Chocolate-Covered Baloney

Confessions of April Grace #3

by K.D. McCrite

The last thing April Grace wants is more change in her life―but that’s exactly what she gets! Plus, April has a new mystery to solve when Myra Sue starts sneaking around and acting very suspicious! From snooty new neighbors to starting junior high to getting a new baby brother to having her grandmother get a boyfriend, April Grace has had enough change to last until she is at least 87 years old. But when it rains, it pours, and April Grace is in for the ride of her life when her prissy, citified neighbor Isabel becomes her gym teacher and a long-lost relative suddenly reappears and throws everything into a tizzy. On top of that, April’s sister, Myra Sue, has been hiding something and sneaking around. April needs to find out what is going on before her silly sister gets herself into trouble again. More important, will April find the grace she needs to handle her topsy-turvy life and forgive past wrongs? Girls will fall in love with April’s humor and completely relate to her as she deals with family, friends, drama, and both the humor and the heartache that are part of growing up.

Genres: Young Adult, Christian Fiction, Middle Grade, Contemporary, Childrens, Family

288 pages, Paperback

First published October 30, 2012

About the author

Also writes as Sydney Hope Archer.

K.D. McCrite was raised on a small dairy farm in the Ozarks. She has a degree in psychology from Drury University and has worked as a librarian and as a mental health caseworker.

She currently resides in Arkansas.

Reviews

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 4 out of 5]

About this book:

“The last thing April Grace wants is more change in her life—but that’s exactly what she gets! Plus, April has a new mystery to solve when Myra Sue starts sneaking around and acting very suspicious!
From snooty new neighbors to starting junior high to getting a new baby brother to having her grandmother get a boyfriend, April Grace has had enough change to last until she is at least 87 years old.
But when it rains, it pours, and April Grace is in for the ride of her life when her prissy, citified neighbor Isabel becomes her gym teacher and a long-lost relative suddenly reappears and throws everything into a tizzy. On top of that, April’s sister, Myra Sue, has been hiding something and sneaking around. April needs to find out what is going on before her silly sister gets herself into trouble again. More important, will April find the grace she needs to handle her topsy-turvy life and forgive past wrongs?”


Series: Book #3 in the “Confessions of April Grace” series. Review of Book #1 Here and Book #2 Here! There are three books in this original series and the first book in a new series about April Grace will be republished this summer.


Spiritual Content- A few Scriptures & the Lord’s Prayer are mentioned, read, & quoted (and mixed up); Prayers; Church going (When a pastor says there’s going to be change, April Grace decides to read the hymnbook instead of listening to the sermon because she’s had enough change lately); ‘H’s are capitalized when referring to God; Mentions of God & Jesus; Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of churches, church going, services, sermons, hymns, & pastors/reverends; Mentions of a Christmas play (Book #2); A few mentions of those & events in the Bible; A couple mentions of being a Christian & acting like Christ; A mention of a revival meeting; A mention of someone looking old enough to be Methuselah’s great-grandmother; A mention of Billy Graham; A mention of a teacher’s handouts being as thick as the Holy Bible;
*Note: A few mentions of aliens & being abducted; A couple mentions of someone having a spray for warding off negative energy; A mention of the wind howling like a ghost.


