A Penny for Your Thoughts (The Million Dollar Mysteries, Book 1) (Paperback)
by Mindy Starns Clark
ISBN: 0736909923

Price: USD 14.52
49 used & new available from USD 4.92

In this first of the Million Dollar Mysteries, Callie Webber is on her way home from a charity donation when her mysterious boss asks her to stop off and deliver two hundred and fifty thousand dollars to an old friend of his.
Callie, with her background in private investigations and law, is very loth to just hand over that much money to anyone without checking up on them first. After all, it’s her job to investigate anyone who requests a grant from her boss’s foundation. But she agrees, and grudgingly heads off to Feed the Need with the check. All she can think about is getting home and enjoying her dog Sal—until the head of Feed the Need is murdered.

A Penny for Your Thoughts is very well written with lots of suspense and action! And it has one of those “gotcha” endings that, when you think about it, you should have been able to catch! I love those. Actually, the whole series has the delightful distinction of being written by a Christian author, and starring a Christian main character. I wouldn’t recommend it for younger readers, though. Like every murder mystery, there are some unsavory people and events, as well as a teensy bit of mature content. Happily, that latter is not over the top, nor held up as good. I find these books so refreshing after wading through several secular series.

Winter Holiday (Godine Storyteller) (Paperback)
by Arthur Ransome
ISBN: 0879236612

Price: USD 10.17
52 used & new available from USD 2.99

Dick and Dorothea are staying at Dixon’s farm for their winter holiday. So when they meet the Swallows and Amazons, it’s time for some imaginative adventures! The itinerary? Expedition to the North Pole. The problem? The lake hasn’t frozen yet, and nobody can properly make an expedition to the North Pole without a frozen lake. Will the lake freeze in time? Find out in this excitement-packed fourth Swallows and Amazons book.

I’ve never been a big fan of winter. But when I finished this book, I almost wished I was. The children have so much fun and do so many exciting things that even I, a self-proclaimed winter humbug, couldn’t help wishing I was with them. There’s not really anything to complain about here, either, making this one of my favorites in the Swallows and Amazons series and a book that’s easy to recommend.

Starlighter (Dragons of Starlight) (Paperback)
by Bryan Davis
ISBN: 0310718368

Price: USD 9.99
57 used & new available from USD 3.34

Dragons from another world who kidnapped humans into slavery? Jason Masters has never held much regard for the old myths, but when his temporary promotion to castle guard takes an unexpected turn, he discovers more than enough evidence to sway his views. In danger and determined to solve the growing mysteries, Jason sets out with a few others to find the hidden portal and rescue the captives. Meanwhile, Koren, a slave girl on the dragon planet, discovers that her unique storytelling ability is very powerful—and very dangerous. Events propel her into a tangle of intrigue, dragon secrets, and prophecies. Her desire to help the slaves is strong, but it could come at great cost.

Excellent start to a brand-new series! I’ve been looking forward to Starlighter for some time, and the combination of Mr. Davis’s familiar writing style with new characters and a new story was delightful. The pacing was good, and I enjoyed the “double fantasy” feel with both Jason’s world and the dragon world. Worthwhile for fans of Bryan Davis and newcomers alike. Can’t wait for the next book!

I Know Why the Angels Dance (Paperback)
by Bryan Davis
ISBN: 0899578403

Price: USD 10.19
39 used & new available from USD 5.00

Two fathers, one an atheist, the other a former pastor, must deal with the reality of death. This book explores how they respond to suffering, and how each of them is ministered to by a young girl’s passionate faith in God.

The story contained within these pages will not fail to move you. As Bryan Davis brings this touching narrative to a close, you will be hard put to keep your eyes from brimming with tears of sadness and joy. Curl up with this powerful book and discover why the angels dance — and come away with a desire to make them dance again.

The Vanishing Sculptor: A Novel (Paperback)
by Donita K. Paul
ISBN: 1400073391

Price: USD 10.07
55 used & new available from USD 4.32

Tipper is a young emerlindian woman who has been running the family estate ever since her artist father disappeared long ago. With finances dwindling, she resorts to selling off everything from furniture to her father’s art. Then one day Verrin Schope himself returns, along with a wizard and a librarian from Amara—and with dire news. Complications with an experimental gateway have placed the foundations of the world in danger, and the only way to restore harmony is through three certain sculptures. Sculptures that are now long gone. Tipper, with the help of the parrot Beccaroon, a tunmanhofer named Bealomondore, and her father and his friends, must set off on a journey to regain the sculptures before it’s too late.

Donita K. Paul certainly knows how to write a good quest! I think The Vanishing Sculptor is a splendid start to a new series. Readers of the DragonKeeper Chronicles will enjoy returning to the same world, and among the cast of new characters, will delight in the familiarity of a certain two. Humorous and adventuresome, with morsels of truth woven throughout the story, this book is a must-read for all. I enjoyed it very thoroughly and will doubtless be rereading it often while I wait for the next installment.

