Category: book review

February 19, 2026

The Lies We Trade

In The Lies We Trade, a high-powered Wall Street career, a beautiful family in a quiet suburban neighborhood—she seems to have everything. Which means she has everything to lose.

About The Lies We Trade

Meredith Hansel should be having the best week of her life. After establishing herself as a portfolio manager at a prestigious Wall Street firm, she’s in the national spotlight for the innovative funds she created. But as Meredith prepares to celebrate, the plates she’s kept spinning for years begin to crash: Her strained marriage reaches a breaking point. Her conscientious teenage daughter acts out under mysterious pressures. Someone vandalizes her home with disturbing graffiti. And Betsey, her most trusted ally at the financial firm, goes rogue, and Meredith is forced to sign a restraining order against her.

Then her worlds collide when she receives a thumb drive and a cryptic note from Betsey threatening to reveal a secret that could have devastating effects on Meredith’s family . . . unless she can figure out what Betsey wants and deliver it in time.

As Meredith begins to dig into the data, however, she begins to suspect that it’s no coincidence her life is crumbling. That maybe what’s happening to her family is connected to what’s boiling beneath the surface at her investment company. Soon Meredith realizes there’s only one way to avoid taking the fall, and it all hinges on Betsey’s true motives. Was she really threatening Meredith or trying to warn her?

You can purchase a copy of the book on Tyndale, Amazon, B&N, BAM, Christian Book, Indiebound.

About the Author

Kristine Delano spent over twenty years navigating a career on Wall Street before trading her panoramic city view for her standing writer’s desk. A lifelong fiction lover, she now crafts thriller novels set in the high-stakes finance world, exploring the emotional tension of work-life balance.

In pursuit of compelling stories, Kristine hosts the popular podcast We Talk Careers, where she interviews the voices of Wall Street on leadership, growth, and purpose. She is also a board member, speaker, and strategic advisor for businesses, schools, and parachurch organizations. Her faith fuels her passion for helping women navigate their calling.

Kristine’s work has been recognized in fiction-focused writing competitions and with the ACFW Crown Award. She also loves the chance to stay connected with fellow authors and readers on Instagram and LinkedIn and through her membership in writers’ groups.
When she’s not writing, Kristine enjoys playing games with friends, scuba diving, and chasing her husband and children down the snowy ski slopes of western Maine—never does she catch them, but with joy she tries.

You can connect with her on her website, Apple Podcast, Instagram, Goodreads, and Bookbub.

Disclosure: This is a spotlight tour, I did not receive compensation for this post. All opinions expressed are my own.

December 7, 2025

Hudson’s Monarch Nursery

Hudson’s Monarch Nursery by author and educator Laurie Sharp, offers a timely and tender narrative for budding young naturalists.

About Hudson’s Monarch Nursery

A young boy’s passion for butterflies becomes a gateway to science, empathy, and conservation in Hudson’s Monarch Nursery.

Launching October 7th, 2025, through Mascot Kids!, this illustrated story with dyslexia-friendly text invites readers to follow Hudson as he raises monarch caterpillars, nurturing them through their miraculous metamorphosis into butterflies. Inspired by her decades as an early childhood educator and her love of nature, Laurie weaves scientific facts into a story brimming with wonder. The book tracks the monarch’s life cycle and family bonds, curiosity, and care for the natural world.

Engaging and developmentally appropriate, Hudson’s Monarch Nursery encourages children to become explorers, scientists, and stewards of nature.

Our Thoughts

Hudson’s Monarch Nursery is a wonderful story of discovery, compassion, and how to be a steward of this wonderful place we call home. Hudson, along with his Mother, is privileged to live near a spot where the monarch caterpillars can be found. Hudson and his Mom have a special tradition of collecting caterpillars, and I loved the agreement that the two of them have. The special agreement is that if you remove something from nature or its natural habitat then you must learn how to take care of it. What an important lesson for young children. It can be so tempting to fall in love with the beauty of nature and want to keep a piece of it for ourselves. But sometimes in doing so, we destroy this beauty and we need to make sure that we do our best to avoid this.

I loved the honesty from Hudson, who shares his own mistake in the past that ended up being fatal for a caterpillar. He even shares how he is preparing so that this doesn’t happen again. We learned so much about collecting caterpillars and even the difference between male and female monarchs. The story follows the life cycle of a monarch, from Hudson collecting the caterpillars on milkweed to the chrysalis to emerging and taking its first flight. The book also includes a glossary and fun facts at the end which helps to reinforce the learning throughout the story.

What I loved the most about this story is the pure joy that Hudson shows throughout the story of his role as being a part of something bigger than just ourselves and the important role that we play in protecting our world. It is not just a beautiful story about monarch butterflies, but passing traditions down, the circle of life and how every child can be a steward. These are such important messages for young children as they begin to learn to care for the world around them. This message comes through clear through age appropriate language, illustrations and ideas that you and your child can do at home. Hudson’s Monarch Nursery will be a well loved addition to your child’s home library.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon, B&N, and Indigo.

About the Author

Laurie Sharp is the author of picture books, Hudson’s Monarch Nursery and The Day Sweetie Pie Died. She has been an early childhood educator for more than three decades and is passionate about using storytelling to connect children with nature. Her time spent in gardens, fields, and classrooms informs her writing, which is rich with life lessons and environmental education. Laurie divides her time between her ranchette in Central Texas and her family’s lake house in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. Whether she’s caring for animals or observing monarch butterflies, she finds daily inspiration in the outdoors. Visit her at lmsharpbooks.com and @lauriesharp33.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

November 12, 2025

Totally Possum

Possum just wants to dance, and she is prepared to DAZZLE! But will one moment change all of this?

