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Tuesday, May 16, 2023


About the Book

Book: Super Doople

Author:K.A. Cummins

Genre:Picture Book

Release date: May 4, 2023

You’ve heard the legend of Humpty Dumpty, but do you know the legend of Super Doople? He’s faster than a chicken. He flies higher than an ostrich. No fall can break his shell! And he was once Little Doople, a small and fragile egg like all the other dooples, until his bad habit of not listening caught up to him.

Engaging text with expressive illustrations, Super Doople is a lighthearted tale about resilience and learning to listen. This funny picture book for ages 3-8 is perfect for reading aloud in the classroom or at home.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

K.A. Cummins is an author and an artist. She explores storytelling in a variety of mediums, blending the wonders of science with the possibilities of what if. When not crafting stories, Cummins loves spending time with her family, collecting fun socks, and venturing outside her comfort zone to try new things—at least once!

Connect with her through her website at https://authorkacummins.com, where you can sign up for emails about upcoming releases.


More from K.A. Cummins

“Super Doople” started with a comic sketch and the idea of what if a scientist put Humpty Dumpty back together again? At first, it was more for fun and to explore creating comics. In fact, in the first version, he bounced like a ball when he hit the ground.

 

But the idea stuck! I continued to gravitate back to it, enjoying the exploration of telling a story with words and drawings. Many sketches and several versions later, the character became Little Doople, a hopeful and determined boy with a dream of flying who, through a series of events, transforms into Super Doople.

 

It’s been so much fun working with Little Doople, especially having our youngest son engaged with the story. Our youngest is sixteen now and has a talented eye for design. He’s one of the first people I ask for art critiques (the other being my husband). He even helped me come up with the name doople, for both the character and the egg-people in the story. We brainstormed in the car on a two-hour drive home.

 

The joy of creating this story, and from the story itself, has become its own source of inspiration. I haven’t stopped brainstorming more story ideas for Little Doople. I’ve even started plotting some of them, but those are under wraps for now.

 

However, being a homeschool mom and former educator in other forms, I wanted to share a free educational resource to go along with “Super Doople.” So I’ve put together a few science egg-periments, activities, and coloring pages suitable for younger children that’s available for FREE on my TpT store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Doople-Science-Hands-on-Learning-Activities-9145443.

 

Hope you and your children enjoy reading “Super Doople.”

MY REVIEW

The book is geared towards small children with a take on Humpty Dumpty. I liked the character and thought the illustrations were very colorful. As we follow Little Doople we learn he has a dream that someday he can fly. Of course Little Doople can’t fly but that doesn’t stop him. 

It is a good lesson on following directions and listening  to those who love and want to protect you. The book does a good job of showing the consequences of not listening. It is an easy to read  book and will entertain children. 

I received a copy of this book futon Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Blog Stops

Pause for Tales, May 13

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 14

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 15

Texas Book-aholic, May 16

Blossoms and Blessings, May 17 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, May 17

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, May 18

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, May 19

Lily’s Book Reviews, May 20

Cover Lover Book Review, May 21

Beauty in the Binding, May 22 (Author Interview)

The Life We Build, May 22

debs book review, May 23

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, May 24

A Reader’s Brain, May 25 (Author Interview)

Simple Harvest Reads, May 26

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, K.A. is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/25f5f/super-doople-celebration-tour-giveaway


Sunday, May 14, 2023


About the Book

Book: Love in the Headlines

Author: Penny Zeller

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

Release date: May 9, 2023

Can paper and paw prints draw these two nemeses together?

All Carleigh Adams wants is a relaxing evening. But Sullivan Theodore IV, her wayward Shih Tzu, has other plans. After escaping from home, Sullivan Theodore unlawfully enters what Carleigh assumes is a stranger’s house via a doggy door. Much to Carleigh’s horror, it is actually the home of her coworker and nemesis, Trey “The Irritating” Montgomery.

