Earlier this summer, I read the first book in Donna Galanti’s Lightning Road fantasy adventure series, JOSHUA AND THE LIGHTNING ROAD. It just so happens that today Ms. Galanti is unveiling the trailer for book two, JOSHUA AND THE ARROW REALM, which will be releasing on August 30th, so I waited to post my review […]
Echo, by Pam Munoz Ryan
I’ve seen this one on a few different sites lately, particularly on the review blog of Patricia Tilton, who always has great taste, so I picked it up. It’s Ms. Ryan’s newest, released only last year, and it lives up to her classic style. It claimed Newbery honors this year. Being a writer myself, I […]
Bean Counting for Authors
Today’s post certainly won’t grab fiction readers, but I know there are plenty of authors who tune into my blog. I’m slipping this one is in specifically for them, because it’s the best resource I’ve read on the subject yet. Becoming a self-published author is frightening. Not only are you opening your creativity to significant […]
The Break (Tales of a Revolution), by Lars D. Hedbor
As you know by now, I’m a history addict and a fan of Lars Hedbor’s historical fiction series, Tales of a Revolution. Over spring break, I had the honor of reading two of his latest releases. The first, The Wind, posted right after I read it. This is the second. It’s sort of fitting that it’s posting on […]
The Beloved Daughter, by Alana Terry
READERS’ FAVORITE, 1ST PLACE GOLD MEDAL GRACE AWARDS, 1ST PLACE WOMEN OF FAITH WRITING CONTEST, 2ND PLACE BOOK CLUB NETWORK, 1ST PLACE BOOK OF THE MONTH INDIEFAB FINALIST, RELIGIOUS FICTION I don’t rave about books very often, but this one blew me away. I’ve familiarized myself with some of the inhumane activities going on in […]
Dumpsters and Dinosaurs, by Lois D. Brown
Just a quick note before I get to today’s review to let you know that Blood Moon is FINALLY available in paperback! __________________________________ This is a fun new release by fellow Emblazoner Lois D. Brown who, as you may recall, wrote a fantastic young adult series I really enjoyed. (The first book, Cycles, was a top 5 […]
Peak, by Roland Smith
I thoroughly enjoyed this teen boy adventure. Peak Marcello is a 14-year-old boy, the son of two well-known mountaineers, so he hardly can help it that climbing is in his blood. But when he’s caught climbing a New York skyscraper, he only escapes jail when his father, Josh, shows up and offers to take him […]
Blood Moon: Military Innovations of the Charleston Campaign
This is the final post in a four-part series about writing and researching my upcoming young adult historical fiction novel, Blood Moon, the second book in my Ella Wood series. (Part 1: Women’s Education; Part 2: African American Soldiers. Part 3: Early Photography.) The Civil War provided the turning point from the old European style […]
The Gladiator and the Guard, by Annie Douglass Lima and a giveaway!
I’m excited to announce the release of a young adult action and adventure book that I had the honor of beta reading this winter. I enjoyed thoroughly enjoyed the first book in the Krillonian Chronicles, The Collar and the Cavvarach, so when the opportunity arose to read book two, The Gladiator and the Guard, and be involved […]
Blood Moon: Early Photography
This is the third post in a four-part series about writing and researching my upcoming young adult historical fiction novel, Blood Moon, the second book in my Ella Wood series. (Part 1: Women’s Education; Part 2: African American Soldiers.) Photography plays an important role in Blood Moon. By the start of the Civil War, photographs had become […]