Game 2 (Sluggers) Review

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(More customer reviews)When Ruby Payne and her older brother Griffith stand on the deck of the steamer Meriwether Lewis and take a look at Uncle Owen's letter, they know danger lies ahead. His tattered note warns "Beware the Chancellor," and Griffith sees what appears to be blood stains. They fear for Uncle Owen's safety after reading even worse news about the Chancellor: "He mustn't learn of the baseball."
Ruby and Griffith know about the legend of the Chancellor, a wealthy and powerful man who supposedly possesses evil powers. They also remember the earlier warning they received from their Uncle Owen on the night of their father's funeral: "Be together, Always. Great danger lies ahead, an unspeakable kind. Things will speak to you in different ways. And, you mustn't tell a soul."
In Louisville, Ruby, Griffith and Graham learn some history, geography and a little more about the game of baseball. They find out why Louisville is called the River City and how Kentucky came to be known as the Bluegrass State. They meet J. F. Hellerich, creator of the Louisville Slugger baseball bat. Yet puzzling things occur to Ruby when she visits Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby.
To understand the strange happenings, Ruby records in a journal what she sees, hears and thinks. After reading it, Ruby and her brothers begin to understand more about the power --- and the danger --- of the magic baseball. When Ruby, Griffith and Graham band together and hold the baseball, strange and wonderful things happen on the baseball field. The ghosts of graceful and mighty thoroughbred horses graze among the players, unseen by the cheering crowd. Only Ruby, Griffith, Graham and the Travelin' Nine are aware of the horses' presence --- and witness their power.
In Louisville, Ruby also gets to know more about the Travelin' Nine players, especially the silent Scribe, who is "the largest human being Ruby had ever seen." And Griffith understands, even more than his mother, about the danger and risks facing their family, especially to Graham.
The lovely illustrations, the convenient and easy-to-understand definitions about historic baseball terms and the intriguing storyline complement this enjoyable sequel. Even if your favorite team didn't make it to the World Series this year, Game 2 of the Barnstormers series will give baseball lovers of all ages something to cheer about.
--- Reviewed by Donna Volkenannt

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Wherever Nina Lies Review

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(More customer reviews)It's been two long years since Ellie's older sister Nina has disappeared. Pretty much everyone has given up any hope that Nina will return, but not Ellie. Ellie can't bear to think Nina, her sister whom she loves and idolizes, could be dead. Ellie desperately wants to find Nina, and when she stumbles upon a portrait of her, drawn by Nina, she's certain she's found her clue. With the help of a hot and mysterious stranger named Sean, Ellie sets off on a seemingly wild-goose chase for the whereabouts of her sister. But Ellie isn't prepared for what she learns along the way, regarding her sister and her new love interest Sean. In this suspenseful and fast-paced debut, readers will be swept along with Ellie as she journeys and finds love, lies, and the strength of sisterhood.
I was immensely impressed with this solid debut novel. Weingarten shows a mastery of her skill with words, especially when manipulating the plot. Ellie's cross-country escapade was filled with humor and lust yet also disappointment, anticipation for the next clue, confusion, and danger. I like how the story strings the reader along nicely and then twists nearly completely around. In the back of my mind, I think I expected part of the outcome of Ellie's journey, but I was still shocked when it actually happened. I also really liked the development of both Ellie's and Nina's characters. Ellie is easy to relate to, especially in her sisterly affection, friendship dilemmas, and thoughts of self-preservation, and this increases the reader's sympathy for her as well as interest in her story. The reader gets to know Nina mainly through Ellie's memories and thoughts of her sister, and it creates an image of a wild yet thoughtful girl anyone can love. Some of the minor details of this novel, though, were not as well executed as the plot and development of the major characters. There were some details that never completely added up. Also, Ellie's relationship with her best friend Amanda seemed strange at times, and their problems seemed to magically disappear at the end of the novel. Other than these few aspects, Wherever Nina Lies was an extremely well-written and enjoyable story.
Wherever Nina Lies is very impressive for a first novel, and I hope Weingarten plans to write more novels especially if they're as good as this one. Readers will see this novel as a hybrid between two fantastic novels, How to Be Bad and The Year My Sister Got Lucky, and will not be disappointed in this fantastic story of mystery, romance, suspense, and, most of all, sisterhood.

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War of the End of the World Review

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(More customer reviews)This is perhaps Vargas Llosa's best novel and a must for all those well-meaning readers in the developed world who eagerly idealize Latin American revolutions without knowing anything about these countries.
The book is based on the true story of Antonio Vicente Mendes Maciel ("O Conselheiro"), a mad prophet of sorts -kind of a weird Christian ayatollah of the late XIX Century- who ignited, in the most remote corner of Brazil, a bloody uprising among the lowly against Money, Property, Progress, Law, Army, Republic and State, and everything else he found oppressive, sinful and evil. In return, the Brazilian government reacted with indifference, disbelief, concern, anger, outrage and total annihilation.
Little by little, Vargas Llosa transforms this obscure anecdote into a monumental epic of Tolstoiesque proportions that not only hooks you on the plot but reveals the richly interwoven carpet of Brazilian -and therefore Latin American- society; its illusions and delusions, its races and classes, its loves and hates, its fear of the modern and its contempt for the past, and the fanaticism that pervades both attitudes (to date).
I read this mammoth masterpiece during Christmass '94 at the midst of the Zapatista revolt in Chiapas, and it was sad to realize how little have we changed our societies. Our development always seems to engender inequality and our social struggles to defend backwardness and ignorance. Vargas Llosa is acutely aware of this, and he conveys it in his story splendidly, without preaching, without agendas, without aloofness and without letting you put down the book. Should you decide to read it, ask for a few days off!

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Deep within the remote backlands of 19th-century Brazil sits Canudosa libertarian paradise. Home of prostitutes, bandits, beggars, Canudos embodies the revolutionary spirit in its purest and most apocalyptic form. In one of his most brilliant and tragic novels, Mario Vargas Llosa creates an unforgettable tale of passion, idealism, adventure, and man's struggle to be free.--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Murder in the Place of Anubis (Lord Meren Mysteries) Review

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(More customer reviews)The first in this series of novels has Lord Meren investigating a murder in the sacred Place of Anubis. For those unfamiliar with Egyptian religion, Anubis was the God of Embalming. Bodies were embalmed, a long and laborious process, before being entombed. Egyptians believed that without the proper spells, amulets, and procedures after death, a soul, or ka would not enter the afterlife.
This being known, it is unthinkable that someone would kill in the Place of Anubis. This person must have been most desperate and bold in order to do so. Meren discovers there is no lack of suspects. The man was disliked by his collegues and his family alike. Suspects are going fast, however, two of them are murdered before the true nature of the crime is discovered. At the heart of these crimes is an unholy greed that could consume Meren and his son Kysen before they discover the truth.

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Escape from the Carnivale: A Never Land Book (Never Land Books) Review

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(More customer reviews)Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson have done it again! With an extension of their Peter Pan series this book tells of an extraordinary adventure about a Mollusk Indian princess who goes on a curious journey with her two mermaid friends. As with the two other books in the series, Peter and the Starcatchers and Peter and the Shadow Thieves, this book flowed well and kept the problems at the forefront of the story.
In the story Little Scallop and her friends, despite the warnings of their elders, decide to travel out of the lagoon in search of pearls. When a storm approaches, trouble strikes and it's up to our heroin to save the day! The characters have to face their wrong doings and figure out how to solve their problem. Barry and Pearson also include subplots of dangerous pirates and a mysterious ship which keeps the book moving quickly and helps the reader stay interested.
I enjoyed discovering new characters in Neverland and being able to get to know them. Little Scallop adds a female heroin to the series making this an excellent tale for young female readers. When informed she couldn't go on an escapade because she was a young girl, it did not stop her motivation to have an adventure of her own. The authors' use of clever imagery will transport the reader into the story and take them on a grand journey with lots of action. This is a book that I will definitely include in my classroom library and would make an excellent read aloud for intermediate grades!

