Diary of a Mummy Misfit by Amanda Egan

   Libby's diary is a busy place. She's worried that her son Max won't make the cut at Manor House Prep School.  She and her husband, Ned, decided Max should attend a school where they know he'll get a great education. While they both know the cost will dip into their finances deeply, they are prepared to deal with it.  Once Libby gets the confirmation that Max was accepted at the  prep school, her diary and her life become even busier than before.  Libby works hard at being a wonderful mother, wife and neighbor. She cooks and bakes from scratch and does all the things she should.  Now her challenge is to fit in with the new school's Mums. It seems as though everything begins to happen at once in Libby's life and she is always busy with something. Libby immediately becomes friends with parents of another new student. They are wealthy but so much fun and down to earth. Every day with this school there seems to be a new challenge to handle. Libby's up to it, at least she hopes she is.  If not, her new friend is there to help her.


     Humor, romance, love and fun are all part of Diary of a Mummy Misfit. If you've ever felt like you didn't quite fit in with the Mothers at your children's school, you'll love this book.  The adventure Libby takes with a new school, new rules, new friends and a four-year-old who seems years beyond his age, is one you will laugh out loud about.  I found the writing delightful and the characters to real to be called characters.  This book should be given to all new Mothers around the world to help prepare for the school years.  If you are a mother, you need this book. It will help you see the humor in what happens with school fundraisers and fairs. I highly recommend this book to everyone.


   I didn't find any issues.


   I gave this one 5 out of 5 books because I laughed so hard I felt like I was right there with Libby.

Aristeia: A Little Rebellion by Wayne Basta

  Admiral Katerina Sartori was set to retire. She couldn't wait to get back to her home to see her grandchildren and children..her husband. She'd had a long military career but it was time to leave it to others now. Then she received a message. The Alliance wanted her to postpone her retirement to help them.  After hearing what had happened, Katerina felt Maarkean and Zeric, both of whom she knew, committed treason and it was her duty to bring them to justice.  It was not going to be easy but she was ready for the fight.  Protests against the Alliance were going on in every sector.  The Sulas government however were calling for the people there not to protest.  Meanwhile, Maarkean and Zeric were gathering people to form their own army. An elite special forces  group to fight along side the militias already in place. Real warriors.  They run into several problems along the way, one being the bounty hunters who are looking for them. Can they get enough p eople to build their special forces? They certainly hope so and before Admiral Sartori strikes.  


    This is the continuation of a story about a civil war of sorts. I found the writing excellent and the story wonderful! You won't go wrong with this book. This is sci-fi the way it's meant to be. The characters are well defined and likable. I love that this is a possibility for our future.  Action keeps this book flowing and the story moving well.  Get this one, you'll love it.


    I found no issues in this one.


   I gave this book 5 out of 5 books because it is a solid read.

The Scoop by Fern Michaels

  Toots had just buried her eighth and last husband. She didn't need a man to make her life complete.  While in her ten days of mourning, she began to wonder how she could make some changes to her life. She decided to call her oldest and dearest friends for a visit/conference about their lives.  Mavis is the idea woman. Sophie is the philanderer. Ida, well Ida is an OCD photographer.  Toots, she has the finances to make anything possible. They each have areas they need to work on and Toots is there to support and help them in any way she can. She also finds out her daughter's paper is being sold and all the reporters will be fired. Without hesitation, Toots decides to buy the paper in secret so her daughter can keep her job.  The godmothers, her friends, all agree to help. With that, the ladies being looking for a new side of life. A chance to begin again.  Once they head to California, where Toots' daughter Abby lives, they find out things won't go quite as easy as  they'd like. The money to buy the paper has disappeared and no one has any idea where it is.  The ladies are determined to find it and the person who took it. 


     This book is the beginning of the Godmother series. It lays the ground work for the other books in a wonderful way.  The writing is solid and the characters well defined but the action, the heart of the book just isn't there. I am a huge fan of Fern Michaels but this series isn't one of her best. If you are looking for a way to kill time, this is it. If you are looking for an entertaining book, keep looking.


   I found issues with this one. Fern Michaels books are known for the creative way she adds humor and action. For strong women characters. This book just lacked all of that.


   I gave this one a 2 out of 5 because it just loped along.

ANTics by Dakota Douglas

  Zube and Brill have been friends for a very long time. They found some berries during an exploration and decided to go bring some back to the InhabitANT.  The day they decide to go, they take a smaller ant, HesitANT, with them.  It should be an easy thing to do, but it turns into an adventure the ants will never forget. They encounter the fiercest enemy they have, Puggy, the spider.  No one wants to be anywhere near Puggy. He was abandoned as a young spider because he was born with one eye missing. A spider witch saves him and then gives him special powers so he can survive in the world.  Zube, Brill and HesitANT never make it to the berries but they do learn to work together as a  team and they defeat Puggy once and for all.  


