Review: Ivy & Bean: Take Care of the Babysitter by Annie Barrows

Goodreads Blurb

The adventures of Ivy and Bean continue in the latest installment from series creators Annie Barrows and Sophie Blackall. In Ivy and Bean Take Care of the Babysitter, the two girls hatch a plan to prove that Bean’s big sister is the world’s worst babysitter. Of course plans go awry, but fun ensues!

My Review: Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Ivy and Bean truly know how to have an adventure. These two know how to have fun even at their age. I enjoyed the imaginative ideas they had for playing. They are great friends who know how to keep a secret and let the adventure unravel. Never a dull moment for Ivy and Beans’ imagination.

Goodreads Author Biography

Annie grew up in Northern California, and graduated from the University of California at Berkeley, with a degree in Medieval History. Unable to find a job in the middle ages, she decided upon a career as an editor, eventually landing at Chronicle Books in San Francisco, where she was in charge of “all the books that nobody in their right mind would publish.” After earning an M.F.A. in Creative Writing at Mills College, Annie wrote (as Ann Fiery) a number of books for grown-ups about such diverse subjects as fortune-telling (she can read palms!), urban legends (there are no alligators in the sewer!), and opera (she knows what they’re singing about!). In 2003, Annie grew weary of grown-ups, and began to write for kids, which she found to be way more fun.

Review: The Legend of Grimm’s Woods by Manuro Gorobei

Goodreads Blurb

Introducing a new series of interactive graphic novels–first published in France, and translated/transported to English language readers by Quirk Books.

Enter a world inspired by all of your favorite fairy tales–complete with gingerbread houses, a girl dressed in red, and seven children lost in the woods. Hocus & Pocus offers a new kind of reading experience–part game book, part graphic novel, and part Choose Your Own Adventure story. Readers can play as Hocus (a girl) or Pocus (a boy), choose a magic animal companion, and enter a colorful fairy tale forest of riddles, magical objects, and unusual characters. Succeed or fail, it’s all up to you!

My Review: Rated 3 out of 5 stars

I loved the idea that the book was written like a video game, but I was so confused with the numbers. I think young children will have issues with keeping scores. The illustrations were awesome. It was a great adventure filled with puzzles and different scenarios depending on character and animal used.

Review: Redemption by Rithlande Saint Felix

Goodreads Blurb

Redemption

We often think about our first love with nostalgia.
For Rafaela Warren, love was an emotion she refused to feel. Only one man was able to get through her heart. Five years ago, Mikhail left and never spoke to her again.
What would happen when the meddling of Natalie, Rafaela’s best friend, and Mikhail’s sister bring them together?
What would she do when her mother demands she marries the son of a rival?

Mikhail groaned and pulled her closer. He gave her a thirst-quenching kiss. Pleasure radiated through her body. She wanted more, so much more. He bit her bottom lips.
“What are we doing Mikhail?” She whimpered.
“Me? I’m looking to get a second chance with you.” He said with a smile.
A second chance? She was the one in need of a second chance.
“I don’t want to hurt you, Mikhail. It’s exactly what will happen if we continue doing that.”
“We’re not the same people we were five years ago.”

Get to know Rafaela as she walks her way through redemption.

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Are there sparks still between Rafaela and Mikhail for a second chance at love? Rafaela comes from a wealthy family. She had her downfalls, but she was able to fight her demons together with her friends and family support. When Mikhail and Rafaela see each other after five years, sparks erupt even though they both shelter their feelings. This story had a great plot and developed characters. You get a sense of the hurt they have encountered and how each character grows from what they went through. You get to see that family and money doesn’t always bring happiness, but if you stand together, they can make a difference for each other. Second chances do exist as long as you are willing to give it a chance.

Review: The Little Book of Feminist Saints by Julia Pierpont

Goodreads Blurb

In this luminous volume, New York Times bestselling writer Julia Pierpont and artist Manjit Thapp match short, vibrant, and surprising biographies with stunning full-color portraits of secular female “saints” champions of strength and progress. These women broke ground, broke ceilings, and broke molds–including

Maya Angelou – Jane Austen – Ruby Bridges – Rachel Carson – Shirley Chisholm – Marie Curie & Irene Joliot Curie – Isadora Duncan – Amelia Earhart – Artemisia Gentileschi – Grace Hopper – Dolores Huerta – Frida Kahlo – Billie Jean King – Audre Lorde – Wilma Mankiller – Toni Morrison – Michelle Obama – Sandra Day O’Connor – Sally Ride – Eleanor Roosevelt – Margaret Sanger – Sappho – Nina Simone – Gloria Steinem – Kanno Sugako – Harriet Tubman – Mae West – Virginia Woolf – Malala Yousafzai

Open to any page and find daily inspiration and lasting delight.

