Book Feature - Book Tour - Diabolical - Pump Up Your Book

Title: The Diabolist

Author: Layton Green

Publisher: Thomas and Mercer (June 4, 2013)
Pages: 388
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1611099846

Genre: Suspense/Mystery/Thriller

 About the Book:

In this gripping thriller, the bizarre murder of a Satanic priest in San Francisco draws Dominic Grey and Viktor Radek, private investigators of cults, to the scene. Witnesses claim a robed figure, seemingly able to appear and disappear at will, set fire to the priest. When the leader of another Satanic cult in Paris dies under similar circumstances, the case only grows stranger… and more dangerous.

Convinced that a charismatic New Age prophet is behind the murders, the investigators undergo a perilous journey into the world of the occult as they try to penetrate the prophet’s inner circle. From the catacombs of Paris to London’s nefarious East End, from the haunted walls of York to a monastic fortress in the Sicilian wilderness, the case plunges Viktor and Grey into a vortex of black magic, ancient heresies, and the dark corners of their own pasts.

The Diabolist is a chilling novel that not only pulsates with action and suspense, but also mines a trove of fascinating historical, philosophical, and paranormal research to probe some of our closest held beliefs. From the opening pages to the astonishing conclusion, this latest installment in one of today’s most original new thriller series is not to be missed.

Purchase your copy at AMAZON.

About the Author:

In addition to writing, Layton attended law school in New Orleans and was a practicing attorney for the better part of a decade (even though he still resents having cut his hair for that first interview). He has also been an intern for the United Nations, an ESL teacher in Central America, a bartender in London, a seller of cheap knives on the streets of Brixton, a door-to-door phone book deliverer, and the list goes downhill from there.

He has traveled to more than fifty countries, lived in a number of them, and has a burning desire to see every country, city, beach, moor, castle, cemetery, twisted street and far flung dot on the map. Religion and cults, as well as all things spiritual and supernatural, have also been a lifelong interest. Combine the travel and the religion with fifteen years of Japanese Jujitsu training, and the Dominic Grey series was born.

Our Review of his last book here.   Our reviewers gave it 4 out of 5 stars.

His latest book is The Diabolist.

Visit his website at www.laytongreen.com.

Connect & Socialize with Layton!

FACEBOOK | GOODREADS

Monday in my mailbox - We never know what will come next.....

There are two sides to every love story. Now hear Will’s.

Colleen Hoover’s New York Times bestselling Slammed series has brought countless readers to their knees with a whirlwind of love, passion, and heartache. 

Layken and Will’s love has managed to withstand the toughest of circumstances and the young lovers, now married, are beginning to feel safe and secure in their union. As much as Layken relishes their new life together, she finds herself wanting to know everything there is to know about her husband, even though Will makes it clear he prefers to keep the painful memories of the past where they belong. Still, he can’t resist his wife’s pleas and so he begins to untangle his side of the story, revealing for the first time his most intimate feelings and thoughts, retelling both the good and bad moments, and sharing a few shocking confessions of his own from the time when they first met.

In This Girl, Will tells the story of their complicated relationship from hispoint of view. Their future rests on how well they deal with the past in this final installment of the beloved Slammed series.
Violence and murder blow into Minnesota’s sleepy Tamarack County as ex-sheriff Cork O’Connor returns in the latest installment of William Kent Krueger’s New York Timesbestselling series.As a blizzard swells just days before Christmas, the car belonging to the wife of a retired local judge is discovered abandoned on a rural road in Tamarack County. After days of fruitless effort, the search-and-rescue team has little hope that she’ll be found alive, if at all. Cork O’Connor, former sheriff and now private investigator, is part of that team.



Early on, Cork notices small things about the woman’s disappearance that disturb him. But when the beloved pet dog of a friend is brutally killed and beheaded, he begins to see a startling pattern in these and other recent dark occurrences in the area. After his own son comes close to peril, Cork understands that someone is spinning a deadly web in Tamarack County. At the center is a murder more than twenty years old, for which an innocent man may have been convicted. Cork remembers the case only too well. He was the deputy in charge of the investigation  that sent the man to prison.



With the darkest days of the year at hand, the storms of winter continue to isolate Tamarack County. Somewhere behind the blind of all that darkness and drifting snow, a vengeful force is at work. And Cork has only hours to stop it before his family and his friends pay the ultimate price for the sins of others.



With complex plot twists, rich characters, and a vivid setting, Tamarack County is a relentlessly fast-paced novel that will chill, thrill, and shock you.
New York Times bestselling author Christopher Rice brilliantly conjures the shadowed terrors of the Louisiana bayou—where three friends confront a deadly, ancient evil rising to the surface—in this intense and atmospheric new supernatural thriller.

