Curse Breaker
by J. T. Bishop
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Grayson Steele is slowly drinking himself into an early grave, followed all his life by what he believes to be a curse, everyone he loves dies three days after they are intimate with him. His best friend and business partner Cooper, doesn't believe in the curse and is always trying to pull Gray back into the real world, but it usually backfires. This time Gillian Fletcher finds Gray, she knows his story and she wants to help, in fact she devises a plan to prove to Gray that someone he knows is killing people just to drive him insane and that there is in fact no curse. Gray doesn't believe her, but it willing to give her a chance to prove her point.
When it's all said and done and Gillian's secrets are revealed, are they going to be too much for Grey to handle? Will he be able to come to terms with her and the future that she can offer him or is he going to sink back into a shell of a life, not with a curse hanging over his head this time but knowing that he can't have the the woman he has fallen in love with, truly in love with, this time.
This is a romance book, with a bit of a suspense and mystery, then there is the person who hates Grey enough to kill people he loves to make him think he is cursed. Which is almost one story all on it's own, then there is Gillian whis is another story altogether. She has her own secrets as to why she knows he needs her, how she can help and how she has helped others before.
Definitely a book worth reading!
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Death's Angel (Lost Angel's, Book 3)
by Heather Killough-Walden
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Azrael is suppose to be his brother Gabriel's best man at his wedding to his beloved archess, Juliette, but it is taking every once of control he has learned to master over the thousands of years on earth to keep in that spot. Nothing prepared him for the sensation of looking across the isle at the maid of honor and seeing his archess.
Sophie is obsessing over Azrael, at least that is what she thinks it is. She doesn't understand that she is an archess because she hasn't come into her powers yet. She has also had a very rough life and she doesn't feel that she is worthy of being an archess or even of being loved, or thought of as pretty. She has no idea how beautiful she really is, and no idea the turmoil she is causing Azrael.
Azrael spends most of the service using his Vampire powers to read her mind and memories, and what he finds alarms him. When Gabe and Jules found each other, they realized that each archess life experience was tied to each archangel, so since Gabriel was the Messenger angel, sometimes known for rebirth or reincarnation Jules had to go through a number of horrible lives with only one or two of her powers and face terrible deaths until she found Gabe. With Azrael being the Angel of Death, everyone was worried about the life that his archess would have had to go through, so Az felt it was ok to go through her mind. What he finds alarms him, and he wants to take things very slow with her.
Problems arise when the Adarian's appear and make their knowledge of Sophie known. Az calles out his legions of vampires to watch over Sophie. Over the years Az, being the very first vampire, has turned a number of people, and everyone is of Az's bloodline, they all look to Az as their leader or King. What no one realizes until later is that there are some new players in town, even older than the Adarian's, who thought they were the first. Oops. Seems like everyone has a grudge out against the "Favored Four".
Really? Az was next, but then again I should have know that Michael would be last, as he was the favorite of the favorites. Then again this was such a good book because we knew it from the start, I mean Az and Sophie met at the wedding of Gabe and Jules in the end of the last book! So this just picked up from there at a run, and I do mean a run. It was fast!
So much going on, so much to do and so much to get together. Things with the Adarian's are getting a little scary, in that Kevin might be going slightly crazy. Personally I have always thought he was off his rocker, but now others are starting to think it too, and that is a big change from them blindly following him. Then there are the new players! I love reading those stories! Of course Sam is still around, and no one know what the hee-haw he is up to. In fact, Sam in a little too quiet for my liking.
Well, I have now read all three of the books that my library has, so I have to go and download the rest, which I am doing now because I must finish the series! I have to know more! I really have to finish the series. i'm just debating on going back and picking up the prequel first and then finish or finishing and then going back.
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Suvi's Revenge (Rowan Sister's Trilogy, Book 3)
by Brenda Trim and Tami Julka
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Suvi is the youngest of the Rowan triplets, and now that her sisters are mated, she is ready for her mate, and when a young, handsome vampire walks into the store looking for help, Suvi is more than ready to promise him the world.
