Heloise All Around The House

About a week and half ago my beloved Gramma had passed away.  She was a spitfire of a woman who was deeply devoted to God.  One of the many things she and I had in common was our love for reading.  Among the items that was given to me of hers, as a large amount of books.  Some I will review in honor of her. 

The first one I started reading is Heloise.   I  remember seeing this book or at least one like it in my house growing up, but never read it because we'll as a kid it didn't interest me.  But now as a woman in my 30's I wondered if there are tips that are helpful today.  The answer is Yes.  Yes there is.

There are so many helpful tips with humor added in ranging from getting gum out of hair and dishwashing tips to how to save potatoes from shriveling and saving your razor from rusting.  A lot of these tips, I never thought of trying.  I kept thinking why didn't I try that?    This reminded me of those "Daily life hacks" videos is see on social media all the time.  Who would have thought a popular trend today started in the 60's with books like Heloise!

I absolutely loved reading this and will be sure to try some of the ideas presented in the book.  I recommend it if you like learning new ways to do things, ideas to re purpose things, cleaning ideas and more.  I'm not going to give the book a rating for various reasons.  But will say it is a good addition to book shelves.  I love that this is one of the many ways I can remember Gramma and keep her close.

Seeing Redd by Frank Beddor

As we all know Alice in Wonderland is my favorite story of all time, so anytime i can read a story or series that is based off the classic I end up reading it.  The Looking Glass Wars is such a series, Seeing Redd is the second book in the series.  Alyss has completed her Maze and defeated the Redd Queen.  She is working to get Wronderopolis back to the majestic glory it once was.  Hatter Madigan feels the need to take time for himself and Molly take his place as the Queen's bodyguard.  The king of the Borderlands: Arch has been plotting his own take over of Wonderopolis as he does not respect a woman as a leader.  Redd discovers she can navigate her maze after all and find her scepter and potentially defeat Alyss. Alyss must figure out how she can defeat her aunt once and for all to save her kingdom.

I generally love many stories that deal with Alice in Wonderland, this series is no different.  I love Looking Glass Wars series.  I was saddened that Alyss and Hatter didn't play bigger roles in the story.  Sure they were in the novel, but they were not the focus whereas Redd and Arch's plots were the main story line. The Cat and Dodge were not in the story much either, especially when the battle scene finally appears, they don't do much of battle.  I was waiting for something because there was a lot of build up.  But that seemed to be most of the book, building up for something else, something we don't see a lot of in this book, maybe the third installment.

Alyss hasn't changed much, she is still concerned with her feelings for Dodge and at times that takes her attention away from her duty as queen, but I guess you have to add in a romance to the story somewhere. What I did like and thought was interesting was the silk from the caterpillars having special qualities when woven into fabric or woven together.  It was an interesting addition to the story and I wanted to see where Frank would take it other than using the silk thread as a weapon or enhancement for weapons like Hatter's Hat.  I am not sure if I like this one as much as I liked Looking Glass Wars, and I am eager to see what happens in the third book of the series. 

I would give this book a 3 out 5 stars because it didn't seem as entertaining as the first book, though I still couldn't put it down.

Gifted By Liz Long

After the loss of her parents, Lucy Sullivan finds herself running away to join the circus.  Donovan Circus is not your everyday normal circus, the performers and workers all have special powers, Lucy included.  Lucy is a firestarter, probably the most talented.  As she is learning to control her power, someone is killing members of the troupe and sabotaging some of the performances.  A human scientist is enamored by the gifted community and has been experimenting on people he kidnaps from the community for years.  He has his sights set on Lucy and does everything he can to entice her to be his test subject and give him her power.  Lucy needs to learn who she is able to trust if anyone, who is telling the truth, and how will she be able to defeat someone who is determined to ruin the lives of those in Donovan Circus.

As soon as I began reading this book I fell in love with it.  Liz Long does an amazing job creating a world that captivates her readers.  I love stories that combine different magic powers, but sometimes those stories don't mesh well with numerous powers.  This one makes use of the powers in a great way, each person helping someone else train and great strong.  Lucy at first comes off as being a whiney little girl, but as the story progresses she becomes stronger and comes into her own fire abilities as well as skills as a leader.  She comes to realize not only who she is as a person but the strength she has as a Firestarter.  Throughout the book she relies heavily on others to help her around the circus, but it doesn't come off as a girl incapable of completing a task, it is one of teamwork and family unity.


