Book Review: The Ghost of Christmas Past by Michael Hebler

Reviewed for Readers' Favorite

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

With an old-fashioned writing style and a connection to the beloved Dickens’ story A Christmas Carol, The Ghost of Christmas Past by author Michael Hebler is a must-read for the Christmas season or any other time of the year. The story opens with The Ghost of Christmas Past attempting to save a suicidal woman, but when the spirit fails, it is sent on a journey to view the life it led in the past. While the spirit does not initially know if it was, in life, a female or a male, it learns the truth about its upbringing, including the relationship it had with its father. The spirit, after witnessing its own life and death, journeys back to the earthly world to try to save the suicidal woman and show her the truth about her own past. 

There is much to love about The Ghost of Christmas Past. While I was initially drawn to the book because of the connection with A Christmas Carol, I quickly learned that the story stood on its own but still retained the old-fashioned writing style associated with Dickens. My favorite part of the book was when The Ghost of Christmas Past traveled back to its own beginnings. The scene of the spirit’s death was one of those rare book moments when you read through the pages without being aware of anything else around you. Also of note was the mention of Ebenezer Scrooge, which was greatly appreciated, and the Ghost of Christmas Future. At the root of the story is family misunderstandings, a connection author Michael Hebler constructed with ease, showcasing the theme without hitting the reader over the head with it. The writing was beautiful, the story was reminiscent of the original, and there was a believable backstory for the Ghost of Christmas Past. I would recommend the book to fans of A Christmas Carol or anyone who is interested in this genre. 

Book Review: Color Your Chakras by Susan Shumsky, DD

Reviewed for Readers' Favorite

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Color Your Chakras by Susan Shumsky is a highly unique and informative interactive coloring book. I’ve seen many adult coloring books, but I have not seen one like this before. It is like getting two books in one, with one part information on the different chakras located in the body, and one part interactive coloring book. There is so much information on these pages! Each bit of instruction on the chakras precedes an intricate coloring page for your use. Within these coloring pages and instructions, the reader will find yin and yang, deities, doorkeepers to each chakra, hieroglyphics, meditations, and mantras. This will aid in memorizing the chakras and also serves as a fun way to use the colors and your own imagination.

While I chose this book assuming it was an adult coloring book, I was pleasantly surprised at all of the information provided about chakras, the main energy centers in the body, and the lotuses. Author Susan Shumsky explains so many different energies of chakras that I could hardly believe it was so involved! There are chakras in your skull— who knew? I also enjoyed the information about the deities, and especially liked the Color Wheel and the Wish-Fulfilling Tree. It was a brilliant idea to link a coloring book with the chakras! Color Your Chakras should be a welcome addition to any spiritual library, and I recommend the book to readers interested in chakras or those who would like to use their imaginations for coloring beautiful images while learning something new. 

Book Review: Finding the Raven by Patty Dickson Pieczka

Reviewed for Readers' Favorite

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I don’t remember the last time I was so absorbed in a book. Finding the Raven by author Patty Dickson Pieczka is a page-turning novel set in the year 1904, around the time of the World’s Fair in St. Louis. The book revolves around Julia and Rose, two women who find themselves in difficult situations. Julia has just lost her father, an actor, in a stage accident, while Rose, a well-off woman from a wealthy family, is sent away to a boarding house when her father learns of her pregnancy. After losing her father’s inheritance, Julia winds up at the same boarding house, and the two become instant friends. From there, Julia tries to find work while falling in love with the charismatic Monroe, and Rose goes through her pregnancy without the man she loves—the father of her baby. Rose ends up married to another man she believes is wealthy and will take care of her and the baby honorably. Through all of this, Julia finds a black crystal inside her father’s Buddha figurine, and the crystal, through vivid visions, shows her many interesting things that pertain to her life.

There are many twists and turns in this beautifully-written story. Author Patty Dickson Pieczka held my attention the entire time, but most importantly, the characters in Finding the Raven felt so real to me that I was sorry when the story ended. In particular, the author did a wonderful job balancing the romances and pacing the story. People were not always who we thought they were, and this made for an interesting tale. I enjoyed the friendship between Julia and Rose and loved that they could fall back on each other through the difficulties in their lives. The crystal visions were done just right—believable and not straying from the reality of the story and the reality of the time period. A great book that is highly recommended!

Book Review: The Drummer's Call by Patricia Leppo

Reviewed for Readers' Favorite

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Drummer’s Call by Patricia Leppo follows fourteen-year-old Josh through an extraordinary adventure that will thrust the reader into the Civil War era. When Josh visits his family’s inn in Tennessee, he hears a story that rings true about a boy named Toby and his untimely death many years before. Josh, attempting to save who he believes is the ghost of Toby from this tragic death, finds himself launched backward through time, into the Civil War era. From there, the two boys bond, meet people on their way to the war, face some obstacles and unkind soldiers, and then decide to become Drummer Boys for the war effort. Josh and Toby become friends with many of the soldiers, assist with daily chores, and witness the death and tragedy of the Civil War. 

