"The Girl in the Gatehouse" by Julie Klassen

Mariah has been sent away from her home and family to live in her aunt's gatehouse. Her only comfort is that her governess, Dixon, is with her. Knowing that no one in her family is to contact her, Mariah begins facing this new life with dread and loneliness. What could she possibly have done that would bring this banishment? She eventually meets her aunt, a seemingly harsh woman. When she dies, she leaves Mariah the key to a mysterious chest. But, her death also means that her step-son, Jack, is in charge. Immediately he begins charging Mariah rent, and she has to find a way to support herself or become homeless. Her love of writing (a huge taboo for women during this time) saves the day as her brother helps connect her with a publisher. During this time, Mariah also meets Captain Matthew Bryant, the man who is renting the main house to lift himself up in the world and win the hand of the woman he loves. Will he uncover her secret? What will happen between Matthew and Mariah?  How will Jack Strong play into this? The biggest question of all is, will she be able to keep her identity a secret while writing?

 

I enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it to others. During the story, Mariah grows from being a timid, frightened woman to one who believes in herself and her talent for writing. I also enjoyed reading about the other characters in the book, especially the children living in the poorhouse. More secrets await the reader there. This book is great for historical fiction lovers and would make a great summer read. I received my copy from Bethany House and thank them for the opportunity to read and review the book!

"Judgment Day" by Wanda L. Dyson

"...Because you see something, and you immediately make a judgment based on your own desire to be better than everyone else. You look for the worst, so you see the worst and condemn everyone you don't like." pg. 166

Suzanne Kidwell thought of herself as an investigative reporter, but the quote above was uttered about her and her show "Judgment Day." Suzanne wanted so badly to get the jump on others that she didn't always check the facts before destroying someone's life or reputation. Now, the shoe is on the other foot. Suzanne is accused of murder and with the evidence stacked against her, she turns to a former boyfriend and his PI partner. Marcus and Alex agree to find the real murderer and free her, setting in motion a series of events that they may be powerless to stop. Murder, extortion, deceit, kidnapping, organ harvesting, and more await the reader of this thriller! Come along as Marcus, Alex, and Jazz attempt to solve this case and make things right. Who will survive is anyone's guess!

This book was unputdownable for me! While I pegged the main murderer early on, the twists and turns kept trying to point me in a different direction and tell me I was wrong. This is a book I will read again and recommend to many of my friends and family. I think it makes a great read for an individual, but think groups would have a lot of fun dissecting it. I want to thank the Book Blogging program for my copy of the book! It was a pleasure to read and review.

"The Atomic Weight of Secrets or The Arrival of the Mysterious Men in Black" by Eden Unger Bowditch

Science, invention, and mystery come together in this wonderful book by Eden Bowditch. Five children (Jasper, Lucy, Wallace, Noah, and Faye) find themselves in school together, away from their families and friends. Each has a scientific gift, and at first, none of them realized that each is part of an overall puzzle. As they work on their individual experiments, they worry about their families and what has happened to them. The children find enjoyment in each other and in their experiments, but they want to go home but they are watched constantly.  The "Men in Black" are interesting characters who are keeping the children against their will. Why are they being held away from their families? Will any of these talented young people escape the Men in Black and return to their homes and families? How long will it take for them to figure out that they are more powerful both as a team and in their inventions?

This novel wonderfully combines the love of science and math with youth and teamwork. It is geared for children and young adults, but everyone will enjoy the fun and intrigue this book brings. I highly recommend it for family libraries as it is a book that lends itself to being shared during family time. I will be buying copies for my grandchildren. Thank you to Net Gallery and Bancroft Press for the opportunity of getting a preview copy for my Nook! I can't wait for the next book in the series.

