The Christmasaurus by Tom Fletcher

Synopsis: 
The Christmasaurus is a story about a boy named William Trundle, and a dinosaur, the Christmasaurus. It's about how they meet one Christmas Eve and have a magical adventure. It's about friendship and families, sleigh bells and Santa, singing elves and flying reindeer, music and magic. It's about discovering your heart's true desire, and learning that the impossible might just be possible.

Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

An adorable Christmas tale about a boy who wants a dinosaur for Christmas. When his wish comes true, he goes on a amazing Christmas Eve/Christmas Day adventure. I am adding this to my December reading list!

I loved reading this book. The illustrations and the different fonts for certain words were fun. The elves made me laugh out loud with their songs and rhyming. This is truly an awesome Christmas story. I am 33 and I am not sure who had more fun reading it, me or my 10 year old.

Josephine Baker's Last Dance by Sherry Thomas

Description
From the author of The Jewel of Medina, a moving and insightful novel based on the life of legendary performer and activist Josephine Baker, perfect for fans of The Paris Wife and Hidden Figures.

Discover the fascinating and singular life story of Josephine Baker—actress, singer, dancer, Civil Rights activist, member of the French Resistance during WWII, and a woman dedicated to erasing prejudice and creating a more equitable world—in Josephine Baker’s Last Dance.

In this illuminating biographical novel, Sherry Jones brings to life Josephine's early years in servitude and poverty in America, her rise to fame as a showgirl in her famous banana skirt, her activism against discrimination, and her many loves and losses. From 1920s Paris to 1960s Washington, to her final, triumphant performance, one of the most extraordinary lives of the twentieth century comes to stunning life on the page.

With intimate prose and comprehensive research, Sherry Jones brings this remarkable and compelling public figure into focus for the first time in a joyous celebration of a life lived in technicolor, a powerful woman who continues to inspire today.

Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book reads like a fiction novel but all of the facts are true. Follow Josephine all the way through her abusive childhood, her rise to stardom, clear through until she died. She was fun, enchanting, and loved to have fun.  You can tell by reading this that the author was passionate about writing it. You can actually almost feel the characters come to life.

A rumored Fortune by Joanna Davidson Politano

Description
Tressa Harlowe's father did not trust banks, but neither did he trust his greedy extended family. He kept his vast fortune hidden somewhere on his estate in the south of England and died suddenly, without telling anyone where he had concealed it. Tressa and her ailing mother are left with a mansion and an immense vineyard and no money to run it. It doesn't take long for a bevy of opportunists to flock to the estate under the guise of offering condolences. Tressa knows what they're really up to. She'll have to work with the rough and rusticated vineyard manager to keep the laborers content without pay and discover the key to finding her father's fortune--before someone else finds it first.

Award-winning author Joanna Davidson Politano welcomes readers to Trevelyan Castle, home of the poorest heiress in Victorian England, for a treasure hunt they'll not soon forget.

Review:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I have been waiting for this book since I read the teaser in Lady Jayne Disappears. I am so happy that I finally got to read it. I LOVED this book. I loved watching Tressa's personal growth from a naive girl to a strong and confident woman. The analogies between real life and the vineyard were amazing. I love the character relationships and the twists and turns that this book made.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Seek by Anthony O'Neill

Description
In this dark, atmospheric sequel to Robert Louis Stevenson’s timeless classic, the strange case continues with the return of Dr. Jekyll . . .
Seven years after the death of Edward Hyde, a stylish gentleman shows up in foggy London claiming to be Dr. Henry Jekyll. Only Mr. Utterson, Jekyll’s faithful lawyer and confidant, knows that he must be an impostor—because Jekyll was Hyde.

But as the man goes about charming Jekyll’s friends and reclaiming the estate, and as the bodies of potential challengers start piling up, Utterson is left fearing for his life . . . and questioning his own sanity.

This brilliantly imagined and beautifully written sequel to one of literature’s greatest masterpieces perfectly complements, as well as subverts, Stevenson’s gothic classic. And where the original was concerned with the duality of man, the sequel deals with the possibility of identity theft of the most audacious kind. Constantly threading on the blurred lines between reality and fantasy, madness and reason, self-serving delusions and brutal truths, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Seek honors the original Stevenson with a thrilling new conclusion.

Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book was the perfect sequel to Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde. It reads like it was written by Stevenson as well. I loved how it tied up all lose strings and brought the entire story to a full close. Must read for fans of the original classic novel. I am going to purchase this book and add it to my classics shelf.

The Transfigured Hart by Jane Yolen

Description:

Heather and Richard have little in common.  A voracious reader growing up in a large house filled with books, Richard is a sickly child who prefers to be solitary.  Heather is comfortable in a crowd but nonetheless sneaks away on her appaloosa pony for lone adventures in woods.

One evening after dinner, Richard spies a strange, white deer in the fading light of the woods. It leaps away into the thick brush, but Richard is certain of what he’s seen: a unicorn. And Heather—out for a ride—has also spotted the unusual stag.

Heather and Richard cannot agree on what they've seen. They definitely do not want to share their secret. But they will soon discover that their assistance is much-needed indeed.

Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Beautiful fairytale-like story. This book takes place in present time. Two kids find an albino deer and become convinced that it is a unicorn. They come together to see if they can save it from hunting season. This story is beautifully written and reminds me of a book I would read to my daughter for bed.

Most Exciting News!

I finally finished my first attempt at horror/suspense! Click the link below to get your copy today.



Description:

The saying goes "Someone has skeletons in their closet." But what about the basement?

When Luke and Heidi inherit an old Victorian home in quite Philomath, Oregon, they think it will be a dream come true. The house needed work, but it was quiet and peaceful. As they start renovating, they find a treasure trove of expensive antiques. It begs the question "Why would anyone leave this stuff behind?"

Heidi starts to notice something is wrong. The house feels weird and something is attacking her. Through research, they discover two different families lived in the house before, one met a tragic end and the other a mysterious one.

Get your copy here!

Grandghost by Nancy Springer

Synopsis:
When she unearths the bones of a young child, Beverly Vernon’s life is transformed in ways she never expected.

Widowed Beverly Vernon, a displaced East Coast children’s book illustrator and mother of two childless adult daughters, is finding it difficult to settle in rural Florida. Filling her days by painting the portrait of a longed-for imaginary grandchild, she is struggling to find meaning in her life. But everything changes when she uncovers the bones of a young child in her backyard. A child who evidently died through violent means.

Determined to find out who the child was and how and why they died, Beverly notices that the portrait she’s working on seems to change of its own accord – and that’s not the only unexplained phenomenon taking place within her home. Is she being haunted – or is she going mad?


In her efforts to uncover the truth behind the bones, Beverly finds her relationship with her two daughters coming under threat, and her faith and beliefs tested to their very limit.

Review:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was another amazing novel by Nancy Springer where five stars are not enough. Beverly has to be my favorite grandma character EVER. I love her quirky, sarcastic character and one line attempts at humor. I loved the storyline of this book. It was exciting and heartbreaking at the same time. Definitely going on my "Read more than once" shelf and purchasing a copy ASAP.