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An interesting YA paranormal action romance. The main character, Nikki Youngblood, is struggling with a roller-coaster of intense feelings about the loss of her parents, two intensely attractive male halflings, Mace and Raven who compete for her affections and attention at every turn, and the danger she finds herself and others in due to evil forces from hell.
Meanwhile, Damon Vessler pleads with Nikki to return to him and help wreak vengeance on her parents killer. Nikki must choose her path with not only lives but souls at stake.
This is definitely a good read but I do feel I missed crucial information by not having read the first book in this trilogy. After reading 'Halflings', I will revisit this review.
I am adding this book to the YA section of my lending library.
*****
Guardian
Reading level: Ages 15 and up
Price: $14.99 (USD)
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Zondervan (October 9, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN 13: 9780310728214
UPC: 025986728212
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
The Manga Guide To Relativity
The manga begins at the Taigai academy closing ceremony for the school year. The headmaster, Rase Iyaga announces that this year she is giving the junior class a special present for the summer break. The special present is a study assignment based on a wheel of fortune spin with a thrown dart identifying the subject. The winning assignment is relativity. When student body president Ruka Minagi protests, the headmaster lets him 'volunteer' to study the subject and report on it so the other students can take their beach break. Rase's misadventures while he is learning about relativity and his unusual teacher make his summer study unpredictable. To find out if he succeeds in learning and reporting on relativity, and what happens to the academy, you will have to read it.
This interesting manga combines the wonderful artwork and story line of the manga with the basics of relativity. The storyline like many manga involves conflict, flirting, and complicated relationships between the characters. The science is introduced in the story through one of the characters who is a teacher. The explanations are accompanied by illustrations and specific formulas and diagrams. The artwork was colorful for the most part. The one area I was disappointed in was the caricature of Einstein. The same exact pose is used multiple times through the book. It is as though the artist had only seen one photo of Einstein and was unable to creatively modify his expression for various instances of his mention in the manga.
A very enjoyable read and I plan to leave it on the teen center table for the enjoyment of all.
Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: No Starch Press; 1 edition (April 22, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1593272723
ISBN-13: 978-1593272722
This interesting manga combines the wonderful artwork and story line of the manga with the basics of relativity. The storyline like many manga involves conflict, flirting, and complicated relationships between the characters. The science is introduced in the story through one of the characters who is a teacher. The explanations are accompanied by illustrations and specific formulas and diagrams. The artwork was colorful for the most part. The one area I was disappointed in was the caricature of Einstein. The same exact pose is used multiple times through the book. It is as though the artist had only seen one photo of Einstein and was unable to creatively modify his expression for various instances of his mention in the manga.
A very enjoyable read and I plan to leave it on the teen center table for the enjoyment of all.
Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: No Starch Press; 1 edition (April 22, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1593272723
ISBN-13: 978-1593272722
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Deep Brain Learning: Pathways to Potential with Challenging Youth
Deep Brain Learning: Pathways to Potential with Challenging Youth
written_by: Larry K Brendtro, Phd; Martin L Mitchell EdD; Herman J McCall, EdD
publisher: Star Commonwealth
ISBN: 978-1-60725-789-9
date: 2009
Hardbound
genre: Adult Nonfiction: Neuroscience, Psychology, Brain development
description: This informative book surveys and critiques a variety of scientific research and studies, cultural studies, and practicing programs dealing with brain development and challenging youth. It also introduces 25 principles for working effectively with these youth. The book compares and advocates a synthesis of Psychoanalytic, behaviorist and cognitive psychological theories to address the needs of challenging youth and the adults who work with them. The chapters on cultures of discord and cultures of respect presented interesting information and case studies on what can happen when a youth is surrounded by a culture of discord, versus what can happen when a youth is surrounded by a culture of respect. Some areas I found helpful were the discussions about trust, resilience (as intelligence) and problem solving in crisis. Rethinking Discipline was an interesting chapter which took a look at reward/punishment systems and how they are mainly used to maintain control by adults rather than teaching pro-social skills and behaviors. The extensive bibliography provides an excellent resource for further study into particular areas of further interest.
As a youth center coordinator, I found many interesting and helpful case studies and suggestions which I can use in my contact with challenging youth.
This wonderful overview of a number of techniques and programs for working with challenging youth encourages me to look further into some of these techniques and areas of study.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Hawkmoon by Nancy Williams
Hawkmoon
Nancy Williams
Loon in Balloon, Inc.
ISBN: 9780973749786
Fiction, Historical, Western adult fiction
This is a graphic western story of an abducted young girl, Sadie Hawkmoon, growing up among horse-thieves who practice domestic violence, child-rape, and other offensive recreations. Ice, the leader, kills everyone with the traveling circus Sadie has lived with since her parent’s death and steals Sadie. Supposedly Ice has taken her to gift her as a child to Paige, Ice’s wife. Paige dies in childbirth and Ice turns his attentions to Sadie soon treating her as a replacement in his bed for Paige.
Sadie is both pampered and abused by Ice, a violent man who has a distinctive appearance due to one dark and one light eye. He teaches Sadie to shoot and includes her in horse-thieving raids. Sadie doesn’t like the way they kill everyone they run into on these raids so she begins to miss on purpose on the raids.
The other women and the other men are jealous of the attention Ice lavishes on Sadie even though most of it is unwelcome to Sadie. Sadie longs to change her life but also fears that she will not be able to escape. She seizes an opportunity to escape but is nearly killed during the attempt. After her escape, she is in continuing danger from Ice and his band of thieves.
This book definitely has some adult elements and is not recommended for younger readers. I enjoyed the fast paced action although the graphic elements were disturbing
Nancy Williams
Loon in Balloon, Inc.
