Loralee Evans's Blog: Loralee Evans, page 3
May 5, 2025
Cookies to Die For by Dene Low
The story of a hapless woman being taken hostage in her own home is a scary thought, but Cookies to Die For by Dene Low manages not to get too scary. Jane is home alone when a pair of burglars, seeking for something very specific but unknown to her, take her captive in their search for whatever they're after.
How is Jane going to escape? Especially when she knows her oldest son and his family are on their way to her house? Will she be able to get away from these goons and keep her family unscathed as well? One thing she knows how to do, is cook well. That appeases her tormentors, but will she figure out a way to use her cooking skills to orchestrate an escape as well?
How is Jane going to escape? Especially when she knows her oldest son and his family are on their way to her house? Will she be able to get away from these goons and keep her family unscathed as well? One thing she knows how to do, is cook well. That appeases her tormentors, but will she figure out a way to use her cooking skills to orchestrate an escape as well?
April 2, 2025
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter is eager to start his second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
His horrible relatives, his aunt, uncle, and cousin, have made the summer he turns 12 very miserable. But when a strange little fellow who calls himself Doby a house-elf shows up and warns Harry Potter not to back to Hogwarts this year, his summer becomes even more difficult. Why won't Doby just tell him what the problem is instead of giving hints and pleading for him not to go to school? And when Harry and his best friend Ron Weasley try to get through the magical barrier to get onto the Hogwarts train, why is the barrier magically sealed? How will they get to school now? And what danger is waiting for Harry when he does finally get to Hogwarts? Read the book and find out!
His horrible relatives, his aunt, uncle, and cousin, have made the summer he turns 12 very miserable. But when a strange little fellow who calls himself Doby a house-elf shows up and warns Harry Potter not to back to Hogwarts this year, his summer becomes even more difficult. Why won't Doby just tell him what the problem is instead of giving hints and pleading for him not to go to school? And when Harry and his best friend Ron Weasley try to get through the magical barrier to get onto the Hogwarts train, why is the barrier magically sealed? How will they get to school now? And what danger is waiting for Harry when he does finally get to Hogwarts? Read the book and find out!
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling, eleven year old Harry Potter doesn't know a lot about the night his parents died. His horrible aunt and uncle tell him they died in a car crash but somehow, that doesn't seem right.
Harry of course, was only a one year old at the time, and can't remember much. But he does remember, when he strains his mind, a lot of green light. But he can't explain where the green light would come from. There is a lot of stuff Harry can't explain. Like how he can get away from Dudley, his massive bully of a cousin by finding himself suddenly on the school kitchens when all he was trying to do was hide from Dudley behind the dumpsters. Or how he made his hair grow back so quickly after his awful aunt shaved his head. But then one day a letter comes for him. A letter that seems to upset his uncle and aunt who take it from him before he can read it. What is it all about, and does the strangely tall man named Hagrid have to tell Harry when Hagrid shows up to talk to him about a strange place called Hogwarts?
Harry of course, was only a one year old at the time, and can't remember much. But he does remember, when he strains his mind, a lot of green light. But he can't explain where the green light would come from. There is a lot of stuff Harry can't explain. Like how he can get away from Dudley, his massive bully of a cousin by finding himself suddenly on the school kitchens when all he was trying to do was hide from Dudley behind the dumpsters. Or how he made his hair grow back so quickly after his awful aunt shaved his head. But then one day a letter comes for him. A letter that seems to upset his uncle and aunt who take it from him before he can read it. What is it all about, and does the strangely tall man named Hagrid have to tell Harry when Hagrid shows up to talk to him about a strange place called Hogwarts?
Children of the Lamp: The Cobra King of Kathmandu by P.B. Kerr
In the third book of the Children of the Lamp series, The Kobra King of Kathmandu by P.B. Kerr, Phillipa and John Gaunt, djinn twins, are off on another adventure.
Their friend, Buck, is in trouble. A crazy cobra cult, which has already killed several people, including Buck's friend, is trying to track him down because of a strange picture Buck has from India. In their efforts to help him, the twins, along with their butler Mr. Gronin, travel to India to see what they can track down about this mysterious, sinister cobra cult. But are they in over their heads? And will they end up like all the other people that have gotten in the way of this group and its disgusting leader? (He really is disgusting. He hasn't taken a bath in ages.) Read the book and find out! (While not explicitly shown, this story does contain child death, Buck's friend. Keep that in mind if you are sensitive to such things.)
