Sunday, October 31, 2010

Children’s Book Review: Scaredy-Cat, Splat! by Rob Scotton




Title: Scaredy-Cat, Splat!
Author: Rob Scotton
Available: Now
Reading Level: Children's

4.5 out of 5 Stars


Description from Goodreads:


It's Halloween, and Splat is determined to be the scariest cat in the class. Unfortunately he's just too much of a scaredy-cat. He's afraid of a little spider, and everyone says his costume looks more silly than scary. And when Mrs. Wimpydimple tells a ghost story in the dark, Splat gets so frightened that he tips over his jack-o'-lantern. But when the lights go back on, the entire class is scared silly by a small, black, furry creature with a big pumpkin head. Whooooo can it be?


My thoughts:


Scaredy-Cat, Splat was our first experience with the adorable kitty known as Splat. Since reading this we’ve also added Merry Christmas, Splat to our children’s book collection. My daughters absolutely adore both. I’ve lost count of how many times we’ve read Scaredy-Cat, Splat since it arrived on our doorstep. A fun story that encourages child interaction and provokes out of control giggling. Super cute illustrations that feature Splat and his friends. This is a great book to share with children ages 8 and younger.  Bonus points for containing a story I fondly remember my teachers reading to me during the Halloween season when I was a child. 


Our family loves Splat, and we look forward to having many more reading adventures with him!




Other books featuring Splat:

Splat the CatMerry Christmas, Splat (Splat the Cat)Love, Splat (Splat the Cat)

Coming in 2011:

Splat the Cat: Where's the Easter Bunny?



Source: Publisher provided copy
Thursday, October 28, 2010

Review: Rise Again by Ben Tripp (Blog Tour)



Title: Rise Again
Author: Ben Tripp
Publisher: Pocket
Number of pages: 352
Available: Now
Reading Level: Adult


5 out of 5 Stars










Description from publisher:


It’s Fourth of July in Forest Peak, California, a small town on the outskirts of Los Angeles. Sheriff Danielle Adelman, a troubled Iraq war veteran, thinks she has all the problems she can handle in this all-American town after her kid sister runs away from home. But when a disease-stricken horde of panicked refugees fleeing the fall of Los Angeles swarms her small mountain community, Danny realizes her problems have only just begun—starting with what might very well be the end of the world.  She thought she had seen humanity at its worst in Iraq, but nothing could prepare her for the remorseless struggle to survive a world overrun with reanimated dead and men turned monster. Obsessed with finding her sister at all costs, Danny’s epic and dangerous journey across the California desert will challenge her spirit, and bring her to the precipice of sanity itself.


My thoughts:


Danielle Adelman, known to most as Danny, is an ex Marine struggling with a bad case of post-traumatic stress disorder. Working as the sheriff in the small town of Forest Peak, California, and drowning her nightmares in pills and alcohol. She is also responsible for the care of her younger sister who decided the 4th of July was a good day to run away. Danny wakes up with a wicked hangover to find her sister, and beloved Ford Mustang gone. Thinking the worst thing she’d have to do that day is suffer silently through the small town’s Independence Day festivities while waiting for word Kelley has turned up. She soon discovers she’ll be fighting more than a hangover when people start behaving strangely.

Let me start by saying this book was scary as hell. I don’t read a lot of horror or watch many scary flicks, but I have a strange love of all things zombie. Rise Again was the perfect combination of flesh eating undead, and human response when things start to fall apart.

Main character Danny isn’t like any female protag you’ve met before. She isn’t beautiful, nor is she brilliant. She’s a hard ass and street smart. As the plot progresses she deals with flashbacks of her time in Iraq, while trying to cope with the zombie invasion happening in her present. She is described in the book as “the unstoppable alpha female”. I found that to be the perfect description for Danny. She’s flawed, and doesn’t realize how badly until her only family takes off leaving just a brutally honest letter behind. She’s left feeling compelled to find her missing sister, Kelley, and save the civilians who have put their faith in her as their savior from the madness taking over the country. I loved reading about Danny’s journey.