Trey Montgomery has had to work with “Quirky Carleigh,” his top competitor for the best articles at The Oakville Daily, for the past two years. It’s safe to say that she and her criminally-minded pet are his adversaries. Trey’s attempts to keep his distance from her are demolished when their boss thrusts them together as The Oakville Daily Duo, forcing them to work as a team on every. Single. Article.

Petty crimes and crazy shenanigans in Oakville soon draw Carleigh and Trey into doubling as detectives. When dogs, including their own pets, begin to mysteriously disappear, Carleigh and Trey join forces to uncover the culprit. As they work to report the daily news and solve the crimes in Oakville, can these two stubborn reporters find love in the headlines?

Faith, plentiful humor, and tender romance round out the latest Christian contemporary romance novel by Author Penny Zeller.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Penny Zeller is known for her heartfelt stories of faith and her passion to impact lives for Christ through fiction. While she has had a love for writing since childhood, she began her adult writing career penning articles for national and regional publications on a wide variety of topics.

Today Penny is the author of over a dozen books. She is also a homeschool mom and a group fitness instructor. Her desire is to assist and nurture women into a closer relationship with Christ.


When Penny is not dreaming up new characters, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters and camping, hiking, canoeing, bicycling/cycling, reading, running, gardening, and playing volleyball.

She is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency and loves to hear from her readers at her website,  blog, and on Facebook. 

Subscribe to Penny’s newsletter for writing updates, news about freebies and giveaways, and other fun morsels.

 

More from Penny

The Inspiration Behind Love in the Headlines

When the idea for Love in the Headlines popped into my head, I knew I wouldn’t have to go far to find the inspiration for Sullivan Theodore IV, the spunky and mischievous Shih Tzu in the story.

For, once upon a time, a little white puppy needed a home.

From the second my niece and nephews walked through the door with him, Sulley Jaxx became more than just a pet. He became a member of the family.

It’s definitely not uncommon for dogs to become members of  families. However, Sulley’s adoption became even more special because of his new family.

Years ago, my mom suffered a serious accident and she subsequently became wheelchair-bound. Unable to live the active life she once did, she and my dad were blessed to be able to move into the “mother-in-law apartment” of my sister and brother-in-law’s house.

My niece, Ally, has been diagnosed with the autoimmune disorder, POTS, which can, at times, seriously interfere with her daily activities.

Enter Sulley.

My mom and Ally have what could only be considered as a “joint custody” arrangement. While Sulley’s favorite person is Ally, he is also quite partial to snuggling with my mom in her chair, and truly, my mom spoils him and lets Sulley get away with everything.

Sulley begs treats off a big softie known as my dad, aka Poppy, to his grandchildren, and Sulley runs like the wind with my nephew, Kolten. He recently gained a new admirer when my nephew, Seth, and his wife, Autumn, had their baby daughter.

And the inspiration behind the newspaper reporters? Back when video cameras were big, clunky, and oversized, my sister, cousin, friends, and I pretended to be reporters. We’d report and record the news, including some fun and very fabricated stories. Sometime I’ll have to do an archeological dig and locate those old VHS tapes.

I also wrote “articles” with friends and co-workers from my after-school job as the main characters of those articles. I wanted to be a reporter, and was blessed to be a photojournalist when my daughters were little. That launched my career as an author, my dream since I was in second grade.

Love in the Headlines takes readers on an enjoyable journey into a small, close-knit, American town where everyone knows everyone else. A town where faith and church are important. A slow-paced town where the newspaper’s main goal is to provide a family-friendly news outlet and everyone is excited when their photos or stories are featured. As Howard, the owner, says, “We should have an entire cache of great photos and well-written articles that will cause parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and everyone twice removed to purchase copies of The Oakville Daily.”

Love in the Headlines is a Christian contemporary romance with an enemies-to-lovers trope as the main theme. And, while most things in Oakville move at a relaxed pace, when a stranger begins committing crimes, including dognapping, Howard puts Carleigh and Trey, aka, The Oakville Daily Duo on the story. Will they realize their feelings for each other in the process?

