Mommy Wants To Read

Book Tour: Convergence by Trudie L. Hayes

2015-11-04T01:00:00.000-05:00

CONVERGENCE

by Trudie L. Hayes

Love Your Me, LLC

Middle Grade Fiction

476 pages

ages 9+

It was the first day of school and anxieties were running high. For certain there was the excitement of moving up a grade, but there was also the dread of anything and everything that could go wrong. Not only were the possibilities endless, they were totally out of your control. Whether or not you were accepted rested squarely on the shoulders of the popular kids. Suppose you were too short or too tall; too smart or not smart enough; too rich or too poor; or just plain different?

These thoughts were fresh on the minds of Otis, Chandler and Marissa. Three pre-teens whose paths had never crossed, although they lived in the same town in Connecticut. Their backgrounds were so diverse they may as well have lived worlds apart. That was all about to change when on their way to school a series of bizarre events lump them together. Literally!

Join them on this unreal journey to alternate realities never before revealed. Go back in time to a parallel past, the All Agos. Coexist in a present experience that mirrors your own, the Ne’er Now. Finally and with greater understanding, manifest in a future of your creation, the Will Be Once.

Then you will have come closer to achieving ...as it should.

Review:

I received a free copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book is a mixed bag. The concept of the book is really really good. The only problem is in the execution. Some parts were very confusing and had me re-reading the paragraph I had just finished. But because I liked the characters overall I had no problem plowing ahead to finish the book. I do think that it could have gone through one or two more rounds of editing to help clear up confusion.

That being said I see a lot of potential in the book and in the author and would definately read more books from her.

Author Bio:

Trudie L. Hayes’ personal story and family life influenced her mission to spread the core values of self-acceptance, self-esteem, and self-love to children and persons of all ages. An affiliation with physically and mentally disabled adults and children spanning many years is a major contributing factor. The caregiver role has been paramount throughout much of her life, even while furthering her education or working full-time in a corporate setting.

These experiences have given her a deep understanding of the trials and struggles associated with a compromised existence. As well as the inspiration and joy derived from living life to one's personal best.

It is through these myriad life experiences that Hayes began writing and registering several related trademarks. With a grander vision of promoting confidence and self-worth.

Born and raised in Connecticut, Hayes still calls the Nutmeg State home. The oldest of two children, she remains close to her siblings. When Hayes is not writing or managing her business, she dedicates her time to other creative outlets and artistic pursuits. Hayes has a deep appreciation and passion for music in its many forms; she enjoys writing song lyrics, performing, and has an affinity for Jazz.

Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter

Medical Issues

2015-10-29T09:12:00.000-04:00

Just wanted to post a quick update. I haven't been blogging lately due to medical issues. Seems like I just can't win this year. First my parents, then my mother in law, then my parents again and again and again oh and again, then my husband, then my father AGAIN, and now me. I have what is known as a diabetic ulcer on my leg. At times it is very very very painful (like someone is stabbing me in the leg with a flaming knife). It makes it really hard to sit at the computer and type. I haven't really had the concentration to read and worst of all I haven't been reading to my son. What compounds it is I have a job where I am on my feet the entire time and that makes it even more painful. This past weekend I worked two 9 hour shifts and had to walk a mile home from work. By the time I was home I was literally sobbing from the pain.

So I apologise to those authors who have sent me books for review and that I have not gotten to yet. I WILL read the books I promise. I am just putting my health and comfort ahead of my blogging. I am healing (very very very slowly) and hope to be myself sometime soon.

What upsets me most about this is that I was planning on doing NaNoWriMo this year and I don't know if it will be possible. If I can get my laptop up and running again I'll be good with both blogging and NaNoWriMo. Anyway, here is to hoping that I'm back to my normal self.

WOW: What I'm waiting on this week

2015-10-21T09:05:00.003-04:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

From Goodreads:

The Crown's Game

by Evelyn Skye (Goodreads Author)

Hardcover, 416 pages

Expected publication: May 17th 2016 by Balzer + Bray

4.07 of 5 stars

Vika Andreyev can summon the snow and turn ash into gold. Nikolai Karimov can see through walls and conjure bridges out of thin air. They are enchanters—the only two in Russia—and with the Ottoman Empire and the Kazakhs threatening, the Tsar needs a powerful enchanter by his side.

And so he initiates the Crown’s Game, an ancient duel of magical skill—the greatest test an enchanter will ever know. The victor becomes the Imperial Enchanter and the Tsar’s most respected adviser. The defeated is sentenced to death.

Raised on tiny Ovchinin Island her whole life, Vika is eager for the chance to show off her talent in the grand capital of Saint Petersburg. But can she kill another enchanter—even when his magic calls to her like nothing else ever has?

For Nikolai, an orphan, the Crown’s Game is the chance of a lifetime. But his deadly opponent is a force to be reckoned with—beautiful, whip smart, imaginative—and he can’t stop thinking about her.

