The Patmos Deception by Davis Bunn

by Davis Bunn

ISBN: 9780764211393

Publisher Synopsis:                                 An Ancient Island Holds an Ancient Secret . . .

Nick Hennessy, a young Texas journalist yearning for his big break, finds himself in Europe--his assignment, to investigate the alarming disappearance of invaluable Grecian antiquities. Nick has the credentials--and cover ID--to unearth the truth. And he knows just the researcher to help him...

Carey Mathers, fresh from her studies in forensic archeology, has accepted a job with the prestigious Athens Institute for Antiquities--a dream come true, really, particularly when the Greek isle of Patmos, where the Apostle John received his vision of the Apocalypse, was a particular focus of her research.

Dimitri Rubinos, for whom the Greek islands represent his life, holds on by his fingernails to the family charter boat business. But his country's economic chaos isn't the only thing that has turned his world on its head...

 MrsK's Review:

When I was given an opportunity to review this book, I had a bubbling of excitement to return to Patmos after all of these years. The intrigue of a sacred document, the mysterious disappearances of ancient antiquities, and the character's passionate work as a journalist, a forensic archaeologist, and a charter boatman was a mixture that I could not resist.

"Carey Mathers arrived in Greece in a state of breathless exhaustion... 

She had never been too worried about what her grandmother called the store-bought life.

But this trip was different. Her journey to Greece was all about dreams coming true."

I remember that exhaustion. I was hooked with her dreams of Greece coming true... I would be enjoying this book and I would not be disappointed. Great beginnings always create a perfect opportunity for enjoying a journey with a satisfied "sigh" of relief.

If Carey's worn out invitation to come and work for the Athens Institute for Antiquities brought hope and joy, imagine what a chained gate... an empty building... and chaos in the streets were doing to her emotions as she arrives in Greece (I was not expecting this turn of events at the get-go).

Befriended by Eleni, Carey begins a journey of unexpected events that will land her on the island of Patmos. These events are orchestrated to bring her together with a dear friend from the past, with a women of God who will guide her beyond survival, and with breath-taking sights in which she stops to take its grandeur in as often as possible (so many memories were shared within this character's discoveries...I loved the connections).

Each character is so interesting. Their stories are woven in such a way that you will agree with their choices, or you will be tense and on alert, or you could feel yourself drawn to race to their defense:

• Where do you go with no money, home, family, or friends?
• What do you do when men with guns board your boat and there's a storm thundering all around you?
• What can you do when the local police begin questioning your involvement and connections?
• How do you get out of a kidnapping?
• What happens when your heart strings are being played?
• What has the Patmos Monastery of Saint John have do with this definite life-changing espionage and illegalities of others?
• Who is Prochoros? 
• What wisdom can Kyriaki share that will keep every character on the right course?
• How will  Dr. Karras provide safety for Carey and Nick when the UN Heritage Sites commissions can't be trusted?
•  Just how deadly will McAllister get if the Bishop doesn't turn over the artifact?

If their lives depend on them getting this mission right, then Carey will need to depend on her relationship with God. Can a life-long "pilgrimage" be found in the Cave of Revelation? For those who have entered this cave, the vivid detail will take your breath away!

"Carey pressed her hands to her cheeks, her eyes brimming with tears...

 She tried to look everywhere at once, desperate to take it all in, every shred of the morning and the sounds that he had taken for granted all his life..."

Don't overlook this journey with Carey, Nick, and Dimitri in and out of Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, and Patmos... 

MrsK

  From Greece to Patmos... Don't miss your booking!

Meet the Author:

  Born and raised in North Carolina, Davis left for Europe at age twenty. There he first completed graduate studies in economics and finance, then began a business career that took him to over forty countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

Davis came to faith at age 28, while living in Germany and running an international business advisory group. He started writing two weeks later. Since that moment, writing has remained both a passion and a calling.

Davis wrote for nine years and completed seven books before his first was accepted for publication. During that time, he continued to work full-time in his business career, travelling to two and sometimes three countries every week. His first published book, The Presence, was released in 1990 and became a national bestseller.

Honored with four Christy Awards for excellence in historical and suspense fiction, his bestsellers include The Great Divide, Winner Take All, The Meeting Place, The Warning, The Book of Hours, and The Quilt. 

"I received this book for free from Bethany House Publishers for this review."

How To Survive Middle School and Monster Bots by Howard Boward

Howard Boward

ISBN: 9780310736080

Publisher's Synopsis:

Sometimes, being smart just isn’t enough!