There is a little bit for everyone in this novel,:mystery, romance, and fantasy.  Liz writes a fantastic tale that is difficult to put down.  It has an even pace and doesn't feel like it is forced. One of my favorite things was the character Gabriel, he was an Empath.  Liz takes the idea of an Empath a step farther in that they are able to control the emotions of someone else rather than feeling every emotion.  I also enjoyed that there were different levels to the gifts like with Firestarters there are those who can control fire, make fire, or even those who could just withstand it.  A lot of things in the book were unique and different from what I have seen in other books, and that makes it fantastic in my mind.

I know there is more to the series and I eagerly await the next book in the series to find out what will happen next, whether someone else will come along to replace Felix or if something else worse will happen.  I give this novel a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

The Zen of Zombie by Scott Kenemore

I bought this book for my boyfriend, it seemed like the perfect thing to get him reading a little bit more.  He loved it, and is actually reading it a second time around.  Zen of Zombie is a book that teaches you how to slow down and move at your own pace, much like a zombie.  It takes many principles of Zen and meditations and applies to them how a zombie would be.  It is an interesting way to look at Zen and is highly entertaining to read.  Who knew Zombies could teach so much about slowing down and enjoying life!

The book goes over 12 steps to led to complete zombification which takes place over a period of 90 days (my boyfriend said it didn’t take).  It helps readers conquer fears, play it cool, letting go and being your own boss.  Throughout the book it imparts wisdom and sage zombie advice for getting through life.  It is a funny little book to have on the night stand or coffee table as my boyfriend does.  It doesn’t necessarily follow the lore to a T, so if you are a fanatic for lore to be exact maybe don’t read this, but really it’s a book written in good fun.

It is not something serious or meant to be such, just something to laugh about and have an easy read.  Some things are reiterated throughout the book which can get old fast, but it is still something to give you or your guests a quick laugh.  There is a lot of tongue-in-cheek humor so if that is something that is not your style, don’t read it.  It pokes fun at the fandom which can be appreciated.  Overall I give the book a 3 out of 5 because it did find it’s silliness something my boyfriend and I could share.

 

Apologies

I know I haven't posted anything for several days, but sadly my beloved grandma is slowly passing away.  I have been spending as much time as I can with her which takes away from writing.  Prayers for the family are welcome while we await the inevitable.

Hunger Games Cookbook

Along with reading, one of my favorite things to do is cook.  When i found the Unofficial Hunger Games Cookbook, I got really excited.  Throughout the series of Hunger Games there are a lot of different foods that sound delicious as you read the books.  This cookbook includes those foods.  With each entry of recipes there is the passage that includes the food and which book you will find it.

It also tells you different things you can do to make it different or alter it to meet your dietary needs.

There are a few recipes that I have tried and they are as delicious as the books made them sound.  Most cookbooks include images from time to time, but this one does not include them.  Not that pictures are necessary for cookbooks, but sometimes it helps make something look delicious enough to eat.  The recipes are easy to follow and do not include anything that you wouldn't be able to find at the local grocery store. 

I love that I have a cookbook that has a literature element to it, it fits the person that I am and I think it would make a great addition to other bookshelves for those who love cooking and reading.  I give the cookbook a 4 out of 5 since there isn't a way to determine if the food looks good.

The Bookseller by Cynthia Swanson

Kitty finds herself dreaming of another world, one where she met the man of her dreams and had the family she always wanted, sort of.  She begins to struggle to determine which world is the reality and which is the dream.  Could she be running from something she doesn’t want to face?  Between the two worlds, Kitty begins to learn new things about herself and discover there are things we wish to escape, but cannot and need to learn how to process and deal with the properly before she is lost within herself.

