Book Review: The Highlander is All That (Untamed Highlanders) by Sabrina York

The Highlander is All That is the fourth book in the Untamed Highlanders series by Sabrina York. I have read the third book in the series, but not the others. While reading the previous book(s) does give some insight into a few characters, it is not necessary to understand or enjoy this book.

Elizabeth St. Claire has always been hard to please. Dreaming solely of Highlander men her whole life, no prancing London Lord can stand a chance at winning her heart, but perhaps a Scotsman can. Elizabeth watches intrigued as the Highlander of her dreams, a Scotsman named Hamish Robb, arrives to oversee her season at the behest of her cousin, the Duke of Caithness. Elizabeth doesn’t hide her feelings for the striking Scot. But Hamish, determined to obey his order to protect the St. Claire sisters, steadfastly rejects her every seducing lure. Believing that the debutante Elizabeth deserves a better, wealthier man, Hamish continues to turn away from her affection, even though he doesn’t exactly want to. Can this Highlander Scot resist the tempting seductress’ attempts to win his heart?

The Highlander is All That is a historical romance that exceeded my expectations in some ways. I loved Elizabeth's character- she is not interested in the lords that come courting, and the one that has his sights set on her most ardently literally makes her ill. That small detail made me smile, and a little sympathetic because the smell of several perfumes and other things have the same affect on me. I like that Hamish and Ranald are determined to do the right thing by the sisters, despite their feelings, and that the ladies are equally as stubborn. I enjoyed the banter between our main couple, and other important characters. I liked that there was some humor, some danger, and lots of great characters and development. I love that the story let all four St. Claire sisters; Anne, Elizabeth, Victoria, and Mary find love in unconventional but happy ways and outcomes. There is a little something for everyone here, and I would hate to ruin any of the surprises or adventure by giving too much away.

The Highlander is All That is a book that has many things going on, but never so much that the story gets lost. Every character and story thread gets its fair share and resolution. Make sure you pick this up when you have plenty of uninterrupted time to enjoy it, because you are not going to want to put it down.

Book Review: In My World by Jillian Ma

In My World by Jillian Ma is a simple, heartfelt story that follows the life of a child with autism through his imaginative journey as he seeks to be accepted, loved and celebrated for his strengths and abilities. Despite the qualities that make children on the autism spectrum exceptional, they all have hopes, dreams and feelings of belonging that all children desire. This beautifully illustrated picture book is a powerful reminder that with a little help from each of us, children with autism can fulfill their dreams.

In My World is a sweet and simple story that describes a day in the life of a child with autism. I think it shows the things that we all have in common well; the joys and desires surrounding love and acceptance among them. The illustrations and words do a wonderful job of showing the joy and imagination that fill the child's world, and explaining some of the struggles they have in dealing with other people and their expectations. I think this would be a great conversation starter in classrooms, families, or public settings like library story times to help children understand and care for each other and themselves.

Early Book Review: Adventures in Veggieland: Help Your Kids Learn to Love Vegetables with 101 Easy Activities and Recipes by Melanie Potock

Adventures in Veggieland: Help Your Kids Learn to Love Vegetables with 101 Easy Activities and Recipes by Melanie Potock is currently scheduled for release on February 6 2018. It features a year’s worth of family-friendly recipes along with strategies for helping kids learn to become more adventurous eaters over time. Parents will learn how to introduce a new vegetable every week, plus creative and engaging ways to expose their kids to new foods. The book features 20 vegetables, organized by season, each with activities and recipes highlighting the program’s three phases to vegetable love: expose, explore, expand. The kids are involved in every part of the activity process from washing the vegetable to eating delicious food they helped make. 

Adventures in Veggieland: Help Your Kids Learn to Love Vegetables with 101 Easy Activities and Recipes is a valiant attempt to help parents with children that boycott vegetables to give them a try, and to have some fun along the way. I like that the book is organized by season, which makes getting started and planning that much easier. I like that some of the activities give the chance for kids to feel, taste, and smell the veggies before eating them even becomes part of the conversation. I also liked the idea of getting the kids involved in the preparation and cooking of the veggies. I find that being included in the work and discussion makes most kids more willing to give something a try. I can see how it can, and would, work with many children. I also see how parents that are willing to go to these strides are already on the path to kids willing to try and do new things. However, I feel like there are too many kids that this will not work with, such as those with sensory issues. Of course, that being said my daughter would adore these activities, and some of the recipes, while my husband and son would run in terror since my husband is not a veggie fan and my son is very sensitive to flavors and likes things as bland and boring as possible.  

In short, for those that are willing to go all out in getting their families to eat better, particularly in the vegetable department this would be a great addition to a home library. For those just looking for some tools to get a few more veggies, and break down some barriers, I would suggest borrowing the book from the library and trying the suggestions that might work in your home.

Book Review: Grimms Manga Tales (English) by Kei Ishiyamab

Grimms Manga Tales (English) by Kei Ishiyama is a classic manga version of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales with the authors special, creative twist. The book features the stories of Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, Hansel and Gretel, The Two Brothers, The Twelve Hunters, Snow White, The Frog King, Puss in Boots, and The Singing, Springing Lark. This fantasy manga retells these timeless tales with a twist of originality.

Grimms Manga Tales is an interesting look at fairy tales that are well known, and some much less common. I like the manga twist, but recommend reading in paper rather than digital copy- mainly because the book is in the traditional Japanese format- meaning that it is read back to front and right to left.The stories are definitely given twists that surprised me, some of which worked for me and some that just did not. The artwork was well done, and the stories were interesting. However, I had trouble getting fully engaged in the stories- including the ones that I knew less well than the others. Maybe it was because each of the retellings was so short, or maybe I missed something along the way, but I just did not love it like I do most things fairy tale related.

Grimms Manga Tales is a quick read, and offers some new twists to fairy tales. Those looking for quick reads, and those that love fairy tales and the manga style of story telling might enjoy the read, but it is not something I think everyone will love. I think this would be best for young adult and older audiences, because of some of the content.

Early Book Review: Silver Hair: Say Goodbye to the Dye and Let Your Natural Light Shine: A Handbook by Lorraine Massey, Michele Bender

Silver Hair: Say Goodbye to the Dye and Let Your Natural Light Shine: A Handbook by Lorraine Massey with Michele Bender is currently scheduled for rel;ease on February 6 2018. Written by the author of the bestselling Curly Girl, Silver Hair covers step-by-step the many options for going silver with style. It includes before-and-after photos of real models; advice on how to stay gorgeous during the silver journey—with tips on the best ways to have a smooth color transition; keeping your silver gorgeous with the right hair care and DIY recipes; and finally how to complement your chic new look with flattering fashion, makeup, and accessories. Going silver is not just about style, or saving time and money at the salon or on your own.  It satisfies that deeper desire for authenticity and the freedom to be oneself.

Silver Hair: Say Goodbye to the Dye and Let Your Natural Light Shine: A Handbook is an encouraging and useful guide to those that are pondering the end of dying their grays, and the start of embracing the hair nature is giving them. There was a large number or stories from different women that have gone through the transition, all telling the methods they used and how their looks, lives, and perception of themselves changed. As someone with naturally dark hair, and plenty of what I like to call "wisdom highlights". I did not find much in the book that was relevant to me, because I have not dyed my hair in a number of years and the stories are mostly about giving up the dye, and the process of growing out the color rather than just letting nature have its way from the very beginning. However, I did enjoy reading about how other women felt about their hair and the reactions they received when they embraced the silver. The most instructive thing for me was the tips for hair care and treatments. I think this would be a great read for those considering making this transition. 

Early Book Review: A Stegosaurus Would NOT Make a Good Pirate by Thomas Kingsley Troupe

A Stegosaurus Would NOT Make a Good Pirate by Thomas Kingsley Troupe is a picturebook that is currently scheduled for release on February 1 2018. Everyone has dreams, even dinosaurs! But not every dream can become reality. For example, the brachiosaurus would love to be a spy! But at 40 feet tall, he certainly would not blend in. And the T-rex aspires to be a knight. But how would she manage to pick up a sword with those tiny arms?  

A Stegosaurus Would NOT Make a Good Pirate is a picturebook that is good fun, with charming illustrations. I liked the dinosaur's attempts at being a good pirate, and how the tone gave the impression that he could laugh at himself while still being more than a little overconfident. I think the deliver of dinosaur facts along side the light hearted story make for a fun read that might get many re read requests. I also enjoyed the glossary and mini quiz at the end. The fact that the answers are hidden in the illustrations, and the quiz offers clues as to where young readers can find the answers, might spark a larger search for hidden information and encourage them to study pictures in other books to see if they can find information and clues. 

Book Review: Romancing the Undead (V-Date) by Juliet Lyons

Romancing the Undead is the second book in the V-Date series by Juliet Lyons. While I have read the previous book, and it did give me a bit of insight on a few characters, I do not think it is needed to fully enjoy this read.

Mila Hart’s first experience with the vampire dating site V-Date.com is a complete disaster–her date is wanted for murder! But things turn around when she’s rescued by dashing vampire cop Vincent Ferrer. Dangerous and devastatingly attractive, he’s just the undead hottie Mila was hoping for. However Vincent is haunted by his past and does not want to risk falling in love again–even if Mila charms him more than anyone he’s ever met. But when the killer from Mila’s date seeks her out, Vincent is the only one who can protect her. Protecting his heart is a different story.