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Little Scallop should be happy. She’s a princess of the Mollusk tribe, rulers of beautiful Mollusk Island. And she has two fun friends - Aqua and Surf - who just happen to be mermaids. But Little Scallop is bored. Her warrior brothers are allowed to do exciting things, like spying on the pirates who live on the other side of the island. Little Scallop longs to have a real adventure. When Aqua and Surf invite her to go pearl-diving - even though she knows she shouldn’t - she can’t resist. So late one night, she sneaks off into forbidden waters with Aqua and Surf. That’s when the trouble starts - they run into a fierce storm and a strange ship sailed by men who would love to capture a mermaid. Soon, Little Scallop is caught up in the adventure she always wanted. The question is: can she and her friends get out of it?

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Last Rituals: A Novel of Suspense Review

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(More customer reviews)Last Rituals: Icelandic Novel of Secret Symbols, Medieval Witchcraft and Modern Murder by internationally acclaimed author Yrsa Sigurdardottir and translated into English by Bernard Scudder will thrill readers with the finely written mystery and more intimate look at a glimpse of Iceland as the background, a country that intrigues but often remains mysterious. The author combines an obscure part of history with dark psychological details while also creating a realistic and sometimes humorous backdrop in the characters investigating this unusual case.
Thora Gutmundsdottir, a divorced mother who started her own legal partnership receives a phone call from Germany from the Amelia Guntlieb who had been given her name by one of Thora's former professors. Amelia's son was murdered in Iceland and the family needs assistance. The Guntliebs do not feel the local police investigated their son's case thoroughly. Amelia proposes that Thora work with Matthew Reich, a man who spent 5 years with the Munich CID. Although Matthew has the investigative skills needed, he does not know the Icelandic language well enough to ask questions and mix with the locals well enough to get real answers. Certain shocking details of Harald's murder are just too mysterious, eerie and gruesome to believe the murder is connected to a drug deal gone bad. Does someone have a personal vendetta against Harald? After initial reservations, Thora accepts the case and Matthew hands over a dossier detailing many of the particulars of Harald's life. Do the details of his murder relate to his studies of history or to some dark hidden aspect of his personal life? Are the gruesome details a measure of the killer's rage or a clue to the identity of some mysterious group? What does the strange symbol mean? Harald had gone to Iceland to study Medieval history. In particular, his research compared Icelandic witchcraft with witch burnings, execution and torture in Medieval Germany. Whereas women were often the target of witch burnings in Germany, in Iceland, the majority of witches executed were men. Does this difference have any bearing on Harald's research in Iceland? As the investigation narrows, the two discover Harald began to develop strange practices while in Iceland. An investigation into Harald's personal life in Iceland as well as in Germany unearths more and more secrets. Thora and Matthew's investigation takes them through the history of Iceland in many forms and the author gives the reader a fascinating view of both historical and modern Iceland. The more clues they find, the more mysterious the murder appears and the two are no longer sure whom they can trust.
Yrsa Sigurdardottir creates the perfect balance between realistic characterization and a darker multi-faceted mystery that intrigues the reader as it unfolds. As the details of Thora's family life interfere with her investigation, the reader sees a glimpse of her as whole person ---one who cares for her children as only a devoted mother can but also as a person whose life has endowed her with a delightful sense of humor and a sense of compassion that underlies her investigation. The developing relationship between Thora and Matthew provides delightful humorous twists to accompany the terrifying secrets and relationships they uncover. The mystery itself grabs the reader's attention from the very beginning and heightens with each successive revelation of clues. Suspenseful twists and turns lead to a climax where all the pieces carefully prepared from the very beginning fall together and yet still surprise the reader in unexpected and unforgettable new ways.
Yrsa Sigurdardottir's novel will appeal a wide variety of readers with an interest in Iceland from those with a mere curiosity for this unique country all the way to those with a more thorough knowledge from travel or studies of Icelandic literature. The author interweaves well known aspects of her native land such as the Icelandic horses, lava fields and various landmarks with a humorous look at the pronunciation of the Icelandic language and local driving customs into the plot and interchanges of the characters themselves. Those curious for a closer more in depth look at Iceland will appreciate the author's look at the effects of a small population, the history of Icelandic law and religion and the results of globalization on the daily life of local residents. At all times, the author integrates these details so closely into characters and the structure of the novel so that the pace of the mystery unfolds fluidly with a touch of humor and heightening of the mystery.
Scholars quite familiar with Medieval Norse manuscript history and literature will be thrilled to discover the realism in Yrsa Sigurdardottir's portrayal of the intricacies of Icelandic manuscript history. The author details this history through Thora's investigations of Harald's actions and relationships so readers unfamiliar with this aspect of Icelandic history easily follow the unfolding mystery. The author creates the best of two worlds ---- the reader follows a realistic portrayal of Iceland's unique place in Medieval history and literature without being weighed down by a pedantic academic treatise but her attention to precision makes Last Rituals a more intriguing read than some of the missing codex, manuscript, symbol novels in current vogue. Yrsa Sigurdardottir's careful attention to detail and its seamless integration into the very heart of her writing style make Last Rituals one of the best recent novels in the genre.

