Finlay Donovan Crosses the Line

Life for Finlay has been really hard without her friend and nanny, Vero.  She and the kids both can not wait to get her home, but to do that she needs to be found innocent in Virginia of stealing money from her sororities illegal gambling nights.  Vero has always said she didn’t do it but being the only sorority scholarship sister and Hispanic, she ran away that night and that just made her look that much guiltier.  Now she must prove her innocence or go to prison for a long time.  The only way Finlay can go help Vero is to find someone to take the kids for a few days so she can go up there and investigate because Vero’s public defender isn’t going to help, only there is no one to help with them.  Her Ex is away, her sister is to busy at work, her parents are just getting over the flu.  When Nick volunteers she is reluctant but gives in and leaves.  Now Finlay needs to find out who really did this and free her friend so they can go home but time is ticking fast.

If you like Finlay Donovan books this one will not disappoint.  While there are no Russian mobsters in this book there is still loads of action, and a new nosy neighbor who is running a poll on social media on what type of underwear women think Nick wears.  There is also a lot of suspense on all the fronts going on in the book.  I just love these characters and it makes you think could all of this possibly happen to one person.  The storylines have all fit together really well and are the kind that keep you up late reading just to see what happens next, because it is bound to be funny.  I really love this book and series.

 

The Dragons Apprentice the Revenants Return

Ciara and the Dragon, Scorch, are still learning but more secretly as they don’t want to bring any attention to Ciara’s town, Skael, and her mom and friends.  The Kings men are still looking for Bianca’s spell book which Ciara has. Now Ciara wants to train her friend in magic as well.  When the young prince Aiden appears to help Skael get back to normal after the last battle with the empire he comes as a emissary from the king to help convince Scorch and Ciara a memory he shows them of how the revenants first came and how it involved Bianca wanting to train a friend in magic like Ciara is doing is a true memory.  But Scorch sees the memory as real, but Ciara can sense something wrong with the memory, Scorch gets mad and tells Ciara off, so she will have to prove it as no one believes her.

Before you start to read this book, you must be prepared and believe in all you are about to witness all the twists and turns and not get distracted on the way.  This is a book of true friendship in the time of turbulence and trying times.  Ciara is a hardheaded focused tween that doesn’t have a huge number of friends (1) but she is Ciara’s best friend and Ciara will fight fiercely for her.  This book has a ton of action and even more suspense.  This book and series are fun the characters are great and the plot very interesting and I think even reluctant readers will find interest in this book.  

 

Women of a Promiscuous Nature

Based on a real government program this is a book that is a real eye opener as to where our government has been and that there is always a chance it could come back.  This is a tale that centers around two women one a fifteen-year-old who’s parents took her to a doctor for an abortion, her mom, whom has major mental issues, thinking she had been sleeping around but in truth it was her father that got her pregnant.  The other just a woman walking to work when a sheriff takes her in with no cause and has her tested and she tested positive presumedly with syphilis, even though she has only kissed a guy.  Both women are sent to a state-run industrial farm colony for women.  Where punishments are doled out freely and severely for any little thing.  These women are supposedly test often to make sure they are cured and given mercury-based drugs that make them so sick they can hardly move but are expected to work.  Others are sterilized to cure them of ever being pregnant again as they as presumed women of ill repute.

This is a wonderful book even if it does turn your stomach at times.  The things these ladies went through are gut wrenching, but the friendships forged will never break.  The people running the colony are the only ones to say when the ladies are truly cured and then can be released.  When one lady defies the order to hurt, correct, another by using the switch on her, you can really see how horrid the place and people in it are.  This is a book that needs to be read so history never repeats itself, it would make a great woman’s history book club book.  I really do not know what else to say but it is so good that it will be a go to on my recommended list.

 

The Daughter of Death

Fern is back telling more of Rosemary’s story.  Rosemary has just turned thirteen, and her talents are progressing.  She must take part in this years Yule hunt while trying to uncover what is behind some of the odd things going on at Fern’s school, like people not remembering things that happened not long ago, or death by ice cycle, even in the magical worlds that is not a good thing.

I really like this series of books, Rosemary has been through so much but still seems not to ever give up and persevere no matter what, and now she is not alone she has her dad, the Grim Reaper, who she can go to for advice and help. This is a wonderful book written by Fern about Rosemary and her life since Fern rescued her.  This book is a great addition to any MG library or book club.

 

The Wish Ring Cipher

Emma is going through a lot for a new seventh grader.  She has just moved to this school where she stands out being the new girl when all she wants is to not be seen.  Even bigger Emma has just been diagnosed with Autism.  The only thing that sooths her are her ciphers and she is good at them and fast too.  When Nate sees her brake a cipher fast he invites her to a little club they have a lunch where they solve ciphers for snack bets, but there is a bit more to the club than just lunch.  They are trying to solve a real ciphers that will lead to some very interesting artifacts in some colony ruins in their town.

This book is so good.  I love all types of codes and ciphers books and this one doesn’t disappoint.  The characters are great and their kindness is so wonderful.  As the secrets come out so does the action and it does not stop until the end.  There is also so much suspense, especially with the magic and adventure, I wish my town had something like this.  This is such a good book one that should be a part of any tween book club.

 

It Lurks in the Night

Maya wants one more best friends summer trip around some Caribbean islands near their home, friendships are strained but they all go for Maya.  When they have to stop on the island of Annatto, a island even tourist avoid because it is said to be haunted and have monsters on it.  The girls are forced to leave a dead friend behind and run for their lives.  When officials go the retrieve the body it is no longer there.  That is when the weirdness starts because all of a sudden, she is found at home but not quite the same.  The friends must watch out for what is coming next because something is lurking in the night.

I like this as it is bound in Caribbean lore.  The story has so much suspense you need to make sure you take breaths.  The action is palpable and runs nonstop throughout the book.  The characters work really well and keep the story together.  I really liked this book and hope you do too.

 

The Academy 3

Leo and team pulled off the impossible and didn’t finish last in their league, and the team owner has entered the team into the tournament of champions that is like the gold cup for U14 teams.  The team will travel all over Europe to play the games.  Just before they leave they find out they are playing to stay in the youth premier league, and their beloved coach, Sam, would not be able to go with them but instead they have a very interesting interim coach, that retired from coaching the pros.  If that isn’t hard enough someone is trying to sabotage the team and it looks a lot like it is Leo doing it. 

I love this series it teaches teamwork, friendship, and fairness.  This has been a series that I keep waiting for more and more of.  Leo, Samantha, and team are like family now because the characters are so well made.  The story line is great and you will feel you are part of the team.  I like how the players that have been together band together around Leo and have his back.  This is a wonderful series for any soccer lover young and old.