Book Review: Deja Who (Insighter) by MaryJanice Davidson

Deja Who is the first book in the Insighter series by MaryJanice Davidson. Leah Nazir is an Insighter. Reincarnation is her business. But while her clients' pasts are a mess, Leah's is nothing short of tragedy. She's been murdered. A lot. If left to that bitch, destiny, it'll happen again. Leah wants to know who's been following her through time, and who's been stalking her in the present. P.I. Archer Drake has been hired by Leah's mother to keep an eye on her. But the more time he spends watching, the more he finds himself infatuated. Before long, he even finds himself agreeing to help find the person who wants her dead. Now going full-on "rewind," Leah hopes it can stave off the inevitable. After all, she's grown fond of this life, and even fonder of nerdy Archer. But changing her pattern means finding out who her killer is today. And that could be anyone she has come to know and trust. Anyone.

Deja Who has a little bit of everything. There is some worldbuilding, to understand the importance of past lives, and Leah's job to see and explain how those lives could be effecting the daily lives of her clients. The characters are all more than a little quirky, but self- aware of their flaws and idiosyncrasies, which made their conversations, thoughts, and expositions that much more interesting and strange. Leah, Cat, and Archer are all odd people, but in a way that makes them enjoyable to read- most of the time. I have to admit that on occasion it got to be too much and their quirks crossed the line between fun and cute to hit weird and annoying. I found that the mystery part of the book got off to a slow start, because of the world and character building that was necessary to get readers to care about our main players. However, once the mystery got going it was unstoppable and moved very quickly toward the resolution. I liked returning to the quirky writing of Davidson, but am not sure if I will keep following the series. I think that will depend on the blurb for the next book.

Deja Who is full of wacky characters, with a solid mystery interwoven through the insanity. Fans of Davisdon's Queen Betsy series, and other quirky characters she has written, will enjoy this book as well. 

Book Review: The Best Part of Me (McKenna) by Jamie Hollins

The Best Part of Me is the first book in the McKenna series by Jamie Hollins. Ewan McKenna’s days and nights are filled with drink orders, beer kegs, and noisy bar customers. Now that he’s put his tumultuous past behind him, he’s more than happy to live a solitary existence running his family’s pub. After years of walking the line between good and bad, Ewan now needs control and order to rest peacefully at night. What he doesn’t need is the fiery, intriguing woman who’s found her way into his thoughts and his bed. Spending the summer getting her hands dirty in her aunt’s garden in a tiny town outside Boston is exactly what Quinn Adler needs. She’s ready to shake off the grief of losing the people who meant the most to her and to start feeling again. What she doesn’t expect is to find a man who sets all her senses on fire. When the pieces seem to be nearly in place for a bright future, everything falls apart.

The Best Part of Me is a compelling romance between two wounded hearts. Quinn is still recovering from the loss of her parents and is starting to live again. Ewan is still struggling to reconcile his less than wonderful history with the day to day work that keeps him busy and in the background. when the two collide sparks fly even though neither think it is a good idea. I like that both characters are flawed, but aware of their flaws. Their coming together is just about perfectly paced for them, with plenty of conflict as they each try to protect themselves from heartache. Watching them slowly find their way, both individually and together, was both heart warming and heart wrenching in turn. The emotion was real and raw, and the balance of small town atmosphere and small world crisis was just about perfect. A enthralling weekend read that is so worth the heart ache of the story.

The Best Part of Me is a well-written contemporary romance. Real characters, raw emotion, and compelling conflict will have you wanting to follow up on the series- which I plan on doing. 

Early Book Review: Dreaming of Mocha by An Swerts, Eline van Lindenhuizen

Dreaming of Mocha is a picture book written by An Swerts and illustrated by Eline van Lindenhuizen. It is currently scheduled for release on November 15 2016. Florence wants a dog, any dog. A dog to take care of, to run with, and to play with. One day there’s a little dog in Florence’s garden. “Mocha” it says on his collar. Mocha and Florence become the best of friends. But then Mocha’s owner is suddenly at the door. And he is a very nice man. What will Florence do now?

