A mysterious cloud is approaching the solar system from deep space, and of course only Arthur and Myrtle can solve the mystery and save the British Empire and the nine planets (along with some asteroids and dwarf planets). They are joined by our favorite old characters and a few new ones, as they travel between the planets to fight for Queen and country.

I loved everything about this book! The plot, the characters, the hilarious writing, the world-building, the mystery, the adventure, and every single dramatic chapter all kept me reading for hours on end. This is one of those books where there isn't a good place to stop reading. You just have to keep going through the next chapter and the next.

It's wonderful to see how the entire trilogy is wrapped up beautifully in this last book. The plot comes together really well to solve problems and answer questions that have been hanging since the first book. I love how each thread of the story resolves into this great ending!

I am amazed at how imaginative this fantasy world is. The aliens and their strange cultures are all so intricate and well-formed, right down to the diseases, commerce, and vegetation of each planet. I love that it is set in a steam-punk 1850s British Empire full of space travel that has expanded to Venus, Mars, and Jupiter. It's such an interesting solar system, and each planet has it's own history and people who live there.

The writing style is very humorous with that sort of dry humor that I love. I was delighted at how some of the characters are doing their best to have good manners and polite modesty in the middle of their outlandish adventures. We may be about to be blown to smithereens by space pirates, but let us not forget proper courtesy and decorum. The whole book is hilarious!

The characters are really varied and interesting. They come from all sorts of backgrounds, and I loved the character development for so many of them. They change and grow and learn from one another.

Myrtle has some excellent development as she learns that she is stronger and more resourceful than she thought. She does NOT faint every time something dangerous happens, as a properly-educated young lady should do. Instead she begins to take little steps towards saving herself, instead of waiting for a hero to rescue her as a demure young lady should do. And through those little steps she moves on to bigger steps, until finally she gains enough confidence in her own abilities to have the courage to jump into the fray and save everyone.

I only wish there were more books in this series!

I really like this Bible edition because it has a lot of footnotes that explain things, a glossary for difficult or ancient words, and dozens of essays on Christian apologetics that give great information for how to explain the Bible to non-believers or just people who have questions.

This book is a continuation of Charlotte Bronte's last writing before she died. She only finished the first two chapters of this book, and it has been finished by "another lady". I am usually skeptical about modern authors trying to finish work from a classic author, but this was well done.

The writing doesn't exactly mimic Charlotte Bronte's writing style, but it does a fair job. The themes and plot have many elements that I would expect to find in a Bronte story. There is a gothic moodiness, plot twists, wild scenery, and of course, complex and compelling characters.

Mrs. Chalfont is a lonely widow who adopts an abandoned child and tries to penetrate the mystery of the child's true identity. With the help of Mr. Ellin, she embarks on a journey of discovery and intrigue to unravel the secrets the child is hiding. It is only when the ruthless Emma appears on the scene that the depths of crime and hatred become apparent, and only Mrs. Chalfont can save the innocent child she has come to love.

I loved the story so much! I was laughing and crying and clutching the book to my heart! The emotional power in the story is very reminiscent of Charlotte Bronte's style.

I figured out the big plot reveal on page 86, and it is not actually revealed until page 163. There are only four words on page 86 that made it plain, so I think if that clue had been removed, it would not have ruined the mystery too early. But even though I figured it out early, I still enjoyed seeing it all unfold for the characters.

Mrs. Chalfont is such a sweet and lonesome character. She is kind and generous and forgiving, but she hides secret pain and anguish in her heart. I just loved seeing how she interacts with the various heroes and villains, and how they are all astonished at her big heart.

Mr. Ellin is a bit of an enigma. I'm not sure that his personality in the rest of the book really fits with the first two chapters. He is a complex person; private and secretive about his own business, but also sociable and charming in company. He is languid at times until you almost think he is lazy, but then he'll be springing into action with energy and determination. He certainly kept my interest.

The elusive Emma is the titular character, but she is only in one scene. The story is all about how her anger and hatred have affected the lives of so many people. We see people's reactions when her name is mentioned, how the county gossips about her, how people's memories of her are skewed, how her family try to shield her and make excuses for her. She is a force to be reckoned with at every turn.