Caine woke up in a dungeon this morning, with no idea what was going on. Now he is accussed of murder and only has seventy-two hours to clear his name, only problem he is a vampire and can't go out in the sun. At least the Vampire King, Zander and the doctor, Jace pointed him in the direction of the Rowan sisters, and he sure hoped they could help.
Caine and Suvi are pulled together at once and at first they just think it is desire, but within hours they realize that they are Fated Mates, and they are pretty sure there is more to his being framed for murder than meets the eye. When the sisters and their mates go back to the scene and use a spell to see what really happened they are sure that Cele is behind it all. Now they just need to tell the Vampire King and hopefully enlist his help in taking down Cele.
This is the third book in the Rowan Sisters and it ties up their lives quite well. At the same time, the Dark Warriors are featured even more in the book, partly because Suvi's mate is a vampire and partly because the sisters are now stronger that they are mated and the realm needs them to work with the Dark Warriors to get rid of the archdemon.
The Dark Warrior Alliance and The Rowan Sisters intertwine a great deal. It's probably really best if you read the first three books of the Dark Alliance before you read the Rowan Sisters. The next scheduled book coming out in the Dark Alliance, I can already see glimpses of the sisters being involved in that as well.
This is more about the mates, more romance, but there is still the action and fighting, evil priestess Cele is still at it, and then there is that easy flowing humor that comes from a tight-knit family atmosphere to everyone in the book.
Rowan Sister's Trilogy:
1. Pema's Storm
2. Isis' Betrayal
3. Suvi's Revenge
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Guardian (The Guardian Series, Book 1)
by Sara Mack
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
How do you deal when everything has collapsed around you? At least to Emma, the whole world has collapsed and there is no reason to go on, her boyfriend James has died and she has no will to carry on. Her family and friends are worried, so her best friend Shel comes to stay for awhile, and tries to make Emma face life again. Which might have worked, if only James' spirit hadn't started talking to Emma. Now she is trying to let everyone around her think she is fine and moving on, while she is living just to spend time with James' spirit. Guardian is the position that James agreed to take in able to remain as a spirit on earth and be able to watch over Emma, the problem is, he is not suppose to be spending so much time with her, he is supposed to be training and learning to be a Guardian to someone. Author Sara Mack creates an amazing tale of young love, cut short by death, and the effects of choices on life afterwards.
Guardian is said to be the first in a series, which is good, because a number of questions are left unanswered in the first book. In this book though, we learn a great deal about James and Emma's relationship through flashbacks and dreams, which are well written and fit into the story wonderfully. From the start you find yourself feeling for Emma, crying along with her, wanting to help her heal, liking James coming back and then becoming not so sure about it. There is the side story of their friends Shel and Matt, and you find yourself enjoying that story and understanding Emma's frustration at first, but wanting the same for her again. It is a complex and deep story with a number of layers and some unexpected events that you don't see coming. I feel comfortable recommending this book to all ages of readers, given parental consent, there is no sex and only the reference to the accident and one fight scene, but it is not graphic. I feel it is a great story to read and talk about with your teens and such. Enjoy readers!
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Dusgadh Essence of Life Book One: The Awakening
by Margaret A. Daly
My rating: 4.3 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
Dusgadh, such an odd word to title a story, but then when you subtitle it Essence of Life, maybe it makes more sense. Ember has never felt like she fit in. She loved her family, but they were taken from her in middle school and she was left with only her older sister. She has trouble making friends, and even worse, she sees ghosts. She is just fumbling along in life until one night, a party and a seance in the park brings up something more than Ember or anyone else was expecting. Author +Margaret A. Daly sets this fantasy, supernatural, paranormal story around a group of late teenagers. Throwing in past-lives and reincarnation along with some evil magic, power hungry kings and rebel forces bent on resistance. How it all comes together is the beginning of a series, and this story is the start, the Awakening, or the memories of the past returning to Ember, allowing her to continue on her mission.
