Here are the books I read in August that were four- or five-star reads!
The First Unicorn, Miracle on Wonder Island: A Faith-Based Fantasy Adventure for Ages 8–12 Inspired by Biblical Truth
This fun, insightful children’s read blends fantasy with Christianity. Aden is a white horse with a red mane, different from the rest of his herd. He is driven to help other animals, and he is rewarded for that. Here, he follows his heart. His journey is based on showing love, kindness, and helping where he can. It mirrors Jesus’s path in a way that children and adults can understand. I found the message of bringing love and light into the world very uplifting, especially with the division and fear so common now. The end includes questions to help readers study the message further, along with an explanation of the story. This would be good as a family read or for children reading chapter books who want to explore their faith more.
Enemies to Everything at Cornflower Cove: A heartfelt later life romance about small town love, second chances and starting over. (Cornflower Cove Romances Book 1)
Recently divorced, Ali takes a break from her family’s hotel to help her best friend, Freddie. She throws herself into saving this oceanside resort when an ex-boyfriend, Nick, who broke her heart, shows up to help too. I love the friendship between her and Freddie, but the chemistry between her and Nick and an unresolved past showed why they had been together in the first place. The only issue was the lack of communication that plagued this couple throughout the story. While they worked through their problems, I was intrigued by the setting. I love the idea of a hotel with a reading room and books in each cottage, plus an ocean view—I would definitely stay there! There were a couple of twists that surprised me, and the romance followed a bumpy path that I did expect. I liked the progression of Ali finding herself and bringing some light to what she’d been dealing with alone. A fun romantic read that I can easily recommend.
Haiku: It Is Not Too Late To Restore Planet Earth
By Dan Costinaş
This is a collection of haiku poetry that tackles the serious subject of climate change. After a heartfelt introduction and history, this is broken into three sections: D for despair, H for hope, and E for experimental. In E, although the poems are written in the 5/7/5 format, they aren’t being called haikus. Here are just a few examples from the collection: “burning sands take flight/red wind dances on a dry breeze-/sun sets, choked in dust” D10, “nature’s gentle sigh/just silent woodland’s echoes-/anaemic shadows” D31, “a helping hand stretched/darkness fades, a new day dawns-/light guides us ahead” H12, “verdant shots emerge/nature’s promise fresh and bright-/hope’s soft, gentle hue” H25, “shadow softly dream/silent mobs of hidden thought-/guiding all we seem” H50, and “unbelievable/unconventionality-/determination” E4. This was a beautiful collection that not only focused on our current climate issues but also on the hope beyond them. I enjoyed all the poetry, but hope held a special place for me. I can easily recommend this for poetry lovers and those who are worried about the climate.
The Wife of Kronstadt: Medieval Mystery of Transylvania (Blood of Kings, Heart of Shadows)
“The Wife of Kronstadt” is a companion short story to “When Secrets Bloom,” which I loved. Set in 1421 Transylvania, it is a historical murder mystery where healthy women are dying. The town physician declares it a fever, but his wife Gertrude doesn’t believe that. She soon learns there is more going on than just simple deaths. The research and focus on details, mixed with the poetically described settings, is the standout in this story. Gertrude is a strong character with a husband who didn’t think much of women’s opinions. This quick read was a nice addition to this series, and I look forward to reading more.
Seasons and Crystals
I have always enjoyed Ms. Singh’s poetry collections and was eager to read this one. The focus in this book is on syllabic poetry, broken down into different forms, like haiku or tanka. There is an informative explanation at the beginning of each section. It gives insight into the parameters within which this poetry was created. I’m a fan of this type of poetry and found many favorites as I was reading. Here are a few: “dark, windy winter/hisses like a venomous viper/cold light casts shadows” WINTER, “a light within her/illuminates dead desires/that gasp with the waves” LIFE, “A windy morning, humming the song of autumn, stretches its arms to kiss the dew on the grass. Young trees waltz, but the old oak watches steadily, blending his rhythms with the wind…” A MORNING WALK, “lustrous light of clouds/guides me into the future,/whispers words of faith/embracing self-confidence./I step forward in wonder.” TANKA, “A/long bridge,/flanked by/bamboo forest/arching over me;/a delusive journey….” BUT I WALK, and “A babbling brook held me captive/Transfixed to the path, I sang the same song/You went ahead, I am tied/to the moment…” A MOMENT. This is a beautiful collection of nature, seasons, and heartfelt emotions that is meant to be enjoyed more than once. I can easily recommend this!
Myths and Magic (Saffy’s Secret Quest Book 2)
Saffy, her mother, her curious brother, and her living little statue dragon, Lily, take a trip to the museum. They are searching for clues to heal Lily and her world after a witch cast a spell on them. While Lily and Saffy search, Narla the witch tries to stop them. This is another fun adventure in the series as they work their way through the clues and hopefully to the outcome of healing Lily and Mandoreum. I look forward to the next book to see where the clues lead. A great children’s book for chapter readers or with their parents, as well as adults looking for a sweet story.
OTHER BOOKS READ THAT I RATED FOUR OR FIVE STARS!
Storm Warning (Dez Limeric, #4) by James Byrne (Thanks, Sandra!)
Embrace your inner child by diving into a great book! D. L. Finn (Denise)