Peril in the Palace by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker

Peril in the Palace, book three in The Imagination Sation series, is an exciting read for ages seven and up. Beth and Patrick hop into the Imagination Station and end up in China in 1271. They have been sent there to find the golden tablet of Kublai Khan. Along the way, they meet the famous travelor Marco Polo and get kidnapped by Mongol warriors!

I love this series because it's like a Christian version of The Magic Tree House. It's just as exciting, full of historical facts, and it includes the town of Odyssey and Whit's End! The artwork is also wonderful. I loved Beth and Patrick's newest adventure. They are challenged by the Kublai Khan, who asks, "Why doesn't the Christian God destroy your enemies?" and they face the yellow lamas who have tricks up their sleeves, instead of magic. I think kids will love this new book!

I received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes from Tyndale House. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

In Front of God Everybody by KD McCrite

If God wanted April Grace to be kind to her neighbors, He should have made them nicer!

Growing up in the country is never easy, but it sure is funny-especially if you happen to have a sister obsessed with being glamorous, a grandma just discovering make-up, hippie friends who never shower, and brand new neighbors from the city who test everyone's patience. From disastrous dye jobs to forced apologies and elderly date tagalongs, you'll laugh 'til you cry as you read the Confessions of April Grace!

Here are just a couple of April's thoughts: On her sister, Myra Sue: "How anyone can be that dumb and still be able to eat with a fork is beyond me."

On senior citizen lovebirds: "What if they started smooching right at the table in front of God and everybody?"

In spite of all the loony characters in her life, April Grace is able to learn from her parents as they share the love of God-to even the craziest of characters!

In Front of God and Everybody is a book about a country girl and her interesting summer. When some strange and rude city folk have to stay at April Grace's house with her and her family, and grandma gets a no-good boyfriend, April Grace is at her wits end with them and her wanna-be older sister.

The book was not what I had expected, but not in a bad way. It was a funny read, and I enjoyed it. The characters were amusing. I thought the book got better as it went along. Personally, I wouldn't recommend the book to anyone under the age of ten because of some of the dialogue, and as realistic as strife can be in families, I'm not a huge fan of reading it. Overall, it was a cute and pretty good book.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

The Inconvenient Marriage of Charlotte Beck by Kathleen Y'Barbo

Unlikely romance is sometimes just an inconvenient marriage away.

Charlotte Beck may be entering adulthood, but she can’t seem to keep to her stubborn, independent spirit from bucking social protocol. Fed up with her behavior, Charlotte’s father Daniel pressures her to settle into a nice marriage despite knowing she is set on going to college. Then Daniel sees Charlotte with the handsome but annoying English astronomer Alex Hambly, and everything changes.

Though Alex and Charlotte can barely stand one another, Daniel offers them a deal they can’t refuse: if they agree to marry, he will save Alex’s family from financial ruin and grant Charlotte the freedom to go to college. Reluctantly the couple agrees, but in private they plot to annul the marriage as soon as possible.

But when Alex’s feelings change and he refuses to dissolve their contract, will Charlotte find a way out of her vows? Or will she discover that maybe this marriage isn’t so inconvenient after all?

I have to admit, it was a cute book. Loved the cover, loved the title, and loved the story until the end.

Y'Barbo had some very interesting characters. Charlotte was young, fiery, and loved to paint. Alex was an astronomer. Martin had been changed by the war. I would have loved to see these traits more throughout the book. I mean, an astronomer is so cool! You never find those in historical romances. You only saw Martin once, and then he sorta disappeared from the story.

Charlotte was funny and adventurous until near the end. After she came back from college, she was different, but Alex was still the same. I didn't like the change in her character. I liked the old Charlotte full of spunk with tricks up her sleeves.

I didn't like the end because I knew how it was going to end. They made an agreement not to sleep together so that they could annul their marriage. Of course, *SPOILER* they don't annul their marriage. I just didn't enjoy the ending because it was reduced to them finally falling in love and "officially being married."

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Departures by Robin Gunn

Departures is a book about two girls and their very different holiday weekends. When 17-year-old Christy returns from California to visit her childhood home, she is surprised that her old crush, Matthew, seems to be interested in her. But is it too soon to pursue a relationship after her heart wrenching breakup with Todd?

Sierra Jenson is 15-years-old, a little of a tomboy, and content. But while celebrating the Fourth of July with her best friend, Jana, Jana seems to want only one thing now-the attention of guys. When Jana starts openly flirting, Sierra feels the competition is on.

Read how both girls work through life relationship with guys, and more importantly, with God.

I didn't know what to expect from this book. Sometimes you have to be careful when reading romance, but I thought this book had a good balance of sweet love and age appropriate behavior. I don't know what is about the book that made me want to keep reading, but I did, into the night and early morning. It was simple writing, but good. A nice story. I think I would have like to see Christy and Sierra's lives intertwine more, but overall I really enjoyed the book and would love to read more from this author.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

The Bridge of Peace

The Bridge of Peace is a book that takes place in an Amish community. Your taken inside the lives of several people, all going through their own struggles in life. Love, hatred, insecurity, and hurt are unseen by those around them. After many trials, and even death, will they finally have peace in their lives?

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I had always been skeptical of Amish books, particularly Amish romance. But this book pulled me in, and had me on the edge of my seat on more than one occasion. It was heart wrenching at some points. I loved the different point of views from the characters in the story. I also learned so much more about the Amish culture that I hadn't known before. I would recommend this book to any young adult or adult. I'm already starting on my next Amish book!

