Whispering to Witches Whispering to Witches by Anna Dale was a truly enchanting story for all ages. If you or your child like The Wizard of Oz then you most likely love this book. A pure bewitching tale with lots of magic.
Joe Binks is just your ordinary boy living with dad as mum has remarried. Being quite ordinary it is fun when on his way to mum's for Christmas holiday he is singled out by a witch and given a special item of which he has no idea of having such a thing.
Twiggy is a little girl witch who is in training and the witches in her coven totally under estimate poor little Twiggy's powers. Doing menial jobs is supposed to be a learning experience for her but she doesn't really seem how. Twiggy has the curiosity of a cat and seems to have their nine lives also with the little fixes the cutie gets herself into.
The whole mysterious caper starts out on the train that is taking Joe from London to Canterbury and continues right up until the end of the book with lots of magic and who-done-its. Lots of spells and potions, strange ingredients and places along with fairies and animals help make this witchy tale absolutely delightful.
I accidentally came across this book and am ever so glad I did. The author has done a wonderful job at giving us a pure clean tale without scaring us. This book is simple enough for an eight year old but enchanting enough for adult. Not only will it keep your interest but you will not want to put this book down until the very last word.
I really believe this is a book that elementary teachers across the globe should encourage their students to read.
The Secret Between Us The Secret Between Us by Barbara Delinksy is truthfully painful. A good novel but with so much guilt that you really start to feel like it's you in the story. It's a can't put down book til the end so that you can see if things come out for better or worse.
Deborah Monroe is mom, daughter, sister, ex-wife, and prominent town doctor to a quiet little town in New England. Highly respected and loved, independent, honest to a fault has her life upturned by one little incident. Oh, is it little or bigger than she thinks.
Grace Monroe is a loving, athletic, brilliant, devoted teen who knows right from wrong but the one little unfortunate incident throws her into such an emotional turmoil that you sit and wonder how your own child would react to the same thing happening to her. The entire town knows this teen as truthfully honest and reliable almost to perfection which sets Grace up for emotional pain that is unimaginable.
The story brings into question what lengths we would go to as a parent in order to protect our children. It also questions our ability to handle one crisis following another as an adult especially in a small town where everyone knows everything about everyone. Can secrets truly be hidden in such a small community. Will one little deception tear a family apart not only from themselves but from all prying eyes. Can one selfish person willing cause so much emotional pain and break the trust that has been here for generations. So many questions with too few answers.
The author is brilliant with the actual storyline. With living in Massachusetts myself I can actually visualize all the areas that the author takes us to. Even though this is fiction it could also be someone's real life story. It's something we say can't possibly happen to us but in all reality, "It only takes one time", and it could very well come to pass.
Tales of the Order: The Gazing Globe The Gazing Globe by Candace Sams is a magical mouth watering read. From beginning to end it's a can't pry it from my hands type of book. I absolutely love all the creatures of myth and magic that flow within these pages. Good beings are purely good and evil beings are the purest essence of evil to be found. Wow!!
Blain McTavish is not only naive but handsomely so. Built like a lumberjack he commands attention when in anyone's presence. He has been raised to be kind, good hearted and to love. A strong worker not afraid to tackle even the most daunting of chores he spends his days trudging from dawn to dusk do the best he can.
Afton O'Malley is a wee slip of a girl with the most stunning blue eyes and the face of angelic perfection. She is the love of a large family and unfortunately for her, she is upset in the face of uncertain magical abilities. She is the youngest of siblings and the only female and try as she might she just can't see to focus.
The story starts out in Maine and ends in England. Between beginning and end there is not a lot of movement area wise but lots of action magically. Blaine's parents are murdered though he believes them to have died of natural causes, then he takes ill but fortunately for him help has arrived and the mystery to his illness slowly gets uncovered. Not only this but he also finds out secrets about his heritage that his parents worked so hard to keep hidden to protect him.
This is book two by Candace Sams and it is a stand alone book. I found it more than just quite enjoyable with smooth as silk writing and a storyline that captivates you and doesn't let you go until it's finished. This is the first novel I have read by this author but it will most surely not be the last. I already have my wish list including several other novels of hers.
If you are true lover of fantasy and love the magical beings of old, you will surely enjoy this novel.
