Book Review & Giveaway: Anne & Henry by Dawn Ius

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Anne & Henry cover imageToday I’m taking part in the Heads Will Roll blog tour for a book by Dawn Ius, Anne & Henry. Ius has freshened up the historical tale for modern teens, and I have one copy of the book to give away to a reader in the U.S. Just be aware that the book is a  sizzling romance with a trash-talking heroine, which makes it appeal to mature teens. Just leave a comment here before midnight (PDT), September 23 telling us what you like about historic events updated for modern audiences. Please note: The giveaway is closed. Congratulations to Mark on winning.

Now, here’s my review.

Anne & Henry by Dawn Ius

Anne Boleyn arrives in the town of Medina ready for a fresh start, a new beginning after surviving her parents’ divorce and a scandal she is said to be part of. Right away she challenges the dynasty at the top of her elite, private school. Henry and Catherine are the power couple, with Henry chosen even in high school to go for a life in politics with the expectation that he will be president one day. Anne is beautiful, dangerous, and unlike any girl he’s ever met. The two make sparks together, but can they maintain a relationship and still keep their heads?

Anne & Henry by Dawn Ius imagines what would happen if an anointed king of today fell for the dangerous beauty. Would he throw away everything he’s worked to achieve to win her love, or would she be too much for him? Centuries after the original Anne Boleyn and Henry Tudor conducted their famous affair, the story is still relevant and Ius creates a very believable scenario for the two of them in today’s world. Even if you believe you know how it all will end, Ius keeps you guessing about the details of how it will play out until the end.

I recommend Anne & Henry for readers aged 16 and over.

The publisher provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Captive of Friendly Cove by Rebecca Goldfield and Mike Short

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Captive of Friendly Cove comver imageFans of graphic novels and real life stories plucked from the history books should be drawn to read Captive of Friendly Cove: Based on the Secret Journals of John Jewitt. I have Chapter 8 to share so readers can see for themselves the detailed illustrations and some of the tribal life Jewitt wrote about. Here’s a description of the book from the publisher:

“From the creators of the award-winning Trickster and District Comics, comes another graphic novel about adventure and tribal life. After his ship is burned and his shipmates killed, British sailor John Jewitt lived for nearly three years as a captive of the Mowachaht people on the west coast of Vancouver Island. During his captivity, Jewitt kept journals of his experiences and of tribal life. Follow his adventures as he plies his skills as a blacksmisth, saves his only remaining crew member, and comes up with a strategy to free them both.”

Download the chapter now to read about how the tribe prepared for a whale hunt. Captive of Friendly Cove: Captive Of FriendlyCove Chapter 8.

Book Review: Faking Balance by Lela Davidson

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Faking Balance cover imageManaging the conflicting priorities of work, marriage and motherhood often calls for a juggling act that can stress even the most calm women, who are often told that being successful at all three is just a matter of balance. Along comes Lela Davidson, a writer with a wicked sense of humor and a willingness to lay bare some of the challenges she has faced in the major areas of life since getting pregnant with her first child in the 1990s.

Davidson’s collection of essays, Faking Balance: Adventures in Work and Life, is honest, funny, and refreshing. Her stories start with an essay that tells how she set up a spreadsheet to plan to her first pregnancy, and then go on to describe the challenges of early motherhood, the jobs she held over the years, and the challenges she faced trying to make it all work. I saw similarities to my own family life in situations such as taking family portraits, hanging out with the kids at Chuck E. Cheese’s, struggling to get out of the house on time, wishing for rain to cancel soccer practice, and more.

Through it all I felt like I could have been having a cup of coffee with a friend, listening to her stories and laughing about the situations once the stress of the moment was in the past. Davidson’s stories capture the universality of experience for many women. Because of that, I believe it appeals to moms who work outside the home as well as those who don’t.

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Book Review: Marvelous Cornelius by Phil Bildner

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Marvelous CorneliusTen years ago, Hurricane Katrina devastated the city of New Orleans. Some questioned whether it would ever be rebuilt. Yet, the efforts of many determined people—residents and volunteers from around the country and the world—have brought the city back from the brink and restored many of the areas that were affected.

Phil Bildner celebrates the recovery and the efforts of everyone who wouldn’t give up on New Orleans with a picture book called Marvelous Cornelius: Hurricane Katrina and the Spirit of New Orleans. The story is about Cornelius Washington, a sanitation worker in the French Quarter who captivated residents with singing, dancing, and performing tricks. Bildner shows how before the storm Cornelius’s pride in his work inspired those around him. After Katrina, that same can-do spirit and pride got people to pitch in on the clean up.

John Parra’s compelling illustrations capture the French Quarter scene, with the pigeons, iron-lace-work balconies, street cars, brick sidewalks, and lively residents. A note at the end talks about the life of the real Cornelius and the author’s experience in New Orleans. I recommend Marvelous Cornelius for readers aged 3 to 6 and their parents.

The publisher provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review and Giveaway: Lock & Mori by Heather W. Petty

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Lock & Mori cover imageToday I’m taking part in a blog tour for a book that looks at how the relationship between Sherlock Holmes and James Moriarty would be different if they met as teenagers and if Moriarty was a girl. It’s interesting to see how the author plays with the well known crime-committing/crime solving duo. The book is called Lock & Mori by Heather W. Petty, and I have one copy to give away to a reader in the U.S. If you’d like a chance to win a copy, just leave a comment below about your favorite Sherlock story. Just be sure to comment by midnight (PDT), Monday, September 14. Please note: The giveaway is closed. Congratulations to Bridget on winning.

