Book Review: Highland Wolf (Murray Clan) by Hannah Howell

Highland Wolf is the fifteenth book in the Murray Clan series by Hannah Howell. While reading this books as a series can give readers some early understanding of the characters and relationships, each book can stand well on its own. I have read several books from the series, but far from all of them.

Annora MacKay senses a disturbing evil in Dunncraig Keep, the estate acquired by her cousin, a cruel and ruthless man. Only her affection for the tiny girl he claims is his daughter stops her from fleeing. Then a mysterious woodcarver arrives at the castle, and she cannot stop thinking about him. James Drummond, once a laird, now an outcast, wants what was stolen from him; his good name, his lands, and his child. His disguise for getting into Dunncraig is step one of his plan, but the enticing raven-haired woman who cares for his daughter is an unwelcome surprise. For he has come seeking justice, not love.

Highland Wolf is an entertaining read. I liked Annora's character, she had a nice mixture of strong and sweet and made good choices. I liked James as well, although I feel like I was less connected with him than Annora. He was strong but compassionate, and like most men in the Murray clan throughout the series, it is he acceptance and care for others that gave him the tools he needed to come out on top. I thought the intrigue and danger was well done, although some moments did feel a little over the top. I liked the growth of relationship between Annora and James. Even though there was instant attraction, both tried to be smart about the danger involved in forging any kind of relationship. I also liked how much of a role little Meggie had in the story, and how important she was to the major players. 

Highland Wolf is exactly what fans of the author and series will be looking for. There is danger, love, and a touch of something special in the characters. Not the best highland historical, but an enjoyable read with plenty of action and emotion. 

Book Review: Gillbert #1 by Art Baltazar

Gillbert: The Little Merman by Art Baltazar is the first issue in a children's graphic novel series. A message in a bottle? A fiery asteroid from space? A sea of magical mystical mermaids? This is the world of Gillbert. In the deepest part of the ocean, unexplored by man and too deep for humans to swim, lives a little sea creature named Gillbert. He is the son of King Nauticus, king of all the oceans. One day, Gillbert will be king. But in the meantime, his playful curiosity takes him away from the kingdom on a journey of discovery. Gillbert meets an amphibious mermaid and follows her into unknown parts of the ocean. Where he meets many unknown and undiscovered species of underwater creatures. He didn’t know these things existed so close to home. Gillbert’s world just got a whole lot bigger!

Gillbert: The Little Merman is an adventure that takes a little merman and has him exploring new places and making new friends, while the adults also get to learn something and make a new acquaintance of their own. I like that new and strange is shown to be interesting and important to learn about rather than being something worthy of fear or judgement. Learning new languages and skills is shown to be work, but well worth the effort. The art is bright and colorful, added extra emotion and humor to the story that might otherwise get missed. I liked the combination of text and art, and think it will capture and hold the interest of readers. It was a cute, entertaining story. 

Gillbert: The Little Merman is another great, kid friendly graphic novel from the team at Papercutz. The style and quality is consistent, and a makes for a fun and engaging read for young and emerging readers while not boring older or more proficient readers that might pick it up.

Book Review: Making Chase (Chase Brothers) by Lauren Dane

Making Chase is the fourth book in the Chase Brothers series by Lauren Dane. It was originally published in 2007, but has recently been re released with some minor changes. I have read one other book in this series, and many newer books by the author and think that while each book in the series does build a better understanding of the characters, they can also each be fully enjoyed on their own.

All of Petal, Georgia, is waiting for the last Chase brother to fall. At least, that’s how it feels to firefighter Matt Chase, who’s getting a little anxious himself. His brothers have all found love, why hasn’t he? But fate, in the form of a curvaceous hairdresser, is about to change that. Salon owner Tate Murphy has come a long way from her trailer-park roots, taking care of her seven siblings along the way. Even though she’s put the past behind her, she knows someone like Matt Chase is way out of her league. But that doesn’t stop her from getting a good eyeful every chance she gets.When a car accident throws them together, Tate gets more than an eyeful, she gets the whole package. But when small-town bias and her own insecurities get in the way of their relationship, Matt will have to prove he doesn’t care where she came from, only where she goes.

Making Chase is an entertaining and touching read.  I really enjoyed the combination of sweet and snarky in Tate. She is loving and giving but has a hard protective shell and quick wit thanks to everything she has gone through over the years. I loved her connection to family, and could relate to her insecurities and fears. Matt has had it a little to easy over the years, and gets frustrated and impatient easily. This does not work in his favor, and despite his good heart and love he has for his family I just never really connected with him as a character. He read like eye and mind candy to me, which was fine for me while I was reading but when I reflect back his character feels a little flat. The sex scenes were on pair with what I expect from Dane, which is pure heat. I really enjoyed the cast of secondary characters, and seeing women supporting each other and standing up for each other rather than tearing each other down (although there is some of that as part of the conflict as well). The love and family support that flows through this series really make it for me, and I wish everyone could have that kind of support through friends or family. 

