Book Review: Danger Sweetheart by MaryJanice Davidson

Danger Sweetheart by MaryJanice Davidson is a parody that takes jabs at every romance trope out there. I highly suggest reading the author’s note before diving into the “story” because it describes how this book came to be and what exactly it is all about.

Blake Tarbell has a town to save. Rich, carefree, and used to the Vegas party lifestyle, Blake is thrown for a curve when his former cocktail-waitress mother pleads he go back to her roots to save the town she grew up in. Blake's used to using money to solve his problems, but when he arrives in Sweetheart, North Dakota, this city boy has to trade in his high-priced shoes for a pair of cowboy boots. Natalie Lane's got no time for newbies, and there's nothing she can't do to keep a farm up and running. But when a handsome city-slicker rolls into town with nothing but bad farmer's instincts and good intentions, Natalie's heartstrings are pulled. She's about to teach him a thing or two about how to survive in Sweetheart. And he's about to teach her a thing or two about love...

Danger Sweetheart takes jabs at just about every romance trope out there- but frankly without having read the author’s forward I would have just thought the book was silly, trying too hard, and likely would not have finished it. Even having read the explanation of the book I was not impressed. There were a couple fun moments that kept me reading, but I think the effort to achieve a parody or satire felt too forced to make it really work for me. I almost put it down, but I was too curious to see how one of the promise tropes was worked in to walk away. The characters occasionally offered the quirky fun I expect from Davidson, in such an over the top way necessary in a parody, and that was the other thing that kept me reading when I might have otherwise given up.

Danger Sweetheart made me sad. I love the writing style of Davidson, how her characters are quirky and can laugh at themselves (and each other) and move forward. I think in trying so hard to be funny the charm that usually keeps me happily read was lost. 

Early Book Review: Not Today Celeste: A Dog’s Tale about her Human’s Depression by Liza Stevens

Not Today Celeste: A Dog’s Tale about Her Human’s Depression by Liza Stevens is a picture book that is currently scheduled for release on June 21 2016. Celeste thinks she is the happiest dog in the world. But when she notices something different about her human, Rupert, she wonders if things will ever be the same again. This heart-warming story reflects some of the feelings and experiences that a child whose parent, sibling, or caregiver has depression may face. The story provides reassurance by explaining what depression is and how it is possible to find help.

Not Today Celeste: A Dog’s Tale about Her Human’s Depression can be a great tool for helping young children understand what depression is, and cope with times when someone they love is suffering from it. The illustrations are charming and offer soothing colors and some smile worthy moments. Like Celeste, often children in this situation think that the mood and behavior changes of someone going through depression might be their fault. This book helps reassure them that it is not true, gives clues as to how to recognize depression in others (and themselves), and how they not just cope but also help. I really liked that is a comprehensive guide for parents and professionals at the end of the book that offers advice on discussing the topic with children. I think this book and the resources in it can be valuable for social workers, child and school counselors, psychologists, parents and foster parents.  

Early Book Review: You Had One Job by Beverly L. Jenkins

You Had One Job by Beverly L. Jenkins is a collection off funny photographs illustrating epic fails. It is currently scheduled for release on July 12 2016. If someone hangs a stop sign upside down or paints crooked lines on a highway, count on someone else to snap a photo and post it online.  You Had One Job! is a collection of hilarious pictures features job-related disasters and general ineptitudes. All of these new, never-before-seen images are accompanied by witty captions. 

You Had One Job is fun to flip through, and a great book to make you feel better about any mistakes you might have made on the job. My only issue with the book is that the internet and social media in particular is already flush with similar pictures. While these are new, they are not unexpected or amazingly more amusing than those I have already seen via blogs and Facebook. It is a fun, silly book- and worth a look or addition to a collection of coffee table books if you have one. However, there is nothing terribly new to notable here, mainly do to the sheer number of mistakes and pictures already out in the world. 

Early Book Review: Ogres Awake! by James Sturm, Alexis Frederick-Frost, Andrew Arnold

Ogres Awake! by James Sturm, Alexis Frederick-Frost, and Andrew Arnold is a children's graphic novel currently scheduled for release on July 12 2016. while this is a return to the world of the Knight and her horse Edward, young readers do not need to read this series in any order. They are all good fun as stand alones or together.