Their friend, Buck, is in trouble. A crazy cobra cult, which has already killed several people, including Buck's friend, is trying to track him down because of a strange picture Buck has from India. In their efforts to help him, the twins, along with their butler Mr. Gronin, travel to India to see what they can track down about this mysterious, sinister cobra cult. But are they in over their heads? And will they end up like all the other people that have gotten in the way of this group and its disgusting leader? (He really is disgusting. He hasn't taken a bath in ages.) Read the book and find out! (While not explicitly shown, this story does contain child death, Buck's friend. Keep that in mind if you are sensitive to such things.)
March 3, 2025
Children of the Lamp: The Blue Djinn of Babylon by P.B. Kerr
Children of the Lamp: The Blue Djinn of Babylon by P.B. Kerr is the second book in the Children of the Lamp series and continues the adventures of John and Phillipa Gaunt, twin brother and sister.
Phillipa finds herself kidnapped by the Blue Djinn, a cranky old female djinn who seems intent on turning Phillipa into the next Blue Djinn when the old one dies. And so John sets off on a rescue mission. But is he up to the task? His dogs, Allan and Neil go with him, but even with their help, will he be able to find and rescue his sister? This is a fun book for both kids and adults who love adventure stories that have young teens as the hero and heroine.
Phillipa finds herself kidnapped by the Blue Djinn, a cranky old female djinn who seems intent on turning Phillipa into the next Blue Djinn when the old one dies. And so John sets off on a rescue mission. But is he up to the task? His dogs, Allan and Neil go with him, but even with their help, will he be able to find and rescue his sister? This is a fun book for both kids and adults who love adventure stories that have young teens as the hero and heroine.
Children of the Lamp: The Akhenaten Adventure by P.B. Kerr.
Children of the Lamp: The Akhenaten Adventure by P.B. Kerr begins the adventures of Phillipa and John Gaunt, twin brother and sister who find out shortly after they turn twelve, that they are Djinn which is both singular and plural (We mundanes often refer to them as Genies, but they hate the word.)
Upon this discovery, they are suddenly on an unexpected adventure with their Uncle Nimrod, their mother's brother who is also a Djinn. (Their mother is also a Djinn, though their father is not.) They discover that they are from a tribe of good djinn, but there are tribes of bad djinn out there, who are looking for 70 djinn who have been lost for thousands of years, likely locked in something that the ancient pharoah, Akhenaten owned. If the bad Djinn get hold of these trapped Djinn, they will turn them toward evil purposes. But if good djinn can find them first, they can turn them to good purposes. So off they go! This is a fun tale for both youngsters to read, and adults who enjoy middle grade adventures!
Upon this discovery, they are suddenly on an unexpected adventure with their Uncle Nimrod, their mother's brother who is also a Djinn. (Their mother is also a Djinn, though their father is not.) They discover that they are from a tribe of good djinn, but there are tribes of bad djinn out there, who are looking for 70 djinn who have been lost for thousands of years, likely locked in something that the ancient pharoah, Akhenaten owned. If the bad Djinn get hold of these trapped Djinn, they will turn them toward evil purposes. But if good djinn can find them first, they can turn them to good purposes. So off they go! This is a fun tale for both youngsters to read, and adults who enjoy middle grade adventures!
Double Fudge by Judy Blume
I enjoyed reading Judy Blume books as a kid, and enjoyed Double Fudge, the continuation of the story of Peter Hatcher and his annoying little brother Fudge (or Farley Drexel Hatcher as his given name is) on their adventures.
This time, Fudge is obsessed with money. He doesn't understand the value of working for what you get, but he does understand that money has buying power. He's making his own "Fudge Bucks" and intends to buy New York, and eventually the entire world someday. But in the meantime, he and his brother and their parents are hosting their annoying relatives, the Howie Hatchers (the family of their dad's cousin) in their home, and have to be accomodating despite the Howie Hatchers' weird traits and annoying habits. Will Peter Hatcher make it through? This fun book is aimed at kids, but adults who enjoyed Judy Blume's books as kids, would enjoy this story, too!
This time, Fudge is obsessed with money. He doesn't understand the value of working for what you get, but he does understand that money has buying power. He's making his own "Fudge Bucks" and intends to buy New York, and eventually the entire world someday. But in the meantime, he and his brother and their parents are hosting their annoying relatives, the Howie Hatchers (the family of their dad's cousin) in their home, and have to be accomodating despite the Howie Hatchers' weird traits and annoying habits. Will Peter Hatcher make it through? This fun book is aimed at kids, but adults who enjoyed Judy Blume's books as kids, would enjoy this story, too!
