"Mandie and the Invisible Troublemaker" by Lois Gladys Leppard

About this book:

  “Adventure and trouble break out when Mandie returns to The Misses Heathwood's School for Girls in Asheville. The Misses Heathwood are trying to sell their school, but Mandie fears the idea of a new headmistress. If she can only convince Grandmother Taft to buy the school-but where is Grandmother?
  School begins and, starting with a sticky mess in the front hallway, Mandie is blamed for a host of things that go wrong. But who's behind all the trouble? April Snow again? And Snowball doesn't help matters. He gets Mandie into even more trouble every time he runs away.
  Will Grandmother rescue the school? Can Mandie catch the troublemaker?”


Series: Book #24 in “Mandie” series. (To read the reviews of the previous books in this series, click the number to be taken to that review: #1! #2! #3! #4! #5! #6! #7! #8! #9! #10! #11! #12! #13! #14! #15! #16! #17! #18! #19! #20! #21! #22! #23! ) {There also is the “Young Mandie Mystery” series, (Book #1 review Here and Book #2 review Here!) but they do not connect together well}

Spiritual Content- Psalm 27:14 at the beginning; Prayers, Thanking God & Blessings over food; A Scripture is prayed & quoted; Church going; Talks about God & trusting Him; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Mentions of prayers & blessings over food; A few mentions of churches; A couple mentions of Bibles; A couple mentions of a chapel.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘shucks’; All about a troublemaker causing trouble for Mandie & punishments; Mentions of a president being shot (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of a fever & almost losing someone; A mention of the last book’s kidnapping.

Sexual Content- Mentions of hand holding & touches (Tommy says he’d like hand holding, Mandie says she’d act like she would, but they never actually do hold hands); Mentions of Mandie’s promise to Joe that she’ll marry him when they’re older (if he gets back her father’s house); A few mentions of crushes; A couple mentions of having boyfriends & keeping the company of a boy; A couple mentions of blushes; A couple mentions of good-looking boys; A couple mentions of jealousy; A mention of a blown kiss (Joe to Mandie); A mention of Polly being ready to pounce on Joe.

-Amanda “Mandie” Shaw, age 13
                                   P.O.V. of Mandie

                                              Set in 1901
                         129 pages (also available in a collection with two other Mandie books.)

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

This Mandie book has nearly the whole gang in it, so even while I felt bad for Mandie because of the troublemaker, I do really like this one! ;)

See y’all on Monday with a new review!

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

"A Daring Sacrifice" by Jody Hedlund

About this book:

  “The only thing harder than fighting for what’s right…is fighting their feelings for each other.

  For three years, the Cloaked Bandit has terrorized Wessex, robbing the nobility by knifepoint and a well-placed arrow. But little dos anyone know, this bandit is in fact Juliana Wessex, the rightful ruler of the land and a girl her tyrannical uncle—the current Lord Wessex—believes was killed along with her father.

  Juliana has become skilled at hiding from Lord Wessex in the forest, using her stolen goods to provide food and shelter to the peasants her uncle has taxed into poverty. But when she robs Collin Goodrich, her red hair betrays her true identity. Lord Collin remembers Juliana from their childhood—and challenges her to stay on his estate for a week in hopes she will leave her thieving ways and become a proper lady once more. Juliana is intrigued by Collin and his charms, but only time will tell if he can overcome her distaste of the nobility—as well as win her heart.”


Series: Book #2 in the “An Uncertain Choice” series. Review of Book #1 Here!

Spiritual Content- A few Prayers & Thank God (twice); An ‘H’ is capital when referring to God; Mentions of God; Mentions of prayers, praying & a chapel; A few mentions of Mary & Saints; A few mentions of blessings/being blessed; A few mentions of sins; A mention of Heaven; A mention of a convent.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: two ‘idiot’s and two form of ‘stupid’s; Sarcasm & Eye rolling; A few mentions of curses (said, not written); Lots of Torture, being tied to a stake, pain, being hit/thrashed/slapped, injuries, blood/bleeding & passing out (semi-detailed to detailed); Fighting, arrows, shooting, knifes & injuring others (semi-detailed to very detailed); Thieves, stealing, ambushes & threats (up to semi-detailed); Many, many mentions of torture methods, blood/bleeding, major injuries, being burned at the stake, hangings, being quartered, slitting throats, eyes gouged out, cutting off someone’s hands/fingers, it almost happening and threats of doing so (semi-detailed to very detailed); Mentions of deaths, pain, injuries & blood/bleeding (semi-detailed to detailed); Mentions of knifes, arrows, fighting, beatings, ambushes & stealing; Mentions of hunting, dead animals & stealing (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of drinking, ale & wine; Mentions of nightmares; Mentions of gossip & rumors; A few mentions of an injured horse bleeding & dying (barely-above-not-detailed); A few mentions of fights; A few mentions of lies.

Sexual Content- a thumb-to-lips touch, two (semi-detailed) palm/finger kisses, a (semi-detailed) cheek kiss, an ear kiss, three hair/head/forehead kisses, two barely-above-not-detailed kisses, four semi-detailed kisses, and four detailed kisses; Remembering kisses (up to detailed); Lots of Touches, Embraces, Nearness, Shivers, Warmth & Heat (very semi-detailed to detailed); Lot of Noticing & Staring (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of kisses, kissing & self-control (semi-detailed); A few mentions of scandals, reputations & chaperones; A few mentions of flirting & swooning; A few mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of the thought of a lusty man taking advantage of a woman; Love, desire, falling in love & the emotions; 

            *Note: Mentions of a man’s bare chest & his muscles (semi-detailed); A few mentions of how a dress hugs Juliana’s curves.

-Juliana Wessex, age 17

-Collin Goodrich, age 20
                                        1^st person P.O.V. switches between them

                                              Set in 1390 {Medieval}
                                                        221 pages

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

I wasn’t a fan of this author’s adult books because of the sexual content. I wasn’t a fan of the first book of this series due to the fluff plot-line and harsh torture methods. I thought I would try her once more, before I said no more.

The torture, gore & overall gruesomeness was out of hand. Never mind all the kisses, touches & desires, the torture scenes alone would have been enough for a one-star rating.

But this book had all those kisses, touches & desires.

You know what really got me though? We’ve got the instant love, okay, no shock, whatever, I can deal. But, Collin. Collin says he loves Juliana. If you love her, Collin, why didn’t marriage come to your mind? You’re totally enjoying kissing & touching her, but you don’t even think about marrying her until her protector tells you “If you want her, then you’ll make her your wife first.” I swear, it’s like a light bulb went off in Collin’s head.

So, Collin. Not my favorite.

Juliana. I wanted to like her at first. I had a hard time though. At one point, she’s over here holding a knife to Collin’s throat and then check him out at the same time! (In semi-detailed muscle and tight pants noticing, might I add.)

Both of them were just too good at what they did. They did everything pretty well and it always impressed the other. (Then, in Collin’s case, he basically bragged about how much better he was at shooting, tracking, etc. than someone else.) They both just came across as flat to me. They would show off how good they were at something, but then there would be a “coincidental” flaw in their personalities that felt like it was added as an afterthought.

The torture and details of all the methods was just awful. Honestly, it wasn’t needed. You can write about something without getting fully into the details. Why does the author find it so fascinating to include such details?

So, I’m disappointed. But I’m not shocked.

See y’all on Friday with a new review!

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.