Diana Bishop lost her parents at age 7 and ever since then she has refused to use her magic. Now as a professor at Yale who is on sabbatical at Oxford Diana is finding it hard to avoid this side of her life. During her studies she calls for the library book Ashmole 782. This book has been bound by magic and turns her life upside down. Enter Matthew Claremont: Scholar, Doctor and 1500 year old vampire. He is just one of many who have searched centuries for this book. It is said to depict the origins if witches, vampires, and demons. This was an “it” novel for a while and deserved it. It is well written and the story is intriguing, In the middle of it, it gets a little “twilight saga” but luckily it comes out of it. And has a strong non-end. I’m looking forward to the sequel. And you will too.

Great artwork. The story line was typical of what you would expect of a story based on a card game

Paris is an 8 year old girl, who is going to a new foster home. She and her brother Malcom ran away from their last foster home because the family was mean. They sought help from their grandmother who sent them away to live elsewhere. Malcom and Paris were split up. Paris ended up at the home of the Lincolns. This is a nice foster family who Paris eventually learns to trust and love. This is a decent book. It’s moving and you feel for Paris the entire time as she learns faith in herself and others. My only problem is the ending. There is nothing wrong with it, I just don’t like it.

This is not your typical alphabet book. It is more of a hybrid, a picture book and coffee table book. Kaufman has found letters all over architecture, some purposeful and some accidental. I like this book because it feels as if the author thinks like I do. He sees beyond what is right is in front of you; that odd thought you wondered if anyone else has seen what you are seeing.

Ridgway ventures back to the Tanti Baci winery too dive in to the love life of Miss Steve Baci. She has had very little to do with this winery because she perfers her own business, Napa Princess Limousine. A year ago she had a brutal breakup with Emerson. Now with her sister Allie laid up with a broken foot, it’s up to Steve to plan Emerson and Princess Roxanne’s wedding. To make matters worse Roxy’s Brother Jack is right in the middle of everything. Teasing and tormenting Steve as well as assuring there are no problems with the weeding. This is the middle story of the Tanti Baci trilogy and thankfully it does not fall into the middle book slump of most trilogies. The characters are well rounded and I’m glad its not time to say good bye just yet.

I am completely enthralled by this collection of board books. Jane Eyre is a counting book with fun 60s style art. This book is not meant to tell a story, but to give a little glimpse of classic for a young child.

This is not your typical rendition of Alice In Wonderland. First off it is a board book and not from Disney. The author says, “this is a fashionable way to introduce your child to the world of classic literature.” But don’t let that fool you it is very similar to standard board books. This is a book that helps with color. All the characters of wonderland are used to express colors in illustrations that feel modern but have a 60s twist. The next person I know to have a baby will be getting this book as a present.

No one wants to walk around with a target on their back, but Gwen cant help it. People want her dead. Its time for the annual winter carnival up at Powder. All Mythos academy students attend to hobnob with students from the academy in New York. Daphne convinces Gwen that going to Powder will be safer than staying behind. Plus maybe she will meet up with a cute guy to help her get over Spartan Logan. Fernier wolves, deadly arrows and even a black SUV are out for blood. So Gwen better hide her bull’s eye if she wants to survive. This series continues to get better and starts getting into the meat of what Gwen’s wife will be. Gwen is a strong teen female character who has natural flow and feeling but it’s those blemishes that make her well rounded out. Adults will enjoy this title too.

Sean once worked on movie sets as a special effects master. Now he is a part of the ghost seeing FBI krew of hunters, He’s been called in by his old boss Eddie after his son is accused of murder. The studio has been working on a remake of the old Sam Stone movie, which has been titled The Unholy. Madison, a member of the studio also has the ability to see ghosts. Her roommate is Bogie, yes that bogie (Bogart). While the crew and Madison are digging for clues, and gathering information, Vengeance is active and just awaiting the next victim. This title is typical of the series and is a good read. However Graham has written much better sex scenes.

4 Stars

When Carl Hiassen writes a young adult books it automatically goes on my must read list. I skipped over other books to pick up this bright yellow title and I was not disappointed. Wahoo (not named after the fish) is the son of an animal wrangler. His father was hit in the head by a frozen iguana and has been sick ever since. The family needs the money so Wahoo talks his dad into taking an assignment with Expedition Survival. Who knew those survival shows are faked? But that is what Wahoo and his father help Derek Badger do. Derek Badger is a celebrity survivalist who is just a big phony. After and alligator attack (all Derek’s fault) he decides to do everything “for real” with no more faking. So dad, Wahoo and his new friend Tuna (she is named after a fish and is running away from a drunken dad) pack their bags and head out to the Everglades. The biggest question off all is who will come out alive? This book was just fun to read. You get the emotional connection with the characters, but also the laugh out loud moments, and the things that just make you want to force kids to read this title.