God Made Us Just Right By Allia Nolan

 No need to compare--God has a reason for creating everyone just the way they are!

How come puppies get to bark, but kittens can't? Why do elephants have such long trunks when other animals don't risk tripping over their noses? What's the point of all these differences?

Through playful illustrations of animals and warmhearted words in rhyme, young children will see God as their loving creator. God Made Us Just Right helps them realize that God has a reason for creating us just the way we are.

Kids who are always asking, "Why, Mom?" and "How come, Dad?" will easily relate to the back-and-forth question-and-answer format. It's a book the whole family will enjoy. 

Pick up your copy here...

God Made Us Just Right: Zobel Nolan, Allia, Hudson, Katy: 9780825446634: Amazon.com: Books

My Thoughts...

This is so cute and just perfect for 3-5 year old's. Its easy to understand and the illustrations are done very well. 

It is a sturdy  board book so it will last forever no matter what this littles throw at it.

Tis would make a wonderful gift, it has a wonderful message.

I gave this children's book 4 stars.

The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Her Every Move By Kelly Irvin

 

He’s a cop trying to stop a serial bomber. And she’ll stop at nothing to clear her own name. 

When a deadly bomb goes off during a climate change debate, librarian and event coordinator Jackie Santoro becomes the prime suspect. Her motive, according to Detective Avery Wick: to avenge the suicide of her prominent father, who was accused of crimes by a city councilman attending the event. 

Though Avery has doubts about Jackie’s guilt, he can’t exonerate her even after an extremist group takes responsibility for the bombing and continues to attack San Antonio’s treasured public spaces. 

As Jackie tries to hold her shattered family together, she has no choice but to proceed with plans for the Caterina Ball, the library system’s biggest annual fundraiser. But she also fears the event provides the perfect opportunity for the bomber to strike again. 

Despite their mistrust, Jackie and Avery join forces to unmask the truth—before the death toll mounts even higher. 

Bestseller Kelly Irvin is back with a nail-biting romantic suspense where nothing is certain until the very last page. 

Pick up your copy here...                                                                                                                                      Her Every Move: Irvin, Kelly: 9780785231905: Amazon.com: Books

  

Best-selling novelist Kelly Irvin's latest series, The Amish of Sky Country, features an Amish community in Northwest Montana affected by wildfires that destroyed thousands of acres in the state in recent years. The first book, Mountains of Grace, debuted in August 2019, and delves into the impact on not only an Amish man and woman, but also a smoke jumper, a sheriff's deputy, and a young English woman forced to confront her past because of the fires.

Kelly also writes romantic suspense novels. Her most recent forays into this genre include Tell Her No Lies and Over the Line, both set in San Antonio and South Texas. Of Tell Her No Lies, The Library Journal says, "Irvin creates a complex web with enough twists and turns to keep even the most savvy romantic suspense readers guessing until the end. Known for her Amish novels, this two-time Carol Award finalist shows that her talents span subgenres from tranquil Amish stories to rapidly paced breathless suspense."

Kelly is also the author of the Every Amish Season series, which included four books that chronicle the lives of Amish widows who are in different seasons in their lives. These women are linked by life altering experiences that bring them together as wives, mothers, and grandmothers in the small town of Jamesport, Mo. The first book, Upon a Spring Breeze, received critical acclaim from the Library Journal: "A moving and compelling tale about the power of grace and forgiveness that reminds us how we become strongest in our most broken moments."

Kelly Irvin is also the author of The Amish of Bee County series, which includes the critically acclaimed The Beekeeper's Son. Publishers Weekly called the first book in the series a beautifully woven masterpiece and Romantic Times Magazine called Kelly a storyteller extraordinaire. It was followed by The Bishop's Son and The Saddle Maker's Son, which is an ECPA bestseller.

A two-time ACFW Carol finalist, Kelly's novellas have been included in numerous anthologies, including An Amish Summer, The Amish Christmas Gift, An Amish Market, an Amish Christmas Love, and Amish Quilt, An Amish Reunion, An Amish Picnic, and An Amish Christmas Bakery.