And when Pasha, Nikolai’s best friend and heir to the throne, also starts to fall for the mysterious enchantress, Nikolai must defeat the girl they both love . . . or be killed himself.

As long-buried secrets emerge, threatening the future of the empire, it becomes dangerously clear . . . the Crown’s Game is not one to lose.

From Goodreads:

Ollie and the Wind

by Ronojoy Ghosh

Hardcover, 32 pages

Expected publication: March 1st 2016 by Random House Australia

4.0 of 5 stars

A beautifully told story about ingenuity and friendship from a wonderful new author-illustrator talent

Ollie and the Wind is about a small boy who lives—seemingly alone—on an island. The wind keeps stealing away Ollie’s hat and his scarf—but is the wind naughty, or does it just want to play?

WOW: This week I'm waiting on Ruined by Amy Tintera and The Dragon's Toothache by Annie Besant

2015-10-14T08:59:00.000-04:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

I've decided to make a slight change to my WOW. Since I review children's books on here as well I'll be doing two WOWs each week. One book for me and one book for what I'm waiting to read to my son.

From Goodreads:A revenge that will consume her.

A love that will ruin her.
Emelina Flores has nothing. Her home in Ruina has been ravaged by war. She lacks the powers of her fellow Ruined. Worst of all, she witnessed her parents’ brutal murders and watched helplessly as her sister, Olivia, was kidnapped.
But because Em has nothing, she has nothing to lose. Driven by a blind desire for revenge, Em sets off on a dangerous journey to the enemy kingdom of Lera. Somewhere within Lera’s borders, Em hopes to find Olivia. But in order to find her, Em must infiltrate the royal family.
In a brilliant, elaborate plan of deception and murder, Em marries Prince Casimir, next in line to take Lera’s throne. If anyone in Lera discovers Em is not Casimir’s true betrothed, Em will be executed on the spot. But it’s the only way to salvage Em’s kingdom and what is left of her family.
Em is determined to succeed, but the closer she gets to the prince, the more she questions her mission. Em’s rage-filled heart begins to soften. But with her life—and her family—on the line, love could be Em’s deadliest mistake.

Hardcover, 368 pages

Expected publication: May 3rd 2016 by HarperTeen

From Goodreads: What could be stranger than a dragon's toothache? A motley crew comes to the rescue of the dragon in pain, but do they manage to help him? Annie Besant's quirky humor and Rayika Sen's imaginative illustrations make this book a joy to read over and over again. (less)

Hardcover, 36 pages

Expected publication: February 9th 2016 by Karadi Tales Picturebooks

Thursday's Tale: Don Joseph Pear by Thomas Frederick Crane

2015-10-08T11:40:00.000-04:00

Don Joseph Pear is a fairy tale from Italy. It is in Italian Popular Tales by Thomas Frederick Crane. I had never heard of this one before but thought it looked interesting.

Three brothers own a pear tree. They notice that someone keep picking their pears. So one by one the brothers stay over night by the tree. The first two fall asleep but the third one, Don Joseph, stays awake and catches a fox trying to steal their pears. The fox convinces Don Joseph to set her free and that she will have the king's daughter marry him.

Two times the fox hunts and brings a large amount of game to the King. He visits the king a third time and asks for a measure so the King will think Don Joseph is rich.

Eventually Don Joseph marries the King's daughter and goes to live in castle that used to be owned by an Ogress. The fox kills the Ogress by convincing her to hide in the well when Don Joseph and the kingsmen ride up to the castle.

One day Don Joseph throws dust on the foxes head and the fox threatens to tell his wife everything. Don Joseph throws a clay pot at the fox killing her. Don Joseph is left with all of his riches and his wife after killing the fox who got it all for him.

This story was really fascinating. You can't help but feel bad for the fox in the end since she did all the work and Don Joseph just kills her and still gets to keep everything. It's frustrating when people who don't deserve things win them anyway. But that is how the real world works all the time.

Thursday's Tales is hosted by CarolsNotebook. Feel free to join in and read a tale of your own!

Book Review: Mug Meals: Delicious Microwave Meals by Dina Cheney

2015-10-08T11:03:00.002-04:00

My stepdaughter is heading off to college next year. So when I saw this book on *Netgalley I decided to look into it. As I'm sure she will be eating many a microwave meal.

Mug Meals is a recipe filled book that shows the microwave is not just for leftovers. With just a mug and some simple ingredients you can microwave up a variety of delicious meals.

This book is great. I was right that this book is perfect for people like my stepdaughter. Mouthwatering recipes with pictures that leave you drooling. It covers all meals of the day from breakfast through dessert. I loved that there were also vegetarian recipes included.

The biggest problem with the book is when it comes to some of the lunches and dinners which required cooked rice/pasta. For people living at home that is not an issue but for those who are in a dorm food like that is not readily available. But you can use some leftovers to accomplish these recipes.

All in all I would get it 4 out of 5 stars.

