book review

Book Review: Death at Glamis Castle

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Death at Glamis Castle
Death at Glamis Castle by Robin Paige

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Kate and her husband, Charles, are called up to the mysterious Glamis Castle to covertly search for the missing Prince Eddy, who has been in hiding after his staged death 10 years before. The murder of a local servant-woman, in addition to the disappearance of Prince Eddy, has Kate and Charles scrambling to find out the truth amongst local gossip, rumors, and lying townsfolk.

I enjoyed this mystery, mostly because of the human interest, the little romance woven into it, and the continuing backstory of Charles’ bachelor days before he met Kate. Every character we meet has their own little part to play in the mystery, and their own hopes and motivations that propel them into the adventure or keep them out of it. Continue reading →

Book Review: Help! I’m a Prisoner in the Library

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Help! I'm a Prisoner in the Library
Help! I’m a Prisoner in the Library by Eth Clifford

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I remember loving this book when I was a kid, and I fantasized about spending the night in a library.

Jo-Beth and Mary Rose are sisters who get stranded in a library during a blizzard. The library displays and mannequins depicting literary characters are creepy in the dark, and there are weird noises coming from upstairs. The sisters find an injured librarian, and have to use all their common sense to help her and get themselves rescued from the blizzard.

The simple writing style makes this a perfect book for young children who are reading chapter books. While the sisters are mildly frightened at every mysterious sound in the old library, the reader never really feels scared. It’s just suspenseful and interesting enough to keep you guessing, but will not give a kid nightmares.

I really love that each of the characters have their own prickly and funny personalities. Their dialogue is hilarious!

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Book Review: Candle Man: The Society of Dread

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Candle Man: The Society of Dread
Candle Man: The Society of Dread by Glenn Dakin

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Theo is officially the new Candle Man, and with that power comes responsibilities that Theo doesn’t want. But the police are dragging him into an investigation of the underground tunnels, and when Chloe is kidnapped by mysterious creatures, Theo has to use his power as the Candle Man to rescue her and bring peace to the underground. Theo will fight alongside terrible allies, and some strange people come out of the shadows.

Not really impressed with this book. I got bored towards the end, what with all the monster fights and gooey slime stuff. The plot moves along pretty well. There are many interesting and weird characters. I do like the main character, Theo, and enjoy seeing his awkward attempts to make friends. But it feels like the same plot from the previous book.
Disappointment.

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Book Review: The Everything Guide to Meditation

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The Everything Guide to Meditation for Healthy Living: Reduce Stress, Improve Health, and Increase Longevity
The Everything Guide to Meditation for Healthy Living: Reduce Stress, Improve Health, and Increase Longevity by David R. Dillard-Wright

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A comprehensive look at many different meditation traditions and styles from different religions and beliefs, along with their development, prominent figures in history, and explanations of how to practice each meditation style. It includes easy meditation for beginners all the way up to more advanced techniques.

I found a lot of good ideas about how to deepen my meditation practice, and I was inspired by many of the concepts and quotes, but some of the religious and mystical practices were way too creepy and/or strange.

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When Authors Hate Your Negative Review

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FTC says “You’re Free to Speak Your Mind”- https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/product-reviews-youre-free-speak-your-mind

Endorsement Guidelines for USA: https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=14e8f4d3c876671a54fce164a72f2e3e&node=pt16.1.255&rgn=div5

FTC FAQ: https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/ftcs-endorsement-guides-what-people-are-asking

Book Review: The Society of Unrelenting Vigilance

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The Society of Unrelenting Vigilance
The Society of Unrelenting Vigilance by Glenn Dakin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Loved it! This book is fantastic, and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next one!
Reading it the second time, I still found this book really enjoyable. The mysteries of the past haunting everyone, the suspenseful magic being revealed, the ghoulish setting with steam punky elements everywhere… I loved it all!

I found the main character, Theo, to be an enigma, and that kept my attention throughout the book. Due to his secluded upbringing, he is weird and has strange ideas. He doesn’t know how to act in society, so he is deliciously awkward and doesn’t even know it. Watching him rediscover the world provided so much comedic relief in this book.

I was grossed out by the slime and the melting eyeball faces towards the end, but I’ll bet boys would love that kind of thing.

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Book Review: Sir Percy Leads the Band

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Sir Percy Leads the Band
Sir Percy Leads the Band by Emmuska Orczy

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Scarlet Pimpernel is at it again, saving aristocrats from the guillotine, eluding the evil Citizen Chauvelin, and doing it all with flare! With his own band of merry men, Percy is a Robin Hood for the French Revolution, but now dissension and betrayal within his group of trusted men might just be enough to bring the Scarlet Pimpernel to his knees.

This time the Scarlet Pimpernel is rescuing a humble priest, who heard the last confession of King Louis XVI before he was sent to his death at the guillotine. I love how these books always add in some true historical facts! Continue reading →

Book Review: Dead Endings

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Dead Endings
Dead Endings by Jessica Chavez

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Ever since Cailen had a near-death experience, she can see ghosts. They hang around, bothering her, and because her internal defenses are weak, they can sometimes possess her body.
Her roommate, Gabriella, is a spiritualist who has a better grasp on exorcising ghosts, and Cailen is happy to leave all the ghost-hunting to her friend and go on ignoring the spirits as much as possible.
Everett is a student reporter who is convinced that a recent series of murders needs some ghost experts to investigate, and he drags the reluctant Cailen into the mystery.

This is a total departure from the type of books I usually read. I don’t like horror or ghosts, but I thought I would pick this up because it looked more funny and sarcastic than scary. But then I was disappointed that there’s a lot of alcohol and profanity in this book. It was almost unreadable because of all the nasty words. Continue reading →

Book Review: A Wizard Abroad

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A Wizard Abroad
A Wizard Abroad by Diane Duane

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Nita is shipped off to Ireland to stay with her Aunt Annie for a few weeks. The barriers between Ireland and the Old World of Tir na nOg are thin, and Nita must help the Irish wizards to ward off nightmare creatures from the past. Legends and monsters from Irish legend come into the realm of reality, and only Nita and her friends have the magical power and the connections to stop them.

As always, it is utterly impossible to describe the wonder, the grandeur, the sheer enchantment of a book by Diane Duane. There’s something so indescribably foreign and deliciously familiar in all her characters. Continue reading →