Not only does this book have a great main character, but the secondary characters are perfect additions to the story line. I loved watching them grow as characters throughout the novel. At least those lucky enough to survive ;) Parts of this novel gave me chills. Especially when they’re listening to the reports from the weather channel on the radio. Super creepy!

Gruesome and intense, but I loved every minute! I devoured this novel like the undead did their human prey. The perfect addition to my Halloween reading list!




Source: Received from the publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in the Rise Again Blog Tour
Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Waiting on Wednesday (27)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we can’t wait for. This week I’m waiting on,


Falling in Love with English Boys
by Melissa Jensen
Releases: December 2010
Synopsis via Penguin


Why I’m “waiting on” this book: Love the title, and books that take place in London.


Sixteen-year-old Catherine Vernon has been stranded in London for the summer, no friends, no ex-boyfriend Adam the Scum (good riddance!), and absolutely nothing to do but blog about her misery to her friends back home. Desperate for something, anything, to do in London while her (s)mother's off researching boring historical things, Cat starts reading the 1815 diary of Katherine Percival her mom gives her, and finds the similarities between their lives to be oddly close. But where Katherine has the whirls of the society, the parties and the gossip over who is engaged to who, Cat's only got some really excellent English chocolate. Then she meets William Percival, the uber-hot descendant of Katherine, and things start looking up . . 



Add on Goodreads

What book are you waiting on?




Monday, October 25, 2010

Guest Post: The Familiars Halloween Blog Tour & Scavenger Hunt!


I’m happy to welcome back Adam Jay Epstein & Andrew Jacobson, the authors of The Familiars, for their Halloween Blog Tour and scavenger hunt! 



A message from Andrew:





We are also having a special Familiars-themed Halloween Scavenger Hunt! At each stop along the blog tour, we will be asking a trivia question from our book. After you fill in your answer, the letter that falls in the place of the * can be placed in the corresponding number of the larger puzzle. So for example, since this is question number 19, the letter that lands in the space where the * is can be filled in where the 19 is in the larger puzzle. The larger puzzle will form yet another clue, and anyone who answers it correctly will be entered into a drawing for an autographed book as well as a few other Halloween treats!

Be sure to visit The Familiars blog at thefamiliars.blogspot.com to find links to all other blog stops and find out where to send in your answers! All entries must be entered by November 15.

19. What does Skylar cast an illusion of to try to fend off the cave troll?

___    ___ ___ ___ ___ ___    ___ _*_ ___

Hint: Chapter Twelve, Page 243


11 5 18 8 15 1 9 7 19 14 23 2 25 16 10 12 20
__ __ __ __ __ __ ' __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __



17 3 22 6 21 4 24 13
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __


Happy Halloween everyone!
Andrew & Adam


Teaser Tuesday (14)

"Teaser Tuesday" is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading
Check out her blog for all the details.


My teaser this week comes from 
The Familiars by Adam Jay Epstein & Andrew Jacobson


“You can’t cast a  proper hex without black lichen,” argued the mouse.


“Yeah, well, you’d be surprised what you can do with locust dung,” said the aardvark. “it’s a pretty versatile component.”


p. 22







Leave me a link to your teaser, and I’ll stop by :)
Sunday, October 24, 2010

Spooktacular Book Blog Giveaway Hop!



I’m so excited to participate in the Spooktacular Book Blog Giveaway Hop hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer! In celebration of Halloween I’m giving one lucky follower the chance to choose one of the following prize packs from my favorite spooky genres!




Young Adult Ghostly Goodness Prize Pack

Shadow HillsDeception (Haunting Emma)

Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus
&
Deception by Lee Nichols

OR

Urban Fantasy Prize Pack

Storm Born (Dark Swan, Book 1)Moon Called (Mercy Thompson)

Storm Born by Richelle Mead
Moon Called by Patricia Briggs

OR

Zombie Invasion Prize Pack

The Forest of Hands and TeethThe Dead-Tossed Waves (Forest of Hands and Teeth, Book 2)

The Forest of Hands and Teeth 
The Dead-Tossed Waves
by Carrie Ryan


Rules:


Please fill out this form to enter!
Comments will not count as entries, but are always appreciated :)
One winner will get to select one of the prize packs listed above!
Open to anyone The Book Depository ships to!
Ends on October 31st @ 11:59 EST




Don’t forget to check out all of the other blogs in the Hop for the chance to win fabulous prizes!





