Jane Austen Investigates: The Burglar Ball

Jane is a homebody who would rather stay at home instead of attending a ball at her former school. But, her sister Cassandra, is invited and so she must go. It’s good for her that in addition to the dance, she meets up with old friends and makes some new ones too. Throw in a theft of a diamond necklace and our clever sleuth, Jane, is thinking things are getting interesting. 

Jane is not your typical young lady and decides to play cricket against the boys’ school and climb trees to find clues. It was delightful to read about her nonconventional ways and her letters to her brother about the case. This is fun”who-did-it” story gives middle school readers enough clues to be able to discover the culprit before Jane tells all. 

I would recommend this to middle school aged children who like mysteries or who enjoy Enola Holmes. While this is a series, it is the first book I have read and can be read as a stand alone. 

Here are some really fun quotes at the opening of the story: 

“Any resemblance to persons living or dead in these case notes is entirely intentional. Names of people and places have been changed to protect the wicked- but you know who you are!”

“No one who had ever seen Jane Austen in her infancy would suppose her to be born to solve crimes.”

Thank you to NetGalley and Lion Hudson Ltd. for an electronic copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

 

About this Book: 

In the early days of World War II, the Lang family lost everything. Eighty years later, it’s time to take it back.

The Nazis have taken control of Austria, and wealthy widower Leopold Lang faces a difficult decision: join the ranks of the foreign power that has taken over his homeland or flee with his children to safety. Leopold makes his choice—but too late. His family is ripped apart, never to be reunited. But decades later, fate brings together the descendants of this broken dynasty in the place where it all began—Falcon Point.

Anna, Cole, and Tess have never met, each relying on fractured pieces of information to understand their Austrian heritage. But when unforeseen opportunities draw these Lang cousins to Falcon Point, they soon discover they are not alone in their quest to claim the coveted property and the fabled treasure hidden within. Unfortunately, another claimant, one with a much darker heritage, is determined to eliminate the Lang family once and for all.

My Review: (posted previously 10.11.21)
Wow, this is one amazing book! I am not sure how you get four authors to collaboratively write  such a well-crafted story, let alone a split time historical suspense. But, they have done it and written a fabulous book that was hard to put downable. From the opening scene of a man defying a wicked empire, to the present day, the Lang family is the epitome of standing up for truth and seeing that evil does not win. 

The opening scene reminded me of The Sound of Music because the Langs must flee their beloved Austrian home as Leopold chooses not to join Hitler’s regime. As the oldest sibling entrusted with his sisters, Karl must outsmart and outmaneuver a killer to get them to safety and avoid imminent capture. I was caught up in their flight as the children miraculously stayed one step ahead. The children’s exciting, heart wrenching separation and lives after the war was the perfect back story for the present day Lang descendants. 

As each of the four heirs of the Lang estate discover how Falcon Point plays a part in their lives, they once again must stand against the Sauermann family who will stop at nothing to destroy them and keep their family’s legacy. The story is electrifying and brilliantly written as the heirs join together to regain the family’s ancestral home. The events that lead up to the exciting conclusion make this a 5+ 🌟. 

If you like fast-paced, suspenseful novels, this is the book you will want to read. The cousins, their romantic interests, and the story that each of them has to share makes me hopeful this will be a series. I would love to see it made into a movie. 

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and authors for an electronic arc copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review; all opinions expressed are my own.

You can enter the Giveaway to have your very own copy of this amazing book. Warning, once you start to read this book, you won't want to stop!

Purchase Links: 

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Here are the other blogs you can visit on the tour: 

Monday, October 18 

https://emilyflynncrc.wixsite.com/readingwithemily 

https://hollysbookcorner.home.blog 

www.myboodaday.com 

 Tuesday, October 19 

http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com 

www.booksaresanity.blogspot.com 

Literarytimeout.blogspot.com 

Wednesday, October 20

http://BloomingwithBooks.blogspot.com 

https://booklooksbylisa.blogspot.com 

www.bookconfessionsblog.com 

 Thursday, October 21 

www.booksandsockrock.com 

http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/ 

 Friday, October 22 

https://thereadingmamas.wixsite.com/website 

https://whynotbecauseisaidso.blogspot.com/ 

http://minreadsandreviews.blogspot.com

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My America: A Poetry Atlas of the United States

 

This oldie but goodie book has such a rich collection of poems that are about various regions of the United States. The colorful illustrations help capture the sights, sounds, and people of the area that is being highlighted. Not only does it have poems, but there is also information pertaining to each state in the region. This information includes the capital, its nickname, motto, bird, flower, tree, area, and one fact. 

Did you know that my home state of Ohio's motto is. "With God, all things are possible"? If you enjoy poetry, geography, or teach children, this book would be fantastic to have. 

Description: 

In My America, Lee Bennett Hopkins weaves together fifty poems -- grouped by geographic region -- to create a remarkable portrait of the United States. Here is America in all its stunning variety, from the dramatic seacoast of the Northeast and the rippling cornfields of the Plains States to the shimmering deserts of the Southwest and the majestic redwood forests of the Pacific Coast. But here, too, are the ties that bind this nation together -- the hopes and dreams of those who live in our cities and towns and on farms.

The voices of beloved poets like Langston Hughes, Carl Sandburg, Nikki Giovanni, and Lilian Moore blend with new voices to sing not just of landmarks like the Mississippi River, the Grand Canyon, and the Everglades, but of daily life across the land. Complementing these personal, moving visions of America are maps of the regions and fascinating facts for each state.

Stephen Alcorn's brilliant, textured artwork makes this book a feast for the eyes as well as for the imagination. Impressive for its breadth, depth, and beauty, My America is a volume readers will savor as they read it time and time again. It is fitting homage to our wide ranging, ever-changing land.