It’s been a rough winter for Howard Boward, science genius. Not only is he caught in the crossfire of winter’s most dangerous weapon (snowballs), his best friend, Winnie McKinney, is mad at him, and the school bullies seem to have made it their personal mission to make life at Dolley Madison Middle School miserable. But when Howard’s teacher tells him about the upcoming robot-building contest, Howard can’t resist using his superior knowledge of science to gain an advantage, especially since he’ll be competing against archrival Gerald “G-Force” Forster. Unfortunately, the secret goo he uses to make his cardboard robot move turns it into a multiplying, vengeance-seeking monster. If Howard doesn’t stop the robot rebellion in time, they’ll ruin everything—including his friendships and the school dance.

MrsK's Review:

Can you imagine being a science genius? Not even the change of the season is considered easy, normal, or simple. Not every science nerd is a geek, in fact what would our lives be like without them?

"First, before I say anything else, I want to make one thing clear:

some of my best friends are machines. Seriously..."

Meet Howard, a middle school Sci-guy. Earlier on he created a goo that will once again take on a life of it's own design (more about that in a bit). Howard has a big problem, better known as school bullies. These guys are not the type you enjoy seeing coming your way. They even have their own alley of anxiety (Snowball Alley). Beyond the daily onslaught of bullying, Howard also has a nemesis who has just made a rather "good" robot that is able to make hoop shots. G-Force and his Basket-bot could surpass Howard's robotic genius. Although Howard is not an inventor who will be de-throned, he does run into some very mysterious happenings:

"Here it is--the good stuff, the bad stuff, and the stuff I was hoping no one would ever find out about.

It's time the truth came out.

I'll be the first to admit I made a ton of mistakes, and caused a lot of trouble,

and put just about everyone I know in danger....

But just so you know, the robots started it."

As Howard explains the sequence of events, you must acknowledge his passion for making the best robot. His joy when he discovers an after school robot club (BAs). His quick thinking as the Winter Formal is about to be crashed (or smashed) beyond repair. His restraint when he faces the bullies and chooses not to retaliate on their level. And, of course, there is the little "rooting" for Howard when everything he cares about rapidly begins destroying his plans in winning the Believer Achievers Robotics Fair.

The only saving grace is the town's annual Mega-Monster Film Festival. Well, and the help of his Uncle... a few friends... his family... and of course the BAs! Remember that invention of goo? It seems that once you pour it into a box and you add a few ingredients, well it tends to create other self-feeding robots. With the town dressing up for the Mega-Monster Film Festival and the robotic smashers... the town, and the dance, are in extreme danger. How does Howard stop the chaos? That's the hook... I will tell you that dancing sure burns up energy.

This story is an adventure that will provide you with laughter, serious shut-your-eyes bullying, and of course awe-inspiring Sci-guy wowzers...

Enjoy the fun,

MrsK 

 Too much fun to stay on the shelves!

About the Author:
Ron Bates is a novelist and humor columnist who writes about secret laboratories, monsters, bullies, robots, cafeteria food, and other perils of middle school. A former newspaper reporter, he is the author of How to Make Friends and Monsters, How to Survive Middle School and Monster Bots, the comic book series Brawn, and numerous poems and plays for kids who like to laugh. He lives in Texas.

Don't forget to read the first Howard novel:

Questions for this elusive author:  Thanks to the book reviewer who hosted a blog tour.
What is something about your life right now that you would have never imagined 5 years ago?
That anyone would want my autograph. I still feel like I should apologize whenever I sign a book, it’s this sense that I’ve somehow left a permanent blotch on an otherwise perfect page. Getting to do something like that is an honor and one of the most gratifying parts of the book-writing experience but it’s surreal. I guess it’s because authors aren’t accustomed to being onstage — the book is the star, we’re somewhere back behind the curtain. Don’t get me wrong, it’s wonderful but I always half-expect people to say they’re joking and then pull the book away.

What is one thing you want the next generation to know?
The world neither starts nor ends with you. That sounds so obvious but every generation seems to struggle with the concept. For some reason, there’s this point in our development where we believe we have to change things, and only we can do it because we have all the answers. That’s not the next generation, that’s every generation. The trouble is, we forget that others felt this way long before our arrival. There’s a reason things are as they are, a reason our predecessors set us on this course. That doesn’t mean it’s the right course but it does mean you don’t change everything just for the sake of change. You owe something to the next generation, just as the previous one owed something to you, so don’t throw away the past carelessly. You might be robbing those to come of something precious.
And now a few about How to Make Friends and Monsters!

