Beverly Stowe McClure's Blog: Enter Beverly's World of Writing, page 11

A Magical Adventure

Motley Education by S.A. Larsen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Do you enjoy visiting new worlds? Do you like to meet creatures and people that you might see in a spooky movie? Would you like to attend a school where the students all have special abilities that go way beyond being a scientific genius (though they could be that too), or a whiz at math? “Yes,” you say. Then you’ve come to the right place. First of all, one look at the book cover will arouse your curiosity. What kind of hand is that? And the birds in the background hint at something sinister going on, at least to me they do.

In MOTLEY EDUCATION, Author S. A. Larsen’s latest novel for middle-grade readers, we start our journey three months before entering Motley Junior High, a school for psychically and celestially gifted students. A boy and his friends are playing in a cemetery where they’ve played before, but this time, something unusual happens. No, I’m not saying what. You’ll want to discover that for yourself.

From there, the reader follows sixth-grader Ebony Charmed, a spirit tracker, and her best friend and go-to-guy, Fleishman, who can manipulate matter, through one adventure after another. From ghosts to doors that are there but aren’t, to students vanishing, and creatures you could never imagine, her bravery is tested time and again.

And if that’s not enough trouble for a girl, Ebony’s dad has left home, and she wants him back again. She also learns surprising things about her parents. Is anyone really who they claim to be?

S. A. Larsen has created interesting characters, some good, some bad, which is as it should be, that are typical kids, except for their special powers. The author describes the scenes so vividly, it was almost like I was there. MOTLEY EDUCATION would make a nice addition to school classrooms and libraries, (where students might wish they attended such a school as Motley Jr. High), as well as public libraries and your own. Recommended.

The book is now out for your enjoyment.




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An Unusual Thanksgiving Dinner

Macaroni and Cheese for Thanksgiving by Cheryl C. Malandrinos

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Thanksgiving. Turkey. Stuffing. Cranberry Sauce. Mashed Potatoes. Family together. What a wonderful holiday. But what if something happens to the turkey and trimmings? Is the Thanksgiving meal ruined?

In MACARONI AND CHEESE FOR THANKSGIVING, the latest picture book by Author Cheryl C. Malandrinos, ten-year-old Macy and her family have everything ready for the big day. They’re waiting for Grandma and Grandpa to arrive, when the unthinkable happens. An accident destroys the turkey. Their dinner is ruined. Or is it? How can you have Thanksgiving without turkey? Impossible, right? Well, maybe not. Macy has a solution to their dilemma and gives her parents, along with the reader a bit of history about the First Thanksgiving. Will her plan work? Will the family agree?

The author has written a story about a family, much like yours or mine, perhaps, that works together when life doesn’t turn out the way they want it to. They take a situation and make the best of it, quite creatively, I think. And in working together, they also discover that being with family is more important than what they eat.

MACARONI AND CHEESE FOR THANKSGIVING is a fun read that would make a good addition to elementary school classrooms and libraries, public libraries, as well as your own library. Happy reading. Recommended. I was given a copy of this book for my honest review.





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Missing Teens

Fading Into the Shadows by Kelly Hashway

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


In the news we hear of missing children or teens, and we wonder how they can just disappear without a trace. Surely someone knows what happened to them. People don’t just vanish into thin air? Or do they?

That is the question readers will be asking themselves in Author Kelly Hashway’s latest YA novel FADING INTO THE SHADOWS. Sixteen-year-old Avery is missing. Ella, his best friend, saw him just a short time earlier. So what happened? Where did he go? Was he kidnapped, as several other teens had been recently? Officer Bobson, the cop that questions Avery’s parents, along with Ella, the last person to see him, doesn’t act too concerned. So begins the mystery of Avery’s disappearance, and Ella soon finds herself in another world, where she learns the fate of the missing teens, including Avery.

Kelly Hashway has created a fantasy world that will enchant you and yet leave you wondering who are the good guys and who are the bad. Add a touch of romance between Ella and Avery, along with Hercules and Melanie, as well as the handsome Gabe, and you have a story of adventure, family, and the lengths some people will go to in order to achieve their goals. And sometimes, people are not what they seem. Fading into the Shadows is a great read for teens and also for the young at heart. The novel would make a great addition to high school libraries. Recommended.

An ARC of this novel was given to me for my honest review.




