Hockey Wars 4: Championships by Sam Lawrence
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It’s Championship Time!

More often than not children relate themselves with the characters of a good story. In such circumstances, reading fiction can help them to get inspiration from the characters. These stories often portray real life implications through anecdotes, and as such makes it easier for them to understand the complex aspects of life. Moreover, reading these stories at regular intervals can actually help them to develop a positive outlook towards life, which eventually proves beneficial for good character development.

Hockey Wars 4: Championships is Book 4 of 4 in Hockey Wars series. Authors Sam Lawrence and Ben Jackson deliver again with this early reader chapter book that both boys and girls will enjoy.

The book description gives a sneak preview: ‘It’s the end of the regular hockey season, and that means only one thing, it’s championship time! The girls and boys of the Dakota Hurricanes and Lightning have been working hard all season to qualify for championships, and now the big weekend has finally arrived.

Will Cameron and the boys steal the show and take the championship trophy? Or will it be the girls that steal their thunder? There’s a weekend of hockey, and everyone is putting it all on the line until the final buzzer sounds.

Be prepared for some action-packed hockey fun as these two teams battle it out against the best teams in their state for the glory of winning the championship trophy!’

If you want to find out what happens, you’ll just have to turn the pages for yourself! I’ve been following these authors for some time now and their work just gets better and better. My grand kids love it, and so do I!

Authors Sam Lawrence and Ben Jackson write in a wonderful, simple and imaginative style that will guarantee the attention of young minds. If you ever wanted to bond even more with your children or grandchildren, this would be a lovely story to share with them. Special mention also to Danko Herrera for the wonderful illustrations.

It seems to me that this book was created with a lot of love and joy and it’s clear that the authors really enjoy creating such wonderful stories. Thank you for sharing with us the gift that you have obviously worked so hard to refine. We’ll be looking forward to seeing what’s coming next. A well-deserved five stars from us!

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Rise to The Rhythm: Awaken The Beat and Live Your Life's Highest Capabilities by Joey L. Dowdy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book will put you on the right path to better things...

This book will help you to clarify your thinking, process your feelings, and make better decisions. If you are you ready to stop drifting and design a life you love, this read with help you on your journey. The author has put his heart in the pages of this book and will encourage and give hope to the reader. So many wonderful and courageous people share their experiences through books, and I thank this author for sharing his.

The overall tone was simply imparting knowledge, personal experience and wisdom in a gentle and generous way. His words will help to better equip you to interpret and handle life in a whole new way, which in turn will bring peace, love and joy into your life. If you are looking for inspiration and encouragement in the face of serious issues, this would come highly recommended from me.

No matter what your situation is today, this book will put you on the right path to better things. I’ve been around the block a few times myself and even I found this read to be very insightful. This wonderful new book will show you how to properly tune into life and the simple rules you must follow to achieve this. This by far is one of the best Life Improvement books I’ve read in a long time. The author must be commended for his time and effort for producing such an insightful book. Also, the writing style is friendly which makes for an enjoyable read.

RISE TO THE RHYTHM: AWAKEN THE BEAT AND LIVE YOUR LIFE'S HIGHEST CAPABILITIES is a wonderful read that will leave you feeling like a better person for having read it. It’s an impressive work by author Joey L. Dowdy and I’ll certainly be looking forward to reading more from him in the future. I would highly recommend this perceptive and intuitive read. A well-deserved five stars from me.

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Vittoria: A Historical Drama Based on A True Story by Dafna Vitale Ben Bassat
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An unforgettable story about an unforgettable woman...

Author Dafna Vitale Ben Bassat weaves a powerful historical fiction based on a true story. With fascinating twists and turns, it will easily captivate the reader from the first page to the last. The author paints a dramatic and riveting tale of loss and despair, survival and human triumph in a very vivid and convincing way. In addition, the characters are drawn with great credibility and conviction. It’s a compelling story that will have you mesmerized from the opening chapter.

The book description gives a sneak preview: ‘Vittoria Vitale was born to a noble Jewish family in the north of Italy at the very same year that Mussolini met his Jewish lover. With the onset of World War II, her life is carried by a swirl of atrocities, decisions, farewells and remorse that will scar her forever.

This is the story of one unforgettable woman, supporting her husband and children under impossible conditions. It is also the story of a Jewish family who feels safe from war because of its status and wealth and wakes up to a disastrous reality. More than anything, it is the story of the entire Italian Jewish community in face of the Holocaust – a story of disaster, overcoming and eventual immigration to Israel as a part of the Zionist movement.

Daily life soaked in historical consequences, family ties and general atmosphere, aromas, sounds and tastes, based on thorough research, interviews and original historical manuscripts. A drama of loss and despair, survival and human triumph with unforgettable characters that stay with you long after the last page.’

If that’s not enough to get you engaged, I don’t know what will. But if you want to find out what happens, you’ll just have to turn the pages for yourself! However, I will say it was well worth the read. It’s my first time reading this author and I must say I was very impressed.

MY NAME IS VITTORIA had every element a good story should have. An interesting plot, attention to detail, but best of all fleshed out, well-written and well-rounded character development. There’s an abundance of well-illustrated scenes that make you feel like you are right there in the story, and that’s something I really look for in a good book.