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 stars

It is a superb novel that inspires and captures the strength of women throughout the centuries. In one novel, you are able to learn about the super women who changed lives. Each woman comes from different religions, countries, and centuries, making this novel diverse and unified. Manjit captured the strength in each woman in this novel with colorful images that made each character stand strong. Julia came up with truly a wonderful idea of having shared each ladies’ life with short synopsis for what they fought for. Each Feminist Saint in this book stood up for what they believed in, regardless of the danger they would encounter. They stood up to make a difference for all women to have equality, freedom, and justice. Thanks to them for fighting for what is right. We as ladies have more rights than we did in the past. Today, we are still fighting for equality, but we won’t give up. We stand strong and fight together.

Goodreads Author Biography

Julia Pierpont is the author of Among the Ten Thousand Things, her debut novel. She is a graduate of Barnard College and the M.F.A. program at N.Y.U., where she was a Rona Jaffe Graduate Fellow. She lives in Brooklyn with her lunatic dog, Dash.

Review: Pete the Cat and the Cool Cat Boogie by Kimberly and James Dean

Goodreads Blurb

Put on your dancing shoes—Pete is ready to boogie! Pete is learning a new dance—the Cool Cat Boogie! When he hears a groovy beat, he’s full of happy in his feet. But when Grumpy Toad tells him, “Pete, you dance all wrong!” Pete is determined to become a better dancer. With the help of his friends and some wise words from Owl, Pete learns that he’s his grooviest when he’s being himself. Includes step-by-step dance moves so readers can dance along with Pete! Join Pete the Cat in this groovy story from New York Times bestselling author-illustrator team James and Kimberly Dean! Don’t miss Pete’s other adventures, including Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes, Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes, Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons, Pete the Cat Saves Christmas, Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses, Pete the Cat and the Bedtime Blues, Pete the Cat and the New Guy, Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcakes, Pete the Cat and the Perfect Pizza Party, Pete the Cat: Crayons Rock!, Pete the Cat’s Groovy Imagination, and Pete the Cat Plays Hide-and-Seek.

My Review: Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Pete has the moves and loves to dance. He starts feeling self-conscious because of a remark he received about his dancing. He goes around an asked his friends how they danced. He has a few accidents with dancing with his friends, and he decides to give up something he loves. Old Owl told him to be himself and dance the way you like to be yourself. We are all different. We love different music’s and have our own way of dancing.

Review: Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin

Goodreads Blurb

Count down with Pete in this rocking story that makes counting fun! Pete the Cat is wearing his favorite shirt—the one with the four totally groovy buttons.

But when one falls off, does Pete cry? Goodness, no! He just keeps on singing his song—after all, what could be groovier than three groovy buttons? The winner of the Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Award.

The fun never stops—download the free groovin’ song!

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 stars

This Pete the Cat was so hilarious, motivating, and musical. Kids get to learn math and sing while reading. It also teaches them that things come and go and no need to cry. I was cracking up when he noticed his “Belly Button.”

Goodreads Author Biography

Eric Litwin (Mr. Eric) is a guitar strumming, book writing, harmonica blowing, song singing, folksy, fun type of guy. He is the # 1 New York Times Best Selling author of the first four Pete the Cat picture books and the author of the new musical series The Nuts. Eric’s books have sold over 1.5 million copies, been translated into seven languages and won 15 state and national awards including a Theodor Geisel Seuss Honor Award. He has also recorded award winning music CDs. Eric is a popular performing artist who plays guitar, sings, tells musical stories and brings books to life. He is also a nationally respected keynote speaker on interactive literacy and music. Eric is the co-creator of The Learning Groove which offers parent and child music classes and preschool music curriculum. Eric likes music, books and coffee.

Review: Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin

Goodreads Blurb

Pete the Cat goes walking down the street wearing his brand-new white shoes. Along the way, his shoes change from white to red to blue to brown to WET as he steps in piles of strawberries, blueberries, and other big messes!

But no matter what color his shoes are, Pete keeps movin’ and groovin’ and singing his song…because it’s all good. Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes asks the reader questions about the colors of different foods and objects—kids love to interact with the story.

The fun never stops—download the free groovin’ song.

