{Kregel Blog Tour} Badge of Honor & River of Peril (Goldtown Adventures 1 & 4) by Susan K. Marlow

Book Description:  Twelve-year-old Jeremiah "Jem" Coulter knows that Goldtown, California, has seen the last of the gold rush. But the flecks of gold he and an old prospector, "Strike," find in their played-out claim on Cripple Creek spur Jem's hope of striking it rich. In the meantime, he and his sister, Ellie, sell frog legs and firewood to bring in extra cash. When Jem's father accepts a job as sheriff of lawless Goldtown, Jem is suddenly saddled with an additional responsibility--to run their broken-down ranch. He faces a hard path as he tries to be a man and make his father proud, but then Cripple Creek mysteriously dries up and Strike suddenly disappears. Jem is determined to find out why. Can anything be worse than being a sheriff's kid? Will outlaws use his father's badge for target practice? Is that silver star just a target . . . or truly a badge of honor?

My Thoughts:  Badge of Honor by Susan K. Marlow is definitely some of the finer fiction for young readers ages 8-12.  

This story is about Jeremiah "Jem" who lives with Aunt Rose and his Pa in the gold mining town of Goldtown, California.

The story of Jem and his friend, the old prospector, Strike, brings a story of adventure and friendship.

Jem is unhappy, to put it mildly, that his pa has accepted the sheriff's badge.  Being a sheriff's kid is about the worse thing that can happen to a boy growing up in a gold mining community.  

Jem also worries that his pa's badge will make his pa look like a neon bright target to all the outlaws.  How can a sheriff have a badge of honor?

This is a wonderful story that will capture the attention of preteens.    There are many life lessons and truths that help preteens to understand life.  Boys especially will like the escapades that Jem gets himself in to.  
Action, adventure and faith . . . a story for the armchair cowboy!

*This book was provided for review by Kregel publications*

• Age Range: 8 - 14 years
• Series: Goldtown Adventures (Book 1)
• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Kregel Publications (October 23, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 082544294X

My Thoughts: This is book 4, River of Peril.  In the first book we meet Jem and follow along as he has a high adventure.

But in book 4, there's even more adventure!

Jem and his dad are on a trip to the bustling city of Sacramento.  Oh! the sights and sounds!

This would be a great trip but Jem can sense that something is bothering his pa.  

Then at the end of a very tiring two day journey highway men who go by the name of Knights of the Golden Circle steal the precious gold shipment.  

But Jem's pa isn't upset about the robbery.  Then one day as Jem and his new found friend Nathan and his sister, Ellie, are having fun on the river wharf they stumble upon a dangerous smuggling operation

Pa is off on business and Aunt Rose is worried sick about Jem and his escapades.  

Then the bandits show up and Ellie goes missing.  Jem feels that it is up to him to find his sister before the bandits leave the area.

A fun and exciting read for preteens! This is a series that I think families would enjoy reading out loud. . . at family time.

*This book was provided for review by Kregel publications*

GREAT Deal for blog readers:

Canyon of Danger and River of Peril

By Susan K. Marlow

	Canyon of Danger ebook Free April 14, 2014 $1.99 April 15 through 18, 2014 Amazon Barnes & Noble Google Play
	River of Peril ebook Free April 14, 2014 $1.99 April 15 through 18, 2014 Amazon Barnes & Noble Google Play

• Age Range: 8 - 12 years
• Series: Goldtown Adventures (Book 4)
• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Kregel Publications (February 1, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0825442974
• ISBN-13: 978-0825442971