Friday, August 9, 2019

Arrg-ust Early Reader Bedtime Story: Pirate Attack by Deborah Lock

Read for: Early Reader Challenge


Synopsis: "Join Captain Blackbeard and his pirate crew for an action-packed adventure on the high seas in this Level 2 DK Reader that features photographs, diagrams, fun facts, and strong visual clues.
Pirate Attack! will build reading skills while teaching exciting vocabulary and entertaining young readers as they experience attacking another pirate ship, winning the treasure, and overcoming a storm at sea.
Perfect for 5 to 7-year-olds beginning to read fluently with support, Level 2 titles contain carefully selected photographic images to complement the text, providing strong visual clues to build vocabulary and confidence. Additional information spreads are full of extra fun facts, developing the topics through a range of nonfiction presentation styles such as diagrams and activities."
My Review: I picked up this book for Arrg-ust from the library and I was really pleasantly surprised. It is a great non-fiction read that keeps it simple and clear for young readers. It also has bright and often full page pictures. We loved the little facts that the parrot kept stating and the end was great with new vocab words, little quiz game and more pirate fun. All around a great level 2 early reader book.
My Rating: This was a great early reader, simple to read but with lots of interesting facts, read almost like a myth buster.  We give it a rating of Four Paws!

Good Night! Sweet Dreams!


Thursday, August 8, 2019

Arrg-ust Review of Pirate Stories: 10 Bad and Dangerous Pirate Stories by John Townsend

Read for: Recently Added 


Synopsis: "Are you on board for some swashbuckling, seafaring adventures? These 10 pirate stories will shiver your timber, mateys! 
 
Hidden treasure. Daring raids. Scurvy scoundrels, ready to wield a cutlass at a minute’s notice. Get ready to sail the seven seas with some of the world’s scariest pirates! Danger lurks in every salty shadow and there‘s plenty of bloodcurdling menace in these 10 tales, including “Kidnap,” “The Grisly Crimes of Captain Bartelmy,” “Escape from the Kraken,” “Blackbeard’s Gold,” and “The Mysterious Legend of Ocean Born Mary.”'

My Review: Summer is the time for pirate books and this one was intriguing. It reads as stories within a story but they are broken up in such a way that you can enjoy a story at time. It was also easy to read with large print though it does alternate between black text on white pages and white text on black pages, which was unusual. There is danger and typical pirate things but all in all it wasn't too scary for a younger audience, and was entertaining as an adult reading it as well.

My Rating: I was very pleasantly surprised with this one, I was expecting to be too scared to sleep at night but as it is written for a younger audience it wasn't too bad.  I think Middle Grade readers will really enjoy this one.  I give it a rating of Three Paws.

Wednesday, August 7, 2019

Blog Tour: Review of One Year Home by Marie Force



Read for: Requested Review & RI Author!




Synopsis: "He came home a hero and lost the only woman he’s ever loved... 


Navy Captain John West has no idea how to survive without his beloved Ava, who moved on with her life during John's six-year deployment and has now married Eric. He’d prefer to wallow in his depression and heartbreak, but the whole damned world wants a piece of the SEAL Team leader who helped capture the world’s most-wanted terrorist. He needs help handling the relentless requests, and when Ava sends her new sister-in-law to manage the media circus for him, John is prepared to hate her on principle. Her brother took his Ava. What else does he need to know about her? 



Julianne Tilden realizes right away that Ava’s ex is going to be the most complicated and difficult client she’s ever had, but an opportunity to represent the most celebrated man in the world could make her career. She’s determined to do the job, even if she dislikes John from the moment she meets him. And Julianne likes everyone. So much so that her brothers worry about her being taken advantage of by those who would exploit her unwavering love for others. But John… He’s in a class by himself, and his bitterness is a festering wound that she begins to wish she could somehow fix for him. 

The more time John and Julianne spend together, the more their mutual disdain morphs into something that feels an awful lot like desire. There’s no way she could want this man, or so she tells herself, and when Eric finds out she’s developed feelings for the man causing trouble in his new marriage, well…. 

That’s going to be a hot mess."


My Review: I am so glad I held off reading Five Years Gone until I got my hands one One Year Home, I don't know if I could have dealt with the wait to find out what happened to John after the stormy ending of book one. Jules is an instant favorite for me, she is confident and outgoing, fun and yet firm when needed, she doesn't shy away from any challenge. I enjoyed John's journey, after watching Ava suffer through so much of book one, I was expecting a very painful and dark book at times, but lessons were learned and a lot of growth happens both on and off the pages. The chaos that surrounds the media tour reads very true and believable, at times I had to remind myself that this is fiction and not really happening! Now the question I need answered, does Muncie get his own story?!


My Rating: I, of course, loved this book and the characters in it. I was pleasantly surprised to find it to be more lighthearted than I expected.  I also really appreciated the few visits back with Eric and Ava.  I give it a rating of Four Paws!



I received a complimentary copy of One Year Home from the publicist. The above is my honest review and opinion.  This review is being posted as part of a blog tour celebrating the release of One Year Home.

