Rating: BRAG!

The Fearsome Beastie
by Giles Paley-Phillips
Early, Picture Book
Paperback: 32 pages
Publication: May 2011





Verdict
Straight from my 7 year old daughters mouth... "Awesome!" She enjoyed the rhyming words and pictures.
The Fearsome Beastie is a children's picture book with a wonderfully scary tale! The pictures and rhymes bring the art of storytelling to another level.
"Awesome!" = BRAG Book!

Good Reading,
Sarah :)


About the author....



Giles Paley-Philips is a children's author who also works part-time in a book store.
He writes picture book stories and plays in a band called Burnthouse.
He was born in 1977 and lives in East Sussex, UKwith his wife, Michelle, and two sons, Elijah and Sonny.

Now Reading... The Scarlet Lion by Elizabeth Chadwick

The Scarlet Lion
by Elizabeth Chadwick
Historical Fiction, Romance
Publication Date: July 2007
Paperback: 576 pages

Cover Summary

The Legend of the Greatest Knight Lives On

William Marshal's skill with a sword and loyalty to his word have earned him the company of kings, the lands of a magnate, and the hand of Isabelle de Clare, one of England's wealthiest heiresses. But he is thrust back into the chaos of court when King Richard dies. Vindictive King John clashes with William, claims the family lands for the Crown-and takes two of the Marshal sons hostage. The conflict between obeying his king and rebelling over the royal injustices threatens the very heart of William and Isabelle's family. Fiercely intelligent and courageous, fearing for the man and marriage that light her life, Isabelle plunges with her husband down a precarious path that will lead William to more power than he ever expected.

Author's Website

http://www.elizabethchadwick.com/



Excerpt from Chapter One
Fortress of Longueville, Normandy, Spring 1197
Isabelle de Clare, Countess of Leinster and Striguil, wife to King Richard's Marshal, was in labour with their fourth child. "Arse first," announced the midwife, wiping her hands on a length of towel after examining her patient. "Bound to be a boy, they always cause the most trouble." Isabelle closed her eyes and reclined against the piled bolsters. Throughout the morning the contractions had become steadily more frequent and painful. Her women had unbraided her hair so there would be no bindings about her person to tie the baby in the womb, and the thick, wheat-gold strands spilled over shoulders and engorged breasts to touch her mounded belly. "He" was already late. Her husband had hoped to greet his new offspring before setting out to war ten days ago, but instead had had to bid Isabelle farewell with a kiss at arm's length, her pregnant belly like a mountain between them. It was May now. If she survived bearing this child and he lived through the summer's campaign, they would see each other in the autumn. For now, he was somewhere deep in the Beauvaisis with his sovereign, and she was wishing she was anywhere but this stuffy chamber undergoing the ordeal of childbirth. A contraction started low in her spine and tightened across her womb. Pain bloomed through her lower body, causing her to gasp and clench her fists. "Always hurts more when they come tail first." The midwife looked shrewdly at Isabelle. "It's not your first; you know what to expect, but infants that enter the world by their backsides have a dangerous passage. Head comes last and that's not good for the babe. Best pray to the blessed Saint Margaret for her help." She indicated the painted wooden image standing on a coffer at the bedside surrounded by a glow of votive candles. "I have been praying to her every day since I knew I was with child," Isabelle said irritably, not adding that the overdue birth of a baby in the breech position was hardly a happy reward for her devotion. She was coming to abhor the statue. Whoever had carved it had put a sanctimonious expression on its face that fell little short of a smirk. The next contraction wrung her in its grip and with it the urge to push. The midwife signaled to the girl assisting her and busied herself between Isabelle's thighs. "You should summon your chaplain to christen the child, immediately," she announced, her voice muffled by the raised sheet. "Do you have a name?" "Gilbert for a boy, and Isabelle for a girl," Isabelle gritted through her teeth as she bore down. The contraction receded. Slumping against the bolsters she panted at one of her women to fetch Father Walter and have him wait in the antechamber. The next pain seized her, then the next and the next, fierce and hard, no respite now as her body strove to expel the baby from her womb. She sobbed and grunted with effort, tendons cording her throat, her hands gripping those of her attendants hard enough to leave lasting weals on their flesh. There was a sudden gush of wet heat between her thighs and the midwife groped. "Ah," she said with satisfaction. "I was right, it is a boy. Ha-ha, fine pair of hammers on him too! Let's see if we can keep him alive to have use of them, eh? Push again, my lady. Not so fast, not so fast. Go gently now." Isabelle bit her lip and struggled not to push as hard as her instincts dictated. Taking the baby's ankles, tugging gently, the midwife drew his torso up and on to Isabelle's abdomen. As the mouth and nose emerged from the birth canal she wiped them clear of blood and mucus, then, watching intently, controlled the emergence of the rest of the head with a gentle hand. Propped on her elbows, Isabelle stared at the baby lying upon her body like a drowned, shipwrecked sailor. His colour was greyish-blue and he wasn't moving. Panic shot through her. "Holy Saint Margaret, is he...?" The woman lifted the baby by his ankles, swung him gently, and applied a sharp tap to his buttocks, then again. A shudder rippled through him, his little chest expanded, and a wail of protest met the air, uncertain at first, but gathering momentum and infusing his body with a flush of life-giving pink. Righting him, the midwife turned to Isabelle, a smile deepening the creases in her wrinkled cheeks. "Just needed a bit of persuading," she said. "Best have the priest name him though, to be on the safe side." She wrapped him in a warm towel and placed him in Isabelle's arms. The cord having been cut and the afterbirth expelled and taken away for burial, Isabelle gazed into the birth-crumpled features of her newborn son and, still deeply anxious, watched his shallow breathing. A baffled, slightly quizzical frown puckered his brows. His fists were tightly clenched as if to fight the world into which he had been so brutally initiated. "Gilbert," she said softly. "I wonder what your father is going to make of you." She blew softly against his cheek and gave him her forefinger around which to curl his miniature hand. After a moment, she lifted her gaze from the baby and fixed it on her chamber window and the arch of soft blue sky it framed. Her own ordeal was almost over and, God willing, if she did not take the childbed fever, she would soon be on her feet. Saint Margaret could be thanked with an offering and packed away in her coffer again until needed again. Now she would concentrate on prayers for her husband's safety and ask God to bring him home in one piece to greet their new son.