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘none of your beeswax’, a ‘wimp’, two ‘crud’s, two ‘duh’s, three forms of ‘shut up’, six ‘drip’s, seven ‘stupid’s, fifty-four forms of ‘dumb’; A couple mentions of curses (said, not written; including a mention that April Grace and her sister are never allowed to say the bad language that Isabel and Ian used to use); Sarcasm, eye rolling, & being a smart aleck; Myra Sue & April Grace bicker & call each other names (brat, dingbatty, drip, dipstick, dope, doofus, dumb, and Myra Sue telling April Grace that she “should turn blue”) & April Grace snoops in her room (when it happens in front of adults or if one says something not nice about the other, they are reprimanded); April Grace and her best friend get into a couple arguments and call each other names, but they work it out by letting things cool down; A couple adults can be mean to another & while April Grace felt the same way towards this person at first, she realizes by the end that they aren’t being nice and they need listen to each other (that there’s another side to every story); *Spoiler* Myra Sue steals money from their mom and grandma and runs away from home to go to New York to be a star. Everyone is very worried, but thankfully the police find her before anything bad happens (Myra Sue realizes that it’s awful out there away from their home) *End of Spoiler*; Being sick & Throwing up; Mentions of wars & battles; Mentions of a mother abandoning her daughter twice to a mean aunt that starved and mistreated her; Mentions of throwing up; Mentions of things that happen to runaways (such as meeting strangers that hurt them, getting ran over by a car, freezing to death, or falling off the side of a mountain); Mentions of burglars/robbers/thieves, robberies, & stealing; Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of hatred (including Myra Sue saying that everyone hates her & no one would miss her if she disappeared forever); Mentions of cigarettes, smoking, chain smokers, & that Isabel is trying to quit; Mentions of prank calls; A few mentions of gossip; A couple mentions of wondering if someone was kidnapped; A mention of an ax murderer; A mention of jail; A mention of swatting a misbehaving child; A mention of drivers “tell off” a slow driver;
*Note: April Grace was upset in Book #2 when it was announced that her mother was pregnant, but now loves her baby brother and wouldn’t trade him for anything; Myra Sue wears a lot of makeup to school & washes it off before she gets home because she knows her parents wouldn’t approve; Mentions of brand names & stores (Kleenex, Bic pens, Pepto-Bismol, Jell-O, Pepsi, Tide, Purex, Squirt soda, Godiva, Russell Stover, Barbie, Heinz, Welch’s, Dial soap, Prell shampoo, McDonald’s, Red Lobster, & Wal-Mart); Mentions of TV shows, soap operas, characters, & hosts (The Cosby Show, Perry Mason, The Price is Right, Silver Linings, Days of Our Lives, Another World, Growing Pains, Who’s the Boss?, Bob Barker, & Vanna White); Mentions of music & groups (Huey Lewis and the News, Hall and Oates, Michael Jackson, Bon Jovi, & Patsy Cline); Mentions of magazines (Tiger Beat, Soap Opera Digests, Current Soaps, People, Today’s Theatre, Cosmopolitan, & Young Model); Mentions of car brands; Mentions of books, characters, & authors; A few mentions of the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes; A couple mentions of a movie & an actress (The African Queen & Katharine Hepburn); A mention of Google; A mention of Disney World; A mention of Oscar the Grouch; A mention of a vampire; A mention of someone being “an all-fired pain in the patootie”; A mention of April Grace & her friend watching a horror movie (even though they aren’t supposed to) & ending up staying up all night because of it.


Sexual Content- Mentions of dates, dating, girlfriends/boyfriends (including April Grace thinking her grandma has three boyfriends), & Myra Sue not being allowed to date until she’s 16; Mentions of potential love letters; A few mentions of flirting; A couple mentions of not wanting to witness any kissy or moony-eyed business between a couple; A mention of jealousy;
*Note: A few mentions of when Myra Sue starved herself (an eating disorder, Book #1); A few mentions of that her mother would never approve of a dress that Myra Sue has; A couple mentions of April Grace believing that if you’re old you should not wear miniskirts; A mention of April Grace thinking she’s had enough change for any sixth-grade girl; A mention of a grandma saying she’s kept her figure; A mention of a man being a handsome smooth-talker that didn’t want his baby’s mother or their baby (unsure if they were married or not).

-April Grace Reilly
1st person P.O.V. of April Grace
Set in 1987
284 pages

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars

This series has a special place in my heart, sass and all.

I really adore the lessons that are at the end of this third book and seeing April Grace’s growth. *happy sigh* Like the previous books, April Grace has such a way with descriptions and her reactions to different things make me laugh so hard at times. I still don’t think I would recommend it for girls around her age because of the sassiness/sarcasm and sibling bickering, but it can be a really fun series for those that are at least a bit older.



Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...


*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.

[Dear Faye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boy, oh boy! Good gravy!

This book was a very pleasant surprise. I requested this one day on NetGalley after seeing its ultra cute cover, and kind of forgot about it in the end. I was thinking it must be some boring Middle Grade book for tweens, talking about junior school evil teachers, hot classmates, and vile cheerleaders. I'm twenty now; I'm so over that phase. I didn't want to read all about those again, so this title kinda just... sat there. Then one day, I was looking for a light-hearted read, especially after that "disaster" with The Eternity Cure, and saw this one. I was sure it was going to be a disaster again, but I trudged on anyway. Boy, oh boy! Was I wrong on that one!

Right now I'm only wishing that I read it sooner. What I thought was a boring read turned out to be extremely light-hearted, with lots of humor and tween wit, with juuuust a little drama on the top to spice things up - resulting to a fulfilling experience that would leave you giggling and clutching a couple of tissues. Man, that was fun!