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At a university in Reykjavík, the body of a young German student is discovered, his eyes cut out and strange symbols carved into his chest. Police waste no time in making an arrest, but the victim's family isn't convinced that the right man is in custody. They ask Thóra Gudmundsdóttir, an attorney and single mother of two, to investigate. It isn't long before Thóra and her associate, Matthew Reich, uncover the deceased student's obsession with Iceland's grisly history of torture, execution, and witch hunts. But there are very contemporary horrors hidden in the long, cold shadow of dark traditions. And for two suddenly endangered investigators, nothing is quite what it seems . . . and no one can be trusted.

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Field of Destiny Review

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(More customer reviews)I took a chance on Patricia Sheehy's book Field of Destiny when she visited my office autographing copies. What a great surprise. I spent a good deal of my holiday time immersed in this well-written, captivating novel. I love the way she interweaves the characters and am waiting not so patiently for her next novel, which I hope will continue on this fascinating theme. A great find - a great book and a great author to add to my list of those to follow.

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A single decision has the power to change everything. Field of Destiny tells the story of Natalie Davenport, whose destiny is derailed by an impulsive act, thrusting her into a life of secrets, lies and betrayal, a life where free will and karma collide and destructive patterns from her past life threaten her happiness in this one.

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Blastin' the Blues (Sluggers) Review

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(More customer reviews)As the Payne children and the Travelin' Nine ride the rails to St. Louis, the Chancellor's thugs try to kidnap Graham and steal the magic baseball. Graham remains safe after the scuffle, but Griffith (Griff), Woody and Dog jump from the train to recover the special baseball.
During their separation from the team, Woody tells Griff about his experience with Colonel Teddy Roosevelt, what happened on San Juan Hill and the Rough Riders' solemn promise to "Be together, always." While Woody, Griff and Dog elude the Chancellor's goon squad, Griff also learns about his father's heroics in Cuba, how Uncle Owen got injured and how the magic baseball got the hole in its center.
As the Paynes seek to reunite with the rest of the team, they are followed by someone with a special connection and a grave warning to the Chancellor. While providing them nourishment, the mystery man reveals his identity and explains why the Chancellor is so desperate to possess the baseball and control Graham. By the time the trio arrives in St. Louis to rejoin the rest of the team, Griff has a better understanding about the magic baseball and events in the past --- and Dog has a new name.
In St. Louis, the team meets baseball pitching great Denton True "Cy" Young, who is called Cy because his fastball resembles a cyclone. During their brief stay in the Missouri town, Ruby is intent on identifying the mole, while the team continues to try and earn money to repay the mounting debt owed to the Chancellor. After leaving St. Louis, the team treks south on a steamboat down the Mississippi River to New Orleans. In the "Big Easy," the stakes of the game grow higher, but the payoff could erase the massive debt owed to the Chancellor. However, the Chancellor isn't going down without a fight. The evil mastermind fights dirty and plays to win.
BLASTIN' THE BLUES, the meatiest book in the Sluggers series, has the same charm and passion as the previous installments. Old-school baseball terms are explained, and historic events are woven seamlessly into the plot. Except for a few passages of dialogue that slip into contemporary usage, it has a familiar, old-fashioned feel. One word of caution: the book ends on a sad note. Younger readers might find the final illustration and a scene in the last chapter upsetting. Nevertheless, BLASTIN' THE BLUES should hit a home run with preteen readers who love mysteries with supernatural overtones or who are passionate about America's favorite pastime.

