Keeper Chance and the Dubious Doppelganger

Keeper hasn’t been a EVIL (Evil Villains International League) long but he is already being put to use as one of their members has gone missing, Showboater.  But their foe is a team of one good villain and a few time benders including Toby’s brother, that when put together are going to be super hard to bring down. They even have Sensei on their side because it looks like Showboater took something everyone wants. 

 

This is a wonderful spy kid book but these spies have special talents, at least it seems everyone but Keeper. I love all the characters in the book, and how they finally come together to save Showboater and get things done, at least for a while.  I think I love the cats in the antiques shop the best.  But the action and suspense is so much it made for some late nights as I just couldn’t put it down.  I think even reluctant readers will like this series as the action is non-stop.

 

Pocket Bear

Made for soldiers going off to WWI these bears were made to fit in a soldier’s pocket with the eyes up higher so as to always be looking at the soldier, that way the soldier could glance down and see the little bear looking back up at him. Now many years after the war and pocket bear lives and oversees a place where older toys come and get refurbished so another child might play with it mostly stuffies.  Pocket bear and his best friend the thief cat who is the narrator of this story, and who better to narrate than a cat?  Ukrainian mother and daughter (Victoria and Dasha) rehabilitate the toys to send back out to needy children.  A low life lady comes in and wants to buy pocket bear who is worth a lot of money, and brings the mother and daughter to make hard choices.   

I loved the characters especially Zephyrina, but the history and the current events are both told with age appropriateness.  The big lesson I think is will you do what is easy or what is right for you and others? There is a lot going on but it is told in a way that you don’t get lost.  The story line is wonderful and I believe a pocket bear would still make any soldier or sailor happy to see.

 

Jax Freeman and the Tournament of Spirits

Jax has found out he is a summoner, one that can summon the magical powers of his ancestors, and there are more like him, and even some in his Chicago school.  Jax and the others get tossed into a tournament with some of the best summoners around, how are they going to compete, heck, they are only eleven to thirteen-year olds.  But Jax isn’t just there for the tournament he is also to spy on everyone, even his classmates, to see who is letting dangerous things through to the mortal side.  But to win this tournament is to save himself and his friends, can Jax do everything that is expected from him?

I love these books!  I have not read a bad Riordan presents book yet.  This one does not disappoint as a sequel at all, if anything I can’t wait to see what comes next. Jax has a special kind of talent it is tied to his ancestors, the more he learns about them the more he learns about himself.  I love the characters good and bad they all only bring out the best in this book.  There is so much action and suspense it will have even adults staying up past their bedtime to find out what happens next.  I really do love this book; even reluctant readers will come to find it hard to put down.

 

Westfallen Into the Fire

Three friends thought they were done fixing the timeline they messed up playing with a time traveling radio, but they are back in their own time only this version has Germany winning the war. But the three of them plus their friends in the 1944 time smashed the radios they were using so the kids must find other ways to communicate.  But how to fix this?  Frances whose parents are influential so she can move about more freely in this time variation takes on the research part of it while the boys work their hardest to keep Lukas from being sent away to a work camp.  They need to be able to stick together so they can go back to their time as soon as they can.  

I missed reading the first book so I will go from here.  This is the ultimate time change paradox, what would happen if story.  A story we don’t really want to think about but need to so history does not repeat itself.  It might be a different time and different people and different laws but can someone just take over like Hitler did, anything is possible.  This is a really good book for anyone regardless of whether a tween or an adult, I hate to say it is a thinking book but to kids, just know there is a lot of action, suspense and baseball, yep baseball.  

 

Soccer Spacetastrophe #2 (Quantum Interstellar Sports League)

12-year-old Wyatt thought winning the interstellar football thing was it for him, he is sure it should have been but when a loophole is found his team must come back and play for earth again, only it isn’t football this time, it is soccer, something Wyatt know nothing about.  Nitro takes up the role as Captain, and soon all Wyatt’s friendships and team are on the rocks as it looks like someone is sabotaging the team. 

