Category Archives: Book Reviews

Fir Lodge: The First in the Restarter Series by Sean McMahon

Posted on by
2
Book Review
Fir Lodge: The First in the Restarter Series

By Sean McMahon

4 Stars

You had me at Time Travel

If time shattered, taking away everything you loved, how far would you go to get it all back?…

Arriving at a lodge in Norfolk for a long weekend retreat, a group of friends meet for a thirtieth birthday celebration.

Before the weekend is over, five of them will die.

Trapped in a thirty-three-hour time-loop, only Hal and Kara have the ability to alter fate, and prevent the deaths of their friends.

But in order to unravel the secrets hidden within their own past, they must first learn how to adapt to the new rules of their reality.

Time, however, is a relentless force. One which will stop at nothing to ensure that events unfold exactly as destiny dictates.

With time no longer on their side, Hal and Kara will have to decide just how far they are willing to go to free themselves from their perpetual prison, and exactly what they are prepared to sacrifice to defeat an enemy that has already won.

Only one thing is certain…

Every action has a consequence.

Fir Lodge is a time travel adventure thriller, set amidst the unlikely backdrop of Norfolk, England.

Join Hal and Kara, as they attempt to restart the past, to change their future.

I am a sucker for anything time travel-related, so when I heard about Fir Lodge, by Sean McMahon I didn’t even read the blurb, I just dove right in.

A little slow to start, this tale picks up with new twists on old ideas that keeps you turning pages in the hopes of discovering the rules along with Kara and Hal.

Laugh-out-loud moments meld with suspenseful anticipation as we wonder just what is happening, and what happened to put our unlikely heroes in this predicament. The answer to what happened was a surprise twist that added another element to the tale and truely bolstered the tale into superb.

Sad I didn’t learn the answers to the universe in the end, I’m excited to get into book 2 where I hope to learn more, as well as see a darker side to the strange powers one might receive when they meet an untimely death.

Happy Reading 🙂

The Hashna Stone By Anna Fox

Posted on by
Reply

Book Review

The Hashna Stone

By Anna Fox

YA. Fantasy.

4 Stars

A fabulous, Classic Fantasy tale For all.

Dalan, a six-teen-year-old orphan, can’t wait for the day he can leave the orphanage and return to his hometown to find the truth behind his father’s death. He thinks he’s found the way to escape his life as a poor orphan when he finds a bright red gemstone in the middle of the woods. Instead, it puts his life at risk.

He hopes the gemstone will provide a way to go back to the wealthy lifestyle he knew as a commander’s son, but the suspicious magic it contains keeps anyone from buying it. Not only does it fail to yield riches, but it haunts him with dreams telling him to take the gemstone further than he’s ever traveled: Hashna.

Dalan has never visited the country that is home to the tiny, green-eyed people who filled the gemstone with magic, but when winged beasts armed with sharp talons and teeth—who are supposed to be mythical—attack him, he is driven to take the gemstone to Hashna to find answers.

The gemstone turns out to play a vital part in the affairs of the entire county, and Dalan is charged with its safety. Dalan sees the opportunity to follow in his father’s footsteps and gain fame and glory from the task. But his quest for recognition may be the downfall of a country.

This was just a great, classic, fun story. I especially appreciated the flaws of Dalan, how at times you just wanted to slap him. He was so real and allowed for some great character development that left me rooting for him in a way I seldom do so consciously.

I look forward to more from Ms. Fox!

Happy Reading 🙂

Kid’s Corner Book Review: The Sword in the Tree

Posted on by
Reply
Book Review

The Sword in the Tree

by: Clyde Robert Bulla
ReadyReaderOne says: 3 stars
StarReader says: 5 Stars

In the days of King Arthur there stood a mighty oak tree within the walls of a castle. Peace reigned in the castle until the fearsome night when Lionel, longlost brother of Lord Weldon, returned to cause trouble and unhappiness.

