The Adventures of Brooklet and the Magical Monkey Pants Review & Giveaway

Product: The Adventures of Brooklet and the Magical Monkey Pants

Company/Creator: Magical Books

Where to Buy: Amazon

Recommend?: Yes

Book description: Brooklet doesn’t want to go to bed she just wants to wear her monkey pants! Lu Lu, her brown-eyed dog, watches as she ignores Mother’s instructions. When suddenly she is whisked into the night by a confused jay bird, starting a great adventure filled with spectacular forest creatures, enchanting music, and the royal monkey family who believes she has finally returned to them. All the while her monkey pants seem to be transforming her into a real monkey! Scared and missing her family, all she wants to do is get back home! Adventures of Brooklet and the Magical Monkey Pants is a fun and unique fantasy about a defiant little girl and her discovery of the power her new mysterious magical monkey pants, or was it all just a dream?

This was a great read for us. Naturally, Miss O does not like going to bed just like Brooklet. Brooklet had a very long, strange night away from her mother and when it was over she vowed to behave. I don't think my girls will be any easier to get to bed after reading this, haha, but it is a cute story nonetheless!

Would you like a chance to win a copy?

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I received a copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review via Tomoson.com. All opinions are my own. #monkeypants #promotion

The Best Advice a Tubby Turtle Can Get Review

Product: The Best Advice a Tubby Turtle Can Get 

Company/Creator: Ayala Raz

Where to Buy: Amazon

Recommend?: Yes..

Product Description

Book Description:
Toby is a cute, bright turtle, who loves to eat. He eats everything in sight, and the more he eats, the fatter he becomes. So fat, that his shell no longer fits his body. 

His mom calls for help, and experts flock to advise and support the little turtle. Each one has his own unique solution. But none of them works. 

When Toby has almost given up hope, he meets a wise old turtle who proposes a different approach. His proposal helps any boy or girl who wants to lose weight to succeed. 

This amusing story helps children to comprehend that there are no magical solutions to real problems and that the right way is not always the easiest. 

At the end of the story there are some fun food ideas which the young reader can enjoy making. Each one is a unique, illustrated recipe for creating and serving healthy food.

Hm.  I guess I like the idea, about working hard to eat right and take care of your body. It's a good message and lesson, and shows that quick fixes aren't going to do the trick.

 It was hard to read though. The rhyming was too forced. I'd have preferred it not even try to rhyme. Also not really suitable for my age range (almost 2 to almost 5), would be a more appropriate story for a slightly older bracket (elementary ages).

The most redeeming quality of the book, for me, is the fruit and veggie snack ideas at the end of the book! Very cute and would gain interest form the younger crowd. I'm not sure even a frog prince could convince my littles to eat peas though, unfortunately haha.


I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review via Tomoson.com. All opinions are my own. #promotion

The Monster on Top of The Bed Family of Books - Review

Product: Monster on Top of the Bed Family of Books

Company/Creator: Alan H. Jordan

Where to Buy: Amazon

Recommend?: Yes

Synopsis of The Monster on Top of the Bed
Once upon a time there was a little girl named Suzy, who used to jump up and down on her bed having just a great time. This scared a young critter named Karrit who lived under Suzy’s bed. But, Karrit heard Suzy do all sorts of nice things for people, and he wanted her to be his friend. Still, Suzy ate strange things like cakes made out of pans (pancakes) and the toes of toemays (tomatoes) and—he couldn’t believe it—he heard her talk about eating something truly horrendous.
One day Karrit heard Suzy tell her mother that she was lonely and needed a friend. Because of that Karrit decided to visit Suzy, and Suzy got to meet him. At first Suzy was scared of Karrit. After all, he had red, scaly legs, and a blue nose, but he seemed a little scared too. Suzy treated Karrit the way that she would want to be treated if she had gone to his house.

As they grew to know each other, Suzy found out that Karrit didn’t understand some English words. Suzy figured out what was confusing Karrit, and she was sorry to have scared him. She showed him a hotdog (she didn’t eat dogs that were hot) a tomato (she didn’t eat the toes of matoes) and a carrot (she definitely didn’t eat Karrits).
Suzy made Karrit feel that she liked him, and that she wanted him to be happy. Because of that, the two of them played. They kept getting to know each other better until one day they both realized that they didn’t have to be afraid of each other, and that it was a mistake for each of them to think the other was a

“monster.” Suzy and Karrit became best friends, and neither was afraid of monsters again.