With tender romance, faith, and abundant humor, I can’t wait for readers to meet Carleigh, Trey, Sullivan Theodore IV, Jaxx, and the rest of the gang.

MY REVIEW

This may be a rushed review because I am in the middle of packing. I have found a wonderful place called Oakville. The people are so nice and there are quaint little shops and a grocery store where most people shop. I love the small town feel and I’m excited to get to be neighbors with the Oakville Daily Duo. The charm of this town would be perfect but alas it is fictional. So I guess I won’t be packing up after all. The author makes it seem so realistic that I wanted to move there. Oh well I’ll just get to know my neighbors through this story. 

I adored the bickering between Carleigh and Trey. They both work at the same paper and find themselves assigned as a duo to go out and write articles and take photos for the newspaper. It is so funny to see them try to one up each other with a sarcastic tone. Oh but I’m not fooled. These two like  each other but are too stubborn to admit it. When you  add in the two dogs they own, they make the perfect couple. 

The story delves into a mystery happening in this small town complete with flowers being sent anonymously to someone, a strange clown wandering  around,  things being  stolen and now a sweet little chihuahua that has been dognapped. Looks like our duo has their hands full with so much shenanigans going on. Tensions rise as more dogs are stolen and the town begins to wonder who is taking their precious pet? 

This has been a fun read with wonderful characters, a mixture of mystery, faith and love in the  air. Learning to trust God when you find yourself in trouble is a great lesson for our little town.  I will miss them but hope to see them soon in another book. 

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 11

Pause for Tales, May 12

She Lives to Read, May 13

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, May 14 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 14

Texas Book-aholic, May 15

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 16

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 17

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, May 18

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 19

Cover Lover Book Review, May 20

For Him and My Family, May 21

Bizwings Book Blog, May 22

Holly’s Book Corner, May 22

Splashes of Joy, May 23

Karen Baney Reviews, May 24

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Penny is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/25f5a/love-in-the-headlines-celebration-tour-giveaway




Saturday, May 13, 2023


About the Book

Book: Gold Rush Bride Tegan

Author: Linda Shenton Matchett

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: February 25, 2022

Tegan Llewellyn has always been different than her adopted family, except Grandmother Hannah, a prospector during the 1829 Georgia gold rush. Now, seventy years later there are reports of gold in Nome, and the opportunity is too good to pass up. But Tegan doesn’t count on the dangers that strike from the moment she steps off the steamer, including the threat of losing her heart.

Elijah Hunter has prospected for gold all over the US and Canada and likes being  on the move. The last thing he expects to find on his latest search is a lady miner who proves to be nothing but trouble. Can he convince her that leaving is for her own good before it’s too late…for both of them?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Linda Shenton Matchett writes about ordinary people who did extraordinary things in days gone by. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, she was born a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry (of Star-Spangled Banner fame) and has lived in historic places all her life. Linda is a volunteer docent and archivist for the Wright Museum of World War II and a former trustee for her local public library. She now resides in central New Hampshire where her favorite activities are exploring the state’s historical sites and immersing herself in the imaginary worlds created by other authors.

 

More from Linda

Dear Reader,

 

I am constantly amazed at the extraordinary things women did over the course of history (mostly done in dresses and skirts until about eighty years ago!). When I stumbled on the fact that women were involved during the gold and silver rushes that occurred in the US and its territories, I knew I had to tell their story.

 

A significant number of women followed husbands, brothers, or fathers, but an intrepid few set out on their own to find their fortune for as many reasons as there were women. Some went to escape difficult (or abusive) situations at home and others because they felt they had no choice. But there was a small percentage who made their way across thousands of miles for the sheer adventure.

 

The Nome Gold Rush started 175 years ago in 1898, and was different than previous rushes in that much of the gold was on the beach and could be plucked from the sand without any need for a claim. Later, claims were required to mine gold from the Snake River, and this is when things got dirty.

