ARC Review - Safe in His Arms

Safe in His Arms
By Colleen Coble
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Pub. Date: January 29, 2013
ISBN: 978-1595549143
ASIN: B008R9CE50
Pages: 320
Buy Link: http://ow.ly/hc6cu
Blog Tour: http://litfusegroup.com/author/CCoble 

Review: 

In this sequel to last year's Blue Moon Promise, Margaret O'Brien was born and raised on a ranch in Larson, Texas. She doesn't care for household chores as she would rather be out helping her father on the ranch. Her brother had died in the war and ever since she has taken over his role in running the ranch. She hopes to one day inherit the ranch, but her dreams change when her father announces that he is soon to retire and he is leaving the ranch to her cousin. He wants her to fall in love, get married and raise a family instead of working as a rancher.

Margaret had given up hope of finding a husband and having children. She had accepted that her life is on the ranch, but know matter how she explains it to her father, he won't listen to her.

ARC Review - Night Buddies: Impostors and One Far-Out Flying Machine

Night Buddies: Impostors and One Far-Out Flying Machine
By Sands Hetherington
Publisher:Dune Buggy Press
Pub. Date: February 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-0984741724
Pages: 320

Review:

Earlier this year, I reviewed the delightful children's book titled Night Buddies and the Pineapple Cheesecake Scare for a book tour, and last month, Bostick Communications and Dune Buggy Press nicely sent me an advanced copy of the sequel in exchange for my honest review.

Crosley, the red crocodile in a yellow jacket and his young friend John Degraffenreidt are back in Night Buddies: Impostors and One Far-Out Flying Machine. Picking up where the first left off, Crosley returns to John's house for their second Night Buddies program. Once again, time is almost still inside the Degraffenredit home, making it easier for John to leave for his new mission along with Crosley as when he returns only a few seconds would have gone by.

Crosley is in shock when he checks into the Night Buddies Headquarters as it seems he had already checked in earlier that night. How could this be? Did he forget that he already checked in?

ARC Audio Review - Killer's Law

Killer's Law
By L. Ron Hubbard
Directed by Jim Meskimen and Tait Ruppert
Voice Cast: Jennifer Darling, Brooke Bloom, Corey Burton, Bob Caso, R.F. Daley, John Mariano, Jim Meskimen, Enn Reitel, Richard Rocco and Tait Ruppert
Studio: Galaxy Press
ISBN-13: 978-1592122769
Release Date: October 22, 2012
Running Time: Approx. 2 hours

Review:

The 1930s and 1940s were known as the golden age, a time when many unknown writers published their work in Pulp Fiction magazines as they were paid around a penny a word. Unlike the higher-class magazines that were printed on glossy paper with higher production values, pulp magazines were published on cheap brown pulp paper and featured adventures, science fiction tales, mysteries, and many other stories.

Galaxy Press has been releasing the short stories written by author L. Ron Hubbard that were published during the golden age under the Stories of a Golden Age line of paperbacks and audiobooks. They nicely sent me a free audiobook of the "Killer's Law" for this review.

"Killer's Law" was originally published in the September 1947 issue of New Detective Magazine, where Sheriff Kyle travels from Deadeye, Nevada to Washington D.C. to personally deliver evidence against a rich copper king to Senator Meringue. Suddenly, Kyle is knocked unconscious. When he awakes he is surrounded by policemen asking questions and reporters snapping pictures. It seems that the Senator was murdered and Kyle is holding the murder weapon.

13 Days of Halloween: ARC Review - The Mammoth Book Slasher Movies

The Mammoth Book Slasher Movies 
An A-Z Guide to More than 60 Years of Blood and Guts
By Peter Normanton
Publisher: Running Press
ISBN: 978-0762445967
Pub. Date: October 23, 2012
Pages: 512
Buy Link: The Mammoth Book of Slasher Movies

For twenty-three years, I have been a diehard horror fan ever since my grandma let me watch the horror classic John Carpenter's Halloween. It was the censored version that aired on network television, but it was my first introduction to the horror genre. Of course I was excited when I learned that Running Press was releasing a new book about slasher films. Running Press nicely sent me an advanced review copy earlier this month in exchange for this review.

