For kids interested in Ancient Egypt this is a great book! Chalk full of information and a great timeline at the end of the book makes it easy to jump into new reading material at your library!! So much fun and we enjoyed looking for the hidden pictures too!!

Posy is a scared penguin, afraid of everything, until her friend is in trouble and needs help. She finds the courage to do something scary to her to help another.

Great little book with a great story.

If you love the outdoor scenery and taking amazing journeys, then you are going to want to check out this book! There are so many fabulous places of yesteryear, and the photographs were amazing!! I fell in love with these pictures, and for anyone who enjoys trains, and taking a trip - this is the perfect book!

My boys and I loved reading through this book and checking out all the photographs inside. This was the perfect way to spend a rainy afternoon indoors!

Faith has determined to no longer be held by the power of her husband's abusiveness any longer. When she meets Sarah, and the two form a friendship, they find that together they are stronger than either of them really realized. (I do not want to give too much of the story away... no spoilers).

This book was amazing! I loved it! From page one I was captivated and pulled into the story of Faith and Sarah. My heart hurt for them, rejoiced, laughed and cried. You will run the gambit of emotions here!

Great read and perfect for holiday gift giving!

Cain is a superhuman/ rebuilt human being. One scientist with the backing of the US Army decides to create a super soldier. But there is something wrong. He has been injected with one of the deadliest viruses known to man - yet his body does not react to the poison. The army wanted the ultimate weapon. What they got was pure evil. It will be left to one person to deal with the destruction that has been unleashed...

Interesting read, and one that will keep you enthralled from the first page. This was my first book from James Huggins, but I will definitely look into more!

Thank you to Adam at WildBlue Press for the E-copy of the book!

Clare has never felt like she belonged with her family. She was the screw-up, while they all had perfect lives. Each of them seemed to have it all together, no matter what came at them. Clare on the other hand drank to much, and could not be bothered to look after her son, River.
When their mother passes away, a secret comes to light, and this one could explain the feelings that Clare has harbored all these years. What if her family isn't really her full family?
While each of the siblings struggle with their thoughts and try to keep Clare from her self-destructive roles, they are all wondering the same thing - how will this affect their family moving forward?

This book was WOW. I started reading it last night and had a hard time putting it down. No family is perfect, but this one captures the ordinary family to a T. Great weekend read if you are looking for something amazing! You won't be disappointed at all!

Thank you to Lake Union Publishers and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book for my unbiased review.

The Husband Hunters takes us back to another time. The craze of finding a husband to increase social standing became the norm. Socialites and those wanting to break into the social scene in the states began to head to Europe looking for titled husbands for their daughters.

Anne de Courcy takes us through a time in history when money was everything, and wealth was put on ostentatious display. The gaudier, the better. Everyone went out of their way to outdo the next and the power struggles within the social structures. The old money did not want to welcome the new money.

This book was something else! I knew about the American girls heading to the European circuits looking for husbands, but I never realized the extent of the power struggles that mothers went through to ensure that their daughters were placed into the social scene. This book was an eye-opener and brings an aspect of history that is not talked about often. LOVED THIS BOOK!

What a super cute little book! I enjoyed reading it, and I think my boys are going to enjoy it as well! It helps that it is set around Christmas, which is one of my favorite holidays.

This would be a great book for kids who enjoy reading!

England is being rocked by a civil war. King Charles is trying to keep his kingdom together. HIs wife does her best to help him out, but she is reviled by the majority of the English people. They do not like her Catholic faith, or the ties that she has to other countries.
As she leaves to try and gain support for the war her husband is waging, her children are left in the care of different families. Lucy Hay takes Princess Elizabeth and the youngest son, Prince Henry.
She once served the queen but retired from court. Now she must determine where her loyalties lie, and the time is quickly approaching for her to make a firm decision - no matter the cost.

Interesting read! There were some sections that seemed a bit slow, but overall I enjoyed the book. Looking forward to seeing what happens in the second installment!

Maisey always felt as though something was missing. With her imaginary friend as a child, she could do anything. But having an imaginary friend upset her mother, so she put that behind her. As an adult, Maisey is still doing everything wrong. Her ex-boyfriend always explains things to her as though she were a child, and yet their daughter is strong and mature beyond her years.
When tragedy strikes at home, Maisey is forced to confront not only the past mistakes she has made but the secret past that no one was ever supposed to know about. Her mother kept everything locked up tight, not allowing Maisey or her father to ever know the secrets of her past. Until her mother's death, everything was normal. But her world was turned upside down.

