Book Bliss with Buck Wilder

I'm not sure how many of you are familiar with the Buck Wilder Adventure series and titles, but I had no clue who this man was.  That, however changed when my daughter eagerly asked me, while we were at the library last week, if they had any Buck Wilder books.  I had no idea if this was the author, character or what the heck.  So she went to ask the Children's librarian, who had not heard of this author either.  She preceded to look it up on the computer and immediately put the titles on her "to order" list.  Please note that my daughter has also brought Beast Quest to the librarian's attention as well.  I am wondering if she is cringing when she sees us make our weekly visit, lol. 

In any case, Hannah told me that the author, Timothy R. Smith had made a visit to their school and was talking about his books.  At the end of the week, Hannah then brought home an order form of all the titles that were available to purchase.  Needless to say, we sat down together and checked out the Buck Wilder website and all that he had to offer.  I was intrigued and while Hannah wanted to order every book (that's 4 books at $16 and 6 books at $6)  I would have loved to have been able to fulfill her request, but told her that if she wanted a hardcover, she had to narrow it down to one of those and two of the softcover chapter books.  Her decisions?  Buck Wilder's Animal Wisdom, Who Stole the Animal Poop and The Work Bees Go on Strike. 

So out the door she went this morning, check and order form securely in her backpack.  When she walks in the door this afternoon she has a huge smile on her face.  I ask her how her day was and why her bag was so full.  She squeals and shows me her Buck Wilder books.  Come to find out, the author had made another visit today and had books with him.  She came home talking all about what Buck Wilder said, tales he told of himself and family and even told the kids that if they ever find themselves stranded somewhere with only one bottle of water and several people, you can make your very own paper cups out of sheets of paper.  Hannah then went on to make a cup out of a piece of paper and demonstrate.  I asked her if the author had signed her books and she opened up the covers, squealing and jumping up and down in excitement showing me that, yes, he did indeed sign each book.  It was fabulous and so exciting to see and hear her excitement over the books and the author, as well the fact that he signed them.  I feel such a kindred spirit, lol. 

And the books?  Well, they are absolutely awesome, cool and fun.  I did break down and order another of the big hardcovers from Amazon, tonight, Buck Wilder's Small Twig Hiking and Camping Guide.  It will be a surprise for her when it arrives. 

As I sit typing this, Hannah is sitting next to me reading Who Stole the Animal Poop out loud to me, lol.  Reading excitement is absolutely priceless!

What about you?  Have you heard of these books?  If so, I would love to hear your thoughts!

What we are reading this week...

I am so pleased that the kids are loving reading as much as I am.  I want to share what we are all reading this week.  I would love to hear what you and your family is reading as well!

This week I am reading the following:

Kiss at Your Own Risk by Stephanie Rowe

He needed a killer woman...

Blaine Underhill is one lucky man after having recently escaped a century and a half of imprisonment at the hands of an evil witch. Now he's determined to save his still-enslaved friend, but in order to do so, he'll need the help of one of the world's most lethal women.

She was drop dead gorgeous, literally...

Trinity Harpswell is sick and tired of being a Black Widow. Having managed to go three years without accidentally killing anyone she loves, she's one short week away from freeing herself from this killer curse forever.
When Blaine tracks her down and convinces her to help him, little does Trinity know that the next seven days are going to be murder!

as well as:

Happily Ever After (Deep Haven Series #1) by Susan May Warren

God has answered Mona Reynolds's prayers and given her the opportunity of a lifetime: she is about to open her own bookstore-coffee shop, the Footstep of Heaven. Now Mona has no time for love and no hope that a man can ever be the hero of her dreams. But when she hires mysterious drifter Joe Michaels to be her handyman, she discovers that it isn't only in fairy tales that people live “happily ever after.”



So far, I am really enjoying both.  Kiss at Your Own Risk is so funny and so much fun.  Happily Ever After I just began this morning on my Kindle app and I think it will be a great read as well!