Author and Editor Peter Normanton compiled the best slasher movie from 1916 to 2011 into one nifty guide for horror fans, starting with 28 Days Later and ending with Zombie Flesh Eaters. You might be thinking “Why is there zombie movies listed in a slasher book?” as that was the exact question that popped into my mind when I began reading it. The tagline on the front cover does say "An A-Z Guide to More Than 60 Years of Blood and Guts," and the back cover does mention that book contains more than 250 slasher and splatter movies. So that explains the zombie flicks, such as Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead, Return of the Living Dead and a few others.

"Blood on the Walls" opens up the mammoth book and gives a history lesson on horror cinema throughout the years, followed by an A-Z listing of each movie containing a synopsis and several facts about the movie.

The movies listed are:

ARC Review - Falling Skies Volume 2: The Battle of Fitchburg

Falling Skies Volume 2: The Battle of Fitchburg
Authors: Paul Tobin, Mark Verheiden, Danilo Beyruth
Artists:  Andrew Dalhouse, Danilo Beyruth, Juan Ferreyra, Patric Reynolds
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
ISBN: 9781616550141 
Pub Date: October 10, 2012
Pages: 136

Falling Skies is the hit summer science-fiction television show that airs on TNT and just ended its second season. Dark Horse Comics and TNT released The Battle of Fitchburg digital comic book series during the summer to fill in the gap between seasons one and two. Dark Horse Comics will be releasing the series in one volume next month. I got advanced copy through NetGalley free of charge for this review.

At the end of season one Tom Mason voluntarily went aboard the alien ship. Captain Dan Weaver leads the 2nd Massachusetts Militia Regiment against the six-legged skitters in Fitchburg Massachusetts. The Militia is outnumbered and out gunned, but they are determined to fight the aliens with everything that they have.

ARC Review - The Hallowed Ones

 
THE HALLOWED ONES
Laura Bickle
Reading level: Ages 12 and up
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Graphia
Pub Date: September 25, 2012
ISBN-10: 0547859260
ISBN-13: 978-0547859262

Blurb:

If your home was the last safe place on earth, would you let a stranger in?

In this captivating thriller, an Amish settlement is the last safe haven in a world plagued by an unspeakable horror…

Katie is on the verge of her Rumspringa, the time in Amish life when teenagers are free to experience non-Amish culture before officially joining the church. But before Rumspringa arrives, Katie’s safe world starts to crumble. It begins with a fiery helicopter crash in the cornfields, followed by rumors of massive unrest and the disappearance of huge numbers of people all over the world. Something is out there...and it is making a killing.

Unsure why they haven’t yet been attacked, the Amish Elders make a decree: No one goes outside their community, and no one is allowed in. But when Katie finds a gravely injured young man lying just outside the boundary of their land, she can’t leave him to die. She refuses to submit to the Elder’s rule and secretly brings the stranger into her community—but what else is she bringing in with him?

Review:

I've been an Amish fiction fan for several years every since I read my first Beverly Lewis book. I'm also a fan of vampire novels, like the Vampire Diaries and The Southern Vampire Mysteries. In The Hallowed Ones I get a combination of Amish fiction and vampires!

ARC Review - Batman: The Dark Night: Volume 1: Knight Terrors

Batman: The Dark Knight: Volume 1: Knight Terrors
By: David Finch
Publisher: DC Comics
ISBN: 9781401235437
Pub Date: October 9, 2012
Pages: 208
Pre-Order: Amazon.com


Batman is back in this new volume of consisting of the issues 1-9:  Knight Terrors, A Rush of Blood, Catch Me If You Can, Welcome to the Jungle, Handful of Dust, Run Rabbit Run, The Final Curtain, The Madness, and  I Can No Longer Be Broken.

