Early Book Review: What Color is a Kiss by Rocio Bonilla

What Color is a Kiss by Rocio Bonilla is a picturebook that was originally published in 2015, but has a new edition being published on December 6 2016. Sassy and intrepid Monica loves to paint and sees her world in every color of the rainbow, but the color to paint a kiss is a question that nags at her. She paints and paints, hoping to discover the answer. With the help of her mother, Monica discovers that kisses and love come in all colors.

What Color is a Kiss is a sweet and creative way to explore colors, concepts, and creativity. Monica loves to paint and create. Her current project is to paint a kiss, but what color should it be? She explores the positives and negatives of several colors- listing the good and bad things that she associates with them- not finding just the right shade in her exploration. When her mother stops in and gives a moment of affection Monica comes to realize than any color can be a kiss, and every color can show love. A simple and sweet story that is good for exploring creativity, self expression, and colors. 

Book Review: Shadow Rider (Shadow #1) by Christine Feehan

Shadow Rider by Christine Feehan is the start of the new Shadow series. Whether it’s fast cars or fast women, Stefano Ferraro gets what he wants. When he’s not fodder for the paparazzi, he commands Ferraro family businesses—both legitimate and illegitimate. While their criminal activity is simply a rumor yet to be proven, no one knows the real truth. The Ferraros are a family of shadow riders capable of manipulating light and dark, an ability Stefano thought ran in his family alone—until now. With little left to her name, Francesca Cappello has come to Chicago in hopes of a new life. She wasn’t expecting to attract the attention of a man with primal hunger in his eyes, driven to claim her as his to protect and to please. And if he discovers her secret, it could ruin her.

Shadow Rider is a return to the high action stories that I used to love from Feehan. Stefano is a dangerous man, with a gift and large, powerful family that make him even more troublesome. He is an extreme alpha male, with an overdeveloped need to protect those around him and lingering issues from childhood. Francesca is fiercely independent and running from trouble that she does not want to bring to anyone's doorstep. She comes to stay near her only friend because of a promised job, and gets far more than she bargained for when she catches Stefano's eye. Personalities collide and tempers flare, but Stefano always gets what he wants, and he wants Francesca safe and much more. His protective streak, her determination, and the danger following her collide in a suspense filled story. There is plenty of sex, and a whole bunch of bossing around. I was a little disappointed in Francesca's willingness to give up things that are important to her, but it is consistent with the characters. A much better showing by Feehan than I have read in the last few years, much closer to the books that had me enthralled in the beginning of her Carpathian series, but still not quite there. It leave me hopeful for this series.

Shadow Rider reminds me of the early books I read from Feehan. There are plenty of sexy times, a seriously over alpha male, and a sassy woman or three (prerequisites for her books) as well as the danger filled plot that kept me interested to see what they might face next, which I have found lacking in the last few books that I have read in the Carpathian, Ghost Walker, and Sea Haven series that I used to love. 

Book Review: The Ninja Librarians: Sword in the Stacks by Jen Swann Downey

The Ninja Librarians: Sword in the Stacks by Jen Swann Downey is the second book in the series. Now official apprentices of the Lybrariad, Dorris and Marcus have joined Ebba in the immense time-folding labyrinth known as Petrarch's Library for the Summer Quarter. Dorrie is eager to do well at her practicums, and prove her worth as an apprentice, but before she can choose between "Spears, Axes, and Cats: Throwing Objects with Precision and Flair” and "First and Last Aid: When No One Else Is Coming", mistakes made by Dorrie in the past cause trouble for the lybrarians. The Foundation, once nearly destroyed by the Lybrariad, now has the means to rise from its ashes, and disappear reading and writing from the world. To make sure it succeeds, the Foundation sets in motion a dark plan to increase the power of a cruel figure from the fifteenth century. To stop the Foundation, Dorrie, Marcus and Ebba will have to burglarize Aristotle, gather information among the suffragists and anti-suffragists of 1912 London, and risk their lives to wrest a powerful weapon out of the Foundation's hands - all while upholding the Lybrariad's first principle of protecting all writing, appreciated or despised. If they fail, reading and writing will only be the first things to disappear.

