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Feathered, Furry, Flying Fun!

11/24/2013

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Reviewed for Readers' Favorite.

In Who Stole the Zmulobeast, Keith A. Owens introduces young readers to Spike, the dog. Spike is not your average dog because Spike can talk. A member of the Pi in the Sky Squad, Spike and his human friends take readers on a journey to save the Zmulobeast, a gift from the home planet of Zippy, an alien and one of the Pi Squad’s cohorts.

The journey begins with a rumor that the Zmulobeast is missing and the Squad’s determination to find the creature. But things do not go smoothly, as no one has ever seen a Zmulobeast! The investigation leads Maria and Spike to seek out information at a local park. There, they discover a series of strange clues. It appears the creature has the feet of a rabbit, wings of gold, multi-colored fur, and--it can fly! Spike later discovers that the abductors may be taking the beast to Phoenix, Arizona. Following the snatchers’ trail, Spike and the Pi Squad, with its single adult leader, Chief, eventually take off in their Pi-Mobile in hopes of rescuing the Zmulobeast from the grasp of Boris Greedy, the Chief’s long time nemesis.

Young readers will find, in Who Stole the Zmulobeast, both a mystery and a fantasy. A talking dog is hard to resist and one with Spike’s sense of humor even more so. The characters are well drawn and interesting, from Maria, the young but skilled investigator, to Stool Pigeon, who is always falling asleep, to Arthur, who cannot resist doing the “Arthur dance” whenever he has accomplished something. With such rich characters, and an otherworldly beast to track and to save, middle graders will flock to Who Stole the Zmulobeast and it is certain that they will anxiously await each addition to the story.

Also posted on BookLikes, review tweeted and added at Google+ and cover pinned.

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All Wrapped up with a Bow

11/18/2013

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Reviewed for Readers’ Favorite.

The Holiday Gig, by Erin Brady, tells the tale of an aspiring young attorney, Taylor Barnes, who is a workaholic trying to make her way to partnership at a prestigious New York firm. The trouble begins when Taylor, to impress her boss, Mr. Charles Wigs, and to show him that she is not “all work and no play,” tells Mr. Wigs that she does indeed have a beau. Caught in the moment, Taylor makes up a story and a name—a name straight out of movie: Tom Maguire. But, of course, Taylor must then make good on the tale and deliver Mr. Maguire to a couple of holiday firm functions. The most important event will be the New Years’ Eve celebration where Mr. Wigs will announce the firm’s newest partner. Taylor publishes an ad to fill the temporary position. Enter, Hunter Ryan. Little could Taylor have expected that Hunter would turn out to be the one person able to make Taylor appreciate her family and find value in taking time from work. As Taylor and Ryan wind their way through difficult family gatherings and firm events, the romance plays out.

Erin Brady has delivered, in The Holiday Gig, a fun and light story for the holidays, complete with laugh out loud scenes and amusing predicaments. Knowing more than a little something about law firms and the sacrifices that Taylor was making, I was able to readily identify with Taylor’s checking her emails on a continuous basis, bringing her files along when she went to visit her family, and struggling with how to find a balance between her work and her personal life. But the bow on the package for readers of this story will be in finding that Taylor Barnes has the wherewithal to make things right where she is able, both with her family and ultimately, with Hunter. In the process, she learns a great deal about herself and about giving to others. Those who enjoy romantic comedies, feel-good stories, and happy endings, are sure to find some holiday cheer in The Holiday Gig.

Learn more about Erin Brady and The Holiday Gig at Goodreads here (be sure to fan and follow her there!) and on her website here. Find Erin on Facebook here and be sure to like her! The Holiday Gig is available at Amazon here.

Also posted on ReadersFavorite.com, GoodReads and BookLikes. Review tweeted and cover pinned.

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A Girl Who Would be King

11/16/2013

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I was provided a copy of this book through Goodreads’ READ AND REVIEW program in exchange for my fair and honest review. I thank the author for this opportunity.