There were a lot to like in this book. First and foremost, the internal narration was bloody fantastic. We see the story in the point-of-view of April Grace, a young girl who hates change the most. Her voice was very effective and genuine, and it really felt like I was reading from a tween! Her gestures, her words and dialogue, even her reactions - from petty annoyance when snotty sisters get in the picture and irritation when best friends don't take your side to amazement and awe at the simplest of things - felt very, very real and endearing. This is what I appreciated the most, because there's nothing in it that tried to be "mature" or anything of that sort. It's a tell it like it is stuff.

Because of this, it allowed a lot of room for character development and growth, which is one of the best things ever to read in a book! April Grace is easily irritable and judgemental, which is common nowadays (and I bet you used to be one, too, a long time ago :>), and this attitude problems of hers eventually become worse as new things and events enter her life. But of course, like any other feel-good story, she realizes her mistakes, learns to listen to other people, and gives other people second chances.

Boy, oh boy! This book has a lot of moral values to learn from, and I reckon others will appreciate it, too. The stuff you learn from tweens ;)

All in all, this is a feel-good book. I'm happy to have read it when I was a bit pissed off and ranty, because I finished with a big smile on my face and a more positive outlook in life. Thank you!

An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley for reviewing purposes. No money or any form of transaction was exchanged.

Read my other reviews at The Social Potato!

[Rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review to come. I read a bit over 50% of this novel and had to do a DNF review because of technical issues with my galley copy. If I ever come across a full copy of this work, I'll likely update this review (and surprisingly, I actually would like to read the rest of this at some point.) On an overarching note, with respect to the content of this - I had issues with the overuse of phrasing, the antagonism of the main character, April Grace, with respect to her sister, and the pacing of the narrative. Another downside was that I didn't realize this was the third novel in a series, so I might've been lost to some events and character dynamic. Yet, I have to say - it's actually a cute book in spurts, and there were times it made me chuckle. It features a nice throw back to the 80s and gives a plethora of references, some of which I appreciated.

[Abbie Coon · Rating 4 out of 5]

April Grace Reilly and her family were just getting things back to normal when their lives turned upside down again! In the beginning of the book April Grace notices her sister Myra Sue acting strange and sneaky around the mailbox, and decides not to tell anyone about it until she has full proof that her sister is up to no good. Aside from her sneaky sister, April's life goes on as normal for a bit, but her family keeps getting strange calls. One of the Reilly's would answer the phone, and then the person on the other end would hang up. Soon after, it's grandma Grace's Birthday, and April is given the task of getting her out of the house so her mother and their neighbor Isabel can get the house ready for the surprise party they've been planning, and she successfully distracts her Grandma for a long time. When they get home, all of their friends from Rough Creek Road (the street they live on) are there to wish Grandma Grace a happy birthday! Everyone is having a good time at the party when there is a knock on the door. Someone gets the door, and when the strange woman comes in, she acts as if she is part of the family, and calls herself "Mimi." April's mom runs out of the house and when April goes to comfort her, she finds out that this "Screaming Mimi person" is her mother's mother. The mother who left her daughter to a mean aunt who didn't feed April's Mom and didn't care for her. Her mom, being as nice as she is, lets Mimi stay at her house when she asks, despite how uncomfortable and stressed it makes her feel. April Grace invites her friend over the next day to talk about her Mimi problems, but her friend ends up defending Mimi instead of her mother! Her and her friend fight and her friend calls her mom to pick her up. Later, Mimi admits to be the cause of the strange "prank calls" they have been getting, and April's mom gets frustrated with her staying even though she's helping around the house and with the new baby. A few days later, April Grace gets up for school, and when she goes into the bathroom to find it clean. This was very unusual because her sister never cleans up after the mess she leaves each morning. When April went down with her books for breakfast and saw that her sisters books were not on the table like usual. She Yelled for her mom, and when they went to Myra's room to investigate, they found a lot of her clothes missing and a suitcase missing from her closet. Their mom freaked out and April ran to go get her dad from where he was out milking the cows. Soon, everyone living on Rough Creek Road was in their house. April felt sick and Mimi led her to her room to take care of her. When she woke up, she felt one and asked Mimi to dig under her sister's bed for clues, because she had seen Myra stuff some papers under there. Mimi thought she was insane, but she helped look anyways. They found that her sister had made plans to travel to New York to become an actress in a soap opera on T.V. She had stolen the money for bus tickets form her mother and Mimi, and she was on the phone with people who helped her arrange her transport. Mimi felt really bad, and went outside to sit under a tree and sulk. April grace bundled up and brought a coat to her. Mimi shared the real story of what happened with April's mother, and how she had no idea that she wasn't being taken care of properly. The rest of the family found where Myra was, and April told the entire family to go, even Mimi. Isabel and their other neighbors took care of April because she was still feeling sick, and when the entire family got home, April's Mother actually called her mother "Mom" instead of calling her by her first name. This time, April Grace knew that her family was finally home, and everything was back to normal. Well, as normal as it could get! I LOVED this book!! It was very interesting, and got even more interesting as I kept reading. The plots all flowed together well and I could understand what was going on at all times. This book has VERY good descriptive words. (I literally cried while reading this!) I would recommend this book to girls 12 and up, because it's very relatable and super interesting!!

