Early Book Review: Pop! by Jason Carter Eaton, Matt Rockefeller

Pop! is a picturebook written by Jason Carter Eaton and illustrated by Matt Rockefeller. It is currently scheduled for release on July 3 2018. A quiet afternoon of blowing bubbles and popping them turns into a Planes, Trains, & Automobiles-style adventure, as our young protagonist Dewey struggles to pop that one last bubble, The Bubble That Got Away.

Pop! is a fun story about determination and imagination. I enjoyed Dewey's efforts to pop an elusive bubble, and the way the story took a lonely kid on a grand adventure. I really liked that Dewey showed the ability to entertain himself, determination to finish what he started, and the imagination to make the well loved task of blowing and popping bubbles. Dewey took something that is so basic to childhood, and made it his own grand adventure, when other kids might have spent the day watching television alone or pouting that there was no one to play with, or that others did not invite him to play with them. He did not get mad, he made his own fun, and enjoyed his day. The conclusion of long distance companionship in bubble popping added a little heart twist at the end. I thought the illustrations were lovely, and they had the soft, dream like quality that matched the theme and action of the story, while not being washed out or boring at any point. 

Book Review: Betting the Scot (The Highlanders of Balforss) by Jennifer Trethewey

Betting the Scot is the second book in The Highlanders of Balforss series by Jennifer Trethewey. I did read and enjoy the first book in this series, Tying the Scot, but think that each book can be enjoyed on its own. 

Declan Sinclair is a Highlander who believes his dreams never lie. When he spots Caya at a public house, he knows instantly she is the woman in his dreams—his future wife. Though her brother had promised never to gamble again, he engages Declan in a card game—and the prize is the lovely Caya.  Caya Pendarvis has no time for childish things like dreams or fairy-tales or love. She’s the sacrificial lamb on her way to the far north of Scotland to wed a wealthy merchant in exchange for settling her brother’s gambling debts.  Winning at cards is one of the many things Declan Sinclair does well. Unfortunately, the ability to court a woman—a talent he lacks—is the only skill he desperately needs to win Caya’s heart.

Betting the Scot is a multi layered romance that catches the attention, and keeps it through out the entire read. I liked the set up with Caya, and her brother. I also like that while Declan is far from poor, neither Declan or Caya are gentry, which is a nice change of pace in historical romance. So often the main players are Dukes, or other lords and ladies, so while Declan is related to the head of his clan he is not exactly royalty. I like that Declan is certain Caya is to be his wife, but is so lost and uncertain about how to go about making it happen. Caya is at a loss after her brother sells her, them gambles her away. She still loves him, and wants to help him, but knows that he has greed and weaknesses that are dangerous. I enjoyed getting Declan's side of the story for most of the book, and liked his honor and kindness, that is not always obvious to those around him. I will admit that I was annoyed with Caya for trusting her brother after all he had done, and for not fully confiding in Declan.I though Declan was a complex and sympathetic character, and I was rooting for him through the entire book. I found Caya to be a little less likable, she often annoyed me in her own way, but I never hated her. I think if she had trusted Declan more, and her brother less, I would have enjoyed the book even more. The danger was well done, and the drama crafted with a satisfying conclusion. I loved getting to see Peter in action again, after loving his character in the previous book, although those that did not already know him will still find this young secondary characters to be fabulous. I also liked getting a hint as to who might be next while not leaving so many open questions that I was frustrated. 

Betting the Scot is a well written historical romance with plenty of twists and turns. I enjoyed the characters and their depth, and my only complaint is that sometimes I feel like there might be one too many twists that could be replaced with conversation to ease communication issues rather than life or death danger turning the tide.

Book Review: Pennybaker School is Headed for Disaster by Jennifer Brown

Pennybaker School is Headed for Disaster is the start of a new middle grade series by Jennifer Brown. Thomas Fallgrout always thought of himself as a regular kid until the day he accidentally creates a little big of magic using his grandpa's old potions. Suddenly, he's pulled from public school and enrolled in Pennybaker Academy for the Uniquely Gifted, where kids are busy perfecting their chainsaw juggling, unicycling feats, and didgeridoo playing. Pennybaker is full of spirit thanks to its most beloved teacher: the late, great Helen Heirmauser. The school has even erected a statue of her head on a pedestal. Then, life is uprooted when the statue goes missing -- and everyone thinks Thomas is behind its disappearance. Now his head is on the line. As his new friends turn on him, Thomas finds himself pairing up with the only person who will associate with him: his oddball next door neighbor Chip Mason. Together they work to hunt down the missing statue, only to discover that maybe what they've both needed to find all along was true friendship.

