Friday, March 25, 2016

Book Blogger Hop: March 25th - 31st


Book Blogger Hop

Welcome to the new Book Blogger Hop!

If you want schedule next week's post, click here to find the next prompt question. To submit a question, fill out this form.

What to do:

1. Post on your blog answering this question:

  This week's question is submitted by Elizabeth @ Silver's Reviews!

How much of your day is devoted to your blog, and how much is devoted to reading?

2. Enter the link to your post in the linky list below (enter your Blog Name and the direct link to your post answering this week’s question. Failure to do so will result in removal of your link).


3. Visit other blogs in the list and comment on their posts. Try to spend some time on the blogs reading other posts and possible become a new follower.  The purpose of the hop is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.
  

My Answer: 

  I spend at least an hour per day writing posts for this blog; somtimes even longer. I don't read every single day, but when I do, I read for at least 90 minutes.


Linky List:

Review: Adventure Bible: Elijah, God's Mighty Prophet

*This is a sponsored review. All opinions are 100% mine.

Zonderkids; 32 pages; $3.99; Amazon
With this being Easter weekend, I wanted to share a review for a religious-themed book, so I thought I would turn to the popular Adventure Bible series.

Produced by Zonderkidz (Zondervan), the series puts the Bible Stories into words that younger readers will understand, along with colorful illustrations.

Adventure Bible: Elijah, God's Mighty Prophet is 32-pages and features pictures by David Miles, and it's a part of the I Can Read! series (level 2).

As the story goes,  King Ahab thought the only true god was Baal and many of his people thought so as well. After Elijah found about about this, he made the announcement, "There will be no more rain in Israel until I say so. God is not happy with you."

The streams quickly dried up and most of the food was gone. Later, Elijah runs across a woman and her young child, whom only had a little flour and oil. He told them to go make a loaf of bread and they did as he asked. A miracle occurs, and the woman and child would never run out of flour and oil again.

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Review - Rotten School: Battle of the Dum Diddys


128 pages; Amazon
Have you ever gotten addicted to a video game? I'm sure that many of us have done just that. Well, the 12th installment of the Rotten School series, Battle of the Dum Diddys, has a similar theme.

The book starts out with the 4th-grader Bernie Bridges being called into Headmaster Upchuck's office. While he doesn't have a clue to why he was asked to be there, he overhears Headmaster Upchuck saying that the school might shut down if the Board of Inspectors doesn't find that the school is up to their standards.

Bernie knows that Rotten School isn't the best boarding school, so that means the school will be closed in less than a week. Will Bernie help to get the school into shape in time for the inspection day?

Nope!

Bernie is all about himself, and with only a few days until the school will shut down, Bernie is on a quest to make as much money as he can by scheming his fellow classmates. However, his plan comes to a halt when all the students go missing.

Where have the Rotten School students disappeared to?

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

DVD Review - Game of Thrones: The Complete Fifth Season



Not Rated;
559 minutes; $59.99; Amazon
Fans of the hit HBO series Games of Thrones will have to wait a bit longer for the new season to begin, which will premiere on April 24th. Until then, you can rewatch The Complete Fifth Season that is available to own on DVD & Blu-ray, featuring all 10 episodes.

The fantasy series is based on the "A Song of Ice and Fire" book series by George R. R. Martin. The fifth season uses materials from the fourth and fifth novels (A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons), as well as borrowing a few scenes from the third book (A Storm of Swords) and the yet-to-be-released sixth novel, The Winds of Winter.

Picking up shortly after the fourth season finale, Tyrion Lannister (played by Peter Dinklage) is on the run after murdering his father, Tywin. He is later captured by Jorah Mormont (played by Iain Glen), who plans on delivering Tyrion to Daenerys Targaryen (played by Emilia Clarke), in the hope she will forgive him for his betrayal. Daenerys has more things to worry about than her former guard returning as a civil war is brewing in her kingdom.

Arya Stark (played by Maisie Williams) makes her way to House of Black and White, so she can learn the powers of the Many-faced God; however, her passion for revenge might ruin everything.

