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The Animals At Lockwood Manor by Jane Healey
A Marvellous Debut The Animals At Lockwood Manor by Jane Healey is an epic historical read in the gothic tradition. I found it a curious blend of Jane Eyre and Rebecca as passions consumed various inhabitants. Lockwood Manor was reminiscent of Mandalay as the house took on a personality all of its own. In true […]
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When I Meet You by Olivia Newport
Roots When I Meet You by Olivia Newport is a fascinating historical and contemporary novel that had me enthralled from the start. It is the third book in the Tree Of Life series but can be read as a stand-alone. The novel is set in 1909 and present day. There is a mystery to solve […]
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Here in the Real World by Sara Pennypacker
“The Real World” poses a creative challenge to a pair of enterprising middle-graders with conflicting motives. Here in the Real World by Sara Pennypacker. HarperCollins, 2020, 308 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 One little event can upend an entire summer, although in Ware’s case, it’s a pretty big event. He was looking forward to reading about knights and chivalry and daydreaming around the pool at his grandma’s retirement village. But on the first day of summer vacation she has a stroke, meaning weeks of rehab for her. For Ware, it means the kids’ summer program at the community center (a.k.a. “Rec”). He’d rather do…
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The Forgotten Sister by Nicola Cornick
Parallel Lives The Forgotten Sister by Nicola Cornick is a marvellous time-slip novel that has its roots in fact. The story has two time periods – 1550’s and present day. Actual historical figures are within the tale including Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley. They were both familiar to me as a historian. The novel is […]
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Anchored By Death by Catherine Finger
Thrilling Anchored By Death by Catherine Finger is a contemporary Christian suspense thriller and the third book in the Jo Oliver series, which I am loving. This novel sees Jo Oliver tracking down a serial killer. As the bodies mount up, so do the clues which the police put together. The book is about the […]
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The Real Beatrix Potter by Nadia Cohen
The Peter Rabbit Lady The Real Beatrix Potter by Nadia Cohen is a fascinating insight into one of the world’s best known and loved children’s author. Beatrix Potter was so much more than just a famous author. She was a woman ahead of her time, caring little for the fashionable drawing rooms of Kensington and […]
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Seconds To Live by Susan Sleeman
Exciting Seconds To Live by Susan Sleeman is a fabulous contemporary Christian suspense that will grab the reader’s attention from the start. It is the first book in the Homeland Heroes series and I cannot wait for the rest. The characters were well drawn, realistic and likable. They are not perfect but realistically flawed with […]
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When My Mind Winds Up by Jennifer Ervig
Powerful And Personable When My Mind Winds Up: A Pull No Punches Approach To Anxiety by Jennifer Ervig is a powerful book looking at anxiety and how we can deal with it and hope to overcome it. Each chapter is divided into introductory thoughts, Bible references, a narrative, questions to lead us to review ourselves […]
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Within Golden Bands by Norma Gail
Joy Comes In The Morning Within Golden Bands by Norma Gail is a marvellous contemporary Christian crime suspense. It is part of the A Home For My Heart series but can be read as a stand-alone. I would recommend reading book one first so you can get to know the characters and see their progression. […]
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Why Is Writing So Hard to Teach?
How I didn’t know what I didn’t know Back in the early years of the 1980s, I took up the challenge offered by Dr. James Dobson and his personal homeschool guru, Dr. Raymond Moore. Reading Dr. Moore’s book, Home Grown Kids, convicted me as no words outside of the Bible ever have: I needed to take my third-grader and first-grader out of their public school and teach them myself! I thought it would be fun. And in time, it was fun, or at least immensely rewarding. But first I had to learn some home truths, so to speak: it was a bigger commitment than I thought, my kids had to…
