Book Review: The Paper Bag Princess (40th anniversary edition) by Robert Munsch

The Paper Bag Princess is a classic picturebook and I was excited to see as a 40th anniversary edition by Robert Munsch being released on February 4 2020. 40 years. 7 million copies. 1 kick-ass princess who has inspired four generations of readers to stand up for themselves. How do you celebrate an occasion as special as 40 years in print for a book as beloved as The Paper Bag Princess? You track down some of the most poignant commentary about the story; you share behind-the-scenes insights from the author and his partner; and you present it all in a beautiful package that showcases the story like never before.

The Paper Bag Princess is a story that has always resonated with me. Elizabeth is a princess, with all the riches and trappings. When a dragon steals away her equally perfect princely fiance she sets about rescuing him. She is resourceful and smart- but her prince chides her for being unladylike just before she tells him off and goes on her merry way. Elizabeth's determination, intelligence, and independence have inspired many from my generation, and those after us. As happy as I am to see more books every year encouraging kids to be themselves and help others, this book will always be the benchmark by which I measure newer books with similar messages. Frankly, while some come cose, none have ever surpassed this book in my heart. I loved this new addition, and enjoyed reading about the inspiration of the book and how others have felt about it over the years. I think readers of all ages can still appreciate the charming art style, and the heartfelt message of this book. It will appeal to new readers, and those of us basking in nostalgia alike. 

The Paper Bag Princess is a book I am glad to see re released with additional artwork and commentary.  I think a copy of this edition is going to be added to my already overcrowded shelves.

Early Book Review: Snapdragon by Kat Leyh

Snapdragon by Kat Leyh is a magical realist graphic novel about a young girl who befriends her town’s witch and discovers the strange magic within herself. It is currently scheduled for release on February 4 2020. 

Snap's town had a witch. At least, that’s how the rumor goes. But in reality, Jacks is just a crocks-wearing, internet-savvy old lady who sells roadkill skeletons online—after doing a little ritual to put their spirits to rest. It’s creepy, sure, but Snap thinks it’s kind of cool, too. They make a deal: Jacks will teach Snap how to take care of the baby opossums that Snap rescued, and Snap will help Jacks with her work. But as Snap starts to get to know Jacks, she realizes that Jacks may in fact have real magic—and a connection with Snap’s family’s past.

Snapdragon was so much more than I expected. When I first started reading I thought I was going to get a typical story about a young adult dealing with fitting in and finding friends, with a dose of not judging a book by its cover. That is all there along with so much more. Snapdragon is trying to find her place in a new school and makes a friend that is struggling to find their place just as much as she is. Being yourself and standing up for yourself and others is fully in play here and very well done. I was worried that the town witch story line was going to by typical, but I should have known better. Jacks is different, no question about that. I loved watching Jacks and Snap forge a connection and each get more out of the friendship than they expected.  I really enjoyed how frank and openly the LGBT aspects of the story were handled- it was refreshing. I loved the art style, and think that the colors and motion on each page added a great deal to the feel of the story. I just really enjoyed this read and already have a few young readers that I would like to recommend it to.

Snapdragon is a great graphic novel for middle grade and older readers. I love the way a variety of subjects were covered and blended together. It is a wonderful read.

Early Book Review: The Perils of Intimacy by Rick R. Reed

The Perils of Intimacy by Rick R. Reed is a contemporary romance currently scheduled for release on January 27 2020. Mark believes he’s meeting Jimmy for the first time in the diner where he works, but he’s wrong. Mark has no recollection of their original encounter because the wholesome Jimmy of today couldn’t be more different than he was two years ago. Back then, Jimmy sported multiple piercings and facial hair. He was painfully skinny—and a meth addict. The drug transformed him into a lying, conniving thief. Mark doesn’t associate the memory of a hookup gone wrong with this fresh-faced twenty-something… but Jimmy knows. Can Mark see Jimmy for the man he is now and not the addict he was? The answers depend on whether true love holds enough light to shine through the darkness of past mistakes.