Pennybaker School is Headed for Disaster has a little bit of everything. Our main character is an earnest middle school boy starting a new school and wanting to fit in, but the people in that new school are more like his grandmother and willing to stand out. Thomas just wants to be seen as normal, and he is having trouble finding his footing. The family dynamics of Thomas, with a controlling mother and daring grandmother at odds with each other, as well as the younger sister and easy going dad was both realistic on some levels but over the top funny in others. I like that Thomas was a sympathetic character, and while I might not have always agreed with his choices, his reasoning and thought process we very relatable and I think will hit a cord with a wind range of readers. I like that there was a touch of mystery, as Thomas tries to solve the theft of the head, but also a strong focus on the friendships and development of self that carried the story forward. I also like that there was a good amount of new vocabulary for readers to learn as they enjoy the series. I also found the occasional pencil drawings to be charming and a nice tough to the book. 

Pennybaker School is Headed for Disaster is a middle grade novel with heart, action, and plenty of angst. I liked the characters and the story, the balance between completely believable and wacky was perfect for me. I am looking forward to checking out the second book in this series, which is scheduled for release the summer of 2018.

Book Review: Bent For His Will by KyAnn Waters

Bent For His Will by KyAnn Waters is a m/m/f erotic romance. Logan Sawin and Will Pennington have been friends for years. They attend the same university and live together in a great loft apartment. Their friendship can withstand anything, except Renna Polo. Logan has never questioned his sexuality until he sees Renna, his girlfriend, in Will's arms. Will is gay. But what bothers Logan more, Will's hands on Renna...or Renna's hands on Will? Will has a dirty little secret...he's in love with his best friend. Yet, Logan isn't gay and Will isn't willing to risk their friendship to discover if Logan isn't quite straight, but may be a little bent. Renna is in love with Logan and is intrigued by Will. She accepts what Logan and Will can't...they belong together. But if Logan and Will take a chance on more, where does that leave her? Right where she wants to be, with Logan and the man he loves.

Bent For His Will is the first romance of this style that I have read, and I was pleasantly surprise. I will admit to starting the book and feeling a bit like it was going to erotica with very little character development since it started off with a sex scene. However, there was a great deal of relationship and personal growth. I loved that Logan, Will, and Renna all struggled, but were committed to be honest and open with each other about what they wanted and what they needed- something that is not always the case in romance novels or real life. The conversations, realizations, and personal struggles of all involved was very detailed and well done. I also like that it does not happen in a vacuum- they each had support systems in place to help them work out the individual issues they needed to come to terms with. I really love that while they had a solution, and everyone was content in the end, readers finished the book knowing while there might be issues or problems that come up in the future the trio would talk and work them through together. That openness and honesty is what really made me happy and enjoy the read. 

Bent For His Will is different from anything I have read before, in many ways. However, the honest character writing and their efforts to discuss and work out any problems impressed me. If only more real and fictional people would do the same. 

Book Review: Love Is Love by Michael Genhart, Ken Min

Love Is Love is a picturebook written by Michael Genhart and illustrated by Ken Min about love. In the story a boy confides in a friend that he doesn’t know what to say when he’s teased for having two dads, and when kids say that they’re not a real family. In their conversation, his friend helps him see how her family (with a mom and a dad) isn’t all that different from his: they both have parents who love them, and they both love their parents. And it’s love that makes a family.

I am not ashamed to say that I teared up reading Love Is Love. The gentle, conversational path to understanding that love is the basis of family, not who makes up that family, is the most important thing as well done.  I see so many children judging each other for being different in any number of ways. However, when they use things like family, race, or sexual orientation as the basis of judging I know that they are being taught that different is bad, and it just makes me sad. I love the message of this book, and the simple way the conversation makes it so clear that we are really all the same no matter who are family is, what we look like, or who we love. As long as the love is there, then there is family and support. I like that there are addition support materials at the end of the book to help lead family, classroom, or personal discussion on the subject matter. I think this book could start conversations on so much more on discrimination based on sexuality, but the argument can be used against any kind of discrimination or prejudice.