February 1, 2025
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson is an exciting, swashbuckling adventure that has retained its appeal to young and old, despite its being well over a century old. Young Jim Hawkins and his parents first meet a strange man who comes to their inn and wants a room. He's a strange sea faring man who seems a bit crazy, and has an unhealthy addiction to rum, as well as a fearful fixation on the idea of a sea faring man with one leg whom he constantly warns Jim about.
When his father dies of sickness, Jim and his mother are left alone to deal with their odd guest, but when their strange guest also dies, apparently of fear after a frightening confrontation with a strange blind man, both mother and son know they need to go for help, especially when they see mean looking sailors coming toward their inn. They run for it before the pirates can get to them, but they don't leave their inn empty handed. They take a strange map they found in their strange guest's sea chest. Is it a treasure map? Their friends, including Doctor Livesey thinks so. This begins Jim's adventure with Doctor Livesey, Squire Trelawney, Captain Smollet, and the crew of the Hispaniola, including John Silver, who at first seems a descent man, but then Jim discovers a different, sinister side to him. Will Jim and the good guys be able to escape from Silver's wicked plans, or will they end up one of his many victims?
When his father dies of sickness, Jim and his mother are left alone to deal with their odd guest, but when their strange guest also dies, apparently of fear after a frightening confrontation with a strange blind man, both mother and son know they need to go for help, especially when they see mean looking sailors coming toward their inn. They run for it before the pirates can get to them, but they don't leave their inn empty handed. They take a strange map they found in their strange guest's sea chest. Is it a treasure map? Their friends, including Doctor Livesey thinks so. This begins Jim's adventure with Doctor Livesey, Squire Trelawney, Captain Smollet, and the crew of the Hispaniola, including John Silver, who at first seems a descent man, but then Jim discovers a different, sinister side to him. Will Jim and the good guys be able to escape from Silver's wicked plans, or will they end up one of his many victims?
Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder is an enjoyable story for both kids and adults about little Almanzo Wilder and his life in New York State in the late 1800s. The story is both an enjoyable tale and a look at how life was like for farmers in that time.
He was a hard worker, and an honest young man, and didn't expect a lot. The chapter where he and his siblings were excited over a few Christmas presents was insightful about how people back then expected less. He got a few presents, including the present he loved the most, a cap with side flaps for his ears that buttoned on the top, and was absolutely delighted with it. He trains a couple of young oxen to be trusty workers, but what he wants the most, is to train a horse. Will his father trust him with the task, though?
He was a hard worker, and an honest young man, and didn't expect a lot. The chapter where he and his siblings were excited over a few Christmas presents was insightful about how people back then expected less. He got a few presents, including the present he loved the most, a cap with side flaps for his ears that buttoned on the top, and was absolutely delighted with it. He trains a couple of young oxen to be trusty workers, but what he wants the most, is to train a horse. Will his father trust him with the task, though?
The Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull
The Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull is an exciting middle grade story about a group of friends who find themselves caught between warring magicians who are looking for a magical device in the kids' hometown of Coleson.
Nate, Pigeon, Summer, and Trevor, are three friends who at first think that Mrs. White, the owner of The Sweet Tooth and Candy Shoppe is a nice old lady who happens to have magical candy that can grant them temporary powers. But as they run errands for her, the errands become more and more sinister until the kids realize they've got to break their ties with Mrs. White before it's too late. But now that she's cast a spell over most of the town with her magical white fudge, who can the kids turn to? Will Mr. Stot, another magician, help them, or is he as bad as Mrs. White? And who is the strange man in the fedora going through town? Is he friend or foe? And can the kids escape the clutches of Mrs. White before it's too late?
Nate, Pigeon, Summer, and Trevor, are three friends who at first think that Mrs. White, the owner of The Sweet Tooth and Candy Shoppe is a nice old lady who happens to have magical candy that can grant them temporary powers. But as they run errands for her, the errands become more and more sinister until the kids realize they've got to break their ties with Mrs. White before it's too late. But now that she's cast a spell over most of the town with her magical white fudge, who can the kids turn to? Will Mr. Stot, another magician, help them, or is he as bad as Mrs. White? And who is the strange man in the fedora going through town? Is he friend or foe? And can the kids escape the clutches of Mrs. White before it's too late?
Loralee Evans
Hello, I am the author of The King's Heir, and The Birthright, both published by Cedar Fort. They are based on stories from the Book of Mormon, and both have similar characters in them, though either
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