Where did the idea develop? Are you a big Frankenstein fan?
I grew up a big fan of old monster movies. I’m not just talking about the “classic” monsters like Frankenstein, Dracula and the Wolfman, I liked them all–Mothra, Gamera, the blob, the giant ants from “Them.” One of my favorite memories is staying up late on Friday nights and watching the cheesy midnight movies that always involved some nuclear mutation bent on destroying the planet. But just when you thought you knew everything about monster history, it changed. Sesame Street gave us Cookie Monster and Grover, Harry and the Hendersons gave us a lovable Bigfoot, and we met Sulley and Mike Wazowski from Monsters Inc. Suddenly, monsters, which had always been the scourge of mankind, could be friends.
In a lot of ways, the book is an examination of one question — what is a monster? Is it a monster because of the way it looks, because of where it came from, or because of its actions? At its heart, this is a story about a friendship between two kids, one of whom just happens to be a “monster.”

Were any of the characters inspired by real people?
Definitely. There are elements of people I know in all of them but they’re not exact copies. My brothers and my sister, for example, have all found instances in the book that happened to them while we were growing up. Those parts were when the story felt most “real” to me because they were real experiences. When I picture Winnie McKinney in my head, I know the face I’m thinking of and it belongs to a real-life person. Is Winnie her? The best answer I can give is “kind of.”
As for Howard, he looks at the world a lot like I do. I think he worries about the same things I worried about at his age, so I know I’m in there, part of the mix. Hopefully no one I grew up with will see themselves in the bullies in the story — but if they’d been on the other end of the wedgie back then, there’s a good chance they might.

What’s one of the main things you hope your young readers come away with after reading this?
Fitting in isn’t about becoming who you think the crowd wants you to be. It’s about being who you are and finding your place among people who wouldn’t have you any other way. You might make friends by pretending to be someone you’re not, but you’ll never really be one.

So is there anything on the horizon for Howard?
Indeed there is. I’m finishing the second book in the series right now and it takes place a little later in the year, during the winter months when the first snow has just fallen. We tend to think of snow as this pillowy layer of fluff that floats down from the sky but Howard sees it as something else entirely. Rolled into a ball, it becomes a cold, hard weapon and he is its unfortunate target. Naturally, with his passion for inventing things, you can count on him coming up with a very unusual snowman. It’s not that Howard means for it to be unusual, it’s just that his inventions never quite turn out as planned. But most of the main characters from the first book are back and Howard is still trying to survive the perilous halls of Dolley Madison Middle School, so hopefully it’ll be a fun read.

"I received this book for free for this review"

Beneath by Roland Smith

By Roland Smith

ISBN: 9780545564861

Coming to you January 27, 2015

Publisher's Synopsis:

Pat O'Toole has always idolized his older brother, Coop. He's even helped Coop with some of his crazier plans -- such as risking his life to help his big brother dig a tunnel underneath their neighborhood in the suburbs of Washington, DC. Coop is . . . different. He doesn't talk on the phone, doesn't use email, and doesn't have friends. He's never really cared for anything but the thrill of being underground and Pat. So it's no surprise to anyone -- even Pat -- that after a huge fight with their parents, Coop runs away. Exactly one year later, Pat receives a package containing a digital voice recorder and a cryptic message from his brother. He follows the clues to New York City, and soon discovers that Coop has joined the Community, a self-sufficient society living beneath the streets. Now it's up to Pat to find his brother -- and bring him home.

MrsK's Review:

What really is beneath? This cover draws you in and down... down below the streets of New York City. Seriously, who wouldn't creep over to the light and peer down... down... down!

Before I share with you about Pat, let me share of few "things" about his brother Coop. For some reason, Coop really likes a pair of tap shoes. Now I get this, once those taps start resonating on differing surfaces you can't help but to keep your feet in action. Coop also likes reading, maybe not the same type of books I would choose... but a reader is an explorer. Someone who is willing to look "deeper" beyond the words or whatever society is trying to enforce. Coop is also a writer who has lost the opportunity to communicate in a journal. So, the next best option would be keeping an auditory journal (definitely a real-time... over the edge... survival and in the moment tech-nique). Coop likes digging, dirt, and tuna sandwiches. Nothing unusual... except, well he's going "beneath."