Dreaming of Mocha is a wonderful little book with illustrations that will capture the interest and attention of readers while connecting them to the story of Florence. I like that children, and adults, can understand Florence's desire for a dog and the depth of which she wants one. The discovery of the escaped Mocha and the lessons Florence needs to learn about responsibilities, friendship, and doing the right thing are handled with a perfect balance of fun and sweetness. Florence's escapades of trying to keep Mocha hidden are great fun, and made me glad not to be the one cleaning up the dirty paw prints when all was said and done. My favorite part of the book is the lesson that not always getting what you want is not a tragedy, but might lead to different good things, like unexpected friendships.

Dreaming of Mocha is a funny, sweet, and entertaining picture book that will likely become a repeat request from many animal loving youngsters.

Book Review: Animal Planet Strange, Unusual, Gross & Cool Animals by Animal Plant and Charles Gingham

Animal Planet Strange, Unusual, Gross & Cool Animals is a children's non fiction book  by Animal Plant and Charles Gingham. It is part of the Animal Bites series. This book offers information paired with full color photos of some of the oddest animals in the world! For instance, did you know that an archerfish can spit water up to 16 feet? Or that the giant weta is the world's largest and heaviest insect? This exploration of animal oddities introduces young animal lovers to some of the most astonishing and obscure animals in the world-including some brand new discoveries! There are more than 200 vibrant photographs and fun facts about animals with unusual behaviors, strange appearances, and remarkable stats.

Animal Planet Strange, Unusual, Gross & Cool Animals is not new in the idea, but executes it very well. I have read more than my fair share of books about the wacky, weird, and gross animals of the world. My daughter is an animal nut, and my son loves anything vaguely gross or monster like. So this book is right up their alley, and we have explored every similar book available to us, and this book holds up very well to the competition. There are a number of bright, bold photographs on each page along with interesting facts to correspond to each animal included. The texts combines humor and fact very well, capturing the attention of readers of all ages. I think reluctant readers will be put at ease with the large print and the way the text is grouped into small sections. this makes the flow of information easy to understand and from being intimidating. while I have seen many of these animals and corresponding facts before, there was so much here that i found new information and creatures to learn about as well. This is a must buy for library, school, and some home collections (like mine).

I need this book for my kids, who love animals and all things weird. Honestly, I think I will order it now and save it for a Christmas gift. This book is perfect for reluctant readers or anyone who loves totally gross and amazing animals. As a bonus, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of books in the Animal Bites series benefits the principal partners of R.O.A.R. (Reach Out. Act. Respond.), Animal Planet's initiative dedicated to improving the lives of animals in our communities and in the wild. 

Book Review: River Bear (Blue Bear Rescue) by Terra Wolf

River Bear is the second book in the Blue Bear Rescue series by Terra Wolf. I have not read the first book, but feel like I did not miss too much.

Polar Bear Shifter Jake has always wanted a real family. People to love and care about him, nothing like his foster father who saw him as nothing more than a punching bag. He testified against the monster and put him away for good, or so he thought. Delilah is an orphan, she knows the struggle of being alone all too well, but when she meets Jake suddenly she has everything she ever wanted. Until someone threatens to take it all away. Jake has to defend his mate against his one true enemy. His own family. But will he be able to keep her safe, when he has to defeat his own demons as well? 

River Bear is an enjoyable, quick read. Delilah comes to the small town with the promise of investigating a case for a group of shifters, who have always fascinated her. She needs the money, and when she sees Jake she needs to work extra hard to keep her rule of no dating on the case. She is smart, determined, and self reliant- which always drives an overprotective were-bear crazy. She is fascinated by the job, and her partner while she hunts for the people behind the complaints and problems the rescue crew has been facing. Jake is worried when he sees Delilah, because of a vision a friend had of someone matching her description dying by his hands. he wants to protect her,. wants to keep her close, but also wants her at a safe distance so that the vision cannot come true- a combination that is not really possible. I like that the pair actually talk to each other, and share past traumas and issues that might effect them in the long run. While the romance wraps up a little too neatly at the end, that is not unexpected in paranormal romance involving shifters that include any mention of mates.

River Bear is a fast and fun story. I did think the final wrap up a little too neat and tidy, I still enjoyed the read and will be looking at other books from the author. 

Book Review: I am Not a Princess by Bethany Burt, Brenda McCallum

I am Not a Princess is a picturebook written by Bethany Burt and illustrated Brenda McCallum. Princesses get to wear fancy dresses and beautiful jewels. They live happily ever after with the prince of their dreams in a splendid castle in the countryside. Plus, they are never burdened with boring chores or unpleasant activities. Their only real job is looking pretty. But when Eliza, dressed in full princess fashion, tries to join in on the fun in her household and neighborhood, she is disappointed to discover that being a princess prevents her from doing many of the things she loves. She can t ride a bike, play baseball, help her father paint, or bake cookies with her mom. See what happens as her frustration builds.

