Tag Archives: recommended read

Round Trip Fare by Barb Taub

You know how when you wait and wait for a sequel to come out and then it finally comes and you read it and it’s so great that you just have to go back and re-read all the books that came before it while wondering why you didn’t do that before it came out to make the reading of it even more enjoyable and then debate with yourself if you really should just re-read the sequel again even though you just finished it mere days ago …

Yeah.

This book is just like that.Round_Trip_Fare-Barb_Taub-500x800

Would I recommend it? Yes! This book can be read as a stand alone but, it’ll be much better if you read the rest of the Null City books first.

Or second.

Or first and second.

Basically you just need to read them all because once you enter Barb Taub’s world of urban fantasy where super powers sometimes just suck, angles aren’t always what you’d expect them to be, and with a short ride on a sentient Metro you can arrive at Null City where superpowers will fade into a thing of the past,  you aren’t going to want to leave. The men are just too good looking (and tattooed), the imps make fabulous coffee (once they’ve been living in Null City for a bit anyway), the women kick butt (with large amounts of sass and style) and the dogs are awesome. Sure, you may very occasionally raise an eyebrow at the “convenience” of a character’s actions but don’t let it get to you. Focus on the snarky dialogue, the tattoos and the Firefly references and you’ll be having too much fun to care!

Round Trip Fare comes out on Thursday (Yeah, I totally got an advanced copy. And yeah, it’s pretty much reader heaven.) Luckily for you the first of the bunch, One Way Fare, is FREE right now!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Black Cape Case Files by Matt Abraham

It has come to my attention that not everyone innately understands the merits of books about a private investigator in a town full of people with super human abilities.

This is baffling to me.

I can only suspect it is my tendency to babble and throw my arms about when excited that confuses people and distracts them from the topic at hand. So let me explain in the written word…

Dane Curse is a small time private investigator. Not just any old PI but the type that brings to mind old radio shows:

“The door swung aside and in walked a woman. She had a long, flowing overcoat atop a tailored black suit that hugged her hips like an old friend it hadn’t seen since high school. Her broad brimmed hat cast a shadow over a pair of almond eyes so smokey they could teach a Navajo communications course, and with two full lips as red as the menace that scared my ma she said, “Mr Curse? I’m Mandy Marcus.” – The Coconut Swindle

The difference is that Mr. Curse happens to have super strength and invulnerability and when Mandy Marcus (aka The Widow) shrugged off her jacket, she had four arms underneath.

While I love the idea of a PI working in a town full of super heroes (white capes) and their counterparts (because seriously, how fun is that) that isn’t even the best part. The best part is Dane Curse himself. Former black cape turned PI for the “bad” guys and their families. He’s not got great luck, but he’s good with brute force and persistence.  And while he might kinda, sorta, still be a tiny bit of a bad guy, he’s still doing his best to do right by his clients.

Would I recommend it? Heroic villain anyone?

Yes.

Yes, is the answer you’re looking for.

 

Cogling by Jordan Elizabeth

Steampunk is a literary genre that confused me, if I thought of it at all.

When it did cross my mind all I could envision was people dressed in outfits involving lots of leather, corsets, top hats, a few random gears thrown in and goggles. Always the goggles. But the why of it all escaped me. I turned to the internet and Dictonary.com gave me a definition…

“A subgenre of science fiction and fantasy featuring advanced machines and other technology based on steam power of the 19th century and taking place in a recognizable historical period or a fantasy world.”

… clear as mud now right?

But what I’ve decided is, at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what Steampunk is or isn’t because as the writing gets better, the genre matters less. Not to say that I wouldn’t have wanted the author to describe this alternate history full of magic and technology as well as she did. No, quite to the contrary. Because she described it so well and because her characters were so rich, there was no confusion. I didn’t read a “steampunk” book.

I read a book about a sister whose brother was kidnapped. I read about oppression and freedom. Class warfare and  outright warfare. I read about evil beings that weren’t and good citizens that weren’t either. I read about trust and I read about love.

