In an effort to support continued reading development in small children…here are 2 new book suggestions for you’re bitty bots! Happy Reading!

No, David!

David Shannon

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Amazon.com Review

From Publishers Weekly

In this boisterous exploration of naughtiness, Shannon (How Georgie Radbourne Saved Baseball) lobs one visual zinger after another as David, a little dickens, careens from one unruly deed to the next?coloring on the walls, tracking mud all over the carpet, jumping on the bed in red cowboy boots. Meanwhile, all those timeless childhood phrases echo in the background: “Come back here!” “Be quiet!” “Not in the house, David!” and most vigorously?”No!” Shannon’s pen whisks over the double-page spreads in a flurry of energy, as he gains perspective on an image of a bare-bottomed David cavorting down a quiet suburban street or closes in on the boy’s face as he inserts a finger into his triangle nose, his button eyes tense with concentration, and perfectly round head looming larger than the pages. While Shannon gives David the purposeful look of a child’s crude drawings, his background settings (the kitchen sideboard, a toy-littered TV room) are fully rendered, effectively evoking the boy’s sense of displacement. This dead-on take on childhood shenanigans ends on a high note, with the penitent David (he broke a vase with a baseball) enfolded in his mother’s arms as she assures him, “Yes, David, I love you.” Readers won’t be able to resist taking a walk on the wild side with this little rascal, and may only secretly acknowledge how much of him they recognize in themselves. Ages 2-up.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

David Goes To School

David Shannon

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Amazon.com Review

From Publishers Weekly

He’s b-a-a-a-c-k! And better than ever. The rascal first unleashed in No, David! returns to wreak havoc in the classroom. Whether he’s goofing off at the blackboard (“Sit down, David!”), cutting in line at the cafeteria (“Wait your turn, David!”) or drawing on his desktop (“That’s it, Mister! You’re staying after school!”), David is clearly a handful. But when his teacher gives him a chance to redeem himself by cleaning the desks at the end of the day, he rises to the occasion (“Good job, David!”) and receives a gold star. Shannon foreshadows trouble right from the title page: the teacher stands in front of her desk, feet firmly planted, arms crossed and looming so large that her shoulders, neck and head don’t make it onto the page. As in the previous book, the adult voice provides the text, but her person is confined to the periphery of the action. David, meanwhile, with his round head, triangle nose and wide grin of pointy teeth, is the pinnacle of boisterous boy-energy. His antics take center stage visually while his teacher’s words act as the perfect foil for each spread. After David cuts the cafeteria line, for example, the next illustration shows food splattered all over the walls, floor, David and the boy who was formerly at the front of the line; the two boys point at each other and the text reads, “I don’t care who started it.” The exaggerated shapes and slightly cartoonish poses of an array of students in all-too-familiar situations will have youngsters crowding together over the book at recess. Ages 3-up. (Sept.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

As promised… Here is another Geek-out blog geared towards those in need of a quick fix to some basic Kindle oopsies!

Keep in mind that all of these tips and tricks can be found and Amazon’s Trouble Shooting Page

Wireless Issues

It’s that time again… FREE Kindle books.  There is nothing better than a book, unless or course, that book cost you zilch, zero, nada-sito! So without further ado, Get ‘em while they’re Hot!

(Keep in mind that the prices for these books change quickly, so if you want it for $0…better get it now.)

Click Image for complete book details

It’s  A Fire Sale!!!

