Early Book Review: Glow in the Dark: Animals at Night by Katy Flint, Cornelia Li

Glow in the Dark: Animals at Night is a non fiction picture book written by Katy Flint and illustrated by Cornelia Li. Itis currently scheduled for release on July 16 2019.

Meet the animals that come out at night in this nocturnal adventure across the globe’s habitats, including a glow-in-the-dark poster of the deep sea.See the jaguar prowling the Amazon rain forest, spot the lion pride on the African savanna, and visit a turtle nesting beach under the stars. Then, turn off the lights to see the ocean creatures glow on the 24” × 11.5” tear-out poster. The book’s cover glows in the dark too! (Be sure to charge them in the light first.) 

Each spread features a different nighttime habitat animated by a description of the activities of its various creatures. Fact boxes name each of the creatures and tells a bit about what makes them special. Learn about the rain forest mammals called kinkajous, who slurp flower nectar by night and nest in tree hollows by day, and the rare and mysterious night parrots, who emerge after sunset in the Australian outback to feed on the seeds of spinifex bushes, among many other amazing nocturnal creatures. The habitats you’ll explore are: City, Rain forest, Beach, Australian outback, Woodland, Arctic, Mountains, Mangrove forest, Desert, Coral reef, and Savanna.

Glow in the Dark: Animals at Night is a beautifully illustrated look at the animals that come out after dark. The artwork does a great job of capturing the wonder of the creatures and their habitats. It is a pity that I was reading a digital copy so I missed the effects of the glow in the dark work, which considering the other artwork I suspect is quite lovely.  I thought that the text was well written and accessible to a wide range of ages and knowledge levels. I liked the tone used, it was very conversational and informative without being stuffy or condescending. I think this book will be a hit with animal or nature lovers as well as those who simply love a picturebook that is lovely to look at.  

Book Review: Save The Date by Monica Murphy

Save The Date by Monica Murphy is a stand alone contemporary romance.  Caroline Abbott loves her job—helping engaged couples pick out the perfect save the date cards and invitations for their dream wedding. Working at Noteworthy means she has to deal with the occasional bridezilla, but Caroline’s always up for the challenge. Until one particular bridezilla walks into the stationery store who’s fiancé happens to be the boy Caroline shared her first kiss with. Alexander Wilder is all grown up now, helping run his family’s successful luxury hotel chain, and is somehow even better looking than she remembers. When Caroline just happens to catch Alex’s fiancée half naked with another man well, of course she has to tell Alex. Of course, he breaks off his engagement. And of course, the ex-bridezilla has gone completely bonkers. At least Caroline has her friends to save her from crazy ex-fiancées. But she also has the sudden interest of…Alex? Caroline knows they share a connection, but is he on the rebound? Or after seeing her all these years later, does he really want something more?

Save The Date is a romance that had me grinning and cringing in turn. I liked Caroline's character, and how hard she worked to be independent with still having a good support systems of friends and owning her fears of the future. Alex is a workaholic that I liked seeing admit what he needed and wanted out of life while still working to keep his family happy. The interactions between the two were sweet, sometimes snarky, and generally fun to read. I loved Caroline's friends and wish we all had a tribe of chosen family like that. I thought the twists and turns of the story were well written- and individually very believable. I found myself very engaged and had trouble putting the book aside a few times when I needed to- like to go to sleep at night. I enjoyed the read and think many others will as well. I just hope Murphy gives some of Caroline's friends happy endings pf their own.

Save The Date is a sweet romance with hints of a second chance romance and some sibling's friend- but never really gets lost in either. I liked the honesty and twists in the story. I am really glad I read it and will be reading more from the author.

Book Review: The Tracker (The Dregs) by Leslie Georgeson

The Tracker is the first book in the eight book (not all yet available)  Dregs series by Leslie Georgeson.  I’ve done despicable things. My soul is damaged. My body impaired. That’s what happens when you are a soldier for The Company. I was discharged a year ago. Now I am a dreg. Worthless. With a bounty on my head. I’ve become a creature of the night, hiding in an underground maze during the day. Because I’m not ready to die yet. She comes to me one night, needing my help to find her sister. The moment I see her, I want her. Her goodness calls to me, makes me yearn for the impossible. She brings life back to the deadness inside me. I’m no good for her. I will do nothing but corrupt her. But I’m a callous bastard. I can’t resist her. I try not to care for her, but somehow she slips under my skin. She makes me weak. And there is only one thing in this world I am afraid of. Weakness. I’ll never be good enough for her, so I have to finish this job and send her on her way. Before she destroys me.

