Saturday, 26 December 2020

Call of the Sound Dragon - Tracey West and Daniel Griffo - Dragon Masters Book 16

Call of the Sound Dragon
Dragon Masters Book 16
Tracey West (Author)
Matt Loveridge (Illustrator)
Scholastic
ISBN 9781338540284
eISBN 9781338540307
ASIN B07Z7BVBR2


This is the 24th time I have read a Dragon Masters Book, and it show no sigh of slowing. The only thing that is going to slow us down is when we hit the end of the published stories and have to wait 3 or 4 months for the next one to release. To be honest I was thankful when my youngest wanted to return to these books. Seventeen of those reads have been in the last 6 months. As a family we love these books! A few years ago, I read the first eight books of this series to my son. Then his interest waned. I had purchased three of them but did not get around to reading them myself. Then my youngest wanted to return to them and we started over again. This year we also found out that my nephews have been reading them and that he was only 1 book ahead of us. He is reading the physical books and we are reading the eBook editions. This is another fun story in a great series. It is one of my daughters favorites. My youngest daughter is insistent that we will read the whole series. And she has spent her reading challenge money buying all the kindle editions that are available. Including Griffin’s Guide for Dragon Masters.

This series continues to have staying power. I have read some of the stories 4 or 5 times now. And have been reading them for over 4 years. And I still enjoy the stories as do my children. My son who thought he had outgrown these stories has been sitting in and listening to his sister read them to me. It is also great to know that my brother’s family loves them as much as ours. It is fascinating to watch the kids interact and compare notes about the books that they are both reading. And to predict what will happen next based on the endings of the book, or title of the next as we queue it up. 

One of the great things about this series is that it is a true series. In that each story builds upon the last. The stories 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. We see some characters come in and out of the stories. At the end there is usually a hint, or a hook for the next story. 

In this adventure we travel to the land of Remus and we meet new dragon master named Tessa and her dragon Sono. We are informed upon their meeting that:

“Drake stared at the new dragon. A wavey pattern of rainbow colors rippled across her scales. She had 4 legs and no wings.”

Both the dragon and master have a bit of a hippy look and feel to them. And my daughter loved the cover and pictures of the two. This volume is illustrated by Matt Loveridge, who also illustrated volume 14. The illustrator seems to change every book or two, and this is the first time I recall an illustrator skipping a volume and then returning. The illustrations keep a consistent feel and look. But each artist leaves their own mark on the books they work on. Some illustrations stand alone and some wrap around the text and span two-page spreads.

In this volume the team is trying to stop a wizard battle. And it appears to be one of the riskiest adventures they have been on yet. One of the team is turned into a duck and not at all happy about it. But to find out which one you will need to read the book. They also have what appears to be an impossible task, to get a gem from the center of an unbreakable rock. This is the first time that we have encountered a Dragon Master with a physical disability. And what they do to overcome and compensate for it. It is great to have such a character in the story. And We hope it is sings of things to come. My daughter was looking forward to sharing with a classmate who has the same condition. And we hope she will get interested in these awesome books. 

This is another great read in a really fun series. This one was not as dark as the last few, but we know that more trials are yet to come. They are fun books for readers both young and young at heart. They can be enjoyed multiple times. I am impressed with the staying power of this series. Even after multiple reads over several years I still really enjoy returning to the Dragon Masters. And look forward too many more reads in this series, as my daughter is insistent, she will read them all to me! This book was given a quick and solid it 5/5 stars from my daughter and I would have given it 4. We had a long discussion about why and settled on 5 for the review. A great read in an excellent series.

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

















Thursday, 24 December 2020

November Rain - Maureen Jennings - Paradise Café Book 2

November Rain
Paradise Café Book 2
Maureen Jennings
Cormorant Books Inc.
ISBN 9781770866041
eISBN 9781770866058
ASIN B08P3YRJY3


This is the 17th book by Jennings I have read in the last 2 years. I believe I have read all her fiction that is in print. And this is a stunning follow up to Heat Wave - Paradise Café Book 1. We are dropped back into a familiar Toronto, not terribly long after the William Murdoch books, or TV Series. This time Charlotte Frayne finds herself in the middle of a few cases. And struggling to keep up with her dad, and some growing conflict at the Paradise. Charlotte is still working as a PI at the T. Gilmore and Associates. But as Mr. Gilmore has been away on a long absence, and she is the only associate it is all falling to her. 

She is hired for what appears at first to be two very different cases. She must manage First she is investigating the suicide or apparent suicide of a veteran of the great war. She has also been asked to work at a garment factory and determine if someone is trying to start a union there. And her second day there the foreman is murdered, and all this is missing is a few dollars. Fortunately, she is friends with most of the police force, and soon her friend Jack Murdoch is on the case.

The story takes place over a few days during a very rainy November in 1936. The pace is fast. And the mysteries intense and much in need of unraveling. And Charlotte is in the thick of it, working her cases, and assisting the police. 

