Book Review: Confessions of April Grace: Chocolate-Covered Baloney

April Grace does not want change in her life, but that’s exactly what she gets.  If starting junior high school wasn’t enough, April is adjusting to a new baby brother, a sneaking sister, a Grandma who is dating, a neighbor that becomes her teacher and a family secret that is about to be reveled. Boy, oh boy!

"Confessions of April Grace: Chocolate-Covered Baloney" by KD McCrite is the latest in the April Grace series. It is appropriate for preteen, teens and adults. There are no love scenes or making out between teens, no drugs and no foul language, however, April and her sister do a large amount of name calling in this book. There is no physical violence but again, April and her sister bicker, yell and call each other names.

This book reminds me of the books I read as a teen. It is full of teen drama and problems that need to be resolved. I like how she uses her brain and help from those around her to solve the problems she is having. As this book is set in the 1980s you will not find a cell phone, iPod, Internet or other electronic trappings. The characters have to actually talk it out instead of texting! What a concept! 

As I grew up in the south in the 1980 this book was very relatable. The colloquialisms had me cracking up, they were very accurate. Everything from the long corded phone, attending church on Sunday to bickering and name calling was very nostalgic. 

 (Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this e-book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”)

Book Review: Crazy Dangerous

“Crazy Dangerous” by Andrew Klaven is a quick read, good for a rainy afternoon. There are no sequels or cliff hangers to worry about. It is a quick paced story that will keep you turning pages until the end. 

The story begins by introducing us to Jennifer, a teenage girl who has terrifying hallucinations, sees demons and hears unfriendly voices. Then, we meet Sam, a preacher’s kid who is just trying to fit in, like any other teenager. He falls in with the wrong crowd and knows his bad decisions are going to get him in bigger trouble than he can handle. Jennifer comes into the picture and he has to make a choice.

Sam’s choice to do the right thing, no matter what becomes the central theme of the story. No one but Sam believes Jennifer’s hallucinations are anything but symptoms of mental illness. He believes these hallucinations are something more and goes to any length to stop what Jennifer says it coming – death and terror.

The book is a good read, the writing is good and clean and the pace is quick and keeps the story moving. I do like that this book is straight forward, in that there is a end and the author gets us there without any detours or fluff, everything is there to help tie up the ending. Sam is a good strong moral character, a gentleman choosing right over wrong. That is refreshing in a world of teen lit where the main male character is so often a moody, rude bad boy. I also liked that I could read this book in an afternoon instead of knowing that at the end of this book, I have at least two more go before I finish the series.


(Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this e-book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”)