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After jumping off the train to St. Louis, Griffith, Woody, and Dog find their way back to the Travelin' Nine. Meanwhile, the rest of the team prepares for the next game—but before they can even get warmed up, the game is cancelled. Still fearing they are being followed and even more worried they have a traitor in their midst, the team travels to New Orleans, where the magic of their ball and the music of the city create one memorable game. But like always, trouble is right around the corner and the hits keep on coming for the Payne family and all of the Travelin' Nine!

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Water, Water Everywhere (Sluggers) Review

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(More customer reviews)The Travelin' Nine have just beat the Chicago Nine and things are heating up more than ever as we've reached the fourth book in The Sluggers! Series, Water, Water Everywhere (Sluggers).
The year is 1899 and the Travelin' Nine continue to barnstorm their way across the good ole' U.S. of A., trying to raise money to pay off the Payne family's big-league debt. The book starts off strong as we learn about Ruby's mysterious disappearance and the team must come together to determine the future of the team.
In this installment, the Travelin' Nine are set to take on the Minneapolis Millers, but as they prepare for battle, they realize the chancellor has stacked the odds against them. They'll now face a team of professional ballists, the Minneapolis Lakers. As the Lakers lay out the terms, Ruby, Graham, and Griffith learn they're not permitted in the dugout. After all, if they're separated from the adults, the chancellor has a better chance of getting the magic baseball and whatever else he wants.
In Water, Water Everywhere, not only does the action heat up on the field, but it heats up off the field as Ruby, Graham, and Griffith roam the stadium, trying to avoid the chancellor's men. They spot their bald eagle, and have an encounter with the man from the trolley and the park. He says he's here to help them, but how do they know if they can trust him? The old man gives some sage advice, "One who is with you is not with you at all."
As Graham makes a heartfelt birthday wish, he gets exactly what he asks for. But questions still remain: Was it real? Can it possibly be true? Or is it all just a dream?
And if you don't think that's enough, we're left hanging as an intruder storms the Travelin' Nine's train at the end of the book. Will the chancellor's men finally get what they want, or does another adventure await?
Water, Water Everywhere is a suspense-filled, non-stop adventure. This is by far, my favorite book in the series, yet. The first three books have set the story up so well, that Water, Water Everywhere is full of drama. You're so drawn to the characters by this book, that you can't wait to find out what's going to happen next, and just when you think you're about to find out the truth, you're pulled in again to another adventure. Superb writing weaves you from one mystery to the next and all I have to say is...Bring on Sluggers! 5!!!


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The World Beneath Review

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(More customer reviews)Body dysmorphic, both prematurely cynical and angst-riddled, Sophie daily endures the mindless chatter of her mother, Sandy, appalled by the prospect of genetically flabby arms in her own future. Sandy and Rich split shortly after her birth fifteen years ago, their environmental activism on behalf of Tasmania's Franklin River collapsing under the inertia of cohabitation. Now Rich has reappeared, suggesting a backpacking trip in Tasmania so father and daughter can bridge the years he has been absent from Sophie's life. Australian author Kennedy is fully armed in this provocative novel of disillusioned youth and mid-life attack of conscience, an emo goth teen on the cusp of understanding too much about parents' imperfections and a boy/man clinging to the temporary glory of a cause, their careful self-constructions shattered by breath-stopping reality.
While Sandy attends a Goddess workshop, forever struggling to recapture the euphoria of the Franklin River experience, a vague dissatisfaction hobbles the day-to-day rewards of existence, overwhelmed as she is with the burden of single parenthood, her body buffeted by gravity's siren song and Sophie's critical lamentation: "That's what having a baby did to your body... like balloons that had been stretched to the limit...then gradually left to deflate again... like overripe fruit." But not to worry, for Rich fares no better, his responses inconsistent, from his original impression ("She looked like one of those Bratz dolls.") to the more confessional "He wonders why, of everything, her tenderness is the very worst thing." His observant daughter quickly assesses the nature of a man on the wrong side of time with a habit of inflating global adventures, but inarticulate in the matter of fathers and daughters.
This is Sophie's journey, her faux sophistication crumbling under the weight of expectations and the false bravado that has prompted an instinctive rejection of Sandy's generous motherly overtures. It is a burden too heavy for a child, even a tough little cookie like Sophie. Ironically, it is Rich's flaws that unravel Sophie's steely endurance, inspiring a deep longing for Sandy's inane comforts that creeps treasonously into her heart while alone with Rich: "Now she watched him, that stranger. That Polaroid father." This is heady territory, especially when the language of the heart is wielded with such authority and cutting wit as Kennedy displays. This writer takes no prisoners, instinctively cognizant that anything less than the brutal truth would undermine her characters' movement toward one another.
Shifting between the 70s nostalgia that has inhibited Sandy and Rich's emotional maturity and the physically rigorous trek that forces errant father and questing daughter to find common purpose- and possibly forgiveness, Kennedy's Australia is accessible through Rich's camera lens and the eyes of a teenager awed by nature's beauty, tangentially aware of the technological and social alterations of man's indigent stewardship in the age of me. A painful indictment to be sure, but one couched in the revelatory experience of love unmasked, the bonds of motherhood intact. Shaken, Sophie rises from the ashes of certain disappointment to break the chains of fear that have temporarily stalled her growth. Scathing, precise and utterly transformative, Kennedy chronicles the troubled territory of child and parent with the indomitable humor and compassion of one who knows. Luan Gaines/2011.


