Book Review: Bob’s Hungry Ghost by Genevieve Cote

Bob’s Hungry Ghost by Genevieve Cote is a picturebook about a young boy that really wants a dog for his birthday, but gets a ghost named Fluffy instead. Unfortunately, Fluffy doesn't fetch, sit, or go for walks. All Fluffy does is eat everything, and soon all of Bob's things and even Bob himself end up in Fluffy's belly. Will Bob find a way to tame his unruly and very hungry ghost? Will Fluffy realize that eating Bob wasn't a very nice thing to do?

Bob’s Hungry Ghost is a creative look at how children, and adults, handle disappointment. bob is less than thrilled with a ghost for a pet, particularly when the ghost in question does not do any of the fun stuff he had planned to do with a dog. He pouts, and after a while starts to be less than friendly to his new pet. Fluffy in turn eat everything, including Bob. it is then that Bob reads the guidebook about having a ghost for a pet, and when Fluffy comes to think about the little boy in his belly. All ends well in a sweetly silly book about appreciating what you have. And everyone will want a ghost for their birthday after reading this book.

I would recommend Bob’s Hungry Ghost to picturebook readers of all ages. The story is perfectly illustrated and a fun read about appreciating what you have and accepting disappointment gracefully. My favorite part of the story is the realization that the possibilities of what we do have are often much better than what we might have had.

Early Book Review: Once Upon a Plaid (Spirit of the Highlands) by Mia Marlowe

Once Upon a Plaid is the latest book in the Spirit of the Highland series by Mia Marlowe. It is currently scheduled for release on October 7 2014.  Katherine Douglas is considered fortunate. Her husband, Laird William Douglas is broad-shouldered, gentle-handed, everything a lass could dream. However, after four years of marriage, Katherine still knows little of what goes on in his heart and she has yet to bear him an heir. Her pain and desire to set her husband free so he can have his heir has her at her childhood home. But William won't let his wife slip away without a fight. Before long, he's at her father's threshold himself, witness to the rumbles of discontent in Glengarry, the bright joy of Yuletide at a family hearth, and the hidden needs of his own beloved.

Once Upon a Plaid deals with issues most romance novels ignore, the ever after that has troubles of its own. Katherine and William were promised to each other as children, and have found love together even if they do not really communicate well. However, after a still born babe and several miscarriages, some of which Katherine has kept to herself, there are barriers and pain between them that need to be breached. It is the lack of communication and shielded emotion that is the root of all the strife between them. I liked that both characters are strong, intelligent, and thinking about the welfare of the other more so than themselves.  the addition of clan strife adds another layer of tension and excitement to the story, as does the trials of Katherine's sister, but the true heart of the story is about sharing pain and coming together. There is some faith involved, but not so much that it will push away those that do not enjoy religious fiction. It is more a part of the character's and their lives than a plot point. 

I enjoyed that Once Upon a Plaid dealt with some very tough issues, and I felt for the characters throughout the story. i will say that since it began with the couple well into their married life I did feel like I missed something important when I first began the book. It was still a solid read, and may be a very hard read for those that have had trouble conceiving or carrying children to term. The main suggestion I would offer to make the book feel more complete is to offer a preface with a wedding night or childhood day when their love for each other showed. 

Blog Tour Book Spotlight with Excerpt: God's Banker by Chris Malburg

God's Banker 

Cardinal David Caneman took just three years to engineer his ascension into the CEO’s office of Vatican Bancorp. His cabal of fundamentalist zealots now quickly moves to seize the world’s largest institution. First by publicly assassinating the Pope. Next by replacing him with Caneman. Finally by giving the masses a common, everyday object—unquestionably used by their savior—to rally behind. For centuries, folklore has claimed the sacred item laid in wait sealed within the Church’s lost treasury vault. Caneman races to unearth the vault—if it exists. He has bet everything that he can find the blessed object, surely buried within. He intends using it to sweep the faithful from their ungodly ways and into his personal standards of piety.

The Taliban took just two years to overthrow Kabul. Armed with over a billion faithful worldwide and a $200 billion war chest—and the sacred Broom Of Formia—Cardinal David Caneman figures it will take him just half that time to conscript the hearts and minds first of Europe, then…

Jackson Schilling enjoys his happy, early retirement. He attends minor league ball games near his home in Elkhart, Indiana. He’s an amateur chef. And Jackson Schilling is a hunter. Then the SEC drafts him. Come on, Jack. One last audit. It’s mandatory after an attempt on the Vatican Bank Chairman’s life. But Jackson Schilling is no ordinary auditor. And it was his Commander in Chief who personally ordered him drafted. Schilling exhaustively uncovers Caneman’s deadly purpose. First he must stop a professional assassin from completing his mission against the Pope. Now the hard part—derail a fundamentalist faction led by a brilliant, ruthless [and some would say] saint to over a billion faithful. Jackson Schilling battles a force growing faster and more deadly than the Crusades, the Inquisition or the Taliban ever were. Legitimate governments will surely topple, becoming answerable to one man and his band of strict fundamentalists if Schilling fails.