This is a wonderful book with lots of pictures and lots of words. 😊 However, I think everyone will find their place in this book and stay up late to see what happens next, I did.  Reluctant reader will enjoy the many pictures but the words bring it all together.  There is so much action in this book, and suspense, but it always comes back to teamwork and friendship.  This is a great book.

 

Untraceable

Amani is ok with being the only big size, black girl in an all-white school, but then strange things start to happen, like some weirdo in their back yard and her mom acting very strange.  It only gets worse when their house burns down and she has to move away fast and she gets tossed into a school full of kids like her.  Worst of all since she is a late add to all her classes she ends up in average classes with stuff she learned years ago in her other school.  But then she meets the whirl wind brother and sister siblings who are actually old family friends the sister helps her fit in and get better classes and the boy is cute.  Amani doesn’t understand everything going on so she keeps investigating things and that brings danger right to their door and the people she thought were family and friends turn out to all have a big secret they never told Amani until now.

So much action, a lot of suspense, and some normal teen stuff thrown in for good measure.  This is such a good book I thought I was going back and reading book one but this is book two that takes place before book one and oh my gosh there is now a book 3, woohoo.  This is a book has a bit of something for everyone.  Chases, martial art of a kind, card adventure gaming, and good food.  I think anyone can find something to relate to in this book and even a reluctant reader might stay up past their bedtime.
 

The House Saphir

Mallory Fontaine often gives tours of the broken into mansion where the first of the Saphir murders took place.  It helps pay rent on the apt and shop she and her sister run.  Mallory comes from a long line of witches but only has the power to see ghosts, which isn’t as useful as one might imagine. Mallory always wanted to see the House Saphir but never expected to be offered a job there by The Bastien Saphir’s great great grandson to rid the estate of Le Bleu’s ghost so the estate could flourish again, vineyards and all.  Only problem is she must rid the estate of the ghost and do it while looking as though she has witchcraft if she is to get the large sum of money she is owed.

This is an action-packed book full of suspense and some humor as well.  I really liked it a lot, so much I wish it had more places to go instead of ending where it did.  I suppose I wanted to be able to check in on everyone a few years down the line.  I loved all the characters I suppose even Bastien Le Bleu.  My favorite are the wives they are like always on their way to book club without the books.  I really did enjoy this book a lot.

 

The Great Forgotten

 

This is based on a true event about a horrific train crash near Nashville Tenn. In 1918.  This book is a great story woven by a woman that knew all five men whose lives were mixed together; a train engineer, a porter, a salesman, a farmer, and a thief.   Would you like to hear a story?  OK, this starts in 1988 when a woman moves into a home her family owns and comes across a trunk.  In the trunk she finds  with very carefully wrapped memorabilia, and sets out to find out anything she can about the woman and the story of why the trunk was left in her attic.  What she finds is much much more, come gather around for the story.

This was an awesome book I loved it so much, my grandfather was a conductor in western Ky for some time, and even though I never got to meet him this story brought me a bit closer to him and how the lives of my mom and grandmother where back then.  I loved every minute of the story told even the ugly and bad parts.  This book was well written in a very deliberate and thoughtful way.  This would be a great addition to any library personal or public.

Cold Blood

Sel and his friends are back in Tremorglade, ready to fight for their town and lives again, this time from what everyone thought was a myth but turned out true, frozen fever.  Sel thinks training is new ripper abilities will help but very few agree and now he is being blamed for everything and has to run from his town.  But he must try and find proof or anything to help his case or to help find a cure for the ripper disease (?). 

This is a werewolf series unlike any you have ever read.  It is great!  There is so much action and suspense that I will keep almost any teen engaged, even reluctant ones.  I loved it all  and how even though Sel didn’t  want to stop being a ripper he and his friends helped the preserve others rights to a cure.  This is a good series and I hope there is more coming.  

 

Busted

Oscar has only known one place as home, Sunny Days retirement home, where he lives with his grandfather.  But when the building gets taken over and the rent goes up a lot, suddenly his world is upended by an eviction notice.  Oscar is an odd kid, he likes Sinatra, and bridge and is like a host to all the funerals.  But a daredevil he is not until he needs cash fast.  Enter Jimmy DeLuca one of the shadier residents at Sunny days and says he will give Oscar the money if Oscar will get him out of Sunny days.  What Oscar didn’t know is everything else that went with getting Jimmy out of the retirement home.  But here is the big question was everything worth it, did Oscar have fun?

