No One Ever Asked - A Review

Published: April 2018, Waterbrook
Author: Katie Ganshert
Title: No One Ever Asked

About the book:
Challenging perceptions of discrimination and prejudice, this emotionally resonant drama for readers of Lisa Wingate and Jodi Picoult explores three different women navigating challenges in a changing school district--and in their lives.

When an impoverished school district loses its accreditation and the affluent community of Crystal Ridge has no choice but to open their school doors, the lives of three very different women converge: Camille Gray--the wife of an executive, mother of three, long-standing PTA chairwoman and champion fundraiser--faced with a shocking discovery that threatens to tear her picture-perfect world apart at the seams. Jen Covington, the career nurse whose long, painful journey to motherhood finally resulted in adoption but she is struggling with a happily-ever-after so much harder than she anticipated. Twenty-two-year-old Anaya Jones--the first woman in her family to graduate college and a brand new teacher at Crystal Ridge's top elementary school, unprepared for the powder-keg situation she's stepped into. Tensions rise within and without, culminating in an unforeseen event that impacts them all. This story explores the implicit biases impacting American society, and asks the ultimate question: What does it mean to be human? Why are we so quick to put labels on each other and categorize people as "this" or "that", when such complexity exists in each person? 

My Thoughts:
I don't think I've ever picked up one of Katie Ganshert's books and haven't loved it. But this one. Oh my goodness, it surpasses any of her others! It's highly appropriate for the current crazy world we live in. I think that I literally read this in about a day. I got completely lost in the story. 

I received a copy as part of the Blogging for Books program. Sadly, this is my last review for them as they are discontinuing the program. I was not required to like the book, only give my honest opinion.

Recommended to fans of Karen Kingsbury, Lisa Wingate, Jodi Picoult

Rating 5 stars

Refuge Assured - A Review

Published - February 2018, Bethany House Publishers

Author - Jocelyn Green

Title - A Refuge Assured

About the book

Vivienne Rivard fled revolutionary France and seeks a new life for herself and a boy in her care, who some say is the Dauphin. But America is far from safe, as militiaman Liam Delaney knows. He proudly served in the American Revolution but is less sure of his role in the Whiskey Rebellion. Drawn together, will Liam and Vivienne find the peace they long for?

My thoughts:

This book was so good! I loved watching Vivienne grow from the lacemaker to the queen into the independent American woman she became. I found this period of history rather fascinating. I don't read a lot of early American (Post-Revolution), so this particular period was rather new to me. I enjoyed it.

I received a copy from Bethany House to review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Great Escape - A Review

Published - April 2018, Worthy Publishers
Series - Secret of the Hidden Scrolls Book 3
Author - M. J. Thomas
Title - Great Escape 
Format - paper
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About the book:
Siblings Peter and Mary and their dog Hank are staying with their great uncle. He's got a lot of cool stuff. The kids have discovered scrolls that transport them to other times. They just have to solve the scroll within a certain amount of time or be stuck in the past forever.

My Thoughts:

This book was super cute. Siblings Peter and Mary travel in time for the third time. This time they go to Egypt at the time of the Exodus. They are given a certain amount of time to figure out the meaning of the scroll and return home, otherwise they'll be stuck forever. It reminded me of several of the Imagination Station books in the Adventures of Odyssey series. 

It's targeted at 6-9 year olds, and my best friend's 7 year read it and loved it. 

I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher to review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.