Here’s my review:

Imagine Sherlock Holmes in high school in modern day London meeting a girl named James “Mori” Moriarty. The two geniuses are bound together in an effort to solve a murder in a nearby park. They have only one rule: They must tell each other everything they discover along the way. But Mori finds the murder hits closer to home than she would have thought, and soon enough she is hiding clues from Sherlock in the hopes of solving the case on her own. But getting to the bottom of things may just ruin the romance developing between the two of them.

Lock & Mori by Heather W. Petty is an imaginative look at the relationship between Sherlock Holmes and his nemesis James Moriarty sure to delight teen readers. Creating Moriarty as a female character totally changes the way the two great minds approach each other. The book is told from Mori’s point of view, and while readers identify with her, they also see a glimpse of personality traits that hint at a future that could turn to crime.

While I was disappointed that the mystery was not very difficult to solve, the action remained compelling to read throughout until the end. I recommend Lock & Mori for readers aged 12 to 16.

The publisher provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review and Giveaway: Friends and Frenemies

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Friends and Frenemies cover imageToday I’m taking part in a blog tour for a book that helps kids navigate the world of friendships. I have one copy to give away of Friends and Frenemies: The Good, The Bad, and The Awkward to a reader in the U.S. Just leave a comment here about what you appreciate in a friend. Be sure to comment by midnight, September 13 for a chance to win. Please note: The giveaway is closed. Congratulations to Sandra on winning.

Here’s my review:

Having good friends and being a good friend are some of the biggest issues kids face as they go through school. Questions kids may ask themselves include: How do I make new friends? What happens when my best friend and I have a fight? Is gossiping ever a good idea? Friends and Frenemies: The Good, The Bad and The Awkward by Jennifer Castle and Deborah Reber aims to answer those questions and more. In short, easy to digest chapters, the authors cover the basics of friendships along with interactive features such as quizzes, suggested journal entries, poll results and other interesting tidbits. The chapters are colorful, and illustrations by Kaela Graham enhance readability.

Friends and Frenemies is a great book for readers aged 9 to 12. They can easily read the book all the way through to the end and then go back to do activities as specific issues come up that they need to deal with. That way it becomes a reference that can help with friendship issues through the years.

The publisher provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

 

Book Review: The Survival Guide to Bullying by Aija Mayrock

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The Survival Guide to Bullying cover imageBullied during middle school and high school, Aija Mayrock decided to write a book to help others who may be suffering as well. The Survival Guide to Bullying: Written by a Teen is her small book with the potential for a big impact on its readers.

Drawing on her own experience and including advice from experts, Mayrock has created a guide that can be read straight through, or readers can choose the chapters that may be most relevant to them at the moment and start there. It’s easy to go back over any section for rereading as well.

Mayrock asks teens to answer questions that can help them assess the severity of the bullying they experience, and she offers suggestions on where they can find help. While her story inspired her to write the book, few details of her own experience are included, which helps anyone to see their own situations in what she describes. Also, Mayrock opens each chapter with a “roem,” a phrase she coined to describe the rap poems she wrote about her feelings of being bullied and finding strength to get through it.

The Survival Guide to Bullying has universal appeal, and it can help anyone see their own experience in its pages. It should be helpful for those being bullied as well as for those who seek to support them.

The publisher provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review and Giveaway: Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty

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I am excited to be participating in a blog tour today for Serafina and the Black Cloak, a great mystery with a little bit of historical fiction added in for readers aged 9 to 12. As part of the tour I have a prize pack with an advanced readers copy, bookmark, stickers, pen, and a notebook to give away. If you’d like to have a chance to win, just leave a comment before midnight (PDT), Wednesday, July 22 about why you like to read mystery books. Please note: The giveaway is closed. Congratulations to Susan on winning.

Here’s a bit of info about the author:

Robert Beatty photo

Robert Beatty

Robert Beatty lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, North Carolina with his wife and three daughters, who help create and refine his stories. He loves to explore the grand Biltmore Estate and the darkened forest trails where his novels take place. Robert’s Disney Hyperion novel Serafina and the Black Cloak will go on sale July 14, 2015. He writes full-time now, but in his past lives, Robert was one of the early pioneers of cloud computing, the founder/CEO of Plex Systems, the co-founder of Beatty Robotics, and the chairman/CTO of Narrative Magazine. In 2007, he was named an Entrepreneur of the Year. Answering a question about the inspiration for his book, Robert said, “Serafina’s journey grew out of my desire to write a story about an unusual and heroic young girl for my three daughters.” Visit him on the Web at robert-beatty.com. Also, you may want to check out the book trailer.

Now, here’s my review:

Serafina and the Black Cloak cover imageSerafina lives in the basement of the enormous Biltmore estate in North Carolina, where her father tends to the electrical equipment. The castle has lots of places to hide, and Serafina knows all of them. Her dad keeps her a secret, and she knows there’s something different about her, but she’s not sure what. When Serafina encounters a man in a black cloak who takes children, she decides to come out of the shadows to stop him before he entraps her as well.

Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty combines a bit of history, a bit of mystery, and a bit of magic to create a page-turning story for young readers. As Serafina finds out about who she is and where she came from, she finds courage to face a supernatural force. She also finds her first friend in Braeden Vanderbilt, nephew of the owners, who has experienced tragedy of his own.

It’s fun for readers to learn details of the famed Biltmore estate and the rural area where it’s located. Serafina is courageous, curious, and talented at performing unusual tasks. Her story is sure to appeal to both moms and daughters in mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged 9 to 13.

The publisher provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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