Overall, I enjoyed this book so much! I only took off one star because the prose isn't quite the same at Bronte's, but pretty close; and because I figured out the big reveal too early.

Three little mice attend an orchestral concert and learn about how the different instruments work together to create beautiful music as they play Beethoven's 5th Symphony (That's the famous one that goes da-da-da-duh). The mice learn about the concertmaster, the conductor, and all the sections in the orchestra. They learn about tempo and dynamics and themes in music.

As each instrument is introduced, the reader can push the button to hear music played by that instrument. What makes this really special is that the recording plays the exact music that is in the illustrations next to that instrument. If there is a staff drawn next to the oboe playing G, F, E, D in the Treble Clef, then we hear the oboe play those exact notes in the recording. This kind of attention to detail is what makes this book truly special!
(The only instrument recording that does not follow the music written in the book is the trombone, but you know how trombonists are. They rarely follow the rules! haha!)

The illustrations are really lovely, with a crayon art style that manages to feel cute and elegant at the same time. The little mice are so adorable! They are always doing something funny in the background. I also appreciated that the musicians in the orchestra are a diverse group of people.

Favorite line in the entire book, "Music is like a conversation. ... Sometimes the brass have something to say." haha! Cracks me up. Yeah, they do, and they love shouting it in everyone's ears. Love me some brass humor.

There is a small biography of Beethoven in the back of the book. There is also a section of the book that encourages parents to "make great music the language of your house", and there are many ideas and tips for teaching your child to love classical music.

I just love the way this book makes classical music fun and interesting for children, introducing them to a whole world of beautiful music.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

I'm very disappointed in this book. It's extremely self-centered and full of the worst kind of heresy. Every devotional and journal prompt is completely focused on the self, instead of being focused on God. This book asks, "What do I think?" instead of "What God does say?"

There are Bible verses taken out of context, and lesson applications that don't even match the topic of the Bible verse. The author doesn't seem knowledgeable about theology or Scripture interpretation. (I graduated from a Bible college, so I know stupid when I see it.)

There is a strong humanistic philosophy throughout the book. It's all about how humanity can triumph, and God is added in as an afterthought. Each devotional is a story or anecdote about people (with not one mention of God being involved in their story), and then a couple of vague sentences about God at the end. Every journal prompt asks, "How do I feel about this? What can I do about this?" instead of "What does God say about this? How can God help me in this? How can I trust God more and rely on Him?" God is basically left out of the equation.

This is humanism, the worship of humanity, dressed up in some Christianity to make it look pretty. There's some "unconscious thought theory" thrown in there, and a little transcendentalism, animism, along with some other weird beliefs which are obviously not in the Bible and are not part of true Christianity.

At one point, the author refers to God as a "large energy source" that we can tap into through prayer. I don't even know what kind of esoteric heresy that is.

Just for a little second opinion.... I showed this book to my mother (a pastor's wife for 40 years also with a degree from a Bible college), and she said, "The author is using Jesus and the Bible as props to push women to worship self." She also said, "Buncha bulldookey." I have to agree.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

Update: I read the rest of the series and hated it so much! Lots of immorality and completely inappropriate subject material for a children’s book. I wouldn’t recommend reading the series at all with such a terrible ending.

This is the story of Dom, who is told on his 15th birthday that his family owes an ancient debt to the Italian mafia. When every male family member reaches 15 years old, they are forced to do 6 difficult tasks for the Debt or the Debt will cut off an arm or leg, taking their "pound of flesh" in payment.

I loved that the whole "pound of flesh" thing is from Shakespeare, although the Bard is never mentioned.

Dom is a wonderful character with depth and interest. He has a crush on his best friend, the girl next door. He has a fun dynamic of mutual teasing with his siblings. He trains as a runner, and is obsessed with running. He's just a well-rounded character, and a great POV for the whole story.

