Friday, November 16, 2012

Book Reviews by Gary Roen

Popped Off
Jeffrey Allen

Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corp   |    ISBN-13: 9780758266903   |    Buy Now

The Stay at Home Dad series began with Stay at Home Dead and continues with Popped Off. This time stay at home dad and amateur detective Deuce Winters must solve the case of the mysterious disappearance of the King of Soccer Moises Huber, the president of the Rose Petal Youth Soccer Association. Many of the characters from the first novel are back as well as some new ones that are just as charming. The story races along with many fun twists and turns to its final laugh out loud conclusion. Popped Off is a Donald E. Westlake type of mystery novel that is fun reading.


Zoo
James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge

Publisher: Little Brown and Company (Hatchet Book Group)   |    ISBN-13: 9780316097444   |    Buy Now

Zoo is another great read by these two authors. Something has happened around the world. Many different types of animals are attacking humans. Jackson Oz, a biologist considered a crackpot, has a theory that many do not believe. He has to convince the world that his hypothesis is coming true and that they must find a way to stop it from continuing. Zoo is a Michael Crichton type of novel in the fold of Jurassic Park but much more believable, because the animals are not extinct. The novel races along with a final ending that is realistic and logical. Zoo is a total departure from the usual mystery novels these two authors are known for and is a frightening look at how technology has gone wrong


Robert B. Parker’s Fool Me Twice
Michael Brandman

Publisher: Putnam (Penguin)   |    ISBN-13: 9780399159497   |    Buy Now

Jesse Stone is back in another great story with Fool Me Twice. Michael Brandman was a logical perfect choice to continue the novels of Jesse Stone because he as screenwriter for the TV movies, worked with Robert B. Parker. Brandman has the feel of the Parker writing with the snappy dialogue and the tense situations in Paradise, Massachusetts that made them so much fun to read. This time out Jesse has to deal with a spoiled rotten rich kid and her parents, a movie crew to begin filming in Paradise, and the murder of one of the stars of the film. As the plot unfolds Jesse has his hands full but nothing fazes him as he tackles all of the situations. Fool Me Twice although not written by Parker, is a great addition to the series that continues to be so much fun to read.


Severe Clear
Stuart Woods

Publisher: Putnam (Penguin)   |    ISBN-13: 9780399159848   |    Buy Now

Woods is back with another great Stone Barrington novel in Severe Clear. The Arrington Hotel is set to open and Stone and a slew of characters are to attend the ceremonies. There also are some terrorists who are going to try to make a statement bigger than September 11th. The novel races along with many interesting characters situations and plot twists to its final enjoyable ending. Severe Clear is a nice addition to the Barrington series.


Cast into Doubt
Patricia MacDonald

Publisher: World Wide Library   |    ISBN-13: 9780727879516   |    Buy Now

For a while I wondered what happened to Patricia MacDonald because I had not seen anything new until Cast into Doubt. Shelby Sloan’s world is out of whack when she learns that her daughter Chloe disappeared from a cruise ship. Shelby cannot believe the explanations given by the police and Chloe’s husband on the vanishing of Chloe. omething to Shelby does not seem right. She delves into the circumstances and begins to learn not everything is as it seems. MacDonald has crafted a complicated tale that races along to its final satisfying conclusion. It’s great to see MacDonald back with another great chilling novel. Cast into Doubt is a suspenseful story that is a page turner


Death of a Neighborhood Witch
Laura Levine

Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corp   |    ISBN-13: 9780758238498   |    Buy Now

I had never read anything by Laura Levine but Death of a Neighborhood Witch makes me want to read other things by her in the future. Jane Austen has a problem with Crypetssa Muldoon a down and out B horror movie actress who lives like a witch in Austen’s neighborhood. Crypetssa hates Austen and gives her fits about everything. Later Crypetssa is found murdered and the police have only one logical suspect. Austen has a short time to expose the killer before she is charged with the crime. Levine has written a laugh out loud mystery that races along with interesting characters and funny situations. Levine also fills the story with e mails fro Austen’s parents that are a separate story and are very funny. Death of a Neighborhood Witch is perfect reading for the Halloween season.


Mr. Monk on the Couch
Lee Goldberg

Publisher: Signet   |    ISBN-13: 9780451235336   |    Buy Now

Mr. Monk on the Couch is another great tale of Adrian Monk the obsessive compulsive detective. This time Adrian Monk solves several cases while Natalie Teeger enlists the aid of Adrian’s agoraphobic brother to solve a case on her own because Adrian is too busy with a case that involves a couch. Goldberg once again has a firm handle on the characters and takes readers along a fun filled Monk adventure that finishes up with a very satisfying conclusion. The Monk novels like the TV series are fun filled laugh out loud mysteries that are such a delight to read. Mr. Monk on the Couch is sure to please fans of the Monk series.


