Little description: Join Lana, Munch, and Griffin on the adventure of a lifetime as they travel through the Holy Land and learn about the stories, cultures, people, and places of the Bible. High-quality illustrations, engaging sidebars, and scripture passages draw kids into the narrative. The Story Travelers Bible teaches kids that the Bible is more than just a bunch of tales told by parents and Sunday school teachers, but the Bible documents God’s work in and for His people from the beginning of time. The Story Travelers Bible will take kids on a ride through 85 Bible stories.

Genre: Children’s Bible

Find the book on Amazon here.

My thoughts: 5 stars out of 5

What an adventure they had! Lana, Munch and Griffin had never imagined to learn about God, flying through the course of Bible creation and every event that took place on Earth, recorded in the Word of God. 

A fun book, packed with flying and adventure. What a way to learn about creation, meet Adam and Eve, be on the Noah’s Ark, and fight with Samson… or to appear in the lions’ den ..yakes…full of hungry lions, but Danial’s calm feature gave reassurance to kids about God Who was in control,even in that scary moment.

Cute book for little kids, with amazing illustrations…85 full illustrated Bible stories will transport all young and older into Bible times… It contains fun facts, passages to think about, verses to learn by heart…

PS. Tyndale House Publishers  has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.