Book Review: Space Cat by Ruthven Todd, Paul Galdone

Space Cat is a children's book originally published in 1952 by Ruthven Todd, with illustrations by Paul Galdone, that has recently been reprinted.Everyone goes to the moon in stories these days - why not a cat? So we have the ambitious young cat, Flyball, going off in a rocket and having extraordinary adventures. He is a delight in his space suit - a descendant perhaps of that famous adventurer Puss in Boots. On the moon he becomes, of course, a super-cat, rescuing his master and finding surprising things in a cave. Children will love Flyball's story - grown-ups, reading it aloud, will see in it a slight take-off on the popular science-fiction thread.

Space Cat is a fun adventure that is made sweeter by nostalgia. Adults that remember this book from its first printing, and readers new to the story, will be able to get lost in Flyball's perspective of the world and his adventures. I like reading about Flyball thinking about how he is in charge, even when denied his wishes. I think my cats have the same mentality. I think animal lovers, adventure fans, and science fiction fans will all enjoy this high flying adventure. The story is vintage, and fans of science fiction will be amused at some of the ideas about space travel, and the moon, from the story from the time in which it was written. I must admit that Flyball's little songs got a little tiresome, and by the end of the book I was just skipping over them. 

Space Cat is a product of its time, and a fun read for early chapter book readers that like space, adventure, and cats. Those looking to revisit a loved or remembered book from their childhood might also want to pick it up and see it it stands up to your memories.

Book Review: Close to the Edge by Zara Cox

Close to the Edge by Zara Cox is a contemporary, suspense romance. The moment he meets sublime coding prodigy Lily Gracen, Caleb Steele knows his “never get involved with a client” rule is going to be broken. But not until he stops her stalker. Caleb might be in charge of Lily’s safety, but when they’re locked down in her Silicon Valley mansion she’s the master. For keeping his hands off Lily is bringing Caleb close to the edge of his control. 

Close to the Edge is a suspenseful read, not only with "when will they" but also with the stalker issue that brings our characters together. I like that both Lily and Caleb have their vulnerabilities, and that they are struggling with themselves as much as they are with what they want to happen, and what they think should happen. I did like the way they actually talked things out, for the most part, and kept working to find understanding for each other. Stubbornness and fear of getting hurt are their biggest enemies, and I think once they could admit that to themselves everything was bound to work out. I found Lily endearing in some of her ways, but was a little off put by her blacking out with every orgasm (or at least that's how it seemed to me) and how super observant protector guy never noticed. However, that was the only thing that really bothered me and otherwise I found the read to be entertaining and enjoyable.

Close to the Edge is an engaging read, and one that will keep you turning pages. I thought some of the sex was a little over the top, but that is more about my personal preferences than the writing. Not my perfect cup of tea, but definitely an entertaining ride. 

Book Review: Dig In: 12 Easy Gardening Projects Using Kitchen Scraps by Kari Cornell, Jennifer S. Larson

Dig In: 12 Easy Gardening Projects Using Kitchen Scraps by Kari Cornell, with photography by Jennifer S. Larson, is an instruction book helping gardeners of all ages grow their own fruits and vegetables from nothing but kitchen scraps. Instead of throwing away leftover food in your kitchen, you can use them to grow more. Learn how to turn a single sweet potato into a pot full of them. Grow a salad from the end bit of lettuce and a lemon tree from a single seed. Several of these projects require nothing more than a jar, a windowsill, and a few pieces of food that would otherwise end up in the trash or compost. Step-by-step drawings and photographs make it easy to follow along, and fun recipes will help you enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Dig In: 12 Easy Gardening Projects Using Kitchen Scraps is not just for families looking to be more environmentally friendly or frugal. This book is also great for school or classroom use, and after school activities. Information like soil pH and other things important to the growth and health of plants is included- as are growing zones and the tools and supplies needed. The instructions for growing food include romaine lettuce, celery, leeks, lemongrass, herbs, pineapple, garlic, ginger, sweet potatoes, bell pumpkins, peppers, and lemons. I like that there were recipes to use the freshly grown food, and a full glossary or the words readers might not already know. I found the resources listed at the end of the book to be helpful for interested readers, and information for finding gardening supplies to be a great starting point for children, schools, and families that are getting ready to try some of these projects. I do wish that there were more experiments available, because my only issue with the book was that I wanted a slightly larger selection of food to grow and care for. 