This is NOT just one book.  The Monster on Top of the Bed is just part of a family of books and audio books and activity guides that work together to create a fantastic experience for children.  What makes this experience so valuable is that the child actually gets to create their own story to banish their fears, and that they also get to spend hours coloring, learning to count, understanding phonics, etc.

This story is very cute. It is a good story for teaching about perception. Maybe that thing you're frightened of is just misunderstood and even frightened of you! There is a blank copy of the story where children can write in their own words! Great opportunity for discussing fears and how we can make them less scary.

http://www.monbed.com

I received a copy of the book above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Leo SuperHero Children's Ebook #Review

Product: Leo SuperHero Children's Ebook


Company/Creator: The Brothers


Where to Buy: Amazon


Recommend?: Yes

A great adventure children's ebook : Leo’s Sunday Adventure begins early one Sunday morning when everybody is asleep. His cat, Milkshake, wakes him up and leads him to the kitchen where he finds something special. This is the beginning of Leo and Milkshake’s short adventure in the house and the back yard. This is a wonderful story for children. The story teaches children the importance of patience and love of others (they will meet a cat that does not always chase mice) and they will learn how Leo improvises, creatively using objects that he has learnt about.

I love the concept of this book, with breaking out of stereotypes and showing that anyone can be a superhero. Again, I have run into the issue of my littles not loving the Ebook format, but it is what it is. Another issue I've found common among Ebooks is the lack of really good editing. There are some typos that should be fixed. The story is good, but could be more exciting. Overall we really liked it. 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Animals Tails Children's Book Review

Product: Animals Tails Children's Book

Company/Creator: Dan Jackson


Where to Buy: Amazon


Recommend?: Yes

Animals Tails is not "JUST" a Book. It's really a good book.
This book describes animals and what they do with their tails. Join us and meet the Elephant, Giraffe, Fox, Cats and more. 
The book is a great book for kids to read alone or with their parents. The book contains great animals tails pictures. 

I was thinking this would be a little more geared for the baby, and she did love looking at the animals, but it was more appropriate for Miss O. It's full of very interesting facts about animals tails and why they are the way they are.  I find it a bit more difficult to keep their attention with Ebooks. That textile factor of a physical book makes a difference. It's more of an educational book than a fun read, which is ok, but is also something that makes it difficult to keep hold of those short attention spans. Needs a bit of editing.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

The Essential Gluten-Free Cookie Guide #Review

Product: The Essential Gluten-Free Cookie Guide

Company/Creator: Triumph Dining

Where to Buy: Amazon, or on their website
                           listed just below

Connect: website, twitter, facebook
                     pinterest, g+

Recommend?: Yes






We don't eat completely gluten free as it's not a dietary necessity and not cost efficient for us. However, I have made effort to decrease our gluten intake. Triumph Dining provides guides, apps, and recipes to make gluten-free living as easy and stress-free as possible. I received paperback copies of the Essential Gluten-Free Cookie Guide and the Essential Gluten-Free Grocery Guide.






I wasn't expecting the Grocery Guide! It was a great surprise! There are pages and pages filled with gluten-free foods. Honestly, I found that a bit overwhelming. I'm sure it's a fantastic resource for someone looking to replace their favorite (something) with a gluten free version. A lot of the things we consume, though, are homemade. So for me, it's much simpler to shop the outer aisles and when I do venture inward, check labels of the products I'm not sure about.





The cookie guide has a fantastic layout. It flows well and the pictures are great, although not in color. I don't mind the black and white personally. The first chapter is packed with information on the hows and whys of making your cookies just right.  I love the descriptions that are with each recipe.

As for the cookies....well, I'll start with the bad news. I hate flourless cookies. I tried the chocolate, I tried the peanut butter....I just can't do it.

The texture is disappointing. Miss O loved the batter for the chocolate (rocky road), but did not like either after cooking. Miss Em did love the peanut butter with marshmallows, though!