About Totally Possum

Possum just wants to dance, and she is prepared to DAZZLE! After an embarrassing moment shatters her dream of performing in the school talent show, she decides to run away deep into the woods. Will she ever dance again? An early reader chapter book, Totally Possum introduces children to the world of independent reading, while addressing the prevalent emotions of adolescence. Additionally, glossaries are provided to help readers grow their understanding of performance terminology and connect to Chikashshanompa’ (the Chickasaw language).

My Thoughts

Being comfortable and confident in ourselves isn’t easy. It is a skill that takes time to develop and it can be easy to falter and be fearful. I strongly believe that these skills are so important for our little ones to learn, as it is these skills and words that will stay with them as they become adults. This provides them the courage to try new things and to embrace both our strengths and the areas that we aren’t as strong in.

I loved how this book explored how Possum wants to be themself in the beginning – they don’t want to be compared to their siblings and others. They just want to dance and be free to be who they are. But this can be scary when we make a mistake. Possum has the tools (box breathing) to try to work through some of this anxiety, but it can be daunting when something goes wrong and you feel scared and embarrassed.

Possum goes through all of these emotions and more during a performance when they freeze. Possum just cannot escape being frozen and becomes angry, sad and just unhappy and they escape to the woods. Possum goes on a special journey and discovers that this part of them (freezing) is not a weakness, but something that makes them special. After reflection and speaking with other animals, Possum realizes how truly special they are and has the courage to try again. This time Possum is able to find the courage to work through their fears and put on quite the show!

This was a wonderful early reader book for children that teaches us that what may be a perceived weakness is actually what makes us special. It is our own special power to embrace and showcase for the world to see and love.

You can pre-order a copy on Amazon.

About the Author

Trey Hays grew up in Tishomingo, Oklahoma, and has been heavily involved with theater, including productions at Murray State College in Tishomingo, East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma, Tishomingo’s Way Off Broadway Players, and Ada Community Theater. He enjoys, singing, playing the Native American flute, ukulele, guitar, and leading group drumming activities. He also has a love for wildlife and enjoys spending time outdoors. He currently teaches general music at Tishomingo Elementary and believes that fostering a love of music and creative expression makes the world a better place.

About the Illustrator

Eli Corbin has been artistic from a young age. He received his certification in graphic design from Kiamichi Technology Center in Durant, Oklahoma, and enjoys spending most of his free time drawing. Little Loksi is Eli’s debut into the world of book illustration.

Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this post, all opinions expressed are my own.

October 27, 2025

Sister Acts

Sister Acts: Four sisters. Four clashing personalities. Four different ways of living in the world.

About Sister Acts

Four sisters. Four clashing personalities. Four different ways of living in the world.

Sister Acts explores the impact of loss on three generations of one family –- in particular, the degree to which, to paraphrase Phyllis Chesler, women are capable of inhumanity toward other women. At times heartbreaking and at times hilarious, the novel illuminates the resilience that can come from knowing one’s roots and the estrangement that can result from trying to escape them.

Sophie Malinsky’s sudden death leaves her Left-wing Jewish family in disarray. Rather than bringing her young daughters closer, the loss creates a tangle of jealousies and recriminations. Rose, the eldest, recognizing their father’s limitations, at first tries to become a surrogate mother for her three sisters. But they resent her efforts, each one channeling – or repressing – her grief in a different way. In the absence of Sophie’s love and guidance, two sisters lose their way. Naomi moves to Mexico and tries to shed her Jewish identity. Betti ends up in Nashville pursuing a dream, never realized, of stardom as a rockabilly musician. A fourth sister, Marla, strives for dominance from an early age. Her jealousy of Rose leads to a toxic rivalry that persists well into middle age, affecting their own daughters as well. Lurking behind the conflicts is a family secret that Sophie had planned, but failed, to reveal. Decades later, when Rose finally uncovers it, the Malinskys’ saga finally comes into sharp focus.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon and B&N.

About the Author

Sharon Adelman Reyes is a writer, editor, and equestrienne in Oregon, living on the slopes of an extinct volcano and looking out on an active one. During a lengthy professional career, she has published various works drawing on her experiences in multicultural teaching. Sister Acts is her first novel.

You can connect with Sharon on Goodreads.

Disclosure: This is a spotlight tour, I did not receive compensation for this post. All opinions expressed are my own.

October 20, 2025

The Quest for Freedom

In The Quest for Freedom, four hundred and seventy-three years later, Fletcher Rush starts his journey to free his kind and conquer the planet.

About The Quest for Freedom

Affer was once a peaceful planet, until a war broke out between its six inhabiting species. The humans, who were once the mightiest force on Affer, were massacred in droves, and the ones who survived the onslaught were reduced to mere slaves. The five other species divided the humans amongst themselves and returned to their respective kingdoms.

The years passed, turning into decades and centuries, without any change. Eventually, the humans had accepted their fate as slaves. All except one. Four hundred and seventy-three years later, Fletcher Rush starts his journey to free his kind…and conquer the planet.

You can purchase the book on MattDeVitt, Amazon, B&N, and Bookshop.

About the Author

I enjoy writing and bringing worlds to life. After years of practicing my craft, I have finally applied all my skills to create Conquest. A story that is nonstop action and was inspired by my favorite fantasy stories.

I find no greater joy than making stories that people enjoy reading.

You can connect with the author on their website, X, Instagram and Goodreads.

Disclosure: This is a spotlight tour, I did not receive compensation for this post. All opinions expressed are my own.