Currently reading
Once in a Lifetime
Progress:
22/334 pages
His Risk to Take
Progress:
55 %
The Most Expensive Night of Her Life
Making It Last
Progress:
60 %
The Duke's Match Girl - A Fiery Tale Novella
Progress:
20 %
Poseidon: Earth Shaker (Olympians)
I love the art and the different tales of Poseidon in this graphic novel, because Poseidon is not a Greek god that I followed much. I didn't get much in character development for Poseidon to explain why he was the way he was. The book set it up as though there were going to be a big reveal but there wasn't. Still a good read. I can't wait to read the others in the series.
Body Heat
Too many things in first 30 pages just annoyed the hell out of me from the use of the word "gypsy" as an adjective and the language used to described the heroine's adoptive parents. I might be a little sensitive when it comes to adoptions, so YMMV with this book.
Everyone Can Learn to Ride a Bicycle
I love the beautiful simplicity of this book. A young girl is taught to ride her bike by her dad (or her granddad). He teaches her the mechanics; encourages her; and teaches her the power of persistence. The ink and water color illustrations are pretty, but just a little too "wobbly." It's as though I'm looking at the illustrations through a glass filled with water (which is why I took off one star). I would want something more definitively illustrated for a read-a-loud, but it is a sweet book to read one-on-one. Perfect for a beginning reader a well.
Robot Zombie Frankenstein!
Illustrator Annette Simon creates a picture book with images created digitally using QuarkExpress. They are both simplistic and abstract with all their bright colors and angles. Two Robot friends engage in a fun and silly game of dress up one up manship. Although the words are spare, I think older children would appreciate it more in a story time because of the humor. I'd recommend this for 1st grade and 2nd grade read alouds or 1-to-1 storytimes for ages 3+
Driving Her Crazy (Harlequin Kiss)
At first I didn't think I was going to enjoy this book, because sometimes you never know when a damaged tight-lipped alpha male will be an arsehole from top to bottom. Fortunately, Kent was redeemable.. This is a slow build romance, with the first kiss not being made until almost two thirds through the book but it is okay because the verbal sparring and inner workings of the characters are entertaining. When the kiss does happen, you're almost as excited and surprised as the heroes. The fears, desires, and concerns of the characters felt real not cartoonish. I could relate to heroine Sadie Bliss's concern over the size and shape of her body. This is the first Harlequin KISS title and I've read. I would rate the sexiness level of the KISS imprint solidly between Harlequin Presents and Harlequin Desire. I'd buy another title in the future.
Discovery in the Cave (Step into Reading)
This books is about the discovery of a prehistoric cave in France on the eve of World War II. Although it is told like a story, the characters and stories are true. Why this is shelved in my library's fiction section is beyond. This title would be perfect for "informational texts" or non-fiction books that read like fiction to satisfy NYC's Common Core Non-Fic Curriculum requirements. My 8 year old daughter read about half of it with a friend and they were intrigued. I don't think they would have picked the title out on their own, but it was good that they weren't bored once they began reading it.
Bread and Jam for Frances (I Can Read Book 2)
OH MY GOODNESS I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH. I owned this book when I was about 4 or 5 years old, and it came with a 45 vinyl record. I used to play the record on my plastic Fisher Price record player and follow along with the book. One day I accidentally sat on the record and broke it. I cried. I was sad, but it didn't stop me from reading the book. I love Bread and Jam for Frances. Reading that book made me hungry as a child and it makes me hungry as an adult--Celery and cream chese, tomatoes on rye, black olives, hard boiled eggs with a dash of salt, spaghetti and meatballs, milk with jam and bread. I don't know what came first, loving the book then the food or loving the food and then the book. This book still makes me smile and I'm sure every child will relate to Frances' dilemma.
Me
I wish there were more pictures of Ricky as a youth. That's one of the reasons I like to read celebrity biographies. I thought this was as much a story of his life as it was a story of his spiritual journey. Proves that no matter how old or how famous, we are always on a journey of self discovery.
The Mighty Quinns: Logan (Harlequin Blaze Series #735)
I was with this book until the last 45 pages where the ending got prolonged and unnecessarily convoluted. I skipped at least 20 pages.
Penguins, Penguins, Everywhere!
My six year old loves penguins thus I love penguins. I'll feed the obsession as far as it will go.
Lunch Lady and the Picture Day Peril (Lunch Lady Series #8)
Funny and both my 8 and 6 year daughters love it.
My Life in the Wild: Penguin
As schools are focusing more on non fic that can be read as a story, This book would be a perfect non fiction read aloud.
Harlem's Little Blackbird
Beautifully told and illustrated picture book biography about one of not so well known jazz & blues singers of the early 1900s. My daughter, who is 8 and in the second grade, read it on her own and enjoyed it. It touches on the racism of that time, and stresses the importance of standing your ground in the face of indignity. Children who like this book, might enjoy the picture book When Grandmama Sings by Margaree King Mitchell