It’s been a decade since the Delongpre family vanished near Bayou Rabineaux, and still no one can explain the events of that dark and sweltering night. No one except Niquette Delongpre, the survivor who ran away from the mangled stretch of guardrail on Highway 22 where the impossible occurred…and kept on running. Who left behind her best friends, Ben and Anthem, to save them from her newfound capacity for destruction…and who alone knows the source of her very bizarre—and very deadly—abilities: an isolated strip of swampland called Elysium.

An accomplished surgeon, Niquette’s father dreamed of transforming the dense acreage surrounded by murky waters into a palatial compound befitting the name his beloved wife gave to it, Elysium: “the final resting place for the heroic and virtuous.” Then, ten years ago, construction workers dug into a long-hidden well, one that snaked down into the deep, black waters of the Louisiana swamp and stirred something that had been there for centuries—a microscopic parasite that perverts the mind and corrupts the body.

Niquette is living proof that things done can’t be undone. Nothing will put her family back together again. And nothing can save her. But as Niquette, Ben, and Anthem uncover the truth of a devastating parasite that has the potential to alter the future of humankind, Niquette grasps the most chilling truths of all: someone else has been infected too. And unlike her, this man is not content to live in the shadows. He is intent to use his newfound powers for one reason only: revenge.
The first in USA TODAY bestselling author Alice Clayton’s Redhead series is a playful and erotic romance between an aspiring actress and Hollywood’s hottest new leading man.

When Grace Sheridan returns to Los Angeles to become a working actress, it’s a second shot at a life-long dream. With some help from her best-friend agent, will that dream become a reality—or at thirty-three, has Grace missed her chance at the big time? And when an unexpected sizzling romance with Jack Hamilton, the entertainment industry's newest “it” boy, threatens to shine an uncomfortable spotlight on her life, how will that affect her career…and his?

Funny, borderline neurotic Grace is perfect in her imperfections, and the sexual chemistry between her and charming yet blissfully unaware Jack is off the charts. With laugh-out-loud dialogue and a super-steamy romance that will get your heart racing, sneaking around in L.A. and dodging the paparazzi has never been so fun.
Champion of the mystery section at a small-town Minnesota library, Karen Nash is about to embark on a dream trip to London—a literary tour inspired by every murderous intrigue, wily suspect, and ingenious crime found in the pages of the British mysteries that she devours. But she’s clueless why the love of her mid-life, Dave, would dump her hours before takeoff—until she spies him at the airport with a young honey on his arm! She decides the best revenge (for now) is to get on that plane anyway . . . and entertain schemes for Dave’s untimely demise while crossing the pond. 

After touching ground in the hallowed homeland of Christie, Sayers, and Peters, she checks into a cozy B & B run by charming bibliophile Caldwell Perkins. Soon she’s spilling tears in her pint at the corner pub, sharing her heartbreak saga with a stranger. That night, a B & B guest drops out of circulation—permanently. And when Dave and his cutie turn up in London, Karen realizes they are an assassin’s target. With the meticulous attention to detail that makes her a killer librarian, Karen sleuths her way through her own real-life mystery—in which library science meets the art of murder.

Book Review - Superior Vocal Health - David Aaron Katz - Book Tour - Pump Up Your Books

Title:   SuperiorVocal Health

Author:   David Aaron Katz

Review:   A Guide to Herbs, Supplements, and Diet for the Voice Professional

Interesting little book on what to do when you have to sing and are feeling sick!  David gives recipes for making teas and soups out of natural herbs to help restore the body back to optimal health before a performance.  David is a voice professional which means his whole life revolves around being able to keep his vocal cords in prime condition or he doesn’t work.  Since everyone will become ill at one time or another and it seems that when you are a singer it always happens right before a performance, David has given some wonderful ideas for good vocal health and last minute helps for sore throats, stuffed up heads and filled sinuses.

I have never really been into herbal medicine but after reading this book I see no reason not to at least try some of the things that he recommends.  He speaks of formulas of herbs to mix to gain maximum results (he also sells his own line of herbal formulas for voice health).

In the book he suggests and explains about different herbs, going into detail about what each herb does and how it helps with throat, sinus and chest congestion.  This is a great little book and I recommend it to anyone interested in a natural way of helping with congestion and the flus that hit us all in the winter.  This book is not a nail biter by any means, although I am sure there is a herb cure for that also, but it lives up to what it is touted to be. 

I give this book 4 out of 5.  Thanks Eileen for this review.