Dùsgadh: Essence of Life, The Awakening is a wonderful first book in a series, in fact I really thought it was a complete book until the very end when I realized there was more to be told still. By using the concept of awakening, Ember recovers her memories of the past and her past lives in this book, and so her sister is there to explain things to her as well as her two guardians. Although author +Margaret A. Daly uses this book to set the background and introduce you to characters and the whole concept of the story, it still has plenty of action, adventure and death to keep you on the edge of your seat as you are reading. There are even some people that are barely mentioned in this book, that I have a sneaking feeling are going to show up in later books, only because I just can't see the author making the deal out of them in this book without them showing up again somewhere. This is a great read, and I am willing to say middle schoolers, teens, young adults and up would enjoy this story!
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Witch of Death
by Chrys Fey
My rating: 4.2 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
As a Detective, what do you do when your victim is floating five feet off the bed? Well you call in another Detective, who just happens to be a witch, what else. Liberty Sawyer is a witch, and she takes her abilities seriously and does what she can to prevent and help the police, including her Uncle. She can't help it if his new partner is good looking, and a real pain in the butt because he refuses to believe anything she says. Witch of Death is a short story about Liberty and Reid's interactions as she helps them with two murders, and hopefully to prevent a third, and as Reid comes to believe in something he doesn't understand. Author +Chrys Fey writes a well thought out story, with emotional impact. When Liberty makes a point to Reid, you can feel the tenseness in her body, the stress and power in her voice and the strong stance as she says it. Not every author can do that for the reader.
Witch of Death is a short story, I for one, really wish is had been about twice as long. Not that I wanted any more murders or anything, but more interaction between Liberty and Reid would have been great between the confrontation and the call for help. This is a quick read so great for a traveling book. Author +Chrys Fey really thought out the story, it makes sense to flows well and there is nothing in it that doesn't need to be. Of course it could be longer if the author added a bunch of filler, but sometimes it's better not to have all of that stuff. There is no graphic violence, although the deaths by magic are described and no sex, so this is a clean book for any reader. Not sure you want to try a paranormal or supernatural story, this is the one to start with, short, just enough to get you feet wet and make you want more.
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Julian's Farewell (Bloodmates, Book One)
by Jaden Sinclair
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
Society in general may have progressed past the chaste and class systems of long ago, but in the Vampire world, it is alive and well and strongly upheld. As the first-born of a Noble father, Julian was expected to take his place a Noble, maybe a seat on the elders and submit to an arranged marriage to a preselected bloodmate, even if she wasn't his true bloodmate. That's not Julian, so he took off, he's been tracking rouges and whatnot ever since, but this last mission is a dozy, track a wacko that thinks he can "cure" his daughter of being a bloodmate. Only problem, she is Julian's true bloodmate. Julian's Farewell is the story of Julian's search for them, his rescue of her and their life on the run for ten months. All the while a war is raging against the vampire community and they are being killed off in the greatest numbers ever, and no one seems to know what to do about it. Author Jaden Sinclair gives us a vampire war novel, with a love story overlain on top of it. At the heart of the book, is the killing of the vampires, what is going on and how to stop it, but up front you have this sweet, innocent, magical love story.
Julian's Farewell seems like an odd title for a love story, and it is, but I never thought about it until after I finished the book and then I realized it. He's been a rogue, rebel and doing his own thing for so long, but now he has found that one woman that can ground him. The book is the first in a series, and it does leave you waiting for the next installment because you are like, wait, what, give me more. Jaden Sinclair manages to make it a little different than the other vampire novels out there so that you are interested enough to read and find out about it. You fall in love with Serena's innocence, you love the way Julian acts with her. There are just so many things that are good about this book. Definitely an adult book, yes there is married couple scenes and although not overly graphic, you know what is going on, so I wouldn't give it to my teens. Great read, waiting on the next!