My daughter is reading the following:

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Book 2) by J.K. Rowling

Grade 3-8-Fans of the phenomenally popular Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Scholastic, 1998) won't be disappointed when they rejoin Harry, now on break after finishing his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Reluctantly spending the summer with the Dursleys, his mean relatives who fear and detest magic, Harry is soon whisked away by his friends Ron, Fred, and George Weasley, who appear at his window in a flying Ford Anglia to take him away to enjoy the rest of the holidays with their very wizardly family. Things don't go as well, though, when the school term begins. Someone, or something, is (literally) petrifying Hogwarts' residents one by one and leaving threatening messages referring to a Chamber of Secrets and an heir of Slytherin. Somehow, Harry is often around when the attacks happen and he is soon suspected of being the perpetrator. The climax has Harry looking very much like Indiana Jones, battling a giant serpent in the depths of the awesome and terrible Chamber of Secrets. Along with most of the teachers and students introduced in the previous book, Draco Malfoy has returned for his second year and is more despicable than ever. The novel is marked throughout by the same sly and sophisticated humor found in the first book, along with inventive, new, matter-of-fact uses of magic that will once again have readers longing to emulate Harry and his wizard friends.
Susan L. Rogers, Chestnut Hill Academy, PA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

as well as:

Tartok the Ice Beast (Beast Quest #5) by Adam Blade

Even the most remote parts of the kingdom have not been spread from Malvel's wrath. The great ice flats have been thrown into chaos. Most of the people have fled, fearing for their lives. The dangerous weather changes and mysterious midnight attacks have driven most of them away. But if Tom and Elenna cannot stop the Ice Beast, the effects will be felt far beyond the frozen North.
As they strive to find a way to free Arcta from the evil enslavement to the dark wizard Malvel, Tom learns more about his mysterious father--and his own destiny as well.

Zach is hugely into Super Heros right now and here are a couple of his favorites that we have been reading:

Meet the Super Hero Squad by Lucy Rosen

It's time for the Marvel Super Hero Squad to "Hero Up" and keep the world safe from bad guys! This vibrant, action-packed early reader showcases all of your favorite Marvel characters, including Iron Man, Spider-Man, Wolverine, and Hulk!





Hulk Saves the Day!  by Chris Strathearn

For your youngest Super Hero fans, this Marvel Super Hero Squad storybook follows Hulk and the rest of the squad on an exciting adventure. Dr. Doom goes green when he sends his villains into Super Hero City to plant mutant flowers. Can Hulk shred the flowers fast enough to save City Hall? Find ALL your favorite Super Heroes in one great book!

Review: The Remains by Vincent Zandri

The Remains
By: Vincent Zandri

Paperback: 375 pages 
Publisher: StoneHouse Ink; 1 edition (November 30, 2010)
Kindle Version: B003TSEN0I

Genre: Suspense/Thriller


The Remains by Vincent Zandri is an amazing suspense-filled nightmare that does not let the reader out of it's grasps until the final word is read. 

Just the cover of The Remains sends chills throughout my body and makes my fingers itch to grab it and delve in.  Once I did begin to read, I was instantly hooked and found it very difficult to put down.  I have read several thrillers and suspense stories and have to honestly say that this is one of the best that I have read.  I was taken by surprise repeatedly, throughout the story and I loved that.  The twists and turns were phenomenal and truly kept me racing from page to page.

The Remains is the story of Rebecca Underhill who has held a deep dark secret within her soul for thirty years.  After the death of her parents and beloved twin sister, she has struggled to piece together some semblance of a life.  Teaching art helps to fill some of the gaps left behind the loss of her loved ones and a divorce.  However when one of her autistic students, who she grew up with, begins to paint troubling and telling paintings, Molly's life is turned upside down.  It is not long before she realizes that the nightmare that she through lived, so long ago, is about to resurrect itself and will not let her go until she is finally dead.

A truly horrific and action packed story, The Remains made me shudder in apprehision, my skin crawl in revulsion and my heart break with pain.  This is a story that truly has it all and will embrace readers within it's cover and hurtle them into Molly's life and tragic nightmare.

The Devil has re-emerged into society and will stop at nothing until his kitten has been sent to its rightful place.

"Run away little kitten. I'm going to chase u now."  Run little kitten before you die...

*I wanted to explain my rating of this book.  I am going to give it a 4.5 overall, however would state that for lovers of the suspense/thiller genre it would be 5/5!