Salvatore’s new saga opens in a volcano, with a “demon dactyl” awaking and sending out goblins to ravage the peaceful land of Corona. The scourge orphans young Elbryan Wyndon and the maiden Pony, and the two have to flee for their lives. Meanwhile, on a beach far, far away, multicolored gemstones rain down and prove to have enormous potential for both good and evil magic, depending on whose hands they fall into. After many peregrinations, Elbryan and Pony end up guardians of the gemstones, but that is only their first victory. Salvatore lacks the command of language and the humor of some other exploiters of the classic elements of fantasy, yet he lacks nothing in pacing and well-handled battle scenes. Morever, the extra elbow room he gives himself in this stout volume (and its probable successors) allows him to improve his characterization and world building. This is his most ambitious book to date; if it is not superlatively original, it is certainly very readable. Roland Green –This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Five years ago the man she loved died in her armsOr did he? The Shadow Destroyer Series, Book 1. Jordan McAdam leads an unusual double life. Police officer by day, vigilante by night. But Jordan isnt interested in the average criminal. She stalks Shadow Demons, creatures who prey on the innocent, creatures whom she suspects are responsible for a string of bizarre sacrificial murders. Creatures who killed her partner and lover. Gage Campbell has spent the last few years on an elite team of Shadow Destroyers, hunting down the demons who changed his lifeand his DNA. Then an assignment leads him straight back to the woman he hasnt been able to stop thinking about for five long years. The woman he had no choice but to leave behind. Is the man before her a mimic demon bent on tormenting her, or is it Gage returned from the dead? All Jordan knows is that the raging desire between them is real. Standing between them are years of secrets and hurt, and a love that just might have the power to bring them together. If the murder case theyre working on doesnt separate thempermanently. This title was previously published but has been revised and expanded for Samhain Publishing. Warning, this title contains the following: adult language and graphic violence of the sword-wielding, demon-slaying kind. Also contains hot, explicit sex between reunited lovers, passionate up-against-the-wall foreplay and the use of handcuffs for the heroines own goodand pleasure.

The world is changing: the government has seized control of every aspect of society, and now, kids are disappearing. For 15-year-old Wisty and her older brother Whit, life turns upside down when they are torn from their parents one night and slammed into a secret prison for no reason they can comprehend. The New Order, as it is known, is clearly trying to suppress Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Being a Normal Teenager. But while trapped in this totalitarian nightmare, Wisty and Whit discover they have incredible powers they’d never dreamed of. Can this newly minted witch and wizard master their skills in time to save themselves, their parents–and maybe the world?

Free from Coscom Entertainment (www.coscomentertainment.com) comes a first-chapter sampler from their entire zombie book catalog! Featuring excerpts from: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Zombie Jim by Mark Twain and W. Bill Czolgosz Bits of the Dead edited by Keith Gouveia and illustrated by Sean Simmans Blood of the Dead by A.P. Fuchs Dead Science edited by A.P. Fuchs Don of the Dead by Nick Cato The Dead Land (Episode No. 1 of The Axiom-man Saga) by A.P. Fuchs The War of the Worlds Plus Blood, Guts and Zombies by H.G. Wells and Eric S. Brown Keep coming back to this product as more titles will be added as our zombie catalog expands.

A violent encounter in a deserted parking lot is FBI agent Sam Pierce-s only clue to the menace who is stalking child psychologist Jocelyn Gold. A random event? Or a client-s revenge? When darkness falls, the danger deepens….

Every Tuesday my son Bryce (age 5) goes to the library; and in an effort to encourage young children to read I decided to posting his reading list. It’s a great way to pass along a list of books that are not only cute but age appropriate. Happy reading, and remember, a love of reading is contagious…pass it on.

The Dinosaur’s New Clothes

Diane Goode

For a full book description click image

From Publishers Weekly

What is perhaps the most famous swindle in children’s books receives a prehistoric makeover in this visually wry retelling. Using the palace of Versailles as a backdrop, Goode (Mama’s Perfect Present) whips up an ensemble of pompadoured and powdered dinosaurs to portray the characters in the Hans Christian Andersen classic, with a Tyrannosaurus rex cast as the clothes-crazy emperor. The artist has a field day with the setting. Pilasters and ceilings in the Hall of Mirrors sport dino motifs and carvings; dino cherubs wing their way across elegant paintings; and the royal “Rex” insignia takes on a whole new meaning when intersected with a giant “T.” Best of all are the emperor’s many outfits, which have images from well-known children’s stories woven into their designs. It’s all good silly fun, a light parody of Andersen’s send-up of gullibility and greed. Ages 3-up. (Sept.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

After having a moment of unscripted hysteria this afternoon when my Kindle decided to freak out on me,  I thought it might be helpful for the general public to have a place to turn when they have questions…so, alas… here is a list of Frequently Asked Questions regarding freezing and other various screen related issues. (I will post more FAQ’s in the future… don’t you worry.)

Keep in mind that all of these tips and tricks can be found and Amazon’s Trouble Shooting Page

Screen Issues

I wouldn’t normally feel the need to write a double review, but when it came to the 2nd and 3rd books in the “Riley Jensen, Guardian” series, I felt it was sort of a must.