*I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Book Review: Ten Zany Birds by Sherry Ellis

2015-10-08T08:37:00.001-04:00

I recently received a signed copy of this book. The only problem is I can't remember where I got it from. I've searched through all my email records and through the contests I've entered and still have no clue how I got this book. So I either received a copy for review or I won it through a contest.

In Ten Zany Birds, 10 birds get together. One by one they dwindle down to the last bird as each bird flies off for different reasons. There are striped birds, spotted birds, and one with purple polka dots. Only one bird will be left standing.

This book was very cute and was in the vein of Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed. It counts down to the last bird and uses some repetitive rhyming. Both my son and I loved the illustrations. The colors are very kid friendly and my son was asking me how it was drawn. He was obsessed with the spider that was on nearly every page and had a fun time finding it each time we turned a page.While this was a bit more for younger readers my son really enjoyed it and I have a feeling this one will get a couple of readings in our house.

5 out of 5 stars

*I received a signed copy of this book but do not know if it was in exchange for a review. Either way this has not influenced me and I have given an honest review
** This book was read with my 8 year old severely learning disabled son and reflects his opinion and how he did with the book.

WOW: I'm waiting on The Steep & Thorny Way

2015-10-07T08:54:00.000-04:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Ok I just stumbled upon this one on Goodreads this very morning. I started doing the pee pee dance. A retelling of Hamlet set in the 1920's where the main character is mixed race.....oh yes please bring on to me!

From Goodreads:

A thrilling reimagining of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, The Steep and Thorny Way tells the story of a murder most foul and the mighty power of love and acceptance in a state gone terribly rotten.

1920s Oregon is not a welcoming place for Hanalee Denney, the daughter of a white woman and an African-American man. She has almost no rights by law, and the Ku Klux Klan breeds fear and hatred in even Hanalee’s oldest friendships. Plus, her father, Hank Denney, died a year ago, hit by a drunk-driving teenager. Now her father’s killer is out of jail and back in town, and he claims that Hanalee’s father wasn’t killed by the accident at all but, instead, was poisoned by the doctor who looked after him—who happens to be Hanalee’s new stepfather.

The only way for Hanalee to get the answers she needs is to ask Hank himself, a “haint” wandering the roads at night. (less)

Hardcover, 352 pages

Expected publication: March 8th 2016 by Amulet Books

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Bookish Things I want to Quit

2015-10-06T10:26:00.001-04:00

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by TheBrokeandtheBookish.

1. I want to quit buying so many books that I never get around to reading. And oh god all the free ebooks as well. I'm a book hoarder. I have so many books that I already own, thousands of books I want to own, thousands of books I used to own that I want to own again, and billions of books yet to be discovered. I'm learning to curb my spending but oh how there are always new books to taunt me. And then I think about a book I used to own and haven't read in years.

2. I want to quit spending so much time on Goodreads...what?!?! Yes, I need to spend less time on there finding new books and spend a bit more of my time actually reading books.

3. I want to quit pretending to others that I only read highly intellectual books. Truth is I'd much rather be reading a romance book. Thankfully, these days romance books are not as looked down on. I just have to stop pretending I'm reading The Scarlet Letter and come right out and say "I'm reading a trashy romance book with an over the top plot and I'm loving every single second of it."

4. I want to quit feeling obligated to review every book an author offers me. I'm learning to say no but it is hard. Because I feel for authors and have a very special place in my heart for indy authors. But between the books I read to my son, the books I read for myself, the books I've already agreed to review and books that I have yet to be introduced to I just don't have the time for it all.

5. I want to quit being a slow reader. THIS....oh god this is probably my number one thing that I would change if I could. I am such a slooooooooow reader. It takes me a week to read a 300 page book. I'm so jealous of people that read one or two books a day. I'll never even get a quarter of the way through all the books I want to read while these people will get so much close. My hat's off to you fast readers!

6. I want to quit reading books by authors that I'm only meh about. There is one author in particular who I will not name. I loved two of her books (yes all of two). The rest were either awful, DNF, or just meh for me. But yet I keep picking up her books hoping for the magic that I found in those two that I loved. But no go. And man she write looooooong books. I think that is why so many are DNF for me...that and some are just really crappy.

7. I want to quit feeling bad when I do not finish a book. I try not to add to my DNF pile but I realize that I can't waste my time on books I'm not enjoying. I can always come back to them (rarely do). It is just that I hate investing my time in something and then not finishing it. But, I've got to learn to let go because sometimes I drag my feet reading books I don't really like and that time could be spent on something I do like.

8. I want to quit falling asleep in the middle of reading...ok this is a medical thing (sleep apnea) and eventually I'll be going for a sleep study to get a c-pap machine. But part of my slow reading is that I often fall asleep half way through a chapter. When I was a teenager I devoured books whole and stayed up all night reading. I'd wake up the next morning on only two hours sleep just to repeat it all again that night. Now I read for about 20 minutes and then I'm asleep.