 

Initially, the courts upheld original claims, but after some of the “claim jumpers” offered to share proceeds from their invalid claims, a few crooked judges and politicians decided this was a great opportunity to line their pockets. Already guilty of stealing votes and voter intimidation, Alexander McKenzie, National Committeeman for North Dakota headed the pack and created an elaborate scheme with the help of Judge Arthur Noyes. It would take nearly two years for the men to be arrested and brought to trial. I included a fictionalized version of this situation in Gold Rush Bride Tegan.

 

I visited Alaska before writing Tegan and was overwhelmed by its majestic beauty. The photos I’d seen before the trip didn’t do justice to the reality of the state’s glaciers, mountains, rivers, and forests. Wildlife is so abundant that it literally walked or flew through town giving us “up close and personal” experiences with moose, wild sheep, eagles, and more.

 

Because of the inaccessibility of much of the state, one in fifty Alaskans hold a pilot’s license as compared to the national average which is one in seven hundred. However, in 1898, prospectors didn’t have that luxury, instead making their way to San Francisco by rail and then either going overland with wagons and mules or up the coast on schooners, either choice a difficult and arduous journey.

 

It is my hope that Gold Rush Bride Tegan honors the stalwart women who left all they knew for the chance of a lifetime.

 

Blessings,

Linda Shenton Matchett

MY REVIEW

I am  big fan of this author because her stories are so realistic that I want to travel back in time and enjoy the characters more. Her description of Alaska is breathtaking and I loved learning more about panning for gold. People had dreams of making it rich but our main character had another reason for going off on this adventure. 

It is not very likely that Tegan will  be welcomed panning for gold. After all, men think women should leave the hard tasks to them. They don’t know Tegan though. She has this fire within her that she is determined to prove that women are capable of doing many things. She is strong and  I admired her independence and how she wanted everyone to believe she didn’t need anyone protecting her. 

Elijah is a gentleman who is there along the shore with everyone else looking to strike it rich. He isn’t very impressed with Tegan and her friend being there but he does treat them with kindness. When someone attacks Tegan he steps up to help. Their relationship is funny to read as they have this love/hate encounter going on. He needs to keep a watchful eye out because someone is trying scare the women away. 

Greed slithers its way into the story as someone is stealing claims and causing chaos among many. The author is gifted in details and helps readers feel emotions of the characters. Tegan is feeling that she doesn’t quite fit in with her family back home. I loved how Elijah explains that we are all different in some way. Her parents chose to adopt her because they loved her. Jesus loves each of us and knows that we are priceless. If only Tegan can see how cherished she is then she can bring  down that wall she has built around herself. Patience is very evidently needed by Tegan as she wants to rush things that are important to protect her claim. How many of us have a problem with patience? We want to rush ahead of God thinking we know better than He does. I love how he gently disciplines us and helps us see where we need to ask for help.

Thank you to the author for writing a story that illustrates how we need to trust God and allow Him to direct our paths. As Tegan grows spiritually she learns that there are good people out there who want to show her unconditional love. We all need to remember to ask for help and not try to do things on our own. 

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Blog Stops

Sylvan Musings, May 10 (Author Interview)

Lily’s Book Reviews, May 11

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 12

Tell Tale Book Reviews, May 13 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, May 14

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 15

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, May 16 (Author Interview)

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, May 16

Connie’s History Classroom, May 17

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 18

By The Book, May 19 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, May 19

Books Less Travelled, May 20

For Him and My Family, May 21

For the Love of Literature, May 22 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 23

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Linda is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Visa Gift Card and signed copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/25f59/gold-rush-bride-tegan-celebration-tour-giveaway


Thursday, May 11, 2023


About the Book

Book: Stormy Encounters

Author: BJ Howe

Genre: Teen/YA Action Adventure

Release date: March 14, 2023

When the biggest bully in town has you in his crosshairs, you can run, or you can dig deep inside and discover who you really are. Steven Carlson finds himself saddled with an unexpected debt he cannot afford, changing his plans for a summer of fun to one that forces him to places he never wanted to go.