The knight and her horse, Edward, have discovered that there are three huge ogres asleep at her doorstep! When they wake up, the kingdom is in big trouble because of course ogres like to rampage and destroy things when they wake up! The knight wants to prepare for a fight, but the king and his garden gnomes are all ready to protect the kingdom, not with swords and shields, but with potato peelers and spoons. It turns out that ogres are pretty friendly when they have full stomachs!

Ogres Awake! is another delightful read from the Adventures in Cartooning series. I love the enthusiasm of the Knight, the pragmatic calm of Edward, and the twists that keep things interesting. I like that stew, rather than warfare, was the answer. The idea of being smart and thoughtful being more important that being a great warrior is a repeating theme that seems to tie all these books together, and is one that I can get behind.

Ogres Awake! is another win for young readers.

Early Book Review: Ooko by Esme Shapiro

Ooko is a picturebook by Esme Shapiro that is currently scheduled for release on July 5 2016. Ooko has everything a fox could want: a stick, a leaf and a rock. However, Ooko wants someone to play with too! The foxes in town always seem to be playing with their two-legged friends, the Debbies. Maybe if he tries to look like the other foxes, one of the Debbies will play with him too. But when Ooko finally finds his very own Debbie, things don't turn out quite as he had expected! 

Ooko is a fun and quirky picturebook about finding friendship and being true to yourself. Ooka wants to be like the dogs he sees around, thinking they are foxes like himself. However, when he pretends to be just like them he is far from happy and does not enjoy himself. The changes he needs to undergo to live like those he sees around him simply are not worth it. It is only when he is himself and makes friends with another, who is not quite like him either, that Ooko is happy. The art work is attractive and subtle, and adds a wonderful feel to the story. It is simply enjoyable to look at, and contains humor and details that make the read even better.

Ooko is a wonderful addition top libraries and collections, and would make a good pick for storytimes and sharing. 

Book Review: Do Princesses Boogie? by Carmela LaVigna Coyle, Mike Gordon

Do Princesses Boogie? is a board book written by Carmela LaVigna Coyle and illustrated by Mike Gordon. This book is part of the Do Princesses...? series, and readers join their favorite princess as she and her family dance, boogie, and jam. The happy princess discovers that having the right beat and looking on the bright side is all a girl needs to make her a princess.

Do Princesses Boogie? is a short simple board book that will appeal to the youngest readers that already love to dance and look at colorful books. There is not much to the story, as it is a board book, and is more about catching the eye and brief attention of young children. I prefer the picturebooks in the series that show that a princess can not only play soccer or wear hiking boots, but do it with style. Perhaps this will get the youngest set started with the series so that they can move on to the others for story or bed time readings.

Book Review: Blood Stain Volume 1 by Linda Sejic

Blood Stain Volume 1 by Linda Sejic is the start of a graphic novel series that will appeal to new adults and older readers. Elliot Torres (Elly) has been looking for a good just since, well forever. Sher has takes just about every kind of part time job, and failed at them all. In her attempts to help her family stay afloat she finally considers a position a job with rumored mad scientist Dr. Vlad Stein.

Blood Stain Volume 1 tells the story of how Elly ends up working for Dr. Vlad Stein. I was intrigued by the characters, and quickly related to and then became sympathetic for Elly. She wanted to hold down a job, and worked hard at everything she attempted. However through bad luck, oddball bosses, and the economy nothing every really worked out for her. The graphic novel detailed some of this journey, gave readers some background on her family situation, and introduced a busy boyfriend. I liked everything I saw, and really loved the artwork and the additional information on the background of the comic. My only problem was the fact that I only had the first issue, and was left desperate to know how things progress with Elly's position with Stein. I will definitely be looking to continue the story! 

Book Review: Test Drive (Body Shop Bad Boys #1) by Marie Harte

Test Drive is the first book in the new Body Shop Bad Boys  series by Marie Harte. This contemporary romance series does connect to a previous series from the author, but I have not read it and think that aside from already knowing some of the secondary characters ahead of time readers will not miss out if they have not already read other books from the author.