9. I want to quit worrying about my son's reading. My son is severely learning disabled and it kills me that he cannot read yet (he is 8). So many other kids his age are reading chapter books now. He sometimes can barely sit through an overly wordy picture book. I'm hoping to start him on chapter books soon but I know I need to stop worrying so much. When his brain can finally make the connection it will and he will learn how to read. He wants to read and that is one of the most positive things.

10. I want to quit starting 4 different books at the same time. This partly has to do with me hating to put a book on DNF pile. But often when I read multiple books one or two or all 4 end up never being finished. Forever sitting my ereader at different percentages finished never to read again.

Book Review: If you were me and Lived in China by Carol P. Roman

2015-10-02T08:47:00.000-04:00

I've been entering a lot of giveaways lately for books. Especially picture books for my son. I was delighted when I won a giveaway for this book. I'm always looking for opportunities to expose my son to other cultures and thought this book was a great way to do that. China holds a special place for my family. A number of years ago my mother went to China with a family friend who was adopting a baby girl. This was one of the last major trips my mother took before she was diagnosed with MS. We still have money and souvenirs from her trip there.

The book is non-fiction and gives details of life in China. From the different foods they eat to different celebrations. The book goes into facts about geography and how many people live there. The book even tells what are some popular names for boys and girls born there.

I thought the book was great for introducing China to children who are not familiar with the country. My son's only previous knowledge of China was practically non-existent. He liked learning some of the words in Chinese and seemed to do well with sitting through the book. I was concerned when I first began to read it as it is very fact heavy. So this is not something I would read with the toddler set. But older children (5-8 years old) should have no problems with it.

I would say this was a 3 1/2 out of 5 stars for us.

* I won an autographed copy of this book. My review reflects my honest opinion and I was not required to review this book.
** This book was read with my 8 year old severely learning disabled son and reflects his opinion and how well he did with the book.

Book Review: I wish I was a Brownie by Marsha Casper Cook

2015-10-01T09:51:00.000-04:00

I am so far behind on posting this review. I received this book a few weeks ago in exchange for review and both my husband and I have read this book to my son.

I Wish I was a Brownie tells the tale of Chippy. The poor cookie feels out of sorts and is embarrassed because he wishes he were a brownie. With the help of his teacher Mrs. Chipster he soon learns to love who he is and that he doesn't really want to be a brownie. He just wants to be himself.

This was a cute book that had a great lesson to teach children. With a son who is "different" from most "normal" children I thought this book was perfect for my son. He doesn't always notice that he is "different" from other children but when he does it is devastating for him. He wants to be like all the other kids but he is not and probably never will be. I love that this book teaches children to love themselves for who they are. My only problem with the book was that the "chip" related names made it confusing and a bit hard to read aloud to my son.

My son really liked the book and asked his father to read it to him a day or two after I had first read it to him.

4 out of 5 stars

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion
**This book was read with my 8 year old severely learning disabled son and the review reflects his opinion as well.

Book Review: My Stinky New School by Rebecca Elliot

2015-10-01T09:43:00.000-04:00

My Stinky New School tells the story of Toby and his new school. His brother and sister love their schools that smell of paint and rainbows. Toby's school smells of ogres. During the day he looks for new friends. But all he finds are a pirate, alien, and other fantastical creatures. He tells his mother that he has found no friends but soon realizes that all those fantastical creatures are his friends.

This was a really cute book with wonderful illustrations. I love that this book teaches kids that sometimes we get the things that we want even if we don't realize it. I love that it was just silly enough to keep my sons attention while still teaching a lesson.

My son loved this book and even giggled during it. I've read it 3 times to him now and I think I'll have to buy my own physical copy of it.

Excellent book that gets 5 out of 5 stars.

*I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion
**This book was read with my 8 year old severely learning disabled son and the review reflects his opinion as well.

Thursday's Tale: King and King by Linda De Haan and Stern Nijland

2015-10-01T09:33:00.000-04:00

Being that it is banned book week I thought it would be appropriate to read a modern fairytale book that has been challenged/banned from schools. In King & King a young prince still has not married. Princesses from far and wide come to the castle. But the prince is not interested in any of them. Though the prince's page falls in love with the princess from Greenland. Soon all that is left is one Princess. Princess Madeleine enters with her brother Prince Lee. It is love at first sight. The prince has fallen in love with Prince Lee. They both exclaim "What a wonderful prince!". Soon they are married and all the rejected princess attend their wedding. At the end the two share a kiss.

Normally, I would read this book with my son. But as I read it this morning while he was still in school but I plan on reading it to him later. Why? Because we are an LGBT friendly family. This book has been challenged many times all because two princes fall in love and share a kiss. There is no propaganda to this book. It is a straight forward fairytale that just happens to feature two gay characters. I love that there are books out there that now for children that feature gay characters. I honestly wish there were more. As a society we need to get over our hatred for others.