[Lynnea (Juv) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chocolate-Covered Baloney (Confessions of April Grace #3) by K. D. McCrite was another fun book provided to me on my nook by Thomas Nelson Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

This book, written in the first-person, reminded me of the Junie B. Jones' books written for much younger kids. April Grace is a sixth grade girl, so definitely older and more mature than Junie B. but still just as funny.
I am looking forward to my twelve-year-old daughter to read this book. It is always fun to discuss books with her and this one will lead to discussions about judging people without knowing their whole story and then leading into asking for forgiveness and forgiving.
This book takes place in 1987 which seemed odd for a book published this year (2012). However, there is an author's note at the end of the book. McCrite explains that she wanted today's youth to realize "what you experience is new to you, but it's not new." It's as reminder that life still happened before cell phones and Google!
Five stars for the tween/young teen population!

[Maggie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book had nothing going for it no way to keep you turning pages. I thought it was boaring and needed something more, though I did like the style of the author’s writing. I would not recommend this book.

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this family's misadventures

[Adriana · Rating 5 out of 5]

She's Got Books on Her Mind

"What I wanted to do was stay in our nice, warm house, crawl up on my bed, wrap myself in the raggedy old blanket I'd had since I was little, and read that book that was supposed to be over my head. That's what I wanted to do, but something inside me said, "April Grace Reilly, something is Going On, and you need to find out what."

April Grace Reilly knows that her sister's up to no good what with her hanging around the mailbox all of a sudden and getting so defensive when she asks what she is doing. Her sister even threatens to tell their mama about some things April Grace doesn't want her to know. She's also been acting like she's doing so much homework when she knows for a fact that she's just reading her fashion magazines. April Grace knows she's up to something but she's going to have to get proof this time so someone will believe her before something terrible happens like it has happened in the past. But, then comes a surprise visitor that changes everything. Now April Grace is trying to be there for her mother and grandmother while seeing if there is some connection with her sister's odd behavior and this horrid visitor coming into town.

I recently reviewed the first book in the Confession of April Grace series, In Front of God and Everybody. I haven't read the second book yet but when I saw this on NetGalley I couldn't resist! A review saying that you didn't need to read the other books to follow along with this story also swayed my decision to request the third book with April Grace. There were two big shocks that came along with this story. The first one is because I didn't read the second book and the second shock was purely based upon this book. There's a new visitor that just takes control of everybody's emotions in the family. They are unwanted but her mama can never turn anyone down because she's just so good. I knew from the start the author was going to try to make me like this person but I was not going to like this person no matter what! She changed my mind anyways. With some tears in my eyes I admitted that I liked them now when there was a touching moment in the book. You'll notice that I don't tell you who it is because that would ruin everything! Just know when the name was revealed a audibly gasped. It couldn't be true! It made for one great twist.

Most of the story is based around April Grace's sister, Myra Sue, who April Grace can't stand. Myra Sue thinks she's so glamorous and strives to be that way. April Grace's response is to call her a D.R.I.P. I think it was intentional that April Grace said more and more awful things about her sister that made me notice and feeling sorry for her sister. I really like April Grace and she has said some things out of sibling rivalry in the past but I think she went too far. You could tell that Myra Sue was feeling low and she didn't need negativity. I foresaw what was going to happen and I can't say I blame Myra Sue for it. The sense of family love came together when this story was through. It was like enough was enough this had to happen for the family to be more like a family. April Grace needed to notice that everyone has feelings. I enjoyed this togetherness coming from the sister's relationship as well as from her mother. I've complained before that April Grace's mother was just way too nice so much so that she caused heartache to her family. This time around I think I finally saw her and appreciated what she was all about. Isabel was also quite the loyal friend being there for April Grace's mom and grandma when they needed some backup. She's come along way.

This book was even better than the first. I am so happy how it all turned out and I so enjoy all of the characters this time around even more. April Grace was her always nosy self that got a few laughs and smiles out of me. Any way she acts she's still her incredibly funny self who people should really start to pay attention to! She knows things and for fear that people would brush off her theories she tried to find proof that there is something going on with her sister. When everything hit the fan who was there to save the day? April Grace of course. I love that girl. This book was less christian fiction for me even if the first book wasn't that much either. It was a nice amount and didn't overwhelm me at all so I think most people will like her story. If you are looking for a good southern children's book with a hilarious main character you should read about April Grace. April Grace truly captured my heart once again.