The good news, the recipes are super simple. The frosting and filling options are great. The ingredients aren't impossible to find. And the cookies with the writer's alternative flour blend in them? While still not the same as regular flour, they are sooooooo much better than the flourless ones. Don't forget the Xanthan gum!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Creativia Books #Review & #Giveaway (Sapphyre)

Title: Sapphyre
Series: Runestar Chronicles
Author: Jason Komito
Genre: Fantasy
Price: $6.99 on Amazon
Connect: Creativia: Facebook, Twitter, Website
                Jason Komito: Facebook, Twitter, Website
Recommend?: Maybe....

Creativia was founded by Miika Hannila in 2012 to "find great, authentic and unique stories and publish them with the quality they deserve."

I was given the opportunity to choose a Creativia book to review. My preferred genre is fantasy and sci fi, so after briefly looking those over I chose Sapphyre.

This book is written in present tense which may put off some readers, it really doesn't bother me. It could use some polishing in other respects though. Such as early in the book the main characters features changed...and no one acknowledged it. That was rather strange.  Other parts just sort of lack flow. I really like the character Sapphyre, though, and the concept of the story.

Are you an indie writer? Get your book published with Creativia here!

Creativia has offered 1 Book in PDF, ePub or Kindle format to one of my readers. There are multiple genres to choose from, your bound to find something that interests you! Enter below for your chance to win!

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I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

REVIEW: Charlie the Cavalier

Charlie the Cavalier Begs for Attentions is a book for ages 2-6 that helps them cope with long distance. It was written by Lisa Rusczyk and Illustrated by Magdalena Takáčová.

Being Separated From Loved Ones Is Difficult for Children and Adults

Every child need to be left by a loved one at one time for another, no matter how much the loved one wants to be with their child.  When people are separated by space, children want to know that there family member loves them and will be there for them.  They may try to video chat with their loved ones but not be able to get the attention of small children.  Charlie the Cavalier teaches children that their loved ones are safe and allows them to interact with loved one though being entertained while skyping.


Charlie the Cavalier Begs for Attention gets kids excited to interact by teaching families how to sing, whistle, dance, play games, and more while video chatting.The Charlie the Cavalier puppet started with a little girl who did not want to Skype with her family members that did not live close to home.  She wanted to interact but there was nothing that sparked her interest.


Now the Charlie the Cavalier puppet and book brings friends, families, and little ones together to interact while they may not be in the same physical location.
Meet the Creators

Lisa Rusczyk- Founder
Lisa Rusczyk has been a software trainer, mulitmedia technican, and instructional designer in the past. But she is now a stay at home Mom.
Lisa is currently earning a doctorate from the University of Phoenix in Educational Leadership with an emphasis in Teaching and Learning. She grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia but now lives in Lock Haven, PA.
Magdalena Takáčová- Illustrator
Magdalena is from The Czech Republic.  She comes from an artistic family. Magdalena amazing illustrations and love of animals makes her a perfect fit for this project.  In her free times she organizes art-workshops for local kids.

The book explains how sometimes family or friends are far away, but they will be back. With the help of a free printable puppet, the book assures children that Charlie is keeping their loved one safe while they are away. Print it out on heavy cardstock or attach to a paper bag for best result. I think the puppet would be cute for the other party to take on "adventures" and take a snapshot together.

At this point, my 4 year old wasn't that interested, though she does often talk about our friends that live far away. It may just be that it was an ebook. The author IS planning to release it in print soon, however. I do really like the concept, the artwork is cute, the rhymes are ok, and the inclusion of the familiar Twinkle Twinkle and ABCs is great.

You can purchase your own copy of Charlie the Cavalier begs for attention on Amazon for $2.99, and don't forget the free printable is available on the website!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

BOOK REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Sky2

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Title: Sky2: Detritus Machine
Series: Sky
Author: William Amerman
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Post-Apocalypse Thriller, Sci Fi
Sky2: Detritus Machine is available in Amazon Kindle format for $4.99
or on smashwords in multiple formats for $4.99

"The Sky series continues.
Ten years before the events of Sky1, Nick embarks on the assignment of a lifetime, descending deep within the World to Ground 42, the city of Muldoin. In this city, personal space is shockingly restricted and scarcity governs all aspects of life.
Nick's job is to investigate recent government policies that are more brutal than any the world has seen. Then, people start showing up. People who don't belong there. Men who wish only to perpetrate violence on the repressed population. A woman searches for a life without killing while the city aches for release, shuddering with anticipation of open rebellion.
This is the legend of Muldoin, the story of Nick and Anna."