Publisher: Vendera Publishing (January 21, 2013)

ISBN: 978-1936307272

Copyright: 2013

Pages:  104

Quick Review:  4 stars out of 5

Why I Read It: I sing and have for many years.

Where I Obtained the Book: Sent to me by the publisher for review.

Synopsis:  Whether you are a professional singer, speaker, teacher, lawyer, DJ, clergy, auctioneer, tour guide, or sales person. caring for your voice is THE MOST IMPORTANT thing you can do in your life.This book is your complete and one stop guide to take care of your voice naturally without chemicals or drugs. What you can expect from this book: *Comprehensive A-Z list of healing herbs for the Voice Professional *What herbs to use when and how to prepare each herb for use *Specific Formulas for specific vocal issues such as tired and over used voice, mucus,sinus congestion, sore throat and more... *What drugs negatively affect the voice and natural alternatives to those drugs. *Foods to eat that affect the voice and vocal mechanism. *Sinus Care with cleansing guide and herbs. *Food lists that help create and maintain Superior Vocal health. *"What to do When" natural solutions for the most pressing Performance and Presentation issues such as performance anxiety, clogged sinuses, chest congestion, mental clarity and more. David Aaron Katz is a professional Opera singer, Cantor, Nutritional Consultant, Herbalist and CEO of Superior Vocal Health.com. His life mission is to help Voice Professionals from around the world to learn how to heal, maintain and strengthen their voices naturally without chemical or drugs.

Author Information:  Superior Vocal Health has made it a life’s mission, to be dedicated to helping voice professionals keep their voices and bodies strong, healthy, vibrant, and at peak levels naturally without the use of harmful chemicals and drugs. Superior Vocal Health is the result of more than 20 years of research and investigation by David Aaron Katz, Cantor, international singer of Opera and Broadway, voice teacher, vocal coach, author, nutritional consultant, herbalist and lecturer and Jan Alan Schwartz AKA Wizard. Jan is a Professional Drummer and Vocalist, Producer, Songwriter, Businessman, Founder of Burlington Audio and Recordingstore.com, as well as the noted producer of Carib Music Group.

While Teaching and coaching voice professionals from around the world, Jan and David found that they were in constant need of something that would help preserve and take care of their voices, something that was non-addicting or damaging to the vocal cords, and was consistent, safe and reliable.

Welcome to Superior Vocal Health. We have been performing as professional musicians around the world for more than 25 years. We have experienced firsthand the trials of being a professional singer and musician and understand that as professionals one cannot afford a bad performance. Like it or not, we must always be”on”. Vocal Health must be the number one priority in a voice professional’s life, so it’s imperative we keep our throats and bodies in the best condition possible.

When you are flying, staying at strange hotels, overusing your voice every day, and dealing with everyday stresses, staying healthy just isn’t easy. Inevitably the body and voice break down. How many times have you been sick but said, “the show must go on”? It’s happened to all of us. After years of trying every possible remedy on the market with no success, we decided to take matters into our own hands. Superior Vocal Health is the result of years of extensive research and personal experience. Superior Vocal Health was created to give all voice professionals the best tools to care for their voices – naturally – no drugs, no chemicals. Our formulas are designed to restore, rejuvenate, invigorate, and help heal a myriad of vocal issues.

These formulas are not a replacement for proper technique, training, or correct vocal care. That takes hard work, commitment, perseverance, and along with regular checkups with your ENT, learning how to “listen” to your body. Voice professionals around the world use the Superior Vocal Health product line to maintain and keep their voice in top form. Whether we are performing, speaking, rehearsing, auditioning or teaching we always have our Superior Vocal Health products with us. They help keep your vocal cords clear, strong, and healthy. We spared no expense in our search to find the most reputable and highly qualified manufacturer of Herbal Extracts in the United States. Superior Vocal Health formulas contain the best quality Certified Organic Herbs, and are produced in a GMP and FDA regulated facility.

Through our own personal experience and the testimonials of countless voice professionals around the world who rely on Superior Vocal Health formulas, you can rest assured Superior Vocal Health products are not only totally safe and good for you, they will work for you! We guarantee it! Stay healthy, and enjoy your voice.

Other Reviews:

Create With Joy

My Devotional Thoughts

Book Review - Twisted Perfection - Abbi Glines

Title:  Twisted Perfection

Author: Abbi Glines

Review:  This book is full of sex…if that is your thing then this is your book.  I have a friend who reads romances and swears she skips the sex parts...good luck with this book about 20 pages would remain.  Lots of flirting and yet almost cave man behavior from most of the men in this story.  I love a strong male lead, but the flirting is bordering on sexual harassment since many of the characters work for the men who seem to have more money then brains in this small costal town.  Being asked to sit on a stranger’s lap, at first meeting, would put me off a bit…but I am not 19 like the lead in this book.  She seems to enjoy the attention and all the men making reference to getting her naked.