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Dogs, Cats, and Kids

Piper Morgan to the Rescue by Stephanie Faris

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Children. Dogs. Cats. A perfect combination. They just go together. In PIPER MORGAN TO THE RESCUE, the latest story in the Piper Morgan series by Author Stephanie Faris, Piper has always wanted a dog. When her mother starts a new job at a rescue center, trying to find homes for homeless dogs and cats, Piper is excited. Maybe now her mother will let Piper have a dog of her own.

I was hoping with every page I read that Piper would soon be the happy owner of the puppy of her dreams. And when she meets Gonzo, a little Maltese, it’s love at first sight. The perfect puppy for Piper, I thought. I could picture them together. I’m not going to give anything away, but moms and kids sometimes disagree about what the family needs.

Speaking of pictures, Lucy Fleming’s black- and-white illustrations throughout the book are adorable and just right for the story. Also, at the end of each chapter the reader learns “Fur Facts” about dogs and cats. Did you know that a “Dog’s nose is so unique it could be used to identify him, like human fingerprints?” I didn’t, but I know it now, along with other interesting facts about our furry friends.

Stephanie Faris has written a touching story about family, moms and daughters, friendship, and learning how to take care of your pet. This book would be a great addition to elementary school classrooms and libraries, public libraries, and your own library, of course. Highly Recommended.




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Journey to a Magical World

X Dare and the Keys to Nin by P.K. Hrezo




Have you ever wondered what it would be like to visit another world, another galaxy? You think it’s impossible? Well, maybe, but strange things do happen.

For example, in X DARE AND THE KEYS TO NIN, Author P K Hrezo’s latest novel for tween/teen Readers, fourteen-year-old Xavier Dare, better known as X, is playing a game given to him by a tattooed man named Seville when he’s suddenly pulled into a cold tunnel and soon finds himself in another galaxy. To add to his surprise, early legends say that one day an outsider will arrive, and he is the one. To return home, he must find the Keys of Nin.

P K Hrezo has created a magical world of characters and creatures like you’ve never before met. The more X learns about this new world, the more complicated his life becomes. He ends up having a world to save and a friend to rescue, a lot for a teen age boy to do. Will he succeed, or is he doomed to failure, never to see his family again?

X DARE AND THE KEYS TO NIN should appeal to teen readers who enjoy playing games that I’ve never heard of, but are popular with today’s teens. There’s plenty of action and never a dull moment to keep readers reading. This novel would make a nice addition to school libraries and classrooms, as well as great gifts for family and friends. Recommended.

An ARC of this novel was given to me for my honest review.




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Adventure, Survival, and a Romance

Seismic Crimes by Chrys Fey

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A hurricane, a murder, and crooked cops do not sound very romantic, do they? But events sometimes work together in unexpected ways. In Author Chrys Fey’s novel SEISMIC CRIMES (DISASTER CRIMES BOOK 2) Beth not only survives Hurricane Sabrina, she also finds herself helping Donovan, a man she meets under strange circumstances, prove that he did not kill his brother.

And that’s just the beginning. Told from both Beth’s and Donovan’s points-of-view, the reader becomes a part of their story. Donovan’s brother was a police officer, like Donovan, and dirty police officers, killed him. Hidden cameras recorded the murder so they had proof of the guilty officers. Beth took one of the cops out, but the other one got away, and Donovan is determined to catch him and make him pay.

The author doesn’t make it easy for Beth and Donovan. They meet one obstacle after another. Will they survive or end up like Donovan’s brother, or will they succeed and live happily ever after? A very good question. Even though there are some violent scenes, there’s also a touch of humor. I really liked Beth and her loyalty to Donovan. The romance between them gives readers a nice change of pace from the action scenes.

SEISMIC CRIMES will keep you reading and wondering if and how the characters will get out of the situations they get in. They’re honest people, likeable but not perfect, which makes them even more interesting. So come along and meet Beth, Donovan, their friends, and their enemies. I think you’ll have trouble putting the book down once you start reading.




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Clowns, Circus, Murder, Mystery

Bloodwalker by L.X. Cain

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A circus is fun for both children and adults, right? Wild animals, magic shows, and clowns make people laugh and have a good time. So what happens when children start disappearing when the circus comes to town, bringing horror and fear, instead of joy and pleasure?

In Author L. X. Cain’s new novel BLOODWALKER, Rurik, once a circus strong man, until lightning struck him leaving him scarred and ugly and who is now security guard for the circus, sets out to discover the fate of the children. Rurik stole my heart. Even though his outward appearance is scary, inside he’s a gentle man who cares for others. I was with him every step to keep other children safe from the killer.

