Category: Books Read-2015

Review/ I Will Always Write Back

Posted on by Cindy
Review/ I Will Always Write BackI will Always Write Back Format: eARC
on April 14, 2015
Pages: 400
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The true story of an all-American girl and a boy from an impoverished city in Zimbabwe and the letter that changed both of their lives forever.

It started as an assignment. Everyone in Caitlin's class wrote to an unknown student somewhere in a distant place. All the other kids picked countries like France or Germany, but when Caitlin saw Zimbabwe writer on the board, it sounded like the most exotic place she had ever heard of--so she chose it.

Martin was lucky to even receive a pen pal letter. There were only ten letters, and forty kids in his class. But he was the top student, so he got the first one.That letter was the beginning of a correspondence that spanned six years and changed two lives.

In this compelling dual memoir, Caitlin and Martin recount how they became best friends --and better people--through letters. Their story will inspire readers to look beyond their own lives and wonder about the world at large and their place in it.

I received this book for free from publisher/pr firm in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

You know  when you get an email about a book and after reading the synopsis you know that you really need to get your hands on the book ASAP well that was the case with this book. Thankfully I was lucky and I was able to nab and ARC to read and review.

Growing up I have always had two pen pals. One was from England and the other was Italy. We wrote each other constantly and sadly once we were all done with high school and proceeded to university/college we ended up loosing touch but there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t stop and think of those two special friends.

I admit I have looked on facebook to see if they are there but sadly they aren’t. Wouldn’t that have been fun to reconnect with them after all those years?

The story is told in alternating points of view of Caitlin (the American Girl) and Martin (the boy from Zimbabwe. The story begins September 1997 when Caitlin has a pen pal assignment to do. The kids are allowed to choose their countries and she picks Zimbabwe because she likes the sound of it and it sounds exotic. Martin is the lucky boy who gets Caitlin’s letter because he is in Group One in school.

Through the course of their letter writing it was nice to see Caitlin grow into the wonderful and caring person that she is today. She lives a privilaged life and never having to want for anything. She has a roof over her head, parents who love and support her, feed and cloth her. Through the course of writing Martin she begins to realize that not everyone has it like she does and she discovers how bad poverty is in other parts of the world.

Martin, tries to keep alot from Caitlin about his situation but gradually over the course of writing to each other she discovers how bad it is for Martin and his family and she begins to send him money. Which he truly appreciates it and lets her know how much she is saving him and his family.

Through the course of the book Martin realizes that he needs help to finish school and asks for Caitlin’s help. Through the generosity Caitlin and her family sponsor Martin so that he can finish school and then come to the USA to complete his education.

I picked up the book and I literally read it in two days. I had a hard time putting it down because it was so good and there was always a struggle that they had to over come. It was nice to see this book ended happy and that Martin achieved his goal. I loved the photos that were included at the end of the book because it made it seem that much more real.

I think if you had a pen pal growing up you will love this book. Did you have a pen pal? If so from where?

Review/ The Royal We

Posted on by Cindy
Review/ The Royal WeThe Royal We Format: eARC
on April 7th, 2015
Pages: 464
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"I might be Cinderella today, but I dread who they'll think I am tomorrow. I guess it depends on what I do next."

American Rebecca Porter was never one for fairy tales. Her twin sister, Lacey, has always been the romantic who fantasized about glamour and royalty, fame and fortune. Yet it's Bex who seeks adventure at Oxford and finds herself living down the hall from Prince Nicholas, Great Britain's future king. And when Bex can't resist falling for Nick, the person behind the prince, it propels her into a world she did not expect to inhabit, under a spotlight she is not prepared to face.

Dating Nick immerses Bex in ritzy society, dazzling ski trips, and dinners at Kensington Palace with him and his charming, troublesome brother, Freddie. But the relationship also comes with unimaginable baggage: hysterical tabloids, Nick's sparkling and far more suitable ex-girlfriends, and a royal family whose private life is much thornier and more tragic than anyone on the outside knows. The pressures are almost too much to bear, as Bex struggles to reconcile the man she loves with the monarch he's fated to become.