This was such a wonderful book.  The adventures that can only be experienced through reading, I hope are plentiful.  It was fun, fast paced, suspenseful, a ton of action, and I really wanted to jump in a try some of that pasta.  But I guess the big question in the end is, did Oscar get the money?  Read and find out.

 

King of the Neuro Verse

Pernell is back for another summer of fun in the class.  People don’t get him, his teachers, his parents want him to see a doctor, and the only one that does get him is off doing other things.  But Pernell wants to be the cipher king, the king of the lunchroom rap battles.  This is the only place Pernell is comfortable in, his ADHD actually helps him here and he is really good at.  But even though that is a great space he needs to learn to engage in his classes that way or ask for help or the reality is he won’t graduate.

Oh my goodness, I know there are so many out there that can relate to this just as I can.  I won’t go into my horrid stories, but know they are there.  I root for Pernell all through the book, and want him to find the help he needs but also know in 1999 the limitations there.  I loved how it was in verse like a rap might be, and he also has the issues of being a teen and all that comes with that going on as well.  I loved this book on so many of the levels it was written on and hope others can find what they might need in this book.

 

Firefox Moon

Juniper and Skara are taking their guardian duties very seriously as they patrol over Cedar Wood.  Juniper’s mentor Niko is back at the North Pole.  Juniper loves Skara, and doing patrols, but she misses her school friends a lot.  When Juniper notices a few odd things going on in the woods she notifies Niko and her teacher (?), they tell her not to patrol until they can get there, but Juniper can’t wait and what will it hurt?  That is when everything gets deadly (for really) serious.  Things juniper thought were once one way turn out different in more that one instant, but the constant is they all want the Firefox before the Firefox moon, so they can have their hearts desire.  But how to stop them from taking over and beating the giant sloth the size of a car?

Oh, my what an action-packed book, giant sloth, plant people, witches, spiders, and a fox the color of fire.  The action never stopped.  The suspense in this book is also off the chart, there are many times it looks as though one is trapped only to barely escape.  I totally loved this audio narrated by voices actor Olivia Forrest, she worked the magic in this audio, just as if it was floating in the cedars. 

 

Final Showdown

While investigating the gun smugglers the team has been chasing, ATF agent Daniel and K-9 Dakota (a Great Dane) get caught in a gunfight but they are not sure if the assailant is after Daniel or Aurora the crime scene tech or why.  But, Daniel insists Aurora stay with him at his house, which Aurora soon finds is a big fortress loaded with cameras and many other safety features.  In the meantime, Daniel and his Grandmother are taking care of a toddler, Joy, because her mother is dying and this is all the family she could find for her daughter.  But when the killers find a way to infiltrate his house and threaten him, Aurora and his family, it is his team he calls for help. 

This a very fast paced, suspenseful audio, with tons of action.  I love the characters and really am not ready to see the team breakup, as they are now like family.  The voice actor did a awesome job narrating this audio, she really brought the story to life.  I really like this book and this series a lot.

 

Colorado K-9 Rescue

McKenna’s nightmare has come true, the person prosecuted for her kidnapping when she was a teen, is out on parole, and the disappearances start again.  As McKenna’s hears what the victim says while there with victim support dog Mocha and FBI agent Evan about her ordeal.  McKenna starts to see the similarities with her kidnapping but no one takes her seriously until she disappears again, and Even with Mocha’s help must put the pieces together before it is to late.

I really liked hearing this story as Mocha is not the typical K9 one would experience in connection with law enforcement.  But Mocha has a few tricks up her sleeve as they all find out.  I really enjoyed the voice actor that narrated this audio the voice really just worked for me as McKenna’s.  This book is a clean, refreshing, fast pace, suspenseful thriller.  This audio does not disappoint.