Book Review: The True Death of Billy the Kid by Rick Geary

The True Death of Billy the Kid is part of a series of historical graphic novels by Rick Geary.  The cover proclaims the book to be the first true and accurate graphic novel telling the story of the death of the wild west's outlaw, Billy the Kid.  One of the great folk legends of the Wild West, William H. Bonney went from cowboy and rancher's gunslinger to a pure outlaw, forever dodging justice in New Mexico before it was even a state. On the one hand, he was charming, fun-loving, often present at social events, quite appealing to the ladies. Also conversant in Spanish, “Billito” was popular with the Spanish speaking crowd. On the other hand, he had no compunction to coldly kill a man, a sheriff, a deputy—anyone who got in the way of his rustling cattle or horses for an illicit living. He also proved hard to keep in jail once he was caught. It is probably his daring escapes from jails that made him most famous, and this is the main subject of this biography, which traces his story up through his death by a gunshot in the pitch darkness, fired by lawmen obsessed with getting rid of him. 

The True Death of Billy the Kid is a black and white graphic novel detailing the life and death of Billy the Kid. While some of the details are not well documented, so Geary clearly had to speculate and fill in the gaps as best he could. The art work is neat and very detailed. It is visual pleasing and does a good job of telling the tale and enhancing the text. The labeling and explaining text were done well, and I felt like I have a little better of an understanding of what Billy was like, and how he lived. I have watched more than my fair share of movies and documentaries that cover Billy the Kid, and found this graphic novel to do a really good job of entertaining and informing readers about his life. Again, I know that Geary had to make some leaps, because we just do not know all the answers. However, I found that the choices he made in this respect seemed to be on point.

The True Death of Billy the Kid is a good graphic novel for those looking to learn more about Billy the Kid. 

Early Book Review: Sir Tim Wants a Dragon by Judith Koppens, Eline van Lindenhuizen

Sir Tim Wants a Dragon is a picturebook written by Judith Koppens and illustrated by Eline van Lindenhuizen. It is currently scheduled for release on July 1 2018. Sir Tim wants a pet, but not just any kind of pet. Tim wants a dragon, because “All knights have dragons.” Tim says decisively. “I’m a knight so I need a dragon!” Tim and Mom go to the pet shop together, but the pet shop does not sell any dragons. Or do they?

Sir Tim Wants a Dragon is a cute picturebook about a young man with a big imagination. As he plays knight he becomes determined that he needs a pet dragon. Not an unexpected result to any parent or caregiver to be honest. When they go to the pet store he is disappointed that there are no real dragons. I liked the illustrations, I found the artwork to be very nice to look at, and offering extra details and some humor on each page.

I was glad that Sir Tim refrained from having a temper tantrum when a dragon was unavailable, but disappointed that a bearded dragon or other aptly named lizard was not the solution, I was half expecting it. I did like that he was able to compromise- although I was less than thrilled Tim ends up with a labor intensive pet with no talk of responsibility and no preparations. I know it is a book for the youngest readers, but the idea of getting anything you want without working for it or responsibility bothers me.

Early Book Review: Knocked Up (Crazy Love) by Stacey Lynn

Knocked Up is the second book in the Crazy Love series by Stacey Lynn. I was expecting some connection to the characters of the first book, Fake Wife, but never really found one. Frankly, the lack of connection through me for a bit and disappointed me a little. 

Braxton should probably be dead or in jail right now. Instead, thanks to some tough love, I worked my ass off and now I own a string of tattoo parlors throughout the Pacific Northwest. And yet the one thing I’ve always wanted—a family—still seems out of reach. When my best friend gets married, I’m just hoping to blow off some steam with the super-hot maid of honor. But after Cara Thompson tracks me down to tell me she’s pregnant, she’s more surprised than I am when I tell her I’m all in.  Cara is living for herself for the first time—not for her parents and their ridiculous expectations. I gave up on my MBA, dropped out of the Ivy League, and moved to Portland to pursue my dream of becoming an artist. And what’s the first thing I do? Get knocked up. For a tatted-up sex god, Braxton Henley seems way too eager to “be there for me.” Is this guy serious? Maybe. He sure is patient. Because he won’t back down until I admit what I know in my heart: that our one night stand might have led me to the one.