Reading Soon
Devlin Diary by Christi Phillips

The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen

The Scottish Rose by Jill Jones

Rating: BRAG!

The Scottish Rose

by Jill Jones

Historical Fiction, Romance
Publication Date: February 1997
Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages

 


Verdict

Enchanting! Captivating! I really thought this was going to be a copy cat of Outlander (by Diana Gabaldon). To my pleasant surprise, it was so much more.

Jill Jones entrances the reader with an adventure that mixes love with legends, and transports the main characters back to 17th century Scotland. Beautifully crafted happy ending! I Loved it!

Good Reading!
Sarah :)

  

Dunnottar Castle, Stonehaven, Scotland



 



The Honours of Scotland, Edinburg Castle





Rating: BRAG!


Die for Me
(Revenants Series #1)
by Amy Plum
Publication Date: May 2011
Young Adult Fiction, Paranormal Romance
Print: 352 pages



Verdict
Mesmerizing, romantic story set in Paris. Good use of vocabulary for the intended age group.  I was a bit disappointed in the ending; I know it is a series, but the ending was sort of blunt. Overall, a terrific read! Amy Plum is a wonderful storyteller and I can't wait for Until I Die (Revenants #2). Keep up the good work, Amy!

Good Reading!
Sarah

Now Reading... The Scottish Rose

The Scottish Rose
by Jill Jones

Historical Fiction, Romance
Publication Date: February 1997
Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages

Cover Summary

It began with a letter...that leads to a passion and adventure beyond her dreams...

"I have taken measures to hide Mary's rose chalice...I fear that all in the castle may die for hiding it, but it is our duty to protect this sacred emblem of Scotland."
--Letter written in 1651

Taylor Kincaid hosts a top-rated television series that debunks everything supernatural. So when she finds herself on the Scottish coast-- to claim an out-of-the-blue inheritance and ancient letters telling of royal gold-- she's prepared to explode the local legend: an archway made of stone through which young women disappear. Until a stormy sea sweeps her through the Ladysgate-- and with her, handsome, rugged sea captain Duncan Fraser.

Beyond it lies the Scotland of 1651. It is the land of Taylor's heirloom letters and Mary Queen of Scots' fabled jeweled chalice, The Scottish Rose, emblem of peace. Together Taylor and Duncan must search for it amid the passions and perils of history...or, in a desperate bid to recross the centuries, risk losing each other and the love they've found beyond the gates of time.

Author

Jill Jones lives in western North Carolina with her husband, Jerry, who is a watercolor artist.