About The Remains:

Thirty years ago, teenager Rebecca Underhill and her twin sister Molly were abducted by a man who lived in a house in the woods behind their upstate New York farm. They were held inside that house for three horrifying hours, until making their daring escape. Vowing to keep their terrifying experience a secret in order to protect their mother and father, the girls tried to put the past behind them. And when their attacker was hunted down by police and sent to prison, they believed he was as good as dead. Now, it s 30 years later, and with Molly having passed away from cancer, Rebecca, a painter and art teacher, is left alone to bear the burden of a secret that has only gotten heavier and more painful with each passing year. But when Rebecca begins receiving some strange anonymous text messages, she begins to realize that the monster who attacked her all those years ago is not dead after all. He s back, and this time, he wants to do more than just haunt her. He wants her dead.

Review: A Catered Birthday Party by Isis Crawford

A Catered Birthday Party
By: Isis Crawford

Paperback: 256 pages 
Publisher: Kensington; Reprint edition (November 1, 2010)

Genre:  Cozy Mystery


Birthday parties for pugs, murder and mayhem collide in Isis Crawford’s sixth installment in her series “A Mystery with Recipes”, A Catered Birthday Party.

Bernie and Libby Simmons own a delightful and well-known catering company and shop named A Little Taste of Heaven.  As sisters, they are as different as night an day, as business partners, they work together to please their customers.  One such customer, Annabel Colbert, a wealthy and not-so-respected business woman asks the sisters to cater a birthday celebration for her beloved pet, Trudy the Pug.  Not overly keen on the idea, Bernie and Libby take on the job, knowing it will be a boost to their catering company.  The sisters knew they would be in for a bit of nit-picking from Annabel, perfectionist extraordinaire, but what they didn’t count on was inadvertently agreeing to solve Annabel’s murder.

During Trudy’s party, as Annabel is giving a toast and laying out all the cards on her true thoughts of her “friends”, she realizes that something is just not right:

“Here’s to me and my new ventures and to hell with all of you.  I don’t know where any of you are going, but if I had to guess I’d have to say to the bad place, and don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about.”  Annabel raised her glass to her lips and drank the wine down.  A strange expression came over her face.  Here eyes widened.  Her hand went to her throat.  “I’ve been poisoned!” she cried.  “Someone has put something in this wine!”

“Now, dear,” Richard said.  “I’m sure you’re fine.  You know how you tend to exaggerate.”

Annabel’s death is ruled a death by natural causes and that is that.  Until Bernie and Libby take things into their own hands.  As Annabel sit dying, they gave her their word that they would find her murderer.  However, will they be able to find the murderer before he or she can escape freely?

A Catered Birthday Party is filled with an abundance of humor.  There were several times that I found myself laughing aloud as I read.  I adored the sassy Bernie and her sharp- witted tongue, as well as Libby’s more “no nonsense” take on life.  The sisters are a perfect contrast and lend a vivid and excellent layer to the story.  A Catered Birthday Party is my first by this author and I can honestly say that I am anxious to go back to the beginning of this series and start with the first book, A Catered Murder.  As I read, I really felt myself caring for, not only the sisters, but also their father, Sean.  Sean is an ex-police officer with a penchant for helping his daughters solve crimes.  I loved his sense of humor and his exuberance for life.  He is an awesome character and one that I find myself wanting to read about in the next installment to see how things pan out for him. 

As a cozy mystery, A Catered Birthday Party definitely works.  There is a perfect blend of lightness, humor and fun, as well as a bit of mystery and sleuthing.  Of course, the added deliciousness of recipes is a fun bonus as well.  I do have to say that throughout the story, the characters partook in several mugs of hot chocolate, thereby causing me to crave this sweet and creamy beverage on several occasions.  The plotting, was subtle and entertaining, though I did feel the ending was a bit rushed. 

I recommend A Catered Birthday Party to anyone looking for a fun and fast read.  Whether you have read the series up until this one, or are new to it, it is guaranteed to bring out the giggles - and cravings for hot chocolate!

About A Catered Birthday Party:



A Little Taste of Heaven catering certainly knows how to feed people. Dogs, however..? When sisters Bernie and Libby sign on to cater Trudy the Pug's birthday bash, it isn't just any doggie do. Trudy's owner, Annabel Colbert, is one of the richest women in town - and as mascot of the Colbert toy company, Trudy herself is a bona fide celebrity. But when the big day arrives, mere moments after dipping into the wine, Annabel is shrieking she's been poisoned - and falling face first into her soup. After two days in a coma, Annabel is dead. It seems the woman who had everything also had her share of enemies. In fact, Annabel was cheating, blackmailing, or backstabbing most everyone she knew - including Trudy's trainer and kennel owner. With so many suspects, sniffing out the truth is a risky proposition. Bernie and Libby had better close the oven on this case fast - before they get burned...