I’ll be looking forward to reading more from this author in the future. I would highly recommend this book. A well-deserved five stars from me.

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IT'S JUST A RIDE

Hockey Wars 3 - The Tournament by Ben Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It’s hockey tournament time!

More often than not children relate themselves with the characters of a good story. In such circumstances, reading fiction can help them to get inspiration from the characters. These stories often portray real life implications through anecdotes, and as such makes it easier for them to understand the complex aspects of life. Moreover, reading these stories at regular intervals can actually help them to develop a positive outlook towards life, which eventually proves beneficial for good character development.

Hockey Wars 3: The Tournament is the third and final installment in the Hockey Wars series. Authors Sam Lawrence and Ben Jackson deliver again with this early reader chapter book that both boys and girls will enjoy.

The book description gives a sneak preview: ‘It’s the first hockey tournament of the season, and for many of the girls and boys on the two teams, it’s their first tournament. They’ll get to experience all the pressure and excitement as they play off for the Ice Fest Tournament Trophy!

Along with the excitement of the tournament, there’s also someone new that will throw two best friends into turmoil. Could this new stranger drive a wedge between two best friends, or will they be able to overcome and take the trophy?’

If you want to find out what happens, you’ll just have to turn the pages for yourself!

Authors Sam Lawrence and Ben Jackson write in a wonderful, simple and imaginative style that will guarantee the attention of young minds. If you ever wanted to bond even more with your children or grandchildren, this would be a lovely story to share with them. Special mention also to Kyle Fleming for the wonderful illustrations.

It seems to me that this book was created with a lot of love and joy and it’s clear that the authors really enjoy creating such wonderful stories. Thank you for sharing with us the gift that you have obviously worked so hard to refine. We’ll be looking forward to seeing what’s coming next. A well-deserved five stars from us!

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Dead on the Water by R.W.K. Clark
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Dead on the Water: Abandon Ship is a well crafted Sci-Fi Fantasy Horror. And I would imagine that fans of this genre will love sinking their teeth into this one! I have read this author several times before and must say I’m always very impressed.

The story had every element a good story should have. An exciting plot, attention to detail, but best of all fleshed out, well-written and well-rounded character development. There’s an abundance of well illustrated scenes that really make you feel like you are right there in the story, and that's something I really look for in a good book.

Thanks to a sick, twisted scientist in Belize, a terrible thing has found its way about the ship. It is about to take over everyone and everything, and neither the captain, his crew, or any passenger on board will be immune. Welcome to Dead on the Water, a trembling good tale by RWK Clark. I personally was most entertained by the part where the captain, who is now the leader of the zombie movement, addresses all of his troops on the deck of the ship, relating his plan to them. Just picturing the situation and feeling the despair of it was enough to make me say, “I love it! Bring on more!”

This captivating and commendable work had me immersed from the beginning. The story flows from scene to scene with ease, and the author shows exceptional skill when it comes to storytelling. There are twists and turns in this page turner that will take the reader on a gripping journey!

It’s one of those stories that come along once in awhile that makes you want to read it non-stop until you get to the end. I’m giving nothing further away here. And this, I hope, will only add to the mystery and enjoyment for the reader!

I’ll certainly be looking forward to reading more from RWK Clark in the future! I would definitely recommend this book. I’d give this 6 stars if I could. Unfortunately, I can only give it a mere 5!


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She Was Born a Good Girl: An All Girls Boarding School Story by Garfield Whyte
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A well-crafted coming of age tale…

Author Garfield Whyte weaves a vibrant and very interesting coming of age tale, with fascinating twists and turns that will easily captivate the reader’s attention from the beginning. The author paints an all-girls boarding school story in a very vivid and convincing way. In addition, the characters are drawn with great credibility and conviction. It’s a relatively fast-paced novel that will keep you captivated from the first page to the last.

The book description gives a sneak preview; ‘Raunchy Zoe, prude Nola, follow-fashion Myra, indecisive Jody and man-hunter Anona. It’s final year at the Rosemount School, a prestigious all-girls boarding school in Jamaica where parents send their daughters to become ladies; but some girls allow their raging hormones to turn them into renegades. No-nonsense, principal, Lenora Mustafa has her hands full with these girls as she strives to maintain the school’s enviable reputation. Everyone is different in this sisterhood, but they all share a common goal to graduate at the end of this school year. How will final year go?’

Now, if that’s not enough to whet your appetite, I don’t know what will. But if you want to find out what happens, you’ll just have to turn the pages for yourself! However, I will say it was well worth the read. It’s my first time reading this author and I must say I was very impressed.

Engaging, and entertaining, this work had me immersed from the beginning. The story flowed from scene to scene with ease, and the author shows exceptional ability when it comes to storytelling. There are plenty of attention-grabbing moments in this page turner that will take the reader on a truly mesmerizing journey!

If this book is anything to go by, I’ll certainly be looking forward to reading more from Garfield Whyte in the future. I would definitely recommend this book and would love to see it adapted for the Silver Screen. I honestly think this would make a great movie. Five stars from me.


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