My Review: Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Who loves their white shoes? I sure do! Pete the Cat gets to teach the children different colors after he steps his white shoes in different things. He also sings throughout the book, depending on what color his shoes changed into. Great fun book.

Goodreads Author Biography

Review: Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes by Eric Litwin

Goodreads Blurb

Pete the Cat is rocking in his school shoes. Pete discovers the library, the lunch room, the playground, and lots of other cool places at school. And no matter where he goes, Pete never stops moving and grooving and singing his song…because it’s all good.

The fun never stops—download the free groovin’ song.

My Review: Rated 4 out of 5 stars

The first day of school is memorable. Pete goes to school with his new red shoes. He sings throughout the book as he goes through his school day having fun. We can rock on if we have our red shoes too.

Goodreads Author Biography

Review: Hocus Pocus & The All-New Sequel by A.W. Jantha

Goodreads Blurb

Hocus Pocus is beloved by Halloween enthusiasts all over the world. Diving once more into the world of witches, this electrifying two-part young adult novel, released on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the 1993 film, marks a new era of Hocus Pocus. Fans will be spellbound by a fresh retelling of the original film, followed by the all-new sequel that continues the story with the next generation of Salem teens.

Shortly after moving from California to Salem, Massachusetts, Max Dennison finds himself in hot water when he accidentally releases a coven of witches, the Sanderson sisters, from the afterlife. Max, his sister, and his new friends (human and otherwise) must find a way to stop the witches from carrying out their evil plan and remaining on earth to torment Salem for all eternity.

Twenty-five years later, Max and Allison’s seventeen-year-old daughter, Poppy, finds herself face-to-face with the Sanderson sisters in all their sinister glory. When Halloween celebrations don’t quite go as planned, it’s a race against time as Poppy and her friends fight to save her family and all of Salem from the witches’ latest vile scheme.

My Review: Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Let’s Hocus Pocus again!

It was so much fun to experience Hocus Pocus again. It’s truly one of my favorite Halloween movies that brings back wonderful memories. Loved that the first original story started this book off. The new sequel brings back the Dennison family 25 years later. The three main characters are teenagers, one of them being Max Dennison’s daughter Poppy. I loved that they kept the same characters and made all the characters connected with a great story. This time, the three Sanderson sisters are back with a vengeance. This time, hell was in person, and the witches came to take over. The new sequel is modern with LGBT romance. I was laughing my socks off with the ideas of the appliances used by the witches to fly. Overall, the story was well developed and modernized. I think I would have loved to have seen more scenes with the Sanderson sister’s experience in modern technology. I was shocked at the end. I wasn’t expecting that. It is to be continued.

Review: Hard Trigger by S.L. Hannah

Goodreads Blurb

“Your mother’s opiates are coming from Jose Herrera’s distribution network.” My pulse races as my stepfather speaks these words. Because taking on the Herreras also means taking on Diego.

Reckless, and hardened by a volatile past, Victoria does not see a future with Diego Herrera as a realistic option. As their childhood friendship ignites, they find themselves on opposite sides of a bloody feud between the two most powerful families in Mexico City. And she’s a Moreno now—brought up to be the secret weapon nobody suspected.

But Victoria can’t deny the attraction. Diego’s commanding muscles, the coarse, dark hair of his solid chest, that rugged scar above his sensuous lips…

Loyalty is in the eye of the beholder.

My Review: Rated 4 out of 5 stars

This story will leave you wanting more hot friction between Victoria and Diego. The cover and the title are perfect for this sweltering book. Victoria knows how to kickass to save her family, but when the hot Spanish Diego shows up, she forgets what mission she was on. I love the friction between the two families. They can’t live together but they can’t live without. Hannah knows how to light the room up. She makes you feel the raging fire between these two characters that burns a fire from just one look. It will keep you up all night before you can finish reading it.

Goodreads Author Biography

S.L. Hannah is a romance author known for writing fierce, flawed women treading unchartered territory. S.L. Hannah was born in Poland, grew up in Canada, and moved to Southern California to pursue her love of single-engine airplanes. When she’s not writing fiction she continues to solve the aviation problems of the world.

She is excited to be part of the To LA With Love anthology. Check out her short story, Special Teams, in that anthology.

Her latest release, Baller, is about a successful, divorcing woman who finds a life reset in a younger, hot professional beach volleyball player.

The Need is her first erotic thriller; a story about a woman struggling to free herself from her lover’s physical and emotional binds.

Hard Trigger, is a rogue romance about a reckless and hardened heroine who finds herself entwined with a lover on the opposite side of a bloody feud.