Book Blogger Hop!

In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and share our love of the written word!  This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books!  It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs to read!  So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start HOPPING!

The Hop lasts Friday-Monday every week, so if you don't have time to Hop today, come back later and join the fun!  This is a weekly event!  And stop back throughout the weekend to see all the new blogs that are added!  We get over 200 links every week!! 

RULES:

Your blog should have content related to books, including, but not limited to book reviews.

This week's question comes from Aliyah who blogs at Des Absurdités:

 

 "What book are you most looking forward to seeing published in 2011?  Why are you anticipating that book?"

 

The book that comes to mind is Succubus Revealed by Richelle Mead.  It is #6 in the Succubus series and I am completely and totally hooked on this series and can't wait to see what happens next!  Due out Sept 2011, I have a bit of time to yearn, but can't wait!

Online Party Tonight with Book publicist Charlie Barrett - win a Kindle!

Hollywood, CA - - Award winning national book publicist Charlie Barrett (www.thebarrettco.com) will guest in a “Face Book Party” hosted by the leading book promo Internet firm Pump Up Your Book on Thursday, January 27^th, 9-11pm EST. A free Kindle ($189 value!) will be given away during the session. Those interested can log on to http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=494281102448 to participate in this Net event and have a real time chat with Mr. Barrett, who heads The Barrett Company based in the nation’s creative center, Hollywood.

During the two-hour session Thursday evening with Pump Up Your Book, Mr. Barrett will take questions from those participating such as how to get your book marketed in the evolving publishing marketplace, how authors can get booked on top market radio and TV shows and overall tips on creating a best seller book by using creative publicity techniques.

Mr. Barrett was voted Book Publicist of the Year by the Southern California Book Pub Society and is a member of the Publishers Association of Los Angeles. His book publicist credits range from Carla Malden’s upcoming book Afterimage to Ben Berkley’s Before You say I Do Again to many, many others in the non-fiction and fiction genres. The Barrett Company also represents personalities and companies involved in both film and television production. Earlier Mr. Barrett served with NBC as the publicist for Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show. His new website may be accessed via www.thebarrettco.com

* * * * *

WE'RE HAVING A FACEBOOK PARTY!

WIN A FREE KINDLE ($189 VALUE)!!!!

Full details at http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=494281102448!

Question of the Day 1~27~Influence in Books

It is often heard that books have a way of influencing people.  The stories impact in a way of giving the reader an entirely new outlook on life and of themselves.  Just the idea of this is amazing.  Now, to take it to another level.  Have you ever read a book that some aspect just got stuck in your head and made you want to do something quirky or crave something?

For me, once I began reading the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich, I had the most overpowering urge to get a hamster, lol.  I know, I am wacked.  The worst part about it is that around the 9th book, I caved and went and got one, much to the delight of my daughter and the horror of my hubby, lol. Other times it has been the constant mention of a certain food like chocolate or hot chocolate that made me have to run to the kitchen to fill a sudden craving.  Stepping back, it is amazing what a book can subliminally do to the mind, lol!

How about you? Have you ever read a book that some aspect just got stuck in your head and made you want to do something quirky or crave something?  I confessed, so can  you!! lol

Teaser Tuesdays 1~25

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week, my teaser comes from The Remains by Vincent Zandri  I am reading on my Kindle app and it is marked as location 1227, 41%

I stepped quietly inside, as though not to wake the ghosts of my family...

...Standing alone inside the living room, I felt the bone cold that can settle into a home when the heat is turned off and no living soul occupies it. 

Thirty years ago, teenager Rebecca Underhill and her twin sister Molly were abducted by a man who lived in a house in the woods behind their upstate New York farm. They were held inside that house for three horrifying hours, until making their daring escape. Vowing to keep their terrifying experience a secret in order to protect their mother and father, the girls tried to put the past behind them. And when their attacker was hunted down by police and sent to prison, they believed he was as good as dead. Now, it s 30 years later, and with Molly having passed away from cancer, Rebecca, a painter and art teacher, is left alone to bear the burden of a secret that has only gotten heavier and more painful with each passing year. But when Rebecca begins receiving some strange anonymous text messages, she begins to realize that the monster who attacked her all those years ago is not dead after all. He s back, and this time, he wants to do more than just haunt her. He wants her dead.