Early Book Review: Through the Fire (Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit) by Katie Ruggle

Through the Fire is the fourth book in the Rocky Mountain K-9 Unit series by Katie Ruggle. It is currently scheduled for release on August 7 2018. Kit Jernigan despairs of ever fitting in with her new tight-knit K9 unit. They've been through too much to open their arms to a stranger―and as mysterious fires begin raging across Monroe, she can't convince them to trust her long enough to catch the woman she knows is responsible. Wesley March, local fire spotter, knows Kit is right, and he's willing to help her prove it. But the more time they spend together, the closer they get...and the more danger they're in. A member of the K9 unit's inner circle is determined to get revenge―no matter who gets burned in the process. 

Through the Fire is a great romance, and I liked that the characters were a little different than those in previous books. Wes, or hero, is not the alpha male that I have come to expect. He is certainly brave and protective, but he has his own vulnerabilities and differences that make him stand out to me as my favorite guy in this series. Similarly, Kit stands out as a little different for our leading ladies from this series, and I love it. The banter and acceptance between our couple gave me the warm fuzzies from the very beginning, and the cuteness of their story only grew. I was frustrated right along side Kit when people did not accept her thoughts on what was happening, and adored how Sam and Wes reacted to her. I think this just might be my favorite in the series, and although it wraps up our police department's lives quite nicely, I am pretty excited that there is one more book coming for this series. 

Through the Fire is a wonderful continuation to the story, and I have to admit that I am thrilled to see there is one more book coming to this series, scheduled for release in October. 

Early Book Review: The Princess and the Absolutely Not a Princess by Emma Wunsch, Jessika Von Innerebner

The Princess and the Absolutely Not a Princess is an illustrated chapter book written by Emma Wunsch and illustrated by Jessika Von Innerebner.  This series starter is currently scheduled to be released on August 7 2018. Princess Miranda does not want to go to school. She wants to shoe shop, plan parties, and decorate the castle. Maude cannot wait for school. She loves rules and social justice and getting good grades. She also loves hard-boiled eggs, much to Miranda’s dismay. When a tense first week of school results in Maude getting excluded from the Royal Birthday Party, Maude decides she’s found her first fight for social justice: a birthday boycott. This hilarious, heartfelt chapter-book series teaches empathy, and reminds us that your very best friend could be one desk away.

The Princess and the Absolutely Not a Princess is the start of a sweet early chapter book about dealing with changes, school, and being yourself. I loved the set up. Miranda is a princess that loves pink, nail polish, and party planning. She does not want to go to school, and when she does her head hurts and she just wants to go home. Maude loves learning, rules, and hard boiled eggs. These two seem to have nothing in common, and clash right away. Miranda needs to learn to get along with other children, and to consider how others feel. Maude needs to stop and think about how others feel as well. When they each take a moment and consider other people, a friendship is formed and thrives, showing readers that empathy can bridge  almost any gap and bring wonderful surprises. I like that readers get multiple points of view, so they can see why Miranda is as unhappy and uncomfortable at school- and we can see why Maude holds on to her eggs and unusual ways. I also like that even after the friendship is formed, we see that not every day is perfect, and the pair each still needs to grow and learn about themselves, each other and the world. 

The Princess and the Absolutely Not a Princess is a wonderful easy chapter book with lovely illustrations. The ook encourages young readers to think about how others feel, and how great things might come from breaking out of our own comfort zones. 

Book Review: The Brew Your Own Big Book of Clone Recipes: Featuring 300 Homebrew Recipes From Your Favorite Breweries from the editors of Brew Your Own

The Brew Your Own Big Book of Clone Recipes: Featuring 300 Homebrew Recipes From Your Favorite Breweries from the editors of Brew Your Own Magazine offers readers 300 of BYO’s best clone recipes for recreating favorite commercial beers together in one book. Inside you'll find dozens of IPAs, stouts, and lagers, easily searchable by style. The collection includes both classics and newer recipes from top award-winning American craft breweries including Brooklyn Brewery, Deschutes, Firestone Walker, Hill Farmstead, Jolly Pumpkin, Modern Times, Maine Beer Company, Stone Brewing Co., Surly, Three Floyds, Tröegs, and many more.  Classic clone recipes from across Europe are also included. Whether you're looking to brew an exact replica of one of your favorites or get some inspiration from the greats, this book is your new brewday planner.

