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Susanna and the Elders, Restored (Left)

Susanna and the Elders, Restored with X-ray (Right)

Kathleen Gilje, 1998

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Porter and Midge: Paws and Responsibilities: A Kid's Guide to Welcoming a New Dog (Porter and Midge Children’s Book Series) by Giselle Nevada and Jennie Chen.

Lora and CJ are to young children who would love to own a dog and they have asked their parents for one, however, they are told that first they must learn all about how to look after a dog and all of the responsibilities that come along with owning a pet, so the two go on a quest for knowledge.

Their research includes reading lots of books, talking to other dog owners and observing dogs, they learn all about grooming, vets visits, training and everything in between, they learn about how to look after a dogs health, wellbeing and all of the fun as well!

Will Lora and CJ get their wish of owning a dog and everything that goes along with it? This is a wonderful book with a lot of educational and inspirational meaning all set out in an easy to understand way which will benefit anyone, young or old who wants to own a pet in the future.

#journey of a lifetime #chronic illness #invisible illness #cvid #common variable immunodeficiency #zebra #zebra strong #fibromyalgia #spoonie #spoonie life #spoonie reads

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Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate: A Youth Sleuths Chapter Books Series (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book Series) by MJ Murray and Amanda Letcher.

This book sees the return of Detective Dylan, his sister Emily and dog Theodore and this time, they are off to the local park to practice playing ball, it is a Saturday and a lot of the local kids go there to practice, however, when they get there, the coach can't find the home plate and without this and the other plates, they can't practice. 

Fortunately, Dylan has brought his detective kit from the Youth Sleuths and so Dylan, Emily and Theodore head out into the park to investigate where the plate has gone and who had taken it, but as with all investigations, the answer is not as straightforward as it seems.

Will the trio be able to fund the plates and save the day, or will practice just have to be postponed until they are returned another day? This is a wonderful way to show the importance of communities, collaboration, fun and of course, investigating where you will follow along on the hunt and discover lots of other things along the way.

#journey of a lifetime #chronic illness #invisible illness #cvid #common variable immunodeficiency #zebra #zebra strong #fibromyalgia #spoonie #spoonie life #spoonie reads

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Sugar & Spice (Spicetopia Book 1) by Phoebe Alexander.

Cy Sweet is the youngest son of the Sweet family, owners of the Sweetopia family friendly theme park, he is one of three and is a typical young man who lives his life without any worries about money, just where he can next go study architecture, the arts and anything else which takes his fancy, he is always thought of as the lazy one by his family, someone who doesn't really contribute anything and now he is being told that he has to start pulling his weight. Jolie Cox is a woman with a family of her own, with two sons and lives with her mum and they are a very close family, she does everything she can to look after them, including working long hours at two jobs and making ends meet, her main job being at Sweetopia, playing their main character the Red Velvet Queen.

One day, the Sweets hold a family meeting where Cy is told that there is a rebellion forming within Sweetopia and that rumours of strikes and boycotts have come to the families attention, so Cy is told that he is going in undercover to try and work out who the ringleaders are, how they are being organised and where, so he dons a disguise and is sent into the bakery as a seasonal temp so that he can find out the information his family wants and he also has a strict time limit to find this all out. Meanwhile, Jolie is having to organise her work hours so that she can care for her son who is having to go into hospital again so that he can get his treatment for his Cystic Fibrosis, as well as looking after her other son between appointment in her second job and it is exhausting for her, not to mention the guilt she feels for having to ask her mum for help the whole time.

This is where Cy goes wandering in the employee corridors before his shift and it is also when he meets the Red Velvet Queen for the first time, he is stunned by her and cannot help but sneak into the throne room and pay her a visit and Jolie is immediately taken with him too, he seems to be her ideal type, so when he starts to meet her in her dressing room, she is open to a bit of fun and so is Cy, but neither can afford to become too attached. As the two become better acquainted, Cy is beginning to see things through a new lens and it has him shocked, but will he be able to root out the rebellious coworkers and figure out who the ringleader is and what will happen between himself and Jolie if what they have is built on secrets? This is a steamy romance where secrets and lies are currency and feelings grow in a bed of deceit, but what happens when the truth comes out is something you will have to read through this enticing book to find out.