In addition to seeing the story through Rurik’s eyes, Sylvie, a Bloodwalker, has a story of her own. As a Bloodwalker, she prepares the dead for burial, a custom of her ancestry. She’s also the victim of a bad marriage with a man that beats her and who she wants to escape from. Sylvie is a sweet, sympathetic character, the opposite of Rurik.

There are some pretty gruesome scenes in BLOODWALKER. The author also adds a tender romance. This is a beautiful story of love, loyalty, and regret, as well as secrets, curses, and survival.

L.X. Cain’s writing is vivid with descriptions that put the reader in the story. I read very few creepy novels, but I’ve enjoyed the author’s short stories so knew this novel would be a good one. I was right. Recommended. I think you’ll enjoy BLOODWALKER too. Maybe read it with the lights on.




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A Broken Family

Ordinary Miracles by Wanda Snow Porter

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


We hear of the men and women who come home from war, and even though they’re miles away from the battlefield, the experiences they had stay with them, perhaps for the rest of their life.

In ORDINARY MIRACLES, Wanda Snow Porter’s latest novel for young adult readers, seventeen-year-old Tobi’s dad, a Marine veteran who served in Afghanistan came home from the war a changed man. He is obsessed with a cataclysmic war he expects to happen soon. To keep his family safe from the dangerous world, he moves them to a farm.

If living in the middle of nowhere, no friends or school, isn’t bad enough, Tobi’s mom decides to go to the city and look for a job. No one seems to consider or care what Tobi wants, so she makes her own plans, determined to reach her goals.

ORDINARY MIRACLES is the story of a broken family attempting to put their lives back together. The author knows how to create real-life characters. Tobi, with her low self-esteem of herself touched my heart. I think she will be an inspiration to teen readers who have similar problems to Tobi’s. Some readers might also recognize her dad’s illness in someone they know, which would help them understand their behavior.

Wanda Snow Porter’s novel shows how the kindness of people and faith in God will help them through tough situations. I recommend this story. It would be a great addition to high school classrooms and libraries, as well as your own library.




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A Story of Family and New Beginnings

Worth Forgiving by Janet K. Brown

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Do you have a friend, acquaintance, or family member that once was in prison? What happened when they were released? How were they accepted once they moved back into the community and tried to make a new life for themselves?

I have no personal experience with such a situation and never thought about it, until I read Author Janet K. Brown’s latest novel, WORTH FORGIVING, Book 2 in The Wharton Rock Series. Boy, did she open my eyes to what an ex-convict faces. Maybe not all of them, but I imagine a percentage of them experience the same problems that Katie, the character in the story, has to deal with.

WORTH FORGIVING is a story of hope, forgiveness, and family. Janet K. Brown has a knack for creating characters that are so real, I could feel Katie’s pain and disappointment as her plans and dreams for her after prison life all went wrong. I wanted to help Larry, the man Katie could love if she wasn’t so damaged, solve his dilemma about God’s plans for him. I wished I could shake them and tell them what to do.

I recommend WORTH FORGIVING for everyone that enjoys a story about family, not a perfect family, but one that is trying to do God’s will in their lives. It’s a sad story; it’s a happy story; it’s a story that will stay with you for a long time and make you appreciate your own life.

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Memories

After Loving You by Ashelyn Drake

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Do you remember your first love? The love you thought would last forever? I do. Yes, those good old high school years. Forever lasted until we broke up, right before graduation. How long was your forever?

AFTER LOVING YOU, a New Adult contemporary novel by Author Ashelyn Drake, will revive your memories of that first love. Told from both Mia’s and Jared’s points-of-view, the author shows us the emotions of the characters from both sides. They were a couple in high school, but that was last year. Now they’ve broken up and are attending different colleges. They’re also dating different people, although they can’t forget each other.

The story follows Mia and Jared through their present lives as they long for the past, while trying to build new friendships and futures. The characters’ emotions and confusions over what they really want rings true. It’s hard sometimes to let go of the past; it’s even harder, perhaps, to accept a new life, without someone you’d once been so crazy about.

Ashelyn Drake kept me guessing how the story would end. Would Mia and Jared get back together? Or would each of them find happiness with their new loves? Some of the scenes when the characters are making out are pretty detailed, but AFTER LOVING YOU is a sweet romance that’s well worth your time to read and meet Mia and Jared, along with their friends.

It may bring back some memories of yours.
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