[Elizabeth S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not a huge fan of change, and neither is April Grace Reilly, a sixth-grader from Cedar Ridge. April Grace's life turned upside down in such a short time, and it all started with a simple warning in church. It was almost as if the sermon Pastor Ross gave that Sunday morning in 1987 was meant specifically for April Grace and her family. He simply said, "Things are gonna change." (pg 1) And boy, oh boy, things surely did change!

Simple things occurred at first. Isabel, the Reilly's uppity neighbor from California became April Grace's gym teacher. Isabel wasn't just any ole gym teacher; she was teaching them dance the Proper Way.

Then, April Grace's sister, Myra Sue starts acting very sneaky. For a dumb fourteen year old, Myra Sue was acting more dumb than usual according to April Grace. She became suddenly interested in the mail and homework, which April Grace highly suspected was just a cover-up for something else. After all, Myra Sue never did her homework and was too accustomed to making Cs to start studying now. Even more peculiar, Myra Sue became overly fascinated in the phone--way more fascinated than her average teenage, soap opera-loving self.

Still trying to figure out what Myra Sue is hiding, another stick is thrown in the road when a long-lost relative suddenly appears. April Grace has reached her limit of change, but the boulder won't stop. What was Myra Sue hiding? Who is this relative, and Why is this person in her home, her life, expecting to be part of the family when they haven't been before?

Problems of change come in all sizes, but the biggest comes towards the end. I won't spoil it for you (you have to read it for yourself), but the Reilly family as a whole learns to listen and forgive right smack in the middle of a crisis. Most of all, April Grace learns to treasure her sister, Myra Sue, and that sometimes, being a big-fat tattletale is the right thing to do.

I have to say, I really enjoyed this book. Katherine McCrite's Chocolate-Covered Baloney: Confessions of April Grace took me back to the time of phone cords being stretched as far as they'd reach for privacy, solving problems without the internet, and entertainment of days long ago. This book is perfect for a young girl of today who needs a different perspective (after all the 80s are back in style). It is also for us adults who as a child of the 80s can relive those moments all over again.

Change isn't easy. I can say I wish some things were still the same as they were in the 80s...except BIG HAIR. That is one thing that definitely needed to change!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this 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."

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book up for review is “Chocolate-Covered Baloney(The Confessions of April Grace” by KD McCrite.

It revolves around the main character April Grace who lives with her youngest baby brother Eli, her oldest sister Myra and their parents. The setting is in the 80ties so there is a lot of reference to that time frame, a period I did enjoy thoroughly. She is a curious child with an active imagination. When she sees her older sister standing by the mailbox one evening and place something inside her brain takes off with the possibilities what Myra could possibly be doing. That gets put to the side when her mother’s mom appears out of nowhere having abandoned her daughter not once but twice many years ago. No one makes this woman feel quite at home as she tries to blend in with the household. If that was not enough her sister Myra is acting more secretive then usually staying in her room and keeping to herself. The plot thickens when April has to move into her sister’s room so the new grandmother can sleep in her own room. April starts to snoop even more so for the opportunity is right before her eyes.

This book was a bit lukewarm to me. I have not read the previous books to this series so am not sure if there is information in the others that I need to know prior to reading this one. I did not like the fact that April Grace addressed most of the adults in the book by their first name. That did turn me off a bit. The girl and her dialogue seemed a bit older then she actually was. Her personality was a little too much in some cases where she acted like an adult and got away with it in her speaking and actions. Again not having read the previous books this might have been already established.

The book was decent and a good read but I feel I missed out on not reading the previous ones in this series.

[TWJ Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're a fan of books for tweens and teens, then you'll be a fan of K.D. McCrite and her lively young heroine, April Grace. This series takes place in the 1980's, before the age of cell phones and social media...which proves that tweens are pretty much the same regardless of the decade, and deal with the same kinds of issues.

In Chocolate Covered Baloney, April Grace has a lot to deal with. A grandmother she's never met before shows up on the family doorstep, acting like she's family and ready to move right in. April's older sister, Myra Sue, is keeping secrets and acting mysterious, and April Grace still isn't quite sure how she feels about neighbors Isabel and Ian.

In the third novel of a series (Confessions of April Grace), the title character lives up to her name...her middle name, at least. She learns a lot about showing grace, forgiving in love...and finally gets to the bottom of Myra Sue's secrecy...in the nick of time.