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Author Spotlight
Loving the Headsman's Daughter : A Medieval Romance Fantasy
by Oscar Manta
My rating: 4.2 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
In the Spring of 1558, Denis, having finished his apprenticeship was traveling to Rouen looking to a position at the armory. On the way, one evening having not found an Inn, he followed a stream until he came upon a campfire where he was surprised to find a beautiful redhaired woman, alone. Jacquette and Denis share dinner and the evening together, by morning Denis is sure she was a dream. Denis continues into Rouen and life goes on as normal except that he can't get he can't get Jacquette out of his mind. The town of Rouen was getting ready to have a public execution involving the beheading of two men and the torture and death of three others. A famous Headsman, Chastain and his family have been called in to take care of the deaths. A few days before a the execution, Denis walked into the Tavern and there he saw Jacquette, but he could not approach her, finally she went out back and he was able to talk to her. They made plans, and would meet again. What follows is the story of Jacquette and Denis falling in love, dealing with her job, his wrongful imprisonment, and so much more. Loving the Headsman's Daughter is medieval romance with a modern twist. Author Oscar Manta spices up this novel with police corruption, sizzling romance, and forbidden loves.
Loving the Headsman's Daughter may be set in medieval times, as the novel starts in the Spring of 1558, but the ideas of romance and the relationships that unfold in the story are purely modern. They might have actually occurred during the era, but it is not recorded history. While I was reading this I was I was surprised time and time again by the twists and turns in the story, and the twisted thoughts of some of the people in the novel. I thought it was a great read, definitely an adult book and there might be some readers offended by some of the relationships in the book. Really, it was worth the time to read to read it, something new and different.
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Seduce Me (The Heart Series, Book 1)
by Angela Estienne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
Imagine waking up in the hospital to find that you have been asleep for five days, and the last thing you remember is driving home from dinner with your fiance'. That confusion is exactly where we begin the story with Jasmine, or Jazz to her friends. She soon finds that her fiance' Greg died in the accident and that his parents blame her for his death. Seduce Me (The Heart Series Book 1) follows Jazz as she picks up her life, moves to a completely new place to try to start all over, to move on after Greg and put her life back together. She is haunted by puzzling nightmares of the accident, and then there are mysterious flowers from H.H., who seems to know what is happening in her life even before she does. Add in a handsome, rich playboy by the name of Luke Heart who seems to have eyes for Jazz and you have a sizzling story. Angela Estienne weaves it all together, and throws in a few twists and turns and unexpected events to keep you on your toes too.
Seduce Me may be the story of Jazz rebuilding her life after Greg's death, but there is plenty of romance and sizzle in the story. There are flashbacks to times between Jazz and Greg that introduce you to their particular relationship and it hints at themes of mild BDSM and role playing in their private lives. Angela Estienne weaves these romance, sizzle, mild BDSM themes together with overcoming grief, rebuilding and mystery to create a definite womens novel that is worth the read.
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The Boy From The Woods
by Jen Minkman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite .
For the last couple of years Julia has dreamed of the high school golden boy, Michael. She has used him to inspire her poetry and music and she has thought herself in love with him, at the graduation ball he finally asks her to dance and kisses her leading to a "date", then nothing. He never calls or texts her back, and when she runs into him on the street, he acts like she should be grateful he gave her the time. She is devastated. Now Michael has been in a motorcycle accident an is acting different. Should she given him a second chance? The Boy From the Woods takes us to Austria, to follow Julia and her group of close friends in the summer after high school. They give her advice on Michael, and see what transpires. Jen Minkman weaves in the local and life of Austria with Celtic folklore and traditions to create a story of young love and broken hearts.
