Expected 12 Aug 25 Every Breath, Every Blessing is a beautifully illustrated book that helps kids navigate the hard stuff—big feelings, fears, and the difficulties of life. With poetic text and warm, comforting images, it reassures kids they’re not alone, even on the toughest days. The message is one of gratitude, peace, and presence. It’s aimed at ages 4–8, but I’d say it’s better suited for the older end of that range. Some ideas might be a little deep for the youngest listeners. The mention of the “Giver of Breath” is thoughtful, though I was hoping for a clearer connection to God. Still, it’s a tender book that offers comfort and […]
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A Heartwarming Guide to Prayer for Kids
This sweet picture book is a gentle and thoughtful introduction to prayer that kids (and their grown-ups) will love. In All the Things I Say to God, little Abby wonders if she can pray to God all by herself. What follows is a tender, faith-filled journey as she learns that prayer doesn’t need to be fancy or follow rules—it’s just talking to God, anytime, anywhere, about anything. The message is simple and powerful: God is always listening. Whether you’re thankful, scared, joyful, or quiet—He’s there. The illustrations by Anita Schmidt are soft and lovely, and they perfectly match the calm, inviting tone of the story. When I read and review […]
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A Game-Changing Guide to Business Influence and Innovation
In Certainty: How Great Bosses Can Change Minds and Drive Innovation, leadership expert Mike Mears takes readers on a fascinating deep dive into the science of influence, offering practical strategies to create workplaces that hum with energy and innovation. With a background that includes founding the CIA Leadership Academy, Mears brings a wealth of real-world experience and insider knowledge to the table. And no, you don’t need to be a spy to use these techniques—his insights apply to leaders in any industry. The book’s central premise? Great leadership isn’t about fighting human nature—it’s about working with it. Instead of pushing against the brain’s natural instincts, Mears shows how to harness […]
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Under the Golden Sun Shines with Love, Resilience, and a Stunning Australian Setting
Jenny Ashcroft’s Under the Golden Sun is both heartwarming and heartbreaking, a breathtaking historical novel filled with love, resilience, and the beauty of second chances. From the moment we meet Rose Hamilton, a young woman searching for purpose, we’re swept away on an unforgettable journey from war-torn England to the sun-drenched landscapes of Australia. Tasked with escorting young orphan Walter to his family, Rose embarks on an adventure that reshapes her understanding of love and belonging. Walter, with his heartbreaking past, is more than just a child in her care—their bond is deeply moving. The novel beautifully captures their shared sorrows and joys, as well as the rich customs and […]
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A Captivating Time-Travel Tale of Love, Sacrifice, and Destiny
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5 stars) Book Three in the Timeless series Two sisters. Two timelines. One impossible choice. I liked this book so much, I actually hit pause and went back to read books one and two. (Totally worth it.) Gabrielle Meyer’s For a Lifetime is the third in her Timeless series, and it’s a wild ride through two very different eras—1692 Salem and 1912 New York City. This one follows twin sisters, Grace and Hope, who time-cross between those two worlds. On their twenty-fifth birthday, they’re faced with a gut-wrenching decision: stay in one timeline forever and leave the other behind. No take-backs. The Salem timeline is intense. Like, witch trial […]
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Ambitious WWII Novel Falls Short of Its Potential
M.B. Henry’s All the Lights Above Us aims to capture the chaos and courage of D-Day through the perspectives of five women from vastly different backgrounds. The novel gives a unique take on the historic invasion by focusing on a single day, June 6, 1944, but ultimately, it falls short of being a standout in the crowded WWII historical fiction genre. The premise is intriguing: a Nazi propagandist questioning her choices, a resistance fighter seeking her parents, a Gestapo officer planning betrayal, a medical volunteer overwhelmed by casualties, and a British woman forced to house enemy soldiers. Their experiences highlight the vast reach of the war and the moral dilemmas […]
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A Doggone Wild Ride: Love, Loss, and Mayhem in Three Wild Dogs
Markus Zusak, best known for The Book Thief, turns his storytelling skills toward real life in Three Wild Dogs, a memoir about the joy and chaos of adopting three unruly rescue pups. From biting piano teachers to breaking bones to—yes—killing the family cat, Reuben, Archer, and Frosty bring love, destruction, and plenty of trouble into the Zusak household. This book had me laughing out loud one moment and near tears the next. Zusak’s writing is, as expected, top-notch—he can make training disasters feel poetic and losing a pet feel like the end of the world. But while his storytelling is strong, the book felt too long for its 240 pages, […]
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A Smart, Tense Espionage Thriller with a Fierce MI5 Operative
British author Henry Porter delivers a gripping spy thriller with The Enigma Girl, proving why he’s considered a worthy successor to John le Carré. The novel introduces Slim Parsons, a disgraced MI5 agent who’s as sharp as she is dangerous. After a botched deep-cover operation leaves her with a target on her back, she’s reluctantly pulled back in to infiltrate an investigative news site. What starts as a routine job soon turns into a tangled web of political intrigue, cyber threats, and old enemies resurfacing with a vengeance. Tension, layered subplots, and sharp character work fill the novel. Slim is an exceptional lead: smart, resourceful, and unafraid to challenge authority. […]
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A Journey Through Love and Loss in Venice
Rhys Bowen’s The Venice Sketchbook is an emotional dual-timeline novel filled with love, loss, and hidden truths. When Caroline Grant’s beloved great-aunt Lettie passes away, she leaves behind a cryptic inheritance—a sketchbook, three keys, and one last word: “Venice.” As Caroline embarks on a journey to scatter Lettie’s ashes in the city she loved, she uncovers a decades-old story of passion and sacrifice. In 1938, art teacher Juliet Browning arrives in Venice, reconnecting with Leonardo Da Rossi, the man she loves but cannot have. As war looms over Europe, impossible circumstances test their star-crossed romance, forcing Juliet to make heart-wrenching choices. The novel weaves together Caroline’s modern-day search for answers […]
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Unraveling the Past: A Necklace, a Mystery, and a WWII-Era Parisian Department Store
3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Pam Jenoff’s Last Twilight in Paris blends historical mystery and wartime drama, following Louise, a British housewife in 1953, who stumbles upon a necklace in a secondhand shop. The charm stirs memories of her Red Cross days in Nazi-occupied Europe and the mysterious death of her friend Franny. Determined to uncover the truth, Louise’s search leads her to Paris and the dark history of Lévitan—a once-grand department store turned Nazi work camp. In a parallel timeline, Helaine, a young Jewish woman, struggles to survive in Lévitan after being separated from her husband during the German invasion. Their stories intertwine as secrets long buried surface. […]
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