Sure, there were some crazy gizmos in amongst all that but, at the end of the day, the gizmos weren’t what had me flipping pages long after I should have turned in for the night.

Would I recommend it? Don’t let a funny word like steampunk scare you off, give it a try, I think you’ll like it.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

 

Escape from Witchwood Hollow by Jordan Elizabeth

I sit with the sleeves of my stained, maroon sweatshirt pushed up so the holes in the cuffs don’t catch on my thumbs and interfere with my typing. My pants, though rivaling the age of my youngest daughter, must be eight years younger than their counterpart but without holes or stains to create a matched set. Nor do they have a shape or distinguishing feature of their own. Just baggy black pants that swish round my ankle as my barefoot swings under the table.

I’d be lying to you if I said this was just my blogging outfit.

That’s right, I went out into public in this fantastic get up.

Twice.

Today.

So, it’s a bit surprising to me that in thinking back on this book, so much of my memory revolves around clothes – and I liked it.

Perhaps I liked it because of those snap judgments we make on the people around us based on their clothes. Don’t worry, I’m not looking for reflections on my own appearance (though I bet you’ve got opinions now, and if shopping hater and cheapskate were on your list you’ve got me at least partially pegged). This book, littered with clothing descriptions, instantly rounds out the characters as they are introduced.

Maybe it’s that in a book that draws characters from multiple time periods, clothing differences were an important distinguisher.

Or, maybe, it’s just that I like a unique witch-y mystery, and the main character happened to like fashion.

Would I recommend it? Yes. Young adult fans, this is nicely written and it’s got just the right amount of spookiness in it for those of you who are horror wimps like me. You can trust me on this. I have way better taste in books than clothes!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Lousy Rotten Stinkin’ Grapes by Margie Palatini and Barry Moser

“Here’s the plan.”…

Sort of like the sly, clever, smart fox (his words, not mine) in this book, I always have a plan. I’m a planner. I change my plans. I amend my plans. I make new plans. But there is always a plan.

The fox is plotting a way  to get some grapes and it’s trickier than expected. Undaunted, the fox keeps making new plans. I like this about him. But he also causes himself all sorts of extra difficulties because he doesn’t listen to the other animals who try to help him out. Never a good thing.

I like to think I make better plans and listen to other people better than the fox does. But John has taken to adding, “voila!… Grapes!” to the ends of my more complex ideas and “No grapes.” when things don’t pan out.

It seems I have a little work to do there, but don’t worry, I have a plan…

 

Would I recommend it? It’s my current favorite book to read out loud. It’s got phrases that have worked their way into our daily vocabulary. But, I have to tell you, it has a porcupine that claims to be able to shoot it’s quills.

It hurts me to read that to my children. I have to stop and remind them, porcupines don’t shoot their quills.

Ever.

But, I love the rest of this book so much I’m willing to overlook a quill shooting porcupine, it’s that good.

 

Love Unfeigned by Nadine C. Keels

Sweet is an overused word.

Perhaps it’s because I’m the mother of three young and adorable girls that I hear, “Oh, that’s so sweet!” on a fairly regular basis.

Maybe it’s just because I’ve heard it too often in reference to obnoxious behavior my adorable girls are exhibiting that now 97% of the time when I hear someone call something sweet I throw up a bit in my mouth.

Sweet has fallen far down on my list of favorite words in the last decade.

This is a problem because there is nothing that describes 97% of this love story better than sweet.  Sometimes poignantly sweet, sometimes bittersweet but always with a constant tug on the heart that leaves you with an aching chest and a small smile.

Would I recommend it? Brace yourself, I’m gonna say it.

“You should read this, it’s just – so sweet!”

And a book that can cause me to say that is definitely worth a read. Rosie's Book Review team 1

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I discovered this book because I’m a proud member of Rosie’s Book Review Team!

 

 

 

The Secrets of Ice Cream Success by A.D. Hartley

Do you remember that group of kids, (mostly boys) that was so fun to be around?

Clowns, jokers and best friends they teased each other and everyone else, wrestled and created a friendly hulabaloo everywhere they went.  Everyone giggled with them and nobody ever took seriously until one day you turned around and realized that somehow, between all the fart jokes and noogies, they’d gone out, conquered demons you didn’t even know they had and accomplished things.