The Boy From the Woods is set in Austria, and when you start reading, this is the first thing you need to know, because if not you will be confused as to why at a high school graduation party they are drinking beer. That is party of the beauty of this story, no one gets drunk, they never drink that much, it is one or two and that is it. I think it sends a wonderful message to American youth that not all people look at drinking as something to do only to get drunk. Also being set in Austria, Jen Minkman uses typical German phrases and greetings in the book frequently, which lends to the authenticity of the story. It also makes you want to live in a place with so much history that certain things are continued through the generations. Add to that the forest and Celtic folklore and you have a full and wonderful romance, coming of age story that is wonderfully written and great for any age reader.
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Evil Town
by J. David Bethel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite .
If there is one place in the world that you could call Evil Town, Washington DC would most likely be that town. Politics, corruption and bribery are everyday occurrences. What really makes the place an Evil Town is what happens when someone bucks the trend and refuses to be bribed. John David Bethel creates a mystery and intrigue novel that begins with the wife of a congressman, who has not been corrupted by the town and refuses to take a bribe or later threat to her safety. As the story delves into what happened to her, we are caught up in years of sweeping facts under the rug. From Vietnam to a local sugar plantation, everyone it seems is hiding a secret. What is it about the secrets and how do they relate to each other and the congressman?
John David Bethel takes the reader into the underbelly of Washington DC. He takes what people tend to think goes on there and amps it up a bit to create a novel of intrigue and mystery that keeps the reader guessing with every page. Evil Town addresses corruption, politics, bribery and murder. Everyone has a secret, but how they each relate to the other, and what one person wants and what they are willing to do to get that will amaze and confound you. At times you will believe the story and feel like it could be a true story, and at the same time you will think there is no way people can be this cruel and demented. Evil Town is well written and draws the reader into the novel, to the point that you feel like it is really happening. This is a great novel for adults, and something to keep you guessing.
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Ancasta ~ Guide me Swiftly Home
The Riduna Series, 2
by Diana Jackson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
Ancasta is the continuation of the family saga that began in Riduna. Harriet is now a widow with four grown children. Edward is still traveling the seas enjoying his freedom. As the world starts to change and a war looms and progress, follow the former childhood friends and sweethearts as they deal with the ravages and realities of war in England. No one is untouched by the war, as Harriet will watch her twin sons both volunteer for service along with her daughter's husband. It will also be a time to reunite with old friends, Jane, that she had lost touch with who will become the steady rock of a friend that Harriet leaned on before she had Joe, and now with Joe gone, Jane will again become that rock. Diana Jackson doesn't pull any pushes with the tragidies and realities of the war and what it was like, still that does not diminish the glow of the story of a family once again facing the idea that dreams change and live goes on.
First Riduna and then Ancasta, these two books follow Harriet and Edward, who always thought their path in life would be together, but the realities of life was that it was not to be, finally in their retirement years are they able to realize that it wasn't them who changed but the world around them and the things than happened to them to make the dreams change. Diana Jackson weaves a story that is real and true and makes you feel that you are right there living it. It is a wonderful mix of the romance and realities of life with some of the technology advances of the historical time period of the novel. It is defintely a novel of moving on and never giving up, any reader will enjoy.
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Riduna
The Riduna Series, 1
by Diana Jackson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite .
Harriet always thought she had her simple life planned out. She would grow up on Riduna, marry and raise a family never leaving her tiny island home. Sometimes dreams aren't enough to face the realities of life, and the harsh realities of life can change even the best of dreams. Edward grwe up next door to Harriet and he had always dreamed of traveling, going to sea and adventuring but he always thought he would come back to the safe port of home in Riduna, and Harriet. When tragedies occur and Edward is far at sea and nowhere to be the rock that Harriet needs, his cousin Joe becomes her rock and protector. Riduna follows these three people through life and the developments of the world and war and all the changes that occur to change all of their dreams. Diana Jackson does a wonderful job of giving a family saga that touches your heart with love and heartache. You become involved in the family and want to know more and want to see what occurs.