She also penned the Bliss Creek Amish series and the New Hope Amish series, both published by Harvest House Publishers. Love Still Stands, the first book in the New Hope series, debuted in September 2012, and the follow-up, Love Redeemed, released March 1, 2014. The final book in the series, set in Branson, MO., was A Plain Love Song, released in July 2014.

The Bliss Creek Amish series, set in Kansas, includes To Love and to Cherish, A Heart Made New, and Love's Journey Home.

In the New Hope series, familiar characters from Bliss Creek move to Missouri to start a new district and a new life.

Kelly is also the author of two romantic suspense novels, A Deadly Wilderness and No Child of Mine, set in San Antonio, Texas. Two more romantic suspense novels are on the horizon, with the first, Tell Her No Lies, slated for publication by Thomas Nelson Publishing in January 2019.


The Kansas native is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and the ACFW San Antonio local chapter Alamo City Christian Fiction Writers, as well as Romance Writers of America (RWA) and Sisters in Crime.

A graduate of the University of Kansas William Allen White School of Journalism, Kelly wrote nonfiction professionally for thirty years. She studied for three semesters at the University of Costa Rica, learning the Spanish language. As a journalist, she worked six years in the border towns of Laredo and El Paso, where she was exposed to culture and language that serves as fodder for her fiction writing. She has written hard news, features, entertainment pieces, restaurant critiques, editorials, and weekly columns. Writing awards include the Silver Star Award from the Texas Mental Health Association for articles pertaining to mental health and numerous awards in news, feature, and editorial writing from the Texas Press Association and Texas Press Women.

Kelly retired in 2016 from her position of 22 years as public relations manager for the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department, where her duties included writing and designing an employee newsletter, writing news releases, collaborating on marketing campaigns, coordinating ribbon-cuttings and groundbreakings, coordinating press conferences, updating the web site, and acting as a media spokesperson.

Kelly has been married to photographer Tim Irvin for more than 30 years, and they have two young adult children and three grandchildren. In her spare time, she likes to write short stories, read books by her favorite authors, and visit the babies.

For more information, visit http://www.kellyirvin.com

My Thoughts...

    Did the librarian plant the bomb? You have to read the Irvin's latest suspense novel to find out if Jackie was the one   to place this bomb at her own event. You can never go wrong with Irvin's books she is a master story teller. This was a 4 star book you can not miss. I recommend it.  The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.                                                                                                                        

The Adventures of BB, Shlumbernerd and William By N.D. Picton GIVEAWAY!

 

They were three-quarters of the way in when it happened. Shlumbernerd overbalanced due to the strong current and the weight of the water pushing against the bike. In he went, and the bike toppled over with him.BB started to scream in a panicked voice, ‘William! He’s going to drown. You’ve got to do something.’There was a look of blind fear on Shlumbernerd’s face as he gasped for air. He was half-sitting on the road, with the water surging around his neck, trying to find some traction with his hands, something to hold onto before it was too late …Some days, being a kid ain’t pretty. You want to be the hero of the story but end up being your own worst enemy. And then life throws up never-ending problems for you to solve.Three kids. Endless adventures. Some side-splittingly hilarious, some just plain terrifying. This comical treasure trove of stories doubles as a ‘how-to’ manual for kids. For example, it shows how to: deal with schoolyard bullies, silence monster brats, organise a protest march at school, get rid of incriminating evidence and dodge a herd of angry cattle. And that’s just for starters. Life was never going to be boring living out west on a farm. This is an action-packed adventure story that is entertaining for readers aged 9-13, middle school students, and adults (of all ages). It explores themes of family, friendship and the importance of facing challenges with a pinch of laughter and a lot of persistence. 

Pick up your copy here...

Amazon.com: The Adventures of BB, Shlumbernerd and William (9780648829423): Picton, N.D.: Books

N. D. Picton is a children's author who once accidentally left a winning lottery ticket in a pocket and let it go through the wash.

Having had the childhood fantasy of living out in the bush, this was ruthlessly dashed when it became apparent that having no survival skills, a total inability to assemble anything and a fear of sharp knives, might prove slightly disadvantageous. The obvious next course of action was to take up a teaching career.