I really loved all of the magic and dragons.

Just kidding, Bill.

Honest.

Ok, so there definitely is not magic nor dragons, although the words magic and dragon are mentioned in this one. The book is great anyway, though. But seriously. Sky2 is hard to put down. I fell asleep reading it a couple nights. Because, well, I only get to read after the girls go to bed usually...so of course by then I can barely stay awake as it is, but I needed to know what would happen next! I was fascinated by Anna in the first book and loved getting to know her more in this second book. She is quite something, you just never know what to expect from her. Nick doesn't seem to know whether he's terrified of her or enamored with her. The thing with this series, it's hard to decide whose side you're on. Every character has good and bad points and reasons to believe in their cause.

The concept of The World...I could completely see happening in a distant future. I could see a lot of "history repeating itself," except at an accelerated rate. I hope we get to find out more about what's in the Exo-World!

I've noticed the author likes to begin (both with the series as a whole and individual books) at a 'present moment,' back track and fill in the gaps, and then continue on into the 'future.' I mentioned in my review of Sky1 that I wasn't sure how I felt about this. It's grown on me a bit. I enjoying catching up and having those "oh, so that's why" moments. It has also left me with hope that there will be more beyond where Sky1 left off.

If you would like to read this book for yourself, you're in luck. I have been given the chance to share it with a lucky reader! You could read this book on its own as is, but I would suggest reading Sky1 first, because a little birdy told me Sky3 picks up after this one, so you'd be jumping back and forth even more than intended.

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I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

BOOK REVIEW: Sky1

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Title: Sky1: Foundation
Series: Sky
Author: William Amerman
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Post-Apocalypse Thriller, Sci Fi
Sky1: Foundation is available in Amazon Kindle format for $3.99
or on smashwords in multiple formats for $3.99

"Nick Burke has been allotted 389 square feet of living space by the government. Disease spreads quickly when people are packed together so tightly. Quarantines are regularly imposed in an effort to contain the spread of infection. Lately, though, rumors are spreading that quarantines on some Grounds are not being lifted.


When a quarantine is imposed on Nick's Ground, he and his family are trapped. The only way out is to break laws that carry a penalty of death. Fearing for his life and the safety of his family, Nick joins forces with a local group to move to another Ground. But can he trust his new friends?"



First of all, I want to note that the licensing note in this book made me smile. It says "This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people unless you really like it and, well, can't help yourself. Otherwise, if you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author." 

So. I must have missed the immigration lesson at school...I'm embarrassed to say I didn't realize emigration was a word. Thank you, handy dictionary, for enlightening me on the difference between immigration and emigration. Anyway, that said, I appreciate the author's use of it. There is quite a bit of intelligence lingering in this righting. In some ways it reminds me of reading a Chuck Palahniuk novel, which I love.

Anyway, at first I wasn't thrilled with the big leap backward toward the beginning of the book, as well as the way it jumped back and forth. Once everything started coming together, I kind of understood why he chose to start that way. I felt thoroughly sorry for Nick throughout the book. There are so many twist and turns, but it flows well. The supporting characters are fantastic and I quite enjoyed the personalities of the females, especially.

The ending took me by surprise. I don't want to divulge too much, but...it sure didn't end the way I "hoped" it would. It was good, because it was different. I know that the next  two books in the series are going to take place prior to this point, but I hope there is something in the future that will touch upon what happens to the other characters. I'm not sure whether it even could progress from there, but I felt like their stories were a bit too open-ended for that to be finished.

I have begun reading Sky2 as well and will have a giveaway for it soon, if you want to get a head start and read this first book, I'd recommend it.


I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

BOOK REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Writers of the Future Volume 30

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Title: Writers of the Future, Volume 30
Presenter: L. Ron Hubbard
Author:  Multiple
Genre: Sci Fi, Fantasy

Visit the main website

Volume 30 is available here, in Kindle format for $7.99, however I would say this one is worth the "splurge" to buy a paper copy for $12.15

"Celebrate new writers, new winners, new worlds.
This is is your escape into fantastic realms of the human mind lurking just beyond your imagination… and reaching deep into your wildest dreams.