The Brew Your Own Big Book of Clone Recipes is well organized and offers readers well written recipes and suggestions for how to make the results even closer to their personal tastes. The recipes are divided into chapters on beer style (i.e. pale ale, British-style, pilsners, winter beers, and so on). The step by step instructions are clear and easy to follow for anyone that has the basics of home brewing down, but might be a little harder for those just starting in the process. The information offered might be able to be gathered by going through past issues of the magazine and searching online, but having all the recipes and information in one book with plenty of pictures and additional information that can help a home brewer hone their craft is very useful. I think any home brewer could benefit from owning, or at least reading, this book and it just might be the perfect gift for serious or emerging ho,me brewers looking to expand their knowledge.

Early Book Review: The Dollar Kids by Jennifer Richard Jacobson, Ryan Andrews

The Dollar Kids is a middle grade novel written by Jennifer Richard Jacobson, with illustrations by Ryan Andrews. It is currently scheduled for release on August 7 2018. Twelve-year-old Lowen Grover, a budding comic-book artist, is still reeling from the shooting death of his friend Abe when he stumbles across an article about a former mill town giving away homes for just one dollar. It not only seems like the perfect escape from Flintlock and all of the awful memories associated with the city, but an opportunity for his mum to run her very own business. Fortunately, his family is willing to give it a try. But is the Dollar Program too good to be true? The homes are in horrible shape, and the locals are less than welcoming. Will Millville and the dollar house be the answer to the Grovers’ troubles? Or will they find they’ve traded one set of problems for another? 

The Dollar Kids is a story that tackles many issues, and deals with them all in realistic ways as well as heart and hope. Lowen is ready for a new start, and the idea of moving to a new town, fixing up a house, and starting a business seems like just the thing to get him mind of the tragedy that has made him give up drawing and harbor guilt. Things just do not go as plan, they all need to play sports, some look down on them while others seem to want nothing but for them to fail and leave. Thankfully, there are also some people in town that wish them well, and want to save the town. Family conflicts, sibling issues, fitting in, and being true to yourself are all huge parts of the story. I have to admit that it took me a while to become invested in the story. The set up was good, the story line interesting. However, I think the beginning pacing was a little slow, because I put the book down two or three times before finally finishing it. It was not a problem with the actual story, which I found interesting. However, I think the story did a lot more telling than showing, and I did not feel invested in the characters and town until at least half way through the story.  I think that is a shame, because by the time I read the last page I was not quite ready to leave Millville and the people that live there. By that point I wanted more, but it took way too long for me to care deeply about the characters and their individual stories.

The Dollar Kids is a story with plenty of heart, and that handles some big issues with grace and hope. I enjoyed the read and think it will be a middle grade staple in school and public libraries. 

Book Review: The Undercover Billionaire (Tate Brothers) by Jackie Ashenden

The Undercover Billionaire is the third book in the Tate Brothers series by Jackie Ashenden. I have not read any of the previous books. While those that have will have a better understanding of some of the characters and family dynamics, newcomers will be about to understand the couple focused on in the story.

 

Navy SEAL Wolf Tate is on a mission of vengeance. He’s willing to do whatever it takes to infiltrate the lair of his arms-dealing enemy—and rescue the mother he never knew. To do this, he’ll need more than his father’s fortunes or his brothers-in-arms. He must find a way to kidnap his enemy’s daughter for leverage. There’s just one problem: She is also one of Wolf’s closest friends—and the only person that ever really listened. For years, Olivia de Santis has been waiting for Wolf to take her in his arms and make her dreams come true. But she never imagined that he’d sneak into her bedroom one night, or take her as his hostage. Olivia knows she should resist him—and stay loyal to her own family. But how can she deny the burning justice of Wolf’s mission, and the blazing desire in his eyes—even if giving into the heat of the moment can put her in grave danger? 