A mysterious woman dressed as a white rabbit enters into the Arkham injects the inmates with a special venom. An explosion causes chaos inside Arkham. Batman rushes inside, afraid that his old enemy Two-Face has escaped, but to his surprise, Two-Face is very much alive. The venom injected into him has caused him to take on a hulk like appearance and he now refers to himself as One-Face.

ARC Review - A Plain Scandal

A Plain Scandal
An Appleseed Creek Mystery
Written By: Amanda Flower
Publisher: B&H Books
ISBN: 9781433676987
Pub. Date: February 15, 2013
Pages: 336
Pre-Order: Amazon.com

Chloe Humphrey is enjoying her life working at a college in Appleseed Creek, Ohio, but her life is turned upside down when she is informed that house that she rents with her roommate Becky has a new owner who plans on remodeling and selling the house.

Someone is going around the community grabbing Amish girls and cutting their hair. Chloe finds a body of an Amish man. He had been murdered and his beard has been shaved off. An elderly Amish man is pushed up against his own horse & buggy and someone cuts his beard off!

ARC Review - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Written by: Denise Mina
Illustrated by: Andrea Muttti
Publisher: Vertigo/DC Comics
ISBN: 9781401235574
Pub Date: November 13, 2012
Pages: 152
Pre-order on Amazon.com

Based upon the best-selling trilogy by the late author Stieg Larsson is the new graphic novel adaptation from DC Comics/Vertigo. Thanks to edelweiss I got a chance to see a sneak peak at issue one. The complete book will be on sale on November 13th!

The graphic novel follows the same plot from the original books and both the US and Swedish movie versions. Mikael Blomkvist, a journalist who is having major legal trouble, is asked to investigate a forty-something-year-old missing case by Mr. Vanger.

ARC Review - The Lost Prince

The Lost Prince
By: Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
ISBN: 978-0373210572
Pub Date: October 30, 2012
Pages: 400

Ethan Chase lives a life full of fear. His sister, Meghan Chase, is now the Iron Queen, and he is about to start classes at a new school, in which he dreads. You see, just like his sister, he can see Faeries and if these creatures find out that he can see him, then his life would be over.

He keeps to himself as he doesn't want to attract attention, but a teenage girl, Kenzie St. James, takes an interest in him, despite his resistance. Then he meets another schoolmate, Todd Wyndham, who he recognizes is a half-faerie. Todd thinks someone or something is after him.

Mysterious ghost like faeries appear and soon Todd disappears without a trace. Todd's parents and the police have no clue where the boy could have gone, but Ethan knows what happened to him. Those ghostly faeries took him and the faeries now have eyes on Ethan.

ARC Review - Star Trek: The Next Generation / Doctor Who: Assimilation 2

Star Trek: The Next Generation / Doctor Who: Assimilation 2 
Contributors: J. K. Woodward
Publisher: IDW Publishing
ISBN: 9781613774038
Pub Date:  October 02, 2012 
Pages: 104 

The Federation Planet Delta IV is attacked by the Borg and a new race called the Cybermen.

In the past, The Doctor, Amy and her husband Rory are in Egypt to catch an alien criminal. Then, they hop back into the TARDIS where they encounter a weird disturbance that sends them to San Francisco in the 1940s. Or are they somewhere else, like a holoprogram on the U.S.S. Enterprise.

Commander William Riker, Data, and Doctor Beverly Crusher are surprised by the Doctor and his companions’ sudden arrival, and they are even more surprised when they learn the visitors are not holograms. Commander Riker orders Worf and a security team to take them to Captain Picard.

ARC Review - Doctor Who Dave Gibbons Collection

Doctor Who Dave Gibbons Collection 
Artist: Dave Gibbons
Publisher: IDW Publishing
ISBN: 9781613773475 
Ediction: Trade Paperback
Pub Date: September 18, 2012
Pages: 372
List Price: $29.99 USD

NetGalley and IDW Publishing were nice enough to let me view the upcoming paperback release of the Doctor Who Dave Gibbons Collection.

