Bobby Ether and the Academy Book Review

Book: Bobby Ether and the Academy

 

Author: R. Scott Boyer

 

Given by: Create Space via Net Galley

 

Rating: 5/5 Won-derfuls (Amazing!) 

 

If you are a fan of YA and/or fantasy you need to read this book. Now. Capisce? Bobby Ether and the Academy  is an adventurous tale exploring the power of children, the mind, friendship, energy, and magic. Okay, well maybe not magic because according to one of the characters "There is no such thing as magic." It looked a lot like magic to me though! 

I was captivated from the first chapter by our young hero, Bobby. After experiencing some pretty odd things followed by some pretty terrible things, Bobby is taken to Tibet to learn about said odd and terrible events. Here he makes both friends and enemies of epic proportions. 

 

Boyer created characters and settings that held me captive until the very last page. I loved be taken to jade mines, gardens manned by monks, a bear cave, and many other imaginative locations. If there is not another book after this one I may have a temper tantrum like a toddler... This is definitely going to be a YA series to watch out for!

 

Interested? (The answer is "YES" by the way...) Find out more here.

Be Normal Book Review

Book: Be Normal

 

Author: Brittany Nicole Sanford

 

Given by: Author via Goodreads Giveaways

 

Rating: 2/5 Won-derfuls (It was okay)

 

This is a book with tons of potential. It has a solid idea but needs a good edit and some reworking. I was also a bit bothered by the message of the book not seeming to match the conclusion. It caused some cognitive dissonance that I do not believe was intentional. Rather than being challenging or causing thought it was just kind of confusing.

 

That said, there are some very interesting characters and relationships. There were several times that I wanted to scream at a few of the "teachers" because they were so good at being awful. Emotions were complicated and diverse throughout. The setting of a boarding school to teach kids how to be "normal" was unique for modern times.

 

My recommendation would be to wait until a more polished edition of this book comes out before reading it.

 

For other reviews or to buy the book click here.

Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg: Spotlight and Giveaway!

I am so excited to have "The Chase" stop by the blog for their blog tour.  Below you will find a blurb about the new book and a link to enter to win a free T-Shirt. My review will be up by the end of the week, but so far - so awesome! Happy Reading!

Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg, New York Times bestselling authors of The Heist, return in this action-packed, exciting adventure featuring master con artist Nicolas Fox and die-hard FBI agent Kate O'Hare. And this time around, things go from hot to nuclear when government secrets are on the line.

Internationally renowned thief and con artist Nicolas Fox is famous for running elaborate and daring scams. His greatest con of all: convincing the FBI to team him up with the only person who has ever caught him, and the only woman to ever capture his attention, Special Agent Kate O’Hare. Together they’ll go undercover to swindle and catch the world’s most wanted—and untouchable—criminals.

Their newest target is Carter Grove, a former White House chief of staff and the ruthless leader of a private security agency. Grove has stolen a rare Chinese artifact from the Smithsonian, a crime that will torpedo U.S. relations with China if it ever becomes public. Nick and Kate must work under the radar—and against the clock—to devise a plan to steal the piece back. Confronting Grove’s elite assassins, Nick and Kate rely on the skills of their ragtag crew, including a flamboyant actor, a Geek Squad techie, and a band of AARP-card-carrying mercenaries led by none other than Kate’s dad.

A daring heist and a deadly chase lead Nick and Kate from Washington, D.C., to Shanghai, from the highlands of Scotland to the underbelly of Montreal. But it’ll take more than death threats, trained henchmen, sleepless nights, and the fate of a dynasty’s priceless heirloom to outsmart Fox and O’Hare. 

Want to win a free "The Heist", "I <3 Morelli", or "I <3 Ranger" T-Shirt??

 ENTER HERE

Bookmobile

I was recently driving across the Navajo reservation and came across this epic library on wheels!! It is part of the outreach program at Flagstaff City - Coconino County Public Library. Patrons can check out and return books when the bookmobile stops by on its regular route. People can also request books or movies and the bookmobile will deliver them on the next trip out. How amazing is that!?!



I talked to the driver/librarian and he said that he enjoys bringing books to isolated communities. The bus also makes stops at the local assisted living facility.







While we were looking around a four legged bibliophile decided to drop by for a visit. I wonder what books he requested...








More information about this awesome library can be seen here.

War of Wings Blog Tour

 

 

Great news! War of Wings blog tour is coming up next month. I am so excited! This book looks epic. Over the next couple weeks I will post info about the book and author. My review will be up on March 18. More coming soon!

This is the Garden Book Review

Book: This is the Garden

 

Author: Giulio Mozzi

 

Given by: Open Letter Books via Goodreads

 

Rating: 4/5 Won-derfuls (I loved it)

This is such a beautiful work. It is an award winning compilation that was translated into English from Italian by the talented Elizabeth Harris. I picked it up to read after winning it in a giveaway without knowing quite what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised. This text can be appreciated on many different levels. It can be as complicated or as simple as the reader decides it should be, which makes it both readable and contemplative. I chose to read each of the eight works with a day in between to digest and I am so glad I did! There are common strands throughout, but each section provides plenty to chew on independently. I look forward to rereading this book again. It can mean different things when read in different moods, different times of day, or different times in life.

On a more concrete note, this book is well translated, edited, and published. This allows the reader to focus on the text and allows the imagination to take hold. I look forward to recommending this book and am so grateful I had the opportunity to read it!

Interested? Find out more here.

10 Minute Valentine - Music of My Heart

This one is a bit cheesy, but Valentine's Day is a cheesy holiday so it works out. Remember making paper people chains in elementary school? This card is basically one of those.

Supplies:

• Sheet music

• Colorful or patterned paper

• Scissors

• Glue or double sided tape

• Stamps or pen for your message

Accordion fold the sheet music.







Cut out a heart chain. Be careful that the hearts stay attached. I only say this because I had a second grade flash back of frustration when I accidentally cut through the fold and had to redo it. Which took a whopping 30 seconds. But still...


If you are using stamps, you may want to put in your message before attaching your heart chain. I used "You are the music of my heart" in true cupid style.




Attach your hearts by using a small piece of tape or dot of glue on the end two hearts.









 I decided I wanted a heart on the front of my card.











I didn't like it much, so added a border. Much better! Easy peasy lemon squeezy, yes?

 

 

Happy Valentine's Day!