Which is how she gets into trouble.

Now, on the eve of the wedding of the century, Bex is faced with whether everything she's sacrificed for love-her career, her home, her family, maybe even herself-will have been for nothing.

I received this book for free from publisher/pr firm in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The Royal We is by authors Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan and this is their young adult novel. Their previous two books are Spoiled and Messy. I haven’t read either of those books but I do own them. I think once I am going through boxes of books this summer I am going to dig them out and read them because I really did enjoy reading The Royal We. I should mention that The Royal We is a stand alone.

As a Canadian I love anything that has to do with the royal family. Many many many years ago when Princess Diana was alive and was just recently married her and Prince Charles came to Canada. I was lucky enough to go and see Princess Diana because the school brought us. I remember being completely in ah of her.

As I began reading the book I was literally thinking this has to be based around Prince Harry (Freddie), Prince William (Nick) and Kate Middleton (Rebecca). There was a lot of similarities to them. Which I had no problem with at all because I love watching them grow and become who they are today. You can see the huge influence Princess Diana had on those boys.

The story line also reminded me of Autumn Kelly who was a girl from my town who married a real life prince and that was Prince Peter Phillips, His mother is Princess Anne. Her mother just happens to be Queen Elizabeth II.

Now I want to say that I loved the book but I can’t. I did enjoy reading the book. I think it took me longer to read this because at times I was reading and reading because I wanted to find out what was happening and then other times I felt like it dragged on more then it needed to.

I never once thought about dropping the book when it got slow because I was rooting for Rebecca the whole way through. I can’t imagine how things quickly change in your life when you get involved with someone with that much status? It must be completely nerve wrecking and how much fun is it really when you need to be on your best behavior all the time because you know someone is watching you at all times?

Growing up we all wanted to meet and marry a prince and probably dreamed of what life would be like and in all honesty I don’t think its as regal as they make it out to be and I would wish that on no one. Your life is no longer your own but I love how the new royals are stepping away from it and leading a more private life.

I would be interested to see if there will be a sequel to the book.

Review/ The Tapper Twins Go To War (With Each Other)

Posted on by Cindy
Review/ The Tapper Twins Go To War (With Each Other)The Tapper Twins Go to War (With Each Other) Series: #1

by Geoff Rodkey
Format: eARC
Published by Hachette Children's Group on April 7th 2015
Pages: 224
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Goodreads
Genres: General, Young Adult

Wars are terrible things. I know this because I've read about a lot of them on Wikipedia. And also because I was just in one. It was me against my brother, Reese. That might not sound like a war to you. Trust me. It was. This is the oral history of the terrible war between twins, Reese and Claudia Tapper. It began with a cruel and senseless sneak attack in the school cafeteria on Monday, September 8th, at approximately 8:27 a.m. Or possibly it began in the Tapper family kitchen, earlier that morning, with the greedy guzzling of the last brown sugar cinnamon toaster pastry. What really happened? It depends on who you speak to... This is a hilarious middle-grade comedy that's both totally timeless and completely up-to-the-minute.

I received this book for free from publisher/pr firm in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This was such a fun and quick read. I think I managed to read this in two sittings. As an adult I enjoyed reading this and I think it’s a perfect read for the tweens and older.

Claudia and Reese are twelve-year-old twins. I think that Claudia and Reese were the perfect characters for the book as they were very believable and it makes you think the story is real and it could actually happen.

Claudia and Reese are your typical siblings we have been trying to one up each and to humiliate the other one. It makes you wonder who will get the upper hand?

I love the format of the book. Each chapter has a title which goes along with the dialog. Its sort of like a script which I have to say I enjoyed. Within chapters there is text messages, photos, hand written text, emails and so much more. Its very well done and it makes you want to continue reading it.

Claudia is the main voice of the book but other characters come out such as Reese, Sophie, Mom and Dad, Akash, Ashley and a few others. It was nice to see how each character plays an important part to the story line.