#journey of a lifetime #chronic illness #invisible illness #cvid #common variable immunodeficiency #zebra #zebra strong #fibromyalgia #spoonie #spoonie life #spoonie reads

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The Glow in Loretta's Garden (Loretta's Insects) by Lois Wickstrom.

Loretta is back in her garden, a place she loves to spend her time, and today, while she is planting flowers in a freshly prepared bed, she finds some glowing larvae, she is so intrigued by them that she runs to get her ant farm, which is currently empty and waiting for some new residents and so she moves some of the larvae in.

As she watches them tunnel, she finds that they are also building hut like structures around themselves from the mud, but what will happen to them now? This is a charming book about the lifecycle of a firefly which is full of information in a format which all ages will enjoy and all while learning about nature and insects all at the same time.

#journey of a lifetime #chronic illness #invisible illness #cvid #common variable immunodeficiency #zebra #zebra strong #fibromyalgia #spoonie #spoonie life #spoonie reads

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The Archcrusade: Tome One The Archcrusade #1 by K. M. Hogenson.

Basil is a young man of sixteen who lives in Sythica, as an apprentice with his Master, he is training to be a healing mage, as well as learning other professions and has never left his home town, however, he has always wanted to travel, but his Master is reluctant, so life goes on with his tutelage and training, meanwhile, in a small village on the far northern border of the Kingdom, there is an attack from a race of creatures who thrive on other races, so when an alert is sounded, one of the villagers heads to the capital to report it.

When this report comes in, the Low King is worried and so decides to send some troops to the area, however, other reports of maleficent individuals, including this attack are sent to the High King, he is perturbed by the news of his hard-won peace shattering, so he calls for all available soldiers to embark on a crusade to corral those who would do evil to others. As the news spreads, some of the mages are called upon to travel with the Crusade, especially healing mages, so when his master is called upon, Basil's dreams of travelling finally come true, but his Master is reluctant to let him out of his sight and regularly checks with him that he is fully prepared for this monumental movement.

When everyone has gathered their supplies and mustered at the Crusade point, Basil learns where he will spend his time and the march North truly begins, as he is stationed on the back lines, he stays with some of the soldiers and soon becomes friendly with two of them, however, the march is not all plain sailing. As one group prepare to travel, another is called upon to stop them and so a group of assassins are hired to pick of the troops and be a thorn in the side of the Crusade and when this is discovered, Basil's Master is even more concerned for him, so he is told to remain watchful and take extra care and especially not to go anywhere alone.

As the Crusade marches, more dangers befall the large group and soon it is imperative that Basil stays close to his allies, but will he be able to keep his cool, heal those who need it and keep himself out of danger, all at the same time and will the Crusade be able to carry out their mission before the assassins pick them off? This is an epic fantasy adventure crossing kingdoms, assessing dangers and fighting off evil doers in the process which will keep you on your toes throughout as you march along with the characters to their journeys end!

#chronic illness #invisible illness #cvid #fibromyalgia #spoonie #zebra #journey of a lifetime #common variable immunodeficiency #zebra strong #spoonie life #spoonie reads

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Web of Evil (Hani's Daughter Mysteries Book 2) by N. L. Holmes.

Neferet, Bener-ib and Mut-tuy return in this mystery, but this time, they are at their Lord Hani's farm outside of Waset and it is a national holiday, so all of the family are there, they get to spend lazy days in the shade and sleep outside on a night, it is hot and the middle of summer, so when the men go off to the local river for the morning, nobody is overly concerned, that is until only two of them return and Lord Hani is not among them. The family is in a panic, so Neferet, Bener-ib and Mut-tuy run over to find out what has happened and it is at this point that they see Lord Hani on the riverbank with some of the local villagers and they are pulling something from the river, unfortunately, it is a body.

As the group head back with the corpse to the family holiday home, the physicians follow on and when the shade is reached, they examine the body to find a cause of death and once this is confirmed, the local priests are called to take away the body, but the mystery is who is the person? With this in mind, the three ladies head to the village to report the find to the Mayor, however, when they speak to her and they find out who the unfortunate victim is, the investigation truly starts. As the ladies visit the family of the deceased, they discover they are a family of weavers who have links to Neferet's home town, but as they ask questions, the mystery is not clear cut.