 

Double Protection Duty

This is book 7 in the Dakota K-9 series, and unfortunately, I have missed a few in the series and would love a chance to review those as well.  These are really wonderful K-9 books most follow the job outright but none totally but I can see why.  In this book one of Kenyon’s twins is kidnapped and he wants and needs his teams and longtime friend (if not more) Raina to help to get his son back, as those are the people he trusts most when time is short.  Raina is the person that took the twins in as her own when Kenyon was missing for quite a while and even when the team found Kenyon, but helped him get the help he needed to remember his sons and everything else so he could be the father he once was.  But now Kenyon is back fully and where does that leave Raina who had thought for a long time she would be the boy’s mother. 

This is a wonderful clean story of fear, faith, and love.  I liked this book a lot and the voice actor did a awesome job.  I love the characters, especially the boys as it captured them well.  I hope there is more to the series and I get to listen to all of them.

 

Love inspired susoense boxset Oct 2025 2-2

This boxset includes three books, Trail of Suspicion, Escaping the wilderness, and Texas Ranger Defender. 

Trail of Suspicion

Rory has moved back home and working for the local police so she can help take care of her dad.  When out training with her cadaver dog K9 Moose they find a dead body she doesn’t think much different than any other case until she finds herself the next target.  Now she is paired with Asher a friend for a long time ago and in a different way that ended badly.  But as the killer is more determined Rory and Asher find the remains of Rory’s mother who disappeared a long time ago and Asher tried to implicate her father.

This is a wonderful audio with great voice actor that brings the story to life with her voice.  This is a clean Christian story that is centered on Rory and Asher’s relationship as they come together and terms with the past, not to mention a pup named Moose that rounds it all out.

Escaping the Wilderness

Amanda fulfilling her grandfathers dying wish finds herself in a chase for her life.  Soon rescue comes in the form of outdoorsman and wilderness pro Boone McGregor and dog Cookie.  But soon she must reveal a secret she never wished to reveal in hopes it will save her and Boone.

This is a good, clean, Christian book that is told through a wonderful voice actor.  It inspires hope, love, faith, and hope.  This is a really good audio that is well worth it.

 

Texas Ranger Defender

Texas Ranger Tucker Powell hears shots and soon finds a woman covered in blood and a dead body on his ranch.  But is she the victim or assailant, no one knows because she can’t remember any of what happened.  She might not remember, but the killers do and are after her real quick and now Tucker and her have to make a stand or run.

This is a clean and wonderful audio.  The voice actor was great and transported me into the story.  This book shows there are still some good guys out there but you might need to be covered in blood and have people shooting at you to find them. 

 

Rory has moved back home and working for the local police so she can help take care of her dad.  When out training with her cadaver dog K9 Moose they find a dead body she doesn’t think much different than any other case until she finds herself the next target.  Now she is paired with Asher a friend for a long time ago and in a different way that ended badly.  But as the killer is more determined Rory and Asher find the remains of Rory’s mother who disappeared a long time ago and Asher tried to implicate her father.

This is a wonderful audio with great voice actor that brings the story to life with her voice.  This is a clean Christian story that is centered on Rory and Asher’s relationship as they come together and terms with the past, not to mention a pup named Moose that rounds it all out.

 

 

Dexter the Stand Up Dog

This is a story of a families beloved dog that gets hit by a car and looses a front leg.  But Dexter finds his own way to deal with his predicament and his will to be able to run and jump and play like he used too. 

This is a wonderfully told and illustrated book about love, kindness and perseverance, and a little active dog who won’t say I can’t.  This book is so good and the illustrations help bring it to life.  It shows the heartbreak but also the love to bring a little dog some normality in his new world that isn’t so normal any more.

 

The Poisoned King

 

Christopher dreamed of going back to the archipelago, and it came true, but he found the world he loved was in trouble.  There is a poison and it is spreading through the land and killing dragons.  Christopher and the sphinx must root out the source and stop it before all the dragons are gone.

Oh my this book was quite the ride, it was such a whirlwind of activity that it kept me reading past my bedtime to see what happened next.  The range of characters was so interesting and who they put there difference aside to work together to help fix the problem.  I really can not wait to see what is next for Christopher.