Now for Pat (such an amazingly brave character), his story begins after the explosion... after Coop has run away... and once a package arrives at his school. Coop has "hooked" him into keeping a journal as a way of documenting the truth:

"This is what I'm doing here in this journal...stringing together bits and pieces of information to make a story,

 each bead in the necklace made from different material. Memory beads. Recorded beads. Newspaper beads. Letter beads..."

Once Coop began digging behind their shed, Pat was recruited as a co-conspirator. This was not just a "hole" for discovery, it was well planned... eight months of tunneling "slithering beneath the neighborhood like a giant earthworm." Unfortunately, the tunnel ended up at the Mesa's swimming pool and the "whumpf" of the explosion brought "every local, state, and federal law enforcement agent" to their back yard shed. 

 Three days later, Pat awakens to the reality that his brother had been taken by the Feds. Even when Coop was returned, things were not the same. And then came the day that Coop was gone. No note... no tap shoes... no tent... no sleeping bag... backpack...or  flashlights... all gone... completely gone. Only some stationery and envelopes were left behind. 

Gone where? Where and why would Coop leave? It takes a year of  worry, anger, and change... but on the day the package is delivered at Pat's school , he begins a recorded communication with Coop. Consider it like letters or a voice-journal of every day happenings. Until Coop gets to New York: 

" When I finally got here I knew I was in the right place. What I'm looking for is here. 

I don't know how to explain it, but I can feel it...it's close."

When there is no recordings, no letters... Pat decides to tell both of his parents that something has happened to Coop. The only thing they are concerned about is where Pat will spend Christmas break. Now that they have divorced and have new interests, neither are thrilled that the other one has plans. So Pat decides his own destination... New York City... in search of Coop. He has ten nights to find him.

So what is Coop looking for? Who is this old guy who knows everything about NYC? Who is the girl and why is she wearing shades at night? What does Coop mean that he has earned his "entrance fee?" Who is the guide? Who is that strange man opening Coop's mail box?

With so many unknowns, a plot that takes you "underground," claustrophobic tunnels, and "deeply-rooted" communities... Pat must find a way to help Coop before it's too late. It takes courage to even be in the tunnels, can you imagine being underground with no plan, no map, nothing that gives you a moment of peace or sleep? Could you trust strangers with your next breath? Would you be so driven to find your sibling that only true grit would bring you a few miles closer to the truth?

 "I put the earphones in and fast-forwarded to Coop's references to what lies below..."

Pat's journey is not an adventure, it's a harrowing experience that only leads to more questions, suffocating decisions, constant agony pulsing through your veins... and certain death. This novel will keep you turning the pages and only stopping to gulp in a breath, grab a bite to eat, and return with a ferocity to reach Coop for yourself (yep, that type of reader enmeshment is delightfully delivered). Every character has their own story, each decision is pre-determined to take Pat deeper underground, and every life-threatening chase is smothered by miles of dirt overhead. Or at least it appears that no one is noticing where Pat is...

My only question to the author of a "stand alone" novel would be: Are these characters seriously not beckoning to you to finish their journey?

This is a must reserve read... don't wait... get Roland's newest book for your New Year kick off.  It is beyond expectations. It is a winter's journey not to be forgotten. It will... well, it will make you re-live Pat's moments "beneath" civilization (a true read-it-forward novel).
MrsK

 "Over the top"

A must add to any Library, classroom shelf, and home collection!

 Meet the Author:

---

  I was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. When I was five years old my parents gave me an old manual typewriter that weighed more than I did! It was my favorite possession. I spent hours in my room clacking away on that old typewriter. Of course, when I was five I didn’t know how to spell and I barely knew how to read, but I loved the sound and the look of the letters on the crisp white paper. Things haven’t changed much since then. I still spend several hours a day in my room clacking away and I still love the sound of the keyboard and the look of the letters and words that eventually turn into stories. The only difference is that I can read now and I spell a lot better.