The Skinvestigator Sunburn
Terry Cronin

Publisher: 3 Boys Productions   |    ISBN-13: 9780983766711   |    Buy Now

The third installment of this series The Skinvestigator Sunburn takes off with a stunning beginning and races along to an exciting conclusion that ends The Sunshine State Trilogy. Once again author Terry Cronin introduces medical factual material into the fictional world of Dr. Harry Poe and makes it very interesting. I love the cover artwork that is a perfect parody of the Coppertone advertisement that adds to the enjoyment of this novel. The Skinvestigator novels have been enjoyable mystery fare by a very talented writer.


The Puppet’s Secret
Alex Samms

Publisher: Outskirts Press Inc.   |    ISBN-13: 9781432790349   |    Buy Now

Normally I do not like novels that tell, not show, what is happening but there is something about The Puppet’s Secret that held my interest all the way through. Though very short the author has written a very disturbing tale of a women’s obsession with a man she briefly encounters. She is so fixated with this person that she is willing to give up her husband and family. The reader is taken along on a very chilling journey that concludes with a very satisfying ending. The Puppet’s Secret is a page turner for great summer reading.


A Giant Pencil
Connor S. Wilson   |   Illustrations & Cover Art by Alyssa Machette

Publisher: Magic Dreams Publishing   |    ISBN-13: 9781937148126   |    Buy Now

A Giant Pencil is the story of Billy who hates his life because he feels he is being picked on by everyone he knows. He finds a magic pencil that changes his life. He thinks it is a great thing what the pencil can do, but he learns that it is really worse. So maybe just one more time he can do something more positive with it. What is unique about the author is that Connor Wilson began the story when he was 8 years old and finished writing it when he turned 9. The writing is very polished and is a fun children’s book written by a kid. A Giant Pencil has a message to everyone that you should always value what you have before you lose it.


Fluffy’s Guardian Angel
Donald Bussel

Publisher: Xlibris Corporation   |    ISBN-13: 9781436315241   |    Buy Now

Fluffy, a female dog tells the story how she got separated from her owners and the many different characters she meets along the way to get home in Fluffy’s Guardian Angel. Children will enjoy Fluffy’s Guardian Angel for the artwork but there are many lessons that can be learned from the story of the dog who struggles to get back home.


The Upside of Down Times: Discovering the Power of Gratitude
Lisa Ryan

Publisher: Outskirts Press Inc.   |    ISBN-13: 9781432790554   |    Buy Now

Finally there is a book about the importance of saying thank you. The Upside of Down Times: Discovering the Power of Gratitude is a ground breaking work that talks about the importance of gratitude. It is one of the simplest things but so many people never do it. Examples are for the service you have by a server in a restaurant and how most people do not take the time to tell managers how good the service was. Or companies that do not understand how important it is for workers to be thanked for the hard work they do. Lisa Ryan shows how the simple act of a compliment can affect business more positively. She also takes it to the level of people dealing with others and how we need to be more complimentary to each other. The Upside of Down Times: Discovering the Power of Gratitude is for the politically correct generation who need to read this book and go back to a more straightforward set of values.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Book Reviews by Gary Roen


Stop the Bully It Starts With You 
By Rodney Robertson


“It is estimated that 175,000 children miss school everyday due to the fear of being teased, attacked, and publicly humiliated,from the introduction of Stop the Bully It Starts With You. Robertson has written a timely work that teaches kids they no longer have to be the victim of a bully. Bullying has always been around, but only now has it reached the degree to be classified as an epidemic.  It has also become a major cause for kids to commit suicide or resort to violence to solve the problem. Robertson who teaches martial arts, instructs on how everyone can turn it around and take away the bully's power over them without resorting to a physical or violent solution. Divided into three sections the first is how animals handle situations then there are 15 facts and the last portion introduces 10 habits anyone can adopt to ward off a bully.  There are also several different personal stories by adults who were bullied as kids and how they dealt with it.   The principles the author proposals are sound, logical and simple and I wish there had been a book like this when I was growing up to stop the cycle of the bully many of us have had to endure. Stop the Bully It Starts With You is a book that every school in the nation should use to stop this growing menace. 


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Jilli That’s Silly: A Story About Being a Girl

Written by Christa Carpenter
Illustrated by Mark Wayne Adams
Jillian Wallaby is a 7 year old girl who does lots of silly things that make the book pleasurable to see how juvenile she can be while her mom tries to understand her daughter.  Mark Wayne Adams artwork adds to the story, especially when Jilli’s mom is brushing her hair.  Jilli makes faces into the mirror.  This is one example of how Adams’ artwork complements the story.  “Jilli, That’s Silly!” has several positive messages to kids and parents as well, that make the book fun to read. 