Johnny, Foley, Sam, and Lou are the rough and tumble mechanics of Webster's Garage. These reformed bad boys are used to living fast, but it's the women in their lives who take them from zero to sixty in a heartbeat. Johnny Devlin's a charmer with a checkered past. He has had his eye on scorching-hot bartender Lara Valley for ages, but she's rejected him more than once. That doesn't mean he won't come to her aid when some dirtbag mauls her. When she asks him on a date as a no-strings-attached thank you, he can't say no. And then he's saying nothing but hell, yes.

Test Drive is fast and furious. Johnny has not always been the best guy, but he does have a sense of honor and is upfront with he women that enter his life. Lara is trying to build herself a better life, going to school and working hard to make sure she does not spend the rest of her life saving pennies like her parents. She is thankful for the love and support they have given her, but she wants more. The help she gives her family brings more trouble into her life and Johnny steps up to help, and in the process proves that under the tattoos and muscles he is a real softy while Lara proves to be smarter and more assertive than expected. My only real trouble with the book is a couple more intimate scenes seemed over the top to me, but that is my own personal preference and expectations. Others might enjoy the moments that made me pause a little. As a whole I liked the characters and the story- there was enough suspense and action to balance out the lust and sweet moments.

Test Drive is a fast and sun read. Johnny and Lara are great characters and I really liked the set up of characters with less than perfect pasts and families finding their happily ever after in each other. i think I am going to keep on with this series, and as time permits I will check out other books from Harte. 

Book Review: The Toothless Fairy by Timothy Jordan

The Toothless Fairy is a picture book by Timothy Jordan. Every parent knows the problem – Halloween is over, but the issue of how to handle too much candy has just begun. The question of what to do with an excess of sweets each November 1 provided the inspiration for the book. Conceived by Skeeter Buck and written by Timothy Jordan, the story allows parents and caregivers to explore with their children feelings of being different, the importance of friendship, how to share and care, and even how to create a new family tradition, all while reveling in the magic of Halloween.

The Toothless Fairy is a picture book that might be useful to parents trying to get rid of Halloween candy that might be overflowing in their home, by introducing a new tradition. I was distracted by the formatting issues that were part of my digital galley (which I assume were fixed before the final release). I was not overly fond of the artwork, it looked like the cgi cartoons that drive me crazy, but that is my personal preference rather than anything that might bother other readers. I read through the book a few times, and thought the intent and ideas were good. I was just not a fan of the execution. Others might be more willing to add another mystical creature and tradition to their home, and this could be the perfect book for them, it just did nothing for me.

Book Review: Long Night Moon by S.M. Reine

Long Night Moon is the third book in the Seasons of the Moon series by S.M. Reine. Something is killing innocent people around Rylie Gresham's town. The police think it's a wild animal, but she has other suspicions. There are new kids at school, and they have a lot in common with her: gold eyes, super strength, and a habit of turning furry. It seems Rylie's not the only werewolf around anymore. It's up to Rylie and her werewolf-hunting boyfriend, Seth, to stop the killings. But saving lives doesn't come naturally to a monster, and territory battles could risk the life of her sickly aunt--not to mention her own. Rylie has no choice but to stand her ground, protect her home, and stop the murderers before anyone else gets hurt.

Long Night Moon is a good addition to the series, with plenty of action and twists to keep the reader guessing. The violent deaths in the area have everyone worried. New werewolves come to town, Seth’s brother is acting stranger then usual, Rylie’s aunt is not doing well, and a meddling doctor comes to town there are just so many things going on that both Seth and Rylie are struggling to figure out what is going on, and what they should do next. There are unexpected complications and some normal teenage angst all mixed together to keep both the characters and the readers on their toes guessing to see what might happen next. I was on edge and only saw a few of the twists coming- and those I was unsure about until the very end. 

Long Night Moon is another book that goes by a little too quickly. The book has a satisfying conclusion, it was just over before I was ready to leave Rylie and her new world behind. I will be diving into the conclusion of this quartet as soon as possible.