Reading Soon...
Devlin Diary by Christi Phillips

The Scarlet Lion by Elizabeth Chadwich
The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addision Allen

Now Reading.... Die For Me by Amy Plum

Die For Me
(Revenants Series #1)
by Amy Plum
Publication Date: May 2011
Young Adult Fiction, Paranormal Romance
Print: 352 pages

Cover Summary

My life had always been blissfully, wonderfully normal. But it only took one moment to change everything.

Suddenly, my sister, Georgia, and I were orphans. We put our lives into storage and moved to Paris to live with my grandparents. And I knew my shattered heart, my shattered life, would never feel normal again. Then I met Vincent.

Mysterious, sexy, and unnervingly charming, Vincent Delacroix appeared out of nowhere and swept me off my feet. Just like that, I was in danger of losing my heart all over again. But I was ready to let it happen.

Of course, nothing is ever that easy. Because Vincent is no normal human. He has a terrifying destiny, one that puts his life at risk every day. He also has enemies . . . immortal, murderous enemies who are determined to destroy him and all of his kind.
While I'm fighting to piece together the remnants of my life, can I risk putting my heart—as well as my life and my family's—in jeopardy for a chance at love?

Reading Soon

Devlin Diary by Christi Phillips

The Scarlet Lion by Elizabeth Chadwich

The Scottish Rose by Jill Jones

Meridian by Amber Kizer

Rating: BRAG!

Meridian (Fenestra Series #1)
by Amber Kizer
Young Adult Fiction
Pages in Print: 320
NOOK Book pages: 216
Copyright: 2009

It was a little dark for my taste in the beginning, but soon becomes a story of good vs evil with the main characters on the side of good, of course. Ms. Kizer is a wonderful storyteller and it comes through beautifully in this book. The storyline was unpredictable and kept me guessing what would happen - which I loved. Another point to make is that while there is a love interest, book 1, at least, does not develop an overly romantic theme. The only advice I would have for Ms. Kizer, is to get a better editor, because the writing seems choppy at times due to poor sentence structure and the vocabulary should be at a higher level for the age group it is targeting. Overall, however, Meridian is a fantastic read for fans of the Young Adult genre.

Good Reading!

The Fenestra Series:
Book 1: Meridian
Book 2: Wildcat Fireflies
Book 3: Speed of Light
Book 4: Counting Tens

Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander series #2) by Diana Gabaldon

Rating: BRAG!
NOOK Book: 866 pages
Historical Fiction
Warning: Language, Sexual Content

Excellent writing! It was a long read but certainly time well spent. Diana Gabaldon mesmerizes her readers with tantalizing detail throughout and sensational character development! While it was my second time reading it, I found it extremely difficult to put down. You will cry, cringe, crack up, and be contented while reading Dragonfly in Amber.
I can't wait to move on to Voyager (Outlander series #3)! But I will read a few other novels before beginning this long read.

Good Reading!!
Sarah

Now Reading.... Dragonfly in Amber Update

Well, I am nearing the end of Dragonfly in Amber in Chapter 42. It is 866 pages and I am almost near one of the most difficult events of the entire series. Ugghhh!

The Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon, for those of you who haven't read it, is a series of 7 books, so far, and all are between 750-1200 pages long. But you won't want to put the books down. This series is endearing, terrifying, funny, sad, and kinda grotesque in a few parts as well. The love the two main characters, Jamie and Claire, have for each other is inspiring and heart wrenching.

It is not for the week stomached and can get somewhat explicit in some parts (which you can fast forward through - like I have done), but you definitely wouldn't want to miss out on the story and the incredibly detailed writing that goes along with it. The settings of the books take place around the globe from Scotland, France, England, America, Canada, Jamaica and more of the Carribean islands.

Goodnite and Good Reading!!

Now Reading Update... Dragonfly in Amber

Phew!! This book is incredible, but very stressful to read. I find myself leaving off when I recognize a particularly emotional section approaching. Mind you, it is only because I have already read it and know what is coming. If I did not, I would not be able to put it down. Here is a quick sample of my day's reading...

Jamie reached forward suddenly and took my hands.

"I think it will not happen, Claire; I think we will stop him. And if not, then still I dinna expect anything to happen to me. But if it should..." He was in deadly earnest now, speaking soft and urgently. "If it does, then I want there to be a place for you; I want someone for you to go to if I am ... not there to care for you. If it canna be me, then I would have it be a man who loves you." His grasp on my fingers grew tighter; I could feel both rings digging into my flesh, and felt the urgency in his hands.

