Book Review: The Wizard of Dark Street

Summary: Oona Crate was born to be the Wizard's apprentice, but she has another destiny in mind.
   Despite possessing the rare gift of natural magic, Oona wants to be a detective. Eager for a case to prove herself, she wants to show her uncle--the Wizard of Dark Street--that logic is as powerful as magic. But when someone attacks the Wizard, Oona must delve even deeper into the world of magic to discover who wanted her uncle dead.
   Full of magic, odd characters, evil henchmen, and a street where nothing is normal, The Wizard of Dark Street will have you guessing until the very end.

Thoughts: The Wizard of Dark Street was a fun and magical ride through a new and fascinating world, a street stuck between the mortal world and that of the Fey. 
 The cast was an intriguing mish-mosh of  odd characters, some you like, some you dont, and some are just plain worrying. Oona was an especially fun character who carried the story well, whether searching for clues or questioning suspects.
 The mystery was surprisingly good. It's difficult to get into a mystery when there are fantasy elements, especially when magic is a factor, but the rules were laid out and everything was approached like a real case (well, almost like a real case, it had to be fun too)! 
 The writing was good and kept my attention while working through scenes of amusement and excitement smoothly. 

Content: Magic and a little violence. Mentions of death. And witches are featured in the story too. 
 All in all though, it's a clean read for all ages and a fun magical mystery!

Book Review: When God Writes Your Love Story

Summary: In their most popular book, bestselling authors Eric and Leslie Ludy challenge singles to take a fresh approach to relationships in a culture where love has been replaced by cheap sensual passion. When God Writes Your Love Story shows that God's way to true love brings fulfillment and romance in its purest, richest, and most satisfying form. This new edition includes an extra chapter from Leslie Ludy about the surprises of life after marriage!
  “I had dreamed of a perfect love story for my entire life. But somewhere in the midst of the endless cycle of temporary romances, my dreams had shattered.” How can I find a love worth waiting for? 
   Lay the foundation now—whether you’ve met your future spouse or not—for a lifelong romance. Bestselling authors Eric and Leslie Ludy invite you to discover how beautiful your love story can be when the Author of romance scripts every detail. 

Thoughts: A friend from church gave me this book. Taking it slowly it only took me a couple of weeks to read with my morning Bible study and I really enjoyed it! It's nice to see fun, relatable, stories encouraging purity in the world today. 
 The writing was really good. The Authors brought their message across in a fun way that kept everything interesting. On the other hand they also managed to not down play the importance of message either. They kept a really good balance.
 This book is full of real stories from many different but real people and you're sure to connect with one of them throughout the book. 

Content: There are mentions of sex but never used inappropriately. There are implications of rude or inappropriate talk/treatment of the opposite gender but nothing is elaborated on; the Authors were merely giving examples of things that they had experienced that were not how people should be treated. A lot of the talk in the book is in some respects mature and parents should be cautious giving this book to anyone under sixteen though the message is for all ages.
 All in all, it's a really great book, it's clean aside from it's somewhat mature topics and highly recommend it to any single person in or thinking about a romantic relationship.

Book Review: The Children of Green Knowe

 Summary: "Tolly" Toseland 7 is rowed up to great-gran Linnet Oldknow by servant Boggis - there has always been a Boggis at Green Knowe. The real "castle" is over 900 years old. Gran tells old family stories, and songs. Over the generations there have been many who can see, hear, and feel the ghosts, evoked by white-on-black illustrations. Toby 14, Alexander, and Linnet 6 linger after the Plague, as does the cursed topiary Green Noah.

 Thoughts: This was an adorable little book reminiscent of Tom's Midnight Garden or an E. Nesbit story. It's fun, imaginative, and keeps you guessing about what's around the next corner!
 The writing style is nice and carries a classical feel to it that weaves the reader in and out of a dreamlike state. 
 The characters were cute and interesting. The book is very short so I didn't get to know them as much as I would have liked but that's what the next several books are for!

 Content: The ending to the story was a little frightening. There's mention of witchcraft and, of course, ghosts. 
 Otherwise a clean and fun read for all ages!

Book Review: The Early Cases of Akechi Kogoro

Summary:Akechi Kogoro, detective extraordinaire.
In Japan, this is a name that fires the hearts and imaginations of readers young at heart. Cool and sophisticated, Akechi moves effortlessly through the world of Japan in the golden era between the wars, defeating masterminds and saving the day. He has been the hero of Japanese children for generations, and starred in a host of movies.
    The stories in this volume predate all of that; his secret origin, if you will. Readers familiar with the exploits of the great detective Akechi Kogoro might have some difficulty recognizing the impeccably dressed and universally respected man of action in the amateur detective, an eccentric twenty-something of little means with disheveled hair and a shabby kimono. The Akechi who appears in this volume is a hobbyist in crime whose identity is not yet fixed either in the eyes of the reading public or in the mind of his creator. Supporting characters such as Akechi's wife and his young assistant have not yet been introduced, and the first confrontation between the great detective and the Fiend with Twenty Faces is still a decade away.
      And now they are available in English as well, to delight a new audience! 
 Includes:
The Case of the Murder on D Hill 「D坂の殺人事件」
The Black Hand Gang 「黒手組」
The Ghost 「幽霊」
The Dwarf 「一寸法師」

