#BookReview “SIDESHOW” Brian Kindall

Now for the review. "SideShow" takes place before "Delivering Virtue" and "Fortuna and the Scapegrace". As I have read the latter two it was really fun to get a picture of who Didier was before those two great adventures take place. "SideShow" is both a great introductory and companion to flesh out the world of Didier Rain. If you start with "SideShow" you'll be hooked. For so little pages, it does a great job of showing the complexities of the world through the eyes of my favorite swashbuckling dandy.

“Pete the Cat – Sir Pete the Brave” Kids Book Review

I recently noticed that the book can also determine how many he remembers. Realizing this, I started to make a note of the books he seemed to put more interest (which seems to equal memory) into and have been adding books similar into our routine. So far, the "Pete the Cat" series has been doing wonders for his reading. He absolutely LOVES these books!

“Diary of a Security Guard at Area 51” H. E. Culver #BookSpotlight

Masterfully crafted from the boundless humour and creativity of Helen Culver, ‘Diary of a Security Guard at Area 51’ embroils readers in the life of Melissa – a bored, disenchanted security guard at the world’s most secure air base. But her life is far from secure, playing out more like an intricate sitcom where every aspect is bastardized with gripping aplomb. Expect love, pranks, kidnapping and even alien viruses…

“Starry Messenger” Ethan Howard – Book Spotlight

Good vs. evil. Two sides of the same coin deadlocked for centuries. A victor in this ultimate struggle has finally emerged on Earth. Or so it seems. In 2018, mankind has been seduced by the promise of paradise. For most, life is good and even better days remain ahead. Unknown to the population at large, the third and final great evil has absolute authority over the world’s economy, politics, religion and media.

“The Fire And The Forge” Jack Geurts – Book Review

Geurts delivers a compelling tale of the reluctant orphan who finds himself to be more than he could ever have imagined. Imharak's place in the world is so much more than the sum of his bloodline. Finding himself in the midst of invasion, Imharak must discover which side of himself to align with. Will he be the conqueror or the conquered? 

The Booklist – Historical Thrillers

Historical Thrillers are one my favorite genre's. It’s the best of both worlds. The characters were/are real people and reading about them brings history alive in a way that textbooks just can’t. The fiction bit allows the author some room for speculation. It’s fun to see each authors take on the same historical characters. I think this genre keeps the past in the present and encourages people to look back and learn. The Thriller bit digs into the reader, blows the dust off the past and rips a hole through time to keep the story fresh.

“The Fire And The Forge” Jack Geurts – Book Spotlight

Would you rather be the conquered or the conqueror?         In a world where gods pull the strings of mortals and people wield the power of the elements, the nation of Libera is attacked by its age-old enemy, the Kem, who lay waste to the land and its armies with their demonic powers of fire and steel.

Kids Book Review “The Nest” Kenneth Oppel

For some kids summer is a sun-soaked season of fun. But for Steve, it’s just another season of worries. Worries about his sick newborn baby brother who is fighting to survive, worries about his parents who are struggling to cope, even worries about the wasp’s nest looming ominously from the eaves. So when a mysterious wasp queen invades his dreams, offering to “fix” the baby, Steve thinks his prayers have been answered.

Great Kids Books For Cheap!

As a single income family with two children, it's sometimes hard to find the money to get my kids the books I'd like them to have. We have blown through the better part of our local library and really need some new material. I know I'm not the only one trying to raise readers out there so here's a list of affordable books just for kids.

#BookSpotlight “When Wolf Comes” John Pappas

“When Wolf Comes” is well researched. Time and again I found myself lost in time and imagining the beauty of the northwest. The wonder of it’s people and their means of survival. I haven’t read much into this time period or the tribes that inhabited the northwest but Pappas leads the reader expertly through the complexities of both it’s cultural and natural wonders.