"Samantha Sanderson Off the Record" by Robin Caroll

About this book:

  “Sam Sanderson is an independent, resourceful, high-tech cheerleader. She dreams of becoming an award-winning journalist like her mother, so she's always looking for articles to publish in her middle-school paper (where she secretly hopes to become chief editor). With a police officer for a father, Sam is in no short supply of writing material.
  In the third book of the Samantha Sanderson series, when the school's grades were tampered with, Sam must enlist Makayla's help in hacking the system to discover the virus that was used and who committed the crime. But when the lead suspect is her newfound friend, Felicia, Sam must choose whether to stick by her friends at all costs or report the story as she sees it.
  The Samantha Sanderson series is about an ordinary girl with extraordinary dreams. Each book touches on a crime straight from headlines, from bomb threats to bullying, while following Samantha and her friends as they navigate middle-school and questions of faith.”


Series: Book #3 in the “Samantha Sanderson” series, which is part of the “Faithgirlz” line. {You can see our reviews of Book #1 Here! and then Book #2 Here!}

Spiritual Content- Matthew 22:39 is quoted many times; A few other Scriptures are quoted; Prayers; A couple talks about God & being in His hands; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Going to Church/Youth Group & mentions of Youth Group.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘dumb’s, two ‘duh’s, two forms of ‘idiot’, two teasing ‘shut up’s, and Sam says “ohmygummybears!” twice; A mean girl (Aubrey is called a she-beast and then a “speak of the devil.”); A mention of Book #2’s bullying & divorce topics; Sam sometimes sneaks behind her father’s back to do something he told her not to do (but she always gets a lesson when it comes out).

Sexual Content- Mentions of crushes, cute boys, liking a boy, dates to a dance; Sam thinks “eww” when her parents kiss and smile at each other (twice); A comment on a blog post that “Crimes are murders, rapes, and assaults.”.

-Samantha “Sam” Sanderson, age 12 (7^th grade)
                                             P.O.V. of Sam
                                                        228 pages

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

(and a half)

My personal Rating-

(and a half)

I’m a computer nerd. I admit it. It’s just so...fascinating! (I most likely get it from my Grandfather who was an engineer and would bring home tapes of the first computers making sounds to share with my Momma and Memaw. But I digress.) That said, I really, really enjoyed this novel! Plus the Spiritual Content was great! I hope there will be many more Samantha Sanderson books!

See y’all on Monday with the start of Pre-Teen Week!!

*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.

*I received this e-book for free from the publisher (Zonderkidz) through BookLookBloggers for this review.

"The Sacred Shore" by Janette Oke & T. Davis Bunn

About this book:

  “In This Intimate Historical Epic, the Heart-wrenching Dilemmas of The Meeting Place Come to Rest on...The Sacred Shore
  Oceans and circumstances have forced families apart. For the banished French Acadians drifting in exile, the shore means safety--though it is a safety at a terrible price. For the lonely British nobleman, the shore holds a single chance to secure his legacy. For Andrew and Catherine Harrow, the shore marks a tragic separation.
  An extraordinary set of journeys awaits them all, each as intricate and perilous as the coastline itself. New beginnings are connected to all that has come before. And the past penetrates into what is yet to come. The common thread is a yearning to discover their identities in their families, in their communities, and in their God.”


Series: Book #2 in the “Song of Acadia” series. {Read Book #1’s review Here!}

Spiritual Content- Many, many Prayers; Many talks about the Bible & reading it; Many, many Talks about God, trusting Him & His will; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Bible reading & many Scriptures are quoted or mentioned; Very strong Faiths and growing Faiths; Mentions of church going; Pastors & Witnessing; Andrew is a minister; Nicole questions God’s existence (but later knows Him).

Negative Content- Curses are said but not written; Mentions of smoking; War (up to semi-detailed).

Sexual Content- A not-detailed kiss; Touches (barely-above-not-detailed); A mention of a man who is so handsome that “lasses who would never have resisted his urgings”; A little bit of love & the emotions

-Nicole Robichand

-Charles Harrow
                                P.O.V. switches between them, Anne, Andrew, Catherine, Henri & Louise

                                              Set in 1773
                                                        268 pages

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

(and a half)

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

(and a half)

At first I was a bit taken back that this novel is set eighteen years after book #1, “The Hiding Place”, but once I got over that, I really enjoyed it! Not as much as the first book in the series, but I still was in awe of all the Spiritual Content and lack of Sexual Content!

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.

"The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest" by Melanie Dickerson

About this book:

  “A Beautiful Maiden who Poaches to Feed the Poor.

    A Handsome Forester on a Mission to Catch Her.

    Danger and Love Are About To Unite in Thornbeck Forest.

  The margrave owns the finest hunting grounds for miles around—and Odette Menkels spends her nights poaching his deer to feed the hungry orphans of Thornbeck. By day, Odette is a simple maiden who teaches children to read, but by night this young beauty has become the secret lifeline to the poorest of the poor.

