The All American // Book Review

 

About the Book:

It is 1952, and nearly all the girls 16-year-old Bertha Harding knows dream of getting married, keeping house, and raising children in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan. Bertha dreams of baseball. She reads every story in the sports section, she plays ball with the neighborhood boys--she even writes letters to the pitcher for the Workington Sweet Peas, part of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.

When Bertha's father is accused of being part of the Communist Party by the House Un-American Activities Committee, life comes crashing down on them. Disgraced and shunned, the Hardings move to a small town to start over where the only one who knows them is shy Uncle Matthew. But dreams are hard to kill, and when Bertha gets a chance to try out for the Workington Sweet Peas, she packs her bags for an adventure she'll never forget.

My Review: 

The All American by Susie Finkbeiner was a pretty good book. It was better than I expected. I always enjoy books about families. This story follows two sisters, Bertha, age 16, and Flossie, age 11. 

I enjoyed reading about each sister. Flossie was quite the character and you never knew what she was going to say or do next. Bertha’s love for baseball was fun too.

I enjoyed this book, but the ending was definitely sad then bittersweet. 

This was my first book by this author. 

**Thank you Revell for the book in exchange for my honest review 

In the Shadow of the River // Book Review

 

About the Book:

If all the world's a stage, Jacci will play her part.

She only hopes her story does not turn out to be a tragedy.

In 1881, Jacci Reed is only five years old when a man attempts to kidnap her from the steamboat her mother, Irena, works on. Badly wounded during the confrontation, Irena takes Jacci aboard the Kingston Floating Palace, a showboat tied up beside them. There, Jacci's actor grandfather tends to her mother and Jacci gets a first taste of the life she will come to lead.

Fifteen years later, Jacci is an actress aboard the Kingston Floating Palace, and largely contented with her adopted family of actors, singers, and dancers. Especially Gabe, who has always supported her, and the gruff grandfather she has come to know and love. Jacci's mother has been gone for years, but the memory of the altercation that ultimately took her life--and the cryptic things Jacci has overheard about her past--is always there, lurking in the back of her mind.

When someone on the showboat tries to kill Jacci, it's clear her questions demand answers. But secrets have a way of staying in the shadows, and the answers she craves will not come easily. Gabe only hopes they come in time for him and Jacci to have a future together.

My Review:

In the Shadows of the River was my first book by Ann H. Gabhart and it was a hit for me! I honestly wasn’t sure if I’d like it but I’m so glad I gave it a try. 

The first 100 pages are set when the main character Jacci is five years old and sets up the backstory. After the 100 page mark the story jumps ahead 15 years. It was actually a nice transition and I really enjoyed having that more in-depth backstory.

I enjoyed the characters quite a bit. Also, the cover is so pretty!

I’ll definitely be checking out some of this authors other books.

**Thank you Revell for the book in exchange for my honest review 

Counter Attack // Book Review

 

About the Book: 

No sooner has Alexis Stone been sworn in as the interim sheriff for Russell County, Tennessee, when a serial killer dubbed the Queen's Gambit Killer strikes again--this time in her hometown. Pearl Springs is just supposed to be a temporary stop along the way to Alex's real dream: becoming the first female police chief of Chattanooga. But the killer's calling card--a white pawn and a note with a chess move printed on it--cannot be ignored.

Pearl Springs chief of police Nathan Landry can't believe that his high school sweetheart Alexis (he refuses to call her Alex) is back in town, and he can't help wanting to protect the woman he never stopped loving. But as the danger mounts and the killer closes in, can Nathan come through on the promises he makes to himself to bring a killer to justice before it's too late.

My Review:

Counter Attack was the first book I read by Patricia Bradley.

It started off very fast paced which I was excited about but then I felt like it plateaued. I wasn’t a huge fan of it doing that since I was hoping for fast paced and exciting the whole way through. It definitely had its exciting parts throughout but I didn’t find it as great as I had hoped.

I most likely will give book 2 a try when it comes out though.

**Thank you Revell for the book in exchange for my honest review 

The Swindler's Daughter // Book Review

 

About the Book:

A surprise inheritance. A cache of family secrets. A choice that will change her life forever.

Lillian Doyle has lived her entire high-society life with her widowed mother, believing her father died long ago. But when news arrives that her estranged father only recently passed away--in jail--Lillian is startled to find that the man has left a business and all of his possessions to her, making her a rather unusual heiress.

When she goes to take possession of her father's house in a backwoods Georgia town, the dilapidated structure is already occupied by another woman who claims it was promised to her son, Jonah. In her attempts to untangle the mess, Lillian will discover not only a family she never knew she had but a family business that is more than meets the eye--and has put a target on her back.

To discover the truth and take hold of the independence she's always dreamed of, she'll have to make friends with adversaries and strangers--especially Jonah, the dusty and unrefined cowboy who has secret aspirations of his own.

My Review:

The Swindler’s Daughter was pretty good. It took me a while to get into the story, but once I did, I started enjoying it. 

It was interesting to read about them remolding a house to turn it into a business. I love the idea of a bakery/bookstore! It was also fun to see the mystery aspect unfold.

I enjoyed Lillian as a character as well as Jonah and his mother and sisters. 

This was my first book by Stephenia H. McGee and I’ll probably give more of her books a try in the future!

**Thank you Revell for the book in exchange for my honest review