The graphic novels in this collection are:

The Iron Legion; City of the Damned; The Star Beast; The Dogs of Doom; The Time Witch; Dragon's Claw; The Collector; Dreamers of Earth; The Life Bringer; Way of the World; Spider-God; The Deal; The Free Fall Warriors; The Neutron Knights; The Tides of Time; and Stars Fell on Stockbridge.

ARC Review - G.I. Joe Vs. The Transformers

G.I. Joe Vs. The Transformers
Publisher: IDW Publishing
ISBN: 9781613773529 
Pub Date: September 11, 2012
Written by: Michael Higgins
Artist: Chris Batista, Herb Trimpe, Jesse d'Orozco, Larry Hama, Steve Lieber, William Rosado

IDW Publishing is about to release the classic issues that combined G.I. Joe and The Transformers containing nine issues. I was able to read a free review copy from NetGalley this month. As a kid, I never got into comics, but I do remember watching both cartoon series and I think I had a few of the toys too. 

The original four crossover issues were released back in 1986 when I was a five-year-old. The issues are Blood on Tracks, Power Struggle, Ashes, Ashes..., and ...All Fall Down! The plot surrounds the government launching the Power Station Alpha, which is a nuclear power plant that can shoot a beam across the entire world, and of course both Decepticons and Cobra want it. They briefly make an alliance, but then Cobra learn that the Decepticons plan on destroying the planet. Spoilers: Bumblebee, Optimus Prime and Megatron are destroyed.

ARC Review - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures Volume 1

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures Volume 1
Publisher: IDW Publishing
ISBN: 9781613772898
Pub. Date: August 28th, 2012
Pages: 120 



The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures comic book series launched in August of 1988 ended in October 1995. It was published by Archie's Comics and released 72 issues during its run. The series followed more with the 1987 cartoon series than with the original comic books, as April is a reporter, Shredder works for Krang - who's headquarters is in the technodrome, and Shredder's sidekicks are  Bebop and Rocksteady (well for the first several issues as they were eventually phased out).  IDW Publishing is now re-releasing these Turtle Adventures, starting with Volume 1 later this month. I was lucky enough to get a rough advanced readers copy provided by NetGalley and IDW Publishing. The copy I received contains the first four original issues, as IDW hadn't finished the new layout for the volume.

The first four issues are based on the season two episodes from the cartoon series, "Return of the Shredder" and the "Shrinking Turtles." Staring with issue five the series changed its tone with original storylines and added character development.

ARC Review - Star Wars: Crimson Empire III: Empire Lost

Star Wars: Crimson Empire III: Empire Lost
Written by: Mike Richardson
Artists: Michael Bartolo and Paul Gulacy
Cover Designer: Dave Borman
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
ISBN:  9781595829344 
Pub Date: September 19, 2012
Pages: 144

The third and final part of the Crimson Empire series was planned to be released in 2001, but was eventually cancelled. In 2008, Michael Richardson announced that he was working on the Crimson Empire III. In October 2011, Dark Horse Comics released the first of the six issues, with the last was released back in April. Courtesy of NetGalley and Dark Horse Comics, I got a chance to review the upcoming complete final volume of the Crimson Empire legacy, containing all six issues.

Kir Kanos, a former Imperial Guardsman to the late Emperor Palapatine, returns to bounty hunting after three years of hiding, when he is asked to join a group of other Imperial Guardsmen, whom want to restore the Empire.

ARC Review - Road Rage

Road Rage
Adapted by: Chris Ryall
Based on the short story "Throttle" by Stephen King & Joe Hill
Artist: Raffa Garres  and Nelson Daniel
Publisher: IDW Publishing
ISBN: 978-1613772829
Pub Date: August 21, 2012
Pages: 120

Inspired by "Duel" by Richard Matheson, the father/son team of Stephen King and Joe Hill wrote the short story "Throttle" that has been adapted into a comic book series by Chris Ryall. NetGalley and IDW Publishing have kindly allowed me to review issue one of the upcoming hardback Road Rage that will contain the entire series.