PURCHASE IT NOW

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PURCHASE FIVE YEARS GONE

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----------------------------

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Marie Force is the New York Times bestselling author of contemporary romance, including the indie-published Gansett Island Series and the Fatal Series from Harlequin Books. In addition, she is the author of the Butler, Vermont Series, the Green Mountain Series and the erotic romance Quantum Series. Duchess By Deception is the first in her new historical romance Gilded Series, that will continue with Deceived By Desire in September 2019.
Her books have sold more than 8.5 million copies worldwide, have been translated into more than a dozen languages and have appeared on the New York Times bestseller list 30 times. She is also a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller, a Speigel bestseller in Germany, a frequent speaker and publishing workshop presenter as well as a publisher through her Jack’s House Publishing romance imprint. She is a three-time nominee for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA® award for romance fiction.
Her goals in life are simple—to finish raising two happy, healthy, productive young adults, to keep writing books for as long as she possibly can and to never be on a flight that makes the news.
Join Marie's mailing list for news about new books and upcoming appearances in your area. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter @marieforce and on Instagram. Join one of Marie's many reader groups. Contact Marie at marie@marieforce.com.
 

AUTHOR LINKS:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Newsletter | Goodreads

Join Marie's Reader Groups

Tuesday, August 6, 2019

Arrg-ust Review of Lost Boy: The True story of Captain Hook by Christina Henry

Read for: Recently Added & Audio Book Challenge

Synopsis: "There is one version of my story that everyone knows. And then there is the truth. This is how it happened. How I went from being Peter Pan’s first—and favorite—lost boy to his greatest enemy.

Peter brought me to his island because there were no rules and no grownups to make us mind. He brought boys from the Other Place to join in the fun, but Peter's idea of fun is sharper than a pirate’s sword. Because it’s never been all fun and games on the island. Our neighbors are pirates and monsters. Our toys are knife and stick and rock—the kinds of playthings that bite.

Peter promised we would all be young and happy forever."

My Review: After reading the original Peter Pan for the first time last year, I discovered that I really didn't like Peter all that much. So I wanted to give a Hook origin story a try. I listened to this one on audio book and I really enjoyed it. You really get a feel for the growing distance and anger between Jamie and Peter as the story progresses. I like the way that we are shown how aging starts to occur, resulting in Jamie becoming an adult while Peter still remains young. I would have appreciated someone telling me that there are giant man eating spiders in the book though so I could have either skimmed that part or at least not read it right before bed! Anyway, I like this version of the story from young Hook's point of view.

My Rating: I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this origin story, though I wish it went a little further.  I give it a rating of Three Paws and a Stump Wag!

Monday, August 5, 2019

Monday Reading List


It is Monday again, and time to update with what I read last week, what I am currently reading and what to look forward to next week.



Reviews Posted Last Week:
Links will take you to my review

Unbreak Me by Michelle Hazen
Pirates in Pajamas by Caroline Crow (Bedtime Story)
Princeless Vol. 3: The Pirate Princess by Jeremy Whitley (Graphic Novel)

 Books Finished Last Week:
Reviews will be posted at a later date

Pirasaur
The Pirate Queen
Pirates in Pajamas
Princeless Vol. 3: The Pirate Princess


Currently Reading:
Realm by Alexandrea Weis - Ebook - 11%
The Storyteller by Traci Chee - Multiple Formats - 31%
Fire by Kristin Cashore - Print - on page 143 of 480



Pages Read/ Time Listened
377:25 Hours Listened (None listened this week)
20,475 Pages Read (232 this week)

Books Added to Shelves Recently: TBR
The Snow Gypsy
WarDance
Warsong
Lost Boy
Year One
Girl Who Drank the Moon
King of Scars
Dactyl Hill Squad
The Darkdeep
Lord of the Fading Lands
Shadow of Doubt
Gates of Stone
A Conspiracy of Truths
Viper
Vortex Visions
Through the White Wood
Descendant of the Crane
Holy Sister
Dark Harmony
The Sea Queen
The Mountain of Kept Memory
Metamorphica
Misfits of Avalon Vol. 1
Misfits of Avalon Vol. 2
The Sea King
Ride Hard
Ride Rough
Ride Wild
Force of Attraction
Primal Force
Rival Forces
A Rogue by Any Other Name
A Scot in the Dark
The Day of the Duchess
The Pirate Bride
Man Made Boy
This Monstrous Thing
Dear Santa
An Endless Christmas
Christmas Magic
Falling Softly
Christmas Town
The Christmas Star
Gris Grimly's Frankenstein
The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter
We Hunt the Flame
Romanov
Dreaming the Bear
A New Hope
Monsters
The Monsters We Deserve
Strange Star
Ghostly Tales from the Lost Summer of 1816
The Bride Test
Storm and Fury
Queen of Ruin
Stepsister
Kingdom of Exiles
The Thankful Unicorn
Star Wars: Pirate Price


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As predicted vacation reading did not go so well, I only got a tiny bit of reading done but I guess that is what happens when you are at a cabin on a lake with 8 adults, 8 children (6 of whom were under 4) and 4 dogs. Oh well, now that it is back to the real world and I have a ton of laundry to catch up on so audio books will be reigning this week! 

Did you notice last week that I announced Arrg-ust?! I am so excited to share the new pirate books I have been discovering!  I will have a few other books up as well this month but for the most part I will have pirate books for all ages.