I loved the message behind the book and its one that kids can easily grasp. Even though Claudia and Reese were doing everything they could to humiliate their sibling they both realized that in the end everything they did has a consequence to it. Which kids need to realize.

This was such a fun read and it was nice to take a break in my regular reading. I think tweens and the little bit older ones would enjoy this. I know Michael plans on reading it especially once I mentioned Minecraft was in this.

This is also my first BEA Buzz Book for 2015.

 

Review/ Mommy & Me Start Cooking

Posted on by Cindy

I received this book for free from publisher/pr firm in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

  • Title: Mommy & Me Start Cooking: Cook and Learn Together
  • Publisher: DK Childrens
  • Pages: 80
  • Pub Date: January 2014

Cook and learn together with Mommy and Me Start Cooking.
Full of fun activities such as experiencing food with all five senses, designing dishes, and performing kitchen experiments, plus an introduction to measurements associated with cooking, this is the perfect cookbook for children who want to join their parents in the kitchen.

Readers will learn about staple ingredients such as eggs, flour, and chocolate. They will find out what is inside an egg, where vegetables grow, how flour is made, and more.

Mommy and Me Start Cooking will educate and entertain, and is a fun way for families to spend time together.

springbreak

In keeping with the baking theme I thought I would recommend Mommy & Me Start Cooking today.

This was one of Michael’s favorite books we got from DK last year so it was nice to pull this out again in honor of March Break.

The book is broke down into sections labelled Eggs, Flour, Pasta, Rice, Tomatoes, Potatoes, Peas, Chocolate  and Strawberries. Within each section you will get  1 to 3 recipes pertaining to that subject and what you need to make it. As always you get a ton of photos and for Michael he appreciates that because he can see what its suppose to look like each step of the way.

As Michael is getting older I realized that now is the time to start introducing him to the kitchen and how to cook things as these will be life skills he will need when he is older and I want him to feel comfortable and confident in the kitchen.

I remember when we got this book last year, Michael literally spent hours going through it trying to decide what we should make and this time was no exception. We had made little notes in the book on what he tried the first time.

He wanted to make pancakes again and he said that he enjoyed the home made ones better then the other ones I made. He loved decorating the plates with various fruits and powdered sugar.

Another recipe Michael loved making was the Pasta bake but the only complaint he had was he didn’t want to touch the ground beef because he said it was cold and gross but other wise he had fun making this.

Something fun we did was switch up a recipe something Michael never realized you could do and I told him that cooking is different then baking and you can do so much more so instead of Chicken Risotto we made Chicken Rice and he loved that. It was so much fun when Michael realized that you can substitute things within a recipe. I even said you can switch out the chicken for beef or pork.

This would be the perfect book to add into your march break collection. I think kids would enjoy being able to learn to cook and you can walk away knowing you taught your child something important and hey you never know when they will decide to make you a home cook meal.

Review/ Mommy & Me Bake

Posted on by Cindy
Buy on Amazon

I received this book for free from publisher/pr firm in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

  • Title: Mommy & Me Bake: Bake & Learn Together
    Publisher: DK Childrens
  • Pub Date: January 2015
  • Pages: 80

Is your child a budding chef, always wanting to help in the kitchen? Do you want to encourage your child’s cooking aspirations, but need recipes that are safe for children and things that you can cook together? Look no further than Mommy & Me Bake, the cookbook designed to offer parent and child the opportunity to work together as a team while teaching basic baking skills.

From simple kneading and mixing to creating whimsical designs and decorations that can be customized according to the creativity of your little chef, Mommy & Me Bake is designed to encourage experimentation, build self-esteem in your child, incorporate the silliness of cooking with a child, and encourage bonding and the joy of working together as parent and child. Every single recipe in Mommy & Me Bake is designed to teach, to be fun for children, and to taste delicious, so your child can be proud to share finished recipes at the family table or with friends!

springbreak

I was recently approached by DK Canada to help promote some Spring titles in honor of March break. I am thrilled to have been asked because there is a ton of great books for spring break that I am looking forward to sharing with you this week. Thank you DK for reaching out to me.