The Tracker is a story that manages to get a lot of world building, character development, and other series groundwork laid down without having it completely overtake the action and romance of the story. I like that Jessica is a fully developed character with a mind and drives of her own. She is willing to do anything to save her sister, and is fiercely loyal to the dregs once they have gotten to know each other. Tracker and his teammates have serious issues to overcome, and I like that they own those issues and do not pretend to be perfect. I found Tracker to be well written and consistent with his past and position- and really enjoyed reading about the connections between the dregs.I was left wanting to see how it turns out for all of them, and want them all to find a happy ending. I will admit that there were a couple things that dragged a bit for me, but I think they were all necessary to set up for the conclusion of this book and the set ups for the future volumes.

The Tracker is a good start to a series with suspense, romance, and plenty of twists and turns. I have already downloaded the second book and added it to my 'to read' list.

Early Book Review: When a Lady Kisses a Scot (Her Majesty's Most Secret Service) by Tara Kingston

When a Lady Kisses a Scot is the fourth book in the Her Majesty's Most Secret Service series by Tara Kingston. This is the first book I have read in the series, and while there are clearly some carried over characters and relationships this book can be read as a stand alone. 

Rose Fleming has been presumed dead for the last decade. It required leaving everything—and everyone—she loved behind, including MacAllister Campbell. But faking her death allowed her to stay safe until the threat posed by a mysterious villain had passed. Believing it’s finally safe again, she returns...and runs smack into the only man she ever loved. But Rose was wrong and the stalker she escaped years ago still has her in his sights. Ten years ago, Mac mourned the death of the woman he loved. It’s taken years to heal his heart only to discover that not only is Rose still alive, but still in grave danger. Mac can forgive Rose’s deception, but he’d never be able to forgive himself if he didn’t protect her from the evil still stalking her. The only thing worse than losing her once would be losing her again... and he won’t let that happen.

When a Lady Kisses a Scot is a romance that had a great deal happening, but somehow felt like it was missing something. Rose ran for her life as a teen- with little understanding of what she was running from. MacAllister has been working hard and making a difference. Neither of them had forgotten each other from when they met in their youth and only met again by chance as Rose's life is in danger again. I rather liked both characters, and I liked getting to see the story from both of their perspectives.  I thought their personalities, reactions, and banter were all good. I thought that the inner dialogues were good for the most part, but there was just so much mooning about the other that I got to the point where I was skimming some of it waiting for conversations or action to begin again. The mystery and danger surrounding Rose was mixed- some parts were very well done and intriguing while other things just were left vague and with few answers. When the action was happening I was invested and curious about what might be happening next, but I felt like there was too much of some of the unimportant pondered over and over while the critical information was often glossed over or included in passing. It was just such a missed bag for me- what I enjoyed was fantastic, while other moments had me looking to see how much of the book was left.

When a Lady Kisses a Scot is a good historical romance with a lot going on. I think fans of the series will want to pick it up but I would recommend other first time readers check out from the library to see if you enjoy the writing style.

Book Review: Ella May Does It Her Way by Mick Jackson, Andrea Stegmaier

Ella May Does It Her Way is a picturebook written by Mick Jackson and illustrated by Andrea Stegmaier. Meet Ella May, the girl who likes to do things her way. In the first of this brilliant new series all about an imaginative, strong-willed girl character with her own ideas, Ella May tries walking backward, just to see how it feels. In her bedroom she tries reading her books backward, and after dinner she goes backward up to the bathroom and climbs backward into bed. When Ella goes backward up the slide and backward over the castle, Ella’s mum decides to turn around and walk backward next to Ella, to make it easier for them to talk. Pretty soon, half the town is walking backward in a giant, backward-walking procession. Where will it end?

Ella May Does It Her Way is a fun story about a smart young lady told that it is good to try new things, but then takes it up a notch. I like that it all starts will Ella May trying a new food, that she rather likes, so starts trying walking backwards to see if she likes that as well. I like that Ella May works out ways to try her new way of walking safely, her creativity and inventiveness made me smile. I have to admit that as soon as everyone else started walking backwards too I new it was going to stop- because I have a spunky daughter of my own that would stop something at the same point as Ella May. I really enjoy that she continues to try new things, and encourages her mother (and everyone else) to keep trying new things too. I thought the art work was very well done, and added a great deal to the story. THe little details and colors kept the eyes moving and the interest high throughout the read.

Ella May Does It Her Way is a great read for storytimes, sharing one on one, and emerging readers to read on their own. The story is fun and relatable- and offers the encouragement to all readers to keep trying new things.