Keep up-to-date with Roland's Blog

"I received this book for this honest review"

Mr. Miracle by Debbie Macomber

By Debbie Macomber

ISBN: 9780553391152

Publisher's Synopsis:

Harry Mills is a guardian angel on a mission: help twenty-four-year-old Addie Folsom get her life back on track—and, if the right moment strikes, help her find love. Posing as a teacher at a local college in Tacoma, Washington, Harry is up to the task, but not even he can predict the surprises that lay in store.
After trying to make it on her own, Addie has returned home to Tacoma for the holidays, but this time she plans to stay for good, enrolling in the local community college to earn her degree. What she doesn’t plan to do is run into Erich Simmons.
Addie and her next-door neighbor, Erich, are like night and day. Growing up, he was popular and outgoing while she was rebellious and headstrong, and he never missed an opportunity to tease her. Now she intends to avoid him entirely, yet when they’re suddenly forced to spend Christmas together, Addie braces for trouble.
Perhaps it’s the spirit of the season or the magic of mistletoe, but Addie and Erich soon find they have more in common than they thought—and that two people who seem so wrong for each other may actually be just right. With a little prompting from a certain angelic teacher, the two are in for a holiday miracle they’ll never forget.

MrsK's Review:

My Holiday Pick!

As an educator, during the Christmas season I look forward to just the right books that will give me a break from my everyday routine. Whether I am returning to a "trustworthy" friendship found with a previous Christmas read or I am "unwrapping" my newest delight, I know that I will always be satisfied with one of Mrs. Macomber's stories. All of the comforts of home are "blended" together creating the perfect environment of joy, love, inspiration, and hope. The best review would be... treating yourself with a few moments of  "tender-loving-care"... choose one of these titles and begin your personal Holiday retreat!

Meet the newest "guardian angel on a mission." Harry Mills is assigned to a Washington state college. This is his first assignment, so being in human form can be a bit of a challenge. Even an angel doesn't have all of the answers... and somethings can get a bit "out-of-hand" when new feelings and experiences are so inviting.

Meet Addie, she has just signed up for a college literature course. Not only does she have reservations about taking a reading course, she is assigned the Dicken's classic A Christmas Carol. Even at 24, reading this classic can lead to a few "ghosts" from your past. For Addie, just walking back into a classroom can be daunting... unless, of course the instructor just happens to be an angel on assignment for your personal touch of Grace. What isn't expected is the discovery of a friendship that will begin "lighting-up" her daily routines. Something as wonderful as a Christmas tree or mistletoe will bring her a "joy like no other."

Meet Addie's next door neighbor, Erich. How well do you know the neighbor who tormented you as you were growing up? Even though your mother's were best friends... neighbors can be those you want to run away from. That is until an accident could keep your mother from her anticipated cruise just because someone needs to stay home to take care of Erich. Would you be willing to be that someone? Seriously, looking after... cooking for... providing your free time... for someone you have never liked? Well, doing for others is what the Christmas spirit is all about... right? Erich has no reservation in being nasty about the arrangement. He is totally adamant about no Christmas cheer, no lighted tree, no Holiday outings! A complete true to life Scrooge... or is he?

Meet Harry's assigned class, they will be those characters that cause you to smile. Each one with their own set of troubles and yet, each one "hand picked" for this precise moment in time. There are two "running start" high school students who help to keep the course on track. There is Danny who is taking the course because his parole officer thought it could get his future jump-started. Danny will always have a "vocal" insight to share. There is Andrew, a returning vet who has Tommy as his rehab companion. Andrew is edgy and reserved. The character that brings a quiet hope to the classroom mix. Jonas is the college's janitor, he has reservations about Harry until he learns about the kindness that was given to Elaina. Elaina works at the campus cafeteria. For Elaina, listening outside the classroom door is a risk that she is willing to take. It's an opportunity to learn English, to have a chance at a future.

Added to these delightful characters is Celeste from the latte stand. As her name suggests, she is so much more than a "people" person working at a drink stand...

"Celeste looked toward Harry as if expecting him to say something... 'You say your mother is disappointed?'

'That's putting it mildly... My father died this summer, and the thought of spending this first Christmas

without him was huge for her. The cruise was just the escape she needed.'

'Perhaps there's a way for your mother and her best friend to go on that cruise after all...'

'What about you?... Couldn't you be the one to help Erich?"

Celeste is the balanced ingredient for perfection, the perfected "Heavenly comrade" for Harry and everyone within this story. A character not to be forgotten.

Just as in A Christmas Carol, or any well written story, there must be those characters that create havoc to the plot. You know them, they are the fellow students, the co-workers, the neighbors or family members who are so self-centered that they do not "see" their words or actions affecting those around them. Officer Brady Witall is the campus security guard who strives to put Harry's job at risk. 

"Might I remind you (Harry) that unless it's a matter directly related to Addie or another one of your students,

you're unable to use any spiritual powers to counteract Dr. Conceito?"