The Undercover Billionaire is a book with a decent set up, but one that fell flat for me. Wolf has been told for years that he is just muscle, and despite knowing how cruel and manipulative his father and de Santis can be- he thinks he is somehow not being used by either. Olivia is sweet, and while smart with computers and books seems to be completely lacking common sense and self preservation. She is twenty eight, never been kissed and never suspecting that her father is a weapon dealing nightmare willing to force her to marry a man that she does not want- but she is almost willing to do so. I really wanted her to have a little backbone and stand up for herself. She does, for about three seconds, but is way too willing to trust her father and Wolf way more than a person should in her circumstances. Wolf is just stubborn and while at times caring, other times he is just as willfully blind as Olivia. The sex is steamy, but the characters were too lost in their own versions of the world for me to like or care about them. 

The Undercover Billionaire left me disappointed. If you are reading for steam, then you got that here. If you are reading for characters and love, not so much.

Early Book Review: Awesome by Craig Shuttlewood

Awesome is a picturebook by Craig Shuttlewood which is currently scheduled for release on August 1 2018. Marvin the moose and Woody the beaver are best friends. But their friendship is tested when Marvin does something totally AWESOME and Woody remains ordinary. The other forest animals now adore Marvin, calling in his new superhero services to help right wrongs, solve problems, and fix trouble. They even build a statue in his honor! Woody watches with envy, and often helping his friend, but hatching a not-so-awesome plan to put all eyes on him. Can Woody and Marvin save their friendship? 

Awesome is a lively picturebook about jealousy, friendship, and forgiveness. I love the illustrations, they are bright and bold- adding a great deal to the story. Woody is feeling left behind and forgotten, and his plans to be noticed go in the opposite direction than he might have hoped. While he might not have done the right things to get attention, when Marvin sat down and talked to him about it I like tat he explained how he was feeling, and apologized for the trouble his actions caused. I think this is a relatable story,. and one that shows how much trouble could be avoided by talking about our feelings, and that owning our mistakes is the right thing to do. The story is heartfelt and a pleasure visually and as a whole.

Book Review: Dirty-Talking Cowboy (Kinky Spurs) by Stacey Kennedy

Dirty-Talking Cowboy is the first book in the Kinky Spurs series by Stacey Kennedy. Emma Monroe has returned to River Rock, Colorado, after the death of her grandmother. Now she’s inherited a farm full of abused animals and she’s working as a waitress at the local hotspot, Kinky Spurs. The last thing Emma wants in her life is a man, as she’s still recovering from a recent heartbreak. But when a sensual and powerful cowboy, Shep Blackshaw enters her life, Emma begins to want things she shouldn't. Shep knows sex shouldn’t be on his mind. He’s got a world of responsibility on his shoulders. He’s attempting to save his late father’s cattle ranch, Blackshaw Cattle Company, from foreclosure. But Emma’s heated reactions to his touch make ignoring her impossible. She’s the perfect distraction to make him forget that his father’s company is a sinking ship. While their nights only heat up, soon emotions become tangled into the mix. 

Dirty-Talking Cowboy is a hot a steamy romance, with an alpha hero that is a little too perfect. Shep is sexy, a hard worker, and while he is controlling he also takes the time to be sure of the emotional well-being of those he cares about. I love that he can be slow and gentle in his conversations and takes care of those around him, and hat consent is a priority in bedroom- that is not always the case with strong alpha heroes. Emma is sweet and smart, reeling from heartbreak and the loss of her grandmother. Changes and grief are taking up most of her head-space as she tries to heal and move forward. I liked that they are both pretty self aware of their issues, and what they need. I like that they talk through the issues and do not force things. The attraction and chemistry between them is powerful, maybe a bit too much to be real but since I read for escape I was fine with that. My biggest problem with the book is that Shep is too perfect. He is strong, willing to work hard, is patient even when he needs to struggle with it. Emma is fairly perfect too, but at least she is struggling with trust, and allowing herself to feel. I enjoyed the secondary characters as much as the main players, and look forward to the next two books in the series, since the story made the next couples pretty obvious. Now, I really need to read those books because I want to see them find their happy endings. 

Dirty-Talking Cowboy is a steamy contemporary romance. The sex is steamy, the characters a little too perfect, but the ride is highly entertaining and well worth the read.