Making Chase is a fun read that deals with a lot of real issues. I enjoy it, and liked seeing how much one of my favorite contemporary romance authors has grown. 

Book Review: The Fortnite Guide to Staying Alive: Tips and Tricks for Every Kind of Player by Damien Kuhn

The Fortnite Guide to Staying Alive: Tips and Tricks for Every Kind of Player by Damien Kuhn

What do World Cup soccer players, Drake, and 125 million other people have in common? They all play Fortnite! And now with The Fortnite Guide to Staying Alive, anyone can survive the island and take their game to the next level. This must-have guide has something for every kind of player: game mode overviews for Battle Bus beginners, detailed weapon and item stats for initiates, and advanced building strategies for veterans. With The Fortnite Guide to Staying Alive, you have everything you need to max out each season and have fun doing it.

The Fortnite Guide to Staying Alive: Tips and Tricks for Every Kind of Player is a book that was very helpful to me. My son and husband started playing over the summer, and I have not been of much help to them when they got stuck or fustrated- or had a question. The information is laid out in a logical and accessible format, which made it easy to find specific topics or information as I needed it. I think the general information gives new players a good information base with which to start and to find their own preferences and playing style.  However, some of the information and formatting is off. In particular they list the game as being available for Android, which it is not yet. I know because I am waiting to be able to download it for my Chromebook. I have not been playing myself so I am unsure if any of the other information is inaccurate. There were a few spots where the header for an image was on the page before the actual image and related information- which could have easily been fixed. The images and the descriptions themselves seemed to be well done.

The Fortnite Guide to Staying Alive: Tips and Tricks for Every Kind of Player was a useful, but not perfect resource. I think it is a solid introduction for those that are just getting started, or that have jump in but need more information to succeed. 

Book Review: First Grave on the Right (Charley Davidson) by Darynda Jones

First Grave on the Right is the first book in the Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones. Charley Davidson is a part-time private investigator and full-time grim reaper. Meaning, she sees dead people, and it's her job to convince them to "go into the light." But when these very dead people have died under less than ideal circumstances (like murder), sometimes they want Charley to bring the bad guys to justice. Complicating matters are the intensely hot dreams she's been having about an entity who has been following her all her life...and it turns out he might not be dead after all. In fact, he might be something else entirely. But what does he want with Charley? And why can't she seem to resist him? And what does she have to lose by giving in?

First Grave on the Right is an urban fantasy with a great blend of humor, danger, and steam. Charlie can see and interact with ghosts, she is also their portal into the afterlife. She is also a private investigator and consultant with the police department, work that is made significantly easier (but harder to explain) due to her ghostly communications. I love her snark, and find her inner vulnerability and concern for those that cannot defend themselves to be very well balanced and believable. I thought the Reyes storyline and the complication of their possible relationship to be well played and the larger storyline it leads to is intriguing, and I want more. I like the way that the cast of secondary characters were introduced, and how much depth each were given. There were moments that felt like I should already know something about a character, or that there might have been a prequel or backstory that I somehow missed, but most of those were quickly explained and fixed in the story. Ithink the fact that Charlie does not have all the answers but is figuring things right along with readers goes a long way to forge a connection between the reader and her character. I like that I was not able to solve the mystery, and that some things surprised me as much as they did Charlie. Too often I have my theories about who is pulling the strings too early in the story, but in this instance I was as shocked as the characters when certain reveals were made. As a whole I am engaged with the story and the characters, and while there was closure to the story, I still want more (in a good way).

First Grave on the Right is a fun and engaging read. While this is not a new series, I have read one of the more recent instalments and wanted to see where it all started. I was not disappointed. Now I need to binge read the whole series. I highly recommend that other urban fantasy fans that have somehow missed this series to pick it up.

Book Review: The Marvelous Adventures of Gwendolyn Gray by B. A. Williamson

The Marvelous Adventures of Gwendolyn Gray by B. A. Williamson is a middle grade novel. Gwendolyn Gray faces an overwhelming battle every day: keeping her imagination under control. It’s a struggle for a dreamer like Gwendolyn, in a city of identical gray skyscrapers, clouds that never clear, and grown-ups who never understand. But when her daydreams come alive and run amok in The City, the struggle to control them becomes as real as the furry creatures infesting her bedroom. Worse yet, she’s drawn the attention of the Faceless Gentlemen, who want to preserve order in The City by erasing Gwendolyn and her troublesome creations. With the help of two explorers from another world, Gwendolyn escapes and finds herself in a land of clockwork inventions and colorful creations. Now Gwendolyn must harness her powers and, with a gang of airship pirates, stop the Faceless Gentlemen from destroying the new world she loves and the home that never wanted her—before every world becomes gray and dull.