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Memoirs of Pontius Pilate: A Novel (Ballantine Reader's Circle) Review

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(More customer reviews)Although it is a work of fiction, "Memoirs of Pontius Pilate" comes close to deserving a place in the history section. Much of this well-researched book is devoted to Pilate's own biography of Jesus; nevertheless, there is enough supplementary material here to leave the reader a bit more knowledgeable on the history of Roman Palestine.
Mills' Pilate begins with an introductory discussion about the Jewish people (written from a perspective that feels authentically Roman). The rest of the book traces the life of Jesus from the Nativity to the Crucifixion, after which the exiled former procurator adds his own views on the events that he had just described. Throughout the work Pilate remains sufficiently sceptical of the miracles and odd "coincidences" that his spies report to him, but the reader soon realises that this Roman is at least open to the possibility that the "strange carpenter" may actually be who he says he is.
A word of caution, though: readers who insist on seeing a cruel, heartless tyrant of a governor in this book will be sorely disappointed. Though the historical Pontius Pilatus may have been a man who truly deserves the wicked reputation he is cursed with today, would he have written about himself that way? In all certainty he would have described actions we now see as barbaric within the context of his own culture and upbringing; that is, he would have said that he was simply "doing his job" when he mowed down the Samartians on Mount Gerizim and threatened to hack a crown of Jews to death in Caesarea. Out of his love for Rome, his loyalty to Caesar and perhaps even his own strange form of concern for the well-being of the Jewish people, he did what he felt he had to do.
I am no relativist. From the very little that we know about Pilate, there is no doubt that he was -- to put it bluntly -- a very bad man. But it would be ridiculous to assume that he would have seen himself as anything other than a devoted public servant who tried to do his duty well.

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Barnstormers: Game 3 Review

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(More customer reviews)In August 1899, Griffith, Ruby and Graham Payne and the Travelin' Nine leave behind their winning ways in Louisville, Kentucky, and take a train to Chicago, Illinois. The Travelin' Nine baseball team includes the children's mother, Elizabeth, and eight Spanish-American War veterans who fought side by side with the younsters' late father, Guy. The team is barnstorming across the United States, challenging local "ballists" to winner-take-all games in order to repay Guy's debt.
On the train ride from Louisville, Elizabeth confides in Griffith and Ruby, the two older kids, details about the substantial debt owed by their father and Uncle Owen. If the Paynes can't repay $10,000, Elizabeth fears she could lose her children. Griffith believes he knows who is behind their troubles. Yet his mother refuses to listen to talk about the evil Chancellor and his men, who followed the family in Louisville. Griffith suspects she knows more than she's admitting and can't shake the feeling that they're still being watched.
The movement of the train and his mother's talk upset Griffith. Unable to sleep, he takes a late-night stroll and bumps into one of the Chancellor's goons. The man grabs Griffith by the collar and tells him that the Chancellor wants what he has, adding that the Chancellor "always gets what he wants."
In Chicago, while passing out flyers in Jackson Park, Ruby runs into a stranger who says his name is Preacher Wil. Instead of being afraid of the dark-skinned man with wire-rimmed glasses and two different colored eyes, she feels safe. He calls her "Angel" and promises their paths will cross again.
At the ballpark, Graham does his best to be part of the team. Ruby tries to focus on the game but becomes distracted by events on the field and searching the crowd for Preacher Wil. Griffith also looks for him but with a feeling of dread because he fears he might see the Chancellor and his men.
On game day, "Chicagoland rooters" cheer from the stands, bizarre creatures appear on the field, a beloved member of the Travelin' Nine falls ill and the Payne children's magical baseball heats up the action. Game 3 is a must-win for the Travelin' Nine, but at what cost?
The short chapters, graceful illustrations, eye-appealing layout and fascinating historical tidbits about the game of baseball enhance this young-reader-friendly novel. The suspenseful third installment of the New York Times bestselling series has characters to root for and will enchant young readers who love America's favorite pastime.
--- Reviewed by Donna Volkenannt