Jamie Lannister (played by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), along with Bronn (Jerome Flynn), travels to Dorne retrieve his teenage niece/daughter, Myrcella (played by Nell Tiger Free), but things aren't quite as easy they planned it to be.

While Cersel Lannister (played by Lena Headey) awaits Jamie's return with their daughter, she must deal with a religious group, the Sparrows, who are determined to out anyone who sins.

Jon Snow (Kit Harington) has more problems than any other character as he steps into the role as Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. After making the decision to make an alliance with the wildlings, his men loses their trust in him. To make matters worse, the White Walkers and their army of dead are getting closer.


The bonus features on the five-disc DVD set are:

Monday, March 21, 2016

Blu-ray Review - The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2


PG-13; 137 mins; $39.99; Amazon
Being somewhat of a movie buff, I had nearly forgotten the fact that the final installment of The Hunger Games franchise, Mockingjay - Part 2, was released to theaters last November. I recall seeing a few advertisements for the film, but between the Spectre (the 24th James Bond flick) and the Star Wars madness last year, it totally slipped my mind.

Despite being judged for the studio's decision to split the final installment into two films, Mockingjay - Part 2 was a commercial success; taking in $653 million at the box-office, thought it was the least profitable of the franchise.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 will be arriving on Blu-ray Combo Pack tomorrow, March 22nd, from Lionsgate Home Entertainment. Also being released tomorrow is The Hunger Games Complete 4-Film Collection on Blu-ray and DVD. The Digital HD was released on March 8th.

Based on the best-selling book series by author Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 picks up where the previous film had ended. The rebels had rescued Peeta Mellark (played by Josh Hutcherson), but he's been brainwashed by the Capitol, resulting in his hatred for Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence).


Against orders from President Alma Coin (played by Julianne Moore), Katniss sneaks aboard a supply ship that will take her to the Capitol. Upon arrival, Commander Paylor (played by Patina Miller) assigns Katniss to the Star Squad, a team lead by Boggs (played by Mahershala Ali). Basically, they will film Katniss as a hero at the same time the rebels take control of the Capitol; though their mission is put into jeopardy when Peeta joins their team.

Friday, March 18, 2016

Book Blogger Hop: March 18th - 24th

Book Blogger Hop

Welcome to the new Book Blogger Hop!

If you want schedule next week's post, click here to find the next prompt question. To submit a question, fill out this form.

What to do:

1. Post on your blog answering this question:

  This week's question is submitted by Elizabeth @ Silver's Reviews!

Has your contact with authors usually been in person, via e-mail, social media, or something else?Do you believe audio books are the future and why do believe?

2. Enter the link to your post in the linky list below (enter your Blog Name and the direct link to your post answering this week’s question. Failure to do so will result in removal of your link).


3. Visit other blogs in the list and comment on their posts. Try to spend some time on the blogs reading other posts and possible become a new follower.  The purpose of the hop is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.
  

My Answer: 

  I usually communicate by email with either the author's agent or publisher; though occasionally the author actually contacts me (email).


Linky List:

Spring Reads: The Princess Twins and the Birthday Party


ZonderKidz; $16.99; 32 pages; Amazon
I don't normally pay too attention to new books that are written for girls, but I have a much younger cousin, so I thought I would keep my eye out on any new titles which she might enjoy. When I saw that The Princess Twins and the Birthday Party was available to review through BookLook Bloggers, I eagerly signed up to review it.

Written by Mona Hodgson and published by ZonderKidz as an "I can Read!" series (1 - Beginning Reading), The Princess Twins and the Birthday Party centers on Emma and Abby, twin sisters who are princesses, and today is their birthday!

Emma and Abby hop out of bed, both excited about their big day. They pick out the prettiest dresses, put on their crowns, and head downstairs to eat breakfast with their parents. Then the twins help set things up for their birthday party, like name cards, etc..

Before long, their friends arrive carring presents for the twins. Everyone seems to be having a great time, well, all except for Emma's friend Beth, who has vanished from the party. Where did Emma go?