Will Neferet, Bener-ib and Mut-tuy be able to discover who the perpetrator is and the motive behind this killing, or will the weavers, weave a tangled web which is too complex for them to unravel and will the past repeat itself and danger come calling a little too close to home? This is another historical mystery where justice is wanted, but can it be found, as secrets and lies abound while loyalty is challenged and answers revealed. 

#chronic illness #invisible illness #cvid #fibromyalgia #spoonie #zebra #journey of a lifetime #common variable immunodeficiency #zebra strong #spoonie life #spoonie reads

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The Hidden Present (Invisible Magic Wand Book 8) by Lois Wickstrom.

Caspian is back and it is again his unbirthday, the day when his Grandpa leaves a special box under his bed with his present in it, but unlike all the years before, there is no box under his bed.

Has he got the wrong day, or has his Grandpa forgotten this year? Caspian is determined to find out, so he goes downstairs and this is where he finds an Inquisitive Indicator on the kitchen table.

Where will this Inquisitive Indicator point and will it lead to his Grandpa and another adventure? This is a fun story with a bit of a mystery and plenty of adventure as another exciting unbirthday comes to pass.

#chronic illness #invisible illness #cvid #fibromyalgia #spoonie #zebra #journey of a lifetime #common variable immunodeficiency #zebra strong #spoonie life #spoonie reads

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The Missing Red Envelopes by Yobe Qiu.

Weine and Lorie are about to celebrate the lunar new year with their family, it is a big celebration where families come together to enjoy food, parades and gifts together and one of the main aspects for children are lucky red envelopes.

This year, Weine is in charge of collecting the envelopes and their safekeeping in her bag, however, when they go to get a drink before the evening feast, Weine realises that she hasn't got them, so she and Lorie have to retrace their steps to find out where they are.

Will the two sisters be able to figure out where the envelopes were left and will they still be there? This is a lovely snapshot into the traditions and celebrations of Asian-Americans in New York City and a cozy mystery all at the same time in this wonderful story.

#chronic illness #invisible illness #cvid #fibromyalgia #spoonie #zebra #journey of a lifetime #common variable immunodeficiency #zebra strong #spoonie life #spoonie reads

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Mating Chance (Long Claw Pride Book 3 and LumberCats Series Book 2) by Brooke May.

Cricket Adams is a mountain shifter in the Elkhorn Pride, her family owns a logging company and she has a son, but his father, her first mate, was tragically taken from her too early, so she threw herself into work and being a single mother, all while suffering from the loss of her mate. Boone Claw is a mountain shifter from the Long Claw Pride and as one of many siblings, he has been told of the mating call from a young age and he has also seen other family members being affected by it, so when it comes to him, he is more than ready to meet his future.

One day Cricket is working as usual when all of a sudden, the mating call hits her, but she is confused and terrified because she has already had a mate and cannot believe that it would come for her for a second time and nobody in her pride have ever heard of it happening either. Boone pretty much drops his life as a logger with the forestry service near his Long Claw Pride lands, to go find his mate, however, when he meets her, he is in shock at her reaction, especially finding out that she is in the same profession as his family, but the surprises don't end there.

As Boone and Cricket slowly get to know one another, her reservations and emotions are all over the place and she is amazed at how patient Boone is being, but she is also surprised at his reaction to when a certain Mr Grace appears, he is a human who is becoming a definite thorn in her side, but is he ever going to take no as an answer to his questions and what will become of this second mating chance, will it end in rejection, or romance? This is another spicy romance where emotions run high and challenges are made as two shifters come together to find their future amid uncertainty and confusion.

#chronic illness #invisible illness #cvid #fibromyalgia #spoonie #zebra #journey of a lifetime #common variable immunodeficiency #zebra strong #spoonie life #spoonie reads

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Basil (Silver Spring Pets) by K. Rose.

Basil is a young woman who wakes up in a hospital not remembering how she got there, all she remembers is going on a date through one of those popular dating websites and the next things she knows is that she is in pain and extremely thirsty. Unfortunately, when the doctor checks her over, she is overcome with a need to bite him and even though she knows this shouldn't be happening and so she runs away and heads back to her lab where she has to come to terms with the fact that she is a vampire, which causes a conundrum because she is vegan!