  For Jorgen Hartman, the margrave’s forester, tracking down a poacher is a duty he is all too willing to perform. Jorgen inherited his post from the man who raised him...a man who was murdered at the hands of a poacher.

  When Jorgen and Odette meet as the Midsummer festival and share a connection during a dance, neither has any idea that they are already adversaries.

  The one man she wants is bound by duty to capture her; the one woman he loves is his cunning target...What becomes of a forester who protects a notorious poacher? What becomes of a poacher when she is finally discovered?”


Series: Book #1 in the “Medieval Fairy Tale Romance” series. {This is Swan Lake meets Robin Hood.}

Spiritual Content- Praying & Praying at a Cathedral; Going to Church and crossing; Talks about God & discussing Scriptures; Scriptures are quoted & mentioned; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Bible reading & mentions of; Mentions of Saints, those in the Bible & stained glass picturing them;

Negative Content- Animals (birds, deer and hares) are shot & killed for food (up to semi-detailed); Blood & a mention of someone who was trampled by horses (barely-above-not-detailed), Blood & fist fighting (semi-detailed); Arrows & Blood (semi-detailed).

Sexual Content- almost hand kisses & hand kisses, a couple not-detailed kisses, Five barely-above-not-detailed kisses, and Four semi-detailed kisses; Remembering kisses (barely-above-not-detailed); A men asks to kiss Odette and she says not tonight (it never happens); Noticing & Staring; Touches, Nearness & Embraces (barely-above-not-detailed to semi-detailed); Dancing & brushing shoulders (barely-above-not-detailed); Wanting to kiss & embrace; Noticing two couples kiss (one not-detailed and the other being barely-above-not-detailed); Rutger teases & says if a wealthy woman won’t marry him, he “shall get her with child and then she will have no choice”; Anna mentions that she heard her parents laughing at night and doesn’t “have ten brothers and sisters for nothing”; Mentions of and going to a brothel (or prostitution house) and saving a young girl there (no mentions of what happens there, only asking if someone is okay and later overhearing men talking about girls there. Nothing sexual); A discussion (between Odette and a monk) on whether it’s women or men’s fault for temptation; Love, falling in love & the emotions.

-Odette Menkels, age 21

-Jorgen Hartman, age 24-25
                                P.O.V. switches between them

                                              Set in 1363 {Medieval}
                                                        306 pages

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Pre Teens-

New Teens- 

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating- 

{Add ½ to a full star for girls who hunt or live on a farm.}

*happy sigh* Ohhhh, I just adore Melanie Dickerson novels. Even though I am not a hunter (at all) I would still say this is probably my third favorite novel by her. Right after “The Merchant’s Daughter” and first spot being claimed by “The Princess Spy”. What can I say, caring for orphans is near and dear to my heart. Odette was a great heroine and I’m looking forward to all the new books Miss Melanie will be coming out with! (The Fall cannot get here soon enough! So excited for “The Golden Braid” :D)

See y’all on Wednesday 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.

*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Thomas Nelson) for this review.

"The Piano Girl - Part Two" by Sherri Schoenborn Murray

About this book:

  “This is part two of The Piano Girl.
  She plays from memory. Her memories. The continuing saga of a girl, a boy, and the future of a kingdom.
  This princess to pauper story is filled with prayers, promises and plenty of piano. This is Part Two of a two part Series. In 2016, the Counterfeit Princess series will continue with Alia's sister, Wren. God willing.”


Series: Part Two of Book #1 in the “Counterfeit Princesses” series. {Part One’s review Here!}

Spiritual Content- Proverbs 2:2 at the beginning; Many, many Prayers; Two “God bless you”s.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a form of ‘shut up’; A mention of customers who “spewed obscenities when they’d drunk too much hope”; A couple mentions of brandy; Hunting & shooting animals for food (barely-above-not-detailed); A mention of a beheading; Shooting a man (barely-above-not-detailed); Getting shot & Blood (barely-above-not-detailed).

Sexual Content- a not-detailed kiss and a barely-above-not-detailed kiss; Forehead & check kisses (not-detailed); Touches & Embraces; Long is blind so when he talks about his wife, he outlines her plump curves and when singing about her a line says “Little old woman who shared my bed”.

-(Princess) Alia Dory Vankern Wells, age 16
                       1^st person P.O.V. of Alia (with Prince Wron & King Walter a few times in 2^nd)

                                              Set in 1882
                                                        165 pages (with two recipes)

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Pre Teens-

New Teens- 

Early High School Teens-

(and a half)

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

So. I want Part One and Part Two combined into a paperback, m’kay? {I just found out there is! Hahaha! Yay! Hey Momma, my birthday’s coming soon....?} Oh goodness! Part Two of this story was great! I wasn’t prepared for the gnomes, but it was fun and I loved the ending! I personally liked this part better than Part One. I’m truly looking forward to Wren’s story hopefully next year!

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.

*I received this e-book for free from the Author for this review.