The Marvelous Adventures of Gwendolyn Gray is a wonderful story about the power of imagination and being yourself. Gwendolyn is often lost in her daydreams, and just wants to be accepted for who she is. Her world is one of strict conformity, but the issues of bullies and being mistreated for being different is not exactly a strange concept for readers of all ages. I love that her imagination, her spark, is her true strength. I think that our differences are often our strengths, but also the weak points that bullies and people in power use against us. I think that Gwen is a well developed character, and her relationship with her parents is very well done, I think that it was realistic on many levels, and that many readers will be able to relate. I think the world and character building is very well paced, and Sparrow and Starling were my favorites through the entirety of the book. I think the adventure and danger elements were well spread out through the book as well, giving Gwen and the readers time to take everything in and think about everything for a moment before the next wave of trouble hit. Some of the surprises and twists along the way I expected, but many still had me surprised in the reveal or the consequences of that information or feelings. I loved the sheer creativity and bravery of Gwen, particularly when she did not feel like she would met the challenge. I think this is an enjoyable read and could really speak to or inspire readers to embrace their own creativity or differences.

The Marvelous Adventures of Gwendolyn Gray is a wonderful start to a series, with a nearly perfect balance of closure and wonder about what will happen next. I fully expect to continue reading this series. 

Book Review: Terra Flamma: Wildfires at Night by Stuart Palley

Terra Flamma: Wildfires at Night by Stuart Palley is a book full of full color photographs and first hand account of wildfires. From the towering pines of Shasta Trinity National Forest, to the chaparral scrub of San Diego's Mexican border, to Yosemite and the Western Sierras, trained wildland firefighter and photojournalist Stuart Palley documents California's raging wildfires and the forces behind them during the state's worst fire season in modern history. The dramatic images, a half-decade in the making, capture the simultaneous beauty and destruction that wildfires bring as fire seasons get longer and more deadly, expensive, and destructive.In the wake of California's record-breaking series of wildfires in 2017, theimages encompass five fire seasons and forty-five fires. They are presented chronologically and culminate with the wine country fire siege that devastated Sonoma and Napa counties in October 2017 and the Thomas Fire in Southern California, the largest in recorded state history. This timely book defines the state's drought and urban sprawl challenges, drawing a broader picture of global warming and its acute effects worldwide.

Terra Flamma: Wildfires at Night is a book that I could not let go of, or stop thinking about after I finished my first read through. The images are stunning, not just because of the beauty inherent in the colors and landscape but because of the inherent nature of the fires. The danger and destruction these fires bring is devastating, even though friendships and awareness often come in their wake as well. Living on the other side of the country I have sympathize and felt horrified for those that have lost everything in the wake of these fires, and worried for the environment and animals that have suffered. However, I never could wrap my mind around the full experience being there, being involved, or seeing the fires in person could give people. I know I still do not have a full understanding, having never been there, but I feel like I have more knowledge and awareness of everything involved. 

Terra Flamma: Wildfires at Night is both beautiful and terrifying. The photographs are stunning, and the text gives the horrible beauty the context or the danger and destruction involved in the fires. 

Book Review: Kid Authors: True Tales of Childhood from Great Authors by David Stabler

Kid Authors: True Tales of Childhood from Great Authors by David Stabler is part of a series that includes Kid Presidents, Kid Artists, and Kid Athletes. The book features true tales of famous writers, from long before they were famous—or even old enough to drive. Did you know that Sam Clemens (aka Mark Twain) loved to skip school and make mischief, with his best friend Tom, of course! How about that a young J. R. R. Tolkien was bitten by a huge tarantula—or as he called it, “a spider as big as a dragon.” Did you know that as a toddler Zora Neale Hurston took her first steps when a wild hog entered her house and started chasing her! The  inclusive collection of authors includes Roald Dahl, Beverly Cleary, J. K. Rowling, Langston Hughes, Jules Verne, Lewis Carroll, Stan Lee, and many more.

Kid Authors: True Tales of Childhood from Great Authors is an interesting read. The information on each author is short, but accessible and relatable to young readers that want to see authors as the children they once were, and understand that their favorite author had to suffer through somer of the same problems that they might face (or worse). I like that the authors discussed are varied, they all come from different backgrounds and write different types of books. This means that young readers and writers are likely to find at least one author described that they can connect with on some level. I knew some of the stories told, but did learn some new information and enjoyed getting a new look at authors like Rowling and Cleary. I would gladly have kept going with more information and more authors, but I think the book hit the right length and depth for the target audience. 