This is is your ticket to tomorrow.

Celebrate the future of science fiction and fantasy… now."


I don't know where to begin with this. I had never heard of the Writers and Illustrators of the Future until finding this promotion to review Volume 30. Yeah, 30. That means 30 years. This has been around longer than I've been alive, and I had never heard of it. Something MUST be done to spread awareness about this program and the fantastic people that are part of it every year. I was lucky enough to receive this compilation as soon as prints were available. The official release date is 5/7/14.  There are a couple stories I wasn't completely into, but even those had very interesting ideas and were definitely worth reading! Most of these short stories left me wanting more. They are quite thought-provoking, with themes from real-world potential (or lack there-of) to the worlds of our dreams (or nightmares, depending how you look at it). The most wonderful thing about the Sci Fi genre is the endless possibilities. My personal favorites were Another Range of Mountains, Beneath the Surface of Two Kills and Rainbows for Other Days.

Also, make note that this is the Writers AND Illustrators of the Future competition now, which means there are not only fantastic aspiring authors' stories, but aspiring illustrators beautiful artwork. Every piece is amazing. I am so pleased to have received this book as a paperback to see the full color illustrations on paper.

I have also been given the opportunity to share this collection of short stories with TWO readers

NOTE: There have been issues with the Tomoson Contest Widget and I have had to replace it with GiveawayTools below. I apologize for any inconvenience, but entries could not be transferred.

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The following is pulled from the website:

L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 30 includes:

The year’s thirteen best tales from the Writers of the Future international writers’ program

Illustrated by winners in the Illustrators of the Future international illustrators’ program

Three short stories from authors

L. Ron Hubbard / Orson Scott Card / Mike Resnick

With essays on writing and illustration by

L. Ron Hubbard / Robert Silverberg / Val Lakey Lindahn

Edited by Dave Wolverton

Illustrations Art Directed by Stephen Hickman

Contents:

“Introduction” by Dave Wolverton

“Another Range of Mountains” by Megan E. O’Keefe

Illustrated by Sarah Webb

“Shifter” by Paul Eckheart

Illustrated by Michael Talbot

“Beneath the Surface of Two Kills” by Shauna O’Meara

Illustrated by Cassandre Bolan

“Artistic Presentation” by L. Ron Hubbard

“Beyond All Weapons” by L. Ron Hubbard

Illustrated by Adam Brewster

“Animal” by Terry Madden

Illustrated by Seonhee Lim

“Rainbows for Other Days” by C. Stuart Hardwick

Illustrated by Andrew Sonea

“Giants at the End of the World” by Leena Likitalo

Illustrated by Trevor Smith

“… And Now Thirty” by Robert Silverberg

“Carousel” by Orson Scott Card

Illustrated by Vincent-Michael Coviello

“The Clouds in Her Eyes” by Liz Colter

Illustrated by Kirbi Fagan

“What Moves the Sun and Other Stars” by K.C. Norton

Illustrated by Kristie Kim

“Long Jump” by Oleg Kazantsev

Illustrated by Adam Brewster

“These Walls of Despair” by Anaea Lay

Illustrated by Bernardo Mota

“Synaptic Soup” by Val Lakey Lindahn

“Robots Don’t Cry” by Mike Resnick

Illustrated by Andrew Sonea

“The Shaadi Exile” by Amanda Forrest

Illustrated by Vincent-Michael Coviello

“The Pushbike Legion” by Timothy Jordan

Illustrated by Cassandre Bolan

“Memories Bleed Beneath the Mask” by Randy Henderson

Illustrated by Vanessa Golitz

“A Word on the Art Direction” by Stephen Hickman

List of Illustrations by Artist

The Year in the Contests

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

BOOK REVIEW: Becoming Monsters

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Title: Becoming Monsters
Series: The Guardians of Esurack
Author:  Liss Thomas
Age Group:  Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Finding Monsters (Book 1) is available in Kindle format for $1.99 here (Borrow it for free with Amazon Prime!)
Becoming Monsters (Book 2) is available in Kindle format for $1.99 here
Visit the author's website