 

Heirs of Falcon Point

Wow, this is one amazing book! I am not sure how you get four authors to collaboratively write  such a well-crafted story, let alone a split time historical suspense. But, they have done it and written a fabulous book that was hard to put downable. From the opening scene of a man defying a wicked empire, to the present day, the Lang family is the epitome of standing up for truth and seeing that evil does not win. 

The opening scene reminded me of The Sound of Music because the Langs must flee their beloved Austrian home as Leopold chooses not to join Hitler’s regime. As the oldest sibling entrusted with his sisters, Karl must outsmart and outmaneuver a killer to get them to safety and avoid imminent capture. I was caught up in their flight as the children miraculously stayed one step ahead. The children’s exciting, heart-wrenching separation and lives after the war was the perfect back story for the present day Lang descendants. 

As each of the four heirs of the Lang estate discover how Falcon Point plays a part in their lives, they once again must stand against the Sauermann family who will stop at nothing to destroy them and keep their family’s legacy. The story is electrifying and brilliantly written as the heirs join together to regain the family’s ancestral home. The events that lead up to the exciting conclusion make this a 5/5 star book. 

If you like fast-paced, suspenseful novels, this is the book you will want to read. The cousins, their romantic interests, and the story that each of them has to share makes me hopeful this will be a series. I would love to see it made into a movie. 

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and authors for an electronic arc copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review; all opinions expressed are my own.

Did you find all of the keys in my picture? 

The Billionaire's Secret: A Christian Romance

Ryan and Zara are both struggling with life-altering circumstances and find themselves at a remote retreat center for people and caretakers with chronic diseases. One is there by choice, the other by force. 

Ryan was such a humble, down-to-earth guy, it was hard to believe he was so wealthy.  I couldn’t wait to see how his happily ever after was going to work out for him. The saying, “Money makes the man.” could not have been less true for Ryan. His faith and caring about others were what made him a wonderful man and the ideal fit for Zara. 

Zara’s mistrust of men and romantic relationships was well founded since she seemed to find men who didn’t respect or truly care for her. Her mother’s concern and bucket list item for Zara finding “the right guy” was touching and humorous. I am not sure I would have wanted to tell a guy what it was, but Zara’s transparency in sharing this with Ryan was refreshing and added to the story. Things get complicated when the past intrudes and Zara has to make a decision about her future. I was happy to see that she found she was not the same young lady she was before she met Ryan.

I recommend reading this inspirational Christian romance. It deals with some difficult  life issues and gives encouragement and hope. I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Copper for the Countess

I had high expectations for this second book in the Hearts of Arizona series and I am happy to say that it far exceeded what I was anticipating. “Frosty” was such a tenderhearted man, not only for two unexpected children who were now in his care, but also for Lady Evelyn Lyon and her daughter, Madeline. This marriage of convenience ended up becoming much more than that as Frosty breaks down the walls Evelyn had built around her heart through his patience and loving kindness. 

I have to hand it to Evelyn for all that she went through as she put aside her fears and wants and showed what a wonderful mother she was. She crossed an ocean and embraced a new life in order to provide for her Madeline and give help and attention those in need. She had great courage in the face of adversity that I greatly admired. 

If you like western romance stories and strong protagonists who have grit, you will love Copper for the Countess. This can be read as a standalone, but the first book, Silver Dollar Duke, is so good that you will want to read it too. 

Thank you to the author and publisher for a digital copy of the book. All opinions are my own. I was not required to write a positive review. 

Silver Dollar Duke

I can see why the western frontier of the American west would have been so appealing to Evan Rounsevell as he learned about the adventures and opportunities you could experience. The weaving of the silver dollar into Evan’s wish to travel to America was a stroke of genius with Ms. Britton’s story. 

Evan showed his fortitude and determination to overcome the odds of a greenhorn striking out to be a ranch hand in Arizona. Getting his hands dirty and working hard won the admiration of not only the owner of KB Ranch, but also that of his daughter, Daniella, and me. I was rooting for Evan as he began falling in love with the ranch life and all it had to offer, including Daniella. 

This book is the first in the Hearts of Arizona and the next book is one I look forward to reading. If you like stories of the Old West with a beautiful love story, I highly recommend reading it. 

About this Book:

The last thing Dannie needs is a Victorian gentleman on her ranch, playing cowboy while she’s trying to save her family’s livelihood. Will high stakes and high emotions lead to heartbreak?

Evan Rounsevell, second son to the Marquess of Rothwell, is running as far from his family and responsibilities as he can. His fascination with cowboys takes him from English shores to the Arizona desert, but the days of showdowns are over, and Tombstone, Arizona, is a respectable town. With no funds left, and no desire to call on his affluent family for rescue, Evan seeks a position as a cowboy at a ranch on its last leg.

Daniella Bolton’s fiancé left when the drought of 1893 crippled the KB ranch, but that’s just fine by her. She doesn’t need a man to help her save her family’s land. Especially not an Englishman who looks down on her style of living, like Evan does. She loves her life on the ranch, and no outsider could ever understand what it means to be loyal to the land and her family’s way of life.

Being a cowboy is harder than Evan thought, but as he works to earn his place on the ranch, his heart opens up to the beauty of the desert… as well as that of Dannie Bolton. Watching Evan fight for the ranch she loves makes Dannie realize that not all men are afraid of hard work and troubled times, and loving Evan might be just the salve her wounded heart needs. But when Evan’s family summons him home right when Dannie needs him most, the feelings of betrayal from her former fiancé’s flight return tenfold.

Does Evan dare risk his tenuous relationship with Dannie to fulfil his family responsibilities? Or will leaving Arizona be the worst mistake of his life?