One good thing about Basil is that she is a biomedical engineer and so she does some research and creates a serum to help fend off the bloodlust, but now she has to make a decision about her life and how this will affect everything. As she is researching, she comes across a website with an interesting place called Silver Spring and that is when inspiration hits and she decides to open a smoothie and tanning salon and when the accomodation is approved, she heads out to a new life.

What Basil doesn't expect is to find a few incredibly hot suitors, all of whom are supernatural like her, but when danger comes calling, will Basil be able to keep the life she is creating for herself, or will she really lose it all? In this reverse harem, paranormal romance, you will fall in love with the characters as they find their way up each other through a witty, sweet and spicy story of acceptance, realisation and romance.

#chronic illness #invisible illness #cvid #fibromyalgia #spoonie #zebra #journey of a lifetime #common variable immunodeficiency #zebra strong #spoonie life #spoonie reads

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Murder At Music Hall (A True North Murder Mystery Book 1) by A. J. Ullman.

Trueman "True" North is a private investigator in Cincinnati and his life and past experiences mean that he knows all about Death and even feels like they are just hovering and waiting for his luck to run out, but he is haunted and very much an outsider, however, when he is hired by one of the richest men in his town, he realises just how far outside he is.

St. John Skidmore is a business man with a need for justice for his son Stoddard who was brutally murdered at the Music Hall while practicing the timpani which he played for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and it was brutal but he believes that the wrong person was arrested and convicted, so he wants True to take a look and see what he can find.

As True gathers all the evidence, witness statements and court papers, he conducts his own interviews to find out what he can about Stoddard and his life in and around the music hall, all while trying to juggle his personal life in the process, but as he digs deeper into the case, he finds that the rich are a law unto themselves.

There are more skeletons hidden in the proverbial closets of family, friends, colleagues and rivals that True's moral compass is spinning and between meddling sisters, jilted lovers, monetary incentives and threats galore, will True be able to hold onto his ideals and put the right person away, or will money win over truth? This is a murder mystery which is full of twists, turns, secrets and lies, where nothing is straight laced and money talks, or silences, depending on the situation as you follow along on this thrilling dig into the ghosts of the untouchable.

#chronic illness #invisible illness #cvid #fibromyalgia #spoonie #zebra #journey of a lifetime #common variable immunodeficiency #zebra strong #spoonie life #spoonie reads

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Nessie and the Celtic Maze (Nessie's Grotto) by Lois Wickstrom.

It is summer time and Craig and Linda are on another adventure, however, this time they are not at Loch Ness in Scotland, they are at another place in Quebec, Lake Memphrémagog, far away from any monsters. Meanwhile, Angus, a seven-year-old boy, and his older sister Haining are holidaying at Loch Ness, and they are staying at the same place as Craig and Linda did.

One day Craig and Linda are talking to one of the people who live around Lake Memphrémagog and are asking about the lake and what lives there and in the end, they start talking about Nessie, so they make a plan to explore, after they have learnt how to properly do this.

This is how they find out about Princess Sheona who they find stuck in an underwater maze, but how will they be able to get her out and can Angus and Haining be convinced to help? This is a fantasy adventure which grips you from start to finish and teaches us all about bravery and being kind.

#chronic illness #invisible illness #cvid #fibromyalgia #spoonie #zebra #journey of a lifetime #common variable immunodeficiency #zebra strong #spoonie life #spoonie reads

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Hay Goes Home (The Adventures of Cray on the Bay) by G Pa Rhymes.

Hay the Fox and Cray the Crab are going on an adventure together, they are going to visit Jay's mum because it is her birthday and they have been invited to the party, but it is a long way off, so they set off in good time.

As they travel, the dynamic duo see lots of animals and plants, but unfortunately, the journey isn't as easy as they first thought and so when they reach a fast-flowing river, they must admit they need help.

Who will they find to help them get to their destination and will they be in time for the party? This is a charming book with a wonderful message about courage, kindness, and bravery in an easy-to-understand way as these two friends discover some important lessons on the way to a fun filled activity.

#chronic illness #invisible illness #cvid #fibromyalgia #spoonie #zebra #journey of a lifetime #common variable immunodeficiency #zebra strong #spoonie life #spoonie reads

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The Reluctant Spy by Lois Wickstrom.