In My Mailbox (26)

In My Mailbox is a meme where we showcase books received during the week. It is hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren


For Review:

Blood Trinity: Book 1 in the Belador SeriesRise Again: A Zombie ThrillerThe Fashion File: Advice, Tips, and Inspiration from the Costume Designer of Mad Men

Blood Trinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon & Dianna Love

Rise Again by Ben Tripp
Stop by Thursday to read my review!


The Fashion File by Janie Bryant & Monica Corcoran

Purchased:
(It was book fair time at my daughter’s school)

Merry Christmas, Splat (Splat the Cat)I Need My MonsterOne Drowsy Dragon


Merry Christmas, Splat by Rob Scotton
I Need My Monster by Amanda Noll
One Drowsy Dragon by Ethan Long

Swapped:

Tweet Heart


Tweet Heart by Elizabeth Rudnick


What was in your mailbox?



Saturday, October 23, 2010

Review: Awakened by Ednah Walters



Title: Awakened
Series: The Guardian Legacy #1
Author: Ednah Walters
Available: Now


4 out of 5 Stars












Description from Goodreads:


Most teens turn sixteen and get the license to drive, Lil Falcon gets the license to kill demons, but no one told her she is not supposed to fall in love with one. 

Orphaned as a child and raised by an eccentric grandfather, Lil is concerned with surviving high school and is unaware she's a Guardian—a being with super powers charged with killing demons and protecting humanity. But when she meets Bran, a mysterious boy with amazing abilities, his psi energy unlocks her latent powers. 

But Bran has a secret that can destroy their growing relationship. He's part demon. But in her heart, Lil knows Bran is not evil. So when her grandfather is kidnapped by a powerful nature-bender and Bran is the only one who knows where he's being kept, Lil convinces the other Guardians to trust him, not knowing her grandfather is just the bait. And the truth that she discovers in the demonic enclave may just destroy everything she believes in, unless she makes the right choice—love and sacrifice.


My thoughts:


Celebrating her Sweet 16 brought more changes to Lil’s life than she ever could have fathomed. Suddenly she is hearing voices, and can cause wild storms just by getting a little emotional. She soon discovers she is a Guardian, and the one boy she can’t stop thinking about just might be her enemy.


This is a great book! The action was practically non-stop. The world it took place in was very intriguing. Guardians are teleporting all over the world to stop demons from inciting chaos. Most natural disasters can be blamed on demons with control over the elements. Then there is the whole throwing energy ball business. So cool!


The characters were fun and engaging. Lil was just the right mix of sweet and sassy. I loved how easily she handled all the changes in her life, and the secrets that kept on emerging. She wasn’t afraid to stand up for herself, and wasn’t about to forget who she really was while adapting to her new life as a Guardian. She’s a strong female protag, which I always find impressive. Bran is definitely at heartthrob status. I loved the chemistry between those two, and the eventual reveal of why they feel what they feel (insert dreamy sigh here). Nothing like forbidden love to really stir things up. A strong start to what I feel will be a fantastic series. 


Found yourself effected by the Angel mania sweeping Young Adult literature? Enjoy a tale of Good vs. Evil? If so, I highly recommend adding Awakened to your must read list.


Ednah Walter on the web:


Order from Amazon:



Source: Received from author in exchange for my honest review.
Friday, October 22, 2010

Review Flashback


REVIEW FLASHBACK


Taking a look back at my early reviews of some recent releases.




Dust by Joan Frances Turner
Released: 9/7




Dead Beautiful by Yvonne Woon
Release Date: 9/21






Cate of the Lost Colony by Lisa Klein
Released: 10/12
Review






Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
Released: 10/12





My if you’re going to read any of these read this one pick is....

Stork by Wendy Delsol
Released 10/12