I am Not a Princess is a look at identity, imaginative play, and stereotypes. Everyone knows that princesses have it easy, all they need to do is look pretty, stay clean, and have good manners. When Eliza dresses up as a princess she is firm in this idea as a princess, and is not willing to break that role- even when it means missing out on playing with her older brother, riding bikes with her best friend, or baking cookies with her mom. I like that her frustration eventually has her shedding the jewels and joining in the fun. I admire her gumption in sticking to the role as she saw it, her tenaciousness is admirable. However, I would rather she had changed the role of a princess and proclaimed that she can do both, act and dress as a princess while having any kind of fun she wanted. As far as I am concerned, especially while playing pretend, who is to say that a princess cannot play sports or bake cookies? I have long been a fan of princesses that wear what ever color they want and are willing to climb trees and play in the dirt rather than commit to a role that they can not fully enjoy.

Book Review: 3 of a Kind (Knightley & Son) by Rohan Gavin

3 of a Kind is the third book in the Knightley & Son series of middle grade novels by Rohan Gavin. This is a series that should be read in order, especially since the conflicts of this story are directly related to the previous mysteries.  Darkus Knightley is used to expecting the unexpected. An extraordinary solver of crimes, with immense powers of deduction, and regularly found bedecked in tweed, Darkus is anything but the average 13-year-old. But he is the person to call when strange goings-on are afoot! Despite trying to leave his detective ways behind to lead a normal teenage life, when his father's loyal housekeeper, Bogna, goes missing, Darkus must return to the family fold and follow the clues to America and the bright lights of Las Vegas. Alongside his father, Alan, and stepsister, Tilly, Darkus must once again face the deadly criminal organization the Combination and this time, all bets are off. With danger at every turn, Knightley and Son will need an ace or two up their sleeves in order to win this game.

3 of a Kind is full of mystery and character development. Darkus is not really interested in the family business after what happened in K-9, but is drawn into another mystery after the well being of other people is at stake. There is plenty of drama between Darkus, his father, and Tilly. There is also some other character conflicts, like those surrounding Clive and Bogna. The big mystery is as complex and dangerous as the other books, but it seemed a little over the top and more confusing.  I still enjoyed the characters and the wit inherent in the story, like in the previous book. It just seemed to be a little more, intangible maybe? I liked the inclusion of Tilly's technical skills and some of the twists. There was a lot of wonderful, I just did not connect with the story as much as I expected to.

3 of a Kind is a interesting read and left me with a balance of closure and open curiosity of what might be coming next. A good, solid read, but not quite as good as the first two installments in the series. 

Book Review: The Bear Who Loved Me (Grizzlies Gone Wild) by Kathy Lyons

The Bear Who Loved Me is the first book in the Grizzlies Gone Wild series by Kathy Lyons. Between singlehandedly running her bakery and raising her teenaged nephew, Becca Weitz thought she had a decent grip on "normal." Then her nephew vanishes, and life as she's known it changes forever. Local legends are true: bear shifters exist and her nephew is part of their clan. As is Carl Carman, the sexy, larger-than-life man who has sworn to find her nephew-and the other young shifters who've gone missing.As the leader of his clan, Carl is surrounded by enemies. He's learned the hard way that keeping a firm leash on his inner beast is key to survival, though his feelings for Becca test his legendary control. Then danger stalks too close, and Carl realizes he must unleash the raging, primal force within to protect everything he holds dear. But can Becca trust his grizzly side with her life-and her heart?

The Bear Who Loved Me is a fun start to a series. I really liked Becca, and her need to be busy and useful regardless of what is going on around her. She is determined and strong, with a quick wit and good heart. Carl, or Mr. Max, is the alpha bear in his clan, and is struggling to prove himself as a powerful leader when violence and death is his last resort rather than his fall back for all conflicts. I like that we are introduced to a variety of clan members, some of which promise to be the stars of the future books (which I need to get my hands on). I liked the main characters, and the secondary characters very much. I found the personalities and reactions to be reasonably realistic, or as much as they can be when dealing with were-grizzly bears. I found them compelling and I was invested in their futures early in the book. The conflict of missing Theo- and the larger storyline that this will continue in the series- reminds me a little of the story found in Paige Tyler’s X-Ops series, but the idea is one I would actually expect to have happen if shifters were really discovered in the real world. 