Thursday's Tales is hosted by CarolsNotebook. Feel free to join in and read a tale of your own!

Waiting on Wednesday: I'm waiting on The Cresswell Plot

2015-09-30T08:48:00.000-04:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Ok I'm a sucker for reading/finding out about weird twisted cults. I always wonder how someone gets so thoroughly sucked into one. When I saw this book on Goodreads I was like ooooh this sounds interesting.

From Goodreads: Hardcover, 272 pages

Expected publication: June 7th 2016 by Disney-Hyperion

The woods were insane in the dark, terrifying and magical at the same time. But best of all were the stars, which trumpeted their light into the misty dark.

Castella Cresswell and her five siblings—Hannan, Caspar, Mortimer, Delvive, and Jerusalem—know what it’s like to be different. For years, their world has been confined to their ramshackle family home deep in the woods of upstate New York. They abide by the strict rule of God, whose messages come directly from their father.

Slowly, Castley and her siblings start to test the boundaries of the laws that bind them. But, at school, they’re still the freaks they’ve always been to the outside world. Marked by their plain clothing. Unexplained bruising. Utter isolation from their classmates. That is, until Castley is forced to partner with the totally irritating, totally normal George Gray, who offers her a glimpse of a life filled with freedom and choice.

Castley’s world rapidly expands beyond the woods she knows so well and the beliefs she once thought were the only truths. There is a future waiting for her if she can escape her father’s grasp, but Castley refuses to leave her siblings behind. Just as she begins to form a plan, her father makes a chilling announcement: the Cresswells will soon return to their home in heaven. With time running out on all of their lives, Castley must expose the depth of her father’s lies. The forest has buried the truth in darkness for far too long. Castley might be their last hope for salvation.

I Hate Hospitals

2015-09-28T08:44:00.000-04:00

So yet again I've been blindsided by a family emergency. This time it was my husband who spent a week in the hospital. Good news is that he is on the road to recovery and that he should be up and running back to his old self sometime soon. I've been sick with a horrible cold myself.

I'm just getting really sick of hospitals. This year has seen my father in and out of the hospital from a severe case of cellulitus, c-diff, and complications with his kidney (he has only one functioning kidney). My mother in and out of the hospital with c-diff, cellulitus, and a broken foot. My mother-in-law who had cancer that once she was diagnosed with she passed away from it less than six weeks later. Now my husband who was in afib (abnormal heart rate). All I can say is please please please no more hospitals.

So now I have a huge amount of emails to go through. I have to get caught up on all my reviews...honestly I almost walked away again from blogging because this is such a daunting task. All I can do is trudge forward and just hope to catch up and that no other tragedy strikes.

Waiting on Wednesday:

2015-09-09T11:50:00.001-04:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

I'm having some serious cover love happening for this book. I love the color tones and the pictures. It reminds me of older classic books for some reason. Also how can you go wrong with a Sherlock/Watson themed book?

From Goodreads: The last thing sixteen-year-old Jamie Watson–writer and great-great-grandson of the John Watson–wants is a rugby scholarship to Sherringford, a Connecticut prep school just an hour away from his estranged father. But that’s not the only complication: Sherringford is also home to Charlotte Holmes, the famous detective’s enigmatic, fiercely independent great-great-granddaughter, who’s inherited not just his genius but also his vices, volatile temperament, and expertly hidden vulnerability. Charlotte has been the object of his fascination for as long as he can remember–but from the moment they meet, there’s a tense energy between them, and they seem more destined to be rivals than anything else.

Then a Sherringford student dies under suspicious circumstances ripped straight from the most terrifying of the Holmes stories, and Jamie and Charlotte become the prime suspects. Convinced they’re being framed, they must race against the police to conduct their own investigation. As danger mounts, it becomes clear that nowhere is safe and the only people they can trust are each other.

Equal parts tender, thrilling, and hilarious, A Study in Charlotte is the first in a trilogy brimming with wit and edge-of-the-seat suspense. (less)

Hardcover, 336 pages

Expected publication: March 1st 2016 by Katherine Tegen Books

Top Ten Tuesday: 10 Series I Have Yet to Finish

2015-09-08T12:19:00.002-04:00

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by TheBrokeandtheBookish.

1. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White- I read the first two books in the series. I adored the first but didn't enjoy the second as much. For some reasons I just can't manage to get to the third book.

2. Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi- I read the first book but have not gotten around to the next two. I really did enjoy the first book though.

3. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins- I read the first book before the other two were out and LOVED it. I also loved that I had stumbled upon an amazing book that (at the time) no one knew about. Soon enough though the books exploded on the scene and unfortunately they were spoiled for me. I've heard the other two were not as good as the first and I loved the first so dearly I haven't wanted to read the other two...if that makes any sense.