The story was OK, kind of weak and over the top at the same time.  I read the book and it didn't take long, not much there for story line….but lots and lots of sex and lots and lots of thoughts of having sex when they were not having sex.  The ending leads into the next book in the series and since this is the 3^rd book in the series and I have yet to read the other two I guess maybe I missed why the men in this town are so super sexual with anyone with boobs.

This book felt rushed and maybe the author just wanted to meet her deadline and that is what this book reads like…great sex and lots of it…story line not much of anything happening there.  A bit disappointed by this book…but it was a fast read.

Publisher: Published July 30th 2013 by Atria Books (first published April 24th 2013)

ISBN: 9781476756509

Copyright: 2013

Pages: 247

Quick Review:  2 stars out of 5

Where did I get the book:  Sent by the publisher for an honest review.

Synopsis: My future was about to be completely thrown off track because Della Sloane was under my skin, and I had to have her. I couldn’t ignore it anymore . . . I’d gotten close enough to her to see deeper.

Della Sloane is not your average girl. Yearning to break free of her dark and sheltered past and the memories of the illness that claimed her mother, Della plans a solo road trip to experience real life on her own terms. But the trip is nearly cut short in the little beach town of Rosemary when she realizes she can’t even pump her own gas—until Woods Kerrington shows up, more than willing to help out a pretty girl in need.

Woods’s family wants him to settle down with a wealthy woman in pearls, but he can’t resist this carefree girl in cutoffs passing through town. A one-night stand should have been enough, but months later, Woods can’t get the irresistible Della out of his head.

When a twist of fate brings Della back to Woods, all signs point to trouble if they don’t keep their distance. Neither is truly free, and a relationship could destroy both of them. With their hearts on the line, Della thinks the safest bet is to walk away. But Woods isn’t about to let that happen . . .

Author Biography:  Books published by Abbi include The Vincent Boys and the USA TODAY bestseller The Vincent Brothers, Breathe, Because of Low, the USA TODAY bestsellers While It Lasts and Just For Now, The Existence Trilogy that includes the USA Today Bestseller Ceaseless, andThe New York Times bestseller and Wall Street Journal bestseller Fallen Too Far. Currently she is working on Never Too Far, the sequel to Fallen too Far.

When Abbi isn’t locked away in her office typing away she is hauling her kids to and from their many social activities. You could say her second job is the Glines Kids personal chauffeur. It’s a rather illustrious job.

Other Reviews:

Aestra Book Blog- She loved it! Quote from this blog" "I don’t know a better way to describe Abbi’s books than by saying that reading them feels like watching a very well-written, addictive TV show. The scenes, they way their cut together, everything about them just makes me feel like I’m watching it happen right in front of me."

Maryse Book Blog -   She thought it was OK.

My Secret Romance Book Blog - Quote from this blog "For starters, I think the sex dominated this book more than the actual story-line. Abbi Glines can write some pretty steamy scenes, I'll give her that... But I had a hard time believing that the heroine Della, and Woods actually had any real connection unless they were spending time behind closed doors. It was almost as if the majority of the time that they spent together and got to even know each other on a more personal level was when they were having sex. I'm all for some steamy scenes, but when a book seems to be more sex than story, that's when I start to have issues."

Book Tour - Pump Up Your Books - The Funny Adventures of Little Nani

Little Nani is a little girl who likes helping people. However, when she helps people the results can be a bit unexpected. Why is that? Little Nani is a witch! Or at least she wants to be a witch. With her magic wand, she will try to cast different spells to help her friends, but she won’t be successful all the time. Follow Little Nani in her funny adventures and meet her extraordinary friends. Funny ostriches, horses that love reading, super-fast turtles, grumpy zombies… Little Nani has lots of friends! You can also draw your own characters! Little Nani is willing to become a good witch. Will she manage to do it? Who knows? Read the stories and discover what happens next!

Author Bio:

Cinta Garcia de la Rosa is a Spanish writer who has loved the written word since she discovered she was able to read books at age 5. Since then, she has become a bookworm and reads around 100 books every year. She also writes, every day, compulsively, even in the middle of the night. You cannot control when inspiration hits you, can you? She writes in English because she is convinced that in a previous life she was British, so writing in English feels more natural to her than writing in her native language. Yes, she is crazy like that. Cinta Garcia is the author of “The Funny Adventures of Little Nani”, a collection of short stories for children, and “A Foreigner in London”, a short story published on Smashwords.