Early Book Review: Fairy Tales for Fearless Girls by Anita Ganeri, Khoa Le

Fairy Tales for Fearless Girls, written by Anita Ganeri and illustrated by Khoa Le, is currently scheduled for release on July 15 2019. This inspiring collection of myths, legends and stories from around the world showcases narratives that celebrate strong, independent women. These heroines aren't reduced to being wives or witches! They run free and possess the qualities we would hope for in our daughters and friends: self-confidence, strength, wits, courage, fearlessness, and independence. They live freely, happily ever after, without restraint or narrowly defined roles. The stories include; Atalanta the Huntress (Greece), Nana Miriam (Niger), Fitcher's Bird (Germany), The Girl and the Puma (Argentina), Li Chi Slays the Serpent (China), Brave Woman Counts Coup (US/White River Sioux), Pretty Penny (US/Ozark Mountains), Mizilca (Romania), The Pirate Princess (Poland/Jewish), The Samurai Maiden (Japan), Bradamante (France), and Molly Whuppie (England).

Fairy Tales for Fearless Girls is a group of fairy tales about strong willed girls and women taking matters into their own hands, standing up for themselves, and getting what they want and need via strength and intelligence. I love fairy tales and legends, particularly if they are from different cultures or with twists I have not seen before. So far as that goes, this book was just right. The stories covered a good variety of regions and the main characters were smart, cunning, and brave. However, two minutes into reading the book my heart dropped a bit. The adage "show don't tell' came to mind. The stories, characters, and action were all good- but they lacked the dimension and depth that I was hoping for. I know it is hard to get character development into such short stories, but I felt some could have been done- because I have seen it. I loved the idea, and wanted to adore this book. It does offer what the title suggests, but did not capture my heart, mind, or imagination as I read.

Fairy Tales for Fearless Girls is a fairy tale collection with good intent and some interesting tales. However, I felt like it could have been so much better with a bit more depth.

Book Review: Middlegame by Seanan McGuire

Middlegame by Seanan McGuire is a stand alone, separate from her series. Meet Roger. Skilled with words, languages come easily to him. He instinctively understands how the world works through the power of story. Meet Dodger, his twin. Numbers are her world, her obsession, her everything. All she understands, she does so through the power of math. Roger and Dodger aren’t exactly human, though they don’t realize it. They aren’t exactly gods, either. Not entirely. Not yet. Meet Reed, skilled in the alchemical arts like his progenitor before him. Reed created Dodger and her brother. He’s not their father. Not quite. But he has a plan: to raise the twins to the highest power, to ascend with them and claim their authority as his own. Godhood is attainable. Pray it isn’t attained.

Middlegame was a harder start for me than most of McGuire's book, I think it was just the amount of information necessary to set up the characters and the story. However, once I got past the first couple chapters I was hooked and I was immersed in McGuire's imagination once again. The world and character building is wonderful, and the story id complex with lots of nuisance. I thought the relationship between Roger and Dodger was fascinating, and while there were times I did not agree with their choices, I could always understand the reasoning behind it. There were so many different ways the story could have gone at every turn, and sometimes they do go multiple ways. I would hate to ruin any of the surprises the book holds for new readers so I will refrain for going into details about the action and important plot points. Just know that I found this to be darker and more dense than I was really prepared for- and had I picked it up at a different time it might have been exactly what I was looking for. It was extremely well written, and the mythos built for the story was absolutely amazing, I just had trouble connecting with the characters and enjoying the read as much as I had expected. I honestly think the issue was more with me than the book, and I will continue to read everything I can from McGuire. 

As an aside, since I had trouble getting into the book the first time I started reading it, I got it via Audible and listened to it. Amber Benson is the narration- and she does some amazing voices which helped me keep track of who was talking and a better understanding of their characters. Regardless of how you read this, do not skip the chapter intros- which I admit to having done with other books, they are important and will help with the greater understanding of the story.

Middlegame has exceptional world and mythos building with complex characters and plot line. Something did not grab me as much as I had expected, which I think has more to do with my mood than the book, but it was not my favorite of McGuire's. I will still keep on reading all of their urban fantasy.

Early Book Review: My Fair Viscount (Scandal Sheet) by Jess Michaels

My Fair Viscount is the fourth book in the Scandal Sheet series by Jess Michaels. You do not have to have read the earlier books to fully enjoy this book, although returning readers will see some past favorites make cameos. It is currently scheduled for release on July 9 2019.

Raised in the rookeries, David Shaw has just inherited his father's fortune and his title. With his rough manners, he will certainly never be accepted by Society, but his cousin offers a solution. One David doesn't like. Miss Rose Higgins has a successful reputation as a comportment teacher to ladies of the Upper Ten Thousand. When she's approached to help the now-infamous new Viscount Shaw, she has no interest in putting herself on the line...until she's made an offer she can't refuse. Neither Rose nor David expect the instant connection which flares between them. Nor the feelings which come from their attraction. But in the end, they are both bound to propriety and there are obstacles in the way that may not be overcome unless they risk everything.

