Review: A Quest for Good Manners

Title: A Quest for Good Manners
Author: Karin Lefranc
Source: Review
Grade A+

For those that did not know, I am a preschool teacher. That being said, I have a soft spot in my heart for children's books. I love my job and take very seriously what books I choose to read to my students. I like books that have bright, colorful pictures, not to many words on each page, and of course a theme that can be discussed. A Quest for Good Manners has each of these three things. The book is about a princess and her dragon who have terrible manners. They burp and slurp, are not polite, and have horrible table manners. The Queen is so disgusted that she sends the two on a quest to find "good manners". The princess and dragon go throughout the land where they take part in many obstacles set up to help them discover what good manners are.

I love the theme of this book! Good manners is a topic that many preschoolers are still learning. This book presents manners in a fun and easy to explain way. Children will love looking at the colorful pictures and the fun adventures the princess and dragon embark on. The dialogue on each page is perfect; not to long and not to short. The book does not drag on and is just long enough that it will hold the preschoolers attention. I plan on reading this to my preschoolers at the beginning of the year to jump start the year long lesson of learning good manners. I think this will be a book that myself and my students will refer to over and over again. You can read more about Karin and her book at her website.

Happy Reading!

Bookaholic

Review: Jericho 3

Title: Jericho 3
Author: Paul McKellips
Source: Review from Author
Grade: A-


Synopsis from Amazon
U.S. Navy Captain "Camp" Campbell and Lieutenant Colonel Leslie Raines, the heroes of Paul McKellips' acclaimed debut, UNCAGED, return, determined to execute a mission that leaves millions of lives hanging in the balance. At the heart of this operation is the dire need to prevent a first-strike with a weapon known in intelligence circles as...JERICHO 3. In a remote corner of Afghanistan, three patients are diagnosed with a rare, incredibly infectious disease. At a U.S. base just outside Pakistan, an American army doctor is kidnapped by a local tribe to perform an unlikely surgical procedure on the wife of a powerful leader. And back in the U.S., Camp is handed his most challenging assignment ever, which leaves the normally confident hero desperate for answers. All the while, Camp must hold back his secret desire for Leslie Raines, his beautiful cohort, as they are sent off on two sides of the same mission...only to reunite when the stakes get deadly. With his trademark grit and a globe-racing plot, Paul McKellips takes readers deep into the Middle East conflict, raising timely questions of radicalism, faith, and honor. As the clock ticks down toward Armageddon, Camp and Raines must do everything it takes to stop the total annihilation of two countries.


Review


Jericho 3 is the sequel tho McKellips' first book, Uncaged. I have not read the first book so I was a little worried about picking up with the second book in the series. When I started reading the book, it did not really matter that I had not read Uncaged. McKellips gives enough background information about the characters and plot that I was able to understand what was going on. I had mixed feelings when initially reading this  book. It took me a good 100 pages to actually get into the book. The book is divided into 3 parts and the first part I found quite boring. Once part 2 started, I was hooked for the most part. I did struggle a bit with understanding the military acronyms and terms that were used, but I was able to understand the basic premise of the book.


McKellips definitely knows how to keep a reader on the edge of their seat. Every time I started to get slightly disinterested, McKellips switches gears and shocks the reader. I won't give away the end, but let me just say  my heart was racing when I closed the book. I did get a bit confused at times about the many different story lines and I was sometimes confused about how they all worked together. The story takes place in many different parts of the world, but by the end every story line came together.  It was interesting to see how much work goes into creating vaccines and all of the trials they have to go through to actually use a vaccine in society. The book also included many "hot topics" of conversation in today's media; animal testing, the war on terrorism, the military, Alzheimer's disease. It is a book that I believe many political junkies would enjoy reading. You can read more about Paul McKellips and Jericho 3 at Paul's website.

Happy Reading!

Bookaholic

Review: Don't Disappear Part 2

Title: Don't Disappear Part 2: The Betweenism
Author: Nina Guest
Source:  Review
Grade: B-

This is the second book in the series about Vicka Zotova. Check out my review for the first book here!