EXCERPT (From “Little Nani and the Flying Muffin”)

“I’m bored!”

“How can you say that you are bored when I am reading to you one of the funniest books I have read in a long time?” said Horse in an exasperated tone. When Little Nani shrugged her shoulders, Horse had retreated to his favourite rocking chair in a corner of the room.

“Can I go out and make angels?” asked Little Nani, who was upside down, standing on her hands.

“Don’t be silly. You can only make angels in the snow, not in the rain,” said Horse without raising his eyes from the book.

“Can I go out and jump in the pools?” asked Little Nani, who was hopscotching all over the room.

“If you go out you will get soaking wet, and then you will catch a bad cold, and then you won’t be able to go out for a long time,” said the impatient horse. He didn't like being interrupted while reading.

“Then I will cast a spell to make the sun come back,” said Little Nani, trying to take her magic wand out of her pocket while rolling on the floor. Big Billy, watching her efforts to take her magic wand out, and fearing that Little Nani could make the rain turn into a tempest, quickly pecked Little Nani’s hand.

“Ouch!” exclaimed Little Nani. “That hurt!”

She tried once more to take her magic wand from her pocket, but this time it was Skinny Nikki who pecked Little Nani’s hand.

“Ouch!” exclaimed Little Nani again.

It was pretty clear by now to Little Nani that she wasn't going to have any fun that day. She thought that the rain was boring and, folding her arms with an angry look, she sat down in a corner.

Monday in my mailbox ... again they just keep coming...

A bestselling Australian writer’s American debut and a heart-wrenching novel of World War I

Iris Crane’s tranquil life is shattered when a letter summons memories from her bittersweet past: her first love, her best friend, and the tragedy that changed everything. Iris, a young Australian nurse, travels to France during World War I to bring home her fifteen-year-old brother, who ran away to enlist. But in Paris she meets the charismatic Dr. Frances Ivens, who convinces Iris to help establish a field hospital in the old abbey at Royaumont, staffed entirely by women—a decision that will change her life. Seamlessly interwoven is the story of Grace, Iris’s granddaughter in 1970s Australia. Together their narratives paint a portrait of the changing role of women in medicine and the powerful legacy of love.

Jamie McAlister has resigned herself to the fact that in this job market, her painfully expensive degree might only get her a position at Starbucks, when she suddenly lands a prestigious internship at the White House. Although she doesn’t hit it off with the other interns—lockjaws who come from so much money that ten weeks without a paycheck doesn’t faze them—she is eager to work hard and make the best of the opportunity while it lasts.

An unexpected encounter late one evening with the charismatic President Gregory Rutland seems like just a fleeting flirtation, but when he orchestrates clandestine meetings and late-night phone calls, their relationship quickly escalates. Jamie knows what she is doing is wrong: he’s married, he has kids, he’s the President. Yet each time she tries to extricate herself, Greg pulls her back in.

With the conflicted desires of the most powerful man in the world driving her to her breaking point, Jamie can’t help but divulge intimate details to those closest to her. But she must have confided in the wrong person, because she soon finds herself, and everyone she cares about, facing calculated public destruction at the hands of Greg’s political enemies, and—perhaps no matter how much he cares about her—at the hands of Greg himself.
Three trophy wives explore ways of finding satisfaction beyond their marriages. 

Shayla, Kyle, and Amber have a lot in common: stunning good looks, college educations, rich husbands, and—despite their affluent lifestyles— dissatisfaction with their lives. Each feels there is a void and seeks fulfillment beyond the routine of a trophy wife. 

The three often draw support from each other, but despite their close-knit relationship, each has her own secret she’s not willing to share. So when another woman, Terra, befriends the trio, it isn’t certain whether she’s sincere or whether she has her own special agenda… 

As the skeletons in their closets start to come out, Shayla, Kyle, and Amber discover that glamorous looks and coveted worlds cannot shield them from the realities of life. Discover what happens when scandal meets suspense among these smart, rich—yet vulnerable—women.

The game’s afoot once again in this sizzling sequel to Football Widows, with new members and new drama, courtesy of the women behind the NFL’s biggest stars, and play is getting dirty on and off the field... Sasha Davenport is riding her popular Football Widows social club all the way to the top. She’s got the right look, the high-profile job, and a glamorous public image that belies all her previous salacious activities. The one thing that eludes her is the star player she needs to complete the cast of her made-for-reality TV life.