Excerpt:

The young SEAL slowly raised his right hand in salute. All 243 of America’s Squadron saluted their President at the same time.

“Oorah, son,” said the President.

The young lieutenant hadn’t expected that from America’s chief executive. “Oorah, Mr. President,” he said back in a loud and proud voice that did justice to any man or

woman who ever wore the uniform.

“Oorah,” thundered 243 voices behind him.

The President stood in the summer sunshine of Washington DC. At this moment,

he realized there was no place on this earth that he would rather be than right here. The

finest examples of courage and bravery in the American people he had the privilege of

serving stretched before him. These people had taken time out of their busy lives to come

here to the White House to see him. About what the President still couldn’t say. But he

could smell the ribs already beginning to smoke next to the hastily erected canopies that

shaded picnic tables off to the side near where they land Marine 1, the presidential

helicopter.

A White House staffer had already brought a microphone and plugged it into the

permanently installed outlet. They often used this spot for events when the weather was

nice. The President stepped up and said, “America’s Squadron, I salute you and the

American people salute you. I am…” he bowed his head for a moment as it slowly began

to dawn on him why they might be here. “…I am humbled that you have taken the time

to come here to what is truly your house. You have fought for it and have bled for it. Your families have paid dearly for it. I am just its temporary caretaker. But make no

mistake, it is yours and by God always will be yours.”

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The Author

Chris's  Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads 

Chris Malburg is a widely published author, with work spread over 11 popular business books--including How to Fire Your Boss (Berkley) and Surviving the Bond Bear Market (Wiley, March 2011).  In his other life, Chris is a CPA/MBA, a former investment banker and now the CEO of Writers Resource Group, Inc., providers of professional financial literary content to corporations (www.WritersResourceGroup.com).  That’s the professional side of Chris’ career.  The fun side began when UCLA’s Writers’ school taught him to transition from biz-speak to fiction. GOD’S BANKER and the first installment in the Enforcement Division series, DEADLY ACCELERATION, both combine Chris’ natural talent for story telling with his professional command of the high-stakes investment world and what money and power do to some people.

GOD’S BANKER  came to fruition from Chris’ hospital bed while recuperating from an athletic injury.  As a long-time endurance athlete, Chris is no stranger to the surgeon’scalpal.  Over 130,000 words later,GOD’S BANKER was complete.  “It just poured out me,” says the author.  “I carried my note pad to physical therapy; made plot notes during the hours in the gym doing rehab; even while on my long bicycle rides through the hills overlooking the Pacific Ocean where we live.  Slowly endurance returned and with it, GOD’S BANKER.”

Chris Malburg lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Marilyn.  Their hobby is raising service dogs for Guide Dogs for the Blind.  As of this writing, they have raised eight Labrador retrievers and have had three make the cut for placement with their disabled partners.    

Early Book Review: Centaur Rising by Jane Yolen

Centaur Rising is a middle grade to young adult novel by Jane Yolen. It is currently scheduled for release on October 21, 2014. Arianne has always wished for magic in her life, a meteor shower and some team work might just make that reality. During the Perseid meteor shower, Arianne thinks she sees a shooting star land in the fields surrounding her family’s horse farm. About a year later, one of their horses gives birth to a baby centaur. The family wants to protect the young boy and has had enough attention already. Arianne’s six-year-old brother was born with birth defects caused by an experimental drug, and their rock-star father has deserted them. They do not want the limelight, but soon the horse farm's clients growing suspicious. How long can they keep their secret and everyone safe? What will happen if the world learns about the miracle on the farm?

Centaur Rising keeps with the record of Yolan never disappointing me. I really enjoyed the characters, the setting, and the premise. Arianne is a girl that has grown up faster than she should, and is still both compassionate and weary. Her father left the family when her younger brother was born with birth defects. Her outlook was realistic with still a wistful hope for magic and better things. I loved her younger brother's determination and resilience, and her mothers efforts to protect them both.  I will say that my favorite character is still Martha, a employee that is more of a family member on the horse farm. I think that the description of the centaur foal and his development was key to the story. It kept the wonder of his very existence, but also dealt with the practicalities and truth that made him much more human and real than most people here in reality, This is much more than a fantasy, more than a coming of age story, this is a look at how real people facing extraordinary circumstances still have to keep moving forward and dealing with the minute details that are often left out of books and television.