In-spite of Celeste's warning, any form of interaction with Dr. Conceito (don't love this name choice) will end in disastrous humility for Harry.

"Remember (Harry), your time here is probationary.

 I realize coming to Earth has been something you've been waiting a long time for, but you need to prove yourself if you're going to stay longer than the time it takes to teach this one class." 

Many moments of joy dear readers, a book that you will share but do not want to give away... you will want to revisit Mr. Miracle in the seasons to come,

MrsK 

 Beautifully crafted, delightfully entertaining, perfect Holiday retreat!
Added to my shelf 
  
Don't forget these "trustworthy" Holiday friends...
           
Mrs. Miracle and Starry Night are "What's on my reading wish list this season!"

Meet the Author:

  Debbie Macomber is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of today’s most popular writers with more than 170 million copies of her books in print worldwide. In her novels, Macomber brings to life compelling relationships that embrace family and enduring friendships, uplifting her readers with stories of connection and hope. Macomber's novels have spent over 750 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list.  Eight of these novels hitting the number one spot.
In 2014, Macomber's all-new hardcover publications will include Blossom Street Brides (March), Love Letters: A Rose Harbor Inn Novel (August) and Mr. Miracle (October) and paperback editions of the #1 bestseller Starting Now (April) and her acclaimed Christmas novel, Starry Night (October).

In addition to fiction Macomber has also published two bestselling cookbooks; numerous inspirational and nonfiction works; and two acclaimed children’s books.

Macomber's beloved and bestselling Cedar Cove Series became Hallmark Channel’s first dramatic scripted television series, Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove, which was ranked as the top program on cable when it debuted in summer 2013. Hallmark is now filming a second season of Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove which will premiere this July 19.  In addition, Macomber’s upcoming Christmas novel, Mr. Miracle, will be made into an original movie premiering on Hallmark Channel in fall 2014. Previously, Hallmark Channel has produced three successful Christmas movies based on Macomber's bestselling Christmas novels, Mrs. Miracle, Call Me Mrs. Miracle and Trading Christmas.

Macomber owns her own tea room, Victorian Rose Tea Room & yarn store, A Good Yarn, named after the shop featured in her popular Blossom Street novels. She and her husband, Wayne, serve on the Guideposts National Advisory Cabinet, and she is World Vision’s international spokesperson for their Knit for Kids charity initiative.
A devoted grandmother, Debbie and her husband Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington (the town on which her Cedar Cove novels are based) and winter in Florida.

Check out Debbie's Inspirational Recipes

I received this book for free for this book review.

 

Yuletide Ice Cube Fair by Karen Poth

Karen Poth

ISBN: 9780310746232

Publisher's Synopsis:

 It’s that wonderful time of year again—the Yuletide Ice Cube Fair! It’s a time of festivity and fun as Veggies gather to eat snow cones, slurp slushies, and ice skate on the frozen pond. But the greatest part of all is the Ice Cube Carving Contest! The Veggies are trying to outdo each other in an effort to win the grand prize. But the smallest of all these ice entries is truly the most grand—a carving done by Junior Asparagus. It is a tiny stable with a shepherd on one knee. Young readers discover that it’s not what’s biggest or best that’s most important on Christmas—it’s Jesus.

MrsK's Review:

It's that time of year...Christmas time will once again bring us Heaven's first and everlasting Christmas gift. For one quick moment in time each year children will gather with family and friends to experience God's love. Even those delightfully fun characters from Veggie Tales will celebrate what Christmas means to them.

"The little town was humming. There were children everywhere."

Welcome to the Yuletide Ice Cube Fair! Where everyone can skate on ponds of root beer, where you can "slip and slide" on burlap sacks, and you can sculpt an ice block into what Christmas means to you. What would you carve?

Not only will these color snapping illustrations bring forth the sparkle of the season, but the moments of discussing and judging the ice sculptures is such fun. Our little miss liked the cake and the French Peas design. We delighted in the littlest entry and imagined the lights glowing through the glorious trumpets.

Sharing in the true joy of the season, we anticipate this little book will bring precious memories in continued reading. We are both excited about sharing this tale with all the cousins. I can't wait for their own designs as they create Christmas ice sculpture pictures for their parents!

"May glory be given to God in the highest Heaven!"

Luke 2:14  

For this Christmas, spend some fun with this book...
MrsK

So much fun to read, to discuss, to re-read!