Thoughts:  Believe it or not I actually cut down that summary up there for you all. 
 Akechi Kogoro is the Sherlock Holmes of Japan. Just about anything mystery make mention of the famous detective. The Author's name, Edogawa Rampo, is a pull on the Japanese pronunciation of Edgar Allen Poe who is said to be the father of detective fiction. I've seen too many shows, read too many mangas, heard too many references, to not hunt down some of Rampo's works to read about his famous detective.This book is one of the few that have been translated into English and I was ever so happy to find it. It's full of some great sleuthing and carries with it that classic, air of mystery and intrigue. 
 While no Sherlock, Akechi is notable is his own way and is a really great detective. I loved these stories, curled up on the couch in the evening and following the clues once more, trying to discover not so much Who did it? as How'd they do it? 
 The stories definitely kept me riveted; worthy of Doyle or Poe, they were gripping and intense but mingled with Japanese culture as to be educational too.  
 Everything is written as though through the eyes of Akechi's colleague who tells things dutifully and well adding the memorable tones of a Watson character to the mix while masterfully weaving the calm day to day life with the dark doings of the night.   

Content: This is not a book for the squeamish or easily disturbed. There are murders and violence to start off with. Dismembered body parts, blood, the stench of rotting bodies, and other grotesque details are used but without to much graphic depiction. There are mentions of affairs, scandals and rapes; again without detail or cut off before the actual act. The Dwarf had the most content out of all the stories and readers should definitely beware that one. There are mentions of various religions and a girl runs away to get married at one point. Some of the conclusions to cases are not morally sound. 
 All in all this one if definitely for the adults but any mature reader who loves a good mystery should give at least the first three of these stories a try. Akechi deserves a place beside you Sherlock.

Repost Hannah Heath: 9 Tips for Handling Violence in Your Stories

I found this really great post on writing violence and thought I should share with you guys:



Hannah Heath: 9 Tips for Handling Violence in Your Stories: I don't like Hallmark movies. Pure romance is not a genre I tend to read. Me deciding what type of movie to watch or book to read look...

Book Review: The Mysterious Benedict Society

Summary: "Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?" 
  Dozens of children respond to this peculiar ad in the newspaper and are then put through a series of mind-bending tests, which readers take along with them. Only four children-two boys and two girls-succeed. Their challenge: to go on a secret mission that only the most intelligent and inventive children could complete. To accomplish it they will have to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where the only rule is that there are no rules. But what they'll find in the hidden underground tunnels of the school is more than your average school supplies. So, if you're gifted, creative, or happen to know Morse Code, they could probably use your help.

Thoughts: This was a really adorable book! I mean it had suspense, action, character development, and plot; but the overall feeling it left me with was warm and adorable. 
 The story is really great, like I said, action, suspense, nail-biting, and late night reading to find out what on earth went wrong this time, are all essential parts of the plot. 
 The writing does a good job of weaving the reader in and out of each predicament and changes smoothly from an endearing, heart-touching moment, to a hilarious mishap, to hair-rising danger all in a single chapter.
 The characters were really great, full of development, potential, and curious traits, they were all tons of fun! I would suggest this book to fans of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children and The Girl Who Could Fly.

Content: Some danger and frightening situations. A small amount of violence. All in all, a clean book for most ages and a delightful read for all!

Cover Reveal: Reintegration

Hi and welcome! It's been awhile since I did a cover reveal but I am jumping back into the world of blog-tours and am so excited to be sharing this cover with you guys today! First off, a bit about the book:

Summary:

                    

                    A perfect citizen. A captured rebel. One decision could destroy them both...

 

 As a Regulator, seventeen-year-old Katherine Holliday’s duty is to protect the people of the Federation from a group of violent rebels who have exiled themselves to the mysterious wilderness. When one of these rebels is captured within the Federation, the government leaders propose an alternative to execution, a procedure they call Reintegration. The procedure involves erasing the rebel’s memory and attempting to make him a member of society. The rebel, a young man named Matthew, is not the violent criminal Katherine expects, and she can’t help but befriend him. A few weeks after Matthew’s Reintegration, Katherine realizes the procedure failed and she is now presented with a choice no one else can help her make. Can she warn her superiors that Reintegration failed, which could mean death for Matthew? Or will she defy everything she knows to help him escape—and risk her own execution?

                                                          ~            ~            ~

Sounds exciting right? I honestly cannot wait to take a peek inside this book! The release date is August 18, 2017, so mark your calendars!

And now, what everyone' been waiting for.........................................................................

.................the cover!

 

I love the literal splash of color against the washed out background. 

Here's a bit about the genius behind the story:

Author Bio: When Ashley Bogner was in third grade, she decided she would be a published author when she grew up. Ashley is a homeschool graduate and has lived in seven different states. She completed a year of Bible college and in the fall will begin pursuing a degree in Communication Studies. After college, her plan is to work in the Christian publishing industry. When not writing, she can be found baking, posting book reviews on her blog, and watching her favorite movies over and over to the point of memorization.

You can find out more about Ashley and Reintegration on her Blog.

You can also find out more about the book on Goodreads.

Again, the release date is August 18, 2017. We don't have to wait too long so keep an eye out for it!