Saturday, 17 October 2020

The Wolf, the Lamb, and the Air Balloon - Corinna Turner - Mandy Lamb Book 2

The Wolf, the Lamb, and the Air Balloon
Mandy Lamb Book 2
Corinna Turner
Unseen Books
Zephyr Publishing
ISBN 9781910806654
eISBN 9781910806692
ASIN B08KJJK9DS


I have greatly enjoyed all the books by Corinna Turner that I have read. And this was the 27th volume from her pen I have read. Not counting some short stories in the Catholic Teen Books Anthologies or released through her newsletters. I think she is a brilliant writer. I owned the first volume in this series and never got around to reading it until it went through a cover change. This one I picked up and read the day it released, a second book from her released that same day, The Boy Who Knew (Carlo Acutis) the first in the Friends in High Places series. I read both books back to back. This story was a very fun read, but way too short! 

The first story in this series took me completely by surprise. A novel about a half human half sheep, a werewolf, and a vampire. It sounds like it should be the beginning of a joke but is in fact a wonderful story. And this second one is just as good. The description of this volume is:

“Against his better judgement, James agrees to attend the school fête disguised as Mandy's friend's dog. But problems soon arise from a very different quarter that has nothing to do with the full moon. Will Mandy and James survive their day out?

This quick-read is a sequel to the novel Mandy Lamb and the Full Moon, a page-turning rural fantasy about friendship, trust, and courage—and not letting what you are define what you do. Those looking for a unique, challenging read will love these “animal yarns with a Christian twist.”

You will find yourself rooting for Mandy and James again in this volume. Though the danger is very different there is just as much at risk. What could go wrong when James is in his wolf form and Mandy takes him to the fair, the Spring Fête. They enter the doc competition. And the main event is their turn to go up in a Hot Air Balloon. But a young girl crying because her mother did not know tickets needed to be purchased in advance throws a wrench in their plans. ‘Wolfie’ indicates to Mandy that they should give them up. But soon thing take an unexpected twist. But to find out what you will need to read this wonderful little novella.

This story is a great addition to the story of Mandy Lamb. And I can be honest and state that I really look forward to more adventures with Mandy and James. A great read.  

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2020 Catholic Reading Plan!

Books by Corinna Turner:
I Am Margaret Series:
0.0 The Underappreciated Virtues of Rusty Old Bicycles (A prequel)
0.5 Brothers (Prequel)
1.0 I Am Margaret
1.5 How Snakey Got His Name (Short Story)
2.0 The Three Most Wanted
3.0 Liberation
4.0 Bane's Eyes
5.0 Margo's (Attempted) Diary & Notebook
5.5 An Unexpected Guest
6.0 The Siege of Reginald Hill
6.5 Buttons (Short Story)
7.0 A Saint in the Family
I Am Margaret The Play - Fiorella de Maria
...

Yesterday and Tomorrow Series:
Someday
Tomorrow's Dead
...

unSPARKed Series:
Prequel Short Stories:
0.1 Breach
 7.0 FEAR

Mandy Lamb Series:
Mandy Lamb and the Full Moon
Contributed to:
Secrets: Visible & Invisible 7 Amazing Stories - Catholic Teen Books
Gifts Visible & Invisible 8 Christmas Stories for Teens
Treasures: Visible & Invisible 8 Stories for Teens
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Friday, 16 October 2020

Prayer of the Day Prayer to Vincent R. Capodanno

Prayer to Vincent R. Capodanno

May God who has offered healing and strength through the hands of the His only Son, Our Lord, and through Christ’s many servants grant me the favor of His healing hand through the intercession of His servant, Father Vincent Capodanno, priest, missionary, and chaplain, who always sought to heal and comfort the wounded and dying on the field of battle. May I be granted this request on my own field of battle I pray in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.