I was a little skeptical about this book because it is outside of my normal genre of reading material, but it sounded interested and sometimes it is good to step outside of your norm.  I have to say this book was a well written novel.  It was easy to tell when the scenes switched realities as Kitty expressed concern about it when she would awake or go to sleep, those are good transition points for something like this.  There were some twists and surprises such as her son having Autism, though I kind of wish more was done with this than what readers see.  There was a wide range of possibilities that could have happened but didn’t.  The book seemed to focus on one aspect of the disorder rather than other aspects.  It did a good job portraying the mindset regarding how others viewed Autism in the 1950’s which is vastly different from what we know today.

I felt like I wanted more of Katheryn (Kitty in the other world) I wanted to see her trying more rather than being aloof and hands off.  It wasn’t until almost the end when she started to interact more, but I suppose that goes with thinking she was in a dream rather than reality.  I liked that there were not obvious clues as to which was real and which was a dream.  The readers found out at the same time that Katheryn figured it out.  The book had a lot of potential, but seemed to fall short in some areas, drag in some and others completely not make sense.  But regardless of that, I still enjoyed reading it.  Funny how something are easily overlooked for what could be a good story.  I look forward to other books by this author.  I give this a rating of 3 out of 5.  I would recommend it to anyone who likes chick-lit books, but with a disclaimer that it is not the typical chick-lit theme.

Confluence 2016

This weekend is the annual Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Conference in Pittsburgh.  Unfortunately I  am  unable to attend all weekend, but I was able to come out on Friday afternoon and enjoyed some quality time with authors Chris Paisano and Brian Koscienski.

Once at the convention, the dealers room area was my first stop which was filled with glorious book deals and amazing authors.  I have some pictures and memories.  I had the honor to listen in on a couple readings from the duo as well as Kari Maaren whose book is set to release next year and a few other interesting authors.  I need to make note of these authors and their books, everything  sounds so interesting and entertaining.

I am sure the rest of the convention will be just as fun and exciting,especially the panel on HP Lovecraft which was fun last year.  I  look forward to exciting activities through the rest of the night and next year's convention.

Silevethiel by Andi O'Connor

Troubled by the death of her father and fearful of her own safety, Princess Irewen escapes her home to seek refuge in an elven city.  On the journey there she is attacked, poisoned and left for dead.  If it wasn’t for Prince Laegon and his Guardian Bregan she would have died.  The duo rescues Irewen and Laegon nurses her back to health in the safety  of a cave.  There are elements of Irewen that makes Laegon not only love her but suspect that she is the woman mentioned in a centuries old prophecy.  As he nurses her back to health, Irewen discovers secrets about herself and her cousin, secrets that scare her to the core.  Together the plan a journey to the other Elven kingdoms to discover the truth to her ancestory and a way to defeat her cousin and his army of spirit warriors.  Can Irewen find the strength and courage need to embrace her role in this war, and defeat a man she trusted her whole life?

This is the third book by Andi O’Connor that I have read and completely adored.  Right off the bat readers are thrown in to the action with the death of the king.  There are points when the story gets slow and drags on.  This leaves the reader feeling anxious to find out where the story is going and when it will pick back up again.  I was very interested in the abilities that are specific to the different Elven kingdoms, I was expecting to see the last two revealed in the next book, not towards the end.  It almost seemed like a lot of information was thrown in at the end to try and tie up some loose ends before going into the next book.  Holding off on the last two abilities would have made readers want to read the next book to see how else the other elven blood would present itself, but I can sort of understand why O’Connor did the reveal in the way she did.  This scene towards the end of the book almost begins the set the stage for the second book of the series, which I am patiently awaiting Andi (hint hint).

Overall it was a well written book.  O’Connor was able to me into the story from the beginning and me care about what happened to the characters.  The relationship aspect between Irewen and Laegon does not deter from the story, but seems to enhance it as O’Connor does not use that as a focus every time the two interact. The battle scenes were clean and not gory, but readers still get the sense of a horrific battle occurring.  This is a good book for young readers beginning to delve into the fantasy world, though as with anything, parents such use their discretion before allowing young teens (12-13) to read this book.

I give this book a rating of 4 out 5 rating.  I cannot wait to see what else Andi has in store for her readers.