Some secrets are better left to themselves...

Whisper Me This was amazing! I was captivated from the first page, and could not put it down! This book is not for the weak of heart, however! Mystery, secrets, past scandals and so much more lurk between the lines of this book!

What do you do when something dies, but won't stay dead.....

Louis and his family move into a new home and find a pet cemetery nearby. Kids have been burying their pets there for years. But when tragedy strikes, Louis is about to discover there is more to that plot of land than just a place for beloved pets.

DO NOT READ THIS IN THE DARK.. oh my goodness! I scared myself silly with this book. I really enjoyed reading through it - however, there were sections of the book that made me thankful I could read through it during the day.

Fabulous and Stephen King never disappoints! We used this for our book club choice this month and it was great! What a book!

The trio of friends are back to solve the mystery of the ghost in the hotel. Join these three friends as they try to figure out who is haunting the hotel and why...

Great book! I loved it! I can't wait to read this to my boys.

Oh my goodness! Be prepared to be blown away! This book is full of information, pictures and MORE! My boys and I learned so much about the different dinosaurs and loved every minute of reading through this Dictionary of Dinosaurs.

If you have a dino lover in your life, you need to check this book out. Great starting place for kids to get acquainted with different species, or for those who love dinos to learn more about them!

Oh my goodness! All things sharks! Interested in getting more about some sharks that are no longer around? This book has so many awesome creatures! My kids and I enjoyed reading this one together!

Have you ever wondered what is going on up above your head in the sky? Go for a ride through the sky you can see and then into outer space. This simple kids book gives some great explanations to what we can see, and what we cant! Great for kids between the ages of 5-8.

If your kids love dinosaurs, then you have to check out this book! Full of information, tidbits and facts! My boys and I sat and read through this book and really enjoyed it! They loved the section on the T-Rex and learning more about the different types of dinosaurs that roamed the world.

Great book!!

Jamie and Jacko have formed an unlikely alliance. One is an officer in the Australian army, while the other is enlisted, a corporal. When Jacko saves Jamie's life, little do they know that both of their lives are about take a turn that will leave them both spinning. As World War II rages, the world is caught up in the excitement of trying to figure out what is going to happen and looking for information. For a select few, discovering this information is more dangerous than the average citizen. While many are content to sit in their kitchens reading the news in the papers, a few brave souls are quietly working the different sides of the world to try and uncover any information possible.
Jamie and Jacko are sent to “convalesce” in Egypt. There, they will be working with MI6 to try and uncover information on German spies and those in Egypt who are feeding them the information. But as their friendship deepens, so to does their dependence on each other for survival.
As their wounds heal, the need to move them elsewhere is crucial. They soon find themselves back in Australia, working with the Commonwealth Investigation Service. But they are not destined for quiet desk jobs, and they are very soon wrapped up in another investigation...
If you love World War II historical fiction, then you are going to really enjoy this book! The bonds of friendship that are formed during time of war are not bonds that are easily broken. As the war rages on, the friendship and trust between Jamie and Jacko continues to grow. I really enjoyed reading this book. It was an easy and fun read. Egypt has always held a soft spot for me, so getting back to the pyramids and the Nile was amazing. But Greg Kater did not stop there. He really pulls two stories into one, weaving them together with ease. This book is great for a weekend read if you are looking for a stand out historical fiction.

Olivia has just lost her mother, but she is about to learn some shocking secrets. Her mother was an English Countess, and Olivia never knew! She lived her entire life thinking that her mother was just an artist, a friend, and a confidant.
When she arrives in England to take a look over the estate and figure out what she is going to do, there are several issues to confront head on. Not only is her relationship at home falling apart, but she is alone, and treading water in territory that she has no clue as to navigate.
When her kindly older neighbor takes her under his wing, she begins to learn and understand more about the life that she has been thrust into. But her mother did not let things just lie - there are secrets and decades old skeletons to uncover.
Olivia must decide if she will rise to the challenge of becoming the Countess of Rosemere or if she will sell out and abandon the past that her mother fled from...

This was an interesting read. It held my attention from the beginning. Enjoyed reading through and getting to dive into a different world all together.

Bing is fixing to enter one of the most stressful moments of his life. For his entire life, he has studied and prepared for this moment, to take the highly competitive examinations. The Civil Service Examinations are a mark of the elite. Those who pass will attain high honor. Those who do not will study again to either retake the exams or go into another form of work. The exams are tedious, meant to test you at every turn, and extremely hard to pass. He has had the best tutors, every opportunity to succeed, but now the rest remains with him. He will be tested on what he knows, and how well he can articulate those thoughts. In 1630s China, sons follow the family traditions and continue in the vein of their fathers. Bing's father is a highly respected government official, and he has given Bing every opportunity to succeed and follow in his footsteps.
But as the exams progress, Bing begins to have strange dreams. In these dreams, 18 Cranes are the focal point. Searching his mind, he tries to reason what the dreams could mean, but he struggles to find a common thread. He seeks out his father's advice and the wisdom of his grandfather. While they challenge him to think of what the dreams could mean, Bing knows that there is more to it than what they are suggesting.
As the time for the grades to be released, Bing spends more time in quiet contemplation, mulling over his dream. He wonders if it does not foretell something of his future. His grandfather, however, is not done telling him everything. As he begins to reveal a long-held family secret, Bing knows that there is more yet to be discovered and that his dreams are thoroughly entwined with his grandfather's secret....

This book was a fantastic read! I read it twice as there was so much to take in! This book held me captivated from the first page! If you are looking for a book that will make you think, encourage you to read between the lines and to just enjoy a fantastic story, then you must check out 18 Cranes by Robert Campbell. Travel back to China and embark on a tremendous journey with Bing!

Lydia has a gift that she has no idea exists. When she is angry things happen...

Lydia Montrose and her family have left Boston due to rumors circulating around town regarding her family. While her sister Catherine does not care what people think, it is hurting the family and the business her father is in. So they head off to Willow Hall, to start fresh and begin a new life.
There, they meet their father's new business partner, Mr. Barrett. Lydia is smitten with him, but as always, her sister Catherine seems to hold sway with all the men.
When tragedy strikes the family, things begin to shift. Lydia begins to see ghosts, not only of her sister, but of two women, and a little boy that seems to be somewhat of a prankster.
Lydia knows she has to do something, but she is not sure what she can do to put her sister to rest, and also to claim the happiness that she so desires with Mr. Barrett...

This book was amazing! I started it and then got sidetracked with life, but when I picked it up and started reading again, I was hooked! I could not put it down, I had to know what happened next! This is definitely a MUST read for the year!

Matilde was plagued with dreams from a young age - dreams of those who would die, dreams of those she loved. From a young age, she wanted nothing more than to enter the life of a convent and live peacefully, but life had other plans for her. When her father arranged a marriage for her, she was unsure at first, but a fierce love grew between her and her husband. Like all marriages, there were ups and downs, but he never ignored her dreams.
When her husband becomes King, she continues her charitable works, gaining the love and admiration of all those around her. When her son comes to the throne, everything that she and her husband worked for is threatened, and the dreams still come...

This book was fabulous! I am embarrassed it took me this long to finish it! Life got crazy and books fell by the wayside, but this book was enchanting and I cannot for the life of me figure out how I did not devour it in one sitting. I loved this book from start to finish!

William works as a lost letter detective. When letters and packages are lost on their way to their destinations, they come to his department. He must try and find the person they were intended for, or else they perish into the flames of the incinerator.

While his work life can be dull, it seems to be slipping into his personal life as well. The smooth marriage he once had is now falling apart. Claire seems withdrawn and holding resentment for everything that he does. He is not perfect enough, looking for sufficient achievement, and she is tired of being the primary breadwinner of the family. William is working on a book, but that too seems to have fallen by the wayside. He holds onto hopes of writing a book about the lost letters, but his boss does not full seem on board with the idea. He feels they are too personal to share with the entire world. William feels otherwise, he thinks they should be shared with the greater public. You never know who might be reading! What a way to find someone!

When he receives letters from “Winter” in his pile, he is drawn to a woman he has never met, and wonders what it would be like to meet her, and if they are destined for each other. Even though he knows its stupid, and he is married, he cannot help himself from going to look for her, and to solve the mystery of the many letters that she has been sending.

~Closing Thoughts~
This book was fantastic! I loved it! The many twists and turns of the book, leave you wondering what will happen next! Hard to put down and definitely one that should be on the top of everyone's list of must reads! Y'all, I think this is going to be one of those books that will fly off the shelves. The stories and the hopes - it makes you wonder what happens in mailrooms today! Do they really look this hard to find the owners of these letters, or are they merely thrown into a fire to be destroyed once and for all? I would love to think that somewhere, there is a William Woolf who is trying to bring letters and packages back to their rightful owners.

Release Date: 4 June 2019

Author: Helen Cullen

Rating: 5/5 stars