4. Penryn & the End of Days by Susan Ee- I don't know what the heck is wrong with me that I haven't picked up the third book yet. I LOVE LOVE LOVED the first two books. I HAVE to rectify this situation ASAP

5. The Green Mile by Stephen King- I don't know if this one counts but I'm putting it up anyway. Somewhere buried on my bookshelf are all 6 books of this serialized novel. I read the first two but have never gotten around to reading the whole thing.

6. Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston- I read the first one many many years ago and have never gone back to finish the series. I have some serious cover love for this series

7. Rock Chick by Kristen Ashley- I have a love/hate thing with KA some of her books I adore and devour in a sitting. Others of her books I find myself eye rolling and tossing across the room. Her Rock Chick series has been hit/miss with me. I only read the first 4 books or so and only liked one or two of them. It is truly a debate as to whether or not I'll read the rest.

8. The Partials Sequence by Dan Wells- This is another series where I read and loved the first book but have never picked up the other two books in the series.

9. Rising Trilogy by Amy Miles- This one is one I don't plan on finishing. I really didn't care for the first book. I've heard some bad things about the next two...yeah just not for me

10. The Babysitter's Club by Ann M. Martin- Ok I couldn't resist putting down a classic series. While I've read a good number of the books I've never read them all and quite frankly it has been probably 20+ years since I've last read one.

Book Review: Nobody! by Erin Frankel

2015-09-01T12:56:00.000-04:00

Here is another children's book I saw on *Netgalley that I thought would be a great read for my son as I think the issue of bullying is a very important one.

Thomas is being bullied at school by one little boy. No matter what Thomas does Kyle will not stop bullying him. Thomas begins to think of himself as a nobody till one day Thomas decides to change his perspective. With the help of friends Thomas becomes more confident and in turn Kyle starts to bully him less.

This cover....oh this cover is just heart breaking. Those big sad mournful eyes. It reminds me of when I was younger and was bullied. I know the heart ache of no matter what you do it doesn't make a difference. I know what is like when adults wont listen and no one else will stick up for you. It is a hard hard thing to go through. Thankfully, my son hasn't had to really go through that and the little bit of bullying he experienced when he was in Kindergarten he has already forgotten about. Since my son is special needs I worry about him being singled out for being different.

I like that the book didn't just gloss over bullying but pointed out how at times adults don't understand and just give platitudes that the bully will "grow up". I also liked that there was a believable happy ending.

My son enjoyed the book and we had a talk about bullying and why it is wrong.

4 out of 5 stars.

*I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion
**This book was read with 7 year old severely learning disabled son and the review reflects his opinion as well.

Book Review: Cookies & Beer by Jonathan Bender

2015-09-01T11:14:00.001-04:00

Cookies and beer? Cookies and beer!! That was pretty much my reaction when I saw this on *Netgalley. I mean how could I resist this one?

Cookies and Beer is simply that...cookie recipes and the beers that pair well with them.

I can't even begin to say how awesome this book was. When I first saw it I was like...cookies and beer?!?!?! Really!?!?! But then after a moments thought I realize what a genius idea this was. We are so used to pairing beer with salty snacks that we forget that beer can bring out great notes in sweet snacks as well. One of the very first photos is of a cookie that looks like an Oreo being dipped into a frothy glass of beer...and oh my goodness if I didn't want to leap into the pages and have a bit of that!

This book is filled with great recipes that I'm itching to try especially the Chocolate Covered Caramel Filled Shortbread Cookies (paired with a barrel aged porter) and the Pumpkin Butterscotch Cookies (paired with a bourbon barrel aged brew). There is even recipe for making Beer Syrup for your own Beer Milkshakes. Oh and there are some savory cookies as well such as the Curry Coconut Macaroons (paired with an American brown ale) and Rich Butter Cookies with Fennel Seed and Sea Salt (paired with a rich Copper Ale)

This book would make a great gift not just for a beer lover but for the person that loves to bake. And hey if they are a beer loving baker that's all the better!

5 out of 5 stars

*I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Book Review: Witches and Wolves by Kelly D. Smith

2015-09-01T09:45:00.000-04:00

I was excited when I saw this on *Netgalley because it is very unusual these days for find a lesbian romance novel. M/M is all over the place but I rarely ever see W/W. So I figured I'd give this one a try as it was short one

Tory is a witch who lives all alone in a house left to her by her grandmother. One night an unfamiliar wolf shows up at her door and curls up in her bed. The next morning the wolf has transformed into a beautiful woman. Tory helps Gee, who is new to being a werewolf. But soon hunters are on Gee's trail.

Ok so I have mixed feelings about this book. There was a lot and I do mean A LOT of potential but I think due to the size of the book where it could have gone right it just didn't. The problem sometimes with short stories/novellas is that it is hard to get vested in characters or to really learn about them. I think a longer book would have done so much for this book. As it is it was rushed and so much of it fell flat for me.

Why did the witch have better hearing than a wolf? That part had me scratching my head. I also found Gee to be too needy and too polite. The whole I don't want to intrude thing became annoying.