It was then that Shan, the son of Lord Weldon, took on the duties of a knight and hid the sword in the hollow of the giant oak. The days that followed were filled with adventures that tried the courage of the young boy.

Shan was surprised by bearded robbers in the woods. He met noble knights in plumed helmets, and eventually he even made a trip to high-towered Camelot. His story is filled with the pageantry and color of England in King Arthur’s time. It creates a vivid picture of the Knights of the Round Table and the wisdom of King Arthur himself.

Mr. Bulla captures the spirit of those romantic days in a straightforward, exciting manner. The result is another delightful book for his wide audience of young readers. Paul Galdone’s vigorous illustrations are as evocative as the text.

ReadyReaderOne says:

This book, The Sword in The Tree, by Clyde Robert Bulla, is a great read.

The book was filled with adventures, sword fights, castles, kings and knights in shining armor. Although I would have liked more, I do recommend it for younger kids who like knights and castles.

StarReader says:

The Sword and the Tree is about a boy who saves a kingdom. I especially liked the part when the robbers showed a little kindness to Shan and his mom.

This book is filled with excitement, surprises, and sword fights. This is a great book for kids who like knights, battles, and saving the day.

Kid’s Corner Book Review: The Bronze Bow

Posted on by
Reply
Book Review by ReadyReaderOne

The Bronze Bow

By Elizabeth George Spear

5 Stars

5 out of 5 stars 

He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. –from the Song of David (2 Samuel 22:35)
The Bronze Bow, written by Elizabeth George Speare (author of The Witch of Blackbird Pond) won the Newbery Medal in 1962. This gripping, action-packed novel tells the story of eighteen-year-old Daniel bar Jamin—a fierce, hotheaded young man bent on revenging his father’s death by forcing the Romans from his land of Israel. Daniel’s palpable hatred for Romans wanes only when he starts to hear the gentle lessons of the traveling carpenter, Jesus of Nazareth. A fast-paced, suspenseful, vividly wrought tale of friendship, loyalty, the idea of home, community . . . and ultimately, as Jesus says to Daniel on page 224: “Can’t you see, Daniel, it is hate that is the enemy? Not men. Hate does not die with killing. It only springs up a hundredfold. The only thing stronger than hate is love.” A powerful, relevant read in turbulent times.

The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare was very thought provoking.  

I highly recommend this book for readers who can dig deeper than just the surface story.

A Jewish boy, name Daniel, has a hatred for the Romans because of an incident that happened to his parents. This hatred leads to him making selfish decisions. He meets two people who become great friends and make a vow to defeat the Romans who have infiltrated their town.

Daniel later meets a man who preaches in the synagogue about love and this makes Daniel confused. Daniel has to learn that fighting is not the solution to his problems. 

This story teaches that getting even isn’t the way to become free. Love is more powerful than hate. My favorite character, Daniel, has an anger problem like me and he overcomes his problems which helped me see mine.

Kid’s Corner Book Review: Detectives in Togas

Posted on by
Reply

Book Review

Detectives in Togas

By: Henry Winterfeld

ReadyReaderOne says: 5/5 stars

In these two delightful history-mysteries, seven boys in Ancient Rome solve strange crimes . . . thanks to some help from their cranky teacher, a little bit of logic, and a lot of amusing misadventure.

Yes, Rufus wrote CAIUS IS A DUMBBELL on his tablet at school, but no, he did not break into the schoolroom, did not tie up his teacher, and certainly did not paint his slur about Caius on the Temple of Minerva (even if it is in Rufus’s own handwriting). Rufus is doomed unless his six classmates can find out who is really responsible. Every hour seems to bring a new, confusing clue . . . until the boys finally stumble upon someone who is not what he appears to be.

If you like mystery books along with roman culture and with a little bit of humor, you will like this book, Detectives in Togas, by Henry Winterfeld.

This is my favorite because it puts three of my favorite things together. This book takes a group of friends and turns them into detectives to solve a great mystery.

I highly recommend this book and can’t wait to read book number two: Mystery of the Roman Ransom.