N.D. Picton's hobbies include walking alpacas, blending spinach, broccoli and kale drinks for breakfast, appearing in the background of TV news reports and playing the duduk.

Living in Queensland, Australia with one daughter and a spoilt dog called Daisy, 'The Adventures of BB, Shlumbernerd and William' is the first children's book published by this author. 

This is a children's book. I can't tell you an age as it is not listed on Amazon like most children's books.

The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

A Million Reasons Why By Jessica Strawser

 

A SheReads Most Anticipated Novel of 2021

Jessica Strawser's A Million Reasons Why is "a fascinating foray into the questions we are most afraid to ask" (Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author)--the story of two women who discover a bond between them that will change both their lives forever.

When two strangers are linked by a mail-in DNA test, it’s an answered prayer―that is, for one half sister. For the other, it will dismantle everything she knows to be true.

But as they step into the unfamiliar realm of sisterhood, the roles will reverse in ways no one could have foreseen.

Caroline lives a full, happy life―thriving career, three feisty children, enviable marriage, and a close-knit extended family. She couldn’t have scripted it better. Except for one thing:

She’s about to discover her fundamental beliefs about them all are wrong.

Sela lives a life in shades of gray, suffering from irreversible kidney failure. Her marriage crumbled in the wake of her illness. Her beloved mother, always her closest friend, unexpectedly passed away. She refuses to be defined by her grief, but still, she worries what will happen to her two-year-old son if she doesn’t find a donor match in time.

She’s the only one who knows Caroline is her half sister and may also be her best hope for a future. But Sela’s world isn’t as clear-cut as it appears―and one misstep could destroy it all. 

Pick up your copy here...

A Million Reasons Why: A Novel: Strawser, Jessica: 9781250241627: Amazon.com: Books

My Thoughts...

This was such a good book. I guess the fact that I am going through some of the same things DNA test found  half siblings and also have kidney disease no living parents, the story really hit home  I to lost my only child be it that she was much older. This story just really touched me to the core.

It is a must read and 5 stars is just not enough. I HIGHLY recommend this book.

The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

First Quiver By Beth Greenberg

 

Immortality isn't all it's cracked up to be, especially for the 3,375-year-old virgin of Mount Olympus.

Day after eternal day, Cupid launches his love-tipped arrows, then watches from the sidelines while everyone else has all the fun. His dull, sheltered existence takes an abrupt turn for the worse when he sends an arrow into the wrong rump.

Banished by the gods, Cupid plunges to Earth and lands in present-day Tarra, Indiana, where mortals go on about their daily routines, oblivious to the capricious gods stirring the pot from above. Discovering that his wings and pubescent pudge have been replaced with an impressive human form, Cupid swiftly leaves his virginity behind, but his carnal spree comes to a screeching halt when he falls passionately in love for the first time in his immortal life. Soon, Cupid understands the full measure of his punishment: he must find the true Right Love match for the mortal he desperately loves, and then he must let her go.

Caught between two worlds on a quest to fix Love, Cupid will have to master his own tortured heart and battle the powerful gods conspiring against him. Failure will not be tolerated; success will cost him everything. 

Pick up your copy here...

First Quiver (Cupid's Fall): Greenberg, Beth C, Atlas, Susan, Gefecht, Betti: 9781735944722: Amazon.com: Books

Beth is a former CPA who took a sharp turn into creative writing during a midlife awakening. First experimenting with fanfiction, Beth discovered two things she loves about writing: twisting a tried-and-true story and interacting with her readers. Born and raised in Akron, Ohio, she and her husband live in a quiet suburb outside of Boston, Massachusetts, where they are occasionally visited by their daughter and grand-dog, Slim. FIRST QUIVER is her debut novel and book one of the Cupid's Fall series.

Is your book group reading FIRST QUIVER? Contact Beth to arrange an appearance! www.bethcgreenberg.com

NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE of mythology needed, but if you'd like a free, full-color downloadable guide to the gods of Cupid's Fall, follow this link: https://bethcgreenberg.com/mythology-guide/ 

My Thoughts...

A love story where the two main characters  don't get together... or do they?

This one had me laughing and it is fitting for this February  because cupid makes an appearance. This was a fun read and I can't wait to read book 2.