Romancing the Undead is a solid paranormal romance with a solid plot and danger and connections that were on point. I liked Mila's character, she was strong and aware of her flaws. She was not the mess she considered herself to be, but she certainly did find herself in less that ideal conditions on several occasions. Vincent was a good character as well, although I did find his attachment to guilt and his past to be a little much on occasion. I found the suspense plot line with the vampire murderer to be well done, although I admit that I suspected the twist, or something of its nature from the start. I do think that my favorite part was the characters, especially the supporting characters and hoe varied but real they all felt. From Vincent's co-workers, to the vampires, and beyond to Mila's friends and family, I found the little details about these characters and their lives made everything much more real as I read than the story would have been without them.

Romancing the Undead is an engaging read that had me entertained through out, and holding my breath more than once.  I do believe I will be continuing this series, and looking to see what happens to all the characters I have met on the edges of the story.

Book Review: Can I Touch Your Hair by Irene Latham and Charles Waters, Sean Qualls and Selina Alko

Can I Touch Your Hair is a poetry collection written by Irene Latham and Charles Waters, illustrated by Sean Qualls and Selina Alko. How can Irene and Charles work together on their fifth grade poetry project? They don't know each other, and they're not sure they want to. Irene Latham, who is white, and Charles Waters, who is black, use this fictional setup to delve into different experiences of race in a relatable way, exploring such topics as hair, hobbies, and family dinners. Accompanied by artwork from acclaimed illustrators Sean Qualls and Selina Alko (of The Case for Loving: The Fight for Interracial Marriage), this remarkable collaboration invites readers of all ages to join the dialogue by putting their own words to their experiences.

Can I Touch Your Hair is an honest and touching collection of poems that address so much more than race. The collaboration approach was perfect, giving the scenario and the result an authentic feel- because it was real. I think the open discussion involved in the poetry and matching illustrations does a wonderful job of highlighting some of the challenges adults and children face when they are willing to try to form understanding across lines they might not even want to acknowledge. I love that the characters each had missteps along the way, but they just kept trying to find their way and discovered that it is through communication and a willingness to listen and apologize when necessary is all that is needed to understand each other.

While the main topic here is bridging the racial divide and open up communications, I think it could be used as a great starting point for so many divides in our society. We are all the same at heart, we all need the same things, and by exploring our differences and similarities I think we all could forge friendships like the fictional classmates if we are willing to put forth the same effort with open hearts and minds. This is a poignant and important read for children and adults alike.

Book Review: The Girl with the Ghost Machine by Lauren DeStefano

The Girl with the Ghost Machine by Lauren DeStefano is a middle grade novel. When Emmaline Beaumont's father started building the ghost machine, she didn't expect it to bring her mother back from the dead. But by locking himself in the basement to toil away at his hopes, Monsieur Beaumont has become obsessed with the contraption and neglected the living, and Emmaline is tired of feeling forgotten. Nothing good has come from building the ghost machine, and Emmaline decides that the only way to bring her father back will be to make the ghost machine work, or destroy it forever.

The Girl with the Ghost Machine is a heart breaking novel about loss, friendship, family, and grief. Emmaline has learned to survive after the loss of her mother, and her father's obsession with the ghost machine he has built. She is taking care of herself quite well, with the support of her two best friends, at least until in an attempt to destroy the machine she figures out how to make it work. The conflicts and emotions were very poignant, and felt real. The characters were dynamic and had a good mixture of the expected and surprises in their personality and actions. I rode the roller coaster of Emmaline's emotions, and was engaged through the whole read. The book comes mainly from Emmaline's point of view, but we occasionally get the viewpoints of others, which gives readers a better overall picture of the action and state of the entire cast of characters. I will admit that there is a twist, and that I saw it coming. It was like watching a horrible accident unfold in a movie when you know something is coming, and want to shout at the characters, but can do nothing to stop it. The story crushed me many times, in many ways, but it also gave me hope and warmed my heart. 

The Girl with the Ghost Machine is an engaging read that torn at my heart, and then put it back together. The characters and their pain was so real that I think the story will touch, and stick with, many readers. 

Early Book Review: Honk! Splat! Vroom! by Barry Gott

Honk! Splat! Vroom! by Barry Gott is currently scheduled for release on February 1 2018. Five mice speed down a road race, eager to cross the finish line. But first they must overcome all sorts of messy obstacles, including mud and one very hungry cat! Luckily, a friendly goose saves the day. 

Honk! Splat! Vroom! is a fast and fun read for even the youngest readers. The five mice are racing hard, and while they struggle to win and are not always kind to each other as one mouse is left behind and they pass and pass again. However, when danger is at hand the mouse that was left behind and his new friend save the day. Not the best tale about how to behave in competition, but in the end they all redeem themselves and act as friends should. The illustrations and words are big, bold, and will capture the attention and interest of readers, keeping them engaged and entertained.