Riduna is such a small island, but among the friends we met in the beginng, some can't wait to leave, some can never see leaving, and some who never planned to leave find things that they have no control over can change even the best of plans. Diana Jackson is a great writer and develops a wonderful story that has you feeling part of the lives of these people. You can almost imagine yourself on the island of Riduna right in their lives. There are historical events that truly occured mixed into the story that makes it feel even more real, and like this could really be someone's actual life. This is a great book, the first of two book in the series, and would be a wonderful read for anyone of interest.
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A Deeper Cut
by Sheri Wren Haymore
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite .
Every summer Hunter spends it with Granny Jen in Beaufort. This year he has brought Mikki with him, thinking it might be a good thing for them. This summer though, a murderer has decided to visit Beaufort also, and frame Hunter for at least one of the killings. A Deeper Cut mixes drug dealers and sweet, southern charm into a realistic tale of a summer on the shoreline. Hunter is tasked with figuring out who he really is, and whether to continue to let his father's disappearance and failures define him or not. +Sheri Wren Haymore writes a wonderful mystery, thriller that you want to know who did it, but at the same time keeps the beauty and charm of life is a small southern town.
A Deeper Cut follows Hunter, and more than just the cuts of the killer are needing to be healed this summer. Hunter has always felt that everyone, except maybe Granny Jen expected him to fail and turn out like his father. This summer he will have to face his father, and the demons he carries and figure out who he really is. +Sheri Wren Haymore mixes this soul-searching with the mystery of who if offing drug dealers and sets it all in a sweet, charming southern town. You will feel for Hunter, want to hold the boy and help him through his struggles. At the same time you will enjoy the intrigue of discovering who the real killer is and just why the killer might have it out for the Kittrell family.
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One: A New Beginning
by Lennie Stanfield
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
Zack and his dad, Jim were good friends. They had always been close, but after the passing of Zack's mom and Jim's wife Deann, they grew even closer. It was a bound that got them through the tough times. This weekend they were going caving, a new cave no one knew about. Zack and Jim were always careful when caving, and took great care with their supplies and safety precautions, but no one could have foreseen what happened. One has been dormant for so long, many, many centuries and yet something is happening around him. Something that he feels he needs to check out. One observes Zack and the aftermath of the caving accident, he is moved to help. What follows is an unbelievable blending of faith and sci-fi. One is from another planet and together he and Zack rebuild and plan out Zack's life. Lennie Stanfield uses the people around Zack to confirm his faith and at the same time, One is part of the story that confirms the faith Zack has known his whole life. One: A New Beginning is also the story of a new life for One, his old life gone and a chance and a reason to become active again.
One: A New Beginning is a superb blending of faith and another planet with life on it. I have never seen it done in a book before, especially not like this, and yet it worked. Yes, I had to go bad and reread of of the pages where One is talking because of the more complex computer like language he uses, but it was worth it. The bond between Zack and his Dad, amazing! Not only that, but every family relationship you meet in this book, Lennie Stanfield has made a strong family relationship. I would love to find a place where all the relationships are that strong, but it was just so comforting to read about them. Zack is just graduating from two-year of college, so to say this could also be a coming of age book would be true, but I also think teens and adults would enjoy the story.
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Ayrton Senna - The Inspirational Life of Ayrton Senna, The Greatest Formula One Driver that Ever Lived
by Gregory Watson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Ayrton Senna was born in San Paolo to a wealthy family but saw the slums and poverty of his town. He was born to race and did so with great success up until his death. He understood engines and cars and that made him a delight to work with for the crews. He was also a man who spent his own money in silence to help those in the slums of his hometown. He also was vocal about driver safety and worked to make changes to improve driver safety.
What makes Ayrton Senna a perfect role model or inspiration is that he did all these good works without looking for public recognition. He did it quietly, behind the scenes. As a parent and a teaching assistant I am always looking for these type of books to give to classes to read, This would interest the boys and give them something to strive to achieve, the good deeds. This is great for the upper elementary and junior high grades, depending on reading levels. It would make a great biography paper. I am glad I found this over our school break so that I have it when we start back to school.
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