Monday, April 3, 2017

Review - Broken Glass by V.C. Andrews

*This is a sponsored review. All opinions are 100% mine.
Pocket Books; 440 pages; $7.99; Amazon

I hate to admit that I've fallen behind, yet again, on my reviews. I meant to review Broken Glass on it's release date on February 28th, but thanks to a few setbacks, an unwanted cold/flu bug, and a few other things that I not going to talk about on here, I have gotten terribly behind on writing my posts.

Published by Pocket Books, Broken Glass is the second in the Mirror Sisters series. Despite the fact that the name V.C. Andrews is printed on the cover, she's not the author. The real V.C. Andrews died in 1986. Shortly after her death, a ghostwriter, Andrew Neiderman was hired to write under name.

It's no big secret that I'm not the biggest fan of ghostwriter's work in recent years. The books have loss their Gothic vibe and have slowly turned into the run-of-the-mill young adult thrillers. A few of these titles are decent reads, while others are horribly written. In my humble opinion, it's time for a new ghostwriter, preferably a female author who can write in a Gothic tone, but until then (if ever) I will tolerate the current novels and hope for the best.

In the first novel Mirror Sisters (you can read my review here), we (us readers) were introduced to Haylee and Kaylee Fitzgerald, identical twins who shared literally everything thanks to their controlling mother. It ended in a cliffhanger with Haylee planning on meeting up with an older man she had met on the internet. Not feeling very well on that very night, and not wanting to disappoint the man, she talks her sister, Kaylee, into taking her place. Unexpected to them, the man happens to be a nutcase and kidnaps Kaylee.

Q&A with Annette Drake, author of Building Celebration House




Now available from Baskethound Books is the paranormal romance Building Celebration House by Annette Drake.





The author has taken a few minutes out of her busy schedule for a Q&A about her newest novel.



When did you become interested in storytelling?

I remember writing my first song when I was six years old!

What was your first book/story published?

My debut novel, “Celebration House,” was published by a small press in 2013. Last year, I bought the rights back to the book, revised, and republished it on March 1st. “Building Celebration House” is the first installment of this trilogy.

What inspired you to write Building Celebration House?

I woke from a dream with the characters and plot clear in my mind. I jotted down everything I could remember and began working. When I had a brief period of unemployment in 2013, I finished the book.

What character in Building Celebration House is the most/least like you, and in what ways?

Is There a Way to Make Sure You Are Sending the Perfect Easter Gift?

*This is a sponsored post.

The Easter holiday is nearly upon us. This means that it's time to start thinking about Easter egg hunts, bunny suits, visits to your local church, and all manner of holiday celebrations. It's also time to consider whether or not you are equipped to start handing out the Easter gifts. If you have children, you will naturally want to make sure that they get their share of Easter eggs and candy. You'll probably want to include all of this in a sweet little Easter basket, especially if they are still very young. But what can you do for friends and relatives who may live far away on the other side of Canada?

Sunday, April 2, 2017

Review - The Berenstain Bears: Bless Our Pets


Zonderkidz; 24 pages; $3.99; Amazon
Now available from Zonderkidz is the newest entry in the Berenstain Bears' picture book franchise, titled "Blessed Our Pets" written and illustrated by Mike Berenstain, the son of the original creators Stan and Jan Berenstain.

Many of the newer titles have added Christian themes to the plots, which have received mixed reactions from older fans (readers) of the series.

"Bless Our Pets" centers on the Chapel in the Woods having a "Blessing of the Animals" event, where the Preacher Brown is going to bless everyone's pets. Of course Brother, Sister, and Honey Bear are excited that they get to bring their pets, Little Lady (a dog), Gracie (a cat), and Cutesy (a parakeet), to church with them.

Almost the entire population of Bear Country bring their pets to the blessing. There are animals of all kinds there. Everything goes as plan, well, until a dog chases a cat up a tree and then all chaos occurs.

DVD Review - Tales Of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Super Shredder

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

Nickelodeon; Not Rated; 247 minutes; Walmart
Now available on DVD from Nickelodeon is Tales Of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Super Shredder, featuring the final seven of the episodes from the fourth season of the current TMNT series, as well as the first four episodes from the fifth season, retitled "Tales Of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles." There are no special features or extras on the two-disc set.

The final episodes of the fourth season introduces the turtles (Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo) to the Supper Shredder, aka the mutated version of Shredder, who is determined to destroy the turtles and their master Splinter once and for all. By the season's end, Shredder finally gets his revenge; all leading to a final deadly confrontation with the turtles.

Other storylines during the season includes the turtle's human friend April O'Neil becoming possessed with the evil spirit Aeon in "The Power Inside Her"; an alien named Tokka arrives on Earth looking for her baby boy in "Tokka VS. The World"; and a fox-mutant name Alopex comes to New York City to kill Tiger Claw in "Tale Of Tiger Claw."

The fifth and final season has a new opening theme song and title sequence, and has been renamed to "Tales Of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles." The first four episodes are included on the second discs. The main plot of the episodes involves Tiger Claw summoning the demon Kavaxas (voiced by Mark Hamill) in the attempt to resurrect Shredder from the dead. Of course the turtles and their pals will do anything they can to save the day.

The eleven episodes on the two-disc set are:

The Supper Shredder
Darkest Plight
The Power Inside Her
Tokka VS.The World
Tale Of Tiger Claw
Requiem
Owari
Scroll Of The Demodragon
The Forgotten Swordsman
Heart Of Evil
End Times

Friday, March 31, 2017

Spring Reads: Goosebumps SlappyWorld: Slappy Birthday To You


Scholastic; 156 pages; $6.99; Amazon
Now available from Scholastic is the first book in the all new Goosebumps series, titled SlappyWorld: Slappy Birthday To You, featuring the fan favorite villain - the ventriloquist dummy named Slappy.

In a slight change of format from the Goosebumps Most Wanted series, SlappyWorld begins with a short introduction by Slappy himself, followed by the first part of the story. Occasionally, Slappy interrupts the story for a page or two; typically adding some slapstick humor.

The main character in this tale is Ian Barker, who is forced to celebrate his twelfth birthday with his younger sister, Molly, and their two annoying cousins Jonny and Vinny.

Ian's father repairs dolls for a living, (Yep, that's a real job!) and he gives Ian a ventriloquist dummy named Slappy. The dummy was sent to be repaired by Mr. Barker, but it came with no return address. After a year passed by, Mr. Barker decided to give the dummy to Ian, who has been wanting a ventriloquist dummy for years.

Of course Slappy is no ordinary dummy, (He even has his own Wikipedia page!). After Ian's cousin reads the words off a mysterious piece of paper - "Karru   Marri   Odonna   Loma   Molonu   Karrano!,"strange things begin to occur in the Barker household, all of which points to one conclusion - Slappy is alive!

Book Blogger Hop: March 31 - April 6th




Instructions: Select all code above, copy it and paste it inside your blog post as HTML


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!

Do you visit every listed blog in the linky list when you are participating in a meme?

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: 

 Sadly, I haven't been participating in the meme, besides from hosting it. When I do participate, I try to visit everyone's blogs.


Linky List: