Unplug and Read: Screen Free Week April 29 to May 5th

Every since Barnaby's birth, he's had this odd problem.  He floats...

Random House Children's Books sent me a copy of this book for review (thank you).  It has been published so you can pick up a copy at your local bookstore now.

This is a different fantasy story written for ages 8-12.  When Barnaby is born, he floats.  The doctors have no more idea why than his parents and the only solution to the problem is to weight him down until he stays in place.

One day, Barnaby's mother just cannot stand it anymore and cuts his knapsack to let the sand trickle out.  When it does, he flies up in the air and floats in the wind.  While that is wondrous, he's worried about what will become of him.  No worries needed; a female couple pick him up in their hot air balloon and take him home with them.

From there, he has other fine adventures.  In each instance, he's with someone who is "not normal".  They are nice to Barnaby, accept him as he is, and while they may be different, he sees no reason to not accept them as friends.  He works hard to get back home but when he does, he suddenly realizes who he is and how he is can be his own decision.

It's a good read for anyone who might be a bit different. (And who isn't?)  The overall message is that you're alright, no matter what others might deem strange about you.  That's a good lesson to carry with us through life.

Don't stay plugged in, online, and texting all the time.  Go offline and read or listen to an audio book.  It's relaxing and rejuvenating and will make you feel better.  Reward yourself with a good book and make your day better.
   
Happy reading.

Killer Honeymoon by G A McKevett

Savannah Reid can't even go on her honeymoon without running into murder.  Good thing she married a cop!

Kensington Books sent me an ARC of this book for review (thank you).  It has been published, so check with your local bookstore for a copy.

Savannah and Dirk have gone to a resort on the beach for their honeymoon.  When they arrive, they find that friends have paid for special rooms for them.  They're both amazed that they get access to the lighthouse, too.  Savannah gets an even bigger surprise when she finds out her husband is afraid of heights.  She's trying to get him to come closer to the railing so he can see the view when she suddenly notices a woman running and yelling on the beach.  They go to see what's wrong with her and see her get shot before they get there.  The woman dies in Savannah's arms.

When the cops show up, they aren't very friendly and soon the newly weds are persons non gratis around there.  Savannah is ready to accept that (after all, it is her honeymoon) but then the news channel says the woman drowned.  You don't drown with two bullet holes in the you.

When Savannah's PI genes rise in anger and she leaps into action, Dirk has to try hard to keep up with her.  It might be a small resort town, but there are lot of dark currents under the pleasant resort town facade.

I'm already ready for the next book about Savannah and Dirk.  Their life is never going to be boring.

Happy reading. 

Chihuahua Confidential by Waverly Curtis

You've heard of Dancing with the Stars, right?  How about Dancing with Dogs?

Kensington Books allowed me to read an ARC of this book for review (thank you).  It has been published, so check with your local bookstore for a copy.

Pepe is a very interesting Chihuahua.  He's smart and helps his PI owner, Geri Sullivan, solve crimes.  He talks to her.  She's still not sure about how that works, no one else hears him, but he's good help so she's happy.  She's also grown to love him dearly.

When she is asked to star in the dog show, she doesn't want to do it.  But Pepe does, a lot.  So she agrees.  What no one expected was to find one of the judges dead on the first day.  He was hated by many, but who on the set had the opportunity to kill him?

There is more than one plot, lots stress in performing and Pepe has a microchip that may identify his owner.  Geri doesn't want to lose him!

It's a cozy type mystery and holds your attention.  There's silliness, wittiness, evil and greed as well as dogs and divas.  How could you be bored?

Happy reading.   

Teacher's Pest: Tales from Lovecraft Middle School #3 by Charles Gilman

As we feared, the student council president is working for evil Crawford Tillinghast.  What can Robert Arthur do to stop him? 

Quirk Books sent me a copy of this book for review (thank you).  It will be published May 7th, so make a note to pick up the third in the series then.

This is another of those books with the fancy lenticular covers.  I just learned this term and it's going to take a bit to stick with me.  It's a picture that changes as you move the book and it looks 3-D.  I like the effect and think you will, too.

In this story, the school is being invaded by bugs.  The folks who are patrolling the halls and spraying for insects aren't killing them, they're feeding them.  Is this another nefarious plot to capture all the children for Tillinghast?

As Robert works with his friends to come up with answer, his bully buddy gets stung by purple wasp and his two-headed rat dies.  What can happen next?

Happy reading.   