I really enjoyed Centaur Rising. Yolan, as usual, brings her characters to life. She leaves readers with a feeling that this family, this farm, could really be out there somewhere. Her characters are so real. Like in real life, there are funny moments, moments that make you want to scream, and moments that make it all worth while.

Book Tour Review: The Magic of Maxwell and His Tail by Maureen Stolar Kanefield

The Magic of Maxwell and His Tail by Maureen Stolar Kanefield is a cute picturebook about a young mouse facing growing pains. Maxwell is smart, and has a curiosity that draws him to study everything. The trouble starts when he discovers his tail is growing much too long. Soon he being teased about the long tail, and how clumsy he feels with it. Maxwell soon discovers that his biggest problem can also be his biggest asset and explores the good in his tail.

The Magic of Maxwell and His Tail has something that everyone can relate to. When growing up just about everyone has something that makes them feel awkward, clumsy, silly, or anything else that makes them feel like they could be teased about. In many cases it is the awkwardness that come with growth spurts, braces, a haircut, needing glasses, speech or attention issues; but can take any form. I really enjoyed how the illustrations and words came together here to make every reader relate to Maxwell, and understand that like the little mouse whatever they are feeling bad about could also be an asset once they take the time to explore it. Maxwell thinks about all the great things he could do with his tail; paint, play music, cook, and so on. A young person could take the message of this book and find the fun or strength in their 'weakness' as well. 

The Magic of Maxwell and His Tail is a well told and illustrated tale about finding the good in yourself, and about accepting others as they come. we all have our own something different about ourselves, but like Maxwell children and adults alike are unable to harness that difference for anything worthwhile until they accept it and test it. Readers of all ages will want to encourage and  cheer for Maxwell as he finds that being different is not only okay, but part of the wonder of the world.

Early Book Review: In Real Life by Cory Doctorow and Jen Wang

In Real Life by Cory Doctorow and Jen Wang is a young adult graphic novel currently scheduled for release on October 14 2014. Anda loves Coarsegold Online, the massively-multiplayer role playing game that she spends most of her free time on. It's a place where she can be a leader, a fighter, a hero. It's a place where she can meet people from all over the world, and make friends. Gaming is, for Anda, entirely a good thing. Things become more complicated when Anda befriends a gold farmer, a poor Chinese kid whose real life job is acting in game to collect valuable objects to be sold to other players. While against the rules in Coarsegold, but Anda realizes that questions of right and wrong are a lot less straightforward when a real person's real livelihood is at stake. 

In Real Life is a graphic novel that really tackles some tough topics. It tackles the lack of respect women and girls get in gaming, the technicalities of what is right and wrong in game,  how goos some of us have it, how bad other people’s live can be, and how game life and real life can effect each other. Right and wrong is rarely as cut and dry as we would like to believe. There are shades of grey, even in fictional worlds. Anda is a girl that is great with computers and offered a chance to take part in a new game, in an all girl guild. While trying to make a name for herself she has the chance to help eliminate gold farmer, only to see that doing something that removes players breaking the rules is still not always the right thing to do. Taking the time to talk and learn about another gamer brings about great understanding, but also causes trouble that is not easily resolved. The art work was a perfect pairing with the story and dialogue, resulting in a perfect glimpse of how complicated life can be. 

In Real Life is a sensitive, thoughtful look at adolescence, gaming, poverty, and culture-clash. I think every computer savvy reader, and every gamer, will get something remarkable from this book. Readers that are neither internet or game savvy should still give this graphic novel a chance, it does a good job of explaining why some people love gaming so much as well as how complex the ties of the internet and economy are.

Book Review: The Case of the Stolen Sixpence (The Mysteries of Maisie Hitchins) by Holly Webband Marion Lindsay

The Case of the Stolen Sixpence (The Mysteries of Maisie Hitchins) by Holly Webb and Marion Lindsay is a children’s chapter book in the tradition of the Sherlock Holmes mysteries. Maisie Hitchins is twelve years old, and is fascinated with detecting. She takes the time to notice things, which leads her to believe that she would be a great detective if she only had the chance. However, she spends most of her time helping her grandmother run a boarding house and running related errands. When Maisie has the chance to solve the mystery of who would toss a puppy into a canal and who has been stealing money from the nearby butcher shop she is on the case!

The Case of the Stolen Sixpence is the great start to a series. While introducing a varied cast of characters, it never felt like the characters were being explained only to set up the rest of the series, which sometimes happens. Maisie is a smart, well intentioned girl with an eye for detail. Her actions occasionally have less than wonderful consequences, but she is a character that steps up and tries to right any wrong, especially those that she has had a hand in. I really liked her spunk, honest, and willingness to look for the truth even if she might not like the answer. The black and white illustrations compliment the action and mood of the story and its characters perfectly. The action is fast and the book holds many surprises and quirks to keep readers turning the pages. 