The Perils of Intimacy is a heartfelt romance that looks deeper. I was glad to see the straightforward and honest way drug use, and the difficult path of recovery, is handled. I found the way the damage drug use has on the user and those around them was handled with empathy and understanding. I think many people should read the book just for a better understanding of how powerful addiction is, and how hard it can be to get and stay clean.Jimmy had me rooting for him right for the start, and I really liked the author's voice and writing style. Getting the dual points of view helped me really become engaged in the story and the overall health of the major characters.  I also liked that while Marc had a better start in life, he also had real and relatable emotional issues that while different than Jimmy's problems were not pushed off to the side or ignored just because they were not more immediately problematic. I think this was a great show of the author's understanding that everyone has their issues, and they can all have an impact on our relationships and life in general.  I also enjoy that there was another layer of the story, about recovery and the help people give each other while working toward staying clean. There were a couple moments were I was braced for things to go really wrong, and at one point I worried that there was another twist around the corner. I am so glad I read this book, the love story was great but the better understanding it brought me people struggling with addiction made it even more valuable.

The Perils of Intimacy is a realistic and highly engaging read. There are some very vivid descriptions about intravenous drug use and the highs that drug use cause. Those that might not be ready or able to deal with reading that might want to skip reading the book for now. 

Book Review: Faerie Forged (Magicsmith) by L.R. Braden

Faerie Forged is the third book in the Magicsmith series by L.R. Braden. I highly recommend reading this series in order. I think newcomers would be lost as to much of the character and world building work that was done in the previous books. 

Alex is screwed. She’s due at the fae Court of Enchantment in less than twenty-four hours, but she’s not even close to being ready. Her job is hanging by a fraying thread. There’s a new vampire master in town. And several of her werewolf friends have been captured by the Paranatural Task Force. She’s their best chance for release before the full moon reveals their secret, but the Lord of Enchantment is not someone you keep waiting—even when he happens to be your grandfather. All Alex can do is call in a favor, hope to hell she can survive the plots of the fae court, and hightail it home to salvage her life. One mistake at court could change everything.

Faerie Forged is a great addition to Alex's story and includes a great deal of additional world building as she enters the fae realm. I liked the pacing of the world and character building, and appreciate the continued character growth for Alex and those closest to her. I also liked some of the fae descriptions- and could recognize many from folklore, legends, and other previous reads. It did take me a few pages to get back into the story and remember where we left off with all of the relationships and complications, but I was quickly back to being fully invested. I liked that some threads of the story were neatly tied up, but so many new possibilities opened up by the end of the story. While the immediate issues were solved, and I was not left with the rage cliff hangers bring out in me, there are so many thing that could happen next. There are so many situations and relationships that could implode with the new developments that I desperately want the next book but also want the author to take their time so that the quality of plotting, pacing, and characters continues. 

Faerie Forged is a solid continuation of the story. I am eager to see where the story takes us next. 

Early Book Review: The Surprising Lives of Animals: How They Can Laugh, Play and Misbehave! by Anna Claybourne

The Surprising Lives of Animals: How They Can Laugh, Play and Misbehave! by Anna Claybourne is a non fiction children's book currently scheduled for release on February 4 2020. Did you know that some animals giggle and play just like us? Or that certain animals build their homes, stockpile their food, and use tools? In this book you’ll learn about the things that humans and animals have in common. From team work, exercise, and self-care to dancing and getting into trouble, you’ll discover that, actually, animals are a lot like you! Visiting underground burrows and grassy savannas, watery realms, and towering tree tops, this book will take you around the world on a journey of discovery. Meet the monkeys who love to take baths, or the penguins who toboggan for fun. Hear the stories of escaping honey badgers, sneaky spiders, and clever crows. Or find out if animals can really talk. You’ll see plenty of Earth’s creatures, from creepy crawlies to mega mammals, and you’ll learn about their lives, habitats, characteristics, and behaviors–and uncover what makes each of them so surprisingly similar to us humans. Look out for ‘Scientist Spotlight’ boxes too, to learn about some important scientists and conservationists, such as Sir David Attenborough and Dame Jane Goodall.