I honestly thing there is potential here and if the author made it a full length novel and extended out the tension between Gee and Tory and put in more action scenes and developed the characters more this would be an awesome book. Also stop making Gee so weak. She is a wolf now she should be strong than that.

Even though I am rating this low I would like to see more works by this author.

2 out of 5 stars.

*I recieved a copy of this from netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Book Review: The Mirror by John Heldt

2015-09-01T08:55:00.001-04:00

I have been getting a lot of review requests lately but have found myself skipping over most (at least for now). But when I saw the description for The Mirror by John Heldt I immediately said yes.

The Mirror is a stand alone book in the Northwest Passage series. Ginny and twin sister Katie Smith were born on September 11, 2001. It is now September 11, 2020 and they are celebrating their 19th birthday at a fair in Seattle. They have a great time till they encounter a strange fortune teller. Ignoring her warnings they decide to visit the house of mirrors. Soon both girls are traveling through the mirror and back into 1964. They decide to bide their time till they can get back to 2020 but things like boys begin to complicate things.

The good news is that even though this book is part of a series you can read it without reading the other books. When I started the book I was worried that one of my biggest pet peeves was in there...the dreaded head hopping (changing first person perspective). I was worried because the chapters had the name of the different sisters. But I didn't have to worry as this was not first person and there was no real head hopping. Believe me I gave a sigh of relief.

Of the two sisters Ginny was my favorite right out of the gate. But I loved the relationship between the twins. Each one was unique but they had that special bond that twins seem to have including communicating without speaking.

I used to be a HUGE fan of time travel stories but this one was unique in that it takes place in the 60's. I can't remember another time travel book that I've read that has done that. I love that it was close enough to have been in recent memory for some people but yet far enough away to seem a whole lifetime ago (which I suppose for some it is).

I really enjoyed the book and plan on checking out at least one other book in the series.

4 out of 5 stars.

*I received a copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Waiting On Wednesday: The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury

2015-08-26T10:04:00.000-04:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I chose The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury.

Release Date: February 23, 2016 by Razorbill

From Goodreads:

When Aladdin discovers Zahra's jinni lamp, Zahra is thrust back into a world she hasn't seen in hundreds of years -- a world where magic is forbidden and Zahra's very existence is illegal. She must disguise herself to stay alive, using ancient shape-shifting magic, until her new master has selected his three wishes.

But when the King of the Jinn offers Zahra a chance to be free of her lamp forever, she seizes the opportunity—only to discover she is falling in love with Aladdin. When saving herself means betraying him, Zahra must decide once and for all: is winning her freedom worth losing her heart?

As time unravels and her enemies close in, Zahra finds herself suspended between danger and desire in this dazzling retelling of Arabian Nights from acclaimed author Jessica Khoury.

Book Review: Doll Junk: Collectible and Crazy Fashions from the ’70s and ’80s by Carmen Varricchio

2015-08-24T12:19:00.000-04:00

When I saw the cover of this book on *Netgalley I knew that I had to immediately request it. I could barely contain my giggles at the site of it. I'm not a doll collector and as a child was never a snob over "fake Barbie clothes". But this book looked too intriguing to pass up.

This book is filled filled with dolls and fashions of Barbie (and other doll) knockoffs from the the 1970's and 1980's. Many are shown in their orignal packaging. Drawing from many different countries besides the USA this book displays the wide variety of knockoffs that were in mass production during the 70s and 80s.

As I stated I'm not a doll collector. In fact in my neighborhood I grew up in we had a lady who was well into her 60's who collected baby dolls. As in thousands of them. She would put them in strollers and cribs and dress them up and everything. At the time the kids in the neighborhood found it a bit odd and to be honest pitied her a bit. One of the other kids had sagely told me that the woman couldn't have children and so that was why she had them. Whether or not that is true I'll never know. But now as an adult I have to admit...well I WANT to play with dolls. After going through this book I have the burning desire to go out and buy some Barbies and huge pile of clothes to put her in.

This book was light on words but heavy on pictures. Some of the clothes were down right hideous but some made me want to rip it out of the original packaging and start dressing up Barbie (told you I'm not a collector...no collector would open the original packaging). In particular I fell in love with the Petra doll fashions. They may not have been as well made as Barbie's but oh man some look down right fun!

For me what was more scary than some of the fashions were the dolls themselves. Some looked possessed. Some looked like drag queens imitating Tammy Faye Baker. Some of the male dolls had mustaches (one a full beard). The rooted hair made some of them look crazy. Creepy children dolls who would give Chucky a run for his money.

Over all I LOVED this book. It was good for a chuckle, lots of nostalgia (hello crazy fashions of the past), and a return to innocence. I really and truly want to go out and play with some Barbies right now. I could never be a collector because I would want to dress up and play with them just like that "crazy" lady that I pitied as a child. No pity here just a longing for a time of innocence when imagination reigned free and the whole world was ahead of me.

A solid 5 out of 5 stars.

* I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion

Waiting On Wednesday: Death's Leash by J.D. Stroube

2015-08-19T13:36:00.000-04:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I chose Death's Leash By J.D. Stroube.
Expected publication: December 1st 2015 by Euphoric Publishing & Design

From goodreads:

The myth is wrong…

Death is only a man, but one who has control over all living beings. He chooses who will live or die. He commands the fates and gives the order to cut the thread of life. However, Death isn’t alone.

In the beginning of time, he realized that it would be impossible for a single figure to wield power over life and death, while still having time to punish the wicked. Death summoned the tainted souls of the dead and from them created a race of females. They would be the takers of souls, the guardians of the afterlife, and the harbingers of death.

They are Death’s Hellhounds. Wild, impulsive, and terrifying, these sisters have a solitary goal: to hunt down unspeakable evils. When Death calls his Hellhounds to embark on the Wild Hunt, they must forsake their humanity to consume the most depraved souls in existence. Six remain in the veil between life and death, but step through the threshold when Death calls.

Kali has spent her immortal life avoiding attachment. She hides her true self from all but her sisters. When Death gives her an assignment to hunt a rogue angel, she must confront the one man who places her heart in danger. Alone, she must face an enemy too powerful for a solitary Hellhound and find a way to break Death’s leash.

When wicked souls turn from the light,
And baying calls ring through the night.
Face your end or turn to flee,
For Death’s Hellhounds have come for thee!

Cover Reveal: Ward Against Destruction by Melanie Card (Entangled Teen)

2015-08-19T08:40:00.001-04:00

Ward Against Destruction (Chronicles of a Reluctant Necromancer, #4)

by Melanie Card

Release Date: 10/05/15

Entangled Teen

Summary from Goodreads:

Ward de’Ath used to the think that nothing could be more terrible than death. Now he realizes

there are worse things. Like his never-ending hunger for blood. Even if he conquers the

unbearable cravings that drive him headlong toward destruction,he’s a wanted man with a bleak

future.

Assassin Celia Carlyle learns she is the only one who can protect Ward from disaster. She loves him–she wants to help him, but no one can tell her how to save him from himself. And the confusing voices in her head scream to let him go.

But Ward's dark trials keep mounting. A malevolent evil is rising in the land, threatening to

unleash horror upon the world. The only way Ward can defeat it, and have the chance to marry

Celia, is by accepting his fate and becoming the one thing he swore he would never become..

***Books in this series***

Ward Against Death (Chronicles of a Reluctant Necromancer #1)

by Melanie Card

Release Date: 08/02/11

Entangled Teen

306 pages

Summary from Goodreads:

Twenty-year-old Ward de’Ath expected this to be a simple job—bring a nobleman’s daughter back from the dead for fifteen minutes, let her family say good-bye, and launch his fledgling career as a necromancer. Goddess knows he can’t be a surgeon—the Quayestri already branded him a criminal for trying—so bringing people back from the dead it is.

But when Ward wakes the beautiful Celia Carlyle, he gets more than he bargained for. Insistent that she’s been murdered, Celia begs Ward to keep her alive and help her find justice. By the time she drags him out her bedroom window and into the sewers, Ward can’t bring himself to break his damned physician’s Oath and desert her.

However, nothing is as it seems—including Celia. One second, she’s treating Ward like sewage, the next she’s kissing him. And for a nobleman’s daughter, she sure has a lot of enemies. If he could just convince his heart to give up on the infuriating beauty, he might get out of this alive...

Ward Against Darkness (Chronicles of a Reluctant Necromancer #2)

by Melanie Card

Release Date: 08/27/13

Entangled Teen

352 pages

Summary from Goodreads:

The last thing Ward de'Ath wants is more trouble. On the run from both the law and the criminal underworld, Ward and Celia flee Brawenal City only to stumble into the mansion of a powerful evil necromancer. And when Ward discovers the man possesses a dangerous grimoire, his duty leaves him no choice. He can't allow the necromancer to keep the grimoire.

But the mansion is filled with monsters--human and undead--and Ward has no way of telling who's friend or foe. The only person he can trust is Celia who dominates more of his thoughts and feelings everyday. But there are still laws in the way of anything but friendship. She's still dead and he's still alive . . . for now.

Ward Against Disaster (Chronicles of a Reluctant Necromancer #3)

by Melanie Card

Release Date: 01/19/14

About the Author

I have always been drawn to story telling. In fact, I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t telling a story in my head or on paper. In grade school, we had journal writing time which I turned into story telling time, weaving tales of magic and adventure that mimicked the fairy tales and myths that I loved to read. It was there, with the help of two very special teachers, that I nurtured this love and started my journey as a writer.

I write fantasy, paranormal romance, and everything in between, seasoned with a good dash of adventure and mystery. Join me on my tales of magic, adventure, and romance.

Author Links: