LAKESHIRE PARK by Megan Walker

LAKESHIRE PARK by Megan Walker. I enjoyed this story. It showed a different side of the regency era and how if you didn't have an inheritance or a relative willing to support you, there was not much that could be done. I really felt Amelia's drive to make sure her sister was taken care of. I felt the urgency and frustration when Mr. Wood got in the way. I felt how Amelia could tell she had no choice but to play by his rules in order to take care of her sister. I also felt her heart softening. Once everything is taken, I can imagine how hard it would be to give up the only thing she had left to claim. It was satisfying, if that's a good way to describe it, to what things unfold. It showed a true journey of the heart, including the heartbreak along the way. I would recommend this book to anyone.

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Brighton, England 1820

Amelia Moore is worried about her and her sister's future. With their stepfather's looming death, she knows they'll soon be on their own—without an inheritance, home, or penny to their names. When an invitation arrives to join a house party at Lakeshire Park, Amelia is eager to encourage a match between her sister, Clara, and Sir Ronald. At least then, she'll know her sister will be taken care of.

Little does she know that another guest, Mr. Peter Wood, is after the same goal for his sister. Starting with a quarrel over a glove, Amelia and Peter begin a rivalry—one that Amelia has no choice but to win. But competing against Peter—and eventually playing by his rules—makes Amelia vulnerable to losing the only thing she has left to claim—her heart.

DEBT FREE DEGREE by Anthony ONeal

DEBT FREE DEGREE by Anthony ONeal. This is a good read. For me, there was not a lot of new information in it, but I have been through college and followed those steps myself for the most part. The new information I did find was really good. ONeal has a running list of scholarships on his website. I would have loved to have that resource as I prepared for college. For parents who have not been to college or who are unsure how to help their child get through college or really any parent out there should read this book. Student loans are killing students as they graduate, and this is an extremely helpful resource to help students get through college without any debt. And, as ONeal said many times in his book, it's never too late to start. So take a look.

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Every parent wants the best for their child.

That's why they send them to college But most parents struggle to pay for school and end up turning to student loans. That's why the majority of graduates walk away with $35,000 in student loan debt and no clue what that debt will really cost them.

Student loan debt doesn't open doors for young adults--it closes them. They postpone getting married and starting a family. That debt even takes away their freedom to pursue their dreams. But there is a different way. Going to college without student loans is possible 

In Debt-Free Degree, Anthony ONeal teaches parents how to get their child through school without debt, even if they haven't saved for it. He also shows parents: 

• How to prepare their child for college
• Which classes to take in high school
• How and when to take the ACT and SAT
• The right way to do college visits
• How to choose a major

A college education is supposed to prepare a graduate for their future, not rob them of their paycheck and freedom for decades. Debt-Free Degree shows parents how to pay cash for college and set their child up to succeed for life.

WILLA AND THE WHALE by Chad Morris and Shelly Brown

WILLA AND THE WHALE by Chad Morris and Shelly Brown. What a great way to show how different people deal with different emotions. Grief is an interesting animal and sometimes it does takes animals to help people through it. In Willa's case, it was Meg, a blue whale. I loved the relationship that Willa had with Meg. I love how Meg was able to help Willa through her grief and issues everyone seems to have at school. And I love how Meg really steps up and solves a whale sized problem with the help of loved ones around her. I would recommend this book to any and everyone, especially those who could use a different view point in how to deal with and how those around them may be dealing with different emotions.

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After losing her mom, Willa is grieving and having a hard time living with her dad and his new family on an island off the coast of Washington State. Her dad tries to cheer her up by taking her whale watching, something Willa's mom used to do.

While all the passengers are on one side of the boat, Willa encounters a humpback whale on the opposite side. Willa feels so lonely that she starts to talk to the whale—and the whale talks back!

The whale, named Meg, quickly becomes a trusted friend and confidante Willa can speak to whenever she's by the ocean.

Meg offers sound advice Willa needs about dealing with a nemesis at school and trying to figure out why her friend Marc is keeping secrets about his family life.

Before the story ends, it will take all of Willa's courage and connections to tackle a problem that's as big as a blue whale!