In The White Stag, we are introduced to Cypress, a young woman who was rescued by Hortensia minutes after her birth, to be raised in a village of all women. Cypress is favored by Hortensia, but it has come time for Cypress to leave the village—with the intention that she will—as does each young woman in her time—return “with child.” Cypress will accompany her good friend, Hazel, on this journey to a world never before known to them—a world that includes—men.

There is a “game” going on in the land. A game of treachery, deceit and danger, as a group of knights fight for the right to become king. When Cypress, the best hunter amongst her peers, leaves the village of her childhood days, she and Hazel make their way to a fortress. The adventure unfolds and eventually, we find Cypress take up the armor of one of the knights before her. In doing so, she becomes Cyrus Kingsworth. Cypress/Cyrus’s immediate goal: to take down the man she believes to be her father, a man who seeks Cypress’s own life. Her ultimate goal: to be the last knight standing. Her prize: the kingship.

Flynn did a great job of creating a truly unique, fantasy world—a world YA readers are sure to enjoy. I appreciated that the story did not come along with a love triangle or the all-too-common “insta-love.” Having said that, however, I did have some reservations about some of the relationships. That is, it seemed to me that at times, Cypress felt very close to Rowan, and then, just a few sentences later, would be at odds with him—without any particular reason that I could make out. Likewise, Cypress and Hazel were deemed to be friends as close as sisters, but I confess that I did not “feel” the closeness of their relationship. I also was a bit confused about why the driving force for Cypress (in the game) seemed to be to take down the man she thought to be her father. That fact seemed to motivate Cypress more than the fact that Blackmore was a genuine villain. Even so, I appreciated Flynn’s attention to the detail of this world, the knights themselves, the pirates, and so forth.

Flynn dedicates this work “to those who always said I could. And those who always said I couldn’t.” Flynn definitely could—and did. Well done!

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Great Illustrations by Young People!

11/15/2013

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Reviewed for Readers’ Favorite.

In Guess What is at the Zoo?, Nancy O’Neill delivers to children several short poems, each about a different zoo animal and each accompanied by an illustration from one of the “Kids Around the World.” From the furry black and white bamboo eater, to the pouch used for a baby to ride inside for “six months or so,” to the animal not to be mistaken for a horse, each poem uses simple words to key in on a specific animal’s main features. In this way, pre-schoolers will learn the distinguishing characteristics of a variety of zoo animals.

The poems in Guess What is at the Zoo? are easy to read. It is likely they will quickly be memorized by children who will demand to hear them again and again, as they are just right to hold the interest of a little one, coming in the little snippets that they do. But, it was the pictures that most moved me.

It is stunning to see the talent of young people, aged 11 to 14, who illustrated Guess What is at the Zoo? The almost Asian feel of the panda illustration, the natural look of the skunk, the charm of the playing hippopotamuses, just by way of example, were all charmingly done. The young people whose illustrations were selected for Nancy O’Neill’s Guess What is at the Zoo?should be most proud and what a wonderful way for O’Neill to help artistically bent youngsters to explore their own possibilities and opportunities! Children, fascinated by animals, are sure to delight in the prose and accompanying illustrations of Guess What is at the Zoo?, and the young illustrators whose works are featured in the pages, are sure to learn a great deal through the publication of their own works!

Also posted on GoodReads and BookLikes. Cover added to Pinterest. Review tweeted and added at Google +.

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Patricia Reding

Posted here are a number of Patricia's reviews of the works of others.

Those reviews posted here that Patricia did for Readers Favorite are identified as such. No review of less than 4-stars for any Readers' Favorite review is posted here or elsewhere.

Those works reviewed for NetGalley are identified accordingly.

Feathered, Furry, Flying Fun!

All Wrapped up with a Bow

A Girl Who Would be King

Great Illustrations by Young People!

Patricia Reding

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