When I wrote my review of book 1, I stated: “that there was going to be something different about this series, the other three series are all named after the main character, Detective Murdoch Series, Detective Inspector Tom Tyler Series, Christine Morris Series. And yet this series is named after a location, the paradise café. And boy was I right! It was a highly addictive read, like most of Jennings other works!” that sentiment persists. This is a great read in a fledgling series. And one that we can only hope will have many more volumes to come. 

A great crime mystery that I highly recommend. 

Books by Maureen Jennings:
Detective Murdoch Series:

0.5 Shipwreck
1.0 Except the Dying
2.0 Under the Dragon's Tail
3.0 Poor Tom Is Cold
4.0 Let Loose the Dogs
5.0 Night's Child
6.0 Vices of My Blood
7.0 A Journeyman to Grief
8.0 Let Darkness Bury the Dead
...

Detective Inspector Tom Tyler Series:
1.0 Season of Darkness
2.0 Beware This Boy
3.0 No Known Grave
4.0 Dead Ground in Between
...

Christine Morris Series:
1.0 Does Your Mother Know?
2.0 The K Handshape

...

Paradise Café Series:

1.0 Heat Wave
2.0 November Rain
...

Other books:
The Map of Your Mind: Journeys into Creative Expression
Investigating Murdoch Mysteries: The Official Companion to the Series – with Michelle Ricci and Mir Bahmanyar
...
 







Wednesday, 23 December 2020

A Dino Whisperer at the Zoo - Corinna Turner - unSPARKed Book 0.4

A Dino Whisperer at the Zoo
unSPARKed Book 0.4
Corinna Turner
Unseen Books
eISBN 9781910806555
ASIN B08PZGLT9Y


Wow! This story packs a lot of punch. Not literally, but it came close to blows. But figuratively, wow, wow, wow. This story takes place 2 years after A Very Jurassic Christmas and 17 years after the main events in Breach. And just a few months before the first novel in the series, Drive. I loved this story, this series and all of the book from Corinna Turner that I have read. And I have read all but 2 that are published. These are great reads for tweens, teens and adults. The series feels like a mashup of Mad Max, Lost World, and Jurassic Park.

unSPARKed is a series set in a not too distant future. Dinosaurs once again roam the earth. Just because a scientist could do something, did not mean they should have done it. Most people live SPARKed, in cities with walls and electrified fences. There are two groups of people who live unSPARKed, farmers who have electric fences around their farms and live in community with their close neighbours. And Hunters who live most of the time out on the road or off road in HabVI’s Habitat Vehicles. This story focuses mainly on Josh and his ability to read and communicate with dinosaurs.  

Josh is at a Zoo fulfilling a contract. He has chosen and transported a male velociraptor so the zoo can have an extra breeding pair. The Zoo is under renovations and not all things are up to snuff. But Jose knows dinosaurs, even better than he knows people. And this is a time where his expertise is much needed. 

First the Zoo administrator is hesitant to pay up because he believes the new dino is too wild. Josh hops in the cage and hand feeds it treats. In the process scaring, startling and reassuring the staff of the quality of their purchase. While there he sees a female allosaur called Gold. The same one he saved as a chick and hand fed for a few days in A Very Jurassic Christmas. She recognises him. But he is very concerned about the quality of the pen she is being kept in. And after an accident he finds himself jumping for a second time and with no real plan other than relying on his skills and ability to read dinosaurs. 

Another great story in an excellent series. Like all of Turner’s books I have read it is both highly entertaining and was terribly enjoyable. I encourage you to pick it up and give it a try, I am certain it will not disappoint. 

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

Tuesday, 22 December 2020

Please say a pray for my son Liam today

Please pray for Liam

My son is having spinal surgery today. Please say a pray for him, the staff at McMaster Children's hospital. And for us as a family. I will be going in with him while they put him to sleep. His sister wrote a prayer for me to pray over him in the operating room. She wrote this at school and brought it home to me, after hearing her norther talk about my praying over Liam before the operation.

"In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, 
Lord God please let nothing go wrong with Liam's surgery
and he will be able to anything and everything 
he wants to do by himself. 
And that he will feel great and have no pain. 
Amen."

To Liam 
From Zoey
"I Love You"




 In your mercy please say a prayer today.

Steven and Andrea McEvoy





Monday, 21 December 2020

Zombie Death Extreme Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator - Karina Fabian

Zombie Death Extreme: 
Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator
Karina Fabian
ISBN 9781950875078
eISBN 9781950875061
ASIN B08KLD6LTN


This book is back in print. Ten years after the original release. With a new cover and new publisher. Over the last few months, I have read 4 novels, and 2 collections of short stories edited by Karina Fabian. Prior to that there had been a n 8-year gap in my reading one of her offerings. That was truly my loss. And I am making up for lost time. I cannot seem to put her books down. I am very thankful this one is back in print, and after finishing it cannot wait for the rerelease of book 2. This book was so much fun! 

