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Dr. Fell and the Playground of Doom
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
At first the new playground Dr Fell builds in the neighborhood seems innocuous enough. As more and more kids come to play, however, Jerry, Nancy, and Gail realize that it is anything but, and it’s up to the 3 of them to figure out what is going on, and to stop whatever it is that their new neighbor is up to. Ahh, such a nice man is Dr. Fell.

What a smart, macabre story! The protagonists are a group of clever grade school kids, but not so clever as to seem unrealistic. Dr. Fell himself felt to me like a character from an Edward Gorey illustration inserted into a Goosebumps book. Evil or not, I loved him and his old-fashioned, over-the-top form of speech. While the book is aimed at kids around my daughters’ ages, I really enjoyed it myself! I hope we’ll be seeing lots more from David Neilsen.

If you'd like to read my interview with the author, visit <a href="https://booksthething.com/2016/08/05/interview-with-david-neilsen-author-of-dr-fell-and-the-playground-of-doom/">my blog.

<i>NOTE: I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review. All comments and opinions are my own.</i>
  
The Heart-Shaped Life Daily Devotional: Choosing a Life of Steadfast Love One Day at a Time by Karen Moore is a wonderful devotion book. One page is specific to each day of the year. I have found this book to be a beautiful love centered reflection of God and His will for our lives.

This is a 365 day devotional, plus it has one for Leap Year, February 29. Each day has a title, a Scripture verse, then the devotional, and ending with a short prayer. Each devotional is centered around love how God fits into our lives and our hearts.

The colors of the cover and the inside are beautiful and eye-catching. There is a ribbon bookmark as well, which is a nice touch. In the back of the devotional is a scripture index for the texts used in the devotional. I felt the devotions did a great job having thought provoking devotions that can be read quickly for the busy individual, but leave the reader thinking about them throughout the day. Each devotion is relevant and inspiring.

Thank you to Barbour Publishing and Shiloh Run Press via NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
  
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Nicole Hadley (380 KP) rated Fish-Boy in Books

Jun 18, 2018  
F
Fish-Boy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Fish-Boy: An Inuit Folk Tale by Vanita Oelschlager is very cute story with colorful and delightful illustrations. In this story, an old Inuit man tells the story of Fish Boy. The Arctic region of North America is a land of long days, icy cold, hardy people and peculiar creatures. The Inuit people there have made traditional use of remarkable folk tales to find truth and explain the mysteries of an astonishing world.

In Fish-Boy, An Inuit Folk Tale, Vanita Oelschlager retells a tale passed down by a wise old Inuit. It's an origin story involving a little magic and a very odd boy with a large heart for friendship. On a journey with his new father, he must confront misfortune and the malice of cold hearted villagers. But he has a way and a lesson for all in the virtues of kindness and hospitality.

This book as it teaches kindness and a folk tale about a region that covers most of Canada. It can be used as a tool to teach children about folk tells and about different cultures and acceptance. 

I received this ARC from Vanita Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

I give this book 4/5 stars.
  
C(
Cruxim (Fallen Angel/Vampire #1)
Karin Cox | 2012
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

I love to read pretty much anything mythological and/or supernatural, and this book had both. Amedeo, the Cruxim from the title, looks like an angel, but looks can be deceiving. His mission is to kill as many vampires as possible, as that's what Cruxims are made to do. Along the way, he meets a little human girl named Joslyn, who ultimately falls in love with him, but he knows it can't be. Then she's attacked and turned by a vampire, and now Amedeo must decide whether he can perform his duty and kill her or not. Another woman in his life, Sabine, is a Sphinx, part-woman and part-lion, and she helps him move on with his life after Joslyn's transformation.

Just the idea of Cruxims, Sphinxes, and Vampires was interesting enough, but then a traveling circus/freak show gets introduced, and it gets really interesting (not that it wasn't great before). This book has so many wonderful aspects to it, and it definitely held my attention throughout the entire story. I look forward to more works along this line, and more from the author, in general.

5 stars
  
Sea Witch Rising
Sea Witch Rising
Sarah Henning | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.5 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
I was excited when this book came up. I like retellings of older stories and couldn't wait to get my claws into this. Evie, a sea witch, who has been villinaised by the sea king after a past that seems to be very similar to the tale of the little mermaid. Alia, a mermaid, in love with a human prince and has a deal to be human in exchange for true love's kiss. Runa, Alia's twin, goes topside to save her sister from her fate. I found it very difficult to get into, but I think this was maybe my fault as I had kept in mind that it was a The Little Mermaid twisted tale and found myself trying to link the two. As soon as I managed to get this out of my head and see it more as a related story in a different time and place, I found it far more enjoyable and I absolutely loved it. At times I was a bit confused as I was missing I formation which is no doubt available in Sea Witch (Book 1) which I have stupidly not read. If you like magical tales (or should I say tails) you will love this.
  
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Book Divas (227 KP) rated The Blast in Books

Dec 12, 2017  
TB
The Blast
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review when I signed up to host the book tour.

I LOVED this story! This was truly an emotional read for me because it is the way I can see such a post apostalistic event to occur and I also got attached to the characters.

It's a beautiful day with people doing everyday things and out of nowhere it happens; the world as we know it suddenly changes. Two families come together and bear witness to the end of our way of living. I found myself becoming a part of the storyline and feeling like I had to do whatever necessary to survive and protect the ones I loved not only from the elements but from other survivors as well.

This intricate and well written story will pull you in and your heart will pound as you turn the pages. You'll find yourself shedding tears of sadness and joy. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.
  
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ArecRain (8 KP) rated Blown Away in Books

Jan 18, 2018  
BA
Blown Away
8
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about this book. I generally like second chance romances but it rubbed me the couple’s history rubbed me the wrong way. I know it shouldn’t and that I am close-minded for thinking so.

I enjoyed the concept of this romance. Storm chasing isn’t something we see a lot especially in the romance genre. I felt like it added enough tension and another dimension to Drew and Aiden’s relationship. I felt like they had more going on than just the typical “oh we can’t be together because of her dead ex-fiancé.” I appreciated that. And honestly, they just made sense together.

This is the first novel I have read by this author so I am glad it was such an enjoyable read. Rothert really knows how to tell a love story.
  
It was a pleasure to return to South Cove, CA to visit with Jill and her friends again. There was a lot going on this time around. Between the extra business for the food truck during the local beach festival and a missing check, Jill's more than a little stressed out. Yet when a dead body is found, she can't help herself. She has to start asking questions, even if her police-detective boyfriend, Greg, isn't too thrilled about it.

The various sub-plots in this one made it hard to put down - I really needed to know what was going on, on all fronts! Besides the usual cast of characters, the new shop owner in town, Kathi, was a interesting addition. I'm hoping to see more of her during my next visit to South Cove.

NOTE: I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
  
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Kristin (149 KP) rated Hyrum in Books

Dec 7, 2018  
H
Hyrum
L.S. Lynn | 2014
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

A rag-tag group of miscreants is brought together for the purpose of joining their talents to obtain a rare and mysterious book that could change the world as they know it. However, there's far more to the story than they realize, and they're soon dragged into an exciting web of adventure, intrigue, betrayal, and magic.

I'll start by saying this story is a long one, but it's SOOOOOOOO worth it! I never felt dragged down or bored at any point, and there were many times where I couldn't bear to put it down even when I had to. The characters are fantastic, and they each have their own personality which sparks the others. They're all great as individuals, but when they come together as a whole, the dialogue really soars! I'm definitely looking forward to more in this series, and more from this author period.

5 stars