The Ninja Librarians: Sword in the Stacks has a nice balance of humor, action, and mystery as Dorris and Marcus return to the Lybrariad. They want to get on with their studies, but first problems caused from their first adventure- and those that set it in motion- need to be dealt with. Meanwhile, Dorris continues to face the problems of self doubt and trying to fit in while Marcus needs to deal with his continued crush on Egeria. The sibling relationship is believable with equal parts support and teasing, as any real sibling pair I know has acted toward each other. There is some impressive rule breaking in the pursuit of doing good and staving off bigger trouble, but Marcus, Dorris, and Ebba pull it all of with a good about of humor and appropriately timed stumbles. My two minor quibbles with the book is that it started of fairly slowly, enough so that I had a little trouble sticking with it at first. Thankfully I remembered how good the first book was and kept going, and was rewarded for that tenacity. My second issue is, why is this boarding school so easy to sneak around? You would think that all this cray artifacts and doorways that it would be a wee bit harder to achieve all the sneaking around out heroes manage to pull off!

The Ninja Librarians: Sword in the Stacks was as good as the first installment, The Accidental Keyhand, and offers as much adventure and middle grade angst and character growth that one might want in a book. If you enjoyed the first installment, then hold on and keep reading. It starts slow, but picks up speed and then does not let go. 

Early Book Review: Herbie’s Big Adventure by Jennie Poh

Herbie’s Big Adventure is a picturebook by Jennie Poh which is currently scheduled for release on September 1 2016.Herbie is a little hedgehog who is perfectly happy at home with his mother. But one day Mommy tells Herbie that it's time to go exploring all by himself! Herbie is so not sure he is up for it, but ready or not as soon as he begins a westerly wind sweeps Herbie into the wide world and his adventure begins!

Herbie’s Big Adventure is a very cute picturebook. I really enjoyed the artwork, it had plenty of detail and emotion without being overwhelming or loud. Instead, it was subtle and realistic. Herbie the hedgehog loves to do all the things a young hedgehog should, especially enjoy the hugs and affection of his mother. However, as he grows his mother knows it is time for him to go out to explore and forage of his own. She trusts his skills and that he will come home to her, even when Herbie doubts himself. As he steps out the door for his big adventure the wind sweeps him further away than he wants, but he does all the right things and finds himself carried back home again. This would be a great choice for reading with more timid or dependent children in order to encourage to trust in themselves, particularly when their parents express their faith in them.

Herbie’s Big Adventure is a fun book about trusting in yourself and exploring the world. I loved the artwork and the sprinkle of imagination that is thrown in the mix. It will be a hit with many kinds of young readers, and caregivers alike.

About the Author/Illustrator: Jennie was born in England and grew up in Malaysia, in the jungle. At the age of 10, she moved back to England and went on to study Fine Art at the Surrey Institute of Art & Design, as well as Fashion Illustration at Central St Martins. Jennie loves the countryside, animals, tea and reading. She lives in Woking, England with her husband and two wonderful daughters.

Book Review: Dragon’s Heart (Dragon Fey Saga #1) by Michelle Rabe

Dragon’s Heart is the first book in the Dragon Fey Saga by Michelle Rabe. Serena Harlowe always knew her place. A foundling placed with the tutor of Illedrian royalty, she grew to be a talented fighter. After rising to the rank of lieutenant in the royal army, she proves her worth and thwarts the attempted assassination of the man she loves. The selfless act will change her life forever and start a chain of events that will unlock her hidden past.

Dragon’s Heart is a multilayered start to a series that offer high fantasy, romance, and fierce female characters. Killian is the human prince, fierce and fair but tired of doing his family's bidding and dealing with the marriage mart when he already found the woman of his dreams. Serena is a foundling that has been raised around the palace and worked hard to become part of the guard that protects the kingdom. Neither know that the Dark Fey, which everyone assumes are gone, are pulling strings and trying to take over, while the Dragon Fey are not quite extinct either and both are much closer to things than anyone might expect. The characters each are multi dimensional, and have growth as the book progresses, this is true both the main characters and the secondary characters. Royal expectations, life, and love are all on the line as Serena's past comes to light and best friends turned lovers have bigger obstacles to over come than either could have expected. Secondary characters and the expanding world make this an extremely interesting and entertaining read. I am looking forward to seeing where all this goes next.