April Grace is spunky and confident, and speaks her mind. She reminds me a little of the 80's sitcom character Punky Brewster...if Punky knew Jesus! Her family adventures are always fun and full of faith and love...with lots of humor thrown in for good measure. I've enjoyed the entire series, and Chocolate Covered Baloney lives up to its title.

I highly recommend the first two titles in this series as well.

The Wordsmith Journal strives to guide readers to books of personal interest, with the understanding and respect that what appeals to some may not appeal to others. Therefore we attempt to keep our reviews focused on content, genre and style. The rating is necessary to make use of Goodreads and Amazon. It reflects the reviewer’s own level of enjoyment, but the review is intended to be informative for the benefit of all readers.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the series about April Grace. I have not yet read the first two, but was able to follow the story easily without having read them.

This is what I call a VOICE book. You know those books where you feel like you can clearly hear the character's voice in your head as you read. It's more like sitting down and having a conversation with a person than it is like reading a book.

I love April Grace. She's a strong, well developed character who grows throughout the story. She is confident but willing to admit when she's wrong. I love her relationship with all the members of her family. Even though she has little or no patience with her snotty older sister, Myra Sue, you can tell that deep down she really cares for her. She's even willing (after some struggling) to learn to love this new trouble causing long lost relative. All of her antics provide for an enjoyable read.

I especially liked that this story takes place during the late 80s when children were not so "plugged in." It was refreshing to see young people interact without benefit of cell phones and social media.

Another positive is April Grace's spiritual side. It's not an overwhelming aspect of the book, but April Grace does frequently stop to consider her actions/thoughts and pray about them. April Grace is not perfect, but she does try to be good. This is a book I can add to my Young Christian Fiction reading list.

I enjoyed this book so much, I've already requested the first two books In Front of God and Everybody and Cliques, Hicks and Ugly Sticks. I also plan to order these books for the school library. Readers who enjoyed Heather Frederick's The Mother Daughter Book Club series will certainly want to check out this series

[Julie Graves · Rating 4 out of 5]

April Grace and her sister Myra Sue do not get along. Especially now that April knows that Myra has a secret. Myra has been sneaking out to the mailbox, writing mysterious letters in her room(pretending to be doing homework), and being cranky with everyone around her. Her family all chalks it up to "just a stage she's going through," but April thinks there is something more to it.

When a long-lost relative shows up unannounced things go from bad to worse. Now April and Myra have to share a room again. The girls are fighting more than ever and things in their home are topsy-turvy. And what about the mysterious hang-up phone calls?

April is as feisty and curious as ever which makes for some entertaining episodes in the story. Honest to a fault she does manage to bite her tongue to keep from saying even more than she already does. When the pastor of their church delivers a sermon on "change is coming" April tunes out. She feels that their family has had enough change to last her a lifetime.

Chocolate-Covered Baloney was an entertaining read. Once again the antics of April Grace and the things that come out of her mouth crack me up. Even though she and her sister fight constantly you can tell that April still has a loyalty to family and love and concern for them. Returning characters included Isabel, Grandma(and her multiple boyfriends), April's parents and the Freebirds. And introduced a new unexpected, and unwanted family member. April's parents have never thrown anyone out of their house before, but this guest may exceed that generosity. A fun book and I look forward to the next installment of the April Grace confessions.

[Kathleen Pacious · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chocolate Covered Baloney is set in the Ozark Mountains in the 1980s and tells the story of 12 year old April Grace who is facing growing pains. Her older sister, Myra Sue, is acting sneakier than ever and April is determined to find out what she is up to. But things get more complicated than sibling fights when, at the surprise birthday party for Grandma, April’s other grandmother “Mimi” shows up, the one who abandoned April’s mother as a baby.

Once Mimi walks in, nobody in the family wants to ask her to leave, although everyone wants her gone. April’s is a churchgoing family and try to treat even strangers with hospitality and kindness. But can they forgive the woman who abandoned her own child?

When Myra Sue runs away, heading for New York City to pursue an acting career, the family (including Mimi), must work together to bring her home.

The fact that this book is set in the 1980s is a treat. There are no references to cell phones, internet, computers, etc. and instead, April runs around outside, visits neighbors, and spends time with her grandmother. The best part of this book is the character of April Grace; her voice is very real and her commentary on various family situations is hilarious. Her family displays real love for each other (and rules) and we see how they respect the freedom of each other.

