Ravens Pass: Curses for Sale
By: Steve Brezenoff
Publisher: Stone Arch Books
ISBN: 978-1434242099
Pub Date: August 1, 2012
Pages: 96

To avoid the traffic, Jace Thomas's dad takes the exit to Ravens Pass, where they come upon a garage sale, and Jace's dad can never say no to a good bargain. His dad buys several LP records, a few coffee mugs and a rabbit's foot. His littler sister buys a couple of dolls, and Jace buys a battery operated red sports car for only five dollars. Yes, Jace is a few years too old for it, but just like his father, he couldn't pass up a bargain.

Jace squeezes himself into the car and drives to his best-friend Sam's house. He lets Sam take the car for a spin, but then a mysterious accident occurs. Or was it something else? As this toy car can drive by itself.

White Raven: The Sword of Northern Ancestors
Written By Irina Lopatina
Publisher: Light Messages Publishing
ISBN: 978-1611530247
Pub. Date: July 30, 2012
Pages: 378

In this fantasy adventure set in the magical land of Areya, a prince, known as some as the White Raven, named Vraigo spends most his days in the forest with the druids and other magical creatures instead of defending his kingdom. Some may think of him as weak, but to him not fighting is his choice to make. Eventually, demons from a parallel world invade his home in which the kingdom's army will be defeated unless Areys uses a magical sword known as Urart against the demons. But there is one little problem, the Urart has been stolen!

To save his kingdom, Vraigo must journey to the 21st Century to retrieve the sword, but there are many dangers that lay before him.

Blondie Goes to Hollywood
The Blondie Comic Strip in Films, Radio & Television
By: Carol Lynn Scherling
Publisher: BearManor Media
ISBN: 78-1593934019
Pub Date: May 31, 2010
Pages: 212

Early one Sunday morning, I was awakening by parent's laughter, who was watching a Blondie movie on AMC (Back when there were no commercials on the channel.). I'm not exactly a morning person, so by time I got up I only would get a glimpse of the ending of each Blondie movie that aired every Sunday. Eventually, AMC quit playing the movies on Sundays. A few years later, during the summer, I happened to find one of the movies in the TV Guide (Yes, the TV Guide once listed what was on in the mornings!) and I recorded it onto an old VHS tape. I would check every week, but I never could find the movies being aired again until around Christmas Eve when they aired a marathon. I remember it clearly as it was the start of my Christmas vacation from school, and I just happened to have a touch of the flu while I was going back and forth from two rooms to record the movies on two VCRs. Over the years, the VHS tapes have become almost unplayable, but I did buy the ten Blondie movies that were released on DVD. I only wish they would release the complete franchise and of course have each one remastered.

A few weeks ago, I happened to Google "Blondie and Dagwood" and the book titled Blondie Goes to Hollywood came up. To my surprise an author by the name Carol Lynn Scherling had written a book chronicling the years that the Blondie comic strip was turned into 28 films, a long-running radio show, and several short-lived television series. Since I'm a blogger/reviewer, I emailed the publisher about a review copy. To my surprise, I received an email the next day informing me that they would be glad to send me a free review copy.

Sweet Valley Confidential
The Sweet Life #6: Bittersweet
By: Francine Pascal
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
ASIN: B007XSN73E
Pub. Date: August 12, 2012
Pages: 84

Finally, its here, the final chapter in the The Sweet Life e-serial drama, and, yes, I waited to nearly midnight to receive it on my Kindle. Was I going to wait and see what happens? Of course not! I wanted to find out the ending!

Last week left off with Aaron Wakefield (Steven's husband) returning to Warner Gas and finding a stunning revelation about the so-called Robin Platt. Elizabeth Wakefield went to Kentucky to find information on her. Jessica Wakefield Wilkins still loves her estranged husband, Todd, but her fling with the actor Liam may end her marriage for good.

Jessica's life is a complete wreck and now the famous Liam is stalking her. Yep, you heard me right. He is constantly texting her and when he doesn't hear from her, he practically runs her career at  VERTPLUS.NET. If Liam can't have Jessica, then no one can. His rage takes over and poor little Jake may be the victim.

 
Night Buddies and the Pineapple Cheesecake Scare
Written by: Sands Hetherington
Illustrations by: Jessica Love
Publisher: Dune Buggy Press
ISBN: 978-0984741717
Pub. Date: June 1, 2012
Pages: 128

John Degraffenreidt gets a big surprise after the lights are turned off and his parents shut his bedroom door. A red crocodile wearing a yellow outfit crawls from underneath his bed. Is this crocodile the boogeyman? Or maybe some kind of monster?

Of course not! The crocodile's name is Crosley and he is a secret agent of the Night Buddies, a program for children who have trouble falling to sleep. Crosley needs John's help to solve one of the world's biggest mysteries. Why has the world's only pineapple cheesecake factory stopped making pineapple cheesecakes?