"Claire, ye know what it cost me to do this for you - to spare Randall's life. Promise me that if the time should come, you'll go back to Frank." His eyes searched my face, deep blue as the sky in the window behind him. " I tried to send ye back twice before. And I thank God ye wouldna go. But if it comes to a third time - then promise me you will go back to him - back to Frank. For that is why I spare Jack Randall for a year - for your sake. Promise me, Claire?"

Winter Sea Awesome Deal

Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley is now only $2.99 as a NOOK Book!!

Good Reading!!

Now Reading Update..... Dragonfly in Amber

I am now in the middle of Chapter 17 and tonight Claire and Jamie have induced me to laughing out loud - producing odd looks from my husband - and being mesmerized by their devotion to each other and their adventures in Paris.

Book quote from my readings of today...

(While Claire is washing Jamie's hair for him after a very difficult night with Bonny Prince Charlie.)

He was big, I thought. Near him so much, I tended to forget his size, until I saw him suddenly from a distance, towering among smaller men, and I would be struck anew by his grace and the beauty of his body. But he sat now with his knees nearly underneath his chin, and his shoulders filled the tub from one side to the other. He leaned forward slightly to assist my ministrations, exposing the hideous scars on his back. The thick red welts of Jack Randall's Christmas gift lay heavily over the thin white lines of the earlier floggings.

I touched the scars gently, my heart squeezed by the sight. I had seen those wounds when they were fresh, seen him driven to the edge of madness by torture and abuse. But I had healed him, and he had fought with all the power of a gallant heart to be whole once more, to come back to me. Moved by tenderness, I brushed the trailing ends of his hair aside, and bent to kiss the back of his neck.

I straightened abruptly. He felt my movement and turned his head slightly.

"What is it Sassenach?" he asked, voice slow with drowsy contentment..........

"No, not a thing," I said again, reaching for the ewer on the stand. Placed near the window, it was ice-cold to the touch. I stepped behind Jamie and upended it on his head.

Good night and good reading!!

Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins

Rating: BRAG

Hunger Games Trilogy is, by far, one of the best series of our time and it stays on the book stores best seller lists. Suzanne Collins has provided us with abundant detail in her writing. Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay provide the reader with an intense storyline and suspenseful atmosphere throughout most of the trilogy. It is a perfect read for middle school students through adult readers.

I have recommended these books to students, friends, and co-workers (One of whom is a former drama student and avid Lord of the Rings fan) who have all thoroughly enjoyed them. My children have the hardcover set and I also have them all on my Nook.

If you haven't read this trilogy yet, don't waste another moment!

Good Reading!

Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley

Rating: BRAG

The Winter Sea is a must read!! It is a spellbinding novel and you will not want to leave it's pages. One of the best books I have ever read. If you like historical or romantic fiction, you will find yourself enthralled from the very beginning. It will leave you breathless, it will make you cry in at least one chapter, and it will make you wish it were a series because you will not want it to end.

Susanna Kearsley has written this book with such creativity and detail. She approaches this book with an interesting way of reaching back and forth across time. And as amazing as it is, I am so relieved to say that it is a clean read!! There is no bad language and there are no sexual scenes; there are definitely romantic scenes, but they stay at that endearing level and do not reach an uncomfortable amount of graphic detail. This goes to prove that it can be done - we can find heartstopping reads that are clean too!! Maybe it just takes an exceptional writer to do it.

Bloody Valentine (Blue Blood Series) by Melissa De La Cruz

RATING: SNAG

First, forgive any grammatical errors, please, as I am using a virtual keypad on my phone.
According to Barnes & Noble, Bloody Valentine is #6 in the Blue Blood series. However, I found out it is not. Lost in Time is #6 and will be released in October 2011.
So what is Bloody Valentine? Bloody Valentine is a collection of 3 short stories and is only 98 pages as a Nook book. If you haven’t read any of the books in this series, you need to begin with #1 in order to follow along with this short story collection.
The first short story is about Oliver. He is in physical and emotional pain away from Schuyler. But he finds the help of a witch who helps him get over the pain without resorting to forbidden desperate measures.
In the second story we are given a glimpse of what Allegra’s life was like when she was a teenager and had a vision about Schuyler. This story seams a waste of words to me. It doesn’t tie into the other two like they do with each other.
The third and final short story reminds me almost of a Disney princess fairy tale complete with some black and white graphics. – were they practicing for a graphic novel version? Schuyler and Jack finally have their bonding ceremony with a twist thrown in before hand.
And so we will have to wait for Lost in Time to see if they live happily ever after! Hopefully, these somewhat disconnected stories will tie into the next book and bring some understanding to Bloody Valentine’s purpose.
Good Night and Good Reading!