Book Review: Soul of Power (Jaben's Rift - Book 3)

Soul of Power

by G. David Walker
My rating: 5 of 5 hearts

Synopsis:

The Altered have withdrawn. With Nyala’s and Nivek’s support, Jason and the Circle appear to have the upper hand, at least for the moment. They know, however, that this is just the calm before the final storm... 

In spite of the Circle and their Altered allies, the future of Teleria still lies squarely upon Jason Bennett’s shoulders. It’s time for Taleth’s prophecy to be fulfilled, once and for all. Dark clouds are gathering, and the final confrontation looms on the horizon. The end game is about to begin, with the world of Teleria as the ultimate prize. 

Only one thing is certain: Teleria will never be the same again.

Review:

I received a copy of this book as a gift from the author. Upon seeing the note from Mr. Walker, I could hardly contain myself. I'd been waiting for what felt like decades for the final book in this trilogy to drop.

All I can say is that it was worth the wait. As in the previous installations, this book spoke true to the mage in my heart. I held on to my copy for a week while I wrestled with the decision on whether or not it would be necessary to re-read the first two books. Then last week I jumped in and just started reading. I was immediately drawn in by the cover art. Until very recently, I didn't realize that there was even a difference in cover art on the edition. My version came with a great Manarach depiction on the cover, and I'm very happy that it did.

Book Review: The Queen Is Coming to Tea

The Queen is Coming to Tea

by Linda Ravin Lodding
My rating: 4 of 5 hearts

Synopsis:

Preparing to host a tea for the Queen, Ellie and her stuffed elephant, Langley, race around the globe for the best food and drink, and also collect an assortment of guests.

Review:

I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I loved reading this book to my kids. It was an excellent read for both me and my little ones. To tell you the truth, even my eldest enjoyed it and has read the story several times to her younger siblings since the first read. The whimsically fun cover image drew them in from the start. My son (5 y) was particularly curious about the Fox carrying the cake. Truth be told, the artwork in this book is beautifully drawn, colored, and rendered. Despite it being an eBook, all the images scaled correctly and appeared in the correct position in relation to the story text for the most part. Although the 1 or two images that appeared out of turn did serve to confuse my youngest reader. The repetitive nature (think Ten Little Monkeys) of the story does leave a bit to be desired for us adult readers, but the tiny ones loved it and even chimed in on the "catch line."

Book Review: The Mirror

The Mirror

by Marlys Millhiser
My rating: 4 of 5 hearts

Synopsis:

In this twisting time-travel thriller, a woman faints on the eve of her wedding and awakens at the turn of the century in her grandmother’s body…

Review:

Hi all, Thanks for visiting. I've finally finished re-reading and writing this review. Once again, I apologize for any confusion caused by my earlier version of this review.

I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I recommend this book to anyone who is “into” the paranormal/time travel genre. Sadly, the internet goblins ate my first review of this work. I decided that a second read was warranted to be sure that the nuances of the story were fresh in my mind. That being said, I couldn’t put the book down, even on the second read. I was, once again, completely immersed in the story as it unfolded. Due to my love of all stories paranormal, I was immediately drawn by the book’s cover, and in fact, it was a major factor in my deciding to read it. So simple, yet so effective. The spooky image of a girl trapped in an ornate mirror. It’s safe to say that even before I read the synopsis, I knew that we would soon meet up over a steaming cup of coffee.

The characters, settings, and plot were excellently developed through a wide use of exceptional descriptors and “old time” language. I felt like I knew each character intimately and lived through their experiences as they did. Even the ancillary characters were memorable, from the stern Cornish mother-in-law all the way to the kooky antique’s dealer. Marlys artfully brings each character to life, as we read; we see the personal growth experienced in each. In addition to the awesomely quirky and loveable characters; the time-period references and descriptors were so vivid that I could almost see the scenes developing before my eyes. I loved traveling back to rural times; remembering that although so many hardships existed in the past, their way of living was so much more relaxed…. I suppose when it's man versus world many things are insignificant. Watching the town grow to present day technology was a treat as well. Marlys also transitions from past-time to present-time skillfully.

The heart of the story though is the development of the dual main characters. As I became more immersed in the story; I couldn’t help but worry about what the other character was experiencing at the time.

Book Review: Crochet Stories: E. T. A. Hoffmann's The Nutcracker

Crochet Stories: E. T. A. Hoffmann's The Nutcracker

by Lindsay Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 hearts

Synopsis:

Experience the enduring charms of the holiday classic in an entirely different way! This version of the beloved tale is illustrated with full-color images of crocheted characters. Each chapter of the adventure ― from the Christmas Eve party to the fierce battle between the Nutcracker and the Mouse King to the visit to Toyland and beyond ― features complete instructions for crocheting charming representations of the story's personalities and props.

Twelve easy-to-follow patterns depict Marie and her Nutcracker, the Mouse King, the enchanted clock, a Christmas tree surrounded by wrapped gifts, and other festive figures. Well-illustrated instructions specify yarn colors, materials, gauge, and abbreviations for stitches; a Techniques section offers guidance to crocheters. All patterns specify yarns that are readily available in craft stores. The ideal gifts for all Nutcracker enthusiasts, these amigurumi figures are keepsake treasures that will brighten every holiday season.

Review:

This time around I'm reviewing something a bit different. I read tons of crochet books every year, but this is the first time that I'm actually reviewing one. I've been doing yarn-work for over 20 years and my collection of instructional and pattern books is immense. If this goes well, I may be tempted to review a bit more. As the holiday season rushes upon us I will be spending most of my time on handmade items for decorating and also as gifts to my friends and family. This generally means that the bulk of my upcoming reading will most likely be instructional books. Ok, so here goes.

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley as a kindle download in exchange for an honest review. My main issues with the book are not content based. The rendering was horrible. Some of the words were cut off and some images (thankfully non that accompanied the patterns) appeared blank. Well, I supposed I shouldn't say blank as the background did come up. This is the only reason why this book did not get a 5/5 from me. Everything else was absolutely beautiful.