Los Angeles Sea Lions NFL wife Tatayna Bacall has been faking enthusiasm for the game for too long. Now she wants her star quarterback husband to find a job as a sports analyst so their life can take on some kind of normalcy. Joining the Football Widows Club gives her hope that there is life outside the huddle. But she’ll soon learn that Sasha and the other club members have scandalous secrets that threaten to ruin their star-studded lives.



Behind the club’s friendly façade, there’s so much infighting, the members may as well be on opposing teams. And when Tatayna realizes that Sasha’s plans for the future involve her own husband, she’s ready to break the rules with some foul plays of her own…

When a sex tape leaks on the Internet, image trumps love and passion in this sultry novel about the complications of mixing business with pleasure. 

Lena Paskin and Jason Armstrong have a commuter relationship. Living and loving apart has been a win-win for each of them. Lena has been working to build her high-profile reputation as a businesswoman at her father’s broadcasting company, while Jason has dedicated his time to growing his sports management agency. 

Lena and Jason build a winner-take-all relationship, betting on big sporting events where the victor names place and pleasure. When their sex video leaks on the Internet, life gets more complicated. Lena is hurt and angry, so her response is to seek revenge—in the arms of strangers—eventually learning to rebuild her life based on her own truth.

Book Review - Doon - Carey Corp and Lorie Langdon

Title:  Doon

Author: Carey Corp and  Lorie Langdon

Review:   Well this book was different, I will give it that.  I think that it is basically a cross between Brigadoon and Harry Potter with a little Camelot sprinkled in for affect and a lot of New Moon with the rock hard chest, square jaw and the dreamy blue eyes etc. etc.

It is the story of two high school girls Vee and Kenna who go to Scotland on holiday to stay in the enchanted cottage of Kenna’s Aunt Grace.  When they arrive they are greeted by a woman who knew Aunt Grace and has kept some things for Kenna to go through at her leisure, what the girls do not know about this woman will very much affect their future.

While going through boxes of stuff they finally get to the good stuff, a diary that Aunt Grace kept, talking about her visit to Doon, plus two rings that belonged to Aunt Grace and her husband.  One of the rings has a ruby in it set in gold the other an emerald set in silver.  The rings are quite beautiful so the girls put them on and the adventure begins.

There is a lot more background to this story about the lives of the girls up to this point but I will let the reader discover what the two girls are all about and how that shaped what happened to them in the secret land of Doon.

This book is clean, very little language and no sex, some violence but since it is all done in a make believe land, does it still count??  The book I believe is aimed at tweenies ages 10-14.  It is not a particularly well written book but I am willing to bet the sequel will be much better written, since it was set up in the end of the book for it to go on with the story of McKenna or Kenna as Vee knows her.

This book will set the hearts of the young girl it is aimed at, all a flutter.  There is magic, a witch, two handsome princes, not just one mind you but two.  There are beautiful horses, sword fights and sweet kisses.  The book is full of teen romance and so it is a nice safe read for the tweenies and still interesting for the older girls.

I did feel the book went on a bit too long, I think it could be edited to make the story more compact but still get the points across and then it might keep the readers interest.  I am afraid I did get a bit bored with Vee’s teen angst and the princes complete turn abouts all the time.  All in all I think the authors need to edit the book and make it about 50-100 pages shorter, this can be accomplished with less detail about feelings and more action, romance and fighting.

Thanks Eileen for this review

Published:  Published August 20th 2013 by Zondervan.

ISBN: 9780310742302

Copyright: 2013

Pages: 368

Quick Review: 3 stars (out of 5)

Where I Obtained the Book:  Sent by the publisher for review.

Synopsis:  DOON…

Veronica doesn't think she's going crazy. But why can't anyone else see the mysterious blond boy who keeps popping up wherever she goes? When her best friend, Mackenna, invites her to spend the summer in Scotland, Veronica jumps at the opportunity to leave her complicated life behind for a few months.

But the Scottish countryside holds other plans.

Not only has the imaginary kilted boy followed her to Alloway, she and Mackenna uncover a strange set of rings and a very unnerving letter from Mackenna's great aunt—and when the girls test the instructions Aunt Gracie left behind, they find themselves transported to a land that defies explanation. Doon seems like a real-life fairy tale, complete with one prince who has eyes for Mackenna and another who looks suspiciously like the boy from Veronica's daydreams. But Doon has a dark underbelly as well. The two girls could have everything they've longed for...or they could end up breaking an enchantment and find themselves trapped in a world that has become a nightmare.

DOON is loosely based on the premise of the musical Brigadoon, with permission from the ALan Jay Lerner Estate and the Frederick Loewe Foundation. Follow the journey at http://www.DoonSeries.com

~Destiny awaits!