Never-Ending Night by Tanya Stowe

Stacy is war damaged.  She's a photo-journalist that goes into the war zones and takes incredible photos of heartbreaking death and damage.  She has another wound even deeper than that, but she doesn't talk about it.  And now a man she loved has been shot down just because he was following her and supporting her in her work.  Will she ever be able to get past that?

The author and Goddess Fish Blog Tour shared this ebook with me for a review (thank you).  It has been published, so check with your ebook suppliers to get a copy.

This story grabbed my interest when it mentioned the main character gets involved with a ghost.  I don't do a lot of ghost stories, but this is a "ghost" from the civil war.  I wanted to see how the ghost from the past could adjust to present time and I was intrigued to see how she would resolve the ghostly issue. 

When Stacy goes to a Civil War reenactment, she finds even taking pictures of the war game makes her shake and feel and uncomfortable.  As she finally relaxes and starts to take the photos needed for a news article, she suddenly realizes the man coming out of the smoke fog has a real injury.  He's been hit or shot in the head and is bleeding profusely.  She immediately goes to his aid.  She was froze as she watched the man next to her die in the war zone; she was NOT going to let this man die.

The author makes this story much more complex than I expected.  That makes it much better to read.  With a mix of history and present time and psychiatrist who wants this fellow for further study and whatever money he can make from this "specimen", to mixed war remembrances and wounded hearts, you'll be following along the story and worrying about both main characters.

Ms. Stowe manages to smooth out the edges of an impossible romance and give you an interesting ending, too.  I enjoyed this read, why don't you try it?

Tanya will be awarding a print copy of her Inspirational historical, Tender Touch, at each stop (US only - eBook copies will be substituted for international winners). A grand prize of ecopies of the first 4 books in the Heart's Haven collection will be awarded to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour, and a $10 Amazon GC will be awarded to two randomly drawn hosts.

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: 

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/02/virtual-review-tour-never-ending-night.html

Happy reading!

You Never Heard of Willie Mays?! Jonah Winter & Terry Widener

I've heard of Willie Mays.  Many of my relatives admired him.  So for those young ones who don't, here's a bit of baseball history that deserves to be remembered.

Schwartz & Wade sent me a copy of this book for review (thank you).  It has been published, so check with your local bookstore for a copy.

This book has one of those covers that changes as you move the book around.  You can see Willie make a swing and connect with the ball.  I looked up the correct term for it and was amazed to find it's called a lenticular cover.  Pretty fancy for moving graphics, isn't it?

Willie Mays had to fight great odds to get picked up by the major leagues.  Blacks had their own league; they also had their own water fountains.  It's not like the black rubs off, folks.  Only Willie's burning passion for baseball made his athletic greatness rise to a level the white man couldn't ignore anymore.  While this was long ago, there are still discriminations like this going on in the states.

If your family is a baseball aficionado or just likes history, it would make a nice combination to go see 42, the Jackie Robinson movie, and then read this book about Willie Mays and talk about baseball in that era.  Nowadays, some of the best paid players are black or of another culture.  The barriers don't seem to stand anymore if you can play ball well.  Remembering the past is a good thing.  You don't want to repeat the bad parts.

Happy reading.      

The Cherry Cola Book Club by Ashton Lee

Maura Beth couldn't believe it when the Council called her to a meeting with them to discuss the library and told her they were probably shutting it down.  The Councilmember wanted to use the funds to develop an industrial park and bring more revenue to the city.  Being a librarian was her life and she loved the library she managed.  She wasn't going down without a fight...

Kensington Books sent me an ARC of this book for review (thank you).  Check with your local bookstore for a copy.

Maura Beth doesn't like to be threatened, but she does appreciate an opportunity to work on increasing library usage.  First she has to figure out what she can do.  She has no budget for computers and hardly any for new books.  What she does have is a community who likes her and the library.

First comes the idea of a bookclub, from a new resident to the town.  Then comes the name of the club, which actually was inspired by a young child.  The little girl can't say Cherico, so she calls the town Cherry Cola.  OK, Maura has a new event for the library, now where will she get her participants?

I enjoyed reading this story because it's small town where everyone knows everyone else (including all the dirt on them) and everyone is eccentric.  (Isn't that a requirement for long-time residents of small towns?)

Another advantage of small towns is that everyone will get behind a good project.  Soon the book club is growing, petitions are beings signed, and quiet people are beginning to talk and participate.  The author has added a couple of quiet romances, some marriage rehabilitation, and lots of good food to the story.  What's not to like?

Why not get a copy and see if you can read about all the good food without drooling.  I dare you.

Happy reading.