 

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That Pet Finder Kid Catnapped

By Scott Clements
From sports to music, 13-year old Chet Parker fails at anything he ever attempts to do.  He also does not fit in with other kids at school.  That’s why he is more into animals because they love you no matter what you do, he thinks.  When he takes his dog to the vet something happens and he gets the shot meant for his dog.   A short time later he is aware that he can sense what animals around him are thinking and his sense of smell is increased.  He learns that Heather, a fellow student, lets him know her cat Mr. Fluff Fluff is gone, and she thinks he has run away.  Chet aids her and realizes that for some reason someone has stolen her cat.  Later there is a ransom note and now Chet has a purpose, that being who took her cat.  Chet also becomes friends with a new neighbor and a severely overweight kid named “Ton” who has the reputation of eating kids he does not like.   Scott Clements who works on the hit USA network series “Burn Notice” is also a very talented writer of YA novels this being one of them.  Chet and all the characters in the novel are well defined in a story that rapidly moves along to the revealing ending where readers find out who stole the cat.  That Pet Finder Kid Catnapped is a first class YA mystery novel that would make a great series of adventures for amateur detective Chet Parker.



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Niki and Nick Are Great Friends to Pick
By Marina
There are several things I liked abut Nikki and Nick Are Great Friends to Pick.  Among them are the fact that the author did all of the artwork, the bold colors add a dimension of fun to the story and that it is told by the narrator  Mr.  Wolfgang Spinsilk, the spider.  The problem I found was there are several different writings on the pages that do not seem to have the same focus.  One example is, one of the character’s room at home is a mess then there is an explanation for the origins of manners.  I do not see how the two are related. The author does this throughout the work.   I also do not know what age group this is for, even though it says for ages 6 and up.  I guess I am not in the age group that fits to understand Nikki and Nick Are Great Friends to Pick.
  

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Sounds of a Coo

By Kelly Lambert
What do babies think of their parents and those around them?  Kelly Lambert in her book Sounds of a Coo shows what babies are thinking about many different subjects, and makes this kid’s book lots of fun.   From learning about their hands to mommy and daddy we learn how different babies feel and there are many surprises.  Sounds of a Coo tries to clear up many of the mysteries about babies and does it very well. 

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Sometimes I am Scared of Zombies
Written by Bob Fox
Illustrated by Brandon Peter and Melissa Schneider
Superfox Entertainment Group
Horror writer Rob Fox goes in a very different direction with the kid’s book Sometimes I am Scared of Zombies.  With the art work by Brandon Peter and Melissa Schneider, the three combined talents come together to show how you should not be afraid of zombies because they are not real, and the book teaches kids to face their fears instead of being afraid or running away from them. 


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Bubs the Bumble Bee and The Spider’s Web

By Joyce Graham Fogwill
  
The author, who is a retired science teacher uses the character of Bubs the Bumblebee and pictures of real bumblebees and spiders to teach kids about these two facets of nature.  Bubs is flying around and spies some spider webs and steers clear because he knows if he is caught that will be the end of Bubs.  The story is simple but teaches a lot about the two creatures and how they are not really compatible with each other.  Bubs the Bumble bee and The Spider’s Web is a very effective way for children 6 to 10 to learn more about some of the things around them instead of having to study from a very dry textbook. 



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The Hummingbird Garden

Written by Evelyn Schawarrz
Illustrations by Kitty Quinn
Outskirts Press Inc.
Alexis Johnson and her family move into a new home and meet the neighbors their neighbors the Fletchers.  Alexis and Tyler Fletcher get along until Alexis and her family plant some flowers in their new back yard.  She wants to have the hummingbirds that were at the Fletcher’s also come to their yard.  At first Tyler is not very happy until something happens and then he realizes there is enough to go around for everyone.  The Hummingbird Garden is another great kid’s book that any age can read and enjoy, while it has so many positive messages, among them the importance of sharing. 


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The Ultimate Guide to the Harry Potter Fandom
By E.A Pyne
For anyone who wants to know more about the world of Harry Potter there is The Ultimate Guide to The Harry Potter Fandom.  The author takes the reader on a tour of the Harry Potter universe including all of the books and movies and many other things not really known before.  I especially liked where the author went into so much detail to reveal what is the real meaning of fandom and how it applies to Harry Potter.  Not authorized by J. K. Rawlings, The Ultimate Guide to The Harry Potter Fandom should be an added to anyone’s library of books about Harry Potter. 


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Grunge Bob Camo Pants Zombie Hunter Official Website
Created & Written by Robert Cordray
Illustrated by David Naughton-Shires
Grunge Bob Camo Pants Zombie Hunter is an educational excursion into the world of zombies by a kid who hunts them down to protect humanity.  The author and illustrator have done a great job of telling the story with prose and artwork that make this kid’s book a fun story and the ending is entertaining.  Grunge Bob Camo Pants Zombie Hunter will have readers of all ages cheering on Grunge Bob for more adventures.  


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The Adventures of Keeno and Ernest: The Banana Tree
By Maggie van Galen
Illustrated by Joanna Lundeen
 
Keeno is a mischievous monkey who gets into trouble and drags his friend Ernest an elephant along when Keeno does not heed both sets of parents warning not to cross the river.  Ernest has to find a way to rescue Keeno and not let their parents know what they have done.  The Adventures of Keeno and Ernest: The Banana Tree has many good lessons for kid’s to learn among them what happens when you do not listen to your parents and the importance of friendship.