Dragon’s Heart is a solid opening to what promises to be an interesting series. I enjoyed the character and world building, and while many questions are answered there are some interesting options left open at the end of the book. The balance between satisfying readers and leaving them looking forward to the next book is done close to perfectly here.

Book Review: A Hungry Lion or A Dwindling Assortment of Animals by Lucy Ruth Cummins

A Hungry Lion or A Dwindling Assortment of Animals is a picture book written and illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins. Once upon a time there was a very hungry lion and some adorable little animals. Slowly those animals seem to be disappearing. What do you think happened next?

A Hungry Lion or A Dwindling Assortment of Animals is a picture book with a few twists. When the book opens there is a hungry lion and a slew of smaller animals in a room. AS the other animals disappear the reader assumes that the lion has been eating them, but they were working together to surprise him. Then two more surprises keep readers on their toes, and cause a chuckle or two. The illustrations are understands and compliment the story wonderfully. It is fun and silly, and entertaining read that might have a few requests for repeated readings. 

Book Review: Joss (Gray Wolf Security # 3) by Glenna Sinclair

Joss is the third book in the Gray Wolf Security series by Glenna Sinclair. This is the only book in the series I have read, but was able to enjoy it without having read the others. I think reading the series as a whole would give a better understanding of some of the characters, but does not directly effect the enjoyment of each book on its own. 

She doesn’t talk. How the hell am I supposed to trust the life of my child to a woman who won’t talk? I’m paying thousands of dollars to Gray Wolf Security to protect my child from potential kidnappers, and they give me this emotionally broken woman who won’t speak. Not only that, but she’s so tiny she couldn’t hurt a fly. Well, okay, so she knocked me to the ground. But I’m not a drug lord with a loaded pistol pointed at an innocent child. Just because she’s beautiful and she has these curves that I can’t seem to get out of my mind doesn’t mean that I’m okay with this situation.

Joss is a book that takes two wounded adults and tosses them together under trying circumstances. Imperfect characters facing their own issues and each others while coming together to find a happy ending makes for a fun read. Carrington is facing threats to his daughter because of his refusal to take part in illegal dealings. He is desperate to protect her, but is unsure that the willingly mute, and petite, bodyguard is the right fit for his needs. the attraction between the two makes things more complicated- of course. Joss has lost a husband and child, and protects herself through her silence- and avoiding contact with children. That is all thrown out the window when she is assigned this job. I liked that each of these main character has dealt with loss and pain and found a way to keep going. While they each have some serious issue to work through, there is also Carrington's daughter McKelty to worry about and plenty of real danger to face. The danger is real, and comes along more than once with almost consistently high levels of suspense.

Joss is a heavy action and entertaining read. There are shoot outs, running, and some struggle to deal with beyond the emotional and intellectual wounds. While not the very best contemporary romance with suspense that I have read, it was still an entertaining read for a weekend.

Book Review: The Girl in the Well is Me by Karen Rivers

The Girl in the Well is Me by Karen Rivers is a middle grade novel. Longing to be one of the popular girls in her new town, Kammie Summers has fallen into a well during a (fake) initiation into their club. Now Kammie’s trapped in the dark, counting the hours, waiting to be rescued. As hours pass, Kammie’s real-life predicament mixes with memories of the best and worst moments of her life so far, including the awful reasons her family moved to this new town in the first place. And as she begins to feel hungry and thirsty and light-headed, Kammie starts to imagine she has company, including a French-speaking coyote and goats that just might be zombies.