Author Information:

Carey - I started writing YA for my fifteen-year-old neighbor, who was struggling to find books as compelling as her favorite series.

The DOON Series (YA),co-written w/Lorie Langdon, based on the premise of the musical Brigadoon with permission from the Alan Jay Lerner Estate and the Frederick Loewe Foundation. Doon coming Aug. 20, 2013 from BLINK, a new YA imprint of Zondervan/Harper Collins.

 

Lorie - Lorie Langdon is co-author of DOON, a YA reimagining of the musical Brigadoon, coming from Blink/Harper Collins in August 2013!

A few years ago, she left her thriving corporate career to satisfy the voices in her head. Now as a full-time author and stay-at-home mom, she spends her summers editing poolside while dodging automatic water-gun fire, and the rest of the year tucked into her cozy office, Havanese puppy by her side, working to translate her effusive imagination into the written word.

Other Reviews:

Girls in the Stacks "A word of warning, you will either like the ending or hate the ending. I liked it, and am eagerly waiting for book #2."

All Things Urban Fantasy "The issues that made it hard for me to get into DOON mostly had to do with it not being able to figure itself out. At times, with our fresh out of high school main characters, the book felt more like an older young adult novel (dare I call a fantasy novel new adult??), but there were other times when I felt like it was meant for younger readers. And, with two different narrators, I sometimes felt a little whiplash trying to adjust between viewpoints. But come for the cover and stay for the sexy Scottish accents has always been my motto, and I certainly was not disappointed all around."

Fire and Ice "Scottish boys in kilts plus a hidden village that only appears once every 100 years...yes please! I started Doon the day I was gearing up to go to our local Scottish festival to discover my own ancestral clan and was so swept away I did not put it down until I was done. The voice, the beautiful setting and pacing come together along with awesome characters to make an unforgettable story. Part of a new imprint of Harper Collins Christian publishing called Blink, (read about the news here ) this is a magical read I will be recommending this summer! It's told in dual points of view between two best friends Veronica and McKenna."

Pump up you Book Tour - Lucy the Dinosaur Book Series for 3-5 year olds - Joey Ahlbum

Title:  Lucy the Dinosaur: Nice to Meet You!  And a bunch more in the series also.

Author:  Joey Ahlbum

Review:  Reviewer number 1 -This is a lovely children's book and aimed, I believe at pre schoolers, but that said I can also imagine a young mother snuggled under a warm baby quilt with her toddler reading all about Lucy before bedtime.

The book that I looked over teaches opposites, hot and cold, night and day, fast and slow ect. The book is twelve pages long with about two lines of text on each page.

The books are well illustrated and very enjoyable to look at with bright colors.  There appear to be 9 books in the series and at the end of the first book there is a link (if you are on kindle) to a free book you can email for. 

Darling books I give them a 5 out of 5 for the illustrations and the story line.  

Reviewer number 2-

These books have great illustrations and fun words for you to read to your child or for them to attempt to read to themselves.  I love the display on my Kindle with the colorful drawing and the ease of use.  I think any child in the 3-5 year old range and maybe younger would enjoy these cute, bright stories.  I know mine did and so did I.

I was able to read and review a few different Lucy Books and I have to tell you that they are all cute and well worth the $0.99 they currently cost at Amazon.  Your child or grandchild will love the stories and the wonderful pictures.  Give it a try…99 cents will not break your bank, but it will give you an excuse to sit down and read with your little loved one.

Go pick one up today!!

Publisher:  Published July 9th 2013 by Frederator Books

ISBN: B00DRGXOSE

Copyright: 2013

 Pages: 18 pages ebook

Where did I get the book: Sent by the publisher for review.

Quick Review: for the target age I would give these books 5 stars.

Synopsis:  Moms and dads looking for the best kid's picture book will love Frederator Books' newest read along digital book!

Lucy is an explorer and a leader. She has a natural curiosity about things because Lucy wants to learn. Meet Lucy and her other dino friends as they learn, joke and skateboard!

Lucy is a larger than life dinosaur who loves adventures. With Lucy in the lead, her loyal crew crawls, skates, and dances their way to learning. Lucy’s curiosity holds no bounds—she counts, she hunts for treasure, she even puts on a play! Veteran animator, Joey Ahlbum will charm kids with his friendly and dynamic art. Fans of Dinosaur vs. Bedtime, Sandra Boynton & Mo Willems will love these cheerful read alongs.

Frederator Loves You.

Lucy books are perfect for young kids who love adventure, and parents will appreciate the combination of fun stories and education.