Timmy Covert is a young man in sixth grade, he is currently staying with his Grandma while his parents are away and his life with her is slightly unusual, especially when he finds out that his Grandma has bought a rat called Hildegarde, but he doesn't find out from her, he finds out when the little rat starts scraping the wall under his bed in the middle of the night, it also just happens that it is the same night as an earthquake hits Pillow, Pennsylvania, the town where Timmy lives with his Grandma!

As Timmy and his Grandma start to train Hildegarde, the neighbour next door starts acting in a suspicious way and so they decide to send Hildegarde in to see what is going on, so this is where Hildegarde's training begins with earnest, but that is not the only thing, which is strange in Pillow, a mysterious woman who speaks German and an FBI agent turn up on the Covert's doorstep asking questions and showing interest in strange things, not to mention that Timmy is still going to school and spending time with his friends and family all at the same time.

Will Timmy and his Grandma be able to train Hildegarde and make her some miniature spy equipment in time to solve the mystery of the earthquakes and the next-door neighbours' antics? This is a cozy mystery with a cute animal and her reluctant trainer as you follow along through this tangled web and become a reluctant spy yourself.

#chronic illness #invisible illness #cvid #fibromyalgia #spoonie #zebra #journey of a lifetime #common variable immunodeficiency #zebra strong #spoonie life #spoonie reads

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The Rise of House Valdis (House Valdis Series) by Naomi Valkyrie.

It is some years since Xenobia fled her situation and she has a settled life on Earth, albeit she has to use a glamour to hide her origins, but she has her own business and is doing some good on the side, she helps girls by giving them the choice she didn't have, the opportunity to work as one of her Companions where they will be looked after, fed watered, given a roof over their heads and most importantly, a choice of who they want to work with. One of the girls, Maggie was the catalyst for this decision, when Xenobia found her being beaten, she knew she had to act and now, Maggie is the only one she trusts with her true nature and the darkness within her. 

All of it seems to be going well until a potential client enters her office for an interview and as she reads his emotions, she knows something isn't right, especially when he mentions someone from her past, but regardless, she agrees to help and that is where things get complicated and Xenobia has to make a split second decision which will change her future forever. This new change means that she has to open up to everything she has been avoiding since her arrival seven years before, bringing down her walls and letting people in, however, what she doesn't expect to happen is discovering a whole new world underneath the one she currently has, but will this new found information help, or hinder her life?

This is a paranormal romance where danger lies around every corner and nothing is quite as it seems as past and present collide to create a maelstrom of emotions, secrets, revelations and love, all while keeping you engrossed in the ties that bind an unusual group of people as they navigate new waters together.

#journey of a lifetime #chronic illness #invisible illness #cvid #common variable immunodeficiency #zebra #zebra strong #fibromyalgia #spoonie #spoonie life #spoonie reads

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The Test Of The Four: Book 2 Of The Serrulata Saga by A. E. Bennet.

The Four, Leora, Leopold, Roland and Aurora return and they have just crossed the border out of the Realm and Leopold is severely injured, so Leora tries to heal him using her powers to help him, however, they are found by people living near the border, but they are wary and just as unnerved as the people who found them. Meanwhile, Roland and Aurora are trying to probe the depths of their new found romance and as they have to stay near to Leopold, the group finally have time to process everything that has happened to them.

Meanwhile, the Sovereign is more paranoid than ever and especially now he has his powers, however, he is extremely volatile as well and is prone to threatening everyone and everything around him with his powers. This is putting everyone around him on edge and security is becoming scarce, so the gentry of the realm are preparing for this by planning ways to protect their families, even if it could cost them everything in the process.

When Leopold recovers enough, the Four leave the sanctuary they have briefly enjoyed to carry on their journey towards New York, the mythical city who found help them, however even though they are travelling further from the realm, more danger await them, but could they be any worse than the Realm and will they be able to find what they are looking for when they arrive at their destination? This is an epic tale, across a dystopian future where danger lies around every corner, secrets and lies abound and the emotional rollercoaster will leave you with plenty of ups and downs as you read along with this adventure of four very different people aiming for one goal.

#chronic illness #invisible illness #cvid #fibromyalgia #spoonie #zebra #journey of a lifetime #common variable immunodeficiency #zebra strong #spoonie life #spoonie reads