Chocolate-Covered Baloney is a simple story that deals with significant family problems, and yet does so in a way that is age appropriate and optimistic without becoming sugary.
www.goodreadingguide.com

[Gaele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in the 80’s, this third instalment in the Confessions of April Grace series finds a 12 year old April embroiled in changes: new school, new baby at home, new neighbors and a new boyfriend for *gasp* her Grandmother, it isn’t enough that this little heroine has to deal with the everyday stress of life. Sometimes funny, often surprising commentary escapes her lips, all very typical 12 year old behaviour.

Loaded with pop culture references from the 80’s, and limited in technology in the pre-Google days, it’s sure to bring up questions between parents and children about the “old days”.

While I appreciated April’s honesty, and her inability to control her curiosity, the endless battles and negative words in reference to her sister were wearing. Not having any siblings, so having no personal experience in those battles, I assume that the words and names are more a childhood lashing out in anger than a true consistent feeling: although there never seemed to be an adult who addressed the issue. A book that would most likely appeal to 10 – 12 year olds, this would be a good escape for an afternoon.

I received an eBook copy from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review, and all conclusions are my own responsibility.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

April Grace has a big mouth. She isn't afraid to say what she thinks, even if comes out rather rude. And she has definite opinions about things including her sister, Myra Sue's strange behavior. Having gotten in trouble previously she decides that she won't tell anyone about it until she has some concrete proof as to what her sister is doing. But the unexpected arrival of a relative throws all her plans into chaos, making her wonder what her life is coming to. Throw in a disagreement with her best friend, a surprise birthday party, and her neighbor as her new P.E. teacher and April Grace has a lot to sort through. Can she figure it out in time? Or will things just explode?

Strengths: April Grace is one of those characters that makes you sigh in exasperation yet laugh at her brashness. She has a strong voice and her 'quaint' expressions help create a believable setting. The other characters are also interesting each with his/her own problems and perspectives. The author does a nice job of showing how real relationships sometimes work and sometimes don't work based on those perspectives which may or may not be accurate.

Weaknesses: Much of this book takes place at April Grace's home, which is interesting, but some young readers might find a tad boring, but April Grace's narration is anything but boring. The mystery with Myra Sue isn't too hard to figure out.

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sixth-grader April Grace attempts to uncover her teenage sister Myra Sue's big secret amid other family and best friend drama.

The 1987 setting brought back childhood memories for me, I thoroughly enjoyed the references to the era, especially Myra Sue's fondness for soap operas so similar to my own, though it's not like you have to be of that time to get it, there's plenty here for young readers to identify with emotionally.

April Grace is such a great young heroine, clever, loving, and she speaks up for herself, she also makes mistakes though, so she isn't perfect, she's someone you could relate to.

I thought the author really captured April Grace's voice, she always sounded authentic, I never had that moment where I thought a kid her age wouldn't say or do that, I never felt the adult behind the writing, it was pure April Grace.

I went into this expecting something sweet and feel-good, and it did deliver on that, but I was also pleasantly surprised by the heavier subject matter involving one of April Grace's grandmothers, I thought it was handled really well, the pacing just right for it to be resolved in a positive yet believable way, there were lessons learned though they never seemed heavy-handed, which helps make this a novel readers of any age can appreciate.

[Jeanie Loiacono · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://www.amazon.com/Chocolate-Cover...

The last thing April Grace wants is more change in her life—but that’s exactly what she gets! Plus, April has a new mystery to solve when Myra Sue starts sneaking around and acting very suspicious!

From snooty new neighbors to starting junior high to getting a new baby brother to having her grandmother get a boyfriend, April Grace has had enough change to last until she is at least 87 years old.

But when it rains, it pours, and April Grace is in for the ride of her life when her prissy, citified neighbor Isabel becomes her gym teacher and a long-lost relative suddenly reappears and throws everything into a tizzy. On top of that, April’s sister, Myra Sue, has been hiding something and sneaking around. April needs to find out what is going on before her silly sister gets herself into trouble again. More important, will April find the grace she needs to handle her topsy-turvy life and forgive past wrongs?

Girls will fall in love with April’s humor and completely relate to her as she deals with family, friends, drama, and both the humor and the heartache that are part of growing up.