The Case of the Stolen Sixpence is a delightful mystery complete with tricks, disguises, danger, and a little dog too! Readers that like action and mystery will dive into this book and might not come up for air right away.

Book Review: Nancy Knows by Cybele Young

Nancy Knows is a picturebook by Cybele Young. Nancy the elephant knows she has forgotten something, something important. While she walks around trying to remember, she thinks of all sorts of other things instead. It is only after she stops thinking so hard that Nancy remembers what should should be doing.

Nancy Knows is a delightful picturebook. Elephants are supposed to remember everything, right. Well, Nancy cannot remember. She knows there is something she needs to remember, and now. She is struggling with something we have all done, even the young audience for picture books. We have all had that moment when we cannot remember a name, the last item on the shopping list, or the reason we went into a room. For children it might be the way they are supposed to solve a math problem, or how to spell a word; although we adults can have those lapses too. I love that while Nancy is trying to remember she comes up with all sorts of other things in her mind- which are shown in delightful paper sculptures and bright colors on each page. I do the same thing, as I am trying to go through my to do list for the day, I remember something I tried to remember yesterday. The book is splendid and charming, something everyone can find enjoyment in. 

I would recommend Nancy Knows to readers of all ages that have ever forgotten something, anyone that has had a thought or name on the tip of their tongue but evading recollection, and frankly that is all of us right? The are is colorful, charming, and a wonderful pairing to the story of an elephant that sometimes forgets.

Early Book Review: A Highland Wolf Christmas by Terry Spear

A Highland Wolf Christmas is part of the Heart of the Wolf series  by Terry Spear. This paranormal romance is currently scheduled for release on October 7 2014. Guthrie MacNeill is the financial adviser for his clan and werewolf pack. He is worried for the safety of a party planner who is staying with them to avoid an ex that will not take no for an answer, while trying to fight his attraction to her. What he cannot seem to reconcile the fact that his job is to save the clan's money, and hers seems to be to spend it. Calla Stewart has never had a more difficult client. The laird and lady of the castle are delightful, but the handsome Highlander holding the purse strings is quite impossible. When Guthrie takes on the role of Highland warrior to protect her the holidays take a turn for the passionate. 

A Highland Wolf Christmas is another entry in the heart of the Wolf series. Like the rest, it can stand on its own merit, but knowing what has happened in some of the most recent books can definitely add to the tension and investment in the characters. Guthrie has been around for awhile, and seen prosperous and painfully poor times. This is why he is so careful with the pack's money. When Calla is hired to throw a holiday party he is put at odds because even though he likes her more than he wants to admit, and worries for her safety in more ways than one, he is protective of the clan's finances and does not like to see them spent wastefully. Calla is a party planner with an ex fiance that just cannot except her rejection. While Guthrie might think she spends money like water, she is actually as mindful and forward thinking with finances as him. When danger comes, and hits them from several sides, it will take trust and teamwork to help them find the way to success and love.

A Highland Wolf Christmas is another solid book in the series. I was glad to see Calla's story be told since she was introduced as a character a few books ago. This was not my favorite in the series, that would most likely be Hero of a Highland Wolf, but it is still a solid read with some humor and great tension to keep the pages turning. 

Early Book Review: The Stratford Zoo Midnight Revue Presents Macbeth by Ian Lendler and Zack Giallongo

The Stratford Zoo Midnight Revue Presents Macbeth is a graphic novel by Ian Lendler and Zack Giallongo. It is currently scheduled for release on September 30, 2014. The Stratford Zoo might look like a normal zoo, but when the zoo closes for the night the animals perform, and watch, Shakespeare's greatest works. While they are not all great actors, or audience members, the have heart and the basic gist of Macbeth complete with murder, madness, and plenty of ketchup. 

The Stratford Zoo Midnight Revue Presents Macbeth is a fun look at a piece of classic literature with a twist. While certain plot points and details are not quite what literature majors and scholars remember, it is a fun and entertain entry to the world of Shakespeare for young readers. The fact that is it a graphic novel, with animals and plenty of laughs, will draw in reluctant readers and hopefully get some youngsters interested in Shakespeare. A lion plays the role of Macbeth, and rather than straight murder he devours his victims, with lots and lots of ketchup. Because we all know that ketchup can make just about any meal more appetizing, right?  There are remarks from the audience, and everyone comes out all right in the end despite being eaten earlier. All in all the story is fun, with pictures that offer humorous and important details, while imparting the basic themes and ideas of the original play. 

The Stratford Zoo Midnight Revue Presents Macbeth and its story of after-hours animal stagecraft is paired with adorable and accessible artwork. I think that this book just might be the gateway for some reactant readers to develop interest in theater in general, and possibly Shakespeare. I look forward to Romeo and Juliet coming out as book two in this new series of graphic novels for young readers.