 

Author Biography:  Joey Ahlbum was born and raised in New York City and Brooklyn. He graduated from the High School of Art and Design and The School of Visual Arts.

His animation and illustration work includes projects for Nickelodeon, Pizza Hut, Cartoon Network, MTV, Frederator, and PBS.He was supervising director on the Emmy award winning "Clifford's Puppy Days" for Scholastic. He is currently working on his ninth season of "Elmo's World" where he has completed over 50 episodes.

Joey Ahlbum's personal films include his thesis film at SVA called "Bandits!" which toured in a Best of ASIFA series and played in Movies in the Park."Parade" was shown at the Zagreb Animation Festival, the Museum of Modern Art, and included in a package of short films that toured the U.S. and played at the Film Forum in NYC. He currently lives on the Lower East Side with his lovely wife and daughter. He enjoys trips to the beach, eating Korean food, and riding his bike to work.

 

Other Reviews:

Shhh...Not While I'm Reading

Ellis

Book Review - Lost Luggage - Jordi Punti

Title:  Lost Luggage

Author: Jordi Punti

Review:  This is like reading 4 different authors in the same book.  Each narrative is different and unique to the character the chapter/ifomation is about, but they also narrate against and with each other at times...strange.  How can one man cause so many issues and problems?  Well having many children with many different women is a good start.  4 brothers that are not aware of each other, each the same father and name but different mothers.  Lots going on in this book, lots of people and lives affected by this one man, fathers are important even if they are not involved.  Everyone has one and everyone needs one that is more than a name or signature on a check.

I think that this book will make you think and ponder your life and your relationships with your loves ones and especially your parents.  This book doesn’t move fast like I would have likes, lots of repeating of things and many, many memories that are important, yet slow down the progress for the reader.  Also this is a translated book and so the pacing and word choices are not what you might expect and that will slow you down as a reader also.  Watch out for the British language that many Americans are not familiar with, it may be English, but it is not American English.

This book is interesting and I think many readers would enjoy it.  Some of it does come off a bit fairy tale like, but that is life for some of us.

Publisher: Expected publication: October 15th 2013 by Simon & Schuster Canada (first published 2010)

ISBN: 9781476730318

Copyright: 2010

Pages: 448

Quick Review:  4 stars out of 5

Where did I get the book:  Sent by the publisher for an honest review.

Synopsis: Christof, Christophe, Christopher, and Cristòfol are four brothers—sons of the same father and four very different mothers—yet none of them knows of the others’ existence. They live in four different cities: Frankfurt, Paris, London, and Barcelona. Unbeknownst to them, they have one thing in common: Gabriel Delacruz—a truck driver—abandoned them when they were little and they never heard from him again.

Then one day, Cristòfol is contacted by the police: his father is officially a missing person. This fact leads him to discover that he has three half-brothers, and the four young men come together for the first time. Two decades have passed since their father last saw any of them. They barely remember what he was like, but they decide to look for him to resolve their doubts. Why did he abandon them? Why do all four have the same name? Did he intend for them to meet?

Divided by geography yet united by blood, the “Christophers” set out on a quest that is at once painful, hilarious, and extraordinary. They discover a man who during thirty years of driving was able to escape the darkness of Franco’s Spain and to explore a luminous Europe, a journey that, with the birth of his sons, both opened and broke his heart.

Author Biography:  Jordi Puntí is a writer, translator (Paul Auster, Amélie Nothomb and Daniel Pennac, among others), and a regular contributor to the Spanish and Catalan press. He is currently the editor of the literary supplement, Quadern, published by the newspaper El País.

Puntí is considered one of the most promising new voices of contemporary Catalan literature. In 1998 he published his first book of short stories, Pell d’armadillo (Proa, 1998) that won the Serra d’Or Critics’ Prize.

Lost Luggage is his first novel.

Other Reviews:

The Literatuer "The cardinal points represented by the four ‘Christophers’ operate as a compass, directing us through a maze of adventures that Gabriel shares with his travel mates Petroli and Bundó. Gabriel is the central character of a story narrated by the ‘Christophers’ at the different stages of their encounters, organised to investigate their father’s life. Gabriel possesses the gift of chance, but we soon discover how the constraints of his upbringing weigh him down and, when his nomadic life no longer makes sense to him, he plays with the idea of suicide, plans to jump off the statue of another Christopher – Christopher Columbus - to put an end to it all.  But once again he is saved by the persistence of chance. Gabriel (like the author) is a keen card player; eventually the full house of Lost Luggage’s design is revealed, but not without risks and tricks."

Express.UK "In the Christophers' search for Gabriel the reader finds a funny, moving and poignant exploration of identity, home, family and freedom."