Book Review: Be Our Ghost (Merry Ghost Inn) by Kate Kingsbury

Be Our Ghost is the third book in the Merry Ghost Inn Mystery series by Kate Kingsbury. I have only read the first book in the series, and somehow missed the second. I feel like I was able to pick up the characters and larger story pretty quickly and think that newcomers to the series will be able to jump in fairly easily.

Melanie West, her grandmother, Liza, and their beloved sheepdog/wolfhound mix, Max, are rapidly getting the hang of running their charming bed-and-breakfast inn on the rocky Oregon coast. Not that business goes without a hitch when your hostelry boasts its own laughing resident ghost, you’d better be expect the out-of-the-ordinary. But Melanie and Liza take it all in stride…until a hotshot real estate developer arrives in Sully’s Landing, touting his plans to build a tacky amusement arcade smack dab in the middle of the tasteful cliff-side town. No one in Sully’s Landing can stand the gaudy developer, but it’s still a shock when he ends up murdered. It’s even more shocking when Liza’s friend, Doug, emerges as the chief suspect. Melanie and Liza put on their sleuthing caps yet again and set out to clear Doug’s name. They nearly check into accommodations six feet under when, en route to the crime scene, their brakes give out and they narrowly miss plunging over the cliffs to the beach below. Meanwhile, the merry ghost who haunts the inn tries to help by dropping clues for Melanie to find, but her mind is otherwise preoccupied when the killer kidnaps Liza and holds her prisoner. Now, it’s up to Melanie to piece together the ghost’s clues, save her mother, exonerate her friend, keep her guests happy, and make sure Max gets his walkies.

Be Our Ghost is an entertaining cozy mystery with a splash of paranormal and some interesting secondary stories. I thought the mystery, and the involvement of Doug was very engaging and entertaining. I enjoyed the exchanges between Liza and Doug. I though the closer look at the town and the community was very well done and the details of the players were revealed slowly and in fun ways. There were neat little hints and clues as the story progressed, that left me thinking about several possibilities for the guilty party. I do have to admit that I was a bit bothered by the amount of time poor Max spent stuck in a car. Regardless of the weather I think that leaving animals or children unattended in a car is generally a bad idea. I felt like the romance between Melanie and Ben is unnecessary, and it felt thrown in there because some romance seems expected. However, I would have been fine without that ingredient to the story since there was more than enough going on already. It was not badly done, but just felt like it was included because it as 'supposed' to be there rather than being important. 

Be Our Ghost is a good cozy mystery with a little bit of everything. Fans of the author and the series will not be disappointed, although I felt that there was some more potential here.

Book Review: Frederik Sandwich and the Earthquake that Couldn't Possibly Be by Kevin John Scott

Frederik Sandwich and the Earthquake that Couldn't Possibly Be by Kevin John Scott is the first book i a middle grade series. At the age of eleven Frederik Sandwich awakens to an earthquake that couldn’t possibly be. His town is nowhere near a fault line and no earthquake has ever been recorded there. But when he questions what could have caused the shaking, he realizes he may have uncovered more than he bargained for. Desperately wanting to know what happened, but not the type of person to break rules or push adults for answers, Frederik is lucky (or not, depending on how you look at it) to meet a mysterious stranger, Pernille. She is the sort of person to break rules and demand answers, and is determined to partner with him to get to the bottom of the mystery. It’s a mystery that will lead the two outsiders through abandoned train tunnels, into hidden library rooms, and to the shadowy corridors of City Hall in the dead of night as they try to figure out what could have caused inexplicable rumblings in their small town.

Frederik Sandwich and the Earthquake that Couldn't Possibly Be started off slowly for me, but it certainly picked up. Fredrick just wants to be accepted and fit in, and his parents are doing the best to do the same. But in their town a slight accent of difference in appearance is enough to label you as an outsider and fodder for teasing and abuse. It takes Frederik a while to see this, with the help or Pernille- who is equally ostracized. Together they find friendship, a mystery, and a small portion of the truth behind the strange happenings in town. As a fan of children's adventures I will admit that I figured out who was bad and good fairly early on, but the journey was about the kids figuring it out.  I liked the mystery, and the feel of the book. I also liked the message that was thread through the story about prejudice. I was a little disappointed when I reached the end, because it felt like the story just got started. All the major players and plot points were on the table and the action about to begin, and then the next page was the acknowledgments. 

Frederik Sandwich and the Earthquake that Couldn't Possibly Be is an engaging story for readers that like mystery and adventures. This is very much a series that would require reading in order, and I would suggest having the next book on hand well before ending the first.