There are storms on the horizon and equally daunting storms of the heart. With a father he doesn’t understand and a mother he can’t remember, Steven’s sixteenth year launches him on a journey that will forever alter his world.

In one unforgettable season, Steven Carlson is pushed to the edge of disaster and forced to confront his prison of self-doubt.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Barb (B J) Howe has enjoyed entertaining others with stories since she was a child. As an adult, she used storytelling techniques to communicate in various workplace settings before exploring the art of memoir writing and fiction.

Stormy Encounters is her first significant work of fiction. Writing about teenage boys and lightning fast cars was inspired by her grandson, who at age four attempted to drive her car, and at age ten reminded her that he was a mere five years away from a driving permit. He is now entering his teen years.

Howe resides in Chanhassen MN with husband, Dave Howe, author of Live Pure and Free: The 90-Day Game Changer. She is on staff with Christian Grandparenting Network, and has contributed to several publications including: Focus on the Family’s Clubhouse Jr. Magazine and Guideposts. Her desire in writing this book is to encourage young adults to mature in their integrity and pursue a personal relationship with Christ.

 

More from Barb

Getting through those teenage years is an adventure. Ask anyone who’s been there. The challenges are real, the outcomes, let’s just say unpredictable. Today’s young generation seems to have more than a fair share of confusing messages roaring at them, and far more outlets than any previous generation to access them. This can make the journey to adulthood far more daunting.

Too many of the books found at public libraries and book stores carry dark messages with little hope. Stormy Encounters is about smokin’ hot cars, swaggering bravado, and, of course, girls. You know, the things that get young guys’ engines revving in high gear. This approach cruises into their world and shows how to work through difficulties without getting preachy. That’s the kind of thinking that first enticed Howe to speak to teens through fiction.

Face it. No matter who we are, we all share at least one thing in common: every day we make hundreds of choices. Some of those choices affect the rest of our lives. Stormy Encounters is all about helping teens, especially teen boys, make the kinds of choices that bring positive results. The pace is fast enough to be exciting, steady to drive interest. Don’t worry; it’s all clean. Maybe these are the reasons teen girls and adults also enjoy reading Stormy Encounters.

Howe’s writing career began with corporate and freelance writing. But it was the nuances of memoir writing that led to fiction. They’re both centered around human interactions. With Stormy Encounters, readers get to see how three different generations come together with all their individual quirks in one complex story that explores the emotions of grief, happiness, love, sadness, and hope. We can all use a big dose of hope.

When not writing, Howe enjoys urban hiking (a.k.a., neighborhood walks), bicycling through the countryside, and baking bread. Try this wild rice bread recipe. It positively screams Minnesota, the state where Stormy Encounters takes place.

Minnesota Wild Rice Bread

Ingredients:
¼ cup wild rice, raw
2 cups water
1 package dry yeast
1/3 cup warm water
2 cups milk, scalded
2 tablespoons melted butter
½ cup honey
2 teaspoons salt
½ cup rolled oats, uncooked
½ cup rye flour
1-1/2 cups whole-wheat flour
½ cup bran
3-1/2 cups unbleached flour, plus up to 1 cup (if needed)
1 egg, beaten
1 tablespoon water
¼ cup hulled sunflower seeds

Directions:

1. Bring 2 cups water to a boil in a small saucepan. Add rice, cover, and cook over very low heat until rice is tender, approx. 45-60 minutes. Allow to cool.
2. Stir yeast into 1/3 cup warm water and let stand 5 minutes. Stir in milk, butter, honey, salt, and oats. Add cooled rice mixture to milk mixture.
3. Using a wooden spoon, stir together rye flower, whole-wheat flour, bran, and 3-1/2 cups of unbleached flour. Add to milk and yeast mixture, stirring until soft dough forms. Add more unbleached flour, as needed, until dough is easy to handle.
4. Turn dough onto a floured board and knead until soft and elastic, about 10 minutes. Place dough in an oiled bowl and turn so the top is oiled. Let rise 2 hours.
5. Punch dough and shape into two loaves. Place in 2 greased 9-1/2 x 5-1/2-inch pans. Let rise again, about 1 hour. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
6. Bake 45 minutes. During the last 15 minutes of baking, brush loaves with 1 beaten egg mixed with 1 tablespoon of water and sprinkle with sunflower seeds.