I am going to admit that I don’t know when everyone celebrates their spring break in Canada and the US. We celebrated our spring break from March 1st to  8th.

If your like me you were probably one of the families who stayed home during spring break but longed to be anywhere but home. I know I wished I was somewhere a little more warmer then it was here.

I always have a hard time trying to figure out what we are going to do because if I don’t plan anything then I can almost guarantee that Michael will end up in front of the tv either watching it or playing video games or on the iPad. Thankfully DK came to the rescue.

The first book I am going to show case is Mommy & Me Bake (Bake and Learn together). This is the perfect book for kids aged from 5 to about 9 and who love to bake or want to learn to bake.

I love DK books because they include a ton of photos to accompany each page and everything is laid out in basic English and its understandable directions.

The book is broken down into Baking Basics. Cookies. Cakes, Bread and Pastry. Then within category you will get recipes, what you will need to make it and how long it will take, (prepping and cooking) and how many it will serve.

This is the perfect book to introduce kids to baking. Michael had fun baking in the kitchen with me one weekend and he learned how important it was to follow a recipe, to measure, and what things were. These are skills he will need when he is older and it was fun spending time with him and helping he bake.

We made some cupcakes, a marble cake and some pizza. He told me the pizza making was the hardest (the dough part) but he had alot of fun and was so proud of himself for what he did. I wish I would have take pictures but we were having so much fun that it slipped my mind.

So if your looking for a great activity to do this spring break then let me suggest picking up this book and baking with your child.

Review/ The Algonquin Reader

Posted on by Cindy
Review/ The Algonquin ReaderThe Algonquin Reader Format: eARC
on February 11th, 2015

Description

Get an inside look at Algonquin’s outstanding forthcoming fiction with the Spring 2015 Algonquin Reader. Discover the inspiration behind each book through an original essay by the author. Then enjoy a free preview of each novel.

The Miracle Girl by Andrew Roe
On Sale April 21, 2015

“To believe or not to believe--that is the question facing all who are touched by the comatose ‘miracle girl’ at the swirling center of Roe’s dazzling debut. But more than an exploration of the mysteries of faith, it’s also the unforgettable story of one family’s struggle against tragedy. The result is an uplifting miracle of a book.” —Will Allison, author of Long Drive Home

The Daylight Marriage by Heidi Pitlor
On Sale May 5, 2015

“Hypnotically readable--I absolutely couldn’t put it down. The structure is brilliant, and I turned the pages with increasing dread. This book is terrific.” —Stephen King

Orhan’s Inheritance by Aline Ohanesian
On Sale April 7, 2015

“Aline Ohanesian draws from her family’s own dark history to create a tender, powerful story of love and reclamation. A breathtaking and expansive work of historical fiction and proof that the past can sometimes rewrite the future.” —Christina Baker Kline, author of Orphan Train

The Wisdom of Perversity by Rafael Yglesias
On Sale March 24, 2015

“The sly courage, the deft intelligence, and the fierceness of vision that we, his fans, have come to expect from a Raphael Yglesias novel all blaze brightly forth—and cast very dark shadows—in The Wisdom of Perversity.” —Michael Chabon, Pulitzer Prize–winning novelist

Dinner with Buddha by Roland Merullo
On Sale June 2, 2015

Algonquin’s long-awaited follow-up to the bestselling Breakfast with Buddha finds Otto Ringling and Mongolian monk Volya Rinpoche on another unexpected road trip of discovery.

I received this book for free from publisher/pr firm in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

As I was sitting down to write my review I released that this is volume 4, how could I have possibly missed the previous editions?

I love it when book publishers put out these kinds of books because you get to read sneak peeks of upcoming books and what publishers are most excited about.

Algonquin has show cased five of their upcoming titles with release dates from March to June. If this is any indication of what books are coming out this spring we are all in for a treat.