Meet the Author:

Throughout her career, Karen Poth has held various positions in the Children's Entertainment Industry including Vice President of Design at Big Idea/VeggieTales, Product Developer at Walt Disney World, CCO of SpringSprang Studio, and Kid's Innovation Strategist at Hallmark Cards. She holds a master’s degree in Journalism from the University of Missouri. She lives with her husband and seven-year-old son in Lenexa, KS.

 

 

Fearless Joe Dearborne by Lisa Whitney Mitchell

Lisa Whitney Mitchell

ISBN: 9781495933592

Publisher's Synopsis:

 

Some might say he's courageous, while others would say he's daring, maybe even a little crazy. But when Joe Dearborne risked his life and ran into a burning building to save a puppy, the local newspaper referred to him as "fearless"-and that's a pretty big title for a sixth-grader to live up to.

Plus, Joe already has plenty else to worry about. After other daring feats in the past, Joe promised his father he wouldn't do anything dangerous again, and, alas, he's just broken that promise.

But whatever trouble he expects to get into with his father, and despite the dangers he's triumphed over in the past, nothing could prepare Joe for what he's about to encounter when a cold, bitterness creeps into his home.

A mysterious and peculiar woman named Mrs. Chill has just been hired to care for Joe while his father is away on business. In no time, however, Joe discovers that she's up to more than cooking and cleaning, and she has plans to destroy his family. Joe's effort to save them results in perilous, sometimes humorous, encounters, and leads him on a journey through the threatening wilderness where he faces his greatest challenge yet.

MrsK's Review:

"It had been ninety-nine days since Joe Dearborne last risked his life. 

As his school bus slowed to a stop on a Friday afternoon in November, Joe thought, 

If I can just get home without anything happening, I’ll make it to one hundred tomorrow. 

That should make Dad happy."

This story is a delightful surprise, you know when you begin reading you realize that you are totally engaged and enjoying the story... well that's what happened with this fun read. The story line completely took me by surprise. Fearless Joe begins his story completely fearless...

"The red and yellow thing moved, and Joe realized it was a coral snake. 

He remembered the saying his mother taught him so he would recognize one and never touch it: 

if it has a black nose and red touches yellow, it’s a deadly fellow...   

Just past the living room, he stumbled.

It was hard to breathe. He reached for the wall, but it kept moving.

He collapsed to the floor. Thud was the last sound Joe made."

Joe is the person that runs towards danger. The students, teachers, neighbors, and just about everyone considers him a hero. His father considers him as a boy heading towards a disaster that must be stopped. So, once Joe was bitten by the snake his father decides to hire a live in housekeeper to watch over Joe. And... from that point on, Joe is plagued with doubts and fears.

Mrs. Chill is definitely not his new best friend. Not only is his favorite shirt missing the day of a test, so many weird things begin happening. Is it still the left over venom in his system? Is there really something not right about Mrs. Chill? Why did his father have to go away to save the family business? Who can he trust? Should he tell his Aunt P? Or could he trust Meg?

There are so many twists and turns, so many quick adventures that will leave you "rooting" for Joe to become fearless again. The settings are well defined. The characters take on life as you are pushing Joe forward out of his funk. The story line will surprise even the best predictor.

A must read and share for classrooms, libraries, and your independent readers,
MrsK

Enjoyable read... perfect for your classroom readers!

 Don't forget to enter the contest: Directly located to the right... Search for the cover, scroll, and enter!

Meet the Author:

Lisa Whitney Mitchell lives in Florida with her husband, two sons, and their dog. When she's not writing, she practices law. Fearless Joe Dearborne is her first novel.

 "I received this eBook for this review."

A Kitchen in France by Mimi Thorisson

By Mimi Thorisson

ISBN: 9780804185592

Publisher's Synopsis:

When Mimi Thorisson and her family moved from Paris to a small town in out-of-the-way Médoc, she did not quite know what was in store for them. She found wonderful ingredients—from local farmers and the neighboring woods—and, most important, time to cook. Her cookbook chronicles the family’s seasonal meals and life in an old farmhouse, all photographed by her husband, Oddur. Mimi’s convivial recipes—such as Roast Chicken with Herbs and Crème Fraîche, Cèpe and Parsley Tartlets, Winter Vegetable Cocotte, Apple Tart with Orange Flower Water, and Salted Butter Crème Caramel—will bring the warmth of rural France into your home. 