MY REVIEW

This is a  good book that explores how two teenage boys find that disobeying can lead to consequences. I thought the story was a great lesson in falling into making wrong decisions and what happens when your life starts to spiral out of control. The boys wanted to be popular and race cars at night but when something happens, they find that their punishment was not  worth it. 

I liked how we see that peer  pressure is something everyone deals with and how hard it is to walk away. There are many storms that we have to overcome in our lives and the boys find that doing the  right thing has better results. It is also a good lesson on helping  others even if you don’t like them. 

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 8

An Author’s Take, May 9

Lots of Helpers, May 10

Girls in White Dresses, May 10

Texas Book-aholic, May 11

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 12

The Life We Build, May 12

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 13

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, May 14

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 15

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, May 16

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, May 17 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, May 17

For Him and My Family, May 18

Little Homeschool on the Prairie, May 19

A Reader’s Brain, May 20

Blogging With Carol, May 21

Holly’s Book Corner, May 21

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, B.J. is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of Stormy Encounters!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/263d1/stormy-encounters-celebration-tour-giveaway


Tuesday, May 9, 2023

THE LONG MARCH HOME BY MARCUS BROTHERTON AND TOSCA LEE


Jimmy Propfield joined the army for two reasons: to get out of Mobile, Alabama, with his best friends Hank and Billy and to forget his high school sweetheart, Claire. 

Life in the Philippines seems like paradise--until the morning of December 8, 1941, when news comes from Manila: Imperial Japan has bombed Pearl Harbor. Within hours, the teenage friends are plunged into war as enemy warplanes attack Luzon, beginning a battle for control of the Pacific Theater that will culminate with a last stand on the Bataan Peninsula and end with the largest surrender of American troops in history. 

What follows will become known as one of the worst atrocities in modern warfare: the Bataan Death March. With no hope of rescue, the three friends vow to make it back home together. But the ordeal is only the beginning of their nearly four-year fight to survive. 

Inspired by true stories, The Long March Home is a gripping coming-of-age tale of friendship, sacrifice, and the power of unrelenting hope.


MY REVIEW

A gripping story of three  friends who face a war that brings them face to face with danger. I did like that we go from past to present and read how these four grew up together and how different their backgrounds  were. Several times I felt like crying as one of them faced the loss of a parent. The emotional journey is deep in this story as the authors slowly open each character with a look at their family life and how they changed as they went off to war. 

As we move forward to their time fighting against the enemy, we discover the pain of watching those they serve lose their lives. There were days when there was very little food to go around which made it difficult to keep their strength up. Can you imagine having to stand guard all night knowing that at any minute the enemy could take you out. I was surprised at how young most of them were. Parents back home were desperate for letters from their boys but the mail was sparse at times. I could hear  the continuous bullets in the air and planes that were able to destroy areas in minutes. 

I did find the book hard to read at times with graphic details of what they ate to survive. In dark times, they had to eat to keep up their strength but it was hard for me to get that picture out of my head. I have to say that war is not pretty and this book does a good job of showing  readers the truth of how it could be during this war that claimed many lives. Survival was the most important thing in those moments when faced with the enemy staring  right at you. The research done for this book is evident as details reflect what we have read in history books. 

The book does bring attention to what many people suffered as they became prisoners of war. The three friends are determined that they will all come home alive. Their journey is filled with pain, determination and hope. The authors give us a story that is realistic and a theme of never giving up. 

I received a copy of this book from Revell Reads. The review is my own opinion.