The Surprising Lives of Animals is a wonderful nonfiction book that shows just how smart, and like people, animals can be in their lives. There was a good deal of information that was new to me, and I like that it was organized by type of behavior rather than animal,  which I felt shows just how universal emotion and some behaviors really are. I found the wide variety of animals, and the variety of climates and locations that they are found, further showed the universal nature I was talking about. I found the information about the animals, their behavior, and the spotlights on scientists that work in the field to all be well written and engaging. I think that the illustrations are well done and add both further details and interest to each page. I found myself studying some of the images for details referred to in the nearby text or just enjoying the skill that went into them. I also like that they took the time to include a glossary and resources for further reading. I can think of many readers, children and adults, that would enjoy this read.

The Surprising Lives of Animals is a wonderful look at just how much the behavior of animals mirrors human behavior. It teaches a great deal about the animals and the behaviors covered, and could be a good tool to encourage empathy and care for all creatures. 

Early Book Review: The Bat Book by Charlotte Milner

The Bat Book by Charlotte Milner is a children's nonfiction book currently scheduled for release on February 4 2020. From the way they fly, to how they communicate with one another, how they hunt, and why they sleep upside-down, each of the world's 1,300 types of bat is unique and utterly fascinating. Bats are also incredibly important to the environment. As well as gobbling up pests, and spreading seeds through the forests, they also pollinate more than 500 different species of plants throughout the world, including some of our favorite fruits such as mangoes and bananas.

The Bat Book is a book with a nice balance of illustrations and text. The text is interesting and accessible to readers from a wide range of skill levels. I love bats, and thought I knew a great deal about them. While Much of the information was a refresher for me, I still learned a great deal about bats- particularly those that do not live in my area. I really like that Milner talked about habitats, included where people and bats overlap, and how we can make it easier for bats to live. I think this would be a great addition to classroom, school, and public libraries. 

Early Book Review: Snow White and the Seven Robots (Twisted Fairy Tales) by Stewart Ross

Snow White and the Seven Robots is part of the Twisted Fairy Tales series by Stewart Ross. it is currently scheduled for release on February 15 2020. When the wicked Star Queen shipwrecks her daughter, Snow White, on a remote forest planet, the plucky princess uses her engineering know-how to rebuild her ruined spacecraft into robot helpers! Can she and her mechanical friends find a way to defeat the Star Queen once and for all?

Snow White and the Seven Robots is of course a retelling of Snow White. I liked the illustrations and that Snow White was clever and kind, and that romance was not involved at all, although her good friend the prince was involved toward the end. Snow's ingenuity and determination was nice, but the whole think felt a little flat and forced for me. I can see some young readers enjoying it, as it is well illustrated, but it is not one that I will be recommending regularly. 

I requested this book and a second from the series in the same day- because I love fairytale retellings. I have seen some great ones for kids, my favorite still being Interstellar Cinderella by Deborah Underwood. I know they will not all be on that level, but generally I still find most of them to be fun reads. I do not expect to read more from this series after these two reviews are done. 

Early Book Review: Scot Under the Covers (Wild Wicked Highlanders) by Suzanne Enoch

Scot Under the Covers is the second book in the Wild Wicked Highlanders series by Suzanne Enoch, but each book can be read as a stand alone. It is currently scheduled for release on January 28 2020. 

Miranda Harris is known for her charm, wit, and ability to solve any problem she encounters. But when her brother lands neck-deep in gambling debt to a crafty villain and Miranda is subsequently blackmailed into marrying him, she must enlist the help of the devil himself to save the family honor—and herself. Highlander Aden MacTaggert knows next to nothing about the ways of the ton, but he most certainly knows his way around gaming halls and womens’ hearts. Still, Aden is not sure how he’ll manage to find a Sassenach bride in time to save his family’s inheritance. When his almost sister-in-law Miranda comes to him for assistance, he proposes a partnership: She will help him navigate London society and he’ll teach her everything about wagering…and winning back her freedom. The beautiful, clever lass intrigues Aden—but is she playing her own game, or are the sparks between them real? He is accustomed to risking his pocket. But betting on Miranda’s love is a game he can’t afford to lose.