The Bear Who Loved Me is a great start to a new series, and has me looking for the next books, License to Shift (recently published) and For the Bear's Eyes Only (to be released on November 15 2016). It is good fun with complex characters with plenty of room for more. 

Book Review: Margo Thinks Twice by Monica Arnaldo

Margo Thinks Twice by Monica Arnaldo is a picture book. Margo is an imaginative, adventurous little girl who has just one problem — worry has found its way into her life. She sometimes feels nervous and uncomfortable, especially inside the wild world her imagination creates. Whenever her mom gives instructions, Margo’s mind turns the everyday advice into worst-case scenarios. Mom tells Margo to be careful with the craft glue, and Margo imagines becoming stuck to all the furniture and decorations in her room. Mom advises Margo not to swing too high, and Margo envisions ending up on the roof.

Margo Thinks Twice is a picture book about a young lady that takes the words of her mother to heart. Every warning her mother gives leads Margo to consider the worse case scenario, the illustrations of which a fun and contain little clues toward the final conclusion. Now, I both really like this book, and have some reservations with it. I thin the illustrations are wonderful- they capture Margo’s very real worries while still including humor and additional important information. I like that at no point, even in the illustrations, are Margo’s fears mocked or belittled. Her worries are treated as legitimate and important by her mother, along with a solution that can help both of them worry a little less about everything being perfect.

I was not thrilled with the worries it left me, as a mom, that I might be causing anxiety in my kids with such simple requests and common phrases, and that they haven’t told me. Granted both my kids tell me everything, included things that I have no need to know, such as the exact number of goldfish they ate or left behind at lunch, so I am not overly anxious. However, it is not necessarily that it raised my awareness of how some seemingly simple things can be anything but to my children- or anyone really. Literature, and art of all sorts, is intended to get people thinking and maybe make them a little uncomfortable- or at least wake them up a little or insight emotion. So, that this mean the author has done their job. 

Early Book Review: Once a Gypsy (Irish Traveller) by Danica Winters

Once a Gypsy is the first book in the Irish Traveller series by Danica Winters and is currently scheduled for release on November 1 2016. Even for a clairvoyant, the future is never a sure thing. Helena has always struggled to fit in with her Irish Traveller family. It’s not just her opposition to getting married or her determination to attend university; Helena also has one talent that sets her apart from the rest of her clan, the gift of the Forshaw, the ability to see the future. Graham is the groundskeeper at a manor in Adare, Ireland. Though the estate appears idyllic, it holds dark secrets, and despite his own supernatural gifts, Graham can’t solve Adare Manor’s problems by himself. Desperate for help, Graham seeks out a last resort: Helena, whose skills are far greater than even she knows. When he promises to teach her to control her powers, Helena resists, afraid both of the damage her abilities might do and her increasing attraction to the handsome groundskeeper. Her entire way of life is at risk: Any involvement, especially romantic, with non-Travellers like Graham is forbidden. But Helena’s future is anything but certain, and fate has other plans for her family, her powers, and her relationship with Graham.

Once a Gypsy is a contemporary fiction book with a touch of romance and more than a hint of fantasy or paranormal. Helena is a strong woman, raised as a Traveller and proud of her heritage but not blind to its faults. In fact, she wants to break tradition enough to forestall marriage and go to school, which is unheard of. When her fathers is released from prison and they are both offered jobs at Graham's estate she is suspicious and cautious, which is a good idea because there is far more going on than she could know. Graham is a good guy at heart, but trying to keep the necessary secrets while helping his family. The attraction between the two is a complication for them both, and distracts them from the trouble that is surrounding them. There are a good number of twists and turns, many of which I saw coming, and lots of room for whatever comes next. I did feel that while Helena started as a strong woman, there were a few too many times where I felt like she let doubts or someone else make her decisions for her. I could understand that on occasion, but by the end of the book it was what I remembered most about her, which did not make me like her as much as I had initially.

Once a Gypsy is a decent start to a series, but it did not wow me. I thought the characters and cultures had the groundwork laid well for future installments, but some of the paranormal aspects and personal connections between characters did not completely reel me in.