“Kissing Sin” is no more than a filler book. Yes, it is necessary and there are definitely some interesting moments (don’t worry, I’ll elaborate) but for the most part, the novel was used to introduce new characters and prime you for the Big Show in “Tempting Evil”

The story picks up a few months after “New Moon Rising” ends…Riley, of course, is trying in vain to skirt around her inevitable future of becoming a “Guardian”, only its not quiet so easy when she wakes up after 8 days, having no idea where she is, covered in blood and stranded inside of some weird sort of cardboard cutout community. Her confusion and overwhelming need to find a safe place has her scrambling for an exit, only she can’t do it alone.

Introducing Kade.

I have never come across a paranormal fiction to included were-stallions, but that is exactly what Kade is, and to Riley’s delight, he is delicious.

Both are on the run and both are having to depend on the other way more than they would like. (Something is fishy about Kade…but what exactly is it?)

The clones from the 1st installment have reared their ugly and sometimes slimy heads again, and it is a race against time to not only find but destroy the leader of this demented little monster making bake shop.

Naturally there are several plots bouncing at once, it wouldn’t be a captivating series otherwise, so while the action is…action packed, there is also

the quintessential love triangle… or in Riley case love square.

Kellen returns, after a very VERY brief intro in book 1, Quinn also returns after realizing that he has walked away from something he just can’t live without, Kade decides that he would love a little action, and last but certainly not least Misha, the less than honest ex (or not ex) mate leave who leaves us with a less than attractive final proclamation. (Which I will warn you includes an overwhelming amount of spiders so if you have any sort of fear in the creepy crawler department, keep in mind that this is only a book and it’s kind of hard for paper to bite you.)

Moving On…

“Tempting Evil” dives in to the deep end, right where “Kissing Sun” frustratingly, and abruptly just died (at 93% I might add, so when I turned the page and there was no more I yelped louder than was probably necessary)

Riley at this point is in neck deep. There is no way around it…she is what she is.. and what that is is training for the ultimate take down.

The Directorate has gotten a slew of much needed clues to take down the “bad guy” and now they are on the hunt, what they didn’t expect was for Quinn to hitch a ride. (metaphorically and literally)

After rummaging through Riley’s brain he discovers a few useful details. 1. The Directorate is on the move and going undercover, and 2. Riley is lying about her telepathic abilities. How you may ask? Well… easy, she throws him against the wall… without using her hands.

This book IS the piece de resistance. The action sequences and plot solidification that have been building since book 1 finally come to a head, and quite dramatically if I may say so myself. We are introduced “intimately” to the man behind the mask. We are taken through a hall or horrors and a mad man’s demented idea of a sexual funhouse, (complete with gladiator type fighting arenas.) We get to learn what an all-consuming need for vengeance can do to a person, we realize big brothers sometimes DO need their little sisters help, and we learn that were-bear sounds way to much like care-bear and it doesn’t matter how many times you read it you will still laugh.

Riley… regardless of the danger she constantly seems to be in, is still trying to hash out her “relationship” issues, and more importantly, still trying to cope with her “baby” issues which seem to be an even more underlying problem than Quinn’s…well…lying.

I am… pleased to say… enjoying this series. After reading several books with heart stopping, life altering decisions it was nice to take a break and let the “action” do the talking. There doesn’t always have to be a deeper meaning, sometimes it’s better just to have clean sheets and a hot cup of coffee.

Enjoy my fellow Kindle-ites, and remember, if at first you don’t succeed, try try again…or in Quinn’s case, just annoy the hell out of someone until they give in.

For full book descriptions click images

Kissing Sin (3/5)
Tempting Evil (4/5)

I don’t normally do geek blogs, but since I am dedicated to my Kindle and feel the need to share the love…here are a few articles for ya.

Amazon’s international Kindle surprises owners with $20 refund, limited web browsing

by Thomas Ricker posted Oct 22nd 2009 at 4:21AM

The only thing better than unannounced functionality is an automatic, surprise refund on your purchase. With the international version of Amazon’s 6-inch Kindle you get both. Several readers who ordered the $279 international Kindle have received the following email:

Good news! Due to strong customer demand for our newest Kindle with U.S. and international wireless, we are consolidating our family of 6″ Kindles. As part of this consolidation, we are lowering the price of the Kindle you just purchased from $279 down to $259. You don’t need to do anything to get the lower price–we are automatically issuing you a $20 refund. This refund should be processed in the next few days and will appear as a credit on your next billing statement.