The Girl in the Well is Me starts just after Kammie has fallen into a well due to a stunt the girls she desperately want to fit in with ask her to perform. As she sits stuck in the well, waiting for help and hoping the girls will either do something to get her out or find someone who can, she thinks about how she ended up there. She remembers her desperation to fit in, and how she should have tried to make real friends rather than trying to be accepted by the popular clique. She thinks about why her family moved for her home, why they are no longer rich, and what has separated them from her father. She thinks about some of the worst moments in her life, which all seem to be recent. She thinks about the good things, like the record store and the cat she likes best at home. Thoughts of suicide are included and is parental incarceration, so if those are anxiety triggers for you then you might want to skip the read. However, I think it is handled very well to make the reader feel less alone and better understood. I will admit to tears, and more than a few moments when I had to put the book down and take a moment. Thankfully, there was also a good amount of witty or otherwise amusing moments to balance the read out a little. A very good read, but not for a light read or an escape. 

The Girl in the Well is Me is an emotional read that actually had me in tears a few times. I think any reader that has faced family problems, depression, or even just fears about fitting in will find something to relate to here- and the knowledge that they are not alone.  

Book Review: Barnacle is Bored by Jonathan Fenske

Barnacle is Bored is a picturebook by Jonathan Fenske. Barnacle is stuck on the underside of a pier, wishing he had something to do. Every day is exactly the same. The tide comes in and Barnacle gets cold and wet. The tide goes out and Barnacle dries off. Boring! Barnacle wants something EXCITING to happen. Then a colorful fish swims by. Barnacle bets the fish doesn't have a boring life. In the end, it turns out exciting isn't always better. 

Barnacle is Bored is a fun picture book with simple but interesting illustrations. The life of a barnacle is fairly uninteresting. There is water, then there isn’t. The sun rises and sets. You just sit there attached to something and watch the world go by. This particular barnacle is envious of the marine life around him, those that can move under their own power, until he sees first hand how the circle of life works, and realizes that his life might not be all the exciting, but it is much safer.

While at first I was smiling and enjoyed the book. Now that I am writing the review I am not sure that I really like that message. I like the idea of being happy with who you are, and what you can do. I do not think I like a secondary message that others might take from this, that sitting on the sidelines is better than going out into the world and taking chances. So, if you want a cute picture book to read and think the young people you might share this with will grasp the first message then I recommend this book. If you have an anxious child and think they might grasp the wait in the wings message, then you might want to either hold off or make sure you discuss both messages with them and encourage them to be safe, but not to miss out on taking chances and exploring the world.  

Early Book Review: Frightlopedia: An Encyclopedia of Everything Scary, Creepy, and Spine-Chilling, from Arachnids to Zombies by Julie Winterborn

Frightlopedia: An Encyclopedia of Everything Scary, Creepy, and Spine-Chilling, from Arachnids to Zombies by Julie Winterborn is scheduled for release on August 23 2016. It combines fact, fiction, and hands-on activities together to scare and entertain readers  with some of the world’s most frightening places, scariest stories, and gruesomest creatures, both real and imagined. Discover Borneo’s Gomantong Cave, where literally millions of bats, cockroaches, spiders, and rats coexist in pitch darkness. Learn about mythical creatures like the Mongolian Death Worm—and scarily real ones like killer bees, which were accidentally created by scientists in the 1950s. Visit New Orleans’s Beauregard-Keyes house, where Civil War soldiers are said to still clash in the front hall. Plus ghost stories from around the world, a cross-cultural study of vampires, and how to transform into a zombie with makeup. Each entry includes a “Fright Meter” measurement from 1 to 3, because while being scared is fun, everyone has their limit.

Frightlopedia is a fun and sometimes frightening read that will appeal too many readers. I like that the book is well organized, so readers looking for information on a certain type of monster or scary story can find the wanted information quickly. I think the scare-o-meter is a great aspect as well, since it forwards readers just how scary some of the stories might be for them. The variety of urban legends, well known stories and monsters, and those less known is nice. The inclusion of real creatures that some find scary, like spiders that eat birds and other sizable critters, rounded out the collection well. I even learned a few new bits of certain legends that I had not heard of before. I think readers that love all things masters or creepy will enjoy this book for multiple reads.

Frightlopedia is a great read for those that like scary stories and monsters, and not just to be scared. I liked the fright-o-meter so the least and most stalwart of readers can still enjoy the book and skip over bits that might not be conducive to bedtime.