The setting is among the rich and elite of the Gold Coast in Australia. Dom's parents are rich and hobnob with retired movie stars and politicians. But all that money won't keep out the bad guys!

When Dom is tasked with catching a devious teen criminal, The Zolt, who delights in stealing light aircraft, he has to get friendly with his archenemy, Tristan, the meanest bully in school.
The back-and-forth repartee between Dom and Tristan keeps the story humming along. The tension between them, and the added danger that Tristan brings to the mix keeps Dom (and the reader) on his toes.

Dom has to really jump through some hoops to find the Zolt and the mystery gets intense. There's tons of action, and I loved the use of codes, phone taps, and fake apps that pull the mystery forward. Everybody wants a piece of the Zolt, so Dom has to race to get to him first!

A fantastic beginning to the series, and I can't wait to read the rest of them!

Disclaimer: I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

Maisy in on a grocery shopping trip with Panda. They have a list, and explore the grocery aisles looking for bananas, carrots, and bread. Maisy needs cheese to put on her sandwiches, and when they have all their items, they check out and go home for lunch!

At the back of the book, there is a fold-out that creates a play scene, complete with cut-out figures of Maisy and Panda, and a cash register where they can purchase the groceries! It's made of thick cardboard to withstand little hands.

This would be a great book to read with a young child, and get them to identify all the food items in the pictures. What a wonderful way to teach toddlers about different foods, and then play with the scene and cut-outs at the back!
Such a cute book!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

There are two important questions when it comes to the subject of cuddling: Where and when to cuddle, and who to cuddle? Cuddling can chase away sadness on a rainy day. A big group hug makes us feel happy and loved. Hugging is the best way to share joy and lose our worries.

This adorable book reminds us that cuddling our friends, family, or pets with affection can be liberating and bring joy and laughter! I liked the sweet rhyming text and beautiful illustrations.

Every character in the artwork is cute and snuggly with contented smiles on their faces. They are cuddling while watching TV, doing their bedtime routine, playing with soap bubbles, or climbing a tree.

I also appreciated that the characters are diverse and all different. They all come from different races and ethnicities. Some have disabilities or glasses. Even their clothing and hair styles are culturally diverse. It's refreshing to see such a group of characters hugging and holding hands and kissing cheeks in a big group "people-pile-tangle".

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

All inventors start out as curious kids who love to learn and explore. This book gives short biographies of some famous innovators and how their childhood shaped their dreams. The bios include the stories of Steve Jobs, Jacques Cousteau, Florence Nightingale, Walt Disney, the Wright brothers, and many others.

There are sections about technology, exploring, codes, medicine, and trailblazers. It's not just about inventing something new. It's about revolutionizing how something is used, how art is created, or how people think. The history of computer codes, airplanes, wind turbines, rockets, nursing, hair products, entertainment, and a dozen other fields are explored.

Each biography is about 10 pages long, and includes inspiring quotes from the famous person. I appreciated that this book sometimes admits that the person had a controversial life. They were not perfect and maybe did some bad things, but their contributions are still good. There is a balance in the writing that doesn't hide any undesirable things, but still accepts and celebrates the good.

There are cartoony illustrations on each page depicting scenes from the lives of each person. I loved the colorful artwork! The designs are so clever and attractive.

This book encourages young people to think outside the box and problem-solve with new ideas.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

One little book is tired of sitting on the shelf. He longs to find a reader. The other books are content to sit and wait, but this book is ready for an adventure.

I liked the concept of books wishing to be read, and I thought the story was good. The books are caricatures of famous authors like Victor Hugo, Jane Austen, Beatrix Potter, and Alexander Dumas.

I found the artwork... unsettling in a strange way. The books look so weird and creepy! Their ghoulish little faces.... It was like some nightmare unreality of twisted forms and crooked illusions. I can't put my finger on it, but I just hated the artwork. I could barely look at the page. I found it so disturbing that I just wanted to close the book and throw it away.

I also didn't like that the other books are violent to the little book who wants to leave the bookshelf. They bully him and push him off his shelf! Add that behavior to the already creepy illustrations, and no wonder I found them disturbing.