Kindle goes multitouch on Windows

By Tim Conneally | Published October 22, 2009, 2:35 PM

That was BRILLIANT!

Ok, maybe brilliant is going a tad overboard, and maybe I’m a tad bit biased since “Pride and Prejudice” is my favorite book, but to take two things I love (P&P and Vampires) and shove them into one makes me just happy as a clam.

“Mr. Darcy, Vampyre” begins where P&P ended, and to a much dazed and confused Lizzy, it’s not exactly the type of hunky dory lovey dovey beginning of a marriage that she had planned.

For starters, their honeymoon plans are immediately changed from happy romp at the beach to intercontinental travel. Then… there are the odd, tortured looks that keep flashing across Darcy’s face.

There are pirates who decided in the last 30 seconds NOT to take over their ship, there are creepy wolves, even creepier castles, a set of very flamboyant Italians (who keep slipping up and revealing things that they shouldn’t) there is a rash of very disturbing dreams, and one very unsatisfied bride.

The writing was, for the most part, fluent with the earlier language of “Austen” (it starts to falter a little at the end, but the action picks up at the same time and so it’s a little harder to notice.) There are a few parts where “Amanda Grange” started to get excessively detailed, especially in their initial arrival to Italy, but again, it’s not intolerable.

I have read several P&P spin-offs (“Pride & Prejudice and Zombies, Fitzwilliam Darcy Gentleman Series…etc) and to date this is probably my favorite. How often do we get to experience a clashing of the times, a fluid meshing of classic and fantasy? Not often I tell you, so when it’s good it’s great, and when it’s great it’s worth the read. (hint hint)

Enjoy my fellow Austenites this one is for you, and just remember, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel, unless of course that tunnel leads to the middle of a dark forest, then you’re just screwed.

For a full book description click image

(4.5/5)

“If I Stay” poses one of life’s most difficult question. It’s one of human character and self preservation.

Do you…Choose to live? (even though your entire family has been killed in a horrific automobile accident) Or do you choose to die? (and descend in to whatever form of afterlife you believe in)

No one will ever really know if there is a “suspended state” in which we have this choice, but “Gayle Foreman” jumps in feet first, dabbling in the emotional state of uncertainty.

Mia is an accomplished cellist, quickly on her way to a bright future and a stint at Julliard, but all of that is put on hold when, what was supposed to be a fun family trip, turns into the most catastrophic event a human could ever experience.  While the others she loved may have moved on, Mia gets stuck and is forced to live from the outside looking in.

She is on the brink of death, but her “soul” (if you will), is stuck in the in-between, forcing her to make the decision to live… or die along with her Mother, Father and 8 year old little brother Teddy.

She stands hopelessly to the side watching as her grandparents struggle with acceptance, she gets to hear the whispered pleas of her best friend urging her to “please come back.” and she gets to witnesses the inevitable emotional breakdown from the boy she loves.

The story is beautifully written. It is told in present day as well as flashbacks; to establish the significance of the people that are patiently waiting for her to “choose”

There is no point in denying that I cried, (not full blown waterworks type crying), but there was one very grueling moment when her grandfather loses control in the ICU, that had me sniffling and watery.

This book does indeed come with a deeper meaning included, a moral that should be considered incredible advice, Cherish the ones that you love, hold them dear and not take advantage of their existence, because you never know when that predicted existence may be quickly taken from you.

This is not an overly joyous book, (I’m certain you probably already gathered that,) but it is an enjoyable one.

There’s an awkward birthing scene, a punk rock turned “Leave it to Beaver” father, a best friend that scolds her mother for excessive crying, one very VERY beautiful scene that makes me wish I was a musical instrument, and an astonishingly abrupt ending.

Spend the money and have a “good” moment… it might make you think about things you have otherwise avoided.

Happy Friday my hidden angels and remember, “Sometimes you make choices in life, and sometimes choices make you.”

For a full book description click image.

(3.5/5)