MrsK's Review:

Wonderfully formatted, enticing culinary discoveries, with delightful personal stories. This cook book not only provides do-able French recipes, it offers a friendship with a mother who has a "huge kitchen where I can make all my culinary fantasies come true."  Mimi shares easy to follow directions combined with seasonal favorites. Her passion for ingredients will take you to the markets, (just like her grandmother did with her), where you can "fuss over the freshest vegetables." Her husband's photographs brings the culinary delights to life with such intensity your senses begin to sniff and taste each offering as if you were standing next to him as he was creating the shoot.

"Never have I been so aware of the changing of the seasons,

the different pleasures that each of them has to offer."

Mimi's seasonal awareness has blessed me with the same "eye-opening" passion for each of our seasonal goodness. Such an unexpected experience from a cook book!

"Seasonal cooking is one of life's greatest joys: it may present a challenge, but the rewards are ample.

Most of the year, nature fills my pantry with an abundance of ingredients,

empowering me in the kitchen, making me feel invincible at the stove.

But spring is a tricky period. From a culinary perspective, nature hasn't started giving.

Fruits are still little flowers and the strawberries of May seem an eternity away.

The big hearty stews of winter that felt so comforting at Christmas are now clashing with

my impatient heart..."

For my family, the following are the meals that tempted our taste buds:

1. Roast Asparagus with Chervil: Asparagus, prosciutto, a drizzling of olive oil and parmesan shavings (pg. 36)
2. Chou Farci: a braised cabbage stuffed pot-pie of goodness (pg. 39)
3. Roast Chicken with Creme Fraiche and Herbs: the taste of France, tendered to perfection (pg. 46)
4. Mimi's Couscous: lamb meatballs, chicken wings, simmered in a stew of tomatoes, parsnips, zucchini, and chickpeas (pg. 126)
5. Chilled White Peaches in White Wine Syrup: refreshing sweetness on a hot summer day (pg. 148)
6. Pumpkin Soup: warm fall flavor served with a dollop of cream for comfort on a fall evening (pg. 157)
7. Harvest Soup: beef, cabbage, veggies bubbling on the stove and served with a crisp baguette and red wine (pg. 158)
8. Butternut Gratin: squash, bread crumbs, cream, cream cheese and chives (pg. 195)
9. Winter Vegetable Cocotte: pumpkin, bacon, veggies, roasted chestnuts and artichokes as a full meal favorite (pg. 241)

Whether it's the "endless offerings" of Autumn... or the "pure bliss" of  "eating outside under the shade of a tree, with everybody who matters around me (you)..." 

 

This cook book will become a favored "go to" during every season,

MrsK

   

Excellent Recipes, Beautifully Photographed, French recipes that most of us could cook!

About Mimi:

  MIMI THORISSON is the author of Manger, a blog devoted to French cooking that was named Saveur’s Best Regional Food Blog in April 2013. After a career in television and having lived in Hong Kong, Singapore, London, Reykjavik, and Paris, she settled with her photographer husband, their five young children, her two older stepchildren, and the family’s fourteen dogs in a farmhouse in Médoc. She is the star of the cooking shows La Table de Mimi and the upcoming Les Desserts de Mimi, both on Canal+ in France. 

"Ever since I was a little girl I have been deeply passionate about food. My childhood was largely spent scurrying between the restaurants of Hong Kong, where I grew up, and the bistros of Paris and the south of France where we spent our holidays at my French grandmother’s. Food was constantly on my mind, I’m the girl who was always happiest at the table. After a life full of adventure and travel, a career in fashion, media and television, I settled down in Paris with Oddur, my Icelandic photographer husband, and we have been busy making babies ever since. We were already off to a good start, we each had children from before, I one and he two and now we have three together and one on the way. A big family needs a lot of space, not least when you have 4 terriers in Paris of all places. So we went looking for a bigger place to live, and found one … in Médoc. Moving to the country was not planned at all, but we took the leap and it’s been some sort of fairytale ever since – you should try it! I’ve been doing a lot of cooking in these last four years, to glowing reviews (my family are very kind) and around 2 years ago I felt the need to share my culinary experiences with some friends and perhaps a few others. So Manger was born and while the rest may not be history it’s my story and my family’s. We are as happy as ever, up to no good, living with 14 amazing dogs, Fox Terriers, Jack Russell’s and one chocolate-colored German pointer called Gertrud. She thinks she’s a terrier by the way."

 "I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."