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PREGAME RECAP As the Travelin' Nine head to Chicago, the team is filled with hope and optimism. After a disappointing loss in Cincinnati at the start of their baseball tour, the heroes of the Spanish-American War bounced back in Louisville. Doc and Woody came through with timely fielding, Crazy Feet and Tales smacked clutch hits, and champion horses provided that extra kick, helping the barnstormers to their come-from-behind victory. By the end of the thrilling contest, there was no doubt in the minds of Griffith, Ruby, and Graham that the baseball their Uncle Owen had given to them on the night of their father's funeral was magical. Indeed, the mysteries surrounding their baseball, which their uncle had urged them to keep secret, were deepening. And as excited as they were by the barnstormers' win, the Payne siblings' fears and worries continued to grow. Uncle Owen's tattered, bloody letter had warned them about the Chancellor. What's more, they'd seen the Chancellor's men lurking at the Louisville game. Griffith and Ruby now realized that their adventure was about far more than raising money to pay off a family debt. But what exactly was it about? After the Louisville match, Griffith confronted his mother. She denied that the Chancellor could be involved, but she promised to answer all of Griffith's questions on the train to Chicago...

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Ties that Bind (Ribbons West) (No 3) Review

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(More customer reviews)The book i think was the best of all three. Really, it helps to know that the authors believe in God and that they can weave him into a book. You could almost make it an adventure book and a religious one too and that is what makes me feel good reading this book. This also ties it up and that way you won't have to wait for them to make the next one which i hate to wait. But this is an excellent book and i would recommend it to anyone.

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The Civil War has ended, and the Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads are locked in a high-stakes competition to link the eastern states with their western counterparts. Jordana Baldwin's writing catches the attention of an eastern newspaper, and she takes on the guise of a man to report on the progress of the rail line...and to spy for the Central Pacific. She continues to correspond with Captain Rich O'Brian, who now works for the Union Pacific. When they meet again, romantic sparks fly, but Rich's past still looms between them. Will competing interests keep Jordana and Rich apart...or bring them together?

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Simple Conversation: A Novel Review

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I read this book and absolutely loved it. I can really relate with this book and think most people who ever did online dating, been single and looking for love would really enjoy this book. Actually, anyone who likes a book with humor, love, friendship and some drama will really enjoy this book.
It is very enjoyable and the author writes in a way to capture various authors.
The book is a great price and a must read!

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Salma, in her late forties, is not expecting much of relationships after years of dating. Then she finds a man... online, of all places. After meeting Merrick in person and falling for him, she discovers that his x-wife is still in the picture. Is he worth fighting for, or is it too late to risk another disappointment? And what will it cost to make him her own? OOOOOOH BABY!