The gang in this book is saving an ice cream emporium but I think you’ll recognize them anyway.

Front Cover PNG Smashwords

Would I recommend it? Yes! The antics of the boys (and girl) are an excellent counter balance to the heavier elements of the book. I was hooked by the drama and laughed my way through the plot. Which might mean I have the sense of humor of a fourteen year old boy… But it certainly means that I’d recommend it as a great middle grade or young adult book.  Heck, I’d even say that, as your child’s responsible parent, you think you should probably “check” this book for them and read it first!

Rosie's Book Review team 1

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I discovered this book because I’m a proud member of Rosie’s Book Review Team!

Do Not Wash Hands In Plates by Barb Taub

If Barb Taub and I lived somewhat close to each other (say if, for instance, there was something less than an ocean between us), I like to imagine that when Barb returned from her trip to India I would have lured her to my house with promises of cake and whiskey. We’d sit down someplace comfy, whiskey in hand and she would regale us with her travels through India.

In real life I’d likely spend the night in tears.

Tears of laughter.

The kind of laughter that lasts for so long that it gets hard to breathe and is possibly a bit painful.  Of course, that’d be in real life.

Please, read Do Not Wash Hands In Plates, but remember, you are not talking with Barb in real life. It may feel as if you are but when you “share” that whiskey, don’t forget that you are reading from a sensitive electronic device that will not like it if your laughter causes you to choke on your drink and spew it across the “page.” (Oh the things I do in the name of book reviewing… And yes, the Kindle survived!)

 

Would I recommend it?  It’s a hilariously well written quick read of a travel memoir. It’s not quite like sharing a bit of cake with Barb but it’s as close as most of us are going to get!

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review

Two for the Holidays by Ekta R. Garg

This is not the first book of Stories in Pairs that I’ve read but it’s the best. If you’ve been thinking about giving this author and idea a try, start here!

The first story is powerful.

The second left me in tears.

The connection between the two is perfect.

Would I recommend it? Yes. Don’t be put off by the “holiday” in the title just because we have passed the New Year. The first story centers on Halloween, the second Christmas but they are readable anytime!

A Knock at the Door by Helen Yeomans

When I stop to think about it, the sheer volume of children’s books that move through our house is fairly impressive. The bookshelves are already overflowing with books we own, but that’s hardly enough variety. For that we take, at least, weekly trips to the library, where we always seem to have in excess of thirty books checked out at a time. And, because more books is never a bad thing, I’m happy to report that the two older girls now get to bring home a few books from the school library as well.

It’s a lot of books.

Some of them are bad, most of them are good and a few stand apart from the rest. Those special few that all the kids love and that we, the parents, don’t mind reading repeatedly.  Those books that seem to be written by the authors who really know the mind of a child.

They are the books that have a little something extra in them. That slightly intangible bend to the writing that kids adore. An aside that’s un-necessary. Little bits of information you don’t need. Silly words thrown in to make them giggle. A Knock At The Door has it all.

(It also has, if you want to be all adult-like about things, quite a lot of learning opportunities. After reading this book a few times I doubt my kids will ever misspell “half.” But, to be honest, I loved it for the same silliness that my kids did).

A week or so after we finished reading the book out loud together, I asked my daughters what they thought of it.

“I loved  it!” Ivy gushed.

I wish I could have written down what Ivy (8) and Clara (6) said next, but it came out in such a babbling enthusiastic mess of “Because letters are silly and don’t really talk!” and “I love the G wizard” and “Remember when…” and “Wasn’t that letter funny…” that I missed most of it.

But no matter what they said, I think their vote was definitively cast when Ivy went and got the book and we sat down to re-read two stories out of it before bed.

Would we recommend it? Yes! A most enthusiastic yes! Even Jane (4) giggled at things like L’s being stinkers, but then again, so did I!

Rosie's Book Review team 1

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I discovered this book because I’m a proud member of Rosie’s Book Review Team!