Knocked Up is an emotional contemporary romance. Braxton might be the master of one night stands and tattoos, but underneath it all he wants love and a family. He might look like a hard person, but his thoughtfulness and vulnerability is there, just under the surface. Cara has tried to please her parents, but is done playing by their rules. She is living for herself, and her late brother. Only, things are going from a basic struggle to make it on her own to struggling with the idea of having a baby, and that her only one night stand ever changed everything. I liked getting to understand the viewpoints of both Brax and Cara, and to see them both vulnerable in their own ways. I think Brax's need to be there, and his desire for family driving him to step up and show Cara how special she really made the story for me. There is something about strong men being nurturing and loving that just hits the right notes for me. Cara had a good blend of independance and vulnerability that fit her story perfectly. I enjoyed thier interactions and found their path from one night stand to happily ever after enjoyable. I will admit that the stumbling blocks irk me in the way that problems in real life do, because if people would just talk about what is bothering them with people that have the power to change things life would be so much better for everyone.

Knocked Up is a well paced romance, and the pregnancy issues were realistic and added a layer to the story I have never read written this well. I liked the read, and think that fans of emotional reads, and this author in particular, will enjoy it. 

Book Review: Bob by Wendy Mass; Rebecca Stead

Bob is a middle grade novel by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead. It’s been five years since Livy and her family have visited Livy’s grandmother in Australia. Now that she’s back, Livy has the feeling she’s forgotten something really, really important about Gran’s house. It turns out she’s right.Bob, a short, greenish creature dressed in a chicken suit, didn’t forget Livy, or her promise. He’s been waiting five years for her to come back, hiding in a closet like she told him to. He can’t remember who—or what—he is, where he came from, or if he even has a family. But five years ago Livy promised she would help him find his way back home. Now it’s time to keep that promise. Clue by clue, Livy and Bob will unravel the mystery of where Bob comes from, and discover the kind of magic that lasts forever.

Bob is a wonderful look at childhood imagination, friendship, and folklore. Livy does not remember her first visit to her grandmother's house, since she was only five at the time she does not really worry about. When she makes a return trip she tries to remember, little things come back- but it is not until she comes face to face with a little guys non-zombie in her closet that she starts to work on the mystery. Together she and Bob work to fill in the blanks. I love that readers get an insight to Bob's thoughts, not just Livy's. I found the fairy tale nature of the mystery to be sweet, and now I need to do some reading and research to see if the story of Bob, and those like him, is based on a folktale I do not know or a fresh creation. I like that the book allows young readers to act like kids, for tweens to do things like truth and dare- but also let lose and dance and play with dolls. My only disappointment as that I was reading a pre publication galley, so I did not get the full impact of all the illustrations that will be included with the final copy. This is a wonderful book that I hope will find its way into personal, school, and public libraries.


Bob is a heartwarming story about friendship and folklore that stuck with me long after I finished the book. The characters were well written and the story left me with hope and a quiet joy.

Book Review: Its Not a Date by Heather Blakemore

Its Not a Date by Heather Blakemore is a contemporary romance. Entrepreneur and innovator Kadrienne Davenport gets results. A demanding executive and stickler for punctuality, Kade throws herself into work to avoid hurting anyone, convinced she only causes pain to those she loves. When Jennifer Spencer meets an incognito Kade at a conference, sparks fly. But when Kade unexpectedly becomes her boss, Jen’s problems multiply. The company she founded is going broke, her grandmother’s dementia is worsening, and her attraction to Kade; her difficult, brilliant, charismatic mentor, is growing. Kade’s desire to keep things professional between them is in Jen’s best interest. Yet what’s in Kade’s best interest is Jen.

Its Not a Date is a modern romance where family obligation, business, and trust issues all come into play. For me, this made the characters and the story more belivable- because we all have at least one of these things complicating our lives at some point. Kade's childhood has made her blame hersdelf for things outside her control, and made her rigid in many ways. Jen focuses on the love and good in her life, but does not want to lose her company or her ailing grandmother as she struggles to balance everything. I enjoyed many of the secondary characters as much as the struggling couple, and loved that each had a support system and trials of their own as they struggled with what they want, need, and how to get there. Both Kade and Jen had emotional journeys along the way, and I think Kade had huge changes and revelations as she grew through the story. I think the growth and development of the characters was extremely well done and tugged at my heart just as much as any of the romantic journey. I look forward to reading more from this author, particularly if she continues writing such well developed and dynamic characters. 

Its Not a Date was a fun and heart warming romance. I enjoyed Kade's journey to find love and trust, in herself as much as for Jen. A well written story with characters that left me hoping for their future long after the book was over.