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Great Balls of Fire (Sluggers #3) Review

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(More customer reviews)Every pitcher who's ever hurled one over the plate has wished they were firing a missile--or better yet, a fireball. In Great Balls of Fire (Sluggers), the third book in the Sluggers series, the pitcher of the Travelin' Nine is doing just that, but why?
There are many questions that need answers as The Travelin' Nine are still barnstorming their way across the good ol' U. S. of A. to help pay off a substantial debt incurred by Uncle Owen. This time, the team heads to Chicago with a 1-1 record.
In Sluggers! 2, the team managed to spit out a win as the kids began to learn that the baseball their Uncle Owen had given to them on the night of their father's funeral was magical. Doc and Woody came through with timely fielding, Crazy Feet and Tales smacked clutch hits, and champion horses provided that extra kick, helping the barnstormers to their come-from-behind victory.
In this installment,Griffith is convinced more than ever that Uncle Owen owes money to the Chancellor and has a run-in with one of his men on the train, who states that the Chancellor "wants what you have."
Ruby also has an encounter with a mysterious stranger, and even though she doesn't know why, she knows that he will change the Travelin' Nine.
And Graham launches a towering shot out of the park when he thinks no one is looking. Unfortunately, the wrong eyes may have seen what the youngest Payne can do with a baseball.
As the Travelin' Nine take the field, the kids know it's time for all of them to place their hands on the magic ball. Their fears and worries continue to grow, wondering who's watching. But because of the baseball, this time, strange things begin to happen on the field that reference the Great Chicago Fire. Even a gigantic cow appears on the field--could they use it to their advantage?
The mystery deepens at the end of the book when Griffith has an encounter with the Chancellor who confirms that he wants something and also has something Griffith wants. What could they possibly be?
Bildner and Long have done it again with another mysterious, fun, and action-packed book! Out of the first three books of the series, this is my favorite because, as answers begin to unfold, the action reaches an escalated level. My heart was pounding as Griffith came face to face with the Chancellor and I'm dying to find out what the Chancellor has that Griffith wants. I thought the references to the Great Chicago Fire were phenomenal along with the old baseball lingo that continues to inform us in the margins.

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Where there's smoke... The year is 1899 and the Travelin' Nine are barnstorming their way across the good ol' U. S. of A., trying to raise money to pay off the Payne family's big-league debt. Pulling into Chicago, Griffith has a run-in with an enormous thug and is more convinced than ever that the nefarious robber baron called "The Chancellor" knows about their magic baseball. Ruby also has an encounter with a mysterious stranger, and even though she doesn't know why, she knows that he will change the Travelin' Nine. And Graham launches a towering shot out of the park when he thinks no one is looking. Unfortunately, the wrong eyes may have seen what the youngest Payne can do with a baseball. Chicago is a hot town, so the Paynes better keep their cool. The Travelin' Nine still have more money to make! #1 New York Times bestseller Loren Long and Texas Bluebonnet winner Phil Bildner create a memorable modern-day parable where three siblings embark on the adventure of a lifetime and discover the strength in family, the power of faith, and the true magic of baseball. New York Times bestselling series!

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Rahab's Story: A Novel (Women of the Bible) Review

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(More customer reviews)I was really surprised at what a great book this was! It wasn't written to make Rahab look like a sweet church lady. She was a real person in the Bible, a prostitute. There were no soft frilly illistrations to describe her life. The author did a great job describing her profession without being too revealing or leaving out important details. These women lived hard lives. When I read about the walls of Jehrico comming down I will never think of it the same way again. I am fascinated too how God uses not so perfect people to carry out his perfect plans. And Rahab! what can I say? I'm so glad to know that God loved her and used her to bring his plans to fruition.

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Beyond Corista (Shadowside Trilogy, The) Review

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(More customer reviews)Oriannon and her friends barely managed to escape the danger on Corista and are now headed to a way station. Oriannon's mentor, Jesmet, has given her a mission: warn the different way stations that the Troikans are coming. Her friends aren't as supportive as she'd like, and soon Oriannon wonders if the threat is real.
This story stands alone fine apart from the trilogy. In fact, it might be better if you haven't read the first two. Elmer creates a fascinating space world of way stations and different races. This book didn't take place on Corista at all, though. The story seemed to end too soon. As the third book in a trilogy, I wanted a bit more closure, especially as to what was happening on Corista. Margus is my favorite character and I wanted to see more of him. Oriannon struggles to do the right thing and learns some good lessons about forgiveness and obedience in the face of opposition. This was a fun trilogy that I recommend to teens who love science fiction.


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