ARC Review - Transformers: Autocracy

Transformers: Autocracy
Written by: Chris Metzen and Flint Dille
Artist: Livio Ramondelli 
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Pub Date: August 7, 2012
ISBN: 9781613772904

Transformers: Autocracy was originally released as a digital-only twelve part series. IDW will be releasing the entire series in one collection on August 7, 2012. Courtesy of NetGalley an IDW, I was able to review the first six issues of the series, consisting of Law & Disorder, Parasites, The Hunt for Soundwave, Cause & Effect, Ruins, and Purge.

Set after the events of Megatron: Origin, during the beginning of the Great War, the Decepticons are trying to take over Cyberton through terrorist actions. Going by Zeta Prime’s orders, Orion Pax leads a team of Autobots, which includes Hound, Ironhide, Bumblebee, Prowl, and Silverbolt, as they hunt down Swindle and Laserbeak. The Autobots barely survive the battle with them.

ARC Review and Giveaway - The Pigeon Pie Mystery

THE PIGEON PIE MYSTERY
Written by: JULIA STUART
Published by:  DOUBLEDAY
ISBN: 978-0-385-53556-4
Pages: 335
Pub Date: AUGUST 7, 2012

    After the scandalous death of her father, Maharaja of Brindor, which involved him in a private situation with a maid in his bedchambers, the Indian Princess Alexandrina, nicknamed Mink, is left with nothing as her father left her with several debts. Within a year everything she owned was repossessed, leaving her with only her lady’s maid, Pooki. Queen Victoria hears about Mink’s situation and gives her permission to stay at the Hampton Court Palace.

    Upon arriving at the Hampton Court, both Mink and Pooki are shocked to see the condition of their new so-called home, which has seen better days. With nowhere else to go, they try their best to adjust, with Pooki doing most of the cleaning. Before long, Mink is invited into a new circle of wacky acquaintances, which includes The Countess of Bessington, The Hon. Dowager Lady Montfort Bebb, and The Lady Beatrice Fisher, all whom are widows.

ARC Review - Creepy Presents Richard Corben

CREEPY PRESENTS RICHARD CORBEN
Publisher: DARK HORSE COMICS
Pub Date: JULY 24, 2012
ISBN:  9781595829191
Contributors: Richard Corben, Al Hewetson, Bill DuBay, Bruce Jones, Budd Lewis, Donald F. McGregor; Doug Moench, Gerald Conway, Grerry Boudreau, Greg Potter, Jack Butterworth, Jim Stenstrum, Rich Margopoulos, Roger McKenzie; and Steve Skeates


    Dark Horse Comics has compiled together the best stories from comic book artist Richard Corben that appeared in the Creepy and Eerie series. I requested to review an Advanced Reader's Copy from NetGalley because Richard Corben is from my home state of Missouri, and I was aware of his fun and weird illustrations. Besides from the artwork, Richard also wrote some of the stories that he illustrated.

This edition includes the following stories:

ARC Review - Usagi Yojimbo: Volume 26 - Traitors of the Earth

Usagi Yojimbo: Volume 26 - Traitors of  the Earth
AUTHOR: Stan Sakai
PUBLISHER: Dark Horse Comics
PUB DATE: July 10, 2012
ISBN: 9781595829108

The Usagi Yojimbo comic book series was created by Stan Sakai back in 1987. I recall the rabbit samurai appearing a few times in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series, so when I saw Volume 26 was available to review on NetGalley, I was eager to review it. Set during the early 17th century in Japan, the human characters are replaced by animals. Usagi is heavily influenced by the Japanese cinema and is partially based on the famous swordsman Miyamoto Musashi.