Scot Under the Covers is a wonderful follow up to It's Getting Scot in Here, but I think all fans of historical romance can enjoy even without having read the first in the series. I love that Miranda is confident and capable. She knows the rules and is not out on the hunt for a husband. Aden has much on his mind, but despite being a betting man and hard to fool, has a soft spot for others that might not be getting a fair shake. I loved his softness when it comes to the stray he takes in and the way he is kind to those others tend to ignore or mock. I enjoyed the couple's banter as they went from almost at odds to partners in saving Miranda from an unwanted marriage. Seeing them come to terms with how they felt and being cautious with the other's feelings all while trying to foil Vale lead for a well paced and highly entertaining read.  

Scot Under the Covers is a fun and engaging historical romance. Fans of the author and the genre will enjoy it. 

Book Review: Spellbound by Jean Copeland and Jackie D

Spellbound by Jean Copeland and Jackie D was released on January 14 2020. Hazel Abbot spent her whole life unaware she was a witch. When a spell thrusts her great-aunt Sarah Hutchinson forward from the Salem witch trials of 1692 and lands her in Hazel’s bookstore, everything Hazel thought she knew about herself changes. Complicating matters, Raven Dare, a supernatural hunter, informs her that they’ve all been summoned by the Queen Witch, Morgan le Fay. Morgan compels Hazel, Sarah, and Raven to correct the shift in the realms of good and evil by ridding the world of the evil that followed Sarah into modern day. If they fail, the forces of white magic will be extinguished forever. But completing the perilous mission, convincing Sarah to return to Puritan life, and resisting their growing attraction for each other might prove more difficult than Hazel and Raven ever anticipated.

Spellbound is a book that I wanted to love. I thought the premise was great and some of the character and world building caught and kept my attention. I liked Hazel's story, and Raven's. I would love to read more about their adventures (before and after this story). I thought the use of Morgan's character ad the ties of multiple mythologies and legends. I would enjoy more stories about this world. However, there was something about the voice that just did not speak to me. This was particularly true when it came to Sarah. I think the attempt at innocence and speech patterns from 1692 did not come off as intended. At first Sarah seemed not just naive, but not all that bright even though later it is revealed that she received a better than expected education from her father. Once the story got moving and there were plots, relationships, and commentary on the state of the world to unravel I was more engaged. So much of this story was exactly what I wanted, and I wanted to love it all. I think maybe it was just a disconnect for me with the writing style of the authors that did not let me get fully invested in the story. It had so much of what I was looking for, and think others will enjoy it. 

Spellbound is a book with a lot going on, and I think it will appeal to many that enjoy the urban fantasy and paranormal romance with a witch leaning. 

Early Book Review: A Favor for a Favor (All In) by Helena Hunting

A Favor for a Favor is the second book in the All In series by Helena Hunting. While there are carry over characters, you can enjoy each book on its own as well. It is currently scheduled for release on January 28 2020.

When I joined Seattle’s NHL expansion team, I thought it was the start of something great. But nothing ever goes the way you expect. Take my introduction to my new neighbor. She came rolling in on the hot mess express at midnight, making a racket while she tried to get into my team captain’s apartment. Did I mention that he’s married to a woman who definitely was not her? Imagine my surprise when I end up with an injury that has me out of the game for weeks, and she’s the one to offer to help me. I should probably add that she’s not the captain’s mistress. She’s his sexy, pastel-haired younger sister. So we come up with an arrangement: she rehabs me so that I can get back on the ice sooner, and she can add a professional athlete that isn’t her brother to her client list. Seems simple enough. As long as I can keep my hands to myself and my hormones in check.

A Favor for a Favor has everything I love in a romance. Stevie and Bishop are honestly good people with snark and a fair amount of emotional baggage. I love that they both own their issues and are doing everything they can to make themselves and their lives better. Misunderstandings, emotional wounds, and injuries keep the verbal banter at a high level- and I enjoyed it. I loved watching the paor get to know each other and fall in love when they convince themselves that PT is all they are doing. The secondary characters are just as well built and complex as the main characters, and I enjoyed seeing returning characters as their stories continued and getting to know more of the players in Hunting's book universe. I honestly just enjoy the writing style and find myself thinking about the characters after I finish the book. They feel real, like I could run into them if I ventured into their neighborhood, and I would enjoy every minute of it. 

A Favor for a Favor is a wonderful slow burn romance with heart and humor. It is a must read for fans of Hunting.