Review
This book picks up where book 1 leaves off. Vicka has made it back to Russia but has changed her name to Danna, as well as her children's names so that she can live peacefully. While finally free from slavery, Danna must make the hard transition back into normal life. She must decide where to live, how to make money, how to keep her children fed, etc... Danna struggles with this and one bad thing after another continues to hit her. Every time she thinks she has finally got back on her feet, something else is thrown at her. It is a tough life, but Danna is thankful to be free and with her children.

I must admit I did not like this book as much as part 1. The plot did not pull me in, like in the first book. It just seemed like one bad think after another kept happening to Danna. She also goes through many, many husbands. I actually lost count and kept getting confused who she was married to. There were parts of the story that kept me on the edge of my seat, but mostly I was bored. I also wish that Nina Guest had included more interactions between Danna and her children throughout the book. I felt that there was way to much about Danna's many husbands and I would have been more interested reading about Danna and her kids. Overall I gave the book a B- because I did like that the book picked up right where the first one left off and it did hold my attention for some of it. I believe that Nina will be publishing at least two more books on this series, so stayed tuned!

Happy reading!

Bookaholic

Review: Don't Disappear Part 1

Title: Don't Disappear Part 1
Author: Nina Guest
Grade: B+



Don't Disappear is the first in a four book series about Vika, a Russian teenager who is kidnapped and taken into another country as a slave. Before she is kidnapped, she falls in love with Sergei, a KGB officer who is a lot older than her. Through Sergei, she accepts a secretive job and is then kidnapped while she is on the job. She must use her strength, and wits to figure out how to escape and get back to her beloved Sergei.


This book has a very slow start. I did not really get into the book until I was a third through reading it. The beginning is where the reader learns about Vika's life an the development of the relationship between Vika and Sergei.  Once Vika is kidnapped, I could not put the book down. I was dying to know what would happen to Vika and wondered if she would ever get home. The relationship that Vika has with Sergei makes me hope that my future husband has many of Sergei's traits. Don't Disappear was originally written and published in Russia, which is where Nina Guest is from. Saying that, I found some grammatical errors and some of the wording was a bit strange. The plot has some surprises that you would not expect and keeps the reader on their toes. Overall I did enjoy the book and I am very excited to read the second book and continue on the journey with Vika. This was a great summer read and I think will be an awesome series! Look out for my review on the second book in the series! You can read more about Nina and the Don't Dissapear series on Nina's website.

Happy Reading!

Bookaholic

Review: Oceana

Title: Oceana: A love Story
Author CC Lindh
Source: Review
Grade: B+


Synopsis from Website
oceana: a love story is a book about two athletes and their love for each other and their respective sports. Oceana is a lifelong surfer, former  fashion model, who loves the ocean and teaches others to love and take care of the ocean as well. Guy is a golf pro from England who loves golf and longs to be able to compete in tournaments. Oceana helps Guy to achieve his dreams. Though their time together is brief, Oceana and Guy never stop loving each other and their love endures forever. Like the land and the sea, Oceana and Guy have the opportunity in oceana: a love story to define and transform each other. 


Review

Oceana is a love story between Oceana, a surfer, and Guy, a professional golfer. They meet when Guy accidentally hits a golf ball into Oceana's yard. Their feelings toward each other develop very quickly. They are soon spending every day and night together. They show each other the sports world that they each love. The love for each other continues to blossom until a tragic event ends their lives together. 

This book, at 87 pages, was a very quick read. The text of the book is written in light blue, which makes the reader feel as if their are on the beach and reading while hearing the ocean waves crash. I really liked that the plot develops quickly and every part of the book has important meaning to the story line and gets right to the point. I did get confused by the characters ages. The beginning of the book made me think that the characters were in their late teens. I did not realize that was not the case until their ages are stated as 30. I guess this shows that romantic love happens at all ages! This is the perfect read for anyone who has been in love or wants to remember what it feels like to fall deeply in love. You will be swept away by the feelings that Oceana and Guy have for each other and find your self rooting for their success. You can read more about the book and the author at CC'c website.

