Hockey Wars 6: Middle School

Hockey Wars 6: Middle School by Sam Lawrence
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Dakota Hurricanes and Lightning are back!

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 6: Middle School is Book 6 of 6 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: ‘The Dakota Hurricanes and Lightning are back, and together they’re all getting ready for the big drama club production as well as their first year of middle school! …Starting middle school is never easy, but when you have such a great bunch of friends, it can take the pressure out of the first day of school. The girls and boys of the Hurricanes and Lightning not only have to compete against seniors for ice time, but they’ll also need to audition for the big drama club production…There are many changes ahead and some new friends, but with the help and support of their best friends, these kids should be up for the challenge! Oh, and don’t forget plenty of on the ice action.’

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 grandkids 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! I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

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Strong from the Heart: A Caitlin Strong Novel (Caitlin Strong Novels Book 11)

Strong from the Heart by Jon Land
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A first-class thriller with perfect pacing...

Strong from the Heart: A Caitlin Strong Novel (Caitlin Strong Novels Book 11) by Jon Land is a superbly written and richly descriptive novel with brilliantly drawn characters and settings. It was a captivating read that 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.

I enjoyed the story, character development, and dialogue. There were plenty of plot twists that I didn’t see coming and that added to the book’s mystique. When I stopped reading to work, I found myself wondering what happened in the book, and replaying parts of the novel in my head to see if I could figure more out. It has been a while since I enjoyed a book this much. It’s a first-class thriller with perfect pacing.

There’s no doubt that Strong from the Heart is an exceptionally well written book. The contrast between tone and content is a characteristic talent of only a few authors. The author pays as much attention to his sentences as he does to his plots, shifting or consolidating meaning with the use of a single word. His writing is impeccably honed, full of juxtapositions and qualifications that help to create a suspenseful atmosphere throughout. Highly recommended. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

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I AM A Miracle by Clyde Hoch

I AM A Miracle by Clyde Hoch
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

‘The biggest barriers people have are the ones they put on themselves.’

As the author states in his introduction his sole purpose in writing this book is to inspire people to continue to plug away and to make their lives better. He would also like to leave the world a better place than when he came into it. He would like people to understand they can endure almost anything that life throws at them.

‘Life is a wonderful combination of difficult experiences that are paradoxically intertwined with experiences of happiness in our lives. The difficult experiences are usually surprising, and we will never be ready for them. However, they make us resilient and make us appreciate what is there. Therefore, even with difficulty, one must not forget to be grateful. Because showing gratitude is a source of power that connects great faith and hope.’

I AM A Miracle by Clyde Hoch is a powerful and inspirational story about a man’s triumph over poverty and adversary. It was a brilliant read that will leave you feeling like a better person for having read it. It’s an impressive work by the founder of a nonprofit organization called Veterans Brotherhood, an international award-winning author, and a highly-decorated United States Marine Corps Veteran who heroically served in Vietnam as a tank commander.

People write memoirs to fixate, analyze, share, or rethink past events. This book refers to important and significant moments in the authors life. I’ll be looking forward to reading more from this author in the future. I would highly recommend this very open, honest and frank autobiography. A well-deserved five stars from me.

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The Future of Finance is Now: The Most Important Trends in Finance for the Coming Decade Have Already Started

The Future of Finance is Now: The Most Important Trends in Finance for the Coming Decade Have Already Started by Jason Schenker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Well worth a read...

The Future of Finance is Now: The Most Important Trends in Finance for the Coming Decade Have Already Started by Jason Schenker is a good introduction for the lay-person on understanding the world of finance.

As the author states, ‘finance professionals are always trying to look around the corner because being able to see just a little bit ahead is where the money is made. It’s the reason that financial technology — FinTech — has been a hot topic for years. And it is the reason why the future of finance is such a hotly discussed subject…’

The world, of course, has changed dramatically since the publication of this book. However, it still remains very much relevant and contains valuable information. The author lays out a clear outline on how an individual can still thrive financially in today’s world. Well worth a read.


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Obsidian Hunger (Undercover Elementals Book 4) by Anna Durand

Obsidian Hunger by Anna Durand
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fantastic book from beginning to end...