Treason by S.M Boyce

Treason is the second book in Boyce's Grimoire Saga. It picks up where Litchgates leaves off.  Kara and Braeden are preparing to attend the gala in Ethos with the Bloods and others around Ourea.  Kara needs to impress the royal families if she wants them to unite with her and fight for peace.  Carden attacks the gala, and Braeden is almost forced to show his true form, which insights a riot among the Bloods.  Now he must prove his allegiance with the Bloods and against Carden, even if that means risking his own life.  Kara needs to learn whom she can trust and who is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, and learns what true weakness is.  She discovers something new and surprising about herself that could change the course of her campaign.  What is the next step in this war against Carden?  Will Ourea know peace?

 

This installment of the series is packed full of surprises that will keep readers guessing.  Kara develops into a stronger character and not only struggles with what the first Vagabond wants, but also what she feels is morally right.  She is slowly becoming the leader she needs to be, but she still relies heavily on other people, mainly Braeden.  Their love for each can at times cloud their judgement and I haven’t decided if that is a good thing or not for this war against Carden.  I have to wonder what kind of ruler Braeden would be and whether or not his own people would accept him as a leader should Carden fall.  There is still a mystery that revolves some of the other bloods and their motives for things

While a lot happened in this novel, there are still a lot of questions, especially with the muses, isen and different aspects of the races.  It seems some characters are discovering new things that no one knew before which makes me wonder what will happen in the next novel with these discoveries.  Boyce wraps the story around reader’s minds and drags them down into Ourea.  You become attached to certain characters even if it is not Kara or Braeden (for me it is the muses).  We saw a lot from Gavin and Aislynn, but not the other bloods and I have to wonder if we will see them more in the future novels.  I am very intrigued with them and want more from them and their cities.  It is evenly paced, fast read.  Even though there is a lot happening in the novel, it seems to fly past because you simply can’t pull  yourself away from the pages.

 

I would recommend this series for young adults and adults a like.  So far it is a great series and I look forward to see what is in store for readers in the next book, I give this a 3.5 out of 5 rating.  Good job S.M

Wicked Thing by Kim Cormack

I have said previously that Kim Cormack is quickly becoming one of my new favorite authors, and that statement remains true with her new book due to release July 17th.  Since the beginning of the series, Cormack has captivated her audiences with tales about the Children of Ankh, a sort of immortal warrior if you will.  First we learned the story of Kayn and her abilities and trials she needed to overcome to be the woman she is.  Now we are learning the story of Lexy, the powerful dragon of the series and everything she overcame to become the fierce woman she is.  In the portion about Kayn, I fell in love with Lexy and wanted more about her and Grey, and my wish has been granted!

In Wild Thing, we get a background on Lexy.  We witness the horrors she had to experience and overcome that made her into the dragon, the events that made her shut off all her emotions.  Wicked Thing we see her struggling with her feelings for Grey and the reality that they can never be together.  She must figure out what she needs to do in order to overcome her feelings for her handler even if it means addressing a moment that occurred between her and Tiberius.  Lexy begins to search within herself to discover the woman behind the dragon.

I cannot begin or rather continue to say how amazing of a writer Kim is.  She draws her readers into the story with the very first word, or sentence.  She creates this world that her readers long to be a part of, I know I do.  It is hard not to want to be a part of the clan and learn more about them or even the other clans (possible addition to series hmmm?)  She makes the world she created almost tangible for her readers in a way no other author has done (at least not for me).  I cannot begin to say how many times I lost sleep because I could not put the book down even if it was 3 o'clock in the morning.

Kim has a way with writing that almost makes you wonder at your own sanity.  There are so many moments when you laugh and then wonder if you should be laughing at that.  "Seriously are we drawing happy faces with people's blood now? You really need to find a new hobby, I mean something other than murder."  How can you not laugh at that quote?? It is one of my favorites and just a small snippet of what makes this series so amazing.  I believe I am starting to run out of ways to say how great Kim Cormack's writing is.  I could see this series becoming the next big movie franchise, how can we make that a reality?

Release date is July 17th, pre-order now! If not pre-order, then buy it when it comes out.  You will not regret the decision.