This story is a cross between a science experiment gone wrong, reality tv at both it is best and worse, and the Zombie apocalypse. And it is a whole lot of fun. Neeta Lyffe is a second-generation Zombie Exterminator. She is in huge financial straits because of a lawsuit for damages after she save a fat cat and his party goers. She is now on contract to lead a group of newbies through training, exercise, and field work to become a licensed Zombie Exterminator. With conflict with her studio bosses. An on-air radio personality romantic interest. A Camera man who wants to get in on the Zombie killing action. 

And Neeta just wants to protect and really train her challengers. Save her home and her business. 2042 in California is a rough place to eek out a living. But that is what Neeta feels called to do. So as host and judge on ZDE Zombie Death Extreme. 

Pick up the book and find out if Neeta can keep her trainees safe. Help them develop the skills they need to work in the field. Keep the ratings up. And somehow stay sane. This story is an excellent read for fans of zombie movies. For fan of classic B line science fiction movies. Or really anyone looking for something very different to read. It will surprise, it will entertain. And It will leave you desperate for the next volume I Left My Brains in San Francisco

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


Dex Hollister Series:

The Old Man and the Void
Dex's Way
...

Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator Series :
Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator
I Left My Brains in San Francisco
Shambling in a Winter Wonderland


DragonEye PI Series:
DragonEye PI Novels:

Space Traipse Series:
Space Traipse: Hold My Beer, Season 1
Space Traipse: Hold My Beer, Season 2
Space Traipse: Hold My Beer, Season 3
Space Traipse Stories

Madness of Kanaan Series:
(formerly The Mind Over Series)

Edited by: Karina Fabian:
Infinite Space, Infinite God I
Leaps of Faith
Infinite Space, Infinite God II
...


Contributed to:
Firestorm of Dragons
The Zombie Cookbook
The Book of Tentacles
Twisted Fayrie Tales
FRIGHTLINER: And Other Tales of the Undead
Mother Goose is Dead
Word by Word: Slowing Down with the Hail Mary
Image and Likeness Literary Reflections on the Theology of the Body
Corrupts Absolutely? Dark Metahuman Fiction
Weird Noir
The Complete Guide to Writing Paranormal Novels
Manifesto UF
Avenir Eclectia
Planetary Anthology: Jupiter
Planetary Anthology: Pluto
Planetary Anthology: Luna
Planetary Anthology: Uranus
FlagShip Science Fiction and Fantasy v2i5
My Little Book of Headdesks
To Be Men: Stories Celebrating Masculinity
...

Sunday, 20 December 2020

Christmas Angel - Leslea Wahl

Christmas Angel 
Leslea Wahl
Ministry Through Mystery
ASIN B08MKQTF58


I have read five novels by Leslea Wahl and her short stories in the collections, Secrets: Visible & Invisible 7 Amazing Stories and Gifts Visible & Invisible 8 Christmas Stories for Teens. This story appears in the second of those anthologies. But like the offering by Carolyn Astfalk, A Perfect Christmas, this one had a different impact upon me reading it as a stand alone story. Reading it by itself helped me to really reflect upon the concept of doing a good deed every day. Also how that looks in 2020 with social distancing and isolation. 

It also reminded me of the impact that even small actions can have. And the ripples that our actions can trigger that have the possibility of becoming waves or even tsunamis of kindness. And it helped me appreciate even more the great kindness that has been shown towards our own family as we prepare for my son’s spinal surgery on December 22nd. At one point in the book it is stated:

“By doing special things for others, I was drawn closer to Christ. What if, in some small way, my deeds had a ripple effect and brought others closer to Christ as well? That would be incredible. 

My heart patters. I can’t wait to tell Father Brady how his simple words made such an impact.”

That is part of what this story teaches us. The impact we can have on the world if we listen to God and follow his promptings. And in this case stirred up by a sermon. A bit later in the story:

“Rachael reaches for her water. “Well, now that Christmas has arrived, you can go back to your normal life.” 

I stare at her and realize that part of my unsettled feeling is a sadness that my good-deeds campaign is over. That grand finale I was expecting would surely make it all feel complete.”

Meg realized she doesn’t want to stop. What started with a goal until Christmas can be continued. And be even more impactful if she learns to listen to the Holy Spirit’s guiding’s and promptings. But to find out if that happens you will need to pick up this story and give it a read. 

This story is written for the Young adult audience. And it is great Christian fiction and a wonderful Catholic story. But no matter what your age, I am certain you will be blessed by giving this short story a read. And seeing what sort of impact it has on you and your life.

I have loved the novels by Wahl that I have read. But this year, this Christmas this story holds a special place in my heart. And I am certain it will enchant you as well.

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

Books by Leslea Wahl:
To Serve and Protect

Finding Faith Series:
Into the Spotlight
Charting the Course
An Unexpected Role – Republished as Into The Spotlight

Blind Side Series:

All For One:
Unlikely Witness (Original Edition)

Contributed to: