BOOK REVIEW: Mandrake's Plot by Helen Laycock

BLURB:

Evie and Mia meet on a train on their way to St. Agatha's Boarding School for Young Ladies. Dropped at a deserted station, with no one to meet them, they trek through the pelting rain and darkness for miles until they find a sign to St. Agatha's which points to an unlikely overgrown track leading up a mountain path. 

A foreboding place, St. Agatha's School is surrounded by a sea of mist, and overlooks a loch. Coming face to face with the grotesque caretaker, Mandrake, is not the only thing to unsettle them. 

What is the significance of the strange rings worn by Miss Blackthorn, the head teacher - and why does everyone behave so oddly? 

The girls stumble across a forgotten burial chamber. Inside, lies the crumbling skeleton of Sister Beatrice, clutching a note which tells of a curse. Locked in the chamber as a punishment, the friends discover an old book within which is the antidote to the curse... but it is hidden in code. 

REVIEW BY: Angel, age 13 years, 5 months

MAY CONTAIN SPOILER:

This book was a great adventure with some twists and turns! It was an easy read with a fast-paced plot. 

This book is about two girls named Evie and Mia, they were both sent to St. Agatha's (its a school for girls), but when they got there, they started to see strange things going on to the girls and staff. Everyone is so mean and rude. One teacher wanted everything to be symmetrical and another teacher talked in rhythm. All of the worst part of every student's personality came through. One day Mia and Evie came across a key that led somewhere in their room. Soon they found a curse in the chamber on the vegetables that they eat. Evie and Mia knew they had to break the curse somehow! 

My favorite character is Mandrake because he doesn't talk, but is super sweet and does the right thing. 

My favorite part is when Mandrake drives the car because it is hilarious. 

I don't think there is anything I would fix in this book, it's short and exciting and I love it! 

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 10 and up. 

BOOK REVIEW: Slumber (The Slumber Duology, #1) by Christy Sloat

BLURB:

Not all princesses get their happily ever after...

They tell me I killed my boyfriend Phillip in cold blood. I stabbed him twenty one times. I’m only seventeen years old, and I am serving life in Spindle Ridge Asylum for the Criminally Insane.

I don’t remember killing him, so it’s really hard to believe I’m capable of murder. In fact I don’t remember anything before I came to Spindle Ridge, not even my boyfriend.

I can only grasp onto my realistic dreams while the madness of the asylum threatens to pull me under. I dream I’m a beautiful princess and there is an evil faerie named Maleficent who is bent on my destruction. The dreams are the closest thing I have to memories of my life, except they aren’t real.

I’m crazy. I’m not a princess. 

They’re the mad illusions of an irrational teenage girl, right?

They’ve assigned me a new doctor, and she says I can trust her, and that she’ll help me see the truth of who I really am. 

When she arrived she brought a new patient, Sawyer, who is everything Spindle Ridge isn’t: exciting, mysterious and beautiful. He promises he’s here to rescue me. Trusting either of them frightens me.

Could it be possible that my dreams are more than just the imaginings of a delusional girl? Could they be truth?

REVIEW BY: Angel, age 13 years, 5 months

MAY CONTAIN SPOILER:

This book was absolutely fascinating! The author truly caught the tale of Sleeping Beauty. There is tons of adventure and beauty in this story. I loved this book! 

This book is about Princess Aurora. Maleficent is keeping her in an asylum until she can kill her. However, Princess Aurora doesn't know who she is, all she knows is that she is a murderer named Rory that doesn't deserve to live any longer. Rory soon gets curious and some nurses and doctors say weird things about who she is and they say that they are all on her side. Things are getting brighter and clearer for Rory, all she needs to do is remember and fight! 

My favorite character is Gray because she is kind, loyal and very protective over Rory, but is cautious to show it. 

My favorite part is when Rory has flashbacks because I love how the author incorporates the original story of Sleeping Beauty. 

This book was finely written with a great pace! It had just enough descriptive words that don't bore you to death and I think overall, it was a lovely read! 

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 13 and up. 

BOOK REVIEW: The Infamous Ratsos by Kara LaReau & Illustrated by Matt Myers

BLURB:

Louie and Ralphie Ratso are no softies! Readers are sure to chuckle as the determined Ratso brothers’ plans to act tough go hilariously awry.

Louie and Ralphie Ratso’s dad, Big Lou, always says that there are two kinds of people: those who are tough and those who are soft. Louie and Ralphie are tough, tough, tough, just like Big Lou, and they’re going to prove it. But every time they try to show just how tough they are, the Ratso brothers end up accidentally doing good deeds instead. What’ll Big Lou do when he finds out they’ve been acting like softies all over the Big City? Perfect for emerging and reluctant readers, this clever and surprisingly warmhearted chapter book shows that being tough all the time can be really tough.

REVIEW BY: Angelina, age 9 years, 6 months

MAY CONTAIN SPOILER:

This book was fantastic! I laughed so much and had a great time reading it!

It is about rats that are trying to be tough! They give a sandwich to a girl that is nasty and she loved it. They put soap on a window and the lady liked them and called them helpful. 

My favorite character is Louie because he is cool. 

My favorite part is when they put soap on the window because it was funny and they weren't expecting the reaction they got! 

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 11. 

**This book's publishing date is August 2, 2016. 

GIVEAWAY: 4 Autographed Copies of Adaline by Denise Kawaii

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BOOK REVIEW: Adaline by Denise Kawaii

BLURB:

He may look identical to the hundreds of other Boys that surround him, but there is something different about Boy 1124562. When he closes his eyes in the quiet of his sensor-filled cube his mind doesn't go blank like the rest of his brothers. Instead, 1124562 dreams.

With the help of a rogue teacher, 1124562 discovers that there is more to Adaline than brushed steel and robotic Nurses. When a Boy suddenly escapes the secure pod, it seems that all of Adaline is on a hunt for anyone with an anomaly. When 1124562 finds himself strapped to a table, the threat of an electric current pressed against his temples to erase his mind, he realizes just how dangerous being different can be. 

REVIEW BY: Angel, age 13 years, 5 months

MAY CONTAIN SPOILER:

This book was brilliantly crafted! It was intense like The Giver, but longer and a little more complex! I have a feeling that everyone is going to adore this book. 

This book is about 1124562. He is identical to the rest of his brothers, but he has emotions, dreams and tons of knowledge. When 62 starts having anger, his teacher, 71, starts tutoring him in a secret way. However, things start getting hectic when 00 tries to escape. Everything seemed a little more tense, but 62's teacher, 71, will help 62 get better before he dies too. 

My favorite character is 99 because he is loyal and a great brother. My favorite part is when 62 says he will never stop dreaming. 

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 and up. 

BOOK REVIEW: The Seaside: A Seashell Meditation for Children by Patricia May

BLURB:

The Seaside, A Seashell Meditation for Children offers a meditation in the form of a short story rhyme using a seashell as an interactive tool for focus and fun. Reading the story to the child will guide them through a creative journey as the story takes them to exciting places to use their imaginations and explore.

Patricia was inspired to create A Seashell Meditation for Children collection after attending a davidji seminar in Denver Co. Davidji, internationally renowned author, speaker, meditation teacher and Hay House radio host, has expressed his excitement for the collection and has provided a testimonial. 

"Patricia's Seashell Meditations for Children are powerful tools for awakening self awareness, happiness, imagination, and joy in kids. Highly interactive, each book in the collection transports the reader to a place of stress-free relaxing creativity." --davidji 

This ten book collection will include the following titles: 

The Stream 

Playmates 

The Enchanted Forest 

The Secret Garden 

Moon Walk 

The Beanstalk 

Birds of a Feather 

Day at the Zoo 

The Seaside 

Pathways

REVIEW BY: Angelina, age 9 years, 6 months

MAY CONTAIN SPOILER:

This book was okay. It was all about SEASHELLS! It tells you what seashells are. 

This book tells you to imagine you are in the water and to relax because of the sound of the waves. It helped me to relax when I was mad at my  mommy. 

My favorite picture is the beach picture because it was very pretty and looked like a fun, relaxing place. 

I give this book 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 8. 

BOOK REVIEW: Do Dogs Pray? by Kimberling Galeti Kennedy

BLURB:

Did you ever watch your dog sleeping and wonder what he or she might be dreaming? Well, I have! In Do Dogs Pray?, Lefty, my little black lab, says a prayer before drifting off to dreamland. She awakes suddenly! It's as if her prayers have been answered. Wait until you see what Lefty does next!

REVIEW BY: Angelina, age 9 years, 6 months

MAY CONTAIN SPOILER:

This book was very enjoyable for me. 

This book is about a black lab dog and his girl. The dog's toys went missing and the dog did not seem normal, but the girl took him to the park and he had a lot of fun. Then they went home and he went to sleep. 

My favorite character is the dog because dogs are so cute and I love dogs so much. My favorite part is when they go to the park because the park is very fun and the dog loves it. 

I recommend this book to those that are dog lovers because this book is about a dog and you get to try to see if your dog prays. 

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 4 to 9. 

Where Have We Been?

As most of you have seen, the blog hasn't been updated or new posts added in a few weeks. 

We would like to apologize for that, however, we have been dealing with getting kicked down by the flu for several weeks (with a family of 6, it passes over and over), being behind on homeschool work because of the flu and now our county has been declared a disaster area by Texas due to flooding. We lost a lot of our yard and our driveway can crumble at any point, our water pipes and septic tank pipes are now exposed due to erosion, we have a huge stream in our backyard where yard and dirt used to be, but at least the water stayed out of our house and we are all healthy and alive. It is supposed to start raining again tonight until Thursday morning so please help us pray for our fellow neighbors and those in the worst flood hit zones. 

I have probably 50 reviews that need to be posted and we have opted out of hosting blog tours for the time being with trying to get back in to the swing of things. 

Our inbox has over 500 new emails in it and I will be responding to those emails as soon as I can. Please be patient with us. We are sorry for any trouble, confusion or anger that has been caused by our absence. 

Thank you all! 

Charity and the 4 girls

BOOK BLITZ WITH GUEST POST: Sunbolt (The Sunbolt Chronicles #1) by Intisar Khanani

GIVEAWAY: 1 Autographed Copy and 3 Ebooks of "The Mardi Gras Chase" by Maggie Larche

a Rafflecopter giveaway