Happy reading!

Bookaholic

Review: Embracing You, Embracing Me

Title: Embracing You, Embracing Me
Author: Michele Bellon
Source: Review
Grade: A-


Synopsis from the back of the book
In a decade when image matters, when the so-called Generation X is swelling with ‘future perfect’ hopes and pride, 16-year-old Roshell McRady dances her way through High School, never quite admitting that she’s ashamed of her trailer park family home.

She listens to Madonna while conjuring creative Top Ramen recipes to feed her younger cousins; she empties enough hairspray until her bangs are feathered and vertical like a lethal weapon; and she agonises over how to convince Gabriel Harrison, the new Mystery Guy in town, to invite her to the prom - a night which threatens to turn into a disaster.

But then life takes a dramatic turn for Roshell, and her life changes forever.

Review
Roshell McRady grew up in the 90's where Madonna replaced Justin Beiber, and people wore washed out jeans. Michelle is an awesome writer! She develops characters that the reader can relate to. I instantly felt a connection to Roshell because she was a dancer, like myself. Her dancing makes it hard for her to have time to commit to guys.  Roshell develops a crush on Gabriel, the new boy in town. . Roshell has a hard time trusting guys, which leads her to never committing to a relationship with Gabriel. Throughout Roshell's high school and post high school years, her relationship with Gabriel has many ups and down. Just when she thinks it is ok to let go and finally give her self completely to Gabriel, the unthinkable happens. Trust me when I say that you will not see this coming.

I really enjoyed this book because it has many twists and turns, while being an enjoyable read. Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen, the plot is thrown a curve ball. It was predictable, but unpredictable at the same time. I really liked Michelle's style of writing and I felt like I was reading a story about an old friend. I think that anyone looking for a interesting summer read will enjoy this book. It will keep you wanting to read more and more about Roshell. You can read more about Michelle Bellon and her books at Michelle's website.

Happy Reading!

Bookaholic

Review: The First to Say No

Title: The First to Say No
Author: Charles C. Anderson
Source: Review
Grade: A+

Synopsis from the back of the book
The female doctors in the Parkview Hospital emergency department decide that they will no longer allow gang members who assault health care workers in their community to escape justice. The neighborhood of Parkview is being terrorized by the Plagues, a gang of violent criminals and drug dealers, and the local police department is taking pay-offs to ignore their activity. After one of the ED doctors, Elita Romanov, is kidnapped and raped, she and her best friend, Dr. Kate Taylor, resolve to take definitive action against the Plagues, whatever the consequences. They systematically recruit co-workers, friends and family members who are willing to break the law in order to restore the rule of law in Parkview. THE FIRST TO SAY NO is Kate's journey to achieve peace with her past and to eliminate those who threaten her future and the future of her neighborhood. Set in contemporary America, this novel illustrates many of the failings of today's healthcare system as Kate and Elita's startling solution unfolds in Parkview.


Review
When I first read about this book, I was instantly interested. When I received the book I was slightly confused about the cover. I was confused why a picture of a fountain would be on the cover of a medical thriller. The cover initially made me not want to read the book. Thankfully, this was a definite case of not judging a book by it's cover. The fountain on the cover represents the fountain in River Park, which the Plagues have taken over. Kate's father used to take Kate to play in the fountain when she was a child. It is Kate's goal to take the park away from the Plagues and give it back to the community. Kate has to take many drastic, and even life threatening measures to reclaim River Park. 


Before reading this I did not know that most of the assaults on doctors happen from their own patients. Apparently this is a very wide spread problem. Even though this book is a work of fiction, the doctors at Parkview Hospital show so much courage in their fight against gang members. It blows my mind that this actually happens. Doctors sustain life threatening, and life altering injuries and even die from attacks by patients. It is a very scary world we live in. I suggest that everyone reads this book. It will open your eyes to a wide spread problem that is happen in hospitals everywhere. t is also a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time you are reading! You can read more about The First to Say No and Mr. Anderson on the book's website. 

Happy Reading!

Bookaholic