There is so much to praise about The Drummer’s Call. The friendship between Josh and Toby is touching, and their bond breaks the barrier between the time periods. They each learn things from each other along the way, and each one is an authentic representation of their particular era in American history. It was interesting to learn about the different types of drumbeats used in combat as well, and that the soldiers depended on these drumbeats and rhythms for their daily tasks and assignments. I truly enjoyed when Josh had to intercept with certain normal practices during the era that would be considered a huge no-no in today’s world, such as germs and contaminates. These little authentic touches by author Patricia Leppo helped bring the reader right into the war and learn a little something while enjoying a good book. I would recommend the book to anyone interested in the Civil War or history, or YA readers who enjoy reading about different time periods. 

Book Review: The Tale of Liril by Kevis Hendrickson

Reviewed for Readers' Favorite

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Tale of Liril by Kevis Hendrickson is a short story with fairytale-like writing and a beautiful theme. Liril is poor but wants to buy her papa a birthday gift. On her quest, she meets an old woman who tells her she will give her a magic seed, but Liril must go into the Black Forest to find a locket. Liril enters a forest of monsters and wolves, only to stumble upon an apple orchard and a hand mirror. She finds the locket, but when she realizes the locket is a little more than she expected, she decides to keep it. From there, Liril does some fantastic things, but she also learns a valuable lesson about making wishes.

This is the second short story I’ve read by author Kevis Hendrickson, and I love each story more and more. Not only is the writing crisp, lyrical, and engrossing, it also has a fairytale-like quality that is rare and appreciated. The theme of the story was not forced upon the reader, but it was evident nonetheless. Because the story is short, Liril’s quest was known right away, so the story grabs you from the minute you start reading. The world in The Tale of Liril is magical and filled with color, and I could easily envision the moon and stars locket, the Black Forest, Liril’s jeweled dress, and the gold animals. The story is short enough to read in one sitting, and it is highly recommended to fans of fables, fairytales, and magical adventures.

Book Review: Dancing to an Irish Reel by Claire Fullerton

Reviewed for Readers' Favorite

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Dancing to an Irish Reel by Claire Fullerton tells the story of Hailey, an American who lands a job at a music centre in Ireland. Hailey helps local musicians organize their careers at the music centre, but she also has friends at the centre as well. Throughout the story Hailey helps her friends, she thrives in the culture and landscape of Ireland, and she relays the beautiful land and the residents of Ireland through introspection, providing insight about the many people she meets. The heart of the story, however, is Liam, a shy and withdrawn musician who steals Hailey’s heart. Hailey is confused by Liam’s behavior, and the two find they are similar in the ways they avoid talking to each other and telling each other how they truly feel. 

Sometimes an author connects with their subject so well that it is evident in the story. Author Claire Fullerton gives many details of Irish life and culture, and the reader does feel very much inside the Irish landscape, hearing the voices of Irish residents and breathing in the fresh Irish air. There is much to like in Dancing to an Irish Reel, from the inner thoughts of Hailey to the budding romance between Hailey and Liam. I would have loved a little more spark between the two, but my take is that the book was more about Hailey’s journey in Ireland than her Irish romance. I enjoyed the little scenes that captured the magic of Ireland, such as the Tarot card reader and the unique music. The dialogue was spot-on for the area, and I did enjoy the many characters and their interactions with Hailey. Dancing to an Irish Reel is a relaxed, sit back and read book, and it is recommended to those who like stories with light romance and cultural commentary. 

Book Review: Lilly Peppertree: Lilly's Spell by Julie Hodgson

Reviewed for Readers' Favorite

Rating:  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Lilly Peppertree: Lilly’s Spell by author Julie Hodgson is an enchanting book for children that has easily become one of my new favorite books. Lilly Peppertree loses her beloved mother to what she is told is an accident, but after living with her grandfather for some time, Lilly begins to have dreams about her mom. These dreams prompt her to follow a verbal message left behind, find a crow’s feather, and locate a spellbook. Young Lilly also learns about the Dying Tree, where accused witches are hanged, and witnesses a witch trial in town where an obviously innocent woman is sentenced to death. Lilly then begins her own journey, making potions and fulfilling a destiny of non-evil witchcraft. But there is a girl in town who wants nothing more than to accuse innocent people of witchcraft, and Lilly meets some unexpected complications that threaten to tear apart what is left of her family.

Author Julie Hodgson has created a world that begs readers to curl up and settle in for a bewitching tale. The writing in Lilly Peppertree: Lilly’s Spell is spellbinding and lyrical, the characters are authentic, and the plot is imaginative and fun. Lilly’s relationship with not only her grandfather but also everyone around her is endearing, and the reader can’t help but fall in love with Lilly’s gold heart and her quests and difficulties. The book highlights what true witchcraft is really about, and I was completely absorbed in the story at all times, reading the book in one sitting. Lilly Peppertree: Lilly’s Spell is recommended to fans of children’s books about witchcraft and magic, and it will be a welcome addition to any library.