My Fair Viscount is a historical romance about two people with some similar emotional scars and doubts about the future. Rose and David are thrown together in unusual circumstances and make the most of it, in all kinds of ways. I loved Rose's pragmatic and realistic personality. David starts of very guarded, with good reason, and liked watching him grown as a character and find a connection with Rose. I enjoyed the journey with this pair, although it did feel very short, and the only obstacle being weak once they admitted their feelings made it feel even shorter. I kept expecting someone from one of their pasts making an appearance to ruin things, or an illness, or some kind of danger to pop up and make things more challenging- but that never happened. The story worked, and was good for what it was, but I felt like it was missing something that would have made it more suspenseful or engaging. 

My Fair Viscount is a short but sweet romance with a great deal of heart and a bit of heat.

Early Book Review: Count on Me (Petal Georgia) by Lauren Dane

Count on Me is the first book in the Petal Georgia series (a spin off of the Chase Brothers series) by Lauren Dane. Each of the books by Dane seems to stand up fine on its own, but fans of the earlier series will enjoy seeing some favorites make an appearance. This book is currently scheduled for release on July 8 2019.

Caroline Mendoza left home to become a lawyer with one goal in mind: prove her father’s innocence. Now she’s back, and nothing will stop her from uncovering the truth—not the folks of Petal, who have their own ideas about the case, not her siblings and definitely not Royal Watson, who should probably stand trial for being indecently and undeniably hot. 

Count on Me is a contemporary romance that hits many tough topics, has a solid dose of danger, but also lots of heart and sweet moments. Caroline has been struggling to exonerate her father for all of her adult life, and the small town attitudes and stubbornness of family make everything more emotional and challenging than it really should be. Family issue abound, as do problems in finding her place in her hometown. Royal is such a good guy, almost too perfect. He is open minded and protective while still respecting the indepence and abilities of those around him. I liked the honesty and banter between the pair, and how straight forward Caroline is with just about everyone and every issue that comes her way. While the pair came together more quickly than I expected- I really enjoyed how they came together and grew closer throughout the story. The only issue I had with the read is that every now and then there were time or scene transitions that just felt a little rough to me. Or moments that just made me wonder why they were even included. For instance, in one moment Royal's phone rings as he was driving- but no mention of the phone call was made again, so why was it even included. No missed call or message to be followed up. Little petty things like that stick with me, I think only because I love the author so much that I expect better but others might not even notice.

Count on Me is a good return to Petal, and I enjoyed the read. Not my favorite book by Dane, but that is a high threshold to match. Fans of Dane will definitely want to add this to their to be read pile.

Book Review: The Big Book of Twisted Fairy Tales: Stories about Kindness, Responsibility, Honesty, and Teamwork by Sue Nicholson, Flavia Sorrentino

The Big Book of Twisted Fairy Tales:  Stories about Kindness, Responsibility, Honesty, and Teamwork,  written by Sue Nicholson and illustrated by Flavia Sorrentino, is part of The Fairytale Friends series. It brings fairy tales into the modern day and features scenarios that young children can relate to and learn from. Each story in this new picture book series focuses on a different fairy tale character, a different strength or core virtue, and a challenge to overcome, often with the help of their friends. Readers will enjoy spotting characters from other books and recognizing key elements of the original fairy tale while enjoying the new twist. Notes and questions at the back of the book will summarize what the character has learnt and prompt further discussion while activities will provide more fairytale fun. 

 
Cinderella wants more than anything to have lessons at the new dance school opening in the village, but she doesn’t have any ballet shoes! Can Cinderella’s fairytale friends help make her dream come true? This story teaches children about the value of kindness. Beauty has a lovely pony called Flick, but having a pony is hard work and Beauty can be a bit lazy sometimes. Then, one night, Flick runs away. Will he ever come back? This story teaches children about the value of responsibility. Jack loves climbing, but he isn't allowed to climb the beanstalks in his garden. One night, Jack can resist no longer and starts to climb the tall, green beanstalks. Will Jack's Mum find out? And will he tell her the truth? This story teaches children about the value of honesty. Snow White is one of the village football team's best players. But she wants to score all the goals herself and never passes the ball to her friends. Will she ever learn to play as part of a team? This story teaches children about the value of teamwork.

The Big Book of Twisted Fairy Tales is a collection of fairy tales with a twist, which is one of my favorite things to read. Each of the stories is connected and takes a classic tale and makes it more relatable to young readers. Most everyone has faced the dilemma at the core of each story and I like they way they are woven into these tales. I was a little worried about the lessons being too heavy handed- because one of my biggest turn offs in any book is being preached to or talked down to (which happens across genres and target audience) but this book managed to keep that to a minimum. I enjoyed the art style, I loved the colors and the expressions that were clear on the character faces. There are some activities for the eager parents or caregivers to make sure young readers understand each story and its lesson. I think this would be good for bedtime reading or trying to get some of these lesson through in a fun way in a preschool or home environment.