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Thursday, 15 October 2020

Champion of Valdeor - Sandralena Hanley - Valdeor Chronicles Book 1

Champion of Valdeor
Valdeor Chronicles Book 1
ISBN 9798646935633
ASIN B08DLBPZNB



This book was a fantastic read. This has been an incredible year for debut novels, and this is another hit. Once I started reading it this book was very hard to put down. I read it sitting in a lawn chair in the sun after work over three days. The story is compelling. And the characters well written. The description of the book is:

“Alloryn faces a mythological creature to win a fabled sword, is taken under the wing of a mysterious mentor, and sets out to find the lost Princess Lauressa. Her quest is to free the land from cruel rulers and the evil warlord over them all who usurped her throne. Together they search for stones of power, which they win by practicing a corresponding virtue, while facing foes and dangers from every side. During their travels they make many allies, who join with them against the tyrannical warlord in the final battle for the kingdom.”

This book is written in the style of the classic epic adventure. It is the first in a new series, but also stands well alone. As I was reading, I was actually expecting this adventure to span 2 or more novels. But the action is packed and almost non-stop. From the first chapter where a young man faces the Kratigula, a beast in a cave to reclaim a sword the adventure is on. That young man on the eve of his fourteenth birthday is Alloryn and he has no idea how his life is about to change. His father tells him:

"Aye. You must face a test of courage to become a man, son, and retrieve it. Oh, aye, I have seen you pretending to wield a sword. This is your chance to become a fighter for right and good. But beware the Kratigula, a great beast that can only be slain by the sword it guards. Avoid its claws, for they are poison."

His father admits he failed the same test when he was fourteen. And soon a stranger comes, Estrell, And Alloryn leaves with him to begin his training and eventually be given his true quest. Stones of power. Living the virtues. And faith. Those are the elements this story is woven around. You will quickly find yourself in Alloryn’s corner and surprised by Lauressa. And together the two must recover the power stones and bring peace back to the kingdom. 

The writing in this story is excellent. It is good clean fiction. Family friendly. But still with that epic fantasy feel. There are several villians, well written. And a few battles. It is a book I think my older teen and tweens will love. And one that more than kept me engaged. The writing is tight and clean. The pace excellent. And the characters will become favorites leaving you wanting the next story in the Chronicles of Valdeor. A great read!

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2020 Catholic Reading Plan! 

Books by Sandralena Hanley:
Valdeor Chronicles:
Pilgrims of Valdeor
…
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Wednesday, 14 October 2020

Product Review - CZUR Shine500 Pro Scanner

Shine500 Pro Portable A4 Document Scanner
ASIN B089Q35MBS


I was very impressed with this product right out of the box. I have had my eyes on the CZUR devices for a few years now. I have heard really good things. And when I had the opportunity to lay my hands on this one I was very excited to give it a try. 

It is an amazing device. But I had some issues with the software, first the software comes on a CD, and many laptops these days do not have optical drives, I was surprised it was it was not on a USB, or just link to install. Second when I installed the software the first thing it did was notify of a new version to download. Third when the updated version installed needed to input the software license a second time. But once you get past that it is incredible. 

Scanning is instantaneous. I am a bibliophile. And I read a lot of obscure and out of print books. In fact, I have bought more out of print physical books in the last few years than current books. If it is current, I grab the eBook as long as it is available in my region. But, because I read a lot of obscure, and out of print stuff, for over 20 years now if I lay my hands on an out of print book, or a book in very poor condition, or hard to get through interlibrary loan book, I have scanned a copy for my personal eBook library. This device will cut that time drastically, I would say more than a hundredfold. 

The device has a very small footprint. And the software is incredible. It flattens the black lines from the fold of the book. Below is a sample scan from a traditional flatbed scanner and from this device for a small 90-page booklet. With the flatbed it would take 30 minutes to scan, rotate, crop and compile the book into a PDF. With this it was under 5 minutes. And that was without any of the training videos offered. There is also a foot pedal to speed up the scanning, but I have not really played with it yet.

The output options are great also. Separate pages, continuous document, and various formats including PDF with OCR. I have nothing bad to say and so much good. Very happy to have this device. There are much higher end models, and I can dream of them someday but for now this is a giant step up for me. I highly recommend this device.