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

The Secret of the Indigo Moon by G. P. Taylor

The Secret of the Indigo Moon, book two in DG the Dopple Ganger Chronicles, was a great read to where the first book left off. Who built the secret tunnel underneath Isambard Dunstan's School for Wayward Children? Where did Miss Olivia disapear to? And who is robbing Lord Gervez? Join Saskia, Sadie, and Erik on their exciting new adventure as they uncover new mysteries, run for their lives, and run into old enemies.

This book had a little more of a faith element than the first one. Madame Rapheal doesn't admit to being an angel, but she does say, "I am a maker of straight roads and a sign post to someone else." I really liked seeing her character answer a couple of questions and leave more riddles. The book focused a little more on Erik than the first one, and tossed around the subject of the children's parents who have abandoned them. The dedication was beautiful:

For

All children who have never known their fathers

and

All fathers who have never known their children.

Let us know we are loved and adored just as we are...

One of the things I love about this series is that the author keeps it light and kid friendly while gently pushing in deeper topics. The only thing I don't particuraly like is some of the violent situations the kids find themselves in like being held at gun-point. It is very much an action and adventure book that kids of all ages will love.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes from Tyndale House. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

The Band That Played On by Steve Turner

"The Band That Played On" is a non-fiction book about the eight musicians who nobly continued playing as the Titanic sank in 1912. This book takes you deeper than just the fact that eight musicians gave up their lives with dignity-you learn more about who they were before the Titanic, and perhaps who they had hoped to become.

The research that was done for this book is, to me, incredible. I loved hearing about how the Titanic's band members were chosen-the story before the story. Although this book was a little slow going for my taste, I did enjoy all of the history that covered every page. The photographs were amazing and scattered everywhere throughout the book. I would recommend this book to anyone who has a love for history. Steve Turner did a great job painting a clearer and more accurate picture of what exactly those eight courageous men did on April 15, 1912.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

The First Escape by G. P. Taylor

The First Escape (the first book in the DG the Dopple Ganger Chronicles) by G. P. Taylor is about three orphans/abandoned children at Isambard Dunstan's School for Wayward Children. Just by the name of that school, you know they're going to try to escape a place like that. Sadie and Saskia Dopple are twins there who wreak havoc and chaos together - until Saskia is adopted by a wealthy woman and Sadie is left at the school. Former thief Erik was abandoned by his father at the all girls' school, but he stays there as a janitor and sits in the back of the classrooms. Sadie and Erik join forces to escape and plan to find Saskia. Will they succeed?

I like this book a lot. It's part book and part comic book and I was surprised how well it flowed all together. I loved it, and I usually don't like comic books. The characters in this book were very amusing. They always had tricks up their sleeves and made me giggle. The art work was awesome - eye candy to a generation used to television. My thirteen-year-old brother ooh-ed over the cover and said he would diffidently read this when I was finished with it. I think a lot of middle school aged kids would love this book (ages 10+). All in all, a great book!

I received a complimentary copy of the book for review purposes from Tyndale House.

Attack at the Arena by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker

Attack at the Arena picks up where Voyage with the Vikings left off. Cousins Patrick and Beth now have to retrieve a Roman monk's missing silver cup from Rome before the new moon. The Imagination Station takes them on a new adventure that includes barely escaping being eaten by a tiger, wearing weird Roman costumes, and getting caught by soldiers. They also learn how dangerous it was for Christians back then - they could be killed just for sport!

I liked this book a lot. It is a quick and easy read for younger children (ages 7 and up/Grade Level 2.3) and it reminds me a lot of Magic Tree house, except with Christian principles. The story was exciting and I think it would definitely appeal to kids. I loved the artwork! So cute! It is also a great historical read and a great question starter for young kids about suffering for your faith like the apostles and Paul did.

Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.

The Shape of Mercy by Susan Meissner

“We understand what we want to understand.”

Leaving a life of privilege to strike out on her own, Lauren Durough breaks with convention and her family’s expectations by choosing a state college over Stanford and earning her own income over accepting her ample monthly allowance. She takes a part-time job from 83-year-old librarian Abigail Boyles, who asks Lauren to transcribe the journal entries of her ancestor Mercy Hayworth, a victim of the Salem witch trials.

Almost immediately, Lauren finds herself drawn to this girl who lived and died four centuries ago. As the fervor around the witch accusations increases, Mercy becomes trapped in the worldview of the day, unable to fight the overwhelming influence of snap judgments and superstition, and Lauren realizes that the secrets of Mercy’s story extend beyond the pages of her diary, living on in the mysterious, embittered Abigail.

The strength of her affinity with Mercy forces Lauren to take a startling new look at her own life, including her relationships with Abigail, her college roommate, and a young man named Raul. But on the way to the truth, will Lauren find herself playing the helpless defendant or the misguided judge? Can she break free from her own perceptions and see who she really is?

I. Loved. This. Book. It was awesome. I'm a big fan of Meissner's book Blue Heart Blessed, but I didn't realize it was the same author until I got the book. I was hesitant to read this book. I usually stick with young adult and steer away from romances because I don't want to read about people making out (you'd be surprised at what's in some Christian fiction). But Meissner had just enough romance to make it sweet, no gagging. I immediately wanted to give this to my younger sister to read because she and I both adore The Witch of Blackbird Pond and this book reminded me of it sooooo much. But she's a little younger and I'd put the age range on this book teens to adults.

Lauren was an interesting character. I didn't like and yet I loved her all at the same time. She made some stupid choices, but her character still stayed real and likable. Mercy was awesome. I didn't think that I would like the diary entries but they were the best part! Especially when she wrote about John Peter. *swoon*

All-in-all, I really, really, really liked this book. The characters were awesome, the story was gripping, and I was close to tears several times. Y'all. I never cry when I read books. This one's a keeper.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.