"It's been a year and a half and Missy, now close to seventeen years old finds herself returning to the human realm she left behind in hot pursuit of Anukhan, the thief that stole her blue light and almost left her dead. Sensing it when he uses her abilities, she along with Charlie, and Saal race to find this ruthless killer of men and monsters. But they realize almost too late that there is a physical connection between Missy and Anukhan and now stopping him with deadly force will prove fatal for Missy as well.
Undeterred, Missy prepares herself for a difficult fight, one that could cost more lives than she's willing to sacrifice. Unlike her quests in the monster realm, another silent killer returns. One she's fought against her entire life and this time, it could win."


Becoming Monsters is the second book in the Guardians of Esurack series.  I have not yet read the first book in the series, but I will. I really loved this story. Start to finish. I think the only part I disliked was that the love line between Saal and Eve progressed much too quickly. It's not the typical paranormal young adult story. Charlie and Missy, accompanied by Saal, are on a mission to find her light, which lands them in Egypt! They have a fast paced adventure that keeps you guessing. It's an emotional ride for the children and their companions with a few shocking moments. Anukhan, who stole Missy's light in effort to bring who-knows-what sort of chaos, is dreadful. However, there were moments that I thought he may even care for Missy on some level. I look forward to reading Finding Monsters, as well as continuations in this series.

Special note if you've come this far - for TWO DAYS (May 4 and 5) books 1 and 2 are going to be available for FREE. Grab them! It's a good read.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

BOOK REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Haven

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Title: A Stranger Magic (Book 1) and Revenge of the Viper (Book 2)
Series: Haven
Author:  D.C. Akers
Age Group:  Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal Fantasy
Haven: A Stranger Magic is currently available for free in Amazom Kindle format or multiple formats on Smashwords
Haven: Revenge of the Viper is currently available for $3.99 in Amazon Kindle format.

"HAVEN SERIES: Known as a place of refuge, Haven is a sanctuary for those with supernatural abilities. Decades of peace between the Witches, Vampires, Goblins, Elves, and Orcs is coming to an end. Now the once tranquil world is shrouded in deception and corruption. Dark secrets tear at the very fabric of their alliance, giving way to an evil that stirs in the shadows. Exhilarating and utterly gripping, the HAVEN series is an action-packed journey full of suspense, magic, mystery, and intrigue."




The start of the A Stranger Magic immediately caught my interest and I had quite high hopes for what would come. The introductions to this seemingly ordinary family in a small town dragged on a bit, though. A hard-working, widowed mother, Alise, and her two adolescent children--an angsty boy and a snotty popular girl. That was my first impression of Sam and Sarah Dalcome, at least. The two did grow on me as the story went on. Namely, after the very long, detailed first day. I was having some difficulty staying focused at that point, but once I got through, it certainly picked back up again. I found that while they really do have those qualities, but they also have more depth that makes them likable. In the end I was left wondering where this story was going?! What's a Keeper? What happened to Mr. Dalcome? Does Alise remember everything or has she long since suppressed it? What role would Travis, Sam's best friend, have in this? I really have to think of this novella as a preamble to appreciate it as there isn't much actual story to it. Obviously, it was intended to introduce the characters and a base level of what Haven is, and as such it did a fair job. Not fantastic, but not a waste if you have immediate access to the second.


Going into Revenge of the Viper, I was looking forward to discovering more about the world of Haven and the Dalcome family history.  In contrast to the first book, a lot happened. It was quite an emotional chain of events in a short time frame. Maybe a little too much? I'm not sure. There were many unexpected turns. Sam and Sarah's character development was more compelling than before. Sam learned a very important lesson as the Dalcomes' world turned upside down. Like the first, this book is filled with fantastic descriptive words. That is really the most enjoyable aspect of the Haven series. It's difficult to say much more without giving key details of the plot. I enjoyed reading this book a lot more than the first and I do plan to see how things turn out!

The story is written in a way that is appropriate for the Young Adult category and is easy to follow. It's a pretty good fantasy/sci fi read once the story gets rolling. While I really love the descriptions Akers gives, I could have live without the spiders' details ;]

I have also been given the opportunity to SHARE this book with you!

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I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.