Little Lord Fauntleroy (Puffin Classics) (Paperback)
by Frances Hodgson Burnett
ISBN: 0140367535

Price: USD 4.99
89 used & new available from USD 0.10

To all appearance Cedric Errol is just another young American boy. He lives with his widowed mother in their tiny house and has a great many friends. Mr. Hobbs, the grocer; Dick, the boot-black; and Mary, the maid, all think the world of him. Imagine their surprise when it is discovered that little Ceddie is the only living descendant of the English Earl of Dorincourt. Cedric and his mother are packed off to England to live with Cedric’s grandfather the Earl. But only Cedric is to live with him. The Earl has never forgiven his son for marrying an American, and now he refuses to even meet Cedric’s mother. Can young Cedric win the heart of this grumpy, hating old man and use his sudden good fortune wisely? With his mother’s careful guidance, and his own stout courage, Cedric not only succeeds, but completely conquers.

A charming story. I love that so much fun and good reading can come out of a little paperback bought from one of those used book email loops. To me, that’s one of the measures of a good book. If you can forget that the paper and ink isn’t in the best of shape and enjoy the story, it’s a great story. But I digress. This is a very nice, easy to read story. The characters are memorable, the story sweet, and a good dash of stately comedy is thrown in there for good measure. If you fall asleep during anything but action, skip this book. Unless you’re up for a little stretch, of course. It’s so gentle and enjoyable, I find it well worth reading.

Eternity’s Edge (Echoes from the Edge) (Paperback)
by Bryan Davis
ISBN: 0310715555

Price: USD 10.39
54 used & new available from USD 0.10

Despite all hinderances, Mictar’s scheme is rolling forward and Interfinity approaches—bringing with it destruction. Nathan and Kelly must renew their efforts to stop the evil stalker, but there is already so much to repair, and Nathan’s parents still need rescuing. With the help of their friends, they travel between the dimensions to put a complex plan into action. Mysteries abound, new pieces of the puzzle come into play, and Nathan is faced with increasingly difficult choices.

The setup of the multiple dimensions and multiple characters in the first book, Beyond the Reflection’s Edge, serves to keep you oriented during Eternity’s Edge, but you’ll still need to keep your wits about you to stay on top of the twists and turns of this roller-coaster of a book. It really is incredible, and I enjoyed just as much—if not more—than I did the trilogy’s starter. I love the way music continues to tie into the story, and some of the new explored places are fascinating. But the characters are what really keep me reading. Can’t wait for the conclusion to be found in upcoming Nightmare’s Edge!

The Bones of Makaidos (Oracles of Fire) (Paperback)
by Bryan Davis
ISBN: 0899578748

Price: USD 10.19
42 used & new available from USD 6.00

As war looms in Second Eden, Billy and Elam try to prepare their small army for battle. They desperately need the help of Makaidos, king of the dragons. Before they can call him, two sinister figures arrive to interfere with Elam’s plans, but are they really as bad as they seem?

Meanwhile, Bonnie, Sapphira, Billy’s mother, and Gabriel attempt to open a portal to Second Eden. When enemies attack, causing them to separate, things get even more complicated as Bonnie and Sapphira end up in a strange new dimension. Add to that mix a few unfulfilled prophecies that have been floating around since Raising Dragons, and the stage is set for the final chapter of Oracles of Fire.

It is always difficult to write a review of the final book in a series that you have thoroughly enjoyed. You know it’s the end, and that makes you sad, but you also know that everything will finally be put right. Bryan Davis effectively ties up all the loose ends remaining from both Dragons in Our Midst and Oracles of Fire, while still (delightfully) leaving a couple small things hanging. Nothing has disappeared from his usual style which convicts as often as it captivates. Themes of unending love and selfless sacrifice abound, often bringing tears to the eyes of the reader. Although I was sad to see the story end, the final chapter left me grinning from ear to ear.

The Gammage Cup: A Novel of the Minnipins (Paperback)
by Carol Kendall
ISBN: 015202493X

Price: USD 6.95
76 used & new available from USD 0.10

Years ago the hero Gammage had led the Minnipin people to safety in The-Land-Between-The-Mountains. Now the Minnipins have grown soft and won’t listen when five of the villagers tell of seeing campfires on the supposedly impassable mountains. One thing leads to another, and the five are finally outlawed from the village. It is up to Muggles, Mingy, Gummy, Curley Green, and Walter the Earl to save the very ones who have cast them out.

I very much enjoy this book. The characters are well-portrayed, and the story itself makes you pause and reflect. There is not much adventure until the end, but it doesn’t come across as slow. Overall it is an excellent read.

Norman the Doorman (Picture Puffin) (Paperback)
by Don Freeman
ISBN: 0140502882

Price: USD 6.99
68 used & new available from USD 0.10

Norman, an artistically-minded mouse, loves to show his friends all the treasures hidden in the basement of the Majestic Museum of Art. One day Norman decides to make a sculpture out of the mousetraps that the sharp-eyed guard leaves. He enters the “mouse on the flying trapezee” into a sculpture contest the museum is having, and much to his surprise, wins first place!

I love this book. It ends so well, and Norman is such a decent little mouse—and his wire sculpture is really fun.