CZUR Software
CZUR Software Output Options
CZUR Scan
Flatbed Scan
 
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Tuesday, 13 October 2020

Roar of the Thunder Dragon - Tracey West and Damien Jones - Dragon Masters Book 8

Flight of the Moon Dragon
Dragon Masters #8
Tracey West (Author)
Damien Jones (Illustrator)
Scholastic
ISBN 9781338042924
eISBN 9781338042948
ASIN B01MUE58MQ

A few years ago I read this series to my son. My youngest daughter really enjoyed it and the three of us read them. This year my youngest has been reading them to me. And we are a few books behind this one. But recently I had 2 of my nephews up for a week, and the younger one read me this book in 2 sittings over 2 days. He was required to read for half an hour a day, and both times he went over to finish a chapter and the second time to finish the book. The first time I read these books to my children we only got to book 7 so this story was completely new for me.

This series really has staying power. I have read some of the stories 4 or 5 times now. And have been reading them for over 4 years. And it is great to know that my brother’s family loves them as much as ours. We have been reading the eBook editions and his family has been reading the physical books. And it was fascinating to watch the kids interact and compare notes about the books that they are both reading. 

One of the really nice things about this series is that it is a true series. Each story builds upon the next. Now yes that are strong enough to be read on their own, but as a whole we get to watch the growth of the group as they come together as a team and learn to work together and support each other. 

In this volume Drake and the other Dragon masters are searching for the baby lightening dragon. Eko kidnapped the baby dragon, we find out that Eko was Griffith’s first dragon master and that he had ran away with his Thunder dragon. The pieces we learn in this story help us understand Griffith much better, but also King Roland and his concern and protection of his dragons. To find out if Drake and the Dragon Masters can stop Eko you will read to read this fun and entertaining book. 

This is another excellent read in a great series. They are excellent book for young readers, but also entertaining enough for older readers. I am impressed with the staying power of this series. After multiple reads over several years I still really enjoy returning to the Dragon Masters. 

Dragon Master Books:
1. Rise of the Earth Dragon
2. Saving the Sun Dragon
3. Secret of the Water Dragon
4. Power of the Fire Dragon
5. Song of the Poison Dragon
6. Flight of the Moon Dragon
7. Search for the Lightning Dragon









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Monday, 12 October 2020

Light of Heaven A Children's Book of Saints - Adalee Hude

Light of Heaven A Children's Book of Saints
ISBN 9781681923703
eISBN 9781681923710
ASIN B07WS1XVPS


I purchased this up after I had I picked up two copies of Light of Heaven Saints Coloring Book. I had grabbed one for my youngest daughter and one for a friend of the family. They have decided to color the same pictures and compare how they each did them the next time we get together. When I grabbed the coloring books I was unaware of this companion volume. They both loved the coloring book, and my kids and I love this book of saints. The description of this book is:

“A beautiful way to introduce children to beloved saints. Created by artist Adalee Hude, each amazing illustration is rich with color and detail, reminiscent of magnificent stained-glass windows. Each page includes a Latin word associated with that particular saint, along with a brief discussion of the word's meaning.”

And the Saints in this book are:

  Holy Mary, Mother of God
  Saint Joseph
  Saint Elizabeth
  Saint Peter
  Saint Mary Magdalene
  Saint George
  Saint Augustine of Hippo
  Saint Patrick
  Saint Benedict
  Saint Francis of Assisi
  Saint Clare of Assisi
  Saint Catherine of Siena
  Saint Joan of Arc
  Saint Thomas More
  Saint Martin de Porres
  Saint Kateri Tekakwitha
  Saint Thrse of Lisieux
  Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska
  Saint Gianna Beretta Molla
  Saint Teresa of Calcutta
  Saint John Paul II

There are biographies and icons of 21 saints in this volume. There are 23 in the coloring book, the two not in this volume are Saint Faustina and Saint Jude. But even with the difference of two these are excellent companion volumes. 

The illustrations in this volume are wonderful. My youngest two would like copies of some of them in their prayer corners. They will be able to color their own from the companion volume. Each saint is used to exemplify a trait. And that trait or characteristic is expressed in Latin. The words are:

   Adnunciator
   Caritas
   Claves
   Fidelis
   Fiducia
   Fortitudo
   Gaudete
   Humilitas
   Ignis
   Inquietus
   Justus
   Laetitia
   Lux
   Medica
   Pax
   Pietas
   Sitio
   Spes
   Valorosa
   Versio
   Virtus

This is a fantastic book for younger readers. My youngest was reading it to me, when her older brother came in. He asked if he could keep reading , when her reading time finished. She did not want to continue. So he read it to me at a later time. They both love it. My daughter has returned to it and read it three times this week. And she cannot wait to share it with the friend we gave the second copy of the coloring book to. 