ISBN: 9780973749786
Fiction, Historical, Western adult fiction
This is a graphic western story of an abducted young girl, Sadie Hawkmoon, growing up among horse-thieves who practice domestic violence, child-rape, and other offensive recreations. Ice, the leader, kills everyone with the traveling circus Sadie has lived with since her parent’s death and steals Sadie. Supposedly Ice has taken her to gift her as a child to Paige, Ice’s wife. Paige dies in childbirth and Ice turns his attentions to Sadie soon treating her as a replacement in his bed for Paige.
Sadie is both pampered and abused by Ice, a violent man who has a distinctive appearance due to one dark and one light eye. He teaches Sadie to shoot and includes her in horse-thieving raids. Sadie doesn’t like the way they kill everyone they run into on these raids so she begins to miss on purpose on the raids.
The other women and the other men are jealous of the attention Ice lavishes on Sadie even though most of it is unwelcome to Sadie. Sadie longs to change her life but also fears that she will not be able to escape. She seizes an opportunity to escape but is nearly killed during the attempt. After her escape, she is in continuing danger from Ice and his band of thieves.
This book definitely has some adult elements and is not recommended for younger readers. I enjoyed the fast paced action although the graphic elements were disturbing
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Three Lives by Joe Washington
Three Lives is a very well written, exciting adventure novel. This is the first in a series. the action is carried throughout the story from the beginning when Nicholas Gambit finds himself in trouble with local gang members to his new career as an assassin in training. He finds that his trust is violated by those he felt closest to and his life is endangered by those who had promised him success.
Nicholas seems both worldly and naive at the same time. He continues to act as though people are basically trustworthy even after repeated jolts to his life from those who let him down, or betray him.
Nicholas seems both worldly and naive at the same time. He continues to act as though people are basically trustworthy even after repeated jolts to his life from those who let him down, or betray him.
Friday, May 22, 2009
One Deadly Sin by Annie Solomon
One Deadly Sin
Annie Solomon
Romantic Suspense
Grand Central Publishing
ISBN# 0-446-17844-6
ISBN13#: 978-0-446-17844-0
Paperback – Available now
The heroine, Edie Swan Has returned to her childhood town yearning for revenge for the miscarriage of justice against her father. She takes a job at a local bar and starts working her way through her list of the people involved in the frame up. She delivers a small plastic black angel to each one, hoping to unsettle them. Unfortunately for her and the recipients they start dying under mysterious or suspicious circumstances.
The hero, Sheriff Holt Drennen is trying to solve the mysterious deaths of several people in the small town. When he discovers that each has received a black angel, similar to the angel on Edie’s fathers grave, and finally that she is the source of the black angels, many of the towns members think that Edie is the perpetrator of the crimes. Sheriff Holt isn’t so sure and keeps investigating to find the ‘real’ murderer.
After several people have died, Edie begins to feel afraid for herself, sorry for the survivors and worried about how to tell Holt that she is the one who delivered the black angels but not the killer. She is also developing an interest in Holt and hopes that it is mutual.
Altogether it is an exciting suspenseful book. The characters are interesting even when they are unlikeable, for example Dennis Runkle the real estate agent. I like Edie and Holt.
Its very interesting that this book was inspired by the legend of the black angel in Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City.
Annie Solomon
Romantic Suspense
Grand Central Publishing
ISBN# 0-446-17844-6
ISBN13#: 978-0-446-17844-0
Paperback – Available now
The heroine, Edie Swan Has returned to her childhood town yearning for revenge for the miscarriage of justice against her father. She takes a job at a local bar and starts working her way through her list of the people involved in the frame up. She delivers a small plastic black angel to each one, hoping to unsettle them. Unfortunately for her and the recipients they start dying under mysterious or suspicious circumstances.
The hero, Sheriff Holt Drennen is trying to solve the mysterious deaths of several people in the small town. When he discovers that each has received a black angel, similar to the angel on Edie’s fathers grave, and finally that she is the source of the black angels, many of the towns members think that Edie is the perpetrator of the crimes. Sheriff Holt isn’t so sure and keeps investigating to find the ‘real’ murderer.
After several people have died, Edie begins to feel afraid for herself, sorry for the survivors and worried about how to tell Holt that she is the one who delivered the black angels but not the killer. She is also developing an interest in Holt and hopes that it is mutual.
Altogether it is an exciting suspenseful book. The characters are interesting even when they are unlikeable, for example Dennis Runkle the real estate agent. I like Edie and Holt.
Its very interesting that this book was inspired by the legend of the black angel in Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
DeKok and the Mask of Death by A.C. Baantjer
Available July 2009
Mystery
Hardcover $24.00 US
ISBN-13: 978-1-933108-30-8
Speck Press
Inspector DeKoK is still at work investigating mysterious disappearances and murder. A missing girl, reported by a young man who claims to be her boyfriend starts this newest case off. Women are checking into Slotervaart Hospital and then disappearing, according to a couple of somewhat questionable witnesses. Hospital staff denies it completely. Despite his impetuous partner, DeKok makes enough progress to be sternly warned off the case. Well worth reading. I don't want to spoil the ending for you. The case twists through both the medical and antiquities fields.
Mystery
Hardcover $24.00 US
ISBN-13: 978-1-933108-30-8
Speck Press
Inspector DeKoK is still at work investigating mysterious disappearances and murder. A missing girl, reported by a young man who claims to be her boyfriend starts this newest case off. Women are checking into Slotervaart Hospital and then disappearing, according to a couple of somewhat questionable witnesses. Hospital staff denies it completely. Despite his impetuous partner, DeKok makes enough progress to be sternly warned off the case. Well worth reading. I don't want to spoil the ending for you. The case twists through both the medical and antiquities fields.
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