Obsidian Hunger is the fourth book in the Undercover Elementals series of paranormal romances by bestselling author Anna Durand. It’s a wonderfully written and richly descriptive novel with brilliantly drawn characters and settings. The author weaves a well-crafted action-packed paranormal romance that will easily captivate the reader from the first page to the last.

Obsidian Hunger had every element a good story should have. A solid 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 you are right there in the story, and that’s something I look for in a good book.

If you are looking for a well-written suspenseful paranormal romance with amazing characters and a gripping plot then Obsidian Hunger will not leave you disappointed. Recommended to all fans of paranormal romance and a well-deserved five stars from me.

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Raider of The Scottish Coast

Raider of The Scottish Coast by Marc Liebman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Great book from beginning to end...

Raider of The Scottish Coast by Marc Liebman is a superbly written and richly descriptive novel with brilliantly drawn characters and settings. The author weaves a well-crafted action sea adventure that will easily captivate the reader from the first page to the last. For me it was one of those ‘special’ books. You know one of those books that you read and really begin to care about the characters and what happens to them during the course of the story.

Raider of The Scottish Coast had every element a good story should have. A solid 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 you are right there in the story, and that’s something I look for in a good book.

If you are looking for a well-written and exceptional historical fiction book with amazing characters and a gripping plot then Raider of The Scottish Coast will not leave you disappointed. Recommended to all fans of historical fiction and a well-deserved five stars from me.

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In Picardy's Fields by Hannah Byron

In Picardy's Fields by Hannah Byron
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A master class in storytelling...

In Picardy's Fields by Hannah Byron is a wonderfully written and richly descriptive novel with brilliantly drawn characters and settings. The threads of storytelling are expertly woven in this historical fiction that will guarantee the attention of the reader. Skillfully constructed and set against the backdrop of the horrific trench battles of WW1, this book will have you turning the pages from beginning to end. In addition, the characters are drawn with great credibility and conviction. The story is told from the perspectives of the main central characters Agnès and Madeleine and is a noteworthy tribute to the brave young women of WW1. ‘Through their work and courage, they set in motion the true liberation of 20th century women.’

The book description gives a sneak preview: ‘Baroness Agnès de Saint-Aubin is a young Parisian doctor with a mysterious past. She follows the attractive—but married—Dr. Alan Bell to the front lines at the Château de Dragoncourt in Picardy, where they help battle the horrors of the trench war. When the castle is captured by German soldiers, the war turns personal as Agnès’s secret becomes both a terrible liability—and a mighty weapon. Until Alan is severely injured and her world falls apart… Countess Madeleine, the young go-getter of the Dragoncourt family, is furious that she’s been sidelined to a Swiss finishing school. Knowing her place is in the thick of the action, she runs away to join her siblings who are working as medics at the Château. Upon learning that it’s fallen to the Germans, Madeleine is determined to affect a rescue of the French doctors and nurses held prisoner within. But what can a mere teenager do against the German army?’

This was a fascinating and captivating read that 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 emotional and compelling moments in this page-turner that will take the reader on a truly mesmerizing journey. The story unfurls in small acts, at first feeling slight to touch, then building in emotional substance. Into the spaces between the words, the author breathes a pulsating intensity that rolls like a motion picture camera. With an abundance of imagery in the writing style, it makes you feel like you are right there in the story, and that’s something I look for in a good book.

This for me was a phenomenal read. It was one of those books that stayed with me for several days after I finished reading it. The vivid descriptions of the settings, situations, and the people were stunning and realistic. The author’s use of genuine dialogue further added to the overall atmosphere of authenticity.

The contrast between tone and content is a characteristic talent of only a few authors. Byron pays as much attention to her sentences as she does to her plots, shifting or consolidating meaning with the use of a single word. Her writing is impeccably honed, full of juxtapositions and qualifications that help to create a compelling and emotional atmosphere that will leave you spellbound.

In Picardy's Fields had every element a good story should have. An intriguing plot, attention to detail, but best of all fleshed out, well-written and well-rounded character development. It’s one of those stories that come along once in a while 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 be looking forward to reading more from this author in the future. Highly recommended reading to all fans of historical fiction and a well-deserved five stars from me. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

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