An excellent volume on saints for younger readers. Either to read to them or have them read. It is great for the family, church or school library. And excellent volume. We know we will be picking up any future offerings from Adalee Hude. An instant family favorite.  

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2020 Catholic Reading Plan!

Books by Adalee Hude:
...
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Saturday, 10 October 2020

The Boy Who Knew - Corinna Turner Friends in High Places Book 1 Carlo Acutis

The Boy Who Knew: Carlo Acutis
Friends in High Places Book 1
Corinna Turner
Unseen Books
Zephyr Publishing
ISBN 9781910806463
eISBN 9781910806470
ASIN B08KHP7G43


I have been a fan of Corina Turner’s work since I first encountered I Am Margaret 5 years ago. Since then I have read her books a total of 27 times, and her contributions in two Catholic Teen Books Anthologies. I am a fan of everything I have read. She has many excellent books and great series. And this is the first volume in a new series. The title of the series is Friends in High Places and is about friendship and devotion to specific saints and beatified. And this first volume is about a young man named Carlo Acutis who was beatified the week after the publication. Carlos was declared venerable on 5 July 2018 and beatified on 10 October 2020. 

Daniel is a young man who has just been diagnosed with leukemia. He has had some tests and is awaiting the results. His mother goes to church, but his father has not for years. Daniel sheds the news of his diagnosis to Fr. Thomas, their family priest, while getting out of the house because his parents are arguing. The priest gives him a prayer card with a link to a novena to Carlo Acutis. And this a whirlwind adventure of 9 days begins. The chapters in this volume are:

Diagnosis Day 
Sunday: Day 1 
Monday: Day 2 
Tuesday: Day 3 
Wednesday: Day 4 
Thursday: Day 5 
Friday: Day 6 
Saturday: Day 7 
Sunday: Day 8 
Monday: Day 9

And at the end of the book we have the following sections:
Prayers
Discussion Questions 
More Information 
Friends in High Places

The story is wonderfully written. We follow Daniel from diagnosis through a 9 day novena until he heads to get his test results. The story is fast moving. And the characters very relatable. And it brings alive the life the witness of Carlo Acutis. We follow Daniel as he does the novena to Carlos. As he learns more and more about Carlos, the more he tries to emulate his example. He finds he is praying more, and his faith is becoming real to him in a new way. 

This is a story any tween, teen or adult could relate to. As a parent I can see myself in the parent’s responses. And see ways to do better with my own children. It brought to life the story of this holy young man to me in a new way. It is an excellent read and the beginning of what looks like another amazing series from Turner’s masterful pen. 

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2020 Catholic Reading Plan!

Books by and about Carlo Acutis:
…

Books by Corinna Turner:
I Am Margaret Series:
0.0 The Underappreciated Virtues of Rusty Old Bicycles (A prequel)
0.5 Brothers (Prequel)
1.0 I Am Margaret
1.5 How Snakey Got His Name (Short Story)
2.0 The Three Most Wanted
3.0 Liberation
4.0 Bane's Eyes
5.0 Margo's (Attempted) Diary & Notebook
5.5 An Unexpected Guest
6.0 The Siege of Reginald Hill
6.5 Buttons (Short Story)
7.0 A Saint in the Family
I Am Margaret The Play - Fiorella de Maria
...

Yesterday and Tomorrow Series:
Someday
Tomorrow's Dead
...

unSPARKed Series:
Prequel Short Stories:
0.1 Breach
 7.0 FEAR

Mandy Lamb Series:
Mandy Lamb and the Full Moon
Contributed to:
Secrets: Visible & Invisible 7 Amazing Stories - Catholic Teen Books
Gifts Visible & Invisible 8 Christmas Stories for Teens
Treasures: Visible & Invisible 8 Stories for Teens
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