"Invasion" by Jon S. Lewis

The Phantom Flyer, aliens of all types, people with red eyes, jet packs, flying motorcycles and more await the reader of this wonderful science fiction book! CHAOS is a secret government agency dedicated to closing the holes between our world and others, all the while dealing with threats as they develop. Colt is sixteen when everything in his world crashes around him. When he moves to Arizona to live with his grandfather, he comes to face to face with alien life forms. He steadily works to find out the reason behind his parent's deaths with the aid of his friends Dani and Oz, and what he uncovers could destroy the world as we know it. Will they uncover the plot in time? How does Hitler fit into the story? Who was the real Phantom Flyer? Who will survive the battle?

I really enjoyed this book. It is fast paced, and while geared for the young adult crowd, can be enjoyed by all. (It will remind many readers of times we would sit and read/imagine comic books with their heroes and villains.) There were moments of tenderness, suspense, thrill, and fear throughout the story that will keep you glued to the pages. Thank you to Net Galley for my copy. I read it on my Nook and thank them very much!

"The Alarmists" by Don Hoesel

Terrorists are at work in some new places. Or are they? An earthquake seems unnaturally imminent. Why? It is 2012. Does this have anything to do with the Mayan Calendar? Dr. Brett Michaels, a professor, receives a request to go to Washington DC and consult with a team at the Pentagon. There are no specifics, just that he is needed for a time. There he meets with Colonel Jameson Richards and his team and starts looking at the unusual data they have accumulated from all over the world. Meanwhile, forces are wielding their power in many places under the name Project: Night House. How much of what is happening is real and how much is contrived? How much is meant to make people believe the Mayan prophecy? As Brett sets out to help Colonel Richards' team find out, he finds himself embroiled in a conflict that will take him to other places in the world, and could take not only his life, but the lives of those around him.

This was a wonderful edge of your seat read; a classic good versus evil story. There were moments I didn't know who would survive, or what investigations would stir up. While quite a few characters are thrown into the mix in the beginning, it all makes sense quickly. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a good novel about espionage and intrigue. Thank you to Bethany House for my copy of the book!

"No Place Like Holmes" by Jason Lethcoe

Griffin is an intelligent twelve year old who loves to solve things. So the opportunity to meet his uncle who lives at 221 Baker Street in London brings him great excitement! Could Sherlock Holmes be his uncle? After discovering that his unhappy, unfriendly uncle lives next door to Mr. Holmes, Griffin sets out to be a blessing to his uncle, rather than a burden. Together they set out to uncover the reason a clockmaker has gone missing. Along the way they have to uncover what a metal "Nessie," scraps of red paper, and missing explosives have to do with each other. All the while, unknown to them, they are followed by another sleuth. Who will unravel the mystery first? What will be Griffin's uncle's next invention?

 

This is a fun mystery aimed at the nine to fourteen age group (although I think people of all ages will enjoy it). The story keeps moving along with characters that seem alive. Mr. Lethcoe has set a great foundation for a series, and I for one, would love to read more. It is fun to step back in time and read about the mystique of Sherlock Holmes and those who sought to emulate his work. Thank you to the Book Sneeze program for my copy of the book!

"The Whole Bible Story" by Dr. William H. Marty

The Bible is a wonderful book filled with the miracles, power, and love of God. But many people don't pick it up because they think it is difficult to read and/or understand. In his new book, "The Whole Bible Story," Dr. William Marty takes the reader through the Bible story using, as he puts it, plain English. The book breaks down the Bible's 66 books into 19 sections plus an Epilog. Each section points the reader to a part of the story, listing the main characters and settings to fill out each piece. When read as a whole, the reader gets an easy to understand synopsis. It can also be used in conjunction with the Bible because Dr. Marty also includes the Scripture passage(s) for each chapter.

I found this book a little hard to read because I love to read my Bible, and at times I thought the language here was too plain, too simplistic. The facts also didn't pull in a lot of the message and flavor of the Bible, the richness of the times. But, when I think of the many people who don't read the Bible but hunger for the story, I find this book could be useful to get them started. My fear is that they might never delve into a real Bible to find the complete story. Dr. Marty is extremely knowledgeable and his love for the Bible story is clearly seen through these pages. I want to thank Bethany House for my copy of the book. The opinions here are mine.