Little Buggies: A Rhyming Guessing Book for Little Ones by Cindy Bracken

    This book starts with a wonderful rhyming story to keep little ones attention. Then it adds a guessing game everyone enjoys. Teaching little ones the early skills of reading and taking in the whole picture.  
   
     Absolutely adorable and so much fun, your littles will love this book for years to come.  Showing the littles the different kinds of bugs will have them exploring outside whenever they get the chance.  I love this one.  There can never be enough fun books for babies and littles to have.  It gives them a great start on being good readers. Cindy Bracken included everything littles enjoy in a book!


     I didn't find issues with this one.

     I gave this one 5 out of 5 books because it encompasses all the things an enjoyable and teaching book should.

American Goddesses by Gary R. Henry

    Dr. Susan Tzin-Zin is the head of the University's Immunology Research Department. She is trying to find a way to obtain mental control over our bodies and the physical environment.   The amazing thing is... she achieved this goal.  Her test subjects, Megan Harris, 48 and Patricia Reilly, 22 are now invincible.  They can work with the local fire and police to take care of really bad situations.  They are both adjusting to their new status when "The Agency" takes notice.  The Agency planned pranks for money that affected millions of lives.  Their newest one involved the Goddesses.  After going through some horrible things in their personal lives, the women begin to settle into their new roles.  The Agency chooses this time to strike.  They make use of a Russian woman who was a test subject on a similar matter.  Things really begin to go sour for the Goddesses.  Just like all new weapons, someone will want it for evil. Will they be able to rise above the challenges they've been through and continue their good works? Only with the help of a few friends.

      Mind-blowing, action filled and on par with some of the greatest movies of all times. This book will keep you turning pages until the end.  I literally read this one in about 2 hrs and then re-read it 3 more times.  I love the characters! They are so well developed and you could see them in any town USA.  The story flows in such a way you'll never find a slow spot or a lull in the action.  Gary R. Henry put together a story perfect for the movies.  I can visualize the colorful clothing and the special effects. WOW! I've never had such a clear picture of heroines who make you wish they were real.  GET THIS BOOK!

     I found no issues with this one. 

     I gave this one 5 out of 5 books. Wonder Woman eat your heart out! There are new Goddesses in town!

     
     

 

The Tree of Everlasting Knowledge by Christine Nolfi

     The Fagan Orchard has always been the central figure in Lincoln, Ohio.  Families have for generations worked at the orchard.  Along with the orchard came The Great Oak. Many thought it to be the oldest tree in Ohio. Some wonderful events took place under The Great Oak and some not so wonderful events took place there too.  The town is small and everyone knows everyone there.  It wasn't a surprise when Ourania showed up at construction of the new wing on the Fagan mansion.   Ourania was the only female electrical company in the area.  She needed this job to decrease the debt of her company.  Troy Fagan was not a fan of Ourania's. They'd fought since grade school. Except for one night beneath The Great Oak.   Ourania's mother, the director of the Jobs & Family office, insisted all of her children become foster parents at the age of 30.  That's how Walt and Emma came into her life. She was their foster mother.  Events from the past would tie with present day events to wind the roots of The Great Oak tree through several families lives. A startling surprise makes the earth shake for Troy and Ourania. This was something neither could have foreseen.

    This book is wonderfully written and speaks directly to the heart.  If you can read this and not cry or feel anger, you aren't human.  The characters are full and richly developed.  I recommend this story of love, loss, hurt and forgiveness.  This book takes you through the lives of three families and the twists and turns that occurs over two generations.  It's beautiful, heartbreaking and such a terrific message. Christine Nolfi knows how to sensitively present information and blend a story so tenderly you don't realize you're still reading a work of fiction. 

   I found no issues here.

   I gave this one 5 out of 5 books because the story touch my heart in so many ways. 

Welch’s Sparkling Juice “Spooktacular” Giveaway (ends 10/23/12)

Their sparking fruit juice is available in White Grape, Red Grape, Cranberry and Blueberry Grape. Mmmm! I really want to try Blueberry Grape. I also think that the Cranberry would be the perfect addition to a Thanksgiving dinner or holiday dinner. I’m going to be on the look out for those flavors and have them handy for the holidays. Not everyone drinks, so having sparking juice on hand is a great way to make people feel included in the celebration. It’s also great for designated drinkers who can’t drink.

I would never think to use sparkling fruit to celebrate Halloween. It’s actually not a bad idea.

Welch’s has a fun recipe that I can’t wait to make this Halloween. Not only does it sound good it looks creepy too.

For this recipe you’ll need the following;

2 bottle of Welch’s Sparkling Juice (any flavor)

1 bottle of your favorite Welch’s Fruit Juice (any flavor)

Food Coloring (optional)

Directions:

Add all the juices into a punch bowl. You can add food coloring to give it a creepy look if you want.

For added Halloween rinse out a surgical glove, fill it with water and pop it in the freezer. When it’s turned to ice you can peel off the glove and put the hand shaped ice into the punch bowl with your Welch’s juices. If you can’t get a surgical glove look for other creepy molds (I’ve seen brain molds for geletins) and use that instead. Let your imagination go wild!

If you want to add a bit more of a “gross factor” to it drop in some peeled grapes (“eye balls”) and gummy worms or insects. The kids will love that!

For more information about Welch’s products visit www.Welchs.com. You can also “Like” their Facebook Page and/or follow them on Twitter.

Welch’s would like to give a lucky reader a fun Halloween prize package. The prize includes:

(1) bottle of sparkling in a custom Welch’s Sparkling box

(3) VIP coupons for FREE bottles of Welch’s

Other fun Halloween related recipes & goodies

Thanks Welch’s!

This giveaway is open to US residents only and will end on October 23, 2012 at 12:01 AM (EST). The winner will be chosen at random using a random number generator from all eligible entries. The winner will be notified via e-mail and have three days to reply or a new winner will be chosen in thier place.

To enter please leave a comment on this post and tell me which flavor of Welch’s Sparkling Juice would you most like to try.

For extra entries you can use the Rafflecopter widget (below) but you must complete the initial entry requirement or the additional entries won’t qualify.

Better off Dead by Matthew Rowe

    Mummy's, vampires, werewolves and dragons are all part of the war between Khalid and Lucian.  Two powerful men both of whom want control of Londinium.  This war takes place far into the future when supernaturals are common place and humans are the minority.  Khalid enlists the help of a rag tag bunch of misfits to further his hold on Londinium. Ramses, P-Head, Gimpy and Kenempti work together, not always well, to push back Lucian and his warriors.  Finding themselves in several bad situations, they must learn to work together before they can be of any help in the war.  They each have their own agenda in helping Khalid but somehow together this group does the impossible. 

    Quirky, humorous and wonderful, this book will keep you entertained for quite some time.  Each character is well developed and certainly worthy of a book of their own.  I loved the humor mixed with the outright silliness in this one.  I recommend it to everyone, not just those who enjoy supernaturals.  Everyone will take away an enjoyable experience.  The story is well thought out and written in a way that makes it easy to follow.  Get this book.

     I didn't find any issues with this one.
    
     I gave this one 5 out of 5 books because you rarely see humor mixed with supernaturals.

Once; Ask Me Anything, Not Love by Mian Mohsin Zia

     An author who is very successful with his career but has not found love. He really hasn't given it much thought until he goes away on holiday.  Once he's in the Ukraine and enjoying himself, he meets a woman who could possibly change his life.  She could be his love.  Things don't always go smoothly in the world of love though and in the author's case it doesn't fair any better.  Can he win this woman's love and share life with her as he wants to do? It might take some time to find her first. 

    This book has a bit of everything in it. Poetry, Prayers and a story.  The author is very brave to use first person in a book like this.  It can take one of two paths. It can be excellent and enjoyable  or it can be boring and bland.  I'm sorry to say this book followed the second path.

    I did find issues with this book.  It has no emotion, no feeling. The words are written in a plastic way.  It's as though you are reading Mian's diary instead of a book full of love.  I found it strange that he would include the moments when he intruded on the private affairs of others. Cultural differences aside, it's just plain bad taste to attend a wedding and a funeral of people you don't know.  You weren't invited yet you stay and act as though you belong with these families.  This book is self absorbed and in no way holds the readers attention.  I would not recommend this book at all. 

     I gave this book 1 out of 5 books because it wasn't a book. It was a collection of thoughts on paper. 

I ADORE my author friends BUT.....

  HI All!

    I'm writing this memo because I can't seem to make writers understand one simple little thing. Reviewers haven't said much about it and maybe I'm a nag because I am speaking up, but I need to.  When you send an ebook for review if the file name has numbers and letters or some code only you understand, it's nearly impossible for a busy reviewer to find it when it's your turn for the review.  

   I have a HUGE volume of reviews to do so maybe it bothers me more than it does others, but when you send me a file and it's all numbers and letters, chances are slim I'll ever remember what numbers and letters were yours.  I've tried and had others more competent than I try, to rename the file but it doesn't work. It always reverts back to the numbers and letters.  I have over 100 with numbers and letters I have to sort through to find the right book when I'm moving down the review list. It slows down the process even more when I spend an hour or more searching for your book.

   PLEASE label the file with your book's title or your name. Either will work.  THANK YOU for your patience and your attention to this matter.

   Yes I am really really far behind on reviews. I've had 2 surgeries recently, I've got an upper respiratory infection accompanying the flu and an array of other illnesses I won't bore you with. I read as much as I possibly can and as fast as I can in light of the above issues.  Please know I will finish each review though it may take longer than first expected. IF you'd choose to have someone else review it and not me, that's fine, just tell me so and I'll delete your book from my files.  Thank you for your patience with me!

Melanie Adkins