I gave this book 4 stars and You are in for a surprise.

The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Prodigal Son By Gregg Hurwitz

 

Forced into retirement, Evan Smoak gets an urgent request for help from someone he didn't even suspect existed―in Prodigal Son, the next New York Times bestselling Orphan X book from Gregg Hurwitz.

As a boy, Evan Smoak was pulled out of a foster home and trained in an off-the-books operation known as the Orphan Program. He was a government assassin, perhaps the best, known to a few insiders as Orphan X. He eventually broke with the Program and adopted a new name―The Nowhere Man―and a new mission, helping the most desperate in their times of trouble. But the highest power in the country has made him a tempting offer―in exchange for an unofficial pardon, he must stop his clandestine activities as The Nowhere Man. Now Evan has to do the one thing he’s least equipped to do―live a normal life.

But then he gets a call for help from the one person he never expected. A woman claiming to have given him up for adoption, a woman he never knew―his mother. Her unlikely request: help Andrew Duran―a man whose life has gone off the rails, who was in the wrong place at the wrong time, bringing him to the deadly attention of very powerful figures. Now a brutal brother & sister assassination team are after him and with no one to turn to, and no safe place to hide, Evan is Duran’s only option. But when the hidden cabal catches on to what Evan is doing, everything he’s fought for is on the line―including his own life. 

Pick up your copy here...

Amazon.com: Prodigal Son: An Orphan X Novel (Orphan X, 6) (9781250252289): Hurwitz, Gregg: Books

GREGG HURWITZ is the New York Times #1 internationally bestselling author of twenty thrillers including OUT OF THE DARK (January 2019). His novels have won numerous literary awards and have been published in thirty languages. Additionally, he's written screenplays and television scripts for many of the major studios and networks. Gregg lives with his two Rhodesian ridgebacks in Los Angeles, where he continues to play soccer, frequently injuring himself.

My Thoughts...

I did not read the first 5 books in this series. I may have been a little bit lost but the over all plot and characters were good. I am going to have to go back and read all the books in Orphan X.

I recommend reading the series in order.

I gave this book 4 stars and I can't wait to read the others.

 The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Deep Into The Dark By P.J. Tracy

 

New York Times bestseller P. J. Tracy returns with Deep into the Dark, a brand new series set in LA and featuring up-and-coming LAPD Detective Margaret Nolan and murder suspect Sam Easton.

Sam Easton―a true survivor―is home from Afghanistan, trying to rebuild a life in his hometown of LA. Separated from his wife, bartending and therapy sessions are what occupy his days and nights. When friend and colleague Melody Traeger is beaten by her boyfriend, she turns to Sam for help. When the boyfriend turns up dead the next day, a hard case like Sam is the perfect suspect.

But LAPD Detective Margaret Nolan, whose brother recently died serving overseas, is sympathetic to Sam's troubles, and can't quite see him as a killer. She's more interested in the secrets Melody might be keeping and the developments in another murder case on the other side of town.

Set in an LA where real people live and work--not the superficial LA of Beverly Hills or the gritty underbelly of the city--Deep into the Dark features two really engaging, dynamic main characters and explores the nature of obsession, revenge, and grief.

P. J. Tracy is known for her "fast, fresh, and funny" characters (Harlan Coben) and her "sizzling" plots (People); the Monkeewrench series was her first, set in Minneapolis and co-written with her mother. Now with Deep into the Dark she's on her own―and it's a home run. 

Pick up your copy here...

Amazon.com: Deep into the Dark: A Mystery (9781250754943): Tracy, P. J.: Books

PJ Tracy is the pseudonym of mother-daughter writing duo P.J. and Traci Lambrecht, author of the ten-book Monkeewrench series and winners of the Anthony, Barry, Gumshoe, and Minnesota Book Awards.

My Thoughts...

This was my first book by Tracy and it was super nice that it is the first book in their new series. I was not really sure what to expect form this new author but I was pleasantly surprised how fast the book went, it started out a bit slow but once it picked up I flew through it.

Good story line and some unforgettable characters.

I gave this book 4 stars and I can't wait for the next book in the series.

The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.