This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Dorothy A. Winsor is originally from Detroit but moved to Iowa in 1995. She still blinks when she sees a cornfield outside her living room window. For about a dozen years, she taught technical writing at Iowa State University and served as the editor of the Journal of Business and Technical Communication. Before that, she taught for ten years at GMI Engineering & Management Institute (now Kettering). She's won six national awards for outstanding research on the communication practices of engineers. She lives with her husband, who engineers tractors, and has one son, the person who first introduced her to the pleasure of reading fantasy. Finders Keepers, her first novel, debuted in September 2015.
Reviewed by Melinda Hills for Readers' Favorite
Stumbling across a beautiful stone in the mud by the local water pump, Cade thinks it will be the perfect gift for his mother. At home, though, it becomes the catalyst for major changes in their lives. In Finders Keepers by Dorothy A. Winsor, the heart stone is a rare and valuable gem that shows itself as special only to those gifted as Finders. Cade never knew he had this ability which he inherited from his mother and now both Cade and his mum face grave danger. After his mum’s arrest, Cade does everything he can to rescue her, but the first step is for his older brother, Roth, to get him out of town. If he is discovered, he could end up in the mines with the other Finders who are worked to death to make the miners and jewelers rich. Cade becomes involved with a girl, Shan, who is trying to track down heart stones to bring to the ancient altar in an attempt to prevent the destruction that is supposed to mark the beginning of the year 4000. When Cade inadvertently causes Shan’s friend, Jem, to be arrested, he has to take Jem’s place helping Shan locate the necessary stones. This leads them through a variety of scary encounters, but will it be enough to save them from the wrath of the gods?
Finders Keepers by Dorothy A. Winsor is a wonderful story combining great adventure and common social issues that challenge the characters to fight for their survival. To a large degree, it is a coming of age story in that Cade has to think beyond his own immediate needs and activities and make decisions based on the common good. The action is brisk, emotions are deep, and the moral message is subtle but strong, providing excellent depth for all readers, young and not so young. Great story - I loved it as an adult and think it is a wonderful book for older kids and young adults.