[Maria . · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book with a great Christian emphasis and good morals and life lessons.
Plot: April Grace Reilly is a spunky, feisty girl. She loves chocolate, books, and her family. But-there's always a but- April's life goes kapootsie. A long-lost relative appears ( a real-life screamin' Mimi!!!!) and her sister Myra Sue is definitely Up To Something. When the unthinkable happens, can April Grace solve a mystery and save her sister?
Positive Content: April Grace loves her family and learns many valuable lessons. She learns to love the unlovable, not judge others, and much more. A good book with only one little flaw.
Negative Content: April Grace refers to he sister as "dumb ole Myra Sue" a lot.I don't like April badmouthing her sister. This almost made me stop reading the book. Also the title of the second book "Cliques, Hicks, and Ugly Sticks" might raise some hackles with some families.
Conclusion: This book was good, but could have been better with just one little adjustment.
Who agrees with me?
Maria Tag


My reviews are supposed to be helpful, and I hope I helped you. If I misunderstood something or got some facts wrong, please tell me. Thank you! -Maria Tag

[Lynnea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chocolate-Covered Baloney (Confessions of April Grace #3) by K. D. McCrite was another fun book provided to me on my nook by Thomas Nelson Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

This book, written in the first-person, reminded me of the Junie B. Jones' books written for much younger kids. April Grace is a sixth grade girl, so definitely older and more mature than Junie B. but still just as funny.

I am looking forward to my twelve-year-old daughter to read this book. It is always fun to discuss books with her and this one will lead to discussions about judging people without knowing their whole story and then leading into asking for forgiveness and forgiving.

This book takes place in 1987 which seemed odd for a book published this year (2012). However, there is an author's note at the end of the book. McCrite explains that she wanted today's youth to realize "what you experience is new to you, but it's not new." It's as reminder that life still happened before cell phones and Google!

Five stars for the tween/young teen population!

[Jody Reads Smut · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not get to read the first two books in this series, and you really do not have to, to get the drift of what is going on although I am going to order them because I really enjoyed this book, April Grace being my favorite character of course.


I did not get to read the first two books in this series, and you really do not have to, to get the drift of what is going on although I am going to order them because I really enjoyed this book, April Grace being my favorite character of course.


I love how she snoops around trying to be the little detective to find out everything that is going on in her household. April Grace is very blunt, with her witty and straightforward humorous perspective on life. This is set in the 70’s and April Grace goes through many changes and struggles that young girl’s today face, she reminded me so much of myself at that age. You will fall in love with April Grace, and many of all ages will find themselves relating to her.

[Raya Whitehouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Third book in the series.
You don't really need to read the first two books in the series to get what is going on. This is a great story. This story could just happen and has happened to others, so reading it like this with such a good ending is great too. I would recommend this to teens and adults, i think that the problems in this book are pretty well relate-able to a lot of people.

It is about a family of two sisters and a baby brother. The oldest (Myra Sue) is into acting and now is being very secretive. The younger sister (April Grace) wants to know what is going on and tries to snoop, though it doesn't really work. When she figures it out it is too late. I won't say much more than that as it will ruin the ending and it is a great ending to read after all that happened in the book.

[Anna Kay]

Leaving this one un-starred, because I didn't get to read enough of it to really judge it's merits as a book. I quit reading because the font (and the text in general) on my e-galley was very screwy and was bothering my eyes. Plus, I hadn't realized the protagonist was quite so young and that it was the third book in a series. Probably won't be going back to it and definitely wasn't the one for me, but I think from what I did get to read it would probably appeal to fans of Meg Cabot's "Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls" series, or the "Alice" books by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (the younger ones, anyways).

*I received an Advanced Reading E-book Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book was published November 13th, 2012.*

[IrenesBookReviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was just an OK book for me. I have not read many books like this but wanted to give it a chance. I gave this book 4/5 stars. I liked the characters in the story. For having a young girl be the main focus of the story her personality really came through. The minor characters were also written well and you could feel their emotions with just the words on the pages. I did not enjoy the many arguments and what I felt like were disrespectful comments. You can write an argument or discussion without a lot of words and still get the idea of the fight across. I would recommend this book to the early high school age group.

I would like to thank the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.

[Dena McMurdie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for a tween girl. April Grace is such an adorable character. I loved her to pieces. She was interesting, funny, and witty. The entire book is full of good, believable characters. The writing is clean and entertaining, while conveying the story and message clearly. Honestly, I just loved this book and would recommend it to any girl ages 8 and up.

While this is the third book in a series, it also can be read as a stand alone novel.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My blog: Books for Kids

[Clare]

KP to review for www.GoodReadingGuide.com

[Brooke · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well... read my review on my blog: http://bloggingbrookeworm.blogspot.co...

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cool series. It's pretty interesting about how her sister acts, and I really like this book.

[Tana Lovegood of Dumbledore's Army✞~ Rogers/America · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book! There is humor and a bit of mystery and family drama! I am sad the series is over but this is a great book!

[Hollie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed all three of the books in this series. They are well written easy reads. You can't help but get drawn into the characters & their lives.