I read all the little snippets and I have to say that I am really curious about The Miracle Girl by Andrew Roe and The Daylight Marriage by Heidi Pitlor.

The Miracle Girl by Andrew Roe is his debut novel. The book is told in many points of view such as the main character Annabelle, her mother, her estranged father and by the people who came to Annabelle seeking her help, guidance and healing.

Annabelle is an eight year old little girl who lies in a comalike state. She is unable to speak or move but there is something special about this little girl. There is more to this beautiful little girl that you want to read and discover.

Things change for Annabelle and her family when someone comes to visit and they walk away knowing that their live has changed. They quickly spread the word about this and before long people are flocking to her beside.

I can’t wait to read this because I am one of those people who believes in miracles.

This comes out April 21st and it will be in hardcover.

The second book that peaked my interest was The Daylight Marriage. I really liked this one because its complete opposites that were attracted to each other and over the course of their marriage things begin to change.

Hannah is a beautiful woman who could have any man she wanted and I mean anyone but she picked Lovell who is her complete opposite. I have to admit I was wondering at first at how would this work because she is sort of like the life of a party and he is very much the quiet guy you would see hiding in the corner somewhere out of the spotlight.

After first everything is hunky doory because its the newly wedded stage where everything is smelling like roses. Over the course of the years things begin to settle and the rose colored glasses come off and both are beginning to resent the other.

I think this will be an excellent read as its peaked my curiousity. The book comes out May 5th in hardcover.

 

 

Review/ Polarity In Motion

Posted on by Cindy
Review/ Polarity In MotionPolarity in Motion by Brenda Vicars
Format: eBook
Published by Red Adept Publishing, LLC on December 1st 2014
Pages: 264
Buy on Amazon
Genres: Bullying, Dating & Sex, Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance, Social Issues, Young Adult

Fifteen-year-old Polarity Weeks just wants to live a normal life, but with a mother diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, that’s rarely easy. Her life gets exponentially more disastrous when her sixth-period history classmates start ogling a nude picture of her on the Internet. Polarity would never have struck such a shameless pose, but the photo is definitely of her, and she’s at a complete loss to explain its existence. Child Protective Services yanks her from her home, suspecting her parents. The kids at school mock her, assuming she took it herself. And Ethan, the boy she was really starting to like, backpedals and joins the taunting chorus. Surrounded by disbelief and derision on all sides, Polarity desperately seeks the truth among her friends. Only then does she learn that everyone has dark secrets, and no one’s life is anywhere near normal.

I received this book for free from publisher/pr firm in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I love reading debut novels because you go into the book with no expectations. I have to say that after reading Polarity In Motion I will be on the look out for future books.

As you can tell I really enjoyed reading this. It was a a page turner and one that made me want to reach into the book and hug Polarity.

Polarity the main character is not your typcial 15 year old girl. She has to move constantly because her mother needs treatments for her borderline personality disorder so this forces her to always be the new girl in school trying to fit in. Polarity had to grow up earlier then she should have and I feel she never got the chance to be that kid everyone needs to be. I loved how strong she was and how she grew with the book.

As a mother I felt so bad for Polarity because for someone who was only 15 she had a whole lot of crap to deal with and she didn’t need that.

My heart broke when Polarity discovered a photo of herself online naked. She had no idea how it got there. She sees that its her but doesn’t remember even posing for it. Could it be real? Is someone playing with her? Even is calling her names in school, teachers are penalizing her and to top it off her own parents don’t believe her. How can her own parents not believe her?

Things only get worse when authorities get involved because they remove her from her own home because they think that her parents are involved. She is then forced to attend another school. Polarity life is turned upside down more then it has ever been before.

As a parent my first thought was to believe Polarity because she just didn’t seem like that kind of girl who would do something like that no matter how hard things were for her. I instantly said to myself someone has photo shopped her hed to the photo.

Thankfully there is one person who does and that is Ethan. A boy I wish had more of a story line. Will be still be a friend to Polarity and help her uncover the truth?

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