     A wonderful children's story that teaches many lessons with such fun characters.  My children and I enjoyed this book and it's terrific play on 'ant' words.  It's written in a style children will enjoy and yet parents won't feel like they just can't read again.  I highly recommend this book. The lessons of team work, how to deal with bullies, and accepting people for who they are make this book a fantastic one for all children. 


   I didn't find any issues with this one.


   I gave this one 5 out of 5 books because it's educational but fun!

H.E.R.O. Metamorphosis by Kevin Gerald Rau

  Stephanie Quinn, Lance Casey and Rael Stromm have been friends for years.  They spent a lot of time together, so when Stephanie's Dad insisted the boys accompany Steph to the mall it didn't seem THAT strange. The boys loved being with Stephanie and the fact that she was hot just made it more fun.  What they didn't know was that Steph's Dad knew there would be a meteor shower that day and it would change their lives forever.  Supers were common in Metrocity. Stephanie, Lance and Rael's parents were supers.  When the meteor shower hit, it changed these young people into supers.  They were each thrilled to be new supers and couldn't wait to join the H.E.R.O. program. All three worked out and ate healthy but now they had super powers to contend with.  This is their journey into the new them. 


     Kevin Rau does a beautiful job of laying the groundwork for future books about these three and other supers. It is interesting to learn how supers are 'made' and how they deal with their new changes.  I never knew being a super could be so profitable too. *smile* This book shows the good and the bad of being a super.  The characters leap off the page. I can see movies and comic books about these characters. The most wonderful thing of all is, they are positive. They aren't just beating the bad guys the supers, at least these three, really want to help. You'll enjoy this book even more if you are a fan of supers already.  I found the story delightfully well written and filled with some surprises.  You can't go wrong here. This series will be addictive, in a good way!


   I found one issue.. *sigh* the killing of a Mustang. I don't condone senseless violence toward Mustangs and I can completely see how it was an accident, but still, held a moment of silence for the Mustang that gave it's life. *wink*


   I gave this one a resounding 5 out of 5 books because I think we need positive characters.

Behind Reality TV Industry 101 by Kip Force

     Kip Force has written a book giving you all the inside information about reality TV. It's filled with details you might not otherwise know.  Kip is very thorough in this book describing their days and the amount of time spent waiting.  If you've decided you want to try reality TV, Kip's book can help point you in the right direction.  It's not a walk in the park like some think. This is a really involved process.  It takes longer to get cast on a show than the show itself is.  Kip explains how the directors choreograph every step each person takes. It's amazing how much they put into making reality TV. 


    This book is for those who are real Reality TV nuts. You can learn how to be one of the chosen ones and what may happen afterwards.  


     I did find some issues with this one. Kip Force supposedly graduated from college with a double major. One in Psychology the other in Criminal Justice. This book is written at a high school level. Kip is arrogant, self centered and comes off as being more like a bragging high school cheerleader than a grown woman.  At least half of the book is unbelievable and the other half just doesn't make sense.  I was set to really enjoy the insight Kip would give in this book. Someone has to first give it to her.  If you don't like wasting money, don't buy this book. 


     I gave this one a 1 out of 5 books because it just wasn't a book I enjoyed. 

Stay Close, Novac! by Jan Romes

    Jessi Novac is being stalked.  After her stalker's latest attempt, Jessi leaves New York City. She decides to head to her grandmother's beach house and the peace and quiet that comes with it. Jessi knew of over zealous fans and how out of control they could be. She just figured her stalker was one of them. Jessi is a romance novelist.  One of the best.  Her first morning in the beach house is not all she thought it would be. Her neighbor awakens her with pounding and sawing.  Furious at her neighbor, Jessi heads outside to set him straight. From there they become terrific friends. Ian Alexander is trying to finalize his divorce settlement and regain some peace in his own life.  Ian isn't expecting Jessi when they meet. She stirs his heart and emotions like no other woman ever has.  Still gun shy after his horrific marriage, Ian isn't sure he wants to get to know her.  Fate steps in and puts the two of them together over and over. Finally they have to admit, there is more between them than friendship.  


     Humorous, romantic and a solid story make this book a wonderful beach read!  The characters are terrific and well defined.  You will enjoy the way this story unfolds and the secrets that pop up. I enjoyed the humor added to keep this from being a story full of fear. The down to earth qualities of the characters make it easy for you to fall in love with them.  Jan Romes has another wonderful hit on her hands with this book.  I loved it!


    I didn't find any issues here.


    I gave this one 5 out of 5 books because it will make the day at the beach even more amazing.